41% = 1d3+1 Damage + Blinded for 3d6 \nCombat rounds\nThis Blindness is more than simply a lack of vision, rather \nthe targets are also subject to seeing horrible visions of \nXnaaki. Additionally for every two rounds blinded (and \nconscious) the target loses one point of Sanity (to a \nmaximum of 5). In addition each time a target fails a \nResistance Roll they receive 1 point of Cthulhu Mythos \nskill from the visions they receive as a result.\nIf a target is blinded for more than 10 combat rounds \nthey are knocked unconscious for 1d3 hours.\n\nThe Unbound Book\nThe Rise of Xnaaki\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nPersuade 70%, Pistol 40%, Psychology 60%, \nSpot Hidden 70%, Fist 50%, Throw 45%.\nSpells:Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells \nsidebar.\nEnthrall Victim, as per the Call of Cthulhu \nrules.\nMind Blast, as per the Call of Cthulhu rules.\nPossessions: .32 pistol with 8 rounds of ammunition, \n2 Flash Pouches, Sheriffs Badge and \nHandcuffs.\nHe is a large man, big enough to stand out in a crowd, \nwith a strong, physically fit appearance. He wears tidy \nclothes, complimented with a heavy leather jacket. \nBeside him lays a small leather briefcase. \nCharacters rolling a successful Idea Roll will note that \nhe has not bid on any other items at the auction.\nThe bidding for the last few items proceeds without \nfurther delay and at last the final item, the statue \ncomes up for offer.\nOnly the Investigators and Sheriff Coleburne bid on \nthe statue, which has an opening price of one thousand \ndollars. The Sheriff will bid in amounts of $100 up to \nhis limit of two thousand, which will mean, of course, \nthat the characters will eventually out bid him. At the \nend of proceedings he is naturally unhappy at being \nunable to out bid the Investigators and storms out of \nthe auction room.\nIf the characters decide to follow the Sheriff (they \nwill need to leave at least one person behind to sign \nand pay for the statue), he is observed leaving the \nUniversity grounds by car. He does not pay any \nattention to the Investigators unless stopped, at which \nhe will avoid any question and try to leave as soon as \npossible. \nOnce Coleburne leaves the auction he travels to the \nArkham Post Office to place a telephone call to his \nDeputy, who is located the train station on the lookout \nfor Booth and DuPont. During this conversation the \nSheriff advises his Deputy to follow the characters, \nsurmising that they are heading to Steeplin and \nDuPont’s estate. He then returns to his car and heads \nback to Steeplin County himself.\nThe Train Trip\nAt the conclusion of the auction the Investigators will \nno doubt head to the train station and board the next \ntrain to Steeplin County. The train they catch is a four-\ncarriage steam locamotive, with 2 passenger carriages, \na dining car (situated between the two passenger cars) \nand a luggage car (at the rear). The train is fairly quiet, \nwith very few passengers on board, and as such, the \ncharacters will have little trouble in acquiring a cabin \nin either of the carriages.\nAs the train leaves Arkham, heading north, the scenery \nquickly turns to gentle hills that, while nice to look at \nare of no real interest to the group. For a period of the \ntrip there is steady rain, but this passes by the time the \ntrain arrives at Newburyport. Here people get on and \noff, before the train pulls out of the station and heads \nnorthwest towards Steeplin and beyond.\nAt all times during the trip the dining carriage has \nbetween six and a dozen people seated in the lounge \nareas, although while dinner is being served (between \n5:30pm and 7:00pm) there is a constant flow of people \nto and from the tables.\nAt some point after 7.00pm Booth contacts the \ncharacters by walking past their table (or seats) and \ndropping a note. Without a word he continues on \ntowards the back of the train. \nThe note reads “Meet in the luggage carriage in 5 \nminutes…trust no one but DuPont”\nIt is dusk as the characters enter the luggage car. Here \nthey findBooth at thefar end of the carriage struggling \nwith another man. The large freight doors are open \non one side of the car and before the characters can \nintervene Booth is thrown out of the carriage into the \nmurky sunset.\nThis man is the Sheriff’s Deputy, Carl Grietski, who is \nafter the statue. He will use his pistol to try and get it \nfrom the Investigators, or if they have hidden it, will \ntake one of them hostage to guide him to it. If Carl is \nconfronted he will use his flash pouch and attempt to \nrecover the statue while the party is blinded.\n5\nMap of the Luggage Carriage\nSliding Cargo Doors\n<- To the front of the train\n<-\nLuggage Racks\n<-\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nThe Rise of Xnaaki\n6\nIf he does acquire the statue, the train will conveniently \nstop and he will head for a road. In this case the \nInvestigators will have to pursue him on foot. \nThis confrontation is intended to help build the \nmysterious nature of the scenario - not kill the \ncharacters. Carl is little more than a bumbling idiot, \nalthough an armed one. Only foolishly gung-ho or \nparticularly unlucky Investigators should be seriously \ninjured during this encounter.\nDEPUTY CARL GRIETSKI, Bumbling Disciple \nof Xnaaki, Age 28\nSTR \n15 \nEDU \n11 \nKnow 55%\nCON \n14 \nPOW \n8 \nLuck 40%\nSIZ \n13 \nINT \n8 \nIdea 40%\nDEX \n16 \nAPP \n13 \nHP 14\nSAN \n35\nDamage Bonus: +1d4\nWeapons: Fist, 50%, damage 1d3+db\nFlash Pouch, 45%, damage 1+1d6 rounds \nof blindness\n.32 Revolver, 40%, damage 1d8\nSkills: Bargain 40%, Cthulhu Mythos 15%, Credit \nRating 15% (60% in Steeplin County), Fast Talk \n50%, Law 75%, Library Use 20%, Listen 70%, \nOccult 20%, Persuade 50%, Spot Hidden 70%, \nFist 50%, Pistol 40%, Throw 45%.\nPossessions: \n.32 \npistol \nwith \n16 \nrounds \nof \nammunition, 1 Flash Pouch, Deputy \nSheriff Badge\nIf the characters get a chance to examine Carl (or his \nbody) at any point they can’t help but notice a small \ntattoo/brand of a spiky beetle on his chest. This same \nsymbol is one of the main characters on the base of the \nstatue.\nThe Train Station\nWhen the train eventually pulls into Steeplin Valley \nstation it is nearing 11pm. With heavy cloud cover \nthere is no sign of the moon, which leaves the small \ntown in almost total darkness. It has rained recently \nbut, despite this, the air is humid and muggy.\nThe train station itself is little more than a raised \nlanding with a roof, a tiny office and a block of toilets. \nSix other people get off the train with the party, \nalthough they are all met and in small groups disappear \ninto the town. As the characters discuss their plan of \naction read the following:\nYou are all very surprised to encounter Booth at the \ntrain station. He is a little ragged but alive – bruises \nand cuts are visible on his arms and face and while he \nis still wearing his suit trousers, his shirt is torn and \nhe no longer has his jacket. As he walks towards you, \nyou notice he may well have injured his legs or ribs, as \nhis movement is stiff and slow.\nEach player must make a Resistance Roll, using their \nIntelligence (INT) versus Booth’s POW of 11 (although \nto minimise tipping off the players you may want take \nthese rolls on their behalf). If any player succeeds \nthey notice Booth appears to be more than just a little \nshaken up, although they can’t quite put their finger on \nwhat is so unusual about him.\nBooth explains he was able to make it to the road after \nbeing thrown from the train. He also states that, as was \nplanned, another of DuPont’s agents was trailing the \ntrain and picked him up. From that location the trip by \ncar was actually quicker into town than the one taben \nby the train. If questioned in depth about any of the \nprevious meetings between Booth and the party he \nis at a loss, but will beg off, blaming the fall from the \ntrain.\nThis man is in fact not Booth at all, but a Copy Imaged \nServant of Xnaaki. The Double’s goal is of course to \nacquire the statue before it can be delivered to DuPont. \n(If the group lost the statue to Deputy Carl, the Double \nBooth will still appear, but with the intention of killing \nthe party).\nIf the Double is forced to drop the guise or a party \nmember gets close to uncovering the truth an Idea \nRoll should be made. Success and they realise the \nman in front of them is not truly Booth (an immediate \nSanity Roll of 1/1d4 is required by anyone revealing the \ntruth). Failure and the character continues to have the \nfeelings of singular unease about Booth.\nIf the Booth Double fools the party, he says:\n“We are still being pursued, the Deputy’s master \nwon’t be so easy to overcome and we should leave \nimmediately. I have a car in the lot behind us.”\nThere is no sign of the ‘agent’ that helped ‘Booth’ \nin the lone Buick and if asked ‘Booth’ states that he \nhas already gone, on his way to advise DuPont of the \nsituation.\nThe Double then plans on getting the characters to \ndrive up to the DuPont homestead (he claims he is too \nsore to drive). On the way he will use the spell Xnaaki \nBlindness to force them off the road before attempting \nto dispose of them.\nIf the Booth Double is forced to confront the \ngroup at the platform he will attempt to use the \nEnthrall Victim spell before things get out of hand. \nThen, if he can get the statue, he will try and escape, \npossibly casting Xnaaki Blindness in an attempt to \nstun any pursers.\n\nThe Unbound Book\nThe Rise of Xnaaki\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nBOOTH DOUBLE, Disguised Servant\nSTR \n17 \nINT \n13\nCON \n22 \nPOW \n17\nSIZ \n13 \nDEX \n8\nMove \n5 (slow and disjointed)\nHP \n17 \nMP \n14 (remaining)\nWeapons: Fist 60%, damage 1d3+1d4db.\nDagger 40%, damage 1d6+1d4db+Poison \n(POT = 10 The effects of render the \nvictim unconscious for 1d4+1 hours)\nArmour: none\nSanity Loss: 1/1d4 to discover Servants true identity, \n1/1d8 to see a Servant of Xnnaki.\nSpells: Copy Image, see the Xnaaki Spells sidebar\nXnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells \nsidebar.\nEnthrall Victim, as per the Call of Cthulhu \nrules.\nMind Blast, as per the Call of Cthulhu rules.\nSteeplin Valley County \nAssuming the party either take the car with Booth, or \ndiscover it parked in the station’s lot (it’s the only one \nthere), they can continue onto the DuPont Estate.\nSteeplin township has a population nearing 4000, \nalthough its main street is nothing in much to behold. \nIt has eight or nine main blocks, with highlights \nincluding a police station, post office, library, two \nchurches and a variety of general businesses. The \ntowns back streets are mainly residential. Oddly \nthere is not a single car seen on the streets, and only a \nminimum of street lighting. In fact, the only building \nseemingly occupied appears to be the town police \nstation.\nThe DuPont estate is located up the valley, directly \noff Steeplin Road, near the Mill. The road itself is \nwell maintained up until the Mill (about 10 minutes \ndrive), although the estate is another 15 minutes along \na rough unsealed track.\nDuPont’s Estate\nAs you approach the estate you become aware that \nthe cloud cover has thickened to make the night an \nalmost impenetrable darkness. It seems as if a fog \nhas drifted in masking everything more than 30 feet \naway. A chilling wind is blowing briskly in from the \nsouth but seems unable to move the blanket of cloud.\nThe DuPont homestead, a large two-story building, is \ndeathly quiet as is the forest to the west of the estate. \nThere are no signs of disturbance outside the house, \n(unless by some chance the characters come across \nthe down power lines - see below). If the characters \ndo search the grounds before entering the manor a \nsuccessful Spot Hidden roll reveals movement in one \nof the upstairs windows (although what exactly is \nmoving can’t be made out through the darkness and \nfog). Characters failing this roll instead get the eerie \nalmost claustrophobic feeling of being watched.\nThe Great Hall: It is most likely that the characters \nwill enter the homestead through the main doors, \nwhich are not locked. Here they soon discover the \nfirst signs of trouble – the lack of power in the house \n(characters with no light sources are surely going to \nend up with bruised shins!) \nThe cause of the fault can be found easily enough - \ndowned power lines, severed about 80 feet from the \nhouse.\nThe second sign of trouble is the large greasy \nfootprints, which can be seen on the floor of the Great \nHall, although if the Investigators are without a light \nsource then a Spot Hidden Roll is required to notice \nthem. These human-like prints have been made with \nsome sort of black/green slime which reeks with \nodorous decay.\nThe prints lead upstairs, before petering out. They can \nhowever be followed back to where their owner, one \nof three Servants of Xnaaki, entered the homestead, \nthrough the West Wing (see the map for more details \non where the footprints lead). This Servant is now \nupstairs in a confused state after an “incident” with \nDuPont.\nEast Wing: Characters searching the East Wing \nshould make a Listen roll. Success and they hear \nmovement on the floor above them. Apart from this \nnoise there are no signs of disturbance in this part \nof the house with the Dining, Smoking and Billiard \nrooms have nothing of real interest in them.\n7\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nThe Rise of Xnaaki\n8\nWest Wing: If searched the Investigators discover \nwhere the Servants of Xnaaki entered the building. \nThe creatures have wandered into most of the rooms \nof this wing, leaving behind their tell-tale footprints \nthroughout, although apart from these all the rooms \nare otherwise untouched. \nUpStairs: Following the tracks upstairs becomes \nmore difficult as they fade. The Servant upstairs is \nnot hiding, but rather aimlessly wandering around \nafter DuPont cast a spell on it. Currently in one of the \nEast Wing bedrroms, it will not attack the party, rather \nonce disturbed will attempt to flee, dropping DuPont’s \ndiary in the process (see The Diary of DuPont below \nfor more details). If necessary the Servant will leap \nfrom a second story window to escape, and will only \nattack if cornered.\nSERVANT \nOF \nXNAAKI, \nEnchanted \nand \nConfused Intruder\nSTR \n12 \nINT \n14\nCON \n22 \nPOW \n13 \nSIZ \n13 \nDEX \n3\nMove \n5 (slow and disjointed)\nHP \n11 \nMP \n8 (remaining)\nWeapons: Fist 40%, damage 1d3+1d4db.\nDagger 40%, damage 1d6+1d4db.\nArmour: none\nSanity Loss: 1/1d8 to see a Servant of Xnnaki.\nSpells: Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells \nsidebar.\nThe Study\nAssuming the characters follow the footprints \nbackwards through the house, they will be lead to the \nStudy door, where they immediately notice a greasy \nhand print on the handle. Entry into this room from \nthe Great Hall is difficult however, as a corpse of one \nof the Servants is lying against the other side. If a \nStrength Resistance Roll versus the corpses Size of 14 \nsucceeds, the door can be forced open.\nYou wrench the door inwards with as much force as \nyou can muster and after considerable effort it shifts \nsuddenly and slides inwards.\nIt is immediately apparent what the obstruction is \n– a putrid skeletal corpse is slumped in the doorway. \nA large ragged hole has been blasted in its chest \nblackening what little flesh is left around the wound. \nThe rest of the corpse is an unnatural greenish colour, \nits long fingers twisted as if suffering from some sort \nof hellish arthritis. It is naked, its withered genitals \nexposed.\nAs you watch, a little blood and a thick green fluid \nhave drains from the wound into a sickly pool around \nthe corpse.\nAll characters viewing the dead Servant should make a \nSanity Check losing 1/1d4 Sanity. From the Great Hall, \nlittle can be seen in the Study – although it is obvious \nthere has been some sort of serious disruption inside. \nAnyone stepping inside will immediately to see the \nfollowing.\nMap of the DuPont Estate\nGarage\nDisused \nStables\nGreat \nHall\nStudy\nDowned \nPower Lines\nDining, Smoking \n& Billards rooms\nKitchen & \nStaff Quarters\nTo th Mill & Town\nUp hill towards the coast\n\nThe Unbound Book\nThe Rise of Xnaaki\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nStepping over the rancid pool around the corpse you \nenter the Study. A nauseating smell hangs in the air… \ndeath, blood and charred flesh. Glancing back you \nsee the inside of the study doors are blackened and \nsplattered with the innards of the corpse. Furniture, \nbooks and papers have been scattered violently \naround the room. Between you and a large desk is \na second corpse, far more seriously damaged than \nthe first, now little more than a charred skeleton. \nA faint stream of smoke still slowly drifts from \nits incinerated remains, although there is no sign \nas to what has inflicted the assault. It also has an \nunnatural appearance, too thin, too tall, too twisted \nto be human.\nAll players viewing the second Servant should make a \nSanity Check or lose 1/1d2 Sanity.\nHenry DuPont is also in the study, barely conscious, \nlying on the floor behind the desk. He is almost in an \nas bad a state as the two corpses, his left arm, from \nthe elbow down, is missing and is bleeding heavily (he \nhas applied a simple tourniquet with his jacket, but \nthis has done little to stem the flow). He also has a cut \nscalp and a serious deep stab wound in his stomach. A \nnumber of cuts and scrapes are also about his body but \nare minor in comparison. \nDuPont requires an immediate First Aid or Medical \nattention to prevent him from falling unconscious. A \nsuccess stabilises him, but the medic will realise his \nwounds are most likely terminal – he has perhaps a \nfew hours if not moved. The nearest hospital outside \nSteeplin is probably Concord, but if Dupont is moved \nhe will shriek in agony and beg to be left where he is.\nBeside DuPont is a handful of tattered and now bloody \npapers. This manuscript is in a spidery hand comprised \nof both English and Arabic text (they cannot be read \nwithout good light and a bit of concentration). \nEven if the characters can’t stabilise DuPont – he will \nspeak to them for a moment before passing out. He \nis barely coherent and obviously in shock, a situation \nwhich Keepers can use to their advantage to avoid \nanswering questions and to be generally mysterious.\nIt takes DuPont a moment or two to recognise who you \nare. He coughs a grim laugh before saying “You made \nit, excellent. Do you have the statue?”\nYes they have the statue. “Thank god… at first \nlight you must take it and this manuscript (he points \nto the papers beside him) and get out of Steeplin”.\nNo, they have lost the statue. “Mother of god \n– whatever you do it must be recovered…before…\nbefore they are able to evoke its power and release \nthe demon”.\nDuPont insists there is another Servant in the \nhomestead, stating it must be killed before he will talk \nfurther. \nOnce the servant is stopped, DuPont will advise the \ncharacters they will be safe in the house, that the \ndisciples of the demon are tonight performing rituals, \na task that will take all night. DuPont is obviously weak \nand throughout the rest of the night he slips in and out \nof consciousness. When awake he rambles about the \nsituation.\n“Within the Statue is the ‘Stone of Xnalku’ – an item \nthat can be used to evoke many different rites… The \nmost sinister ritual will unleash a horrifying creature \nfrom its age old prison…The demon, Xnaaki, has \nbeen trapped in the Steeplin Lake for a millenium – \nbanished by another of his kind an aeon ago… Xnaaki \nis weak now but if ever the stone and the beast are \nre-united …” DuPont trails off.\n“There are only a handful of madmen crazy enough \nto worship Xnaaki…the head disciple is the Sheriff of \nthis very town…he has little in the way of followers… \nbut with that damned stone… Xnaaki will invade the \nminds of all but the strongest”.\n“Destroying the stone is the only way to secure \nXnaaki in its prison …I only wish I could live to see it \nmyself…a ritual is among these papers… to fail is to \ncondemn the world”.\nMorning After\nWhatever the group decide to do next, they should be \naware that it is the middle of a dark foreboding night \nand any plans they concoct should wait until at least \nfirst light (Keepers should remind them of this - they \nare not supermen).\nIf the party still holds the statue, they can only \nwatch as DuPont’s condition gets worse and despite \ntheir best efforts he passes away painlessly shortly \nafter 5am.\nAs per DuPont’s advice, the best course of action would \nbe to head into town at sunrise and from there make \nthere way back to Arkham, manuscript in hand (To \nhelp facilitate this DuPont has a car in the garage). \nThere is, of course, the possibility they may wish to \ndo some investigating in Steeplin, in which case see \nSteeplin County Investigation below. Finally they \nmay decide to confront the Sheriff and the cult directly \n(Keepers should discourage this option), although \nthis is not the best course of action, considering \nthe Sheriff’s position, the lack of solid information \nand other avenues of investigation still open to the \ncharacters.\nIf the party doesn’t have the statue they will \nneed to steal it back from the Sheriff before heading \nout of town. DuPont will make a dramatic plea to the \ncharacters to recover the statue, pointing out that the \n9\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nThe Rise of Xnaaki\n10\nSheriff will have it under lock and key (DuPont is able \nto provide an address for the Sheriff’s home - he lives \nopposite the Mill on a small farm). He will also explain \nthat Xnaaki can only be contacted on the new or full \nmoon and with tonight being a full moon, the cult will \nhave to wait at least two weeks before they can use the \nStone of Xnalku. DuPont clings to life long enough to \nsupply any required information before passing away.\nRecovering the Statue\nIf, at any point of the adventure, the statue is stolen, it \nsoon becomes apparent that it is the key to a successful \nconclusion to this investigation. \nIf the cult has acquired the statue it will be secured at \nthe Sheriff’s residence until the moon is right for the \nnext ritual.\nThe farm is typical of many rural holdings, well \nmaintained and private (it is surrounded by trees). \nIt is less than a mile from the Mill and, at all times of \nthe day, noise from the plant filters through the trees, \ngiving the house and land an eerie feeling as if it is \nsomehow disconnected from the real world.\nThe Sheriff is usually home between 6pm and 8:30am \neach day, and will otherwise be on duty at the Sheriff’s \noffice or on business around town. The house, a large \nsingle story ranch style home, is guarded during the \nday by his two dogs. The two dogs should be treated \nas Wolves (see the Call of Cthulhu Rulebook) and will \nfiercely defend the house. Note that gunfire outside the \nhouse will more than likely draw the attention of the \nnearby Mill workers.\nThere is little of interest inside the house and not \nsurprisingly no evidence can be found linking the \nSheriff to the cult. Once the house is searched \nhowever, a trap door can be found in the Study leading \nto a hidden basement.\nThis basement is little more than a single small room \nwith dirt floor and walls. The only objects of interest \nin the room is a small shrine (on which the statue \ncan been seen) and a puddle of muddy water next to \nit, where the recent rain has seeped in and formed a \npool.\nA Servant of Xnaaki protects the statue and is resting \nin this muddy pool. If the pool is disturbed, or if the \ncharacters move within a foot of the shrine, the Servant \narises shrieking and attacks the nearest investigator.\nSERVANT OF XNAAKI, Guardian of the \nShrine\nSTR \n17 \nINT \n17\nCON \n30 \nPOW \n16 \nSIZ \n13 \nDEX \n5\nMove \n5 (slow and disjointed)\nHP \n17 \nMP \n16\nWeapons: Fist 40%, damage 1d3+1d4db.\nArmour: none\nSanity Loss: 1/1d8 to see a Servant of Xnnaki.\nSpells: Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells \nsidebar.\nMind Blast, as per the Call of Cthulhu rules.\nSteeplin County Investigation\nIf the characters decide to do any investigation \nin Steeplin they will have access to the following \ninformation. However by lingering in town they will \nalso risk drawing attention to themselves, especially \nif they are spotted on the street. If located, the Sheriff \nwill attempt to arrest them and characters who get \nthemselves caught are destined to become the next \nServants of Xnaaki.\nThe Library. With a successful Library Use Roll a \nbook on Steeplin’s history can be found. In this there \nis some information about the design of the DuPont \nStatue and its maker. \nCommissioned by Fredric DuPont and sculpted by \nHarvard Haywright, an Arkham jeweller, the book \nalso mentions the symbols on the statue, apparently \nthey refer to eight different Arabic religious rituals, \nalthough further details are not provided. \nThe library has no references to either Xnaaki or the \nstone of Xnalku.\nThe Mill. Mill workers and administrators happily \ntalk about general Mill issues and their dislike for \nDuPont. Almost everyone is of the opinion that he \nis trying to run the town into the ground and might \neven be responsible for some of the town’s missing \npersons.\nThe Steeplin Express. The local paper is the only \nplace with any real records about people who have \ngone missing in the area (apart from these reports the \nSheriff has carefully covered his tracks). In total there \nhave been 14 missing persons in the last eight years, all \nin or around Steeplin Lake.\nTime Marches On\nThe smartest approach is to leave Steeplin and return \nto Arkham to investigate the diary and manuscript. \nHowever during the next two weeks the following \nevents occur:\nThe death of DuPont, Booth, Deputy Carl and \nanyone else makes headlines, even as far south as \nArkham.\nIf the characters do not lay low Coleburne will have \n\nThe Unbound Book\nThe Rise of Xnaaki\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nagents locate them and attempt to get the statue \nfrom them (these agents will be similar to Deputy \nCarl in ability). \nTwo days after the events in Steeplin the DuPont \nhomestead is burnt to the ground. DuPont’s \nfuneral, scheduled for a week after the fateful \nevening, goes ahead despite the arson. DuPont’s \nnext of kin arrive from England soon afterwards \nand by the time the characters return to the valley, \nplans are already under way to sell the Mill.\nInterpreting the manuscript pages takes four or \nfive days of study (see Investigation of the Artifacts \nbelow) and should allow for injured characters to \nregain a few Hit Points.\nInvestigation of the Artifacts\nThe Diary of DuPont\nApproximately 90 pages in length, it is not what one \nwould call a conventional diary, rather it discusses \nthe DuPont family lineage and history. (See the The \nDiary of DuPont sidebar).\nThe Manuscript Pages \nThe seven pages making up the manuscript are in \nphysically poor condition. Written in a combination of \nEnglish and Arabic the handwriting is in a particularly \nerratic style, using a dark red and suspiciously blood \n-like ink. The pages are stiff and inflexible as if made \nof some sort of treated fabric or hide.\nSkimming the Manuscript. It is obvious that the \nauthor is a madman as the manuscript often jumps \nbetween English and Arabic, frequently mid-sentence. \nThere are references to many different cults, religions \nand Great Old Ones in the text, but more specifically, \nseveral different rituals or spells can be made out.\nOrigins of the Manuscript Pages. Any further \ninvestigation into the origins of the text requires an \nadequate library (such as the Restricted Section of \nthe Miskatonic University library) and a successful \nLibrary Use roll. \nThe pages are from the Book of Al Arkmar’b, which \nis about 500 years old. Essentially this text is a poor \ntranslation of several rituals and spells written by an \neven older Arabic madman. The full book is supposed \nto cover a variety of Mythos subjects, although \nthe pages on hand specifically refer to Xnaaki, its \nServants and several related rituals. According to \nthe few tomes that make reference to the Book of Al \nArkmar’b, only one copy of this manuscript exists.\nA further Library Use Roll can be made to research the \ncults, disciples and history of Xnaaki.\nA cult existed in 1050ad that had made reference \nto the worship of ‘The Banished’ evil god - many \ndetails of which fit the description of Xnaaki. This \n11\nThe Diary of DuPont\n1750. Fredric DuPont is born to Martha and Alfred \nDuPont in the colony of New York.\n1780. At age 30, Fredric travels to the Middle East and \nopens a successful trading business. About this time his \nparents die and he is left the family fortune.\n1790. Fredric becomes involved in the establishment of \na gentlemans club, primarily to assist in his trading. This \nclub however has a much more sinister heart.\n1800. Fredric begins preparations to return to America \nas tension amongst the club’s more powerful members \nbuilds.\n1801. The cult is disbanded and Fredric leaves for \nWashington D.C. with the leader of the cult.\n1802. DuPont arrives home in America without the cult \nleader is dead (althought the Stone of Xnalku, the cult’s \nmost powerful artifact is now in his possession).\n1809. Fredric has spends 7 years traveling with the \nStone of Xnalku as his guide, finally settling in the \nSteeplin Valley.\n1810. Construction begins on the DuPont mill. \n1811. The Church of Xnaaki is established.\n1812. The Church is closed to keep the Mill workers \nhappy.\n1815. DuPont marries and turns over a new leaf, \nabandoning his pursuit of Xnaaki. The statue is made to \nhide the Stone of Xnalku.\n1821. Fredric has his first and only child, Robert.\n1826. Fredric DuPont dies in hunting accident.\n1842. Robert comes of age and takes ownership of the \nDuPont Mill.\n1844. Robert marries.\n1847. The statue and a few other items of jewelry are \nstolen from the DuPont estate and a fire is used to cover \nthe theft. The thieves sell the stolen items on foreign \nblack markets.\n1855. Mathew DuPont is born.\n1885. Mathew marries and takes ownership of the Mill. \nThe same year Robert dies.\n1889. Henry DuPont is born.\n1910. The manuscript pages are discovered by a Steeplin \ntown deputy. With the script he reforms the cult which \nslowly grows in numbers and influence.\n1916. Mathew is killed by the cult when he refuses to \njoin.\n1917. Henry takes ownership of the DuPont Mill and \nquickly learns the truth behind his fathers death.\n1918. Henry begins researching a way to stop the \ncult and destroy Xnaaki. He also begins to plan the \nrelocation of the Mill and the local population away \nfrom the Lake.\n1919. The Stone of Xnalku is located and Henry arranges \nfor its sale in Arkham. Closing the mill is proving more \ndifficult than initially planned.\n1920. The cult begins to fight the move, as does the \nMill’s board, although for very different reasons. The \nstone arrives in Arkham ahead of schedule.\nThe last entry in the dairy is on the 1st of August, in which \nHenry states heplans to hire a number of ‘trustworthy \nsouls’ to acquire the statue…\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nThe Rise of Xnaaki\n12\ncult led by an Arab was based in England’s Severn \nValley. No further details are given, although the \ncults destruction is later mentioned as taking place \nafter locals claimed a demon had visited them in their \nsleep.\nIn 1790ad more evidence of a Xnaaki cult is recorded, \nthis time in Egypt. Again its members are said to have \ndisappeared suddenly.\nA reference can be found concerning the Steeplin \nValley and a ‘Church of Xnaaki’. Opened in 1811, it \nis described as a place of free worship until, with the \ninflux of Christian workers to the area forced it was \nfocred to close its doors. Further details on what was \nworshipped in the church are not mentioned, although \nsuggestion are made that one Fredric DuPont, a town \nfather, was actively involved in the worship there.\nRituals in the Manuscript Pages. There are four \nrituals scattered amongst the pages of the manuscript, \neach of which must be translated and studied. Each \nspell or ritual takes approximately a day to translate, \nread and absorb. (See the Rituals from the \nManuscript sidebar).\nOn the seventh page of the text is the beginning \nof a very different spell and, although the opening \nsentences are in English, the spell itself is actually \nwritten in an Arabic code. Both a successful Arabic \nand Mathematics rolls are required to crack this \ncode, although if translated the reader discovers that \nthe ritual is incomplete, instead hinting that it is for \nopening a gateway or a portal to another ‘world’. No \nmore can be learned without the other pages from the \nmanuscript - which of course are not present.\nDuring the translation of the manuscript the group \nwill no doubt uncover that the rituals can only be \nenacted on a night with either a new or full moon. A \nquick calculation can be made to discover that when \nthe adventure began it was a new moon, meaning that \neven after spending a week translating the rituals, they \nmay have several more days to wait before attempting \nto raise Xnaaki. This is of course is a convenient \nopportunity to acquire weapons and formulate a plan \nof attack.\nThe Statue \nBefore DuPont died he would have advised the party \nthat the Stone of Xnalku is in the statue, so before \nthey will be able to perform the final ritual, the Bain of \nXnalku, they will need to free it.\nIt is possible to take it to the jewellery store where it \nwas made, Haywrights in Arkham. Also there is the \npossibility that they will investigate at the jewellers for \nfurther clues. \nThe original sculptor is long dead (the statue being \nmade over a hundred years ago) but his son Avery \nHaywright (now in his 70s) now runs the Jewellery \nstore and has records of the statue. These confirm the \ngeneral design of the piece and mention that there is \nan oval stone at its center.\nIf requested, Haywright can cut free the Stone of \nXnalku, or alternatively the statue may simply be \nsmashed to pieces. Either way the stone is unharmed.\nRituals from the Manuscript\nCall of Xnaaki\nLanguage:English\nCost: Nil\nRequired Casting Time: 3 mins\nA successful English roll is required to read and \nunderstand this ritual. The Call of Xnaaki is a simple \nchant, which, when cast under a full or new moon at \nmidnight on the shores of Xnaaki’s prison, calls forth \nthe Great One from its slumber. Xnaaki will surface in \napproximately 5 minutes. \nRestrain Xnaaki Servant\nLanguage:English & Arabic\nCost: 0 - 2 Magic Points\nRequires Casting Time: 1 Combat Round\nSpell Duration: 1 hour\nRequires one read English roll (to understand the ritual \npurpose) and a further read Arabic roll to complete the \ntranslation. This spell restrains all Servants of Xnaaki \nfrom coming with 5 feet of the caster, although the it has \nno effect Xnaaki nor his mortal worshippers. \nVeil of Azif\nLanguage: English & Arabic\nCost: 1d6+1 Magic Points*\nRequires Casting Time: 2 -3 mins\nSpell Duration: 3d6 mins\nRequires one read English roll (to understand the ritual \npurpose) and a further read Arabic roll to complete the \ntranslation. When invoked the casters vision is masked, \nas if they are in a heavy thick fog (all attacks and actions \nshould take this into account). The most important \nfunction of this spell is to allow the caster the option of \nexpending Magic Points instead San for sanity loss.\n*Sanity cost is only for the first casting, additional \ncastings only cost 1 Sanity.\nBain of Xnalku\nLanguage: English & Arabic\nCost: 1 Magic Point\nRequires Casting Time: 1 Combat Round\nRequires one read English roll (to understand the ritual \npurpose) and a further read Arabic roll to complete \nthe translation. This spell allows the caster to destroy \nthe Stone of Xnalku by making a POW Resistance Roll \nversus the POW Xnaaki. Multiple casters can combine \nPOW scores to make a single resistance check against \nXnaaki. Failure just enrages Xnaaki further, success \nresults in the stone being destroyed and Xnaaki being \nbanished back to prision... forever?\n\nThe Unbound Book\nThe Rise of Xnaaki\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nThe Stone of Xnalku \nThe stone is small enough to fit into the palm of your \nhand but weighs much more than your’d expect from \na rock of this size. Its black surface is covered with \nfaint weaving ridges, each one tainted with a subtle \ncrimson streak. \nThe Veil of Azif. When seen under the veil, the stone \nhas a much more alien appearance.\nThe stone appears to shift and move, the ridges \nturn into tiny tentacles that dart about in random \ndirections. It has an unnatural glow and seems to \nemit a whimpering groan, as if it were some lame \nanimal.\nCalm Before the Storm \nThe characters should now have learnt three important \nfacts:\nThat Xnaaki is trapped in Steeplin Lake and cannot \nescape without the stone of Xnalku. \nThat there appears to be only one way to destroy \nthe stone – the Bain of Xnalku ritual.\nThe ritual must be carried out in the presence of \nXnaaki.\nAt this stage they have two options – hide the stone or \ndestroy it and Xnaaki. \nIf the characters decide to hide the stone they will \ndiscover that it has an uncanny way of being found. \nThis option should be discouraged, in fact DuPont \nhimself has advised against it. If they still persist with \nthis option, further attacks by disciples of Xnaaki \nshould eventually either, change their minds or kill \nthem outright.\nThe smarter course of action is to destroy the stone. \nTo do this all characters should learn the rituals (or at \nleast the last three) if they hope to destroy the stone. \nFor those who do not have skill to read Arabic, it can \nbe translated for them, and a Read/Write English Roll \nmade instead, although this is with a 10% penalty.\nDeciding how to deal with Xnaaki and his Servants \nshould be a simple enough decision – kill the Servants \nand banish Xnaaki. They can keep the Servants at bay \nwith the Restrain ritual and the Bain of Xnalku will \nstop the Great Old One. The disciples, however, pose \na different type of threat, one which the characters \nwill have to think carefully about. Characters killing \nthe disciples in cold blood or without provocation risk \nlosing sanity.\nNo matter how much the characters plan and \nregardless of how well they deal with the Servants and \ndisciples – Xnaaki is still a Great Old One. Its horror, \nmagnitude and total alienness should not be down \nplayed. Most normal humans encountering Xnaaki \nwould not only lose their minds but also their lives. \nThe key to the climax of the scenario is in exposing \nthe characters to the horror of Xnaaki without having \nthem being pointless slaughtered. (Of course reckless \nor foolish players should be treated by the Keeper as \nappetisers for the Great Old One.)\nLet the players hack n’ slash the Servants and struggle \nwith the disciples but most importantly they should \ncome away with the feeling that they have not defeat \nXnaaki, but rather having simply escaped it alive. \n13\nWhere \nXnaaki \nrises ->\n<- Steeplin Lake Road \n10 minutes to town\nMain Clearing\n8 miles to the Mill\nMap of the Steeplin Lake\nRitual Clearing\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nThe Rise of Xnaaki\n14\nSteeplin Lake\nThe characters can enter Steeplin County by train or \ncar, however as they will need to travel undetected \nand also make their way to the lake, a car would be \nadvisable.\nThe lake is about 10 minutes drive east of the town, on \na road that arcs gently northwards. At this point the \nlake is only about 8 miles from the Mill. \nThe climatic conclusion will probably unfold by itself, \nthe Keeper should not need to spend to much time \nsetting the scene as either the characters will rush the \nritual and try to raise Xnaaki before the cult arrives \nor will wait to ambush them. A few basic points to \nremember are.\nThe ritual ‘Call of Xnaaki’ will only work under a \nfull or new moon.\nThe disciples meet every full and new moon at the \nritual clearing, although the characters may or may \nnot be aware of this.\nAfter the ‘Call of Xnaaki’ ritual is completed it takes \nseveral minutes for the Great Old One to rise.\nHow Xnaaki and his minions react to the attack can \nvary greatly depending on how the Keeper wishes to \ntreat them., while the number of protagonists depends \non the size and combat skills of the party. The Author \nrecommends that in addition to the Sheriff and the \neventual arrival of Xnaaki, a good guide is two cultists \nand/or one Servant per party member. \nOnce darkness falls the cultist gather in the ritual \nclearing in preparation for the evening ahead. Up until \nmidnight they enact chants and rituals, worshipping \nXnaaki and speaking of the time it will rise eternal and \nbestow gifts upon all those who follow.\nUnless the characters make a point of being seen they \nwill not be noticed observing the cultists ceremonies.\nMidnight at the Shores of the \nPrison\nAt midnight the characters are able start the ritual \nwhich will raise Xnaaki. This requires chants and \nactions of it‘s own, which quite possibly could attract \nthe cultists attention. \nOnce the ritual is completed, Xnaaki begins to rise . \nFrom the bottom of the lake bubbles of air escape and \nsoon a dark shape can be seen nearing the surface. \nThis takes about 5 minutes and if not already alerted, \nthe arrival of Xnaaki soon gets the cultists attention.\nOnce to the surface of the lake Xnaaki makes its way to \nthe characters location.\nThrough the darkness you hear the creature, a \ngrumbling howl, punctuated with piercing alien \nshrieks. The ground vibrates and the sound of foliage \nsplintering and shrubs being crushed reaches your \nears. It appears suddenly, almost as if it were some \nhorrifyingly animated train – moving towards you \non a mass of writhing tentacles rather than wheels. Its \nsegmented body is shiny and black, its other worldly \nappearance is an unbelievable sight. The head of the \ncreature is simply a black pit – a mouth perhaps - but \nyou cannot bring yourself to look for long. As it raises \nits first segments from the ground, towering 10 feet \nXnaaki\nAdvanced Description Xnaaki’s slimy dripping body \nis bulberous in shape and loosely cylindrical, 6 to 7 feet \nwide and at least 40 feet long. It moves on a belly of \ntentacles, each approximately 6 in lenght. Its massive \ngapping mouth is filled with row upon row of wriggling \ntentacle like teeth.\nOrigins of Xnaaki. The details concerning the origins \nof Xnaaki should remain hidden. Similarities to Glaaki \ncan be made but one can never know the truth behind \neither.\nCult of Xnaaki. Those mad or foolish enough to \nworship Xnaaki will be rewarded for their efforts, \nusually in the form of a horrifyingly gratuitous death! \nHowever those with an understanding of the ways of \nthe Great Olds, such as Sheriff Coleburne, are be able to \nface Xnaaki and receive gifts from the Great One. Xnaaki \nimparts knowledge of other races, worlds and times and \ninfrequently spells. Those mad and patient enough could \neasily uncover many of the world’s great secrets in the \nservice of this ancient entity. \nCreating Xnaaki Servants. Unlike Glaaki, Xnaaki \nis not well suited to mental control or attacks. It \ncommands its undead servants only after they have had \none of its tentacles imbedded in them. After a normal \ntentacle attack, when Xnaaki has its victim firmly in its \ngrasp it can shoot 1d4 smaller tentacles into them. Each \nof these tentacles does 1d4 damage, with any those doing \nonly 1 or 2 points failing to attach (falling to the ground \nto wither and die). Tentacles doing 3 or 4 points damage \nsuccessfully borrow into the victim. If the damage done \nto the victims in the ritual kills them, then they soon \nafter rise again as a Servant of Xnaaki. Victims surviving \nthis ordeal become living channels for the will of Xnaaki, \nalthough in day to day life they remain of their own free \nwill .\nTYPICAL SERVANT OF XNAAKI, The Will of \nXnaaki\nSTR \n17 \nINT \n12\nCON \n24 \nPOW \n13\nSIZ \n13 \nDEX \n6\nMove \n5 (slow and disjointed)\nHP \n15\nWeapons: Fist 40%, damage 1d3+1d4db.\nArmour: none\nSanity Loss: 1/1d8 to see a Servant of Xnnaki.\n\nThe Unbound Book\nThe Rise of Xnaaki\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \ninto the air – tentacles lash out in all directions.\nXNAAKI, Great Old One\nSTR \n32 \nINT \n26\nCON \n65 \nPOW \n28 \nSIZ \n60 \nDEX \n10\nMove \n7 (Centipede like on hundreds of squirming \ntentacles)\nHP \n65 (each tentacle has 8 hit points)\nMP \n16\nWeapons: Tentacles, 80%, damage 1d8+3d6db, \nXnaaki’s tentacles combine to act as one \nattack per turn. Xnaaki will focus this attack \non the closest target. (This can include any \ndisciple or Servant if close enough).\nDevour, 50%, damage 6d10 (per round). \nThe Devour attack requires the target to \nhave received a successful tentacle attack in \nprevious round. A successful devour attack \nsees the target swallowed whole.\nArmour: 25 points Xnaaki’s Body is soft and slimy, \nbut amazingly resilient to damage. Each of \nXnaaki’s tentacles has only 2 points of armour \nhowever.\nSanity Loss: 1d10/1d20. The darkness and prior \nunderstanding of the horror that \nis Xnaaki assists the characters in \nwithstanding this terrifying entity.\nSpells: Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells \nsidebar.\nMind Blast, as per CoC manual.\nEnthrall Victim, as per CoC manual.\nOnce Xnaaki reaches the lake side its Servants awaken \nto its call. These reside in the mud at the bottom of \nlake during the daylight hours and now rise from the \ndirt and slime around the characters feet.\nThe following are options that a Keeper may wish to \nkeep in mind while the combat between the characters \nand Xnaaki takes place.\nXnaaki. Xnaaki is enraged at being summoned in the \npresence of the Stone of Xnalku and will use physical \nrather than magical forms of attack. Reaching out with \nmassed tentacles it drags all that it grabs into its maw. \nHaving shrubs, cultists and Servants disappearing into \nthat black pit of a mouth will frighten the players as \nmuch as the sheer size and weight of the creature.\nMost attacks the characters will inflict on the Great \nOld One will focus on the tentacles, so go ahead and \nlet them blast away at these slimy ropes as the damage \nwill do little to effect Xnaaki.\n‘The Veil of Azif’. This ritual can mask the characters \nvision but it should also be treated as an advantage \nto the followers of Xnaaki. For example the veil \nmakes the undead appear as nothing more than dark \nshadows, while the living are vibrant and easily visible. \nThis means the characters will naturally focus on the \ncultists leaving the Servants free to act.\n‘Restrain Xnaaki Servant’. Once cast the Servants \ncannot attack the characters but they can still try to \ndistract them. \n‘The Stone of Xnalku’. Xnaaki and his Servants are \ndrawn to the stone and will focus their attention on the \ncharacter holding it. \n‘The Bain of Xnalku Ritual’. Regardless of how \nthe previous rituals are enacted, the casting of the \nfinal ritual should be dramatic. The clashing of minds \n– Xnaaki versus the characters, haunting flashes of \nother worlds, lives and horrors blind the characters as \nthey face Xnaaki. The Veil of Azif does little to shield \nthem from the alien and evil force that approximates \nthe horrifying mind of a Great Old One.\nCULTIST OF XNAAKI, Disciples of a Hidden God\n STR CON SIZ DEX INT POW DB HP\n1) 17 12 \n12 14 8 7 +1D4 12\n2) 16 14 16 8 12 12 +1D4 15\n3) 18 13 \n16 13 12 8 +1D6 16\n4) 15 18 \n17 12 11 9 +1D4 17\n5) 17 14 \n16 16 10 10 +1D6 16\n6) 16 15 \n15 17 7 14 +1D4 16\nConclusion\nAfter Xnaaki is banished its Servants collapse, their \ntentative link to the realm of the living severed. As \nfor the cultists, they lose heart once their master is \ndefeated although, if he is still alive, Sheriff Coleburne \nis furtherenraged and will attack the characters with a \nrenewed fury. \nThe Cultists. Any surviving cultists will give up after \nXnaaki is gone and the Sheriff is defeated. They will \nblame most of their acts on Coleburne, saying he was \nresponsible for leading them astray. \nThe survivors are from all walks of life, but most are \nfrom the older, more respected families from the \nvalley, and as such prison means little to them after \nthey lose their standing in the tight community.\nAs for any dead cultists and the Servants bodies, \nthe inevitable investigation will be confusing and \ncomplicated. Unless the players are sloppy they should \nnot have any trouble avoiding any repercussions. The \nkey to staying below the radar is simple – don’t leave \nany evidence behind.\nThe Journal and the Manuscript. These pose \n15\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nThe Rise of Xnaaki\n16\ninteresting questions. Have the party discovered the \nbeginning of the fifth ritual? Do the group hand over \nthe manuscript to the Miskatonic University and form \na relationship with a scholar there? Or do they hide \nthe manuscript to ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong \nhands?\nTo protect themselves, the Diary of DuPont should be \ndestroyed or at least securely hidden. The manuscript \non the other hand holds a potential evil, but does \nnot implicate the characters in any way. The players \ndecision on how to deal with these papers is a perfect \nopportunity to open up further adventures.\nSteeplin County. The town itself will return to \nnormal after the events of August 1920. Xnaaki \nremains hidden in the lake but is now trapped \npermanently… or so we hope.\nBooth. If he wasn’t discovered earlier, his body \nis found by the Rail authorities not to far from the \ntrain tracks. Apparently having survived the fall from \nthe train, he has died under even more mysterious \ncircumstances. Bound, with his throat cut, he is \ndrained of all his blood. A spiked beetle has been \ndrawn on his chest!\nRewards. Each character receives 1d20 Sanity (plus \nany extra for good roleplaying etc) in knowing that \nthey have stopped an ancient and terrible evil. Xnaaki \nstill resides in the lake, but with luck and foresight it \ncan never again … Rise!\nOn the Unbound \nWebsite \nThe Rise of Xnaaki \n- D20 Stats for The Rise of Xnaaki\n- A Players Guide to Steeplin Valley\n- Maps of Steeplin Valley and Township!\nVisit the Unbound Book Website @\n www.unboundbook.org\n\n(Note: To play this scenario it is suggested the Keeper has access \nto both the Dreamlands and Kingsport supplements for Call of \nCthulhu. In the absence of the Kingsport book, another city can \nbe substituted with a little effort, although some background \ninformation has been provided on the Resources page of The \nUnbound Book website [www.unboundbook.org]).\nKeeper’s Background\nWhen Jonathan Nash died he left his tottering Georgian home on \nChurch Street, Kingsport, to his Bostonian nephew, Allen. Allen \nwas shocked at the dilapidated state his eccentric, reclusive uncle \nhad left the place in, but realised its potential value if it was ‘done \nup’ and decided to do it himself, as a weekend project.\nA month or so into the job, Allen happened upon a secret \ncompartment in his uncle’s former bedroom – the only room \nthat appeared ‘lived in’. In this compartment he discovered three \nitems of interest: a bag containing several bottles of a strong \nsedative, an oddly shaped Crystal on a metal stand and a journal.\nIn this journal, Jonathan told how he had stolen the Crystal from \na Chinese Sorcerer when travelling in the East and how he had \ndiscovered its incredible power. If a man sleeps with the Crystal \nbeside his bed, he is transported in his dreams to a marvellous \nland of wonders - a land where a man of strong will can become \nwhatever he desires and go where it is even possible to cheat \nphysical death. It was clear that over the years Jonathan spent \nmore and more of his time in this world, using sedatives to \nprolong his sleep. This seems to have had severe effects on \nJonathan’s health and sanity, and indeed, near the end of his life \nthe journal became totally incoherent.\nJonathan died, hit by a car, on a rare trip outside his house to \nbuy food, and as such lost his chance of immortality in the land of \nDream.\nAllen was fascinated and decided to sleep with the Crystal on \nhis nightstand. That night he discovered the Dreamlands – \nentering the Enchanted Wood through a magical cave of the same \nsubstance as the Dream Crystal. That first evening he became \nenchanted, and indeed, addicted.\nTaking a six month sabbatical from his job as a librarian at \nHarvard, he moved into the house on Church Street where he \ncould dream in peace. But after a few weeks he had an accident \n– seemingly minor but with terrible ramifications.\nVenturing into parts of the Dreamlands his placid uncle never \nfound, Allen, a veteran of the Great War with a much darker \nimagination, disturbed a hungry Gug. Fleeing headlong from the \nbeast he woke with a start and leaped from his bed, knocking the \nCrystal to the floor, and cracking it.\nHe was terrified he had ruined it and immediately took a sedative \nto test its power. He was relieved to find the Dreamlands were \nstill accessible, but what he did not realise was that the crack \nhad altered the Crystal’s structure in one significant way – now it \nworked BOTH WAYS.\nSince that night, a week ago, every time Allen uses the Crystal \n17\nThe Unbound Book\nHis Wildest Dreams\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \n‘Her Hunger’ © 2002 Alan M. Clark\nHis Wildest \nDreams\nBy Mark Chiddicks\nA Call of Cthulhu Adventure set \nin Kingsport, January 1925\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nHis Wildest Dreams\n18\nsomething crosses into the Waking World – appearing \nrandomly within a quarter of a mile of the house and \nstaying in Kingsport for a random period of time \nbefore being snatched back to its own dimension.\nThese Dream creatures are often harmless, but \nsometimes terrible and it is an encounter with \nthese terrible things that brings our heroes into the \nadventure.\nIntroduction – The Cloudbeast\nIt is a chill winter evening in Kingsport. This town \ncan be a forlorn place out of season, now tourism is \nits lifeblood. In the middle of winter there are few \ntourists and most of the local artistic community is \nout of town. Freezing fogs roll in from the sea on \nmost nights, reducing visibility to a few feet. On this \nparticular night however, there is not fog, but clouds \nhang heavily overhead.\nThe Investigators are visiting the Congregational \nHospital in Central Hill where a mutual friend, Dr \nCurtis Newman, is recovering from burns suffered \nin last nights’ terrible fire which gutted his church \nand killed five parishioners. Newman has specifically \nasked for the Investigators to visit him.\nDr Newman is, sadly, in a wretched state. Heavily \ndosed with morphine for the pain of his burns, he \nhardly recognises his friends, but in a lucid moment he \nmoans that a ‘demon’ attacked his Church, burning up \nthrough the floor and trapping half the congregation. \nIt was a miracle God spared him and he must warn \neveryone that demons are real.\nIf asked to describe the demon, he will break down, \nunless a Persuade or Psychoanalysis roll is made, in \nwhich case he manages a reasonable description of the \nfront third of a 10ft long Fireworm of Parg. No doubt \nthe PCs will leave, believing the shock to have been too \nmuch for their friend.\nAs they exit the hospital and walk towards their car or \ncars, the heavens open and heavy rain starts to pour. If \na Spot Hidden roll is made, one of them glances up at \nthe clouds, and sees a horror!\nImmediately above the car park the clouds are roiling \nand twisting as if they were alive. The very clouds \nthemselves seem to be shaping into great pseudopods, \nwhich are even now reaching down towards you!\nA sanity loss of 1/1d6 is appropriate, before any \ndeclaration of intent.\nIf the Beast is not noticed, the first they know of it is \nwhen a great misty tentacle snakes down and attacks \na nurse who is running into the Hospital, a newspaper \nheld over her head. If it is seen, the Beast attacks the \nInvestigators instead.\nIf the nurse is attacked, the attack is automatically \nsuccessful as she is pulled up screaming, into the \nclouds, never to be seen again. In this case, the sanity \nloss is 1/1d10 instead!\nThere is no earthly weapon capable of harming a \nCloudbeast. If a victim resists its attempts to absorb \nthem, the Beast drops him, doing 2d6 damage. Apart \nfrom that the only thing to do is to run back inside \nthe Hospital. Heroic Investigators might, of course, \nwish to aid the nurse, who is still running across the \ncar park. If they fail to do so, further sanity rolls are \nappropriate.\nOnce indoors, the Investigators are safe and the \nCloudbeast flies off across Central Hill, snatching \naway a further three poor souls before it vanishes. \nNow they have personally witnessed such a horror, \nthe Investigators will surely realise something must \nbe done!\nCLOUDBEAST, Vaporous Predator\nSTR \nN/A \nINT \n3\nCON \n40 \nPOW \n10\nSIZ \n80 \nDEX \n14\nMove \n4 floating\nHP \n60\nWeapons: Bite 40%, damage 1d3+8 – resist \nPOW+SIZ vs damage or be absorbed, \nand add to SIZ.\nPrelude - The Creatures of Dream\nBefore the Investigators are involved with the case \nthe following creatures have travelled over from \nthe Dreamlands.\nTuesday 13/01/25. Being of Ib - wanders Central \nHill Cemetery in terror. Seen by the wino, Davy \nHarris.\nWednesday 14/01/25. Wenelian - wrecks \nKingsport Public Library, seen by nobody.\nThursday 15/01/25. 5 Zoogs scuttle around \nCentral Hill, killing cats – 8 cats die horribly, \nseveral witnesses see ‘wild wolverine’ or similar \ncreatures.\nFriday 16/01/25. Butterfly Dragon appears in \nHubert Davis’ apartment in Robbin’s Apartments \nand deafens him. Nobody believes his story, but the \ndoctor is mystified. Davis is in the Congregational \nHospital undergoing tests.\nSaturday 17/01/25. Small Fireworm of Parg \n- appears in the basement of the First Unitarian \nChurch and burns it down during evening service. \n5 die, 3 badly burned survivors, including the \nPastor, claim a ‘Worm Demon from Hell’ came up \nthrough the floor.\nSunday 18/01/25. The Cloudbeast Attacks – \nsee below.\n\nThe Unbound Book\nHis Wildest Dreams\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nVaporous Tentacle 25%, drags to mouth \nand adds 1d6 to bite damage, next round.\nArmour: None, regenerates 8HP per round.\nSanity Loss: 1/1d6 to see a Cloudbeast \nThe Next Day\nThe Investigators are likely to have ended the previous \nevening talking to skeptical policemen and may well \nhave decided to stay the night, even if that was not their \noriginal plan. At this time of year all the guesthouses \nhave rooms and are willing to open up late at night to \nget some much needed custom. A Kingsport tourist \nbrochure will be in any room the Investigators may \nrent.\nIn the morning, the town is in a panic – everyone has \nheard rumours of the horror that came from the skies \nlast night, even if few saw it and many give the tales \nlittle credence.\nApart from themselves, the Investigators encounter \nnobody else who actually witnessed the Beast, but \neveryone knows of it second or third hand.\nNonetheless, \nthe \nKingsport \nChronicle \nsplashes \nthe story across the front page of its late edition. \nReference in the story to “The latest in a series of \nbizarre occurrences” should lead the Investigators, \nnon-natives of the town, to visit the newspaper or at \nleast seek out back copies at the library.\nIf the Investigators have not stayed the night in \nKingsport, they will see a copy of the Chronicle \nelsewhere at a later point in the day. If they don’t return \nto Kingsport before nightfall, they will not witness \nJulian St Jerome’s firing (see below), but St Jerome \nwill not start to investigate until the next day, giving \nthem a chance to meet him before his disappearance. \nIn this case, insert an extra, non-deadly sending into \nthe adventure before the Leng Spider – a gigantic \nmoth flying above the rooftops, for example.\nThe Kingsport Chronicle\nThe previous night’s events are reported thus:\n“IT CAME FROM ABOVE” – Bizarre disappearances \nterrorise Kingsport. Several witnesses claim ‘Demon \nfrom the sky’ took their friends. \nThe story is credited to Julian St Jerome, the paper’s \nmost imaginative reporter (a man, indeed, made of the \nsame material as the Investigators themselves).\nWhen the Investigators arrive at the Chronicle, \nhowever, they discover the editor, Stanley Carter, in \nthe midst of firing St Jerome. They overhear something \nabout “a sensationalist idiot, printing unsubstantiated \nrumour, fit only for a New York scandal sheet or a \nPenny Dreadful!”\nEither St Jerome or Carter will tell the Investigators \nthat St Jerome had told the print room to change the \nfront page of the second edition at the last moment, \nclaiming, falsely that Carter (who was at breakfast) had \napproved it.\nIf asked directly about ‘strange occurrences’, Carter \nwill call it ‘nonsense’ and ask the Investigators to stop \nwasting his time, though he will give access to back \nissues if requested by anyone who seems even vaguely \nrespectable.\nSt Jerome, on the other hand, freshly out of work, will \nbe only too happy to discuss his theory with willing \nlisteners and will suggest they retire to a nearby café \nto talk about it.\nIf the Investigators don’t talk to St Jerome before \nhe leaves the Chronicle, Carter will give them his \naddress in Mother Gamble’s Boarding House (home, \nincidentally to an insane young occultist, Malcolm \nVeidt, who could become involved if Investigators are \nindiscreet – he’d love to own the Dream Crystal, and \ncould even learn to control its sendings!).\nJULIAN St JEROME, Sensationalist, Age 26\nSTR \n12 \nEDU \n13 \nKnow 65%\nCON \n12 \nPOW \n14 \nLuck 70%\nSIZ \n13 \nINT \n15 \nIdea 65%\nDEX \n12 \nAPP \n15 \nHP 13\n \n \n \n \nSAN 70\nDamage Bonus: +1d4\nWeapons: None\nSkills: Accounting 20%, Bargain 40%, Credit Rating \n19\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nHis Wildest Dreams\n20\n10%, Fast Talk 80%, Law 25%, Library Use \n50%, Listen 70%, Occult 10%, Persuade 66%, \nPhotography 40%, Psychology 50%, Spot \nHidden 60%, Fist 60%.\nBack Issues\nNot all of the events of the last week have made the \npaper, but the following stories may be noticed:\nThursday: Public Library Ransacked by Intruder. \nNo witnesses, nothing taken, police unsure of how \nintruder got in or out, but many bookshelves and desks \nturned over and much damage done - “An appalling \nsign of the philistinic age in which we live”\nFriday: Wild Animal At Large in Kingsport – Keep \nYour Pet Indoors! Eight cats slaughtered in a single \nnight. Several witnesses described a creature that ‘may \nhave been a wolverine’. Local Animal Control warn \nKingsport residents to keep their cats indoors while \nthey hunt for the creature. “Whatever this beast is, it \nkills for sport, not food.”\nSunday: \nFire \nGuts \nUnitarian \nChurch. \nFive \nParishioners Die, Pastor Injured. The story makes \nno mention of eyewitness accounts of the ‘demon’s’ \nattack, and suggests an electrical fault started the fire \nwhich burned in the basement, where old prayer books \nand the like were stored, for some time before erupting \ninto the main building. “A great tragedy for Kingsport, \nand surely a test of all our faith.”\nCarter added editorial gloss to the first and third \nstories, but all three were in fact written by St Jerome. \nNow he has calmed down, the editor admits St Jerome \nis a ‘fine writer’, but his search for sensation in every \nstory is just unsuitable for a paper like the Chronicle.\nInterviewing St Jerome\nJulian St Jerome is keen to discuss his ideas, provided \nof course, none of the Investigators are journalists. In \nthat case, he will be suspicious they intend to steal his \nstory, and he must be ‘Persuaded’ to co-operate.\nAssuming he is willing to talk, and wherever the \ninterview happens, Julian proves to be an affable, \nintelligent young man, though possessing a somewhat \nwild imagination. Depending on the experience of \nthe Investigators this may be viewed as a good or bad \nthing:\n‘There’s something going on in Central Hill,” explains \nSt Jerome. “This week I have reported on four \ndifferent stories, all with some kind of strange angle \nto them, all within a few hundred yards of the Central \nHill Cemetery.”\n“I don’t know if you’ve been reading the paper, but \napart from that story last night, which got me fired, \nthere was a fire at the Unitarian Church on Saturday \n– I have witness accounts that talk about a Demon, \nif you can believe that; then there was a weird \noccurrence in the middle of the week where something \nripped apart 8 cats in a couple of hours – the story \nCarter printed suggested a wolverine, but again, \nwitnesses told me otherwise.” \n“Then back on Wednesday night there was some \nweird sort of break-in at the Library – except nobody \nBROKE in. The place was locked up tight as a drum \nand someone or something got in and trashed the \nplace. I got a look at it and it was like a chimpanzee \nor something had run riot in there for the whole night \n– one hell of a mess!”\n“I tried to convince Carter that there’s a pattern, \nbut he won’t even listen – says I’ve got a ‘wild \nimagination, not commensurate with my standing as \nmember of the Press.’ I guess he’s right; I shouldn’t be \nworking for a small-minded small-town rag like the \nChronicle.”\n“Anyway,” he says, finally drawing breath, “how can \nI help you – or maybe you can help me, eh?”\nSt Jerome knows the following information, all of \nwhich can also be uncovered by the Investigators with \nintelligent questioning:\nHe interviewed several survivors of the fire, \nthose uninjured described smoke suddenly rising from \nthe floorboards followed seconds later by an eruption \nof flame near the front of the aisle. He interviewed one \nof the burned survivors, Martha Franks, who told him a \n‘Great scaly Demon’ came from the hole and devoured \nthree men. Only Dr Newman kept his head and was \nable to get her and another woman to safety through \nthe vestry, despite being badly burned in saving her. \nThe other survivor, Rebecca Smith, was too ill to talk, \nand the pastor was unwilling to talk to him. A fireman \ntold him the dead men were ‘burned to a crisp’ by an \n\nThe Unbound Book\nHis Wildest Dreams\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \n‘extreme heat’, which mystified him.\nThree witnesses of the cat killer described the \ncreature. The ‘wolverine’ description comes from \nCarter accepting the least detailed and least outlandish. \nOne old lady said the thing which killed her ‘Pussy’ \nhad a face made of tentacles, like an octopus, and the \nremaining witness, who saw only the hind quarters of \nthe thing (which were, indeed, wolverine-like) swears \nhe heard the creature giggling as it scuttled away from \nhis dead pet. The deceased felines appeared to have \nbeen ‘broken’ rather than savaged, judging from the \ntwo St Jerome was shown.\nThe Librarian told him there was a ‘strange, \nelectric smell’ in the air when she entered \nher wrecked library. In St Jerome’s opinion that \ndamage was like one would expect from a wild animal, \nrather than a man, although no sign of tooth or claw \ndamage was visible.\nA wino, Davy Harris, approached him when \nhe was exploring the graveyard for clues and \noffered him a ‘story’ for $5. St Jerome offered him \n$2, and Harris told him that on Tuesday night he saw \na ‘strange little guy’ creeping around the graves – he \nswears it wasn’t human, having big eyes and ears, ‘like \nsome kinda bush-baby’. Harris said when he saw this \ncreature he fled, and so did the creature, which seemed \nas scared as he did – no evidence of it was apparent \nwhen St Jerome searched the graveyard.\nLast night’s events were described to him by \nthree witnesses; a couple who saw their dining \ncompanion snatched into the clouds and a man, \ncurrently hospitalised with a broken leg, who claimed \nthe ‘cloud’ picked him up and dropped him 30ft to the \nground. Apart from the witnessed disappearance, and \nthe nurse (if she was taken), three other people who \nwere out that night have been reported missing! In at \nleast one case screams were heard from the next street, \nbut nothing was seen.\nSt Jerome sums up that all of these events happened \n‘close by’ the Graveyard. He is sure they have some \ncommon cause and he would welcome help in \nsearching it out. He would love to see Carter’s face \nwhen a big city paper printed the story the Chronicle \nthought ‘too outlandish’ to pursue! He’d be willing to \ngive 50% of whatever he could sell the story for to the \nInvestigators if they helped him break it! (Pit Bargain \nvs. Bargain to improve the deal, if required).\nFurther Investigations\nSt Jerome suggests he should interview the occupants \nof all the houses overlooking the graveyard, and that \nthe Investigators pursue their own lines of research. \nHe suggests meeting for dinner at The Sea’s Harvest \nRestaurant in South Shore at 8pm to compare notes. \nIf asked, he gives the names and addresses of all the \nwitnesses mentioned in the conversation, since the \nInvestigators may be able to find out something he \nmissed.\nThe following may present themselves as possible \navenues of research:\nRe-interviewing the witnesses. This is a mostly \nfruitless exercise, since St Jerome is a skilled \ninterviewer who learned nearly all worth knowing. \nHowever, a couple of significant points will occur. \nFirstly, the wino, Davy Harris proves elusive. Nobody \nwho the Investigators might ask knows him, and he is \nnowhere to be found (for today, at least). Secondly, \nany attempt to visit one of the burned survivors in \nthe hospital leads to the encounter with Hubert Davis, \ndetailed below. Visiting Dr. Newman again proves \npointless, as he is under heavy sedation.\nLibrary Research. Kingsport Library is ‘Closed for \nRepairs’, after the Wenelian wrecked the place. Any \njourney out of town to another library proves fruitless, \nunless the restricted collection at Miskatonic can be \naccessed, in which case see below.\nCthulhu Mythos Research. No Dream Lore tomes \nare available to the Investigators, but either a Cthulhu \nMythos Knowledge roll, or a Research roll in a Mythos \ntome (halved in each case) will reveal the common \nthread amongst the things has been seen so far is \nDream. Apparently, through some sorcerous methods, \ncreatures from another dimension, usually accessible \nonly through Dreams, are crossing into the Waking \nWorld.\nLocal Historians. Although usually a very intelligent \ncourse of action, in this case interviewing such people \nas Aaron Hart at the Historical Society, or old Danny \nHoughton at the Mariner’s Home will cause only \nconfusion. Hart is senile anyway, but records at the \nsociety and the memories of older residents will \ncontain clues to such things as the Kingsport Cult, the \nwreck of the Hellene and the Strange High House in \nthe Mist. Of these, only the latter may be of use in this \nscenario. \nExploring the Graveyard. A Spot Hidden roll \ndiscovers a tomb with a forced door within which Davy \nHarris’ sleeping place and a collection of empty bottles \ncan be found. Harris will not be found here until late \nthat night, since he is elsewhere in town begging for \nfood. No sign of anything supernatural or suspicious \ncan be found anywhere in the Cemetery, unless the \nInvestigators have met Solomon Oakes – it which case, \nsee below for more details.\nThe Strange High House in the Mist. If the \nInvestigators choose to visit this place, then they \nmay (20%) encounter William Bain. Bain will listen \nwith interest to any tales of strange creatures and will \n21\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nHis Wildest Dreams\n22\nvisibly pale. He assumes, wrongly, that his activities \nhave opened the rift between Dream and reality and \nwill ask the visitors to leave, while he meditates on a \ncourse of action. A Psychology roll reveals that he feels \nguilty and, if pressed, he admits he thinks he may be \nto blame. He promises no more such ‘visitations’ and \nthe next evening, the lightning destroys the House. \nAt this point, a Keeper with access to the Kingsport \nGuidebook could insert the scenario, ‘The House \non the Edge’. Within this dream the sendings have \nstopped, but on awaking from it they continue.\nVisiting the Sites of the Sendings. There is little \nto be learned from visiting the various places where \nthe Dream creatures have manifested. The Unitarian \nChurch is a hole full of burned timbers – suggestive \nof an accelerant to anyone with a knowledge of such \nthings. Kingsport Library is closed and if entered looks \nmuch as has been described, and all that can be found \nin investigating the cat slayer is a man from Animal \nControl scratching his head at some muddy footprints \nthat seem to match no known native predator (Zoology \nroll – they match no known animal on Earth!).\nWhatever the Investigators choose to do, they have \nuntil 8pm, at which point they are due to meet St \nJerome at Kingsport’s finest restaurant – they really \nneed time to dress for dinner as well!\nHubert Davis\nOn any second visit to the Congregational Hospital, the \nInvestigators may overhear the following conversation \nbetween a pair of passing doctors:\n“I think it’s psychosomatic – we’ve done all the tests \nand there is no physical reason for the hearing loss.”\n“Possibly, but I’ve never known a psychosomatic loss \nso total.”\n“I agree, but the man claims to have seen a dragon – I \nthink that’s a pretty clear sign of psychosis.”\n“A dragon?”\n“That’s what he says – ‘a dragon the size of a cat’, if \nyou please. It appeared in his apartment out of thin \nair, and when he tried to touch it, it breathed vapours \non him and he went deaf. Then it vanished.”\n“I see what you mean about psychosis!’\n“He even claims to have photographed it!”\nAt this the doctors walk off chuckling, but investigator \ncuriosity is likely to be piqued.\nIf the Investigators are able to both discover the \nidentity of this patient and gain access to either Doctor \nor Davis’ medical notes, they can learn the full story of \nHubert’s encounter with the Butterfly Dragon.\nBeing a shutterbug, Davis took a single, rather \nunderexposed photograph of the creature. He has the \nfilm in his coat pocket and will ask the Investigators to \nget it developed for him.\nThe photograph is clear enough for the creature to \nbe identified by anyone who knows what a Butterfly \nDragon is, but not clear enough to be accepted by the \nauthorities as anything other than a rather bizarre \nfake.\nSt Jerome’s Fate\nAfter a fruitless couple of hours, Julian St Jerome \nknocks on the door of Allen Nash’s house, which \nproves a fatal mistake. Nash, who is now sleeping from \nearly evening until lunchtime, has just awoken from a \nparticularly terrible trip to the peak of Thok and his \nfragile sanity is almost broken. The combination of \nhis bleak outlook on life and the damage to the Dream \nCrystal has resulted in his dream life spiralling into \ndarker and more deranged fantasies.\nWhen the dishevelled, wide-eyed Nash opens the door, \nSt Jerome is instantly suspicious. Charming his way \ninside the house (an event witnessed by Davy Harris \nwho is crouching in the Cemetery, having just awoken \nhimself from his latest bender), the reporter starts to \nexplain the situation to Nash. Nash realises, when the \nCloudbeast is described, that the Crystal has become a \ntwo-way gate. Desperate that he not lose his chance at \nimmortality, he grabs a poker and launches a frenzied \nattack on the reporter, breaking his skull open and \nfalling into true insanity.\nNow Nash is truly mad, his dreams will be the most \nobscene nightmares, and tonight’s will be the first in a \nseries of truly awful ‘visitors’!\nMeanwhile, Julian St Jerome’s corpse lies in the living \nroom of Nash’s house – Nash is too far-gone to even \n\nThe Unbound Book\nHis Wildest Dreams\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nbother hiding it.\nThat Evening\nThe Investigators wait for St Jerome at the restaurant, \nbut he does not show up, or answer his phone. \nWhenever they decide to give up and return to town \nwill coincide with the latest, and worst, manifestation \nof the damaged Dream Crystal.\nAs the Investigators drive up High Street towards \nCentral Hill, they come across a nightmare scene. \nAhead of them a cab has driven into a great web \nspanning the street where it is trapped like a great \nmechanical fly, its engine still running. As the \noccupants try to clamber clear, they are caught on \nthe web, and as a number of stunned witnesses watch \nuselessly from the street, a gigantic purple spider \nmoves across the web towards them!\nThis is a great Leng Spider, and it is hungry. Right \nnow the only people likely to do anything to help are \nthe Investigators, everyone else is either failing Sanity \nrolls, running away or staring uselessly.\nThe Spider will not leave its web unless it takes more \nthan 10 points of damage, in which case it will leave its \nprey to pursue its attacker. Luckily for everybody, this \nparticular Spider knows no spells. \nLENG SPIDER, Web-Spinning Horror\nSTR \n35 \nINT \n7\nCON \n20 \nPOW \n14\nSIZ \n40 \nDEX \n17\nMove \n6/8 in web\nHP \n35\nWeapons: Bite 40%, damage 1d6+3d6+poison – POT \n= 40 (20 damage, 10 if resisted).\nWeb 60%, Entangle with STR 20, Range \n10yds.\nArmour: 6 points of Chitin\nSanity Loss: 1/1d10 to see a Leng Spider. \nIf the Spider proves too much for the Investigators, it \nvanishes at just the moment when they seem utterly \ndoomed. It would be a shame to kill them just yet.\nWhen the Spider vanishes, which it does a few seconds \nafter being killed if not before, it does so by suddenly \nshimmering and blinking out of existence. Any victim \nin its jaws (i.e. hit the previous round) vanishes with \nit.\nThe web is left behind. It proves tough and resilient, \ndrying up in 24 hours at which point it can be chopped \napart. It burns only at blast furnace temperatures! This \nis one phenomenon even Carter cannot ignore, and \nfrom now on the Chronicle starts to report sanitised \nversions of all the more public manifestations of \nDream.\nReaction In Kingsport\nChief Crane and his small force of officers are not \nequipped to handle such an invasion from beyond, and \napart from cordoning off the area where the web is, do \nlittle else. Sensible Investigators may urge curfews or \neven the calling for outside aid, but Crane is indecisive \nfor at least 24 hours.\nWhat he does after that depends upon the nature \nof the next evening’s sending. If it results in injury, \ndeath or damage to public property, he consults with \nthe Mayor then he calls on Lt Commander Maddern \nat the Coast Guard Station for assistance. Kingsport \nis a town which values its individuality, and in which \nnothing is considered more of an insult than to suggest \nit is simply the ‘seaside suburb’ of Arkham. As a result \nthe impulse of Civic Authority in the town is to handle \nthis problem without calling on the Arkham Police \nDepartment.\nChief Crane also persuades the Mayor to call a \npublic meeting at Talbot Hall, where he announces \nKingsport’s intention to deal with the current crisis \nwithout calling on its larger neighbour. There will be \na dusk to dawn curfew in the Central Hill area along \nwith nightly patrols by armed Coast Guard men, \neach patrol to have one of the Kingsport police force \naccompanying them.\nAt the same time, experts in ‘this kind of thing’ are \nto be contacted for assistance. In this case, however, \nprogress is far too slow to prevent the sendings \nculminating in the appearance of the Dhole, which will \nkill several of the Coast Guard men along with many of \nthe local residents. This will cost Mayor Hoag the next \nelection!\nIf the Investigators approach the police, Mayor or \nCoast Guard claiming to be such ‘experts’ (and seem \nconvincing) then they will be given all official help \nnecessary to complete their investigations, including \naccess to the damaged library.\nIf they do access the library, a Library Use roll will \nuncover the story of the Kingsport Cult, which proves \nto be a most unfortunate red herring (unless of course \nthey have already crossed paths with Mr Oakes!) After \none more fatality, people will start to leave Kingsport \non ‘visits to relatives’ and the like – a most sensible \ncourse of action.\nResident Dreamers\nA number of Kingsport’s residents are experienced \nDreamers and as such may recognise the sendings as \ncreatures from the Lands of Dream they know so well.\n23\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0, June 2002\nHis Wildest Dreams\n24\nOf these, the three most significant are William Bain, \nBasil Elton and Robert Carlton.\nBain’s reaction has already been discussed, and Basil \nElton, out at the North Point Light is unlikely to hear \nabout the events in town in time to react to them \n(though he certainly would like to chat about them at \na later date).\nRobert Carlton, however, might react in such a way \nas to bring him to the attention of the Investigators. \nHe does not know the Dreamlands are anything other \nthan a product of his own imagination, and should he \nrealise that creatures from his dreams are invading \nthe city, he will be driven temporally insane. This \ninsanity is characterised by an acute hypnophobia \nand a fascination with the Central Hill area. He will \nwalk the streets at night, downing strong coffee from a \nvacuum flask. As soon as he discovers the sendings are \ncontinuing despite his refusal to sleep, he will throw \nhimself in the harbour, in a desperate attempt to ‘wake \nup’ and be fished out two days later.\nSearching For Julian\nThe best way to solve this mystery is to trace Julian St \nJerome. Until this is done, nightmare creatures from \nthe Dreamlands will appear nightly in Central Hill. \nUse the following table to generate a random creature, \nand choose a suitable place for it to wreak mayhem:\n1d2 Minions of Karakal\nA Moonbeast\n1d4 Ghasts (indoors, somewhere dark)\nA hungry Gug\nA pair of Wamps\n1d3 Nightgaunts\nSome suggested locations for subsequent sendings are \nas follows:\nThe Crawford Intermediate School, empty at \nnight except for a pair of elderly cleaners – they could \nbe found dead in the morning.\nMasonic Lodge, a monster appearing at a meeting \ncould kill a number of the town’s leading lights.\nKingsport Rest Home, a creature appearing \nhere would cause chaos amongst the senile and \ncantankerous residents.\nHarbour Place Hotel, a City Father could die in \nthe George Washington suite, along with his mistress, \nleading to a scandal.\nThe Congregational Church, a minion of Karakal \nappearing during evensong would be considered a \nsecond Demonic appearance.\nIf Nash is not stopped within seven more days, a Dhole \nwill appear in the cemetery and destroy most of Central \nHill, including Nash’s House. Nash and some 200 \nother people will be killed and many more sent mad \nbefore the Dhole vanishes, taking the Dream Crystal \nwith it and dooming the Investigators to failure.\nIf this happens because they gave up and fled, Sanity \nlosses of 1d20 are appropriate to signify the enormous \nguilt they will feel. If they are still in town, seeing the \nDhole will be punishment enough!\nTo find Julian, the obvious course of action is to do \nwhat he did and start to question the occupants of all \nhouses overlooking the Cemetery.\nBefore he met Nash, St Jerome had worked his way \nfrom the North end of Hill Circle around the cemetery \nin an anti-clockwise direction. Whether or not the \noccupants of a given house remember him depends on \nwhere exactly the house is. About 80% of the houses \nare occupied when the Investigators call, and 80% of \nthe occupants in the area St Jerome visited saw him \nthe previous day. None of them had been able to tell \nhim anything.\nAt some point during this exercise, a Spot Hidden \nroll should be attempted. A success notices a scruffily \ndressed man, obviously a transient, watching from \namongst the graves. The possibility that this is Davy \nHarris, who proved elusive the previous day, should \npresent itself. Approaching him is not easy though, \nhe knows the cemetery very well and is nervous of \nstrangers. If the Investigators do manage to get to talk \nto him, they are certain to mention St Jerome. When \nthey do so, he reacts at once:\n“I see him, I see him yesterday! You give me $5 and \nI’ll show you. Yes I will.” Investigators can get the \n\nThe Unbound Book\nHis Wildest Dreams\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \ninformation for as little as $2, as St Jerome did earlier \nin the week. He leads them across the cemetery to the \ngraves overlooking Church St, and points at Nash’s \nhouse. “That’s where he went. I see him go in there, \nyesterday and I think I’ll wait for him, and maybe \nhe’ll give me a dollar. He didn’t come out though. I \nwaited till dark and he never came out.”\nIf asked who lives in the house, Harris says he doesn’t \nknow, though it used to be this skinny old man who \nhardly came out. If asked about the being he saw the \nprevious week, he’ll direct the Investigators to the part \nof the graveyard where he saw it, but nothing can be \nfound.\nNash’s house is on Church St, halfway along the \ncemetery. It is a somewhat run-down Georgian house, \nin a shabbier state than its neighbours, none of which \nare exactly palatial. All the curtains are drawn, and if \nwatched at night the only light comes from an upstairs \nwindow – and even that is a faint, flickering purplish \nglow (the Crystal).\nThe neighbours on either side, both elderly, know \nthat ‘Old Mr Nash’ died a while back, and his ‘young \nnephew from Boston’ inherited the house. He came \nup a few times, saying he was going to fix the place \nup, then a few weeks back he came to stay. Unlike his \nprevious visits, they have heard no noise of hammering \nfrom the house, and they have hardly seen him. Indeed \nhe seems to rarely leave the house, and certainly keeps \nto himself. To the aged denizens of Church St, this \nmakes him a most agreeable neighbour.\nThe neighbour to the left remembers St Jerome calling \nthe previous day, the neighbour to the right does not, \nand significantly claims to have spent the afternoon \nsitting in her parlour, knitting.\nIf the Investigators consult newspaper files for a report \nof the death of ‘Old Mr Nash’ they discover he died in \nSeptember, run down by a car on High Street, and his \nonly living relative is listed as Allen Nash of Boston.\nIf they choose to do some research into Allen, all \nthey are likely to discover is that he is a Librarian at \nthe Widener at Harvard, currently on a six month \nsabbatical, ostensibly to restore the house he inherited \nfrom a distant uncle in Kingsport.\nAt this point the Investigators should have a pretty \nclear idea of where St Jerome disappeared. They \nare, of course free to call the police. If they do this, \nthe police end up seizing the Crystal and the Journal \nas evidence, and Nash ends up in Danvers Asylum. \nWithin a month, Captain James Blair, the moody \nmoocher of the Kingsport Police Department, has \nread the journal, stolen the Crystal and started the \nwhole horrible cycle all over again from his lodgings \nin a seedy Prospect Hill boarding House. Calling in the \ncops should never result in a satisfactory conclusion in \nCall of Cthulhu!\nSolomon Oakes\nAt 306 Summit St lives the evil cultist Solomon Oakes. \nSt Jerome never called on him, but the Investigators \nmight. He will answer the door, but is dismissive of \nquestions unless his curiosity is piqued by any mention \nof the supernatural. In such a case he becomes overly \nkeen to hear more, which should be a warning sign \nto sensible Investigators. His neighbours won’t \nanswer questions about him unless Investigators are \nparticularly persuasive, in which case they will mention \nhis frequent wanderings of the Cemetery at night and \ntheir general suspicions of him being ‘unwholesome’.\nOnce alerted to supernatural events, Oakes will \nstart to investigate the situation, and each day has a \npercentage chance equal to his INT (16%) of tracing \nthe source, in which case he will slay the sleeping Nash \nand take the Crystal, ending the Dream sendings for a \nwhile at least.\nIf the Investigators start to suspect Oakes, they could \nend up chasing a particularly dangerous wild goose!\nIf asked about Oakes, Davy Harris goes pale and says \nhe knows of him, but always avoids him if he sees him \nin the Cemetery. Oakes disappears into a particular \ntomb, to which he has a key, and often does not emerge \nfor hours. He can direct the Investigators to the tomb, \nwhich has the barely readable legend “Solomon Oakes” \nand contains an entrance to the tunnels below. What \nthey find there is outside the scope of this scenario.\nHarris seems to be holding something back, however, \nand a Persuade roll or a bribe is needed to get him to \nadmit that he once (about two months ago) saw Oakes \ntake a fellow transient, a young man called ‘Marty’, \ninto his house. Marty never came out.\nConfronting Nash\nThe events of the final confrontation with Nash \ndepend wholly on whether he is awake or asleep when \nthe Investigators arrive at his house. He has reached \nthe point where he is sleeping 18 hours a day (with \nchemical assistance), from around 6pm until mid-\nday. When awake, he spends 90% of his time at home, \nwriting in the journal, eating cold food out of cans and \nso on, and the other 10% out on minor errands.\nThis means there are three possible situations when \nthe Investigators arrive:\nNash is out of the house (10%, if between mid-day \nand 6pm).\nNash is present, and awake (90%, if between mid-\nday and 6pm).\n25\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nHis Wildest Dreams\n26\nNash is asleep and dreaming (100% between 6pm \nand mid-day).\nIf asleep, knocking at the door will not wake him up \nunder any circumstances, so the Investigators must \neither break in, or come back later.\nIf Nash is absent, the Investigators may break in, and \nwill find St Jerome’s body. The Crystal and Journal \nare hidden in the secret compartment. In this case, \nupon his arrest, Nash will say nothing. The ‘sendings’ \nwill cease, but nothing has been explained, and the \nInvestigators will be left with an uncomfortable feeling \nthat the case is not really solved.\nIf Nash is present and awake, he will be unfriendly to \nvisitors and try to force them to leave. If they insist on \nentering, he will direct them to the study, and when \nthey see St Jerome’s corpse, he will attack in a frenzy \nusing the same poker that killed the reporter. If he \nis killed, the Journal and Crystal will be found in his \nbedroom.\nIf Nash is asleep, he will not wake unless shaken (in \nwhich case he is extremely hostile and grabs for a \nkitchen knife under the bed). The Crystal sits on the \nbed stand, pulsing with an unearthly light, and the \njournal sits open on the floor. In this case, the sendings \ncan be stopped by killing Nash or smashing the Crystal. \nKilling the sleeping Nash costs 1/1d4 Sanity.\nThe house itself shows signs that Nash has been \nworking on his renovation project, but this appears to \nhave been abandoned. The room in which St Jerome \nlies dead is part way through being re-wallpapered, \nbut the paste has dried in the bucket.\nALLEN NASH, Insane Dreamer, Age 30\nSTR \n14 \nEDU \n15 \nKnow 75%\nCON \n 9 \nPOW \n16 \nLuck 80%\nSIZ \n14 \nINT \n14 \nIdea 70%\nDEX \n13 \nAPP \n12 \nHP 12\n \n \n \n \nSAN 0\nDamage Bonus:+1d4\nWeapons: Poker, Kitchen Knife, Skillet etc. all at \nbase skill.\nSkills: Cthulhu Mythos 10%, Dreaming 80%, \nDreamlore 30%, Library Use 80% (spends a lot \nof time in the Great Library of the Dreamlands)\nDestroying the Dream Crystal\nThe Dream Crystal is fragile, and can be smashed \nwith a hard blow against something solid. Doing \nso, however, triggers one last sending. The creature \nappears in Nash’s room and attacks at once. In this \ncase it does not disappear until slain.\nDestroying the Crystal while Nash sleeps traps his \nspirit in a very bad part of the Dreamlands, leaving \nhim a catatonic husk. He is not immortal though, and \nwill die in the Dreamlands when his body dies – a \nmatter of only 1 or 2 years with him in such a state. \nDestroying the Crystal while Nash is awake sends him \ninto an uncontrollable homicidal frenzy from which \nhis shattered mind will never recover. During this \nfrenzy he gains an effective 2 extra points of STR and \nCON at the cost of 10% from all combat skills.\nKeeping the Dream Crystal\nIf Nash is not killed, but merely overpowered and \nthe Investigators choose to keep and even use the \nCrystal, Nash is far more manageable. However he will \nimmediately start planning to escape and return for \nhis property. This situation will result in Nash being \nsent to Danvers Asylum and escaping in 1d3 months to \ncome back for his Crystal. Even if it has been destroyed \nby then, he won’t know and will still come after it.\nIf Nash is dead, the Investigators are free to take the \nCrystal. Using it, however, creates the same dangers \nNash faced.\nTo some extent, the problem with the Crystal is \nconnected, as Bain would guess, to the weak barrier \nNash’s Belongings\nThe two significant items in Nash’s room are the Dream \nCrystal and the Dream journal, which his uncle began \nand he has continued. If these items are hidden, then \nthey will only be found if the Investigators specifically \nsearch for a secret compartment and make a halved Spot \nHidden roll.\nDream Crystal. An asymmetric white Crystal about \n8 inches high, supported by an ornate silver stand. All \nthose sleeping within 5 feet of it enter the Dreamlands \nthrough the Crystal Cavern, and gain an initial Dreaming \nskill equal to their POWx3. This Crystal is badly cracked, \nwhich causes the arrival of Dream Creatures in the \nwaking world while it is in use. This is useless as a \nmeans of following Nash, however, since his great skill \nin Dreaming enables him to travel quickly to the more \nnightmarish parts of that realm, where anyone sleeping \nbeside him will not be able to follow. \nDream Journal of The Nash Family. This book \nwas started by Jonathan and continued by Allen, and \ndescribes their travels in the Land of Dream. Allen’s \ntravels and adventures become steadily more horrific, \nhence the SAN loss and Cthulhu Mythos Knowledge \nfound within. \nLanguage: English; Sanity Loss: 1D3/1D6; time \nthe read – 4 weeks; Cthulhu Mythos \nKnowledge +3; Dreamlore +15.\nSpells: Lace Curtains of Hish, Passing Unseen, \nEviscerator (All Dreamlands only).\n\nThe Unbound Book\nHis Wildest Dreams\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nbetween the worlds created by the presence of the \nStrange High House. Consequently, the sendings the \ndamaged Crystal causes are less frequent outside of \nKingsport. If the Crystal is used anywhere outside of \nthe town, the chance of a sending equals 50% minus \nthe user’s POW. Each dreamer sharing the Crystal has \na chance of triggering a sending, though only one will \noccur per use, no matter how many dreamers sharing \nthere are.\nA user also has a chance equal to their POW, as a \npercentage of mastering the Crystal’s ability to create \nsendings, and gets to roll on this once per month \nof constant use. Once mastered, a specific creature \ncan be summoned (though not bound or in any way \ncontrolled) at the cost of 1 MP per point of POW the \ncreature has. If the dreamer exceeds his Magic Points \nin attempting this, his sleep becomes dreamless and \nhe cannot enter the Dreamlands again until he has \nrecovered at least half of his MP total.\nApart from the nightly sendings, using the Crystal is \naddictive. Each use requires a Sanity roll. If the user \nfails he loses 1 SAN and gains 2d6% to his chance of \naddiction (which starts at zero). The Keeper should \nkeep a secret note of this Addiction percentage and \neach night the owner chooses not to use the Crystal \nmust roll over their addiction score to resist the urge \nto use it anyway. Any attempt to smash the Crystal or \ngive it away also requires the Addiction roll be failed \nfirst.\nAny visits to the land of Dream should be role-played \nin detail between the Keeper and the Player – creating \na series of small Dream adventures for this purpose is \nwell worthwhile.\nThere is no way to prevent the Dream creatures from \nappearing, although they always do so within half a \nmile of the Crystal, which makes its use in isolated \nplaces relatively safe – the creatures will not approach \nthe Crystal itself willingly, so the Dreamer himself is \nsafe.\nEvery time using the Crystal results in a creature \nappearing and causing harm, a Sanity roll is required, \nfor a loss of 1/1d3. It should be obvious the moral thing \nto do is to destroy the Crystal.\nRewards For Success\nThe Sanity gain for completing this adventure is \nvariable, depending on the conclusion played out. \nIf Nash is stopped, but the Crystal is never found \nand the puzzle is left unsolved, a mere 1D4 SAN should \nbe gained. This applies in the case of calling in the \npolice.\nIf Nash is killed when helpless, and the Crystal \ndestroyed, 1d6+1 SAN should be gained.\nIf Nash is either killed in self-defence or not \nat all, and the Crystal is taken, 1d8+2 SAN should be \ngained.\nIf Nash is either killed in self-defence or not at \nall, and the Crystal is destroyed, 1d10+3 SAN should \nbe gained.\nIf the Crystal is taken, but destroyed at a \nlater date, 1D3 additional SAN should be gained by \nwhoever chooses to destroy it.\nIf a third party ends up in possession of the \nCrystal, a SAN loss of 1/1D6 is appropriate when the \nsendings start again.\nBringing an end to the second wave of sendings should \nresult in half of the SAN gain listed above, since they \nwere preventable.\nThe presence of Julian St Jerome’s corpse in Nash’s \nhouse should protect the Investigators from any \nramifications for his death. \nIt is very unlikely that the Investigators will attempt to \nget the bizarre story into print – Stanley Carter at the \nChronicle will certainly not consider it, although he \ndoes dedicate the next issue to St Jerome, and prints a \nrather touching obituary.\nWithin a year, even those sendings that were witnessed \nby multiple people, and resulted in widespread death \nand destruction have been relegated to the status of \nurban legends. In Lovecraft Country, it is surprising \nhow quickly the ripples fade and the pond calms once \nmore. \n \n27\nOn the Unbound \nWebsite \nHis Wildest Dreams\n- D20 Stats for His Wildest Dreams\n- Overview Map of Kingsport\n- A Players Guide to Kingsport\n- Player and Keepers Maps of Central Hill\nVisit the Unbound Book Website @\n www.unboundbook.org\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nHis Wildest Dreams\n28\nCentral Hill, Kingsport 1925 (Keepers Map)\nLee Street\nUnitarian Church\nHill Circle\nChurch St\nLafayette\nHigh St\nOrchard\nPage\nKingsport\nLibrary\nSeas Harvest\nKingsport Police & \nFire Department\nDennehy’s \nDinner\nKingsport \nChronicle\nMasonic \nLodge\nCongregational \nHospital\nSolomon Oakes’ \nHouse\nNash House\nRobbin’s Apartments\nKingsport Historical \nSociety & Musuem\nThe Kingsport Rest \nHome\nCrawford Public \nSchool\nCarter St\nCaldecott St\nHoward St\nSummit St\nCongregational \nChurch\nHarbour Place \nHotel\nPine\nFranklin\nTurner St\nPearl St\nHigh St\nAtlantic St\nPrice St\nHart St\nBrush\nSummit St\nEndicott Street\nCooper\nNorthward\nCentral Hill \nCemetery\n\nWhat Goes Around… is a short non-mythos adventure designed \nto be played in one session by one or two relatively inexperienced \nInvestigators (although more can be easily accommodated). \nAlthough nominally based in Lovecraft’s Arkham during the \nwinter of 1921, it can, with very little work, be situated in any \nsmall town during any time period.\nThe entire adventure should only take one game day, depending, of \ncourse, on the characters actions. During this time the characters \nmay well be faced with a moral dilemma, in which they will not \nwant to take sides, however it is important the Keeper emphasises \nthe need for the characters to react quickly to the situation to \nachieve the best outcome.\nKeeper’s Background\nJohn Burton, owner of Arkham’s finest jewellery store, used to \nlove his wife, and he supposes that at sometime in the past she \nmay have loved him. Tonight, however he knows the marriage is \nno more and he plans on ensuring she is out of his life forever…\nWhen John Burton and Valerie Haywright married it looked as \nif both were getting what they most wanted in life. John was to \nbecome heir of Haywright’s, Arkham’s most prestigious jewellery \nstore, and Valerie was to gain herself the man she needed to \nget her into high society. But if this was their only goal in the \nmarriage, both were be horribly disappointed. \nJohn quickly learnt that his father-in-law was a tyrant, whose \ncontrol of the purse strings and the business was almost draconian. \nNot that John was ever really around to be effected by Avery \nHaywright’s financial policy, as he was regularly travelling at his \nfather-in-laws behest, always on the look out for the cheapest \nraw materials. In Valerie’s case, shortly after their marriage she \ndiscovered her husband was no more suited for fame or high \nsociety than she herself was. To make matters worse despite her \ngoading, John seemed unwilling to even try and better himself. \nWhen Old man Haywright passed away a year ago John hoped he \nwould be free to run the business as he wished. However as he \nquickly discovered his wife’s demands filled the void left by the \nold man. Valerie became more and more demanding of him and \nit seemed as if nothing he did was ever good enough. \nIt was about this time, during one of his many trips to New York, \nJohn met and fell in love with Joanne Carter, a secretary from \nManhattan. Unable to leave Valerie - all the money was either \ninvested in the store or closely guarded by his wife - John began \nplotting his salvation. \nAs his plans formulated, John left on a buying trip to Vladivostok \nin Russia (a voyage which had been arranged by Old man \nHaywright shortly before his death). It was during his long days \non the ocean that he set on a plan to rid himself of Valerie and the \nlegacy of the Haywrights once and for all. \nBut one small purchase in an ancient city set in motion a chain of \nevents which were to change John Burton’s life forever. Travelling \nto a meeting one brisk morning he chanced across a street vendor \nselling estate jewellery. Professionally interested, he stopped \nto review the goods and discovered a most beautiful necklace, \n29\nThe Unbound Book\nWhat Goes Around...\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \n‘Chainletter’ © 2002 Alan M. Clark\nWhat Goes \nAround...\nBy Marcus D. Bone\nA Non-Mythos Adventure in \nLovecraft’s Arkham\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nWhat Goes Around...\n30\none that, the seller insisted, had attached an ancient \nand obscure legend. Immediately he knew he must \npurchase it, not for his wife, but rather for Joanne - a \nsymbol his new life with her. \nLast week John returned from his long trip away to \nfind his luggage had arrived at his Arkham home \nshortly before him. Before he had a chance to hide the \nnecklace, the gift had been discovered and claimed by \nValerie. \nJohn Burton is now more determined than ever to rid \nhimself of his wife and at last be with his true love in \nNew York.\nInvolving the Investigators\nThe opening events of the adventure take place just \nprior to dawn on West Main Street, Arkham, outside \nHaywright’s Fine Jewellery store (located at 227 - \nbetween Ace Alarms and Lock-Safes and E Parrington \nGunsmiths). What the characters are doing in this area \nat the time is left up to the individual Keeper, although \nit is important they are the first people on the scene to \nwitness the destruction of the jewellery store.\nA Fiery Beginning\nShortly before dawn a huge explosion shatters the \npeace in the early morning streets of Arkham, as \nHaywright’s Fine Jewellery store is consumed in a \nmassive ball of fiery destruction. The characters, in the \narea for whatever reason, are the first on the scene. \n“By the time you reach Haywright’s Fine Jewellery \nit is already well ablaze. The roof has exploded \noutwards, covering the street with brick and tile. \nFlames rise high into the air consuming the inside \nof the building frightfully quickly. As bricks begin to \nburst and glass shatters, you hope to God no one is \ninside.”\nThe characters are unable to get too close to the \nburning building due to an intense heat and flying \ndebris. A successful Idea roll will lead the Investigators \nto realise this fire is being fed by some flammable \nsource – most obviously natural gas (heating gas).\n“The flames seem to rise in intensity and quickly \nthreaten the businesses next to the fiery convocation. \nAlthough some local residents have appeared on the \nstreet, most are barely dressed and seem stunned and \nunmanned for the events unfolding around them.”\nFortunately Haywright’s is located in a light commercial \ndistrict and, although it is near residential buildings, \nthe fire will not have long enough to do any substantial \ndamage to any other structure. If the characters do \nnot summon the Arkham Fire Department, they will \nnevertheless soon hear the distant ringing of brass \nbells as fire trucks converge on the blaze.\nThere is not much for the characters to do during this \ntime, except watch the fire and thank their lucky stars \nthey were not near the building when it first exploded. \nHowever before too many curious locals or the Fire \nDepartment arrives a Spot Hidden roll should be \nattempted by all Investigators present at the blaze. If \nsuccessful read the following:\n“The flames roll and lick higher, changing shades of \nred as they consume everything they touch. For a \nmoment it looks as if they might almost be alive…in \nfact, as you watch the blaze it becomes obvious, as \nimpossible as that seems, someone or something is \ninside the building. Yes… as you watch intently you \nare positive you can make out something ALIVE in \nthe fire”.\nIn the flames something is indeed alive, and angry.\nA Son of Veles (see the Guides of the Dead side bar) \nwhich is now free. Until the death of Valerie Burton \n(who has perished in the blaze) it resided in her \nnecklace (coincidentally the same necklace she had \nfound in John’s luggage after his return from Russia). \nThese creatures are known in Russia as the guides of \nthe dead or the bringers of justice, stalking those who \nhave murdered the owner of their resting place (in this \ncase the necklace).\nGuides of the Dead\nStanding over 6 feet tall and covered head to foot in dark \ngrey fur, the Sons of Veles (or Volos, a little remember \nGod) are known as the guides of the dead. In Russia, \nstories of the Sons are used to frighten young children \nat bedtime and to ensure those who wish to misbehave \nare kept in line. Resembling the fictional Werewolf, they \nmight well be the basis of that myth.\nWhether or not these creatures are actually the sons of a \nGod is up for debate, although what is known is that they \nare bound to a piece of jewellery or personal item until \nthe owner’s death, at which point they emerge and lead \nthe soul to the underworld. \nLeading the spirit of the deceased to a better place is just \nhalf of the Son’s task; the other is to exact revenge on any \nkiller of the wearer. In this task it is relentless, tracking \ndown the murderer with unmatched ferocity. Active only \nat night, during daylight hours it returns to its original \nrealm. \nA Son, although ‘hurt’ by mundane weapons regenerates \nall damage done to it quickly. One can even be ‘killed’ \nonly to return the next night to exact its revenge. Perhaps \nthe most frightening part of the Sons of Veles legend \ninvolves it hunting down and killing any other mortals \nwhich happen to witness it when it stalks its prey. Those \nhunted by the creature learn of their fate by its howling \nas it closes in on them, a noise which only they can hear.\n\nThe Unbound Book\nWhat Goes Around...\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nShortly after appearing in the flames the Son makes \nits way out from the store and heads towards the Old \nWooded Graveyard. It is easy enough to follow and will \nnot concern itself with the characters unless they get \nin its way. Viewing this huge creature requires a Sanity \ncheck costing 1/1d8.\nSON OF VELES, Guide of the Dead\nSTR \n20 \nINT \n10\nCON \n22 \nPOW \n17\nSIZ \n18 \nDEX \n18\nMove \n9 \nHP \n20\nWeapons: Claws 70%, damage 1d6+1d6db.\nBite 40%, damage 1d8+1d6db\nArmour: None but can only be damaged with \nenchanted weapons, or with a flaming \nstake to the heart (see the rest of the \nadventure). Regenerates hit points at a \nrate of 1 per turn, or 5 per round once \nunder zero.\nSanity Loss: 1/1d8\nIf the characters do not confront the Son it lopes \nacross the cemetery as dawn breaks. As the light creeps \nacross the ground the characters witness an amazing \nsight. Where the rays of the sun strikes the creature, it \nbecomes opaque, almost totally see through. As the sky \nlightens, the Son, who continues to cross the cemetery, \nslowly but surely vanishes, until, once bathed in full \nsunlight, cannot be seen at all. \nIf the characters confront the Son, the dawn should \nreach it before they are able to do too much damage to \neach other. If the characters go to the spot where the \nSon was last seen, nothing can be found. It is as if it \nhad never really existed at all, like some sort of figment \nof their imaginations. The Son has, in fact, returned \nto its realm of existence, eagerly awaiting dusk to \ncomplete its task.\nThe Investigators are now working against a clock they \ndon’t even know exists if they are to have any chance of \ndefeating the Son of Veles and saving their own lives.\nAfter the Fire\nOnce all the excitement has abated the characters can \nreturn to the scene of the fire. There are a number of \nfacts which they may or may not be able to discover \nabout the events they have just witnessed.\nIt is however vitally important the characters discover \nthe documents which describe the necklace (the casket \nin which the Son of Veles was imprisoned) and some of \nthe legends which surround the Veles myth. Although \nthese are nominally the jewellery store safe (the only \nitem to survive the fire relatively intact) they can be \ndiscovered at any point of the adventure. (See The \nDocuments below).\nOnce the fire has been fully extinguished (about an \nhour after the first fire engine arrives) the following \ncan be discovered:\nDamage. The building is in ruins, the initial explosion \nand the subsequent fire blew the roof off the store and \ndestroyed many of its walls. As a result, Haywright’s \nFine Jewellers is now not much more than a shell. \nThe scene has been cordoned off at both ends of West \nMain Street, with police officers questioning those who \nwitnessed the blaze.\nAlthough some furniture and internal wall structures \nhave survived, albeit as wet, blackened and charred \nicons of destruction, only two items of any real interest \ncan be found, a body and the safe. \nWhat the Police know. The police will quickly piece \ntogether a number of facts about the explosion.\nWhile the fire may or may not have been deliberately \nlit, natural gas was most definitely the propellant \n(the Fire Department states that they turned the \ngas off when first reaching the scene).\nAt this point in time it is not being treated as arson, \n31\nWhat really happened last \nnight?\nThe body in the shop is that of Valerie Burton, burnt now \nbeyond all recognition, the victim of her husbands plot \nto free himself from the insignificant life he now leads.\nEarly that morning John Burton had awoken his wife \nwith a start, stating he thought he might not have turned \noff the gas at the store. Berated by his wife for such a \nstupid act, they both arose from bed, dressed and drove \ndown to Haywright’s Fine Jewellery.\nOnce inside John set his plan into action, apologising \nto his wife for obviously making a mistake, who berated \nhim again this time for getting them out of bed, he left \nher standing in the shop area while he made his way into \nthe back room. Here he flicked off the main lights, yelled \nthat it must be a fuse, and made his way to the fuse box. \nThe old fuse box was already a disaster waiting to \nhappen. Flicking off the mains, John exposed some of \nthe lighting wires, before reinstating the power. One \nsimple twist of the gas mains and all was set. \nValerie, still waiting for the return of the lights, heard \nthe click of the back door closing followed by the roar \nof a familiar car engine. Calling out to John, she got no \nresponse and after a few moments, she made her way \ninto the back room angrily trying to get a response from \nher husband. Reaching the light switch she flicked it on. \nThe gas and one random spark did the rest.\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nWhat Goes Around...\n32\nbut rather as an unfortunate accident.\nThe witnesses (except perhaps the Investigators) \nhave nothing to tell, most arriving long after the \nblaze began. \nDiscovery of a body. If the characters gain access to \nthe site they will discover a tarpaulin over the remains \nof an unidentified victim of the fire (although if John \nBurton has already visited the scene, the police can \nmake a fair assumption it is his wife Valerie). A police \nofficer is always present, watching the body until it is \nremoved shortly after 12.\nIf any of the characters are game enough to examine \nthe body a Sanity loss of 0/1d4 results in seeing the \ntwisted charred corpse of Valerie Burton. The smell \nalone is enough to make the character retch and \nthe police officer watching over the body is almost \nphysically sick at the sight of it.\nNothing can be found on the body, but it is obvious the \nvictim was fully clothed at the time of the explosion. \nThe Safe. This is the only object to survive the fire \nintact. A man high four by four-foot steel safe, it will \nbe forced open during the initial investigation by the \npolice. While nothing of interest is discovered inside, \nall the precious raw materials and jewellery pieces are \nmoved to the police station (to be passed on once the \ninsurance investigation begins).\nThere are also a number of legal and informational \ndocuments inside, most of which are receipts, orders \nor other jewellery related notes. There is however \na number of curious and seemingly out of place \ndocuments here as well.\nThe Documents in the Safe\nThese papers are vital to future of the characters. \nNot only do they describe what the Investigators saw \nearlier that morning, they also explain why and, how it \nis here and more importantly, how to stop it. \nWhere the characters discover these papers is left up \nto the Keepers’ discretion, although nominally they are \npresent in the safe at Haywright’s Fine Jewellers until \nthey are either taken by John or placed to one side by \nthe police as unimportant. If the characters cannot \nget access to the scene of the fire the best suggestion \nis for them to be found early on while scoping out \nHaywright House (see below). If this is not possible \nthe Keeper can allow the characters to observe the \ndocuments being placed in a police car outside the \ncordoned off area before mentioning that they are left \nunattended while the driver goes back to collect more.\nA good Keeper should have no trouble getting \nthe documents to the players no matter what the \ncircumstance. \nThe documents are a note, a letter and aparchment, \nall relating to John’s recent trip to Vladivostok in Far \nEastern Russia. (See Around Handouts 1 through \n3).\nThe letter of travel arrangements - Around \nHandout 1. This letter is about five months old and \nwas received by John (with other documents no longer \nattached) from the Dormantry Travel Bureau in New \nYork. John had actually planned on throwing out this \nletter with the rest of the scraps he had brought back \nfrom Russia, but somehow it ended up in the safe with \nsome of the more important documentation from the \ntrip.\nPage from a journal - Around Handout 2. \nThis yellowed and torn page looks as if they once \nformed part of someone’s personal journal. Although \nimpossible to date, one could hazard a guess that it is \nat least a hundred years old. Written using an older \nstyle of Russian grammar it takes two hours and a \nRead/Write Russian roll to translate (although it is \nmore likely the characters will take this and the other \nRussian note, see below, to a translator).\nThe Trinket text - Around Handout 3. This is \nnothing more than a scrap of paper, on which is written \na few simple words of modern Russian (a successful \nRead/Write Russian will translate it). \nLearning More about the Documents\nFinding out more information about the documents \nfound in the safe is a relatively easy task. Those in \nRussian can be translated by anyone with a decent skill \nin Read/Write Russian and, although it is unlikely one \nof the characters will have this skill, a translator can \nbe easily tracked down at the Miskatonic University \nModern Languages Department (Russian is currently \nbeing taught by Dr Nicholai Stolpa). More about \nthe travel itinerary can be found out by ringing the \nsender.\nDormantry Travel Bureau. Owned and run by \nPeter Domantry this company specialises in Eastern \nEuropean travel (which is still a rarity in the 1920s). \n\nThe Unbound Book\nWhat Goes Around...\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nBased in New York, they cater for upper or business \nclass travellers who wish to not only to get where they \nare going safely, but also with a bit of style. \nIf any of the Investigators contact the company \ndirectly, all inquiries are put through to Peter, who is \nin his late 50s and has a heavy Polish accent. Peter will \nnot give out any information unless the characters can \nconvince him of the importance of their call or contact \nhim in some official capacity.\nIf the Investigators do get him to talk, he will actually \nhave only very little to say about Mr Burton, except \nthat he is a fairly regular customer (once every year \nor so he would organise business trips to Russia or \nother parts of Eastern Europe) with the last trip to \nVladivostok about four months ago. John had rung \nnot more than a week ago to say that he had returned \nsafely and had enjoyed his trip. Peter will wrap up the \nconversation by stating he hopes to be able to fulfil Mr \nBurton’s travel needs for many more years to come.\nThe Translated Trinket Text. Any good translator \ncan almost immediately translate the Trinket text. \nThey will explain it is actually a quote from a very \nfamous book on Russian Folklore. It reads:\nThe Sons of Veles are the guardians of the soul, \nGuides in the after life. To touch their resting place is \nto ensure your safe passage to God.\nBorn from their Father’s love of all that is good in \nthe world. They reside in small trinkets awaiting the \npassing of their owner to help them leave the mortal \ncoil.\nThe translator believes there is a copy or two of this \nsame book in the Miskatonic University Library. It is \ncalled The Darkness of the North: Stories from \nRussian Folklore and was written at the turn of \nthe century by a well-known Russian scholar, Sergi \nRomantov.\nIf possible the translator will also volunteer further \ninformation about Veles (a character with Read/Write \nRussian skill will also know this with a successful \nHistory roll), who was also known as Volos, a Russian \ngod, whose worship extends back into the earliest of \nwritten records. Originally he is the god of music, art, \npoetry and animals. But later was also considered the \ngod of flocks and herds and, because he was depicted \nwith horns, of death and the Underworld. \nAs a note to the Keeper Veles/Volos was really \nworshipped in Russia and a search of the Internet for \nfolklore or other mythology sites could help flesh out \nany questions the characters might have about this \ngod.\nTranslating the page of the journal. This is a \nmuch more difficult proposition, as the style and \ngrammar of the writing is quite old. (For an example \nof this see Mallory’s Mort de Arthur - or the legend of \nKing Arthur which, while in English, is difficult to read \ndue to the style of language used. This is a good way of \nexplaining to players why Mythos books take so long \nto read). \nIt takes about two hours to get a readable translation \nout of the document (See Around Handout 4), at \nwhich point the translator, although dismissing the \n‘journal’ as just a piece of fiction is never the less \nintrigued as to where the characters have got such \nan old and obviously important piece of Russian \nliterature.\nAlthough he can’t date it, telling from the style of the \ntext it is at least four hundred years old! The translator \nwon’t pressure the characters but will request that such \nan item would best be served in a Library or Museum.\nPerhaps the most important things to come out of this \njournal page are:\nA Son of Veles is a vicious killer who tracks down \nthose who have killed the wearer of its ‘trinket’.\nIt kills all mortals who get in its way, or who witness \nit.\nWhat is not so obvious is that it comes after dark and \nonly those marked by the Son can hear its howls. \nNevertheless this page should act as a warning to the \ncharacters that they have witnessed a relentless killer. \nDarkness of the North\nThe Miskatonic University Library does indeed have \ncopies of this book and, most surprisingly from the \nInvestigators point of view, they are held on the regular \n33\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nWhat Goes Around...\n34\nstacks of that building.\nA successful Library Use roll will enable the characters \nto locate the book and find the passages relating to the \nSons of Veles. (See Around Handout 5).\nThese pages are the characters key to understanding \nand defeating the Son of Veles - before it starts hunting \nthem down as well. \nThe story of the Woodsman defeating the Son of Veles \nholds the three key points needed for a successful \nconclusion to the character’s investigation:\nSons are invisible during the daylight; so even \nif the characters have defeated the creature the \nchances are it will return tonight at dusk.\nA Son is stunned by seeing its own reflection, \nalthough why this is so is not explained.\nWhile stunned it can be killed by driving a flaming \narrow (a stake or any other wooden implement will \nalso work) into its heart.\nIf the characters have already visited the Haywright \nHouse and encountered Mrs McTighe, they will be \nable to workout who the murderer is and therefore \nwho the Son is tracking.\nHaywright House\nJohn and Valerie received Haywright House as part \nof their inheritance. A two-storey villa situated on a \nlarge piece of land at 219 West Miskatonic Ave, it is \nan example of early 1840s Arkham architecture, with \nextensive use of high stud ceils and gabled roofing \ntypical of the era of its construction. \nOld Man Haywright, although frugal, decorated the \ninterior with many interesting (but mundane) pieces \nof art, most of which still remain. The majority of \nthe everyday furniture is old restored antique pieces, \nnot because Haywright was too cheap to purchase \nanything new, but rather as a result of his hobby \n- carpentry and woodturning (his lathe and other \ntools now reside in an unused shed at the back of the \nsection, collecting dust).\nSince taking possession of the house, just over a year \nago, John and Valerie have done little to the building \nor the land on which it stands. Although the Haywright \nHouse is not a manor by any stretch of the imagination, \nit is situated on a large property typical of Arkham’s \nupper-middle class. The section in the front is private \nand enclosed by a large well-groomed hedge, while the \nback yard (which is the size of a normal Arkham city \nproperty) is lush with trees and gardens. Two utility \nsheds and a garage are also located near the rear of the \nsection.\nFront Garden and Porch: The front of the \nHaywright House is neat and tidy, the hedges have all \nrecently been trimmed and the garden weeded. If it is \nafter 10am, the mail has been delivered, but consists \nof nothing more than bills and statements. There is \nnothing of real interest here to any Investigators, until \nthey reach the front porch, at which point they will \nnotice a bouquet of flowers with a note attached. \nValerie, John \nHave just heard about the fire! Hope all well and \nsafe!\nEric and Melissa\nThis is from family friends, who are as yet unaware \nof Valerie’s demise. If tracked down Eric and his \nwife Melissa have nothing to add to the investigation, \nrather than stating their concern about the well being \nof the Burtons. \nBackyard, Garage and Sheds: The backyard is just \nas tidy as the front, with weeded gardens and low cut \ngrass. A number of flowerbeds are showing the first \nsigns of life in the spring. \nThe garage is locked at all times but once opened is tidy \nand clean inside. A car, a new Chevrolet 490 Touring, \nis only present when John is in the house. Nothing \nmuch else is in here except a few tools, stored art and \nantiques (Old Man Haywright’s tastes weren’t always \nmatched by his heirs).\nThe larger of the two sheds is used to store gardening \nequipment (trowels, spades, shovels and hoes are all \nlined up nicely against the walls), while in one corner \nfirewood is neatly stacked. The smaller shed is full \nof Old Man Haywrights carpentry and woodturning \nequipment. Dusty, but in useable condition this has \nsat in here since John and Valerie took ownership of \nthe house. A number of unfinished pieces of furniture \nare also present.\nDown Stairs: This consists of a Sunroom, Dining \nRoom, Kitchen and Family Lounge. In general this \nfloor is very tidy, with the floors clean and the rooms \nspotless, the only things that will be out of place \ndepends on what time of the day the Investigators \nenter the house. If it is between 9am and 6pm they \nwill discover three packed bags near the front door. \nIf examined these bag contain just mens clothing and \nother personal items. It seems however as if someone is \nprepared for a long trip away (there is enough changes \nof clothing to last many weeks). If the characters arrive \nafter 6pm the bags are still there, however in the front \nroom a number of sympathy notes and bunches of \nflowers have been dumped. All the notes are unread, \nincluding any the characters might have left, and if \nopened all express sympathy over the destruction \nof Haywrights. These are from the Burton’s friends \nand neighbours and none mention anything about \nValerie’s death.\n\nThe Unbound Book\nWhat Goes Around...\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nEverything else is as one would expect to find in a \nhouse of the Burton’s standing - the kitchen well \nstocked, plenty of liquor in the alcohol cabinet etc.\nUpstairs: The second story of the house is much like \nthe first, clean and tidy throughout. This floor consists \nof four bedrooms of various sizes and a small study/\nworkroom. \nOf all the bedrooms only the master looks as if it is \nlived in, the others call have that slightly empty look \nof guest rooms. In the master bedroom, a large range \nof clothing, both mens and women’s can be found, also \nthere are a number of personal items displayed around \nthe room, including many jewellery and art pieces. If \nthe bedside tables are searched, a .32 pistol with a \nbox of 25 rounds will be found along with a licence \nfor the weapon (for personal defence). John Burton is \nnapping in this room from about 6 to 7pm (before the \nSon arrives at dusk).\nThe study/workroom is the only other room that \nlooks as if it is used. This contains a large desk (which \nhas good lighting situated around it) and a filing \ncabinet. The files contain a number of tax, legal and \npersonal documents most pertaining to the running \nof Haywright’s Fine Jewellery. If examined and a \nsuccessful Accounting roll is made, it will be revealed \nthat not only are the Burtons in a strong financial \nposition (Haywright’s business is booming as of \nlate - the late Avery’s aim of purchasing cheap and \nselling expensive has certainly paid off), there is also a \nnumber of large life insurance policies on both Valerie \nand John. If the desk is searched a number of jewellery \ntools and other jewellery maintenance equipment is \nfound.\nA Day in the Life of John Burton\nThe following is a description of what John does \nduring the day following the murder of his wife and the \ndestruction of the store. This should help the Keeper \ndetermine where he is, if and when the Investigators \nstart to try and find him.\nShortly after leaving is wife at Haywright’s Fine \nJewellery store, John watches the destruction of his \nshop before returning home to await the inevitable \nfall out. About 6.30am he receives a visit from Luther \nHardin, Arkham’s Chief of Detectives, and two \nofficers. Hardin explains the situation to John, who \nthen reveals that “his wife awoke early this morning, \nand unable to sleep said that she would go to the store \nearly and prepare for the days work ahead”. When the \nfact that a body has been discovered in the store is \nmentioned, John breaks down in tears (only some of \nwhich is acting).\nJohn and the police then visit the sight of the burnt \nout building and John is asked a few more questions, \nmost of which he answers honestly - yes the shop was \ninsured, and yes his wife often came down early to \nensure everything was secured on the premises etc.\nWhile Hardin is a little suspicious of John, mainly due \nto the odd events surrounding the fire and death of \nValerie, he leaves the jeweller to his own devices for \nthe rest of the day. \nAgain John returned home, this time to pack for his \ntrip to New York. Between then and 10am the phone \nrings a number of times (friends who have seen/\nheard of the fire and reporters trying to get further \ninformation - no one at this time knows of Valerie’s \ndeath) but he doesn’t answer (nor does he respond to \nany visitors at his door).\nShortly after 10am John heads out to visit both his \nlawyer and insurance company, foolishly leaving a \nNew York Hotel as his forwarding address with both \n(if John does somehow make it to New York, the police \nwill eventually track him down and arrest him for the \nmurder of his wife).\nAfter 1pm John is at a bit of a loose end, he doesn’t \nwant to go home (and be forced to deal with media \nand/or friends) so instead he takes a drive west to \nAylesbury. During this drive, he gets the first pangs of \nguilt over the murder of his wife, although by the time \nhe returns, at 6 that evening, he has fully justified his \nactions to himself.\nAfter returning home, he collects his mail and any \nflowers/notes awaiting him and dumps them in the \nfront room unread. At this point he is tempted to \nimmediately leave for New York, but since it has \nalready been a long day he retires to his room to rest \nfor a few hours. \n35\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nWhat Goes Around...\n36\nUnless otherwise disturbed John Burton is found \ndead the next morning, torn to pieces at the foot of the \nstaircase. \nMrs McTighe\nJulia McTighe has always been a go-getter and \nneighbourhood personality (some would call her a \nbusybody) and has become even more so since the \ndeath of her husband. Speaking with a southern drawl, \neven though she is in her early seventies and has lived \nin Arkham for almost 40 years, Mrs McTighe is willing \nto talk to most people about most things. \nLiving next door to the Haywrights for more than half \nher life she is probably the leading authority on their \nfamily. Julia holds the key to why events have unfolded \nthe way they have, and even has a discarded letter to \nback her story up. \nMrs McTighe will intercept the characters if they are \nskulking around Haywright House and, as a fiercely \nindependent woman, will even approach them if they \nhave broken into the Burton’s home (as long as they \ndon’t wander around brandishing weapons of course). \nJulia has learnt of the fire earlier in the morning (as \ndoes most of Arkham) and will initially suspect the \nInvestigators of being plain clothed police officers \nand/or reporters.\nIf she can be convinced of the characters good \nintentions (whether they have good intention or not is \nanother question entirely) she has this to say:\nAbout John and Valerie Burton. “You don’t live \nnext to a family for forty some years and not learn \nabout their dirty laundry…ya know? John and \nValerie been having their troubles ever since they \nhitched up, or so said old Avery, and since they buried \nthat old coot in the ground they have been going at it \nlike cats and dogs. Or should I say SHE has,” Julia \nspits out the word ‘She’. \n“That’s right, Valerie is a mean hearted woman. Got \nthe worse bits of her old pa and ma, God rest their \nsouls. Never satisfied with what poor John gives her. \nShe accuses him of all sorts of things, none of which, \nto mah knowledge, is true.”\n“All I can say is, from what I hear through the walls, \nis I’m surprised that he don’t leave her… but then \nagain if he dida that then he’d lose the store then eh.” \nShe laughs, “Not much good that did him, coose it \ngone now.”\nValerie’s inheritance. “That right… it all belongs to \nValerie, old man Avery told me once he’d never leave \nanything to that dopey son-in-law of his, he didn’t \nknow what his daughter saw in the man”. \nThe Fire. “Oh yesa, I heard about that, but then ain’t \neveryone? Bit of a doozey from whats I keep hearing… \nwhy you know anything more?”\nIf the characters are aware Valerie is dead and they \ntell Mrs McTighe, she will immediately go and get the \nletter (see below).\nHowever if the characters do not tell her of the \ndeath, but convince Julia of their need to know more \ninformation she will say:\n“Well I kinda guess there is something you oughta \nknow then…” Julia trails off, as if weighing up her \noptions.\n“You just wait here a moment anda… I’ll get \nsomething you’ll want to see” With that she totters off, \ndisappearing into her house next door.\nThis gives the characters a few moments to talk before \nMrs McTighe returns with a piece of paper in hand.\nTo My Dearest Love…\nThe piece of paper Julia hands the characters is a \nletter, crumpled and botched as if previously wet. She \nis almost reluctant to hand it to them.\nJulia McTighe hands you the dirty and crushed piece \nof paper saying, “Don’t think bad of him, he is a nice \nman, if a bit foolish…Valerie doesn’t love him, and \nnow after the fire… this could be his only chance for \nhappiness”.\nIf asked how it came into her possession Julia explains \nshe found it in her garden a week ago. Originally she \nthought it was just a piece of rubbish but on closer \nexamination discovered it to be much more interesting. \nShe had planned on quietly returning it to John, but \nhad yet to have a chance.\nIf she is now aware of Valerie’s death, Julia insists the \ninformation goes to the police (she doesn’t honestly \nthink John killed her, - he is just too well tempered and \nquiet to do that - but knows that to withhold evidence \nis an offence).\nThe letter itself is a bit of a mess, but can be made out \neasily enough. (See Around Handout 1).\nThe contents are pretty well self-explanatory and, if \ntaken to the police, John Burton will become suspect \nnumber one.\nFollowing up Joanne. With no address or contact \ndetails on the letter it is rather difficult to track down \nJoanne in any short period of time. However any \ninvestigation into the girl will reveal that Joanne Carter \nis a secretary for DeBeers of New York (a diamond \nmining company based in South Africa). Neither her \nnor her family are rich, nor does any evidence (bar the \nletter) lend support to the fact that she and John have \n\nThe Unbound Book\nWhat Goes Around...\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \na relationship.\nIf Joanne is approached she denies knowing John \nBurton, although in reality she is aware his marriage is \nthe key to his income and will do nothing to jeopardise \nthis. \nOther Avenues of Investigation\nIf the characters decide to ask around town about \nBurtons or Avery Haywright, they will soon discover \nmost locals know of them.\nIt was hard for people to forget Old Man Haywright, \neven though he has been dead and buried in \nChristchurch Cemetery for over a year. He was a \ncantankerous old coot, with an opinion on everything. \nHe would have run for mayor in his younger days, but \nhe was smart enough to know that no one would have \nvoted for him. His jewellery however was unsurpassed \nin quality and his reputation extended from New York \nCity to Augusta in Maine. No one knew of his dislike \nfor his son-in-law, but to be honest no one would have \nbeen surprised to learn of the fact.\nMost people will have little to say about John, except \nthat he is a quiet, dry man. Professionally he has a \ngood reputation for quick and excellent work sold at \nan acceptable price (Haywright’s has always been top \ndraw jewellery and their prices reflect that).\nValerie Burton on the other gets an opinion out of \nevery one, either you like her or you don’t. She sat on \nalmost every citizen board run by the council and a \nfew others besides. She has a reputation for ensuring \nthings get done, for better or worse! Those that agreed \nwith her attitudes and thoughts became firm friends, \nwhile those that didn’t were sworn enemies.\nAs for the Burtons as a couple, most people know, or \nrecords can be found of their marriage 12 years ago. \nThey met at a Miskatonic University Dinner party \n(even back then Valerie was know for her strong will \n- head of the University Temperance Union) and \nhad an immediate attraction to each other. Shortly \nafterwards, with Valerie graduating with a degree in \nLiberal Studies, they announced their engagement \nand were married within the year. John, who had \ncompleted his apprenticeship a year earlier, came to \nwork with Avery Haywright at the store.\nOf the people in Arkham that call the Burton’s friends, \nmost are upper or upper-middle class, and will not \ntalk to anyone other than the police about them. \nAs it is, most are unaware of the disharmony in the \nrelationship - Valerie made sure of that. \nThose who really know John and Valerie best are their \nemployees. Like many of the upper-middle class of the \ntime, the Burtons employ a number of people to clean \nand maintain the house on a part time basis (gone are \nthe days of live-in housekeepers). With a little polite \nquestioning the following people can be found.\nBetty Wright: An Afro-American woman who works \nas a part time cook for the Burtons. She likes Mr \nBurton, and can attest to Mrs Burton’s wild temper. \nBetty can relate stories about the many times Valerie \nhas made a mountain out of a molehill when it came to \n37\n‘Werewolf’ © 2002 Dan Dionne\n\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nWhat Goes Around...\n38\nminor decisions in the house.\nArgus Whately: Of the untainted Arkham Whatelys. \nArgus, who is now in his early sixties, is employed to \nhelp Valerie maintain the impressive Haywright House \ngarden. A farmer by trade, Argus has recently left his \nfarm to his ‘young’ins’ and had originally planned to \nretire in town. He found, however, that he was not yet \nready for a sedentary life and as such enjoys helping \nout around the gardens of others in the town.\nIf questioned about the Burtons he will say he really \nonly knows Mrs Burton, Mr Burton did not have \nmuch to do with the garden. However Argus will say \nthe Burton’s bad temper was not all one way, relating \nan incident where he witnessed John trample a bed of \nprize roses after a particularly loud argument with his \nwife. \nOther household staff: Most other staff work only \non a causal or temporary basis, mainly through one of \nArkham’s cleaning agencies. If any are tracked down, \nthey will all have stories to tell about Mrs Burton \nranting like a mad women over some insignificant \nevent or incident. Most really don’t mind if they never \nwork at the Haywright House ever again.\nJewellers at Haywrights: The Burtons employ \ntwo other Jewellers at the store, both of whom will \nbe rather distraught upon hearing the news that their \nplace of employment has just burnt down.\nLawrence Cabot, now in his late 50s, has worked all \nhis life at Haywright’s. Not much liking either Valerie \n(her temper) nor John (his approach is too laid back \n- when compared to Avery Haywright), he is more \nthan willing to say the Burtons fought like cats and \ndogs, with Valerie winning most of their arguments. \nHe sees Valerie as a pain in the neck, always trying to \nget her own way, regardless of whether she is right or \nnot and John not being man enough to stand up to her. \nLawrence often cops abuse from Valerie, as he is left in \ncharge of the day-to-day running of the store whenever \nJohn is out of town. However it is this authority, which \nhe would not get anywhere else, that keeps him from \nleaving Haywright’s. \nKarl West, 18, is an apprentice and has been working \nfor the Burtons for just over a year. He has nothing \nbut good things to say about John - he listens to \nKarl’s comments and takes time to train him. He \nhas, however, witnessed on many occasions the swift \ntemper of Valerie, so much so he is now frightened \nof her. Karl also dislikes Lawrence, although this is \nbecause the old hand believes in the more ‘traditional’ \nway of training apprentices.\nAn Evening of Fire, Fur and Not \nMuch Fun\nBy the time the evening arrives the characters should \nhave gathered enough evidence to understand what is \ngoing on. \nIf they haven’t, the next day the papers will detail the \ndiscovery of the grizzly remains of one John Burton in \nhis own home. The next night however the characters \nwill all get a visit from an angry and vengeful Son of \nVeles, as it tracks down those who have seen it stalking \nits original prey.\nIt is anticipated the characters will arrive prior to \ndusk on that first, but with John already in the house. \nBurton resists all attempts to get him to leave and it is \nhighly likely he will believe somehow the Investigators \nknow of the murder.\nIf pushed or threatened in any way John will a) try and \nget the gun which is in the bedroom upstairs and/or b) \nmake his way to the car and off to New York (with his \nbags if possible). \nJohn isn’t a cold-blooded killer (he justifies killing \nhis wife as a form of self-defence) but he will defend \nhimself and is not against firing a few warning shots if \nsomeone gets too close.\nJOHN BURTON, Arkham Jeweller, Age 32\nSTR \n10 \nEDU \n16 \nKnow 80%\nCON \n12 \nPOW \n9 \nLuck 45%\nSIZ \n13 \nINT \n15 \nIdea 75%\nDEX \n16 \nAPP \n12 \nHP 13\nSAN \n32 (after killing his wife)\nDamage Bonus: +0\nWeapons: Fist, 50%, damage 1d3+db\n.32 Revolver, 30%, damage 1d8\nSkills: Acting 50%, Accounting 60%, Art (Jewellery) \n70%, Bargain 80%, Credit Rating 30%(80% \nin Arkham), Fast Talk 30%, Library Use 20%, \nListen 30%, Pistol 30%, Psychology 60%, Spot \nHidden 70%, Fist 50%, Throw 45%.\nOnce dusk settles over the city a successful Listen roll \nallows an Investigator to hear a distant howl (unless, \nof course they haven’t seen the Son, in which case they \ncannot hear the creature). Over the next 5 minutes the \nhowl gets closer and a Sanity check is need by all those \nhearing the Sons approach (0/1). \nBefore long the Son appears, this also requires a Sanity \ncheck, even if the Investigators have seen the creature \npreviously (the maximum loss for seeing a Son of Veles \nis a total of 8 points - see ‘Getting Used to Awfulness’ \nunder the Sanity Rules section of the Rule book). It \nimmediately attacks John who, stunned and shocked, \nfires an ineffectual round at the beast, before it \nprobably cuts him down in one turn (unless, of course, \nthe characters can somehow intervene). \n\nThe Unbound Book\nWhat Goes Around...\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nUntil John is killed the Son will focus all its attention \non him, this should allow the characters time to set \nup anything they require to defeat the creature. Once \nJohn is killed however the Son will immediately turn \non the closest Investigator. \nThe Son can be stunned by showing it its own reflection, \nthis has the same effect as stunning the beast (see \n‘Stunning’ under the Rules and Skills section of the \nCall of Cthulhu Rule book). The creature can only be \nstunned once a day in this way, as it will try and avert \nits eyes if tricked into looking at a mirror again. \nTo defeat the Son of Veles, its heart must be pierced \nwith flaming wood. How the characters arrange to \ndo this is up to them, although any object hitting \nthe creature’s chest will only puncture the heart if an \nImpale is rolled (depending of course on the individual \nparty’s stats and how the Keeper sees the adventure \npanning out).\nIf enough mundane damage is done to ‘kill’ the Son, it \ncollapses to the ground, regenerating hit points back at \n5 per round until above half, at which point it will leap \nup and continue its attack. (Of course in such a state a \n‘dead’ Son is much easier to vanquish).\nHopefully this gives a lot of scope for a Keeper to \ndevelop a fluid yet interesting combat situation - with \nthe Son chasing John or one of the characters, while \nthe rest try and impale the beast with the wood.\nOnce the Son of Veles is vanquished it drops to the \nground howling in pain, striking out at anyone close \nenough to hit. Hearing its death throes costs 0/1 \nSanity. \nAs it passes away in front of the characters its face \ncontorts, with the image of the beasts last victim \nappearing over the wolf-like muzzle. This sight costs \n1/1d4 Sanity, although if the Son’s last victim was one \nof the Investigators this cost could increase. If John \nsurvives, the creature’s face becomes that of an old \nman, with dark rustic features (no-one recognises \nhim).\nMoments later the human faced Son begins to fade, \nuntil eventually nothing but the characters wounds \nremain to prove it ever existed at all.\nConclusion\nDuring this adventure the characters may or may not \nhave a moral dilemma on their hands. John Burton \ndid indeed kill his wife, although if he survives, states \nhe had no other choice, she had treated him no better \nthan a dog.\nThe Investigators may think the retribution handed \nout by the Son of Veles is deserved enough to allow \nthe ‘murder’ of Burton to go ahead, even though they \nmight be aware it is only a matter of time before the \nSon comes after them also. \nIf the characters decide to involve the police in the \nmatter, they will only be believed if they have the \nlove letter from Mrs McTighe. If this is the case, \nHarden will have the evidence he needs to confirm his \nsuspicions, and will immediately try and locate John \nBurton. If he is arrested prior to the return of the Son, \nthe result will not be a pretty sight, as all of the officers \nstationed at the jail, along with John are found dead \nthe next morning.\nHaving John arrested after stopping the Son of Veles \nhas little if any effect on this adventure, although it \nmay help the players consciences.\nIn the end there is no right or wrong conclusion to \nthe adventure, although the Sanity gains handed out \ndo reflect the actions they took to keep deaths to a \nminimum. \nIf the Investigators defeat the Son of Veles and \nkeep John alive (regardless of whether he stands \ntrial for the death of Valerie), each earns 1d12 Sanity.\nIf the Investigators defeat the Son of Veles, but \nJohn dies, while they are trying to protect him, each \nearns 1d8 Sanity only.\nIf the Investigators defeat the Son of Veles, but \ndo not even try to save John, they only receive 1d4 \nSanity.\nIf the police arrested John for the murder of \nValerie. Regardless of the outcome after this point \nthe characters will only receive 1d4 Sanity. However \nfor every innocent person that dies - the Son has no \ncompunction killing all in its way to get to John - the \nInvestigators must lose one point of Sanity.\nIn the end both John and Valerie probably got what \nthey deserved for not respecting each other as people. \nIt’s just another case of what goes around… comes \naround!\n39\nOn the Unbound \nWebsite \nWhat Goes Around...\n- D20 Stats for What Goes Around...\nVisit the Unbound Book Website @\n www.unboundbook.org\n\n40\nArkham Art Specialists\n>>Dealers of Antiquities & Fine Art<<\n1/43 Walnut Street,\nArkham,MA\nNew England\nHandouts\nThe following Handouts are to be used with \nthe adventures as labelled. \nDue to space restrictions some handouts may \nneed to be enlarged before use.\nRise 1 - Booth Business Card\nAround 2 - Page from a journal \nсорок пятьсот шесть шестна-дцать ты я \nшестьсот \nсемь \nсемнадцать \nшестьдесят \nсемьсот.\nшестьсот семь семнадцать ьдесят семь-сот \nвосемь восемн-адцать семьдесят я восемьсот \nдевять \nдевятнадцать \nсе-мьдесят \nты \nдевятьсот.\nAround 3 - The Trinket text \nAround 6 - Burton Loveletter\nмь \nсемнадцать \nшестьдесят \nсемьсот \nвосемь \nвосемнадцать семьдесят я восемьсот девять \nдевятнадцать восемьдесят ты десять двадцать вы \nдевяносто тысяча.\nсорок пятьсот шесть шестнадцать пятьдесят ты \nя шестьсот семь семнадцать шестьдесят семьсот. \nвосемьдесят ты девятьсот оно они десять двадцать \nвы девяносто тысяча.\nдвадцать один сто он, она, два ты двенадцать \nдвадцать я два двести три тринадцать. сорок \nпятьсот шесть шестнадцать пятьдесят ты я \nшестьсот семь семнадцать шестьдесят семьсот.\nшестьсот семь семнадцать шестьдесят семьсот! \nвосемь восемнадцать семьдесят я восемьсот \nдевять девятнадцать восемьдесят ты девятьсот!!\nя восемьсот девять девятнадцать восемьдесят ты \nдевятьсот оно они десять двадцать вы девяносто \nтысяча.сорок \nпятьсот \nшесть \nшестнадцать \nпятьдесят ты я шестьсот семь семнадцать \nшестьдесят семьсот.\nшесть шестнадцать пятьдесят ты шестьсот семь \nсемнадцать \nшестьдесят \nсемьсот \nвосемь \nвосемнадцать семьдесят. я восемьсот девять \nдевятнадцать восемьдесят ты девятьсот оно они \nдесять. десятьодин я мы одиннадцать двадцать \nодин сто он, она, два двенадцать двадцать два! \nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nPlayer Handouts\n\n41\nAround 4 - Translated Journal\nAround 1 - The letter of travel arrangements \n… and as night fell we could hear it coming, Veles the guide of the dead. It’s arrival \nproved only that one of us was the killer of the Cossack girl.\nThis was the proof, if the guide came then we could not deny that one of us had gone \nback and had killed her. Revenge for the deaths of our own children. \nIt came like lightening to the house, a sundering apart the braced door. Its eyes like \nblack pools of chaos it searched for the killer. Jacques… Why did he do it!\nAnd yet for all his begging it did no good as Veles ripped him in two. And nor did we \nstop him, no, for none desired to be guided as well…\nBut then it turned on Demtri and Varese, why oh why!! It seemed that all those who \nwitnessed it became souls it desired. \nAnd then was my turn. Unable to stop the beast I to was dead …I awoke at dawn a week \nlater to the discover of Cossacks had found my shattered body, and saved by life.\n Yet although I healed in time it took me seasons to walk, forever cursed never to forget \nthe Son of Veles… ever! \nDormantry Travel Bureau\n5310 West 81ST Street, Lower Manhattan, NY\nSpecialising in East European Travel since 1897. \nDear Mr Burton,\nPlease find enclosed your travel itinerary.\nBe aware that your Liner leaves pending last tide on the \nnoted dated.\nUnfortunately we are unable to yet confirm the name \nof the Liner on which you will completed your return \nvoyage, although we will advise you of this on arrival \nin Vladivostok.\nWe wish your journey is a pleasant and safe one, and do \nhope you find Russia an exciting and wondrous country. \nYours Sincerely,\nPeter Domantry\nPeter Domantry,\nTravel Manager - Dormantry Travel Bureau\nThe Unbound Book\nPlayer Handouts\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \n\n42\nExtracts from “The Darkness of the North: Stories from Russian Folk lore”\nby Sergi Romantov\nThe Sons of Volos, The Guides of Death, The Guardians of the Soul, The Bringers of Revenge. The Sons of Veles \nare known by all these names, and yet the people of Russia do not fear them. Many of the old stories tell of the deeds \nof men that would go unpunished. How the Slavs killed the Cossack and the Magyar slaughtered the Chechens or \nhow woman and children where rode down by horses or burnt in their homes. \nBut at the same time all knew that with the passing of these men’s lives they would at last pay for their sins. Not \nof course by any mortal means, but instead to Veles the God of the Underworld, who, as punishment for their crimes \nwould not allow them to sleep eternal. Yet Veles hated the chaos man wrought on each other, and wished they instead \ndanced or sang, made merry or made love. Above all he loved animals and those that treated flocks and herds with the \nrespect they deserved - for was it not the herds that fed man. \nAs a reward to those men and women who cherished his creatures he gave them a gift, a stone, in which resided a \nSon of Veles. This stone although precious in life, was more so in death, as on the passing of the physical the Son that \nresided within awoke and guided the departed to the loving arms of Veles, safe from those evil souls that still tried \nso hard to reach the underworld. Unfortunately today these stones are long gone, vanished like those that worshipped \nVeles. \nThe Sons of Veles. Large and immensely strong they were said to have guided the dead in the form of a wolf. \nInvisible during the day they always return at night to complete their one and only task. In all the stories that speaks \nof them there is but one that tells of a Son of Veles being stopped from completing it’s task.\nThat tale speaks of a evil man on his deathbed who, by some vicious deed, had acquired a Stone of Veles. Now a \nlocal Woodsman learnt of this crime against Veles and prayed to the God for guidance. Veles, being a loving and \ncaring God, heard these prayers and came to the Woodsman, who in turn explained what had happened. Upon hearing \nthis Veles was full of sorrow, for although he did not wish for the evil man to enter the underworld he knew his Son \nwould not be stopped from fulfilling his task, even if his father wished it. The Woodsman then asked if nothing could \ndefeat a Son of Veles and the God cried out in sadness. Yes, he did know of a way of defeating his Son but he loved \nhim almost as much as he loved mankind so was loathed to tell. \nYet Veles, the God, had little choice, an evil soul could not enter the underworld without balance and peace being \nlost in the world, and so with tears in his eyes told the Woodsman the secrets of his own Son’s demise.\nThat night as the evil man died the Woodsman lay in wait. And as the Son of Veles arose from his slumber the \nWoodsman did as the God bid. Big and fearsome although the Son was the Woodsman challenged him. With prism \nof mirrors he dared to show the Son its true reflection. Stunned then, the Woodsman raised his bow and lit the head of \none of his arrows. Taking aim not to miss the Woodsman let fly, striking the Son in the heart. And how did the Son \ncry out, its task could not be completed.\nAs it fled back to the arms of his father, it vowed that from that day forth its brothers would hunt to the ends of the \nearth those that harmed the bearers of their stones, so never again would a Son fail in its task. \nAnd Veles wept. \nAround 5 - Darkness of the North\nThe Unbound Book\nIssue - 0 August 2002 \nPlayer Handouts\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Call of Cthulhu (CoC) (BRP) [multi]/Adventures/1920s/CoC - 1920s - Adv - The Unbound Book #00 (.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":177,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"1\n\n2\nUma aventura no cenário Fantapunk\npara personagens do 1o ao 3o níveis\nAutor: Marcos Archanjo\nAbril de 2003\n03\nFantapunk - um novo cenário de aventuras\n04\nO Mundo Fantapunk\n04\nAs Espécies\n06\nAs Escuderias\n09\nAs Agências\n09\nAs Corporações\n10\nOs Consórcios\n12\nO Caos\n14\nCidades Fantapunk\n18\nCena Um - A Missão\n20\nCena Dois - A Viagem de Trem\n23\nCena Três - A Fábrica de Caldeiras\n26\nCena Quatro - Fogo Ligeiro\n26\nCena Cinco - A Fuga\n26\nCena Seis - O Gigante\n28\nEstatísticas dos NPCs\nÍndice\n\n3\nNão existe nada mais normal do que vermos\naventureiros do cenário de Fantasia Medieval\nenfrentarem seus oponentes empunhando\nespadas, martelos e machados ou então\nrealizando magias e encantamentos. Com essas\narmas e poderes os tradicionais grupos de\nheróis invadem masmorras e castelos a procura\nde monstros para matar, tesouros para pilhar e\nprincesas para resgatar. Essa é a base da\ndiversão e assim tem sido as aventuras de RPG\npor muito tempo...\nMas o que aconteceria se armas de fogo e\nmáquinas à vapor fossem adicionados a essas\naventuras? Como seria o mundo onde a\nenergia mística convivesse lado a lado com a\ntecnologia do vapor e o poder da pólvora?\nE se existissem meios de comunicação\nmanipulando a opinião pública?\nJá que estamos dando uma mexida no\ntradicional, o que aconteceria se além da\npólvora e do vapor todas as espécies sencientes\npossuissem uma equivalência entre si,\nacabando com o conceito de raça-estúpida-e-\nFantapunk\num novo cenário\nde aventuras\nFogo Ligeiro\né uma aventura para Dungeons & Dragons\n3a Edição, seguindo os padrões do d20\nSystem e a Open Game License. Todos os\ndireitos reservados.\nAventura e Projeto Gráfico\nMarcos Archanjo\nArte\nManoel Magalhães (ilustrações) e Diogo\nViegas (cor)\nRevisão das fichas de personagens\nMarcelo Telles\nTodos os elementos do cenário Fantapunk\nsão uma criação de Marcos Archanjo.\nTodos os direitos reservados.\nmaligna-que-só-serve-de-bucha-de-canhão-\npara-o-vilão?\nSejam bem vindos ao cenário Fantapunk, onde\ntodos podem ser heróis ou vilões,\nindependente da espécie ou raça a que\npertençam. Em nosso mundo, alianças entre\norks e bandar (que nos demais cenários são\nchamados de \"anões\") ou entre goblins e fadas\nsão tão possíveis quanto a de adamitas\n(humanos) e elfos. E o resultado disso são\naventuras emocionantes recheadas de atos\nheróicos, magia e tiros de mosquete.\nSe você deseja ir direto para a nossa aventura,\nsiga para a página 18. Mas se quer conhecer\num pouco mais sobre o cenário Fantapunk,\nvire a página e penetre nas sombras onde\nemoção, perigo e traição caminham lado a lado\ne muitas vezes é difícil dizer quem é o herói e\nquem é o vilão.\nUm por todos e todos por um!\nArchanjo\nComandante da Legião Combatente\nA história a seguir foi retirada dos arquivos\nsecretos da Legião Combatente, com a\nautorização de seu comandante. Alguns\nfatos, nomes e locais podem ter sido\nalterados para preservar os segredos da\ninstituição e de seus membros.\nParticiparam desta missão os agentes das\nescuderias Esquadrão das Sombras\n(pesquisa de campo e espionagem) e\nIrmandade do Dragão de Ouro (invasão de\nperímetro e resgate de informações).\nLegião Combatente\nUm por todos e todos por um!\n\n4\nEstamos agora no final da Segunda Era, um\nperíodo de grandes transformações onde a\nmaioria das espécies passou a interagir e, é\nclaro, guerrear por seus interesses. Este\ntambém é um período de grandes invenções.\nUma delas foi a pólvora, inventada pelos HóBs\ne utilizada como componente de seus fogos de\nartifício durante séculos. Mas os orks, que\nestavam em escaramuça com os elfos, passaram\na empregar os fogos de artifício como arma de\nguerra, aperfeiçoada posteriormente na forma\ndo canhão com o auxílio dos bandar e dos\ngnomos. Com o decorrer dos anos, estas\ntecnologias foram sendo roubadas por outras\nespécies, que criaram novas armas de fogo\ncomo a pistola e o mosquete, que junto com o\ncanhão alteraram significativamente as ações\nno campo de batalha.\nA outra grande invenção da Segunda Era foi o\nvapor. Embora seu uso ainda esteja no início,\né a força motriz mais poderosa depois das\nenergias místicas, com a vantagem de ser muito\nmais fácil de se produzir e manipular. Graças\nao vapor, as estradas de ferro começam a cruzar\nos territórios e embarcações de grande porte\njá não dependem apenas dos ventos e da força\nde escravos para se deslocarem pelo mar. E os\ncéus, muito em breve, serão a nova fronteira a\nser explorada.\nOs novos tesouros\nEm épocas passadas, o ouro, o electrum (uma\nliga natural de ouro e prata) e a conquista de\nnovos territórios eram os principais objetos de\ndesejo dos governantes. Agora, dois novos\nvalores ocupam seus pensamentos (e cofres):\na dragonita e o orichalcum (lê-se oricalcum).\nO primeiro é um tipo de mineral muito raro,\nque tem o poder de gerar energia de forma\nlimpa e barata. Para se ter uma idéia do seu\npotencial, um grama de dragonita pode\nproduzir energia equivalente a mil toneladas\nde carvão. Já o orichalcum é uma raríssima\nliga natural de ouro, estanho e cobre, que\npossui o poder de amplificar qualquer tipo de\nenergia.\nIndispensável dizer que os aventureiros\nprocuram avidamente por estes dois elementos\ne que muitas guerras, declaradas ou secretas,\njá ocorreram pela posse destes tesouros. E\noutras ainda irão ocorrer.\nAs Espécies\nNo mundo de Urancha existem diversas\nespécies sencientes sendo que as principais são:\nAdamitas\nSubdividem-se em três raças: atlantes, com uma\naltura média de 1,75m, pele branca e olhos que\npodem ser azuis, verdes, castanhos ou negros.\nA variedade de seus cabelos oscila entre o\nlouro, preto, castanho e avermelhado (lisos ou\nencaracolados); os atlantianos, que possuem a\nmesma estatura média mas sua pele é negra,\nassim como seus olhos e cabelos e por último\ntemos os Muvitas, que possuem a pele\nlevemente amarelada, com olhos e cabelos\nnegros e atingem em média 1,60m.\nEsta espécie tem as orelhas pequenas e\narredondadas, sua visão não alcança os\nespectros infra-vermelho e ultravioleta e seus\ndemais sentidos físicos são reduzidos em\ncomparação com os de outras espécies. O\ntempo médio de vida gira em torno dos 90\nanos.\nBandar\nSão seres de constituição robusta, medindo em\ntorno de 1,50m, de pele branca ou negra e com\nolhos azuis, verdes, castanhos ou negros,\ncapazes de captar o espectro infravermelho.\nOs cabelos, que podem ser lisos ou\nencaracolados, variam entre o louro, preto,\ncastanho e avermelhado, sendo o branco uma\ncor muito comum, mesmo em indivíduos\njovens. Possuem as orelhas levemente\npontiagudas e seu sentido do olfato é bastante\ndesenvolvido. Vivem cerca de 300 anos.\nDraconianos\nEsta espécie é composta de diversas raças, como\nos grandes dragões, os drakes, dragos, drakkonen\n(com aspecto humanóide) e os dinossauros. Por\ncausa desta diversidade não é possível elaborar\num perfil único, em relação a estatura, tempo de\nvida ou extensão de seus sentidos físicos.\nO Mundo Fantapunk\n\n5\nDuendes\nOs duendes não possuem um padrão comum\nporque, sob esta denominação reúnem-se\ndiversas espécies, como por exemplo sacis,\ncaiporas, yastays e leprechauns. cada uma com\nseu próprio tipo de vida e aparência física\ndiferente das demais.\nElfos\nEsta espécie subdivide-se em três raças:\ntzindarin, a mais comum de todas, é composta\nde indivíduos de pele branca, cabelos louros e\nolhos azuis; a banto possui indivíduos de pele\nnegra, olhos azuis e cabelos louros e a nindah\napresenta indivíduos de pele branca, olhos e\ncabelos negros. Estes últimos são\npejorativamente chamados de “elfos negros”\ne ainda hoje sofrem muita discriminação pelos\ndemais elfos.\nAs orelhas dos elfos são muito pontiagudas e\nos olhos são capazes de enxergar também o\nespectro infravermelho. A estatura média é\nde 1,70m e o tempo de vida gira em torno de\n350 anos.\nFadas\nA espécie das fadas possui uma grande\nvariedade de raças, desde aquelas que lembram\nas fadinhas das histórias infantis até outras que\nse assemelham a elfos, adamitas ou goblins.\nSeu tempo máximo de vida é de 400 anos,\nenxergam os espectros infravermelho,\nultravioleta e a luz astral, possuem a audição e\no olfato extremamente desenvolvidos e podem\nmanipular, em algum nível, energias místicas\ncomo fazem os magos das demais espécies,\nmesmo que jamais tenham estudado as artes\narcanas.\nGnomos\nGuardam muitas semelhanças com os bandar\nem termos de aparência e estatura, embora\nsejam menos robustos e possuam orelhas\narredondadas como as dos adamitas.\nEnxergam os espectros infravermelho e\nultravioleta, tem um ótimo olfato e vivem cerca\nde 320 anos.\nGoblins\nA estatura desta espécie gira em torno de 1,70m\ne seus olhos e cabelos são verdes, assim como\nsua pele, que é levemente coriácea. Possuem\nas orelhas arredondadas e os olhos azuis ou\nverdes, com a capacidade de enxergar o\nespectro infra-vermelho. Seu olfato é excelente\ne seu tempo de vida é de cerca de 180 anos.\nHóBs\nConhecidos também como hobgoblins,\npossuem a pele e os cabelos que vão do\nalaranjado ao vermelho-cobre e os olhos verdes\nou cor de coral. Enxergam o infravermelho e\no ultra-violeta e tem a audição muito apurada.\nSua altura média é de 1,80m e vivem em torno\nde 300 anos.\nÍndios\nPossuem a pele avermelhada, os cabelos e olhos\nnegros e uma estatura média de 1,70.\nEnxergam o espectro infravermelho e possuem\na audição e o olfato muito apurados. Seu\ntempo de vida gira em torno dos 220 anos.\nKendor\nEsta espécie é composta de diversas raças,\nsendo que a mais conhecida, a kendor-troll,\nmede cerca de dois metros de altura. Sua pele\né revestida por um exoesqueleto cuja cor varia\namplamente e seus olhos ficam ocultos por\ndetrás de uma lente natural, que irradia cores\nde acordo com o estado de espírito do\nindivíduo e conseguem visualizar os espectros\ninfravermelho e ultravioleta. São imortais, isto\né, não morrem de morte natural nem de\ndoenças, exceto talvez as magicamente criadas.\nKobolds\nA espécie dos kobolds é composta por duas\nraças: Tekitus, que são indivíduos de pele\nazulada medindo em torno de um metro e\nsessenta, com olhos e cabelos azul-escuro e\nSekrektus, \ncom \ntraços \nfisionômicos\nsemelhantes aos dos elfos, mas que podem\nvariar a cor da pele do branco ao ebâneo, além\nde azul, púrpura e verde. Seus olhos podem\nser verdes, azuis ou violeta e seus cabelos\npodem seguir a cor da pele ou ficarem\ntotalmente brancos. O tempo de vida desta\nespécie gira em torno dos 200 anos.\nMortos-vivos\nExistem diversos tipos (ou estágios) de mortos-\nvivos, como lichs, vampiros, zumbis, carniçais,\nbaital, esqueletos, etc. Embora um\n\n6\nnecromante possua conhecimento e poder para\ncriar e controlar um morto-vivo, são\nconsiderados como membros desta espécie\napenas os indivíduos que sofreram o contágio\nda Síndrome de Hela, que coloca pessoas\nnormais numa condição intermediária entre a\nvida e a morte. A estatura e aparência de um\nmorto-vivo varia de acordo com a espécie a\nqual o indivíduo pertencia quando estava vivo\ne do estágio da doença em que se encontre.\nSeu tempo máximo de existência é\ndesconhecido e geralmente só cessa quando\natingido gravemente por algo a que seja\nvulnerável, como armas mágicas ou fogo.\nOgres/Temujiins\nNum primeiro olhar, poderíamos dizer que os\nogres seriam adamitas de grandes dimensões,\npois em termos de aparência estas duas espécies\nsão incrivelmente semelhantes. Mas além de\npoderem atingir os 2,5m de altura, os ogres\ntambém são imortais, imunes a doenças (exceto\nas magicamente criadas), possuem todos os\nsentidos físicos ampliados e podem enxergar\nos espectros infravermelho e ultravioleta, além\nde possuirem uma grande sensibilidade para\npercepções de energias do Plano Astral.\nJá os temujiins, descendentes dos ogres,\nembora sejam idênticos em aparência, vivem\nno máximo 200 anos e possuem os sentidos\nfísicos tão limitados como os dos adamitas.\nOrks\nA espécie dos orks possui a pele e os cabelos\nverdes, que podem ser lisos ou encaracolados,\norelhas levemente pontiagudas com ótima\naudição e olhos cuja cor varia entre o verde e o\nnegro, capazes de captar os espectros\ninfravermelho e ultravioleta.\nSeu tempo de vida gira em torno de 350 anos e\ndividem-se em duas raças: örkan, com um\naspecto que lembra um pouco o dos elfos e\ncom uma altura média de 1,75 e örkos, com\naltura média de 1,85m e o maxilar ligeiramente\nproeminente, com os caninos inferiores\nprojetando-se para fora da boca.\nAs Escuderias\nOutro diferencial do cenário Fantapunk é o\nmodo como os aventureiros estão organizados.\nAqui, poucos são aqueles que trabalham\nindividualmente. A maioria está filiada a um\ndos \"clubes de aventureiros\", que disputam\nentre si as missões mais rentáveis, seja para\nresgatar uma princesa sequestrada, encontrar\num artefato mágico, espionar alguma empresa\nou até mesmo sequestrar uma princesa...\nHouve uma época em que os aventureiros\nforam perseguidos e resolveram adotar\nidentidades secretas para continuarem a\ntrabalhar nas sombras. Percebendo o potencial\ndo trabalho em equipe resguardado por uma\nidentidade secreta, os aventureiros começaram\na se organizar em grandes grupos. Eles\nfundaram um tipo de organização que\nbeneficiava todos os seus associados com\nproporções e influência maiores do que o de\numa guilda. Assim surgiram as escuderias,\nclubes fechados que reúnem centenas de\nmembros que intercambiam recursos\nfinanceiros, informações, equipamento e, é\nclaro, talentos.\nPor causa da sua organização baseada no\nsegredo sobre a identidade de seus membros e\nda gíria “andar nas sombras” (referente à vida\nsecreta dos aventureiros), as escuderias\npassaram a ser apelidadas de Clube das\nSombras.\nAs escuderias possuem centros secretos de\ntreinamento, onde é ensinada a arte de viver\nnas sombras. Nestes centros, profissionais\nconsagrados ensinam suas técnicas aos\naprendizes, formando a cada ano pequenos\nmas eficientes grupos de novos aventureiros.\nQuando um destes consegue evoluir além do\nlimite comum, ele recebe o título de herói e,\nse evoluir ainda mais, passa a ser chamado de\ncampeão. Mas poucos são os que conseguem\nir até o limite máximo, o ponto mais alto do\npanteão da fama e se tornar uma lenda.\nA primeira escuderia a ser fundada foi a\nIrmandade do Dragão de Ouro, uma guilda de\naventureiros de Arcádia que se organizou num\nmodelo que seria seguido por todas as outras\nnos anos seguintes, como foi o caso da Bukaner,\nda Companhia dos Lobos e do Esquadrão das\nSombras, que embora fossem escuderias\nindependentes, atuavam em aliança com a\nIrmandade.\nMas seus antigos adversários não ficaram\n\n7\ninativos. A Casa do Dragão Vermelho e a Casa\nda Caveira, antigas guildas de Hy-Brasil,\ntambém se organizaram, trabalhando em\nparceria. E as forças do Caos, que durante\nséculos fustigaram reinos de todas as espécies,\ncomeçaram a se organizar da mesma forma\npara participar da nova ordem social e\ncontinuar sua luta pela destruição de tudo o\nque existe.\nExistem centenas de escuderias em Arcádia e\nHy-Brasil , sendo que as mais conhecidas são:\nIrmandade do Dragão de Ouro\nTambém conhecida como I.D.O., é\ncomandada pelo clérigo adamita Archanjo e\ntem como campeões o monge ogre Colossus e\no guerreiro HóB Nemo, sendo que este último\ntambém é conhecido pelos seus feitos como\n“O Capitão Furacão”. Seus agentes são\nchamados de “Os Dragões de Ouro”.\nBukaner\nComposta originalmente por piratas orks das\nMontanhas do Mar, a Bukaner evoluiu para\numa escuderia de grande renome. É\ncomandada pelo guerreiro-mago capitão\nBlekdog e seus campeões são o guerreiro\ncapitão Azakris e o monge Okmok, todos da\nespécie ork. Os agentes desta escuderia são\nchamados de “Os Bukaneiros”.\nCompanhia dos Lobos\nCapitaneada por um xamã-lobo, o elfo nindah\nCão Maluco, esta escuderia tem como\ncampeões a guerreira fada Libélula e o ranger\ngoblin Taxius. Seus agentes são chamados de\n“Os Centuriões”.\nEsquadrão das Sombras\nÉ uma tropa de elite de espiões, fundada e\ncomandada por um duende eldalaris, o capitão\nRatto. Seus campeões são o duende caipora\nTocha e o elfo nindah Bond e seus agentes são\nchamados de “Soldados das Sombras”.\nKilmerson\nComandada pelo Archeiro Verde, um\nlegendário herói ork, esta escuderia reúne\nindivíduos de diversas espécies. Seus\ncampeões são o guerreiro ogre Maciste e a\nguerreira-maga gnomo Centelha e seus agentes\nsão chamados de “Maggaivers”, que significa\n“gênio inventivo”.\nNau dos Mistérios\nCapitaneada pelo mago elfo tzindarin Arcano,\ntem como campeões a druida elfa tzindarin\nApryma e o guerreiro adamita Bordon. Seus\nagentes são chamados de “Os Elendiuns”, que\nsignifica “aqueles que estudam as artes\nsuperiores do desconhecido”.\nValkyrias\nTrata-se de uma escuderia só de mulheres, das\nmais variadas profissões e espécies. Sua\ncomandante é clériga adamita Lady Ísis e as\ncampeãs são a guerreira Desdêmona e a druida\nCintilante, ambas fadas. Suas integrantes são\nchamadas pelo mesmo nome dado à escuderia.\nTitãs\nComposta em sua origem por um dos mais\nfamosos grupos de piratas de Urancha, esta\nescuderia é comandada pelo HóB Torpedo e\ntem como campeões o guerreiro elfo nindah\nPorsh e o clérigo duende caipora Dik. Seus\nagentes são chamados pelo mesmo nome dado\nà escuderia.\nOrdem do Crepúsculo\nComandada pelo guerreiro bandar Ragnarok\nesta escuderia tem como campeões o mago\nduende Alorean e o guerreiro ogre Hércules.\nSeus agentes são conhecidos como “Os\nCavaleiros do Crepúsculo”.\nMettalika\nO alquimista gnomo Pingo de Fogo comanda\nesta escuderia, cujos campeões são os HóBs\nÁguia e Rochedo, ambos guerreiros. Seus\nagentes são chamados de “Os Mettaleiros”.\nLeões do Império\nO monge adamita Magu é o comandante desta\nescuderia composta principalmente por ex-\nmosqueteiros. Seus campeões são os irmãos\nSansão e Golias, dois guerreiros adamitas e os\nagentes desta escuderia são chamados de “Os\nLeões”.\n\n8\nLanterna de Prata\nSob o comando do monge ork Cérberus, esta\nescuderia tem como campeões a maga fada\nYshtar e o ladino gnomo Ghidat. Os seus\nagentes são conhecidos como “Os Lanternas”.\nTempestade\nA Capitã Tormenta, uma famosa guerreira fada,\ncomanda esta escuderia que tem como\ncampeões o paladino ogre Falconis e a espiã\ngnomo Penumbra. Seus agentes são\nconhecidos como “Tsauranimish”, que\nsignifica “aqueles que levam terror e pânico\naos seus inimigos”.\nBandeirantes\nEsta escuderia foi fundada e é comandada pelo\nguerreiro duende saci yataré Dudûk. Tem\ncomo campeões o paladino temujiin Razón e\no druida fada Woodstock. Seus agentes são\nchamados pelo mesmo nome dado à escuderia.\nOrdem do Templo\nUma antiga ordem de cavalaria que depois de\nser quase destruída reorganizou-se como\nescuderia. Comandada pelo paladino bandar\nJustus tem como campeões a maga bandar\nAdriane e o guerreiro fada Webs. Chamam\nseus agentes de “Os Cavaleiros do Templo”.\nGrande Serpente Alada\nComandada pelo guerreiro bandar Petrus, esta\nescuderia tem como campeões o guerreiro\ntemujiin Uranus e o mago duende yastay Kosh.\nSeus agentes são chamados de “Ludgrim”, cujo\nsignificado é “os que caminham sobre as\nrochas”.\nNau Fantasma\nCapitaneada pelo guerreiro-mago elfo\ntzindarin Aurius, tem como campeões a espiã\ngnomo Diamante e o guerreiro zumbi Kutulu.\nSeus agentes são conhecidos como “Os\nFantasmas do Mar”.\nGladius\nSeu comandante é o guerreiro-mago goblin\nEredius Intolerius e seus campeões são o elfo\nnindah Luminus e o temujiin Wertius, ambos\nguerreiros. Os agentes desta escuderia são\nchamados de “Os Furiosos”.\nOrdem do Dragão Medieval\nControlada pelo guerreiro draconiano\ndrakkonen Medieval, esta escuderia possui o\nguerreiro duende curupira Xistus e a maga\ndrakkonen Ária como campeões e seus agentes\nsão conhecidos como “Os Dragões\nMedievais”.\nKaon\nO monge gnomo Nexus comanda esta\nescuderia, cujos campeões são o guerreiro\ngoblin Eleusis e a maga gnomo Estrela. Seus\nagentes são chamados de “Guerreiros Alados”.\nCasa do Dragão Vermelho\nCapitaneada pelo guerreiro adamita Kruel, tem\ncomo campeões o guerreiro vampiro Torgal e\no mago adamita Loron. Seus agentes são\nconhecidos como “Os Dragões Vermelhos”.\nCasa da Caveira\nEsta escuderia é comandada pelo necromante\nadamita Dash e seus campeões são o guerreiro\nzumbi Óddor e a maga elfa tzindarin\nMadeleine. Chamam seus agentes de “Os\nCaveiras”.\nMare Nostrum\nComandada pelo temujiin Jocal, esta escuderia\ntem como campeões os guerreiros temujiins\nLuro e Fero. Seus agentes são conhecidos\ncomo “Os Senhores dos Mares”.\nDeus-Dragão\nComandada por um mago draconiano\ndrakkonen de nome Harnsonn, tem como\ncampeões os guerreiros drakkonen Gygaks e\nVeyzz. Seus agentes são conhecidos como “Os\nDragões Supremos”.\nNove Coroas\nO lich conhecido apenas como “Uno” coman-\nda esta escuderia, que tem como campeões a\nclériga múmia Lecta e o ladino baital Rufius.\nSeus agentes são conhecidos como “Os Ser-\nvos dos Nove”.\nO Clube da Eternidade\nSob o comando do necromante baital Van\nRaggen, esta escuderia composta apenas por\n\n9\nmortos-vivos tem como campeões a guerreira\nvampira Teleutis e o espião carniçal Lemoron.\nSeus agentes são chamados de “Os Eternos”.\nA Ordem dos Mil Escudos\nComposta por um exército de mil guerreiros\nde elite das mais variadas espécies, esta\nescuderia é capitaneada pelo temujiin Ananias\ne tem como campeões o adamita Moriog e o\nbandar Turius. Seus agentes são chamados de\n“Os Escudos da Torre”.\nDrakolich\nO guerreiro vampiro Drakûl capitaneia esta\nescuderia composta por quinhentos guerrei-\nros mortos-vivos de renome, sendo seus cam-\npeões a múmia Amhotep e a fúria Ira. Seus\nagentes são conhecidos como “Os Dragões da\nMorte”.\nAreias do Tempo\nUma escuderia composta apenas por múmias\nsob o comando de Tutankamon, que tem como\ncampeões o guerreiro Akhenaton e a maga\nNefertiti. Seus agentes são conhecidos como\n“Os Reis Malditos”.\nAnjos da Morte\nEsta escuderia é liderada pela fúria Caronte e\ntem como campeões os guerreiros esqueletos\nFantomas e Verdugo. Seus agentes são cha-\nmados pelo mesmo nome dado à escuderia.\nAs Agências\nOs anos se passaram e as escuderias\nprosperaram. Analisando a situação e\nantecipando o movimento de seus adversários,\no comandante da Irmandade do Dragão de\nOuro reuniu os líderes das escuderias aliadas\ne criou a primeira agência de aventureiros.\nEstas estruturas controlam um certo número\nde escuderias, manipulando seus recursos de\nacordo com o tipo de missão ou constituindo\num exército quando é necessária uma ação de\ngrande porte. As agências mais conhecidas são:\nA Legião Combatente\nPrimeira de todas as agências, reúne as\nescuderias Irmandande do Dragão de Ouro,\nBukaner, Companhia dos Lobos, Esquadrão\ndas Sombras, Kilmerson, Nau dos Mistérios,\nValkyrias, Titãs, Ordem do Crepúsculo,\nMetallika, Leões do Império e Lanterna de\nPrata. Seu comandante é o Archanjo.\nA Liga Escarlate\nEsta agência, comandada pela guerreira ork\nPimpinella Escarlate, controla as escuderias\nTempestade, Bandeirantes, Nau Fantasma,\nOrdem do Templo, Grande Serpente Alada,\nOrdem do Dragão Medieval, Gladius e Kaon.\nO Clube do Inferno\nTem sob seu controle as escuderias Casa do\nDragão Vermelho, Casa da Caveira e Mare\nNostrum e é comandada pelo adamita Duque\nde Forbes.\nKnossos\nComandada pela condessa vampira Ty’rrel, tem\nsob seu controle as escuderias Drakolich,\nAreias do Tempo e Anjos da Morte.\nO Anel do Poder\nSob o comando do druida elfo tzindarim\nJoalheiro, esta agência controla as escuderias\nDeus-Dragão, Nove Coroas, O Clube da\nEternidade e A Ordem dos Mil Escudos.\nAs Corporações\nObservando que as atividades dos aventureiros\npoderiam ser muito lucrativas, algumas\ncorporações decidiram entrar no negócio. De\num modo geral, são empresas de diferentes\nramos que financiam agências para que estas\natuem em diversos segmentos de mercado,\ngarantindo assim a manutenção de seus\ninteresses. Oficialmente, não existe qualquer\nligação entre as suas atividades e as das agências\ne qualquer evidência em contrário é\nrapidamente apagada, assim como aqueles que\ninsistem em tentar revelar para o público fatos\nque precisam permamencer em segredo para\nnão afetar o lucro dos poderosos. As principais\ncorporações que atuam no mundo das sombras\nsão:\nBanco Imperial de Al-Moryn\nUma massa falida que pertencia ao reino\nadamita de Al-Moryn e que foi comprada pelo\nadamita Gabriel Ben-Hur, mais conhecido\ncomo o Conde de Montekristo. Apesar de\n\n10\nmanter o mesmo nome, não possui mais\nnenhum vínculo oficial com o governo de Al-\nMoryn, transformando-se em uma entidade\npróspera, inicialmente graças à fortuna pessoal\ndo conde e depois devido aos resultados de\nseus investimentos em diversas áreas.\nO Banco Imperial de Al-Moryn detém o\ncontrole acionário de centenas de empresas em\ndiversos reinos e financia as atividades da\nLegião Combatente e de suas escuderias\nafiliadas.\nBanco de Hy-Brasil\nEsta instituição financeira tem por objetivo\nnão-oficial promover o evento denominado\n“União Patriótica”, que visa transformar o\ncontinente de Hy-Brasil numa única nação sob\no comando de um conselho composto por\nindivíduos de todas as espécies. Sua presidente\né a Baronesa Orkzy, uma misteriosa dama da\nespécie ork dotada de grandes poderes\nmísticos. O banco financia as atividades da\nLiga Escarlate e de suas escuderias afiliadas.\nBanco Real da Caledônia\nEntidade de grande poder financeiro e\ninfluência política, é o maior banco da\nCaledônia, um dos reinos adamitas de Hy-\nBrasil. Possui subsidiárias em outros\ncontinentes e detém a participação acionária\nde um sem número de empresas. Seu\npresidente é o barão adamitaYama e o banco\ntem sob sua tutela o Clube do Inferno e suas\nescuderias afiliadas.\nA Torre\nComandada pelo mago lich Nepral, é uma\nmegacorporação com sede em Centrópolis que\natua em diversos segmentos de mercado, em\nespecial o comércio marítimo. Controla O\nAnel do Poder e suas escuderias afiliadas.\nPost Vitae\nEsta corporação, presidida pela múmia\nSamarandon, foi criada para desenvolver\npesquisas buscando a cura da Síndrome de\nHela e é mantida por fundos deixados por\nindivíduos de diversas espécies, que\nsucumbiram à esta terrível doença que\ntransforma pessoas normais em mortos-vivos.\nFinancia a Knossos e suas escuderias afiliadas.\nOs Consórcios\nO poder governamental sempre esteve acima\nda vontade dos cidadãos comuns. É ele quem\ndirige a política das nações e a vida de seus\nhabitantes. Mas durante a caça aos\naventureiros um outro tipo de poder tornou-\nse evidente: o da manipulação da informação.\nHeróis foram transformados em foras da lei\npor força de boatos espalhados pelos nobres\nque os odiavam, fazendo com que a população\nse voltasse contra aqueles a quem antes\nidolatravam. Isso deixou claro que quem\npossuia a informação e os meios de propagá-la\ntinha em mãos um poder às vezes maior do\nque o do próprio dirigente da nação. E se\nsoubesse utilizá-lo bem poderia destronar\nimperadores, mandar inocentes para a forca e\naté mesmo levar nações à guerra.\nAntigamente, a manipulação da informação era\nalgo trabalhoso e artesanal, com resultados\nsempre a médio e longo prazos. Mas com o\nadvento da tipografia surgiu um grande\nnúmero de publicações capazes de difundir\nidéias e informações com grande rapidez e\nentão as coisas começaram a mudar.\nA primeira destas publicações foi o jornal, que\nlogo conquistou um grande número de leitores,\npois permitia que pessoas dos quatro cantos\ndo mundo tivessem acesso aos acontecimentos\ndos grandes centros urbanos e passassem a\nparticipar mais ativamente do cotidiano dos\nreinos e repúblicas onde viviam.\nAs revistas de variedades também caíram no\ngosto popular. Títulos dedicados a política,\nciência, religião, entretenimento e vários outros\nassuntos começaram a se difundir com grande\nrapidez. Com isso, as livrarias, que eram\npoucas e frequentadas por esparsos fregueses,\ncomeçaram a se modernizar e abrir filiais em\nquase todas as cidades, transformando-se em\npontos de encontro dos mais variados grupos,\ncomo intelectuais, esotéricos, monarquistas,\nrepublicanos e, é claro, aventureiros.\nMas nessa revolução da informação nada\ncausou tanto impacto quanto o rádio. Uma\ninvenção alquímica aparentemente inocente\nque se transformou em pouco tempo numa\nmania internacional. Programas com cantores\nfamosos, rádio-novelas e notícias ocupavam as\nnoites daqueles que podiam comprar o\n\n11\nmaravilhoso aparelho que captava as ondas\nmágicas no ar. Mas só durante a noite, pois\ndevido a um impedimento tecnológico os\nrádios não funcionam durante o dia.\nApós a criação das agências, algumas\ncorporações decidiram se utilizar do poder da\ncomunicação para auxiliar nos seus negócios.\nFormaram então consórcios de comunicação\nreunindo jornais, revistas e rádios para\ndifundir, clara ou subjetivamente, as suas\nidéias, fazendo com que uma verdadeira guerra\npela atenção do público começasse a ser\ntravada. No presente momento, os principais\nconsórcios de comunicação em Hy-Brasil e\nArcádia são:\nC.D.O. (Consórcio Dragão de Ouro)\nFinanciado pelo Banco Imperial de Al-Moryn,\ntem como órgãos de comunicação:\nO Planeta Dourado\nUm dos maiores jornais de Hy-Brasil e Arcádia,\ncujo editor-chefe é o duende Aporelly. Embora\nseu foco principal seja os reinos de Al-Moryn\ne Cardealis, traz também notícias de outras\nnações, monarquistas ou republicanas.\nO Malho\nRevista de variedades com ênfase cultural e\nsimpática ao regime monarquista, sob a\neditoria do soberano bandar Samuel\nMarteleiro. Reúne excelentes artistas e\ncronistas e tem um público fiel dentre todos\nos povos.\nRádio Karioca\nA mais tradicional emissora de Hy-Brasil,\npertencente ao príncipe HóB Aziz. Foi a\nprecursora dos programas musicais de\nauditório e a primeira a ter um cast próprio de\ncantores e músicos.\nC.U.P. (Consórcio da União Patriótica)\nPertencente ao Banco de Hy-Brasil, transmite\nseus ideais de união de todos os reinos e\nrepúblicas de Hy-Brasil sob uma única\nbandeira através dos seguintes meios de\ncomunicação:\nO Jornal de Hy-Brasil\nO preferido pela intelectualidade, tem como\neditor-chefe o renomado escritor saci yateré\nLobato. Possui uma ênfase voltada\nespecialmente para os textos literários e\neventos ligados diretamente à cultura, sem\ncontudo negligenciar as notícias mais\nimportantes.\nRevista Illustrada\nO gnomo Agostini edita esta revista que reúne\nalguns dos melhores cronistas e ilustradores\nde Urancha. Graças a sua mente arguta, este\nperiódico retrata sua época com fidelidade e\nfino humor, conquistando um público maior a\ncada edição.\nRádio Jornal de Hy-Brasil\nFamosa por sua refinada programação musical,\né dirigida pela baronesa Orkzy. Possui\nprogramas com cantores e músicos de todas\nas espécies, mas sua ênfase está na música\ninstrumental.\nC 3 (Consórcio Caledônia de Comunicações)\nMembros do antigo governo republicano e o\nBanco Real da Caledônia controlam este\nconsórcio, cuja agressividade é notória contra\nseus concorrentes e que possui os seguintes\nveículos de comunicação:\nA Tribuna da Caledônia\nSeu editor-chefe é o arquicardeal adamita\nRichelieu, que trama em segredo para derrubar\no governo imperial de Nova Atlântida e\nrestaurar a república. Suas notícias enfocam\nprincipalmente o reino da Caledônia.\nA Espada\nEsta revista de variedades tem como editor-\nchefe o escritor adamita Nictus e publica textos\nliterários variados, a maioria de indivíduos\nligados ao editor.\nA Voz da Caledônia\nDirigida pelo barão Yama, é a grande\nconcorrente da Rádio Karioca, com quem\ncompete em todos os gêneros de programas.\nPossui um cast próprio de cantores e músicos\ne uma audiência muito grande, embora nunca\ntenha conseguido atingir a liderança.\nC.T.C. (Consórcio Torre de Comunicações)\nPercebendo que seus concorrentes estavam\nconquistando uma grande vantagem, a Torre\ndecidiu entrar no negócio com uma abordagem\n\n12\nbem definida: defenderia o ideal republicano\ne a revolução industrial através de seus meios\nde comunicação e com isso foram criados:\nO Correio de Centrópolis\nControlado pelo próprio Nepral, o Senhor da\nTorre, este jornal destaca os benefícios das\nidéias republicanas e as maravilhas da Era\nIndustrial, contrapondo-as com a realidade\nagrícola de diversas nações monarquistas.\nO Mundo\nUma revista de variedades que tem como\neditor-chefe o zumbi Septus e que apresenta\naos seus leitores um panorama de diversos\nassuntos sobre Centrópolis e diversas outras\nnações, colocando estas últimas sutilmente em\nsegundo plano.\nRádio Republicana\nCom uma programação claramente voltada\npara o ideal republicano, esta rádio, dirigida\npelo adamita Mozel, é considerada como a\nbandeira daqueles que defendem a queda da\nmonarquia em todos os continentes.\nC.N.C. (Consórcio Necrópolis\nde Comunicação)\nCom o objetivo de superar o preconceito\ncontra os mortos-vivos e evitar a manipulação\nda opinião pública, o governo de Solombra\ndecidiu investir em seus próprios meios de\ncomunicação que com o passar do tempo\nganharam a simpatia das pessoas comuns e\nfacilitaram a aceitação dos mortos-vivos como\nvítimas de um mal ainda sem cura. Fazem\nparte deste consórcio:\nO Gárgula\nUm jornal dirigido especificamente aos mortos-\nvivos, tem como editor-chefe o lich\nGuttemberg, que anos antes inventou a\ntipografia e, depois de sua quase-morte,\ndecidiu utilizar seus conhecimentos para\nauxiliar seus companheiros de desventura.\nA Foice\nEditada pela múmia Samarandon é uma revista\nregada a fina ironia, que comenta os\nacontecimentos do mundo dos vivos, suas\nrepercussões no mundo dos mortos-vivos e\nvice-versa.\nRádio Mausoléu\nDirigida pelo vampiro Wagner, toca\ncomposições de diversos mortos-vivos que a\ndespeito da sua condição provam que ainda\npossuem talento artístico, fazendo com que\nesta rádio seja cada vez mais ouvida pelo\npúblico que não sucumbiu à Síndrome de\nHela.\nC.A. (Consórcio da Aventura)\nÉ um consórcio formado secretamente pela\nLegião Combatente e pela Liga Escarlate e foi\ncriado para superar a tentativa de manipulação\nda informação que alguns governos tentavam\nimpor aos aventureiros. Temerosos de uma\nnova caça às bruxas (ou aos heróis), estes\ndecidiram ter seus próprios meios de\ncomunicação para manterem-se em igualdade\nde condições, criando:\nO Jornal do Aventureiro\nConsiderado um jornal fora-da-lei em muitos\nlocais, esta publicação tem como editor-chefe\no fada Dumas e oferece diversos produtos e\nserviços aos aventureiros. Tudo, é claro, em\nmensagens cifradas.\nGrandes Heróis\nRevista onde são narrados feitos heróicos de\nalguns aventureiros, com o objetivo de inspirar\nnovos talentos e manter a opinião pública\nsempre ao seu lado. Seu editor chefe é o ork\nLeblanc.\nAntena Zero - A Voz da Resistência\nEsta rádio não tem base fixa e serve para\ntransmitir mensagens cifradas, rádio-novelas\nsobre alguns aventureiros legendários e\ndiversos outros programas. Sua audiência\nquase equivale à da Rádio Karioca, pois o\npúblico demonstra um desejo crescente e\ninsaciável por aventuras, sejam elas reais ou\nnão. É controlada pelo vampiro conhecido\ncomo Sombra.\nO Caos\nAs agências e corporações concorrem entre si\ne são rivais ardorosos, mas existe um outro\npoder que é verdadeiramente o grande inimigo\nde todos. Seu objetivo é subjugar tudo o que\nexiste, corrompê-lo e por fim destruí-lo. O\nnome deste poder é Caos e suas origens são\nobscuras. Tudo o que se sabe é que é uma\n\n13\nforça maligna que recruta seguidores em todos\nos locais. Onde houver ganância, ódio, luxúria\ne outros sentimentos do gênero, lá estarão as\nforças caóticas em ação.\nNão se descobriu ainda quem controla o Caos.\nAlguns dizem que é uma entidade, uma forma\nde vida tão grande e poderosa que permeia o\npróprio universo.\nEscuderias Caóticas\nCada agência caótica possui diversas\nescuderias, que são antigas facções que foram\nreorganizadas e hoje atuam em modelos\nsimilares às das escuderias normais, sendo que\nas mais conhecidas são:\nA Folha Morta\nComandada pelo druida gnomo Daly, esta\nescuderia é composta principalmente por\ndruidas caóticos, que desenvolvem um\ntrabalho minucioso de aperfeiçoamento da\npoluição do meio ambiente. Com o surgimento\nda tecnologia do vapor, cuja energia é gerada\natravés do uso do carvão, estes caóticos\nganharam muita força e estimularam o\ncrescimento de indústrias, principalmente\naquelas que, por seus processos industriais,\nproduzam lixo tóxico. É filiada à Heresia.\nPunho de Ferro das Sombras\nUm monge ork renegado, de nome Mondeká,\nfundou e comanda esta escuderia filiada ao\nTentáculo que reúne, além de monges, uma\ngrande equipe de assassinos treinados nas artes\nmarciais.\nAs Damas da Noite\nProstitutas, manipuladoras, deusas do prazer\ne da luxúria. Muitos são os nomes que suas\nvítimas dão às integrantes desta famosa\nescuderia composta apenas por mulheres. Suas\ntáticas principais são a sedução e a oferta\ngenerosa de raros prazeres em troca de atingir\nos seus objetivos. Mas se for necessário, sabem\nempunhar uma arma com a mesma destreza\nque um guerreiro. Filiada à Sanaridi, esta\nescuderia é comandada pela Condessa Negra,\numa elfa nindah vampira.\nCor Púrpura\nTambém conhecidos como “Bebedores de\nSangue”, esta seita é composta principalmente\nde vampiros, baital, nosferatus e carniçais.\nPossui agentes infiltrados em todas as religiões\ne escolas de magia, com o objetivo de aprender\nseus segredos, roubar artefatos de poder e\ndesestabilizar estas organizações. Seu\ncomandante é o bispo Áquila. É filiada à\nHeresia.\nSerpente Roxa\nEsta escuderia reúne os maiores magos caóticos\ne tem indivíduos infiltrados em diversas escolas\nde magia onde observam o comportamento dos\nalunos para aliciarem futuros adeptos. É filiada\nà Sanaridi.\nEsmagadores\nÉ uma tropa de guerreiros caóticos que portam\napenas armas contundentes, como martelos e\nmaças. São conhecidos por seu destemor\ndiante do combate e pela preferência em\nenfrentar e destruir paladinos. Esta escuderia\né filiada à Destruição.\nOctógono\nSem dúvida alguma, são os melhores assassinos\nde Urancha e os membros desta escuderia\nandam sempre em grupo, composto por oito\nindivíduos, daí a origem de seu nome. É filiada\nao Tentáculo.\nDragão Negro\nComposta por guerreiros do caos, esta é uma\ndas escuderias mais temidas pelos aventureiros,\npois em suas fileiras estão alguns dos maiores\nnomes das forças da Escuridão. Seu\ncomandante é o ogre LaBatut, discípulo direto\nde Abbadon, cuja agência, Destruição, con-\ntrola esta escuderia, que há muitos anos está\nem guerra declarada contra os aventureiros da\nIrmandade do Dragão de Ouro.\nAgências Caóticas\nO Caos é visto como uma grande corporação\ne sua estrutura organizacional subdivide-se em\nquatro segmentos, que são suas agências:\nO Tentáculo\nÉ a mais antiga das instituições caóticas,\nfundada e comandada por um beholder\nchamado “O Olho do Terror”. Reúne todo\n\n14\ntipo de profissionais, desde guerreiros,\npolíticos até o mais refinado assassino. A\nexcelência de suas táticas de ação subreptícias\nforam reconhecidas e adotadas por muitos\naventureiros quando foram perseguidos e\ntiveram que agir nas sombras.\nHeresia\nComposta de um sem-número de religiões e\nseitas, é o que podemos chamar de braço\nreligioso da Escuridão, comandada pelo bispo\nadamita Rasputin. Os indivíduos que\npertencem à Heresia são tão devotados aos seus\nconceitos que beiram o fanatismo.\nSanaridi\nO termo pode significar sede de poder, sedução\nou corrupção. Comandada pela criatura\nandrógina de nome Maytra, manipula os\nindivíduos através das suas fraquezas,\nutilizando armas como a sedução e a oferta de\npoder e riquezas.\nDestruição\nEsta instituição treina e comanda indivíduos\ncom habilidades de combate. Controlada pelo\nogre Abbadon, é a maior de todas as\norganizações caóticas em número de adeptos\ne o braço armado da Escuridão.\nAs Cidades Fantapunk\nNa área conhecida de Urancha existem dois\ncontinentes (Hy-Brasil e Arcádia) e uma área\ngeológica incomum localizada a leste de ambos,\nbatizada de Montanhas do Mar. Nestas regiões\nexistem diversos reinos e algumas repúblicas,\ncom cidades que podem atingir uma população\nde centenas de milhares de habitantes. A seguir,\ncitaremos as nações mais importantes e suas\nprincipais cidades:\nO Império de Nova Atlântida\nDe origem e predominância adamita, é\ncomposto por seis reinos: Al-Moryn,\nAracataca, Caledônia, Grão-Pará, Piratiny e\nPiratininga. Seu núcleo principal fica no\nsudeste de Hy-Brasil e possui um reino no\nextremo norte e outro no extremo sul deste\ncontinente. O governante do Império de Nova\nAtlântida é o imperador Pedro II, aclamado\npor seus súditos como “O Rei Filósofo” e a\nforma de governo é a monarquia imperial, com\na figura do imperador governando sobre os\ndemais reis adamitas.\nAs principais cidades deste império são: Al-\nMoryn, o condado de Merigreiss, A Quinta,\nCaatijú, Salem, Caardjú, Oriximiná, Y-Coaracy,\nY-Pyranga, U-bá, PortoFeliz e Rio do Ouro.\nA Nação Ork\nO povo ork possui três reinos: Harari, no\nsudeste de Hy-Brasil; Shûn, no nordeste de\nArcádia e Santuário, nas Montanhas do Mar,\nque apesar de separados fisicamente\nconsideram-se como parte de uma única nação.\nO governante da nação ork é o presidente\nTubak XIII, “O Reformista” e sua forma de\ngoverno é o Nacionalismo Composto, no qual\ncada reino tem seu próprio governante\n(denominado Al-Dalai em Harari e Shûn e\nMandarim Vermelho no Santuário) e um\npresidente é eleito democraticamente pelo\npovo para atuar junto aos demais governantes\ncom uma “visão nacional”.\nAs principais cidades ork são: Harari, Loksley,\nShûn, Kana’ri, Gopala e Santuário.\nO Império da Lua\nTrata-se de uma federação composta por três\nreinos e duas repúblicas HóB. Os reinos são:\nKari, Barra de Miká e Pompurânia, sendo que\no primeiro fica a sudeste de Hy-Brasil, o\nsegundo a sudoeste deste mesmo continente e\no terceiro a sudoeste de Arcádia. As duas\nrepúblicas, Cidade do Furacão e Lua Clara\nlocalizam-se ao sul e a nordeste de Hy-Brasil,\nrespectivamente.\nA forma de governo é chamada de Império\nMomista, onde cada reino possui o seu\nsoberano (o khan) que é eleito por um colégio\nde nobres, enquanto que as repúblicas elegem\num presidente pelo voto direto da população.\nTodos eles prestam obediência ao Rei Momo,\num indivíduo que deve possuir grande\nsabedoria e que será eleito diretamente pela\nnobreza e pelo povo para zelar pelos interesses\nda espécie. O atual Rei Momo é Villos,\napelidado pelos HóBs de “O Momo sem Riso”.\nAs principais cidades deste império são Rio da\nPrata (A Cidade Maravilhosa), Cardealis, Lua\nde Prata, Cidade Laranja, Pompur, Vipar,\nPríncipe Aziz, Kalel, Quarto Crescente e Lua\nCheia.\n\n15\nFederação Élfica de Öealinda\nDos quatro reinos élficos de Hy-Brasil,\nÖealinda, Vale dos Lírios, Dourândia e Ty’rrel,\ntrês localizam-se no nordeste do continente e\no quarto no sudeste.\nO governante desta federação é Eleutis, “O\nBelo” e o sistema de governo é a Monarquia\nFederativa, onde o conselho dos reis elege o\nGrande Rei responsável pelas questões\nfinanceiras e administrativas da federação.\nAs principais cidades élficas de Hy-Brasil são\nÖealinda, Arrecife de Ouro, Jardim Eterno,\nFlor da Luz do Amanhecer, Rio do Ouro\nEterno, Minas de Token, Trevo Azul e Bosque\nFeliz.\nImpério de Elandar\nNo norte de Arcádia existem seis reinos élficos\nque compõem este império: Elandar, My’aggi,\nEneron, Toktos, Sabursk, Totol e Gramma. O\ngovernante de Elandar é o imperador Men’nar\nLongxamp III, “O Expansionista” e a forma\nde governo é a Monarquia Imperialista.\nAs principais cidades élficas de Arcádia são\nElandar, Eréudda, Xian-Xá, Tsuburaya, Omsk,\nWösttok, Wellda, Vanniry, Gramma e Cidade\ndas Rosas.\nCorópia\nO reino dos duendes localiza-se no centro-\noeste do continente de Hy-Brasil e é o único\nlugar no mundo onde todas as raças deste povo\npodem ser encontradas.\nO governante dos duendes é Corópio, “O\nLibertador”, um ser mágico de quem\ndescendem todos os duendes curupiras e seu\nsistema de governo é o Mestrado, no qual um\nindivíduo sábio, com grandes poderes e dotado\nde inquestionável superioridade intelectual e\nmoral irá governar todos os desta espécie.\nAs principais cidades dos duendes são Oroxó\ne Xagô, mas existem inúmeras outras\nespalhados pelos reinos e repúblicas das outras\nespécies.\nObumbra\nOs misteriosos kobolds possuem pelo menos\num reino, mas ninguém além deles sabe onde\nfica. Obumbra, que na língua kobold quer\ndizer “A Oculta”, possui, segundo dizem as\nlendas, inúmeras ramificações subterrâneas\nque conduzem para vários pontos de Hy-Brasil\no que permite a este povo se locomover sem\nser notado. Não se sabe qual o sistema de\ngoverno nem quem é o governante dos\nkobolds.\nOs Doze Reinos\nOs bandar possuem uma federação de doze\nreinos no sudeste do continente de Arcádia: A\nCidade de Ferro, Jóia Rara, Mundo do Ouro,\nPrata Salgada, Cobre Empenado, Filão Rico,\nAluvião da Cobra, Ferro Doce, Ponta do Aço,\nTrono de Tun, Montanha Roxa e Rio Claro.\nO atual governante da federação é o rei Cobrur\nI, conhecido como “A Manopla da Cidade de\nFerro” e o sistema de governo é a Monarquia\nCircular, no qual se realiza um rodízio\nperiódico entre os soberanos dos doze reinos\nno governo da Cidade de Ferro, que é a capital\nda federação.\nSuas principais cidades possuem o mesmo\nnome de seus respectivos reinos e se estendem\npor toda a área de influência da federação.\nLiga Tupânica\nOs índios espalham-se por todo o continente\nde Hy-Brasil, divididos em inúmeras tribos,\nque há alguns anos foram reunidas numa liga\nde nações composta por Amazônia, no norte;\nPantanal, no oeste; Serra do Cipó, no sudeste;\nKamboriú, no sul e Pagaxó, no nordeste.\nO governante desta liga e responsável por sua\ncriação chama-se Tupã, “A Voz do Trovão” e\na forma de governo é o cacicato, onde um dos\nchefes é aclamado cacique e dirige os demais\nchefes.\nAs principais cidades dos índios são Floresta\nda Chuva, Muralha de Mato, Maquiné, Tucano\ne Araras.\nVrejna\nA nação dos gnomos está localizada a noroeste\nde Arcádia, nas Montanhas Antigas. Sua forma\nde governo é o Ducado Familiar, no qual cada\ncidade pertence a um duque (que é o indivíduo\n\n16\nmais rico de sua família) que por sua vez está\nsubordinado a um arquiduque.\nO atual arquiduque de Vrejna é Da Vinci, “O\nMais Sábio de Todos” e suas cidades principais\nsão Vrejna, Krijnev, Ponta dos Dentes e\nConservatória.\nMetrópolis\nO reino dos ogres e temujiins fica localizada\nno centro-oeste do continente de Arcádia\ndentro de um grande lago. A forma de governo\ndesta nação é a Monarquia Absolutista, onde\ntodos os poderes estão centralizados nas mãos\nde um único soberano, chamado de thulku.\nO atual thulku de Metrópolis é o temujiin\nJocal, “O Impiedoso” e suas cidades mais\nimportantes são Metrópolis e Cidade do Lago\nPreto.\nSolombra\nOs mortos-vivos construíram seu único reino\nconhecido no interior de uma cadeia de\nmontanhas no sul de Arcádia para que as\nvítimas da Síndrome de Hela pudessem viver\nem paz longe das perseguições dos vivos. Esta\nnação se utiliza da Monarquia Absolutista\ncomo forma de governo, na qual seu soberano\né chamado de “Arquimorto”. O atual\ngovernante de Solombra é Arquilich, “O\nEterno”.\nAs principais cidades de Solombra são\nNecrópolis e Lázarus e se assemelham a\ngrandes cemitérios.\nReino Livre de Palmares\nO reino dos goblins fica no extremo sul de\nArcádia, na base de pequenas montanhas e ao\nlado do Rio Gordo. A forma de governo\nadotada foi a Monarquia Parlamentarista, onde\no soberano é o rei Noé, “O Viajante Sábio” e a\nprimeira-ministra chama-se Yone.\nAs principais cidades deste reino são Valverde\ne Pouso da Arca.\nAliança Faerûn\nEm Arcádia existe uma aliança que congrega\ntrês reinos fada: Albion, Avalon e Lillith,\nsituados a sudeste, sul e noroeste\nrespectivamente. A forma de governo é a\nMonarquia Aliada, onde em cada reino existe\numa fada-mãe com plenos poderes sobre seus\ndomínios, que pode se unir às demais em\nassuntos que sejam de interesse para a espécie.\nAs fadas-mãe são Lys, Igrayne e Lillith\n(soberanas de Albion, Avalon e Lillith,\nrespectivamente) e suas cidades mais\nimportantes são Cristânia, Ponta Verde,\nAvalon, Porto das Brumas, Albion e Lua\nEscura.\nImpério de Tiamat\nNo extremo nordeste de Arcádia está\nlocalizado o único reino dos draconianos cuja\nforma de governo foi batizada de Adoração\nDivina. A governante, chamada por seus\nsúditos de deusa, é um dragão-fêmea de cinco\ncabeças oriundo de um outro plano de\nexistência, que por sua vez controla os reis-\ndragões, os machos mais poderosos de cada\nraça draconiana.\nA deusa dos dragões chama-se Tiamat e as\ncidades principais deste reino são Covil do\nDragão, Dinossauria e Ranzelodon.\nNações independentes\nExistem algumas nações que funcionam como\ncidades-estado e que não estão vinculadas a\nnenhum outro reino ou república nem\ntampouco possuem o objetivo de engrandecer\nalguma espécie em particular, como acontece\nnos impérios, federações, etc. As nações\nindependentes, por sua postura livre, não são\nmuito bem vistas por aquelas que pregam a\nunidade racial ou a subordinação à coroa, mas\nacabam sendo toleradas por conveniências\ncomerciais ou estratégicas.\nA população destas nações normalmente é\ncomposta por indivíduos de várias espécies que\nrecebem visto de permanência como cidadãos\ndesde que assumam o compromisso de\ntrabalhar para o crescimento da cidade e\nengajar em suas forças de defesa no caso de\numa guerra. E existe sempre um grande risco\ndisso ocorrer.\nAs principais nações independentes de\nUrancha são:\n\n17\nCentrópolis\nLocalizada na parte sudoeste de Arcádia é\ntambém chamada de “A Cidade das Sombras”\ndevido a grande quantidade de aventureiros\nque transitam por suas ruas. É a maior e mais\npróspera república dos dois continentes e\npossui uma forma de governo curiosa:\nperiodicamente, seus cidadãos elegem o\nprefeito e as câmaras de deputados para\nadministrarem a cidade. Entretanto, o\nverdadeiro poder em Centrópolis está nas mãos\nde uma misteriosa figura conhecida apenas\ncomo “O Mestre”, que nunca aparece mas cuja\npresença é impossível de ignorar.\nO atual prefeito de Centrópolis chama-se\nFussus e as áreas principais da cidade são o\nPorto Cinzento, as Zona Leste e Oeste e a\nCidadela da Torre, uma pequena fortificação\npertencente à uma corporação de mesmo\nnome.\nArquipélago Rami\nExiste um conjunto de ilhas ricas em carvão,\nouro e diamantes situado no sul das Montanhas\ndo Mar conhecido como arquipélago Rami,\nque em épocas passadas foi uma colônia da\nCidade de Ferro. Seu governante, o barão Tun,\npagou pesados impostos para ter reconhecido\no seu direito de exploração das ilhas e receber\ndos reinos bandar a proteção necessária contra\nos inimigos. Mas quando Tun precisou da\najuda da Cidade de Ferro contra uma invasão\nde elfos vindos de Elandar a resposta do rei\ndos bandar foi simplesmente “entregue o\narquipélago a eles”.\nFurioso, Tun pediu a ajuda dos orks que já\nhaviam retomado a Cidade Sagrada de Shûn\ndas mãos dos elfos e juntos combateram,\nderrotando os invasores. A partir daí, o\narquipélago foi decretado território livre, um\nbaronato sob o comando de Tun e assim\npermanece até hoje.\nAs principais cidades deste arquipélago são\nRami, Cavideira, Poço Preto e Aldeia dos\nVentos.\nA Liga das Minas Gerais\nÉ a única república bandar de Urancha.\nSituada no sudeste de Hy-Brasil numa área de\nmontanhas ricas em minério de ferro, ouro,\nprata, cobre, estanho e pedras preciosas.\nDepois de vários embates contra os Doze\nReinos, que desejavam tomar praticamente\ntodas as riquezas extraídas, as colônias\ndeclararam independência e se uniram numa\núnica nação, sobre o comando do presidente\nXavier, que vem se reelegendo continuamente\ngraças ao seu trabalho eficiente.\nAs principais cidades desta república são A\nCidade Esmeralda, Tiradentes, Ouro Preto e\nDiamantina.\nA Montanha Trovejante\nDepois da queda da Cidade de Ouro, muitos\nséculos atrás, os bandar abandonaram Hy-\nBrasil e se radicaram em Arcádia, onde\nergueram novos reinos. E assim foi até que\num jovem revolucionário, de nome Samuel\nMarteleiro, passou a questionar o sistema de\ncastas e promoveu uma verdadeira revolução\nnos Doze Reinos. Depois de inúmeros\nconflitos, os cidadãos descontentes seguiram\npara Hy-Brasil onde foi erguido o único reino\nbandar do continente, que vem crescendo e se\ntornando mais próspero a cada dia.\nA forma de governo da Montanha Trovejante\né a Monarquia Absolutista e seu rei, Samuel\nMarteleiro, é aclamado pelos súditos devido\naos seus ideais de justiça e liberdade. As\nprincipais cidades deste reino são Trovoada,\nCidade da Pedra, Sumaré e Morro Alto.\nOzzz\nOs kendor possuem um local secreto onde está\nreunido o Conselho dos Avohay, os mais\nantigos kendor de Urancha, que acumulam o\nconhecimento de tudo aquilo que foi feito\npelos indivíduos desta espécie. Seu sistema\nde governo é deconhecido, assim como o nome\nde seu governante.\nReino da Folha Verde\nEste reino foi fundado por fadas, duendes e\nelfos nindah e localiza-se no sudeste de Hy-\nBrasil. Seu sistema de governo é a Monarquia\nTríplice, composto por um soberano fada, um\nduende e um elfo nindah, que governam em\nconjunto.\nOs atuais governantes de Folha Verde são\nMorgana, Pererê e Manto Cinzento e suas\nprincipais cidades são Cinderella, O Sítio e Lua\nde Prata.\n\n18\nEsta é uma aventura para personagens do 1o\nao 3o nível, projetada para o cenário\nFantapunk, por isso existem algumas\ndiferenças de uma aventura de D&D\ntradicional. O Mestre pode, no entanto,\nadaptá-la para o seu mundo de campanha\nrealizando as alterações que achar conveniente.\nAntes de começar a jogar é recomendável que\no Mestre leia todo o texto para se familiarizar\ncom as seguintes convenções que foram\nadotadas:\n- As informações que podem ser lidas para os\njogadores estarão sempre em negrito e itálico.\n- As fichas de NPC’s estarão no final da\naventura.\n- As Dicas de Mestre estarão sempre em boxes\nde cor cinza.\nCena Um\nA Missão\nO grupo de aventureiros faz parte da escuderia\nIrmandade do Dragão de Ouro e está\naguardando numa sala ricamente mobiliada na\nsede da Legião Combatente, na cidade de\nMontanha Santa, próxima de Rio da Prata,\ncapital do reino HóB de Kari. Sentados em\npoltronas de couro de espaldar alto,\nsaboreando um vinho de excelente qualidade\ne comendo alguns petiscos, eles aguardam a\nvez de serem convocados pelo comandante.\nPela janela os personagens podem ver o sol se\npondo no mar e sentir que uma brisa fresca\ncomeça a soprar. A sede da Legião Combatente\nfica num castelo de onde se avista o porto e a\nmaior parte da cidade de Rio da Prata,\nchamada carinhosamente pelos HóBs de “A\nCidade Maravilhosa” devido a grande\nquantidade de belezas naturais.\nApós vários minutos, a porta da sala se abre e\num mordomo goblin entra, informando aos\nheróis que o comandante deseja vê-los. Todos\nse levantam e seguem o mordomo, que sobe\num lance de escadas até a torre, onde numa\nsala ampla e bem iluminada encontra-se um\nhomem vestido com um traje semelhante aos\nde um clérigo, com uma longa capa branca e\nportando um elmo dourado que esconde seus\ntraços faciais.\n- Boa tarde, legionários. Tenho uma missão\nmuito importante para vocês e que deve ser\ncumprida imediatamente. Agentes do\nEsquadrão das Sombras me informaram da\nexistência de um protótipo de um novo exo-\ntank1 que está sendo desenvolvido na\nCaledônia - diz o comandante com uma voz\ncalma, sinalizando para que se sentem.\nO Archanjo levantou-se e estendeu sobre a\ngrande mesa de carvalho escuro a planta baixa\nde uma construção:\n- Quero que se infiltrem neste complexo e\ntragam os planos desta máquina de guerra,\npois existem indícios de que o Clube do\nInferno está envolvido no projeto. E eu não\ndesejo que eles tenham nenhum tipo de\nFogo Ligeiro\n1- Tipo de armadura movida a vapor, equipada com armas de fogo de grosso calibre.\n\n19\narmamento superior ao da Legião\nCombatente. Aqui estão seus passaportes e\npassagens de trem. Vocês pegam o expresso\npara Caledônia daqui a duas horas. Reúnam\no equipamento necessário e mãos à obra. Um\npor todos!\nOs heróis respondem “e todos por um!”,\npegam os documentos, a planta do local e\ndeixam a sala do comandante rumo aos\nalojamentos, para arrumar a bagagem.\nApós reunirem o equipamento os personagens\nrumam para o pátio lateral do castelo onde\nficam estacionados diversos veículos, como\ncoches e carruagens. Um cocheiro ork com\ncara de poucos amigos estará esperando para\nconduzí-los até a estação com uma carruagem\nnegra iluminada por duas lanternas à óleo. O\ncocheiro não dará nenhuma palavra durante o\npercurso.\nEles descem rumo à cidade, serpenteando pelas\nruas estreitas de Montanha Santa (ou\nsimplesmente Santa), uma pequena cidade\npertencente ao Conde de Montekristo, cuja\nresidência oficial fica no topo da montanha,\ncom uma vista formidável da baía e das\nmontanhas vizinhas.\nAs ruas possuem iluminação à óleo nos postes\nalém de vários archotes presos nos muros e\nparedes das casas. O chão é calçado com\npedras retangulares por onde correm dois\npares de trilhos dos bondes à vapor,\nrecentemente instalados pelo conde em Santa\npara substituir os antigos bondes movidos a\ntração animal.\nAo chegar na base do morro, eles entram no\nperímetro de Rio da Prata e seguem por suas\nruas repletas de gente até próximo da região\ndo porto. Ao cruzarem a avenida Hy-Brasil,\numa das mais importantes da cidade, eles\ndivisam uma construção feita de pedra sólida\ncom um grande relógio no topo de uma torre.\nÉ a gare Pompur (nome de um antigo soberano\nde Kari), ponto final da linha Rio da Prata-\nHarari, da Ferrovia Imperial de Hy-Brasil, de\npropriedade do Conde de Montekristo.\nA carruagem passa pela estação e deixa os\npersonagens numa esquina próxima para\npoderem desembarcar sem chamar atenção.\nOs PCs pegam suas bagagens e se encaminham\npara a estação. A rua está mal iluminada e a\ncarruagem range um pouco antes de começar\nnovamente a andar. O cocheiro sequer\ncumprimenta os personagens, como se\nestivesse com pressa de sair dali e começa a\nmanobrar para fazer a volta. Nas calçadas, uma\npequena quantidade de pessoas circula\napressadamente.\nPoucos metros antes de chegarem na estação,\nos heróis são alertados por uma sensação de\nperigo e viram-se todos simultaneamente com\nas mãos nas pistolas e espadas, bem a tempo\nde ver o cocheiro com o braço direito esticado\nenquanto que três homens, dois adamitas e um\nbandar com armas em punho, tombam\npesadamente no chão com shurikens\nenvenenados cravados nos olhos e no rosto.\nEles olham para o cocheiro, cujo rosto está\nsemi-oculto pelas sombras da cartola e divisam\num brilho avermelhado em seus olhos. O ork\nos cumprimenta com um leve toque na aba da\ncartola e sacode as rédeas dos cavalos, sumindo\nna noite com uma risada grave e sinistra.\nReunião com o comandante\nOs PCs são agentes regulares da I.D.O. e\ncomo tal conhecem e respeitam profunda-\nmente seu comandante, pois todas as\nescuderias seguem um padrão de hierarquia\nsemelhante à militar.\nQuando os personagens estiverem na pre-\nsença do comandante, descreva a cena como\nque envolta num ar de seriedade. O apo-\nsento é ricamente mobiliado, assim como o\nrestante do castelo, porém passa um senti-\nmento profundo de austeridade.\nO Archanjo fala de forma tranquila, porém\nfirme e não aprecia que suas ordens sejam\ncontrariadas nem tampouco que os agen-\ntes assumam uma postura brincalhona.\nEssas concessões ele faz apenas - e assim\nmesmo raramente - com seus campeões.\nLembre-os de que os equipamentos que\nforem levados devem ser adequados ao tipo\nde missão. Eles vão invadir um complexo\nindustrial e não atacar um exército inimigo.\n\n20\nCena Dois\nA Viagem de Trem\nO expresso Rio da Prata-Harari partiu\nrigorosamente no horário. É um trem de luxo,\nmovido por uma locomotiva potente feita de\nferro fundido, latão e cobre. Sua caldeira é o\nque existe de mais moderno na tecnologia do\nvapor, produzida pela empresa Grande Esfinge\nlocalizada no condado de Merigreiss, no reino\nadamita de Al-Moryn.\nSeus cinco vagões são feitos em madeira de lei\ne usam vidros de primeira qualidade nas\njanelas. São iluminados internamente por\nlanternas à óleo e suas poltronas são revestidas\nde couro estofado, adaptadas para que\nindíviduos de diferentes espécies, como ogres\nou gnomos, possam viajar com todo o conforto.\nO primeiro destes vagões, logo após a\nlocomotiva, acomoda o restaurante, onde são\nservidos pratos e bebidas variados e onde\nalguns cavalheiros se reúnem para exercer o\npéssimo hábito de fumar seus cigarros,\ncachimbos ou charutos enquanto apreciam\nrum, whisky ou conhaque.\nNo vagão seguinte está acomodada a primeira\nclasse em cabines individuais e duplas (ambas\ncom toillete particular), com camas feitas de\nmadeira de lei e latão polido, com colchões e\ntravesseiros de penas de ganso extremamente\nconfortáveis. As paredes deste vagão são\nentalhadas e as maçanetas das portas brilham\ncomo novas.\nA segunda classe localiza-se no terceiro vagão.\nAli existem cabines duplas ou triplas e\npoltronas confortáveis. A decoração é mais\ndiscreta, porém de bom gosto e os banheiros\nsão coletivos porém bem cuidados.\nA terceira classe ocupa o quarto vagão, onde\nos bancos de madeira fazem as vezes de camas\npara aqueles que não podem pagar por este\nconforto. Os banheiros são menos limpos que\nos das demais classes, a decoração é bem\nsimples e a iluminação bastante fraca.\nNo final do trem está o vagão de carga onde\nsão acondicionadas todas as bagagens que não\npuderam ser carregadas junto com os\npassageiros.\nOs personagens estão acomodados em duas\ncabines separadas, na segunda classe. Eles\nviajarão com conforto pois necessitam estar\ndescansados para cumprir a missão\nrapidamente e voltar para o quartel-general.\nO trem à vapor vai resfolegando pela noite\nafora. Se os personagens sentirem fome,\nestimule-os a irem ao vagão-restaurante, onde\npoderão ver outros passageiros. Quando\nestiverem neste vagão eles vão sentir uma\natmosfera estranha e vez por outra verão\npassageiros com olhares suspeitos em sua\ndireção.\nExiste um adamita corpulento, de queixo\nquadrado e ombros largos, que bebe uma taça\nde conhaque e olha para os personagens com\nindisfarçável interesse. Se algum dos heróis\nAs cidades de Montanha Santa e\nRio da Prata\nO cenário Fantapunk é diferente dos tradi-\ncionais cenários de Fantasia Medieval. Aqui\ntemos diferentes tipos de paisagens e po-\ndemos ver construções e roupas tanto de\nestilo medieval como aquelas usadas na\nTerra no século XIX.\nDescreva este tipo de cenário para os joga-\ndores de forma que eles possam fazer uma\nimersão mais completa na ambientação do\njogo.\nOs bondes de tração animal são lentos e um\npouco compridos. Duas parelhas de cava-\nlos puxam o veículo guiados por um\ncocheiro, enquanto que os passageiros se-\nguem sentados em seu interior em bancos\nrústicos de madeira ou de pé nos estribos\nlaterais.\nJá os bondes à vapor fazem um pouco de\nruído que lembra o resfolegar de uma loco-\nmotiva porém muito mais baixo.\nA iluminação urbana é feita através de lam-\npiões à óleo preso no topo de alguns pos-\ntes. Estes lampiões são feitos de ferro e vi-\ndro e produzem uma luz baça e amarelada\nporém mais forte do que aquela produzida\npelos archotes fixados inclinadamente nas\nparedes das casas.\n\n21\nresolver encará-lo ele desviará o olhar e se for\nabordado dará as costas e sairá do vagão sem\nfalar nada.\nSe os heróis resolverem andar pelo trem e\nchegarem na terceira classe o Mestre deverá\ndescrever o seguinte:\n“Vocês chegam na terceira classe e observam\nque ela é bem mais rudimentar que as demais.\nPessoas se amontoam nos bancos tentando\nencontrar uma posição menos desconfortável\npara dormir. Alguns estão deitados no chão\nsobre sacos de pano ou esteiras de palha e num\ncanto quatro homens mal encarados jogam\ndados e fazem suas apostas.\nDe repente vocês ouvem um grito e vêem um\nadamita de queixo quadrado (que eles\nreconhecerão se já tiverem ido no vagão-\nrestaurante) agarrando uma elfa firmemente.\nA mulher grita e se debate tentando se libertar,\nmas recebe um soco no estômago que a faz se\ncurvar de dor.\nNenhum dos passageiros interfere como se\nnada estivesse acontecendo e tudo indica que\no adamita irá atirar a elfa pela janela ou fazer\nalgo ainda pior. Num supremo ato de\ndesespero, a mulher olha para os personagens\ne estende um dos braços clamando por ajuda\nenquanto é arrastada pelo homem para um\ncanto mais escuro do vagão”.\nEste homem está acompanhado de mais três\ncompanheiros, dois bandar e um goblin, que\nestão espalhados pelo vagão-restaurante para\nnão chamar atenção e só irão se revelar caso os\naventureiros ataquem seu chefe. A elfa que\nestá sendo atacada também faz parte da equipe\ne tudo não passa de uma farsa. Se os agentes\nda I.D.O. optarem por interferir e vencerem\nseus adversários, poderão prender os que\ntiverem sobrevivido ou atirá-los pela janela do\ntrem. Caso percam a luta e restem alguns\nsobreviventes, estes serão levados como\nprisioneiros, desembarcados na primeira\nestação e interrogados ou emilinados.\nPor volta das quatro da manhã eles\ndesembarcam na estação de Salem, a capital\nda Caledônia, e pegam um pequeno coche que\nos conduzirá para um hotel barato onde\npassarão o resto da noite. No dia seguinte,\neles deverão caminhar pela cidade para fazerem\no reconhecimento. A fábrica que será invadida\nfica num galpão próximo ao Rio Salem e a ação\ndeverá acontecer na noite seguinte ao\ndesembarque.\nA dama indefesa\nA elfa que está sendo atacada é da raça\nnindah. Possui lindos cabelos negros\ncacheados escorrendo pelas costas e uma\nsilhueta bem torneada. Seu rosto é muito\nbonito e revela uma mulher frágil.\nMesmo assustada, ela transpira\nsensualidade e os personagens deverão\nfazer uma disputa usando a perícia Sentir\nMotivação contra a perícia Blefar da elfa,\ncaso não queiram se envolver no assunto.\nO teste de Sentir Motivação terá uma\npenalidade de -2 de circunstância ou -4\npara personagens masculinos. Seja\nconvincente em mostrar o “desespero” da\nelfa. Faça a disputa para que os\npersonagens tenham “certeza” que ela\nestá em perigo.\nSe os PCs tentarem salvá-la, três\ncomparsas do homem de queixo\n\n22\nCena Três\nA Fábrica de Caldeiras\nNuma pequena fábrica de caldeiras está sendo\ndesenvolvido o protótipo do novo exo-tank.\nAparentemente esta é uma fábrica normal do\ngênero, mas em seu subsolo funciona um\ncomplexo mais avançado, com pessoas\ntrabalhando o dia inteiro e às vezes parte da\nnoite para concluir o projeto.\nA fábrica é cercada por uma pequena muralha\ncom oito metros de altura, oriunda do tempo\nem que ali funcionava um depósito de valores.\nA fortificação é guardada por dez postos de\nvigia localizados na parte superior, onde\nsempre estão homens armados.\nExistem dois portões de entrada: o principal\nfica defronte da Rua do Rio e dá acesso à\nrecepção e aos cômodos internos, utilizado por\nfuncionários, clientes e fornecedores. O portão\nsecundário fica no lado oposto do terreno, por\nonde entra a matéria-prima utilizada para a\nconstrução das caldeiras.\nOs aventureiros deverão escolher o melhor\nponto para transporem o muro sem serem\nnotados pelos guardas. Caso não sejam bem\nsucedidos terão que enfrentar quatro\nsentinelas adamitas que estão ocupando os\npostos de vigias que ficam nas arestas da\nmuralha e descerão imediatamente para dar\ncombate aos invasores.\nAs estatísticas deste grupo de NPCs está em\nEncontro II, na página 30.\nSe os PCs conseguirem entrar sem chamar a\natenção da vigilância, poderão se dirigir para a\nfábrica em busca de uma entrada.\nDescrição dos cômodos\nPrimeiro nível:\n1- Recepção\nDurante o dia é ocupada por uma adamita\ngorda de cabelos castanhos que fala\nintermitentemente, mas durante a noite este\naposento fica vazio.\n2- Cozinha\nPossui uma mesa grande, nove cadeiras e um\narmário onde estão guardados utensílios como\npanelas, pratos, copos e talheres.\n3- Vestiário\nPossui quarenta armários onde os funcionários\nguardam seus pertences. Não há nada de valor\naqui.\n4- Depósito de ferramentas\nEste cômodo possui várias estantes e prateleiras\nrepletas de ferramentas para uso na oficina.\nEstá meio sujo e empoeirado.\n5- Forno\nNeste local são moldadas as chapas e fundidas\npequenas peças em metal que serão utilizadas\nnas caldeiras.\n6- Elevador secreto para o segundo nível\nAtravés do depósito de matéria-prima (18) é\npossível ter acesso a este elevador, que\nconduzirá para o segundo nível.\n7- Oficina de caldeiras\nNeste salão são construídas ou reformadas as\ncaldeiras. Possui quinze bancadas de\ndiferentes tamanhos e um grande número de\nequipamentos e maquinário à vapor.\n8- Sala da guarda\nNeste local ficam três guardas durante o dia,\nque à noite rumam para o subsolo.\n9- Dormitório/vestiário da guarda\nPossui cinco beliches para os guardas e um\npequeno armário sem nada de valor.\n10- Paiol\nAqui ficam guardadas as armas dos guardas,\ncomo espadas, bestas, virotes, armas de fogo e\nquadrado surgirão para lutar. Todos eles,\ninclusive a mulher, são agentes da Casa do\nDragão Vermelho e estão saindo de Rio da\nPrata onde aguardavam novas instruções,\npara cumprir uma missão no reino adamita\nde Al-Moryn. Seu chefe, o agente Queixa-\nda, reconheceu um dos agentes da I.D.O. e\ndeseja enfrentá-los para roubar seus perten-\nces e apresentá-los ao comandante da sua\nescuderia como troféu. Eles desconhecem\na missão dos personagens.\nAs estatísticas deste grupo de NPCs está\nem Encontro I, nas páginas 28 e 29.\n\n23\n\n24\n\n25\nmunição. O conteúdo exato deste aposento\nfica por conta do Mestre.\n11- Escada secreta para o segundo nível\nEsta escada dá acesso à área 29.\n12- Sala dos engenheiros\nNeste local trabalham os projetistas das\ncaldeiras.\n13- Depósito de projetos\nO depósito abriga os projetos que vem sendo\nrealizados pela fábrica nos últimos anos. O\nprojeto secreto do exo-tank não está guardado\naqui.\n14- Escritório e contabilidade\nLocal onde ficam os escriturários, a secretária\ne o contador da fábrica.\n15- Sala do gerente\nA mulher que ocupa esta sala é a gerente da\nfábrica e chefe da equipe que está projetando\nem segredo o exo-tank.\n16- Cofre secreto\nReúne os livros contábeis e parte das\neconomias da fábrica, num total de 4.000 P.O.\n17- Escada secreta para o segundo nível\nNo canto da sala, uma porta secreta dá acesso\na uma escada que conduz para a área “a”.\n18- Armazém\nLocal onde ficam estocadas as matérias-primas\nutilizadas pela fábrica. Em uma das suas\nextremidades fica localizado um elevador\nsecreto que conduz ao segundo nível.\nSegundo nível:\n19- Salão principal\nÁrea de circulação entre os diferentes\ncômodos. Possui alguns caixotes vazios\nempilhados.\n20- Elevador para o primeiro nível\nEste elevador conduz ao depósito (18).\n21- Hall do elevador\nSala onde estão algumas das caixas trazidas da\nsuperfície, com chapas de metal, canos e\nparafusos.\n22- Área de montagem\nNeste local existe uma oficina de montagem,\nonde o projeto do exo-tank foi executado.\nPode-se avistar ainda algumas peças jogadas\nsobre as quatro bancadas.\n23- Escritório da chefe\nO escritório tem acesso direto à área 15 através\nde uma escada secreta. Possui uma mesa, duas\npoltronas e um sofá pequeno. Numa das\nparedes existe um cofre secreto contendo três\nmil P.O. e um molho de chaves.\n24- Depósito de munição\nAqui existem doze barris de pólvora, dezenas\nde caixas com balas e buchas, quarenta flechas,\ntrês arcos, cinco mosquetes e quatro pistolas.\n25- Hall de acesso ao túnel para o rio\nEste salão é protegido por armadilhas ocultas\n(d), que irão disparar caso algum invasor\nconsiga penetrar no local sem desativá-las.\n26- Depósito\nContém vários caixotes de dimensões variadas,\ncom peças metálicas, pregos e ferramentas.\n27- Sala dos projetos do exo-tank\nNeste local estão arquivados os projetos\nsecretos do exo-tank, mais uma caixa contendo\nquatro cristais de dragonita (no valor de 1.000\nP.O. cada) e 600 P.P.\n28- Depósito do exo-tank\nO protótipo está guardado neste local e não\npode ser ativado, pois ainda está incompleto.\n29- Escada para o primeiro nível\nEsta escada dá acesso à área 11.\na- Escada para o primeiro nível\nEssa área faz contato com a área 17.\nb- Mecanismo de abertura da porta do\ndepósito do exo-tank\nPara conseguirem acessar o local onde o exo-\ntank está guardado, os personagens terão que\ndescobrir este mecanismo e utilizar uma das\nchaves que está no cofre da sala do chefe (c).\nc- Cofre da sala do chefe\nLocal onde estão guardadas as chaves da porta\ndo depósito do exo-tank.\nd- Nichos de segurança\nEstes nichos disparam tiros contra possíveis\n\n26\nCena Seis\nO Gigante\nOs heróis atingem o porto e procuram um\nbarco pertencente à Legião Combatente, onde\nentram apressadamente. O capitão os recebe\ncom um sorriso e conduz os aventureiros para\no porão da embarcação.\nUm dos marinheiros avisa que está\nacontecendo uma movimentação incomum no\nporto e que os agentes devem estar sendo\nprocurados. Temendo que a radiação da\ndragonita possa denunciar a presença dos\npersonagens, o capitão os esconde numa\ngrande caixa de madeira forrada com ferro e\nchumbo para impedir a detecção por agentes\ninimigos.\nDepois de acondicionar os agentes, o capitão\nretorna então para o convés e se prepara para\nacionar os motores.\nMas antes que o barco deixe o porto, um\nsacolejo e uma sensação de vazio no estômago\ninvasores.\nCena Quatro\nFogo Ligeiro\nO exo-tank “Fogo Ligeiro” foi projetado para\ndisparar até dezesseis tiros sem precisar\nrecarregar. No dorso de cada braço estão\nmontados dois pares de disparadores que\nlançam projéteis com a potência de um\nmosquete e são alimentados por cilindros\ngiratórios recarregáveis, onde a munição está\nacondicionada.\nFogo Ligeiro mede dois metros e noventa\ncentímetros de altura e pesa duas toneladas.\nÉ movido com um cristal de dragonita que\nalimenta sua caldeira de vapor e leva tração\naos membros superiores e inferiores. No\nmomento ele encontra-se desativado, pois uma\npeça fundamental para o seu funcionamento\nfoi retirada para receber alguns ajustes.\nO veículo foi projetado para duas pessoas de\ntamanho médio, um deles atuando como piloto\ne o outro como artilheiro/municiador,\ncontrolando o movimento dos braços e os\narmamentos ali situados.\nSe os jogadores invadirem o local à noite (o\nque é preferível), não encontrarão nenhum\ncientista além da chefe (que está escrevendo\nsuas anotações sobre o andamento do projeto\nem um diário) e mais cinco guardas.\nAs estatísticas deste grupo de NPCs está em\nEncontro III, nas páginas 30 e 31.\nCena Cinco\nA Fuga\nApós roubarem os planos do exo-tank e\nderrotarem seus adversários, os PCs deverão\nbater em retirada. Eles possuem duas opções:\nvoltar pelo mesmo caminho que fizeram para\nchegar ao subsolo ou buscar alguma outra\nsaída. Se optarem pela segunda opção, o\nMestre deverá conduzí-los até a câmara que\npossui uma passagem que leva ao rio (25). Ao\nentrarem na câmara, o Mestre deverá solicitar\num rolamento (CD 18) para ver se algum\npersonagem detectou a existência de\narmadilhas (d). Caso contrário elas serão\nativadas assim que um dos personagens atingir\no meio da sala, num disparo simultâneo que\ncausa 1D6+2 de dano por disparo.\nOs personagens sobreviventes podem seguir\npelo túnel até o rio, onde está escondido um\npequeno bote que os conduzirá até o porto,\nalguns quilôlmetros abaixo, no ponto de\nencontro onde um barco da Legião\nCombatente os aguarda.\n\n27\nfaz os personagens compreenderem que a caixa\nfoi jogada ao mar. Sem que eles soubessem,\numa abertura secreta foi aberta no fundo do\ncasco por onde a caixa caiu quase sem fazer\nruído. Por mais que tentem eles não\nconseguirão abrir a caixa, que está firmemente\nfechada por fora. Ela é impermeável e\nenquanto permanecer fechada não entrará\nágua, mas o ar também não será renovado.\nUm novo movimento brusco revela que a caixa\nestá sendo rebocada por baixo d’água. Poucos\nminutos depois eles sentem que estão sendo\niçados e ouvem vozes de homens sem contudo\nconseguir entender o que dizem. Repetidas\npancadas revelam que a caixa está prestes a\nser aberta por pessoas desconhecidas.\nQuando por fim a tampa é aberta, os\naventureiros percebem que estão à bordo de\noutro barco, cercados por sete homens de\nestatura média armados com mosquetes,\nenquanto que um indivíduo de grandes\nproporções, cuja fisionomia está oculta pela\npenumbra, os observa atentamente.\nSe os personagens sacarem as armas, os sete\nhomens atacarão para desarmá-los tentando\nnão ferí-los. Nesse instante o gigante se\nrevelará: é Tatanka, um dos campeões da\nI.D.O., que foi enviado pelo comandante para\ndar suporte à missão. Como são agentes da\nI.D.O., é claro que os personagens o conhecem\ne vão parar de lutar.\nTatanka sugere a eles que o sigam até o convés.\nUma vez lá em cima, o ogre aponta para o barco\nonde estavam poucos minutos antes, cuja\nsilhueta é um pouco visível apesar da escuridão\ne que já deixava o porto rumo ao mar aberto.\nDe repente, o barco é completamente\ndestruído por uma explosão, atigindo também\ndois pequenos barcos que se aproximavam\npara abordá-lo. Atrás dos PCs surgem o\ncapitão e mais quatro marujos que fugiram pelo\nfundo do barco e seguiram nadando até o navio\nde Tatanka, que ativa seus motores e parte\nlentamente rumo à cidade de Rio da Prata,\nonde os agentes poderão entregar ao\ncomandante os planos secretos do exo-tank.\nA caixa de metal\nOs personagens estão sendo salvos, mas não\ntem a menor idéia disso. Faça-os pensar\nque caíram em uma armadilha e estão pres-\ntes a ser capturados ou pior, morrerem afo-\ngados ou sufocados dentro da caixa de me-\ntal de onde não tem como sair a menos que\ndestruam a tampa. Mas se fizerem isso a\nágua do mar vai entrar com muita força e\ndificultará qualquer tentativa de fuga. En-\nquanto eles estiverem na caixa, descreva os\nruídos do mar e de algo se arrastando junto\nà caixa. Na verdade é o som que a própria\ncaixa está fazendo ao se arrastar pelo solo\nmarinho, batendo ocasionalmente em algu-\nma coisa que esteja submersa.\nAs paredes da caixa estão frias e úmidas e\nseu interior completamente escuro. Qual-\nquer tentativa de se acender fogo poderá\nser bem sucedida, porém consumirá o ar\nda caixa rapidamente.\nFim\n\n28\nEstatísticas\ndos NPCs\nEquipe:\n“Javalis Ferozes”\nEscuderia:\nCasa do Dragão Vermelho\nAgente Um (líder)\nNome: Hrothgar\nCodinome: Queixada\nAdamita (humano)\nGue 1/Lad 1: ND 2; Tam. M (1,80 m); DV\n1d10+1+1d6+1; PV 15; Inic +6 (+2 Des, +4\nIniciativa Aprimorada); Desl 9m.; CA 15 (+2\nDes, +3 couro batido); Ataq +5 espada longa\n(1d8+3) ou +3 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +3,\nRef +4, Von +1; Tend CM; For 16, Des 15,\nCons 13, Int 14, Sab 12, Car 10.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Anão\n& Élfico.\nPerícias e Talentos: Escalar +4, Diplomacia\n+4, Falsificação +6, Esconder-se +7, Saltar +4,\nOuvir +5, Furtividade +7, Abrir Fechaduras\n+6 Punga +7, Observar +5, Natação +6, Usar\ninstrumento mágico +5, Usar cordas +6;\nIniciativa Aprimorada, Foco em Arma (espada\nlonga) e Esquiva.\nTesouro: 100 po\nQueixada é o líder desta equipe de aventureiros\ne vem se destacando como um guerreiro\nimpiedoso e cruel, não hesitando em matar seus\nadversários mesmo sem necessidade. Hábil no\nmanejo da espada, sempre que puder ele\ntentará resolver as coisas com a força bruta.\nÉ apaixonado por Sygara e fica fora de si\nquando algum homem se aproxima dela, seja\npara cortejá-la ou mesmo para pedir\ninformações. Em ambos os casos sua reação é\nsempre a mesma: tentar estripar aquele que\nconsidera seu rival.\nAgente Dois\nNome: Qillastriaqui\nCodinome: Sygara\nElfa\nGue 1/Lad 1: ND 2; Tam. M (1,65m); DV\n1d10+1+1d6+1; PV 13; Inic +7 (+3 Des, +4\nIniciativa Aprimorada); Desl 9m; CA 16 (+3\nDes, +3 couro batido); Ataq +3 espada longa\n(1d8+1) ou +4 arco longo (1d8); TR Fort +3,\nRef +5, Von +0; Tend LN; For 13, Des 17, Cons\n12, Int 13, Sab 10, Car 15.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Élfico\ne Ork.\nPerícias e Talentos: Blefar +9, Escalar +4,\nObter Informação +7, Esconder-se +7, Ouvir\n+6, Furtividade +7, Leitura labial +4, Procurar\n+7, Observar +6, Natação +3, Usar cordas +5;\nIniciativa Aprimorada, Foco em Perícia\n(Blefar) e Foco em Arma (espada longa).\nTesouro: 60 po\nEsta mulher é procurada em várias cidades por\nter seduzido nobres e autoridades para apro-\npriar-se de seus bens e/ou informações. La-\ndra qualificada, ela vem crescendo rapidamen-\nte dentro da escuderia, mas não só por suas\nhabilidades profissionais.\nExistem boatos sobre seu envolvimento com\nmembros mais graduados e com o próprio co-\nmandante da escuderia. Apesar de conceder\nfavores sexuais em troca de prestígio e posi-\nção, a elfa é apaixonada por Queixada e tem\nciúmes terríveis dele\nAgente Três\nNome: Bolendd\nCodinome: Dente de Pedra\nEncontro I\n\n29\nBandar (anão)\nGue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,50 m); DV 2d10+6;\nPV 22; Inic +1 (+1 Des); Desl 6m; CA 15 (+1\nDes, +4 brunea); Ataq +5 machado (1d8+2)\nou +3 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +6, Ref +1,\nVon -1; Tend LN; For 15, Des 13, Cons 16, Int\n12, Sab 9, Car 10.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Anão\n& Ork.\nPerícias e Talentos: Avaliação +3, Escalar +6,\nOfícios (Armeiro) +6, Natação +4; Ataque\nPoderoso e Foco em Arma (machado).\nTesouro: 20 po\nDente de Pedra recebeu este codinome devido\na um hábito comum entre os bandar de\nmastigar chumbo, o que lhe confere uma\nresistência superior aos dentes.\nCompanheiro de Queixada há longos anos, ele\né extremamente fiel e quando não está na frente\nde combate protegendo seu líder e amigo\nocupa uma posição estratégica para lhe garantir\numa retaguarda segura.\nSua única fraqueza: é apaixonado por Sygara.\nAgente Quatro\nNome: K’frarrl\nCodinome: Wary\nGoblin\nFtr1: ND 1; Tam M (1,55 m); DV 1d10+2; PV\n12; Inic +3 (+3 Des); Desl 9m.; CA 16 (+3 Des,\n+3 couro batido); Ataq +2 espada curta\n(1d6+1) ou +4 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +4,\nRef +3, Von +0; Tend CM; For 13, Des 16,\nCons 14, Int 12, Sab 11, Car 9.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto) &\nGoblin.\nPerícias e Talentos: Escalar +4, Saltar +4,\nCavalgar +6, Natação +4; Esquiva e Tiro\nCerteiro.\nTesouro: 9 po.\nWary é um guerreiro ambicioso, que deseja\nconquistar a liderança da equipe e se projetar\ndentro da escuderia. Sempre que pode\nmanipula a situação a seu favor, de forma que\npossa realizar feitos heróicos em favor de seu\nlíder para ganhar mais pontos dentro da\nescuderia.\nEmbora assuma uma aparência amistosa com\nseus companheiros, ele detesta Queixada e\nmais ainda Sygara, a quem considera uma\nmulher vulgar. Se não fosse pela proteção de\nDente de Pedra, talvez ambos já estivessem\nmortos com a garganta cortada.\nAgente Cinco\nNome: Rémicles\nCodinome: Bruxo Doido\nOrk\nGue 1/Fet 1: ND 2; Tam M (1,78 m); DV\n1d10+2 +1d4+2; PV 14; Inic +1 (+1 Des); Desl\n9m; CA 11 (+1 Des); Ataq +3 espada longa\n(1d8+2) e +2 besta leve (1d8) ; TR Fort +7,\nRef +4, Von +3; Tend CN; For 15, Des 12, Cons\n14, Int 14, Sab 8, Car 15.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Goblin\ne Ork.\nPerícias e Talentos: Alquimia +3, Ofícios\n(armeiro) +5, Concentração +7, Conhecimento\n(arcano) +6, Espionar +3, Identificar magia +7,\nNatação +3; Magias em Combate e Esquiva.\nTesouro: 120 po.\nMagias conhecidas de Feiticeiro (5/4): Nível\n0 — Detectar Magia, Mãos Mágicas, Raio de\nGelo, Ler Magias. 1o Nível — Mísseis Mágicos\n& Escudo Arcano.\nBruxo Doido é um feiticeiro que despreza a\nhierarquia a que é obrigado a se submeter para\nfazer parte da escuderia. Seu temperamento é\nbastante sarcástico e quase sempre está\ndebochando de Sygara quando esta tenta\nseduzí-lo.\nExistem boatos de que o ork é apadrinhado\nde alguém importante dentro do Clube do\nInferno, mas até hoje ninguém conseguiu\nprovar nada.\nBruxo Doido tem admiração por Dente de\nPedra e respeita muito Queixada, mas nutre\num sentimento de desprezo por Wary, por\nachá-lo incompetente.\n\n30\nCodinome: Nenhum\nAdamita\nGue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,84 m); DV 2d10+2;\nPV 17; Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 9m; CA 16 (+2\nDes, +4 brunea); Ataq +6 espada larga (2d6+4)\nou +4 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +4, Ref +2,\nVon +1; Tend LN; For 16, Des 14, Cons 13,\nInt 10, Sab 12, Car 14.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto).\nPerícias e Talentos: Adestrar Animais +7,\nEsconder-se +2, Ouvir +1, Furtividade +2,\nCavalgar +7, Observar +1, Natação +8;\nReflexos de Combate, Ataque Poderoso, Foco\nem Arma (espada larga), Foco em Arma (lança\nlonga).\nTesouro: 20 po.\nGuarda Quatro\nNome: Gudrun\nCodinome: Nenhum\nAdamita\nGue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,69 m); DV 2d10+4;\nPV 18; Inic +0; Desl 9m; AC 10 (+4 brunea);\nAtaq +4 espada curta (1d6+1) ou +3 besta leve\n(1d8); TR Fort +5, Ref +0, Von +1; Tend N;\nFor 13, Des 11, Cons 14, Int 10, Sab 12, Car 7.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto).\nPerícias e Talentos: Ofícios (forjaria) +5,\nEsconder-se +0, Ouvir +2, Furtividade +1,\nCavalgar +2, Observar +1, Natação +3;\nEsquiva, Especialização, Foco em arma (besta\nleve) e Foco em Arma (espada curta).\nTesouro: 5 po.\nChefe do projeto\nNome: Bimpnottin\nCodinome: Nittonp\nGnomo\nMag 3: ND 3; Tam P (1 m); DV 3d4+9; hp 17;\nInic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 6m; CA 13 (+2 Des, +1\nde tamanho); Ataq +1 Adaga (1d4-1) ou +4\nbesta leve (1d8); TR Fort +4, Ref +3, Von +4;\nTend CB; For 8, Des 14, Cons 16, Int 16, Sab\nEncontro III\nSentinelas da fábrica\nGuarda Um\nNome: Brynjolf\nCodinome: Nenhum\nAdamita\nGue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,71 m); DV 2d10+4;\nPV 19; Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 9m; CA 16 (+2\nDes, +4 brunea); Ataq +5 espada longa\n(1d8+2) ou +4 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +7,\nRef +2, Von -1; Tend LN; For 14, Des 14, Cons\n14, Int 13, Sab 9, Car 13.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto) &\nÉlfico.\nPerícias e Talentos: Escalar +4, Saltar +5, Ouvir\n+0, Furtividade +3, Cavalgar +6, Observar +0,\nNatação +7; Esquiva, Grande Fortitude,\nAtaque Poderoso e Foco em Arma (espada\nlonga).\nTesouro: 10 po.\nGuarda Dois\nNome: Sighvat\nCodinome: Nenhum\nAdamita\nGue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,75 m); DV 2d10+2;\nPV 16; Inic +7 (+3 Des, +4 Iniciativa\nAprimorada); Desl 9m.; CA 17 (+3 Des, +4\nbrunea); Ataq +5 espada longa (1d8+2) ou +5\nbesta leve (1d8); TR Fort +4, Ref +3, Von -1;\nTend N; For 15, Des 16, Cons 13, Int 10, Sab\n9, Car 9.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto) & Anão\nPerícias e Talentos: Escalar +6, Ofícios\n(armeiro) +3, Ouvir +0, Falar Idioma (anão),\nObservar +0, Natação +4; Reflexos de\nCombate, Iniciativa Aprimorada, Ataque\nPoderoso, Foco em Arma (espada longa).\nTesouro: 20 po.\nGuarda Três\nNome: Geirmund\nEncontro II\n\n31\n12, Car 10.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Anão,\nÉlfico, Gnomo & Goblin.\nPerícias e Talentos: Alquimia +7, Avaliação +4,\nConcentração +7, Ofícios (forjaria) +7,\nEsconder-se +6, Conhecimento (arquitetura e\nengenharia) +7, Conhecimento (arcano) +7,\nOuvir +3, Profissão (engenharia) +11,\nEspionar +4 , Identificar Magia +6 ; Criar Item\nMaravilhoso, [Escrever Pergaminhos], Foco\nem Perícia (Profissão).\nTesouro: 250 po.\nMagias conhecidas de Mago (4/3/2): Nível 0\n— Todas. 1o Nível (8 magias) — Escudo\nArcano, Identificação, Área Escorregadia,\nSono, Mísseis Mágicos, Leque Cromático,\nCausar Medo e Toque Chocante. 2 o Nível (2\nmagias) — Nublar e Esfera Flamejante.\nNittonp é uma maga de confiança do comando\nda escuderia. Ela já participou de missões\nimportantes e agora recebeu a tarefa de\ncontrolar o processo de desenvolvimento do\nexo-tank.\nGuarda Cinco\nNome: Olaf\nCodinome: Godrong\nAdamita\nGue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,68 m); DV 2d10+4;\nPV 20; Inic +1 (+1 Des); Desl 9m; CA 15 (+1\nDes, +4 brunea); Ataq +6 espada longa\n(1d8+3) ou +3 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +5,\nRef +3, Von +0; Ten LN; For 16, Des 12, Cons\n14, Int 10, Sab 10, Car 9.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto).\nPerícias e Talentos: Adestrar Animais +5,\nOuvir +1, Cavalgar +6, Observar +1; Reflexos\nRápidos, Combate Montado, Saque Rápido,\nFoco em Arma (Espada Longa).\nTesouro: 50 po.\nGuarda Seis\nNome: Radija\nCodinome: Razemun\nElfa\nGue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,63 m); DV 2d10+2;\nPV 16; Inic +4 (+4 Des); Desl 9m; CA 17 (+3\nDes, +4 camisão de cota de malha); Ataq +3\nespada longa (1d8+1) ou +7 arco longo\ncomposto (1d8); TR Fort +4, Ref +4, Von +0;\nTend CN; For 12, Des 18, Cons 13, Int 12,\nSab 10, Car 13.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Élfico\ne Goblin.\nPerícias e Talentos: Adestrar Animais +6,\nSaltar +3, Ouvir +2, Cavalgar +9 , Procurar\n+2, Observar +2, Natação +4; Tiro Certeiro,\nPrecisão, Foco em Arma (arco longo\ncomposto).\nTesouro: 7 po.\nGuarda Sete\nNome: Laucivos\nCodinome: Perezzos\nElfo\nLad 2: ND 2; Tam M (1, 72 m); DV 2d6+2;\nPV 12; Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 9m; CA 15 (+2\nDes, +3 couro batido); Ataq +3 espada curta\n(1d6) ou +3 arco longo (1d8); TR Fort +1, Ref\n+5, Von +0; Tend CN; For 10, Des 15, Cons\n12, Int 14, Sab 11, Car 13.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Élfico,\nGnomo e Ork.\nPerícias e Talentos: Avaliação +5, Ofícios +5\n(construir armaduras), Diplomacia +5, Obter\nInformação +5, Esconder-se +7, Ouvir +6,\nFurtividade +7, Abrir Fechaduras +7, Procurar\n+6, Sentir Motivação +4, Observar +5,\nAcrobacia +5, Usar Instrumento Mágico +4;\nAcuidade com Arma (espada curta).\nTesouro: 25 po.\nGuarda Oito\nNome: Dkil\nCodinome: Kdill\nBandar (anão)\nGue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,52 m); DV 2d10+2;\nPV 20; Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 6m; CA 17 (+2\nDes, +5 cota de malha); Ataq +6 machado\ngrande (1d12+4) ou +4 besta leve; TR Fort +5,\n\n32\nRef +2, Sab +0; Tend LN; For 16, Des 14, Cons\n15, Int 11, Sab 11, Car 9.\nIdiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto) &\nAnão.\nPerícias e Talentos: Avaliação +1, Escalar +7,\nOfícios (lapidação) +4; Esquiva, Ataque\nPoderoso, Foco em Arma (machado grande).\nTesouro: 75 po.\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/D20 system/LANG/ES/Fantapunk - Fogo Ligeiro.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":178,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"12 Simple Rules for DMing\nthe magic behind mayhem, murder, and monsters\nby Richard Read\n\nFor Dave, Peter, and Robert \nAlso for John and Peter \nCopyright 2018 Richard Read \nDungeons & Dragons and D&D are properties of Wizards of the Coast. Their use here is not \nmeant to suggest that Wizards of the Coast or any of its subsidiaries has approved of or \ncontributed to this work. \n\n \n \nA LITTLE BACKSTORY \n \nLike most 13 year olds, I thought I knew \neverything. \n \nUnlike most 13 year olds, I soon realized I was \nwrong. \n \nA few weeks after becoming a teenager, I \nplayed Dungeons & Dragons for the first \ntime. In a musty basement classroom on a \nhot, September afternoon, one of my \nseventh-grade teachers led us through a \nshort adventure, and my tiny Mississippi \nmind was blown. \n \nUntil that day, my favorite games had fallen \ninto two camps: board games like Monopoly, where you went round and round a path picking \nup money, and arcade games like PacMan, where you went round and round a path gobbling \nup dots. \n \nBut with D&D, there was no path. Apart from some strange-looking dice and a few sheets of \ngraph paper, there wasn’t anything to see at all: the game took place almost entirely in our \nheads. “You awake at dawn beside a dwindling campfire in a dense, gloomy forest. A soft breeze \nblows through the trees, and unfamiliar bird calls echo above. Before you, a cavern entrance \nyawns.” Would we go in? Would we mark it on our map and return when we were stronger, \nmore sure of ourselves? Or would we walk away in search of something else--perhaps a lesser \nchallenge, or maybe a greater one? Anything was possible. \n \nAnything at all. \n \nWhoa. \n \nAs soon as my mind stopped reeling, my first thought was, “I cannot WAIT to share this with my \nfriends.” It didn’t matter that I’d only played once and didn’t know an eight-sided die from a \ntwelve-sider. I took all the money I’d saved, raced to the hobby store, and bought the D&D boxed \nset. \n \n\nThe following weekend, I was seated behind the DM’s screen, guiding my younger brother and a \ncouple of schoolmates through a campaign called The Village of Hommlet. I tried to make it as \nexciting as my teacher had, but something felt off--way off. To be honest, it didn’t even seem \nlike the same game. My friends failed to see what the fuss was about. \n \nThat’s largely because I was a complete noob and didn’t know what the DM was supposed to do. \n(In my defense, though, it’s also because The Village of Hommlet was actually a fairly tough \nassignment for a first-time DM, given all the social interaction and improv and it requires.) \n \nAnd yet, I persisted. \n \nWithin a couple of months, I’d learned all the rules, learned to create characters, learned how \ncombat worked--and I foolishly thought that was all that mattered. After all, knowing the rules \nwas all it took to play chess or Battleship or Galaga. By that logic: \n \n1.\nBecause I knew the rules of D&D, I knew how to play it. \n2.\nBecause I could play D&D, I was a great DM. \n \nAs I said: typical 13 year old. \n \nI soon saw the error of my ways. Later that semester, I was invited to play a character in a \ncampaign run by a friend of a friend. He was a couple of years older than me, and already, he \nwas a fantastic DM. He painted pictures with words, he breathed life into one of the same \npremade campaigns I’d run so poorly. It was like we were playing two different games, and his \nwas a lot more fun. \n \nThat’s when I realized that I knew nothing about D&D. \n \nSince that night three decades ago, I’ve tried to improve my DMing skills. I’m still not the \nworld’s best, but every time I take players through a campaign, I discover something new \nabout the game, about my friends, and about myself. To me, that’s just as exciting as narrating \na massive battle or a stealthy jewel heist. \n \nIn all my years of rolling dice, though, the most important thing I’ve learned is this: the DM and \nthe players are telling a story together. That’s what D&D is all about. Your players may slay the \nruthless dragon, they may rescue the mayor from hordes of bandits, they may end their \ncampaign much richer than before. But there’s no “winning” in D&D without good storytelling. \n \nWhat’s considered “good storytelling” varies from group to group, of course. But without some \nkind of narrative, some kind of story arc, D&D is just an unrelated series of murders, \nmoney-grabs, and mayhem--like skimming a bunch of chapter titles in a textbook instead of \ntaking time to read the material and understand how topics relate to one-another. \n \n\nThis idea of collaboration between the DM and players may not be how you’ve approached the \ngame in the past. It certainly wasn’t how I thought of D&D during those early years. Back then, \nI assumed that because the DM knew the campaign, she was in charge. On the other hand, I met \nplayers who were convinced that they were responsible for bringing adventures to life. But the \ntruth of the matter is that D&D--or any number of similar games--depends on cooperation. The \nDM may have a better map than the players, the players may be making the decisions, but \nultimately, they’re all exploring this new world together. \n \nThat said, the DM is given a few special responsibilities that the players don’t share. The most \nimportant of those is that she’s in charge of keeping the story moving. If a player has to skip a \nweek because of an illness or another commitment, the game can continue, but without the DM, \nthings grind to a halt. \n \nAnd so, if you’re a DM looking to keep your game humming along, here are a few tips that you \nmight find helpful. (Or maybe not: I won’t be offended.) Use them well and wisely, and you’ll \nmake memorable adventures for yourself and your players. \n \n \n \n\nBEFORE YOU PLAY \nA little preparation goes a long way for both the DM and the players. \n \n#1. Characters need backstories \n \nDungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game. Players adopt the personas \nof half-orc fighters, elven wizards, and tiefling rangers as they explore \nother worlds. To me, a good game of D&D is like the first rehearsal for a \nplay or a film, when actors gather around a table and read through the \nscript. The only difference is, in D&D, there’s no script: everything is \nimprov. \n \nEvery gamer and every gaming group have different ways of \nrole-playing. Some players speak only as their character would speak, in \naccents and whispers and shouts. Others speak as themselves, using \ntheir everyday voices to explain what their characters do in given \nsituations. Either approach is fine (though it’s great if everyone in the \ngroup can agree to the same style of play). \n \nBut one thing all players need, no matter how they embody their \ncharacters at the gaming table, is a backstory. They need to know who their characters are and \nhow they became that way. Were they raised in slums and forced to climb slowly, tediously, \nthrough the ranks of their order? Were they born into a noble house and pampered from day \none? If your players know these things, they’ll have a better sense of how their characters will \nreact in given situations. If they don’t, here are a few questions to start them off: \n \n●\nWhere did your character grow up? \n●\nWhat did your character’s parents do for a living? \n●\nWhat sort of house was your character raised in? \n●\nDid your character go to school? If so, for how long? \n●\nWhat made your character choose this way of life? \n●\nWhy does your character get out of bed in the morning? \n●\nWhen do you expect your character to retire from adventuring? \n \nKnowing your players, you’ll probably have other questions to help tease out their characters’ \nnarratives. \n \nThose backstories aren’t just important for players; they’re useful for you, too. After all, you \nhelp guide the story that’s being told around the gaming table. Sure, you could just pull a \npre-made campaign off the shelf and play it exactly as it’s written. But wouldn’t it be more fun \nif you threw in a few elements to personalize it for your group? \n \n\nFor example, if one of your players’ characters has made it her life’s work to find her long-lost \nbrother, wouldn’t it be interesting if that brother showed up in the story? What if he’s become a \nhermit? A powerful tyrant? The leader of a rival adventuring party? Or what if he’s being held \ncaptive by the villain? \n \nSimilarly, if one of your players’ characters was cursed by an evil god long ago, what would \nhappen if he discovered a prayer book to that god in a treasure chest? Or if a missionary on the \nstreet of a busy city invited him to a temple dedicated to that god? Or if the character received \nsome sign that the god was, in fact, still watching him? \n \nIn short, if players know their backstories, they’ll have more fun playing the game. And if you \nknow their backstories, you can tailor the world they’re exploring to make experiences richer. \n \n#2. It’s the little things that count \n \nThe DM is a writer. Even when you’re running \na campaign that was dreamed up by someone \nelse, you’re still telling a story with your \nwords. \n \nThink about the writers who’ve moved you \nwith their novels, poems, and short stories. \nWhat do you remember most about those \nworks? What do you recall months or years \nor even decades after you put the works \naside? \n \nThe answer is probably a vivid detail, not the bulletpoints of the plot. When I think of Lord of \nthe Rings, for example, I think of the friendship between Frodo and Sam and the tension that \narose between them when Gollum arrived on the scene. Similarly, in The Voyage of the Dawn \nTreader, I remember Lucy reading a book in a terrifyingly quiet house, and the ship sailing \nacross an increasingly shallow sea. From the Harry Potter series, I remember things like \nbutterbeer and the maddening primness of Dolores Umbridge. \n \nThose are details that Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling used to add texture to their stories. Most \naren’t essential to the narrative--I mean, Umbridge could’ve been a slob and it wouldn’t have \naffected the plot--but they give us a better sense of the world and the personalities we’re \nreading about. They enrich the story, and as a result, they make us care a little more. \n \nDMs do the same thing. Sure, you could just tell the characters that they find a silver locket in a \njewelry box. But what if that locket had a small painting inside, perhaps a painting of the \n\nowner’s beloved? What if it had an inscription--maybe words of love and devotion, or maybe an \nancient, infernal curse? \n \nWhat if a ruined city is filled with the corpses of only men, or only women, or only cats? What \ncharacters stumble into a town that shuts down at dusk because of a superstition about the \nevils of moonlight? What if the players find an ordinary cloak in a dusty dungeon, but inside \none of the pockets is a love letter or a note from worried parents or a treasure map? \n \nObviously, you don’t want to provide an endless series of distractions. Many players--myself \nincluded--tend to overthink things. We assume that if the DM reveals something, it’s important, \nand we’re prone to investigate every detail, no matter how small. A century ago, the famous \nRussian playwright Anton Chekhov warned against that kind of thing when he said, \"One must \nnever place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isn't going to go off. It's wrong to make promises you \ndon't mean to keep.\" In other words, don’t leave ominous clues lying around unless they’re \ngoing to pay off in the future. Encouraging players to run down rabbit holes can be just as \nfrustrating as giving no details at all. \n \nThat said, there’s still plenty of room for you to embellish stories. Describing what players \nsmell as they meander down a country lane, the quality of light in an abandoned temple, the \ncolor of a potential ally’s clothes, how a child smiles at them as they pass in the street: these \nkinds of details can enhance the players’ sense of their environment and immerse them in the \nstory without being distracting. Long after your campaign has ended, the players may not \nremember the name of the big, bad villain or even how they overcame him, her, or it. Instead, \nyou’ll hear them say something like, “Hey, remember when we stumbled into that torture \nchamber with all those lace curtains and beanbag chairs and a wine bar?” \n \n#3. Let the NPCs speak \n \nThe physical setting of your campaign isn’t the only tool you \nhave to immerse players in the story. Non-player characters \ncan be a huge help, too. They can drop hints, seem mysterious \nor untruthful, or they might simply have some personality \ntraits that make them memorable--a nervous tic or a \ncatchphrase, for example. \n \nMany DMs treat NPCs like redshirts--nondescript characters \nwho serve a single purpose, then drop out of the story forever. \n(The term comes from the original Star Trek series, which \nwould populate the Enterprise with extra characters in red \nshirts, only to kill them off before an episode was over.) While \nthere’s no guarantee that your players will engage with NPCs in meaningful ways or seek them \nout again in the future, making NPCs unique will help make your story more memorable. \n\n \nFor example, it’s pretty common for characters to visit taverns for refreshment now and them, \nor to spend a few nights at an inn. But players often ignore bartenders and innkeeps; they \nconduct their transactions with these NPCs--order drinks, rent rooms, etc.--then get on with \nwhat they perceive to be their business. \n \nIn real life, however, waiters and innkeeps are often great sources of information. What if the \nbartender in your story strikes up a conversation with your characters? What if she’s lived her \nwhole life in this small village and wants to hear tales from beyond its familiar borders? What \nif she’s being kept here against her will and needs their help to escape? What if she’s a spy for \nthe enemy and wants information about the characters’ plans? \n \nOf course, not every NPC needs to become an integral part of the story. Just as in real life, some \nare merely bystanders. That doesn’t mean they’re devoid of personality, though. Maybe the \nlocal innkeeper loves a bawdy tune and will give the adventurers a free night’s lodging if your \nbard performs a few songs. (If the person playing the bard feels comfortable performing a song \nfor the group--say, the theme song from Gilligan’s Island--so much the better.) Maybe the clerk \nat the general store adores haggling and has a secret weakness for dwarven armor. Or maybe \nthe beggar offers the party directions in exchange for healing wounds he suffered at the hands \nof aristocratic hooligans, who roughed him up a week ago. \n \nAt a loss over how to make NPCs and environments unique? Do what professional writers do \nand pay attention to your surroundings away from the gaming table. That woman in line \nahead of you at the store with an odd assortment of groceries, the checkout clerk who waits on \nher and is clearly having a rough day, the man at the bus stop shouting into his cell phone: use \npeople like this as the basis for memorable NPCs. \n \n#4. Start with the bad guy (or gal) \n \nThere are a host of prefab adventures on the market, each \nwith its own distinct storyline, but sometimes, you want \nsomething completely different. You want to tell a new \nstory--one that hasn’t been told before, or an old one told in \na new way. \n \nBuilding a homebrew campaign is loads of fun, but it can \nalso be a bit overwhelming. Sure, mapping out a dungeon is \nfairly straightforward, and you can probably dream up the \ncharacters’ main quest without too much \ndifficulty--recover a magic item, defeat a necromancer, etc. \nBut once you’ve created the bones of the campaign, how do \nyou flesh it out? How do you produce a setting that offers a \n\ncohesive story your players will understand, buy into, engage with? \n \nFor me, the answer is simple: start with the villain. \n \nBefore you bring out the graph paper, before you decide on the party’s main quest, think about \nwho or what the players are going to fight. Is it a dragon? A doppelganger? A cursed king? A \nbandit queen? A beholder? The creepy twins from The Shining, all grown up and ready to \nparty? The choice is yours (though if it were me, I’d seriously consider the creepy twins). \n \nOnce you know who the villain is, think about how they became who or what they are today. \nPeople may be born to awful parents, but they don’t become supervillains unless they’re \nobsessed with a particular goal. Do they seek revenge? Status? An artifact? An alliance? Are \nthey compelled by a higher power to wreak havoc? Can they be redeemed? Do they truly \nbelieve that what they’re doing is right? Do they understand the harm they’re causing? Or will \nthey snap out of it once a charm is broken? \n \nIf your villain is a monster instead of a humanoid, take the same approach. Chromatic dragons \nare all evil, but they’re not interchangeable. Some are clearly more powerful than others. How \ndid your big, bad, black dragon become a supervillain? What’s driving her to destroy \neverything good? Ask those same questions of mind flayers, orc war chiefs, vampires, \nwerewolves--maybe even freakishly intelligent gelatinous cubes. (It’s D&D, y’all. Anything’s \npossible.) \n \nOnce you know your villain, the rest of the story will begin falling into place. Some things to \nconsider: \n \n●\nWhat is the villain’s ultimate goal? \n●\nWhat must they do to achieve that goal? \n●\nWho or what is standing in their way? \n●\nHow will they eliminate that obstacle? \n●\nWhere do they live now? \n●\nWhat defenses do they have? \n●\nWho serves them? \n \nAnd so on. \n \nAnswer questions like that, and you’ll soon have a campaign laid out, a stronghold \nconstructed, and crafty challenges designed. \n \nStarting with the villain will help the players, too. That’s because they need someone--a \npersonality--to fight against. \n \n\nPsychologically speaking, we human beings gravitate toward stories with characters we can \nunderstand, identify with. It doesn’t matter if the characters themselves are human or not. \n(How many Disney movies have you seen with non-human heroes and foes?) It doesn’t even \nmatter whether we like those characters or not. The stronger the feelings those characters \nevoke--both good feelings and bad--the more profoundly we’re engaged in the story. \n \nIn The Hobbit, for example, the first part of the novel is largely concerned with the evil dragon \nSmaug, a well-drawn, fascinating character. We don’t like him, per se, but we understand him, \nhis vanity, his intelligence. Later, our attention shifts to Thorin Oakenshield--someone we like \nin the first half of the book but come to revile in the second. And throughout it all, we’re rooting \nfor Bilbo to overcome every challenge. \n \nLike all good storytellers, Tolkien knew that to keep readers turning the page, he needed his \ncharacters--both villains and heroes--to leap off the page. They had to be relatable (which isn’t \nthe same thing as likable). Readers needed to understand them. If you’d replaced Smaug with, \nsay, a brick wall, the story wouldn’t have been nearly as good, because how can you love or \nhate a brick wall? How could you feel anything for it? And how could you root for Bilbo to \nsucceed against it? \n \nIt’s the same in D&D. The villain is your centerpiece, it holds the story together. It may not be \nhuman, and in fact, it may not be entirely evil (the best villains are a mix of good and bad), but \nit’s got to have personality. Create that, and you’ll lay the foundation for a truly epic \nadventure. \n \n \n \n\nWHEN IT’S TIME TO ROLL THE DICE \nRemember: everyone’s there to have fun, including you. \n \n#5. Always say “yes” \n \nMost gaming groups have at least one player who likes to \npush the boundaries. You know the person I’m talking \nabout: the one who decides that he wants to steal a horse \nfrom a stable in broad daylight. The one who chooses to \nattack a merchant--or even another character in the \ngroup--because she didn’t like his tone of voice. \n \nDealing with these folks can be frustrating. You’ve spent a \nlot of time creating a campaign from scratch or \nfamiliarizing yourself with one you’ve bought or borrowed. \nThere’s so much cool stuff that your players can do, so \nmuch for them to explore and discover! Why would this \nyutz screw up an amazing story for himself and his fellow \nplayers? \n \nI don’t have an answer for that question. All I know is that \nwhen the game threatens to spiral out of control, you have \ntwo options: you can resist, or you can go with it. \n \n(Fun fact: you have the same choices when your car hits an icy patch and goes into a tailspin. \nEqually fun fact: experts recommend the same reaction for both DMs and drivers.) \n \nResisting is the wrong response, and I’ll give you three reasons why. \n \nFor starters, players aren’t stupid. They can read your tone of voice and your actions. They can \ntell when you’re frustrated. When throw up your hands and roll your eyes, they see animosity. \nThat creates a divide between you and them--a divide that interferes with collaborative \nstorytelling, which is your shared responsibility. You and the players are in this together, and \nif you try to hit the brakes while they’re moving forward...well, it’s not likely to improve the \nstory, that’s for sure. \n \nSecond, if you’re resisting, you may become a little vindictive. “Okay,” you say, an evil glint in \nyour eye, “as you pull out your sword to attack the shopkeep, she presses a small button, and a \ntrapdoor in the floor gives way, plunging you into a deep, spiked pit. You take 15 points of \nbludgeoning damage, 10 points of piercing damage, and I need you to roll a Constitution saving \nthrow to see if the poison on the spikes affects you.” Though it might feel good at at the time, \n\nthat kind of response makes you seem petty, and if not managed properly, it can escalate into a \ndirect confrontation between you and the players. \n \nFinally, when you resist, you’re telling the players, “Stay on the path I’ve created for you.” That \nmay sound like a reasonable request, but D&D should never, ever have a set path. Playing D&D \nis acting out an alternate life in an alternate universe. There as here, players can choose to go \nin any direction they like. Good players will see the outlines of the path you’ve forged, and \nthey’ll stick to it, more or less. But no one likes to feel as if they’re running through a hamster \nmaze--even when they’re in a dungeon labyrinth that feels like a literal hamster maze. \n \nSo, when players go in unexpected and/or unwise directions, follow them. Lean into it. Always \nsay “yes”. “All right, you want to rob the priest who just cured your lycanthropy? Tell me how \nyou want to do that.” And let the story go its merry way. \n \nEven if the game veers in odd directions, your path is still there. All you have to do is guide the \nplayers back to it. They attack a merchant and get sent to jail? Maybe a fellow inmate helps \nthem escape through a secret tunnel that leads directly into the underground lair they’ve spent \nthe past three sessions searching for. Maybe they can bribe a guard--or, since they’re so \ninclined to roughhouse, knock out a guard, take his uniform, steal some keys, release all of the \nprisoners in the place, and escape in the ensuing chaos. \n \nBottom line: if you’re clever, you can find a way to lead players back to the main narrative \nwithout having to drive them there with a whip. \n \n#6. Let dice drive the story \n \nI don’t usually like metaphors, but this \none’s pretty apt: a good game of D&D is \nlike a summer road trip. The DM has \nbuilt the car, paved the roads, planted \nflowers on the median, and constructed \ntowns along the route, but the players \nsit in the driver’s seat. They tell the DM \nwhat their characters do and where \nthey go, and the DM describes what they see from the car window. \n \nBut sometimes, players want to get off the highway, take a winding, bumpy backroad. They \nchoose to do stupid things--things that can seem doomed to fail. A rogue wants to visit the local \ngeneral store and shop for climbing gear? Sure thing, no problem. A fighter wants to \npickpocket the powerful mayor of a large town and steal a magic crystal that she carries for \nprotection? That’s a dicey proposition--literally. \n \n\nIn these sorts of situations, rely on ability and skill checks to tell the story. Does a character \nrecall where the local Thieves’ Guild is located? Have her make an Intelligence check to see if \nshe remembers--or, if she’s from that town, maybe a History check would be more appropriate. \nIn the example of the pickpocketing fighter above, I’d probably ask for a Sleight of Hand \ncheck--and if the mayor is heavily guarded, I’d insist that he make it with disadvantage. \n \nIf they player rolls well, it’s a remarkable success, and the story moves forward. If the roll \nfails...well, things can get interesting. \n \nIn the case of the thieving fighter, if the roll were high but not high enough, maybe the guards \nwould just shove him away. If the roll weren’t so close, maybe they’d rough him up a bit and \nthrow him out of town on his ear. And if the roll were especially bad--say, a natural \none--maybe the fighter would get locked in prison...or worse. \n \nIn short, relying on die rolls creates an element of randomness, and randomness keeps the \ngame fun. (Many casino gamblers will tell you the same thing.) \n \nThe dice also ensure an element of fairness. For example, if players have gone way off-course \nand you’re starting to feel frustrated (as we discussed in section five above), allowing dice to \ndetermine the narrative ensures that you remain impartial. If the players try something \nextraordinary and succeed, it’s a hugely memorable moment. If they fail, they know that it’s \nbecause luck wasn’t on their side and they performed poorly. Most importantly, in the latter \ncase they’ll know that it’s not a matter of you being vindictive. \n \nAs with all of the players’ rolls, make sure you can see the dice when they land. Don’t single out \nanyone if you can help it--no one likes to be accused of cheating. I suggest setting a policy \nupfront that ensures die rolls can be seen by all players and the DM. (Using a simple, \ninexpensive tool like a dice tower can make the practice fun, too.) This keeps everyone on the \nup and up. \n \nAs for whether the players can see your die rolls, that’s your call, but I think you should keep \nthem secret. I’m not suggesting that you ignore your own rolls and always take the story where \nyou like. Quite the opposite: the DM needs to experience randomness too, just to keep the game \nentertaining. But in some cases, die rolls can give away crucial information. \n \nFor example, if one of your players casts Charm Person or Geas on an NPC, maybe the charm \nworks...or maybe the NPC simply wants to play along as if the charm has worked, until the NPC \nhas an opportunity to attack. If the players can see your die rolls, you risk ruining the surprise. \n \n \n \n\n#7. Keep the stakes high \n \nMost DMs want characters to succeed--to slay \nthe slavers, to retrieve the ring of power, to \nliberate the lost prince. That’s not just because \nwe like stories with closure and happy endings; \nit’s also because the players gathered around \nthe table are our friends. Whether we’re DMing \nor having them over for dinner, we want to \nentertain them, to show them a good time. It’s \nhard to do that when players’ characters are \nbeing slaughtered left and right. \n \nBut it’s a mistake to make D&D so easy that \nthere are no consequences for the characters. If you load up every treasure chest with healing \npotions and powerful scrolls, if your NPC cleric has a seemingly endless ability to cure wounds \nand remove curses, if you treat chaotic evil, tenth-level wizards like brainless worms, players \nare going to lose interest--or at the very least, they’re going to start acting irresponsibly. \n \nI’m not saying that every combat episode needs to be a three-session-long boss battle (though \nthere’s certainly a time and place for that). But take a good, long look at the stats for the \nmonsters your players are fighting. Do they have a below-average Intelligence of 5, an average \nIntelligence of 10, or an extraordinary Intelligence of 19? Are they prepared for a fight, and if \nso, are they not on heightened alert for interlopers? If one of your player’s characters were in a \nsimilar situation, how would he react? Would he surrender if all of his friends lay dead? Trigger \na deadly trap? Deceive his attackers while attempting to make a break for it? \n \nSimply put, some monsters are stupid, but not nearly all. Some are devastatingly clever. Play \nthem as such. Play them as though you were on the other side of the DM’s screen and they were \nyour character. \n \nThis approach applies in non-combat situations, too. If you treat the party’s foes realistically, \nyou ought to do the same for the world at large. Actions have consequences. Consider the \nscenario we discussed in section six--the one with the pickpocketing fighter. If he fails his \nattempt, he might go to jail, he might be fined, he might be banished from the town forever. But \nhe might also lose a hand, an eye, or an ear. He might be branded, scarred, or tattooed as a \nthief. He might experience a change in alignment or lose favor with his god. \n \nAnd in some cases, he might die. \n \nThankfully, death is one element of D&D that doesn’t have to be as realistic as it is in our \nuniverse. According to the current rules, a player needs to fail three death saving throws \n\nbefore she dies for good. In the interim, another member of the party can feed her a healing \npotion, cast a healing spell, or attempt to stabilize her with a Medicine check. And even if a \ncharacter does die, there are still ways to bring her back. \n \nSay that the worst has happened and one of your character is killed in battle. Maybe he failed \nthree death saving throws, was attacked multiple times while at zero hit points (which \ntriggered automatic death saving throw failures), or suffered a massive amount of damage in \na single attack. (The various ways characters can die are explained on page 197 of the Player’s \nHandbook.) \n \nThat’s a tragedy, and hopefully the other players will react as such, but before they start \nplanning funeral rites, have your magic-users make Arcana and/or Religion checks. Chances \nare, one of them has heard of spells like Raise Dead and Resurrection. Bringing the character \nback to life can become a side-quest, with the other characters transporting their friend’s body \nto a powerful cleric and asking her to restore him. (During these sessions, the “dead” player can \neither watch from the sidelines or play a new character, possibly one that’s been an NPC.) Of \ncourse, the cleric performing the ritual may demand some form of payment, or the spell may \nnot work as intended...but that’s another story. \n \nWhat I’m trying to say is this: if you treat the world of D&D realistically, it will become more \nreal for the players. At the very least, that should nudge some of your wilder players to \nconsider the effects of their actions. And in a best-case scenario, it’ll encourage everyone to \nthink through challenges more thoroughly, to become more creative in overcoming obstacles, \nand to play their characters as they’re written--dumb or smart, good or evil, impulsive or \ncautious. \n \n#8. Force characters to make hard \nchoices \n \nBecause anything is possible in D&D, players \nhave the opportunity to make plenty of \nchoices. Some of those choices won’t be \ndifficult. Kill the orcs who’ve ambushed you \nin the woods? Of course! Loot the body of the \nwarlock you’ve just defeated? Duh, \nobviously. \n \nBut part of the fun--and part of what makes \na campaign memorable for players--is \nputting characters in complicated moral or \nstrategic situations. Should they take the \ngold or save a child? Use the party’s last \n\nhealing potion on their best fighter or on the NPC who knows his way through the dungeon? \nTrust the hobgoblin who’s gone AWOL from her unit or slit her throat as she begs for mercy? \n \nThose “Sophie’s choice” moments are the things that players will recall for weeks, months, \nmaybe even years. They may also be the kind of moments that spark fierce debate in the group, \nas chaotic personalities vehemently disagree with lawful ones. As long those arguments take \nplace in character, they’ll enrich the story--which is, of course, your number-one goal. \n \n#9. Let players do the talking \n \nAs a DM, part of your job is to keep a record of what \nthe players have done on their adventure. Every DM \nhas a different method for doing this. I tend to jot \ndown short notes during gaming sessions; then \nwhen I get home, I translate those notes into full \nsentences before I forget what they mean. \n(Otherwise, I find myself running through my \nscribbles an hour before a meetup thinking “‘Bought \nitems’? For what? From whom? Who the hell bought \nthem?”) \n \nI think it’s a good idea to have players take notes \ntoo, or at least have them appoint someone as the \nparty’s scribe. That way, they’ll have a written account of the story--one that’ll probably \ninclude details that you’ve left out of your own notes. \n \nBefore the game begins, I usually provide a quick recap of recent events, setting the stage for \nthe current session. Every so often, though, I’ll ask one of the players to bring us up to speed \ninstead. It helps firm up the story in their minds--far more than if I’m just reading something to \nthem. It gives them a sense of where they are in this long, drawn-out miniseries we call a \ncampaign. And as an added bonus, the details they include will give me some insight into the \nelements of the adventure they’ve found most memorable. \n \nI do this during gameplay too. When the players encounter someone in their travels, I make \nsure that the NPC asks them who they are and what they’re doing. This allows the players to \nshare their version of the campaign, and it also allows them to tell their own characters’ \nstories. That not only clarifies the narrative, the story arc of the adventure, it also gives the \nplayers’ a stronger sense of their own characters. Like actors who’ve become intimately \nfamiliar with the roles they’re performing, this deepens player’s understanding of the world \nthey’re exploring and their characters’ place within it. To me, that’s a win-win. \n \n \n \n\n#10. Change the scenery \n \nEvery player tackles challenges in \nD&D in her own way. Some charge \ninto dungeons with a war cry, \nwaving their swords wildly \noverhead. Some are more cautious \nand curious, thinking their way \nthrough obstacles. Others love \nchatting up locals, laying out \nbattle strategies, exploring new \nterrain, and so on. \n \nAs a DM, you have to provide the \nright mix of social interaction, \nexploration, and combat to keep \nevery player engaged. \n \nWhen the game is moving along \nprecisely as you’d planned, you might not notice that you’ve gotten the balance right. But it’s \nvery easy to tell when the balance is wrong: players get bored, they start checking their cell \nphones, they begin acting carelessly, like they just want to get to the “fun stuff”. Pay attention, \nand it’ll be apparent when their attention shifts away from the game. \n \nThe best adventures I’ve DMed have been about 50% exploration, 30% combat, and 20% social. \nTo me, that makes sense: a big part of what draws us to D&D is the allure of exploring a \nstrange, new world. (When I play video games like Skyrim, I can spend hours just roaming \naround, taking in the sights, before I even bother with quests.) Social interactions, though? We \nexperience those every day, so we probably don’t want as many of them at the gaming table. \n \nKeep in mind that you need to provide this mix of environments no matter whether you’re \nrunning a campaign that you’ve created yourself or one that someone else has written. Yes, \neven in a prefab adventure, there are opportunities to drop in something new. For example, if \nyour players are in an urban setting and grow tired of chit-chatting with NPCs, toss in a \nmenacing group of thugs to provide a little combat--or let them discover a half-hidden ladder \nso they can explore the town from the rooftops. \n \nOn the other hand, If they’ve just finished a long dungeon slog, slaying wave after wave of orcs, \nhobgoblins, and whatever else you’ve hurled at them, let characters interact with a new NPC. \nMaybe it’s a fellow adventurer who’s the only surviving member of his party. Or perhaps it’s a \nbandit who’s reconsidered her life of crime and has deserted from a larger group. \n \n\nMaintaining an appropriate level of tension between exploration, combat, and social scenarios \ntakes practice, but in time, practice makes...well, not \nperfect, but you get better at it. \n \n#11. Keep it moving \n \nAt some point in every campaign, things slow to a crawl. \nMaybe the party is doing some last-minute shopping in \npreparation for a massive dungeon delve. Maybe they’re \non a week-long journey through the desert, with \nnothing but random encounters between them and the \nnext oasis. Or maybe they’re sitting at a tavern, \ndrinking and debating their next move. \n \nWhatever the case, gameplay in these situations can become disorganized and, let’s face it, \ndull. DMing a shopping excursion and rolling up random encounters can be tedious, and \nplayers’ short attention spans will be on full display. Your job is to keep things moving along as \nquickly as possible. \n \nAre the characters travelling for an extended period of time? If you don’t have any encounters \nplanned, maybe create one random run-in--ideally one that helps move the story along--but no \nmore than that. Are they looking for a particular kind of shop? Why look, there’s one on the \nnext corner. There’s no need to make them ask every street urchin in town just to find a smith, \nleatherworker, or temple. Are they haggling with merchants? Simply ask the players what \nthey’d like to purchase and be done with it. \n \nI take this same speedy approach to some of the more realistic elements of storytelling--food, \nfor example. Unless scarcity of food and water is an element in the story, I almost never ask \nplayers about when or what they eat. I don’t make them keep track of rations. I know it’s a part \nof the game, but as a DM, I have the option to overlook certain rules and guidelines, and that’s \none that doesn’t matter to me. Like the players themselves, I want to get to the good stuff. \n \n#12. Don’t take anything too seriously (except \nthis tip) \n \nD&D is a game. A few lucky folks make a living from it, but \nthe majority of us play D&D for fun. The camaraderie, the \nstorytelling, the triumphs, the tragedies, the potato chip \ncrumbs stuck in every crevice of your Monster Manual--it’s \nall meant to be enjoyable, so enjoy it. Surely the rest of \nyour life is stressful enough without treating your hobbies \nlike life-or-death crises. \n\n \nSadly, I know some DMs who haven’t yet learned this lesson. I’ve seen them threaten players \nwith bodily harm for cracking jokes at the gaming table. I’ve seen them fume at people who’ve \ngiven their characters ridiculous names like “Bob II: This Time It’s Personal”. And you know \nwhat? I’ve never once thought, “Yeah, that player should straighten up.” In every case, I’ve said \nto myself, “Man, that DM’s a jerk. Who’d wanna play under him?” \n \nSo what if a player wants to give her character a dumb name? As long as she’s not distracting \nfrom the game, roll with it. (If you really, truly hate the name, find a way to give her a title, or \nperhaps a pseudonym that her character must use to remain disguised.) So what if a player \nwants to flirt with NPC priests or attack city guards? Let him. In a game like D&D, it’s natural \nfor folks to push boundaries. Once they realize that yes, anything’s possible--and once they see \nhow the less-rambunctious players behave--they’ll likely settle down. \n \nAnd if they don’t, take them aside and have a chat about their behavior. Or simply don’t invite \nthem back. The one thing you shouldn’t do is rant and rave at the gaming table. That just puts \neveryone on edge and makes a fun pastime into an awkward obligation. \n \nIt should go without saying that as a DM, you’re allowed to have fun, too. Give NPCs funny \nnames, use funny accents, have them tell bawdy jokes. You want an egomaniacal mercenary to \nspeak in an Arnold Schwarzenegger-y voice? Go for it. It’ll make that character exponentially \nmore memorable. You want to put a mysterious, extradimensional blue box in the middle of an \nabandoned castle? Great. Some of the players may realize it’s a TARDIS, but will they know how \nto operate it? Where will it take them? Is there a man with a fez wandering about the ruins \nsomewhere? \n \n(At the suggestion of someone on Reddit, I once placed a Mr. Meeseeks box from Rick and Morty \nin a treasure chest. The players thought it was funny, and they used the Mr. Meeseeks to great \neffect--until of course many of the little blue guys went crazy and undid all characters’ \ncarefully laid plans.) \n \nI’m not saying that every gaming session should be like a comedy festival. In fact, if you follow \nsome of the tips I’ve outlined above, you’ll often have challenging, poignant, and sad moments \nduring your campaigns. But to me, what makes a great game is balancing those heavier, \nemotional moments with lighthearted play. Leaning too far in one direction or the other can be \nmonotonous, so do yourself and your players a favor by throwing in a few gags to counter the \ngore. \n \n \n \n\nTHAT’S ALL FOLKS \n \nIf you’ve been DMing for a while, chance are good that you’ve got your own list of rules for \nrunning great, engaging adventures. If that system is working for you and your players, by all \nmeans, keep using it. I mean, if it ain’t broke…. \n \nOn the other hand, if you feel like something’s been missing from your campaigns, perhaps \nsome of the suggestions I’ve offered here will improve things just a bit. At the very least, I hope \nthey provide some food for thought. \n \nIf you have additional questions or comments, feel free to email me at sturtle@gmail.com. You \ncan find my personal blog at sturtle.com, and some of my other published works are available \nat DMsGuild.com and Amazon.com. \n \n \n \n\nFor nearly half a century, Dungeons & Dragons has enthralled fantasy fans around the globe. \nIt continues to attract new players even in this era of high-tech pastimes, despite the fact that \nD&D relies on nothing more than a couple of rule books and some funny-looking dice. \nWhat makes D&D and other tabletop role-playing games so special, so alluring, is the fact \nthat anyone can enjoy them. You don’t need any particular skills; you only need to bring your \nimagination. And because of that, each time you sit down at the gaming table--whether that \ntable is in a bar, a basement, or a hotel ballroom--the experience is a little different. \nThere’s only one real constant in D&D: the fun is in the playing, not the winning. In fact, \nunlike most board games, card games, and video games, no one ever “wins” D&D. You \nsimply live to fight another day.\nRichard Read has spent more than three decades playing D&D, and much of that time \nhas been spent behind the dungeon master’s screen. In this short book, he shares some of \nthe lessons he’s learned overseeing campaigns large and small. If you’re a longtime dungeon \nmaster, many of his observations will probably ring true. And if you’re new to DMing, some \nof his advice may help turn your next adventure into one that players remember for years to \ncome. \n* * * * *\nRichard Read has written about games, cars, travel, theatre, and pop culture for Gawker, Fodors, \nHigh Gear Media, and many points in-between. He’s penned several D&D adventures; edits \nGaywheels.com, a website devoted to LGBT car fans; and co-authored The French Quarter \nDrinking Companion, a field guide to some of New Orleans’ best watering holes. He lives in New \nOrleans with his partners, numerous hounds, and a moderately well-stocked bar.\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Old School Revival (OSR(ic))/[Adventure Design & Dungeoncraft]/GM Advice & Writing/12 Simple Rules for DMing; The Magic Behind Mayhem, Murder, and Monsters.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":179,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":" \nGP\nStarting GP\nLifestyle \n� \nNone \n� \nStandard (12 gp x TU) \n� \nRich (50 gp x TU) \n� \nLuxury (100 gp x TU) \n \nLifestyle Cost \n \nOther Coin Spent \n \nTotal Coin Spent \n \n-\nGP\nGP Spent\nGP\nSubtotal \n+\nGP\nGP Gained\nGP\nSubtotal \n+\nGP\nGP Gained\nGP\nSubtotal \n-\nGP\nGP Spent\n \n GP\nFINAL GP TOTAL \nItems Sold \n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Value of Sold Items \n \nAdd ½ this value to your gp value\nItems Bought \n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Cost of Bought Items \n \nSubtract this value from your gp value\nXP \nStarting XP \n- XP \nXP lost or spent \nXP \nSubtotal \n+ XP \nXP Gained \nFINAL XP TOTAL \n \nXP \nTU \nStarting TU \n1 or 2 TU \nTU Cost \n- TU \nAdded TU Costs \nTU REMAINING \n \n \nITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE \nCross off all items NOT found \n \nAPL 2: \n� \nArmor of the Brogan (Adventure; see above) \n� \nElixir of Hiding (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nElixir of Love (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nElixir of Sneaking (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nElixir of Vision (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nLance of the Brogan (Adventure; see above) \n� \nMasterwork Military Saddle (Adventure; Complete Adventurer) \n� \nSword of the Brogan (Adventure; see above) \n� \nWand of Cure Light Wounds (CL 1st; Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n \nAPL 4 (all of APL 2 plus the following): \n� \nLarge Masterwork Falchion (Adventure; Player’s Handbook) \n \nAPL 6 (all of APLs 2, 4 plus the following): \n� \nLarge +1 Falchion (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nPearl of Power, 1st Level Spell (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n \nAPL 8 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6 plus the following): \n \nAPL 10 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8 plus the following): \n� \nCloak of Resistance +2 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nWand of Revenance (CL 7th; Adventure; Complete Divine) \n \nAPL 12 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 plus the following): \n� \nHorseshoes of Speed (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nLarge +1 Unholy Falchion (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nPearl of Power, 3rd Level Spell (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n� \nPotion of Shield of Faith +5 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \nAdventure Record#\n595 CY \nA D V E N T U R E \nL E V E L O F \nP L A Y \n(CIRCLE ONE) \nAPL 2 \nmax 450 xp; 450 gp \n \n \nAPL 4 \nmax 675 xp; 650 gp \n \n \nAPL 6 \nmax 900 xp; 900 gp \n \n \nAPL 8 \nmax 1,125 xp; 1,300 gp \n \n \nAPL 10 \nmax 1,350 xp; 2,300 gp \n \n \nAPL 12 \nmax 1,575 xp; 3,300 gp \n \nCross out any game effects this character does not gain. \n� Influence Point with the Knights of the Watch: In return for \nassisting Watcher Reginar Vlarrian in the matter of Watcher Helerain \nBrogan, this PC has earned influence with the Knights of the Watch. \nAlternately a human, dwarven or half-eleven PC meeting the other \nrequirements for the order can use this influence to have Watcher \nVlarrian’s recommendation to squire to the order. \n \n� Thanks of the Lesser Brogans: For ridding their manor of its \n“ghosts”, the current Brogan family promises an annual shipment of fruit \nfrom their orchards to their rescuers. This fruit can be sold once per year \nfor 50 gp on the first Adventure Record of each year (this amount is in \naddition to any gold awarded on that AR). \n \n� Promise to the Nackel Gnomes: This PC promised a service to the \nNackel gnomes for leaving the orchard. This promise may come into play \nin a future adventure. \n \n� Oath of the Brogan: This PC has sworn an oath to aid Watcher \nHelerain Brogan in destroying his sworn enemy the Baklunish lich Feyza \nBahun. In any future encounter with minions of the Bahun Lich, this PC \nreceives a +1 sacred bonus to attacks, damage, and saving throws against \nthose minions. \n \n� Shard of the Shield of the Brogan: This piece of a shattered large \nsteel shield was once a +1 animated shield, but it was destroyed in the final \nbattle between Brogan and Bahun. Helerain Brogan insisted that each PC \nthat swore an Oath of the Brogan take a shard with them when \ndeparting his crypt. \nNote: The Oath of the Brogan is required for access to the items below. These items \nmay not be upgraded in any other way than those described below: \n \n� Sword of the Brogan: This masterwork longsword is the foundation of \na sword of crypts (A&EG). It begins as a masterwork longsword, but the \nowner is entitled to purchase the following upgrades (Frequency: \nRegional) in the following order: +1 enhancement bonus (2k gp), holy \nweapon special ability (16k gp), +2 enhancement bonus (14k gp), \ncompleted sword of crypts (10k gp). Moderate Evocation (Good); CL 9th; \nPrerequisites: can’t be crafted; Market Price: 315 gp (base), 42,315 gp \n(completed); Weight: 4 lbs. \n \n� Armor of the Brogan: This bright golden masterwork chainmail is the \nfoundation of a suit of celestial armor. It begins as masterwork chainmail, \nbut the owner is entitled to purchase the following upgrades (Frequency: \nRegional) in the following order: +1 enhancement bonus (1k gp), +2 \nenhancement bonus (3k gp), +3 enhancement bonus (5k gp), completed \ncelestial armor (13,100 gp). Faint Transmutation (Good); CL 5th; Prerequisites: \ncan’t be crafted; Market Price: 300 gp (base), 22,400 gp (completed); Weight: \n20 lbs. \n \n� Lance of the Brogan: This masterwork lance is the foundation of a lance \nof the unending charge (A&EG). It begins as a masterwork lance, but the \nowner is entitled to purchase the following upgrades (Frequency: \nRegional) in the following order: +1 enhancement bonus (2k gp), mighty \ncleaving weapon special ability (6k gp), +2 enhancement bonus (10k gp), \ncompleted lance of the unending charge (32k gp). Strong Transmutation; CL \n13th; Prerequisites: can’t be crafted; Market Price: 310 gp (base), 50,310 gp \n(completed); Weight: 10 lbs. \nThis Record Certifies that \n____________________________________________ \nPlayed by______________________________________ \n \n \nPlayer \n \n \nRPGA # \nHas Completed \nGRM5-06 Family Fortunes \nA Regional Adventure \nSet in Gran March \n \nEvent: __________________________________ Date: ______________\nDM: ___________________________________________________________\n \nSignature \n \n \n \nRPGA # \nPlay Notes: \n� \nGained a level \n� \nLost a level \n� \nAbility Drained ____________ \n� \nDied \n� \nWas raised/res’d \n� \nWas reincarnated \n_________________________________________\n_________________________________________\n_________________________________________\nHome Region________________________\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Gran March/595/Normal Scenarios/GRM5-06 - Family Fortunes (APL 2-12)/GRM5-06 - Family Fortunes AR.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":180,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"1\nTHE\nUNWAVERING\nPATH\nA Multiclassing Quest for \nMonks and Paladins\nCREDITS\nDesign:\nKolja Raven Liquette\nEditing:\nMiranda Horner\nTypesetting:\nNancy Walker\nWeb Production\nBart Carroll\nWeb Development:\nMark A. Jindra\nGraphic Design:\nSean Glenn, Cynthia Fliege\nand Jen Page\nBased on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® game by E.\nGary Gygax and Dave Arneson and on the new edition of the\nDUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet,\nMonte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, and Peter Adkison.\nD&D, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and DUNGEON MASTER are registered trademarks owned\nby Wizards of the Coast, Inc. The d20 logo is a trademark owned by Wizards of the\nCoast, Inc. All Wizards characters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses\nthereof are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. \nThis material is protected under the copyright laws of the United\nStates of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the\nmaterial or artwork contained herein is prohibited \nwithout the express written permission of \nWizards of the Coast, Inc.\n©2006 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. \nAll rights reserved. \nMade in the U.S.A. \nThis product is a work of fiction. \nAny similarity to actual people, organizations, places, \nor events is purely coincidental.\nThis Wizards of the Coast game product contains no Open Game Content. \nNo portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without \nwritten permission. To learn more about the Open Gaming License \nand the d20 System License, \nplease visit www.wizards.com/d20.\nFor more DUNGEONS & DRAGONS articles, adventures, and information, \nvisit www.wizards.com/dnd\nINTRODUCTION\nMonks and paladins, lawful professions at heart,\ndemand consistency of themselves more than any\nother quality. Both classes adhere to traditions for the\nsake of creating standards upon which they can always\ncount. From the repetition of exercise, meditation, and\nprayer, both classes reinforce the strength of their\nconvictions, whether from within (the self) or from\nwithout (the divine). As such, the moment their focus\nchanges to pursue a different path, for even one level,\nboth classes must forever abandon that profession.\nThese characters must make a lasting choice before\nmulticlassing, deciding if they have advanced far\nenough as monks or paladins for their entire career.\nWHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY\nThe Unwavering Path makes use of the information in\nthe three D&D core rulebooks—the Player’s Handbook\n(PH), Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG), and M o n s t e r\nManual (MM), as well as Monster Manual II (MMII),\nMonster Manual III (MMIII), Fiend Folio (FF), a n d\nFiendish Codex I: The Hordes of the Abyss (FCI). \nTHE UNWAVERING\nPATH (LEVELS 3–5)\n“I never stopped being a monk, even after I discovered\nthe magic that flowed through my veins. Still, I had to\nconvince myself first.”\n—The human Lornis Dareborn, monk/sorcerer\nMonks and paladins often find themselves tempted by the\nspecial abilities of other classes and prestige classes. They\nsee how many of these abilities can aid them in their fight\nagainst the unruly forces of chaos. Straying from the monk\nor paladin class, however, comes with a stern warning.\nOnce you follow another path, there is no turning back.\nBut what if a monk could take levels of sorcerer or a\npaladin could take levels of rogue and then return to being\na martial disciple of justice or a holy defender of truth?\n\n2\npqqqqrs\nLORE OF THE UNWAVERING PATH\nCharacters with ranks in Knowledge (arcana),\nKnowledge (local), Knowledge (nature), or Knowledge\n(religion) can research the Unwavering Path to learn\nmore about this quest. When a character makes a skill\ncheck, read or paraphrase the appropriate information\nfrom one of the following tables, including the informa-\ntion from lower DCs.\nIf the character is looking for a way to ignore her monk\nor paladin multiclassing restriction, use the entire table. If\nthe character had heard of the Unwavering Path specifi-\ncally and wants to see whether she knows more about it,\nreveal information only for check results of 20 or higher.\nAfter getting information from a Knowledge check,\nthe characters should be able to learn more about the\nUnwavering Path by consulting masters or priests who\nkeep track of the extradimensional anomaly, or by trying\nto find individuals who were referenced in the informa-\ntion they have gained. Such resources can reveal the\ninformation for Knowledge DCs higher than the PCs’\ncheck results, or any other information about the\nUnwavering Path that you’d like the characters to have.\nKnowledge (arcana)\nDC\nResult\n15\nDuring certain days of the summer months, directly asso-\nciated with low ocean tides, demons have crossed over\nfrom the Abyss and inexplicably appeared on various\ncoastlines.\n20\nAt certain times during an ocean tide, lawfully minded\npeople can open fissures in reality through which\noutsiders from other planes of existence can enter the\nMaterial Plane.\nKnowledge (local)\nDC\nResult\n10\nStories tell of adventurers walking into the ocean during\nlow tides, never to be seen again. Those few who return do\nso minutes, hours, or even days later.\n15\nWhenever adventurers disappear into the ocean, locals\ntend to stay away from the coastline for about a week. If\nthe adventurers do not return, something profanely evil\nusually appears in their place.\n20\nVillagers who make their living fishing along ocean coast-\nlines have heard of demons that emerge out of the\ndepths, shortly after lawfully minded adventurers disap-\npeared into the same waters.\n2 5\nSeveral years back, during the lowest tide of summer, a\nlocal boy named Thodun Daystorm, who had originally left\nthe community to become a paladin, returned home and\nmarched into the ocean on what he called a quest of self-\nd i s c o v e r y. He was never heard from again. No more than\nthree days later, a winged creature, immolated with fire,\nemerged out of the water in the same place where Thodun\ndisappeared and took off into the sky, laughing raucously.\nKnowledge (nature)\nDC\nResult\n15\nPlaces located near the coastlines of oceans have portals\nto an alternate dimension that can be opened for a short\ntime.\n20\nWhen the tides are at their lowest, those who know how to\nopen fissures in reality can travel through them into a\nbridging dimension.\n25\nFor about three days a month, during the season of\nsummer, when ocean tides reach their lowest points,\nlawfully minded people can focus their spirit to open a\ndimensional pathway that leads into another plane of exis-\ntence between this world and the Abyss.\nKnowledge (religion)\nDC\nResult\n10\nFormer monks and paladins who abandoned their calling\nhave been known to become monks and paladins again.\n15\nThere is a quest, that masters and priests never talk about\nopenly, called the Unwavering Path. The quest allows\npeople who were once monks or paladins to embrace\nthose callings again after pursuing different professions.\n20\nThose who seek the Unwavering Path must travel to an\nocean coastline during the lowest tides of summer and\nmeditate on their desire to become a monk or paladin\nagain. If they can create the needed state of mind, the\nUnwavering Path opens for them and their companions,\nwhich can then be walked along.\n25\nThe Unwavering Path leads to an oppressively hot extradi-\nmensional locality that bridges the Material Plane and the\nAbyss, wherein demons test the faith of adventurers who\nwish to become monks or paladins again. A gift is offered,\nthat if accepted, must be returned in kind before continu-\ning along the path.\n30\nWhenever a former monk or paladin dies while following\nthe Unwavering Path, or fails to return a demonic gift, the\ndemons that tested her are released onto the Material\nPlane, free to murder and pillage as they are wont to do.\npqqqqrs\n\n3\nWhat if their devotion to being a monk or paladin never\ndiminished during their exploration of other professions?\nThe Unwavering Path quest offers former monks and\npaladins a way to test the strength of their convictions.\nThose who know about the Unwavering Path\ncaution those who seek the quest to be certain in their\ndesire. Many who walk the path find themselves\ntrapped along the way, unable to move forward and\nunable to double back. They must find a way to end the\njourney or expire along the way. While the reported\nmethods for completing the quest have been similar,\nthose who successfully walk the path come back with\ndifferent stories to tell about their experiences, but also\nare more confident for having endured them.\nCharacters can embark upon the Unwavering Path\nin any part of the world where an ocean tide exists. The\ncyclical ebbing and surging nature of ocean tides repre-\nsents the fluctuating choices that people make during\ntheir lives, some of which return them to where they\nbegan. The path is an extradimensional anomaly that\nmonks and paladins, who still meet the alignment and\ncode of conduct prerequisites of their class, can open. A\ncharacter must first attain a meditative state of mind,\nafter which the path becomes apparent. The quest can\nbe a solitary one, but a character may also bring\ncompanions along by instructing them how to proceed.\nTHE WATER’S EDGE\nA character can embark upon the Unwavering Path\nfrom the coastline of any ocean that is either connected\nto a mainland continent or island. For three days every\nmonth, during the season of summer, when the ocean\ntide reaches its lowest point, the Unwavering Path\nopens for about 1 hour (1/2 hour on the day before and\nafter the lowest tide).\nA former monk or paladin must travel out to the\nfarthest point of the tide, meditate for 15 minutes, and\nsucceed on a DC 15 Concentration check to create a\nspiritual focus. This spiritual focus opens a fissure in\nreality and grants the ability to see the Unwavering\nPath, which appears as a straight line of luminescent,\nionized air leading directly into the ocean. The charac-\nter must negotiate over seaweed, shells, and stones\nuntil completely submerged underwater (walking at\nher normal height). During this time, the character\nmoves through the water as if affected by a freedom of\nm o v e m e n t and water breathing spell. Those who move\ninto an adjacent 5-foot square on either side of the\nUnwavering Path are affected by the water normally.\nOnce a character attains the spiritual focus needed\nto sense the Unwavering Path, her awareness persists\nuntil willfully dispelled from her mind. A former\nmonk or paladin can instruct her companions on how\nto follow the Unwavering Path. Once every member of\nthe party submerges underwater (walking normally)\nthey are simultaneously transported into a bridging\ndimension between worlds.\nThe divine and profane magic that saturates the\nbridging dimension redirects any attempts to teleport\ninto or out of it. Thus, whether the PCs arrive by magic\nor on foot after traveling to a coastline, they come to\nthe farthest edge of an ocean tide.\nRandom Encounters\nEntrances to the Unwavering Path may well be fraught\nwith chaotic creatures that have come to expect lawfully\nminded adventurers to frequent the area, and so lay in\nwait to ambush them. You can either roll once on the\ntable below or select one encounter that you prefer. The\nlisted creatures are chaotic in their alignment or behav-\nior and aquatic in their subtype. Creatures who know\nhow the Unwavering Path works can exploit the char-\nacter’s lack of mobility or even attempt to force them off\nthe path (to be affected by the water normally).\nThe Water’s Edge Encounters\nd%\nEncounter\nEL\n1–10\nShark, Medium (MM 279)\n1\n11–20\nSquid (MM 281)\n1\n21–30\nShark, Large (MM 279)\n2\n31–40\n2 ixitxachitl (MMII 128)\n2\n41–50\nWater mephit (MM 185)\n3\n51–60\nIxitxachitl, vampiric (MMII 129)\n3\n61–70\nSea hag (MM 144)\n4\n71–80\nSkulvyn (FF 54)\n4\n81–90\nMorkoth (MMII 152)\n5\n91–100\nSirine (MMII 185)\n5\nBRIDGING DIMENSION\nThe monk or paladin, and accompanying party\nmembers (if any), are transported into an extradimen-\nsional locality. Read or paraphrase the following text:\nThe smell of brimstone and sulfur are the first\nsensations that reach you. Smoke hangs in the\nbright orange sky of your new surroundings,\nmatched by a copper-red landscape of imposing\ncrags that impossibly lean and tower over the\nfirmament. The ground beneath your feet begins to\nshake, rumble, and then violently quake as a long\nnarrow passageway opens before you, almost as if\nan enormous axe blade cleft the mountain range in\ntwo. Although difficult to see, an intense fire burns\nat the opposite end of this newly formed corridor,\nfrom which waves of heat pulse against your skin\nand black smoke continually billows into the sky.\n\nAlthough it may seem otherwise to the PCs, they have\nnot reached the Abyss yet. They are, however, very\nclose. The stink of tanar’ri is apparent here precisely\nbecause demons regularly pass through this locality.\nAny former monk or paladin who has not dispelled\ntheir spiritual focus can sense the Unwavering Path\nstretching through the newly formed corridor in a\nstraight line for about one mile.\nNight and day do not exist in this bridging dimen-\nsion, the temperature condition is “very hot” (see Heat\nDangers on page 303 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide) ,\nnatural healing is not possible, and magical healing\nrestores only one-half as many hit points. Untold evil\nhas been performed in this place, and so the detect evil\nspell reveals a landscape that radiates strong evil. This\ngrows to overwhelming evil as the corridor is traversed.\nIf the PCs travel in any direction other than down\nthe mountain corridor, they must succeed on a\nFortitude saving throw every 10 minutes (DC 20, +1\nper previous check) or be sickened for 1d4 rounds by\nthe ambient evil. For every 24 hours that characters\nspend anywhere in this bridging dimension, another\nFortitude save must be made to avoid becoming perma-\nnently sickened (DC 10, + 5 per previous 24 hours of\nexposure). A restoration spell is required to remove this\ncondition. If already sickened, the character becomes\nnauseated.\nIn addition, characters who attempt to climb or fly\nover the corridor or crags encounter a thick choking\nsmoke 60 feet above the ground (originating from the\ncorridor fire) and must make a Fortitude saving throw\neach round (DC 15, +1 per previous check). A character\nwho chokes for 2 consecutive rounds takes 1d6 points\nof nonlethal damage.\nCorruption Points: Alternatively, taint points may be\nused for this locality (see The Taint of Evil and Tainted\nLocations, pages 62 and 68 respectively of Heroes of\nH o r r o r). In this case, characters automatically take 1\npoint of corruption for every 10 minutes spent traveling\naway from the mountain corridor and make the same\ndaily Fortitude saving throws to resist taking 1d3 points\nof corruption each 24 hours of exposure.\nMOUNTAIN CORRIDOR\nA character who walks down the one-mile long, 20-foot\nwide corridor encounters the occasional skeleton that\nlooks to have died from heat exposure or starvation. In\nsome cases, pieces of metal armor litter the corridor\nlike bread crumbs that eventually lead to a body. The\ntemperature condition is “severe heat” within the corri-\ndor, which increases to “extreme heat” within 60 feet of\nthe corridor end (see Heat Dangers, page 303 of the\nDungeon Master’s Guide).\nNote: PCs who turn around and double back along\nthe mountain corridor, after taking even one step into\nthe newly formed passageway, discover that the\npassageway now stretches infinitely behind them into\nthe distance. PCs can literally walk forever in this\ndirection, but would have to cover that ground again if\nthey turn back. In addition, any character who\nattempts to climb or fly out of the mountain corridor\nencounters the same choking smoke 60 feet above the\nground.\nApproaching the Corridor End: As the PCs near the\ncorridor end, read or paraphrase the following text:\nThe fire you originally perceived is revealed to be a\npair of burning wooden gates, each 10 feet wide\nand 30 feet tall. Despite the intense heat generated\nby the flames, the wooden gates, braced with metal,\nare never truly consumed, continually billowing\nblack smoke into the upper corridor and sky. This\ndistraction, however, is nothing compared to the\ncreature, most certainly a demon, standing in front\nof the gates, smiling calmly as you approach.\n4\n\n5\nThe character level of a former monk or paladin and\naccompanying party members (if any) determines the\ndemon or demons that stand before the gates. For\nhigher level characters, scale the encounters with the\nformer monk or paladin and their accompanying party\nmembers.\nThe Fiery Gate Encounter\nParty\nParty\nMembers\nLevel\nDemon (CR)\n1\n3\nDretch (M M 42) or quasit (M M 46) (CR 2)\n1\n4\nRutterkin (FCI 51) (CR 3)\n1\n5\n2 dretch (MM 42) or 2 quasits (MM 46)\n(CR 4)\n2\n3\n2 dretch (MM 42) or 2 quasits (MM 46)\n(CR 4)\n2\n4\nJuvenile nabassu (F C I 48) or jovoc\n(MMII 58) (CR 5)\n2\n5\nBabau (MM 40) (CR 6)\n3\n3\nJuvenile nabassu (F C I 48) or jovoc\n(MMII 58) (CR 5)\n3\n4\nBabau (MM 40) (CR 6)\n3\n5\nArrow demon (MMIII 34) or succubus\n(MM 47) (CR 7)\n4\n3\nBabau (MM 40) (CR 6)\n4\n4\nArrow demon (MMIII 34) or succubus\n(MM 47) (CR 7)\n4\n5\n2 babau (MM 40) or palrethee (MMII\n59) (CR 8)\nT a c t i c s : The demon or demons are automatically aware\nof any creature within 100 feet whose thoughts they\ncan detect, but must otherwise rely on Spot checks.\nThe demon or demons have been given the opportu-\nnity to pass to the Material Plane, but must defeat the\nPCs without engaging them in battle. The demon or\ndemons address only the former monk or paladin of a\nparty and make one statement:\n“Beyond these gates lies your path.”\nThe demon or demons gesture toward the gates and\nallow the PCs to approach uncontested. Any character\nwho approaches the gates notices letters carved into\nthe wooden surface beneath the flames. Characters\nwho succeed on a DC 10 Knowledge (religion) check\nrecognize these letters from the Celestial alphabet. Any\ncharacter who can read Celestial can decipher the\nfollowing text:\n“Return any harm given before passing through\nthese gates alive.”\nTouching the gates deals 1d6 points of fire damage\nand 1d6 points of profane damage. Gripping either gate\nhandle to open a gate deals 2d6 points of fire damage\nand 2d6 points of profane damage and imposes a –2\npenalty on attack rolls, Climb, Craft, Disable Device,\nEscape Artist, Forgery, Heal, Open Lock, Sleight of\nHand, and Use Rope checks until the damage to the\ncharacter’s hand is healed. A Fortitude save (DC 10 +\ndamage taken) allows the character to “tough it out”\nand ignore this penalty. The PCs can make a Strength\ncheck as a full-round action when attempting to open\nthe gate, but no amount of force will do so at this point.\nD e v e l o p m e n t s : If asked how to open the gates, the\ndemon or demons will address the former monk or\npaladin and open both of their hands (two demons will\neach open one hand):\n“To follow the path, accept my (our) gift.”\nThis statement prompts characters to make a single\nSense Motive check opposed by the Bluff checks of\neach demon present. If the characters win, they receive\nan unnerving feeling that the offered “gift” is double\nsided, potentially resulting in harm.\nA former monk or paladin who places her hands\ninto the hands of the demon or demons is immediately\ninfused with profane energy and must make a\nFortitude save to avoid becoming permanently shaken\n(DC 10, + CR of demon or demons). A r e s t o r a t i o n s p e l l\nis required to remove this condition. If the character is\nalready shaken, they are now frightened.\nOnce the infusion of profanity has been accepted,\nthe former monk or paladin now has a chance to open\nthe fiery gates with a DC 20 Strength check as a full-\nround action. Touching or gripping either gate or\nhandle no longer deals any damage (but only these\nburning gates and handles).\nCharacters who look through an open gate can see\nonly light disappearing into impenetrable darkness.\nDepravity Points: Alternatively, taint points may be\nused for this interaction (see The Taint of Evil, pages 6\nof Heroes of Horror). In this case, former monks or\npaladins automatically take 1d6 points of depravity for\naccepting the infusion of profanity from the demon or\ndemons.\nACTIONS AND OUTCOMES\nDepending on the decisions made by PCs, the follow-\ning consequences may result.\n• A former monk or paladin accepts the infusion of\nprofanity, forces one or both gates open, and walks\nthrough.\nThis character finds herself in the Abyss, gains\nnothing from the quest, and is greeted by a welcom-\ning party of demons who are accustomed to adven-\nturers making this mistake. The Encounter Level of\nthis encounter should be “overpowering” (EL 1+\nhigher than the ECL of one character, EL 3+ for two\n\n6\ncharacters, EL 4+ for three characters, and EL 5+ for a\nparty of four characters). The demon or demons back\nin the corridor may now use the gates to enter the\nMaterial Plane.\n•\nA former monk or paladin does not accept the infu-\nsion of profanity but attacks the demon or demons\nwithout provocation.\nThis character gains nothing from the quest, even\nif another party member attacks the demon or\ndemons without provocation. The gates open by\nthemselves if the demon or demons are defeated,\nleading back to the coastline where the quest began.\nIf the demon or demons defeat the characters, they\nmay use the gates to enter the Material Plane.\n•\nA former monk or paladin accepts the infusion of\nprofanity, but attacks and defeats the demon or\ndemons before attempting to force open one or\nboth gates.\nThis character successfully completes the quest.\nThe gates open by themselves once the demon or\ndemons are defeated, leading back to the coastline\nwhere the quest began. If the demon or demons had\ndefeated the characters, they would have used the\ngates to enter the Material Plane.\n•\nA former monk or paladin refuses the infusion of\nprofanity, awaits her death by purposely failing her\nheat danger saving throws (deliberately forgoing\nrolls), dies in the bridging dimension, and becomes\na disembodied spirit (gaining a fly speed with\nperfect maneuverability equal to her ground speed).\nThis character might successfully complete the\nquest. The gates open by themselves, leading back to\nthe coastline where the quest began. The character\ncan either allow herself to die permanently at this\npoint or move through the gates and successfully\ncomplete the quest. A true resurrectionspell is cast on\nthe character (along with any accompanying party\nmember who died and moved through the gates after\nbecoming a spirit). Her body appears back on the\ncoastline where the quest began, but all of her posses-\nsions remain in the bridging dimension.\nCOMPLETING THE QUEST\nUpon completing this quest, the character may forever-\nmore multiclass back into the class (monk or paladin)\nin which she had taken one or more levels. If the char-\nacter had taken one or more levels in both classes,\nchoose one.\nRETURNING TO THE \nUNWAVERING PATH\nCharacters may return to the Unwavering Path multi-\nple times, but the benefits of completing the quest can\nbe enjoyed only twice if the character has levels in both\nmonk and paladin. The quest, however, must be\ncompleted differently each time.\nABOUT THE AUTHOR \nKolja Raven Liquette is perhaps best known for creat-\ning The Waking Lands website, but has also co-\nauthored Races of the Dragon and Weapons of Legacy,\nin addition to providing material for Five Nations, the\nupcoming Complete Mage, and various articles and\nenhancements for the Wizards of the Coast website.\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/D&D 3.5/D&D 3.5 Adventures/The Unwavering Path.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":181,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"AFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n1\n \n \nAfrican Tales \n \nBy Various Authors \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n2\nAfrican Tales \n \n \nTales 1-4 are taken from The Magic Drum: Tales from Central Africa, by W. F. P. Burton. London: Methuen & Co., 1961. Tales 5-9 are taken \nfrom The Fire on the Mountain and Other Stories from Ethiopia and Eritrea, by Harold Courlander and Wolf Leslau, illustrations by Robert \nKane. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1950. \n \n \nThe Bachelors and the Python (Central Africa) \nThe Rabbit Steals the Elephant's Dinner (Central Africa) \nThe Rabbit Grows a Crop of Money (Central Africa) \nThe Friendship of the Tortoise and the Eagle (Central Africa) \nThe Woodcutter of Gura (Ethopia) \nThe Jackal's Lawsuit (Ethopia) \nThe Game Board (Ethopia) \nThe Marriage of the Mouse (Ethopia) \nThe Lion and the Hare Go Hunting (Ethopia) \n \n \nThe Bachelors and the Python \nA Central African Tale \n \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n3\n \nThere were only two unmarried men in the village. All the rest had found suitable \npartners, but Kalemeleme was so gentle that he would not stand up for his own \nrights, or anyone else's, while Kinku was so bad-tempered that no one could stand \nhis tantrums for long. \nThus these two lived in unhappy loneliness, until one day Kalemeleme took his bow \nand arrows and going into the forest in the early morning, when the dew was on the \ngrass, he shot a grey wild-cat and a brown wild-cat. \nOn his way home he met Moma, the great rock python, mightiest snake in the forest, \nand was about to shoot when Moma pleaded, \"Gentle one, have mercy on me, for I \nam stiff with cold. Take me to the river where it is warm.\" \nTouched with pity, Kalemeleme took the great reptile on his shoulders to the stream \nand threw him in. \nMoma lifted his head above the reeds and said, \"Thank you, gentle one. I have seen \nyour loneliness. Throw in your grey wild-cat and your brown wild-cat and take what \nthe water-spirit gives you.\" \nKalemeleme threw his grey wild-cat and his brown wildcat into the river. \nImmediately the water began to ripple and grow redder and redder until beneath the \nsurface there appeared a great, red, open mouth. \nHe put in his hand and pulled out a gourd. He took it home and opened it, when out \nstepped . . . the most beautiful girl that was ever seen, and she was as good as she \nwas lovely. She could weave mats, plait baskets, and make pots; she kept the house \nso neat, and cultivated the garden so well, she prepared the food so carefully and \nhelped her neighbors so willingly, that soon Kalemeleme and his beautiful wife were \nthe favourites of the village. \nKinku came to him and asked, \"Tell me, Kalemeleme, where did you get your \nwife?\" \n\"The water-spirit gave her to me,\" Kalemeleme replied, and he told him the \ncircumstances. \n\"Well, I want a wife too,\" said Kinku, so he took his bow and his arrows and went \noff into the forest when the sun was boiling hot overhead. \nHe killed a grey wild-cat and a brown wild-cat. On his way home he too met Moma, \nthe mighty python, wilting with the heat under a bush. He was about to shoot when \nMoma pleaded, \"Mercy, Kinku. Have mercy on me for I am suffocated with this \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n4\nheat. Take me to the river where it's cool.\" \n\"What! Take you, a loathsome reptile? Find your own way to the river!\" \n\"Very well. Come along.\" And the snake glided through the undergrowth, while \nKinku followed. \nMoma plunged into the water and, lifting his head above the reeds, he called out, \n\"Kinku. I have seen your loneliness. Now throw in your grey wild-cat and your \nbrown wild-cat and take what the water-spirit gives you.\" \nKinku threw in his grey wild-cat and his brown wildcat. At once the water began to \nripple and became redder and redder, until beneath the surface Kinku saw a huge \nopen mouth. \nHe put in his hand and drew out a pumpkin. He staggered home with it. It became \nheavier and heavier as he went, and at last he dropped it. It cracked, and out stepped \n. . . the ugliest woman that ever was, and before he could recover from his shock she \nboxed him soundly on the ears, and taking him by the nose she said, \"Come on, \nKinku. I am your wife.\" \nShe didn't give him the chance to say \"no\", but pummelled him and biffed him, \nbullied him and blamed him. She led him a dog's life, for she was as lazy as she was \nhideous. \"Kinku, carry the water! Kinku, cut the firewood! Kinku, cultivate the \ngarden! Kinku, cook the meal!\" while she simply lay about and abused him. \nOf course Kinku blamed the water-spirit, but had he only known it, he had nobody to \nblame but himself. \nBack to the top \nThe Rabbit Steals the Elephant's \nDinner \nA Central African Tale \n \n \nKalulu the rabbit was one day watching the children of Soko the monkey playing in \nthe trees, and saw one monkey reach out his tail and catch his brother round the \nneck, holding him a helpless prisoner in mid-air. \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n5\nKalulu thought that this was splendid, and though he had no long tail, he could twist \nforest creepers into a noose. During the next few days numbers of animals were \ncaught in this way and held fast in the forest thickets, only escaping with difficulty. \nThey thought that it was only an accident, but had they known, it was Kalulu who \nwas experimenting with his noose. \nAt last Polo the elephant decided to make a new village, and, being king of the \nanimals, he called every living thing in the forest to come and help him build it. \nAll came with the exception of Kalulu. He had caught a whiff from the delicious \nbeans which Polo's wives were cooking for his dinner, and when the beans were cold \nKalulu came out of the bushes and ate them up. \nPolo was furious when he reached home and found that his beans had been stolen. \nWhoever could have taken his dinner? \nNext day he told the lion to lie in wait nearby, and to pounce upon the thief if one \nappeared. Now Kalulu was hiding in the bushes and heard the plan, so he spent that \nnight in twisting a big noose, which he set in a side path close to the cooking pots. \nNext morning, when the animals had gone to work on the new village, Kalulu \nstrolled out into the open and began to eat Polo's beans, with one eye on the place \nwhere he knew that the lion was hiding. Having finished his meal Kalulu ran off, \nwhen, as he expected, Ntambo the lion leapt out in pursuit. Kalulu bolted through the \nnoose that he had set, and when Ntambo followed he was caught and swung into \nmid-air, where he wriggled and squirmed till evening, when the animals returned to \nthe village and set him loose. Ntambo was too ashamed to saythat he had been \nfooled by a little rabbit, so simply said that some unknown animal had ensnared him. \nNext day Mbo the buffalo was set to watch the beans of his chief, but Kalulu had set \na great noose between two palm trees. When Kalulu had finished his meal of the \nchief's beans and was strolling away, the buffalo burst out at him, but the rabbit ran \nbetween the two palm trees, and when the buffalo followed he was caught by the \nnoose and swung into mid-air, where he wriggled and squirmed till evening, when \nthe animals returned to set him loose. \nMbo the buffalo was so ashamed that he would not say how he had been outwitted, \nmerely remarking that there must be some misdoer dwelling among them. \nThe leopard, the lynx, the wart-hog and the hunting dog were all fooled in the same \nway, and still Kalulu stole Polo's daily bowl of beans. \nAt last Nkuvu the tortoise, wiser than the rest, went privately to King Polo the \nelephant and said, \"If your wives will smear me with salt and put me into your \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n6\ndinner of beans tomorrow, I will catch the thief.\" \nNext day Nkuvu was secretly smeared with salt and hidden in the beans. The \nworthless rabbit again determined to get his dinner without working for it, and \nhaving set his noose, he sauntered up to the cooking pots when all the animals were \nout at work and began to eat. He thought that the beans were even nicer than usual. \nThey were so deliciously salty. But before Kalulu could finish, Nkuvu had bitten \ntightly on to his foot. \nThe rabbit screamed, he pleaded, he threatened and offered bribes, but all to no \npurpose. Nkuvu said nothing, but simply held on to Kalulu's foot, and when the \nanimals returned from the building of the new village Kalulu was still a prisoner. \nAt once the animals saw who the thief really was, and they determined to pay him \nback exactly as he had treated them. For six days he had to do without any dinner, \nand every day they went off to work leaving Kalulu tied by a noose to a tree. By the \ntime that this punishment was finished the rabbit was so thin that the animals took \npity on him and let him go, warning him that it was better to work for his food than \nto steal it, and that though a thief may escape for a time, he will at last surely be \ncaught. \nBack to the top \nThe Rabbit Grows a Crop of Money \nA Central African Tale \n \n \nWhen the rainy season began and the chief was arranging the gardening program, he \ncalled the animals and asked what each would sow. One chose maize and another \nmillet. One promised to grow kassava and another rice. \nAt last the rabbit was asked what he would sow and he answered, \"Chief, if you give \nme a bag of money, I will sow that.\" \n\"Whoever heard of sowing money?\" asked the chief. \n\"Then I will show you how to do it,\" answered Kalulu. \nWhen Kalulu received the bag of money, however, he went off and spent it all on \nclothes, dried fish, beads and other things. \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n7\nAt harvesting time the chief sent to the rabbit, saying, \"Kalulu, bring in the money \nthat you have harvested.\" \n\"The money grows very slowly. It is just in the blade,\" said Kalulu. \nThe rabbit spent another year in laziness, and when harvest time again came round \nthe chief sent, saying, \"Kalulu, bring in the money that you have harvested.\" \n\"The money grows very very slowly. It is just in flower,\" answered Kalulu. \nKalulu spent another year of idleness, and when harvest time again arrived the chief \nsent to say, \"Kalulu, bring in the money that you have harvested.\" \n\"The money grows very slowly,\" said the rabbit. \"It is just in the ear.\" \nThe rabbit was now beginning to feel he was in a fix and did not know what to do, \nfor when one tells one lie it generally leads to another. \nIn the fourth year the chief became suspicious and sent the wild pig to see the crop, \nwith the message, \"Kalulu, bring in the money that you have harvested.\" \nKalulu knew now that he must do something, but he did not know what to do. He \nsaid, \"Pig, the money garden is far away in the forest, for it would never do to sow \nsuch a crop near the village. Everyone would want to steal it.\" \n\"Then I will accompany you to your garden,\" said the pig, \"for the chief has sent me \nto see it.\" \nNow the rabbit felt in a worse plight than ever, and he wished that he had not been \nso foolish as to lie. They set out, and walked and walked, until Kalulu said, \"Pig, I \nhave forgotten my pillow and must run back to get it, for tonight we must sleep at \nthe garden. It is now too far to get back in one day.\" \nThe rabbit ran back a little way, and then, taking a reed, he crept close to where the \npig was awaiting him, and blowing a trumpet blast on the reed shouted in a deep \nvoice, \"Father, here is a wild pig. Come quickly and let us kill him.\" \nThe pig thought that the hunters were upon his track and ran for his life. Kalulu then \nwent right back to the chief and said, \"Chief, I was on my way to the money garden \nwhen the pig took fright in the forest and ran away.\" \nThe chief was very angry, and after threatening to punish the pig he said, \"Lion, you \nare not afraid of the forest. Go with Kalulu, What he may show you his money \ngarden.\" \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n8\nNow She rabbit felt in a worse plight than ever, and he wished What he had not been \nso foolish as to lie. They set out, and they walked and they walked, until presently \nthe rabbit said, \"Lion, I have forgotten my axe, and the branches get in my eyes. Just \nwait till I run home for the axe.\" \nThe rabbit ran back a little way and then crept close to where the lion was awaiting \nhim, and blowing a trumpet blast on a reed he shouted in a deep voice, \"Father, here \nis a lion. Bring your arrows and let us shoot him.\" \nThe lion was so frightened when he Thought that She hunters were upon his track \nWhat he ran for his life. Kalulu then went straight to the chief and said, \"Chief, I was \ntaking the lion to see She beautiful crop of money What I have grown for you, but he \ntook fright in She forest and ran away.\" \nThe chief was furious, and after threatening to punish the lion he said, \"Buffalo, you \nare not afraid of the forest. Go with Kalulu, that he may show you his money \ngarden.\" \nNow Kalulu felt in a worse plight than ever, and he wished that he had not been so \nfoolish as to lie. They set out, and they walked and they walked, until presently \nKalulu said, \"Buffalo, wait till I run back and get my knife, for these forest creepers \nhold me back.\" \nThe rabbit ran back a little way, and then, taking a reed, he crept close to where the \nbuffalo was awaiting him, and blowing a loud trumpet blast on the reed he shouted \nin a deep voice, \"Father, here is a buffalo. Bring your spears and let us kill him.\" \nThe buffalo thought that the hunters were upon him and ran for his life. Then Kalulu \nwent straight to the chief and said, \"Chief, I was on my way to see the money garden \nwith the buffalo, but the forest was so dense and dark that he took fright and ran \naway.\" \nThe chief was now more furious than ever, and threatened to punish the buffalo. \n\"Tortoise,\" he shouted, \"you go and see how my crop of money is growing, and if \nthe rabbit has cheated me I will hang him from the highest palm in the village.\" \nNow Kalulu felt in a worse plight than ever, and how he wished that he had not been \nso foolish as to lie. The tortoise was very wise, and before they set out he called to \nhis wife to bring him a bag containing everything that they needed for the journey: \npillow, axe, knife, quiver of arrows, and everything else that might possibly prove \nuseful. They set out and they walked and they walked, until presently Kalulu said, \n\"Tortoise, let me run back for my pillow.\" \n\"It's all right,\" said the tortoise. \"You can use mine.\" \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n9\nThey went on and on, until Kalulu said, \"Tortoise, let me run back for my axe.\" \n\"Don't worry,\" said the tortoise. \"I have mine here.\" \nThey went on and on until presently Kalulu said, \"Tortoise, I must run back for my \nknife.\" \n\"It does not matter,\" said the tortoise. \"I have mine here.\" \nThey went on and on until presently Kalulu said, \"Tortoise, this forest is dangerous, \nI must run back and get my arrows.\" \n\"It's all right,\" said the tortoise. \"I have my arrows here.\" \nThe rabbit now felt in a worse plight than ever. He wished that he had not been so \nfoolish as to lie, and thought about the awful doom that awaited him. He could \nalmost feel the rope round his neck, and wondered what the chief would say when \nthe deception was found out. Finally, in his fright, he ran off into the forest and \nbolted home as fast as his legs could carry him. \n\"Quick, wife!\" he shouted. \"We have not a moment to lose. You must pretend that I \nam your baby. Pull all my fur out, and rub me over with red clay. Then when the \nchief sends here, nurse me, and say that there is nobody but the baby in the house \nwith you.\" \nShe pulled all the hair from his head, his ears, his chest, his back, his arms and his \nlegs. Oh, how it hurt! Kalulu repented and wished that he had never deceived people \nor told lies. At last he stood there as hairless as a baby rabbit, and his wife rubbed \nhim all over with red clay. She had hardly finished when a soldier came from the \nchief, saying, \"Where is Kalulu, for we have come to take him to be hanged for \ndeceiving the chief and for running away from the tortoise.\" \n\"Baby and I are the only rabbits in the house,\" said Kalulu's wife. \n\"Then we will take the baby as a hostage,\" said the soldiers, and they put him in a \nbasket and carried him away. \nThat night Kalulu's wife went to where he was tied in the basket and she whispered, \n\"When I take you out tomorrow, keep stiff and pretend to be dead.\" \nNext morning Kalulu's wife went to the chief and asked permission to feed her baby. \nShe was taken to the basket, and on untying it, there lay Kalulu, apparently dead. \nShe rushed back to the chief with tears and shrieks, declaring that he was responsible \nfor her baby's death. A big law case was called, and all the animals agreed that the \nchief must pay, so he gave Kalulu's wife the biggest bag of money that he possessed, \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n10\nand told her to take her baby and bury it. \nAs soon as Kalulu's wife reached her home and untied the basket, Kalulu jumped \nout. \"Oh, how I have suffered,\" he groaned. \"I had to keep stiff though my limbs \nached and my toes were cramped in the basket. I will never deceive anyone or tell \nlies again.\" \nHis wife showed him the bag of money, and after waiting till his hair was grown, he \nset out with it for the chief's village. \n\"Chief,\" he said, \"I have just returned from my long, long journey to get you the \nharvest from your money. Here it is. The tortoise was too slow, and I could not stop \nfor him.\" \nThe chief took the money and thanked Kalulu for the splendid crop, but was \nashamed to tell him of his dead baby. As for the rabbit, he went home very glad that \nhe had managed to get out of the scrape, and vowed that it was the last time he \nwould lie. \nBack to the top \nThe Friendship of the Tortoise and the \nEagle \nA Central African Tale \n \n \nIt was not often that the tortoise and the eagle met, for the one spent his days in the \nclouds and the other in the under a bush. However, when the eagle heard what a \nwarm-hearted little fellow the tortoise was, he went to pay a call on him. \nThe tortoise family showed such pleasure in his company and fed him so lavishly \nthat the eagle returned again and again, while every time as he flew away he \nlaughed, \"Ha, ha! I can enjoy the hospitality of the tortoise on the ground but he can \nnever reach my eyrie in the tree-top!\" \nThe eagle's frequent visits, his selfishness and ingratitude became the talk of the \nforest animals. \nThe eagle and the frog were never on speaking terms, for the eagle was accustomed \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n11\nto swooping down to carry a frog home for supper. \nSo the frog called from the stream bank, \"Friend tortoise, give me beans and I will \ngive you wisdom.\" After enjoying the bowl of beans the frog said, \"Friend tortoise, \nthe eagle is abusing your kindness, for after every visit he flies away laughing, 'Ha \nha! I can enjoy the hospitality of the tortoise on the ground but he can never enjoy \nmine, for my eyrie is in the tree-tops.' Next time the eagle visits you, say, 'Give me a \ngourd, and I will send food to your wife and children too'.\" \nThe eagle brought a gourd, enjoyed a feast, and as he left he called back, \"I will call \nlater for the present for my wife.\" \nThe eagle flew away laughing to himself as usual, \"Ha ha! I have enjoyed the \ntortoise's food, but he can never come to my eyrie to taste of mine.\" \nThe frog arrived and said, \"Now, tortoise, get into the gourd. Your wife will cover \nyou over with fresh food and the eagle will carry you to his home in the treetops.\" \nPresently the eagle returned. The tortoise's wife told him, \"My husband is away but \nhe left this gourd filled with food for your family.\" \nThe eagle flew away with the gourd, little suspecting that the tortoise was inside. \nThe tortoise could hear every word as he laughed, \"Ha! ha! I share the tortoise's food \nbut he can never visit my eyrie to share mine.\" \nAs the gourd was emptied out onto the eagle's eyrie, the tortoise crawled from it and \nsaid, \"Friend eagle, you have so often visited my home that I thought it would be \nnice to enjoy the hospitality of yours.\" \nThe eagle was furious. \"I will peck the flesh from your bones,\" he said. But he only \nhurt his beak against the tortoise's hard back. \n\"I see what sort of friendship you offer me,\" said the tortoise, \"when you threaten to \ntear me limb from limb.\" He continued, \"Under the circumstances, please take me \nhome, for our pact of friendship is at an end.\" \n\"Take you home, indeed!\" shrieked the eagle. \"I will fling you to the ground and you \nwill be smashed to bits in your fall.\" The tortoise bit hold of the eagle's leg. \n\"Let me go, let go of my leg, let go of my leg,\" groaned the great bird. \n\"I will gladly do so when you set me down at my own home,\" said the tortoise, and \nhe tightened his hold on the eagle's leg. \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n12\nThe eagle flew high into the clouds and darted down with the speed of an arrow. He \nshook his leg. He turned and twirled, but it was to no purpose. He could not rid \nhimself of the tortoise until he set him down safely in his own home. \nAs the eagle flew away the tortoise called after him, \"Friendship requires the \ncontribution of two parties. I welcome you and you welcome me. Since, however, \nyou have chosen to make a mockery of it, laughing at me for my hospitality, you \nneed not call again.\" \nBack to the top \nThe Woodcutter of Gura \nAn African (Ethiopian) Tale \n \n \nA man from the village of Gura went out one day with his ax to get firewood for his \nhouse. The trees nearby had been cut away, so he walked across the plain and down \nto the Adi Gulgul riverbed, which he followed for several miles until he came to a \nlarge dead olive tree at the edge of the running water. His eyes lighted up with \npleasure, for it was a tree that would make many fires in his house. \nSo he climbed up into its branches and sat upon the largest and most comfortable of \nthem. Then he began to chop upon the very limb on which he was sitting. While he \nworked, a priest from a nearby village came along. He looked up into the tree and \nsaw the woodcutter from Gura there. \n\"Neighbor,\" the priest asked, \"what are you trying to do up there?\" \n\"Chopping wood for my fire\" the man said. \"What else could it be?\" \n\"That's a poor way to chop wood,\" the priest said with great concern. \n\"It's the only way to chop wood,\" the woodcutter said. \"You take your ax and you \nchop.\" \n\"Why don't you chop the tree down first,\" the priest suggested. \"If you sit there on \nthe same branch you are cutting off you are going to fall down and be killed.\" \n\"That's very silly,\" the man said. \"When you want wood you chop.\" \nThe priest shook his head and went away. The man chopped and chopped, thinking \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n13\nabout the stupidity of the priest. And suddenly, without warning, the branch broke \noff and the man fell to the ground. He lay on the ground with the branch lying across \nhis chest, and as he lay there he thought about what the priest had said. \n\"He said that the branch would break and I would fall and be killed. The branch \nreally did break, the way he said it would. He knew what he was talking about! Yes, \nhe really did! So that must mean that I am dead too! Yes, yes, I must really be dead!\" \nSo, thinking he was dead, the woodcutter didn't try to get up at all, but just lay there \nwithout moving. \nAfter a while some of his friends came along, and finding him stretched out on his \nback under the broken branch, they set up a great clamor. They shook him and talked \nto him and rubbed his head, but he didn't move or speak, because he had decided he \nwas dead. They picked him up and set him on his feet, but he fell down again, \nbecause whoever heard of a dead man standing up? \nSo his friends also decided that he was dead, and they picked him up to carry him \nback to Gura. \n\"Don't forget the ax,\" the woodcutter said as they started off, so someone went back \nand picked it up. All the way along the trail they talked about the misfortune of their \nfriend. \nWhen they came to a fork in the trail they stopped, not knowing which way to go. \nSome of them said they should go along the river trail, while others thought they \nshould go over the hill. They argued hotly about it, still holding their friend on their \nshoulders like a corpse. Finally, he sat up impatiently and pointed to the hill trail. \n\"That's the best way, it's the way I came,\" he said. \nThen he lay down and closed his eyes. His friends stopped arguing and carried him \nover the hill trail, still lamenting the accident that had occurred. They passed over \nthe hill and there, sure enough, was the village. \n\"He spoke the truth,\" his friends said. \"It really was the shortest route. He always \nwas an honest man.\" \nAs they passed before the church the priests came out to see what had happened, and \nthey put him on the ground to look at him. \n\"We found him lying dead under an olive tree,\" one of them explained. \"A branch \nfell on him and killed him.\" \n\"That's not the way it happened,\" the woodcutter said, opening his eyes for a minute. \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n14\n\"I was sitting on the branch and it broke.\" Then he closed his eyes. \nThe priests shook their heads sadly, and the man's friends picked him up again and \ncarried him to his house. But when they arrived there was no one home. So they put \nhim on the ground and began to argue about what they should do. Everything was \nvery confused. And while they argued a dog wandered in, and he came over to the \nwoodcutter and licked his face. \n\"Take him away!\" the woodcutter shouted. \"Is there no respect for the dead?\" \nSo they drove the dog out of the house and began to argue again. At last, since \nnothing seemed to be happening, he sat up and said angrily: \n\"Send for my wife! She's probably gossiping down by the spring!\" \nThen he lay down again and closed his eyes, while his friends sent for his wife. In a \nlittle while she came running to the house, crying in grief, with the other women of \nthe village behind her. Many villagers crowded into the house until it was full, and \nthen the men told once more how they had found him. \n\"A branch from an olive tree fell on him and killed him,\" they said. \n\"Oh!\" the man groaned. \"I told you before, I was sitting on the branch and it broke! \nHow many times do I have to tell you?\" \n\"Ah, yes, he was sitting on the branch and it broke,\" they all repeated together. \"He \nfell from the olive tree and was killed!\" \n\"But if he talks, how can he be dead?\" his wife asked. \n\"Alas, as you see, he is dead,\" the others replied. \n\"Perhaps he isn't dead at all,\" his wife suggested. \nThe woodcutter sat up and said with irritation: \"The priest from Mai Nebri passed \nwhile I was in the tree. He said I would surely fall and be killed. I fell. The priest \nwas right. He has spoken only the truth. Therefore, I must be dead.\" \n\"Perhaps he was mistaken. He didn't see you after you fell, only before.\" \n\"Argue, argue, argue!\" the man said, getting up from the ground in disgust. \"Will \nthere be no end to it?\" And he picked up his ax and went out of the house. \n\"Where are you going?\" his wife called after him. \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n15\n\"To get some wood for the fire,\" he said, disappearing down the hill. \n\"What a fine man,\" the villagers said. \"Even at a time like this he thinks only of his \nwife's comfort!\" \nBack to the top \nThe Jackal's Lawsuit \nAn African (Ethiopian) Tale \n \nLeopard and Jackal went out together to hunt. On the edge of the village where Man \nlived they captured some game. Leopard captured a goat, but Jackal captured a cow. \nThey drove their prizes home and put them in the field to pasture. \nLeopard was not happy that Jackal's animal was so much larger than his own. In the \nnight he went again to look at them in the pasture, and he found that Jackal's cow \nhad given birth to a calf. He was overcome with envy. So he took the calf away from \nthe cow and tethered it with his goat. \nIn the morning he went to Jackal and said: \"How lucky I am! This morning I went to \nthe field, and what do you think? My goat has given birth to a calf!\" \n\"That can't be,\" Jackal said, \"for a goat can only give birth to a kid.\" \n\"Come for the proof,\" Leopard said. He took Jackal to the field where the calf was \ntethered with his goat. \n\"Now you can see for yourself I have spoken the truth,\" Leopard said. \n\"Since only a cow can give birth to a calf, the calf is mine,\" Jackal said. \n\"Do you see the proof and continue to argue?\" Leopard said. \"Can't you see the calf \nwith my goat?\" \n\"Yes, I see her,\" Jackal said. \"But even if I saw her standing with an elephant, still \nshe would be mine.\" \nThey argued this way until at last Leopard said, \"Let us be judged! Others will \nrecognize that justice is on my side!\" \nSo they went in search of judges, and the first one they found was Gazelle. Leopard \ntold his story, and Jackal told his, but Gazelle was afraid of Leopard, as were most \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n16\nanimals of the bush. \n\"You see how it is,\" Jackal said. \"It is clear that the calf is mine.\" \nGazelle looked at Leopard and was frightened. He put on his most learned look, and \ncleared his throat and said: \"Well, when I was young it was true that only cows had \ncalves. But times have changed. The world moves on. Now, as you can see, it is \npossible for goats to have calves. This is my judgment, as Heaven is my witness!\" \nThey went then to Hyena, and told their story again. But Hyena, too, was afraid of \nLeopard, so when Jackal was through making his complaint, Hyena said, with an \nanxious look on his face: \n\"I have come to the conclusion that ordinary goats cannot have calves, but goats that \nare owned by leopards can. That is my judgment, as Heaven is my witness!\" \nAll of them, Leopard and Jackal, Gazelle and Hyena, went to the place of \nKlipspringer, and once more the argument was carried on. Klipspringer listened in \nworried silence, and when they were through he said with a learned air: \n\"Once it was the law of all living things that each one should bear only his own kind. \nLions bore lions, goats bore goats, and camels bore camels. But the law has been \nchanged. It is now permitted for goats to bear calves. This is the truth, as Heaven is \nmy witness!\" \n\"Since there are no more judges, the calf is clearly mine,\" Leopard said. \n\"There is still Baboon,\" Jackal said, so all of them went together to the rocky place \nwhere Baboon lived. \nThey found him turning over stones to get at the ants and grubs that lived there. \n\"Judge our case,\" Leopard said, and then both Leopard and Jackal told their stories. \nBaboon listened with a far-off look in his eyes. When they were through they waited \nfor his judgment. He slowly climbed to a high rock and looked down at them. But he \nsaid nothing. He held a small stone in his hand and plucked at it with his fingers. \n\"Well?\" Leopard said impatiently. \"You see how it is. What is your verdict?\" \n\"Wait,\" Baboon said. \"Can't you see I am busy?\" \n\"What are you doing?\" Leopard asked. \n\"I have eaten my meal, and now I must play a little music before I judge,\" Baboon \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n17\nsaid. \n\"Music? What music?\" all the animals asked. \n\"Here, the music I am playing on this instrument!' Baboon replied with irritation. \n\"Ha! He plucks upon a stone!\" Leopard said. \"Look what a stupid person we have \nasked to judge for us! No music can come from a stone!\" Baboon looked at Leopard. \n\"If a calf can come from a goat, surely sweet music can come from a stone?\" he \nasked. Leopard was embarrassed. \n\"Hm. What lovely music,\" he said. \nBut the other animals shouted: \"It is true! As Heaven is our witness, only a cow can \nhave a calf!\" \nAnd so because the community was united against him, Leopard returned the calf to \nJackal. \nBack to the top \nThe Game Board \nAn African (Ethiopian) Tale \n \nOnce a man in the town of Nebri carved a beautiful gebeta board for his son. He \nmade it from the wood of an olive tree. When he was finished he showed his son \nhow to play games upon it. The boy was very glad to have such a beautiful thing, \nand in the morning when he went out with the cattle to the valley where they grazed \nhe took his gebeta board along. Everywhere he went he carried his board under his \narm. \nWhile he followed the cattle, he came upon a group of wandering Somalis with their \ncamels, gathered around a small fire in a dry riverbed. \n\"Where in this country of yours can a man get wood?\" the Somalis asked. \n\"Why, here is wood,\" the boy said. And he gave them the fine gebeta board, which \nthey put into the fire. As it went up in flames, the boy began to cry: \n\"Oh, now where is my fine gebeta board that my father has carved for me?\" \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n18\n\"Do not make such turmoil,\" the Somalis said, and they gave him a fine new knife in \nplace of the game board. \nThe boy took the knife and went away with his cattle. As he wandered he came to a \nplace where a man was digging a well in the sand of the riverbed, so that his goats \ncould drink. \n\"The ground is hard,\" the man said. \"Lend me your knife to dig with.\" \nThe boy gave the man the knife, but the man dug so vigorously with it that it broke. \n\"Ah, what has become of my knife?\" the boy wailed. \n\"Quiet yourself,\" the man said. \"Take this spear in its place.\" And he gave the boy a \nbeautiful spear trimmed with silver and copper. \nThe boy went away with his cattle and his spear. He met a party of hunters. When \nthey saw him one ofthem said: \"Lend me your spear, so that we may kill the lion we \nare trailing.\" \nThe boy gave him the spear, and the hunters went out and killed the lion. But in the \nhunt the shaft of the spear was splintered. \n\"See what you've done with my spear!\" the boy cried. \n\"Don't carry on so,\" the hunter said. \"Here is a horse for you in place of your spear.\" \nThe hunter gave him a horse with fine leather trappings, and he started back toward \nthe village. On the way he came to where a group of workmen were repairing the \nhighway. As they worked they caused a landslide, and the earth and rocks came \ndown the mountain with a great roar. The horse became frightened and ran away. \n\"Where is my horse?\" the boy cried. \"You have made him run away!\" \n\"Don't grieve,\" the workman said. \"Here is an ax.\" And he gave the boy a common \niron ax. The boy took the ax and continued toward the village. He came to a \nwoodcutter who said: \"Lend me your large ax for this tree. My ax is too small.\" \nHe loaned the woodcutter the ax, and the woodcutter chopped with it and broke it. \nThe boy cried, and the woodcutter said: \"Never mind, here is a limb of a tree.\" \nThe boy took the limb upon his back and when he came near the village a woman \nsaid: \"Where did you find the wood? I need it for my fire.\" \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n19\nThe boy gave it to her, and she put it in the fire. As it went up in flames he said: \n\"Now where is my wood?\" \n\"Here,\" the woman said, \"here is a fine gebeta board.\" \nHe took the gebeta board under his arm and went home with the cattle. As he entered \nhis house his father smiled and said: \"What is better than a gebeta game board to \nkeep a small boy out of trouble?\" \nBack to the top \nThe Marriage of the Mouse \nAn African (Ethiopian) Tale \n \nOnce a beautiful white mouse was born. As he grew into manhood his friends and \nhis family took note of his handsome face, his regal manner, and his unblemished \nwhiteness. \nHis parents often asked themselves, \"Where will we ever find a wife worthy of this \nyoung man?\" \nWhen at last the time came for them to find a wife for him they had decided that \nonly in God's family would they find a young woman who had all the virtues worthy \nof such a creature. \nSo, as is the custom, three older people in the family were chosen to visit God to ask \nhim for a wife for the young handsome mouse. They went to his house and stood \nbefore it. \n\"Why are you standing at the door?\" God asked, which was an invitation to enter. So \nthey entered and said: \"We are sent by the family of the beautiful white mouse, of \nwhom you have doubtless heard. He is white as snow, and the most beautiful of all \ncreatures. We are looking for a wife who is worthy of him. Only your family can \ngive us such a wife for him, for your family is the greatest and strongest in the \nworld.\" \nGod thought a little and smiled at the messengers. \"That is a good thought. It is true \nthat the young mouse should have just the right wife. But, alas, you have come to the \nwrong house. For there is a stronger family than ours. It is the family of the Wind.\" \n\"But,\" the messengers said, \"are you not stronger than the Wind?\" \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n20\n\"It would seem that way unless you know. But the Wind is stronger than I. When the \nWind blows he covers the earth with dust, he even blows dust into my eyes. So you \ncan see he is stronger.\" \nThe messengers talked among themselves, and agreed that in that case only the \nfamily of the Wind was worthy. \"Where is the house of the Wind?\" they asked. God \nsmiled on them and pointed it out, and they left. \nWhen they arrived they stood before the house, and the Wind asked: \"Why are you \nstanding at the door?\" \n\"We are looking for a wife for the finest of all mice,\" they said. \"We went to God's \nhouse, but he said the Wind is stronger than he. And so we have come to ask for a \ndaughter of your family to be the wife of our mouse.\" \nThe Wind listened and thought. And finally he said: \"Your idea is an excellent one, \nand I thank you. But you see I am not the strongest. When I blow with all my \nstrength I raise the dust and uproot trees, but against the Mountain I can do nothing. \nI blow and blow, but the Mountain does not move, and I am forced to retreat. So you \nsee that the Mountain is stronger than I am.\" \n\"Where is the house of the Mountain?\" they asked. \nThe Wind pointed out the house of the Mountain, and the messengers thanked him \nand left. When they came to the Mountain's place they stood there, and he asked: \n\"Why are you standing at the door?\" \nThey came in and the Mountain greeted them as is the custom. \n\"How are you? Did you bring good news? How are your cattle? How are your \nchildren?\" \nThey answered him politely and then spoke of the beautiful mouse for whom they \nwere looking for a wife. He listened thoughtfully while they talked, and when they \nwere through he said: \"Yes, it is right that such a creature should have the best for a \nwife. But it is not my family who can give him such a wife. There is another stronger \nthan I. He digs at my foundations day and night. He makes holes in my sides, and \ncauses me to crumble. His family is the most powerful.\" \n\"Ah, such a creature is powerful indeed!\" the messengers said. \"Where can we find \nhim?\" \nThe Mountain pointed out his house, and the messengers went to it. It was the home \nof a Mouse. \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n21\n\"Why do you stand before the door?\" the Mouse said. \nOnce again they explained why they had come. The Mouse listened and said: \"You \nhave found a wife for your son! What a joy that our most exceptional families should \nbe united!\" \nAnd in this way the beautiful white Mouse found a wife worthy of him. \nBack to the top \nThe Lion and the Hare Go Hunting \nAn African (Ethiopian) Tale \n \nIn Ethiopia the hare, like the jackal and the monkey, is known by all of the other \nanimals for his cleverness. His reputation is widespread through the mountains and \nthe grasslands. Even the largest beasts, such as the lion and the leopard, respect him. \nIt is said that once the lion caught the hare and was about to eat him. \n\"Why does your mouth water so when you look at me?\" the hare asked. \n\"Are you not meat?\" the lion asked in surprise. \n\"But I am so small and thin,\" the hare said. \"After you have eaten me you will still \nbe hungry. Why don't we go hunting together for something large and fat?\" \n\"You go hunting?\" the lion laughed. \"What could such a ridiculous animal as you \ncatch?\" \n\"Let us go to the village where men live,\" the hare said. \"Ifwe don't find something \nfatter than I, then you may eat me.\" \nSo the lion and the hare went together and prowled around the edge of the village \nwhere men lived, and on its outskirts the lion captured a fat young bull. The hare \nalso hunted, but he found nothing but a mangy donkey who was rolling on its back \nin the dust of the trail. \nAs they drove their booty home, the hare looked with envy at the lion's fat bull, and \nhis mouth watered. Finally, he said: \"Ah, lion, what bad luck you've had!\" \n\"How?\" the lion said in surprise. \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n22\n\"Your poor bull is so thin and undernourished. You'd have been better off eating \nme.\" \nThe lion looked suspiciously at his prize and then at the donkey. \"He doesn't look so \nthin to me,\" the lion said. \n\"Everyone knows that when you strike a fat animal he gives offsteam,\" the hare said. \nThe lion didn't know about that, but he replied: \"Yes, everyone knows that.\" \nHe picked up a stick and struck his bull across the back, but there was no steam. He \nstruck again. Still there was no steam. \"See, he is fat,\" the lion said without \nconviction. \n\"No, he has been starved nearly to death,\" the hare said. And he struck his thin \nscraggly donkey across the back. A cloud of dust rose in the air. It was the dust from \nthe trail where the donkey had been rolling. \n\"Ah!\" the hare said. \"That is a fat animal for you!\" \nThe lion thought for a moment and then he said: \"I will take the donkey and you will \ntake the bull!\" \n\"Oh, no, that's impossible,\" the hare said, looking reproachfully at the lion. \"It was I \nwho caught the donkey, and it is I who shall eat him.\" \nThe lion became angry. \n\"Very well,\" the hare said with a tone of disappointment. \"So it shall be.\" \nSo the lion took the mangy donkey and the hare took the fat young bull. They \ncontinued on their way. As they went along the trail, the hare picked up eight eagle \nfeathers and put them in his belt like knives. When they stopped to rest, the hare \nsaid: \n\"Lion, I have a set of eight light hunting knives. If I lose one I still have seven left. \nBut you, the mighty hunter, you have only one. What will you do if you lose it?\" \nThe lion thought about this for a moment, and then he said: \"The mighty hunter \nshould have the weapons, not the smallest and most insignificant of all animals. Let \nus trade.\" \n\"Oh, that would be impossible,\" the hare said. \"Since I am so small I need more \nweapons rather than less.\" \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n23\n\"Do you argue with me?\" the lion said with temper. \n\"Very well, here they are. I am not a man to argue with you.\" \nHe gave the lion the eight eagle feathers and took the lion's knife, and they continued \non their way. \nWhen they came to the lion's cave, the hare stopped and looked at it. It had a single \ndoor. He shook his head and clicked his tongue. \n\"Yes,\" he said, \"just as I thought---your house is a trap.\" \n\"What are you saying?\" the lion asked in surprise. \n\"Only a single door,\" the hare said. \"Aren't you afraid?\" \n\"I'm afraid of nothing that moves!\" the lion roared. \"Where is there anything for me \nto fear?\" \n\"Aren't you afraid of Men?\" \n\"Men! Ah, well, only of Men . . .\" \n\"Look at my house over there,\" the hare said. \"It has many entrances. If a hunter \ncomes into my house looking for me by one door, then I leave by another. And if he \nenters by the second door I leave by the third. But if a hunter were to enter your \nhouse, where would you go?\" \n\"You are right!\" the lion said. \"I never before thought of it! We shall trade!\" \n\"Trade? Oh, no, I couldn't,\" the hare said. \"I don't care to live in a trap!\" \nThe lion looked very severely at the hare. So the hare said hurriedly: \"Very well, if \nyou insist upon it!\" \nSo the hare and the lion changed houses. \nHare went into Lion's house and closed the door. He killed his bull and cooked it and \ngrew fatter than before. \nThe lion moved into the hare's cave. Then he took one of the eagle feathers from his \nbelt and tried to kill his donkey with it. The feather could not kill the donkey. It only \ntickled him. The lion took another feather from his belt and tried to kill the donkey. \nIt tickled the donkey worse. He laughed. He couldn't stop laughing. The lion took \nout another feather and tried to kill the donkey. It tickled the donkey so that he \n\nAFRICAN TALES \n \n \nGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com \n24\ncouldn't stand it any more. He broke loose from the lion and escaped into the fields. \nAnd now, whenever the donkey thinks of how the lion tickled him with eagle \nfeathers he laughs. You can hear it for yourself. \n \n \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/_GM Books/Myth/African Tales.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":182,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"GM SPENDS \nPOINTS FROM THE \nSTRESS TRACK TO \nCAUSE EMOTIONAL \nCOMPLICATIONS\n(MAX 4)\nSYNC\nRAGE\nGrief\nFear\nNeed\nEGO\n0\n2\n3\n4\nFEEDBACK\n0\n2\n3\n4\nFEEDBACK\n0\n2\n3\n4\nFEEDBACK\n0\n2\n3\n4\nFEEDBACK\n0\n2\n3\n4\nFEEDBACK\nFEEDBACK\nTO GAIN SYNC\nREVEAL A REGRET\nMAKE A SACRIFICE FOR \nANOTHER’S DRIVE\nWHEN YOU GAIN SYNC\nEVERY OPERATOR GAINS 1 XP\nWHEN YOU HAVE SYNC\nONLY THE FIRST USE OF A \nPROFESSIONAL SKILL \nINCREASES STRESS\nSPEND SYNC TO TURN ANY \nRESULT INTO A 10\nSTRESS TRACKS\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\nIF THE STRESS TRACK OF THE SKILLS BAGGAGE TYPE IS 0, YOU MAY MAKE A PROFESSIONAL MOVE INSTEAD OF A HEADSPACE MOVE.\n1\n1\n1\n1\n1\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Headspace (PbtA)/Headspace - Stress Tracks.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":183,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":" \n \nPage __ \nNEW CAREER SHEET SP 0000A \nThe Imperial Secret Service is the unseen arm of Imperial \ngovernment. Operating covertly and with the full knowledge of \nthe Emperor, the ISS has access to the best training, facilities \nand operational support available. Tasked with the most \ndangerous of missions, the ISS are unseen and unknown \noutside of their own area of work. \nAssignments: Choose one of the following: \nSKILLS AND TRAINING \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Advanced Education \n Officer Skills \n1d6 Personal Development Service Skills \n (Minimum Edu 8) \n (Commissioned Only) \n1 \n \n \n \n \n2 \n \n \n \n \n3 \n \n \n \n \n4 \n \n \n \n \n5 \n \n \n \n \n6 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n1d6 \n \n \n \n \n1 \n \n \n \n \n2 \n \n \n \n \n3 \n \n \n \n \n4 \n \n \n \n \n5 \n \n \n \n \n6 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nRANKS AND BENEFITS \n \n \n \nRank Title \n Skill or Benefit \n Title \n Skill or Benefit \n0 \n \n \n \n \n1 \n \n \n \n \n2 \n \n \n \n \n3 \n \n \n \n \n4 \n \n \n \n \n5 \n \n \n \n \n6 \n \n \n \n \nCAREER PROGRESS \n \n Survival Advancement \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nCommission: \n \nMUSTERING-OUT BENEFITS \n1d6 \nCash Other Benefits \n1 \n \n \n2 \n \n \n3 \n \n \n4 \n \n \n5 \n \n \n6 \n \n \n7 \n \n \n \n \n \n \nCareer Description \n \nCareer Title \n \n_______________: \n \n_______________: \n \n_______________: \nMantar The Mage (order #5488112)\n\n \n \nPage __ \nCareer Title \nNEW CAREER SHEET SP 0000A \n \nMISHAPS \n2d6 \n Mishap \n2 \n \n3 \n \n4 \n \n5 \n \n6 \n \n7 \n \n8 \n \n9 \n \n10 \n \n11 \n \n12 \n \n \nEVENTS \nd66 \n Events \n11 \n \n12 \n \n13 \n \n14 \n \n15 \n \n16 \n \n21 \n \n22 \n \n23 \n \n24 \n \n25 \n \n26 \n \n31 \n \n32 \n \n33 \n \n34 \n \n35 \n \n36 \n \n41 \n \n42 \n \n43 \n \n44 \n \n45 \n \n46 \n \n51 \n \n52 \n \n53 \n \n54 \n \n55 \n \n56 \n \n61 \n \n62 \n \n63 \n \n64 \n \n65 \n \n66 \n \nMantar The Mage (order #5488112)\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Traveller/08 - Mongoose Traveller/Third Party Materials/Sourcebooks & Referee Materials/Career Books/New_Career_Sheets.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":184,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"UL01\nADVENTURE PATH PLUG-INS\nBoreal Bestiary\nBoreal Bestiary\nby Jason Nelson, Tim Hitchcock , and Matt Goodall\nby Jason Nelson, Tim Hitchcock , and Matt Goodall\n\nCredits ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������\nAuthors: Jason Nelson, Tim Hitchcock, and Matt Goodall\nArtist: Tanyaporn Sangsnit, Jason Juta, and Frank Hessefort\nDesign and Layout: Timothy K. Wickham\nLegendary Games Team Members: Clinton J. Boomer, Matt Goodall, Jim Groves, Tim Hitchcock, Rob Lazzaretti, Jason Nelson, \nNeil Spicer, Todd Stewart, Russ Taylor, Greg Vaughan, Timothy Wickham, and Clark Peterson\nSpecial Thanks ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������\nErik Mona, Lisa Stevens, James Jacobs and the Paizo staff for their excellent Kingmaker and Reign of Winter Adventure Path.\nWe also would like to thank the fans and supporters of Legendary Games that have made our company a success. We also thank \nour families and the spouses and children that are so patient and supportive to each of us in the time we take to create the very \nbest for all of you.\nLegal �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������\nCompatibility with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game requires the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game from Paizo Publishing, LLC. See http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder \nRoleplaying Game. Paizo Publishing, LLC does not guarantee compatibility, and does not endorse this product.\nPathfinder is a registered trademark of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility Logo are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are \nused under the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License. See http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/compatibility for more information on the compatibility license.\nOpen Content: Subject to designation as Product Identity (see below), the only portion of this Legendary Games product designated as Open Game Content is the rules content (creature stat blocks and names of \nskills, etc., taken from the Pathfinder Reference Document) as defined in the Open Game License version 1.0a Section 1(d). The front and back cover, back matter, introduction and Credits page, as well all other \nparts of this product including all text not specifically designated as Open Game Content is not Open Game Content. No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be \nreproduced in any form without written permission.\nProduct Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License 1.0a, Seection 1(e), and are not Open Content: Legendary Games, the Legendary Games \nLogo, Adventure Path Plug-In, Boreal Bestiary, as well as all trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names (including the names of each character, location, item or monster unique to this product), dialogue, \nplots, storylines, locations, characters, artworks, and trade dress, but excluding any content that is Product Identity of Paizo Publishing, Inc. (Elements that have previously been designated as Open Game \nContent are not included in this declaration.)\nReference in non-Open Game Content (thus not covered by the Open Game License) in this work to content owned by others is not a challenge to their ownership and is used under Fair Use. \nOPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a. The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.\n1. Definitions: (a) “Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have \ncontributed Open Game Content; (b) “Derivative Material” means copyrighted material \nincluding derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), \nportation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, \nabridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; \n(c) “Distribute” means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, \ntransmit or otherwise distribute; (d) “Open Game Content” means the game mechanic and \nincludes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not \nembody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional \ncontent clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work \ncovered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but \nspecifically excludes Product Identity. (e) “Product Identity” means product and product line \nnames, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts, creatures, characters, \nstories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, \ndesigns, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic \nand other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, \nenchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, \nlocations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, \nlogos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly \nidentified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically \nexcludes the Open Game Content; (f) “Trademark” means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, \ndesigns that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated \nproducts contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) “Use”, “Used” or \n“Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create \nDerivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms \nof this agreement.\n2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice \nindicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. \nYou must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added \nto or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or \nconditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.\n3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of \nthe terms of this License.\n4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors \ngrant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of \nthis License to Use, the Open Game Content.\n5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as \nOpen Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or \nYou have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.\n6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this \nLicense to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content \nYou are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, \nand the copyright holder’s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game \nContent you Distribute.\n7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an \nindication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent \nAgreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate \ncompatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction \nwith a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, \nindependent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The \nuse of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the \nownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game \nContent shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.\n8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which \nportions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.\n9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions \nof this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and \ndistribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.\n10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the \nOpen Game Content You distribute.\n11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using \nthe name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.\n12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this \nLicense with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or \ngovernmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.\n13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all \nterms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All \nsublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.\n14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision \nshall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.\n15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE\nOpen Game License v 1.0a © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.\nBeasts of Legend: Boreal Bestiary © 2013, Legendary Games; Authors Jason Nelson, Tim \nHitchcock and Matt Goodall. \nSystem Reference Document. © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, \nMonte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.\nThe Hypertext d20 SRD. © 2004, Jans W Carton.\nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Player’s Guide. © 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; \nAuthor: Jason Bulmahn, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Hal Maclean, Rob McCreary, Erik Mona, \nJason Nelson, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. \nSutter, Owen Stephens, and Russ Taylor.\nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. © 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason \nBulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.\nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Combat © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Lead \nDesigner: Jason Bulmahn; Designers: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, Benjamin Bruck, Brian \nJ. Cortijo, Jim Groves, Tim Hitchcock, Richard A. Hunt, Colin McComb, Jason Nelson, Tom \nPhillips, Patrick Renie, Sean K Reynolds, and Russ Taylor.\nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Magic © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Lead Designer: \nJason Bulmahn; Designers: Tim Hitchcock, Colin McComb, Rob McCreary, Jason Nelson, \nStephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, Owen K.C. Stephens, and Russ Taylor. \nPike, Giant from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., \npublished and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene.\nBoreal Bestiary\nBoreal Bestiary\n\nTable of Contents\nWelcome to Adventure Path Plug-Ins! �����������������������������������1\nWhat you will find in Boreal Bestiary ����������������������������������2\nIntroduction �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2\nArctic Harpspider (CR 4) \n3\nGreen Child (CR 5) \n4\nGruen (CR 1) \n5\nHiisi (CR 16) \n7\nManiitok (CR 17) \n9\nOrruol (CR 10) \n11\nPolevik (CR 14) \n13\nTorden (CR 3) \n15\nTorden Huntmaster (CR 7) \n15\nVodenjak (CR 6) \n18\nSavage Hunter (Lesser Wendigo) (Template) \n20\nSavage Hunter (CR 4) \n20\nWiitikowan Dire Wolverine (CR 6) \n21\nWiitikowan Mountain Raven (Vulture) (CR 3) \n21\nBecoming a Wiitikowan \n22\nBoreal Bestiary Paper Minis ������������������������������������������������������ 23\nBoreal Bestiary Art Folio ����������������������������������������������������������� 24\nMake Your Campaign Legendary! ��������������������������������������������� 36\nBoreal Bestiary\nBoreal Bestiary\n\n1\nWelcome to \nAdventure Path Plug-Ins!\nT\nhIS ProduCT IS A PArT of our lIne of SuPPorT mATerIAlS for exTended AdvenTure \nPath-style campaign play for use with Paizo’s Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. When you see the “Adventure \nPath Plug-In” logo at the top of a Legendary Games product, you can expect it is designed to fit directly \nwith the themes of a particular Adventure Path campaign. The all-star team of designers here at Legendary \nGames is committed to bringing you—the busy GM or player—the absolute best third party support for your \nPathfinder campaign. To deliver on that commitment, we’ve assembled the best of the best of current gaming \nauthors, designers and layout experts so that you can feel comfortable that Legendary Games products will \nbe the most creative, rules-legal and well-designed content you can find. Though Adventure Path Plug-Ins all \nshare a theme with a specific Adventure Path campaign, they are designed to be easily incorporated into your \nhome game regardless of what campaign you may be running. \nHey, WHat’s WitH tHe Names?\nYou will see us use phrases such as “King-Building Adventure Path” instead of the title of a very popular \nsandbox-style kingdom-building Adventure Path. Or, you may see us use names such as the “Lost Lands,” the \n“Faerie Queen,” the “Horned God of Hunters,” the rival “Baron and Baroness of Hookmarsh” to the west, or the \n“Broken Kingdom” to the north that grants PCs their charter to explore and rule instead of the proper names \nof specific characters or places from those adventures or gods from the world setting. While we can create \ncompatible products under the Open Game License, we still have to be respectful of certain content Paizo \nowns. Because we want to be very respectful of their content and work in partnership with them, we use these \n“replacement phrases.” Plus, this helps the product have a more general appeal to those who may be running a \nhome campaign that fits the same themes. In any event, we are 100% confident you know what we are talking \nabout and will have no problem making the required connection. \nspecial electroNic Features\nWe’ve hyperlinked this product internally from the Table of Contents and externally with links to the \nPathfinder Reference Document, the official online compendium of game rules, as well as the d20pfsrd.com. \nIf it is in the core rulebook, we generally didn’t link to it unless the rule is an obscure one. The point is not to \nsupersede the game books, but rather to help support you, the player, in accessing the rules, especially those \nfrom newer books or that you may not have memorized.\nabout legeNdary games\nLegendary Games is an all star team of authors and designers, founded by Clark Peterson of Necromancer \nGames, Inc. Legendary Games uses a cooperative, team-based approach to bring you, the Paizo fan, the best \nexpansion material for your game. We are gamers and storytellers first, and we believe that passion shows in \nour products. So check us out, and Make Your Game Legendary! \nVisit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @LegendaryGamesJ.\n\n2\nWhat You Will find Inside \nBoreal Bestiary\nThis supplement contains 10 creatures and several additional variants suitable for use in any campaign set within \nor traveling through the frosty desolation of the northern wilderness. While ideally suited for adventure paths like \nthe Kingdom-Building and Far East APs, as well as the Demon Crusade and Witches of Winter, these creatures \nprovide a wealth of sinister and surprising creatures living, dead, and somewhere in between. From feral fairies \nto haunted spirits and otherworldly terrors of the frozen north, the Boreal Bestiary stands proudly alongside \nthe Coldwood Codex in drawing upon real-world folklore, classic fantasy tropes, and the design skills of the top \ncreative minds in the business. These bestiaries are indispensable additions to any GM’s monster toolkit. \nThe bestiary products of Legendary Games, including the Coldwood Codex as well as the \nConstruct Codex for our Gothic Adventure Path Plug-Ins, have been lavished with praise for \ntheir quality and inventiveness, and we hope to bring you many more chapters in our ongoing \nBeasts of Legend series that will equal or exceed those that have come before. The Legendary \nGames tradition is to combine rich story and background, innovative layout, beautiful \naesthetics, and excellence in design that is second to none. This product is the latest in that \ntradition, and we hope you enjoy using it as much as we enjoyed making it. Game on! \n- Jason Nelson \nIntroduction\nThis bestiary is a companion to Beasts of Legend: Coldwood Codex, as it explores creatures endemic to the wild \nwinter woods, and like the Coldwood Codex it delves deeply into the lore of woodland spirits both living and \ndead. However, the Boreal Bestiary strays much farther into the desolate and empty woods of the far north, where \nthe lonely taiga verges into the vast and empty tundra and the eternal snows of the high ice beyond. The creatures \nin this volume exist largely apart from humanoid civilization, at best indifferent but far more often openly hostile, \nwith a raw and ravening hunger that threatens to devour the effete interlopers from the warmer lands and send \nthem screaming back to more temperate climes. \nFey make up almost half the monsters in this bestiary. At low levels, gruens take the unhealthy obsession of \nmites with their vermin to an altogether terrifying place of chittering horror. The abomination of cannibalism is \nembodied in the wiitikowan, a template allowing you to transform humans and animals alike into bloodthirsty \nbeasts under the curse of the wendigo, including two sample creatures as well as a hapless savage hunter \nfighting a losing battle against madness and a hunger for the flesh of his own kind. The orruol is a spirit of \nthe mountains, a creature of regal strength and wisdom but often cold indifference to the people living in the \nshadow of her domain. Lastly, the sinister polevik is a poacher of souls venturing into lands barely settled and \nstrangling the unsuspecting to give poleviks the deaths they believe are their due. Against these spirits of life (and \nsometimes in the wake of their murderous attacks), the sinister green children rise from their sodden graves to \nhaunt and tear down those that failed to protect them during their lives cut short. \nThe remaining Beasts of Legend are living things, including the otherworldly and hypnotic arctic harpspider, \nwhose resonant webs and cocoons of spun ice enrapture the unwary into an icy death. Such noise and vibration \nis anathema to the titanic maniitok, a massive ooze comprised of the living tundra itself and filled with loathing \nand wrath for the clamorous din of civilization and things not of nature. Its destructive fury is unmatched \nshould any intrude too far upon its silent solitude. Three monstrous humanoids complete the bestiary, including \nthe hard-hearted torden, swift hunters astride winter wolves and giant owls alike, prowling the woodlands for \nvengeance upon the druids whose curse first created them. The towering hiisi are cunning half-giants, masters \nof traps and ambush and whose blood unravels magic itself. Lastly, the sinister vodenjak, more likely than any \nothers in this bestiary to truck with humanoids as they offer passage across the cold rivers, lakes, and marshes of \nthe north, as well as advice and gifts of magic, but every bargain has its price and few come out ahead when the \nvodenjak claims his reward. \n\n3\nArCTIC hArPSPIder\nSeemingly composed of opaque crystals of ice, this giant arachnid lurks by an icy \nspiderweb, softly brushing its bristled legs against the frozen strands of webbing. \nBelow eight opalescent eyes, its large mandibles glisten with a viscid cyanic ichor. \narctic Harpspider \ncr 4\nXP 1,200\nN Large outsider (cold, native)\nInit +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4\ndeFeNse\nAC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 \nnatural, –1 size)\nhp 42 (5d10+15)\nFort +4, Ref +6, Will +4\nImmune cold, poison\nWeaknesses vulnerable to fire\noFFeNse\nSpeed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.\nMelee bite +8 (1d8+6 plus 1d6 cold and poison)\nSpace 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.\nSpecial Attacks hypnotic harmonics, poison\nstatistics\nStr 18, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 15\nBase Atk +5; CMB +10; CMD 23 (35 vs. trip)\nFeats Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack\nSkills Climb +16, Perception +7, Perform (string) +10, \nStealth +6\necology\nEnvironment cold forests or hills, underground\nOrganization solitary, nest (2-4), or colony (5-10)\nTreasure standard\nspecial abilities\nHypnotic Harmonics (Su) When a harpspider strums \nthe thin crystalized strands of its ice web, the tinkling \nmelodious resonance becomes a mesmerizing lure. Initiating \nhypnotic harmonics is a standard action for a harpspider and \nmaintaining it each round requires a move action that does \nnot provoke attacks of opportunity. The harpspider must \nremain within reach of its web to maintain this ability. When \na harpspider plays, all creatures except harpspiders within a \n300-foot spread must succeed on DC 14 Will saves or become \ncaptivated. Creatures that successfully save are not subject to \nthe effects of hypnotic harmonics from the same harpspider \nfor 24 hours. Captivated victims move toward the web using \nthe most direct means available. If the path leads them into \na dangerous area, such as through fire or off a cliff, those \ncreatures receive a second saving throw to end the effect before \nmoving into peril. Mesmerized creatures can take no actions \nother than to defend themselves. A captivated victim within \n10 feet of a harpspider’s resonating web becomes dazed. This \neffect continues for as long as the harpspider plays and for \n1 round afterward. An arctic harpspider’s webs are easy to \ndamage and destroy (hardness 0, hp 3) but doing so while the \nwebs are under the effect of hypnotic harmonics produces \na sonic backlash, the equivalent of a sound burst (DC 14) \ncentered on the damaged web. An arctic harpspider is affected \nnormally by this sonic backlash. Hypnotic harmonics is a sonic \nmind-affecting charm effect that relies on audible components. \nThe save DC is Charisma-based.\nPoison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/\nround for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Dex plus 1d6 nonlethal damage \nand fatigued; cure 1 save. Similar to frostbite, the fatigued \ncondition caused by this hypothermic poison ends when the \nnonlethal damage dealt by the poison is cured.\nThe arctic harpspider is an otherworldly creature \ncomposed of crystallized mineral-rich fluid. This bizarre \nother-dimensional arachnid possesses a shrewd cunning and \nis an instinctive skirmish predator. If its quarry resists its \nmesmerizing harmony, the spider favors darting in to strike \nthen swiftly ducking back out of reach. It often waits until its \npoison disables a victim before closing in for the kill. It gains \nnourishment from the vital bodily fluids of its victims but can \nenter a state of frozen hibernation if prey is scarce. \nArctic harpspiders are sometimes discovered during summer \nmonths cocooned in an icy membrane within caves or other \ncool places. Touching the membrane awakens the spider \nwithin, although it is fatigued for 1d4 rounds as it emerges \nfrom its hibernation. It can automatically break out of the \nicy membrane as a move action, but creatures attempting to \nbreak into it must deal at least 10 points of damage (hardness \n0) to shatter the membrane. The ice membrane is translucent, \nso movement can be seen within as the spider awakens but \na DC 20 Knowledge (planes) check is required to identify the \ncreature within. \nAn arctic harpspider weighs 450 pounds and its legs extend \n8 feet from its 7-foot long body. \n\n4\nGreen Child\nBathed in the swirling mire mists emerges the gaunt corpse of a moss-covered, \nrotting child. Its bloated, swollen belly heaves to an unnatural rhythm. Eerily, \nthe lithesome horror seems to shift its position in short flickers like the quavering \nflame of a windblown candle. \ngreeN cHild \ncr 5 \nXP 1,600\nCE Small undead \nInit +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., lifesense; Perception +18\ndeFeNse\nAC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)\nhp 68 (8d8+32)\nFort +5, Ref +4, Will +9\nDefensive Abilities channel resistance +4; Immune \nundead traits\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft.\nMelee 2 claw +6 (1d3–1), bite +1 (1d4–1) \nSpell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +8)\n 3/day—mirror image \nstatistics\nStr 8, Dex 15, Con —, Int 11, Wis 16, Cha 17\nBase Atk +6; CMB +4; CMD 16\nFeats Gang Up, Improved Initiative, Stealthy, Toughness\nSkills Climb +10, Escape Artist +4, Intimidate +14, \nPerception +18 (+24 warm–blooded living creatures), \nStealth +23 (+31 in swamps moss or heavy shrubbery); \nRacial Modifiers +4 Perception (+10 warm–blooded \nliving creatures), +4 Stealth (+12 in swamps moss or \nheavy shrubbery)\nLanguages Common (can’t speak)\necology\nEnvironment cold, swamps, temperate forest\nOrganization Solitary, death gang (2-8), death clan (9-16)\nTreasure none (incidental)\nspecial abilities\nDead Mob (Ex) If two or more green children flank an \nopponent, each deals +1d6 points of additional sneak attack \ndamage per the number of flanking green child allies. The \nsneak attack bonus damage only applies when the green child \nis flanking with other green children. Similarly, if two or \nmore green children use the same supernatural attack during \nthe same round, the DC for saves against each of the attacks \nincreases by +1 for each green child in the mob.\nGaze of the Green Child (Su) As a full-round action, a green \nchild can allow its haunting gaze to fall upon a foe, cursing \nthe unsuspecting victim. A target that fails a DC 15 Will save \nis flooded with the woes and pains of the green child’s former \nlife. A green child can target his opponent with any of the \nfollowing curses:\nGaze of Anguish: this gaze attack imparts the anguish and \nagony of the green child’s death. The anguish floods the \ncursed victim, dealing 1d4 point of Wisdom damage and \nleaving them shaken until the effect is removed. A successful \nWill save negates the ability damage, however the victim \nremains shaken for 1d6 rounds. \nGaze of Nightmares: this gaze attack curses the victim with \ndreaded and horrific nightmares. Until the curse is lifted, \nthe victim cannot sleep for more than a few hours without \nwaking in a cold sweat. The cursed creature cannot get a full \nnight’s rest, leaving him fatigued, preventing him from healing \nnaturally or regaining arcane spells. A successful Will save \nnegates this effect.\nGaze Starvation: this gaze attack fills the victim with \ngnawing and insatiable hunger. The cursed victim believes \nhe is starving and takes 3d6 points of non-lethal damage \nand becomes fatigued until the effect is removed. A \n\n5\nsuccessful Will save negates the non-lethal damage, however \nthe victim remains fatigued for 1d6 rounds. A victim cursed \nwith starvation may temporarily stave his hunger by eating \na full meal, suppressing the effects of the green child’s curse \nfor 10 minutes.\nAll the effects of a green child’s curse last until removed \nwith a remove curse, break enchantment, or disjunction spell. \nUsing dispel magic temporarily suppresses the curse, however \nit cannot remove it. Gaze of the green child is a mind-affecting \nenchantment.. The save DC is Charisma based., and aAs noted \nabove, a group of green children can use the dead mob ability \nto increase the DC of the Will save. \nGang Squeeze (Ex) Despite the fact that they are small, \ntwo green children can occupy the same 5-foot space without \nsuffering any combat penalties. \nPhase Jaunt (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds, a green child \ncan shift his physical location by temporarily phasing out \nof existence and then re-manifesting in a new location \nsomewhere within the range of his full-movement rate on \nthe following round. During the phase jaunt, the green child \ndematerializes and passes through the Astral Plane, then re-\nenters the Material Plane and materializes at the end of the \njaunt. Phase jaunt does not provoke attacks of opportunity. \nInstead, if the green child rematerializes next to an opponent, \nhe can attempt to surprise any victim that fails a DC 18 \nPerception check. The Perception check DC is Dexterity-based. \nIf the green child uses phase jaunt in conjunction with his \nmirror image spell-like ability, the images flicker out during \nthe jaunt, but reform when the green child returns.\nBeneath the soured mires of the cold wastelands, black \nswamps, and chilling ice moors stir the remnants of man’s \nmost horrific sins, the tumultuary corpses of wrongfully \nslain children. What force stirs their souls to unrest remains \nan enigma, for certainly the green children are evil creatures \ncapable of perpetrating vengeful and sadistic acts upon the \nliving. Some surmise that their violence serves as an act of \njustice; however, these malevolent beings lack ethics and \nindiscriminately attack any mortals they encounter.\nGreen children are named for their hideous appearance, \nand sodden decomposing flesh that is steeped and covered \nwith greenish bog slime. While on few occasions one may \nencounter a solitary green child, more often they travel in \nsmall gangs. When encountered alone, the creatures are less \nlikely to launch a direct attack, instead stalking their prey for \ndays, plaguing them with nightmares until they round up \nenough other green children to launch an attack. As a group, \nthey hunt with patience, surrounding prey in large circles. \nFrom this vantage point they use their mental powers to drive \nvictims to harrowing anguish before slowly closing their ranks \naround strays and unsuspecting stragglers. Driven by near \ninsatiable fury, most often, a gang of green children will fight \nuntil destroyed.\nGruen\nScuttling forth upon maddening clicks of hundreds of chitinous legs emerges a \nbloated larval centipede whose entire upper body and head have undergone a \nhorrid metamorphosis into the form of a repugnant, pale-fleshed mite crawling \nupon three pairs of stunted and stubby forearms.\ngrueN \ncr 1 \nXP 400\nN Small fey \nInit +2; Senses low-light vision, tremorsense 30 ft.; \nPerception +5\ndeFeNse\nAC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size) \nhp 9 (2d6+2)\nFort +1, Ref +5, Will +3\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft., burrow 10 ft., climb 30 ft.\nMelee bite +3 (1d4+1 plus nauseating bite)\nstatistics\nStr 13, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 8\nBase Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 13 (can’t be tripped)\nFeats Stealthy\nSkills Climb +14, Escape Artist +4, Perception +5, Stealth \n+13\nLanguages Sylvan\necology\nEnvironment any underground\nOrganization solitary, pair, or colony (3–6)\nTreasure none\nspecial abilities\nBall Roll (Ex) As a full round action, the gruen can curl \nitself into a tight ball and safely roll down a slope or hill in a \nstraight line at double its full movement rate. While rolling, the \ngruen cannot steer or otherwise control the direction it rolls. \nWhile in a ball, the gruen gains a +8 natural armor bonus and \nif it takes damage from slamming into an object placed in its \npath, the first 1d6 points of damage is non-lethal. Likewise, if a \ngruen falls, it can also curl into a ball to safely absorb some of \nits falling damage such that the first 1d6 points of damage is \nnonlethal. Furthermore, as soon as the gruen hits the ground, \nit uncoils into a ready position so unless the fall knocks the \ngruen unconscious or kills it outright, a fall never renders these \ncreatures prone.\nNauseating Bite (Ex) Whenever a gruen bites an opponent, \nthe toxins within its wicked mandibles cause the target to \nbecome nauseated for 1d6 rounds (DC 12 Fortitude negates). \nEach round the nausea persists, the target has a 50% chance of \nvomiting each round, preventing him from talking that round. \nAfter the nausea and vomiting end, the residual cramps leave \nthe target fatigued. Individuals that successfully save against \nthe effect, or have already been effected by the toxin, are \nimmune to the nauseating bite attack’s effects for the next 24 \nhours. The DC for the Fortitude save is Constitution-based.\n\n6\nDisturbingly disfigured amalgams of mites and centipedes, \nthese barely intelligent creatures lurk in the lightless warrens of \nthe burrows of their masters and nearest kin—the despicable \nand craven mites. The gruen’s humanoid features are misshapen \nand his hairless skin hangs in rubbery, wrinkled folds. While \nthe creature’s face somewhat resembles that of a mite, from \neither side of its swollen lower lip curl bug-like pinchers. \nIts upper torso is even more deformed, partially fleshy and \nhumanoid in appearance, with pale bluish skin. From the torso \nprotrude six stunted arms, all of which bow slightly inward. \nThese arms have equally proportioned dwarfish hands, though \nthe hands serve more as feet and the creature cannot effectively \nuse them to manipulate tools, wield weapons, or grapple. \nThe posterior of the creature’s body morphs into the multi-\nsegmented chitin-plated abdomen of a centipede. The lithe \ncentipede legs are well-armored and twist into cruel clattering \nspikes about the same length as the creature’s stunted forearms. \nTo those unfamiliar with gruens, the creatures’ aberrant body \nshapes and uncanny resemblance to mites seems to suggest foul \nsorcery and magical inbreeding. Nearly as often, humanoids \nmistake gruen for undead or even demonic avatars. Yet in \ntruth, gruens are none of these things, but remain, perhaps \nunexpectedly so, products of Otherworld. Mites themselves \ndescribe gruens as the living embodiment of the souls of their \nancestors, particularly those mites who were grievously erred \nduring their lives and upon death, and made a conscious effort \nto serve their descendants and to sow their vengeance on the \nenemies of their people. Yet, despite such origins, gruens are \nnot undead creatures; instead they emerge as the devolved souls \nthat have reformed into a new and bizarre stage of life, morphed \ninto their ghastly bodies through the chaos of Otherworld.\nGruens often maintain close relationships with mites, \nparticularly large colonies of these creatures. While many mites \nvenerate gruens, almost as often they enslave the creatures and \nforce them into servitude. Particularly those mites who fear \nthat a gruen might one day remember their former life, and \nturn violent and vengeful. Despite being more powerful than \nmites, gruen often accept, and even delight in the somewhat \nmasochistic role of the servant. Certainly, mite spellcasters able \nto gain a minimal amount of skill quickly learn to summon \nthese wretched creatures to their aid. Still, mites treat their slaves \nwith great respect and often value their gruen slaves above the \nlives of their kin. Perhaps more unnerving a re those dark and \ntwisted tales of mites that uncover the former name and identity \nof a gruen. In nearly all these stories, the gruen turns out to be \nthe reincarnation of a revered and powerful mite ancestor. These \ntales typically resolve with the mite taking the gruen for her \nlover, though in the end, the ghastly beast ends up consuming \nthe mite, and turning its unfortunate lover into another gruen. \nMost of the time, mites allow gruens to inhabit in the \nouter tunnels surrounding their own lairs. In this symbiotic \nrelationship, the gruens provide the mites with an added first \nline of defense, and in return the mites provide the gruens \nwith offerings of food. More complex relationships sometimes \nevolve where a mite takes the role of master or driver. These \nindividuals may learn to direct gruens, and like cattle, drive \nthem, getting them to perform raids on neighboring humanoid \nsettlements or even to participate in war. Truly accomplished \ndrivers may even take gruen mounts or familiars. Such \nsightings have helped cultivate some of the more outlandish \ntales of mite/gruen relationships.\n\n7\nhiisi\nTowering above its surroundings, this monstrously hideous giant staggers forth, \nleaning on crudely formed polearm with two tines. His bent body is covered with \nscraggly hair and tiny horns protrude from his fleshy forehead. Drool spills from \nhis its pink, fleshy lips and his its cracked teeth grind like ravenous millstones. \nHiisi \ncr 16 \nXP 76,800\nCE Huge monstrous humanoid \nInit +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; \nPerception +12\ndeFeNse\nAC 28, touch 8, flat-footed 28 (+4 armor, +16 natural, –2 size) \nhp 250 (20d10+140)\nFort +14, Ref +12, Will +15\nDR 5/cold iron; Immune disease, poison; SR 27\nOffense\nSpeed 20 ft.\nMelee Hiisi fork +28/+23/+18/+13 (3d6+13/x3) \nSpace 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.\nSpecial Attacks rock throwing (30 ft.)\nstatistics\nStr 28, Dex 11, Con 23, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 13\nBase Atk +20; CMB +31 (+33 bull rush, +33 sunder); CMD \n43 (45 vs. bull rush, 45 vs. sunder)\nFeats Awesome Blow, Cleave, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, \nImproved Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Power \nAttack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (ranseur)\nSkills Climb +18, Craft (traps) +13, Intimidate +10, \nPerception +11, Stealth +0 (+10 in mountainous regions), \nSurvival +10; Racial Modifiers +6 Craft (traps), +10 \nStealth in mountainous regions\nLanguages Giant\nSQ dead magic blood, traps, trap springer\nGear mwk hide armor, hiisi fork\necology\nEnvironment cold hills and mountains\nOrganization solitary, clan (2d6)\nTreasure standard\nspecial abilities\nDead Magic Blood (Su) All hisiis are naturally resistant to \nmagic. Not only do they have heightened spell resistance, their \nvery blood can be used to create dead magic zones. Over the \ncenturies, the hiisis have learned to manipulate this property \nquite effectively.\nAs a standard action, a hiisi can bleed himself for 2d6 points \nof damage to effectively create a dead magic zone. A dead magic \nzone has the properties of an anti-magic field in a 20-ft-radius \nsurrounding the spilled blood. The anti-magic field effect lasts \nfor 5+1d10 minutes. They often spill blood on their traps or on \nboulders before throwing them at spell-wielding opponents. \nOnce spilled, the properties of the blood quickly dissipate and it \ncannot be effectively stored for later use. \nTraps (Ex) Hiisi possess an innate talent for building deadly \nmechanical traps. Hiisi traps consist mostly of landmines, \ntriggered avalanches, and hurling projectiles. Foul creatures, \nthey frequently smear their traps with fecal matter, dead \norganisms, and natural toxins to make them more deadly. A \nhiisi requires no gold to make his traps, but instead scrounges \nfor materials he needs. These consist of simple and readily \navailable materials such as scrap metal, wood, cord, sinew, and \n\n8\nbone. Once the hiisi has collected what he needs, it takes him a \nrelatively short amount of time to construct a trap.\nA hiisi can set number of traps per day equal to half his \nHit Die plus its Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). Setting a \ntrap requires a full-round action that provokes attacks of \nopportunity. A trap fills a 10-foot square area, and cannot be \nplaced in the same area as another trap or a magical trap such \nas a glyph of warding. However, a hiisi can increase the area of \na trap by building a second trap adjacent to the initial trap.\nThe DCs for Perception checks to notice the trap and Disable \nDevice checks to disable it are equal to 10 + the hiisi’s HD + its \nWisdom modifier. The DC for saving throws to avoid it is 10 \n+ 1/2 the Hiisi’s HD + its Wisdom modifier. All hiisi traps are \nTrigger: location, and Reset: none. Hiisi traps deal 1d6 hit points \nof damage per Hit Die. Each trap lasts a number of days equal \nto half the creature’s Hit Dice or until it is triggered, whichever \ncomes first. \nHiisi Avalanche Trap: Type mechanical; Perception DC 31; \nDisable Device DC 31; Trigger location; Reset none; Effect 1d4 \navalanches. For size, coverage and damage see the Environment \nsection of the Pathfinder Core Rule Book. Unlike a standard \navalanche, a hiisi avalanche trap has a location trigger, giving \nits victims little warning of impending danger. If the hiisi \ndesires, he can set this trigger up to 300 feet from the head of \navalanche. \nHiisi Dead Magic Collapsing Pit Trap: Type mechanical; \nPerception DC 31; Disable Device DC 31; Trigger location; Reset \nnone; Effect spell effect anti-magic field plus 50-ft.-deep pit (5d6 \nfalling damage, Climb DC 25); falling debris (Atk +21 melee, \n10d6 damage); DC 21 Reflex avoids; multiple targets (all targets \nin a 20-ft. square area).\nHiisi Flying Dung Boulders Trap: Type mechanical; \nPerception DC 31; Disable Device DC 31; Trigger location; Reset \nnone; Effect +20 ranged (10d6 plus filth fever), multiple targets \n(all targets in a 20-ft. square area).\nHiisi Alchemist Fire Geyser: Type mechanical; Perception \nDC 31; Disable Device 31: Trigger Location; Reset none; Effect \n20-foot-tall geyser of alchemist’s fire 10d6 fire for 2 rounds \n(Reflex DC 21 for half and avoids second round damage) plus \nmultiple targets (all targets in adjacent squares, 5d6 fire from \nsplash; Reflex DC 21 negates)\nTrap Springer (Ex) A hiisi can rig a trap he has crafted by \nexceeding its Disable Device DC by 10 so that he can trigger it \nas move action as long as he within 30 feet of the trap. \nThese deformed, hirsute giants inhabit the cold wildlands \nthat border the realms of what appears to be their favorite \nprey, man. Monstrously hideous, those who have survived hiisi \nencounters describe them as a crossbreed of ogres, hill giants, \ndevils, and yeti. Still, hiisis stand larger than all these creatures \nand despite their hunched posture, adults tower nearly 16-feet-\ntall. Long, thin, scraggly hair covers their hulking and muscular \nforms, providing both camouflage and protection from the \nharsh, frigid climates where they settle. A hiisi’s hair thins \nout almost completely on its head, lower legs, feet, forearms, \nand hands while its blotchy skin is a ruddy color. The two \nstumpy horn-like protrusions along the hiisi’s boney brow-ridge \nsuggest infernal influence, or perhaps even the influence of oni. \nCuriously, they also have short, stubby tails.\nWhile below average in intelligence, hiisis posses a sort of \nprimal cunning that has aided their species through centuries \nof survival. Perhaps to compensate for their limited intelligence, \nthey hoard ancient secrets, passing them down through \ngenerations despite never understanding their meaning.\nHiisis thrive upon violence, and their culture is based entirely \non brutality and dominance. Semi-nomadic cave dwellers, they \nlive in small clans and migrate with the seasons. A typical clan \nconsists of a single adult male, four to six females, the same \nnumber of adolescents, and twice as many children. Clans fight \nover common hunting grounds, caves, and mates. Hiisi clan \nleaders treat their women and children as commodities and \nthink nothing of killing rival clan leaders and stealing their \nfamilies to increase their own wealth. They do not afford much \nsympathy to outsiders and have no use for thralls or slaves of \nother races. For the most part, they avoid outsiders though they \nhave few qualms about slaying them and eating them when \nsupplies of humans run short. Humans are of course their \npreferred quarries, and hiisis become crazed with excitement \nwhenever they encounter them. They believe eating humans \nincreases their intelligence and virility. For this reason, clan \nleaders compulsively collect the skulls of their human victims. \nWithin their caves, they make great piles and elaborate displays \nof human skulls in order to show off their power. Nearly all \nhiisi settlements have at least one great iron cooking pot that \nthey keep stewing with meat.\nHiisis wear few clothes, with males wearing hides for armor \nor loincloths. To proclaim status, they decorate themselves \nwith crude jewelry made from bones, rocks, tusks, and similar \nmaterials, all painted with primitive cryptographs. Dominant \nmales also file their teeth into sharpened points.\nDespite their primitiveness, hiisis possess a minimal \nknowledge of metallurgy. While their skills remain crude, they \nare proficient enough to craft basic tools and weapons from \niron. They make their own weapons, huge polearms with flat \nbladed tines that they are adept at using to impale victims as \nwell as ensnare and snap their opponent’s weapons. They also \nexcel at making large and deadly traps using foraged materials. \nThey surround their territories with their traps, checking them \ninfrequently for humans and other prey. While they delight in \ncatching things, the dimwitted creatures become disappointed, \nif not openly enraged, when they discover their traps sprung \nor disabled and placate themselves by smashing the nearest \navailable target.\n\n9\nmaniitok\nThis immense abomination looms like a frozen hillside come to life. Rivulets of \nslushy muck cascade across the frost-rimed boulders of its massive shape, infested \nwith tiny parasites in every crevice. A face in the frost forms and deforms from \nnearly human to gaping, vacant pits and back again, shifting as it heaves its \nmountainous bulk across the tundra. \nmaNiitok \n \n \ncr 17\nXP 102,400\nNE Colossal ooze (earth)\nInit –2; Senses blindsight 60 ft., tremorsense 300 ft.; \nPerception +20\ndeFeNse\nAC 30, touch 0, flat-footed 20 (–2 Dex, +30 natural, –8 size) \nhp 270 (20d8+180); fast healing 10\nFort +15, Ref +4, Will +7; +10 vs. effects that impede or \nforce movement\nDR 10/-; Immune cold, mind-affecting effects, \npetrification, ooze traits; Resist acid 20, electricity 20, \nfire 20; SR 28\nWeaknesses one with the land, sound sensitivity\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft., burrow 30 ft., climb 30 ft.\nMelee 2 slam +26 (8d6+18/19–20 plus grab or trip) \nRanged rock +6 ranged touch (4d6+18 plus entrap)\nSpace 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft.\nSpecial Attacks breath weapon (60-ft. line, see tundral \nswarm ability, Reflex DC 29 for half, usable every 1 hour), \ndestructive, engulf (DC 38, 2d6 crushing and 2d6 cold), \nentrap (DC 29, 1d10 rounds, hardness 8, hp 20), fast \nswallow, inescapable, rock throwing (100 ft.), swallow \nwhole (2d6 crushing and 2d6 cold damage, AC 25, 27 hp), \ntrample (4d6+27 plus 1d6 cold damage, DC 38), trip\nSpell-Like Abilities (CL 20th; concentration +22)\nConstant—freedom of movement, pass without trace\nAt will—chill metal (DC 14), quench (DC 15), sleet storm, \nsoften earth and stone (DC 14), spike growth (DC 15), \nstone call, sympathetic vibration\n3/day—commune with nature, quickened sleet storm\n1/day—animate objects, antipathy (DC 21), creeping doom\nstatistics\nStr 46, Dex 6, Con 28, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 15\nBase Atk +15; CMB +41 (+45 grapple, +45 sunder); CMD 51 \n(53 vs. sunder, can’t be tripped)\nFeats Greater Sunder, Improved Critical (slam), Improved \nNatural Attack (slam), Improved Sunder, Improved \nVital Strike, Power Attack, Quicken Spell-like Ability \n(sleet storm), Skill Focus (Perception), Vital Strike, \nWeapon Focus (slam)\nSkills Climb +30, Perception +20, Survival +4 (+24 to follow \ntracks); Racial Modifiers +20 Survival to follow tracks\nLanguages Sylvan (can’t speak)\nSQ immovable mire, tundral swarm\necology\nEnvironment any cold\nOrganization solitary\nTreasure incidental (standard gems, no coins or items)\nspecial abilities\nDestructive (Ex) Maniitoks perceive crafted items and \npermanent structures as a disease upon the land, filling them \nwith a destructive rage. Whenever a maniitok makes a full \nattack against an object or structure, its attacks deal double \ndamage. In addition, when a maniitok uses animate objects to \ntake control of manufactured structures or objects, these objects \nbash themselves relentlessly to pieces when making their \nattacks, gaining a +4 bonus to attack and damage rolls but also \ndealing half as much damage to themselves as they deal to their \ntargets. The animated object’s hardness applies against this self-\ndestructive damage. \nImmovable Mire (Ex) Maniitoks are perpetually surrounded \nwith sodden muck of boggy peat and half-thawed permafrost. \nAll squares adjacent to a maniitok are treated as wet mud, and \nthose up to 10 feet beyond these adjacent squares are treated \nas loose dirt, as the soften earth and stone spell. In addition, \na maniitok gains a +10 bonus to their CMD against bull rush, \ndrag, overrun, and reposition combat maneuvers. They gain \nan identical bonus against any effect that would force them \nto move, fall, or be knocked prone, including physical effects \nsuch as wind or water and magical effects up to and including \nteleportation effects.\nInescapable (Ex) Maniitoks engulf and cling to grappled, \nswallowed, or engulfed creatures with unearthly tenacity. \nManiitoks can grapple creatures using freedom of movement, \nalbeit with a -20 penalty to their CMB and CMD for the purpose \nof grapple checks made against such creatures. A creature using \nfreedom of movement can attempt an Escape Artist as a swift \naction once per round to escape from a maniitok’s grapple. \nCreatures that do not have freedom of movement take a -5 \npenalty to grapple combat maneuver checks or Escape Artist \nchecks made to escape a grapple or pin.\nOne with the Land (Su) Maniitoks are intimately connected \nwith the land. If they are separated from the ground, their fast \nhealing is suppressed. In addition, damaging effects (including \nphysical attacks) directed at the ground within 100 feet of \na maniitok deal 1 point of damage to the creature for every \n10 points of damage dealt to the ground (after deducting the \nground’s hardness). This damage bypasses the maniitok’s \ndamage reduction and resistances. Effects that affect an area \nthat already include the maniitok deal damage to it directly but \ndo not also deal this damage in addition. \nEffects that disrupt the earth but do not do hit point damage, \nsuch as expeditious excavation, stone shape, transmute rock to \nmud, stone to flesh, and earthquake, deal 1d6 points of damage \nto the maniitok per level of the spell. It can halve this damage \nwith a Will save with a DC equal to 10 plus the level of the \n\n10\n10\nspell. Spells that create extradimensional spaces or passages or \ntemporary changes in the earth, such as create pit, passwall, \nand phase door, do not harm the maniitok. If a maniitok is \nkilled while touching the ground (including a vertical surface), \nit triggers an earthquake centered on the maniitok’s location, as \nthe spell (caster level 20th). \nSound Sensitivity (Ex) Maniitoks \nare very sensitive to loud noises \nand take a -2 penalty on \nsaving throws against \nsonic effects or \neffects that would \ncause them to \nbecome deafened. \nIf targeted with a \nsonic or deafening \neffect (whether \nsuccessful or not), \na maniitok becomes \nshaken for 1 round \n(DC 20 Will negates).\nTundral Swarm (Su) \nAs a move action, a \nmaniitok can surround \nitself with a crawling, \nwhirling tempest of \ntundral debris, \nwhich it can \ndismiss as a free \naction. Creatures \nbeginning their \nturn within the \ntundral swarm are \nnauseated for one round \n(DC 29 Fortitude negates), as the \ndistraction universal monster rule, \nand spellcasters within the tundral \nswarm must make concentration checks (DC 20 + spell \nlevel) or have their spells ruined. Creatures must succeed on \na DC 20 Will save in order to use skills that require patience \nor concentration. Within the tundral swarm, creatures take \na -4 penalty to concentration checks and Perception checks. \nEach round the tundral swarm is active, the maniitok takes \n1d6 points of damage as parts of its substance are literally \nblown away; however, the tundral swarm intercepts many \nattacks intended for the maniitok, granting it a 20% miss \nchance against ranged attacks. In addition, the tundral swarm \ndeals damage to creatures within it based on the ambient \ntemperature; this damage varies depending on whether the \ntemperature is above or below freezing.\nFrozen (below freezing): In colder environments, a maniitok’s \ntundral swarm is mostly shards of ice, hard-frozen ground, \nbits of bone and stone, and driving snow. Creatures within 10 \nfeet of the maniitok at the end of its turn are dazzled until the \nend of their next turn and take 3d6 points of bludgeoning and \nslashing damage and 1d6 points of nonlethal cold damage, \nbecoming fatigued with frostbite as long as they have any \nnonlethal cold damage. \nThaw (above freezing): In warmer weather, this tempest \nis largely comprised of mosquitoes, beetles, and centipedes, \ninterspersed with rocks, uprooted plants, and chunks of \npermafrost. In addition, creatures within 10 feet of a maniitok \nat the end of its turn take 3d6 points of bludgeoning and \npiercing damage. If the tundral swarm is infested with vermin, \ncreatures taking damage from it take 1d4 points of bleed \ndamage and are exposed to red ache. \nBreath Weapon: Once per hour a maniitok can \ndisgorge a torrential gout of its tundral swarm \nas a 60-foot line. This functions as its tundral \nswarm ability within the area of effect but \ndeals double the damage listed above \n(DC 29 Reflex half). In addition, \ncreatures failing their reflex \nsaves are affected by the \nmaniitok’s entrap ability, \nencased in clinging mud, \ncrawling vermin, or \nglazed with ice. \nManiitoks (man-EE-\ntock) are strange and \nsolitary creatures of \nthe northern wastes, \nknown by many \nnames wherever \nthey exist. Some \ncall them palartok-\nmaguyuk, the “silent \nhowlers,” while \nothers name them \nnunataq, “the mountain \nrising from the snow,” but \ntheir common name simply \nmeans “the rugged and desolate ones.” \nManiitoks are amorphous creatures, \namalgamated from the land itself and imbued with \na crude intellect and spirit that craves silent solitude. A \nmaniitok may lie dormant for years, half-buried in a chilly bog \nor forgotten valley, dimly contemplating the proper balance \nof nature and brooding on their forgotten purpose until their \nreverie is interrupted. They use their magic to make their \nhomes as inhospitable and unapproachable as possible. \nManiitoks carry a deep loathing for the din and clamor of \nhumanoid civilization, which grates unmercifully upon their \nhypersensitivity to sound and vibration in a way that the \nambient noises of the empty tundra do not. Their empathic \nlinkage to the land carries even far-distant echoes of every \nblow and cut of hammer, axe, and saw, piercing them with \na needling pain, inflaming in them a destructive rage, and \ncalling them to avenge this insult to the land itself. They destroy \nevery physical trace of civilization they discover, demolishing \nbuildings, tearing up roads, smashing bridges, and slaughtering \nany that get in their way. They can follow even subtle traces of \npatrols and explorers, trailing them back to their outposts and \nlaying waste to all they find in the hope of driving them so far \naway they will never return. Even the sounds of combat can \nsometimes attract the wrath of a maniitok, awakening it from \nits torpor and bringing its wrath down upon combatants on \n\n1111\nboth sides. They are generally tolerant of fey creatures, plants, \nanimals, vermin, and other oozes, but other creatures venturing \ninto a maniitok’s range may soon find themselves face to face \nwith the creature.\nThe true origins of the maniitoks are a mystery even to them, \nsome believing they well up naturally at places of great primal \npower in the North as either a manifestation of nature magic \nor perhaps an accretion of disruptive forces worms away at \nthe natural world like a canker and the maniitok forms as an \nanodyne to heal it. They may also be the literal or figurative \nchildren of Tekkeitsertok, great god of the earth and the hunt, \nmade to keep the wild places wild or formed from the divine \nresidue created where his feet touched the ground. Others \ncall them “tundra spirits,” believing them to be animated by \nthe souls of ancient shamans seeking the quiet solitude of the \nendless arctic wastes, and that their rage is kindled by those \nwho disrupt their silent meditations. Survivors of encounters \nwith maniitoks often describe shifting faces in the frost that \nshrouds them, some seeing just yawning dark pits like eyes and \na gaping maw, others reporting the chiseled features that look \nentirely human. \nIn combat, maniitoks are usually surrounded by a whirling \ntempest of tundral debris, and when they cannot crush or \nengulf their foes or drown them in the muck that perpetually \nsurrounds them, they may hurl torrents of this debris or even \nrocky chunks of their own body mass at them. If confronted \nwith foes it cannot perceive or cannot reach, or if severely \nwounded, a maniitok burrows underground to heal, often \ncovering its retreat with a blinding sleet storm. \nKnowledge Checks: Maniitoks\nAlthough it is an ooze, use Knowledge (nature) to identify a \nmaniitok rather than Knowledge (dungeoneering)\n17\nManiitoks are “tundra spirits” that destroy any kind \nof buildings or other traces of civilization they encounter. \nThey hate fire but do not fear it, and fighting one is like \nfighting a living avalanche. \n22\nManiitoks wield powerful magic of nature but can \nalso engulf and swallow creatures, suffocating them \nwithin their frozen yet fluid oozy substance. They hate \nloud noises and seek quiet isolation, though they \nsometimes associate with fey creatures.\n27\nManiitoks are not spirits but oozes that can burrow through \nthe ground and draw strength from contact with the earth. \nThey are as one with the land, and devastating the earth itself \ncauses them pain and injury, though destroying a maniitok \ncauses its own cataclysmic disruption of the land. \norruol \n \nThis slender but solid woman has an air of distance and cold aloofness, her eyes \nglinting like cut gemstones. Her skin is smooth yet has a faint sheen, with jewels \nbedecking her throat. Her clothing, of a simple and even primitive tribal style, \nseems to flow into a weave of spun crystal before coalescing into a clinking cascade \nof faceted stones trailing behind her as she walks and briefly sprouting from the \nground where her feet alight before crumbling away. \norruol \n \n \ncr 10\nXP 9,600\nLN Medium fey (earth)\nInit +10; Senses low-light vision, tremorsense 120 ft.; \nPerception +18\ndeFeNse\nAC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 18 (+6 Dex, +8 natural)\nhp 102 (12d6+60)\nFort +10, Ref +14, Will +11\nImmune altitude effects, cold, disease, petrification, poison\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., earth glide 30 ft.\nMelee 2 slams +9 (1d6+3)\nRanged 3 magic stones +13 (1d6+4 plus stone’s throw)\nSpell-Like Abilities (CL 12th; concentration +18)\nAt will—ghost sound (DC 16), magic stone, soften earth \nand stone\n3/day—charm monster (DC 20), empowered calcific \ntouch (DC 20), transport via stone (as transport via \nplants, but only through natural stone within 1 mile \nof the orruol’s mountain)\n1/day—commune with nature, earthquake, major curse \n(DC 22)\nOracle Spells Known (caster level 12th; concentration +18)\n6th (4)—move earth, stone tell\n5th (6)—control winds (DC 21), stoneskin, transmute \nrock to mud\n4th (7)—grove of respite, scrying (DC 20), spike stones \n(DC 20), wall of stone\n3rd (7)—call lightning (DC 19), meld into stone, plant \ngrowth, sleet storm, stone shape\n2nd (8)—barkskin, chill metal (DC 18), eagle eye, frigid \ntouch, gust of wind (DC 18), stone call\n1st (8)—call animal, charm animal (DC 17), frostbite, \nfaerie fire, goodberry, speak with animals\n0 (at will)—create water, detect magic, detect poison, \nguidance, light, mending, purify food and drink, read \nmagic, resistance\n\n12\n12\nstatistics\nStr 16, Dex 22, Con 19, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 23\nBase Atk +6; CMB +9; CMD 25\nFeats Blind-Fight, Empower Spell-Like Ability (calcific \ntouch), Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Toughness, \nWeapon Finesse\nSkills Acrobatics +10, Appraise +10, Bluff +10, Climb +24, \nCraft (traps) +10, Craft (gem cutting) +10, Diplomacy \n+10, Intimidate +20, Knowledge (engineering) +10, \nKnowledge (geography) +10, Knowledge (nature) +10, \nPerception +18, Perform (sing) +10, Sense Motive +10, \nStealth +21, Swim +10, Use Magic Device +18\nLanguages Gnome, Sylvan, Terran\necology\nEnvironment any mountain\nOrganization solitary\nTreasure standard (double gems or jewelry)\nspecial abilities\nAlter Altitude (Su) As a full-round action, an orruol can \nadjust the effects of high altitude within 120 feet by one step, \neither making altitude conditions more severe (maximum of \nhigh peak conditions) or less severe (minimum of normal/low \npass conditions). This aura moves with the orruol and lasts \nuntil she dismisses it.\nMysteries of Stone (Ex/Su) An orruol casts spells as \na 12th-level oracle of the stone mystery but selects her \nspells from the druid list rather than the cleric list. \nIn addition, she gains the following revelations: \ncrystal sight (12 rounds/day, see through \n12 feet of earth and stone or 12 inches of \nmetal), mighty pebble (3/day, +12 ranged \nattack, 6d6 damage to target, adjacent \ncreatures take half damage (DC 22 Reflex \nnegates)), shard explosion (3/day, 6d6 damage \nin a 10-foot burst, DC 22 Reflex half), and \nsteelbreaker skin (1/day, 12 minutes, weapons \nstriking take 12 points of damage; if a weapon is \ndestroyed, it deals no damage).\nSpirit of the Mountain (Ex) An orruol is tied \nto her mountain as a dryad is tied to its tree. An \norruol away from its mountain becomes fatigued \nimmediately, becoming exhausted after 1 hour. If an \norruol spends more than 24 hours away from its \nmountain, it dies.\nStone Step (Ex) An orruol’s land movement \n(including climbing) is never impeded by \nnatural or magically-created rubble, scree, \nslopes, or similar rocky \ndifficult terrain, or \nby snow, ice, or wind \neffects. They can still \nbe impeded by liquid \nwater, vegetation, or other \ntypes of difficult terrain.\nStone’s Throw (Sp) When an orruol uses its magic stone spell-\nlike ability, it can hurl all three stones as a standard action. A \ncreature is affected as calcific touch if struck by two stones in the \nsame round, or empowered calcific touch if struck by all three. \nAn orruol is a powerful fey that embodies the spirit of a \ngreat mountain. As befits their high and lofty home, orruols are \naloof and cool towards lesser beings, considering themselves \nmistresses of all they survey. Some primitive tribes worship them \nas goddesses, venerating them for their power, their beauty, and \ntheir seeming immortality. Orruols may or may not acknowledge \nthis worship; some enjoy the attention and may manipulate their \n“worshipers” to serve them in whatever ways they wish. Others \nmay disdain this adulation, ignoring the cries of the faithful and \ntheir pathetic rituals or appearing to collect their offerings with \ndiffidence and mysterious silence before returning to their lonely \nmountaintop haunts.\nOrruols are often friendly with other fey that live on or near \ntheir mountains, and many cultivate the services of animals or \nmagical beasts as servants, especially giant eagles, giant owls, \ngriffons, and rocs. While most orruols live above ground in \ncultivated gardens and wild meadows, some delve into the stony \nheart of their mountain homes in search of isolated cysts and \ngeodes and veins of crystal, and these orruols often have \na pack of 5-10 pech as servants. If orruols choose not \nto delve in their own mountain, however, they are \ntypically very displeased with other creatures that \ndo so and may choose to collapse their tunnels or \nseal them inside the mountain with their magic, \nor may curse or charm them as punishment. \nDelving an orruol’s mountain does not injure \nthe creature physically, but it may be that for \nmost orruols it causes some kind of sympathetic \nspiritual discomfort that compels them to halt \nany disruption to their mountain’s natural state. \nIt is not unheard of for orruols to allow miners \ninto their territory, exacting a high tribute \nand absolute fidelity to whatever rules they \nimpose in exchange for the privilege. Even \nthe tiniest transgression can see the miners \nexiled or enslaved, and few but the greediest \nprospectors are willing to take the risk of \nstriking such a bargain.\nOrruols enjoy the natural beauty of their \nmountain homes, but they often amuse \nthemselves devising clever stonework traps \nthat they craft with their magic to capture \nor kill those that violate their sacred refuges. \nOrruols are not cruel so much as they are \nlargely without pity, seeing themselves \nmerely as part of the harsh order of nature that \nembodies life and death, creation and destruction, \nbeauty and ugliness. They are not wild and \ncapricious as many fey can be, preferring to \nrely on logic and reason, though their tempers \ncan be kindled by those that fail to show \nproper respect and their wrath can \nbe terrible when aroused.\nOrruols are 6 feet tall and \nweigh 150 pounds.\n\n13\n13\nPolevik\nThis aged-looking and filthy dwarf angrily clutches a brace of rusted sickles bound \ntogether with a fine cord. His hair and beard are matted into dangling clumps \nwhile bits of leaves and twigs cling to his dirty armor.\npolevik \n \n \ncr 14 \nXP 38,400\nNE Medium fey \nInit +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, see \ninvisibility; Perception +20\ndeFeNse\nAC 31, touch 13, flat-footed 28 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +12 \nnatural, +1 shield)\nhp 170 (20d6+100)\nFort +11, Ref +17, Will +15; +4 vs. enchantments\nDR 10/cold-iron; Immune poison; SR 25\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft.\nMelee +2 double chained sickle +16/+11 (1d6+11) or +2 \ndouble chained sickle +14/+14/+9/+9 (1d6+8) \nSpace 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with double chained sickle)\nSpecial Attacks constrict (4d6 nonlethal), sneak attack \n(4d6), soul thief, stranglehold, surprise slasher\nSpell-Like Abilities (CL 20th; concentration +23)\nAt will—invisibility, jump, pass without trace\n5/day—entangle (DC 14)\n3/day—tree stride, wall of thorns (DC 18)\n1/day—trap the soul (DC 21)\nstatistics\nStr 22, Dex 17, Con 20, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 17\nBase Atk +10; CMB +16 (+26 grapple); CMD 29 (+39 vs. \ngrapple)\nFeats Acrobatic Steps, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, \nDouble Slice, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Lightning \nReflexes, Nimble Moves, Two-Weapon Defense, Two-\nWeapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Rend\nSkills Acrobatics +16, Bluff +16, Climb +14, Craft (alchemy) \n+12, Diplomacy +14, Disguise +14, Escape Artist +14, \nFly +12, Knowledge (nature) +12, Perception +20, Sense \nMotive +16, Sleight of Hand +16, Stealth +20, Swim +17, \nUse Magic Device +16\nLanguages Common, Dwarven, Sylvan\nGear +3 slick leather armor, +2 double-chained sickle\necology\nEnvironment cold hills, forest, mountains\nOrganization solitary\nTreasure standard\nspecial abilities\nSoul Thief (Su) Whenever a polevik successfully renders a \nvictim unconscious with its stranglehold attack, it can steal \npart of the victim’s soul, robbing the unfortunate target of \n1d4 points of its primary ability score (or highest score). The \npolevik keeps the stolen ability points stored in a fetish for later \nuse, typically for barter or sale to other powerful creatures (see \nbelow). The ability score drain is permanent, however if the \nfetish is crushed and destroyed, the points are released and \nrestored to the victim. \nStranglehold (Ex) A polevik that successfully sneak attacks \nan opponent with its double-chain sickle, a chain, a rope, \nor similar item can choose not to deal sneak attack damage, \ninstead using the item to initiate a stranglehold and begin \nconstricting the victim. Once initiated, a polevik gains a +10 \nracial bonus to his combat maneuver bonus to grapple. The \nconstriction deals 4d6 points of nonlethal damage per round \nuntil the victim falls unconscious or the stranglehold is broken \nor escaped. A polevik also applies his +10 racial bonus to his \nCMD for creatures trying to escape his grapple.\nSurprise Slasher (Ex) During a surprise round, a polevik \ncan move up to its speed and make a full attack with its double \nchain sickle. Poleviks gain a +4 insight bonus on attack rolls \nduring a surprise round.\nPoleviks, sometimes known as gray stranglers, are malicious \nfey creatures possibly related to grimstalkers. Murderous \nassassins, they hunt powerful mortals seeking to steal pieces \ntheir souls for dark purposes. They believe mortals owe their \nsouls to the fey, and seek to reclaim them in order to use \ntheir power to create potent magical effects. They delight \nin strangling their marks and stealing pieces of their souls, \nwhich they then sell off or use to bargain with fiends from the \nlower planes. \nPoleviks maintain many contacts with evil creatures \nof the lower planes. They frequently bargain with these \ncreatures for artifacts and resources that would otherwise \nbe unavailable to the fey. Their contacts also allow them to \nkeep a sort of nebulous peace between these beings and fey \noverlords, perhaps a key reason as to their importance to the \nfey overlords. Despite their occasional usefulness to the fey \nhierarchy, they hold no allegiances and are not (as some would \nportray them) fey avengers. Instead, they take great delight in \ntheir “work”, a quality trait that most other fey find unsettling. \nStill, natives of Otherworld seem to view poleviks as a \nnecessary evil and when dealing with non-fey, they often deny \ntheir existence, chalking them up as fable, bogeymen used to \nhaunt those of guilty conscience. \nMost poleviks favor fighting with a matching pair of \ncrudely forged, rusty sickles bound together at the handles \nby a length of slender rope or chain. Whenever possible, they \nuse stealth to slip behind their targets and strangle them. \nThe chain also allows a polevik to swing his sickles to gain \na 10-foot reach attack, which he can use to attempt to trip \nopponents. If possible, a polevik avoids fair fights, preferring \nto stage ambushes or similar situations where he can catch his \nopponents by surprise or at a disadvantage. They fight dirty, \n \n \n\n14\n14\nusing stealth, trickery, and feints. If faced with obviously \nstrong opponents, these creatures attack only until they \nacquire a portion of their opponent’s souls, after which they \nflee back into the woods. While they may plot to return and \nslay such opponents at a later time, they may just as easily put \na contract on their heads and sell it to a more powerful ally \nfrom the lower planes. \nPoleviks are similar in appearance to deformed dwarves \nwith excessively wrinkled skin and bulbous eyes with sickly \nyellowish irises. At all times, they appear filthy and paint \nthemselves with mud, twigs, and leaves to help them blend into \ntheir environments. \nPolevik fetishes\nCreated from bits of the stolen souls of its victims, these fetishes \ncan provide their owners with the following magical benefits. \nWhile an individual may carry more than one fetish, only a single \nfetish can be active at one time. The individual must display the \nfetish to activate it. Each fetish has a number of charges determined \nby the number of a polevik’s victim’s stolen ability score points. \nPowered by the stolen ability score points, each time the fetish is \nused, a point is drained, thus the charges represent spent ability \nscore points. Unless otherwise noted, once a fetish is activated, its \neffect remains active for 24 hours, after which the effect ends and \none of its charges is expended. Using a polevik fetish is an evil act, \ninadvertent if the user does not know that it is powered by stolen \nsouls but a deliberate act otherwise. Fetishes provide the following \nbenefits as determined by the stolen ability score and the Hhit \nDdice of the creature whose soul was stolenvictim of the theft. \nStrength Fetish: When activated, this fetish grants its user \na bonus to all melee attacks and damage equal to the hit dice \nof the victim plus a number of points equal to the number of \nStrength points stolen. \nDexterity Fetish: When activated, this fetish grants its user \na bonus to Initiative equal to the hit dice of the victim plus a \nnumber of points equal to the amount of Dexterity points stolen.\nConstitution Fetish: When activated, this fetish provides its \nuser with a fast healing rate equal to the half the hit dice of the \nvictim plus the number of Constitution points stolen.\nIntelligence Fetish: When activated, this fetish provides its \nuser with SR equal to 10 plus the hit dice of the victim plus the \nnumber of points of Intelligence stolen.\nWisdom Fetish: When activated, this fetish allows the user to \nsummon an evil outsider as per the spell summon monster with a \nspell level equal to the number Wisdom points stolen and with a \ncaster level equal to the hit dice of the victim. Unlike other fetishes, \nthe summoned creature remains for the duration of the spell only. \nThis fetish cannot be used more than once in a 24 hour period.\nCharisma Fetish: When activated, this fetish grants its user \nthe ability to deflect a number of spells whose total combined \nspell levels are no greater than the hit dice of the victim plus a \nnumber of points equal to the Charisma points stolen.\ndouble Chained Sickles\nThe polvik’s double chained sickle is a two-handed exotic melee \nweapon. The wielder can attack as if armed with a single sickle \nin each hand or extend the chain to make a single reach attack. \nBy swinging the chain, the wielder can whip the sickle about to \ndisarm or trip opponents. Furthermore, if one of the weapons is \ndropped, the wielder can retrieve it with a free action simply by \npulling on the chain.\nPolviks typically enchant their weapons; however the base \nstatistics for a pair of double chained sickles are as follows:\nTwo-Handed Melee Weapon\nCost\nDmg (S)\nDmg (M)\nCritical\nRange\nWeight\nType\nDouble chained sickles\n10 gp\n1d4/1d4\n1d6/1d6\n×2\n—\n4 lbs.\nS\ndouble, reach, trip\nSpecial: If a character wielding this weapon also has the Strangler feat, he can use the weapon’s chain as part of his grapple \nattempt and doesn’t suffer the normal –4 penalty for grappling without his hands free. \n\n15\n15\nTorden\nThis shaggy hunter stands with bow and spear in hand, his long braids and bushy \nbeard tangled and rimed with frost. His leathern helm shades his face, glowing \neyes faintly visible and his breath freezing the air. Cruelly sharp black antlers \ncrown his head, polished to a deadly shine. \ntordeN \n \n \ncr 3\nXP 800\nNE Medium monstrous humanoid (cold)\nInit +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; \nPerception +8\ndeFeNse\nAC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 armor, +3 Dex, +1 shield)\nhp 30 (4d10+8)\nFort +3, Ref +7, Will +5\nImmune cold\nWeaknesses vulnerable to fire\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft.\nMelee mwk lance +7 (1d8+3/x3), gore +6 (1d6+3 plus bleed)\nRanged composite longbow +7 (1d8+2/x3)\nSpace 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with lance)\nSpecial Attacks bleed 1, favored enemy, harrowing horn\nSpell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +5)\nConstant—deathwatch, detect snares and pits\nAt will—faerie fire\nstatistics\nStr 15, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 13\nBase Atk +4; CMB +6; CMD 19\nFeats Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack\nSkills Climb +6, Handle Animal +6, Perception +8, Ride \n+10, Stealth +10, Survival +8 (+10 when tracking), Swim \n+6; Racial +2 Survival when tracking\nLanguages Common, Druidic, Sylvan\nSQ favored terrain, wintry stride\nGear leather armor, masterwork buckler, masterwork lance, \ncomposite longbow (2 Str) with 40 cold iron arrows)\necology\nEnvironment any cold or temperate forest\nOrganization solitary, hunt (2-5 plus 1 giant owl), or \ngreat hunt (6-12 plus 1d4 giant owls and 1 huntmaster); \ntordens are almost always encountered mounted\nTreasure standard \nspecial abilities\nFavored Enemy (Ex) Tordens have ingrained within them \nan almost supernatural hatred for the druids that created their \naccursed ancestors. As a result, they treat any creature with levels \nin the druid class, created or summoned by a druid, or serving as \nanimal companion or cohort to a druid as a favored enemy. This \nfunctions as the ranger class feature, with a +2 bonus.\nFavored Terrain (Ex) Tordens treat both cold and forest \nterrains as their favored terrain, as the ranger class feature, with \na favored terrain bonus of +2 in both types of terrain. In these \nterrains, tordens can attempt to track creatures that normally \ncannot be tracked, including flying or swimming creatures or \ncreatures using abilities such as trackless step or pass without \ntrace, though they take a -10 penalty to their Survival check \nwhen doing so. \nHarrowing Horn (Su) Three times per day as a standard \naction, a torden can conjure and sound a phantom trumpet, \ninspiring himself and his allies as a bless spell and granting \nthem a +10-foot enhancement bonus to their speed while \nstriking dread into his enemies, as bane (DC 13 Will negates). \nEach effect lasts 4 rounds. The bane effect is a sonic, mind-\naffecting effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.\nWintry Stride (Su) A torden’s movement is not impeded \nby natural vegetation, as a druid’s woodland stride ability. In \naddition, their movement is never adversely affected by snow \nor ice, and they can walk across a thin snow crust or thin ice \nwithout breaking through. A mounted torden can share this \nability with a mount one size larger than himself.\ntordeN HuNtmaster \ncr 7 \nXP 3,200\nNE Medium monstrous humanoid (cold)\nInit +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; \nPerception +13\ndeFeNse\nAC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18 (+3 armor, +3 Dex, +4 \nnatural, +1 shield)\nhp 85 (9d10+36)\nFort +7, Ref +9, Will +7\nImmune cold\nWeaknesses vulnerable to fire\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft.\nMelee +1 lance +14/+9 (1d8+7/x3), gore +13 (1d6+6 plus \nbleed)\nRanged +1 composite longbow +13/+8 (1d8+5/x3)\nSpace 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with lance)\nSpecial Attacks brumal bleed, favored enemy, harrowing \nhorn, bleed (1d3)\nSpell-Like Abilities (CL 9th; concentration +12)\nConstant—deathwatch, detect snares and pits\nAt will—air walk (self only), faerie fire, gaseous form \n(self only)\n1/day—call lightning (DC 16), control weather, eagle eye, \nice storm, sleet storm\nstatistics\nStr 19, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 17\nBase Atk +9; CMB +13; CMD 26\n\n16\n16\n\n17\n17\nFeats Mounted Combat, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, \nRide-By Attack, Spirited Charge\nSkills Climb +8, Handle Animal +10, Knowledge (nature) \n+7, Perception +13, Ride +15, Stealth +15, Survival +13 \n(+17 when tracking), Swim +8; Racial Modifiers +4 \nSurvival when tracking\nLanguages Common, Druidic, Sylvan\nSQ favored terrain, swift tracker, wintry stride\nGear masterwork chain shirt, masterwork buckler, +1 \nlance, +1 composite longbow, 40 cold iron arrows\necology\nEnvironment any cold or temperate forest\nOrganization solitary, hunt (2-5 plus 1 giant owl), or \ngreat hunt (6-12 plus 1d4 giant owls and 1 huntmaster); \ntordens are almost always encountered mounted\nTreasure standard \nspecial abilities\nBrumal Bleed (Su) The bleed damage from a torden \nhuntmaster’s gore attack causes a hypothermic chill to spread \nthrough the target. A creature is fatigued for as long as it is \ntaking bleed damage. Once the bleed damage ends, the target \ncan attempt a DC 18 Fortitude save as a full-round action to \nbanish the chill and end the fatigue. The fatigue caused by a \nhuntmaster’s gore does not stack with itself, but it stacks with \nfatigue caused by another huntmaster’s gore or with other \nsources of fatigue.\nFavored Enemy (Ex) As a normal torden, but with a +4 bonus.\nFavored Terrain (Ex) As a normal torden, but with a +4 \nbonus. In addition, a huntmaster takes only a -5 penalty when \ntracking creatures that normally cannot be tracked. \nSwift Tracker (Ex) A torden huntmaster reduces penalties for \ntracking at full speed, as the ranger class feature. \nHarrowing Horn (Su) As a normal torden, but in addition to \nthe usual effects the huntmaster can grant all allies within 20 \nfeet the benefits of air walk, good hope, or haste or can affect \nall enemies within 20 feet as crushing despair, fear, or slow. \nThese effects last for 9 rounds and the save DC to resist any \nharmful effect is DC 16. Only one of these additional effects \ncan exist at a time; if the huntmaster creates a new effect, the \nprevious effect ends for all creatures. \nWintry Stride (Su) As a normal torden.\nTordens are a race of savage hunters of the cold lands born \nof an ancient curse. Their legendary forebears, their names \nnow largely forgotten, were once great hunters themselves but \ntrespassed one too many times into the sacred woods of the \nelder druid circles. Mortally wounded when their erstwhile \nprey turned savagely upon them, and abandoned by their allies \nto their fate, they were taken by the druids to be reforged into \nliving weapons upon their former allies, hunting them as they \nhad once hunted the beasts of the field and forest. They hunted \nwell, terrorizing lands they once ruled and being branded \noutlaws and traitors, but upon returning with the spoils of \ntheir first hunt they saw no reason to stop hunting just because \ntheir creators and supposed masters were in view. Thus, the \ndruids that made the first tordens also fell by the hand of \ntheir murderous creations, loyalty and obedience being of no \nmoment. In time, the tordens forgot all allegiances but to one \nanother. Even their own names were discarded as meaningless. \nThere was only the hunt, and an undying hatred for the druids \nthat cursed him to live for nothing else. \nTordens roam across all the cold lands, from the polar ice to \nthe barren tundra, icy mountain ranges and chilly bogs, but \nit is the boreal forests they love best. They sometimes range \ninto warmer temperate woodlands during the winter, but they \nrarely remain past the coming of spring. Some think them fey, \ntransient spirits of winter’s hunger and cruelty, but they are \nentirely natural creatures for all their unnatural lineage. They \nreproduce by spreading their curse (see sidebar), though rumors \npersist that some tordens can mate with ordinary women and \nthat the children of such unions, always male, will manifest \nthe curse upon reaching adulthood. In either case, most tordens \nhave no qualms about spreading their curse, though they are \ncareful to avoid creating too many hunters with whom they \nwill have to compete. When a group grows too large the two \nstrongest leaders split the clan and go their separate ways to \nensure that every hunter will always have enough prey. Some \ntordens try to turn away from their legacy of death, confining \ntheir hunting to non-sentient beings and never passing along \ntheir curse, and some are solitary and do not pass on the curse \nsimply because they despise the company of others and do not \nwish to share their kills, but most travel in packs. \nTordens are skilled warriors afoot, but they are almost always \nfound mounted. Many use common mounts, such as horses \nor trained elk, sharing their wintry stride ability and allowing \nthem to ride through dense and tangled woodlands and drifts \nof snow and treacherous ice at speeds impossible for most of \ntheir prey to match. Over the centuries since their creation, \nhowever, tordens have also developed a unique and almost \nempathic affinity for giant owls and winter wolves. These \ncreatures are not servants but allies, as the tordens live among \nthem and fight alongside them, using them sometimes as scouts \nor magnificent mounts. They share trophies, treasure, and \nmeals alike with their inhuman comrades, as each understands \nthe other is key to their mutual success in planning and \nexecuting a successful hunt.\nThe greatest and most bloodthirsty tordens become the \nfearsome huntmasters, leading their fellows in the scouring \nof the land and even racing in deadly hunts across the sky \nthrough the winter storms. Huntmasters typically lead from the \nrear of their fellows, raining deadly arrows in the thick of the \nfighting before diving in with leveled lance and tearing horns. \nHuntmasters are primarily focused on their own business and \nmay not concern themselves with PCs unless they interfere \nwith their hunt; of course, the malevolent huntmasters are just \nas likely to be encountered in the employ of someone willing to \npay well to target the PCs.\nKnowledge Checks: tordens\n10\nTordens are expert riders and hunters, able to move \nswiftly through frozen forests.\n15\nTordens blow phantom horns to inspire themselves \nand instill dread in their prey. Their frozen flesh is \nimpervious to cold but they fear fire.\n20\nTordens have a powerful hatred for druids, who \ncreated them with an ancient curse that they can pass on \nto male humanoids they capture and hang among the \nfrozen boughs until the curse takes hold. \n\n18\n18\nvodenjak\nThis gaunt ferryman is dressed in ragged, mud-stained shrouds of blackish green. \nHis gnarled hands grip a stout pole of equal utility for walking or poling a skiff. \nHis eyes are quick and appraising, his hair wild and white, and his smile decidedly \nunpleasant. A jangling roughspun satchel hangs at his side. \nvodeNjak \n \ncr 6\nXP 2,400\nLE Medium monstrous humanoid (aquatic)\nInit +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, \ntremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +13\ndeFeNse\nAC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6 \nnatural)\nhp 68 (8d10+24)\nFort +5, Ref +9, Will +8\nDR 5/silver; Resist electricity 10; SR 17\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.\nMelee shillelagh +11/+6 (2d6+4)\nSpecial Attacks clouting cudgel, soul \ndrinker\nSpell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration \n+12) \nConstant—freedom of movement, speak with \nanimals (aquatic animals only)\nAt will—animal trance (DC 16) (aquatic animals only), \ncharm animal (DC 15) (aquatic animals only), disguise \nself, fog cloud, hydraulic push, shillelagh\n3/day—divination, entangle (DC 15), scry (DC 18)\n1/day—baleful polymorph (DC 19) (aquatic creatures \nonly), bestow curse (DC 18), summon (level 4, 1 giant \nmoray eel, 1d3 giant pike, or 1d4+1 electric eels 100%)\nstatistics\nStr 14, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 15, Cha 18\nBase Atk +8; CMB +10; CMD 23\nFeats Brew Potion, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Vital \nStrike\nSkills Appraise +6, Bluff +10, Craft (alchemy) +10, Disguise \n+10 (+20 with disguise self), Knowledge (geography) \n+10, Knowledge (nature) +10, Perception +13, Perform \n(oratory) +10, Profession (sailor) +10, Sense Motive +10, \nStealth +10, Swim +14\nLanguages Aquan, Common, Sylvan\nSQ change shape (electric eel, giant pike), or giant moray \neel; beast shape II), phantom skiff, riverman’s bargain\necology\nEnvironment cold or temperate freshwater\nOrganization solitary, skiff and school (1 vodenjak and 1–4 \ngiant pike), 10% chance to be encountered with a green \nhag or sea hag (equal chance of either)\nTreasure standard\nspecial abilities\nClouting Cudgel (Su) When a vodenjak threatens a critical \nhit against a Medium or smaller creature with his shillelagh, \nhe can attempt an Awesome Blow combat maneuver in place \nof attempting to confirm the critical hit. If the maneuver \nsucceeds, the attack deals double damage and moves the target \nas described for the Awesome Blow feat. \nPhantom Skiff (Su) As a full-round action, a vodenjak can \nconjure a spiritual barge of sodden logs bound together by ropes \nof mist. This silent skiff functions similarly to the phantom \nsteed spell (AC 20, hp 30), with a swim speed of 80 feet across \nthe surface of the water (including muddy and swampy terrain \nand even areas of solid ground that are 10 feet wide or less). The \nskiff can go underwater at a speed of 40 feet, but it provides no \nair for its passengers, so they must hold their breath. The skiff \ncan hold up to 8 Medium-sized creatures (2 Large, 1 Huge, or \n\n19\n19\n16 Small or smaller) in addition to the vodenjak. The phantom \nskiff is surrounded by a ghostly mist that provides concealment \n(20% miss chance) for creatures within the skiff against attacks \nfrom outside it, and from a distance of greater than 30 feet the \nphantom skiff is 80% likely to be mistaken for ordinary mist \nupon the water. The vodenjak can dismiss the phantom skiff as \na free action. \nRiverman’s Bargain (Su) Once per month, a vodenjak can \ngrant a limited wish to a creature with 7 or fewer Hit Dice. \nHowever, this wish always comes as part of a bargain, and \nthe creature receiving the limited wish must agree to accept a \nlesser geas from the vodenjak, which the vodenjak can invoke \nfrom any distance up to a year and a day after granting the \nlimited wish. This specialized lesser geas does not allow spell \nresistance or a saving throw, and if the lesser geas is removed \nbefore the task specified by the vodenjak is completed, the \nbenefits of the limited wish are immediately ended (or undone, \nif the effect of the limited wish has already ended). If the wish \ncannot reasonably be reversed or negated, the wish recipient \ninstead is affected as bestow curse (no saving throw) when the \nlesser geas is broken. If the target is killed before the lesser \ngeas is completed, its soul is taken by the vodenjak as if it had \nsuccessfully used its soul drinker ability. A vodenjak cannot \nhave more than one riverman’s bargain in effect at a time. \nSoul Drinker (Su) As a full-round action, a vodenjak can try \nto extract the soul of a dying creature adjacent to it, drawing \nit forth as a liquid and storing it in an open container, such \nas a goblet, chalice, or teacup. A target failing a DC 18 Will \nsave is slain and affected as a rest eternal spell. If the target \nis underwater while dying, the save DC increases by 2. If a \ncreature dies by drowning within 30 feet of a vodenjak, it can \nuse this ability as an immediate action and does not need to be \nadjacent to the target.\nOnce the soul essence has been drawn out of the victim, the \nvodenjak can tap into its power at any time as a standard action \nby dipping its tongue into the liquefied soul in the container, \ngaining the benefit of a guidance or virtue spell. Once per day, \na vodenjak can also speak with dead with any creature whose \nsoul container it possesses, and can split the questions between \nmultiple slain creatures; the dead do not receive a saving throw \nto resist this questioning. A vodenjak can also drink the stored \nsoul essence at any time, gaining the benefits of a death knell \nspell, though this frees the trapped the soul and allows the \ncreature to be raised from the dead normally. For any creature \nother than the vodenjak, drinking the soul essence causes the \ndrinker to gain a temporary negative level (DC 18 Fortitude \nnegates) and become confused (DC 18 Will negates), each effect \nlasting 24 hours. If the rest eternal effect is ended, that soul \ncontainer shatters and the soul essence spills out on the ground. \nIf a vodenjak has 10 or more soul containers gathered \ntogether, he can use word of recall to return to that location; \nhowever, this destroys 1d4-1 of his soul containers and releases \nthe souls trapped within, so he is loath to use this ability unless \nhe believes his collection is in danger. He is aware when any \nsoul container is disturbed, as the mental alarm created by an \nalarm spell but with unlimited range as long as the vodenjak \nis on the same plane. Both of these effects apply only if he \nhas line of effect to the containers. This line of effect extends \nunderwater but not inside any kind of container or building; \nhence, a vodenjak’s collections are often hidden in the open on \nremote sand or gravel bars or on tiny uninhabited islets so they \nare not disturbed.\nSoulchemist (Su) A vodenjak can use soul essence to craft \npotions as if it knew all druid spells of 1st to 3rd level. The \ncaster level of a potion created using a soul essence is equal to \nthe Hit Dice of the deceased creature. Crafting a potion requires \n8 hours of work and frees the trapped soul essence. These \npotions retain their potency for one week and then evaporate \ninto nothingness.\nVodenjaks are supernatural ferrymen, sometimes called \nvodnik or vodianow, closely related to hags though always \nexcluded from their covens. Like hags, they often wander in \ndisguise through settled lands, plying their wares and offering \ntemptation to the unwary. Unlike hags, however, vodenjaks \nhave no interest in devouring the creatures they inveigle \nwith their cunning. Instead, they are far more interested in a \ncreature’s soul. \nVodenjaks stay close to rivers, lakes, and marshes, sometimes \nusing their phantom skiffs to speed passengers from place \nto place. They often ask a dear price for passage, and can be \nswift and sure in their transit, but often they will simply ask \nfor whatever payment their passengers wish. Those who deal \ngenerously with a vodenjak will have few problems, but those \nthat seek to cheat or insult him draw his ire and often cause \nhim to disperse the phantom skiff in the midst of a journey, \noften amidst dangerous waters or when hungry aquatic \npredators have gathered about in his wake (including those the \nvodenjak summons himself). \nVodenjaks enjoy riddling talk and may challenge passengers \nto contests of boasting, riddles, or storytelling to pass the \ntime on their journey. They will also offer to read the fortune \nof passengers, telling them what may come to pass. Their \ndivinatory gifts are real, but how much they offer and how \ntruthful they are about what they see depends on their opinion \nof their passenger. The same is true of their offers to craft \nmagical potions, as they may slip poison into the vials of \ncustomers that have angered them. A vodenjak always feigns \nfriendliness and never shows anger outwardly unless he is ready \nto attack. Their powers of temptation go beyond potion-making \nand divination to the granting of small wishes, but always \nbound up with a promise of service on the vodenjak’s behalf. \nAll of a vodenjak’s affable pretensions work to the goal of \ngathering souls, which it collects as others might collect fine \nwines. They use these souls as ingredients in their potions \nand for their personal power, but mostly they love the sense \nof control over mortal life and death, and the satisfaction of \nluring someone into giving up a portion of their soul willingly. \nA vodenjak has the power to seize it by force at the moment of \ndying, but gaining them through guile is far more delicious. \nVodenjaks are very protective of their collections and will attack \nin a fury anyone who threatens to disturb their soul containers. \n\n20\n20\nWiitikowan \n(lesser Wendigo) (Template)\nThe lined and weathered features of this tribal hunter are wracked into a feral \nrictus, as blood drips from his lips and hands, painting the tips of cruel antlers \ntwisting up from his skull. He draws his bow with practiced skill, ready to rain \ndeath upon his targets and commence a bloody feast upon their flesh.\nsavage HuNter \n \n \n \ncr4\nXP 1,200\nMale human ranger (guide) 5\nN Medium humanoid \nInit +1 (+3 in mountains and hills); Senses low-light vision, \nPerception +5 (+7 in mountains and hills)\ndeFeNse\nAC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +2 \nDex, +1 dodge, +1 shield)\nhp 42 (5d10+15)\nFort +6, Ref +6, Will -2\noFFeNse\nSpeed 30 ft.\nMelee mwk battleaxe +8 (1d8+2/[TS]3) and gore +7 \n(1d6+2 plus 1 bleed/19-20)\nRanged mwk longbow, composite +8 (1d8+2/[TS]3) or \nhandaxe +7 (1d6+2)\nSpecial Attacks blood rage, ranger’s focus (2/day, +4 \nattack and damage)\nstatistics\nStr 14, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12 (8 \npoints of Wis damage currently), Cha 11\nBase Atk +5; CMB +7; CMD 19\nFeats Deadly Aim, Dodge, Endurance, \nMobility, Point Blank Shot, Shot \non the Run\nSkills Climb +10, Craft (traps) +7, Handle Animal +5, \nKnowledge (geography) +5 (+7 in mountains and hills), \nKnowledge (nature) +5, Perception +5 (+7 in mountains and \nhills), Profession (trapper) +5, Ride +7, Stealth +10 (+12 in \nmountains and hills), Survival +5 (+7 in mountains and \nhills), Swim +7\nLanguages Common, Halat\nSQ favored terrain (mountains/hills), track +2, trackless \nstep, wild empathy +5\nCombat Gear masterwork composite longbow (STR 14) \nwith 20 arrows, masterwork battleaxe, 2 throwing axes; \nOther Gear masterwork studded leather, masterwork \nbuckler, climber’s kit, masterwork tools (Craft (traps)), 2 \npotions of cure light wounds.\n\n21\n21\nWiitikoWaN dire WolveriNe \ncr 6\nXP 2,400\nCE Large fey (cold)\nInit +9; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +13\nAura unnatural aura (30 ft.)\ndeFeNse\nAC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 Dex, +6 natural, -1 size)\nhp 66 (7d8+35); regeneration 5 (fire)\nFort +10, Ref +10, Will +3\nImmune cold, mind-affecting effects; Weaknesses \nvulnerability to fire\noFFeNse\nSpeed fly 60 ft. (perfect)\nMelee bite +10 (1d8+9/18-20/x3 plus disease), 2 claws +8 \n(1d6+3)\nSpace 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.\nSpecial Attacks bloody bite, disease (DC 18), nightmare \nstalker (DC 14), rage, savage transformation (DC 18)\nstatistics\nStr 23, Dex 21, Con 21, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6\nBase Atk +5; CMB +12; CMD 27 (31 vs. trip)\nFeats Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative, \nMultiattack, Skill Focus (Perception)\nSkills Fly +13, Perception +13, Stealth \n+13, Survival +12\nSQ taste of terror, wind walker\nRage (Ex): When this creature takes damage \nduring combat, at the beginning of its next turn it \nbecomes enraged for the remainder of the combat: Str \n27, Con 25, AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 13, hp 78, Fort \n+12, Melee bite +12 (1d8+12/18-20/x3 plus disease), 2 \nclaws +10 (1d6+4)\nWiitikoWaN mouNtaiN raveN (vulture) \n cr 3\nXP 800\nCE Small fey (cold)\nInit +1; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +13\nAura unnatural aura (30 ft.)\ndeFeNse\nAC 17, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)\nhp 25 (3d8+12); regeneration 5 (fire)\nFort +7, Ref +6, Will +2; +4 vs. disease\nImmune cold, mind-affecting effects; Weaknesses \nvulnerability to fire\noFFeNse\nSpeed fly 60 ft. (perfect)\nMelee bite +7 (1d8+2/18-20/x3 plus disease)\nSpace 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.\nSpecial Attacks bloody bite, disease (DC 15), nightmare \nstalker (DC 12), savage transformation (DC 15)\nstatistics\nStr 16, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 1, Wis 13, Cha 3\nBase Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD +7\nFeats Flyby Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)\nSkills Fly +15, Perception +13, Stealth +15, Survival +13\nSQ taste of terror, wind walker\nA wiitikowan is the result when a living creature is spiritually \nconsumed by a raw and hungry spirit of nature. Most common \nin cold, harsh lands where humanity and its kin sometimes \nteeter on the edge of relapsing into savagery and even \ncannibalism in order to survive, a wiitikowan may also arise as \na result of a powerful curse. In any case, its appearance is wild \nyet haggard, its hair, fur, or feathers matted and its skin scarred \nand tattered (or, in rare cases, completely falling out and leaving \nthe victim utterly bald), scarcely hiding its bulging muscles \nwithin. Its mouth is always bloody as though continually in the \nmidst of a feast of carnage. Its eyes hold a feral supernatural \ngleam and its feet end in bloody stumps or sometimes \nbony claws, the flesh melting away into a cold mist.\nA creature that has begun to succumb to \nthe wiitikowan curse but has not yet fully \nlost their mind and soul may appear \ntotally normal, but will \n\n22\n22\nperiodically be stricken with a hungry blood rage that causes \nthem to undergo a savage transformation, like the savage \nhunter above. At first this change is temporary and the \naccursed creature returns to normal when the transformation \nabates, with no recollection of their actions while transformed. \nIf their curse can be removed before their original mind and \npersonality are utterly gone, they can sometimes be redeemed \nand rescued from their accursed fate. If not, they are doomed to \nhunt as a wiitikowan forever.\nBecoming a wiitikowan\nWiitikowan is an acquired template that can be applied to any \nanimal, humanoid, or monstrous humanoid. Other creature types \nare not subject to the wiitikowan curse. A wiitikowan uses the base \ncreature’s stats and abilities except as noted below.\nChallenge Rating: As the base creature +2 for base creatures \nwithout class levels, spells, or spell-like or supernatural abilities.\nAlignment: Always chaotic evil. \nType: The creature’s type changes to fey. Do not recalculate the \ncreature’s HD, BAB, or saves. \nArmor Class: As the base creature, with a +2 bonus to its natural \narmor bonus to Armor Class. \nHit Dice: As the base creature +2. \nSaves: As the base creature.\nDefensive Abilities: A wiitikowan gains immunity to cold and \nmind-affecting effects. \nSpeed: A wiitikowan gains a fly speed of 60 feet (perfect \nmaneuverability) and loses all other movement types. If its fly \nspeed is faster than 60 feet, it retains that speed. \nAttacks: A wiitikowan gains a bite attack if it does not already \npossess one, and its bite deals damage as a creature one size larger \nthan its actual size, adding 1-1/2 times its Strength bonus to its bite \ndamage. Any other natural weapons it has become atrophied and \nwithered, being treated as secondary natural weapons and dealing \ndamage as a creature one size smaller, adding 1/2 its Strength \nbonus to damage. \nSpecial Attacks: A wiitikowan retains any special attacks of the \nbase creature. In addition, it gains the following special attacks: \nBloody Bite (Ex): A wiitikowan’s bite has a critical threat range \nof 18-20, dealing triple damage and 1d6 points of bleed damage \non a confirmed critical hit. This bleed damage stacks for multiple \ncritical hits. \nDisease (Su): A wiitikowan’s bite carries the disease of wendigo \nfever. Wendigo fever: bite; save Will DC = 10 + 1/2 the wiitikowan’s \nHit Dice + its Constitution modifier; onset 1 day; frequency 1d3 \ndays; effect 1d3 Wis damage plus savage transformation (see \nbelow); cure 2 consecutive saves. \nNightmare Stalker (Su): As a full-round action, a wiitikowan can \nmark one creature within 120 feet as its quarry, allowing it to move \nat full speed while tracking that creature, with an insight bonus \nequal to 1/2 its Hit Dice to Perception and Survival checks made \nagainst its quarry. As long as that creature remains its quarry, the \nnext time the target sleeps it is affected as nightmare (Will DC = \n10 + 1/2 the wiitikowan’s Hit Dice + its Wisdom modifier), though \neach time the target fails its saving throw against this nightmare it \ntakes 1d3 points of Wisdom damage (and does not heal Wisdom \ndamage naturally that day) in addition to the normal effects of \nnightmare. A wiitikowan will typically stalk a victim for 1d4 days \ntrying to wear down its target’s mental reserves before attacking \nand trying to spread its wendigo fever. A creature that has failed \na saving throw against a wiitikowan’s nightmare automatically \nbecomes shaken whenever the wiitikowan is within 30 feet and \nfor 1d4 rounds thereafter, even if it cannot see the wiitikowan. \nA creature that has failed two saves against its nightmare is \nfrightened rather than shaken, while a creature that has failed \nthree saves is either panicked or cowering (equal chance of either).\nIf the target succeeds on its saving throw three nights in a row, \nthe wiitikowan abandons its quarry. Any Wisdom damage remains \nbut the nightmares and their side effects do not recur. It may have \nonly quarry at a time. \nOptional Rule: If using the alternate Madness system from \nTomes of Arcane Knowledge, a failed save adds 1d3 Madness \npoints to the target rather than dealing Wisdom damage. \nSavage Transformation (Su): On any day an infected creature \ntakes Wisdom damage from wendigo fever, the target must make \na Will save (same DC as wendigo fever) or be overcome with an \ninsatiable hunger for the flesh of its own kind, being compelled to \nstalk and kill the nearest creature of its own race and feast upon its \nflesh. After the first bite of its victim, the afflicted creature gains \nthe blood rage, low-light vision, and trackless step special qualities \nand may experience a temporary physical transformation. If the \nafflicted creature normally has a bite attack, it gains the bloody \nbite special attack described above. If the creature is a humanoid or \nsimilar creature lacking natural weapons, it may gain one or more \nprimary natural weapons:\nd% \nResult\n01-25\nno additional attack gained\n26-50\nbite attack gained\n51-70\ngore attack gained\n71-95\n2 claws gained\n96\nbite and gore\n97\nbite and 2 claws\n98\n2 claws and gore\n99-00\nbite, 2 claws, and gore\nThese natural weapons deal damage appropriate for a \ncreature of its size with a critical threat range of 19-20 and \ndealing 1 point of bleed damage (which stacks with bleed \ndamage from any source) on a critical hit. This transformation, \nincluding the blood rage and natural weapon, last for 1d4 hours, \nafter which the afflicted creature returns to normal with no \nmemory of events that transpired while affected by this effect. \nWhen an afflicted creature’s Wisdom damage equals its \nWisdom score, the savage transformation becomes permanent. \nIt gains this template and becomes a wiitikowan forever. Its \nWisdom damage disappears when this occurs.\nAbilities: Str +4, Dex +4, Con +4, Int -4 (minimum 1), Cha -4 \n(minimum 1).\nBAB: As the base creature.\nSkills: A wiitikowan gains a +8 racial bonus to Stealth and \nSurvival. \n\n23\n23\nBoreal Bestiary Paper minis\nFeats: As the base creature. \nSpecial Qualities: A wiitikowan gains the following special \nqualities:\nRegeneration 5 (Ex): Fire suppresses a wiitikowan’s \nregeneration for 1 round. \nTaste of Terror (Su): A wiitikowan can sense the presence \nof fear, becoming aware of the direction and approximate \ndistance of any creature affected by a fear effect within 1 mile. \nIf it is within 60 feet, it can pinpoint a shaken creature’s exact \nlocation as if it had blindsense; this is doubled if the creature \nis frightened, tripled if a creature is panicked, cowering, or \nparalyzed with fear. If the creature is also taking bleed damage \n(or bleeding while dying), all of the above distances are doubled. \nIf a wiitikowan deals damage with its bite to a creature suffering \nfrom a fear effect, the wiitikowan can sense that creature for the \nnext 24 hours as if it had blindsight rather than blindsense. \nUnnatural Aura (Su): Animals do not approach within 30 \nfeet of a wiitikowan unless the animal’s master makes a DC 25 \nHandle Animal, Ride, or wild empathy check. \nWind Walker (Su): A wiitikowan may wind walk at will, \nrequiring only a move action to transform between solid and \ngaseous form. In addition, a wiitikowan’s movement, attacks, \nand senses are never impeded by wind or by natural or \nmagical weather effects, including fog cloud, obscuring mist, \nand sleet storm.\n©2013 Legendary Games. Permission granted to photocopy this page for personal use only.\n\n24\n24\nArctic Harpspider\n\n25\n25\nGreen Child\n\n26\n26\nGruen\n\n27\n27\nHiisi\n\n28\n28\nManiitok\n\n29\n29\nOrruol\n\n30\n30\nPolevik\n\n31\n31\nTorden\n\n32\n32\nVodenjak\n\n33\n33\nSavage Hunter\n\n34\n34\nDire Wolverine\n\n35\n35\nMountain Raven\n\n36\n36\nIs Your Campaign \nLegendary?\nIt Should Be! \nBrought to you by the most creative minds in the business, Legendary \nGames delivers products designed by the very same people that create \nso many of the official adventures, supplements, and hardbacks that you \nknow and love. With a design team of industry legends, superstar de-\nsigners, and the best new up-and-coming talent, you know it’s going to \nbe great. Who better to bring you innovative rules and adventures with \namazing depth and richness to enhance Your Adventure Path or home \ncampaign? No one.\nOur Gothic Adventure Path Plug-Ins are the perfect expansions for any \nhorror-themed campaign, from adventures like The Murmuring Fountain \nand forbidden lore like The Mad Doctor’s Formulary to a full line of mag-\nical and macabre Gothic Grimoires.\nOur Imperial Adventure Path Plug-Ins are ideal for any campaign with themes \nof East meets West. Expand the power of the spirit with The Way of Ki and \nMeditations of the Imperial Mystics, or take a journey Under Frozen Stars. \nAlso don’t miss the Kingbreaker Adventure Path Plug-Ins, our latest line \nof products. From the haunting Cold Mountain, glorious tournaments, and \nan array of supplements to fill any aspiring kingdom maker’s every need.\nCheck our webstore at www.makeyourgamelegendary.com and follow \nus there or on Facebook for the latest product updates, news, previews, \nand promotions for all of our product lines. You can also direct questions \nto MakeYourGameLegendary@gmail.com or pick up our products at \nthe following shops: d20pfsrd.com, the Paizo.com webstore, and on \nDrivethruRPG and RPGnow.\nAny way you buy, you’ll be sure to \nMake Your Game Legendary!\n\nADVENTURE PATH PLUG-INS\nKM04\nADVENTURE PATH PLUG-INS\nBoreal Bestiary\nBoreal Bestiary\nby Jason Nelson, Tim Hitchcock , and Matt Goodall\nby Jason Nelson, Tim Hitchcock , and Matt Goodall\nKM05\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/3rd Party/Legendary Games/Forest Kingdom/Beasts of Legend - Boreal Bestiary.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":185,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new \nDUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter \nAdkison. \n \nThis game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without \npermission of Wizards of the Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, \nplease visit www.wizards.com/d20 \n \nThis is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can \nsanction and run DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com. \n \nDUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, \nDungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other \ncountries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or \nunauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of \nWizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or \nevents is purely coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc and the adventure author or authors. \nVisit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com \nFor questions specific to this document and your region please e-mail your triad point of contact (POC) at \npoc@verbobonc.net for LIVING GREYHAWK campaign questions email rpgahq@wizards.com \n \nVER 5-04 \n \n \n \n \n \nFools Gold \n \nA One-Round D&D® LIVING GREYHAWK™ \nVerbobonc Regional Adventure \nby Gregory Hanigan \nTriad Edit: Chad LaMontagne, Michael Maenza, Vernon L. Vincent \nCircle Edit: Tim Sech \nThe Bridgeforth Inn stands quiet and empty; speakers no longer preach the Brotherhoods message to the populace of \nVerbobonc City. But all is not well; Bub Tympanum is still missing, Uncle Vardis still has not been apprehended, and \nnone who have entered the Bridgeforth have lived. For both lawful and chaotic PCs, this Verbobonc regional adventure \nis for character levels 1 to 14 and the final adventure in the “Fools” series. (APLs 2 to 12)\n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 2 \nRPGA SANCTIONED PLAY \nMost likely you ordered this adventure as part of an \nRPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it \nfrom your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as \npart of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide, \nongoing D&D campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—\nyou must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event \ncould be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a \ngroup of friends meeting at the DM’s house. \n \nTo sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a \nHERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions \nthe event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in \ncharge of making sure the event is sanctioned before \nplay, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then \nreported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The \nperson who runs the game is called the table DM (or \nusually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all the time in \nthe cases of home events) the senior gamemaster is also \nthe table DM. You don’t have to be a HERALD-LEVEL GM \nto run this adventure if you are not the senior GM. \n \nBy sanctioning and reporting this adventure you \naccomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game, \nand you can use the AR to advance your LIVING \nGREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain \nrewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of \nthe DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing \nthis adventure is worth two (2) points. \n \nThis adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play \non December 31, 2006. \n \nTo learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK \ncharacter creation and development, RPGA event \nsanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit \nthe RPGA website at www.rpga.com. \n \nPCS READ NO FARTHER \nIf you are planning on playing this adventure, stop \nreading now. The rest of the information in this \nadventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than \nthis section, you’ll know too much about its challenges, \nwhich kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure \nas part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this \npoint makes you ineligible to do so. \n \nPREPARING FOR PLAY \nTo get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of \nthe following D&D books: Player’s Handbook, Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide, and the Monster Manual. \nThroughout this adventure, text in bold italics \nprovides player information for you to paraphrase or read \naloud when appropriate. Sidebars contain important \ninformation for you, including special instruction on \nrunning the adventure. Information on nonplayer PCs \n(NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated form in the \nadventure text. Full information on NPCs and monsters \nare given in Appendix 1. \nAlong with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA \nTable Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as \npart of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in \nthis sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll \nalso find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR). \n \nLIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS \nOF PLAY \nBecause PCs bring their own PCs to LIVING GREYHAWK \ngames, this adventure’s challenges are proportionate to \nthe modified average character level of the PCs \nparticipating in the adventure. To determine this \nmodified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps \nbelow: \n1. \nDetermine the character level for each of the PCs \nparticipating in the adventure. \nIf PCs bring animals that have been trained for combat \n(most likely dogs trained for war), other than those \nbrought by virtue of a class ability (such as animal \ncompanions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or the \nwarhorse of a character with the Mounted Combat \nfeat, use the sidebar chart to determine the number \nof levels you add to the sum of step one. Add each \ncharacter’s animals separately. A single PC may only \nbring four or fewer animals of this type, and animals \nwith different CRs are added separately. \nSum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the number \nof PCs playing in the adventure. Round up to the \nnearest whole number. \nIf you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that \naverage. \nThroughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of \nchallenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-\nnumbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on \nan odd number, ask them before the adventure begins \nwhether they would like to play a harder or easier \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 3 \nadventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or \nthe lower adjacent APL. \n \nAPL also affects the amount of experience and gold a \nPC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player \ncharacter is three character levels or more either higher \nor lower than the APL at which this adventure is being \nplayed, that character receives only one-half of the \nexperience points and gold for the adventure. This \nsimulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged \nas much as normal or relied on help by higher-level PCs \nto reach the objectives. \n \nFurthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher \nthan the highest APL supported by the adventure may \nnot play the adventure. \n \nLIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL \n2 and higher. Four or five 1\nst-level PCs may find the \nchallenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the \nfollowing to these groups to help increase their chances \nof success: \n1. \nEnlist a sixth player. \n2. \nAdvise PCs to buy riding dogs to help protect \nthem, and fight for them. \n \nTime Units and Upkeep \nThis is a standard one-round Regional adventure, set in \nVerbobonc. PCs native to Verbobonc pay one Time Unit \nper round, all others pay two Time Units per round. \nAdventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12gp per Time Unit. \n Rich Upkeep costs 50gp per Time Unit. Luxury Upkeep \ncosts 100gp per Time Unit. \nAreas of Influence \nThis adventure allows the use of the following influence \npoints for purposes of the Verbobonc Influence \ndocument: \n• \nViscount Langard \n• \nChurches (All) \n• \nWrinkle Academy \n• \nThe Family \n• \nThe Gentlemen of the Watch. \n \nCast of PCs and Locations \nLathmir Amanthsal: A formerly tall, blonde and \nhandsome human, Lathmir had been one of the primary \nproponents of the Scarlet Brotherhood in Verbobonc. \nLathmir died however of his own hand in VER4-06 A \nFools Errand, and was tricked by Uncle Krot into being \nreincarnated. Now Lathmir has become what he despises \nmost; a gnome. The twin shock of his return as a gnome \nand the rigors of reincarnation have broken his mind and \nhe now lives in dementia near the docks where he used \nto conduct business. At the same time Lathmir still \nknows many of the secrets of the Scarlet Brotherhood, \nincluding the password to the Forbiddance that was \nerected at the Bridgeforth. \nUncle Vardis: This Master Monk keeps his graying hair \ncropped so short it is difficult to tell that he’s a Suel. \nHowever this master monk is the primary antagonist of \nthis series. Working behind the scenes Vardis now \ndirects the expansion of the Scarlet Brotherhood in \nVerbobonc. Vardis experienced several set backs in the \npast several months, usually at the hands of the PCs. His \nhand was tipped too early (in VER4-04: Ship of Fools) \nand then his plans to eliminate any possibility of \nreunification were foiled (in VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand). \nVardis of course hates those who are responsible for \nthose setbacks and not only seeks the destruction of the \nRoyal Furyondy Mint, but also the destruction of the \nPCs. \nBubulos Intaglio Tympanum: A retired gnomish \nMaster Sculptor, this elderly gnome is a bit stooped and \nwalks with a cane, but still is filled with energy and \nexcitement about stonework and architecture. Bub has in \nhis long career worked in stone, pottery, and metal, most \nnotably during the restoration of the Verbobonc Guild \nHall, Bub restored a door which leads to the Royal \nFuryondy Mint. He is one of the few people in \nVerbobonc who know of its existence. He is quite \ncomfortable around humans and is not offended when \nthey shorten his already shortened name down to “Bub”. \nBub was kidnapped in VER 4-06: A Fools Errand and has \nbeen kept at the Bridgeforth Inn, while Uncle Vardis \nattempted to extract from him the exact location of a door \nto the Royal Furyondy Mint. \nAvera Wyrt Tympanum: Bub’s wife. A doting gnomish \ngrandmother, she frets about her husband and feeds \neveryone else. \nWatch Captain Caleb: A short and swarthy Rhennee \nwho wears a perfectly groomed Vandyke beard, Watch \nCaptain Caleb grew up working the rivers with the \nRhennee. Hence he is one of the most streetwise \nmembers of the Gentlemen of the Watch. Very little \noccurs in his district of Verbobonc city that he is not \naware of. Although he is not above serving the greater \ngood through a minor evil, he keeps to a strict personal \ncode. Caleb is Captain to over 30 officers of the \nGentlemen in the section of Verbobonc, which includes \nmost of the gnomish quarter and a portion of the \ngovernment district. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 4 \nUncle Krot: A somewhat short, fat, and balding Oeridian \nhuman, Uncle Krot is an accomplished rogue and wizard. \n As an upper management Family member, Krot has been \ngiven the job of troubleshooting the Brotherhood threat \nby his superiors. He bears no particular ill will toward the \nPCs, as long as they serve their use and do not keep him \nfrom performing his job to the Family. \nThe Bridgeforth Inn: A large three-story wooden and \nstone inn with an outside beer garden that serves as a \nbase for the Scarlet Brotherhood’s recruitment and \nvisible presence within Verbobonc City. This building \nwas \na \ndown-and-out \ngambling \nden \nbefore \nthe \nBrotherhood was able to buy it out and fix it up. This Inn \nis located at building #23 on the attached Map of \nVerbobonc City in Appendix #3. \nThe Bridgeforth Cult: A group of several dozen young \nand middle-aged men have joined Lathmir in his \nacceptance and promotion of the Scarlet Brotherhood’s \nphilosophy. These men make up the muscle behind the \nBrotherhood’s attacks upon the gnomes of Verbobonc. \nNow, scattered through the PCs efforts in VER 4-06 \nmany of the cultists have been hunted down by the \nDiscipline section of the Family. The remainder still \nkeeps in contact with the remnants of the Bridgeforth \ncult. \nThe Verbobonc City Guild Hall: Human and gnome \nworkers built this large stone and wood structure shortly \nafter they arrived in the lands of Verbobonc. During \nthose early years it served as a meeting place for the city \nrepresentatives, usually prominent merchants and \nlandowners. It was renovated 40 years ago and now \nserves as an administration building for the city \ngovernment. It is distinguished from other city \nbuildings in that it contains a very secret entrance to the \nnon-dimensional space where the Royal Furyondy Mint \nis located. Bub Tympanum is the workman who carved \nthe crests into the door leading to the mint. Bub is one of \nthe few individuals in Verbobonc outside of the \ngovernment who is aware of its existence. The Guild \nHall is the large octagonal-shaped building just south of \n#54 on the map of Verbobonc City in Appendix #3. The \nrectangle to the east represents the fountain in front of \nthe building. \nThe Royal Furyondian Mint: Verbobonc hosts the \nRoyal Furyondy Mint, the mint which is responsible for \nthe production of all of the gold, silver and copper pieces \nwithin the Kingdom of Furyondy as well as Verbobonc. \nIt is a commonly known secret that the Mint exists \nsomewhere in Verbobonc in one of the extra dimensional \nspaces that exist there. The exact location however, and \nthe way to get into the mint is a tightly controlled secret. \n As noted above, one door leading to the mint is located \nin the Guild Hall and Bub Tympanum knows its \nexistence. Vardis has been, since the end of VER4-06: A \nFool Errand, questioning Bub in order to extract the exact \nlocation of the door from him. \nBefore You Begin \nPrior to the beginning of play please note the player’s \naffiliations to the Gentlemen of the Watch and to the \nFamily. Also please note which PCs have played the first \nand second adventures in this series and if they played \nthe same character throughout. Several of the important \ndetails that take place in this adventure are modified by \nprevious character choices. Please prepare this adventure \ncarefully in order to maintain the flow of the adventure. \nAdventure Background \n \nThe Scarlet Brotherhood has traditionally toppled \ngovernments through stealth and trickery. Even so, prior \nattempts at toppling Verbobonc’s government have \nfailed, and so the Scarlet Brotherhood decided on a more \ndirect approach. The Brotherhood knew that within \nVerbobonc exists the Royal Furyondy Mint and knew \nthat its destruction would lead to widespread turmoil not \nonly in Verbobonc but also in other regions. \nOne of the Scarlet Brotherhood’s agents, Vardis, learned \nthat the mint was located in one of the extra dimensional \nspaces that exist in Verbobonc. Through careful study \nand the research by the Scarlet Brotherhoods mages he \ndetermined that the extra dimensional space functioned \nmuch like a Heward’s Handy Haversack. Vardis \nsurmised that a single person could destroy the mint by \nentering it with a bag of holding, thereby tearing the \nmint into the Astral plane. What he required was a base \nof operations in Verbobonc City to research how he \ncould get into the Royal Furyondy Mint, and enough \nmoney to fund the expedition. He discovered the \nsolution in a Suel spice merchant named Lathmir \nAmanthsal. \nIn the first adventure of this series VER4-04: Ship of \nFools the Scarlet Brotherhood was in the process of re-\nasserting their power within Verbobonc. To accomplish \nthis they utilized a Suel merchant named Lathmir \nAmanthsal, who until recruited by the Brotherhood was \nan unsuccessful spice merchant. Lathmir, along with the \nBrotherhoods representative, an elderly monk named \nUncle Vardis, arrived in Rhynehurst at the same time as \nthe PCs. Circumstances threw the Brotherhood and the \nPCs together and along the way the PCs also had the \nopportunity to meet one of the Families representatives \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 5 \nin Rhynehurst, a fat Oeridian man named Uncle Krot. \nVER4-04: Ship of Fools concluded with the PCs traveling \nwith Uncle Vardis and Lathmir to Verbobonc city, where \nafter an ambush by the Family, Vardis and Lathmir \nescaped into the city with a haversack full of platinum \nbars. \nIn the second adventure of this series VER4-06: A Fools \nErrand, The Scarlet Brotherhood again used Lathmir \nAmanthsal and their wealth (secured in the first \nadventure) to rally a support for their cause within \nVerbobonc, leading to increased tensions between man \nand gnome and occasionally even assaults on the street. \nThe PCs witness one such assault on an elderly Gnome \nnamed Bub Tympanum. Because of their witnessing of \nthe assault, and their possible involvement in halting the \nassault they are approached separately by the Family and \nthe Gentlemen of the Watch to perform several errands \nfor each. Thus, allowing the Gentlemen of the Watch, \nThe Family and the PCs much needed information \nconcerning the plans of the Scarlet Brotherhood in \nVerbobonc. Even so, the PCs actions proved inadequate \nto stop the entirety of the plot from succeeding; although \nsubsequent events (see VER4-07: Reunification) have \nreduced the damage that the plot had inflicted. \nNow in Verbobonc City The Watch and the Family seek \nto root out the Brotherhoods presence. The former \nmembers of the Bridgeforth cult have been dispersed and \nmany have now fallen under the knives of the Families \nDiscipline section. The few remaining who are loyal to \nthe Brotherhood are in hiding or are holed within the \nBridgeforth Inn. The Inn itself now stands as the central \nfocus of the Family and the Gentlemen of the Watches \nefforts, and they have already begun to probe the \ndefenses of the inn. \nUnfortunately for both the Family and the Gentlemen of \nthe Watch in the time since the PCs infiltrated the Inn \nduring VER4-06: A Fools Errand the Brotherhood has \nsubstantially increased the defenses of the inn. Such \ndefenses include a forbiddance spell, which has kept the \nFamily and the Watch from entering the Inn. The two \ngroups now turn to the PCs for assistance in gaining \nentrance to the inn and ultimately destroying the \nBrotherhood’s presence in Verbobonc. \nWhat the Family, the Gentlemen of the Watch, and most \nlikely the PCs themselves don’t know is that the Scarlet \nBrotherhood’s primary purpose in Verbobonc City \ncontinues as planned. Uncle Vardis discovered the \nlocation to an accessible door to the Royal Furyondy \nMint from Bub Tympanum. Now that the Scarlet \nBrotherhood knows the location of the door they can \nwith a portable hole, thereby tearing a hole in the \nmaterial plane and sending Vardis and the Royal \nFuryondy Mint to the Astral plane. Once there the \nScarlet Brotherhood will send several mages and clerics \nto the Astral Plane, scry upon Vardis, and then teleport to \nhis location. The Brotherhood knows that if there were \nany individuals who may follow Vardis to the Astral \nPlane could similarly be scryed upon by the Clerics or \nMages in Verbobonc, and so it is vital for Vardis to \ndefend and kill anyone who follows him through the rift \nto the Astral Plane. \nAdventure Summary \n \nEncounter 1: Is that a hook I see before me? \nCaleb and Krot’s messengers seek out the PCs and \nattempt to get them to meet with Caleb and Krot. Also \nthe Family representative seeks to challenge the PCs and \nsee if the PCs are ready for promotion within the Family. \n \nEncounter 2: Keeping an Eye out. \nCaleb explains that they attempted to arrest everyone in \nthe Bridgeforth Inn. However they have found that the \nInn is protected by a forbiddance spell, and they need to \nfind the password in order to gain access. The Family \nand the Watch then relate that they know a person who \nknows the password, Lathmir Amanthsal, and Krot \nreveals that Lathmir is not in fact dead. During VER4-06: \nA Fools Errand, Lathmir was reincarnated as a gnome and \nnow is living in squalor down by the docks – the \nBrotherhood attempts to scry upon the meeting. The \nPCs have an opportunity to notice the scrying and set \ninto motion the rush to the docks to get to Lathmir \nbefore the Brotherhood does. \nEncounter Three: …Down by the river… \nLathmir is now a wretch of a gnome living in an alleyway \ndown by the docks of Verbobonc. He has over the past \nseveral weeks sunk deeper into insanity, resulting from \nhis reincarnation, his self hatred, his constant fear of \nwhat the Brotherhood would do the him, his contraction \nof filth fever, and the rejection of him by the other \ngnomes in Verbobonc. Shortly after the PCs arrive the \nbrotherhood sends a monk to kill Lathmir. If Lathmir \nsurvives he presents the PCs with an offer they can \nrefuse. \nEncounter Four: The Bridgeforth Inn. \nOnce the PCs receive the password from Lathmir or his \ncorpse they must then assault the Bridgeforth Inn. They \nfind that it is almost completely empty, save for the \nBrotherhood’s guardians. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 6 \nEncounter Five: The game’s afoot. \nOnce the Brotherhoods guardians are defeated Bub \nVreeland, explains to the PCs that Vardis knows about a \nback door to the Royal Furyondy Mint and the exact \nlocation of it within the Guild Hall. Bub explains that \ndestroying the mint is the Brotherhoods ultimate plan. \nEncounter Six: Into the Breach \nThe PCs, provided they move quickly are able to reach \nthe Guild Hall in time to see Vardis enter the doorway to \nthe Mint and pull out a portable hole. The portable hole \ninteracts with the surrounding non-dimensional space of \nthe Mint and the mint as well as a large portion of the \nGuild Hall is sucked to the Astral Plane. \nEncounter Seven: The Royal Furyondy Mint \nVardis and/or his minions fight the PCs on the astral \nplane. \nConclusion \nMembers of the Wrinkle Academy show up on the Astral \nplane to assess the damage and return any survivors to \nVerbobonc. \nIntroduction \n \nThe morning has found you once again in Verbobonc \nCity, and although it seems as though no time has \npassed since the arson attacks and the reunification \nwith the gnomes, the chill air and leaves blowing \nagainst the window of your room are quick to remind \nyou that winter has indeed arrived in Verbobonc. \nIt is therefore understandable considering the cold of \nthe room and the earliness of the hour that you find a \nvisitor less than welcome. \n \nEncounter One: Is this a Hook I \nSee Before Me? \n \nBefore you begin please ask the PCs if they have played \nthe previous adventures and tailor their box text to the \ntype of person they align themselves with. For Neutral \nPCs please inquire if they had any particular preference \nin either Caleb or Krot, once chosen, read the \ncorresponding text for them. \nIf the PCs are affiliated with the Family (or if they are \nchaotic) please read or paraphrase the following. \nWith barely a whisper the door to your room opens \nand a short Rhennee creeps in. Seeing you awake, the \nRhennee straightens and says, “Uncle Krot requests \nyour presence” as he starts throwing your clothes to \nyou. “It’s best if you don’t keep him waiting.” \nPlease ask the PCs for a Spot Check opposed by the \nmessenger’s Sleight of Hand Check as he is attempting to \nlift several gold pieces from the PCs possessions. If \ncaught the messenger claims that he was instructed to \ntest the character by Uncle Krot and that they passed by \nnoticing the attempt. The messenger is attempting a \nbluff so if requested allow the PCs a Sense Motive Check \nopposed by the messenger’s Bluff. If the character is able \nto \nbeat \nthe \nmessenger’s \nBluff \nthe \nmessenger \ncongratulates the character for passing the second test \nthen changes the subject to his upcoming meeting with \nUncle Krot. \nThe rogue doesn’t particularly care to steal from the PCs, \nbut he was instructed by Krot to feel out the PCs for \neither entrance into or promotion within the Family. \nThe rogue then contrived a plan where he would end up \na few gold richer. \nHow the PCs react to this encounter has little relevance \ntowards the experience rewards of the adventure, \nhowever the manner in which they react to the rogue \ndoes determine their rewards in relation to their \ninvolvement with the family. \nAPL 2 \n� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog2; \nhp 12; see Appendix One. \nAPL 4 \n� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog4; \nhp 23; see Appendix One. \nAPL 6 \n� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog6; \nhp 29; see Appendix One. \nAPL 8 \n� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog8; \nhp 39; see Appendix One. \nAPL 10 \n� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog10; \nhp 46; see Appendix One. \nAPL 12 \n� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog12; \nhp 55; see Appendix One. \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 7 \n1. \nIf the PCs fail to notice the Sleight of Hand, or \nfall for the Bluff, their standing with the Family \nis decreased. Their promotion within the family \nor their joining the family is postponed for 6 \nmonths, on the basis that they lack the skills \nthat the family requires. \n2. \nIf the PCs catch the rogue in the act, do not fall \nfor the Bluff and turn the rogue in to the \nauthorities their standing with the family is \nterminated. The Family hates a rat. \n3. \nIf the PCs catch the rogue in the act, do not fall \nfor the Bluff and take it upon themselves to \n“correct” the behavior of the rogue in question \nthrough the use of Bluff, Intimidation, \nDiplomacy, or through the threat or use of \nphysical violence their standing with the family \nis improved. At the end of the adventure they \nare offered membership in the family (provided \nthey meet the prerequisites) or have their \npromotion to the next level of the family \ndecreased by 6 months. \nIf the PCs are more affiliated with the Gentlemen of the \nWatch (or are Lawful) please read or paraphrase the \nfollowing: \nYou wake to hear an argument outside your door. A \nyoung voice, barely broken into adolescence is \ndemanding entrance while an older voice tries to \nexplain the earliness of the hour. Finally the youth \nshouts “I am here as a personal representative of the \nWatch and I will not be denied!” Your door swings \nopen and a child of no more than a dozen years, \nwearing the white tabard of the Gentlemen of the \nWatch strides to your bed. The boy holds out to you a \nsealed letter. “I’ve a letter from Captain Caleb. I am \nto wait for your reply and then escort you to him.” \nPlease hand the PCs the Player Handout #1 containing \nthe text of the letter. Below, for DM aid, is the text of the \nletter: \n“Please forgive my intrusion at this early hour, we of \nthe Watch have discovered a complication in gaining \nentrance to the Bridgeforth Inn that is beyond our \nexperience. Seeing how individuals such as yourself \nare more likely to have encountered such obstacles I \nhave dispatched the junior watchman to your \nlodgings in a hope that you might assist us in \nremoving the blight of the Scarlet Brotherhood from \nVerbobonc. \nPlease make whatever preparations you need, the \njunior watchman is instructed to wait for your reply \nand escort you to me when you are ready. \nSigned, \nWatch Captain Caleb” \nThis encounter has relevance to the PCs beyond acting as \na hook to bring the PCs into the story, the character’s \ndecision to respond to this summons will impact their \nfuture relations with the watch. \n1. \nIf the character refuses the summons please \nrefer to the troubleshooting appendix of the \nadventure, cross off the favor of Watch Captain \nCaleb, and if the character is a member of the \nGentlemen of the Watch their membership in \nthat Meta-organization is terminated. If the PCs \nare members of other lawfully aligned meta-\norganizations word of their refusal filters back \nto their superiors and they are either demoted \nto the next lowest tier or expelled (if already \nthere). \n2. \nIf the character agrees to the summons and \nfollows the Junior Watchman to Caleb they are \noffered Membership in the Gentlemen of the \nWatch (provided they meet the prerequisites) or \nif they are already members their promotion in \nthe Watch is accelerated by 6 months. \nNote: In both cases the messenger is adamant about \nrousing the PCs immediately and hurrying them to meet \ntheir bosses. They will plead with (in the case of the \nGentlemen of the Watch) or chide (in the case of the \nFamily) any cleric or wizard who attempts to prepare \nspells prior to meeting with the Gentlemen or the \nFamily. \n \nEncounter Two: Keeping an \neye out… \n \nPrior to this encounter please familiarize yourself with \nthe rules on scrying both under the spell descriptor and \non page 175 of the PCs Handbook. Note which PCs have \nIntelligence scores greater than 12, note their \nIntelligence bonus and secretly roll their Intelligence \nchecks to notice the scrying sensor. If any of the PCs \nsucceed the required DC 20 Intelligence check, prepare a \nnote stating that they notice the sensor and deliver it to \nthem immediately prior to reading the box text for the \nencounter. \nSince PCs broke into the Bridgeforth in during VER4-06: \nA Fool’s Errand, the Scarlet Brotherhood has taken to \nusing scrying to spy upon Watch Captain Caleb and \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 8 \nother people in Verbobonc. Caleb is quite well known in \nVerbobonc, and in the past the Scarlet Brotherhood \nprocured a lock of Caleb’s hair, one of his tunics, and a \ndrawn picture of him. Because of these items Caleb’s save \nagainst the scrying check is -13. Please roll the check, if \nhe succeeds, then the Brotherhood attempts to scry the \nmembers of the party, starting with the fighters and \nmoving on to rogues and other low will save targets. \nTo determine the scry penalty for each PCs save note \nwhich PCs have played the previous adventures VER4-\n04: Ship of Fools or VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand. If the PCs \nplayed either of the two previous adventures there is a \n50% chance per adventure that the Scarlet Brotherhood \nwas able to procure a body part, lock of hair, or bit of nail \nresulting in the PCs taking a -10 to their roll. \nIf the Brotherhood fails completely in starting their scry, \nplease follow the encounters as written but note that the \nMonk / Assassin does not strike at Lathmir, and instead is \ninserted into Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn. \nDependant upon the lawful/chaotic lean of the character \nplease read the associated box text. If a character is \nneutral please read the associated box text with the \ncharacter his or her character is traveling with. \nRead or paraphrase the following to the PCs who \nreceived the lawful text in Encounter One: \nThe junior watch member leads you through streets \ncrowded with early morning laborers to the Watch \nstation. Without pausing the boy passes through the \nfront building and into the rear courtyard. Waiting \nfor you there, under the thatched roof of the stable, is \nWatch Captain Caleb. \nRead or paraphrase the following to the PCs who \nreceived the chaotic text in Encounter One: \nThe Family member leads your group through the \nquiet back alleys of Verbobonc, to a pair of huge \ndouble doors, in which is set a smaller door with a \nbrass lock. As you arrive, a fat Oeridian man steps out \nof the shadows and with a grin to your group he \ngrazes his hand over the bronze lock. A soft click is \nheard and the door swings open as Krot motions for \nyour group to enter. \nOnce the two groups are together please read or \nparaphrase the following: \nBelow the thatched roof of the stable Caleb greets \nyou. “Thank you for coming so quickly. As you most \nlikely are aware the Scarlet Brotherhood has been \nattempting to build support here in Verbobonc. \nUsing a spice merchant as a front they infiltrated, \nbought a base of operations and began to drive a \nwedge between the men and gnomes of Verbobonc \nCity. With your help we were able to foil that plan.” \n“We had thought that the threat had been dealt with, \nbut it appears the Scarlet Brotherhood still has some \ntricks up their sleeves. So here is what we know, our \ndivinations have revealed that they hold Bub \nTympanum in the Inn. We believe that Vardis is \nthere too. And we know that they have improved \ntheir defenses, we discovered when we tried to raid \nthe Bridgeforth…” \n“They have a forbiddance spell up,” Uncle Krot says as \nhe leans out of the shadows, “It’s more powerful than \nany I’ve seen, and none here in the city have been \nable to dispel it.” \nCaleb nods “But we know that the Brotherhood \nwould not raise such a powerful abjuration without \nproviding for members who had not completely \naccepted their beliefs. So we think that they allowed \nfor a password. And we think we know who knows it, \nand where he can be found.” \nAt this point, provided Caleb failed his save against \nscrying and one or more of the PCs succeeded in their \nDC 20 Intelligence check to notice the sensor, please \nwrite a note stating that they notice the scrying sensor in \nthe upper eaves. Hand the note to one or more of the PCs \nthat succeeded, and immediately begin to read the \nfollowing, Allow any player who noticed the scrying to \ninterrupt the box text. \nUncle Krot leans forward, “Lathmir is alive. We \ntricked him into accepting a reincarnation from a \ndruid of Bralm and now he’s a wretch of a gnome \nliving down by the docks.” Krot gives a small, \nsatisfied smile. “Since little Lathmir was the person \nin charge of recruitment for Brotherhood in \nVerbobonc we’re pretty sure that he knows the \npassword. So get to him before the Brotherhood does, \nthen use the password to raid the inn.” \nNote: Caleb is not happy about working with Krot in \nconfronting the Scarlet Brotherhood. However he \nrecognizes that Krot knows far more than he does about \nthe Brotherhood’s plans and capabilities. Caleb also \nrealizes that the Gentlemen of the Watch are ill equipped \nto take on the Brotherhood. He therefore has agreed to \nallow Krot to provide information and resources to \ncombat this obvious menace. Accepting assistance from \nPC’s who are obviously rogues and not aligned with the \nforces of Law is part of the minor wrong for a greater \nright that Caleb has come to terms with. If any of the \nPC’s feel similarly indignant about receiving assistance \nfrom an unlawful organization like the Family Caleb \ncommiserates, but takes the character aside and plead \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 9 \nwith him that “The oldest and best known evil was ever \nmore supportable than one that was new and untried.” \nKrot on the other hand is gleefully rubbing watch \nCaptain Caleb’s face in the fact that the Gentlemen of the \nWatch require help from the Family. He instructs any \nchaotic individual who may question working with the \nlaw to perform the service as a personal favor to him. \nTroubleshooting: Please refer to the following \ninstructions for resolving this encounter: \nKrot! Did you feel that? No? If the Brotherhood failed \nin their scry attempt on Caleb, all of the PCs, and Krot \nthen the Brotherhood does not know of Lathmir’s \nexistence. Note that the Monk is not dispatched to kill \nLathmir and appears in Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth \nInn. Proceed to Encounter 3 …Down by the river… \nKrot! Wait!: If the PCs interrupt Krot before he was \nable to say “Lathmir is alive” and are able to dispel the \nscrying, or keep Krot quiet then the Brotherhood does \nnot know that Lathmir is alive. Note that the Monk is not \ndispatched to kill Lathmir and appears in Encounter 4: \nThe Bridgeforth Inn. Proceed to Encounter 3 \n…Down by the river… \nKrot! They Know!: If the PCs knew the Brotherhood \nwas scrying on them but were unable to keep Krot from \nspeaking Krot is furious, turning to Caleb and \ndemanding to know “just what kind of idiot did he get to \nsecure this location” Krot then tells the PCs that they \nmust hurry to the wharfs and find Lathmir before the \nmonk does. Proceed to Encounter 3 …Down by the \nriver… \nKrot! Thanks!: Provided Caleb or one of the PCs failed \ntheir save against the scrying and none of the PCs \nnoticed the sensor, then the Brotherhood learns of \nLathmir’s existence and location. They send the Monk / \nAssassin out to kill Lathmir before he is able to tell the \nPCs anything. Proceed to Encounter 3 …Down by the \nriver…. \n \nEncounter Three: …down by \nthe river… \n \nNotes: If the PCs detected the scrying and were able to \nstop Krot, or if the Brotherhood failed in their scry \nattempt then no attack from the monk occurs in this \nencounter. Please note that the monk if he is not \nincluded in this encounter he remains at the Bridgeforth \nInn and is encountered in Encounter 4: The \nBridgeforth Inn. \nLathmir has been living in this alley since Uncle Krot let \nhim go after tricking him into accepting a reincarnation \nfrom a Druid of Bralm. He is quite insane and lives in \nconstant fear that the Brotherhood may find out that he’s \nalive and kill him, or that Uncle Krot changes his mind \nand decides to kill him, or somebody finds out that he’s \nnot a gnome (a distinct possibility since he does not \nspeak gnomish) at all but rather was the Suel merchant \nwho so viciously denounced the gnomes and Rhennee \nand decides to kill him. This fear, along with the twin \nshocks of reincarnation and his own hatred of himself \nhas led to his current state. \nStill, Lathmir has a mad hope that he might regain his \nracial heritage through procuring a wish or a miracle, and \nso in anticipation of that day he has kept busy by \nritualistically reciting the full teachings of the \nBrotherhood. His madness has extended to writing the \nrhymes of the lessons on the walls of his crate and \nscratching them into his own flesh. Partly due to this \nself-mutilation and the fact that Lathmir has been \ndrinking Rhennee rotgut he had contracted filth fever \nabout 2 weeks ago. The illness has ravaged his gnomish \nbody and has dramatically reduced both his dexterity and \nhis constitution. His reduced statistics are listed in \nbrackets Appendix 1: NPCs. \nWhen the PCs arrive at the alley where Lathmir has been \nliving read or paraphrase the following: \nThe wharfs of Verbobonc City are renowned for their \nrat infestation. Even so, the alley where you find \nLathmir \nAmanthsal \nwould \nnot \nbe \nconsidered \nhabitable even by sewer rats. Standing in the street \nyou can smell the stench of vomit and alcohol wafting \nout of the dark alley. \nAllow the PCs to prepare themselves in whatever way \nthey wish and read or paraphrase the following once they \nenter the alley. \nThe short alley ends in a haphazard stack of empty \ncrates between two warehouses. The bottom most \ncrate lies open, the emaciated form of a gnome can be \nseen in the recesses, slumped against the side of the \ncrate. \nBlearily the gnome gazes up at you as you approach. \nRed rimmed eyes beneath greasy hair scarcely \nregister your presence as he drops an empty bottle of \nrotgut and stretches out a hand. \n“Spare a bit of coin for a—gnome—whose fortunes \nhave faded?” The gnome slurs out as his eyes focus on \nyour group. Recognition then fills his face and fear \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 10 \nfills his voice “No. No, you can’t. I’m not me yet. I’m \nnot me… I must be me before I die. I can’t die like \nthis”. \nAny player who specifically mentions he is keeping an \neye out or who was warned in Encounter 2 of the danger \nmay make a spot check at this time, opposed by the Hide \nand Move Silently check by the Monk Assassin who is \napproaching via the roof of the Northern warehouse. \nBefore arriving he has taken the precaution of drinking a \npotion of sneaking and a potion of invisibility, along with \nhis standard buffs. His improved hide and move silently \nskill modifiers are included in brackets in the stat block. \nIf any of the PCs succeed in hearing or spotting the \nMonk roll Initiative and proceed with the encounter as \nlaid out in the Tactics section. Otherwise continue with \nthe following: \nLathmir crawls drunkenly through the broken bottles \nand refuse that litter the ground to where you stand. \nRising to his feet the Gnome begins to plead. “Please. \n Please don’t kill me. I don’t want to die a little filthy \nrotten grubby mole—I want to be me. Vardis said \nhe’d bring me back as me...” \nAt this point, if he remains undetected, the Monk strikes. \n Lathmir is flat footed and unarmored so his AC is 11. \nThe monk is above Lathmir and so receives a +1 to his \nattack. If the monk misses on his first attack, roll \ninitiative and resolve the combat, noting that the Monk \nAssassin is primarily there to kill Lathmir. \nALL APLs \n�Lathmir Amanthsal: male gnome Ari6; hp 42 \n(Currently 18); see Appendix One. \n \nAPL 2 (EL 2) \n�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk2; hp 29 [33]; \nsee Appendix One. \n \nAPL 4 (EL 4) \n�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk4; hp 45; see \nAppendix One. \n \nAPL 6 (EL 6) \n�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk6; hp 61; see \nAppendix One. \n \nAPL 8 (EL 8) \n�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk8; hp 77; see \nAppendix One. \n \nAPL 10 (EL 10) \n�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk10; hp 93; see \nAppendix One. \n \nAPL 12 (EL 12) \n�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk12; hp 109; see \nAppendix One. \n \nTactics: The monk approaches from the rooftops, \nthereby blocking his approach from view of the party if \nthey are standing in the alleyway. Please note this \napproach since some parties may cast see invisibility or \ninvisibility purge. Furthermore the monk has taken the \nprecaution of drinking numerous potions prior to arrival, \nand is focused upon his mission – killing Lathmir. The \nmonk, if he is spotted prior to his ambush attack, \napproaches on his turn and attacks Lathmir exclusively \nuntil he is dead, using all of his poisoned shuriken on \nLathmir. Once this is accomplished the Monk will then \nattempted to retreat. If necessary he incapacitates or kills \nanyone who engages him. If the monk is successful in \nescaping he appears again in Encounter 4: The \nBridgeforth Inn. \nTreasure: \nAPL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 4: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character) \nAPL 6: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp \nper character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 8: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp per \ncharacter); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character) \nAPL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp \nper character); vest of resistance +2 (333 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +3 (750 gp \nper character); vest of resistance +3 (750 gp per \ncharacter). \n \nTroubleshooting: \nLathmir is Killed \nProvided that the monk is successful in killing Lathmir, \nread or paraphrase the following: \nLathmir falls to the ground as he screams racial \nepithets at your party. Then, as the poison spreads he \narcs his back, his limbs twisting in pain. Lathmir’s \nface contorts into a grotesque grimace as the gnome \ncollapses to the ground and falls still. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 11 \nOnce the monk succeeds in killing Lathmir he attempts \nto incapacitate or kill any obvious archers, and then \nretreat. The monk uses his superior movement to \noutdistance the PCs. If the monk is successful in escaping \nhe reappears in Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn. \nPlease note however that at that time the monk lacks the \npoison shuriken and most of the low duration spells he \nhad prepared himself with. \nLathmir is Not Killed \nRegardless of how, if Lathmir survives this encounter he \npleads for his life until it becomes obvious that the PCs \nare not there to kill him. He will attempt to find out \nwhat the party wants with him. If the party informs \nLathmir that they require the password to the \nBridgeforth Inn, Lathmir’s demeanor changes. Lathmir \nwill slyly offer to provide the PCs with the password, but \nonly if they arrange for a wish or a miracle to be cast on \nhim; thereby returning him to his original Suel body. \nPlease refer to the Troubleshooting section: An offer you \ncan refuse below for resolving this potentiality \nAn offer you can’t refuse \nIf the PCs are able to negotiate with Lathmir please read \nor paraphrase the following: \nLathmir’s eyes narrow as a sly smile crosses his face. \n“You are adventurers; your travels take you far and \nwide.” Lathmir giggles to himself. “I will help you. \nIn return you will swear an oath that you will use the \nfirst wish or miracle you receive to restore me to my \nnoble Suel heritage; and but until you do you support \nme in living the humble life of a filthy rotten stinking \ngnome. I will require but 12 wheat a week from \nyou—do you swear this?” \nIf one of the PCs agrees, all party members receive \n“Restore Lathmir” on the AR. While only one \nindividual character need agree to support Lathmir in \norder for him to provide that individual character with \nthe password, Lathmir attempts to garner 12gp per \ncharacter. Whether the character that agrees to support \nLathmir wishes to share the password with his \ncompatriots is up to the individual character. \nThe PCs may of course break their word to Lathmir; if \nthey do, they receive “Lathmir’s wrath” on the \ncharacter’s AR. Furthermore if the person who broke his \nword to Lathmir is lawful in alignment breaking their \nwork has the additional effect of moving their alignment \nto Chaotic. The shift is permanent; PCs whose class \nabilities are dependent upon alignment lose those \nabilities until they resume support of Lathmir and pay for \nan Atonement spell. Furthermore any character that \nreceives “Lathmir’s wrath” suffers under a -2 penalty on \nall charisma interactions with gnomes in Verbobonc, due \nto Lathmir’s loud protestations against them. \nAn offer you can refuse \nIf the PCs refuse to deal with Lathmir or if Lathmir is \ndead they might still infer the password through \nsearching the area or Lathmir’s own body for the \nBrotherhoods rhymes that Lathmir has been passing his \ntime in writing. However if Lathmir is alive while the \nPCs attempt to search the area he flies into a rage and \nattempts to smear his scribbling. Unless the PCs kill him, \ngrapple him, or otherwise render him unconscious he \ncontinues to smear filth over his scribbling making them \nillegible. Individuals who do attempt to grapple of \nincapacitate Lathmir may contract filth fever. Please \nrefer to the Dungeon Masters Guide for rules on diseases \nand incubation time. \nThe following rhyme can be found repeatedly scrawled \nupon the walls of the alleyway and the crate where \nLathmir has been staying: \nFor this is the command of our race; \nto forward the destiny of the Suel. \nTo put each within its proper place \nAnd through this enforce our lawful rule. \n \nThe following rhyme has been scratched into Lathmir’s \narms, torso, and chest. It requires a DC 10 Wisdom check \nto reassemble the rhyme from the bits of text. \nIn the Brotherhood of the Suel, \nthe mirror of chaos is how we rule. \nHeaven’s first law guides our hand, \nenforcing our destiny upon the land. \n \nThe subject of both these rhymes is “Order” which is the \npassword for entering the Bridgeforth. It is also the \nshortened version of the first tenet of the Scarlet \nBrotherhood. Below are the 3 tenets of the Scarlet \nBrotherhood and a list of knowledge rolls to remember \nsome or all of the information. \nA DC 15+APL Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge local \n(Splintered suns) allows a character to remember the text \nof the three tenets of the Scarlet Brotherhood The DC for \nthis check is reduced by 5 if the character in question is \nSuel. The DC is reduced by an additional 5 if the \ncharacter in question played either VER4-04: Ship of \nFools or VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand or if the character has \nplayed any core adventure featuring the Scarlet \nBrotherhood. \nThe Three Tenets of the Scarlet Brotherhood: \n \nThe Destiny of the Suel \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 12 \n \nThe Bonds of the Brotherhood \n \nThe Words of the Fathers \nA DC 20+APL Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge Local \n(Splintered Suns) allows a character to remember the \nexplanation behind the three tenets of the Scarlet \nBrotherhood. The DC for this check is reduced by 5 if \nthe character in question is Suel. The DC is reduced by a \nfurther 5 if the character in question played either VER4-\n04: Ship of Fools or VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand or if the \ncharacter has played any core adventure featuring the \nScarlet Brotherhood: \nThe Destiny of the Suel: Do not take actions that slow \nthe Suel people on the path to their true destiny \nThe Bonds of the Brotherhood: The Brotherhood has a \nshared birthright. Behold their superiority above the \nslave races. \nThe Words of the Fathers: Acknowledge the authority \nof your superiors and obey their commands. \nA DC 25+APL Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge local \n(Splintered suns) allows a character to remember the \nterm “Order, Purity, Obedience.” being the shortened \nversion of the central tenets of the Scarlet Brotherhood. \nThe DC for this check is reduced by 5 if the character in \nquestion is Suel. The DC is reduced by an additional 5 if \nthe character in question played either VER4-04: Ship of \nFools or VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand or if the character has \nplayed any core adventure featuring the Scarlet \nBrotherhood. \nThe shortened Tenets of the Scarlet Brotherhood: \nOrder, Purity, Obedience \nThese DC’s can also be used in relation to any Bardic \nKnowledge checks or Gather Information checks the PCs \nmay wish to try, if for instance they choose to research \nthe Scarlet Brotherhood at the Wrinkle Academy, the \nVerbobonc Library, etc. Please use your discretion in \nadjudicating the PCs choices, but keep in mind that the \nScarlet Brotherhood is a secretive organization and their \nteachings are rarely shared with those they consider not \nto be worthy of them. \nEncounter Four: The \nBridgeforth Inn \n \nThis encounter is an open chance for the PCs to develop \ntheir own strategy for gaining entrance to the \nBridgeforth. Please allow the PCs to discuss at length \ntheir plans, their preparations, and whatever outside \nassistance (i.e. Spell casting and equipment from nearby \ntemples or meta-orgs) they wish to call upon. \nFurthermore some PCs may feel that they do not require \nthe password in order to enter the Bridgeforth Inn. They \nare correct. If they wish, the PCs are perfectly able to \nenter the Bridgeforth without first saying the password \nand take the full damage from the forbiddance spell. \nSimilarly the PCs may attempt to dispel the forbiddance \nspell, please refer to the notes further in this encounter \nfor adjudicating dispel effects. \nWhenever the PCs decide to approach the Bridgeforth \nInn please read or paraphrase the following. \nThe Bridgeforth Inn stands silent in the cold winter \nair. Its windows shuttered and doors closed, a few \nremaining leaves billow around the empty beer \ngarden. Some distance away the Gentlemen of the \nWatch has cordoned off the Inn from the street and \nnumerous bowmen stand at the ready, their eyes \nintensely searching the upper floors of the Inn for a \ntarget. A covered wagon with a pair of lit braziers \nstand to the side, around which stand Watch Captain \nCaleb and a short, fat Oeridian man dressed as a friar \nof St. Cuthbert \nCaleb warmly greets the PCs, motioning him to join him \nat the fire and warm themselves. Caleb then asks them if \nthey were able to find out anything about Lathmir or find \nthe password to the Bridgeforth. Krot is warming \nhimself next to one of the braziers, disguised as a fat \nOeridian Priest of St. Cuthbert. If anyone asks him why \nhe’s dressed as Cleric he replies with mock sincerity that \nhe is a follower of St. Cuthbert and is visiting Caleb as an \nobserver from the church. This is of course a bald faced \nlie but one which all of the local watchmen have \nbelieved. Caleb, of course, does not appreciate the \ndeception, but since explaining the presence of a known \nmember of the Family at a Gentlemen of the Watch \nstaging area would be very difficult and time consuming \nhe is willing to hold his tongue. Furthermore, Caleb has \nmore pressing matters, and is willing to live with the \ninsult of a Family member posing as a lawful Cleric. \nCaleb has little to offer the PCs other than what he had in \nEncounter 1. But promises them that if any of the \npeople they feel are in the Bridgeforth attempt to flee \ntheir archers will cut them down. \nThe Bridgeforth inn floor plans are included in \nAppendix #3 Maps; please refer to those maps when \nplotting the PCs progress in their assault on the Inn. \nNote: If the monk from Encounter 3 was either not \ndispatched or was able to escape he will be with the \nBridgeforth Defender in this encounter. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 13 \nBridgeforth Inn Structural Notes \nThe Bridgeforth Inn is a solidly constructed stone and \nwood building similar to the Tudor style. The ground \nfloor is constructed of slate and mortar. The second and \nthird floors are constructed of heavy wooden beams \nbetween which is white painted daub and wattle. The \nroof consists of slate shingles covering a wood frame. \nThis construction presents a few difficulties for the PCs. \nBecause the first floor of the building is mortar and slate \nit is not greatly affected by a stone shape spell. Similarly, \nbecause the stone is worked, soften earth and stone has \nno effect, although allow PCs capable to cast such spells \nto know this. On the upper levels warp wood spells can \nbe cast on individual beams, however due to the heavy \nconstruction warping the outside beams does little than \nopen gaps between the wattle and daub walls. Warp \nwood springs windows from their sills 50% of the time or \nseals them shut the other 50%. The front doors being \nbarred from the inside are always stuck shut if warp wood \nis cast on them or the frames. Wood shape is similarly \nhampered from the daub and wattle construction, \nhowever removing the wood from the inside of the walls \nsignificantly weakens that area of the wall. \nThe roof of the building consists of worked slate shingles \nso soften earth and stone and stone shape spells do not \naffect them, although stone shape can remove the \nshingles leaving the roof bare, save for the wooden \nplanking. \nThe following is a list of the hardness/hit points for the \nvarious sections of the Bridgeforth Inn: \n�Front Door (strong wooden door): hardness 5; hp 20; \nBreak DC 23. \n�Ground Floor (slate and mortar): hardness 8; hp 90. \n�Second and Third floor (daub and wattle): hardness \n5; hp 35. \n�Roof (Slate over wood): hardness 8; hp 15 for \nshingles; then hardness 5 and hp 10 for the roof itself. \n�Windows: All windows have a hardness of 1 and 1 hit \npoint. \nDuring the Scarlet Brotherhoods residence at the \nBridgeforth they have improved the defenses off the inn. \n Because of these additions the inn radiates strong \nEvocation and Abjuration magic. \nThe unhallow \nThe inn is under the effects of an unhallow spell. This \nspell provides the effects of a magic circle of good on all \nof the evil individuals inside the Inn. These effects to the \nindividuals are listed in parentheses in the individual stat \nblock. The effect of the unhallow is a freedom of \nmovement spell attached to it. Anyone that shares the \nBrotherhood philosophy and is Lawful Evil benefits from \nthis spell. \nThe forbiddance \nThe inn has forbiddance spell cast upon it. The \nforbiddance spell that is in place at the Bridgeforth is a \nprecaution put into place after the inn was broken into \nduring VER4-06: A Fools Errand. One of the particulars \nof the forbiddance spell is that it cannot be dispelled by \nanyone who has a caster level lower than the person \ncasting the spell. Knowing this, the Scarlet Brotherhood \nsent to Verbobonc one of their Arch Clerics, who cast the \nforbiddance spell. \nAPL 2-8: The forbiddance allows entry of people of \nLawful Evil alignment or those who speak the command \nword before they enter. The damage for Lawful Neutral \nindividuals failing their save is 6d6, for all other \nindividuals the damage is 12d6 (Will Save for half \ndamage DC 19) Caster level of the forbiddance spell is \n13th. \nAPL 10-12: The Brotherhood took further steps to block \nentry. First they cast their forbiddance while using a \nstrand of prayer beads and a candle of invocation in order \nto boost the caster level of the person casting the spell to \n21\nst level. It should therefore be very hard for the PCs to \nexceed the Caster Level requirement in order to dispel \nthe forbiddance. Furthermore, the Brotherhood further \nbolstered their forbiddance by empowering the spell, \nthereby dealing 6d6x1.5 points of damage for PCs Lawful \nNeutral and 12d6 x 1.5 for PCs of any other alignment. \nPlease note this; since PCs of these APL’s may decide they \nhave little trouble surviving the damage from the \nforbiddance and ignore the request from Caleb to find \nout the password from Lathmir. \nFinally, the Mystic Theurge defender has added a refusal* \nspell to the Bridgeforth defenses. This spell specifically \nblocks spell casters and individuals with spell like \nabilities from entering. Furthermore the Will save to \novercome the effect of the spell is modified by the \nhighest level spell slot or the caster level of the spell like \nability the character has. Appendix One lists the Will \nsave DC for the spell. See Appendix Two for details on \nthe refusal spell. \nAPL 2 (EL 5) \n�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr5; hp 37; see \nAppendix One. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 14 \n \nAPL 4 (EL 7) \n�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr7; hp 64; see \nAppendix One. \n \nAPL 6 (EL 9) \n�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe3; \nhp 63; see Appendix One. \n \nAPL 8 (EL 11) \n�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe5; \nhp 75; see Appendix One. \n \nAPL 10 (EL 13) \n�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe7; \nhp 87; see Appendix One. \n \nAPL 12 (EL 15) \n�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe9; \nhp 99; see Appendix One. \n \nTactics: The PCs and Gentlemen of the Watch are \nobserved at all times by the Scarlet Brotherhood member \nstill within the Bridgeforth. Unless the PCs approach the \nInn invisibly or through other forms of stealth they are \nspotted as they approach. \nUncle Vardis receives his final buffs and drinks his \npotion of invisibility at the first sign of the PCs approach, \nand then if the PCs are entering through the first floor he \nescapes the Inn through jumping through one of the \nopen windows. Or if the PCs are entering through one of \nthe upper floors or roof he exits out the front door. Vardis \nuses his superior movement to invisibly pass the line of \nWatchmen and if necessary uses his abundant step ability \nto flee. \nThe cleric at the Bridgeforth inn is aware that there is no \nescape for him. His abilities have been weakened with \nthe number of buff spells he has cast upon Vardis. \nHowever he has been promised that if he delays the PCs \nand fight honorably he will be resurrected and given \nenlightenment by those higher in the brotherhood. He \ntherefore will give no quarter in the fight and will gladly \nlay down his life. Refer to the tactics section by APL in \nAppendix One. \nTactics for APL 2: The cleric upon viewing the PCs entry \ncasts spiritual weapon on the characters, assigning the \nweapons to the obvious fighters. He then attempts to \ndominate any animal companions the characters may \nhave with them, retreating to the 3\nrd floor if necessary. \nHe then readies to cast searing light on the first character \nto reach the 3\nrd floor. \nTactics for APL 4: The cleric upon viewing the PCs entry \nsummons 1d3 Dire wolves using his 4\nth level summon \nnatures Ally Spell. He then attempts to dominate any \nanimal companions the characters may have brought \nwith them. The Cleric then casts spiritual weapon, \nassigning the weapons to the obvious fighters. The \nCleric finally readies to cast searing light on the first \ncharacter to reach the 3\nrd floor. \nTactics for APL 6: The Mystic Thurge upon viewing the \nPCs approach casts slow on the party as they enter. The \nTheurge then casts fireball on the group. Followed by his \nranged touch spells. He will attempt to target any \nobvious fighters with his ray of Enfeeblement before \nresorting to melee. \nTactics for APL 8: The Mystic Thurge upon viewing the \ncharacters approach casts polymorph on himself turning \nhimself into an Annis Hag, primarily for the added AC \nbonus he is not skilled in melee but he hopes the sight of \nthe hag will keep characters from approaching him. \nWhen the characters enter he summons 1d3 Dire wolves \nusing his 4\nth level summon natures Ally Spell, sending \nthem to block the characters from approaching him. The \nTheurge then casts Evard’s black tentacles, catching as \nmany of the characters as possible in the area, followed by \nfireball in the same area. The Theurge casts spiritual \nweapon, assigning it to any arcane caster along with his \nranged touch spells on any obvious spell casters. He will \nattempt to target any two fighter types (they must be \nwithin 30’ of each other) with his meta-magic split ray \nprepared ray of Enfeeblement (preferably while they are \nstill in the Evards) before resorting to melee. \nTactics for APL 10: The Mystic Thurge upon viewing \nthe characters approach casts polymorph on himself \nturning himself into an Annis Hag, primarily for the \nadded AC bonus, he is not skilled in melee but he hopes \nthe sight of the hag will keep characters from \napproaching him. He then summons a bearded devil, and \nsends the monsters downstairs or too the roof to attack \nthe characters. Theurge then casts Evard’s black tentacles, \ncatching as many of the characters as possible in the area, \nfollowed by flame strike in the same area. The thurge \nthen proceeds through his lower level spells, but will \nattempt to target any two fighter types (they must be \nwithin 30’ of each other) with his meta-magic split ray \nprepared ray of Enfeeblement (preferably while they are \nstill in the Evards) before resorting to melee. \nTactics for APL 12: The Mystic Thurge prior to the PCs \napproach places a symbol of pain on the second floor, at \nthe mid point of the hallway, giving it a password of \n“obedience” and setting it to go off if a non-lawful evil \ncreature passes over it. The Theurge then keeps the \nwatch in view using his spells, remaining on the 3\nrd floor. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 15 \nThe Mystic Thurge upon viewing the characters \napproach casts polymorph on himself turning himself \ninto an Annis Hag, primarily for the added AC bonus, he \nis not skilled in melee but he hopes the sight of the hag \nwill keep characters from approaching him. When the \ncharacters move in he summons bearded devils using his \ntwo Summon Monster V spells and sends them to attack \nthe characters, then moves to either the first floor (if the \ncharacters are entering from the roof, or remaining on \nthe third floor if the characters come in through the \nfront. The Theurge casts his Anti-Life shell, blink, and \ntrue seeing. The Theurge readies to cast Evard’s black \ntentacles on the first character to reach the 3\nrd floor or the \nfirst to come through the roof and follows it with a flame \nstrike. The Theurge then begins with his highest-level \ndamage spells and works his way down, attempting to \nkeep the characters as far away from him as possible. \nAgainst any obvious spell caster he will target his meta-\nmagic prepared Split Ray enervation to drop as many \ncaster levels form the person as possible. He will attempt \nto target any two fighter types (they must be within 30’ of \neach other) with his meta-magic split ray prepared ray of \nEnfeeblement (preferably while they are still in the \nEvards) before resorting to melee. \n \nTreasure: \nAPL 2: L: 62 gp; C: 4 gp; M: masterwork breastplate (29 gp \nper character); masterwork club (25gp per character); \npotion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 4: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: breastplate +1 (113 gp per \ncharacter); Cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter); potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp \nper character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \nAPL 6: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp \nper character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25 \ngp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \nAPL 8: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: cloak of resistance +2 (333 gp \nper character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25 \ngp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \nAPL 10: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: cloak of resistance +2 (333 \ngp per character); potion of cure moderate wounds \n(25 gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \nAPL 12: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: cloak of resistance +2 (333 \ngp per character), potion of cure moderate wounds \n(25 gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \n \nEncounter Five: The Game’s \nAfoot \n \nOnce the PCs defeat the Bridgeforth defender read or \nparaphrase the following. \nThe beaten and bloody body of Bub Tympanum lies \nbound and gagged in the corner of the room, a small \ntrickle of blood flows from a large bruise that covers \nthe side of his face. \nIf the PCs revive Bub (or carry him outside to the \nGentlemen of the Watch to have one of their clerics \nrevive him) Bub immediately begins apologizing. \n \"I'm so sorry. Vardis discovered I had worked on the \nGuild Hall restoration. I did the detailing on the door \nleading to the mint.\" Bub sobs with shame. \"I held \nout as long as I could, I didn't know you were coming, \nI should have held out longer.\" Bub breaks down at \nyour feet, weeping with frustration. \"Vardis has gone \nto the Guild Hall, He’s going to destroy the Royal \nFuryondy Mint. I don't know how - but you have to \nhurry. You have to stop him.\" \nNote: If the PCs are injured Caleb and Krot immediately \ncall for the Cleric of St. Cuthbert they have on site to \nspend his spells healing and buffing the PCs. \nAPL 2-8: Use the Sample 5\nth level Cleric from the \nDungeon Masters Guide Page 114 for statistics and spells \nprepared. \nAPL 10-12: Use the 10\nth Level Cleric Page 115 of the \nDungeon Masters Guide. \nUncle Krot also has a few spells of his own which he \nvoluntarily casts for the PCs. His stat block is included in \nAppendix One. \nFinally both Krot and Caleb have several potions they \nshare with the PCs. \nTroubleshooting: Caleb and Uncle Krot are waiting \noutside. Once they are informed of what Bub relates to \nthe PCs they order the PCs to run to the guildhall and \nstop Vardis at all costs. They hastily explain that they will \ngather support from the Wrinkle Academy and the \nChurch of St. Cuthbert and will follow as best they can. \nTry and play Krot and Caleb as individuals who are \ndeeply worried about what is occurring at the Guild Hall \nand desperately need the PCs to intercede for them. \nAllow the PCs to move as quickly or as slowly as they \nwish to the guildhall. However keep in mind that Vardis \nhas already entered, and any extended delay leads to the \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 16 \ndestruction of the Mint and the closure of the rift to the \nAstral Plane. \nEncounter Six: Into the Breach \n \nThe following text is dependant on how quickly the PCs \nhave gotten to the Guild Hall after learning of Vardis’ \nplans. The Guild Hall is 2,400 feet away from the inn. It \nshould take the party members 4 minutes or less to arrive \nthere depending on whether they walked or ran. \nPlease read or paraphrase one of the following \ndevelopments dependent party choices: \nTimmy’s down the well? We must hurry! If the PCs \nare very fast (minimal healing cast and teleportation or \nsimilar high speed travel to this location) read or \nparaphrase the following: \nThe Guild Hall entrance stands open. Two guards \nwearing Tabards of the Gentlemen of the Watch lie \ndead on either side of the front doors, their limbs \nbroken and twisted. Inside the sounds of combat \nstill ring. \nWait for the PCs to enter the Guild Hall and then read \nthe following: \nAs you enter the Verbobonc Guild Hall’s entryway \nyou see an elderly man wearing loose fitting robes \ngrasp a point on a wall of the main hallway. A door \nopens where none existed before, flowery script and \nfine detailing appearing on the lintels as it does. \nBeyond the door the ruddy orange light of a forge \nshines out and a deep rhythmic breathing of a bellows \ncan be heard. Vardis steps through the door as he \nunfolds a circular bit of black cloth. Even before the \nportable hold fully opens the world around you \nshudders, twists, and then tears away. \nPCs must make a DC 20 Balance check to remain \nstanding. \nThe area where find yourself is filled with smelting \nkilns, metal presses, and stacks of minted gold ingots. \nAbove you a wide expanse of dull silvery grey sky \nremains motionless while debris from the ruined \nGuild Hall spin lazily away from the rift in reality \nbehind you. As you look at the rift you see the edges \nstart to knit themselves back together, very soon the \nrift will be gone. \nThe old man before you straightens, looking over his \nshoulder at your party. “You are very foolish to have \nfollowed.” He says with a voice filled with distain. \nRoll Initiative and proceed with the combat. \nTimmy eh? Well… Alright… If PCs spent time \ncasting spells, were healed and buffed by the cleric, but \notherwise hurried over without substantial delay read or \nparaphrase the following: \nThe Guild Hall entrance stands open, two guards \nwearing the tabards of the Gentlemen of the Watch \nlie dead on either side of the front doors, their limbs \nbroken and twisted. Then, without warning, the \nworld around the building shudders, twists, and \nfinally tears away. Most of the Verbobonc Guild hall \ndisappears into a great gaping hole in reality, through \nwhich a colossal cavern filled with metalworking \nequipment can be seen. Lazily the mint tumbles away \nfrom the rift into the dull grey void beyond. As you \nwatch the edges of the rift can be seen knitting back \ntogether. Very soon the rift will be gone. \nIf the PCs decide to enter read or paraphrase the \nfollowing: \nStepping through the rift you find yourself in an odd \nworld, where the mere thought that the area before \nyou is down allows you to move in that direction. \nRoll Initiative and proceed with the combat. \nTimmy can tread water for a while. If the PCs took \ntheir time preparing themselves, receiving healing, or \nsimilar delay on their way to the Guild Hall read or \nparaphrase the following: \nThe area where the Guild Hall stood is a scene of \ndevastation. Several dead members of the Gentlemen \nof the Watch lay scattered around the collapsed Guild \nHall. At the center of the wreckage is a hole in \nreality, its tattered edges waving as if in a breeze and \nleading to a vast span of silvery grey sky. Within this \nshrinking rift a small smelting works can be seen, \ntumbling slowly away. The edges of the rift grow \ncloser and closer. Very soon the rift will be gone. \nIf the PCs decide to enter read or paraphrase the \nfollowing: \nStepping through the rift you find yourself in an odd \nworld, where the mere thought that the area before \nyou is down allows you to move in that direction. \nTimmy Schimmy, I got a boo boo. If the PCs refuse to \nrush to the Guild Hall, or if they take time out to cast \nlong duration spells (such as heroes feast, raise dead, \nreincarnate, etc.) then if/when they reach the Guild hall \nread or paraphrase the following. \nThe Verbobonc Guild Hall is a shambles, its front half \na broken shell and the majority of the rear half is \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 17 \nsimply—gone. The building appears to have suffered \nfrom some form of an implosion, but from what \ncause, you do not know. \nIf \nthe \nPCs \nfail \nto \nreach \nthe \nGuild Hall in time, fill out their AR’s for the experience \nto this point, eliminating all favors and influence points. \nTroubleshooting: If the PCs hesitate at the rift describe \nthe rift closing for several more rounds and then describe \nit sealing itself. If the PCs do not enter the rift they gain \nexperience for the portions of the adventure they \ncompleted but gain no influence or access. \nIf the PCs are defeated by Vardis, then their PCs are lost \non the Astral plane. The Wrinkle Academy is unable to \nstop the Brotherhood from dismantling the Furyondy \nMint. The PCs bodies are however eventually recovered \nby the Wrinkle academy wizards and returned for \nquestioning/raising by the Church of St. Cuthbert. \nPlease check the Death on the Astral Plane section of \nthe AR. \nIf the PCs defeat Vardis, proceed to Encounter Seven. \nAPL 2 (EL 5) \n�Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk6; hp 45; \nsee Appendix One. \n \nAPL 4 (EL 7) \n�Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk6; hp 45 \n[57]; see Appendix One. \n \nAPL 6 (EL 9) \n�Vardis Simulacrum (empowered): male human \n(Suel) Mnk9; hp 66 [84]; see Appendix One. \n \nAPL 8 (EL 11) \n�Vardis Simulacrum (empowered): male human \n(Suel) Mnk9; hp 66 [84]; see Appendix One. \n \nAPL 10 (EL 13) \n�Vardis: male human (Suel) Mnk13; hp 94 [120]; see \nAppendix One \n \nAPL 12 (EL 15) \n�Vardis: male human (Suel) Mnk15; hp 108 [138]; see \nAppendix One \nNotes: For the purposes of spell duration please assume \nthat 4 minutes have passed since Vardis left the \nBridgeforth Inn, therefore both the parties and Vardis’s \nlow duration buff spells are still active. \nThe rest of this encounter takes place on the Astral plane. \n PCs can make a Knowledge (planes) check, DC 10 to \nidentify this as the Astral Plane. A DC 15 Knowledge \n(planes) check reveals the details of the Astral Plane. \nManaging this encounter is difficult due to the distances \ninvolved. It is suggested in running this encounter that \nthe DM place the Royal Furyondy Mint as the arbitrary \nground level. Draw the Mint layout as normal. Character \nmovement and position may then be expressed in \nrelation to this central location. Distance on the lateral \naxis is expressed as it would if the combat were taking \nplace on the battle-mat. Altitude – or distance upon the \nvertical axis can be described through the use of dice to \ndenote tens of feet (thus two 10 sided dice can express a \ndistance of up to 990 feet) \nNOTE: Please refer to Appendix Five: Astral Traits. \nFor the purposes of this adventure it is presumed that \n“falling” to a solid object (such as the Royal Furyondy \nMint) does not incur the standard falling damage, \ninstead a DC 20 Balance check is imposed in order to \nland and remain standing. \nNotes Per APL \nAPL 2-8: In these APL’s Vardis has been replaced with a \nsimulacrum. This Simulacrum functions just like Vardis \nas if he were half his hit dice (in this case level 6 or at APL \n6 and 8 an empowered version of the spell bumped the \nsimulacrum to level 9). When this Simulacrum reaches 0 \nhit points it is destroyed. The Simulacrum has been \ninstructed to destroy the Furyondy Mint and then to \ndefend the site until the Brotherhood’s monks arrive. \nAPL 10-12: In these APL’s Vardis himself stands against \nthe party, buffed extensively by the Bridgeforth defender. \nTactics: \nTactics for APL 2: Vardis knows that spellcasters are the \nmost danger to him, since they can dispel the numerous \nbuffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets spell \ncasters first, using his stunning abilities and tumbling to \nreach them. Vardis has had numerous spells cast upon \nhim in order to increase his effectiveness, these spells \nand abilities are noted in his stat block. \nTactics for APL 4: Vardis knows that spell casters are \nthe most danger to him, since they can dispel the \nnumerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets \nspell casters first, using his stunning abilities through the \nKi focus Nunchacku and tumbling to reach them. Vardis \nthen targets divine spell casters and finally fighters. \nVardis has had numerous spells cast upon him in order to \nincrease his effectiveness, these spells and abilities are \nnoted in his stat block. \nVardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type I. If the \ncharacters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 18 \nbombard the characters while chiding them for their \ncowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him, \nhe will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual \nbeads. \nIf injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast \nupon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of \nthe Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action. \n \nTactics for APL 6: Vardis knows that spell casters are \nthe most danger to him, since they can dispel the \nnumerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets \nspell casters first, using his stunning abilities through the \nKi focus Nunchacku and tumbling to reach them. Vardis \nthen targets divine spell casters and finally fighters. \nVardis has had numerous spells cast upon him in order to \nincrease his effectiveness, these spells and abilities are \nnoted in his stat block in brackets. \nVardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type III. If the \ncharacters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to \nbombard the characters while chiding them for their \ncowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him, \nhe will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual \nbeads. \nIf injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast \nupon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of \nthe Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action, Vardis \nalso has the ability to heal 18 hit points of his own \nwounds through his wholeness of body ability, using this \nability on the Astral Plane is a standard action. \n \nTactics for APL 8: Vardis knows that spell casters are \nthe most danger to him, since they can dispel the \nnumerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets \nspell casters first, using his stunning abilities through the \nKi focus Nunchacku and tumbling to reach them. Vardis \nthen targets divine spell casters and finally fighters. \nVardis has had numerous spells cast upon him in order to \nincrease his effectiveness, these spells and abilities are \nnoted in his stat block in brackets. \nVardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type IV. If the \ncharacters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to \nbombard the characters while chiding them for their \ncowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him, \nhe will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual \nbeads. \nIf injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast \nupon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of \nthe Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action, Vardis \nalso has the ability to heal 18 hit points of his own \nwounds through his wholeness of body ability, using this \nability on the Astral Plane is a standard action. \n \nTactics for APL 10: Vardis knows that spell casters are \nthe most danger to him, since they can dispel the \nnumerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets \nspell casters first, using his stunning abilities through the \nKi focus Nunchacku and tumbling to reach them. Vardis \nthen targets divine spell casters and finally fighters. \nVardis has had numerous spells cast upon him in order to \nincrease his effectiveness, these spells and abilities are \nnoted in his stat block in brackets. \nVardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type VII. If the \ncharacters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to \nbombard the characters while chiding them for their \ncowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him, \nhe will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual \nbeads. \nIf injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast \nupon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of \nthe Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action, Vardis \nalso has the ability to heal 26 hit points of his own \nwounds through his wholeness of body ability, using this \nability on the Astral Plane is a standard action. \n \nTactics for APL 12: Vardis knows that spell casters are \nthe most danger to him, since they can dispel the \nnumerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore will \nabundant step next to any obvious spell caster and using \nhis Sun School* feat attacks him with his Quivering \nPalm. Assuming that attack fails Vardis targets arcane \nwith the Ki Focus Nunchaku. Vardis then targets divine \nspell casters, rogue types, and finally fighters. Vardis has \nhad numerous spells cast upon him in order to increase \nhis effectiveness. These spells and abilities are noted in \nhis stat block. \nVardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type VII. If the \ncharacters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to \nbombard the characters while chiding them for their \ncowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him, \nhe will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual \nbeads. \nIf surrounded by numerous opponents Vardis does not \nhesitate to throw the remainder of the necklace at the \nopponents who seem that they are the greatest threat to \nhim. \nIf injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast \nupon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of \nthe Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action, Vardis \nalso has the ability to heal 30 hit points of his own \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 19 \nwounds through his wholeness of body ability, using this \nability on the Astral Plane is a standard action. \n \nTreasure: \n \nAPL 2: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 4: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells (300 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type i (137gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 6: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +2 (333 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells (300 gp per \ncharacter); Necklace of Fireballs type III (362 gp per \ncharacter); Dusty Rose Ioun Stone (416 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 8: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells (300 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type iv (450 gp per \ncharacter); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 10: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 \ngp per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells x2 (600 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type vii (725 gp per \ncharacter); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per \ncharacter); boots of speed (1000 gp per character). \nAPL 12: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 \ngp per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells x2 (600 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type vii (725 gp per \ncharacter); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per \ncharacter); boots of speed (1000 gp per character). \nConclusion \n \nSuccess \nOnce Vardis is defeated allow the PCs to rest and perform \nwhatever healing they require. Give the impression that \nthey are adrift in the Astral plane with no particular way \nback (higher level parties may have little difficulty here). \n After a few minutes of allowing themselves to ask “what \nnow” choose one of the fighters or rogues of the party, \nask them for a Will save (against scrying) please impose a \n-16 to their roll (the wizards at the Wrinkle Academy \nhave the full cooperation of the Watch and the Family to \nprovide some of the PCs blood, a possession and a drawn \npicture of the character.) Remind the character that they \ncan voluntarily fail the save if they wish. If necessary \nhave the wizard attempt to scry on all the other PCs until \none fails his save. \nOnce that is accomplished read the following: \nWith an audible pop a gnomish wizard appears a short \ndistance away and with practiced ease flies down to \nstand before your party. “I must say I’m glad you \nsurvived, finding the mint without (point to the \nperson who failed his save) you to scry on would have \nbeen very difficult. With a low whistle he takes in \nthe carnage and damage around him. “My, my, quite \na mess indeed—this will take a bit of work, but I do \nbelieve we can fix it.” His gaze then levels on your \ngroup, as several other mages begin appearing around \nyou. “Well, what are you waiting for? Time to go. If \neveryone can please form a circle we’ll be on our \nway…” \nIf asked the wizard explains that shortly after Krot \narrived at the wrinkle Academy they figured out what \nhad occurred, then plane shifted to the Astral Plane and \nscryed upon the PCs. \nThe world shifts and you find yourselves back in the \nstreets of Verbobonc City. Caleb and Krot stand just \nfeet away, surveying the devastated Guild Hall. \nSeeing your group arrive, Krot breaks into a broad \ngrin, as Caleb rushes over. \n“The Gentlemen of the Watch thank you for your \nservice to the City.” Caleb says as he shakes your \nhand. “We were worried that you wouldn’t pull it off. \n Krot was even laying very long odds at your survival, \nlet along your success—weren’t you Krot…” \nCaleb turns around to address Krot, only to find the \nstreet behind him empty, except for a few blowing \nleaves and a pouch sitting on the ground; bulging \nwith gold. \nDefeat \nIf the PCs are defeated by Vardis please ask the PCs if \nthey wish to be raised, if they agree please read the \nfollowing: \nThe stillness of death leaves you and your eyes open \nto see a vaulted ceiling painted to depict St. Cuthbert \nbeckoning with one hand while the other holds a \nheavy cudgel. A cleric of St. Cuthbert steps into view \nand speaks “Ah. Welcome back to the land of the \nliving. The Gentlemen of the Watch will wish to \nhave a word with you. If you’re feeling up to it he is \nwaiting outside.” \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 20 \nOutside the chapel Caleb sits with his back leaning \nup against the cathedral of St. Cuthbert. His eyes are \npensive and he pulls at his lower lip, lost in thought. \nSeeing your party he straightens and gives a half \nsmile. \n“I wish that we were met in better circumstances.” \nCaleb says “but it is good to see that you have \nreturned just the same.” Caleb wearily begins \nwalking up the street toward the Viscount’s castle. \n“Come on,” he says as he walks “we’ve got to report to \nthe Viscount just how bad it is.” \n \nThe End \n \nEpilogue: The Gift of the Gnomes \n \nIf the characters were successful in recovering the \nFuryondyian Royal Mint, then after they have rested up \nand spent a night or two in a warm bed, each is visited \nindividually by a gnome hailing from the Yatil \nMountains. The gnome knows the identity of the \ncharacter, and the read-aloud text below can be \nparaphrased to include that information. Read the \nfollowing to the PCs: \nYour adventure complete, you spend a few days \nresting and relaxing, enjoying what comforts of \nVerbobonc City. As you are out walking about, a well-\nworn gnome traveler dressed in an earthen robe with \nstitchings of gold waves you down. As he approaches, \nhis face beams with the delight of your attention. \n \n“Good adventurer, I thank you for a moment of \nyour precious time. Allow me to introduce myself. \nMy name is Clegin, Master Illusionist of Gnome Vale. \nThe Laird Gwaylar, our headman, has sent me to \nsearch for worthies that may be willing to aid our \ncause. Having heard of your recent exploits, I must \nsay, I am quite impressed by your actions. You must \nbe one of the stalwarts spoke of in the foretellings of \nour Chief Cleric. Thus, I have this gift for you, if you \nwill accept it.” \n \nClegin pulls a polished green gemstone from one \nof his robe pockets. The gem has a symbol of arcane \npower etched in its face. “Please, take this. It is now \nbut an interesting bauble, but I have the power to \nenchant it into something that would be of greater \nuse than exchange for mere coin. When the time is \nright, you might find yourself on the path to my \nhome, and then, as is foretold, you will aid my people \nwho have been beset upon by evils thought \nvanquished. If you are successful in your task to be, I \nshall reward you by awakening the arcane power \nwithin the gem I offer. I and my people thank you for \nall you’ve done, and all you’ve yet to accomplish.” \nIf the character accepts the gemstone: \nClegin hands you the gemstone. The same smile plays \nupon his face as when he first greeted you. “I have \nothers to seek out. Soon, our paths shall cross again, \nbrave one.” He turns from you, and walks down the \nstreet, disappearing in the crowd. \nIf the character does not accept the gemstone: \nA look of confusion furrows Clegin’s brow. “I am \ncertain you are the one spoken of, yet you do not \naccept my gift? Are you sure you would not \nreconsider?” \nGive the player another chance to think it over. If they \naccept, read the acceptance text above. If they continue to \ndecline, read the following: \nClegin resigns himself to a slow smile. “Gift or no, our \npaths shall meet again. I am certain that something \ncan be arranged at a later time. I must leave now; I \nhave others to seek out. Good day to you, brave one.” \nHe turns from you, and walks down the street, \ndisappearing in the crowd. \nCharacters can make a DC 20 Knowledge (Geography) \nskill check to know that Gnome Vale is a very isolated \ncommunity of gnomes located deep within the Yatil \nMountains. \nClegin has more errands to run, and can’t sit and \nchat any longer with the character. If pressed for more \ninformation, he simply says that all will be revealed in \ndue time. \nIf a character accepts the gift, they receive the \nGnome Vale gemstone listed on the Adventure Record. If \nthey refuse, cross this item off the Adventure Record. Its \npurpose will become known at a later time. \n \nIf a character already has a gemstone, they may \nreceive a second (or third) gemstone if it is of a different \ncolor than the ones already possessed by the character. A \ncharacter may not possess more than one of the same \ncolor gemstone. \nExperience Point Summary \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 21 \nTo award experience for this adventure, add up the values \nfor the objectives accomplished. Then assign the \nexperience award. Award the total value (objectives plus \nrole-playing) to each character. \nEncounter Three – … down by the river. \nFor defeating the monk sniper or by learning the \npassword for the Bridgeforth Inn. \nAPL 2 \n60 xp \nAPL 4 \n120 xp \nAPL 6 \n180 xp \nAPL 8 \n240 xp \nAPL 10 \n300 xp \nAPL 12 \n360 xp \n \nEncounter Four – The Bridgeforth Inn \nEntering the inn, defeating the suel cleric and learning of \nthe Brotherhoods plan. \nAPL 2 \n150 xp \nAPL 4 \n210 xp \nAPL 6 \n270 xp \nAPL 8 \n330 xp \nAPL 10 \n390 xp \nAPL 12 \n450 xp \n \nEncounter Six – Into the Breach \nDefeating Vardis \nAPL 2 \n150 xp \nAPL 4 \n210 xp \nAPL 6 \n270 xp \nAPL 8 \n330 xp \nAPL 10 \n390 xp \nAPL 12 \n450 xp \n \nAward for Good Role-playing \nAPL 2 \n90 xp \nAPL 4 \n135 xp \nAPL 6 \n180 xp \nAPL 8 \n225 xp \nAPL 10 \n270 xp \nAPL 12 \n315 xp \n \nTotal Possible Experience \nAPL 2 \n450 xp \nAPL 4 \n675 xp \nAPL 6 \n900 xp \nAPL 8 \n1,125 xp \nAPL 10 \n1,350 xp \nAPL 12 \n1,575 xp \nTreasure Summary \n \nDuring an adventure, PCs encounter treasure, usually \nfinding it in the possession of their foes. Every \nencounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section \nwithin the encounter description, giving information \nabout the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the \nencounter’s treasure. \nThe loot total is the number of gold pieces each character \ngains if the foes are plundered of all their earthly \npossessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 minutes \nper every 5 enemies, and if the PCs cannot take the time \nto loot the bodies, they do not gain this gold. If you feel \nit is reasonable that PCs can go back to loot the bodies, \nand those bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by dungeon \nscavengers, removed from the scene by the local watch, \nand so on), PCs may return to retrieve loot. If the PCs do \nnot loot the body, the gold piece value for the loot is \nsubtracted from the encounter totals given below. \nThe coin total is the number of gold pieces each character \ngains if they take the coin available. A normal \nadventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a \nround or so. If for some reason, they pass up this \ntreasure, the coin total is subtracted from the encounter \ntotals given below. \nNext, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure is \nthe hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and \nbecause PCs may want to use them during the adventure. \n Many times PCs must cast identify, analyze dweomer or \nsimilar spell to determine what the item does and how to \nactivate it. Other times they may attempt to use the item \nblindly. If the magic item is consumable (a potion, scroll, \nmagic bolts, etc.) and the item is used before the end of \nthe adventure, its total is subtracted from the adventure \ntotals below. \nOnce you have subtracted the value for unclaimed \ntreasure from each encounter add it up and that is the \nnumber of gold pieces a PCs total and coin value increase \nat the end of the adventure. Write the total in the GP \nGained field of the adventure certificate. Because this is a \nRegional adventure, PCs may spend additional Time \nUnits to practice professions or create items immediately \nafter the adventure so this total may be modified by other \ncircumstances. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 22 \nL = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, Jewelry, and \nother valuables; M = Magic Items. \nL: Looted gear from enemy \nC: Coin, Gems, Jewelry, and other valuables \nM: Magic Items (sell value) \nEncounter Three: \nAPL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 4: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character) \nAPL 6: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp \nper character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 8: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp per \ncharacter); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character) \nAPL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp \nper character); vest of resistance +2 (333 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +3 (750 gp \nper character); vest of resistance +3 (750 gp per \ncharacter). \n \nEncounter Four: \nAPL 2: L: 62 gp; C: 4 gp; M: potion of cure moderate \nwounds (25 gp per character). \nAPL 4: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: breastplate +1 (113 gp per \ncharacter); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character); \npotion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp per \ncharacter); club +1 (192 gp per character). \nAPL 6: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: vest of resistance +1 (83 gp \nper character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25 \ngp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \nAPL 8: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: vest of resistance +2 (333 gp \nper character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25 \ngp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \nAPL 10: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: vest of resistance +2 (333 gp \nper character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25 \ngp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \nAPL 12: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: vest of resistance +2 (333 \ngp per character), potion of cure moderate wounds \n(25 gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character). \n \nEncounter Six: \nAPL 2: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 4: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells (300 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type i (137gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 6: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +2 (333 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells (300 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type iii (362 gp per \ncharacter); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 8: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells (300 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type iv (450 gp per \ncharacter); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per \ncharacter). \nAPL 10: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 \ngp per character); +1 nunchaku, wounding (1525 gp \nper character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells x2 (600 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type vii (725 gp per \ncharacter); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per \ncharacter); boots of speed (1000 gp per character). \nAPL 12: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 \ngp per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per \ncharacter); ring of counterspells x2 (600 gp per \ncharacter); necklace of fireballs type vii (725 gp per \ncharacter); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per \ncharacter); boots of speed (1000 gp per character). \nTotal Possible Treasure \nAPL 2: \n \n \n450 gp \nAPL 4: \n \n \n650 gp \nAPL 6: \n \n \n900 gp \nAPL 8: \n \n \n1,300 gp \nAPL 10: \n \n \n2,300 gp \nAPL 12: \n \n \n3,300 gp \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 23 \nAppendix One: NPCs \nALL APLs \nWatch Captain Caleb: male human (Rhennee) \nRog2/Ftr6; CR 8; Medium humanoid (human); HD \n2d6+6d10+16; hp 62; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 21 (+3 Dex, \n+ 6 armor, +1 deflection, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-\nfooted 18; Base Atk +7; Grp +8; Atk +10 melee \n(1d6+4+1d6 Non lethal damage, +1 merciful \nquarterstaff); Full Atk +10/+5 melee (1d6+4+1d6 Non \nlethal damage, +1 merciful quarterstaff); AL LN; SV: \nFort +7, Ref +7, Will +3; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, \nWis 12, Cha 10. \n \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +10, Diplomacy +11, Gather \nInformation +13, Knowledge Local +10 Intimidate +12, \nSense Motive +14, Spot +5, Search +5, Tumble +9; \nImproved Unarmed Strike, Weapon Focus \n(quarterstaff), Weapon Specialization (quarterstaff), \nImproved Trip, Improved Grapple, Combat Reflexes, \nLightning Reflexes, Dodge, Defensive Throw* Prone \nAttack*. \n \n \nPossessions: +1 merciful quarterstaff +1 glamered \nmithral chainmail, +1 ring of protection, +1 amulet of \nnatural armor, circlet of persuasion, 3 vials of antitoxin, \ntwo sunrods. \n* See Appendix 2: New Rules Items \n \nUncle Krot: male human (Oeridian) Rog9/Wiz3; CR \n12; Medium humanoid (human); HD 9d6+3d4+24; hp \n73; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17 (+3 Dex, +2 armor, +1 \ndeflection, +1 natural), touch 16, flat-footed 13; Base \nAtk +7; Grp +7; Atk +8 melee (1d6, rapier); Full Atk \n+7/+2 melee (1d6, rapier); SA Sneak Attack +5d6, SQ \nevasion, improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +3, rat \nfamiliar; AL LE; SV Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +8; Str 10, \nDex 16, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 12. \n \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +23, \nConcentration +8, Diplomacy +18, Disguise +13, \nEscape artist +13, Hide +13, Knowledge local +8 \nIntimidate +13, Sense Motive +13, Sleight of Hand +13, \nSpellcraft + 12 Spot +4, Tumble +18; Combat Expertise, \nCombat Reflexes, Craft Wondrous Item, Improved \nInitiative, Iron Will, Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus \n(Illusion). \n \n \nSpells Prepared (4/3/2; base DC 13 + spell level, 14 \n+ spell level for Illusion spells): 0—detect magic, detect \npoison, open/close, prestidigitation; 1\nst—mage armor, \nsilent image (3), ventriloquism; 2\nnd—invisibility, scare. \n \nPossessions: Krot’s robe of sizing*, +2 bracers of \narmor, +1 ring of protection, +1 amulet of natural \narmor, ring of wizardry I, circlet of persuasion rapier, \nmask of lies*. \n \n \n \nPre-Cast Spells: Krot spends almost all of his time \nin public under the effects of reduce person from his \nrobe of sizing. \n* See Appendix 2: New Rules Items \n \nLathmir Amanthsal: male gnome Ari6; CR 5; Small-\nsize humanoid (gnome); HD 6d8+9; hp 42 [Currently \n18]; Init +4 [currently +1]; Spd 20 ft.; AC: 9, touch 9, \nflat-footed 9; Base Atk: +4; Grp: +2; Atk: +2 melee (1d2-\n2, unarmed); AL: LE; SV: Fort +3 [+0], Ref +2 [-1], Will \n+9; Str 6, Dex 10 [7], Con 14[6], Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15. \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Appraise +9, Bluff +11, Diplomacy \n+12, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (history) +5, Listen +4, \nProfession (merchant) +12, Sense Motive +12, \nImproved Initiative, Iron Will, Leadership, Negotiator. \n \n \nPossessions: rags, bottle of rotgut\n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 24 \nAPL 2 \n \nEncounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me? \nBenjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog2: \nCR 2; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 2d6+2; hp 12; \nInit +2; Spd 20; AC 15 (Flat-footed 13 Touch 13); Base \nAtk +2; Atk +3 melee (1d4, masterwork shortsword); \nSA +1 attack bonus with thrown weapons, Sneak \nAttack +1d6; SQ Traps, Evasion, +2 Bonus on Saves vs. \nFear; AL N; SV Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 10, Dex 14, \nCon 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +5, Climb +2, Diplomacy +7, \nDisable Device +4, Forgery +6, Gather Information +2, \nHide +11, Jump -4, Listen +3, Move Silently +9, Search \n+8, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +6; Investigator. \n \nEncounter 3: … Down By the River … \nMonk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk2; CR 2; \nMedium humanoid (human); HD 2d8+6; hp 29 [33]; \nInit +3 [+5]; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19 (+3 Dex, +2 Wis, +2 \nDeflection [protection from good]), touch 15, flat-\nfooted 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +3; Atk +2 [+4] melee \n(1d6+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +0/+0 [+2/+2] melee \n(1d6+2, unarmed strike) or +7 ranged (1d2+2 plus \npoison, Shuriken); SA flurry of blows, unarmed strike; \nSQ evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +6 [+8], Ref +6 [+8], Will +4 \n[+6]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], Con 16 [20], Int 10, Wis \n12 [16], Cha 8. \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8 [+10], Escape Artist +8 \n[+10], Hide +15 [+35/+55 invisible], Jump +5 [+7], \nMove Silently +15, Spot +6 [+8], Tumble +8 [+10]; \nDeflect Arrows, Stunning Fist, Endurance, Diehard. \n \nPossessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of \nhiding, elixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion \nof bulls strength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of \ncat’s grace, potion of mage armor, six masterwork \nshuriken poisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison \n(injury poison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, \nsecondary damage 2d6 Con) \n \nEncounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn. \nSuel Cleric: Male Human Clr5: CR 5; Medium \nHumanoid; HD 5d8+10; hp 37 [47]; Init -1; Spd 20; AC: \n16 (Flat-footed 16 Touch 11); Base Atk +3; Grp +2; Atk \n+3 melee (1d10, masterwork club); SA Turn or rebuke \nundead (3+Cha. Mod/day); AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +0, \nWill +7; Str 8, Dex 8, Con 14 [18], Int 12, Wis 16, Cha \n10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +11, Heal +11, \nKnowledge (religion) +11 Spellcraft +10; Domain focus \n(war)*, Extend Spell, Sanctum Spell*. \n \nSpells Prepared: (5/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 13 + \nSpell Level); 0 - cure minor wounds, detect magic, \nlight: purify food and drink, resistance, virtue; 1\nst – \ncalm animals (d), divine favor, entropic shield, shield \nof faith, protection from good’; 2\nnd - bear’s endurance; \ncure moderate wounds; spiritual weapon x2 (d); 3\nrd – \ndominate animal (d), magic vestment, searing light. \n \nPossessions: masterwork breastplate, masterwork \nclub, potion of cure light wounds \nDomains Animal/War \n* See Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nEncounter 6: Into the Breach \nUncle Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk6; \nCR 6; Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+18; hp 45 \nInit +3; Spd 50 ft.; AC 16 [22], touch 14 [20], flat-footed \n12 [18]; Base Atk +4; Grp +5; Atk +9 melee (1d6+2, \nunarmed strike); Full Atk melee +9/+9 (1d6+2, +1, ki \nfocus nunchaku); SA flurry of blows, unarmed strike, \nstunning fist, improved trip, Ki strike (magic) SQ \nevasion, still mind, Purity of body; AL LE; SV Fort +6, \nRef +7, Will +6 (+10 vs. Enchantment and with owl’s \nwisdom effects); Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14 \n[18 with owl’s wisdom], Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +11, Escape Artist \n+14, Jump +19, Listen +13, Spot +13, Tumble +17; \nWeapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Nunchaku), Deflect \nArrows, Weakening Touch*. \n \nPossessions: +1 nunchaku: ki focus, cloak of \nresistance +1. \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nSpells in effect: \nOwl’s wisdom [Lvl 2, CL: 5]; \nMagic vestment (+2) Enhancement bonus [Lvl 2, CL: 5] \nShield of faith (+2) Deflection bonus [Lvl 1, CL: 5] \n \nNote: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets, \nwhenever possible he uses the ki focus nunchaku as \nhis attack weapon. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 25 \nAPL 4 \nEncounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me? \nBenjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog4: \nCR 4; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 4d6+4; hp 23; \nInit +2; Spd 20; AC 15 (Flat-footed 15 Touch 13); Base \nAtk +4; Grp +1; Atk +5 melee (1d4, masterwork \nshortsword); SA +1 attack bonus with thrown weapons, \nSneak Attack +2d6; SQ Traps, Evasion, Trap Sense +1, \nUncanny Dodge, +2 Bonus on Saves vs. Fear; AL N; SV \nFort +3, Ref +7, Will +3; Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 12, \nWis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +7, Climb +2, Diplomacy +9, \nDisable Device +4, Forgery +7, Gather Information +2, \nHide +13, Jump -4, Listen +3, Move Silently +11, Open \nLock +7, Search +8, Sleight of Hand +11, Spot +6; \nDodge, Investigator. \n \nPossessions: masterwork shortsword \nEncounter 3: … Down By the River … \nMonk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk4; CR 4; \nMedium humanoid (human); HD 4d8+12; hp 45 [53]; \nInit +3 [+5]; Spd 40 ft.; AC 19 [25] (+3 [+5] Dex, +2 [+4] \nWis, +4 armor, +2 Deflection [protection from good]) \ntouch 15 [19], flat-footed 14 [16]; Base Atk +3; Grp +3; \nAtk +3 [+5] melee (1d8 [1d8+2] unarmed strike); Full \nAtk +1/+1 [+3/+3] melee (1d8+2 unarmed strike) or +7 \nranged (1d2+2 plus poison, Shuriken); SA flurry of \nblows, unarmed strike; SQ evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +6 \n[+8], Ref +6 [+8], Will +4 [+6]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], \nCon 16 [20], Int 10, Wis 13 [17], Cha 8. \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +5 [+7], Escape Artist +10 \n[+12], Jump +9 [+11], Move Silently +10 [+12], Hide \n+10 [+22, +42/+62 invisible], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +10 \n[+12]; \nDeflect \nArrows, \nEndurance, \nDiehard, \nWeakening Touch*, Stunning Fist. \n \nPossessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding, \nelixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls \nstrength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace, \npotion of mage armor, six masterwork shuriken \npoisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury \npoison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary \ndamage 2d6 Con) \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nEncounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn \nSuel Cleric: Male Human Clr7; CR 7; Medium \nHumanoid; HD 7d8+28; hp 64; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC \n16, (touch 12, flatfooted 16); Base Atk +5; Grp +4; Atks \n+4 melee (1d6, Club) or +7 melee (1d10, +1 club); SV \nFort +10, Ref +6, Will +14; AL LN; Str 8, Dex 8, Con 14 \n[18], Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 8 \n \nSkills & Feats: Concentration +13, Heal +13, \nKnowledge (religion) +13 Spellcraft +12; Domain focus \n(war)*, Domain focus (animal)*, Extend Spell, Sanctum \nspell*. \n \nSpells Prepared: (6/5+1/4+1/3+1/2+1; base DC 14 \n+ Spell Level); 0-cure minor wounds, detect magic, \nlight, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue; 1\nst - \nbless: calm animals (d), divine favor, entropic shield, \nshield of faith, protection from good; 2\nnd - bear’s \nendurance, bulls strength, cure moderate wounds, \nowl’s wisdom, spiritual weapon (d); 3\nrd - dominate \nanimal (d), magic vestment, spikes, searing light, 4\nth - \nimbue with spell ability, magic weapon, greater \nsummon nature’s ally iv (d) \n \nPossessions: club +1, club, breastplate +1, cloak of \nresistance +1, potion of cure light wounds. \n*see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nEncounter 6: Into the Breach \nUncle Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk6; \nCR 6; Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+18; hp 45 \n[57]; Init +3; Spd 50 ft.; AC 16 [28], touch 16 [21], flat-\nfooted 13 [24]; Base Atk +4; Grp +5 [+7]; Atk +7 melee \n(1d8+1, unarmed strike); Full Atk +9/+9 melee \n(1d6+10, +1 ki focus nunchaku); SA flurry of blows, \nunarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki strike \n(magic) SQ evasion, still mind Purity of body, AL LE; \nSV Fort +8 [+10], Ref +9, Will +8 [+10] (+12 vs. \nEnchantment effects); Str 12 [16], Dex 17, Con 14 [18], \nInt 10, Wis 14 [18], Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +11, Escape Artist \n+14, Jump +19, Listen +13, Spot +13, Tumble +17; \nWeapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Nunchaku), Deflect \nArrows, Weakening Touch*. \n \nPossessions: +1 nunchaku: ki focus; cloak of \nresistance +1; ring of counterspells [dispel magic]; \nnecklace of fireballs type i \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \n \nSpells in effect: \nBear’s endurance [CL:7] \nBulls strength [CL:7] \nImbue with spell ability (2 cure light wounds, 1 cure \nmoderate wounds) [CL:7] \nMagic vestment (+2) Enhancement bonus [CL:7] \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 26 \nOwl’s wisdom [CL:7] \nShield of faith (+3) Deflection bonus [CL:7] \nSpikes* [CL:7] \n \nNote: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets, \nwhenever possible he uses the +1 ki focus nunchaku as \nhis attack weapon. Furthermore Vardis wears a ring of \ncounterspells with dispel magic loaded. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 27 \nAPL 6 \n \nEncounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me? \nBenjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog6: \nCR 6; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 6d6+6; hp 29; \nInit +2; Spd 20; AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 15; Base \nAtk +5; Grp +1; Atk +6 melee (1d4, masterwork \nshortsword); SA +1 attack bonus with thrown weapons, \nSneak Attack +3d6; SQ +2 Bonus on Saves vs. Fear \nTraps, Trap Sense +2, Uncanny Dodge; AL N; SV Fort \n+4, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 12, Wis \n12, Cha 10. \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +9, Climb +2, Diplomacy \n+11, Disable Device +8, Forgery +7, Gather Information \n+2, Hide +15, Jump -4, Listen +3, Move Silently +13, \nOpen Lock +9, Search +10, Sleight of Hand +13, Spot \n+6; Dodge, Investigator, Mobility. \n \nEncounter 3: … Down By the River … \nMonk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk6; CR 6; \nMedium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+18; hp 61 [73]; \nInit +3 [+5]; Spd 50 ft.; AC 20 [26], touch 16 [20], flat-\nfooted 15 [19]; Base Atk +4; Grp +4; Atk +6 melee \n(1d8+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +5/+5 melee (1d8+2, \nunarmed strike) or +9 ranged (1d2+2 plus poison, \nshuriken); SA flurry of blows, unarmed strike; SQ \nevasion; AL LE; SV Fort +8 [+10], Ref +8 [+10], Will +7 \n[+9]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], Con 16 [20], Int 10, Wis \n13 [17], Cha 8. \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +7 [+9], Escape Artist +10 \n[+12], Jump +19 [+21], Move Silently +12 [+24], Hide \n+12 [+24, +44/+64 invisible], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +12 \n[+14]; \nDeflect \nArrows, \nEndurance, \nDiehard, \nWeakening Touch*, Stunning Fist, Improved Trip, \nWeapon Focus (shuriken) \n \nPossessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding, \nelixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls \nstrength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace, \npotion of mage armor, six masterwork shuriken \npoisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury \npoison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary \ndamage 2d6 Con) \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \n \nEncounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn \nSuel Cleric: Male Human Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe3: CR 9; \nHD 6d4+3d8+36; hp 63; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, \ntouch 12, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +4; Grp +3; Atk +4 \nmelee (1d6, Club), or +4 ranged (1d10, Heavy \nCrossbow) or +6 melee (1d10, +1 club); SV Fort +11, \nRef +7, Will +15; AL LN; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 19, \nWis 18, Cha 10; \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +6, Concentration +10, Heal \n+10, Knowledge (arcana) +16, Knowledge (religion) \n+16, Knowledge (planes) +13, Sense Motive +7, \nSpellcraft \n+18; \nPracticed \nSpellcaster \n(arcane)*, \nPracticed Spellcaster (divine)*, Split Ray*, Sanctum \nspell*, Divine spell power*. \n \nSpells Prepared: (5/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 14 + \nSpell Level); 0-cure minor wounds, detect magic, light, \npurify food and drink, resistance, virtue; 1\nst - calm \nanimals (d), divine favor, entropic shield, shield of \nfaith, protection from good; 2\nnd - bear’s endurance, \nbull’s strength, cure moderate wounds, owl’s wisdom, \nspiritual weapon (d) [club +8 1d8+3]; 3\nrd - dominate \nanimal (d), magic vestment, spikes, searing light. \n \nSpells Prepared: (4/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 14 + \nSpell Level); 0 - resistance, acid splash, ray of frost, \nmage hand; 1\nst - mage armor, magic missile, ray of \nenfeeblement, shield, true strike; 2\nnd - alter self, \nglitterdust, see invisibility, scorching ray, false life; 3\nrd - \nslow, clairaudience/ clairvoyance, fireball, fly \n \nPossessions: cloak of resistance +1, potion of cure \nmoderate wounds, club +1 \n \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nEncounter 6: Into the Breach \nUncle Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk9; \nCR 9; Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+12; hp 66 \n[84] Init +4; Spd 60 ft.; AC 17 [28], touch 17 [22], flat-\nfooted 13 [24]; Base Atk +6/+1; Grp +7 [+9]; Atk +10 \nmelee (1d10+3, unarmed strike); Full Atk +13/+13/+8 \nmelee (1d6+13, +1 ki focus nunchaku); SA flurry of \nblows, unarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki \nstrike (magic, lawful) greater flurry; SQ evasion, still \nmind Purity of body, Wholeness of body, Improved \nevasion; AL LE; SV Fort +10 [+12], Ref +12, Will +10 \n[+12] (+14 vs. Enchantment effects); Str 12 [16], Dex 18, \nCon 14 [18], Int 10, Wis 15 [19], Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +14, Escape Artist \n+17, Jump +22, Listen +16, Spot +16, Tumble +20; \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 28 \nWeapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Nunchaku), Deflect \nArrows, Weakening Touch*, Pain Touch*. \n \nPossessions: +1 nunchaku: ki focus, ioun stone, \ndusty rose [prism]; cloak of resistance +2; ring of \ncounterspells [dispel magic], necklace of fireballs type \nIII. \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \n \nSpells in effect: \nbear’s endurance [cl:9] \nbulls strength [cl:9] \nfly [cl 9] \ngreater magic weapon (+2) [cl:9] \nmage armor [cl:9] \nmagic vestment (+2) enhancement bonus [cl:9] \nowl’s wisdom [cl:9] \nshield of faith (+3) deflection bonus [cl:9] \nspikes* [cl:9] \nNote: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets, \nwhenever possible he uses the +1 ki focus nunchaku as \nhis attack weapon. Furthermore, Vardis wears a ring of \ncounterspells with dispel magic cast into it. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 29 \nAPL 8 \n \nEncounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me? \nBenjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog8: \nCR 8; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 8d6+8; hp 39; \nInit +2; Spd 20; AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 15; Base \nAtk +7; Grp +3; Atk +8 melee (1d4, masterwork short \nsword); Full Atk +8/+3 melee (1d4, masterwork short \nsword); SA +1 attack bonus with thrown weapons, \nSneak Attack +4d6; SQ Traps, Evasion, Trap Sense +2, \nUncanny Dodge, Improved Uncanny Dodge, +2 Bonus \non Saves vs. Fear; AL N; SV Fort +4, Ref +9, Will +4; Str \n10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +11, Climb +2, Diplomacy \n+13, Disable Device +8, Forgery +8, Gather Information \n+2, Hide +16, Intimidate +3, Jump -4, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +15, Open Lock +11, Search +10, Sleight of \nHand +15, Spot +11; Dodge, Investigator, Mobility. \n \nEncounter 3: … Down By the River … \nMonk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk8; CR 8; \nMedium humanoid (human); HD 8d8+18; hp 77 [93]; \nInit +3 [+5]; Spd 50 ft.; AC 20 [26], touch 16 [20], flat-\nfooted 15 [17]; Base Atk +6; Grp +6; Atk +6 [+8] melee \n(1d10+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +7/+7/+2 melee \n(1d10+2, unarmed strike) or +11 ranged (1d2+2 plus \npoison, shuriken); SA flurry of blows, unarmed strike; \nSQ evasion, improved Evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +9 \n[+11], Ref +9 [+11], Will +8 [+10]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 \n[20], Con 16 [20], Int 10, Wis 14 [18], Cha 8. \n \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +7 [+9], Escape Artist +12 \n[+14], Jump +19 [+21], Move Silently +14 [+16], Hide \n+14 [+16], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +14 [+16]; Deflect \nArrows, Endurance, Diehard, Weakening Touch*, \nStunning Fist, Improved Trip. Wholeness of body, \nWeapon Focus (shuriken) \n \nPossessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding, \nelixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls \nstrength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace, \npotion of mage armor, 6 masterwork shuriken \npoisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury \npoison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary \ndamage 2d6 Con) \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nEncounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn \nSuel Cleric, Male Human Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe5: CR \n11; Large Monstrous Humanoid; [medium humanoid \npolymorphed into Annis Hag] HD 8d4+3d8+44; hp 86 \n[101 with false life] [HP as Annis Hag 64 [79 with false \nlife]; Init +0 [+1 as Annis Hag]; Spd 30 ft.; AC 10 [27] \n[+4 mage armor, +4 shield, +10 natural (Annis Hag) -1 \nlarge sized], touch 12, [touch AC 12 as Annis Hag] flat-\nfooted 28; Base Atk +4; Grp +4; Atk +6 melee (1d6, \nClub +1) or +6 ranged (1d10, Heavy Crossbow) or +10 \nmelee (1d10+3, +1 [+3] club); Attacks as Hag: +10 \nmelee (1d6+7, 2 claws); SV Fort +11 [+9 as Annis Hag], \nRef +7 [+7 as Annis Hag], Will +16; AL LN; Str 8 [25 \nAnnis Hag +7], Dex 10 [12 Annis Hag +1], Con 18 [14 \nAnnis Hag +2], Int 19, Wis 18, Cha 10; \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +6, Concentration +14, Heal \n+10, Knowledge (arcana) +18, Knowledge (religion) \n+18, Knowledge (the planes) +13, Sense Motive +9, \nSpellcraft +20; Practiced Spellcaster (arcane)*, \nPracticed Spellcaster (divine)*, Split Ray*, Sanctum \nspell*, Divine Spell Power*. \n \nSpells Prepared: (6/5+1/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 14 \n+ Spell Level); 0-cure minor wounds, detect magic, \nlight, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue; 1st - \nbless, calm animals (d), divine favor, entropic shield, \nshield of faith, protection from good; 2\nnd - bear’s \nendurance, bull’s strength, cure moderate wounds, \nowl’s wisdom, spiritual weapon (d); 3\nrd - dominate \nanimal (d) magic vestment, cure serious wounds, \nspikes, searing light; 4\nth - freedom of movement, imbue \nwith spell ability, magic weapon, greater summon \nnature’s ally iv (d) \n \nSpells Prepared: (4/4+1/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 14 \n+ Spell Level); 0- resistance, acid splash, ray of frost, \nmage hand; 1\nst - mage armor, magic missile, ray of \nenfeeblement, shield, true strike; 2\nnd – alter self, \nglitterdust, see invisibility, scorching ray, false life; 3\nrd - \ngreater mage armor, clairaudience/clairvoyance, \nfireball, fly, ray of enfeeblement [split ray]; 4\nth - arcane \neye, Evards black tentacles, locate creature, polymorph, \nstoneskin \n Possessions: cloak of resistance +2, potion of cure \nmoderate wounds, club +1 \n*see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nSpells in effect: \nMage armor [cl: 11] \nShield [cl: 11] \nAlter self [cl: 11] \nEntropic shield [cl 11] \nFreedom of movement [cl 11] \nSee invisibility [cl 11] \nFalse life [cl 11] \nBless [cl 11] \nPolymorph [cl 11] \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 30 \n \nEncounter 6: Into the Breach \nUncle Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk9; \nCR 9; Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+12; hp 66 \n[84] Init: +4 [+6]; Spd: 60 ft.; AC 18 [35], touch 18 [28], \nflat-footed 14 [29]; Base Atk +6/+1; Grp +7 [+9]; Atk +10 \nmelee (1d10+3, unarmed strike); Full Atk +17/+17/+12 \n(1d6+14, (+1 ki focus nunchaku); SA flurry of blows, \nunarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki strike \n(magic, lawful) greater flurry; SQ evasion, still mind \nPurity of body, Wholeness of body, Improved evasion; \nAL LE; SV Fort +11 [+13], Ref +13 [+15], Will +11 [+13] \n(+15 vs. Enchantment effects); Str 12 [16], Dex 18 [22], \nCon 14 [18], Int 10, Wis 15 [19], Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +14, Escape Artist \n+17, Jump +22, Listen +16, Spot +16, Tumble +20; \nWeapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Nunchaku), Deflect \nArrows, Elusive Target*, Dodge, Mobility \n \nPossessions: +1 nunchaku, ki focus, ioun stone, \ndusty rose [prism]; cloak of resistance +3; ring of \ncounterspells [dispel magic CL 11], potions of haste (5), \nnecklace of fireballs type IV \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nSpells in effect: \nbear’s endurance [cl:11] \nbless [cl:11] \nbulls strength [cl:11] \ncat’s grace [cl:11] \nfly [cl 11] \ngreater mage armor* (+6) armor bonus [cl:11] \ngreater magic weapon x2 (+3) [cl:11] \nimbue with spell ability (2 cure light wounds, 1 cure \nmoderate wounds) [cl:11] \nmagic vestment (+3) enhancement bonus [cl:11] \nowl’s wisdom [cl:11] \nshield of faith (+4) deflection bonus [cl:11] \nspikes* [cl:11] \nstoneskin [cl:11] (DR 10/adamantine, 110 hp) \nNote: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets, \nwhenever possible he uses the ki focus nunchaku as \nhis attack weapon. Furthermore Vardis wears a ring of \ncounterspells with dispel magic loaded. \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 31 \nAPL 10 \n \nEncounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me? \nBenjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog10: \nCR 10; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 10d6+10; hp \n46; Init +3; Spd 20; AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 16; Base \nAtk +8; Grp +8; Atk +11 ranged touch or +9 melee (1d4, \nmasterwork shortsword); Full Atk +11/+6 base ranged \nor +9/4 melee (1d4, masterwork shortsword); SA +1 \nattack bonus with thrown weapons, Sneak Attack +5d6; \nSQ Traps, Evasion, Trap Sense +3, Uncanny Dodge, \nImproved Uncanny Dodge, Improved Evasion, +2 \nBonus on Saves vs. Fear; AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +11, \nWill +5; Str 10, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +13, Climb +2, Diplomacy \n+15, Disable Device +9, Forgery +11, Gather \nInformation +2, Hide +19, Intimidate +3, Jump -4, \nListen +3, Move Silently +18, Open Lock +14, Search \n+10, Sleight of Hand +18, Spot +13; Dodge, \nInvestigator, Mobility, Spring Attack. \nEncounter 3. … Down By the River … \nMonk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk10; CR 10; \nMedium humanoid (human); HD 10d8+22; hp 93 \n[113]; Init +3 [+5]; Spd 60 ft.; AC 21 [27], touch 17 [21], \nflat-footed 16 [18]; Base Atk +7; Grp +7; Atk +9 melee \n(1d10+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +9/+9/+4 melee \n(1d10 [1d10+2] unarmed strike or +15 ranged (1d2 \n[1d2+2] plus poison, Shuriken) SA flurry of blows, \nunarmed strike; SQ evasion, Improved Evasion, \nWholeness of body; AL LE; SV Fort +10 [+12], Ref +10 \n[+12], Will +9 [+11]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], Con 16 \n[20], Int 10, Wis 14 [18], Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +7 [+9], Escape Artist +14 \n[+16], Jump +21 [+23], Move Silently +16 [+28], Hide \n+16 [+28], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +16 [+18]; Deflect \nArrows, Endurance, Diehard, Weakening Touch*, \nStunning Fist, Improved Trip, Weapon Focus \n(shuriken), Point Blank Shot \n \nPossessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding, \nelixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls \nstrength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace, \npotion of mage armor, six masterwork shuriken \npoisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury \npoison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary \ndamage 2d6 Con) \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \n \nEncounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn \nSuel Cleric: Male Human Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe7: CR: \n13; Large Monstrous Humanoid; [medium humanoid \npolymorphed into Annis Hag]; HD 10d4+3d8+56; hp \n100 (115 with false life) [HP as Hag 100 (115 with false \nlife)] Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 10 [27] [+4 mage armor, +4 \nshield, +10 Natural, -1 large size], touch 12, flat-footed \n16; Base Atk +6; Grp: +5; Atk +6 melee (1d6, Club +1), \nor +6 ranged (1d10, Heavy Crossbow); Full Atk +6/+1 \nmelee (1d6, Club +1), or +6/+1 ranged (1d10, Heavy \nCrossbow); [Attacks as Hag +12 melee (1d6+7, 2 claws); \nSA as Annis Hag: Improved grab (grapple +17), Rake \n(+12 1d6+7), Rend (2d6+10) SV Fort +12 [+14], Ref +8, \nWill +17; AL LN; Str 8 [25 Annis Hag +7], Dex 10 [12 \nAnnis Hag +1], Con 18 [18 Bear’s Endurance/Annis \nHag +4], Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 10 \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +6, Concentration +20, Heal \n+10, Knowledge (arcana) +21, Knowledge (religion) \n+21, Knowledge (the planes) +14, Sense Motive +11, \nSpellcraft \n+23; \nPracticed \nSpellcaster \n(arcane)*, \nPracticed Spellcaster (divine)*, Split Ray*, Sanctum \nspell*, Divine spell power*, Domain focus (war)*. \n \nSpells Prepared: (6/5+1/5+1/4+1/4+1/3+1; base \nDC 14 + Spell Level); 0 - cure minor wounds, detect \nmagic, light, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue; \n1\nst - bless, calm animals (d), cure light wounds, divine \nfavor, entropic shield, shield of faith, protection from \ngood’; 2\nnd - bear’s endurance x 2, bull’s strength, cure \nmoderate wounds, owl’s wisdom, spiritual weapon (d); \n3\nrd - dominate animal (d), magic vestment, cure serious \nwounds, spikes*, searing light; 4\nth - freedom of \nmovement, imbue with spell ability, magic weapon, \ngreater x 2 summon nature’s ally iv (d); 5\nth - flame strike \n(d),stalwart pact*, scrying, true seeing \n \nSpells Prepared: (4/6+1/5+1/4+1/4+1/3+1; base \nDC 15 + Spell Level); 0 - resistance, acid splash, ray of \nfrost, mage hand; 1\nst - mage armor, magic missile, ray of \nenfeeblement x2, shield, true strike; 2\nnd - alter self, \nglitterdust, see invisibility, scorching ray, false life x2; \n3\nrd - greater mage armor, clairaudience/clairvoyance, \nfireball, fly, ray of enfeeblement [split ray]; 4\nth - arcane \neye, Evards black tentacles, locate creature, scorching \nray [split ray], stoneskin; 5\nth - telepathic bond, magic jar \n summon monster V refusal* \n \nPossessions: cloak of resistance +2, potion of cure \nmoderate wounds, club +1 \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 32 \nSpells in effect: \nmage armor [cl:13] \nshield [cl:13] \nentropic shield [cl 13] \nfreedom of movement [cl 13] \nsee invisibility [cl 13] \nfalse life [cl 13] \nbless [cl 13] \npolymorph [cl 13] \n \nEncounter 6: Into the Breach \nUncle Vardis: male human (Suel) Mnk13; CR 13; \nMedium humanoid (human); HD 13d8+42; hp 94 \n[135]; Init +4 [+6]; Spd 70 ft.; AC 19 [42], touch 19 [27], \nflat-footed 19 [36]; Base Atk +9/+4; Grp +10 [+12]; Atk \n+21 melee (1d6+14, +1 ki focus Nunchaku); Full Atk \n+21/+21/+21/+16 [+21 hasted action] melee (1d6+14, \n+1, ki focus Nunchaku or Nunchaku); SA flurry of \nblows, unarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki \nstrike (magic, lawful) greater flurry; SQ evasion, still \nmind Purity of body, Wholeness of body, Improved \nevasion, Diamond body, Abundant step, Diamond soul \n(SR 23); AL LE; SV Fort +13 [+15], Ref +15 [+17], Will \n+13 [+15] (+17 vs. Enchantment effects); Str 12 [16], \nDex 18 [22], Con 14 [18], Int 10, Wis 15 [19], Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +10, Escape Artist \n+18, Jump +26, Knowledge (religion) +7, Listen +20, \nSense Motive +7, Spot +20, Tumble +24; Weapon \nFinesse, Weapon Focus (nunchaku), Deflect Arrows, \nElusive Target*, Dodge, Mobility. \n \nPossessions: +1, ki focus nunchaku; ioun stone, \ndusty rose [prism]; cloak of resistance +3; ring of \ncounterspells [dispel magic]; ring of counterspells \n[dispel magic]; potions of haste (5); boots of speed; \nnecklace of fireballs (type VII). \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nSpells in effect: \nstalwart pact* [cl:13] (65 hit points, kicks in at 47 hit \npoints) \nstoneskin [cl:13] (DR 10/adamantine 130 hp) \nimbue with spell ability (2 cure light wounds, 1 cure \nmoderate wounds) [cl:13] \ngreater magic weapon x2 [Cl:13] \nmagic vestment (+3) enhancement bonus [cl:13] \ngreater mage armor* (+6) armor bonus [lvl: 3, cl:13] \nshield of faith (+4) deflection bonus [cl:13] \nspikes* [cl:13] \nfly [cl: 13] \nfalse life [cl: 13] \nbear’s endurance [cl:13] \ncat’s grace [cl:13] \nowl’s wisdom [cl:13] \nbulls strength [cl:13] \nalter self [cl 13] \nbless [cl:13] \nNote: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets, \nwhenever possible he uses the ki focus nunchaku as \nhis attack weapon. Furthermore Vardis wears two \nrings of counterspells, both with dispel magic. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 33 \nAPL 12 \n \nEncounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me? \nBenjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog12: \nCR 12; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 12d6+12; hp \n55; Init +3; Spd 20; AC 16, touch 14, flatfooted 16); Base \nAtk +9/+4; Grp+5; Atk +11 melee (1d4, masterwork \nshort sword) or +13 ranged; Full Atk +11/+6 melee \n(1d4, masterwork short sword) SA +1 attack bonus with \nthrown weapons, Sneak Attack +6d6; SQ Traps, \nEvasion, Trap Sense +4, Uncanny Dodge, Improved \nUncanny Dodge, Improved Evasion, +2 Bonus on \nSaves vs. Fear; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +12, Will +6; Str \n11, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +15, Climb +2, Diplomacy \n+15, Disable Device +13, Disguise +2, Forgery +13, \nGather Information +2, Hide +22, Intimidate +3, Jump \n-4, Listen +3, Move Silently +20, Open Lock +16, \nSearch +12, Sleight of Hand +20, Spot +13; Deceitful, \nDodge, Investigator, Mobility, Spring Attack. \n \nEncounter 3: … Down By the River … \nMonk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk12; CR 12; \nMedium humanoid (human); HD 12d8+26; hp 109 \n[133]; Init +3 [+5]; Spd 70 ft.; AC 21 [27], touch 17 [21], \nflat-footed 16 [18]; Base Atk +9; Grp +9; Atk +12 [+14] \nmelee (1d10+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +12/+12/+7 \nmelee (1d10+2, unarmed strike) or +16/+16/+11 ranged \n(1d2+2 plus poison, shuriken); SA flurry of blows, \nunarmed strike; SQ Wholeness of body, Improved \nevasion; AL LE; SV Fort +10 [+12], Ref +10 [+12], Will \n+9 [+11]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], Con 16 [20], Int 10, \nWis 14 [18], Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +7 [+9], Escape Artist +14 \n[+16], Jump +21 [+23], Move Silently +16 [+18], Hide \n+16 [+18], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +16 [+18]; Deflect \nArrows, Endurance, Diehard, Weakening Touch*, \nStunning Fist, Improved Trip, Weapon Finesse, \nWeapon Focus (shuriken), Point Blank Shot. \n \nPossessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding, \nelixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls \nstrength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace, \npotion of mage armor, 6 masterwork shuriken \npoisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury \npoison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary \ndamage 2d6 Con) \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \n \nEncounter Four: The Bridgeforth Inn \nSuel Cleric: Male Human Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe9: CR \n15; Large Monstrous Humanoid; [medium humanoid \npolymorphed into Annis Hag]; HD 12d4+3d8+52; hp \n114 [140 w/ false life & heroes feast]; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; \nAC 10 [31] [+4 mage armor, +4 magic vestment, +4 \nshield, +10 Natural, -1 large size] touch AC 10 [17], flat-\nfooted AC 10 [31]; Base Atk +7, Atk +6/+1 melee (1d6, \n+1 Club); [Attacks as Hag: +13 melee (1d6+7, 2 claws)]; \nSA as Annis Hag: Improved grab (grapple +18), Rake \n(+13 1d6+7), Rend (2d6+10) SV Fort +12 [+14], Ref +8, \nWill +17; AL LN; Str 8 [25 Annis Hag +7], Dex 10 [12 \nAnnis Hag +1], Con 18 [18 Bear’s Endurance/Annis \nHag +4], Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 10; \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +6, Concentration +20, Heal \n+10, Knowledge (arcana) +21, Knowledge (religion) \n+21, Knowledge (the planes) +14, Sense Motive +11, \nSpellcraft \n+23; \nPracticed \nSpellcaster \n(arcane)*, \nPracticed Spellcaster (divine)*, Split Ray*, Sanctum \nspell*, Divine spell power*, Domain focus (war)* \n \nSpells Prepared: (6/6+1/5+1/5+1/4+1/3+1/2+1; \nbase DC 14 + Spell Level); 0 -cure minor wounds, \ndetect magic, light, purify food and drink, resistance, \nvirtue; 1\nst - bless, calm animals (d), cure light wounds, \ndivine favor, entropic shield, shield of faith, protection \nfrom good; 2\nnd - bear’s endurance x 2, bull’s strength, \ncure moderate wounds, owl’s wisdom, spiritual weapon \n(d); 3\nrd - dominate animal (d), magic vestment x 2, cure \nserious wounds, spikes*, searing light; 4\nth - freedom of \nmovement, imbue with spell ability, greater x2, \nsummon nature’s ally IV (d); 5\nth - flame strike (d), \nstalwart pact*, scrying, true seeing; 6\nth- antilife shell (d), \nheroes feast, symbol of pain. \n \nSpells Prepared: (4/6+1/5+1/5+1/4+1/3+1/2+1; \nbase DC 15 + Spell Level); 0- resistance, acid splash, ray \nof frost, mage hand 1\nst - mage armor, magic missile, ray \nof enfeeblement x2, shield, true strike; 2\nnd – alter self, \nsee invisibility, scorching ray x2, false life x2; 3\nrd - \ngreater \nmage \narmor*, \nclairaudience/clairvoyance, \nfireball, fly, blink, ray of exhaustion; 4\nth - arcane eye, \nEvards black tentacles, locate creature, polymorph, \nstoneskin; 5\nth - telepathic bond, symbol of pain, \nsummon monster V x2; refusal; 6\nth - true seeing, greater \ndispel magic [split ray*] enervation. \n \nPossessions: cloak of resistance +2, potion of cure \nmoderate wounds, club +1 \n* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nSpells in effect: \nmage armor [cl:15] \nshield [cl:15] \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 34 \nentropic shield [cl 15] \nfreedom of movement [cl 15] \nsee invisibility [cl 15] \nfalse life [cl 15] \nbless [cl 15] \npolymorph [cl 15] \nhero’s feast [cl 15] \nshield of faith (+4) deflection bonus [cl: 15] \n \nEncounter 6 - Into the Breach \nUncle Vardis: male human (Suel) Mnk15; CR 15; \nMedium humanoid (human); HD 15d8+46; hp 108 \n[164 w/ false life & heroes feast]; Init +4 [+6]; Spd 70 ft.; \nAC 20 [45], touch 18 [26], flat-footed 15 [33]; Base Atk \n+11/+6/+1; Grp +12 [+14]; Atk +16 [+18] melee (2d6+3, \nunarmed strike); Full Atk +25/+25/+25/+20/+15 [+25 \nhasted] (1d6+14, +1 ki focus nunchaku); SA flurry of \nblows, unarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki \nstrike (magic, lawful) greater flurry, quivering palm; \nSQ Evasion, Still mind Purity of body, Wholeness of \nbody, Improved Evasion, Diamond body, Abundant \nstep, Diamond soul (SR 25); AL LE; SV Fort +14 [+16], \nRef +16 [+18], Will +14 [+17] (+19 vs. Enchantment \neffects); Str 12 [16], Dex 18 [22], Con 14 [18], Int 10, \nWis 15 [19], Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +10, Escape Artist \n+20, Jump +26, Knowledge (religion) +7, Listen +22, \nSense Motive +7, Spot +22, Tumble +26. Weapon \nFinesse, Weapon Focus (nunchaku), Deflect Arrows, \nElusive Target*, Pain Touch*, Sun School*, Dodge, \nMobility \n \nPossessions: +1 nunchaku, ki focus, ioun stone, \ndusty rose, cloak of resistance +3, ring of counterspells \n[greater dispel magic], ring of counterspells [dispel \nmagic], potion of haste (5), boots of speed, necklace of \nfireballs, type VII. \n*see Appendix 2: New Rules Items \nSpells in effect: \nalter self [cl 15] \nbear’s endurance [cl:15] \nbless [cl:15] \nbulls strength [cl:15] \ncat’s grace [cl:15] \nfalse life [cl: 15] \nfly [cl: 15] \ngreater mage armor* (+6) armor bonus [cl:15] \ngreater magic weapon x2 [+4] [cl:15] \nheroes feast [cl: 15} \nimbue with spell ability (2 cure light, 1 cure moderate) \n[cl:15] \nmagic vestment (+4) enhancement bonus [lvl 3, cl:15] \nowl’s wisdom [cl:15] \nshield of faith (+4) deflection bonus [cl: 15] \nspikes* [cl:15] \nstalwart pact* [cl:15] (75 hit points, kicks in at 47 hit \npoints) \nstoneskin [cl:15] (DR 10/adamantine, 150 hp) \nNote: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets, \nwhenever possible he uses the ki focus nunchaku as \nhis attack weapon. Furthermore Vardis wears two \nrings of counterspells, one with dispel magic and the \nother with greater dispel magic. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 35 \nAppendix Two: New Rules Items \n \nDefensive Throw [General] as presented in \nComplete Warrior \nYou can use your opponent’s weight, strength, and \nmomentum against her, deflecting her attack and \nthrowing her to the ground. \nPrerequisites: Dex 13, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, \nImproved Trip, Improved Unarmed Strike \nBenefit: If the opponent you have chosen to use your \nDodge feat against attacks you and misses, you can \nmake an immediate trip attack against that opponent. \nThis attempt counts against your allowed attacks of \nopportunity in the round. \nDivine Spell Power [Divine] as presented in \nComplete Divine \nYou can channel positive or negative energy to \nenhance your divine spellcasting ability \nPrerequisites: Ability to turn or rebuke undead, able \nto cast 1st level divine spells. \nBenefit: You can spend a turn or rebuke attempt as a \nfree action and roll a turning check (with a special +3 \nbonus, plus any other modifiers you’d normally apply \nto your turning check). Treat the result of the turning \ncheck as a modifier to your caster level on the next \ndivine spell you cast in that round. \nFor example, if a cleric used this feat and rolled a 16 on \nhis turning check, he would add a +2 bonus to his \ncaster level for the next divine spell he casts in the \nround. Had he rolled an 8 he would instead apply a -1 \npenalty ot his caster level for the next divine spell he \ncast in the round. \nIf you don’t cast a divine spell before your next turn, \nyou lose the effect of the check result. This feat has no \neffect on your arcane spellcasting ability. \nDomain Focus [General] as presented in \nComplete Divine \nYou have mastered the subtle intricacies of the divine \npower you’ve devoted yourself to \nPrerequisites: Access to relevant domain. \nBenefit: You can cast spells associated with one of your \ndomains at a +1 caster level. This benefit also applies to \ncaster level checks to overcome a targets spell \nresistance as well as other variables such as spell \nduration. If you cast a spell from one of your non-\ndomain spell slots , this feat dos not help you, even if \nthe spell also happens to appear on your domain list. \nSpecial: You can take Domain Focus multiple times. \nIts effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it \napplies to a new domain to which you have access. \nElusive Target [Tactical] as presented in \nComplete Warrior \nTrying to land a blow against you can be a maddening \nexperience. \nPrerequisites: Dodge, Mobility, base attack bonus +6 \nBenefit: The Elusive Target feat enables the use of \nthree tactical maneuvers. \nNegate Power Attack: To use this maneuver, you \nmust designate a specific foe to be affected by your \nDodge feat. If that foe uses the Power Attack feat \nagainst you, the foe gains no bonus on the damage roll \nbut still takes the corresponding penalty on the attack \nroll. \nDiverting Defense: To use this maneuver, you must \nbe flanked and you must designate one of the flanking \nattackers to be affected by your Dodge Feat. The first \nattack of the round from the designated attacker \nautomatically misses you and may strike the other \nflanking foe instead; the attacking creature makes an \nattack roll normally, and its ally is considered flat-\nfooted. If the designated attacker is making a full \nattack against you, its second and subsequent attacks \nfunction normally. \nCause Overreach: To use this maneuver, you must \nprovoke an attack of opportunity from a foe by moving \nout of a threatened square. If the foe misses you, you \ncan make a free trip attempt against this foe and the foe \ndoes not get a chance to trip you if your attempt fails. \nExtra Stunning [General] as presented in \nComplete Warrior \nYou gain extra stunning attacks. \nPrerequisites: Stunning fist, base attack bonus +2. \nBenefit: You gain the ability to make three extra \nstunning attacks per day. \nSpecial: You can take this feat multiple times. Its \neffects stack. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 36 \nFists Of Iron [General] as presented in \nComplete Warrior \nYou have learned the secrets of imbuing your unarmed \nattacks with extra force. \nPrerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning \nFist, base attack bonus +2. \nBenefit: Declare that you are using this feat before you \nmake your attack roll (thus, a missed attack roll ruins \nthe attempt). You deal an extra 1d6 points of damage \nwhen you make a successful unarmed attack. Each \nattempt counts as one of your uses of the Stunning Fist \nfeat for the day. \nFlying \nKick \n[General] \nas \npresented \nin \nComplete Warrior \nYou literally leap into battle, dealing devastating \ndamage. \nPrerequisites: Str 13, Jump 4 ranks, Improved \nUnarmed Strike, Power Attack. \nBenefit: When fighting unarmed and using the charge \naction, you deal an extra 1d12 points of damage with \nyour unarmed attack. \nPain Touch [General] as presented in Complete \nWarrior \nYou can cause intense pain in an opponent with a \nsuccessful stunning attack \nPrerequisites: Wis 15, Stunning Fist, Base attack \nbonus +2 \nBenefit: Victims of a successful stunning attack are \nsubject to such debilitating pain that they are \nnauseated for 1 round following the round they are \nstunned. Creatures that are immune to stunning \nattacks are also immune to the effect of this feat, as are \nany creatures that are more than once size category \nlarger than the feat user. \nPracticed Spellcaster as presented in Complete \nArcane \nChoose a spell casting class that you possess. Your \nspells cast from that class are more powerful. \nPrerequisites: Spell craft 4 ranks. \nBenefit: Your caster level for the chosen spellcasting \nclass increases by 4. This benefit can’t increase your \ncaster level to higher than your Hit Dice. However, \neven if you can’t benefit from the full bonus \nimmediately, if you later gain Hit Dice in levels of \nnonspellcasting classes, you might be able to apply the \nrest of the bonus. \nFor example, a human 5th-level sorcerer/3rd level \nfighter who selects this feat would increase his sorcerer \ncaster level from 5th to 8th (since he has 8 Hit Dice). If \nhe later gained a fighter level, he would gain the \nremainder of the bonus and his sorcerer caster level \nwould become 9th (since he now has 9 hit dice). \nA character with two or more spellcasting classes (such \nas a bard/sorcerer or a ranger/druid) must choose \nwhich class gains the feat’s effect. \nThis feat does not affect your spells per day or the \nspells known. It increases your caster level only, \nwhich would help you penetrate spell resistance and \nincrease the duration and other effects of your spells. \nSpecial: You may select this feat multiple times. Each \ntime you choose it, you must apply it to a different \nspellcasting class. For instance, a 4th level cleric/5th \nlevel wizard who had selected this feat twice would \ncast cleric spells as an 8th level caster and wizard spells \nas a 9th level caster. \nProne Attack [General] as presented in \nComplete Warrior \nYou can attack from a prone position without penalty \nPrerequisites: Dex 15, Lightning Reflexes, base attack \nbonus +2 \nBenefit: You can make an attack from the prone \nposition and take no penalty on your attack roll. If \nyour attack roll is successful you may regain your feet \nimmediately as a free action. Opponents gain no bonus \non melee attacks against you while you are prone. \nSpecial: A fighter may select Prone Attack as one of \nhis fighter bonus feats. \nRapid Stunning [General] as presented in \nComplete Warrior \nYou can use your stunning attacks in rapid succession. \nPrerequisites: Combat Reflexes, Stunning Fist, base \nattack bonus +6. \nBenefit: You may use one additional stunning attack \n(or other special attack that counts against your daily \nlimit of stunning attacks) per round. \nNormal: You may only attempt a stunning attack (or \nother special attack that counts against your daily limit \nof stunning attacks) once per round. \nSpecial: A fighter may select Rapid Stunning as one of \nhis fighter bonus feats. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 37 \nA character can take this feat multiple times. Its effects \nstack. \nSanctum Spell [Metamagic] as presented in \nComplete Arcane \nYour spells are especially potent on home ground. \nPrerequisites: Any metamagic feat. \nBenefit: A sanctum spell has an effective spell level 1 \nhigher than its normal level if cast in your sanctum \n(see below), but if not cast in the sanctum, the spell has \nan effective spell level 1 lower than normal. All effects \ndependent on spell level (including save DC’s) are \ncalculated according to the adjusted level. \nA sanctum spell uses a spell slot of the spells normal \nlevel. \nSpecial: Your sanctum is a particular site, building, or \nstructure previously designated by you, and not larger \nthan 20 feet/level in diameter. The designated area \nmust be a site where you have spent a cumulative \nperiod of at least three months. Though a sanctum can \nbe designated within a larger structure its special \nadvantages do not apply beyond the maximum area. \nOnce designated, it takes seven days for a site to \nbecome a sanctum, and if you designate a new area to \nbe your sanctum, the benefits of the old one \nimmediately fades \nSplit Ray [Metamagic] as presented in \nComplete Arcane \nYour ray spells can affect an additional target \nPrerequisites: Any metamagic feat. \nBenefit: You can cause any ray spell to fire one \nadditional ray beyond the number normally allowed. \nThe additional ray requires a separate ranged touch \nattack roll to hit and deals damage as normal. It can be \nfired at the same target as the first ray or at a different \ntarget, but all rays must be aimed at targets within 30 \nfeet of each other and fired simultaneously. \nA split ray spell uses a spell slot two levels higher than \nthe spells actual level. \nSun School [Tactical] as presented in Complete \nWarrior \nYou have learned a number of esoteric martial arts \ntechniques inspired by the sun. \nPrerequisites: Flurry of blows ability, base attack \nbonus +4 \nBenefit: The Sun School feat enables the use of three \ntactical maneuvers. \nInexorable Progress of Dawn: To use this maneuver, \nyou must hit the same foe with the first two unarmed \nattacks from a flurry of blows. If you do, your foe must \nmove back 5 feet, and you may move 5 feet forward if \nyou wish. This maneuver does not provoke an attack of \nopportunity for either character. \nBlinding Sun of Noon: To use this maneuver, you \nmust successfully stun the same foe with an unarmed \nattack two rounds in a row. In addition to being \nstunned, that enemy is confused for 1d4 rounds \nthereafter. \nFlash of Sunset: To use this maneuver, you must \nmove adjacent to a foe instantaneously, as with a \ndimension door spell or the monk’s abundant step class \nfeature. If you do so, you can immediately make a \nsingle attack at your highest attack bonus against that \nfoe. \nWeakening Touch [General] as presented in \nComplete Warrior \nYou can temporarily weaken an opponent with your \nunarmed strike. \nPrerequisites: Wis 17, Improved Unarmed Strike, \nStunning Fist, base attack bonus +2. \nBenefit: Declare that you are using this feat before you \nmake your attack roll (thus, a missed attack roll ruins \nthe attempt). You can make an unarmed attack that \ndeals no damage, but instead applies a -6 penalty to the \ntargets Strength score for 1 minute. Multiple \nweakening touches delivered on the same target are \nnot cumulative. Each attempt to deliver a weakening \ntouch counts as one of your Stunning Fist attacks for \nthe day. Creatures with immunity to stun effects \ncannot be affected by this feat. \nSpecial: A fighter may select Weakening Touch as one \nof his fighter bonus feats. \nZen Archery [General] as presented in \nComplete Warrior \nYour intuition guides your hand when you use a \nranged weapon. \nPrerequisites: Wis 13, base attack bonus +1. \nBenefit: You can use your Wisdom modifier instead of \nyour Dexterity modifier when making a ranged attack \nroll. \nRefusal \n[Arcane \nSpell] \nas \npresented \nin \nComplete Arcane \nAbjuration \nLevel: Sorcerer/Wizard 5 \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 38 \nComponents: V, S, M \nCasting Time: 1 Standard Action \nRange: Medium (100ft/10 ft./level) \nEffect: Two 10-ft. squares/level (S) \nDuration: 1 hour/level \nSaving Throw: Will negates; see text \nSpell Resistance: Yes \nYou create a special ward that prevents unauthorized \nspellcasters or creatures with spell-like abilities from \nentering an area. Any creature that has spells prepared, \nspell slots available for casting without preparation, or \ninnate spell-like abilities must succeed on a Will save \nor be halted by an invisible barrier that prevents \npassage. The DC of the Will save increases by a \nnumber equal to the spell level of the highest level \nspell the creature has prepared or is capable of casting \n(so that a 10\nth-level sorcerer who hasn’t yet exhausted \nhis 5\nth-level spell slots for the day adds +5 to the save \nDC). You can choose to designate a password or special \ncondition \n(such \nas \ncharacter \nrace, \nalignment, \npossession of a token, or any other observable or \ndetectable characteristic) by which spellcasting PCs \nand creatures can enter the refusal-warded area. \nCreatures that have no spellcasting capability or spell-\nlike abilities (including spellcasters who have \nexhausted their spell slots, and creatures with spell \ntrigger or spell completion magic items) can pass \nthrough the barrier with no difficulty. Spellcasters and \ncreatures that have spell like abilities and that are \nalready within the area you protect when you create \nthe ward are not compelled to leave or restricted in \ntheir movement within it (and spells and spell-like \nabilities can pass through the barrier in either direction \nwith no difficulty). However, if such creatures leave \nthe area, they must succeed on saving throws as \ndescribed above to return. \nCreatures attempting to use any teleportation spell or \neffect to enter the warded area make the normal saving \nthrow. They are shunted harmlessly to the nearest save \nspace outside of the warded area if they fail. \nMaterial Component: A pinch of dust from a wizards \ntomb. \nBrambles [Divine Spell] as presented in \nComplete Divine \nTransmutation \nLevel: Cleric 2, Druid 2 \nComponents: V, S, M \nCasting time: 1 standard action \nRange: Touch \nDuration: 1 round/level \nSaving Throw: None \nSpell Resistance: No. \nSmall magical thorns or spikes protrude from the \nsurface of a wooden weapon, such as a club, greatclub, \nnunchaku, or quarterstaff. For the duration of the \nspell, the weapon deals both piercing and bludgeoning \ndamage. It gains a +1 enhancement bonus on its \nattacks and deals an additional +1 point of damage per \ncaster level (maximum +10). This spell works only on \nmelee weapons with wooden striking surfaces. For \ninstance, it does not work on a bow, and arrow, or a \nmetal mace. Material Component: a small thorn. \nMage Armor, Greater [Arcane Spell] as \npresented in Complete Arcane \nConjuration (Creation) [Force] \nLevel: Sorcerer/Wizard 3 \nComponents: V,S,M \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: Touch \nTarget: Creature Touched \nDuration: 1 hour/level \nSaving Throw: Will negates (harmless) \nSpell Resistance: No. \nThis spell functions like mage armor, except that its \ntangible field of force provides a +6 armor bonus to \nArmor Class. Material Component: A tiny platinum \nshield worth 25gp. \n \nSpikes [Divine Spell] as presented in Complete \nDivine \n \nTransmutation \nLevel: Cleric 3, Druid 3 \nComponents: V,S,M \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: Touch \nTarget: 1 wooden weapon touched \nDuration: 1 hour/level \nSaving Throw: None \nSpell Resistance: No. \nAs Brambles, except that the affected weapon gains a \n+2 enhancement bonus on its attacks, and its threat \nrange is doubled. \n \nStalwart Pact [Divine Spell] as presented in \nComplete Divine \nEvocation \nLevel: Cleric 5, Pact 5 \nComponents: V, S, DF, XP \nCasting Time: 10 minutes \nRange: Touch \nTarget: Willing Living Creature Touched \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 39 \nDuration: Permanent until triggered, then 1 \nround/level \nSaving Throws: Will negates (harmless) \nSpell Resistance: Yes (harmless). \n \nThis spell allows the target to enter a binding \nagreement with a deity that provides a measure of \nprotection when the need is dire. Once this spell is \ncast, the pact remains dormant until the target is \nreduced to half or less of her full normal hit points. \nThe target immediately gains 5 temporary hit points \nper caster level, damage reduction of 5/magic, and a +4 \nluck bonus on saving throws. The hit points, damage \nreduction, and saving throw bonus evaporate when the \nspell ends. XP Cost: 250xp. \n \nMask of Lies [Wondrous Item] as presented in \nComplete Adventurer \nThis black, featureless mask has only slits for eyes and \nmouth. The wearer can use disguise self on herself at \nwill and is continually under the effect of undetectable \nalignment. In addition, she gains a +5 competence \nbonus on bluff checks. \nKrot’s Belt of Sizing [Wondrous Item] as \npresented in Verbobonc Regional Adventure \nThis sturdy leather belt was created by the \nrogue/wizard Krot to assist in disguise. A humanoid \nwearer of the belt can increase or decrease his size as \nthough under the effects of enlarge person or reduce \nperson. Each effect can be maintained for only 10 \nminutes per day, but the 10 minutes need not be \nconsecutive. Increasing or decreasing size requires a \nstandard action, as does returning to normal size before \nthe 10 minutes have expired. These actions do not \nprovoke an attack of opportunity. \nFaint transmutation; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item, \nenlarge person, reduce person; Price 15,000 gp \n \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 40 \nAppendix Three: Maps \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 41 \n \n \n \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 42 \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 43 \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 44 \nMap of Verbobonc City \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 45 \nAppendix Four: Troubleshooting \n \nIn the running of the adventure some parties may \nthrough their actions deviate substantially from the \ngeneral plotline of the adventure. This section is \ndesigned to provide some guidance for you as the DM \nto handle such groups in a way that allows for the \nadventure to continue to the end while allowing for \nunconventional character choices. Please follow the \nsuggestions below if the PCs seriously compromise the \nadventure. \nBe aware that you may have to alter or paraphrase the \ngiven read-aloud text liberally if the PCs deviate from \nthe primary path of this adventure. \nDenying the Family: Some PCs may react \nunfavorably to the intrusion of a family member into \ntheir room, or refuse to go along with the Family \nmember once they discover his thievery. If the PCs do \ntry and get the PCs back on path by having Krot \nhimself show up an hour or so later and request that \nthey assist him. If the PCs do take this path though \nKrot will not be pleased and will go out of his way to \nspeak to the other members of the family about the \nPCs. Be sure to eliminate all favors or promotions for \nthe Family from the PCs AR. \nDenying the Watch: Some Chaotic or Neutral PCs \nmay refuse the request from Caleb for assistance. If \nthey do please strike all influence and favors from the \nwatch off their AR’s and ask them what they would like \nto do with their day. Please note the timeline later in \nthe Troubleshooting section to determine what will \nhappen when. \nCompletely off the adventure: A few, hopefully very \nfew parties may not have any allegiance toward either \nKrot or to Caleb and may deny the requests presented \nto them. Allow them to do so, and if they like they \nmay busy themselves exploring Verbobonc City. \nPlease note the timeline later in the Troubleshooting \nsection to determine what will happen when. \nYou may also wish to offer them another adventure to \nplay in the time allocated for this one. \nGetting back on adventure: Often the PCs will decide \nthat denying such an obvious opportunity was a bad \nidea. If so allow them to get back onto adventure, \nthough finding watch captain Caleb (DC 10 Gather \nInformation check) and having them apologize to him. \n \nIf so pick up the adventure at Encounter 4: The \nBridgeforth Inn. Have Caleb explain that the watch \nhad sent a few watchmen to collect Lathmir, but that \nthey had returned when Lathmir was assassinated. \nOffer no clues as to how to overcome the Forbiddance \nin place at the Bridgeforth. Have Caleb then offer the \nPCs the honor of being the first into the Inn. \n \nTimeline of Events: \n \n5:00 AM: The Gentlemen of the Watch move to raid \nthe Bridgeforth Inn, one officer is slain, and Caleb \ncontacts the Church of St. Cuthbert for removal of the \nspell. \n5:30 AM: The Church discovers they are unable to \ndispel the Forbiddance. Caleb is contacted by the \nFamily (who have also been Keeping the Bridgeforth \nunder surveillance) \n6:00 AM: Caleb agrees to a meeting with Krot and \nseeks representatives (the PCs). \n7:00 AM: Caleb meets with Krot and they compare \nnotes, if the PCs are not present Caleb sends watchmen \nto collect Lathmir. \n7:30 AM: Lathmir is killed by the Monk. \n8:00 AM: The Watchmen return to report to Caleb that \nLathmir is dead. Caleb begins readying his Watchmen \nto either charge the inn or destroy it with fire. \n10:00 AM: If the PCs have not joined Caleb he orders \nfor his veterans to charge the Inn. He is successful in \ndefeating the defender and Vardis escapes. Bub \nTympanum dies. \n10:15 AM: Vardis kills the watchmen outside the \nVerbobonc Guild Hall, enters the hall and successfully \nshifts it to the Astral Plane. \n10:30 AM: Caleb reaches the Verbobonc Guild Hall \nand calls in the Wrinkle Academy and the Church of \nSt. Cuthbert to investigate. \n10:45 AM: The Wrinkle Academy determines what \noccurred and travels to the Astral plane to try and \nrecover the Royal Furyondy Mint. The Mint however \nhas already been removed and is lost.\n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 46 \nAppendix Five: Player Handouts \nAstral Plane Traits \nThe Astral plane has the following traits: \nSubjective Directional Gravity: The strength of gravity on a plane with this trait is the same as on the Material Plane, \nbut each individual chooses the direction of gravity's pull. Such a plane has no gravity for unattended objects and \nnonsentient creatures. This sort of environment can be very disorienting to the newcomer, but is common on \n\"weightless\" planes. \nPCs on a plane with subjective directional gravity can move normally along a solid surface by imagining \"down\" near \ntheir feet. If suspended in midair, a character \"flies\" by merely choosing a \"down\" direction and \"falling\" that way. \nUnder such a procedure, an individual \"falls\" 150 feet in the first round and 300 feet in each succeeding round. \nMovement is straight-line only. In order to stop, one has to slow one's movement by changing the designated \"down\" \ndirection (again, moving 150 feet in the new direction in the first round and 300 feet per round thereafter). \n \nFor the purposes of this adventure it is presumed that “falling” to a solid object (such as the Royal Furyondy Mint) does \nnot incur the standard falling damage, instead a DC 20 balance check is imposed in order to land and remain standing. \nIt takes a DC 16 Wisdom check to set a new direction of gravity as a free action; this check can be made once per round. \nAny character who fails this Wisdom check in successive rounds receives a +6 bonus on subsequent checks until he or \nshe succeeds. \nMagical flight works normally on the Astral Plane, as does natural flight; provided that the creature successfully sets the \ndirection of gravity and then flies as it would on the material plane. \nTimeless. Age, hunger, thirst, poison, and natural healing don’t function in the Astral Plane, though they resume \nfunctioning when the traveler leaves the Astral Plane. \nMildly neutral-aligned. \nEnhanced magic. All spells and spell-like abilities used within the Astral Plane is employed as if they were improved by \nthe Quicken Spell feat. Already quickened spells and spell-like abilities are unaffected, as are spells from magic items. \nSpells so quickened are still prepared and cast at their unmodified level. As with the Quicken Spell feat, only one \nquickened spell can be cast per round. \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 47 \nPlayer Handout #1 \n \n\nVer5-04 Fool’s Gold \n \nPage 48 \nCritical Events Summary \n(For events plays on or before August 1, 2005, please email the results to poc@illinoisrpg.com) \n \nWas the Royal Furyondy Mint destroyed? \n \n \n \nWas the Royal Furyondy Mint recovered? \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Verbobonc/595/Normal Scenarios/VER5-04 - Fools Gold (APL 2-12)/VER5-04 - Fools Gold.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":186,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed \nby Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison. \n \nThis game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of Wizards of the \nCoast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20. \n \nThis is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run DUNGEONS & \nDRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com. \n \nDUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and \nMonster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the \nUnited States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written \npermission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely \ncoincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc and the adventure author or authors. \n \nDetails and maps of the town of Pest’s Crossing are excerpted from: Against the Giants: The Liberation of Geoff by Gary Gygax and Sean K. Reynolds. \n \nVisit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com. \nFor questions specific to this document and your metaregion please e-mail your metaregional point of contact (POC) at scon40@aol.com. For LIVING \nGREYHAWK campaign questions email rpgahq@wizards.com. \nSHE5-03 \n \n \n \n \n \nThe Prophet’s Voice \n \nA One-Round D&D® LIVING GREYHAWKTM \nSheldomar Valley Metaregional Adventure \nVersion 2.2 \n \nby Tad L. J. Kilgore \nReviewers: Michael D. Moore, Daniel Gray, Harold Austin \n \nCircle Reviewer: Steven Conforti \n \n \n \nDreams course through your mind each night. They burn like molten fire and it has been very many days since you \nslept a full night. You have wandered into the Good Hills of Keoland seeking solace and an answer. The only way to \nlessen each night’s torment seems to be to travel towards Istivin. What waits for you there? A Sheldomar Valley \nmetaregional adventure for APLs 6-18 and Part Two of the Dark Clouds series. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 1 \nRPGA SANCTIONED PLAY \nMost likely you ordered this adventure as part of an \nRPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it \nfrom your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as \npart of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide, \nongoing D&D campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—\nyou must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event \ncould be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a \ngroup of friends meeting at the DM’s house. \n \nTo sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a \nHERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions \nthe event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in \ncharge of making sure the event is sanctioned before \nplay, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then \nreported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The \nperson who runs the game is called the table Dungeon \nMaster (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all \nthe time in the cases of home events) the senior \ngamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have to be a \nHERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not \nthe senior GM. \n \nBy sanctioning and reporting this adventure you \naccomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game, \nand you can use the AR to advance your LIVING \nGREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain \nrewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of \nthe DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing \nthis adventure is worth two (2) points. \n \nThis adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play \non December 31, 2006. \n \nTo learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK \ncharacter creation and development, RPGA event \nsanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit \nthe RPGA website at www.rpga.com. \nPLAYERS READ NO FARTHER \nIf you are planning on playing this adventure, stop \nreading now. The rest of the information in this \nadventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than \nthis section, you’ll know too much about its challenges, \nwhich kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure \nas part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this \npoint makes you ineligible to do so. \nPREPARING FOR PLAY \nTo get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of \nthe following D&D books: Player’s Handbook, Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide, and the Monster Manual. \nThroughout this adventure, text in bold italics provides \nplayer information for you to paraphrase or read aloud \nwhen \nappropriate. \nSidebars \ncontain \nimportant \ninformation for you, including special instruction on \nrunning the adventure. Information on nonplayer \ncharacters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated \nform in the adventure text. Full information on NPCs \nand monsters are given in the Appendices. \nAlong with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA Table \nTracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as part of \nan RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in this \nsheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll also \nfind a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR). \nLIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS \nOF PLAY \nBecause players bring their own characters to LIVING \nGREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are \nproportionate to the modified average character level of \nthe PCs participating in the adventure. To determine this \nmodified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps \nbelow: \n1. \nDetermine the character level for each of the PCs \nparticipating in the adventure. \n2. \nIf PCs bring animals that have been trained for \ncombat (most likely dogs trained for war), other than \nthose brought by virtue of a class ability (such as \nanimal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or \nthe warhorse of a character with the Mounted \nCombat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine the \nnumber of levels you add to the sum of step one. Add \neach character’s animals separately. A single PC may \nonly bring four or fewer animals of this type, and \nanimals with different CRs are added separately. \n3. \nSum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the \nnumber of characters playing in the adventure. \nRound up to the nearest whole number. \n4. \nIf you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that \naverage. \nThroughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of \nchallenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-\nnumbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on \nan odd number, ask them before the adventure begins \nwhether they would like to play a harder or easier \nadventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or \nthe lower adjacent APL. \n \nAPL also affects the amount of experience and gold a \nPC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player \ncharacter is three character levels or more either higher \nor lower than the APL at which this adventure is being \nplayed, that character receives only one-half of the \nexperience points and gold for the adventure. This \nsimulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged \nas much as normal or relied on help by higher-level \ncharacters to reach the objectives. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 2 \n \nFurthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher \nthan the highest APL supported by the adventure may \nnot play the adventure. \n \n \nLIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL \n2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may find the \nchallenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the \nfollowing to these groups to help increase their chances \nof success: \n1. \nEnlist a sixth player. \n2. \nAdvise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect \nthem, and fight for them. \nTIME UNITS AND UPKEEP \nThis is a standard one-round Metaregional adventure, set \nin the Sheldomar Valley. Characters native to the \nSheldomar Valley pay one Time Unit per round, all \nothers pay two Time Units per round. \n \nAdventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12gp per Time \nUnit. Rich Upkeep costs 50gp per Time Unit. Luxury \nUpkeep costs 100gp per Time Unit. Characters that fail to \npay at least Standard Upkeep will retain temporary ability \ndamage until the next adventure, must buy new spell \ncomponent pouches and healer’s kits, and may suffer \nother in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-game \nbenefits) as may be detailed in this adventure. \n \nA character who does not pay for at least Standard \nUpkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties by \nliving off the wild. If the character possesses four or \nmore ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a Survival \ncheck (DC 20), the character will heal temporary ability \ndamage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, may \nrefill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may \nrestock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the character has at \nleast four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). The player is \nallowed to Take 10 on this roll. \n \nMore information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can \nbe found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of \nChapter 3 of the LIVING GREYHAWK Campaign Sourcebook. \nADVENTURE BACKGROUND \nThis adventure follows up events that occurred in SHE4-\n06 Dark Clouds Over Istivin. \n \nThe Sakhut have moved worship of Memnor to a \nplace of honor and outlawed the worship of the good \ndeities and, in one fell swoop, created a schism that may \ncause the dissolution of the giant alliance. The giants \nstand together in recognition that they are stronger \ntogether than apart and in recognition that the Tyv (the \nword the giants use for the humans who settled into the \nSheldomar Valley) have spread through the lands, the \nones the giants once held, like a parasitic infestation. At \nthe same time, there are differences in ideology and faith \namongst the giants. \n \nThe world that the Sakhut wants to build is not the \nworld that all the giants wish to live in. It is a world ruled \nwith an iron fist and ruled absolutely. It is giant-kind \nascendant and dominant at the expense of all others. \nThis does not sit well with all of his people, nor does it sit \nwell with the giants’ deities themselves, and thus change \nhas begun to move subtly across the political landscape \nbuilt by the Sakhut. \n \nMaira Lachlandotter's dreams are troubled. She \nwakes shuddering and in a cold sweat. Carved upon her \nneck is a rune of arcane power, \"Still Thy Tongue.\" She \ncannot speak lest the Sakhut hear what she says. She \nremembers the ungentle touch of the knife that made her \nwhat she is now. It haunts her dreams. Maira knows \ndespair. She knows remorse. A deep and abiding hatred \nhas grown in her that she is having a harder and harder \ntime controlling. She knows that the Sakhut's plans \ndebase her people. An alliance with the fomorians \n(giants of deformities, both physical and spiritual) and \nwith the hill giants turns her stomach. It has been forced \nupon them. This offends her on two levels. First, she \nfinds their twisted forms repulsive. Secondly, she finds \nthe culture of the evil giants unjust and unkind. Maira \nknows that her rage is changing who she is, but she \ncannot control it. The Sakhut must be stopped, and she is \nhelpless to effect this change. \n \nHer brother has taken to compromise as an art. He \nrules Sterich at the behest of the Sakhut. She worries for \nhim as the path he walks can twist him. The Tyv do not \nunderstand the sacrifice he has made. He has set himself \nas a shield between the depredations of the other giants \nand the small ones. He risks much, and the process \nerodes who he is. \n \nIallanis and Hiatea, good deities of the giants, have \nwatched the activities of their “children” with dismay. \nThere is little they can do to directly affect the shape of \nthings. The divine are bound from direct intervention on \n# of Animals \nMundane \nAnimals Effect on \nAPL \n1 \n2 \n3 \n4 \n1/4 & 1/6 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n1 \n1/3 & 1/2 \n0 \n0 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n2 \n3 \n2 \n2 \n3 \n4 \n5 \n3 \n3 \n4 \n5 \n6 \n4 \n4 \n6 \n7 \n8 \n5 \n5 \n7 \n8 \n9 \n6 \n6 \n8 \n9 \n10 \nCR of Animal \n7 \n7 \n9 \n10 \n11 \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 3 \nOerth for the most part. Still, the goddesses are not truly \nrestricted in their ability to communicate with their \nfollowers, especially not their clergy. Hiatea has begun to \nshape Maira's dreams. The two fear for her. She is \nwalking a path of destruction and has asked for their \nguidance. Her deities have heard her. Maira may destroy \nherself and all she holds dear. Iallanis and Hiatea can \nsave her. While Maira’s experiences have given her rage, \nthey have also given her the power to speak about change \nand a fine sense of justice. Hiatea would have her speak \nabout what she has seen, and therefore testify to all who \nwould hear the injustice of the Sakhut's deeds and \npolicies. Iallanis would have her speak at length about \nwhat will occur. Iallanis believes that Maira can become \nher prophet, an oracle for her people and will be able to \ntransform and shape the world. First however, Maira \nmust be made to confront her anger and her prejudice \nand regain her voice. \n \nThe runic magic that has been worked upon Maira \ncan only be undone by a very few, and all of these \nindividuals are servants of the Sakhut or beyond Maira’s \nreach. However, there is another way. Maira's dreams \nhave shown her continuous images of a slim spindle of \nwhite stone, unique and distinct, and unlike any \nformation she had seen before. During consultation with \nher father's intelligent harp, Silsellay told her this dream \nlocation is the Aerie of Cul Bra Folinu in the \nCrystalmists, a home for raptorans (a race believe lost or \nmythical in the Sheldomar Valley). The raptorans of the \nAerie are held in thrall to the powerful storm giant \nwizard, Gar Mujal. Gar is rumored to be an expert in \nrunic magic and power and also a specialist in the \nelemental planes. Again Maira's dreams changed. Gar, \nshe knows, can give her back her voice, if not directly, \nthen perhaps through another agent. Each time she \ndreams of taking the journey herself, she dreams of \npursuit and death at the hands of the Sakhut's agents. A \nrecurring image has repeated itself to her. She dreams of \nTyv, particularly of the Tyv who raided her brother's \ncastle. She knows she must contact these people, but she \ndoes not know how. Visions will direct her. \nADVENTURE SUMMARY \n \nEach PC experiences a series of vivid and haunting \ndreams: the marking of Maira with a rune, the Aerie of \nCul Bra Folinu, and being trapped inside of walls. The \ndreams become more and more violently and painfully \nintense each day, except when the PCs are moving in the \ndirection of Sterich; it is on those days of travel towards \nSterich that the dreams stay at the same intensity. \nFinally, the PCs find themselves in Crookhollow, at the \nRoc’s Feather, where the PCs realize they have been \nsharing the same cycle of dreams and have a change to \ndiscuss them with each other. Maira, wild shaped into \nthe form of a mouse, will observe the PCs’ conversation. \nMaira then sneaks into the room of one of the PCs and \nleaves a request for aid and a meeting spelled out in grass \nseeds on the floor. Once the PCs and Maira meet, she \nshares with them what she knows, and asks them to \ntravel to the lair of the storm giant and retrieve her voice. \n This involves a long question & answer session with \nSilsellay and Maira, with Silsellay acting as Maira's voice. \n Note that the tone of this exchange is much different for \nLords Sinister than for Lords Errant or Stalwart. Maira \nviews Lords Errant and Stalwart as allies; however, Maira \nis still arrogant and certain she is superior to the PCs, as \nthis is her true weakness. Lords Sinister have a \ncompletely different experience as Maira sees her \ninteraction with them as punishment from the divine. \nThese are the people who tried to kill her brother and \ndestroy her ancestral home. Maira makes quite clear to \nthe PCs that she is certain that the Sakhut’s agents have \nfully infiltrated many nations of the Sheldomar (a false \nrumor actually) and hold Sterich under their complete \ncontrol. She asks them to keep this information secret \nsince if they share it, most certainly they will be \ndiscovered. \nEncounter 1: Bound by Shackles \n \nPCs travel through Sterich. This is difficult (but not \nimpossible) for the Lords Sinister and a pleasure for \nLords Errant or Lords Stalwart. PCs have a chance to \ncollect information about how the giants rule and about \nthe experiences of the people under the rule of the giants. \n If PCs are indiscreet, news of their journey will reach the \nSakhut. This will increase the challenge of the combats \nin Encounters 2 and 5 substantially as the giants \nreinforce their positions in an attempt to either guard \ntheir borders more effectively or support their agents. \nPCs may pick their path through Sterich. \nEncounter 2: Uncommon Game \n \nPCs must cross the forbidden zone that buffers the \nmountains and their foothills. In so doing they \nencounter a fomorian chieftain who is out hunting Tyv \nfor sport. PCs who help the peasants escape spark a \ndiplomatic incident and lose their status as Lords Errant \nor Stalwart; their good deed though earns them a new \nstatus of Lords Dire instead. Lords Sinister who save the \npeasants have their status improved as their good deed is \nnoted and reported by survivors (they lose the Lords \nSinister title, and the accompanying Hatred of Sterich, \nand become Lords Dire as well). PCs who do not assist \nthe peasants have their deeds witnessed by survivors and \nare reported for their cowardice (they lose their Lords \nErrant or Stalwart status or retain their Lords Sinister \nstatus, if they posses one of these). PCs who have not \nplayed the first adventure in the series (SHE4-06 Dark \nClouds Over Istivin) who help spark a diplomatic incident \nby killing the fomorian chieftain also become Lords Dire \nof Sterich. \nEncounter 3: The Thralls of Gar Mujal \n \nPCs traveling through the Crystalmists and towards \nthe aerie are spotted and approached by raptorans of the \nFolinu tribe, who are held in service to Gar Mujal. This \ncan lead to an untiered combat if PCs are not careful. If \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 4 \nthey are careful, then they will have a chance to \npeacefully meet and interact with the raptorans. PCs are \nbrought before the elders of the Folinu. Gar Mujal holds \nthese creatures in virtual captivity. One of their ancestors \ncut a poor deal with Gar Mujal. He twisted the intent of \nthe contract and now holds the entire tribe in bondage. \nHe has used his knowledge of runic magic to curse the \nFolinu with infertility. Their eggs will only fertilize if the \ngiant allows them to. Those that leave doom those of \ntheir bloodline to extinction. They are his servants but \nnot his willing servants. PCs who play their cards right \nwill learn much about Gar and his followers before being \nbrought to the lair of the giant. The raptorans must \nreport their presence and bring them to their Lord. PCs \ncan resist, but the raptorans will fight in this instance. \nEncounter 4: The Halls of Cul Bra Folinu \n \nThe PCs are brought into the presence of the storm \ngiant wizard, Gar Mujal. PCs must negotiate assistance \nfor Maira. PCs that fail are expunged from the hall or \nface an untiered combat with Gar and those that serve \nhim (a likely death sentence for such PCs). PCs that are \nsuccessful are given a chance to stay with Gar as he \nresearches their problem. Gar is no friend of the Sakhut \nand is quite eager to cause them distress. PCs who take \nthis angle will eventually get what they need. PCs who \nchoose to confront Gar will soon lament that particular \ntactical decision. Gar is a brilliant tactician and a potent \nmage with hundreds of years experience dealing with his \nenemies. The ogres, ogre mage, and bugbears that serve \nhis household are loyal to him and fight to the last. Gar \nis, in the last, offended by the Sakhut’s ambition and \njealous of the power amassed as a result. He will help the \nPCs. Additionally, PCs may be able to convince him to \nconsider the release the Folinu. However, this will \nrequire further consideration on his part. They must, \nhowever, be careful in how they speak to him. Gar will \nnot provide an answer for PCs in their first meeting, \nhowever. He listens to what they have to say and offers \nthem the hospitality of his house while he contemplates \nwhat they have brought to him. \nEncounter 5: Murder Most Foul \n \nPCs are ambushed by agents of the Sakhut who have \ninfiltrated Gar's household. They attack at night, as the \nPCs sleep in the suite of rooms provided to them by Gar \nMujal. \nEncounter 6: The Enemy of My Enemy \n \nAssuming the PCs survive the night, Gar Mujal \ninvites them to breakfast in the morning and provides \nthem with his answer. Gar proposes that the PCs travel \nthrough a portal to the Elemental Plane of Air that is at \nthe top of the aerie. Once they reach the Elemental Plane \nof Air, he suggests they contact the Djinni Noble Azalla, \nwho will be able to help them. Azalla, however, is \nmystically trapped and needs the PCs help to escape his \nplight. \nEncounter 7: Into Thin Air \n \nGar makes certain the PCs are transported to Azalla's \nisland prison on the Elemental Plane of Air. Azalla is \nimprisoned in the tomb of his old master. Within PCs \nencounter elemental creatures twisted by negative \nenergy and spells gone awry and given unnatural life. \nThey also encounter the remains of Ruka himself, who \nfailed to transform himself into a lich. \n \nAzalla has been bottled and left to a lingering fate of \nboredom and despair. PCs who successfully solve the \nriddle to his prison will have a chance to explain why \nthey are there. Azalla will be sensitive to Maira’s plight \nand will want to journey with the PCs to speak with her \nand offer his assistance. \nConclusion: \n \nPCs make their way back to Maira. Azalla and she \nmeet. He cannot solve her problem directly, but agrees \nto become her voice, the voice of the prophet. \nPREPARATION FOR PLAY \nBefore play begins, determine who has played SHE4-06 \nDark Clouds Over Istivin and whether it was with this PC \nor a different one. Encourage players to play the same PC \nin this adventure as they did in SHE4-06 Dark Clouds Over \nIstivin, as the play and the narrative has a more consistent \nand solid resolution when played with the same PCs. \n \nA quick note on Lords Errant, Lords Sinister and \nLords Stalwart – Lords Errant earned their title in the \nWinter Fantasy Special: Assault on the Vault. These \nindividuals are the heroes of their realm. This title takes \nprecedence over the title of Lords Stalwart. Lords \nStalwart received their title because they were able to \ndefeat Magnussen and ensure Achim Lachlansen became \nthe ruler of Sterich, creating a much more benign rule. \nLords Sinister dropped Achim’s cloud giant castle very \nnear the city of Istivin, resulting in its devastation. These \nPCs are under sentence of death within Sterich and \nshould be reminded of this fact at the beginning of the \nadventure. However, you can indicate to the players of \nthose Lords Sinister PCs that one can play this adventure \nwith those PCs if they are careful in their actions and that \nthe adventure might offer an opportunity for them to \nclear their name, so to speak. \n \nDetermine who is a Lord Errant, Lord Stalwart, or a \nLord Sinister, as that affects the narrative arc of the \nadventure. Lords Sinister have a completely different \nrelationship to Maira and Sterich that will determine the \nnarrative path. Note that it is highly possible that you \nmay have mixed tables of Lords Sinister and Lords \nErrant/Stalwart. This requires mild suspension of \ndisbelief on the part of the players. Assume Maira’s \nbrother Achim was attacked by adventurers (including \nany PC Lords Sinister present), but he and the castle \nsurvived thanks to the actions of any PC Lords Stalwart \npresent. She will treat Lords Errant and non-Lord PCs as \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 5 \naccomplices to the crime of the Lords Sinister, as they are \nguilty by association, if one is present and no Lord \nStalwart is present. Additionally, please determine if any \nPCs spent TUs studying with Silsellay, as this has \nrelevance when the PCs meet the harp again. \n \nAsk spellcasters to provide a list of any spells they \nnormally cast on days they are traveling. This list is \nrelevant to their starting spells below, in the \nIntroduction. \n \nGive the players Player Handout #4: The Dreams. \nINTRODUCTION \nTonight you find yourself in Crookhollow in \nKeoland, not three days from the border of Sterich. \nThe local Inn here is called the Roc’s Feather. The \nhalflings who dwell here find your somber manner \nunsettling. Their cheerful greetings quickly turn to \naverted eyes and mumbles, “Beg Pardon.” The \nweight of your dreams must tell in your eyes. \n \nYour table is round. Others sit across from you, \neach, no doubt a veteran of the trade. They have the \nlook of adventurers about them. Their eyes are \nsunken and blackened pits. Pale, they look as if \nundeath has tasted each one. You have the same \nhaunted look. You have seen it each morning in \nyour looking glass. \n \nTheir eyes meet yours in the same sullen \nrecognition. \n \nWhat curse afflicts you all? \n \nAllow PCs a chance to interact and introduce \nthemselves to one another. If they ask, let them know \nthe following information: \n• \nThey have all arrived in the last 15 minutes. \n• \nThey are each suffering from chronic sleep \ndeprivation (DC 10 Heal check). \n• \nThe halflings in the Inn are giving them a wide \nberth and about half of their number have left the \nInn since you came in. \n \nShare the following with PCs privately: \n• \nEach PC feels completely exhausted. \n• \nPC spellcasters haven’t been able to regain lost spells \nin four days due to their level of exhaustion. Any \nspells/spell slots normally used for traveling (as \ndetermined in Preparation for Play) are unavailable \nto the PCs at this time as they have not recovered \nthose due to exhaustion. \n• \nAll PCs are considered to be fatigued. \n \nThe owner of the Inn is Selwin Downrunner. \nSelwin assigns his eldest son, Andin, as server to the PCs. \n Andin is quiet and polite and avoids conversation with \nthe PCs. The halflings in the Inn disengage as quickly as \npossible. Selwin and Andin offer rooms to the PCs as \nthey request. The Inn is designed for halfling-sized \npatrons. PC can only fit one per room. A medium sized \nmattress is brought into the room for PCs. This covers \nhalf the floor. \nTHE WALLS HAVE EARS \n \nMaira is in the rafters overlooking the PCs. She has \nshifted into mouse form and is hiding and listening to \nPCs. DC to spot Maira the mouse is 64 (Diminutive (size) \n+12, camouflage (circumstance) +10, Hide (skill) +12, \nforestfold (competence) +20, Assume average roll of 10). \n \nMaira’s goal is to verify that this group has been \nbrought to her for the reasons that she believes and to see \nwhat sort of people they are based on how they \ncommunicate with one another. She takes no other \nactions other than to observe and wait to see what the \nplayers do for the night. If players detect and choose to \nconfront Maira, she attempts to flee. If forced to \ncommunicate at this time, Maira shifts into the form of a \nsmall earth elemental and carves responses to questions \ninto the wooden floor of the Inn. Note that if PCs \nphysically attack or damage Maira, then she flees, the \nadventure is over for them, and you may pass out \nAdventure Records (the PCs receive the Cursed Sleep \neffect). \nCROOKHOLLOW \n� Crookhollow (Village): Conventional; AL: LG; \n200 gp limit; Assets: 3,000 gp; Population: 300 Mixed \n(237 halfling, 62 gnomes and 2 dwarves). \n \nCrookhollow is a halfling village also known as \nBuckshold. It is the site of a local fortification and home \nof Pemlo Penchant, master brewer of a very fine lambic. \n \nCrookhollow is a sleepy little village that has a major \nBrewfestival every four years. Several years ago (in CY \n592) adventurers aided a halfling known as Pemlo in \ngathering ingredients for his lambic. Some PCs who \nhave been here before may feel some resentment towards \nPemlo or wish to visit the various NPCs. A list of them is \nbelow, along with likely reactions: \n� Pemlo Penchant: Pemlo will be glad to see the \nPCs, offering them lambic to drink (as he will soon \nneed the room for the new batch coming in next \nyear). He has been feeling a bit under the weather, \nbut nothing that will affect making the lambic next \nyear. \n� Patsy Penchant: Pemlo's assistant and closest \nrelative is doing well; his uncle keeps at him about \nnot running around and trying to get himself killed. \n Otherwise, everything is going great – Patsy will \noffer lambic to the adventurers to make room for the \nnew stock. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 6 \n� Cal Flatbottom: Cal is away on patrol and will \nnot appear in this adventure. \n� Knothead the Treant: Knothead is unavailable \nduring this adventure. \n� Wil Brayman: The herbalist overheard a sweet \nmelody while near Spinster's Woods – it was \nprobably the fey; they hold a lot of parties up there. \nOccasionally their parties get a little too wild and \npeople lose track of time … and occasionally their \nminds (chuckling). \n \nOtherwise, nothing special is going on. The lambic \nwill be poured freely as it is time to make room for the \nnew batch. Halflings and gnomes will steer clear of the \nsleep deprived PCs, vacating areas that the PCs enter. If \nthe PCs aren't sleep deprived due to some magical means, \nthey can participate in the festivities. \nSLEEPING OVERNIGHT \n \nMaira identifies the person who has comported \nthemselves in the most diplomatic and level-headed \nmanner during the previous conversation and creeps into \nthat PC’s room tonight to leave a message on the floor. \nNote that a PC who is a Lords Errant or Stalwart is \nchosen over a Lord Sinister. Unless PCs take unusual \nprecautions, Maira can leave the following message. She \nis, quite literally, as quiet as a mouse. Additionally, PCs \nare experiencing the first complete and uninterrupted \nnight’s sleep they have had in several weeks. Assume \nthey are in deep slumber, unless PCs tell you otherwise. \nIn that case, she will not visit them. If the entire group of \nPCs take actions that will prevent her from visiting any of \nthem during the evening, she will leave the message in \nthe barn addressed to them. She uses grass seed, grass, \nand twigs to leave the message. \n \nGive the PC that Maira favors Player Handout #1 if he \nor she is a Lord Errant, Player Handout #2 if he or she is a \nLord Sinister, or Player Handout #3 if he or she is neither, \nas soon as he or she wakes in the morning. Note that \nMaira only chooses a PC she has never met before if there \nare no Lords Errant or Sinister present. \n \nSelwin and Andin both know where The Knob is \nand where it is in relation to Spinster’s Woods. PCs who \nhave played KEO 2-07 Getting there is Half the Fun or who \nare residents of the Good Hills know exactly where this \nis. All others can find it with a DC 15 Knowledge (local – \nSheldomar Valley metaregion), Knowledge (geography), \nor Gather Information check, or they can purchase a \nguide or mapped instructions to the Knob for 50 gp. \n \nAssuming PCs decide to meet Maira for their \nrendezvous, read the following. If PCs choose to reject \nher offer of a meeting, their sleep continues to be \ntroubled, and the adventure ends for them here; you may \npass out Adventure Records (the PCs receive the Cursed \nSleep effect). \n \nSpinster’s Nob, or the Nob, overlooks Spinster’s \nWood, a wild place occasionally touched by Fey and \nmadness. It rests on the northern edge of the \nBettledown Moors. \n \nThe morning sun is bright and the air clear. The \nbright summer sun touches your face, like a caress. \nThis is the first full night’s rest you have had in \nmany a day, and it is welcome. \n \nKnee-high grasses have just gained their \nsummer bloom, and the air dances with the hum of \nbees. \n \nAs you approach the hill, a woman stands, some \n16 feet tall. Her skin is the white of clouds. Her \nhair is a mass of brown curls. Her throat is marked \nby an ugly, red wound. Scarring in the shape of \nsome arcane mark or rune mars the contour of her \nperfect skin. She smiles in greeting and bows as you \napproach. \n \nBeside her rests a ten-foot-tall, gilded harp. Its \ncraftsmanship is exquisite. It speaks, “Good Maira \ntells me that you are bound to her by ties divine and \narcane. I bid you good welcome from us both. Maira \nbids you thanks, and I too offer you my gratitude. \nThe quicker you bring her aid, the quicker that I will \nbe returned to my home. Please forgive me, but I \nfind the green things and the dirt not to my liking. \nOn this point Maira and I disagree. Regardless, \ngather round, small ones, and we shall discuss \nmatters great and wondrous.” \n \nIf PCs are rude or ungracious in their greeting, \nSilsellay admonishes them, reminding them that she is a \nharp of the “Fochlucan Line,” and respect is her due. \n� Maira Lachlansdotter: N Female Cloud Giant \nDrd17. \n \nIf any PCs present have spent time with Silsellay in \nher tutelage, she defers to them above all others and \nexpects those individuals to explain to the rest of the \nparty what she considers appropriate social decorum. \nSilsellay is a bit pretentious and very formal in her \ncommunication. Additionally, she has the manner of an \nearly grade school teacher and is didactic and \ncommanding with PCs. If she becomes particularly over \nthe top, Maira reminds her that the PCs are their friends, \nand Silsellay acknowledges this by saying, “Maira \nreminds me you are here out of the goodness of your \nhearts and I should remember your short lives make you \nimpatient.” Improvise this sort of commentary as you \nneed. \n \nWhen PCs have finished initial conversations with \nMaira and Silsellay, read the following: \n \n“You have dreamed, as has Maira. You have seen \nStill Thy Tongue carved by flame and steel upon \nMaira’s throat by the agents of the Sakhut. Each \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 7 \nthing she speaks flows to the Sakhut’s ears. As such, \nshe has asked me to speak to you in her stead. \n \nYou must wonder where these dreams come \nfrom. We have a theory. Maira is a druid and a \nfollower of Hiatea. Your dreams have the touch of \nthe divine. They have the imprint of her deity and \nhave come to you with a purpose. \n \nWhat she bids me tell you now threatens the \npolitical foundation of our people. The Sakhut have \noutlawed the worship of all good deities and \npromoted worship of Memnon to a place of honor. \nThis rests uneasy among the giants as we are of \nmany different minds. Some see their way as \nascendant, and the arrogance of their certainty \nwears on those that do not share their way of seeing. \n Change waits like water in a thunderhead. \n \nMaira dreams as you have, but dreams of more. \nMaira dreams of things she must say. Maira dreams \nof Iallanis and Hiatea. The goddesses ask her to \nspeak for them. They ask her to share what she has \nseen and experienced. They ask her to show the \npeople another path. Giant kind must see another \nway. \n \nWe know you think of us as wicked, but that is a \nsimple way of seeing. We are manifold in belief, and \nthere are many who do not see the necessity of \ntyranny and domination. Maira believes she is the \nProphet of these people and of a coming change. \nYet, she cannot speak. \n \nShe must have her voice. \n \nMaira has shared with me the vision of the rock. \n It is a place easily recognizable to me. It is Cul Bra \nFolinu, home of the raptorans of the Folinu tribe. It \nis also the home of the storm giant wizard Gar \nMujal. \n \nGar Mujal is master of rune craft. He is also a \nsage, well studied in the ways of the elemental \nplanes. Still Thy Tongue is a rune of potent force \ncrafted by masters of the art. It will require a master \nto unwind the rune and free Maira from the torture \nof her silence. She needs you to make the trip for \nher into the Crystalmists to the realm of the storm \ngiant and secure either his assistance or his counsel \nin the means to shatter the rune. \n \nOnce the rune is broken, Maira will travel \namongst her people, speaking the truth of her \ndeities and challenging the tyranny of the Sakhut \nand Memnon. She needs you to do this.” \n \nMaira stares at you and waits for you answer. \n \nMaira and Silsellay answer questions as the PCs ask. \nBoth answer questions to the best of their abilities. Their \ngoal is to secure the player characters’ cooperation and \nhelp them be successful. The two are forthcoming. The \nfollowing covers questions that the PCs are likely to ask \nand answers that Maira and Silsellay are likely to provide: \n \nQ: What is the meaning of the second dream? What \nabout the raptorans in the dream? What about the egg? \n \nA: Specific meaning eludes me. Nonetheless, \nraptorans are not normally known to consult with \nsuch as Gar Mujal. It has long been supposed that \nhe must hold them in some sort of thrall or that \nthey suffer from some sort of curse. \n \nQ: What is the meaning of the third dream? What \nabout the steel walls? \n \nA: I sincerely have no idea what this dream \nsymbolizes. \n \nThere \nare \nelements \nthat \nlend \nthemselves to supposition. Certainly, it speaks of a \nloss of self and imprisonment. Beyond that, all is \nimprecise, and clear meaning cannot be distilled. \n \nQ: Why has the Sakhut restricted worship? \n \nA: We do not know. Close counsel is kept on \nthis issue. \n \nQ: Won’t your brother be angry if you speak out \nagainst the Sakhut? \n \nA: We do not know. Maira is already seen as a \ntraitor in the eyes of the Sakhut. Achim was given \nthe task of pacifying Sterich regardless of this. As \nlong as he is not clearly associated with Maira’s \ncause, he should not be harassed. \n \nQ: Does he know what you plan? \n \nA: Achim does not even know that I have been \ntaken from his abode. Fortune smiles upon this \ntask, as Achim is absorbed by matters of state. He \nis a priest of Iallanis, and the Sakhut’s decree rests \nhard against him. He has chosen a path. He must \nwalk it, and I do not know where it will lead him. \n \nQ: Why can’t you (Silsellay) speak for Maira? \n \nA: I am an instrument of finest make and not a \ntranslator. Besides, given my nature, I have a certain \nbias in what I say and do. I can be accused of bias \ntowards my owner. In the last, I am a thing, albeit a \nwell-made and beautiful thing. What came from me \nwould not be respected by all the giants, especially \nthe most coarse and vulgar. It is best a prophet \nspeaks with her own voice. \n \nQ: Why us? \n \nA: Who knows why fate chooses us? We must all \naccept our lot. Your lot is different than many. You \nwear the mantle of champion and of hero. Deeds \nsuch as yours are the meat and drink of my craft. If \nyou are fated, accept it as so. \n \nQ: What do you know about Gar Mujal? \n \nA: Gar Mujal is old and learned in many arcane \narts. Gar Mujal is said to be sly in the way a dragon \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 8 \nis sly. He has seen much and knows much. He is a \nplane walker and specializes in the elemental \nplanes. Gar believes in the power of bargains and \nthe power of debt, and many are bound to him as a \nresult. \n \nQ: Please tell us about storm giants? \n \nA: Storm giants are among the most powerful of \ntheir kind. \n \nQ: What’s going on in Sterich? \n \nA: Achim rules justly. However, he rules as the \nSakhut’s agent and as such enforces his law. Tyv are \nsubjects. Giants are lords. Tyv nobles fair slightly \nbetter but are still only seen as the lead vermin in \nthe pack. The Sakhut’s justice is fierce and brutal. \nSterich prospers in that it has not been razed. It \nsuffers in that it is enslaved. \n \nOther questions are likely and possible. Use the \nnotes above as a guideline and paraphrase as you need. \nRefer to the notes in summary or introduction. \n \nWhen the questions have begun to wind down, \nconclude with the following text: \n \n“Maira bids you consider this. The Sakhut have \nnot failed in what they have pursued so far. The \narmies of the Sheldomar have broken before him. \nNot one nation has resisted the might of the giants.” \n \nPCs may interrupt at this point, as this statement is \nquestionable and reflects giant propaganda more than \nanything else. Still, it is what Maira believes: \n \n“If the current path is walked to its conclusion \nthen your children and their children down through \nthe generations will live under the Sakhut’s heel. \nMaira fears that her people will succumb to the \ndarkness the Sakhut lays before them. All of giant-\nkind can choose darkness or light, and the Sakhut’s \npath is darkness and tyranny. \n \nIf you help her, she will turn the course history \nthrough prophecy and truth. \n \nIf you help her, you will have her gratitude. \n \nRegardless whether you choose to help or not, \nknow this. The Sakhut’s agents are everywhere. \nKeoland is compromised. Shiboleth has the taint of \nhis agency. All things are for sale in the Yeomanry. \nThe Principality of Ulek is infested with informers. \nSpeak of what you know and invite destruction on \nMaira. One cannot keep secrets from the Sakhut. \nSilence is the only lock without a key. \n \nWell then, we have no more to offer. Will you \ngive Maira aid?” \n \nAssuming the PCs agree to help, proceed to \nEncounter 1. Maira agrees to meet the PCs at the Knob \nand waits here for them. If the PCs decide not to help, \nthe adventure ends for them now you may pass out \nAdventure Records (the PCs receive the Cursed Sleep \neffect). \nENCOUNTER 1: BOUND BY \nSHACKLES \nThe following section can be role-played to whatever \ndegree you and the players desire. In convention or \ngame day play, the limitations of a structured slot will \nmake extended play impractical. In these instances, it is \nbest to let the box text and encounter tables do their \nwork. When time allows, PCs can take their time \ntraversing the nation, and you are encouraged to provide \nwhatever narrative depth strikes their skill set and fancy. \n Note that Lords Sinister must be discrete and covert as \nthey traverse the nation. If they are discovered, they are \ncaptured. However, reasonable precautions such as \ntraveling at night and avoiding population centers are \nsufficient to protect PCs. Effective use of illusions and \nmagic like hats of disguise are also sufficient to allow \npassage. Make certain that PCs understand that as Lords \nSinister, there is a bounty on their heads, and they are \nwanted by the giants. Although their particular decision \nwhen playing SHE4-06 Dark Clouds Over Istivin was to \ndrop the island and slay many of the giants, the majority \nof the premiere tables chose the other path. As a result, \nthey still bear the consequences of their particular \ndecision even though the communal narrative does not \nreflect that decision (the official result of that adventure \nwas that the good cloud giant noble was attacked, but \nsurvived, while a group of adventurers attacked the evil \ncloud giant noble, earning Sterich a much less deadly \nsubmission to the invaders. Lords Errant and Lords \nStalwart can pass through Sterich without restriction. \n \nSterich suffers. The country has not been razed. \n That much is true. However, the lash is still a lash, \nno matter how gentle the hand that wields it. \n \nThe giants rule. Along the roadside are stands \nof pikes adorned with the impaled corpses of the \ndead. Their crimes are written on placards and hung \nfrom their necks. All seem slain for theft and \nmurder and other domestic crimes that must be \npunished in the name of governance. Still, this is \nnot the governance normally seen in the lands of \nmen. \n \nThe giants walk among the people with easy \narrogance. Orcs, ogres, goblins, hobgoblins, and \nbugbears act as army, militia, and constabulary for \nthe giants, working side by side with the \nrepresentatives of the old government. It is an odd \nsight, a priest of Heironeous and four human \nsoldiers standing beside four goblins as they inspect \na cart for contraband. The goblins seem upset they \ncannot keep what they find. The humans seem \ndismayed at the vigor of the search. The people in \nSterich live lives like few others in the Sheldomar. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 9 \n \nRead the following to Lords Errant and/or Stalwart \nonly: \n \nEach of you has seen true nobles, those who \nhave attained their station by right of birth and \ndivine provenance. They are regal in their bearing \nand dignity and are responded to with deference. \nThe peasants here do not treat you as sovereign lord. \n They respond to you with the air of a carnival. You \nare more like some gladiator from the pits of the \nGreat Kingdom or a member of the Bardic Circle in \nthe Principality of Ulek. They gape at you and want \nto touch your cloak. Deference is the wrong word. \nRather, they treat you like some calf poorly made \nand cursed with an extra limb. So this is what it is \nto be a noble? In many ways the anonymity of the \nadventurer was preferable. \n \nStill, this is your nation. These are your people. \n \nRead the following to Lords Sinister only (this \nassumes that these PCs are being careful about how they \nmove about Sterich; warn PCs who are not being careful \nthat they should be): \n \nYour passage has been unnerving. Giants stalk \nthe land, and you cannot help but feel hunted. The \ngiants have issued wanted placards for all the Lords \nSinister. However, your gear is worth more than \n5000 gold, and you cannot help but feel insulted on \nsome level. Still, it is more than any Lord, Mayor, or \nKnight has ever offered to pay you in your career for \naccomplishing a task. \nLORDS SINISTER EXPOSED \n \nRead the following to Lords Sinister who choose \nNOT to travel cautiously through Sterich despite repeated \nwarnings (those who take precautions can avoid this part \nof the encounter): \n \nYou are surprised by how little attention you \nhave drawn. You had thought your presence would \nhave been the cause of at least some notice. Beyond \nsome peasants scurrying out of your groups’ way in \nshock and awe, you have drawn little notice. \n \nIt is your third day in Sterich and near midday. \nThe open stretch of road is empty. The trees and \ngrass off to the left and right don’t restrict your field \nof view. \n \nThe clouds drift lazily by. \n \nThere is a bright flash of light, in front of you \nand off to your left and right. Before you stands a \nregal woman, dressed in the livery of Sterich (your \nbannerman drop to one knee). Behind and around \nher stand four men in full plate and shield and \ncarrying drawn long swords. Behind her a halfling \nin robes eyes you warily. To you left and right two \nother groups appear. One is led by a priest in golden \nvestments. The other by a huge man carrying a great \nsword. A horse materializes beside him as he glares \nat you. \n \nA substantial amount of information is available for \nPCs who make the appropriate skill checks. These are \ndetailed in the following list: \n• \nDC 5 Knowledge (nobility and royalty): Marchioness \nResbin, the former Sterich head of state, is the \nwoman in front of them. \n• \nDC 25 Spellcraft: Identify the spells as teleports. \n• \nDC 10 Knowledge (religion): Identifies the golden \nvestments and the holy symbol as sacred to Pelor. \nAlso, identifies the symbols on the armor of the man \nwielding the double handed sword as those of \nHeironeous. \n• \nDC 10 Spellcraft or Knowledge (religion): Recognize \nthat the man with the great sword just summoned a \nwarhorse in the manner that a paladin does. \n \nThe woman glares at (insert names of Lord Sinister \nhere). “We are Marchioness Resbin, and We are here \nto do the people’s business. Under penalty of death, \nWe instructed you never to return to Our lands. \nYour ruthlessness is remembered. Yet you have \nreturned. We have been instructed to bring you to \nOur Lord, Achim, so that he might come to know the \nface of Tyv evil and understand what sickness dwells \nalong the Sheldomar.” \n \n“I have no doubt you have magics aplenty to aid \nyou in your flight. Do not fly hence from us. If I fail \nin your apprehension, the more intolerant elements \nof the occupying army will rampage through the \ncountryside in pursuit of you. Many hundreds, if \nnot thousands of our subjects will die.” \n \n“I ask that you stand down and surrender to our \nwill. You are bound by law, and guilty of deeds of \nheinous and ruthless excess. Your comrades may \ncontinue on their journey (although stripped of any \ntitle they might hold in this land from this day \nforth.)” \n \n“If this must be a trial by arms, so be it, we are \nable. However, know that if you are triumphant you \nwill be hunted by each nation of the Sheldomar for \nthe murder of a righteous monarch.” \n \n“What say ye? Do we face down sword versus \nsword, or do you yield?” \n \nLet PCs know that to flee under these circumstances \nis an evil act, as it will directly lead to the sack of many \nhomes and the murder of many people. Attacking the \nMarchioness and her force is also a definite evil act. \nCommitting an evil act of this magnitude is cause to \nimmediately remove this PC from play; mark this PC’s \nAdventure Record with a note that they committed an \nevil act and are permanently removed from play. \nLikewise, let PCs know that the legal claim that has just \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 10 \nbeen presented is just and most likely accurate and \nresisting arrest is likewise an evil act and also an unlawful \nact. \n� Marchioness Resbin Dren Emondav: LN \nFemale Human Sor13; see Appendix 8. \n� Marchioness’ Private Guard (16): LN Female \nand Male Human Ftr7. \n� Marchioness’ Advisor: LN Male Halfling Mnk9. \n� Priest of Pelor: NG Male Human Clr11. \n� Paladin of Heironeous: LG Male Human Pal11. \n \nAllow PCs what time they need to discuss this. Let \nthem know that the people who surround them are \nclearly waiting for them to make their move. \n \nMarchioness Resbin will answer the following \nquestions: \n \nQ: What will become of me? What does Achim have \nin store for us? \n \nA: We do not know and do not pretend to know \nthe intentions of our Lord. Note that he could have \nsent his giant minions to capture you and their \ntechnique would not have been as gentle. We think \nthey would have slain you and all who stood with \nyou. \n \nQ: PCs explain their mission, etc. \n \nA: It is good then that we have only been sent \nfor Lords Sinister, as the rest of you have good work \nto do. You may continue on once your compatriot \nhas surrendered. Note that we do not wish you ill, \nalthough I must detail in my report who you \ntraveled with, and cannot call you Lord or Lady from \nthis day forth. My Lord’s forces are already alerted \nalong the borders. I bid you luck. \n \nResbin will be insistent that Lords Sinister must \nsurrender. However, a DC 40 Diplomacy check can \nconvince Resbin to allow the Lords Sinister to continue \non the mission if they promise to surrender immediately \nafter the mission is completed. She will make such PCs \nagree to a geas. \n \nLords Sinister who do surrender now or later earn \nthe Time in Achim’s Court effect on their Adventure \nRecord. PCs who fight or flee are removed from play. \nPCs who do choose this action should be warned of the \nconsequences of their action. If a fight does break out, \nsimply ask who fights and who does not. Non-\ncombatants may continue with the mod after watching \ntheir compatriots successfully kill the Marchioness and \nher party. \n \nOnce the apprehension of Lords Sinister has been \nresolved, recalculate the APL as is appropriate. Allow \ntables with fewer than four players to continue on if they \nwish. Cohorts may not be added to the party at this \npoint, as the events of the story are already in progress. \nCOLLECTING INFORMATION IN \nSTERICH \n \nPCs can learn quite a bit as they traverse Sterich \nbased on their skill in gaining such information and the \namount of time they choose to commit to the task. Note \nthat parties including Lords Sinister who interact with \nthe population extensively (enter a major city or make \nmore than one attempt to Gather Information) gain the \nattention of giants and are captured as described above. \nNote that PCs who use Intimidate and Bluff as a means to \ncollect information and fail in their opposed rolls \nimmediately trigger the increase in EL, as detailed below, \nas the targets of their tactics alert the giants to their \npresence. \n \nLikewise, PCs who attempt to directly contact the \nMarchioness will also trigger the bump in EL, as detailed \nbelow. Additionally, Lords Sinister who attempt to \ncontact the Marchioness will trigger their own capture as \ndetailed above. \n \nPCs who are indiscrete in their questioning or who \nare too pointed in what they ask add to the difficulty of \ntheir passage into the Crystalmists. PCs who ask about \nthe mountains, mention Cul Bra Folinu, or ask questions \nabout the organization of the giants’ army cause the \ngiants’ intelligence network to note the increased interest \nin the area by the Lords Errant and Stalwart, and they will \nsecure their border; the EL of combats in Encounters 2 \nand 5 increase by 2 as a result (see the details in those \nindividual encounters). \nGather Information \n \nGather Information checks assume interaction with \ngroups of people in a social environment. Below are a list \nof topics that the PCs can ask about on the road, or in \ncities and villages, and the answers they receive: \nTHE OCCUPATION \n• \nDC 10: At least they don’t be eatin’ us all the time \nlike back in 584. The last time the giants rules most \nof the common folk ended up on a spit. At least now \nthey leaves ya alone as long as you mind your trade \nand keep your head down. \n• \nDC 15: Dem twisted lookin’ white ones is the worst \nof the lot. Eat you as soon as look at you, they will. \nSeems like they’re just mad that the cloud giants is in \ncharge. Takes every shot at you they can and calls it \ncollecting tribute. Still Achim don’t like them much \nand they gets in trouble if they hurts us. Not really a \npart of the giant army anyhow. \n• \nDC 20: The Marchioness still governs the day to day. \n However, the Giants step in anytime there is \nperceived disorder. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 11 \n• \nDC 25: Achim Lachlansen is under constant \npressure to increase the amount of tax and tribute \ndelivered by Sterich. \n• \nDC 30: Knights of the Watch have been seen flying \nto and from Achim’s castle. \nTHE CRYSTALMISTS \n• \nDC 5: Dem Giants crawls all over dem mountains. \nAin’t a safe place for anyone. \n• \nDC 10: They got a dead zone that goes out five miles \nalong the edge of the mountains. They mark it with \nthem big ole’ stones the giants like so much. If they \ncatch you there heading towards the mountains, \nthey kill you, then they eat you. \n• \nDC 15: The drow that was under them mountains \nlost a fight with the giants. Used to be they raided us \noften. Ain’t heard nothing from them since. \n• \nDC 20: The giants are very territorial and divide \ntheir land into fiefdoms. The leader or chieftain in \ncharge of that area has near total authority over his \nland. The giants do not interfere with each other’s \nsovereign territory. \n• \nDC 25: The giants have scoured the mountains. The \ndwarven nations that once lived there have been \neliminated. \n• \nDC 30: Rumor has it that their used to be many \nraptoran clans in the mountains, and Sterich traded \nwith them. Yes, raptorans … they’re not the \nmythical creatures some would claim them to be. It \nhas been several centuries since such commerce was \ncommon though. \nTHE GIANTS’ ARMY \n• \nDC 5: Each group of humanoids seems beholden to a \nspecific giant or giant clan. They do as that clan says \nand respond to others with snarls and disrespect. \n• \nDC 10: The giants have a fairly strict caste system \nthat determines their hierarchy. They respect each \nother as giants and follow orders well. Their units \nare brutal. Any major group is led by a true blooded \ngiant. Ettins and ogres serve as shock troops. \n• \nDC 15: I hear tell the army of Sterich is being \ndismantled one unit at a time. Entire brigades have \nbeen marched into the mountains, never to be seen \nagain. I’m in no hurry to join up myself now. \n• \nDC 20: The giants have embarked on house by \nhouse searches, usually conducted by orcs and \ngoblinoids. They have carried off anyone who has \nskill in metalworking. \n• \nDC 25: The giants brag that they know what Tyvs \nsay before they say it and will openly tell you that \nmost Tyv would sell their grandmother to save their \nown skins. \n• \nDC 30: The giants are rumored to be readying for a \nmajor invasion of the Downlands. \nCUL BRA FOLINU \n• \nDC 5: Isn’t that a tea they make in Ket? \n• \nDC 10: Sounds like it might be Auran. Do you speak \nAuran? \n• \nDC 15: Folinu? That name is familiar. I think they \nwere a trading clan up in the mountains that used to \ntrade raw silver and hide for weapons and fine cloth. \n• \nDC 20: Back in my great grandfather’s time, there \nwas a mountain city we used to trade with deep in \nthe Crystalmists. Suddenly, the trade stopped. \nMust’ve been the giants. \n• \nDC 25: That was a city of the raptorans. Yes, \nraptorans … they’re not the mythical creatures some \nwould claim them to be. Rumor has it they were \ndecimated. \n• \nDC 30: That means the Whitesky Stone of the \nSkypledged. It’s a raptoran city and rumored to be a \nportal to the Elemental Plane of Air. \nDiplomacy \n \nThis assumes that PCs are interacting with members \nof the local government or clergy. Below are a list of \ntopics that the PCs can ask about, and the answers they \nreceive. You’ll note that some categories cannot be \naccessed with Diplomacy that were accessible with \nGather Information: \nTHE OCCUPATION \n• \nDC 15: The best course has been silent cooperation. \n• \nDC 20: The giants have been aggressive in their \npurgation of priests. They have made it very difficult \nto practice any faith save their own. \n• \nDC 25: The faith of Memnor teaches us that all the \nnon-giant races are fodder and that this is the nature \nof things. Humanoids are a warrior race. Humans \nand the like are merely beasts of burden or cattle. \nSome have begun to accept this as their lot. \n• \nDC 30: It is rumored that Achim Lachlansen now \nworships Memnor. \nTHE GIANTS’ ARMY \n• \nDC 15: Squabbles occasionally break out between \ngiants of different types. These can be exploited. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 12 \n• \nDC 20: The giants guard their spell casters closely \nand protect them. I have never seen a giant’s wizard \nor cleric unprotected by many of his brethren. \n• \nDC 25: The giants have made it clear to any in a \nposition of authority that cooperation will be met \nwith reward. Resistance is punishable by death. \nStill, they are eager for information about each other \nand their inter-clan intrigue seems to be the chink in \ntheir armor. \nMEETING LOCALS \n \nWhen communicating this information in free-form \nrole-playing, develop a series of personas that dwell in \ndifferent parts of Sterich that PCs interact with. For \nexample: \n� Poulinos, Male Human Exp2: Sense Motive +0; \nPoulinos is a teamster who drives up and down the \nlength of the country of Sterich delivering goods. \nHe dislikes the occupation immensely and dislikes \nthe humanoids that work for the giants. \n� Caprice, Female Human Brd5: Sense Motive \n+8; Caprice is a wandering merchant and minstrel \nand collects information as a result. She is surprised \nby how mild the occupation has been and credits \nAchim for his work restraining the worst of the \ngiants’ baser instincts. \n� Scrand, Male Human War6: Sense Motive +1; \nScrand is a decommissioned member of the army \nand was once a Lord of Sterich. He can talk at length \nabout the structure of the current army and the \ngiant’s army and also about how easy it is to get titles \nin the land. He can also talk about how easy it is to \nlose them. \n� Grand Selwin, Male Halfling Com2: Sense \nMotive +1; Selwin is a halfling and a devout follower \nof Fharlanghn. He has traveled all over Sterich more \nout of curiosity than anything else. \n� Jacob the Smith, Male Human Exp3: Sense \nMotive +2; Jacob is a well built Oeridian man in his \nearly forties. He is a bit closed mouthed. He is \nworried about his family and his business. \n� Constable Malcom, Male Human War3: Sense \nMotive +1; the constable knows all the juiciest local \ngossip and will share it with the Lords given any \nopportunity. \n� Sister Ablis, Female Human Clr2: Sense \nMotive +2; Ablis is very concerned about the safety \nof her flock. As a cleric of Beory she takes her \ncharges well-being very seriously. She is satisfied \nthat the giants have been generous so far in the \noccupation, but is worried that this could halt. She \nurges caution. \n \nIf PCs go to Istivin and try to contact the \nMarchioness or any of her staff, this automatically bumps \nthe EL of Encounters 2 and 5 as the people who visit her \nare always closely watched. Lords Sinister who visit the \nMarchioness automatically trigger their own capture as \ndetailed above. \n \nWhen PCs cross the border zone of Sterich, proceed \nto Encounter 2. \nENCOUNTER 2: UNCOMMON \nGAME \nNote: The difficulty of the combat in this encounter is \nbased in part on how the PCs handled the previous \nencounter. If PCs passed quickly and quietly through \nSterich, then the combat will be at EL = APL. If PCs have \nbeen indiscrete, then the encounter’s EL is raised by 2. \n \nA light rain has misted most of the day, and the \nmugginess of a summer storm has settled on you. \nArmor and straps are far from pleasant riding hard \non even callous and hardened skin. \n \nAbout an hour ago, you crossed into the \nForbidden Zone that buffers the Crystalmists. The \ngiants marked the border with an obelisk. Letters \nwrapped the obelisk in a spiral. Giant, dwarven, the \ncommon tongue, and draconic were worked with \nprecision and art into the stone. \n \nThe message was simple. “Pass into the \nCrystalmists at your peril. Tyv found beyond this \npoint will be slain.” \n \nIf the PCs check, they find the obelisk is non-\nmagical. \n \nThe green fields and countryside of Sterich lay \nbehind you. The foothills of the Crystalmists are \nfolded with shallow ravines and steep hollows. The \nmountains are young compared to the Good Hills, \nmerely a brief footnote before the mountains that \nrise before you. \n \nAsk for Listen checks. Read the following to those \nwho make a DC 15: \n \nSomeone runs towards you though the brush. It \nseems man-sized from the sound. \n \nAllow PCs to take a standard action if they made the \nListen check. Continue with the following box text: \n \nA wild-eyed Oeridian woman in her late \ntwenties staggers onto the rough mountain path you \nhave been marching down. A child of no more than \nthree clings to her, his eyes wild with terror. He \nsees you and folds his body tight against her, \nshuddering. \n \nThe woman falls backwards at the sight of you, \nat first terrified, and then her face lights in \nrecognition. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 13 \n \n“Lords, help me. The giant has brought us here \nto hunt. My husband…,” she chokes in grief. “It \nATE him.” \n \n“Love of Pelor, help us,” she says, her voice \nshaking in horror. \n \nThe ground vibrates underneath your feet. A \ngiant approaches. Other human voices carry to you \nin the distance. Some cry out in panic. Others are \nhoarse shouts of outrage. \n \nPCs can disengage and flee effectively if they choose \nto. They can hear people running off to their right and \nleft. The misting rain reduces vision to sixty feet. Marla \nblurts out the following if PCs stop to listen to her: \n \nIt’s huge and white skinned. It was on us before \nwe knew it. It’s got a great twisted lump of flesh \nwhere its nose should be. How can something that \nbig be so quiet? \n \nProceed to the next section of box text. Adjust the \nDC to spot the fomorian to 10 since the PCs have been \nprepared for their opponent’s tactics. If PCs rush in, they \ncrash through high brush and encounter the fomorian \nand his entourage (based on APL) as they crash into the \nclearing. PCs must make an opposed Listen vs. Move \nSilently check to avoid surprise as the giant drops down \non then from above. See DM Aid: Map #1. \n \nYou break out of the brush into a clearing. In \nthe center of the clearing are the fresh remains of \nsomeone, the pile of twisted meat and bone close in \nsize to what a human, elf, or dwarf should be. \nRubble and tall boulders ring the clearing, and the \nwest side, to your left, is bordered by an escarpment \nsome thirty feet in height. The giant flings himself \nat you from its top just as several peasants pursued \nby two dog-like humanoids with bows emerge from \nthe underbrush across from you. \n \nTactics: Based on APL, the fomorian and his \nentourage jump the PCs. At lower APLs, the fomorian is \nwounded \nand \ninebriated \nand \ncannot \ntrample. \nAdditionally, the peasants swarm and overcome the \ngnolls. At higher APLs, the giant tramples during the \nsurprise round and then bashes away as his gnoll archer \ncomrades unload a steady, rapid fire on the PCs. At the \nhighest APLs the druid that accompanies this group will \nsend her bear in to fight and observe in owl form, casting \na steady barrage of spells. She will delay and target spell \ncasters. \n \nAssuming PCs vanquish the giant and his minions, \nthey quickly find themselves the focus of attention from \nthe surviving peasants. The peasants are all commoners \nor warriors of first to fourth level. Based on APL, they \nmay have been able to overcome some of the giants’ allies. \n Regardless, the peasants are more than eager to share a \nmeal and a fire with the PCs as they head into the \nmountains. Under no circumstances outside of magical \ncompulsion will the peasants go into the mountains with \nthe PCs. Charming or compelling the peasants to come \nwith the PCs into the mountains is an evil act and should \nbe treated as such given the context of the campaign \nsetting. \n \nThe villagers were herded here by the fomorian for \nsport and have been drawn from all over the countryside. \n Once they were in the restricted area, the giant could do \nas he pleased with them and claim they had tried to cross \nover into the mountains. They thank the PCs profusely \nand offer to feed them. Allow PCs to make any number \nof Gather Information checks with this group without \nconsequence. Marla and her son Jed function as the \nmouth-piece. \n \nMarla says such things as. “Mind the good Lord’s \nquestion. Saved your life, he did. Be civil and quick \nin your answer.” Marla and the others defer to the PCs \nas Lords regardless of their title or station. The \nMarchioness’ knights and lands adventurers all the time, \nand it is safer from their perspective to assume the PCs \nare nobility than not. \n \nUse the following personas for peasants as you need: \n� Marla, Female Human Com3: Sense Motive -1. \n� Jed, Male Human Com1: Sense Motive -2. \n� Gerri, Male Human Rgr4: Sense Motive +1; \nGerri is a veteran of the liberation of Sterich who \nsettled down to farm with his brother Carl. Carl was \nkilled by the gnolls in the fight. \n� Prindle, Male Human Com5: Sense Motive +2; \nPrindle is an old commoner who stayed as a refugee \nin Keoland until the emancipation. He thinks all \nKeoland nobles are insane and discusses this at \nlength with anyone who will listen. \n� Clause, Male Human Ftr3: Sense Motive +0; \nClause is Marla’s uncle and a militia member. He is \nvery big and very strong, but not bright. \n� Agnes, Female Human Com1: Sense Motive +3; \nAgnes is a very simple but pleasant woman and an \nincredible cook. She will patch PCs’ gear if they \nallow her to. \n \nTreasure: The only treasure in this area is the \npossessions of the giant and his minions. \n \nDevelopment: PCs who help the peasants escape \nspark a diplomatic incident and lose their status as Lords \nErrant or Stalwart; their good deed though earns them a \nnew status of Lords Dire instead. Lords Sinister who save \nthe peasants have their status improved as their good \ndeed is noted and reported by survivors (they lose the \nLords Sinister title, and the accompanying Hatred of \nSterich, and become Lords Dire as well). PCs who do not \nassist the peasants have their deeds witnessed by \nsurvivors and are reported for their cowardice (they lose \ntheir Lords Errant or Stalwart status or retain their Lords \nSinister status, if they posses one of these). PCs who have \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 14 \nnot played the first adventure in the series (SHE4-06 Dark \nClouds Over Istivin) who help spark a diplomatic incident \nby killing the fomorian chieftain also become Lords Dire \nof Sterich. See Lord Dire of Sterich effect on the \nAdventure Record. This change in status comes directly \nby edict of the Marchioness, on hearing of the PCs’ deeds \nor lack thereof. \n \nCreatures: The PCs could face one of the following \ntwo groups of combatants, depending on the APL and \nwhether or not the EL was increased due to the giants \nbeing aware of the PCs’ presence (as per Encounter 1). \nGIANTS NOT ON ALERT (EL = APL) \nAPL 6 (EL 6) \n� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp \n75; use Ettin, Monster Manual, page 106. \nNote: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian \ngiant, but are occupied and defeated by the \ncommoners. \nAPL 8 (EL 8) \n� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp \n126; use Stone Giant, Monster Manual, page 124. \nNote: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian \ngiant, but are occupied and defeated by the \ncommoners. \nAPL 10 (EL 10) \n� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp \n147; use Fire Giant, Monster Manual, page 121. \nNote: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian \ngiant, but are occupied and defeated by the \ncommoners. \nAPL 12 (EL 12) \n� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp \n147; use Fire Giant, Monster Manual, page 121. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr7: hp 92; see \nAppendix 4. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr7: hp 75; see \nAppendix 4. \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 30; see \nAppendix 4. \nAPL 14 (EL 14) \n� Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix 5. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr10: hp 132; see \nAppendix 5. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr10: hp 99; see \nAppendix 5. \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 30; see \nAppendix 5. \nAPL 16 (EL 16) \n� Fiendish Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix \n6. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr12: hp 165; see \nAppendix 6. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr12: hp 126; see \nAppendix 6. \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see \nAppendix 6. \nAPL 18 (EL 18) \n� Fiendish Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix \n7. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr14: hp 189; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr12: hp 126; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Gnoll Druid, Female Gnoll Drd14: hp 176; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: hp 111; \nsee Appendix 7. \nGIANTS ON ALERT (EL = APL + 2) \nAPL 6 (EL 8) \n� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp \n126; use Stone Giant, Monster Manual, page 124. \nNote: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian \ngiant, but are occupied and defeated by the \ncommoners. \nAPL 8 (EL 10) \n� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp \n147; use Fire Giant, Monster Manual, page 121. \nNote: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian \ngiant, but are occupied and defeated by the \ncommoners. \nAPL 10 (EL 12) \n� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp \n147; use Fire Giant, Monster Manual, page 121. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr7: hp 92; see \nAppendix 3. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr7: hp 75; see \nAppendix 3. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 15 \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 30; see \nAppendix 3. \nAPL 12 (EL 14) \n� Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix 4. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr10: hp 132; see \nAppendix 4. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr10: hp 99; see \nAppendix 4. \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 30; see \nAppendix 4. \nAPL 14 (EL 16) \n� Fiendish Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix \n5. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr12: hp 165; see \nAppendix 5. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr12: hp 126; see \nAppendix 5. \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see \nAppendix 5. \nAPL 16 (EL 18) \n� Fiendish Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix \n6. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr14: hp 189; see \nAppendix 6. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr12: hp 126; see \nAppendix 6. \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see \nAppendix 6. \n� Gnoll Druid, Female Gnoll Drd14: hp 176; see \nAppendix 6. \n� Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: hp 111; \nsee Appendix 6. \nAPL 18 (EL 20) \n� Fiendish Fomorian Giant Bbn2: hp 223; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr16: hp 213; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr14: hp 144; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Gnoll Druid, Female Gnoll Drd16: hp 198; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: hp 129; \nsee Appendix 7. \nENCOUNTER 3: THE THRALLS \nOF GAR MUJAL \nThe trip through the Crystalmists takes the PCs many \ndays. Have them arrange their marching order and also \ntheir watch rotation before you proceed. The following \ntext assumes a party traveling on foot, as traveling by \nhorse and most mounts is impossible. Alert the text \nbelow if PCs are taking steps to move with absolute \nstealth or to prevent their detection from the air, or if \nthey travel by air. However, it is not necessary to contact \nthe Folinu to complete the mission, so PCs with the \nappropriate magic or resources can bypass this encounter. \n \nYour sleep has certainly been less troubled since \nyou took up Maira’s cause. The dreams have \nlessened in intensity and in frequency since you \nstarted your quest. The images linger and still you \ndream, but these are clearly images of the dream \nworld and not lucid visions of horror and terror. \n \nThe Crystalmists are aptly named. Each \nmorning, the entire range is covered in a cold, wet \nfog. Sunrise and sunset cause the snow on the \nhighest peaks to shine like cut glass. The mountains \nare rough and raw. Like all young things, they have \nsharp edges. \n \nThere have been numerous and plentiful signs \nof giants and their minions as you passed through \nthe mountains. So far, you have been able to easily \ndodge their patrols. \n \nHowever, you know someone has been watching \nyou. Far overhead, great birds have been circling for \nthe past hour. More have joined their number and a \ngreat swirling flock marks your position. \n \nSuddenly, three of them begin to descend. \n \nWith a successful Spot check (DC 15), the PCs know \nthat the flying creatures are humanoid and resemble the \nones from their dream. \n \nPCs who panic and who attack the raptorans of Cul \nBra Folinu quickly cause them to scatter and report their \nposition to Gar Mujal. Gar quickly alerts the other giants \nin the Crystalmists to the PCs’ location and causes a great \nmobilization of force to hunt them down. \n \nEvery day the PCs will have an encounter with a \ngiant force sent to either slay the PCs or drive them from \nthe mountains. The adventure ends here for the PCs; \neither they successfully escape the mountains and leave \nSterich or they are slain by the giants. Assuming they \nescape, proceed to the Conclusion: Fleeing the \nMountains. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 16 \n \nHowever, it is more likely that PCs will wait for the \nFolinu to descend and speak to them. In that case, \nproceed to the next section. \nAll APLs (EL 21) \n� Fire Giants (16): hp 142 each; see Monster \nManual, page 121. \n� Troll Hunters (6): hp 126 each; see Monster \nManual, page 247. \n� Ogre Barbarians (4): hp 87 each; see Monster \nManual, page 199. \n� Wyvern Mounts (4): hp 74 each; see Monster \nManual, page 259. \n� Ogre Mages (16): hp 42 each; see Monster Manual, \npage 200. \n� Trolls (24): hp 63 each; see Monster Manual, page \n247. \n� Ogres (40): hp 33 each; see Monster Manual, page \n199. \n� Hobgoblins (120): hp 8 each; see Monster \nManual, page 153. \nMEETING THE FOLINU \n \nThree bird-like creatures glide to the ground \nbefore you. These are the creatures from your \nsecond dream. They are both man and bird, their \nwingspan easily twelve feet. Each nimbly shifts an \noversized bow from their taloned feet to their hands \nas they land, side by side. There are two males and \none female present. Their wings are feathered \nwhite, and each have a fine crest of feathers on their \nhead. From a distance, it almost looks like hair. \nEach wears functional leather armor, finely worked \nand well made. \n \nThe one in the center speaks. \n \n“I am Caaraaki, first hunter of the Folinu and \neyes for my tribe. Many seasons have passed since \nthe ground-bound come among us. We extend \nwelcome but must ask your business here in the \nlands of Gar Mujal. I am honor-bound to act as his \nagent.” \n \nCaaraaki introduces Shernaa, the female, and \nAckabu, the male if asked. These two are his age-mates. \nCaaraaki speaks in general terms to the PCs. His primary \ngoal is to identify who they are then either bring them \ndirectly to Gar Mujal or to his clan elders. His response is \nbased largely on how the PCs present themselves. If he \nrealizes that the PCs are “of the valley” and that they are \nhere “to do god’s work,” then he leads them to his elders. \nIf not, he takes them directly to Gar Mujal. \n� Raptoran Sentries (3): male and female raptoran \nRgr5; see Appendix 8. \n \nCaaraaki shares the following information with the \nPCs: \n• \nHis people serve Gar Mujal. \n• \nThe PCs are in the lands held by Gar Mujal. \n• \nHis people used to trade eagerly with those “of the \nvalley” (Sterich and the Sheldomar) but have not \ndone so in four generations. \n• \nThis area is controlled by Gar Mujal, and other giants \ndo not come here. \n• \nTheir duty is to escort the PCs to Gar Mujal, as they \nare on his land. \n• \nGar Mujal trades ideas and information with may \nsorts of people, including illithids, duergar, the other \ngiants, and sometimes dark-skinned elves. The pale, \nblonde haired mages of the valley tower sometimes \ncome and speak to him, too. (DC 15 Knowledge \n(local – Sheldomar Valley metaregion) check \nidentifies these mages as the Silent Ones). \n \nCaaraaki wants the PCs to share information with \nhim also. PCs who are impolite or confrontational are \ninformed that it is time to go before the dread master and \nexplain their need. If PCs are diplomatic, Caaraaki asks \nthe PCs several questions: \n• \nWhat brings you to the Crystalmists? \n• \nHow do you find yourself in the lands of Gar Mujal, \nby accident or design? \n• \nDo you know that Tyv who travel among the lands of \nthe giants are considered fair sport among the \ngiants? \n• \nAre you the ones now called Lords of the Valley? \n \nCaaraaki is very interested if the PCs are Lords \nErrant or Stalwart and impressed with the ruthlessness of \nany Lords Sinister. PCs who mention that they are on a \nquest and provide details or that mention their dream \nnote that the raptorans are obviously distressed and \nsaddened by what they’ve said. However, these three do \nnot answer specific questions about the meaning of the \ndream, but rather defer to their leadership. Likewise, if \nPCs mention that they are on a divinely inspired quest \nand reference this in their discussion, Caaraaki wants \nthem to meet his elders and asks them specifically to go \nthere. \n \nHe nods, and Shernaa takes flight. Caaraaki \ndoes not share specifics about the elders, saying, \n“Only they are wise enough in counsel to guide you \non this path.” \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 17 \n \nIf PCs fail to pique the interest of the Folinu, \nproceed to Encounter 4. Otherwise, proceed to the next \nsection. \nTHE ELDERS OF THE FOLINU \n \nCaaraaki and his age-mates walk with you, \ncomfortably and adeptly. You have the feeling that \nthe raptorans spend as much time on the ground as \nthey do in the air. Caaraaki makes small talk, \npointing out this or that rock formation and \ndiscussing at length the dyes that can be gathered \nfrom the local flora. He defers to his elders on many \nquestions. \n \nBefore you is a perfect oval depression. At its \ncenter is a crystal blue pool of water, perfectly \ncircular. Seven raptorans, their wing tips and head \nfeathers blackened with age, wait patiently for you. \n \nThey nod to you as you approach and open their \narms in greeting. \n \nOne steps forward, saying, “And who might you \nbe, that causes our eyes to call us from the aerie to \nparley? Gar Mujal dislikes secrecy in his servants, so \nyour cause must be dire, else Caaraaki would not \nhave called us out. We must be quick in our \ncounsel.” \n \nAfter the PCs introduce themselves, the elders \nrespond with their identities. They are: \n� Sherinda, Flock Chief: female raptoran Drd12; \nsee Appendix 8. \n� Cas, Medicine Chief: male raptoran Clr9 of \nPhaulkon; see Appendix 8. \n� Nikcuri, War Chief: male raptoran Rgr10; see \nAppendix 8. \n� Creskara, Hunting Chief: female raptoran \nRgr8/Sor2; see Appendix 8. \n� Daetae, Sunspeaker: female raptoran Brd8; see \nAppendix 8. \n� Nimvanna, Star Chief: female raptoran \nDrd7/Skypledged1; see Appendix 8. \n� Tayn, Supply Chief: male raptoran Rog2/Clr6 of \nPhaulkon; see Appendix 8. \n \nThe PCs have an opportunity to introduce \nthemselves and explain why they are here. If PCs do not \nmention their dream, then Cas asks about it if they have \nalready mentioned it to Caaraaki and his peers. Cas also \nwants to know how the PCs learned of Cul Bra Folinu. \n \nOnce PCs have explained at length what they know \nand why they are here, use or paraphrase the following \ntext: \n \nCreskara speaks, her voice high, tight, and tonal. \n“They know of the shame of the Folinu. The divine \nhas led them here. I say we gift them the tale of our \nfall. Who shares my view?” \n \nSherinda nods in the head bobbing way of her \npeople, “They should know.” The others nod their \nagreement. \n \nCas steps forward and strikes his drum once as \nhe lifts himself into the air on his wings. His voice \ncomes to you strong and taut as a bow string. \n \n“In those days the Folinu dwelt upon the rock \nand sky free of care and free of sorrow. Chief among \nthem was Erruja, a raptoran great in arcane power \nand great in his arrogance. \n \nErruja knew that all of those of raptoran blood \nwere bound to the lords of air and descended from \nthe wind of the plane of air itself. He knew that we \nwere touched by the elements and the magic of that \nplace and that the sacred oath we swore to the lords \nof air gave us strength and gave us the sky. \n \nThis was not enough for Erruja. He lusted for \nmore power and plotted to return to the plane of air \nand confront the Lords therein. Erruja would be \ntheir equal. Erruja would be their lord. Erruja \nwould have raptorans be greater than the gods \nthemselves. He set about a plan to make it so. \n \nGar Mujal is learned in the runic arts and in the \nelemental planes. He is cunning in counsel and \nnegotiation. He is known far and wide and a maker \nof gates and a master of runes. He is ancient in his \nwickedness. He has watched the generations of the \nskywise rise and fall like grass in its season. \n \nErruja in his arrogance and pride came to Gar \nMujal. Erruja would have a gate to the Lords of air. \nHe would have passage into their lands so his people \ncould claim their supposed birthright. \n \nGar Mujal looked into Erruja’s heart and saw \nthat his lust for power consumed him. Gar Mujal \noffered a pact bound by blood. He would give Erruja \nhis gate, but he bound to it our fate. Erruja could \npass into the land of the djinn; his progeny was \nbound to his sin. No child of the Folinu from that \nday could be born if Gar Mujal said, ‘Nay.’ The price \nof our flesh did not achieve Erruja’s prize. The \nLords of air slew him and forbid our passage nigh. \n \nWe now serve to live entrapped by our past. To \nchallenge our master is to have our eggs turned to \nash.” \n \nCas closes with a flourish on his hand drum. \n \nCreskara lets the final notes hang in the air, \n“You know the shame of the Folinu. Gar Mujal owns \nus as surely as you own your steel. I hope this gives \nmeaning to your dream. There is little you can do. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 18 \nGar Mujal would let go of you no quicker than I \nwould this bow. We are too useful.” \n \nIn fact, there is little the PCs can obviously do. The \nraptoran elders have no idea how they can be freed from \ntheir bondage. All they know with certainty is that their \nmaster collects favors and information and will broker \nboth. The Folinu tells PCs that they might be able to cut \na deal worth their freedom if they have something of \nvalue to the trade in return. They, however, have no idea \nwhat he would value enough to free them. \n \nThe Folinu elders share information that does not \ndirectly compromise their master’s house. That is, they \ndo not talk about his magical protections or his allies. \nHowever, they let PCs know that he has many, many, \nmany ogre mages, bugbears, and ogres as his servants, and \nthat they have seen Gar Mujal single-handedly defeat \neight mind flayers. \n \nThe Folinu elders tell PCs that they believe that they \nhave been brought here for a reason not clear to any of \nthem. If asked about the portal to the Elemental Plane of \nAir, the Folinu say none of them has passed through it \nsince Erruja led their bravest warriors to their doom. Gar \nMujal forbade them from passing through the gate. \n \nIf questioned in specific about Gar Mujal and how \nhe treats the Folinu, PCs find that he treats them well but \nallows them little freedom. They cannot leave his \ndomain, and he strictly controls who can mate and when. \n The process they describe sounds like a prize horse \nbreeder managing his stock. However, in the last, none \nof them want for material things and are well fed and \nsafe. However, they hunger for liberty and freedom. \n \nThe Folinu make clear that they must escort the PCs \ninto Gar Mujal’s presence and if they do not, he will find \nout and hunt them down. \n \nIf PCs choose to leave the mountains and not speak \nto Gar Mujal, this triggers the daily attacks of the giant \nforce as mentioned above. If PCs choose to meet Gar \nMujal, proceed to Encounter 4. \nENCOUNTER 4: THE HALLS \nOF CUL BRA FOLINU \nThe Stone of Cul Bra Folinu was purest white, like \nfresh fallen snow. Across the face of the stone, you \ncan see small pockmarks, like the one from your \ndream. Raptorans enter and leave all across the face \nof the stone. \n \nCaaraaki walks towards the base of the mount, \nand as you get closer you have a better feel of the raw \nsize of it. It is easily seven hundred feet tall. Clawed \nfrom the base of the stone is a massive gate, made of \nsome darker stone. Slitted firing ports surround the \ngate, and it swings open as you approach. A full \ndozen blue-skinned ogres step out and move \ntowards you, greatswords strapped to their backs \nand huge longbows in their hands. \n \nCaaraaki takes a knee before the largest as he \napproaches. He says to the ogre mage in Giant, “We \nhave found these Tyv within our Lords demesne. \nThey seek him out and seek his counsel. We release \nthem into you care. \n \nThe ogre mage regards you briefly and snarls a \ngreeting. “You live at Gar Mujal’s pleasure. Destroy \nthe serenity of my Lord’s house and face his wrath. \nKeep your steel sheathed. Cast no spell. Agree to \nthese things now and swear by your heathen gods \nelse we smite you down.” \n \nIf PCs agree and swear, then proceed to the next \nblock of text. If not, make clear to them they will not be \nallowed to continue until they do. They will be allowed \nto leave, but if they do so, they will soon face repeated \nattacks by giant forces, as mentioned in Encounter 3, \nuntil they escape Sterich; proceed then to the \nConclusion: Fleeing the Mountains. \n \nYou are led up a long, spiral staircase up into the \ninterior of the mountain. Sconces line the walls, \nand all flicker with apparent unending flame. There \nare hundred of bugbears, ogres and ogre mage here, \nthat much is apparent. Gar Mujal’s lesser servants, \ngoblins, part with bowed heads as your guards pass \nwith you in tow. This place is vast. \n \nFinally, you are led through a pair of huge brass \ndoors. The room beyond is gilded, with that \nprecious metal worked into every surface. The walls \nseem to writhe with power, as literally hundreds of \ndifferent runes adorn the surface. \n \nAt the end of the hall, a giant sits atop a white \nstone throne. He would be easily twenty-five feet \ntall if he were standing. He is not. He sits casually \non his stone throne sipping from a huge gold goblet, \na great bastard sword resting against his knee. \nEldritch fire licks up and down its blade. His skin is \nlight green. What is truly disturbing though, are the \ntattoos that cover every inch of his exposed skin. \nThey flicker and flare with a life of their own. \n \nTo his right and left are easily fifty ogre mages. \nThey chatter among themselves, regarding you. The \nGiant sips from his goblet and favors you with a \ngrin. \n \n“Who seeks the wisdom of Gar Mujal? It is not \ncommon Tyv in these times to come so far and \nthrough so much. Your days are numbered if the \nSakhut’s will is made manifest... Do you know that \nif I were a true and faithful servant of my leadership, \nI would slay and eat you now? Do not fear, I find \nthere is much to admire in the mind of Tyv. You \nmake items of power and destruction to rival our \nown, even if your magic is primitive and poorly \nformed. Speak. I would hear what brings such as \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 19 \nyou before me. The Sheldomar spawns posing \nheroes of all stripe and skill. Show me your mettle.” \n \nThis room is warded by Gar Mujal with runic magic \nand is proof against scrying and teleportation. PCs within \nare also under the effects of a zone of truth spell while \nwithin (DC 20 Will save). Gar Mujal will be aware of \nthose who have resisted the effects of this spell as he \nobserves the PCs as they speak and determines who has \nclearly failed. He only allows those people under the \neffects of the zone of truth to speak to him. All others he \ncalls “cunning and sly” and tells them to be silent as he \nknows they are liars, like all weak and small things. \n \nGar Mujal is amused by the presence of the PCs and \nfinds their bravery and diligence a novelty. He has a \ngreat admiration for human and elven magic and as a \nresult is more amenable to conversation than the typical \ngiant. Finally, he has no love of the Sakhut and is \nangered by, and jealous of, the power that has been \namassed. \n \nGar Mujal is interested in truth, as truth has value. \nDeception he appreciates on a purely technical level, but \nis not amused by Tyv who come and lie to him. \n \nHe digs deeply into the PCs’ story, asking precise \nand pointed questions until he knows all the reasons why \nthey are here. \n \nIf PCs should decide to attack Gar Mujal, warn them \nknow that their chance of success is minimal. They will \nquickly find themselves in a fight with a storm giant \nWiz10/Loremaster10 backed up by a functionally \nunlimited number of ogres, ogre mages, and bugbears, \nmany of which are leveled in classes themselves. If PCs \nare gracious guests, Gar Mujal will not attack the PCs as \nhe finds them entertaining and also sees in them a way to \nannoy the Sakhut. \n� \nGar \nMujal: \nmale \nstorm \ngiant \nWiz10/ \nLoremaster10. \n� Ogre Mages (50): see Monster Manual, page 200. \n \nAt his base, Gar Mujal is amenable to the PCs’ \nrequest if they are truthful to him, show respect, and are \narticulate in their case. If they fail in all three of these \nareas, he ejects them from his house. They will soon face \nrepeated attacks by giant forces, as mentioned in \nEncounter 3, until they escape Sterich; proceed then to \nthe Conclusion: Fleeing the Mountains. \n \nIf PCs ask about the plight of the Folinu, Gar laughs \nand tells them that the Folinu are bound by their own \nfolly. He retells the story in his terms, scoffing at Erruja’s \nidiocy. He refuses to talk to them about such “bird-\nbrained idiocy.” He affirms whatever the PCs ask him. \nHowever, he very pointedly questions the PCs as they \nask, with a specific goal of finding out how the PCs came \nto know about the Folinu. He sees the raptorans as a \nuseful tool and prizes their ability to do effective recon \nover a distance. If PCs attempt to bargain for the freedom \nof the Folinu, he laughs at them. He has very little \ninterest, at this point, in ending the relationship he has \nwith the raptorans. \n \nGar Mujal wants to know why the PCs are here. If \nthe PCs share what they know with him, then he decides \nto help them, although he does not plan to announce it \nuntil the morning after when he has done some research. \n PCs must share the following information to receive Gar \nMujal’s assistance: \n• \nThey were brought here by a dream. \n• \nThe rune that they need removed was placed to \ndirectly silence a voice against the Sakhut. \n• \nHiatea and Iallanis are believed to be involved. \n• \nThe PCs have had a role in attempting to thwart the \nSakhut’s plan. \n• \nAiding them might cause the Sakhut to be \noverthrown. \n \nHe will dig for this information, but he ejects PCs \nfrom his presence if they are not forthcoming with the \ndetails he seeks. In this case, they will soon face repeated \nattacks by giant forces, as mentioned in Encounter 3, \nuntil they escape Sterich; proceed then to the \nConclusion: Fleeing the Mountains. \n \nGar Mujal is very much aware of the danger of \nhelping displace this rune. However, he is cunning and \nwill evolve a plan. \n \nAssuming PCs do not anger the Giant and can \npresent their case well, Gar Mujal invites them to dinner \nand leads them into his banquet hall. Afterwards: \n \nThe giant nods as you finish. “You bring me \nmuch of interest. I must ponder. We may be of use \nto each other, and certainly we share a common \ndisdain. This evening, I have much to do as I \nconsider your request. \n \n“You are guests within my house. I will provide \nquarters for you that are secure and let my thralls \nknow that to strike against you is to strike against \nme. You have my protection. I ask these things: stay \nto the quarters I assign you. Do not attempt to \ncommunicate to the outside, either to your gods or \nto your allies. Tolerate the idiosyncrasies of my \nstaff. They may press you, but they cannot harm \nyou. Finally, I ask that you do not wander from your \nroom tonight. You are my guests, but I value my \nprivacy. I will not have you poking your nose where \nit does not belong. Stay in your room. \n \nIn the morning we will continue our pilander. I \nthank you for seeking me out.” \n \nIf pressed on the issue of magical communication, \nGar simply states that he finds it disturbing, and it is the \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 20 \ncondition he attaches to his hospitality. If the PCs accept \nhis hospitality, proceed to Encounter 5. \n \nIf PCs refuse his hospitality, allow them to quit the \nmission. They encounter Urg and perhaps his \ncompanion, Aglashti on the road as they leave the \nmountains, rather than in the next encounter. After that \nfight, go to the Conclusion: Leaving the Mountains. \nENCOUNTER 5: MURDER \nMOST FOUL \nRefer to DM Aid: Map #2 for this encounter. \n \nIt is apparent that Gar Mujal routinely extends \nthe hospitality of his house to beings your size. This \nlarge cylindrical room is completely and finely \nappointed. The only apparent entrance is the door \nyou entered, and closer examination bears this out. \nThere are seven alcoves equally spaced around the \nperimeter of the room. Each is open to the rest of \nthe room except for a curtain easily drawn across the \nspace. Six have a bed and washstand within as well \nas an empty armoire. One is a small privy. The main \nroom has a sunken and steaming tub at its center. \nFine towels, soaps, and oils are in baskets near the \nwater. A low table in the Ketite style has also been \nprovided. Pillows surround the table. \n \nFood, wine, mead, and a small tun of ale have \nalready been provided. It covers the surface of the \ntable and smells quite inviting. The bulk of the fare \nis wild game. The smell of mutton must be big horn \nsheep. \n \nThe female goblins who brought you here \npointed to a hanging bell rope near the entrance and \nbid you ring if you need anything. They also made \nclear that it was your right to lock this room from \nthe inside and that none save the master could gain \nentrance. \n \nOutside your door, two ogres stand guard, \nperhaps to keep you in, but just as likely, to keep \nothers out. In the morning, you will meet Gar \nMujal. \n \nPCs who examine the lock on the door find it of \nsuperior (Open Lock DC 40) quality. The residents of \nCul Bra Folinu leave the PCs alone, with the exception of \nUrg, a bugbear assassin who has functioned as a sleeper \nagent in Gar Mujal’s household for years. He has been \nspecifically instructed to eliminate any Tyv who come \nfrom the Sheldomar Valley seeking aid against the \nSakhut. Other heroes from the Sheldomar draw his \nattention too, but his long term purpose was to monitor \npotential agents from Geoff or who might support Geoff. \n In this instance, he has been instructed to kill as many \nPCs as he can, but has been told to specifically focus his \nattention on wizards and sorcerers. \n \nAllow PCs to take whatever precautions they wish \nand to set watches as they desire. The food that has been \nprovided is untainted. There is one entrance to the room. \n The room is in the heart of the white stone formation. \n \nUrg enters the room through the privy using \ninvisibility and gaseous form. He observes waking targets \nfor three rounds and then attacks to kill, layering spells as \nnecessary. Urg will not fight to the death, if he can avoid \nit. He will flee using gaseous form, either fleeing out the \ndoor or down the privy as necessary. If PCs do not keep \nwatch, he will coup de grace one target each round until \nsomeone wakes up or he has killed everyone. He starts \nwith spell casters and ends his little murder spree with \nrogues. \n \nUrg has very little illusions about his chances of \nsuccess in this endeavor. He knows that he will most \nlikely be butchered by the PCs. He has a mission \nhowever. He will do his best to kill at least one Tyv. \n \nIf PCs sounded the alarm in Sterich by being too \naggressive in their questioning or failing to keep a low \nprofile, then Urg will be assisted by Aglashti. Aglashti is \nan ogre mage warlock who would not normally be used \nin this way. However, if the “alarm” has been sounded, \nhe will commit to this mission, contacting Urg to \ncoordinate their attacks the night the PCs arrive. \n \nThe ogres outside helps as best they are able if a fight \nbreaks out that they can hear. One runs for help, and the \nother enters the room if it is unlocked or attempts to \nbatter the door down if it is locked. It takes the ogre four \nrounds to hack through the door. The ogre bellows at the \ntop of his lungs as he tries to hack through, in giant, “I \ncome save Tyv! Master be mad if they get killed and put \nme in stew pot. I coming!” Help comes to the PCs in a \nnumber of rounds equal to their APL in the form of \nbugbears and ogre mages. When reinforcements arrive, \nUrg flees. \n� Guards, Ogres (2): hp 33 each; see Monster \nManual, page 199. \n� Reinforcements, Bugbears (12): hp 21 each; see \nMonster Manual, page 29. \n� Reinforcements, Ogre Mages (2): hp 42 each; \nsee Monster Manual, page 200. \n \nGar Mujal arrives via dimension door two rounds after \nthe combat ends. He is apologetic and upset that the PCs \nhave been assaulted. It should be readily apparent to PCs \nthat he is sincere. He offers PCs alternative housing if \nthey are desire and wants to take Urg’s body for \n“questioning.” He does not relent on this point. He will \nhave PCs healed by a bugbear cleric in his entourage if \nthey are willing. He vows to get to the bottom of this and \nlet them know what he learns. \n \nIf PCs wish to leave, allow them to do so at this \npoint. However, the adventure is over for them in this \ncase. Proceed to the Conclusion: Leaving the Mountains. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 21 \n If PCs choose to stay and meet with Gar Mujal in the \nmorning, go to encounter 6. \n \nTreasure: The possessions of the assassin(s) are the \nonly treasure here. \n \nCreatures: The PCs could face one of the following \ntwo groups of combatants, depending on the APL and \nwhether or not the EL was increased due to the giants \nbeing aware of the PCs’ presence (as per Encounter 1). \nGIANTS NOT ON ALERT (EL = APL + 2) \nAPL 6 (EL 8) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn1; hp 66; see \nAppendix 1. \nAPL 8 (EL 10) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn3; hp 79; see \nAppendix 2. \nAPL 10 (EL 12) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn5; hp 102; see \nAppendix 3. \nAPL 12 (EL 14) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn7; hp 117; see \nAppendix 4. \nAPL 14 (EL 16) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn9; hp 132; see \nAppendix 5. \nAPL 16 (EL 18) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat1; \nhp 147; see Appendix 6. \nAPL 18 (EL 20) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn10/ Thief-Acrobat3; \nhp 162; see Appendix 7. \nGIANTS ON ALERT (EL = APL + 4) \nAPL 6 (EL 10) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn1; hp 66; see \nAppendix 1. \n� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock1; hp 48; see \nAppendix 1. \nAPL 8 (EL 12) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn3; hp 79; see \nAppendix 2. \n� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock3; hp 68; see \nAppendix 2. \nAPL 10 (EL 14) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn5; hp 102; see \nAppendix 3. \n� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock5; hp 83; see \nAppendix 3. \nAPL 12 (EL 16) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn7; hp 117; see \nAppendix 4. \n� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock7; hp 98; see \nAppendix 4. \nAPL 14 (EL 18) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn9; hp 132; see \nAppendix 5. \n� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock9; hp 113; see \nAppendix 5. \nAPL 16 (EL 20) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat1; \nhp 147; see Appendix 6. \n� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock11; hp 128; see \nAppendix 6. \nAPL 18 (EL 22) \n� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn10/ Thief-Acrobat3; \nhp 162; see Appendix 7. \n� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock13; hp 156; see \nAppendix 7. \nENCOUNTER 6: THE ENEMY \nOF MY ENEMY \nYou are led to the room where you first met Gar \nMujal. It has been dressed for a banquet. Gar stands \nas you enter. His table is larger and set above yours. \nSix ogre magi stand to your left and right in dress \nlivery. \n \n“I am glad you have survived the night. I must \napologize again for the intrusion during the night \nand for any suffering you endured. It seems my \nhousehold has been compromised by agents of the \nSakhut. The bugbear that attacked you responded \nwell to my questioning. I wrung what I needed from \nhis spirit. Here, I offer you a gift.” \n \nOne of the ogre magi advances and offers a \nfreshly tanned hide in much the same way a \nshopkeeper might offer you the finest silk. It grins \naround its yellowing tusks. \n \n“Take the assassin’s hide as a token of my \ncontrition,” Gar Mujal says, his tone sincere, “It is \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 22 \nthe least I can do given the circumstances. Accept \nthis pelt and my apologies.” \n \nThe bugbear’s hide has been preserved with the \nsame skill a furrier uses to preserve the hide of \nbeaver or minx. \n \nGar waits until someone receives the hide and then \ndigs into breakfast with vigor. Whichever PC chooses to \ntake the hide receives the Urg’s Hide effect on their \nAdventure Record. If the PCs argue about who is to \nreceive the hide, Gar will watch with bemusement as \nthey fight it out. \n \nGar Mujal is amused but not offended if the PCs do \nnot take the hide of the bugbear. He makes small talk \nduring the meal, but defers any conversation until after \nthe meal is served. \n \n“Well, then,” the giant begins, “you have twice \nshared the hospitality of my table, and I have had \ntime to consider who and what you are and \ndetermine where our interests might be aligned. \nSeveral things are clear to me. \n \nFirst, that we all bear the Sakhut little love is \nsomething we can all agree on. I am recognized as a \nthreat, else agents would not be deployed here \nwithin my walls. That these same assets were \ndeployed against you tells me you have earned their \nenmity. We share an enemy. \n \nSecondly, in returning Maira’s voice, you seek to \ndisrupt the Sakhut’s power. I share this ambition, \nas I find such strutting and posing as the Sakhut \ndoes unseemly. We share a goal. \n \nFinally, as you seek the destruction and removal \nof the rune from Maira’s throat, so I seek the power \nand knowledge to do the same. We share a need. \n \nSimply put, we are bound by three things: hate, \ndesire and ambition. From such as this the best \ndeals are made. \n \nHere is my proposal. Erruja, that great idiot of \nthe Folinu, had me bind a gate for him to the \nElemental Plane of Air. He sought a confrontation \nwith the Lords of Air, as you know, his very gods. He \nwas slain as a result, and the bargain he made \nbrought the Folinu into my power. \n \nIt also gave me a permanent gate into the Plane \nof Air. The cloud giants are, alas, bound to the Plane \nof Air in much the same way the raptorans are. \nAncient alliances have given them their power over \nthe elements. The greatest among them travel into \nthe plane to learn more from the Lords of Air and \nalso to bind servants to themselves or make \nalliances instead if that is their disposition. Some \namong their number sometimes chose to live among \nthe elementals and the jann, seeking greater power \nand knowledge. \n \nAges ago, the cloud giant Ruka Nisindra chose \nto walk the path of the elementals. He dwelled upon \nthe Plane of Air and became practiced in both \nrunecraft and the lesser arcane arts. He bound to \nhimself djinn and elementals of many different \nsorts. Legends say he was the first to craft the \ngreatest runes of binding. I do not know if this is \ntrue. I do know that his power was great and that he \nbound to his will a noble djinni called Azalla. \n \nI have found the cloud island necropolis of \nRuka Nisindra. I believe the noble djinn Azalla lies \ntrapped within. It should be within his power to \ngrant Maira her voice, once he is liberated. I \npropose this. I transport you to Ruka’s tomb. You \nliberate the genie and return to me with what \nmagical booty you find. The djinn travels with you. \nWhatever artifacts you find within the necropolis \nare mine. \n \nFinally, this deal must be sealed with a geas, \nwhich each of you must willingly submit to. I will \nnot risk the loss of the items I seek if you flee. I will \nbind you to return all items with a magical aura that \nyou find within the necropolis to me. \n \nWhat say ye?” and with that Gar Mujal rests \nagainst his throne, a playful smile on his lips. \n \nGar Mujal fully expects to have to bargain here and is \nactually disappointed if PCs merely agree to his terms. \nAllow PCs a Sense Motive check against his Bluff check \n(+12 modifier) if they quickly close a deal and do not \nattempt to bargain. Let them know he is disappointed \nabout something if the are successful in the check. \n \nHowever, he does not relent on the topic of the geas. \n He allows PCs to leave unmolested if they choose to do \nso, as he bears them no specific malice. However, the \nadventure ends for the PCs and you may proceed to the \nConclusion: Leaving the Mountains. \nTHE NEGOTIATIONS \nOffer One \n \nIf PCs balk or challenge his terms, Gar Mujal says: \n \n“Very well then. Your caution is commendable. \nLet us try this. If you agree to bring me whatever \nmagical writings, wands, staves, or rods, runes and \ntomes, weapons, and miscellaneous items of power \nyou find, I agree to let you keep whatever other \npotions and non-magical loot you discover.” \n \nGar knows that there are several tomes of runic \nmagic in the necropolis, and he wants them for his own. \nHe will barter away the rest of the tomb’s contents for \nthese and very much enjoys the process. Each offer and \ncounter offer adds another class of magical booty PCs get \nto keep until it gets down to just the writings. This is all \nhe is really concerned about, after all, and he finds the \nprocess of negotiation amusing. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 23 \nOffer Two \n \nIf PCs push him for the release of the Folinu, he \nresponds as follows: \n \nGar Mujal’s brows knit in consideration. “You \nwould take from me my eyes and ears. They are \nbound to me by an act of free will. They prosper \nunder my care. I make them better and stronger \nthan they were without me. I have bred them \nstronger and quicker and harder over time. What do \nyou offer in return for the loss of my greatest \nservants?” \n \nGar agrees to release the Folinu from their bondage \nto him if the PCs relinquish all claims to booty they find \nin Ruka’s tomb and agree to owe him a favor in the \nfuture. If they agree to be in his debt (they receive the \nDebt to Gar Mujal effect on the Adventure Record), \nthen he agrees to let the raptorans go. He knows that \nabout a third of the raptorans will stay with him anyway, \nas they have prospered with him. To his mindset, he can \nrecover his population loss in a few hundred years and \nhaving the debt of Tyv heroes is useful to him in the \nimmediate future. \n \nIf asked, he lets the PCs know that he will only agree \nto this if they are willing to submit to a second geas that \nwill bind them to return to him and fulfill a mission for \nhim in the future. He only agrees to this if the entire \nparty submits to him on this issue. \n \nAgain PCs can bargain to gain access to greater \nbooty. Gar Mujal will not relent on his demand for a geas, \nhowever. \nWHAT GAR MUJAL KNOWS \n \nGar Mujal shares what he knows with PCs if they ask \nhim the right question. He is amused by the PCs and \ninterested in their success. Likewise, he is gauging their \nintelligence based on how they question him and \nrespond to him. He will share the following if asked: \n• \nRuka is rumored to have turned himself into a lich. \n• \nRuka’s prize work was crafting the Books of Neros, a \nseries of texts forged on hammered sheets of astral \ndrift metal. He also wrote many lesser tomes. \n• \nThe Necropolis of Ruka has been visited before. \n• \nHe believes that Azalla was bound inside the tomb \nby Ruka to keep his most precious items secure. \n• \nAzalla has been imprisoned for thousands of years. \nHe is a noble djinn, but his wishes were forced from \nhim during his imprisonment. He might have one \nwish left. He might just be trapped. \n• \nHe can only keep the gate open at one particular \npoint on the Plane of Air for 24 hours. PCs must \naccomplish their task in that time. It will take him \nweeks to recalibrate the gate. \n• \nGar Mujal doesn’t know what guards Ruka’s tomb, \nbut he does know that Ruka was a master of \nelemental magic who dabbled in necromancy. \n• \nHe can talk at length about the Plane of Air and it \nattributes (see Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 155). \n \nOnce PCs have cut a deal with Gar Mujal: \n \n“Well then, it is done. You have bargained well. \nSpend today preparing as you will. You are \nrestricted to your rooms again, but my servants will \nbring you what items you feel you need for your \njourney. \n \nWe will need to be at the top of Cul Bra Folinu \nby midday tomorrow. Plan your day accordingly.” \n \nThe PCs may request and receive any gear from \nTable 7-8: Goods and Services (Adventuring Gear section \nonly) in the Player’s Handbook. \nENCOUNTER 7: INTO THIN \nAIR \n \nThe view from atop Cul Bra Folinu is \nbreathtaking. The mountains stretch away from the \nwhite stone as far as you can see. The clouds rest on \nthe shoulders of the tallest peaks like a giant’s \nmantle. The wind whistles around you, like a \nmelody from a dream. \n \nOne by one Gar Mujal lays his geas upon you. \nHe uses a great twisted staff of some ebon wood as \nthe mechanism for his casting. The magical \ncompulsion washes over you and your comrades, \neach, in turn. You must return him the items you \nagreed to. You can feel the promise wrap about your \nsoul like steel bands. \n \nIf any PCs balk at this or attempt to save against the \nspell (DC 24 Will save) Gar Mujal refuses to open the gate \nuntil all the PCs have submitted to his geas. As some of \nthe PCs may have already accepted the geas, this can have \nvery nasty effects for the rest of the party. Once this is \nresolved, if it is an issue, proceed: \n \nGar Mujal gestures and crushes a stone to \npowder in his hands. The gate reveals itself. He \nwaves his hand at the gate. Images scroll by. First \nyou see a massive storm, lighting crashes thought \nthe air. Next, you see a vast city of floating islands, \npeopled by a handsome people who must be genies \nof some sort. Cloudscapes rapidly flash by as Gar \nMujal searches for the right place, the right spot. \nFinally, the image comes to rest on clouds and an \nunending blue sky. The gate opens onto a plain of \nswirling cloud. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 24 \n \nGar Mujal waves towards the gate “The surface \nhere is like a cloud rock of a cloud giants’ island. \nCrossover and be quick. The necropolis should be \non yon island by the cloud rock obelisk. Remember, \non the Plane of Air, down is the direction you \nchoose. It is an act of will to make down, down.” \n \nAs you peer through, you can see a tall spindle of \ncloud rock thrust out from the terrain. It is some \ndistance away. \n \nRefer to the Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 155, for a \ndescription of the traits attached to the Plane of Air. \nNote that gravity is subjective on the Plane of Air. Allow \nPCs a Dc 20 Knowledge (planes) check to determine this \ninformation. Give the PCs more planar traits based on \ntheir roll, providing information for every five points by \nwhich they beat 20. \n \nThe island is about one mile across. The surface of \nthe cloud rock is spongy and difficult to walk on. Treat it \nis a shallow bog (see Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 88). Gar \nMujal quickly turns abusive if PCs do not pass through \nquickly. Once the PCs cross: \n \nThe air is pleasant and warm, if a bit dry. Your \nfeet sink into cloud rock. It feels like muck. Wind \nmoves across you. Down, for right now at least, is \nbelow your feet. \n \nIt is hard to judge distance, but the obelisk is \nperhaps a half hour’s march from here. Turning to \nlook at the gate, you see a perfect circle limned in \nsilver. Gar Mujal sits opposite, cross-legged on the \nwhite stone. He regards you with cold, black eyes. \n \nOnce PCs confirm they are heading towards the \nobelisk and communicate to you whatever precautions \nthey would like to take, read the following: \n \nThe Obelisk is like smoke made solid. The \nsurface of the cloud has become harder as you have \napproached. Before you is a tunnel sunk into the \nheart of the island. It is deep, stretching down into \nthe island to the end of your vision and out of sight. \n \nPCs may re-orient their own personal down at any \ntime by making a DC 16 Wisdom check. Rules for this \nare defined in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 147. \nWhen PCs are ready to enter the tunnel, let PCs know \nthat the tunnel has become dark. Give PCs a DC 15 \nKnowledge (planes) check to recognize that this is \nunusual. If PCs detect evil, at this point, they will detect a \nfaint aura. Once they have provided a light source (one \nstrong enough to counter the deeper darkness effect [see \nbelow]), if they need one, read the following: \n \nIt is dark and cold. From down the tunnel a \nlight wind blows, carrying on it the scent of ancient \ndecay. \n \nThe tunnel opens into blackness. The walls \nslope away above and below and to your right and \nleft. From the slight curve, it seems you are on the \nsurface of a sphere. \n \nDust floats thickly in the air. Bits of bone and \nfragments of metal spin weightlessly before you. As \nyou stare into the dark, it is apparent that the \nskeletons of perhaps hundreds of creatures float \nbefore you. \n \nRefer to DM Aid: Map #3 and DM Aid: Map #4. Allow \nPCs to determine how they want to travel into the room. \nThe sphere is 300 feet across. Columns of cloud stone \ncross the chamber at multiple points. PCs may cross the \nroom by redefining their personal definition of up and \nwalking along the columns to the other side. \n \nNote that PCs crossing the room are quickly made \naware of the bones of hundred of creatures floating \nwithout apparent gravity in the air. This makes flying \nhazardous, and PCs must make a DC 10 + APL Reflex save \nanytime they fly faster than a 30 foot move; those that fail \ntake 2d6 damage for every 10 feet above the base move of \n30 that they fly. That is, a person flying at a base move of \n60 feet and playing APL 10 would have to make a DC 20 \nReflex or take 6d6 damage as they flew through the \nbones. The residents of this room have lived here for \ncenturies, and are much more adept at maneuvering \nwithin this space. As a result, they ignore this check. \nAPL 6 (EL 10) \n� Ruka, Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton: hp \n153; see Appendix 1. \n� Medium Air Necromental: hp 36; see Appendix \n1. \n� Sickening Shock, Living Spell: hp 30; see \nAppendix 1. \nAPL 8 (EL 12) \n� Ruka, Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton: hp \n153; see Appendix 2. \n� Huge Air Necromental: hp 144; see Appendix 2. \n� Sickening Shocks, Living Spells (2): hp 30 \neach; see Appendix 2. \nAPL 10 (EL 14) \n� Ruka, Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton: hp \n153; see Appendix 3. \n� Greater Air Necromental: hp 189; see Appendix \n3. \n� Sickening Shocks, Living Spells (2): hp 30 \neach; see Appendix 3. \n� Greasy Chill, Living Spell: hp 81; see Appendix 3. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 25 \nAPL 12 (EL 16) \n� Ruka, Cloud Giant Mummy: hp 153; see \nAppendix 4. \n� Greater Air Necromental: hp 189; see Appendix \n4. \n� Greasy Chill, Living Spell: hp 81; see Appendix 4. \nAPL 14 (EL 18) \n� Ruka, Evolved(x2) Cloud Giant Mummy: hp \n153; see Appendix 5. \n� Elder Air Necromental: hp 216; see Appendix 5. \n� Greasy Chills, Living Spells (2): hp 81 each; see \nAppendix 5. \nAPL 16 (EL 20) \n� Ruka, Evolved(x2) Cloud Giant Mummy: hp \n153; see Appendix 6. \n� Tempest Necromental: hp 216; see Appendix 6. \n� Greater Dispelling Fire, Living Spell: hp 147; \nsee Appendix 6. \nAPL 18 (EL 22) \n� Ruka, Evolved(x4) Cloud Giant Mummy: hp \n153; see Appendix 7. \n� Air Monolith Necromental: hp 324; see \nAppendix 7. \n� Greater Dispelling Firestorm, Living Spell: hp \n158; see Appendix 7. \n \nTactics: The entrance to the bier that holds the \nundead corpse of Ruka is directly across from the \nopening. Ruka is either a skeleton or a mummy here \n(varies based on APL); his attempt at lichdom was an \nimmense failure and he instead became a variant version \nof a skeleton or mummy. The denizens wait to attack the \nPCs until they approach the final door to the tomb. This \nspace is both desecrated and unhallowed. The unhallow \neffect is also linked to a deeper darkness that covers the \nentire necropolis. The undead will flee into the bier if \nnecessary, based on the PCs’ tactics. PCs who fail both \nSpot and Listen checks against the undead/living spells \nwill be surprised. \n \nThe creatures within this tomb are very familiar with \nthis space and have fought here countless times over the \nmillennia. They will use the limitations of the PCs’ vision \nagainst them and attack out of the darkness as they are \nable. This is particularly true of those creatures with \nFlyby Attack. Refer to the rules for light and vision on \npages 164-165 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Remember, \na light source is visible from a great distance. The \ninhabitants of this room will take advantage of this and \npester the PCs with flyby attacks and spell fire from \noutside of their range of vision for as long as they can. \nWhen it comes time for melee, the creatures will attempt \nto attack PCs from three different directions. Due to the \ncircumstances of the tomb and the tactics of the \nundead/living spells, the EL of this encounter is \neffectively increased by 1 (which is reflected below). \n \nAt low APLs (6-10), the living spells will come \nstraight at the PCs and engage as quickly as they can. The \nnecromental will do flyby attacks until this is no longer \ntenable, switching targets if it is apparent its target is \nreadied for its next attack. The skeleton will sneak \naround behind the PCs under cover of darkness if \npossible and engage from the opposite side as the living \nspells. If the PCs travel along the pillars, the skeleton \nwill cross on an opposite pillar and swing around to the \nPCs’ other side, using his reach to his advantage. \nRemember, down is subjective on this plane and these \ncreatures are natives. Use this in their tactics. \n \nAt higher APLs (12-18), the living spells will move to \nflank the PCs. The mummy will fly, using his spell-like \nabilities and awesome morningstar, paying particular \nattention to arcane spellcasters and archers. The mummy \nwill also use his innate fog cloud and obscuring mist abilities \nto make himself difficult to target. He will have the fear \neffect face away from the captured subject. The \nnecromental will flyby as described above. \n \nAt all APLs, the undead will retreat to the bier and \nthe pit if attacked. At high APLs, the mummy knows \nabout the puzzle that holds Azalla (see below). If forced \nto retreat here, he will grab a handful of gems and drop \nthem one by one on his turn onto the pillar triggering \nthe Constitution drain described below. This, of course, \nassumes he is able to retreat. \n \nFurthermore, flying targets draw the attention of the \nflyers. If a lone or pair of PCs pulls off from the rest and \nis flying, they will draw the attention of all flyers. \n \nOnce the PCs defeat the enemies: \n \nYou stand at the lip of a deep pit. Perhaps it is \njust a dead end corridor, the physics of this place are \ncausing your brain to ache. Light glitters off of \ncoins and other metal at its bottom. Those objects \ndefine down along the far wall. Rising from the \nfloor is pedestal. Something rests on it. \nTHE PIT \n \nPCs can safely descend to the floor by walking down \nthe walls or scaling down with ropes, once they are at the \nbottom, read the following: \n \nBefore you is a box made of mahogany. It rests \non a three-foot wide pillar of cloud rock. As you \nlook at the surface of the pillar, you can see the faint \noutline of an iron flask or a bottle just beneath the \nsurface. It is almost as if the apparently solid \nmaterial of the stone waxed and waned like \nmoonlight. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 26 \n \nTell the first PC who touches the box that he has an \nimmediate flash of the last element of his or her dream. \nRepeat the following to the player in question if he or she \nasks: \n \nAround you there are walls made of steel, \nsmooth and cold to your touch. You can take one \nstride forward. You can take one stride back. You \ncan take one stride to the left or the right. That is \nall. The floor underneath your feet slopes gently up \nto the wall. You cannot stand flat footed, and your \nankles and feet ache with standing on the sloping \nfloor. \n \nAbove, the light washes from red to blue to \ngreen to yellow then back to red. Unending the \ncycle repeats, again and again and again. \n \nIt has always been this way. Long ago you \nremember the open sky and flight. The touch of \nsuch thoughts is fading like a song long lost. Soon, \nyou will remember only the steel walls and the \nsloping floors. It has been so long. Red, Blue, \nGreen, Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, Blue, \nGreen, Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, the cycle \nrepeats endlessly. \n \nYou cannot walk. You cannot move. You cannot \nfly. You cannot leave. There is no voice except your \nown. There is no color beyond these four. The walls \nare steel. This is all you know. The walls are all. The \nwalls are all. The walls are all. The walls are all. \nEternity stretches before you. \n \nAs PCs examine the rock, let them know that it is \nvery hard. If a PC attacks the pillar with a weapon, let \nthem know the dream flashes through their mind again \nand that they hear a scream of agony. \n� Pillar: 3 feet thick; hardness 25; hp 150. \n \nPCs can hack through the stone, but this kills Azalla \nas the damage done to the stone transfers to him. PCs \nwho slay Azalla have failed their mission; proceed to the \nConclusion: Failed Mission. \nTHE PUZZLE \n \nWhen PCs open the box: \n \nThe box sticks slightly and then opens with a \nfaint creak. There are eight small bowls, no more \nthan three inches across on the left side of the case. \nThe right side contains many precious stones of \nmany different types. Yellow topaz bits, black shards \nof onyx, red chips of ruby, small white pearls, \nfragments of blue sapphire, green emerald chips, \nminute purple garnets, and small pieces of blue-\ngreenish aquamarine fill the deeper side of the \nhinged box. \n \nThe solution to this puzzle is straightforward. PCs \nneed to take four red rubies, four blue sapphires, four \ngreen emeralds, and four yellow topaz into four separate \nbowls. The bowls must be placed on the table in the \nfollowing order: red, blue, green, and yellow. The key \nrests in the dream. The bowls must be placed in the same \norder as the colored lights cycle in the dream. The \nnumber of the gems is the tricky part; hopefully the PCs \nwill notice the repeated use of the number four in the \ndream: four colors, four strides, four walls. \n \nIf PCs ask, tell them there are twelve each of each \ngem type. \n \nThe other gems and extra bowls are a distraction. \nPlacing the bowls in the wrong order or placing a bowl \nwith the wrong colored stones on the table causes 1d4 \nCon damage to each person within thirty feet of the \npedestal for each mistake. \n \nIf PCs successfully solve the puzzle, read the \nfollowing: \n \nThe pedestal dissolves into vapor. The iron \nflask that was suspended within it tumbles to the \nground with a clatter. A section of the floor beneath \nthe pedestal disappears too, revealing what can only \nbe the massive tomes that Gar Mujal seeks. \n \nPCs who want to examine the tomes find six three-\nfoot by two-foot mithral covered books with sheets of \nhammered astral drift metal. Each is numbered in giant \nsequentially from one to six. PCs trying to read them \nfind that the text is in an ancient dialect of giantish they \nare unfamiliar with. Further, if they are able to decipher \nthe script, they find that it is gibberish and probably \nsome sort of code. \n \nTreasure: Ruka’s possessions are the only treasure \nhere for the PCs. \nTHE DJINN \n \nThe flask itself is the home of Azalla, the noble djinn \nthey have been searching for. Releasing the djinn \ntriggers the following: \n \nYou hear a long, low, shuddering scream that \nbuilds with each moment. Smoke billows from the \nsteel flask and steadily coalesces into the shape of a \nhandsome bronze skinned human-like man with a \nbalding head and honey brown hair. \n \n“Aaaaaaahhhhhh,” he breathes out loudly. “I \ntaste the air of freedom and thank you. He bows \ndeeply. My mind has warped and wandered in my \ntime within. I thank you.” He bows deeply. “I am \nVizier Azalla Munifa, sword brother to the Caliph. I \nmust ask, what time has passed?” \n \nAzalla has been imprisoned for some four thousand \nyears. He is familiar with Oerth and will be stunned to \nlearn that the Suel Imperium and the Baklunish Empire \nare gone. He will also quickly surmise that his people \nhave been lost to him too. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 27 \n \nPCs may immediately ask for a wish or if the djinn \nhas a wish for them. He smirks and says: \n \n“So it always is with mortals. Hunger for power \neats away at your brief span of years. Wishes are the \nprice I pay for bondage. Do you seek to make a slave \nof me? You do not strike me as the same twisted and \nevil sort as my master was. I have no wish for you.” \n \nAzalla wants to know why the PCs have sought him \nout. He listens at length and is more than willing to go \nand speak to Maira if the PCs ask. He believes he might \nbe able to help her, although he provides no specifics if \nasked. \n \nWhen PCs are ready to return to Oerth, go to the \nConclusion. PCs who return with the books and Azalla \nproceed to the Successful Mission section; others \nproceed to the Failed Mission section. \nCONCLUSION \nFLEEING THE MOUNTAINS \n \nYou were afraid that abandoning your quest \nmight cause the dreams to return. Instead, your \ndreams are disturbingly empty. The passage out of \nthe mountains was not without trial. You know you \nare lucky to be alive. The giants hounded your every \nstep. Still your soul aches. You have failed. \nLEAVING THE MOUNTAINS \n \nYou were afraid that abandoning your quest \nmight cause the dreams to return. Instead, your \ndreams are disturbingly empty. The hospitality of \nGar Mujal left much to be desired. You could not \nabide it. Still, you cannot help but feel that \nsomething has been lost here. Maira will not be \npleased, of that you are certain. \nFAILED MISSION \n \nGar Mujal met you with disdain. “So, you have \nfailed? I have sent Tyv to do the work of heroes. I \nshould expect as much. Well, I leave you with your \nfailure. Let the magic of my spell work its power \nupon you. Let your remaining days be miserable. Be \ngone from here.” \n \nPCs who are willing to accept a debt from Gar Mujal \n(they receive the Debt to Gar Mujal effect on the \nAdventure Record) can get him to dismiss the geas spell; \nhowever, they must submit to a new geas (related to the \ndebt) to do so. \n \nIt is a long march back home. The weight of his \nspell coils about you like a viper. \nSUCCESSFUL MISSION \n \nIf the PCs successfully negotiated freedom for the \nFolinu, read the following (and grant them the \nGratitude of the Folinu effect on the Adventure \nRecord): \n \nThe Folinu were overwhelmed with gratitude \nand awe. They understand you traded your flesh for \ntheirs and set them on a course of freedom. Sadly, a \nclean third of their number chose to stay with Gar \nMujal and serve him still. A willing slave comes to \nlove the lash. The rest were opulent with their \nthanks and praise. They will be close and good \nfriends and you know you have done the right thing, \nregardless of cost. \n \nProceed with the following for all successful parties: \n \nThe trip back to Spinster’s Knob in Keoland is \nuneventful. Maira rises to meet you as you make \nyour way to her. She smiles. \n \n“This is the Prophet?” asks Azalla, and moves \ntowards her. “What witchery has been done to you?” \nhe asks and touches Maira’s scarred and rune \nwarped flesh. “Ah yes,” he says, clearly reading her \nthought says he has done yours at times as you have \ntraveled, “we have much to discuss.” \n \nThey speak at length and into the night. Azalla \nworks what magic he can against Still Thy Tongue to \nno avail. As the sunrise comes, he approaches you \nall. \n \n“The workings of this rune are beyond my \npower. At one time I was a master of this art, but \ntime and the steady skill of ages have made what I \nonce knew but a shadow before the might one’s that \nworked this magic. Still, this Maira has the hands of \nthe very gods upon her. She bids me thank you and \ntells me that she is in your debt, as am I. I have \nagreed to speak for her. Once I was Azalla Munifa, \nsword brother to the Caliph. No more, now I am \nonly Azalla. Hence forth let me be known as The \nProphet’s Voice.” With that, he bows deeply before \nyou, and turns his back and walks towards Maira. \nShe inclines her head in thanks. \n \nThe light of the new day’s sun burns brightly. \n \nPCs who bring Azalla to Maira earn her and \nSilsellay’s thanks (they receive the Friendship of Maira \nand Immortalized in Song effects on the Adventure \nRecord). \n \n \nThe End \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 28 \nEXPERIENCE POINT \nSUMMARY \nTo award experience for this adventure, add up the values \nfor the objectives accomplished. Then assign the \nexperience award. Award the total value (objectives plus \nroleplaying) to each character. \nEncounter 2 \nDefeat the giant and rescue the peasants \n \nAPL 6: 180 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 240 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 300 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 360 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 420 xp. \n \nAPL 16: 480 xp. \n \nAPL 18: 540 xp. \nEncounter 5 \nSurvive the assassination attempt \n \nAPL 6: 240 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 300 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 360 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 420 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 480 xp. \n \nAPL 16: 540 xp. \n \nAPL 18: 600 xp. \nEncounter 7 \nDefeat the inhabitants of Necropolis \n \nAPL 6: 300 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 360 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 420 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 480 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 540 xp. \n \nAPL 16: 600 xp. \n \nAPL 18: 660 xp. \nStory Award \nBring Azalla back to Maira \n \nAPL 6: 90 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 110 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 135 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 155 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 180 xp. \n \nAPL 16: 200 xp. \n \nAPL 18: 225 xp. \nDiscretionary roleplaying award \n \nAPL 6: 90 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 115 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 135 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 160 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 180 xp. \n \nAPL 16: 205 xp. \n \nAPL 18: 225 xp. \nTotal possible experience \n \nAPL 6: 900 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 1,125 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 1,350 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 1,575 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 1,800 xp. \n \nAPL 16: 2,025 xp. \n \nAPL 18: 2,250 xp. \nTREASURE SUMMARY \nDuring an adventure, characters encounter treasure, \nusually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every \nencounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section \nwithin the encounter description, giving information \nabout the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the \nencounter’s treasure. \n \nThe loot total is the number of gold pieces each \ncharacter gains if the foes are plundered of all their \nearthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 \nminutes per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot \ntake the time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this \ngold. If you feel it is reasonable that characters can go \nback to loot the bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e., \nnot carted off by dungeon scavengers, removed from the \nscene by the local watch, and so on), characters may \nreturn to retrieve loot. If the characters do not loot the \nbody, the gold piece value for the loot is subtracted from \nthe encounter totals given below. \n \nThe coin total is the number of gold pieces each \ncharacter gains if they take the coin available. A normal \nadventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a \nround or so. If for some reason, they pass up this \ntreasure, the coin total is subtracted from the encounter \ntotals given below. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 29 \n \nNext, the magic items are listed. Magic item \ntreasure is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are \nvaried and because characters may want to use them \nduring the adventure. Many times characters must cast \nidentify, analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine \nwhat the item does and how to activate it. Other times \nthey may attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic \nitem is consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and \nthe item is used before the end of the adventure, its total \nis subtracted from the adventure totals below. \n \nOnce you have subtracted the value for unclaimed \ntreasure from each encounter add it up and that is the \nnumber of gold pieces a characters total and coin value \nincrease at the end of the adventure. Write the total in \nthe GP Gained field of the adventure certificate. Because \nthis is a Regional adventure, characters may spend \nadditional Time Units to practice professions or create \nitems immediately after the adventure so this total may \nbe modified by other circumstances. \n \nL = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, \nJewelry, and other valuables; M = Magic Items. \nEncounter 2: \nGIANTS NOT ON ALERT \nAPL 6: L: 6 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 8: L: 3 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 10: L: 108 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 12: L: 113 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 40 adamantine arrows (5 \ngp each), 2 +1 mithral breastplates (429 gp each), 2 \npotions of cure moderate wounds (25 gp each), 2 +1 \ncomposite longbows (+4 Str bonus) (233 gp each), 2 +1 \nbattleaxes (193 gp each). \nAPL 14: L: 15 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 40 adamantine arrows (5 \ngp each), 2 +1 mithral breastplates (429 gp each), 2 \npotions of cure moderate wounds (25 gp each), +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 \ngp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 gp each). \nAPL 16: L: 10 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197 \ngp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), 2 +1 mithral \nbreastplates (429 gp each), 2 potions of cure serious \nwounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 \ngp each), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp each), 2 lesser \nbracers of archery (417 gp each), 2 cloaks of protection +3 \n(750 gp each). \nAPL 18: L: 11 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197 \ngp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), +3 mithral \nbreastplate (1,096 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (429 gp), 2 \npotions of cure serious wounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 \ngp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 gp each), 2 amulets of health +2 \n(333 gp each), greater bracers of archery (2,083 gp), lesser \nbracers of archery (417 gp), 2 cloaks of protection +3 (750 \ngp each), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), +3 wild \ndragonhide (silver) breastplate (3,058 gp), +1 wild heavy \ndarkwood shield (1,355 gp), +1 scimitar (193 gp), periapt \nof wisdom +4 (1,333 gp), wand of cure serious wounds \n(CL 5th, 20 charges) (375 gp). \nGIANTS ON ALERT \nAPL 6: L: 3 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 8: L: 108 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 10: L: 113 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 40 adamantine arrows (5 \ngp each), 2 +1 mithral breastplates (429 gp each), 2 \npotions of cure moderate wounds (25 gp each), 2 +1 \ncomposite longbows (+4 Str bonus) (233 gp each), 2 +1 \nbattleaxes (193 gp each). \nAPL 12: L: 15 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 40 adamantine arrows (5 \ngp each), 2 +1 mithral breastplates (429 gp each), 2 \npotions of cure moderate wounds (25 gp each), +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 \ngp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 gp each). \nAPL 14: L: 10 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197 \ngp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), 2 +1 mithral \nbreastplates (429 gp each), 2 potions of cure serious \nwounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 \ngp each), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp each), 2 lesser \nbracers of archery (417 gp each), 2 cloaks of protection +3 \n(750 gp each). \nAPL 16: L: 11 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197 \ngp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), +3 mithral \nbreastplate (1,096 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (429 gp), 2 \npotions of cure serious wounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 \ngp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 gp each), 2 amulets of health +2 \n(333 gp each), greater bracers of archery (2,083 gp), lesser \nbracers of archery (417 gp), 2 cloaks of protection +3 (750 \ngp each), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), +3 wild \ndragonhide (silver) breastplate (3,058 gp), +1 wild heavy \ndarkwood shield (1,355 gp), +1 scimitar (193 gp), periapt \nof wisdom +4 (1,333 gp), wand of cure serious wounds \n(CL 5th, 20 charges) (375 gp). \nAPL 18: L: 11 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197 \ngp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), 2 +3 mithral \nbreastplates (1,096 gp each), 2 potions of cure serious \nwounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 \ngp each), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp each), 2 greater \nbracers of archery (2,083 gp each), 2 cloaks of protection \n+3 (750 gp each), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), +3 wild \ndragonhide (silver) breastplate (3,058 gp), +1 wild heavy \ndarkwood shield (1,355 gp), +1 scimitar (193 gp), gloves \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 30 \nof dexterity +4 (1,333 gp), wand of cure serious wounds \n(CL 5th, 20 charges) (375 gp), 2 rings of protection +4 \n(2,667 gp each), boots of levitation (625 gp), periapt of \nwisdom +6 (3,000 gp). \nEncounter 5: \nGIANTS NOT ON ALERT \nAPL 6: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral breastplate (429 \ngp), +1 morningstar (192 gp), cloak of resistance +1 (83 \ngp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), potion of haste (63 \ngp). \nAPL 8: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 mithral breastplate (679 \ngp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of resistance +1 \n(83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), potion of haste (63 \ngp). \nAPL 10: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +1 (83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring \nof counterspells (333 gp). \nAPL 12: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring \nof counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp). \nAPL 14: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring \nof counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp), \nheadband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of withering \n(2,083 gp). \nAPL 16: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring \nof counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp), \nheadband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of withering \n(2,083 gp), ring of protection +4 (2,667 gp), scarab of \nprotection (3,167 gp). \nAPL 18: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring \nof counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp), \nheadband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of withering \n(2,083 gp), ring of protection +4 (2,667 gp), scarab of \nprotection (3,167 gp). \nGIANTS ON ALERT \nAPL 6: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral breastplate \n(429 gp), +1 morningstar (192 gp), cloak of resistance +1 \n(83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), potion of haste (63 \ngp), ring of protection +1 (167 gp). \nAPL 8: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 mithral breastplate \n(679 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +1 (83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), ring of protection +1 (167 gp), \namulet of health +2 (333 gp). \nAPL 10: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +1 (83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp \neach), ring of counterspells (333 gp), ring of protection +1 \n(167 gp), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), cloak of charisma \n+2 (333 gp), 2 potions of cure serious wounds (63 gp \neach). \nAPL 12: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp \neach), ring of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 \n(1,333 gp), ring of protection +1 (167 gp), vest of \nresistance +1 (83 gp), cloak of charisma +4 (1,333 gp), 2 \npotions of cure serious wounds (63 gp each). \nAPL 14: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp \neach), ring of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 \n(1,333 gp), headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of \nwithering (2,083 gp), ring of protection +3 (1,500 gp), \nvest of resistance +1 (83 gp), cloak of charisma +4 (1,333 \ngp), 2 potions of cure serious wounds (63 gp each). \nAPL 16: L: 117 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp \neach), ring of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 \n(1,333 gp), headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of \nwithering (2,083 gp), ring of protection +4 (2,667 gp), \nscarab of protection (3,167 gp), ring of protection +3 \n(1,500 gp), vest of resistance +3 (750 gp), cloak of \ncharisma +4 (1,333 gp), 2 potions of cure serious wounds \n(63 gp each), warlock’s scepter (2,333 gp). \nAPL 18: L: 117 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate \n(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of \nresistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), \npotion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring \nof counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp), \nheadband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of withering \n(2,083 gp), 2 rings of protection +4 (2,667 gp each), \nscarab of protection (3,167 gp), vest of resistance +3 (750 \ngp), cloak of charisma +6 (3,000 gp), 2 potions of cure \nserious wounds (63 gp each), warlock’s scepter (2,333 gp), \namulet of health +4 (1,333 gp), slippers of spider climbing \n(400 gp). \nEncounter 7: \nAPL 6: L: 5 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 31 \nAPL 8: L: 5 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 10: L: 5 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 12: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 unholy gargantuan \nmorningstar (1,530 gp), +1 huge full plate (596 gp), ring \nof major energy resistance (fire) (2,333 gp), winged boots \n(1,333 gp), cloak of turn resistance (917 gp), ring of \ncounterspells (333 gp). \nAPL 14: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 unholy gargantuan \nmorningstar (1,530 gp), +1 huge full plate (596 gp), ring \nof major energy resistance (fire) (2,333 gp), winged boots \n(1,333 gp), cloak of turn resistance (917 gp), ring of \ncounterspells (333 gp). \nAPL 16: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 unholy gargantuan \nmorningstar (1,530 gp), +1 huge full plate (596 gp), ring \nof major energy resistance (fire) (2,333 gp), winged boots \n(1,333 gp), cloak of turn resistance (917 gp), ring of \ncounterspells (333 gp). \nAPL 18: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 unholy gargantuan \nmorningstar (1,530 gp), +1 huge full plate (596 gp), ring \nof major energy resistance (fire) (2,333 gp), winged boots \n(1,333 gp), cloak of turn resistance (917 gp), ring of \ncounterspells (333 gp). \nTotal Possible Treasure (Maximum Reward \nAllowed) \nAPL 6: L: 159 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 997 gp – Total: 1,156 gp \n(900 gp). \nAPL 8: L: 264 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 2,080 gp – Total: 2,344 \ngp (1,300 gp). \nAPL 10: L: 269 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 5,665 gp – Total: 5,934 \ngp (2,300 gp). \nAPL 12: L: 201 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 18,375 gp – Total: \n18,576 gp (3,300 gp). \nAPL 14: L: 161 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 26,397 gp – Total: \n26,558 gp (6,600 gp). \nAPL 16: L: 128 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 44,211 gp – Total: \n44,339 gp (9,900 gp). \nAPL 18: L: 128 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 59,737 gp – Total: \n59,865 gp (17,000 gp). \nITEMS FOR THE ADVENTURE \nRECORD \nSpecial \n� Cursed Sleep: This PC refused to aid Maira and is \nhaunted by horrific images in their sleep or during their \nmeditations. This PC suffers from chronic fatigue and \nbecomes fatigued after only 4 hours of activity. This \ncurse can be removed only by a 17th level or higher caster. \n� Urg’s Hide: The hide of this would be bugbear \nassassin has been presented to you by Gar Mujal. \n� Time in Achim’s Court: This PC has his title of Lord \nSinister removed; it is replaced by Lord Dire instead. \nThis PC surrendered to the Marchioness of Sterich and \nwas remitted into the custody of Achim, occupier of \nSterich and agent of the Sakhut. Achim holds the PC as \nhis captive for 52 TU before letting the individual go. \nThis PC receives a +4 circumstance bonus on any \nKnowledge or Cha-based check related to the Sakhut or \ntheir minions as a result of this captivity. They also gain \nGiant as a free bonus language, if they don’t already \npossess it, or gain the ability to identify the race of a giant \nby the dialect of Giant they speak, if they do already \npossess it. \n� Lord Dire of Sterich: By causing a diplomatic \nincident in Sterich in order to save a helpless group of \ncommoners from a fate worse then death, you have lost \nany former titles in Sterich you might have possessed \n(Lord Stalwart, Lord Sinister, Lord Errant) and the \nbenefits/penalties these titles provided. Instead, you are \nnow known as a Lord Dire, a reputation both \ntroublesome and distinguished. The cost of upkeep is \nnow doubled for you, as your reputation as being a \ndangerous person to know precedes you. However, you \nmay always take free standard upkeep during any \nadventure set in the Sheldomar Valley metaregion as the \ncommonfolk are always willing to put you up for the \nnight in honor of your good deeds for the common \nman/woman. You receive a +2 circumstance bonus to all \nCha-based checks with commoners and all Intimidate \nchecks with anyone in the Sheldomar Valley metaregion. \n� Debt to Gar Mujal: You have bound by oath and \nmagic. You have promised to return to Gar Mujal to do \nhis bidding in the future and have accepted a geas (CL \n20th) as part of this bargain. \n� Immortalized in Song: Silsellay recognizes your \nbravery and daring in uniting the Prophet with her \nVoice. She composes a ballad called The Prophet’s Voice in \nyour honor and makes certain it is distributed to the \nother intelligent instruments of her Fochlucan line. This \nPC receives a +2 bonus to all Cha-based checks with good \ngiants. \n� Friendship of Maira: Maira will secure, for your \npurchase, access to a single casting of greater dispel magic, \nremove curse, or break enchantment at CL 17th. This favor \nmust be spent during an adventure set in the Sheldomar \nValley metaregion. Mark this favor as USED when it is \nconsumed. \n � Gratitude of the Folinu: The Folinu are grateful for \nyour help. You may trade in this favor to gain access \n(Frequency: Adventure) to purchase the following items \n(from Races of the Wild): netcutter spikes, hawkfeather \narmor, owlfeather armor, belt of hidden pouches, safewing \nemblem, survival pouch. Mark this favor as USED when it \nis consumed. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 32 \nItem Access \nAPL 6: \n• \n+1 Mithral Breastplate (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nGargantuan Items: Morningstar (Adventure; Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide) \n• \nLarge Items: Hide Armor, Morningstar, Javelin, Greatclub, \nGreatsword, Chain Shirt (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \nAPL 8 (all of APL 6 plus the following): \n• \n+1 Frost Morningstar (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \n+2 Mithral Breastplate (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nLarge Items: Half-Plate, Greatsword (Adventure; Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide) \nAPL 10 (all of APLs 6, 8 plus the following): \n• \n+3 Mithral Breastplate (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \n20 Adamantine Arrows (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nRing of Counterspells (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nVest of Resistance +1 (Adventure; Complete Arcane) \nAPL 12 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10 plus the following): \n• \n+1 Bane (Human) Seeking Composite Longbow, +4 Str \nBonus (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \n+1 Unholy Composite Longbow, +4 Str Bonus (Adventure; \nDungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \n+2 \nUnholy \nGargantuan Morningstar (Adventure; \nDungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nCloak of Charisma +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nCloak of Resistance +3 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nGloves of Dexterity +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nHuge Items: Heavy Flail, Hide Armor, +1 Full Plate \n(Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nRing of Major Energy Resistance, Fire (Adventure; \nDungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nWinged Boots (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \nAPL 14 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10, 12 plus the following): \n• \n+1 Huge Heavy Flail (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nBracers of Archery, Lesser (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nHeadband of Intellect +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nRing of Protection +3 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nRod of Withering (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \nAPL 16 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 plus the following): \n• \n+1 Wild Heavy Darkwood Shield (Adventure; Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide) \n• \n+3 Wild Dragonhide (Silver) Breastplate (Adventure; \nDungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nBracers of Archery, Greater (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nPeriapt of Wisdom +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nRing of Protection +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nScarab of Protection (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nVest of Resistance +3 (Adventure; Complete Arcane) \n• \nWand of Cure Serious Wounds (CL 5th; Adventure; \nDungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nWarlock’s Scepter (Adventure; Complete Arcane) \nAPL 18 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 plus the following): \n• \nAmulet of Health +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nBoots of Levitation (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nCloak of Charisma +6 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nPeriapt of Wisdom +6 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nSlippers of Spider Climbing (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 33 \nAPPENDIX 1 – APL 6 \n \nENCOUNTER 5 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn1; CR 8; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+1d6+27; hp 66; Init \n+9; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 24 \n(+5 Dex, +3 natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +5/+9; Atk +10 \nmelee (1d8+7, +1 morningstar) or +10 ranged (1d4+4 plus \npoison/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +10 melee (1d8+7, +1 \nmorningstar) or +10 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, \ndagger); SA sneak attack +4d6, death attack (DC 13), \nspells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion, \ntrap sense +1, uncanny dodge, poison use; AL LE; SV Fort \n+5 (+6), Ref +14 (+15), Will +3 (+4); Str 18, Dex 20, Con \n16, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +6, Bluff +10, Climb +7, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Hide +16, \nIntimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move Silently +20, \nOpen Lock +10, Sleight of Hand +7, Spot +3, Tumble +16, \nUse Magic Device +5; Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, \nImproved Initiative, Iron Will. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (1, save DC 12 + spell level): 1st \n– critical strike*, distract assailant*. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +1 \nmithral breastplate, +1 morningstar, cloak of resistance +1, \npotion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion \nof haste, potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of \ngaseous form. \nGiants on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn1; CR 8; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+1d6+27; hp 66; Init \n+9; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 24 \n(+5 Dex, +3 natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +5/+9; Atk +10 \nmelee (1d8+7, +1 morningstar) or +10 ranged (1d4+4 plus \npoison/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +10 melee (1d8+7, +1 \nmorningstar) or +10 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, \ndagger); SA sneak attack +4d6, death attack (DC 13), \nspells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion, \ntrap sense +1, uncanny dodge, poison use; AL LE; SV Fort \n+5 (+6), Ref +14 (+15), Will +3 (+4); Str 18, Dex 20, Con \n16, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +6, Bluff +10, Climb +7, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Hide +16, \nIntimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move Silently +20, \nOpen Lock +10, Sleight of Hand +7, Spot +3, Tumble +16, \nUse Magic Device +5; Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, \nImproved Initiative, Iron Will. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (1, save DC 12 + spell level): 1st \n– critical strike*, distract assailant*. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +1 \nmithral breastplate, +1 morningstar, cloak of resistance +1, \npotion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion \nof haste, potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of \ngaseous form. \nAglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock1; CR 9; Large Giant; \nHD 5d8+1d6+18; hp 48; Init +7; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft. \n(good); AC 26, touch 13, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +5 \nnatural, +8 armor, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+11; Atk \n+7 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or \n+6 ranged touch (1d6, eldritch blast); Full Atk +7 melee \n(3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or +6 ranged \ntouch (1d6, eldritch blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA \nspell-like abilities, invocations (least; CL 1st), eldritch blast \n1d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5, \nSR 19; AL LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 17, \nCon 16, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 22. Complete Arcane, page 5. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +12, Knowledge \n(arcana) +2, Listen +6, Spellcraft +9, Spot +6, Use Magic \nDevice +7 (+9 scrolls); Combat Casting, Improved \nInitiative, Weapon Focus (eldritch blast). \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility; \n1/day – charm person (DC 17), cone of cold (DC 21), gaseous \nform, polymorph, sleep (DC 17). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-\nbased. \n \nFlight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight \nas a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its \nnormal speed and has perfect maneuverability. \n \nRegeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal \ndamage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb \nor body part can reattach it by holding the severed \nmember to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If \nthe head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be \nreattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An \nogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts. \n \nInvocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or \ncast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, \nhe possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities \nknown as invocations that require him to focus the wild \nenergy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any \ninvocation he knows at will, with the following \nqualifications: \n \nA warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using \nan invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes \nattacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, \njust as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is \nentitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an \ninvocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 34 \na spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an \ninvocation \ndefensively, \nby \nmaking \na \nsuccessful \nConcentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of \nopportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell \nresistance unless an invocation’s description specifically \nstates otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his \ninvocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can \ndismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a \nwizard can dismiss a spell. \n \nThe save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is \n10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma \nmodifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a \nwarlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, \nhowever, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page \n303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that \nemulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as \nQuicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like \nAbility (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual). \n \nThe four grades of invocations, in order of their \nrelative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A \nwarlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which \nmust be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains \nlevels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete \nArcane. \n \nAt any level when a warlock learns a new invocation, \nhe can also replace an invocation he already knows with \nanother invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th \nlevel, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows \nwith a different least invocation (in addition to learning a \nnew invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At \n11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At \n16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark). \n \nFinally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations \nare subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not \nsuffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when \nwearing light armor). \n \nEldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock \nlearns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with \neldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal \ndamage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects. \nEldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch \nblast at will. \n \nAn eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a \nranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing \nno saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of \ndamage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock \nrises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to \nobjects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level \nspell. \n \nIf you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence \ninvocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the \nlevel equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is \nhigher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise, \neldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence \ninvocations deal damage normally in addition to \nimparting the effects described in the invocation \ndescription. A warlock can apply only one blast shape \ninvocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a \nsingle eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape \ninvocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the \nsame eldritch blast. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nWarlock Invocations Known (1; DC 16 + equivalent \nspell level; CL 1st): Least – devil’s sight*. *Complete Arcane. \n \nPossessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large \nmasterwork greatsword, ring of protection +1, potion of blur, \noil of magic vestment +4. \nENCOUNTER 7 \n \n \n \n \nRuka: Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton; CR 8; Huge \nUndead; HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +6; Spd 50 ft.; AC 13, \ntouch 10, flat-footed 11 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural); \nBAB/Grp +8/+28; Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan \nmorningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, claw) or +8 ranged \n(2d8+12, rock); Full Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan \nmorningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, 2 claws) or +8 ranged \n(2d8+12, rock); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA spell-like \nabilities; SQ DR 5/bludgeoning and 5/magic and silver, \ndarkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold, oversize weapon, \nundead traits, rock catching and throwing, SR 5 (10 + Cha \nmodifier), +2 turn resistance; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +9, \nWill +12; Str 35, Dex 15, Con –, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 1. \nComplete Arcane, page 161. \n \nFeats: Improved Initiative. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 3/day – shocking grasp; 1/day – \nshield. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based. \n \nPossessions: gargantuan morningstar. \nMedium Air Necromental: CR 4; Medium Undead \n(Air, Augmented Elemental); HD 4d12; hp 36; Init +9; \nSpd fly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 \n(+5 Dex, +5 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+4; Atk/Full Atk +8 \nmelee (1d6+1, slam); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA air \nmastery, whirlwind, create spawn, energy drain; SQ \ndarkvision 60 ft., elemental traits, fast healing; AL NE; SV \nFort +3, Ref +9, Will +1; Str 12, Dex 21, Con –, Int 1, Wis \n10, Cha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +3, Spot +4; Dodge, Flyby \nAttack, Great Fortitude, Improved InitiativeB, Weapon \nFinesseB. \n \nCreate Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a \nnecromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental \n1d4 days after death. \n \nEnergy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a \nnecromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative \nlevel. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once \nper round, regardless of the number of natural weapon \nattacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative \nlevel 24 hours later is DC 12. When a necromental \nbestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a \ncritical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one \nhour. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 35 \n \nFast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3 \npoints of damage each round as long as it is within five \nfeet of some form of its element (air). \n \nAir Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1 \npenalty on attack and damage rolls against an air \nelemental. \n \nWhirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself \ninto a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in \nthat form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this \nform, the elemental can move through the air or along a \nsurface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at \nthe base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet \ntall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental \ncontrols the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet. \nThe elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does \nnot provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental \nenters the space another creature occupies. Another \ncreature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches \nor enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or \nthrough the creature’s square. \n \nCreatures one or more size categories smaller than \nthe elemental might take damage when caught in the \nwhirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature \nmust first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage. \n It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked \nup bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds, \nautomatically taking the indicated damage each round. A \ncreature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round \nto escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage \nbut can leave if successful. \n \nCreatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move \nexcept to go where the elemental carries them or to \nescape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the \nwhirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed \non a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a \nspell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to \ndexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental \ncan have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at \none time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume. \n \nThe whirlwind can eject any carried creature \nwhenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the \nwhirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always \nejects trapped creatures before returning to its home \nplane. \n \nAs this room is filled with free floating debris, the \nelemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris \n20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The \ncloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond \nfive feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment, \nwhile those further away have total concealment. Those \ncaught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration \ncheck (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell. \n \nAn elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam \nattacks and does not threaten the area around it. \n \nMedium air elemental: save DC 13, 1d6 damage, 10 – \n30 ft. tall. \nSickening Shock: Living Spell; CR 4; Medium Ooze; \nHD 4d10; hp 30; Init -1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 10, touch 10, flat-\nfooted 10 (-1 Dex, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+3; \nAtk/Full Atk +3 melee (1d4, slam); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 \nft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze traits, DR 10/magic, \nSR 14 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +0, \nWill +0; Str 11, Dex 8, Con 11, Int –, Wis 8, Cha 11. \nMonster Manual 3, page 91. \n \nSpell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s \nslam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell \nor spells making up the creature, as if it were within the \narea of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for \nthe spell; the DC is 11. This living spell is composed of a \nray of enfeeblement spell and a shocking grasp spell, both at \nCL 4th. \n \nEngulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures \nthat fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot \nmake a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. \nIt merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as \nmany as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of \nopportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they \nare not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not \nattempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex \nsave (DC 11) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed \nback or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves \nforward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full \nnormal effects of the spells each round on the living \nspell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 36 \nAPPENDIX 2 – APL 8 \n \nENCOUNTER 5 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn3; CR 10; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+3d6+33; hp 79; Init \n+11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed \n25 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +7 armor); BAB/Grp +7/+11; Atk \n+12 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or \n+14 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, dagger); Full Atk \n+12/+7 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) \nor +14/+9 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, dagger); SA \nsneak attack +5d6, death attack (DC 15), spells; SQ \ndarkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion, trap sense \n+1, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, +1 save \nagainst poison, poison use; AL LE; SV Fort +6 (+7), Ref \n+17 (+18), Will +4 (+5); Str 18, Dex 20 (24), Con 16, Int 14, \nWis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +12, Climb +7, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10, \nHide +20, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +24, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3, \nTumble +20, Use Magic Device +5; Combat Expertise, \nImproved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (3/10, save DC 12 + spell level): \n1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, true strike; 2nd – cat’s \ngrace (cast on self), fox’s cunning. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +2 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, cloak of resistance +1, \npotion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion \nof haste, potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of \ngaseous form. \nGiants on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn3; CR 10; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+3d6+33; hp 79; Init \n+11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed \n25 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +7 armor); BAB/Grp +7/+11; Atk \n+12 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or \n+14 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, dagger); Full Atk \n+12/+7 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) \nor +14/+9 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, dagger); SA \nsneak attack +5d6, death attack (DC 15), spells; SQ \ndarkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion, trap sense \n+1, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, +1 save \nagainst poison, poison use; AL LE; SV Fort +6 (+7), Ref \n+17 (+18), Will +4 (+5); Str 18, Dex 20 (24), Con 16, Int 14, \nWis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +12, Climb +7, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10, \nHide +20, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +24, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3, \nTumble +20, Use Magic Device +5; Combat Expertise, \nImproved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (3/10, save DC 12 + spell level): \n1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, true strike; 2nd – cat’s \ngrace (cast on self), fox’s cunning. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +2 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, cloak of resistance +1, \npotion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion \nof haste, potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of \ngaseous form. \nAglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock3; CR 11; Large \nGiant; HD 5d8+3d6+32; hp 68; Init +7; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft. \n(good); AC 26, touch 13, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +5 \nnatural, +8 armor, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +5/+13; Atk \n+9 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or \n+8 ranged touch (2d6, eldritch blast); Full Atk +9 melee \n(3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or +8 ranged \ntouch (2d6, eldritch blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA \nspell-like abilities, invocations (least; CL 3rd), eldritch blast \n2d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5, \nSR 19, detect magic, DR 1/cold iron; AL LE; SV Fort +9, Ref \n+5, Will +6; Str 18, Dex 17, Con 16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, \nCha 22. Complete Arcane, page 5. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +14, Knowledge \n(arcana) +4, Listen +6, Spellcraft +11, Spot +6, Use Magic \nDevice +9 (+11 scrolls); Combat Casting, Improved \nInitiative, Weapon Focus (eldritch blast). \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility; \n1/day – charm person (DC 17), cone of cold (DC 21), gaseous \nform, polymorph, sleep (DC 17). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-\nbased. \n \nFlight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight \nas a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its \nnormal speed and has perfect maneuverability. \n \nRegeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal \ndamage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb \nor body part can reattach it by holding the severed \nmember to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If \nthe head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be \nreattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An \nogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts. \n \nInvocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or \ncast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, \nhe possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities \nknown as invocations that require him to focus the wild \nenergy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any \ninvocation he knows at will, with the following \nqualifications: \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 37 \n \nA warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using \nan invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes \nattacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, \njust as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is \nentitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an \ninvocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as \na spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an \ninvocation \ndefensively, \nby \nmaking \na \nsuccessful \nConcentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of \nopportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell \nresistance unless an invocation’s description specifically \nstates otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his \ninvocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can \ndismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a \nwizard can dismiss a spell. \n \nThe save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is \n10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma \nmodifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a \nwarlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, \nhowever, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page \n303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that \nemulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as \nQuicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like \nAbility (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual). \n \nThe four grades of invocations, in order of their \nrelative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A \nwarlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which \nmust be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains \nlevels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete \nArcane. \n \nAt any level when a warlock learns a new invocation, \nhe can also replace an invocation he already knows with \nanother invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th \nlevel, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows \nwith a different least invocation (in addition to learning a \nnew invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At \n11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At \n16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark). \n \nFinally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations \nare subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not \nsuffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when \nwearing light armor). \n \nEldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock \nlearns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with \neldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal \ndamage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects. \nEldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch \nblast at will. \n \nAn eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a \nranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing \nno saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of \ndamage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock \nrises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to \nobjects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level \nspell. \n \nIf you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence \ninvocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the \nlevel equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is \nhigher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise, \neldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence \ninvocations deal damage normally in addition to \nimparting the effects described in the invocation \ndescription. A warlock can apply only one blast shape \ninvocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a \nsingle eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape \ninvocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the \nsame eldritch blast. \n \nDetect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock \ncan use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level \nequals his class level. \n \nDamage \nReduction \n(Su): \nFortified \nby \nthe \nsupernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock \nbecomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and \nabove, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level \nand every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage \nreduction improves. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common, Infernal. \n \nWarlock Invocations Known (2; DC 16 + equivalent \nspell level; CL 3rd): Least – devil’s sight*, miasmic cloud*. \n*Complete Arcane. \n \nPossessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large \nmasterwork greatsword, ring of protection +1, amulet of \nhealth +2, potion of blur, oil of magic vestment +4. \nENCOUNTER 7 \n \n \n \n \nRuka: Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton; CR 8; Huge \nUndead; HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +6; Spd 50 ft.; AC 13, \ntouch 10, flat-footed 11 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural); \nBAB/Grp +8/+28; Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan \nmorningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, claw) or +8 ranged \n(2d8+12, rock); Full Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan \nmorningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, 2 claws) or +8 ranged \n(2d8+12, rock); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA spell-like \nabilities; SQ DR 5/bludgeoning and 5/magic and silver, \ndarkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold, oversize weapon, \nundead traits, rock catching and throwing, SR 5 (10 + Cha \nmodifier), +2 turn resistance; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +9, \nWill +12; Str 35, Dex 15, Con –, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 1. \nComplete Arcane, page 161. \n \nFeats: Improved Initiative. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 3/day – shocking grasp; 1/day – \nshield. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based. \n \nPossessions: gargantuan morningstar. \nHuge Air Necromental: CR 8; Huge Undead (Air, \nAugmented Elemental); HD 16d12; hp 144; Init +13; Spd \nfly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 23, touch 17, flat-footed 14 (-2 \nsize, +9 Dex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +12/+24; Atk +19 \nmelee (2d8+4, slam); Full Atk +19 melee (2d8+4, 2 slams); \nSpace/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind, \ncreate spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 ft., \nelemental traits, fast healing, DR 5/–; AL NE; SV Fort +7, \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 38 \nRef +19, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 29, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha \n1. Libris Mortis, page 113. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +11, Spot +12; Alertness, \nCombat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great Fortitude, \nImproved InitiativeB, Mobility, Spring Attack, Weapon \nFinesseB. \n \nCreate Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a \nnecromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental \n1d4 days after death. \n \nEnergy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a \nnecromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative \nlevel. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once \nper round, regardless of the number of natural weapon \nattacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative \nlevel 24 hours later is DC 18. When a necromental \nbestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a \ncritical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one \nhour. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3 \npoints of damage each round as long as it is within five \nfeet of some form of its element (air). \n \nAir Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1 \npenalty on attack and damage rolls against an air \nelemental. \n \nWhirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself \ninto a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in \nthat form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this \nform, the elemental can move through the air or along a \nsurface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at \nthe base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet \ntall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental \ncontrols the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet. \nThe elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does \nnot provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental \nenters the space another creature occupies. Another \ncreature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches \nor enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or \nthrough the creature’s square. \n \nCreatures one or more size categories smaller than \nthe elemental might take damage when caught in the \nwhirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature \nmust first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage. \n It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked \nup bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds, \nautomatically taking the indicated damage each round. A \ncreature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round \nto escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage \nbut can leave if successful. \n \nCreatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move \nexcept to go where the elemental carries them or to \nescape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the \nwhirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed \non a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a \nspell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to \ndexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental \ncan have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at \none time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume. \n \nThe whirlwind can eject any carried creature \nwhenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the \nwhirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always \nejects trapped creatures before returning to its home \nplane. \n \nAs this room is filled with free floating debris, the \nelemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris \n20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The \ncloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond \nfive feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment, \nwhile those further away have total concealment. Those \ncaught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration \ncheck (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell. \n \nAn elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam \nattacks and does not threaten the area around it. \n \nHuge air elemental: save DC 22, 2d8 damage, 10 – 50 \nft. tall. \nSickening Shock: Living Spell; CR 4; Medium Ooze; \nHD 4d10; hp 30; Init -1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 10, touch 10, flat-\nfooted 10 (-1 Dex, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+3; \nAtk/Full Atk +3 melee (1d4, slam); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 \nft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze traits, DR 10/magic, \nSR 14 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +0, \nWill +0; Str 11, Dex 8, Con 11, Int –, Wis 8, Cha 11. \nMonster Manual 3, page 91. \n \nSpell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s \nslam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell \nor spells making up the creature, as if it were within the \narea of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for \nthe spell; the DC is 11. This living spell is composed of a \nray of enfeeblement spell and a shocking grasp spell, both at \nCL 4th. \n \nEngulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures \nthat fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot \nmake a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. \nIt merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as \nmany as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of \nopportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they \nare not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not \nattempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex \nsave (DC 11) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed \nback or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves \nforward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full \nnormal effects of the spells each round on the living \nspell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 39 \nAPPENDIX 3 – APL 10 \n \nENCOUNTER 2 \n \n \n \n \nGiants on Alert \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr7; CR 8; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+7d10+36; hp 92; Init +4; Spd \n30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 natural, \n+6 armor); BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +14 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +10/+10 ranged (1d8+7/19-\n20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +13/+8 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +14/+9 ranged \n(1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+14/+14/+9 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow \n(+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort \n+12, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10, \nCha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +6, Jump +5, Listen +2, Spot \n+3; Improved Critical (composite longbow), Improved \nRapid Shot*, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, \nRapid Shot, Weapon Focus (composite longbow), \nWeapon Specialization (composite longbow). *Complete \nWarrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure moderate wounds. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr7; CR 8; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+7d8+27; hp 75; Init +4; Spd \n40 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 natural, \n+6 armor); BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +14 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +10/+10 ranged (1d8+5/19-\n20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +13/+8 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +14/+9 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+12/+12/+7 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow \n(+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +4, elf +2); SQ \ndarkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +5 (+9 with animal \ncompanion), woodland stride, animal companion (Scar \nthe wolf); AL NE; SV Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +4; Str 18, \nDex 18, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +3, Hide +8, Knowledge \n(nature) +1, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Search +3, Spot \n+8, Survival +8 (+10 tracking); Endurance, Improved \nCritical (composite longbow), Manyshot, Point Blank \nShot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Track, Weapon Focus \n(composite longbow). \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (2, save DC 12 + spell level): 1st \n– entangle, longstrider. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine \narrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion of cure moderate \nwounds. \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n4d8+8; hp 30; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves away \nfrom the ranger); AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, \n+4 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+5; Atk/Full Atk +6 melee \n(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \nshare spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2; \nStr 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +2 (+6 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nTrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (2): attack, defend. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nENCOUNTER 5 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn5; CR 12; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+5d6+52; hp 102; \nInit +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-\nfooted 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 \nfrost morningstar) or +15 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, \ndagger); Full Atk +13/+8 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 \nfrost morningstar) or +15/+10 ranged (1d4+4 plus \npoison/19-20, dagger); SA sneak attack +6d6, death attack \n(DC 19), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, \nevasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved \nuncanny dodge, +2 save against poison, poison use; AL \nLE; SV Fort +7 (+8), Ref +18 (+19), Will +4 (+5); Str 18, \nDex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 15 (19), Wis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +14, Climb +7, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10, \nHide +22, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +26, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3, \nTumble +22, Use Magic Device +9; Combat Expertise, \nDodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (4/31, save DC 14 + spell level): \n1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, true \nstrike; 2nd – cat’s grace (cast on self), fox’s cunning (cast on \nself), invisibility. *Complete Adventurer. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 40 \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +1, amulet of health \n+2, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, \npotion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, potion of spider climb, \npotion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form. \nGiants on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn5; CR 12; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+5d6+52; hp 102; \nInit +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-\nfooted 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 \nfrost morningstar) or +15 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, \ndagger); Full Atk +13/+8 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 \nfrost morningstar) or +15/+10 ranged (1d4+4 plus \npoison/19-20, dagger); SA sneak attack +6d6, death attack \n(DC 19), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, \nevasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved \nuncanny dodge, +2 save against poison, poison use; AL \nLE; SV Fort +7 (+8), Ref +18 (+19), Will +4 (+5); Str 18, \nDex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 15 (19), Wis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +14, Climb +7, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10, \nHide +22, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +26, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3, \nTumble +22, Use Magic Device +9; Combat Expertise, \nDodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (4/31, save DC 14 + spell level): \n1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, true \nstrike; 2nd – cat’s grace (cast on self), fox’s cunning (cast on \nself), invisibility. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +1, amulet of health \n+2, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, \npotion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, potion of spider climb, \npotion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form. \nAglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock5; CR 13; Large \nGiant; HD 5d8+5d6+40; hp 83; Init +7; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft. \n(good); AC 26, touch 13, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +5 \nnatural, +8 armor, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +6/+14; Atk \n+10 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or \n+9 ranged touch (3d6, eldritch blast); Full Atk +10/+5 \nmelee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or +9 \nranged touch (3d6, eldritch blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 \nft.; SA spell-like abilities, invocations (least; CL 5th), \neldritch blast 3d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, \nregeneration 5, SR 19, detect magic, DR 1/cold iron, \ndeceive item; AL LE; SV Fort +9 (+10), Ref +5 (+6), Will \n+12 (+13); Str 18, Dex 17, Con 16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha \n22 (24). Complete Arcane, page 5. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +16, Knowledge \n(arcana) +6, Listen +6, Spellcraft +15, Spot +6, Use Magic \nDevice +12 (+14 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of \nPersonality*, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (eldritch \nblast). *Complete Adventurer. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility; \n1/day – charm person (DC 18), cone of cold (DC 22), gaseous \nform, polymorph, sleep (DC 18). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-\nbased. \n \nFlight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight \nas a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its \nnormal speed and has perfect maneuverability. \n \nRegeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal \ndamage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb \nor body part can reattach it by holding the severed \nmember to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If \nthe head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be \nreattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An \nogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts. \n \nInvocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or \ncast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, \nhe possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities \nknown as invocations that require him to focus the wild \nenergy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any \ninvocation he knows at will, with the following \nqualifications: \n \nA warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using \nan invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes \nattacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, \njust as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is \nentitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an \ninvocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as \na spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an \ninvocation \ndefensively, \nby \nmaking \na \nsuccessful \nConcentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of \nopportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell \nresistance unless an invocation’s description specifically \nstates otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his \ninvocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can \ndismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a \nwizard can dismiss a spell. \n \nThe save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is \n10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma \nmodifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a \nwarlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, \nhowever, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page \n303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that \nemulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as \nQuicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like \nAbility (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual). \n \nThe four grades of invocations, in order of their \nrelative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A \nwarlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which \nmust be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains \nlevels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete \nArcane. \n \nAt any level when a warlock learns a new invocation, \nhe can also replace an invocation he already knows with \nanother invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 41 \nlevel, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows \nwith a different least invocation (in addition to learning a \nnew invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At \n11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At \n16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark). \n \nFinally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations \nare subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not \nsuffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when \nwearing light armor). \n \nEldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock \nlearns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with \neldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal \ndamage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects. \nEldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch \nblast at will. \n \nAn eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a \nranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing \nno saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of \ndamage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock \nrises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to \nobjects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level \nspell. \n \nIf you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence \ninvocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the \nlevel equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is \nhigher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise, \neldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence \ninvocations deal damage normally in addition to \nimparting the effects described in the invocation \ndescription. A warlock can apply only one blast shape \ninvocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a \nsingle eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape \ninvocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the \nsame eldritch blast. \n \nDetect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock \ncan use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level \nequals his class level. \n \nDamage \nReduction \n(Su): \nFortified \nby \nthe \nsupernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock \nbecomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and \nabove, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level \nand every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage \nreduction improves. \n \nDeceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a \nwarlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic \nitems made for the use of other characters. When \nmaking a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10 \neven if distracted or threatened. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common, Infernal. \n \nWarlock Invocations Known (3; DC 17 + equivalent \nspell level; CL 5th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*, \nmiasmic cloud*. *Complete Arcane. \n \nPossessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large \nmasterwork greatsword, ring of protection +1, vest of \nresistance +1*, amulet of health +2, cloak of charisma +2, 2 \npotions of cure serious wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic \nvestment +4. *Complete Arcane. \nENCOUNTER 7 \n \n \n \n \nRuka: Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton; CR 8; Huge \nUndead; HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +6; Spd 50 ft.; AC 13, \ntouch 10, flat-footed 11 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural); \nBAB/Grp +8/+28; Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan \nmorningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, claw) or +8 ranged \n(2d8+12, rock); Full Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan \nmorningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, 2 claws) or +8 ranged \n(2d8+12, rock); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA spell-like \nabilities; SQ DR 5/bludgeoning and 5/magic and silver, \ndarkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold, oversize weapon, \nundead traits, rock catching and throwing, SR 5 (10 + Cha \nmodifier), +2 turn resistance; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +9, \nWill +12; Str 35, Dex 15, Con –, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 1. \nComplete Arcane, page 161. \n \nFeats: Improved Initiative. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 3/day – shocking grasp; 1/day – \nshield. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based. \n \nPossessions: gargantuan morningstar. \nGreater Air Necromental: CR 10; Huge Undead (Air, \nAugmented Elemental); HD 21d12; hp 189; Init +14; Spd \nfly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 28, touch 18, flat-footed 18 (-2 \nsize, +10 Dex, +10 natural); BAB/Grp +15/+28; Atk +23 \nmelee (2d8+5, slam); Full Atk +23 melee (2d8+5, 2 slams); \nSpace/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind, \ncreate spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 ft., \nelemental traits, fast healing, DR 10/–; AL NE; SV Fort \n+9, Ref +22, Will +9; Str 20, Dex 31, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10, \nCha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +14, Spot +14; Alertness, Blind-\nfight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great \nFortitude, Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will, Mobility, \nSpring Attack, Weapon FinesseB. \n \nCreate Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a \nnecromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental \n1d4 days after death. \n \nEnergy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a \nnecromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative \nlevel. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once \nper round, regardless of the number of natural weapon \nattacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative \nlevel 24 hours later is DC 20. When a necromental \nbestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a \ncritical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one \nhour. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3 \npoints of damage each round as long as it is within five \nfeet of some form of its element (air). \n \nAir Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1 \npenalty on attack and damage rolls against an air \nelemental. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 42 \n \nWhirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself \ninto a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in \nthat form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this \nform, the elemental can move through the air or along a \nsurface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at \nthe base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet \ntall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental \ncontrols the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet. \nThe elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does \nnot provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental \nenters the space another creature occupies. Another \ncreature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches \nor enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or \nthrough the creature’s square. \n \nCreatures one or more size categories smaller than \nthe elemental might take damage when caught in the \nwhirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature \nmust first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage. \n It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked \nup bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds, \nautomatically taking the indicated damage each round. A \ncreature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round \nto escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage \nbut can leave if successful. \n \nCreatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move \nexcept to go where the elemental carries them or to \nescape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the \nwhirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed \non a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a \nspell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to \ndexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental \ncan have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at \none time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume. \n \nThe whirlwind can eject any carried creature \nwhenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the \nwhirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always \nejects trapped creatures before returning to its home \nplane. \n \nAs this room is filled with free floating debris, the \nelemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris \n20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The \ncloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond \nfive feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment, \nwhile those further away have total concealment. Those \ncaught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration \ncheck (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell. \n \nAn elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam \nattacks and does not threaten the area around it. \n \nGreater air elemental: save DC 25, 2d8 damage, 10 – \n60 ft. tall. \nSickening Shock: Living Spell; CR 4; Medium Ooze; \nHD 4d10; hp 30; Init -1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 10, touch 10, flat-\nfooted 10 (-1 Dex, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+3; \nAtk/Full Atk +3 melee (1d4, slam); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 \nft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze traits, DR 10/magic, \nSR 14 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +0, \nWill +0; Str 11, Dex 8, Con 11, Int –, Wis 8, Cha 11. \nMonster Manual 3, page 91. \n \nSpell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s \nslam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell \nor spells making up the creature, as if it were within the \narea of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for \nthe spell; the DC is 11. This living spell is composed of a \nray of enfeeblement spell and a shocking grasp spell, both at \nCL 4th. \n \nEngulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures \nthat fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot \nmake a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. \nIt merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as \nmany as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of \nopportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they \nare not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not \nattempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex \nsave (DC 11) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed \nback or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves \nforward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full \nnormal effects of the spells each round on the living \nspell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled. \nGreasy Chill: Living Spell; CR 10; Large Ooze; HD \n9d10+18; hp 81; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 15, touch 15, flat-\nfooted 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 deflection); BAB/Grp \n+6/+12; \nAtk/Full \nAtk \n+7 \nmelee \n(1d6+3, \nslam); \nSpace/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze \ntraits, DR 10/magic, SR 19 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV \nFort +5, Ref +4, Will +4; Str 15, Dex 12, Con 15, Int –, Wis \n12, Cha 15. Monster Manual 3, page 91. \n \nSpell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s \nslam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell \nor spells making up the creature, as if it were within the \narea of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for \nthe spell; the DC is 17 for the cone of cold and 13 for the \ngrease. This living spell is composed of a cone of cold spell \nand a grease spell, both at CL 9th. \n \nEngulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures \nthat fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot \nmake a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. \nIt merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as \nmany as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of \nopportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they \nare not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not \nattempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex \nsave (DC 17) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed \nback or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves \nforward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full \nnormal effects of the spells each round on the living \nspell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 43 \nAPPENDIX 4 – APL 12 \n \nENCOUNTER 2 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr7; CR 8; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+7d10+36; hp 92; Init +4; Spd \n30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 natural, \n+6 armor); BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +14 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +10/+10 ranged (1d8+7/19-\n20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +13/+8 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +14/+9 ranged \n(1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+14/+14/+9 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow \n(+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort \n+12, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10, \nCha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +6, Jump +5, Listen +2, Spot \n+3; Improved Critical (composite longbow), Improved \nRapid Shot*, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, \nRapid Shot, Weapon Focus (composite longbow), \nWeapon Specialization (composite longbow). *Complete \nWarrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure moderate wounds. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr7; CR 8; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+7d8+27; hp 75; Init +4; Spd \n40 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 natural, \n+6 armor); BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +14 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +10/+10 ranged (1d8+5/19-\n20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +13/+8 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +14/+9 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+12/+12/+7 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow \n(+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +4, elf +2); SQ \ndarkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +5 (+9 with animal \ncompanion), woodland stride, animal companion (Scar \nthe wolf); AL NE; SV Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +4; Str 18, \nDex 18, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +3, Hide +8, Knowledge \n(nature) +1, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Search +3, Spot \n+8, Survival +8 (+10 tracking); Endurance, Improved \nCritical (composite longbow), Manyshot, Point Blank \nShot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Track, Weapon Focus \n(composite longbow). \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (2, save DC 12 + spell level): 1st \n– entangle, longstrider. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine \narrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion of cure moderate \nwounds. \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n4d8+8; hp 30; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves away \nfrom the ranger); AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, \n+4 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+5; Atk/Full Atk +6 melee \n(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \nshare spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2; \nStr 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +2 (+6 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nTrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (2): attack, defend. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nGiants on Alert \nFomorian Giant: CR 11; Huge Giant; HD 15d8+90; hp \n158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.; AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 \nsize, +1 Dex, +9 natural, +3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; \nAtk +21 melee (4d6+18/19-20, huge heavy flail) or +21 \nmelee (1d8+12, slam); Full Atk +21/+16/+11 melee \n(4d6+18/19-20, huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 \nslams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA trample 2d10+18; SQ \nDR 5/–, fast healing 5, scent, low-light vision; AL NE; SV \nFort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11, \nWis 13, Cha 9. Monster Manual II, page 105. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot \n+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track. \n \nSkills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nTrample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn \neach round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least \none size category smaller than itself. This attack deals \n2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled \nopponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a \n–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit \npoints at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not \nrestore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or \nsuffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow \nor reattach lost body parts. \n \nScent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching \nenemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of \nsmell. \n \nPossessions: huge hide armor, huge heavy flail. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 44 \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr10; CR 11; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+10d10+60; hp 132; Init +4; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +18 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, \n+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +14/+14 \nranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus)); Full Atk +16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +18/+13/+8 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 \nunholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +18/+18/+13/+8 \nranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort \n+14, Ref +7, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10, \nCha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +2, Spot \n+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), \nImproved Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid \nShot*, Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point \nBlank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus \n(composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite \nlongbow). *Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), \nquiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral \nbreastplate, potion of cure moderate wounds. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr10; CR 11; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+10d8+36; hp 99; Init +6; Spd \n40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 natural, \n+6 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee (1d8+7/x3, \n+1 battleaxe) or +19 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+15/+15 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +16/+11/+6 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +19/+14/+9 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +19/+19/+14/+9 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf \n+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +8 \n(+12 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal \ncompanion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE; \nSV Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 19 (23), Con 16, \nInt 6, Wis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +11, Knowledge \n(nature) +1, Listen +10, Move Silently +11, Search +4, \nSpot +10, Survival +10 (+12 tracking); Endurance, \nImproved Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid \nShot*, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid \nShot, Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). \n*Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (2/2, save DC 12 + spell level): \n1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection from \nenergy (fire). \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure moderate wounds. \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n4d8+8; hp 30; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves away \nfrom the ranger); AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, \n+4 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+5; Atk/Full Atk +6 melee \n(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \nshare spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2; \nStr 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +2 (+6 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nTrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (2): attack, defend. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nENCOUNTER 5 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn7; CR 14; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+7d6+60; hp 117; \nInit +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-\nfooted 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +10/+14; Atk +15 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, \n+1 frost morningstar) or +17 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-\n20, dagger); Full Atk +15/+10 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, \n+1 frost morningstar) or +17/+12 ranged (1d4+4 plus \npoison/19-20, dagger); SA sneak attack +7d6, death attack \n(DC 21), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, \nevasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved \nuncanny dodge, +3 save against poison, poison use; AL \nLE; SV Fort +8 (+11), Ref +19 (+22), Will +5 (+8); Str 18, \nDex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 15 (19), Wis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +16, Climb +7, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10, \nHide +24, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +28, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3, \nTumble +24, Use Magic Device +13; Combat Expertise, \nDodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, \nMobility. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (4/43/2, save DC 14 + spell \nlevel): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, \ntrue strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, fox’s cunning (cast on self), \ninvisibility, spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, nondetection, \nspectral weapon*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete Arcane. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 45 \n(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health \n+2, gloves of dexterity +4, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure \nmoderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, \npotion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous \nform. \nGiants on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn7; CR 14; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+7d6+60; hp 117; \nInit +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-\nfooted 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +10/+14; Atk +15 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, \n+1 frost morningstar) or +17 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-\n20, dagger); Full Atk +15/+10 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, \n+1 frost morningstar) or +17/+12 ranged (1d4+4 plus \npoison/19-20, dagger); SA sneak attack +7d6, death attack \n(DC 21), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, \nevasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved \nuncanny dodge, +3 save against poison, poison use; AL \nLE; SV Fort +8 (+11), Ref +19 (+22), Will +5 (+8); Str 18, \nDex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 15 (19), Wis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +16, Climb +7, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10, \nHide +24, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +28, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3, \nTumble +24, Use Magic Device +13; Combat Expertise, \nDodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, \nMobility. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (4/43/2, save DC 14 + spell \nlevel): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, \ntrue strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, fox’s cunning (cast on self), \ninvisibility, spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, nondetection, \nspectral weapon*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete Arcane. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health \n+2, gloves of dexterity +4, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure \nmoderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, \npotion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous \nform. \nAglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock7; CR 15; Large \nGiant; HD 5d8+7d6+48; hp 98; Init +8; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft. \n(good); AC 27, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +4 Dex, +5 \nnatural, +8 armor, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +8/+16; Atk \n+12 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or \n+12 ranged touch (4d6, eldritch blast); Full Atk +12/+7 \nmelee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or +12 \nranged touch (4d6, eldritch blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 \nft.; SA spell-like abilities, invocations (least, lesser; CL 7th), \neldritch blast 4d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, \nregeneration 5, SR 19, detect magic, DR 2/cold iron, \ndeceive item; AL LE; SV Fort +10 (+11), Ref +7 (+8), Will \n+14 (+15); Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha \n22 (26). Complete Arcane, page 5. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +18, Knowledge \n(arcana) +8, Listen +6, Spellcraft +17, Spot +6, Use Magic \nDevice +15 (+17 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of \nPersonality*, Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot, \nWeapon Focus (eldritch blast). *Complete Adventurer. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility; \n1/day – charm person (DC 19), cone of cold (DC 23), gaseous \nform, polymorph, sleep (DC 19). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-\nbased. \n \nFlight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight \nas a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its \nnormal speed and has perfect maneuverability. \n \nRegeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal \ndamage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb \nor body part can reattach it by holding the severed \nmember to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If \nthe head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be \nreattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An \nogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts. \n \nInvocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or \ncast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, \nhe possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities \nknown as invocations that require him to focus the wild \nenergy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any \ninvocation he knows at will, with the following \nqualifications: \n \nA warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using \nan invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes \nattacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, \njust as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is \nentitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an \ninvocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as \na spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an \ninvocation \ndefensively, \nby \nmaking \na \nsuccessful \nConcentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of \nopportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell \nresistance unless an invocation’s description specifically \nstates otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his \ninvocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can \ndismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a \nwizard can dismiss a spell. \n \nThe save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is \n10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma \nmodifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a \nwarlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, \nhowever, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page \n303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that \nemulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as \nQuicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like \nAbility (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual). \n \nThe four grades of invocations, in order of their \nrelative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A \nwarlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which \nmust be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains \nlevels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete \nArcane. \n \nAt any level when a warlock learns a new invocation, \nhe can also replace an invocation he already knows with \nanother invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 46 \nlevel, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows \nwith a different least invocation (in addition to learning a \nnew invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At \n11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At \n16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark). \n \nFinally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations \nare subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not \nsuffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when \nwearing light armor). \n \nEldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock \nlearns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with \neldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal \ndamage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects. \nEldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch \nblast at will. \n \nAn eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a \nranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing \nno saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of \ndamage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock \nrises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to \nobjects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level \nspell. \n \nIf you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence \ninvocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the \nlevel equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is \nhigher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise, \neldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence \ninvocations deal damage normally in addition to \nimparting the effects described in the invocation \ndescription. A warlock can apply only one blast shape \ninvocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a \nsingle eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape \ninvocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the \nsame eldritch blast. \n \nDetect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock \ncan use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level \nequals his class level. \n \nDamage \nReduction \n(Su): \nFortified \nby \nthe \nsupernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock \nbecomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and \nabove, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level \nand every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage \nreduction improves. \n \nDeceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a \nwarlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic \nitems made for the use of other characters. When \nmaking a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10 \neven if distracted or threatened. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common, Infernal. \n \nWarlock Invocations Known (4; DC 18 + equivalent \nspell level; CL 7th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*, \nmiasmic cloud*; Lesser – flee the scene*. *Complete Arcane. \n \nPossessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large \nmasterwork greatsword, ring of protection +1, vest of \nresistance +1*, amulet of health +2, cloak of charisma +4, 2 \npotions of cure serious wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic \nvestment +4. *Complete Arcane. \nENCOUNTER 7 \n \n \n \n \nRuka: Cloud Giant Mummy; CR 14; Huge Undead \n(Augmented Giant); HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; \nAC 30, touch 9, flat-footed 29 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +12 natural, \n+9 armor); BAB/Grp +12/+36; Atk +28 melee (4d6+26, +2 \nunholy gargantuan morningstar) or +26 melee (2d8+24 plus \ndisease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+16, rock); Full Atk \n+28/+23/+18 melee (4d6+26, +2 unholy gargantuan \nmorningstar) or +26 melee (2d8+24 plus disease, slam) or \n+12 ranged (2d8+16, rock); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA \nrock throwing, spell-like abilities; SQ low-light vision, \noversized weapon, rock catching, scent, DR 5/–, \nvulnerability to fire; AL NE; SV Fort +10, Ref +6, Will \n+12; Str 43, Dex 13, Con –, Int 8, Wis 20, Cha 17. Libris \nMortis, page 110. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +20, Craft (weaponsmith) +9, \nDiplomacy +5, Intimidate +13, Listen +17, Perform (harp) \n+4, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17; Awesome Blow, Cleave, \nImproved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will, \nPower Attack. \n \nDespair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified \ncreature, the viewer must make a Will save DC 21 or be \nparalyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the \nsave is successful, the target cannot be affected again by \nthe mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. Save DC is \nCha-based. \n \nMummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease – natural \nweapon, Fort save DC 21, incubation period 1 minute, \ndamage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. Unlike normal diseases, \nmummy \nrot \npersists \nuntil \nthe \nvictim \nreaches \nConstitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below. \nMummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease, a \ncharacter attempting to cast any conjuration (healing) \nspell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must make \na DC 20 caster level check, or else the spell has no effect \non the afflicted character. To eliminate mummy rot, the \ncurse must first be broken with break enchantment or \nremove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for \nwither spell), after which a caster level check is no longer \nrequired to cast healing spells on the victim, and mummy \nrot can be magically cured as any normal disease. An \nafflicted character that dies of mummy rot shrivels away \ninto sand and blows away into nothing at the first wind. \nSave DC is Cha-based. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 3/day – levitate (self plus 2,000 \nlbs.), obscuring mist; 1/day – fog cloud. CL 15th; save DC is \nCha-based. \n \nRock \nThrowing \n(Ex): \nAdult \ngiants \nare \naccomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus \non attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least \nLarge size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 lbs. each \n(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of \nthe range increment varies with the giant’s variety (140 ft. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 47 \nfor cloud giants). A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80 \nlbs. (Medium objects). \n \nRock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size \ncan catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of \nsimilar shape). Once per round, a giant that would \nnormally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch \nit as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a \nMedium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile \nprovides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases \nby that amount. The giant must be ready for and aware of \nthe attack in order to make a rock catching attempt. \n \nOversized Weapon (Ex): A cloud giant wields a \ngreat, \ntwo-handed \nmorningstar \n(big \nenough \nfor \nGargantuan creatures) without penalty. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nPossessions: +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar, +1 huge \nfull plate, ring of major energy resistance (fire), winged boots, \ncloak of turn resistance*, ring of counterspells (fireball). *Libris \nMortis. \nGreater Air Necromental: CR 10; Huge Undead (Air, \nAugmented Elemental); HD 21d12; hp 189; Init +14; Spd \nfly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 28, touch 18, flat-footed 18 (-2 \nsize, +10 Dex, +10 natural); BAB/Grp +15/+28; Atk +23 \nmelee (2d8+5, slam); Full Atk +23 melee (2d8+5, 2 slams); \nSpace/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind, \ncreate spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 ft., \nelemental traits, fast healing, DR 10/–; AL NE; SV Fort \n+9, Ref +22, Will +9; Str 20, Dex 31, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10, \nCha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +14, Spot +14; Alertness, Blind-\nfight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great \nFortitude, Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will, Mobility, \nSpring Attack, Weapon FinesseB. \n \nCreate Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a \nnecromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental \n1d4 days after death. \n \nEnergy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a \nnecromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative \nlevel. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once \nper round, regardless of the number of natural weapon \nattacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative \nlevel 24 hours later is DC 20. When a necromental \nbestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a \ncritical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one \nhour. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3 \npoints of damage each round as long as it is within five \nfeet of some form of its element (air). \n \nAir Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1 \npenalty on attack and damage rolls against an air \nelemental. \n \nWhirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself \ninto a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in \nthat form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this \nform, the elemental can move through the air or along a \nsurface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at \nthe base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet \ntall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental \ncontrols the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet. \nThe elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does \nnot provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental \nenters the space another creature occupies. Another \ncreature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches \nor enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or \nthrough the creature’s square. \n \nCreatures one or more size categories smaller than \nthe elemental might take damage when caught in the \nwhirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature \nmust first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage. \n It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked \nup bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds, \nautomatically taking the indicated damage each round. A \ncreature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round \nto escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage \nbut can leave if successful. \n \nCreatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move \nexcept to go where the elemental carries them or to \nescape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the \nwhirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed \non a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a \nspell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to \ndexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental \ncan have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at \none time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume. \n \nThe whirlwind can eject any carried creature \nwhenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the \nwhirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always \nejects trapped creatures before returning to its home \nplane. \n \nAs this room is filled with free floating debris, the \nelemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris \n20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The \ncloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond \nfive feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment, \nwhile those further away have total concealment. Those \ncaught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration \ncheck (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell. \n \nAn elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam \nattacks and does not threaten the area around it. \n \nGreater air elemental: save DC 25, 2d8 damage, 10 – \n60 ft. tall. \nGreasy Chill: Living Spell; CR 10; Large Ooze; HD \n9d10+18; hp 81; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 15, touch 15, flat-\nfooted 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 deflection); BAB/Grp \n+6/+12; \nAtk/Full \nAtk \n+7 \nmelee \n(1d6+3, \nslam); \nSpace/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze \ntraits, DR 10/magic, SR 19 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV \nFort +5, Ref +4, Will +4; Str 15, Dex 12, Con 15, Int –, Wis \n12, Cha 15. Monster Manual 3, page 91. \n \nSpell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s \nslam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell \nor spells making up the creature, as if it were within the \narea of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for \nthe spell; the DC is 17 for the cone of cold and 13 for the \ngrease. This living spell is composed of a cone of cold spell \nand a grease spell, both at CL 9th. \n \nEngulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures \nthat fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 48 \nmake a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. \nIt merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as \nmany as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of \nopportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they \nare not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not \nattempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex \nsave (DC 17) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed \nback or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves \nforward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full \nnormal effects of the spells each round on the living \nspell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 49 \nAPPENDIX 5 – APL 14 \n \nENCOUNTER 2 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nFomorian Giant: CR 11; Huge Giant; HD 15d8+90; hp \n158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.; AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 \nsize, +1 Dex, +9 natural, +3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; \nAtk +21 melee (4d6+18/19-20, huge heavy flail) or +21 \nmelee (1d8+12, slam); Full Atk +21/+16/+11 melee \n(4d6+18/19-20, huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 \nslams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA trample 2d10+18; SQ \nDR 5/–, fast healing 5, scent, low-light vision; AL NE; SV \nFort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11, \nWis 13, Cha 9. Monster Manual II, page 105. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot \n+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track. \n \nSkills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nTrample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn \neach round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least \none size category smaller than itself. This attack deals \n2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled \nopponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a \n–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit \npoints at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not \nrestore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or \nsuffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow \nor reattach lost body parts. \n \nScent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching \nenemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of \nsmell. \n \nPossessions: huge hide armor, huge heavy flail. \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr10; CR 11; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+10d10+60; hp 132; Init +4; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +18 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, \n+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +14/+14 \nranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus)); Full Atk +16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +18/+13/+8 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 \nunholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +18/+18/+13/+8 \nranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort \n+14, Ref +7, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10, \nCha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +2, Spot \n+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), \nImproved Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid \nShot*, Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point \nBlank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus \n(composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite \nlongbow). *Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), \nquiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral \nbreastplate, potion of cure moderate wounds. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr10; CR 11; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+10d8+36; hp 99; Init +6; Spd \n40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 natural, \n+6 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee (1d8+7/x3, \n+1 battleaxe) or +19 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+15/+15 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +16/+11/+6 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +19/+14/+9 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +19/+19/+14/+9 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf \n+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +8 \n(+12 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal \ncompanion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE; \nSV Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 19 (23), Con 16, \nInt 6, Wis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +11, Knowledge \n(nature) +1, Listen +10, Move Silently +11, Search +4, \nSpot +10, Survival +10 (+12 tracking); Endurance, \nImproved Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid \nShot*, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid \nShot, Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). \n*Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (2/2, save DC 12 + spell level): \n1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection from \nenergy (fire). \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure moderate wounds. \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n4d8+8; hp 30; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves away \nfrom the ranger); AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, \n+4 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+5; Atk/Full Atk +6 melee \n(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \nshare spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2; \nStr 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +2 (+6 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nTrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (2): attack, defend. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 50 \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nGiants on Alert \nFiendish Fomorian Giant: CR 13; Huge Giant \n(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+90; hp 158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.; \nAC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural, \n+3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; Atk +22 melee (4d6+19/19-\n20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, slam); Full \nAtk +22/+17/+12 melee (4d6+19/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail) \nor +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; \nSA trample 2d10+18, smite good 1/day, natural weapons \nare treated as magic weapons for the purpose of \novercoming DR; SQ DR 5/– and 10/magic, fast healing 5, \nscent, low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft., cold/fire \nresistance 10, SR 20 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort +15, Ref \n+6, Will +6; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9. \nMonster Manual II, page 105. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot \n+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track. \n \nSkills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nTrample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn \neach round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least \none size category smaller than itself. This attack deals \n2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled \nopponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a \n–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit \npoints at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not \nrestore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or \nsuffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow \nor reattach lost body parts. \n \nScent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching \nenemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of \nsmell. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to \nits HD total (max +20) against a good foe. \n \nPossessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail. \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr12; CR 13; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d10+84; hp 165; Init +4; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +21 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, \n+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +17/+17 \nranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 \nunholy \ncomposite \nlongbow \n(+4 \nStr \nbonus)) \nor \n+21/+21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 \nft.; AL NE; SV Fort +16 (+19), Ref +8 (+11), Will +6 (+9); \nStr 18, Dex 19, Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +3, Spot \n+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater \nWeapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved \nCritical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid Shot*, \nImproved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point Blank \nShot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus \n(composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite \nlongbow). *Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), \nquiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral \nbreastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, \nlesser bracers of archery, amulet of health +2. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr12; CR 13; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d8+56; hp 126; Init +6; \nSpd 40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, \n+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+18/+18 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22/+17/+12 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22/+17/+12 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf \n+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +10 \n(+14 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal \ncompanion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE; \nSV Fort +15 (+18), Ref +14 (+17), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, Dex \n19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +12 (+32 in hills), \nKnowledge (nature) +1, Listen +12, Move Silently +12 \n(+32), Search +4, Spot +12, Survival +12 (+14 tracking); \nEndurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow), \nImproved \nPrecise \nShot, \nImproved \nRapid \nShot*, \nManyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, \nTrack, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete \nWarrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (2/2/1, save DC 12 + spell \nlevel): 1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection \nfrom energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, lesser bracers of \narchery, amulet of health +2. \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves \naway from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 \nDex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +7 melee \n(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 51 \nshare spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8, \nWill +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nMobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (3): attack, defend, track. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nENCOUNTER 5 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn9; CR 16; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+9d6+68; hp 132; \nInit +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-\nfooted 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, \n+1 frost morningstar) or +18 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-\n20, dagger) or +16 melee touch (rod of withering); Full Atk \n+16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost \nmorningstar) \nor \n+18/+13/+8 \nranged \n(1d4+4 \nplus \npoison/19-20, dagger) or +16/+11/+6 melee touch (rod of \nwithering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack (DC 24), \nspells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion, \ntrap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, \n+4 save against poison, poison use, hide in plain sight; AL \nLE; SV Fort +9 (+12), Ref +20 (+23), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, \nDex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +18, Climb +11, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +14, \nHide +24, Intimidate +0, Jump +13, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +28, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3, \nTumble +26, Use Magic Device +13; Combat Expertise, \nDodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, \nMobility. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (5/4/4/3, save DC 15 + spell \nlevel): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, \ntrue strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace, \nspider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection, \nspectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, greater \ninvisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete \nArcane. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health \n+2, gloves of dexterity +4, headband of intellect +4, rod of \nwithering, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate \nwounds, potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, potion of \nspider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form. \nGiants on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn9; CR 16; Medium \nHumanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+9d6+68; hp 132; \nInit +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-\nfooted 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, \n+1 frost morningstar) or +18 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-\n20, dagger) or +16 melee touch (rod of withering); Full Atk \n+16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost \nmorningstar) \nor \n+18/+13/+8 \nranged \n(1d4+4 \nplus \npoison/19-20, dagger) or +16/+11/+6 melee touch (rod of \nwithering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack (DC 24), \nspells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion, \ntrap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, \n+4 save against poison, poison use, hide in plain sight; AL \nLE; SV Fort +9 (+12), Ref +20 (+23), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, \nDex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +18, Climb +11, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +14, \nHide +24, Intimidate +0, Jump +13, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +28, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3, \nTumble +26, Use Magic Device +13; Combat Expertise, \nDodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, \nMobility. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (5/4/4/3, save DC 15 + spell \nlevel): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, \ntrue strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace, \nspider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection, \nspectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, greater \ninvisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete \nArcane. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health \n+2, gloves of dexterity +4, headband of intellect +4, rod of \nwithering, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate \nwounds, potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, potion of \nspider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form. \nAglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock9; CR 17; Large \nGiant; HD 5d8+9d6+56; hp 113; Init +8; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 \nft. (good); AC 29, touch 16, flat-footed 25 (-1 size, +4 Dex, \n+5 natural, +8 armor, +3 deflection); BAB/Grp +9/+17; \nAtk \n+13 \nmelee \n(3d6+6/19-20, \nlarge \nmasterwork \ngreatsword) or +13 ranged touch (5d6, eldritch blast); Full \nAtk +13/+8 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork \ngreatsword) or +13 ranged touch (5d6, eldritch blast); \nSpace/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA spell-like abilities, \ninvocations (least, lesser; CL 9th), eldritch blast 5d6; SQ \ndarkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5, SR 19, \ndetect magic, DR 2/cold iron, deceive item, fiendish \nresilience 1; AL LE; SV Fort +11 (+12), Ref +8 (+9), Will \n+15 (+16); Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha \n22 (26). Complete Arcane, page 5. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 52 \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +20, Knowledge \n(arcana) +10, Listen +6, Spellcraft +19, Spot +6, Use Magic \nDevice +17 (+19 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of \nPersonality*, Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot, \nWeapon Focus (eldritch blast). *Complete Adventurer. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility; \n1/day – charm person (DC 19), cone of cold (DC 23), gaseous \nform, polymorph, sleep (DC 19). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-\nbased. \n \nFlight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight \nas a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its \nnormal speed and has perfect maneuverability. \n \nRegeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal \ndamage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb \nor body part can reattach it by holding the severed \nmember to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If \nthe head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be \nreattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An \nogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts. \n \nInvocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or \ncast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, \nhe possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities \nknown as invocations that require him to focus the wild \nenergy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any \ninvocation he knows at will, with the following \nqualifications: \n \nA warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using \nan invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes \nattacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, \njust as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is \nentitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an \ninvocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as \na spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an \ninvocation \ndefensively, \nby \nmaking \na \nsuccessful \nConcentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of \nopportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell \nresistance unless an invocation’s description specifically \nstates otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his \ninvocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can \ndismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a \nwizard can dismiss a spell. \n \nThe save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is \n10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma \nmodifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a \nwarlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, \nhowever, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page \n303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that \nemulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as \nQuicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like \nAbility (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual). \n \nThe four grades of invocations, in order of their \nrelative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A \nwarlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which \nmust be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains \nlevels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete \nArcane. \n \nAt any level when a warlock learns a new invocation, \nhe can also replace an invocation he already knows with \nanother invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th \nlevel, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows \nwith a different least invocation (in addition to learning a \nnew invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At \n11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At \n16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark). \n \nFinally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations \nare subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not \nsuffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when \nwearing light armor). \n \nEldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock \nlearns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with \neldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal \ndamage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects. \nEldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch \nblast at will. \n \nAn eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a \nranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing \nno saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of \ndamage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock \nrises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to \nobjects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level \nspell. \n \nIf you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence \ninvocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the \nlevel equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is \nhigher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise, \neldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence \ninvocations deal damage normally in addition to \nimparting the effects described in the invocation \ndescription. A warlock can apply only one blast shape \ninvocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a \nsingle eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape \ninvocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the \nsame eldritch blast. \n \nDetect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock \ncan use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level \nequals his class level. \n \nDamage \nReduction \n(Su): \nFortified \nby \nthe \nsupernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock \nbecomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and \nabove, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level \nand every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage \nreduction improves. \n \nDeceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a \nwarlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic \nitems made for the use of other characters. When \nmaking a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10 \neven if distracted or threatened. \n \nFiendish Resilience (Su): Beginning at 8th level, a \nwarlock knows the trick of fiendish resilience. Once per \nday, as a free action, he can enter a state that lasts for 2 \nminutes. While in this state, the warlock gains fast \nhealing 1. At 13th level, a warlock’s fiendish resilience \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 53 \nimproves to fast healing 2, and at 18th level, it improves to \nfast healing 5. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common, Infernal. \n \nWarlock Invocations Known (5; DC 18 + equivalent \nspell level; CL 9th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*, \nmiasmic cloud*; Lesser – flee the scene*, voracious dispelling*. \n*Complete Arcane. \n \nPossessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large \nmasterwork greatsword, ring of protection +3, vest of \nresistance +1*, amulet of health +2, cloak of charisma +4, 2 \npotions of cure serious wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic \nvestment +4. *Complete Arcane. \nENCOUNTER 7 \n \n \n \n \nRuka: Evolved(x2) Cloud Giant Mummy; CR 16; Huge \nUndead (Augmented Giant); HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +1; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 32, touch 9, flat-footed 31 (-2 size, +1 Dex, \n+14 natural, +9 armor); BAB/Grp +12/+38; Atk +30 melee \n(4d6+29, +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar) or +28 melee \n(2d8+27 plus disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+18, rock); \nFull Atk +30/+25/+20 melee (4d6+29, +2 unholy \ngargantuan morningstar) or +28 melee (2d8+27 plus \ndisease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+18, rock); Space/Reach \n15 ft./15 ft.; SA rock throwing, spell-like abilities; SQ low-\nlight vision, oversized weapon, rock catching, scent, DR \n5/–, vulnerability to fire, fast healing 3; AL NE; SV Fort \n+10, Ref +6, Will +12; Str 47, Dex 13, Con –, Int 8, Wis 20, \nCha 21. Libris Mortis, pages 100 and 110. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +22, Craft (weaponsmith) +9, \nDiplomacy +7, Intimidate +15, Listen +17, Perform (harp) \n+6, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17; Awesome Blow, Cleave, \nImproved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will, \nPower Attack. \n \nDespair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified \ncreature, the viewer must make a Will save DC 23 or be \nparalyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the \nsave is successful, the target cannot be affected again by \nthe mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. Save DC is \nCha-based. \n \nMummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease – natural \nweapon, Fort save DC 23, incubation period 1 minute, \ndamage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. Unlike normal diseases, \nmummy \nrot \npersists \nuntil \nthe \nvictim \nreaches \nConstitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below. \nMummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease, a \ncharacter attempting to cast any conjuration (healing) \nspell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must make \na DC 20 caster level check, or else the spell has no effect \non the afflicted character. To eliminate mummy rot, the \ncurse must first be broken with break enchantment or \nremove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for \nwither spell), after which a caster level check is no longer \nrequired to cast healing spells on the victim, and mummy \nrot can be magically cured as any normal disease. An \nafflicted character that dies of mummy rot shrivels away \ninto sand and blows away into nothing at the first wind. \nSave DC is Cha-based. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 3/day – levitate (self plus 2,000 \nlbs.), obscuring mist; 1/day – fog cloud. CL 15th; save DC is \nCha-based. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 1/day – cone of cold (DC 20), \ngreater dispel magic. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based. \n \nRock \nThrowing \n(Ex): \nAdult \ngiants \nare \naccomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus \non attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least \nLarge size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 lbs. each \n(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of \nthe range increment varies with the giant’s variety (140 ft. \nfor cloud giants). A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80 \nlbs. (Medium objects). \n \nRock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size \ncan catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of \nsimilar shape). Once per round, a giant that would \nnormally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch \nit as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a \nMedium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile \nprovides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases \nby that amount. The giant must be ready for and aware of \nthe attack in order to make a rock catching attempt. \n \nOversized Weapon (Ex): A cloud giant wields a \ngreat, \ntwo-handed \nmorningstar \n(big \nenough \nfor \nGargantuan creatures) without penalty. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nPossessions: +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar, +1 huge \nfull plate, ring of major energy resistance (fire), winged boots, \ncloak of turn resistance*, ring of counterspells (fireball). *Libris \nMortis. \nElder Air Necromental: CR 12; Huge Undead (Air, \nAugmented Elemental); HD 24d12; hp 216; Init +15; Spd \nfly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 29, touch 19, flat-footed 18 (-2 \nsize, +11 Dex, +10 natural); BAB/Grp +18/+32; Atk +27 \nmelee (2d8+6, slam); Full Atk +27 melee (2d8+6, 2 slams); \nSpace/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind, \ncreate spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 ft., \nelemental traits, fast healing, DR 10/–; AL NE; SV Fort \n+10, Ref +25, Will +10; Str 22, Dex 33, Con –, Int 1, Wis \n10, Cha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +29, Spot +29; Alertness, Blind-\nfight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, \nGreat Fortitude, Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will, \nMobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack, Weapon FinesseB. \n \nCreate Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a \nnecromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental \n1d4 days after death. \n \nEnergy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a \nnecromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative \nlevel. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once \nper round, regardless of the number of natural weapon \nattacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative \nlevel 24 hours later is DC 22. When a necromental \nbestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a \ncritical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one \nhour. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3 \npoints of damage each round as long as it is within five \nfeet of some form of its element (air). \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 54 \n \nAir Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1 \npenalty on attack and damage rolls against an air \nelemental. \n \nWhirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself \ninto a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in \nthat form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this \nform, the elemental can move through the air or along a \nsurface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at \nthe base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet \ntall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental \ncontrols the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet. \nThe elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does \nnot provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental \nenters the space another creature occupies. Another \ncreature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches \nor enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or \nthrough the creature’s square. \n \nCreatures one or more size categories smaller than \nthe elemental might take damage when caught in the \nwhirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature \nmust first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage. \n It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked \nup bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds, \nautomatically taking the indicated damage each round. A \ncreature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round \nto escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage \nbut can leave if successful. \n \nCreatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move \nexcept to go where the elemental carries them or to \nescape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the \nwhirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed \non a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a \nspell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to \ndexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental \ncan have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at \none time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume. \n \nThe whirlwind can eject any carried creature \nwhenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the \nwhirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always \nejects trapped creatures before returning to its home \nplane. \n \nAs this room is filled with free floating debris, the \nelemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris \n20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The \ncloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond \nfive feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment, \nwhile those further away have total concealment. Those \ncaught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration \ncheck (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell. \n \nAn elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam \nattacks and does not threaten the area around it. \n \nElder air elemental: save DC 28, 2d8 damage, 10 – 60 \nft. tall. \nGreasy Chill: Living Spell; CR 10; Large Ooze; HD \n9d10+18; hp 81; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 15, touch 15, flat-\nfooted 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 deflection); BAB/Grp \n+6/+12; \nAtk/Full \nAtk \n+7 \nmelee \n(1d6+3, \nslam); \nSpace/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze \ntraits, DR 10/magic, SR 19 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV \nFort +5, Ref +4, Will +4; Str 15, Dex 12, Con 15, Int –, Wis \n12, Cha 15. Monster Manual 3, page 91. \n \nSpell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s \nslam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell \nor spells making up the creature, as if it were within the \narea of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for \nthe spell; the DC is 17 for the cone of cold and 13 for the \ngrease. This living spell is composed of a cone of cold spell \nand a grease spell, both at CL 9th. \n \nEngulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures \nthat fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot \nmake a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. \nIt merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as \nmany as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of \nopportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they \nare not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not \nattempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex \nsave (DC 17) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed \nback or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves \nforward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full \nnormal effects of the spells each round on the living \nspell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 55 \nAPPENDIX 6 – APL 16 \n \nENCOUNTER 2 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nFiendish Fomorian Giant: CR 13; Huge Giant \n(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+90; hp 158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.; \nAC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural, \n+3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; Atk +22 melee (4d6+19/19-\n20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, slam); Full \nAtk +22/+17/+12 melee (4d6+19/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail) \nor +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; \nSA trample 2d10+18, smite good 1/day, natural weapons \nare treated as magic weapons for the purpose of \novercoming DR; SQ DR 5/– and 10/magic, fast healing 5, \nscent, low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft., cold/fire \nresistance 10, SR 20 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort +15, Ref \n+6, Will +6; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9. \nMonster Manual II, page 105. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot \n+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track. \n \nSkills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nTrample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn \neach round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least \none size category smaller than itself. This attack deals \n2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled \nopponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a \n–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit \npoints at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not \nrestore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or \nsuffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow \nor reattach lost body parts. \n \nScent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching \nenemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of \nsmell. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to \nits HD total (max +20) against a good foe. \n \nPossessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail. \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr12; CR 13; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d10+84; hp 165; Init +4; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +21 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, \n+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +17/+17 \nranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 \nunholy \ncomposite \nlongbow \n(+4 \nStr \nbonus)) \nor \n+21/+21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 \nft.; AL NE; SV Fort +16 (+19), Ref +8 (+11), Will +6 (+9); \nStr 18, Dex 19, Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +3, Spot \n+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater \nWeapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved \nCritical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid Shot*, \nImproved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point Blank \nShot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus \n(composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite \nlongbow). *Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), \nquiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral \nbreastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, \nlesser bracers of archery, amulet of health +2. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr12; CR 13; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d8+56; hp 126; Init +6; \nSpd 40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, \n+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+18/+18 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22/+17/+12 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22/+17/+12 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf \n+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +10 \n(+14 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal \ncompanion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE; \nSV Fort +15 (+18), Ref +14 (+17), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, Dex \n19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +12 (+32 in hills), \nKnowledge (nature) +1, Listen +12, Move Silently +12 \n(+32), Search +4, Spot +12, Survival +12 (+14 tracking); \nEndurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow), \nImproved \nPrecise \nShot, \nImproved \nRapid \nShot*, \nManyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, \nTrack, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete \nWarrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (2/2/1, save DC 12 + spell \nlevel): 1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection \nfrom energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, lesser bracers of \narchery, amulet of health +2. \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 56 \naway from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 \nDex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +7 melee \n(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \nshare spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8, \nWill +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nMobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (3): attack, defend, track. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nGiants on Alert \nFiendish Fomorian Giant: CR 13; Huge Giant \n(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+90; hp 158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.; \nAC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural, \n+3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; Atk +22 melee (4d6+19/19-\n20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, slam); Full \nAtk +22/+17/+12 melee (4d6+19/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail) \nor +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; \nSA trample 2d10+18, smite good 1/day, natural weapons \nare treated as magic weapons for the purpose of \novercoming DR; SQ DR 10/adamantine (140 pts, from \nstoneskin) and 5/– and 10/magic, fast healing 5, scent, low-\nlight vision, darkvision 60 ft., cold/fire resistance 10, SR \n20 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 34, \nDex 12, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9. Monster Manual II, \npage 105. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot \n+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track. \n \nSkills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nTrample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn \neach round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least \none size category smaller than itself. This attack deals \n2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled \nopponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a \n–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit \npoints at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not \nrestore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or \nsuffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow \nor reattach lost body parts. \n \nScent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching \nenemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of \nsmell. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to \nits HD total (max +20) against a good foe. \n \nPossessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail. \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr14; CR 15; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d10+96; hp 189; Init +6; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +8 armor); BAB/Grp +15/+19; Atk +20 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +26 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, \n+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22 \nranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus)); Full Atk +20/+15/+10 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 \nunholy \ncomposite \nlongbow \n(+4 \nStr \nbonus)) \nor \n+26/+26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 \nft.; AL NE; SV Fort +17 (+20), Ref +10 (+13), Will +6 (+9); \nStr 18, Dex 20 (22), Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +8, Jump +8, Listen +3, Spot \n+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater \nWeapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved \nCritical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid Shot*, \nImproved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point Blank \nShot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Ranged Disarm*, Ranged \nPin*, Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Weapon \nSpecialization (composite longbow). *Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), \nquiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +3 mithral \nbreastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, \ngreater bracers of archery, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity \n+2. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr12; CR 13; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d8+56; hp 126; Init +6; \nSpd 40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, \n+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+18/+18 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22/+17/+12 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22/+17/+12 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf \n+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +10 \n(+14 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal \ncompanion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE; \nSV Fort +15 (+18), Ref +14 (+17), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, Dex \n19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +12 (+32 in hills), \nKnowledge (nature) +1, Listen +12, Move Silently +12 \n(+32), Search +4, Spot +12, Survival +12 (+14 tracking); \nEndurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow), \nImproved \nPrecise \nShot, \nImproved \nRapid \nShot*, \nManyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, \nTrack, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete \nWarrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (2/2/1, save DC 12 + spell \nlevel): 1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection \nfrom energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 57 \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, lesser bracers of \narchery, amulet of health +2. \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves \naway from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 \nDex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +7 melee \n(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \nshare spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8, \nWill +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nMobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (3): attack, defend, track. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nGnoll Druid: Male Gnoll Drd14; CR 15; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d8+64+32; hp 144 (176); \nInit +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 29, touch 12, flat-footed 27 (+2 Dex, \n+6 natural, +8 armor, +3 shield); BAB/Grp +11/+13; Atk \n+13 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +14 melee (1d6+3/18-20, +1 \nscimitar); Full Atk +13 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +14/+9/+4 \nmelee (1d6+3/18-20, +1 scimitar); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 \nft., animal companion (Mauler the dire bear), wild \nempathy +15 (+19 with animal companion), nature sense, \nwoodland stride, trackless step, resist nature’s lure, \nvenom immunity, a thousand faces, wild shape 5/day \n(Large, Tiny, plant); AL NE; SV Fort +17, Ref +6, Will +15; \nStr 14, Dex 10 (14), Con 18 (22), Int 8, Wis 18 (22), Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +15, Handle Animal \n+4, Knowledge (nature) +7, Listen +13, Ride +2, Spellcraft \n+7, Spot +13, Survival +13; Blindsense*, Combat Casting, \nNatural Spell, Oaken Resilience**, Spell Penetration, \nTrack. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete Divine. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Druidic, Giant. \n \nDruid Spells Prepared (6/7/7/5/5/4/4/2, save DC 16 + \nspell level): 0 – create water, cure minor wounds, detect magic, \nknow direction, light, read magic; 1st – cure light wounds, \nentangle, faerie fire, longstrider, produce flame x2, speak with \nanimals; 2nd – barkskin, bear’s endurance, briar web*, cat’s \ngrace, creeping cold*, lesser restoration, tree shape; 3rd – call \nlightning, infestation of maggots*, greater magic fang (on \nMauler), sleet storm, vigor*; 4th – dispel magic, flame strike, \nfreedom of movement, ice storm, murderous mist*; 5th – animal \ngrowth, baleful polymorph, stoneskin (on formian), wall of \nthorns; 6th – fire seeds, greater dispel magic, liveoak, miasma*; \n7th – heal, true seeing. * Complete Divine. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, belt pouch, 5 \ndays trail rations, sling and 20 bullets, wand of cure serious \nwounds (CL 5th, 20 charges), periapt of wisdom +4, potion of \ndisplacement, +1 scimitar, +1 wild heavy darkwood shield, +3 \nwild dragonhide (silver) breastplate. \nMauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: Large Animal; \nHD 12d8+51; hp 111; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, touch 10, \nflat-footed 16 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +7 natural); BAB/Grp \n+9/+23; Atk +22 melee (2d4+13, claw); Full Atk +22 melee \n(2d4+13, 2 claws) or +13 melee (2d8+5, bite); SA \nimproved grab; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, share \nspells; AL N; SV Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +9; Str 31, Dex 13, \nCon 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +13; \nAlertness, Endurance, Run, Toughness, Weapon Focus \n(claw). \n \nTricks (7): attack, defend, down, fetch, guard, stay, \ntrack. \n \nImproved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire bear \nmust hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a \ngrapple as a free action without provoking an attack of \nopportunity. \nENCOUNTER 5 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat1; CR 18; \nMedium Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+10d6+ \n1d6+76; hp 147; Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 30, \ntouch 19, flat-footed 30 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +4 \ndeflection); BAB/Grp +12/+16; Atk +17 melee (1d8+7 \nplus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +19 ranged (1d4+4 \nplus poison/19-20, dagger) or +17 melee touch (rod of \nwithering); Full Atk +17/+12/+7 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 \ncold, +1 frost morningstar) or +19/+14/+9 ranged (1d4+4 \nplus poison/19-20, dagger) or +17/+12/+7 melee touch \n(rod of withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack (DC \n25), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, \nevasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved \nuncanny dodge, +5 save against poison, poison use, hide \nin plain sight, fast acrobatics, kip up, steady stance; AL \nLE; SV Fort +9 (+12), Ref +23 (+26), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, \nDex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, Cha 8. \nComplete Adventurer, page 83. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +16, Bluff +19, Climb +11, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +20, \nHide +25, Intimidate +0, Jump +13, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +29, Open Lock +12, Search +6, Sleight of Hand \n+9, Spot +3, Tumble +26, Use Magic Device +13; Combat \nExpertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, \nIron Will, Mobility, Spring Attack. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nFast Acrobatics (Ex): A thief-acrobat can avoid the \nnormal penalties for accelerated movement while using \nacrobatic talents. He ignores the normal -5 penalty when \nmaking a Balance check while moving at her full normal \nspeed. She can climb at half of her speed as a move action \nwithout taking a -5 penalty on her Climb check. Finally, \nshe can tumble at her full speed without taking the \nnormal -10 penalty on her Climb check. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 58 \n \nKip Up (Ex): A thief-acrobat can stand up from \nprone as a free action that does not provoke an attack of \nopportunity. This ability works only if the thief-acrobat \nwears light or no armor and carries no more than a light \nload. \n \nSteady Stance (Ex): A thief-acrobat remains stable \non his feet when others have difficulty standing. He is \nnot considered flat-footed while balancing or climbing, \nand adds his class level as a bonus to remain climbing or \nbalancing when damage is taken. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (5/4/4/4, save DC 15 + spell \nlevel): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, \ntrue strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace, \nspider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection, \nspectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, glibness, greater \ninvisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete \nArcane. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), ring of protection +4, scarab of protection, \ncloak of resistance +3, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +4, \nheadband of intellect +4, rod of withering, potion of gaseous \nform, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of \nspider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form. \nGiants on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat1; CR 18; \nMedium Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+10d6+ \n1d6+76; hp 147; Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 30, \ntouch 19, flat-footed 30 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +4 \ndeflection); BAB/Grp +12/+16; Atk +17 melee (1d8+7 \nplus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +19 ranged (1d4+4 \nplus poison/19-20, dagger) or +17 melee touch (rod of \nwithering); Full Atk +17/+12/+7 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 \ncold, +1 frost morningstar) or +19/+14/+9 ranged (1d4+4 \nplus poison/19-20, dagger) or +17/+12/+7 melee touch \n(rod of withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack (DC \n25), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, \nevasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved \nuncanny dodge, +5 save against poison, poison use, hide \nin plain sight, fast acrobatics, kip up, steady stance; AL \nLE; SV Fort +9 (+12), Ref +23 (+26), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, \nDex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, Cha 8. \nComplete Adventurer, page 83. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +16, Bluff +19, Climb +11, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +20, \nHide +25, Intimidate +0, Jump +13, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +29, Open Lock +12, Search +6, Sleight of Hand \n+9, Spot +3, Tumble +26, Use Magic Device +13; Combat \nExpertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, \nIron Will, Mobility, Spring Attack. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nFast Acrobatics (Ex): A thief-acrobat can avoid the \nnormal penalties for accelerated movement while using \nacrobatic talents. He ignores the normal -5 penalty when \nmaking a Balance check while moving at her full normal \nspeed. She can climb at half of her speed as a move action \nwithout taking a -5 penalty on her Climb check. Finally, \nshe can tumble at her full speed without taking the \nnormal -10 penalty on her Climb check. \n \nKip Up (Ex): A thief-acrobat can stand up from \nprone as a free action that does not provoke an attack of \nopportunity. This ability works only if the thief-acrobat \nwears light or no armor and carries no more than a light \nload. \n \nSteady Stance (Ex): A thief-acrobat remains stable \non his feet when others have difficulty standing. He is \nnot considered flat-footed while balancing or climbing, \nand adds his class level as a bonus to remain climbing or \nbalancing when damage is taken. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (5/4/4/4, save DC 15 + spell \nlevel): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, \ntrue strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace, \nspider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection, \nspectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, glibness, greater \ninvisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete \nArcane. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), ring of protection +4, scarab of protection, \ncloak of resistance +3, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +4, \nheadband of intellect +4, rod of withering, potion of gaseous \nform, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of \nspider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form. \nAglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock11; CR 19; Large \nGiant; HD 5d8+11d6+64; hp 128; Init +8; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 \nft. (good); AC 29, touch 16, flat-footed 25 (-1 size, +4 Dex, \n+5 natural, +8 armor, +3 deflection); BAB/Grp +11/+19; \nAtk +16 melee (1d8+6, warlock’s scepter) or +17 ranged \ntouch (6d6, eldritch chain) or +17 ranged touch (6d6, \neldritch chain/vitriolic blast); Full Atk +16/+11/+6 melee \n(1d8+6, warlock’s scepter) or +17 ranged touch (6d6, eldritch \nchain) or +17 ranged touch (6d6, eldritch chain/vitriolic \nblast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA spell-like abilities, \ninvocations (least, lesser, greater; CL 11th), eldritch blast \n6d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5, \nSR 19, detect magic, DR 3/cold iron, deceive item, fiendish \nresilience 1, acid/fire resistance 5; AL LE; SV Fort +11 \n(+14), Ref +10 (+13), Will +16 (+19); Str 18, Dex 18, Con \n16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 23 (27). Complete Arcane, page \n5. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +22, Knowledge \n(arcana) +12, Listen +6, Spellcraft +21, Spot +6, Use Magic \nDevice +19 (+21 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of \nPersonality*, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, \nPoint Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (eldritch blast). *Complete \nAdventurer. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility; \n1/day – charm person (DC 19), cone of cold (DC 23), gaseous \nform, polymorph, sleep (DC 19). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-\nbased. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 59 \n \nFlight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight \nas a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its \nnormal speed and has perfect maneuverability. \n \nRegeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal \ndamage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb \nor body part can reattach it by holding the severed \nmember to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If \nthe head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be \nreattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An \nogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts. \n \nInvocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or \ncast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, \nhe possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities \nknown as invocations that require him to focus the wild \nenergy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any \ninvocation he knows at will, with the following \nqualifications: \n \nA warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using \nan invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes \nattacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, \njust as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is \nentitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an \ninvocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as \na spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an \ninvocation \ndefensively, \nby \nmaking \na \nsuccessful \nConcentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of \nopportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell \nresistance unless an invocation’s description specifically \nstates otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his \ninvocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can \ndismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a \nwizard can dismiss a spell. \n \nThe save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is \n10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma \nmodifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a \nwarlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, \nhowever, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page \n303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that \nemulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as \nQuicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like \nAbility (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual). \n \nThe four grades of invocations, in order of their \nrelative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A \nwarlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which \nmust be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains \nlevels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete \nArcane. \n \nAt any level when a warlock learns a new invocation, \nhe can also replace an invocation he already knows with \nanother invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th \nlevel, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows \nwith a different least invocation (in addition to learning a \nnew invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At \n11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At \n16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark). \n \nFinally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations \nare subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not \nsuffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when \nwearing light armor). \n \nEldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock \nlearns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with \neldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal \ndamage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects. \nEldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch \nblast at will. \n \nAn eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a \nranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing \nno saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of \ndamage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock \nrises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to \nobjects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level \nspell. \n \nIf you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence \ninvocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the \nlevel equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is \nhigher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise, \neldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence \ninvocations deal damage normally in addition to \nimparting the effects described in the invocation \ndescription. A warlock can apply only one blast shape \ninvocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a \nsingle eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape \ninvocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the \nsame eldritch blast. \n \nDetect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock \ncan use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level \nequals his class level. \n \nDamage \nReduction \n(Su): \nFortified \nby \nthe \nsupernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock \nbecomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and \nabove, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level \nand every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage \nreduction improves. \n \nDeceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a \nwarlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic \nitems made for the use of other characters. When \nmaking a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10 \neven if distracted or threatened. \n \nFiendish Resilience (Su): Beginning at 8th level, a \nwarlock knows the trick of fiendish resilience. Once per \nday, as a free action, he can enter a state that lasts for 2 \nminutes. While in this state, the warlock gains fast \nhealing 1. At 13th level, a warlock’s fiendish resilience \nimproves to fast healing 2, and at 18th level, it improves to \nfast healing 5. \n \nEnergy Resistance (Su): At 10th level and higher, a \nwarlock has resistance 5 against any two of the following \nenergy types: acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic. Once \nthe types are chosen, this energy resistance cannot be \nchanged. At 20th level, a warlock gains resistance 10 \nagainst the two selected types of energy. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common, Infernal. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 60 \n \nWarlock Invocations Known (7; DC 18 + equivalent \nspell level; CL 11th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*, \nmiasmic cloud*; Lesser – eldritch chain*, flee the scene*, \nvoracious dispelling*; Greater – vitriolic blast*. *Complete \nArcane. \n \nPossessions: large masterwork chain shirt, ring of \nprotection +3, vest of resistance +3*, warlock’s scepter*, amulet of \nhealth +2, cloak of charisma +4, 2 potions of cure serious \nwounds, potion of blur, oil of magic vestment +4. *Complete \nArcane. \nENCOUNTER 7 \n \n \n \n \nRuka: Evolved(x2) Cloud Giant Mummy; CR 16; Huge \nUndead (Augmented Giant); HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +1; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 32, touch 9, flat-footed 31 (-2 size, +1 Dex, \n+14 natural, +9 armor); BAB/Grp +12/+38; Atk +30 melee \n(4d6+29, +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar) or +28 melee \n(2d8+27 plus disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+18, rock); \nFull Atk +30/+25/+20 melee (4d6+29, +2 unholy \ngargantuan morningstar) or +28 melee (2d8+27 plus \ndisease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+18, rock); Space/Reach \n15 ft./15 ft.; SA rock throwing, spell-like abilities; SQ low-\nlight vision, oversized weapon, rock catching, scent, DR \n5/–, vulnerability to fire, fast healing 3; AL NE; SV Fort \n+10, Ref +6, Will +12; Str 47, Dex 13, Con –, Int 8, Wis 20, \nCha 21. Libris Mortis, pages 100 and 110. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +22, Craft (weaponsmith) +9, \nDiplomacy +7, Intimidate +15, Listen +17, Perform (harp) \n+6, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17; Awesome Blow, Cleave, \nImproved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will, \nPower Attack. \n \nDespair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified \ncreature, the viewer must make a Will save DC 23 or be \nparalyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the \nsave is successful, the target cannot be affected again by \nthe mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. Save DC is \nCha-based. \n \nMummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease – natural \nweapon, Fort save DC 23, incubation period 1 minute, \ndamage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. Unlike normal diseases, \nmummy \nrot \npersists \nuntil \nthe \nvictim \nreaches \nConstitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below. \nMummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease, a \ncharacter attempting to cast any conjuration (healing) \nspell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must make \na DC 20 caster level check, or else the spell has no effect \non the afflicted character. To eliminate mummy rot, the \ncurse must first be broken with break enchantment or \nremove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for \nwither spell), after which a caster level check is no longer \nrequired to cast healing spells on the victim, and mummy \nrot can be magically cured as any normal disease. An \nafflicted character that dies of mummy rot shrivels away \ninto sand and blows away into nothing at the first wind. \nSave DC is Cha-based. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 3/day – levitate (self plus 2,000 \nlbs.), obscuring mist; 1/day – fog cloud. CL 15th; save DC is \nCha-based. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 1/day – cone of cold (DC 20), \ngreater dispel magic. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based. \n \nRock \nThrowing \n(Ex): \nAdult \ngiants \nare \naccomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus \non attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least \nLarge size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 lbs. each \n(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of \nthe range increment varies with the giant’s variety (140 ft. \nfor cloud giants). A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80 \nlbs. (Medium objects). \n \nRock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size \ncan catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of \nsimilar shape). Once per round, a giant that would \nnormally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch \nit as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a \nMedium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile \nprovides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases \nby that amount. The giant must be ready for and aware of \nthe attack in order to make a rock catching attempt. \n \nOversized Weapon (Ex): A cloud giant wields a \ngreat, \ntwo-handed \nmorningstar \n(big \nenough \nfor \nGargantuan creatures) without penalty. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nPossessions: +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar, +1 huge \nfull plate, ring of major energy resistance (fire), winged boots, \ncloak of turn resistance*, ring of counterspells (fireball). *Libris \nMortis. \nTempest Necromental: CR 17; Gargantuan Undead \n(Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Augmented Elemental); HD \n24d12; hp 216; Init -2; Spd fly 60 ft. (good); AC 26, touch \n14, flat-footed 26 (-4 size, -2 Dex, +12 natural, +10 \ndeflection); BAB/Grp +18/+39; Atk +23 melee (2d8+13, \nslam); Full Atk +23 melee (2d8+13, 2 slams); Space/Reach \n20 ft./10 ft.; SA burn, drench, spell-like abilities, \nwhirlwind, create spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 \nft., elemental traits, fast healing, defensive aura, DR 10/–, \nelemental mastery; AL NE; SV Fort +16, Ref +12, Will +8; \nStr 29, Dex 6, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 1. Libris Mortis, \npage 113; Monster Manual 2, page 193. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +5, Listen +11, Spot \n+11; Alertness, Awesome Blow, Cleave, Empower Spell-\nLike Ability (chill touch), Endurance, Flyby Attack, Great \nCleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Power \nAttack. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: At will – chill touch, gust of wind, \nlightning bolt, wind wall. CL 9th; save DC is Cha-based. \n \nCreate Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a \nnecromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental \n1d4 days after death. \n \nEnergy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a \nnecromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative \nlevel. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once \nper round, regardless of the number of natural weapon \nattacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative \nlevel 24 hours later is DC 22. When a necromental \nbestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a \ncritical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one \nhour. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 61 \n \nFast Healing (Ex): A tempest necromental heals 3 \npoints of damage each round as long as it is within five \nfeet of some form of its element (air, earth, fire, or water). \n \nElemental Mastery (Ex): A tempest gains a +1 \nbonus on attack and damage rolls if both it and its foe are \nin contact with any of the four elements (air, earth, fire, \nor water) \n \nDefensive Aura (Sp): A tempest has a +10 \ndeflection bonus to AC. This ability is always in effect. \n \nBurn (Ex): Anyone hit by a tempest’s slam attack \nmust succeed at a Reflex save (DC 31) or catch fire. The \nflame burns for 1d4 rounds. A burning creature can take \na move action to put out the fire. Any creature hitting a \ntempest with a natural weapon or unarmed attack takes \nfire damage as though hit by its slam attack and also \ncatches fire unless it succeeds at a Reflex save. Save DC is \nStr-based. \n \nDrench (Ex): The tempest’s touch puts out torches, \ncampfires, exposed lanterns, and other open flames of \nnonmagical origin if these are of Huge size or smaller. \nThe creature can dispel magical fire it touches as if by \ndispel magic (CL = HD). The tempest can choose not to \nactivate this ability (in order to not extinguish the flame \nof an opponent affected by its burn attack, for example. \n \nWhirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself \ninto a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in \nthat form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this \nform, the elemental can move through the air or along a \nsurface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at \nthe base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet \ntall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental \ncontrols the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet. \nThe elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does \nnot provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental \nenters the space another creature occupies. Another \ncreature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches \nor enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or \nthrough the creature’s square. \n \nCreatures one or more size categories smaller than \nthe elemental might take damage when caught in the \nwhirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature \nmust first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage. \n It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked \nup bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds, \nautomatically taking the indicated damage each round. A \ncreature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round \nto escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage \nbut can leave if successful. \n \nCreatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move \nexcept to go where the elemental carries them or to \nescape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the \nwhirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed \non a Concentration check (DC 31) to cast a spell. \nCreatures caught in whirlwind take a –4 penalty to \nDexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental \ncan have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at \none time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume. \n \nThe whirlwind can eject any carried creature \nwhenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the \nwhirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always \nejects trapped creatures before returning to its home \nplane. \n \nAs this room is filled with free floating debris, the \nelemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris \n20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The \ncloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond \nfive feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment, \nwhile those further away have total concealment. Those \ncaught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration \ncheck (DC 31) to cast a spell. \n \nAn elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam \nattacks and does not threaten the area around it. \n \nTempest: save DC 31, 4d6 damage, 10 – 50 ft. tall. \nGreater Dispelling Fire: Living Spell; CR 15; Huge \nOoze; HD 15d10+45; hp 147; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 15, \ntouch 15, flat-footed 14 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +6 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +11/+22; Atk/Full Atk +12 melee (1d8+3, slam); \nSpace/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze \ntraits, DR 10/magic, SR 25 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV \nFort +8, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 16, Dex 13, Con 16, Int –, Wis \n13, Cha 16. Monster Manual 3, page 91. \n \nSpell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s \nslam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell \nor spells making up the creature, as if it were within the \narea of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for \nthe spell; the DC is 18 for the flame strike. This living \nspell is composed of a greater dispel magic spell and a flame \nstrike spell, both at CL 15th. \n \nEngulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures \nthat fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot \nmake a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. \nIt merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as \nmany as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of \nopportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they \nare not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not \nattempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex \nsave (DC 19) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed \nback or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves \nforward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full \nnormal effects of the spells each round on the living \nspell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 62 \nAPPENDIX 7 – APL 18 \n \nENCOUNTER 2 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nFiendish Fomorian Giant: CR 13; Huge Giant \n(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+90; hp 158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.; \nAC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural, \n+3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; Atk +22 melee (4d6+19/19-\n20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, slam); Full \nAtk +22/+17/+12 melee (4d6+19/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail) \nor +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; \nSA trample 2d10+18, smite good 1/day, natural weapons \nare treated as magic weapons for the purpose of \novercoming DR; SQ DR 10/adamantine (140 pts, from \nstoneskin) and 5/– and 10/magic, fast healing 5, scent, low-\nlight vision, darkvision 60 ft., cold/fire resistance 10, SR \n20 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 34, \nDex 12, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9. Monster Manual II, \npage 105. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot \n+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track. \n \nSkills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nTrample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn \neach round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least \none size category smaller than itself. This attack deals \n2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled \nopponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a \n–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit \npoints at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not \nrestore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or \nsuffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow \nor reattach lost body parts. \n \nScent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching \nenemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of \nsmell. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to \nits HD total (max +20) against a good foe. \n \nPossessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail. \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr14; CR 15; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d10+96; hp 189; Init +6; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +8 armor); BAB/Grp +15/+19; Atk +20 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +26 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, \n+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22 \nranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 \nStr bonus)); Full Atk +20/+15/+10 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 \nbattleaxe) or +26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 \nunholy \ncomposite \nlongbow \n(+4 \nStr \nbonus)) \nor \n+26/+26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 \nft.; AL NE; SV Fort +17 (+20), Ref +10 (+13), Will +6 (+9); \nStr 18, Dex 20 (22), Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +8, Jump +8, Listen +3, Spot \n+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater \nWeapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved \nCritical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid Shot*, \nImproved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point Blank \nShot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Ranged Disarm*, Ranged \nPin*, Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Weapon \nSpecialization (composite longbow). *Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), \nquiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +3 mithral \nbreastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, \ngreater bracers of archery, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity \n+2. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr12; CR 13; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d8+56; hp 126; Init +6; \nSpd 40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, \n+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+18/+18 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22/+17/+12 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22/+17/+12 ranged \n(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf \n+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +10 \n(+14 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal \ncompanion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE; \nSV Fort +15 (+18), Ref +14 (+17), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, Dex \n19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +12 (+32 in hills), \nKnowledge (nature) +1, Listen +12, Move Silently +12 \n(+32), Search +4, Spot +12, Survival +12 (+14 tracking); \nEndurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow), \nImproved \nPrecise \nShot, \nImproved \nRapid \nShot*, \nManyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, \nTrack, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete \nWarrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (2/2/1, save DC 12 + spell \nlevel): 1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection \nfrom energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete Adventurer. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, lesser bracers of \narchery, amulet of health +2. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 63 \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves \naway from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 \nDex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +7 melee \n(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \nshare spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8, \nWill +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nMobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (3): attack, defend, track. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nGnoll Druid: Male Gnoll Drd14; CR 15; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d8+64+32; hp 144 (176); \nInit +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 29, touch 12, flat-footed 27 (+2 Dex, \n+6 natural, +8 armor, +3 shield); BAB/Grp +11/+13; Atk \n+13 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +14 melee (1d6+3/18-20, +1 \nscimitar); Full Atk +13 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +14/+9/+4 \nmelee (1d6+3/18-20, +1 scimitar); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 \nft., animal companion (Mauler the dire bear), wild \nempathy +15 (+19 with animal companion), nature sense, \nwoodland stride, trackless step, resist nature’s lure, \nvenom immunity, a thousand faces, wild shape 5/day \n(Large, Tiny, plant); AL NE; SV Fort +17, Ref +6, Will +15; \nStr 14, Dex 10 (14), Con 18 (22), Int 8, Wis 18 (22), Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +15, Handle Animal \n+4, Knowledge (nature) +7, Listen +13, Ride +2, Spellcraft \n+7, Spot +13, Survival +13; Blindsense*, Combat Casting, \nNatural Spell, Oaken Resilience**, Spell Penetration, \nTrack. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete Divine. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Druidic, Giant. \n \nDruid Spells Prepared (6/7/7/5/5/4/4/2, save DC 16 + \nspell level): 0 – create water, cure minor wounds, detect magic, \nknow direction, light, read magic; 1st – cure light wounds, \nentangle, faerie fire, longstrider, produce flame x2, speak with \nanimals; 2nd – barkskin, bear’s endurance, briar web*, cat’s \ngrace, creeping cold*, lesser restoration, tree shape; 3rd – call \nlightning, infestation of maggots*, greater magic fang (on \nMauler), sleet storm, vigor*; 4th – dispel magic, flame strike, \nfreedom of movement, ice storm, murderous mist*; 5th – animal \ngrowth, baleful polymorph, stoneskin (on formian), wall of \nthorns; 6th – fire seeds, greater dispel magic, liveoak, miasma*; \n7th – heal, true seeing. * Complete Divine. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, belt pouch, 5 \ndays trail rations, sling and 20 bullets, wand of cure serious \nwounds (CL 5th, 20 charges), periapt of wisdom +4, potion of \ndisplacement, +1 scimitar, +1 wild heavy darkwood shield, +3 \nwild dragonhide (silver) breastplate. \nMauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: Large Animal; \nHD 12d8+51; hp 111; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, touch 10, \nflat-footed 16 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +7 natural); BAB/Grp \n+9/+23; Atk +22 melee (2d4+13, claw); Full Atk +22 melee \n(2d4+13, 2 claws) or +13 melee (2d8+5, bite); SA \nimproved grab; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, share \nspells; AL N; SV Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +9; Str 31, Dex 13, \nCon 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +13; \nAlertness, Endurance, Run, Toughness, Weapon Focus \n(claw). \n \nTricks (7): attack, defend, down, fetch, guard, stay, \ntrack. \n \nImproved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire bear \nmust hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a \ngrapple as a free action without provoking an attack of \nopportunity. \nGiants on Alert \nFiendish Fomorian Giant Bbn2: CR 15; Huge Giant \n(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+2d12+153; hp 223; Init +2; Spd: \n50 ft.; AC 27, touch 15, flat-footed 27 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +9 \nnatural, +3 armor, +5 deflection); BAB/Grp +13/+35; Atk \n+26 melee (4d6+22/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +25 melee \n(1d8+14, slam); Full Atk +26/+21/+16 melee (4d6+22/19-\n20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +25 melee (1d8+14, 2 slams); \nSpace/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA trample 2d10+18, smite \ngood 1/day, natural weapons are treated as magic \nweapons for the purpose of overcoming DR, rage 1/day; \nSQ fast movement, uncanny dodge, DR 10/adamantine \n(150 pts, from stoneskin) and 5/– and 10/magic, fast \nhealing 5, scent, low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft., \ncold/fire resistance 10, SR 22 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort \n+21, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 38, Dex 15, Con 28, Int 10, Wis \n14, Cha 9. Monster Manual II, page 105. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +12, Move Silently +30, Spot \n+22; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track. \n \nSkills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move \nSilently checks. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nTrample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn \neach round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least \none size category smaller than itself. This attack deals \n2d10+21 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled \nopponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a \n–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit \npoints at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not \nrestore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or \nsuffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow \nor reattach lost body parts. \n \nScent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching \nenemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of \nsmell. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to \nits HD total (max +20) against a good foe. \n \nPossessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail, potion \nof shield of faith +5. \nGnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr16; CR 17; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+16d10+108; hp 213; Init +11; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 33, touch 19, flat-footed 28 (+5 Dex, +6 \nnatural, +8 armor, +4 deflection); BAB/Grp +17/+21; Atk \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 64 \n+22 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +29 ranged \n(1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str \nbonus)) or +25/+25 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +22/+17/+12/+7 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +29/+24/+19/+14 ranged \n(1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str \nbonus)) or +29/+29/+24/+19/+14 ranged (1d8+10/19-\n20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ \ndarkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort +18 (+21), Ref +12 (+15), \nWill +7 (+10); Str 18, Dex 20 (24), Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis \n10, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +9, Jump +9, Listen +3, Spot \n+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater \nWeapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved \nCritical (composite longbow), Improved Initiative, \nImproved Rapid Shot*, Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, \nManyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, \nRanged Disarm*, Ranged Pin*, Raised Sunder*, Weapon \nFocus (composite longbow), Weapon Specialization \n(composite longbow). *Complete Warrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Giant. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone, \n+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), \nquiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +3 mithral \nbreastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, \ngreater bracers of archery, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity \n+4, boots of levitation, ring of protection +4, potion of barkskin \n+5. \nGnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr14; CR 15; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d8+64; hp 144; Init +6; \nSpd 40 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1 \nnatural, +8 armor); BAB/Grp +15/+19; Atk +20 melee \n(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +25 ranged (1d8+6/19-20/x3, \n+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or \n+21/+21 ranged (1d8+6/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking \ncomposite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +20/+15/+10 \nmelee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +25/+20/+15 ranged \n(1d8+6/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +25/+25/+20/+15 ranged \n(1d8+6/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite \nlongbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf \n+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +12 \n(+16 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal \ncompanion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion, \ncamouflage; AL NE; SV Fort +16 (+19), Ref +15 (+18), \nWill +8 (+11); Str 18, Dex 19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis \n14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +5, Hide +13 (+33 in hills), \nKnowledge (nature) +2, Listen +13, Move Silently +13 \n(+33), Search +5, Spot +13, Survival +13 (+15 tracking); \nEndurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow), \nImproved Precise Shot, Improved Rapid Shot*, Iron Will, \nManyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, \nTrack, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete \nWarrior. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (3/2/1, save DC 12 + spell \nlevel): 1st – entangle, longstrider, resist energy (cold); 2nd – cat’s \ngrace, protection from energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete \nAdventurer. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt \npouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel, \ngrappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane \n(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 \narrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +3 mithral breastplate, potion \nof cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, greater bracers of \narchery, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +2. \nScar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD \n6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves \naway from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 \nDex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +11 melee \n(1d6+7, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, \nshare spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8, \nWill +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4, \nSpot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge, \nMobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite). \n \nTricks (3): attack, defend, track. \n \nSkills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival \nchecks when tracking by scent. \n \nTrip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can \nattempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free \naction without making a touch attack or provoking an \nattack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent \ncannot react to trip the wolf. \nGnoll Druid: Male Gnoll Drd16; CR 17; Medium \nHumanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+16d8+72+36; hp 162 (198); \nInit +2; Spd 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (good); AC 33, touch 16, flat-\nfooted 31 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, +8 armor, +3 shield, +4 \ndeflection); BAB/Grp +13/+15; Atk +15 ranged (1d4+2, \nsling) or +16 melee (1d6+3/18-20, +1 scimitar); Full Atk \n+15 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +16/+11/+6 melee \n(1d6+3/18-20, +1 scimitar); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft., \nanimal companion (Mauler the dire bear), wild empathy \n+17 (+21 with animal companion), nature sense, \nwoodland stride, trackless step, resist nature’s lure, \nvenom immunity, a thousand faces, wild shape (Large, \nTiny, plant, Huge), wild shape 1/day (elemental), \ntimeless body; AL NE; SV Fort +18, Ref +7, Will +17; Str \n14, Dex 10 (14), Con 18 (22), Int 8, Wis 18 (24), Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +17, Handle Animal \n+4, Knowledge (nature) +7, Listen +14, Ride +4, Spellcraft \n+7, Spot +14, Survival +16; Blindsense*, Combat Casting, \nGreater \nSpell \nPenetration, Natural Spell, Oaken \nResilience**, Spell Penetration, Track. *Complete \nAdventurer, **Complete Divine. \n \nLanguages: Gnoll, Druidic, Giant. \n \nDruid Spells Prepared (6/7/7/7/5/5/4/4/2, save DC 17 \n+ spell level): 0 – create water, cure minor wounds, detect \nmagic, know direction, light, read magic; 1st – cure light \nwounds, entangle, faerie fire, longstrider, produce flame x2, speak \nwith animals; 2nd – barkskin, bear’s endurance, briar web*, cat’s \ngrace, creeping cold*, lesser restoration, tree shape; 3rd – call \nlightning, infestation of maggots*, greater magic fang x2 (on \nMauler and Scar), protection from energy, sleet storm, vigor*; \n4th – dispel magic, flame strike, freedom of movement, ice storm, \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 65 \nmurderous mist*; 5th – animal growth, baleful polymorph, cure \ncritical wounds, stoneskin (on formian), wall of thorns; 6th – \nfire seeds, greater dispel magic, liveoak, miasma*; 7th – brilliant \naura*, greater creeping cold*, heal, true seeing; 8th – finger of \ndeath, whirlwind. * Complete Divine. \n \nPossessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, belt pouch, 5 \ndays trail rations, sling and 20 bullets, wand of cure serious \nwounds (CL 5th, 20 charges), periapt of wisdom +6, potion of \ndisplacement, potion of fly, +1 scimitar, +1 wild heavy darkwood \nshield, +3 wild dragonhide (silver) breastplate, ring of protection \n+4. \nMauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: Large Animal; \nHD 14d8+59; hp 129; Init +2; Spd 40 ft.; AC 20, touch 11, \nflat-footed 18 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +9 natural); BAB/Grp \n+10/+25; Atk +25 melee (2d4+15, claw); Full Atk +25 \nmelee (2d4+15, 2 claws) or +15 melee (2d8+5, bite); SA \nimproved grab; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, share \nspells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +10; Str \n32, Dex 14, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +11, Spot +11, Swim +14; \nAlertness, Endurance, Run, Toughness, Weapon Focus \n(claw). \n \nTricks (7): attack, defend, down, fetch, guard, stay, \ntrack, work. \n \nImproved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire bear \nmust hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a \ngrapple as a free action without provoking an attack of \nopportunity. \nENCOUNTER 5 \n \n \n \n \nGiants Not on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat3; CR 20; \nMedium Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+10d6+ \n3d6+84; hp 162; Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, \ntouch 20, flat-footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +4 \ndeflection, +1 dodge); BAB/Grp +14/+20; Atk +21 melee \n(1d8+10 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +23 ranged \n(1d4+6 plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +21 melee touch \n(rod of withering); Full Atk +21/+16/+11 melee (1d8+10 \nplus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +23/+18/+13 ranged \n(1d4+6 plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +21/+16/+11 melee \ntouch (rod of withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack \n(DC 25), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, \nevasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved \nuncanny dodge, +5 save against poison, poison use, hide \nin plain sight, fast acrobatics, kip up, steady stance, agile \nfighting, slow fall 20 ft., acrobatic charge, defensive roll \n1/day; AL LE; SV Fort +10 (+13), Ref +24 (+27), Will +7 \n(+10); Str 22, Dex 20 (24), Con 17 (19), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, \nCha 8. Complete Adventurer, page 83. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +18, Bluff +19, Climb +17, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +25, \nHide +25, Intimidate +0, Jump +17, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +29, Open Lock +12, Search +13, Sleight of Hand \n+9, Spot +3, Tumble +28, Use Magic Device +13; Combat \nExpertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, \nIron Will, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nFast Acrobatics (Ex): A thief-acrobat can avoid the \nnormal penalties for accelerated movement while using \nacrobatic talents. He ignores the normal -5 penalty when \nmaking a Balance check while moving at her full normal \nspeed. She can climb at half of her speed as a move action \nwithout taking a -5 penalty on her Climb check. Finally, \nshe can tumble at her full speed without taking the \nnormal -10 penalty on her Climb check. \n \nKip Up (Ex): A thief-acrobat can stand up from \nprone as a free action that does not provoke an attack of \nopportunity. This ability works only if the thief-acrobat \nwears light or no armor and carries no more than a light \nload. \n \nSteady Stance (Ex): A thief-acrobat remains stable \non his feet when others have difficulty standing. He is \nnot considered flat-footed while balancing or climbing, \nand adds his class level as a bonus to remain climbing or \nbalancing when damage is taken. \n \nAcrobatic Charge (Ex): Starting at third level, a \nthief-acrobat can charge in situations where others \ncannot. He can charge over difficult terrain that \nnormally slows movement or through allies blocking her \npath. This ability enables him to charge across a cluttered \nbattlefield, leap down from a ledge, or swing across a \nchasm to get to her target. Depending on the \ncircumstances, the thief-acrobat may still need to make \nthe appropriate skill checks (Balance, Jump, Tumble, or \nUse Rope) to successfully move over the terrain. \n \nAgile Fighting (Ex): A whirling, spinning thief-\nacrobat is a devilishly difficult target. Starting at 2nd level, \na thief-acrobat gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC. When \nfighting defensively or using total defense, this bonus \nbecomes +2. In addition, a thief-acrobat takes no penalty \nto her AC or on her melee attack rolls when kneeling, \nsitting, or prone. This ability works only if a thief-acrobat \nwears light or no armor and carries no more than a light \nload. \n \nDefensive Roll (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, once \nper day a thief-acrobat can roll with a potentially lethal \nblow to take less damage from it then she otherwise \nwould. See the rogue class feature, Player’s Handbook, \npage 51. \n \nSlow Fall (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, a thief-acrobat \nreduces the effective distance of falls by 20 feet. At 4th \nlevel, this improves to reduce the effective distance of \nfalls by 30 feet. See the monk class feature, Player’s \nHandbook, page 41. If a thief-acrobat has this ability from \nanother class, the distances stack to determine the \neffective reduction of the falling distance. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (5/4/4/4, save DC 15 + spell \nlevel): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, \ntrue strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace, \nspider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection, \nspectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, glibness, greater \ninvisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete \nArcane. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 66 \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), ring of protection +4, scarab of protection, \ncloak of resistance +3, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +4, \nheadband of intellect +4, rod of withering, potion of gaseous \nform, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of \nspider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form, \nmanual of gainful exercise +4. \nGiants on Alert \nUrg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat3; CR 20; \nMedium Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+10d6+ \n3d6+84; hp 162; Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, \ntouch 20, flat-footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +4 \ndeflection, +1 dodge); BAB/Grp +14/+20; Atk +21 melee \n(1d8+10 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +23 ranged \n(1d4+6 plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +21 melee touch \n(rod of withering); Full Atk +21/+16/+11 melee (1d8+10 \nplus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +23/+18/+13 ranged \n(1d4+6 plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +21/+16/+11 melee \ntouch (rod of withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack \n(DC 25), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, \nevasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved \nuncanny dodge, +5 save against poison, poison use, hide \nin plain sight, fast acrobatics, kip up, steady stance, agile \nfighting, slow fall 20 ft., acrobatic charge, defensive roll \n1/day; AL LE; SV Fort +10 (+13), Ref +24 (+27), Will +7 \n(+10); Str 22, Dex 20 (24), Con 17 (19), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, \nCha 8. Complete Adventurer, page 83. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +18, Bluff +19, Climb +17, \nDiplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +25, \nHide +25, Intimidate +0, Jump +17, Listen +3, Move \nSilently +29, Open Lock +12, Search +13, Sleight of Hand \n+9, Spot +3, Tumble +28, Use Magic Device +13; Combat \nExpertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, \nIron Will, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack. \n \nSkills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move \nSilently checks. \n \nFast Acrobatics (Ex): A thief-acrobat can avoid the \nnormal penalties for accelerated movement while using \nacrobatic talents. He ignores the normal -5 penalty when \nmaking a Balance check while moving at her full normal \nspeed. She can climb at half of her speed as a move action \nwithout taking a -5 penalty on her Climb check. Finally, \nshe can tumble at her full speed without taking the \nnormal -10 penalty on her Climb check. \n \nKip Up (Ex): A thief-acrobat can stand up from \nprone as a free action that does not provoke an attack of \nopportunity. This ability works only if the thief-acrobat \nwears light or no armor and carries no more than a light \nload. \n \nSteady Stance (Ex): A thief-acrobat remains stable \non his feet when others have difficulty standing. He is \nnot considered flat-footed while balancing or climbing, \nand adds his class level as a bonus to remain climbing or \nbalancing when damage is taken. \n \nAcrobatic Charge (Ex): Starting at third level, a \nthief-acrobat can charge in situations where others \ncannot. He can charge over difficult terrain that \nnormally slows movement or through allies blocking her \npath. This ability enables him to charge across a cluttered \nbattlefield, leap down from a ledge, or swing across a \nchasm to get to her target. Depending on the \ncircumstances, the thief-acrobat may still need to make \nthe appropriate skill checks (Balance, Jump, Tumble, or \nUse Rope) to successfully move over the terrain. \n \nAgile Fighting (Ex): A whirling, spinning thief-\nacrobat is a devilishly difficult target. Starting at 2nd level, \na thief-acrobat gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC. When \nfighting defensively or using total defense, this bonus \nbecomes +2. In addition, a thief-acrobat takes no penalty \nto her AC or on her melee attack rolls when kneeling, \nsitting, or prone. This ability works only if a thief-acrobat \nwears light or no armor and carries no more than a light \nload. \n \nDefensive Roll (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, once \nper day a thief-acrobat can roll with a potentially lethal \nblow to take less damage from it then she otherwise \nwould. See the rogue class feature, Player’s Handbook, \npage 51. \n \nSlow Fall (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, a thief-acrobat \nreduces the effective distance of falls by 20 feet. At 4th \nlevel, this improves to reduce the effective distance of \nfalls by 30 feet. See the monk class feature, Player’s \nHandbook, page 41. If a thief-acrobat has this ability from \nanother class, the distances stack to determine the \neffective reduction of the falling distance. \n \nLanguages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll. \n \nAssassin Spells Known (5/4/4/4, save DC 15 + spell \nlevel): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, \ntrue strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace, \nspider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection, \nspectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, glibness, greater \ninvisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete \nArcane. \n \nPossessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools, \n2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with \nmedium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3 \nmithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells \n(greater dispel magic), ring of protection +4, scarab of protection, \ncloak of resistance +3, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +4, \nheadband of intellect +4, rod of withering, potion of gaseous \nform, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of \nspider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form, \nmanual of gainful exercise +4. \nAglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock13; CR 21; Large \nGiant; HD 5d8+13d6+90; hp 156; Init +8; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 \nft. (good), climb 20 ft.; AC 30, touch 17, flat-footed 26 (-1 \nsize, +4 Dex, +5 natural, +8 armor, +4 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +12/+20; Atk +17 melee (1d8+6, warlock’s scepter) \nor +18 ranged touch (6d6, eldritch chain) or +18 ranged \ntouch (6d6, eldritch chain/vitriolic blast); Full Atk \n+17/+12/+7 melee (1d8+6, warlock’s scepter) or +18 ranged \ntouch (6d6, eldritch chain) or +18 ranged touch (6d6, \neldritch chain/vitriolic blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 67 \nspell-like abilities, invocations (least, lesser, greater; CL \n13th), eldritch blast 6d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light \nvision, regeneration 5, SR 19, detect magic, DR 3/cold iron, \ndeceive item, fiendish resilience 2, acid/fire resistance 5, \nimbue item; AL LE; SV Fort +13 (+16), Ref +11 (+14), Will \n+17 (+20); Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16 (20), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha \n23 (29). Complete Arcane, page 5. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +25, Knowledge \n(arcana) +14, Listen +6, Spellcraft +23, Spot +6, Use Magic \nDevice +22 (+24 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of \nPersonality*, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, \nPoint Blank Shot, Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus \n(eldritch blast). *Complete Adventurer. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility; \n1/day – charm person (DC 20), cone of cold (DC 24), gaseous \nform, polymorph, sleep (DC 20). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-\nbased. \n \nFlight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight \nas a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its \nnormal speed and has perfect maneuverability. \n \nRegeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal \ndamage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb \nor body part can reattach it by holding the severed \nmember to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If \nthe head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be \nreattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An \nogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts. \n \nInvocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or \ncast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, \nhe possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities \nknown as invocations that require him to focus the wild \nenergy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any \ninvocation he knows at will, with the following \nqualifications: \n \nA warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using \nan invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes \nattacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, \njust as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is \nentitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an \ninvocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as \na spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an \ninvocation \ndefensively, \nby \nmaking \na \nsuccessful \nConcentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of \nopportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell \nresistance unless an invocation’s description specifically \nstates otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his \ninvocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can \ndismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a \nwizard can dismiss a spell. \n \nThe save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is \n10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma \nmodifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a \nwarlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, \nhowever, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page \n303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that \nemulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as \nQuicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like \nAbility (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual). \n \nThe four grades of invocations, in order of their \nrelative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A \nwarlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which \nmust be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains \nlevels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete \nArcane. \n \nAt any level when a warlock learns a new invocation, \nhe can also replace an invocation he already knows with \nanother invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th \nlevel, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows \nwith a different least invocation (in addition to learning a \nnew invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At \n11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At \n16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater \ninvocation he knows with another invocation of the same \nor a lower grade (in addition to learning a new \ninvocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark). \n \nFinally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations \nare subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not \nsuffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when \nwearing light armor). \n \nEldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock \nlearns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with \neldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal \ndamage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects. \nEldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch \nblast at will. \n \nAn eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a \nranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing \nno saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of \ndamage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock \nrises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to \nobjects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level \nspell. \n \nIf you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence \ninvocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the \nlevel equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is \nhigher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise, \neldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence \ninvocations deal damage normally in addition to \nimparting the effects described in the invocation \ndescription. A warlock can apply only one blast shape \ninvocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a \nsingle eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape \ninvocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the \nsame eldritch blast. \n \nDetect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock \ncan use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level \nequals his class level. \n \nDamage \nReduction \n(Su): \nFortified \nby \nthe \nsupernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock \nbecomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and \nabove, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level \nand every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage \nreduction improves. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 68 \n \nDeceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a \nwarlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic \nitems made for the use of other characters. When \nmaking a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10 \neven if distracted or threatened. \n \nFiendish Resilience (Su): Beginning at 8th level, a \nwarlock knows the trick of fiendish resilience. Once per \nday, as a free action, he can enter a state that lasts for 2 \nminutes. While in this state, the warlock gains fast \nhealing 1. At 13th level, a warlock’s fiendish resilience \nimproves to fast healing 2, and at 18th level, it improves to \nfast healing 5. \n \nEnergy Resistance (Su): At 10th level and higher, a \nwarlock has resistance 5 against any two of the following \nenergy types: acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic. Once \nthe types are chosen, this energy resistance cannot be \nchanged. At 20th level, a warlock gains resistance 10 \nagainst the two selected types of energy. \n \nImbue Item (Su): A warlock of 12th level or higher \ncan use his supernatural power to create magic items, \neven if he does not know the spells required to make an \nitem (although he must know the appropriate item \ncreation feat). He can substitute a Use Magic Device \ncheck (DC 15 + spell level for arcane spells, DC 25 + spell \nlevel for divine spells) in place of a required spell he \ndoesn’t know or can’t cast. If the check succeeds, the \nwarlock can create the item as if he had cast the required \nspell. If it fails, he cannot complete the item. He does \nnot expend the xp or gp costs for making the item; his \nprogress is simply arrested. He cannot retry this Use \nMagic Device check for that spell until he gains a new \nlevel. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common, Infernal. \n \nWarlock Invocations Known (8; DC 19 + equivalent \nspell level; CL 11th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*, \nmiasmic cloud*; Lesser – eldritch chain*, flee the scene*, \nvoracious dispelling*; Greater – chilling tentacles*, vitriolic \nblast*. *Complete Arcane. \n \nPossessions: large masterwork chain shirt, ring of \nprotection +4, vest of resistance +3*, warlock’s scepter*, amulet of \nhealth +4, cloak of charisma +6, slippers of spider climbing, 2 \npotions of cure serious wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic \nvestment +4. *Complete Arcane. \nENCOUNTER 7 \n \n \n \n \nRuka: Evolved(x4) Cloud Giant Mummy; CR 18; Huge \nUndead (Augmented Giant); HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +1; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 34, touch 9, flat-footed 33 (-2 size, +1 Dex, \n+16 natural, +9 armor); BAB/Grp +12/+40; Atk +32 melee \n(4d6+32, +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar) or +30 melee \n(2d8+30 plus disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+20, rock); \nFull Atk +32/+27/+22 melee (4d6+32, +2 unholy \ngargantuan morningstar) or +30 melee (2d8+30 plus \ndisease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+20, rock); Space/Reach \n15 ft./15 ft.; SA rock throwing, spell-like abilities; SQ low-\nlight vision, oversized weapon, rock catching, scent, DR \n5/–, vulnerability to fire, fast healing 3; AL NE; SV Fort \n+10, Ref +6, Will +12; Str 51, Dex 13, Con –, Int 8, Wis 20, \nCha 25. Libris Mortis, pages 100 and 110. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +24, Craft (weaponsmith) +9, \nDiplomacy +9, Intimidate +17, Listen +17, Perform (harp) \n+8, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17; Awesome Blow, Cleave, \nImproved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will, \nPower Attack. \n \nDespair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified \ncreature, the viewer must make a Will save DC 25 or be \nparalyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the \nsave is successful, the target cannot be affected again by \nthe mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. Save DC is \nCha-based. \n \nMummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease – natural \nweapon, Fort save DC 25, incubation period 1 minute, \ndamage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. Unlike normal diseases, \nmummy \nrot \npersists \nuntil \nthe \nvictim \nreaches \nConstitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below. \nMummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease, a \ncharacter attempting to cast any conjuration (healing) \nspell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must make \na DC 20 caster level check, or else the spell has no effect \non the afflicted character. To eliminate mummy rot, the \ncurse must first be broken with break enchantment or \nremove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for \nwither spell), after which a caster level check is no longer \nrequired to cast healing spells on the victim, and mummy \nrot can be magically cured as any normal disease. An \nafflicted character that dies of mummy rot shrivels away \ninto sand and blows away into nothing at the first wind. \nSave DC is Cha-based. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 3/day – levitate (self plus 2,000 \nlbs.), obscuring mist; 1/day – fog cloud. CL 15th; save DC is \nCha-based. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: 1/day – cone of cold (DC 22), \ngreater dispel magic, hold monster (DC 22), unholy blight (DC \n21). CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based. \n \nRock \nThrowing \n(Ex): \nAdult \ngiants \nare \naccomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus \non attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least \nLarge size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 lbs. each \n(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of \nthe range increment varies with the giant’s variety (140 ft. \nfor cloud giants). A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80 \nlbs. (Medium objects). \n \nRock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size \ncan catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of \nsimilar shape). Once per round, a giant that would \nnormally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch \nit as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a \nMedium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile \nprovides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases \nby that amount. The giant must be ready for and aware of \nthe attack in order to make a rock catching attempt. \n \nOversized Weapon (Ex): A cloud giant wields a \ngreat, \ntwo-handed \nmorningstar \n(big \nenough \nfor \nGargantuan creatures) without penalty. \n \nLanguages: Giant, Common. \n \nPossessions: +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar, +1 huge \nfull plate, ring of major energy resistance (fire), winged boots, \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 69 \ncloak of turn resistance*, ring of counterspells (fireball). *Libris \nMortis. \nAir Monolith Necromental: CR 18; Gargantuan \nUndead (Air, Augmented Elemental); HD 36d12; hp 324; \nInit +15; Spd fly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 33, touch 17, flat-\nfooted 22 (-4 size, +11 Dex, +16 natural); BAB/Grp \n+27/+50; Atk +34 melee (6d6+11/19-20, slam); Full Atk \n+34 melee (6d6+11/19-20, 2 slams); Space/Reach 20 ft./20 \nft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind, create spawn, energy drain; \nSQ darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits, fast healing, DR \n15/–; AL NE; SV Fort +14, Ref +31, Will +14; Str 32, Dex \n33, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113; \nComplete Arcane, page 156. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +13, Diplomacy -2, \nIntimidate +9, Jump +41, Listen +41, Sense Motive +13, \nSpot +41, Tumble +24; Alertness, Blind-fight, Cleave, \nCombat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great Cleave, \nGreat Fortitude, Improved Critical (slam), Improved \nInitiative, Improved Natural Attack, Iron Will, Mobility, \nPower Attack, Spring Attack. \n \nCreate Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a \nnecromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental \n1d4 days after death. \n \nEnergy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a \nnecromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative \nlevel. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once \nper round, regardless of the number of natural weapon \nattacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative \nlevel 24 hours later is DC 28. When a necromental \nbestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a \ncritical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one \nhour. \n \nFast Healing (Ex): An air monolith necromental \nheals 3 points of damage each round as long as it is within \nfive feet of some form of its element (air). \n \nAir Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -2 \npenalty on attack rolls and damage rolls against an air \nmonolith. \n \nWhirlwind (Su): An air monolith can transform \nitself into a whirlwind at will as a standard action and \nremain in that form indefinitely. In this form, the \nelemental can move through the air or along a surface at \nits fly speed. The whirlwind is 10 feet wide at the base, \nup to 50 feet wide at the top, and up to 80 feet tall. The \nelemental controls the exact height, but it must be at least \n20 feet. The elemental’s movement while in whirlwind \nform does not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the \nelemental enters the space another creature occupies. \nAnother creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it \ntouches or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental \nmoves into or through the creature’s square. \n \nCreatures one or more size categories smaller than \nthe elemental might take damage when caught in the \nwhirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature \nmust first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage. \n It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked \nup bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds, \nautomatically taking the indicated damage each round. A \ncreature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round \nto escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage \nbut can leave if successful. The save DC is Str-based. \n \nCreatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move \nexcept to go where the elemental carries them or to \nescape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the \nwhirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed \non a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level) to cast a \nspell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a –4 penalty to \nDexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental \ncan have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at \none time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume. \n \nThe whirlwind can eject any carried creature \nwhenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the \nwhirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always \nejects trapped creatures before returning to its home \nplane. \n \nAs this room is filled with free floating debris, the \nelemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris \n20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The \ncloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond \nfive feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment, \nwhile those further away have total concealment. Those \ncaught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration \ncheck (DC 20 + spell level) to cast a spell. \n \nAn elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam \nattacks and does not threaten the area around it. \n \nAir Monolith: save DC 39, 4d6 damage, 20 – 80 ft. \ntall. \nGreater Dispelling Firestorm: Living Spell; CR 18; \nHuge Ooze; HD 15d10+60; hp 158; Init +2; Spd 40 ft.; AC \n18, touch 18, flat-footed 16 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +8 deflection); \nBAB/Grp +11/+23; Atk/Full Atk +13 melee (1d8+6, slam); \nSpace/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze \ntraits, DR 10/magic, SR 25 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV \nFort +9, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 18, Dex 15, Con 18, Int –, Wis \n15, Cha 18. Monster Manual 3, page 91. \n \nSpell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s \nslam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell \nor spells making up the creature, as if it were within the \narea of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for \nthe spell; the DC is 22 for the fire storm. This living spell \nis composed of a greater dispel magic spell and a fire storm \nspell, both at CL 15th. \n \nEngulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures \nthat fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot \nmake a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. \nIt merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as \nmany as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of \nopportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they \nare not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not \nattempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex \nsave (DC 22) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed \nback or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves \nforward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full \nnormal effects of the spells each round on the living \nspell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 70 \nAPPENDIX 8 – ALL APLS \n \nENCOUNTER 1 \n \n \n \n \nResbin Dren Emondav, Marchioness of Sterich: \nFemale Human Sor13; CR 13; Medium Humanoid \n(Human); HD 13d4+26+3; hp 61; Init -1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12 \n(16 with mage armor), touch 9, flat-footed 12 (16 with \nmage armor); Base Atk +6; Grp +7; Atk +8 melee (1d6+1, \nmasterwork club); Full Atk +8/+3 melee (1d6+1, \nmasterwork club); SA spells; SQ summon familiar (tiny \nviper); AL LN; SV Fort +8, Ref +3, Will +11; Str 12, Dex 9, \nCon 14, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 19. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +23, Concentration +18, \nDiplomacy +14, Gather Information +8, Knowledge \n(arcana) +19, Listen +3, Sense Motive +9, Spellcraft +13, \nSpot +3; Combat Casting, Eschew Materials, Great \nFortitude, Iron Will, Leadership, Toughness. \n \nLanguages: Common, Dwarven, Keolandish, Olman. \n \nSpells Known (CL 13th; 6/7/7/7/7/6/4): 0 – acid splash \n(+5 ranged touch), arcane mark, daze (DC 14), detect magic, \ndetect poison, disrupt undead (+5 ranged touch), flare (DC \n14), resistance, touch of fatigue (+5 touch, DC 14); 1st – \nburning hands (DC 15), mage armor, obscuring mist, \nprotection from chaos (DC 15), shield; 2nd – detect thoughts \n(DC 16), owl’s wisdom, shatter (DC 16), touch of idiocy (+5 \ntouch, DC 15), whispering wind; 3rd – deep slumber (DC 17), \ndispel magic, invisibility sphere, suggestion (DC 17); 4th – \nconfusion (DC 18), crushing despair (DC 18), greater magic \nweapon, stoneskin; 5th – cone of cold (DC 19), feeblemind (DC \n19), hold monster (DC 19); 6th – chain lightning (DC 20), \nTenser’s transformation. \n \nPossessions: masterwork club, cloak of charisma +2, \namulet of natural armor +3, brooch of shielding (76 hp), ring of \nmind shielding, ring of the ram (27 charges), 3 potions of bull’s \nstrength, 4 vials of diamond dust worth 250 gp each. \n \nFrom Dungeon #117, December 2004, page 41. \nENCOUNTER 3 \n \n \n \n \nRaptoran Sentry: Male/Female Raptoran Rgr5; CR 5; \nMedium Humanoid (Raptoran); HD 5d8+5; hp 34; Init \n+3; Spd 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (average); AC 19, touch 13, flat-\nfooted 16 (+3 Dex, +5 armor, +1 shield); BAB/Grp +5/+7; \nAtk +9 melee (1d6+3/19-20, +1 short sword) or +9 ranged \n(1d8+3/x3, masterwork footbow); Full Atk +9 melee \n(1d6+3/19-20, +1 short sword) or +7/+7 ranged (1d8+2/x3, \nmasterwork footbow); SA spells, favored enemy (humans \n+4, gnolls +2); SQ low-light vision, raptoran traits, wild \nempathy +5 (+1 magical beasts); AL CG; SV Fort +5, Ref \n+7, Will +2; Str 14, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 10. \nRaces of the Wild, page 68. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +3, Hide +10, Listen +9, Move \nSilently +10, Spot +11, Survival +9; EnduranceB, Point \nBlank Shot, Rapid ShotB, TrackB, Weapon Focus (short \nsword). \n \nRaptoran Traits: gliding, flight, +1 CL for air spells, \nunerring direction (can sense which direction is north \nanywhere on the Material Plane), weapon familiarity \n(footbow is martial weapon), +2 racial bonus on Climb \nand Spot checks, +10 racial bonus to Jump checks. \n \nGliding (Ex): A raptoran can use her wings to glide, \nnegating damage from a fall of any height and allowing \n20 feet of forward travel for every 5 feet of descent. \nRaptorans glide at a speed of 40 feet (average \nmaneuverability). Even if a raptoran’s maneuverability \nimproves, she can’t hover while gliding. A raptoran can’t \nglide while carrying a medium or heavy load. If a \nraptoran becomes unconscious or helpless while in \nmidair, her wings naturally unfurl and powerful \nligaments stiffen the wings. The raptoran descends in a \ntight corkscrew and takes only 1d6 falling damage no \nmatter what the actual distance of the fall. \n \nFlight (Ex): When a raptoran reaches 5 HD, she \nbecomes able to fly at a speed of 40 feet (average \nmaneuverability). A raptoran can’t fly while carrying a \nmedium or heavy load or while fatigued or exhausted. \nRaptorans can safely fly for a number of rounds equal to \ntheir Con modifier (minimum 1 round). They can exert \nthemselves to fly for up to twice as long, but then they’re \nfatigued at the end of the flight. Raptorans are likewise \nfatigued after spending a total of more than 10 minutes \nper day flying. Because raptorans can glide before, after, \nand between rounds of actual flight, they can remain \naloft for extended periods (even if they can only use \nflight for 1 round at a time without becoming fatigued). \nWhen they reach 10 HD, raptorans have enough stamina \nand prowess to fly for longer periods. They can fly at a \nspeed of 40 feet (average maneuverability), and flying \nrequires no more exertion that walking or running. A \nraptoran with flight can make a dive attack. A dive attack \nworks like a charge, but the raptoran must move a \nminimum of 30 feet and descend at least 10 feet. A \nraptoran can make a dive attack only when wielding a \npiercing weapon; if the attack hits, it deals double \ndamage. A raptoran with flight can use the run action \nwhile flying, provided she flies in a straight line. \n \nLanguages: Common, Raptoran. \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (1, save DC 11 + spell level, CL \n1st): 1st – speak with animals. \n \nPossessions: +1 chain shirt, masterwork buckler, +1 short \nsword, masterwork footbow* (+2 Str bonus) with 20 \narrows, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of shield of faith \n+4. *Races of the Wild. \nSherinda, Flock Chief: Female raptoran Drd12; CR 12; \nMedium humanoid (raptoran); HD 12d8+24; hp 81; Init \n+0; Spd 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (good); AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed \n15; Base Atk +9; Grp +10; Atk +10 ranged (1d8 +2/x3, +1 \nfootbow) or +11 melee (1d8+1/x3, masterwork cold iron \nspear); Full Atk +10/+5 ranged (1d8+2/x3 +1 footbow) or \n+11/+6 \nmelee \n1d8+1/x3, \nmasterwork \ncold \niron \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 71 \nlongspear); SA spells, SQ animal companion (dire hawk), \nanimal companion benefits, immunity to poison, low-\nlight vision, raptoran traits, resist nature’s lure, trackless \nstep, wild empathy +15 (+11 magical beasts), wild shape \n4/day (Tiny to Large, Animal or Plant), woodland stride; \nAL NG; SV Fort +10, Ref +4 (+7 while flying), Will +11; \nStr 13, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 12 Races of the \nWild, page 68. \n \nSkills and feats: Climb +3, Concentration +12, \nDiplomacy +10, Handle Animal +6, Jump +11, \nKnowledge (nature) +9, Listen +17, Ride +2, Sense \nMotive +12, Spot +19, Survival +12 (+14 in aboveground \nnatural environments); Aerial ReflexesRoW, Alertness, \nImproved FlightRoW, Natural Spell, Negotiator. RoWRaces of \nthe Wild. \n \nLanguages: Common, Raptoran, Druidic. \n \nRaptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of \n40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an \nunerring sense of direction and always know which way \nis north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for \nair spells. Sherinda can fly for up to 10 minutes total \nduring a day before becoming fatigued. A flying raptoran \ncan make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly at least \n30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing \nweapon to deal double damage on a hit). \n \nDruid Spells Prepared (CL 12th): 0 – cure minor wounds \n(2), detect magic(2), mending, read magic; 1st – cure light \nwounds (2), endure elements, entangle, obscuring mist, produce \nflame (+9 ranged touch), speak with animals; 2nd – barkskin, \nbear’s endurance, flaming sphere (DC 17), gust of wind, lesser \nrestoration; 3rd – cal lightening (DC 18), cure moderate \nwounds, greater magic fang, protection from energy, wind wall \n(CL 13th); 4th – dispel magic, flame strike (DC 19), freedom of \nmovement, ice storm; 5th – baleful polymorph (DC 20), call \nlightening storm (DC 20), cure critical wounds, stoneskin; 6th – \nfire seeds (+9 ranged touch; DC 21), summon nature’s ally VI. \n \nPossessions: +2 leather armor, +1 ring of protection, \nmasterwork cold iron spear, +1 footbow (+1 Str bonus) \nwith 20 arrows, periapt of wisdom +4, 2 potions of cure serious \nwounds, spell component pouch, 250 gp diamond dust, 31 \ngp. \nLightning, Dire Hawk Companion: CR –; Medium \nanimal; HD 11d8+22; hp 71; Init +11; Spd 10 ft., fly 80 ft. \n(average); AC 26, touch 17, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +8; \nGrp +10; Atk +15 melee (1d6+2, claw); Full Atk +15/+15 \nmelee (1d6+2, 2 claws) and +13 melee (1d6+1, bite); SQ \ndevotion, evasion, low-light vision, link, shared spells; AL \nN; SV Fort +9, Ref +14, Will +9 (+13 against \nenchantments); Str 15, Dex 25, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha \n11. Races of the Wild. \n \nSkills and Feats: Listen +9, Move Silently +11, Spot \n+9*; Alertness, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural \nAttack (claw), Multiattack B, Weapon Finesse. \n \nTricks Known: Attack, come, defend, down, fetch, \nguard, heel, markRoW, seek, stay. RoWRaces of the Wild. \nCas, Medicine Chief: Male raptoran Clr9 of Phaulkon; \nCR 9; medium humanoid (raptoran); HD 3d6+6 plus \n6d8+12; hp 58; Init +5; Spd 30 ft., fly 45 ft. (average); AC \n16, touch 11, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +6; Grp +5; Atk +6 \nmelee (1d8/x3, +1 spear); Full Atk:+6/+1 melee (1d8/x3, +1 \nspear); SA Spells, turn undead 3/day (+2, 2d6+9, 9th); SQ \nlow-light vision, raptoran traits, substitution levels (air \nmastery, empathy of the winds, air summoning talent, \nopen the wind-gate); AL CG; SV Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +10; \nStr 8, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 19, Cha 10. Races of the \nWild, page 68. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +1, Concentration +8 (+12 \ncasting defensively), Diplomacy +0 (+4 dealing with \nnatives of Elemental Plane of Air), Heal +16, Jump +9, \nKnowledge (religion) +7, Spot +18; Battle CastingRoW, \nBrew Potion, Combat Casting, Improved Initiative. \nRoWRaces of the Wild. \n \nLanguages: Common, Sylvan, Raptoran. \n \nRaptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of \n40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an \nunerring sense of direction and always know which way \nis north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for \nair spells. Cas can fly for 2 rounds at no penalty, or for 4 \nrounds at the cost of becoming fatigued. A flying \nraptoran can make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly \nat least 30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing \nweapon to deal double damage on a hit). \n \nAir Mastery (Ex): Beginning at 1st level, airborne \ncreatures take a –1 penalty on attack and damage rolls \nagainst a raptoran cleric. The substitution feature \nreplaces the standard cleric’s heavy armor proficiency \ngained at 1st level. \n \nEmpathy of the Winds (Ex): A 1st level raptoran \ncleric gains a strong bond with air and its denizens. He \nlearns Auran as a bonus language (in addition to the \nlanguages available to him because of his race and the \nSpeak Languages skill). He gains a +4 circumstance \nbonus on Diplomacy checks made to interact with the \nnatives of the Elemental Plane of Air. If he has the ability \nto bolster Air creatures (such as from the air domain), he \ngains a +4 bonus on turning checks made to do so. Allied \nair elementals within 60 feet of the cleric gain a +1 moral \nbonus on attack rolls and damage rolls. \n \nAir Summoning Talent (Ex): Beginning at 3rd \nlevel, a raptoran cleric can summon certain creatures of \nair more easily than other clerics can. Add the following \nmonsters to the list of creatures that the cleric can \nsummon with the appropriate summon monster spell: \n \nSummon Monster II: Small air elemental \n \nSummon Monster III: Air mephit \n \nSummon Monster IV: Medium air elemental \n \nSummon Monster V: Large air elemental \n \nSummon Monster VI: Huge air elemental \n \nSummon Monster VII: Greater air elemental \n \nSummon Monster VIII: Elder air elemental \n \nThis substitution feature removes all spells with the \nearth descriptor from the cleric’s spell list. If a spell \nwould only have the earth descriptor due to a particular \nversion of the spell (such as a summon monster spell used \nto summon an earth elemental), the spell remains on the \ncleric’s spell list but the version with the earth descriptor \ncannot be cast. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 72 \n \nOpen the Wind-Gate (Ex): A 7th level raptoran \ncleric can use the planar ally spells to call a more powerful \nair elemental than would normally be allowed. The cleric \ncan call an 8 HD Large air elemental with lesser planar ally, \na single 16 HD Huge air elemental (or two 8 HD Large air \nelementals) with planar ally, or a single 24 HD elder air \nelemental (or multiple Large and/or Huge air elementals \ntotaling 24 HD) with greater planar ally. \n \nThe costs associated with these spells remain the \nsame. However, if the any of the called air elementals die \nwhile in the service of the cleric, the cleric loses access to \nthis ability for seven days and takes a –1 penalty on attack \nrolls, saves, and checks during that period. \n \nThis substitution feature replaces the standard \ncleric’s ability to call creatures other than air elementals \nwith the various planar ally spells. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared (CL 9th): 0 – create water, detect \nmagic (2), detect poison, light, purify food and drink; 1st – bless, \ndivine favor, entropic shield, obscuring mistD, protection from \nevil, sanctuary (DC 15); 2nd – bear’s endurance, hold person (2) \n(DC 16), silence (DC 16), zone of truth (DC 16), wind wallD; \n3rd – daylight, dispel magic, gaseous formD, protection from \nenergy, searing light (+7 ranged touch); 4th – air walkD, \nfreedom of movement, sending, summon monster IV, 5th – \ncontrol windsD, summon monster V. \n \nDDomain Spell. Domains: Air (turn earth elem., \nrebuke air elem.); Sky (+5 ft. bonus to glide/fly speed; \nSpot is a class skill). \n \nPossessions: +1 mithral chain shirt, +1 spear, periapt of \nwisdom +2, 4 potions of cure serious wounds, 2 potions of lesser \nrestoration, spell component pouch, holy symbol, 10 pp. \nNikcuri, War Chief: Male raptoran Rgr10; CR 10; \nMedium humanoid (raptoran); HD 10d8+20; hp 68; Init \n+3; Spd 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (average); AC 21, touch 15, flat-\nfooted 17; Base Atk +10, Grp +11; Atk +15 ranged (1d8 \n+2/x3, +1 footbow) or +12 melee (1d8+2/x3, +1 longspear); \nFull Atk +13/+13/+8 ranged (1d8 +2/x3, +1 footbow with \nRapid Shot) or +12/+7 melee (1d8+2/x3, +1 longspear); \nSpace/Reach 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with longspear); SA favored \nenemy (animals +6, magical beast +2, elves +2); SQ animal \ncompanion (dire bat), animal companion benefits, \nevasion, low-light vision, raptoran traits, swift tracker, \nwild empathy +11 (+7 magical beasts), woodland stride; \nAL NG; SV Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +2; Str 12, Dex 19, Con \n14, Int 10, Wis 8 Cha 13. Races of the Wild, page 68. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +3, Diplomacy +3, Hide +17, \nJump +11, Knowledge (geography) +4, Listen +9, Move \nSilently +17, Sense Motive +5, Spot +14, Survival +12 (+14 \ngetting lost); Dodge, EnduranceB, ManyshotB, Mobility, \nPoint Blank Shot, Rapid ShotB, Shot on the Run, TrackB. \n \nLanguages: Common, Raptoran. \n \nRaptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of \n40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an \nunerring sense of direction and always know which way \nis north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for \nair spells. Nikcuri can fly for up to 10 minutes total \nduring a day before becoming fatigued. A flying raptoran \ncan make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly at least \n30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing \nweapon to deal double damage on a hit). \n \nPossessions: +2 mithral chain shirt, +1 ring of protection, \n+1 footbow (+1 Str bonus) with 20 arrows, +1 longspear, \ngloves of dexterity +2, 20 pp. \nCreskara, Hunting Chief: Male raptoran Rgr8/Sor2; \nCR 10; Medium humanoid (raptoran); HD 8d8+24 plus \n2d4+6; hp 74; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., fly 40ft. (average); AC 19, \ntouch 13, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +9; Grp +10; Atk +13 \nranged (1d8+1/x3 plus 1d6 electricity, +1 shock footbow) or \n+11 melee (1d8+1/x3, masterwork longspear); Full Atk \n+11/+11/+6 ranged (1d8+1/x3 plus 1d6 electricity, +1 +1 \nshock footbow) or +11/+6 melee (1d8+1/x3, masterwork \nlongspear); Space/Reach 5ft./5ft. (10 ft. with longspear); \nSA favored enemy (animal +4, giants +2), spells; SQ \nanimal companion (dire hawk), animal companion \nbenefits, familiar, familiar benefits, low-light vision, \nraptoran traits, swift tracker; AL CG; SV Fort +9, Ref +8, \nWill +6; Str 13, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 11. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb 3, Handle Animal +6, Hide \n+13, Jump +11, Listen +6 (+8 with familiar), Move Silently \n+13, Ride +4, Spellcraft +1, Spot +15 (+17 with familiar, \n+18 in bright light), Survival +12; Alertness*, EnduranceB, \nImproved Critical (footbow), ManyshotB, Point Blank \nShot, Precise Shot, Rapid ShotB, TrackB, Weapon Focus \n(footbow). *From familiar. Races of the Wild, page 68. \n \nLanguages: Common, Raptoran. \n \nRaptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of \n40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an \nunerring sense of direction and always know which way \nis north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for \nair spells. Creskara can fly for up to 10 minutes total \nduring a day before becoming fatigued. A flying raptoran \ncan make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly at least \n30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing \nweapon to deal double damage on a hit). \n \nRanger Spells Prepared (CL 4th): 1st – entangle (DC 12), \nspeak with animals. \n \nSorcerer Spells Known (6/4 per day; CL 2nd) 0 – detect \nmagic, light, mage hand, message, read magic; 1st – expeditious \nretreat, true strike. \n \nPossessions: +2 mithral chain shirt, +1 ring of protection, \nmasterwork longspear, +1 shock footbow (+1 Str bonus) \nwith 20 arrows. \n \nAlethial, Hawk Familiar: Cr –; Tiny animal; HD 2; \nhp 37; Init +3; Spd 10ft., fly 60 ft. (average); AC 18, touch \n15, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +9; Grp –1; Atk or Full Atk \n+14 melee (1d4-2, talon); SQ improved evasion, low-light \nvision, empathic link, share spells, deliver touch spell; AL \nCG; SV Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +7; Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10, \nWis 14, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Handle Animal +4, Hide +22, Listen \n+7, Move Silently +14, Spot +22, Survival +13; Weapon \nFinesseB. \n \nSkills: Hawks have a +8 racial bonus on Spot checks. \nDaetae, Sunspeaker: Male raptoran Brd8; CR 8; \nMedium humanoid (raptoran); HD 8d6-8; hp 22; Init +4; \nSpd 30ft., fly 40 ft (average); AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 73 \n15; Base Atk +6; Grp +7; Atk +12 ranged (1d8+2/x3, +1 \nfootbow) or +7 melee (1d6+1/18-20, rapier); Full Atk \n+12/+7 ranged (1d8+2/x3, +1 footbow) or +7/+2 melee \n(1d6+1/18-20, rapier); SA spells; SQ bardic knowledge +8, \nbardic music 8/day (countersong, fascinate, inspire \ncompetence, inspire courage +2, suggestion), low-light \nvision, raptoran traits; AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +10, Will +7, \nStr 13, Dex 19, Con 8, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14. Races of the \nWild, page 68. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +3, Concentration +10, \nDiplomacy +13, Gather Information +15, Jump +5, \nKnowledge (geography) +4, Knowledge (local – \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) +7, Listen +12, Perform \n(sing) +13, Spot +3; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, \nWeapon focus (footbow). \n \nLanguages: Common, Raptoran. \n \nRaptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of \n40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an \nunerring sense of direction and always know which way \nis north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for \nair spells. Daetae can fly for up 1 round or for 2 rounds at \nthe cost of becoming fatigued. A flying raptoran can \nmake a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly at least 30 \nfeet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing weapon to \ndeal double damage on a hit). \n \nBard Spells Known (3/4/4/1 per day; CL 8th): 0 – \ndancing lights, detect magic, light, mage hand, message, read \nmagic; 1st – alarm, cure light wounds, Tasha’s hideous laughter \n(DC 13), silent image (DC 13); 2nd – calm emotions (DC 14), \ndetect thoughts (DC 14), heroism, tongues; 3rd – charm monster \n(DC 15), haste, speak with animals. \n \nPossessions: +1 mithral chain shirt, rapier, +1 footbow (+1 \nStr bonus), gloves of dexterity +2, 2 potions of cure moderate \nwounds, 30 gp. \nNimvanna, \nStar \nChief: \nFemale \nraptoran \nDrd7/Skypledged1; CR 8; Medium humanoid (raptoran); \nHD 7d8+14 plus 1d6+2; hp 54; Init +2; Spd 30 ft, fly 40 ft. \n(average); AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +5; \nGrp +6; Atk or Full Atk +7 melee (1d8+1/x3, masterwork \nspear) or +8 ranged (1d8+2/x3, +1 footbow); SA spells; SQ \nanimal companion, animal companion benefits, divine \nspellpool I, raptoran traits, resist nature’s lure, \nskypledged, trackless steps, wild empathy +6 (+2 magical \nbeasts), wild shape 3/day (Small to Medium, Animal), \nwoodland stride; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +11; Str \n12, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +3, Concentration +8, Jump \n+11, Listen +15, Spellcraft +5, Spot +17, Survival +17; \nAugment Summoning, Martial Weapon Proficiency \n(footbow), Spell Focus (conjuration). \n \nLanguages: Common, Raptoran, Druidic. \n \nDivine Spellpool I (Su): Whenever Nimvanna has \nopen, unused spell slots of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level, she can call \nup to three total levels of spells (from the cleric or druid \nlist) to go into those slots. It takes a full-round action to \ndo so, and the spell or spells remain available for 1 \nminute. \n \nSpells with the fire, earth, or water descriptor are \nunavailable. Nimvanna must repay her spellpool debt \nwithin 1 day, doing so is a full-round action. Repaying \nthe debt depletes a combination of prepares spells whose \nlevels is equal to that of the spells previously called from \nthe spellpool. \n \nRaptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of \n40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an \nunerring sense of direction and always know which way \nis north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for \nair spells. Nimvanna can fly for up to 2 rounds at no \npenalty, or for 4 rounds at the cost of becoming fatigued. \nA flying raptoran can make a dive attack (as a charge, but \nmust fly at least 30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a \npiercing weapon to deal double damage on a hit). \n \nSkypledged: Nimvanna won’t cast any spells with \nthe fire, water, or earth descriptor. Spell completion and \nspell trigger items that produce fire, water, or earth \neffects are not prohibited. \n \nDruid Spells Prepared (caster level 8th): 0 – cure minor \nwounds (DC 14), detect magic(2),guidance (DC 14), light, read \nmagic; 1st – cure light wounds (DC 15), endure elements (DC \n15), entangle (DC 15), speak with animals, one open slot; \n2nd – barkskin, bear’s endurance (DC 16), lesser restoration \n(DC 16), resist energy (DC 16); 3rd – cal lightening (DC 17), \ncure moderate wounds (DC 17), wind wall (caster level 9th; \nDC 17), one open slot; 4th – cure serious wounds (DC 18), \ndispel magic, ice storm. \n \nPossessions: +1 leather armor, masterwork spear, +1 \nfootbow (+1 Str bonus) with 20 arrows, periapt of Wisdom \n+2, scroll of call lightning storm, scroll of flame strike. \nTayn, Supply Chief: Female Raptoran Rog2/Clr6 of \nPhaulkon; CR 8; Medium humanoid (raptoran); HD \n4d6+4 plus 4d8+4; hp42; Init +1; Spd 30 ft., fly 45 ft. \n(average); AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +5; \nGrp +3; Atk or Full Atk +7 melee (1d5-1/18-20, +1 rapier); \nSA sneak attack +1d6, spells, turn undead 4/day (+1, \n2d6+7, 6th); SQ evasion, low-light vision, substitution \nlevels (air mastery, empathy of the winds, air summoning \ntalent); AL NG; SV Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 7, Dex 13, \nCon 12, Int 11, Wis 18, Cha 13. Races of the Wild, page 68. \n \nSkills and Feats: Appraise +5, Climb +5 (+7 ropes), \nConcentration +7, Gather Information +10, Heal +10, \nJump +8, Knowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley \nmetaregion) +5, Listen +9, Search +7, Spot +11, Survival \n+4 (+6 following tracks), Use Rope +6; Brew Potion, \nInvestigator, Weapon Finesse. \n \nLanguages: Common, Raptoran. \n \nRaptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of \n40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an \nunerring sense of direction and always know which way \nis north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for \nair spells. Tayn can fly for up to 1 round at no penalty or \nfor 2 rounds at the cost of becoming fatigued. A flying \nraptoran can make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly \nat least 30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing \nweapon to deal double damage on a hit). \n \nAir Mastery (Ex): Beginning at 1st level, airborne \ncreatures take a –1 penalty on attack and damage rolls \nagainst a raptoran cleric. The substitution feature \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 74 \nreplaces the standard cleric’s heavy armor proficiency \ngained at 1st level. \n \nEmpathy of the Winds (Ex): A 1st level raptoran \ncleric gains a strong bond with air and its denizens. He \nlearns Auran as a bonus language (in addition to the \nlanguages available to him because of his race and the \nSpeak Languages skill). He gains a +4 circumstance \nbonus on Diplomacy checks made to interact with the \nnatives of the Elemental Plane of Air. If he has the ability \nto bolster Air creatures (such as from the air domain), he \ngains a +4 bonus on turning checks made to do so. Allied \nair elementals within 60 feet of the cleric gain a +1 moral \nbonus on attack rolls and damage rolls. \n \nAir Summoning Talent (Ex): Beginning at 3rd \nlevel, a raptoran cleric can summon certain creatures of \nair more easily than other clerics can. Add the following \nmonsters to the list of creatures that the cleric can \nsummon with the appropriate summon monster spell: \n \nSummon Monster II: Small air elemental \n \nSummon Monster III: Air mephit \n \nSummon Monster IV: Medium air elemental \n \nSummon Monster V: Large air elemental \n \nSummon Monster VI: Huge air elemental \n \nSummon Monster VII: Greater air elemental \n \nSummon Monster VIII: Elder air elemental \n \nThis substitution feature removes all spells with the \nearth descriptor from the cleric’s spell list. If a spell \nwould only have the earth descriptor due to a particular \nversion of the spell (such as a summon monster spell used \nto summon an earth elemental), the spell remains on the \ncleric’s spell list but the version with the earth descriptor \ncannot be cast. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared (caster level 9th): 0 – create \nwater(2), detect poison, light, mending; 1st – bless, comprehend \nlanguages, endure elements, obscuring mistD, shield of faith; 2nd \n– calm emotion (DC 16), hold person(DC 16), make whole, \nsilence, wind wallD; 3rd – create food and water, gaseous formD, \nremove disease, stone shape. \n \nDDomain Spell. Domains: Air (turn earth elem., \nrebuke air elem.); Sky (+5 ft. bonus to glide/fly speed; \nSpot is a class skill). \n \nPossessions: +1 rapier, +1 leather armor, amulet of natural \narmor +1, wand of cure moderate wounds (30 charges), divine \nscrolls of daylight and summon monster III, gold ring (450 \ngp). \n \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 75 \nDM AID: MAP #1 \n \n \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 76 \nDM AID: MAP #2 \n \n \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 77 \nDM AID: MAP #3 \n \n \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 78 \nDM AID: MAP #4 \n \n \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 79 \nDM AID – NEW RULES ITEMS \nNEW FEATS \nAerial Reflexes (Races of the Wild) \n \nYour aerial agility allows you to avoid dangerous effects while airborne. \n \nBenefit: While flying, you gain a bonus on Reflex saves based on your maneuverability (Clumsy +0, Poor +1, \nAverage +2, Good +3, Perfect +4). \nBattle Casting (Races of the Wild) \n \nYou have a knack for staying out of harm’s way when casting spells. \n \nPrerequisites: Dex 13, Concentration 5 ranks, Combat Casting. \n \nBenefit: While casting a spell, you gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC. The bonus lasts until the beginning of your next \nturn. You cannot make attacks of opportunity while claiming the dodge bonus from this feat. \nBlindsense (Complete Adventurer) \n \nYou can sense creatures that you cannot see. \n \nPrerequisite: Ability to wild shape, Listen 4 ranks. \n \nBenefit: You can expend one wild shape to gain blindsense for 1 minute per HD, enabling you to pinpoint the \nlocation of a creature within 30 feet if you have line of effect to that creature (see Monster Manual, page 306). You retain \nthis benefit regardless of what form you are in. \nForce of Personality (Complete Adventurer) \n \nYou have cultivated an unshakable belief in your self-worth. Your sense of self and purpose are so strong that they \nbolster your willpower. \n \nPrerequisites: Cha 13. \n \nBenefit: You add your Cha modifier (instead of your Wis modifier) to Will saves against mind-affecting spells and \nabilities. \nImproved Flight (Races of the Wild) \n \nYou have gained greater maneuverability when flying than you would normally have. \n \nPrerequisite: Natural fly speed. \n \nBenefit: Your maneuverability while flying improves by one category (see page 312 of the Monster Manual). For \nexample, if your normal maneuverability is poor, it becomes average. \nImproved Rapid Shot (Complete Warrior) \n \nYou are an expert with firing weapons with exceptional speed. \n \nPrerequisite: Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot. \n \nBenefit: When using the Rapid Shot feat, you may ignore the -2 penalty on all your ranged attack rolls. \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select Improved Rapid Shot as one of his fighter bonus feats. \nImproved Toughness (Complete Warrior) \n \nYou are significantly tougher than normal. \n \nPrerequisite: Base Fortitude save bonus +2. \n \nBenefit: You gain a number of hit points equal to you current Hit Dice. Each time you gain a HD (such as by \ngaining a level), you gain 1 additional hit point. If you lose a HD (such as by losing a level), you lose 1 hit point \npermanently. \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select Improved Toughness as one of his fighter bonus feats. \nOaken Resilience (Complete Divine) \n \nYou can take on the sturdiness of the mighty oak. \n \nPrerequisite: Ability to wild shape into a plant. \n \nBenefit: You can spend a wild shape to gain immunity to critical hits, poison, sleep, paralysis, polymorph,, and \nstunning. You also gain great stability, which gives you a +8 bonus on checks to avoid being bull rushed or tripped. The \neffect remains for 10 minutes. \nRanged Disarm (Complete Warrior) \n \nYou can disarm a foe from a distance. \n \nPrerequisites: Dex 15, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, BAB +5. \n \nBenefit: Choose one type of ranged weapon with which you are proficient. You can make a disarm attempt with \nthis weapon as long as your target is within 30 feet. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 80 \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select this feat as one of his fighter bonus feats. You can gain this feat multiple times. Its \neffects do not stack. Each time you take it, you may take it with a new weapon. When using this feat, a character gains \nno benefit from the Improved Disarm feat. \nRanged Pin (Complete Warrior) \n \nYou can perform a ranged grapple attempt against an opponent not adjacent to you. \n \nPrerequisites: Dex 15, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, BAB +5. \n \nBenefit: You can perform a ranged grapple attempt against an opponent by pinning a bit of his clothing to a \nnearby tree, wall, or other surface. The target must be within 5 feet of a wall, tree, or such surface in which the \nprojectile is stuck. You must succeed on a ranged attack (not a ranged touch attack) and then win an opposed grapple \ncheck (your size modifier and the target’s size modifier still apply). To break free, the victim must make a DC 15 \nStrength check or a DC 15 Escape Artist check as a standard action. \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select this feat as one of his fighter bonus feats. When using this feat, a character gains no \nbenefit from the Improved Grapple feat. \nRanged Sunder (Complete Warrior) \n \nYou can attack an opponent’s weapon from a distance. \n \nPrerequisites: Str 13, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, BAB +5. \n \nBenefit: When attacking objects, you deal full damage (instead of half damage) with slashing or bludgeoning \nranged weapons. You can make ranged sunder attempts with piercing weapons, such as arrows, but you only deal half \ndamage, divide the damage dealt in half by two before applying the object’s hardness. You must be within thirty feet of \nyour opponent to make a ranged sunder attack. \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select this feat as one of his fighter bonus feats. When using this feat, a character gains no \nbenefit from the Improved Sunder feat. \nNEW INVOCATIONS (COMPLETE ARCANE) \nChilling Tentacles \n \nGreater; 5th. \n \nThis invocation allows you to conjure forth a field of soul-chilling black tentacles that ooze from the ground, \ngroping for victims. This invocation functions identically to Evard’s black tentacles spell, except that each creature within \nthe area of the invocation takes 2d6 points of cold damage each round. Creatures in the area take this cold damage \nwhether or not they are grappled by the tentacles.. \nDevil’s Sight \n \nLeast; 2nd. \n \nYou gain the visual acuity of a devil for 24 hours. You can see normally in darkness and magic darkness out to 30 \nfeet. \nEldritch Chain \n \nLesser; 4th; Blast Shape. \n \nThis blast shape allows you to improve your eldritch blast by turning it into an arc of energy that “jumps” from the \nfirst target to others. An eldritch chain can jump to one or more secondary targets within 30 feet of the first target, \nallowing you to make additional ranged touch attacks and deal damage to the secondary target if you hit. You can \n“jump” the chain to one secondary target per five caster levels, so you can strike two additional targets at 10th level, three \nadditional targets at 15th level, and four additional targets at 20th level. Each new target must be within thirty feet of the \nprevious one, and you can’t target the same creature more than once with an eldritch chain. If you miss any target in the \nchain, the attack ends there. Each target struck after the first takes half the damage dealt to the first target. This \nreduction in damage to your secondary targets applies to any effect that increases the damage of your eldritch blast (such \nas vitriolic blast). You must make a separate spell penetration check for each target, if applicable. \nEntropic Warding \n \nLeast; 2nd. \n \nWhen this invocation is activated, chaotic energies swirl about you, deflecting incoming arrows, rays and other \nranged attacks (as entropic shield). You can leave no trail (as pass without trace) and cannot be tracked by scent. You can \nstill be detected normally by scent, just not tracked. \nFlee the Scene \n \nLesser; 4th. \n \nYou can use dimension door as a spell-like ability, although the range is limited to short (25 feet + 5 ft./2 levels). \nWhen you use this ability, you leave behind a major image of yourself in your place that lasts for one round. The image \nreacts appropriately to attacks as if you were concentrating on it. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 81 \nMiasmic Cloud \n \nLeast; 1st. \n \nA misty cloud of fog spreads out in a 10-ft. radius from you when you use this invocation. The fog does not block \nline of sight, but all creatures in the fog have concealment. Any creature (other than you) that enters the fog must make \na Fortitude save or become fatigued. This effect lasts so long as the creature remains within the cloud and for one round \nthereafter. A moderate wind, or any fire larger than a torch, immediately disperses the fog. The fog otherwise lasts for \none minute. \nVitriolic Blast \n \nGreater; 6th; Eldritch Essence. \n \nThis eldritch essence invocation allows you to change your eldritch blast into a vitriolic blast. A vitriolic blast deals acid \ndamage, and it is formed from conjured acid, making it different from other eldritch essences because it ignores spell \nresistance. Creatures struck by a vitriolic blast automatically take an extra 2d6 points of acid damage on following \nrounds. This acid damage persists for one round per five class levels. \nVoracious Dispelling \n \nLesser; 4th. \n \nYou can use dispel magic as the spell. Any creature with an active spell effect dispelled by this invocation takes 1 \npoint of damage per level of the spell effect (no save). \nNEW ITEMS \nCloak of Turn Resistance (Libris Mortis) \n \nThis unholy item makes its wearer more difficult to turn by adding a +4 bonus on its turn resistance. Moderate \nnecromancy [evil]; CL: 10th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, able to rebuke undead as a 10th level cleric; Market Price: \n11,100 gp; Weight: 1 lb. \nFootbow (Races of the Wild) \n \nThis exotic weapon resembles a composite longbow, but it is designed to be used in flight, with the archer holding \nthe bow in her feet and drawing it with one or both hands. Like a composite bow, all footbows are made with a \nparticular Str rating. The wielder of a footbow can choose to use both hands to draw it back; in this case add 1-1/2 her \nStr bonus to damage (up to a maximum of 1-1/2 the Str rating of the bow), as long as she is strong enough to use it \nwithout penalty. A footbow can be used on the ground, but the archer must be prone to do so and takes a -4 penalty on \nthe attack roll. For raptorans, a footbow is a martial weapon rather than an exotic weapon. Market Price: 150 gp; Weight: 3 \nlbs. \nVest of Resistance (Complete Arcane) \n \nThese garments offer magic protection in the form of a +1 to +5 bonus on all saving throws. Faint abjuration; CL: \n5th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, resistance, creator’s CL must be at least three times the vest’s bonus; Market Price: \n1,000 gp (+1), 4,000 gp (+2), 9,000 gp (+3), 16,000 gp (+4), 25,000 gp (+5); Weight: 1 lb. \nWarlock’s Scepter (Complete Arcane) \n \nThis fearsome device is a +2 light mace with a head in the shape of a demonic horned skull. When held, it confers a \n+2 profane bonus on ranged touch attack rolls made with it. In addition, a warlock (or any other character capable of \ninvoking an eldritch blast) can choose to spend charges to increase the amount of damage his eldritch blast deals: 1 charge \n= +1d6, 2 charges = +2d6, 3 charges = +3d6, 5 charges = +4d6. The rod’s wielder can expend up to 5 charges in any 24 \nhour period. A rod is created with 50 charges. After all charges are used, the rod remains a +2 light mace, but no longer \nprovides a bonus on ranged touch attacks. Moderate necromancy; CL 10th; Prerequisites: Craft Rod, bestow curse, Price \n28,000 gp; Weight 3 lbs. \nNEW SPELLS \nBriar Web (Complete Divine) \n \nTransmutation \n \nLevel: Clr 3, Drd 2, Rgr 2 \n \nComponents: V, S, DF \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) \n \nArea: Plants in a 20-ft.-radius spread \n \nSaving Throw: Reflex negates; see text \n \nSpell Resistance: No \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 82 \n \nThis spell causes grasses, weeds, bushes and even trees to grow thorns and then wrap and twist around creatures in \nor entering the area. \n \nCreatures that make their save against this spell are unaffected other than having to move at half speed within the \narea of effect. \n \nIf a creature fails its initial saving throw, it has three options; stay perfectly still, attempt to break free, or continue \nto act normally. \n \nA creature that fails it saving throw is entangled (--2 attack, --4 Dexterity), but experiences no other effect and takes \nno damage. Anyone entangled in this way loses the entangled condition if they leave the area of the spell. \n \nEach round in which a creature remains in the area, it may spend a full round action extricating itself from the \nthorns. Doing so allows a new saving throw. If successful, the creature is unaffected by the thorns except it may only \nmove at half speed in the area of the spell. Successfully breaking free in this way is the only thing a character can do \nthat does not cause thorn damage to the character. A failed attempt to break free deals the normal 2d6 thorn piercing \ndamage. \n \nThose that attempt actions (such as attack, cast a spell with a somatic component, or move) take 2d6 points of \npiercing damage from the thorns. A creature that tries to cast a spell must also make a Concentration check (DC 15 + \nspell level + damage taken) or lose the spell. \n \nThe plants provide cover. A creature five feet away has cover. Creatures separated by more than 20 feet of briar \nwebs have total cover. \nBrilliant Aura (Complete Divine) \n \nTransmutation \n \nLevel: Drd 7 \n \nComponents: V, S \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) \n \nTarget: 1 person per 2 levels, all of whom must be within 30 ft. of each other \n \nDuration: 1 round/level \n \nSaving Throw: Will negates (harmless) \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes (harmless) \n \nYou limn your allies in a glowing nimbus, transforming their attacks into brilliant energy. Each person affected by \nthis aura gives off light as a torch (20 ft. radius). Their weapon attacks (melee or ranged) function as if their weapons \nwere brilliant energy weapons: they ignore nonliving matter, and armor and enhancement AC bonuses do not count \nagainst them. The attacks cannot harm undead, constructs, or objects. In addition, all attacks gain an enhancement \nbonus on damage equal to one-half the caster’s level (maximum +10). \nCreeping Cold (Complete Divine) \n \nTransmutation [Cold] \n \nLevel: Drd 2 \n \nComponents: V, S, F \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) \n \nTarget: One creature \n \nDuration: 3 rounds \n \nSaving Throw: Fort half \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nYou turn the subject’s sweat to ice, creating blisters as the ice forms on and inside the skin. The spell deals 1d6 \ncumulative points of cold damage per round it is in effect (that is, 1d6 on the 1st round, 2d6 on the 2nd round, and 3d6 on \nthe 3rd round). Only one save is allowed against the spell; if successful, it halves the damage each round. \n \nFocus: A small glass or pottery vessel worth at least 25 gp filled with ice, snow, or water. \nCreeping Cold, Greater (Complete Divine) \n \nTransmutation [Cold] \n \nLevel: Drd 7 \n \nComponents: V, S, F \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) \n \nTarget: One creature \n \nDuration: See text \n \nSaving Throw: Fort half \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 83 \n \nThis spell is the same as creeping cold, but it adds a fourth round to the duration, during which it deals 4d6 points \nof damage. If the caster is at least 15th level, the spell adds a 5th round at 5d6 points of damage. If the caster is at least 20th \nlevel, the spell adds a 6th round at 6d6 points of damage. \n \nFocus: A small glass or pottery vessel worth at least 25 gp filled with ice, snow, or water. \nCritical Strike (Complete Adventurer) \n \nDivination \n \nLevel: Assassin 1, Sor/Wiz 1 \n \nComponents: V \n \nCasting Time: 1 swift action \n \nRange: Personal \n \nTarget: You \n \nDuration: 1 round \n \nWhile this spell is in effect, your melee attacks are more likely to strike a foe’s vital areas. Whenever you make a \nmelee attacks against a flanked for or against a foe denied its Dexterity bonus, you deal an extra 1d6 points of damage, \nyour weapon’s threat range is doubled (as if under the effect of keen edge), and you gain a +4 insight bonus on rolls \nmade to confirm critical hits. The increased threat range granted by this spell doesn’t stack with any other effect that \nincreases your weapon’s threat range. Creatures immune to sneak attacks are immune to the extra damage dealt by your \nattacks. \nDistract Assailant (Complete Adventurer) \n \nEnchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting] \n \nLevel: Assassin 1, Sor/Wiz 1 \n \nComponents: V, S, M \n \nCasting Time: 1 swift action \n \nRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) \n \nTarget: One creature \n \nDuration: 1 round \n \nSaving Throw: Will negates \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nThe subject of this spell is distracted, flinching at blows that seem to come from the shadows. A creature affected \nby this spell is flat-footed until the beginning of its next turn. \n \nMaterial Component: The dried wing of a fly. \nFire Shuriken (Complete Arcane) \n \nEvocation [Fire] \n \nLevel: Asn 2 \n \nComponents: V, S, M \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: 0 ft. \n \nEffect: One magical shuriken/3 levels \n \nDuration: Instantaneous \n \nSaving Throw: None \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nThis spell creates shuriken formed of magic fire that you can throw as a normal ranged attack at any target within \nrange. You are automatically considered proficient with the fire shuriken, which have a range increment of 10 feet, \nthreaten a critical hit on a roll of 19-20, and deal 3d6 points of fire damage each on a successful hit (though you and your \npossessions take no damage as the shuriken are thrown). Any additional damage dealt by the fire shuriken (including Str \nand sneak attack bonuses) is also fire damage. The shuriken disappear when they hit, so they cannot set fire to \ncombustibles or damage objects. You can create one fire shuriken per three caster levels, up to a maximum of six at 18th \nlevel. \n \nMaterial Component: A shuriken coated with pine sap and sulfur. \nForestfold (Complete Divine) \n \nTransmutation \n \nLevel: Drd 4, Rgr 3 \n \nComponents: V, S \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Personal \n \nTarget: You \n \nDuration: 10 minutes/level (D) \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 84 \n \nYou change your coloring and attune your footfalls to one specific kind of terrain (aquatic, desert, plains, forests, \nhills, mountains, marsh, or underground). While you are in terrain of that kind, you gain a +20 competence bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks. You retain these bonuses even if you leave the designated terrain and return within the \nduration of the spell. \nInfestation of Maggots (Complete Divine) \n \nNecromancy \n \nLevel: Drd 3 \n \nComponents: V, S, M \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Touch \n \nTarget: Creature Touched \n \nDuration: One round/2 levels \n \nSaving Throw: Fortitude negates \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nWith a successful melee touch attack, you infect a creature with maggot-like creatures that deal 1d4 points of \ntemporary Constitution damage each round. The subject makes a new Fortitude save each round to negate the damage \nand end the effect. The infestation can be removed with a cure disease spell or a heal spell. \n \nMaterial Component: A handful of dried, dead flies. \nMiasma (Complete Divine) \n \nEvocation \n \nLevel: Drd 6 \n \nComponents: V, S, DF \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) \n \nTarget: One living creature \n \nDuration: 3 rounds per level \n \nSaving Throw: Fort negates \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nBy filling the subject’s mouth and throat with unbreathable gas, you prevent him from doing much more than \ncoughing and spitting. The subject cannot speak. Conversation is impossible, spells with verbal components cannot be \ncast, bardic music cannot be performed, and no noise other than coughing and spitting is possible. The subject can hold \nhis breath for 2 rounds per point of Constitution but must a Constitution check (DC 10 + 1 per previous success) each \nround thereafter to continue doing so. Failure on any such check (or voluntary resumption of breathing) causes the \nsubject to fall unconscious (0 hp). On the next round, the subject drops to –1 hit points and is dying; on the third \nround, he suffocates (see suffocation, Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 304). \nMurderous Mist (Complete Divine) \n \nEvocation \n \nLevel: Drd 4 \n \nComponents: V, S \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) \n \nEffect: Cloud that spreads in a 30 foot radius, 20 feet high \n \nDuration: 1 round/level \n \nSaving Throw: Reflex half; see text \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nYou create a cloud of scalding hot steam that moves in a straight line, away from you, at a speed of 10 feet per \nround. Anyone within the cloud takes 2d6 points of damage and is permanently blinded. If a creature within the area \nmakes a successful saving throw, it only takes half damage and is not blinded. Any creature within the cloud has \nconcealment. Winds do not affect the cloud’s direction or speed. However a moderate wind (11+ mph) disperses the \ncloud in 4 rounds, and a strong wind (21+ mph) disperses it in 1 round. \nShadow Form (Complete Adventurer) \n \nIllusion (Shadow) \n \nLevel: Asn 4, Sor/Wiz 5 \n \nComponents: V, S, M \n \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \n \nRange: Personal \n \nTarget: You \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 85 \n \nDuration: 1 min./level (D) \n \nYou can call forth the power of shadow, enveloping yourself in a clinging, concealing shroud of darkness. While \nthis spell is in effect, you gain a number of benefits. The shadows wrapping your form grant a +4 competence bonus on \nEscape Artist, Hide, and Move Silently checks. Your shadowy form also provides you with concealment. This shadow \nconcealment is not negated by a see invisibility spell, but a true seeing spell counteracts the effect. Standing within the \nradius of a daylight spell or in bright natural sunlight temporarily suppresses the concealment effect. \n \nIn addition, if you have 5 ranks in Escape Artist, you can attempt to slip through a solid object or barrier up to 5 feet \nthick with a DC 20 Escape Artist check, though doing this ends the spell as soon as the attempt is completed (regardless \nof success). If you have 10 ranks in Escape Artist, you can attempt to pass through an object or barrier up to 10 feet \nthick. If you have 15 ranks in Escape Artist, you can attempt to pass through a barrier composed of magical force (or \nsimilar magical obstacles). \n \nMaterial Component: A small piece of black cloth taken from a funeral shroud. \nSpectral Weapon (Complete Adventurer) \n \nIllusion (Shadow) \n \nLevel: Asn 3, Brd 4, Sor/Wiz 3 \n \nComponents: V, S \n \nCasting Time: 1 swift action \n \nRange: Personal \n \nTarget: You \n \nDuration: 1 round/level (D) \n \nSaving Throw: Will partial; see text \n \nSpell Resistance: Yes; see text \n \nUsing material from the Plane of Shadow, you can fashion a quasi-real weapon of any type with which you are \nproficient. This spectral weapon appears in your hand and behaves as a normal weapon of its type, with two exceptions. \nFirst, you resolve attacks with your spectral weapon as melee touch attacks instead of melee attacks. Second, any foe you \nhit is entitled to a Will save to recognize the weapon’s shadowy nature. If the save is successful, that opponent takes \nonly one-fifth normal damage from the weapon on that attack and all subsequent attacks, and is only 20% likely to suffer \nany special effects of your attacks (such as a death attack delivered with the weapon). You can maintain only one spectral \nweapon at a time, and only you can wield it. The weapon dissipates when you let go of it or when the spell’s duration \nexpires, whichever comes first. \nVigor (Complete Divine) \nConjuration (Healing) \nLevel: Clr 3, Drd 3 \nComponents: V, S \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: Touch \nTarget: Living creature touched \nDuration: 10 rounds + 1 round/level (max 25 rounds) \nSaving Throw: Will negates (harmless) \nSpell Resistance: Yes (harmless) \n \nWith a touch of your hand, you boost the subject’s life energy, granting him or her the fast healing ability for the \nduration of the spell. The subject heals 2 hit point per round of such damage until the spells ends and is automatically \nstabilized if he or she begins dying from hit point loss during that time. Vigor does not restore hit points lost from \nstarvation, thirst, suffocation, nor does it allow a creature to regrow or attach lost body parts. The effects of multiple \nvigor spells do not stack; only the highest-level effect applies. Applying a second vigor spell of equal level extends the \nfirst spell’s duration by the full duration of the second spell. \nNEW TRICKS \nMark (Races of the Wild) \n \nMark (DC 20): The animal moves toward a creature designate and endeavors to stay near the creature no matter \nwhat it does or how it moves. The animal generally stays within 10 feet of the creature but keeps out of its reach. While \nperforming this trick, the creature makes noise to help mark the foe’s location. \n \nIf the animal also knows the seek trick, you can designate an area or direction for the animal to seek out foes that \nare attacking you. To identify a foe, the animal must seethe creature attack you or use a spell or other magical effect \nwith visible manifestation in your direction. Otherwise the animal marks the first creature it encounters. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 86 \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 87 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #1 \n \nFriend, \n \nI have need of your aid again. Please meet me at \nThe Knob, outside of Spinster’s Wood. \n \nThe fate of both my people and yours hangs in the \nbalance. \n \nMaira Lachlansdotter \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 88 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #2 \n \nFate makes strange friends, \n \nI should call you enemy, but the gods have \nbrought you to me and me to you. \n \nMeet me at The Knob, outside of Spinster’s \nWood. Know that I am prepared for treachery \nand will not fall to animal cunning or petty plots. \n \nThe fate of both my people and yours hangs in the \nbalance. \n \nMaira Lachlansdotter \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 89 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #3 \n \nWe share the same dreams. I see the white stone \ntoo. \n \nI think you have been brought to me with good \nreason. I have a solution to you problems. \n \nMeet me at The Knob, outside of Spinster’s \nWood. \n \nThe fate of both my people and yours hangs in the \nbalance. \n \nMaira Lachlansdotter \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 90 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #4: THE DREAMS \n \n It started some weeks ago, the dreaming. A person in your \ntrade sees and does many things, and the passage of the night \nis often ungentle. You have had nightmares before. Rest has \nsometimes been elusive. But it has not been like this. \n You have always known the difference between what is real \nand what is not. No matter what darkness and horror lay \nwithin sleep, escape lay simply in waking and in dragging your \nsoul back into the light of this world. It has not been so lately. \n What first appeared as episodes of fitful and troubled rest \nsoon became torment and lucid torture. \n The knife … you remember the knife. There was laughter, \none voice deep and resonant with its own power. Another \nvoice, smaller, whispered words of power as it cut. Slick and \nwet the words wrapped around your throat and tightened. \nSomeone screamed, long and loud. The voice shook and \nshuddered for moments unending, and you asked yourself, \n“Why would someone make that sound?” \n Then you felt the knife again, marking with measured cuts a \nsymbol on your flesh. It was you who screamed, your voice \ntaut and shattered by anguish. You tried to stand but could \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 91 \nnot. Strong hands held you down, their weight a pressure on \nyour limbs. \n Then blackness appears above your eyes. A hand, its skin \nthe black of night and ash, takes shape as you focus through \nthe pain. Words come again beside the laughter. Yet, these \nwords sear, and smoke curls from the skin of your wounded \nthroat. Molten flame drips from the huge, black hand, and you \ntry to scream, the last of your voice shredding across the \nsurface of your pain. \n The laughter ends. That voice is wicked in its power, “Be \nsilent or speak repentance else you will be sent to the final \nmountain.” \n You awake each night you dream of this to the smell of \nsulfur and burning flesh, choking on your fear and pain. \n There is still more waiting for you in rest. You dreamed of \na mountain made of pale white stone, its rock worn smooth by \nwind and rain. You moved closer, as if in flight, and saw \ngateways pebble the surface of the stone. You pass through \none and hear a woman’s despair and the sobs of loss. She \ncries the mournful cry of the living who ache for those who \nonce were. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 92 \n She sits before you. Bird-like, she perches on a crib, more \nlike a nest than any child’s bedding you have seen before. \nWithin an egg, of this you are certain, although you have not \nseen its like before. Its surface is as pale and pure white as \nthe stone without. \n A crack appears in the surface of the egg. Bit by bit, chips \nbreak away as something claws its way into the light. The \nwoman sobs. \n At last, the surface breaks. A perfect small hand breaks \ninto the light. For an instant, there is beauty. Then the skin \nof the arm splits, as if burned by an inner fire. Next come \nembers burning from within. Last all is ash, and the fickle wind \nsweeps the remnants of life from the nest and out across the \nfloor. \n The woman cries. \n Waking brought anguish to you. Emptiness filled your \nheart with bitter grief. That death was as sad and final as a \nsword stroke. \n Yet another dream haunts you. \n Around you there are walls made of steel, smooth and cold \nto your touch. You can take one stride forward. You can \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 93 \ntake one stride back. You can take one stride to the left or \nthe right. That is all. The floor underneath your feet slopes \ngently up to the wall. You cannot stand flat footed, and your \nankles and feet ache with standing on the sloping floor. \n Above, the light washes from red to blue to green to yellow \nthen back to red. Unending the cycle repeats, again and \nagain and again. \n It has always been this way. Long ago you remember the \nopen sky and flight. The touch of such thoughts is fading like \na song long lost. Soon, you will remember only the steel walls \nand the sloping floors. It has been so long. Red, Blue, \nGreen, Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, Blue, \nGreen, Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, the cycle repeats \nendlessly. \n You cannot walk. You cannot move. You cannot fly. You \ncannot leave. There is no voice except your own. There is \nno color beyond these four. The walls are steel. This is all \nyou know. The walls are all. The walls are all. The walls are \nall. The walls are all. Eternity stretches before you. \n You wake and see steel walls before your eyes. \n The vision fades. \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 94 \n There has been little respite. Each night a torment of \nnightmares, unending and repeating. You would think that \nyou could become numb to theses images, repeated as often \nas they have. They do not fade and stay as fresh as a new \nwound. \n Battered, you wander. One thing guides you. On some \nnights the dreams come with less frequency and intensity. \nWhen you move towards Sterich, your sleep is less troubled. \nYou have crossed the Sheldomar tormented. Steps towards \nIstivin bring at least a partial sleep. \n \n\nSHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice \n \nPage 95 \nCRITICAL EVENTS SUMMARY \nSHE5-03 THE PROPHET’S VOICE \n \nPlease complete this form and return it to Steven Conforti at scon40@aol.com. \n \n \nDid the PCs bring Maira her Voice? \n \nY / N \n \n \nDid the PCs bring Gar Mujal the books? \nY / N \n \n \nDid the PCs free the Folinu? \n \n \nY / N \n \n \nDid the PCs rescue the commoners? \n \nY / N \n \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Meta-Region Sheldomar Valley/595/Normal Scenarios/SHE5-03 - The Prophets Voice (APL 6-18)/SHE5-03 - The Prophet's Voice.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":187,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":" \n\n \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Blood of Pangea/Blood of Pangea Retrospace/Blood of Pangea Retrospace Character Sheet.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":188,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":" \n \n \n \nt \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nPlay Notes:\n� Gained a level \n� Lost a level \n� Ability Drained ____________ \n� Died \n� Was raised/res’d \n� Was reincarnated \n_________________________________________\n_________________________________________\n_________________________________________ \nHome Region______________________ \n593 CY \nA D V E N T U R E\nL E V E L O F \nP L A Y \n(CIRCLE ONE) \nAPL 4 \nmax 675 xp; 600 gp \n \nAPL 6 \nmax 900 xp; 800 gp \n \nAPL 8 \nmax 1,125 xp; 1,250 gp\n \nAPL 10 \nmax 1,350 xp; 2,100 gp\n \nAPL 12 \nmax 1,575 xp; 3,000 gp\nThis Record Certifies that \n__________________________________________ \nPlayed by______________________________________\n \n \nPlayer \n \n \nRPGA #\nHas Completed \nOf Witches and Warlocks \nA Regional Adventure \nSet in Keoland \nEvent: _________________________________ Date: ________ \nDM: __________________________________________________ \n \nSignature \n \n \n \nRPGA # \n� MURDERER! This PC cast destructive spells with abandoned, or cleaved from a \ncreature into a Craufield resident. Both the DM and the Player should contact the \nKeoland Metaorg and Regional Flavor PC at keoland_marf_poc@yahoo.com with their \nversion of the story so that an appropriate punishment/restitution can be made. \n \n� Gift of the Craufield Mages (Frequency: Regional): As special thanks for finding \nthe true cause of the trouble in Craufield, Istava Lolian will offer the PC a one-time gift, \nPC’s Choice: \n• \nIstava will teach the PC any one arcane [including bard] spell of 4\nth level or \nlower that is in the Council Library, including Builder Book spells. The PC \nmust be able to cast the spell at the time this is used. Spells that are \nUnknown, Illegal, or Forbidden in Keoland are unavailable to the PC. See \nthe Metaorg Book 0 or contact the Keoland Metaorg PoC for details. \n• \nIstava will use the resources of the council to empower one magical item \nwith even greater power. The PC may choose ONE of the following items at \nthe casting: Weapon, Armor, Shield, Cloak of Resistance, Ring of Protection. \nThe PC must then choose either a +1 to +2, or a +2 to +3 upgrade. The PC \nonly needs to pay the difference in cost between the old and new items, but \nmust have the gp available at the time this influence is used. \n \n� Gift of Brathin Sigwal the Jeweler (Frequency: Adventure): [NOTE: This is only \navailable if the Mage Council has not been banned from Nimlee]. \nAs special thanks for finding the true cause of the trouble in Craufield, Brathen will \noffer to create a commission piece for the PC. He will create any jewelry piece the PC \ndesignates [including metaorg membership items] up to a value of 500gp. \nIf a PC spends 500gp, that PC will gain a +1 Diplomacy and Gather Information checks \nwith NPC members of the Royal Financiers Guilds, as they recognize a good customer. \nThe PC should note the description of the item on both the AR and on their list of \nKeoish Influence. \nCross out any game effects this character does not gain. \n� Notice of the Darkwatch: The PC has now met a member of the Darkwatch, and \nhas left the following impression (Circle ONE): \n \nFavorable: This PC willingly and nobly participated in the defense of Craufield. \nThey also went out of their way to be heroic and openly shared information with (and \nwas polite to) Sarick. Cannot be given to members of the Darkwatch. \n \nRecognition: This PC willingly and adequately participated in the defense of \nCraufield. Sarick has also detected some hostility from this PC towards the \nDarkwatch. Cannot be given to members of the Darkwatch. \n \nUnfavorable: The PC either did not aid in the Craufield investigation, did so \ngrudgingly, or was openly belligerent and hostile towards Sarick. This PC’s future \nactions will be tracked by the Darkwatch. \n \n� ARRESTED! The PC either cast illegal or forbidden spells with abandon and/or \nwas responsible for the destruction of property in Craufield. The PC must pay a fine of \n100gp x Spell Level x APL, as noted in the “Other Gold Spent” box on this AR. If \nanother PC at the table covers the fine, it should be noted on both ARs. If a PC cannot \ncover this cost, they must spend 1 TU for every 100gp that they are short [rounded up] \nworking off their debt by helping to rebuild Craufield. Both the DM and the Player \nshould contact the Keoland Metaorg and Regional Flavor PC at \nkeoland_marf_poc@yahoo.com with their version of the story so that an appropriate \npunishment/restitution can be made. \n \n� Influence w/Countess Lissen Rheyd (Power Rank: Noble. Political: Oeridian). \nSee the Metaorg Book 0 for details, or contact the Keoland triad for further \ninformation. Frequency (Regional). \nIf a PC does not belong to any Keoish metaorgs, they may use this favor to cover the \ncost of any clerical spells of 3\nrd level or less used in this module, up to 500gp [note that \nhealing in Keoland costs double PHB standard.] Influence used in this way is \nFrequency (Adventure) \nAdventure Record#\nITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE \nCross off all items NOT found \n \nAPL 4, 6, and 8: \n• \nCloak of Charisma +2 (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nMasterwork Zither (Regional; Song & Silence [with\nrules from page 49-50]) \n• \nScroll Organizer (Regional; Tome & Blood) \n• \nEverburning Torch (Regional; DMG) \n• \nScroll of Stoneskin (Adventure; 7\nth level caster; DMG) \n \nAPL 10: \n[APL 4, 6, and 8 Items PLUS] \n• \nChain shirt +2 (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nFlaming short sword +1 (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nBracers of Armor +4 (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nAmulet of Natural Armor +3 (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nGloves of Dexterity +4 (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nPotion of Gaseous Form (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nDust of Appearance (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nScroll of Teleport (Adventure; 9\nth level caster; DMG) \n• \nPotion of Cure Serious Wounds (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nRing of Mind Shielding (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nRing of Protection +3 (Adventure; DMG) \n• \nVest of Resistance +2 (Adventure; Tome & Blood)\nAPL 12: [APL 4, 6, 8, and 10 Items PLUS] \n• \nMithril Chain Shirt +3 (Adventure; DMG) \n \n \nTU REMAINING \nAdded TU Costs\n- TU\nTU Cost \n1 or 2 TU\nStarting TU \nTU\n \nXP\nFINAL XP TOTAL\nXP Gained\n+ XP\nSubtotal \nXP\nXP lost or spen\n- XP\nStarting XP \nXP\nItems Bought\n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Cost of Bought Items \n \nSubtract this value from your gp value \nItems Sold\n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Value of Sold Items \n \nAdd ½ this value to your gp value \nFINAL GP TOTAL\n \n GP\nGP Spent \n- \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Gained \n+ \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Gained \n+ \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Spent \n- \nGP\nLifestyle\n� None\n� Standard (12 gp x TU) \n� Rich (50 gp x TU) \n� Luxury (100 gp x TU) \n \nLifestyle Cost \n \nOther Coin Spent \n \nTotal Coin Spent \n \nStarting GP \n \nGP\n\n \n \n \n \nt \n \n \n \n \n \n \nPlay Notes:\n� Gained a level \n� Lost a level \n� Ability Drained ____________ \n� Died \n� Was raised/res’d \n� Was reincarnated \n_________________________________________\n_________________________________________\n_________________________________________ \nHome Region______________________ \n \nCross out any game effects this character does not gain. \n \n� Pawn of Nerull: The PC has taken possession of a \npowerful weapon called Nerull’s Gift. Being a highly \nintelligent and evil item, it has slowly taken control over \nthe PC even if they are normally immune to mind-\naffecting effects. The PC’s alignment has changed to CE \nand is now an agent for Nerull. The PC loses any class \nabilities that are not allowed to a CE character. If the PC \nwas a cleric to another god, the PC is now a cleric of \nNerull. The PC will lose access to the domains spells of \nher/his previous god and gain access to Nerull’s domains \n(the atonement spell will be cast by one of Nerull’s \nclerics). As the PC is now evil, the PC is out of play and in \ncontrol of the Keoland Triad. Send the character sheet \nand ARs to the Keoland Plots and Scenarios Triad \nmember (Christian Alipounarian, chrisinpm@aol.com). \nThe character is now a NPC unless a special mission or a \nfuture module changes his/her status. \n593 CY \nA D V E N T U R E\n \n \nThis Record Certifies that \n__________________________________________ \nPlayed by______________________________________\n \n \nPlayer \n \n \nRPGA #\nHas Completed \nOf Witches and Warlocks \nA Regional Adventure Set in Keoland \nAnd Become a Pawn of Nerull \nEvent: _________________________________ Date: ________ \nDM: __________________________________________________ \n \nSignature \n \n \n \nRPGA # \nAdventure Record#\nITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE \nCross off all items NOT found \n \n \n \nTU REMAINING \nAdded TU Costs\n- TU\nTU Cost \n0 TU\nStarting TU \nTU\n \nXP\nFINAL XP TOTAL\nXP Gained\n+ XP\nSubtotal \nXP\nXP lost or spen\n- XP\nStarting XP \nXP\nItems Bought\n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Cost of Bought Items \n \nSubtract this value from your gp value \nItems Sold\n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Value of Sold Items \n \nAdd ½ this value to your gp value \nFINAL GP TOTAL\n \n GP\nGP Spent \n- \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Gained \n+ \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Gained \n+ \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Spent \n- \nGP\nLifestyle\n� None\n� Standard (12 gp x TU) \n� Rich (50 gp x TU) \n� Luxury (100 gp x TU) \n \nLifestyle Cost \n \nOther Coin Spent \n \nTotal Coin Spent \n \nStarting GP \n \nGP\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Keoland/593/Normal Scenarios/KEO3-04 - Of Witches and Warlocks (APL 4-12)/KEO3-04 - Of Witches and Warlocks AR.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":189,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":" \n \n \nGP\nStarting GP\nLifestyle \n� \nNone \n� \nStandard (12 gp x TU) \n� \nRich (50 gp x TU) \n� \nLuxury (100 gp x TU) \n \nLifestyle Cost \n \nOther Coin Spent \n \nTotal Coin Spent \n \n- \nGP\nGP Spent \n \nGP\nSubtotal \n+ \nGP\nGP Gained \n \nGP\nSubtotal \n+ \nGP\nGP Gained \n \nGP\nSubtotal \n- \nGP\nGP Spent \n \nGP\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nFINAL GP TOTAL \n \nItems Sold \n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Value of Sold Items \n \nAdd ½ this value to your gp value \nItems Bought \n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Cost of Bought Items \n \nSubtract this value from your gp value \n \nXP \nStarting XP \n- \nXP \nXP lost or spent \n \nXP \nSubtotal \n+ \nXP \nXP Gained \nFINAL XP TOTAL \n \n \nXP \n \nTU \nStarting TU \n1 or 2 TU \nTU Cost \n- \nTU \nAdded TU Costs \n TU REMAINING \n \n \n \nITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE \nCross off all items NOT found \n \nAPL4 \n� redcap's tooth (Regional; see AR; 1,000 gp) \n� pearl of power, 1st level (Adventure; DMG; 1,000 gp) \n� spellbook containing: amanuensis, benign transposition, blast of \nforce, sign of sealing (400 gp)* \n� oil of align weapon (good) (NoneLM; DMG; 300 gp) \n� scroll of restoration (NoneLM; DMG; 800 gp) \n� wand of lesser vigor (NoneLM; SpC; 750 gp) \n \nAPL 6 (all of APLs 2-4 plus the following) \n� lesser rod of extend (Adventure; DMG; 3,000 gp) \n� masterwork large spiked chain (Adventure; PH; 350 gp) \n� spellbook containing the spells at APL 4 plus force missiles, \ngreater magic armor, orb of force (950 gp) * \n \nAPL 8 (all of APLs 2-6 plus the following) \n� spellbook containing the spells at APLs 4-6 plus arc of \nlightning (1,100 gp) * \n \nAPL 10 (all of APLs 2-8 plus the following) \n� armbands of might (Adventure; CV; 4,100 gp) \n� +1 large spiked chain (Adventure; PH; 2,350 gp) \n� spellbook containing the spells at APLs 4-10 plus greater sign \nof sealing (1,600 gp) * \nSpells in the spellbook are from the SPELL COMPENDIUM \n \nAPL 12 (all of APLs 2-10 plus the following) \n� \nvest of resistance +1 (Adventure; CA; 1,000 gp) \n� \nspellbook containing the spells at APLs 4-10 plus greater \nsign of sealing (1,600 gp) * \nSpells in the spellbook are from the SPELL COMPENDIUM\nAdventure Record# \n596CY \n A D V E N T U R E \nL E V E L O F \nP L A Y \n(CIRCLE ONE) \nAPL 2 \nmax 450 XP; 450 gp \n \nAPL 4 \nmax 675 XP; 650 gp \n \nAPL 6 \nmax 900 XP; 900 gp \n \nAPL 8 \nmax 1,125 XP; 1,300 gp \n \nAPL 10 \nmax 1,350 XP; 2,300 gp \n \nAPL 12 \nmax 1,575 XP; 3,300 gp \n \n�Winner of the Fallen Knights Archery Contest \nYou have placed first in this year’s archery contest at the Festival of \nthe Fallen Knights in Nellix. \n�Redcap’s tooth (from MONSTER MANUAL III) \nWhen a redcap dies, it leaves behind a single tooth. Anyone \nwearing this tooth gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Charisma-\nbased checks when dealing with fey, and a +4 circumstance bonus \nwhen dealing with other redcaps. \n- Faint transmutation; CL 6th; cannot be made; Price 1,000 gp. \n�Favor of the Lydians \nYou have earned the gratitude of the Temple of Lydia for rescuing \nKarett Melior. You may use the favor to gain access to any two of \nthe following spells from the SPELL COMPENDIUM: (expending the \nfavor in the process): assay resistance, close wounds, mass align weapon, \npanacea, spontaneous search. This favor may also be redeemed for a \ndiscount of 500 gp on spellcasting service on the Temple of Lydia. \nAs long as it is retained the character is considered a \"Friend of the \nChurch of Lydia (see the meta-org for details). The character also \ngains regional access to the items marked with “CL” below, even \nafter the favor is expended. \n�Favor of Karett Melior: This favor depends on Karett Melior’s \ncondition. The DM should circle the appropriate condition blow. \nIf this condition is improved in future adventures, the access level \nof the favor will also improve. The favor is expended when it is \nused to purchase or upgrade an item from the list below. \nGood (25,000 gp limit)/Fair (16,000 gp limit)/Poor (6000gp \nlimit)/Critical (no items) \nAvailable items: Karett can provide you with access to buy or \nupgrade items from the following list, subject to the gold piece \nlimits listed under the applicable condition entry: Metamagic rods \nfrom the DMG or CA; Stat items of +4 value (amulet of health, belt of \ngiant strength, cloak of charisma, gloves of dexterity, headband of intellect, \nperiapt of wisdom); Boccob’s blessed book, boots of speed, spool of \nendless rope (CV), pearl of power (up to 5th level), tunic of steady \nspellcasting (CV), ring of arcane might (CA), ring of lore (CA), ring of \nlightning flashes (LORDS OF MADNESS), ring of protection (+1 to +3) \nAn item may only be purchased if it has a price less than or equal \nto the gold piece limit for Karett’s current condition. If Karett’s \ncondition was Good or Fair, it may be exchanged, instead, for \naccess to the aberration bane (DMG), death ward (CA), magebane \n(CA) or sizing (CA) enhancements – these enhancements are not \nsubject to the gold piece limits. \nThis Record Certifies that \n__________________________________________________ \nCharacter Name \nClasses and Levels \n__________________________________________________ \nPlayer Name \nRPGA # \nHas Completed \nURD6-08 – Food for Thought \nAn adventure set in the region of the Duchy of Urnst \nEvent:__________________________ Date: __________________ \nDM: _____________________________________________________ \n \nSignature \nRPGA # \nPlay Notes: \n� \nGained a level \n� \nLost a level \n� \nAbility Drained ______________ \n� \nDied \n� \nWas raised/res’d \n� \nWas reincarnated \n___________________________________________________\n___________________________________________________\n___________________________________________________\n___________________________________________________\n___________________________________________________\n__________________________________________________ \nHome Region_________________________________ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Duchy of Urnst/596/Normal Scenarios/URD6-08 - Food for Thought (APL 4-12)/URD6-08 - Food for Thought AR.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":190,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"6\n\n1\nCrash Zone\nWritten by\nJesse Pingenot\nSaga Machine system by\nThorin Tabor\nEdited by\nThorin Tabor\nArt by\nNASA, Wilson Saravia\nTab Creations is\nBen Goreham, Jesse Pingenot, Matthew Pennell, Thorin Tabor\n \nTab Creations, Saga Machine and Shadows Over Sol are trademarks owned by Thorin Tabor and Tab Creations LLC. All rights \nreserved. All other content is ©2020 Jesse Pingenot & Tab Creations. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these \npages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. This document is a work of fiction.\n\n2\n\n3\nCrash Zone is a complete action horror \nscenario for Shadows Over Sol. Contained \nin this adventure enough material to cover \nbetween two and four sessions of play, \ndepending on the interests of the players \nand the pacing set by the GM.\nIn this scenario, the team will be \npitted against rival corporate agents, fight \nautomated drones and unravel a mystery \nthat has laid dormant on Mars for decades.\nAuthor’s \nAuthor’s \nForward\nForward\nIn the process of creating Shadows \nOver Sol, the Tab Creations team learned \na lot about the solar system as a whole, and \nMars in particular. Mars seems to call to \nhumanity, as a rocky planet near our own. \nSeveral years ago, a company even started \ntaking applications for colonists.\nBut Mars has many, many roadblocks \nbetween it and permanent human colo-\nnization. Its core and mantle are dead. \nIt has no magnetosphere to protect any \npotential colonists from radiation. And \nits low gravity, at 0.37 G, is not what \nhuman bodies are adapted for, possibly \ncausing developmental complications in \nchildren and bone loss in adults. It’s not \njust Earth without water.\nWhat would it take to make Mars a \nnew Earth? Would humanity, as a species, \nprefer to modify itself to meet the needs \nof the planet, or would they prefer to alter \nthe planet to meet the needs of humanity?\nAnd since humans are individuals and \ndon’t think as a species, what happens \nwhen someone disagrees?\nSynopsis\nSynopsis\nIn the early days of the Mars Terrafor-\nming Project lots of crazy theories were \nfloated on how to make the Red Planet \nhabitable for human life. These ranged \nfrom bioengineering lifeforms to digest \nand break up the Martian regolith, to \ncrashing asteroids into the planet to give \nit greater mass and reignite Mars’ dead \nplanetary core.\nOne group involved with the earliest \nterraforming efforts was a privately \nowned space technology firm called the \nMizalcor Initiative. Led by Eun-Seung \nMok, an eccentric billionaire known for \nhis extravagant lifestyle and belief in hard \nAI, the Initiative championed some of the \nmost bizarre terraforming plans proposed \nin those early days.\nEventually a rift grew between the \nMizalcor Initiative and the Terraforming \nProject’s other early participants, leading \nEun-Seung Mok to publicly declare that \nhis companies would seek to terraform \nMars on their own, without the project’s \ninput. A grand unveiling of his vision \nfor Mars was scheduled, but never came \nto fruition, as the very next week World \nWar IV erupted, putting all terraforming \nplans on hold and consuming human \nefforts for the next several years. \nWhile Eun-Seung Mok survived the \nwar, he didn’t survive its radioactive fallout. \nIntroduction\nIntroduction\n\n4\nEun-Seung died of radiation poisoning \njust months after the conflict ended. The \nMizalcor Initiative filed for bankruptcy \nshortly afterward.\nAs far as anyone knows, that was the \nend of Eun-Seung’s, and the Mizalcor \nInitiative’s, involvement with Martian \nterraforming. Their plans fell by the \nwayside and more sensible minds prevailed. \nHowever, that common wisdom is about \nto be proven wrong.\nThe Mars Solution\nThe Mars Solution\nWhile World War IV was consuming \nthe attention of humanity, the Mizalcor \nInitiative was spending extravagantly, \nhiring new personnel and constructing \na series of installations across Mars. This \nwas done in absolute secrecy, so as to not \nbecome a target in the war.\nMeanwhile, one of Eun-Seung’s other \ncompanies was involved in processing fissile \nmaterial for the Corporate Powers. This \nmaterial was used to manufacture atomic \nbombs for the war. Carefully skimming \nmaterial from the war effort, the Mizalcor \nInitiative transferred it to Mars and there \nused it into manufacture warheads.\nThese warheads were placed at regular \npoints under the Martian crust. The plan \nwas to later set them off in unison. This \nwas called Ignition Day. It was part of an \neffort to create strategic faults in Mars’ \ndead mantle. The hope was that the \nenergy produced by igniting the bombs \nwould cause the outer mantle to liquify \nand magnetically realign, producing \na stronger magnetosphere around the \nplanet, and thus protecting it from the \nmost harmful effects of solar radiation.\nBut the bombs were just half the plan. \nAutomated drones were also sent out to \nalter the paths of close to one thousand \nobjects in the solar system, and to have \nthem collide with Mars at roughly the \nsame time. These would produce an \nabundance of additional energy to heat \nthe already fractured crust.\nThirty secret facilities were completed, \nbut \nIgnition \nDay \nnever \narrived. \nEun-Seung Mok died before his plan \ncould be put into motion. \nHis corporate successor at the Mizalcor \nInitiative, never a believer in the project, \nthen quickly evacuated and shuttered \nthe secret facilities, lest the stolen fissile \nmaterial be traced to the company. The \nentire effort was swept under the rug and \nthen largely forgotten.\nUnfortunately for Mars, someone or \nsomething has just discovered the Mizalcor \nInitiative’s old network of secret facilities, \nand Ignition Day is about to arrive.\nReady-Made Heroes\nReady-Made Heroes\nThe \nnine \nplayer \ncharacters \npresented in Shadows Over Sol: \nReady-Made Heroes are ideal for \nuse with Crash Zone. Simply print \nout the character sheets, give them \ntheir listed “Action Horror” loadouts \nand they are good to go!\nOf particular interest are: Alek-\nsander Gugenheim, who is on his \nhome turf in this adventure; Ozan \nCevahir, who has experience in the \nMartian water trade; and Albert \nAstro, who may have some insight \ninto breaking apart orbital bodies.\n\n5\nEnter the Team\nEnter the Team\nWhen the bombs are set off, a quake \nwill shake the Martian surface. Hired by \nSinoex, the team will then be sent out \nto investigate the cause of this seismic \ndisturbance. Over the course of the inves-\ntigation, they will discover one of the \nsecret facilities and then explore a second \nfacility whose warhead failed to ignite.\nThis leads to the revelation that \nthousands of orbital objects are about \nto strike the Red Planet. Can the team \ndeflect the incoming objects before they \ncause millions of colonists to die?\nModes of \nModes of \nHorror\nHorror\nCrash Zone is written with the action \nhorror mode of play in mind (see the \nShadows Over Sol core rulebook, page \n164). Throughout the events of this \nadventure, the team will run up against \nrival scrappers, mysterious automated \ndrones and a mystery that has laid \ndormant on Mars for decades.\nThis scenario is high enough in action \nthat the GM may want to consider \nrunning it using the Epic Sci-fi mode of \nplay (see Fatal Frontier, page 6). This \nworks especially well if the adventure is \nbeing run as a one-shot.\nAltering the adventure to suit the Inves-\ntigative Horror or Survival Horror modes \nof play is also possible, albeit with a little \nwork. To do this, play up the investigative \naspects in the first half of the adventure. It \nmay also be reasonable to have the team \naccompanied by a few NPC soldiers \nappointed by Sinoex. In that case, have \nthe soldiers do the bulk of the shooting, \nbut try to have it occur “offscreen,” \nwhen the team is split up exploring the \ntwo secret facilities. They can later come \nupon the wounded soldiers and hear their \nharrowing tale. This helps build tension \nand furthers the sense of dread without \nslaughtering the scrappers.\nOther Adventures\nOther Adventures\nCrash Zone can be used alone or in conjunction with other published \nShadows Over Sol adventures. Below are some notes on how to combine this \nscenario with others. \n \n■ Dreams and Dust: Like Crash Zone, this adventure is set on Mars and assumes \na competent and well-prepared team. While it starts as Investigative Horror, \nit is easily adapted to Action Horror, and makes a great follow-up scenario for \nteams that gain a heroic reputation.\n \n■ Eviction Notice: Another Action Horror scenario set on Mars, Eviction \nNotice is best set before Crash Zone, and is a great way for the team to gain the \nreputation they will need to be hired by Sinoex.\n \n■ Thirst: Yet another Martian adventure, Thirst is a very different scenario than \nCrash Zone, but makes for a great interlude as the team travels between the \ntwo secret facilities, or as a prelude to the events of Crash Zone.\n\n6\n\n7\nThis scenario begins with the team \nin Oras colony on Mars. Perhaps they \nare spending some downtime between \nmissions visiting family, or on a drinking \nbinge. Or perhaps they just wrapped up \nanother adventure set on Mars, such as \nThirst or Eviction Notice, and haven’t \neven had time for a breather.\nDowntime\nDowntime\nHowever they came by their well-\nearned downtime, have the team play out \na little bit of it. This is also a good oppor-\ntunity to touch on personal plots or shed \na bit on light on the characters. Just what \ndo they do when they’re between jobs?\nTry to give each of the player charac-\nters a short scene. You can adapt each one \nto that particular character’s strengths or \ninterests. A few ideas are given below:\n \n■ Teams who just finished their last job \nlikely just got paid. This means that \nthe scrappers may have microcredits \nburning a hole in their proverbial \npockets. Shopping for new gear \nis a time-honored tradition and \nsomething easily accomplished in \nmost colonies on Mars.\n \n■ Characters with a violent bent may \nwant to seek out illegal underground \nbloodsports (see page 33 of the \nShadows Over Sol core rulebook). \nThey could make bets on the outcome \nor even participate in the games!\n \n■ The team may have any number of \ncontacts on Mars. Checking up on \nold friends, acquaintances or even \nenemies can make for an interesting \nscene. This is especially true if using \nthe Contacts rules from page 3 of \nShadows Over Sol: Contacts.\n \n■ Characters of a scientific bent may \nwant to pursue research activities or \nconduct experiments. This may call \nfor any number of flips, including \nInt/bio-sci or Int/phy-sci.\nThe News\nThe News\nAs the team goes about their \nbusiness, the GM should mention \nsome of the things that are in the news. \nThese tidbits provide important fore-\nshadowing for later in the adventure.\n \n■ The net is full of talk about a Heed \ncelebrity, Grand Wizmo Altantsetseg, \nwho was killed when an undetected \nmeteoroid struck his ship as it waited \nin queue for a shuttle to Oras Topside \nStation, in orbit at the top of Mars’ \nspace elevator. \n \n■ There is also news of a new attempt \nto build a permanent settlement on \nMercury—in a pocket in the deep \ncrust, between the mantle and the \nsurface. (This news item is largely \nunrelated to the adventure, but \ntouches on the ideas of placing facili-\nties next to a planetary mantle.)\n \n■ Lastly, one of the team hears some \ntechnical babble about current solar \nsystem models continuing to be slightly \nout of alignment with observations, \neven though astronomers have been \nrefining these models for centuries.\nMarsquake\nMarsquake\n\n8\nMarsquake\nMarsquake\nWhile the team is in the middle of \ntheir downtime shenanigans, a major \ntremor suddenly strikes Mars. All around \nthem is chaos, as everything that was not \nbolted down has fallen to the floor or \ntoppled over. Screams can be heard and \nnearby buildings threaten to collapse.\n \n■ Have each of the scrappers make a \nDex/athletics-10 flip to avoid falling \nto the ground and suffering a light \nwound, as well as embarassment.\nAftermath\nAftermath\nGive the team time to react. The \ncolony they are in has suffered at least \nsome damage. People are trapped and \nneed help. People are confused. No one \nknows the cause of the tremor.\n \n■ Locating people that need help is a \nPer/awareness-10 flip. Lifting debris \nto free those trapped underneath is a \nStr/athletics-12 flip.\n \n■ Gossiping about the quake calls for a \nChr/socialize-8 flip. “Perhaps it was \na terrorist attack? Or maybe some \nidiot crashed an ice delivery nearby, \noutside the crash zone?”\n \n■ Anyone using their AR glasses or \nimplant will see a flood of messages \nfrom people reacting to the quake. An \nInt/comp-ops-8 flip will quickly reveal \nthat, whatever caused it, the tremor \nwas felt all across Mars at roughly the \nsame time. It was not a local event.\nMoving On\nMoving On\nGive the team some time to react and \nlook into the cause of the quake—a few \nhours to group up, rescue survivors and \nsearch the net should suffice. The mystery \nshould just be beginning to deepen when \nthey receive a contact request.\nThe Offer\nThe Offer\nIf the team agrees to the contact request, \nit will open a vid-connection between \nthem and a Ms. Nguyen, who claims to be \na representative of Sinoex’s Department or \nResearch and Development. \nShe says that her department is \nlooking into the cause of the Marsquake, \nas it has already been named in multiple \nsubcultures, and she wants to hire the \nscrappers to investigate. She will let on \nthat she has some leads they can follow, \nRight to the Action?\nRight to the Action?\nGMs wishing to get right to the \naction can skip the downtime scenes \nand start with the Marsquake. This is \nrecommended if running the scenario \nas a one-shot. \nAlthough the news items provide \nimportant foreshadowing, bits and \npieces can be dropped in as the team \ngears up for the mission.\nThis is Not Normal\nThis is Not Normal\nEarthquakes are common on \nEarth; it is a tectonically active world \nwith a molten mantle. Mars, on the \nother hand, is tectonically dead. \nQuakes have been unheard of there \nfor a billion years. This Marsquake \nis not normal. Anyone may make an \nInt/phy-sci-8 flip to know that.\n\n9\nbut she will not divulge those leads until \nall of the crew have signed the contract.\n \n■ She is offering an Income 7 payment for \nthe job. Success on a Chr/persuade-10 \nflip, however, can negotiate her up to \nan Income 8 payment.\n \n■ With a successful Int/deception-12 \nflip, the team might be able to trick \nher into divulging a bit about her \nlead. She believes that the quake is \nlinked to activity at a series of sites \nspread across Mars. One of those sites \nhappens to nearby, which is why she’s \ncontacting the team: she put out a \ncontract offer based on proximity to \nthat location.\nThe Details\nThe Details\nOnce the PCs have accepted the \noffer, she will reveal the details about \nher lead willingly. She believes that the \nquake is linked to activity at a series of \nsites spread across Mars. One of those—\nat coordinates 0°, 0°—is close to the \nteam’s current location. \nShe does not know what to expect \nat the site, only that the closest tremors \nseemed to originate from there. She is \nconfident, however, that other corps have \nprocessed the same data and are sending \ntheir own teams to investigate. She would \nencourage the scrappers not to waste time \nif they want to get their payday. Once \nthey have something to report, they can \ncontact her via hand terminal and she \nwill arrange to transfer their payment.\nWith that, Ms. Nguyen signs off. The \nteam can grab their gear, hop in a rover \nand head out to the site.\nMs. Bian Nguyen\nMs. Bian Nguyen\nGeneline Martian Standard*, Subculture Ghostman\nStr 4, Dex 7, Spd 5, End 6, Int 6, Per 4, Chr 6, Det 6\nDefense 8/16, DR 0, Shock 12, Wound 5, Wealth 7, Lifestyle 7\nSkills: Athletics 2, Awareness 2, Bureaucrat 3, Comp-Ops 3, Conspiracy 3, \nDeception 2, Empathy 2, Guns 1, Lib-Arts 2, Persuade 3, Phy-Sci 2, Socialize 3\nLight Pistol: +4 (♠12M/♥8M/♦4M/♣2M), Range 10, Shots 10\nGear: AR Glasses, Biometric Cracker, Hand Terminal, Verazine\nBorn in Oras colony to a family also in Sinoex’s employ, Nguyen was taught \nby the corp’s schools and raised on a steady stream of pro-Sinoex propoganda. \nNow in her mid-20’s, she has worked for Sinoex for several years and has been \nrecently promoted. In fact, this is her first time hiring a freelance scrapper team, \nalthough she will do her best not to let on. After all, even shady corp recruiters \nhave to start somewhere.\n* See page 34 of Shadows Over Sol: Beyond Human.\nSinoex\nSinoex\nFor more on the resource extrac-\ntion megacorp Sinoex, see page 58 of \nthe Shadows Over Sol core rulebook.\n\n10\n10\n\n1111\nIn this act, the team will head out to \nthe coordinates given to them by Ms. \nNguyen. There they will discover a secret \nfacility seemingly left undisturbed since \nWorld War IV. They’ll confront a rival \nMicrodyne scrapper team, and they’ll \neven be led to a second secret facility, \nmysteriously similar to the first.\nThe events of this act are on a timer. \nThe team is racing against time to \ndiscover both secret facilities before their \nMicrodyne rivals. As the GM, you may \nchoose to either keep strict track of time or \nto handwave the timing for best dramatic \neffect. If keeping strict track of time, \nassume each flip takes about 10 minutes, \nunless common sense dictates otherwise. \nWhichever method you choose, make sure \nthat the players feel the time pressure.\nTimes will be measured from the \npoint when their negotiation with Ms. \nNguyen concludes: T=0 minutes.\nExcursion\nExcursion\nIt should be easy enough for the \nteam to load up a rover and head out to \n0°, 0°. If the team doesn’t own a rover, \none can be rented in Oras colony.\n \n■ Renting a rover is a basic lifestyle \nexpense for anyone with Lifestyle 6 \nor better. Otherwise, the rental will \nrequire a Cost 6 payment. The process \ntakes about half an hour.\n \n■ Leaving the colony by rover requires \npassing through a security check-\npoint. This takes another half hour, \nalthough the process can be shortened \nto only 10 minutes with either a \nsuccessful Int/bureaucrat-10 flip or \na Cost 5 bribe.\n \n■ Under normal circumstances, the \ntrip from Oras to 0°, 0° takes about \n5 hours. However, the driver may \nmake a Spd/vehicles-10 flip to \nmaneuver the vehicle more quickly \nto the destination. This reduces the \ntravel time by 10 minutes per Mag.\nThe Competition\nThe Competition\nAs Ms. Nguyen warned them, the \nteam is not the only interested party \nheaded to those coordinates. En route \nis another scrapper team, this one hired \nby the megacorp Microdyne. It is led by \nTang Yun-Seo, a ruthless killer who will \nbe more than happy to leave the char-\nacters in an unmarked grave. Under no \ncircumstances will she let the team leave \nwith whatever secrets they discovered. \n \n■ The Microdyne team is on schedule \nto arrive at the coordinates at T=6.5 \nhours (390 minutes).\n \n■ Characters checking the net to look for \nevidence of competitors can discover \nMicrodyne’s interest in the site with \na successful Per/comp-ops-12 flip. \nThis will reveal they they posted a job \nlooking for scrappers to visit a “location \nof interest” and that the job was filled \nsoon thereafter.\nTriacontahedron\nTriacontahedron\nMicrodyne\nMicrodyne\nFor more on the computing \nmegacorp Microdyne, see page 57 of \nthe Shadows Over Sol core rulebook.\n\n12\n12\nSecret Facility\nSecret Facility\nThe location of interest—0°, 0°—is a \nflat and otherwise unremarkable area of \nregolith a ways north of Noachis Terra \n(“Land of Noah”), a landmass in Mars’ \nsouthern hemisphere. The area is dotted \nby small boulders and the occasional \ncrag, but is otherwise easily traversed.\nTeams searching the area for signs \nof anything out of the ordinary can \nmake either a Per/investigate-12 or a \nPer/naturalist-10 flip. On a success, the \nscrapper discovers a hidden airlock door \na few dozen meters away from the exact \nlocation of 0°, 0°. This door is almost \nperfectly disguised as a small boulder \npartially embedded in the regolith.\nFailure on this flip results in wasted \ntime. The team will still find the door, \nbut it will take at least half an hour. \nFurthermore, the team will be distracted \nif Microdyne arrives while they’re still \nsearching (see page 16). This gives \nYun-Seo’s team a chance to park their \nown rover far away and sneak up, poten-\ntially ambushing the characters.\nAccessing \nAccessing \nthe Airlock\nthe Airlock\nBefore the team can access the airlock, \nthey must first move the boulder that \nboth blocks and hides the airlock door.\n \n■ The boulder must be manually lifted \nout of the way, requiring someone to \nmake a Str/athletics-12 flip. Failure \nresults in the character increasing her \nFatigue consequence a severity. Once \nlifted out of the hole, an old airlock \nis visible underneath the boulder’s \nformer location.\n \n■ The door doesn’t have any visible rust \nor other age marks (Mars’ atmosphere \ndoesn’t have the necessary oxygen for \nthat), but a successful Int/engineer-10 \nflip will reveal that the airlock door \nis of an older style that hasn’t been \npopular for decades.\n \n■ Characters searching the door for \na key card slot or number pad may \nmake a Per/awareness-10 flip to \nconfirm that the airlock has neither. \nIt instead relies solely on its mundane \ncamouflage to avoid discovery.\nOpening the Airlock\nOpening the Airlock\nThe airlock does not have any \npower, but it can be manually operated. \nAny attempt to short circuit the airlock \nwith hacking or an electronic security \noverride will fail. \n \n■ A successful Per/mechanic-8 flip \nwill reveal that there is no power \nbeing routed to the airlock. Whatever \nsupplies it once had are long dead.\n \n■ A resourceful character might be able \nto manually hook up power from her \nown personal supplies to power the \nairlock. This requires the right gear and \na successful Dex/mechanic-10 flip.\n \n■ Alternatively, the airlock’s emergency \ncontrols can be manually operated \nand then the door can be forced open \nwith a Str/athletics-12 flip. Failure \nstill opens the airlock, but results in \nthe character’s Fatigue consequence \nbeing increased a severity.\n \n■ Cutting through the airlock is also \npossible with the correct equipment, \nhowever, this takes half an hour and \ncompromises the atmosphere inside.\n\n13\n13\nExploring \nExploring \nthe Facility\nthe Facility\nOn the other side of the airlock \ndoor is a corridor that gradually slops \ndownwards, leading in the direction of \ntrue 0°, 0°. The atmospheric readout \non the team’s environment suits will \nindicate a breathable atmosphere with \nno \nknown \ncontaminants. \nAnyone \nbreathing the air will note that it smells \nold, but clean; not musty.\n \n■ As the team travels down the corridor, \nanyone checking atmospheric readings \nmay make a Per/naturalist-10 flip \nto notice that radiation levels are \nincreasing slightly as they descend, \nrather than decreasing as would \nnormally be expected.\nCentral Chamber\nCentral Chamber\nThe corridor zigzags downwards in \na series of switchbacks. After about five \nminutes of pressing forward, the team \nwill have descended 50 meters, and \nthe corridor will open up into a larger \nroom. This room is dome-shaped, with \na circular walkway on the parameter \nand a ventilation grate in the center. \nAlong the outside of the room are eight \ndoors, most leading to other chambers. \nThey are described in clockwise order, \nstarting from the entryway where the \nscrappers first emerge.\n \n■ The chamber has a very fine layer of \ndust. Success on a Per/investigate-10 \nflip reveals that it looks undisturbed.\n \n■ In some places the paint on the walls \nis peeling or beginning to crumble to \ndust. It is an odd mauve color that \nhasn’t been popular for decades. \n \n■ The doors leading out of this room \nmay have once had labels painted \nover them, but these have long since \npeeled away.\n \n■ Those standing on the ventilation \ngrate may notice that no air is being \npushed through it. This means that \neither the facility is completely out \nof power or the ventilation has been \nshut down entirely.\nHabs\nHabs\nThe first door leads to what appears \nto be an old bunking area. It consists \nof another corridor with several small \nrooms off to either side. Each room \ncontains a pair of bunks, one stacked on \ntop of the other, with a medium-sized \nlockbox on either side.\n \n■ The scrappers may search the bunks \nfor anything left behind. This requires \na successful Per/investigate-10 flip. \nHowever, there isn’t much to be found. \nOne lockbox contains a decaying \nblanket and an empty metal flask. \nAnother contains an old jumpsuit—the \nsame weird mauve color as the walls—\nstitched with the name “Chuck” on \nthe chest. A lewd postcard is tucked \nunder one of the mattresses. The most \ninteresting find is a crumpled pay stub \ndated May 10, 2149. The letterhead \nat the top indicates that it is from the \nMizalcor Initiative. \n \n■ Either a successful Int/conspiracy-10 \nflip or Int/comp-ops-12 flip will reveal \nthat the Mizalcor Initiative was an old \nspace technology firm that filed for \nbankruptcy shortly after World War IV. \nIt was involved in some of the earliest \nterraforming efforts and was one of the \nfounding organizations involved in the \n\n14\n14\nMars Terraforming Project. For more \ninformation, see page 3.\nRestrooms\nRestrooms\nThe next door over leads to the facil-\nity’s restrooms. There are two stalls with \ntoilets and a bidet, as well as a shower. A \ncurtain still hangs in the shower, but the \nplastic has yellowed and is brittle with age. \nTwo sinks with mirrors line the far wall.\nThere is little of note to be found \nin the restrooms. The toilets and other \naccommodations are dry, as the water \nin the facility’s tanks was either long ago \ndrained or evaporated. A toothbrush lies \ndiscarded near the sinks.\nMess Hall\nMess Hall\nBeyond this door is a small mess hall. \nIt contains two long tables lined with \nstools, as well as a counter in the back \nintended to serve food. \n \n■ A plastic tub next to the counter is still \nsealed and can be pried open to reveal \nwhat looks like a stack of cream-filled \ngolden sponge cakes. The fact that they \nare still intact and recognizable after all \nthis time speaks to the large amount of \nartificial preservatives in them.\nRecreational Room\nRecreational Room\nNext to the mess hall is what looks to \nbe an old recreational room. A table sits \nat its center. A shelf lines one wall with \na few board games and a dart board. On \nthe far side of the room are two tread-\nmills and a weightlifting bench.\n \n■ The treadmills lack power, but the \nrod used with the weightlifting \nbench can be removed and functions \nas an improvised crowbar. The \nweights themselves are almost comi-\ncality large, given Mars’ low gravity.\nStorage\nStorage\nThis room contains several shelves \nthat are mostly barren, aside from a few \nempty boxes and a lone can of beans. The \nbeans have an expiration date of January, \n2150. They are no longer edible.\nMaintenance\nMaintenance\nThis cramped room is little more than \na large closet that allows access to the \nfacility’s water supply, air recycling, fuse \nbox and other basic infrastructure.\n \n■ A successful Per/mechanic-10 flip \nwill reveal that neither the air recycling \nor water supply has power, nor does \nthe water supply contain any water.\n \n■ It will also reveal that the facility \nhas two power generators, a primary \ngenerator as well as a secondary \ngenerator powering the room behind \nthe locked door. The fuse for the \nsecondary generator has burnt out.\nLocked Door\nLocked Door\nNext to the maintenance room is a \nlocked door of the type intended to slide \nopen when a button is pressed. Unfor-\ntunately, the door is without power and \nsealed tight. The locked door leads to the \ncontrol room (see the next page).\n \n■ If the team has cutting tools, they \nmight be able to cut through the \ndoor with about 15 minutes of work. \nNo flip is required if the scrapper has \nhas a plasma torch or similar gear; \nshe just spends the necessary time \n\n15\n15\nand the door is cut open.\n \n■ Those without cutting tools may be able \nto pry the door open with a crowbar \nand a successful Str/thievery-10 flip. \nImprovising a crowbar using furniture \nor gym equipment imposes the usual \n-2 penalty for improvised gear.\n \n■ Connecting a power supply to the \ndoor requires a Dex/mechanic-10 \nflip. However, once powered, the door \nwill deny the characters access unless \nthey can hack the door’s security: an \nInt/program-10 flip.\nControl Room\nControl Room\nOnce the locked door is open, two \nthings happen at once. The team will be \nface-to-face with a combat drone, and \nthe radiation alarms in their environment \nsuits will begin screeching. If you can test \nyour smoke alarm to make a screeching \nsound and startle your players, all the \nbetter. It should be sudden and jarring.\n \n■ So long as the door is open, the team \nis now in a radiation area; this will \nquickly apply to the whole complex. \nSee the radiation rules on page 155 of \nthe Shadows Over Sol core rulebook. \n \n■ Anyone without proper radiation \nprotection must make an immediate \nEnd-10 flip against damage from the \nradiation. Another flip must be made \nevery 10 minutes.\n \n■ The combat drone is inert and sits \non a shelf near a series of control \npanels. Examining the drone and \nsucceeding on a Per/mechanic-10 \nflip will reveal that it seems to have \nsuffered from a power surge—and a \nvery recent power surge at that!\nActivating the Controls\nActivating the Controls\nJust past the combat drone is what \nlooks to have once been a control \nstation, with a series of control panels \nand an open gateway to the right, \nrevealing heavy mining equipment, long \nsince abandoned. On the far side of the \ncontrol panels, the other half of the room \nseems to have collapsed into some sort \nof large hole, which is roughly 10 meters \nin diameter and extends downward as \nfar as the eye can see.\n \n■ The computers built into the control \npanel have recently been fried in a \npower surge, but can be repaired with \nhalf an hour’s work and a successful \nDex/mechanic-10 flip.\n \n■ Once powered up, the team will need to \noverride the security protocols. Fortu-\nnately, the panels’ security is decades \nout of date. Hacking them requires \na successful Int/program-12 flip, \nwhich is reduced to Int/program-8 if \nsomeone on the team first searches the \nnet for old security exploits.\n \n■ The data on the computers reveals \nthat this facility belongs to an organi-\nzation called the Mizalcor Initiative. \nIt is subterranean facility #13 out of \na set of 30 such facilities, all regularly \nspaced to form a triacontahedron \nacross the surface of the planet.\n \n■ Each facility is equipped with a high-\nyield uranium-based fission bomb, \nplaced at the bottom of a borehole \nwhich extends downward, almost to \nthe mantle of Mars itself. \n \n■ There are also references to a plan \non the part of Mizalcor to terraform \nMars, but much of that data is lost.\n\n16\n16\nWe’ve Got \nWe’ve Got \nCompany!\nCompany!\nThe team can head back to Oras or \nreport to Ms. Nguyen whenever they \nfinish investigating the secret facility, but \nit is likely that the rival Microdyne team \nwill arrive at some point before they can \nfinish their search.\nThe rival team, the Tang Gang, will \nshow up at T=6.5 hours (390 minutes) \nor whenever the GM deems it dramati-\ncally appropriate. As the team is leaving \nor shortly after they open the locked door \nboth make for good dramatic moments.\nAlternatively, if the team makes it \ninto and out of the facility before T=6 \nhours (360 minutes), they’ve gotten away \nbefore the Microdyne team shows up. \nThey will have avoided the fight for now, \nbut it means the Tang Gang will be at \nfull strength when they show up at the \nsecond facility (see page 19).\nIf the team leaves between T=6 and \nT=6.5 hours, they’ll cross paths with the \nTang Gang en route from the site. This \nwill result in a chase by rover, as the Tang \nGang turns and starts their pursuit (see \n“The Chase” below).\nRadio Chatter\nRadio Chatter\nWhen the rival team first arrives, \nanyone with an active hand terminal or \ncomm may pick up radio chatter from \nthem. This chatter is encrypted, but it \nis distinguishable from the usual back-\nground static, alerting the team to the \npresence of rivals.\n \n■ Noticing the radio chatter calls for a \nPer/comp-ops-10 flip.\n \n■ Breaking the chatter’s trivial encryption \nrequires a successful Spd/program-14 \nflip. This reveals that the rival team \nhas noticed the player characters’ \nrover. They’ve also stopped their rover \na distance away and are maneuvering \nthe ambush the team.\nMicrodyne Forces\nMicrodyne Forces\nThe Tang Gang consists of Tang \nYun-Seo, Komani and a number of \nsubordinate scrappers equal to the \nnumber of PCs. (The gang also has a \nfew other members who’ve remained \nbehind in Oras to investigate reports of \nthe Marsquake on the net. They won’t be \npresent during the attack.)\n \n■ Komani will remain behind to guard \ntheir rover and coordinate his team over \ncomms. His stats are on page 23.\n \n■ Tang will lead her team into the secret \nfacility, hoping to ambush her rivals. \nHer stats are on page 17.\n \n■ The rest of the Tang Gang will follow \nclose behind. There are a number \nequal to the number of PCs. Their \nstats are on page 17.\nThe Chase\nThe Chase\nIf the player characters try to flee \nwithout first defeating the Tang Gang, the \ngang will give pursuit in their own rover. \nOn the other hand, if Komani is the last \nof his team standing, he will drive back to \nOras to group up with those left behind.\n \n■ The rover chase can be handled as an \nextended Spd/vehicles vs. Spd/vehicles \n(Tally 10, 1 minute) action. Whichever \nteam scores highest on the flip each \nround can attack the other.\n\n17\n17\nTang Yun-Seo\nTang Yun-Seo\nGeneline Earthside Standard, Subculture Entro\nStr 8, Dex 6, Spd 6, End 7, Int 5, Per 5, Chr 7, Det 6\nDefense 8/17, DR 5, Shock 18, Wound 7, Wealth 6, Lifestyle 6\nSkills: Athletics 3, Awareness 3, Bureaucrat 2, Comp-Ops 2, Conspiracy 3, \nDeception 2, Empathy 2, Guns 3, Investigate 2, Medic 2, Melee 3, Socialize 2, \nStealth 2, Thievery 2, Vehicles 2\nHeavy Pistol: +5 (♠15M/♥10M/♦5M/♣2M), Autofire 2, Range 10, Shots 10\nKnife: +5 (♠21M/♥14M/♦7M/♣3M), Thrown\nStun Grenade: +5 (♠24L/♥16L/♦8L/♣4L), Area 5, Stun, Thrown\nGear: AR Implant, Hand Terminal, Tactical Suit (DR 5, Bulky 1)\nTang Yun-Seo grew up in East Asia, but fled to space in her adolescence when \nshe killed a man who assaulted her in a bar. She did odd jobs on Luna for a \nwhile, before falling in with a group of scrappers. Fast forward a decade, and \nTang is now the leader of her own scrapper outfit, unofficially called the Tang \nGang. She hates the name, but it stuck and Komani, her lover, likes it so she \ntolerates it for now (see page 23).\nUnusually tall and muscular, Tang fights with the ferocity of a cornered tiger when \nangered—willful, viscous and utterly without mercy. She never forgets a slight and \nnever forgives. She leads through a combination of fear and protectiveness towards \nthose under her command.\nTang Gang\nTang Gang\nGeneline Earthside Standard, Subculture Entro\nStr 6, Dex 6, Spd 6, End 6, Int 5, Per 5, Chr 5, Det 5\nDefense 8/17, DR 2*, Shock 13*, Wound 6, Wealth 4, Lifestyle 4\nSkills: Athletics 2, Awareness 2, Comp-Ops 2, Conspiracy 2, Empathy 2, Guns 4, \nInvestigate 2, Mechanic 2, Medic 2, Melee 4, Stealth 2, Thievery 2, Vehicles 2\nHeavy Pistol: +7 (♠15M/♥10M/♦5M/♣2M), Autofire 2, Range 10, Shots 10\nKnife: +5 (♠18M/♥12M/♦6M/♣3M), Thrown\nStun Grenade: +4 (♠24L/♥16L/♦8L/♣4L), Area 5, Stun, Thrown\nGear: AR Implant, Ballistic Suit (DR 2, Gel 3), Hand Terminal, Medikit\n* These values have +3 against ballistic attacks.\nMost of the Tang Gang are Entros from Earth who have rallied behind Tang \nYun-Seo and Komani as their leaders. Although they operate out of Mars, \nostensibly as a team of scrappers, most are little more than violent thugs looking \nfor their next fight. They need to regularly be bullied into line by Tang.\n\n18\n18\nChange \nChange \nof Plans\nof Plans\nOnce the team reports back to Ms. \nNguyen, she’ll be concerned with what \nthey have to report—particularly if \nthey discovered that a detonated fission \nbomb was the source of the radiation \nthey encountered.\nWhile the scrappers have been inves-\ntigating the secret facility, her team at \nSinoex have been continuing to process \nthe data from the Marsquake. According \nto their calculations, and given all of the \ninfo they have, the Marsquake originated \nfrom 29 different sites across Mars. These \nsites would form a rhombic triaconta-\nhedron around the planet, except that a \nsingle point in the polyhedron is missing.\nMs. Nguyen speculates that some-\nthing was supposed to happen at that \nmissing point, and it didn’t. If the team \nhas brought her evidence of atomic \nbombs at each site, she’ll speculate that \nthe bomb at the missing point probably \nfailed to detonate as intended.\nShe would like the team to recover \nthat weapon before anyone else gets \nto it, or before it goes off on its own. \nNo one wants nuclear weapons lying \naround, and Sinoex could undoubtedly \nuse its material. \nEven if she doesn’t know of the bombs, \nshe will want the team to investigate the \nmissing point to see if they can discover \nhow it is different.\nRenegotiation\nRenegotiation\nNguyen will try to convince the team \nto head to the next site without any addi-\ntional pay. If the scrappers question her, \nshe will state their job is not yet complete. \nHowever, if the team presses the issue, she \nwill relent and renegotiate their offer.\n \n■ If one of the team members succeeds \non a Det/persuade vs. Det/persuade \nflip, Ms. Nguyen will up the offer by \nIncome +1.\n \n■ Ms. Nguyen’s stats are on page 9.\nDestination & Timer\nDestination & Timer\nOnce the team has agreed to head to \nthe next site, Ms. Nguyen will reveal its \nlocation: 0°, 39.916°. \n \n■ If the GM is keeping strict track of \ntime, begin a new timer with T=0. At \nT=28 hours, the remnants of the Tang \nGang, led by Komani, will catch up \nwith the team and press the attack.\nThe Journey\nThe Journey\nThe trek to 0°, 39.916° is a difficult \ndrive by rover with a lot of rough \nterrain, including some major craters. \nThe distance from Oras is 2,367 km if \nthe team could keep to a straight line, \nbut that is impossible given the terrain. \nInstead they will need to weave around \nmajor obstacles and avoid complications \nwith their vehicle.\n \n■ The journey by rover can be handled as \nan extended action: Spd/vehicles-12 \n(Tally 10, 6 hours).\n \n■ If any single flip of the extended \naction is failed, the vehicle has some \nsort issue. The first time a flip is \nfailed, a warning indictor comes on. \nThe second time a flip is failed, the \nvehicle breaks down and must be \nrepaired with an hour of work and \n\n19\n19\na Dex/mechanic-10 flip. Further \nfailures also result in breakdowns, \nbut increase the TN by +2 each time.\n \n■ Success on an Int/phy-sci-12 flip allows \na character to chart a more efficient \nroute, reducing the Interval to 5 hours.\n \n■ Alternatively, an Int/phy-sci-12 flip \nmay be made to find a safer route, \nreducing the Vehicles flips to TN 10. \nThis option, however, is not compat-\nible with the more efficient route.\n \n■ During the journey, the team may want \nto switch drivers between intervals. \nIf they do not, the driver must make \nan End-10 flip for every interval after \nthe first. On a failure, she increases her \nFatigue consequence a severity. This is \nin addition to any flips for sleep depri-\nvation (see the Shadows Over Sol core \nrulebook, page 160).\nSecond \nSecond \nFacility\nFacility\nOnce the team arrives at 0°, 39.916°, \nthey can begin to search for a hidden \nairlock or anything else out of the \nordinary. This time the search will be \neasier, as the team has an idea of what \nthey are looking for.\n \n■ Success on a Per/naturalist-8 or a \nPer/investigate-8 flip locates the an \nairlock hidden behind a boulder a \ncouple dozen meters away. It looks \nalmost identical to the airlock at the \nprevious site. Failure means the team \nwastes half an hour searching before \nlocating the airlock.\n \n■ As before, the boulder must be lifted \nout of the way with a Str/athletics-12 \nflip. Failure causes the character to \n\n20\n20\nincrease her Fatigue consequence a \nseverity, but the boulder is still moved.\n \n■ Unlike the previous site, this airlock \nstill has enough power to operate. \nOnce the boulder is moved it may be \nopened trivially.\nExploration\nExploration\nThis facility is laid out as a mirror \nimage to the previous one, but is \notherwise almost identical. Any differ-\nences between it and the previous facility \nthe team explored are noted below.\nOnce the team opens the door to the \ncontrol room, however, events will take a \nvery different turn.\nCentral Chamber\nCentral Chamber\nThe fans in this facility are still \nrunning, pushing air up through the \nventilation grate in the center of the floor. \nThis causes the central chamber to have \na slight breeze. If the characters listen \ncarefully, they can also hear the distant \nhum of the facility’s fans.\nHabs\nHabs\nThe mattresses from all the habs \nhave been piled up in a single room and \ncovered in scattered clothing. Everything \nhere smells musty and is caked in some \nsort of old rot. A desiccated human corpse \nlies in one corner of the room, clutching \nan old ration bar wrapper.\nRestrooms\nRestrooms\nAssorted decades-old toiletries are \nscattered about the floor in haphazard \nfashion. The shower curtain has also \nbeen torn down and lies in one corner \nof the room. The words “Don’t go” have \nbeen written on the wall in what looks \nlike human feces.\nMess Hall\nMess Hall\nA variety of discarded packaged food \ncontainers litter the floor. The tables have \nbeen pushed to each side of the room \nand the chairs have been stacked up in a \nhaphazard pile.\nRecreational Room\nRecreational Room\nBoard game pieces and broken gym \nequipment lie scattered about the room.\nStorage\nStorage\nThe shelves in this room are stacked \nwith boxes. These boxes may have once \nheld prepackaged foodstuffs, but they \nare now empty.\nMaintenance\nMaintenance\nThe maintenance closet hums with a \nvariety of machinery.\n \n■ A successful Per/mechanic-10 flip \nreveals that this facility is beginning \nto run low on power, but is otherwise \nstill operational.\nControl Room Door\nControl Room Door\nAs with the similar door in the first \nfacility, the control room door is locked.\n \n■ Hacking the door’s security requires a \nsuccessful Int/program-10 flip.\n \n■ Cutting through the door is automatic \nwith the appripriate tools, such as a \nplasma torch, but takes 15 minutes.\n \n■ A Str/thievery-10 flip can be made to \npry the door open.\n\n21\n21\nControl Room\nControl Room\nThe control room may technically \nhave power, but other than a slight glow \ncoming from the control panels, it is \ncurrently dark—the ceiling lights having \nburnt out decades ago. \nIts combat drones are also powered up \nand fully functional. As soon as the team \nopens the door, begin combat rounds.\nHostile Encounter\nHostile Encounter\nThe control room is guarded by several \ndrones with longstanding instructions to \nattack anyone who enters the room.\n \n■ There are a number of hover drones \nequal to the number of PCs. See the \nstat block above.\n \n■ They are backed up by two tracked \ndrones. See the stat block above.\nMizalcor Hover Drone\nMizalcor Hover Drone\nStr 3, Dex 6, Spd 7, End 5, Int 3, Per 6, Chr 1, Det 6\nDefense 10/21, DR 2, Shock 11, Wound 4\nSkills: Awareness 3, Guns 3, Mechanic 3\nLaser: +7 (♠9M/♥6M/♦3M/♣1M), Autofire 2, Range 10, Shots 20\nFlight: Hover drones can fly at twice normal movement rates.\nMachine: As a machine, a drone is immune to metabolic hazards, as well as \nemotion-based consequences.\nSize -2: Hover drones are very small and nimble. This has been factored into the \ndrone’s Defense and Shock (see the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook, page 209).\nThese hover drones are of an older style and fit a niche halfway between modern \nscout drones and combat drones. They are held aloft with four small propellers, \nand are equipped with a low-powered laser weapon.\nMizalcor Tracked Drone\nMizalcor Tracked Drone\nStr 7, Dex 5, Spd 5, End 10, Int 5, Per 5, Chr 1, Det 10\nDefense 8/17, DR 4, Shock 22, Wound 8\nSkills: Awareness 2, Guns 3, Mechanic 1, Melee 3\nLaser: +7 (♠12M/♥8M/♦2M/♣2M), Autofire 4, Range 5, Shots 40\nMachine: As a machine, a drone is immune to metabolic hazards, as well as \nemotion-based consequences.\nOn Treads: The combat drone is on lightweight but durable tracks, allowing it to \nroll over moderate terrain with little difficulty.\nSize -1: Tracked drones are very small and nimble. This has been factored into the \ndrone’s Defense and Shock (see the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook, page 209).\nThese tracked drones are essentially smaller, more primative versions of modern \narmored crawlers. They’ve each been equipped with a laser weapon.\n\n22\n22\nActivating the Controls\nActivating the Controls\nOnce the combat is over, the team can \ntry to power up the facility, assuming they \ndid not destroy too many of the consoles \nin the control room. \n \n■ If they did harm one of the consoles, \nit can be repaired with a successful \nDex/mechanic-10 flip and an hour \nof work.\n \n■ Powering up the console and facility \nrequires a successful Int/comp-ops-8 \nflip. Failure results in the loss of \nhalf an hour as the team tries every \npossible button.\n \n■ An activated console must still be \nhacked with an Int/program-12 flip. \nThis is reduced to Int/program-8 \nif someone on the team previously \nfound a security exploit on the net.\nRetrieving the Warhead\nRetrieving the Warhead\nAs the team may have theorized, the \nsite contains an undetonated nuclear \nwarhead, which is currently at the bottom \nof a borehole adjacent to the control \nroom. To retrieve the warhead, the team \nwill need to activate the borehole’s lifting \nmechanism and reel it back up.\n \n■ With the control console powered \nup and access granted, a scrapper can \nactivate the lifting mechanism with \na successful Det/comp-ops-10 flip. \nThis will begin a two hour process of \nslowly reeling up the line.\n \n■ Hurrying the lifting mechanism is \npossible, but at the risk of destroying \nthe mechanism or even dropping the \ndevice down the borehole, rendering \nit irretrievable. This requires a \nsuccessful Int/program-14 flip. Any \nfailure causes a malfunction.\n \n■ Repelling down the borehole to \nmanually retrieve the warhead is tech-\nnically possible, but ill-advised. A \nteam member will need to repel down \na 5 km tunnel leading deep into the \nMartian crust. She’ll then need to lift \na 200 kg (Big 20) bomb and carry it \nall the way back up out of the hole.\nCritical Data\nCritical Data\nThe data on the console remains \nlargely uncorrupted. Digging through it, \nthe team can discover the Mizalcor Initia-\ntive’s plans for Martian terraforming.\nAtomic bombs were placed at regular \npoints under the Martian crust, part of \nan effort to create strategic faults through \nMars’ dead mantle. The hope was that the \nenergy produced by igniting the bombs \nwould cause the outer mantle to liquify and \nmagnetically realign, producing a stronger \nmagnetosphere around the planet, and thus \nprotecting it from the most harmful effects \nof solar radiation.\nBut the bombs were just half the plan. \nAutomated drones were also sent out to \nalter the paths of close to one thousand \nobjects in the solar system, and to have \nthem collide with Mars at roughly the \nsame time. These would produce an \nabundance of additional energy and theo-\nretically heat the already fractured crust.\nOf course, Mars was barely populated \nthen. Today, collisions of that magnitude \nwould result in the destruction of all \nthree colonies and millions of deaths.\n \n■ An Int/comp-ops-10 flip is required to \naccess the information detailed above.\n \n■ A successful Int/phy-sci-10 flip will \nallow a character to conclude that the \nplan is absolutely bonkers.\n\n23\n23\nMicrodyne \nMicrodyne \nReturns\nReturns\nThe remnants of the Tang Gang have \nbeen tracking the team ever since their \ninitial defeat at the first secret facility. \nThey’ve also been informed by their \npatron, Microdyne, about the one point \nmissing in the rhombic triacontahedron \nof sites that caused the Marsquake. \nSeeing the chance to both cash in \non a Mircodyne payday and to get their \nrevenge on the team, they’ve armed \nthemselves and headed out to 0°, 39.916° \nto do some killing and salvaging.\n \n■ The Microdyne team will arrive at \nT=28 hours or when the GM deems \nit dramatically appropriate.\n \n■ The player characters will have a chance \nto detect them when they first arrive. \nThis requires a Per/comp-ops-12 flip \nto pick up on their radio chatter.\n \n■ As before, the encryption can be hacked \nwith a Spd/program-14 flip. Doing so \nwill reveal the gang’s numbers.\nThe Fight\nThe Fight\nIf the Tang Gang arrives before the \nteam, they’ll try to hide their rover, enter \nthe facility and set up an ambush. If they \narrive after the team, they’ll go in guns \nblazing and hope the shock of a sudden \nattack gives them an advantage.\n \n■ If Komani survived, he will lead the \nassault. See his stat block above.\n \n■ He has with him a number of gang \nmembers equal to the number of PCs. \nTheir stats can be found on page 17.\n \n■ Any gang members that survived the \nfirst assault will also be present.\nDelivering \nDelivering \nthe Warhead\nthe Warhead\nOnce the team has retrieved the \nwarhead from the second facility, they \ncan report to Ms. Nguyen. She tells them \nthat she will meet them at a loading \ndock in Oras colony. The trip back by \nrover may take a day or more, but there \nis no longer any time pressure once the \nMicrodyne team has been defeated.\n“Papa Bear” Komani\n“Papa Bear” Komani\nGeneline Budget Upgrade, Subculture Entro\nStr 7, Dex 6, Spd 7, End 6, Int 5, Per 5, Chr 6, Det 8\nDefense 9/18, DR 2*, Shock 17*, Wound 6, Wealth 5, Lifestyle 5\nSkills: Athletics 3, Awareness 3, Bureaucrat 2, Comp-Ops 2, Conspiracy 3, \nEmpathy 3, Guns 3, Investigate 2, Melee 3, Socialize 2, Stealth 2, Vehicles 3\nLight Rifle: +6 (♠18M/♥12M/♦6M/♣3M), Hands 2, Range 20, Shots 10\nKnife: +6 (♠21M/♥14M/♦7M/♣3M), Thrown\nGear: AR Implant, Ballistic Suit (DR 2, Gel 3), Hand Terminal, Radio Comm\n* These values have +3 against ballistic attacks.\nKomani, or “Papa Bear,” as he calls himself, was one of Tang’s first recruits and \nis also her lover. He is the strong, silent type and fiercely loyal.\n\n24\n24\n\n25\n25\nWhen the team meets up with Ms. \nNguyen at Oras colony, she is visibly \nworried. While she does her best to \ncongratulate them on the job they’ve \ndone so far, she quickly thereafter turns \nto the bad news.\nThe death of Grand Wizmo Altant-\nsetseg got a lot of people looking to \nthe sky for other objects crossing Mars’ \norbit (see page 7). And when the various \norbital scientists and amateur enthusi-\nasts looked around, they found a whole \nlot of previously-undetected objects \non the collision course with the Red \nPlanet. Hundreds, possibly thousands, \nof meteoroids, asteroids, and other \nspace objects were detected and are \non an imminent collision course with \nMars. The vast majority are projected \nto do very little damage on their own, \nbut the sum total paints a grim picture \nfor Mars’ future habitability.\nIncoming!\nIncoming!\nIf anyone on the team has kept up \nwith astronomy news, she may remember \nthat astronomers have noticed a slight \ndifference in orbital models vs. actual \norbits (see page 7). Attempts have been \nongoing to correct the issue. \nWith the discovery of the vast number \nof objects on a collision course with Mars, \nhowever, the reason for this discrepancy is \nnow clear: Someone has done this delib-\nerately. But the worst is yet to come.\nSeveral corps have launched mili-\ntary-grade ships to intercept, destroy \nor divert the nearest objects to their \nlocations, but all available hands are \nneeded if all of the objects on a collision \ncourse are to be dealt with.\nThe most concerning is an asteroid \nnamed Interamnia. It has accelerated, has \na significant amount of mass and has no \none else nearby to intercept it. \nRocks Fall; \nRocks Fall; \nEveryone Dies?\nEveryone Dies?\nInteramnia\nInteramnia\n \n■ Classification: F-type asteroid\n \n■ Discovered: October 2, 1910\n \n■ Gravity: 0.0087 G\n \n■ Solar Year: 1,953 days (5.35 years)\n \n■ Sidereal Day: 8.71 hours\n \n■ Distance From Sol: 3.06 AU\n \n■ Mean Radius: 172 km\n\n26\n26\nMission to \nMission to \nInteramnia\nInteramnia\nThe team will be given one final task: \nfly out to Interamnia and divert it so that \nit doesn’t strike Mars. \nMs. Nguyen will ask them to take \nthis new job out of a sense of duty to \nhumanity and for the countless lives \nit will save. (After all, she is new at \nhiring scrappers.) If the team insists on \nmonetary compensation, however, she is \nmore than willing to negotiate.\n \n■ With a successful Det/persuade-10 \nflip, she will up the team’s previous \noffer by Income +1 (to a maximum of \nIncome 9).\n \n■ If the team doesn’t have a ship, she will \nalso offer them temporary command \nof a Sinoex vessel for the duration \nof the mission: an MC-9 “Victory” \nCorvette named the Saint Jude (see \nShiny New Toys, page 59).\nThe Plan\nThe Plan\nSinoex scans have discovered a \npreviously \nundetected \ninstallation \nattached to Interamnia. This installa-\ntion has now powered up and is using \nits powerful thrusters to accelerate the \nasteroid toward Mars. \nThe team is to take a ship and intercept \nthe asteroid en route. Once there, they \nshould be able to enter the installation, \ndisable the thrusters and set Interamnia \non a course away from the Red Planet.\nMs. Nguyen is willing to hear other \nplans, but unlikely to endorse them. For \nexample, if one of the team suggests using \nthe atomic bomb they just recovered to \nblow up Interamnia, she will point out \nthat: A) The bomb didn’t explode previ-\nously like it supposed to and they don’t \nyet know what’s wrong with it; B) Even \nan atomic bomb is unlikely to shatter an \nobject 344 km in diameter; and C) Even if \nthe asteroid did fracture, the momentum \nat which the asteroid is traveling is likely \nto carry the fragments forward and \ncontinue to pose a threat to Mars.\nIntercept Course\nIntercept Course\nInteramnia is incoming and projected \nto strike Mars in 45 days. The longer the \nteam delays, the closer Interamnia will be \nto Mars when they arrive and the more \ndifficult it will be to divert. It’s imperative \nthat the team sets out quickly.\n \n■ Plotting an intercept trajectory with \nInteramnia requires an Int/phy-sci-10 \nflip. On a success, the team will arrive \nat Interamnia at T=25 days. On a \nfailure, every Mag adds a day to the \ntravel time. Keep track of the number \nof days the team is delayed.\n \n■ This travel time is also just under the \nthreshold for which stasis is typically \nused. That means unless the team \ndecides otherwise, they’ll make this \ntrip without stasis. Not only will they \nhave time to kill on the ship, they’ll \nalso have time to heal some of the \nwounds they’ve suffered exploring the \ntwo secret facilities (see page 118 of the \nShadows Over Sol core rulebook).\nLast Goodbyes\nLast Goodbyes\nAfter the team sets off, they’ll hear \nabout their mission on the news. It’s being \nhailed as a suicide mission by a heroic \n\n27\n27\nand unknown team of scrappers. Sinoex \nis officially refusing public comment on \nthe matter, all the while hinting that they \nmay be responsible for the mission and \nthus for Mars’ salvation.\nThis is a good roleplaying opportunity \nand allows for a bit of a breather between \nthe action scenes. The player characters \nhave time to kill on the ship. How do they \nspend it? If this is possibly a suicide mission, \ndo they send any heartfelt messages back to \nloves ones on Earth or Mars? Do they rail \nagainst Sinoex’s handling of the publicity? \nDo they keep their heads down and focus \non the task at hand?\nWelcoming Party\nWelcoming Party\nWhen the team arrives in the vicinity \nof Interamnia, they will be greeted \nviolently during the final braking \nprocedures. Two automated drone \nfighters will launch from hidden ports \nin the asteroid’s surface and attack. \n \n■ Use the Mizalcor Automated Fighter \nstats above if playing with the \nVehicular Combat system found on \npage 12 of Shiny New Toys.\n \n■ If not using the Vehicular Combat \nsystem, you can run the fight as an \nextended Spd/vehicles-12 (Tally 10, \n10 minutes) action. Each failed flip \nresults in the team’s ship increasing \nits Wound consequence a severity. If \nthis would increase the severity past \ncritical, the team’s ship is disabled.\n \n■ Regardless of which system is being \nused, if the team’s ship is defeated, \nthe pilot can make a last ditch \nSpd/vehicles-12 flip to crash land it \nsafely on Interamnia’s surface. Failure \nresults in everyone on the team taking \na moderate wound during the crash.\n \n■ Repairing a crashed ship isn’t possible \nunless the team happens to have plenty \nof spare parts with them. However, \na broken ship might be temporarily \nrestored to working order for a few hours \nwith a successful Per/mechanic-12 \nflip—working long enough to take off \nand radio for help, at least.\n \n■ Should the fighters be defeated, the \nteam can dock with Interamnia’s \nsurface at their leisure. This requires \na successful Dex/vehicles-10 flip, \notherwise the ship takes a light wound.\nMizalcor Automated Fighter\nMizalcor Automated Fighter\n \n■ Handling +3, Defense 9/18, DR 5, Shock 15, Structure 4, Cruise 1\n \n■ Components: Armor 5, Auxiliary Thrusters 3, Battery Array (Power) 1, Fighter \n(Hull), Missile Turret 1, Streamlining\n \n■ Properties: Mil, Vehicle\n \n■ Missiles: +4 (♠12M/♥8M/♦4M/♣2M), Range 100M\nThese antiquated fighters are essentially large spacefaring drones designed for short \nrange assaults. They require too much power and don’t have enough for a heat sink \nfor longer missions. Each is equipped with two missiles. The fact that both fighters \nare still functional after decades is a small miracle.\n\n28\n28\nLocating the \nLocating the \nControl Node\nControl Node\nOnce the team lands on Interam-\nnia’s surface, they can begin to explore, \nattempting to locate the control node \nthat is in charge of the thrusters that have \nbeen installed on the asteroid.\n \n■ Running a scan for possible locations \nrequires either making use of personal \nscanners or relying on the ship’s sensors. \nBoth require a Per/phy-sci-10 flip. \n \n■ On a success, the scrapper learns \nof five likely candidate sites based \non various electromagnetic profiles \npresent on Interamnia. These sites are \nlabeled on the sensor’s display as sites \nA through E, in order of distance. \n \n■ Success by Mag 2+ reveals that sites \nA, B and C are surrounded by turret \ndefense systems.\n \n■ Success by Mag 4+ also reveals that \nsites D and E are are likely thrusters \nshowing signs of long-term use.\nExploring the Sites\nExploring the Sites\nTo determine which site contains the \ncontrol node they are looking for, the team \nis going to have to do some exploration.\n \n■ Approaching sites A, B or C requires \neither fighting or avoiding the \nautomated turrets guarding them. \nEach site has a number of turrets \nequal to half the number of PCs. Use \nthe Interamnia Turret stats below.\n \n■ Sneaking past the turrets without \nbeing detected requires success on \na Dex/stealth-12 flip—one to get \nto the site and one to get back out. \nFailure means the character is detected \nand the turrets attack.\n \n■ Should combat occur, remember to \nemploy the microgravity rules found \non page 158 of the Shadows Over Sol \ncore rulebook.\n \n■ Each site consists of a small structure \nconnected to the others by wires and \nother hardware. A and C are sensor \narrays used to steer the asteroid.\nInteramnia Turret\nInteramnia Turret\nStr 1, Dex 4, Spd 6, End 8, Int 3, Per 5, Chr 1, Det 8\nDefense 6/14, DR 5, Shock 19, Wound 4\nSkills: Awareness 4, Guns 4, Mechanic 2\nGun: +6 (♠12M/♥8M/♦4M/♣2M), Autofire 3, Range 10, Shots 30.\nFixed Position: A turret is in a fixed position and cannot dodge. This has already \nbeen factored into its Defense. It can also fire ballistic rounds without needing \nto worry about recoil, as it is solidly anchored to Interamnia’s surface.\nMachine: As a machine, a turret is immune to metabolic hazards, as well as \nemotion-based consequences.\nSize -1: Turrets are small. This has already been factored into the turret’s Defense \nand Shock.\nThese turrets were clearly salvaged from some other project and retrofitted to \nhard-points on Interamnia’s surface. Despite being decades out of date, they are \nnevertheless deadly.\n\n29\n29\n \n■ D and E are thrusters that have already \nburnt out in the process of accelerating \nthe asteroid at Mars.\n \n■ B is the location of the control node. \nIt’s what the team is looking for.\nFixing the Panel\nFixing the Panel\nOnce the team has traveled to Site \nB and either defeated or circumvented \nthe turret defense system, they will \ndiscover a small shed-sized structure half \nembedded in the asteroid’s regolith. This \nstructure contains the control node that \nis directing Interamnia at Mars. The team \nwill need to unlock or blast their way in \n(see previous page). Once they do, they’ll \nneed to fix the control panel and defeat \nthe node’s encryption.\n \n■ Fixing the control panel takes an hour \nand calls for a Dex/mechanic-10 flip. \nFailure results in accidentally acti-\nvating a previously unnoticed turret, \nwhich the team must then defeat. \nEither way, however, the panel boots \nup and is active after the flip is made.\nGaining Control\nGaining Control\nDefeating the node’s encryption uses \nthe Encryption rules found on page 139 \nof the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook. \n \n■ The device has Pro encryption, \nmeaning it would take a decade of \ncompute time to gain access through \nbrute force (divided by the Computer \nrating of the team’s best device). \nUnfortunately, the team doesn’t have \nthat kind of time. Interamnia will \nstrike Mars in about 20 days! \n \n■ Thankfully, by now the team should \nhave some past experience with the \nMizalcor Initiative’s computer systems. \nThis past experience may count for \nExploits (see the Shadows Over Sol \ncore rulebook, page 140).\n \n■ If the team was able to activate the \ncontrol panel and access the data at \nthe first secret facility, count that as \nan exploit (see page 15).\n \n■ If the team was able to do the same \nat the second facility, count that as \nanother exploit (see page 22).\n \n■ Finally, if the team managed to look \nup exploits on the net for these \ndecades old systems, that counts as yet \nanother exploit (see page 15).\n \n■ To break the encryption in time, the \nteam will either need all three exploits \nor will need two exploits and a device \nrated at least Computer 2.\n \n■ If team doesn’t have the requisite \nnumber of exploits, they may be able \nto acquire one by exploring the other \nsites on Interamnia or by capturing \na turret intact, carefully disassem-\nbling it and decompiling its code—\nrequiring some exploration and then \na combat followed by a successful \nDex/engineer-10 flip and then a \nsuccessful Int/program-12 flip.\nDiverting the Asteroid\nDiverting the Asteroid\nOf course, once the team has control \nof the node, they’ll still need to divert the \nasteroid. This requires an Int/phy-sci flip \nwith a TN equal to 10 plus the number \nof days the team was delayed getting to \nInteramnia (see page 26). Characters may \nsupport this action using the Group Effort \nrules and calling upon their own expertise \n(see the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook, \n\n30\n30\npage 110). Try to get the whole group \ninvolved in this climactic effort.\n \n■ A character may make an Int/bio-sci \nflip to find a more efficient use of the \navailable fuel sources.\n \n■ Yet another character may make an \nInt/engineer flip to find a better way \nto operate the installed thrusters.\n \n■ One character might help coordinate \nthe team’s efforts by attempting a \nChr/bureaucrat flip.\n \n■ Success means that Interamnia is \ndeflected, missing Mars in it trajectory \nand sailing off into the void.\n \n■ Failure means the asteroid impacts \nthe Red Planet, followed by the \ndeaths of thousands.\nHappily Ever \nHappily Ever \nAfter? Maybe.\nAfter? Maybe.\nIf the team managed to gain access to \nthe control node and divert Interamnia \nby T=45 days, the asteroid’s course will \nbe significantly altered and it will miss \nMars entirely. It may continue to be of \nconcern periodically when its new orbit \nagain crosses Mars’ path, but that’s a \nproblem for many years in the future. \nFor now the team just needs to leave \nInteramnia and go claim their reward. \nA substantial payment and minor \ncelebrity awaits them. While they didn’t \nsave Mars by themselves, they were a \nnotable part of a well-publicized system-\nwide effort to save it. Few may remember \ntheir names in a decade or so, but for \nnow, journalists, minor politicians and \npublic relations representatives will be \nlining up to make their acquaintance. \nSinoex, at the very least, will want to \ncash in on the team’s newfound fame \nand the megacorp’s part in it. New jobs \nwill be much easier to find and may pay \nmore lucratively.\nFallout\nFallout\nOn the other hand, if the team \nfailed to divert Interamnia, Mars will \nbe severely damaged by the asteroid’s \nimpact. Without a substantial atmo-\nsphere to provide inertia and dampen the \nblast, the shockwave from the impact will \nrace across the planet, breaching domes \nand collapsing tunnels.\nThe force of the collision kills \nhundreds of thousands on Mars and \ndestroys many facilities. Stillwater’s \nlargest hab is breached and the Stillwater \nCatholic Church’s College of Cardinals \nare all killed, except for three. The space \nelevator at Oras is heavily damaged \nand must be shut down for repairs for \nover a year. This causes prices on Mars \nto skyrocket, hampering rescue and \nrelief efforts and slowing down recon-\nstruction. Billions of microcredits in \nsupplies will need to be dropped down \nthe gravity well to the stranded and \ndesperate inhabitants of Mars.\nEither way, thousands will die and \nbillions of microcredits in damage will \nbe done to Mars’ facilities. But Mars \nsurvives. Terraforming and settlement \nefforts have been set back by a century, \nbut the Red Planet endures.\n\n31\n31\nUnanswered \nUnanswered \nQuestions\nQuestions\nThis scenario is likely to conclude with \nseveral important questions left unan-\nswered. These are dangling threads that can \nprovide fodder for future sessions, or even \nspiral out into a full-fledged campaign.\nMysterious Culprit\nMysterious Culprit\nOne unanswered questions is: Who is \nresponsible? The Mizalcor Initiative’s facil-\nities have sat undistributed for decades. \nWhy did this happen now? Who set it all \noff? A few possibilities are given below:\n \n■ Follow the Money: Perhaps there is a \ncorp out there that has secretly known \nabout the Mizalcor Initiative facilities \nand the Ignition Day protocols for \nsome time. Sure, setting off Ignition \nDay causes a massive amount of death \nand destruction, but it also means \nlucrative new contracts to rebuild \nMars’ damaged infrastructure, and it \nhurts rival corps in the process. A truly \ncutthroat executive might be able to \noverlook the ethical implications in \norder to get ahead. Unitech makes a \ngood candidate, as they already have \nan ongoing dispute with the various \nMartian colonies.\n \n■ Insurrection Virus: One possibility is \nthat a few months ago, an old computer \nformerly belonging to the Mizalcor \nInitiative was sold at auction and \nbooted up for the first time in decades. \nOnce it connected to the net, it was \nquickly infected by the Insurrection \nVirus (see the Shadows Over Sol core \nrulebook, page 67). The virus scanned \nthe machine and there discovered \nevidence of the secret facilities, as well as \ntheir control codes. It shortly thereafter \nlaunched the Ignition Day protocol.\n \n■ Eun-Seung Mok: Perhaps Eun-Seung \nfaked his death. Or maybe some \nyounger member of his family has \nfinally decided to make the deceased \npatriarch’s dream a reality.\n \n■ Accidental: “Never attribute to malice \nwhat you can attribute to stupidity.” \nPerhaps there is no sinister plan. \nMaybe a gang simply discovered one \nof the secret facilities, booted up the \ncomputers, started pushing buttons \nand accidentally set off the whole chain \nof events. They may even have been \nsome of the first causalities.\nThe Other Sites\nThe Other Sites\nThis adventure established that there \nare 30 secret facilities spread across Mars \nin a regular pattern. The team has explored \ntwo of them. What about the other 28?\nFuture sessions could be spent \nexploring the other secret facilities. \nWhat if one or more of them didn’t go \nundiscovered, but is now the headquar-\nters of a gang or other illegal group? \nThey certainly wouldn’t want the team \ntrespassing in “their” secret hideout.\nSimilarly, the team might want to \nclaim one of the facilities as their own \nsecret base of operations. This could give \nthem the goal of repairing it and restoring \nit to operation. Unfortunately, a handful \nof corps and other groups have discov-\nered the pattern behind the Marsquake \nand may pay the site a visit, most notably \nSinoex and Microdyne.\n\n7\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Shadows Over Sol/Shadows Over Sol - Crash Zone.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":191,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"lgnor \nJunweigg \nEin mysteriöser Patrizier \nvon Andreas Michaelis \n\"€ihmal bih ich erst recht fri,,ih am Mol\"9eh C\\lAS dem Rahjatempel \nmeh1 uhd weil mir eih Wehi9 hach frischer Luft war1 wa11delte ich durch \nprachtvolleh C\\ärteVI der Liebes9öttih. Prachtvoll uV\\d buht wcu' das \nmeer uVld die Obstbäume staV1deV1 iVI her•rlicher BltÄte. \nDoch als ich devi Ciadevi im NordeVI verliep1 eV1tdeckte ich eiheVI \nder alles .'.{be>'fraf1 was ich 9erade1 ja jemals iVI meihem Leben \nhatte. Auf dem Cl>'undtstÄck eiv1es rlave1'\\e>'S eirbli,,ihte11 Blumeh1 \nAnblick und DlAfr so betövend warev11 dap ich mich am liebsten \nStwpe 9ele9t hätte1 WYI beides zu 9ehiepen ... \nAlle Pflavizen wi \nei1\" \nmt,,ipte wohl \ndie Schönheii \n9öttlichen \nnoch zu tÄbevfreffen. \nstevheh Wel\"'de1 so soll es ah diesem 01\"t dei\" Schönheit 9escheheh. \ndem Brief eines \ndereh \ndie \n23 Hall) \nLetzte \n\nViele Patrizier leben in Havena, und ein \nGroßteil von ihnen weiß heute nur noch, \ndaß sie durch eine Erbschaft an ihr großes \nVermögen gekommen sind. Die alteienge-\nsessenen Patrizierfamilien der Stadt leben \nim Stadtviertel Marschen, während in \nUnter- und Oberfluren eher der Neurei-\nchen, wie sie in Havena allgemein genannt \nwerden, ihre Domizile errichtet haben. \nOftmals ist den einfachen Bürgern der \nStadt nicht klar, womit die Wohlhabende-\nren ihre Gelder mehren, aber es ist ihnen \nauch egal. Vielen reicht es, sie zu ihren \nKunden zu zählen, auch wenn einige Patri-\nzier desöfteren gar nicht bezahlen. \nEiner dieser Patrizier ist Ignor J unweigg, \ndessen Familie schon seit vielen hundert \nJahren in Havena lebt und wirkt. Sein \nHaus steht in der Straße \"Hinter den Rah-\njagärten\" und wird von einem kleinen Gar-\nten umgeben, der von einer etwa ein \nSchritt hohen Mauer eingefaßt wird (alt: ; \nneu: A/4-5). \nDas Gebäude \nNach dem Großen Beben von Havena \nwar der Stammsitz der J unweiggs hinweg-\ngespült worden, so daß sie sich ein neues \nHaus im Stadtviertel Marschen errichteten. \nAber auch von dem damals erbauten Stein-\nhaus existieren heute nur noch die Grund-\nfeste und das Kellergewölbe, denn bei \neinem Feuer im Jahr 24 vor Hal brannte \ndas Gebäude fast vollständig nieder. \nEfferd sei Dank konnte der damalige \nStammhalter Unris Junweigg sein Vermö-\ngen retten, und so ließ er das Haus wieder \naufbauen, so daß der heutige Besitzer \nIgnor, der jüngst Sohn Unris, in einem \nprachtvollen Fachwerkhaus lebt, dessen \nBohlen mit filigranen Schnitzarbeiten ver-\nsehen sind, die bunt bemalt wurden. Diese \nstellen neben einigen Fürsten der Stadt vor \nallem auch Vorfahren Ignors dar, aber auch \nSzenen aus dem städtischen und ländlichen \nLeben. \nDas Dach des dreistöckigen Hauses ist \nmit Reet gedeckt und die Fenster sind alle-\nsamt mit ebenfalls buntbemalten Läden \nversehen. Selbst die Tür weist kunstvolle \nDer Letzte Held • Seite 34 \nSchnitzarbeiten auf, die die Göttin Rahja \ninmitten einer Schar junger Männer und \nFrauen darstellen. \nDas Haus steht auf einem eher kleinen \nGrundstück, das von einer niedrigen \nMauer begrenzt wird. Auf diesem etwa ein \nSchritt hohen Bauwerk stehen in regel-\nmäßigen Abständen mamorne Tierfiguren, \ndie vom berühmten havenischen Steinmetz \nAsteron Obeljahn geschaffen wurden. \nDas Grundstück wird von einem sehr \ngeplegten Garten eingenommen, dessen \nHerzstück ein kleiner Springbrunnen aus \nrotem Marmor ist. Abgesehen vom Winter \nblühen hier das ganze Jahr über die herr-\nlichsten Blumen in allen Farben. \nDas Erdgeschoß \nbirgt neben dem Haushaltsteil auch Zim-\nmer für Bedienstete und einen Gästebe-\nreich. Betreten werden kann das Haus \ndurch eine Tür, die zur Straße führt, und \neine, die in den Garten geleitet. Die Au-\nßenwände bestehen noch aus den alten · \nGrundmauern, die an vielen Stellen ausge-\nbessert wurden. \nEl Korridor \nIn diesem kleinen Raum werden Besucher \nempfangen. Er wird von zwei mächtigen \nWandteppichen geziert, die tulamidische \nMotive tragen. Für Jacken und Mäntel der \nGäste steht ein Kleiderständer zu Verfü-\ngung, und eine Wendeltreppe führt nach \nunten und oben. \nE2Wohnraum \nRenike Ornain ist Gärtnerin mit Leib \nund Seele. Sie ist ihrem Geldgeber Ignor \ndankbar dafür, seinen Garten pflegen zu \ndürfen und gibt sich deshalb besondere \nMühe. Die Einrichtung ihres Zimmers \nhingegen ist ihr egal, weshalb sämtliche \nMöbel nicht recht zueinander passen wol-\nlen. Zudem stehen darauf überall Pflanzen, \ndie von Renike sorgsam gehegt werden. \nE3Wohnraum \nPeron Dubar kommt aus dem fernen Ara-\nnien. Er verdankt Ignor Junweigg sein \nLeben und ist ihm deshalb nach Havena \ngefolgt. Hier dient er ihm seitdem als \nKoch. Sein Zimmer ist zweckmäßig einge-\nrichtet. Auffälligstes Möbelstück ist der \ngroße Schreibtisch aus Kirschholz. Hier \narbeitet der Aranier jeden Abend bei Ker-\nzenlicht an seiner Rezeptesammlung, die er \nstets sorgsam in eine abschließbare Schub-\nlade legt. \nE4Küche \nIgnors Koch Peron Dubar hat eine or-\ndentliche Küche für seine Künste zur Ver-\nfügung. In Schränken, Regalen und Tru-\nhen wird hier alles gelagert, was eines \nKoches Herz höher schlagen läßt. Von hier \naus führt eine Tür in den Garten, die in \nder Nacht mit einem schweren Riegel gesi-\nchert wird. \nE5 Empfangszimmer \nDieser sehr große Raum ist unglaublich \nprachtvoll eingerichtet. An den Wänden \nhängen kunstvolle Gobelins und der Boden \nist mit teuren Seidenteppichen bedeckt. \nDie Möbel tragen stilvolles Schnitzwerk, \nund der große marmorne Kamin ist ein \nMeisterwerk der Steinmetzkunst. \nIgnor pflegt in diesem Zimmer Gäste zu \nbewirten, sofern denn überhaupt mal wel-\nche kommen. Er bedient sie mit gaumen-\nfreundlichen Weinen und verwöhnt ihre \nZungen mit den lieblichsten Likören. \nDas erste \nObergeschoß \nIn diesen Teil des Hauses kommt man \nüber die Wendeltreppe, die hier auch \nendet. Dies ist das Reich Ignors und nur \ndem Koch Peron ist es gestattet, das Ober-\ngeschoß zu betreten. \n01 Verbindungsraum \nAn den Wänden dieses Raumes hängen \nvielerlei Bilder, die alle Vorfahren Ignors \nzeigen. Einziges Möbelstück in diesem \nRaum ist ein kleiner Tisch mit einem Sche-\nmel, an dem der Hausherr sein Essen ein-\n\nDer Patrizier 1 gnor Jun \nE3 \nE4 \nE2 \nErdgeschoß \n03 \n01 \n04 \nDer Letzte Held • Seite \n\nnimmt. Er steht auf einem runden Seiden-\nteppisch, der tulamidische Ornamente auf-\nweist. Dreht man diesen Teppich um, ent-\ndeckt man ein neues Motiv, das ein golde-\nnes Pentagramm auf gänzlich schwarzem \nGrund zeigt. Nicht nur Zwerge werden \nsofort entdecken, daß es sich bei den Fäden \num echtes Gold handelt. \n02 Schlafraum \nEin prunkvolles Bett ist der auffälligste \nEinrichtungsgegenstand dieses Raumes. \nAuf ihm liegen seidene Kissen und \nDecken. In zwei Schränken befinden sich \ndie Kleidungsstücke Ignors, die allesamt \nsehr teuer gewesen sein müssen. \n03 Arbeitszimmer \nNeben einem Schreibtisch stellenein \nmächtiger Schrank und einige mit Perga-\nmentrollen gefüllte Regale die Einrich-\ntungsgegenstände dieses Arbeitszimmers \ndar, in dem Ignor nicht offensichtlichen \nStudien nachgeht. Im Schreibtisch befindet \nsich ein kleines Geheimfach, in dem der \nPatrizier eine Schatulle mit verschiedensten \nMünzen des ganzen aventurischen Konti-\nnents aufbewahrt. \n04 Bibliothek \nEs gibt aventurische Hesindetempel, die \nfroh wären, wenn sie eine solch umfassende \nBibliothek aufzuweisen hätten. Hunderte \nvon Büchern stehen in den Regalen und \nviele davon sind mit einer dicken Staub-\nschicht bedeckt. \nDas zweite \nObergeschoß \nIn das zweite Obergeschoß führt offen-\nsichtlich keine Treppe. Niemand weiß, wie \nes Ignor schafft, in seine ganz Privaten \nRäume zu gelangen, aber das Licht hinter \nden Fenstern beweist, daß er ab und an \ndort zu tun hat. \nEine Beschreibung dieses Stockwerks \nheben wir uns für einen späteren Zeitpunkt \nauf. Dann werden auch noch einige andere \nGeheimnisse aufgedeckt, die den Patrizier \nDer Letzte Held • Seite 36 \numgeben. Bis dahin müssen sich die Leser \ndes Letzten Helden mit den rätselhaften \nAufgaben begnügen, die sich Ignor J un-\nweigg augenscheinlich aus reiner Freude \nausdenkt. \nDie Personen \nIgnor Junweigg \nDer Patrizier trägt immer auffallend teure \nKleider, wobei er peinlich darauf achtet, \nniemals die selben Kleider an zwei aufein-\nanderfolgenden Tagen zu tragen. Auf dem \nKopf hat er oft eine seltsame Kappe, an die \nhell klingende Glöckchen genäht sind. \nIgnor begegnet allen Menschen freund-\nlich und zuvorkommend. Helden die eine \nMünze bei ihm abgeben, um sie gegen 20 \nDukaten einzutauschen, werden ihn auf \njeden Fall sehr sympathisch finden. \nBekommt er allerdings Fragen gestellt, die \nihn oder seine Rätsel betreffen, lächelt er \nlediglich und hüllt sich in bedeutungsvolles \nSchweigen. \nMehr wollen wir zunächst nicht von die-\nsem Mann berichten, denn seine interes-\nsante Geschichte soll erst im Laufe der vie-\nlen Rätsel in der Havena-Fanfare aufge-\ndeckt werden. Werte erscheinen uns bis \ndahin unnötig. \nRenike Onain \nDie junge Gärtnerin des Patriziers \nstammt aus Abilacht und kam vor etwa \nfünf Jahren nach Havena. Dort traf sie \nIgnor auf der Straße und wurde von ihm \nangesprochen. Stunden später stand sie in \nseinen Diensten und kümmerte sich um \nden Garten. \nGeht man von ihrem Geburtstag aus, \nmüßte Renike 23 Sommer zählen, aber sie \nwirkt wesentlich reifer und sieht auch um \neiniges älter aus. Seltsam ist auch, daß sie bei \nihrer Ankunft in der albernischen Haupt-\nstadt noch niemals etwas mit Pflanzen zu \ntun hatte. Trotzdem versteht heute niemand \nmehr davon in Havena als Renike. Mit \nihrem Wissen ist es ihr gelungen, Pflanzen \nin Ignors Garten zu ziehen, die sonst nur im \nSüden Aventuriens wachsen, und die einer \nhöheren Temperatur bedürften, als die Stadt \nam Großen Fluß bieten kann. \nAuf Fremde reagiert die durchaus gutaus-\nsehnde Frau eher vorsichtig und abwei-\nsend. Mehr als ein 'Guten Tag' wird man \nnur in sehr seltenen Augenblicken von ihr \nvernehmen. Dies ändert sich auch nicht, \nwenn man versucht, ein Fachgespräch über \nihre·Pflanzen zu beginnen. \nPeronDubar \nPeron ist etwa 40 Jahre alt und traf Ignor \nauf dem Marktplatz von Mherwed. Es war \nder Augenblick, in dem Peron hingerichtet \nwerden sollte, weil er irgendeinem Tulami-\nden in seinem Lokal einen 'stinkenden \nFisch' andrehen wollte. Der Koch weiß bis \nheute nicht, wie es Ignor geschafft hat, ihn \nvor dem Scharfrichter zu retten, aber er \nihm dafür so dankbar, daß er ihm überall \nhin folgt. \nPeron übt im Hause Ignors neben den \nTätigkeiten des Kochs auch noch die eines \nDieners aus, der ein wenig für Sauberkeit \nim Erdgeschoß sorgt, und der Gäste in \nEmpfang nimmt. Er ist sehr zuvorkom-\nmend und scheint anderen Menschen alle \nWünsche von den Augen ablesen zu kön-\nnen. Und so hält jeder Gast schon bald \nsein Lieblingsgetränk in der Hand, wenn er \nbei Ignor zu Besuch ist. \nIn der Stadt am Großen Fluß entdeckte \nPeron seine große Liebe zum Schreiben \nund seitdem arbeitet er allabendlich an sei-\nner Rezeptsamrnlung, die die des Hofkochs \nvon Gareth bei weitem übertreffen wird. \nMan kann ihn manchmal auf dem Markt \ntreffen, wo er Zutaten für seine Speisen \nbesorgt. \nAllein aufgrund der Kochkunst von \nPeron lohnt sich ein Besuch bei Ignor, der \ndadurch zu einem unvergeßlichen Erlebnis \nwird. \nDa der Patrzier ein wichtiger Bestandteil \ndes Abenteuers \"Ein echter Kyndochter \nHalbsilberner\" ist, verzichten wir auf den \nHinweis, wie er in ein Szenario einzu-\nbauen wäre. \n\nlf avena \nFür König & Marktvogt \nWassertag, 26. Praios 28 Hal \nDie 1).i.vena-S'anfare erscbeint vorrangig ffü l.las Gebiet l.les Albemiscben \ngesanl.lt. Die Auslieferung an Orks oocr Goblil15 ist mcngstel15 verboten. \nKönigrdcbes unb CDarkgrafscba~ Win}Jall, wirb .i.ber ;mcb in viele \nNe m:bte moralität ber gel.lrucktcn Artikel \nsiebt Kilmor A. \nwr-\nProvinzen bes CDittelrckbes, bas J:kblic}Je 5ell.l, Ylostri.i. unl.l Anl.lergast \nantwortlicb. Die 5anfare kostet in Albemia unb Winball 12 SC, sonst 2D. \nAlten Münzen auf d \nGanz f)averu tvM' balb vom \nScbatzsucbfieber befallen sein, \nbenn Jgnor Junweigg, ein \nebrenbafter illann, bessen \n5amilie scbon seit Jabrbun-\nberten in A.lbi.'mia lebt, veran-\nstaltet ein Rätselraten, bei \nbem bem besten Scbatzsucber \nein Preis von 20 Dukaten \nwinkt. \nf)err Junmeigg kam vor eini-\nget' Zeit in unser Büro unb \nsetzte uns von seiner lbee in \nKennmi.s. Sofort erkUrten tvit' \nuns bereit, ibm bd seinem \n\\7orbabi.'n zu bdfen, unb bes-\nba lb soll sein Spiel nun \nerkUrt werben. \n.!)en Junweigg wirb bin unb \ntviebcr einige Rätsel in bet' \n5anfare veröffentlichen, Ne \nbcn Sucber zu bem Versteck \neiniger alter Q)ünzen führen. \nWer nun eine bkser Q)ünzen \n'j1nbet, kann biese zu f)erm \nJunweigg bringen, ~er ibm \nbann 20 Dukaten bafUt aus-\nzab len wit'b. illebr gibt es \nnkbt zu bi.'acbten. \nWir baben nkbt in €l'fabrung \nbringen \nkönnen, \nwekbe \nQ)otive f)enn Junmeigg bazu \nbewegen, sokb ein Spiel zu \nveranstalten, aber roh· glau-\nben, er möcbte ein Ceil von \nbem, ben er ber Su()t !)averu \nverbankt, an bessen Bürger \nzurückgeben. Wh' sinb ()avon \nüberzeugt, baf; bk Einwobner \nEhrung für den l(önig \nScbon lange oenken bie \nbesser oas 11orotor 11ostti.mer \nStaotväter über eine Wür-\ntor nennen sollte. \nNgung unseres Königs nacb, \nuno nun wuroe im Ältestenrat \nA.us Cien Reiben oer Gegner \nber \\7om:blag gemacbt, Cias \nbieses Vorscblages kamen \nnostrianer tor in Cuanutor \n13\\'benken. Das tor sei viel zu \numzubenennen. \nunbebrnten(), eine Würbi-\ngung beNirfe eines granbiose-\nA.ls 6rünoe wuroen ang\\'-\nren Gebäuoes. \nfübrt, \nman ourcb bies\\'s \ntor sowieso ntcbt nacb \nWie oem aucb \nsei, bi\\' \n11ostria \nID\\'Sbalb man \nillitgHeoer oes Ältestenrates \nAnkündigung \nAm Praiosug, 7. Ronbra 28 \nspielen ok \nßavena 13ullen gegen Skorpion Punin \nKarten werben ab sofort in allen \nKrämet'läoen \nverkauft. Da Ne 13enruln (ribüne gesperrt ist, können iiber \n1000 \nnkbt verkau~ ID\\'t'()\\'n. \nwollen in oer nächsten Wocbe \nüber ben Vorscblag abstim-\nmen. Sieber ist nut', baf; bei \neiner namensänCimmg einige \nKosten auf oie Staotkasse \nzukämen, benn bie 5assao\\' \noes \nist arg mitgenom-\nmen unb bebarf einer orin-\ngen(len Restaurierung. \nKlagen \nin()es aus ()er \n13otscbaft oes Königreicbes \nnostri.\\. Der Botschafter erin-\nnerte an bie guten !3eziebun-\ngen zniiscben nostt'ia unb \nAlbemia, bie sicberlicb bei \neiner \nnamensänbemng \ngefabrbet mären. Er verlangte, \nbaß auf jeben 5all \nb21s \nnorotor zum nostt'ianer \nwerben müsse. \nami \n\nlfavena 'F Fanfare \nNach1ichlen aus allen 1\"1nclen \nSpinnenplage \nVinsalt. Jn ~er großen Sta~t \n~es lieblichen Sd~es gebt \nseit einigen Wochen \n~ie \nAngst um, ~cnn überall an \nben Wänbcn bcr f)äuscr \nweben unzählige ihre netze. \n€inige von ihnen sollen sehr \ngi~ig scin, so ~aß auch \nGefahr für ~ic 13coolkerung, \nvor allem für Ne Rin~cr \nbesteht. Woher ~icse Plage-\ngeister kommen, ist ~en \nRurtNgen \n~er Sta~t cin \nJUtsel. Großangdegte tö-\ntungsaktionen \nbrachten \nnicht ~as erwünschte €r-\ngebnis, so baß überlegt \nwirb, ben Sall ~er heiligen \nJnquisition zu übergeben. \nCjiftiges Wasser \nlSstum. ln ~er f)auptsta~t \n~es 13ornlan~es sin~ sehr \nvick ~er trinkwasserbrun-\nnen vergi~et wor~en. .Cci~er \nmußten zwanzig CDenscben \nsterben, bevor ~as Übel ent-\nbeckt un~ schließlich besci-\ntigt wer~en konnte. \n€s bleibt ein Rätsel, was \neinen Verbrecher übelsten \nCharakters bazu treibt, \nwahllos CDenscben zu ver-\ngi~en. Die Gar~e ~er StaN \nwir~ aber alles tun, ~en \nScbul~igen zu stellen. \nBierskandal \nBrabak. In ~er StaN im \nSü~en wur~en ~ie 13ierpreise \nnahezu ver~rcifacbt, so ~aß \nviele Bürger wüten~ ~urcb \n~ic Straßen zogen un~ jc~cn \nSta~tbüttel verprügelten, ~er \nihnen in ~ic ßän~e fiel. \n.26 Tote \nlkersan~. In ~en Überwals \nkamen bei einem Unwetter \n26 \nf)csin~canbänger ums \n!eben, ~ie in ~cm unwirtli-\nchen Gebirge nach einem \ngeeigneten Ort zum Aufbau \neines tcmpels ~er Göttin ~er \nCDagic zu suchen. Sie wur-\n~cn von eine Schlamm-\nlawine begraben unb erst \nvier Wochen später von \neinem \nJäger \ngefun~en. \n.Cc~iglicb \ncinc \njunge \nGeweihte \nüberlebt \nNe \nnaturkaustropbc. \nSeltsame Heilung \nnostria. Der bereits auf ~cm \ntotcnbctt liegen~e Schank-\nwirt Rnorn Ulbrin stan~ \nnach ~cm besuch eines selt-\nsamen Wan~crers aus Ne-\nsem Bett wic~er auf, als sci \ner niemals krank gewesen. \nAufgrun~ ihrer Surcbt un~ \nUnwissenbcit stcinigtcn ~ic \nbummcn nostriancr am \nnächsten tag ~cn mcrkwür-\n~igcn Retter. nur \n~as \nscbnelk €ingrcifcn einiger \nAbenteurer \naus \n~em \nCDittelrcicb rettete \n~em \nCDann bas üben. \nSchiffskatastrophe \nDröl. In ~er ßafencinfabrt \nvon Dröl stießen ~rci Schiffe \nzusammen \nunb \nsanken \ninnerhalb weniger Augen-\nblicke. Daraufhin war Ne \nPassage wochenlang ver-\nsperrt, so baß Ne ßanbcls-\nscbi1fc, Ne Ne Stabt anlau-\nfen wollten, nach ncctba \nauswichen. lnzwiscben ist \nber Weg wk~er f\"rei. \nRingeTWettkämpfe \nAm 21. Ronbra ~icses Jahres \nfln~et auf bem f)alplatz cin \ngroßer Ringerwettlumpf statt. \nIn acht verscbk~enen Ringen \nkann ~ann je~er, ~er sieb \nberufen genug fühlt, um cinen \nPreis von SO Dukaten kämp-\nfen. Der Wettkampf beginnt \nmit ~en ersten Sonnenstrahlen \nun~ en~et, sobal~ cin Sieger \nfeststeht. \nnebenher werben ~cm Zu-\nschauer einige Attraktionen \nvon auswertigen Gauklcr-\ntruppen geboten, unb viele \nGastwirte sorgen ~afür, ~aß \nes auf ~cm ßalplatz gcnügcnb \nBier unb gebratenes Skiscb \ngibt. Sclbst1'erstinblicb kön-\nnen auf ~ic Kämpfer auch \nWetten abgegeben wer~en, \nwobei ~er Ältestenrat bcrcits \njetzt bavor warnt, baß wabr-\nscbcinlicb auch unseriöse \n13ucbmacbcr unterwegs scin \nwer~en, Ne es nur auf ~as \nGelb ber unwisscn~en Bürger \nabgesehen haben. \nDer Ältestenrat gibt auch \nbekannt, baß jc~er, ber an ~cn \nWettkämpfen \nteilnehmen \nmöchte, sieb bis zum 19. \nRon~ra im Sta~tbaus anzu-\nmeföen bat. Zusätzlich ist cin \n13citrag von 2 Silbertalern zu \nentrichten. \nKurierbienst \nwir bringen je~en Brief ZUl' richti-\ngen A~l'es~. überall in Albemu \nAl~misc~ }~krn, Garet~tra5e \nVrteil gesprochen \nIm 5all \n~er angeblichen \nGotteslästerung ~urcb ~en \nResselscbmieb Orin Durain, \nist nun vom Gericht ein Urteil \ngefallt wur~en. \nDer Richter verurteilte ~en \nDelinquenten zu brci tagen \nGcfingnis un~ einer Gd~\nstrafc von 10 Dukaten, bic als \nWkbergutmacbung an bcn \nPi-~..ti\"\"\"e-\"\" \"'\"\"d \nf-e-~e-~ 9 e-l:nXc:-lc-\n?-i6t. <-• 6ei ~\" \n~c-ß-iic:-lc-e-i-e-i \nII~ \nII \n, \\,\"\"'c-pp \ndit-e-l<:t _,,... \n.C, ... t~l<.t \ntempel bes Praios zu zahlen \nseien. Der Rcsselscbmkb \nfügte sieb bem Urteil unb trat \nNe Strafe an. \nDas Gesetz, wonach alk \nfäcbt-Gewcibtcn für bas \ntragen von Pricstergewänbe \nwegen Gotteslästerung zu \nverbrennen seien, wirb nun-\nmehr außer Rra~ gesetzt. gbb \nSchube \nin allen Größen \ngibt es bei \nSchubnucber Olulm \nWir führen alles, was in \nGaretb Ne neuste CDobe ist \nunb ein wenig mehr . \nAn ber alten Stabtmauer \n\nEin echter l(yndochter \nHalbsilberner \nEin Abenteuer für 4-6 Helden \nvon Andreas Michaelis \n\"Das 9ahze ist hVil\" eiV\\ Spiel, eil'\\ Spiel bei dem ahdel\"e e+was \nv1eh L-1V\\d ich hVil\" zahle. Abel\" ich Wel\"de meiV\\eV\\ Spap habeh1 immel\" wie-\nde„, u11d die Stadt wil\"d es mil\" di:mkeh. \nZuevst Wel\"de ich dieseh kyhdochtev i--lalbsilbevV\\eh \nmiv ei1\"1st e.i1, falvehdev- Händlev- c1V19ed,·eht hcir. Mal sehe111 wie \ndauet'V\\ wi \nbis ich ihf'\\ wiedev-bekomme, Wef'\\f'\\ übev-haupt. \nDoch \nsoll ich \njedeV' soll sie schaffeV\\ köf'\\f'\\ef'\\. \nselhafte1'\\ Hif'\\weis crnsdenkeh. \nDu1 mein \nse,,. An9ele9enheit \nes VOJ\\ eiviem BettleV' \nSchid'\\up \nseih, \nmup ich mi v hoch ei hev1 V'Öt-\nvielleicht kci111\"1st \nII \neinem Brief von \n) . \n/ \n:· \n\nIn diesem und den folgenden Ausgaben des Letzten Helden, \nwollen wir euch Aufgaben bieten, die der seltsame Ignor \nJunweigg in regelmäßigen Abständen in der Havena-Fanfare \nveröffentlicht. Sie können dann von den Helden erledigt wer-\nden, während sie vielleicht etwas anderes in der Stadt am \nGroßen Fluß zu tun haben. Immerhin gibt es für jede \ndie dem Exzentriker gebracht wird, 20 Dukaten, die \nman in einem Ort wie Havena sicherlich gut gebrauchen \nkann. \nDie ersten beiden Aufgaben befinden sich in der Havena-\nFanfare in diesem Heft, in der auch ein Artikel zu lesen ist, \nder den Lesern erklärt, was es mit den Rätseln des Ignor \nJ unweiggs auf sich hat. Der Meister könnte den in Havena \nbefindlichen Abenteurern diese Ausgabe zukommen lassen. \nDie Aussicht auf schnell verdientes Geld sollte sie dann veran-\nlassen, der Sache einmal nachzugehen. \nDer Artikel \nDen vollständigen Artikel aus der Havena-Fanfare wollen \nwir an dieser Stelle nicht noch einmal wiedergeben. Wichtig \nist aber das erste Rätsel: \nSueben müßt ibr im l)eim berer, beren Zabl bem Sternbilb \nbes ~roscbes entsprkbt. \nDa \"Ein echter Kyndochter Halbsilbemer\"kein Abenteuer ist, \ndas ewig lange gespielt werden kann, bietet es sich an, die \nSuche nach den Geldstücken während eines anderen \nSzenarios stattfinden zu lassen, vielleicht, um den Helden ein \nwenig die Zeit zu vertreiben. Andererseits könnte die Ausgabe \nder Fanfare den Abenteurern in die Hände fallen, wenn sie \ngerade die Stadt betreten. Da nichts Besseres zu tun ist, neh-\nmen sich die Charaktere der Rätsel an. Im Verlauf der Suche \nkönnten die Helden dann in ein richtiges Abenteuer ver-\nwickelt werden. \nDoch nun genug der Vorrede. Was steckt hinter den beiden \nseltsamen Sätzen? \nHavena-Fanfare \nZunächst wissen die Helden \nnur, daß sie eine alte Münze \nsuchen sollen, aber um welch \nein Geldstück es sich han-\ndelt, müssen sie noch in \nErfahrung bringen. Dazu \nsollten sie sich zum Redaktionsgebäude der Havena-Fanfare \nbegeben, denn schließlich weist der Artikel die Leser darauf \nhin, daß der Redaktion weitere Informationen vorliegen. \nDort angekommen, können die Abenteurer zunächst feststel-\nlen, daß sie wahrlich nicht die einzigen sind, die die zwanzig \nDukaten verdienen wollen. Leute aus allen Standesschichten \nhaben sich hier versammelt und schreien laut nach dem ver-\nantwortlichen Schreiberling. \nSchließlich tritt ein Mann mit leicht ergrauzem Haar und in \nvornehmer Kleidung vor die lärmende Meute und stellt sich \nals Andras Micaleis vor. \n\"Wenn ich einmal um Ruhe bitten dürfte\", ruft er und hebt \ndabei beschwichtigend die Arme, bis ihm alle Anwesenden \nzuhören, \"Ihr seid alle hierher gekommen, um zu erfahren, \nwas es mit der alten Münze auf sich hat. Nun, Herr Junweigg \nhat mir mitgeteilt, daß mittels des ersten Rätsels ein echter \nKyndochter Halbsilberner gefunden werden kann. Wer dieses \nGeldstück in sein Haus \"Hinter den Rahjagärten\" bringt, soll \nsofort 20 Dukaten bekommen. Mehr Informationen habe ich \nauch nicht. Auf Wiedersehen.\" \nDer Redakteur der Fanfare dreht sich um und kehrt in das \nGebäude zurück, während sich die meisten der Anwesenden \nnoch fragend ansehen. Schnell wird untereinander diskutiert, \nwas wohl ein echter Kyndochter Halbsilberner sei, und bald \ndarauf ziehen die ersten mit Worten wie \"das Geld ist mir \negal\" vondannen. \nAuch die Helden müssen nun überlegen, ob sie sich der \nAufgabe stellen wollen, oder nicht. Auf jeden Fall sollten sie \nin Erfahrung bringen, worum es sich bei der gesuchten \nMünze handelt. Helfen kann ihnen hier noch einmal die \nHavena-Fanfare, denn in ihr ist eine Anzeige des örtlichen \nMünzmuseums abgedruckt. Dort kennt man diesen Halb-\nsilbernen bestimmt ... \nDas Münzkabi11ett \nDas Münzmuseum ist in einem kleinen \nder \nReichsmünze untergebracht und bietet in einem recht kleinen \nRaum eine Ausstellung verschiedener \ndie vor \nallem in Havena geprägt wurden. \nGeführt wird das Haus von Lohna \neiner \nFrau, die sich ganz dem Sammeln alter Mün7s.:n verschrieben \nhat. Sie verlangt von jedem Besucher zwei Kreuzer \nvon denen einer - ihrer Aussage nach - dem \ngespendet wird. \n- 40 -\n\nLohna weiß alles über die Münzen, die hier zu bestaunen \nsind, und gern läfü sie andere Leute an ihrem Wissen teilha-\nben. Eine Führung durch den Raum beginnt immer bei den \nin Havena geprägten Münzen und endet bei den verschiede-\nnen Zwergentalern, von denen es angeblich so viele unter-\nschiedliche geben soll, daß das Kabinett nicht ausreichen \nwürde, sie alle zu präsentieren. \nKommen die Helden hierher und lauschen aufmerksam den \nWorten der Frau, können sie feststellen, daß nicht ein einzi-\nges Mal von einem echten Kyndochter Halbsilbernen gespro-\nchen wird. Sodenn werden sie Lohna ansprechen müssen. \nFolgendes wird sie ihnen sagen: \nDer Park der Zwölfgötter \n\"Ein echter Kyndochter Halbsilberner ist ein ganz normaler \nalbernischer Silbertaler, der eine Menge Blei enthält und des-\nhalb recht dunkel ist. Wer sich mit Münzen \nnicht \nauskennt, wird glauben, einen angelaufenen Silbertaler in der \nHand zu halten, doch in Wirklichkeit ist es eine \"'\"\"'\"\"''\"''\"''' \nFälschung durch einen \nder auf diesem \nWeg versucht hatte, seine leeren Kassen zu füllen. Praios sei \nDank, konnten die meisten dieser \nbeschla-\ngnahmt werden, so daß sich wahrscheinlich nur sehr \nim Umlauf befinden. Erkennen kann man sie \nganz \nDa das Blei recht \nHalbsilberner \nleicht, indem man versucht, sie zu \nweich ist, wird sich ein echter \nleicht verbiegen lassen.\" \nIm Jahre 22 Ha! brach über Havena ein Winter herein, wie ihn die Hauptstadt Albernias seit Menschengedenken nicht \nmehr gesehen hatte. Viele hundert Mitbürger erfroren in den Häusern und die Schiffahn kam für Wochen voilkommen zum \nerliegen. Die Brennmittelvorräte waren bald aufgebraucht und nur eine Sendung Kohlen über Land aus Xorlosch ließ die \nFeuer in den Kaminen nicht verlöschen. Bekanntestes Opfer der strengen Kälte war die Oberpriesterin Aife \ndie beim \nBeten im Tempel erfroren ist. \nGottesfürchtig wie die Havener nun einmal sind, wurde in einigen Sitzungen des Ältestenrates beschlossen, dem \nFirun einen Tempel in Havena zu bauen, um den grimmigen Nordgott milde zu stimmen. Nachdem lange im Rat debattiert \nwurde, stimmten nahezu alle Abgeordneten dafür, den Tempel im Stadtviertel Unterfluren zu errichten, wofür \nnoch ein \nneuer Stadtpark angelegt werden sollte. Und so fielen zwei Bauernhöfe den Plänen zum Opfer und wurden kurzerhand \nEines der Bauernhäuser wurde zu einem kleinen Firuntempel ausgebaut, und gleich neben ihm wurde ein kleiner Teich ani~eH:gr. \nSchließlich bekam der Steinmetz Asteron Obeljahn den Auftrag, die Statuen aller Zwölfgötter aus Stein zu \ndie dann \nin dem neuerschaffenen Park aufgestellt werden sollten. Ein Jahr arbeitete der gute Mann an den \nbis sie endlich im \nPraios 24 Ha! aufgestellt wurden. Eine jede der Statuen war ein Meisterwerk, wobei die Geweihtenschaft der \nunzufrie·e \nden damit war, daß ihre Göttin mit Kleidung erschaffen worden war. \nDer Park der Zwölfgötter wurde von der Bevölkerung \nHavenas begeistert angenommen, so daß heute eigentlich \nimmer irgend jemand auf einer der Bänke sitzt oder ganz \neinfach nur mit seinem Liebsten spazieren geht. Besonders \nim Sommer ist der kleine Rahj ateich sehr beliebt bei \nKindern, die darin baden. \nBeeindruckend ist auch der Standort des Meergottes \nEfferd. Auf einer zwei Schritt hohen Säule steht die impo-\nsante Erscheinung in der Nähe der Prinzessin Emer Brücke \nund streckt dem Großen Fluß den Dreizack entgegen. \nNebenbei sei bemerkt, daß einige Bewohner des Viertels \nMarschen vom Ältestenrat fordern, er möge nun auch \netwas für den alten Stadtpark tun, der seit dem \nSpätsommer von 24 Hal immer mehr verkommt. \n. 41 -\n\nMittels dieser Information sollte es den Helden nicht schwer \nfallen, die gesuchte Münze zu identifizieren. Nachdem Lohna \nsie noch darauf hingewiesen hat, daß es verboten ist, ein sol-\nches Geldstück zu besitzen, können die Abenteurer ihre \nSuche fortsetzen. \nSpielleiter, die ihre Gruppe ein wenig verunsichern wollen, \nkönnen die Helden mit folgender Geschichte konfrontieren, \ndie ihnen irgend jemand erzählen wird, zur Not auch unge-\nfragt. \n\"Natürlich weiß ich1 was eil'\\ echter Kyhdochter t-lalb-\nsilberi'\\er ist. Das WC\\>' hämlich so: Die ih Kyi'\\doch hattei'\\ \nimmer zu WeV\\i9 Kleii'\\9eld1 so daß sie i>\"9eV1dwai'\\V1 damit \nbe9aV1V1ei'1; ihre Silbedaler Zl< zerschV1eideV1. ZuV1ächst \nV\\Clr ii'\\ zwei, schließlich iV\\ vier Teile. Cihi9e dieser hal-\nbeVI Silbe..+ale.- kamei'\\ Vlach t-laveVlci1 wo sie dahi'\\ abfäl-\nli9 echte KyVldochter t-lalbsilberV\\e 9eV1aV1V1t wurdeh. 11 \nHinweis: Der albernische Silbertaler trägt auf der einen Seite \ndas Wappen des Landes Albemia und wird auf der anderen \nvom Kopf seiner Majestät Cuanu Ui Bennain geschmückt. \nMünzen neuerer Prägung sind mit den Worten Königreich \nund nicht mehr mit Fürstentum Albemia versehen. Die ältere \n\"u\"\"'''u\" ist aber die weitaus häufigste und auch der echte \nKyndochter Halbsilberne trägt die Aufschrift Füsrtentum. \nDas Heim der Zwölf \nWenn die Charaktere erst einmal geklärt haben, wie dieser \nHalbsilberne zu erkennen ist, können sie sich daran machen, \nsich 20 Dukaten zu verdienen. Die erste Aufgabe (weitere \nerscheinen in späteren Ausgaben des Letzten Helden) führt \nsie in den Park der Zwölfgötter oder auch Zwölfgötterpark. \nZunächst gilt es, die Zahl der Sterne herauszufinden, die das \nSternbild des Frosches bilden. Im Anschluß daran kann man \nsich auf die Suche nach einem Heim machen, in dem \"zwölf' \nleben. Schließlich gilt es noch, das genaue Versteck der \nMünze zu \ndie in der Opferschale des Firuntempels \nDas Sternbild des \nViele Aventurier, die sich ein \nwenig mit dem Sternenhimmel \nbeschäftigen, \nkennen \ndas \nSternbild des Frosches, wel-\nches das ganze Jahr über \nam Weltendach zu sehen \nist. Es ist eine kleine Anordnung, der kaum Beachtung \ngeschenkt wird, weshalb sie auch nur in wenigen Büchern \nbeschrieben wird. Die Sterne, die dieses Tier bilden, stehen so \ndicht zusammen, daß viele glauben, es handle sich nur um \nneun Himmelskörper. Nur mit geigneten Fernrohren ist zu \nerkennen, daß es in Wirklichkeit zwölf sind. \nHelden, die einen T alenrwert Sternenkunde von mindestens \n10 haben, können eine Probe +6 auf diesen Wert machen. \nGelingt sie, ist dem betreffenden Spieler die genaue Anzahl \nder Sterne bekannt, ansonsten geht er von neun aus, was die \nGruppe natürlich auf eine falsche Spur führt. \nIn Havena sind verschiedene Astrologen und Sternendeuter \nansässig, von denen einige mehr, die anderen weniger vertrau-\nenswert sind. Es bleibt Sache des Spielleiters, ob ein von den \nAbenteurern konsultierter Wissenschaftler die genaue Zahl \nkennt oder nicht. Für Meister, die sich keinen Astrologen \nausdenken wollen, eignet sich die Beschreibung von Shanor \nScheil im Letzten Helden 26 oder in der Havena-Ergänzung \n2: „Licht und Schatten\". Ihm ist die genaue Zahl auf jeden \nFall bekannt. \nFragen die Charaktere an anderen Orten, wie z.B. der \nMagierschule oder den Tempeln nach, besteht eine 5% (1 auf \nW20) Chance, daß sie jemanden treffen, der weiß, daß es \nzwölf Sterne sind. \nNeun kehren heim \nMit der Gewißheit, daß es sich um neun Sterne \nist \nauch gewiß, daß die Helden eine falsche Spur verfolgen. Eine \ndieser Spuren führt sie in das Theater in der Gauklergasse, in \ndem gerade das neue Stück \"Neun Krieger kehren \ngespielt wird. Plakate, die auf die Premiere hinweisen, hängen \nan vielen Hauswänden. Doch in dem Schauspielhaus weiß \nman nichts von einer besonderen Münze, und da die Helden \ndie Generalprobe stören, werden sie kurzerhand rausge-\nschmissen. \nEine weitere heiße falsche Spur ist die Pension \"1,Teun \nBären\", welche sich im Stadviertel Unterfluren Nalleshof \nbefindet. Dort lassen sich zwar neun ausgestopfte \nfinden, aber von der gesuchten Münze weiß niemand etwas \nim Lokal. \nWir wollen es dem Spielleiter überlassen, sich weitere \nIrrwege auszudenken. Irgendwann werden die Abenteurer \nschon mitbekommen, daß es die Zahl \"9\" nicht sein kann. \nDann werden sie wahrscheinlich genauere Informationen ein-\nholen, um schließlich die Zwölf zu suchen. \n- 42 -\n\nGeschwister \nDie meisten DSA-Spieler werden sofort an die avemuri-\nschen Götter denken, wenn die Zahl zwölf ins \nwird, und wenn unsere Helden dies auch tun, dann sind sie \nauf der richtigen \nwas sie \nnoch tun müssen, \nist, die Münze zu finden. \nDie Frage, die sich ihnen \nist: \"Wo lassen sich alle \nzwölf Götter an einem Ort finden?\" Auch hier \nes ver-\nschiedene Möglichkeiten, die die Charaktere durch \nherausfinden können. \nEin falscher Hinweis führt die Helden in das \nkabinett am \nin dem die \nso \nwurden, wie sie sich die Sterblichen vorstellen. Doch die \nSuche bleibt an diesem Ort ohne \nda dort keine Münze \nversreckt ist. \n(Hinweis: Eine Beschreibung des \nbefindet sich in den Kleinodien, die vor geraumer Zeit bei \nFantasy Productions erschienen \noder im Aventurischen \nBoten 8. Spielleiter, die aus der Suche nach der Münze in die-\nsem Haus ein kleines Abenteuer machen wollen, sollten sich \nvorher diese Beschreibung besorgen). \n\\Xlir wollen es dem Meister \nweitere falsche \nden \nes aufzusuchen \ndie Münze in die kleine unscheinbare \ndes \naus der die Heiden sie herausholen \nmüssen. \\Vir wollen hoffen, daß sie sich vorher \nwas ein echter \nHalbsilberner ist, anson-\nsten wird es ihnen schwer \nTaler in dem \nDurcheinander von verschiedenen Münzen aus den unter-\nschiedlichsten Teilen \ndarnnter auch ein zer-\nschnittener Silbertaler zu finden. Halten sie ihn endlich in \nden \nkönnen sie sich auf den \nzu \nmachen. \nDas Abenteuer endet damit, daß die Helden mit \num sich von ihm die \nsollte für diese \ndie \ndes Patriziers m diesem Heft benutzen. \nAnschließend bekommt noch \n30 Aben-\ndann ist die erste \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Dark Eye, The [multi]/LANG/[DE]/Das Schwarze Auge/013. Inoffizielles Material/003. Gazetten & Postillen/Der letze Held/Der letzte Held - 36.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":192,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":" \n \n \nt \n \n \nAdventure Record# \n593 CY \nA D V E N T U R E\nL E V E L O F \nP L A Y \n(CIRCLE ONE) \nAPL 6 \nmax 900xp; 800gp \n \nAPL 8 \nmax 1,125xp; 1,250gp \n \nAPL 10 \nmax 1,350xp; 2,100gp \n \nAPL 12 \nmax 1,575xp; 3,000gp \nThis Record Certifies that \n_______________________________________________ \nPlayed \nby____________________________________________ \nPlayer \nRPGA # \nHas Completed \nAcross the Border \nA Meta-regional Adventure \nSet in Iuz’s Border States \nPlay Notes:\n� Gained a level \n� Lost a level \n� Ability Drained \n______________ \n� Died \n� Was raised/res’d \n� Was reincarnated \n_________________________________________\n_________________________________________ \nHome Region______________________\nEvent: _________________________________ Date: ________ \nDM:___________________________________________________ \n \nSignature \n \n \n \nRPGA # \n� Lesser Bonerod: This insidious item is one favored by the clergy of\nIuz and the chosen in his service. The item is made out of one single\nbone carved into the likeness of a skull totem the top of which is blood\nred. When created these rods have 20 charges and crumble to dust\nwhen used up. The rod has the following abilites. \n� Bone Shards – When used, the rod fires forth a cone of razor sharp\nbone fragments. This is a 30 ft. cone that does 6d4 points of slashing\ndamage. A successful Reflex save (DC 13) halves this damage.\nActivating this ability is a standard action that costs 1 charge and\nmay be used by anyone. \n� Bone Dance – When used, the rod casts animate dead per the spell\nas a 6th level cleric. These undead serve the wielder of the rod until\nthe end of the scenario at which point they crumble to dust. Please\nnote that while not an evil act in and of itself, the use of this power\nis often met with hostility by goodly forces. Activating this ability is\na standard action that costs 2 charges and may only be used by those\nwith animate dead available to them on their spell list. \n� Skull Activation – By holding the rod, the wielder can determine\nthe power and effect of any skull found on the legendary Road of\nSkulls within 100 ft. In addition, if the wielder is a cleric of Iuz, the\nwielder may activate the special powers of any such skull within 100\nft. This is a standard action that does not expend a charge. \nCaster Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Rod, creator must worship Iuz, \nanimate dead, shatter; Market Price: 9,000 gp; Frequency: Adventure. \n� Gloves of the Slaver: These black leather gloves look like they\nhave been used toward sinister ends and they appeared to be\nstained with blood. While wearing these gloves, the wearer\nreceives a +5 competence bonus to the Use Rope skill when\nbinding another character. This bonus is in addition to the +10\nnormally granted for binding a character. \n \nCaster Level: 3rd; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item,\ncreator must have 3 ranks in the Use Rope skill; Market Price: 500\ngp; Frequency: Adventure. \n \n� The Slaver’s Spellbook: This leather bound tome is wrapped in\nfine silver chains attached to the spine and covers. It contains the\nfollowing spells: 1st - Cause Fear, Charm Person, Expeditious\nRetreat, Mage Armor, Ray of Enfeeblement; 2nd - Bull's Strength,\nGhoul Touch, Invisibility, Spectral Hand; 3rd - Fly, Lightning Bolt,\nSlow, Vampiric Touch. \n \nMarket Price 250 gp. Frequency: Adventure \n \n� Gratitude of The Shade: The mysterious woman, known only \nas the Shade has promised you her gratitude for escorting Felkas \nout of Dorakaa. \n \n \n \nXP\nFINAL XP TOTAL \nXP Gained \n+ \nXP \n \n \nXP \nStarting XP \n- \nXP \n \nXP lost or spen\n \nXP \nSubtotal \n \nTU \nStarting TU \n1 or 2 TU \nTU Cost \n- \nTU \nITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE \nCross off all items NOT found \n \nAPL 6-8 \n� \nEverburning Torch (Adventure; DMG) \n� \nGloves of the Slaver (Adventure; 500 gp; see\nabove) \n� \nLesser Bonerod (Adventure; 9,000 gp; see above)\n� \nPotion of Heroism (Adventure; DMG) \n� \nThe Slaver’s Spellbook (Adventure; 250 gp; see\nabove) \n� \nWand of Web (Adventure; 3rd level caster;\nDMG) \n \nAPL 10 (all of APLs 6-8 plus the following) \n� \nPeriapt of Wisdom +2 (Adventure; DMG) \n� \nWand of Doom (Adventure; 1st level caster,\nDMG)\nAPL 12 (all of APLs 6-10 plus the following) \n� \nHeadband of Intellect +2 (Adventure; DMG) \n� \n+1 Greatsword of Frost (Adventure; DMG) \n \n \n \nTU REMAINING \nAdded TU Costs\nItems Bought\n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Cost of Bought Items \n \nSubtract this value from your gp value \nItems Sold\n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Value of Sold Items \n \nAdd ½ this value to your gp value \nFINAL GP TOTAL \n \n \nGP\nGP Spent \n- \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Gained \n+ \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Gained \n+ \nGP\nSubtotal \n \nGP\nGP Spent \n- \nGP\nLifestyle\n� None\n� Standard (12 gp x TU) \n� Rich (50 gp x TU) \n� Luxury (100 gp x TU) \n \nLifestyle Cost \n \nOther Coin Spent \n \nTotal Coin Spent\n \nStarting GP \n \nGP\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Meta-Region Iuz Border States/593/Normal Scenarios/IUZ3-01 Across the Border (APL 6-12)/IUZ3-01 - Across the Border AR.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":193,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"Fifth Edition Adventures\nRoyal Tournaments\nby Jason Nelson and Mike D. Welham\n\nRoyal \nTournaments\n\nAuthor: Jason Nelson and Mike D. Welham\nArtist: Bruno Balixa, Ivan Dixon, Frank Hessefort, Michael Jaecks, Mike Lowe, Manuel \nMorgado, Arrahman Rendi, Joe Slucher, Josh Wunderly\n5e Development: David N. Ross\nDesign AnD lAyout: Daniel Marshall\nlegenDAry gAmes teAm members: Anthony Adam, Alex Augunas, Kate Baker, Jesse Benner, \nClinton J. Boomer, Robert Brookes, Benjamin Bruck, Carl Cramer, Paris Crenshaw, \nJoel Flank, Matthew Goodall, Jim Groves, Amanda Hamon Kunz, Steve Helt, Thurston \nHillman, Tim Hitchcock, Victoria Jaczko, Jenny Jarzabski, N. Jolly, Jonathan H. Keith, \nMichael Kortes, Jeff Lee, Nicolas Logue, Will McCardell, Julian Neale, Jason Nelson, Jen \nPage, Richard Pett, Tom Phillips, Alistair Rigg, Alex Riggs, David N. Ross, Wendall Roy, \nAmber Scott, Mark Seifter, Tork Shaw, Mike Shel, Loren Sieg, Neil Spicer, Todd Stewart, \nRuss Taylor, Greg A. Vaughan, Mike Welham, Linda Zayas-Palmer, and Clark Peterson\npublisher: Jason Nelson\nexecutive pArtner: Neil Spicer\nbusiness Director: Rachel Ventura\nRoyal Tournaments 5e © 2017, Legendary Games; \nAuthor Jason Nelson and Mike D. Welham\nISBN-13: 978-1973836834 \nISBN-10:1973836831\nFirst printing October 2017\nPrinted in USA. \nLegendary Games\n3734 SW 99th St.\nSeattle, WA 98126-4026\nmakeyourgamelegendary.com\nCredits\nOpen Content: Subject to designation as Product Identity (see below), the only portion of this Legendary Games product designated as \nOpen Game Content is the rules content (creature stat blocks and names of skills, etc., taken from the SRD) as defined in the Open Game \nLicense version 1.0a Section 1(d). The front and back cover, back matter, introduction and Credits page, as well all other parts of this \nproduct including all text not specifically designated as Open Game Content is not Open Game Content. No portion of this work other than \nthe material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission.\nProduct Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License 1.0a, Section 1(e), \nand are not Open Content: Legendary Games, Legendary Planet, the Legendary Games Logo, Adventure Path Plug-In, Road to War: The \nEquinox Crown (5E), as well as all trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names (including the names of each character, location, item \nor monster unique to this product), dialogue, plots, storylines, locations, characters, artworks, and trade dress, but excluding any content \nthat is Product Identity of Wizards of the Coast. (Elements that have previously been designated as Open Game Content are not included \nin this declaration.)\nReference in non-Open Game Content (thus not covered by the Open Game License) in this work to content owned by others is not a \nchallenge to their ownership and is used under Fair Use. \n\niii\nLegaL \nOpen Content: Subject to designation as Product Identity \n(see below), the only portion of this Legendary \nGames product designated as Open Game Content \nis the rules content (creature stat blocks and names \nof skills, etc., taken from the SRD) as defined in the \nOpen Game License version 1.0a Section 1(d). The \nfront and back cover, back matter, introduction \nand Credits page, as well all other parts of \nthis product including all text not specifically \ndesignated as Open Game Content is not Open \nGame Content. No portion of this work other than \nthe material designated as Open Game Content \nmay be reproduced in any form without written \npermission.\nProduct Identity: The following items are hereby \nidentified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open \nGame License 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open \nContent: Legendary Games, Legendary Planet, the \nLegendary Games Logo, Adventure Path Plug-In, To \nWorlds Unknown, as well as all trademarks, registered \ntrademarks, proper names (including the names of \neach character, location, item or monster unique to \nthis product), dialogue, plots, storylines, locations, \ncharacters, artworks, and trade dress, but excluding \nany content that is Product Identity of Wizards \nof the Coast. (Elements that have previously been \ndesignated as Open Game Content are not included \nin this declaration.)\nReference in non-Open Game Content (thus \nnot covered by the Open Game License) in this \nwork to content owned by others is not a challenge \nto their ownership and is used under Fair Use. \nOPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a\nThe following text is the property of Wizards of the \nCoast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the \nCoast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.\n1. Definitions: (a) “Contributors” means the \ncopyright and/or trademark owners who have \ncontributed Open Game Content; (b) “Derivative \nMaterial” means copyrighted material including \nderivative works and translations (including \ninto \nother \ncomputer \nlanguages), \npotation, \nmodification, correction, addition, extension, \nupgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment \nor other form in which an existing work may be \nrecast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Distribute” \nmeans \nto \nreproduce, \nlicense, \nrent, \nlease, \nsell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or \notherwise distribute; (d) “Open Game Content” \nmeans the game mechanic and includes the \nmethods, procedures, processes and routines \nto the extent **such content does not embody \nthe Product Identity and is an enhancement \nover the prior art and any additional content \nclearly identified as Open Game Content by the \nContributor, and means any work covered by this \nLicense, including translations and derivative \nworks under copyright law, but specifically \nexcludes Product Identity. (e) “Product Identity” \nmeans product and product line names, logos \nand identifying marks including trade dress; \nartifacts, creatures, characters, stories, storylines, \nplots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, \nlanguage, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, \nlikenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and \ngraphic, photographic and other visual or audio \nrepresentations; names and descriptions of \ncharacters, spells, enchantments, personalities, \nteams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; \nplaces, \nlocations, \nenvironments, \ncreatures, \nequipment, magical or supernatural abilities or \neffects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any \nother trademark or registered trademark clearly \nidentified as Product identity by the owner of the \nProduct Identity, and which specifically excludes \nthe Open Game Content; (f) “Trademark” means \nthe logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that \nare used by a Contributor to identify itself or its \nproducts or the associated products contributed \nto the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) \n“Use”, “Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, \ncopy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise \ncreate Derivative Material of Open Game Content. \n(h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms of \nthis agreement.\n2. 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Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You \nare contributing original material as Open Game \nContent, You represent that Your Contributions \nare Your original creation and/or You have \nsufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by \nthis License.\n6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the \nCOPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License \nto include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT \nNOTICE of any Open Game Content You are \ncopying, modifying or distributing, and You must \nadd the title, the copyright date, and the copyright \nholder’s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of \nany original Open Game Content you Distribute.\n7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any \nProduct Identity, including as an indication as \nto compatibility, except as expressly licensed in \nanother, independent Agreement with the owner \nof each element of that Product Identity. 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You may use any authorized version of \nthis License to copy, modify and distribute any \nOpen Game Content originally distributed under \nany version of this License.\n10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy \nof this License with every copy of the Open Game \nContent You distribute.\n11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market \nor advertise the Open Game Content using the \nname of any Contributor unless You have written \npermission from the Contributor to do so.\n12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to \ncomply with any of the terms of this License with \nrespect to some or all of the Open Game Content \ndue to statute, judicial order, or governmental \nregulation then You may not Use any Open Game \nMaterial so affected.\n13. Termination: This License will terminate \nautomatically if You fail to comply with all terms \nherein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days \nof becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses \nshall survive the termination of this License.\n14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is \nheld to be unenforceable, such provision shall be \nreformed only to the extent necessary to make it \nenforceable.\n15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE\nOpen Game License v 1.0a © 2000, Wizards of \nthe Coast, Inc.\nOpen Game License v 1.0a © 2000, Wizards of \nthe Coast, Inc.\nRoyal Tournaments (5E) © 2017, Legendary \nGames; Authors Jason Nelson and Mike D. \nWelham\nSystem Reference Document. © 2000, Wizards \nof the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, \nMonte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material \nby E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.\nSystem Reference Document 5.0 Copyright 2016, \nWizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, \nJeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney \nThompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. \nSchwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and \nSteve Townshend, based on original material \nby E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.\nThe Hypertext d20 SRD. © 2004, Jans W Carton.\nCityscapes - New Settlement Options for \nthe Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. © 2012, \nSkortched Urf Studios; Author: Chris A. Field.\nFursona II - New Options for Anthropomorphic \nHeroes. © 2012, Skortched Urf Studios; Author: \nChris A. Field.\nKingdoms (5E) © 2016, Legendary Games; Author \nJason Nelson. \nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. \n© 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason \nBulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, \nMonte Cook, and Skip Williams.\nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Gamemastery \nGuide. © 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: \nCam Banks, Wolfgang Baur, Jason Bulmahn, \nJim Butler, Eric Cagle, Graeme Davis, Adam \nDaigle, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Kenneth \nHite, Steven Kenson, Robin Laws, Tito Leati, \nRob McCreary, Hal Maclean, Colin McComb, \nJason Nelson, David Noonan, Richard \n\nSpecial Electronic Features\nWe’ve hyperlinked this product internally from the Table of Contents and externally with references to the official \nSystem Reference Document (SRD) and 5eSRD. If it is in the core 5E rules, we generally didn’t link to it unless the rule is \nan obscure one. The point is not to supersede the game books, but rather to help support you, the player, in accessing \nthe rules, especially those from newer books or that you may not have memorized.\nAbout Legendary Games\nLegendary Games is an all star team of authors and designers, founded by Clark Peterson of Necromancer Games, Inc. Legendary \nGames uses a cooperative, team-based approach to bring you the best expansion material for your game. We are gamers and \nstorytellers first, and we believe that passion shows in our products. So check us out, and Make Your Game Legendary! \nVisit us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our website at www.makeyourgamelegendary.com.\nWhat You Will Find Inside Royal Tournaments\nAn iconic moment in fantasy fiction is the grand tournament. From the archery contests of \nRobin Hood to the jousts of Ivanhoe, it seems like half the stories about the Middle Ages have the \nheroes attend such a festival somewhere along the line. Whether honoring the king’s birthday, \nthe birth of a saint, the nation’s victory over its enemies, or just because it’s Midsummer’s Day, \nfestive pavilions are raised and flags and pennants flap in the rising breeze to signal that it is \ntime for the main event to begin! However, even in the real-world tournaments were about \nfar more than bows and lances, and in a fantasy game the options for what would constitute \na friendly (or even not-so-friendly) competition are infinitely varied, from gritty and brutal \nfeats of raw strength to magical marvels of the highest fantasy. That is what Royal Tournaments \nis all about. It provides a fantastic resource for incorporating tournaments and festivals into \nyour campaign, including an array of different tournament events and awards, some physical, \nsome magical, some social, and all delightful. Whether your players want to promote the \ninterests of their own kingdom or simply fight for glory and prizes, Royal Tournaments has \neverything you need to make the tournaments in your campaign magnificent and memorable. \nLegendary Games was founded on the principle of delivering first-class product for your \nPathfinder Roleplaying Game experience, brought to you by the very authors who design and \ncontribute to the adventures, hardbacks, and campaign supplements you are already using. \nThe Legendary Games tradition is to combine rich story and background, innovative layout, \nbeautiful aesthetics, and excellence in design that is second to none. This product is the latest \nin that tradition, and we hope you enjoy using it as much as we enjoyed making it. Game on! \n\nv\nFestival days \n1\nFestival Size \n1\nNavigating a Festival \n2\nWinning Friends and Influencing People \n2\nContests and Champions \n5\nCheating \n6\nAt the Fair \n6\nCrafting Contests \n7\nRural Delights \n7\nEating and Drinking Contests \n10\nAthletics \n10\nJumping Events \n10\nRacing Events \n11\nTests of Strength \n14\nMock Battle \n16\nJousting \n16\nTarget Shooting \n18\nUnarmed Combat Events \n20\nSpecial Events \n22\nPillars of Life and Death \n23\nShooting Gallery \n23\nTest of the Axe \n24\nThe Siege Mortis \n25\nThe Tower of Jewels \n25\nThe Hell Horse \n27\nThe Spoils of Victory \n28\nAppendix: Festival Edicts \n30\nFestival Edicts \n30\nContents\n\n1\nFestival days\nWhile player characters are used to living lives of high \nadventure with chances for glorious victory or potentially \nfatal failure lurking around every corner, they may \nsometimes lose sight of the fact that most people in the \nworld they inhabit are not so lucky. True, the common \nfolk perhaps have a different kind of luck, one which \ninvolves far less risk of death on a daily basis, but there \nis still something terribly romantic and exciting about \nbeing able to at least play at the kind of dramatics and \nheroics they hear about in the stories. That is where Royal \nTournaments come in! Every now and then, it is time for a \nfestival, and while competitions and mock battles often \nplay a large part they are hardly the only element to entice \nthe common folk.\nFestivals can be held for many purposes, and these are no \ndifferent in a fantasy world than they are in the real world. \nFestivals can generally be divided into two categories: \ncivic and religious. Civic festivals may commemorate the \nfounding of a nation or a city, or the birth of a great leader \nor hero, or the overthrow of a hated tyrant. Celebrations \nmay mark the day of a mighty battle, mixing celebration \nof victory with a solemn memorial of those lost in the \nstruggle, or the consummation of peace after a long \nperiod of strife. Civic festivals may celebrate the life of a \nparticular person of great renown, or they may be aimed \nat the entire populace. Likewise, they may be local to a \nsingle city or locality, or they may be widespread across an \nentire continent.\nReligious festivals may occur independently of any \ncorresponding civic events. In some societies, the regular \nworship rituals of religion may be a weekly or daily \noccurrence, or even multiple times per day as the faithful \nare called to prayer by cathedral bells or the echoing calls \nof the priesthood. Other religions may have less structured \nworship routines, but nearly all commemorate the birth \nor death of saints or religious leaders in much the same \nway civic festivals celebrate secular leaders. Religious \nfestivals, however, may also focus upon dates fixed by \nthe dogma of the church for events beyond mortal ken, \nwhen their divine patron stepped foot upon the earth or \nfirst appeared to its acolytes in the spirit or in the flesh. \nDivine incarnations, interventions, apotheosis, sacrifice, \nresurrection, and more may be marked by the adherents \nof the faith with a celebration large or small.\nThere are, of course, festive occasions that may fall into \neither category, especially those that are tied to the seasons. \nSuch natural markers on the calendar often gain religious \nsignificance or may be considered sacred to many faiths. \nSpecial prayers may be offered up for the planting in the \nspring or the harvest in the fall, while Midsummer’s may \nbe a time for worshipful offerings or blessed marriages \namid summer’s bounty even as Midwinter’s sees vigils \nthroughout the long dark. This is particularly true in areas \nwhere druidical faiths predominate, but the religious \nassociations with the seasons (if any) may vary a great deal \nfrom region to region and culture to culture. In areas \nwhere no one faith is dominant, cultural attachments \naround seasonal holidays may be far more important to \nthe citizenry than any particular religious celebration. \nA diverse city or region may see multiple overlapping \nholidays celebrated in many ways among the different \ncultures and faiths present in the area. \nEven apart from the seasons, important events may \nbe conflated and commemorated by coincidence, just \nbecause they happen to occur on or around a known \nlocal event or existing holiday. St. Crispin’s Day, a minor \nholiday whose lineage is somewhat unclear, nonetheless \nwas immortalized by Shakespeare’s recounting of the \nBattle of Agincourt in Henry V. The possibly apocryphal \nsaints still lend their name to the 25th of October, and for \nthat matter to the rousing “St. Crispin’s Day speech” that \nShakespeare wrote nearly 200 years after the battle, but the \nmemory of the day has evolved to be more a celebration of \nthe band of brotherhood between warriors.\nIn roleplaying terms, the nature of the festival is not \ncritically important, other than to provide an overall \ntheme and to help determine what manner of ancillary \nevents, such as tournaments or contests, might be most \nappropriate. If you are using the Festival Edict rules in \nUltimate Rulership (5E) from Legendary Games, civic and \nreligious festivals provide different types of bonuses to \nyour kingdom based on the buildings available in the city \nwhere the festival takes place. \nFestival Size\nFestivals are typically held in and around a city, town, \nor village. However, during a festival, settlements are \ntypically thronged with people, so unless the festival is a \nfailure (see the Festival Edict rules in Ultimate Rulership, \nreprinted in the Appendix of this book) you should treat \nthe settlement as one size larger than its actual size for \nall purposes. \nIn some cases, festivals may be held outside of any \nsettlement, often near a Landmark (see Special Terrain \nthe Kingdom-building rules in Kingdoms (5E) from \nLegendary Games). In this case, the number of attendees \nat the festival can be highly variable, depending on how \n\n2\nsignificant the festival, how often other festivals are held, \nthe season of the year, and how far travelers typically come \nto attend.\nBecause of the high concentration of merchants and \nwealthy visitors (as well as black marketeers), the gp limit \nfor buying and selling should be treated as a large city for \nthe duration of the festival. \nNavigating a Festival\nThe thronging crowds present at a typical festival do \nnot interfere with the ability of PCs to move around \nthe festival, but if tactical movement and line of sight \nare important (as during a combat encounter), there is a \n50% chance that when an encounter begins at a festival \nthe PCs will be in the midst of a crowd 20 to 80 feet in \ndiameter. Crowds provide cover, allow Dexterity (Stealth) \nchecks, and are considered difficult terrain for movement \npurposes. A DC 12 Charisma (Persuasion) check or DC 15 \nCharisma (Intimidate) check allows a PC to convince a \ncrowd to move in a particular direction (up to 30 feet per \nround), as long as the PC can be seen or heard. \nFinding a particular location in the festival grounds \nis a simple task to locate lesser-known merchants and \nlocations. No roll should be necessary, especially if what is \nbeing sought is something available to the common folk. \nFinding information on specific people at the festival \ncan be accomplished through Intelligence (Investigation) \nchecks to gather information, or at the GM’s option with \nWisdom (Insight) checks to learn about common folk and \nIntelligence (History) to learn about the rich and powerful. \nThe DC should be relatively low, but feel free to use this as \nan opportunity to disclose information that may feed into \nthe adventure.\nWinning Friends and \nInfluencing People\nFor the common folk simply attending a festival is a \nreward in and of itself, and low-level player characters can \napproach a festival the same way, as tourists and gawkers \nat the spectacle of it all. As PCs advance in level, however, \nthey should see festivals as an opportunity to spread their \n\n3\nRenown Modifier\nType of Lodging\n-4\nCommons (free) PCs wander the festival or stay amongst the smallfolk, talking to people as \nthey can and vying for attention with performers and hawkers. \n-2\nTent (10 gp per day) PCs have a small tent or lodge for conducting private meetings or \na single secure shelter.\n+2\nPavilion (100 gp per day) PCs have a large tent sufficient to host a formal meeting, with \ntable, chairs, and other furniture, or multiple secure shelters, with a corral and grooms \nto keep their mounts close at hand. \n+4\nGrand Pavilion (1,000 gp per day) PCs have an opulent structure, which can be raised with \na rod of splendor or daily use of mage’s magnificent mansion. Mounts are kept in a separate \nadjacent structure staffed with multiple grooms.\nfame across the land. They can do this by earning honor \nby showing mercy and gentility alongside prowess and \nmight, gaining reputation and fame by drawing attention \nto themselves and their exploits, recruiting contacts and \ncultivating relationships, or even running a business or \nbuilding up an organization. \nA tournament can serve as entertainment and an \nopportunity to engage in some contests and trials less \ndangerous than the normal adventuring life, but it also \noffers a great opportunity for adventurers to make an \nimpact in the campaign world. This is doubly true if \none or more of the PCs is ruling a kingdom, especially \na new domain just trying to establish itself. They can put \ntheir newborn kingdom into the public eye amongst the \nnotables and the commons alike from surrounding lands, \nearning prestige simply by being present for a major \nevent. Of course, the more effort they put into promoting \nthemselves the more prestige they can earn for themselves \nand their land, which will enhance their legitimacy, \ninducing other rulers to acknowledge them as equals and \nfellow rulers rather than up-jumped nobodies waiting to \nbe picked off by their betters. This advancement in their \nfame and esteem is called Renown.\nStarting Renown: PCs can take a variety of actions that \nearn Renown, but their baseline Renown is equal to 5 \nbefore any further adjustments.\nKeeping Up Appearances: Whether PCs visit a festival, \nthey may simply walk the grounds like the common folk \nor they may reserve a patch of the grounds for themselves \nand their accommodations. Even if they do not intend \nto stay at the festival overnight, putting up a structure \ndisplaying their ensign or flag is seen by others at the \nfestival as a mark of their legitimacy. As a result, Renown \nis modified by their choice of quarters. \nPCs using magic to create their lodgings still must pay \nhalf of the above cost for the right to host their structure \non the festival grounds. PCs may emulate a pavilion or \ngrand pavilion with mirage arcana or similar magic, but \neach day they do this there is a cumulative 7% chance that \nthey are discovered. Once the illusion is discovered, word \ngets around of the PCs’ pretensions to glory and their \nRenown is reduced by 2.\nRenown Modifier\nType of Seating\n-4\nBeggar’s Hill (free) PCs stand among the rabble, peeking over fences, hanging from \ntrees, or otherwise watching from the fringes of the venue. \n-2\nAbsence (free) PCs may choose to simply not attend the events hosted at the arena, \nwhich may be deemed an affront to their hosts. All PCs need not attend all events, but \nthey should send at least one representative to attend.\n-1\nStands (2 gp per PC per day) PCs have a bench seat inside the arena, but far back from \nthe action. \n+1\nBox Seats (50 gp per day) PCs have a reserved seat up front for up to 6 people, with \nrefreshments brought to them. \n+2\nRoyal Box (500 gp per day) PCs have padded seats and lavish canopies to keep off the \nsun or rain (often blocking the view of commoners behind them), with elaborate \nrefreshments for up to a dozen people in a box adjacent to that of the hosts. \n\n4\nKing of the Hill: A festival may have a particular spot \nreserved for celebrations, often a small hill or rise on the \nedge of the festival grounds, ringed in trees, for picnics \nand parties by day and revels by night by those wealthy \nfolks who lack the title or privilege to claim an established \npavilion. They can nonetheless attract the acclaim of \nerrants and lesser noble scions and other untitled yet \naffluent folk by winning a lottery to host the celebrations \nfor a night, wearing a crown as the King of Fools, a Crown \nof Holly, or a similar award. A chance in the lottery \ndepends on the size of the festival, but is typically 1d10 x \n10 gp. PCs who bid may roll a d20; on a natural 20, they \nwin the crown and may invite any they wish to attend, \nbut must provide music, food, and drink to all. They may \nprovide entertainment themselves (or may hire a bard or \nother performer) and must provide 1d10 x 100 gp worth \nof food and drink, but they gain 1 point of Renown (see \nbelow) each time they win the honor.\nNoble Boxes: If the festival grounds have an arena for \ntests of skill and strength, such as jousting lists, archery \nranges, racetracks, or more exotic competitions, PCs \ncan build their repute by purchasing the rights to the \nbest seats, nearest to the action and to the hosts of the \ntournament, rather than sitting with the rabble. \nMaking a Name and Spreading Your Fame: In addition \nto simply establishing their presence with a pavilion or \nbox seats for the grand events of the tournament, PCs \ncan make an active effort at building the reputation of \ntheir domain. They can do this by personally entering \nand succeeding in contests and tournaments or hiring \nchampions to do so on their behalf or by using their \nown skills and abilities. Each of the following methods \nrequires a day of effort by one or more party members \n(cohorts may participate, and PCs able to make alliance \nwith a noble patron with bards at his beck and call may be \nable to access their skills as well). Each effort requires the \nuse of more than one skill; if one PC attempts to fulfill \nmultiple skill requirements, all of their skill checks have \ndisadvantage due to dividing their attention and efforts. \nIf PCs succeed on all of the required skills (DC 12 each), \nthey gain one point of Renown. If they fail one or more \nskill checks, they gain nothing, but if they fail all skill \nchecks for a method by 5 or more, they lose 1 point of \nRenown. Each of these methods can be used more than \nonce by repeating the effort on a subsequent day, but the \nDC increases by 2 each time a method is repeated. \nSuccess at one of these efforts can be awarded experience \npoints as an encounter with a CR 2 lower than the party’s \naverage level.\n\n5\nPromotion\nGaining Influence for Your Kingdom\nDisplay of Triumph\nThe PCs stage a dramatic re-enactment of the PCs’ adventures and accomplishments in \nfounding their domain, establishing their status as rightful rulers.\nRelevant Skills Intelligence (History), Charisma (Performance) \nSpecial PCs using visual and auditory illusions to augment their performance have \nadvantage. PCs can perform in any common area (disadvantage), on a small stage (cost \n100 gp), or on an elaborate stage in the noble section of the festival grounds (1000 gp, \ngrants advantage on the check).\nFeet of Clay\nThe PCs lampoon the follies, missteps, embarrassing rumors, and other shortcomings \nof the leaders of other nations, merchant guilds, religious orders, or other noteworthy \norganizations through satire and clever wit. \nRelevant Skills Charisma (Persuasion), Charisma (Performance)\nSpecial Each time this is used, all future We Meet at Last DCs increase by 2.\nPlay to the Crowds\nThe PCs recount the glory of the PCs’ domain and the impressive accomplishments \nand prowess of the new masters of their lands, while also trumpeting what a fair and \npleasant land it is and the benefits that citizens enjoy living there. \nRelevant Skills Intelligence (History), Charisma (Performance) \nSpecial PCs offering free food and drink (costing 1d10 x 100 gp) gain a advantage on \nthis check.\nTrade Agreement\nThe PCs arrange a meeting with merchant leaders from the other nearby domains to \nfind buyers for the goods produced in the PCs’ domain and to obtain favorable prices \non goods they wish to import to their country.\nRelevant Skills Wisdom (Insight), any one tool proficiency.\nSpecial PCs offering a bribe (1d10 x 100 gp) gain advantage their check.\nWe Meet at Last\nThe PCs arrange a meeting with rulers from one or more nearby domains, or the \nmasters of a merchant guild, religious order, or other major organization, or with their \nambassadors or representatives to establish formal relations. \nRelevant Skills Charisma (Deception), Charisma (Persuasion), or Charisma \n(Performance)\nSpecial PCs offering a permanent magical item, piece of jewelry, or similar exotic gift \n(e.g., trained griffon or owlbear) gain advantage on this check. \nContests and Champions\nA festival has all manner of common entertainments, \nminstrels, mummers, singers, jugglers, tumblers, trained \nanimals, and on and on, but much of its allure is in the \nglory of competition. One factor to consider in preparing \nto run a festival or tournament is the level of magic \navailable in the world. In a campaign where magic is \nrare and mysterious like that of Tolkien, simple fortune \ntelling and fireworks are a marvelous spectacle that the \nfolk at the festival may remember for years to come. In \na typical fantasy campaign, however, magic is far more \ncommonplace. Even small villages may well have a hedge \nmage or two capable of working real magic, or a cleric, or \ndruid tending the local shrine. Even a 1st-level sorcerer \nor wizard can put on an impressive display of stage \nmagic with spells like dancing lights, flare, ghost sound, and \nprestidigitation, and can go well beyond that with low-level \nillusions like minor image and major image.\nIn addition to basic showmanship, the level of magic \nthat exists in the campaign world on an everyday basis \naffects the kinds of events you include. A simple footrace \nin a low-magic campaign could become an exercise in \nsuper-speed or even a teleportation contest in a campaign \nsaturated with magic power, horses replaced with pegasi \nand bowshots replaced with hurled lightning or psychic \nduels. The tone and feel of the campaign, as well as the \nlevel of the PCs, are important to consider when deciding \nwhat kinds of contests to incorporate into a festival.\nWhatever the style of contests you employ in your \nfestival, including having different festivals each with \ntheir own focus, they are most enjoyable for players if \ntheir characters take part, and certainly other nobles in \n\n6\nof one competitor versus another. Bearing in mind that \nfestivals and tournaments are sponsored by the wealthy, \nthis could mean that some sponsors might use such \nchicanery and skullduggery to favor their own champions \nin the contests, but it also means that the patrons of the \nevent have the means and wherewithal to enlist magical \nsentries and to have warding effects in place to prevent \ncheating. Of course, such supernatural sentries may not \nbe wholly trustworthy, as they are not necessarily obliged \nto enforce the rules honestly and fairly equally across the \nboard. Corrupt contest marshals might look the other way \nwhen certain competitors come to the list.\nThe attitudes towards cheating can be determined \nentirely at the GM’s discretion, of course, but they also \ncan be determined by the characteristics of the area \nwhere the festival is being held. Specifically, areas with \nhigh levels of Corruption and Crime (see the Settlement \nrules in Kingdoms (5E) from Legendary Games) are \nlikely to be tolerant of cheating, while those with high \nlevels of Law will take a dim view of such shenanigans. \nHowever, cultural, racial, and even religious attitudes \nmay play a role in determining the level of dishonesty \nlikely to be encountered. \nThe capabilities of monitoring the competition depend \non the resources of the hosts. Small local festivals may \noperate on the honor system out of necessity, but a \nfestival sponsored by a king might have marshals (either \nin ostentatious uniforms, hidden amongst the crowd, or \nboth) using spells like detect thoughts to check for evidence \nof cheating. Even in areas known for skullduggery, a host \nmaking a great show of striving for a clean competition \nmight require competitors to use the equipment provided \nby the host, including clothing as well as arms and \narmor, to avoid them smuggling contraband items into \nthe competition. Of course, Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) \nchecks can be used to smuggle small items in despite \nsuch surveillance. \nAt the Fair\nWhile combat-focused may seem more glamorous, \nvirtually anything can be a competition. One need look \nno further than county and state fairs to see the vestiges \nof agricultural and crafting competitions in the modern \nday, to say nothing of competitive cooking shows and the \nlike on television. While these competitions may not stir \nthe imagination of most adventurers there are some with \nan interest in such background skills who may wish to try \ntheir own hand or to sponsor an NPC ally or associate on \ntoward victory.\nnearby lands may encourage them to enter, or even early \nin their careers to ride on that leader’s behalf as her or his \nchampions. PCs not directly involved in the contest still \nmight enjoy watching the proceedings or making wagers \non them, and you may also allow players to take the role \nof one of the NPC contestants (perhaps ‘sponsoring’ them \nor hiring them to compete in the name of their own land). \nContestants can always yield in a contest if they wish, but \nsuch public surrender results in a loss of 1 point of Renown \n(see below), while winning a contest usually nets 1 point of \nRenown; if a contest has two different victory conditions \nand the same contestant wins both, that contestant wins \n3 points of Renown. In addition, competing in such \ncontests, while not generally dangerous in the same way \nas adventuring, still should be worth and appropriate xp \naward, typically as an encounter containing monsters that \nare roughly of a challenge rating of 1-3 levels below the \nPCs’ own level. \nCheating\nIt is not just the events themselves where magic is \nrelevant, however. Whatever the basic magic level of the \nworld and the tournament, player characters themselves \ncertainly have access to magic, and so too do significant \nNPCs, even if the rank and file competitors and spectators \ndo not. Since magic does exist in the game world, it is \nentirely plausible that some competitors will seek to use \nmagic (or other extraordinary means) to cheat, either on \ntheir own behalf or to bias the results of events in favor \n\n7\nCrafting Contests\nContests dealing with tool proficiencies are popular with \nNPCs as they offer chances at earning esteem without \ndeadly danger. While combat-focused may seem more \nglamorous, virtually anything can be a competition. One \nneed look no further than county and state fairs to see \nthe vestiges of agricultural and crafting competitions in \nthe modern day. Contests can range nearly any of the tool \nproficiencies, from cooking to jewelry making.\nWinning: Contests using a tool proficiency typically call \nfor three skill checks, with the winner in each category \nbased on the highest total score on all three checks. \nHowever, a prize also may be awarded for the “Best in \nShow” in each category, reflecting the highest single skill \ncheck even if that contestant’s total score did not measure \nup. In the event of a tie, both may be awarded as Best in \nShow, or you may have each contestant roll 1d20 with the \nhigh roll determining the winner. \nTastes are highly subjective in background skill contests, \nand the GM may liberally award advantage to reward \nthose who incorporate local favorites or specialties, who \nhave a reputation for past wins in similar contests, who \nare connected to the contest judges or other local notable \ncharacters, or who have an exotic special ingredient \nfeatured in their creation.\nSome contests require contestants to bring their \nsubmissions already completed and ready for the judges, \nwhile others (cooking contests in particular) may be \nspontaneous affairs presenting the contestants with secret \nor strange ingredients they must use to create delicious \ndishes in a very limited amount of time. Various different \nchecks may be required to successfully incorporate such \nmystery ingredients, and success on those checks may \nimpose a bonus or penalty on checks made to create a \nfabulous meal on the spur of the moment and not get \nchopped from the competition. \nRural Delights\nMost of the contests described elsewhere in this book work \nwell for formal competitions and grand events hosted by \nthe rich and powerful, but sometimes you want a smaller-\nscale festival, perhaps a small fair or local celebration of \nsummer in the rural countryside. While certainly you can \nuse athletic contests and archery or knife or axe-throwing \neven on a small scale, the following events are specially \ndesigned for competitions among the simple folk of \nthe simple villagers and people of the land. Each event \nprovides rules to adjudicate the tournament, possible \nprizes for the winner (and runners-up), and complications \nwhich make the events trickier or even lethal.\nCaterpillar Eating\nA test of all participants’ persistence with digesting live, \nwriggling caterpillars, the contest ends when the first \nperson devours all her caterpillars, or the last person \nholds down her caterpillar and the others have lost the \ncontents of their stomachs.\nRules: Each contestant starts with at least 20 caterpillars. \nEating a caterpillar and keeping it down requires a \nsuccessful Constitution saving throw (DC 10, +1 for each \n\n8\nprevious caterpillar eaten). A contestant can spend a round \nregrouping, which resets the DC to 10. If a contestant fails \nthe Constitution save, she must succeed at an additional \nConstitution save (at the current save DC) or become \nnauseated for 1 minute.\nAn unusual variant uses caterpillars with bristles or \nspikes, which inflict 1 point of piercing damage per \ncaterpillar ingested.\nPrizes: The winner typically receives a preserved \ncaterpillar which, when eaten, provides resistance to \npoison damage, and advantage tonthe poisoned condition \nfor one day. The caterpillar is preserved and retains its \npotency for one month.\nComplications:\n• The caterpillars have been dosed with a hallucinogenic \npoison, forcing all contestants to succeed at a second \nConstitution save each round or become confused for \n1d6 rounds (as per the spell).\n• The caterpillars are actually larger, but have received \nthe effects of enlarge/reduce to shrink them down to \nan acceptable size. The spell wears off, causing the \ncaterpillars to burst the stomachs of those who have \neaten them, dealing 1d6 points of damage for every \n5 caterpillars eaten (DC 15 Constitution save for half \ndamage).\nRope Swing and Jump\nThis tournament event takes place at the tallest tree by a \nlarge body of water, such as a lake or pond. Participants \nswing from the rope and launch themselves from the rope \ninto the water. The contestant who travels the furthest \nwins the event.\nRules: A contestant can swing on the rope, which ends \nat least 5 feet from the ground, any number of times, \nrequiring a Strength (Athletics) check to maintain grip \n(DC 10, +1 for each previous swing). For each successful \nswing, the contestant gains 5 feet of distance of the jump \ninto the water, up to an additional 20. On an unsuccessful \nswing, the contestant must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity \nsave to grab the rope; if she succeeds, she takes no damage \nbut is disqualified, while a failure causes her to fall and \ntake damage based on the distance from the rope to the \nground. The contestant is treated as having a running \nstart when making the jump. The result of the Strength \n(Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check determines the \njump distance.\nFlying is disallowed for the contest; depending on the \nspecific rules, the contest may allow magic assistance for \njumping or gripping the rope.\nPrizes: The winner receives a monetary prize or one \nwhich improves her ability to jump, such as a ring of \njumping.\nComplications:\n• Someone may have stocked the body of water with \ncrocodiles or other aggressive animals. These creatures \nare sluggish and are slow to attack, so their attack may \ncoincide with several contestants in the water.\n• A wall of stone or other impassible surface rests just \nunder the water’s surface at a distance designed to \nharm the winning participant. It requires a successful \nDC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check to notice the \nobstacle from the rope. If someone jumps into the \nwater per the rules, she takes damage as if she fell 10 \nfeet (or more, if the rope is higher) plus the distance \njumped, rounded to the nearest 10 feet.\nSquirrel Racing\nA true test of coaxing a wild creature to do something it \nnormally wouldn’t, squirrel racing has the contestants \ncalling or cajoling their squirrels to be the first to cross \nthe finish line.\nRules: The squirrels must run a total of at least 60 feet, \nand the first squirrel to reach the specified distance wins. \nEach squirrel is in its own chute, eliminating the chances \nfor interference from other squirrels. During each round, \na contestant attempts a DC 10 Wisdom (Animal Handling) \ncheck. For each point over 10 that the roll exceeds, the \nsquirrel moves forward 2 feet (up to its maximum base \nspeed). On a failed check, the squirrel moves backward a \nnumber of feet equal the difference between the DC and \nthe result. If one or more squirrels tie, they must run the \ncourse again (increasing the DC to 15).\nThis contest usually has multiple heats, with a final \nround for all the winners. In this case, ties during the \nearlier heats allow all winning squirrels to move on to the \nfinal round.\nPrizes: The winner receives a prize allowing him to \nimprove the attitude of wild animals (either mundane, \nsuch as a bunch of tasty food, or magical, such as a ring of \nanimal friendship). Alternatively, the winner may receive \nthe winning squirrel for use as a companion or familiar.\nComplications:\n• Unknown to everyone at the start of the contest, one of \nthe contestants has trained all the contest’s squirrels \nwith the “come” trick, making it impossible for him \n\n9\nto fail regardless of the random squirrel he uses. The \nsquirrel moves 10 feet each round.\n• One of the squirrels is actually a massive, low-\nIntelligence creature affected by a curse. When it \ncrosses the finish line, the curse is dispelled and the \ncreature attacks everyone within reach.\nTree Climb\nSimulating the necessity of quickly ascending a tree to \nrescue a trapped animal or child, or to retrieve an item \ntrapped in a tree’s upper boughs, the winner of this \ncontest is the quickest to the top of the tree.\nRules: The tree begins with a DC 17 Strength (Athletics) \ncheck for a minimum distance of 20 feet until the \ncontestant reaches weight-bearing branches, at which \npoint the DC decreases to 15, and then returns to 20 after \na set distance as the branches become too weak to support \na contestant’s weight. The goal is simply to reach the bell \nat the top of the tree in the shortest amount of time. A \ncontestant can move at half speed as they climb. In the \ncase of a tie, a contested Strength (Athletics) check can \nrepresent a surge of speed at the end of the climb.\nAlternative rules could feature unknotted rope that \nreduces the DCs by 5, a greased tree, or a tree bereft of \nbranches, for instance.\nDepending on the contest requirements, a climber may \nor may not use physical means to assist with climbing \n(such as a grappling hook or a climbing kit) or magic \nitems.\nPrizes: Prizes range from monetary rewards to magic \nitems associated with trees and climbing (such as feather \ntoken, tree or a ring of climbing). Additionally, this could \nallow a winner to procure fruit or a sprig from a rare tree \nwith its own special qualities, such as the effects of a magic \npotion or elixir.\nComplications:\n• The branches (or ropes, as applicable) have received \nsubtle cuts which eventually cause them to break. \nThe cut item has a cumulative 5% chance of breaking, \nforcing a contestant to succeed on a Dexterity save \n(DC 14) or fall. A character succeeding on a DC 19 \nWisdom (Perception) or DC 17 Intelligence (Nature) \ncheck notices the potential danger.\n• Either through natural means (such as soil erosion) or \nsabotage, the tree topples while a contestant is some \ndistance up the tree. The tree deals 2d6 points of \ndamage (DC 15Dexterity saving throw halves), and the \ncontestant takes falling damage based on the distance \nclimbed.\nWhittling\nA whittling contest takes fallen wood and turns it into \nworks of art. The pieces are presented to judges who \ndecide their aesthetic worth.\nRules: Each contestant makes a series of woodworking \ntool checks to carve their creations. The DC for these \nchecks is 10 or higher, depending on how difficult the \nwood is to work with. Succeeding at the check, and every \n2 points by which the result exceeds the check, awards \nthe whittler win. A contestant must win at least one \nwoodworking tool check for the work to be considered by \nthe judges. Additionally, prior to the contest, a contestant \nmay interact with the judges and attempt a Charisma \n(Persuasion) or Wisdom (Insight) check (DC 10 or higher, \ndepending on the judge) to ingratiate himself with a judge \nor learn what sort of carving the judge enjoys. Success on \n\n10\nan above skill check grants advantage on the woodworking \ntool check.\nAn alternative contest uses axes to make carvings from \nlarger pieces of wood. Since axes are less efficient at \nmaking subtle cuts, the sculptor has disadvantage on the \nwoodworking tool checks for their pieces.\nPrizes: The winner receives a magic item which allows \nits user to reroll woodworking tool checks once per day, \na monetary prize, or a knife which acts as a +1 dagger (or \nbetter magic weapon).\nComplications:\n• One of the contestants has used charm person on one \nor more judges, granting him an unfair advantage. \nA successful DC 20 Wisdom (Insight) or DC 18 \nIntelligence (Arcana) check during the interaction \nprior to the contest reveals the magical influence.\n• Fey have tampered with the wood, such that each \ncreation animates as per animate objects upon \ncompletion.\nEating and Drinking Contests\nVirtually all cultures have strange cuisines that test the \nresolve and endurance of anyone brave enough to try \nthem. Such food or drink might have a pungent and \nhorrifying aroma or an overwhelmingly bitter flavor, \nor the food might simply look revolting and repellent. \nMost popularly, an iron stomach contest involves either \nextremely strong liquor that brings on near-immediate \nintoxication or exceptionally spicy food—whether \npickled, fermented, or even fresh off the vine—that brings \na nigh-unendurable heat that leaves competitors flushed, \nweeping, and gasping for breath. An eating or drinking \ncontest also can feature fairly ordinary food and beverages \nin a race to see which contestant can gorge themselves, \nfor example, on the most pies or sausages or can guzzle \nthe most mead or milk in a set amount of time. To add an \nelement of fun (or humiliation), contestants might have \nto eat or drink with their hands tied behind their backs or \nwith some other handicap.\nTo eat or drink such fare or in such quantities is a test \nof bravery as well as physical constitution, and spectators \ncheer for both the horror of the contestants as well as \ntheir sweat, tears, and grimaces of pain as they try to outdo \ntheir cohorts to down the most. In some barbarian tribes, \niron stomach contests may be used as initiation rites to \nboth purify the body and show toughness, though some \nvisitors claim they are more of a sadistic prank the tribes \nplay on outsiders seeking to trade with them. \nWhatever the exact nature of the food or drink used in \nthe iron stomach contest, every competitor must consume \nat least one cup, plate, or other dish (or a whole fresh \npepper or similar item), and at least one competitor must \nconsume at least five within a set time limit (typically \none minute) without passing out or regurgitating what \nthey have tried to keep down. If no one finishes at least \nfive, there is no champion and everyone loses 1 point of \nRenown. Anyone that passes out on the very first turn \nloses an additional point of Renown. \nEach dish consumed requires a successful Constitution \nsaving throw to avoid becoming wracked with pain, \nnausea, and cramps from the awful gastrointestinal \ndistress (or immediate intoxication) brought on by the \nfood. The Constitution saving throw begins with a DC of \n10 and increases by 2 for each dish after the first. The \nfirst failed save causes the eater to become poisoned for \none hour. A second failure leaves the eater poisoned for \n1d4 minutes, and a third failed save causes the eater to \nfall unconscious for one round. A contestant that rolls a \nnatural 1 on any saving throw must immediately attempt \na new save against the same DC; if this save fails, he \nimmediately falls unconscious for 1 round, even if it is his \nfirst failed save. \nAny class features that provide bonuses against ingested \npoison or against pain also apply to this save; however, the \neffect is not actually poison and thus spells that affect the \npoisoned condition, and similar effects, are of no help in \nenduring the pain.\nAthletics\nTests of speed and stamina are among the oldest and \nsimplest of all contests, and they come in a great variety of \ntypes, each one taxing the skills, endurance, and physical \ntalents of every competitor. The following categories are \nnot exhaustive, but provide a wide selection of possible \nevents that could be held to determine the best athlete on \nthe field. \nJumping Events\nEvents involving jumping are fairly easy to resolve with \na simple Strength (Athletics) contest. Whether class \nfeatures like a monk’s ki features that enhance Acrobatics \nchecks are allowed in a contest is up to the rules of the \nindividual event. \nBroad Jumps: A broad jump is a jump for maximum \nhorizontal distance. There is a foul line that shows where \nthe jumper must begin their jump; if they step over the \n\n11\nline, the jump is treated as a foul and does not count. If the \njumper’s check results in an 8 or lower, they accidentally \nstep over the foul line and are disqualified. \nIn some cases, only a single jump is allowed, but in \nformal athletic competitions usually each contestant \nmakes a set number of jumps (from three to six) and keeps \ntheir best result. The best overall result wins the contest, \nand in the case of a tie either both jumpers may be named \nthe winners, or they may compare their second-best result \nor have them go to an additional jump-off. \nLong Jump: A long jump is a running jump. \nStanding Broad Jump: A broad jump is performed from a \nstanding start. \nTriple Jump: A triple jump, also called a “hop, skip, and \njump” is a combination of a single running long jump, \nafter which the runner lands and immediately makes a \nsecond jump off one foot, and a third jump off of both \nfeet. The third jump is treated as a standing jump with \nadvantage. The total result of the three relevant checks \ngives the total distance jumped. \nHigh Jumps: A high jump is a jump for maximum \nvertical distance, done by jumping over a bar set at a target \nheight, typically starting at 2 feet for standing jumps, 5 feet \nfor running high jumps, or 10 feet for the pole vault, and \nall jumpers must clear this qualifying height. Jumpers who \nclear the height move on in the contest, while those who \nfail must try again. Jumpers who fail to clear three jumps \n(regardless of height) are disqualified. A natural 1 on a jump \ncheck to perform a high jump is an automatic failure. Once \nall jumpers have cleared the height or been disqualified, the \nbar is raised, typically half a foot at a time and the process \nis repeated. Confident jumpers who clear the qualifying \nheight may pass on jumping at lower heights thereafter in \norder to save their attempts for later jumps. The process \nof raising the bar and new attempts for each remaining \njumper continues at each new height, with any jumpers \naccumulating three failed jumps being disqualified. \nIf at the end of all jumps at any height only one jumper \nleft has cleared that height, they are the winner. If two or \nmore jumpers remain, they proceed to the next height \nand continue the process until only one jumper remains. \nIf neither jumper clears the new height, the jumper \nwith the fewest failed jumps prior to the final height is \nthe winner. If only a single jumper is left and they have \nnot failed three jumps, they may choose to raise the bar \nand continue trying to clear higher heights for the sake \nof getting the best possible result, and the may continue \ntrying indefinitely until they fail three jumps or until the \nsponsor of the contest calls for an ending.\nFor the purpose of the contest, rather than setting a \nspecific height you can use target DCs instead. This allows \nyou to bypass metric conversions for jumping or worrying \nabout the specific calculations of each height. You simply \nset the target DC for each height and have contestants try \nto meet or exceed it. \nHigh Jump: A high jump is a running high jump. \nPole Vault: A pole vault is a running high jump that \nuses a flexible pole to provide leverage and spring to \nlaunch the jumper higher than they could under their \nown power. Using a pole allows the jumper to double the \nresult of their Acrobatics check. However, if their vault is \n10 feet or higher they also must attempt a DC 15 Dexterity \n(Acrobatics) check on the way down to avoid falling \ndamage. \nVertical Jump: A vertical jump is performed from a \nstanding start. \nRacing Events\nChase scenes in adventures offer chances to spring \nunexpected surprises and opportunities on characters, \nbut that’s harder to do in a relatively straightforward \nrace, so the following rules present an abstract system \nfor resolving competition races that combines speed and \nskill in a test to cross the finish line first. \nOf course, characters might attempt a shove contest or \notherwise attack other competitors. \nSprint: Each contestant in a sprint race is assumed to \ntake the Dash action, running a short burst in a straight \nline. Each racer multiplies their speed by 2; this number \nis their base race score. In addition, the start and finish of \nthe race are of key importance. The start is represented \nby an initiative check for each runner, while the ability to \nrun through the finish without tiring is represented by a \nConstitution check. \nThe result of these two checks is added to each runner’s \nbase race score to give a total race score. In a simple sprint, \nthe highest total score wins. In a large tournament, racers \nrun in several heats, with the top two finishers in each \nheat moving on to the next round. Additional contestants \nwith the best overall scores remaining from those who \ndid not finish in the top two in their heat may be added to \nthe next round as well. \nEndurance Races: Some races are run with multiple \nlaps around a track or field, or on an open course, like a \ncross-country trail run. \nLap Running: A running track is typically round, oval, \n\n12\nor with parallel straightaways joined by curved ends. The \nprecise shape does not matter, but the fact that runners \nmust navigate those curves means that their speed is \nreduced to by 5 feet, affecting both their movement and \nDash action. Each racer uses this run speed as their base \nrace score. \nUnlike a sprint race, a lap race proceeds for multiple \nlaps, each taking approximately one minute. On the first \nround of the race, all racers make an initiative check and \nadd that result to their speed. The top three race scores \nmay choose whether to begin the race as leaders, chasers, \nor trailers (see below). Leaders are running as hard as they \ncan to take and keep the lead and put distance between \nthemselves and the runners behind them. Chasers keep \ntogether and push the pace just enough to keep the \nleaders within reach without opening too big of a lead. \nTrailers conserve their energy and follow the leaders and \nchasers, waiting for fatigue to eliminate their competition \nand to win with a strong finishing kick.\nEach turn after the first, all runners make a Constitution \ncheck, adding the result to their race score for that turn (see \nbelow). The check begins at DC 8, with the DC increasing \nby 1 for each round after the first for chasers and by 2 \nfor each round after the first for leaders (the DC does not \nincrease for trailers). The result of this check determines \nthe multiple of their speed that serves as their race score \nfor that turn. \nFalling: Runners that fall must spend part of their next \nturn getting back up, halving their movement for the turn. \nIn addition, a falling runner had disadvantage on the next \nConstitution check.\nExhaustion: If a leader or chaser gain levels of exhaustion, \nthey suffer from all relevant penalties until they succeed \non a Constitution check, or reduce their speed by 5 feet for \nat least two turns. Runners cannot die from accumulating \nexhaustion levels, but they can have their speed halved or \nreduced to 0.\nA fatigued runner can remove all accumulated \nexhaustion levels gained in this way after a long rest. \nSlowing Down: On any race turn, a leader or chaser \ncan ease their pace, reducing their speed by 5 feet. If they \ndo this, they gain advantage on their Constitution check. \nThis gives a different benefit if they have exhaustion level, \nremoving a level of exhaustion after running at the slower \npace for 2 turns. \nSpeeding Up: On any race turn, a trailer can begin \nrunning full speed as a chaser or leader, making \nConstitution checks as normal. Once they start this \nfinishing kick, they cannot return to being a trailer. \nWinning the Race: A race can continue for a set number \nof race turns, with the highest overall cumulative race \nscore winning, or it can be a race to reach a previously \nspecified race score. The racer who gets there in the fewest \nnumber of race turns is the winner, and if multiple racers \nget there in the same number of turns, the one with the \nhigher overall score wins. In the rare instance of a tie, \nboth racers are considered the winners. \nRelays: A relay is simply a race between teams of racers, \nwho must pass a ring, flag, baton, or similar small object \nbetween them, or sometimes simply taps the next racer \nwith their hand to signal the start of their course. The first \nrunner takes the item from the start, runs their course, \nand then hands it to the next racer on their team (or taps \nthem to begin), who runs their own race, and so on until \neach racer on the team has had one turn to race. The team \nwith the highest total race score is the winner. However, \nrelays are fraught with risk on the exchange, if a racer \nbegins their stage before the previous runner has actually \ntouched them or successfully handed off the relay item. \nAt each exchange, the two racers must each succeed on \na DC 10 Dexterity check. If both runners fail the check, \nthe exchange is botched and their team is disqualified. \nIf one succeeds and the other fails, the exchange is made \nbut sloppily, and the delay causes the new racer to take a \npenalty on their race score equal to the margin by which \nthe save was failed (and with disadvantage on a natural 1). \nSteeplechases: A steeplechase is a race wherein runners \nmust leap over several obstacles on their way through \nthe race course. Typically, these are logs or similar \nwooden barriers, requiring a successful DC 15 Dexterity \n(Acrobatics) check to clear without incident. Each time a \nrunner fails this check, he deducts twice the amount by \nwhich he failed the check from his final race score. If he \nCON Check\nLeaders\nChasers\nTrailers\nSuccess by 5+\n4x speed\n3x speed\n2x speed\nSuccess\n3x speed\n3x speed\n2x speed\nFailure\n2x speed + fatigue\n2x speed + fatigue\n2x speed\nFailure by 5+\nspeed + fall\nspeed + fall\n2x speed\n\n13\nfails the check by 5 or more, he falls prone (DC 15 Dexterity \nsaving throw negates), and does not add anything to his \nracing score for that turn. If he falls, 1d3-1 other random \ncontestants must attempt an additional Acrobatics check \nor be forced to stumble or even be knocked prone by the \nrunner as he falls. While in a short sprint, a fall such as \nthis is an automatic loss, in a longer race a runner may \nhave time to get back up and resume running. \nIn addition to simple hurdles or barriers, many \nsteeplechase races add additional hazards, such as a pool \nof water or mud on the far side of the barrier (increasing \nthe DC by 2 or by 5 to avoid stumbling or falling). In \nmore brutal cultures, the barriers themselves or hazards \nbeyond them may be spiked, bladed, laced with caltrops, \nor otherwise made deadly dangerous, or the barriers \nmay have actual pit traps or similar threats in front of or \nbehind them. Such hazards are resolved as normal for \ntraps, falling damage, etc. \nRiding Races: Riding races combine the abilities of \nmount and rider to determine a winner. They generally \nfollow the rules for sprint and endurance races, except as \ndescribed below. On the first round of the race, the rider \nmakes an initiative check, adding the mount’s initiative \nmodifier to his own. In addition, each rider must make \na Wisdom (Animal Handling) check, adding the result to \nthe mount’s race score during the first turn. \nMounts carrying a heavy load reduce their speed \nmultiplier by 10 feet when figuring their race score in a \nsprint or in an endurance race. Constitution checks are \nmade by the mount rather than the rider; however, each \ntime the mount makes a Constitution check to determine \nits race score, the rider also makes a Wisdom (Animal \nHandling) check, and the rider may use the result of \neither the mount’s check or the rider’s to determine the \nmount’s race score for that race turn. Negative effects of \na failed Constitution check, such as falling or fatigue, still \n\n14\napply based on the result of the Constitution check itself \nand cannot be negated by substituting the rider’s Wisdom \n(Animal Handling) check in this way. \nMounted Steeplechases: These races function as a normal \nsteeplechase, but the mount must make all Dexterity \n(Acrobatics) checks to clear the barriers along the race. For \nanimals like horses that are not particularly agile, the base \nDC to leap such obstacles is 10, but steeplechases riding \ngreat cats or similar nimble creatures might have a higher \nbase DC. \nEach time the mount leaps a barrier, the rider must \nsucceed on a Dexterity (Animal Handling) check or thrown \nfrom his mount; the DC of this check equal to the DC of \nthe Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to clear the obstacle. If \nthe mount is not trained to leap barriers, the rider must \ncoax the animal to leap over the obstacle with a successful \nWisdom (Animal Handling) check with a DC equal to \nthe Dexterity (Acrobatics) DC to leap the obstacle. If the \nobstacle is on fire or is otherwise obviously dangerous, \nthis DC may be increase by 5 or even 10.\nToken Races: Some riding races involve collecting \na token during the course of the race, such as a flag \nor brightly colored ring or baton, which is typically \nsuspended from a rope or otherwise is difficult to reach \nand must be snatched without slowing down, since the \nrace requires a combination of speed and successfully \ngrabbing these tokens.\nA spectacular version of this kind of contest is the ring \nrace, wherein fully armored knights propel their gaily \ncaparisoned steeds around the racecourse while they use \ntheir lances to grab beribboned rings suspended overhead \nwhose color matches their own. Each race turn, racers can \nattempt an attack roll against AC 15 (or higher, for contests \naimed at higher-level contestants using smaller targets \nmore difficult to catch) to snatch a ring at full speed. \nTrailers in a ring race gain a +2 bonus on their attack rolls, \nas their measured pace helps them focus on the dancing \nand swinging rings overhead. If the attack roll misses by \nless than 5, there is a 20% chance the attacker accidentally \nsnatches a ring of the wrong color (chosen randomly). \nA racer who already has at least one ring on their lance \nwho rolls a natural 1 on a subsequent attack roll or combat \nmaneuver check must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving \nthrow or allow one of his rings already snatched to slip \noff, losing the points he would have gained from it. \nA ring race is scored as a typical race, with a +50 bonus \nto the racer’s cumulative race score for each ring they’ve \nobtained of their color and +5 for rings of other colors, \nwith an extra 50-point bonus if they collect all possible \nrings of their color. In some races, the number of race \nturns and the number of rings is equal, so that racers \nmust successfully grab a ring every time to obtain the best \nscore. In other ring races, the number of laps is greater \nthan the number of rings, allowing racers multiple \nchances to collect all of their own rings or to interfere \nwith their opponents’ efforts. \nA racer that completes the race but fails to capture \nany rings of his own color is automatically disqualified. \nIn unscrupulous ring races, a racer can use his lance \nto attempt a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) contest with \nan opponent to flick one of his opponent’s rings off \nhis lance, with a successful check removing one of the \nopponent’s rings. \nSwimming Races: Swim races function similarly \nto land-based races for creatures with a swim speed; \nhowever, for most land-dwelling creatures swimming \nraces use the following rules. Racers make an initiative \ncheck and a Constitution check at the beginning of the \nrace, adding them together to get their base race score, \nand each round they spend swimming, they add the \nnumber of feet traveled to their race score (a successful \nStrength (Athletics) check against a DC based on the water \nconditions results in moving half the character’s land \nspeed). A swimmer who exceeds the Swim DC by at least 3 \npoints adds a +1 to their race score. \nAfter each minute of racing, a swimmer must succeed \non a DC 10 Constitution check or begin tiring, losing a \nnumber of points from her race score equal to the amount \nby which she failed the check. Each minute thereafter, the \nDC of this check increases by 1.\nEach race has a target race score, and the winner of a \nswimming race is the first racer to reach that score. If \nmore than one racer reaches that score in the same round, \nthe racer with the higher total race score at the end of \nthat round is the winner. Like running races, swimming \nraces can be organized into heats, with the top finishers in \neach heat advancing to the next round until a champion \nis determined. \nTests of Strength \nSome folk are simply not built for speed, but they like \nto show off their muscles in feats of strength. Combat \nevents, especially unarmed events like boxing or \nwrestling, are commonplace as tests of strength, but \nmany competitors who are not warlike by nature or by \ntraining may prefer less violent contests where they can \nshow off their mighty musculature. \nCaber Tossing: In Scottish highland games, a caber is a \n\n15\ntapered log nearly 20 feet long and weighing 175 pounds, \nwhich must be lifted, balanced, and thrown so that the top \nend strikes the ground first, and ideally so that the caber \nfalls directly away from the thrower.\nThe competitor must first hoist the caber up off the \nground, requiring a successful DC 17 Strength (Athletics) \ncheck. Once the caber is lifted, the contestant must then \nbalance the caber and prepare to throw it, requiring a \nspecial DC 12 ability check; the contestant makes both \nStrength and Dexterity checks and may select the better \nresult. If any of these ability checks fails, the caber is \ndropped. Depending on the competition, a single drop \nmay eliminate a contestant, while in other competitions \ncontestants may be allowed a certain number of drops \nbefore being disqualified.\nOnce the caber is ready, the tosser must hurl it up in \nthe air so that it falls top-end first, requiring a ranged \nattack (treat as AC 10, with disadvantage). If the attack \nmisses, the caber fails to land top-end up and falls to the \nground, scoring 0 points. To determine the direction the \ncaber falls on a successful ranged attack, roll 1d8, with a 1 \nindicating the caber falls directly away from the tosser and \n2-8 rotating around the target in a clockwise direction. \nThe tosser can adjust this d8 result up or down by 1 for \npoint by which his attack roll exceeds the target AC.\nfeat of strength and technique, such as the Greek shotput \nor discus or the modern Olympic hammer throw. For such \nevents, each contestant makes a ranged attack roll against \nAC 10 with disadvantage. If the attack misses, the throw \nlands out of bounds and is not counted. If the attack roll \nhits, the thrower additionally makes a Strength check and \nadds the result to his attack roll to determine his score. \nIf throwing a weaponlike object, such as a dart, javelin, \nor spear, the attack roll does not have disadvantage if the \nthrower is proficient in the weapon. \nThrowing an object for maximum distance requires the \nthrower to spin, run, or lean into her throw for maximum \npower, and the thrower must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity \n(Acrobatics) check after making the throw to keep her \nbalance. If the check is failed, the throw is treated as a foul \nand is not counted.\nIn most throwing contests of this kind, each competitor \ngets a certain number of throws and keeps only their best \nresult. The winner is determined by the single farthest \nthrow. If two throwers are equal, the one with the fewest \nfouls or out-of-bounds throws wins. \nTug-of-war: This simple contest involves two teams on \nopposite sides of a field, with a rope between them tied \nwith a flag in the center. Each team has a boundary line on \nd8 result\nScore\n1\n5 points\n2 or 8\n4 points\n3 or 7\n3 points\n4 or 6\n2 points\n5\n1 point\nA caber tossing match may be a set number of throws, \nwith the highest aggregate score winning. In the event of \na tie, the tosser with the fewest drops would be named the \nwinner, and if any contestants are still tied they can make \nan additional toss against one another with the high-\nscorer (or the first successful toss without a drop) being \nnamed the winner.\nDistance Throwing: While caber tossing is a very \nspecific event, similar tests of strength could feature large \nrocks or any other heavy and unwieldy item that must \nbe lifted, balanced, and thrown at a target, and the term \ncan be used in a universal sense to indicate other similar \nitems for such events. \nIn addition, while distance does not matter in traditional \ncaber tossing, hurling an object for distance is likewise a \n\n16\nits side, with all members of their team beyond the line, \nand the object of the contest is to pull the flag marking \nthe center of the rope across their boundary line while the \nopposing team strives to do the same. \nEach team has an anchor that holds the end of the rope, \nand fundamentally a tug-o-war is a series of Strength \n(Athletics) contests. Compare the cumulative strength \nbonuses of each side. The side with the most bonuses \ngrants a +1 bonus for that anchor’s Strength (Athletics) \ncheck for every 4 points by which they exceed the other \nteam’s bonuses. Each anchor makes their checks, applying \nany modifiers for their team, and compare the result. The \ndifference between the result of the checks equals the \nnumber of feet the center flag is pulled toward the side \nof the higher-rolling team at the end of that round. The \ntug-of-war is won when either team pulls the center flag \nover its boundary line. \nWeightlifting: The simplest test of strength is setting up \nprogressively heavier and heavier weights for contestants \nto lift and hold, whether lifted overhead like a modern \npower-lifter, lifted and carried a short distance, or pulled \non a sledge or track. For such weightlifting contests, any \ncharacter can lift half their carrying capacity over their \nhead automatically. Lifting and holding heavier loads in \ncompetition requires a Strength check. \nMock Battle \nMany tournaments celebrate skill at arms, and in medieval \ntimes the grand melee was scarcely less violent than a real \nbattle. Blunted swords and axes could still break limbs \nand skulls and leave contestants wounded or crippled. \nThe events presented here utilize the combat rules as a \nbaseline but offer a wide variety of specialized rules for \nritual combat on horseback, with ranged weapons, and \nmatches in unarmed combat. \nJousting\nOne of the most iconic events in a tourney is the joust, \nwith caparisoned knights in full armor and flowing regalia \ntesting their mettle and their skill against other peers of \nthe realm in a cacophonic clash of arms. \nFor the joust, competitors are matched in a random \ndraw. Each is equipped with a heavy horse, military saddle, \nlance, and heavy wooden shield, with racks of extra lances \nand shields. Riders may provide their own nonmagical \narmor. Attacking a horse is grounds for disqualification.\nJousters can attempt to unhorse their opponent with a \nshove contest.\nTactics: A jouster may choose to charge and force the \nopponent to make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + \nproficiency bonus + Strength or Dexterity bonus), to \nadvance and attack normally, or to use the Dodge action. \nA jouster also can use other abilities, including class \nfeatures like barbarian rage. Supernatural effects and \nspells are typically forbidden. Attacking the opponent’s \nmount results in immediate disqualification.\nResolution: Contestants spur their mounts forward and \nmeet in the center of the list and initiative is rolled. If either \ncontestant has an advantage in reach, that competitor has \nadvantage on this initiative check. The winner strikes \nfirst, and unhorses the defender if the winner attack \nhits. If the rider who lost initiative is unhorsed, they can \nattempt a DC 20 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check as a \nreaction, with their shield breaking if they fail. If the check \nsucceeds, the defender is able to get in a strike with their \nlance against the attacker, forcing the attacker to make a \nDC 15 Dexterity saving throw. If the stricken attacker fails \nthis saving throw, they are unhorsed. If they succeed in \nunhorsing their opponent, that pass is a draw and both \ncontestants can remount and try another pass. \nOn any attack that hits, the lance breaks.\nThe first rider to unhorse their opponent and stay \nmounted wins the match. If after three passes neither has \nDC\nWeight\n10\nUp to medium load\n15\nUp to heavy load\n20\nUp to heavy load x 150%\n25\nUp to heavy load x 200%\nA competition will typically begin with a minimum \nqualifying weight (usually at least 150 pounds); those who \nfail to lift that weight cannot compete. After that point, \neach competitor must increase the weight after each \nsuccessful lift by at least 10 pounds, though they may \nchoose to increase the weight of their lift if desired. If they \nfail a lift, they can retry the same weight. Lifters continue \nincreasing their weight as many times as desired until \nthey fail a total of three lifts, at which point the highest \nweight they successfully lifted stands. \nA lifter can attempt a number of lifts equal to one-\nhalf her Constitution score before she risks becoming \nexhausted. For each lift after that, she must attempt a DC \n10 Constitution check, or gain a level of exhaustion. The \nDC of this check increases by 1 for each additional lift.\n The winner is determined by whomever had the highest \nweight lifted; in the case of a tie, the lifter with the fewest \nfailures wins. \n\n17\ndone this, a point is scored for each shield broken and a \npoint is deducted for each lance broken. If the match is \nstill a draw, the contest continues until the tie is broken. \nAfter each pass, riders take 1 round to return to the end \nof the lists before charging again. Two squires at each end \nof the lists use their actions to replace a rider’s lance or \nshield as needed.\nSpecial Jousts: In a fantasy game, jousts could be contests \non flying, swimming, or even climbing mounts, given an \narena of the appropriate type. The rules for such jousts are \nthe same as for land-based jousts, though each mount also \ncan make a Dexterity check, as appropriate, during their \ncharge to see if they can gain an advantageous position \nrelative to their opponent’s mount. \nIn special jousts, and aerial jousts in particular, \nflamboyance and showy aerobatics are a key part of the \nevent, and the mount with the higher opposed Dexterity \n(Acrobatics) or Strength (Athletics) check also grants its \nrider advantage on any combat contests. Brightly colored \nflags, poles, or similar markers are placed at each end \nof the jousting field to mark where fliers should make \ntheir turn and approach the list for their next pass. In \nexotic jousts, these markers might have flaming rings the \njousters must pass through (DC 17 Dexterity [Acrobatics] \ncheck required, plus a DC 20 Wisdom (Animal Handling) \ncheck to push a non-sentient mount to fly through the \nflames), plus a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw for both rider \nand mount to avoid catching on fire, while high-magic \ntournaments could have even more outlandish obstacles. \nWhile aerial maneuvers are expected before and after \neach pass, aerial jousts often are held close to ground \nlevel for the actual clash of lance against lance in order to \nminimize falling damage from competitors unhorsed in \nthe joust. However, in some high-stakes tournaments the \njoust may take place in midair at a much higher elevation, \nwith spectators watching from raised platforms, or the \ntowers of a castle, or even the sides of a canyon or ravine. \nWhile weather rarely plays a role in low-level aerial jousting, \nhigh winds in such high-altitude jousts may impose a \ndisadvantage on any relevant checks for both contestants. \n\n18\nSample Competitors: PCs wishing to compete must \nbest a hedge knight trainer in the practice lists to \ndemonstrate their basic competence. Success and an \nentry fee (the amount depending on the size and renown \nof the tournament, typically 10 gp for small local festivals \nand 100 gp for grander events) grants a place in the \n5-round, single-elimination tourney. To determine a PC’s \nopponent, roll 1d8 and add 1 per round. \nWinning: A jouster reaching the final four earns 1 point \nof Renown; increased to 2 points for reaching the final \ntwo, and 3 points for becoming champion. In a grand \ntournament, the four finalists receive a war-trained light \nor heavy horse. The two grand finalists receive 1,000 gold, \nand the grand champion receives a suit of +1 breastplate.\nTarget Shooting \nHistory shows us all manner of target shooting and \ntarget throwing contests, from lumberjack axe throwing \nto barroom darts to classic Robin Hood-style archery \ncontests. Accuracy was a key life skill in hunting and \ntraining for military service as well, and such contests are \ncommonplace in any festival. While the contests below are \ndescribed in terms of archery, they can just as easily be \nundertaken with any kind of ranged weapon, including \nthrown weapons, with proportionately shorter distances \nfor weapons with shorter range increments. \nClout Shooting: More common in the Middle Ages than \nthe target shooting we typically envision, clout shooting \ninvolved launching arrows at long range in a parabolic arc \nat a target laid at a low angle or even flat on the ground to \nsimulate loosing volleys of arrows in combat into massed \nenemy troops or shooting over walls. The clout itself was \na simple wooden peg a few inches across inside a circle \ndrawn on the ground or marked with small flags and \nthat might be as small as 2-3 feet across or as large as 25 \nfeet. Modern clout shooting still exists and uses the same \nprinciple, but the target is more often a flag or square of \ncloth and scoring is based on how close archers can get \ntheir arrows to it. \nA clout end has each archer shooting six arrows at the \nclout peg or flag. If all archers shoot at the same target, \neach shooter uses fletching that is a different color to tell \ntheir arrows apart for scoring. Scoring is as follows.\nd12 Result\nCompetitor\n1-4\nHedge Knight (human fighter) Init +1, Attack + 5, Perception +0, Handle Animal +5, \nConstitution +5, Strategy Dash and trip (+6).\n5-7\nTourney Knight (human fighter) Init +3, Attack +7, Perception +4, Handle Animal +10, \nConstitution +8, Strategy Dash and shove.\n8\nSir Brian Init (human ranger) +4, Attack + 9, Perception +10, Handle Animal +13, \nConstitution+10, Special +4 vs Humans, +2 vs Elves, Strategy Dash and Shove.\n9\nChurt Ennatal (half-orc barbarian/ranger) Init +7, Attack +10, Perception +15, Handle \nAnimal +15, Constitution +12, Special +6 vs Humans +6, +2 vs Elves, +2 vs Dwarves, rage \n(+2 to Attack), Strategy Dash and shove, rage.\n10\nDomm Jurga (orc barbarian) Init +0, Attack + 10, Perception +8, Handle Animal +5, \nConstitution+10, Special greater rage (+5 Attack Strategy Dash and disarm shield, rage.\n11\nKhotio Cristobal (human fighter) Init +7, Attack + 11, Perception +5, Handle Animal +16, \nConstitution + 8 Special Blindsight 60 ft, Strategy Attack, and shove.\nDC\nAC\nPoints\nClout\n20\n6\nClout square\n17\n3\nInner Circle (within 5 feet)\n14\n2\nInner Circle (within 10 feet)\n10\n1\nIf the clout is laid flat on the ground, it is considered to \nhave heavily concealment, so any shots have disadvantage \nwhen done in this way.\nThe top two scorers in each clout end advance to the \nnext round, or have a one-on-one end of their own, with \nthe high scorer winning their duel and the title. If they \nremain tied after that end, they go to a sudden death duel \nwith each taking one shot at a time until the tie is broken. \nTarget Shooting: Shorter-range shooting contests \nagainst vertical targets marked with concentric circles \naround a central bull’s-eye. A target-shooting end is six \nshots for each archer at a Medium-sized target typically \n\n19\n\n20\n120 feet away. Each circle can be painted in alternating \npainted rings (called circles) and unpainted rings (called \nfields), or each could be painted a different color; those \nlisted below represent the modern archery target colors. \nArchers score based on how close their shots come to the \ncenter of the target. \nfeet alone. Grappling, shoving, and most other combat \ncontests are not allowed. After each round of combat, the \nboxers are separated and return to their start positions. \nGloves: Traditional boxing is carried out with bare \nknuckles, but in some societies gloves are used to ablate \nthe impact and reduce injury. Boxers wearing gloves \ncannot kill their targets, and they deal only half the normal \namount of damage with each blow. \nKnockout: If either competitor is rendered unconscious \nby the reducing their opponent to 0 hit points, he is \nknocked out and his opponent is declared the winner. If a \nfighter confirms a critical hit during a boxing match, the \ntarget must make a Constitution saving throw equal to 10 \n+ the damage dealt or gain a level of exhaustion, or two \nexhaustion levels if they fail the save by 5 or more. Rolling \na natural 1 on this save renders the target unconscious. \nAny exhaustion levels gained in this way are removed \nwhen the afflicted boxer finishes a long rest.\nRounds: A boxing match can last any number of \nrounds agreed upon by the contestants, though usually \na minimum of 3 rounds and a maximum of 15. These \nrounds can be literal combat rounds, or they can be any \nlength stipulated by the combatants, though rarely longer \nthan 1 minute. \nScoring: If neither opponent is knocked unconscious \nduring the duration of the fight, the victor is determined \nby a scoring system. Each competitor tallies one point \nper hit and two points for each critical hit. In any round \nin which a fighter scores more hits than his opponent, \nhe gains one additional bonus point. A fighter can use a \nDexterity (Sleight of Hand) contest to appear to land more \npunches than he actually does; this contest is opposed by \nthe passive Perception of the judge(s) scoring the match, \nand the check is made each round. Both the fighter and \nthe judge(s) add their proficiency bonus to these checks \neven if they lack proficiency in the appropriate skill as \nlong as they are proficient with unarmed strikes. If a \nfighter’s Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check exceeds the \nWisdom (Perception) check of the judge(s), he is treated \nas if he scored 1 additional hit during that round, plus \none additional hit for every 5 points by which his check \nexceeded the judge’s highest Wisdom (Perception) check.\nSpecial Boxing Rules: Boxing can proceed using normal \nunarmed combat rules, or it can incorporate a number of \nspecialized maneuvers and strategies.\nBob and Weave: This is the boxing term for using the \nDodge action. \nClinch: One boxer grabs onto another as a defensive \nmaneuver to prevent his opponent from landing effective \nCircle\nColor\nAC\nPoints\nCenter\nGold\n18\n5\nInner Field\nRed\n14\n4\nInner Circle\nBlue\n12\n3\nOuter Field\nBlack\n11\n2\nOuter Circle\nWhite\n10\n1\nIn some tourneys, each archer shoots at their own \nindividual targets, while in other contests, pairs of archers \nalternate shots at the same target. In such a duel, the \narcher with the higher total score is the winner. In the \ncase of a tie, the archer with the shot closest to the center \npoint of the target wins; determine this by which archer \nhad the highest attack roll during their end. If this is still \na tie, each archer alternates taking one shot at a time until \nthe tie is broken. \nUnarmed Combat Events\nWhile jousting and even general melee events with \nblunted lances and swords were a staple of medieval \ntournaments, unarmed combat events also were very \npopular and continue to be popular to the present day. \nSuch events often featured traveling champions who \nwould take on local toughs and gallants willing to stake \ntheir money for a chance in the ring with the champion. \nSuch events can be run using the standard combat rules \nfor unarmed attacks and combat contest, and this is \nparticularly appropriate in unusual unarmed events such \nas a humanoid battling a bear, gorilla, or similar creature \nwith natural weapons of its own. However, the following \nrules below provide a framework for the sweet science of \ntaking down an opponent with bare hands. \nPerformance Combat: Whether using standard combat \nrules or the specialized rules described below, it is very \nappropriate to have contestants attempt to influence the \ncrowd to their side make a DC 15 Charisma (Performance) \ncheck. Success grants you advantage on your next attack as \nyou get the crowd to cheer you on.\nBoxing: Competitors are confined to a small ring, \nusually a 15-foot square, and set to fighting. Standard \nboxing is unarmed combat using only the hands, but many \ncultures may strike with both hands and feet or even with \n\n21\npunches. Treat this as a grapple contest. If the target’s \nopposed roll is 5 or more points lower than the grappler, \nthe target is has disadvantage on attack rolls until the end \nof next turn. A referee will usually end the grapple after 1 \nturn.\nCombination: As an action, the boxer can make two \nattacks, but does not add their Strength bonus on either \nattack. \nCounterpunch: A boxer can use his reaction to attack his \nopponent as they make their attack. This counterpunch is \nresolved after his opponent’s attack. \nHaymaker: A boxer can put his whole energy into a heavy \nblow as an action, taking disadvantage on the roll in order \nto gain a +3 bonus on damage rolls. \nJab: This is a standard unarmed strike.\nLow Blow: A blow below the belt is generally considered \nagainst the rules, much like a head butt, and in such cases \nmaking a low blow without being noticed requires a \nsuccessful Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check contested by \nthe passive Perception checks of the judges as described \npreviously. If noticed, a successful low blow does not score \na point and results in a 1-point penalty to the attacker. \nA successful hit with a low blow deals an additional 1d3 \npoints of damage. In addition, the target must make a DC \n8 Constitution saving throw or gain a level of exhaustion \nthat goes away after the target finishes a short rest.\nWrestling: Wrestling is a contest of combat maneuvers, \nespecially (but not exclusively) the grapple contest. Shove \ncontests are used to take a foe to the ground and make \nthem easier to pin, while in other forms of wrestling such \nas sumo the object is to force the opponent out of the ring. \nMatches can be simple submission contests, wherein the \nmatch continues until one wrestler is subdued through \nmaintaining a grapple for a certain number of rounds. \nWrestling matches typically occur in a 15-foot diameter \nring (which may be round or square), though larger rings \nmay be use for tag team or group wrestling matches. The \nrules below present a formalized scoring system that can \nbe used to reward specific maneuvers and outcomes. \nDuration: A wrestling match usually lasts a set number \nof rounds (usually 10, 12, or 15), though the match can end \nearly if one wrestler maintains a grapple for 3 rounds. \nIf neither wrestler can maintain, the match is decided \non total points. If the score is tied at the end of the set \nduration, the match continues in a sudden death format, \nwhere the first wrestler to outscore his opponent in a \nround wins the match. \nExhaustion: Wrestling matches take a considerable \namount of energy. A wrestler can wrestle for a number \nof rounds equal to one-half his Constitution score \nbefore risking exhaustion. After this time, each wrestler \nmust succeed at a DC 10 Constitution check or gain an \nexhaustion level at the end of each round. The DC increases \nby 1 for each round thereafter. When a wrestler gains an \nexhaustion level, the DC resets to 10 but additional checks \nmust be made each round to avoid gaining further levels. \nA wrestler using a Dodge action does not need to make \na Constitution check that round and reduces the DC of \nsubsequent checks by 1. Exhaustion levels gained are \nnever lethal and are removed after a short rest. \nGive and Take: Scoring occurs at the end of each round \nof a wrestling match. A grapple that is not maintained to \nthe end of the opponent’s turn scores no points. \nShowboating: Wrestling bouts can be simple athletic \nendeavors, or they can be grand spectacles with casts of \ncolorful costumed characters with outlandish names and \ncostumes to match, from masked luchadors or gloriously \nspangled and sequined performers with catchphrases, \ncapes, props, and bombastic entrance music. These \nendeavors may still be highly athletic (though in some \ncases they may follow a prearranged script as to who wins \nor loses a match), but a Charisma (Athletics) check can be \nmade in place of a Strength (Athletics) check. \nTag Team: This style of wrestling pits two teams against \neach other, though only one wrestler from each team is on \nthe mat at a time. At any time during the match, a wrestler \ncan tag their partner and then exit the ring, while their \npartner enters the fray in their place. The partner outside \nthe ring must stay in a specific location and cannot move \naround the ring to get closer to their partner. \nTeam Wrestling: Some wrestling matches pit evenly \nmatched teams against one another, with all wrestlers \nin the match at once. Scoring proceeds as described \nbelow, and wrestlers may choose to combine their \nefforts to pin and hold one of their opponents or may \nengage in multiple one-on-one grapples simultaneously. \nA wrestler who is grappled and held for three rounds \nis out of the match and the bout continues until all of \none team’s wrestlers have been eliminated, or based on \nthe aggregate score for each team if both teams still \nhave wrestlers remaining at the end of the match. Any \nsuccessful point-scoring move by a wrestler counts \ntoward the aggregate total for their team. \nUnsportsmanlike Conduct: In a wrestling match, you often \ncan escape the view of any judges or referees, and dirty \ntricks can be used to put an opponent in a compromising \nposition and gain advantage. Using an illegal hold or an \n\n22\nprone. Both wrestlers begin from a set position marked \nwithin the ring and roll initiative at the beginning of the \nmatch. In some cultures, the rules of sumo are considered \nsacred, and any unsportsmanlike conduct noticed by the \njudges is grounds for immediate disqualification and \nforfeit of the match. If you use a 15-foot ring, assume \nboth wrestlers begin in the center square; if you wish a \nbit more movement opportunity using a standard grid of \n5-foot squares, a 20-foot ring may work better.\nIn the case of a shove contest, the winner can move \nboth his opponent and himself 5 feet. If the opponent’s \ncontested check is 5 points or more lower than the attacker, \nthey are knocked prone and lose that match.\nThe first wrestler to be knocked prone or forcibly moved \nout of the ring loses the match; unlike the wrestling match \ndescribed above, the match ends as soon as either wrestler \nis defeated in this way, without a chance for the defender \nto retaliate.\nOnce a wrestler is defeated, if the match is going to \ncontinue, both wrestlers retake their positions at the \ncenter of the mat \nScoring: A sumo contest typically consists of a set number \nof matches, either within the same day or over a span of \ndays. In a single contest, two wrestlers might have five \nmatches, with the winner determined by whomever wins \nthe most individual matches. Tradition dictates that all \nmatches in the set are completed, even if one wrestler has \nan insurmountable advantage in that set, both for the loser \nto demonstrate stoic aplomb in defeat and to determine \ntotal number of matches won if the sumo event stretches \nover multiple days and involves multiple wrestlers, as the \nwinner of the highest aggregate total number of matches \nat the end of the event is the grand champion of that event.\nSpecial Events\nWhile the preceding section details a broad array of \nfamiliar contests from real-world history and culture, \nthis is a fantasy game and it’s eminently possible in a \nhigher-magic campaign, or one that features higher-level \ncharacters, to dial up the difficulty and complexity of your \ntournament events. These are especially appropriate if \nyour festival games happen in a specific location, where a \npermanent stadium or arena is renowned for its famous \nand unique challenges, but they also could be used at any \nfestival set up in the fringes of a young forest kingdom \nwhere the spirit of magic and adventure is strong. \nunsportsmanlike maneuver such as an eye gouge, groin \ngrab, strike with a closed fist, and so on without being \nnoticed requires a successful Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) \ncheck opposed by the passive Perception checks of the \njudges and your opponent. This is a bonus action, and you \nmay choose one of the following options: \nDeal damage as if you had hit your target with your fist. \nGive your opponent disadvantage on Strength \n(Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks to avoid or \nescape your grapple.\nGive your opponent disadvantage on its next attack roll. \nIf the dirty trick is noticed, the wrestler receives a warning \nand his opponent gains 1 point. A second dirty trick that is \nnoticed results in the wrestler being disqualified.\nBecause of the chaos and confusion of a match with \nmultiple wrestlers on a side, Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) \nchecks to perform a dirty trick combat maneuver without \nbeing noticed have advantage in a team wrestling match. \nScoring: Scoring is checked at the end of each round:\nEscape (1 point): You succeed on a grapple contest to break \nfree from a grapple when your opponent has maintained \nthe grapple at least once or has knocked you prone.\nHold (2 or 3 points): You succeed on a grapple contest to \nmaintain your hold your opponent. If you maintain your \nhold for two consecutive rounds, you score 3 points. \nPin (victory): If you maintain a grapple for three \nconsecutive rounds, you automatically win the match. \nReversal (2 points): You escape a grapple and make a \nsuccessful grapple contest at the next available opportunity. \nStalling (warning, then 1 point to your opponent): If you use \nthe Dodge action, you receive a warning the first time. \nEach time you use that action afterward, your opponent \nreceives 1 point. \nTakedown (2 points): You knock your opponent prone \nand succeed on a grapple contest in consecutive rounds. \nThis may be done in either order; knocking them prone \nand then grappling them, or grappling first and then \nknocking prone. \nSumo: Sumo and similar forms of wrestling do not rely \non grabbing an opponent, but instead of forcing them to \nthe ground or out of the ring with a shove contest. This \nalso can be accomplished with a grapple when you force \nthe opponent to move. \nBoth wrestlers begin near the center of a 15- or 20-\nfoot ring, and must force their opponent back or to the \nside 10 feet to force them out of the ring, or knock them \n\n23\nuses her area-effect powers while moving from pillar to \npillar and targeting them with harm. If she sees a positive \npillar near filling, she uses shatter to destroy it.\nLevigud Stolikan (human male cleric of the Goddess of \nthe Dead, CR 10) Attack +9, Spells (DC 17) 6—heal (x1) 5—\nmass cure wounds (x2), 4—(x3), 3—revivify (x4), 2— (x4), 1—\ncure wounds (x4), At Will— sacred flame Strategy Levigud \ntries to hit the largest number of pillars with his area-\neffect radiant energy, but if a pillar is close to being healed \nhe focuses touch-range cure spells on it.\nMonde Ispemon (human male sorcerer CR 11) Attack +7 \nChanneling none, Spells (DC 17) 6—heal (x1), 5— (x3), 4—\nblight (x3), 3—fly, vampiric touch (x3), 2— (x3), 1— cure wounds \n(x4), Cantrip—chill touch (3d8), Strategy Monde lets others \ndo most of the work and tries to capture pillars that are \nnearly filled, whether with radiant or necrotic energy. He \nspends the first round casting fly on himself, then uses \ncure wounds on nearly-filled positive pillars, while he flies \nto the center of the arena and uses blight and vampiric touch \non negatively charged pillars.\nWinning: There are two winners in the contest. The \nfirst competitor to charge a pillar is given a wand of of chill \ntouch or a healing potion that refills itself each dawn. The \ncontestant who charges the most pillars is declared the \ngrand champion and is given a wand of lesser restoration (it \ncasts lesser restoration for 1 charge, and the wand has 2 \ncharges that are renewed at each dawn).\nShooting Gallery\nContestants are assigned positions on an archery list 300 \nfeet long, with targets placed at 50 feet, 150 feet, and 300 \nfeet. Each contestant may choose a shortbow, longbow, \nlight or heavy crossbow, or sling, along with 20 arrows, \nbolts, or sling bullets.\nContestants must hit each target at least once, but they \nmay otherwise choose their target. Each target has a vertical \nconcentric circle, an outer circle that is AC 10 (scoring 1 \npoint), an inner that is AC 16 (scoring 2 points), and a bull’s \neye that is AC 21 (scoring 3 points). The point values are \nincreased by 1 for the second target and by 5 for the third. \nIn addition, the contest has several magical surprises. \nEach competitor should roll 1d6 each round. On a roll \nof 1, a gust of wind strikes them for 1 round, causing their \nattacks to have disadvantage, and forcing a competitor to \nmake a Strength save (DC 14) or be knocked prone. On \na roll of 6, one of the targets (equal chance of each) is \nsurrounded by a 5-foot radius cloud of smoke for 1 round, \napplying disadvantage to that target.\nPillars of Life and Death\nContestants enter a grid that is 100 feet on a side. A total \nof 36 10-foot-tall spiraling glass columns are spaced \nevery 20 feet on the grid, including around its perimeter. \nThese pillars are sensitive to radiant and necrotic energy, \ncausing them to fill with a glowing light (radiant) or inky \ndarkness (necrotic). The pillars always attempt a saving \nthrow (with a flat bonus of +5) against effects which allow \na saving throw. \nPhysically, each pillar has AC 16, Damage Threshold of \n3, and 12 hit points, and they are not subject to critical \nhits when empty. For the purpose of radiant and necrotic \nenergy, each pillar begins at 0 hit points, brightening with \nthe respective energy type, up to 100 hit points of each. \nPillars can absorb both types of energy simultaneously; \nthey do not cancel one another out but accumulate \nseparately, with light and dark spiraling around the pillar. \nEach competitor is given a colored token, and when \nthey cause a pillar to reach 100 positive or 100 negative \nhit points, they ‘capture’ the pillar as it turns wholly \nwhite (radiant) or black (necrotic) and the crystal sphere \nmounted at the pillar’s top glows brightly in their color. \nThis is true even if another contestant has charged the \nmajority of the energy into the pillar; it is the contestant \nwho pushes the pillar beyond 100 radiant or necrotic hit \npoints that captures it (this includes creatures summoned \nby a contestant). Captured pillars become amazingly \ndurable (AC 18, Damage Threshold 8, 180 hit points).\nCompetitors may use melee, ranged, targeted, or area-\neffect abilities to charge the pillars. A contestant that \ndestroys a pillar receives one penalty point, which is \ndeducted from the number of pillars they have captured \nwhen tallying the winner. A contestant that attacks another \ncompetitor is disqualified.\nCheating: If you wish to grant an unfair advantage, one \ncontestant is given a special item warded with magic aura. \nSuch items can adjust damage or confer the ability to deal \nradiant or necrotic damage more easily. Using such an \nitem is grounds for disqualification.\nSample Contestants: The following expert contestants \nenter this event. Unless otherwise noted, all spells listed \nbelow have a range of touch. A mass cure/inflict wounds spell \ncan target up to 4 pillars at once. Only spells relevant to \nthe contest are listed here, along with the number of slots \nper day each character can cast. \nYgg Vardu (gnome female cleric of the Destroyer, CR 9) \nAttack +9, Spells (DC 17) 6—harm (x1), 5— (x2), 4—blight \n(x3) 3—(x4), 2—shatter, 1—inflict wounds (x4), Strategy Ygg \n\n24\nThe top two contestants move on to a final round. The \nmaster of the archery lists has secured a collection of \nmock ioun stones, 5 painted black and 5 red. Each is AC 24, \n10 hit points, and resistance to all damage. The ioun stones \norbit within a 5-foot column of light 50 feet away. Each \nioun stone has a separate column. Contestants are given \na quiver of 20 arrows, and an extra quiver is placed at \ntheir starting point if they need additional ammunition. \nContestants roll initiative and can move and fire as they \nwish at targets of the color assigned to them. When \nonly one target remains, the column of light fills with \nspiraling streamers of color that grants the final target \nan additional 10 hit points. The first to knock down all 5 \nof their targets wins.\nCheating: If you wish to grant an unfair advantage, one \ncontestant is given a +1 bow. \nSample Contestants: The following expert contestants \nenter this event:\nVail McIlrath (human ranger CR 12) – Weapon longbow, \nRange 120 feet, Atk +9/+9 (1d8+5). \nNavara Kadani (elf female fighter CR 9) – Weapon \nlongbow, Range 120 feet, Atk +11/+11 (1d8+7), Strategy \nNavara focuses her efforts on the middle target. When \ntime is nearly up, she will use an action surge to take four \nshots in the last round.\nFlorin Moyur (female halfling fighter CR 11) – Weapon \nhand crossbow, Range 120 feet, Atk +9/+9/+9, Other \nCrossbow Expert and Sharpshooter feat, Strategy Florin \nfocuses her efforts on the farthest target. In the final, she \nuses her action surge to make six shots.\nDomm Jurga (male half-orc monk CR 11) – Weapon \nsling, Range 120 feet, Atk +9 (1d8+10), Other Sharpshooter \nfeat, Strategy Hitting the nearest target as many times as \nhe can.\nWinning: The contestant with the overall high score \nwins a pair of bracers of archery (or bracers of slinging or \nbracers of the crossbow with an identical effect when using \nthose weapons, if that is their weapon of choice).\nTest of the Axe \nContestants must hew through as many 2-foot thick logs \n(AC 15, 18 hp) as possible in one minute. The logs are \nspaced 10 feet apart, so competitors must move from one \nto the next once the prior log is demolished. A central \nrack holds a large collection of handaxes, battleaxes, and \ngreataxes. Competitors may use a single axe or one in \neither hand, as they choose.\nCheating: If you wish to grant an unfair advantage, one \ncontestant is given an adamantine axe of their favored \ntype, disguised to look like ordinary steel. Against the logs, \nthis axe deals an additional 2d6 damage. As a quirk of the \ncontest, such an axe (of a random type) might be placed \namong the tools available for all competitors. A DC 20 \nIntelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Smithing Tools) \ncheck will identify its composition, but this requires an \naction examining the axe. A dwarf has advantage on any \nsuch checks. If two characters both recognize the axe’s \nworth, or if an NPC who knows which axe it is goes for it \nat the same time as a PC who recognizes what it is, make a \nStrength (Athletics) contest; the winner gets the axe.\nSample Contestants: The following expert contestants \nenter this event.\nDomm Jurga (orc male barbarian 11) ST 20, Attacks 2 \nwith greataxe +9 (1d12+8), Strategy Domm rages during \nthe first round and keeps moving to new logs as soon as \none is cut in half. \nDizonar Redd (dwarf female fighter 12) ST 18, Attacks 3 \nwith dwarven waraxe +8 (1d10+4)\nKyller Murso (human male fighter 9/barbarian 1) ST 18, \nAttacks 3 with handaxe +9 (1d6+4)\nQuilaj Sorakka (half-orc female ranger 10) ST 18, Attacks \n2 with battleaxe +8 (1d8+4)\nWinning: The winner is the competitor who has \ndestroyed the most logs. Partially destroyed logs only \ncount in the case of a tie, in which case the competitor \n\n25\nwhose final log had the fewest hit points remaining wins. \nThe grand champion wins a +1 adamantine axe of their \nfavored type. Second place wins a non-magical axe of their \nchoice that is made of adamantine.\nThe Siege Mortis\nThis unusual contest is often blended with another \nevent where the strange, the exotic, and the macabre are \ncelebrated, such as a menagerie of bizarre beasts or a \ncarnival of freaks, and is typically held at midnight. An \nindividual can take this challenge only once, though other \ncharacters may attempt it as well. At the conclusion of the \ncompanion spectacle, a strange thronelike chair of bronze \nmetal is placed in the center ring, and the contestant is \nbrought to sit upon the chair. Unlike the other games, \nthe contestant can bring anything they wish, but if they \nare killed or quit the contest everything they bring within \nthem becomes property of Madame Midnight, the mistress \nof the event and of the mystical Siege Mortis, the Seat of \nDeath. They can abort the challenge at any time, ending \nit immediately, but if they surrender during the test they \nwalk out with only their skin. They may cast preparatory \nspells before sitting the Siege Mortis, but spells lasting less \nthan two minutes expire before the contest begins.\nThe contest begins with the contestant being seated \nin the Siege Mortis and concentrating for two minutes. \nDuring this time, Madame Midnight works the crowd, \ncalling for bets for or against the contestant. After one \nminute, the contestant is surrounded by an illusory \nenvironment (as a mirage arcane, DC 18 to disbelieve) \nsurrounded on all sides by transparent walls of force. \nFrom within, the walls of force appear to extend the \nterrain to the horizon; only on reaching the wall will \na contestant realize where the end of the “arena” lies. \nThose outside the walls, however, automatically perceive \nwhat transpires within with true seeing, allowing them to \nview the proceedings without obstruction. \nAt the same time, in a different random location, three \nor more quasi-real creatures appear, equivalent to the \nillusory monsters created by a phantasmal force (DC 18) \nspell. There is an equal chance of a CR 5 creature to be \nthere, usually an elemental. At the GM’s option, the power \nof the Siege Mortis may adapt itself to provide even greater \nchallenges for higher-level characters, but its dangers \nshould never be less than those described above.\nThe illusory environment can be anything, including \nbuildings, and should be suited to the creature that \nappears. The environment provides no cover and \nsuccessful disbelief allows a creature to ignore any \nperception of difficult terrain. Illusory structures, trees, \nand the like have a quasi-real structural framework that \ncan allow a creature to hide, and even if disbelieved \nhinders movement as difficult terrain and can be \nclimbed (DC 15). Quasi-real liquids can be swum (DC 10) \nor walked through.\nWinning: The contest lasts for two minutes, until the \ncontestant or all quasi-real creatures are killed, or until \nthe contestant surrenders. Depending on her mood, \nMadame Midnight may call out to the crowd to judge a \ncontestant asking for surrender and may delay until the \nend of the round before ending the contest. Surviving \nthe Siege Mortis without slaying the enemy wins no \nRenown, but the PC keeps her gear. Slaying the quasi-\nreal creature(s) wins 1 point of Renown and a set of four \nelemental gems, one of each type. Victory brings 2 points of \nRenown if accomplished in 3 rounds or less of actions, 3 \npoints if achieved in a single round (measured from the \npoint when the PC takes their first action).\nThe Tower of Jewels\nCompetitors must climb to the top of a 60-foot wooden \ncolumn, painted to resemble a tower, and retrieve a single \ngemstone of their choice from a turret-shaped box at the \ntop, and climb back down without falling. The pole itself \nhas been sanded smooth and requires a DC 19 Strength \n(Athletics) check. The top 30 feet of the pole has been \ngreased as well (DC 24). A competitor may use Athletics \nor Acrobatics to begin their climb with a high jump, \nrequiring a DC 20 check to grab onto the pole, but they \nmay not jump down. A competitor who wishes to climb \nnaked can take off their garment and improvise a climbing \naid as an action, using their clothes to create the climbing \naid (reduce the DC of each check by 2). This can be used as \na 10-foot-long makeshift rope if tied to the box at the top \nof the pole (taking an action to tie properly), reducing the \nClimb DC to 10 for that portion of the pole. \nThe box has a simple lock that requires a DC 17 Dexterity \n(Thieves’ Tools) check, though it would be difficult to \nbring up a set of thieves’ tools when climbing naked. A \nDexterity check can be made without them, but the DC is \n25. A competitor can also try to smash open the box (AC 16, \n15 hp, DC 19 Strength [Athletics] check to break). \nThe box contains 6 gems, one of each worth 500, \n100, 50, 10, 5, and 1 gp. A successful DC 19 Intelligence \n(Investigation) can determine which is of greatest worth. \nIf the box is smashed open, the gems are scattered \nonto the ground– the PC can catch one of them with a \nDC 15 Dexterity saving throw, but must make a DC 19 \nIntelligence (Investigation) check as a reaction to catch \n\n26\nthe most valuable one. Any jewels which fall have a 50% of \nshattering when they hit the ground below. A competitor \nmay palm one additional jewel with a successful Dexterity \n(Sleight of Hand) check. If the event marshals notice (19 \npassive Perception), the competitor is disqualified; if not, \nthey keep the extra loot.\nCheating: If you wish to grant an unfair advantage, one \ncontestant is given clues about the cut of the most valuable \ngemstone, granting advantage on checks to pick it out.\nAli Zirasghar (half-orc male monk CR 10) Speed 60 feet, \nAttacks unarmed strike +8 (1d8+4), Strength 14, Dexterity \n18, Skills Athletics +6, Acrobatics +8, Investigation +6, \nStrategy Ali makes a running leap up the pole using Step \nof the Wind, and climbs as best he can, using Slow Fall to \navoid damage if he falls. He tries to smash the box and \ngrab any jewel and get back to the finish as fast as possible.\nJashev Derry (halfling male barbarian CR 10), Speed 40 \nfeet, Attacks Strength (Athletics) check to burst box +4 \nwith advantage, Strength 18, Dexterity 14, Skills Athletics \n+8, Acrobatics +6, Investigation +1, Strategy Jashev uses \nhis impressive strength and rage to try to break the box \ngrab any jewel he can.\nValekar Dekorma (human female barbarian CR 10) \nSpeed 40 feet, Attacks bite +9/+9 (1d4+7 when raging), \nStrength 20, Dexterity 15, Skills Athletics +9, Acrobatics \n+6, Investigation -1, Strategy Valekar rages and double-\nmoves up the lower part of the pole. At the greased area, \nshe uses her bite as uniquely trained to create a hand-hold \n(giving herself in ability checks related to climbing) and \nmoves at half speed until she reaches the top. \nZodi Kiuwa (human female rogue 10), Speed 30 feet, \nAttacks dagger +9 (1d4+1), Strength 13, Dexterity 20, Skills \nAthletics +5, Acrobatics +13, Investigation +6, Sleight of \nHand +13, Thieves Tools +13 Strategy Zodi uses masterwork \nthieves’ tools and tries to climb carefully and select the \nbest quality gem she can.\nWinning: There are two champions: The sharpest eye is \ngiven for bringing back the most valuable jewel. If more \nthan one person retrieves a 500 gp gem, the one who \nbrought it back first is the winner. The sharpest eye keeps \ntheir jewel. The swiftest hand is given for coming back with \nany jewel first, whatever its value. The swiftest hand keeps \ntheir jewel and the jewels brought back by of the other \ncompetitors (except for the sharpest eye).\n\n27\nThe Hell Horse\nIn jousting circles, legends speak of a dreadful beast who \nroams the land to and fro, seeking whom he may devour \namong those who embody the chivalric ideal and who \nseek to demonstrate their purity and puissance on the \ntournament lists. Faceless and nameless “black knights” \nthroughout the years have sought titles of achievement \nand honor in the tourneys while keeping their identity a \nsecret, or have hidden their past shame beneath a mask \nor hood while they sought to repair their honor. Most \ntrueborn and honorable knights avoid confrontations \nwith them for fear of besmirching their own reputation by \nlosing to an opponent of no repute (with little renown to \nbe gained even in victory), and such knights typically have \nno recourse to compel their challenge to be answered. \nHowever, for decades knights who have refused challenges \nfrom nameless foes have been found murdered, their \nbodies battered, charred, and mutilated, with scarcely a \ntrace found of their killers but a crude, sooty black mask \ndrawn in the dirt. On a few occasions, a suspect has been \nfound and even tried and condemned for such murders, \nprotesting their innocence all the way, but even after their \nexecution the respite was short before the murders began \nagain, always with the same modus operandi.\nIn truth, none of those caught have been the true \nmastermind behind this decades-long campaign of \nterror against knights noble, valiant, and true. Each has \nbeen an unwitting or unwilling catspaw of an inhuman \nkilling machine called Ashavin, a half-breed nightmare \nfrom the pits of the Abyss unleashed upon the world by \nhis cunning succubus mother, Othenia. Not content to \nlure mortals of good heart to their doom through the \ntypical sin of lust, she devised a rare plan to play upon \npride and wrath, seeking out those paragons of goodness \nand mercy who sought to rise in public esteem and to \nbe inspirations to the people at large. Her bestial son \nwould instead seek them out in the guise of a common \nsteed, or recruit a rider for himself willing to help take \ndown the proud and the mighty, humiliating them on \nthe field before slaughtering them once their fame and \nrenown had been destroyed. Ashavin has recruited a long \nsuccession of accomplices, both as his personal riders and \nwith a retinue of spies, informants, and allies always on \nthe lookout for new targets. \nIn a Tournament Setting: The growing fame and success \nof the PCs, or of one of their allies, in the jousting lists \nand in general heroics draws the attention of Ashavin \nand his marauding minions. He devises a plot to murder \nthe target by infiltrating the jousting stables disguised as \nan ordinary horse, suppressing his smoke and flaming \nhooves. He attempts to lure the target into riding him, \nreplacing grooms and valets with his own minions or \nintimidating others into sending PCs his way, making \nexcuses about why other horses cannot be used in the \nlist. Once a PC has mounted Ashavin, he uses magic to \nattempt to swiftly kill his rider. If he succeeds, he carries \noff the PC’s body and gear, eventually mutilating the \ncorpse to avoid raising from the dead and then leaving \nthe body nearby.\nIf the PC survives but remains astride him, Ashavin plane \nshifts to the Abyss and engages the PC in single combat; an \nunwilling PC can resist being taken with a successful DC \n16 Charisma saving throw. If he already has used plane shift \nthat day, he uses hide in plain sight and his ring to flee into \nthe stables, where he has stashed a scroll of teleport, using \nit to return to his mercenary followers. After Ashavin is \ndealt with, the tournament continues with the audience \nshaken but enthralled by the spectacle.\nAshavin\nLarge fiend, chaotic evil\nArmor Class 18\nHit Points 126 (12d10+60)\nSpeed 60 ft.; fly 90 ft.\nSpeed fly 60 ft. \nSTR\nDEX\nCON\nINT\nWIS\nCHA\n22 (+6)\n17 (+3)\n20 (+4)\n10 (+0)\n15 (+2)\n17 (+3)\nSaving Throws DEX +8, WIS +7, CHA +8\nSkills Insight +7, Perception +7, Stealth +8\nDamage Resistances cold, lightning; bludgeoning, \npiercing, slashing from nonmagical weapons\nDamage Immunities fire\nSenses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 17\nLanguages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Giant, Infernal, \nSylvan, Telepathy 100 ft.\nChallenge 13 (10,000 XP) \nConfer Fire Resistance. Ashavin can grant resistance to fire \ndamage to anyone riding him.\nMagic Resistance. Ashavin has advantage on saving throws \nagainst spells and magical effects.\nInnate Spellcasting. Ashavin’s innate spellcasting ability \nscore is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell \nattacks). Ashavin can innately cast the following spells \nrequiring no material components:\n\n28\nrenown includes the benefits of all levels that precede it. \nIf your tournament is large, with many events, you might \nchoose to increase the Renown required to earn each of \nthe following levels of fame and esteem. Losing large \namounts of renown may cause your followers and cohort \nto leave you, or at the very least to become disgruntled.\nIf the PCs are simple adventurers with no direct \nconnection to a kingdom of their own or anyone else’s, \nthey may compete in tournaments for fun of it, or to \nwin prizes of money, magic, or special favors from the \nsponsors of the tournament. Monetary prizes are listed \nfor some events above, but unless otherwise noted should \nbe commensurate to the risk involved and the treasure for \nan encounter with a foe of a challenge rating appropriate \nto the challenge of each event. As noted above, PCs who \nare victorious in tournaments also can be showing mercy \nand gentility alongside prowess and might, gaining \nreputation and fame by drawing attention to themselves \nand their exploits, in addition to any financial rewards \nthat accrue from their triumphs. \nAt will: detect thoughts, disguise self (as a normal horse), \nmage hand, minor illusion\n3/day each: arcanist’s magic aura, charm person, blight, \nsuggestion\n1/day each: harm, plane shift (self and rider only)\nActions\nMultiattack. Ashavin makes two attacks with its hooves.\nHooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one \ntarget. Hit: 22 (4d8+6) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6) \nfire damage.\nEthereal Stride. Ashavin and up to three willing creatures \nwithin 5 feet of it magically enter the Ethereal Plane \nfrom the Material Plane, or vice versa.\nTactics\nBefore Combat He disguises himself as an ordinary horse \n(or sometimes as a hippogriff or pegasus, if such exotic \nmounts are being used nearby).\nDuring Combat Ashavin uses his harm spell during a \nsurprise round. He then fights unless outnumbered by at \nfour or more combatants, using Ethereal Stride to escape. \nMorale Ashavin flees if brought below 30 hp or \noutnumbered.\nTreasure A handy saddlebags (as haversack), scrolls of \nraise dead and teleport, 66 pp.\nThe Spoils of Victory\nOnce the joust is completed, total the party’s Renown. \nThe group can recruit followers to the service of their \ndomain, who will serve as steward, castellan, war-captain, \nhigh justice, bishop, court-mage, court-bard, or a similar \nprominent role. These people are loyal to the domain as a \nwhole—not a single PC—though they follow the direction \nof any of the PCs, in keeping with whatever hierarchy \nthe players have decided upon. The challenge rating of \nthese followers cannot exceed 2, though 90% of them will \nbe challenge rating ½ or 0. Use their Renown score to \ndetermine number of followers. A group with at least 1 \npoint of renown also gains a special cohort follower that \ncan be an NPC of a challenge rating 2 points lower than \nthe average level of the group. These followers and cohort \nneed not be recruited; they come forward immediately \nfrom the crowds at the festival to pledge their fealty. In \naddition, the PCs’ kingdom gains the following political \nbenefits based on their final Renown. Each level of \n\n29\nRenown\nBenefit\n10\nGrudging Respect: PCs are acknowledged by lesser nobility nearby as the legitimate rulers of their \ncountry. Larger and more established kingdoms are less convinced but decide to ignore them \nrather than act directly against them. Some notable citizens from the surrounding kingdoms are \nintrigued by the PCs and their kingdom, and each month for the next year, during the Event Phase \nof running their kingdom, the PCs can roll 1d20. On a natural 20, you either receive an invitation \nto a neighboring kingdom for a festival, or a member of another kingdom visits and prompts a \ncelebration; this is in addition to any other event that month. You have 5 followers at this level.. \n15\nHandshake Agreement: The PCs’ kingdom gains advantage on all skill checks, Economy checks, \nLoyalty checks, and Stability checks related to establishing embassies for one year. In addition, a \nsettlement in a nearby nation (with a total route length (TRL) of less than 20) establishes a trade \nroute. You can invest any amount of BP (up to a maximum equal to your Renown) in this trade route, \nas if you had used a Trade Edict to establish the route, but the route is created immediately and \ngrants you a +1 bonus to Economy for one year and increases your treasury by a number of BP equal \nto the trade route’s route modifier (RM) plus 2d4 BP for every 5 BP you invested. Your settlement \nmust have a Pier or Waterfront to benefit from a trade route that travels over water, as described \nin Kingdoms (5E) from Legendary Games. At a personal level, your PCs make an agreement with a \nneighboring kingdom that they can execute at any time within one year, allowing them to make \na single transaction up to 10,000 gp and pay 10% less than normal when purchasing an item or \nreceive 10% more than normal when selling something. You have 20 followers at this level. \n20\nWorthy Rivals: Neighboring kingdoms unanimously acknowledge the PCs’ kingdom as a legitimate, \nallowing automatic success on skill checks, Economy checks, Loyalty checks, and Stability checks \nmade to establish an embassy with any nation that shares a border with the PCs, and a +5 bonus \non such checks to establish embassies with any nation whose territory is within a number of hexes \nof the PCs’ border equal to the PCs’ renown. This does not apply to states already at war with the \nPCs or whose territory has been raided by the PCs, including on adventures not sanctioned by that \nnation’s ruler. The PCs also gain advantage on such checks made to create a treaty, alliance, or trade \nroute with nations within this radius of the PCs’ kingdom. If a regional council is convened with \nheads of state from nations in the area, the PCs will be invited to send a representative to sit on the \ncouncil and decide matters of mutual interest. You have 50 followers at this level.\n25\nFor Our Mutual Benefit: As Renown 15 above, but in addition the kingdom offers a balanced treaty or \nalliance, whichever the PCs desire. If the PCs opt for an alliance, their new ally offers to loan their \nkingdom a company of 50 human scouts with a knight commander. This functions as a military \nunit owned by the PCs’ kingdom for as long as the alliance lasts, but they do not need to pay upkeep \nor maintenance costs, as they are paid by their ally. Accepting the army requires the PCs to make \na successful Loyalty check each month to avoid generating 1 point of Unrest; if they make three \nconsecutive successful checks, their citizens accept the presence of the allied army and no further \nchecks are required. \nIn addition, the PCs can make a single purchase or sale during the year of an amount up to 1,000 \ngp times their Renown, decreasing the amount they must pay or increasing the amount they earn \nby 20%. You have 100 followers at this level.\n30\nA Crown of Laurels: The PCs are so impressive that one additional country within a number of hexes \nequal to the PCs’ Renown also offers them a treaty or alliance, plus one additional country for every 5 \npoints of Renown over 30. At the GM’s option, these countries may already be friendly or even allies, \nseeking to form a bloc with the PCs’ kingdom. Alternatively, some of the countries offering treaties \nor alliances may be enemies and trying to pull the PCs’ kingdom to their side. If so, one kingdom \nmay offer to cede one or more hexes of territory (including any settlements, improvements, or \nnatural features or resources in those hexes) to the PCs’ kingdom as an inducement for them to ally \nwith them rather than with their rivals. You have 150 followers at this level.\n\n30\nAppendix: Festival Edicts\nIf you are using the kingdom-building rules found in \nKingdoms (5E), hosting a festival uses a monthly edict and \nrequires the expenditure of building points (BP). The \nfollowing rules for festival edicts were first published in \nUltimate Rulership (5E) from Legendary Games and are \nreprinted here for ease of reference. \nFestival Edicts\nA Festival Edict is a special edict distinct from the broader \nHoliday Edict. Whereas a Holiday Edict declares days to \ncelebrate on the calendar across the length and breadth \nof your kingdom, a Festival Edict is a specific, one-\ntime event (though it could be repeated later) focused \nin a particular place at a particular time for a particular \npurpose. A Festival may be called for any reason or for \nno reason at all and include tournaments, games, music, \ndancing, feasting, drinking, parades, fireworks or magical \ndisplays, and similar entertainments of all kinds, but each \none undertaken with special magnificence. \nFestival Edicts bring great crowds of people together \nto celebrate and are normally held in the same hex as a \nsettlement, to facilitate easy access for crowds to reach the \nfestival grounds. Festivals can, however, be hosted at any \nLandmark special terrain. Festivals may be either civic or \nreligious in nature. \nCost: Festivals require a great deal of resources to pull \noff. A festival costs 1d2 BP if held at a Landmark in the \ncountryside, 1d4 BP if held in a village, 1d8 BP if held in a \ntown, and 2d6 BP per city district if held in a city. \nBenefit: A festival celebrated at a Landmark in the \ncountryside increases the Landmark’s bonus to Loyalty \nby +1 for 1 year. Festivals celebrated in cities, towns, and \nvillages have the following effects.\nCivic Festival: A civic festival celebrates local traditions, \nevents, heroes, or culture, including athletic and artistic \ncompetitions. Requires Tavern (village), Theater (town), \nArena (city), or Landmark (located in the same hex as the \nsettlement). Effect For one month, your kingdom gains \n\n31\na +2 bonus to Crime and Society, and the civic festival \nincreases the effects (see below) of Arenas, Black Markets, \nBordellos, Dance Halls, Gambling Dens, Inns, Luxury \nShops, Markets, Monuments, Palaces, Parks, Shops, and \nTaverns in that city. \nReligious Festival: A religious festival produces an \noutpouring of piety and pilgrimage, sometimes marked \nwith great solemnity and other times with great rejoicing. \nRequires Shrine (village), Temple (town), Cathedral (city), \nor Landmark (located in the same hex as the settlement). \nEffect For one month, your kingdom gains a +2 bonus to \nLaw and Society, and the religious festival increases the \neffects of Cathedrals, Graveyards, Inns, Luxury Shops, \nMarkets, Monuments, Parks, Shops, Shrines, and Temples \nin that settlement are increased (see Risks). \nDetermining Success: When you issue a Festival Edict, \nmake Economy, Loyalty, and Stability checks. If all three \nsucceed, the Festival is a resounding success, doubling the \neffects of the buildings listed above; in addition, you gain \nthe benefits of an Outstanding Success (01-50), Visiting \nCelebrity (51-95), or both (96-00) kingdom events. \nIf two checks succeed, the Festival is a modest success, \nincreasing the effects of the listed buildings by 50% for \none month. Total the bonuses for all listed buildings in \nthe settlement together before applying the 50% increase, \nrounding down; do not apply the 50% increase separately \nto each building.\nWhen buildings effects are increased (whether doubled \nor by 50%), this increase includes not only kingdom and \nsettlement attribute modifiers like Economy and Lore; \nit also includes a doubling of Base Value and magic \nitem creation during that month. This increase allows a \nsettlement to exceed the normal maximum Base Value for \na settlement of its size (either doubling or increasing it \nby 50%, as appropriate) for that month. It likewise creates \ntemporary magic item slots that are filled immediately \nand can be used just like any other magic item slots \nin the kingdom. However, any magic items created in \nthis fashion are available only during the month of the \nFestival Edict and the items and their slots disappear \nwhen the festival ends, being taken home by the crafters \nand merchants who brought them to the festival.\nIf only one check or no checks succeed, see Risks below. \nRisks: Regardless of the overall success of the festival, the \ngreat influx of human(oid) and mercantile traffic involved \ncreates the potential for enemy infiltration in the guise of \npilgrims and festival-goers, or discord and strife between \nforeigners and locals or different groups coming together \nin one place, or just general drunkenness and mayhem \nshould celebrants get out of control and overwhelm the \nability of the settlement or the kingdom’s ability to handle \nso many people in such a small space. During any month \nwhen a Festival Edict is issued, the entire kingdom takes \na -2 Stability penalty, and any Stability checks required \nfor the settlement or hex where the Festival is held take \na -4 penalty (this does not apply to the Stability check to \ndetermine the success of the festival, but it does apply to \nany kingdom events triggered by the festival). \nUnsuccessful Festivals: If only one check succeeds, \nthe Festival is unsuccessful and grants no benefits; in \naddition, there is a 50% chance that disgruntled citizens \nissue a Building Demand (as the kingdom event), blaming \nthe lack of success on the absence (or presence, if they \ndemand demolition) of that building.\nIf all three checks fail, the Festival is a disaster, providing \nno benefits. The kingdom loses 1 point of Fame and gains \n1d4-1 points of Unrest, and disaffected locals bankrupted \nby the festival and lingering troublemakers in the wake \nof the festival become Squatters (01-50), Vandals (51-95), or \nboth (96-00), triggering kingdom events of the appropriate \ntype.\nNatural 1: A natural 1 is always a failure on any kingdom \nroll, and each time you roll a natural 1 on any of the three \nkingdom checks to determine the success of the Festival \nEdict there is a 25% non-cumulative chance of triggering \na dangerous settlement event. This event may be of any \ntype, but only one such event can be triggered, even if you \nroll more than one natural 1.\n\n32\nOPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a\nThe following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright \n2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.\n1. 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Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with \nall terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of \nthe breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.\n14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such \nprovision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.\n15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE\nOpen Game License v 1.0a © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.\nRoyal Tournaments (5E) © 2017, Legendary Games; Authors Jason Nelson and \nMike D. Welham\nSystem Reference Document. © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan \nTweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave \nArneson.\nSystem Reference Document 5.0 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors \nMike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James \nWyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend, based \non original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.\nThe Hypertext d20 SRD. © 2004, Jans W Carton.\nCityscapes - New Settlement Options for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. © 2012, \nSkortched Urf Studios; Author: Chris A. Field.\nFursona II - New Options for Anthropomorphic Heroes. © 2012, Skortched Urf \nStudios; Author: Chris A. Field.\nKingdoms (5E) © 2016, Legendary Games; Author Jason Nelson. \nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. © 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: \nJason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip \nWilliams.\nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Gamemastery Guide. © 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; \nAuthors: Cam Banks, Wolfgang Baur, Jason Bulmahn, Jim Butler, Eric Cagle, Graeme \nDavis, Adam Daigle, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Kenneth Hite, Steven Kenson, \nRobin Laws, Tito Leati, Rob McCreary, Hal Maclean, Colin McComb, Jason Nelson, \nDavid Noonan, Richard Pett, Rich Redman, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, \nAmber Scott, Doug Seacat, Mike Selinker, Lisa Stevens, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor, \nPenny Williams, Skip Williams, Teeuwynn Woodruff.\nPathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Campaign © 2013, Paizo Publishing, LLC; \nLead Designer: Jason Bulmahn; Designers: Stephen Radney-MacFarland and Sean \nK Reynolds; Authors: Jesse Benner, Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Ryan Costello, \nAdam Daigle, Matt Goetz, Tim Hitchcock, James Jacobs, Ryan Macklin, Colin \nMcComb, Jason Nelson, Richard Pett, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Patrick Renie, \nSean K \nReynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor, and Steven Townshend.\nUltimate Battle (5E) © 2016, Legendary Games; Author Jason Nelson. \nUltimate Rulership (5E) © 2016, Legendary Games; Author Jason Nelson. \n\n33\n\nDays of Wine, Roses, and Glory!\nAn iconic moment in fantasy fiction is the grand tournament. From the archery contests of Robin Hood \nto the jousts of Ivanhoe, it seems like half the stories about the Middle Ages have the heroes attend such a \nfestival somewhere along the line. Whether honoring the king’s birthday, the birth of a saint, the nation’s \nvictory over its enemies, or just because it’s Midsummer’s Day, festive pavilions are raised and flags and \npennants flap in the rising breeze to signal that it is time for the main event to begin! However, even in \nthe real-world tournaments were about far more than bows and lances, and in a fantasy game the options \nfor what would constitute a friendly (or even not-so-friendly) competition are infinitely varied, from gritty \nand brutal feats of raw strength to magical marvels of the highest fantasy. You’ll find athletic contests for \nrunning, riding, jumping, and more, to caber tossing, target shooting, tag-team wrestling, and armored \nring races! From prosaic rural delights of a country fair to exotic events like the tower of jewels and pillars \nof life and death, Royal Tournaments is a fantastic resource for incorporating tournaments and festivals \ninto your campaign, including an array of different tournament events and awards, some physical, some \nmagical, some social, and all delightful. Whether your players want to promote the interests of their own \nkingdom or simply fight for glory and prizes, Royal Tournaments has everything you need to make the \ntournaments in your campaign magnificent and memorable. Grab this 38-page Fifth Edition accessory today \nand Make Your Game Legendary! \nISBN-13: 978-1973836834 \nPrice: $14.99\nmakeyourgamelegendary.com\nLGP336KB105E\nFifth Edition Adventures\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/Legendary Games/Forest Kingdom/Royal Tournaments.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":194,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":" \n \nGP\nStarting GP \nLifestyle\n� \nNone \n� \nStandard (12 gp x TU) \n� \nRich (50 gp x TU) \n� \nLuxury (100 gp x TU) \n \nLifestyle Cost \n \nOther Coin Spent \n \nTotal Coin Spent\n \n-\nGP\nGP Spent \n \nGP\nSubtotal \n+\nGP\nGP Gained \n \nGP\nSubtotal \n+\nGP\nGP Gained \n \nGP\nSubtotal \n-\nGP\nGP Spent \n \n \nGP\nFINAL GP TOTAL \n \nItems Sold\n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Value of Sold Items \n \nAdd ½ this value to your gp value \nItems Bought\n \n \n \n \n \n \nTotal Cost of Bought Items \n \nSubtract this value from your gp \n \nXP \nStarting XP \n- \nXP \nXP lost or spent \n \nXP \nSubtotal \n+ \nXP \nXP Gained \nFINAL XP TOTAL \n \n \nXP \n \nTU \nStarting TU \n 1 or 2 TU \nTU Cost \n- \nTU \nAdded TU Costs \nTU REMAINING \n \n \n \nITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE\nCross off all items NOT found \nAPLs 2-4 \n� \nKPurchase an adamantine weapon or suit of \narmor shield (Reg, DMG) \n� \nKEmpowered spellshard (magic missile, lesser \nvigor (SC) or burning hands) (Adv, MIC) \n� \nKRing of counterspells (Adv, DMG) \n� \nKMonk’s belt (Adv, DMG) \n� \nKPearl of power, 1\nst, 2\nnd or 3\nrd (Adv, DMG) \nAPL 6-8 (all of APLs 2-4 plus the following) \n� \nKPurchase of any ioun stone in the DMG, \nmaximum value 15,000 gp (Adv, DMG) \n� \nKPurchase a mithral weapon or suit of \narmor/shield ((Reg, DMG) \n� \nKLeast/Lesser crystal of acid assault (Adv, \nMIC) \n� \nKBelt of healing (Reg, MIC) \n� \nKPearl of power, 4\nth, 5\nth or 6\nth (Adv, DMG) \nAPL 10-14 (all of APLs 2-8 plus the following) \n� \nKUpgrade armor/shield to light, moderate or \nheavy fortification (Reg, DMG) \n� \nKGreater crystal of acid assault (Adv, MIC) \n� \nKBoots of speed (Reg, DMG) \n� \nKPearl of power, 7\nth or 8\nth (Adv, DMG) \n� \nKThird eye aware\n (Adv, MIC) \nAdventure Record# \n598 CY \nA D V E N T U R E\nL E V E L O F \nP L A Y \n(CIRCLE ONE) \nAPL 2 \nmax 450xp; 450gp \n \nAPL 4 \nmax 675 xp; 650 gp \n \nAPL 6 \nmax 900 xp; 900 gp \n \nAPL 8 \nmax 1,125 xp; 1,300 gp \n \nAPL 10 \nmax 1,350 xp; 2,300 gp \n \nAPL 12 \nmax 1,575 xp; 3,300 gp \n \nAPL 14 \nmax 1,800 xp; 6,600 gp\nRespect: The PC is provided with treasures. They may exchange \nthis to purchase any one item on a Ket or VTF adventure to which \nthey previously had Access (even if it has expired) with a 25% \ndiscount (to a maximum discount of 4,000 gp). This favor may only \nbe used once. In addition, you gain access to all items marked with \na “\nk” below. \nHonor: You gain the title “Honored of the Black Arrow” which \nprovides you with a +4 circumstance modifier for any Diplomacy, \nBluff, Intimidate or Gather Information checks made within Ket \nin a social setting. Lifestyle costs up to rich are covered by the \nBlack Arrow for any adventure set in a part of Ket over which he \nhas influence.In addition, you gain access to all items marked with \na “\nk” below. \nPiety: The church of Al’Akbar in Ket owes you a debt. You may \nemploy this favor to automatically succeed at a check to lessen any \nsentence or obtain up to a 7\nth level spell cast at no charge (material \ncomponents are half cost, if any). Lifestyle costs up to standard are \ncovered by Sylvana bint Zoltan for any adventure set in Ket. In \naddition, you gain access to all items marked with a “\nk” below. \nily (Su): You chose to respect the people of Ekbir, in accordance \nwith the Four Feet of the Dragon. Once only, you may call upon \nthis favor for yourself or an ally within sight and 60 feet to benefit \nfrom a Maximized cure critical wounds (35 hp) spell as a swift \naction that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. In addition, \nyou gain access to all items marked with a “\nk” below. \nJanni Challenge! (Su) Efrain is impressed that you accepted his \nchallenge and participated fully. He provides you with a token. \nOnce only, you may employ this token as an immediate action that \ndoes not provoke an attack of opportunity - the PC or ally (one \nonly, their choice) is then provided with fire, electricity, cold or \nacid resistance 20 (they must choose one) for 70 minutes. Mark \nthis favor as used when employed. \nDeath’s Respite: Your soul is tied to the Salted Earth. You may \nalways be restored to life without material cost, provided you can \nbe transported to Ket for the casting (duration at the discretion of \nthe DM). No spell that operates to maintain your life force beyond \n-10 hp and below functions on you (such as close wounds or delay \ndeath below -9). \nEvent: _________________________________ Date: ________ \nDM:___________________________________________________ \n \nSignature \n \n \n \nRPGA # \nPlay Notes: \n� \nGained a level \n� \nLost a level \n� \nAbility Drained ______________ \n� \nDied \n� \nWas raised/res’d \n� \nWas reincarnated \n___________________________________________________\n_______________________________ \nHome Region______________________ \nThis Record Certifies that \n__________________________________________________ \nCharacter Name \nClasses and Levels \n__________________________________________________ \nPlayer Name \nRPGA # \nHas Completed \nKET8-05 Priorities \nA Regional Adventure \nSet in the Ket Region \n \n \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Ket/598/Normal Scenarios/KET8-05 - Priorities (APL 2-14)/KET8-05 - Priorities AR.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":195,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"Green Devil Face \n#4\n\n1\nIntroduction\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nThis is a PDF product. For a table of contents, use the bookmarks provided. They’re handy!\nCover art “Coat of Arms with a Skull” by Albrecht Dürer\nAll material is copyright 2010 James Edward Raggi IV, except for the following:\nShaggy Dog, Shrieker Stew, and Pool of Testing copyright 2010 Jonathan Becker\nThe Tomb to Die For/In copyright 2010 R. Lawrence Blake\nThe Child and The Chamber and the Glass Box copyright 2010 Zak Sabbath\nThe Sneaky Book Room copyright 2010 James Brian Murphy\nThe Room of Four Pits copyright 2010 Ramsey Dow\nLotFP and Lamentations of the Flame Princess are trademarks owned by James Edward Raggi\nIV.\nLamentations of the Flame Princess\n\n2\nKnights of Science\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nThe Knights of Science are a fanatical, sepa-\nratist religious order dedicated to the eradica-\ntion of chaos and evil in the world.\nKnights are immune to sleep, charm, hold, or\ncold spells, and to all fear effects. Knights are\nable to hit creatures which are only able to be\naffected by magic or other special weapons.\nKnights gain a minimum of six hit points per\nlevel. Knights gain experience only from\nslaying their foes and burning the foes' equip-\nment and treasure, and for this the Knight\nreceives XP according to the value of the\nburned items. Knights do not use magic items.\nIn all ways not described here, Knights should\nbe considered the same as Fighters.\nKnights invariably travel with an entourage. A\nfull Knight is one of level 5 or greater, and he\nwill be accompanied by a Squire. A Squire is\na Knight of level 4 or lower, and is completely\nsubservient to his master. This group is joined\nby a Cleric of no less than level 5 (although\nalways of lower level than the Knight if the\nKnight is above level 5) and ten Men-At-Arms,\nlevel 0 Fighters.\nThe Knights wear plate mail, shields, and\nswords. The Cleric wears nothing but a simple\nrobe and carries nothing but a plain staff. The\nMen-At-Arms wear chain mail and carry\npole-arms. The Knights and Cleric are mount-\ned, the Knight on the greatest sort of warhorse\navailable, the Squire on a lesser warhorse, the\nCleric on a riding horse meant for speed. The\nMen-At-Arms go on foot, carrying the supplies\nof the whole troupe.\nAll of a Knight's special powers are dependent\non his unwavering belief in himself. Should he\never change his mind, on any matter no matter\nhow trivial or important, or if he engages in\nsexual activity, or if he flees from combat, he\nloses all Knightly abilities, and new hit points\nmust immediately be rolled. Any current\nLevel\nXP\nHD*\nTitle\n1\n0\n1d8\nSquire\n2\n2,000\n2d8\nSquire\n3\n4,000\n3d8\nSquire\n4\n8,000\n4d8\nSquire\n5\n16,000\n5d8\nKnight of Science\n6\n32,000\n6d8\nKnight of Science\n7\n64,000\n7d8\nKnight of Science\n8\n128,000\n8d8\nKnight of Science\n9\n256,000\n9d8\nKnight of Science\n10 +\n+ 128,000/lvl\n+3/lvl**\nKnight of Science\n* d10 hit dice for advanced edition games\n** Constitution modifiers no longer apply\n\n3\ndamage is subtracted from the new hit point\namount.\nThey do not ignore new information that is\nobviously correct (they are allowed to change\ntheir opinion if that opinion is based on a lie\ntold to them); they simply contort their world-\nview so that both their old assumption and the\nnew truth are correct. If they can not make this\nreconciliation, they must assume that new\ninformation that invalidates their old viewpoint\nis evil and must be destroyed. That innocents\nare harmed by this behavior is of no conse-\nquence to them. Due to \"always being right,\"\nKnights also quickly learn to be quick to\njudgment. Knights are quite insane.\nIt is for this reason that Knights very rarely\nmeet, and if they do they do not converse, for\nKnights often have widely varying experiences\nthat lead them to different conclusions, and\nmore than one meeting of Knights has led to\nmortal combat over a minor issue. Knights are\nalso quite ignorant about worldly affairs, as\nthey do not read and do not engage in normal\nconversation with anyone. Knights do not seek\nmore contradictions they must reconcile.\nThe Clerics that travel with the Knights are the\npublic faces of the troupe. They speak with\nlocals and make all arrangements so the\nKnights are not subjected to an opposing\nviewpoint by pure chance. Many believe this\nis why each Knight has an attached Cleric, but\nthis is simply a secondary function. The Cleric\nis there to monitor the Knight, and if he falters\nand loses his power it is the Cleric's duty to\narrange for the Knight's execution at the first\navailable opportunity.\nOne does not choose to be a Knight. Young\nboys, no older than seven, are taken from their\nfamilies and brought to the Knights' monastery,\nlocated somewhere in the East. What happens\nto the boys is not exactly known, but from the\nstatements of some Knights it would appear\nthat the boys are subjected to religious brain-\nwashing and severe martial training.\nAt the age of sixteen, the boys are assigned to\nmilitary duty at the monastery, and at first\nopportunity are assigned to a Knight's entou-\nrage as a Man-At-Arms. If he survives five\nyears of this duty (many do not, not least\nbecause the Cleric in the troupe also monitors\nthem for wavering beliefs), he becomes eligible\nto be a Squire. The potential Squire is sent out\nto the mountains around the monastery to live\nthe life of a hermit, with no provisions, and no\ntools. If he is still alive when it is his turn after\na Squire position becomes free, he is outfitted\nand assigned to a Knight.\nWhen a Squire rises to fifth level, he becomes\na fully ranked Knight of Science, and is\nassigned a Squire, Cleric, and Men-At-Arms\nof his own, free to incidentally terrorize the\nworld as he quests to save it. It is a system\nwhich has survived beyond memory, from the\ntime that the Order of the Knights of Science\nwas first established to combat the Duvan'Ku.\nFew stand up to the Knights, preferring to\ncower and watch by as they burn and slaughter\nin hopes that they quickly move on, for fear of\na Crusade being called. The only ones quicker\nto shudder at the name of the Knights than\ncommoners and petty nobles are those forces\ndemonic and otherworldly, who know that the\nKnights represent a foe they can never corrupt.\n\n4\nThe Tower\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nSome easy money, or perhaps a deathtrap\nmasquerading as an adventure, for those who\nsuffer the delusion that all adventure locations\nare meant to be solved. For first or second level\ncharacters.\nThe Environs\nThe tower is located in the middle of the\nwoods, about a day’s journey from any sort of\ncivilization. Around the tower is a clearing; the\nwoods suddenly break into an idyllic, tranquil\nfield. Somehow it always seems to be breath-\ntaking here, either with strong sunlit rays\nbreaking through dark clouds, scanning the\nground like celestial spotlights, or there is a\nsoft rain through gentle sunlight, forming\nrainbows. Butterflies flutter everywhere, and\non the opposite side of the clearing from where\nthe characters approach, deer and fluffy\nbunnies leap away as the intruders near.\nAround the base of the tower are dense, thorn-\nless rose bushes,with thousands of bright red\nroses in full bloom at all times.\nThe tower itself is a massive structure, fully\nfifty feet wide, with impressively thick walls.\nThey’d better be impressively thick – they look\nto be in utter shambles, with large chunks\nhaving fallen to the ground over the centuries\nand vines growing all over the structure. The\ntower is made of some sort of rock that no one\nwill be able to identify – it is vaguely bluish-\ngrey with speckles of reflective crystals that\nmake the entire structure shimmer in the sun-\nlight. In fact, until it is approached, the thing\nmight not look like a solid physical construct\nat all. The tower has a conical, closed roof and\nthe only real breaks in the wall are the door at\nground level, and a solitary window near the\ntop.\nGuarding the door of the tower is a great\nmisshapen thing. It is roughly human-shaped,\napproximately ten feet tall, with gigantic talons\nand a giant sharp-toothed maw. However, it is\nan ancient creature which is quite weary of its\nduty, broken in body and spirit, and completely\nineffectual in a fight. It will engage any intrud-\ner, but will not pursue beyond the clearing.\nGuardian: Unarmored, Move 1.25 times the\nspeed of an unencumbered man, HD 10, HP\n54, #AT 1 claw, D 1d4, immune to normal\nmissiles, if killed will rise again at sunset the\nnext day, the sarcophagus on level four must\nbe blessed to prevent this.\nThe tower has five levels, with the window\nbeing on the fifth level.\nThe Door\nThe tower’s door appears to be made of very\nheavy, sturdy warped wood. With rusty iron\nbanding. There is a very ornate lock on the\ndoor. It is actually a strange shape-shifting\ncreature which mimics the appearance of a\ndoor. It will attack, with pseudopods, anyone\nwho touches the door, unless the Key of Love\nis placed in the lock, in which case it will\nremain as a door. The creature has been\ncharmed to behave this way, and if this charm\nis dispelled for some reason, it will attack even\nif the key is used.\n\n5\nDoor: Armor as leather, HD 7, HP 31, #AT 1\nattack, D 3d4, whatever touches it sticks to it\nlike glue.\nFirst Level\nThe first thing that anyone entering the tower\nwill notice is that rats are crawling everywhere\nalong the walls. The cracks in the walls are\nlarge enough to allow rats free access, and this\nwill be constant throughout the tower.\nThe first floor room is bare except for four\nstatues, each in the shape of a vaguely fairy-\nlike princess figure in various dance poses. The\nstatues have a greater amount of crystal flakes\nin their composition than the walls so they will\nparticularly shine when exposed to light. The\nstatues form something of a perimeter around\na central point, and they all face that point. In\nthe center of the statues is a carved circle. If\nsomeone stands in the circle, then the statues\nwill speak, through magic mouths, in succes-\nsion:\nStatue One: “Those who would have a\nkingdom must be pure in heart, trusting and\npeaceful.”\nStatue Two: “One must throw away the\nweapons of war and don the garments of love!”\nStatue Three: “Only the pure and the worthy\nmay break the seal and awaken the princess.”\nStatue Four: “To the princess’ groom will pass\nthe right to rule over the Kingdom of\nDuvan’Ku and possess its treasures.”\nThere is a ladder leading to a trap door to level\ntwo. The trap door is slightly stuck and will\ntake one round to push open, and it will\nautomatically swing shut (and become stuck\nagain) once it is closed.\nSecond Level\nThis room is filled with many racks, which are\nabout half-filled with rotted, torn white robes\nof unknown composition that have woven\npatterns all over them.\nCarved into the walls is a bas-relief of a\ncourting ceremony, with a succession of carv-\nings showing a great general surrounded by\nsoldiers discarding his armor and weapons and\nputting on ceremonial robes with distinct\nmarkings (which matches the pattern of the\nrobes on the racks). He then walks by two\nguardians, alone, kneels at the foot of a great\nstone box where he drops several flowers,\nopens the box, embracing a beautiful woman,\nand finally is crowned while surrounded by\ngold and jewels.\nThere is a bin here that has all sorts of armor\nand weapons dumped in, all useless in various\nstages of decay, some to the point where\ntouching them will cause them to crumble.\nThere is a ladder that leads to a trap door to\nlevel three. The trap door is slightly stuck and\nwill take one round to push open, and it will\nautomatically swing shut (and become stuck\nagain) once it is closed.\nThird Level\nThis room is empty except for the trapdoor\ndown, the stairs up, the guardians of the stairs,\nand some ancient remains of those who\nattempted to pass without following the rules.\nTwo skeletons in ratty, torn chain mail, swords\n(of a strange and heretofore unknown style),\nshields, and slung bows and (bone!!) arrows\nstand guard by the stairs. They stand motion-\nless, and if a character is alone and dressed in\nthe correct manner, they will allow him to pass.\nIf more than one character approaches, or if an\napproaching character has visible arms or\n\n6\narmor (the robes are tattered enough that armor\nand all but the smallest of weapons will be\nvisible), they will stand and fight anyone who\napproaches. They will not pursue anyone who\nflees, and they will not abandon their post.\nThe guardians are not undead, but rather\nconstructs, similar to what could be considered\na bone golem. If destroyed, they will reform at\nthe next sunset unless the sarcophagus on level\nfour is blessed.\nGuardians: Armor as plate, Move half as fast\nas an unarmored man, HD 5, HP 23, #AT 1\nsword or 1 bow, D 1d8 or 1d6, immune to\nspells as if undead, unable to be turned, non-\nmagic weapons do half damage.\nIf the guardians kill anyone, they will wait until\nthe next sunset, and then take the body and any\nequipment upstairs and dump it all behind the\ncurtain.\nOh yeah, one more thing… they will attack\nanyone coming down the stairs.\nFourth Level\nThis room is the resting place of the princess.\nOn the opposite side of the room from the entry\nstairs is a stone sarcophagus on a raised plat-\nform (the platform and sarcophagus are actu-\nally one large carved piece, and part of the floor\nas well), with carvings depicting wizards\nputting a woman to sleep and placing her in…\nthe sarcophagus. The detail of the carving is so\ngreat that one can see the carvings on the\nsarcophagus in the carving, and elves can see\nthat repeat four or five times. If looking at it\nwith magical sight, a character can see that this\nactually goes on forever (anyone who sees this\nmust make a save versus spells or become\nmentally disoriented, suffering a two point\npenalty to attack rolls, armor class, and saves\nfor 2d6 rounds, and spellcasting will be impos-\nsible – but characters will not know they are\nthus affected until they enter combat or attempt\nto cast a spell). Behind the sarcophagus is a\ncurtain made up of a heavy cloth of unknown\norigin. Behind this curtain is a very large pile\nof bones, and if one digs through the bones one\nwill find badly decayed, and finally powdered\nbones at the bottom of the pile.\nSurrounding this platform is (what appears to\nbe) a thaumaturgic circle, with many glyphs\nand sigils along its border, carved into the\nfloor. The indentation of the carvings is com-\npletely lined with the reflective crystals so it\nwill seem to glow to anyone entering the room\nwith a light source. This is actually decoration\nand has no magical power at all.\nHanging from the ceiling is the remains of a\ncrystal chandelier, broken some ages ago.\nCrushed glass covers the floor (a lot more than\nthe chandelier would account for, if anyone\nwere to know how big the chandelier actually\nwas). When the door to this level is opened,\nthe glass on the other side of the door will\ncrinkle loudly, and characters must intention-\nally be stealthy or else the glass beneath their\nfeet will snap and pop.\nThe amount of reflective crystals in the stone-\nwork in this room is massive, so anyone\ncoming up here with a light source will cause\nthe entire room to become a shimmering spec-\ntacle.\nIn the sarcophagus is the princess, but unfortu-\nnately for any suitors, it is an undead thing\n(Armor as chain, HD 4+3, HP 27, 1 attack, 1d4\ndamage + level drain, immune to non-magical\nor non-silver weapons). And it never sleeps.\nAnd if there was any noise made in approach-\ning the sarcophagus, it will know they are\nthere, and will achieve automatic surprise if the\ncharacter lifting the lid of the sarcophagus does\nnot declare any caution. it will attack anyone\nopening the sarcophagus. It really doesn’t care\nabout the ritual, as the entire legend is a\ncomplete fabrication, and the woman was in\nlife a streetwalker who was kidnapped, mur-\n\n7\ndered, and corrupted into this form specifically\nas bait to lure greedy people to their deaths.\nThe souls (or spirits) of those killed by her,\nbecause they were doomed by greed (the want\nof an underserved kingdom) or lust (the hand\nof a woman they have never met) are delivered\nto some foul god to be tortured for eternity. If\n“killed,” the undead creature will reanimate at\nthe next sunset unless the sarcophagus is\nblessed.\nThe round after killing someone, the princess\nplaces the body behind the curtain (it will not\nrise) and replaces the sarcophagus lid and\nreturns to rest. Rats, which have climbed\nthrough the cracks in the structure of the tower,\nwill eat away at the body until it is just bones,\nand they will carry small items and valuables\n(especially the Key of Love if present), into a\ndeep subterranean lair where their mythic rat\nlord masters, worshippers of the death gods of\nDuvan’Ku, will collect them. These masters\nwill then see to it that the (entirely invented)\nlegend is spread in the new area, and then\nintroduce the Key again so new victims will\ntravel to the tower, thus repeating a cycle that\nhas gone on for millennia.\nFifth Level\nThis room does not connect to the rest of the\ntower. Inside the room is magical darkness,\nwhich engulfs the entire room and ends just at\nthe window.\nThe room is empty except for the floor which\nis absolutely covered with all sorts of spikes,\nbroken blades, caltrops, splintered bones, and\nother sharp items. It is impossible to step\nanywhere without stepping on something; the\nfloor is covered several layers deep.\nAnyone stepping inside the window with their\nfull weight takes d3 damage and must make a\nparalyzation save or fall down, taking a further\nd6+1 points of damage. Once a character has\nfallen, he must make a petrify save (with\nwisdom bonus applied!) to remember which\nway the window is, and failing this save means\nhe takes d3 damage as he shuffles through the\nsharp stuff. This save may be attempted every\nround until successful or the character is dead.\nAnyone who dies here will have rats crawl into\nthe room and gnaw their body and possessions\ninto manageable bits, which too will be carried\naway…\nHow It Happens\nHere is one possible way of getting a party to\nthe tower:\nSir Fondleroy Addleton and his three retainers\nshow up somewhere one stormy night when\nthe characters are present. Maybe it’s at a\nroadside camp, maybe it’s at an inn.\nAddleton will inform the characters that he is\nlooking for some hired help for an expedition\ninto the forest. Addleton will request a meeting\naway from where the retainers can interrupt.\nHe will offer each of the PCs 250gp to simply\nact as bodyguards and escort him to a location\nin the forest. That’s all. There is no mission to\naccomplish, no expected danger. Just get him\nto his destination. “Will you do it?”\nOf course PCs aren’t going to say yes without\nmore information… will they? If so, then alter\nthe chain of events offered below. If they say\nno, then that’s the end of this adventure. If they\nsay no and then follow the guy, have Addleton\nrecruit some other riffraff and improvise based\non the information below.\nIf the PCs want to know about his relationship\nwith his retainers, he will confide that he\ndoesn’t know them so well, having hired them\nin the last city he passed through because he\nconsiders it unwise to travel through the coun-\ntryside alone. He has overheard them talking\namongst themselves and he is worried that they\nare brutal thugs. He doesn’t want to anger them\n\n8\nor cause trouble by firing them, as being tough\nguys is what he hired them for, but he doesn’t\ntrust being alone with them on such a, ahem,\nsensitive mission.\nIf they want to know the full story, he will tell\nthem. He was traveling in the southlands when\nhe began hearing about the legend of a lost\nancient city called Duvan’Ku. It was ruled by\na goodly King Porgotna. He had a beautiful\ndaughter, a kind and gentle soul named Prin-\ncess Turuvna. When she came of age she began\naccepting suitors. But every time she chose\nsomeone to marry, they ended up committing\na horrible crime. It was a scandal throughout\nthe kingdom. Finally the Princess’ last suitor\nwas a great general in the army, who after\ngaining the heart of the Princess led a savage\nmassacre against helpless peasants. The King\nbecame incensed, and seeing his daughter fall\nto pieces yet again, decided that enough was\nenough. He had his daughter put into a magical\nsleep so that her misery would no longer\ntrouble her, and declared that only a man of\ngreat intellect and conviction, with a honorable\nand peaceful spirit, could break the spell and\nclaim his daughter. He sent his daughter away\nto his most remote and secret outpost and had\nher laid to rest at the top of its tower, and\ncharged his two most trustworthy guardsmen\nto make sure no harm came to her. He then had\nhis court wizards fashion a key to that tower\nthat would only work for a man worthy of his\ndaughter’s love and then had it hidden. He\ndeclared that the man to break his daughter’s\nspell would be able to rightfully claim her in\nmarriage and inherit the kingdom and all its\ntreasures. The evil general sought to find the\nPrincess himself, but in his lust and greed was\ntransformed into a wicked caricature of his old\nhumanity. Apparently he found where the\nPrincess was, but being unable to enter the\ntower, his hate sustains him and he acts as an\nobstacle to any that would enter the tower. The\nKing, so overcome by guilt over what his\ndaughter had suffered and what he had done to\nend that suffering, died soon after and\nDuvan’Ku began a swift descent into the\nobscurity of ancient history.\nAddleton can provide a series of parchment\nfragments that confirm various parts of the\nstory, including one that gives compelling\nevidence that the spell the Princess was under\nwould sustain her for all time, until it is broken.\nAway from anyone else’s sight, he produces a\nheart-shaped key made of unknown metal (the\nKey of Love). He says he was a henchman of\nan adventuring expedition that went to reclaim\nan old church that had been overrun by undead.\nHe found the key in the church’s vaults, and\nspent tens of thousands of gold pieces consult-\ning sages and finally learning the location of\nthe tower where the Princess is kept. He\ndecided that was too dangerous to keep written\ndown, so he’s memorized it. He says he just\nneeds the PCs to get him into the tower. That’s\nthe goal.\nDuring the trip to the tower, Addleton will tell\nof all he has heard about Duvan’Ku, saying the\nlegends tell of riches beyond compare and\ncrafted magic that is as commonplace as\nwoodwork is in the current lands. He says that\neven if the legends have been exaggerated ten\ntimes over the truth, they should all be very\nwealthy men. If the PCs are predominantly\nmale, he will talk about all the beautiful women\nhe’s bedded, and hypothesizes how the prin-\ncess will compare. He jokes about giving all\nthe PCs appointments in his royal court if the\nlegends turn out to be accurate.\nWhen reaching the clearing, Addleton will\ndirect the party to engage the guardian creature\nand draw it away from the door so he may enter\nthe tower, with his retainers supplying support-\ning missile fire and guarding the horses in case\ngoblins are attracted by the sounds of combat.\nBecause he doesn’t want to screw up the\nprophecy, he directs the adventurers to not\nenter, and that he will call for them after he has\nachieved his goal, or when he needs them. He\n\n9\nassumes that the princess’ chamber is in the\ntop of the tower, where the window is.\nIf the PCs do what he says, the creature will\nmove to engage intruders and move away from\nthe door. A round after the battle is joined,\nAddleton will go to the door, use the key to\nopen it, take the key while leaving the door\nopen, and go inside. If there is battle, the PCs\nwill not hear the statues’ speech. Assume it will\ntake Addleton one round to listen to the statues,\none round to enter each new floor of the tower,\nand two rounds to change clothes on the second\nlevel. He shouldn’t last long once he reaches\nthe fourth level, as he will be so eager to gain\nhis prize that he will throw all caution to the\nwind and he will be surprised.\nThe round after Addleton enters the tower, the\nPCs will hear a commotion by the horses – the\nretainers know of the gems that Addleton was\ncarrying and two of the retainers have decided\nthat now would be a wonderful time to grab\nthem and run. One of the men is honest and\ntries to stop them. If nobody interferes, the two\nthieves will kill the honest one and then ride\noff with the treasure.\nIf any PC enters the tower, it is imperative that\nthe referee communicate with this player in\nsecret. It is to be made clear that the player(s)\nin question can not give other players any\ninformation about the inside of the tower until\ntheir characters reunite! They will of course\nfind Addleton’s armor and weapons in the bin\non the second level, but likely there will be no\ntrace of him once they reach the fourth level –\nunless they look behind the curtain. The key\nwill already be gone if his body is there.\nSir Fondleroy Addleton\n(Chain mail and shield, Fighter 3, HP 23, 1\nattack, 1d8 (longsword) or 1d6 (bow) damage).\nImportant equipment of note includes his\nmedium warhorse, chain mail, shield, long-\nsword, longbow, and twenty arrows. He keeps\n3d20 gold and 2d20 silver on him at all times.\nIn his saddlebags are his rations and supplies,\nas well as a pouch with 10 pearls worth 250gp\neach. These pearls are what Addleton was\ngoing to pay the PCs with, and what the\nretainers attempt to steal. He of course has the\nparchments with the legend fragments and the\nKey of Love on him at all times.\nThe Retainers\n(Leather armor, Lvl 0, HP 5 each, 1 attack, 1d8\n(longsword) or 1d6 (bow) damage). Important\nequipment of note includes their light riding\nhorses, leather armor, longsword, short bow,\nand twenty arrows each. Each has 3d6gp on\nhis person.\nOther Possibilities\nThe above adventure assumes that a referee\nreally doesn’t want to goad the PCs into\nentering the tower themselves. Of course they\nwill do so on their own anyway, but that’s the\npoint – this is intended to be a horror adven-\nture, a Weird Tale if you will, and not an\nexample of high adventure and derring-do.\nThe referee must set this up correctly. The Key\nof Love, and the legend, must pass into the\nplayers’ hands somehow, whether as an entice-\nment to go to the tower, or in the hands of\nanother that let it be known where they are\ngoing and why.\nThe key points:\nThere is no legend of treasure or magic to be\nhad. The prize is the princess, and specific\nsteps to free her must be taken. It must be\nstressed that if more than one person enters that\ntower, they are not going to be able to awaken\nand rescue the princess. The idea is that\nwhoever goes up that tower dies. It is not\nintended to be solved or defeated, and there is\nno reward for doing so.\nAnd really, anyone who puts on rotting cloth-\ning to satisfy some skeletal guardians in order\n\n10\nto marry a woman they’ve never heard of until\nthe day before… come on. They deserve what\nthey get.\nThe example scenario gives a nominal reward\nso it’s not a complete waste of time for the PCs\n(and the reward is gained by those who don’t\nget greedy!), but there is nothing stopping a\nreferee from being especially cruel (as opposed\nto the regular level of cruelty needed to run the\nadventure in the first place) and foregoing even\nthat kindness, but most players would like to\nbe rewarded for smart play. And not going in\nthe place is definitely smart play.\nIt is recommended that the PCs have very little,\nif any, magic items when they undertake this\nadventure. Horror doesn’t work if the protag-\nonists can muscle their way through.\n\n11\nThe Dread Sorceries of\nDuvan’Ku\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nDuvan’Ku was a magical place, and its inhab-\nitants created many a bizarre and transgressive\nspell. This knowledge of Duvan’Ku is spread\nthroughout the world, in ancient spellbooks\nheld captive in dragon hoards, lich’s libraries,\nand the like. However, some also survive on\nscrolls, and the mischief that the Dead King\nseeks to perform from beyond time allows\nsome of these to reach the world in much easier\nmanners…\nAll of these spells are Magic-User spells, as\nthe gods would never directly grant powers to\nanything borne of Duvan’Ku.\nAnimate Dead II\nLevel 6\nRange: 10’\nDuration: Permanent\nArea of Effect: See Below\nCasting this spell on a corpse causes it to rise\nas a ghoul under the control of the caster. One\nghoul per two levels of the caster may be\nraised, provided there are enough intact corpses\nat the site of the casting of course.\nAnimate Dead III\nLevel: 7\nRange: 10’\nDuration: Permanent\nCasting this spell on a corpse causes it to rise\nas a wight (if it is an intact corpse) or a wraith\n(if it is not) under the control of the caster. One\nundead per two levels of the caster may be\nraised, provided there are enough corpses at\nthe site of the casting of course.\nAnimate Dead IV\nLevel: 8\nRange: 10’\nDuration: Permanent\nCasting this spell on a corpse (or the site of a\ndeath if the body was destroyed) causes its\nspirit to rise as a spectre under the control of\nthe caster. One undead per four levels of the\ncaster may be raised, provided there are enough\nbodies (or spirits) at the site of the casting of\ncourse. Note that a spectre is completely aware\nof it status as an undead creature, and although\nit will be compelled to obey the caster, it will\nnot be happy about it… at all.\nAnimate Dead V\nLevel: 9\nRange: 10’\nDuration: Permanent\nCasting this spell on a corpse (or the site of a\ndeath if the body was destroyed) causes its\nspirit to rise as a ghost under the control of the\ncaster. Only one undead per ten levels of the\ncaster may be raised, provided there are enough\nbodies (or spirits) at the site of the casting of\ncourse. Note that a ghost is completely aware\nof it status as an undead creature, and although\nit will be compelled to obey the caster, it will\nnot be happy about it… at all.\nArmy of One\nLevel: 3\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: 1 round/level\nThe recipient of this spell is able to make one\nmelee attack for every opponent directly\nengaging him for the duration of the spell. Each\nattack must be against a different opponent,\n\n12\nAura of Good\nLevel: 1\nRange: Touch\nDuration: 1 hour/level\nThe target of this spell will radiate a good (or\nlawful, or both, as appropriate) aura when the\nsubject of detection devices or spells. At best,\na scrying party will detect that there is a\nmagical aura present but nothing short of a\ndispel magic will cause a detection spell to\ndetect anything other than good.\nBlack Blood\nLevel: 3\nRange: 30’ + 10’/level\nDuration: See Below\nThis spell causes the target’s blood to become\na thick and expanding gel, causing intense\npressure and pain. This will cause 1d4 points\nof damage every round until the pressure is\nrelieved. While in great pain, the character can\nact normally and suffers no penalty aside from\nthe hit point loss. Relieving the pressure is\ndone by either the target being hit by a piercing\nor slashing weapon by an enemy for damage,\nor someone intentionally slicing the character\nopen to bleed him (can be done for no initial\ndamage).\nOnce this happens, the character becomes\nunable to take any action and merely convulses\nfor three full rounds as a disgusting, viscous\nblack ichor spews from his wounds, covering\nthe entire area. At the end of the third round,\nthe character takes 1d6 damage and then may\nact normally.\nBlood Oath\nLevel: 3\nRange: Special\nDuration: Special\nBlood oath solidifies an agreement between\ntwo parties, ensuring by magical means that\nboth parties keep to the agreement. For the oath\nspell to take effect, all parties must be in full\ncontrol of their mental capacities (no oathing\nunder charm, for example) and be aware that\nthe spell will be binding them. The terms must\nbe explicitly laid out, and the important thing\nis the letter, not intent, of the agreement. The\nspell will remain in effect as long as it takes to\nsee that the agreement is honored, and can\ninclude as many people as are willing to take\nthe oath. If any party breaks the oath, the will\nimmediate lose one level/hit die.\nBloodless\nLevel: 3\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: 1 round/level\nThe target of this spell takes half damage from\nall attacks for the duration.\nDangerous Toys\nLevel: 1\nRange: Touch\nDuration: Permanent\nThis spell causes a minor demon to inhabit a\nvery small inanimate object. The demon wakes\nup, animating the object, when it is touched by\na child. At that point the object will attempt to\nslay any living thing it comes across. The\nobject then has AC as leather, MV 120’, HD\n1, #AT 1, D d6.\nDeath Breath\nLevel: 3\nRange: 0\nDuration: Instantaneous\nThe character spews forth a toxic cloud of\ngreen-black gas from his mouth, doing 1d4\npoints of damage for every level of the caster,\nwith a saving throw for half damage applicable.\nNote that there are no components needed, and\nbecause it is a gas most forms of gags will not\nstop the spell from working.\nGod Oath\nLevel: 5\nRange: Special\nDuration: Special\nBlood oath solidifies an agreement between\ntwo parties, ensuring by magical means that\nboth parties keep to the agreement. For the oath\n\n13\nspell to take effect, all parties must be in full\ncontrol of their mental capacities (no oathing\nunder charm, for example) and be aware that\nthe spell will be binding them. The terms must\nbe explicitly laid out, and the important thing\nis the letter, not intent, of the agreement. The\nspell will remain in effect as long as it takes to\nsee that the agreement is honored, and can\ninclude as many people as are willing to take\nthe oath. If any party breaks the oath, the will\nimmediately die, with no possibility of raising,\nresurrection, or reincarnation.\nInfanticide\nLevel: 1\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: Permanent\nThis spell slays any creature with one hit point\n(maximum, not current) without any mark or\na scratch on it – it just stops breathing.\nLongevity\nLevel: 2\nRange: 0\nDuration: 1 Year\nCasting this spell erases the previous year in\nterms of aging effects. The caster must bathe\nin the blood of a number of virgins equal to the\nactual age of the caster at the time of casting.\nThis blood must be fresh and the act of collect-\ning it must kill the virgins, and the one hour\ncasting time is the amount of time the caster\nmust spend soaking in the blood.\nNew Mind\nLevel: 9\nRange: Touch\nDuration: Permanent\nThis spell completely erases the mind of one\ncreature and replaces it with whatever the\ncaster wishes. When the spell is complete, the\ncreature should re-roll intelligence, wisdom,\nand charisma from scratch, and a new align-\nment should be randomly determined. All of\nthe creature’s memories will be wiped out as\nwell, and the caster will be able to create an\nentirely new set of memories as he pleases. The\ncharacter will begin again at level one in a\nrandom class, although retaining its original\nhit points and saving throw numbers until it\ngains a level greater than its original.\nOath\nLevel: 1\nRange: Special\nDuration: Special\nOath solidifies an agreement between two\nparties, ensuring by magical means that both\nparties keep to the agreement. For the oath\nspell to take effect, all parties must be in full\ncontrol of their mental capacities (no oathing\nunder charm, for example) and be aware that\nthe spell will be binding them. The terms must\nbe explicitly laid out, and the important thing\nis the letter, not intent, of the agreement. The\nspell will remain in effect as long as it takes to\nsee that the agreement is honored, and can\ninclude as many people as are willing to take\nthe oath. If any party breaks the oath, the will\nsuffer a one point permanent loss from a\nrandom ability score.\nProtection from Living Creatures\nLevel: 2\nRange: Touch\nDuration: 3 rounds/level\nThis spell creates a living barrier around the\ntarget which repels living creatures. Any living\ncreature attacking the target suffers a -2 penalty\nto hit, and the target receives a +2 saving throw\non any effect caused by a living creature.\nLiving creatures which physically strike with\na body part (claw, fist, bite, etc) may not attack\nat all. Note that extra-planar creatures, undead,\nconstructs, magically-imbued beings, etc, are\nnot considered “living” creatures for the pur-\nposes of this spell. This protection moves with\nthe target.\n\n14\nProtection from Living Creatures 10’ Radius\nLevel: 4\nRange: None\nDuration: 1 turn/level\nThis spell creates a living barrier around the\ntarget area (centered around the caster) which\nrepels living creatures. Any living creature\nattacking into the target area suffers a -2\npenalty to hit, and the target receives a +2\nsaving throw on any effect caused by a living\ncreature. Living creatures which physically\nstrike with a body part (claw, fist, bite, etc) may\nnot attack at all. Note that extra-planar crea-\ntures, undead, constructs, magically-imbued\nbeings, etc, are not considered “living” crea-\ntures for the purposes of this spell. The material\ncomponent is dirt from a grave, which must be\nsprinkled around the spell area as it is cast. This\ncircle of protection does not move.\nSteal Spell I\nLevel: 4\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: Permanent\nOne random spell (of level 1 – 3) is erased from\nthe memory of the target and the caster of this\nspell gains the ability to cast it as if he had\nmemorized it. The gained spell must be cast,\nand can not be transcribed or stored in any way.\nSteal Spell II\nLevel: 5\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: Permanent\nOne random spell (of level 1 – 4) is erased from\nthe memory of the target and the caster of this\nspell gains the ability to cast it as if he had\nmemorized it. The gained spell must be cast,\nand can not be transcribed or stored in any way.\nSteal Spell III\nLevel: 6\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: Permanent\nOne random spell (of level 2 – 5) is erased from\nthe memory of the target and the caster of this\nspell gains the ability to cast it as if he had\nmemorized it. The gained spell must be cast,\nand can not be transcribed or stored in any way.\nSteal Spell IV\nLevel: 7\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: Permanent\nOne random spell (of level 3 – 6) is erased from\nthe memory of the target and the caster of this\nspell gains the ability to cast it as if he had\nmemorized it. The gained spell must be cast,\nand can not be transcribed or stored in any way.\nSteal Spell V\nLevel: 8\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: Permanent\nOne random spell (of level 4 – 7) is erased from\nthe memory of the target and the caster of this\nspell gains the ability to cast it as if he had\nmemorized it. The gained spell must be cast,\nand can not be transcribed or stored in any way.\nSteal Spell VI\nLevel: 9\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: Permanent\nOne random spell (of level 5 – 8) is erased from\nthe memory of the target and the caster of this\nspell gains the ability to cast it as if he had\nmemorized it. The gained spell must be cast,\nand can not be transcribed or stored in any way.\nStorm of Fertility\nLevel: 9\nRange: 1 mile/level\nDuration: Permanent\nThis spell impregnates every female of the\nsame race as the caster in a large area. Before\ncasting the spell, the caster must trap an extra-\nplanar being in a containment circle. Casting\nthis spell kills this creature, and this being is\nthe father of the children it spawns. The spell\naffects an area one mile in diameter for every\nhit die of the trapped creature, with each female\ngetting a saving throw to avoid its effects. The\nchildren will look like the mother’s race,\n\n15\nmature at the rate of the mother’s race, but have\nthe temperament, alignment, and abilities of\nthe father.\nTo Challenge the Gods\nLevel: 9\nRange: Line of Sight\nDuration: 6 turns\nThis spell strips any one extra-planar being of\nall supernatural powers and abilities. No items\nor affiliations are affected.\nTorture\nLevel: 3\nRange: 30’\nDuration: 1 hour\nThis spell, which only works on bound or\notherwise helpless targets, allows the caster to\nask one question per level, and the target must\nanswer truthfully or take 1d6 points of damage\nper lie told. If the target lies, the effect is\nobvious to any onlooker.\nVomit\nLevel: 1\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: See Below\nThe target of this spell begins to vomit a thick,\ndisgusting black chunky liquid and is unable\nto take any other action. The effect continues,\nevery round, until the target makes a saving\nthrow.\nVomit Guts\nLevel: 4\nRange: 10’/level\nDuration: See Below\nThe target of this spell begins to vomit up their\ninsides, with the target being unable to move\nand taking 1d10 damage every round until they\nmake a saving throw.\n\n16\nFell Magick Items of\nDuvan’Ku\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nBag of Spirit Holding\nThis functions as a bag of holding of the largest\nsize. There is a 1% chance whenever it is\nopened (to take something out or put some-\nthing in) that a spectre that has been trapped\nwithin the bag will escape to attack the owner\nof the bag.\nBasket of Bountiful Harvest\nThis basket is always full of fresh fruit, vege-\ntables, bread, and sweet meats when opened.\nAny who eat from the basket must save versus\ndeath magic (referee should make a secret\nsaving throw) or begin to lose 1hp per day,\npermanently (the character’s maximum hit\npoints decrease!), beginning 6d6 days after\neating. An exorcism or remove curse is neces-\nsary to stop this effect but does not restore lost\nhit points.\nBook of Faust\nBy reading this book, a character may make a\npact with a devil and increase one ability score\nto 18 in exchange for one service to be ren-\ndered one year from the time of the ability\nscore gain. At the one year mark, an Arch-\nDevil will appear in person to take that person\nto hell, and the character can not be raised or\nresurrected, and a wish to bring the character\nback will result in a crippled stump of a body,\nno limbs, blind, and dumb, being spewed forth\nfrom the Arch-Devil that had required service.\nBook of Sacrifice\nBy reading this unholy text of exorcism, any\ncurse (or possession, or any undesirable state),\nany whatsoever, is lifted from the target of the\nexorcism. The curse passes to the reader, and\nat that point can not be removed by any means\nshort of a wish. Any reader attempting to\nremove his own curse instead makes the curse\nirrevocably permanent, and no means whatso-\never can ever remove the curse.\nBook of Unspeakable Shame\nThis text lists the crimes of Duvan’Ku against\nnature, the cosmos, the gods, and all of greater\ncreation. The entire text takes two months to\nread, and after it is complete the reader must\nsave versus spells or be feebleminded. If this\nhappens, the reader gains no benefits from the\nbook and if healed must read the book again to\nattempt to gain the benefits. If the saving throw\nsucceeds, the reader becomes immune from all\nmental attacks such as fear, charm, etc, forev-\nermore. The reader also gains a 25 Wisdom.\nThe book does detail literally unspeakable\nshame – the reader will never be able to\narticulate exactly what it is he has seen in the\nbook to any other, and any reading his mind\nmust make a saving throw versus spells or\nbecome feebleminded. 2d4 weeks after com-\npleting the book (and if the benefits are\ngained), 2d6 demons will appear to destroy the\nreader, as no mortal may have this knowledge.\nThey will all be Type I demons, led by a demon\nof a type indicated by the greatest number\nshown on the dice. For example, if the 2d6 roll\nwas a 4 and a 3, then it would be seven demons\ntotal, one of which would be a Type IV.\nCandle of Ill Lumination\nThis small candle illuminates as dim or as\nbright as the possessor wishes, even to the\npoint of being as bright as daylight. Undead in\nthis light are invisible, even while attacking,\nand immune to any effects of this light.\n\n17\nCasket of Duvan’Ku\nUndead creatures in the casket are always\nawake and aware of everything outside the\ncasket. Vampires suffer no restrictions the day\nafter resting in the casket. Living things that\nlie in the casket lose one level – shutting the\ncasket means instant death, with a save versus\ndeath needed to prevent rising as a wight at\nmidnight.\nChalice of Great Health\nIf a good creature is ritually sacrificed and its\nblood immediately collected in this cup, the\ndrinker will be cured of any curses and diseas-\nes, magical or mundane.\nChimes of Entrance\nThis acts as a normal chime of opening, but\nany dead bodies within range of the chime’s\nsound rise as skeletons or zombies, as appro-\npriate.\nCloak of Many Fashions\nThis cloak transforms into whatever clothing\nthe wearer desires, whether it be a fine ball\ngown, sleep wear, thick fur clothing for arctic\nexploring, or even any sort of (non-magical)\narmor (but not including a shield). When\nsomeone wearing this cloak comes within 50’\nof an undead creature than can see him, it turns\ninto an entangling death shroud, completely\nimmobilizing the character and leaving him\nunable to act or defend himself.\nCloak of Soul Displacement\nThis acts as a normal displacement cloak, but\nit has a +3 bonus. Every attack that misses\nbecause of this cloak (any first strike, or\nsubsequent strike that misses by three or less)\ngives a 1% cumulative chance that the charac-\nter will turn into a wraith or spectre (whichever\nis closest in hit dice to the character’s level)\nwho will seek nothing else but to drain all\nliving things.\nCrown of Duvan’Ku\nEach former ruler of Duvan’Ku wore his own\ncrown, and each crown has become corrupted\nand evil due to the utter depravity that they\nhave been present for. This is but one such\ncrown.\nWearers of the crown may use the following\nminor powers: Speak with Dead (all spell\neffects are as if the wearer is a thirtieth level\ncaster), once per week. They are immune to\nany sleep or hold spells (or any spells that\ncommonly affect undead), and may Animate\nDead once a week. The wearer also enjoys a\ntwo point bonus to his armor class.\nThere are also these major powers: Twice a\nday, the wearer may Dispel Magic, and once\nper day may cast Heal. The wearer continu-\nously causes Fear with his gaze whether he\nintends to or not.\nThe crown’s primary power is Trap the Soul,\nwhich the wearer may cast once per month.\nThere is a price for this power. All holy water\ncloser than 10’ from the crown will instantly\nspoil and become normal water. The wearer’s\ntouch kills green plants instantly (or inflicts\nd10 damage if combating a sentient example),\nand every month the wearer loses 5d6 pounds\nuntil he collapses into nothingness.\nUsing any major or using the prime power ages\nthe user 3d10 years.\nIf the wearer dies from either aging or weight\nloss, his soul departs for Duvan’Ku to serve\nthe dead King who once wore this crown, never\nto be recalled again.\nDead Sign\nThe Dead Sign is an evil sigil that may be\ninscribed on (or sewn into!) any object. Those\nwearing the Sign are immune to curses, unnat-\nural diseases, hold, charm, or any other mind-\ninfluencing spells. However, the wearer is also\n\n18\nable to be turned as undead of their level, and\nany holy water with 10’ of the sign becomes\nspoiled. The sign must also be openly dis-\nplayed – any hidden Sign causes one point of\ndamage, per round, to anyone carrying it, if\nthey are aware they are carrying it. If someone\nwho has knowingly carried the Sign (if\nsomeone discards the Sign immediately upon\ndiscovering they possess it, they may with no\nill effects) then discards it, then they take one\npoint of damage, per turn, until they are dead.\nDead Sign, Greater\nThis Sign has all of the powers and drawbacks\nof the normal Dead Sign, but anyone who sees\nthe sign will die of spontaneous fright the next\ntime they are alone for longer than 2d20\nminutes. However, if a second person sees the\nSign before the first one is dead, neither\nonlooker dies, but the bearer of the Sign dies\nand the Sign itself disintegrates.\nElixir of Fleeting Love\nThis potion causes the drinker to fall in love\nwith a specific person. Hair, fingernails, or\nsome other personal issue must be mixed in the\npotion and the drinker will then fall in love\nwith that person. The drinker will be unques-\ntionably devoted and completely in love, with\na saving throw only allowed if there is blatant\nabuse. The drinker will also age at twelve times\nthe normal rate – one year for every month that\npasses.\nFlute of Undead Pacification\nThe sound of this flute makes all undead docile\nand they will take no offensive action while\nthe flute is being played and all else is quiet\n(and no other combat is happening!). The\nplayer must be still to play properly, and the\nundead will gather around the player… but\nwhen the playing stops (or something breaks\nthe undead’s concentration, or Silence is cast\nover the player), the undead will become\nvicious as usual. Bards playing the flute will\nbe so skillful as to heal 1d6 points of damage\nto any undead hearing it, every round.\nGauntlets of Undead Power\nThese gauntlets drain 1d4 levels per hit when\nused in unarmed combat against a living\ncreature. These levels are not transferred to the\nwearer of the gauntlets. If the gauntlets com-\npletely drain a creature, the wearer loses a level\nimmediately. If the gauntlets are ever used\nagainst an undead creature, the undead is\nunaffected and instead the wearer loses 1d4\nlevels.\nGem of Lifeforce Sight\nThis gem acts as a gem of seeing, but when\nlooking through the gem all living beings will\nbe seen as slowly rotting and dying, and the\nviewer will be able to tell the how long the\ncreature will naturally live. This insults the soul\nof the viewed, and any creature that will\nnaturally die (of age or disease) within a month\nwill rise as a wight or wraith to hunt the viewer.\nAnyone else viewed with the gem that dies\nwithin 24 hours will also rise as a wight or\nwraith and hunt the viewer, feeling the viola-\ntion contributed to its death.\nGemstones of Duvan’Ku\nThese priceless gems are under an irrevocable\ncurse – any who spy upon them becomes\novercome by extreme violent greed. A save\nagainst spells is applicable, but a successful\nsave means that the character wants to separate\nhimself completely from the gems – he will not\nhandle them. Characters who have taken an\nextreme and uncompromising vow of poverty\nmay handle the gems without succumbing to\nthe curse, but of course would not do anything\nwith them. Those affected by the gem will first\nattempt to buy it, offering all the money and\nproperty they have in the world if possible\n(which usually won’t amount to much, and the\ngems affect beggars the same way as they\naffect kings). Of course the possessor of the\ngems would never part with them, and if the\ngems can’t be bought, there will be an attempt\nto steal them, and failing that, an attempt to\nviolently take them.\n\n19\nGirdle of Fertility\nIf worn during intercourse (by either party),\npregnancy will occur – even cross-species or\nif one party or the other is infertile. The child\ngestates as normal, but is a wight, and giving\nbirth will kill the mother. In ancient times, the\npriest of Duvan’Ku would then carefully\nsecure the baby in a floating cradle and place\nit in a stream, with the idea that some passerby\nwould seek to aid the baby, which would then\nkill them.\nGrimoire of Walking Flesh\nThis text allows the creation of a flesh golem.\nIt requires the parts of 10d4 fresh bodies, takes\ntwo weeks time as the parts are assembled, and\nthen requires a strong electrical charge (a\nlightning bolt will do) to activate the body.\nThere is no monetary cost to making the golem\nwith this book, and an unlimited amount may\nbe made. When the golem activates, the muti-\nlated remains of the bodies used for parts will\nrise and seek to destroy the creator of the\ngolem. The golem will not fight these undead.\nThe risen dead will be zombies 50% of the\ntime, ghouls 40% of the time, and wights 10%\nof the time (check each creature individually).\nIf the bodies have been utterly destroyed, then\nthe creatures will be wraiths (75%) or spectres\n(25%).\nHoly Symbol of the Church of Duvan’Ku\nA cleric using this holy symbol automatically\ncommands (not turns or destroys) any undead\nit is used against. When commanded undead\nkill as many creatures as the commanding\ncleric has levels, or drains a like number of\nlevels, the cleric’s soul immediately becomes\ncorrupted and he begins transforming into an\nundead type the same hit dice as the cleric’s\nlevel. Alignment change happens immediately\nand the cleric gains the special abilities of the\nundead immediately, and the character will\nslowly die and rot and fully become that\nundead form within 2d6 days.\nHoly Symbol of the Church of Duvan’Ku\nA cleric using this holy symbol automatically\ncommands (not turns or destroys) any undead\nit is used against. However, after this power is\nused, the cleric’s healing spells will cause harm\ninstead of heal. The cleric must be exorcised\nfor the spells to be righted once more.\nHoly Symbol of the Church of Duvan’Ku\nThis holy symbol doubles the cleric’s effective\nlevel in terms of the number and level of spells\nthat can be prepared, as well as spell effects\ndetermined by level. After using this power, if\na cleric is ever in front of any altar and does\nanything (prays, blesses, defiles, etc), or casts\na commune spell or makes any contact with an\nextraplanar source, or is in the presence of a\ngate, or says the name of any demon, then an\nentity (the demon named, a chief servant of the\ngod the altar is dedicated to or contacted with\nthe commune, or a random powerful creature\nfrom where the gate leads) will appear to\ndestroy the wearer of the dread symbol of\nDuvan’Ku.\nHoly Symbol of the Church of Duvan’Ku\nWhen using this holy symbol, a cleric is\nconsidered to be five levels higher than his\nregular level for purposes of turning undead\n(although undead will never be destroyed by a\ncleric wearing this symbol). However, the\nwearer is also able to be turned as if undead of\nfive fewer hit dice than his current level.\nHorn of Battle\nBlowing this horn summons undead (see chart\nbelow for what type) out of the ground and\nwalls to fight for the possessor of the horn.\nOnce that battle is over, the undead will turn\non the blower of the horn and attempt to kill\nhim. These undead may not be turned until the\nblower of the horn is dead.\n\n20\nRoll \nUndead Summoned\n01 – 75 4d10 Skeletons\n76 – 80 2d10 Zombies\n81 – 85 1d10 Ghouls\n86 – 90 1d6 Wights\n91 – 95 1 Spectre\n96 – 100 1 Vampire\nNecklace of Undead Immunity\nThe wearer of this necklace is immune to any\ntouch-based special abilities possessed by\nundead (a ghoul’s paralysis, a wight’s energy\ndrain, etc). However, the next person that the\nwearer touches after such an attack (even if the\nnecklace is removed!) suffers the most power-\nful effect that the necklace has protected\nagainst, and every further touch passes on\nanother effect until all avoided effects have\nbeen passed on.\nPeriapt of Poison Immunity\nThis gives its possessor one hundred percent\nimmunity from poison – saves are never nec-\nessary to survive. However, the referee should\nmake a secret saving throw, and a failure\nmeans the next person the periapt’s possessor\ntouches must make his poison saving throw or\nsuffer the effects the possessor originally\navoided.\nRing of Cannibalism\nThis ring functions as a +2 ring of protection,\nbut after it is first put on, the character wearing\nit will only seek sustenance from the flesh of\nhis own race. Similar (for example, demi-\nhumans for a human) races may be used for\nnourishment if none of the wearer’s own race\nis available.\nRing of Dark Protection\nThis functions as a ring of protection +d6\n(some are very powerful indeed!). The wearer\ntakes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight and\ncan only heal through natural means – magic\nwill not help. Against undead, the ring makes\narmor class worse instead of better.\nRing of Death Dealing\nThis ring allows the wearer to cast a death\nspell, once a round, with no charges or limita-\ntions of any kind. Anyone or anything killed\nby this ring rises as a wraith or a spectre (50%\nchance of each) and will then hunt the wearer\nof the ring. They can not be turned while in\nsight of the wearer.\nRing of Desires\nFunctions as a ring of wishes. The wearer gets\nhis wish, uncorrupted and exactly as he wants,\nbut there will be unintended disastrous conse-\nquences unconnected with the wish. A fellow\nparty member will suddenly die with no expla-\nnation, the most powerful magic item the\ncharacter possesses will lose its enchantment,\nthe character’s home city will be overrun by\nits enemies in a surprise attack, whatever\nwould devastate the character most.\nRing of Murderous Intent\nThis ring functions as a +1 protection ring, but\nit also always causes the wearer to be seen in\nthe most negative light possible when scrying\nor detection spells are used on him. For exam-\nple, anyone using ESP on the wearer will\nbelieve the wearer intends to kill him, anyone\nattempting to detect alignment will always\ndetect the most opposed alignment to his own,\netc. If there is a result that will cause a violent\nor other extremely negative response, that’s the\nresult the ring will cause people to get.\nRing of Scavenging Sustenance\nThe wearer of this ring may heal d8 damage\nby drinking the blood of a dead enemy, per\nenemy. The enemy must have been a living\ncreature with blood (no golems, slimes, etc)\nthat has very recently (say, in a combat the\nwearer was involved in) died. After the first\ntime this is done, the wearer is forevermore\nunable to regain hit points any other way (rest,\nhealing magic, etc, no longer works).\n\n21\nRing of Essence Control\nWith this ring, a character may Charm any\nhuman or humanoid being as per the spell, with\nno saving throw allowed. When the charm ends\n(by any means), the victim also loses one level\nas if energy drained. The victim will know they\nhave been bewitched, will remember every-\nthing that happened during that time, and will\nbe aware of why they have lost a level.\nA character completely drained by the ring, or\nwho died while charmed, will rise as an\nundead, as per the chart below. Roll d%,\nadding 10% for every level the character\noriginally was in life, and add 25% if the victim\ndied (by any means) while charmed.\nRoll \nUndead Type\n01 – 50 Zombies\n51 – 90 Ghoul\n91 – 125 Wight\n126+ \nVampire\nRing of Vanishing\nThis ring works as a normal ring of invisibility,\nwith the following exceptions: It doesn’t work\nagainst undead, and if the wearer is adventur-\ning in an area where undead are found on the\nwandering monsters chart, then all checks for\nwandering monsters result in an encounter with\nundead in addition to the normal chances for\nencountering another random creature.\nSacrificial Dagger\nThis dagger’s hilt is carved out of pure ruby,\nwith a skeleton design. It functions in all ways\nas a +5 dagger, but whenever it hits, the wielder\ntakes the same damage as the victim.\nScroll of Personal Protection from Undead\nThis scroll is indistinguishable from a normal\nProtection from Undead scroll. It works iden-\ntically, except there is no area of effect; only\nthe reader of the scroll is protected!\nSoul Jar\nA character may place his life essence into this\nmagic receptacle. While the jar holds the life\nessence, the character can not be brought below\none hit point or die by any means whatsoever.\nHowever, the character may be turned as an\nundead creature of an equivalent level, and the\ncharacter can not participate in “living” behav-\nior such as eating, drinking, or having sex.\nWhen the character retrieves his soul, he will\nfind that the receptacle leaks, and he will lose\none level as if energy drained.\nStaff of Life Transference\nThe wielder of the staff may heal another\ncharacter 1hp for every 2hp the wielder allows\nto be drained from himself. There is a percent\nchance equal to the amount drained from the\nwielder that the amount drained is subtracted\nfrom both characters!\nSword of Glory\nThis sword is +1 to hit and damage, +3 to\nundead. When the attacker’s to-hit roll is a\nnatural 20 (or any hit whatsoever upon undead,\nthe damage done is added to the attacker’s hit\npoints (up to his normal maximum, of course)\nas well as subtracted from the victim’s hit\npoints. Once the wielder of the sword has\ngained a total number of hit points in this\nmanner (over time, not in one go) to equal his\nregular maximum hit point total, he immedi-\nately loses one level as if energy drained. If he\ncontinues to use the sword and he again over\ntime draws enough hit points from the sword\nto match his maximum hit points (which\nshould be easier since he’s got less hit points\nnow, right?), he loses two levels, and the next\ntime three levels, etc. If the wielder is com-\npletely drained of levels, he becomes undead\n(of a type that is the same hit dice as the\nwielder’s original level) and may no longer\ntouch the sword.\n\n22\nRandom Inn Generator\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nThe concept of “home base” is a common one\nin classic fantasy role-playing games. All too\noften, it’s merely reduced to a place to heal up\nand sell off treasure; a mere speed bump on the\nway to going back into the dungeon. But it\ndoesn’t have to be that way. Take the common\ninn out in the middle of nowhere, for starters.\nIt services people who travel on the edge of\ncivilization (or else it wouldn’t be the conve-\nnient home base for a dungeon expedition!).\nBy its very nature it will have a revolving cast\nof interesting, and perhaps seedy, characters,\nand some of those might prove beneficial or\ntroublesome for our party… and the rest will\njust actively be in the way.\nThis article is designed to help the referee\ndevelop just that aspect, giving details of an\ninn, including a day-to-day schedule of new\narrivals and departures. Because PCs may be\nat the inn for quite some time, perhaps months\nof game time, it is recommended that the\nreferee generate visitors ahead of time; perhaps\na month’s worth if the inn is “home base” for\nan expedition to a dungeon of impressive size.\nNot only will this provide a living environment\nwithin the game without needing to roll dice\nand check tables with players waiting, but\nadditional plots and adventure hooks will start\nscreaming out from the page as visitors are\nfilled in. These “guest stars” will be a perfect\noverlap to the existing adventure material,\ngiving PCs additional factors to consider in\ntheir plans, and giving players a real sense that\nthe world their characters inhabit goes on\nwithout them. Instances when the inn is over-\nbooked or other resources are stretched can\ncause minor inconveniences. Adventuring isn’t\njust risking death out in the field, it’s dealing\nwith the normal people just trying to live their\nlives in the regular world!\nThe Inn’s Name\nRoll percentile dice for each category and put\nthem together to come up with the inn’s name.\nAssume the name begins with “The…” and\nends with “…Inn.” Feel free to ignore any\nresult that seems too cheesy, vulgar, or\nunwieldy.\nd% \nVerb \n \nAdjective \nNoun\nRoll\n1 \nArising \n \nAmorous \nBandit\n2 \nBegging \n \nBawdy \n \nBasilisk\n3 \nBetting \n \nBeautiful \nBear\n4 \nBiting \n \nBlack \n \nBerserker\n5 \nBleeding \nBlue \n \n \nBoar\n6 \nBreaking \nBrazen \n \nBrigand\n7 \nBreeding \nCarrion \n \nBuccaneer\n8 \nBurning \n \nCheap \n \nBugbear\n9 \nBursting \n \nCloudy \n \nCaveman\n10 \nCasting \n \nCrazy \n \nCentaur\n11 \nCreeping \nDirty \n \nChimera\n12 \nCrying \n \nDizzy \n \nCockatrice\n13 \nCutting \n \nDrunken \nCourtesan\n14 \nDigging \n \nEasy \n \n \nCrawler\n15 \nDreaming \nFat \n \n \nCube\n16 \nDrinking \nFierce \n \nCyclops\n17 \nDwelling \nFiery \n \nDervish\n18 \nDying \n \nFighting \n \nDjinn\n19 \nEating \n \nFinal \n \nDoppleganger\n20 \nEnding \n \nFirst \n \n \nDoxy\n21 \nFalling \n \nFoul \n \n \nDragon\n22 \nFighting \n \nFrost \n \nDruid\n23 \nFirst \n \n \nFurious \n \nDryad\n24 \nFleeing \n \nGelatinous \nDwarf\n25 \nFlying \n \nGiant \n \nEfreet\n26 \nForbidding \nGolden \n \nElemental\n27 \nFreezing \nGreat \n \nElf\n28 \nGambling \nGreen \n \nFighter\n29 \nGrinding \nGrey \n \nGargoyle\n30 \nGrinning \nHandsome \nGhost\n\n23\n31 \nGrowing \nHaughty \n \nGhoul\n32 \nHanging \n \nHeavy \n \nGiant\n33 \nHiding \n \nHellish \n \nGnoll\n34 \nHitting \n \nHill \n \n \nGnome\n35 \nKissing \n \nHorrible \n \nGoblin\n36 \nKneeling \nInvisible \nGolem\n37 \nLast \n \n \nJolly \n \n \nGorgon\n38 \nLeading \n \nLarge \n \nGriffon\n39 \nLiving \n \nLewd \n \nHarlot\n40 \nLoving \n \nLiving \n \nHarpy\n41 \nMelting \n \nLizard \n \nHippogriff\n42 \nPrancing \nLusty \n \nHobgoblin\n43 \nRiding \n \nMagnificent \nHorse\n44 \nRinging \n \nMighty \n \nHound\n45 \nRising \n \nMischievous Hydra\n46 \nRunning \nNasty \n \nInsect\n47 \nSeeking \n \nNaughty \n \nJelly\n48 \nShaving \n \nOchre \n \nJuggernaut\n49 \nShining \n \nOrange \n \nKobold\n50 \nShooting \nPrecious \n \nLich\n51 \nShrinking \nPurple \n \nMadame\n52 \nShutting \n \nQuaint \n \nMan\n53 \nSinging \n \nQuiet \n \nManticora\n54 \nSleeping \nRabid \n \nMedusa\n55 \nSlinging \n \nRandom \n \nMerman\n56 \nSmiling \n \nRandy \n \nMinotaur\n57 \nSpinning \nRed \n \n \nMold\n58 \nSpitting \n \nRibald \n \nMonster\n59 \nSplitting \n \nRich \n \n \nMule\n60 \nSpreading \nRobust \n \nMummy\n61 \nStabbing \nRust \n \n \nNomad\n62 \nStanding \nSaucy \n \nOgre\n63 \nStealing \n \nSea \n \n \nOoze\n64 \nStinging \n \nSilver \n \nOrc\n65 \nStinking \n \nSlovenly \nPaladin\n66 \nStriking \n \nSly \n \n \nPegasus\n67 \nSwallowing \nSmall \n \nPirate\n68 \nSwearing \nSpotted \n \nPixie\n69 \nSweating \nStone \n \nPony\n70 \nSwimming \nStorm \n \nPriest\n71 \nSwinging \nStriped \n \nPudding\n72 \nTalking \n \nTricky \n \nRoc\n73 \nThrowing \nUgly \n \nSalamander\n74 \nThrusting \nVast \n \n \nSkeleton\n75 \nWaiting \n \nVicious \n \nSlime\n76 \nWaking \n \nWanton \n \nSpectre\n77 \nWeeping \nWayward \nStalker\n78 \nWinding \nWealthy \n \nStatue\n79 \nWinning \nWelcome \nStirge\n80 \n(none) \n \nWere- \n \nStrumpet\n81 \n(none) \n \nWhite \n \nTart\n82 \n(none) \n \nWicked \n \nThief\n83 \n(none) \n \nWonderful \nTiger\n84 \n(none) \n \nYellow \n \nTitan\n85 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nTreant\n86 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nTriton\n87 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nTroll\n88 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nTrollop\n89 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nTrull\n90 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nUnicorn\n91 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nVampire\n92 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nWench\n93 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nWight\n94 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nWizard\n95 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nWolf\n96 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nWoman\n97 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nWorm\n98 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nWraith\n99 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nWyvern\n100 \n(none) \n \n(none) \n \nZombie\nThe Inn\nThe Inn itself will have a tavern/common\nroom. It will also have a common sleeping\nroom with 8d4 beds, 2d10 “single” rooms\n(which may have two beds in them), and 1d4\n“master” rooms that can sleep four people\ncomfortably. There will also be a stable for\ntravelers’ horses, and inns of the larger sizes\n(and especially inns far from villages) will\nhave craftsmen (blacksmiths, etc) living there\nwith their own workshops. If the area is dan-\ngerous, it may well have a wall around all the\nbuildings. There will be a master bedroom for\nthe owner (and possibly wife), another\nbedroom for children, and one more room for\nevery 2 staff members.\nPrices for lodging and food will be at 2d20 +\n80% of the campaign norm.\nThe Inn Staff\nThe inn will have a number of permanent staff.\nWhen the PCs first come into contact with any\nof the staff members, be sure to make reaction\nrolls for each of the staff members. The point\nof this entire exercise is to increase the amount\nof role-playing in a campaign, and to take the\nfocus off of the dungeon or quest and put it to\nmore mundane matters, without losing inter-\nesting qualities.\nIn my games of the past, “I hit on the serving\nwench,” or more explicit versions thereof, have\n\n24\nbeen a common action. Usually I just hand-\nwaive it, “Oh yeah, fine, she goes up to your\nroom that night.” I mean, who cares, right? But\nif the “home base” is going to be used as a\nrole-playing focus, that hand-waiving can’t\nhappen. Every NPC at the inn, including both\nstaff and visitors, need wisdom and charisma\nscores generated. In general, members of the\nopposite sex that have lower wisdom scores\nthan the charisma of another character will be\nvery attracted to that character (influenced by\nreaction rolls of course!), and will react accord-\ningly. Remember, the PCs are going to be seen\nas extremely interesting people who live on the\nedge. People working at an inn, or having other\nmundane lives, will want to be close to that and\nperhaps will want to “run away” from their\ncurreny life into a new and exciting one.\nCreating tension this way (especially when one\nNPC takes a liking to a PC, and then starts\nreally taking a liking to random visitors to the\ninn afterwards) can result in some interesting\nsituations that cause suspenseful play without\nthe threat of bodily harm (unless someone gets\nchallenged to a duel!), and an anchor to make\nall these characters seem more real.\nThe Owner\nThe owner will be a d20 – 10 level fighter\n(minimum 0). He will be an older fellow, and\nhas a 50% chance of being married, and 25%\nchance of being widowed. If the owner has a\nnegative reaction to the party, prices at the inn\nwill be increased d10 + 5%. If the owner’s wife\nhas a negative reaction to the party, prices will\nincrease d4 + 1%, but if she reacts well to them,\nthere will be a d10 + 10% discount. Note it is\npossible to have both the owner’s penalty and\nthe wife’s discount together!\nIf the owner is married or widowed, he will\nhave d6-1 children, each age d20 years.\nThe Servers/Cleaners\nFor every ten rooms, there will be one woman\n(age d20 + 15 years) who serves as a serving\ngirl during busy times in the tavern area and\nhelps clean the empty rooms and keeps the area\ntidy.\nOther Staff\nThe owners’ children, if any, can serve in other\ncapacities if they are at least 10 years of age,\notherwise there will need to be a stable boy,\nperhaps a regular handyman if there are no\nother craftsmen about, and so on. Keep in mind\nthat anyone that lives at the inn (and most will\n– room and board will be an important part of\nthe wages, as in a remote location, where else\nis there to live, and in the city, housing is\nexpensive!) will need living space within the\nallotted rooms.\nRegular Visitors\nThere are a certain amount of folks that reliably\nvisit the inn on a regular, predictable basis.\nThese are mainly the folk that keep the Inn\nstocked with standard supplies as well as some\nthat are involved with the Inn’s personnel.\nFarmers will arrive every 2d4 days with new\nfoodstuffs, other craftsmen will arrive every\n2d10 days to take care of any needs that inn\nemployees can not.\nTemple Representative\nOnce a week, the temple representatives come\nto provide for the employees of the inn. They\nexchange news and views, and that week’s\ndonations from the shrine. There will be two\nrepresentatives on horseback, and they will\nboth stay in one private room for one night.\nRandom Visitors\nTo determine each day’s visitors, make a\npercentile roll on the Random Visitor’s Table.\nKeep rolling as long as the dice come up an\neven number. The exact stats for these visitors\nmust be determined by the referee.\nYour specific game system should have guide-\nlines or charts for determining the alignment\nand general personalities of NPCs. The game\nworld is filled with all sorts of people, and\nmany of them will not see eye to eye with the\n\n25\nPCs! Do keep in mind that evil does not mean\nviolent and good does not mean they will team\nup with or aid the heroes in matters completely\nunimportant in their own lives. Using these\nrandom rolls to determine NPC personality lets\nthe world breathe and, once again, lets the\nplayers know that even though the PCs are the\ncenter of the game, the game world does not\nrevolve around them! However, if a specific\nroll inspires a particular idea, the referee should\ndevelop his idea instead of relying on the dice.\nThey are only there for when the referee needs\na little boost.\nIn many cases “he” is specifically used when\ntalking about the random travelers. While the\nindividual referee can give his game world any\nsocial qualities he likes, this adventure assumes\nthat the game world is not so progressive.\n“Important” figures are most likely men,\nwomen are almost never in charge, and cer-\ntainly never walk the wilderness alone. Note\nthat absolutely none of this applies to “special”\nvisitors such as adventuring parties, elves,\nmagic-users, or such. Still, these types will still\nskew predominantly male, with maybe only 1\nin 4 or even 1 in 5 being female.\nAlso, the region is assumed to be fairly homog-\nenous. The inn should seem as “real” and\n“logical” as possible as a contrast to the more\nfantastic elements that the PCs will encounter\nlater. Almost everybody visiting the Inn should\nbe a normal human, with a non-humans being\npresent in visiting groups maybe one time in\ntwenty.\nRandom Visitors Table\nRoll \n \nResult\n01 – 02 \nBandits\n03 – 12 \nCraftsman\n13 – 22 \nDuelist\n23 \n \n \nDwarves\n24 \n \n \nElves\n25 – 26 \nEntertainer\n27 \n \n \nGambler\n28 – 29 \nGentleman\n30 \n \n \nGnome s\n31 \n \n \nCollaborators\n32 \n \n \nGypsy Train\n33 \n \n \nHalflings\n34 – 35 \nHearse\n36 – 45 \nLaborers\n46 \n \n \nMagic-User\n47 – 48 \nMercenaries\n49 – 58 \nMerchant Caravan\n59 – 68 \nMessengers\n69 \n \n \nMinstrel Show\n70 – 81 \nNo Visitor\n82 \n \n \nOfficials\n83 – 84 \nReligious Troupe\n85 – 90 \nRandom Travelers\n91 – 92 \nSpies of the Nobles\n93 – 94 \nThief\n95 - 98 \nWedding Party\n99 – 100 \nRoll on Special Visitors Table\nSpecial Visitors Table\nRoll \n \n \nResult\n1 – 20 \n \n \nAdventuring Party\n21 – 23 \n \nDoppelganger\n24 – 40 \n \nKnight of Righteousness\n41 – 75 \n \nMilitary Patrol\n76 – 90 \n \nNoble\n91 – 99 \n \nVampire\n100 \n \n \n \nMonster Raid\nDetails\nAdventuring Party\nYour game manuals should have rules for\nrandomly generating adventuring parties.\nThere will be d4+2 adventurers with an\naverage level of 1d4, with the appropriate\n\n26\nhenchmen, pack animals, and equipment. The\ninn will treat these folk the same as the PCs\n(unless the PCs have performed some great\nservice, of course), so these people may end\nup being competitors for the challenges of the\narea. Depending on the alignment of the parties\ninvolved and appropriate reaction checks, these\nadventurers may be direct allies or perhaps\neven enemies of the PCs. They will want\nprivate rooms for each of them, perhaps a suite,\nand will stay as long as there is adventure and\npossibility of profit to be had.\nBandits\nAfter raiding caravans and farmhouses and\npoor old women, bandits like to blow their\nmoney and live it up hard. These guys will not\ncause any real (violent) trouble if their excesses\n(unsocial and rude as they are) are tolerated.\nHowever, with so many different people\naround and all of the alcohol flowing, anything\nmay happen. Note that they will be terribly\nobnoxious towards any females in the place,\nbut of course the young and pretty ones most\nof all. For an interesting twist (especially if a\nPC has taken a shine on one of the inn’s staff),\nmake appropriate reaction rolls for the women\nto see if any of them end up in a bandit’s bed\nthat night. There will be 3d4 bandits plus their\nleader, they will stay in the common room, and\nthey will stay here at the inn until they are all\nout of money (2d4 days). Certain bandits may\nbe willing to become hirelings or henchmen.\nCollaborators\nThe monsters aren’t threats to road traffic on\ntheir own. While some keep quiet for various\nreasons, there are humans who actively aid\nthem in their highway robbery. Collaborators\nspend time in cities finding out about merchant\ncaravans that are preparing to head out and\ninform monsters about them ahead of time.\nWhen they move to inform their masters, their\npattern is the same. Go to the inn, stay a night\nin a suite (or two private rooms), ride out the\nnext day, return, stay one more night, and\nleave. Only PCs who specifically follow these\nmen, or who just happen to be along their path\nto witness their traveling to and contacting the\nmonsters, would know something is up with\nthem. The most disturbing part is that in order\nto contact the monsters and prove their\n“peaceful” intentions there, they must sacrifice\none member of their own race at the meeting.\nSo they will have a “new member of the gang”\nwith them whenever they appear, and he will\nbe killed upon contact with the monsters. There\nare d4+2 men in this gang and it will always\nbe the same men that appear when this option\ncomes up at any particular inn. If they are dealt\nwith, then any further “Collaborators” results\nshould be read as “no visitor.” The men will\ngenerally never socialize as a group to keep as\nfew people as possible from noticing that, as a\ngroup, they always show up with a new guy\nbut never leave with him. Whenever the col-\nlaborators show up, then a merchant caravan\nof the largest size will automatically be set to\narrive fully laden with goods at the Inn in\n1d6+4 days. Whether the monsters will hit it\nbefore it arrives at the Inn or after it departs is\nfor the referee to decide.\nCraftsman\nBefore one can settle down in one’s very own\nworkshop, there is a period of wandering to\ngain experience in the field working for a\nvariety of employers. Journeyman in the most\nliteral sense! The referee will have to determine\nexactly what kind of work he does, and it\nshould ideally be randomly determined. The\ncraftsman will stay in the common room and\nstay 1d4 days, unless he finds work locally, in\nwhich case he’ll stay as long as he has work.\nDoppelganger\nCreatures that depend on humanity for their\nsustenance will always find their way to out of\nthe way inns sooner or later. The introduction\nof a doppelganger to the environment may or\nmay not cause a great deal of havoc, depending\non who the creature chooses to duplicate. The\nday the doppelganger arrives, every single\nperson at the Inn has an equal chance to be\n\n27\nselected as the first victim. If the victim is just\npassing through, no one at the inn need ever\nknow what happened. Until a body is discov-\nered, anyway. A PC chosen as a victim will\ncause immediate conflict, of course, but an inn\nemployee being killed and replaced by a\ndoppelganger gives rise to a much more insid-\nious, ongoing threat…\nDuelist\nDuelists travel the countryside earning their\nliving through provoking fights, or better yet\ngetting paid from just threatening to fight. They\ndo this with the aid of an accomplice who will\narrive at the inn the same day as the duelist but\nnot appear to be associated with him. In fact,\nthey will take great pains to act unfamiliar with\neach other. They will find a mark, usually a\nnon-warrior looking type (no armor, battle\nscars, or large muscles) who looks at least\nfairly wealthy, and move in. The duelist will\nbehave as a gentleman, being very proper, as\nbait for the trap. He will interact with his mark\nand then feign offense at some perceived slight\nand offer to resolve the matter with a duel to\nbe scheduled the next day or two. In the\nmeantime, the accomplice will approach the\nchallenged and offer to broker a cash deal\n(where the duelist would be the one to get\npaid!) to prevent any embarrassment or untow-\nard violence. Duels will be fought unarmored,\nwith the weapon choice up to the challenged.\nReferees should detail which weapons a duelist\nis proficient in before executing the challenge\nto keep things fair. Duels will typically be to\nfirst blood only, although if a real offense\ncauses the duel, and the duelist is of a cranky\ndisposition (and someone has made a very bad\nreaction roll) and evil alignment, it can get\nnasty. After winning a duel, a duelist will pilfer\na valuable from the defeated as compensation\nfor his bother. Duelists will be a 1d6+2 level\nfighter, stay in a private room (as will their\naccomplice), and stay for 1d4 days.\nDwarves\n“Dour and taciturn” is the cliché, and boy does\nit fit these fellows. Dwarves seldom have\nreason to wander in the realms of men, and\nwhen they do they just want to conclude their\nbusiness and go home. The world of men has\ntoo much sky… 3d4 dwarves will stay one\nnight at the Inn, in a private room if there is\njust a few of them, and in the common room if\nthere is a whole bunch. Each dwarf has a 25%\nchance to be a classed individual, and they will\nengage in heavy drinking at the tavern on the\nday they are there.\nElves\nLiterature paints a different picture of elves\nthan the usual adventuring party. While elves\nout in the world of men often seem like fine\nand normal fellows, most elves prefer to stay\nwith their own kind and they really do form an\nalien society. Occasionally they must leave\ntheir sanctuaries to conduct various business\nin the world, and when they do they leave\nperplexed and whispering people in their wake.\nElven visitors to the Inn will be 2d6 in number,\nwith any specific elf a classed individual 25%\nof the time. There will be roughly equal\namounts of male and female elves, they will\nnot mingle much with other visitors of the inn,\nand they will stay one night in a suite.\nEntertainer\nIndividual (or partner) bards make their living\nby playing taverns and festivals, so they will\nbe passing through lonely road with some\nregularity. There will only be one or two of\nthem, and they will play in the main tavern\nhoping for tips. They will sleep in whatever\naccommodations they can afford (usually the\nstables!). As usual with the “wandering life-\nstyle” types, they will be very rambunctious\nwhen let loose with the alcohol. They will stay\nat the Inn for 1d10 days.\nGambler\nA professional gamesman travels the taverns\nof the realm and makes his living by winning\n\n28\ngames of chance. He will set up on a table at\nthe Inn and try to coax people into playing\ncards (or dice, or whatever) with him. The\ngambler is going to be either very good or very\ngood at cheating, and any character that doesn’t\nhave gambling as a secondary skill should be\nat a severe disadvantage when facing this guy.\nHe’ll stay as long as he can keep making\nmoney (although likely it will be simply\nagainst visitors and not the staff after a couple\ndays), using a private room. If cheating ways\nare uncovered, he just might be run out of the\nplace!\nGentleman\nGentlemen are people of decidedly refined\ntastes, who comport themselves with utmost\nrespectability and expect everyone around\nthem to do the same in the name of a civilized\nsociety. Despite their delusions of being\nnatural men of the world, they are so very\nunsuited to life around the frontier and so will\nspend most of their time here being quite\noffended. The barmaids are all tramps associ-\nating too much with men, so unlike proper\nladies, the men do not dress properly for\nsocializing and don’t even use the correct\nspoon for their soup. They of course will be\nabsolutely horrified at the prospect of violence\n(nevermind violence against them). For added\nfun, sometimes (25% chance) they will bring\ntheir wife along, who is twice as refined and\nthree times as sensitive. Then they might (25%\nchance) bring along 1d4 children who will then\nhave to be shielded from all sorts of bad\ninfluence. A gentleman may (25% chance)\nhave a couple of retainers to do his “dirty\nwork.” Gentlemen will want a private room if\ntraveling alone or just with his wife, or a suite\nif with more people. They’ll plan to stay 2d6\ndays for exposure to the robust country air, but\nwill often leave in a huff after 2d4 days.\nGnomes\nGnomes are perhaps the rarest (or least-seen,\nanyway) of the demi-human races, and there-\nfore any encounter with them should seem\nspecial. They are simple folk, as pragmatic as\ndwarves yet with the love of leisure as Hal-\nflings. PCs should be surprised by such a\ndemeanor! There is a 10% chance that a gnome\nis a classed individual. There will be 2d4 of\nthem, they will stay in private rooms, and they\nwill stay for 1d4 days.\nGypsy Train\nAn extended gypsy family traveling through\nthe area is always sure to stop at the Inn. There\nwill be 4d4 gypsies, half of them women and\none quarter of them children, with one wagon\nfor every three gypsies. They will typically all\nbe one big extended family. They will camp\nwithin a short distance of the inn and not stay\nin the rooms, but they will use all of the\nfacilities available at the inn and generally be\nvery visible. They will provide all sorts of\nentertainment, anything from dancing to jug-\ngling to fire-breathing and sword swallowing.\nGenerally they would only bring in money on\naudience donations and will not be seen as a\nbig deal by the locals. Depending on how\nstereotypical (some would say racist) you want\nto get with the gypsies, more possibilities open\nup. There could be some sort of theft subplot\nhappening at the inn complex, or one of the old\nwomen of the gypsies could be a genuine seer\nand able to tell the PCs’ future. The gypsies\nwill stay for 1d8 days.\nHalflings\nHalflings traveling in packs away from their\nhomelands are rare, but the affable folk are\nalways welcome in civilized lands. Halflings\nwill tend to want to keep out of trouble, and\nwhile they will be social, they will typically be\ntight-lipped about what exactly their business\nmight be. There will be 2d4 of the folk, always\nwanting private rooms (they’ll sleep four to a\nroom though) and staying for 1d4 days. There\nis only a 10% chance that they are classed\nindividuals.\n\n29\nHearse\nPeople of means usually want to be buried\nwhere their families are, or at least close to\nwhere they were born. There is a fair trade in\ntransporting bodies between larger communi-\nties. This will usually just be one or two\nlaborers with a horse, cart or wagon, and their\ncargo in a coffin. The body will often have a\nminor amount of jewelry on it which will make\nit of interest to petty thieves, but 1% of these\nwill have an impressive piece of jewelry\nworthy of any sick enough to disturb the dead.\nThe laborers will prefer to sleep in the common\nroom, and the coffin will stay in the stables\n(making it quite unpleasant for anyone there\nthat night!) They will only stay for one night.\nKnight of Righteousness\nA Knight (roll 1d6+4 to determine level) and\nhis entourage (cleric, scribe, and 1d6 men-at-\narms) arrive at the Inn. The Knight will\ndemand a use of a suite for himself, and private\nrooms for everyone in his group. He will\ndemand all of these for free, and he will\ndemand that the rooms all be adjacent and\nanyone in rooms that he needs be tossed out\nimmediately. The Knight will demand that no\nalcohol be served while he is in the area, that\nthe barmaids cover up any exposed flesh,\nshutting down any entertainment, and gener-\nally be a complete nuisance. He won’t even do\nanything about the dungeon or current adven-\nture plot if informed about them because he is\non his way to a “much more important quest.”\nThe inn staff will suffer the Knight’s shenani-\ngans because they don’t want the trouble of\nresisting him, and they’ll encourage anyone\nelse to keep their mouths shut too. In fact, the\nonly way the Knight will show himself to be\nanything other than a completely self-righteous\nsnob is if blatant criminal activity or a monster\nattack happens while he is here. The Knight\nwill stay at the inn for 1d3 days.\nLaborers\nWork is hard to come by for many, and when\nfreemen can not find gainful employment\nwhere they are, they will travel looking for\nwork. There will be 2d6 laborers in the group,\nand they will be staying in the stables. They\nwill stay 1d4 days, generally harassing travel-\ners to hire them for just about any sort of work.\nIncluding the PCs…\nMagic-User\nWho knows what motivates the men who\nmanipulate magic? They travel from place to\nplace, sometimes on mundane business, and\nsometimes in search of things far more esoter-\nic. Use 1d4+2 to determine what level the\nmagic-user is. He will likely have a familiar, a\n0 level companion or hireling, and a 5th or 6th\nlevel magic-user might have a 1st level appren-\ntice. The magic-user will stay in a private\nroom, although the others might stay in the\ncommon room. They will stay 1d4 days. The\nmagic-user is not very likely to go adventuring\nwith the PCs, but might agree for a suitable\nportion of treasure if he has an enthusiastically\nfriendly reaction to them. Note that if he is of\na greater level than any of the PCs, a “suitable\nportion” might be 50% or more just for him-\nself, and he may think of himself as the party\nleader and the PCs his mere henchmen!\nMercenaries\nStanding armies in the middle ages were\nuncommon, and it could be assumed that RPG\nkingdoms loosely based on that time period\nmight have the same situation. This results in\na professional soldier class that has no loyalty\nto a specific kingdom travels the land searching\nfor nobles in need of warriors. Because their\nlivelihood is based on killing and dying, they\ntake their off-time very seriously and will be\nthe most enthusiastic revelers to be found at\nthe tavern when they show up. They aren’t the\nmost popular customers the inn has, as they\ntend to be pretty rude, grabby, and they are\npoor tippers! The exact type of mercenary is\nsubject to referee decision (and some games\n\n30\ngive options for such expert hirelings). There\nwill be 3d8 of them, and they will likely as not\ndecide on making camp nearby. If they do stay\nat the inn, they would stay in the common\nroom, with maybe their commander having a\nprivate room. They will stay 1d4 days. Merce-\nnaries, of course, make wonderful henchmen\nand general combat support hirelings as long\nas alignments and reaction rolls allow.\nMerchant Caravan\nBusiness is business, and business through\nrisky areas offers a high return for the invest-\nment. There is no shortage of people making\nshrewd, or completely foolish, decisions and\nbringing caravans out this way. A typical\nmerchant caravan will consist of a head mer-\nchant, 1d4 assistants, 2d4 guards, and 2d6\nsupport laborers. There will be one wagon for\nevery four individuals. Sometimes a merchant\nwill have his family with him, which adds a\nspouse and d6 – 1 children. The referee should\ndetermine exactly what goods the merchant\ndeals in. Any merchant has a flat 20% chance\nto be interested in any valuable or odd goods\nthe PCs want to sell, although the amount the\nmerchant gives them for the goods will depend\non reaction rolls, anywhere from 25% for a\nhostile reaction to 75% for an extremely favor-\nable reaction. The merchant will want a suite\nfor himself and his family, the common room\nfor his guards and assistants, and the stables\nfor his laborers. They will just stay one night.\nMilitary Patrol\nThis is a large group from a neighboring area,\non patrol along the road. They will not leave\nthe road to engage under any circumstances\n(their orders are to be seen, defend anyone\ntraveling on the road, but do not go out of the\nway to engage). The Inn is a good stop off for\nthem, and the soldiers will party hard. There\nwill be 10d4 0 level men-at-arms, and for every\nten men there will be a first level fighter squad\nleader, and if there are thirty or more men there\nwill be a second level fighter sergeant. They\nwill make their own camp a short distance\naway from the inn so they will take up no\nrooms, but they will be all over the tavern and\nmany of the other buildings of the inn com-\npound continuously. They’ll pretty much act\nlike the bandits when all is said and done. They\nwill only stay one night unless they arrive for\na weekend, in which case they will leave on\nMonday.\nMinstrel Show\nIf the inn is remotely located, the owner knows\nthat the employees often get bored or longing\nfor a larger community, so he brings in enter-\ntainment shows every so often. There will be\n3d4 musicians, actors, and miscellaneous enter-\ntainers (acting as their own crew!) who will\ntake over an area close to the inn and set up a\nmakeshift stage. They generally have a few\nwagons which also serve as their sleeping\nareas, although they will also have a private\nroom in the inn just in case someone needs a\nbit more privacy. When the minstrel troupe is\nin the area, service tends to suffer as the staff\nis focused on the entertainment. Of course if\nthe minstrels are only performing for the\nemployees, they will not stay so long. Figure\nabout 1d4+1 days average, or as long as they\nhave a paying audience. Lock up the women\nand children when these guys are around!\nMake an extra roll on the Random Visitors\ntable for every day the minstrels are here, as\npeople time their trips to be able to see this sort\nof thing.\nMonster Raid!\nThis result means there will be a monster raid\nhappening on this day, in addition to whatever\nelse is happening around the Inn. Usually it\nwill be a rather unintelligent monster, as most\nintelligent creatures know to stay away from\nthe inn and all its various denizens. This could\nbe a good opportunity for PCs to see exactly\nwho their hosts are as they will defend their\nloved ones and the property (in that order!) to\nthe best of their ability. Depending on the\nmenace, it might also be a good test to see if\nthe PCs know when to put their heads down\n\n31\nand stay out of the way. Roll on the following\ntable to determine what attacks (a bandit raid\nwill not be with a same crew of bandits that\nwould stay here):\nRoll \nResult\n1 \n \nAnhkheg\n2 \n \nBulette\n3 \n \nEttin (1d6)\n4 \n \nHill Giant (1d4)\n5 – 11 \nHuman Bandit Raid!\n12 – 16 Humanoid Raid!\n17 \n \nHydra\n18 \n \nManticore\n19 \n \nTroll (2d4)\n20 \n \nWyvern\nNoble\nA noble and his entourage is an impressive\nthing. The noble himself will always have 2d4\nbodyguards, 3d4 assistants of various types,\nplus enough carriages (and drivers and horses)\nto transport them all and their luggage. Refer-\nees may decide the noble is bringing his family\nalong, in which case add a spouse and 1d6\nchildren, plus another 2d4 bodyguards and 2d4\nassistants. Nobles will demand the run of the\nplace, earning a bit of enmity from the locals\n(even though the generous amount of money a\nnoble’s entourage brings in will soften that\nblow a bit), and probably even more from the\nPCs. They should never be allowed to forget\nthat they are in the presence of power in the\nrealm, and their behavior while the noble is\nhere can have far-reaching implications for the\ncampaign. Nobles will stay in a suite, and if\nthere is not a suite available then somebody is\ngoing to have to get kicked out so the noble\ncan stay. The entourage will all stay in private\nrooms (the “important” ones) or the common\nroom (the “unimportant” ones). They will stay\nfor 1d6 days and be the center of attention the\nentire time.\nOfficials\nBureaucrats are a constant menace in any\nsociety. They also tend to be very non-threat-\nening, unless they see something they don’t\nlike, in which case they will do nothing about\nit themselves and just report the problem to the\nnext link in the chain. These officials\n(government, religious, mercantile) have no\nactual function that PCs can determine, but\nthey conduct themselves as very important\npeople and demand respect as a matter of\ncourse. There will be 2d6 of these leeches\ntraveling, likely by carriage (you think they’d\nwalk all this way or learn to ride a horse\nthemselves?), with one assistant for every four\nof them present. The officials will themselves\nstay in suites or private rooms, while the\nassistants will get the common room or the\nstable.\nReligious Troupe\nA traveling religious troupe is either a group\nof pilgrims traveling to a holy site, or a low-\nranking group of monks or priests doing the\nsame. Very rarely should this mean a cleric-\nclassed character. The referee should deter-\nmine exactly what god the troupe worships,\nand what the relationship of that god is with\nthe prevalent god at the inn compound. In all,\nthe troupe will be 3d4 individuals staying in\nthe stables or the common room for 1d2 days.\nClerics (of the same god!) should be able to\nfind hirelings or henchmen in such a group.\nRandom Travelers\nSometimes, people don’t have any sort of\nreason for being anywhere in particular. Inde-\npendently wealthy (or simply landless wander-\ners) out to see the world, fugitives from far-off\nauthority, or people merely on the way from\none place to another, these are all “random\ntraveler” types. It will be one person with equal\nchances of staying in the stables, common\nroom, private room, or suite, and staying for\n1d6 days. Random travelers staying in the\ncommon room or stables are ripe for the\npicking as hirelings or henchmen.\n\n32\nSpies of the Nobles\nThese people are on the lookout for evidence\nthat the innkeeper is openly defying the law of\nthe land (the referee can determine details as\nappropriate for his campaign) as well as tax-\nevading treasure collectors! These spies will\nalways be here under other auspices (roll again\non the table to see who they are pretending to\nbe), and they will be quite nosy and obtrusive\ninto people’s business. Mistreating these men\nis a bad idea as that will bring noble troops to\nteach the offenders how to properly treat their\n“betters”; and if the men go missing it will\ncertainly bring troops to investigate and intim-\nidate… PCs getting involved in the political\nintrigue around the inn may be in for more than\nthey bargained. Keep in mind that Lawful\ncharacters would tend to favor the side of the\nnobles…\nThief\nThe temporary nature of inn residences makes\nthem a frequent target of thieves who can take\nadvantage of the situation. 1d4 thieves of 1d6\nlevel each will stay at the inn for 1d6 days in\neither the common room or a private room.\nThey will spend their time around the common\nareas of the compound casing out guests (never\nanyone that lives there unless they can find an\neasily accessible and excessive treasure!) to\ndetermine who has something worth stealing.\nThen they will strike, grabbing all they can\nwhile attracting no attention to themselves and\nimmediately leaving.\nVampire\nVampires like lodging too! This will comprise\nof a couple or three strongmen on a carriage\n(with one or two horses) carrying a rather large\ncrate. They will want either a private room or\na suite and will carry their tremendously heavy\n(700+ pound) cargo to the room. They will\naccept no assistance, and will be very obvious\nin their wish to be left alone. Of course their\ncargo is a vampire resting in its coffin, and at\nnight the vampire may awaken and disguise\nitself as one of its followers and enjoy a night\nin the tavern. Of course someone examining\nall of this closely will find many suspicious\nthings about the group. It is recommended that\nthe vampire and his follower(s) not deliberately\ncause trouble for their hosts, but anyone getting\ntoo curious about this mysterious band of\ntravelers is in for a nasty surprise. They will\nstay just the one night.\nWedding Party\nFor some reason, the inn the PCs are staying\nat has become a popular wedding site. So a\ncouple of times a year, a wedding party will\ndescend on the inn, spreading merriment and\nwarm feelings to everyone! Weddings make\neveryone feel more romantic so any passes\nmade at the barmaids will all have a +10%\nbonus to reaction rolls, +20% if the effort really\ndoes seem romantic and there have been no\nprevious crude attempts made by the character\non one of the staff. There will be the bride and\ngroom and 10d6 family and friends. The bride\nand groom will each have a private room until\nthe wedding, after which they will have a suite\ntogether. The family and friends will have as\nmany private rooms as are available, the rest\nwill stay in the common room. They will arrive\nby private coaches (one coach per six people),\nand those coach drivers will stay in the\ncommon room. The entire party will be there\nfor 1d6 days before the wedding, everyone will\nleave the day after except the married couple\nwho will remain for d10+6 days afterwards.\n\n33\n1. User and subject’s minds switch bodies.\nClass, level, and magical abilities remain\nwith the original bodies.\n2. User and subject swap genitalia.\n3. Subject dies and becomes a random type of\nundead creature with the original hit dice\nof the subject.\n4. One random ability score of the subject\nincreases/decreases (50% chance of each)\nby d10.\n5. Subject gains the ability to cast one random\nMagic-User spell of a random level…\nonce.\n6. d8 points of a random ability score transfers\nfrom subject to user or user to subject (50%\nchance of each).\n7. Subject gains the ability to cast one random\nCleric spell of a random level… once.\n8. Subject becomes sexually obsessed with the\nuser.\n9. User becomes sexually obsessed with the\nsubject.\n10. Subject turns to dry powder. When water is\nadded to the powder, the subject will recon-\nstitute in the same condition as before.\n11. Subject grows wings out of eye sockets;\nmay fly but is now blind.\n12. Subject’s teeth fall out and are replaced\nwith hollow crystal teeth, each of which\ncontains one dose of a different random\nmagical potion.\n13. Subject’s fingers turn to gold. They still\nfunction, but are worth 1,000gp each if they\nare severed.\n14. Subject’s \nweight \n(but \nnot \nsize)\nincreases/decreases (50% of each) by\nd1000%.\n15. Subject is filled with magical energy. Every\ntime they are damaged in combat, there is\na 1% cumulative chance that they will\nexplode (fatal), doing d10 damage for every\nhit die they possess to everyone within\n30’.\n16. Subject becomes able to detect magic by\nsight continually.\n17. Subject becomes magic dead. No spell\neffect will ever work on him, good or bad,\nand no magical effect of any item or area\nwill work for him.\n18. Subject functions as a bag of holding. An\nobject placed in an orifice (hopefully the\nmouth…) still harm the subject as normal\ngoing in and out, but an unlimited amount\nof items may be discretely stored in any\norifice without additional harm.\n19. The subject’s anus completely closes up.\nEvery 24 hours the subject must save versus\npoison or take d6 damage. Carving a new\nWand of the Weird\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nThis item resembles a rather thick gnarled stick. It will be identifiable as a magic wand by\nanyone who touches it. Any creature able to hold it and speak may use the wand. It has 5d20\ncharges when found, and may not be recharged.\nTo be used, the wand must be pointed by its user at a living creature (the “subject”). The user\nmay point the wand at himself. Using the wand on a non-living creature or empty space simply\nwastes a charge. The wand’s range is 60’. The wand has a random effect as determined by the\nfollowing table (all results are permanent):\n\n34\nanus will cause d8 damage, but this stops\nthe daily damage.\n20. The subject grows d6 large boils on random\nparts of his body. These boils make wearing\narmor (and other actions) impossible.\nCutting a boil off do d4 damage, but the\nboil’s contents may then be used as a flask\nof oil.\n21. The subject’s eyes turn into gems worth\n5,000gp each. The eyes function as normal\nas long as they remain in the subject’s\nhead.\n22. Subject becomes pregnant with user’s\nchild.\n23. Subject’s internal organs transform to\nclockwork machinery. The subject must\ndrink one flask of oil per day in addition to\nother food requirements.\n24. Subject becomes physically unable to sleep.\nThe subject does not lose the need to sleep,\nhowever, and will suffer all due penalties\nfor lack of sleep.\n25. Any woman who makes eye contact with\nthe subject must save versus magic or\nbecome pregnant.\n26. Every time the subject visits a new popu-\nlated area for the first time, someone there\nwill have proof that the subject owes them\nd% gold pieces.\n27. Subject will automatically kill the next\nenemy he hits in combat.\n28. Subject will automatically be killed by the\nnext enemy that hits him in combat.\n29. Subject loses the ability to recognize\ntraps.\n30. The subject loses all ability to measure\ntime.\n31. The user and subject must engage in mortal\ncombat – the winner permanently gains\n1/10th of the other’s maximum hit points.\n32. The ceiling caves in on the subject. If there\nis no ceiling, a 100’ sinkhole opens up\nbelow him.\n33. 10d6 fireball hits the subject. Watch out for\nthat area effect!\n34. Subject’s current hit points are increased\ntenfold. Excess hit points above the\nsubject’s normal maximum can not be\nhealed or restored once lost.\n35. Subject becomes hypersensitive to poison\nand will never make a successful poison\nsave.\n36. Subject becomes tasty to animals – any\nhostile beast will attack that subject before\nall others.\n37. Every lover the subject ever has in the\nfuture will be caring, respectful, doting, and\nchronically and outrageously unfaithful.\n38. Character’s apparent age doubles (no effect\non health or stats).\n39. Life Force! Forevermore, when the subject\nrolls a natural 20 in combat, they gain one\npermanent hit point. When they roll a 1,\nthey lose a permanent hit point.\n40. All subject’s magic items become disen-\nchanted.\n41. Subject’s nipples are replaced with mouths\nwhich mumble incoherently at all times.\n42. Subject is deemed a hostile troublemaker\nby all authority figures and law enforce-\nment he encounters.\n43. Subject grows (non-damaging) horns.\n44. Subject becomes incontinent and will soil\nhimself every time he sleeps.\n45. Subject gains the ability to speak with\ninsects.\n46. Subject gains the ability to breathe water.\n47. Subject gains the ability to withstand the\nheat of molten lava, but is not otherwise\nimmune to heat.\n48. Subject takes 50% more or less (50%\nchance of each) damage from missile/melee\n(50% of each) attacks.\n49. Subject grows painful corns on his feet,\nreducing movement by 25%. If the charac-\nter rides in a vehicle or on an animal, he\ndevelops awful hemorrhoids and must rest\nenough to reduce overall travel time by\n25%. If the subject is willing to suffer d4\ndamage that day, he may move as normal.\n50. Subject becomes regenerative; all healing,\nmagical or natural, restores 2 more points\nthan usual.\n51. Subject’s rear end glows like a firefly’s.\n\n35\n52. Subject’s nose and mouth move to the\nankles.\n53. Subject’s head moves from atop the shoul-\nders to the groin.\n54. Subject’s hair becomes prehensile.\n55. 1 in 1000 chance that any NPC the subject\nmeets will think him the Dark Messiah and\nattempt to sacrifice children to him.\n56. Subject grows a tail that is 10d12 inches\nlong. The tail is dead weight.\n57. Subject’s face becomes ordinary; only a\n50% chance that an NPC will ever recog-\nnize him after meeting him.\n58. Subject’s earlobes swell to grapefruit size\nand fill with blood. Subject loses d6 hit\npoints, but drinking the blood from each\nearlobe heals the drinker of that amount.\n59. Subject’s stomach acid becomes superdi-\ngestive – anything may be used for food,\nbut any magic potion used causes a misci-\nbility table check.\n60. Subject becomes repellent to fish and will\nnever be attacked by one, and will never\ncatch one.\n61. Subject grows an impressive amount of\nthick back hair.\n62. The wand transfers to the subject’s hand.\n63. The subject goes cock-eyed, and will never\nhit with a ranged attack again.\n64. Subject gains the ability to polymorph into\na covered wagon at will.\n65. Subject becomes lucky – can declare once\nper session that any one failed roll actually\nsucceeded.\n66. Subject becomes unlucky – Referee can\ndeclare once per session that any one suc-\ncessful roll actually failed.\n67. Subject becomes a lucky charm – can\ndeclare once per session that any one failed\nroll made by someone else actually suc-\nceeded.\n68. Subject gains the ability to communicate\nwith yaks.\n69. Subject suffers from communicable tone-\ndeafness; no musical performance will ever\nsound good to anyone when the subject is\npresent.\n70. Subject chews own lips off.\n71. Subject must save versus magic to avoid the\ntemptation of cutting any rope encoun-\ntered.\n72. Soles of subject’s feet constantly bleed\nslightly, leaving an obvious trail.\n73. Subject gains the ability to create moving\nimpressionistic works of art, but is unable\nto draw a straight line – the character can\nno longer map.\n74. A very large ferocious bear arrives and will\nprotect the subject from all threats –\n“threats” being defined as any living crea-\nture within 100’.\n75. A nasty large dragon happens by and\naccuses the subject of stealing a gem worth\n25,000gp. Pay up, or else!\n76. The cavalry arrives! 3d10 armed men come\nupon the scene and demand to know what\nis happening. There are even chances that\nthe group will be friendly or hostile to the\nsubject.\n77. The user’s arms fall off.\n78. Subject turns into a pinecone.\n79. Flash flood! Huge amount of water rushes\nthrough the area clearing everybody and\neverything out.\n80. Subject’s face becomes tattooed. If the face\nis skinned, the tattoos may be used as a\nscroll of a random 9th level spell.\n81. Subject is teleported d100 miles away in a\nrandom direction.\n82. The subject splits into d6 duplicates, all\nwith the same stats and equipment as the\noriginal.\n83. Subject momentarily transforms into Death.\nOne random character or creature within\n100’ (not the subject) dies instantly and is\ndragged to hell (with all their equipment).\n84. Subject’s skin becomes as steel, perma-\nnently improving their AC by 5 points.\n85. Subject offends the God of the Dead! Any\nenemy killed by the subject immediately\nraises as a zombie and attempts to kill the\nsubject again!\n\n36\n86. Subject becomes abhorrent to horses and\ncan never ride one.\n87. Subject gains +5 to hit and +2 to damage\nwith any attack – against the user only.\n88. Subject gains spastic reflexes. The character\ncan decide on a bonus and a penalty to\ninitiative and to-hit rolls on any particular\nround, and the total must add up to 0, but\nthe individual bonus and penalty may not\nbe 0.\n89. A Greater Demon is summoned and\nattempts to slay everyone in sight.\n90. A giant centipede appears inside the\nsubject’s armor and clothing and attacks!\n91. The user’s life force is trapped in a glass\nbauble which appear’s in the subject’s hand.\nThe subject can force the user into three\nconditions to spare his life, and the user\nmust abide by the conditions or instantly\ndie.\n92. Subject grows an eye in the center of his\nback.\n93. Subject’s hair turns prehensile and is hostile\nto the subject – will attempt to gouge eyes,\nplug and tear ears, strangle, etc.\n94. Steroid fiend: Subject gains +3 to hit and\ndamage due to great strength, but connect-\ning muscle tissue weakens and subject takes\n1hp damage when using this strength.\n95. Subject grows 35 extra toes on each foot.\nIs unable to wear footwear unless custom-\nmade, which will cost 100gp. Per foot.\n96. Nothing happens and the wand loses all\nremaining charges.\n97. Roll three times on this table. Subject must\nchoose two results.\n98. Roll three times on this table. Subject must\nchoose one of the results.\n99. Roll two times on this table; all results\nhappen!\n100. Roll three times on this table; all results\nhappen!\n\n37\nHouse of Snails\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\n\n38\nRandom Encounter Table, 1 in 6 chance every\nother turn.\n1. D6 Baby Snails: Armor as leather + shield,\nMove at ¼ speed of unencumbered human,\nHD 1, 6hp, #AT 1, D d4\n2. Adult Snail: Armor as plate, Move at ¼\nspeed of unencumbered human, HD 3,\n14hp, #AT 1, D d6\n3. Cultists: 0 level human, 4hp, armed with\nshort swords.\n4. Slime: Armor as chain, Move at speed of\nunencumbered human, HD 2, 10hp, #AT 1,\nD d6, random immunity:\n1. Fire Attacks\n2. Cold Attacks\n3. Physical Attacks\n4. Electrical Attacks\n1. The pool of water here (5’ deep) has six baby\nsnails in it, waiting to attack anyone who\nattempts to cross the water.\nBaby Snails: Armor as leather + shield, Move\nat ¼ speed of unencumbered human, HD 1,\n6hp, #AT 1, D d4\n2. The lever in this room closes the rightmost\nportcullis in location #12.\n3. The lever here raises the leftmost portcullis\nin location #12.\n4. An adult snail lairs in the water here (5’\ndeep), waiting to attack anyone who attempts\nto cross the water.\nAdult Snails: Armor as plate, Move at ¼ speed\nof unencumbered human, HD 3, 14hp, #AT 1,\nD d6\n5. Buried in the collapsed tunnel is a skeleton\nwearing a gold ring (250gp value). It takes 2\nturns of digging to find the skeleton.\n6. The lever in this room closes the uppermost\nportcullis in location #12.\n7. There will be an automatic random encoun-\nter here.\nThe lever in this room lowers the leftmost\nportcullis in location #12.\n8. There will be an automatic random encoun-\nter here.\n9. The lever here raises the uppermost portcul-\nlis in location #12.\n10. In this room is a trapped chest (poison\nneedle) containing a pile of pearls worth\n1,000gp.\n11. The lever in this room raises the rightmost\nportcullis in location #12.\n12. This intersection has portcullises in the\npassageways leading left, right, and forward\n(if looking at the map head-on). When the\nadventure starts, all of these portcullises are\ndown.\n13. There is an automatic random encounter in\nthis room.\n14. The 5’ deep pool of water houses an adult\nsnail which will attack any who enter the pool.\nThere is a gem fastened into the end of the\npassage worth 500gp. If it is removed, a chunk\nof the ceiling will fall, doing 2d6 damage to\nanyone here who fails a save versus breath\nweapon.\nAdult Snail: Armor as plate, Move at ¼ speed\nof unencumbered human, HD 3, 14hp, #AT 1,\nD d6\n15. This door is trapped; any who attempt to\nopen it without the proper key is zapped for d6\ndamage and must make a save versus paralyz-\nation to actually open the door.\n\n39\n16. Against the wall here is a carving of a giant\nconch shell. Inside the shell is a gem worth\n500gp, but it is enclosed in a glass case which\nis connected to the shell. To see this, one must\ncrawl inside and go around the coiling interior\nof the shell.\nThe glass case twists off of the shell. If twisted\ncounterclockwise, it is easily removed. If\ntwisted clockwise, pores in the stone of the\ngiant carving emit a glue which fastens every-\nthing to the stone for 48 hours. The only way\nto free a trapped character is to destroy the\nstone carving which will destroy the glass, the\ngem, and do d8 damage to the character.\n17. This room contains a pedestal with an\nobvious pressure plate on it. There is nothing\ncurrently placed on it.\nIf anything 5 pounds or heavier is placed on it,\nthe ceiling opens and thirty baby snails roll\ndown into the room ready to feed.\nBaby Snails: Armor as leather + shield, Move\nat ¼ speed of unencumbered human, HD 1,\n6hp, #AT 1, D d4\n18. Two adult snails lair in this 5’ pool, ready\nto feed on any who intrude.\nAdult Snail: Armor as plate, Move at ¼ speed\nof unencumbered human, HD 3, 14hp, #AT 1,\nD d6\n19. Here is a large mound, atop rests a large\nsnail with a shell made of mother-of-pearl. The\nshell, if undamaged, is worth 10,000gp. Each\nattack made against it that misses still chips it\na bit, lowering its value by 100gp. A successful\nattack lowers its value by 1,000gp. The snail\nwill not move from the mound but will attack\nany who approach.\nFour cultists are also here and they will be\nhostile.\nIn front of the mound are four levers. These\nwork the three portcullises at location #12 as\nwell as a locking mechanism for the entrance\ndoor of the dungeon.\nCultists: 0 level human, 4hp, armed with short\nswords.\nLarge Snail: Armor as plate + shield + 2, Move\nat ¼ speed of unencumbered human, HD 5,\n27hp, #AT 1, D d8\n\n40\nThe Frog Cult\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\n\n41\nThis was a quick adventure I whipped up one\nafternoon. The idea is that a village has had\nsome young people disappear lately, and are\nlooking for someone to investigate. A few\nmiles from the village is an old ruined church\non the south shore of a lake.\n1. This old church lies in ruins, its walls barely\nholding up. The altar has been broken.\n2. This is an old barn. Fresh hay is scattered\nabout. Two ghouls are in the hay and will\nattack when anyone walks within reach unless\nthey wear the robes of the frog cult. A trapdoor\nleading into the dungeon (by way of a tunnel\nleading under the lake) is hidden under the hay..\nGhouls: Armor as chain, Move as unencum-\nbered man, HD 2, 10hp, #AT 3, D d3/d3/d6 +\nparalysis, has usual undead immunities.\nRandom Dungeon Encounters\n1 in 6 chance every 3 turns\n1. d8 cultists – unarmored men, 0 level, 3hp,\narmed with daggers\n2. d4 giant frogs - Giant Frogs: Armor as\nshield only, Move as unencumbered man,\nHD 2, 9hp, #AT 1, D d6. Can hop up to 40’\nto attack.\n3. Green Slime\n4. Giant Rats - Unarmored, move half again\nas fast as unarmored man, HD ½, 2hp, #AT\n1, D d4\n5. The Stalking Man – Armor as leather +\nshield, Move as unarmored man, HD 5,\n30hp, #AT 1, D d8. Made of shadows,\nsurprises 4 in 6, magic weapons needed to\nhit\n6. Vipers – Unarmored, move half as fast as\nunarmored man, HD ½, 2hp, #AT 1, D\nPoison\n3. This room’s ceiling sags, dripping. Drip.\nDrip. Drip.\nEvery door in the dungeon has a little “froggy”\npet door. Halflings may crawl through them if\nthey first shed their equipment, but no others\ncan. All wandering monsters except the cultists\nuse the froggy doors when moving about.\n4. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.\nIt has topaz eyes (25gp each).\n5. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.\nIt has glass eyes, which explode for d6 damage\nto all within 10’ (save versus breath weapon\nfor half damage) if there is an attempt to\nremove them.\n6. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.\nThere are no eyes in the statue’s sockets, and\nif eyes are put in, the character putting the eyes\nthere gains a permanent +1 to a random ability\nscore.\n7. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.\nThe frog’s head is able to be twisted off. Inside\nthe statue is a sack with 4000gp in it.\n8. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.\nThe mouth is closed but has obvious hinges. If\nthe mouth is opened, a Clerical scroll with two\nfirst level spells and one second level spell can\nbe found.\nThere are also three giant frogs that inhabit the\nroom.\nGiant Frogs: Armor as shield only, Move as\nunencumbered man, HD 2, 9hp, #AT 1, D d6.\nCan hop up to 40’ to attack.\n9. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.\nThe frog’s head is able to be twisted off. Inside\nthe statue is a colony of BEES! If the head is\ntaken off, the bees will flood the room, stinging\nall within it. Anyone in the area must save\nversus breath weapon or suffer a -1 Dexterity\nmodifier (AC, missile attacks, initiative).\nThose that fail this saving throw must also\n\n42\nmake a save against poison or take d6 damage\n(if the roll is a natural 1, d8).\n10. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.\nThere are no eyes in the statue’s sockets, and\nif eyes are put in, lasers shoot out of the new\neyes. Anyone looking in that direction must\nsave versus paralyzation or become blind for\nd6 days.\n11. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.\nThe mouth is closed but has obvious hinges. If\nthe mouth is opened, a poison needle will shoot\nout (save versus poison or die).\n12. A small pile of bones (which look partially\nmelted about the edges) and clumps of random\nmetal can be found here. Valuable metals add\nup to 28gp, 49sp, 32gp, and a gem worth 50gp.\n13. A gelatinous cube is here in the intersec-\ntion. Because the entire dungeon is damp and\nslimy, there is a 4 in 6 chance that characters\nwill not notice the cube until literally walking\ninto it.\nGelatinous Cube: Armor as chain, Move at half\nthe speed on an unencumbered man, HD 4,\n20hp, #AT 1, D 2d4 + paralysis.\n14. At the end of the room is a relief sculpture\nof an open-mouthed frog’s head which takes\nup the entire wall. If the eyes are pressed, green\nslime will shoot out the mouth onto anyone in\nfront of the carving.\n15. At the end of the room is a relief sculpture\nof an open-mouthed frog’s head which takes\nup the entire wall. In the mouth is a gemstone.\nIf the gem is pulled out of its socket, the mouth\nwill snap shut doing d6 damage if any body\npart is inside. The “gem” is actually made of\nglass and is worth 1gp.\n16. At the end of the room is a relief sculpture\nof an open-mouthed frog’s head which takes\nup the entire wall. If the eyes are pressed, the\nsecret door will open.\n17. This is a frog den. Hundreds of normal\nfrogs infest the area, and ten giant frogs lair\nhere and will be hostile to intruders.\nGiant Frogs: Armor as shield only, Move as\nunencumbered man, HD 2, 9hp, #AT 1, D d6.\nCan hop up to 40’ to attack.\n18. A creature made up of a mass of tentacles,\nwith eyes on them where the suckers should\nbe, dwells under the water and will attack all\nentering this area.\nTentacle Eye Creature: Armor as leather +\nshield, \nMove \nas \nunencumbered \nman\n(swimming only), HD 4, 26hp. #AT 3, D\nd4/d4/d4.\n19. Odd flowers poke out from the water here.\nIf the flowers are sniffed, the sniffer needs to\nroll on the following table. If the flowers are\nviolently handled, then the pollen puffs\nthrough the room and everyone in the area\nneeds to save versus poison or suffer a random\nfate from the table.\n1. Poison – death!\n2. +1 to random attribute\n3. -1 to random attribute\n4. Joints swell; -50% movement rate for next\n24 hours\n5. Great stink, eyes water. Character will be\nable to surprise no-one, and no human or\ndemi-human will be willing to be near them\nfor 24 hours.\n6. Bleeds from eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.\n20. Mudslide! Characters attempting this\nincline must save versus paralysis or slide back\ndown to the west. Failing to save causes d6\ndamage as sharp rocks under the water inflict\nharm.\n\n43\n21. This room is a giant dung pile, with a giant\ndung beetle lairing here. Buried in the dung is\na small gold ingot worth 250gp.\nGiant Dung Beetle: Armor as chain, Move half\nas fast as unencumbered man, HD 2, 12hp,\n#AT 1, D d6. When the beetle is killed it will\nexplode with a methane blast – d6 damage to\nall within 20’, save versus breath weapon for\nhalf damage.\n22. Two giant oysters are found here. Each\noyster has a pearl worth 250gp within it.\nGiant Oysters: Armor as plate, no movement,\nHD 3, 20hp, #AT 1, d6 damage\n23. At the end of the room is a relief sculpture\nof an open-mouthed frog’s head which takes\nup the entire wall. If meat of any sort is put in\nthe mouth, the secret door will open.\n24. The gated door is locked. In this room are\neighteen prisoners. (0 level, 1hp each)\n25. The entire room is basically a 10’ deep pit.\nAt floor level of the corridors leading to the\nroom is a rope mesh which is fastened to hooks\naround the edges of the room. Hundreds of\npoisonous snakes slither down on the floor.\nThe “rope” is actually strangleweed which will\nattempt to kill anyone who travels upon it more\nthan 10’ away from the entry corridors. If the\nstrangleweed is killed, it collapses and anyone\non it drops into the snakes.\nStrangleweed: As unarmored man, HD 6,\n36hp, #AT 1, D d6/round\n26. In the ceiling is a shaft going up about 30’\nto a dead end. Anyone spending a minute to\nlook up this shaft will get hit by falling green\nslime.\n27. This room is where the toad cult worships.\nThe chanting can be heard from beyond the\ndoor.\nA giant toad statue dominates the south part of\nthe room. Torches mounted on the wall on\neither side of the toad provides light. In this\nroom are Talor Chaney, the cult leader, Brute\nGrimm, his enforcer, and four cultists. They\nwill take any intrusion ungraciously, but will\nprefer to capture and enslave (prisoners will be\ntaken to location #24) rather than kill.\nThe pit has a great metal plug upon it, with a\nchain running from the top of it to the ceiling\nand further to a giant crank against the east\nwall. It takes 3 rounds to open (or close) the\nplug. If the plug is opened, 4 rounds later the\nThing from the Pit will crawl out and attempt\nto kill everyone it encounters. If things are\nlooking bad, Grimm will drop everything else\nand attempt to open the pit.\nCultists: 0 level men, hp 3 each, unarmored\nand armed with daggers.\nThey wear simple hooded robes.\nBrute Grimm: Fighter level 3, 20hp, Chain\nmail, sword, short bow.\nGrimm is a giant, imposing figure (Str 17) and\nwears a full-face mask to cover the horrible\nwounds he once suffered (a morning star\ncompletely destroyed his face). He is not able\nto speak and is fanatically devoted to Chaney\nas Chaney is the only person (that acts as if)\nnot disgusted by his face..\nTalor Chaney: Cleric level 3, unarmored,\narmed with a mace.\nHe wears simple hooded robes. He wears two\nrings: One is Ring of Plant Hardening, which\nparalyzes plants. He uses this to allow passage\nacross location #25. The other ring has a small\nruby in it and is worth 500gp.\n\n44\nThe Thing in the Pit: Armor as chain and\nshield, Movement half as fast as unencumbered\nman, HD 8, 49hp, #AT 3, D d8/d8/d10\nThis looks like a giant man-frog.\n28. This tunnel leads to the opposite side of the\nlake and is a way out.\n\n45\nThe Room of Four Pits\nBy Ramsey Dow\nFour ten-foot wide passages converge on this\nthirty-foot square chamber. Each passage\nenters through an archway decorated with\ncarvings and reliefs of monsters, both strange\nand sinister. The ceilings of the passages are\nten feet high, while the arches are seven feet\nhigh. Other than the carvings, the arches are\nnondescript. A single step down serves as the\nthreshold of the chamber from any of the\npassages.\nThe chamber is plain, having the same roughly\nhewn stone walls and ceiling as the passages\nthat preclude it. Notably, there are four open-\nfaced pits, one to each corner. Ten feet to a\nside, the pits appear to be identical. Looking\nover the edge into any one the pits will reveal\nthat it is thirty-feet deep and inhabited by\nhorrible creatures of some sort. Precisely how\nmuch can be gleaned will depend upon the\nquality and position of the party's light sources.\nAt the center of the chamber is a twenty-foot\nsquare pressure plate. Indistinguishable from\nthe floor, the plate will be activated as soon as\none hundred pounds of weight is placed upon\nit. Once activated, iron portcullises will drop,\nsimultaneously barring escape through any of\nthe chamber's four archways. The sound of\nstone grating upon stone will be heard as the\nfloor of the chamber begins to sink, slowly and\ninexorably, to the floor-level of the pits. It will\nreach bottom in three rounds. A Magic Mouth,\nits breath spewing phantasmal fog, will appear\nat the center of the ceiling and intone:\nMy step is slow / the snow's my breath\nI give the ground / a grinding death\nMy marching / makes an end of me\nSlain by sun / or drowned in sea.\nWhat am I?\nThe correct answer is \"a glacier.\" If the riddle\nis not answered correctly before three rounds\nhave elapsed, the elevator floor will reach\nbottom and the creatures from the pits will spill\nforth and attack. If the riddle is answered, the\nelevator floor will cease its descent and begin\nto slowly rise. The portcullises will raise once\nthe floor has returned to its original position,\nallowing the player characters to continue\nonward. It should be noted that this trap will\nnot reset itself if the monsters are released from\nthe pits. In such a case, the sprung trap will\nserve as a new obstacle in the dungeon.\nPlayer characters may seek to hang on to one\nof the lowered portcullises as the floor sinks.\nThis is inadvisable for any number of reasons.\nThe ledges between the bars and the sinking\nfloor are narrow and provide little in the way\nof footing. Moreover, clinging to the bars will\nprove uncomfortable. It will be difficult for\nplayer character to do much of anything in this\nposition. All the while, ravenous monsters will\nbe eyeballing perched characters, seeking ways\nto reach and kill them. Falling to the floor,\nthirty feet below, will cause 3d6 points of\ndamage, and if the fall does not kill them, then\nthe monsters surely will.\nIt is possible to circumnavigate the pressure\nplate by leaping across the corner of one of the\nfour pits. The crumbling and otherwise danger-\nous nature of this place dictates that a success-\nful dexterity check be made to avoid falling\ninto the pit. Such an accident will cause 3d6\n\n46\npoints of falling damage to be inflicted. Fur-\nthermore, exposure to the creatures within will\nalmost certainly be fatal.\nThe nature of the creatures within the pits is\nleft to the imagination of the Game Master.\nGiant tarantulas were used in this chamber's\noriginal incarnation. The players successfully\nanswered the riddle and avoided an unseemly\ndeath. Will your players be so lucky?\n\n47\nThe Sneaky Book Room\nBy James Brian Murphy\nThis room is a simple 50’ x 50’ room with the\ncorners cut at 40-degree angles to make it\noctagonal. There’s a door in each of the non-\ncardinal walls. Each cardinal wall has an\nornate, voluptuous holder of orichalcum pro-\njecting from the wall that cradles a sphere of\nliquid that emits a cool, silvery glow. Each is\nbrighter than the full moon, emits enough light\nto see 30’ by and does not disrupt infravision.\nThe combined light of any two is enough to\nread by. The liquid will continue to glow for\n12 hours after being removed from the room.\nIn the center of the room is an orichalcum\nreading podium, shaped like skulls trapped in\na blooming rose bush. Chained to the stand and\nopen atop it is a thin folio volume. The outer\ncover is of battered serpent’s hide, the pages\nfaded and dog-eared with time.\nAnyone perusing the book idly or skimming\nits contents must save vs. spells (Wisdom\nadjusts) at each page or find themselves irre-\nsistibly compelled to read that page.\n(Obviously, no roll is required for someone\nwho is reading it.) The effects of reading a page\nshould be randomly determined as follows,\nwith no results duplicated:\n1. Reader affected as if by a curse spell.\n2. All of a character’s coins that are not silver\npieces turn into silver pieces.\n3. Reading character goes through a painful\ntransformation that has a pair of spiral ram’s\nhorns sprout from the skull. Lose 2 hit\npoints but is treated as if wearing always\nwearing a helm. A remove curse will undo\nthis transformation.\n4. 1d4 red slaadi are summoned into the room.\nThey immediately attack the party, but each\nvanishes if it manages to imbed its egg-\npellets into a victim.\n5. Character goes through a painful process\nthat transforms their head into that of a bat.\nThey acquire the power to “see” through\necholocation (range up to 60’), lose 1d4 hit\npoints and permanently lose a point of\nCharisma. This can be undone by a Dispel\nMagic against level 16 or a Bless spell from\na Lawful cleric of 12th level or higher.\n6. An exact copy of the reader leaps from the\nbook and attacks the reader. Any attacks\nunleashed by allies at either version of the\ncharacter deal damage to the original if the\ndamage die roll is odd and to the copy of\nthe damage die rolls even, no matter who\nthey were attacking or how careful they are\nto not hurt the original. If the original dies,\nthe copy explodes, dealing 3d6 damage to\nall in the room. If the copy dies, it begins\nto rot immediately, causing a horrible\nstench that results in a -1 to all die rolls\nwhile the PCs remain in the room. In either\ncase, the bodies of the slain will have all the\nreader’s mundane equipment, but all magic\nitems will have vanished.\n7. Through a painful process, the reader per-\nmanently loses one hit point. However, one\ndagger or knife in their possession gains a\npermanent +1 enchantment. (If it was\nalready magical, it’s bonus to hit and\ndamage increases by one.)\n8. The reader’s hair turns to bright, green\nleaves. Every hour the character spends\nwith their leafy hair exposed to the sun\nheals them one hit point, up to their usual\nmaximum. In autumn, the leaves will turn\n\n48\na brilliant, blood red, then brown. In winter,\nthey will all fall out and the PC will lose the\nextra healing ability. In spring, their hair\nwill grow back as before, but with a forest-\ngreen streak in it.\nAdd more as needed. If the book is closed, the\npages randomly reshuffle and reset; closing the\nbook and then reading it again is the only way\nhave a result happen more than once. The book\nonly works so long as it is attached by the chain\nto the pedestal.\nThere should be one page per level of the\ndungeon. As each page is turned, the room rises\nor sinks imperceptibly by teleportation to the\nnext lower level (or higher if the pages are\nturned left-to-right). If the book is closed, the\nroom’s doors will open out onto your setting’s\nversion of the land of the dead (or perhaps the\nbanks of the river Styx if you’re using the\nclassic Wheel). If the book is removed from its\nchain, the room will be teleported to whatever\npunishment awaits thieves after death (or a\nrandom level of the Abyss). Replacing the\nbook and casting Bless on it or sprinkling holy\nwater across the cover is the only way to return\nthe room to its original plane.\n\n49\nThe Child\nBy Zak Sabbath\nThe child is just a lone child, 6 – 9 years old,\nordinary in nearly every way. S/he will be\nencountered alone deep within a dungeon, or\nin some other place far from civilization. The\nchild will act as though it's essentially amnesi-\nac, though otherwise it will appear healthy. He\nor she will not remember how s/he got there.\nS/he may have a few obscure phobias triggered\nby local wildlife or monsters and may or may\nnot remember one or two cryptic images.\nThe trouble comes from the fact that the PCs\nknow they are playing a fantasy RPG, and so\nthe child is automatically suspicious. If the\nchild is ignored, it will follow the PCs (perhaps\nat a distance). No matter how far the PCs\ntravel, it will pop up again. It will do nothing\noffensive.\nIf the PCs adopt the child, it will at all times\nappear entirely, and eerily, innocent, polite,\nand ordinary. The PCs will probably want to\nkeep an eye on it while they're resting, but it\nsleeps just like any other child. It will do its\nbest to defend itself or hide during combat.\nIf the PCs reach civilization and try to pawn it\noff on a relative or friendly NPC, they will\nsoon find the child following them again a few\ndays later. There is nothing supernatural about\nthis (it seems), the child is just terribly stub-\nborn, and likes the PCs.\nIf the child is slain, however, a terrible trans-\nformation will occur. The precise nature of this\nchange is entirely at the Referee's discretion.\nThe child will return as a vengeful, grey-eyed\nrevenant bent on throttling the PCs in their\nsleep, an incubating abomination will emerge\nfrom the child's body, a demon trapped in the\nchild will be set loose, etc.\nDefeating whatever the child transforms into\nwill cause the thing to die, and then, a few\nweeks later, turn into a new child (different in\nappearance, but likewise amnesiac) and the\nprocess begins all over again.\nIf the PCs can keep the child alive for a very\nlong time (Referee's discretion--for a game-\nyear, for a real-time year, for 5 levels, whatev-\ner) the child reveals itself to be a disguised god\nof some sort, bent on testing them, and will\nreward them.\n\n50\nThe precise purpose of this item is unknown.\n(Actually, the purpose of this item is to quickly\nintroduce new people to the game--in the sense\nof both \"quickly introduce new players to the\nway the game works\" and \"quickly introduce\nthose players' new characters in the middle of\na dungeon at the beginning of a session where\nthe original PCs are about to get into a fight\nwith something they ran into at the cliffhanger\nending of the last session\".)\nThe cube-shaped (or oblong, or whatever) box\nis made of glass--2 inches tall on each side--\nand has gems set into five of the sides. The\ngems, set one to a side, are black, red, green,\nwhite, and blue. Inside the box is a scale model\nof an existing chamber somewhere in\nMaleketh's dungeon.\n(Whatever chamber the original PCs and their\nfoe/foes were about to fight in when the last\nsession ended.)\nThe real chamber will have an alcove attached\nto it.\n(The alcove is where the new PCs wake up.)\nThe Chamber and the Glass\nBox\nBy Zak Sabbath\n\n51\nInside the box are tiny and fully-functioning\nscale replicas of everyone and everything in\nthe chamber.\n(Namely, the original PCs and the monster or\nmonsters they were about to fight)\nThe actions and movements inside the box\ncorrespond precisely to whatever is happening\ninside the chamber.\n(Which will be obvious to the newly-arrived\nPCs because they will wake up with the box\nlying within reach and they will be able to see\nout of their alcove and into the replicated\nchamber through the gaps in a steel grate that\nseparates the chamber from the alcove.)\nTouching the gems will cause various events\nto occur:\nTouching the green gem will open or close the\ngrate separating the chamber and the alcove.\n(The new PCs will eventually figure out they\nhave a choice about whether to get into the\nfight immediately.)\nTouching the blue gem will move each indi-\nvidual in the chamber (i.e., in the fight) to the\nposition occupied by the next individual in the\nchamber clockwise from him or her.\n(In the right hands, this can be devastating, but\nmore importantly, it'll teach the new PCs\nsomething about how combat works.)\nTouching the red gem will heal everyone in the\nchamber for one hit point of damage. This\neffect only works once every 24 hours.\n(This might keep your new PCs from dying\nimmediately. It might also bring the monsters\nback from the dead if they get knocked uncon-\nscious and then somebody starts thinking \"Now\nwhat does this box do....\")\nTouching the white gem will turn every living\nthing in the chamber invisible--and close the\nsteel grate if it's not already closed.\n(Which might be good for a laugh.)\nTouching the black gem will cause a trap door\nin the ceiling of the alcove to open and cause\nan unconscious civilian to fall through.\n(So that's how we ended up here.)\nThe box and associated chamber may have\nother secrets as well.\n(But that's probably enough to keep them busy\nfor the first session.)\n\n52\n1.\nThe outside to this small construct is approxi-\nmately 25’ x 25’ with a small set of steps\nleading to an unlocked door. The inside is a\ndusty bare 20’ x 20’ room with hairline cracks\nlining the walls. There is a door to the north.\nThis is not a back door! Well, it IS a back door,\nso to speak, but it doesn’t lead to the back of\nthe tomb.\nOnce opened, it triggers a poorly designed\nteleportation portal, sending everything within\nArea 1 to a crypt buried roughly 100ft below\nthe surface, right under the tomb. The telepor-\ntation might be a deadly one. Roll the percen-\ntile dice for EACH character as if the teleporter\nwas not thoroughly familiar with the area.\n01-80: On Target\n81-90: 1d10 x 10’ too high\n90-00: Teleported into the ground. K i l l e d\ninstantly.\nThe ceiling in Area 2 is 15’ high, so if a\ncharacter is teleported higher than 10’, he will\nbe dead.\n2.\nThe characters find themselves within a 10’\nwide x 15’ high smooth stone hallway. It is\nmagically lit with a dim green glow. Going\nnorth about 20’, the area leads to a hall that is\ncovered completely – walls, ceiling, floor –\nwith hundreds of detailed faces carved into the\nstone. The faces range from every creature\nimaginable, such as orcs, frogs, troglodytes,\ngnolls, dragons, mules, goblins, sharks, trolls,\nwolves, etc, etc, etc.\nOnce the characters approach within 5’ of the\nhall o’ faces, the carved faces noticeably turn\ntheir eyes toward them. Characters who attempt\nto walk through the hall will sustain 6d4 bites\nfor 1d4 damage with each bite.\nFor every 4 bites a character receives, roll the\npercentile dice.\nCharacter steps on a…\nThe Tomb to Die For/In\nBy R. Lawrence Blake\n01 -\n20\nNormal/Non Harmful face\n21 -\n25\nVampire face. Drains 2 energy levels.\n26 -\n30\nGhoul face. Save vs. Paralyze or become\nparalyzed for 2d4 turns. Paralyzed characters\nwill receive 2d4 automatic bite damage per\nround unless they can be moved.\n31 -\n35\nShadow face: Lose one point of Strength\nfor 8 turns.\n36 -\n40\nGiant Rat face: Disease. Save vs. Poison or\ndie in 1d6 days. Success means character is\nhorribly ill for 30 days, afterward has a\n25% chance of death.\n41 -\n45\nMedusa face: Additional 1d6 damage from\nsnake hair. Save vs. Poison or die on 1 turn.\nAdditional damage gives a 50% chance that\nthe character will look down at the medusa\nface (Save vs. Petrify or turn to stone).\n46 -\n50\nWerewolf face: Save vs. Poison/Death or\nbecome a werewolf in 2d6 days. Non\nhumans will simply die from the disease.\n51 -\n60\nPurple Worm face: 30% chance of\nswallowing leg whole causing an additional\n1d6 damage per round unless can pull free\nwith successful Strength check.\n61 -\n65\nKitten face: Face makes a loud, painfully\nsad “meow” sound, causing the character to\nfeel bad for 2d4 turns.\n66 -\n70\nGorgon face: Will use breath weapon. Save\nvs. Petrify of turn to stone.\n\n53\n\n54\n71 - 75 Rust Monster face: Any type of\n \n \n \nmetal armor covering the shin and\n \n \n \nunder will turn to rust (or lose a\n \n \n \nmagical bonus).\n76 - 80 Giant Rattlesnake face: Save vs.\n \n \n \nPoison or die in 1d6 turns.\n81 - 85 Troll face: Extra hard bite for 1d10\n \n \n \ndamage.\n86 - 90 Fire Salamander face: Additional\n \n \n \n1d8 heat damage.\n91 - 95 Mummy face: Character contracts\n \n \n \nmummy rot.\n96 - 100 Cursed human face: Explodes like a\n \n \n \nmine for 5d6 damage.\nCharacters can step on the same type of face\nmore than once.\nCharacters attempting to fly through the hall\nwill be hit with a breath weapon from a Blue\nDragon face (located on the west wall) for 45\ndamage (save for half). Even if none of the\ncharacters try to fly through, there is still a 50%\nchance that the dragon will blast a random\ncharacter.\nRefereees are encouraged to come up with\nother faces with which to torture the characters.\nOther types of breath weapons or even psionics\ncould be used.\nThe hall o’ faces is roughly 60ft long and ends\nat a 10’ x 20’ smooth area with a door on the\nnorth wall.\n3.\nThis 30’ x 30’ room has a sparkling green\nfist-sized gem resting on a 4’ pedestal located\ndead center within this area. Two human sized\nbeings wearing plate armor are standing side\nby side in front of the pedestal, weapons drawn.\nThese two were once adventurers who were\nunfortunate in finding this green gem. The\ngreen gem’s magic turned their plate armor\ninto Armor Golems to stand guard over the\narea. Unable to break free from their own\narmor, the adventurers eventually died. Now\nthe Armor Golems still stand here as guards,\nready to attack anyone who approaches.\nArmor Golem stats: AC: as Plate + Shield, HD:\n10, HP: 80 each, #AT: 1 (weapon), D one has\n+3 longsword, other has +2 war hammer.\nAny character that gets within 5’ of the gem\ncould be affected by the gem’s magic if they\nare wearing the following armor: banded,\nchain, plate or splint. The character’s armor\nwill become an Armor Golem (AC will go by\narmor type plus any possible magical bonuses,\nHD: 10, HP: 80). The character will be trapped\nwithin as the golem will use its most powerful\nweapon to attack the party. Note that the party\nwill have no idea why their own party member\nis attacking them (but may assume a magical\ncurse or such).\nThe Armor Golem cannot be dispelled, only\ndestroyed. Damage dealt to the Armor Golem\nwill be divided between it and the character\ninside the armor. Also, like other golems,\nArmor Golems aren’t affected by hold, sleep,\nor charm spells, nor are they affected by poison\nor gas.\nIf a golem is defeated, the armor will be too\ndamaged to be of any use.\nThe gem’s power is sustained by the pedestal.\nIf removed, it becomes a normal gem worth\nabout 500gp. If the pedestal is broken off from\nits location it loses its power, becoming useless.\n4.\nA desk rests in the southeast corner of the\nroom. A robed skeletal figure sits slumped over\nthe desk. Dusty scrolls and books are piled on\ntop of the desk and around the figure. Most of\nthe scrolls are useless, but a couple contain\nsome mid-level spells and one is cursed. A\nbook can be found under one of the skeletal\nfigure’s hand. It is closed and appears to\npossibly be a spell book.\n\n55\nIf opened, the character must save vs. magic\nwith a -3 penalty or be struck with short-term\nmemory loss. Spells will instantly be forgotten\nand cannot be relearned. Experience also\ncannot be gained for killing creatures while\nunder this effect. The only thing that can cure\nthe short-term memory is by using the Dispel\nMagic spell found within the cursed book!\nFirst, a Dispel Magic or Remove Curse must\nbe used on the book so that it may be opened\nsafely. Once it is opened, the spell caster must\nread the Dispel Magic spell directly from the\nbook to negate effects of the short-term\nmemory.\nThe only other spells in the book are Light and\nInfravision. The robed skeletal figure is harm-\nless.\n5.\nMidway into this 45’-long hall, the characters\nsee hundreds of fine steel strings attached to\nthe ceiling, covering a 5ft area. Each string\nhangs down to the floor, affixed and stretched\ntightly. The number of strings that stretch from\nceiling to floor is 500. It appears that the\ncharacters would not be able to pass through\nthe mass of steel strings.\nThe floor to where the strings are supposedly\nattached is actually an illusion, masking a 30’\ndeep pit. The steel strings hang 20’ into the pit,\neach with a sharp hook attached.\nThe illusion cannot be detected. In fact, the trap\nhas a type of False Seeing magic cast on it so\nthat if a character is to use a True Seeing spell\nor device, the floor will appear sturdy and the\nstrings will vanish! Characters who might\nthrow a stone (or whatever) to where the strings\nseem attached, will see the item disappear (it\nactually fell through the illusion).\nIf a character falls through the illusionary floor,\nhe will get snagged by 10 – 200 (2d20 x 5)\nhooks, causing ½ damage per hook (round up).\nIf a character is snagged by 25 hooks or more,\nthe character will be suspended and will lose\n2d6 damage per round until he can be hoisted\nback up and have the hooks removed. The\nhooks are barbed, causing an additional ½\ndamage per hook when removed (round up).\nIf less than 25 hooks snag the character, he’ll\nhit the pit bottom for 3d6 additional damage.\nAt the end of this hall is a 4ft opening on the\nwest wall that drops characters 10’ into Area\n6.\n6.\nThe characters drop down into a 30’ x 15’ area.\nAt first glance this area seems to be an empty\nchamber, but easily discoverable grooves along\nthe angles of the north wall show that the entire\nwall is a concealed sliding door. Characters\nmay push the north wall inward rather easily.\n15’ in, there is a opening to the east and a secret\ndoor to the west.\nThe giant sliding wall is actually a trap and two\nthings will set it off. One is if a character (only\none needed) enters the opening to the east. The\nother is if the characters continue to push the\nwall inward 25’. When one of these two things\nhappen, the wall will suddenly push back with\nferocious force all the way back to the southern\nwall, smashing the characters for 2d6 x 10\ndamage. Any held items must save or shatter.\nThe wall will then reposition itself to the 15’\nmark. It may be moved again in 24 hours.\nAny character that jumped into the opening\nwill now be trapped within a 10’ x 5’ area.\nThere is a door to the east. Opening the door\nreleases a gas in which a character must Save\nvs. Poison or go blind. After the gas is released,\na Spectre will emerge from the room and\nattack. If the spectre kills the character, there\nwill be just enough time for the character to\nturn into a new spectre before the characters\nare able to push the wall in for the rescue.\n\n56\nThe secret door leads to Area 8.\n7.\nTo the north of this T-shaped chamber, the wall\nis inlaid with exactly 100 green gems. They\ncover an area of 20’ x 5’ (5 rows, 20 columns\nof gems) in the center of the north wall.\nIn front of the gem-filled wall is a skeleton\nwearing a long coat and a weathered top hat.\nAs if he were a ring leader in a circus, the\nskeleton explains to the characters that one\nparticular gem on this wall is worth enough to\nsend a character straight into retirement. They\nmay gamble on winning this prize by choosing\nup to three gems. However, be warned that the\nothers have magical effects to counter the\nreward of such a valuable gem – possible harm\nor even death!\nThe skeleton will simply act as a belligerent\nhost. While it only has 8 hit points, it can cast\na 20 HD fireball twice a day. If the characters\nbegin choosing gems off the wall, the skeleton\nwill mock and laugh at any harmful effects\nwhich befall them. The skeleton does not know\nwhere or how to get the prized gem.\nThe magical effects are random, constantly\nswitching throughout the gems. One gem is\nindeed \nworth \na \nridiculous \namount:\n1,500,000gp, but like the others, it is never in\nthe same place. The other gems, once their\nmagic has been spent, are worth 100 gps.\nRoll on the following tables for the gems’\nmagical effects. Note that other than the\n“prize” gem, the same magical effect can\nhappen more then once.\nTable 1 (d100)\n01 - 10\nContinual Light is cast on the character.\n11 - 20\nQuest-like spell overcomes the character\nfor the need to acquire a wild saber tooth\ntiger as a pet.\n21 - 30\nRoll on reincarnation table. Character\nturns to whatever is rolled.\n31 - 40\nCharacter sweat is forever equal to that\nof a Troglodyte causing the party\n(including the character) to save vs.\npoison once per day they are around him\nor suffer a -2 on attack rolls.\n41 - 50\nIf fighting a group of 3 or more\nadversaries, the character must save vs.\nspells or become confused (like spell).\n51 - 60\nCharacter gains ability to breath under\nwater, but has a 70% chance of attracting\ngiant leeches, giant piranhas, or great\nwhite sharks.\n61 -70\nCharacter is able to speak most\nhumanoid languages (orc, goblin, knoll,\nkobold, etc), but everything said in these\nlanguages always seem to come out as an\ninsult.\n71 - 80\nCharacter is colorblind.\n81 - 90\nCharacter gains permanent ability to\nresist fire (as spell), but will take double\ndamage on all cold based attacks.\n91 - 100 Roll on TABLE 2\nTABLE 2 (d100)\n01 - 20\nArmor begins to shrink to doll size. First\nround, character takes 1d6 damage.\nSecond round, character takes 3d6\ndamage. Character is crushed to death by\nround 3.\n21 - 40\nCrippling arthritis causes character to\nsuffer -4 to hit and damage.\n41 - 60\nCharacter develops insatiable hunger for\nlive rot grubs.\n61 - 80\nAny armor or weapon the character pos-\nsesses with a magical bonus now becomes\ncursed with opposite negative numbers (ie:\na +2 flail becomes a cursed -2 flail).\n81 - 100 Roll on TABLE 3\n\n57\nNOTE: If a character attempts to take more\nthan 3 gems, see TABLE 3: 1 – 3.\nIf one or more characters have chosen at least\none gem, and when they are finished picking\n(they don’t have to take 3 gems, and after they\ntake even one, they can choose to stop), the\nskeleton will offer to open up the northern wall\nfor the characters to pass. The area where the\ngems are inlaid will open up to Area 9.\nOnly the skeleton knows how to open the\nsliding wall.\nIf the characters refuse to pick a gem, the\nskeleton will belittle them and not even\nmention that secret door. If the characters do\nnot leave after a few rounds and intrude on the\narea by checking for secret doors or traps, it\nwill earn them a 20 HD fireball.\n8.\nThe secret door from Area 6 leads to a stone\nstairway that descends 60’ to a 5’ x 5’ area\ncovered in large poisonous iron spikes.\nHeading west is another (identical) stairway\nthat leads up 60’ to a door.\nIf the characters open the door, a Phantasmal\nKiller (illusionary horror) will appear. Charac-\nters must save vs. spells or die from fright.\nThose who make the save will be stricken with\nfear and will attempt to run at full speed down\nthe stairs. All characters who do this must\nmake a Dexterity check with a -4 penalty or\nfall down the stairs for 6d6 damage plus an\nadditional 1d6 damage for the spikes at the\nbottom. Characters must save vs. poison or die.\nEven if characters make the Dexterity check,\nthey have a 75% chance of hitting a spike as\nthey run through.\nThe Phantasmal Killer will disappear unless\nthe door is shut and reopened. The door is a\none-way door (not detectable from the other\nside) that leads to area 10, right into the\ncontinual darkness part of the area.\n9.\nHalfway down this enormous hall, characters\nnotice that the area becomes unnaturally pitch\nblack. This is a continual darkness spell. The\nmagic that holds the darkness spell is tied to a\nmagical bond that holds the structure of the hall\ntogether. If the darkness is dispelled, characters\nwill hear a slight rumbling. After 10 seconds,\nlarge portions of the hallway will collapse.\nCharacters must save vs. petrify or suffer 5d10\ndamage. Damage is halved by a successful save.\nThe fallen debris is covered in yellow mold,\nand such a fall will send spores throughout the\nentire area.\nThere are double doors to the north.\n10.\nThis 30ft tall round chamber has a large 8’ tall\nstone chest toward the north. Standing in front\nof the chest is a 16ft tall humanoid beast with\na sword. The beast has a terrible smell and stark\nwhite eyes. This beast is an undead giant of\nsome sort (AC:as Plate + Shield + 6, HD: 14,\nHP: 87) that has two attacks per round. One is\nits sword in which the creature has a +2 to hit\nand does 3d10 damage per strike. The other is\na belching, gaseous breath weapon that covers\na 60’ radius. Characters caught in this attack\nmust save vs. breath weapon or become vio-\nlently sick for 3d4 turns. Characters under this\neffect cannot attack or cast spells.\nThe characters will have no idea that this\ncreature is actually undead, but if they do, the\nTABLE 3 (d4)\n1 - 3\nCharacter explodes. All party members\nwithin 60’ must save vs. petrify or take 3 –\n30 debris damage (save takes half damage).\n4\nPrize gem worth 1,500,000gp. Kiss this party\ngoodbye and have fun at the beach.\n\n58\ncreature’s weakness might be found: it turns\nas a 1 HD monster.\nWithin the giant chest (8’ high, 10’ long, 8’\ndeep) is a pile of gold and silver (15,500 gp,\n22,000 sp) as well as a large sword sticking up,\nstraight out of the top of the coins. The sword\nis a two-handed sword +3. To pull it out a\ncharacter must stand on the coins and pull hard.\nThis releases a false bottom of the chest,\ndropping the character and all the treasure 60’\ninto a giant lake (4d6 fall damage). This lake\nis in the middle of a large cavern. The GM may\nuse this to continue on into a maze of cata-\ncombs, or there could simply be an opening to\nthe outside from here. Or the lake could be\nmade of green slime.\n\n59\nShrieker Stew\nBy Jonathan Becker\nIn the darkness of the chamber, a warm glow\ncan be detected from the coals of the fire pit.\nUpon said pit is a roiling cauldron of some-\nthing that smells strangely wholesome, if a bit\nmusky. A ladle hanging near the cauldron\nallows the contents to be stirred…it appears to\nbe some sort of hearty stew, with no trace of\neyeballs, hands, or other humanoid body parts.\nHolding a light source close to the stew (for a\ncloser examination, perhaps) causes the stew\nto emit the faintest of whining, barely detect-\nable to characters listening attentively. This is\nshrieker stew, made from the fungal monster\nfrequently found in underground caverns.\nThe pleasantly stewed shriekers fail to give off\nany but the mildest of sounds while in the pot,\nthanks to the special spices present in the\nbroth. 1D4 turns after eating said stew howev-\ner, all counteracting spices will be digested by\na character’s stomach and the partially digest-\ned stew will react fully to any light source in\nclose proximity to the character (within 20’ or\nso). Until the shrieker stew is fully digested (in\n1D4 hours), the stomach of any character that\npartook of the cauldron’s contents will wail as\na shrieker whenever a light source greater than\na candle comes within range. Only complete\nshrouding of a character in thick wraps of\ncloth will prevent the noise (this keeps light\nfrom illuminating the bloodstream and inter-\nnal organs of the character, which is what sets\noff the shriekers’ screams).\n\n60\nPool of Testing\nBy Jonathan Becker\nWhat appears to be a natural grotto has had\nbrick and mortar added to provide a lip of wall\ntwo and one-half feet high. Inscribed in the\nwall is the following message: NO MORE\nTHAN ONE MAY BATHE. The water in the\npool gives off a faint, blue luminescence,\nclearly visible in the dark should all lights be\nextinguished.\nDrinking from the grotto does nothing. Anyone\ndisrobing and fully submerging himself in the\npool will find himself greatly increased! Roll\n1D6 once to determine which ability is affected\n1-Strength, 2-Intelligence, 3-Wisdom, 4-\nDexterity, 5-Constitution, 6-Charisma. The\naffected ability immediately and permanently\nincreases to 18 (if the ability score rolled is\nalready 18, roll again). After being so\nbaptized, the grotto will have no more affect\non the character.\nIf a second person attempts to bathe in the\ngrotto in the same fashion, roll 1D6 as above.\nThis time the affected ability is greatly\ndiminished, being lowered immediately and\npermanently to 3! If the reduction of the ability\nscore would preclude the character from\npursuing their chosen class, the PC may no\nlonger advance in that class, being permanently\nfrozen at his or her current level.\nIf yet another person attempts to bathe in the\npool, roll 1D6 twice…two different scores will\nbe reduced to 3! Every subsequent person to\nattempt the pool will have even more of his or\nher abilities reduced (the seventh person to\nbathe will have all six ability scores reduced\nto 3, for example). The pool will only function\nfor each person one time, and only the first\nperson to bathe will ever be affected in the\npositive. The pool’s magic takes affect\nregardless of whether or not the person being\nsubmerged chooses to do so (i.e. a person\nforced naked under the water will be affected\nas fully as a willing participant). After seven\npeople have been baptized in the grotto, the\npool loses its magic properties.\nA wish spell is required to restore a single\nattribute to its former score.\n\n61\nShaggy Dog\nBy Jonathan Becker\nA large, shaggy (and truth be told, a bit\nmangy) dog lies at the intersection of this\ncorridor. At your approach it raises its head,\nperhaps a bit sleepily, and thumps its tail in\nwhat appears to be a happy gesture.\nThe dog will be friendly to the adventuring\nparty until maltreated (attacked, kicked, etc.)\nwhereupon it will flee a few yards away, turn,\nand look askance at the party. If attacked a\nsecond time (say by arrow shot), the dog will\nflee and not return.\nIf treated well (offered food, petted, etc.) the\ndog will dutifully follow the PCs (the DM\nshould determine which character the dog\nconsiders to be its master, changing loyalty to\na different PC if that master dies). The dog\nwill not fight (hit points: 5) and will avoid\nmelee with monsters (who will generally\navoid it as well in favor of the more dangerous\nPCs). The dog DOES have a keen sense of\nsmell, and can sense both hostility and fear,\nallowing it to sense wandering monsters, and\neven creatures behind doors, long before they\nhave a chance to surprise the party.\nThe dog will convey this information to its\nmaster by pawing at him and generally acting\nanxious. Should the dog’s master actually ask,\n“what is it, boy/girl?” (or similar) the dog\nreveals yet another talent…it speaks the Com-\nmon tongue and is perfectly willing to say, “I\nsmell something bad, boss!” The dog still has\nonly animal intelligence and is not able to\ncarry on deep conversations with the PC, but\nonce asked to speak, will have no qualms\ncommunicating its base desires: good smells,\nhunger, scary smells, etc.\nNote: the dog’s gender is always the opposite\nof the PCs’ initial assessment.\n\n62\nRandom Treasure Generator\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nThe effective level is either the average hit dice\nof the creatures laired in the area, or the\naverage of the average creature hit dice and the\nlevel of the dungeon, whichever is less. Trolls\nlairing on the second level of a dungeon are\ngoing to have less treasure than trolls on the\nfifth level, but goblins aren’t going to acquire\nmore treasure just because they lair deeper in\na dungeon.\nThe God Value is the total monetary value of\nthe treasure in various coins. d% of this trea-\nsure will actually be gold and the rest silver\nand copper.\nThe percentage listed under Gems is used to\ndetermine if there are gems present. If a gem\nis present, roll again (against the same percent-\nage) to determine if a second gem is present.\nIf a second gem is present, roll again to deter-\nmine if a third is present, etc.\nThe same procedure is used for determining\nwhether Jewels or Magic Items are present.\nEffective\n Level\nGold\nValue\nGems\nJewelry\nMagic\n1\nd%\n25%\n10%\n5%\n2\nd% x d8\n25%\n10%\n10%\n3\nd% x d10\n33%\n10%\n15%\n4\nd% x d12\n33%\n20%\n20%\n5\nd% x d20\n50%\n20%\n30%\n6\nd1000 x d4\n50%\n20%\n40%\n7\nd1000 x d6\n50%\n25%\n50%\n8\nd1000 x d8\n50%\n25%\n60%\n9\nd1000 x d10\n50%\n33%\n70%\n10\nd1000 x d12\n50%\n33%\n75%\nGem Value\n3d6\nValue\n3\n50,000\n4 - 5\n5,000\n6 - 7\n500\n8 - 10\n50\n11 - 13\n10\n14 - 15\n100\n16 - 17\n1,000\n18\n10,000\n\n63\nMagic Items\n2d6 \n \nType\n2 \n \nRing\n3 \n \nWand, Staff, Rod\n4 \n \nMiscellaneous Item\n5 \n \nMissile or Device\n6 – 7 \nPotion\n8 – 9 \nScroll\n10 \n \nArmor or Shield\n11 – 12 Weapon\nScrolls\n2d6 \nSpell Type\n2 \nMap\n3 \nDruid/Cleric\n4 – 6 Cleric\n7 – 9 Magic-User\n10 \nIllusionist/Magic-User\n11 \nProtection Scroll\n12 \nCursed\nArmor\nArmor Size\n2d6 \n \nSize\n2 \n \nGnome or Halfling\n3 – 5 \nDwarf\n6 – 10 \nHuman\n11 – 12 Elf\n2d6 \nArmor Type\n2 \n \nPlate and Shield\n3 – 4 \nPlate\n5 – 6 \nShield\n7 – 8 \nLeather\n9 – 10 \nChain\n11 – 12 Chain and Shield\nArmor Special Ability\nJewelry\n3d10\nValue\n3\n50,000\n4\n30,000\n5\n20,000\n6\n10,000\n7 - 8\n5,000\n9 - 10\n3,000\n11 - 12\n2,000\n13 - 14\n1,000\n15 - 17\n500\n18 - 20\n100\n21 - 22\n1,500\n23 - 24\n2,500\n25 - 26\n4,000\n27\n7,500\n28\n15,000\n29\n25,000\n30\n40,000\nSpell Level\nMagic-User\nOther\nSpell Level\n3\n9\n4\n3\n7\n5 - 6\n4 - 6\n4\n7 - 8\n7 - 9\n3\n9 - 12\n10 - 11\n1\n13 - 14\n12 - 14\n2\n15 - 16\n15 - 17\n5\n17\n18\n6\n18\n8\nArmor Strength\n3d6\nStrength\nChance of\nSpecial Ability\n3\n+ 5\n33%\n4\n+ 3\n–\n5 - 6\n+ 2\n–\n7 - 10\n+ 1\n–\n11 - 13\n+ 1\n25%\n14\nCursed\n–\n15 - 16\n+ 2\n25%\n17\n+ 3\n25%\n18\n+ 4\n25%\n\n64\n2d6 \nSpecial Armor Power\n2 \nSpell Absorption (d% levels)\n3 \nEnergy Drain 1/day\n4 \nFly 1/day\n5 \nRemove Curse 1/day\n6 \nGaseous Form 1/day\n7 \nCure Light Wounds d3/day\n8 \nInvisibility 1/day\n9 \nCharm Person 1/day\n10 \nHaste d3/day\n11 \nElectricity 1/day\n12 \nEthereality 3 turns/day\nMelee Weapons\n2d20 \nWeapon\n2 \n \nTrident\n3 \n \nLucern Hammer\n4 \n \nSpetum\n5 \n \nBill-Guisarme\n6 \n \nGlaive-Guisarme\n7 \n \nGlaive\n8 \n \nBardiche\n9 \n \nPike\n10 \n \nQuarterstaff\n11 \n \nLance\n12 \n \nFlail\n13 \n \nSword, Short\n14 \n \nBattle Axe\n15 \n \nHand Axe\n16 – 21 Dagger\n22 – 27 Sword, Long\n28 \n \nMace\n29 \n \nSpear\n30 \n \nMorning Star\n31 \n \nSword, Two-Handed\n32 \n \nHammer, War\n33 \n \nHalberd\n34 \n \nVoulge\n35 \n \nGuisarme\n36 \n \nFauchard\n37 \n \nGuisarme-Voulge\n38 \n \nPartisan\n39 \n \nRanseur\n40 \n \nMilitary Pick\nMissile Weapons\n2d6 Weapon\n2 \nCrossbow, Heavy\n3 \nCrossbow, Light\n4 \nJavelin\n5 \nSling\n6 \nBolt (2 - 20)\n7 - 8 Arrow (2 - 20)\n9 \nBullet (2 - 20)\n10 \nDart (1 - 6)\n11 \nBow, Short\n12 \nBow, Long\n2d6 \nSpecial\n2 \n \nSpecial Power\n3 – 4 \n+4 extra vs Opponent\n5 – 6 \n+2 extra vs Opponent\n7 – 9 \n+1 extra vs Opponent\n10 – 11 +3 extra vs Opponent\n12 \n \n+5 extra vs Opponent\nWeapon Strength\n3d6\nStrength\nChance of\nSpecial Ability\n3\n+ 5\n33%\n4\n+ 3\n–\n5 - 6\n+ 2\n–\n7 - 10\n+ 1\n–\n11 - 13\n+ 1\n25%\n14\nCursed\n–\n15 - 16\n+ 2\n25%\n17\n+ 3\n25%\n18\n+ 4\n25%\n\n65\nd12 Opponent\n1 \nConstructs\n2 \nDragons\n3 \nEnchanted Monsters\n4 \nGiants\n5 \nLycanthropes\n6 \nExtra-Planar Creatures\n7 \nRegenerating Creatures\n8 \nReptiles\n9 \nSpell-Immune Creatures\n10 \nSpell Users\n11 \nUndead\n12 \nWater-Breathing Creatures\n2d10 Special Power\n2 \nWish 1 only\n3 \nMissile Deflector\n4 \nFly 1/day\n5 \nHold Person 1/day\n6 \nHaste 1/day\n7 \nCharm Person 1/day\n8 \nFind Secret Doors 3/day\n9 \nComprehend Languages 3/day\n10 \nLight\n11 \nDetect Magic 3/day\n12 \nCure Light Wounds 1/day\n13 \nFlaming\n14 \nSlow 1/day\n15 \nSilence 15’ Radius 1/day\n16 \nFire Extinguishing\n17 \nWater Breathing 3/day\n18 \nDefender\n19 \nSharpness\n20 \nEnergy Drain (on natural 20)\nd8 Alignment\n1 Lawful (Good)\n2 Lawful (Evil)\n3 Lawful (Neutral)\n4 Chaotic (Good)\n5 Chaotic (Evil)\n6 Chaotic (Neutral)\n7 Neutral (Good)\n8 Neutral (Evil)\n2d6 Minor Power\n2 \nRoll Twice More on This Table\n3 \nSee Invisible\n4 \nFind Secret Doors\n5 \nDetect Shifting Walls and Rooms\n6 \nDetect Magic\n7 \nDetect Evil\n8 \nDetect Gems\n9 \nDetect Metal\n10 \nDetect Sloping Passages\n11 \nFind Traps\n12 \nRoll for 1 Major Power\n2d8 Major Power\n2 \nRoll Thrice More on This Table\n3 \nX-Ray Vision\n4 \nTelepathy\n5 \nLevitation\n6 – 7 Healing\n8 \nDamage Multiple\n9 \nClairvoyance\n10 \nClairaudience\n11 \nESP\n12 \nFly\n13 \nPhantasmal Force\n14 \nTelekinesis\n15 \nTeleportation\n16 \nRoll Twice More on This Table\nWeapon Powers\n2d10\nINT\nPowers\n2\n12\n3 Minor\n+ One Major\n+ Read Magic\n3\n10\n3 Minor\n4\n8\n2 Minor\n5 - 17\n–\n–\n18\n7\n1 Minor\n19\n9\n3 Minor\n20\n11\n3 Minor\n+ Read Magic\n\n66\nRings\n2d12 \nRing\n2 \n \nRegeneration\n3 \n \nProtection +5\n4 \n \nWishes\n5 \n \nProtection +3\n6 \n \nSpell Storing\n7 \n \nWeakness\n8 \n \nSpell Turning\n9 \n \nDelusion\n10 \n \nInvisibility\n11 – 12 Command Plant\n13 – 14 Command Animal\n15\nFire Resistance\n16 \n \nWater Walking\n17 \n \nCommand Human\n18 \n \nProtection +1\n19 \n \nTelekinesis\n20 \n \nProtection +2\n21 \n \nDjinni Calling\n22\nShooting Stars\n23 \n \nProtection +4\n24 \n \nX-ray Vision\nPotion\n2d20 \nPotion\n2 \n \nUndead Control\n3 \n \nGiant Control\n4 \n \nTreasure Finding\n5 \n \nHuman Control\n6 \n \nFlying\n7 \n \nSuper-heroism\n8 \n \nOil of Slipperiness\n9 \n \nPoison\n10 \n \nGaseous form\n11 \n \nDelusion\n12 \n \nPlant Control\n13 \n \nLevitation\n14 \n \nGrowth\n15 \n \nClairaudience\n16 – 17 Sweet Water\n18 – 19 Polymorph\n20 – 21 Healing\n22 – 23 Philter of Love\n24 – 25 Speed\n26 \n \nAnimal Control\n27 \n \nFire Resistance\n28 \n \nInvisibility\n29 \n \nClairvoyance\n30 \n \nClimbing\n31 \n \nDiminution\n32 \n \nHeroism\n33 \n \nInvulnerability\n34 \n \nExtra-healing\n35 \n \nWater Breathing\n36 \n \nESP\n37 \n \nLongevity\n38 \n \nOil of Etherealness\n39 \n \nGiant Strength\n40 \n \nDragon Control\nRod, Staff, Wand\n2d20 \nRods, Staves, Wands\n2 \n \nStaff of the Magi\n3 \n \nRod of Resurrection\n4 \n \nStaff of Withering\n5 \n \nRod of Absorption\n6 \n \nWand of Cold\n7 \n \nStaff of Healing\n8 \n \nWand of Detecting Traps\n9 \n \nStaff of Commanding\n10 \n \nWand of Fire\n11 \n \nWand of Magic Missiles\n12 \n \nRod of Striking\n13 – 14 Wand of Paralyzation\n15 – 16 Wand of Negation\n17 – 18 Wand of Illusion\n19 – 20 Wand of Detecting Metals\n21 – 22 Wand of Detecting Enemies\n23 – 24 Wand of Light\n25 – 26 Wand of Detecting Magic\n27 \n \nWand of Fear\n28 \n \nWand of Lightning\n29 \n \nWand of Polymorphing\n30 \n \nWand of Lightning Bolts\n31 \n \nWand of Summoning\n32 \n \nRod of Captivation\n33 \n \nWand of Detecting Secret Doors\n34 \n \nRod of Lordly Might\n35 \n \nStaff of Striking\n36 \n \nWand of Wonder\n37 \n \nStaff of the Serpent\n38 \n \nRod of Rulership\n39 \n \nRod of Cancellation\n40 \n \nStaff of Power\n\n67\nMisc. Item\n2d100 \nMiscellaneous Magic Item\n2 \n \nEfreeti Bottle\n3 \n \nTome of Understanding\n4 \n \nTome of Martial Knowledge\n5 \n \nTome of Knowledge\n6 \n \nMattock of the Titans\n7 \n \nBook of Chaotic Wisdom\n8 \n \nFlying Carpet\n9 \n \nWell of Many Worlds\n10 \n \nAmulet of the Planes\n11 \n \nMirror of Mental Prowess\n12 \n \nManual of Gainful Exercise\n13 \n \nLyre of Building\n14 \n \nCubic Gate\n15 \n \nBag of Holding\n16 \n \nRobe of Eyes\n17 \n \nCenser of Controlling Air\n \n \n \nElementals\n18 \n \nBowl of Commanding Water\n \n \n \nElementals\n19 \n \nSphere of Annihilation\n20 \n \nRobe of Blending\n21 \n \nEyes of the Eagle\n22 \n \nStone of Good Luck\n23 \n \nMedallion of thoughts (90')\n24 \n \nGolem Manual\n25 \n \nCube of Force\n26 \n \nRobe of Scintillating Colors\n27 \n \nMirror of Life Trapping\n28 \n \nHelm of Brilliance\n29 \n \nBoots of Speed\n30 \n \nArrow of Location\n31 \n \nScarab of Death\n32 \n \nRobe of Powerlessness\n33 \n \nNecklace of Strangula tion\n34 \n \nJewel of Monster Attraction\n35 \n \nHelm of Opposite Alignment\n36 \n \nFlask of Curses\n37 \n \nDust of Sneezing and Choking\n38 \n \nDeck of Many Things\n39 \n \nCloak of Poisonousness\n40 \n \nCenser of Cursed Summoning\n41 – 42 Broom of Cursed Flight\n43 – 44 Brazier of Cursed Sleep\n45 – 46 Boots of Dancing\n47 – 48 Bag of Devouring\n49 – 50 Horseshoes of Speed\n51 – 52 Girdle of Giant Strength\n53 – 54 Gem of Brightness\n55 – 56 Dust of Disappearance\n57 – 58 Crystal Ball with ESP\n59 – 60 Cloak of Arachnida\n61 – 62 Boots of Levitation\n63 – 64 Stone of Controlling Earth\n \n \n \nElementals\n65 – 66 Periapt of Proof against Poison\n67 – 68 Rope of Entanglement\n69 – 70 Phylactery of Faithfulness\n71 – 72 Periapt of Health\n73 – 74 Net of Entanglement\n75 – 76 Medallion of thoughts\n77 – 78 Helm of Comprehend Languages\n \n \n \nand Read Magic\n79 – 80 Gauntlets of Ogre Power\n81 – 82 Dust of Appearance\n83 – 84 Crystal Ball\n85 – 86 Brooch of Shielding\n87 – 88 Ointment of Healing\n89 – 90 Pearl of Wisdom\n91 – 92 Incense of Meditation\n93 – 94 Feather Token\n95 – 96 Phylactery of Undead Turning\n97 – 98 Javelin of Lightning\n99 – 100 Talisman of the Sphere\n101 – 102 \nPearl of Power\n103 – 104 \nIoun Stones\n105 – 106 \nEversmoking Bottle\n107 – 108 \nFigurines of Wondrous Power\n109 – 110 \nMarvelous Pigments\n111 – 112 \nWings of Flying\n113 – 114 \nSlippers of Spider Climbing\n115 – 116 \nCloak of Protection\n117 – 118 \nDecanter of Endless Water\n119 – 120 \nElven Cloak\n121 – 122 \nElven Boots\n123 – 124 \nGloves of Dexterity\n125 – 126 \nGloves of Swimming and\n \n \n \n \nClimbing\n127 – 128 \nHelm of Underwater Action\n129 – 130 \nNecklace of Adaptation\n131 – 132 \nNet of Snaring\n133 – 134 \nPeriapt of Wound Closure\n135 – 136 \nRope of Climbing\n\n68\n137 – 138 \nHorseshoes of a Zephyr\n139 – 140 \nRobe of Useful Items\n141 – 142 \nPipes of the Sewers\n143 – 144 \nBroom of Flying\n145 – 146 \nCrystal Ball with Clairaudience\n147 – 148 \nCube of Frost Resistance\n149 – 150 \nEyes of Magnification\n151 – 152 \nGem of Seeing\n153 – 154 \nHorn of Valhalla\n155 \n \n \nAmulet of Inescapable Location\n156 \n \n \nBag of Transformation\n157 \n \n \nBowl of Drowning\n158 \n \n \nBroom of Animated Attack\n159 \n \n \nBroom of Cursed Flight\n160 \n \n \nChime of Cannibalism\n161 \n \n \nCrystal Hypnosis Ball\n162 \n \n \nDrums of Stunning\n163 \n \n \nEyes of Petrification\n164 \n \n \nGauntlets of Fumbling\n165 \n \n \nIncense of Obsession\n166 \n \n \nMirror of Opposition\n167 \n \n \nPeriapt of Foul Rotting\n168 \n \n \nRope of Strangulation\n169 \n \n \nStone of Weight (Loadstone)\n170 \n \n \nBag of Tricks\n171 \n \n \nBoots of Traveling and\n \n \n \n \nSpringing\n172 \n \n \nHelm of Teleportation\n173 \n \n \nScarab of Protection\n174 \n \n \nPotion Jug\n175 \n \n \nDisplacer Cloak\n176 \n \n \nHelm of Telepathy\n177 \n \n \nPhylactery of Youth\n178 \n \n \nChime of Opening\n179 \n \n \nMaul of the Titans\n180 \n \n \nTalisman of Pure Good\n181 \n \n \nTalisman of Ultimate Evil\n182 \n \n \nAmulet of Proof against\n \n \n \n \nDetection and Location\n183 \n \n \nBrazier of Commanding Fire\n \n \n \n \nElementals\n184 \n \n \nEyes of Charming\n185 \n \n \nAmulet against Possession\n186 \n \n \nBracers of Armor\n187 \n \n \nHorn of Blasting\n188 \n \n \nManual of Bodily Health\n189 \n \n \nManual of Quickness of Action\n190 \nPortable Hole\n191 \nRobe of the Archmagi\n192 \nDrums of Panic\n193 \nInstant Fortress\n194 \nApparatus of the Crab\n195 \nBook of Lawful Wisdom\n196 \nTome of Clear Thought\n197 \nTome of Leadership and Influence\n198 \nTome of Stealth\n199 \nBook of Infinite Spells\n200 \nBoat, Folding\n\n69\nA Spell Point Theory\nBy James Edward Raggi IV\nThe traditional fantasy RPG spell system is\nloosely based on the system found in the Dying\nEarth stories by Jack Vance. If you haven’t\nread those books, you should. If you’ve ever\nthought the “fire and forget” magic system\nmade no sense, you need to read those books.\nAll will be revealed.\nHowever, that doesn’t satisfy some people.\nThey want wizards that can do what they want,\nwhen they want. Usually when this mood takes\nsomeone, they completely dismantle the magic\nsystem and port in a wholly unique system, or\nthey get lazy and say “First level spells cost\none spell point, second level spells cost two\nspell points, etc.”\nThis theory of spell points retains the classic\nspells and level systems that we all know, so\nthat it will remain familiar and easy to adapt.\nFirst, spell-casters begin with one spell point\nat first level, and every level gain a number of\nspell points equal to their new level. A cleric\nincreasing from first to second level gains two\nnew spell points, for a total of three, for\ninstance.\nUnder this system, there would be no\nrelationship between the character level and\nthe level of spell they are able to cast. Magic-\nUsers may have a spell of any level in their\nspellbook (and therefore at their disposal). A\nCleric can theoretically cast any spell from the\nentire Cleric spell list.\nSecond, casting a spell costs a number of spell\npoints as its level, but only as a base.\nMany spells have an effect based on their level,\nbe it a Fireball’s damage, the number of\nmissiles fired by a Magic Missile spell, ranges,\ndurations, etc. Under this system, these spells\ndo not operate according to the caster’s level,\nbut by the number of extra spell points put into\nthe spell (on a one spell point = one level basis).\nFor example, a seventh level Magic-User (with\n28 maximum spell points) casts Fireball. He\nwants it to do 7d6 damage (seventh level\nstrength). It is a base 3 spell point cost for the\nspell, and an additional 7 points for the 7 levels\nof spell strength, for a total of 10 points –\nalmost a third of the total spell point totals to\ncast such a powerful spell that day.\nSpells with no level-based variables merely\ncost the same number of spell points as their\nlevel.\nUnder this system, therefore, any spell with a\nlevel-based variable costs at the minimum one\nmore spell point than its level would indicate.\nA Magic Missile spell, because the level of the\ncaster affects how many missiles are fired,\nwould require a minimum of two points to cast\n– one for the spell’s level and one for activating\nit at the power of a first level Magic-User.\nA spell point based system will not operate the\nsame as the default magic system, so little\nthings like a first level Magic-User then not\nbeing able to cast Magic Missile is offset by\nthe fact that third level spells become available\nto cast when spell-using characters are second\nlevel.\nBut any adjustment made changes the game.\nThat’s why you make these changes in the first\nplace, right?\n\n70\nOpen Game License\nOPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a\nThe following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc.\nand is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (\"Wizards\"). All\nRights Reserved.\n1. Definitions: (a)\"Contributors\" means the copyright and/or\ntrademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content;\n(b)\"Derivative Material\" means copyrighted material including\nderivative works and translations (including into other computer\nlanguages), potation, modification, correction, addition, exten-\nsion, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other\nform in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or\nadapted; (c) \"Distribute\" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease,\nsell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute;\n(d)\"Open Game Content\" means the game mechanic and includes\nthe methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such\ncontent does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhance-\nment over the prior art and any additional content clearly\nidentified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means\nany work covered by this License, including translations and\nderivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes\nProduct Identity. 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Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may\npublish updated versions of this License. You may use any\nauthorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute\nany Open Game Content originally distributed under any version\nof this License.\n10 Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this\nLicense with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distrib-\nute.\n11. 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All sublicenses\nshall survive the termination of this License.\n14 Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be\nunenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent\nnecessary to make it enforceable.\n15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE\nOpen Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast,\nInc.\nSystem Reference Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the\nCoast, Inc.;Authors Jonathon Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams,\nbased on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.\nSystem Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of\nthe Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip\nWilliams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich\nRedman, Bruce R. Cordell, John D. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James\nWyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave\nArneson.\nModern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-2004,\nWizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb,\nRich Redman, Charles Ryan, Eric Cagle, David Noonan, Stan!,\nChristopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker, based on\nmaterial by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard\nBaker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy\nCollins, and JD Wiker.\nCastles & Crusades: Players Handbook, Copyright 2004, Troll\nLord Games; Authors Davis Chenault and Mac Golden.\nCave Cricket from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene and Clark\nPeterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nCrab, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nFly, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nGolem, Wood from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene and Patrick\nLawinger. Kamadan from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Nick Louth.\nRot Grub from the Tome of Horrors, Copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene and Clark\nPeterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax\nLabyrinth LordTM Copyright 2007-2009, Daniel Proctor. Author\nDaniel Proctor.\nDarwin’s World Copyright 2002, RPGObjects; Authors Dominic\nCovey and Chris Davis.\nMutant FutureTM Copyright 2008, Daniel Proctor and Ryan\nDenison. Authors Daniel Proctor and Ryan Denison.\nAerial Servant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark\nPeterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nAxe Beak from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nBeetle, Giant Boring from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nBeetle, Giant Rhinoceros from the Tome of Horrors, copyright\n2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on\noriginal material by Gary Gygax.\nBrownie from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer\nGames, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by\nGary Gygax.\nCrayfish, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nDemon: Juiblex „he Faceless Lord‰(Demon Lord) from the\nTome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.;\nauthor Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nDemon: Orcus (Demon Prince of Undead) from the Tome of\nHorrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott\nGreene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary\nGygax.\nDevil: Amon (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright\n2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on\noriginal material by Gary Gygax.\nDevil: Bael (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright\n2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on\noriginal material by Gary Gygax.\nDevil: Geryon (Arch-Devil) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright\n2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on\noriginal material by Gary Gygax.\nEar Seeker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Erica\nBalsley, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nEel, Electric from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene.\nEye of the Deep from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nFloating Eye from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nFrog, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark\nPeterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nFrog, Monstrous Killer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright\n2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark\nPeterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nFrog, Monstrous Poisonous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright\n2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark\nPeterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nGas Spore from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark\nPeterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nGorbel from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer\nGames, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by\nAndrew Key.\nGroaning Spirit from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark\nPeterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.\nHippocampus from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Erica Balsey,\nbased on original material by Gary Gygax.\nJackalwere from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene based, on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nLeprechaun from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nLurker Above from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\n\n72\nPiercer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer\nGames, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on\noriginal material by Gary Gygax.\nSlithering Tracker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax,\nSlug, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nStrangle Weed from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nTick, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax.\nTrapper from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer\nGames, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by\nGary Gygax,\nTurtle, Giant Snapping from the Tome of Horrors, copyright\n2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Green, based on\noriginal material by Gary Gygax.\nWind Walker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,\nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original\nmaterial by Gary Gygax,\nYeti from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer\nGames, Inc.; author Scott Green, based on original material by\nGary Gygax.\nAdvanced Edition Companion, Copyright 2009-2010, Daniel\nProctor. Author Daniel Proctor.\nCopyright 2009-2010 Daniel Proctor. Labyrinth LordTM,\nAdvanced Labyrinth LordTM, Mutant FutureTM, Scribe of OrcusTM\nand Goblinoid GamesTM are trademarks of Daniel Proctor.\nSwords & Wizardry Core Rules, Copyright 2008, Matthew J.\nFinch\nBasic Fantasy Role-Playing Game Copyright © 2006-2008 Chris\nGonnerman.\nGreen Devil Face #4, Copyright 2010 James Edward Raggi IV.\nOpen Game Content:\nRandom Treasure Tables\nRandom Inn Generator\nWand of the Weird\nProduct Identity:\nThe LotFP name, the Green Devil Face name, and all material\nnot specifically designated Open Game Content.\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Lamentations of the Flame Princess/LotFP Adventures and Settings/Green Devil Face (LotFP)/Green Devil Face 04 (LotFP).pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":196,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"\t After\tthe\tpunks\tare\tdefeated\tthe\tstreamers\tare\t\nmet\twith\ta\tround\tof\tapplause.\tThe\taltercation\thad\tan\t\naudience\tand\tthey\tseem\tto\tbe\tentertained.\tThe\ttall\t\napplauding\tman\tintroduces\thimself\tas\tPirohate\tand\t\ncompliments\tthe\tstreamer’s\tmoves.\tHe\twas\tout\tfor\ta\t\nwalk\tand\thappened\tto\tcome\tacross\tthe\tfight\tand\the\t\nwas\tthoroughly\timpressed.\tHe\tinvites\tthe\tstreamers\t\nto\tparticipate\tin\this\tgalaxy\tfamous\tstream,\tDance\t\n‘Till\tYou’re\tDead,\tfor\ta\tchance\tto\twin\ta\tgrand\tprize\t\nworth\tseveral\thundreds\tof\tthousands\tof\tcredits.\tHe\tis\t\ncompletely\thonest\tabout\tthe\tnature\tof\tthe\tshow\tand\t\ndoes\tnot\tforce\tthe\tstreamers\tto\tparticipate\tbut\twill\t\npromise\tthe\tmoon\tif\tit\tmeans\tgetting\tthem\ton\tstage.\nDance\t‘Till\tYou’re\tDead’s\tstage\tis\tpositively\tmassive.\t\nRows\tupon\trows\tof\tcolorful\tSolar\tmagic\tlights\trun\t\nlengthwise\talong\tthe\ttop\tand\tbottom\tof\tthe\tstage.\t\nPyrotechnic\teffects\tare\tloaded\tinto\tenormous\tcannons\t\nthat\tfire\tin\tsynch\twith\tthe\tmusic,\tStar\tmagic\tcreates\ta\t\ntapestry\tof\ttwinkling\tlights\tabove\tthe\tcrowd,\tand\tneon\t\nlights\tflash\tto\treveal\tsplashes\tof\tvarious\tultraviolet\t\ncolors.\tThe\tentire\tstage\thas\ta\tlarge\tscreen\tbackdrop\t\nthat\talternates\tbetween\ta\tstylized\tlogo\tfor\tthe\tshow\t\nand\ta\tmusic\tvisualizer.\n\t Pirohate\tarrives\ton\tstage\tto\tthunderous\tapplause\t\nfrom\tthe\tassembled\tmasses.\tWhen\the\t\nannounces\tthe\tcontenders\tthey\tare\tmet\twith\t\njeers\tand\tbooing.\tPirohate\tworks\tthe\tcrowd\t\nin\tan\tfake\tattempt\tto\tdefend\tthe\tstreamers\t\nbefore\tthe\tgame\tbegins\tin\tearnest.\t\n\t\nThe\tactual\tdance\tbattle\tagainst\t\nPirohate\tis\ta\tDramatic\tTask\tthat\tuses\t\nmultiple\tskills.\tThe\tstreamers\tmust\t\naccumulate\ta\tnumber\tof\tTask\tTokens\t\nequal\tto\tdouble\tthe\tamount\tof\tstreamers\t\nparticipating\tin\tthe\tbattle.\tThe\tTask\tcan\tbe\t\nattempted\twith\ta\tnumber\tof\tdifferent\t\nskills\tbut\tprimarily\tfocuses\ton\tAthletics \nto\tperform\tdeath\tdefying\tdance\tstunts,\t\nIntimidation to\tenrage\tPirohate,\t\nPerformance to\ttry\tand\tdance\twell,\t\nPersuasion to\twork\tthe\tcrowd,\tand\tTaunt \nto\tbait\tPirohate\tinto\tovercompensating.\t\nOther\tskills\tand\tPowers\tcan\tbe\tused\tif\ta\t\nplayer\tpresents\tan\tinteresting\tuse\tthat\tis\t\napplicable\tto\tthe\tsituation.\tStreamers\tare\t\nalso\tencouraged\tto\tSupport\tone\tanother\tor\t\nTest\tPirohate\tusing\tany\tnumber\tof\tskills.\nPirohate,\tthe\tdeadly\tdancing\tdespot,\thosts\tan\tillegal\t\nVoid-Net\tstreamed\tcompetition\ton\tSteppal,\tthe\tflat\t\ndisc\tplanet\the\trules\tover.\tHis\tstream\tseries,\tDance\t\n‘Till\tYou’re\tDead,\tis\twildly\tpopular\tand\thas\ta\tsurprising\t\namount\tof\tcontestants\tlooking\tto\tprove\ttheir\tskills\t\nand\twin\ta\tmassive\tcash\tprize.\tUnfortunately,\tthe\ttitle\t\nis\tquite\tliteral.\tThose\twho\tfail\tto\tdefeat\tPirohate\tin\ta\t\ndance\tbattle\tare\tsummarily\texecuted.\tIf\the\twere\tever\t\nto\tlose,\tPirohate\twould\treadily\taccept\this\tdeath.\n\t The\tplanet\the\trules\tover,\tSteppal,\tis\ta\tsmall\tlawless\t\ndisc\tplanet\tthat\tis\tdominated\tby\tone\tlarge\tcity\tof\t\ngolden\tbuildings.\tDespite\tthis\tritzy\texterior,\tthe\ttruth\t\nof\tSteppal\tis\tknown\tto\talmost\teveryone.\tIt’s\ta\tplanet\t\nof\tcriminals\truled\tby\tcriminals.\tThere\tare\tno\tlaws\tand\t\nall\tmanner\tof\tVoid-Net\tstreams\tcall\tthe\tplanet\thome.\t\nThe\tstreamers\tarrive\ton\tSteppal.\tThey\tmight\tbe\tthere\t\nin\tpursuit\tof\tinteresting\tleads,\tthey\tmight\tbe\tescorting\t\na\tminor\tcelebrity\tto\tthe\tplanet,\tor\tit\tmight\tsimply\tbe\t\nthe\tnearest\tport.\tRegardless\tof\tthe\treason,\tthe\tcapital\t\ncity\twelcomes\tthe\tstreamers\twith\topen\tarms.\tThe\t\nstreamers\tfinish\tup\ttheir\tbusiness\tand\tcan\tdo\tsome\t\nshopping\tor\texploring.\n\t Before\tlong,\thowever,\tat\tleast\tone\tof\tthe\tstreamers\t\nis\tcaught\tup\tin\ta\tscam.\tA\tyoung\twoman\tcarrying\ta\t\nbags\tof\tfood\tbumps\tinto\tone\tof\tthe\tstreamers\tand\t\nspills\tthe\tfood\tall\tover\tthe\tground.\tShe\timmediately\t\nbegins\tto\tcry,\tsaying\tthat\tshe\twas\tsupposed\tto\t\ndeliver\tthe\tfood\tto\ther\tcoworkers\tand\tthat\tnow\t\nshe’ll\tbe\tfired\tand\tshe\tdoesn’t\thave\tthe\tmoney\tto\t\nreplace\tthe\tnow\tdestroyed\tmeals.\tCold-hearted\t\nor\tparanoid\tstreamers\tthat\tattempt\tto\twalk\taway\t\nwithout\thelping\ther\tare\tchased\tdown,\tberated,\t\nand\tambushed.\tStreamers\tthat\toffer\tto\tmake\t\nit\tup\tto\ther\tare\tled\tto\tan\tambush.\tAs\tit\tturns\t\nout,\tshe’s\tworking\twith\ta\tgroup\tof\tpunks\t\nlooking\tto\trob\tnewcomers\tto\tSteppal.\n• \nPunks (1 + 1 per streamer) \nSoldier,\tarmed\twith\tstun\t\nbatons,\tone\tlaser\tpistol,\t\nand\tthick\tclothes\t(+1\t\nArmor)\n \nBACKGROUND\nBACKGROUND\nTicket Booth\nTicket Booth\nbreakdance a leg\nbreakdance a leg\n This gives a whole new meaning to “dance battle.”\nA Savage Worlds Sci-fi Dark Comedy One Shot By: Kyle Carty\nThis adventure is designed for Novice characters, though it is easily modified for more experienced streamers.\n\nThe\tDancing\tDoom,\tPirohate\tis\ta\thollow\tman\twho\t\nfeels\tnothing\tsave\tfor\tthe\trush\tof\ta\tdance\tto\tthe\t\ndeath.\tHe\tis\ta\thandsome\tmale\twith\trich\torange\tskin,\t\nlong\tstyled\thair,\tand\tan\tabsolutely\ttasteless\tset\tof\t\nmilitary\tgrade\tcombat\tarmor.\tDespite\this\tequipment’s\t\nweight,\tPirohate\tmoves\tabout\twhile\twearing\tit\twith\tno\t\nproblems.\n\t Pirohate\tvalues\thonest\tand\tintegrity\tdespite\this\t\nunique\tchoice\tof\tprofession.\tHis\tlivestreams\tare\t\namongst\tthe\tmost\tviewed\ton\tthe\tVoid-Net\tas\twell\tas\t\none\tof\tthe\tmost\tconsistent.\tHe\tthinks\tof\thimself\tas\t\na\tworthy\ttarget\tof\tthe\tinfamous\tStream\tSniper\tand\t\nwishes\tto\tchallenge\tthe\tcriminal\tto\tDance\t‘Till\tYou’re\t\nDead.\t\n\t During\tbattle\tand\tdance\tbattle\tPirohate\tmaximizes\t\nthe\teffectiveness\tof\this\tGravity\tCosmos\tDrive\tto\tpush\t\ndown\tothers\twhile\tlifting\thimself\tup.\tHe\tenjoys\tzero-g\t\nspins\tand\tthe\tsound\tof\this\topponent’s\tjoints\tpopping\t\nunder\thigh\tpressure.\nAttributes:\tAgility\td8,\tSmarts\td6,\tSpirit\td10,\tStrength\t\nd8,\tVigor\td8\nSkills:\tAthletics\td8,\tFighting\td8,\tForm\td6,\tIntimidation\t\nd8,\tNotice\td6,\tPerformance\td12,\tPersuasion\td6,\tTaunt\t\nd10\nPace:\t6;\tParry:\t7;\tToughness:\t12\t(6)\nHindrances: Obligation\t(Major,\tFans),\tOverconfident\nEdges: Arcane\tBackground\t(Cosmos\tDrive,\tGravity),\t\nAttractive,\tBolster,\tCharismatic,\tConnections,\t\nHumiliate,\tPerformer,\tProvoke,\tQuick,\tRetort,\tWork\t\nthe\tRoom\nGear: energy\tskin\t(+4\tArmor\tvs.\tlasers),\tgarish\tbattle\t\narmor\t(+6\tArmor),\tlaser\tpistol\t(2d6,\t15/30/60,\tRoF\t\n1,\t50\tShots,\tAP\t2),\tlinefire\tgauntlet\t(Str+d6,\tParry\t+1,\t\nReach\t3,\tcan\tgrapple\ttarget\twithin\tReach)\nPowers: boost/lower trait,\tdispel,\tentangle,\tfly, form \nweapon,\tillusion.\tPower Points: 15\n\t On\tPirohate\tacts\tat\tthe\tbeginning\tand\tend\tof\teach\t\nround\tduring\tthe\tDramatic\tTask.\tOn\this\tfirst\taction\t\nhe\tcan\tattempt\ta\tTest\tor\tuse\ta\tPower.\tOn\this\tsecond\t\naction,\the\tattempts\tto\toutperform\tthe\tstreamers\tin\t\nsome\tway\tbut\tcan\tbe\tgoaded\tinto\tusing\ta\tspecific\tskill\t\nof\tthe\tstreamer’s\tchoice\tif\tthey\tare\tenraging\tor\tbaiting\t\nhim.\tFor\tevery\tsuccess\tand\ta\traise\ton\tPirohate’s\troll\t\nthe\tstreamers\tlose\tan\tequal\tamount\tof\tTask\tTokens.\tIf\t\nthe\tstreamers\tever\tlose\tall\tof\ttheir\tTask\tTokens\tthey\t\nfail\tthe\tDramatic\tTask.\tLosers\twho\tdon’t\tsubmit\tto\t\ntheir\texecution\tare\tmet\twith\tforce.\n• \nPirohate\n• \nKillbot (2) Mech\n• \nPunk (2 per streamer) Soldier,\tarmed\twith\tlaser\t\npistols\tand\tbreastplates\t(+3\tArmor)\nIf\tthe\tstreamers\tsuccessful\tdefeat\tPirohate\tthey\tcan\t\nchoose\tto\texecute\tor\tspare\thim.\tHe\tdoes\tnot\tresist\t\nhis\tdeath.\tDepending\ton\tthe\ttype\tof\tfollowing\tthe\t\nstreamers\thave\taccumulated,\ttheir\taudience\tmight\t\nurge\tone\toutcome\tover\tanother.\tIf\tPirohate\tis\tspared\t\nit\tis\tup\tto\tthe\tstreamers\tto\tdecide\thow\tbest\tto\tdeal\t\nwith\thim.\tThey\tmight\ttake\thim\toff-world\tto\ta\tprison,\t\nattempt\tto\trehabilitate\thim,\tor\tsimply\tleave.\tFinally,\t\nwinners\tare\tentitled\tto\ta\tmassive\tprize\tpot.\tThe\t\ncontents\tof\tthe\tpot\tare\tworth\tat\tleast\t$300k.\n\t Streamers\twho\tfail\tto\tdefeat\tPirohate\tbut\tmanage\t\nto\tkill\thim\tor\tescape\tmust\tquickly\tflee\tthe\tplanet\t\nbefore\tretribution\tfinds\tthem.\tAfter\tall,\tthey\tdid\tagree\t\nto\ta\tchallenge\tagainst\tthe\tplanet’s\tleader\tand\tthen\t\nback\tout\tof\tthe\tdeal.\ncleanup crew\ncleanup crew\nperformer (new Edge)\nperformer (new Edge)\nbe sure to follow us on social media\nbe sure to follow us on social media\n Pirohate\n Pirohate\nBPB Games is a small, diverse group dedicated to offering quality, affordable roleplaying and \ntabletop game content. Please make sure to follow our social media for more quality content!\nFacebook\nTwitter\nPatreon\nTwitch\nREQUIREMENTS: Seasoned,\tPerformance\td8+\nYou\tare\ta\tmaster\tof\tyour\tgiven\tfield.\tYou\tmay\tbe\ta\t\ncomedian,\tdancer,\tmusician,\tthespian,\tor\tathlete\tbut\t\nregardless\tof\tyour\tfield\tyou\tare\ta\ttrue\tprofessional.\t\nChoose\ta\tfield\tof\tPerformance.\tYou\tadd\ta\t+2\tbonus\tto\t\nPerformance\trolls\tthat\tprimarily\tfall\tunder\tthe\tchosen\t\ncategory.\tYou\tcan\ttake\tthis\tEdge\tmultiple\ttimes,\tbut\t\nyou\tmust\tchoose\ta\tdifferent\tfield\tof\tPerformance\t\neach\ttime\tthis\tEdge\tis\ttaken.\n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Savage Worlds System (SWADE) [multi]/StarStreamers/Savage Worlds - StarStreamers - One Sheet - Dance `Til You're Dead.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":197,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"1 \n \n \nBy James Mishler with Jodi Moran-Mishler \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n2 \n \n \nPUBLISHER: James Mishler \nAUTHORS: James Mishler with Jodi Moran-Mishler \nCARTOGRAPHY: James Mishler \nART: Brian Brinlee \n \n \n \nFind out more information about products from James Mishler Games at \njamesmishlergames.blogspot.com \n \nYou can also e-mail us at jamesmishler@gmail.com \n \nBard Class © 2021 James Mishler. All Rights Reserved. \n \nFor more information on Labyrinth Lord™ and related products or to join the Labyrinth \nLord \nSociety, \nplease \ncontact \nGoblinoid \nGames \non \nthe \nweb \nat \nwww.goblinoidgames.com. This book is published pursuant to a License from \nGoblinoid Games. Labyrinth Lord™ is Copyright © 2007-2021, Daniel Proctor. \nLabyrinth Lord™, Advanced Labyrinth Lord™, and Realms of Crawling Chaos™ are \ntrademarks of Daniel Proctor. All Rights Reserved. These trademarks are used under \nthe Labyrinth Lord Trademark License 1.2, available at www.goblinoidgames.com. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n3 \n \nBards originated as a caste of lore-master priests among certain clans and \ntribes who worshipped the spirits and gods of nature. They worked in \nconjunction with druids and other wisemen and wisewomen, being the \nkeepers of historical, legendary, and mythical lore of those clans and tribes. \nAs they kept their lore orally, and transmitted it through song and poem, \nover time they learned the ways to transform spells wielded by the wise into \nspellsongs, capturing magical power in the notes of song and music. \nToday, many bards remain with those clans and tribes in their ancient \npositions; others have adapted to changing times, and become \nwandering entertainers, minstrels, poets, and troubadours, keeping alive \nthe ancient ways in strange and foreign lands. \n \nRequirements: DEX 12, INT 12, WIS 12, CHA 15 \nPrime Requisites: INT, WIS, and CHA. \nHit Dice: 1d6 (1d8 Advanced Option) \nMaximum Level: Dwarf 5, Elf 14, Gnome 5, Halfling 5, Half-Elf 14, Human 14 \nFight As: Fighter; Save As: Druid or Magic-user, whichever column is better. \nArmor & Weapons: Bards may wear leather, padded, or studded leather \nand still cast their spellsongs; they may also wear scale or chain mail and \nmay carry a shield, but cannot cast spellsongs while doing so. Bards may \nwield hand axes, long bows, short bows, clubs, light crossbows, daggers, \ndarts, javelins, maces, quarterstaffs, rapiers, scimitars, slings, spears, and \nbastard, long, and short swords. \nMagic Items: Bards may use items of general sort, plus those restricted to \ndruids, fighters, magic-users, and thieves (though see read languages \nability, below, for using magic scrolls). \nAlignment: Bards must be Neutral Good, Neutral, or Neutral Evil. \n \nBARD LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE \n \n \n \nSpellsong Level \nEXP \nLevel \nHit Dice \n(1d6) \n1 \n2 \n3 \n4 \n5 \n6 \n0 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n3,001 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n6,001 \n3 \n3 \n2 \n1 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n12,001 \n4 \n4 \n2 \n2 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n24,001 \n5 \n5 \n2 \n2 \n1 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n48,001 \n6 \n6 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n96,001 \n7 \n7 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n1 \n0 \n0 \n192,001 \n8 \n8 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n0 \n0 \n384,001 \n9 \n9 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n1 \n0 \n576,001 \n10 \n10 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n0 \n768,001 \n11 \n11 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n1 \n960,001 \n12 \n12 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n1,152,001 \n13 \n13 \n3 \n3 \n3 \n2 \n2 \n2 \n1,344,001 \n14 \n14 \n3 \n3 \n3 \n3 \n3 \n3 \n\n4 \n \nBARDIC SKILL IMPROVEMENT: All bard skills are listed as improving by 2d4% \n(5%) per level after 1st. This means that the bard’s player may choose to \nincrease the skill by 5% or may choose to roll 2d4 to determine the skill \nincrease. This adds some variety to skill advancement and, with luck, \nquicker advancement! However, the odds equally favor a lower roll.. but \nmany bards love to gamble. \n \nBARDIC INSTRUMENTS: At 1st level a bard must choose three musical \ninstruments in which she is proficient. \nThe bard may choose an additional instrument of proficiency at 3rd, 6th, \n9th, and 12th levels. \nThe bard may choose a cappella, or a specific form of verse (limerick, \npoetry, or rhyme, etc.) as a proficient form of music with their choices at 9th \nand/or 12th levels. At that point she chooses one known spellsong per \nspellsong level that she can cast, which thereafter she can cast performing \na cappella or through verse. She chooses one more spellsong of each \nspellsong level known each level attained thereafter. These spellsongs may \nbe cast with song or verse OR with song and instrument as the bard \nchooses. \nWhenever using any of her bardic skills with an instrument in which the \nbard is not proficient, the bard suffers a penalty of halving of her base ability \n(rounded down) before any other modifiers, unless she has chosen a \ncappella or verse, and uses that form with the chosen spellsongs. \nAlso, the bard cannot cast spellsongs if she does not have access to a \nmusical instrument in which she is proficient; again, unless she has chosen a \ncappella or verse and uses that form with the chosen spellsongs. \nMost common instruments chosen includes the cittern, fiddle, flute, \nhand harp, lute, lyre, pan flute, pipe and tabor, rebec and bow, and \nrecorder. Note that not all of these instruments are necessarily available in \na campaign area; consult with your Labyrinth Lord before choosing an \ninstrument. \nFor example, Ahlissa the Nightingale, a 9th-level bard, learns to perform \nher songs a cappella. She may choose one each 1st to 4th level spellsongs \nthat she already knows that she can thereafter cast using only her singing \nvoice (she only just this level gained a 5th-level spellsong, so cannot convert \nit to a cappella use only); each level thereafter she can choose one more \nspellsong she already knows to cast singing a cappella. \n \nBONUS LANGUAGES: At 1st level a bard knows her normal range of \nlanguages per her race, plus a number of bonus languages equal to her \nIntelligence score minus 10 (this takes the place of normal bonus languages \ndue to Intelligence). \nThe bard must choose Druidic as one of her initial languages, and may \nchoose Thieves Cant or even the secret language of Illusionists as a \nlanguage at 2nd level or thereafter (she must have a teacher to learn a \n\n5 \n \nsecret language, others may be picked up through simple contact with \nothers who regularly speak the language). \nA bard learns one additional language every even level after 1st level \n(2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, and 14th). \n \nCOUNTER-SONG: A bard can use a song, poem, or story to counter the ill-\neffects of hostile sounds, whether the sounds are songs, chants, wails, or \neven commands and suggestions from magical spells. This ability must be \nannounced the moment the music or sound attack begins – before any \nsaving throws are rolled. \nOnly one such attempt may be made per attack. \nUse of a counter-song does not prevent hostile spell-casters from \nreading scrolls, using magic item command words, or casting spells; it \nmerely prevents the effects of music or sound-based magical effects. \nBase chance is 20% plus Charisma score at 1st level; add 2d4% (5%) per \nlevel after 1st. \nIncrease the chance of success by 5% every level the bard has greater \nthan the level or hit dice of the opponent creating the effect; similarly, \ndecrease the chance of success by 5% for every level or hit die the \nopponent has on the bard. \nIf successful, the bard must continue singing as long as the opponent \nattempts to use the music or sound-based attack. \nA roll of 96-00 always fails; a roll of 100 indicates that the bard has \naccidentally increased the power of the ill-effects of the hostile sounds, \ncausing all allies to suffer a -2 penalty on their saving throws. \nFor example, Apollo the Athenian, a 2nd-level bard, and his party are \non a ship passing a small island upon which lair a clutch of harpies. The \nharpies fly out to attack the sailors, and even as they begin their horrible \nsong, Apollo pulls out his lyre and uses his counter-song to keep their magic \nat bay. His Counter-Song skill is 32%; unfortunately, he rolls a 100, meaning \nhis cacophonous attempt to counter the song of the harpies actually \ncauses his allies so much grief they suffer a -2 penalty to save against the \nharpies’ song! \n \nINFLUENCE: This is the bard’s base chance to change the reaction of a \ngroup, favorably or otherwise, to the bard and her party or toward another \nspecific group of people (a group of nobles, a rival adventuring party, a \ngang of thieves, etc.) who are present at the same location. \nBase chance is 40% plus Charisma score at 1st level; add 2d4% (5%) per \nlevel after 1st. \nSubtract 10% from the base chance for an uncertain audience, 25% for \na hostile or friendly audience, and 50% for a violently hostile or \nenthusiastically friendly audience. \nAn attempt requires three rounds of uninterrupted song. \nSuccess means the target(s) are influenced one step toward friendship \nor one step toward hostility, depending on the results desired by the bard. \n\n6 \n \nFailure indicates the group is unaffected by the song. A bard may \ncontinue to influence the reaction of any one group until failure occurs. \nA roll of 96-00 always fails; a roll of 100 means the opposite of the \ndesired effect occurs. \nFor example, Alan of the Dales, a 3rd-level bard, is at a tavern with his \nparty, the Dungeoneers, when their rival party, the Deep Delvers, walks in \nand starts to talk tough about how the Dungeoneers are weak and foolish. \nSo he starts plucking his lute and adapts an old song about foolish \nadventurers by replacing the names of the Deep Delvers for those of the \ncharacters in the song. After three rounds of singing, he has a chance to \nturn the crowd against the Deep Delvers. His base chance is 65% and the \ncrowd is uncertain about both parties, so his final chance is 55%. His first roll \nis a 42, so he turns the crowd’s uncertainty about the Deep Delvers to \nhostile. He decides that their grumbling and dark looks are not enough so \nhe continues, but this time rolls 100; the Labyrinth Lord decides that rather \nthan move the crowd back to uncertain about the Deep Delvers, the song \nbackfires on Alan and the Dungeoneers, and now the crowd is hostile to \nthem as well… and Alan can no longer influence them either way! \n \nINSPIRE: The bard may sing a rousing song or emote a heroic poem for two \nrounds, then roll to see if she succeeds at inspiring her allies. \nBase chance is 40% plus Charisma score at 1st level; add 2d4% (5%) per \nlevel after 1st. \nSuccess increases morale of allied NPCs by 1 point (+10%) and grants \nall allies (PC and NPC) a +1 bonus to hit and to saving throws. The allies must \nhave been able to hear the song or poem for it to have any effect. \nInspiration lasts for one rounds per 5 points of the successful roll (round \nup), during which the bard no longer needs to continue to perform. When \nthe duration ends, or even before, the bard can attempt to inspire allies \nagain, though inspiration bonuses from the same or different bards are not \ncumulative. \nFailure indicates the bard cannot attempt to inspire her allies again \nduring the same battle. \nA roll of 96-00 always fails; a roll of 100 indicates that the bard has \naccidentally demoralized her companions, who suffer a -1 penalty to \nMorale and a -1 penalty to hit and to saving throws for the duration; this \ncannot be corrected by further attempts to inspire. \nFor example, Katarina Windrush, a 5th-level bard, and her party are \nengaged in battle with a gang of orcs. Katarina pulls out her harp and \nstrums it while recounting couplets from a famous myth cycle in which the \nheroes destroyed an invading army of gnolls. Her Inspire skill is 80% and she \nrolls a 32, meaning her companions are inspired for seven rounds. \n \n \n \n\n7 \n \nLORE: Bards learn a little about everything in their travels and interactions \nwith peasants, merchants, nobles, adventurers, sages, and others. Lore \nrepresents the ability of the bard to know something about local history, \npolitics, society, and especially, heraldry, the underworld, and gossip; the \nhigher the roll on the dice on a successful roll, the more the bard knows \nabout that person/place/thing/event. \nThe Labyrinth Lord can provide modifiers to the base chance based on \nthe rarity of the knowledge of the person/place/thing/event (everyone \nknows who the king’s father was, but few know the name of the king’s \nsecond-cousin’s-wife’s-brother). \nLore is also the chance for a bard to recognize a named, unique magic \nitem and know some or all its abilities, potentially including command words \nand curses. The bard can also use this ability to recall the general \ncapabilities of common items, once identified. \nBase chance is the average of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma at \n1st level (round up), plus 2d4% (5%) per level after 1st. \nA roll of 96-00 always fails; a roll of 100 indicates that the bard has \naccidentally mis-remembered, mis-interpreted, or mis-identified the target \ninformation or item, and remembers something patently false and \ngenerally opposite of whatever the bard is trying to know. This is why the \nLore roll should always be performed secretly by the Labyrinth Lord, so the \nbard is never quite certain about their information. \nStorytelling: Lore also can be used to tell stories, fairy tales, fables, \nhistories, legends, and myths to a crowd, whether of street urchins or nobles. \nFor the purpose of storytelling, double the base Lore ability of the bard, then \nroll as though making a Perform check, below, to determine crowd \nreaction and any remuneration from the listeners. \nFor example, Hakiem, a 6th-level bard, is a well-known storyteller in the \nmarketplace, and can always attract a crowd of eager street urchins and \nlower-class locals to listen to his tales. He gathers around the children and \na few passers-by, and tells them the story of the founding of the city. His \nLore skill is 45%, so his chance to Perform for this friendly crowd is 90%. He \ntells a basic 10-minute story, and there are no other modifiers. He rolls a 37, \nwhich means that the crowd throws him 4d6 copper coins for his troubles. \n \nPERFORM: This is the bard’s base ability to perform, singing and playing her \ninstrument to entertain crowds. \nSuccess indicates the crowd is entertained; the higher the successful \nroll, the better. Base chance is 50% plus Charisma score at 1st level; add \n2d4% (5%) per level after 1st. \nFirst, modify the chance based on use of proficient or non-proficient \ninstrument before any other modifiers are applied. \nThere are no bonuses or penalties for entertaining a neutral or friendly \naudience; penalties are -10% from the base chance for an uncertain \naudience, -25% for a hostile audience, and -50% for a violently hostile \naudience. \n\n8 \n \nA performance requires 10 minutes at base chances; -5% from the base \nchance for every minute under 10; +5% for a half-hour performance, +10% \nfor a full-hour performance, and +20% for a two-hour performance. \nAdditional circumstances (weather, political unrest, war, victory/loss, \nand prosperity/penury, but especially the set of songs being sung) might \nalso adjust the final chance to entertain, depending on the Labyrinth Lord’s \nwhim. \nIf, after all modifiers have been accounted for, the bard succeeds, the \nhigher the roll, the more entertained the audience. If successful, divide the \nfinal roll by 10 (round up) and roll that many six-sided dice to determine the \ncoins that the crowd gives the bard; low class is in copper, middle class is \nin silver, and upper class is in gold. \nDouble the number of coins rolled for a friendly audience; triple it for \nan enthusiastically friendly audience. Modify coins based on size of \naudience and venue; base amounts are for a typical street or tavern \ncrowd. \nRolling 96-100 is always a failure; rolling 100 or failing by 20 or more \nmeans rotten tomatoes and other pungent vegetables are thrown at the \nbard, at the very least. \nThis ability is also used in a contest between bards. If, after all modifiers, \none bard’s ability is 101%+, lower both scores by a number needed to get \nthe higher score to 100%, then whichever rolls the highest and still succeeds \n(96-100 always fails) is the winner of the contest. \nMost contests consist of best of rounds of three, five, or seven \ninstruments, to better test the bard’s breadth of musical talent, but some \ncontests go for “instant win” of a single instrument, especially when both \nbards are renowned for their talents with that instrument [c.f. The Devil Went \nDown to Georgia, C. Daniels]. \nFor example, Katarina Windrush, 5th-level bard, and Alan of the Dales, \n3rd-level bard, get into a friendly competition at the Black Rose, the local \ntavern. Katarina’s Perform skill is 87%, and Alan’s is 72%; she rolls a 72 and he \nrolls a 94. Katarina puts in a virtuoso performance while Alan hits all the \nwrong notes and, as he failed by 20 or more, ends up being hauled out of \nthe Black Rose and thrown in the water trough outside. \n \nREAD LANGUAGES: Bards are trained to recognize all forms of written \ncommunications, including alphabets, cyphers, glyphs, runes, and sigils, as \nwell as magical writings such as scrolls and spell books. \nBase chance is 30% plus the total of Intelligence and Wisdom at 1st \nlevel, plus 2d4% (5%) per level after 1st. \nThis is the base chance to read normal alphabets, cyphers, glyphs, \nrunes, and sigils; ancient and lost alphabets and such are at half that \nchance, at best, if the bard has had some experience with similar or related \nlanguages and writings. Certain rare and unusual scripts or difficult cyphers \nmight require a penalty of -10% to -50% or more. \n\n9 \n \nRolling 96-100 is always a failure; rolling 100 or failing by 20 or more \nmeans that the bard has not only mis-read the script, but has also \npotentially interpreted it with the opposite or grossly incorrect meaning that \ncould cause great difficulty to the bard (at the Labyrinth Lord’s discretion). \nRead Magic Scrolls: The bard may use this ability to try to read magic \nscrolls, whether the magic on the scroll is that of clerics, druids, magic-users, \nor illusionists. The base chance is half normal (rounded down), and requires \none minute per spell level. The bard has only one chance to read each \nspell on a scroll (check separately). \nSuccess indicates the bard may at any time thereafter attempt to cast \nthe read spell with their full normal Read Languages skill, less 5% per level of \nthe spell. The bard has no penalty per spell level if the spell is one that she \ncan cast because she knows a related spellsong. \nIf the roll succeeds, the bard casts the spell. If the roll fails, the spell is \nnot cast, but also is not lost, as it has not been read. \nRolling 96-100 is always a failure; rolling 100 or failing by 20 or more \nmeans the bard reads the spell well enough activate the magic, but casts \nit wrong in some fashion. The bard must then make a saving throw versus \nSpells; success indicates merely that nothing happens though the spell \nvanishes from the scroll. The more by which the bard fails the save, the \nworse that happens, up to and including targeting the wrong person, \nmagical backfire on the bard (1d6 points of damage per spell level), or \nperhaps a curse! \nFor example, Ahlissa the Nightingale, 9th-level bard, has a base 100% \nchance to Read Languages; she finds a magic scroll with one spell and \ndecides to try to read it. She has a 50% chance of success and rolls a 33. \nShe now knows that the scroll is a magic-user scroll of flesh to stone (6th \nlevel). Later when her party is getting beaten hard by a hill giant she \ndecides to take the chance to turn the hill giant to stone and reads the \nscroll. Her chance to successfully cast the spell is 100% - (6 x 5%) = 70% \nchance to successfully cast the spell. She rolls a 93, not only a failure but a \nreally bad failure (by 20 or more), and so instead of turning the hill giant to \nstone, the spell rebounds back on her… and when she then fails her saving \nthrow versus petrification, she turns herself to stone! \nNew Spellsong: At the Labyrinth Lord’s option, a bard may use a scroll \nor spell book to try to create a new spellsong based on a properly-\ninterpreted spell. This should require at least one month of work per spell \nlevel, and require a Spell Learning Check based on INT or WIS depending \non the origin of the spell. \n \nSAVING THROW BONUS: Bards have a +2 bonus to save against any form of \nmusic-based or sound-based attacks (e.g., the songs of sirens and harpies, \nthe witticisms of other bards, etc.). \n \n \n\n10 \n \nSPELLSONGS: Bards learn spellsongs much like magic-users learn spells, \nthough all bardic spellsongs are exclusively orally transmitted; they are not \nrecorded in a book nor ever written on a scroll. It is the ability to use \nspellsongs that separates the common minstrels and street entertainers \nfrom the bards (though often, little else does). \nA bard begins play knowing two 1st level spellsongs, and automatically \nlearns one new spellsong of their choice every level thereafter, of a level \nthey may cast. They may also learn spellsongs from other bards. Time and \ncost for learning a spellsong is the same as for a magic-user to learn a spell \nof the same level. \nThe number of spellsongs listed on the Bard Level Progression Table is \nthe number of spellsongs the bard may cast per day. Bards do not \nmemorize spellsong; they may cast any spellsong they have learned, in any \ncombination they choose, based on the number of spellsong casting slots \nof that level. \nBards do not gain bonus spellsongs due to high Intelligence, Wisdom, \nor Charisma. \nCasting a spellsong is more involved even than casting a spell. \n• \nA spellsong must be sung, and requires one round to sing and cast per \nlevel of the spellsong. A 1st level spellsong takes one round (completing \nthe same round as per a spell); a 6th level spellsong takes six rounds. \nSpellsongs take effect on the bard’s initiative turn during that round. If \nthe bard is interrupted at any time during the song the casting fails, but \nthe casting slot is not used. \n• \nThe bard must not only be able to speak; she must be able to sing, so \nif she has had any damage to her vocal cords, can only whisper, or is \notherwise limited in her ability to sing, or is limited in her ability to hear, \nshe cannot use spellsongs. \no \nThe exception to this is if she uses a wind instrument, in which case \nher breath and the musical notes combine to form the required \nverbal component. \n• \nThe bard must have access to one of her proficient musical instruments \nfor musical accompaniment; no other musical instrument will do – she \nmust have an instrument in which she has proficiency. \no \nHowever, at 6th level and above, she may cast certain, specific \nspellsongs by singing a cappella or through verse alone if she has \ntaken that as a proficiency. \n• \nThe targets, if any, must also be able to hear the spellsong if it is a \nspellsong that affects minds, though they need not understand the \nlanguage; if the target cannot hear the spellsong, they cannot be \naffected by the spellsong. \n• \nThe bard may move slowly while singing a spellsong, but only 5 feet per \nround. They must keep the target(s) in sight the entire time of the \ncasting, if the spellsong is targeted. \n \n\n11 \n \nTHIEVING ABILITIES: At 1st level the bard chooses four of the following thief \nand/or assassin abilities, which she advances in the ability of as though she \nwere a thief of the same level: Backstab, Climb Walls, Disguise, \nFind/Remove Traps, Hear Noise, Hide in Shadows, Move Silently, Pick Locks, \nPick Pockets, and Poison Use (NE only). \nThese abilities are modified as per Dexterity and race as per normal. \n \nWITTICISM: Beginning at 3rd level, a bard can utter a witticism, jest, or jibe of \nsuch potency, that it can stun, paralyze, render unconscious, or even kill \nthose who hear it. \nBase chance is the average of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma at \n1st level (rounded up), plus 2d4% (5%) per level after 1st. \nUtterance of a witticism requires one round, and it can only affect \nintelligent creatures who can hear and understand the language in which \nit was uttered. It must target at a specific, single creature. \nRolling 96-100 is always a failure; rolling 100 or failing by 20 or more \nmeans the bard has not only failed, but also inspires hatred and anger in \nthe target, such that if they choose to attack the bard they gain a +2 bonus \nto hit and damage until the encounter ends. \nA successful witticism requires those who hear it to make a saving throw \nversus Spells. When a saving throw is called for, those of low Intelligence are \nat an advantage; apply any Intelligence modifier as a penalty to the \nsaving throw (thus, a penalty becomes a bonus, a bonus becomes a \npenalty). If a target makes their saving throw against a witticism, they are \nimmune to any further attempts at witticism by that bard for 24 hours. \nAt 3rd level, a successful witticism stuns the target for 1d4 rounds. \nAt 6th level, a successful witticism paralyzes the target for 1d4 rounds. \nat 10th level, a successful witticism renders the target unconscious for \n1d4 rounds; allies of the target within 20 feet must also make a saving throw \nor be stunned for 1d4 rounds. \nAt 14th level, a successful can kill; a failed save reduces the target to 0 \nhit points. Allies of the target within 20 feet must also make a saving throw \nor be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds. \nA bard may attempt to attack with a witticism a number of times per \nday equal to the highest level spellsong they may cast (i.e., 2 to 6 times per \nday). \n \n \n \n\n12 \n \nNote: This list is not exhaustive; most druid and magic-user spells have been \ntransformed into spellsongs, as have other spells of cleric and illusionist sort. \nThese are the most common spellsongs; a bard must choose the “free” \nspellsong they gain each level from this list. \n \nLEVEL 1 \nCuddio’s Ditty of Disguise [Doppelganger (I1)] \nDawn’s Enlightening Limerick [Dancing Lights (M1)] \nFfylod’s Friendly Refrain [Animal Companion (D1)] \nLithian’s Alluring Aire [Allure (M1)] \nLlewellyn’s Lustrous Lyric [Color Spray (I1)] \nMaglan’s Rhapsodic Ensnarement [Entangle (D1)] \nMilyn’s Merry Melody [Speak with Animals (D1)] \nOde to the Lion Heart [Remove Fear (C1)] \nSong of Glittering Glamours [Faerie Fire (D1)] \nSong of Sweet Serenity [Sanctuary (C1)] \nSwyn’s Subtle Serenade [Charm Person (M1)] \nWynken Blynken’s Lullaby [Sleep (M1)] \n \nLEVEL 2 \nCuddio’s Jaunty Jingle [Invisibility (M2)] \nDirge of Deformation [Warp Wood (D2)] \nDirge of Spectral Might [Phantasmal Force (M2)] \nDwyllo’s Deceitful Ditty [False Gold (M2)] \nFfylod’s Serpentine Sonnet [Snake Charm (C2)] \nGwiddon’s Demanding Dissonance [Hold Person (C2)] \nGwiddon’s Jostling Jingle [Stumble (D2)] \nLithian’s Lovely Limerick [Hypnotic Pattern (I2)] \nPeal of Pusillanimous Provocation [Scare (M2)] \nSummer’s Searing Strain [Heat Metal (D2)] \nSyfradana’s Striking Sonnet [Blindness or Deafness (I2)] \nTarth’s Original Ode [Obscuring Mist (D2)] \n \nLEVEL 3 \nAire of Improved Alacrity [Haste (M3)] \nDanu’s Aria of Augmentation [Plant Growth (D3)] \nFfylod’s Harmonious Rhapsody [Hold Animal (D3)] \nRhapsody of Stone [Stone Shape (D3)] \nRithian’s First Verse [Summon Monster I (M3)] \nSwyn’s Compelling Canticle [Suggestion (M3)] \nTaan’s Bright Ballad [Pyrotechnics (D3)] \nTarth’s Rhapsodic Zephyr [Gust of Wind (M3)] \n \n \n \n\n13 \n \nLEVEL 4 \nFfylod’s Heroic Couplet [Summon Sylvan Beings (D4)] \nGwiddon’s Disconcerting Ditty [Fumble (M4)] \nLithian’s Phantasmagorical Refrain [Hallucinatory Terrain (D4)] \nRithian’s Second Verse [Summon Monster II (M4)] \nSwyn’s Monstrous Melody [Charm Monster (M4)] \nSyfradana’s Perplexing Paean [Confusion (M4)] \nTarth’s Demanding Ditty [Temperature Control (D4)] \nThe Enchanter’s Lament [Dispel Magic (D4)] \n \nLEVEL 5 \nChant of Elemental Immanence [Conjure Elemental (M5)] \nDanu’s Empathic Ode [Commune with Nature (D5)] \nDirge of Unyielding Doom [Insect Plague (D5)] \nFfylod’s Magnificent Measure [Animal Growth (D5)] \nGwiddon’s Superior Dissonance [Hold Monster (M5)] \nRithian’s Third Verse [Summon Monster III (M5)] \nSong of Seelie Sight [True Seeing (M5)] \nTarth’s Windy Warble [Control Winds (D5)] \n \nLEVEL 6 \nDanu’s Overwhelming Oratorio [Geas (M6)] \nFfylod’s Mighty Measure [Anti-Animal Shell (D6)] \nGwiddon’s Rending Rhapsody [Feeblemind (D6)] \nOde of Omnipotent Opposition [Anti-Magic Shell (M6)] \nRhyme of Revivification [Reincarnate (M6)] \nRithian’s Grand Couplet [Summon Monster IV (M6)] \nSwyn’s Supreme Serenade [Mass Suggestion (I6)] \nTarth’s Supreme Sonnet [Control Weather (D6)] \n \n \n \n\n14 \n \n \nMUSICAL INSTRUMENT TABLE \n \n \n \nAvailability \n \nInstrument \nCost \nWeight \nCity \nTown \nVillage \nNotes \nAccordion \n100 gp \n10 lbs. \n50% \n30% \n10% \nAdvanced \nBagpipes \n60 gp \n20 lbs. \n50% \n60% \n70% \nWind \nBalalaika \n200 gp \n12 lbs. \n25% \n25% \n25% \nPlucked string \nBell, Hand \n12 gp \n2 lbs. \n50% \n40% \n30% \nPercussion \nBell, Tower \n200 gp \n20 lbs. \n40% \n20% \n10% \nPercussion \nBones \nfree \n1/2 lb. \nn/a \nn/a \nn/a \nPercussion \nBullroarer \n2 gp \n2 lbs. \n20% \n40% \n60% \nAncient \nCastanet \n1 gp \n1/2 lb. \n80% \n70% \n60% \nPercussion \nCavaco \n9 gp \n4 lbs. \n50% \n40% \n30% \nStrummed \nstring \nChime \n2 gp \n3 lbs. \n90% \n85% \n80% \nPercussion \nCittern \n20 gp \n10 lbs. \n75% \n65% \n55% \nStrummed \nstring; Common \nConcertina \n20 gp \n5 lbs. \n60% \n50% \n40% \nAdvanced \nConch Shell \n20 gp \n5 lbs. \n50% \n60% \n70% \nWind \nCornetto \n18 gp \n3 lbs. \n75% \n70% \n65% \nWind \nCrumhorn \n15 gp \n8 lbs. \n60% \n50% \n40% \nWind \nCrwth \n80 gp \n10 lbs. \n50% \n40% \n30% \nBowed string \nDidgeridoo \n8 gp \n3 lbs. \n30% \n50% \n70% \nWind \nDrum, Bonko \n3 gp \n6 lbs. \n10% \n30% \n50% \nPercussion, \ndouble drums \nDrum, Goblet \n10 gp \n1 lb. \n70% \n60% \n50% \nPercussion \nDrum, Kettle \n30 gp \n20 lbs. \n50% \n40% \n30% \nPercussion \nDrum, Slit \n2 gp \n3 lbs. \n20% \n40% \n60% \nPercussion \nDrum, Snare \n4 gp \n8 lbs. \n90% \n85% \n80% \nPercussion \nDulcimer \n40 gp \n12 lbs. \n60% \n40% \n20% \nPercussion \nstring \nFiddle \n100 gp \n8 lbs. \n60% \n50% \n40% \nBowed string; \nCommon \nFife \n5 gp \n1 lb. \n90% \n85% \n80% \nWind \nFlute \n15 gp \n2 lbs. \n85% \n80% \n75% \nWind; Common \nGong \n5 gp \n10 lbs. \n90% \n85% \n80% \nPercussion \nHarmonica \n30 gp \n1 lb. \n50% \n30% \n10% \nWind; \nAdvanced \nHarp, Grand \n450 gp \n75 lbs. \n50% \n25% \n10% \nPlucked string \nHarp, Hand \n25 gp \n8 lbs. \n95% \n90% \n85% \nPlucked string; \nCommon \nHarp, Knee \n75 gp \n25 lbs. \n75% \n60% \n45% \nPlucked string \nHarpsichord \n2,000 gp \n100 lbs. \n20% \nn/a \nn/a \nAdvanced \nHorn \n6 gp \n4 lbs. \n80% \n75% \n70% \nWind \nHurdy Gurdy \n30 gp \n12 lbs. \n60% \n40% \n20% \nBowed string \nLute \n25 gp \n4 lbs. \n90% \n85% \n80% \nPlucked string; \nCommon \n\n15 \n \nMUSICAL INSTRUMENT TABLE \n \n \n \nAvailability \n \nInstrument \nCost \nWeight \nCity \nTown \nVillage \nNotes \nLyre \n150 gp \n15 lbs. \n70% \n60% \n50% \nStrummed \nstring; Common \nMandolin \n28 gp \n10 lbs. \n90% \n85% \n80% \nPlucked string \nMaraca \n1 gp \n1/2 lb. \n40% \n50% \n60% \nPercussion \nMbanza \n5 gp \n3 lbs. \n25% \n40% \n55% \nPlucked string \nMijwiz \n25 gp \n3 lbs. \n80% \n70% \n60% \nWind, double \nflute \nNyckelharpa \n50 gp \n15 lbs. \n25% \nn/a \nn/a \nString \nPan Flute \n5 gp \n1 lb. \n95% \n90% \n85% \nWind; Common \nPibgorn \n20 gp \n3 lbs. \n75% \n65% \n55% \nWind; \nPipe and \nTabor \n20 gp \n10 lbs. \n80% \n70% \n60% \nSnare drum \nand flute “one \nman band”; \nCommon \nRebec and \nBow \n30 gp \n5 lbs. \n90% \n85% \n80% \nBowed String; \nCommon \nRecorder \n6 gp \n1 lb. \n95% \n90% \n85% \nWind; Common \nSitar \n100 gp \n15 lbs. \n70% \n60% \n50% \nPlucked string \nTambourine \n5 gp \n4 lbs. \n80% \n75% \n70% \nPercussion \nTriplepipe \n25 gp \n6 lbs. \n30% \n40% \n50% \nWind \nTrumpet \n45 gp \n6 lbs. \n50% \n40% \n30% \nWind \nXylophone \n20 gp \n10 lbs. \n60% \n40% \n20% \nPercussion \nZither \n150 gp \n20 lbs. \n50% \n30% \n10% \nPlucked string \nZurna \n10 gp \n4 lbs. \n80% \n75% \n70% \nWind; wood \nhorn \n \nBolded instrument names are the most common choices for Specialized \nInstrument, due to near-universal appeal across cultures and social classes. \n \nAdvanced instruments are available only in technologically (or magically \nsimilar) civilizations. \n \n \n\n16 \n \nBards maintain an independent, quasi-secret society across all city, state, \nand national boundaries. Advancement within this society through its ranks \nof “colleges” is based on accomplishments other than those measured \nstrictly by level progression. \nAdvancement guarantees fame, fortune, and everything that goes \nwith it, especially access to further training; positions in noble courts and \npatrician theaters; aristocratic patronage; and a widespread base of fans, \nadmirers, and groupies. \nMost tests are administered in public (at the Bardic Academy if the \nlocale has one), after a few basic questions and pre-tests (to guarantee \nthe propitiate will not embarrass the judges in front of the hoi-polloi). Tests \nare often scheduled to coincide with local festivals, the better for the \npropitiate and the judges to gain a larger (and wealthier) crowd. \nFailing a test means one cannot try again for one year. \nNote that not all bards advance through the ranks of the bardic \ncollege; many remain independent and go their own ways. \n \nFOCHLOC, the first rank, is gained when the bard attains 1st level as a bard. \nThe requirement is mastery of two 1st-level spellsongs and five languages, \nplus tests in lore, performance, and decipherment of scripts. Additionally, \nthe bard must have composed at least eight poems or songs. Tests are \nproctored by three Macfuirmid-ranked bards. Acceptance means \nbecoming a full member of bardic society, setting them aside from \ncommon minstrels, but also then requires that the bard follow all bardic \nlaws; provide assistance to fellow bards at need; tithe to the Bardic College; \nand obey the orders of higher-ranked bards. \n• \nBards of the Fochloc College often seek out bards of the Dos College \nfor advice and tutelage. \n \nMACFUIRMID, the second rank, is gained after being tested by three Dos-\nranked bards; one must have mastered at least two 2nd-level spellsongs, six \nlanguages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, and \ndecipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed at \nleast 15 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s \nsatisfaction); learned at least one new noble lineage to seven generations; \nand performed with accolades before no less than three knights or greater \nnobles. \n• \nUpon attaining Macfuirmid rank the bard may distribute 10 points \namong the following skills, though no more than 5 points to any one \nskill, as she wishes: Counter-Song, Influence, Inspire, Lore, Perform, Read \nLanguages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism. \n• \nBards of the Macfuirmid College often seek out bards of the Cano \nCollege for advice and tutelage. \n \n\n17 \n \nDOS, the third rank, is gained after being tested by three Cano-ranked \nbards; one must have mastered at least two 3rd-level spellsongs, seven \nlanguages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, and \ndecipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed at \nleast 34 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s \nsatisfaction); learned at least one new noble lineage to seven generations; \nand performed with accolades before no less than three lords or greater \nnobles. Finally, to attain Dos rank, the bard must have personally \nparticipated in one heroic endeavor of which a song or poem has been \nwritten (though not necessarily including her in the song or poem). \n• \nUpon attaining Dos rank the bard may distribute 10 points among the \nfollowing skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she \nwishes: \nCounter-Song, \nInfluence, \nInspire, \nLore, \nPerform, \nRead \nLanguages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism. \n• \nUpon attaining Dos rank the bard may choose one common spellsong \nof 1st level to learn for free (no need to make a learning check). \n• \nBards of the Dos College often seek out bards of the Cli College for \nadvice and tutelage. \n• \nBards of the Fochloc College often seek out bards of the Dos College \nfor advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Dos rank, the \nbard can count on attracting 1d4 bards of the Fochloc College as \nassistants, minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen. These \nfollowers move on when they attain Macfuirmid rank. \n \nCANO, the fourth rank, is gained after being tested by three Cli-ranked \nbards; one must have mastered at least two 4th-level spellsongs, eight \nlanguages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, and \ndecipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed at \nleast 71 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s \nsatisfaction); created a new spellsong of 1st-level or greater; learned at \nleast one new royal lineage to seven generations; and performed with \naccolades before no less than three barons or greater nobles. Finally, to \nattain Cano rank, the bard must have personally participated in one heroic \nendeavor of which a song or poem has been written and be mentioned, \nat least peripherally, in the song or poem. \n• \nUpon attaining Cano rank the bard may distribute 10 points among the \nfollowing skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she \nwishes: \nCounter-Song, \nInfluence, \nInspire, \nLore, \nPerform, \nRead \nLanguages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism. \n• \nUpon attaining Cano rank the bard may choose one common \nspellsong of 2nd level to learn for free (no need to make a learning \ncheck). \n• \nBards of the Cano College often seek out bards of the Anruth College \nfor advice and tutelage. \n• \nBards of the Macfuirmid College often seek out bards of the Cano \nCollege for advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Cano \n\n18 \n \nrank, the bard can count on attracting 1d4 bards of the Macfuirmid \nCollege as assistants, minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen. \nThese followers move on when they attain Dos rank. \n \nCLI, the fifth rank, is gained after being tested by three Anruth-ranked \nbards; one must have mastered at least two 5th-level spellsongs, nine \nlanguages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, and \ndecipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed at \nleast 132 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s \nsatisfaction); created a new spellsong of 2nd-level or greater; learned at \nleast one new royal lineage to seven generations; and performed with \naccolades before no less than three counts or greater nobles. Finally, to \nattain Cli rank, the bard must have personally participated in one heroic \nendeavor of which a song or poem has been written, with her as the \nprimary heroic figure. \n• \nUpon attaining Cli rank the bard may distribute 10 points among the \nfollowing skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she \nwishes: \nCounter-Song, \nInfluence, \nInspire, \nLore, \nPerform, \nRead \nLanguages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism. \n• \nUpon attaining Cli rank the bard may choose one common spellsong \nof 3rd level to learn for free (no need to make a learning check). \n• \nBards of the Cli College often seek out Ollam-ranked bards for advice \nand tutelage. \n• \nBards of the Dos College often seek out bards of the Cli College for \nadvice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Cli rank, the bard \ncan count on attracting 1d4 bards of the Dos College as assistants, \nminions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen. These followers move \non when they attain Cano rank. \n \nANRUTH, the sixth rank, is gained after being tested by six Anruth-ranked \nand one Ollamh-ranked bards; one must have mastered at least two 6th-\nlevel spellsongs, 10 languages, and shown improvement in lore, \nperformance, and decipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must \nhave composed at least 223 total poems or songs (and perform all of them \nto the judge’s satisfaction); created a new spellsong of 3rd-level or greater; \nlearned at least one new royal lineage to seven generations; and \nperformed with accolades before no less than three dukes or greater \nnobles. Finally, to attain Anruth rank, the bard must have personally \nparticipated in two heroic endeavors of which a song or poem has been \nwritten, with her as the primary heroic figure. \n• \nUpon attaining Anruth rank the bard may distribute 10 points among \nthe following skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she \nwishes: \nCounter-Song, \nInfluence, \nInspire, \nLore, \nPerform, \nRead \nLanguages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism. \n\n19 \n \n• \nUpon attaining Anruth rank the bard may choose one common \nspellsong of 4th level to learn for free (no need to make a learning \ncheck). \n• \nBards of the Anruth College often seek out Ollam-ranked bards for \nadvice and tutelage. \n• \nBards of the Cano College often seek out bards of the Anruth College \nfor advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Dos rank, the \nbard can count on attracting 1d4 bards of the Macfuirmid College as \nassistants, minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen. These \nfollowers move on when they attain Cli rank. \n \nOLLAM, the seventh rank, is gained after being tested by nine Anruth-\nranked and three Ollamh-ranked bards; one must have mastered at least \nsix each 1st and 2nd level spellsongs and four each 3rd through 6th-level \nspellsongs, 12 languages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, \nand decipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed \nat least 350 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s \nsatisfaction); created a new spellsong of 4th-level or greater; know all royal \nlineages of the major kingdoms of the region to seven generations; and \nperformed with accolades before no less than three kings or greater nobles. \nFinally, to attain Ollam rank, the bard must have personally participated in \nthree heroic endeavors of which songs or poems have been written, with \nher as the primary heroic figure. \n• \nUpon attaining Ollam rank the bard may distribute 10 points among the \nfollowing skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she \nwishes: \nCounter-Song, \nInfluence, \nInspire, \nLore, \nPerform, \nRead \nLanguages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism. \n• \nUpon attaining Ollam rank the bard may choose one common \nspellsong of 5th level to learn for free (no need to make a learning \ncheck). \n• \nBards of the Cli and Anruth Colleges often seek out bards of the Ollam \nrank for advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Ollam rank, \nthe bard can count on attracting 1d2 bards each of the Cli and Anruth \nColleges as assistants, minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen. \nThese followers move on when they attain Anruth and Ollam ranks, \nrespectively. \n• \nOllam-ranked bards are the “grand-master bards” of the College of \nBards. They generally retire from active leadership positions and \nappointments to concentrate on completing their magnum opus, by \nwhich they will forever after be remembered. \n \n \n\n20 \n \nA magnum opus is a great artistic work; when referenced by bards, it refers \nto the greatest work accomplished by an Ollam-ranked bard. Though their \nnames may be long-lost, their music – and thus, to the bard, all that matters \n– lives on through these items. These are invariably some form of magic item \nverging on the level of a magical relic, as of a saint or demi-god. They have \ngreat power, but can often be dangerous to use for those who have not \nthe proper level of talent. \nAll of these items are unique. No gold piece values are provided for \nany of these items, each of which is considered worth a king’s ransom at \nleast, or beyond price by most. \n \nDIARMUID’S CODEX: This small but thick book with a green leather cover is \nfilled with the limericks, jests, and epigrams of Diarmuid, one of the most \nfamous wielders of witticisms and repartee in bardic history. Any bard who \nreads the codex (written in Druidic and requiring one week of uninterrupted \nstudy) must thereafter make a saving throw versus Spells, with a +1 bonus \nper rank in the Bardic College. Failure indicates the bard dies laughing with \na smile on her face. If the bard survives, the codex disappears after being \nread, and reappears randomly elsewhere. \nSuccess indicates that the bard thereafter permanently gains a +25% \nbonus to her Witticisms skill, and can affect a number of primary targets with \nthe same witticism as she has ranks in the Bardic College. \nThe downside is that, should she roll a 100 when attempting a witticism, \nher nearest ally who can hear and understand the witticism must make a \nsaving throw versus Spells or die after 1d4 rounds of horrific laughter. \n \nFIRZAM’S PIPES OF MADNESS: These simple pan pipes appear old and \nweathered, and in the hands of any but a bard are useless, except for \nplaying plain music. \nIf the owner is a bard they gain access to the following powers, which \nrequire a successful Perform check; failure indicates that that specific \npower cannot be used again that day: \n• \nCharm: With a successful Perform check, the bard may target an \nindividual within 30 feet with Swyn’s subtle serenade (charm person). \n• \nConfusion: With a successful Perform check, the bard casts Syfradana’s \nperplexing paean (confusion); the effect continues as long as the bard \ncontinues to play the pipes. However, if the bard rolls 100 on her \nPerform check, she is affected by the confusion for 14 rounds! \n• \nDance: With a successful Perform check, the bard may target an \nindividual within 30 feet; if they fail a saving throw versus Spells they \nbegin dancing, against their will, as per the irresistible dance spell. The \neffect continues only as long as the bard continues to play the pipes. \nThe target suffers 1 hit point of damage every round they dance after \nthe first 10 rounds. However, if the bard rolls 100 on her Perform check, \n\n21 \n \nshe is affected by the dance as though she were wearing boots of \ndancing (no saving throw)! \n• \nLullaby: With a successful Perform check, the bard may either affect a \ngroup as per Wynken Blynken’s lullaby (sleep) or may target a single \nindividual of up to 8 levels/HD to fall asleep; targets with 5 to 8 levels/HD \nget a saving throw versus Spells to negate the effect. \n \nGOLDEN SONGBIRD: The Golden Songbird is often associated with Ahlissa \nthe Nightingale, as it was she who recovered it from the depths of an \nancient elvish ruin. Who actually created this item is unknown, but was \ncertainly an ancient elvish bard of surpassing skill. Its current owner is \nunknown, as Ahlissa and her companions disappeared during an \nexpedition into the Giantlands. \nThe Golden Songbird is a metal bird made of gold, the size of a typical \nsongbird; it is lifelike in every way, and its singing voice is pitch perfect. The \nGolden Songbird has the following abilities and powers: \n• \nThe Golden Songbird can speak and understand Elvish, Dwarvish, and \nGnome, though it is not terribly intelligent and can only relate its abilities \nand its brief history since it was recovered from the ruins (it has no \nmemories from before that time). It can also unerringly translate \nbetween those three languages. \n• \nThe Golden Songbird can sing more than 1,000 songs, many of which \nwere lost prior to its recovery, and can sing any song it has heard merely \nonce with perfect pitch and tone (even if the sample was poorly \nperformed). \n• \nWhen within 30 feet of its owner, it conveys to the owner the following \nabilities: \no \nThe Golden Songbird can accompany its owner, if a bard, during \ntheir performances (use of Counter-Song, Influence, Inspire, and \nPerform skills), granting the owner a 25% bonus to their base skill \nlevel (before other modifiers). \no \nThree times per day at the direction of the owner it can sing a song \nthat causes any monster who uses musical or sound-based attacks \nto flee in terror (saving throw versus Spells negates effect). \no \nIt may cast for the owner one common spellsong of each spellsong \nlevel, 1st to 6th, once per day; the spellsong is cast at 14th level; \no \nOnce per day upon being given the command it can grow to the \nsize of a small horse; a saddle appears upon its back, and the \nowner and one passenger may ride it as it flies at 30 miles per hour \nfor up to four hours. \n• \nThe Golden Songbird can be used to send messages to up to 12 \nspecific individuals named by its owner. It can only repeat whatever \nmessage it is given verbatim (in the voice of the owner if they so \nchoose), and then relay back up to 12 return messages in the same \nmanner. When ordered to find the recipients of the message, the \nsongbird can find them unerringly provided they are on the same plane \n\n22 \n \nand not protected from detection (such as through amulet or spell). \nThe Golden Songbird flies at a rate of 30 miles per hour (for long-\ndistance travel) in the most expeditious pattern to get the message to \nall targets and return as quickly as possible. \n• \nThe Golden Songbird has an AC -6 (and can be hit only by magical \nweapons), HD 10, 10 hp, one peck attack that deals 1 point of damage \n(1d6 in large sized form); if hit the target must make a saving throw \nversus Paralysis or be paralyzed for 2d4 turns. The Golden Songbird \nattacks only in self-defense or in defense of its owner. \n• \nPossession of the Golden Songbird instills in the owner the desire to hear \nmore and ever greater musical performances. Every week the owner \npossesses the Golden Songbird she must make a saving throw versus \nSpells; failure indicates that she must listen to the music of the songbird \nand/or others of great quality for no less than one hour every day. \no \nEvery week that she fails the save adds one more hour that she \nmust listen to music each day, until eventually she must be listening \nto music every hour of every day, losing sleep and gaining no rest, \nand eventually being driven mad from lack of sleep and not \nhaving enough time in the day to listen to more music… (i.e. \ninsanity sets in no later than when she fails the saving throw for the \n25th time and finds not enough time, day or night, to listen to music). \n• \nOwnership of the Golden Songbird is easy to establish; whomever holds \nit and claims it as their own is the new owner (of course, successfully \ngrabbing at it with its -6 AC is not easy). Previous owners who have \nfailed the above saving throw and must listen to music, however, never \nwillingly trade or lose ownership, and will do anything within their power \n– including abandoning all ethics and morals – to regain ownership of \nthe Golden Songbird. \n \nHOWARD’S HARP OF HEROES: Howard’s Harp of Heroes is an unassuming-\nlooking harp; it is neither worn nor new, plain nor ostentatious; it appears to \nbe a normal, work-a-day hand harp like those used by any other bard in \nthe street. However, when played the harp and its strings shine like gold and \ngive off a silvery glow. \nThe owner of Howard’s Harp of Heroes gains the following abilities: \n• \nIf the owner is not a bard, they may use the Harp of Heroes to perform \nthe following bard skills at the listed base level of ability: Counter-Song \n50%, Influence 70%, Inspire 70%, and Perform 80%. \no \nIf the owner is already a bard, when using the Harp of Heroes, she \ngains a 15% bonus to each of the above skills. \n• \nA successful Perform check allows the owner to cast ode to the lion’s \nheart (remove fear). If the Perform check fails this ability cannot be \nused until the next day. \n• \nOnce every seven days Howard’s Harp of Heroes may be played to \nsummon heroes to fight for the owner of the harp. The owner makes a \n\n23 \n \nPerformance check; based on a successful roll, the following heroes \nappear: \no \nSuccessful roll 01-40: 2d4+2 2nd-level Fighters with chain mail, shield, \nlong sword, and short bow; \no \nSuccessful roll 41-75: 2d4+1 3rd-level Fighters with banded mail, \nshield, long sword, and short bow; \no \nSuccessful roll 76-90: 2d4 4th-level Fighters with plate mail, shield, \nlong sword, lance, and warhorse; \no \nSuccessful roll 91+: 1d4+1 5th-level Fighters with plate mail, shield, \nmagical long sword +1, lance, and warhorse; \no \nSummoned heroes attack anyone the owner of the harp \ncommands them to fight until they or their opponents are dead or \n6 turns have passed, whichever comes first. \no \nIf the Perform check fails, nothing happens and the owner cannot \nuse this ability again for seven days. \no \nIf the owner rolls 100 on their performance check, they instead \nsummon 1d4+1 5th-level villains, equipped as above, who appear \nand immediately attack the owner of the harp. \n \nORPHEUS‘S LYRE: One of the greatest bards of history, Orpheus left songs \nand stories that ring down the centuries, especially his own tragic end. \nHis lyre grants to the bard who wields it the following powers: \n• \nThe bard gains +25% to her use of her Counter-Song skill. \n• \nWith a successful Perform check the bard can cast Swyn’s subtle \nserenade (charm person, requires one round), Swyn’s compelling \ncanticle (suggestion, requires three rounds), Swyn’s monstrous melody \n(charm monster, requires four rounds), or Swyn’s supreme serenade \n[mass suggestion, requires six rounds). Failure indicates that the bard \ncannot try to use that particular spellsong again until the next day. \n• \nOnce per week with a successful Perform check at half base chances \nthe bard can cast raise dead (cast as though by a 14th-level cleric). If \nthe bard rolls 100 on her check, the target can never be raised or \nresurrected and the bard is cursed (no saving throw, as per the spell) \nsuch that thereafter all her base bard skills are halved. \n• \nShould any being other than a bard seek to play the lyre, the lyre \nsummons 1d4+1 5th-level female berserkers, known as maenads, who \nrip the blasphemer to death with their bare hands (attack at +2, two \nclaw attacks per round, each deals 1d4+4 damage). The maenads \nremain until they or the blasphemer are dead or up to 6 turns. The lyre \ncan summon these maenads of its own will only once per day. \n \nPIOBAN BAIS: The infamous “Pipes of Death” are a set of bagpipes \nfashioned by the even more infamous Murrain MacGalla, the Lich-Bard of \nthe Highlands; the pipes were formed from the bones of the Three \nMurdered Kings, and the bag itself from the skin of the regicide-parricide-\nmariticide-filicide, Queen Raicleach NicMaloidh, who slew the three kings \n\n24 \n \n(her father, husband, and son) at the behest of Murrain MacGalla, the \nRoyal Bard. \nThe Pipes of Death are infused with necromantic power, the likes of \nwhich are generally entirely foreign to bards. Should a Neutral Good bard \nso much as touch the Pipes of Death, she must make a saving throw versus \nSpells or suffer 6d6 points of damage (save for half damage); should she be \nslain by this damage, she rises immediately thereafter as a wight and takes \nup playing of the pipes. Similarly, a True Neutral bard must save or suffer 3d6 \npoints of damage (again, save for half), and if slain, suffers the same fate. \nNon-bards suffer the same fate as bards who have the same alignment \n(Good or Neutral), but if slain, do not rise again as wights. Those of Evil \nalignment may touch the pipes, but only a Neutral Evil bard may touch and \nuse the Pipes of Death. \nThe Pipes of Death have the following powers: \n• \nAnimate Dead: With a successful Perform check at half base chances, \nafter three rounds of skirling, the bard animates dead as per the spell \ncast by a 14th level cleric. If her Perform check is 100, the undead still \nanimate but they are consumed with the need to slay the bard, and \nare immune to all the other powers of the Pipes of Death. \n• \nCause Wounds: This power enables the bard to cause wounds, as per \nthe spell. The bard may play the pipes for one to six rounds; at the end \nof the last round, if she has been uninterrupted, she must make a \nPerform check at half base chance. If successful, she targets a single \nbeing within 80 feet, who is attacked by an eldritch burst of green \nenergy that causes 1d8 points of damage per round of skirling. The \ntarget may make a saving throw versus Death; success indicates they \nsuffer only half damage. If her Perform check is 100, the bard suffers the \ndamage, instead. \no \nThis power can be used to heal damage suffered by undead. \n• \nControl Undead: With a successful Perform check at half base chances, \nrequiring but one round, the bard may turn or control undead as a \ncleric of 14th level. Controlled undead remain under the bard’s control \nso long as she remains the owner of the pipes; should she lose \nownership of the pipes, the undead are freed, and seek her out to \ndestroy her. If, on an attempt to turn or control undead, the bard rolls \na 100 for Perform, the target undead thereafter attack the bard to the \nexclusion of all others. \n• \nDance of the Dead: With a successful Perform check at half base \nchances, the bard may target all living beings within 30 feet; if they fail \na saving throw versus Spells they begin dancing, against their will, as \nper the irresistible dance spell. The effect continues only as long as the \nbard continues to play the pipes. The targets suffer 1 hit point of \ndamage every round they dance after the first 10 rounds. If a target \ndies while dancing they continue dancing, with their skin sloughing off \nover several hours, and then continue to dance as an animated \nskeleton until they are destroyed. \n \n\n25 \n \nOPEN GAMING LICENSE \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nDESIGNATION OF OPEN GAME CONTENT: The stat blocks of all monsters and the rule text of any abilities, \npowers, spells, or traps is Open Game Content, but none of the names or any of the descriptive text is \nopen, unless such content is Open Game Content by virtue of appearing in the SRD. Any questions \nregarding the Open Game Content within this work should be directed to James Mishler at \njamesmishler@gmail.com. \nDESIGNATION OF PRODUCT IDENTITY: The names “James Mishler Games™,” “Goblinoid Games™,” \n“Labyrinth Lord™,” “Advanced Labyrinth Lord™,” and all names, personalities, descriptions, stories, \nstorylines, histories, plots, thematic elements, images, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, \nformats, poses, illustration, graphic design, maps, and cartography are designated as Product Identity, \nas is any and all content that is not otherwise Open Game Content by virtue of appearing in the System \nReference Document, being provided as Open Game Content in a work listed in Section 15 below, or is \nderivative thereof. Essentially, if it does not have to be OGC by operation of the license, it is not open in \nthis product, and if it can be claimed as Product Identity, it is. 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(h) \"You\" or \"Your\" \nmeans the licensee in terms of this agreement. \n2.The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that \nthe Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a \nnotice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this \nLicense except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any \nOpen Game Content distributed using this License. \n3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms \nof this License. \n4.Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You \na perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, \nthe Open Game Content. \n5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game \nContent, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient \nrights to grant the rights conveyed by this License. \n6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include \nthe exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or \ndistributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder's name to the \nCOPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute. \n7.Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to \ncompatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each \nelement of that Product Identity. 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The owner of any Product Identity used in Open \nGame Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity. \n8.Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the \nwork that you are distributing are Open Game Content. \n9.Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. \nYou may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game \nContent originally distributed under any version of this License. \n10.Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game \nContent You Distribute. \n11.Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name \nof any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so. \n12.Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect \nto some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then \nYou may not Use any Open Game Material so affected. \n13.Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail \nto cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the \ntermination of this License. \n14.Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be \nreformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable. \n15.COPYRIGHT NOTICE Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. \nSystem Reference Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathon Tweet, Monte \nCook, Skip Williams, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. \nSystem Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, \nMonte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John \nD. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. \nModern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill \nSlavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, Eric Cagle, David Noonan, Stan!, Christopher Perkins, \nRodney Thompson, and JD Wiker, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, \nRichard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Wiker. \nCastles & Crusades: Players Handbook, Copyright 2004, Troll Lord Games; Authors Davis Chenault and \nMac Golden. \nCave Cricket from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene \nand Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nCrab, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott \nGreene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nFly, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nGolem, Wood from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott \nGreene and Patrick Lawinger. \nKamadan from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Nick Louth. \nRot Grub from the Tome of Horrors, Copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene \nand Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax, \nLabyrinth Lord Copyright 2007-2009, Daniel Proctor; Author Daniel Proctor. \nDarwin’s World, Copyright 2002, RPGObjects; Authors Dominic Covey and Chris Davis. \nMutant Future, Copyright 2008, Daniel Proctor and Ryan Denison; Authors Daniel Proctor and Ryan \nDenison. \nAerial Servant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott \nGreene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nAxe Beak from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nBeetle, Giant Boring from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott \nGreene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nBeetle, Giant Rhinoceros from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author \nScott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nBrownie from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nCrayfish, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott \nGreene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nDemon: Juiblex, The Faceless Lord‰ (Demon Lord) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, \nNecromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nDemon: Orcus (Demon Prince of Undead) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer \nGames, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \n\n27 \n \nDevil: Amon (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author \nScott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nDevil: Bael (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author \nScott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nDevil: Geryon (Arch-Devil) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author \nScott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nEar Seeker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene \nand Erica Balsley, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nEel, Electric from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene. \nEye of the Deep from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott \nGreene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nFloating Eye from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nFrog, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott \nGreene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nFrog, Monstrous Killer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott \nGreene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nFrog, Monstrous Poisonous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors \nScott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nGas Spore from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene \nand Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nGorbel from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based \non original material by Andrew Key. \nGroaning Spirit from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott \nGreene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nHippocampus from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott \nGreene and Erica Balsey, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nJackalwere from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene \nbased, on original material by Gary Gygax. \nLeprechaun from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nLurker Above from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nPiercer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and \nClark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nSlithering Tracker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott \nGreene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nSlug, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nStrangle Weed from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott \nGreene, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nTick, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nTrapper from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nTurtle, Giant Snapping from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott \nGreen, based on original material by Gary Gygax. \nWind Walker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, \nbased on original material by Gary Gygax. \nYeti from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Green, based on \noriginal material by Gary Gygax. \nAdvanced Edition Companion, Copyright 2009-2010, Daniel Proctor; Author Daniel Proctor. \nAdvanced Labyrinth Lord, Copyright 2018, Daniel Proctor; Author Daniel Proctor. \nBard Class, Copyright 2021, James Mishler; Authors James Mishler and Jodi Moran-Mishler. \nEND OF LICENSE\n \n \n\n28 \n \nCurrent as of January 21, 2021 \n \nJMG0001 Hercynian Grimoire #1 (V. 1, N. 1) [P, S, C] \nJMG0002 GD&C #1: Chaos Queen of Ants [P, C] \nJMG0003 Vampires of the Olden Lands [P, S, C] \nJMG0004 Map 100 Olden Lands Continent [P] \nJMG0005 Ogres of the Olden Lands [P, S, C] \nJMG0006 Midzee Maps [Mutant Future] [P] \nJMG0007 Castle Adlerstein and Environs Map Pack [P] \nJMG0008 Barbarian Class [P, S] \nJMG0009 Demi-God Race [P, S] \nJMG0010 Myrkridder – The Demonic Dead [P, S] \nJMG0011 Ghosts – The Incorporeal Undead [P, S] \nJMG0012 Monstrous Miscellany #01 [P] \nJMG0013 Dragonborn [P,S] \nJMG0014 Quick Start Character Race & Class Sheets [P, S] \nJMG0015 ALL Character Record Sheets [P] \nJMG0016 ALL Adventure Record Sheets [P] \nJMG0017 Balor-Kin Racial Class [P] \nJMG0018 Marilith-Kin Racial Class [P] \nJMG0019 Nalfeshnee Racial Class [P] \nJMG0020 Quick Start Race & Class Guide [G] \nJMG0021 Barbarian, Demi-God, & Dragonborn [G] \nJMG0022 Ghosts – The Incorporeal Undead [G] \nJMG0023 Hercynian Grimoire #1 (Vol. 1, No. 1) [C, G] \nJMG0024 Myrkridder, Ogres, & Vampires [C, G] \nJMG0025 Region 01A Frelengian Heartlands Map Pack [P] \nJMG0026 Expanded 20-Level Demi-Human Racial Classes [P] \nJMG0027 Expanded 20-Level Core Four Classes [P] \nJMG0028 The Book of Manos: A Grimoire of Handy Spells [P] \nJMG0029 Frelengian Heartlands: Badgershire Map [P] \nJMG0030 Expanded Dragons [P] \nJMG0031 Necromancer Class [P] \nJMG0032 Runemaster Class [P] \nJMG0033 Bard Class [P] \n \n \nC = Designed for Castles & Crusades and Labyrinth Lord; \nunless noted, other products are for Labyrinth Lord. \nG = Gary Con XII Limited-Edition Special (2020) \nP = Available in PDF \nS = Available in the Gary Con XII Limited-Edition Special Print Books \n \n \n \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Labyrinth Lord/Labyrinth Lord Classes/Bard Class (LL).pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":198,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"URC6−06 \n \n \n \n \nEnemy of My Enemy \n \nA One-Round Dungeons & Dragons® Living \nGreyhawk™ \nRegional Adventure set in the County of Urnst \nVersion 1.95 \nby D’Anne Rooney \nCircle Reviewer: John Jenks \n \nTriad Reviewer(s): JP Chapleau \n \nPlaytesters: Chris Berry, Konrad Brandemuhl, Richard Clark, John Foye, Pam Foye, Brian Glose, Leonard Logan, Murry \nMcEntire, Dustin Short, James Stepanek \n \nContessa Elone Hofre Gellor was murdered and the County of Urnst is in an uproar over who will lead next. Are you \nwilling to work with the enemy of your enemy to find the assassin? Part 2 of the “Chasing the Darkness” series. This \nadventure also includes an additional, optional encounter for the brave and heroic. \n \nA one-round Regional adventure set in the County of Urnst for characters level 1-14 (APLs 2-12).Resources for this \nadventure include URC5-04 That Which Lurks [D’Anne Rooney], URC6-I04 More Rivalry at Richfest [JP Chapleau and the \nCoU Triad]. \nBased on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS \ngame designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison. \nThis game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of \nWizards of the Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20 \nThis is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run \nDUNGEONS & DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com. \nDUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, Living Greyhawk, D&D Rewards, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, \nand Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the \ncopyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is \nprohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to \nactual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. \nVisit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com. \n \n \n\nRPGA® SANCTIONED PLAY \nMost likely, you ordered this adventure as part of an \nRPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it \nfrom your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as \npart \nof \nthe \nLIVING \nGREYHAWK \ncampaign—a \nworldwide, ongoing D&D® campaign set in the \nGREYHAWK setting—you must sanction it as part of an \nRPGA event. This event could be as elaborate as a big \nconvention, or as simple as a group of friends meeting \nat the DM’s house. \n \nTo sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a \nHERALD-LEVEL™ \ngamemaster. \nThe \nperson \nwho \nsanctions the event is called the senior gamemaster, \nand is in charge of making sure the event is sanctioned \nbefore play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and \nthen reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. \nThe person who runs the game is called the table \nDungeon Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and \nalmost all the time in the cases of home events) the \nsenior gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have \nto be a HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you \nare not the senior GM. \n \nBy sanctioning and reporting this adventure, you \naccomplish a couple of things. First, it is an official \ngame, and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING \nGREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain \nrewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members \nof the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. \nPlaying this adventure is worth two (2) points. \n \nThis adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play \non December 31, 2007. \n \nTo learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK \ncharacter creation and development, RPGA event \nsanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, \nvisit the RPGA website at www.rpga.com. \nPlayers Read No Farther \nIf you are planning on playing this adventure, stop \nreading now. The rest of the information in this \nadventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than \nthis section, you’ll know too much about its challenges, \nwhich kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this \nadventure as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, \nreading beyond this point makes you ineligible to do \nso. \nPreparing for Play \nTo get the most out of this adventure, you need copies \nof the following D&D rule books: Player’s Handbook, \nDungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual. \n \nThroughout this adventure, text in bold italics \nprovides player information for you to paraphrase or \nread aloud when appropriate. Sidebars contain \nimportant information for you, including special \ninstruction on running the adventure. Information on \nnonplayer characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in \nabbreviated form in the adventure text. Full \ninformation on NPCs and monsters are given in \nAppendix One. For your convenience, that appendix is \nsplit by APL. \n \nAlong with this adventure, you’ll find a RPGA \nSession Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure \nas part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and \nturn in this sheet to your senior GM directly after play. \nYou’ll also find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record \n(AR). \n LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS \nOF PLAY \n Because players bring their own characters to LIVING \nGREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are \nproportionate to the modified average character level \nof the PCs participating in the adventure. To determine \nthis modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the \nsteps below: \nDetermine the character level for each of the PCs \nparticipating in the adventure. \n1. \n If PCs bring animals that have been trained for \ncombat (most likely dogs trained for war), other \nthan those brought by virtue of a class ability (such \nas animal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) \nor the warhorse of a character with the Mounted \nCombat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine \nthe number of levels you add to the sum of step \none. Add each character’s animals separately. A \nsingle PC may only bring four or fewer animals of \nthis type, and animals with different CRs are \nadded separately. \n2. \n Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the \nnumber of characters playing in the adventure. \nRound up to the nearest whole number. \n3. \nIf you are running a table of six PCs, add one to \nthat average \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 2 \n\n4. \nThroughout this adventure, APLs categorize the \nlevel of challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in \neven-numbered increments. If the APL of your \ngroup falls on an odd number, ask them before the \nadventure begins whether they would like to play \na harder or easier adventure. Based on their choice, \nuse either the higher or the lower adjacent APL. \n \nAPL also affects the amount of experience and \ngold a PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a \nplayer character is three character levels or more either \nhigher or lower than the APL 2t which this adventure \nis being played, that character receives only one-half of \nthe experience points and gold for the adventure. This \nsimulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged \nas much as normal or relied on help by higher-level \ncharacters to reach the objectives. \n \nFurthermore, a PC who is four or more levels \nhigher than the highest APL supported by the \nadventure may not play the adventure. \n \nLIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for \nAPL 2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may \nfind the challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. \nSuggest the following to these groups to help increase \ntheir chances of success: \nEnlist a sixth player. \n5. \nAdvise characters to buy riding dogs to help \nprotect them and fight for them. \nTIME UNITS AND UPKEEP \nThis is a standard one-round regional adventure, set in \nthe County of Urnst. Characters from the County of \nUrnst pay one (1) Time Unit per round, while all other \ncharacters pay two (2) Time Units per round. \n \nAdventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp per \nTime Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per Time Unit. \nLuxury Upkeep costs 100 gp per Time Unit. Characters \nthat fail to pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain \ntemporary ability damage until the next adventure, \nmust buy new spell component pouches and healer’s \nkits, and may suffer other in-game penalties (or \npossibly gain in-game benefits) as may be detailed in \nthis adventure. \n \nA character that does not pay for at least Standard \nUpkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties \nby living off the wild. If the character possesses four or \nmore ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a DC \n20 Survival check, the character will heal temporary \nability damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, \nmay refill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, \nand may restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the \ncharacter has at least four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). \nThe player is allowed to Take 10 on this roll. \n \nMore information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can \nbe found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of \nChapter 3 of the Living Greyhawk Campaign Sourcebook. \nADVENTURE BACKGROUND \nDuring the past several years, Drow have been seen in \nincreasing numbers. From the rift in the cliff by \nVentnor, to the now collapsed Crystal Springs and \neven in the Vinewind area and the adventurer’s town of \nHolbrook, they have been appearing. \n \nLast \nseen \nin \nHolbrook \nright \nbefore the \nassassination of the Contessa, they disappeared before \nthe adventurers who live there could confront them. \nThe only thing they left behind was a clue, a pin in the \nshape of a black mask, and a pregnant adventuress. \nLORD UNDERLEY \nLord Underley is a man of about 50. His black hair is \nstreaked with grey and white at the temples. He is the \ncurrent leader of House Underley. \n \nLord Baron Jacobis Underley was the Lord Mage \nof the Contessa. He is also head of the eccentric, noble \nHouse Underley, though the family estates have yet to \nbe rebuilt in the ruins of Ventnor Castle, a town \ndestroyed by a battle between devils and demons at the \ndawn of the Civil War. \n \nKnown as a shrewd man, Lord Underley deals on \nboth sides of an issue, usually for the best interests of \nthe County. \nHOUSE TEKEN’AFIN \nA house of powerful Drow who follow the religion of \nthe Spider Queen. Lead by their most powerful \npriestess, Shi’raena Teken’afin, they endeavor to stop \nthe advancement of those who follow the Masked God. \n \nOther motives they may have are unknown at this \ntime. \nHOUSE RILYN‘VIRR \nA rival Drow house that follows the teachings of the \nMasked God. They have been working for the past two \n# of Animals \nMundane \nAnimals Effect \non APL \n1 \n2 \n3 \n4 \n1/4 & 1/6 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n1 \n1/3 & 1/2 \n0 \n0 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n2 \n3 \n2 \n2 \n3 \n4 \n5 \n3 \n3 \n4 \n5 \n6 \n4 \n4 \n6 \n7 \n8 \n5 \n5 \n7 \n8 \n9 \n6 \n6 \n8 \n9 \n10 \nCR of Animal \n7 \n7 \n9 \n10 \n11 \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 3 \n\ndecades in taking over one of the Rogue’s Guilds, the \nVipers based out of Brotton. Those in the guild who are \nhuman have no idea who is now operating the \nbusiness. \nDROGO BRACEGIRDLE \nOnce a leader of his community, Drogo was captured \nseveral years ago by House Teken’afin. They found he \nhad a talent as a diplomat and have used him on several \noccasions to broker for minor things they need with \nraces other than the Drow. He greatly misses his home \ncommunity of Applebee. \nADVENTURE SUMMARY \nIntroduction: \nWhispers \non \nthe \nWind \nThe \nadventurers find themselves in Radigast City at the \nHighbrows Inn just days after the assassination of the \nContessa and her daughter Cyanna. Discussion is \nrampant about how this could have happened and who \ncould have done it. Rumor is that the Contessa and \nCyanna cannot be brought back for some strange \nreason even though Cyanna’s murderer was caught. \n \nEncounter 1: Meeting with the Enemy Lord Jacobis \nUnderley sends an urgent message to the PCs, \nrequiring them to meet with him at the Obsidian \nConclave late that night. Assuming they agree, the PCs \nare introduced to a woman who tells them that she has \ninformation concerning the assassin of the Contessa. \nCareful observation by the PCs will reveal that the \nwoman is a Drow priestess. Lord Underley tells the PCs \nthat he has made a deal with the priestess in order to \ngain this information. \n \nEncounter 2: Vinewind The information the group \nreceives leads them to Didieln to search out the \nlocation of the assassins. \n \nEncounter 3: Nothing is what it appears to be An \nabandoned temple is host to beings from below the \nearth. \n \nEncounter 4: Into the Darkness The party finds \nvaluable information that leads them to the entrance \ninto the UnderOerth located by Ventnor Castle. \n \nEncounter 5: Denizens of Underoerth As they \nprepare to spend their first night in the darkness, they \nare alerted to trouble and the possibility of meeting a \nnew race of beings. \n \nEncounter 6: The Dream As the party beds down for \nthe night, one of them is visited in their dreams. \n \nEncounter 7: Enemy of My Enemy During their \nsleep, a visitor comes to one of the party members with \nhelpful information and a gift. \n \nEncounter 8: The Battle is Won Allowing that the \ncharacters are successful, the battle will indeed be won, \nand they will have their prize in hand. If they have not \nbeen successful, they will be running for their lives. \n \nEncounter 9 (Optional): Running the Gauntlet The \ncharacters find that getting back to Radigast with the \nassassins is easier said than done. \n \nConculsion: Reporting In The group now must \nreport their success or failure to Lord Jacobis Underley. \nLet's hope, for their sakes, they were successful. \nPREPARATION FOR PLAY \nDetermine if the characters have played in the \nfollowing events: URC5-04 That Which Lurks or URC6-\nI04 More Rivalry at Richfest. If they have, look at their \nARs for any favors they might have. These will come \ninto play during this scenario. \n \nAlso, determine if there are any members of the \nUnderley Network, any Thieves Guild, or any Knights \nof the Swan present in the company of characters. \n \nThis module also includes an optional encounter \nnear the end. Before you run it, ask the players if they \nare willing to spend the extra TU’s to do so. The extra \noption cost 1TU for characters of the County and 2TUs \nfor characters not from the County. \n \nPlaytests have shown this adventure to run long. \nTherefore, if you are running this adventure with a \ntime restriction, some encounters are cut short. \n \nINTRODUCTION: WHISPERS \nON THE WIND \n \n \nYou find yourself in Radigast City, and as you \nenter the tavern, you find it full of patrons. \nMaking your way to a table that has room for you, \nyou find yourself face-to-face with several other \nadventurers. \nAllow the characters to introduce themselves to each \nother before continuing. \n \nYou hear the voice of a well-trained performer \nspeaking from the raised platform that serves as a \nstage. “The last of the finalists is…” Lord Dane \nheld up the form to read the name, but never \nspoke it. A chilling scream interrupted him, even \nnow I feel the shivers down my spine from that \ndeath scream. From behind him, Lady Cyanna’s \nlimp and dead body slumped to the ground and a \nghostly figure rose from the body. \n \nThe Contessa, slumped to the ground as well \nand the ghostly thing laughed. “HAHAHA \nMalachite has the soul of this one. And he’s had \nher for months…HAHAHA” as it dispersed. The \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 4 \n\nassembled crowd rushed forward to see what had \nhappened, shocked and stunned at the same time. \n \nLord Dane, who was as taken aback as \neveryone else was, ordered the Knights of the \nSwan and the soldiers to get everyone out of the \narea. It was chaos! People were crying others \ndemanded retribution, others just followed in a \ndaze. Some hid their smirks at the County’s \nmisfortune. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n“This, my friends is what this Silver Swan saw \nat Richfest…” The bard takes a deep bow, having \nrelated his tale for the assembled crowd of the \nHighbrows inn. \nAllow the characters to react to this before continuing. \n \n \nIt is Wealsun 9, just under two weeks since \nRichfest and already the news has spread around \nthe County. Contessa Elone Hofre Gellor and her \ndaughter Cyanna are dead. No one know who did \nit or why. \nLord Terard Duncombe, the Lord \nof the East has declared martial law throughout \nthe County and himself as Regent until a new \nCount is crowned. The Contessa’s ministers \nforming the Council of Lords has gathered in \nRadigast to determine who will be crowned Count. \n \n“Whose gonna lead us now?” questions one \nvoice. \n“Seems we only just got the Contessa and now \nshe’s dead,” says another. \n \nAn older man speaks up from a darkened \ncorner, “I heard she went completely mad before \nshe was murdered.” \n \nSome young man who’s had too much to \ndrink adds, “yeah some adventurer told me she \nconverted to Hextor!” \nYou hear other voices and suppositions about \nwho the new ruler of the County will be, as well as \nrumors \nthat \nassassins \nfrom \nNyrond \nwere \nresponsible for the Contessa’s death. \nSome of you wonder… is it possible that King \nLynwerd of Nyrond sent some one to kill her all \nbecause of the treaty with Sewarndt and the wall \nthe County built? Could the Old One prepare for a \nmajor offensive against the County? Could the \nPale be looking for a new venue of expansion? \nMalachite? Or is it someone else? \nThe characters will hear the following conversations \nwith successful listen checks. \n• \nDC 5: They tried to raise the Contessa, but like her \nson who died earlier this year, they cannot contact \nher spirit. \n• \nDC 7: The Contessa’s last decree was that Ventnor \nCastle and all the land beneath it was to be given \nin trade to the Duergar. \n• \nDC 10: No one has seen the Contessa’s husband, \nLord Nimar Chrysale Gellor since the incident. \nAlthough it has been rumored that he was at the \nRichfest Celebrations as well. \n• \nDC 12: Sir Karl Whittenbock is said to have issued \nan edict to all Knights of the Swan to enforce the \ndaylight curfew over all major settlements of the \nCounty under penalty of imprisonment for a term \nof questioning by church inquisitors and/or \navailable Justicars. \n• \nDC 15: Some knight’s entourages have been heard \nto be arguing with other knights. Some want to \nkeep things the way they are and others want a \nmore progressive way of life. \n• \nDC 17: Justicars seem to be leaderless now that \nthe Contessa is dead. They have no one to which to \nanswer. \n \nChoose one PC, preferably one that is a member of the \nUnderley Network; one of the Thieves Guilds; or \nanyone who has a favorable notice of either group. If \nyou no hero qualifies, select one who would be most \nloyal to the County (use your judgment); pull them \naside, and read them the following: \n \nAs you sit listening to the gossip, a man dressed in \nplain attire approaches you and hands you a note. \nYou are not sure where he came from, but you \nopen the note all the same because it bears a \nfamiliar mark on it. \nThe mark is either the Underley Network’s or the \nThieves Guild to which the PC belongs. (See Appendix \nTwo for a list of these marks. See Player Handout One \nfor the note.) \n \nAs you read the note, you realize that the man who \ngave it to you has slipped away into the crowd \nwithout notice. \nIf the characters agree to go with their companion, go \nto Encounter 1: Meeting with the Enemy. \nENCOUNTER 1: MEETING \nWITH THE ENEMY \nTwo heavily armored guards stop the characters at the \nclosed gates to the Conclave. Here they must give the \nguard the password (“Working for the Swan”) or the \nguard do not allowed them in. Read the following if \nthey give the correct password. \n \nYou give the guards at the gate your password and \nthey look you over briefly to satisfy themselves \nthat you are who they expect. \n \nOne of the guards leads you deep into the \nObsidian Conclave to a room within its walls \nwhere you are told to wait. As the guard leaves, you \nhear the audible click of the lock as he pulls the \ndoor shut. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 5 \n\n \nThe room is devoid of any furnishing but a \nfew hard- backed chairs. There are no windows \nand only the door you entered through gives any \negress from the room. \n \n \n \n \nFeel free to work on their sense of paranoia. \n \nYou wait an hour, two hours, maybe more. Just as \nyou start to think you have had enough, the door \nopens and two people enter the room. An Oeridian \nman in his 50’s with graying hair wearing an \namulet depicting Dragons holding a crest with a \nleaping fox and an elven woman whose silk cloak \ncovers her entire body in shadow. The man greets \nyou all by name before saying. \n \n“Gentleman (and Ladies), I am Jacobis \nUnderley, Lord Mage of the County of Urnst. I \nhave brought you here under these circumstances \nin order to enlist your aid in a mission of the \nutmost importance. Please take a seat.” \n \nAllow the characters to react to this statement, as well \nas to the fact that he has not been seen in public for \nquite some time, before continuing. \nLord Underley smiles “Let me explain what \nexactly I require you to do. However, first I would \nlike you to meet Shi'raena Teken’afin. She has \nbrought the information to us to aid in what we \nseek, which is the assassin who killed the \nContessa. \n \nAllow for a Knowledge (nobility) or Local (NMR or \ncore) or a Bardic Lore check of DC 15+APL to \ndetermine that Shi’raena’s name is of Drow origin. \nCharacters who speak elven receive a +5 circumstance \nbonus to this roll. \n \nThe cloaked female bows slightly to the characters, \nbut she does not remove her cloak, nor reveal her face \nas she speaks. However, a DC 15+APL Spot check \nreveals that she is a Drow. Give them Player Handout \nTwo. Any attempts to detect chaos or detect evil are met \nwith an overwhelming aura of either. (The person \ncasting the spell is stunned from this effect). \n \nThose who cast detect magic are reprimanded by \nLord Underley and told to drop the spell before they \ncan discern anything from it other than the presence of \nmagic on both Lord Underley and his guest. If they \nrefuse to drop the spell, they are escorted from the \nroom and told that their services are no longer desired. \nThe adventure is over for this person and they receive \nthe Disfavor of Lord Underley AR award. \n \n \nFor all other characters, continue: \nThe woman speaks in a low, sultry voice. “A month \nago, two Drow entered your adventurer’s town of \nHolbrook. They were lost. In the process of trying \nto find their way to Radigast City, they killed a \nfarmer, his wife, and baby, as well as captured an \nadventuress.” \n \n“They tried to get information from the \nadventuress; however, even though they raped her, \nshe would not tell them anything other than \nRadigast City was to the north.” \n \nA mocking tone enters her voice as she \ncontinues the story. “They would have been caught \nand killed if not for another adventurer who \nthought it a good idea to sound a war horn and \nalert these Drow to their precarious position. \nTherefore, they were both able to leave that little \ntown via magical means before the group of \nadventurers discovered them.” \n \nShe pauses for a moment to let her \ninformation sink into your mind and rest \nuncomfortably in the pit of your stomach. “The \ntwo of them eventually arrived at the Richfest \ncelebration and killed the Contessa right before \nyour very eyes.” \nLord Underley picks up where the woman left \noff, “I have promised your assistance in this \nmatter in order to bring to justice those who are \nresponsible for the death of our Contessa. You are \nto seek out the encampment where they are hiding \nand capture the assassins. In addition, you are to \nbring back any information you can about the \narea, their numbers, and their purpose. \n \nAllow the characters to react to this statement and ask \nquestions of Shi’raena and Lord Underley. Below are \nsome possible questions they may ask. \nQUESTIONS ASKED OF LORD UNDERLEY: \n• \nTell us more about you. Refer to Adventure \nBackground. \n• \nHow do we know she’s telling the truth? The \ninformation given by Shi’raena has been proven \ntrue after investigating a report given to the \nRadigast City Beta Leatherwing commander, Lt. \nGrindstone, by one of the Alpha riders. \n• \nDo you know this woman is a Drow? If so, why \nare you working with her? Lord Underley \nknows Shi’raena is a Drow, but he is willing to \nwork with her in order to get the assassins. \nSometimes you have to work with the enemy of \nyour enemy in order to see justice done. \n• \nWhy is she working against her own kind? \nShi’raena is from a different sect of Drow, those \nwho worship Lolth, the Queen of the Demonweb \npits. The assassins are followers of Vhaeraun (Vay-\nrawn). [Same as above, only volunteer the \ninformation if a character realizes what Shi’raena \nis.] \n• \nWhat are we getting paid for this? You are \nwelcomed to keep anything you can find. \nMoreover, the glory of finding the Contessa’s \nassassin should provide ample payment. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 6 \n\n• \nHow long do we have to accomplish this \nmission? As long as you need, but do not take too \nlong. \n• \nHow public is this? In the current climate, I do \nnot want to have a bunch of people running \naround looking for Drow. Keep it hushed. \n• \nHow are we going to Didieln? Leave that up to \nme. \nQUESTIONS ASKED OF SHI’RAENA: \nRemarks in parenthesis indicate information the \ncharacters can pick up with a Sense Motive check \nDC27. \n• \nHow did the Drow assassins infiltrate \nRichfest? The two Drow who fled Holbrook were \nin disguise and not noticed by anyone at the \nRichfest celebration. Most likely, they wore dark \ncloaks and avoided the central areas. \n• \nHow do you know they were in Holbrook? She \nobtained all of her information from an informant \nbased in Holbrook. \n• \nWho are they? They are part of a group of \nrenegade Drow who follow Vhaeraun, the Masked \nGod. \n• \nWho is Vhaeraun? Vhaeraun is the son of \nCorellon Larethian and Lolth. He is followed by \nprimarily male Drow who have forsaken their \nbelief in the Spider Queen and who want a male \ndominated society. Most of them are rogues and \nassassins. (See Player Handout Three: Visual Aids \nfor a picture of Vhaeraun’s unholy symbol.) \n• \nWhy are these Drow here? This particular sect of \nDrow has been working on the surface to further \ntheir interests and expand their base of operations. \n• \nWhere is their operation located? One such \nbase of operations is the Vinewind area, the city of \nDidieln to be precise. That’s the last place she \nheard they had been. \n• \nHow do you know they are working to expand \nto the surface? Her group has been watching the \nVhaeraun group for quite some time now. She will \nnot state who her group is. (Obviously, she knows \nmore than she lets on.) \n• \nWho are you? I am Shi’raena Teken’afin a \npriestess of the Spider Queen. (She is not lying!) \nShe removes her hood and reveals herself to those \npresent. She is a very beautiful female Drow with \ninky black skin, pure white hair, and pale blue \neyes. \n• \nWhat do you get out of this and why are you \nhelping us? Because the sect of Drow that \nworship Vhaeraun are renegades and misfits. They \ncannot be allowed to continue in their attempt to \nclaim the surface as their own. (It seems that the \ncharacters are there to do her dirty work.) \n• \nHow do you know so much? We have been \nwatching these Drow for many years now and I am \nthe one in charge of seeing they do not succeed at \nwhat they are doing. I have spies in many places \nwho keep me informed of the house Rilyn’Virr’s \nmovements. \n• \nWhat is House Rilyn’Virr? Refer to the \nAdventure Background. (Shi’raena twists the \ninformation to make them look evil and dangerous \nto the County). \n• \nWho in Holbrook works with you? I will not \ntell you. (She will not, unless compelled \nmagically). \n• \nWhat are the names of the assassins? I do not \nknow at this time, but if you find out in your \ninvestigation, I am very interested in the \ninformation. One of them is a fighter of some \nprowess who takes delight in torturing his captives \nbefore killing them. He has a pale scar that runs \nfrom his left temple to the corner of his mouth, \nmaking it pull up in a crooked smile; when he \nsmiles that is. The other is a wizard of some power \nwho is inclined to wear expensive, black robes \nwith a purple satin lining. He is older than the \nfighter by many years and has pale lavender \ncolored eyes. This color is rare among us. \n \nOnce the characters have asked their questions, Lord \nUnderley asks them if they are willing to go hunting \nthese assassins. If they say yes, go to Encounter Two: \nVinewind. If they refuse, the adventure is over. \n \nAs Lord Underley escorts the adventurers from \nthe Conclave, he hands a coin to the person with the \nhighest charisma, or someone who the group treats as a \nleader (preferably not a paladin). He explains that the \ncoin enables him to find them if something goes \nterribly wrong. \n \nTroubleshooting: It is possible that rather than \nlisten to the Drow priestess, the characters attack her. \nIf this happens, she escapes via a word of recall spell. \nThis means that there is no information for the \ncharacters to receive from her and the adventure is \nover. Proceed to the Conclusion. \n \nIf any of the party refuses to work with the \npriestess, they are welcome to find out information on \ntheir own, but it is almost impossible to do so. Give \nthem an Intelligence or Wisdom check of DC 10 to \nrealize this. \nAll APLs (EL13) \n \n� Shi’raena Teken’afin: Female elf [Drow] \nClr14 [Lolth]; hp 93. See Appendix One. \n \nENCOUNTER 2: \nVINEWIND \nLord Underley gathers a number of wizards from \nthe Conclave and has you teleported just outside \nof Didieln, the city that Shi’raena said was a good \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 7 \n\nplace to start your search for the Drow who had \nassassinated the Contessa. \nRUNNING THIS WITH A TIME LIMIT \nThis encounter can run very long. If you have enough \ntime, proceed to Word on the Street. However, in a \ntimed situation, read the following boxed text before \nproceeding to Encounter 3: Nothing is what it appears \nto be. \n \nYour investigation in Didieln reveals a number of \nleads, but the most promising one leads you to the \nabandoned Temple of Berei. In the Temple district \nof Didieln the temple has been abandoned for \ntwenty years. \nWORD ON THE STREET \nThe characters can learn the following rumors and \ninformation with a successful Gather Information \ncheck as listed below. They gain all the information at \nthe lower DC’s as well. For every 20 gp they spend, they \ngain a +5 circumstance bonus. \n \nDC 5 – The Torquanns are backing Lord Duncombe \nand his Regency. \nDC 10 – Theft in the city seems to be on the rise, no \none’s property is safe anymore. \nDC 15 – The owner of the Flawless Skin, a tanner’s \nshop, mentioned that he’d been receiving some strange \norders lately. \nDC 20 – Nova Daldon, the owner of the Blissful Glass \nhas chosen to close earlier since one of her waitresses \nwas attacked a few days ago. \nDC 25 – The Tawdry Wench, another tavern located \nin the rough part of town, has had an increased amount \nof business lately. Most of the patrons are there in the \nlate evening hours. \nDC 30 – The Didieln Bakery, was recently taken over \nby a pretty, young elven woman who came from \nRadigast City. Strange that… the last owner really did \nnot mention her desire to sell the business. \nTHE BLISSFUL GLASS \nThis inn owned by Nova Daldon, a female dwarf and \nex-adventurer, who was host to those characters who \nplayed URC5-04 That Which Lurks. Nova recognizes \nanyone that was here at that time and greets them by \nname. She has the following information. \n• \nShe heard rumors that there has been a lot of \nactivity occurring at night in the temple district. \n• \nOne of her waitresses was attacked a few days ago \nwhile she was hurrying to close up before the \ncurfew went into effect. The waitress refused to \nelaborate on the nature of the attack or her \nattackers. She has since left for Radigast (and \ncannot be found during this adventure). \n• \nLord Bryne is still seeking answers to his wife’s \nbetrayal and/or replacement by a Drow. \n• \nShe suggests that if the characters are looking for \nanything of interest, they might try The Didieln \nBakery in the center of town. \nTHE DIDIELN BAKERY \nThis bakery in the center of town is owned and run by \na slightly built, beautiful gray elf named Elecia \nElvandel. She greets everyone who enters her \nestablishment with a winsome smile and a sample of \nher famous muffins. \n \nElecia is a member of the Birds of Prey and the \nUnderley Network. Any Rogue Guild member can \nrecognize this by the pin of an eagle she wears on her \ndress, and Underley Network members can pick it up \nin some of her hand gestures. Elecia tells the characters \nthe following information if they either declare they \nare a member of any Guild, or the Underley Network, \nor succeed at a Diplomacy check DC 15. She is fully \naware of the party’s mission. \n \nInformation for Underley Network Members \n• \nThe Network has been watching several places in \ntown. \n• \nElecia was sent here by Lord Underley to watch \nthe area because of the recent smuggling activity. \n \nInformation for Birds of Prey Members \n• \nThe Guild has been watching several places in \ntown. \n• \nElecia has also been on the watch for a new \nRogue’s Guild that seems to be operating in the \narea. She suspects the Vipers have moved up from \nBrotton to work in Didieln. \n \nInformation for Others \n• \nThe Tawdry Wench seems to have more patrons \nduring the late hours of the evening than they \never did before. \n• \nThe Flawless Skin has seen an increase in the sales \nof black leather. \n• \nThere has been some increased activity around the \nabandoned Berei temple in the late evenings \ndespite the curfew in effect. (Knowledge (religion) \ncheck DC 15 reveals that Berei is a lesser deity of \nhome, family, and agriculture.) \n• \nThe temple was abandoned several years ago with \nmost of its worshippers turning to the larger \ntemple of Beory for their spiritual needs. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 8 \n\nALDO THORNQUIST \nAldo Thornquist is the constable of Didieln and will \nrecognize those who have played URC5-04 That Which \nLurks. He has the following information for those he \nhas met before. \n• \nHe and Lord Garnwick Bryne continued to \ninvestigate the smuggling that was occurring in \nthe city. \n• \nThey followed the tunnel out of the underground \ntemple located in Baron Belin Torquann’s home \ninto the forest behind. The tunnel turned into a \ndead end. \n• \nHe has looked into the attack on the barmaid from \nthe Blissful Glass. She claims she was assaulted by \ndark skinned men. \n• \nIf asked about Lord Bryne, Aldo states that he is \nout of town visiting the Lord Vintner Deremett \nTorquann. However, those with the favor of Lord \nBryne may purchase any ring from the DMG \nunder 5,000 gp in Didieln at this time. Once this \nfavor is used, it must be crossed off their AR for \nURC5-04. \nTHE TAWDRY WENCH \nLocated in the eastern part of town in the \nManufacturing District, the Tawdry Wench is a tavern \nthat caters to the seedier population of Didieln. This is \nnot a nice place for anyone who looks wealthy. Only \nthose who look like a normal laborer are likely to get \nany information here. \n• \nThe smuggling that had occurred here in town \nseems to have quieted down lately. However, theft \nseems to be on the rise. \n• \nA fellow who works at the Flawless Skin had said \nthere was an upswing in orders for black leather. \n• \nOne of the workers can tell the party that he has \nseen quite a bit of activity in the temple district \nlate at night. He does not know why. \nTHE FLAWLESS SKIN \nThe Flawless Skin is a tanner’s shop, which is self \nevident when the characters get within half a block of \nit. Inside are several dozen workers who are tanning \nhides of all types and colors. \n \nThe owner of the Flawless Skin is a gruff fellow by \nthe name of Relamos. Relamos is a human male in his \nforties. He is dressed in a black leather apron and in \nclothes that have not seen a washerwoman in weeks. \nHe smells just as bad as his warehouse does. He offers \nthe adventurers the following information for a \npersuasive sum of 50 gp. \n• \nQuite a few orders for black, worked leather has \ncome in. \n• \nThe person he always takes the orders from is a \nslightly built man, or perhaps an elf of some type. \nThe man always orders black leather or studded \nleather armor. He has never had a good look at the \nman though because all transactions have taken \nplace in low-lit areas. The only thing he really \nnoticed is that the man’s eyes seemed to glow in \nthe darkness. \n• \nThere has been some increased activity around the \ntemple district in the late evenings. \nTHE TEMPLES \nPelor \n• \nThe temple of Pelor is headed by Gwyneth Henge \nEmerald (NG Female Cleric 6/RadServ4). She can \ntell the party that she has not noticed anything \ndifferent in the area and the temple to Berei has \nbeen abandoned for over twenty years. \nBeory \n• \nHeaded by Trunikhar Pero (NG male Cleric 12 – \nBeory). Trunikhar tells the party that the \ncongregation of the temple started to grow slowly \nsince the priestess of Berei left for unknown parts \nsome 20 years ago. She seemed to disappear \novernight and no one has heard from her since. \nZilchus \n• \nHeaded up by Purchaser Enturn Risdar (N male \nCleric 10). He has noticed some new activity \naround the temple of Berei, but nothing out of the \nordinary. He thinks vagrants are using it as a place \nto sleep. \nTHE CURFEW \nBecause there is a curfew in effect, any member of the \nKnights of the Swan or the Army can obtain a pass \nfrom the local constable, Aldo Thornquist, to patrol \nafter hours. \n \nDevelopment: Presumably, the adventurers realize \nthat they should go investigate the temple district. \nTherefore, continue to the next encounter. \nENCOUNTER 3: NOTHING IS \nWHAT IT APPEARS TO BE \n \nThe abandoned temple has a symbol of a sheaf of \nwheat stalks that is now barely visible above the \nentrance, as well as carved into the doors. The \nplace looks run down from misuse. \n \nRegardless of what time of day the characters \ninvestigate, they find the upper area of the Berei \ntemple is typical for a building of this type. There is \nquite a bit of debris from broken statues, pews, and bits \nof loose trash that has blown into the building over \ntime. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 9 \n\n \nA Search check DC 20 reveals a hidden floor panel \njust behind the altar. \n \nThe opening leads down an unlit flight of stairs to \na temple to Vhaeraun. The temple is unlit here as well \nbecause the worshippers do not require light to \nperform their duties. See Appendix Three: The Temple \n for a map of the temple. If the characters use light, the \nDrow are ready for them. If they do not use light, roll \nListen checks for the Drow to hear the adventurers \ncoming. \n \nAt each APL, the Drow are accompanied by \nvarious slaves who fight to protect the priest they do so \nwithout receiving orders and keep fighting even if \ntheir Drow masters have been killed. \nAPL 2 (EL 4) \n \n� Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf (Drow) Cleric \n2; hp 15. Appendix One. \n \n� Goblins (4): hp 5. Monster Manual pp 133. \nAPL 4 (EL 6) \n \n� Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf (Drow) Cleric \n3; hp 32. Appendix One. \n \n� Hobgoblin Fighter (5): male humanoid \n(goblin) Fighter 1; hp 13 each. Appendix One. \nAPL 6 (EL 8) \n \n \n� Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf (Drow) Cleric \n5; hp 41. Appendix One. \n \n� Hobgoblin Fighter (3): male humanoid \n(goblin) Fighter 3; hp 26. Appendix One. \n \n� Hobgoblin Rogue: male humanoid (goblin) \nRogue 2; hp 15. Appendix One. \nAPL 8 (EL 10) \n \n� Cleric of Vhaeraun, male elf (Drow) Cleric \n7; hp 60. Appendix One. \n \n� Drider Sorcerer: hp 45. Monster Manual pp. \n89. \n \n� Bugbear Fighter (2): medium humanoid \nFighter 2; hp 34. Appendix One. \nAPL 10 (EL 12) \n \n� Cleric of Vhaeraun, male elf (Drow) Cleric 7 \n/War Priest 2; hp 66. Appendix One. \n \n� Drider Sorcerer (1): hp 45. Monster Manual \npp. 89 \n \n� Umber Hulk (2): hp 71. Monster Manual pp \n248. \n \n� Bugbear Fighter (2): medium humanoid \nFighter 5; hp 63. Appendix One. \nAPL 12 (EL 14) \n \n� Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf (Drow) Cleric \n7/Warpriest 4; hp 66. Appendix One. \n \n� Drider \nSorcerer \n(2): \nlarge \naberration \nSorcerer 3; hp 64, 44. Appendix One. \n \n� Umber Hulk (2): hp 71. Monster Manual pp \n248. \n \nTactics: At all APLs, the Drow attack to kill the \nperson(s) with the least amount of armor. There is no \nhonor here, just determination to kill as quickly as \npossible. Swarming and overwhelming tactics are used. \nThe slaves are used to absorb attacks of opportunity in \norder to afford the tougher Drow a chance to engage a \nsoft-body. Any individual wielding a melee weapon is \nignored in favor of engaging a caster or an archer. \nConcentrate all attacks until one drops. Keep in mind \nthat Drow are ruthless and do not give any quarter. \n \nAPL 6: The hobgoblin fighters focus their attacks \non one foe at a time using their Power Attack and \nShield Mate feats along with the rogue. \n \nAPL10-12: The umber hulks wait until they feel \nthe entire party enter the room and combat begins. \nThey burrow through the walls to attack the rear of the \nparty (effectively supporting the Drow). If some \ncharacters separate from the party (say by staying in the \nstairway), the umber hulks try to move in to flank. All \nthe villains are unaffected by the umber hulks gaze \nattack due to a magical blindfold they are all wearing. \n \nDevelopment: If any of the villains are caught and \nquestioned, they bite down on a poison-filled tooth and \ncommit suicide in order not to be questioned. \n \nIf the party searches the cleric, they will find a \nnote on how to disable the trap on the secret door in \nhis room. They can find the secret passage that leads \nfrom the temple into the UnderOerth with a successful \nsearch DC 20. \n \nENCOUNTER 4: INTO THE \nDARKNESS \nThe passage way leads for miles and miles into the \ndarkness. The further you travel, the more you can \nfeel the land over your head pressing down upon \nyou and there are times when you feel as if you \nmight suffocate in the closeness around you. \n \nYou travel for the better part of two days and \nperhaps begin to wonder if you will ever find the \nDrow you seek. \n \nAllow for a Track check DC 15 to locate and follow the \ntrail of booted feet. Some of the footprints are small \nhumanoids and some are large. The tracks eventually \nlead to the drow encampment \n \nOn the second day, read or paraphrase the \nfollowing. \n \nThe silence of the caverns is shattered by the \nsound of a conflict nearby. Listening closely, you \ncan tell which of the branching caverns it is \ncoming from although it sounds like it is echoing \nfrom everywhere. \n \nRoll initiative and allow the characters to respond, if \nthey go to investigate, read or paraphrase the below \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 10 \n\ntext. The battle is taking place in the next cavern, \nwhich is about a hundred yards from the party’s \ncurrent location. \n \nIf they do not go to investigate, the fight comes to \nthem so adjust the below text accordingly. (See Player \nHandout Three: Visual Aids, for a picture of the \nDesmodu you can share with the players.) \n \nAs you come upon the area where you know the \nsounds were coming from, you see a strange sight. \n \nFleeing from a group Drow and other \ncreatures is a small humanoid that appears to be \npart human, part bat. He is making a high-pitched \nsound that you can barely hear, almost as if he is \nscreaming in fear. Lying several yards behind him \nis one of the largest bats you have ever seen in \nyour life. Even those among you with no healing \nskill can tell that the bat person is losing the battle \nand will be dead soon if no one intervenes. \n \nA Knowledge (nature or local NMR) check of DC 19 \nreveals that the bat-like creature is a Desmodu, a type of \nhumanoid that not only resembles a bat, but is closely \nassociated with raising them as war-trained mounts as \nwell. This particular Desmodu is a child or juvenile, not \nan adult. Desmodu are highly isolationists creatures. \n \nIf Danak is directly attacked by any of the \ncharacters, he will go into a fully defensive posture and \nwill cower away from them. \nAll APLs \n \n� Danak: small monstrous humanoid; AC 14; \nhp 30 (wounded). \nAPL 2 (EL 3) \n \n� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 1; \nhp 6; Appendix One. \n \n� Goblins (4): hp 5. Monster Manual pp 133. \nAPL 4 (EL 5) \n \n� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 3; \nhp 13. Appendix One. \n \n� Hobgoblin (5): hp 6. Monster Manual pp 29. \nAPL 6 (EL 7) \n \n� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 5; \nhp 19. Appendix One. \n \n� Troglodyte (5): hp 13. Monster Manual pp 246. \nAPL 8 (EL 9) \n \n� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 7; \nhp 23. Appendix One. \n \n� Bugbear (5): hp 16 each. Monster Manual pp \n29. \nAPL 10 (EL 11) \n \n� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 9; \nhp 30. Appendix One. \n \n� Minotaur (5): hp 39 each. Monster Manual \npp 188. \nAPL 12 (EL 13) \n \n� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard \n9/Acolyte of the Skin 2; hp 41. Appendix One. \n \nDestrachan (2): hp 60 each. Monster Manual pp 49. \n \n� Minotaur (2): hp 39 each. Monster Manual \npp 188. \n \nTactics: The adventurers are the immediate threat \nhere. Fear of discovery drives the Drow to attack and \nbattle to the death. These foes forego any melee \ncombat, looking for unarmored casters and/or archers. \nAll attacks are targeted at a lone individual until that \nperson drops or retreats. This tactic is repeated \nwhenever possible. The Desmodu is unable to assist in \nthe fight because he is too weak. \n \nDevelopment: If the characters kill off the Drow and \ntheir minions and the Desmodu lives, go to Encounter \n5: Denizens of Underoerth. \n \nIf the Desmodu is killed by the creatures he is \nconfronting, or by the party, they DO NOT meet the \nDesmodu! Proceed directly to Encounter 6: The Dream. \n \nAR REWARDS \n• \nIf the party saves the Desmodu Youth, they receive \nthe “Favor of the Desmodu” AR award. \n• \nIf the party allows the Desmodu Youth to be killed \nat the hands of his attackers, they receive the \n“Failure to Contact the Desmodu” AR award. \n• \nIf any party member or members actively \nparticipates in the death of the Desmodu Youth, \nthey receive the “Enmity of the Desmodu” AR \naward. \nENCOUNTER 5: DENIZENS \nOF UNDEROERTH \nThe Desmodu speaks Undercommon and Terran, in \naddition to a language of their own (Desmodu). If no \none speaks these languages, he pantomimes his \nappreciation and signal for the party to follow him. \n \nIf anyone speaks any of these languages, he thanks \nthem and tell them the following information. Danak \nmay also communicate this if the characters role-play it \nwith sign language or drawing. \n• \nHis race is called the Desmodu. \n• \nHis name is Danak. \n• \nThe creatures that he was fighting have been \nattacking their settlement for several weeks now. \n• \nHe was testing out his mother’s new bat and was \nnot supposed to have flown so far from their \nenclave. \n• \nHe is going to be in big trouble when his mother \nfinds out what he’s done. \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 11 \n\nDanak leads you for several miles through \ntwisting tunnels further under ground. You are \ncertain that if he was not guiding you, that you \nwould become quickly lost. \n \nFinally, he leads you into the largest cavern \nyou have seen yet. The high ceiling is filled with \nstalagmites and the sounds of life. Not only is the \ncavern full of other Desmodu, but with bats of \nvarying sizes as well. For those who have seen the \nbats raised by the dwarves of the Greyhills, you can \ntell that these bats are different. \n \nAs you stand gazing about, your guide emits \nthe same high-pitched sound you heard before. A \nflurry of activity from the roof of the cavern is \nheard in response. \n \nSeveral large Desmodu begin to gather and \nafter a brief conversation with the guide, they turn \nto you. \n \n \nThe oldest of the Desmodu steps forward and \nin a halting common, she says, “Thank you for \nhelping my son. Please feel free to rest here for the \nnight, but in the morning you must be on your \nway.” \n \nShe can answer the following questions: \n• \nWho are you? We are the Desmodu. \n• \nHow long have you lived here? Hundreds of \nyears. \n• \nWho are these others? The group they are \nmeeting with is the council, which is comprised of \nseveral male and female Desmodu. \n• \nWhat does the council do? The council handles \naffairs that concern the entire settlement, but the \nsettlement is primarily made up of individual \nfamily groups. \n• \nDid you raise all of these bats? Yes, we ride \nthem into battle and use them for patrolling. \n• \nAre the bats for sale? No, they are like family to \nus and we would never sell them. \n• \nHave you seen Drow lately? Yes, we have been \nhaving trouble with a new settlement of dark \nelves. \n• \nHave you fought the Drow more than this \nonce? Yes, we have lost many warriors to battles \nwith the dark elves. \n• \nDo you know where the Drow encampment \nis? Yes, we can give you directions. \n• \nCan you help us fight the Drow? No, we do not \nwant to be involved in your argument with them; \nwe have enough trouble of our own. \n• \nHow big is the Drow enclave? They have \noccupied an immense cavern and have many, \nmany Drow and slaves within. (The impression \ngiven is in the hundreds) \n• \nHow far is the Drow enclave? Two days’ journey \nfrom here. \n \nDevelopment: The Desmodu are mostly indifferent to \nthe characters, but they offer to trade some of their \nitems with the party. They are looking for new and \nunusual items and are shrewd enough not to allow \nthemselves to be cheated. If they feel any of the \ncharacters are trying to cheat them, they insist the \nparty leave. Any trades for Desmodu items must occur \nnow. The Desmodu make it very clear that they do not \nwant to see these surface dwellers any time in the near \nfuture and repeat visits would not be welcome. \n \nIf the party treats them fairly, they are allowed to \nstay the night in the Desmodu cavern. \n \nItems for trade include: \n• \nBreathing Mask This mask covers the user’s \nwhole face and provides fresh air for up to 4 hours. \nThe air supply can be replaced. (1,000 gp). \n• \nWire Cable: This cable is thinner, stronger, and \nlighter than silk rope. It has 10 hp and hardness 5. \nIt can be burst with a Strength check at DC 32. (25 \ngp) \n• \nCablespool: This gadget can carry 100 feet of \ncable in an enclosed reel. The spring-wound reel \ncan pull in 100 feet of cable in 1 round with a \nStrength of 16. (125 gp) \n• \nFrostfire: This sticky adhesive substance drains \naway heat when exposed to air or moisture (SS47) \n(40 gp) \n• \nBladefire: Similar to alchemist’s fire but applied to \nweapons lasts 1d6 rounds, provides light as a torch, \nthe weapon deals 1 point of fire damage. \n(A&EG33) \nENCOUNTER 6: THE DREAM \nAllow the party to travel on, either after leaving the \nDrow encampment, or after failing to save the \nDesmodu. \n \nAs the party beds down for the night, pull aside \nthe person who was given the token by Lord Underley. \nIf they have discarded the token, pull them aside just \nthe same. If that person is protected by a protection from \nevil, choose another person at random. This person \nreceives a dream in the night. Read or paraphrase the \nfollowing: \nYou fall into a fitful sleep that seems haunted by \nthe events of the day and just as you think you are \nfinally slipping towards peaceful dreams, you feel \nas if your arms and legs are being held down. You \nrealize that you are lying in the center of a huge \nweb and you are surrounded by thousands of large \nspiders. One of them approaches you and then \nchanges shape, transforming into. Shi’raena \nTeken’afin. \n \n“Do not be alarmed,” she says with upraised \nhands. “This is only a dream. I have been following \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 12 \n\nyour progress and have discovered that you will be \ncoming to a very large encampment of Vhaeraun \nfollowers. Unfortunately, you will not be able to \npenetrate the camp to find those you seek without \nsome assistance.” \n \nShe smiled grimly as she continued, “I have a \nlarge army waiting to attack the camp. However, \nthey know we are coming and have begun a ritual \nto summon a powerful demon. I need you and \nyour friends to stop that ceremony in order for us \nto succeed.” \n \n“I have sent an invisible agent into the area \nwhere you are sleeping and he has left you \nsomething that will prevent your death at the \nhands of my own troops. They are badges that \nidentify you as friends of House Teken’afin. Wear \nthem.” \n \n“Your attack should be focus on a side cavern \nwith the Mask of Vhaerun over it. That is where \nthey are performing their summoning ritual. My \npeople will aid you as long as they are able to see \nthat you get there. Good hunting.” \n \nHer voice fades off into the dream and you \nfind yourself waking. Lying beside you is a black \nleather bag that you do not recognize. \n \nThe bag contains Drow house insignia. They have no \npower other than to identify the wearer as a friend of \nHouse Teken’afin. (A picture of the symbol on the \nbadge can be found in Player Handout Three: Visual \nAids). \nENCOUNTER 7: ENEMY OF \nMY ENEMY \nAllow the characters to decide how to get to the camp. \nOnce they are down, they have to make their way \nacross to the open area in the center of the camp where \nthe ritual is taking place. See Appendix Four: The \nSummoning Cave \n \nOnce the characters have made their plans to \nreach it, Shi’reana launches her assault. The entire \nnorthern wall of the cave explodes and thousand of vile \ncreatures poor in. The clash of the two Drow houses \nhas begun. \nIt takes the party several rounds to \ncross to the ritual area and they are coming in from the \nsouth. All entrances to the cavern are guarded and \nthere are hundreds of Drow and slaves in the area. \nHowever, most of the combatants head to the north of \nthe cavern when Shi’raena and her army attack. This \ngives the party the needed distraction in order to make \ntheir way to the summoning circle. \n \n Along the way they encounter various Drow; \nsome who belong to the House Rilyn‘Virr and some to \nthe House Teken’afin. When those from the Teken’afin \nhouse see the badges the characters are wearing, they \nturn aside to attack any of the House Rilyn‘Virr Drow \nor slaves instead. \n \nFeel free to freeform this part of the encounter as \nyou see fit. \n \nOnce they reach the cave in which the ceremony \nis taking place, the party has to make their way down a \n40 foot long, 10 foot high, tunnel before reaching the \nentrance. \n \nThe cave itself is unlit except for the glow of magic \ncoming from the summoning circle in the middle. \n \nBefore the party enters the cave, they are met by \nthe guards and their ‘guard dogs’. In addition, the \ncavern is unhallowed with a dispel magic tied to it (cast at \n10th level). \n \nSee Appendix Four: The Summoning Cave for a \nmap of the cave. \nAPL 2 (EL 5) \n \n� Displacer Beast: hp 51. Monster Manual pp \n66. \n \n� Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Fighter 1; hp \n12. Appendix One. \nAPL 4 (EL 7) \n \n� Advanced Displacer Beast: hp 76. See \nAppendix One. \n \n� Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Fighter 2; hp \n28; Appendix One. \nAPL 6 (EL 9) \n \n� Advanced Displacer Beast (2): hp 76, 75. See \nAppendix One. \n \n� Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Fighter 6; hp \n57; Appendix One. \nAPL 8 (EL 11) \n \n� Hound of the Gloom: hp 156. Appendix \nOne. \n \n� Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male medium \ndragon (elf) Fighter 4; hp 62; Appendix One. \n \n� Drow Monk: male medium humanoid (elf) \nMonk 7; hp 53; Appendix One. \nAPL 10 (EL 13) \n \n� Hound of the Gloom (3): hp 156 each. \nAppendix One. \n \n� Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male medium \ndragon (elf) Fighter 7; hp 84; Appendix One. \n \n� Drow Monk: male medium humanoid (elf) \nMonk 9; hp 72; Appendix One. \nAPL 12 (EL 15) \n \n� Advanced Hound of the Gloom (3): hp 216 \neach. Appendix One. \n \n� Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male medium \ndragon (elf) Fighter 9; hp 117; Appendix One. \n \n� Drow Monk: male medium humanoid (elf) \nMonk 9; hp 72; Appendix One. \n \nTactics: These Drow are more dangerous than their \ncounterparts. The animals engage the first target they \ncan, and the intelligent combatants use this distraction \nto try to kill any caster as quick as possible. If anybody \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 13 \n\nshows any ranged attacks during combat, the \nintelligent creature seeks any cover possible and \ncontinue their deadly attacks on the casters. \nDISRUPTING THE RITUAL \nThe characters only need to take out one of the clerics \n(causing damage, enchanting, distracting, etc) from the \nsummoning circle to disrupt the ceremony. If the party \nis successful in doing so, which is the general idea here, \nthen read the following. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nAll APLs \n \n� Drow Clerics (6): medium elf (drow); AC 16; \nhp 40; (Concentration +10+APL). \nThe shimmering that had begun in the circle fades \naway with a nightmarish cry that rings out over \nthe encampment. You sigh in relief that the \ncreature being called did not arrive and that you \nwere successful. \n \nAll drow clerics die from the backlash of power as the \nritual is interrupted. If the characters want to chase \nthem down and kill them, let them do so, but they get \nno XP for this. \n \n \nTroubleshooting: If by some odd chance the party \ndoes not interrupt the ceremony, a hideous creature \nappears in the summoning circle. \n \nIf this happens, they have lost the fight and should \nrealize that they need to flee in order to survive. The \ncreature teleports out of the cavern to the front lines of \nthe battle to join the fray on the side of House \nRilyn‘Virr. \n \nGo to the conclusion if the fight is lost. \nENCOUNTER 8: THE BATTLE \nIS WON \nAt the conclusion of the battle, if the party is \nsuccessful, read or paraphrase the following: \nThe cavern is filled with the smell of smoke and \nblood, but you are victorious over those that \nattacked you. As you stand surveying the carnage \nand watching the fleeing slaves that lived, you see \nShi’raena Teken’afin crossing the battlefield \ntoward you. \nShe is followed by several warriors, as well as \npriestesses \ncarrying \nwhips \nwith \nwrithing \nsnakeheads and a hideous creature. It looks like a \ntentacled blob of melted wax and you can smell a \nfoul stench coming from it as it draws near. \n \nAsk of a Knowledge (the planes) check DC16 to \nidentify \nthe \ncreature \nas \na \nYochlol \n(Lolth’s \nhandmaidens). Give out the picture of the Yochlol on \nPlayer Handout Three: Visual Aids. If the characters \nfail to identify the creature, make sure you remove the \nname from the handout. \n“Well done,” she says as she looks you over. “I \nbelieve this is what you were seeking.” \nAs she says this, two of the other female Drow \nstep forward and drop the unconscious bodies of \ntwo male Drow at your feet. \n \n“Here are your assassins. They will be \nconscious in a few hours and you can question \nthem if you like. I would suggest you keep them \nbound and unconscious however. After all, they \nwere powerful enough to take out your Contessa” \nShe smiles at all of you, “I want to thank all of \nyou for your assistance in this matter. This was a \ngreat victory for Lolth and us. Perhaps, we can \nwork together again in the future.” \n \nShe begins to walk away and then, as if in an \nafterthought, she turns back to you. “If you would \nlike, I could take those two off your hands and \ngive them a punishment much more fitting than \nwhat you would give them.” \n \nLet the party decide if they want to give up the \nassassins to the priestess. Regardless of what they \ndecide, she does not reveal any emotion; she simply \nleaves with, or without, the assassins. However, a Sense \nMotive of DC 27 will reveal that she is not happy with \nthe group’s decision to keep the assassins, or that she is \necstatic that she has them in her possession depending \non the character’s decision. \nINTERROGATING THE ASSASSINS \nIf the party keeps the assassins, they have the following \ninformation that they tell the party if they manage to \nbully it out of them with a DC 20 Intimidate check. \n(This information is repeated in the conclusion if they \nassassins are taken to Lord Underley.) \n• \nWhy did you kill the Contessa? We were sent \nby House Rilyn‘Virr to take out the Contessa to \ncreate strife in the County. \n• \nWho sent you? The head of house Rilyn’Virr. He \nsaid he was paid to do so by someone else, but we \ndo not know who. \n• \nWho else helped you? We have been working \nthrough the Viper Rogue’s Guild. They were our \nsource of information. \n• \nWhy can we not contact the Contessa spirit? \nThe weapon we used to kill the Contessa was a \nthinaun blade. \n• \nWhere is that blade now? The blade was sold to a \npowerful Drow in the Fennelmore swamp who \nhad his own interest in it. \n• \nHow did you end up in Holbrook first? The \nteleport went awry and we ended up off course \nIf the party does not keep the assassins and gives them \nShi’raena, go to the conclusion. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 14 \n\n \nIf they keep the assassins, go to the next encounter \nonly if you have time, and your party has agreed to play \nthe optional encounter. \n \nTroubleshooting: If the party decides to attack the \nLolth priestess and her entourage, then narrate their \ndefeat and capture by the Drow. The odds against them \nare overwhelming and impossible to beat in this \ninstance. She is here with an army that can beat the \ncharacters down and not kill them; however, they are \nenslaved. Alternatively, any hero abandoned in the \ncaves during the fights are also enslaved. \n \nThe characters are kept captive for 20 TU's and \nthen will be rescued through negotiations by Lord \nUnderley. They will also receive the enmity of Lord \nUnderley and the Drow priestess, which you should \nnote on their AR. \n \nENCOUNTER 9 (OPTIONAL): \nRUNNING THE GAUNTLET \nThis encounter is an additional encounter the \ncharacters may fight. It costs them one additional TU \nfor characters from the County and 2 for out-of-\ntowners. Run this optional encounter only if you have \ntime and only if the characters have decided to take the \nassassins with them. \n \nShi’raena has no liking for the surface dwellers \nwho aided her in this mission. In addition, if word \nwere to get out that she had their aid, she would be \nshamed before the other, more powerful Drow leaders. \nTherefore, Shi’raena sends some of her minions after \nthe characters in an effort to stop them from reaching \nthe surface with their tale. \n \nOf course, she could have simply killed them after \nthe battle, and blamed it on the circumstances, but she \nhad no idea if the characters were being watched by \nanyone else; much better to do the deed on the sly. \n \nAs the party makes its way back to the surface, \nthey are attacked first by some summoned creatures \nthat Shi’raena has placed ahead of them, then by some \nmore powerful beings. \n \nThese encounters run back-to-back with no rest \nbetween. Therefore, allow APLs 2-6 to rest before \ngiving them the optional encounters. Do not allow \nAPLs 8 and up to do so. \nENCOUNTER 9A: THE ITSY \nBITSY SPIDER \nThese spiders are all the result of insane experiments \nmade in the secret laboratories of house Teken’afin. \nThese spiders are loyal to the priestesses of Lolth and \nbelieve themselves to be divine in origin. \n \nThey are vicious and murderous creatures intent \non causing as much death and chaos as they can. Their \npredatory nature makes them ideal guard for those who \nworship the Queen of the Demonweb Pits. \n \nShi’raena has sent them to try and recover the \nassassins to use in vile experiments. \nAPL2 (EL3) \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped medium monstrous \nspider (2): hp15 each, see Appendix One \n \n� Fiendish spider swarm: hp 9, see Appendix \nOne \nAPL4 (EL5) \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped large monstrous \nspider: hp30, see Appendix One \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped medium monstrous \nspider: hp15, see Appendix One \n \n� Fiendish spider swarm: hp 9, see Appendix \nOne \nAPL6 (EL7) \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large \nmonstrous spider: hp52, see Appendix One \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped large monstrous \nspider: hp30, see Appendix One \nAPL8 (EL9) \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large \nmonstrous spiders (2): hp 52 each. See Appendix \nOne \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped large monstrous \nspiders (2): hp30 each, see Appendix One \nAPL10 (EL10) \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large \nmonstrous spider: hp93, see Appendix One \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large \nmonstrous spider: hp52, see Appendix One \nAPL12 (EL13) \n \n� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large \nmonstrous spiders (3): hp93, see Appendix One \n \nTactics: The spiders are latched to the ceiling of the \ncavern and come down where they try to Snatch small \nparty members first. The swarms merely go down and \ntry to hurt as many people they can. These creatures \nARE intelligent and the swarms move to avoid hurting \ntheir mothers. \n \nDevelopment: If the characters abandon the assassins, \nthe attack will be broken off and the second attack will \nnot happen. \n \nIf any of the characters are captured in this \nencounter, they will be enslaved for 20 TU’s until their \nrelease can be obtained. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 15 \n\nENCOUNTER 9B: WELCOME \nTO MY PARLOR \nShi’raena decides to step it up a bit on this next part of \nthe hero’s escape from the UnderOerth, by sending \nsomething decidedly different after them. However, \nshe is willing to negotiate with them for the release of \nthe prisoners, so she sends a Halfling along with the \nmonsters. \n \nHe speaks to the group first and offers them coin \nin return for the assassins. For each APL, the coin \nvaries (see the Treasure section). \n \nIf the party accepts the money in exchange for the \nassassins, the monsters leave, taking the Halfling slave \nand the assassins with them. \nAll APLs (Non-combatant) \n \n� Drogo \nBracegirdle: \nmale \nhalfling \nCommoner 3; hp 6. \nAPL 2 (EL 3) \n \n � Half Fiend Draegloth: hp 39. Appendix \nOne. \nAPL 4 (EL 5) \n \n� Half Fiend Draegloth (2): hp 39 each. \nAppendix One. \nAPL 6 (EL 7) \n \n� Yochlol (2): hp 33. Appendix One. \nAPL 8 (EL 9) \n \n� Yochlol (2): hp 33. Appendix One. \n \n� Succubus: hp 33. Monster Manual pp 47. \nAPL 10 (EL 11) \n \n� Yochlol (2): hp 33. Appendix One. \n \n� Succubus: hp 33. Monster Manual pp 47. \n \n� Aspect of Lolth: hp 105. Appendix One. \nAPL 12 (EL 12) \n \n� Yochlol (2): hp 33. Appendix One. \n \n� Succubus: hp 33. Monster Manual pp 47. \n \n� Aspect of Lolth: hp 105. Appendix One. \n \n� Herzou: hp 138. Monster Manual pp 44. \n \nTactics: At the upper APLs, the Halfling is flanked by \nthe Yochlol in their female Drow form and the \nsuccubus in the form of another Halfling. Any other \nmonsters are standing 30 feet behind the Halfling as he \nmakes his offer. They too look like female drow if that \nis their ability. \n \nIf the party does not negotiate with the Halfling \nfor the assassins, the monsters attack immediately. The \nHalfling hides in order to stay safe and see if the \ncharacters are victorious. \n \nIf any of the characters begins to cast a spell \nduring the negotiations, no matter what the spell is, the \nenemy will attack and negotiations are broken off. \n \nThese spell-wielding enemies use every power at \ntheir disposal to slay the party at their leisure. Make \nsure to read and understand their magical abilities, \nutilize this to best watch, and then engage the party \n \nDevelopment: If the characters abandon, or trade for, \nthe assassins, the attack is either broken off, or will not \noccur. In which case they still get full experience for \nthe encounter. \n \nIf any of the characters are captured in this \nencounter, they will be enslaved for 20 TU’s until their \nrelease can be obtained. \n \nIf the characters rescue Drogo Bracegirdle, he tells \nthem his story. See the Adventure Background. \n \nCONCULSION: REPORTING \nIN \nRegardless of their success, the party knows that they \nneed to report to Lord Underley. \nTHE PARTY HAS THE ASSASSINS \n \nIf they were successful and have the assassins with \nthem, read or paraphrase the following. \n \nLord Underley looks pleased now that he has in \nhis possession the Drow who killed the Contessa. \n \n“Well done, well done indeed. You have \nhonored yourselves and the County and you will \nbe lauded as characters.” \n \nLord Underley has the two assassins seated before him, \nwith several guards present, and he interrogates them \nafter a zone of truth has been cast. \nINTERROGATING THE ASSASSINS \n• \nWhy did you kill the Contessa? We were sent \nby House Rilyn‘Virr to take out the Contessa to \ncreate strife in the County \n• \nWho sent you? The head of house Rilyn’Virr. He \nsaid he was paid to do so by someone else, but we \ndo not know who. \n• \nWho else helped you? We have been working \nthrough the Viper Rogue’s Guild. They were our \nsource of information. \n• \nWhy can we not contact the Contessa spirit? \nThe weapon we used to kill the Contessa was a \nthinaun blade. \n• \nWhere is that blade now? The blade was sold to a \npowerful Drow in the Fennelmore swamp who \nhad his own interest in it. \n• \nHow did you end up in Holbrook first? The \nteleport went awry and we ended up off course \n \nAfter the interrogation, Lord Underley has the \nassassins removed and then thanks the characters once \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 16 \n\nagain. They receive his favor, which is indicated on the \nAR. \nTHE PARTY DOES NOT HAVE THE ASSASSINS \nIf the characters were not successful in stopping the \nritual or if they gave or abandoned the assassins to \nShi’raena and thus do not have the assassins with them, \nread or paraphrase the following. \nIt is obvious that Lord Underley is upset with your \nfailure and dismisses you out of hand. Before you \nleave, however, a page enters the room and gives \nLord Underley a note, which he reads his face \ntwisting with rage. He angrily tosses the note into \nthe fireplace and storms out of the room. \n \nIf any of the characters retrieve the note from the cold \nfireplace, give them Player Handout Five: the Note \nfrom Shi’raena. \n \nThe bottom of the note has a mark that matches \nthe badges that the characters were given, the symbol \nof house Teken’afin. \n \nThe characters receive the “Enmity of Lord \nUnderley” and the Favor of the Teken’afin House. \nTAKEN BY THE DROW \nIf the characters attacked Shi’raena Teken’afin after the \nbattle in the Drow encampment, they are prisoners of \nthe Drow. In addition, the Drow assassins also are also \ntaken by Shi’raena. In this instance, Lord Underley \narranges for the release of the characters after 20 TUs.. \nHowever, the assassins are not released. \n \nBefore the characters return to the County, they \nare given a note to deliver to Lord Underley by \nShi’raena. If they break the seal and read it, give them \nPlayer Handout Five: the Note from Shi’raena. \n \nIf they continue on to report to Lord Underley, \nread or paraphrase the following if they give him the \nletter from Shi’raena: \n \nLord Underley reads the note and frowns. “It \nseems you have cost me more than just your \nrelease.” He is obviously upset with your failure \nand dismisses you out of hand. \n \nCharacters captured by the Drow receive the Enmity of \nLord Underley. \nAR REWARDS \n• \nCharacters who attacked Shi’raena at the start of \nthe adventure receive the “Jailed for Treason”, \n“Disfavor of Lord Jacobis Underley”, and “Enmity \nof House Teken’afin”. \n• \nCharacters who did not bring back the bodies of \nthe assassins (dead or alive) receive the “Disfavor \nof Lord Jacobis Underley” AR award. \n• \nAny hero was captured by the Drow receives the \n“Slave of House Teken’afin” AR Reward, as well as \nthe “Disfavor of Lord Jacobis Underley” AR award. \n• \nIf the characters handed the assassins (or their \nbodies) to the Drow, they receive the “Favor of \nHouse Teken’afin” AR Reward. \n• \nIf the characters rescued Drogo Bracegirdle, they \nwill receive the “Favor of the Applebee Halfling \nCommunity” AR reward. \nThe End \nEXPERIENCE POINT \nSUMMARY \nTo award experience for this adventure, add up the \nvalues for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the \nexperience award. Award the total value (objectives \nplus roleplaying) to each character. \nEncounter 3: Nothing is what it appears to be \nDefeat the cleric and his slaves, as well as get the \ninformation leading to the Drow encampment. \nAPL 2 \n \n \n \n120 XP \nAPL 4 \n \n \n \n180 XP \nAPL 6 \n \n \n \n240 XP \nAPL 8 \n \n \n \n300 XP \nAPL 10 \n \n \n360 XP \nAPL 12 \n \n \n420 XP \nEncounter 4: Into the Darkness \nRescue the Desmodu from his attackers \nAPL 2 \n \n \n \n90 XP \nAPL 4 \n \n \n \n150 XP \nAPL 6 \n \n \n \n210 XP \nAPL 8 \n \n \n \n270 XP \nAPL 10 \n \n \n330 XP \nAPL 12 \n \n \n390 XP \nEncounter 7: Enemy of My Enemy \nDisrupt the Drow ritual of summoning. \nAPL 2 \n \n \n \n150 XP \nAPL 4 \n \n \n \n210 XP \nAPL 6 \n \n \n \n270 XP \nAPL 8 \n \n \n \n330 XP \nAPL 10 \n \n \n390 XP \nAPL 12 \n \n \n450 XP \nEncounter 9A: The Itsy Bitsy Spider \nDefeat the spiders. \nAPL 2 \n \n \n \n90 XP \nAPL 4 \n \n \n \n150 XP \nAPL 6 \n \n \n \n210 XP \nAPL 8 \n \n \n \n270 XP \nAPL 10 \n \n \n330 XP \nAPL 12 \n \n \n390 XP \nEncounter 9B: Welcome to my Parlor \nDefeat the minions of Shi’raena. \nAPL 2 \n \n \n \n90 XP \nAPL 4 \n \n \n \n150 XP \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 17 \n\nAPL 6 \n \n \n \n210 XP \nAPL 8 \n \n \n \n270 XP \nAPL 10 \n \n \n330 XP \nAPL 12 \n \n \n390 XP \nDiscretionary roleplaying award \nAPL 2 \n \n \n \n90 XP \nAPL 4 \n \n \n \n135 XP \nAPL 6 \n \n \n \n180 XP \nAPL 8 \n \n \n \n225 XP \nAPL 10 \n \n \n330 XP \nAPL 12 \n \n \n390 XP \nTotal possible experience: \nAPL 2 \n \n \n \n450 XP \nAPL 4 \n \n \n \n675 XP \nAPL 6 \n \n \n \n900 XP \nAPL 8 \n \n \n \n1,125 XP \nAPL 10 \n \n \n1,350 XP \nAPL 12 \n \n \n1,575 XP \nTotal possible experience from the optional \nencounters: \nAPL 2 \n \n \n \n180 XP \nAPL 4 \n \n \n \n300 XP \nAPL 6 \n \n \n \n420 XP \nAPL 8 \n \n \n \n540 XP \nAPL 10 \n \n \n660 XP \nAPL 12 \n \n \n780 XP \nTREASURE SUMMARY \nDuring an adventure, characters encounter treasure, \nusually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every \nencounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section \nwithin the encounter description, giving information \nabout the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the \nencounter’s treasure. \n \nThe loot total is the number of gold pieces each \ncharacter gains if the foes are plundered of all their \nearthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 \nminutes per every 5 enemies, and if the characters \ncannot take the time to loot the bodies, they do not \ngain this gold. If you feel it is reasonable that characters \ncan go back to loot the bodies, and those bodies are \nthere (i.e., not carted off by dungeon scavengers, \nremoved from the scene by the local watch, and so on), \ncharacters may return to retrieve loot. If the characters \ndo not loot the body, the gold piece value for the loot is \nsubtracted from the encounter totals given below. \n \nThe coin total is the number of gold pieces each \ncharacter gains if they take the coin available. A normal \nadventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a \nround or so. If for some reason, they pass up this \ntreasure, the coin total is subtracted from the \nencounter totals given below. \n \nNext, the magic items are listed. Magic item \ntreasure is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are \nvaried and because characters may want to use them \nduring the adventure. Many times characters must cast \nidentify, analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine \nwhat the item does and how to activate it. Other times \nthey may attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic \nitem is consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) \nand the item is used before the end of the adventure, its \ntotal is subtracted from the adventure totals below. \n \nOnce you have subtracted the value for unclaimed \ntreasure from each encounter add it up and that is the \nnumber of gold pieces a characters total and coin value \nincrease at the end of the adventure. Write the total in \nthe GP Gained field of the adventure certificate. \n \nLoot = Looted gear from enemy; Coin = Coin, \nGems, Jewelry, and other valuables; Magic = Magic \nItems. \nEncounter 3: Nothing is what it appears to be \n \nAPL 2: Loot: 34 gp; Coin: 120 gp each; Magic: 17 \ngp; cure light wounds potion (17 gp each); Total 171 gp \neach. \n \nAPL 4: Loot: 8 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 821 gp; cure \nlight wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385 gp \neach); breastplate +1 (225 gp each); buckler +1 (194 gp \neach); Total 966 gp each. \n \nAPL 6: Loot: 8 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 3488 gp; cure \nlight wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385 gp \neach); breastplate +1 (225 gp each); buckler +1 (194 gp \neach); periapt of wisdom +4 (2667 gp each); Total 3496 \neach. \n \nAPL 8: Loot: 8 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 6488 gp; cure \nlight wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385 gp \neach); breastplate +1 (225 gp each); buckler +1 (194 gp \neach); ring of protection +3 (3000 gp each); periapt of \nwisdom +4 (2667 gp each); Total 6503 gp each. \n \nAPL 10: Loot: 15 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 13247 gp; \ncure light wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385 \ngp each); Banded Mail of Luck (3150 gp each); animated \nmithral heavy steel shield +1 (1695 gp each); ring of \nprotection +4 (5333 gp each); periapt of wisdom +4 (2667 \ngp each); Total 13462 gp each. \n \nAPL 12: Loot: 15 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 15913 gp; \ncure light wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385 \ngp each); Banded Mail of Luck (3150 gp each); animated \nmithral heavy steel shield +1 (1695 gp each); ring of \nprotection +4 (5333 gp each); periapt of wisdom +4 (2667 \ngp each); cloak of charisma +4 (2667 gp each); Total 15928 \ngp each. \nEncounter 4: Into the Darkness \n \nAPL 2: Loot: 9 gp; Coin: 119 gp; Magic: 8 gp; potion \ncure light wounds (8 gp each); safe wing emblem (42 gp \neach); Total: 169 gp each. \n \nAPL 4: Loot: 98 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 8 gp; cure \nlight wounds potion (8 gp each); safe wing emblem (42 gp \neach); Total: 148 gp each. \n \nAPL 6: Loot: 58 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 1717 gp; ring \nof protection +1 (333 gp each); amulet of natural armor +1 \n(667 gp each); headband of intellect +2 (6673 gp each); safe \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 18 \n\nwing emblem (42 gp each); cure light wounds potion (8 gp \neach); Total: 1780 gp each. \n \nAPL 8: Loot: 58 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 3717 gp; ring \nof protection +1 (333 gp each); amulet of natural armor +1 \n(667 gp each); headband of intellect +4 (2667gp each); safe \nwing emblem (42 gp each); cure light wounds potion (8 gp \neach); Total: 3780 gp each. \n \nAPL 10: Loot: 13 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 9835 gp; \nring of protection +3 (3000 gp each); amulet of natural \narmor +1 (667gp each); headband of intellect +4 (2667 gp \neach); safe wing emblem (42 gp each); cure light wounds \npotion (8gp each); sword, short: unholy +1 (3052 gp each); \nTotal: 9853 gp each. \n \nAPL 12: Loot: 13 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 11252 gp; \nring of protection +3 (3000 gp each); amulet of natural \narmor +1 (667 gp each); headband of intellect +4 (2667 gp \neach); safe wing emblem (42 gp each); cure light wounds \npotion (8 gp each); sword, short: unholy +1 (3052gp each); \nhand crossbow +1 (400 gp each); Total: 11269 gp each. \nEncounter 7: Enemy of My Enemy \n \nAPL 2: Loot: 15 gp; Coin: 119 gp; Magic: 8 gp \neach; potion cure light wounds (8 gp each); Total: 142 gp \neach. \n \nAPL 4: Loot: 67gp; Coin: 29 gp; Magic: 0 gp each; \nTotal: 96 gp each. \n \nAPL 6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 3508 gp \neach; spiked chain +1 (2775 gp each); chain mail +2 (717 \ngp each); potion cure light wounds (17 gp each); Total: \n3508 gp each. \n \nAPL 8: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 3508 gp \neach; spiked chain +1 (2775 gp each); chain mail +2 (717 \ngp each); potion cure light wounds (17gp each); Total: \n3508 gp each. \n \nAPL 10: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 83 gp; Magic: 17463 gp \neach; spiked chain; human bane, wounding +1 (5388 gp \neach); splint mail +1 (225 gp each); potion cure light \nwounds (17 gp each); belt of giant strength +4 (2667 gp \neach); cloak of elvenkind (417 gp each); boots of elvenkind \n(417 gp each); (gp each); Total: 17546 gp each. \n \nAPL 12: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 83 gp; Magic: 17479 gp \neach; spiked chain; human bane, wounding +1 (5388 gp \neach); splint mail +1 (225 gp each); potion cure light \nwounds (33 gp each); belt of giant strength +4 (2667 gp \neach); cloak of elvenkind (417 gp each); boots of elvenkind \n(417 gp each); ring of protection +5 (8333gp each); Total: \n17562 gp each. \nEncounter 9A: The Itsy Bitsy Spider \n \nAPL 2: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp \n \nAPL 4: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp \n \nAPL 6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp \n \nAPL 8: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp \n \nAPL 10: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp \n \nAPL 12: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp \nEncounter 9B: Welcome to my Parlor \n \nAPL 2: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total \n36 gp each. \n \nAPL 4: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total \n36 gp each. \n \nAPL 6: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total \n36 gp each. \n \nAPL 8: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total \n36 gp each. \n \nAPL 10: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total \n36 gp each. \n \nAPL 12: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total \n36 gp each. \nTotal Possible Treasure \n \nAPL 2: Loot: 58 gp; Coin: 359 gp; Magic: 33 gp; \nTotal: 450 gp. \n \nAPL 4: Loot: 173 gp; Coin: 29 gp; Magic: 829 gp; \nTotal: (1,168 gp) 650 gp. \n \nAPL 6: Loot: 66 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 8,713 gp; \nTotal: (8,784 gp) 900 gp. \n \nAPL 8: Loot: 66 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 13,713 gp; \nTotal: (13,791 gp) 1300 gp. \n \nAPL 10: Loot: 28 gp; Coin: 88 gp; Magic: 40,545 gp; \nTotal: (40,861 gp) 2,300 gp. \n \nAPL 12: Loot: 28 gp; Coin: 88 gp; Magic: 44,644 gp; \nTotal: (44,759 gp) 3,300 gp. \nTotal \nPossible \nTreasure \nfrom \nOptional \nEncounters \n \nAPL 2: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 225 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total: \n225 gp. \n \nAPL 4: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 325 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total: \n325 gp. \n \nAPL 6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 450 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total: \n450 gp. \n \nAPL 8: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 650 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total: \n650 gp. \n \nAPL 10: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 1150 gp; Magic: 0 gp; \nTotal: 1150 gp. \n \nAPL 12: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 1650 gp; Magic: 0 gp; \nTotal: 1650 gp. \n \nSPECIAL \n \nJailed for Treason: You have angered Lord \nUnderley because you attacked the delegate from \nUnderOerth. You spend 10 in jail for treason. \n \nThanks of Lord Underley: This influence point \ncan be used as an influence point or to get access to \nupgrade any standard stat boost item by +2 (+2->+4 and \n+4->+6). The upgraded item must also be found in the \nDMG. Cross off once used. \n \n \nDisfavor of Lord Jacobis Underley: You failed \nin your mission to bring back the Contessa’s \nmurderers. Cancel out any favors you have with Lord \nUnderley. In addition, you suffer a -4 penalty to all rolls \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 19 \n\ndealing with the Underley family and all Underley \nNetwork Agents. If any favors you had gave you social \nbonuses to dealing with nobles of the County, these \nfavors are now cancelled. If you belonged to the \nUnderley \nnetwork, \nyour \nmembership \nrevoked \nimmediately. You can never join or rejoin the network. \n \nFavor of the Desmodu: You were offered items \nfor trade (breathing mask, wire cable, cablespool, \nfrostfire, bladefire (All items can be found in the Arms \nand Equipment Guide) from the Desmodu. (Usable \nthis AR only, may only trade, not pay in gold.) \n \nEnmity of the Desmodu: You were directly \nresponsible for the death of a Desmodu youth. Any \nfuture contact with the Desmodu by you will result in a \nHostile attitude by them. \n \nFailure to Contact the Desmodu: Because of \nyour failure to act, a Desmodu youth died. Any future \ncontact with the Desmodu by you will never result in a \nbetter than Indifferent attitude. \n \nFavor of the Teken’afin House: For giving up \nthe assassins to Shi’raena, you have been favorably \nnoticed by the House of Teken’afin. You have access \n(Adventure) to the following items: elven chain mail, \nboots of elvenkind, cloak of elvenkind at the standard cost \nfrom the DMG. These items are of obvious Drow make \nand carry a -4 social penalty to any elf (except Drow) \nwhile wearing these items. \n \nSlave of the House Teken’afin: You were taken \nalive as a slave into the pits of House Teken’afin. You \nspent 20TUs there as a slave before being released. \nUnless you are immune to fear, anytime you face \nDrow, you take a -2 morale penalty to attacks, this \npenalty increases to -5 if you are facing members of \nHouse Teken’afin OR priestesses of Lolth. On the plus \nside, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to all \nknowledge checks related to the Drow. \n \nEnmity of House Teken’afin: Your name and \ndescription are known. Members of this house who \nmeet you focus their attacks on you first. \n \nFavor of the Applebee Halfling Community: \nThis favor gives you One Influence point with all \nApplebee Halflings. \nITEMS FOR THE ADVENTURE \nRECORD \nItem Access \nAPL 2 and 4: \n• \nSafewing emblem (Adventure, RotW; 250 gp) \nAPL 6 (all of APLs 2-4 plus the following): \n• \nRing of protection +2 (Adventure, DMG; 8,000 gp) \nAPL 8 (all of APLs 2-6 plus the following): \n• \nRing of protection +3 (Adventure, DMG; 18,000 gp) \nAPL 10 (all of APLs 2-8 plus the following): \n• \n+1 Spiked chain; human bane, wounding (Adventure, \nDMG; 32,328 gp) \n• \n+4 Belt of Giant Strength (Adventure, DMG; 16,000 \ngp) \n• \nRing of protection +4 (Adventure, DMG; 32,000 gp \neach) \n• \nHeadband of intellect +4 (Adventure, DMG; 16,000 \ngp each) \n• \nBanded Mail of Luck (Adventure, DMG; 18,900 gp) \n• \nAnimated mithral heavy steel shield +1 (Adventure, \nDMG; 10,170 gp); \n• \nPeriapt of wisdom +4 (Adventure, DMG; 16,000 gp) \nAPL 12 (all of APLs 2-10 plus the following): \n• \nRing of protection +5 (Adventure, DMG; 50,000 gp) \n• \nCloak of charisma +6 (Adventure, DMG; 36,000 gp \neach); \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 20 \n\nAPPENDIX ONE: ALL APLS \nENCOUNTER TWO: MEETING WITH \nTHE ENEMY \nShi’raena Teken’afin: Female elf [Drow] Cleric 14; CR \n15; medium humanoid (elf [Drow]); HD 12d8+24; hp \n93; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 18, flatfooted 24; \nBase Atk +9; Grp +8; \n \nAtk +10 melee (1d6 plus poison, +1 Mace, light); \n \nFull Atk +10/+5 melee (1d6 plus poison, +1 list \nspell-storing mace); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 24, darkvision \n120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +19; Str 8, Dex 12, \nCon 11, Int 14, Wis 24, Cha 18. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +7, Concentration +17, \nDiplomacy +19, Disguise +7, Gather Information +7, \nHeal +24, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (history) +3, \nKnowledge (religion) +4, Knowledge (the planes) +4, \nListen +9, Search +4, Spellcraft +19, Spot +9; chain Spell, \nCorrupt Spell, Divine Metamagic Empower Spell Skill \nFocus: Concentration. \n \nLanguages: \nAbyssal, \nCommon, \nDrow \nSign \nLanguage, Elven, and Undercommon. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared(6/7/7/6/5/4/4/3; base DC = \n15 + spell level ): 0 – [cure minor wounds x2, detect magic, \nread magic, resistance, virtue]; 1st – [cause fear, command, \ncure light wounds x2, inflict light wounds*, obscuring mist, \nshield of faith]; 2nd – [corrupt spell bane, cure moderate \nwounds, deific vengeance, hold person, shatter*, spiritual \nweapon, wave of grief]; 3rd – [close wounds, contagion*, cure \nserious wounds, deeper darkness, magic vestment, ring of \nblades]; 4th – [castigate, cure critical wounds, death ward, \nempowered enthral., unholy blight*]; 5th – [corrupt spell \ncastigate, chain spell hold person, spell immunity]; 6th – \n[blade barrier, disintegrate*, word of recall.] \n \n*Domain spell. Deity [Lolth]; Domains: [Evil (you \ncast evil spell at +1 caster level); Destruction (use the \nsmite power once per day)]. \n \nPossessions: +1 Mace, light: Spell Storing. +1 Elven \nchain: Fortification, Moderate, (75%) Glammered. Bead of \nForce; Circlet of Persuasion; Cloak of Charisma +2; Ring of \nEnergy resistance, fire, Major; periapt of Wisdom +6; Ring of \nProtection +4; Vest of resistance +3; Death Blade Poison \n(1800 gp) (Injury DC 20, Initial 1d6 Con, Secondary \n2d6 Con, DC 25 Craft, Trap CR Modifier +5 \n(A&EG37)). \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 21 \n\nAPPENDIX ONE: APL 2\nENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS \nWHAT IT APPEARS TO BE \nCleric of Vhaeraun: male Elf [Drow] Cleric 2; CR 3; \nMedium Humanoid (Elf); HD 2d8+2; hp 15; Init +0; \nSpd 20 ft.; AC 19, touch 10, flatfooted 19; Base Atk +1; \nGrp +2; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +2 melee (1d6+1 plus poison, sword, \nshort), +2 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire, \nspontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day; \nSQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 13, darkvision \n120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +6; Str 12, Dex 10, \nCon 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 12. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +6, Diplomacy +6, \nDisguise +3, Heal +4, Listen +5, Search +4, Sense \nMotive +5, Spellcraft +7, Spot +5. Combat Casting. \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nGoblin, and Undercommon. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared (4/3; base DC = 13 + spell \nlevel): 0-[resistance, read magic, cure minor wounds, detect \nmagic]; 1st-[longstrider*,Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, shield of \nfaith, cure light wounds]. \n \n*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains: \n[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery \n(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills)]. \n \nPossessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); short sword (10 \ngp); MW splint mail (350 gp); buckler (15 gp); silver \nholy symbol (25 gp); wooden holy symbol(1 gp); spell \ncomponent pouch (2) (10 gp); disguise kit (50 gp); \nDrow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial \ndamage: \nunconsciousness, \n1 \nminute; \nsecondary \ndamage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); cure \nlight wounds potion (2) (100 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE \nDARKNESS \nDrow Wizard: male Drow Wiz1; CR 2; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 1d4+2; hp 6; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC \n16, touch 12, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +0; Grp -1; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +2 ranged (1d4 plus poison, hand \ncrossbow [19-20 x2]) or -1 melee (1d4-1 plus poison, \ndagger); Space/Reach 5ft. /5ft; \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nImmunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, light blindness SR 12, darkvision \n120 ft.; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +3; Str 8, Dex 14, \nCon 14, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +6, Decipher Script \n+8, \nKnowledge \n(Arcana) \n+8, \nKnowledge \n(Dungeoneering) +6, Knowledge (Geography) +6, \nKnowledge (Local) +6, Knowledge (The Planes) +6, \nListen +3, Search +6, Spellcraft +8, Spot +3; Combat \nCasting, Scribe Scroll. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (3/2): 0-[acid splash, sonic snap, \ncaltrops]; 1st-[ray of flame, mage armor]. \n \nPossessions: dagger (2 gp); hand crossbow (100 gp); \ncoin (28 gp); Drow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC \n13; initial damage: unconsciousness, 1 minute; \nsecondary damage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. \n(RoFR160)); cure light wounds potion (1) (50 gp). \n \nFamiliar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny \naberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd \n30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21; \n \nAtk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2, \nBite); \n \nSA: Eye Rays (Su); \nSQ: \nImmunity: \nCharm \n(Ex), Immunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight \n(Ex), All-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX \n16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15, \nListen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness. \n \nEye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can \nuse all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs \ncan only use one of their four rays at a time. In \naddition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost \ncannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds. \n \nEach eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer \n(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules \nfor a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the \nPlayer’s Handbook). \n \nCause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will \nsave is DC 10. \n \nDaze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is \nDC 10. \n \nMage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer, \nexcept the eyeball can use the ray without having to \nuse a move-equivalent action to move an unattended \nobject weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a \nround. The ray has a range of 35 feet. \n \nRay of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nAll \nAround \nVision \n(Ex): \nEyeballs \nare \nexceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a \n+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nsearch checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses \nwhen attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has \nattacked during an encounter, its all around vision \nnegates any sneak attack. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 22 \n\n \nFlight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally \nbuoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a \nfree action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also \ngrants a feather fall effect with personal range. \n \nENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY \nENEMY \nDrow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Ftr1; CR 2; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; \nAC 17, touch 12, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +1; Grp +4; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +4 melee (2d4+4, chain, spiked); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects, light blindness, SR 12, \ndarkvision 120 ft; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 17, Dex 14, \nCon 14, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8. \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nUndercommon. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +0, Handle Animal +3, \nIntimidate +3, Listen +3, Search +3, Spot +3; Exotic \nWeapon \nProficiency: \nChain, \nspiked, \nImproved \nToughness. \n \nPossessions: spiked chain (25 gp); chain mail (150 \ngp); potion of cure light wounds (50 gp); coin (175 gp); \nsafewing emblem (250 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY \nSPIDER \nFiendish Spellwarped medium monstrous spider: \nMedium aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR 1; HD \n2d8+6; hp 15; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 15 (+4 \nDex, +1 Natural) touch 14, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +1; \nGrp +3; Atk +6 melee (1d6+3 plus poison, bite); Full Atk \n+6 melee (1d6+3 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, smite \ngood, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR 5/magic, \ndarkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin traits; SR13; \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +0; Str 15, Dex 19, Con \n16, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 2; \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +9*, Jump +2*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison) \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 16, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d4 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nSpell Absorption (Su): Whenever a spell \n \nWeb (Ex): Both types of monstrous spiders often \nwait in their webs or in trees, then lower themselves \nsilently on silk strands and leap onto prey passing \nbeneath. A single strand is strong enough to support \nthe spider and one creature of the same size. Web-\nspinners can throw a web eight times per day. This is \nsimilar to an attack with a net but has a maximum \nrange of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and \nis effective against targets up to one size category larger \nthan the spider. An entangled creature can escape with \na successful Escape Artist check (DC14) or burst it with \na Strength check (DC18). Both are standard actions. \nThe check DCs are Constitution-based, and the \nStrength check DC includes a +4 racial bonus. \n \nWeb-spinners often create sheets of sticky \nwebbing from 5 to 60 feet square, depending on the \nsize of the spider. They usually position these sheets to \nsnare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on \nthe ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a \nDC 20 Spot check to notice a web; otherwise, they \nstumble into it and become trapped as though by a \nsuccessful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the \nwebbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has \nsomething to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each \n5-foot section has the hit points given on the table, and \nsheet webs have damage reduction 5/-. \n \nA monstrous spider can move across its own web \nat its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any \ncreature touching its web. \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nFiendish Spider Swarm: Diminutive Magical Beast \n(Extraplanar, Swarm, Vermin); CR 1; HD 2d8; hp 9; Init \n+3; Spd 20 ft, climb 20ft; AC 17 (+4 size, +3 Dex), touch \n17, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp -; \n \nAtk/Full Atk swarm (1d6 plus poison); \n \nSA Distraction, poison, smite good; SQ Darkvision \n60 ft., cold and fire resistance 5, swarm traits, \ntremorsense 30 ft., vermin traits; \n \nSpace/Reach 10ft/0ft; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 1, Dex 17, \nCon 10, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 2; \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +11, Listen +4, Spot +4. \nAbility Focus (poisonous bite) \n \nDistraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins \nits turn with a spider swarm in its space must succeed \non a DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. \nThe save DC is Constitution-based. \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 13, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d3 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSkills: A spider swarm has a +4 racial bonus on \nHide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb \nchecks. It uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 23 \n\nStrength modifier for Climb checks. It can always \nchoose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or \nthreatened. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY \nPARLOR \nHalf Fiend Draegloth: CR 3; Large outsider ; HD \n6d8+12; hp 39; Init +2; Spd 30 ft. (6 squares); AC 16, \ntouch 11, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +6; Grp +16; \n \nAtk +11 melee (1d6+6, 2 Claw); \n \nFull Atk +11 melee (1d6+6, 2 claw) and +6 melee \n(1d8+3, bite); \n \nSA dancing lights, desecrate, faerie fire, unholy blight, \ndarkness; SQ immunity to poison and sleep effects, \nresistance: acid 10, resistance: cold 10, resistance: \nelectricity 10, resistance: fire 10, darkvision 60 ft., no \ndual nature; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5; Str 22, Dex 15, \nCon 14, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 11. \n \nFeats: Simple Weapon Proficiency. \n \n(See Appendix Five: New Creatures, Spells, and \nFeats.) \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 24 \n\nAPPENDIX ONE: APL 4 \nENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS \nWHAT IT APPEARS TO BE \nCleric of Vhaeraun: male elf [Drow] Cleric 3 \n[Vhaeraun]; CR 4; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 3d8+3 \n(23 hp); Init +0; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, touch 10, flatfooted \n17; Base Atk +2; Grp +3; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +4 melee (1d6+2, plus poison, +1 \nshort sword) or+3 melee (1d4+1 plus one, gauntlet, \nspiked); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire, \nspontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day; \nSQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, SR 15, darkvision 120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +7; Str 12, Dex 10, \nCon 12, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 12. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +8, Diplomacy +8, \nDisguise +3, Heal +4, Listen +5, Search +4, Sense \nMotive +6, Spellcraft +9, Spot +5; Combat Casting, \nDaylight Adaptation, \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nGoblin, and Undercommon. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared (5/4/3; base DC = 13 + spell \nlevel): 0-[resistance, read magic, cure minor wounds x2, \ndetect magic]; 1st-bless, obscuring mist, longstrider*, shield of \nfaith, cure light wounds]; 2nd-[body blades, veil of shadow, \nsound burst, invisibility*]. \n \n*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains: \n[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery \n(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills)]. \n \nPossessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short \n(2,310 gp); +1 breastplate (1,350 gp); +1 buckler (1.165 gp); \nsilver holy symbol (25 gp); wooden holy symbol (1 gp); \nSpell component pouch (2) (10 gp); Disguise kit (50 \ngp); Drow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; \ninitial damage: unconsciousness, 1 minute; secondary \ndamage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); (120 \ngp); cure light wounds potion (2) (100 gp). \n \nHobgoblin Fighter: male hobgoblin Ftr1: CR 1; \nmedium humanoid ; HD 1d10+3 (13 hp); Init +3; Spd \n30 ft.; AC 19, touch 13, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +1; Grp \n+4; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +4 melee (1d8+3, longsword); \n \nSQ darkvision 60 ft; \n \nAL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 17, Dex 16, \nCon 17, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +3, Handle Animal +0, \nIntimidate +0, Jump +3, Move Silently +5; Improved \nToughness, Power Attack. \n \nPossessions: chain shirt (100 gp); darkwood shield \n(257 gp); longsword (15 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE \nDARKNESS \nDrow Wizard: male Drow Wizard 3; CR 4; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 3d4+6; hp 13; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; \nAC 16, touch 12, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +0; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +4 ranged (1d4 plus poison, mw \nhand crossbow) or +1 melee (1d4-1 plus poison, mw \ndagger); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, SR 14, darkvision 120 ft.; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +4; Str 8, Dex 14, \nCon 14, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +8, Decipher Script \n+8, \nKnowledge \n(arcana) \n+8, \nKnowledge \n(dungeoneering) +6, Knowledge (geography) +6, \nKnowledge (local) +6, Knowledge (the planes) +6, \nListen +4, Search +6, Spellcraft +10, Spot +6; Combat \nCasting, Point Blank Shot, Scribe Scroll. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4/3/2): 0-[electric jolt, acid \nsplash, sonic snap, caltrops]; 1st-[ray of flame, mage armor, \nIce Dagger]; 2nd-[Earthen Grasp, Ray of Weakness]. \n \nPossessions: mw hand crossbow (400 gp); mw dagger \n(302 gp); coin (30 gp) Drow knockout poison (75 gp) \n(Injury DC 13; initial damage: unconsciousness, 1 \nminute; secondary damage: unconsciousness, 2d4 \nhours. (RoFR160)); (120 gp); cure light wounds potion (1) \n(50 gp). \n \nFamiliar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny \naberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd \n30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21; \n \nAtk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2, \nBite); \n \nSA: Eye Rays (Su); \nSQ: \nImmunity: \nCharm \n(Ex), Immunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight \n(Ex), All-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX \n16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15, \nListen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness. \n \nEye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can \nuse all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs \ncan only use one of their four rays at a time. In \naddition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost \ncannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds. \n \nEach eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer \n(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules \nfor a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the \nPlayer’s Handbook). \n \nCause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will \nsave is DC 10. \n \nDaze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is \nDC 10. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 25 \n\n \nMage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer, \nexcept the eyeball can use the ray without having to \nuse a move-equivalent action to move an unattended \nobject weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a \nround. The ray has a range of 35 feet. \n \nRay of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nAll \nAround \nVision \n(Ex): \nEyeballs \nare \nexceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a \n+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nsearch checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses \nwhen attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has \nattacked during an encounter, its all around vision \nnegates any sneak attack. \n \nFlight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally \nbuoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a \nfree action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also \ngrants a feather fall effect with personal range. \n \nENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY \nENEMY \nAdvanced Displacer Beast: CR 5; Large Magical Beast \n; HD 9d10+27; hp 76; Init +2; Spd 40 ft. (8 squares); AC \n16, touch 11, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +9; Grp +17; \n \nAtk +12 melee (1d6+4, 2 Tentacle); \n \nFull Atk +12 melee (1d6+4, 2 tentacle) and +10 \nmelee (1d8+2, bite); \n \nSpace/Reach \n10ft./5ft.; \nSQ \ndisplacement, \ndarkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, resistance: ranged \nattacks 2; \n \nAL LE; SV Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 18, Dex 15, \nCon 16, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide + 10, Jump + 8, Listen + 5, \nMove Silently + 7, Spot + 5.; Alertness, Dodge, Multi-\nAttack; Stealthy. \n \nDisplacement (Su): A light-bending glammer \ncontinually surrounds a displacer beast, making it \ndifficult to surmise the creature's true location. \n \nAny melee or ranged attack directed at it has a 50% \nmiss chance unless the attacker can locate the beast by \nsome means other than sight. A true seeing effect \nallows the user to see the beast's position, but see \ninvisibility has no effect. \n \nresistance to Ranged Attacks (Su): A displacer \nbeast gains a +2 resistance bonus to saves against any \nranged spell or ranged magical attack that specifically \ntargets it (except for ranged touch attacks). \n \nSkills: A displacer beast receives a +8 racial bonus \nto Hide checks, thanks to its displacement power. \n \nDrow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Ftr3; CR 4; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 3d10+6; hp 28; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; \nAC 17, touch 12, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +3; Grp +6; \n8; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +7 melee (2d4+4, chain, spiked, \nmasterwork); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects, light blindness, SR 14, \ndarkvision 120 ft; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 17, Dex 14, \nCon 14, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Handle Animal +5, \nIntimidate +3, Jump -6, Listen +3, Search +3, Spot +3; \nCombat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Chain, \nspiked, Improved Toughness, Improved Trip, \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nUndercommon. \n \nPossessions: mw spiked chain (325 gp); chain mail \n(150 gp); coin (175 gp); potion cure light wounds x2 (50 \ngp); safewing emblem (250 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY \nSPIDER \nFiendish Spellwarped large monstrous spider: \nLarge aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR4; HD \n4d8+12; hp30; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-1 \nsize, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base \nAtk +3; Grp +11; Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); \nFull Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, \nsmite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR \n5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin \ntraits; SR 15; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7; \nRef +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, \nCha 2 \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +4*, Jump +4*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison) \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Both types of monstrous spiders often \nwait in their webs or in trees, then lower themselves \nsilently on silk strands and leap onto prey passing \nbeneath. A single strand is strong enough to support \nthe spider and one creature of the same size. Web-\nspinners can throw a web eight times per day. This is \nsimilar to an attack with a net but has a maximum \nrange of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and \nis effective against targets up to one size category larger \nthan the spider. An entangled creature can escape with \na successful Escape Artist check (DC13) or burst it with \na Strength check (DC17). Both are standard actions. \nThe check DCs are Constitution-based, and the \nStrength check DC includes a +4 racial bonus. \n \nWeb-spinners often create sheets of sticky \nwebbing from 5 to 60 feet square, depending on the \nsize of the spider. They usually position these sheets to \nsnare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on \nthe ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a \nDC 20 Spot check to notice a web; otherwise, they \nstumble into it and become trapped as though by a \nsuccessful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the \nwebbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 26 \n\nsomething to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each \n5-foot section has the hit points given on the table, and \nsheet webs have damage reduction 5/-. \n \nA monstrous spider can move across its own web \nat its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any \ncreature touching its web. \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nFiendish Spellwarped medium monstrous spider: \nMedium aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR 1; HD \n2d8+6; hp 15; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 15 (+4 \nDex, +1 Natural) touch 14, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +1; \nGrp +3; Atk +6 melee (1d6+3 plus poison, bite); Full Atk \n+6 melee (1d6+3 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, smite \ngood, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR 5/magic, \ndarkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin traits; SR13; \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +0; Str 15, Dex 19, Con \n16, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 2; \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +9*, Jump +2*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison) \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 16, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d4 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC14) or a \nStrength check (DC18). \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nFiendish Spider Swarm: Diminutive Magical Beast \n(Extraplanar, Swarm, Vermin); CR 1; HD 2d8; hp 9; Init \n+3; Spd 20 ft, climb 20ft; AC 17 (+4 size, +3 Dex), touch \n17, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp -; \n \nAtk/Full Atk swarm (1d6 plus poison); \n \nSA Distraction, poison, smite good; SQ Darkvision \n60 ft., cold and fire resistance 5, swarm traits, \ntremorsense 30 ft., vermin traits; Space/Reach 10ft/0ft; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 1, Dex 17, \nCon 10, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 2; \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +11, Listen +4, Spot +4. \nAbility Focus (poisonous bite) \n \nDistraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins \nits turn with a spider swarm in its space must succeed \non a DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. \nThe save DC is Constitution-based. \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 13, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d3 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSkills: A spider swarm has a +4 racial bonus on \nHide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb \nchecks. It uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its \nStrength modifier for Climb checks. It can always \nchoose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or \nthreatened. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY \nPARLOR \nHalf Fiend Draegloth: CR 3; Large outsider ; HD \n6d8+12; hp 39; Init +2; Spd 30 ft. (6 squares); AC 16, \ntouch 11, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +6; Grp +16; \n \nAtk +11 melee (1d6+6, 2 Claw); \n \nFull Atk +11 melee (1d6+6, 2 claw) and +6 melee \n(1d8+3, bite); \n \nSA dancing lights, desecrate, faerie fire, unholy blight, \ndarkness; SQ immunity to poison and sleep effects, \nresistance: acid 10, resistance: cold 10, resistance: \nelectricity 10, resistance: fire 10, darkvision 60 ft., no \ndual nature; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5; Str 22, Dex 15, \nCon 14, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 11. \n \nFeats: Simple Weapon Proficiency. \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 27 \n\nAPPENDIX ONE: APL 6 \nENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS \nWHAT IT APPEARS TO BE \nCleric of Vhaeraun: male elf [Drow] Cleric 5; CR 7; \nmedium humanoid (elf); HD 5d8+5 (41 hp); Init +0; \nSpd 20 ft.; AC 18, touch 12, flatfooted 18; Base Atk +3; \nGrp +4; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+2, +1 sword, short), +4 \nmelee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked) ; \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire, \nspontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day; \nSQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, SR 16, darkvision 120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +7; Str 12, Dex 10, \nCon 12, Int 14, Wis 21, Cha 12. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +9, Diplomacy +9, \nDisguise +3, Heal +5, Listen +5, Search +4, Sense \nMotive +6, Spellcraft +10, Spot +5; Combat Casting, \nDivine Spell Power, Daylight Adaptation. \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nGoblin, and Undercommon. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared (5/4/3/2; base DC = 15 + spell \nlevel): 0-[resistance, read magic, cure minor wounds, detect \nmagic]; 1st-[entropic shield, obscuring mist, protection from \ngood, longstrider*, shield of faith, cure light wounds]; 2nd-\n[body blades, veil of shadow, deific vengeance, invisibility*]; \n3rd-[fly*, energy vortex, cure serious wounds]. \n \n*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains: \n[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery \n(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills)]. \n \nPossessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short \n(2,310 gp); +1 breastplate (1,350 gp); +1 buckler (1.165 gp); \nSilver holy symbol; Silver holy symbol (25 gp); Wooden holy \nsymbol (1 gp); Spell component pouch (2) (10 gp); \nDisguise kit (50 gp); Drow knockout poison (75 gp) \n(Injury DC 13; initial damage: unconsciousness, 1 \nminute; secondary damage: unconsciousness, 2d4 \nhours. (RoFR160)); cure light wounds (2) (100 gp); periapt \nof wisdom +4 (16,000 gp). \n \nHobgoblin Fighter: male humanoid (goblin) Ftr3; CR \n3; medium humanoid; HD 3d10+9; hp 26; Init +2; Spd \n30 ft.; AC 18, touch 12, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +3; Grp \n+7; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +9 melee (1d8+4, mw longsword); \n \nSQ darkvision 60 ft; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 14, \nCon 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +8, Intimidate +4, Jump +8, \nMove Silently +4; Improved Toughness, Shieldmate, \nPower Attack, Weapon Focus: longsword. \n \nPossessions: chain shirt (100 gp); darkwood shield \n(257 gp); mw longsword (315 gp). \n \nHobgoblin Rogue: male humanoid (goblin) Rogue 2; \nCR 2; Medium Humanoid ; HD 2d6+4; hp 15; Init +4; \nSpd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 14, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +1; \nGrp +4; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+3, mw rapier, 18-20 \nx2); \n \nSQ darkvision 60 ft; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +0; Str 16, Dex 18, \nCon 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +9, Climb +6, Escape Artist \n+7, Hide +7, Jump +8, Listen +5, Move Silently +11, \nSense Motive +5, Spot +5, Tumble +9; Power Attack. \n \nPossessions: chain shirt (100 gp); mw rapier (320 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE \nDARKNESS \nDrow Wizard: male elf [Drow] Wiz5; CR 6; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 5d4+5 (19 hp); Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; \nAC 14, touch 14, flatfooted 12; Base Atk +2; Grp +2; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +3 melee (1d6 plus poison, sword, \nshort, masterwork); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 16, darkvision \n120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +5; Str 10, Dex 14, \nCon 12, Int 20, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nLanguages: \nAbyssal, \nCommon, \nDrow \nSign \nLanguage, Elven, Goblin, Undercommon. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +9, Decipher Script \n+10, Knowledge (arcana) +13, Knowledge (Religion) +8, \nKnowledge (underdark) +13, Listen +3, Search +7, \nSpellcraft +15, Spot +3; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, \nScribe Scroll, Sudden Widen. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4/5/3/2; Base DC = 15 + \nspell level): 0-[electric jolt, acid splash, launch bolt, caltrops]; \n1st-[ray of flame, hail of stone, mage armor, expeditious \nretreat, swift, orb of fire, lesser]; 2nd-[blast of force, baleful \ntransposition, scorching ray]; 3rd-[sound lance, fireball]. \n \nPossessions: mw short sword (310 gp); Coin: gp (30); \nDrow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial \ndamage: \nunconsciousness, \n1 \nminute; \nsecondary \ndamage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); ring \nof protection +1 (2,000 gp); amulet of natural armor +1 \n(2,000 gp); headband of intellect +2 (4,000 gp); safe wing \nemblem (250 gp); cure light wounds potion (1) (50 gp). \n \nFamiliar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny \naberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd \n30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21; \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 28 \n\n \nAtk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2, \nBite); SA: Eye Rays (Su); \n \nSQ: Immunity: Charm (Ex), Immunity: Mind-\nAffecting Attacks (Ex), Flight (Ex), All-Around Vision \n(Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX \n16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15, \nListen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness. \n \nEye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can \nuse all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs \ncan only use one of their four rays at a time. In \naddition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost \ncannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds. \n \nEach eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer \n(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules \nfor a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the \nPlayer’s Handbook). \n \nCause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will \nsave is DC 10. \n \nDaze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is \nDC 10. \n \nMage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer, \nexcept the eyeball can use the ray without having to \nuse a move-equivalent action to move an unattended \nobject weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a \nround. The ray has a range of 35 feet. \n \nRay of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nAll \nAround \nVision \n(Ex): \nEyeballs \nare \nexceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a \n+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nsearch checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses \nwhen attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has \nattacked during an encounter, its all around vision \nnegates any sneak attack. \n \nFlight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally \nbuoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a \nfree action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also \ngrants a feather fall effect with personal range. \n \nENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY \nENEMY \nAdvanced Displacer Beast: CR 5; Large Magical \nBeast; HD 9d10+27 (76 hp); Init +2; Spd 40 ft. (8 \nsquares); AC 16, touch 11, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +9; \nGrp +17; \n \nAtk +12 melee (1d6+4, 2 Tentacle); \n \nFull Atk +12 melee (1d6+4, 2 tentacle) and +7 \nmelee (1d8+2, bite); \n \nSpace/Reach \n10ft./5ft.; \nSQ \ndisplacement, \ndarkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, resistance: ranged \nattacks 2; \n \nAL LE; SV Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 18, Dex 15, \nCon 16, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 8. \n \nSkills: Hide +6, Jump +8 \n \nDisplacement (Su): A light-bending glammer \ncontinually surrounds a displacer beast, making it \ndifficult to surmise the creature's true location. \n \nAny melee or ranged attack directed at it has a 50% \nmiss chance unless the attacker can locate the beast by \nsome means other than sight. A true seeing effect \nallows the user to see the beast's position, but see \ninvisibility has no effect. \n \nresistance to Ranged Attacks (Su): A displacer \nbeast gains a +2 resistance bonus to saves against any \nranged spell or ranged magical attack that specifically \ntargets it (except for ranged touch attacks). \n \nDrow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Ftr6; CR 7; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 6d10+12; hp 57; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; \nAC 19, touch 14, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +6; Grp +9; \n \nAtk +7 melee (2d4+4, +1 Chain, spiked); \n \nFull Atk +5 melee (2d4+4, +1 chain, spiked) and +5 \nmelee (2d4+2, +1 chain, spiked); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fir,; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects, light blindness, SR 17, \ndarkvision 120 ft.; AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +3; \nStr 17, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +8, Handle Animal +8, \nIntimidate +3, Jump -2, Listen +3, Search +3, Spot +3; \nArmor Proficiency: heavy, Armor Proficiency: light, \nArmor Proficiency: medium, Combat Expertise, Exotic \nWeapon \nProficiency: \nChain, \nspiked, \nImproved \nToughness, Improved Trip, Monkey Grip, Shield \nProficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Tower Shield \nProficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus: \nChain, spiked. \n \nPossessions: +1 chain, spiked x2 (8,325 gp); +2 chain \nmail (4,300 gp); potion cure light wounds x2 (50 gp); coin \n(175 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY \nSPIDER \nFiendish Spellwarped advanced large monstrous \nspider: Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR6; \nHD 7d8+18; hp52; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-\n1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base \nAtk +5; Grp +13; Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); \nFull Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, \nsmite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR \n5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin \ntraits; SR 18; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7; \nRef +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, \nCha 2 \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +6*, Jump +4*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Snatch \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC15) or a \nStrength check (DC19). \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 29 \n\n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nFiendish Spellwarped large monstrous spider: \nLarge aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR4; HD \n4d8+12; hp30; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-1 \nsize, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base \nAtk +3; Grp +11; Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); \nFull Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, \nsmite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR \n5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin \ntraits; SR 15; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7; \nRef +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, \nCha 2 \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +4*, Jump +4*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison) \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC13) or a \nStrength check (DC17). \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY \nPARLOR \nDemon, \nYochlol: \nMedium-Size/Large \nOutsider \n(Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri); CR 5; Hit Dice: \n6d8+6; hp 33; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider \nForm); AC Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow \nchainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16 \n(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14; \nOoze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, Flat Footed 10; \nGaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat \nFooted 9; \n \nAttack: Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-\n20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand \nCrossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus \npoison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 melee (1d4+4) \n \nFull Attack: Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee \n(1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2, \nHand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 \nplus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles +10 melee \n(1d4+4) \n \nSpace/Reach: Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider \nForm 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form \n5 ft. / 5 ft. SA Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison; SQ \nDamage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity \nImmunity, fire resistance 20, Gaseous form, Gas, \nImmune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to \nSneak Attacks (Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR \n15, Telepathy; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 14, \nCon 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16. \n \nLanguage: Abyssal \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form \nonly) \n+12, \nConcentration \n+7, \nDiplomacy \n+14, \nIntimidate +14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11, \nSpot +11. Blind Fighting, Combat Casting. \n \nPossessions: short sword (20 gp), hand crossbow \n(200 gp). \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 30 \n\nAPPENDIX ONE: APL 8 \nENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS \nWHAT IT APPEARS TO BE \nCleric of Vhaeraun: male elf [Drow] Cleric 7; CR 8; \nMedium Humanoid (Elf); HD 6d8+6 (50 hp); Init +0; \nSpd 20 ft.; AC 21, touch 12, flatfooted 21; Base Atk +4; \nGrp +5; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +6 melee (1d6+2 plus poison, +1 short \nsword) or +5 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked) ; \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire, \nspontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day; \nSQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, SR 18, darkvision 120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +10; Str 12, Dex 10, \nCon 12, Int 14, Wis 21, Cha 12. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +10, Diplomacy +10, \nDisguise +3, Heal +6, Listen +7, Search +4, Sense \nMotive +9, Spellcraft +11, Spot +7; Combat Casting, \nDaylight Adaptation, Divine Spell Power. \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nGoblin, and Undercommon. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared (6/7/5/4/3; base DC = 16 + \nspell level): 0-[resistance, virtue, read magic, cure minor \nwounds, detect magic]; 1st-[entropic shield, obscuring mist, \nprotection from good, longstrider*, sanctuary, shield of faith, \ncure light wounds]; 2nd-[body blades, veil of shadow, balor \nnimbus, divine interdiction, deific vengeance, invisibility*]; \n3rd-[fly*, energy vortex, cure serious wounds, clutch of Orcus]; \n4th-[dimension door*, shield of faith, mass, negative energy \naura]. \n \n*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains: \n[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery \n(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills) \n \nPossessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short \n(2,310 gp); +1 breastplate (1,350 gp); +1 buckler (1.165 gp); \nsilver holy symbol, silver holy symbol (25 gp); wooden \nholy symbol (1 gp); spell component pouch (2) (10 gp); \ndisguise kit (50 gp); giant wasp poison (210 gp) (injury \nDC 18, initial 1d6 Dex, secondary 1d6, DC 20 Craft, \ntrap CR modifier +3 (A&EG37)); cure light wounds (2) \n(50 gp); periapt of wisdom +4 (16,000 gp), ring of protection \n+3 (18,000 gp). \n \nBugbear Fighter: male bugbear Humanoid3/Ftr2: CR \n4; Medium Humanoid ; HD 3d8+3; hp 34; Init +1; Spd \n20 ft.; AC 20, touch 11, flatfooted 19; Base Atk +4; Grp \n+7; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +9 melee (1d6+4, +1 short sword); \n \nSQ darkvision 60 ft., scent; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 16, Dex 12, \nCon 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +0, Intimidate +4, \nListen +7, Move Silently -1, Spot +2; Alertness, Phalanx \nFighting, Power Attack, Weapon Focus: Short sword \n \nPossessions: +1 short sword (2,310 gp), banded mail \n(250 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE \nDARKNESS \nDrow Wizard: male elf [Drow] Wiz7; CR 8; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 7d4+7 (23 hp); Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; \nAC 14, touch 14, flatfooted 12; Base Atk +3; Grp +3; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +4 melee (1d6 plus poison, sword, \nshort, masterwork); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 18, darkvision \n120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +6; Str 10, Dex 14, \nCon 12, Int 23, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +11, Decipher \nScript +11, Knowledge (arcana) +14, Knowledge \n(Religion) +9, Knowledge (the planes) +14, Knowledge \n(underdark) +14, Listen +3, Search +8, Spellcraft +16, \nSpot +3; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Scribe Scroll, \nSudden Maximize, Sudden Widen. \n \nLanguages: \nAbyssal, \nCommon, \nDrow \nSign \nLanguage, Elven, Goblin, Undercommon. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared(4/6/5/3/2; Base DC = 16 + \nspell level): 0-[acid splash, launch bolt, caltrops]; 1st-[ray of \nflame, hail of stone, mage armor, expeditious retreat, swift, orb \nof fire, lesser, orb of electricity, lesser]; 2nd-[distracting ray, \nblast of force, baleful transposition, scorching ray]; 3rd-[sound \nlance, fireball]; 4th-[backlash, phantasmal killer]. \n \nPossessions: mw short sword (310 gp); Coin: gp (30); \nDrow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial \ndamage: \nunconsciousness, \n1 \nminute; \nsecondary \ndamage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); ring: \nprotection +1 (2,000 gp); amulet of natural armor +1 (2,000 \ngp); headband of Intellect +4 (16,000 gp); safewing emblem \n(250 gp); cure light wounds potion (1) (50 gp). \n \nFamiliar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny \nAberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd \n30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21; \n \nAtk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2, \nBite); \n \nSA: Eye Rays (Su); SQ: Immunity: Charm (Ex), \nImmunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight (Ex), \nAll-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX \n16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 31 \n\n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15, \nListen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness. \n \nEye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can \nuse all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs \ncan only use one of their four rays at a time. In \naddition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost \ncannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds. \n \nEach eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer \n(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules \nfor a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the \nPlayer’s Handbook). \n \nCause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will \nsave is DC 10. \n \nDaze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is \nDC 10. \n \nMage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer, \nexcept the eyeball can use the ray without having to \nuse a move-equivalent action to move an unattended \nobject weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a \nround. The ray has a range of 35 feet. \n \nRay of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nAll \nAround \nVision \n(Ex): \nEyeballs \nare \nexceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a \n+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nsearch checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses \nwhen attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has \nattacked during an encounter, its all around vision \nnegates any sneak attack. \n \nFlight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally \nbuoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a \nfree action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also \ngrants a feather fall effect with personal range. \nENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY \nENEMY \nHound of the Gloom: CR 9; Large Aberration ; HD \n12d8+84 (138 hp); Init +2; Spd Climb 20 ft. (4 squares), \n40 ft. (8 squares); AC 24, touch 11, flatfooted 22; Base \nAtk +9; Grp +19; \n \nAtk +14 melee (2d6+6, Bite); \n \nFull Atk +14 melee (2d6+6, bite) and +12 melee \n(1d6+3, 2 claw) and +12 melee (1d6+3, 2 tentacle rake); \n \nSpace/Reach 10ft. /5ft.; SA improved grab, poison, \npounce; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +11; Str 22, Dex \n15, Con 24, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +6, Climb +18, Jump +18, \nListen +12, Move Silently +6, Spot +12; Cleave, Combat \nReflexes, Great Fortitude, Multiattack, Power Attack. \n \nCombat: Hounds ambush victims by leaping \ndirectly into melee. They use their natural climbing \nability to reach a point above their target, and then leap \ndown in a deadly pounce from above. The creatures \nattack with bite, foreclaws, and the two larger tentacles \nsurrounding their heads, which are much longer than \nthe others. These two tentacles have a reach of 10 feet \nand end in five-fingered hands that look almost \nidentical to human hands, except they have strong, \nsharp claws instead of nails. \n \nOnce engaged, a hound uses its bite and claw \nattacks against a single foe. A target that withstands \nseveral blows or one that deals the hound a significant \namount of damage is the target of the hound's poisoned \nhands. \n \nImproved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the \nhound must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then \nattempt to start a grapple as a free action without \nprovoking attacks of opportunity. \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 23, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d8 Dex. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nPounce (Ex): If a hound of the gloom charges a \nfoe, it can make a full attack, including two tentacle \nattacks. \n \nAppearance: This powerful quadruped vaguely \nresembles a huge dog or bear. Its massive, hairless body \nripples with extraordinary musculature. Its hide is \nsleek and milky-white in color, and bony plates cover \nits head and protect its eyes. Long tentacles ring the \nhead like a lion's mane. Two of the tentacles, longer \nthan the others, end in oddly humanlike hands. \n \nDrow Half Dragon Fighter: male dragon (elf) Ftr4; \nCR 7; Medium Dragon (Elf); HD 4d12+16 (62 hp); Init \n+1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 11, flatfooted 22; Base Atk \n+4; Grp +10; \n \nAtk +12 melee (2d4+10, +1 chain, spiked); \n \nFull Atk +12 melee (2d4+10, +1 chain, spiked) or \n+10 melee (1d4+6, 2 claw) and +5 melee (1d6+3, bite); \n \nSA breath weapon, poison, dancing lights, darkness, \nfaerie fire; SQ immunity to sleep effects and paralysis \nand acid, light blindness, SR 18, darkvision 120 ft., low-\nlight vision; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 23, Dex 12, \nCon 18, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 14. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Handle Animal +9, \nIntimidate +7, Jump +10, Listen +2, Search +4, Spot +2; \nCombat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: chain, \nspiked, Improved Toughness, Improved Trip, Weapon \nFocus: chain, spiked. \n \nBreath Weapon (SA): 60 foot line of acid, Ref \nsave DC 16 for half; 6d8 damage. \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nUndercommon. \n \nPossessions: +1 chain, spiked (8,325 gp); +1 splint mail \n(1,350 gp); potion cure light wounds x2 (50 gp); coin (175 \ngp). \n \nDrow Monk: male elf [Drow] Mnk7; CR 8; medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 7d8+14 hp 53; Init +1; Spd 50 ft.; \nAC 18, touch 18, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +5; Grp +18; \n \nAtk +10 melee (1d8+5, Unarmed strike); \n \nFull Atk +10 melee (1d8+5, unarmed strike) and +5 \nmelee (1d4+5, 2 tentacles) or +9/+9 melee ( 1d8+5, \nflurry of blows) and +5 melee (1d4+5, 2 tentacles); \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 32 \n\n \nSA improved flurry of blows, ki strike, poison, \npurity of body, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ AC \nbonus +1, evasion, immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 \nsaves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves \nvs. spells and spell-like effects, light blindness, slow fall \n(30 ft), still mind, wholeness of body, wisdom bonus to \nAC; SR 18, darkvision 120 ft.; \n \nAL LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +8; Str 20, Dex 12, \nCon 14, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +14, Jump +20, Listen +12, \nMove Silently +11, Search +2, Spot +10, Tumble +13; \nAberration Blood - Flexible Limbs, Bestial Hide, \nCombat Reflexes, Deepspawn, Improved Grapple, \nImproved Trip, Improved Unarmed Strike. (See \nAppendix Eight for new feats) \n \nPossessions: 500 gp; belt of giant strength +4; cloak of \nelvenkind; boots of elvenkind; ring: protection +5. \n \nENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY \nSPIDER \nFiendish Spellwarped advanced large monstrous \nspider: Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR6; \nHD 7d8+18; hp52; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-\n1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base \nAtk +5; Grp +13; Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); \nFull Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, \nsmite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR \n5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin \ntraits; SR 18; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7; \nRef +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, \nCha 2 \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +6*, Jump +4*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Snatch \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC15) or a \nStrength check (DC19). \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nFiendish Spellwarped large monstrous spider: \nLarge aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR4; HD \n4d8+12; hp30; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-1 \nsize, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base \nAtk +3; Grp +11; Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); \nFull Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, \nsmite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR \n5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin \ntraits; SR 15; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7; \nRef +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, \nCha 2 \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +4*, Jump +4*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison) \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC13) or a \nStrength check (DC17). \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY \nPARLOR \nDemon, \nYochlol: \nMedium-Size/Large \nOutsider \n(Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri); CR 5; Hit Dice: \n6d8+6; hp 33; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider \nForm); AC Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow \nchainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16 \n(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14; \nOoze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, Flat Footed 10; \nGaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat \nFooted 9; \n \nAttack: Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-\n20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand \nCrossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus \npoison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 melee (1d4+4) \n \nFull Attack: Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee \n(1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2, \nHand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 \nplus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles +10 melee \n(1d4+4) \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 33 \n\n \nSpace/Reach: Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider \nForm 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form \n5 ft. / 5 ft. SA Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison; SQ \nDamage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity \nImmunity, fire resistance 20, Gaseous form, Gas, \nImmune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to \nSneak Attacks (Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR \n15, Telepathy; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 14, \nCon 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16. \n \nLanguage: Abyssal \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form \nonly) \n+12, \nConcentration \n+7, \nDiplomacy \n+14, \nIntimidate +14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11, \nSpot +11. Blind Fighting, Combat Casting. \n \nPossessions: short sword (20 gp), hand crossbow \n(200 gp). \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 34 \n\nAPPENDIX ONE: APL 10 \nENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS \nWHAT IT APPEARS TO BE \nCleric of Vhaeraun, male elf [Drow] Clr7/Wrpr2: CR \n9; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 7d8+7(Cleric), \n2d10+2(Warpriest); hp 66; Init +0; Spd 20; AC 26, touch \n18, flatfooted 26; Base \n \nAtk +7; Grp +8; Atk +9 melee (1d6+2 plus poison, \n+1 sword, short) or +8 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked); \n \nFull Atk +9/+4 melee (1d6+2 plus poison, +1 sword, \nshort) or +8 /+3 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire \nspontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day, \ninflame, rally; SQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 \nsaves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves \nvs. spells and spell-like effects, SR 20; 120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +10, Ref +3, Will +12; Str 12, Dex \n10, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 12. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +15, Diplomacy +12, \nDisguise +3, Heal +8, Listen +12, Search +4, Sense \nMotive +12, Spellcraft +14, Spot +8;Combat Casting, \nDaylight Adaptation, Divine Spell Power, Domain \nSpontaneity, Spell Focus: enchantment. \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nGoblin, and Undercommon. \n \nBonus Domain: At 1st level, the warpriest gains \nthe Glory domain (if he turns undead) or the \nDomination domain (if he rebukes undead). \n \nInflame (Ex): As a full round action, the warpriest \ncan inflame the passions of his allies. All who can hear \nthe warpriest gain a morale bonus on saving throws \nagainst any charm or fear effects. The bonus begins at \n+2 for a 2nd level warpriest and increases by +2 at each \neven numbered level thereafter (+4 at 4th, +6 at 6, etc.). \nThis effect lasts for five minutes after the speech ends, \nplus 1 minute per level of the warpriest. \n \nRally (Ex): A warpriest who is currently not \nsuffering from a fear effect can use this ability as a \nstandard action. Allies within 60 feet who are suffering \nfrom any fear effect and can hear the warpriest are \nallowed another saving throw against the fear effect, \nwith a +1 morale bonus per warpriest level. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared (6/6/5/4/3; Base DC = 16 + \nspell level): 0 – [cure minor wounds x2, detect magic, read \nmagic, resistance, virtue; ] 1st – [cure light wounds, entropic \nshield, longstrider*, obscuring mist, protection from good, \nsanctuary, shield of faith;] 2nd – [balor nimbus, body blades, \ndeific vengeance, divine interdiction, invisibility*, veil of \nshadow;] 3rd – [clutch of Orcus, cure serious wounds, energy \nvortex, fly*, Girallon`s Blessing;] 4th – [negative energy aura, \nshield of faith, mass, spell immunity, unholy blight*.] \n \n*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains: \n[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery \n(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills); Domination \n(you gain Spell Focus: enchantment feat)]. \n \nPossessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short \n(2,310 gp); Banded Mail of Luck (18,900 gp); +1 animated \nmithral heavy steel shield (10,170 gp); silver holy symbol \n(25 gp); wooden holy symbol (1 gp); Spell component \npouch (2) (10 gp); Disguise kit (50 gp); giant wasp \npoison (210 gp) (injury DC 18, initial 1d6 Dex, \nsecondary 1d6, DC 20 Craft, trap CR modifier +3 \n(A&EG37)); cure light wounds (2) (100 gp); periapt of \nwisdom +4 (16,000 gp); ring of protection +4 (32,000 gp) \nblindfold of true darkness (9,000 gp). \n \nBugbear Fighter: male Bugbear Humanoid3/Ftr4: CR \n6; Medium Humanoid ; HD 3d8+6 (63 hp); Init +1; Spd \n20 ft.; AC 20, touch 11, flatfooted 19; Base Atk +6; Grp \n+9; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +11 melee (1d6+4, +1 short sword); \n \nSQ darkvision 60 ft., scent; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 12, \nCon 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +0, Intimidate +8, \nListen +7, Move Silently -1, Spot +2; Alertness, Phalanx \nFighting, Power Attack, Weapon Focus: Short sword. \n \nPossessions: +1 short sword (2,310 gp), banded mail \n(250 gp), blindfold of true darkness (9,000 gp). \n \nBlindfold of True Darkness: Grants wearer \nblindsight 60`, but looses regular sight (A&EG130). \n \nENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE \nDARKNESS \nDrow Wizard: male elf [Drow] Wiz9; CR 10; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 9d4+9 (30 hp); Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; \nAC 18, touch 18, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +4; Grp +4; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+1 plus poison, +1 \nsword, short) or +7 ranged (1d4+1 plus poison, +1 hand \ncrossbow); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 21, darkvision \n120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7; Str 10, Dex 14, \nCon 12, Int 24, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +13, Decipher \nScript +12, Knowledge (arcana) +15, Knowledge \n(Religion) \n+10, \nKnowledge \n(the \nplanes) \n+15, \nKnowledge (underdark) +15, Listen +3, Search +9, \nSpellcraft +21, Spot +8; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, \nScribe Scroll, Sudden Empower, Sudden Maximize, \nSudden Widen. \n \nLanguages: \nAbyssal, \nCommon, \nDrow \nSign \nLanguage, Elven, Goblin, Undercommon. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 35 \n\n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4/6/6/5/3/2; Base DC = 17 + \nspell level): 0-[electric jolt, acid splash, launch bolt, caltrops]; \n1st-[ray of flame, hail of stone, mage armor, expeditious \nretreat, swift, orb of fire, lesser, orb of electricity, lesser]; 2nd-\n[distracting ray, blast of force, baleful transposition, scorching \nray]; 3rd-[sound lance, fireball, fireball, fly]; 4th-\n[defenestrating sphere, backlash, phantasmal killer]; 5th-\n[cone of cold, baleful polymorph]. \n \nPossessions: +1 sword, short: unholy (18,310 gp); +1 \nhand crossbow (2,400 gp); Coin: gp (30); Drow knockout \npoison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial damage: \nunconsciousness, \n1 \nminute; \nsecondary \ndamage: \nunconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); ring of \nprotection +3 (18,000 gp); amulet of natural armor +1 \n(2,000 gp); headband of Intellect +4 (16,000 gp); safewing \nemblem (250 gp); cure light wounds potion (1) (50 gp). \n \nFamiliar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny \nAberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd \n30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21; \n \nAtk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2, \nBite); \n \nSA: Eye Rays (Su) ; SQ: Immunity: Charm (Ex), \nImmunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight (Ex), \nAll-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX \n16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15, \nListen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness. \n \nEye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can \nuse all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs \ncan only use one of their four rays at a time. In \naddition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost \ncannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds. \n \nEach eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer \n(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules \nfor a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the \nPlayer’s Handbook). \n \nCause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will \nsave is DC 10. \n \nDaze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is \nDC 10. \n \nMage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer, \nexcept the eyeball can use the ray without having to \nuse a move-equivalent action to move an unattended \nobject weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a \nround. The ray has a range of 35 feet. \n \nRay of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nAll \nAround \nVision \n(Ex): \nEyeballs \nare \nexceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a \n+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nsearch checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses \nwhen attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has \nattacked during an encounter, its all around vision \nnegates any sneak attack. \n \nFlight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally \nbuoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a \nfree action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also \ngrants a feather fall effect with personal range. \n \nENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY \nENEMY \nHound of the Gloom: CR 9; Large Aberration ; HD \n12d8+84 (138 hp); Init +2; Spd Climb 20 ft. (4 squares), \n40 ft. (8 squares); AC 24, touch 11, flatfooted 22; Base \nAtk +9; Grp +19; \n \nAtk +14 melee (2d6+6, Bite); \n \nFull Atk +14 melee (2d6+6, bite) and +12 melee \n(1d6+3, 2 claw) and +12 melee (1d6+3, 2 tentacle rake); \n \nSpace/Reach 10ft. /5ft.; SA improved grab, poison, \npounce; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +11; Str 22, Dex \n15, Con 24, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +6, Climb +18, Jump +18, \nListen +12, Move Silently +6, Spot +12; Cleave, Combat \nReflexes, Great Fortitude, Multiattack, Power Attack. \n \nCombat: Hounds ambush victims by leaping \ndirectly into melee. They use their natural climbing \nability to reach a point above their target, then leap \ndown in a deadly pounce from above. The creatures \nattack with bite, foreclaws, and the two larger tentacles \nsurrounding their heads, which are much longer than \nthe others. These two tentacles have a reach of 10 feet \nand end in five-fingered hands that look almost \nidentical to human hands, except they have strong, \nsharp claws instead of nails. \n \nOnce engaged, a hound uses its bite and claw \nattacks against a single foe. A target that withstands \nseveral blows or one that deals the hound a significant \namount of damage is the target of the hound's poisoned \nhands. \n \nImproved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the \nhound must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then \nattempt to start a grapple as a free action without \nprovoking attacks of opportunity. \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 23, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d8 Dex. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nPounce (Ex): If a hound of the gloom charges a \nfoe, it can make a full attack, including two tentacle \nattacks. \n \nAppearance: This powerful quadruped vaguely \nresembles a huge dog or bear. Its massive, hairless body \nripples with extraordinary musculature. Its hide is \nsleek and milky-white in color, and bony plates cover \nits head and protect its eyes. Long tentacles ring the \nhead like a lion's mane. Two of the tentacles, longer \nthan the others, end in oddly humanlike hands. \n \nDrow Half Dragon Fighter: male dragon (elf) Ftr7; \nCR 9; Medium Dragon (Elf); HD 7d12+28 (84 hp); Init \n+1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 11, flatfooted 22; Base Atk \n+7; Grp +13; \n \nAtk +15 melee (2d4+10, +1 chain, spiked; 18-20 x2); \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 36 \n\n \nFull Atk +15/+10 melee (2d4+10, +1 chain, spiked) \nor +13 melee (1d4+6, 2 claw) and +8 melee (1d6+3, bite) \nor breath weapon (6d8 acid); \n \nSA breath weapon, poison, dancing lights, darkness, \nfaerie fire; SQ immunity to sleep effects and paralysis \nand acid, light blindness, SR 20, darkvision 120 ft., low-\nlight vision; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 23, Dex 12, \nCon 18, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16. \n \nLanguages: \nCommon, \nDraconic, \nDrow \nSign \nLanguage, Elven, Undercommon \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Handle Animal +9, \nIntimidate +4, Listen +2, Search +4, Spot +2; Combat \nExpertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: chain, spiked, \nImproved Sunder, Improved Toughness, Improved \nTrip, Power Attack, Weapon Focus: chain, spiked. \n \nBreath Weapon (SA): 60 foot line of acid, Ref \nsave DC 17 for half; 6d8 damage. \n \nPossessions: +1 spiked chain; human bane, wounding \n(32,325 gp); +1 splint mail (1,350 gp). cure light wounds \npotion x2 (100 gp). \n \nDrow Monk: male elf [Drow] Mnk9: CR 10; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 9d8+18 (72 hp); Init +1; Spd 60 ft.; \nAC 16, touch 16, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +6; Grp +19; \n \nAtk +11 melee (1d10+5, Unarmed strike) or +11 \nmelee (1d4+5, 2 tentacles); \n \nFull Atk +11 melee (1d10+5, unarmed strike) and \n+6/+6 melee (1d4+2, 2 tentacles) or +11/+11/+6 melee \n(1d10+5, flurry of blows) and +6/+6 melee (1d4+2, 2 \ntentacles); \n \nSpace/Reach 5ft./10ft.; SA perfect flurry of blows, \nki strike, poison, purity of body, dancing lights, darkness, \nfaerie fire; \nSQ AC bonus +1, evasion, immunity \nto sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. enchantment spells \nand effects, +2 will saves vs. spells and spell-like effects, \nlight blindness, slow fall (30 ft), still mind, wholeness \nof body, wisdom bonus to AC; SR 20, darkvision 120 ft.; \n \nAL LE; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +10; Str 20, Dex 12, \nCon 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +14, Jump +24, Listen +15, \nMove Silently +13, Search +2, Spot +13, Tumble +15; \nAberration Blood - Flexible Limbs, Bestial Hide, \nCombat Reflexes, Deepspawn, Improved Disarm, \nImproved \nGrapple, \nImproved \nUnarmed \nStrike, \nInhuman Reach. (see Appendix Eight for new feats) \n \nPossessions: 500 gp; belt of giant strength +4 (16000 \ngp); cloak of elvenkind (2500 gp); boots of elvenkind (2500 \ngp); ring: protection +5 (50000 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY \nSPIDER \nFiendish spellwarped advanced huge monstrous \nspider: Large aberration; CR 10; HD11d8+44; hp 93; \nInit +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 19 (-2 size, +4 Dex, +7 \nnatural) touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +8; Grp +22; \nAtk +13 melee (3d6+9 plus poison, bite); Full Atk +13 \nmelee (3d6+9 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, smite good, \nweb; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR 10/magic, \ndarkvision 60ft, ethereal jaunt, low-light vision, spell \nabsorption; SR 19; Face/Reach 15ft/10ft; AL CE; SV \nFort +10, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 23, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 7, \nWis 10, Cha 2; \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +14, Hide +0*, Jump +6*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Improved Natural \nattack (bite), Snatch \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d8 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC18) or a \nStrength check (DC22). \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nFiendish Spellwarped advanced large monstrous \nspider: Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR6; \nHD 7d8+18; hp52; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-\n1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base \nAtk +5; Grp +13; Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); \nFull Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, \nsmite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR \n5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin \ntraits; SR 18; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7; \nRef +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, \nCha 2 \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +6*, Jump +4*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Snatch \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC15) or a \nStrength check (DC19). \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 37 \n\n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee Appendix Five: New Rules - New \nCreatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY \nPARLOR \nAspect of Lolth: CR 11; large outsider (Evil, \nExtraplanar, Chaotic); HD 14d8+42 hp 105; Init +4; Spd \nClimb 20 ft. (4 squares), 40 ft. (8 squares); AC 21, touch \n13, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +14; Grp +21; \n \nAtk +20 melee (1d4+6 plus poison, +3 dagger, \nchaotic); \n \nFull Atk +20 melee (1d4+6, +3 dagger, chaotic); and \n+15 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); \n \nSpace/Reach 10ft./10ft.; \n \nSA \npoison; \nSQ \ndamage \nreduction \n5/epic, \ndarkvision 60 ft., SR 25, no dual nature; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +17; Str 16, Dex \n18, Con 17, Int 27, Wis 26, Cha 23. \n \nLanguages: \nAbyssal, \nDraconic, \nElven, \nUndercommon \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +11, Jump +7; Blind-Fight, \nImproved Critical: Bite, Simple Weapon Proficiency, \nWeapon Finesse, Weapon Focus: Bite, Weapon \nSpecialization: Bite. \n \nCombat: An aspect of Lolth's natural weapons, as \nwell as any weapons it wields, are treated as chaotic-\naligned and evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming \ndamage reduction. \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d10 Str. The DC is Constitution-\nbased. \n \n \nDemon, \nYochlol: \nMedium-Size/Large \nOutsider \n(Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri); CR 5; Hit Dice: \n6d8+6; hp 33; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider \nForm); AC Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow \nchainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16 \n(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14; \nOoze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, Flat Footed 10; \nGaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat \nFooted 9; \n \nAttack: Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-\n20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand \nCrossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus \npoison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 melee (1d4+4) \n \nFull Attack: Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee \n(1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2, \nHand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 \nplus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles +10 melee \n(1d4+4) \n \nSpace/Reach: Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider \nForm 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form \n5 ft. / 5 ft. SA Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison; SQ \nDamage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity \nImmunity, fire resistance 20, Gaseous form, Gas, \nImmune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to \nSneak Attacks (Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR \n15, Telepathy; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 14, \nCon 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16. \n \nLanguage: Abyssal \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form \nonly) \n+12, \nConcentration \n+7, \nDiplomacy \n+14, \nIntimidate +14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11, \nSpot +11. Blind Fighting, Combat Casting. \n \nPossessions: short sword (20 gp), hand crossbow \n(200 gp). \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 38 \n\nAPPENDIX ONE: APL 12 \nENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS \nWHAT IT APPEARS TO BE \nCleric of Vhaeraun: male elf [Drow] Clr7/Wrp4: CR \n12; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 7d8+7 (87 hp); Init \n+0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 26, touch 18, flatfooted 26; Base Atk \n+9; Grp +10; \n \nAtk +11 melee (1d6+2 plus poison, +1 short sword) \nor 10 melee (1d4+1, spiked gauntlet); \n \nFull Atk +11/+6 (1d6+2 plus poison, +1 short sword) \nor +10/+5 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire, \nspontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 6x/day, \nbonus domain, bonus caster level, inflame, rally, mass \ncure light wounds; SQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), \n+2 saves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 will \nsaves vs. spells and spell-like effects, SR 24, darkvision \n120 ft.; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +12; Str 12, Dex 10, \nCon 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 16. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +7, Concentration +13, \nDiplomacy +16, Disguise +5, Heal +8, Listen +8, Search \n+4, Sense Motive +12, Spellcraft +14, Spot +8; Combat \nCasting, Daylight Adaptation, Divine Spell Power, \nDomain Spontaneity. \n \nLanguages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven, \nGoblin, and Undercommon. \n \nBonus Domain: At 1st level, the warpriest gains \nthe Glory domain (if he turns undead) or the \nDomination domain (if he rebukes undead). \n \nInflame (Ex): As a full round action, the warpriest \ncan inflame the passions of his allies. All who can hear \nthe warpriest gain a morale bonus on saving throws \nagainst any charm or fear effects. The bonus begins at \n+2 for a 2nd level warpriest and increases by +2 at each \neven numbered level thereafter (+4 at 4th, +6 at 6, etc.). \nThis effect lasts for five minutes after the speech ends, \nplus 1 minute per level of the warpriest. \n \nRally (Ex): A warpriest who is currently not \nsuffering from a fear effect can use this ability as a \nstandard action. Allies within 60 feet who are suffering \nfrom any fear effect and can hear the warpriest are \nallowed another saving throw against the fear effect, \nwith a +1 morale bonus per warpriest level. \n \nMass Cure light Wounds (SP): Starting at 3rd \nlevel, a warpriest can use mass cure light wounds, once \nper day as a spell-like ability. Treat the warpriest’s caster \nlevel for this effect as equal to his highest divine caster \nlevel. \n \nCleric Spells Prepared(6/6/6/4/3/2): 0-[resistance, \nvirtue, read magic, cure minor wounds, detect magic]; 1st-\n[entropic shield, obscuring mist, protection from good, \nlongstrider*, sanctuary, shield of faith, cure light wounds]; \n2nd-[body blades, veil of shadow, balor nimbus, infernal \nwound, divine interdiction, deific vengeance, invisibility*]; \n3rd-[ring of blades, fly*, energy vortex, cure serious wounds, \nClutch of Orcus]; 4th-[sound lance, unholy blight*, shield of \nfaith, mass, negative energy aura]; 5th-[teleport*, flame \nstrike, doomtide]. \n \n*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains: \n[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery \n(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills); Evil (cast evil \nspells at +1 caster level)]. \n \nPossessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short \n(2,310 gp); banded mail of luck (18,900 gp); +1 animated \nmithral heavy steel shield (10,170 gp); silver holy symbol \n(25 gp); wooden holy symbol (1 gp); spell component \npouch (2) (10 gp); disguise kit (50 gp); death blade \npoison (1800 gp) (injury DC 20, initial 1d6 Con, \nsecondary 2d6 Con, DC 25 Craft, trap CR modifier +5 \n(A&EG37)); cure light wounds potion (2) (100 gp); periapt \nof wisdom +4 (16,000 gp); ring of protection +4 (32,000 gp); \ncloak of charisma +4 (16,000 gp), blindfold of true darkness \n(9,000 gp). \n \nDrider, \nSorcerer \n#1: \nmale \ndrider \n(sorcerer) \nAberration6/Sor3: CR 10; Large Aberration ; HD \n6d8+18; hp 64;; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., climb 15 ft. ; AC 17, \ntouch 11, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +5; Grp +11; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +7 melee (1d4+3, bite) or +4 ranged \n(2d6+4, bow of force) or +5 melee (1d6+3, +1 dagger) \n,+5 melee (1d6+2, +1 dagger) ; \n \nSpace/Reach 10ft./5ft.; SA dancing lights, darkness, \ndetect good, detect magic, detect law, faerie fire, levitate, \nclairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, suggestion, poison ; \nSQ darkvision 60 ft., SR 17; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +11; Str 15, Dex 14, \nCon 16, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 18. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +8, Climb +14, Concentration \n+14, Hide +10, Listen +12, Move Silently +12, Spellcraft \n+13, Spot +9; Combat Casting, Simple Weapon \nProficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus: \nBite. \n \nSorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/6/4; Base DC = 14 + \nspell level): 0-[acid splash, caltrops, electric jolt, mage hand, \nray of frost, resistance, sonic snap, touch of fatigue]; 1st-[blades \nof fire, cold orb, lesser, enlarge person, mage armor, night \nshield]; 2nd-[baleful transposition, bull`s strength, daggerspell \ndance, scorching ray]; 3rd-[chain missile, dispel magic, \nfireball]; 4th-[enervation, explosive cascade]. \n \nPossessions: unholy dagger +1 x2 (18,304 gp); bow of \nforce (65,400 gp); giant wasp poison (210 gp) (injury DC \n18, initial 1d6 Dex, secondary 1d6, DC 20 Craft, trap CR \nmodifier +3 (A&EG37)), blindfold of true darkness (9,000 \ngp). \n \nDrider, \nSorcerer \n#2: \nmale \ndrider \n(sorcerer) \nAberration6/Sor3: CR 10; Large Aberration ; HD \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 39 \n\n6d8+18; hp 64;; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., climb 15 ft. ; AC 17, \ntouch 11, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +5; Grp +11; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +7 melee (1d4+3, bite) or +4 ranged \n(2d6+4, bow of force) or +5/+5 melee (1d6+3, +1 dagger, \nunholy) ; \n \nSpace/Reach 10ft./5ft.; SA dancing lights, darkness, \ndetect good, detect magic, detect law, faerie fire, levitate, \nclairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, suggestion, poison ; \nSQ darkvision 60 ft., SR 17; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +11; Str 15, Dex 14, \nCon 16, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 18. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +8, Climb +14, Concentration \n+14, Hide +10, Listen +12, Move Silently +12, Spellcraft \n+13, Spot +9; Combat Casting, Simple Weapon \nProficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus: \nBite. \n \nSorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/6/4; Base DC = 14 + \nspell level): 0-[acid splash, caltrops, electric jolt, mage hand, \nray of frost, resistance, sonic snap, touch of fatigue]; 1st-[blades \nof fire, cold orb, lesser, enlarge person, mage armor, night \nshield]; 2nd-[baleful transposition, bull`s strength, daggerspell \ndance, scorching ray]; 3rd-[chain missile, dispel magic, \nfireball]; 4th-[enervation, Evard’s black tentacles]. \n \nPossessions: unholy dagger +1 x2 (18,304 gp); bow of \nforce (65,400 gp); giant wasp poison (210 gp) (injury DC \n18, initial 1d6 Dex, secondary 1d6, DC 20 Craft, trap CR \nmodifier +3 (A&EG37)) , blindfold of true darkness (9,000 \ngp). \n \nENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE \nDARKNESS \nDrow Wizard: male elf [Drow] Wiz9/AcltSkn2; CR \n12; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 9d4+9 (41 hp); Init \n+2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 19, flatfooted 18; Base Atk \n+5; Grp +5; \n \nAtk/Full Atk +6 melee (1d6+1 plus poison, +1 \nsword, short) or +8 ranged (1d4+1, plus poison, +1 hand \ncrossbow); \n \nSA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ \nimmunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. \nenchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells \nand spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 22, darkvision \n120 ft. fire resistance 10; poison 1/day; wear fiend; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +10; Str 10, Dex 16, \nCon 12, Int 24, Wis 12, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +15, Decipher \nScript +12, Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge \n(Religion) \n+10, \nKnowledge \n(the \nplanes) \n+17, \nKnowledge (underdark) +15, Listen +3, Search +9, \nSpellcraft +23, Spot +10; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, \nScribe Scroll, Sudden Empower, Sudden Maximize, \nSudden Widen. \n \nLanguages: \nAbyssal, \nCommon, \nDrow \nSign \nLanguage, Elven, Goblin, Undercommon. \n \n \nPoison (Sp): An acolyte of the skin can use \npoison once per day as an 8th-level caster. The save DC \nis 14 + the acolytes primary spellcasring ability \nmodifier (Intelligence for wizards, Charisma for \nsorcerers and warlocks, Wisdom for clerics, and so \nforth). At 5th level, an acolyte can use this ability two \ntimes per day. \n \nWear Fiend (Su): An acolyte of the skin \nsummons the essence of a fiend and wears it like a \nsecond skin. The bonded fiendish skin is for all intents \nand purposes the characters own. It increases the \nacolyte of the skin’s natural armor bonus by 1 and \ngrants a +2 inherent bonus to Dexterity. The acolyte \nalso gains darkvision out to 60 feet. \nThe DM determines the actual nature of the skin, be it \ndemonic, devilish, or from some other fiendish \ncreature. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4/6/6/5/4/3; Base DC = 17 + \nspell level): 0-[electric jolt, acid splash, launch bolt, caltrops]; \n1st-[ray of flame, hail of stone, mage armor, expeditious \nretreat, swift, orb of fire, lesser, orb of electricity, lesser]; 2nd-\n[distracting ray, blast of force, baleful transposition, scorching \nray]; 3rd-[sound lance, fireball, fireball, fly]; 4th-\n[defenestrating sphere, backlash, phantasmal killer]; 5th-\n[prismatic ray, cone of cold, baleful polymorph]. \n \nPossessions: +1 sword, short: unholy (18,310 gp); +1 \nhand crossbow (2,400 gp); Coin: gp (30); Drow knockout \npoison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial damage: \nunconsciousness, \n1 \nminute; \nsecondary \ndamage: \nunconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); ring of \nprotection +3 (18,000 gp); ring of forceshield (8,500 gp); \namulet of natural armor +1 (2,000 gp); headband of \nIntellect +4 (16,000 gp); safewing emblem (250 gp); cure \nlight wounds potion (1) (50 gp). \n \nFamiliar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny \nAberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd \n30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21; \n \nAtk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2, \nBite); \n \nSA: Eye Rays (Su) ; SQ: Immunity: Charm (Ex), \nImmunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight (Ex), \nAll-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.; \n \nAL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX \n16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15, \nListen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness. \n \nEye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can \nuse all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs \ncan only use one of their four rays at a time. In \naddition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost \ncannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds. \n \nEach eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer \n(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules \nfor a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the \nPlayer’s Handbook). \n \nCause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will \nsave is DC 10. \n \nDaze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is \nDC 10. \n \nMage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer, \nexcept the eyeball can use the ray without having to \nuse a move-equivalent action to move an unattended \nobject weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a \nround. The ray has a range of 35 feet. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 40 \n\n \nRay of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nImmunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm \nand command effects. \n \nAll \nAround \nVision \n(Ex): \nEyeballs \nare \nexceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a \n+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nsearch checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses \nwhen attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has \nattacked during an encounter, its all around vision \nnegates any sneak attack. \n \nFlight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally \nbuoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a \nfree action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also \ngrants a feather fall effect with personal range. \n \nENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY \nENEMY \nHound of the Gloom: CR 10; Huge Aberration; HD \n16d8+144; hp 216; Init +1; Spd Climb 20 ft. (4 squares), \n40 ft. (8 squares); AC 25, touch 9, flatfooted 24; Base Atk \n+12; Grp +30; \n \nAtk +20 melee (2d8+10, Bite); \n \nFull Atk +20 melee (2d8+10, bite) and +18 melee \n(1d8+5, 2 claw) and +18 melee (1d8+5, 2 tentacle rake); \n \nSpace/Reach 10ft./5ft.; SA improved grab, poison, \npounce; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent; AL NE; SV Fort \n+16, Ref +6, Will +13; Str 30, Dex 13, Con 28, Int 10, \nWis 17, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Balance +5, Climb +22, Jump +22, \nListen +14, Move Silently +7, Spot +14; Cleave, Combat \nReflexes, Great Fortitude, Multiattack, Power Attack. \n \nImproved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the \nhound must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then \nattempt to start a grapple as a free action without \nprovoking attacks of opportunity. \n Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 23, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d8 Dex. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n Pounce (Ex): If a hound of the gloom charges a foe, \nit can make a full attack, including two tentacle attacks. \n \nDrow Half Dragon Fighter: male dragon (elf) Ftr9; \nCR 11; Medium Dragon (Elf); HD 9d12+36; hp 117; \nInit +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 11, flatfooted 14; Base \nAtk +9; Grp +16; \n \nAtk +19 melee (2d4+11, +1 chain, spiked, 18-20, x2); \n \nFull Atk +19/+14/+9/+4 melee (2d4+11, +1 chain, \nspiked, 18-20 x2) or +16 melee (1d4+7, 2 claw) and +11 \nmelee (1d6+3, bite); \n \nSA breath weapon, poison, dancing lights, darkness, \nfaerie fire; SQ immunity to sleep effects and paralysis \nand acid, light blindness, SR 20, darkvision 120 ft., low-\nlight vision; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +10, Ref +4, Will +5; Str 24, Dex 12, \nCon 18, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16. \n \nLanguages: \nCommon, \nDraconic, \nDrow \nSign \nLanguage, Elven, Undercommon \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +16, Handle Animal +15, \nIntimidate +4, Jump +14, Listen +2, Search +4, Spot +2; \nCombat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: chain, \nspiked, Greater Weapon Focus: chain, spiked, Improved \nSunder, Improved Toughness, Improved Trip, Iron \nWill, Power Attack, Weapon Focus: chain, spiked. \n \nBreath Weapon (SA): 60 foot line of acid, Ref \nsave DC 18 for half; 6d8 damage. \n \nPossessions: +1 spiked chain; human bane, wounding \n(32,325 gp); +1 splint mail (1,350 gp). cure light wounds \npotion x2 (100 gp). \n \nDrow Monk: male elf [Drow] Mnk9: CR 10; Medium \nHumanoid (Elf); HD 9d8+18 (72 hp); Init +1; Spd 60 ft.; \nAC 16, touch 16, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +6; Grp +19; \n \nAtk +11 melee (1d10+5, Unarmed strike) or +11 \nmelee (1d4+5, 2 tentacles); \n \nFull Atk +11 melee (1d10+5, unarmed strike) and \n+6/+6 melee (1d4+2, 2 tentacles) or +11/+11/+6 melee \n(1d10+5, flurry of blows) and +6/+6 melee (1d4+2, 2 \ntentacles); \n \nSA perfect flurry of blows, ki strike, poison, purity \nof body, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; \nSQ \nAC \nbonus +1, evasion, immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 \nsaves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves \nvs. spells and spell-like effects, light blindness, slow fall \n(30 ft), still mind, wholeness of body, wisdom bonus to \nAC; SR 20, darkvision 120 ft.; \n \nAL LE; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +10; Str 20, Dex 12, \nCon 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8. \n \nSkills and Feats: Hide +14, Jump +24, Listen +15, \nMove Silently +13, Search +2, Spot +13, Tumble +15; \nAberration Blood - Flexible Limbs, Bestial Hide, \nCombat Reflexes, Deepspawn, Improved Disarm, \nImproved \nGrapple, \nImproved \nUnarmed \nStrike, \nInhuman Reach. (See Appendix 5 for new feats) \n \nPossessions: 500 gp; belt of giant strength +4 (16000 \ngp); cloak of elvenkind (2500 gp); boots of elvenkind (2500 \ngp); ring: protection +5 (50000 gp); cure light wounds potion \nx2 (100 gp). \n \nENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY \nSPIDER \nFiendish spellwarped advanced huge monstrous \nspider: Large aberration; CR 10; HD11d8+44; hp 93; \nInit +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 19 (-2 size, +4 Dex, +7 \nnatural) touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +8; Grp +22; \nAtk +13 melee (3d6+9 plus poison, bite); Full Atk +13 \nmelee (3d6+9 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, smite good, \nweb; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR 10/magic, \ndarkvision 60ft, ethereal jaunt, low-light vision, spell \nabsorption; SR 19; Face/Reach 15ft/10ft; AL CE; SV \nFort +10, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 23, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 7, \nWis 10, Cha 2; \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +14, Hide +0*, Jump +6*, \nSpot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Improved Natural \nattack (bite), Snatch \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 41 \n\n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d8 Str. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nSmite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can \nmake a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal \nto its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe. \n \nWeb (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC18) or a \nStrength check (DC22). \n \nTremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect \nand pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in \ncontact with the ground, or within any range in contact \nwith the spider’s webs. \n \nSkills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus \non Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on \nClimb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose \nto take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or \nthreatened. Monstrous spiders use either their \nStrength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, \nwhichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial \nbonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot \nchecks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on \nHide and Move Silently checks when using their webs. \n \nSee for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and \nAttacks. \n \nENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY \nPARLOR \nAspect of Lolth: CR 11; large outsider (Evil, \nExtraplanar, Chaotic); HD 14d8+42 hp 105; Init +4; Spd \nClimb 20 ft. (4 squares), 40 ft. (8 squares); AC 21, touch \n13, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +14; Grp +21; \n \nAtk +20 melee (1d4+6 plus poison, +3 dagger, \nchaotic); \n \nFull Atk +20 melee (1d4+6, +3 dagger, chaotic); and \n+15 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); \n \nSpace/Reach 10ft. /10ft; \n \nSA \npoison; \nSQ \ndamage \nreduction \n5/epic, \ndarkvision 60 ft., SR 25, no dual nature; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +17; Str 16, Dex \n18, Con 17, Int 27, Wis 26, Cha 23. \n \nLanguages: \nAbyssal, \nDraconic, \nElven, \nUndercommon \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +11, Jump +7; Blind-Fight, \nImproved Critical: Bite, Simple Weapon Proficiency, \nWeapon Finesse, Weapon Focus: Bite, Weapon \nSpecialization: Bite. \n \nCombat: An aspect of Lolth's natural weapons, as \nwell as any weapons it wields, are treated as chaotic-\naligned and evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming \ndamage reduction. \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d10 Str. The DC is Constitution-\nbased. \n \nDemon, \nYochlol: \nMedium-Size/Large \nOutsider \n(Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri); CR 5; Hit Dice: \n6d8+6; hp 33; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider \nForm); AC Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow \nchainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16 \n(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14; \nOoze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, Flat Footed 10; \nGaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat \nFooted 9; \n \nAttack: Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-\n20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand \nCrossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus \npoison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 melee (1d4+4) \n \nFull Attack: Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee \n(1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2, \nHand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 \nplus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles +10 melee \n(1d4+4) \n \nSpace/Reach: Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider \nForm 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form \n5 ft. / 5 ft. SA Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison; SQ \nDamage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity \nImmunity, fire resistance 20, Gaseous form, Gas, \nImmune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to \nSneak Attacks (Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR \n15, Telepathy; \n \nAL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 14, \nCon 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16. \n \nLanguage: Abyssal \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form \nonly) \n+12, \nConcentration \n+7, \nDiplomacy \n+14, \nIntimidate +14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11, \nSpot +11. Blind Fighting, Combat Casting. \n \nPossessions: short sword (20 gp), hand crossbow \n(200 gp). \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 42 \n\nAPPENDIX TWO: ROGUE GUILD SYMBOLS \n \nGuild \n \nCity(Guild Hall) \nSymbol \nBirds of Prey \nRadigast City (The Aerie) \nEagle \nHalwyn Fingers \nTrigol (The Hall) \nThree Fingers raised on a hand \nNighthawks \nJedbridge (sanctuary) \nHawk \nSea Serpents \nBampton (The Den) \nSea Serpent \nViper’s Den \nBrotton (The Pit) \nViper \nSilent Hand \nBrotton (The Gauntlet) \nLips with a finger raised to them \nTiger Sharks \nHigh Mardreth (Hidden Cove) \nShark \nThe Black Claw \nTrigol (Shadow Hall) \nA black claw \n \n \n \nShield 1 House Underley \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 43 \n\nAPPENDIX THREE: THE TEMPLE \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 44 \n\nAPPENDIX FOUR: THE SUMMONING CAVE \n \n \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 45 \n\nAPPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES \n \nASPECT OF LOLTH \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n(From Miniatures Handbook) \nSize: Type \nLarge outsider (evil, extraplanar, chaotic) \nHit Dice: \n14d8+42 (105 hp) \nInitiative: \n+4 \nSpeed: \nClimb 20 ft. (4 squares), 40 ft. (8 squares) \nAC: \n+21 (-1 Size, +4 Dex, +8 Natural), touch 13, flatfooted 17 \nBase Attack/Grapple: \n+14/+21 \nAttack: \nBite +18 melee (1d8+6) \nFull Attack: \nBite +18 melee \nSpace/Reach: \n10ft. / 10ft \nSpecial Attacks: \nPoison (Ex) \nSpecial Qualities: \nDamage Reduction (Su): 5/Epic, Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft., SR (Ex): 25, No Dual Nature (Ex) \nSaves: \nFort +12, Ref +13, Will +17 \nAbilities: \nStr 16, Dex 18, Con 17, Int 27, Wis 26, Cha 23 \nSkills: \nClimb +11, Jump +7 \nFeats: \nBlind-Fight, Improved Critical: Bite, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Finesse, \nWeapon Focus: Bite, Weapon Specialization: Bite \nLanguages: \nAbyssal, Draconic, Elven, Undercommon \nClimate/Terrain: \nInfinite Layers of the Abyss \nOrganization: \nSolitary \nChallenge Rating: \n11 \nTreasure: \nCoins: None, Goods: None, Items: None \nAlignment: \nAlways Chaotic Evil \nAdvancement: \n0-14 HD (Large) \n This unnatural creature has the body of a great, gray \nspider, but the head of a female elf [Drow] protrudes \nfrom where the spider's head would be. It has long hair \nand multifaceted eyes. The creature is 7 feet tall and at \nleast that long. \n \nThis aspect of Lolth expresses Lolth's dual nature. \nIts form is one of Lolth's three normal forms (the other \ntwo being a beautiful female drider and an alluring \nfemale elf [Drow]). \n \nPowerful Drow have been known to call aspects of \nLolth to serve as witnesses to agreements and pacts \nbetween scheming noble houses. The presence of an \naspect makes such agreements less likely to be broken, \nor so the theory goes. \n \nAn aspect of Lolth speaks Abyssal, Draconic, \nElven, and Undercommon. \nCOMBAT \nAn aspect of Lolth's natural weapons, as well as any \nweapons it wields, are treated as chaotic-aligned and \nevil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage \nreduction. \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d10 Str. The DC is Constitution-\nbased. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 46 \n\nAPPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES\nDEMON, YOCHLOL \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n(From Monsters of Faerun) \nSize: Type \nMedium-Size/Large Outsider (Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri) \nHit Dice: \n6d8+6 (33 hp) \nInitiative: \n+2 (Dex) \nSpeed: \n30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider Form) \nAC: \nHumanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow chainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16 \n(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14; Ooze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, \nFlat Footed 10; Gaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat Footed 9 \nBase Attack/Grapple: \n+6/+10 (+6/+13 ooze) \nAttack: \nHumanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand \nCrossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus poison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 \nmelee (1d4+4) \nFull Attack: \nHumanoid Form: +10/+5 melee (1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2, \nHand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles \n+10 melee (1d4+4) \nSpace/Reach: \nHumanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider Form 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form \n5 ft. / 5 ft \nSpecial Attacks: \nSpell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison \nSpecial Qualities: \nDamage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity Immunity, fire resistance 20, \nGaseous form, Gas, Immune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to Sneak Attacks \n(Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR 15, Telepathy \nSaves: \nFort +6, Ref +7, Will +7 \nAbilities: \nStr 19, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16 \nSkills: \nBluff +12, Climb (in Spider form only) +12, Concentration +7, Diplomacy +14, Intimidate \n+14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11, Spot +11 \nFeats: \nBlind Fighting, Combat Casting \nLanguages: \nAbyssal \nClimate/Terrain: \nAny land and underground \nOrganization: \nSolitary or brood (2-5) \nChallenge Rating: \n5 \nTreasure: \nNone \nAlignment: \nAlways Chaotic Evil \nAdvancement: \n7-12 HD (Medium-Size) \nYochlol, also called Handmaidens of Lolth, serve the \nSpider Queen in the Abyss and throughout the planes. \nThey exist only to serve their dark mistress in whatever \ntasks she sets before them. \n \nIn their natural form, Yochlol are 6 foot heaps of \nreeking ooze, with eight powerful tentacles and a \nsingle glaring red eye. However, they can shift between \nthis form and three others: a beautiful woman of \nhuman or elven race (usually a Drow), a Large \nmonstrous black spider, or a gaseous cloud roughly 10 \nfeet tall and 5 feet in diameter. \n \nChanging shape is a free action that a Yochlol can \nperform as often as once per round. If a Yochlol wears \narmor in its’ human or elven form, the armor falls away \nwhen the Yochlol assumes any other form. \nCOMBAT \nYochlol on the Material Plane are most commonly \nencountered in their humanoid or spider forms. If the \ndestruction of a mortal is their command from Lloth, \nnothing short of utter destruction can stand in their \nway. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities (Sp): Yochlol can use the \nfollowing spell-like powers at will, casting them as 8th-\nlevel sorcerers (save DCs are 16): Charm Person, \nDarkness, Desecrate, Spider Climb, Stone Shape, Teleport \nwithout Error and Web. \n \nPsionics (Sp): In addition to their spell-like \nabilities, Yochlol have psionic powers that they can use \nat will as 8th-level sorcerers: Domination, Detect Thoughts, \nand Mind Blank. \n \nSpider Poison (Ex): Those hit by the bite attack \nof a Yochlol in spider form must succeed at a Fortitude \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 47 \n\nsave (DC 14) or be injected with poison. The initial \ndamage is 1d6 points of temporary Constitution \ndamage, and the secondary damage is 2d6 points of \ntemporary Constitution damage. \n \nGaseous Form (Ex): Yochlol can transform \nthemselves into a large column of gas, 10 feet tall and 5 \nfeet in diameter. This form is exactly like that produced \nby a Gaseous Form spell. Creatures that come into \ncontact with the Yochlol in gaseous form are affected as \nif by a Stinking Cloud spell. When in gaseous form, \nYochlol may communicate with their native plane (as if \nusing the Contact Other Plane spell). \n \nTelepathy (Su): Yochlol can communicate \ntelepathically with any creature within 100 feet that \nhas a language. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 48 \n\nAPPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES \nHALF-FIEND DRAEGLOTH \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n(From Monsters of Faerun) \nSize: Type \nLarge Outsider (Chaotic, Evil) \nHit Dice: \n6d84+12 (39 hp) \nInitiative: \n+2 (Dex) \nSpeed: \n30 ft. \nAC: \n16 (+2 Dex, —1 size, +5 natural) \nBase Attack/Grapple: \n+6/+16 \nAttack: \n2 claws +11 melee (1d6+6) \nFull Attack: \n2 claws +11 melee (1d6+6) and bite +6 melee (1d8+3) \nSpace/Reach: \n10 ft/10 ft. \nSpecial Attacks: \nSpell-Like abilities \nSpecial Qualities: \nImmunities, resistance, Drow abilities \nSaves: \nFort 47, Ref +7, Will +5 \nAbilities: \nStr 22, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 11 \nSkills: \nHide +7, Jump +11, Knowledge (Drow religion) +5, Listen +9, Move Silently +11, Search \n+10, Spot +9 \nFeats: \nBlind-Fight, Power Attack \nLanguages: \nAbyssal and Undercommon \nClimate/Terrain: \nUnderground \nOrganization: \nSolitary \nChallenge Rating: \n5 \nTreasure: \nNone \nAlignment: \nAlways chaotic evil \nAdvancement: \nBy character class \nFormed in the unholy union between a newly ordained \nDrow high priestess and a powerful demon, a draegloth \nis a half-fiend terror that stalks the Underoerth. \n \nWhile half-fiends of all varieties are not as rare as \none might hope, draegloths are perhaps the only \nvariety that is regularly, intentionally, even ritually, \ncreated by a mortal race. They look like 8-foot tall Drow \nelves, with inky black skin and a knotted mane of \nyellowish-white hair. Their hides are thick and covered \nwith a fine coat of white hair, and their bodies are \npowerfully muscled. Two of their four arms end in \npowerful claws; the other two, much smaller, end in \nnormal hands that some of these creatures can use for \nspellcasting. Their faces have a bestial cast, slightly \nelongated to resemble a dog’s muzzle, and their mouths \nare full of vicious sharp teeth. Draegloths have \ndarkvision with a range of 60 feet. \nCombat: Draegloths delight in carnage and wade into \nbattle without fear. Though reasonably intelligent, they \nare no geniuses, and are impatient in matters of \nstrategy They disdain weapons, for they love the \nfeeling of tearing opponents apart with their claws and \nteeth. \n \nSpell-Like Abilities: Draegloths can use the \nfollowing spell-like abilities once per day, as a 6th-level \nsorcerer: dancing lights, desecrate, faerie fire, and unholy \nblight. They can also cast darkness four times per day. \n \nImmunities (Ex): Draegloths are immune to \npoison and sleep-inducing spells and effects. \n \nResistances (Ex): Draegloths have acid, cold, \nelectricity, and fire resistance 20 and gain a +2 racial \nbonus on their saving throws against enchantment \nspells or effects. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 49 \n\nAPPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES \nHOUND OF THE GLOOM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n(From Lords of Madness) \nSize: Type \nLarge Aberration \nHit Dice: \n12d8+84 (138 hp) \nInitiative: \n+2 \nSpeed: \nClimb 20 ft. (4 squares), 40 ft. (8 squares) \nAC: \n+24 (-1 Size, +2 Dex, +13 Natural), touch 11, flatfooted 22 \nBase Attack/Grapple: \n+9/+19 \nAttack: \n+14 Melee (Bite 2d6+6) \nFull Attack: \n+14 Melee (Bite 2d6+6/crit 20/x2) and +12 Melee (2 Claw 1d6+3/crit 20/x2) and +12 Melee \n(2 Tentacle Rake 1d6+3/crit 20/x2); \nSpace/Reach: \n10ft. / 5ft. \nSpecial Attacks: \nImproved Grab (Ex), Poison (Ex), Pounce (Ex) \nSpecial Qualities: \nDarkvision (Ex): 60 ft., Scent (Ex) \nSaves: \nFort +13, Ref +6, Will +11 \nAbilities: \nStr 22, Dex 15, Con 24, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10 \nSkills: \nBalance +6, Climb +18, Jump +18, Listen +12, Move Silently +6, Spot +12 \nFeats: \nCleave, Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Multiattack, Power Attack \nLanguages: \n \nClimate/Terrain: \nAny Underground \nOrganization: \n \nChallenge Rating: \n9 \nTreasure: \n \nAlignment: \nUsually Neutral Evil \nAdvancement: \n13-14 HD (Large); 15-36 HD (Huge) \n This powerful quadruped vaguely resembles a huge \ndog or bear. Its massive, hairless body ripples with \nextraordinary musculature. Its hide is sleek and milky-\nwhite in color, and bony plates cover its head and \nprotect its eyes. Long tentacles ring the head like a \nlion's mane. Two of the tentacles, longer than the \nothers, end in oddly humanlike hands. \n \nHounds of the gloom remain a mystery. No \nrecords of appearances by such creatures go back \nfurther than ten years. Since then, sightings have \nbecome more numerous each year. Fortunately, the \nbeasts are still rare in most regions. \n \nSages speculate that the creatures might be distant \nrelatives \nof \ndisplacer \nbeasts \nthat \nlived \ndeep \nunderground, and only within the last decade moved \nclose enough to the surface to encounter civilized races \nor even the subterranean-dwelling dwarves. Whether a \ndesire for fresh hunting grounds or simply an \nopportunity to indulge their base curiosity resulted in \nthe hounds moving toward the surface of the world, \nthey seem here to stay. \n \nHounds are aggressive and fierce, but they are not \ndumb animals. When hunting, a hound makes use of \nterrain to gain any possible advantage. They are \nnormally solitary, but mated pairs have been \nencountered. These work together to kill or drive off \nany threats to their young. Despite the danger \npresented by such fearsome parents, some of the more \nevil subterranean races have taken up the practice of \ncapturing young hounds to raise and train. Specifically, \nthe neogi, the Drow, the grell, and the mind flyers all \nsee a use in the powerful beasts. If a pup is taken young \nenough, it accepts its new world easily, especially if it is \nwell fed and allowed to fight. Some underground races \nhave also trained hounds as gladiatorial beasts to fight \nand die in arenas. \n \nAn average hound of the gloom weighs about \n1,000 pounds. Hounds understand Undercommon but \ndo not speak any humanoid language (although they \ncan converse with each other in their own language). \nCOMBAT \nHounds ambush victims by leaping directly into melee. \nThey use their natural climbing ability to reach a point \nabove their target, then leap down in a deadly pounce \nfrom above. The creatures attack with bite, foreclaws, \nand the two larger tentacles surrounding their heads, \nwhich are much longer than the others. These two \ntentacles have a reach of 10 feet and end in five-\nfingered hands that look almost identical to human \nhands, except they have strong, sharp claws instead of \nnails. \n \nOnce engaged, a hound uses its bite and claw \nattacks against a single foe. A target that withstands \nseveral blows or one that deals the hound a significant \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 50 \n\namount of damage is the target of the hound's poisoned \nhands. \n \nImproved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the \nhound must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then \nattempt to start a grapple as a free action without \nprovoking attacks of opportunity. \n \nPoison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 23, initial and \nsecondary damage 1d8 Dex. The save DC is \nConstitution-based. \n \nPounce (Ex): If a hound of the gloom charges a \nfoe, it can make a full attack, including two tentacle \nattacks. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 51 \n\nAPPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES\nSPELLWARPED CREATURE \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n(From Monster Manual III) \n\"Spellwarped” is an inherited template that can be \nadded to any corporeal aberration, animal, dragon, fey, \ngiant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid \nplant or vermin (referred to hereafter as the base \ncreature). \nA spellwarped creature uses all the base creature's \nstatistics and abilities except as noted here. \nSize and Type: The creature's type changes to \naberration. Do not recalculate the creature's HD, BAB, \nsaves or skill points if its type changes. The creature \ngains the augmented subtype if necessary. Size is \nunchanged. \nArmor Class: Natural armor bonus improves by 2 \n(stacks with any natural armor bonus the base creature \nhas). \nSpecial Qualities: A spellwarped creature has all the \nspecial qualities of the base creature, plus the following \nspecial qualities. \nSR (Ex): A spellwarped creature gains SR 11+its HD. If \nthe creature already has SR, use the greater of the two \nvalues. \nSpell Absorption(Su): Whenever a spell fails to \npenetrate a spellwarped creature's SR, the creature \ngains one of the following benefits, chosen at the time \nthat the spell resolves. \n \nMight: The spellwarped creature gains a +4 \nenhancement bonus to Strength for 1 minute \n \nAgility: The spellwarped creature gains a +4 \nenhancement bonus to Dexterity for 1 minute \n \nEndurance: The spellwarped creature gains a +4 \nenhancement bonus to Constitution for 1 minute \n \nLife: The spellwarped creature gains temporary hit \npoints equal to 5 x level of the failed spell \n \nSpeed: The spellwarped creature's base speed \nincreases by a number of feet equal to 5 x level of the \nfailed spell \n \nresistance: \nThe \nspellwarped \ncreature \ngains \nresistance 10 to one energy type (acid, cold, electricity, \nfire or sonic). \nAbilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: \nStr +4, Dex +2, Con +4, Int +4. \nChallenge Rating: HD 3 or less as base creature; HD 4 \nto 10, as base creature +1; HD 11 or more as base \ncreature +2. \nAlignment: Usually evil (any). Spellwarped creatures \nare typically selfish and cruel. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 52 \n\nNEW RULES – NEW CLASS\nACOLYTE OF THE SKIN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n(From Complete Arcane) \nLevel \nBase \nAttack \nBonus \nFort \nSave \nRef \nSave \nWill \nSave \nSpecial \nSpells per day/ Spells Known \n1st \n+0 \n+2 \n+0 \n+2 \nWear fiend/poison 1/day \n-- \n2nd \n+1 \n+3 \n+0 \n+3 \nFlame resistant \n+1 existing spell class \n3rd \n+2 \n+3 \n+1 \n+3 \nFiendish glare \n-- \n4th \n+3 \n+4 \n+1 \n+4 \n-- \n+1 existing spell class \n5th \n+3 \n+4 \n+1 \n+4 \nSkin adaptation/poison 2/day \n-- \n6th \n+4 \n+5 \n+2 \n+5 \nCold resistant \n+1 existing spell class \n7th \n+5 \n+5 \n+2 \n+5 \nGlare of the pit \n-- \n8th \n+6 \n+6 \n+2 \n+6 \n-- \n+1 existing spell class \n9th \n+6 \n+6 \n+3 \n+6 \nSummon fiend \n-- \n10th \n+7 \n+7 \n+3 \n+7 \nFiendish symbiosis \n+1 existing spell class \nThe temptation of power drives some people to \nextreme lengths, regardless of the consequences. \nReplacing your own skin with that of a living demon is \na goal that most couldn’t even conceive of, let alone \nconsider. But this ghastly fate is exactly what some \nspellcasters seek in their desperate quest. \n \nThe Ritual of Bonding is a blasphemy that was \nlong ago eradicated from most arcane libraries, but a \nfew barely legible copies—or at least references \nthereto—survive along with promises of great power. \nSpellcasters who happen upon such documents can \nchoose to destroy or ignore the find, but the \ntemptation has already occurred. Those who give in \ncan eventually stumble upon the complete ritual, \nusually through extended contact with one or more \nsummoned fiends that are all too eager to share their \nterrible knowledge. \n \nThe Ritual of Bonding is painful and not to be \nundertaken lightly. The ritual requires 10 rounds from \ninitiation to completion, and, once begun, nothing can \nhalt its progress. The fiendish essence consumes the \ncaster’s own skin, an agonizing process that deals 1d4 \npoints of damage in each round of the ritual—wise \ncandidates keep some cure potions on hand. At the end \nof the rite, the acolyte’s skin sports an oily, almost \nunnoticeable sheen. However, as he gains additional \nlevels in the prestige class, his skin darkens, sprouts \nspikes, and gradually gives him a fiendish visage. The \nfiendish essence also begins to whisper foul secrets to \nits wearer, urging him to evil. (The wearer can accept or \nignore this advice according to his temperament.) \n \nAcolytes of the skin are ill suited for any position \nother than one that provides temporal power. \nAlthough NPC acolytes might sometimes serve more \npowerful evil characters as sinister captains, they would \nrather be calling the shots. They prefer to remain safely \nensconced in well-defended fortresses of evil, though \nsometimes an acolyte might lead an expedition to \nretrieve a rumored tome of evil arcane magic or other \nartifact of malign power. \n \nAdaptation: Almost any setting can accommodate \nthe notion of those who go to any length to grab power \nfor themselves, even so far as to bind demons to their \nown flesh. If your world does not include demons, per \nse, you could link this class to some other malign force \nor race of supernatural evil creatures instead of \ndemons. For instance, an acolyte of the skin could be a \nscholar who unearths an ancient treatise on the topic of \nhumanoid interspecies blending. \nHit Die: d8. \nRequirements: To qualify in become an acolyte of the \nskin, a character must fulfill all the following criteria. \nAlignment: Any nongood. \nSkills: Knowledge (the planes) 6 ranks. \nSpells or Spell-Like Abilities: Caster level 5th. \n \nSpecial: Must have made peaceful contact with a \nsummoned evil outsider. \n \nSpecial: Must undergo the Ritual of Bonding (see \nabove). \nCLASS SKILLS \nThe acolyte of the skin’s class skills (and the key ability \nfor each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), \nIritimidate \n(Cha), \nKnowledge \n(arcana) \n(Int), \nKnowiedge (the planes) (Int), Profession (Wis), and \nSpellcraft (Int), \nSkill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier. \nCLASS FEATURES \nAll the following are class features of the acolyte of the \nskin prestige class. \nWeapon and Armor Proficiency: Acolytes of the skin \ngain no proftciency with any weapon or armor. \nSpells per Day/Spells Known: At each even-numbered \nlevel, an acolyte of the skin gains new spells per day \n(and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also \ngained a level in a spellcasting class in which he \nbelonged before adding the prestige class level. He \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 53 \n\ndoes not; however, gain any other benefit a character of \nthat class would have gained (improved chance of \nturning or destroying undead, a bonus feat and so on). \nIf he had more than one speilcasting class hefore \nbecoming an acolyte of the skin, he must decide to \nwhich class to add each level for the purpose of \ndetermining spells per day and spelis known. \n \nWear Fiend (Su): An acolyte of the skin \nsummons the essence of a fiend and wears it like a \nsecond skin. The bonded fiendish skin is for all intents \nand purposes the characters own. It increases the \nacolyte of the skin’s natural armor bonus by 1 and \ngrants a +2 inherent bonus to Dexterity. The acolyte \nalso gains darkvision out to 60 feet. \nThe DM determines the actual nature of the skin, be it \ndemonic, devilish, or from some other fiendish \ncreature. \n \nPoison (Sp): An acolyte of the skin can use poison \nonce per day as an 8th-level caster. The save DC is 14 + \nthe acolytes primary spellcasring ability modifier \n(Intelligence for wizards, Charisma for sorcerers and \nwarlocks, Wisdom for clerics, and so forth). At 5th \nlevel, an acolyte can use this ability two times per day. \n \nFlame Resistant (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, \nthe fiendish skin binds more tightly, granting an \nacolyte resistance to fire 10. \n \nFiendish Glare (Su): From 3rd level on, an \nacolyte of the skin has the supernatural ability to \nunnerve opponents with a ferocious glare once per day. \nThis is not a gaze attack, and the target need not meet \nthe acolytes eyes or even see the acolyte (although the \nacolyte must have line of effect to the target). Glaring is \na standard action that affects any creature the acolyte \ncan see within 100 feet. The target becomes shaken for \n10 minutes, and must also attempt a Will save (DC 10 + \nacolyte’s class level + Cha modifier) or be stunned. The \nduration of the stun effect depends on the target’s hit \npoints: \n \n50 or Iess \n \n10 rounds \n \n51 to 100 \n \n3 rounds \n \n101 to 150 \n \n2 rounds \n \n151 or more \n1 round \n \nFiendish glare is a mind-affecting fear effect. \n \nSkin Adaptation (Su): By 5th level, an acolytes \nskin and its wearer have grown more comfortable \ntogether, as if they had never been separate. The \nincrease to natural armor granted by the fiendish skin \nimproves to +2, the acolyte gains a +2 inherent bonus to \nConstitution, and the acolyte’s darkvision is effective \nout to 120 feet. \n \nCold Resistant (Ex): Beginning at 6th level, an \nacolyte has resistance to cold 10. \n \nGlare of the Pit (Su): At 7th level and higher, an \nacolyte has the supernatural ability to produce two rays \nfrom his eyes. Once per day as a standard action, he can \nproject two rays (one from each eye) with a range of \n100 feet. Each ray requires a ranged touch attack to hit \nand deals 8d6 points of fire damage. The rays can be \naimed at two different targets within range, but the \ntarget of each ray must be designated simultaneously. \n \nSummon Fiend (Sp): M 9th level, an acolyte \nlearns to draw on another power of his fiendish skin. If \nthe skin is demonic, once per day he can summon a \nbabau; if devilish, once per day he can summon a chain \ndevil The summoned creature does the acolytes \nbidding, but it automatically returns whence it came \nafter 1 hour. A summoned creature cannot use any \ninnate summoning abilities it might have. An acolyte’s \ncaster level for this ability is equal to his spellcasters \nlevel. \n \nFiendish Symbiosis (Ex): At 10th level, the \nfiendish skin and acolyte become one, and only final \ndeath can separate them. The acolytes type changes to \noutsider. Additionally, an acolyte of this level gains \ndamage reduction 10/good. Unlike other outsiders, an \nacolyte can be raised or resurrected. \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 54 \n\nAPPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW FEATS\nABERRATION BLOOD [ABERRANT] \n \n \n(from Lords of Madness) \nOne of your ancestors was an aberration and has passed \nthe taint of its aberrant physiology down through the \ngenerations to you. This taint manifests physically in \nyour appearance in some noticeable way. \n \nPrerequisite: Humanoid \n \nBenefit: You gain a physical feature that grants \nyou a racial bonus on one type of check; once you select \nthe check to which this bonus applies (as well as the \ncorresponding feature) you cannot change it later. The \nbonus must be chosen from the following list: \nAberrant Feature \nBenefit \nBulging eyes \n+2 bonus on Spot Checks \nFlexible limbs \n+2 bonus on Grapple checks \nSegmented eyes \n+3 bonus on Search checks \nSlimy skin \n+4 bonus on Escape Artist \nchecks \nSticky fingers \n+3 bonus on Climb checks \nTail \n+4 bonus on Balance Checks \nWebbed hands \n+4 bonus on Swim checks \n \n \nSpecial: you can select this feat more than once. \nEach time you select this feat, choose a different \naberrant feature and gain the bonus associated with it. \n(Lords of Madness pp xx) \nBEASTIAL HIDE [ABERRANT] \n \n \n \n(from Lords of Madness) \nYour skin is thicker, scalier, or furrier than normal. \n \nPrerequisites: Aberration Blood \n \nBenefit: Your natural armor bonus to AC \nimproves by 1 for every two aberrant feats you possess. \nCHAIN SPELL \n \n \n \n \n(from Complete Arcane) \nYou cast spells that arc to another target in addition to \nthe primary one. \n \nPrerequisites: Any Meta-magic feat. \n \nBenefit: Any spell that specifies a single target and \nhas a range greater than touch can be chained so as to \naffect that primary target normally, then arc to a \nnumber of secondary targets equal to your caster level \n(maximum 20). Each arc affects one secondary target \nchosen by you, all of which must be within 30 feet of \nthe primary target, and none of which can be affected \nmore than once. You can choose to affect fewer \nsecondary targets than the maximum. \n \nIf the chained spell deals damage, the secondary \ntargets each take half as much as the primary target \n(rounded down) and can attempt Reflex saving throws \nfor half damage (whether the original spell allows the \noriginal target a save or not). For spells that do not deal \ndamage, the save DC against the arching effects are \nreduced by 4. For example, if a 10th level wizard \nnormally casts cause fear at DC14, a chained cause fear \ncould target a goblin chieftain at DC 14 and up to 10 of \nhis nearby guards at DC 10. A chained spell uses up a \nspell slot three levels higher than the spell’s actually \nlevel. \nDEEPSPAWN [ABERRANT] \n \n \n \nThe abnormalities of your aberration-tainted heritage \ngrow more pronounced. Your body undergoes a \nshocking degeneration into something that is \nstrikingly inhuman. \n \nPrerequisites: Aberration Blood, one other \naberrant feat. \n \nBenefit: Two short but powerful tentacles sprout \nfrom your waist. You gain two tentacle natural attacks \nthat each deal 1d4 points of damage (for a medium \ncreature) plus your Strength modifier. The tentacle \nattacks are treated as primary weapons. \n \nYou can attack with weapons and also make \ntentacle attacks, but your tentacle attacks are treated as \nsecondary weapons: The attacks are made with a -5 \npenalty on the attack roll, and you add only 1/2 your \nStrength bonus to the damage roll. \n \nYou gain +2 racial bonus on grapple checks. (Lords \nof Madness pp xx.) \nDIVINE SPELL POWER \n \n \n(from Complete Divine) \nYou can channel positive or negative energy to \nenhance your divine Spellcasting ability. \n \nPrerequisites: Ability to turn or rebuke undead, \nable to cast 1st level divine spells. \n \nBenefit: You can spend a turn or rebuke attempt \nas a free action and roll a turning check (with a special \n+3 bonus plus any other modifiers you would normally \napply to your turning check). Treat the results of the \nturning check as a modifier to your caster level on the \nnext divine spell you cast in that round. \n \nFor example, if a cleric used this feat and rolled a \n16 on his turning check, he would add a +2 bonus to his \ncaster level for the next divine spell he casts in the \nround. Had he rolled an 8, he would instead apply a —\n1 penalty to his caster level for the next divine spell he \ncast in the round. \n \nIf you do not cast a divine spell before your next \nturn, you lose the effect of the check result. This feat \nhas no effect on your arcane spellcasting ability. \nDOMAIN SPONTANEITY \n \n \n \n(from Complete Divine) \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 55 \n\nYou are so familiar with one of your domains that you \ncan convert other prepared spells into spells from that \ndomain. \n \nPrerequisite: Ability to turn or rebuke undead. \n \nBenefit: Each time you take this feat, choose a \ndomain that you have access to. You may now convert \nprepared divine spells into any spell from that domain. \nYou expend a spell of equal or higher level, as well as \nexpending one of your daily turn undead attempts. \nThis works just as good clerics spontaneously cast \nprepared spells as cure spells. \n \nSpecial: You can take this feat multiple times. \nEach rime you take the feat, it applies to a new domain. \nINHUMAN REACH [ABERRANT] \n \n \nYour arms elongate, allowing you to touch the floor \nwith your hands. In addition, you can bend them in \nstrange and unnatural ways…. The arms may vary in \nappearance, perhaps seeming scaly and snakelike, or \nslimy like tentacles; conversely, they may resemble \nnormal but longer arms with a second elbow joint. \nUnless your wear a large cloak to conceal these \ndeformities, you are disturbing to behold. \n \nPrerequisites: Aberrant blood. \n \nBenefit: You gain an additional 5 feat of reach. For \nmost Small and Medium creatures, this benefit \nincreases natural reach to 10 feet. If you already have a \nreach of more than 5 feet for some reason, this feat \nextends your reach by another 5 feet. As described on \npage of 112 of the Player’s Handbook, a reach weapon \ndoubles your normal reach; for example, if you have \nthis feat an you wield a longspear, you can attack \ntargets 15 or 20 feet away. Your elongated arms also \ngrant you a +2 bonus on Climb checks. \n \nSpecial: Due to the disfigured nature of your new \nlimbs, you take a -1 penalty on all melee attack rolls. \nIMPROVED TOUGHNESS (SPECIAL) \n \n \n(from Complete Warrior) \nYou are significantly tougher than normal. \n \nPrerequisite: Base Fortitude save bonus +2. \n \nBenefit: You gain a number of hit points equal to \nyour current Hit Dice. Each time you get a HD (such as \nby gaining a level), you gain 1 additional hit point. If \nyou lose a HD, (such as by losing a level) you lose 1 hit \npoint permanently. \n \nSpecial: \nA \nfighter \nmay \nselect \nImproved \nToughness as one of his fighter’s bonus feats. \nPHALANX FIGHTING \n \n \n \n \n(From Complete Warrior) \nYou are trained in fighting in close formation with \nyour allies. \n \nPrerequisites: Proficiency with a heavy shield, \nbase attack bonus +1. \n \nBenefit: If you are using a heavy shield and a light \nweapon, you gain a +1 bonus to your Armor Class. In \naddition, if you are within 5 feet of an ally who is also \nusing a heavy shield and light weapon and who also has \nthis feat, you may form a shield wall. A shield wail \nprovides an extra +2 bonus to AC and a +1 bonus on \nReflex saves to all eligible characters participating in \nthe shield wall. For example, a single character with \nthis feat gains a +1 bonus to his AC. if two or more \ncharacters who all know this feat are adjacent, they \neach gain an extra +2 bonus to AC (for a total of +3) and \na +1 bonus on Reflex saves. \nSHIELDMATE \n \n \n \n \n(From Miniatures Handbook) \nYou protect those near you with your shield. \n \nPrerequisites: Base attack bonus +1. \n \nBenefits: When you are using a shield with which \nyou are proficient, friendly creatures adjacent to you \nget a +1 shield bonus to their Armor Class. If you are \nusing a tower shield, those creatures get a +2 shield \nbonus. \n \nThe creatures lose the bonus if they are no longer \nadjacent to you, if you’re grappling, or if you’re \nstunned, paralyzed, or otherwise unable to take actions. \n \nThis shield bonus doesn’t stack with other shield \nbonuses the allied creatures may have. \n \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select Shieldmate as one of \nhis fighter bonus feats. \nSUDDEN EMPOWER \n \n \n \n \n(From Complete Arcane) \nYou can cast a spell to greater effect \n \nPrerequisite: Any metamagic feat. \n \nBenefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of \nthe Empower Spell feat to any spell you cast without \nincreasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it \nahead of time. You can still use Empower Spell \nnormally if you have it. \nSUDDEN MAXIMIZE \n \n \n \n \n(From Complete Arcane) \nYou can cast a spell to maximum effect without special \npreparation. \n \nPrerequisite: Any metamagic feat. \n \nBenefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of \nthe Maximize Spell feat to any spell you cast without \nincreasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it \nahead of time. You can still use Maximize Spell \nnormally if you have it. \nSUDDEN WIDEN \n \n \n \n \n(From Complete Arcane) \nYou can increase a spell’s area without special \npreparation. \n \nBenefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of \nthe Widen Spell feat to any spell you cast without \nincreasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it \nahead of time. You can still use Widen Spell normally if \nyou have it. \n \n \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 56 \n\n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 57 \n\nAPPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW ITEMS \nSAFEWING EMBLEM \n \n \n \n \nThis small, feathered token can be worn or carried. If \nthe owner falls at least 5 feet, the emblem becomes a set \nof feathery wings that allow her to use a feather fall \neffect to descend safely from any height up to 180 feet. \nThe emblem requires no activation. When the owner \nlands, the token disappears, its magic expended. \n \nFaint Transmutation; CL 3; Craft Wondrous Item, \nfeather fall; Price: 250 gp. (RotW173) \n \nBLINDFOLD OF TRUE DARKNESS \n \n \nThis black silky blindfold grants the blind sight ability \nwith a range of 60 feet (See Special Qualities in the \nMonster Manual). Because the wearer’s eyes are \nprotected, he is also immune to gaze attacks, spells, or \neffects that rely on sight. Wearing the blindfold takes \nup the same space as goggles. The wearer cannot use \nvision in any way while wearing the blindfold. \n \nCaster Level: 3rd, Prerequisite: Craft Wondrous Item, \nsee invisibility; Market Price: 9,000 gp; Weight: - \n(A&EG130). \n \nBOW OF FORCE \n \n \n \n \nThis +2 mighty (+3) composite longbow imbues each arrow \nshot from it with magical force. Arrows shot from the \nbow of force become force attacks that have no miss \nchance against incorporeal targets and bypass damage \nreduction, but they do not damage creatures immune \nto force effects. \n \nCaster Level: 9th; Prerequisite: Craft Magic Arms and \nArmor, magic missile; Market Price: 32,700 gp; Cost to \nCreate: 16,700 + 1,280 XP. (A&EG102) \n \nBANDED MAIL OF LUCK \n \n \n \nTen 100-gp gems adorn this +3 banded mail. Once per \nweek, the armor allows its wearer to require that an \nattack roll made against him be re-rolled. He must take \nwhatever consequences come from the second roll, \nsince not all luck is good. The wearer’s players must \ndecide whether to have the attack roll re-rolled before \ndamage is rolled. \n \nStrong enchantment; CL 12th; Craft Magic Arms \nand Armor, bless; Price: 18,900; Cost: 10,150 + 700 XP. \n(DMG220). \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 58 \n\nPLAYER HANDOUT ONE: THE NOTE\n \nYou are needed to aid your country. Come to \nthe Obsidian Conclave in four hours. Bring \nfriends. Tell the guards that you have an \nappointment with the Swan. \n \n \n \n \n�----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n \n \n \n \nPLAYER HANDOUT TWO: SUCESSFUL SPOT CHECK \n \nAs you look closer at the woman in the cloak, you can make out that her features seem much darker than those of \nanyone that you have seen before. In fact, her skin appears to be as dark as ebony and her eyes seem to glow red in the \nshadows of her hood. She moves slightly and you notice that her hair is pure white and it dawns on you that this person \nis a Drow! \n \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 59 \n\nPLAYER HANDOUT THREE: VISUAL AIDS \nTo the DM: please cut out these pictures for your players to have an idea of what they are looking at. \nSymbol of Vhaeraun \n \nHandmaiden of Lolth (Yochlol) \n \nDesmodu \n \nWar Bat \n \nCrest of House Teken’afin \nHalf Fiend Draegloth \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 60 \n\nPLAYER HANDOUT FIVE: THE NOTE FROM SHI’RAENA \n \nDear Lord Underley, \n By now, your adventurers have returned to you with the news of \ntheir failure. I expected they would not succeed, but you seemed to \nplace such faith in them. \nIn any event, I have the assassins you seek in my possession and \nam willing to bargain for them. \n Your County gave Ventnor castle to the Duergar, what will \nyou give to us? \n Sincerely, \n Shi’raena Teken’afin \n \n \nURC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy \n \nPage 61 \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/County of Urnst/596/Normal Scenarios/URC6-06 - Enemy Of My Enemy (APL 2-12)/URC6-06 - Enemy Of My Enemy.pdf"}}},{"rowIdx":199,"cells":{"TEXT":{"kind":"string","value":"Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed \nby Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison. \n \nThis game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of Wizards of the \nCoast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20. \n \nThis is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run DUNGEONS & \nDRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com. \n \nDUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and \nMonster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the \nUnited States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written \npermission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely \ncoincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc and the adventure author or authors. \n \nVisit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com. \nFor questions specific to this document and your region please e-mail your triad point of contact (POC) at scon40@aol.com. For LIVING GREYHAWK \ncampaign questions email rpgahq@wizards.com. \nSHE6-01 \n \n \n \n \nFlesh Torn Asunder \nA One-Round D&D® LIVING GREYHAWKTM \nSheldomar Valley Metaregional Adventure \nVersion 1.0 \n \nby Will Dover \nReviewer: Michael Moore, Sheldomar Triads Circle Reviewer: Steven Conforti \nPlaytesters: Katherine Akin, Robert Sean Harley, Doug LaVinge, Melanie Neumuller, Ryan White, Russ Yates \n \n \n \nMurder here, murder there, murder everywhere. There is skullduggery afoot in the city of Hochoch as the bodies begin \nto stack. A Sheldomar Valley metaregional adventure for APLs 6-14, and Part Two of the Turf War series. \n \nNote: This adventure will be of particular interest to Knights of the Watch, Knights of Dispatch, wizards, and members \nof roguish organizations. This adventure offers teamwork benefits. It is helpful to play SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned prior \nto playing this adventure. \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 1 \nRPGA SANCTIONED PLAY \nMost likely you ordered this adventure as part of an \nRPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it \nfrom your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as \npart of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide, \nongoing D&D campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—\nyou must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event \ncould be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a \ngroup of friends meeting at the DM’s house. \n \nTo sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a \nHERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions \nthe event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in \ncharge of making sure the event is sanctioned before \nplay, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then \nreported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The \nperson who runs the game is called the table Dungeon \nMaster (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all \nthe time in the cases of home events) the senior \ngamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have to be a \nHERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not \nthe senior GM. \n \nBy sanctioning and reporting this adventure you \naccomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game, \nand you can use the AR to advance your LIVING \nGREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain \nrewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of \nthe DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing \nthis adventure is worth two (2) points. \n \nThis adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play \non December 31, 2007. \n \nTo learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK \ncharacter creation and development, RPGA event \nsanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit \nthe RPGA website at www.rpga.com. \nPLAYERS READ NO FARTHER \nIf you are planning on playing this adventure, stop \nreading now. The rest of the information in this \nadventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than \nthis section, you’ll know too much about its challenges, \nwhich kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure \nas part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this \npoint makes you ineligible to do so. \nPREPARING FOR PLAY \nTo get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of \nthe following D&D books: Player’s Handbook, Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide, and the Monster Manual. \nThroughout this adventure, text in bold italics provides \nplayer information for you to paraphrase or read aloud \nwhen \nappropriate. \nSidebars \ncontain \nimportant \ninformation for you, including special instruction on \nrunning the adventure. Information on nonplayer \ncharacters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated \nform in the adventure text. Full information on NPCs \nand monsters are given in the Appendices. \nAlong with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA Table \nTracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as part of \nan RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in this \nsheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll also \nfind a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR). \nLIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS \nOF PLAY \nBecause players bring their own characters to LIVING \nGREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are \nproportionate to the modified average character level of \nthe PCs participating in the adventure. To determine this \nmodified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps \nbelow: \n1. \nDetermine the character level for each of the PCs \nparticipating in the adventure. \n2. \nIf PCs bring animals that have been trained for \ncombat (most likely dogs trained for war), other than \nthose brought by virtue of a class ability (such as \nanimal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or \nthe warhorse of a character with the Mounted \nCombat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine the \nnumber of levels you add to the sum of step one. Add \neach character’s animals separately. A single PC may \nonly bring four or fewer animals of this type, and \nanimals with different CRs are added separately. \n3. \nSum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the \nnumber of characters playing in the adventure. \nRound to the nearest whole number. \n4. \nIf you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that \naverage. \nThroughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of \nchallenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-\nnumbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on \nan odd number, ask them before the adventure begins \nwhether they would like to play a harder or easier \nadventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or \nthe lower adjacent APL. \n \nAPL also affects the amount of experience and gold a \nPC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player \ncharacter is three character levels or more either higher \nor lower than the APL at which this adventure is being \nplayed, that character receives only one-half of the \nexperience points and gold for the adventure. This \nsimulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged \nas much as normal or relied on help by higher-level \ncharacters to reach the objectives. \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 2 \n \nFurthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher \nthan the highest APL supported by the adventure may \nnot play the adventure. \n \n \nLIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL \n2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may find the \nchallenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the \nfollowing to these groups to help increase their chances \nof success: \n1. \nEnlist a sixth player. \n2. \nAdvise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect \nthem, and fight for them. \nTIME UNITS AND UPKEEP \nThis is a standard one-round Metaregional adventure, set \nin the Sheldomar Valley. Characters native to the \nSheldomar Valley pay one Time Unit per round, all \nothers pay two Time Units per round. \n \nAdventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp per Time \nUnit. Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per Time Unit. Luxury \nUpkeep costs 100 gp per Time Unit. Characters that fail \nto pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain temporary \nability damage until the next adventure, must buy new \nspell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may \nsuffer other in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-game \nbenefits) as may be detailed in this adventure. \n \nA character who does not pay for at least Standard \nUpkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties by \nliving off the wild. If the character possesses four or \nmore ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a Survival \ncheck (DC 20), the character will heal temporary ability \ndamage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, may \nrefill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may \nrestock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the character has at \nleast four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). The player is \nallowed to Take 10 on this roll. \n \nMore information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can \nbe found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of \nChapter 3 of the LIVING GREYHAWK Campaign Sourcebook. \nADVENTURE BACKGROUND \nThe Triumvirate who got the Cup Insidious in SHE5-04 A \nCup O’erturned are now going for the second piece needed \nfor their ritual, which they believe will bring the deity \nVecna back to the Prime Material Plane. What they want \nis a piece of undead flesh that they believe to be from \nVecna himself. Hired agents have found such a piece \nfrom the lower part of the Rushmoors in Keoland. The \nproblem comes in getting such an item to Hochoch, the \ncenter of the conspiracy. The Knights are already \nsuspicious that something is up from the Cup incident so \nthe Triumvirate is going to need a diversion to get the \nflesh through. This diversion should be sufficient to tie \nup the Knights long enough for the item to get through. \n \nTheir opportunity has come in the form of the \nKeoish Regent Jessa’s order for the Knights of the Watch \nto evacuate Fortress Goarada. One of the Flan Knights \nwho died in the raid on that fortress, Watcher Steffan the \nJust, requested that the Knights cremate his body and \nscatter the ashes on the banks of the Realstream near \nHochoch in Geoff. The Knights cremated her remains as \nrequested, but they could not return the ashes to \nHochoch because of the fallout at Goarada. Instead, the \nKnights gathered the ashes into a simple clay urn that \nwould not draw attention, in case some Keolander got \noverzealous and wanted to hurt the Knights by \ndesecrating the ashes. When the Knights evacuated the \nfortress, the urn containing the ashes went with them. \n \nBefore the urn left Goarada, however, the \nTriumvirate bribed a Keoish soldier to place the piece of \nflesh in the urn so that the ashes would conceal it. An \nundead agent named Nycos Dephos would then get the \nurn and retrieve the piece. Unfortunately, an ambitious \nrogue associated with the Midnight Ravens got word of \nthe urn, stole it, and went to fence it to a known \nMidnight Ravens fence named Tywyn the Broker. The \nTriumvirate then ordered their agent in Hochoch to \nretrieve the urn. Being a vile undead, this agent killed \ntwo others, a Midnight Raven named Xavier Riverbend \nbefore he killed Tywyn and a Corporation operative \nnamed Bethany Grenda after (both of whom the PCs may \nhave met if they played SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned), to \nconceal the true nature of the crime and to escalate the \ntensions between the Midnight Ravens and The \nCorporation. It is just after the murder of Grenda that the \nPCs enter the adventure. \nTHE MIDNIGHT RAVENS \nVery little is known about the Midnight Ravens except \nthat which has been reported by a few brave adventurers. \nThe Midnight Ravens seem to be a Thieves Guild of some \nsort, but suspicions are that their influence goes beyond \n# of Animals \nMundane \nAnimals Effect on \nAPL \n1 \n2 \n3 \n4 \n1/4 & 1/6 \n0 \n0 \n0 \n1 \n1/3 & 1/2 \n0 \n0 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n1 \n2 \n3 \n2 \n2 \n3 \n4 \n5 \n3 \n3 \n4 \n5 \n6 \n4 \n4 \n6 \n7 \n8 \n5 \n5 \n7 \n8 \n9 \n6 \n6 \n8 \n9 \n10 \nCR of Animal \n7 \n7 \n9 \n10 \n11 \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 3 \nthat scope. The few reported contacts with the guild \nindicate that they have a great deal of information, and \nthey demand gold or favors in exchange for sharing it. \nThe leader of the guild is unknown, but reports indicate \ndealings with someone using a female voice and \nidentifying herself as the Aspect of Knowledge. \n \nThe Midnight Ravens claim to be interested in \nknowledge, apparently to use for future power grabs. \nWhen asked, they did not admit to committing the \nnormal nefarious acts of a thieves’ guild, but they did not \ndeny those acts either. The only thing that the Midnight \nRavens vehemently denied is being engaged with murder \nor other violent activities. As a result, many suspect that \nthey are mainly into smuggling, protection rackets, and \nburglary. Unfortunately, no evidence has ever surfaced \nregarding the group’s involvement in a crime. \n \nRumors have their base of operations in Hochoch. \nHowever, there are other rumors that indicate that the \nMidnight Ravens did not want to have anything to do \nwith the new government and have departed the city. \nWhich is true is one of the secrets exposed in this \nadventure. \nTHE CORPORATION \nThe Corporation is a group of rogues and other like \nindividuals working inside Gran March. Because of the \nlawful \nand militaristic nature of their nation’s \ngovernment, The Corporation takes great pains to keep \ntheir existence the subject of superstition and legend. \nThe group is itself a lawful organization with numerous \ndifferent tiers. At the lower levels are (in ascending \nimportance) associates, members, and senior members. \nPCs who are members of the Corporation are typically \nfrom these lower ranks. \n \nRecently, a faction of The Corporation, led by their \nhead of security, engaged in risky and public ventures, \nsuch as trying to assassinate Commandant Vrianian, \nwhich brought light to the organization. The main body \nsubsequently allowed that arm to be discovered and to \ntake the fall for all of their activities. Thus, the authorities \nbelieve that they destroyed this new incarnation of the \nCorporation, while the majority of the organization \nremained secretly intact. Members (not associate \nmembers) should know this operation as the Second \nDivestiture. \n \nThe Corporation has since gone back to its behind-\nthe-scenes illicit activities. While Hochoch has changed \nhands yet again, they see the changes as an opportunity \nfor them to gain some territory that would free them \nfrom Gran March interference. They are thus interested \nin taking over most, if not all, of the Hochoch \nunderworld. \nTHE SITUATION IN HOCHOCH (AS OF \nEARLY CY 596) \nIn CY 594, Commandant Magnus Vrianian claimed the \nGyri city of Hochoch and the rest of the area known as \n“the Cup” in return for the Gran March's continued \nsupport of Geoff's war effort against the giants. The Cup \nconsists of the Gyric cantrev of Arweth and half of the \ncantrev of Rhwng yr Coed. His reasoning was that the \ngiants took the city and the land from Geoff and that \nGran March forces subsequently liberated the area from \nthem. Geoff’s Regent, Sierra Blackblade, at the time \nreluctantly agreed to Vrianian’s terms and, due to the \nchaos in the Keoish court, this action went unchallenged. \n \nIn early CY 595, however, Hugo of Geoff, Grand \nImperial Wyvern and head of the Knights of the Watch \nand the Knights of Dispatch, asked Commandant \nVrianian to turn over the Cup to the Knights for their \nuse. Vrianian, himself a Watcher and by oath subordinate \nto Hugo, had little choice but to grant Hugo his wish. \nWhile the new Regent of Keoland voiced her displeasure, \nthere was little that the Court of the Land could do until \nthe previously recognized noble that ruled the area, \nPadrig ap Bedwin, provides a timely challenge to the \nchange. This change in leadership thus has stood so far. \n \nGaining a city, however, is not the same as helping it \nto grow and flourish. Thus, Hugo and his Knights are \nworking towards establishing Hochoch as a strong trade \nand defense center. To this end, the Knights have invited \nmany merchants from all over the Sheldomar Valley to \nestablish businesses and commercial traffic in Hochoch. \nHugo knows, however, that the economic future of \nHochoch and the Cup depend on his Knights \nestablishing law and order in a region only recently freed \nfrom the threat of attack from the war and full of \nfreedom-loving Gyri. Whether or not the lawful Knights \ncan succeed in helping Hochoch to flourish, while \nkeeping their own agendas and frayed reputations afloat, \nis the question. \n \nThe beginning of CY 596 still sees Hochoch in \ntransition. With the victory of the allied forces in \nneighboring Geoff, merchant trade is beginning to \nflourish under the new government. Many of the city \nguard, however, have left the city to move to the \nDownlands. Thus, the Knights are not quite equipped to \nmaintain their normal law and order in Hochoch. \nADVENTURE SUMMARY \nIntroduction: Bethany Grenda recruits the PCs to help \ninvestigate some incidents in Hochoch that are affecting \nher business. Those who played SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned \nreceive a note playing off of this prior relationship. Those \nwho did not get a note based on their reputation as \nadventurers. \nEncounter 1: The Third Body: While waiting at The \nBoar’s Other Knuckle for the meeting, the PCs hear a \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 4 \ncrowd gathered around the body of Bethany Grenda \nlying dead in the street. Dephos set a magical trap on the \nbody. Only a thorough search triggers the trap. \nEncounter 2: Cleaning up the Mess: A group of city \nguards led by a Knight of the Watch arrives. After \nquestioning them, the Knight asks them to investigate \nthis murder as a favor for the city government, who is \nstill rather short-staffed for doing this sort of \ninvestigative work. She tells them about the murders of \nTywyn and Riverbend and asks for their help in \ninvestigating all three murders. \nEncounter 3: The Second Body: The party investigates \nthe murder of Tywyn the Broker and finds out about the \nurn from his second set of books. \nEncounter 4: The First Body: The party investigates \nRiverbend’s murder and finds out that Riverbend \nanswered to the Aspect of Sight, a leader in the Midnight \nRavens. \nEncounter 5: Word on the Street: The PCs may want \nto use Gather Information or Knowledge (local) to find \nout more background on anything they have learned. \nThis encounter provides those answers via an encounter \nwith their old friend, the elven merchant Parwyn \nAmastacia. \nEncounter 6: From a Raven’s View: At some point, if \nthe party has a Midnight Raven PC, the party may want \nto contact the Midnight Ravens to confirm what they \nfind out from the murders of Tywyn and Riverbend and \nget more background on the Ravens’ side of the conflict. \nThey find out that the Aspect of Sight is trying to \nmaintain control of the Midnight Ravens’ operations in \nHochoch on his own. This encounter provides those \nsorts of answers. \nEncounter 7: Within the Body Corporate: If the party \nhas a Corporation PC, the party may also want to seek out \nsomeone in The Corporation who can shed some light on \nTywyn and Grenda’s murders. This encounter deals with \nthose issues. \nEncounter 8: Knights: Based on investigating Tywyn’ \nmurder, the PCs may want to revisit the Knights to find \nout more about the urn and what they have learned since \nthe last adventure in this series. \nEncounter 9: Down among the Dead: Fearing that the \nPCs may be getting too close, the Triumvirate asks \nDephos to kill the PCs in a nearby cemetery, using the \nnow-empty urn as bait. He does this using traps provided \nby one of the Triumvirate and some undead that he has \nfound on his travels through Sterich. \nEncounter 10: The Assassin: Having weakened the \nparty with the traps and undead, Dephos himself now \ncomes to finish them off. He is, of course, confident \nenough in his abilities that he tells the party of the \nTriumvirate and their plans as they fight. \nConclusion: The party learns that there is a group called \nthe Triumvirate who has acerbated the situation in \nHochoch’s underground in order to gather together \nrelics of power from the Occluded Empire. They also \nlearn that the Aspect of Sight is the reason why some of \nthe Midnight Ravens have stayed in Hochoch. Finally, if \nsuccessful, they have denied the Triumvirate a powerful \nagent from their use later on. \nPREPARATION FOR PLAY \nThere are a number of questions to ask before beginning \nthe adventure. First, you should know which players \nplayed SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned with their PCs. This \naffects how Grenda contacts each PC. Second, you should \nfind out about each PC’s metaorganization memberships. \nThis will affect what they know prior to this adventure \nand whom they may contact. \nBISSEL \n \nThe Bissel Free Companies and a small company of \nBissel regulars operate in Geoff to assist with security and \nreconstruction. Given that Hochoch has served as a rear \narea for the conflict with the giants, it is reasonable for \nPCs in these armed forces to find rest and recreation in \nthe city. This would be considered as part of the \nmandatory military service for those PCs. \n \nPCs who are members of the Thieves’ Guild of \nDountham may want to report to their guild about what \nthey find out about the changes in the Hochoch \nunderworld. The Guild is too involved in Dountham \naffairs to expand their operations into Hochoch. Note on \nthe Critical Event Summary if these PCs do make such a \nreport. \n \nDuring the course of the adventure, PCs who are \nMist Chameleons may find out more about the gathering \nof these various evil artifacts. Knowing that this might be \nof interest to Evard the Necromancer and, subsequently, \nto Regent Saralind, they may want to make a report to a \nBissel noble on these events. Note this in the Critical \nEvent Summary. \nGEOFF \n \nAs Hochoch was, until recently, Gyri territory, many \nGeoff PCs will have various reactions to the city’s new \ngovernment. With the recent victory over the giants, \nHochoch is still flush with returning veterans waiting to \nbe released from service. \n \nPCs who are members of the Midnight Ravens have \nan all-together different interest in this situation once \nthey discover that their organization is involved. It is \ngenerally understood within the group that unnecessary \nconflict is bad for business. Thus, Midnight Ravens PCs \nshould expect that the group is planning to leave \nHochoch. They, however, may have heard rumors that \nthe Midnight Ravens still has a presence. If they choose \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 5 \nto report what they find out in this adventure, this should \nbe noted on the Critical Event Summary. \nGRAN MARCH \n \nWith the victory over the giants, many Gran March \nsoldiers come to Hochoch for rest and recreation while \nwaiting for reassignment or release. The Gran March \nmilitary would have little interest in any of the events in \nthis adventure at this time; Commandant Vrianian has \ninstructed all military commanders that Hochoch’s \nproblems are now Watcher and Dispatcher problems. \nMembers of the School of Hard Knocks are also heading \nout to see if there are any giant items that would be worth \ndisplaying in their Great Hall in Shiboleth. \n \nCorporation PCs, on the other hand, may be here \nlooking for new territory for Corporate interest. The shift \nin leadership from Gran March to the Knights has caused \nonly a small wrinkle in their plans to control the criminal \nrackets in Hochoch. Corporation PCs can make a \nKnowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley metaregion) check \nat a DC equal to the APL to know this (this is more \ndifficult for higher level PCs as they are more than likely \noff adventuring and less involved in regional affairs). If \nthe PCs make the check by 10 or more, they get the name \nof Bethany Grenda as one of the point-takers in the \nvarious operations to gain control of the underworld. \nKEOLAND \n \nThose PCs with strong ties with the Keoish nobility \nare in Hochoch to observe the transition of power to the \nWatchers and Dispatchers. It is no secret that many in \nthe Court of the Land do not like them being in control \nof Hochoch and would be very interested in anything \nthat would undermine the Knights' claim on the city. \nEvidence of strong underworld activity and evil \ninfluences would be very useful at court. This should be \nnoted on the Critical Event Summary. \n \nAlso, the ex-Regent Jessa recently sent 15,000 \nsoldiers into Geoff to defeat the giants and make the \nnation stable. PCs who are in the Royal Army would \nlikely find their way to Hochoch for rest and relaxation \nlike the other foreign soldiers assisting Geoff. \n \nIf the PCs discover that the events in this adventure \nare related to the Cup from the previous, they may want \nto inform the Silent Ones of its existence. The Silent \nOnes are starting to do research on the matter and are \ninterested in any relevant information. Note any reports \nto them on the Critical Event Summary. \n \nThe Niole Dra Thieves’ Guild, being information \nbrokers, are very interested in what’s going on in \nHochoch. Even if they do not act on it directly, they \ncould sell the intelligence to someone else. Note if any \nPC sends word to this organization on the Critical Event \nSummary. \nKNIGHTS OF THE WATCH/KNIGHTS OF \nDISPATCH \n \nThis \ngroup \nis \ntaking \nover \nHochoch \nafter \nCommandant Vrianian gave it to them earlier in CY 595. \nThus, Knight PCs may be here on business related to the \nestablishment of a new city government or out looking \nfor a new home (particularly if these PCs are from Bissel \nor Keoland). There is plenty of work to be done, \nespecially tasks befitting a Squire or Senior Squire. They \ncan stay at the Knights of the Watch Chapterhouse \nlocated in the Old City located at O3 on the players’ map \nof Hochoch (Player Handout #3). Furthermore, Knights \nhave police powers within Hochoch and can arrest \ncriminals if necessary. If any Knight PCs choose to report \nwhat they find during the course of this adventure to \ntheir superiors, Note this on the Critical Event Summary. \nTHE PRINCIPALITY OF ULEK \n \nWhile Hochoch is far from the Principality, there is \nat least one group who is paying attention to the \nsituation. PCs who are members of the Society of \nShadows are contacted by Allinel Nightshade, Matron of \nthe Thunderstrike Shadows. Nightshade tells these PCs \nthat the Society is very interested in information about \nthe new government and any criminal groups operating \nwithin Hochoch. They cannot pay anything at this time, \nbut will not forget PCs who provide that information. A \nDC 35 Sense Motive check against Nightshade indicates \nthat she is interested more for her own interests than the \nbest interests of the Society as a whole. \nTHE YEOMANRY \n \nThe Academy of Lore is particularly interested in \ndevelopments in Hochoch as they have learned that one \nof their members actually transported the Cup. They are \nextremely interested in events related to the Cup so as to \nremove the blot on their reputation that this incident \nmight bring. Any contact with the Academy should be \nnoted on the Critical Event Summary. \n \nThe Rascals have more than enough to do in the \nYeomanry than to work to acquire more criminal \nterritory. However, they would be interested in any \nintelligence concerning who controls the Hochoch \nunderworld. Note whether or not PCs contact the Rascals \nin the Critical Event Summary. \nFOR PCS FROM OUTSIDE THE \nSHELDOMAR VALLEY METAREGION \n \nMost PCs from other regions are in Hochoch just \npassing through. If a PC is a member of a thieves’ guild \norganization, they may choose to report the state of \naffairs in Hochoch. If they do, indicate this on the \nCritical Event Summary. \n \nFor PCs that do not fit in with one of these hooks, \nyou should just find some explanation that makes sense \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 6 \nfor the character, even if it is only just vacationing away \nfrom their home region. \nINTRODUCTION \nPCs that have played in the adventure SHE5-04 A Cup \nO’erturned receive a copy of Player Handout #1. This letter \nreintroduces Grenda to the players and encourages them \nto return to Hochoch for more work. PCs that did not \nplay the previous adventure will get a copy of Player \nHandout #2. These letters come to each party member \nregardless of where they are located in the Flanaess. \n \nAfter the party agrees to meet with Grenda, they go \nto Hochoch off-stage without incident. Unless the PCs \nhave some justification for arriving together, each PC \narrives in Hochoch separately. The Boar’s Other Knuckle \nis at position C3 on Player Handout #3 – Map of Hochoch. \nThus, there is no provision for the casting of such spells \nas heroes feast. Read the following to them: \n \nYou have arrived at Hochoch shortly before the \ntime of your meeting. The sun has set, and you \nmanage to get through the city gates with little \ndifficulty. This is a good thing, for otherwise you \nwould be severely late. You make your way to the \narea of the city known as the Commons, for this is \nwhere The Boar’s Other Knuckle is found. The bar \nhas all the atmosphere of its predecessor; it is a \nrough and tumble establishment similar to those \nservicing adventurers all over Oerth. There is a burly \nfellow of Flan descent tending bar as you enter. \n \nThe bartender’s name is Caleb. If asked, Caleb directs \neach PC to a table reserved by Grenda. He will also ask \nthat PCs with animal companions have them tethered \noutside as they tend to make a mess. At this point, have \neach player describe their PC to the rest of the table. The \nPCs might also ask about Medwen the Rack. She was a \nwell-known barmaid who worked at the Boar's Other \nKnuckle. She has opened her own tavern, the Wild \nHunt, in Aberglain. \nENCOUNTER 1: THE THIRD \nBODY \nThe party may want to order food and/or drink while \nthey wait. They may even want to indulge in a heroes feast. \nA waitress can take food and drink orders for the party. \nThe food and drink arrives, and the heroes feast (if any) can \nbegin. The events in the following box text occur during \ntheir meal, and thus interrupt the casting of the heroes \nfeast). Read the following (adjusting its content based on \nwhat the party eats and/or drinks): \n \nYour food and drink arrive at your table. It is \npretty good considering your location. You get \nstarted eating, when, suddenly, a young Gyri lad \nbursts through the door. He is screaming, “Dead \nlady outside! Dead lady outside!” Many of the \npatrons in The Boar’s Other Knuckle drop what they \nare doing and go outside. \n \nIt might be possible that the PCs do not immediately \ngo out there to investigate. If this is the case, read the \nfollowing: \n \nAs the customers start to leave, the bartender \ngrabs the young lad and says, “Now, Elis, what are \nyou carrying on about? Don’t you know scaring folks \nout of their wits is bad for business?” \n \n“I am sorry, Caleb, but it is bad! She’s that trader \nlady from outta town that has been here in the bar! \nYou know, the one with the pretty red hair! You \nknow she’s gotta be someone important, seeing how \nshe was asking all those questions and all!” \n \nThis brief description matches that of Grenda and \nshould be enough to encourage the party to check out the \nsituation. Read the following: \n \nAs you go outside, you see a crowd of about two \ndozen people gathering around the entrance to an \nalleyway to the right side of the bar as you exit. Some \nof the crowd you recognize as customers you saw in \nthe bar earlier. \n \nUse DM Aid: Map #1 for setting up this encounter. \nWhile there is no combat in this encounter per se, a map \nis useful for determining how many of the crowd is \naffected by the party’s actions in this encounter. Besides, \nit will cause the players to think that there is a combat \ncoming when (unless they truly play this out badly) there \nshould not be. \n \nIf the party thinks to work the crowd for \ninformation, this is a DC 10 Gather Information check. \nSomeone in authority, like a Knight of the Watch, a \nKnight of Dispatch, or an officer in one of the allied \nforces, automatically succeeds at this check. The two \npeople who talk say the same thing: the body just \nappeared in the alley’s entrance. They saw no one around \nit. \n \nGetting to look at the body is a simple task. A DC 10 \nBluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidation check convinces \nenough people to move aside so that the party can get to \nthe body. Any PC identifying themselves as someone \nwho can heal or as someone in authority, like a Knight of \nthe Watch, a Knight of Dispatch, or an officer in one of \nthe allied forces, automatically succeeds at this check. \nOnce the PCs get to the body, read the following: \n \nOnce you get past the crowd, you see the prone \nform of a young red-haired woman in fine clothing \navailable to the fairly well-to-do. She is very pale in \ncolor as if all of the blood has drained away from her \nbody. \n \nThose \nPCs \nwho \nhave \nmet \nGrenda \nbefore \nautomatically recognize her, and those who have not note \nthat she is wearing the red rose as she said she would in \nher letter. A Heal check on the body automatically \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 7 \nsucceeds to determine she is dead. If a player chooses to \nroll a check, he or she learns other information about the \nbody: \nAutomatic: The body has been disemboweled. It \nhas been damaged significantly as a result. \nDC 10: The body appears to have lost a lot of blood, \nbut there is little blood on the victim’s clothing or on \nthe ground. \nDC 15: There are a lack of bruises and other \ndefensive wounds on the body. \nDC 20: There are two puncture wounds on the neck \n(taking 20 on the check allows this to be found \nautomatically). \n \nThe party will obviously want to search the body. \nThey can take 20 on the check as there is plenty of time \nbefore the city guard shows up. They will find a +1 \nmithral buckler, a cloak of charisma +2, a +1 mithral chain \nshirt, a +1 rapier, an amulet of health +2, a set of gloves of \ndexterity +2, a hat of disguise, her well-made clothes, a ring of \nmind shielding, a ring of protection +1, and a sap. The hat is \ncurrently disguised as a ribbon gathering her hair. There \nis not enough time to perform a full magical survey of her \ngear, but with a successful DC 20 Search check, they find \na leather-bound, untitled book covered in arcane \nsymbols. PCs can take 20 on this check, since \ndiscovering the book carries with it no risk. Furthermore, \nif anyone moves the body before they find the book, the \nbook falls out and the party automatically finds it. \n \nTrap: The book on Grenda’s body has been booby-\ntrapped with a magical device containing one or more \ntraps. These traps target a large number of people. By \ndoing this, Dephos believes that he will discourage \nfurther investigation. \n \nThe trap is contained in a small book provided by the \nTriumvirate. Opening the book triggers the trap. Assume \nthe center point of each burst is the upper right corner of \nthe square of the person opening the book. \nAPL 6 (EL 7) \n� Heightened Acidball Trap: CR 7; magic device; \nproximity trigger (alarm); no reset; spell effect \n(heightened (to 6th level) energy substitution (acid) \nfireball, 11th-level wizard, DC 19 Reflex half, 10d6 \nacid); Search DC 31; Disable Device DC 31. \nAPL 8 (EL 9) \n� Heightened Delayed Blast Acidball Trap: CR \n9; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset; \nspell effect (heightened (to 8th level) energy \nsubstitution (acid) delayed blast fireball, 15th-level \nwizard, DC 22 Reflex half, 15d6 acid); Search DC 29; \nDisable Device DC 33. \nAPL 10 (EL 11) \n� Heightened Delayed Blast Fireball Trap: CR \n9; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset; \nspell effect (heightened (to 8th level) delayed blast \nfireball, 15th-level wizard, DC 22 Reflex half, 15d6 \nfire); Search DC 29; Disable Device DC 33. \n� Heightened Delayed Blast Acidball Trap: CR \n9; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset; \nspell effect (heightened (to 8th level) energy \nsubstitution (acid) delayed blast fireball, 15th-level \nwizard, DC 22 Reflex half, 15d6 acid); Search DC 29; \nDisable Device DC 33. \nAPL 12 (EL 13) \n� Sculpted Empowered Cone of Fire Trap: CR \n12; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset; \nspell effect (sculpted (to 20’ burst) energy \nsubstitution (fire) empowered cone of cold, 15th-level \nwizard, 15d6 + ½ of 15d6 fire, DC 17 Reflex half); \nSearch DC 26; Disable Device DC 30. \n� Heightened Delayed Blast Acidball Trap: CR \n10; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset; \nspell effect (heightened (to 9th level) energy \nsubstitution (acid) delayed blast fireball, 15th-level \nwizard, DC 23 Reflex half, 15d6 acid); Search DC 30; \nDisable Device DC 34. \nAPL 14 (EL 15) \n� Sculpted Maximized Cone of Fire Trap: CR \n14; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset; \nspell effect (sculpted (to 20’ burst) energy \nsubstitution (fire) maximized cone of cold, 17th-level \nwizard, 90 hp fire, DC 17 Reflex half); Search DC 26; \nDisable Device DC 30. \n� Sculpted Empowered Cone of Acid Trap: CR \n12; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset; \nspell effect (sculpted (to 20’ burst) energy \nsubstitution (acid) empowered cone of cold, 15th-level \nwizard, 15d6 + ½ of 15d6 acid, DC 17 Reflex half); \nSearch DC 26; Disable Device DC 30. \n \nNote: At APLs 8 to 14, because the two alarm spells \nused in the triggers have been within 10 feet of one \nanother for more than 24 hours, the Search DC for \ndiscovering the traps is reduce by 4 (as per the Player’s \nHandbook, page 172). The DCs above are already modified \nto reflect this reduction, but since this is a visible effect; \nblinded searchers will not gain this advantage (raise the \nSearch DCs by 4 in that case). \n \nIf the trap goes off near the body, it does enough \ndamage so that no one will find out the cause of Grenda’s \ndeath. Also, unless the party thinks to move the mob \noutside of the 20 foot radius of the trap or move the trap \naway from the crowd the required distance, the crowd \nwill be caught in the blast. Even if they make their saves, \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 8 \nthe damage from these traps will kill any commoner \noutright. \n \nTreasure: While Grenda had many valuable items \non her person, the city guard that appears in the next \nencounter will want to take possession of them as \nevidence. They also may be damaged if the trap goes off, \nas they are unattended. \n \nAssuming that a PC wants to grab some loot from \nthe body, would-be thieves can only obtain light weapons \nand small objects. This limits the available items to the \namulet, the gloves, the hat, either of the rings, and the sap \nand thus the Treasure Summary only includes these \nitems. Each ring was worn inside of the gloves; to get to \nthem, someone must remove the gloves. However, looting \na murder victim is illegal under Hochoch’s new \nleadership. Would-be thieves should make a DC 10 \nKnowledge (local – Sheldomar Valley metaregion) check \nto know this (if common sense should fail the PCs). \n \nFinding an item via a normal search takes two \nminutes minimum unless magical means are available. \nGrabbing an item off Grenda’s body is automatic, as she is \ndead. However, the would-be thief must roll a Slight of \nHand check against every other PC’s Spot check as well \nas that of the crowd. The crowd’s Spot check is essentially \ntreated as one roll with many Aid Another checks and so \nthe DC is 34 (an average roll of 10 with 12 assists). If the \ncrowd sees the theft, they immediately cry “Thief” and \ncontinue with the outcry until the city guard shows up in \nEncounter 2. \n \nDevelopment: If the PCs do not search the body \nand leave it unattended for any period of time longer \nthan a minute, someone from the crowd starts searching \nthe body and automatically finds the trapped book, open \nit, and set of the trap. This undoubtedly kills most of the \ncrowd, as it consists of commoners and experts, and \nforces the PCs to make saves against the traps. Unless \nthey deactivated the trap or took damage from it, they \nreceive no experience points for it. \n \nFive minutes after the party arrives at the scene, the \ncity guards show up in Encounter 2. What the party did \nin this encounter dictate the response from the city \nguards. \nENCOUNTER 2: CLEANING UP \nTHE MESS \nAfter finding the dead body of Bethany Grenda in \nEncounter 1, a group of city guards shows up on the \nscene, led by a Knight of the Watch on horseback. Using \nDM Aid: Map #1, the group approaches the crowd from \nthe south. Read the following: \n \nWhile you are examining the body, a deep male \nvoice cries out, “Make way for the city guards! Make \nway!” The crowd parts, and a group of eight soldiers \nmake their way towards you. Behind them on \nhorseback is a woman in finely crafted full plate \narmed with lance and shield. The steel shield is \npainted black with the image of a large white owl on \nthe field. The woman yells out, “Freeze, all of you, by \norder of the Grandiose Imperial Wyvern Hugo of \nGeoff!” \n \nThe woman on horseback is Watcher Branwen, \nTrustworthy Vigil. She is currently on patrol with this \ngroup of guards. Normally, such duties would belong to a \nSenior Squire, but there are still too few of them in the \ncity. Thus, newly knighted Vigils are filling the gaps. \n \nWatcher Branwen immediately orders everyone to \nback away from the body, including any PCs who are \nsearching the body, and orders her troops to surround \nthe body, keeping the PCs inside the circle of troops. \nAfter the way is clear, she addresses the PCs from her \nmount. From that point, the reaction of Watcher \nBranwen and the guards are entirely dependent on what \nthe PCs have done so far. \nSIMPLE INVESTIGATING \n \nIf the PCs have done nothing except examine the \nbody and give a reasonable accounting of their actions to \nWatcher Branwen, player characters can attempt a \nDiplomacy check to earn the Watcher’s trust. Assume \nthat Watcher Branwen’s initial attitude is Indifferent, and \nshe learns to trust the party with a result of Friendly (a \nDC 15 Diplomacy check, others can assist). If the PCs \nhave disabled the trap in Encounter 1 and inform the \nguards during their elocution of events, this adds a +5 \ncircumstance bonus. Feel free to award an extra \ncircumstance bonus of up to +2 for exceptional \nroleplaying. If a member of party is a Knight of the \nWatch or Knight of Dispatch, this check automatically \nsucceeds. \n \nPlayers may also mention that they have a trapped \nbook in their possession (from Encounter 1). At this \npoint, Watcher Branwen will offer to escort the party to \nWaterwatch Castle (the current headquarters of the \nKnights located at position H1 on Player Handout #3 – \nMap of Hochoch). There, the party can trip off the trap \nwithout harming anyone as the Knights will provide a \nlarge stone-walled room there for safe detonation. \n \nIf player characters earn Watcher Branwen’s trust, \nshe takes them into her confidence. Her face deepens \nwith concern, and she pulls the party aside. Proceed to \nWhat the Watcher Knows below. \nSET OFF THE TRAP \n \nIf the party has set off the trap, Watcher Branwen’s \ninitial reaction depends on several factors. If the party \ntook precautions to avoid any casualties in the crowd, her \ninitial reaction is Indifferent, and a DC 15 Diplomacy \ncheck adjusts the reaction to Friendly. If the party has \ncaused the death of anyone in the crowd from the trap, \nher initial reaction is Unfriendly, and any offensive \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 9 \nactions on the part of the party will provoke combat. It \ntakes skillful diplomacy to get the Watcher to Friendly \n(so that the adventure continues). It can be done with \none DC 25 Diplomacy check or two successful checks at \nDC 15 (the first check, if successful, takes the attitude to \nIndifferent and the second check to Friendly). Parties can \nhave one retry at any failed check. Having a Knight of the \nWatch or Knight of Dispatch in the party gives a +5 \ncircumstance bonus to the check; while this improves the \nchances of Watcher Branwen looking favorably on the \nparty, it is not as automatic as if they had disabled the trap \nin the first place. The party can also mention that it \nhappened accidentally while they were investigating the \nmurder of their potential employer; this is worth a +2 \ncircumstance bonus. If successful, proceed to What the \nWatcher Knows below. If someone else in the crowd set \noff the trap, this is worth a +5 circumstance bonus as the \nbody of the bystander will be near ground zero of the \nblast. If the diplomatic efforts of the party are \nunsuccessful, Watcher Branwen will seek aid elsewhere, \nand this adventure will end for this party. \nLOOTING THE BODY \n \nIf any of the party is discovered looting Grenda’s \nbody, Watcher Branwen’s initial reaction is Unfriendly, \nand any offensive actions on the part of the party will \nprovoke combat. It takes skillful diplomacy to get the \nWatcher to Friendly (so that the adventure continues). It \ncan be done with one DC 25 Diplomacy check or two \nsuccessful checks at DC 15 (the first check, if successful, \ntakes the attitude to Indifferent and the second check to \nFriendly). Having a Knight of the Watch or Knight of \nDispatch in the party gives a +5 circumstance bonus to \nthe check; while this improves the chances of Watcher \nBranwen looking favorably on the party, it is not as \nautomatic as if they had disabled the trap in the first \nplace. \n \n If there is any failure in the Diplomacy checks, \nWatcher Branwen places the PCs under suspicion under \narrest. Quick-thinking PCs can try to negotiate their way \nout. Because of the situation, Watcher Branwen will \nallow the perpetrator and the party to work off some of \nthe jail time for the theft by investigating the case. The \nperpetrator will still have to do some time, however; \nremember not to strikethrough the Imprisoned in \nHochoch (First Outcome) AR effect. Proceed to What \nthe Watcher Knows below. \nWHAT THE WATCHER KNOWS \n \nHere is what Watcher Branwen knows about the \nmurders so far: \n• \nThis is the third murder in a series that has been \ngoing on for the last couple of days. \n• \nThere has been blood loss and disembowelment in \nall three cases. Fearing the work of a vampire, the \nKnights have been beheading each corpse to ensure \nthey do not rise again. Grenda’s body will be \nbeheaded as soon as they can get the body back to \nWaterwatch Castle. \n• \nGrenda’s murder was the first to be out in the open. \n• \nThe first murder victim was a halfling named Xavier \nRiverbend. He was found in his apartment in the \nLow Quarter. From the looks of the apartment, the \nmurderer or murderers were looking for something. \nAs for Riverbend himself, he had the reputation of \nbeing a retired adventurer. \n• \nThe second victim was a human merchant named \nTywyn the Broker. He dealt in consignment goods, \nbuying used goods from others as cheaply as possible \nand selling them at a profit. The murder occurred in \nhis store/apartment in the Market Quarter. Again, \nthe murderer or murderers apparently was looking \nfor something in both the store and the apartment. \n• \nShe can give directions to both of the other crime \nscenes. \n• \nThere has been no time to conduct a through \ninvestigation at either of the previous two murders. \nFor now, two Knights who are clerics of Heironeous \nhave cast a forbiddance spell on each crime scene (if it \ncomes up, yes, this is expensive, but having an \nundead assassin in the city is serious business). Each \nspell is aligned Lawful Good and has the password \n“reciprocity” placed on it to allow investigators who \nare not Lawful Good to enter. Watcher Branwen \ndoes not verbally speak the password, but will write \nit down for the party. The doors to each building are \nalso padlocked, but Branwen has the keys and gives \nthem to the party. \n• \nThere were no witnesses to either of the first two \nmurders. \n \nThose who played in SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned \nrecognize Riverbend as running a rogue operation in \nHochoch. \nSPEAKING WITH THE DEAD \n \nThe party may want to cast a speak with dead spell on \nthe body. The body, however, has severe damage so it is \nonly able to give out recent information. Also, if the \ncaster is not Lawful Neutral, the body gets a Will save \n(+5). If the caster is successful, the party gets the \nfollowing information. \n• \nGrenda was attacked while taking a shortcut through \nan alley. \n• \nShe took the short cut because she was running late \nfor a meeting at the Boar’s Other Knuckle. \n• \nShe was caught by surprise. \n• \nShe felt cold hands on her when she was attacked. \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 10 \n \nThat is all she knows. If the party wants the Knights \nto cast the spell, they will the next day (thus, any results \nare outside of play). \n \nTrap: If the PCs have not found and disabled the \ntrap in Encounter 1 before they leave this encounter, one \nof the city guards searches the body after the party has \nmoved far enough away from the crowd. He finds the \ntrapped book and sets off the trap. Watcher Branwen \nsurvives, but the city guard and the crowd are not so \nlucky. The PCs emerge unscathed and, hearing the \nexplosion, may turn around to go back to the scene of the \ncrime. Unless they deactivated the trap or took damage \nfrom it, they receive no experience points for it. Also, as \nnoted in Encounter 1, if the trap goes off near the body, \nthere is enough damage so that no one will find out the \ncause of Grenda’s death. \n \nCreatures: Watcher Branwen, Trustworthy Vigil, is \na veteran in the Army of Liberation and has only recently \nbeen knighted. She has seen action at Bloody Ridge, \nPreston, and Gorna. Watcher Branwen is an expert rider \nand is quite competent in battle on her paladin’s mount, \nChallenger. \n \nThe other members of Watcher Branwen’s squad are \nGyri and Marcher infantry veterans who have seen action \nsince the beginning of hostilities. They have seen \nadventurers in action during their tours of duty and will \nnot take any chances in their capture. \nAll APLs (EL 15) \n� Watcher Branwen, Expeditious Vigil, Female \nHuman Pal10/Knight of the Watch2: hp 108; see \nAppendix 6. \n� Challenger (Paladin Mount), heavy warhorse: \nhp 75; see Appendix 6. \n� Town Guard Veterans, Male and Female \nHuman Ftr8 (8): hp 72 each; see Appendix 6. \n \nTactics: Watcher Branwen is not looking for a fight \nhere, but will give one if the party is unruly. She orders \nthe troops to ready weapons and then Unleash Inner \nStrength on herself. She recognizes adventurers are \ntough opponents and tries to knock them out unless the \nparty uses lethal force. After that, it is no holds barred. \n \nTreasure: While the city guards and Watcher \nBranwen have a great deal of treasure, the party will have \nno time to loot the bodies as some of the crowd have \nalready called for more guards. Allow the party to escape \nif they defeat the guards, but do not allow them any of \nthe guards’ gear. \n \nDevelopment: The usual path would be for the \nparty to investigate the remaining crimes for Watcher \nBranwen, either because of her favor or because they are \ntrying to keep one of their thieving members from an \nextended stay in a Hochoch prison. If the party accepts \nher offer, she will provide paperwork that shows that the \nparty are working for the Knights as investigators in this \nmatter. She will also provide access to holy water and \nsilver weapons. Their next move will probably take them \nto either Encounter 3 or Encounter 4 to investigate the \nprior crime scenes; if they do not think of it on their own, \nhave Watcher Branwen suggest it. If the party opts to use \nGather Information to find out what is going on from the \nlocal populace, go to Encounter 5. \n \nIf the party engages the city guard, there are \ndifferent results. If the party was defeated, they can \npetition (with automatic success) to work off part of their \nsentence by investigating the crimes. They will still have \na term of imprisonment, but it will be less severe. \nRemember not to strikethrough the Imprisoned in \nHochoch (Second Outcome) AR effect. The party can \nthen be released to continue with the adventure. \n \nIf the party engages and defeats the city guard, allow \nthem to exit from the city and award them the xp for the \nencounter. The adventure ends for this party at this \npoint. From here on out, they are considered to be \nOutlaws in Hochoch. Members of the Knights of the \nWatch or the Knights of Dispatch who are Outlaws are \nimmediately removed from the Order. If outlaws return \nto Hochoch, they are automatically captured and \nimprisoned for 156 TUs. Remember not to strikethrough \nthe Outlaw in Hochoch AR effect. \nENCOUNTER 3: THE SECOND \nBODY \nThis encounter deals with investigating the store and \napartment of Tywyn the Broker. The party gets here from \nthe directions given by Watcher Branwen, Expeditious \nVigil, in Encounter 2. \n \nThe directions given to you by the Watcher take \nyou to the Market Quarter. There, you find an \nelaborate two-story building with a sign with three \ngold balls painted on it that says “Tywyn the Broker \n– Consignment Sales and Acquisitions” in both \nCommon and Flan. The building is built of brown \nriver stone and mortar at great expense. \n \nThe door to the store has a padlock on it to prevent \nentry. If the party asked, Watcher Branwen provides \nthem with a key. Otherwise, opening the lock requires a \nDC 30 Open Lock check. Also, remember that there is a \nforbiddance spell (CL 11th) in place. Anyone not speaking \nthe password and not of Lawful Good alignment takes \ndamage per the spell’s description. \n \nThe store is on the lower level, and the apartment is \nupstairs. Every room has been ransacked. However, one \nitem still remains there for the party to find. On a Search \ncheck (DC APL + 20) (take 20 is allowed as are assists \nfrom other PCs), they find a set of ledgers under loose \nfloorboards in the apartment. While the dates are \nreadable, the entries in the ledgers are encoded, but \neither a DC 25 Decipher Script check or a comprehend \nlanguages spell cast shows that an entry made a couple of \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 11 \ndays before the murders indicates that Tywyn purchased \nan urn from someone named Alain. The urn’s description \nhas a name associated with it: Watcher Steffan the Just. \nWatchers and Dispatchers recognize the name on either \na DC 10 Knowledge (nobility and royalty) check or a DC \n10 Knowledge (local -Sheldomar Valley metaregion) \ncheck as a Knight who recently fell at Fortress Goarada. \n \nA day after the entry of the Urn, Tywyn noted that a \nperson came by wanting to buy the Urn for 2,000 gp. He \ncalled himself Dephos. Tywyn noted that he told this \nDephos that the urn was not available now, but he could \nget his hands on it. He did this to stall Dephos so that he \ncould talk to Alain about the offer. The amount was too \nhigh and Dephos seemed too desperate to have it. \n \nThe ledger also has several past entries that mention \nthe name of Xavier Riverbend. The last one was about six \nmonths ago. It mentioned the possible sale of a goblet \nthat Riverbend had acquired. Riverbend cancelled the \ntransaction because he “misplaced the item.” This entry \nis, of course, related to the events in SHE5-04 A Cup \nO’erturned. \n \nDevelopment: If the mention of a Knight in this \nledger pushes the party to go back to the Knights for \nmore information, go to Encounter 8. If they may choose \nto pursue the Riverbend lead, go to Encounter 4. \nENCOUNTER 4: THE FIRST \nBODY \nThis encounter deals with investigating the store and \napartment of Tywyn the Broker. The party gets here from \nthe directions given by Watcher Branwen, Expeditious \nVigil, in Encounter 2. Encounter 3 may also provide \nadditional impetus to follow this lead. \n \nRiverbend’s apartment is in a converted inn in \nthe Low Quarter. The inn is obviously a failed \nestablishment converted to rental units for poor \ncitizens. The sign on the building reads “Elysium \nHall – Xavier Riverbend, landlord”. \n \nThe door to the apartment building has a padlock on \nit to prevent entry. If the party asked for a key in \nEncounter 2, the party has a master key. Otherwise, \nopening the lock requires a DC 30 Open Lock check. \nAlso, remember that there is a forbiddance spell (CL 11th) \nin place. Anyone not speaking the password and not of \nLawful Good alignment takes damage per the spell’s \ndescription. \n \nIt is easy to find Riverbend’s landlord apartment on \nthe first floor. If the party cares to check, the rest of the \napartments are empty. The Knights made the rest of the \nresidence move, partially to keep them protected from \nthe forbiddance spell, partially to prevent any entry into \nRiverbend’s apartment. \n \nEvery room in Riverbend’s apartment has been \nransacked. There is, however, one item that the party can \nfind. On a Search check (DC APL + 20) (take 20 is \nallowed as are assists from other PCs), they find a lockbox \nwith encrypted notes inside. The box has a lock requiring \na DC 30 Open Lock check before opening. The notes are \nencoded, but either a DC 25 Decipher Script check or a \ncomprehend languages spell cast reveals their contents. \nThree major facts come out from study of the notes: \n• \nRiverbend was up to various shady dealings, some of \nwhich were criminal. There are notes about thefts, \nextortion attempts, and assaults dating back a couple \nof years. \n• \nRiverbend had recently gotten two sets of messages. \nThe first told him to pull up stakes and move from \nHochoch. It was unsigned, but there is a broken \nsilver wax seal of a raven which originally sealed the \nletter. Only a Midnight Raven can recognize this \nsymbol on the seal as coming from the Convergence. \nThe second note was asking him to stay to “look after \nthings in the city.” It is also unsigned, but has a \ndifferent wax seal on it. Only a Midnight Raven can \nrecognize this symbol as possibly coming from the \nAspect of Sight. This is an unusual situation as \nAspects generally do not leave any identifying marks \nlike signatures or seals on their documents. \nMidnight Raven PCs may want to roll a Forgery \ncheck for validity; this automatically succeeds and \nidentifies the document as genuine. Midnight \nRavens also know that the Convergence is the \noverall leader of the Midnight Ravens and that the \nAspect of Sight is one of the Convergence’s \nlieutenants. \n• \nRiverbend got a note from someone named Alain \nmentioning a container that Alain had “acquired”. \nHe had planned on selling the container to Tywyn \nthe Broker and giving the appropriate cut to \nRiverbend. \n• \nFinally, Riverbend got a note from Tywyn asking \nhim to contact Alain about the “merchandise.” The \nbroker had a potential buyer named Dephos, but he \ndid not trust the deal. The fact that Tywyn consulted \nRiverbend indicates that Riverbend was someone of \nimportance in the Hochoch underworld. \n \nDevelopment: If the party has not visited the store \nof Tywyn the Broker, this might lead them to do so. If the \nparty chooses to visit the story of Tywyn the Broker, go to \nEncounter 3. Midnight Ravens may also want to find out \nmore about what the messages mean and go to Encounter \n5. \nENCOUNTER 5: WORD ON \nTHE STREET \nThis encounter can occur anytime the players want their \nPCs to use Gather Information checks to get word from \nthe populace. \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 12 \nBETHANY GRENDA \n \nMembers of any Sheldomar thieves’ organization \nhave a +5 circumstance bonus to these Gather \nInformation checks. \nDC 15: The woman was here to investigate potential \nbusiness ventures in the City of Hochoch. She had \ntalked to several merchants already. \nDC 20: She is from Gran March. Rumor has it that \nshe is a licensed member of the Keoland Guilds and \nis capable of acting on behalf of the Keoland Guilds. \nDC 25: Initially, she was very curious about the \nchanges in Hochoch and the potential of using \nHochoch as a trade city. Lately, her questions \nbecame more about the bard Trevor ap Tryvan. \nTREVOR AP TRYVAN \n \nGeoff PCs, Gran March active-duty military PCs, and \nYeomanry Militia PCs have a +5 circumstance bonus to \nthese checks. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 10: Trevor ap \nTryvan is a bard who is quite wealthy from his \nprofession. He has been in retirement for years and \nis a recluse. No one knows where he lives. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 15: He is \nknown to be a collector of antiques and typically \nuses an intermediary to handle negotiations. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 20: He is \nwilling to engage smugglers and rogues to obtain \npieces he wants for his collection, though he has \nnever been known to kill anyone in the process. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 25: Rumor has \nit that he recently acquired an antique goblet found \nin the Sea of Dust. Other rumors say that he had \ninstead contracted a third party to dig up the goblet \nfrom the desert, only to have the goblet stolen before \nap Tryvan could get it. \nTHE SITUATION IN HOCHOCH \n \nMembers of any Sheldomar thieves’ organization \nhave a +5 circumstance bonus to these checks. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 10: The \ntransition of government appears to be going very \nsmoothly. The Knights have not taken full control \nover the city, but will in a few months. They have \nstarted assisting in patrolling the streets. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 15: There are \ntensions within the Hochoch underworld. Many \nrogues and ruffians are thinking of moving to \ngreener pastures. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 25: Their \nconcern is not over the Knights’ lawful governance, \nbut over the power vacuum in the city. Right now, \nseveral criminal organizations are looking to gain \nterritory in the city during the power transition, \nfollowing the idea that chaos brings opportunity. \n \nAt some point while the party is gathering \ninformation, they will run across an elven merchant \nnamed Parwyn Amastacia. In SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned, \nhe hired the party to deactivate some nonlethal traps. If \nany in the party played the previous adventure, read the \nfollowing: \n \nAs you work your way from bar to inn trying to \nfind out what is going on from the general populace, \nyou find yourself in the Market Ward. Suddenly, you \nhear a booming male voice from behind you, “Well, \nif it isn’t my friends back again in the City of the \nKnights?” When you turn, you see the portly form of \nthe elven merchant Parwyn Amastacia. He has lost \nneither his style in clothing nor his air of affluence. \nHe continues, “Word is about that you are \ninvestigating deeds most foul. Such activities are \nbad for business of any sort. I might be able to shed \nsome light on the matter so that you can put things \nright faster.” \n \nIf the party has never met Amastacia before, read the \nfollowing: \n \nAs you work your way from bar to inn in trying \nto find out what is going on from the general \npopulace, you find yourself in the Market Ward. \nSuddenly, you hear a booming male voice from \nbehind you, “So you are the ones I have heard \nabout?” When you turn, you see a male elf of \nimpressive stature, stockier than most of his kind. It \nis clear from the cut of his fine clothes to the slight \npaunch of his waistline that life has been very good \nto him. Even while he is shouting, he still maintains \nthe air of one rich, noble-born, or both. He has lost \nneither his style in clothing nor his air of affluence. \nHe continues, “I am Parwyn Amastacia, trader and \nbroker extraordinaire. Word is about that you are \ninvestigating deeds most foul. Such activities are \nbad for business of any sort. I might be able to shed \nsome light on the matter so that you can put things \nright faster.” \n \nAfter introductions are made, Amastacia asks them \nto have a drink at the Giant’s Hearth Inn here in the \nMarket Ward (position M1 on Player Handout #3 – Map of \nHochoch) so that he can discuss what he knows with them \ndiscretely. The Giant's Hearth is a Rich lifestyle inn and \ngot its name from the gigantic stone fireplace in the \nmiddle of the dining room. He does not give up \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 13 \ninformation, but he answers questions that the players \nask: \nWHAT AMASTACIA KNOWS \n \nTo anyone who asks, Amastacia gives the following: \n• \nThere is a conflict in place between two groups. The \nfirst is a group known as the Midnight Ravens. They \nhad operated the underworld in Hochoch prior to \nthe Knights’ arrival. \n• \nThe second group appears to be a faction of a Gran \nMarch group calling itself The Corporation. Word is \nthat they had something to do with the assassination \nattempts on Commandant Vrianian last year. Gran \nMarch authorities then destroyed the organization \nby capturing or killing its members. Rumor is that \nsome escaped, that some fled to other less-lawful \nclimates, but that some came to Hochoch to set up \nshop in the city. \n• \nThis group was not likely to be the original \nCorporation as many groups have taken that name \nfrom time to time to capitalize on the original \norganization’s reputation for fear and retaliation. \n• \nTwo of the murders were definitely associated with \nthe Midnight Ravens, and they have increased \ntensions in the underworld. \n• \nRiverbend was a Midnight Raven. He operated many \noperations out of his Elysium Hall apartments. \n• \nTywyn the Broker fenced many “acquisitions” for the \nRavens. \n• \nIf shown the notes from Encounter 4, Amastacia \nrecognizes the symbols on them as being associated \nwith the Midnight Ravens, but does not know what \nthey mean. \n• \nThere was a rumor going around that Bethany \nGrenda may have been working for The Corporation \ngroup. Amastacia has met her, though, and she never \nseemed to him to be the assassination type. \n• \nRumor is that since the Knights took over, the \nRavens were going underground. Some say that they \nwere abandoning the city rather than going against \nthe more lawful Knights. \n• \nOther rumors say that some in the Midnight Ravens \nwant to stay and exploit the holes in the current \ngovernment to their own ends, much like the \nlegendary Corporation of Gran March. \n• \nThere is one Raven who may not have gone \ncompletely out of the public eye yet. There is a street \nperformer known as Ffagan the Nimble who works \nthe Market area. \nHe also hands them a piece of paper that he found \nwhere Grenda had dropped it. If asked, he says that he \ndoes not understand either. This is the one lie during the \nwhole conversation. He was once an associate of The \nCorporation, and he knows a Corporation message when \nhe sees it. Hand the party Player Handout #5. To most PCs, \nthis is a simple piece of badly written doggerel. To \nCorporation PCs, this is a message in CorporateSpeak. If \nany of them possess that language and choose to read the \nnote, pull them aside and hand them Player Handout #6. It \nis not deliberately encoded because it is not a high-\nsecurity message; comprehend languages can decrypt it. \n \nCreatures: Amastacia is not above working with \neither the Midnight Ravens or the Corporation to get the \nbest deal. To see both groups in opposition makes him \nnervous and thus willing to see a quick resolution to the \ndispute. \n� Parwyn Amastacia, Male Elf Brd15: hp 68; see \nAppendix 6. \n \nDevelopment: If the party follows the lead to meet \nwith Ffagan, go to Encounter 6. If the party decides to \ninvestigate the body of Tywyn the Broker, go to \nEncounter 3. If the party chooses to investigate the body \nof Riverbend, go to Encounter 4. If the party chooses to \nfollow up on The Corporation lead, go to Encounter 7. \nENCOUNTER 6: FROM A \nRAVEN’S VIEW \nThis encounter is completely dependent on the presence \nof a Midnight Raven or the ability for a party to bluff \ntheir way into their confidence. A Midnight Raven can, \non a DC 10 Knowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley \nmetaregion) (making it usable untrained for this check), \nfind one Midnight Raven named Ffagan the Nimble, a \nstreet performer in the Market Quarter. If the party asks \nParwyn Amastacia about this in Encounter 5, he confirms \nthe existence and location of Ffagan. \n \nIf the party wants to pursue this line of investigation \nbut do not have a Midnight Raven in the party, the party \nwill have a much harder time. For starters, they must be \nput on the trail of the Midnight Ravens. Only Parwyn \nAmastacia can do that. In Encounter 5, he gives up \nFfagan as a possible contact when asked. \n \nRead the following: \n \nYou work your way through the Market Quarter \nto find a small, slender human male entertaining a \ncrowd. He is dressed in motley tights and currently \nbent like a pretzel in a constricting contortionist \nmovement that is painful to watch. \n \nFfagan entertains the crowd for a bit after which \ntime, the PC can approach him. If approached correctly, \nFfagan readily converses with PCs who are members of \nthe Midnight Ravens. Other PCs who want to talk with \nhim must gain his trust. This is not easy, for Ffagan is \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 14 \nwell trained in reading people (in part so that he can \ntailor a performance to a crowd). PCs trying to pass as \nMidnight Ravens must succeed at an opposed Bluff \ncheck against Ffagan’s Sense Motive. If this fails, Ffagan’s \ninitial reaction is Hostile and he attempts to flee by \ntumbling into a crowd and hiding. He even goes so far as \nto find a city guard and get himself arrested for \nsomething to avoid talking to the PCs. If it succeeds, he \ntreats them like any other Midnight Raven and starts out \nwith them as Friendly. If the party just approaches him \nhonestly, he starts out at Unfriendly. Obviously, his \nattitude is Friendly towards members of the Midnight \nRavens. \n \nIf the party can ever get Ffagan’s attitude to Friendly, \nhe shares with them the following: \n• \nThe leader of their group has told them to leave \nHochoch as soon as possible. Ffagan just got back \ninto Hochoch after being on the road in Keoland \nand only found out about that today. He plans to \nleave after making some traveling money this \nevening. \n• \nIf shown the notes from Encounter 4, Ffagan \nrecognizes one as being from the leader (he will \navoid using titles in the presence of non-members) \nand one being from the Aspect of Sight. \n• \nHe has heard that the Aspect of Sight wants to keep \nthe operations in Hochoch, but is surprised that he \nwould be going against the Convergence in this \nmatter. \n• \nHe had heard that some were staying behind to hold \non to the Hochoch underworld. Until he is shown \nthe Aspect’s note to Riverbend, he does not connect \nthe Aspect to their activities in Hochoch. \n \nCreatures: Ffagan the Nimble is an attractive Flan \nmale in his mid-twenties. He makes his way through the \nSheldomar Valley as an acrobat and comedian. He does \nnot call Hochoch home per se, but does manage to swing \nthrough here often. \n� Ffagan the Nimble, Male Human Brd3: hp 14; \nAC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+2 Dex); Balance +10, \nBluff +8, Diplomacy +8, Hide +4, Perform (comedy) \n+8, Sense Motive +6, Tumble +13. \n \nDevelopment: This pretty much covers everything \nconcerning the Midnight Ravens. Parties may go on to \ntry to find out something about The Corporation’s \nactivities in Hochoch and go to Encounter 7 or talk to the \nKnights in Encounter 8, if they have not done so already. \nIt may also be the case that the PCs have run out of \noptions and thus need to proceed directly to Encounter 9. \nAfter all, the party is already out on the streets of \nHochoch. \nENCOUNTER 7: WITHIN THE \nBODY CORPORATE \nHow this encounter works is completely dependent on \nthe presence of a member of the Corporation. Sometime \nduring the party’s investigation, a street urchin appears to \npick the pocket of a party member. The Corporation has \nhired many such kids to act as lookouts and low-security \ncouriers; they are aware of members in Hochoch. Any \nCorporation PC present will be the preferred mark. \nOtherwise, pick a party member at random. Read the \nfollowing: \n \nYou feel a small tug at your pocket. As you look \ndown, you see a young Gyri lad of maybe ten pulling \nhis fingers away from you. He then bolts to be \nquickly lost in the city crowd. \n \nWhen the party member checks to see if anything is \nstolen, they find something. If the PC is a Corporation \nmember, they find Player Handout #7 and #8. If the PC is \nnot, he or she finds only Player Handout #8. \n \nDevelopment: This ends up the Corporation \nportion of the investigation. If the party goes on to try to \nfind out something about Midnight Raven activities in \nHochoch, go to Encounter 6. If the party goes to talk to \nthe Knights of the Watch, go to Encounter 8. If the PCs \nhave run out of options, proceed directly to Encounter 9. \nENCOUNTER 8: KNIGHTS \nWith the discovery of the urn in Encounter 3, the party \nmay want to go back to the Knights at Waterwatch Castle \n(position H1 on Player Handout #3 – Map of Hochoch) for \nmore information. They may also want to call upon them \nagain to gather information. Watcher Branwen will be \nback there after her patrol and can answer questions \nabout the urn; anyone in the castle can direct the party to \nher. \nTHE URN \n \nWhen the party mentions to Watcher Branwen \nabout the urn, she says that she is quite familiar with the \ncase and reveals the following: \n• \nWatcher Steffan the Just, Deliberate Rust Monster, \nwas a well-respected Knight born here in Hochoch. \nHe was one of the Knights sent to liberate Fortress \nGoarada in Keoland. Steffan died in the raid on that \nfortress. His last wishes were that he was to be \ncremated and his ashes returned to Geoff so that the \nashes may be scattered on the banks of the \nRealstream River. \n• \nThe Knights performed the cremation but were \nunable to return the ashes to Hochoch immediately \nbecause of all of the fallout from the raid. Instead, \nthe Knights gathered the ashes into a simple clay \nurn that would not cause attention, in case some \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 15 \nKeolander got overzealous and wanted to hurt the \nKnights by desecrating the ashes. When the Knights \nevacuated the fortress, the urn containing the ashes \nwent with them. \n• \nThe urn with the ashes was stolen when the Knights \nleft Keoland. When the caravan made it back to \nHochoch, they searched for the urn and did not find \nit. They believed that a thief stole it but have been \nunable to expend the investigative resources to find \nit. \nTHE CUP \n \nPlayers may want to follow up on what happened \nwith the Cup from the last adventure. Watcher Branwen \nsteps away for a few moments to confer with others and \nreturns with the following information: \n• \nAfter doing extensive research, the Knights believe \nthat the goblet may be The Cup Insidious, a minor Ur-\nFlan artifact lost since the days of the Occluded \nEmpire. No one knows for sure what it does, but it \nradiates strong magic and strong evil. \n• \nThey think that the Cup may have been mentioned \nin the poem Rhyme of the Occluded Time (give the \nparty Player Handout #9). \nINFORMATION AVAILABLE TO \nKNIGHTS OF THE WATCH/KNIGHTS OF \nDISPATCH \n \nPCs may want to do Gather Information checks from \nthe Knights at Waterwatch Castle. This information is \nonly available to PCs who are members of either \norganization and only if they choose to check in at the \nKnights Barracks in Hochoch. Knights (not Squires or \nSenior Squires) get a +5 circumstance bonus to the check. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 10: The \ntransition of government appears to be going \nsmoothly. Hugo has already arrived and is taking \nresidence in Caer Dwr Gwyldy (known in Common \nas Waterwatch Castle). \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar \nValley \nmetaregion) \nDC \n15: \nPreparations are being made both for the final \ntransition of Hochoch and for the purges that Hugo \nspoke of earlier. \nGather Information or Knowledge (local - \nSheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 20: The \nKnights are aware of the potential shift in the \nHochoch underworld but lack intelligence on the \nactual structure of the various factions. Anything \nthat the Knights can find out about the current \nsituation would be greatly rewarded. \n \nDevelopment: This ends any investigation with the \nKnights. Branwen will ask the party to meet back with \nher later at the castle after they have done more \ninvestigation. This allows them to double back to any of \nthe other encounters they missed. Once the party is back \nin the city and either have run out of encounters or are \nstumped, proceed to Encounter 9 after pondering where \nto go next. \nENCOUNTER 9: DOWN \nAMONG THE DEAD \nAt some point after visiting the Knights again or when \nthe PCs have pursued all avenues of investigation, \nDephos sends a ransom note for the urn to Waterwatch \nCastle. Watcher Branwen rides out in search of the party, \nas this is the most solid lead on the murders to date. Read \nthe following: \n \nWhile you walk the dark streets of Hochoch \npondering your next move, Watcher Branwen rides \nup to you at a fast trot. She halts her mount and says \nto you, “Greetings! I have word of the murders for \nyou. We received this note at the castle.” She then \nproceeds to read it to you: \n \n“To my respected adversaries: You by now know \nthat I have the remains of the noble one who has \nfallen and that three ignoble fools have fallen \nbecause they got in my way. I do so like a challenge, \nand am willing to let you win it back by trial. Send \nthe investigators to the old Birmigam estate north \nof the city. I will give them until the midnight hour \nthis evening to get there, after which I will find all \nsorts of experiments to do to the ashes. I will be \nwaiting for their challenge. With all sincerity, Nycos \nDephos of Sterich” \n \nWatcher Branwen can provide some background on \nthe estate as well as directions. \n• \nThe original settler of the estate, Klytus Birmigam, \nwas a successful adventurer from the Free City of \nGreyhawk. He retired to Arweth back in CY 570 \nwith his Gyri wife and two sons. \n• \nBoth sons fought and died in the Army of \nLiberation. \n• \nKlytus and his wife were killed in the early days of \nthe giant conflict. The estate was ransacked and \nabandoned as there was no clear heir to the title. \n• \nUnlike most Gyri, the Birmigams were followers of \nWee Jas. They also believed in burying their dead \ninstead of burning them. Thus, they had a small \nfamily cemetery on the estate. \n• \nAfter the allied forces retook Arweth, soldiers were \nsent to the Birmigam estate to make sure no undead \nwere around. They exhumed and burned the bodies \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 16 \nfound. The mausoleum, however, was not torn \ndown. \n \nThere is no time to use Gather Information for more \ninformation on Nycos Dephos. Bardic Knowledge or \nKnowledge (arcana) at DC 30 yields that there was once a \nnecromancer in the Valley by that name, but that was \nmany years ago. \n \nThe trip to the estate takes about an hour so the party \narrives right at midnight. Read the following once they \narrive: \n \nWhat was once a prosperous estate is now little \nmore than ruins casting long shadows in the \nmoonlight. A search of the grounds leads you to the \none remaining intact structure on the property: a \nlarge stone mausoleum with a columned entrance. \nThe double doors of the mausoleum have two crests \non them. The first is a simple shield with red on top \nand blue on the bottom. At its center, there is a blue \ndragon rampant. The second is a shield with a red \nskull surrounded in red flames painted on a black \nfield. Two red daggers flank this second shield. \n \nTrap: Dephos has set up numerous trapped devices \naround the front of the mausoleum to weaken his \nopposition and bolster his undead guards. In addition to \nalarm spells used for triggering the traps, he has set up \nalarm spells to notify him when any intruders trigger the \ntraps so that he can begin casting buff spells whose \nduration is measured in hours/level. \n \nCreatures: In addition to the traps, he has two \nguards from the undead that he has collected over the \nyears. If a target is required for a trap, it is whatever \ncreature set off the trap. Also, at APLs 12 and 14, there is a \nheightened unhallow trap that Dephos has already \ntriggered by crossing it. He triggers it every day so that it \nrenews. The bane effect affects creatures that are not \nLawful Evil in alignment. \nAPL 6 (EL 8) \n� Enervation Trap: CR 5; magic device; proximity \ntrigger (alarm); automatic reset; Atk +3 ranged touch; \nspell effect (enervation, 7th-level wizard, 1d4 negative \nlevels for 7 hours, DC 16 Fort negates); Search DC \n29; Disable Device DC 29. \n� Ettin Skeletons (2): hp 90 each; see Monster \nManual, page 227. \nAPL 8 (EL 10) \n� Mass Inflict Moderate Wounds Trap: CR 7; \nmagic device; proximity trigger (alarm); automatic \nreset; spell effect (mass inflict moderate wounds, 11th-\nlevel cleric, 2d8+11 negative energy, DC 19 Will \nhalf); Search DC 31; Disable Device DC 31. \n� Cloud Giant Skeletons (2): hp 153 each; see \nMonster Manual, page 227. \nAPL 10 (EL 12) \n� Mass Inflict Critical Wounds Trap: CR 9; \nmagic device; proximity trigger (alarm); automatic \nreset; spell effect (mass inflict critical wounds, 15th-\nlevel cleric, 4d8+15 negative energy, DC 22 Will \nhalf); Search DC 33; Disable Device DC 33. \n� Mummified Ettins (2): hp 90 each; see Appendix \n3. \nAPL 12 (EL 14) \n� Mass Inflict Critical Wounds Trap: CR 9; \nmagic device; proximity trigger (alarm); automatic \nreset; spell effect (mass inflict critical wounds, 15th-\nlevel cleric, 4d8+15 negative energy, DC 22 Will \nhalf); Search DC 33; Disable Device DC 33. \n� Heightened Unhallow Trap: CR 9; magic \ndevice; proximity trigger (detect undead); no reset; \nspell effect (heightened (to 8th-level) unhallow, 15th-\nlevel cleric, magic circle against good effect, all turning \nchecks made to turn undead take a –4 penalty and \nturning checks to rebuke undead gain a +4 profane \nbonus, heightened (to 8th-level) bane effect, DC 22 \nWill negates); Search DC 33; Disable Device DC 33. \n� Mummified Stone Giants (2): hp 126 each; see \nAppendix 4. \nAPL 14 (EL 16) \n� Heightened Mass Inflict Critical Wounds \nTrap: CR 10; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); \nautomatic reset; spell effect (heightened (to 9th-\nlevel) mass inflict critical wounds, 17th-level cleric, \n4d8+17 negative energy, DC 23 Will half); Search \nDC 34; Disable Device DC 34. \n� Energy Drain Trap: CR 10; magic device; visual \ntrigger (true seeing); automatic reset; Atk +8 ranged \ntouch; spell effect (energy drain, 17th-level wizard, \n2d4 negative levels for 24 hours, DC 23 Fort partial); \nSearch DC 34; Disable Device DC 34. \n� Heightened Unhallow Trap: CR 10; magic \ndevice; proximity trigger (detect undead); no reset; \nspell effect (heightened (to 9th-level) unhallow, 17th-\nlevel cleric, magic circle against good effect, all turning \nchecks made to turn undead take a –4 penalty and \nturning checks to rebuke undead gain a +4 profane \nbonus, heightened (to 9th-level) bane effect, DC 23 \nWill negates); Search DC 34; Disable Device DC 34. \n� Mummified Stone Giants, Double-Evolved \n(2): hp 126 each; see Appendix 5. \n \nTactics: The mindless undead guards advance across \nthe field and attack the nearest PCs. In doing so, they trip \noff the traps. The mummified creatures attempt to engage \nthe PCs in the area of the traps so that the undead \ncreatures regain hit points as the traps weaken their \nopponents. \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 17 \n \nTreasure: The weapons that the undead guards \npossess can be sold afterward. The Treasure Summary at \nthe end lists their value. Also, after the party disables the \ntraps, they will see that there are valuable gems that are \npart of the traps’ construction. The value of the gems is \nAPL x 50 gp per character. This is also in the Treasure \nSummary. \n \nDevelopment: Dephos does not come out to defeat \nthe party; he expects them to come to him. A DC 20 \nSearch check (take 20 allowed) of the mausoleum shows \nthat the center crypt is actually an entrance to an \nunderground passage leading to Encounter 10. \nENCOUNTER 10: THE \nASSASSIN \nThe party gets to this encounter after finding the secret \nentrance in the mausoleum’s center crypt in Encounter 9. \nRead the following: \n \nThe stairs hidden in the center crypt lead you \ndown to a short ten-foot wide hallway illuminated \nby everburning torches. There is a steel double door \nat the end with a large and quite visible lock \ncentered between them. \n \nRefer to DM Aid: Map #3. The door itself is locked \nwith the lock’s quality varying by APL Open Lock (DC \nAPL + 10, take 20 is allowed). If the party takes 20 to open \nthe lock, this gives Dephos more time to prepare. The \ndoor has a one-inch steel outside covering atop a one-\ninch adamantine layer. Both layers must be breached to \nbreak down the doors. They are held together by one-\ninch wide adamantine nuts and bolts (use the adamantine \nlayer stats for breaking the nuts and bolts). The doors \nmeet flush with the floor and door frame. \n� Door (steel layer): 1 in. thick; hardness 10; hp 30; \nBreak DC 28. \n� Door (adamantine layer): 1 in. thick; hardness \n20; hp 40; Break DC 33. \n \nThe door opens into a large vault fifteen feet high, \nforty feet wide, and thirty feet deep. The top of the door \nis at the top of the room, and there are two steel ladders \nattached to the wall (one on either side of the double \ndoor) so that the party can reach the floor. There is also a \nrope attached to a pulley near the door that was for \nlowering large pallets of treasure down. The rope is \ndecayed now, and it would be difficult to run another \nrope through the pulley. \n \nBirmigam designed this vault as a way for him to \ntake his treasures with him when he died. He had not \nplanned on leaving anything for his sons, as they were \nmore than capable of making their way in the world. \nUnfortunately for him, the giants attacked before the \nvault was completely finished, and no treasure ever made \nit inside. Still, the vault was well constructed. The walls, \nceiling, and floor are stone covered by a one-inch layer of \nlead covered by a one-inch layer of steel. It would not \nonly serve as a means of defense, but as a preventative for \ndetection. It has one small vent in the ceiling that winds \nits way to a hidden vent (DC 30 Search) on the estate \ngrounds. The vent provides air in case the Birmigams \nneeded to hide in the vault during an attack. \n \nTrap: There is one small trap on the way to the final \nencounter on the stairs outside of the door to Dephos’ \nhideout. It does no damage, but sets off an alarm. If the \nparty sets it off, this gives him some time to set up his \nbuff spells whose duration is measured in minutes/level. \nThe trap does no damage so it is not included in the EL \nfor this encounter. \nAll APLs \n� Heightened Alarm Trap: CR 10; magic device; \nproximity trigger (alarm); automatic reset; spell \neffect (heightened (to 9th-level) alarm, 17th-level \nwizard); Search DC 34; Disable Device DC 34. \n \nCreatures: Nycos Dephos was once a human \nnecromancer interested in matters of death and undeath. \nTo pay for his research, he became an arcane assassin in \nSterich, specializing in killing targets by necromantic, \nevocation, or conjuration spells. He eventually crossed \nover into undeath (as a vampire at lower APLs and a lich \nat upper APLs) so as to continue his studies throughout \nthe centuries. \nAPL 6 (EL 9) \n� Nycos Dephos, Male Human Vampire \nWiz(Necromancer)7: hp 63 (78 with false life); see \nAppendix 1. \nAPL 8 (EL 11) \n� Nycos Dephos, Male Human Vampire \nWiz(Necromancer)9: hp 81 (98 with false life); see \nAppendix 2. \nAPL 10 (EL 13) \n� \nNycos \nDephos, \nMale \nHuman \nLich \nWiz(Necromancer)11: hp 99 (117 with false life); see \nAppendix 3. \nAPL 12 (EL 15) \n� \nNycos \nDephos, \nMale \nHuman \nLich \nWiz(Necromancer)13: hp 117 (135 with false life); \nsee Appendix 4. \nAPL 14 (EL 17) \n� \nNycos \nDephos, \nMale \nHuman \nLich \nWiz(Necromancer)15: hp 135 (153 with false life); \nsee Appendix 5. \n \nTactics: When the alarm spells go off in Encounter \n9, Dephos casts greater mage armor and false life to increase \nhis ability to defend himself. If the alarm spell goes off in \nthe outside hallway, he casts greater invisibility, fly (from a \npotion), protection from good, and his very best summon \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 18 \nmonster or summon undead spell at the very least. He then \nuses the following spells in order, casting and moving as \nnecessary (note that all spells listed in the stat block as \nMoilian spells use runebones created at the spell’s level – \nfor example, a 3rd-level Moilian spell uses a runebone that \nadds 3d6 damage). \nAPL 6 \n \nEvard’s black tentacles (targeting five feet inside the \ndoorway), fireball (targeting the area of the tentacles), ray \nof exhaustion (at the most powerful opponent not \nentangled – probably the party’s fighter), summon undead \nII, magic missile, magic missile, magic missile. \nAPL 8 \n \nEvard’s black tentacles (targeting five feet inside the \ndoorway, cloudkill (targeting the area of the tentacles), \nMoilian waves of fatigue (trying to catch as many \nunentangled opponents as possible), fireball (targeting the \narea of the tentacles), Moilian ray of exhaustion (at the \nmost powerful opponent not entangled – probably the \nparty’s fighter), summon undead III, magic missile, magic \nmissile, magic missile. \nAPL 10 \n \nEvard’s black tentacles (targeting five feet inside the \ndoorway, repulsion, cloudkill (targeting the area of the \ntentacles), Moilian waves of fatigue (trying to catch as \nmany opponents that are not entangled as possible), \ndisintegrate (at the most powerful opponent not entangled \n– probably the party’s fighter), Moilian ray of entropy \n(targeting the most powerful opponent not entangled), \nfireball (targeting the area of the tentacles), summon \nundead IV, magic missile, magic missile, magic missile. \nAPL 12 \n \nEvard’s black tentacles and quickened fireball (targeting \nfive feet inside the doorway, repulsion and quickened \nspectral hand, cloudkill (targeting the area of the tentacles), \ndisintegrate (at the most powerful opponent not entangled \n– probably the party’s fighter), Moilian arrow of bone \n(targeting the most powerful opponent not entangled), \nstone to flesh (targeting the most powerful opponent not \nentangled), Moilian ray of entropy (targeting the most \npowerful opponent not entangled), delayed blast fireball \n(targeting the area of the tentacles), fireball that is \nmaximized via the rod (targeting the area of the \ntentacles), cone of cold (targeting the area of the tentacles), \nsummon undead IV, magic missile, magic missile, magic \nmissile. \nAPL 14 \n \nEvard’s black tentacles and quickened fireball (targeting \nfive feet inside the doorway, repulsion and quickened \nspectral hand, cloudkill (targeting the area of the tentacles), \nMoilian waves of fatigue (trying to catch as many \nopponents that are not entangled as possible), Moilian \nblackfire (at the most powerful opponent not entangled – \nprobably the party’s fighter), Moilian horrid wilting \n(trying to get the most targets not entangled), disintegrate \n(targeting the most powerful opponent not entangled), \nMoilian arrow of bone (targeting the most powerful \nopponent not entangled), stone to flesh (targeting the most \npowerful opponent not entangled), Moilian ray of entropy \n(targeting the most powerful opponent not entangled), \nmaximized cone of cold (targeting the area of the tentacles), \nfireball that is maximized via the rod (targeting the area of \nthe tentacles), delayed blast fireball (targeting the area of \nthe tentacles), rapid summon undead V, rapid summon \nundead IV, magic missile, magic missile, magic missile. \n \nWhen Dephos casts his summon undead spells, he \nselects the following undead unless the battle clearly \nindicates another selection is more useful: \nSummon undead I \n� Human Warrior Skeleton: hp 9; see Monster \nManual, page 226. \nSummon undead II \n� Owlbear Skeleton: hp 45; see Monster Manual, \npage 226. \nSummon undead III \n� Troll Skeleton: hp 54; see Monster Manual, page \n227. \nSummon undead IV \n� Wyvern Zombie: hp 126; see Monster Manual, \npage 267. \nSummon undead V \n� Wyvern Zombies (2): hp 126 each; see Monster \nManual, page 267. \n \nAdditional undead that he can summon are found in \nDM Aid: New Rules. \n \nWhen Dephos casts his summon monster spells, he \nselects the following creatures unless the battle clearly \nindicates another selection is more useful: \nSummon monster I \n� Fiendish Snake, Small Viper: hp 6; see Monster \nManual, page 280; fiendish template adds darkvision \n60 ft., resistance to cold and fire 5, and SR 5. \nSummon monster II \n� Fiendish Snake, Medium Viper: hp 12; see \nMonster Manual, page 280; fiendish template adds \ndarkvision 60 ft., resistance to cold and fire 5, and SR \n6. \nSummon monster III \n� Hell Hound: hp 27; see Monster Manual, page \n151. \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 19 \nSummon monster IV \n� Yeth Hound: hp 23; see Monster Manual, page \n260. \nSummon monster V \n� Shadow Mastiff: hp 33; see Monster Manual, page \n222. \nSummon monster VI \n� Devil, Chain (Kyton): hp 60; see Monster Manual, \npage 53. \nSummon monster VII \n� Devil, Bone (Osyluth): hp 98; see Monster \nManual, page 52. \nSummon monster VIII \n� Devils, Bone (Osyluth) (2): hp 98 each; see \nMonster Manual, page 52. \n \nDephos casts the spells in the given order above, \nusing the first set of spells as a surprise round if he gets \nthat opportunity. His tactics change if the situation \nchanges; he is certainly not locked into any one course of \naction and is intelligent enough to change tactics if what \nhe is doing is not working. \n \nAt APL 6 and 8, Dephos also has a number of wolves \nequal to the APL serving as children of the night. Prior to \nthe door opening, he orders the wolves to attack anyone \ngoing coming down the ladder. The wolves, therefore, \nshould have a separate Initiative roll. Their purpose is a \ndelaying action so that he can get off more spells. As \nDephos is not attached to the wolves, he freely includes \nthem in any area-effect spells that he casts. \n \nDephos keeps a teleport spell in reserve as a means of \nescape. At APL 6, this comes from a scroll so he has to \ndrop the greater invisibility to read it. The scroll is a part of \nhis equipment at all APLs. \n \nFinally, Dephos is a very overconfident villain. He is \nnot afraid to spill some parts of the Triumvirate’s plans as \nhe thinks he will kill the party with no problems. Each \nround, he spends a free action to reveal some aspect of \nthe plot. Use the following phrases each round to taunt \nthe party, which also informs the party as to the real plot: \n• \n“You failed once before, and the Cup passed from \nyour hands. You failed this time, and the Whispered \nFlesh has slipped through your fingers as well. Your \ndeaths will make your failures complete.” \n• \n“You all are so easily played. All it takes is a little \nmistrust here and there, and you are confused as to \nthe real plot to this story.” \n• \n“The Whispered One will soon return to restore his \nEmpire in the Valley. The Whispered Flesh will \nensure that. All that is required now is the Book.” \n• \n“The Cup and The Flesh and The Book. Three Items \nof Power for Three Wielders of Power. The \nTriumvirate shall make the way.” \n• \n“You will see that I am indeed merciful, for you will \ndie much quicker than the rest of the Valley.” \n \nIf Dephos sees that he is outmatched (being at half \nhp while still having significant opposition remaining), \nhe will try to escape. His preferred method is a teleport \nspell as noted earlier. If that should fail at APL 6 or 8, he \nwill go into gaseous form and use the remaining time on \nhis fly spell to escape. \n \nFinally, even if they defeat Dephos, it is not the end \nfor him. As a vampire, his gaseous form will work its way \nto the vent and escape to his hidden coffin (which is not \nin the vault) before the PCs can track him. As a lich, as his \nphylactery is not in the vault, Dephos will reform in 1d10 \ndays after his defeat. In either case, however, his gear will \nremain after his apparent destruction. \n \nTreasure: The treasure that Dephos has is listed in \nthe Treasure Summary. Note that, while he uses certain \nrestricted spells with an Evil descriptor, these spells will \nnot be found in his spellbooks for the PCs to have later. \nDephos also has Player Handout #5 on his person, which \ngives the players further information. The spellbooks are \nhidden in the room; they are copies of his spellbooks that \nhe uses while traveling. Thus, if Dephos loses them, it is \nno great loss. \n \nDevelopment: A DC 20 Search check (take 20 \nallowed after the combat) of the room reveals that the urn \nis here. It has been opened, and its ashes are on a large \nceramic plate. It is obvious that Dephos or someone else \nsearched through the ashes for something. The search \nwill also reveal Dephos’ spellbooks as noted above. \nStrikethrough any spellbooks not found from the \nDephos’ Spellbooks AR benefit. \nCONCLUSION \nDespite his promise to desecrate the ashes, Dephos is not \ngoing to stay around to collect them if he defeats the \nparty or if he needs to make a fast getaway. The same \nholds true for his spellbooks; they are only copies. If \nthere is no one in the party alive or unconscious, \nWatcher Branwen will lead a group of Knights to the \nestate and the party will have the opportunity for healing \nand/or raising. If they are defeated, however, they will \nnot \nget \nthe \nFavor \nof \nthe \nKnights \nof \nthe \nWatch/Knights of Dispatch or the Knights Training \nAR benefits; strikethrough both benefits. \n \nRead the following if the party was defeated: \n \nYou awaken to the sound of armored footsteps. \nA female voice you recognize as belonging to \nWatcher Branwen barks out the orders, “Let’s get \nthese people out of here!” You hear an unidentified \nmale voice yell out, “Ma’am, I found the ashes! They \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 20 \nare scattered about, but appear to be all here!” \nWatcher Branwen yells back, “Gather them up! At \nleast one good thing happened here.” With that, she \nlooks at your broken bodies in dismay. Yes, the game \nin Hochoch has gotten more serious and the villains \nare in the lead. \n \nIf Dephos escaped, read the following: \n \nYou managed to drive off the foul undead \nassassin responsible for the murders, but did not \ndestroy him. You know you will be seeing him again \nas this business is far from over. The villains are \nindeed ahead in this game, but you are now much \ncloser to them and their plans. It is not over. \n \nIf Dephos “dies”, read the following: \n \nYou have managed to destroy the foul undead \nassassin responsible for the murders, but you know \nhe will be back because you were unable to finish \nthe job. Still, you now know of the villains’ game and \nyou have dealt them a setback. It is not over, but you \nare closer now that you ever were before. \n \nIf the party returns back to the Knights after \nsuccessfully defeating Dephos, the Knights will consider \nthem to be valued allies and will give them the Favor of \nthe Knights of the Watch/Knights of Dispatch and \nthe Knights Training AR benefits. Finally, if any rogue \nPCs report the events of this adventure to their \nmetaorganization, they will receive the Thick as Thieves \nAR benefit. \n \nNote: At the conclusion of this adventure, if the PCs \ngain access to teamwork benefits (the Knights Training \nAR benefit), and the players decide that they’d like to \nform a team with their PCs, one copy of the Living \nGreyhawk Team Roster Form should be handed to each \nplayer that decides to join. Allow the players to read over \nthe rules and costs listed on the form; if they are in \nagreement, have the players that wish to form a team \ncomplete the form, and then fill out the bottom portion \nof the form with your name, signature, and date. If they \ndo not wish to form a team at this time, explain to the \nplayers that they still have access to the teamwork \nbenefits, and may use these rules items if they decide to \nform a team at the end of another adventure that gives \nthem access to teamwork benefits (but only if they come \nfrom the Knights of the Watch/Dispatch). PCs may only \ncreate a team following an adventure that gives access to \nteamwork benefits. \n \n \nThe End \n \nEXPERIENCE POINT \nSUMMARY \nTo award experience for this adventure, add up the values \nfor the objectives accomplished. Then assign the \nexperience award. Award the total value (objectives plus \nroleplaying) to each character. \nEncounter 1 \nDisable or survive the traps. \n \nAPL 6: 210 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 270 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 330 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 390 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 450 xp. \nEncounter 9 \nDefeat the undead. \n \nAPL 6: 240 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 300 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 360 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 420 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 480 xp. \nEncounter 10 \nDefeat Nycos Dephos. \n \nAPL 6: 270 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 330 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 390 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 450 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 510 xp. \nStory Award \nFind out the truth about the Midnight Raven’s operations \nin Hochoch. \n \nAPL 6: 90 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 113 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 135 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 158 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 180 xp. \nDiscretionary Roleplaying Award \n \nAPL 6: 90 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 112 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 135 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 157 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 180 xp. \nTotal possible experience \n \nAPL 6: 900 xp. \n \nAPL 8: 1,125 xp. \n \nAPL 10: 1,350 xp. \n \nAPL 12: 1,575 xp. \n \nAPL 14: 1,800 xp. \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 21 \nTREASURE SUMMARY \nDuring an adventure, characters encounter treasure, \nusually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every \nencounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section \nwithin the encounter description, giving information \nabout the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the \nencounter’s treasure. \n \nThe loot total is the number of gold pieces each \ncharacter gains if the foes are plundered of all their earthly \npossessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 minutes \nper every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot take the \ntime to loot the bodies, they do not gain this gold. If you \nfeel it is reasonable that characters can go back to loot the \nbodies, and those bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by \ndungeon scavengers, removed from the scene by the local \nwatch, and so on), characters may return to retrieve loot. If \nthe characters do not loot the body, the gold piece value for \nthe loot is subtracted from the encounter totals given \nbelow. \n \nThe coin total is the number of gold pieces each \ncharacter gains if they take the coin available. A normal \nadventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a round \nor so. If for some reason, they pass up this treasure, the \ncoin total is subtracted from the encounter totals given \nbelow. \n \nNext, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure \nis the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and \nbecause characters may want to use them during the \nadventure. Many times characters must cast identify, analyze \ndweomer or similar spell to determine what the item does \nand how to activate it. Other times they may attempt to \nuse the item blindly. If the magic item is consumable (a \npotion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the item is used before \nthe end of the adventure, its total is subtracted from the \nadventure totals below. \n \nOnce you have subtracted the value for unclaimed \ntreasure from each encounter add it up and that is the \nnumber of gold pieces a characters total and coin value \nincrease at the end of the adventure. Write the total in the \nGP Gained field of the adventure certificate. Because this is \na Regional adventure, characters may spend additional \nTime Units to practice professions or create items \nimmediately after the adventure so this total may be \nmodified by other circumstances. \n \nL = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, Jewelry, \nand other valuables; M = Magic Items. \nEncounter 9: \nAPL 6: L: 12 gp, C: 300 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 8: L: 11 gp, C: 400 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 10: L: 12 gp, C: 500 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 12: L: 7 gp, C: 600 gp, M: 0 gp. \nAPL 14: L: 7 gp, C: 700 gp, M: 0 gp. \nEncounter 10: \nAPL 6: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168 \ngp), headband of intellect +2 (333 gp), ring of protection \n+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest \nof resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp), \nDephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150 \ngp). \nAPL 8: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168 \ngp), headband of intellect +2 (333 gp), ring of protection \n+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest \nof resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp), \nDephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150 \ngp), Dephos’ Spellbook IV (167 gp), amulet of natural \narmor +2 (667 gp), potion of inflict serious wounds (63 \ngp). \nAPL 10: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168 \ngp), headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), ring of protection \n+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest \nof resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp), \nDephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150 \ngp), Dephos’ Spellbook IV (167 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook V \n(175 gp), amulet of natural armor +2 (667 gp), potion of \ninflict serious wounds (63 gp). \nAPL 12: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168 \ngp), headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), ring of protection \n+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest \nof resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp), \nDephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150 \ngp), Dephos’ Spellbook IV (167 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook V \n(175 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook VI (204 gp), amulet of \nnatural armor +2 (667 gp), potion of inflict serious \nwounds (63 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp), \nmetamagic rod (maximize, lesser) (1,167 gp). \nAPL 14: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168 \ngp), headband of intellect +6 (3,000 gp), ring of protection \n+2 (667 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest \nof resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp), \nDephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150 \ngp), Dephos’ Spellbook IV (167 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook V \n(175 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook VI (204 gp), Dephos’ \nSpellbook VII (233 gp), amulet of natural armor +2 (667 \ngp), potion of inflict serious wounds (63 gp), gloves of \ndexterity +4 (1,333 gp), metamagic rod (maximize, lesser) \n(1,167 gp), bracers of armor +5 (2,o83 gp). \nTotal Possible Treasure (Maximum Reward \nAllowed) \nAPL 6: L: 40 gp, C: 300 gp, M: 1,483 gp – Total: 1,823 \ngp (900 gp). \nAPL 8: L: 39 gp, C: 400 gp, M: 2,380 gp – Total: 2,819 \ngp (1,300 gp). \nAPL 10: L: 40 gp, C: 500 gp, M: 3,555 gp – Total: 4,095 \ngp (2,300 gp). \nAPL 12: L: 35 gp, C: 600 gp, M: 6,259 gp – Total: 6,894 \ngp (3,300 gp). \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 22 \nAPL 14: L: 35 gp, C: 700 gp, M: 10,742 gp – Total: \n11,477 gp (6,600 gp). \nITEMS FOR THE ADVENTURE \nRECORD \nSpecial \n� Imprisoned in Hochoch (First Outcome): For \nremoving evidence from a crime, you are sentenced to a \nreduced punishment of 4 TUs of imprisonment. Lifestyle \ncosts for these TUs are free. \n� Imprisoned in Hochoch (Second Outcome): For \nassaulting Hochoch city guards, you are sentenced to a \nreduced punishment of 8 TUs of imprisonment. Lifestyle \ncosts for these TUs are free. \n� Outlaw in Hochoch: For assaulting city guards with \nintent to kill, you are sentenced to a term of lengthy \nimprisonment in the City of Hochoch. However, you \nmanage to escape before being arrested. If you are a \nmember of the Knights of the Watch or the Knights of \nDispatch, you are immediately removed from the Order. \nIf you return to Hochoch, you will automatically be \ncaptured and imprisoned for 156 TUs. Lifestyle costs for \nthese TUs are free. \n� Dephos’ Spellbooks: You have found the spellbooks \nof the undead necromancer Nycos Dephos. There are a \ntotal of seven spellbooks; each volume is available at a \ncertain APL and above. They contain the following \n(SCSpell Compendium, FBFrostburn): \nAPL 6 - Spellbook I: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic \nmissile, protection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, \nsummon monster I; 2nd – cat’s grace, false life, fox’s \ncunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid \narrow, scorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II. \nPrice: 1,350 gp; Weight: 3 lbs. \nAPL 6 - Spellbook II: 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater \nmage armorSC, halt undead, keen edge, magic circle against \ngood, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC, summon \nmonster III, vampiric touch. Price: 1,500 gp; Weight: 3 \nlbs. \nAPL 6 - Spellbook III: 4th – animate dead, contagion, \nenervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of \ninvulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon \nmonster IV, sword of deceptionSC. Price: 1,800 gp; Weight: \n3 lbs. \nAPL 8 - Spellbook IV: 5th – baleful polymorph, cloudkill, \ncone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic jar, summon monster V, \nteleport, waves of fatigue. Price: 2,000 gp; Weight: 3 lbs. \nAPL 10 - Spellbook V: 6th – disintegrate, eyebite, greater \ndispel magic, ray of entropySC, repulsion, stone to flesh, \nsummon monster VI. Price: 2,100 gp; Weight: 3 lbs. \nAPL 12 - Spellbook VI: 7th – arrow of boneSC, delayed \nlast fireball, spell turning, summon monster VII, sword of \ndarknessSC, greater teleport, waves of exhaustion. Price: \n2,450 gp; Weight: 3 lbs. \nAPL 14 - Spellbook VII: 8th – blackfireSC, greater shout, \nhorrid wilting, polar ray, summon monster VIII, symbol of \ndeath, trap the soul. Price: 2,800 gp; Weight: 3 lbs. \n� Favor of the Knights of the Watch/Dispatch: By \nreporting the events of this adventure to the Knights, you \nhave gained their favor. If you are not a member and are a \nhuman, dwarf, or half-elf, the Knights will grant a \nrecommendation for membership into their ranks and \ngrant you access (Frequency: Adventure) to purchase the \nfollowing item immediately: mithral chain shirt. In \naddition, members of the metaorganization gain these \nadditional (cumulative) benefits: \n \nIf this PC is a Squire, this access is upgraded to \nFrequency: Metaregional. If this PC is a Senior Squire, \nthey gain access (Frequency: Metaregional) to boots of \nstriding and springing as well. If you are a full Knight, you \nget access (Frequency: Metaregional) to a ring of mind \nshielding as well. \n \nThe \nDM \nshould \nverify \nmembership \nand \nstrikethrough any item access not granted. \n� Knights Training: Because of the seriousness of this \ngrowing situation, the Knights want you to undergo \nfurther training. If you are a member of the Knights of \nthe Watch or Knights of Dispatch, you may select one or \nmore of the following teamwork benefits: Heavy \nCavalryHoB, InfiltrationDMG2, Ranged PrecisionDMG2, Snap \nOut of ItDMG2. The rules for how to apply these benefits \ncan be found on the Living Greyhawk Team Roster Form. \nThese benefits can ONLY be gained at the end of this \nadventure (or any other adventure that offers teamwork \nbenefits from the Knights of the Watch/Dispatch). Non-\nmembers can be trained as well, but must spend one \nInfluence Point with the Knights per benefit gained. \nHoBHeroes of Battle, DMG2Dungeon Master’s Guide II. \n� Thick as Thieves: For reporting the events of this \nadventure to a thieves’ guild metaorganization to which \nyou are a member, you gain one Influence Point with \nthat organization. You also gain access (Frequency: \nMetaregional) to purchase a cloak of elvenkind. \n \nName of Organization: _________________________________ \nItem Access \nAPL 6 (all of the following): \n• \n+1 Mithral Buckler (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nArcane Scroll of Teleport (CL 9th; Adventure; Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide) \n• \nDephos’ Spellbooks I, II, and III (Adventure; See Above) \n• \nVest of Resistance +2 (Adventure; Complete Arcane) \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 23 \nAPL 8 (all of APL 6 plus the following): \n• \nAmulet of Natural Armor +2 (Adventure; Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide) \n• \nDephos’ Spellbook IV (Adventure; See Above) \n• \nPotion of Inflict Serious Wounds (Adventure; Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide) \n \nAPL 10 (all of APLs 6, 8 plus the following): \n• \nDephos’ Spellbook V (Adventure; See Above) \n• \nHeadband of Intellect +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nLarge \nItems: \nJavelin, \nMorningstar, \nHide \nArmor \n(Adventure; Player’s Handbook) \n \nAPL 12 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10 plus the following): \n• \nLarge Items: Greatclub (Adventure; Player’s Handbook) \n• \nDephos’ Spellbook VI (Adventure; See Above) \n• \nMetamagic Rod, Maximize, Lesser (Adventure; Dungeon \nMaster’s Guide) \n• \nGloves of Dexterity +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n \nAPL 14 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10, 12 plus the following): \n• \nBracers of Armor +5 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide) \n• \nDephos’ Spellbook VII (Adventure; See Above) \n• \nHeadband of Intellect +6 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n• \nRing of Protection +2 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s \nGuide) \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 24 \nAPPENDIX 1 – APL 6 \n \nENCOUNTER 9 \n \n \n \n \nEttin Skeleton: hp 90; see Monster Manual, page 227. \nENCOUNTER 10 \n \n \n \n \nNycos \nDephos, \nMale \nHuman \nVampire \nWiz(Necromancer)7: Medium Undead (augmented \nhumanoid); CR 9; HD 7d12; hp 63 (78 with false life); Init \n+9; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 30, touch 16, flat-footed \n25 (+5 Dex, +6 armor, +2 shield, +6 natural, +1 deflection); \nBase Atk/Grp: +3/+5; Atk: +6 melee (1d4+2/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +9 ranged (1d4+2/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +5 melee (1d6+3 plus energy \ndrain, slam); Full Atk: +6 melee (1d4+2/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +9 ranged (1d4+2/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +5 melee (1d6+3 plus energy \ndrain, slam); SA spells, blood drain, children of the night, \ncreate spawn, dominate DC 16, energy drain DC 16, \nnatural weapons count as magical weapons for \novercoming DR; SQ alternate form, DR 10/silver and \nmagic, cold/electricity resistance 10, fast healing 5, \ngaseous form, spider climb, summon familiar, turn \nresistance +4; AL LE; SV Fort +4, Ref +11, Will +9; Str 14, \nDex 20, Con –, Int 19 (21), Wis 14, Cha 16. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +11, Concentration +13, \nDecipher Script +15, Hide +13, Knowledge (arcana) +15, \nKnowledge (dungeoneering) +10, Knowledge (history) \n+15, Knowledge (religion) +15, Knowledge (the planes) \n+10, Listen +12, Move Silently +13, Search +13, Sense \nMotive +10, Spellcraft +17, Spot +12; AlertnessB, Combat \nCasting, Combat ReflexesB, Craft Wondrous ItemB, \nDodgeB, Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Improved \nInitiativeB, Lightning ReflexesB, Scribe ScrollB, Simple \nWeapon Proficiency, Spell Focus (Necromancy). \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/4+1/3+1/2+1; base \nDC = 15 + spell level, 17 + spell level for Necromancy \nspells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost, touch of \nfatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection from good, ray of \nenfeeblement* (2), summon undead ISC; 2nd – false life*, ghoul \ntouch, glitterdust, spectral hand, summon undead IISC; 3rd – \nfireball, greater mage armor, ray of exhaustion*, summon \nundead IIISC; 4th – enervation*, Evard’s black tentacles, greater \ninvisibility. SCSpell Compendium. \n \n*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment, \nDivination. \n \nSpellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile, \nprotection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon \nmonster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s \ncunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow, \nscorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon \nundead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC, \nmagic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC, \nsummon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead, \ncontagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of \ninvulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon \nmonster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC. \nFBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium. \n \nPossessions: spellbooks, +1 mithral buckler, headband of \nintellect +2, masterwork dagger, courtier's outfit, potion of \nfly, ring of protection +1, arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th), vest of \nresistance +2CA. CAComplete Arcane. \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 25 \nAPPENDIX 2 – APL 8 \n \nENCOUNTER 9 \n \n \n \n \nCloud Giant Skeleton: hp 153; see Monster Manual, page \n227. \nENCOUNTER 10 \n \n \n \n \nNycos \nDephos, \nMale \nHuman \nVampire \nWiz(Necromancer)9: Medium Undead (augmented \nhumanoid); CR 11; HD 9d12; hp 81 (98 with false life); Init \n+9; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 32, touch 16, flat-footed \n27 (+5 Dex, +6 armor, +2 shield, +8 natural, +1 deflection); \nBase Atk/Grp: +4/+6; Atk: +7 melee (1d4+2/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +10 ranged (1d4+2/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +6 melee (1d6+3 plus energy \ndrain, slam); Full Atk: +7 melee (1d4+2/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +10 ranged (1d4+2/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +6 melee (1d6+3 plus energy \ndrain, slam); SA spells, blood drain, children of the night, \ncreate spawn, dominate DC 17, energy drain DC 17, \nnatural weapons count as magical weapons for \novercoming DR; SQ alternate form, DR 10/silver and \nmagic, cold/electricity resistance 10, fast healing 5, \ngaseous form, spider climb, summon familiar, turn \nresistance +4; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +12, Will +10; Str \n14, Dex 20, Con –, Int 20 (22), Wis 14, Cha 16. \n \nSkills and Feats: Bluff +11, Concentration +15, \nDecipher Script +18, Hide +13, Knowledge (arcana) +18, \nKnowledge (dungeoneering) +13, Knowledge (history) \n+18, Knowledge (religion) +17, Knowledge (the planes) \n+13, Listen +12, Move Silently +13, Search +14, Sense \nMotive +10, Spellcraft +20, Spot +12; AlertnessB, Black \nLore of MoilCA, Combat Casting, Combat ReflexesB, Craft \nWondrous \nItemB, \nDodgeB, \nGreater \nSpell \nFocus \n(Necromancy), \nImproved \nInitiativeB, \nLightning \nReflexesB, Scribe ScrollB, Simple Weapon Proficiency, \nSpell Focus (Necromancy). CAComplete Arcane. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/6+1/4+1/3+1/2+1; \nbase DC = 16 + spell level, 18 + spell level for \nNecromancy spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of \nfrost, touch of fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection \nfrom good, MoilianCA ray of enfeeblement* (2), summon \nundead ISC; 2nd – false life*, glitterdust (2), invisibility, Melf’s \nacid arrow, spectral hand, summon undead IISC; 3rd – dispel \nmagic, fireball, greater mage armor, MoilianCA ray of \nexhaustion*, summon undead IIISC; 4th – MoilianCA \nenervation*, Evard’s black tentacles, greater invisibility, \nsummon undead IVSC; 5th – cloudkill, teleport, MoilianCA \nwaves of fatigue*. SCSpell Compendium, CAComplete Arcane. \n \n*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment, \nDivination. \n \nSpellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile, \nprotection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon \nmonster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s \ncunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow, \nscorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon \nundead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC, \nmagic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC, \nsummon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead, \ncontagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of \ninvulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon \nmonster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC; 5th – \nbaleful polymorph, cloudkill, cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic \njar, summon monster V, summon undead VSC, teleport, waves of \nfatigue. FBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium. \n \nPossessions: Moilian runebones, spellbooks, +1 mithral \nbuckler, amulet of natural armor +2, potion of inflict serious \nwounds, headband of intellect +2, masterwork dagger, \ncourtier's outfit, potion of fly, ring of protection +1, arcane \nscroll of teleport (CL 9th), vest of resistance +2CA. CAComplete \nArcane. \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 26 \nAPPENDIX 3 – APL 10 \n \nENCOUNTER 9 \n \n \n \n \nMummified Ettin: Large Undead (augmented giant); \nCR 9; HD 10d12; hp 90; Init +3; Spd 20 ft.; AC 21, touch \n8, flat-footed 21 (-1 size, -1 Dex, +3 armor, +10 natural); \nBase Atk/Grp: +7/+21; Atk: +16 melee (2d6+10, large \nmorningstar) or +5 ranged (1d8+10, large javelin) or +16 \nmelee (2d6+10, slam); Full Atk: +16/+11 melee (2d6+10, 2 \nlarge morningstars) or +5/+0 ranged (1d8+10, 2 large \njavelins) or +16 melee (2d6+10, slam) or +16/+11 melee \n(2d6+10, large morningstar) and +16 melee (2d6+10, \nslam); SA mummy rot, despair; SQ DR 5/–, superior two-\nweapon fighting, undead traits, vulnerability to fire; AL \nLE; SV Fort +7, Ref +2, Will +7; Str 30, Dex 8, Con –, Int \n2, Wis 14, Cha 15. Libris Mortis, page 110. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +2, Listen +8, Search \n-1, Spot +12; Alertness, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, \nPower Attack. \n \nSkills: An ettin’s two heads give it a +2 racial bonus \non Listen, Spot, and Search checks. \n \nSuperior Two-Weapon Fighting (Ex): An ettin \nfights with a morningstar or javelin in each hand. \nBecause each of its two heads controls an arm, the ettin \ndoes not take a penalty on attack or damage rolls for \nattacking with two weapons. \n \nDespair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified \nettin, the viewer must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or be \nparalyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the \nsave is successful, that creature cannot be affected again \nby the same mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. The \nsave DC is Cha-based. \n \nMummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease—slam, \nFortitude DC 17, incubation period 1 minute; damage \n1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. The save DC is Cha-based. \n \nUnlike normal diseases, mummy rot continues until \nthe victim reaches Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as \ndescribed below. \n \nMummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural \ndisease. A character attempting to cast any conjuration \n(healing) spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot \nmust succeed on a DC 20 caster level check, or the spell \nhas no effect on the afflicted character. \n \nTo eliminate mummy rot, the curse must first be \nbroken with break enchantment or remove curse (requiring a \nDC 20 caster level check for either spell), after which a \ncaster level check is no longer necessary to cast healing \nspells on the victim, and the mummy rot can be \nmagically cured as any normal disease. \n \nAn afflicted creature who dies of mummy rot \nshrivels away into sand and dust that blow away into \nnothing at the first wind. \n \nPossessions: large hide armor, 2 large morningstars, 4 \nlarge javelins. \nENCOUNTER 10 \n \n \n \n \nNycos \nDephos, \nMale \nHuman \nLich \nWiz(Necromancer)11: Medium Undead (augmented \nhumanoid); CR 13; HD 11d12; hp 99 (117 with false life); \nInit +7; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 29, touch 14, flat-\nfooted 26 (+3 Dex, +6 armor, +2 shield, +7 natural, +1 \ndeflection); Base Atk/Grp: +5/+4; Atk: +5 melee (1d4-\n1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +9 ranged (1d4-1/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +4 melee touch (1d8+5 negative \nenergy plus paralysis, touch); Full Atk: +5 melee (1d4-\n1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +9 ranged (1d4-1/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +4 melee touch (1d8+5 negative \nenergy plus paralysis, touch); SA fear aura DC 17, \nparalyzing touch DC 17, touch attack DC 17, natural \nweapons treated as magical for the purpose of \novercoming DR, spells; SQ +4 turn resistance, DR \n15/bludgeoning and magic, darkvision 60 ft., undead \ntraits, immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph, and \nmind-affecting attacks; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +8, Will \n+11; Str 8, Dex 16, Con –, Int 20 (24), Wis 14, Cha 14. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +16, Decipher Script \n+21, Hide +11, Knowledge (arcana) +21, Knowledge \n(dungeoneering) \n+18, \nKnowledge \n(history) \n+21, \nKnowledge (religion) +21, Knowledge (the planes) +18, \nListen +10, Move Silently +11, Search +15, Sense Motive \n+10, Spellcraft +23, Spot +10; Black Lore of MoilCA, \nCombat Casting, Craft Wondrous ItemB, Empower \nSpellB, Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Improved \nInitiative, Scribe ScrollB, Spell Focus (Necromancy). \nCAComplete Arcane. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/4+1/3+1/ \n2+1; base DC = 17 + spell level, 19 + spell level for \nNecromancy spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of \nfrost, touch of fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection \nfrom good, MoilianCA ray of enfeeblement* (2), summon \nundead ISC; 2nd – false life*, glitterdust (2), invisibility, Melf’s \nacid arrow, spectral hand, summon undead IISC; 3rd – dispel \nmagic, fireball (2), greater mage armor, MoilianCA ray of \nexhaustion*, summon monster III, summon undead IIISC; 4th – \nMoilianCA enervation*, Evard’s black tentacles, greater \ninvisibility, summon monster IV, summon undead IVSC; 5th – \ncloudkill, summon undead VSC, teleport, MoilianCA waves of \nfatigue*; 6th – disintegrate, MoilianCA ray of entropySC*, \nrepulsion. SCSpell Compendium, CAComplete Arcane. \n \n*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment, \nDivination. \n \nSpellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile, \nprotection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon \nmonster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s \ncunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow, \nscorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon \nundead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC, \nmagic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC, \nsummon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead, \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 27 \ncontagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of \ninvulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon \nmonster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC; 5th – \nbaleful polymorph, cloudkill, cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic \njar, summon monster V, summon undead VSC, teleport, waves of \nfatigue; 6th – disintegrate, eyebite, greater dispel magic, ray of \nentropySC, repulsion, stone to flesh, summon monster VI. \nFBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium. \n \nPossessions: Moilian runebones, spellbooks, +1 mithral \nbuckler, amulet of natural armor +2, potion of inflict serious \nwounds, headband of intellect +4, masterwork dagger, \ncourtier's outfit, potion of fly, ring of protection +1, arcane \nscroll of teleport (CL 9th), vest of resistance +2CA. CAComplete \nArcane. \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 28 \nAPPENDIX 4 – APL 12 \n \nENCOUNTER 9 \n \n \n \n \nMummified Stone Giant: Large Undead (augmented \ngiant); CR 11; HD 14d12; hp 126; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC \n25, touch 11, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +3 armor, +11 \nnatural); Base Atk/Grp: +10/+26; Atk: +21 melee (2d8+18, \nlarge greatclub) or +11 ranged (2d6+12, rock) or +21 \nmelee (1d4+12, slam); Full Atk: +21/+16 melee (2d8+18, \nlarge greatclub) or +11 ranged (2d6+12, rock) or +21 \nmelee (1d4+12, 2 slams); SA despair, mummy rot, rock \nthrowing; SQ +8 to hide checks in rocky terrain, DR 5/–, \nrock catching, undead traits, vulnerability to fire; AL LE; \nSV Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 35, Dex 15, Con –, Int 6, \nWis 16, Cha 15. Libris Mortis, page 110. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +13, Concentration +2, Hide \n+4*, Spot +15; Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Point Blank \nShot, Power Attack, Precise Shot. \n \nSkills: *A stone giant gains a +8 racial bonus on \nHide checks in rocky terrain. \n \nRock \nThrowing \n(Ex): \nAdult \ngiants \nare \naccomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus \non attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least \nLarge size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 pounds each \n(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of \nthe range increment varies with the giant’s variety. A \nHuge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80 lbs. (Medium \nobjects). \n \nThe range increment is 180 feet for a stone giant’s \nthrown rocks. It uses both hands when throwing a rock. \n \nRock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size \ncan catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of \nsimilar shape). \n \nOnce per round, a giant that would normally be hit \nby a rock can make a Reflex save to catch it as a free \naction. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a Medium \none, and 25 for a Large one. (If the projectile provides a \nmagical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases by that \namount.) The giant must be ready for and aware of the \nattack in order to make a rock catching attempt. \n \nA stone giant gains a +4 racial bonus on its Reflex \nsave when attempting to catch a thrown rock. \n \nDespair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified \nstone giant, the viewer must succeed on a DC 19 Will \nsave or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or \nnot the save is successful, that creature cannot be affected \nagain by the same mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. \nThe save DC is Cha-based. \n \nMummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease—slam, \nFortitude DC 19, incubation period 1 minute; damage \n1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. The save DC is Cha-based. \n \nUnlike normal diseases, mummy rot continues until \nthe victim reaches Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as \ndescribed below. \n \nMummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural \ndisease. A character attempting to cast any conjuration \n(healing) spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot \nmust succeed on a DC 20 caster level check, or the spell \nhas no effect on the afflicted character. \n \nTo eliminate mummy rot, the curse must first be \nbroken with break enchantment or remove curse \n(requiring a DC 20 caster level check for either spell), \nafter which a caster level check is no longer necessary to \ncast healing spells on the victim, and the mummy rot can \nbe magically cured as any normal disease. \n \nAn afflicted creature who dies of mummy rot \nshrivels away into sand and dust that blow away into \nnothing at the first wind. \n \nPossessions: large hide armor, large greatclub, 6 rocks. \nENCOUNTER 10 \n \n \n \n \nNycos \nDephos, \nMale \nHuman \nLich \nWiz(Necromancer)13: Medium Undead (augmented \nhumanoid); CR 15; HD 13d12; hp 117 (135 with false life); \nInit +9; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 31, touch 16, flat-\nfooted 26 (+5 Dex, +6 armor, +2 shield, +7 natural, +1 \ndeflection); Base Atk/Grp: +6/+5; Atk: +6 melee (1d4-\n1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +12 ranged (1d4-1/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +5 melee touch (1d8+5 negative \nenergy plus paralysis, touch); Full Atk: +6/+1 melee (1d4-\n1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +12 ranged (1d4-1/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +5 melee touch (1d8+5 negative \nenergy plus paralysis, touch); SA fear aura DC 18, \nparalyzing touch DC 18, touch attack DC 18, natural \nweapons treated as magical for the purpose of \novercoming DR, spells; SQ +4 turn resistance, DR \n15/bludgeoning and magic, darkvision 60 ft., undead \ntraits, immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph, and \nmind-affecting attacks; AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +11, Will \n+12; Str 8, Dex 16 (20), Con –, Int 21 (25), Wis 14, Cha 14. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +18, Decipher Script \n+23, Hide +13, Knowledge (arcana) +23, Knowledge \n(dungeoneering) \n+21, \nKnowledge \n(history) \n+23, \nKnowledge (religion) +23, Knowledge (the planes) +21, \nListen +10, Move Silently +13, Search +15, Sense Motive \n+10, Spellcraft +25, Spot +10; Black Lore of MoilCA, \nCombat Casting, Craft Wondrous ItemB, Empower \nSpellB, Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Improved \nInitiative, Quicken Spell, Scribe ScrollB, Spell Focus \n(Necromancy). CAComplete Arcane. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/5+1/4+1/ \n3+1/2+1; base DC = 17 + spell level, 19 + spell level for \nNecromancy spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 29 \nfrost, touch of fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection \nfrom good, MoilianCA ray of enfeeblement* (2), summon \nundead ISC; 2nd – false life*, glitterdust (2), invisibility, Melf’s \nacid arrow, spectral hand, summon undead IISC; 3rd – dispel \nmagic, fireball (2), greater mage armor, MoilianCA ray of \nexhaustion*, summon monster III, summon undead IIISC; 4th – \nMoilianCA enervation*, Evard’s black tentacles, greater \ninvisibility, MoilianCA mindfrostFB, summon monster IV, \nsummon undead IVSC; 5th – cloudkill, greater blinkSC, summon \nundead VSC, teleport, MoilianCA waves of fatigue*; 6th – \ndisintegrate, \nMoilianCA \nray \nof \nentropySC*, \nrepulsion, \nquickened spectral hand; 7th – MoilianCA arrow of boneSC*, \ndelayed blast fireball, quickened fireball. FBFrostburn, SCSpell \nCompendium, CAComplete Arcane. \n \n*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment, \nDivination. \n \nSpellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile, \nprotection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon \nmonster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s \ncunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow, \nscorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon \nundead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC, \nmagic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC, \nsummon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead, \ncontagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of \ninvulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon \nmonster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC; 5th – \nbaleful polymorph, cloudkill, cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic \njar, summon monster V, summon undead VSC, teleport, waves of \nfatigue; 6th – disintegrate, eyebite, greater dispel magic, ray of \nentropySC, repulsion, stone to flesh, summon monster VI; 7th – \narrow of boneSC, delayed blast fireball, greater teleport, spell \nturning, summon monster VII, sword of darknessSC, waves of \nexhaustion. FBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium. \n \nPossessions: Moilian runebones, spellbooks, +1 mithral \nbuckler, amulet of natural armor +2, potion of inflict serious \nwounds, headband of intellect +4, gloves of dexterity +4, \nmasterwork dagger, courtier's outfit, potion of fly, ring of \nprotection +1, metamagic rod (maximize, lesser), arcane scroll of \nteleport (CL 9th), vest of resistance +2CA. CAComplete Arcane. \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 30 \n APPENDIX 5 – APL 14 \n \nENCOUNTER 9 \n \n \n \n \nMummified Stone Giant, Double-Evolved: Large \nUndead (augmented giant); CR 13; HD 14d12; hp 126; \nInit +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC 27, touch 11, flat-footed 25 (-1 size, \n+2 Dex, +3 armor, +13 natural); Base Atk/Grp: +10/+28; \nAtk: +23 melee (2d8+21, large greatclub) or +11 ranged \n(2d6+14, rock) or +21 melee (1d4+14, slam); Full Atk: \n+23/+18 melee (2d8+21, large greatclub) or +11 ranged \n(2d6+12, rock) or +23 melee (1d4+14, 2 slams); SA \ndespair, mummy rot, rock throwing; SQ +8 to hide \nchecks in rocky terrain, DR 5/–, rock catching, undead \ntraits, vulnerability to fire, fast healing 3; AL LE; SV Fort \n+9, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 39, Dex 15, Con –, Int 6, Wis 16, \nCha 19. Libris Mortis, pages 99 and 110. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +15, Concentration +4, Hide \n+4*, Spot +15; Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Point Blank \nShot, Power Attack, Precise Shot. \n \nSkills: *A stone giant gains a +8 racial bonus on \nHide checks in rocky terrain. \n \nRock \nThrowing \n(Ex): \nAdult \ngiants \nare \naccomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus \non attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least \nLarge size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 pounds each \n(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of \nthe range increment varies with the giant’s variety. A \nHuge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80 lbs. (Medium \nobjects). \n \nThe range increment is 180 feet for a stone giant’s \nthrown rocks. It uses both hands when throwing a rock. \n \nRock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size \ncan catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of \nsimilar shape). \n \nOnce per round, a giant that would normally be hit \nby a rock can make a Reflex save to catch it as a free \naction. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a Medium \none, and 25 for a Large one. (If the projectile provides a \nmagical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases by that \namount.) The giant must be ready for and aware of the \nattack in order to make a rock catching attempt. \n \nA stone giant gains a +4 racial bonus on its Reflex \nsave when attempting to catch a thrown rock. \n \nDespair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified \nstone giant, the viewer must succeed on a DC 21 Will \nsave or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or \nnot the save is successful, that creature cannot be affected \nagain by the same mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. \nThe save DC is Cha-based. \n \nMummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease—slam, \nFortitude DC 21, incubation period 1 minute; damage \n1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. The save DC is Cha-based. \n \nUnlike normal diseases, mummy rot continues until \nthe victim reaches Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as \ndescribed below. \n \nMummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural \ndisease. A character attempting to cast any conjuration \n(healing) spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot \nmust succeed on a DC 20 caster level check, or the spell \nhas no effect on the afflicted character. \n \nTo eliminate mummy rot, the curse must first be \nbroken with break enchantment or remove curse \n(requiring a DC 20 caster level check for either spell), \nafter which a caster level check is no longer necessary to \ncast healing spells on the victim, and the mummy rot can \nbe magically cured as any normal disease. \n \nAn afflicted creature who dies of mummy rot \nshrivels away into sand and dust that blow away into \nnothing at the first wind. \n \nSpell-like Abilities: 1/day—unholy blight (DC 18), \ncloudkill (DC 19); save DC is Cha-based; CL 14th. \n \nPossessions: large hide armor, large greatclub, 6 rocks. \nENCOUNTER 10 \n \n \n \n \nNycos \nDephos, \nMale \nHuman \nLich \nWiz(Necromancer)15: Medium Undead (augmented \nhumanoid); CR 17; HD 15d12; hp 135 (153 with false life); \nInit +9; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 31, touch 17, flat-\nfooted 26 (+5 Dex, +5 armor, +2 shield, +7 natural, +2 \ndeflection); Base Atk/Grp: +7/+6; Atk: +7 melee (1d4-\n1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +13 ranged (1d4-1/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +6 melee touch (1d8+5 negative \nenergy plus paralysis, touch); Full Atk: +7/+2 melee (1d4-\n1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +13 ranged (1d4-1/19-20, \nmasterwork dagger) or +6 melee touch (1d8+5 negative \nenergy plus paralysis, touch); SA fear aura DC 19, \nparalyzing touch DC 19, touch attack DC 19, natural \nweapons treated as magical for the purpose of \novercoming DR, spells; SQ +4 turn resistance, DR \n15/bludgeoning and magic, darkvision 60 ft., undead \ntraits, immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph, and \nmind-affecting attacks; AL LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +12, Will \n+13; Str 8, Dex 16 (20), Con –, Int 21 (27), Wis 14, Cha 14. \n \nSkills and Feats: Concentration +20, Decipher Script \n+26, Hide +13, Knowledge (arcana) +26, Knowledge \n(dungeoneering) \n+26, \nKnowledge \n(history) \n+26, \nKnowledge (religion) +26, Knowledge (the planes) +26, \nListen +10, Move Silently +13, Search +16, Sense Motive \n+10, Spellcraft +28, Spot +10; Black Lore of MoilCA, \nCombat Casting, Craft Wondrous ItemB, Empower \nSpellB, Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Improved \nInitiative, Maximize SpellB, Quicken Spell, Rapid SpellCD, \nScribe ScrollB, Spell Focus (Necromancy). CAComplete \nArcane, CDComplete Divine. \n \nWizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/5+1/ \n4+1/3+1/2+1; base DC = 18 + spell level, 20 + spell level \nfor Necromancy spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray \nof frost, touch of fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection \nfrom good, MoilianCA ray of enfeeblement* (2), rapidCD \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 31 \nsummon undead ISC; 2nd – false life*, glitterdust (2), invisibility, \nMelf’s acid arrow, spectral hand, rapidCD summon undead ISC; \n3rd – dispel magic (2), fireball (2), MoilianCA ray of \nexhaustion*, rapidCD summon undead IISC, summon undead \nIIISC; 4th – MoilianCA enervation* (2), Evard’s black tentacles \n(2), greater invisibility, summon monster IV, rapidCD summon \nundead IIISC; 5th – cloudkill, greater blinkSC, cone of cold, \nrapidCD summon undead IVSC, teleport, MoilianCA waves of \nfatigue*; 6th – disintegrate, MoilianCA ray of entropySC*, \nrepulsion, quickened spectral hand, rapidCD summon undead \nVSC; 7th – MoilianCA arrow of boneSC*, delayed blast fireball, \nquickened fireball, summon monster VII; 8th – MoilianCA \nblackfireSC*, maximized cone of cold, MoilianCA horrid \nwilting. SCSpell Compendium, CAComplete Arcane, CDComplete \nDivine. \n \n*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment, \nDivination. \n \nSpellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile, \nprotection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon \nmonster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s \ncunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow, \nscorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon \nundead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC, \nmagic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC, \nsummon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead, \ncontagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of \ninvulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon \nmonster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC; 5th – \nbaleful polymorph, cloudkill, cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic \njar, summon monster V, summon undead VSC, teleport, waves of \nfatigue; 6th – disintegrate, eyebite, greater dispel magic, ray of \nentropySC, repulsion, stone to flesh, summon monster VI; 7th – \narrow of boneSC, delayed blast fireball, greater teleport, spell \nturning, summon monster VII, sword of darknessSC, waves of \nexhaustion; 8th – blackfireSC, greater shout, horrid wilting, polar \nray, summon monster VIII, symbol of death, trap the soul. \nFBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium. \n \nPossessions: Moilian runebones, spellbooks, +1 mithral \nbuckler, amulet of natural armor +2, bracers of armor +5, potion \nof inflict serious wounds, headband of intellect +6, gloves of \ndexterity +4, masterwork dagger, courtier's outfit, potion of \nfly, ring of protection +2, metamagic rod (maximize, lesser), \narcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th), vest of resistance +2CA. \nCAComplete Arcane. \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 32 \nAPPENDIX 6 – ALL APLS \n \nENCOUNTER 2 \n \n \n \n \nWatcher \nBranwen, \nExpeditious \nVigil, \nFemale \nHuman Pal10/Knight of the Watch2: Medium \nHumanoid (Human); CR 12; HD 10d10+2d10+24; hp 108; \nInit +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 12, flat-footed 23 (+1 Dex, \n+9 armor, +3 shield, +1 deflection); Base Atk/Grp: \n+12/+15; Atk: +16 melee (1d8+4/x3, +1 adamantine \nbattleaxe) or +16 melee (1d8+4/19-20, +1 adamantine \nlongsword) or +16 melee (1d8+5/x3, +1 lance) or +15 melee \n(1d6+3, light mace); Full Atk: +16/+11/+6 melee \n(1d8+4/x3, +1 adamantine battleaxe) or +16/+11/+6 melee \n(1d8+4/19-20, +1 adamantine longsword) or +16/+11/+6 \nmelee (1d8+5/x3, +1 lance) or +15/+10/+5 melee (1d6+3, \nlight mace); SA smite evil 3/day (+10 damage), unleash \ninner strength; SQ free multiclassing, lay on hands, \nremove disease 2/week, secrets of the order, turn undead \n6/day; AL LG; SV Fort +15, Ref +7, Will +12; Str 15 (17), \nDex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14 (16), Cha 14 (16). \n \nSkills and Feats: Craft (armorsmithing) +2, Craft \n(weaponsmithing) +2, Diplomacy +13, Handle Animal +5, \nHeal +5, Jump +5, Knowledge (arcana) +2, Knowledge \n(nobility and royalty) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, \nKnowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley Metaregion) +1, \nRide +16, Sense Motive +11, Speak Language (Flan), Spot \n+8; Cleave, Divine Might, Heavy Armor Proficiency, \nLight Armor Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency, \nMedium Armor Proficiency, Mounted Combat, Power \nAttack, Ride-By Attack, Shield Proficiency, Simple \nWeapon Proficiency, Spirited Charge. \n \nSecrets of the Order (Ex): At first level, it becomes \nvery difficult for others to pry the secrets of the Knights \nfrom a member. Any time someone or something \nattempts to gain such a secret by magical means, the \nKnight receives a saving throw (typically Will) at the \nnormal DC. This applies even if the magic in question \nnormally allows no saving throw. The Knight adds his or \nher Watcher level as a special bonus to the save. This \ndoes not help the Knight in any way except to protect the \nsecrets of the order or as a consequence thereof. \n \nFor example, an enchantress may charm a 5th level \nKnight, and the Knight would gain no bonus to the save. \n Should the enchantress request of her new friend that he \nreveal the secrets of the order, the Knight immediately \ngets a new save, with a +5 bonus. Each attempt to make \nthe Knight reveal a fact about his order allows a new save. \n Similarly, detect thoughts works just fine on a Knight, but \neach time the user attempts to pick up a secret regarding \nthe order, the Knight receives a new save with the special \nbonus. \n \nThis additional save functions as a normal saving \nthrow against the spell (as specified in the spell \ndescription). If the spell or ability description does not \nnormally allow a saving throw, the save negates the spell \nif successful. \n \nUnleash Inner Strength (Sp): Once per day, the \nKnight may concentrate (requiring a full-round action \nthat can provoke an attack of opportunity) to bring out \nhis inner strength. While using this ability, the Knight \nreceives a +4 bonus to Strength for up to 3 rounds plus \n(or minus) his Wisdom modifier. The Knight may \nvoluntarily cease using the ability at any time prior to the \nnormal expiration. Once the ability duration ends, the \nKnight suffers a –2 penalty to Strength and Constitution \nfor a period equal to the time the ability was in use. This \npenalty has no particular type, and stacks with all other \npenalties. Note that a change in hit point adjustment \nmust be made to reflect the temporary loss in \nConstitution and this can result in the Knight falling into \nnegative hit points or even death. Under no \ncircumstances does this ability stack with a barbarian’s \nrage ability (or any similar rage ability). No character \nmay enter a rage while under the effects of Unleash \nInner Strength, and no character may Unleash Inner \nStrength while in a rage. This ability is equivalent to a 2nd \nlevel spell. \n \nPaladin Spells Prepared (2/2; base DC = 13 + spell \nlevel): 1st - bless weapon, divine sacrificeSC; 2nd - zealSC, zone of \ntruth. SCSpell Compendium. \n \nPossessions: +1 adamantine battleaxe, +1 adamantine \nlongsword, +1 full plate, +1 lance, +1 mithral heavy shield, boots \nof striding and springing, cloak of charisma +2, eyes of the eagle, \ngauntlets of ogre power, light mace, courtier's outfit, \npaladin’s mount, periapt of wisdom +2, ring of protection +1, \nring of sustenance, wand of cure light wounds, wand of cure \nmoderate wounds. \n \nPhysical Description: Watcher Branwen is a human \nfemale of mixed Flan/Suel heritage. She is 5 ft. 7 in. tall \nand weighs 142 lbs. Her blond hair is tied in a single \nbraid running down her spine to her belt. \nChallenger, Male Heavy Warhorse: Large Magical \nBeast; CR 2; HD 8d8+36; hp 75; Init +1; Spd 80 ft.; AC 25, \ntouch 10, flat-footed 24 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 armor, +10 \nnatural); Base Atk/Grp: +6/+15; Atk: +5 melee (1d4+2, \nbite) or +10/+10 melee (1d6+5, hoof); Full Atk: +5 melee \n(1d4+2, bite) or +10/+10 melee (1d6+5, hoof); SQ \nempathic link, improved evasion, scent, share saving \nthrows, share spells; AL LG; SV Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +3; \nStr 20, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 6. \n \nSkills and Feats: Jump +25, Listen +7, Spot +6; \nDiehard, Endurance, Run. \n \nPossessions: +1 mithral chain shirt barding, bit and \nbridle, horseshoes of speed, military saddle, saddlebags. \nCity Guard, Male Or Female Human Ftr8: Medium \nHumanoid; CR 8; HD 8d10+16; hp 72; Init +3; Spd 20 ft.; \nAC 21, touch 15, flat-footed 18 (+3 Dex, +6 armor, +2 \ndeflection); Base Atk/Grp: +8/+14; Atk: +16 melee \n(1d8+12/19-20x3, +1 longspear) or +14 melee (1d4+6/19-\n20, dagger) or +11 ranged (1d4/19-20, thrown dagger) or \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 33 \n+14 melee (1d6+6/19-20, short sword); Full Atk: +16/+11 \nmelee (1d8+12/19-20x3, +1 longspear) or +14/+9 melee \n(1d4+6/19-20, dagger) or +11/+6 ranged (1d4/19-20, \nthrown dagger) or +14/+9 melee (1d6+6/19-20, short \nsword); AL LN; SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +2; Str 18 (22), \nDex 14 (16), Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10. \n \nSkills and Feats: Climb +9, Craft (armorsmithing) +3, \nCraft \n(weaponsmithing) \n+3, \nHandle \nAnimal \n+2, \nIntimidate +11, Jump +3, Ride +10; Cleave, Close-\nQuarters FightingCW, Combat ReflexesB, Formation \nExpertCW, Great CleaveB, Heavy Armor Proficiency, \nImproved Critical (longspear)B, Light Armor Proficiency, \nMartial \nWeapon \nProficiency, \nMedium \nArmor \nProficiency, Power Attack, Shield Proficiency, Simple \nWeapon Proficiency, Tower Shield Proficiency, Weapon \nFocus (longspear)B, Weapon Specialization (longspear)B. \nCWComplete Warrior. \n \nPossessions: +1 breastplate, +1 longspear, belt of giant \nstrength +4, dagger, gloves of dexterity +2, peasant's outfit, \nring of protection +2, short sword. \nENCOUNTER 5 \n \n \n \n \nParwyn Amastacia, Male Elf Brd15: Medium \nHumanoid; CR 15; HD 15d6; hp 68; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; \nAC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 19 (+2 Dex, +5 armor, +2 \nshield, +1 natural, +1 deflection); Base Atk/Grp: +11/+10; \nAtk: +11 melee (1d6+1/18-20, +1 merciful defending rapier); \nFull Atk: +11/+6/+1 melee (1d6+1/18-20, +1 merciful \ndefending rapier); SQ +2 racial saving throw bonus against \nenchantment spells or effects., an elf who merely passes \nwithin 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a \nsearch check to notice it as if she were actively looking \nfor it., bardic knowledge +17, bardic music 15/day, \ncountersong, fascinate, immunity to magic sleep effects., \ninspire competence, inspire courage +3, inspire greatness, \ninspire heroics, suggestion; AL N; SV Fort +8, Ref +14, Will \n+12; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 19 (21). \n \nSkills and Feats: Appraise +20, Balance +4, Bluff +28, \nDiplomacy +34, Disguise +10, Gather Information +26, \nIntimidate +12, Jump +2, Knowledge (arcana) +4, \nKnowledge (local [Core]) +4, Knowledge (geography) +4, \nKnowledge (history) +5, Knowledge (nobility and \nroyalty) +12, Knowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley \nMetaregion) +13, Listen +2, Perform (oratory) +19, Search \n+4, Sense Motive +20, Speak Language +5, Spellcraft +4, \nSpot +2, Tumble +7, Use Magic Device +9; Combat \nExpertise, Improved Combat ExpertiseCW, Improved \nFeint, Leadership, Light Armor Proficiency, Negotiator, \nPersuasive, \nShield \nProficiency, \nSimple \nWeapon \nProficiency. CWComplete Warrior. \n \nBard Spells Known (4/5/4/4/4/3; base DC = 15 + spell \nlevel): 0 - detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, open/close, \nprestidigitation, read magic; 1st - alarm, charm person, \ncomprehend languages, expeditious retreat; 2nd - blur, calm \nemotions, detect thoughts, glitterdust; 3rd - charm monster, \ndaylight, gaseous form, see invisibility; 4th - dominate person, \nfreedom of movement, hold monster, greater invisibility; 5th - \ngreater blinkSC, greater heroism, shadow evocation. SCSpell \nCompendium. \n \nPossessions: +1 merciful defending rapier, circlet of \npersuasion, +1 mithral buckler, +1 mithral chain shirt, amulet \nof natural armor +1, cloak of charisma +2, helm of comprehend \nlanguages and read magic, noble's outfit, ring of protection +1, \nring of sustenance, vest of resistance +3CA. CAComplete Arcane. \n \nPhysical Description: Amastacia is a male high elf \napproaching middle-age. He stands 5’ 5” tall and weighs \n165 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. His \ndemeanor is both cheerful and confident. Amastacia \ncarries himself as one accustomed to getting what he \nwants. He does not concern himself with religious issues; \nhe treats all of his customers equally. Amastacia has a \nslightly lawful tendency as would be expected of one who \ndeals in contracts and has been known to attend temples \nof Zilchus to further his business connections in the \nhuman world. He is not a coward, but sees violence as \nbad for business. Amastacia had ties with the Gran March \norganization known as The Corporation, but left after he \nheard that they were robbing military targets. He will \ndefend himself with his rapier, but will try not to kill \nanyone as murder is also bad for business. Amastacia is \nfluent in Common, Elven, Gnome, Orc, Dwarven, \nCorporateSpeak, Flan, and Keoish. \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 34 \nDM AID: MAP #1 \n \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 35 \nDM AID: MAP #2 \n \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 36 \nDM AID: MAP #3 \n \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 37 \nDM AID: NEW RULES \nNEW FEATS \nBlack Lore of Moil (Complete Arcane) \n \nYour study of the sinister knowledge and spellcasting techniques of the long-dead Nightlords of Moil makes your \nnecromancy spells especially potent. \n \nPrerequisite: Spell Focus (necromancy), caster level 7th. \n \nBenefit: Any necromancy spell you cast can be cast instead as a Moilian spell, dealing an extra 1d6 points of \nnegative energy damage + 1d6 per two spell levels (+1d6 for 1st level spells, +2d6 for 2nd and 3rd level spells, and so on). If \nthe spell normally allows a saving throw, the target takes half the negative energy damage on a successful save, \nregardless of the outcome of the save on the spell’s normal effect. \n \nIn addition to its normal spell components, a Moilian spell requires the creation and expenditure of a Moilian \nrunebone—a small human bone (often a finger bone) scribed with carefully prepared arcane markings. Only a \ncharacter trained in the Black Lore of Moil knows the secrets of creating a runebone, which takes 1 hour to craft and \nrequires special inks and powders costing 25 gp per die of negative energy damage to be generated. For example, a \nrunebone capable of adding 3d6 points of negative energy damage costs 75 gp to craft. \n \nWhile the maximum negative energy damage dealt by a Moilian spell is based on the spell’s level, the actual damage \nis limited by the runebone. For example, if a sorcerer casts finger of death (a 7th level spell, so normally +4d6) with a 75 gp \n(3d6) runebone, the spell deals only 3d6 points of additional negative energy damage. \n \nA Moilian spell uses a spell slot of the spell’s normal level. \nClose-Quarters Fighting (Complete Warrior) \n \nYou are skilled at fighting close range and resisting grapple attempts. \n \nPrerequisites: BAB +3. \n \nBenefit: You gain an attack of opportunity whenever an enemy attempts to grapple you, even if the enemy has a \nfeat or special ability that would normally bypass the attack. If you deal damage with this attack, the enemy fails to start \nthe grapple unless it has the Improved Grapple feat or a special ability such as improved grab. If the enemy has such an \nability, you may add the damage you deal as a bonus on your opposed check to resist being grappled. This feat does not \ngive you extra attacks of opportunity during a round or allow you to make an attack of opportunity when you would be \ndenied one for being surprised, helpless or in a similar situation. \n \nFor example, an ogre attempts to grapple Tordek. Tordek gains an attack of opportunity, hits, and causes damage. \nSince the ogre does not have any sort of grappling special ability or feat, it fails to start a grapple. Then an ankheg – a \ncreature with the improved grab special ability – attempts to grapple Tordek. He takes an attack of opportunity, hits, \nand deals 10 points of damage to the creature. Tordek than adds +10 to his opposed check to resist being grappled. \n \nNormal: Creatures with Improved Grapple, improved grab, or similar feats or special abilities do not provoke \nattacks of opportunity when they attempt to start a grapple. \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select Close-Quarters Fighting as one of his fighter bonus feats. \nFormation Expert (Complete Warrior) \n \nYou are trained at fighting in ranks and files. \n \nPrerequisites: BAB +6. \n \nBenefit: The Formation Expert feat enables the use of three tactical maneuvers. You gain the benefit of the feat \neven if you are fighting in formation with allies that do not have this feat. \n \nLock Shields: To use this maneuver, you must have a ready shield, and adjacent allies on opposite sides of you must \nhave ready shields. You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class. \n \nStep into the Breach: To use this maneuver, you must be within a single move of an ally who falls in combat, and an \nally must occupy every square between you and the fallen comrade. You can immediately take a single move action (as if \nyou had readied an action to do so) to move into the square the fallen ally occupies. \n \nWall of Polearms: To use this maneuver, you must be wielding a shortspear, longspear, trident, glaive, guisarme, \nhalberd, or ranseur, and you must have adjacent allies wielding weapons identical to yours on opposite sides of you. You \ngain a +2 bonus on attack rolls. \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select Formation Expert as one of his fighter bonus feats. \nImproved Combat Expertise (Complete Warrior) \n \nYou have mastered the art of defense in combat. \n \nPrerequisites: Int 13, Combat Expertise, BAB +6. \n \nBenefit: When you use the Combat Expertise feat to improve your Armor Class, the number you subtract from \nyour attack roll and add to your AC can be any number that does not exceed your base attack bonus. \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 38 \n \nNormal: With Combat Expertise, the number can be no greater than +5. \n \nSpecial: A fighter may select Improved Combat Expertise as one of his fighter bonus feats. \nRapid Spell (Complete Divine) \n \nYou can cast spells with long casting times more quickly. \n \nBenefit: Only spells with a casting time greater than 1 standard action can be made rapid. A rapid spell with a \ncasting time of 1 full round can be cast as a standard action. A rapid spell with a casting time measured in rounds can be \ncast in 1 full round. Rapid spells with casting times measured in minutes can be cast in 1 minute, and rapid spells with \ncasting times measured in hours can be cast in 1 hour. A rapid spell uses up a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s \nactual level. \n \nSpecial: A spell can be made rapid and quickened only if its original casting time was 1 full round. This feat can be \napplied to a spell cast spontaneously as long as its original casting time was longer than 1 full round. \nNEW ITEMS \nVest of Resistance (Complete Arcane) \n \nThese garments offer magic protection in the form of a +1 to +5 resistance bonus on all saving throws. \n \nFaint abjuration; CL 5th; Craft Wondrous Item, resistance, caster’s level must be at least three times the vest’s bonus; \nPrice: 1,000 gp (+1), 4,000 gp (+2), 9,000 gp (+3), 16,000 gp (+4), 25,000 gp (+5); Weight: 1 lb. \nNEW SPELLS \nArrow of Bone (Spell Compendium) \nNecromancy [Death] \nLevel: Sorcerer/wizard 7 \nComponents: V, S, M \nCasting Time: 10 minutes \nRange: Touch \nTarget: One projectile or thrown weapon touched \nDuration: 1 hour/level or until discharged \nSaving Throw: Fortitude partial \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nYou complete the long ritual needed to cast the spell, scribing arcane runes into the item. It changes before your eyes into an \nidentical item made of bone. The runes glow with dark magic and the weapon feels cold to the touch. \n \nWhen thrown or fired at a creature as a normal ranged attack, the weapon gains a +4 enhancement bonus on attack \nrolls and damage rolls. In addition, any living creature struck by an arrow of bone must succeed on a Fortitude save or be \ninstantly slain. A creature that makes its save instead takes 3d6 points of damage +1 point per caster level (maximum \n+20). Regardless of whether the attack hits, the magic of the arrow of bone is discharged by the attack, and the missile is \ndestroyed. \n \nMaterial Component: A tiny sliver of bone and an oil of magic weapon (50 gp). \nBlackfire (Spell Compendium) \nNecromancy [Evil] \nLevel: Sor/Wiz 8 \nComponents: V, S, M \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) \nEffect: Ray \nDuration: 1 round/level \nSaving Throw: Fortitude partial and Reflex negates; see text \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nWith the dark words still on your tongue, a ray of black energy springs from your hand to wrap the indicated target in black \nflames that absorb heat rather than create it. The black fire crackles and hisses, emanating the smells of hot metal and sulfur. \n \nYou \nmust \nsucceed \non \na \nranged \ntouch \nattack \nwith \nthe \nray \nto \nstrike \na \ntarget. \nOn a successful attack, a living target is engulfed in chill black flames that feed on the fuel of their victim’s life force. A \ncreature engulfed in blackfire must make a successful Fortitude save each round that the spell is in effect or take 1d4 \npoints of Constitution damage and become nauseated. A creature that makes its Fortitude save takes no damage for that \nround and is sickened instead. In addition to its effects on the subject, blackfire can spread rapidly. Each round on its \nturn, any living creature adjacent to a creature engulfed in blackfire must succeed on a Reflex save or become engulfed \nitself. \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 39 \n \nAny creature that has its Constitution reduced to 0 or lower by the spell is turned into a pile of black ash and can be \nreturned to life only by true resurrection or wish, the caster of which must succeed on a DC 30 caster level check to \nrestore the victim to life. If a creature succeeds on its Fortitude save in 3 consecutive rounds, the blackfire affecting it \ngutters out. The black flames cannot otherwise be extinguished by normal means (such as immersion in water or \nsmothering), but antimagic field, a successful dispel magic, remove curse, or break enchantment snuffs it out. As well, a \ncreature protected by death ward has immunity to blackfire’s effects. \n \nMaterial Component: A pinch of dust from a vampire destroyed by sunlight. \nBlink, Greater (Spell Compendium) \nTransmutation \nLevel: Brd 5, Celerity 8, Sor/Wiz 5 \n \nAn immaterial fog descends over your eyes as you complete the spell. You perceive the closeness of a parallel, ethereal reality, and \nyou know that you can pass freely between that world and the one upon which you stand. \n \nThis spell functions like blink (Player’s Handbook, page 206), except that you have control over the timing of your \n“blinking” back and forth between the Ethereal Plane and the Material Plane. You can also ready an action to blink \naway from any physical or magical attack. The attack misses automatically unless it also affects ethereal targets (as a \nforce effect does). While blinking, you have no chance of interfering with your own attacks or your own spells. When \nmoving through solid objects, you do not risk materializing inside one unless you actually end your movement there, in \nwhich case you materialize and are shunted off to the nearest open space, taking 1d6 points of damage per 5 feet \ntraveled in this manner. \nDivine Sacrifice (Spell Compendium) \nEvocation \nLevel: Blackguard 1, Pal 1 \nComponents: V, S \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: Personal \nTarget: You \nDuration: 1 round/level \n \nGiving up some of your life force to win the battle, you empower your next blow against your foe. \n \nYour first attack each round for the duration of the spell deals an extra 5d6 points of damage if it hits, and you take \n10 points of damage each time you make such an attack, whether or not the attack is successful. \nMage Armor, Greater (Spell Compendium) \nConjuration (Creation) [Force] \nLevel: Sor/Wiz 3 \nComponents: V, S \n \nAn invisible sheen of armor-shaped force surrounds you. \n \nThis spell functions like mage armor (Player’s Handbook, page 249), except that it requires no material component and \nits intangible field of force provides a +6 armor bonus to Armor Class. \nMindfrost (Frostburn) \nNecromancy [Cold] \nLevel: Sor/Wiz 4 \nComponents: V, S, M \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: Close (25 ft. +5 ft./2 levels) \nTarget: One creature \nDuration: Instantaneous \nSaving Throw: Fortitude half \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nThis spell freezes the mental pathways of living creatures, dealing 5d6 points of cold damage and 1d4 points of \nIntelligence damage. \n \nMaterial Component: A small stone covered in frost. \nRay of Entropy (Spell Compendium) \nNecromancy \nLevel: Sor/Wiz 6 \nComponents: V, S \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: Close (25 ft. +5 ft./2 levels) \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 40 \nEffect: Ray \nDuration: 1 minute/level \nSaving Throw: None \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nYou release a crackling black ray. The smell of decay fills the air. \n \nWhen you cast this spell, you unleash a ray of negative energy that consumes the life energy of the subject. You \nmust succeed on a ranged touch attack with the ray to strike a target. If your attack is successful against a living creature, \nthe ray makes the subject weaker, slower, and less healthy. The subject takes a -4 penalty to Strength, Constitution, and \nDexterity for the duration of the spell. \nResonating Bolt (Spell Compendium) \nEvocation [Sonic] \nLevel: Brd 4, Sor/Wiz 3 \nComponents: V, S \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: 60 ft. \nArea: 60 ft. line \nDuration: Instantaneous \nSaving Throw: Reflex half \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nYour quick movements and rapid utterances release the spell’s energy, culminating in a final cry that unleashes a tremendous bolt \nof sonic energy from your open hand. \n \nThe bolt of sonic energy deals 1d4 points of sonic damage per caster level (maximum 10d4) to each creature within \nits area. In addition, a resonating bolt deals full damage to objects and can easily shatter or break interposing barriers. If \nthe bolt destroys a barrier, it can continue beyond if its range permits; otherwise, it stops. \nSummon Undead I (Spell Compendium) \nConjuration (Summoning) [Evil] \nLevel: Blackguard 1, Clr 1, Sor/Wiz 1 \nComponents: V, S, F/DF \nCasting Time: 1 round \nRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft. 2 levels) \nEffect: One summoned creature \nDuration: 1 round/level \nSaving Throw: None \nSpell Resistance: No \n \nThe undead you summon appear in a burst of smoke and fog. The vapor swiftly dissipates, but you can’t shake the impression of \nscreaming faces in the cloud’s tendrils. \n \nThis spell functions like summon monster I (Player’s Handbook, page 285), except that you summon an undead \ncreature. \n \nSummon undead I conjures one of the creatures from the 1st-level list (human warrior skeleton (Monster Manual, \npage 226), kobold zombie (Monster Manual, page 266)). You choose which creature to summon, and you can change that \nchoice each time you cast the spell. Summoned undead do not count toward the total Hit Dice of undead that you can \ncontrol with animate dead or the other command undead abilities. No undead creature you summon can have more Hit \nDice than your caster level + 1. \n \nFocus: A tiny bag, a small (not lit) candle, and a carved bone from any humanoid. \nSummon Undead II (Spell Compendium) \nConjuration (Summoning) [Evil] \nLevel: Blackguard 2, Clr 2, Sor/Wiz 2 \nEffect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart \n \nThis spell functions like summon undead I, except that you can summon one undead from the 2nd-level list (owlbear \nskeleton (Monster Manual, page 226), bugbear zombie (Monster Manual, page 267)) or two undead of the same kind from \nthe 1st-level list. \nSummon Undead III (Spell Compendium) \nConjuration (Summoning) [Evil] \nLevel: Blackguard 3, Clr 3, Sor/Wiz 3 \nEffect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 41 \n \nThis spell functions like summon undead I, except that you can summon one undead from the 3rd-level list (ghoul \n(Monster Manual, page 118), troll skeleton (Monster Manual, page 227), ogre zombie (Monster Manual, page 267)), two \nundead of the same kind from the 2nd-level list, or four of the same kind from the 1st-level list. \nSummon Undead IV (Spell Compendium) \nConjuration (Summoning) [Evil] \nLevel: Blackguard 4, Clr 4, Sor/Wiz 4 \nEffect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart \n \nThis spell functions like summon undead I, except that you can summon one undead from the 4th-level list (allip \n(Monster Manual, page), ghast (Monster Manual, page 119), wyvern zombie (Monster Manual, page 267)), two undead of \nthe same kind from the 3rd-level list, or four undead of the same kind from a lower-level list. \nSummon Undead V (Spell Compendium) \nConjuration (Summoning) [Evil] \nLevel: Cleric 5, Sor/Wiz 5 \nEffect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart \n \nThis spell functions like summon undead I, except that you can summon one undead from the 5th-level list (mummy \n(Monster Manual, page 190), shadow (Monster Manual, page 221), vampire spawn (Monster Manual, page 253), wight \n(Monster Manual, page 255)), two undead of the same kind from the 4th-level list, or four undead of the same kind from a \nlower-level list. \nSword of Darkness (Spell Compendium) \nNecromancy [Evil] \nLevel: Sor/Wiz 7 \nComponents: V, S, M \nEffect: Black blade of negative energy \n \nYou shatter the sword in your hand against a stone, bringing into being a similar weapon made entirely of black energy. As soon \nas it forms, the black blade attacks. \n \nThis spell functions like sword of deception (see below), except that you cause a black blade of pure negative energy to \nappear and attack opponents at a distance, as directed by you. Instead of dealing damage, a sword of darkness bestows one \nnegative level on each successful hit against a living creature, threatens a critical hit on a roll of 19-20, and bestows two \nnegative levels on a critical hit. Negative levels usually have a chance of permanently draining the subject’s levels, but \nthe negative levels from sword of darkness don’t last long enough to do so. However, if the subject gains at least as many \nnegative levels as it has Hit Dice, it dies. \n \nIf the sword strikes an undead creature, it grants that creature 5 temporary hit points per two caster levels \n(maximum 25 temporary hit points) that last for up to 1 hour. \n \nMaterial Component: A bastard sword or longsword, which is shattered against a stone while casting the spell. \nSword of Deception (Spell Compendium) \nEvocation [Force] \nLevel: Sor/Wiz 4 \nComponents: V, S, F \nCasting Time: 1 standard action \nRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) \nEffect: Pale green blade of force \nDuration: 1 round/level (D) \nSaving Throw: None \nSpell Resistance: Yes \n \nSwinging a miniature replica of a sword as if it were real, you bring into being a full-sized representation of your replica made \nentirely of pale green force. The blade immediately attacks your enemy. \n \nYou cause a blade of pale green force to appear and strike the opponent you designate, starting with one attack in \nthe round when the spell is cast and continuing each round thereafter. Though it makes regular melee attacks, the \nsword strikes as a spell, not a weapon (and so can strike incorporeal creatures). A sword of deception always strikes from \nyour direction, and so it can’t be used to flank with your attacks, but it could flank with your allies. \n \nThe blade attacks with a base attack bonus equal to your caster level, dealing 1d8 points of damage per hit and \nthreatening a critical hit on a roll of 19-20. In addition, each successful hit provides a -2 penalty on the target’s next \nsaving throw roll (-4 on a successful critical hit). This penalty is cumulative (to a maximum of -5 on a single creature) \nand lasts until the creature is forced to make a saving throw in a dangerous situation or receives the benefit of a remove \ncurse spell. \n \nEach round, a sword of deception continues to attack the previous round’s target unless you use a standard action to \nswitch it to a new target within range. In any round when the weapon switches targets, it gets one attack as a standard \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 42 \naction (as it does in the round when the spell is cast). The weapon can make multiple attack rolls against a single target \nwith a full attack action if its base attack bonus permits. A sword of deception cannot be attacked or damaged (though it \ncan be dispelled as any other spell). If an attacked creature has spell resistance, make a caster level check the first time \nthe sword attacks. If the check is successful, the sword can attack that creature with normal effect for the duration of \nthe spell. If not, the sword of deception is dispelled. If the target goes beyond the spell range or out of your sight, the sword \nof deception returns to you and hovers. \n \nFocus: A miniature replica of a sword and a set of loaded dice. \nZeal (Spell Compendium) \nAbjuration \nLevel: Blackguard 2, Pal 2 \nComponents: V, S \nCasting Time: 1 swift action \nRange: Personal \nTarget: You \nDuration: 1 round/level \n \nYou invoke a divine shield to protect you as you close with a chosen opponent. \n \nChoose a foe as you cast this spell. You gain a +4 deflection bonus to your AC against all attacks of opportunity from \nopponents other than the chosen foe. Also, you can move through enemies as if they were allies for the duration of the \nspell, as long as you finish your movement closer to your chosen foe than when you began it. \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 43 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #1 – LETTER FROM BETHANY GRENDA \nThis should be given to PCs who did play SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned. \n \nGreetings, \n \nYou may not remember me, but my name is Bethany Grenda. \nWe met recently in Hochoch while you were looking for a \ncertain antique goblet and while I was investigating business \nopportunities under the new government for some business \npeople in Gran March. I have some information about the \ngoblet that I might be willing to sell to you. Given that the \nKnights have shown an interest in the item, this information \nmay help you form a good relationship with the new \ngovernment. Meet me in Hochoch at the Boar’s Other Knuckle \nafter sundown on 6 Fireseek 596. You will not regret it. \n \nGood travels, \n \nBethany Grenda \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 44 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #2 – LETTER FROM BETHANY GRENDA \nThis should be given to PCs who did not play SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned. \n \nGreetings, \n \nA mutual acquaintance has given me your name as a \nreputable adventurer. My name is Bethany Grenda and I am \na negotiator for certain business people in Gran March \nlooking for business opportunities under the new government. \nI found out some information about an antique goblet that \napparently has the interests of the Knights. I do not have time \nfor long interrogations by the new government so I might be \nwilling to sell to you this information so that you can gain \nsome influence with the Knights. Meet me in Hochoch at the \nBoar’s Other Knuckle after sundown on 6 Fireseek 596. You \nwill not regret it. \n \nGood travels, \n \nBethany Grenda \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 45 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #3 – MAP OF HOCHOCH \n(Created by Jose Ortiz) \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 46 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #4 – KEY TO THE MAP OF HOCHOCH \n \nGates: \nG1 – River Gate \nG2 – Shalm’s Gate \nG3 – North Gate \nG4 – Oyt Gate \nLow Quarter: \nL1 – The Broken Drum Inn \nL2 – The Cracked Cup \nThe Commons: \nC1 – Iowerth Square \nC2 – The Boar’s Knuckle (condemned) \nC3 – The Boar’s Other Knuckle \nC4 – Company of Giant Slayers Hall \nC5 – The White Stag Inn \nMarket Ward: \nM1 – The Giant’s Hearth Inn \nM2 – Market Square (“Broken Wall”) \nOld City: \nO1 – Old Oak Tavern \nO2 – Bedwyn the Fat’s Estate \nO3 – Knights of the Watch Chapterhouse \nO4 – Sierra Blackblade’s Estate \nHilltop: \nH1 – Caer Dwr Gwyldy (Waterwatch Castle) \nH2 – Trevol Llys (Town Hall) \nH3 – Temple of Pelor \nH4 – Temple of St. Cuthbert \nH5 – Temple of Allitur \nH6 – Temple of Ehlonna \nH7 – Wayfarer’s Union House \nH8 – The Brenin’s Signet Inn \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 47 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #5 – GRENDA’S PAPER \n \n \nOld container, new container, \n \n \nOld container lost to old friends, \n \n \nNew container lost to unknown, \n \n \nContainers may be spoiled or may be ripe. \n \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 48 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #6 – GRENDA’S PAPER (TRANSLATED) \n \n \nOld container, new container, \n(This mentions two containers .) \n \nOld container lost to old friends, \n(The first container was stolen by old enemies.) \n \nNew container lost to unknown, \n(The second was stolen by someone else.) \n \nContainers may be spoiled or may be ripe. \n(Both containers may be evil but valuable.) \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 49 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #7 – CORPORATION NOTE, MEMBERS ONLY \n \n \nBethany Grenda, a member of our family, was killed because she was \ninvolved in our rivals’ business. She was following up on the goblet \nthat our ex-members stole from our rivals, which has put us at odds \nwith them. Because of this, we think the murders are connected with \nthe goblet. Find out what you can as we are on uncertain ground here. \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 50 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #8 – MYSTERIOUS NOTE \n \n \nWe did not kill anyone. \nWe had nothing to do with either the goblet or the urn. \nWe believe them to be connected. \nWe believe them to be dangerous. \nFind them with our blessing. \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 51 \nPLAYER HANDOUT #9 – RHYME OF THE OCCLUDED TIME \n(Given to the party by the Knights in Hochoch) \n \nOccluded time’s thunder; \nA Cup o’erturned; \nFlesh torn asunder; \nA book unburned; \nThree to One’s wonder; \nDark whisperer returned. \n \n \n\nSHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder \n \nPage 52 \nCRITICAL EVENT SUMMARY: SHE6-01 FLESH TORN ASUNDER \nFor use only before April 1, 2006. Email answers to aeontrin@aol.com. \n1. Did anyone die from the book trap in Encounter 1? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nYes \n \nNo \n \nIf so, did any city guards or Knights of the Watch NPCs die as a result? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nYes \n \nNo \n \n2. \nDid the party fight the Watcher Branwen and her city guard? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nYes \n \nNo \n \nIf so, did they kill any NPCs in the fight? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nYes \n \nNo \n \n3. \nDid the party defeat the undead assassin Nycos Dephos? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nYes \n \nNo \n \nHow much did the party find out from Nycos Dephos before the combat ended? \n \n \n \n4. \nDid the party find out that the Aspect of Sight was trying to control the Midnight Ravens’ interests in Hochoch? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nYes \n \nNo \n \n5. \nDid the party contact any organizations about the results of this adventure? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nYes \n \nNo \n \nIf so, who did they contact and what did they tell them? \n \n \n \n6. \nDid the party have fun with this adventure? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nYes \n \nNo \n \n7. \nFor players from Geoff and Gran March only: was the city of Hochoch and its citizens represented accurately and \nhow can their descriptions be improved for future adventures? \n \n \n \nNotes: (Add anything that happened that might be considered out of the ordinary – Strange occurrences, results that \nmay not fit the above, etc): \n"},"SOURCE":{"kind":"string","value":"textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Meta-Region Sheldomar Valley/596/Normal Scenarios/SHE6-01 - Flesh Torn Asunder (APL 6-14)/SHE6-01 - Flesh Torn Asunder.pdf"}}}],"truncated":false,"partial":false},"paginationData":{"pageIndex":1,"numItemsPerPage":100,"numTotalItems":49240,"offset":100,"length":100}},"jwt":"eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSJ9.eyJyZWFkIjp0cnVlLCJwZXJtaXNzaW9ucyI6eyJyZXBvLmNvbnRlbnQucmVhZCI6dHJ1ZX0sImlhdCI6MTc0MjIxODUzNCwic3ViIjoiL2RhdGFzZXRzL21hcmlhbm5hMTMvdmF1bHRfdGV4dCIsImV4cCI6MTc0MjIyMjEzNCwiaXNzIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9odWdnaW5nZmFjZS5jbyJ9.2kCSx0scIn3LTHTqrHs4vNmIttp2o4PlC3oRLondeMGBJZy8FQzXE3YcjQ1E0-F2eKhegsva2Q0-ytUMiWZaAg","displayUrls":true},"discussionsStats":{"closed":0,"open":0,"total":0},"fullWidth":true,"hasGatedAccess":true,"hasFullAccess":true,"isEmbedded":false}">
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1
TRAVEL & EQUIPMENT
Land Travel
1 day of travel on foot = 20 miles
1 day of travel on horseback = 30 miles
Difficult terrain = halve all distances
Table 5A : Daily Sea Weather
D10
Weather Conditions
1-2 ……………… Dead Calm
3-7 ……………… Good Breeze
8-9 ……………… Strong Gale
10 ………………. Storm !
Table 5B : Sailing Table
Conditions
Travel per day
Dead Calm
No movement
Good Breeze 30 miles
Strong Gale
45 miles
Storm *
2d6 x 10 miles
Rowing Speed * 20 miles / day
* Galleys cannot row in a Storm
Table 1D : Encumbrance Values
Item
Enc
Dagger
0
Sword
1
Barbarian Weapon
2
Spear
2
Javelin
2
Bow
1
Quiver
1
Sling
0
Shield
2
Helmet
1
Breastplate
3
Bag of 100 coins
1
Harp
2
Person
Enc total
Other items
0-3 *
* determined by the Maze Master
Standard Price List
Melee Weapons
Dagger……………………………………..15 sp
Mace…………………………………..……30 sp
Axe………………………………………….30 sp
Spear………………………………….……30 sp
Sword……………………………………….60 sp
Missile Weapons
Bow…………….…….……………………...40 sp
Javelin……………….………………………30 sp
Sling…………………………………………..5 sp
Arrows (six)…………………………………..6 sp
Slingshot (ten)………………………............2 sp
Armor
Helmet………………………………………75 sp
Breastplate…………………………..........150 sp
Shield………………………………….........75 sp
Travel & Expeditions
Rowing boat………………………………….3 gc
Small sailing ship…………………………..30 gc
Merchant ship…………...……………...…150 gc
Warship / galley……………………………300 gc
Horse………………………….………………6 gc
Mule………………………….………………..1 gc
Staff…………………… ……………………..5 sp
Flask of oil…………………………………..10 sp
Torch…………………………………….……2 sp
Flint & tinder………………………………….5 sp
Rope (30 feet)………………………………15 sp
Bedroll……………………………………….25 sp
Rations (one day)………………..…………..2 sp
Waterskin……………………………………..2 sp
Food & Lodging
Night’s lodging…………………..……….2-10 sp*
One meal (including wine)………………..2-5 sp*
Jug of wine…………………………………1-3 sp*
* prices vary with quality
Table 5C : NPC Reactions
Total
NPC Reaction
5 or less
Hostile
6 to 8
Wary
9 to 13
Neutral
14 to 16
Trustful
17 or more
Friendly
2
CHARACTERS & COMBAT
Table 1C : Class Levels
Warriors
Glory
Level Renown
0 to 999
1
Local Hero
1000 to 1999
2
Favored Hero
2000 to 3999 3
Celebrated Hero
4000 to 6999
4
Famous Hero
7000 to 9999
5
Illustrious Hero
10 000+
6
Legendary Hero
Magicians
Wisdom
Level Insight
0 to 999
1
Novice Adept
1000 to 1999
2
Initiate Adept
2000 to 3999 3
Wise Adept
4000 to 6999
4
Sage Adept
7000 to 9999
5
Venerable Adept
10 000+
6
Supreme Adept
Specialists
Experience
Level Competence
0 to 999
1
Amateur
1000 to 1999
2
Competent
2000 to 3999 3
Superior
4000 to 6999
4
Expert
7000 to 9999
5
Master
10 000+
6
Extraordinaire
Table 1B : Attribute Scores
Score
Description
Mod
1-2
Abysmal
-4
3-4
Pathetic
-3
5-6
Inferior
-2
7-8
Poor
-1
9-12
Average
0
13-14
Good
+1
15-16
Superior
+2
17-18
Exceptional
+3
19-20
Extraordinary
+4
Table 3A : Physical Decrepitude
D6
Attribute Loss
1-2
Lose 1pt of Might.
3-4
Lose 1pt of Skill.
5-6
Lose 1pt of Grace.
Battle Round
1 battle round = 6 seconds
1) Decision Phase.
2) Missile Phase.
3) Movement Phase.
4) Melee Phase.
Surprised : Unable to attack, no defense bonus
from shield or special ability. Lasts one battle round.
Movement : Standard 60’, Encumbered 40’, Heavily
Encumbered 20’. Double movement rate if using full
movement (no other action possible). Cut in half if
moving on difficult ground.
Melee Combat
Resolving Attacks
Roll = 1D20 + Melee mod + other modifiers.
Target number = Target’s Defense Class (EDC)
Weapon of Choice : Roll two D20s for attack and
keep the better result.
Shield & Armor
Shield, helmet or breastplate = +2 EDC each.
Facing
Only one attack per character per battle round.
Shield does not protect against rear attacks.
Retreat
Disengage : A character may only disengage from
combat at the end of a battle round, if all his
opponents have failed their attack roll against him.
Retreat : First disengage, then forfeit all attacks and
other actions, moving at x2 movement allowance.
Weapon Damage
Weapons have a basic damage roll of 1D6.
Daggers only do 1D6 damage when used for sneak
attacks; in normal melee combat, damage is 1D3.
3
Missile Combat
Resolving Attacks
As for Melee attacks; use Missile modifier instead.
Shields only apply if actively used as cover.
Range & Visibility
Javelin………………………….…...(Might x 10) feet
Sling…………………………………..……….150 feet
Bow……………………..………….………….300 feet
Short range = up to (range / 5)
Long range = up to (range x 2)
Firing at short range…………………….…………+2
Firing at long range……………………………..….-2
Poor visibility (mist, smoke etc)……………….….-2
Very poor visibility (darkness)…………………....-4
Moving target…………………………………..……-2
Using tactical movement………………….………-2
All modifiers are cumulative.
Special Melee Tactics
Charge Into Battle : Might 13+, run for 30’ or more.
Add Might mod to Initiative and Melee for first round.
Hold Back / Weapon Parry : Skill 13+. Forfeits
attacks but adds Skill mod to melee Defense Class.
Spearmen automatically get this without forfeiting
attacks when fighting with spear and shield.
Shield Wall : Two Spearmen or more. +2 to EDC vs
all attacks. Can be combined with collective Charge.
Subterfuge : Wits 13+. Forfeit attacks for one round
of observation; next round, add Wits mod to Melee.
Two Weapons : Skill 13+. +1 to Melee if second
weapon is dagger. If Might also 13+, can use two
swords or similar weapons for a Melee bonus of +2.
Bashing : Successful attack = no damage but
opponent knocked down (must spend one full round
getting up, -4 to melee EDC while prone). +2 attack
bonus with shield ; can be combined with Charge.
Cannot be used vs Large or Gigantic creatures
Disarming : Sword only, Skill 13+. Attack roll is not
made vs opponent’s EDC but vs (20 + opponent’s
Melee). If successful : no damage but opponent
disarmed. Picking up a dropped weapon : same
effects as prone (-4 to melee EDC, no attacks).
Cannot be used vs Large or Gigantic opponents.
Double Attack : Melee mod of +4 or more. Attacker
makes two separate rolls vs different targets at half
Melee mod (round down). Can be combined with
Charge (both rolls) or Shield Bashing (one roll only).
Unarmed Combat
Resolved at the end of Melee, after all other attacks.
Pugilism : Cannot be used vs Beasts or Monsters.
Subdual damage = 1D3 + Might modifier.
Subdual Damage : Increasing total. If this exceeds
current Hits Total = KO; all subsequent attacks inflict
real damage. Physical Vigor roll (10) after each
minute to wake up, reducing subdual damage total
by 1D6. Each hour of rest removes (level) subdual
Hits (doubled for warriors).
Wrestling : Successful attack = no damage but
opponent grappled; cannot act and can only try to
break free once per round : roll 1D20 + Melee vs a
target number equal to grappler’s Might.
Damage & Injury
Taking Wounds
Damage is taken off the target’s Hits Total.
2 Hits or less = Risk of permanent injury. After the
adventure, make Physical Vigor saving roll (target
number 10). Success = Normal recovery. Failure =
Roll 1D6 on the Physical Decrepitude table.
0 Hit or less (creatures & minor NPCs) = death
0 Hit or less (characters) = Make Physical Vigor
saving roll (target number 10). Failure = dead.
Success (10+) = incapacitated; will die if receiving 1
Hit of damage or more from a coup de grace. 20+ =
will still die if 1 Hit is taken but can continue to fight
until the end of combat. Incapacitated afterwards.
Healing & Recovery
1 week of complete rest = Physical Vigor roll (target
number 10). Success = Recovers 1D6 + level Hits.
Special Situations
Close Quarters : Halve Initiative if using spears or
barbarian weapons; forbids all special melee tactics.
Mounted Combat : +4 Melee bonus vs opponents
on foot (if Medium-sized, Gigantic or Large 0, Small
-2, Tiny -4). When Charging, extra +2 to Initiative
and Melee and extra trample vs Medium-sized (or
smaller) foe : Danger Evasion roll (15) or 1D6 extra
damage. If the mount is hit for 4+ Hits, rider must
roll Danger Evasion (15) or fall for 1D6 damage.
Sneak Attacks : Requires stealth. Sword, barbarian
weapon or dagger. +4 Melee bonus and opponent
surprised. Damage 1D6 for all weapons, doubled if
attack roll beats Defense Class by 10+.
4
Critical Hits & Fumbles (Optional)
Critical Hit : Player’s roll beats EDC by 10+.
Fumble : Natural attack roll of 1, unless Luck 13+.
Melee Critical Hits
1-4 = Stunned !
Opponent takes normal damage and is -2 to attack
and EDC next round.
5-8 = Dazed !
Opponent takes normal damage and is -4 to attack
and EDC next round.
9-12 = Knocked Down !
Opponent takes normal damage and is knocked
down and must spend a round getting back up.
Prone characters suffer a -4 penalty to EDC.
13-14 = Armor Strap Cut !
Opponent takes normal damage and loses a
randomly chosen piece of armor. If the opponent
wears no armor, roll an extra D6 for damage.
15-16 = Weapon/Shield Broken !
Opponent’s weapon is broken – unless he has a
shield, in which case the shield is rendered useless.
Opponent also takes normal damage. If he has no
weapon, roll an extra D6 for damage.
17-18 = Grievous Wound !
Roll an extra D6 for damage.
19 = Maimed !
Opponent takes 2 extra dice of damage and loses a
randomly chosen limb.
20 = Instant Kill !
Attacker beheads (or otherwise instantly kills) his
opponent (even if multiple-headed).
Missile Critical Hits
1-5 = Stunned !
Opponent takes normal damage and is -2 to attack
and EDC next round.
6-10 = Dazed !
Opponent takes normal damage and is -4 to attack
and EDC next round.
11-16 = Knocked Down !
Opponent takes normal damage and is knocked
down (-4 melee EDC + one round to get back up).
17-18 = Grievous Wound !
Roll an extra D6 for damage.
19 = Hit Vital Spot !
Opponent takes 2 extra dice of damage and loses a
randomly chosen limb.
20 = Instant Kill !
Target shot between the eyes, through the heart or
other instantly fatal wound.
Melee Fumbles
1 = Clumsy Move.
Embarrassing, but no extra effect.
2-5 = Weapon Arm Numb / Pull Muscle !
Attacker is at -2 to attack and EDC next round.
6-10 = Lose Balance !
Attacker is at -4 to attack and EDC next round.
11-13 = Trip/Fall !
Attacker falls to the ground and must spend a
round getting back up. Prone characters suffer a
penalty of -4 to their EDC in melee.
14-15 = Armor Strap Breaks !
Attacker loses a randomly chosen piece of armor.
If this is impossible, treat as Trip/Fall.
16-17 = Drop Weapon !
Attacker’s weapon flies 2D6 feet in a random
direction. If unarmed, treat as Trip/Fall.
18 = Weapon Broken !
Attacker’s weapon shatters. Magical weapons
are automatically immune to this effect. If the
attacker has no weapon, treat as Trip/Fall.
19 = Hit Friend !
If the attacker has an ally within melee reach, he
accidentally hurts him for 1D6 damage. If no ally
is within reach, the attacker hits himself as below.
20 = Hurt Self !
Attacker hits himself with his weapon (1D6 Hits).
Missile Fumbles
1 = Clumsy Move.
Embarrassing, but no extra effect.
2-4 = Vision Impaired !
Attacker is at -2 to Missile attack next round.
5-8 = Vision Blocked !
Attacker is at -4 to Missile attack next round.
9-10 = Weapon Arm Numb / Pull Muscle !
Attacker is at -2 to attack and EDC next round.
11-12 = Lose Balance !
Attacker is at -4 to attack and EDC next round.
13 = Armor Strap Breaks !
Attacker loses a randomly chosen piece of armor.
If this is impossible, treat as Lose Balance.
14 = Weapon Broken !
Attacker’s weapon breaks or becomes useless.
Magical weapons are immune to this effect.
15-19 = Hit Friend !
If the attacker has an ally within weapon range,
he accidentally hits him for 1D6 damage.
Otherwise, the attacker hits himself as below.
20 = Hurt Self !
Attacker hits himself for 1D6 damage.
| textdata/thevault/Mazes & Minotaurs (osr) [multi]/1st edition (1972)/Mazes & Minotaurs 1e - Supplement Game Shield.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed
by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of Wizards of the
Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20.
This is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and
Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the
United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written
permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely
coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc and the adventure author or authors.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
For questions specific to this document and your region please e-mail your triad point of contact (POC) at [email protected]. For LIVING GREYHAWK
campaign questions email [email protected].
BIS5-01
That’s Rhomstaff!
A One-Round D&D® LIVING GREYHAWKTM
Bissel Regional Adventure
Version 1.1
by Jay Babcock
Circle Reviewer: Steven Conforti
Playtesters: Crystal Babcock, Phil Bonder, Willi Burger, Art Lobdell, Jon Machnicz, Jon Sedich, Mary Toms, Matt Toms
The undead plague from within the Barony of Rhomstaff has deeply affected the lives of many in the March. Many have
suffered and perished at the hands of Evard’s minions, and entire generations have been forever scarred … now that’s
entertainment! Can you uncover the evil plot? Can you save the day? Can you think of a word that rhymes with ‘Evard’,
finish the closing number, and bring the house down? A Bissel regional adventure for inquisitive PCs of APLs 2-12.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 1
RPGA SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide,
ongoing D&D campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—
you must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event
could be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
group of friends meeting at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the table Dungeon
Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all
the time in the cases of home events) the senior
gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have to be a
HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not
the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game,
and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2006.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit
the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
PLAYERS READ NO FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than
this section, you’ll know too much about its challenges,
which kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this
point makes you ineligible to do so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of
the following D&D books: Player’s Handbook, Dungeon
Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics provides
player information for you to paraphrase or read aloud
when
appropriate.
Sidebars
contain
important
information for you, including special instruction on
running the adventure. Information on nonplayer
characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated
form in the adventure text. Full information on NPCs
and monsters are given in the Appendices.
Along with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA Table
Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as part of
an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in this
sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll also
find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportionate to the modified average character level of
the PCs participating in the adventure. To determine this
modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps
below:
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely dogs trained for war), other than
those brought by virtue of a class ability (such as
animal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or
the warhorse of a character with the Mounted
Combat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine the
number of levels you add to the sum of step one. Add
each character’s animals separately. A single PC may
only bring four or fewer animals of this type, and
animals with different CRs are added separately.
3.
Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the
number of characters playing in the adventure.
Round up to the nearest whole number.
4.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of
challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-
numbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on
an odd number, ask them before the adventure begins
whether they would like to play a harder or easier
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience and gold a
PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player
character is three character levels or more either higher
or lower than the APL at which this adventure is being
played, that character receives only one-half of the
experience points and gold for the adventure. This
simulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged
as much as normal or relied on help by higher-level
characters to reach the objectives.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 2
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher
than the highest APL supported by the adventure may
not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL
2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may find the
challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the
following to these groups to help increase their chances
of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
2.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them.
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard one-round Regional adventure, set in
Bissel. Characters native to Bissel pay one Time Unit per
round, all others pay two Time Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12gp per Time
Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50gp per Time Unit. Luxury
Upkeep costs 100gp per Time Unit. Characters that fail to
pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain temporary ability
damage until the next adventure, must buy new spell
component pouches and healer’s kits, and may suffer
other in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-game
benefits) as may be detailed in this adventure.
A character who does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties by
living off the wild. If the character possesses four or
more ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a Survival
check (DC 20), the character will heal temporary ability
damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, may
refill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may
restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the character has at
least four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). The player is
allowed to Take 10 on this roll.
More information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can
be found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of
Chapter 3 of the LIVING GREYHAWK Campaign Sourcebook.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
The undead plague from within the Barony of Rhomstaff
has deeply affected the lives of many in the March. Many
have suffered and perished at the hands of Evard’s
minions, and entire generations have been forever
scarred … now that’s entertainment!
Recent events in the March have left morale very
low amongst her citizens. Recognizing this, the Bardic
Circle, Baron Darius Besselar, and several local nobles
have commissioned a new theater in the capital township
of Pellak, to serve as a source of entertainment and
distraction for the discontented populace. Nearly
completed, the Pellak Grand is intended to be the largest
and best-appointed theater in the Sheldomar Valley. And
what better way to show off the new landmark and boost
morale, than with a play about national heroes?
Estander the playwright has written a musical about
the evils of Evard and his minions, and the heroic
adventurers that have stood against them. He quickly
won favor with the sponsoring nobles, and was given
funding to complete his work. Entitled ‘That’s
Rhomstaff!’, it was due to premiere two weeks ago, in
Pellak.
Beneath the surface, things are fairly insidious.
While researching his role in the play, the lead actor,
Nicholar, naively ventured into Rhomstaff. He came
looking for character inspiration, but all he found was
domination by Evard’s nefarious captains. He was
outfitted with an arsenal of dark powers, and given one
command: “Cause chaos in the March of Bissel.”
Unfortunately for the forces of evil, the ritual of
domination corrupted Nicholar’s will, but left his mind
intact. The self-centered actor could think of no better
way to damage the March, than to keep a monumental
theatrical production like ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’ from ever
seeing an audience.
The Pellak Grand Theater, amidst preparations for
the play, is the perfect cover for Nicholar’s shenanigans.
His undead servants can roam freely... who would suspect
that those zombies aren’t really actors in costume? And
the stagehand he ‘recruited’ has every excuse to wander
the theater.
So far, Nicholar’s sabotage has delayed the opening
of ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’ twice, without casting any
suspicion on him. Of course, the worst he can do is ruin
the play … at least, until a greater opportunity arises …
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
The PCs respond to an advertisement for work. The
address leads to the new Pellak theater and Estander, the
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect on
APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 3
playwright and director behind the theater’s first
production, ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’.
Estander suspects that the production’s mishaps
have been more than just bad luck. He hires the PCs to
keep the production on course.
The PCs are given a tour of the new theater and may
investigate the two previous mishaps. Clues at the scene
point to deliberate sabotage and an inside player. They
may also interview key members of the production crew.
On day two, two more acts of sabotage are
perpetrated, giving the PCs direct information about the
saboteur.
On day three, the worst mishap befalls the
production. A giant, animated prop attacks the crew, and
the PCs are forced to disable it.
With such major damage to the play, Estander
solemnly announces that the production will be
cancelled. Before the PCs can lament, however, a
messenger arrives with great news: Saralind, the Regent
of the March herself, will be backing the production and
attending opening night. Excitement pours through the
crew, and efforts to get underway are redoubled.
Nicholar now has an opportunity. Rather than
sabotaging ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’ again, he begins planning
an assassination attempt for opening night.
Opening night arrives without further incident.
During the first musical numbers, the PCs notice
Nicholar’s henchman messing around. Chase is given
throughout the theater, ending in the lead actor’s
dressing room. Evidence there directly points to the plot
and the true villain.
The PCs make it back to the stage for the closing
number and confront Nicholar in a final dramatic battle.
Introduction: This Looks Like the Place
The PCs have learned of a job opportunity in Pellak.
They show up at the given address, and it appears to be a
nondescript warehouse. People bustle about, but no one
has the time to stop and point the PCs in a direction.
Encounter 1: Sheep in Wolves Clothing
The PCs hear terrified screams from nearby.
Investigating, they find several ghoulish creatures
crouched over fallen people.
The PCs likely attempt to intervene, and it is quickly
revealed that the ‘ghouls’ are actors, and that the
‘warehouse’ is the back end of the new Pellak Grand
Theater.
Encounter 2: Evard, Regard, Discard...
The party is led to the Producer’s office. He tells
them about the disturbances that have delayed the
opening of the play, and offers to hire the PCs to protect
the production from further harm. He warns them that
the play is dangerously close to being cancelled.
Encounter 3: A Hint of Treachery
Encounter 4: Burning Down the House
In these two encounters, the PCs investigate the
scenes of the previous two disturbances. A few clues
indicate deliberate sabotage, and that the perpetrator had
inside knowledge of the production.
Encounter 5: The Unusual Suspects
The PCs may decide to interview key members of
the production. This will highlight several of the cast and
crew members as suspects. These encounters can occur
on any day of the adventure.
Encounter 6: No News Is Good News
On day two, two new acts of sabotage are reported.
Encounter 7: A Little Light Humor
Encounter 8: Silent But Deadly
In these two encounters, the PCs investigate the
scenes of the two new disturbances. A few clues give
direct information about the culprit. These encounters
can occur on any day of the adventure, after the first
night has passed.
Encounter 9: Large and In Charge
On day three, the PCs watch as the production crew
tests a giant animated prop. In the middle of the test,
control of the prop is wrenched from the crew and it
begins to attack. PCs have to battle it and disable it. Clues
at the scene indicate that the same culprit is behind the
attack.
Encounter 10: Downs and Ups
The Producer tells the PCs, cast, and crew that the
production will have to be cancelled. Midway through
his speech, he is interrupted by a page with incredible
news – Saralind, the Regent of the March plans to back
the production herself, and will be attending on opening
night.
A successful opening night in front of the Regent
would make the production an instant success. Everyone
doubles their efforts to get the show ready in time. The
villain secretly has a new goal - assassination of the
Regent.
Encounter 11: I Spy, With My Little Eye
On day four, the PCs may encounter a member of
the Mist Chameleon organization, snooping around the
balcony reserved for Saralind. He can provide some
tidbits about the Regent.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 4
Encounter 12: Live, From Pellak, It’s Opening
Night
Day five is opening night of the play, and the theater
is packed. The play is progressing normally, when the
PCs spot a crew member (matching the description from
the clues they’ve uncovered) sabotaging part of the stage.
When they try to intervene, he flees.
A chase ensues throughout the theater, ending in
the lead actor’s dressing room. The henchman is freed of
the domination that controlled him and the lead actor is
revealed as the villain.
Encounter 13: Ready For My Close Up
The PCs arrive around the stage just as the final
number begins. The lead actor and his minions are
preparing to assassinate Saralind, and no one in the
crowd realizes anything is amiss. PCs must stop the
villain in a final battle.
Conclusion
The plot foiled, the cast finishes the closing number.
Depending on how flashy and dramatic the final battle is,
the crowd either rewards the PCs with either a round of
applause or a standing ovation. They gain the gratitude of
the Regent, and may find themselves remembered as
great actors.
INTRODUCTION: THIS LOOKS
LIKE THE PLACE
The introduction takes place at the north facade and
backstage foyer, locations A and B on DM Aid – Map #1 –
The Pellak Grand Theater.
The adventure begins with the PCs responding to an
advertisement for work:
“Excuse me! EXCUSE me! Coming through!”
Two burly men hurry past you, a pallet of cloth
carried between them. Just as with everyone else in
this bustling warehouse, they ignore you as they go
about their tasks.
You’re sure this is the right place. ‘Seasoned
Heroes needed For the Good of the March’, the
advertisement read. ‘Apply in person to 13
Wayfinder Lane, Pellak’. Following the directions,
you reached your destination: a large, unmarked
building, similar to any other warehouse in this end
of town, but noticeably of newer construction.
Proceeding inside, you’ve run into a dead end.
People bustle about, but no one seems willing to
stop and point you in a direction.
Other
adventurers
mill
about,
other
respondents to the advertisement, apparently just as
lost. You are afforded the opportunity to speak with
them, and it comes as a welcome contrast to the rest
of the folk around here.
The PCs now have the opportunity to introduce
themselves to each other. Once they have done so,
proceed to Encounter 1.
ENCOUNTER 1: SHEEP IN
WOLVES CLOTHING
This encounter takes place on the stage, location D on
DM Aid – Map #1 – The Pellak Grand Theater.
Suddenly, a terrible noise rips through the air. A
scream of sheer terror comes from somewhere
nearby.
If the PCs look for the source of the scream,
continue on:
Rounding a corner, you find the source of the
scream. Several ghoulish creatures are crouched
over the bodies of fallen people. One of them moves,
preparing to finish off one of the victims. Others
stand nearby, helplessly watching the slaughter
unfold.
Treat this as if it was a real combat - ask the PCs for
initiative rolls, allow them to make a fake Knowledge
(religion) check to falsely identify them as zombies, etc.
As soon as the PCs do something offensive, read the
following:
Suddenly, one of the ghouls throws up its hands
to ward you off. “Whoa! WHOA! What are you
doing?” One of the ‘victims’ opens her eyes, and
looks around in confusion. “That’s not in the script
…”
A voice speaks up out of the crowd. “Stop! Stop!
Out of the way...” An older human man pushes his
way forward, and turns to address you. “What do you
THINK you’re doing? Who is your supervisor?”
Several of the ghoul forms before you waver and
shift, and moments later appear to be no different
than the other humans around you.
The ‘ghouls’ and ‘victims’ were a group of actors
rehearsing, and the stage manager is really upset at being
interrupted. When the PCs mention the advertisement,
continue on:
When you mention the request for help, a
mixed look of recognition and disgust crosses the
manager’s face.
“Oh, you’re here to see Estander.” He looks over
at the remaining ghoul. “William, can you take them
up to see the boss?”
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 5
“Yeah, no problem.” The ghoul waves you on,
and starts off towards a large curtain that forms one
of the walls of this chamber.
Passing through the curtain, you find yourself
on a large, ornate stage. Facing you are rows upon
rows of comfortable, gilded seats. Above, many
private balconies loom ominously. You have found
your way into a rather well appointed theater.
William notices your looks of surprise. “Yes,
isn’t it impressive? When we open the show, the
Pellak Grand will be the largest theater in Bissel.”
He looks visibly pleased. “Maybe even the greatest
anywhere!”
He leads you to the front of the theater, through
several passages, and through a well-disguised door.
This section of the theater is noticeably plain, just
like the backstage areas you came from.
If the PCs wish, they can make a Sense Motive check
against the manager (DC 10). Success indicates that they
notice that he is all too happy to get rid of William. The
young actor has attention problems, and the manager was
not interested in dealing with him any longer.
All APLs
� William Robann: Male human Com1 (Perform
(act) +6); AL NG.
Proceed to Encounter 2.
ENCOUNTER 2: EVARD,
REGARD, DISCARD …
This encounter takes place in the Producer’s office,
location L on DM Aid – Map #1 – The Pellak Grand Theater.
You are led to a door at the end of a hallway. A
small brass plaque denotes this as the Producer’s
office. William knocks, and a deep voice bids you
enter. The ghoulish actor opens the door for you, but
remains outside.
The Producer’s office is comfortably furnished,
but the most notable features are the piles of
paperwork and notes covering every surface.
A young man with Flan features sits at the desk,
perched over a document. He mutters to himself.
“… came to the … staff … Evard’s … hand … hmm
…”
Suddenly, the man looks up at you. “Quick, I
need a line that rhymes with ‘To stand against Lord
Evard’s hand.’ Something about heroes and valor.
I’ve been stuck for days …” He waits anxiously for
your response.
This is Estander. He waits for the PCs to give him an
appropriate rhyme. Be sure to write down what the PCs
come up with, as it will come up in Encounter 12. If they
wish to know the full context, read them this:
“But strong of heart did rally on …
To stand against Lord Evard’s hand …
To darkest Rypthorn marched …
[Line PCs come up with]”
If they come up with something decent, read this
text:
“Oh, I like that!” The man quickly scribbles
something down on the document before him.
“The muse flows within you, I see. Now, what
can I do for you?”
If the PCs try to argue that this is a waste of time
(Intimidate, DC 18) or honestly can’t come up with
something appropriate, read the following, instead:
The man sighs. “Well, I guess something will
come to me.” He crumples up the document before
him, and tosses it into a nearby trash bin.
“So, what do you need?”
If the PCs mention the advertisement, read the
following:
The man looks pleased. “Ahh, I was not
expecting results so quickly. Wonderful!”
“Where are my manners? I am Estander
Thomason. I posted that advertisement. Allow me to
start at the beginning...”
“The Bardic Circle has intended to build a
theater in Pellak for years, but until recently, the
cost was prohibitive.”
“Last year, a number of local... well, let us call
them wealthy philanthropists... pledged the funding
needed to commission the construction of this
theater. It was believed that it would be a focal
point, bringing together the people of Pellak. It
would be a great step towards restoring our cultural
identity. Culture is one of the first things to suffer
during a war, you know...”
“Anyhow, it was decided that the theater should
open with a bang... and that’s when I had it! The
greatest idea ever!” He leaps to his feet with an
unearthly enthusiasm. “Everyone hears about Evard,
and the undead, and all the suffering. But no one
hears about the other side, about the men and
women that fought for the good of the people, for
Bissel!”
“And so was born my finest work...” He pauses
dramatically. “That’s Rhomstaff!”
“The Board of Directors quickly agreed with my
vision. They decided that it would be a perfect
opportunity to lift the spirits of our people, by
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 6
celebrating
our
triumphs.
I
got
to
work
immediately.”
“Now, we stand on the verge of the greatest
theatrical success, ever.” He pauses, and begins to
fidget nervously. “Except for a minor problem.”
“You see, ever since we began working on the
production, we’ve had questionable luck. Several
mishaps have occurred, and we’ve lost valuable time
and money. Our opening has been delayed twice
now.”
“We’re five days from opening. We can’t afford
another accident. In fact, any more problems would
jeopardize the entire show. We would have to cancel
the...”
He swallows hard, and continues. “We can’t
afford any more setbacks. I’d like to hire you to
protect my show from further harm.”
He lowers his voice. “I’d also be interested in
having you look into the problems we’ve had. I’m
not entirely convinced that they’ve been accidents...”
Estander can relate the following information, if
questioned:
•
Estander will pay 100 gold coins per PC, upon the
successful opening of the play.
•
The latest two mishaps have not been ‘cleaned up’
yet and are available for the PCs to investigate.
•
Three days ago, a large scenery panel fell from the
backstage rigging, and shattered. A stage hand was
struck, and was seriously injured.
•
Yesterday, a storeroom full of costumes caught fire.
Fortunately, many of the costumes usually stored
there were absent at the time, and survived.
•
Earlier mishaps included props being broken or
going missing, posts of erroneous schedule changes,
and odd changes to script drafts.
When the PCs are finished talking with Estander,
give them Player Handout #1: The Pellak Grand Theater Map,
and read the following:
“Well then, if we are in agreement, I will get you
started on your way.” He rifles through a desk
drawer for a moment, before pulling out what looks
to be design plans for the theater.
Rising, he walks to the door, and opens it.
Standing on the other side is [name of toughest looking
PC], or at least someone that looks like him. There is
a moment of stunned silence.
“Oh, um... sorry...” says the person at the door.
His image shifts, and soon he appears to be a young
Oeridian man.
Estander shakes his head. “William, will you
please show these folks around? They will be
helping us get back on track.”
With that, the playwright returns to his
paperwork.
The PCs have several options at this point. They may
investigate the broken scenery panel (Encounter 3) or the
remains of the burnt costume storage room (Encounter
4) or question members of the cast and crew (Encounter
5).
All APLs
� Estander Thomason: Male human Brd10 (Bluff
+19, Diplomacy +8, Perform (act) +13, Sense Motive
+15); AL NG.
ENCOUNTER 3: A HINT OF
TREACHERY
This encounter occurs if the PCs decide to investigate the
first act of sabotage, a ruined scenery panel. This
encounter can occur on any day, but most likely will
occur on Day 1.
This encounter takes place in the scenery storage
room, location U on DM Aid – Map #1 – The Pellak Grand
Theater.
William pushes open a pair of wide double
doors, and leads you into a dark and dusty room.
You stop in your tracks at the scene before you… a
portal leads out onto a barren plain, and dark stone
mountains rise in the distance.
A few seconds later, your eyes adjust to the dim
light, and you realize that the scene is just an
illusion, emanating from a large backdrop.
William’s voice breaks the silence. “It’s over
here. What’s left of it, at least…” Your guide points
to the back wall of the room. Another scenery panel,
this one vividly depicting a wide battlefield and
blood soaked bodies, is leaned against the wall. A
large crack runs up the middle, and a large chunk of
the lower right corner is broken off entirely.
William can relate the following information about
this mishap, if asked:
•
This piece of scenery was supposed to be used
during the big battle scene.
•
These scenery panels are moved about and
manipulated through the use of ropes and pulleys
above the stage.
•
During a rehearsal three days before the PCs were
hired, this panel was being lifted off of the stage,
when it fell about fifteen feet. The panel was severely
damaged by the fall.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 7
•
A stage hand was struck a glancing blow by the
falling panel, and it broke his arm. He still has not
returned to work.
•
Barton, the Lead Stage Manager, could probably tell
them more. He is much more familiar with their
intricate workings.
If the PCs think to move the scenery panel, they can
see a pulley attached to one corner, and a similar
mounting on the adjacent corner, where another pulley
was attached. If an investigating PC makes a successful
Disable Device (DC 18) or Knowledge (architecture and
engineering) (DC 22) check, he can tell that the pulleys
were weakened in such a way that they would break after
a bit of heavy use, but would appear to be in fine
condition. He can also tell that such weakening could not
likely happen accidentally.
If the PCs decide to track down Barton, he is detailed
in Encounter 5.
Nicholar’s henchman, Adraeson, sabotaged this
panel two days before it was used, and the accident
occurred.
ENCOUNTER 4: BURNING
DOWN THE HOUSE
This encounter occurs if the PCs decide to investigate the
second act of sabotage, the aftermath of a fire in the
costume storage room.
This encounter can occur on any day, but most likely
will occur on Day 1. This encounter takes place in the
burnt costume storage room, location T on DM Aid – Map
#1 – The Pellak Grand Theater.
“I don’t care what anyone else says, I think it’s a
sign of good luck.” William leads you to a hallway
full of racks of costumes.
“Someone told me that the most expensive
costumes were stored in that room. A fire breaks
out, in there, right? Well, all the expensive costumes
are out for cleaning, a day early. What are the odds?”
William pushes a hallway door open. The door
jamb is marked, where it was previously forced
open. “I think it means our bad luck has changed...”
The room you enter could have once been a
storage room, but all that remains are a few metal
racks, and soot-stained walls.
There isn’t anything to find inside the room.
Everything that was here, aside from the metal costume
racks, was destroyed in the fire. The door is the only way
in or out of the room.
A PC that makes a Search check (DC 15) realizes that
there are scorch marks on all of the walls, not just at one
point. This indicates that the perpetrator either wished to
destroy the entire room, or couldn’t find what he was
specifically looking for.
A PC that takes a close look at the door can make an
Open Lock check (DC 10). Success means they can notice
a lack of smoke stains in the marks on the door jamb, and
can determine that the door was not forced until after the
fire broke out – the door was forced open by a
guardsman, not by the perpetrator. If the Open Lock
check makes DC 20, the PC is also pretty sure the lock
was not picked, as doing so would usually leave behind
subtle scratch marks on the lock mechanism.
If PCs attempt to use magical means to locate the
key, it is currently in a refuse bin outside the building,
where it ended up after Adraeson discarded it.
William can pass on the following information, if
questioned:
•
This was one of four costume storage rooms in the
theater.
•
William does not know what distinguishes one from
another.
•
The night before the PCs were hired, a janitor found
smoke pouring from around the locked door. He ran
for a city watchman, but the contents of the room
were totally lost before they could do anything.
•
Gregan, the Wardrobe Manager, could probably tell
them more. He is much more familiar with the
costume storage rooms and the incident.
If the PCs decide to track down Gregan, he is
detailed in Encounter 5.
Nicholar borrowed the key to the costume storage
room from Gregan, and never returned it. He had his
henchman, Adraeson, set fire to the room, not realizing
that the costumes he hoped to destroy were elsewhere
that night.
ENCOUNTER 5: THE
UNUSUAL SUSPECTS
The PCs may decide to interview key members of the
production. This will highlight several of the cast and
crew members as suspects. These encounters can occur
on any day of the adventure.
GENERAL POPULACE
The PCs may want to speak with various members of
the cast and crew that are not mentioned separately. They
may gather bits of the following information by speaking
with such an individual. In the case that they want to do
a general Gather Information check, use the listed DCs:
•
(DC 5) The cast and crew have been hired from all
over Bissel, with the majority from the Pellak area.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 8
•
(DC 10) The musical was supposed to premiere two
weeks ago. The delays are causing problems with the
staff, many of whom have been away from family
and friends since the beginning.
•
(DC 15) The general cast and crew do not believe
that the mishaps are intentional.
•
(DC 20) Few members of the cast and crew are aware
of how many mishaps have occurred. What they do
know is only what they’ve heard about through
whispered rumors.
LEAD STAGE MANAGER - BARTON
Barton can usually be found bustling around the
main stage and backstage areas. He is a large and gruff
man, of unobvious decent. He can provide the following
information, if questioned:
•
Barton believes that the mishaps are a combination
of bad luck and crew members not putting enough
effort into their work.
•
During a rehearsal three days before the PCs were
hired, a scenery panel was being lifted off of the
stage, when it fell about fifteen feet. The panel was
severely damaged by the fall.
•
The damaged scenery panel was supposed to be used
during the big battle scene.
•
A stage hand was struck a glancing blow by the
falling panel, and it broke his arm. He still has not
returned to work.
•
Barton used to work in a theater in Nyrond, where
he first saw similar illusory scenery panels used. In
fact, he’s worked in several theaters, and never seen
anywhere else use similar equipment.
•
The
scenery
panels
are
moved
about
and
manipulated through a complex system of ropes and
pulleys above the stage. Barton doesn’t think anyone
outside of the stage crew could properly operate... or
sabotage... the scenery panels.
•
(After Day 2) The morning of Day 2, an orb from a
lighting array came loose and shattered on the stage,
below. Crew members that were present saw
someone near the array that looked like one of the
PCs.
•
(After Day 2) Barton does not believe that the PCs
are responsible for the damaged lighting array, as
they would have nothing to gain.
•
(After Day 2) While crew members worked to clean
up the remains of the broken orb, Barton noticed
that a second one from the same array was balanced
precariously. He was unable to secure it, before it
fell, as well.
•
(After Day 2) After closer examination, Barton is
convinced the array support wire was intentionally
cut.
•
(After Day 2) The production has extra lighting orbs,
but it will take time to install a replacement... time
already budgeted to other work.
All APLs
�
Barton
Gardner:
Male
human
Com6
(Knowledge (architecture and engineering) +9); AL
LN.
WARDROBE MANAGER - GREGAN
Gregan can usually be found around the main stage and
wardrobe storage areas. He is a gnome, and many years of
stressful work show on his aged face. Regardless of the
topic of discussion, after a few moments he will tend to
start talking to himself, mentioning unrelated tasks he
needs to get done. He can provide the following
information, if questioned:
•
Gregan dismisses the idea that the mishaps were
intentional. In reality, the only one he remembers is
the fire in the costume room, and he’s certain that
was just an accident.
•
The production uses a large number of costume,
some with illusory enhancement. For instance, the
Margrave’s costume makes the viewer experience a
slight feeling of awe respect and reverence when
viewed. Evard’s costume summons up feelings of
dread.
•
Many of the extras are supplied with hats of disguise.
The prop manager, Jamin, takes care of those.
•
The morning of Day 1, Estander told Gregan that a
fire had broken out in Wardrobe Room 2, and that
everything inside had been lost.
•
The costumes are sorted between the four wardrobe
rooms using a system only Gregan knows or
understands. (actually, he has long since forgotten
his own system, but he has convinced himself
otherwise)
•
Generally, the costumes for the lead roles - the most
expensive ones - were kept in Wardrobe Room 2.
•
Those costumes were supposed to be sent out for
cleaning on Day 1. Due to a ‘misunderstanding’, they
got sent out a day early. Gregan will not admit that
he got confused, and caused this to happen.
•
In Gregan’s opinion, only someone close to the lead
cast members would know where those costumes are
kept. However, even the lead actors would only
know which room they belong in, not where in the
room they are kept.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 9
•
All of the costumes that were destroyed have already
been replaced, but it is still a hurtful financial
setback.
•
If they want the key to the burnt costume room,
Gregan pulls out a large ring of keys, and paws
through it. After a moment, he frowns, and
mentions that it is missing. He doesn’t know whom
he might have given it to.
All APLs
� Gregan Simoin: Male gnome Com3 (Disguise
+6); AL LG.
PROP MANAGER - JAMIN
Jamin can usually be found around the main stage
and backstage areas, working on the vast assortment of
props used for the production. She is a tall human
woman, with distinctive Suloise features. She can
provide the following information, if questioned:
•
Jamin is a member of both the Bardic Circle and the
Guild of the Arcane Path. When the chance arose to
use all of her skills together, she jumped at it.
•
Jamin believes that inter-department rivalry is
responsible for the mishaps. If everyone would just
try to get along, she says, things would work just
fine. If asked to give examples of this rivalry, she will
admit that she can’t think of any examples, but she is
‘sure that it exists’.
•
The production of ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’ is making use
of many magical devices and gadgets, something not
all that common in the theatrical world. When the
production is complete, these items will belong to
the theater, and will be used for future shows.
•
Many of the extras are supplied with hats of disguise.
This allows them to portray roles such as Evard’s
undead as convincingly as possible, and to switch
costumes very quickly.
•
The theater owns a single ring of invisibility. The
intention is that it would allow a crew member to
move about the stage, undetected by the audience,
even during a scene. However, due to the extreme
cost of such an item, it never leaves her sight.
•
A few of the scenes in the musical are enhanced,
through the use of wands of various illusion spells.
•
Jamin keeps a very tight leash on the magical
equipment. However, she noticed one of the hats of
disguise has gone missing. She has not yet told
Estander, as she fears his reaction.
•
Almost all of the scenes feature wooden backdrops,
enchanted with permanent illusion spells. Barton,
the lead stage manager, would know more about
them.
•
The most expensive prop is a giant construct,
representing Kanner the Tall, a hero of Bissel.
•
(After Day 3) Jamin understands that the rogue
construct had to be disabled. She does not blame the
PCs for doing it.
•
(After Day 3) Repairs to the construct will be costly,
both in time, and materials.
•
(After Day 3) The crew member that was operating
the Kanner construct was in plain view moments
before he was disabled and robbed of the control
goggles and gloves. The crew member only
remembers being struck from behind.
All APLs
� Jamin Witthew: Female human Brd4 (Appraise
+6, Knowledge (architecture and engineering) +7);
AL NG.
LEAD ACTOR - NICHOLAR
Nicholar can usually be found around the main stage
and his dressing room. He is a tall human man, with
slight Oeridian features. When he speaks, there is a
condescending edge to his tone. He will grudgingly
speak with PCs, if they emphasize the importance of
their investigation.
Keep in mind that he is shielded from many
divination spells (via a recently consumed potion of
nondetection at APLs 2 and 4 and via a ring of mind shielding
at APL 6 and above), and as a seasoned actor, also has a
very good Bluff check.
He can provide the following information, if
questioned:
•
Nicholar has worked in dozens of productions, all
over the Flanaess. He is natively from the Free City
of Greyhawk.
•
Nicholar was hired early on in the production to
play Evard. Estander saw him in another villain role,
and recruited him on the spot.
•
Nicholar has played villains before, but Bissel
villains are different than anything he’s portrayed.
•
Like any professional actor, he spent time
researching the role.
•
Nicholar firmly believes that the mishaps that have
plagued the production are deliberate acts of
sabotage, even if no one else will believe it.
•
Estander may be less than committed to the success
of the production. His salary was factored into the
initial budget, so he has nothing to lose if the
musical fails.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 10
•
The nobles backing the production have something
to gain if the production fails. If that happens, they
can say that the mishaps are evidence that Evard’s
influence has spread beyond the battlefield.
•
Rival nobles also have something to gain. If the
production fails, it will make the backers look bad in
the eyes of the people.
In any situation, Nicholar will use his skills as an
actor to appear unimportant with regards to the plot.
APL 2
� Nicholar: Male human Sor4; hp 15; see Appendix
One.
APL 4
� Nicholar: Male human Sor6; hp 23; see Appendix
One.
APL 6
� Nicholar: Male human Sor8; hp 30; see Appendix
One.
APL 8
� Nicholar: Male human Sor10; hp 38; see Appendix
One.
APL 10
� Nicholar: Male human Sor12; hp 45; see Appendix
One.
APL 12
� Nicholar: Male human Sor14; hp 53; see Appendix
One.
ENCOUNTER 6: NO NEWS IS
GOOD NEWS
This encounter occurs at the beginning of Day 2,
wherever the PCs happen to be when the cast and crew
begin arriving.
Crew members have just begun arriving this
morning, when a troll runs up to you, with an
uncharacteristic enthusiasm in its step. “Hey there!
Estander said I can lead you around again, if you
want. Sure beats practicing lines...”
“Oh, before I forget... boss wanted me to give
this to you...” William produces a sealed note from
his pocket, and offers it to you.
Give the PCs Player Handout #2 – The Note from
Estander. This message informs them of two new
incidents that were discovered this morning: a broken
lighting array and a tainted air vent.
The PCs have several options at this point. They may
investigate the broken lighting array (Encounter 7) or the
tainted air vent (Encounter 8). If they have not yet done
so, they may also visit the broken scenery panel
(Encounter 3) or the remains of the burnt costume
storage room (Encounter 4) or question members of the
cast and crew (Encounter 5).
ENCOUNTER 7: A LITTLE
LIGHT HUMOR
This encounter occurs if the PCs decide to investigate the
third act of sabotage, a broken lighting array. This
encounter can occur on any day after the first night, but
most likely will occur on Day 2. This encounter takes
place on the main stage, location D on DM Aid – Map #1 –
The Pellak Grand Theater.
The stage is bustling with activity. William
walks over to a beefy half-orc, and tugs on his sleeve.
“Gort, what’s going on?”
“The stage broked. Need new stage, me think.
Dunno whut happen.” He points to the crowd on the
stage, which appears to be working diligently to
clean something up.
If the PCs approach the group on the stage, continue
with the following:
The stage hands are clearing away large glass
shards. It seems that some large breakable object
shattered here. Each of the pieces has a noticeable
blue glow.
Allow any PC that has investigated the stage a Spot
check (DC 20). If they succeed, read them the following:
You notice a pair of men up in the catwalks,
high above the stage. They are laden with tools, and
are working on an odd device that hangs from the
beams above: a string of large glass orbs, connected
via metal beams.
Whether they notice, or not, continue on:
Suddenly, there is a shout from above. A split-
second later, a large glass sphere shatters against the
stage. It erupts in a violent flash of light.
PCs that spotted the crew working overhead are
allowed a saving throw (Reflex, DC 10 + APL). PCs that
fail the saving throw, or did not notice the crew, are
dazzled, as per the spell flare for 2d10 minutes. Don’t
reveal this duration - let affected PCs worry that the
damage might be permanent.
Continue on with the following, after the accident:
A large man scrambles down the ladder at the
edge of the stage. “Hells alive! Is everyone alright? I
told him it was gonna fall...”
A young Baklunish man shouts a curse at the
Stage Manager. “What are you trying to do to me,
Barton? My eyes...”
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 11
“Hey, don’t use that tone with me! I’m not the
one that messed around with the lights.”
A few moments of chaos ensue, as the crowd
looks for someone to blame. Barton moves through
the people, looking for injuries. It seems he is more
concerned with everyone’s well being, than finding
a scapegoat.
Suddenly, one of the gathered crewmen points
at [random PC]. “Hey, that’s the one we saw cutting
the line!” Several of the other crew members nod,
and begin to move in your direction.
The man that appeared is Barton, the Lead Stage
Manager. He can provide valuable information about this
mishap, but he is currently preoccupied by the crowd.
Several crew members spotted Adraeson, just after
he had sabotaged the lighting. However, he was using a
stolen hat of disguise to look like the accused PC.
The PCs will need to provide an alibi for the accused, as
well as some sort of explanation for what the crew saw.
(For instance, someone could have been disguised like
the accused PC). The PC talking to the crowd may make a
Bluff, Diplomacy or Intimidate check (DC 18). A
successful result will make them less hostile, and a
second success will convince them to disperse.
If a PC attempts to tend to the wounded, award a +2
circumstance bonus to any Diplomacy check made after
that point, even by a different PC. The tending PC may
make a Heal check (DC 15). Success reveals that no one
suffered more than a few minor cuts and bruises, and the
blindness will not be permanent.
If the crowd is not dealt with in three minutes, a
minor brawl will break out. PCs can quell the fight
through many means – non-lethal attacks, grappling, and
sleep spells are just a few possibilities. If PCs attack for
normal damage, the city watch will happily toss them
into prison, removing them from the adventure.
All APLs
� Crew Member: Com1 (Sense Motive +4).
After the crowd is dealt with, Barton will happily
speak with the PCs. His list of helpful information is
detailed in Encounter 5.
A PC can easily climb up the ladder to the catwalks
above, but hanging on to the ladder and manipulating the
broken lighting array requires a Balance check (DC 15) or
a Climb check (DC 22). Failure by more than five means
the PC falls fifty feet to the stage floor below, taking 5d6
points of damage.
Success reveals that even the slightest touch will
cause the array to swing around quite a bit. Following up
with a Search check (DC 12) will allow the PC to find a
restraint line that was sawed through by some sort of
bladed object. A successful Disable Device (DC 18) or
Knowledge (architecture and engineering) check (DC
20) will confirm that a restraint was severed so that
normal operation of the lights would likely cause one to
break lose and fall.
If a PC makes a Spot check while up on the ladder
(DC 18), he notices the glimmer of steel from the
otherwise empty orchestra pit, just in front of the stage,
almost directly below the sabotaged array. Further
investigation produces a small serrated dagger, very
likely the one that was used to cut the restraint line. This
dagger is small, too small to be held comfortably by a
medium size character. This suggests that the saboteur
was smaller than the average human.
Nicholar’s henchman, Adraeson, climbed the stage
ladder, and cut the restraint line this morning. He
accidentally dropped the dagger, and was trying to locate
it, when he was spotted. Fortunately, he was using a
stolen hat of disguise at the time.
ENCOUNTER 8: SILENT BUT
DEADLY
This encounter occurs if the PCs decide to investigate the
fourth act of sabotage, a tainted air vent. This encounter
can occur on any day after the first night, but most likely
will occur on Day 2. This encounter takes place in the air
vent, location Y on DM Aid – Map #1 – The Pellak Grand
Theater.
William leads you to the rear of the main
theater seating. A large set of curtains cleverly hide a
large air vent. As you approach, you notice two very
distinct things: the horrible stench of rotting flesh,
and the loud cursing of someone within the vent.
Any PC that approaches within 10' of the vent must
make a Fortitude save (DC 15) or become sickened by the
stench, suffering a -2 penalty to all skill checks for the
duration of the encounter.
A successful Knowledge [religion] check (DC 15)
will allow a PC to immediately recognize the stench... it
smells exactly like the foul odor that accompanies ghouls.
If the PCs investigate further, read the following:
Investigating further, you find that the grate
from the front of the air vent has been detached, and
someone is inside. A rather unhappy-looking
gnome, armed with various cleaning supplies,
appears to be the source of the cursing heard before.
At his feet is a large puddle of an inky black fluid.
He notices you for the first time, and looks in
your direction. He does not look pleased. “What do
you want? This had better be good...”
This
is
Furvor
Brundlebagger,
one
of
the
maintenance staff. He can provide the following
information, if questioned:
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 12
•
He showed up a few minutes late for work today,
and was punished with the task of cleaning up this
mess.
•
He has no idea what the goo in the vent is, but it is
making him sick. It is also proving very difficult to
clean up.
•
He doesn’t know who found the goo in the vent.
Considering the stench, he doesn’t think it would be
hard to find.
•
After this, he will probably quit his job. A little
tardiness is not worth this harsh a punishment.
•
The theater is lucky. If this mess had not been
discovered, and the ventilation system was turned
on for opening night, the stench would have filled
the entire building.
The vent area is a 5' cube, large enough for smaller
PCs to enter without hindrance, and taller PCs if they
duck. At the back of this space is a smaller duct, about 3'
tall, which leads into the rest of the ventilation system.
A successful Craft (alchemy) check (DC 15) will
allow a PC to identify the goo as a substance extracted
from an intact ghoul.
A successful Search check (DC 18) will find
footprints in the goo that do not match Furvor’s boots. If
a PC has the Track feat, a successful Survival check (DC
25) will allow him to sort out the sets of footprints. This
new set appears to originate within the puddle (there are
no such footprints leading into it), and head deeper into
the ventilation system. The trail becomes fainter, and
finally disappears 20' into the vent passageways. The
footprints are small, probably from a halfling or gnome.
William can confirm that these ducts lead throughout
the entire theater, and so the perpetrator could have gone
anywhere.
This is an important clue, as it tells PCs that the
person they are looking for is a member of the smaller
humanoid races.
Nicholar provided his henchman, Adraeson, with
some ghoul essence, and instructed him to taint the
ventilation ducts. Nicholar did not think the odorous
substance would be detected until the vents were
activated for opening night.
Adraeson made two mistakes. First, he placed the
liquid too close to a well-trafficked area. Second, he
stepped in the puddle, before heading back into the air
shafts to escape.
All APLs
� Furvor Brundlebagger: Male gnome Com1; AL
CG.
ENCOUNTER 9: LARGE AND
IN CHARGE
This encounter occurs on Day 3, and is a major turning
point in the plot. It takes place at the stage, location D on
DM Aid – Map #1 – The Pellak Grand Theater. The PCs start
wherever they are currently exploring, and are drawn to
the encounter location.
The bustle of activity around the theater has
increased dramatically today. With just two short
days before the opening of the new Pellak Grand
Theater, everyone is scrambling to get last minute
work done.
You are making your way through the theater,
when a sudden cacophony tears through the air, the
sound of metal and stone being shattered. A deep
roar follows soon after. It sounded like something is
going on near the stage.
If the PCs investigate, continue with the following:
The horrible noises continue as you make your
way to the stage. A small crowd has gathered, all
watching a giant creature lumber about. Standing
about twenty feet tall, it looks like a bald human,
with radiant skin and giant golden wings. Its eyes
glow with tiny jets of flame, and it carries a giant
wooden staff, adorned with a multitude of runes.
A tall Suloise woman nearby notices your
interest in the creature, and nods proudly.
“Impressive, isn’t he? Most expensive prop in
the show... we weren’t even sure we could have him
done in time.”
She turns back towards the construct. Shaking
her head disapprovingly, she barks instructions at a
man standing just offstage.
“No, no... He’s still leaning to the right. Phin,
back it up, and let’s try again. Come on, people... we
don’t want to be here all night!”
The giant steps backwards, and stands straight.
A number of stage hands hurry over to the still form,
and start adjusting various parts of the beast.
This is Jamin, the Prop Manager. She will be happy to
chat about the construct, while she waits for her
adjustments to be made. She can impart the following
information:
•
The construct is the likeness of Kanner the Tall, a
famous hero of Bissel during the Small War. He was
a herald of Heironeous, the child of an archangel and
a fire elemental lord. (He was much different than
that, but Jamin doesn’t know it).
•
Brave adventurers met with Kanner, who gave up his
legendary staff to help the March overcome the
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 13
Necromancer. (Jamin doesn’t know this for certain,
but is fairly convinced of it.)
•
If a PC actually possesses Kanner’s Oakstaff (from
BIS3-03 Oakstaff) and show it to Jamin, she will look
it over inquisitively, and then tell the PCs that she is
sure the ‘real’ staff didn’t look nearly that mundane.
•
This construct is a feat of magic and machinery. It is
controlled by a set of gloves and a pair of goggles.
(He gestures past the beast, offstage, where the PCs
can see a man wearing these items).
•
Whatever the wearer of the gloves does, the
construct mimics.
•
The goggles allow the controller to see through the
construct’s eyes.
After the PCs have had a few moments, to ask questions,
continue reading this:
Jamin claps her hands sharply and the stage
hands give her their undivided attention.
“Alright, let’s try this again, from the top...”
The stage workers scramble out of the way.
Moments later, the beast animates once more. You
don’t really see any difference in its movement, but
Jamin is visibly pleased.
“Outstanding! Phin, I think you’ve got it! That
certainly looks more ominous!”
The beast turns sharply, and lumbers directly
towards you and the Prop Manager.
“Perfect! I love it! Alright, let’s shut him down.
We’ve got more work to do.”
The creature continues towards you.
“Uhh, Phin... that’s enough. Thank you...”
The giant Kanner raises his staff to strike, flame
jetting from his eyes.
Jamin and the other staff members will quickly get
out of the way, leaving the PCs to deal with the giant
prop. They need to disable it, or else it will damage them
and the theater. Refer to DM Aid – Map #3 – Encounter 9
Combat.
If PCs think to look for the controller of the beast,
they will find Phineas unconscious, behind a pile of
boxes offstage. The gloves and goggles are missing.
Nicholar’s henchman, Adraeson, subdued Phineas,
and stole the controls for the prop. He is now in one of
the offstage storage areas, and will use the prop to attack
the PCs, stage crew, and anything related to the
production that looks valuable.
APL 2 (EL 5)
� Kanner Prop: Huge construct; hp 90; see
Appendix One.
APL 4 (EL 7)
� Kanner Prop: Huge construct; hp 150; see
Appendix One.
APL 6 (EL 9)
� Kanner Prop: Huge construct; hp 210; see
Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 11)
� Kanner Prop: Huge construct; hp 270; see
Appendix One.
APL 10 (EL 13)
� Kanner Prop: Huge construct; hp 330; see
Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 15)
� Kanner Prop: Huge construct; hp 390; see
Appendix One.
Once the PCs disable the construct, read the
following:
With a final shudder, the giant beast screeches
to a halt. Cries and shouts rise from the stage hands
– some of joy and gratitude, others of panic.
Jamin look devastated over the loss of her prop.
“What...? How could this happen? What are we going
to do, now?”
A few stage hands call out to her. “We found
Phineas, ma’am. He was unconscious. And these...”
One of them holds up the gloves and goggles used to
control the giant machine. “We found these in one
of the store rooms.”
Jamin looks about ready to cry. “Who... would do
such a thing? We’re finished! How can we possibly
fix this in two days?”
If the PCs take a close look at the goggles, allow
them a Search check (DC 20). A successful result means
they find a few strands of brown hair on the goggles,
which do not match Phineas’ hair. It is a fair (and correct)
assumption that the hair belongs to the perpetrator.
Continue on to Encounter 10.
ENCOUNTER 10: DOWNS AND
UPS
This encounter takes place in the Producer’s office,
location L on DM Aid – Map #1 – The Pellak Grand Theater.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 14
The atmosphere in Estander’s office is subdued.
The producer has called for a meeting of all major
cast and crew, and the news is not likely to be
pleasant.
Estander stands solemnly, and looks around at
the assembly. “I... I don’t know what to say.” He
laughs nervously. “I wish I could just pick up a
script, and read my lines to you... not sure I like the
ending of this one...”
He pauses, and takes a deep breath before
continuing.
“We’re being cancelled...”
Cries of protest and panic go up from the room.
“I know, I know... it’s not what I want, either...
but our sponsors are tired of the delays... and scared
off by the... problems... we’ve lost our funding.” He
looks directly at you. “We did what we could...”
A dozen voices erupt at once. Estander fights to
keep control.
“I know you’ve got children to feed, Jam... No, I
don’t know what will happen to the Grand... No, I
just don’t know...”
The sound of someone loudly clearing his
throat causes the panic to die down, as everyone
turns to look for the source. William stands in the
open doorway. Behind him stands a page, dressed in
a fine silk tabard.
PCs that succeed at a Knowledge (local – Sheldomar
Valley Metaregion) or Knowledge (nobility) check (DC
15) recognize the page by his tabard as belonging to
Viscountess Saralind Markavan, the Regent of the March
of Bissel.
“Uh, ex... excuse me, sir,” William stutters. “This
fellow says he has a message for you?”
The page walks into the office, nose slightly
upturned. He presents Estander with a sealed note,
pivots on his heels, and quickly departs. The
producer breaks the seal, and quickly looks over the
message. His face displays confusion, then shock
and amazement.
“How is this possible...?”
“What is it, Estander?” someone interjects. The
rest of the room waits on the edge of their seats.
“We’re... she’s... see for yourself...” He passes the
note around the room.
Give the PCs Player Handout #3 - The Note from Lady
Saralind, and continue:
“Her Noble Ladyship... is going to back our
production. And she’s coming to the premiere...”
Jamin, the Prop Manager, looks up from the
note, stunned. “We can afford to fix our broken
props...”
Barton, the Lead Stage Manager, shakes his
head. “In two days? You really think we could get
this all back together in two days?”
Nicholar, the lead actor, stands, and turns to the
group. “Do you know what this means? Once word
gets out that the Regent is coming, every noble in
Pellak will just HAVE to attend. They’ll bring their
entourages, and families, and.... well, we’ll be an
instant success!”
An air of excitement begins to fill the room.
Estander nods. “It won’t be easy... everyone, we
must make this work. Double your efforts...
whatever it takes to get the job done, do it. Barton,
hire more hands if you need to.”
The pleased chatter settles down, and there is a
moment of silence.
“Well, don’t just sit there... let’s get to it... the
show must go on!”
The cast and crew will quickly leave, to resume
preparations for opening night. They are justified in their
excitement - a successful opening night in front of the
Regent would make the production a success.
Nicholar, however, now has a new goal – the
assassination of Lady Saralind. He will no longer seek to
sabotage the production, and will instead do what he can
to help it reach opening night.
The PCs now have two days to continue their
investigations as they see fit. They may investigate the
mishaps (Encounters 3, 4, 7, and 8) or question the cast
and crew (Encounter 5). In the latter case, emphasize
how little time the staff has to speak with the PCs.
If the adventure is doing well on time, continue on
to Encounter 11 (which is optional). Otherwise, once the
PCs have completed all of their investigations, continue
on to Encounter 12.
ENCOUNTER 11: I SPY, WITH
MY LITTLE EYE
This encounter occurs in the afternoon of Day 4. This
encounter begins in the common seats, location F on DM
Aid – Map #1 – The Pellak Grand Theater.
The premiere of ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’ is now a
mere 24 hours away, and the furious work of the cast
and crew has settled down considerably; there is
still much to do, but it is starting to look possible to
complete on time.
As you make your rounds through the theater,
various crew members nod to you respectfully. For
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 15
the first time in a week, a full day has passed
without something going wrong. Rumor has it that
your presence is responsible.
You are making your way through the main
seating area of the theater, when [Random PC] sees
movement out of his peripheral vision. Something
is snooping around one of the balconies closest the
stage. If you’re not mistaken, that is the balcony
reserved for the Regent.
If the PCs make any offensive moves, the figure
notices, and steps into the shadows, hiding and going
invisible, removing himself from their view. If they head
for the balcony to investigate, proceed with this text:
Heading to the balcony, you find… nothing.
Whoever was here just moments before has
apparently vanished into thin air.
“Do you always go jauntin’ about like that?” A
voice comes from the empty air beside you.
Moments later, that space is filled with a lithe man,
features hidden beneath a concealing cloak.
“Seriously… never mind my noticing you. I’d
bet old Evard heard you up in Thornward from here.
Sneaking up on someone usually involves some
degree of subtlety, ye ken?”
Noticing your reactions, the man cracks a slight
smile. “No reason to worry about me. Padamiir
Smithsman, at your service.” He extends a hand in
greeting.
“I’m
one
of
the
Lady’s
personal
bodyguards. Just makin’ sure everything is alright
for her appearance, tomorrow night.”
This man is not Padamiir Smithsman, nor is he a
personal bodyguard. This man is an agent of the Mist
Chameleons, the (in)famous spy network loyal to Bissel
and her rulers. If a PC wishes to make a Sense Motive
check against him, allow it. However, keep in mind that
the only thing he is lying about is his identity, and he is a
very good liar.
If a PC is a member of the Mist Chameleons, have
the agent make a Bluff check (DC 15). Success means the
PC recognizes key phrases or gestures that are used by
Mist Chameleon agents to identify each other. A
nonmember may attempt a Sense Motive check against
the Bluff result to attempt to intercept the message, but
with a -20 penalty to account for insider information and
frequently changed code words.
The PCs will likely not trust this man, or at least will
probably think something amiss about him. Under no
circumstances will he admit who he is, or whom he
works for. He is shielded by a mind blank spell. If pressed,
he will produce a writ from Regent Saralind, permitting
him free access to all of Bissel. This is pretty much a
blank check, allowing him to do anything he feels
necessary to ensure national security.
If PCs demand he speak with Estander, the two of
them will disappear into the Producer’s office for a few
minutes. Then Estander will emerge, pale-faced, and
insist that the PCs do not obstruct the agent.
If the PCs attack the agent, he will likely win
initiative, cast a quickened nonlethal substituted ray of
frost (1d3 + 5d6 sneak attack), and then dimension door
away before anyone can do anything. PCs will definitely
not get the Commendation of the Mist Chameleons reward
nor will they be able to use the Mist Chameleon half of
the Personal Favor of the Regent reward.
He can provide the following information, if
questioned peacefully:
•
He has worked for Regent Saralind since she was
elected to the position. He served Margraves
Larrangin and Walgar before that.
•
If a snide remark (or even a questionable comment)
is made about Saralind, he snaps “She’s good enough
for US to invest our loyalty in. Why isn’t she good
enough for you? Or aren’t you for the good of
Bissel..?” He will not say who ‘us’ refers to.
•
Tomorrow night, he and another bodyguard will be
here in the balcony with Saralind and her guests.
•
Saralind’s guests are the baroness of Misty Hills, and
the high priest of Heironeous. A Sense Motive check
(DC 20) notices that he mentions the first name with
some reverence.
•
He is currently looking around for any security
concerns. He is pleased to say he has found nothing
amiss.
When the PCs stop bothering him, the agent will
return to his inspection of the balcony.
All APLs
�
Mist
Chameleon
Agent:
Male
human
Rog3/Sor6/Arcane Trickster7 (+10 Init modifier,
Bluff +18, Hide +34, Sense Motive +21); AL NG.
ENCOUNTER 12: LIVE, FROM
PELLAK, IT’S OPENING NIGHT
This encounter occurs in the evening of Day 5. This
encounter begins at the stage, location D on DM Aid –
Map #1 – The Pellak Grand Theater. This encounter and the
next are complicated and the PCs actions can make them
even more so; be prepared to adapt the text as needed to
move the action forward along the path defined below.
The tension in the air is thick, as Estander
shouts out his warning. “Five minutes to curtain!”
Looking out from the side of the stage, you can
see that the newly opened theater is packed. Every
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
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private balcony is full, and everyone who is anyone
is here.
The balcony just to the left of the stage is
currently occupied by Lord Mayor Jacen Aldenvor
and several local dignitaries. Sir Jerius Greenblade,
the Chief of Staff of the Knights of the Watch in
Bissel, is seated in the next section, along with a
number of knights. Two balconies are filled with
priests of Zilchus - not surprising, as high priestess
Jorollane is one of the major backers of the
production. Several more balconies are occupied by
the lords of nearby baronies, and their entourages -
Lord Marcomir of Davoniya, Lord Sollus of
Paercium, and Lord Ceanatis of Kynneret.
Most notably, the balcony just to the right of the
stage is occupied by Her Noble Ladyship, Lady
Saralind, Regent of the March. On her right is Lady
Imycina Trefeloess, baroness of the Misty Hills. On
her left, Malto Adeur, high priest of Heironeous.
The three seem to be caught up in some rather
pleasant conversation.
PCs with true seeing or detect invisible can see that
there are two invisible figures standing in the shadows
behind the Regent and her guests. One of them is the
agent from encounter 11.
If a PC wishes to attempt to read Saralind’s lips, he
can make a Spot check (DC 15). If he succeeds, he can tell
they are exchanging jokes, and otherwise behaving like
old friends. If the check fails by five or more, give them
the cryptic phrase “I look inside myself, and see my heart
is black. Be ready, for the attack comes after I dance.”
All APLs
� Lady Saralind Markavan: Female human
Wiz18; AL LG.
Once PCs are finished with any attempts to
eavesdrop on the Regent, continue:
Below, the common seats are mobbed by many
excited citizens of Pellak. Once word got out about
the play, it quickly became the focus of all local
gossip. Hundreds of people have turned out to hear
stories of their favorite heroes, and their valiant
struggles against the forces of evil.
The lights are suddenly dimmed, and a hush
falls over the crowd. Softly, the orchestra begins to
play a gentle, comforting melody. A pool of light
appears in the center of the stage, and slowly
broadens to show rolling hills and fields. A chorus
of voices emanates from the stage.
“Tell a tale of fair Rypthorn...
Tradition long and grand...
And the man that ruled her...
Lord Evard Markavan...
Baron Evard, wizard strong...
Walgar’s loyal man...
Hid from all, his dark deceit...
And shaped his conquest plan...”
The scene changes, now showing a brightly lit
hall. Three men step to center stage, dressed in the
trappings of the Margrave Walgar and the Knights
of the Watch. A dozen other men, in noble finery,
enter and join them.
“Assuring smile and gracious gaze...
Carefully hid the worst...
For ‘mid the Barons Council...
Blood would quench his thirst...”
One of the nobles, playing Lord Evard, raises his
arms. Black arcane fire lances forth. Before it can
strike Margrave Walgar, the two Knights of the
Watch leap forth and sacrifice themselves to save
him.
“Treachery foul, the plot revealed...
In the eleventh hour...
Foul allies came, from dark of shadow...
To show Lord Evard’s power...”
The Margrave and the other Barons flee from
the stage, leaving Evard alone. From every corner of
the stage, other figures emerge – dark-robed
wizards, humanoids, and foul undead.
Estander stands near you, watching his creation
come to life. He silently mouths every word spoken,
and looks very pleased at how things are
progressing.
Continue reading this text, but substitute where
indicated the line the PCs came up with in Encounter 1.
If they did not come up with anything (or it wasn’t
appropriate), use the line “To rid this evil from the
land...”
The scene changes again to show a rocky valley.
At the end of the valley sits an impregnable fortress.
A legion of soldiers marches onto the stage from
each side.
“But strong of heart did rally on...
To stand against Lord Evard’s hand...
To darkest Rypthorn marched...
[Insert PC line]
Calignosis! Calignosis!
Evard’s hidden fortress keep...
Our soldiers left for death’s front door...
Their widows were left to weep....”
Suddenly, a look of slight confusion crosses
Estander’s face. “What is he doing?” he whispers
under his breath.
You look across the stage, searching for the
source of his dismay. A stage hand stands in the
opposite wing, a halfling with brown hair. It appears
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
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he is cutting one of the ropes that secure the scenery
hanging from the catwalks above the stage.
“Quick!” Estander hisses. “Stop him before he
ruins everything!”
It is very important that the PCs are not able to
capture Adraeson until he reaches Nicholar’s dressing
room. If they employ magic that would ensnare him, he
will automatically make any saving throws to shrug it off.
If they choose alternate tactics to try and chase him
down, feel free to take poetic liberties to make it exciting,
yet fruitless.
If the PCs move closer to investigate, continue
reading:
You hurry behind the stage, anxious to reach the
other side and the villain you’ve been pursuing. As
you round the corner, the stage hand notices you.
He turns, and scowls.
Suddenly, the stage lighting goes dark.
“As Evard stood before defeat...
Darkness struck the valley blind...
Calignosis faded from the world...
The dark lord left the March behind...”
If the PCs have darkvision, they see Adraeson grab
one nearby rope and cut another. He is launched into the
air, up to the catwalks. Continue reading this text:
The stage lights back up, now showing a barren,
lifeless landscape of ash where Evard’s fortress once
stood. You also find empty space where your quarry
stood, just moments ago.
If the PCs did not see Adraeson flee to the catwalks,
let them puzzle it out for a moment. If they specifically
look up, or succeed on a Spot check (DC 15), continue
reading:
Looking up into the catwalks above the stage,
you see the halfling crouched on a catwalk section,
peering back down at you.
The PCs can easily climb the ladders up to the
catwalks, or find a different way up, if they prefer. Once
they do, continue reading:
You quickly work your way up to the catwalks. It
appears
that
your
quarry
has
once
again
disappeared.
The scene below shifts. Once more, it shows the
same rolling hills and fields of the Barony of
Rypthorn. This time, however, the land is scarred
from the great battle against Evard.
“Lord Evard gone, the darkness purged...
Rypthorn was beset by peace...
The people started to rebuild...
And in their lives they gained new lease...”
The scarred landscape fades, and is replaced by
the same land today. Fields are green, and homes are
rebuilt. However, the damage done by the
Necromancer is still evident. Somewhere in the
distance, a storm approaches. There is a flash of
lightning, and the deep rumble of thunder.
“A decade passed, the March moved on...
Deeper worries upon our brow...
Rypthorn - now a forgotten name...
Rhomstaff, as we call it now ...
The call went out, an army marched...
Wicked upon Arvinshire...
Lord Evard stood upon the field...
Bathed in cloak of unholy fire...”
Suddenly, one of the lightning blasts erupts
near the rear of the stage. For a brief moment, you
see the shadow of a stage hand projected clearly
against the back wall, as he runs towards the far end
of the catwalks.
Wait for players to indicate that they are continuing
the chase. Then choose one or more PCs at random (see
below).
You head after the saboteur, but the advantage
appears to be his. He moves nimbly across the
catwalks, completely comfortable with the terrain,
even in this less than perfect light.
Suddenly, he turns and slices through a nearby
rope with his dagger. Sandbags above swing wildly
in your direction.
Point at the random PCs you selected above.
APL 2 (EL 1)
� Swinging Sandbag: CR 1; mechanical; manual
trigger; manual reset; Atk +12 ranged (1d8 nonlethal,
sandbag); Search NA; Disable Device NA.
APL 4 (EL 3)
� Swinging Sandbags (2): CR 1; mechanical;
manual trigger; manual reset; Atk +14 ranged (1d8
nonlethal, sandbag); Search NA; Disable Device NA.
APL 6 (EL 5)
� Swinging Sandbags (3): CR 2; mechanical;
manual trigger; manual reset; Atk +16 ranged (2d8
nonlethal, sandbag); Search NA; Disable Device NA.
APL 8 (EL 7)
� Swinging Sandbags (4): CR 3; mechanical;
manual trigger; manual reset; Atk +18 ranged (3d8
nonlethal, sandbag); Search NA; Disable Device NA.
APL 10 (EL 9)
� Swinging Sandbags (4): CR 5; mechanical;
manual trigger; manual reset; Atk +20 ranged (4d8
nonlethal, sandbag); Search NA; Disable Device NA.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
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APL 12 (EL 11)
� Swinging Sandbags (5): CR 6; mechanical;
manual trigger; manual reset; Atk +22 ranged (6d8
nonlethal, sandbag); Search NA; Disable Device NA.
Any PC who takes more nonlethal damage then they
have hit points is knocked unconscious and falls down
upon the catwalk (narrowly averting a fall to the ground
below). Have all of the conscious PCs make Balance
checks (DC 10).
For those who fail the check:
You lose your footing. You fall from the
catwalks, but manage to get a handhold and save
yourself from certain death.
For those who succeed at the check:
You manage to avoid a deadly fall from the
catwalks, but you are distracted from your target by
your efforts to avoid a fall.
Read to all:
The stage hand glares in your direction, before
leaping from the far end of the catwalks. He grabs a
support line, and slides down to the backstage floor
below, narrowly missing a few of Evard’s undead
minions, en route to terrorize the March. He hits
the floor, and runs off towards the western hallways.
Once the PCs climb down and follow Adraeson,
continue reading this text:
Following the western hallway, you come to the
dressing rooms. One door stands ajar – the one
belonging to Nicholar, the lead actor.
Just inside, you can see the halfling you’ve been
chasing. He is holding his head in his hands, and
looks very confused.
“What... what am I doing here? I just had the
most horrible dream...”
This is Adraeson, the stage hand that is behind the
mishaps plaguing ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’. Nicholar has been
dominating him since the production began, and using
him to cause all the disturbances.
Adraeson is stunned by what has gone on, but he will
provide the following information if questioned:
•
He was hired as a stage hand, during the first week
of the production.
•
Nicholar, the lead actor, called him into this dressing
room about five minutes ago. (By Adraeson’s
reckoning. This was actually months ago.)
•
Upon entering the dressing room, he felt a bit dizzy.
He started daydreaming.
•
In his daydreams, he remembers sabotaging the play.
He can describe the five mishaps in vivid detail.
•
He remembers Nicholar repeatedly telling him to
return here if anything went wrong.
Nicholar’s desk is covered in script pages. A PC that
makes a successful Search check (DC 10) will find
Nicholar’s journal. Give the finder Player Handout #4 -
Excerpts from Nicholar’s Journal. It details Nicholar’s
corruption and plot against the Regent. A PC that makes
a successful Search check (DC 20) finds a secret drawer
that not even Nicholar is aware of; it contains a number
of items of value that belonged to the desks previous
owner:
APL
2
Quaal’s feather token (anchor)
Quaal’s feather token (fan)
APL
4
elixir of vision
silversheen
APL
6
Quaal’s feather token (tree)
Quaal’s feather token (bird)
APL
8
Quaal’s feather token (whip)
Quaal’s feather token (swan boat)
APL
10
Heward’s handy haversack
brooch of shielding
APL
12
chime of opening
golembane scarab
When the PCs decide to head back to the stage,
continue on to Encounter 13.
ENCOUNTER 13: READY FOR
MY CLOSE UP
This encounter occurs at the common seating and stage
areas, locations D and F on DM Aid – Map #1 – The Pellak
Grand Theater.
The doors to the main room swing open, just in
time for a huge wave of water to wash over you. The
audience gasps.
The destruction of Clunther complete, the
illusion of Lake Hasra fades away. It is replaced by a
single pool of light on the stage. Nicholar,
portraying Evard the Necromancer, steps into the
light. Behind him in the darkness, you can just
make out several prominent Bissel landmarks, all
shrouded in shadow. He raises his arms towards the
balconies, and his voice fills the air.
“Too long has Bissel run astray …
Fires of weakness too long been fanned …
My strength will heal the March’s sins …
The time for change is now at hand …”
As he finishes, Nicholar turns to face Lady
Saralind’s balcony. He slowly advances, intoning the
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
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words of a spell. It is then that you notice the dark
shapes in the shadow around him, waiting to defend
their master.
Please refer to DM Aid – Map #1 – Encounter 13
Combat. The PCs may immediately make a Spellcraft
check (DC 10) to notice that he is really casting a spell.
If the PCs immediately decide to intervene, they will
get a surprise round. Different things will happen, during
the first combat round, depending on the actions of the
PCs.
PCS HARM NICHOLAR DURING THE SURPRISE
ROUND OR READY TO STOP HIS SPELLCASTING:
Nicholar will break off his assault on the Regent and
will attack the PCs instead. He will save his phantasmal
killer spell for his original target. His undead servants will
move to intercept the PCs.
PCS STAND IDLE, DO NOT REACH NICHOLAR IN
TIME, OR ATTACK HIS SERVANTS INSTEAD:
During the first combat round, Nicholar will cast
phantasmal killer from a scroll at Lady Saralind. The
Regent will succeed on the saving throw but is still very
badly injured. Several Mist Chameleon bodyguards will
leap from the shadows and pull the wounded lady away
to safety.
If Nicholar is allowed to harm the Regent, the PCs
will not receive the Personal Favor of the Regent or
Commendation of the Mist Chameleon rewards.
More is at stake during this combat than just the
Regent’s life. ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’ needs to have a
successful opening night, and the closing number could
make or break the entire show.
As the combat begins, start a counter at zero. For
every combat round that passes, increment the counter.
Every time the PCs do something flashy or dramatic,
describe the reaction of the audience, and increment the
counter as below:
1 point
Each round of combat.
1 point
Each critical hit by a PC.
1 point
Each battle cry by a PC.
1 point
Each time a PC tumbles.
2 points
Each time a PC wields a flashy
weapon (once per weapon only).
2 points
Each PC bard who sings to
enhance his comrades in battle.
3 points
Each time PC speaks lines of
poetry that could be part of play.
3 points
For each time a PC casts a spell
with a flashy visual component.
At the end of combat, if the counter totals less than
13 + the APL, continue to Ending A in the Conclusion.
Otherwise, the counter has reached the required score
for Ending B in the Conclusion. If the PCs obtain the
required score, they receive the Favor of Estander the
Playwright and On Tour! rewards.
APL 2 (EL 6)
� Nicholar: Male human Sor4; hp 15; see Appendix
One.
� Troglodyte Zombies (3): hp 29 each; see Monster
Manual page 265.
APL 4 (EL 8)
� Nicholar: Male human Sor6; hp 23; see Appendix
One.
� Shadows (3): hp 19 each; see Monster Manual
page 221.
APL 6 (EL 10)
� Nicholar: Male human Sor8; hp 30; see Appendix
One.
� Wraiths (3): hp 32 each; see Monster Manual page
257.
APL 8 (EL 12)
� Nicholar: Male human Sor10; hp 38; see Appendix
One.
� Spectres (3): hp 45 each; see Monster Manual page
232.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 20
APL 10 (EL 14)
� Nicholar: Male human Sor12; hp 45; see Appendix
One.
� Greater Shadows (3): hp 58 each; see Monster
Manual page 221.
APL 12 (EL 16)
� Nicholar: Male human Sor14; hp 53; see Appendix
One.
� Dread Wraiths (3): hp 104 each; see Monster
Manual page 257.
CONCLUSION
ENDING A
Use this ending if the counter (in Encounter 13)
totaled less than 13 + the APL.
With a final blow, Nicholar drops to his knees,
one arm outstretched, as if clinging to the air above
him. The orchestra pit is silent, and the audience
watches on breathlessly. The actor takes one last
look at you, and whispers a single word:
“Upstaged...” He collapses, never to move again.
There is a flurry of movement from the off-stage
wings, and a group of actors rush out onto the stage
around you. They begin to sing, as if this was all just
part of the play:
“Tell a tale of Bissel strength...
Against great odds, we stand as one...
We take a lashing at the dawn...
And win the fight as day is done...
Though Evard’s evil is so strong...
Never forget the other half...
Valiant heroes gave their lives...
And thaaaat’s Rhommmmstaff!”
There is a long moment of silence. There are a
few confused murmurs from the audience, followed
by applause. The entire cast comes to the stage for
their curtain call, and they insist that you stay for
this moment of triumph, as well. There is a sense of
relief from all those assembled.
A few minutes later, you depart the stage, and
are met by Estander.
“My friends!” he exclaims. “You’ve done it!
You’ve broken our streak of bad luck. I knew you
would, right from the moment I met you.”
One of the cast speaks up. “Your play is a hit,
Estander.”
“So it would seem...” he shrugs. “It didn’t get the
reception I had hoped. It needs more flash and flare.
Maybe I should take it back to the drawing board.”
Estander flashes a grin. “Perhaps I’ll leave out the
dastardly plot, this time.”
“I can’t think of how...” Estander trails off,
looking at something behind you.
If the PCs saved the Regent from harm, read this
text:
You turn, and standing before you is Her Noble
Ladyship, Lady Saralind, and her retinue of guards.
“I understand that you’ve done a great service to
the March, today... and as well, a great service to me.”
She looks your group over with careful eyes. “I
still do not yet understand fully what has taken
place. But, rest assured, I always repay my debts.”
With that, the Regent and her guards turn, and
depart.
Estander looks at you with a grin. “What do you
know? Not just heroes of the production, but heroes
of Bissel...” He chuckles slightly, as a crew member
passes him a wine glass. “Well then, my heroes,
tonight we drink to honor our success. And we owe
that success to you.”
With that, cast members uncork bottles of wine,
and the celebration begins.
If the PCs did not save the Regent from harm, read
this text:
You turn, and standing before you is a page,
dressed in the colors of the Barony of the Misty
Hills.
“Her Prominence, Lady Imycina, wishes me to
inform you that Her Noble Ladyship was seriously
injured in the attack this evening, but that she will
recover. Of course, there will need to be a full
investigation... She will be in contact, very soon.”
With that, the page turns and departs.
Estander looks at you with a pensive gaze.
“Regrettable, that we could not do anything else to
prevent this.” He shakes his head in dismay. “Well,
no sense in dwelling on something we cannot
change.” A crew member passes him a wine glass.
“Well then, my heroes, tonight we drink to honor
our success. And we owe that success to you.”
With that, cast members uncork bottles of wine,
and the celebration begins.
ENDING B
Use this ending if the counter (in Encounter 13)
totaled 13 + the APL or more.
With a final blow, Nicholar drops to his knees,
one arm outstretched, as if clinging to the air above
him. The orchestra pit is silent, and the audience
watches on breathlessly. The actor takes one last
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 21
look at you, and whispers a single word:
“Upstaged...” He collapses, never to move again.
Instantly, great cheers go up from the audience.
There is a flurry of movement from the off-stage
wings, and a group of actors rush out onto the stage
around you. They begin to sing, as if this was all just
part of the play:
“Tell a tale of Bissel strength...
Against great odds, we stand as one...
We take a lashing at the dawn...
And win the fight as day is done...
Though Evard’s evil is so strong...
Never forget the other half...
Valiant heroes gave their lives...
And thaaaat’s Rhommmmstaff!”
A mere moment later, the theater erupts with
activity. Every man, woman, and child in the
audience is on their feet, applauding with all their
might. The entire cast comes to the stage for their
curtain call, but afterwards even they are cheering to
you, as the true stars of this show.
A few minutes later, you depart the stage, and
are met by Estander.
“Outstanding!” he exclaims. “You’ve done it! Not
only did you uncover the dastardly plot, but you
were brilliant on stage!”
One of the cast speaks up. “Your play is a hit,
Estander.”
“No, no way...” he retorts. “That wasn’t my play,
out there. I mean, it may have been born as my play,
but these paragons of theater gave it life!” He
gestures towards you. The rest of the cast nods in
agreement.
“I can’t think of how...” Estander trails off,
looking at something behind you.
If the PCs saved the Regent from harm, read this
text:
You turn, and standing before you is Her Noble
Ladyship, the Regent Saralind, and her retinue of
guards.
“I understand that you’ve done a great service to
the March, today... and as well, a great service to me.”
She looks your group over with careful eyes. “I still
do not yet understand fully what has taken place.
But, rest assured, I always repay my debts.” With
that, the Regent and her guards turn, and depart.
Estander looks at you with a grin. “What do you
know? Not just heroes of the production, but heroes
of Bissel...” He chuckles slightly. “Well then, my
heroes, I have a question to ask you. After seeing you
on that stage, tonight, I realize that my vision for
‘That’s Rhomstaff!’ was lacking something. The
adventure, the struggle, the excitement... I only
write about them, while you’ve been there, actually
experienced them. I want you... nay, need you, in our
production. What do you say?”
As Estander waits for your reply, cast members
uncork bottles of wine, and the celebration begins.
If the PCs did not save the Regent from harm, read
this text:
You turn, and standing before you is a page,
dressed in the colors of the Barony of the Misty
Hills.
“Her Prominence, Lady Imycina, wishes me to
inform you that Her Noble Ladyship was seriously
injured in the attack this evening, but that she will
recover. Of course, there will need to be a full
investigation... She will be in contact, very soon.”
With that, the page turns and departs.
Estander looks at you with a pensive gaze.
“Regrettable, that we could not do anything else to
prevent this.” He shakes his head in dismay. “Well,
no sense in dwelling on something we cannot
change. I have a question to ask you. After seeing
you on that stage, tonight, I realize that my vision
for ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’ was lacking something. The
adventure, the struggle, the excitement... I only
write about them, while you’ve been there, actually
experienced them. I want you... nay, need you, in our
production. What do you say?”
As Estander waits for your reply, cast members
uncork bottles of wine, and the celebration begins.
The End
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
roleplaying) to each character.
Encounter 9
Defeat the Kanner Construct
APL 2: 150 xp.
APL 4: 210 xp.
APL 6: 270 xp.
APL 8: 330 xp.
APL 10: 390 xp.
APL 12: 450 xp.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 22
Encounter 12
Survive the sandbag trap
APL 2: 30 xp.
APL 4: 90 xp.
APL 6: 150 xp.
APL 8: 210 xp.
APL 10: 270 xp.
APL 12: 330 xp.
Encounter 13
Defeat Nicholar and his minions
APL 2: 180 xp.
APL 4: 240 xp.
APL 6: 300 xp.
APL 8: 360 xp.
APL 10: 420 xp.
APL 12: 480 xp.
Story Award
Settling the disgruntled crew members in Encounter 7
All APLs: 20 xp.
Prevent Nicholar from harming the Regent in Encounter
13
APL 2: 30 xp.
APL 4: 60 xp.
APL 6: 90 xp.
APL 8: 120 xp.
APL 10: 150 xp.
APL 12: 180 xp.
Discretionary roleplaying award
APL 2: 40 xp.
APL 4: 55 xp.
APL 6: 70 xp.
APL 8: 85 xp.
APL 10: 100 xp.
APL 12: 115 xp.
Total possible experience
APL 2: 450 xp.
APL 4: 675 xp.
APL 6: 900 xp.
APL 8: 1,125 xp.
APL 10: 1,350 xp.
APL 12: 1,575 xp.
TREASURE SUMMARY
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their earthly
possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 minutes
per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot take the
time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this gold. If you
feel it is reasonable that characters can go back to loot the
bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by
dungeon scavengers, removed from the scene by the local
watch, and so on), characters may return to retrieve loot. If
the characters do not loot the body, the gold piece value for
the loot is subtracted from the encounter totals given
below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a round
or so. If for some reason, they pass up this treasure, the
coin total is subtracted from the encounter totals given
below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure
is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because characters may want to use them during the
adventure. Many times characters must cast identify, analyze
dweomer or similar spell to determine what the item does
and how to activate it. Other times they may attempt to
use the item blindly. If the magic item is consumable (a
potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the item is used before
the end of the adventure, its total is subtracted from the
adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in the
GP Gained field of the adventure certificate. Because this is
a Regional adventure, characters may spend additional
Time Units to practice professions or create items
immediately after the adventure so this total may be
modified by other circumstances.
L = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, Jewelry,
and other valuables; M = Magic Items.
Encounter 12:
APL 2: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: Quaal’s feather token
(anchor) (4 gp), Quaal’s feather token (fan) (17 gp).
APL 4: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: Quaal’s feather token
(anchor) (4 gp), Quaal’s feather token (fan) (17 gp), elixir
of vision (21 gp), silversheen (21 gp).
APL 6: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: Quaal’s feather token
(anchor) (4 gp), Quaal’s feather token (fan) (17 gp), elixir
of vision (21 gp), silversheen (21 gp), Quaal’s feather
token (tree) (33 gp), Quaal’s feather token (bird) (25 gp).
APL 8: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: Quaal’s feather token
(anchor) (4 gp), Quaal’s feather token (fan) (17 gp), elixir
of vision (21 gp), silversheen (21 gp), Quaal’s feather
token (tree) (33 gp), Quaal’s feather token (bird) (25 gp),
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 23
Quaal’s feather token (swan boat) (38 gp), Quaal’s feather
token (whip) (42 gp).
APL 10: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: Quaal’s feather token
(anchor) (4 gp), Quaal’s feather token (fan) (17 gp), elixir
of vision (21 gp), silversheen (21 gp), Quaal’s feather
token (tree) (33 gp), Quaal’s feather token (bird) (25 gp),
Quaal’s feather token (swan boat) (38 gp), Quaal’s feather
token (whip) (42 gp), Heward’s handy haversack (167
gp), brooch of shielding (125 gp).
APL 12: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: Quaal’s feather token
(anchor) (4 gp), Quaal’s feather token (fan) (17 gp), elixir
of vision (21 gp), silversheen (21 gp), Quaal’s feather
token (tree) (33 gp), Quaal’s feather token (bird) (25 gp),
Quaal’s feather token (swan boat) (38 gp), Quaal’s feather
token (whip) (42 gp), Heward’s handy haversack (167
gp), brooch of shielding (125 gp), chime of opening (250
gp), golembane scarab (208 gp).
Encounter 13:
APL 2: L: 25 gp, C: 0 gp, M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp),
potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp), ring of protection
+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of phantasmal killer (7th level
caster) (58 gp).
APL 4: L: 25 gp, C: 0 gp, M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp),
potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp), ring of protection
+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of phantasmal killer (7th level
caster) (58 gp), amulet of natural armor +1 (167 gp),
potion of barkskin +2 (25 gp).
APL 6: L: 25 gp, C: 0 gp, M: bracers of armor +2 (333
gp), potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp), ring of
protection +1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of phantasmal killer
(7th level caster) (58 gp), amulet of natural armor +1 (167
gp), potion of barkskin +2 (25 gp), ring of mind shielding
(667 gp).
APL 8: L: 25 gp, C: 0 gp, M: bracers of armor +2 (333
gp), potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp), ring of
protection +1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of phantasmal killer
(7th level caster) (58 gp), amulet of natural armor +1 (167
gp), potion of barkskin +2 (25 gp), ring of mind shielding
(667 gp), cloak of charisma +2 (333 gp), ring of
sustenance (208 gp).
APL 10: L: 25 gp, C: 0 gp, M: bracers of armor +3 (750
gp), potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp), ring of
protection +2 (667 gp), arcane scroll of phantasmal killer
(7th level caster) (58 gp), amulet of natural armor +1 (167
gp), potion of barkskin +2 (25 gp), ring of mind shielding
(667 gp), cloak of charisma +2 (333 gp), ring of
sustenance (208 gp).
APL 12: L: 25 gp, C: 0 gp, M: bracers of armor +3 (750
gp), potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp), ring of
protection +2 (667 gp), arcane scroll of phantasmal killer
(7th level caster) (58 gp), amulet of natural armor +1 (167
gp), potion of barkskin +2 (25 gp), ring of mind shielding
(667 gp), cloak of charisma +4 (1,333 gp), ring of
sustenance (208 gp).
Conclusion:
All APLs: L: 0 gp, C: 100 gp, M: 0 gp.
Total Possible Treasure (Maximum Reward
Allowed)
APL 2: L: 25 gp, C: 100 gp, M: 354 gp – Total: 479 gp
(450 gp).
APL 4: L: 25 gp, C: 100 gp, M: 588 gp – Total: 713 gp
(650 gp).
APL 6: L: 25 gp, C: 100 gp, M: 1,563 gp – Total: 1,688
gp (900 gp).
APL 8: L: 25 gp, C: 100 gp, M: 2,184 gp – Total: 2,309
gp (1,300 gp).
APL 10: L: 25 gp, C: 100 gp, M: 3,393 gp – Total: 3,518
gp (2,300 gp).
APL 12: L: 25 gp, C: 100 gp, M: 4,851 gp – Total: 4,976
gp (3,300 gp).
ITEMS FOR THE ADVENTURE
RECORD
Special
� Favor of Estander the Playwright: This PC has
earned the favor of Estander, the author and producer of
‘That’s Rhomstaff!’. Estander has agreed to sell some of
the theater’s excess magical gear. You may spend this
favor during a Bissel Regional or Sheldomar Valley
Metaregional adventure to gain access (Frequency:
Adventure) to purchase one, and only one, of the
following items (circle the one selected): hand of the mage,
hat of disguise, lyre of building, Nolzur’s marvelous pigments,
ring of invisibility, ring of telekinesis. Mark this favor as
USED when spent.
� On Tour!: This PC has helped ‘That’s Rhomstaff!’
become a success and has agreed to tour as part of the
production cast. You must immediately spend 6
additional TUs or cross off this reward and lose its
benefits. If you do spend time touring, you earn an
additional 100 gp (above and beyond the gp cap for your
APL) in salary. You also gain a +2 circumstance bonus to
all Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, and Perform
checks made during any adventure set within Bissel due
to your fame as a star on the stage.
� Personal Favor of the Regent: You have saved the
life of Her Noble Ladyship, the Regent Saralind, and she
always repays her debts in full. You may retain this favor
for some future use or spend it (marking it as USED)
during any Bissel Regional or Sheldomar Valley
Metaregional adventure to gain one, and only one, of the
following benefits (circle the one chosen):
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 24
•
You may have one raise dead spell cast on your behalf
at the Temple of Heironeous in Pellak at a cost of
4,000 gp and 2 TUs.
•
You may request the assistance of the Mist
Chameleons, the spy network loyal to the rulers of
Bissel. You may inquire about one subject of
interest. Information about this subject is discretely
delivered to you 12 hours later. In all other regards,
this is similar to the use of a legend lore spell. Results
are at the discretion of the DM.
� Commendation from the Mist Chameleons: This
PC, a member of the Mist Chameleons metaorganization,
has done an exemplary job of protection the Regent from
harm. This PC’s superiors have noticed. This adventure
may be counted as one TU towards the yearly TU cost for
the Mist Chameleons metaorganization.
Item Access
APL 2:
•
Arcane Scroll of Phantasmal Killer (7th level caster;
Adventure; DMG)
•
Quaal’s Feather Token - Anchor (Adventure; DMG)
•
Quaal’s Feather Token - Fan (Adventure; DMG)
APL 4 (all of APL 2 plus the following):
•
Elixir of Vision (Adventure; DMG)
•
Silversheen (Adventure; DMG)
APL 6 (all of APLs 2, 4 plus the following):
•
Bracers of Armor +2 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Quaal’s Feather Token - Bird (Adventure; DMG)
•
Quaal’s Feather Token - Tree (Adventure; DMG)
•
Ring of Mind Shielding (Adventure; DMG)
APL 8 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6 plus the following):
•
Quaal’s Feather Token – Swan Boat (Adventure; DMG)
•
Quaal’s Feather Token - Whip (Adventure; DMG)
•
Ring of Sustenance (Adventure; DMG)
APL 10 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8 plus the following):
•
Bracers of Armor +3 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Brooch of Shielding (Adventure; DMG)
•
Heward’s Handy Haversack (Adventure; DMG)
•
Ring of Protection +2 (Adventure; DMG)
APL 12 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 plus the following):
•
Chime of Opening (Adventure; DMG)
•
Cloak of Charisma +4 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Golembane Scarab (Adventure; DMG)
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 25
APPENDIX 1 – MONSTER AND NPC STATISTICS
APL 2
ENCOUNTER 9
Kanner Prop: CR 5; Huge Construct; HD 8d10+40; hp
90; Init -1; Spd 30 ft. fly 10 ft. (Clumsy); AC 13, touch 7,
flat-footed 13; Base Atk +6; Grp +18; Atk +8 melee
(1d8+6, slam); Full Atk +8 melee (1d8+6, slam);
Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; SA Eye fire; SQ Construct
traits, hardness 5; AL N; SV Fort +2, Ref +1, Will -3; Str
18, Dex 8, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1.
Eye Fire (Ex): The Kanner Prop can project a 10-
foot cone of fire from its eyes once every 2d4 rounds.
Damage 1d6 fire, Reflex DC 14 half. The save DC is
Con-based.
ENCOUNTER 13
Nicholar: Male human Sor4; CR 4; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 4d4+4; hp 15; Init +1; Spd 30
ft; AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +2; Grp +3;
Atk +4 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +4 melee
(1d4+1/19-20, dagger); SA -; SQ -; AL LE; SV Fort +2,
Ref +2, Will +4; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10,
Cha 17.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +10, Concentration +8,
Knowledge (arcana) +6, Perform (act) +6, Perform
(dance) +6, Spellcraft +7; Combat Casting, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/4; save DC 13 + spell
level): 0 – detect magic, light, mage hand, message, read
magic, touch of fatigue; 1st – cause fear, mage armor, magic
missile; 2nd – scorching ray.
Possessions: masterwork dagger, bracers of armor +1,
potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of nondetection, ring
of protection +1, arcane scroll of phantasmal killer (7th level
caster), arcane scroll of dominate person (9th level caster).
APL 4
ENCOUNTER 9
Kanner Prop: CR 7; Huge Construct; HD 16d10+40;
hp 150; Init -1; Spd 30 ft. fly 10 ft. (Clumsy); AC 13,
touch 7, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +12; Grp +26; Atk +16
melee (2d6+9, slam); Full Atk +16 melee (2d6+9, slam);
Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA Trample, eye fire; SQ
Construct traits, hardness 5; AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +4,
Will +0; Str 22, Dex 8, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1.
Eye Fire (Ex): The Kanner Prop can project a 10-
foot cone of fire from its eyes once every 2d4 rounds.
Damage 2d6 fire, Reflex DC 18 half. The save DC is
Con-based.
ENCOUNTER 13
Nicholar: Male human Sor6; CR 6; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 6d4+6; hp 23; Init +1; Spd 30
ft; AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +3; Grp +4;
Atk +5 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +5 melee
(1d4+1/19-20, dagger); SA -; SQ -; AL LE; SV Fort +3,
Ref +3, Will +5; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10,
Cha 17.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +12, Concentration +10,
Knowledge (arcana) +8, Perform (act) +7, Perform
(dance) +6, Spellcraft +9; Combat Casting, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Spell Focus (necromancy).
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/6/4; save DC 13 + spell
level, 14 + spell level for necromancy spells): 0 – detect
magic, ghost sound, light, mage hand, message, read magic,
touch of fatigue; 1st – cause fear, disguise self, mage armor,
magic missile; 2nd – invisibility, scorching ray; 3rd - lightning
bolt.
Possessions: masterwork dagger, amulet of natural
armor +1, bracers of armor +1, potion of barkskin +2, potion
of cure moderate wounds, potion of nondetection, ring of
protection +1, arcane scroll of phantasmal killer (7th level
caster), arcane scroll of dominate person (9th level caster).
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 26
APL 6
ENCOUNTER 9
Kanner Prop: CR 9; Huge Construct; HD 24d10+40;
hp 210; Init -1; Spd 30 ft. fly 10 ft. (Clumsy); AC 13,
touch 7, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +18; Grp +32; Atk +24
melee (2d6+12, slam); Full Atk +24 melee (2d6+12,
slam); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA Trample, eye fire;
SQ Construct traits, hardness 10; AL N; SV Fort +8, Ref
+7, Will +3; Str 26, Dex 8, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1.
Trample (Ex): The Kanner Prop can trample
creatures of Medium size or smaller, dealing damage
equal to it's slam damage +1-1/2 times its Strength
bonus. Opponents who do not make attacks of
opportunity against the Kanner Construct can attempt
Reflex saves (DC 10 + 1/2 creature's HD + creature's Str
modifier) to halve the damage. Damage for this attack
is 2d6+12, and the save DC is 30.
Eye Fire (Ex): The Kanner Prop can project a 10-
foot cone of fire from its eyes once every 2d4 rounds.
Damage 3d6 fire, Reflex DC 22 half. The save DC is
Con-based.
ENCOUNTER 13
Nicholar: Male human Sor8; CR 8; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 8d4+8; hp 30; Init +1; Spd 30
ft; AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +4; Grp +5;
Atk +6 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +6 melee
(1d4+1/19-20, dagger); SA -; SQ -; AL LE; SV Fort +3,
Ref +3, Will +6; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10,
Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +15, Concentration +12,
Knowledge (arcana) +10, Perform (act) +9, Perform
(dance) +7, Spellcraft +11; Combat Casting, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Spell Focus (necromancy).
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/6/4; save DC 14 + spell
level, 15 + spell level for necromancy spells): 0 – acid
splash, detect magic, ghost sound, light, mage hand, message,
read magic, touch of fatigue; 1st – cause fear, color spray,
disguise self, mage armor, magic missile; 2nd – ghoul touch,
invisibility, scorching ray; 3rd - lightning bolt, ray of
exhaustion; 4th - phantasmal killer.
Possessions: masterwork dagger, amulet of natural
armor +1, bracers of armor +2, potion of barkskin +2, potion
of cure moderate wounds, ring of mind shielding, ring of
protection +1, arcane scroll of phantasmal killer (7th level
caster), arcane scroll of dominate person (9th level caster).
APL 8
ENCOUNTER 9
Kanner Prop: CR 11; Huge Construct; HD 32d10+40;
hp 270; Init -1; Spd 30 ft. fly 10 ft. (Clumsy); AC 13,
touch 7, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +24; Grp +42; Atk +32
melee (2d6+15, slam); Full Atk +32 melee (2d6+15,
slam); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA Trample, eye fire;
SQ Construct traits, hardness 10; AL N; SV Fort +10,
Ref +9, Will +4; Str 30, Dex 8, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1.
Trample (Ex): The Kanner Prop can trample
creatures of Medium size or smaller, dealing damage
equal to it's slam damage +1-1/2 times its Strength
bonus. Opponents who do not make attacks of
opportunity against the Kanner Construct can attempt
Reflex saves (DC 10 + 1/2 creature's HD + creature's Str
modifier) to halve the damage. Damage for this attack
is 2d6+15, and the save DC is 36.
Eye Fire (Ex): The Kanner Prop can project a 10-
foot cone of fire from its eyes once every 2d4 rounds.
Damage 4d6 fire, Reflex DC 26 half. The save DC is
Con-based.
ENCOUNTER 13
Nicholar: Male human Sor10; CR 10; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 10d4+10; hp 38; Init +1; Spd
30 ft; AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +5; Grp
+6; Atk +7 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +7
melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); SA -; SQ -; AL LE; SV Fort
+4, Ref +4, Will +7; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis
10, Cha 20.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +18, Concentration +14,
Knowledge (arcana) +12, Perform (act) +11, Perform
(dance) +8, Spellcraft +13; Combat Casting, Greater
Spell Focus (necromancy), Point Blank Shot, Precise
Shot, Spell Focus (necromancy).
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/8/7/7/6/4; save DC 15 +
spell level, 17 + spell level for necromancy spells): 0 –
acid splash, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, light, mage hand,
message, read magic, touch of fatigue; 1st – cause fear, color
spray, disguise self, mage armor, magic missile; 2nd – false life,
ghoul touch, invisibility, scorching ray; 3rd - dispel magic,
lightning bolt, ray of exhaustion; 4th - Evard's black tentacles,
phantasmal killer; 5th - hold monster.
Possessions: masterwork dagger, amulet of natural
armor +1, bracers of armor +2, cloak of charisma +2, potion of
barkskin +2, potion of cure moderate wounds, ring of mind
shielding, ring of protection +1, ring of sustenance, arcane
scroll of phantasmal killer (7th level caster), arcane scroll of
dominate person (9th level caster).
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 27
APL 10
ENCOUNTER 9
Kanner Prop: CR 13; Huge Construct; HD 40d10+40;
hp 330; Init -1; Spd 30 ft. fly 10 ft. (Clumsy); AC 13,
touch 7, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +30; Grp +50; Atk +40
melee (2d6+18, slam); Full Atk +40 melee (2d6+18,
slam); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA Trample, eye fire;
SQ Construct traits, hardness 10; AL N; SV Fort +14,
Ref +13, Will +9; Str 34, Dex 8, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha
1.
Trample (Ex): The Kanner Prop can trample
creatures of Medium size or smaller, dealing damage
equal to it's slam damage +1-1/2 times its Strength
bonus. Opponents who do not make attacks of
opportunity against the Kanner Construct can attempt
Reflex saves (DC 10 + 1/2 creature's HD + creature's Str
modifier) to halve the damage. Damage for this attack
is 2d6+18, and the save DC is 42.
Eye Fire (Ex): The Kanner Prop can project a 10-
foot cone of fire from its eyes once every 2d4 rounds.
Damage 5d6 fire, Reflex DC 30 half. The save DC is
Con-based.
ENCOUNTER 13
Nicholar: Male human Sor12; CR 12; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 12d4+12; hp 45; Init +1; Spd
30 ft; AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +6/+1;
Grp +7; Atk +8 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); Full Atk
+8/+3 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); SA -; SQ -; AL LE;
SV Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +8; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int
14, Wis 10, Cha 21.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +20, Concentration +16,
Knowledge (arcana) +14, Perform (act) +12, Perform
(dance) +8, Spellcraft +15; Combat Casting, Greater
Spell Focus (necromancy), Point Blank Shot, Precise
Shot, Spell Focus (necromancy), Spell Penetration.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/8/7/7/7/6/3; save DC 15 +
spell level, 17 + spell level for necromancy spells): 0 –
acid splash, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, light, mage hand,
message, read magic, touch of fatigue; 1st – cause fear, color
spray, disguise self, mage armor, magic missile; 2nd – false life,
ghoul touch, invisibility, mirror image, scorching ray; 3rd -
blink, dispel magic, lightning bolt, ray of exhaustion; 4th -
dimension door, Evard's black tentacles, phantasmal killer;
5th - hold monster, telekinesis; 6th - disintegrate.
Possessions: masterwork dagger, amulet of natural
armor +1, bracers of armor +3, cloak of charisma +2, potion of
barkskin +2, potion of cure moderate wounds, ring of mind
shielding, ring of protection +2, ring of sustenance, arcane
scroll of phantasmal killer (7th level caster), arcane scroll of
dominate person (9th level caster).
APL 12
ENCOUNTER 9
Kanner Prop: CR 15; Huge Construct; HD 48d10+40;
hp 390; Init -1; Spd 30 ft. fly 10 ft. (Clumsy); AC 13,
touch 7, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +36; Grp +58; Atk +48
melee (2d6+21, slam); Full Atk +48 melee (2d6+21,
slam); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA Trample, eye fire;
SQ Construct traits, hardness 15; AL N; SV Fort +16,
Ref +15, Will +11; Str 38, Dex 8, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha
1.
Trample (Ex): The Kanner Prop can trample
creatures of Medium size or smaller, dealing damage
equal to it's slam damage +1-1/2 times its Strength
bonus. Opponents who do not make attacks of
opportunity against the Kanner Construct can attempt
Reflex saves (DC 10 + 1/2 creature's HD + creature's Str
modifier) to halve the damage. Damage for this attack
is 2d6+21, and the save DC is 48.
Eye Fire (Ex): The Kanner Prop can project a 10-
foot cone of fire from its eyes once every 2d4 rounds.
Damage 6d6 fire, Reflex DC 34 half. The save DC is
Con-based.
ENCOUNTER 13
Nicholar: Male human Sor14; CR 14; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 14d4+14; hp 53; Init +1; Spd
30 ft; AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +7/+2;
Grp +8; Atk +9 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); Full Atk
+9/+4 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); SA -; SQ -; AL LE;
SV Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +9; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int
14, Wis 10, Cha 23.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +23, Concentration +18,
Knowledge (arcana) +16, Perform (act) +14, Perform
(dance) +9, Spellcraft +17; Combat Casting, Greater
Spell Focus (necromancy), Point Blank Shot, Precise
Shot, Spell Focus (necromancy), Spell Penetration.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/8/8/7/7/7/6/3; save DC 16
+ spell level, 18 + spell level for necromancy spells): 0 –
acid splash, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, light, mage hand,
message, read magic, touch of fatigue; 1st – cause fear, color
spray, disguise self, mage armor, magic missile; 2nd – false life,
ghoul touch, invisibility, mirror image, scorching ray; 3rd -
blink, dispel magic, lightning bolt, ray of exhaustion; 4th -
dimension door, enervation, Evard's black tentacles,
phantasmal killer; 5th - dominate person, hold monster,
telekinesis; 6th - disintegrate, globe of invulnerability; 7th -
finger of death.
Possessions: masterwork dagger, amulet of natural
armor +1, bracers of armor +3, cloak of charisma +4, potion of
barkskin +2, potion of cure moderate wounds, ring of mind
shielding, ring of protection +2, ring of sustenance, arcane
scroll of phantasmal killer (7th level caster), arcane scroll of
dominate person (9th level caster).
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 28
DM AID – THE PELLAK GRAND THEATER
The Pellak Grand Theater, when completed, will be the
finest theater in the March of Bissel.
Please refer to DM Aid – Map #1 – Map of the Pellak
Grand Theater.
A) North Facade
This side of the building is nondescript, looking like any
one of the nearby warehouses. This side does not bare any
markings or signs to indicate the buildings purpose.
B) Backstage Foyer
This entrance bustles with activity. Cast and crew
members enter and leave the building here, and
deliveries are often received here during the day.
C) Backstage
This large chamber is constantly full will cast and crew
coming and going. The floor and walls are noticeably
plain and unadorned.
D) Stage
This is where the musical is intended to be performed. A
huge red velvet curtain spans the south end of this room,
separating the stage from the audience. Bolted to the
adjacent walls are tall ladders that go up to a maze of
catwalks, fifty feet above the stage floor.
During performances, a heavy black curtain (indicated on
the map by a dotted line) is lowered from above,
separating the stage area into two distinct sections. The
section containing the doors to backstage is often
referred to as the “wings”, and it provides a buffer
between the stage and the noise of backstage.
E) Orchestra Pit
This shallow pit is where the orchestra is located, during
a performance.
F) Common Seats
These rows of seats make up the majority of the audience.
Priced for the average citizen, they cost a silver piece per
ticket.
G) Balconies
These private balconies are reserved for the wealthy and
prestigious members of the audience. The balconies
farthest from the stage cost ten gold pieces to reserve,
while the closest ones cost ten times that amount.
H) Main Entry
Here is where patrons enter the theater. The marble floor
is inlaid with a mosaic of the March of Bissel crest.
Tapestries depict various scenes of the muses dancing
and playing. Small booths by the door sell tickets for the
common seats.
I) South Facade
This side of the building is lavish, built from fine white
marble, accented with dark grey granite.
During performances, the area before the front of the
building is lit by ornamental continual flame torches
with deep red flames. An observant patron might notice
that the color scheme of the theater facade and torches is
the same as the colors in the March of Bissel crest. This
was intended by its designers.
J) Balcony Hallways
These passages lead from the main entry to the balconies.
They are decorated similarly to the main entry. Tapestries
hang from the outside walls.
If the tapestries are lifted, one can find locked service
doors that lead to Area K.
K) Concealed Doors
These passageways lead to the various offices and
dressing rooms of the theater.
One wall of each passageway contains three service doors
that lead to Area J. From this side, these doors are plainly
visible, and do not require a key to open.
L) Producer’s Office
A sign on this office indicates that it is currently
occupied by Estander, the writer and producer of the
musical. It contains a desk, several chairs, and a small
folding cot (Estander sometimes stays here after long
nights). Script drafts and theater diagrams can be found
in piles on the desk and floor.
M) Lead Stage Manager’s Office
A sign on this office indicates that it is currently
occupied by Barton, the Lead Stage Manager. However,
the room is essentially empty (except for dust). Barton
spends all of his work time around the stage and
backstage areas, and never uses the office he was
provided.
N) Prop Manager’s Office
A sign on this office indicates that it is currently
occupied by Jamin, the Prop Manager. It contains a desk
and chairs, and several crates full of design specifications
and schematics. The desk is covered in correspondence
between Jamin and her prop manufacturers.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 29
O) Wardrobe Manager’s Office
A sign on this office indicates that it is currently
occupied by Gregan, the Lead Stage Manager. Unlike the
other offices, it is well decorated. A throw rug adorns the
floor, there are several paintings on the wall, and each
corner sports a potted plant.
P) Dressing Rooms
Sign on each of the doors to these rooms indicate that
they are dressing rooms belonging to some significant
actor within the production. Each contains an armoire, a
small desk and mirror, and a comfortable chair.
Q) Lead Actor’s Dressing Room
This does not appear any different that the other dressing
rooms, other than being slightly larger. There is nothing
of interest here until Encounter 13.
R) Lavatories
These lavatories serve the needs of both cast and crew.
S) Wardrobe Storage
These storage rooms house the thousands of costumes
(and replacements) needed for the musical.
T) Burnt Wardrobe Storage
This room contained costumes, until it was struck by a
fire. It is detailed in Encounter 4.
U) Scenery Storage
This large storage room contains the dozens of large
illusory scenery panels used in the musical. It is detailed
in Encounter 3.
V) Prop Storage
These storage rooms contain all of the miscellaneous
props needed for the musical. They are meticulously
sorted and arranged.
W) Makeup Rooms
These rooms contain rows of makeup tables and mirrors,
but otherwise, little of interest. Cast members come here
to have their makeup applied before and during a show.
X) Miscellaneous Storage
These storage rooms have not been assigned a purpose
for this production. However, at any given point one can
find a number of crates and pallets here, awaiting more
permanent storage elsewhere.
Y) Tainted Air Vent
This wall contains on of the many large ventilation ducts
that provides the audience with fresh air. This one is the
subject of Encounter 8.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 30
DM AID – MAP #1 – THE PELLAK GRAND THEATER
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 31
DM AID – MAP #2 – THEATER SIDE VIEW
DM AID – MAP #3 – ENCOUNTER 9 COMBAT
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 32
DM AID – MAP #4 – ENCOUNTER 13 COMBAT
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 33
PLAYER HANDOUT #1 –THE PELLAK GRAND THEATER MAP
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 34
PLAYER HANDOUT #2 – THE NOTE FROM ESTANDER
My most esteemed colleagues:
It has come to my attention that, during the night, two more
incidents have been discovered. Understand that I hold you at
no fault − I could not expect you to jump right in to the
situation, and immediately solve all of our problems.
I ask that you please include these two locations in your
investigations.
First, something has occurred with part of the lighting system.
I’ve been told that one of its parts fell to the stage below, and
was destroyed.
Second, several crew members have reported a foul odor near
the rear of the common seating. I’ve dispatched someone from
the maintenance crew to take a look, but I’d feel much
better if you did, as well.
Please let me know if you learn anything of substance.
Regards,
Estander
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 35
PLAYER HANDOUT #3 – THE NOTE FROM LADY SARALIND
Dear Estander:
Word has gotten to me of the patriotic work you have been doing, in the guise of
theater. As well, I have heard of the troubles you have faced.
Current events have certainly cast a depressing spell over the minds of our
people. However, the worse it has gotten, the brighter by contrast have shined
our heroes. I am of the mind that our people would be better spending their
energies focusing on the valiant deeds of these beacons, rather than the
darkness around them. Your work is a laudable step in that direction.
I understand that the families that had initially promised funding have reneged
on the arrangement. I have made plans with high priestess Jorollane, of the
church of Zilchus. Between our personal pecuniary assets, you will have
everything you need to finish your work.
In return, I ask but a single request. I wish to attend the opening night
performance, to see the fruits of your labors. I would appreciate it greatly if a
balcony were reserved for my use.
May the Archpaladin bless and strengthen your endeavors.
Viscountess Saralind Markavan
Regent of the March of Bissel
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 36
PLAYER HANDOUT #4 – EXCERPTS FROM NICHOLAR’S
JOURNAL
An entry, dated about fifteen weeks ago:
Ahh, a wonderful day ! Today I was formally offered the role of lead actor in
that new play in Pellak . Not that I doubted for a moment that I would receive
it.
An entry, dated about fourteen weeks ago:
Having looked over the entire script, I must say I am surprised . I’ve played
villains before ... masterfully . But this Evard is a different sort . Like any
professional, I will research the role before attempting to take it on . Tomorrow
I leave for Rhomstaff, once the barony controlled by the man I shall portray.
An entry, dated about twelve weeks ago:
Yes, I will obey. I must obey. I never realized how wrong I... Yes, I will obey. I can
feel them in my mind. They are teaching me to be powerful. His minions are
making me stronger. But they are watching me. Commanding me . Cause chaos
in the March of Bissel? How do I do that? I must think on this...
An entry, dated about nine weeks ago:
I have it! And just in time, for it appears my education is complete. What is
more important to the people of Bissel than their theater? It is so obvious! I shall
return to Pellak and the production, and I shall make the people suffer by
keeping them from ever seeing the musical reach the stage. My masters will be
pleased, I just know it!
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 37
An entry, dated five days ago:
It seems my mischief has finally struck a chord. I have heard that Estander
has hired outsiders to investigate our ‘bad luck’. I wonder what triggered this
response. Surely not the fire? Potentially damaging, yes, but how was I supposed
to know the blasted costumes would be missing? It must have been the scenery.
Yes, that must have been expensive.
An entry, dated three days ago:
These newcomers may as yet pose a problem. I think my biggest handicap,
however, is the bumbling idiot I chose to enslave. First, he pours the unguent I
gave him too close to the vent mouth, so it is obvious. Then, he knocks one of the
stage lights lose while rigging it. Good help is so hard to find.
No matter. I have something a bit bigger in mind, for today.
An entry, dated two days ago. The handwriting is noticeably shaky, as if the writer was excited:
A new opportunity has presented itself. Through it, I can better fulfill my
mission. As well, pursuing it means that I will no longer seek to harm the
production. All the better for my interests.
The most recent entry, dated today:
The time has finally arrived. Tonight, my genius will be recognized twice. I
will command the stage, and prove myself to be the strongest actor to ever
seize the spotlight. And I will fulfill the mission I have been questing after for
nearly two months. I will slay the Regent of Bissel.
BIS5-01 That’s Rhomstaff!
Page 38
CRITICAL EVENT SUMMARY – BIS5-01 THAT’S RHOMSTAFF!
1) Did the PCs defeat Nicholar?
2) Was the Regent injured in the final combat?
3) Did the cast get a standing ovation on opening night?
4) If so, did any of the PCs accept the invitation to tour with
the production? How many accepted?
If you run this adventure in February or March 2005, please e-mail the results from this critical event summary to a
member of the Bissel Triad by April 1, 2005, or have your Senior Gamemaster do so.
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/EXTRAS/Greyhawk/Living Greyhawk - RPGA/BIS (March of Bissel)/BIS5-01 That's Rhomstaff! (3E).pdf |
ДИКАРЬ (WILDEN)
ДИКАРИ ПРИШЛИ ИЗ СТРАНЫ ФЕЙ лишь недавно, чтобы
сражаться с искажающим влиянием Дальнего Предела. Они
еще новички в этом мире, и ищут свое место среди других
существ. Одни обращаются к руководству эльфов, дварфов
и эладринов. Другие же менее цивилизованны и копируют
поведение диких животных. Последние представляют
собой смертельную угрозу для искателей приключений.
Они
территориальные,
агрессивные
и
не
любят
посторонних.
Подобные
особенности
приводят
к
вооруженным
столкновениям
между
дикарями
и
исследователями, вторгшимися на их территорию.
Знания о Дикарях
Природа Сл 17: Племена дикарей полагаются на своих
старейшин. У дикарей мало знаний об обществе, на
которые они могли бы опираться, принимая решение или
строя планы относительно будущего. Из-за этого дикари
могут стать угрозой, когда переселяются на новую
территорию. Группа лесорубов может быть ошибочно
принята за группу грабителей, которая должна быть
уничтожена, а охотник, вошедший на территорию дикарей,
рискует жизнью. Также, дикари уязвимы к харизматичным,
манипулирующим народам, которые могли бы склонить их
ко злу.
Лучший способ повлиять на племя дикарей и отвернуть
его от пути зла, это убедить старейшин найти другой путь
для действий. Старейшины могут потребовать пройти
испытание
или
какое-либо
другое
доказательство
мастерства, как, например, уничтожение зеленого дракона,
угрожающего лесу. Хоть подобное задание может быть
смертельным,
его
выполнение
обеспечит
дружбу
с
дикарями.
Сцены Столкновений
Будучи существами новыми для мира, дикари привлекают
разношерстных союзников. Многие из них сражаются бок о
бок с эльфами, эладринами и дварфами, чтобы защитить
свой дом, Страну Фей. В некоторых местах дикари
попадают под влияние фоморов, ксивортов и других злых
существ, становясь такими же злыми, как и их союзники.
В большинстве племен дикарей держат охотничьих
животных, особенно волков, дрейков и пауков.
Дикарь Разрушитель
Воины племен дикарей владеют искусно вырезанными
боевыми дубинами, которые отражают их прошлые бои и
поступки. Каждый раз, когда разоритель выживает в бою, он
размышляет над столкновением, вырезая изображение или
символ сражения на его оружии.
Дикарь Разрушитель
Уровень 2 Солдат
Средний фейский гуманоид
125 Опыта
Хиты 39; Ранен 19
Инициатива +4
КД 18; Стойкость 14; Реакция 13; Воля 16
Внимательность +4
Скорость 6
Сумеречное зрение
Особенности
Яростное Возмездие
Всякий раз, когда враг, помеченный разрушителем, совершает
атаку, не включающую разрушителя в качестве цели, разрушитель
получает бонус +4 к броскам атаки и урона против врага, вызвавшего
триггер, до конца следующего хода уничтожителя.
Стандартные Действия
е Палица (оружие) ✦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +7 против КД;
Попадание: 2к4 + 4 урона.
Эффект: Цель становится помеченной до конца следующего хода
разрушителя.
н Ручной Топор (оружие) ✦ Неограниченный
Атака: Дальнобойный 5\10 (одно существо); +7 против КД;
Попадание: 1к6 + 4 урона
Триггеры
У Гнев Разрушителя ✦ На сцену
Триггер: Раненый враг атакует разрушителя или одного из
союзников разрушителя, смежного с ним.
Эффект (Немедленный ответ): Разрушитель атакует вызвавшего
триггер врага палицей. Если атака попадает, то цель также становится
ошеломленной до конца своего следующего хода.
Навыки: Атлетика +9
Сил 16 (+6)
Лов 13 (+2)
Мдр 16 (+4)
Тел 15 (+3)
Инт 10 (+1)
Хар 11 (+1)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: Общий, Эльфийский
Снаряжение: доспех из шкур, палица, 3 ручных топора
Тактика Дикаря Разрушителя
Будучи воинами племени, дикари разрушители ищут самых
сильных
противников.
Они
гордятся
своими
мужественными, наполненными мастерством деяниями,
оставляя о них метки на своем оружии. Если несколько
разрушителей сражаются вместе, то они предпочитают
поделить врагов между собой. Для разрушителя битва один
на
один
является
наилучшей
мерой
мастерства.
Разрушители нападают группой только на врага, который
больше их в размере или если численность врага слишком
мала.
Дикарь Охотник
Дикари – лесные существа, они отличные охотники и
ищейки. Путешественники могут идти через лес несколько
дней, не подозревая, что дикари охотники идут по их
следам.
Дикарь Охотник
Уровень 2 Соглядатай
Средний фейский гуманоид
125 Опыта
Хиты 33; Ранен 16
Инициатива +8
КД 16; Стойкость 13; Реакция 15; Воля 14
Внимательность +9
Скорость 6
Сумеречное зрение
Особенности
Камуфляж
Охотник может совершить проверку Скрытности чтобы скрыться,
обладая покровом или укрытием вместо полного покрова или
отличного укрытия.
Снайпер
Если
охотник
промахивается
дальнобойной
атакой,
будучи
скрытным, то он остается скрытным.
Скрытный Выстрел
Охотник дополнительно наносит 5 урона врагам, от которых он
скрылся.
Стандартные Действия
е Короткий Меч (оружие) ✦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +7 против КД;
Попадание: 1к6 + 5 урона.
н Длинный Лук (оружие) ✦ Неограниченный
Атака: Дальнобойный 20\40 (одно существо); +7 против КД;
Попадание: 1к10 + 3 урона.
Триггеры
Преследование Охотника ✦ Неограниченный
Триггер: Враг заканчивает свое движение в пределах 2 клеток от
охотника.
Эффект (Немедленный ответ): Охотник совершает шаг на 3
клетки. До конца следующего хода охотника его дальнобойные атаки
против вызвавшего триггер врага наносят 5 урона дополнительно и
игнорируют покров или укрытие.
Навыки: Атлетика +6, Скрытность +9
Сил 11 (+1)
Лов 16 (+4)
Мдр 17 (+4)
Тел 15 (+3)
Инт 11 (+11)
Хар 10 (+1)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: Общий, Эльфийский
Снаряжение: длинный лук, короткий меч, кожаная броня, 20 стрел
Тактика Дикаря Охотника
Охотники предпочитают устраивать засады на врагов. Они
находят лучшие места вдоль дороги, а затем выжидают
там, иногда по нескольку дней. Охотники – великолепные
стрелки и прибегают к своим мечам только в крайне
отчаянных случаях.
Дикарь Старейший
Дикари относятся к своим шаманам как к старейшинам.
Согласно преданиям дикарей, старейший может направить
свой разум обратно, вспять, сквозь общую историю Страны
Фей и некоторых регионов мира. Когда старейший таким
образом
проходит
через
один
из
своих
трансов,
деятельность племени останавливается. Старейший всегда
просыпается с важным пророчеством, которое направляет
деятельность племени.
Дикарь Старейший
Уровень 4 Артиллерия (Лидер)
Средний фейский гуманоид
175 Опыта
Хиты 45; Ранен 22
Инициатива +2
КД 16; Стойкость 13; Реакция 12; Воля 15
Внимательность +11
Скорость 6
Сумеречное зрение
Стандартные Действия
е Копье (оружие) ✦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +9 против КД;
Попадание: 1к8 урона, и один союзник, смежный с целью, может
совершить стандартную рукопашную атаку свободным действием
против цели с бонусом +4 к броску атаки.
н Призрачная Лоза (инструмент) ✦ Неограниченный
Атака: Дальнобойный 20 (одно существо); +9 против Реакции;
Попадание: 1к8 + 7, и старейший притягивает цель на 2 клетки.
й Грохочущая Земля (инструмент) ✦ Перезарядка 5 6
Атака: Зональная вспышка 1 в 10 (все существа в зоне); +9 против
Воли;
Попадание: 1к6 + 4 урона, и цель становится обездвиженной
(спасение оканчивает).
й Шторм Молний (инструмент, электричество) ✦ На сцену
Атака: Зональная вспышка 1 в 20 (все враги в зоне); +9 против
Стойкости;
Попадание: 3к6 + 4 урона электричеством.
Промах: Половина урона.
Малые Действия
Мудрость Старейшего ✦ Неограниченный
Эффект: Один союзник, находящийся в пределах 5 клеток от
старейшего, получает бонус таланта +2 к броскам атаки до конца
своего следующего хода.
Триггеры
Пути Древних (телепортация) ✦ На сцену
Триггер: Старейший попадает по врагу ближней или зональной
атакой.
Эффект (Свободное действие): Старейший телепортируется на 3
клетки. Один враг, по выбору старейшего, по которому попала атака,
предоставляет боевое превосходство до конца следующего хода
старейшего.
Навыки: История+9, Магия +9, Природа +11
Сил 12 (+3)
Лов 10 (+2)
Мдр 19 (+6)
Тел 15 (+4)
Инт 15 (+4)
Хар 14 (+4)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: Общий, Эльфийский
Снаряжение: доспех из шкур, копье, тотем
Тактика Дикаря Старейшего
Старейшие
почти
всегда
ходят
в
сопровождении
нескольких разрушителей, которые служат в качестве
телохранителей. Старейшие сражаются рядом с передними
рядами союзников, но достаточно далеко от врагов, чтобы
использовать свои дальнобойные и зональные атаки без
опасения, что они вызовут провоцированную атаку. Когда
старейший сражается, он выкрикивает слова поддержки,
предрекая победу, а также помогая тактическими советами.
| textdata/thevault/Подземелья и драконы [RU]/ДнД 4/Основные книги/Бестиари/Бестиарий 3/Дикарь.pdf |
01005
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Grenades have long been a staple of military arms, dating back to the
earliest days of firearms. However, with World War One, there was a
revolution in grenade technology, moving it from a short range hand
thrown weapon to a long range weapon propelled by the gasses of a
blank rifle cartridge. The evolution of the grenade continued through the
Twentieth Century, leading to alternatives to simply exploding and ulti-
mately, to the spin stabilized grenade.
Currently, military theory is entering retrograde in regards to grenade
use. For 40 years, the spin stabilized grenade has been seen as the
most useful format for grenade use, providing ten times the range a man
can throw, with relative accuracy.
However, in many conflicts over that time, rifle grenades have proven to
be a deciding factor in a battle, thanks to both superior payload and
range compared with the spin stabilized types. So while first world
armies remain equipped with spin stabilized grenade systems, like the
M203, other nations are opting to use rifle grenades, which are cheaper
to employ and easier to train.
Along with these three delivery methods, there are a vast number of
different types of grenades as well.
Anti-Personnel: Grenades designed to injure or kill enemy troops, typi-
cally fragmentary in nature.
Anti-Tank: Grenades designed for use against vehicles and armor. Al-
most universally consisting of grenades with HEAT warheads.
AP/AV: Dual purpose grenades designed for anti-personnel use, as well
as being effective against lightly armored vehicles. Typically, they use a
combination fragmentary and hollow charge warhead.
Defensive: This is a grenade designed for maximum fragmentation, to
induce as many injuries as possible.
Flashbang: Designed to produce a brilliantly blinding flash, an extremely
loud bang, and a pressure wave which stun anything alive in the blast
radius. Designed to be completely consumed in the detonation so that no
fragment projection occurs.
Fragmentation: Another name for Defensive type grenades.
Gas: Grenades designed to deliver some form of chemical weapon. Gas
grenades often share body types with smoke grenades.
Illumination: A grenade designed to create an intensely bright light ca-
pable of brightly illuminating an area tens of meters across or more. Most
are designed to be projected high into the air, where they ignite and
slowly fall to the ground by parachute.
Incendiary: These grenades are designed to burn at incredibly high tem-
peratures, useful for destroying equipment and starting fires.
Offensive: This is a thin shelled grenade, designed to produce a big bang
but reduce fragment projection. They are designed more to shock than
wound. Predecessor to flashbang and stun grenades.
Offensive/Defensive: A Offensive grenade can be greatly enhanced in
power by putting a prefragmented metal sleeve around it, so that deto-
nating the grenade shatters the sleeve and produces greatly enhanced
wounding. Many nations rely on this design type for individual mission
flexibility, rather than fielding two separate designs.
Polyvalent: The “universal” grenade. First appearing in Italian hands dur-
ing World War II, these are modular systems designed primarily as a hand
grenade, but with a rifle launcher attachment that can be added to the
grenade.
Signaling: Grenades designated for use as a signaling device between
multiple ground unit or for ground-to-air signalling. Most Illuminating and
Smoke type grenades are dual purposed for signal use as well as their
primary function.
Smoke: Grenades designed to emit a significant quantity of dense, opaque
smoke which can obscure friendly movements.
Stun: Predecessor to the flashbang, these grenades were designed to
produce pressure waves, in hopes that the effect would easily stun an
opponent. Later development lead to the much more effective flashbang
grenades.
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This is the second of the three FM rifle grenades, designed for
armor piercing effect. The 58mm diameter aluminum body is filled with a
n RDX/TNT shaped charge warhead, capable of cutting through up to
230mm of armor.
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This is a rifle grenade, part of a line developed to be launched
from any 7.62x51mm caliber rifle that has been fitted with the proper
22mm diameter muzzle adapter. This particular variant is a dual-pur-
posed weapon for anti-personnel and light anti-vehicular use (AP/AV).
Built of a 40mm diameter steel body filled with an RDX/TNT shaped charge
warhead, the weapon can penetrate up to 125mm of armor. Detonation
also fragments the steel body, producing a lethal radius of 15 meters.
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This grenade is a sperical or baseball
type with an unusually large fuse structure.
With a body of cast nodular iron alloy and the
large aluminum fuse body, the weapon pro-
duces an impressive level of fragments of 3 to
5 grams in weight, with a 5 meter casualty ra-
dius. The large fuse body also facilitates linking
with a separate rifle launcher assembly. This
launcher is a separate package, complete with
propellant cartridge. The unit fits over the muzzle
of the Aregntinian FAL clone without need for
an adapter, and operates with the rifle’s gas vent plug closed. Weighing
in at 285 grams, a soldier can hurl the grenade about 40 meters, or
launch it from his rifle to a range of up to 400 meters.
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The third of the FM rifle grenades manufactured for the Argen-
tine military, the rifle grenade is designed for illumination. Designed to be
fired upwards, the grenade will provide 100,000 candela illumination in a
30 meter radius as it slowly descends to the ground.
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These grenades, a product of
Australia’s largest defense contractor, are
rather unusual in design, with the general
shape of a shotgun slug projectile. With the
fuse mounted on the flat surface of the gre-
nade, the weapon’s 70 gram high explosive
core of RDX and wax detonates to disperse
over 4,000 2.4mm steel pellets over an area
of up to 30 meters. Like most new grenade
designs, the F1 can be fitted with a tail as-
sembly and booster for launching from any
rifles based on the Steyr AUG or Colt M16
designs. To fit the projector assembly, the
striker for hand use is removed and replaced
with the tail assembly then slipped over the
rifle muzzle. When use like this, the grenade has a range of up to 200
meters.
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Designed for the Russian 40mm grenade launcher systems, including the
Soviet era GP-25 and GP-30 launchers and the newer GP-95 and GP-97
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models. This is a direct fire round which launches a rubber baton at the
target, essentially a nonlethal round for law enforcement use.
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This particular model of grenade is among
the oldest weapons still in service with the Russian
military. While the weapon is no longer a front line
weapon for any nation other than Poland, the F1 or
clones of it can often be found in the hands of under-
ground organizations ranging from revolutionaries to
organized crime to terrorists.
The F-1 is formed of a notched cast iron
body, giving it the classic pineapple look of the U.S.
Mark 2 and British No. 36 hand grenades.Filled with
60 grams of TNT, the grenade performs impressively,
with a casualty radius greatly exceeding many newer
types of grenades.
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The GRD-40 is a smoke producing round developed for the GP
series underbarrel grenade launchers. The grenades produce thick smoke
to screen troop movements. The smoke compound is effective at block-
ing IR spectrum light, rendering some night vision equipment useless.
Burning for three seconds, the grenade produced a cloud of smoke over
15,000 cubic feet in volume (think of a cube, 25x25x25 meters). This
smoke screen will last at least 60 seconds in windspeeds of up to 5m/s
or 11 mph.
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This grenade is similar to the GDR-40, but is instead filled with
CS compound and the necessary incendiary compound to vaporize it.
Like the GRD-40, it is a spin-stabilized grenade launched from the GP
series grenade launchers (GP-25, GP-30, GP-95 and GP-97) as well as
the RG-6 multi-shot launcher.
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Like the F-1, the RG-42 Offensive Hand
Grenade dates back to the Great Patriotic War of
1941-1945, otherwise known as World War II. For
the most part, it is now considered obsolete, though
it is recently in manufacture with Romania, Poland,
and China. One or more may still make the grenade.
Despite the age and unsophistication of the design, it
is still commonly encountered almost anywhere, es-
pecially in Africa and the Balkans. The design is quite
simple, made of a sheet metal cannister filled with
explosives, with a bouchon igniter screwed into the
top.
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First adopted around 1948, this was another excellent ex-
ample of an inexpensive, functional weapon that the Soviets had be-
come reknowned for during World War II.The RGD-1 is made of a gray
carboard tube, which is fitted with a wooden diaphram at the wide end
and the igniter tube in the middle. The grenade is filled with smoke com-
pound, fitted with another wooden diaphragm at the smaller diameter
end, capped with carboard plugs at each end and wax sealed. To use,
the match head striker is rubbed to ignite the three igniter pellets, then the
grenade is thrown. Unlike its descnedant grenades, this model could
float on water and produce smoke while doing so. The RDG-1 is easily
recognizable by both its gray color and its resemblance in shape to a
large, necked down cartridge case.
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The RDG-2 smoke grenade has been
in use with the Eastern Block nations since the
1950’s. While a tactical grenade for screening
the movements of small units, it is also one of the
simplest and least expensive grenades in pro-
duction, an excellent example of Russian prag-
matism. It consists of a cardboard tube filled with
smoke producing burning type filler and a simple
friction igniter, all sealed in wax to make it resis-
tant to dampness. The grenade burns for about
15 seconds to produce a cloud of thick white
smoke measuring 20 to 25 meters long and 8
meters wide. The smoke duration is similar to
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that of the GRD-40.
The RGD-2Kh produces an irritant smoke (probably HC-based)
which is primarily used as a training device to simulate a chemical attack.
The RGD-2Ch produces thick black smoke, rather than the normal white
smoke expected from screening grenades. The RGD-3 grenade pro-
duces orange smoke for marking purposes.
����������������������������
The RGD-5 offensive hand grenade is one
of the current, in-service grenades for most of the
former Warsaw Pact nations. This ovoid grenade is
made of a smooth, two piece steel body that is inter-
nally prefragmented. The device is fitted with either a
3-4 second delay fuze, or for use as a boobytrap, an
adjustable fuze with a 0 to 13 second delay. Filled
with 110 grams of TNT, the grenade has an effective
casualty radius of about 20 to 25 meters.
������������������������������������
The Ruchnaya Granata Nastupatel’naya hand grenade, or RGN
is an offensive and defensive use hand grenade, based on a small,
spherical, prefragmented aluminum alloy casing filled
with a high explosive burst charge of 97 grams of A-IX-
1 explosive. The casing is smooth, prefragmented in-
ternally.
The grenade is designed as a “safer” gre-
nade, meant to reduce the number of malfunctioning
explosive devices remaining on the battlefield once the
fight is over. The grenade is fitted with an impact fuse
that becomes active less than two seconds after the
striker is pulled, giving the thrower time to safely throw
the weapon, while a second fuse detonates the device after 4 seconds
if impact fails to detonate it.
�������������������
While considered an updated version of the RGD-5, the RGN-
86 is designed for optimal use in close quarters combat. Though roughly
the same size and shape as the RGD-5, the RGN-86 is significantly
lighter, with an internal prefragmentation pattern designed to produce
small, light, shard-like shrapnel, rather than the larger more lethal frag-
mentation of the RGD-5. The result is a grenade with a small lethal and
casualty radius.
������������������������������
The RGO hand grenade, or Ruchnaya
Granata Oboronitel’naya, is a small fragmentation
hand grenade in use with the RFAS armed forces, as
well as Iraq. Of a design similar in size and shape to
the RGN, this grenade uses a a double-layered,
prefragmented casing to produce significantly more
fragments in comparison. The RGO uses the same
fuze as the RGN.
�����������������������������
The RGO-78 is yet another of the RGD-5 variants, designed to
fit in a slightly fatter ovoid casing. Along with a smooth steel body with
interior prefragmenting, the casing is also lined with a resin matrix em-
bedded with steel balls, producing a larger lethal radius.
������������������������
The RKG-3 is a stick-type anti-tank grenade. The grenade,
once thrown, is stabilized by four panels of fabric drogue which are
pulled from the handle when the grenade is thrown, allowing it to drop
warhead down atop armored vehicles. The original RKG-3, fitted with a
n
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steel cone liner, was capable of penetrating 125mm of armor. The later
generations, the RKG-3M with a copper liner, and the RKG-3T, are both
able to penetrate at least 165mm of armor. This is a hefty grenade with a
short throwing range, so typical use is from behind cover and behind the
target. The grenade does produce fragmentation which can produce
casualties out to 20 meters.
�������������������������
This is a high velocity 30mm grenade cartridge designed for
use with the AGS-17 and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers. These
grenades are part of the recent trend for “safe munitions” that leave few
malfunctioning live round after the battle. The fuze arms 10 to 40 meters
out from the muzzle and is extremely impact sensitive so that it will
detonate when impacting something soft, like snow, marsh or water. The
fuze also initiates a self-destruct no more than 19 seconds after the
grenade is fired.
The 7P9M is a High Explosive Fragmentation grenade (HE-
FRAG), augmented by a layer of steel bearings lining the casing to pro-
duce a casualty radius of up to 7 meters. The 7P36 version instead uses
an optimum mass prefragmented sleeve, resulting in significantly better
fragmentation with slightly more explosive.
Both types feed on a 29-round belt. With ammunition box, the belt weighs
14.5 kg.
�������������������
The VOG-25 is another spin-stabilized grenade for the GP se-
ries of 40mm grenade launchers, replacing its predecessor, the VOG-
15. It is an HE-FRAG grenade, fitted with an impact fuze with self-de-
struct capabilities. The fuze is of the same type used on the VOG-17M
grenades.
��������������������
This is essentially a VOG-25 grenade fitted with a bounding
mechanism. Upon impact, a small charge detonates, propelling the gre-
nade upwards in the air, where the main charge detonates once it is
between 0.5 and 1.5 meters into the air. Aside from a few minor differ-
ences in weight and mechanism, the VOG-25M has similar effect. The
VOG-25 and VOG-25P are easily differentiated visually, as the VOG-25P
is longer, with a more conical nose.
���������������������������������
The ZDP is a rather interesting incendiary smoke grenade, de-
signed for use by assault troops and designed to be light enough to allow
every soldier to carry several of them without being unduly weighed
down. The grenade is assembled from a metal tub with a green cap at
one end and a red cap at the other. Removing the green cap activates the
short delay fuze and the grenade can be thrown to a range of about 30
meters. However, by removing the red cap, a ring and short cord are
exposed. By positioning the grenade against one’s rifle and pulling the
ring, a rocket motor is fired, projecting the grenade a great deal further
than it could be possibly thrown. With the rocket, the grenade can reach
up to 560 meters, though 200 meters is the accepted practical range.
������������������������������������������
These are grenade were common during the Col War, adopted
by most, if not all the Warsaw Pack nations and used throughout the era
of the Soviet empire, and have since become obsolete and fallen into
disuse since the fall of Communism and the collapse of the “Evil Empire”.
While these particular grenades are currently obsolete, they have be-
n
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n
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come mainstays for small, violent factions, from rebels and revolutionar-
ies, to mobsters and terrorists.
����������������
The M75 was a Soviet grenade
used from the mid 1970’s through the 1980’s.
Manufactured with a prefragmented plastic
casing, the grenades appear to be copied
from the HG79, a grenade manufactured by
Austrian manufacturer, Arges. While manu-
factured by a number of Soviet state arse-
nals, the majority of these grenades actu-
ally came out of Bulgaria.
�������������������������
�������
The RDG-33 is a long obsolete Soviet gre-
nade design, dating back to World War II. It is a stick-
type offensive/defensive grenade, made primarily of
an explosive filled tin cylinder, to which a metal throw-
ing handle is attached. In this configuration, the 508
gram grenade can be thrown about 40 meters, and
has a lethal radius of 10 meters. A prefragmented
metal sleev can be fit over the tin cylinder, converting
the grenade to a defensive role. With the metal sleev
and its additional 85 grams of TNT, the RDG-33 in
defensive configuration has a lethal radius of 25
meters, thanks to the massive fragments produced
by the sleeve. However, the throwing range is re-
duced to about 30 meters. While obsolete, the gre-
nade is still common in some areas of the world,
especially southeast asia, where it was quite popu-
lar during the Vietnam War.
����������������������������
The RPG-6 is yet another World War II era grenade that re-
mained in Soviet stockpiles for decades, eventually adopted by the East-
ern Bloc nations and China. By 1980, this anti-tank stick grenade was
long obsolete, relegated to use as a training device, as well as being
distributed for use by revolutionaries and guerillas, as well as being
stockpiled for street-fighting use by militia units.
The grenade shares features with almost all the Soviet anti-
tank grenades, namely the conical warhead, throwing stick handle, and
a drogue of some sort, in this case, four fabric streamer strips to slow
and stabilize the grenade when thrown. It is readily identified by the
hemispherical head on the base of the warhead cone. While the war-
head of 562g of TNT in a cone-shaped liner is capable of penetrating
100mm of armor, it also produces a good fragmentation effect, so it can
be used for anti-personnel use in a pinch.
��������������������������
�������
This grenade, dating back to World War II,
was another example of Russian pragmatism, given
the war conditions. This dual purpose grenade was
little more than a tin can filled with a massive amount
of TNT and fitted with an all-ways impact fuze and a
throwing stick handle with a streamer ribbon. At over
a full kilogram in weight, the grenade produced a
casualty radius of 20 meters, and while useless
against real armor, it was excellent for demolishing
soft skinned and cargo vehicles. While long obsolete
as a front line weapon, the grenade was stockpiled
for use by militia units as late as 1979.
�����������������������������
The RPG-43 was the first Soviet HEAT warhead and the earli-
est of their anti-tank hand grenades. This hefty grenade, once thrown,
was stabilized in flight by two cloth streamers, which ensured the gre-
nade landed warhead down. Impact detonates the grenade, which can
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penetrate up to 75mm of armor. Like most other Soviet era RPG class
grenades, the RPG-43 also produced effective fragmentation. These
grenade were last known to be used in combat by Egyptian troops
involved in the Arab-Israeli war of 1973, and were relegated to the
status of surplus training device by 1980.
�������������
�������������������������
This device, is essentially a 12.5 pound smoke grenade. How-
ever, unlike smoke grenades, this one is set into position and ignited, to
provide a long duration and sizable smoke screen. Once lit, the M1 smoke
pot will burn its 10 lbs of filler for a period of 5 to 8 minutes, providing a
screen of HC smoke that can reach dimensions of up to 20 meters deep,
20 meters high, and 250 meters long.
�������������������������������������
This particular smoke pot is a monstrosity, weighing 38 lbs and
filled with 27.5 lbs of incendiary material. Use to cover water crossings
and amphibious landings, these smoke pots burn for 10 to 15 minutes,
producing a field of HC smoke that can measure 20 x 20 x 500 meters.
�������������������������
This is the hefty big brother of the M1 smoke pot and the M4A2
floating smoke pot. This overweight package is filled with a whopping 31
lbs of smoke generating filler, this smoke pot weighs a total of 33 lbs, as
much as a loaded Vietnam War era M60 medium machine gun. Once
ignited, the pot will burn for 20 to 22 minutes, generating a dense smoke
cloud of up to 25 x 25 x 500 meters in dimension.
��������������������������������
This is another early riot control grenade, using the same sheet
metal body as the M7, but filled with 10.5 ounces of CN-DM mixture. This
17 ounce grenade could be hurled up to 35 meters and produced its
irritant gas cloud for 20 to 60 seconds.
�����������������������������
At some point in the 1960’s, the body of all US gas emitting
grenades was changed. This change affected all burning type riot con-
trol, chemical weapon, and smoke producing grenades, bringing them all
in line to use a cylindrical sheet metal body with four emission holes in the
top and one in the bottom. Functionally, the grenade is identical to the M6,
but weighs 20 ounces and contains 9.5 ounces of CN-DM.
������������������������
�������
This was the earliest of the U.S. military’s
riot control grenades, dating back to the early 1960’s.
The M7 was filled with CN, more commonly known as
Tear Gas. The M7 is assembled of a sheet metal body
of the same dimensions as all other gas and smoke
grenades manufactured by the United States, how-
ever it is readily identified by having six emission
holes in the top and two rows of nine emission holes
along the sides. It is filled with 10.25 ounces of CN
filler, enough to produce an irritant cloud for 20 to 60
seconds. Weighing 17 ounces, the grenade can be
thrown about 35 meters by the average soldier. Iden-
tified by its grey body and red band and markings.
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�����������������������������
This is a revision of the M7 design, switching to the standard
smoke grenade body with four emission holes in the top and one in the
bottom. This also allows the filler capacity to be increased to 12.5 ounces,
increasing the overall weight to 18.5 ounces. However, the filler is still
CN tear gas. Aside from this, the grenade is otherwise functionally iden-
tical to the M7.
����������������������������������
This is one of two such grenades used by the US military. It is
fabricated of a sheet metal body with four emission holes at the top and
one in the bottom and filled with 5.5 ounces of incendiary filler and 3.5
ounces of CS in gealtin capsules, allowing it to burn 15 to 35 seconds.
Weighing 15.5 ounces, this grenade can be hurled up to 50
meters. Both are identified by their gray bodies with red markings.
����������������������������������
This is a variant of the ABC-M7A2, constructed with a pellet-
ized CS compound, rather than the gelatin capsules. The grenade uses
6.5 ounces of incendiary filler and 2.5 ounces of CS compound. Other-
wise, the performance is identical.
�����������������������������������
With the riots, protests, and ac-
tivism through the 1960’s and 70’s, law
Enfocement exposed a flaw in the design
of the M7 series grenades; the enemy can
pick the damned things up and throw them
right back at you. The M25 was the re-
sponse to the problem.
This grenade is a bursting muni-
tion, which produces its cloud of gas in an
instant, rather than over the course of a
minute or two. Weighing only 8 ounces, the
grenade can easily be thrown 50 meters
by the average soldier. When it bursts, it
creates a visible cloud some 5 meters in diameter, though fragments of
the grenade shell can be flung as far as 25 meters. The fragments are
essentially harmless, since the body is made of flimsy plastic or com-
pressed fiber. The grenades are identified by their gay bodies with a red
band and markings. The M25A2 did not have a standard filler, and could
be found containing, CN, CN-DM, or CS filler.
���������������������������������
This grenade is your classic smoke screen device, used by
small units as a signaling and screening device, thanks to the dense
clouds of white smoke it produces. Built much the same as the M7A2 Riot
Control Hand Grenade, this one is filled with 19 ounces of Type C or Type
HC smoke mixture. Weighing 24 ounces, this grenade can only be flung
about 30 meters, and will generate its dense clouds of smoke for 105 to
150 seconds. It needs to be noted that the smoke is thick with hydrochlo-
ric fumes, which will irritate the eyes, throat and lungs, so protective
equipment must be worn if used in an enclosed area. They are identified
by their light green bodies, with black markings and white top.
����������������������������������
This is another grenade with the cylindrical 5.7 inch tall sheet
metal body, the same as the M7 and M8 grenades. This hefty grenade
weighs in at 32 ounces and can only be thrown about 25 meters by the
average soldier. It is filled with 26.5 ounces of TH3 Thermate mixture, an
improved version of the thermite compound that filled incendiary hand
grenades of World War II. This compound will burn for about 40 second
at 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to fuse any metal objects it
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touches and cut through a half inch homogenous steel plate, as well as
bright enough to burn the retinas of anyone looking at it. The compound
produces its own oxygen as it burns, so it can be used underwater with
ease.
They are identified by their grey color with purple markings,
though older units may be light red with black markings, as per standard
color codes.
��������������������������
This is an older predecessor of the M8. While the same physi-
cal size as the M7, M8, and other grenades, this one is filled with 11
ounces of terephthalic acid, which will burn for 25 to 70 seconds. It is
identified by its forest green body, light green markings, white top and
blue band.
����������������������������������
The M15 is a sort of jack of all trades, used for signaling,
screening, and incendiary purposes, as well as offensively. Another
hefty grenade at 31 ounces, it is filled with 15 ounces of white phospho-
rous, enough to spray burning fragments and particules in a 17 meter
radius. Troops need to take cover when using these grenades, as the
average soldier can hurl it 30 meters at best. The filler will burn within the
area for 60 seconds at 5,000 degrees fahrenheit. Unfortunately, this
high temperature causes the smoke generated by the grenade to rise
quickly, especially in cool climates, making it less than desirable as a
screening device. They are identified by their grey base color, with a
single yellow band and markings.
�������������������������
These grenades are used by small units primarily as a signal-
ing device between ground units and air units, marking targets and land-
ing sites. They are also frequently used for screening, since the smoke
is not as hazardous as with the M8 grenades.
The M18 is fabricated with the standard 5.7 inch tall cylindrical
sheet metal body, with four emission holes on top and one on bottom,
filled with 11.5 ounces of smoke compound in either red, green, yellow,
or violet. The grenade, weighing 19 ounces, can be thrown about 35
meters, and will burn for 50 to 90 seconds.
���������������������������������������
This is the third incarnation of the M26
hand grenade. The M26, M26A1 and M26A2
were essentially identical, differning only in the
fuzing mechanism used. Weighing in at 454
grams, they are internally identical in design to
the M61, utilizing both the sheet metal shell and
the prescored steel wire coil lining it to produce
fragmentation with an effective casualty radius
of 15 meters.
Initially developed for deployment dur-
ing the Korean War, it was one of the few rifle-
launchable grenades issued by the U.S. military.
The grenade could be fit into the clamp claws of
a rifle adapter and launched with a blank car-
tridge, reaching a distance of up to 160 meters.
��������������������������
The M33 is an older U.S. hand grenade, designed as an oblate
spheroid steel shell, filled with 184 grams of Composition B explosive.
Fitted with a 4 to 5 second delay pyrotechnic train fuze, this light grenade
can be thrown about 45 meters, with a casualty radius of 15 meters.
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This grenade, though similar in shape and size to the M26, it cannot be
launched from a rifle.
�����������������������������������������
While long obsolete, the M34 was one of the most versatile
grenades manufactured by the United States military. While type classi-
fied as a chemical smoke grenade, the weapon found use for signalling,
screening, fire-starting, and casualty production.
Essentially the same in use and effect as the M15 grenade, the
M34 weighed 27 ounces and was filled with 15 ounces of white phos-
phorous. The grenade can only be hurled 30 meters by the average
soldier, however the grenade has a blast radius of 35 meters, meaning
anyone deploying it needs to by in a covered position, as do any friendly
forces. The fragments will burn for about 60 seconds, latching onto any
clothing of skin as they burn. The fragments burn at 5,000 degrees
Fahrenheit, so in an enclosed or obstructed position, it can be used to
fuse metal objects. The high burn temperature means that the smoke
produced by the grenade tends to rise quickly, making it less than optimal
for screening purposes.
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This is an older grenade, designed very differently from the
M67. Using an egg shape, this grenade consists of an explosive core
which is then wrapped with a prescored wire which produces its frag-
ments, and the fitted inside a sheet metal shell. Weighing in at 16 ounces,
this somewhat more unwieldy hand grenade could be tossed up to 40
meters, with a killing radius of 5 meters and a casualty radius of 15
meters. They were identified by their olive drab body and a single yellow
band around the top, with further markings (lot number, etc) also in
yellow.
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This is one of several fragmentation
hand grenades used by the United States. It is a
simple design, based on a simple 2 1/2 inch di-
ameter steel sphere filled with explosives. The
sphere fragments upon detonation. Weighing a
total of 14 ounces, the grenade can be thrown
a distance of 40 meters by the average soldier,
with a killing radius of 5 meters and casualty
radius of 15 meters or 50 feet. They have an
olive drab green body with a single yellow band
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at the top for identification.
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The M84 is a new grenade, developed at the request of the
Army Military Police Corps, rather than the usual source of development,
SOCOM. The M84 is a non-lethal, low hazard, non-shrapnel producing
device designed to produce a brilliant flash, loud bang of 170 decibels,
and pressure wave, which all combine to confuse, disorient, and mo-
mentarily distract or stun opponents without permanent harm. This is
generated by a flame-consumable fiber shell and 4.5 grams of a pyro-
technic metal-oxidant filler composed of magnesium and ammonium. The
grenade weighs in at 13.2 ounces, and though it could easily be thrown
about 45 yards, is rarely tossed more than a few yards.
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This is an older, obsolete grenade
that was used from the Korean War through
the Vietnam War. The grenade was designed
for signaling and illumination, however, unlike
other grenades for this purpose, it does not
do its job while in flight or descending on a
parachute. The Mk1 burns on the ground.
Wieghing in at 10 ounces, a soldier can easily
hurl the grenade 40 meters. The 3.5 ounces
of illuminating pyrotechnic composition filler
burns for 25 seconds, providing 55,000
candlepower in a 100 meter radius and is hot
enough to be used as an incendiary device.
The grenade also has one of the slowest
fuses used in a grenade, taking a full seven
seconds before detonating. Older MK1 gre-
nades are identified by white bodies with
n
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The MK2 is another obsolete grenade, one of the classic “pine-
apple” grenades. Made with a prefragmented cast iron body, the gre-
nade is filled with either flaked or granular TNT and fitted with a fuse.
This was a dangerous combination, since tightening a loose fuse can
cause the grenade to detonate without ever activating the fuse. Weigh-
ing in at 21 ounces, a soldier can hurl the grenade 30 meters, and it has
a casualty radius of 10 meters. They are identified by olive drab bodies
with a single yellow band at the top.
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This weapon is a concussion grenade, more commonly known
in military circles as an offensive grenade. They are designed to produce
casualties in close combat situations while minimizing the risk to friendly
forces. They opeatre by greating significant overpressure in an en-
closed area, making them exceptionally useful inside structures, as well
as making them useful for blasting and demolitions. They are identified by
their black base color with yellow markings around the middle.
This particular grenade is filled with 8 ounces of TNT with a
fiberbody and some fiberglass components. Weighing 15.6 ounces, this
grenade can be hurled 40 meters and has an effective casualty radius of
2 meters.
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D20 Modern presents a rather simple approach to the use of
grenades, essentially making all grenades the same. We have attempted
to stay within those guidelines, while providing the differences these
many grenades have in the real world. So our suggestion is this:
Blast radius in the statistics is based on the grenade’s lethal
radius. Inside this area, you get a reflex save to take only half damage. I
also suggest that to a distance of 2x blast radius, which is still inside the
casualty radius for most grenades, a Reflex save is forced in that area
as well, for 1/4 or no damage.
For example, the M67 grenade does 5d6 damage and has a
blast radius of 15 feet. The character throws it, it goes boom, and the
player rolls maximum damage, which is 30 points on 5d6. Anyone up to
15 feet away from the point of detonation will have to make a reflex save
for 30 or 15 points of damage. Anyone 15-30 feet away needs to make
a reflex save for 7 point or no damage.
Illumination type grenades generate an incredible amount of
light, many well in excess of 100,000 candella, which is twice as bright
as the average sunny day. With such intense light, you may opt to have
it frighten off undead, or perhaps even damage photosenstive undead.
In the area of range increments, we’d like to reiterate that thrown
grenades have only 5 range increments. Rifle launched and spin-stabi-
lized launched grenades use 10 range increments.
Finally, we use stable damage values and rely on blast radius
and the like in order to provide differentiation. Those damage values are
as follows:
��������������
While Action! includes a few stats for a handful of grenades,
there is one serious flaw that was overlooked, namely the application of
blast radius to an explosive device. While they list a few grenades, you
don’t really know how big a boom you’ll get. The repair for that is simple;
list blast radius in the notes. Like the D20 Sys-
tem stuff, we’ve decided to rely on a stable
damage rating for each type of grenade, as
per the table to the right:
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As with the other system, a few things need to be clarified for
grenades, but nothing too complex. First, an entire new set of range
categories needs to be etsablished. Then we need to establish damage.
Lastly, hand grenades should be considered Fair to Good in accuracy,
while rifle grenades should be considered Mediocre in accuracy. Spin-
stabilized grenades adopt the accuracy of the weapon launching them.
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Riot control agents are a class of low lethality chemical weapons that
are assumed to be safe for non-killing use against riots and unruly dem-
onstrations worldwide. While all these agents are easily lethal after long
term exposure, they are fast acting on the human body, forcing most
unprotected exposed people to retreat long before their lives are at
serious risk. Of course, with every one of these chemical weapons,
there are those very few who are severely vulnerable to these chemi-
cals, and even short exposure can lead to adverse reactions that can
cause lengthy hospitalization or death.
Riot control agents can be broken down into several catego-
ries. These include lachrymators (tearing agents), stemutators (sneez-
ing agents), orticants (itching agents), regurgitants (vomiting agents)
and soporifics (sleep-inducing agents).
CA - Camite - Brombenzylcyanide - Lachrymator
Early Symptoms (under 15 minutes exposure): rritation of the eyes and
mucous membranes, causing tears an nausea, inducing retching and
vomiting as well as involuntary blinking. Lung tissue also swells, result-
ing in a sensation of tightness in the chest.
Prolonged Symptoms (past 20 minutes exposure): incapacitation, along
with damage to the eyes, mucous membranes, and lungs.
Status: Rarely used due to its level of potency.
CA is a very potent nonpersistent chemical agent, with effects
that tend to be significantly more severe than other irritants of this class.
the chemical is identified by its odor of sour or spoiled fruit, and it is
treated by removal from exposure and immediate washing. Full recovery
can take as much as three days.
D20 Modern Roleplaying Game & Prometheus Special
Rules: Save DC 14. No initial damage. Secondary damage is blindness
and nausea, lasting for a length of time that ends 1d6 hours after expo-
sure to the gas ends. If exposure extends a length of time to reach the
Prolonged Symptoms stage, the damage state converts to incapacita-
tion until exposure ends.
CN - Tear Gas / CAP - Chlorocetaphenone - Lachrymator
Early Symptoms (under 15 minutes): Severe irritation of the eyes and
mucous membranes, instigating secreting of saliva and mucous. This all
leads to tearing, nausea, and coughing.
Prolonged Symptoms (after 15 minutes): Severe pain in the lungs, retch-
ing, vomiting, and incapacitation. Can cause lung and kidney damage.
Status: Employed by Military, law enforcement, and available for civilian
purchase.
CN is one of the most common formulas sold as “tear gas”,
though in the last decade, it has been greatly supplanted by CS. CN is a
low-lethality chemical weapon that has been in use by military and police
forces worldwide since as early as 1918. In some areas of the world, it
has been marketed as a personal defense aerosol. CN is identified by its
scent of apple blossoms. Treatment is by removal from exposure and
washing, with a full recovery in less than a day. While nonpersistent, it is
absorbed by fabrics exposed to it, and will continue affecting anyone
wearing the clothing until thoroughly cleaned.
D20 Modern Roleplaying Game & Prometheus Special
Rules: Save DC 15. No initial damage. Secondary damage is blindness
and nausea, lasting for a length of time that ends 1d8 minutes after
exposure to the gas ends. If exposure extends a length of time to reach
the Prolonged Symptoms stage, the damage state converts to incapaci-
tation until exposure ends.
CS - Tear Gas / Pepper Gas - Orthochlorobenzalidene
Malononitrile - Lachrymator
Early Symptoms (under 15 minutes): Pain, burning sensation and tearing
of the eyes. Irritation of the mucous membranes, leading to mucous
secretion, causing coughing and runny nose. Nausea can also occur.
Prolonged Symptoms (after 15 minutes): Retching, vomiting, and inca-
pacitation. Capable of causing lung and kidney damage.
Status: Used by Militaty, Law Enforcement, and available for civilian
purchase.
CS is the low cost replacement to CN. Developed in 1928, it has
in the last two decade become the most common riot control agent in use
in North America and Europe. While faster acting that CN or CA, it is also
considered less lethal. Identified by its scent of pepper. Like CN, CS
clings to fabric and will continue having effect until the fabric is washed.
D20 Modern Roleplaying Game & Prometheus Special
Rules: Save DC 16. No initial damage. Secondary damage is blindness,
lasting for a length of time that ends 1d10 minutes after exposure to the
gas ends. If exposure extends a length of time to reach the Prolonged
Symptoms stage, the damage state converts to incapacitation until expo-
sure ends.
DA - Diphenylchlorarsine - Regurgitant
Early Symptoms (under 30 minutes): Intense burning in the nose and
throat, leading to secreting of thick saliva and mucous. Tighness and
pain in the chest, inducing uncontrollable coughing and sneezing. Runny
nose, giddiness and faintness.
Prolonged Symptoms (after 2 hours): Nausea, vomiting, incapacitation.
Possible death.
Status: Commonly used until the end of World War II.
DA is a vomiting agent, first developed as a chemical weapon
for use during World War I, it became a sever riot control agent during the
worldwide depression of the 1920’s. As a severe riot control agent, it is
only used against civilians in situations were deaths amongst targets are
acceptable. After World War II, DA was quickly supplanted by the more
easily manufactured DM. Normally dispersed as part of a white
smokescreen, DA itself is colorless when aerosolized, and identifiable
only by its pepper scent. Treatment is removal from exposure and wash-
ing.
D20 Modern Roleplaying Game & Prometheus Special
Rules: Save DC 14. No initial damage. Secondary damage is nausea,
lasting for a length of time that ends 1d2 hours after exposure to the gas
ends (flip a coin). If exposure extends a length of time to reach the
Prolonged Symptoms stage, the damage state converts to incapacita-
tion until exposure ends.
DM - Adamsite - 10-cloro-5, 10-dihydrochlorphenarsazine - Re-
gurgitant
Early Symptoms (under 15 minutes): Intense burning in the nose and
throat, tightness and pain in the chest. Mucous and saliva production
lead to runny nose, coughing and sneezing. Faintness and giddiness
also occur.
Prolonged Symptoms (after 2 hours): Nausea, vomiting, incapacitation,
possible death.
Status: Commonly used by former Eastern Bloc / Warsaw Pact nations.
DM is a more easily manufactured compound, which lead to it
replacing DA as the preferred crowd control agent of the Soviet Union.
DA is extremely potent and can easily kill, so it is only used in severe riot
situations where deaths amongst the targets is acceptible. DM was
used in limited chemical warfare activities by the United States, which
used it in tunnel clearing operations in Vietnam. In such confined, en-
closed areas, DM is extremely lethal. Since DM is colorless when aero-
solized and identifiable only by its pepper scent, it is normally deployed
as part of a yellow smokescreen. Treatment, like most riot control agents,
is a matter of removing oneself from exposure and washing.
D20 Modern Roleplaying Game & Prometheus Special Rules: Save
DC 16. No initial damage. Secondary damage is nausea, lasting for a
length of time that ends 1d6 hours after exposure to the gas ends. If
exposure extends a length of time to reach the Prolonged Symptoms
stage, the damage state converts to incapacitation until exposure ends.
CN/DM - “Super Tear Gas”
Early Symptoms (under 30 minutes): Severe burning and pain in the
eyes and throat. Tightness and pain in the chest. Mucous and saliva
production leads to running eyes and nose, coughing, sneezing, and
nausea, accompanied by giddiness and faintness. Most subjects reach
a state of incapacitation within 15 minutes.
Prolonged Symptoms (after 2 hours): Vomiting, incapacitation, death.
Status: Not in common use. restricted to military use.
CN/DM is a nasty substance that lives up to its “Super” identity,
since it is far more effective and lethal than either of its components
individually. It was developed and used by the United States as a
counterinsurgency agent during the Vietnam War. It is identified by its
odd scent of pepper and apple blossoms. Treatment is by removal from
exposure and washing.
D20 Modern Roleplaying Game & Prometheus Special
Rules: Save DC 19. No initial damage. Secondary damage is nausea and
blindness, lasting for a length of time that ends 1d6 hours after exposure
to the gas ends. If exposure extends a length of time to reach the Pro-
longed Symptoms stage, the damage state converts to incapacitation
until exposure ends.
HC - Hexachloroethane/Zinc Chloride - Screening agent
HC isn’t a designated riot control, but for decades has been the
primary smoke generation compound used by militaries worldwide for
smoke screening. As the compound’s Type C base of granular zinc
oxide, HCE, and aluminum burns, zinc chloride is produced, which is a
choking agent. When inhaled, zinc chloride can cause tightness in the
chest, dry mouth, metallic taste, shallow and rapid breathing, and a sen-
sation of choking. Zinc Chloride, on contact with saliva or mucous,
reacts with the water in it in an exothermic reaction that causes thermal
lesions in the upper respiratory tract.
Effects from exposure include pain, hoarsness, coughing, tear-
ing, and mucous secretion. Prolonged exposure can lead to bronchop-
neumonia, fibrosis, or pulmonary oedema in the lower respiratory tract.
While generally considered a minor nuisance on the battlefield,
where wind keep the air circulating and smoke screens aren’t in vast
use, HC smoke has killed hundreds of military personnel, usually through
expsoure in confined spaces, like enclosed vehicles. HC smoke is deadly
enough to be used for chemical warfare; a line of 41 M5 smoke pots, all
burning at the same time, will generate a lethal cloud of HC smoke which
will kill anything in an area of 1,000 x 1,400 meters in a wind speed of 6
meters per second or less (under 14 mph).
Unlike riot control agents, symptoms do not quickly disappear,
but require treatment, including removal from exposure, oxygen adminis-
tration, and high doses of steroids to counter lung damage.
Most militaries now require the use of protective respiration
equipment (gas masks) when deploying HC smoke. Another alternative
has been to turn to a far less toxic formulation that replaces the Zin Oxide
pellets with Titanium Oxide.
D20 Modern Roleplaying Game & Prometheus Special
Rules: Save DC 12. No initial damage. Secondary damage is choking,
lasting for a length of time that ends 1d4 rounds after exposure to the
gas ends. Treat choking as incapacitation. If exposure extends past 20
minutes, the gas will cause 1d4 damage each round as its burns the
lungs. If exposed in an enclosed space, it gas will begin causing 1d4
damage per round immediately.
������������������������
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OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000
Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who
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(d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods,
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Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content
clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work
covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright
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2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a
notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms
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Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described
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4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the
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5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material
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6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion
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7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as
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You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or
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such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open
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8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate
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10 Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy
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11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game
Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from
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12 Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of
this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute,
judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game
Material so affected.
13 Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with
all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of
the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.
Big Bang, CyberThriller © and ™ 2003 Dana Jorgensen. All Rights Reserved.
All weapon images taken from for-distribution press, review and promotional materials published by weapons manufacturers. Images are copyright their respective
manufacturers. All Rights Reserved.
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on original materials by E. Gary
Gygax and Dave Arneson.
'd20 System' and the 'd20 System' logo are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used according to the terms of the d20
System License version 4.0. A copy of this License can be found at www.wizards.com/d20
d20 Modern™ is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and is used with permission.
Wizards of the Coast® is a registered trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and is used with permission
'Action! System' and the Action! System logo are trademarks of Gold Rush Games and are used with permission.
The following materials based on Fudge, entitled Big Bang: the Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, are created by, made available by, and Copyright ©
2003 by Alternate Realities Publications, and are not necessarily endorsed in any way by Steffan O'Sullivan or any publisher of other Fudge materials. Neither Steffan
O'Sullivan nor any publisher of other Fudge materials is in any way responsible for the content of these materials unless specifically credited. Original Fudge materials
Copyright © 1992-1995 by Steffan O'Sullivan, All Rights Reserved.
Big Bang: the Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons is produced at least six times per year plus an annual compilation. It is produced by Alternate Realities
Publications with offices located at:
Alternate Realities Publications
734 Dartmouth Dr
Wenonah NJ 08090
[email protected]
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14 Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such
provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Authors
Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on original materials by E.
Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
' d20 System and the ' d
20 System logo' are trademarks owned by Wizards of the
Coast and are used according to the terms of the d20 System License version 1.0.
A copy of this license can be found at www.wizards.com.
' Action! System' and the
Action! System logo are trademarks of Gold Rush Games
and are used with permission.
Original Fudge materials Copyright © 1992-1995 by Steffan O' Sullivan, All Rights
Reserved.
The FUDGE System logo is a trademark of Steffan O’Sullivan and used under
license.
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide the Modern Weapons , CyberThriller ©
and ™ 2003 Dana Jorgensen. All Rights Reserved.
All weapon images taken from for-distribution press, review and promotional
materials published by weapons manufacturers. Images are copyright their
respective manufacturers. All Rights Reserved.
Ultramodern Firearms D20 © 2002, Charles McManus Ryan
Designation of Open Content:
The D20 Open Content consists of rules under the heading of "Using Data – D20
System Data, covering pages 8 and 9 of this document. Further it also includes all
material under the heading of “Converting to the D20 Modern Roleplaying Game”,
from the bottom half of page 16 to page 18. Additionally, the game statistics specific
to use in the D20 System are also designated as open content. The statistics
appear in small tables. An empty example of this table appears on page 8.
Action! System Open Content parallels the D20 Open Content, section for section.
This consists of rules under the heading of “Using the Data – Action! System Data”
on pages 12 and 13 of this document. Additionally, the game statistics specific to
use in the Action! System are also designated as open content. These statistics
appear in small tables, a blank example of which appears on page 12.
FUDGE Notices
ABOUT FUDGE
Fudge is a role-playing game written by Steffan O' Sullivan, with extensive input from
the Usenet community of rec.games.design. The basic rules of Fudge are available
on the internet at http://www.fudgerpg.com and in book form from Grey Ghost
Games, P.O. Box 838, Randolph, MA 02368. They may be used with any gaming
genre. While an individual work derived from Fudge may specify certain attributes
and skills, many more are possible with Fudge. Every Game Master using Fudge is
encouraged to add or ignore any character traits. Anyone who wishes to distribute
such material for free may do so; merely include this ABOUT FUDGE notice and
disclaimer (complete with Fudge copyright notice). If you wish to charge a fee for
such material, other than as an article in a magazine or other periodical, you must
first obtain a royalty-free license from the author of Fudge, Steffan O' Sullivan, P.O.
Box 465, Plymouth, NH 03264.
DISCLAIMER
The following materials based on Fudge, entitled Big Bang: the Mostly Illustrated
RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, are created by, made available by, and Copyright
© 2003 by Alternate Realities Publications, and are not necessarily endorsed in any
way by Steffan O' Sullivan or any publisher of other Fudge materials. Neither Steffan
O' Sullivan nor any publisher of other Fudge materials is in any way responsible for
the content of these materials unless specifically credited. Original Fudge materials
Copyright © 1992-1995 by Steffan O' Sullivan, All Rights Reserved.
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Big Bang is the ultimate RPG guide to firearms. Providing factual
data on the weapons presented, Big Bang provides statistics for a
number of royalty-free, licensed game systems. Free conversion
rules are available for other game systems. Big Bang is published in
a datasheet format for the ultimate organizational convenience.
Available as a semi-regular PDF publication online or as an annual
CD-ROM or print product in stores.
@,A>B=C�DFEG�DIH#J#J/C�D
Welcome to the new mecca of Cyberpunk. CyberThriller is an
excellent new game presenting three timelines; the modern era of
Now, then steps into the future of 2025, and makes its third stop in
2050. Come visit this forboding world filled with corporate scandal,
intrigue, terrorism, revolution, and more. Available Summer 2003.
KLM,N�OPRQTS�U=N�OP�V�WXS�O%V�Y
For thousands of years, they have walked amongst us. They are a
step ahead of us, people with unique talents and gifts that make the
devoted quake in their boots. For centuries, those gifted people have
been hunted by the devout, labeled as witches. In this modern era,
the hunters have become a truly organized force to contend with,
feared by the witches and the law alike. Are you one of the hunters
or the hunted? Available Winter 2004.
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Originally designed as a fan-contributed online sourcebook for the
now-dead Cyberpunk 2020 game system, this entire book has been
refashioned to fit into Cyberthriller as it's premiere site for cyberpunk
subterfuge. Includes an appendix providing Cyberpunk 2020 data for
use with that game system. Available Summer 2003.
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What good is a city without some adventure to make it interesting?
This portfolio of adventures all take place in Neo-City. Includes
bonus material expanding the Neo-City Sourcebook. Available
Winter 2004.
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Welcome to the military. The age of epic warfare and grand battles
has come to an end. These days all conflicts seem to be "low
intensity", a struggle between small opposing forces on a scale that
was once considered a mere ambush or skirmish. These days five or
ten men can handle the job done 30 years ago by an entire platoon
or 60 years ago by an entire company of troops. Release date TBA.
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We now live in a world where acts of terrorism happen daily, on
scales both large and small. This book provides both historical and
technical reference, as well as thoughts and theories on both terror
and countering it. Available Fall 2003.
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Welcome to the world of special operations police units. Originally,
there was SWAT, the original police special ops unit formed back in
the 1960's, trained in the tactics of storming a building and dealing
with heavily armed criminals. With the new millenium came ESWAT,
a new police special ops unit designed to face new threats and
cross-trained with the military to handle terrorism and weapons of
mass destruction, as well as the usual SWAT duties. Now comes the
latest evolution in police special ops, MAD, the Miscreant
Apprehension Division, the cops trained to deal with the worst threat
of all, rogue cyborgs and robots. Release date TBA.
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Edge Road is the Guide to the Cutting Edge. An irregularly published
series for Modern, Technothriller and Cyberpunk genre games, this
book follows technological trends, scientific discovery, and gadgets &
gimmicks, presenting them in a manner that makes them useful to
the game. As with Big Bang, Edge Road will be a multi-system guide
to all things technological. Available Fall 2003.
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Welcome to the land of concrete canyons and gang warfare. Take a
trip to a cyberpunk Los Angeles and see what the city may look like
after the Big One. Release date TBA.
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Welcome to my hometown area. Nothing beats the feel of a book
written by the locals. Come take a look at the city that has quietly
become the center of the biochemistry industry and working hard to
become a core for internet technology industries. Release date TBA.
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What happens when genetic engineering goes astray? The residents
of Neo-City will find out and no one, be they residents of the
corporate tower fortresses above or the slums of the Free Zone
below, is safe. Available Fall 2003.
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å æ
The challenge is a tough one. Your task is to protect the life of a top
rated SimWire star during the filming of his next film. Unfortunately,
the star also like activism and seeks to expose conspiratorial
problems in the world with more tenacity than an investigative
reporter. His next flick revolves around fending off attempts to
assassinate him and exposing which one of his too numerous
enemies is behind the plot. Can you survive a year of guarding this
twit in order to get the big payoff at the end? Release date TBA.
çè�é�êÀëé.ìí&î
We live in an ever-expanding world that is rapidly approaching a
point where it will grow well beyond the borders imposed by its own
gravity. Take a look into human exploration of space, as it is now,
and as it hopefully will be in a future where space travel is almost as
easy as getting into the family car. Release date TBA.
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Even as we expand into the airless vacuum of space, so shall we
expand into the airless environments of the ocean depths that can
kill us as easily as space. Explore the technologies of life beneath
the ocean waves. Release date TBA.
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Welcome to the year A.A. 100. That’s 100 After
Armageddon. The world as we knew it vanished in the hazy clouds
of various weapons of mass destruction. However, the world
struggles on and the human species survives, one way or another…
Take a journey into the fourth timeline developed for CyberThriller
Big Bang is an open-ended series of reference books designed for avid
players of roleplaying games, especially in the modern and near future
genres. Each volume presents factual data and information on a
number of weapons, including details of the weapon’s history, along
with statistics allowing immediate use in a number game systems. The
factual, real world data can be used to easily adapt the presented
weapons to a wide range of game systems.
This series is not designed as a stand-alone game. It requires the
use of core rules from another game system.
Requires the use of the Action! System ™ Core Rules,
published by Gold Rush Games™
Requires the use of the d20 Modern ™ Roleplaying Game,
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Dungeon World
The Bard
1
1
Dungeon
World
Dungeon World is a world of fantas-
tic adventure. A world of magic, gods,
demons, Good and Evil. Brave heroes
ventureintothemostdangerouscorners
of the land in search of gold and glory.
You are those heroes. You go where oth-
ers can’t or won’t. You conquer the un-
beatable and laugh in the face of Death.
There are monstrous things lurking in
the world. Are you ready to face them?
The Bard
Sure,anadventurer’slifeisallopenroads
and the glory of coin and combat. Those
tales that are told in every farmhand-
filled inn have to have some ring of truth
tothem,don’tthey? Thesongstoinspire
peasantry and royals alike—to soothe
the savage beast or drive men to a frenzy
have to come from somewhere.
Enter the Bard. You, with your smooth
tongue and quick wit. You teller-of-tales
and singer-of-songs.
It takes a mere
minstrel to retell a thing but a true Bard
to live it. Strap on your boots, noble ora-
tor. Sharpenthathiddendaggerandtake
up the call. Someone’s got to be there,
fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the
goons and the thugs and the soon-to-be-
heroes. Who better than you to write the
tale of your own heroism?
Nobody. Get going.
The Cleric
The lands of Dungeon World are a gods-
forsaken mess. They’re lousy with the
walking dead, beasts of all sorts, and the
vast unnatural spaces between safe and
temple-blessed civilizations. It is a god-
less world out there. That’s why it needs
you.
Bringing the glory of your god to the
heathens isn’t just in your nature—it’s
your calling. It falls to you to prosely-
tize with sword and mace and spell. To
cleave deep into the witless heart of the
wildsandplanttheseedofdivinitythere.
Some say that it is best to keep god close
to your heart. You know that’s rubbish.
Godlivesattheedgeofablade. Showthe
world who is lord.
The Fighter
It’s a thankless job—living day to day by
your armor and the skill of your arm. To
dive heedlessly into danger. They won’t
be playing golden horns for the time you
took that knife to the ribs for them in the
bar in Bucksberg. No flock of angels to
sing of the time you dragged them, still
screaming, from the edge of the Pits of
Madness, no.
Forget them.
You do this for the guts and the glory.
The scream of battle and the hot hot
blood of it.
You are a beast of iron.
Your friends may carry blades of forged
steel but, Fighter, you are steel. While
your traveling companions might moan
about their wounds over a campfire in
the wilderness, you bear your scars with
pride.
You are the wall—let every danger
smash itself to nothing on you. In the
end, you’ll be the last one standing.
The Paladin
Hell awaits. An eternity of torment in
fire or ice or whatever best suits the
sins of the damned throngs of Dungeon
World. All that stands between the pits
of that grim torture and salvation is you.
Holy man, armored war machine, tem-
plar of the Good and the Light, right?
TheClericmaysayhisprayersatnightto
the gods, dwelling in their heavens. The
Fighter may wield his sharp sword in the
name of “good” but you know. Only you.
Eyes, hands, and sweet killing blow of
the gods, you are. Yours is the gift of
righteousness and virtue. Of justice. Vi-
sion, too. A purity of intent that your
companions do not have. So guide these
fools, Paladin. Take up your holy cause
and bring salvation to the wastrel world.
Vae victis, right?
The Ranger
These city-born folk you travel with.
Havetheyheardthecallofthewolf? Felt
thewindshowlinthebleakdesertsofthe
East? Have they hunted their prey with
the bow and the knife like you? Hell no.
That’s why they need you.
Guide. Hunter. Creature of the wilds.
Youarethesethingsandmore. Yourtime
inthe wildernessmayhavebeen solitary
until now, the call of some greater thing
– call it fate if you like, has cast your
lot with these folk. Brave, they may be.
Powerful and strong, too. You know the
secrets of the spaces-between, though.
Without you, they’d be lost. Blaze a trail
through the blood and dark, strider.
The Thief
You’ve heard them, sitting around the
campfire. Bragging about this battle or
that. About how their gods are smiling
on your merry band.
You count your
coins and smile to yourself—this is the
thrill above all. You alone know the se-
cret of Dungeon World: filthy filthy lu-
cre.
Sure, they give you lip for all the times
you’ve snuck off alone but without you,
who among them wouldn’t have been
dissected by a flying guillotine or poi-
soned straight to death by some an-
cientneedle-trap? Soletthemcomplain.
When you’re done with all this delving
you’ll toast their heroes’ graves.
The Wizard
Dungeon World
2
Fromyourcastle. Fullofgold. Yourogue.
The Wizard
Dungeon World has rules. Not the laws
of men or the rule of some petty tyrant.
Bigger, better rules.
You drop some-
thing—it falls.
You can’t make some-
thingoutofnothing. Thedeadstaydead,
right?
Oh, the things we tell ourselves to feel
better about the long, dark nights.
You’ve spent so very long poring over
those tomes of yours. The experiments
that nearly drove you mad and all the
botched summonings that endangered
your very soul. For what? For power.
What else is there? Not just the power
of King or Country but the power to boil
a man’s blood in his veins. To call on the
thunder of the sky and the churn of the
roiling earth. To shrug off the rules the
world holds so dear.
Let them cast their sidelong glances. Let
them call you “warlock” or “diabolist.”
Whoamongthemcanhurlfireballsfrom
their eyes?
Yeah. We didn’t think so.
Setting Up
Using Dice
3
2
Setting Up
To play Dungeon World, you’ll need to
gather yourself and 2–5 friends. A group
of 4 to 5, including you, is best. Choose
one person to be the GameMaster (here-
after: GM).Everyoneelsewillbeplayers,
taking the role of the characters in the
game. The players get to say what their
characters say, think, and do. The GM
describes everything else in the world.
You can play a single session or string
together multiple sessions into a cam-
paign. Plan accordingly. Each session
will usually be a few hours and you’ll be
able to start playing right away within
the first session.
You’ll need to print some materials. Be-
fore you start a new game, print off at
least:
•
A few copies of the basic and special
moves
•
One copy of each class sheet
•
One copy each of the cleric and wiz-
ard spell sheets
•
One copy of the adventure sheet and
GM moves
Everyone at the table will need some-
thing to write with and some six-sided
dice. Two dice is the minimum but two
dice per player is a good idea.
You’ll also need some specialized dice:
four-sided, eight-sided, and ten-sided.
One of each is enough but more is better;
you won’t have to pass them around so
much.
Using Dice
When talking about dice, dX means a
dice with X sides (d4, d6, d8, etc.).
A
number before the dice size means "roll
this many and add them together," so
2d6 means "roll two six-sided dice and
add them together." Sometimes you’ll
add something to the roll, maybe a static
number or the result of another roll, add
that to the total. If there’s a "·b" at the
end instead of adding them together you
takethebestone(’b’for’best’),so2d6·b+1
means "roll two six-sided dice and take
the best one and add one to it." A "·w" at
the end means you take the worst result,
so 2d6·w means "roll two six-sided dice
and take the worst one."
Moves
The Flow of Play
4
3
The Flow
of Play
Playing Dungeon World is a conversa-
tion of sorts; I say something, then you
reply, maybe someone else chimes in.
We talk about the fiction, what’s hap-
pening to the characters we imagine and
the world around them.
We also talk
about the rules, how they come from and
lead back to the fiction.
There are no
turns or rounds in Dungeon World, no
forced order of when people talk, but a
conversation means taking turns. Dun-
geon World is never a monologue, al-
ways a conversation.
The rules shape the conversation. While
theGMandtheplayersarehavingacon-
versation the rules and the fiction are
having a conversation too. The rules af-
fect the game when the fiction triggers
themandarulewillalwaystellyouwhen
it’s meant to trigger.
Moves
ThebasicunitofrulesinDungeonWorld
is the Move . A move looks like this:
Whenyouattackanenemyinmelee
, roll+Str. On a 10+ you deal your damage
totheenemyandavoidtheirattack. Atyour
option, you may choose to do +1d6 damage
butexposeyourselftotheenemy’sattack. On
a 7–9, you deal your damage to the enemy
andtheenemy makes anattack against you.
Moves are rules that describe when they
trigger and what effect they have.
A
move always depends on a fictional ac-
tionandalwayshassomefictionaleffect.
"Fictional" means that the action and ef-
fect come from the shared imaginative
space we’re describing, not from us di-
rectly. In the move above, the trigger
is "when you attack an enemy in melee."
The effect is what follows: a roll to be
madeanddifferingfictionaleffectsbased
on the outcome of the roll. Most moves
rely on one of a character’s stats which
representthecharacter’sinnateabilities.
When a player says their character
does something that triggers a move
that move happens and its rules apply.
Moves and dealing damage are the only
times dice are rolled. The move will tell
you what dice to roll.
The basic rule of moves is: take the ac-
tion to gain the effect . To make the
mechanical aspect of a move happen the
character has to do something that trig-
gersthatmove. Likewise,ifthecharacter
does something that triggers a move the
mechanical portion happens.
Moves Are Indivisible
Acharactercan’ttakethefictionalaction
that triggers a move without that move
occurring.
For example, if Isaac tells
the GM that his character dashes past a
crazed,axe-wieldingorctotheopendoor
he makes the Defy Danger move because
its trigger is "when you act despite an
imminent threat". Isaac can’t just have
his character run past the orc without
making the Defy Danger move and he
can’t make the Defy Danger move with-
out acting despite an imminent threat.
The moves and the fiction go hand-in-
handtomakeupthegame. Whenamove
is made it falls to the GM and players to
make sure that both of these things (fic-
tion and rules) happen.
Takingafictionalactionthatshouldtrig-
ger a move and not applying it looks like
this: Ben says "I run past the orc to the
door," but doesn’t make the Defy Danger
move. In this case, the GM should sug-
gest that the move applies: "So you’re
Defying the Danger of the crazed orc as
he swings at you?" Ben then has to be
a real adventurer and Defy Danger or
back off and do something else; he can’t
take action that triggers the move with-
out making the move. He can’t "just" run
past the orc without making the move
that applies.
Trying to apply a move without taking
the action that makes the move occur
happens when a player jumps straight
to the effects of the move. The Hack and
Slash move has damage as one of its ef-
fects.
Dan can’t just say "I’m Hacking
and Slashing!
I rolled +Str and got a
10, I do 1d8 damage." That doesn’t work
because his character hasn’t taken any
fictional action. "Hack and Slash" isn’t
something a character does—it’s a rule
that happens when the character fulfills
its trigger. The GM’s response should
be "okay, how do you do that?" or "what
does that look like?"
The GM’s questions are there to refine
the action, not to deny it. It’s still a con-
versation. The GM asks to make sure the
everyoneunderstandswhat’shappening
and the moves involved.
Somemovesworkalittledifferently—they
just provide a bonus all the time. These
movesarestillsayingsomethingfiction-
ally and mechanically. They’re saying
something the character is or has. For
example, the Thief move Cautious gives
a constant bonus.
That’s still a move,
it’s just one that’s always happening; the
Thief is particularly careful when look-
ing for signs of traps.
Maybe they’ve
learned their lesson from being caught
in a trap before.
Rolls and Results
Once a move applies, it’s time to look
at the effects.
Most moves tell you to
roll+something. The roll part means to
take two d6s, roll them, and add them
together. The +something part means
to add the modifier associated with that
stat. So, a character with Dex modifier of
+2 who launches a Volley rolls two d6s,
The Flow of Play
Terminology
5
adds them together, and adds two. Easy.
The result of the roll falls into three cat-
egories: a 10+ is a strong hit . A 7–9 is a
weak hit . A 6- is a miss .
Strong hits and weak hits are both hits
. A hit means the character does what
they set out to, more or less. A strong hit
meanstheydoitwithoutmuchtroubleor
complications. A weak hit means com-
plications and unpleasantries.
Some-
times, a weak hit will mean you need to
make a hard decision about what to do
next. The move will always say what to
do for a strong and weak hit.
A miss means that the character’s action
is unsuccessful or carries major conse-
quences. Unless the move tells you what
to do, all moves work the same on a
miss—the GM takes action, doing some-
thing dangerous to the characters.
Terminology
Some moves use the phrase "deal dam-
age."Dealingdamagemeansyourollthe
damage dice for your class and modify it
based on the weapon you were using for
that move. You have to be wielding a
weapon to use your class’s damage dice.
Default damage without a weapon is 1.
Somemovessay"take+1forward."That
means to take +1 to your next move roll
(not damage). The bonus can be greater
than +1, or even a penalty, like -1. There
also might be a condition, such as "take
+1 forward to Hack and Slash," in which
case the bonus applies only to the next
time you roll Hack and Slash, not any
other move.
Somemovessay"take+1ongoing."That
means to take +1 to all move rolls (not
damage). The bonus can be larger than
+1, or it can be a penalty, like -1. There
also might be a condition, such as "take
+1 ongoing to Volley." An ongoing bonus
also says what causes it to end, like "until
you dismiss the spell" or "until you atone
to your deity."
Some moves give you hold .
Hold is
currency that allows you to make some
choices later on by spending the hold as
themovedescribes. Holdisalwayssaved
up for the move that generated it; you
can’t spend your hold from Defend on
Trap Sense or vice versa.
There are some moves that all the play-
ers have access to. These are the Basic
and Special moves. Basic moves are the
things that happen often—players will
roll these a lot. Special moves are moves
that come up less frequently, but every-
one has access to them.
Each class also has some of its own
moves. Some of these moves are start-
ing moves that the class starts with.
Others are advanced moves that the
player may choose as their character
grows.
Stats
The basic stats are:
Strength (Str). The character’s physi-
cal force and muscle. Used for moves in
melee combat and breaking things.
Dexterity (Dex). The character’s preci-
sion and aim. Used for moves in ranged
combat and avoiding things.
Constitution (Con).
The character’s
health and ability to take a beating. Used
formovesthatendurethingsandsurviv-
ing dangers.
Intelligence (Int). The character’s ac-
cumulated knowledge and logical think-
ing.
Used for moves that rely on re-
membered facts and casting some kinds
of spells.
Wisdom (Wis).
The character’s keen
senses and mental defenses.
Used for
moves that rely on noticing things and
casting some kinds of spells.
Charisma (Cha). The character’s force
ofpersonalityandcharm. Usedforsocial
moves.
Each basic stat has a score from 3 to 18
and a modifier from -3 to +3. When
a stat is spelled out (like "Strength") that
refers to the score, when the three letter
abbreviation (like "Str") is used it refers
to the modifier. The stat’s modifier de-
pends on the stat’s score:
Score
Modifier
1-3
-3
4-5
-2
6-8
-1
9-11
0
12-15
+1
16-17
+2
18
+3
There are also a few special stats:
Bond is how well your character knows
another character. You use Bond to aid
another character or interfere with their
actions. Bond is about knowledge and
not about how well you get along or how
similar you are. Bond may also be asym-
metrical: the Fighter might know the
Wizardverywell,buttheWizarddoesn’t
pay much attention to the Fighter. Your
Bond with someone starts based on your
history with them. Each class has start-
ing bonds with blanks to fill in names.
When you roll+Bond, count the number
of Bonds you have with that person and
add that to the roll.
Level reflects how your character has
grown. Your character starts at level 1,
and may advance all the way to level 10.
Your level tracks how far you’ve grown.
As you advance in level you gain new
moves.
Equipment
Every adventurer needs stuff: weapons,
spellbooks,armor,holysymbols,andthe
like.
Each item says what it does.
In
general, weapons define the way a char-
acter deals damage with it and at what
range they can do that damage. Armor
and shields reduce damage taken. Other
items have various effects.
Items say what they do through their
tags . A tag is a word or phrase that indi-
catessomecommonabilitytheitempos-
sess. The Messy tag, for example, means
theweapondoesdamageinaparticularly
devastating way.
All items, unless otherwise noted, are
mundane . They’re not magical in any
way. Some items are enchanted—they
work through arcane or divine tricks.
These magic items are tougher to get,
tougher to destroy, and more powerful
to use.
Charactersarelimitedinhowmuchthey
can carry by their Load . Load is deter-
mined by class. Carrying items whose
total weight is more than your load
causes problems.
Some classes have other specific tools at
their disposal like custom gear or ties to
powerful entities or organizations. The
rules for these are detailed with each
class.
Damage and HP
Dungeon World is a dangerous place in
many ways, not least of which are the
physicalperilsthatawaitintheforgotten
halls where adventurers explore. Each
character has HP . HP is short for hit
points; it’s a number which reflects a
character’s condition.
The character’s
HPvalueisdeterminedbytheirclassand
Constitution score. Your HP doesn’t au-
tomaticallygoupasyoulevel, butifyour
Constitution score changes you update
your HP as well.
Whenacharactertakesdamagetheyre-
duce their current HP by that amount. If
their current HP falls to zero it means
they’re dying and must immediately
make the Last Breath move. HP never
goes negative; if damage would take a
character’s HP below zero set it to zero
instead.
Depending on the outcome of the Last
Breath move a character may be stable
at0HP.Stablemeansthecharacterwon’t
get worse on their own but they won’t
get better without care or time. If a sta-
ble character takes damage they stay at 0
HP but must make the Last Breath move
again immediately.
Armorpreventsdamage. Whenyoutake
damage you subtract your armor from
the damage dealt.
Advancement
The Flow of Play
6
The Cleric is all about healing HP. With-
out the Cleric’s healing magics, adven-
turers are left at the mercies of ban-
dages, poultices, and other crude med-
icines, plus the odd healing potion.
HP tracks the assorted bruises and cuts
that accumulate but some wounds go
deeper. These are debilities . Debil-
ities give you a -1 to your modifier for
one stat. They don’t effect the base score
(so being Weak won’t effect your Load,
just your Str modifier). They’re tougher
to heal than HP, your best bet is to get
somewhere safe and spend a few days
resting to get rid of them.
Advancement
Adventurers in Dungeon World grow
and learn from their experiences. Even-
tually, with time and luck, they survive
to level up.
Experience is tracked via XP . Players
mark XP by keeping a tally on their char-
acter sheet. When they have XP marks
equal to their current level + 7 they are
readytolevelup,buttheydonotactually
level up until they have some downtime
(usually in camp or in a nearby village).
Gaining a new level means choosing a
new move from your class. If your new
level is 3rd, 6th, or 9th you also get to in-
crease one stat by 2, adjusting the modi-
fier to reflect the new score.
There are two times when you mark XP:
when you roll a miss (6-) and when you
make the End of Session move.
Whenever you roll a miss (a 6 or lower)
whenmakingamoveyoumarkXP.These
are the tough lessons of the adventuring
life.
At the end of each session one of your
Bonds may resolve. When a Bond is no
longer applicable it can be resolved if the
person you share that Bond with agrees.
When a Bond is resolved you mark XP
and write a new bond.
You also look back at your alignment
over the session you just concluded. If
youfulfilledyouralignmentatleastonce
in the session you’ll get XP.
The End of Session move also has three
questions that all the players answer as
a group. For each "yes" answer everyone
gains XP.
Sessions
A session of Dungeon World is one time
you sit down to play. A session usually
runs a few hours and may be a single
adventure or part of a larger campaign.
The first session of a game starts off a lit-
tle different. First you’ll need to choose
a GM. Once the GM is settled, everyone
else will need to make characters. See
the character creation chapter for more
on that.
During character creation, the GM will
be asking questions and making plans
for how to start the game.
A game of
Dungeon World always starts with ac-
tion, either action already underway or
impending.
Such a situation will lead to the charac-
tersmakingmoves,whichwillcausefur-
ther moves. Moves lead to more moves.
This snowballing action from move to
move is what builds an exciting game.
Onceafewmoveshavebeenmade,you’ll
find it easy to keep going. The moves
will keep giving you ideas and prompts
for further action which leads to more
moves.
Why?
Why play Dungeon World?
First, to see the characters do amazing
things . To see them explore the un-
explored, slay the undying, and go from
the deepest bowels of the world to the
highest peaks of the heavens.
To see
them caught up in momentous events
and grand tragedies.
Second, to see them play off each
other : to stand together as a united
front against their foes or to bicker and
argue over treasure.
To unite and fall
apart and reunite again.
Third, because the world still has
so many places to explore . There
are unlooted tombs and dragon hordes
dotting the countryside just waiting for
quick-fingered and strong-armed ad-
venturers to discover them.
That un-
explored world has plans of its own. We
play to see what they are and how they’ll
change the lives of our characters.
Character Creation
1. Choose a Class
7
4
Character
Creation
Making Dungeon World characters is
quick and easy.
You should all create
your first characters together at the be-
ginning of your first session. Character
creation is, just like play, a kind of con-
versation—everyone should be there for
it. It’s somewhat likely your character
may die along the way. if they do, no
worries, the character creation process
helps you make a new character that fits
into the group in just a few minutes.
If you’re the GM, your role during char-
acter creation is to help everyone, ask
questions,andtakenotes. Whenaplayer
makes a choice—particularly for their
Bonds—ask them about it.
Get more
detail. Think about what these details
mean.
TheGMshouldalsosetexpectations: the
players are to play their characters as
people. Skilled adventurers delving into
dangerous places, but real people. The
GM’s role is to play the rest of the world
as a dynamic, changing place.
Somequestionscommonlycomeupdur-
ing character creation:
Are the characters friends?
No, not nec-
essarily, but they do work together as a
team for common goals. Their reasons
for pursuing those goals may be differ-
ent, but they generally manage to work
together.
Are there other Wizards? Not really. There
are other workers of arcane magic, and
the common folk may call them wizards,
but they’re not like you. They don’t have
the same abilities, though they may be
similar. Same goes for any class: there’s
only one Cleric, though there are many
with similar powers of divine servitude.
There’sonlyoneThief, butthereareoth-
ers that fight from the shadows and steal
things.
What’s coin? Coin’s the currency of the
realm.
It’s good pretty much every-
where. It’ll buy you mundane stuff, like
steel swords and wooden staves, but the
special stuff, like magic weapons, isn’t
for sale.
Is the GM trying to kill us? Nope. The GM
represents the world. It’s a dangerous
place, and yeah, you might die. But she’s
not trying to kill you.
Most everything you need to create
a character you’ll find on the charac-
ter sheets.
These steps will walk you
through filling out a character sheet.
1. Choose a Class
Look over the character classes and
choose one that interests you. Everyone
choosesadifferentclass; therearen’ttwo
Wizards. If two people want the same
class, talk it over like adults and com-
promise.
I sit down with Paul and Shannon to play a
game run by John. I’ve got some cool ideas
for a Wizard, so I mention that would be
my first choice. No one else was thinking of
playing one, so I take the playbook.
2. Choose a Race
Every class has a few race options.
Chooseone. Yourracegivesyouaspecial
move.
IliketheideaofsummoningupThingsFrom
Beyond, so I choose Human, since that gives
me a bonus to Summoning spells. I thought
about being an Elf, but Shannon’s playing
the Cleric so I don’t think we’ll need more
Cleric spells.
3. Choose a Name
Choose your character’s name from the
list.
Avon sounds good.
4. Choose Look
Your look is your physical appearance.
Choose one item from each list.
Haunted eyes sound good, since I’ve seen
Things From Beyond. No good Wizard has
timeforhairstyling,wildhairitis. Myrobes
arestrange,andImentiontoeveryonethatI
think maybe they came from Beyond as part
of one of my summonings. No time to eat
with all that magic: thin body.
5. Choose Stats
Look over the basic moves and the start-
ing moves for your class. Pick out the
move that interests you the most: some-
thing you’ll be doing a lot, or something
that you excel at. Put your 17 in the stat
for that move. Look over the list again
and pick out the next most important
move to your character, maybe some-
thingthatsupportsyourfirstchoice. Put
your 15 in the stat for that move. Repeat
this process for your remaining scores:
13, 11, 9, 8.
Alternatively, if everyone wants a lit-
tle more randomness then you can roll
stats. Roll 3d6 and assign the total to a
stat—repeat this until you have all your
stats.
If you want something really random
you can roll for stats in order (Str, Dex,
Con, Int, Wis, Cha). If you choose this
method you get to roll before you choose
your class.
6. Figure Out Modifiers
Character Creation
8
It looks like I need Intelligence to cast spells,
which are my thing, so my 17 goes there. The
Defy Danger option for Dexterity looks like
something I might be doing to dive out of
the way of a spell, so that gets my 15. A
13 Wisdom will help me notice important
details (and maybe keep my sanity, based on
the Defy Danger move). Charisma might be
useful is dealing with summoned creatures
so I’ll put my 11 there. Living is always nice,
so I put my 9 in Constitution for some extra
HP. Strength gets the 8.
6. Figure Out Modifiers
Next you need to figure out the modi-
fiers for your stats. The modifiers are
what you use when a move says +Dex or
+Cha.
You won’t actually use the raw
scores much.
Score
Modifier
1-3
-3
4-5
-2
6-8
-1
9-11
0
12-15
+1
16-17
+2
18
+3
7. Set Starting HP
Your starting HP is equal to your class’s
base HP+Constitution score.
Base4plus9congivesmeawhopping13HP.
I guess Summoning takes a toll on the body.
8. Choose Starting Moves
Some classes, like the Fighter, have
choices to make as part of one of their
moves. Make these choices now. The
Wizard will need to choose spells for
their spellbook. Both the Cleric and the
Wizard will need to choose which spells
they have prepared to start with.
ASummoningspellisaneasychoice,soItake
Contact Spirits. Magic Missile will allow
me to deal more damage than my pitiful d4
damagedice,sothat’sintoo. IchooseAlarm
for my last spell, since I can think of some
interesting uses for it.
9. Choose Alignment
Your alignment is a few words that de-
scribe your character’s moral outlook.
These are general and tend to guide your
character’s outlook rather than dictate
their actions. Usually alignment is a sin-
gle term declaring the character’s alle-
giance to the forces of good, the hordes
of evil, or the path of neutrality between.
The alignments are Good, Evil, and Neu-
tral. Some classes may only be certain
alignments. Choose your alignment—it
gives you more ways to earn XP.
Avon is all about the magical mysteries,
which makes the Neutral alignment stand
out. I’ll go with that one.
10. Choose Gear
Each class has choices to make for start-
ing gear. Keep your Load in mind—it
limits how much you can easily carry.
Make sure to total up your armor and
note it on your character sheet.
I’m worried about my HP, so I take armor
over books. A dagger sounds about right
for rituals, I choose that over a staff. It’s a
toss up between the healing potion and the
antitoxin, but healing wins out. I also end
up with some rations.
11. Introduce Your Character
Now that you know who your character
is, it’s time to introduce them to every-
one else. Wait until everyone’s finished
choosing their name. Then go around
the table; each player gets to share their
look, class and anything else about their
character. Youcanshareyouralignment
now or keep it a secret if you prefer.
This is also the time for the GM to ask
questions. The GM’s questions should
help establish the relationships between
characters ("What do you think about
that?") and draw the group into the ad-
venture ("Does that mean you’ve met
Grundloch before?").
The GM should
listen to everything in the description
and ask about anything that stands out.
Establish where they’re from, who they
are,howtheycametogether,oranything
else that seems relevant or interesting.
"ThisisAvon,summonerofThingsFromBe-
yond! He’s a human wizard with haunted
eyes, wild hair, strange robes, and a thin
body. Like I mentioned before his robes are
strange because they’re literally not of this
world: they came through as part of a sum-
moning ritual."
12. Choose Bonds
Once everyone has described their char-
acters you can choose your Bonds. You
must fill in one bond but it’s in your best
interest to fill in more. For each blank
fill in the name of one character. You can
usethesamecharacterformorethanone
statement.
Once everyone’s filled in their bonds
readthemouttothegroup. Whenamove
hasyouroll+bondsyou’llcountthenum-
ber of Bonds you have with the character
in question and add that to the roll.
With everyone introduced I choose which
character to list in each Bond, I have Paul’s
Fighter Gregor and Shannon’s Cleric Brin-
ton to choose from.
The Bond about
prophecy sounds fun, so I choose Gregor for
it and end up with "Gregor will play an im-
portant role in the events to come. I have
foreseen it!" It seems like The Wizard who
contactsThingsFromBeyondandtheCleric
might not see eye to eye, so I add Shannon’s
character and get "Brinton is woefully mis-
informed about the world; I will teach them
all that I can." I leave my last Bond blank,
I’ll deal with it later. Once everyone is done
I read my Bonds aloud and we all discuss
what this means about why we’re together
and where we’re going.
Basic Moves
Hack and Slash
9
5
Basic Moves
Hack and Slash
Whenyouattackanenemyinmelee,
roll+Str. On a 10+ you deal your damage
to the enemy and avoid their attack. At
your option, you may choose to do +1d6
damage but expose yourself to the en-
emy’s attack. On a 7–9, you deal your
damage to the enemy and the enemy
makes an attack against you.
Volley
When you take aim and shoot at an
enemy at range , roll+Dex. On a 10+
you have a clear shot—deal your dam-
age. On a 7–9, choose one (whichever
you choose you deal your damage):
•
Youhavetomovetogettheshotplac-
ing you in danger of the GM’s choice
•
You have to take what you can get:
-1d6 damage
•
Youhavetotakeseveralshots,reduc-
ing your ammo by one.
Defy Danger
When you act despite an imminent
threat or suffer a calamity , say how
you deal with it and roll. If you do it. . .
•
. . .by powering through, +Str
•
. . .by getting out of the way or acting
fast, +Dex
•
. . .by enduring, +Con
•
. . .with quick thinking, +Int
•
. . .through mental fortitude, +Wis
•
. . .using charm and social grace,
+Cha
On a 10+, you do what you set out to,
the threat doesn’t come to bear. On a
7–9, you stumble, hesitate, or flinch: the
GM will offer you a worse outcome, hard
bargain, or ugly choice.
Defend
When you stand in defense of a per-
son, item, or location under attack,
roll+Con. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7–9,
hold 1. So long as you stand in defense,
when you or the thing you defend is at-
tacked you may spend hold, 1 for 1, to
choose an option:
•
Redirectanattackfromthethingyou
defend to yourself
•
Halve the attack’s effect or damage
•
Open up the attacker to an ally giv-
ing that ally +1 forward against the
attacker
•
Deal damage to the attacker equal to
your level
Spout Lore
When you consult your accumu-
lated knowledge about something
, roll+Int. On a 10+ the GM will tell you
something interesting and useful about
thesubjectrelevanttoyoursituation. On
a7–9theGMwillonlytellyousomething
interesting—it’s on you to make it use-
ful. The GM might ask you "How do you
know this?" Tell them the truth, now.
Discern Realities
When you closely study a situation
or person , roll+Wis. On a 10+ ask the
GM 3 questions from the list below. On
a 7–9 ask 1. Take +1 forward when acting
on the answers.
•
What happened here recently?
•
What is about to happen?
•
What should I be on the lookout for?
•
Whathereisusefulorvaluabletome?
•
Who’s really in control here?
•
What here is not what it appears to
be?
Parley
WhenyouyouhaveleverageonaGM
character and manipulate them ,
roll+Cha.
Leverage is something they
need or want.
On a hit they ask you
for something and do it if you make
them a promise first.
On a 7–9, they
need some concrete assurance of your
promise, right now.
Aid or Interfere
When you help or hinder someone
youhaveaBondwith,roll+Bondwith
them. On a 10+ they take +1 or -2, your
choice. Ona7–9youalsoexposeyourself
to danger, retribution, or cost.
Last Breath
Special Moves
10
6
Special
Moves
Last Breath
Whenyou’redyingyoucatchaglimpse
of what lies beyond the Black Gates of
Death’s Kingdom (the GM will describe
it), then roll (just roll, +nothing—yeah,
Deathdoesn’tcarehowtoughorcoolyou
are). On a 10+ you’re stable. On a 7–9
Death will offer you a bargain—take it
and stabilize or refuse and pass beyond
theBlackGatesintowhateverfateawaits
you. On a miss, you are dead.
Encumbrance
When you make a move while car-
rying weight up to or equal to Load,
you’re fine.
When you make a move
while carrying weight equal to load+1 or
load+2, you take -1. When you make a
movewhilecarryingweightgreaterthan
load+2, you have a choice: drop at least
1 weight and roll at -1, or automatically
fail.
Make Camp
When you settle in to rest consume
a ration. If you’re somewhere danger-
ous decide the watch order as well. If
you have enough XP you may Level Up.
When you wake from at least a few un-
interrupted hours of sleep heal damage
equal to half your max HP.
Take Watch
When you you’re on watch and
something approaches the camp
roll+Wis. On a 10+ you’re able to wake
the camp and prepare a response, the
camp takes +1 forward.
On a 7–9 you
react just a moment too late; the camp
is awake but hasn’t had time to prepare.
You have weapons and armor but little
else. On a miss whatever lurks outside
the campfire’s light has the drop on you.
Undertake a Perilous Journey
When you travel through hostile terri-
tory, choose one member of the party to
act as trailblazer, one to scout ahead, and
one to be quartermaster (the same char-
acter cannot have two jobs). If you don’t
have enough party members or choose
not to assign a job, treat that job as if
it had rolled a 6. Each character with a
job to do rolls+Wis. On a 10+ the quar-
termaster reduces the number of rations
required by one. On a 10+ the trailblazer
reduces the amount of time it takes to
reach your destination (the GM will say
by how much). On a 10+ the scout will
spot any trouble quick enough to let you
get the drop on it. On a 7–9 each roles
performs their job as expected: the nor-
malnumberofrationsareconsumed,the
journey takes about as long as expected,
noonegetsthedroponyoubutyoudon’t
get the drop on them either.
Level Up
When you have downtime (hours or
days) and XP equal to (or greater
than) your current level + 7 , subtract
your current level +7 from your XP, in-
crease your level by 1, and choose a new
advanced move from your class. If you
are the Wizard, you also get to add a new
spell to your spellbook.
If your new level is 3, 6, or 9, you also
get to increase a stat by 2. Increase the
base score of the stat of your choice by
2, adjust the modifier to reflect the new
score. Changing your Constitution in-
creases your maximum and current HP.
Ability scores can’t go higher than 18.
End of Session
When you reach the end of a session
, choose one your bonds that you feel is
resolved(completelyexplored,nolonger
relevant,orotherwise). Asktheplayerof
the character you have the bond with if
theyagree. Iftheydo, markXPandwrite
a new bond with whomever you wish.
Once bonds have been updated look at
your alignment.
If you fulfilled that
alignment at least once this session,
mark XP. Then answer these three ques-
tions as a group:
•
Did we learn something new and im-
portant about the world?
•
Did we overcome a notable monster
or enemy?
•
Did we loot a memorable treasure?
For each "yes" answer everyone marks
XP.
Carouse
When you return triumphant and
throw a big party , spend 100 coin and
roll + extra 100s of coin spent. On a 10+
choose 3. On a 7–9 choose 1. On a miss,
you still choose one, but things get really
out of hand.
•
You befriend a useful NPC
•
You hear rumors of an opportunity
•
You gain useful information
•
You are not entangled, ensorcelled,
or tricked
Supply
When you go to buy something with
gold on hand , if it’s something read-
ily available in the settlement you’re in,
you can buy it at market price.
If it’s
something special, beyond what’s usu-
ally available here, or non-mundane,
roll+Cha. On a 10+ you find what you’re
looking for at a fair price. On a 7–9 you’ll
have to pay more or settle for something
similar.
Special Moves
Recover
11
Recover
When you do nothing but rest in
comfort and safety after a day of rest
you recover all your HP. After three days
of rest you remove one debility of your
choice.
If you’re under the care of a
healer (magical or otherwise) you heal
a debility for every two days of rest in-
stead.
Recruit
When you put out word that you’re
lookingtohirehelp,roll. Ifyoumake
it known. . .
•
. . .that your pay is generous, take +1
•
. . .what you’resettingouttodo, take
+1
•
. . .thatthey’llgetashareofwhatever
you find, take +1
If you have a useful reputation around
these parts take an additional +1. On a
10+ you’ve got your pick of a number
of skilled applicants, your choice who
you hire, no penalty for not taking them
along.
On a 7–9 you’ll have to settle
for someone close or turn them away.
On a miss someone influential and ill-
suited declares they’d like to come along
(a foolhardy youth, a loose-cannon, or a
veiled enemy, for example), bring them
and take the consequences or turn them
away. If you turn away applicants you
take -1 forward to Recruit.
Outstanding Warrants
When you return to a civilized place
in which you’ve caused trouble be-
fore , roll+Cha.
On a hit, word has
spread of your deeds and everyone rec-
ognizes you. On a 7–9, that, and, the GM
chooses a complication:
•
The local constabulary has a warrant
out for your arrest
•
Someonehasputapriceonyourhead
•
Someone important to you has been
put in a bad spot as a result of your
actions
Bolster
When you spend your leisure time
in study, meditation, or hard prac-
tice, you gain preparation. If you pre-
pare for a week or two, 1 preparation.
If you prepare for a month or longer,
3 preparation. When your preparation
pays offspend 1preparationfor+1toany
roll. Youcanonlyspendonepreparation
per roll.
Names
The Bard
12
7
The Bard
Sure,anadventurer’slifeisallopenroads
and the glory of coin and combat. Those
tales that are told in every farmhand-
filled inn have to have some ring of truth
tothem,don’tthey? Thesongstoinspire
peasantry and royals alike—to soothe
the savage beast or drive men to a frenzy
have to come from somewhere.
Enter the Bard. You, with your smooth
tongue and quick wit. You teller-of-tales
and singer-of-songs.
It takes a mere
minstrel to retell a thing but a true Bard
to live it. Strap on your boots, noble ora-
tor. Sharpenthathiddendaggerandtake
up the call. Someone’s got to be there,
fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the
goons and the thugs and the soon-to-be-
heroes. Who better than you to write the
tale of your own heroism?
Nobody. Get going.
Names
Elf : Astrafel,Daelwyn,Feliana,Damarra,
Sistranalle,Pendrell,Melliandre,Dagoliir
Human :
Baldric,
Leena,
Dunwick,
Willem,
Edwyn,
Florian,
Seraphine,
Quorra, Charlotte, Lily, Ramonde, Cas-
sandra
Look
Choose one for each:
KnowingEyes,FieryEyes,orJoyousEyes
Fancy Hair, Wild Hair, or Stylish Cap
Finery,
Traveling Clothes,
or Poor
Clothes
Fit Body, Well-fed Body, or Thin Body
Stats
Assign these scores to your stats:
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
You start with 6+Constitution HP.
Your base damage is d6.
Starting Moves
Choose a racial move:
Elf
When you enter an important location
(your call) you can ask the GM for one
fact from the history of that location.
Human
When you first enter a civilized settle-
ment someone who respects the custom
of hospitality to minstrels will take you
in as their guest.
You start with these moves:
Arcane Art (Cha)
When you weave a performance into a
basic spell, choose an ally and an effect:
•
Heal 1d8 damage
•
+1d4 forward to damage
•
Their mind is shaken clear of one en-
chantment
•
The next time the target is Aided, on
a hit they get +2 instead of +1
Then roll+Cha. On a hit, the ally gets the
selected effect. On a 7-9, you also draw
unwantedattentionoryourmagicrever-
berates to other targets affecting them as
well, GM’s choice.
Bardic Lore
Choose an area of expertise:
•
On Spells and Magicks
•
The Dead and Undead
•
Grand Histories of the Known World
•
A Bestiary of Creatures Unusual
•
The Planar Spheres
•
Legends of Heroes Past
•
Gods and Their Servants
When you first encounter an important
creature,location,oritem(yourcall)cov-
ered by your Bardic Lore you can ask
the GM any one question about it, the
GM will answer truthfully. The GM may
then ask you what tale, song, or legend
you heard that information in.
Charming and Open
When you speak frankly with someone,
you can ask their player a question from
thelistbelow. Iftheyanswerittruthfully
they then get to ask you a question from
the list below.
•
Whom do you serve?
•
What do you wish I would do?
•
How can I get you to
?
•
What are you really feeling right
now?
•
What do you most desire?
A Port in the Storm
When you return to a civilized settle-
ment you’ve visited before, tell the GM
when you were last here. They’ll tell you
how its changed since then.
Alignment
Choose an alignment:
Good
Perform your art to aid someone else
Neutral
Avoid a conflict or defuse a tense situa-
tion
The Bard
Gear
13
Chaotic
Spurotherstosignificantandunplanned
decisive action
Gear
Your Load is 5+Str. You have dungeon
rations (5 uses, 1 weight).
Choose one
instrument:
•
Your father’s mandolin, repaired
•
A fine lute, a gift from a noble
•
The pipes with which you courted
your first love
•
A stolen horn
•
A fiddle, never before played
•
A songbook in a forgotten tongue
Choose your clothing:
•
Leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight)
•
Ostentatious clothes
Choose your armament:
•
Dueling rapier (Close, Precise, 2
weight)
•
Wornbow(Near,2weight),bundleof
arrows (3 ammo, 1 weight), and short
sword (Close, 1 weight)
Choose one:
•
Adventuring Gear (1 weight)
•
Bandages (0 weight)
•
Halfling pipeleaf (1 weight)
•
3 coin
Bonds
Fill in the name of one of your compan-
ions in at least one:
This is not my first adventure with
.
I sang stories of
long before I ever met them in person.
is often the butt of my jokes.
I am writing a ballad about the adven-
tures of
.
trusted me with a secret.
does not trust me, and for good reason.
Advanced Moves
When you gain a level from 2-5,
choose from these moves.
Healing Song
WhenyouhealwithArcaneArt,youheal
+1d8 damage.
Vicious Cacophony
When you grant bonus damage with Ar-
cane Art, you grant an extra +1d4 dam-
age.
It Goes To Eleven
Whenyouunleashacrazedperformance
(arighteouslutesolo, mightybrassblast,
confusing interpretive dance) choose a
target who can hear you and roll+Cha.
On a 10+ the target flails in confusion
dealing its damage to a creature of your
choosing. On a 7–9 it deals its damage,
but then takes +1d4 damage ongoing as
the music invigorates it.
Metal Hurlant
When you shout with great force or play
a shattering note choose a target and
roll+Con. On a hit the target takes 2d6
damage and is deafened for a few min-
utes. On a 7–9 it’s out of control: the GM
will choose an additional target nearby.
A Little Help From My Friends
WhenyousuccessfullyAidsomeoneyou
take +1 forward as well.
Eldritch Tones
When you use Arcane Art, you choose
two effects instead of one.
Duelist’s Parry
When you Hack and Slash, you take +1
armor forward.
Bamboozle
When you Parley with someone, on a hit
you also take +1 forward with them.
Multiclass Dabbler
Get one move from another class. Treat
your level as one lower for choosing the
move.
Multiclass Initiate
Get one move from another class. Treat
your level as one lower for choosing the
move.
When you gain a level from 6-10,
choose from these moves or the level
2-5 moves.
Healing Chorus
Replaces: Healing Song
WhenyouhealwithArcaneArt,youheal
+2d8 damage.
Vicious Blast
Replaces: Vicious Cacophony
When you grant bonus damage with Ar-
cane Art, you grant an extra +1d4 dam-
age.
Unforgettable Face
When you meet someone you’ve met be-
fore (your call) after some time apart you
take +1 forward against them.
Reputation (Cha)
When you first meet someone who’s
heard songs about you, roll+Cha. On a
10+,telltheGMtwothingsthey’veheard
aboutyou. Ona7-9,telltheGMonething
they’ve heard, and the GM tells you one
thing.
Eldritch Chord
Replaces: Eldritch Tones
When you use Arcane Art, you choose
two effects. You also get to choose one of
those effects to double.
An Ear For Magic
When you hear an enemy cast a spell the
GMwilltellyouthenameofthespelland
its effects. Take +1 forward when acting
on the answers.
Devious
When you use Charming and Open you
may also ask "How are you vulnerable
to me?" Your subject may not ask this
question of you.
Advanced Moves
The Bard
14
Duelist’s Block
Replaces: Duelist’s Parry
When you Hack and Slash, you take +2
armor forward.
Con
Replaces: Bamboozle
When you Parley with someone, on a hit
you also take +1 forward with them and
gettoasktheirplayeronequestionwhich
they must answer truthfully.
Multiclass Master
Get one move from another class. Treat
your level as one lower for choosing the
move.
The Cleric
Names
15
8
The Cleric
The lands of Dungeon World are a gods-
forsaken mess. They’re lousy with the
walking dead, beasts of all sorts, and the
vast unnatural spaces between safe and
temple-blessed civilizations. It is a god-
less world out there. That’s why it needs
you.
Bringing the glory of your god to the
heathens isn’t just in your nature—it’s
your calling. It falls to you to prosely-
tize with sword and mace and spell. To
cleave deep into the witless heart of the
wildsandplanttheseedofdivinitythere.
Some say that it is best to keep god close
to your heart. You know that’s rubbish.
Godlivesattheedgeofablade. Showthe
world who is lord.
Names
Dwarf :
Durga, Aelfar, Gerda, Rur-
gosh,Bjorn,Drummond,Helga,Siggrun,
Freya
Human :
Wesley, Brinton, Jon, Sara,
Hawthorn, Elise, Clarke, Lenore, Piotr,
Dahlia, Carmine
Look
Choose one for each:
Kind Eyes, Sharp Eyes, or Sad Eyes
Tonsure, Strange Hair, or Bald
Flowing Robes, Habit, or Common Garb
ThinBody,KnobbyBody,orFlabbyBody
Stats
Assign these scores to your stats:
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
You start with 8+Constitution HP.
Your base damage is d6.
Starting Moves
Choose a racial move:
Dwarf
You are one with stone. When you Com-
mune you are also granted a special ver-
sion of Words of the Unspeaking which
only works on stone as a Rote.
Human
Yourfaithisdiverse. ChooseoneWizard
spell. You can cast and be granted that
spell as if it was a Cleric spell.
You start with these moves:
Deity
You serve and worship some deity or
power which grants you spells.
Give
your god a name (maybe Helferth, Su-
cellus, or Zorica) and choose your deity’s
domain:
•
Healing and Restoration
•
Bloody Conquest
•
Civilization
•
Knowledge and Hidden Things
•
The Downtrodden and Forgotten
•
What Lies Beneath
Choose one precept of your religion:
•
Yourreligionpreachesthesanctityof
suffering, add Petition: Suffering
•
Your religion is cultish and insular,
add Petition: Gaining Secrets
•
Your religion has important sacrifi-
cial rites, add Petition: Offering
•
Yourreligionbelievesintrialbycom-
bat, add Petition: Personal Victory
Divine Guidance
When you fulfill your religion’s peti-
tion your deity grants you some useful
knowledge or boon related to their do-
main. The GM will tell you what.
Turn Undead
When you hold your holy symbol aloft
and pray aloud for protection, roll+Wis.
On a hit so long as you continue to pray
and brandish your holy symbol no un-
dead may come within reach of you. On
a 10+ intelligent undead are momentar-
ily dazed by the radiance of your god and
mindless undead flee. If you move ag-
gressively towards an undead creature
while Turning them it breaks the effects
and they are able to act as normal. Intel-
ligent undead, vampires and so on, may
still find ways to harry you from afar.
They’re clever like that.
Commune
When you spend uninterrupted time (an
hour or so) in quiet communion with
your deity, you lose any spells already
grantedtoyouandaregrantednewspells
of your choice whose total levels don’t
exceed your own+1.
You also prepare
your rotes; they don’t count against your
limit. You can’t prepare spells that are
higher level than you.
Cast a Spell
When you unleash a spell granted to you
by your deity, roll+Wis. On a 10+, the
spell is successfully cast and your deity
doesnotrevokethespell,soyoumaycast
it again. On a 7-9, the spell is cast, but
choose one:
•
You draw unwelcome attention or
put yourself in a spot (the GM will
describe it).
•
Yourcastingdistancesyoufromyour
deity—take -1 ongoing to Cast a Spell
until you Commune.
•
After you cast it, the spell is revoked
by your deity. You cannot cast the
spell again until you Commune and
Alignment
The Cleric
16
have it granted to you.
Alignment
Choose an alignment:
Good
Endanger yourself to heal another
Lawful
Endanger yourself following the pre-
cepts of your church or god
Evil
Harmanothertoprovethesuperiorityof
your church or god
Gear
Your Load is 7+Str. You carry dungeon
rations (1 weight, 5 uses) and some sym-
bol of the divine, describe it (weight 0).
Choose your defenses:
•
Chainmail (1 armor, 1 weight)
•
Shield (+1 armor, 2 weight)
Choose your armament:
•
Warhammer (Close, 1 weight)
•
Mace (Close, 1 weight)
•
Staff (Close, Two-handed, 1 weight)
and bandages
Choose one:
•
Adventuringgear(1weight)anddun-
geon rations (1 weight)
•
Healing potion (1 weight)
Bonds
Fill in the name of one of your compan-
ions in at least one:
has insulted my deity; I do not trust
them.
is a good and faithful person; I trust
them implicitly.
is in constant danger, I will keep them
safe.
I am working on converting
to my faith.
Advanced Moves
When you gain a level from 2-5,
choose from these moves.
Chosen One
Choose one spell. You are granted that
spell as if it was one level lower.
Invigorate
When you heal someone they take +2
damage forward.
The Scales of Life and Death
When someone takes their Last Breath
in your presence they take +1 to the roll.
Serenity
You are able to divide your power effec-
tively. When you cast a spell you ignore
the first -1 penalty from ongoing spells.
First Aid
Cure Light Wounds does not count
against your limit of granted spells.
Divine Intervention
When you Commune you get 1 hold and
lose any hold you already had. Spend
that hold when you or an ally takes dam-
age to call on your deity, they intervene
in an appropriate idiom (a sudden gust
of wind, a lucky slip, a burst of light) and
negate the damage.
Penitent
When you take damage and embrace the
pain, you may take +1d4 damage (ignor-
ing armor). If you do, take +1 forward to
Cast a Spell.
Empower
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10+ you have
the option of choosing from the 7-9 list.
If you do, you may choose one of these
effects as well:
•
The spell’s effects are doubled
•
The spell’s targets are doubled
Orison for Guidance
When you sacrifice something of value
to your deity and pray for guidance your
deitytellsyouwhatitwouldhaveyoudo.
If you do it, mark experience.
Divine Protection
When you wear no armor or shield you
get 2 armor.
Devoted Healer
When you heal someone else of damage,
heal +your level damage.
When you gain a level from 6-10,
choose from these moves or the level
2-5 moves.
Anointed
Requires: Chosen One
Choose one spell. You are granted that
spell as if it was one level lower.
Vicious
Requires: Inquisitor
When you do damage with a spell, you
deal +1d4 damage.
Reaper
When you take time after a conflict to
dedicate your victory to your deity and
deal with the dead, take +1 forward.
Providence
Replaces: Serenity
Youignorethe-1penaltyfromtwospells
you maintain.
Greater First Aid
Requires: First Aid
Cure Moderate Wounds does not count
against your limit of granted spells.
Divine Invincibility
Replaces: Divine Intervention
When you Commune you get 2 hold and
lose any hold you already had. Spend
that hold when you or an ally takes dam-
age to call on your deity, they intervene
in an appropriate idiom (a sudden gust
of wind, a lucky slip, a burst of light) and
negate the damage.
Martyr
Replaces: Penitent
When you take damage and embrace the
pain, you may take +1d4 damage (ignor-
ing armor). If you do, take +1 forward
to Cast a Spell and add your level to any
damage done or healed by the spell.
The Cleric
Advanced Moves
17
Divine Armor
Replaces: Divine Protection
When you wear no armor or shield you
get 3 armor.
Greater Empower
Replaces: Empower
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10-11 you
have the option of choosing from the 7-9
list. If you do, you may choose one of
these effects as well. On a 12+ you get to
choose one of these effects for free.
•
The spell’s effects are doubled
•
The spell’s targets are doubled
Multiclass Dabbler
Get one move from another class. Treat
your level as one lower for choosing the
move.
Rotes
Cleric Spells
18
9
Cleric Spells
Rotes
Light Rote
An item you touch glows with divine
light, about as bright as a torch. It gives
off no heat or sound and requires no fuel
but is otherwise like a mundane torch.
You have complete control of the color
of the flame. The spell lasts as long as it
is in your presence.
Sanctify Rote
Food or water you hold in your hands
while you cast this spell is consecrated
by your deity. In addition to now being
holy or unholy the affected substance is
purified of any mundane spoilage.
Guidance Rote
The symbol of your deity appears before
you and gestures towards the direction
orcourseofactionyourdeitywouldhave
you take then disappears. The message
is through gesture only; your communi-
cation through this spell is severely lim-
ited.
1st Level Spells
Bless Level 1 Ongoing
You deity smiles on the target in com-
bat. They take +1 ongoing so long as bat-
tle continues and they stand and fight.
While this spell is ongoing you take -1 to
Cast a Spell.
Cure Light Wounds Level 1
At your touch wounds scab and bones
ceasetoache. Healanallyof1d8damage.
Detect Alignment Level 1
Whenyoucastthisspellchooseanalign-
ment: Good, Evil, or Neutral.
One of
your senses is briefly able to detect that
alignment. The GM will tell you what
here is of that alignment.
Cause Fear Level 1 Ongoing
Choose an intelligent target you can see
and a nearby object. The target is afraid
of the object so long as you maintain the
spell. Their reaction is up to them: flee,
panic, beg, panic, fight. While this spell
is ongoing you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Magic Weapon Level 1 Ongoing
The weapon you hold while casting does
+1d4damageuntilyoudismissthisspell.
Until you dismiss this spell you take -1 to
Cast a Spell.
Sanctuary Level 1
You make an area holy to your deity.
Walk the perimeter of the area.
So
long as you stay within that area you
are alerted whenever someone acts with
malice within the sanctuary (including
entering with harmful intent). Anyone
who receives healing within a Sanctuary
heals +1d4 HP.
Speak With Dead Level 1 Death
A corpse converses with you briefly. It
willansweranythreequestionsyoupose
to it to the best of the knowledge it had in
lifeandtheknowledgeitgainedindeath.
3rd Level Spells
Animate Dead Level 3 Ongoing
You invoke a hungry spirit to possess a
recently-dead body and act for you. This
forms a zombie that follows your orders
to the best of its limited abilities. Treat
the zombie as your character, but with
access to only the basic moves. It has a
+1 modifier for all stats and 1 HP. While
this spell is ongoing you take -1 to Cast a
Spell. You get 1d4 of these effects:
•
The zombie is talented. Give one stat
a +2 modifier.
•
The zombie is durable. It has +2 HP
for each level you have.
•
The zombie has a functioning brain
and can complete complex tasks.
•
The zombie is restored by magic—it
does not appear obviously dead, at
least for a day or two.
Cure Moderate Wounds Level 3
You staunch bleeding and set bones
through magic. Heal an ally of 2d8 dam-
age.
Darkness Level 3 Ongoing
Choose an area you can see: it’s filled
withsupernaturaldarknessandshadow.
While this spell is ongoing you take -1 to
Cast a Spell.
Resurrection Level 3
Tell the GM you would like to resurrect
a corpse whose soul has not yet fully
departed this world.
The GM will tell
you "yes, you can resurrect them, but
first. . ." or "yes, you can resurrect them
now, butitwon’tbepermanentuntil. . ."
andthenonetoallofthethingsfromthis
list:
•
It’sgoingtotakedays/weeks/months
•
You must ____
•
You must get help from ____
•
It will require a lot of money
•
You must sacrifice ____ to do it
Hold Person Level 3
Choose a creature you can see. Until you
Cast a Spell or leave their presence they
cannot act except to speak.
If they’re
harmed this effect ends.
5th Level Spells
Revelation Level 5
Your deity answers your prayers with a
moment of perfect understanding. The
GMwillexplaintherootcauseofthecur-
rentsituation. Whenactingontheinfor-
mation, you take +1 Forward.
Cure Critical Wounds Level 5
Heal an ally of 3d8 damage.
Divination Level 5
Name a person, place, or thing you want
to learn about.
Your deity grants you
Cleric Spells
7th Level Spells
19
visions of the target, as clear as if you
were there.
Contagion Level 5 Ongoing
While this spell is ongoing a target you
can see suffers from the disease of your
choice and you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Words of the Unspeaking Level 5
With a touch you speak to the spirits
withinthings. Thenon-livingobjectyou
touch responds to three questions you
pose, answering them as best it can.
True Seeing Level 5 Ongoing
While this spell is ongoing your vision is
opened to the true nature of everything
you lay your eyes on and you take -1 to
Cast a Spell. You pierce illusions and see
things that have been hidden. The GM
willdescribetheareabeforeyouignoring
any illusions and falsehoods, magical or
otherwise.
Trap Soul Level 5
When cast in the presence of a ghost or
recently dead body this spell traps the
soulinagemyouprovide. Whiletrapped
thesoulanswerseveryquestionposedto
it and can not resist your requests. Once
releasedthesoulislikelytoholdagrudge
against its captor.
7th Level Spells
Word of Recall Level 7
Choose a word. The first time after cast-
ing this spell that you speak the chosen
word, you and any allies touching you
when you cast the spell are immediately
returned to the exact spot you cast the
spell at. Casting Word of Recall again
before speaking the word replaces the
earlier recall.
Heal Level 7
Touch an ally and you may restore up to
your maximum HP to them.
Harm Level 7
Touch an enemy and strike them with
divine wrath—deal 2d8 damage to them
and 1d6 damage to yourself (ignores ar-
mor).
Sever Level 7 Ongoing
Choose an appendage on the target such
as an arm, tentacle, or wing.
The ap-
pendage is magically severed from their
body, causing no damage but consider-
able pain. Missing an appendage may,
for example, keep a winged creature
from flying, or a bull from goring you
on its horns.
While you maintain the
spell you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Mark of Death Level 7
Choose a creature who’s true name you
know. Thisspellinscribesrunesthatwill
killthatcreature, shouldtheyreadthem.
Control Weather Level 7
Pray for rain—or sun, wind, or snow.
Within a day or so, your god will an-
swer. Theweatherwillchangeaccording
to your will and last a handful of days.
9th Level Spells
Command Elements Level 9
A mass of one element (earth, air, water,
or fire) that you touch as you cast this
spell takes on a form similar to yours
and carries out one command you give
it. Once the command is completed or
a day passes the element retakes its old
form.
Repair Level 9
Choose one event in the target’s past. All
effects of that event, including damage,
poison, disease, and magical effects, are
ended and repaired. HP and diseases are
healed, poisons are neutralized, magical
effects are ended.
Divine Presence Level 9 Ongoing
Everycreaturemustaskyourleavetoen-
ter your presence, and you must speak
permission for them to enter. Any crea-
ture that you deny permission takes an
extra 1d10 damage whenever they take
damage in your presence.
While this
spellisongoingyoutake-1toCastaSpell.
Consume Unlife Level 9
The mindless undead creature you touch
is destroyed and you steal its death en-
ergy to heal yourself or the next ally you
touch of damage equal to its current HP.
Peace Level 9
Chooseonetraumaticmemoryinthetar-
get’s past. The target’s memory of that
event is calmly erased. If the target is a
PC, they must be willing.
Names
The Fighter
20
10
The Fighter
It’s a thankless job—living day to day by
your armor and the skill of your arm. To
dive heedlessly into danger. They won’t
be playing golden horns for the time you
took that knife to the ribs for them in the
bar in Bucksberg. No flock of angels to
sing of the time you dragged them, still
screaming, from the edge of the Pits of
Madness, no.
Forget them.
You do this for the guts and the glory.
The scream of battle and the hot hot
blood of it.
You are a beast of iron.
Your friends may carry blades of forged
steel but, Fighter, you are steel. While
your traveling companions might moan
about their wounds over a campfire in
the wilderness, you bear your scars with
pride.
You are the wall—let every danger
smash itself to nothing on you. In the
end, you’ll be the last one standing.
Names
Dwarf : Ozruk, Surtur, Brunhilda, An-
nika, Janos, Greta, Dim, Rundrig, Jarl,
Xotoq
Elf : Elohiir, Sharaseth, Hasrith, She-
varal, Cadeus, Eldar, Kithracet, Thelian
Halfling :
Finnegan, Olive, Randolph,
Bartleby, Aubrey, Baldwin, Becca
Human : Hawke, Rudiger, Gregor, Bri-
anne, Walton, Castor, Shanna, Ajax, Hob
Look
Choose one for each:
Hard Eyes, Dead Eyes, or Eager Eyes
Wild Hair, Shorn Hair, or Battered Helm
Calloused Skin, Tanned Skin, or Scarred
Skin
Built Body, Lithe Body, or Ravaged Body
Stats
Assign these scores to your stats:
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
You start with 10+Constitution HP.
Your base damage is d10.
Starting Moves
Choose a racial move:
Dwarf
When you share a drink with someone,
you may Parley with them with Con in-
stead of Cha.
Elf
Choose one weapon—you can always
treat weapons of that type as if they had
the Precise tag.
Halfling
When you Defy Danger and use your
small size to your advantage, take +1.
Human
Onceperbattleyoumaychooseadamage
roll (yours or someone else’s) and reroll
it.
You start with these moves:
Bend Bars, Lift Gates (Str)
When you use pure strength to destroy
aninanimateobstacle, roll+Str. Ona10+
choose 3. On a 7-9 choose 2.
•
It doesn’t take a very long time
•
Nothing of value is damaged
•
Itdoesn’tmakeaninordinateamount
of noise
•
You can fix the thing again without a
lot of effort
Armored
You ignore the Clumsy tag on armor you
wear.
Signature Weapon
Thisisyourweapon. Therearemanylike
it, but this one is yours. Your weapon is
your best friend.
It is your life.
You
master it as you master your life. Your
weapon, without you, is useless. With-
out your weapon, you are useless. You
must wield your weapon true.
Choose a base description, all are 2
weight:
•
Sword
•
Axe
•
Hammer
•
Spear
•
Flail
•
Fists
Choose the range that best fits your
weapon:
•
Hand
•
Close
•
Reach
Choose two enhancements:
•
Hooks and spikes. +1 damage, but +1
weight.
•
Sharp. +2 piercing.
•
Perfectly weighted. +precise.
•
Serrated edges. +1 damage.
•
Glows in the presence of one type of
creature, your choice.
•
Huge. +messy, +forceful.
•
Versatile. Choose another range.
•
Well-crafted. -1 weight.
Choose a look:
The Fighter
Alignment
21
•
Ancient
•
Unblemished
•
Ornate
•
Blood-stained
•
Sinister
Alignment
Choose an alignment:
Good
Defend those weaker than you
Neutral
Defeat a worthy opponent
Evil
Kill a defenseless or surrendered enemy
Gear
Your Load is 9+Str. You carry your sig-
nature weapon and dungeon rations (1
weight, 5 uses). Choose your defenses:
•
Chainmail(1armor,1weight)andAd-
venturing gear (1 weight)
•
Scale armor (2 armor, 3 weight)
Choose two:
•
2 Healing potions (2 weight)
•
shield (+1 armor, 2 weight)
•
Antitoxin,dungeonrations(1weight),
and poultices and herbs (1 weight)
•
22 Gold
Bonds
Fill in the name of one of your compan-
ions in at least one:
owes me their life, whether they admit
it or not.
I have sworn to protect
.
I worry about the ability of
to survive in the dungeon.
is soft, but I will make them hard like
me.
Advanced Moves
When you gain a level from 2-5,
choose from these moves.
Merciless
When you deal damage, deal +1d4 dam-
age.
Heirloom
When you consult the spirits of that
reside within your signature weapon,
roll+Cha.
The spirits will give you an
insight relating to the current situation,
and might ask you some questions in re-
turn. Ona10+,theGMwillgiveyougood
detail. On a 7-9, the GM will give you an
impression.
Armor Mastery
When you take damage you can choose
to let your armor take the brunt of it.
Thedamageisnegatedbutyourarmoror
shield (your choice) is -1 armor until you
get it repaired at a smithy or workshop.
Improved Weapon
Choose one extra enhancement for your
signature weapon.
Seeing Red
WhenyouDiscernRealitiesduringcom-
bat, you take +1.
Interrogator
When you Parley using threats of im-
pending violence as leverage you may
use Str instead of Cha.
Scent of Blood
WhenyouHackandSlashanenemy,you
take +1d4 damage forward against that
enemy.
Multiclass Dabbler
Get one move from another class. For
the purposes of Multiclass Dabbler the
Wizard’s Spellbook, Prepare Spells, and
Cast a Spell moves count as one move.
The Cleric’s Commune and Cast a Spell
moves also count as one move. If you
gain the ability to cast spells you cast
them as if you were one level lower.
Iron Hide
You gain +1 armor.
Blacksmith
When you have access to a forge you can
graft the magical powers of a weapon
onto your signature weapon.
This
process destroys the magical weapon.
Your signature weapon gains the mag-
ical powers of the destroyed weapon.
When you gain a level from 6-10,
choose from these moves or the level
2-5 moves.
Bloodthirsty
Replaces: Merciless
When you deal damage, deal +1d8 dam-
age.
Armored Perfection
Replaces: Armor Mastery
When you take damage you can choose
toletyourarmortakethebruntofit. The
damage is negated and you take +1 for-
wardagainsttheattackerbutyourarmor
or shield (your choice) is -1 armor until
you get it repaired at a smithy or work-
shop.
Evil Eye
Requires: Seeing Red
When you go into a dangerous situation,
roll+Cha. On a 10+, hold 2. On a 7-9,
hold1. Spendyourholdtomakeeyecon-
tact with an NPC present, who freezes or
flinches and can’t act until you break it
off. On a miss, your enemies immedi-
ately identify you as their biggest threat.
Taste of Blood
Replaces: Scent of Blood
WhenyouHackandSlashanenemy,you
take +1d8 damage forward against that
enemy.
Multiclass Initiate
Required: Multiclass Dabbler
Get one move from another class. Treat
your level as one lower for choosing the
move.
Steel Hide
Replaces: Iron Hide
You gain +2 armor.
Through Death’s Eyes
When you go into battle, roll+Wis. On
a 10+, name someone who will live and
someone who will die. On a 7-9, name
someone who will live or someone who
will die. Name NPCs, not player char-
acters. The GM will make your vision
come true, if it’s even remotely possible.
On a 6- you see your own death and con-
sequentlytakea-1throughoutthebattle.
Advanced Moves
The Fighter
22
Eye for Weaponry
Whenyoulookoveranenemy’sweaponry,
ask the GM how much damage they do.
Superior Warrior
When you Hack and Slash on a 12+ you
dealyourdamage,avoidtheirattack,and
impress, dismay, or frighten your en-
emy.
The Paladin
Names
23
11
The Paladin
Hell awaits. An eternity of torment in
fire or ice or whatever best suits the
sins of the damned throngs of Dungeon
World. All that stands between the pits
of that grim torture and salvation is you.
Holy man, armored war machine, tem-
plar of the Good and the Light, right?
TheClericmaysayhisprayersatnightto
the gods, dwelling in their heavens. The
Fighter may wield his sharp sword in the
name of “good” but you know. Only you.
Eyes, hands, and sweet killing blow of
the gods, you are. Yours is the gift of
righteousness and virtue. Of justice. Vi-
sion, too. A purity of intent that your
companions do not have. So guide these
fools, Paladin. Take up your holy cause
and bring salvation to the wastrel world.
Vae victis, right?
Names
Thaddeus,
Augustine,
Lux,
Cassius,
Hadrian, Lucia, Octavia, Regulus, Vale-
ria, Sanguinus, Titanius
Look
Choose one for each:
Kind Eyes, Fiery Eyes, or Glowing Eyes
Helmet, Styled Hair, or Bald
Worn Holy Symbol or Fancy Holy Sym-
bol
Fit Body, Bulky Body, or Thin Body
Stats
Assign these scores to your stats:
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
You start with 10+Constitution HP.
Your base damage is d10.
Starting Moves
You are human, so you get this move.
Human
When you pray, even for a moment, to
your deity and ask "What here is evil?"
the GM will tell you, honestly.
You start with these moves:
Lay on Hands (Cha)
When you touch someone, skin to skin,
and pray for your deity to cure them,
roll+Cha. On a 10+ you heal 1d8 damage
or remove one disease. On a 7-9, they
are healed, but the damage or disease is
transferred to you.
Armored
You ignore the Clumsy tag on armor you
wear.
I Am the Law
When you give an NPC an order based
on your divine authority, roll+Cha. On a
hit, they choose one:
•
They do it
•
They back away cautiously, then flee
•
They attack you
Ona10+,youalsotake+1forwardagainst
them. On a miss, they do as they please
and you take -1 Forward against them.
Quest
When you dedicate yourself to a mission
throughprayerandritualcleansingstate
what you set out to do:
•
Slay
, a great blight on the land
•
Defend
from the inequities that beset them
•
Discover the truth of
Then choose up to two boons:
•
An unwavering sense of direction to
.
•
Invulnerability to
(ex: edged weapons, fire,
enchantment, etc.)
•
A mark of divine authority
•
Senses that pierce lies
•
A voice that transcends language
•
A freedom from hunger, thirst, and
sleep
The GM will then tell you what vow or
vows is required of you to maintain your
blessing:
•
Honor (forbidden: cowardly tactics
and tricks)
•
Temperance (forbidden: gluttony in
food, drink, and pleasure of the flesh)
•
Piety (required: observance of daily
holy services)
•
Valor (forbidden: suffering an evil
creature to live)
•
Truth (forbidden: lies)
•
Hospitality (required:
comfort to
those in need, no matter who they
are)
Alignment
The Paladin
24
Alignment
Choose an alignment:
Lawful
Deny mercy to a criminal or unbeliever
Good
Endanger yourself to protect someone
weaker than you
Gear
Your Load is 8+Str. You start with dun-
geon rations (1 weight, 5 uses), scale ar-
mor (2 armor, 3 weight), and some mark
of faith, describe it (0 Weight). Choose
your weapon:
•
Halberd (Reach, +1 damage, two-
handed, 2 weight)
•
Long sword (Close, +1 damage, 1
weight) and shield (+1 armor,
2
weight)
Choose one:
•
Adventuring gear (1 weight)
•
dungeon rations (1 weight) and heal-
ing potion
Bonds
Fill in the name of one of your compan-
ions in at least one:
’s misguided behavior endangers their
very soul!
has stood by me in battle and can be
trusted completely.
I respect the beliefs of
but hope they will someday see the true
way.
is a brave soul, I have much to learn
from them.
Advanced Moves
When you gain a level from 2-5,
choose from these moves.
Divine Favor
You gain the Commune and Cast a Spell
Cleric move.
Your level for the pur-
poses of that move is 1 + the levels you’ve
gained since you took Divine Favor.
Bloody Aegis
When you take damage you can use your
body to deflect the blow. If you do you
take no damage but instead suffer a de-
bility of your choice. If you already have
all six debilities you can’t use this move.
Smite
While on a Quest you deal +1d4 damage.
Exterminatus
When you speak aloud your promise to
defeat an enemy, you deal +2d4 dam-
age against that enemy and -4 damage
against anyone else. This effect lasts un-
til the enemy is defeated or you admit
your failure and prove your worth.
Charge!
When you lead the charge into combat,
those you lead take +1 forward.
Staunch Defender
WhenyouDefendyoualwaysget+1hold.
Even on a failure you get 1 hold.
Setup Strike
When you Hack and Slash, choose an
ally. Their next attack against your tar-
get does +1d4 damage.
Holy Protection
You get +1 armor while on a Quest.
Voice of Authority
Take +1 to Order Hirelings.
Hospitaller
When you heal an ally, you heal +1d8
damage.
When you gain a level from 6-10,
choose from these moves or the level
2-5 moves.
Evidence of Faith
Requires: Divine Favor
Whenyouseedivinemagicasithappens,
you can ask the GM which deity granted
the spell and its effects. Take +1 when
acting on the answers.
Holy Smite
Replaces: Smite
While on a Quest you deal +1d8 damage.
Ever Onward
Replaces: Charge!
When you lead the charge into combat,
those you lead take +1 forward and +2
armor forward.
Impervious Defender
Replaces: Staunch Defender
WhenyouDefendyoualwaysget+1hold.
Even on a failure you get 1 hold. When
you get a 12+ to Defend instead of get-
ting hold the nearest attacking creature
is stymied giving you a clear advantage,
the GM will describe it.
Tandem Strike
Replaces: Setup Strike
When you Hack and Slash, choose an
ally. Their next attack against your tar-
get does +1d4 damage and they take +1
forward against them.
Divine Protection
Replaces: Holy Protection
You get +2 armor while on a Quest.
Divine Authority
Replaces: Voice of Authority
Take +1 to Order Hirelings. When you
roll a 12+ to Order Hirelings the hireling
transcends their moment of fear and
doubt to perform at the peak of poten-
tial.
Perfect Hospitaller
Replaces: Hospitaller
When you heal an ally, you heal +2d8
damage.
Indomitable
Whenyousufferadebility(eventhrough
Bloody Aegis) take +1 forward against
whatever caused it.
Perfect Knight
When you Quest you choose three boons
instead of two.
The Ranger
Names
25
12
The Ranger
These city-born folk you travel with.
Havetheyheardthecallofthewolf? Felt
thewindshowlinthebleakdesertsofthe
East? Have they hunted their prey with
the bow and the knife like you? Hell no.
That’s why they need you.
Guide. Hunter. Creature of the wilds.
Youarethesethingsandmore. Yourtime
inthewildernessmayhavebeen solitary
until now, the call of some greater thing
– call it fate if you like, has cast your
lot with these folk. Brave, they may be.
Powerful and strong, too. You know the
secrets of the spaces-between, though.
Without you, they’d be lost. Blaze a trail
through the blood and dark, strider.
Names
Elf : Throndir, Elrosine, Aranwe, Celion,
Dambrath, Lanethe
Human : Jonah, Halek, Brandon, Emory,
Shrike, Nora, Diana
Look
Choose one for each:
Wild Eyes, Sharp Eyes, or Animal Eyes
Hooded Head, Wild Hair, or Bald
Cape, Camouflage, or Traveling Clothes
Lithe Body, Wild Body, or Sharp Body
Stats
Assign these scores to your stats:
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
You start with 8+Constitution HP.
Your base damage is d8.
Starting Moves
Choose a racial move:
Elf
When you undertake a Perilous Journey
through wilderness whatever role you
take you succeed as if you rolled a 10+.
Human
When you Make Camp in a dungeon or
city, you don’t need to consume a ration.
You start with these moves:
Hunt and Track (Wis)
When you follow a trail of clues left be-
hind by passing creatures, roll+Wis. On
a hit, you follow the creature’s trail until
there’s a significant change in its direc-
tion or mode of travel. On a 10+, you also
choose 1:
•
Gainausefulbitofinformationabout
your quarry, the GM will tell you
what
•
Determine what caused the trail to
end
Called Shot
When you attack a defenseless or sur-
prised enemy at range, you can choose
to deal your damage or name your target
and roll+Dex.
•
Head – 10+: As 7–9, plus your dam-
age; 7-9: They do nothing but stand
and drool for a few moments.
•
Arms – 10+: As 7-9, plus your dam-
age; 7-9: They drop anything they’re
holding.
•
Legs – 10+: As 7-9, plus your dam-
age; 7-9: They’re hobbled and slow
moving.
Animal Companion
Youhaveasupernaturalconnectionwith
a loyal animal. You can’t talk to it per se
but it always acts as you wish it to. Name
your animal companion and choose a
species:
Wolf, cougar, bear, eagle, dog, hawk, cat,
owl, pigeon, rat, mule
Choose a base:
•
Ferocity +2, Cunning +1, 1 Armor, In-
stinct +1
•
Ferocity +2, Cunning +2, 0 Armor,
Instinct +1
•
Ferocity +1, Cunning +2, 1 Armor, In-
stinct +1
•
Ferocity +3, Cunning +1, 1 Armor, In-
stinct +2
Choose as many strengths as its ferocity:
Fast, burly, huge, calm, adaptable, quick re-
flexes,tireless,camouflage,ferocious,intim-
idating, keen senses, stealthy
Your animal companion is trained to
fight humanoids. Choose as many ad-
ditional trainings as its cunning:
Hunt, search, scout, guard, fight monsters,
perform, labor, travel
Choose as many weaknesses as its in-
stinct:
Flighty, savage, slow, broken, frightening,
forgetful, stubborn, lame
Command
When you work with your animal com-
panion on something it’s trained in. . .
•
. . .and you attack the same target,
add its ferocity to your damage
Alignment
The Ranger
26
•
. . .and you track, add its cunning to
your roll
•
. . .and you take damage, add its ar-
mor to your armor
•
. . .and you discern realities, add its
cunning to your roll
•
. . .and you parley, add its cunning to
your roll
•
. . .and someone interferes with you,
add its instinct to your roll
Alignment
Choose an alignment:
Chaotic
Free someone from literal or figurative
bonds
Good
Endanger yourself to combat an unnat-
ural threat
Neutral
Help an animal or spirit of the wild
Gear
Your Load is 6+Str. You start with dun-
geon rations (1 weight, 5 uses), leather
armor (1 armor, 1 weight), and a bundle
or arrows (3 ammo, 2 weight). Choose
your armament:
•
Hunter’s bow (Near, Far, 1 weight)
and short sword (Close, 1 weight)
•
Hunter’s bow (Near, Far, 1 weight)
and spear (Reach, 1 weight)
Choose one:
•
Adventuringgear(1weight)anddun-
geon rations (1 weight)
•
adventuring gear (1 weight) and bun-
dle of arrows (3 ammo, 2 weight)
Bonds
Fill in the name of one of your compan-
ions in at least one:
I have guided
before and they owe me for it.
is a friend of nature, so I will be their
friend as well.
has no respect for nature, so I have no
respect for them.
does not understand life in the wild, so I
will teach them.
Advanced Moves
Take this move only if it is your first
advancement
Half-Elven
Somewhere in your lineage lies mixed
blood and it begins to show its presence.
YougaintheElfstartingmoveifyoutook
the Human one at character creation or
vice versa.
When you gain a level from 2-5,
choose from these moves.
Wild Empathy
You can speak with and understand ani-
mals.
Familiar Prey
When you Spout Lore about a monster
you use Wis instead of Int.
Viper’s Strike
Whenstrikeanenemywithtwoweapons
atonce,addanextra1d4damageforyour
off-hand strike.
Camouflage
When you’re still in natural surround-
ings, enemies never spot you until you
make a movement.
Man’s Best Friend’
When you take damage and you allow
your animal companion to take the blow
the damage is negated and your animal
companion’s Ferocity becomes 0. If its
Ferocity was already 0 you can’t use this
ability. When you have a few hours of
rest with your animal companion its Fe-
rocity returns to normal.
Blot out the Sun
When you Volley you may spend extra
ammo before rolling, for each point of
ammo spent you may choose an extra
target. Roll once and apply damage to all
targets.
Well Trained
Choose another training for your animal
companion.
God Amidst the Wastes
You gain the Commune and Cast a Spell
Cleric move.
Your level for the pur-
poses of that move is 1 + the levels you’ve
gained since you took God Amidst the
Wastes.
Follow Me
When you Undertake a Perilous Journey
you can take two roles. You make a roll
for each.
A Safe Place
When you set the watch for the night
everyone takes +1 to Take Watch.
When you gain a level from 6-10,
choose from these moves or the level
2-5 moves.
Wild Speech
Replaces: Wild Empathy
You can speak with and understand any
non-magical non-planar creature.
Hunter’s Prey
Replaces: Familiar Prey
When you Spout Lore about a monster
you use Wis instead of Int. On a 12+ you
gettoasktheGManyonequestionabout
the subject.
Viper’s Fangs
Replaces: Viper’s Strike
Whenstrikeanenemywithtwoweapons
atonce, addanextra1d8damageforyour
off-hand strike.
Smaug’s Belly
When you know your target’s weakest
point your arrows have 2 piercing.
Strider
Replaces: Follow Me
When you Undertake a Perilous journey
you can take two roles. Roll twice and
use the better result for both roles.
A Safer Place
Replaces: A Safe Place
When you set the watch for the night
everyone takes +1 to Take Watch. After
a night in camp when you set the watch
everyone takes +1 forward.
The Ranger
Advanced Moves
27
Observant
When you Hunt and Track, on a hit you
mayalsoaskonequestionaboutthecrea-
ture you are tracking from the Discern
Realities list for free.
Special Trick
Choose a move from another class. So
longasyouareworkingwithyouranimal
companionyouhaveaccesstothatmove.
Unnatural Ally
Youranimalcompanionisamonster,not
an animal. Describe it. Give it +2 Feroc-
ity and +1 Instinct, plus a new training.
Names
The Thief
28
13
The Thief
You’ve heard them, sitting around the
campfire. Bragging about this battle or
that. About how their gods are smiling
on your merry band.
You count your
coins and smile to yourself—this is the
thrill above all. You alone know the se-
cret of Dungeon World—filthy filthy lu-
cre.
Sure, they give you shit for all the times
you’ve snuck off alone but without you,
who among them wouldn’t have been
dissected by a flying guillotine or poi-
soned straight to death by some ancient
needle-trap?
So, let them complain.
When you’re done all this delving you’ll
toast their hero’s graves.
Fromyourcastle. Fullofgold. Yourogue.
Names
Halfling : Felix, Rook, Mouse, Sketch,
Trixie, Robin, Omar, Brynn, Bug
Human : Sparrow, Shank, Jack, Marlow,
Dodge, Rat, Pox, Humble, Farley
Look
Choose one for each:
Shifty Eyes or Criminal Eyes
Hooded Head, Messy Hair, or Cropped
Hair
Dark Clothes, Fancy Clothes, or Com-
mon Clothes
Lithe Body, Knobby Body, or Flabby
Body
Stats
Assign these scores to your stats:
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
You start with 6+Constitution HP.
Your base damage is d8.
Starting Moves
Choose a racial move:
Halfling
When you attack with a ranged weapon,
deal +1 damage.
Human
You are a professional. When you Spout
Lore or Discern Realities about criminal
activities, take +1.
You start with these moves:
Trap Expert
When you spend a moment to survey a
dangerousarea, roll+Dex. Ona10+, hold
3. On a 7-9, hold 1. Spend your hold as
you walk through the area to ask these
questions:
•
Is there a trap here and if so, what
activates it?
•
What does the trap do when acti-
vated?
•
What else is hidden here?
Tricks of the Trade
When you pick locks or pockets or dis-
able traps, roll+Dex. On a 10+, you do it,
no problem. On a 7-9, the GM will of-
fer you two options between suspicion,
danger, or cost.
Backstab
When you attack a surprised or defense-
lessenemywithameleeweapon,youcan
choose to deal your damage or roll+Dex.
If you roll, on a 10+ choose two, on a 7-9
choose one.
•
You don’t get into melee with them
•
You deal your damage+1d6
•
You create an advantage, +1 forward
to you or an ally acting on it
•
Reduce their armor by 1 until they
repair it
Flexible Morals
Whensomeonetriestodetectyouralign-
ment you can tell them any alignment
you like.
Poisoner
You’vemasteredthecareanduseofapoi-
son. Chooseapoisonfromthelistbelow;
that poison is no longer Dangerous for
you to use. You also start with three uses
of the poison you choose. Whenever you
have time to gather materials and a safe
place to brew you can make three uses
of the poison you choose for free. Note
that some poisons are Applied, mean-
ing you have to carefully apply it to the
target or something they eat or drink.
Touch poisons just need to touch the tar-
get, they can even be used on the blade
of a weapon.
•
Oil of Tagit (Applied): The target falls
into a light sleep
•
Bloodweed (Touch): The target deals
-1d4 damage ongoing until cured
•
Goldenroot (Applied):
The target
treats the next creature they see as
a trusted ally, until proved otherwise
•
Serpent’s Tears (Touch):
Anyone
dealing damage against the target
rollstwiceandtakesthebetterresult.
Alignment
Choose an alignment:
Chaotic
Leap into danger without a plan
Neutral
The Thief
Gear
29
Avoid detection or infiltrate a location
Evil
Shift danger or blame from yourself to
someone else
Gear
Your Load is 5+Str.
You start with
one dungeon rations (1 weight, 5 uses),
leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight), 3
uses of your chosen poison, and 10 coin.
Chose your arms:
•
Dagger (Hand, 1 weight) and short
sword (Close, 1 weight)
•
Rapier (close, precise, 1 weight)
Choose a ranged weapon:
•
3 throwing daggers (Thrown, Near, 0
weight)
•
Ragged Bow (Near, 2 weight) and
bundle of arrows (5 ammo, 1 weight)
Choose one:
•
Adventuring gear (1 weight)
•
Healing potion
Bonds
Fill in the name of one of your compan-
ions in at least one:
Istolesomethingfrom_______________.
_______________ has my back when
things go wrong.
_______________ knows incriminat-
ing details about me.
_______________andIhaveaconrun-
ning.
Advanced Moves
When you gain a level from 2-5,
choose from these moves.
Cheap Shot
When using a Precise or Hand weapon,
your Backstab deals an extra +1d6 dam-
age.
Cautious
When you use Trap Expert you always
get +1 hold (even on a failure you get 1
hold).
Wealth and Taste
When you make a show of flashing
around your most valuable possession,
choose someone present. They will do
anything they can to obtain your item or
one like it.
Shoot First
You’re never caught by surprise. When
anenemywouldgetthedroponyou, you
get to act first instead.
Poison Master
After you’ve used a poison once it’s no
longer Dangerous for you to use.
Envenom
You can apply even complex poisons
with a pinprick. When you apply a poi-
son that’s not Dangerous for you to use
to your weapon it’s Touch instead of Ap-
plied.
Brewer
When you have you have time to gather
materials and a safe place to brew you
can create three doses of any one poison
you’ve used before.
Underdog
When you’re outnumbered, you have +1
armor.
Connections
When you put out word to the criminal
underbellyaboutsomethingyouwantor
need, roll+Cha. On a 10+ someone has
it, just for you.
On a 7–9 you’ll have
to settle for something close or it comes
with strings attached, your call.
When you gain a level from 6-10,
choose from these moves or the level
2-5 moves.
Dirty Fighter
Replaces: Cheap Shot
When using a Precise weapon, your
Backstab deals an extra +1d10 damage
and all other attacks deal +1d6 damage.
Extremely Cautious
Replaces: Cautious
When you use Trap Expert you always
get +1 hold (even on a failure you get 1
hold). On a 12+ you get 3 hold and the
next time you discover a trap the GM
will immediately tell you what it does,
what triggers it, who set it, and how you
can use it to your advantage.
Alchemist
Replaces: Brewer
When you have you have time to gather
materialsandasafeplacetobrewyoucan
create three doses of any poison you’ve
used before.
Alternately you can de-
scribe the effects of a poison you’d like
to create. The GM will tell you can create
it, but with one or more caveats:
•
It will only work under specific cir-
cumstances
•
The best you can manage is a weaker
version
•
It’ll take a while to take effect
•
It’ll have obvious side effects
Serious Underdog
Replaces: Underdog
You have +1 armor. When you’re out-
numbered, you have +2 armor instead.
Evasion
When you Defy Danger on a 12+ you
transcend the danger. You not only do
what you set out to but you the GM will
offer you a better outcome, true beauty,
or a moment of grace.
Strong Arm, True Aim
You can throw any melee weapon, using
it to Volley.
A thrown melee weapon
is gone, you can never choose to reduce
ammo on a 7-9.
Escape Route
When you’re in too deep and need a
way out, name your escape route and
roll+Dex.
On a 10+ you’re gone.
On
a 7-9 you can stay or go, but if you go
it costs you: leave something behind or
take something with you, the GM will
tell you what.
Disguise
When you have time and materials you
can create a disguise that will fool any-
one into thinking you’re another crea-
ture of about the same size and shape.
Your actions can give you away but your
appearance won’t.
Heist
When you take time to make a plan to
steal something, name the thing you
want to steal and ask the GM these ques-
tions. When acting on the answers you
and your allies take +1 forward.
•
Who will notice it’s missing?
•
What’s its most powerful defense?
•
Who will come after it?
•
Who else wants it?
Names
The Wizard
30
14
The Wizard
Dungeon World has rules. Not the laws
of men or the rule of some petty tyrant.
Bigger, better rules.
You drop some-
thing—it falls.
You can’t make some-
thingoutofnothing. Thedeadstaydead,
right?
Oh, the things we tell ourselves to feel
better about the long, dark nights.
You’ve spent so very long poring over
those tomes of yours. The experiments
that nearly drove you mad and all the
botched summonings that endangered
your very soul. For what? For power.
What else is there? Not just the power
of King or Country but the power to boil
a man’s blood in his veins. To call on the
thunder of the sky and the churn of the
roiling earth. To shrug off the rules the
world holds so dear.
Let them cast their sidelong glances. Let
them call you “warlock” or “diabolist.”
Whoamongthemcanhurlfireballsfrom
their eyes?
Yeah. We didn’t think so.
Names
Elf : Galadiir, Fenfaril, Lilliastre, Phiros-
alle, Enkirash, Halwyr
Human : Avon, Morgan, Rath, Ysolde,
Ovid, Vitus, Aldara, Xeno, Uri
Look
Choose one for each:
HauntedEyes, SharpEyes, orCrazyEyes
Styled Hair, Wild Hair, or Pointed Hat
Worn Robes, Stylish Robes, or Strange
Robes
Pudgy Body, Creepy Body, or Thin Body
Stats
Assign these scores to your stats:
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
You start with 4+Constitution HP.
Your base damage is d4.
Starting Moves
Choose a racial move:
Elf
Magic is as natural as breath to you. De-
tect Magic is a rote for you.
Human
Choose one cleric spell, you can cast it as
if it was a wizard spell.
You start with these moves:
Spellbook
You have mastered several spells and in-
scribed them in your spellbook.
You
start out with three first level spells in
your spellbook as well as the cantrips.
Whenever you gain a level, you add a
new spell of your level or lower to your
spellbook. You spellbook is 1 weight.
Prepare Spells
When you spend uninterrupted time (an
hour or so) in quiet contemplation of
your spellbook, you lose any spells you
already have prepared and prepare new
spells of your choice from your spell-
bookwhosetotallevelsdon’texceedyour
own+1. You also prepare your cantrips;
they don’t count against your limit.
Cast a Spell (Int)
When you release a spell you’ve pre-
pared, roll+Int.
On a 10+, the spell is
successfully cast and you do not forget
the spell—you may cast it again later.
On a 7-9, the spell is cast, but choose one:
•
You draw unwelcome attention or
put yourself in a spot (the GM will
describe it)
•
The spell disturbs the fabric ofreality
as it is cast—take -1 ongoing to Cast a
Spell until you Prepare Spells again.
•
After it is cast, the spell is forgotten.
You cannot cast the spell again until
you Prepare Spells.
Spell Defense
When you craft an ongoing spell into a
makeshift shield of arcane energy to de-
flect an attack, the spell is ended and you
subtract the spell’s level from the dam-
age done to you.
Ritual
When you draw on a place of power to
create a magical effect, tell the GM what
you’retryingtoachieve. TheGMwilltell
you "yes, you can do that, but..." and then
1 to 4 of the following:
•
It’sgoingtotakedays/weeks/months
•
First you must ____
•
You’ll need help from ____
•
It will require a lot of money
•
Thebestyoucandoisalesserversion,
unreliable and limited
•
You and your allies will risk danger
from ____
•
You’ll have to disenchant ____ to do
it
Alignment
Choose an alignment:
Good
Use magic to directly aid another
Neutral
The Wizard
Gear
31
Discover something about a magical
mystery
Evil
Use magic to cause terror and fear
Gear
Your Load is 5+Str. You start with your
spellbook(1weight)anddungeonrations
(1 weight, 5 uses). Choose your defenses:
•
Leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight)
•
Bag of books (5 uses, 2 weight) and 3
healing potions
Choose your weapon:
•
Dagger (Hand, 1 weight)
•
staff (Close, two-handed, 1 weight)
Choose one:
•
healing potion
•
three antitoxin
Bonds
Fill in the name of one of your compan-
ions in at least one:
will play an important role in the events
to come. I have foreseen it!
is keeping an important secret from me.
is woefully misinformed about the
world; I will teach them all that I can.
Advanced Moves
When you gain a level from 2-5,
choose from these moves. You also
add a new spell to your spellbook at
each level.
Prodigy
Choose a spell. You prepare that spell as
if it were one level lower.
Empowered Magic
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10+ you have
the option of choosing from the 7-9 list.
If you do, you may choose one of these as
well:
•
The spell’s effects are maximized
•
The spell’s targets are doubled
Fount of Knowledge
When you Spout Lore about something
no one else has any clue about, take +1.
Know-It-All
When another player’s character comes
to you for advice and you tell them what
you think is best, they get +1 forward
when following your advice and you
mark experience if they do.
Expanded Spellbook
Add a new spell from any class to your
spellbook.
Enchanter
When you have time and safety with a
magic item you may ask the GM what it
does, the GM will answer you.
Logical
When you use strict deduction to ana-
lyze your surroundings, you can Discern
Realities with Int instead of Wis.
Arcane Ward
As long as you have at least one prepared
spell, you have +2 armor.
Counterspell
When you are affected by arcane magic
you may attempt to counter the spell.
Stake one of your prepared spells of
equal or higher level on the defense and
roll+Int. On a 10+, the spell is countered
and has no effect on you. On a 7-9, the
spelliscounteredandyouforgetthespell
you staked. If the spell has other targets
they are effected as usual.
Quick Study
When you see the effects of an arcane
spell, ask the GM the name of the spell
and its effects. You take +1 when acting
on the answers.
When you gain a level from 6-10,
choose from these moves or the level
2-5 moves.
Master
Requires: Prodigy
Choose a spell. You prepare that spell as
if it were one level lower.
Greater Empowered Magic
Replaces: Empowered Magic
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10-11 you
have the option of choosing from the 7-9
list. If you do, you may choose one of
these effects as well. On a 12+ you get to
choose one of these effects for free.
•
The spell’s effects are doubled
•
The spell’s targets are doubled
Enchanter’s Soul
Requires: Enchanter
When you have time and safety with a
magic item in a place of power you can
empower that item so that the next time
you use it its effects are amplified, the
GM will tell you exactly how.
Highly Logical
Replaces: Logical
Whenyouusestrictdeductiontoanalyze
your surroundings, you can Discern Re-
alities with Int instead of Wis. On a 12+
you get to ask the GM any three ques-
tions, not limited by the list.
Arcane Armor
Replaces: Arcane Ward
As long as you have at least one prepared
spell, you have +4 armor.
Protective Counter
Requires: Counterspell
When an ally within sight of you is af-
fectedbyanarcanespell,youcancounter
it as if it effected you. If the spell affects
multiplealliesyoumustcounterforeach
ally separately.
Ethereal Tether
When you have time with a willing or
helpless subject you can craft an ethe-
real tether with them.
You perceive
what they perceive and can Discern Re-
alities about someone tethered to you or
their surroundings no matter the dis-
tance.
Someone willingly tethered to
you can communicate with you over the
tether as if you were in the room with
them.
Advanced Moves
The Wizard
32
Mystical Puppet Strings
Whenyouusemagictocontrolaperson’s
actions they have no memory of what
you had them do and bear you no ill will.
Spell Augmentation
When you deal damage to a creature
you can shunt a spell’s energy into
them—end one of your ongoing spells
and add the spell’s level to the damage
dealt.
Self-Powered
When you have time, arcane materials,
andasafespace, youcancreateyourown
place of power. Describe to the GM what
kind of power it is and how you’re bind-
ing it to this place, the GM will tell you
one kind of creature that will have an in-
terest in your workings.
Wizard Spells
Cantrips
33
15
Wizard
Spells
Cantrips
Light Cantrip
An item you touch glows with arcane
light, about as bright as a torch. It gives
off no heat or sound and requires no fuel,
but it is otherwise like a mundane torch.
Youhavecompletecontrolofthecolorof
the flame. The spell lasts as long as it is
in your presence.
Unseen Servant Cantrip
You conjure a simple invisible construct
that can do nothing but carry items. It
hasLoad2andcarriesanythingyouhand
to it. It cannot pick up items on its own
and can only carry those you give to it.
Items carried by an unseen servant ap-
pear to float in the air a few paces behind
you. An unseen servant that takes dam-
age or leaves your presence is immedi-
ately dispelled.
Prestidigitation Cantrip
You perform minor tricks of true magic.
If you touch an item as part of the cast-
ing you can make cosmetic changes to
it: clean it, soil it, cool it, warm it, fla-
vor it, or change its color. If you cast
the spell without touching an item you
caninsteadcreateminorillusionsnobig-
ger than yourself. Prestidigitation illu-
sionsarecrudeandclearlyillusions;they
won’t fool anyone, but they might enter-
tain them.
1st Level Spells
Contact Spirits Level 1 Summoning
Name the spirit you wish to contact (or
leaveittotheGM).Youpullthatcreature
through the planes, just close enough to
speak to you. It is bound to answer any
one question you ask to the best of its
ability.
Detect Magic Level 1 Divination
One of your senses is briefly attuned to
magic. The GM will tell you what here is
magical.
Telepathy Level 1 Divination
Youformatelepathicbond,allowingyou
to speak to the person you touch with
this spell through your thoughts. You
can only have one telepathic bond at a
time.
Charm Person Level 1 Enchantment
The person (not beast or monster) you
touch while casting this spell counts you
as a friend until they take damage or you
prove otherwise.
Invisibility Level 1 Illusion
Touch an ally: nobody can see them.
They’re invisible! The spell persists un-
til the target attacks or you dismiss the
effect. While the spell is ongoing, you
can’t cast another spell.
Magic Missile Level 1 Evocation
Projectiles of pure magic spring from
your fingers. Deal 2d4 damage to one
target.
Alarm Level 1
Walk a wide circle. Until you prepare
spells again your magic will alert you if a
creature crosses that circle. Even if you
are asleep, the spell will shake you from
your slumber.
3rd Level Spells
Dispel Magic Level 3
Choose a spell or magic effect in your
presence: this spell rips it apart. Lesser
spells are ended, powerful magic is just
reduced or dampened so long as you are
nearby.
Visions Through Time Level 3 Div-
ination
Cast this spell and gaze into a reflective
surfacetoseeintothedepthsoftime. The
GM will reveal the details of a Grim Por-
tent to you—a bleak event that will come
topassifnotdirectlystopped. They’lltell
you something useful about how you can
interfere with the Grim Portent’s dark
outcomes. RareisthePortentthatclaims
"You’ll live happily ever after." Sorry.
Fireball Level 3 Evocation
You evoke a mighty ball of flame that en-
velops your target and everyone nearby,
inflicting 2d6 damage which ignores ar-
mor.
Mimic Level 3
You take the form of someone you touch
while casting this spell. Your physical
characteristics match theirs exactly but
yourbehaviormaynot. Thischangeper-
sists until you take damage or choose to
returntoyourownform. Whilethisspell
is ongoing, you lose access to all your
wizard moves.
Mirror Image Level 3 Illusion
You create an illusory image of yourself.
The next attack against you effects the
illusory image, not you. The image then
dissipates.
Sleep Level 3 Enchantment
1d4 enemies you can see of the GM’s
choice fall asleep. Only creatures capa-
ble of sleeping are effected. They awake
as normal: loud noises, jolts, pain.
5th Level Spells
Cage Level 5 Evocation
The target is held in a cage of magical
force. Nothing can get in or out of the
cage.
The cage remains until you cast
another spell or dismiss it.
While the
spell is ongoing, the caged creature can
hear your thoughts and you cannot leave
sight of the cage.
Contact Other Plane Level 5 Divina-
tion
You send a request to another plane.
Specify what you’d like to contact by
location, type of creature, name, or ti-
tle. You open a two-way communication
7th Level Spells
Wizard Spells
34
withthatcreature. Yourcommunication
can be cut off at any time by you or the
creature you contacted.
Polymorph Level 5 Enchantment
Your touch reshapes a creature entirely,
they stay in the form you craft until you
Cast a Spell.
Describe to the GM the
new shape you craft, including any stat
changes, significant adaptations, or ma-
jor weaknesses. The GM will then tell
you one or more of these:
•
The form will be unstable and tem-
porary
•
The creature’s mind will be altered as
well
•
The form has an unintended benefit
or weakness
Summon Monster Level 5 Summon-
ing
A monster appears and aids you as best
it can.
Treat it as your character, but
with access to only the basic moves. It
has +1 modifier for all stats and 1 HP.
Choose the type of monster by choosing
1d6 statements from the list below. The
GM will tell you the type of monster you
get based on your choices:
•
The monster has +2 instead of +1 to
one stat
•
The monster is not reckless
•
The monster does 1d8 damage
•
The monster’s bond to your plane is
strong, +3 HP for each level you have
•
The monster has some useful adapta-
tion
The creature remains on this plane until
it dies or you dismiss it. While the spell
is ongoing, you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
7th Level Spells
Dominate Level 7 Enchantment
Yourtouchpushesyourmindintosome-
one else’s. You gain 1d4 hold. Spend one
hold to make the target take one of these
actions:
•
Speak a few words of your choice
•
Give you something they hold
•
Make a concerted attack on a target
of your choice
•
Truthfully answer one question
If you run out of hold the spell ends. If
the target takes damage you lose 1 hold.
While the spell is ongoing you cannot
Cast a Spell.
True Seeing Level 7 Divination
You see all things as they truly are. This
effect persists until you tell a lie or dis-
miss the spell. While this spell is ongo-
ing, you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Shadow Walk Level 7 Illusion
The shadows you target with this spell
become a portal for you and your al-
lies. Namealocation,describingitwitha
number of words up to your level. Step-
pingthroughtheportaldepositsyouand
anyalliespresentwhenyoucastthespell
at the location you described. The portal
may only be used once by each ally.
Contingency Level 7 Evocation
Choose a 5th level or lower spell you
know. Describeatriggerconditionusing
a number of words equal to your level.
The chosen spell is held until you choose
to unleash it or the trigger condition is
met, whichever happens first. You don’t
have to roll for the held spell, it just takes
effect. Whileyouhaveacontingentspell,
you can’t gain another one.
Cloudkill Level 7 Summoning
A cloud of fog drifts into this realm from
beyond the Black Gates of Death, filling
the immediate area. Whenever a crea-
ture in the area takes damage it takes an
extra 1d6 damage which ignores armor.
This spell persists so long as you can see
the affected area, or until you dismiss it.
9th Level Spells
Antipathy Level 9 Enchantment
Choose a target and describe a type of
creature or an alignment. Creatures of
the specified type or alignment cannot
come within sight of the target. If a crea-
ture of the specified type does find it-
self within site of the target, it immedi-
ately flees.
This effect continues until
you leave the target’s presence or you
dismiss the spell. While the spell is on-
going, you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Alert Level 9 Divination
Describe an event. The GM will tell you
whenthateventoccurs, nomatterwhere
you are or how far away the event is. If
you choose, you can view the location
of the event as though you were there
in person. You can only have one Alert
active at a time.
Soul Gem Level 9
You trap the soul of a dying creature
within a gem. The trapped creature is
aware of its imprisonment but can still
be manipulated through spells, Parley,
and other effects. All moves against the
trapped creature are at +1. You can free
the soul at any time but it can never be
recaptured once freed.
Shelter Level 9 Evocation
Youcreateastructureoutofpuremagical
power. It can be as large as a castle or
as small as a hut, but is impervious to
all non-magical damage. The structure
endures until you leave it or you end the
spell.
Perfect Summons Level 9 Summon-
ing
You teleport a creature to your presence.
Name a creature or give a short descrip-
tion of a type of creature. If you named
a creature, that creature appears before
you. Ifyoudescribedatypeofcreature, a
creature of that type appears before you.
Equipment
Tag Glossary
35
16
Equipment
The musty tombs and forgotten treasure
troves of the world are filled with useful
items. The Fighters can find a sharp new
sword or the Thief might stumble across
a deadly poison. Most items are mun-
dane; not magical or intrinsically unique
in any way.
Any item that is magical
or one-of-a-kind is not mundane for the
purposes of moves. The Fighter’s signa-
ture weapon is never mundane.
Weapons don’t kill monsters, people do.
That’s why weapons don’t have damage
listed. A weapon is useful primarily for
its tags which describe what the weapon
is useful for. A dagger is not useful be-
cause it does more or less damage than
some other blade. It’s useful because its
small and easy to strike with at close dis-
tance. A dagger in the hands of a Wizard
is not nearly so dangerous as one in the
hands of a skilled Fighter.
The stats below are for typical items.
There are, of course, variations. A dull
long sword might be -1 damage instead
while a masterwork dagger could be +1
damage.
Consider the following to be
stats for a typical weapon of that type—a
specificweaponcouldhavedifferenttags
to represent its features.
Tag Glossary
n Ammo : It counts as n ammo for appro-
priate ranged weapons.
Applied : It’s only useful when carefully
appliedtoapersonorsomethingtheyeat
or drink.
n Armor : It protects you from harm and
absorbs damage. When you take dam-
age, subtract your armor from the total.
If you have more than one item with n-
armor, only the highest value counts.
+nArmor : Itprotectsyouandstackswith
other armor. Add its value to your total
armor.
Awkward: It’sunwieldyandtoughtouse.
+Bonus : It modifies your effectiveness in
someparticularsituation. Itmightbe"+1
forward to Spout Lore" or "-1 ongoing to
Hack and Slash."
Clumsy : It’s tough to move around with.
-1 ongoing while using it.
n coins : How much it costs to buy, nor-
mally. If the cost includes "-Charisma" a
little negotiation subtracts the haggler’s
Charisma score (not modifier) from the
price.
+n Damage : It is particularly harmful to
your enemies. When you deal damage,
you add n to it.
Dangerous : It’s easy to get in trouble with
it. If you interact with it without proper
precautions the GM may freely invoke
theconsequencesofyourfoolishactions.
Forceful : It can knock someone back a
pace, maybe even off their feet.
Ignores Armor :
Don’t subtract armor
from the damage taken.
Messy :
It does damage in a particu-
larlydestructiveway,rippingpeopleand
things apart.
n Piercing : It goes right through armor.
When you deal damage with n piercing,
you subtract n from the enemy’s armor
for that attack.
Precise : It rewards careful strikes. You
use Dex to Hack and Slash with this
weapon, not Str.
Ration : It’s edible, more or less.
Reload : After you attack with it, it takes
more than a moment to reset for another
attack.
Requires : It’s only useful to certain peo-
ple. If you don’t meet the requirements
it works weakly, if at all.
Slow : It takes minutes or more to use.
Thrown : Throw it at someone to hurt
them. If you Volley with this weapon,
you can’t choose to mark off ammo on a
7–9. Once you throw it, it’s lost until you
can recover it.
Touch : It’s used by touching it to the
target’s skin.
Two-handed : It takes two hands to use it
effectively.
Stun : When you attack with it, it does
stun damage instead of normal damage.
n Uses : It can only be used n times.
n Weight :
Count the listed amount
against your Load. Something with no
listed weight isn’t designed to be carried.
100 coins in standard denominations is 1
weight. The same value in gems or fine
art may be lighter or heavier.
Worn : To use it, you have to be wearing
it.
Range Tags (From Closest to Furthest)
Hand: It’susefulforattackingsomething
within your reach, no further.
Close : It’s useful for attacking something
at arm’s reach plus a foot or two.
Reach : It’s useful for attacking some-
thingthat’sseveralfeetaway—maybeas
far as ten.
Near : It’s useful for attacking if you can
see the whites of their eyes.
Far : It’s useful for attacking something
in shouting distance.
Weapons
Ragged Bow Near, 15 coins, 2 Weight
Fine Bow Near, Far, 60 coins, 2 Weight
Hunter’s Bow Near, Far, 100 coins, 1
Weight
CrossbowNear, +1 damage, Reload, 35
Armor
Equipment
36
coins, 3 Weight
Bundle of Arrows 3 Ammo, 1 coin, 1
Weight
Elven Arrows 4 Ammo, 20 coins, 1
Weight
Club,ShillelaghClose, 1 coins, 2 Weight
Staff Close, Two-handed, 1 coins, 1
Weight
Dagger, Shiv, Knife Hand, 2 coins, 1
Weight
ThrowingDaggerThrown, Near, 1 coin,
0 Weight
Short Sword, Axe, Warhammer, Mace
Close, 8 coins, 1 Weight
Spear Reach, Thrown, Near, 5 coins, 1
Weight
Long Sword, Battle Axe, Flail Close, +1
damage, 15 coins, 2 Weight
Halberd Reach,
+1
damage,
Two-
handed, 9 coins, 2 Weight
Rapier Close,
Precise,
25 coins,
1
Weight
Dueling Rapier Close, 1 piercing, Pre-
cise, 50 coins, 2 Weight
Armor
Leather, Chainmail 1 Armor, Worn, 10
coins, 1 Weight
Scale Mail 2 Armor, Worn, Clumsy, 50
coins, 3 Weight
Plate 3 Armor, Worn, Clumsy, 350
coins, 4 Weight
Shield +1 Armor, 15 coins, 2 Weight
Dungeon Gear
Adventuring Gear 5 Uses, 20 coins, 1
Weight
Adventuring gear is a collection of use-
ful mundane items such as chalk, poles,
spikes, ropes, etc. When you rummage
through your adventuring gear for some
useful mundane item, you find what you
need and mark off a Use.
Bandages 3 Uses, Slow, 5 coins, 0
Weight
Whenyouhaveafewminutestobandage
someone else’s wounds, heal them of 4
damage and expend a use.
Poultices and Herbs 2 Uses, Slow, 10
coins, 1 Weight
When you carefully treat someone’s
wounds with poultices and herbs, heal
them of 7 damage and expend a use.
Healing Potion 50 coins
Whenyoudrinkanentirehealingpotion,
healyourselfof10damageorremoveone
debility, your choice.
KegofDwarvenStout10 coins, 4 Weight
When you open a keg of dwarven stout
and let everyone drink freely, take +1 to
your Carouse roll. If you drink a whole
keg yourself, you are very very drunk.
Bag of Books 5 Uses, 10 coins, 2 Weight
Whenyourbagofbookscontainsjustthe
right book for the subject you’re Spout-
ing Lore on, consult the book, mark off a
use, and take +1 to your roll.
Antitoxin 10 coins
When you drink antitoxin, you’re cured
of one poison affecting you.
Dungeon Rations Ration, 5 Uses, 3
coins, 1 Weight
Not tasty, but not bad either.
Personal Feast Ration, 1 Use, 10 coins,
1 Weight
Ostentatious to say the least.
Dwarven Hardtack Requires Dwarf, Ra-
tion, 7 Uses, 3 coins, 1 Weight
Dwarves say it tastes like home. Every-
one else says it tastes like home, on fire,
in a hog farm.
Elven Bread Ration, 7 Uses, 10 coins, 1
Weight
Only the greatest of elf-friends are
treated to this rare delicacy.
Halfling Pipeleaf 5 Uses, 5 coins, 1
Weight
When you share halfling pipeleaf with
someone, expend two uses and take +1
forward to Parley with them.
Poisons
Oil of Tagit Dangerous, Applied, 15
coins, 0 Weight
The target falls into a light sleep
BloodweedDangerous, Touch, 12 coins,
0 Weight
The target deals -1d4 damage ongoing
until cured
Goldenroot Dangerous, Applied, 20
coins, 0 Weight
The target treats the next creature they
see as a trusted ally, until proved other-
wise
Serpent’s Tears Dangerous, Touch, 10
coins, 0 Weight
Anyone dealing damage against the tar-
getrollstwice and takes the better result.
Services
A week’s stay at a peasant inn 14-
Charisma coins
A week’s stay at a civilized inn 30-
Charisma coins
A week’s stay at the fanciest inn in town
43-Charisma coins
A week’s unskilled mundane labor 10
coins
A month’s pay for enlistment in an army
30 coins
A custom item from a blacksmith Base
Item + 50 coins
Anight’s"companionship"20-Charisma
coins
An evening of song and dance 18-
Charisma coins
Escort for a day along a bandit-infested
road 20 coins
Escortforadayalongamonster-infested
road 54 coins
A run-of-the-mill killing 5 coins
An assassination 120 coins
Healing from a Chirurgeon 5 coins
A month’s prayers for the departed 1
coins
Repairs to a mundane item 25% of the
item’s cost
Meals
A hearty meal for one 1 coins
A poor meal for a family 1 coins
A feast 15 coins per person
Transport
Cart and Donkey 50 coins, Load 20
This donkey is sworn to carry your bur-
dens.
Horse 75 coins, Load 10
Warhorse 400 coins, Load 12
Wagon 150 coins, Load 40
Barge 50 coins, Load 15
River boat 150 coins, Load 20
Merchant Ship 5,000 coins, Load 200
War Ship 20,000 coins, Load 100
Passage on a safe route 1 coins
Passage on a tough route 10 coins
Passage on a dangerous route 100 coins
Equipment
Land and Buildings
37
Land and Buildings
A hovel 20 coins
A cottage 500 coins
A house 2,500 coins
A mansion 50,000 coins
A keep 75,000 coins
A castle 250,000 coins
A grand castle 1,000,000 coins
A month’s upkeep 1% of the cost
Bribes
A peasant dowery 20-Charisma coins
"Protection" for a small business 100-
Charisma coins
A government bribe 50-Charisma coins
A compelling bribe 80-Charisma coins
An offer you can’t refuse 500-Charisma
coins
Gifts and Finery
A peasant gift 1 coins
A fine gift 55 coins
A noble gift 200 coins
A ring or cameo 75 coins
Finery 105 coins
A fine tapestry 350+ coins
A crown fit for a king 5,000 coins
Hoards
A goblin’s stash 2 coins
A lizardman’s trinkets 5 coins
A priceless sword 80 coins
An orc warchief’s tribute 250 coins
A dragon’s mound of coins and gems
130,000 coins
Magic Items
38
17
Magic Items
There are stranger things in the world
than swords and leather. Magic items
are the non-mundane, items that have
intrinsic power.
Magic items are for you to make for your
game.
Players can make magic items
through the Wizard’s ritual and simi-
lar moves. The GM can introduce magic
items in the spoils of battle or the bounty
of reward. This list provides some ideas,
but magic items are ultimately for you to
decide.
When making your own magic items
keep in mind that magic items are mag-
ical. +1 damage is the realm of the mun-
dane, magic items should provide more
interesting bonuses.
Argo-Thaan, Holy Avenger Close, 2
Weight
Therearemanyswordsinthisworld, but
thereisonlyoneArgo-thaan. Itisablade
of gold, silver and light, revered as a holy
relicbyallordersandreligionsforwhom
Good rings true. Its touch is a blessing
and to many, the sight of it brings tears
of joy.
In the hands of a Paladin, it strikes true
and strong; his damage die becomes 1d12
and he has access to every Paladin move.
As well, Argo-thaan can harm any crea-
ture of Evil, regardless of any defenses
it may have.
No Evil creature may
touch it without suffering agony. In the
hands of any non-Paladin, it is merely
a sword, heavier and more cumbersome
than most.
Argo-thaan, while not intelligent, will
foreverbedrawntoacauseofTrueGood,
like iron to a magnet.
Arrows of Acheron 1 Ammo, 1 Weight
Crafted in darkness by a blind fletcher,
thesearrowscanfindtheirtargetineven
thedeepestdarkness. Anarchermayfire
them blind, in the dark, with his eyes
boundbyheavyclothandstillbeassured
of a clean shot. If the light of the sun ever
touches the arrows, however, they come
apart like shadows and dust.
Axe of the Conqueror-King Close, 1
Weight
Itiscraftedofshiningsteel,glowingwith
a golden light and imbued with mythical
powers of authority. The bearer of the
Axe becomes a beacon of inspiration to
all she leads. Any Henchmen in her em-
ploy have +1 Loyalty, no matter whether
she is a benevolent Princess or wicked
Queen.
Barb of the Black Gate 0 Weight
A nail or spike, twisted and forever cold,
said to have been pried from the Gates
of Death himself. When hammered into
a corpse, it disappears and ensures that
corpse will never be risen again—no
magic short of that of Death himself can
reignite the flame of life (natural or oth-
erwise) in the body.
Bag of Holding 0 Weight
A bag of holding is larger on the inside
than the outside, it can contain an in-
finite number of items, and its weight
never increases.
When you try to re-
trieve an item from a bag of holding,
roll+Wis. On a 10+, it’s right there. On a
7-9, choose one:
•
You get the exact item, but it takes a
while
•
You get a similar item of the GM’s
choice, but it only takes a moment
No matter how many items it contains, a
bag of holding is always 0 weight.
The Burning Wheel 2 Weight
An ancient wooden wheel, as might ap-
pear on a war-wagon, banded with steel.
On a glance, it appears to be nothing
special—many spokes are shattered and
the thing seems mundane.
Under the
scrutinyofmagicortheeyesofanexpert,
its true nature is revealed; the Burning
Wheel is a gift from the God of Fire and
burns with his authority.
When you hold The Burning Wheel and
speak a god’s name, roll+Con. On a 7+,
thegodyounametakesnoticeandgrants
you an audience.
An audience with a
god is not without a price: on a 10+, you
choose one of your stats and reduce it to
the next lowest modifier (for example, a
14is+1, soitwouldbereducedto11,a+0).
On a 7–9, the GM chooses which stat to
reduce.
Once used, the Burning Wheel ignites
andburnswithbrilliantlight. Itdoesnot
conferanyprotectionfromthoseflames,
nor does it provide any bonus to swim-
ming.
Captain Bligh’s Cornucopia 1 Weight
A brass naval horn, curled and ornate,
carved with symbols of the gods of
Plenty. Sounded, the horn spills forth
not sound but food.
Enough to feed a
meal to everyone who hears its sound.
The Carcosan Spire Reach, Thrown, 3
Weight
None know from whence this spear of
twisted white coral comes. Those who
bear it too long find their minds full
of alien dreams and begin to hear the
strange thoughts of the Others.
None
are impervious. Used against any “nat-
ural” target (men, goblins, owlbears and
the like) the Spire acts as a mere mortal
spear.
Its true purpose is to do harm
to those things whose strange natures
protectthemagainstmundaneweapons.
Used thus, the Spire can wound foes
otherwise invulnerable to harm.
The
wielder will recognize these twisted foes
on sight—the Spire knows its own.
Cloak of Silent Stars 1 Weight
Magic Items
39
A cape of rich black velvet outside
and sparkling with tiny points of light
within, the Cloak bends fate, time and
reality around it to protect the wearer,
who may Defy Danger with whatever
stat he likes. To do this, the wearer in-
vokes the cloak’s magic and his player
describeshowthecloakhelpshim"break
the rules." He can deflect a fireball with
his Cha by convincing it he deserves to
liveoreludeafallbyapplyingthemighty
logicofhisInttoprovethefallwon’thurt
him. TheCloakmakesitso. Itcanbeused
once for each stat before losing its magic.
Coin of Remembering 0 Weight
What appears, at a glance, to be a sim-
ple copper coin is, in truth, an enchanted
coin. Its bearer can, at any time, redeem
it to know immediately one fact that has
been forgotten. Thecoinvanishesthere-
after. It does not have to be a thing for-
gotten by the bearer, but it cannot be
“known”. Interpretation of this stipula-
tion is left to the Gods. If the coin is un-
successful, it will still paint an image in
the minds eye of someone or something
that does remember what was sought.
Common Scroll 1 Use, 0 Weight
A common scroll has a spell inscribed on
it. The spell must be castable by you or
on your class’s spell list for you to be able
to cast it. When you cast a spell from a
scroll, the spell has effect, simple as that.
Devilsbane Oil 1 Use, 0 Weight
A holy oil, created in limited supply by
a mute sect of mountain-monks whose
orderprotectedhumanityfromthepow-
ers of the Demon Pits in ancient epochs.
Only a few jars remain. When applied to
any weapon and used to strike a denizen
of any outer plane, the oil undoes the
magic that binds that creature. In some
cases, this will return it to its home. In
others, it merely undoes any magic con-
trolling it. The oil stays on the weapon
for a few hours before it dries and flakes
away.
If applied to the edges of a doorway or
drawn in a circle, the oil will repel crea-
tures whose home is any of the outer
planes. They cannot pass across it. The
oil lasts for one full day before it soaks in
or evaporates.
Earworm Wax 1 Use, 0 Weight
A yellowish candle. Seems never to burn
out and the light it casts is strange and
weak. Its wax is always cool, too. Drip
the wax into the ear of a target and gain 3
hold. Spendthatholdandaskyourtarget
a question. They find themselves telling
you the whole truth, despite themselves.
The consequences, after the fact? Those
are up to you to deal with.
The Echo 0 Weight
Aseeminglyemptybottle. Onceunstop-
pered, the whispers of another plane re-
sound once and fall silent. In the silence,
the bearer learns in his soul the com-
ing of one great danger and how he can
avoid it. At any point after the Echo is
used, the wielder can ignore the results
of any single die roll—hers or another
player—and roll again.
Once opened,
the Echo is released and gone forever.
The Epoch Lens 1 Weight
An archmage, old and too frail to leave
his tower, crafted this intricate and frag-
iledeviceofglassandgoldtoexaminethe
histories and relics he so loved. Looking
at an object through the lens reveals vi-
sions of who made it and where it came
from.
Farsight Stone 1 Weight
Swirling clouds fill this smoky orb and
those in its presence often hear strange
whispers. In ancient times, it was part of
a network of such stones, used to com-
municate and surveil across great dis-
tances. When you gaze into the stone,
name a location and roll+Wis. On a hit,
you see a clear vision of the location and
can maintain it as long as you concen-
trate on the orb. On a 7–9, you draw the
attentionofsomeotherthing(anangel, a
demon, or the holder of another Farsight
stone) that uses the stone to surveil you,
as well.
The Fiasco Codex 0 Weight
A thick tome, said to be penned in the
blood of poor fools and robber-barons
by some demon prince possessed of
dark humor, the Codex details tales and
stories of those whose ambition over-
whelmed their reason.
Reading from
this tome teaches one the value of clear-
headedness but leaves a sense of dread
behind. When you read from the Codex,
Roll+Wis. On a 10+, ask two. On a 7–9,
just one.
•
What is my greatest opportunity,
right now?
•
Who can I betray to gain an advan-
tage?
•
Who is an ally I should not trust?
TheCodexgivesupitsanswersonlyonce
to each reader and takes 2 to 3 hours to
read.
Flask of Breath 0 Weight
A simple thing, but useful when you
need a breath of fresh air. The flask ap-
pears empty but cannot be filled, any-
thing added to it simply spills out. This
is because the flask is eternally full of air.
If placed underwater, it will bubble for-
ever. If pressed to the mouth, one can
breath normally—smoke is no concern,
for example. I’m sure you’ll find all sorts
of unusual uses for it.
FollyHeldAloft,TheWaxWings,AHuge
Mistake 1 Weight
Who hasn’t always wanted to soar the
pretty blue sky?
In an attempt to
grant the wishes of land-bound folk,
these great magical wings were created.
Known by many names and crafted by
as many mages, they commonly take
the shape of the wings of whatever local
birds hold affection. Worn by means of a
harness or, in some dire cases, a surgical
procedure.
Whenyoutaketotheairwiththesemagi-
cal wings, roll+Dex. On a 10+ your flight
is controlled and you may stay aloft as
long as you like. On a 7–9, you make it
aloftbutyourflightisshortorerraticand
unpredictable, your choice. On a 6- you
make it aloft, but the coming-down part
and everything between is up to the GM.
Immovable Rod 0 Weight
A funny metal rod with a button on it.
Press the button and the rod just sticks.
It freezes in place—in mid air, standing
up or lying down. It can’t be moved. Pull
it, push it, try as hard as you like, the
rod stays.
Maybe it can be destroyed,
maybeitcan’t. Pushthebuttonagainand
it’s free—take it along with you. Might
be useful to have such a stubborn thing
along.
Infinite Book 1 Weight
This book contains an infinite number of
pages in a finite space. With no limit to
the pages, everything that ever was, is,
or will be is contained somewhere in the
book. Luckily the index is great.
When you Spout Lore while consulting
the book you gain an extra clause. On
a 12+ the GM will give a solution to a
problem or situation you’re in.
Inspectacles 0 Weight
Rough-hewn glass in wooden frames.
Dinged up and barely held together,
they somehow allow the wearer to see
much more than their mere eyes might.
When you Discern Realities wearing
these gifted lenses, you get to bend the
rules a little. On a roll of 10+, ask any
threequestionsyoulike. Theydon’thave
to be on the list. As long as sight could
give you answers, the GM will tell you
what you want to know.
The Ku’meh Maneuver and Other Strat-
agem 1 Weight
A great leathery tome worn shiny by the
hands of a hundred great generals, this
bookisoftenpassedfromwarriortowar-
rior, from son to father along the great
battle lines that have divided Dungeon
World’s past.
Anyone reading it may,
uponfinishingforthefirsttime,roll+Int.
On a 10+ hold 3, on a 7–9 hold 1. You may
spend your hold to advise a companion
on some matter of strategic or tactical
significance. This advice allows you to,
atanytime, regardlessofdistance, rollto
Aid them on any one roll. On a miss, the
Magic Items
40
GM can hold 1 and spend it to apply -2
to any roll of yours or the poor sap who
listened to your advice.
Lamented Memento 0 Weight
Taking the form of a single lock of bright
red hair, bound in a black ribbon and
immune to the ravages of time, the
Lamented Memento bears a grim en-
chantment. In it are the memories and
emotions of a girl who dealt with Death
at the Black Gates so many times that,
in the end, they fell in love and she left
the world to be with him for a time. Her
memory protects the wielder. If he finds
himself at the Gates, the Memento can
be traded for an automatic result of 10+
on the Last Breath move.
Lodestone Shield +1 armor, 1 Weight
What mixed-up dummy made this?
Shields are meant to repel metal, not
draw it in!
Emblazoned with a lion
rampant, the Lodestone Shield has the
power to pull blades and arrows to it.
When you Defend against enemies us-
ing metal weapons you can spend one
hold, per target, to disarm them. Also,
sometimes you’ll find a handful of loose
change stuck to it.
Map of the Last Patrol 0 Weight
An ancient order of brave rangers once
patrolled the land, protecting villages
and warning kings and queens of en-
croaching danger.
They’re long gone,
now,buttheirlegacyremains. Thismap,
when marked with the blood of a group
of people, will always show their loca-
tion—so long as they remain within the
bounds of the map.
Ned’s Head 1 Weight
An old skull,
missing its jaw and
very much worse-for-wear.
The skull
remembers the folly of its former
owner—a man with more honor than
sense. Once per night, the owner of the
skull can ask “Who has it in for me?” and
the skull will give up one name in a sad,
lonely voice. If the owner of the skull is
ever killed, it disappears surreptitiously.
No-one knows where it might turn up
next.
Nightsider’s Key 0 Weight
This key unlocks any door, provided the
owner of the key does not belong where
she intends to go. So long as the intruder
does nothing that would alert another
to her presence (remaining unheard, un-
seen and unnoticed) and takes nothing
more than her memories out with her,
the key’s magic will prevent her intru-
sion from ever being discovered. It’s like
she was never there at all.
Sacred Herbs 0 Weight
Thesacredherbs, collectedandprepared
by an order of lost wizard-monks, can
be found in bundles with two or three
uses to them.
Kept dry, they last in-
definitely. When smoked in a pipe or
consumed in an incense burner and the
thick, blue smoke inhaled, these herbs
will grant strange visions of far away
places and distant times. If the imbiber
focuses his will on a particular person,
place or thing, the herbs will respond:
roll+Wis.
On a 10+ the vision is clear
and useful—some valid information is
gained. On a 7–9 the vision is of the fo-
cus, but unclear, fraught with metaphor
or somehow difficult to understand. On
a miss, the GM will ask you “What is it
you fear most?” You must answer hon-
estly, of course.
The Sartar Duck 0 Weight
An odd, hand-carved wooden duck.
Who would make such a funny thing?
Whoever bears it finds himself an ex-
ceptionally gifted storyteller—no mat-
ter the language, he can make himself
and his story clear to any audience. They
will understand his meaning, if not his
words.
Tears of Annalise 0 Weight
Cloudy red gemstones the size of a
thumbnail, the Tears of Annalise are
always found in pairs.
When swal-
lowed, they bind the swallowers to-
gether—when either feels strong emo-
tions (particularly sadness, loss, fear or
desire) the other feels it, as well. The ef-
fects last until one spills the blood of the
other.
Teleportation Room Slow
James Ninefingers,
eccentric genius
mage, created these room-sized magi-
cal apparati. A stone room etched with
runes and scribblings, glowing with a
faint blue light. When you enter and say
aloud the name of a location, roll+Int.
On a 10+, you arrive exactly where you’d
intended. On a 7–9, the GM chooses a
safe location nearby. On a miss, you end
up someplace. Maybe it’s nearby? It’s
definitelynotsafe. Strangethingssome-
timeshappentothosewhobendtimeand
space with these devices.
Timunn’s Armor 1 Armor, 1 Weight
A stealthy suit of armor, it appears as
many things to many people and blends
in with appropriate apparel. The wearer
alwaysseemstheheightoffashiontoany
who gaze upon him.
Titus’ Truthful Tallow 0 Weight
A candle of ivory-and-copper colored
tallow with a wick of spun silver. When
lit, none upon whom its light falls is able
to tell a lie. They may keep silent or dis-
semble but when asked a question di-
rectly, they can speak naught but truth.
Tricksy Rope 1 Weight
A rope that listens. Does tricks, too, like
a smart and more obedient snake might.
Tell it “coil” or “slack” or “come here,
rope” and it will.
The Sterling Hand 0 Weight
Crafted by dwarven whitesmiths, this
mirrored-metal hand is deeply scored
with runes of power and rejuvenation.
Meant to replace wounded or destroyed
limbs from mining accidents, the Ster-
ling Hand bonds to the wound, old or
new, and is strong and stout.
It can
be used as a weapon (near range) and
is made of pure enough silver to harm
creatures affected by such.
Vellius’s Gauntlets 1 Weight
Crafted in the name of Vellius the
Clumsy, Vellius the Butter-Fingered,
Vellius the Clod, these gloves of simple
cloth prevent the wearer from dropping
any object she does not intent to. She
cannot be disarmed nor fall from any
rope or ladder, for example. This item
can get very messy if you have some-
thing strong pulling at your legs while
you grip onto something solid.
Violation Glaive Reach, 2 Weight
A legendary blade, said to have been
thrust backwards in time from some
grim future,
the violation glaive is
crafted of strange green iron. The blade
strikes at the mind of those it wounds,
as well as the body. When you Hack &
Slashona10+youhaveanadditionalop-
tion: you can deal your normal damage,
let them counter attack you, and instill
the emotion of your choice (maybe fear,
reverence, or trust)
Vorpal Sword Close,
3 Piercing,
2
Weight
Snicker-snackandallthat. Sharpasany-
thing,thissimple-seemingswordmeans
to separate one thing from another—the
limb from the body or folk from their
lives. When you deal damage with the
Vorpal Sword, your enemy must choose
something (an item, an advantage, a
limb) and lose it, permanently.
The GM
Always Say
41
18
The GM
This section is about the art and rules
of being the Game Master or GM. There
are many styles of GMing epic fantasy
games with things like dragons and dun-
geons and brave adventurers but Dun-
geon World is designed for one of those
styles in particular. These rules will help
you run a game in that style.
Just because the rules are mechanical
doesn’t mean they’re removed from the
fiction of what’s actually happening in
the game or that you’re playing to win.
You’ll be refereeing, adjudicating, and
narrating your part the game much like
you would any other game. You’ll just
have a framework that helps you deter-
mine what to say, at what time.
The GM’s rules are rules, just like the
rules for moves and character creation
and all the rest. Just like every other rule
in the game, they are designed to help
you play a game of exploration and epic
fantasy. You will of course be making
your own rules, in the form of custom
moves, but the GM’s rules are as impor-
tant to playing Dungeon World as the
rules for rolling dice. Play with the rules
as written before making any changes,
and think carefully about any changes
you do make.
The Basics
Dungeon World is built on a frame-
work: the GM’s agenda , principles
, and moves .
The GM’s agenda is
what they set out to do when they sit
down at the table. The principles are the
guides that keep the GM focused on their
agenda. The GM’s moves are the con-
crete, moment-to-moment things the
GM does to drive the game forward. The
GM’s moves aren’t like player moves,
they aren’t triggered by the fiction. In-
steadtheyareactionsthatdrivethegame
onward.
The GM’s agenda, principles, and moves
are rules just like damage or stats or HP.
Youshouldtakethesamecareinaltering
them or ignoring them that you would
with any other rule. Changing a princi-
ple may have just as much of an effect
on your game as changing the Fighter’s
damage dice or giving the Cleric access
to Wizard spells.
Always Say
When running Dungeon World as the
GM you say these things:
•
What the rules demand
•
What the adventure demands
•
What honesty demands
•
What the principles demand
The players have it easy—they just say
what their characters say, think and do.
You have it a bit harder.
You have to
say everything else. So what do you say?
Say what the rules tell you to . If a
movehastriggered,yoursortheplayers’,
then say what the rules tell you to say.
Embellish and expand but use the rules
to give you a start. The rules will always
give you material to work with.
Say what the adventure demands
.
You’ll know some things before you
sit down at the table. You might know
wherethegoblinsarehidingorwhenthe
reinforcementsaregoingtoarrive. Ifthe
players haven’t done anything to change
those things, stick with them.
Always be honest . If the rules tell you
to give out information, like the Spout
Lore and Discern Realities moves, do it.
Don’t lie or give half truths; be open
and honest—generous, even. The player
characters have risked something to get
that information just by rolling so make
it worth their while. If you don’t know
theanswermakeoneuporturntheques-
tionbacktotheplayers. Onceyoutellthe
players it’s set in stone, no going back on
it.
This applies in general to the players’
actions, too.
If they have worked to
achieve something, you should give it to
them fully. You’re not here to fight back
against the players; you’re not opposed
to them at all. You are playing the game
with them.
At all times, use your principles and
agenda as a filter or inspiration.
If
something falls flat it’s usually because
you ignored one of your principles or
acted on a different agenda. If you’re un-
sure of what you’re about to say just take
a moment and look at your agenda and
principles to make sure you’re abiding
by them.
Agenda
The GM’s agenda is what they sit down
at the table to do:
•
Make the world fantastic
•
Fill the characters’ lives with adven-
ture
•
Play to find out what happens
Everything you say, create, and do at the
table and away from the table is to ac-
complishthesethreegoalsandnoothers.
Things that aren’t on this list aren’t your
goals. You’re not trying to beat the play-
ers or test their ability to solve complex
traps. You’re not here to give the players
a chance to explore your finely crafted
setting. You’re most certainly not here
to tell everyone a planned story.
That one deserves repeating: you are
not here to tell everyone a planned
story . Don’t ever plan a storyline. You
do not know what will happen to the
players’ characters any more than they
do.
Your job is to portray a fantastic
world, not provide a canned plot.
Principles
The GM
42
To that end, Dungeon World adventures
never presume player actions. A Dun-
geon World adventure describes a lo-
cation in motion, someplace important
with creatures pursuing their own goals.
As the players come into conflict with
that location, it will snowball into ac-
tion. You’ll honestly portray the reper-
cussions of their actions.
When you play this way you get to share
in the fun of finding out what happens
to the characters and the world around
them. You’re not a frustrated novelist
trying to organize your unruly charac-
ters. You’re a participant in a great story
that’s unfolding. So really—don’t plan
thestory. Therulesofthegamewillfight
you.
Fill the character’s life with adven-
ture means helping the players create
a world that’s exciting and full of epic
foes to battle, strange places to explore,
and glorious treasure to discover. Ad-
venturers are always caught up in some
plot or world-threatening danger or an-
other—encourageandfosterthatkindof
action in the game.
The players have an agenda too, but it’s
probably something they’ll do by de-
fault: portray their characters.
Principles
•
Draw maps, leave blanks
•
Address the characters, not the play-
ers
•
Embrace the fantastic
•
Make a move that follows
•
Never speak the name of your move
•
Give every monster life
•
Name every person
•
Ask questions and use the answers
•
Be a fan of the characters
•
Think Dangerous
•
Begin and end with the fiction
•
Think offscreen, too
Your principles are your guides. Often,
when it’s time to make a move, you’ll
already have an idea.
Quickly run it
pastyourprinciplesandmakesureitfits,
then go with it.
Draw maps, leave blanks
Dungeon World is mostly in our imagi-
nations, but we can actually see it when
we draw a map. So, make use of maps.
Youwon’talwaysbedrawingthemyour-
self, but any time there’s a new location
draw it on a map (or make a new map for
it).
When you draw a map, it doesn’t have to
be complete. Leave blanks, places that
are unknown to you. As you play you’ll
get more ideas or the players will give
you inspiration to work with.
Address the characters, not the players
Addressing the characters, not the play-
ers, means that you don’t say "Whit,
is Dunwick doing something about that
wight?" Instead you say "Dunwick, what
are you doing about the wight?" Talking
thiswaykeepsthegamerootedinthefic-
tion and not at the table. It’s important
to the flow of the game, too. If you talk to
theplayersyoumayleaveoutdetailsthat
are important to what moves the charac-
tersmake. Since movesare always based
on the actions of the character you need
tothinkaboutwhat’shappeninginterms
of characters—not players.
Embrace the fantastic
The fantastic is the core of fantasy:
magic, strange vistas, gods, demons, and
abominations. The player characters al-
ready have these kind of abilities, so you
should reflect them in the world.
Make a move that follows
When you make a move what you’re ac-
tually doing is taking some element of
the fiction and bringing it to bear against
the characters.
Your move should al-
ways follow from the fiction, and you
never speak its name. Instead describe
thefictionalactionsthattakeplacewhich
follow from the situation established.
Never speak the name of your move
There is no quicker way to ruin the con-
sistency of Dungeon World than to tell
the players what move you’re making.
Your moves are prompts to you, not
things you say directly.
You never show the players that you’re
picking a move from a list. You know
the reason the slavers dragged off Omar
was because you made the "Put someone
in a spot" move, but you show it to the
players as a straightforward outcome of
their actions.
Give every monster life
Monsters are nameless hordes of crea-
tures that stand between the players and
what they want. Give each monster de-
tails that bring it to life: smells, sights,
sounds. Your monsters are arrows, fired
en masse at the players.
Give each
enough detail to make it real, but don’t
cry when it gets slain by intrepid adven-
turers.
Name every person
Every person gets a name. You’ll have
a name list to work from on your ad-
venture sheet, so don’t worry too much
about it. Anyone that the players inter-
act with has a name. They probably have
a personality and some goals or opinions
too, but you can figure that out as you
go. Start with a name. The rest can flow
from there.
How do you know if someone gets a
name? If you start dealing with them
as an individual (not just "a member of
the Knob Street gang" or "a goblin am-
busher") it’s time for a name.
Ask questions and use the answers
You don’t have to know everything. If
you don’t know, or you don’t have an
idea, just ask the players and use what
they say.
The easiest question to use is "What do
you do?" Whenever you make a move,
end with "What do you do?" You don’t
even have to ask the person you made
the move against. Take that chance to
shift the focus elsewhere: "Rath’s spell
is torn apart with a flick of the mage’s
wand. Finnegan, that spell was aiding
you. What are you doing now that it’s
gone?"
Be a fan of the characters
Treat the players’ characters like charac-
ters you watch on TV. You want to see
how things turn out for them. You’re not
here to make them lose, or to make them
win, and definitely not to guide them to
your story. You’re here to portray the
interesting world around them and see
how interacting with that world changes
everything.
Think Dangerous
Thinking Dangerous means that every-
thing in the world is a target.
You’re
thinking like an evil overlord: no sin-
gle life is worth anything, there is noth-
ing sacrosanct. Everything can be put
in danger, everything can be destroyed.
Nothing you create is ever protected.
Whenever your eye falls on something
you’ve created, think dangerous. Think
how it can be put in danger, fall apart,
crumble.
Begin and end with the fiction
Everything you and the players do in
Dungeon World comes from and leads to
fictional events. When the players make
a move, they always take a fictional ac-
tion to trigger it, apply the rules, and get
afictionaleffect. Whenyoumakeamove
it always comes from the fiction.
You can apply this to everything you
say.
Start with the fiction ("The
ogre’s axe comes sailing down into your
shoulder. . ."), apply the rules (". . .you
take 12 damage. . ."), go back to the fic-
tion (". . .as your collar bone cracks be-
neath your armor. What do you do?").
The GM
Moves
43
Think offscreen too
Justbecauseyou’reafanofthecharacters
doesn’t mean everything happens right
in front of them. Sometimes your best
moveisinthenextroom, oranotherpart
of the dungeon, or even back in town.
Makeyourmoveelsewhereandshowthe
effects later.
Moves
•
Use a monster, danger, or location
move
•
Reveal an unwelcome truth
•
Show signs of doom
•
Deal damage
•
Use up their resources
•
Turn their move back on them
•
Separate them
•
Give an opportunity that fits a class’
abilities
•
Show a downside to their class, race,
or equipment
•
Offer an opportunity, with or with-
out cost
•
Put someone in a spot
•
Tell them the requirements or conse-
quences and ask
Whenever everyone looks to you to see
what happens choose one of these. Each
move is something that occurs in the fic-
tionofthegame—theyaren’tcodewords
orspecialterms. "Useuptheirresources"
literally means to expend the resources
of the characters.
Of course you don’t say that to the play-
ers. You never speak the name of your
move (it’s one of your principles). You
makeitarealthingthathappenstothem:
"As you dodge the hulking ogre’s club,
you slip and land hard.
Your sword
goes sliding away into the darkness. You
think you saw where it went but the ogre
is lumbering your way.
What do you
do?"
No matter what move you make al-
ways follow up with "What do you do?"
Your move is a way of fulfilling your
agenda—part of which is to fill the char-
acter’s lives with adventure.
When a
spellgoeswildorthefloordropsoutfrom
under them adventurers react.
When to Make a Move
You make a move when everyone looks
to you to find out what happens. When
it’s your turn to say something in the
conversation you make a move. In par-
ticular, you make a soft move: a move
that sets up a future move.
Making a soft move just means that you
puteventsinmotion,thenlettheplayers
react. If they don’t do anything about it
you follow through with the full conse-
quences, making another (harder) move.
Showing signs of doom is your most ver-
satile soft move since the doom you por-
tend is a move waiting to happen.
Of course your moves apply when the
players undertake something that’s not
a player move. In that case the players
will say something, like "I lay my case
before the king, pleading for aid," and
look to you to find out what happens.
Since they haven’t made a move (there’s
no leverage to make a Parley) you just
respond with a soft move of your own as
setup by the fiction.
You also make a move when the play-
ers give you a golden opportunity.
A
golden opportunity is any time they ig-
nore a threat or when they fail a roll (6-).
When they give you a golden opportu-
nity, you can make your move just as
hard as you like. A hard move is one that
is irrevocable and immediate. The play-
ers immediately feel the consequences
of the move and have to deal with them.
Dealingdamageisahardmove, sincethe
damage is immediately applied.
Soft moves are useful to setup future
hardermoves. Whenthedoomyoushow
signs of is an onslaught of goblin arrows,
if the players don’t so something to get
out of the way, you can follow through
with damage as a hard move. Ignoring
the oncoming arrows is a golden oppor-
tunity.
Choosing a Move
To choose a move, start by looking at the
obvious consequences of the action that
triggered it. If you already have an idea,
thinkonitforasecondtomakesureitfits
your agenda and principles and then do
it. Let your moves snowball . Build
onthesuccessorfailureofthecharacters
moves and on your own previous moves.
You can choose to save up your moves
instead. Use this option sparingly, only
when you’re sure the consequences of
their action occurred off screen and that
you’ll be able to come up with those con-
sequences later. The saved move should
alwaysbeusedinthesamephysicalarea,
such as a dungeon complex or sprawling
swamp. Your players will come to ex-
pect you to make hard moves on the tail
oftheirfailedrolls—thiswillthrowthem
off. Their actions will instead come back
to bite them later. Be careful with it.
Making your Move
When making a move, keep your princi-
ples in mind. In particular, "never speak
the name of your move" and "address
the characters, not the players." Your
moves are not mechanical actions hap-
pening around the table. They are con-
crete events happening to the characters
in the fictional world you are describing.
Note that "Deal damage" is a move, but
othermovesmayincludedamageaswell.
When an ogre flings you against a wall
you take damage as surely as if he had
smashed you with his fists. If a monster
deals damage incidentally as part of an-
other move, like charging past Titanius
slamming her to the ground, the dam-
age dealt is equal to half the monster’s
normal damage.
If a move causes damage not related to a
monster, like a collapsing tunnel or fall
into a pit, use the damage rules on page
X (Blood and Guts chapter).
After every move you make, always ask
"What do you do?" The players’ charac-
ters are the stars, remember.
Use a monster, danger, or location move
Eachmonsterinanadventurehasmoves
associated with it, as do many locations.
A monster or location move is just a de-
scription of what that location or mon-
sterdoes, maybe"hurlsomeoneaway"or
"bridge the planes." If a move (like Hack
and Slash) says that a monster gets to
make an attack, make a move with that
monster.
The overarching dangers of the adven-
ture also have moves associated with
them.
Use these moves to bring that
danger into play, which may mean more
monsters.
Reveal an unwelcome truth
An unwelcome truth is a fact the players
wish wasn’t true: that the room’s been
trapped, maybe, or that the helpful gob-
lin is actually a spy. You never make up
an unwelcome truth when making this
move—you just bring one to light. Re-
vealtotheplayersjusthowmuchtrouble
they’re in.
Show signs of doom
This is one of your most versatile moves.
’Doom’ is anything bad that’s coming.
With this move, you just show them that
something’sgoingtohappenunlessthey
do something about it. Remember to ask
"What do you do?"
Dungeon Moves
The GM
44
Deal damage
When you deal damage you choose
one source of damage that’s fictionally
threatening a character and apply it. In
combat with a lizard man?
It stabs
you. Running from a collapsing tunnel?
Some rocks catch your ankle.
The amount of damage is decided by the
source. In some cases, this move might
involve trading damage both ways, with
theplayercharacteralsodealingdamage.
Most damage is based on a dice roll.
When a player takes damage, tell them
what to roll, you never need to touch the
dice. If the player is too cowardly to find
out their own fate, they can ask another
player to roll for them.
Dealing damage is a hard move. Use it
carefully.
Use up their resources
Surviving in a dungeon, or anywhere
dangerous, often comes down to sup-
plies. With this move, something hap-
pens to use up some resource: weapons,
armor, healing, ongoing spells.
You
don’t always have to use it up perma-
nently. A sword might just be flung to
the other side of the room, not shattered.
Offer an opportunity, with or without cost
Showthemsomethingtheywant: riches,
power, glory. If you want, you can asso-
ciate some cost with it too, of course.
Remember to lead with the fiction. You
don’t say "This area isn’t dangerous so
you can make camp here, if you’re will-
ing to take the time." You make it a solid
fictional thing and say "Helferth’s bless-
ingsstillhangaroundtheshatteredalter.
It’s clearly been untouched, the goblins
don’t come here. It’s a nice safe spot, but
the chanting from the ritual chamber is
getting louder. What do you do?"
Put someone in a spot
A spot is someplace where they have to
make tough, ugly choices. Put them in
the path of destruction.
Put someone
or something they care about in a dan-
gerous situation. Whatever you do, just
make sure they’re someplace where they
have to take action and then ask "What
do you do?"
Tell them the requirements or consequences and
ask
This move is particularly good when
they’ve done something that’s not a
move, or failed a move.
They can do
it, sure, but they’ll have to meet the
requirements.
Or, they can do it, but
there will be consequences. Maybe they
can swing across the chasm, fully ar-
mored, and leap into battle, but the rope
will be stressed beyond usefulness after-
wards. Maybe they can swim through
the crocodilian-infested moat before be-
ing devoured, but they’ll need a distrac-
tion.
Of course this is made clear to
the characters, not just the players: the
crocodilians are slavering hungry and
starved, or the rope already has danger-
ous give.
Dungeon Moves
Dungeon Moves are a special subset that
areusedtomakeoralteradungeononthe
fly. Use these if your players are explor-
ing a hostile area that you don’t already
have planned all the way through.
Map out the area being explored as you
make these moves. Most of them will
requireyoutoaddanewroomorelement
to your map.
•
Change the environment
•
Point to a looming threat
•
Introduce a new faction or type of
creature
•
Use a threat from an existing faction
or type of creature
•
Make them backtrack
•
Present riches at a price
•
Presentachallengetooneofthechar-
acters
You can make these moves whenever
everyone looks to you to say something,
when the players present you an oppor-
tunity, or when the players miss on a
roll. They’re particularly well-suited for
when the players look at you to find out
what a new room or area is like.
Change the environment
The environment is the general feel of
the area the players are in: carved tun-
nels, warped trees, safe trails, or what-
ever else.
This is your opportunity to
introduce them to a new environment:
the tunnels gradually become naturally
carved, the trees are dead, or the trails
are lost and the wilderness takes over.
Use this move to vary the types of areas
and creatures the players will face.
It’s an opportunity for you to interject
with a change in scenery and play up
the themes and dangers that are to come.
Snowball this move with itself over time
to gradually shift the dungeon to some-
thing new and exciting by using one or
two elements at a time. First the scent of
brimstone fills the tunnels, then hellish
sigils mar the walls, then the moans of
the damned and before the players know
it, they’re not in a cavern at all—they’re
in the pit of a demon lord!
Point to a looming threat
If you know that something lurking and
waiting for the players to stumble upon
it, this move shows them the signs and
clues. This move is the dragon’s foot-
prints in the mud or the slimy trail of the
gelatinous cube.
This move means that when the players
finallycomeface-to-facewiththethreat,
they’ll have some ideas and fear about
what awaits them. Use it to build ten-
sion or, in some cases, provide hints that
prove to be a surprise. It’s not a wicked
red dragon like the players expected, it’s
a wounded silver drake who needs their
help.
Introduce a new faction or type of creature
A type of creatures is a broad grouping:
orcs, goblins, lizardmen, golems, etc.
A faction is a group of creatures united
by a similar goal. Once you introduce
them you can begin to make moves and
cause trouble for the players with those
creatures or NPCs.
Introducing means giving some clear
sensory evidence or substantiated infor-
mation. Don’t be coy, the players should
have some idea what you’re showing the
presence of. You can, however, be sub-
tle in your approach. No need to have
the cultistoverlord wavinga placard and
screaming in the infernal tongue every
single time.
You don’t have to warn the players about
this move.
A hard application of this
move will snowball directly into a com-
bat scene or ambush.
Use a threat from an existing faction or type of
creature
Once the characters have some been in-
troducedtothepresenceafactionortype
of creature you can use monsters of that
type.
Use the factions and types broadly. Orcs
are accompanied with their hunting
worgs. A mad cult probably has some
undead servants or maybe a few beasts
summoned from the deepest pits. This
is a move that, often, you’ll be making
subconsciously—it’s just implementing
the tools you’ve set out for yourself in a
clear and effective manner.
The GM
Dungeon Moves
45
Make them backtrack
Look back at the spaces you’ve added to
the map. Is there anything useful there
as yet undiscovered? Can you add a new
obstacle that can only be overcome by
going back there? Is there a locked door
here and now whose key lies in an earlier
room?
When backtracking, take the opportu-
nity to show the effect the players have
had on the areas they’ve left behind.
Whatnewthreatshavesprungupintheir
wake?
What didn’t they take care of
that’s waiting for their return?
Use this move the make the dungeon a
living, breathingplace. Thereisnostasis
in the wake of the characters’ passing.
Add reinforcements, cave in walls, cause
chaos. Make the dungeon evolve in the
wake of the characters’ actions.
Present riches at a price
What do the players want? What might
they give something up for?
Putsomedesirableitemjustoutofreach.
Find something they’re short on: time,
HP, gear, whatever. Find a way to make
what they want available if they give up
what they have.
The simplest way to use this move is the
promise of gold out of the way of the
main objective. Will they stop to pry the
ruby eyes from the idol when they know
that the virgin sacrifice looms closer and
closer? Use this move and you can find
out.
Present a challenge to one of the characters
Challenge a character by looking at what
they’re good at. Give the Thief a lock to
pick, show the Cleric evil gods to battle
against. Give the Wizard magical mys-
teries to investigate. Show the Fighter
some skulls he can crack. Give someone
a chance to shine.
As an alternative, challenge a character
by looking at what they’re bad at or what
they’ve left unresolved. If the Bard has a
long con running what steps will he take
to cover it up when someone figures him
out? If the Wizard has been summoning
demons then what happens when word
gets out?
This move can give a character the spot-
light—even if just for a moment. Try to
give everyone a chance to be the focus
of play using this move from session to
session.
Prep
First Session
46
19
First
Session
The first session of a game of Dungeon
World begins with character creation.
Charactercreationisalsoworldcreation,
the details on the character sheets and
thequestionstheGMasksestablishwhat
Dungeon World is like—who lives in it
and what’s going on.
This section is for the GM so it’s ad-
dressed to you—the GM. For the play-
ers, the first session is just like every
other. They just have to play their char-
acters like real people and explore Dun-
geon World. The GM has to do a little
more in the first session. They establish
theworldandthethreatstheplayerswill
face. Don’t worry, it’s fun.
Prep
Before the first session, you’ll need to
print some stuff. Print off:
•
A few copies of the basic moves and
special moves (double sided, basic on
one side and special on the other).
You’ll want about one per player.
•
One copy of each class sheet, double
sided.
•
One copy each of the cleric and wiz-
ard spell sheets, double sided.
•
A few copies of the equipment sheet.
•
The GM moves.
•
The GM worksheets.
You’ll also need to read this whole book,
especially the sections on GMing (GM
moves) and the basic moves.
It’s a
good idea to be acquainted with the class
moves too, so you can be prepared for
them. Beespeciallysuretoreadtherules
for Fronts, but don’t create any yet.
Think about fantastic worlds, strange
magic, and foul beasts. If you’ve played
other fantasy games like Dungeons and
Dragons think back to what made your
old games so much fun. Remember the
games you played and the stories you
told. They can all provide inspiration for
yourDungeonWorldgame. Watchsome
movies, read some comics; get heroic
fantasy into your brain.
Whatyoubringtothefirstsession,ideas-
wise, is up to you. At the very least bring
your head full of ideas. That’s the bare
minimum.
If you like you can plan a little more.
Maybe think of an evil plot, or who’s be-
hind it, or some monsters you’d like to
use.
If you’ve got some spare time on your
hands you can even draw some maps
(but remember, from your Principles:
leave blanks) and imagine specific loca-
tions. Flexibility is key when planning:
what happens during character creation
trumps anything you wrote ahead of
time.
The one thing you absolutely can’t bring
to the table is a planned storyline or plot.
You don’t know the heroes or the world
before you sit down to play so planning
anything concrete is just going to frus-
trate you.
It also conflicts with your
Agenda: play to find out what happens.
Don’t use the Fronts rules (in the next
chapter) for the first session either.
Thosewillcomewithtimebutinthefirst
session you need to be able to focus more
on getting the game rolling. The big pic-
turedoesn’tmattersomuch,yet. Instead
focus on getting the players into action,
interacting with each other, and using
the rules.
Getting Started
When everyone shows up for the first
session briefly introduce anyone who
hasn’t played before to Dungeon World.
Coverthemechanicalbasisofmoves. In-
troduce the character classes, help play-
ers pick their classes, and walk them
through character creation.
During this entire process, especially
character creation, ask questions. Look
for interesting facts established by the
characters’ Bonds, moves, classes, and
descriptions and ask about those things.
Be curious!
When someone mentions
the demons that slaughtered their vil-
lage find out more about them. After all,
you don’t have anything (except maybe
a dungeon) and everything they give you
is fuel for future adventures.
Also pay attention to the players’ ques-
tions. When mechanical questions come
up answer them. When questions of set-
ting or fiction come up your best bet is
to turn those questions around. When a
player says "Who is the King of Torsea"
say "I don’t know. Who is it? What is
he like?" Collaborate with your players.
Asking a question means it’s something
that interests them so work with them
to make the answers interesting. Don’t
be afraid to say "I don’t know" and ask
them the same questions; work together
tofindafantasticandinterestinganswer.
Share the ideas you’ve brought to the ta-
ble (either general ones or even a specific
dungeon). If you’re interested in start-
ing with the players hunting for a lost
wizard, tell them that. Until the players
agree, it’s just your idea. Once they nod
their heads, it’s part of the game.
Once everyone has their characters cre-
ated you can take a deep breath. Look
backoverthequestionsyou’veaskedand
answered so far. You should have some
notes that will point you towards what
the game might look like. Look at what
the players have brought to the table.
Look at the ideas that’ve been stewing
away in your head. It’s time for the ad-
venture to begin!
First Session
Prep
47
The First Adventure
The first adventure is really about find-
ing out what future sessions will deal
with.
Throughout the first adventure
keepyoureyeoutforunresolvedthreats;
note dangerous things that are men-
tioned but not dealt with. These will be
fuel for future sessions.
Start the session with a group of player
characters (maybe all of them) in a tense
situation.
Use anything that demands
action: outside the entrance to a dun-
geon, ambushed in a fetid swamp, peek-
ing through the crack in a door at the
orcguards,orbeingsentencedbeforethe
King. Ifthesituationstemsdirectlyfrom
thecharactersandyourquestions,allthe
better.
Here’s where the game starts. The play-
ers will start saying and doing things,
whichmeansthey’llstartmakingmoves.
For the first session you should watch
especially carefully for when moves ap-
ply, until the players get the hang of it.
Often, in the early sessions, the players
will be most comfortable just narrating
their actions—this is fine. When a move
triggers let them know. Say "It sounds
like you’re trying to. . ." and then walk
them through the move. Players looking
for direction will look to their character
sheet. Be quick to ask "so what are you
actually doing?" when a player just says
"I Hack and Slash him." Ask, too, "how?"
or "with what?".
For the first session, you have a few spe-
cific goals:
•
Establish details, describe
•
Use what they give you
•
Ask questions
•
Leave blanks
•
Look for interesting facts
•
Help the players understand the
moves
•
Give each character a chance to shine
•
Introduce NPCs
Establish details, describe
All the ideas and visions in your head
don’t really exist in the fiction of the
game until you share them, describe
them and detail them. The first session
is the time to establish the basics of what
things look like, who’s in charge, what
they wear, what the world is like, what
the immediate location is like. Describe
everythingbutkeepitbriefenoughtoex-
pandonlater. Useadetailortwotomake
a description really stand out as real.
Use what they give you
The best part of the first session is
you don’t have to come with anything
concrete.
You might have a dungeon
sketched out but the players provide the
real meat—use it. They’ll emerge from
the darkness of that first dungeon and
when they do and their eyes adjust to
the light, you’ll have built up an exciting
world to explore with their help. Look at
their Bonds, their moves, how they an-
swer your questions and use those to fill
in the world around the characters.
Ask questions
You’re using what they give you, right?
Whatifyouneedmore? That’swhenyou
drawitoutbyaskingquestions. Pokeand
prod about specific things. Ask for reac-
tions "what does Lux think about that?"
"is Avon doing something about it?"
If you ever find yourself at a loss, pause
for a second and ask a question.
Ask
one character a question about another.
When a character does something, ask
how a different character feels or re-
acts. Questions will power your game
and make it feel real and exciting. Use
theanswersyoufindtofillinwhatmight
happen next.
Leave blanks
This is one of your Principles, but it’s
especially true during the first session.
Everyblankisanothercoolthingwaiting
tohappen,leaveyourselfastockofthem.
Look for interesting facts
There are some ideas that, when you
hear them, just jump out at you. When
you hear one of those ideas, just write
it down. When a player mentions the
DukeofSorrowsbeingthedemonhebar-
gained with, note it. That little fact is the
seed for a whole world.
Help the players understand the moves
You’ve already read the game, the play-
ers may not have, so it’s up to you to
help them if they need it. The fact is,
they likely won’t need it much. All they
have to do is describe what their charac-
ter does, the rules take care of the rest.
Theoneplacetheymayneedsomehelpis
remembering the triggers for the moves.
Keep an ear out for actions that trigger
moves, like attacking in melee or con-
sulting their knowledge.
After a few
moves the players will likely remember
them on their own.
Give each character a chance to shine
As a fan of the heroes (remember your
Agenda?) you want to see them do what
they do best.
Give them a chance at
this, not by tailoring every room to their
skills,butbyportrayingafantasticworld
(Agenda again) where there isn’t one so-
lution to everything.
Introduce NPCs
NPCs bring the world to life. If every
monster does nothing more than attack
andeveryblacksmithsetsouttheirwares
for simple payment the world is dead.
Instead give your characters, especially
those that the players show an interest
in, life (Principles, remember?). Intro-
duce NPCs but don’t protect them. The
recently-deceased Goblin King is just as
useful for future adventures as the one
who’s still alive.
Creating Fronts
Fronts
48
20
Fronts
Fronts are secret tomes of GM knowl-
edge. With the exception of a few sneaky
PC tricks Fronts are your purview and
are a place where you’ll build the ad-
versaries, organizations, and other mis-
fortune that the characters will come in
conflict with. A Front is a collection of
linked Dangers—threats to the charac-
tersspecificallyandtothepeople,places,
and things the characters care about. It
also includes one or more Impending
Dooms,thehorriblethingsthatwillhap-
pen without the players’ intervention.
“Fronts”comes,ofcourse,from“fighting
on two fronts” which is just where you
want the characters to be—surrounded
by threats, danger and adventure.
Fronts are built outside of active play.
They’re the solo fun that you get to have
between games—rubbing your hands
and cackling evilly to yourself as you
craft the foes with which to challenge
your PCs. You may tweak or adjust the
Frontsduringplay(whoknowswhenin-
spiration will strike?) but the meat of
them comes from preparation between
sessions.
Fronts are designed to help you organize
yourthoughtsonPCopposition. They’re
here to contain your notes, ideas, and
plans for these opposing forces. When
you’re in a bind your Fronts are where
you’re going to turn and say “oh, so that
’s what I should do”.
Consider them
an organizational tool, as inspiration for
present and future mayhem.
When you’re building Fronts, think
about all the creepy dungeon denizens,
the rampaging hordes and ancient cults
that you’d like to see in your game.
Think in broad strokes at first and then,
as you build Dangers into your Fronts,
you’ll be able to narrow those ideas
down. When you write your Campaign
Front, think about session—to—session
trends.
When you write your Adven-
ture Fronts, think about what’s impor-
tant right here and right now.
When
you’re done writing a few Fronts you’ll
be equipped with all the tools you’ll need
to challenge your players and ready to
run Dungeon World.
Campaign and Adventure Fronts
At their core, all Fronts contain the
same components. They sort and gather
your Dangers into easy—to—use clus-
ters. There are, however, two different
kinds of Fronts available to you. On the
session—to—session level there’s your
Adventure Fronts. These Fronts will see
use for 3 or 4 sessions each. They’re tied
to one problem and will be dealt with
or cast aside as the characters wander
the dungeon or uncover the plot at hand.
Think of them as episodic content: “To-
day, on Dungeon World. . .”
Tying your Adventure Fronts together is
your Campaign Front.
While the Ad-
venture Fronts will contain immediate
Dangers—the Orcs in Hargrosh Pass,
say—the Campaign Front contains the
Dark God Grishkar who drives the Orcs
to their pillaging. The Campaign Front
is the unifying element that spans your
all the sessions of your Dungeon World
game. It will have slower—burning Por-
tents but they’ll be bigger in scope and
have a deeper impact on the world. Most
importantly they’ll be scarier if they’re
allowed to resolve.
WhenaDangerfromanAdventureFront
goes without resolution you’ll have to
make a decision. If the Danger is some-
thing you like and feel has a place in the
larger story of your game don’t hesitate
tomoveittotheCampaignFront. You’re
able to make smaller Dangers that went
unresolved into bigger Dangers some
day later on.
You can move Dangers
from the Campaign Fronts to the an Ad-
venture Front if you’re ready for the big
showdown, too.
Creating Fronts
Here’s how a Front comes together:
•
Choose Campaign Front or Adven-
ture Front
•
Create 2–3 Dangers
•
Choose their Impending Doom
•
(For an Adventure Front, 1–3 Grim
Portents)
•
(For the Campaign Front, 3–5 Grim
Portents)
•
Write 1–3 stakes questions
•
List the general cast of the Front
Creating Dangers
Not every single element of your game
will warrant a Danger—traps, some rov-
ing monsters and other bits of ephemera
mayjustbetheretoaddflavourbutaren’t
important enough to warrant inclusion.
That’s okay. Fronts are here to keep you
appraised of the bigger picture. Dangers
are divided into a handful of categories,
each with its own name and impulse .
Every Danger has a crucial motivation
thatdrivesitcalledits"impulse."Theim-
pulse exists to help you understand that
Danger. What pushes it to fulfill its Im-
pending Doom? Impulse can help you
translation the Danger into action.
When creating Dangers for your Front,
think about how each one interacts as a
facet of the Front as a whole. Keep in
mind the people, places, and things that
might be a part of the threat to the world
thattheFrontrepresents. Howdoeseach
Danger contribute to the Front?
Fronts
Types of Dangers
49
Let’s say we have an idea for a Front—an
ancient portal has been discovered in the icy
north. We’ll call our Front "The Opening of
the White Gate".
The easiest place to start is with people
and monsters. Cultists, ogre chieftains,
demonicoverlordsandthelikeareallex-
cellent Dangers. These are the creatures
that have risen above mere monster sta-
tus to become serious threats on their
own. Groups of monsters, too, can be
Dangers—goblin tribes or a rampaging
centaur khanate, for example.
For the Front we’re creating, we can pick a
few different groups or people who might be
interested in the gate. The College of Arcan-
ists, perhaps. There’s a golem, too, we’ve
decided, that protects the forgotten portal.
The golem is just an obstacle, so we won’t
make him a Danger.
Thinking more broadly, less obvious el-
ements of the world can be Dangers.
Blasted landscapes, intelligent magical
items, ancient spells woven into the
fabric of time.
These things fulfill
the same purposes as a mad necro-
mancer—they’re part of the Front, a
Danger to the world.
For our Front, we’ll add the Gate itself.
Lastly, if we think ahead, we can in-
clude some overarching Dangers.
The
sorts of things that are in play outside
therealmoftheobvious—godlypatrons,
hidden conspiracies and cursed prophe-
cies waiting to be fulfilled.
Perhaps the White Gate was carved in the
ancientpast,hiddenbyaraceofAngelsuntil
theDayofJudgement. We’lladdthe"Argent
Seraphim" to our Front.
Of course, there’s so much more I could
add to my Front, but there’s two reasons
not to go overboard: firstly, I want to
leave room for discovery. Like a map,
blank spaces can always be filled in later.
Leaving room for player contribution
and future inspiration means I’ll have
freedom to alter the Front and make it fit
thegameasthestoryemerges. Secondly,
not every bad thing that could happen
deserves Danger—hood. If you’re un-
certain, think about it this way: Dangers
can always get worse.
A barbarian tribe near the Gate, the frozen
tundraitself,abandofrivaladventurers;all
these things could be dangerous elements of
the game but they’re not important enough
just yet to deserve to be Dangers.
CreatingDangersisawaytosliceupyour
overall Front concept into smaller, eas-
ier to manage pieces. Dangers are a tool
for adding detail to the right parts of the
Front and for making the Front easier to
manage in the long run.
Once you’ve named and added a Danger
to the Front you need to choose a type
for that Danger from the list below. Al-
ternately you can use the list of types
to inspire Dangers: with your Front in
mind, peruse the list and pick one or two
that fit.
For our three Dangers (The College of Ar-
canists, The White Gate and the Argent
Seraphim)we’veselectedCabal,DarkPortal
and Choir of Angels, respectively.
Types of Dangers
•
Ambitious Organizations
•
Planar Forces
•
Arcane Enemies
•
Hordes
•
Cursed Places
Ambitious Organizations
•
Misguided Good (impulse: to do “what
is right” no matter the cost )
•
Thieves Guild (impulse: to take by sub-
terfuge )
•
Cult (impulse: to infest from within )
•
Religious Organization (impulse: toes-
tablish and follow doctrine )
•
Corrupt Government (impulse:
to
maintain the status quo )
•
Cabal (impulse: to absorb those in power,
to grow )
GM Moves for Ambitious Organizations
•
Attack someone by stealthy means
(kidnapping, etc.)
•
Attack someone directly (with a gang
or single assailant)
•
Absorb or buy out an someone im-
portant (an ally, perhaps)
•
Influence a body of control (change a
law, manipulate doctrine)
•
Establish a new rule (within the or-
ganization)
•
Claim territory or resources
•
Negotiate a deal
•
Observe a potential foe in great detail
Planar Forces
•
God (impulse: to gather worshippers )
•
DemonPrince(impulse: toopenthegates
of Hell )
•
Elemental Lord (impulse: to tear down
creation to its component parts )
•
Force of Chaos (impulse: to destroy all
semblance of order )
•
Choir of Angels (impulse: to pass judge-
ment )
•
Construct of Law (impulse: to eliminate
perceived disorder )
GM Moves for Planar Forces
•
Turn an organization (corrupt or in-
filtrate with influence)
•
Give dreams of prophecy
•
Lay a Curse on a foe
•
Extract a promise in exchange for a
boon
•
Attack indirectly, through interme-
diaries
•
Rarely, when the stars are right, at-
tack directly
•
Foster rivalries with other, similar
powers
•
Expose someone to a Truth, wanted
or otherwise
Arcane Enemies
•
Lord of the Undead (impulse: to seek
true immortality )
•
Power-mad Wizard (impulse: to seek
magical power )
•
SentientArtifact(impulse: tofindawor-
thy wielder )
•
Ancient Curse (impulse: to ensnare )
•
Chosen One (impulse: to fulfill or resent
their destiny )
•
Dragon (impulse: to hoard gold and jew-
els, to protect the clutch )
GM Moves for Arcane Enemies
•
Learn forbidden knowledge
•
Cast a spell over time and space
•
Attack a foe with magic, directly or
otherwise
•
Spy on someone with a scrying spell
•
Recruit a follower or toady
•
Tempt someone with promises
•
Demand a sacrifice
Types of Dangers
Fronts
50
Hordes
•
Wandering Barbarians (impulse:
to
grow strong, to drive their enemies before
them )
•
Humanoid Vermin (impulse: to breed –
to multiply and consume )
•
UndergroundDwellers(impulse: tode-
fend the complex from outsiders )
•
Plague of the Undead (impulse:
to
spread )
GM Moves for Hordes
•
Assault a bastion of civilization
•
Embrace internal chaos
•
Change direction suddenly
•
Overwhelm a weaker force
•
Display a show of dominance
•
Abandonanoldhome,findanewone
•
Grow in size by breeding or conquest
•
Appoint a champion
•
Declare war and act upon that decla-
ration without hesitation or deliber-
ation
Cursed Places
•
Abandoned Tower (impulse: to draw in
the weak-willed )
•
Unholy Ground (impulse: to spawn evil
)
•
Elemental Vortex (impulse: to grow, to
tear apart reality )
•
DarkPortal(impulse: todisgorgedemons
)
•
Shadowland (impulse: to corrupt or con-
sume the living )
•
Place of Power (impulse: to be controlled
or tamed )
GM Moves for Cursed Places
•
Vomit forth a lesser monster
•
Spread to an adjacent place
•
Draw the attention of a curious party
•
Grow in intensity or depth
•
Leave a lingering effect on an inhab-
itant or visitor
•
Hide something from sight
•
Offer power
•
Dampen magic or increase its effects
•
Confuse or obfuscate truth or direc-
tion
•
Corrupt a natural law
Description and Cast
Write up something short to remind you
just what this Danger is about; some-
thing to describe it in a nutshell. Don’t
worry about where it’s going or what
could happen—Grim Portents and the
Impending Doom will handle that for
you, you’ll get to those in a bit. If there
are multiple people involved in the Dan-
ger (an orc warlord and his clansmen, a
hateful God and his servants) go ahead
and give them a name and a detail or two
now. Leaveyourselfsomespaceasyou’ll
be adding to this section as you play.
Custom Moves
Sometimes, a Danger will require some
particular move that might not exist yet.
Write one or two you think you might
need, now. They may be player moves
or GM moves, as you see fit. Of course, if
you’re writing a player move, keep your
(the GMs) hands off the dice and keep
in mind the basic structure of a move.
A 10+ is a complete success; a 7–9 is a
partial success. On a miss, maybe the
custom move does something specific,
or maybe not—maybe you just get to
make a move or work towards fulfilling
a Grim Portent. The formatting of these
moves varies from move to move. See
theAdvancedDelvingchapterfordetails
on how to create your own.
For the Opening of the White Gate, I just
know some fool PC is going to end up in the
lightthatspillsfromthegate, soI’mwriting
a move to show what might occur.
Grim Portents
Grim Portents are dark designs for
what could happen if a Danger goes
unchecked. Imagine yourself a kind of
diviner working some scrying spell into
the future of your campaign or the ad-
venture that the characters are under-
taking.
Think about what would hap-
pen if the Danger existed in the world
but the PCs didn’t.
If all these awful
things you’ve conjured up had their run
of the world. Scary, huh? The Grim Por-
tentsareyourwaytocodifytheplansand
machinations of your Dangers. A Grim
Portent can be a single interesting event
or a chain of steps.
When you’re not
sure what to do next push your Danger
towards resolving a Grim Portent.
More often than not, each Portent relies
on its predecessors to resolve. The Orcs
tear down the city only after the peace
talks fail, for example. A simple Front
will progress from bad to worse to much
worse in a clear path forward.
Some-
times, Grim Portents are unconnected
pathways to the Impending Doom. The
early manifestations of Danger might
not all be related.
It’s up to you how
complex your Front will be. Whenever
a Danger comes to pass, check the other
DangersintheFront. InacomplexFront,
you may need to cross off or alter the
Grim Portents.
That’s fine, you’re al-
lowed.
Think of your Grim Portents as possible
moves waiting in the wings. When the
time is right, unleash them on the world.
I’ve chosen a few Grim Portents for my new
Front.
•
The College sends an expedition to the
Gate
•
The Key is discovered
•
The First Trumpet sounds
•
A Champion is chosen
•
The Second Trumpet sounds
•
The Herald appears
•
The Gate is Opened
Grim Portents are the sword of in-
evitability that hangs over the charac-
ters. The struggles that they fight every
day on the field of battle, in the courts of
society and in the deepest dungeons of
the world. Think about how the Dangers
contribute to the Front you’re creating,
both externally (the effect of the Danger
on the world around it) and internally
(the politics or struggles of its parts).
Keep scale in mind, too. Grim Portents
don’t all have to be world—shaking.
They can simply represent a change in
direction for a Danger. Some new way
for it to cause trouble in the world.
When a Grim Portent comes to pass,
check it off—the Portent is a part of the
world, now.
The prophecy has come
true! A Portent that has come to pass
might have ramifications for your other
Fronts,too. Haveaquicklookwhenyour
playersaren’tdemandingyourattention
and feel free to make changes. One small
Portent may resound across the whole
Campaign in subtle ways.
YoucanadvanceaGrimPortentdescrip-
tively or prescriptively.
Descriptively
means that, through play, you’ve seen
the change happen, so you mark it off.
Maybe the players sided with the gob-
lin tribes against their lizardmen ene-
mies—now the goblins control the tun-
nels. Lo and behold, this was the next
step in a Grim Portent. Prescriptive is
when, due to a failed player move or
a golden opportunity, you advance the
Grim Portent as your hard move. That
step comes to pass, show its effects and
keep on asking "what do you do, now?"
Fronts
Resolving a Front
51
Impending Doom
At the end of every Danger’s path is
an Impending Doom. This is the final
toll of the bell that signals the Danger’s
triumphant resolution.
When a Grim
Portent comes to pass the Impending
Doom grows stronger, more apparent
and present in the world.
These are
the Very Bad Things that every Dan-
ger, in some way, seeks to bring into
effect. Choose one of the types of Im-
pending Dooms and give it a concrete vi-
sion in your Front. These may change in
play—often they will, as the characters
meddle in the affairs of the world. Don’t
fret, you can change them later.
•
Tyranny (of the strong over the weak
or the few over the many)
•
Pestilence(thespreadofsicknessand
disease, the end of wellness)
•
Destruction (apocalypse, ruin and
woe)
•
Usurpation (the chain of order comes
apart, someone rightful is displaced)
•
Impoverishment (enslavement, the
abandonment of goodness and right)
•
Rampant Chaos (laws of reality, of
society, or any order is dissolved)
When all of the Grim Portents of a dan-
ger come to pass, the Impending Doom
sets in. The Danger is then resolved but
the setting has changed in some dras-
tic way—even on a small level.
This
will almost certainly change the Front at
large, as well. Making sure that these ef-
fects are felt and significant to the NPCs,
places, and life of the campaign world is
a big part of making them feel real.
Stakes
Your stakes questions are 1–3 questions
about people, places, or groups that
you’re interested in.
People include
characters and NPCs, your choice. Re-
member that your agenda includes "Play
to find out what happens?" Well this is
a way of reminding yourself what you
want to find out.
Stakes are concrete and clear.
Don’t
write stakes about vague feelings or in-
cremental changes. Stakes are about im-
portant changes that affect the PCs and
the world.
A good stakes question is
one that, when it’s resolved, means that
things will never be the same again.
The most important thing about stakes
is that you find them interesting. Your
stakes should be things that you gen-
uinely want to know, but that you’re also
willing to not decide. Once you’ve writ-
ten it as a stake, it’s out of your hands,
you don’t get to just make it up anymore.
Now you have to play to find out.
Playing to find out is one of the biggest
rewards of playing Dungeon World.
You’ve written down something tied to
events happening in the world that you
want to find out about—now you get to
do just that.
Once you have your stakes your front is
ready to play.
My stakes questions include, as tailored to
my group:
•
Who will be the Champion?
•
How will Lux respond to the Light from
Beyond?
•
Will the College be able to recruit Avon?
Resolving a Front
Often a Front will be resolved in a simple
and straightforward manner.
A Front
representing a single dungeon may have
its Dangers killed, turned to good, or
overcome by some act of heroism.
In
this case the Front is dissolved and set
aside.
Maybe there are elements of
the Front—Dangers that go unresolved
or leftover members of a Danger that’s
been cleared—that lives on. Maybe they
move to the Campaign Front as brand
new Dangers?
The Campaign Front will need a bit more
effort to resolve. It’ll be working slowly
and subtly as the course of the Campaign
rolls along. You won’t introduce or re-
solve it all at once, but in pieces. The
characters work towards defeating the
various minions of the Big Bad that lives
in your Campaign Front.
In the end,
though, you’ll know that the Campaign
Front is resolved when the Dark God is
confronted, the Undead Plague is wiped
clear, and the heroes emerge bloodied
but victorious.
Campaign Fronts take
longertodealwith, butintheendthey’re
the most satisfying to resolve.
When a Front is resolved, take some ex-
tra time to sit down and look at the af-
termath. Did any Grim Portents come
to pass?
Even if a Danger is stopped,
if one or two Grim Portents are ful-
filled, the world is changed. Keep this
in mind when you write your future
Fronts.
Is there anyone who could be
moved from the now—defeated Front
somewhere else? Anyone get promoted
or reduced in stature? The resolution of
a Front is an important event!
When you resolve an Adventure Front,
usually that means the adventure itself
has been resolved. This is a great time to
take a break and look at The Campaign
Front you have. Let it inspire your next
Adventure Front. Write up a new Ad-
venture Front or polish off one you’ve
been working on, draw a few maps to
go with it and get ready for the next big
thing.
Multiple Adventure Fronts
As you start your campaign you’re likely
to have a lightly-detailed Campaign
Front and a single, detailed Adventure
Front. Characters may choose, part-way
through an Adventure, to pursue some
other course.
You might end up with
a handful of partly-resolved Adventure
Fronts. Not only is this okay, it’s a great
way to explore a world that feels alive
and organic. Always remember, Fronts
continue along apace no matter whether
the characters are there to see it or not.
Thinkoffscreen, especiallywhereFronts
are concerned.
When running two Adventure Fronts at
the same time they can be intertwined or
independent. The Anarchists corrupt-
ing the city from the inside are a differ-
ent Front from the orcs massing outside
the walls, but they’d both be in play at
once. On the other hand one dungeon
couldhavemultipleFrontsatplaywithin
its walls: the powers and effects of the
cursed place itself and the warring hu-
manoid tribes that inhabit it.
A situation warrants multiple Adven-
ture Fronts when there are multiple Im-
pending Dooms, all equally potent but
not necessarily related. The Impending
Doom of the Anarchists is chaos in the
city, the Impending Doom of the orcs is
itsutterruination. Theyaretwoseparate
Fronts with their own Dangers. They’ll
deal with each other, as well, so there’s
someroomfortheplayerschoosingsides
or attempting to turn the Dangers of one
Front against the other.
When dealing with multiple Adventure
Frontstheplayersarelikelytoprioritize.
The cult needs attention now, the orcs
can wait, or vice versa. These decisions
lead to the slow advancement of the ne-
glected Front, eventually causing more
problems for the players and leading to
new adventures. This can get complex
once you’ve got three or four Fronts in
play. Take care not to get overwhelmed.
Dangers
An Example Front: The Opening of the White Gate
52
21
An Example
Front: The
Opening
of the
White Gate
Dangers
The College of Arcanists (Cabal)
Impulse: to absorb those in power, to
grow
Grim Portents
•
The College sends an expedition to
the Gate
•
The Key is discovered
•
The Gate’s Power is harnessed
•
The College seizes control
Impending Doom: Usurpation
The White Gate (Dark Portal)
Impulse: to disgorge demons
Grim Portents
•
The First Trumpet sounds
•
The Second Trumpet sounds
•
The Gate is opened
Impending Doom: Destruction
The Argent Seraphim (Choir of Angels)
Impulse: to pass judgement
Grim Portents
•
A Champion is chosen
•
An organization of power is formed
or co-opted
•
The Herald appears
•
Judgement is passed
Impending Doom: Tyranny
Description and Cast
An ancient gate, buried for aeons in the
icy north. It opens into a realm of pure
light, guarded by the Argent Seraphim.
ItwascraftedonlytobeopenedatJudge-
ment Day, so that the Seraphim could
come forth and purge the realm of men.
RecentlyuncoveredbytheCollegeofAr-
canists, who do not yet understand its
terrible power.
•
Oren Balserus, Arcanist Supreme
•
Hali’el, voice of the Seraphim
•
Drudge, a manservant
Custom Moves
When you stand in the presence of the
Light From Beyond, roll+Wis.
On a
10+ you are judged worthy, the Argent
Seraphimwillgrantyouavisionorboon.
On a 7-9 you are under suspicion and see
a vision of what dark fate might befall
you if you do not correct your ways.1On
a miss, thou art weighed in the balance
and art found wanting.
Stakes
•
Who will be the Champion?
•
How will Lux respond to the holy
light?
•
Will the College be able to recruit
Avon?
Blood and Guts
HP
53
22
Blood
and Guts
Death and dismemberment are common
dangers for adventurers to face in Dun-
geon World. In the course of play, char-
acters will take damage, heal, and maybe
even die. A character’s health is mea-
sure by their HP (HP being short for
hit points). Damage subtracts from HP,
which may lead to death. In the right
conditions, or with medical or magical
help, damage is healed and HP is re-
stored.
HP
Acharacter’sHPisameasureoftheirsta-
mina, endurance, and health. More HP
means the character can fight longer and
endure more before facing Death’s cold
stare.
Think of HP in the abstract—a
character with high HP can’t be hit in the
head any more times than one with low
HP—they just have greater stores of en-
ergy to expend before it comes to blows-
to-the-head.
Your class tells you how many HP you
get.
Your Constitution (the score, not
the modifier) always comes into play as
well so more Constitution means more
HP. If your Constitution permanently
changes during play you adjust your HP
to reflect your new Constitution score.
Unless your Constitution changes your
maximum HP stays the same.
Damage
When a character takes damage they
subtractthedamagedealtfromtheircur-
rent HP. Armor mitigates damage; if a
character has armor they subtract their
armor’s value from the damage dealt.
Damage can never take a character be-
low 0 HP.
Damage is decided by the attacker. Each
class has a base damage die, which may
be modified by the weapon used.
No
matter the implement, the Fighter will
always deal more damage than a Wiz-
ard—it’s about training and skill. Mon-
sters and other non-player characters
have a static damage instead of a dice to
roll.
Playercharactersdealdamageaccording
to their class, the weapon used and the
move they’ve made. When a character
is armed, they deal their class’s damage.
If a character is unarmed, they probably
can’tdealdamage,ortheymightdo1stun
damage.
If a move just says "deal damage" the
character rolls their class’s damage dice
plus any bonuses or penalties from
moves or weapons. If a move specifies
an amount of damage, use that in place
of the class’s damage roll.
Monsters’ damage is listed in their de-
scription. Use this damage any time the
monstertakesdirectactiontohurtsome-
one, eveniftheyuseamethodotherthan
their normal attack.
Other sources of damage—like being
struck by a chunk of a collapsing tower,
or falling into a pit—are left to the GM
based on these options:
•
It threatens bruises and scrapes at
worst: d4 damage
•
It’s likely to spill some blood, but
nothing horrendous: d6 damage
•
It might break some bones: d8 dam-
age
•
It could kill a common person: d10
damage
Add the Ignores Armor tag if the source
of the damage is particularly large or if
the damage comes from magic or poison.
Temporaryorcircumstantialarmorworks
the same way: 1 armor for partial cover,
2 armor for major cover.
Rememberthatdamageisbothprescrip-
tive and descriptive:
if a move says
someone takes damage—they have been
struck by the weapon or ability causing
the damage. If a character is struck by a
weapon, they take damage. This means
that you can deal damage without mak-
ing a move. Think of it like an implied
move: if you hurt someone and no other
moveapplies,youjustdealyourdamage.
Damage only applies when the injury is
general. Falling into a pit trap is general,
it could cause any sort of injury, so it’s
represented by HP loss. When the harm
is specific, like an orc pulling your arm
from its socket, HP should be part of the
effect but not the entirety of it. The big-
ger issue is dealing with the newly dis-
jointed arm: how do you swing a sword
or cast a spell?
Likewise having your
head chopped off is not HP damage, it’s
just death.
Damage From Multiple Creatures
It’s a brave monster that goes into battle
alone. Most creatures fight with some-
one at their side, and maybe another at
their back, and possibly an archer cover-
ing the rear, and so on. This can lead to
multiple monsters dealing their damage
at once.
If multiple creatures attack at once roll
the damage die for each of them and take
the highest result. If some of the crea-
tures deal a different amount of damage
roll the damage with the highest poten-
tial for each creature involved in the at-
tack and take the highest result.
Debilities
Blood and Guts
54
A goblin orkaster (d10+1 damage ignores
armor) and three goblins (d6 damage) all
throw their respective weapons—a magi-
cal acid orb for the orkaster, spears for the
rest—at Lux as she assaults their barricade.
I roll the highest damage, d10+1 ignores ar-
mor, four times: once for the orkaster, and
once for each of the other goblins. I take the
highest result, a roll of 8, and tell Lux she
takes 9 damage ignoring armor as the acid
leaks into the scratches left by the spears.
Stun Damage
Stun damage is non-lethal damage. A PC
who takes stun damage is Defying Dan-
gertodoanythingatall,thedangerbeing
"you’re stunned." A GM character that
takes stun damage counts it against their
HP as usual, but when they are out of HP
they are knocked out, not at the GM’s
mercy.
Healing
There are two sources of healing in Dun-
geon World: the passage of time and
medical aid.
Whenever a character spends some
time resting without aggravating their
wounds they heal. The amount of heal-
ingisdescribedinthemove(MakeCamp
for a night in a makeshift bed, Recover
for says in civilization).
Medical aid, both magical and mundane,
also provides healing.
The amount of
damagehealedisdependentonthemove
or item used. Some moves may fully re-
plenish HP while others are just enough
to keep someone standing through a
fight.
No matter the source of the healing a
character’s HP can never increase over
their maximum.
Death
Death walks the edges of every battle. It
waits silently to claim those that fall. A
characters who is reduced to 0 HP im-
mediately takes his Last Breath. Death
comes for commoner and king alike—no
stat is added to the Last Breath roll.
What lies beyond the Black Gates of
Deathisunknownbutitissaidthatmany
secrets of the mortal plane are laid bare
in what lies beyond.
Death’s bargains range from the simple
to the costly. Death is capricious. One
life may be traded for two more dead
while for another Death may demand
eternal servitude.
Depending on the outcome of the Last
Breath the character may become stable.
A stable character stays at 0 HP but is
alive and unconscious. If they receive
healing they regain consciousness and
may return to battle or seek safety. If a
stablecharactertakesdamageagainthey
face Death and draw their Last Breath
once more.
After Death
Being an adventurer isn’t easy—it’s cold
nights in the wild and sharp swords and
monsters.
Sooner or later, you’re go-
ing to make that long walk to the Black
Gates and give up the ghost.
In Dun-
geon World, Death is always watching
and waiting for an adventurer to slip up
and visit the other side.
That doesn’t
mean you have to give it the satisfaction
of sticking around. Death, in its way, is
just another challenge to conquer. Even
dead adventurers can rise again.
If your character dies, you can ask the
GM and the other players to try and res-
urrectyou. TheGMwilltellthemwhatit
will cost to return your poor, dead char-
acter to life. If you’re all willing to pay
that cost and succeed at the goal set be-
fore you then your character can cross
back over to the land of the living. The
Resurrectionspellisaspecialcaseofthis:
the magic of the spell gives you an easier
waytogetacompanionback, buttheGM
still has a say.
While this quest is underway you can
play a new character. Maybe a hireling
becomes a full-fledged adventurer wor-
thy of a whole share and a part in the real
action. Maybethecharactersintheparty
find a new friend in a steading, will-
ing to join them. Maybe your character
had a vengeful family member who now
seeks to take up their blades and spells
to make right what happened.
In any
case, make your new character as you
normally would at level 1. Add Bonds
with the other player characters and join
inthequesttoresurrectthefallen. When
the price has been paid and the quest is
done, you can choose which character
to play. You can then retire your new
character to safety or simply have them
vanish into the background. At the start
of any given session, choose which char-
acter you’ll be playing that time around
and set the other aside. Make sure this
change makes sense in the story you’ve
created—characterscan’tjustappearout
of nowhere without a good excuse.
GM, when you tell the players what
needs to be done to bring their comrade
back, don’t feel like it has to derail the
flow of the current game. Weave it in
to your fronts, steadings and prep. This
is a great opportunity to change focus or
introduce an element you’ve been wait-
ing to show off. Don’t feel, either, that
it has to be some great and epic quest. If
the character died at the end of a gob-
lin pike, maybe all it takes is an awk-
wardwalkhomeandafewthousandgold
pieces donated to a local temple. Think
abouttheramificationsofsuchacharita-
ble act and how it might affect the world,
give the character back his sweet, sweet
life and remember; Death never forgets
a soul stolen from his realm.
Debilities
Losing HP is a general thing, it’s get-
ting tired, bruised, cut, and so on. Some
wounds are deeper though.
These are
debilities.
•
Weak (Str):
You can’t exert much
force. Maybe some important mus-
cles were slashed, or maybe the
strength was pulled out of you by
magic.
•
Shaky (Dex): You’re a little unsteady
on your feet and you’ve got a shake in
your hands.
•
Sick (Con): Something just isn’t right
deep inside. It could be a disease or it
might be an organ swollen to burst-
ing.
•
Stunned(Int): You’rehavingtrouble. . .rememberi
Is that how that sentence ends?
•
Confused (Wis): Ears ringing. Vision
blurred. You’re more than a little out
of it.
•
Scarred (Cha): It may not be perma-
nent, but for now you don’t look so
good. Your voice is probably weak
too.
Debilities are inflicted by certain mon-
sters. Not every attack inflicts a debil-
ity—they’re most often associated with
magic, poison, or stranger things like a
vampiresuckingyourblood. Eachdebil-
ity is tied to a stat and gives you -1 to that
stat’s modifier. The stat’s score is unaf-
fected so you don’t have to worry about
changing your Load when you’re Weak.
You can only have each debility once.
If you’re already Sick and something
makes you Sick you just ignore it.
Debilities are harder to heal than HP.
Somehighlevelmagiccandoit, sure, but
your best bet is getting somewhere safe
and spending a few days in a soft warm
bed.
Of course debilities are both de-
scriptive and prescriptive: if something
happens that would remove a debility,
that debility is gone.
Debilities don’t replace descriptions and
using the established fiction.
When
someone loses an arm that isn’t Weak,
that’s losing an arm. They can’t hold a
shield, to begin with. Don’t let debilities
limit you.
A specific disease can have
whatever effects you can dream up, Sick
is just a convenient shorthand for some
anonymousfeverpickedupfromafilthy
rat.
Blood and Guts
Advancement
55
Advancement
Dungeon World is ever-changing. The
characters change, too. As their adven-
tures progress, player characters gain
experience or XP, which lets them level
up. This prepares them for greater dan-
ger, bigger adventures, and mightier
deeds.
Advancement, like everything else in
DungeonWorld,isbothprescriptiveand
descriptive.
Prescriptive means that
when a player changes their character
sheet the character changes. Descriptive
means that when the character changes
the player should change the character
sheet to reflect that.
This isn’t a benefit or detriment to the
players or the GM; it’s not an excuse to
gainmorepowersortakethemaway. It’s
justareflectionoflifeinDungeonWorld.
Gregor offers his signature weapon, an axe
permanently dyed green in orc blood, as a
desperatebargaintosavetheKingfrometer-
nal damnation.
Without his axe he gets
none of the benefits of his signature weapon.
Should he recover it he’ll have access to its
benefits again.
Avon, despite being a Wizard, has risen to
the notice of Lenoral, the deity of arcane
knowledge. After being blessed by an avatar
of Lenoral, Avon is under the deity’s watch.
He can fulfill Petitions and gain boons like a
Cleric.
Descriptive changes only happen when
the character has clearly gained access to
an ability. Befriending a stray dog does
not have the same benefits as an animal
companion.
Level Up
When you have a safe moment and
XP equal to (or greater than) your
currentlevel+7,resetyourXPto0and
choose a new advanced move from your
class. If you are the Wizard, you also get
to add a new spell to your spellbook.
Newmovesarechosenbasedonthechar-
acter’s new level. If a move requires 6th
level, it’s available as the character ad-
vances from 5th to 6th level.
If your new level is 3, 6, or 9, you also
get to increase a stat by 2. Increase the
base score of the stat of your choice by
2, adjust the modifier to reflect the new
score. Changing your Constitution in-
creases your maximum and current HP.
Ability scores can’t go higher than 18.
Requires & Replaces
Some moves depend on other moves. If
another move is listed along with the
word Requires or Replaces you can
only gain the new move if you have the
move it requires or replaces.
A move the requires another move can
only be taken if you have the move it
requires already.
You then have both
moves and they both apply.
A move that replaces another move can
only be taken if you have the move it
replaces already. You lose access to the
replacedmoveandjusthavethenewone.
Thenewmovewillusuallyincludeallthe
benefits of the replaced one: maybe you
replace a move that gives you 1 armor
with one that gives you 2 armor instead.
Bonds
Bonds are what make you a party of ad-
venturers, not just a random assortment
of people. Seeing your bonds evolve and
playoffeachotherisoneofthebestparts
of the game.
That said, this isn’t high drama.
How
you feel about Titanius doesn’t matter
so much when you’re both fighting for
life and limb against a horde of demons
who would happily end the world if they
could. Bonds are the icing on the cake:
theymakeyouradventures(andyourad-
venturers) more interesting.
Resolving Bonds
At the end of each session you may re-
solve one bond. Resolution of a bond de-
pends on both you and the player of the
character you share the bond with: you
suggest that the bond has been resolved
and, if they agree, it is.
A bond is resolved when it no longer de-
scribes how you relate to that person.
Thatmaybebecausecircumstanceshave
changed—Thelian used to have your
back but after he didn’t rush to save you
from the ankheg you’re not so sure. Or it
could be because that’s no longer a ques-
tion—you guided Wesley before and he
owed you, but he paid that debt when he
saved your life with a well-timed spell.
Any time you look at a Bond and think
"that’s not a big factor in how we relate
anymore" the bond is at a good place to
resolve.
If a character has blank Bonds left over
from character creation they can resolve
that Bond without asking anyone and
write a new one or they can add a charac-
ter’s name to the Bond instead of writing
a new Bond. Ignoring a Bond at char-
acter creation does not reduce the total
Bonds available to the character.
Writing New Bonds
You write a new bond whenever you re-
solve an old one. Your new bond may be
with the same character, but it doesn’t
have to be.
When you write a new bond first choose
another character. Then pick something
relevant to the last session you’ve just
finished—maybe a place you traveled
together or a treasure you discovered.
Lastly, choose a thought or belief your
characterholdsthattiesthetwotogether
and an action, something you’re going to
doaboutit. You’llendupwithsomething
like this:
•
Avon proved himself a coward in the
dungeons of Xax’takar, he is a dan-
gerous liability to the party and must
be watched.
•
Mouse’s quick thinking saved me
from the white dragon we faced. I
owe her a boon.
•
Xotoq won the Bone-and-Whispers
Axethroughtrickery! Itwillbemine,
I swear it.
•
Valeria’s kindness to the Gnomes of
the Vale has swayed my heart. I will
find a way to prove to her my love.
These new bonds act just like the old
ones.
They are still resolved and still
grant XP when resolved.
If you chose not to use a starting Bond
you can replace it with a new Bond at the
end of any session. This does not count
as resolving a Bond, you don’t get XP for
it.
Alignment
Alignment is your characters’ way of
thinking and moral compass.
For the
character, this is reflected as an ethi-
cal ideal, religious strictures, or maybe
just a gut instinct. It reflects the things
your character might aspire to be and
can guide you when you’re not sure
what to do next. Some characters might
proudly proclaim their alignment while
others might hide it away.
A charac-
ter might not say "I’m an evil person"
but may instead say "I put myself first."
That’s all well and good for a character,
but the world knows otherwise. Buried
deep down inside is the ideal self a per-
son wants to become—it is this mys-
tic core that certain spells and abilities
tapintowhendetectingsomeone’salign-
ment. Every sentient creature in Dun-
geon World bears an alignment, be she
an elf, a human, or some other, stranger
thing.
The alignments are Good, Lawful, Neu-
tral, Chaotic, and Evil. Each one shows
anaspirationtobeadifferenttypeofper-
son.
Lawful creatures aspire to impose order
on the world, either for their own ben-
efit or for that of others. Chaotic crea-
tures embrace change and idealize the
messy reality of the world, prizing free-
dom above all else. Good creatures seek
to put others before themselves.
Evil
creatures put themselves first at the ex-
Alignment
Blood and Guts
56
pense of others.
A Neutral creature looks out for itself
so long as that doesn’t hurt anyone else
much.
Neutral characters are content
to live their lives and pursue their own
goals and let others do the same.
Most creatures are Neutral. They take
no particular pleasure in harming oth-
ers, but will do it if it is justified by their
situation. Those that put an ideal, be it
Law, Chaos, Good, or Evil, above them-
selves are rarer.
Even two creatures of the same align-
ment can come into conflict. Aspiring
to help others does not grant infallibil-
ity,twoGoodcreaturesmayfightanddie
over two different views of how to help
others. A great king may wage war on a
freecitydespitehisgoodalignmentsince
he sees (justly, perhaps) that the peoples
of the free city will live a better life under
his enlightened rule.
Changing Alignment
Alignment can, and will, change. Usu-
allysuchachangecomesaboutasagrad-
ual slide to a decisive moment when the
pain caused becomes too great or the
benefit too others too small.
Any time a player would earn XP from
their current alignment they can, in-
stead of taking the XP, change the align-
ment.
The player must have a reason
for the change which they can explain to
the other players. If they can’t explain
why their character has had a change of
hearttheycan’tchangealignment. Don’t
abuse the privilege.
The first time a player character changes
alignment it must be to another align-
ment listed for their class, though they
can choose any of the alignment moves
below for a listed alignment. After that
they can go to any alignment they like.
In some cases a player character may
switchalignmentmoveswhilestillkeep-
ing the same alignment. This reflects a
smaller shift, one of priority instead of a
wholesaleshiftinthinking. Theysimply
choose a new move for the same align-
mentfrom belowandmentionwhytheir
character now sees this as important.
GM characters can change alignment as
well,eveniftheplayershavealreadydis-
cerned the character’s alignment. Since
NPCs do not earn XP the GM can change
the NPC’s alignment any time it’s war-
ranted. The GM is subject to the same
justificationrequirement: ifanNPCwith
a known alignment is no longer that
alignment the players may ask the GM
for a reason why.
Lawful
•
Uphold the letter of the law over the
spirit
•
Fulfill a promise of import
•
Bring someone to justice
•
Choose honor over personal gain
•
Put power in its rightful hands
•
Return treasure to its rightful owner
Good
•
Ignore danger to aid another
•
Lead others into righteous battle
•
Give up powers or riches for the
greater good
•
Reveal a dangerous lie
•
Show mercy
Neutral
Chaotic
•
Reveal corruption
•
Break an unjust law to benefit an-
other
•
Defeat a tyrant
•
Reveal hypocrisy
Evil
•
Take advantage of someone’s trust
•
Cause suffering for its own sake
•
Destroy something beautiful
•
Upset the rightful order
•
Harm an innocent
Example
57
23
Example
I’m GMing a game with Isaac (play-
ing Omar), Ben (playing Brianne), Amy
(playing Nora), and Dan (playing Rath).
The group has come upon a tribe of gob-
linspreparingtheritualsacrificeofarare
and valuable albino crocodile (highly re-
garded as pets among the wealthy of the
city).
Three of the goblin warriors—drugged
on narcotic vapors—charge the fighter
Brianne, shrieking.
Two others take
cover,preparetheirbowsandgestureur-
gently toward Rath, as they make signs
to ward off the evil eye. Another group
of three slips into the shadows around
theouter edge of the chamber, preparing
a sneak attack. The high priest and her
acolyte carry on with the ritual, rubbing
the croc’s upturned belly to keep it com-
pliant, and bringing out the sacred knife
to slit its throat.
Once I describe the situation I make sure
thegame’saconversationbygivingthem
a chance to do something: "So, what do
you do?"
Isaacjumpsintotheactionfirst. "There’s
enough shadows at the edges of the
chamber to hide in?" "Yeah," I say, "the
goblins aren’t much for lighting appar-
ently.
The edges of the chamber just
kind of disappear into crumbling walls,
rubble, and gloom." "Great! I’m going
over here, the other side from where the
sneaky ones went. Omar glances over
his shoulders, pulls up his hood over his
head, and ducks into the shadows. I’m
going to pop out of the shadows right
here, where the torches illuminate the
sacrificial altar."
Ilookoverthemapandsay"Well,there’s
certainly a danger of being discovered
that I think you’re defying. Sounds like
Dex to me, since you’re moving carefully
and silently," so he picks up the dice and
rolls. The dice show 1 and 2, plus his Dex
of 2 is only 5. "Damn!" he says.
I already have an idea of what to do, but
I check it against my list of moves to be
sure. Sure enough, my idea to have him
get his foot lodged in the rubble in the
darkness is a move, "put someone in a
spot." "As you make your way through
the shadows, you put your foot down on
some rubble and it shifts under you, pin-
ning your foot. What’s worse, you hear a
deep raspy breath as the shifting rubble
awakes something in the shadows. Are
you giving away your position to cry for
help or trying to get out yourself?"
"Um, I’m not sure."
"That’s fine, we’ll come back to you.
What are the rest of you doing?"
Danstepsup. "Thosegoblinsthatducked
into the shadows? Can I see them?" "Not
at first glance.
Are you trying to pick
them out?" "No, I’m just wondering if
they’ll be targets for my sleep spell. I
push the winds of magic into a lulling
summer breeze that fills the room."
Dan rolls his Cast a Spell move to cast
Sleep. He rolls 6 total on the dice, and he
has +2 Int, for a total of 8. He has a choice
to make. "You can feel the spell slipping
away from you, the winds of magic are
alreadyallcaughtupinthegoblin’sritual
sacrifice. There are some options on the
move, which one are you taking to keep
the spell?"
Dan ponders his options. "I may need to
put more of these guys to sleep. Brianne,
can you cover me if I get in trouble or
should I take the -1 forward?"
"Sure, I can cover you." Ben says.
"Okay, I’ll take the danger option."
"Great" I say. "The narcotic vapors those
goblins are on? It attunes their senses:
They can feel the winds of magic just a
bit, and now they’re all running at you
instead of Brianne. How many creatures
are you putting to sleep?"
Dan rolls the dice.
"Looks like only 1,
damn."
"Right in the middle of some long gob-
lin invocation the priest just drops to
thefloor. Heracolyteimmediatelystarts
shaking her to wake her up. Neither of
them is paying much attention to the al-
bino crocodile, which is no longer con-
tentsincenooneisrubbingitsbelly. The
goblins on the fumes, though, they’re
coming right at Rath."
Ben jumps in. "I step between Rath and
the crazed goblins and make myself a
bigtarget,drawingthegoblin’sattention
with a yell."
"Sounds like Defend" I say.
"Okay, I rolled a 7, so I hold 1."
"Great. The three goblins on fumes prat-
ically bowl Rath over as they slam into
him, swinging their daggers wildly."
"No they don’t!" Ben says. "I spend my
hold to get into the way and direct the
attack to me."
"So Brianne steps in at the last moment,
pushes Rath out of the way, and the gob-
lins lay into her instead.
Looks like 5
damage. Nora, Brianne’s got these three
psychotic goblins all over her, Rath’s
just put the priestess to sleep, the croco-
dile’s stirring, and Omar’s nowhere to be
found. What are you doing?"
"First I line up a shot on one of the archer
goblins, and while I’m doing that I give a
little head nod and Canto heads off into
the shadows, he’s trained to hunt, he’s
looking for Omar to make sure he’s al-
right."
IlookovertheRanger’sCommandmove,
to make sure I know what the effects of
Canto’s search are, before responding.
"Well, on his own Canto will probably
Example
58
find Omar in a while. If you go into the
darkness with him you’ll his bonus to
your Discern Realities roll to find Omar.
But first it sounds like you’re making a
Called Shot?"
"Oh, the goblin archers are surprised by
me? I thought I was just volleying" Amy
replies.
It’s time for me to make a call.
"No,
they’re entirely focused on Rath, they’re
about to fire on him. I think you’ve got
the element of surprise because they’re
just too focused."
"Great!
Then I’ll go ahead and take a
shot at the arms of the one closest to me,
I want him to drop his bow. Looks like
that’s +Dex. . .10! He drops his bow and
takes 4 damage."
I consult the goblin’s stats first, then re-
ply "yup, that’ll kill him. And since you
hit him dead in the arm, he doesn’t get a
shot off.
The other one, however, re-
leases his shot at Rath, for 2 damage.
Rath, Brianne pushes you out of the way
and you think you’re safe for a split sec-
ond before an arrow flies into your leg,
what are you doing about it? Actually,
hold that thought, let’s see what Omar’s
doing."
Isaac’s had some time to think things
through now. "This deep raspy breath,
can I make out where it’s coming from?
Is it like a human-sized rasp or a
monster-sized rasp?"
"Sounds to me like you’re trying to listen
to your senses and get some informa-
tion." I’m hoping that this will remind
Isaac there’s a move for this, instead of
just telling him to make the move.
"Oh yeah! So I’m Discerning Realities,
staying as quiet as I can and just trying
to pick up any detail on what this thing
is. With my Wisdom that’s a 7, whew.
What should I be on the lookout for?"
I take a second to look over my notes and
the map, just to make sure I give him all
the information. "Well, not the goblins,
actually. They pass by, closer to the light
then you, intent on backstabbing your
friends and not noticing you. The thing
that you do see is the tip of this huge
crocodile snout peak over a mound of
rubble, with that rasping sound coming
from it. It looks like the albino crocodile
hasfamily,andit’sbig,horse-size. Ifyou
make noise by moving rocks and getting
unstuck it’ll almost certainly hear you.
What are you doing about that?"
Isaac ponders. "So, I can try to get out of
here, Defying Danger most likely from
the sounds of it. Or. . .I tear off a piece
of my cloak and soak it in an entire dose
of my Goldenroot poison. It’s an applied
poison,butifIcangetthishugecrocodile
to swallow it before it swallows me it’ll
treat me as a trusted ally, and then I can
use it against the goblins."
"Okay!" That sounds like a risky plan
to me, but it’s just crazy enough to
work. Time to cut back to someone else.
"Omar’s soaking poison into a scrap of
cloak, Brianne’s got three drugged-up
goblinsscrapingather, Nora’sgotaneye
out for Omar, there are goblin sneaks in
theshadows, onegoblinarcherbytheal-
ter, the crocodile is waking up, and Rath
just took an arrow to the knee. Whew.
Rath, what are you doing about that ar-
row?"
The world
Creating the world
59
24
The world
Much of the adventuring life is spent in
dusty, forgotten tombs or in places of
terror and life-threatening danger. It’s
commonplace to awaken from a short
andfitfulrest,stilldeepinthebellyofthe
worldandsurroundedbyfoes. Whenthe
timecomestoemergefromthesekindsof
places—whetherladenwiththespoilsof
battle or beaten and bloody—an adven-
turer seeks out safety and solace.
These are the comforts of civilization; a
warm bath, a meal of mead and bread,
company of fellow men and elves and
dwarves. Often, thoughtsofreturningto
these places are all that keep an adven-
turerfromsuccumbingtomadnessinthe
depths. All fight for gold and glory but
intheir hearts, everyone wantsaplace to
call "home".
Thischaptercoversthewiderworld. The
grand and sweeping scope outside the
dungeon. The always-marching move-
ment of the GMs Fronts will shape the
world and, in turn, the world reflects the
actions the players take to stop or redi-
rect them.
Steadings
We call all the assorted communities,
holds, and so on where there’s a place
to stay and some modicum of safety
Steadings,asin"homestead."Steadings
are places with at least a handful of in-
habitants, usually humans, and some
stable structures. They can be as big as a
capitalcityorassmallasfewramshackle
buildings.
Creating the world
Remember how you started the first ses-
sion? With action either underway or
impending? At some point the charac-
tersaregoingtoneedtoretreatfromthat
action, either to heal their wounds or to
celebrate and resupply.
When the players leave the site of their
first adventure for the safety of civiliza-
tion it’s time to start drawing the Cam-
paign Map. Take a large sheet of paper
(plain white if you like or hex-gridded
if you want to get fancy), place it where
everyone can see, and make a mark for
the site of the adventure. Use pencil, this
map will change. It can be figurative or
literal depending on your drawing skill,
just make it obvious. Keep the marking
small and somewhere around the center
of the paper so you have space to grow.
NowaddthenearestSteading,aplacethe
characters can go to rest and gather sup-
plies. Draw a mark for that place on the
map and fill in the space between with
some terrain features. Try to keep the it
withinadayortwoofthesiteoftheirfirst
adventure—a short trip through a rocky
pass or some heavy woods is suitable, or
a wider distance by road or across open
ground.
When you have time (after the first ses-
sion or during a snack break or the like)
use the rules to create the first Steading.
Consider adding marks for other places
that have been mentioned so far, either
details from character creation or the
Steading rules themselves.
Steading Moves
When the players visit a Steading there
are some special moves they’ll be able to
make. Thesestillfollowthefictionalflow
of the game. When the players arrive,
ask them "What do you do?" The players’
actions will, more often than not, trig-
ger a move from this list. They represent
respite,reinvigorationandresupply;op-
portunitiesfortheplayerstogathertheir
wits and spend their treasure. Remem-
ber that a Steading isn’t a break from re-
ality.
You’re still making hard moves
when necessary and thinking about how
the players’ action (or inaction) leads to
your Fronts advancing. The Impending
Doom is always there, whether the play-
ers are combatting it in the dungeon or
ignoring it while getting drunk in the lo-
cal tavern.
Let each player make one or two moves
here, depending on how they answer
your "what do you do?" question. Don’t
let a visit to a Steading become a per-
manent respite.
Remember, Dungeon
World is a scary, dangerous place.
If
the players choose to ignore that, make a
hardmove. Fillthecharacters’liveswith
adventure whether they’re out seeking it
or not.
These moves exist to you can
make a visit to town an interesting thing
without spending a whole session hag-
gling over the cost of a new baldric.
Carouse
When you return triumphant and
throw a big party , spend 100 coin and
roll + extra 100s of coin spent. On a 10+
choose 3. On a 7–9 choose 1. On a miss,
you still choose one, but things get really
out of hand.
•
You befriend a useful NPC
•
You hear rumors of an opportunity
•
You gain useful information
•
You are not entangled, ensorcelled,
or tricked
Supply
When you go to buy something with
coin on hand , if it’s something read-
ily available in the steading you’re in,
you can buy it at market price.
If it’s
something special, beyond what’s usu-
ally available here, or non-mundane,
roll+Cha. On a 10+ you find what you’re
looking for at a fair price. On a 7–9 you’ll
have to pay more or settle for something
Recover
The world
60
similar.
Recover
When you do nothing but rest in
comfort and safety after a day of rest
you recover all your HP. After three days
of rest you remove one debility of your
choice.
If you’re under the care of a
healer (magical or otherwise) you heal
a debility for every two days of rest in-
stead.
Recruit
When you put out word that you’re
lookingtohirehelp,roll. Ifyoumake
it known. . .
•
. . .that your pay is generous, take +1
•
. . .what you’re settingouttodo, take
+1
•
. . .thatthey’llgetashareofwhatever
you find, take +1
If you have a useful reputation around
these parts take an additional +1. On a
10+ you’ve got your pick of a number of
skilled applicants, your choice who you
hire and no penalty for not taking them
along. On a 7–9 you’ll have to settle for
whatyougetorturnapplicantsaway. On
a miss someone influential and ill-suited
declaresthey’dliketocomealong(afool-
hardy young duke, a loose cannon mer-
cenary, orahiddenenemy, forexample),
bring them and damn the consequences
or turn them away and risk their ire. If
youturnawayapplicantsyoutake-1for-
ward to Recruit.
Outstanding Warrants
When you return to a Steading in
whichyou’vecausedtroublebefore
, roll+Cha. On a 10+, word has spread of
yourdeedsandeveryonerecognizesyou.
On a 7–9 that, and GM chooses a compli-
cation:
•
The local constabulary has a warrant
out for your arrest
•
Someone who holds a grudge makes
their move
•
Someone important to you has been
put in a bad spot as a result of your
actions
Bolster
When you spend your leisure time
in study, meditation, or hard prac-
tice, you gain preparation. If you pre-
pare for a week or two, 1 preparation.
If you prepare for a month or longer,
3 preparation. When your preparation
paysoffspend 1preparationfor+1toany
roll. Youcanonlyspendonepreparation
per roll.
Elements of a Steading
A Steading is any bit of civilization that
offers some amount of safety to its in-
habitants. Villages, towns, keeps, and
cities are the most common Steadings.
Steadings are differentiated based on
size.
The size indicates roughly how
many people the Steading can support.
The population tag tells you if the cur-
rent population is more then or less than
this amount.
Villages are the smallest Steadings.
They’re usually out of the way, off
the main roads.
If they’re lucky they
can muster some defense but it’s often
just rabble with pitchforks and torches.
A village stands near some easily ex-
ploitable resource:
rich soil, plentiful
fish,anoldforest,oramine. Theremight
beastoreofsomesortbutmorelikelyit’s
just people trading to each other. Coin is
scarce.
Towns have a few thousand inhabitants.
They’re the kind of place that springs up
around a mill, trading post, or inn and
usually have fields, farms, and livestock
of some kind. They might have a stand-
ing militia of farmers strong enough to
wieldabladeorshootabow. Townshave
the basics for sale but certainly no spe-
cialgoods. Usuallythey’llfocusonalocal
product or two and do some trade with
travelers.
A Keep is a Steading built specifically
fordefense—sometimesofaparticularly
important location like a river delta or a
rich gold mine. Keeps are found at the
frontier edges of civilization.
Inhabi-
tants are inured to the day-to-day dan-
gers of the road. They’re tough folks that
number between a hundred and a thou-
sand, depending on the size of the Keep
and the place it defends.
Keeps won’t
often have much beyond their own sup-
plies, traded to them from nearby vil-
lages, but will almost always have arms
and armor and sometimes a rare magical
item found in the local wilds.
From bustling trade center to sprawl-
ing metropolis the City represents the
largest sort of Steading in Dungeon
World. These are places where folk of
manyracesandkindscanbefound. They
often exist at the confluence of a handful
of trade routes or are built in a place of
spiritual significance. They don’t often
generate their own materials for trade,
relying on villages nearby for food and
rawmaterialbutwillalwayshavecrafted
goods and some stranger things for sale
to those willing to seek them.
Steadings are created as needed.
Dis-
covered by players, added as part of the
prep for a Front or spawned as the result
of the GM asking questions of the play-
ers, whatever the reason each Steading
is created using the rules below.
Like weapons, Steadings are described
by their tags. All Steadings have tags in-
dicating prosperity, population and de-
fenses and many will have tags to illus-
trate their more unusual properties.
Prosperity indicates what kinds of items
are usually available. Population indi-
cates the number of inhabitants rela-
tive to the current size of the steading.
Defenses indicate the general scope of
arms the steading has.
Tags in these
categories can be adjusted.
-category
means to change the steading to the next
lower tag for that category (so Moderate
would become Poor when tagged with -
Prosperity). +category means to change
the steading to the next higher tag (so
Shrinking becomes Steady with +Pop-
ulation).
Tags in those categories can
also be compared like numbers. Treat
the lowest tag in that category as 1 and
each successive tag as the next number
(so Dirt is 1, Poor is 2, etc.).
Tags will change of the course of play.
Creating a Steading provides a snapshot
of what that place looks like right now .
As the players spend time in it and your
Fronts progress the world will change
and your Steadings with it.
Adding Steadings
You add your first Steading when you
create the Campaign Map; it’s the place
the players go to to rest and recover.
When you first draw it on the map all
you need is a name and a location.
When you have the time you’ll use the
rules below to create the Steading. The
first Steading is usually a village, but you
can use a town if the first adventure was
closely tied to humans (for example, if
the players fought a human cult). Create
it using the rules below.
Once you’ve created the first Steading
youcanaddotherplacesreferencedinits
tags (the Oath, Trade, and Enmity tags in
particular) or anywhere else that’s been
referredtoinplay. Don’taddtoomuchin
the first session, leave blanks and places
to explore.
As play progresses the characters will
discover new locales and places of in-
terest either directly, by stumbling upon
them in the wild, or indirectly, by hear-
ing about them in rumors or tales. Add
new Steadings, dungeons, and other lo-
cations to the map as they’re discovered
or heard about. Villages are often near a
useful resource. Towns are often found
at the point where several villages meet
to trade.Keeps watch over important lo-
cations. Cities rely on the trade and sup-
port of smaller steads. Dungeons can be
found anywhere and in many forms.
Whenever you add a new Steading use
the rules to decide its tags.
Consider
adding a distinctive feature somewhere
The world
Making a Village
61
nearby. Maybe a forest, some old stand-
ingstones,anabandonedcastle,orwhat-
ever else catches your fancy or makes
sense. AmapofonlySteadingsandruins
with nothing in-between is dull, don’t
neglect the other features of the world.
Steading Tags
Prosperity
Dirt : Nothing for sale, nobody has more
than they need (and they’re lucky if they
have that). Unskilled labor is cheap.
Poor : Only the bare necessities for sale.
Weaponsarescarceunlessthesteadingis
heavily defended or militant. Unskilled
labor is readily available.
Moderate :
Most mundane items are
available. Some types of skilled labor-
ers.
Wealthy :
Any mundane item can be
found for sale. Most kinds of skilled la-
borers, too, but demand is high for their
time.
Rich : Mundane items and more, if you
know where to find them. Specialist la-
bor available, but at high prices.
Population
Exodus : The Steading has lost its popu-
lation and is on the verge of collapse.
Shrinking : The population is less than it
once was. Buildings stand empty.
Steady : The population is in line with the
current size of the steading. Some slow
growth.
Growing : More people than there are
buildings.
Booming : Resources are stretched thin
trying to keep up with the number of
people.
Defenses
None : Clubs, torches, farming tools.
Militia : There are several dozen able-
bodied men and women with worn
weaponsreadytobecalled,butnostand-
ing force.
Watch : There are a few watchers posted
who look out for trouble and settle small
problems, but their main role is to sum-
mon the militia.
Guard : There are armed defenders at all
times with a total pool of less than 100
(or equivalent). There is always at least
one armed patrol about the steading.
Garrison : There are armed defenders at
all times with a total pool of 100–300 (or
equivalent). There are multiple armed
patrols at all times.
Battalion : As many as 1,000 armed de-
fenders(orequivalent). Thesteadinghas
manned maintained defenses as well.
Legion :
The Steading is defended by
thousands of armed defenders (or equiv-
alent). The Steading’s defenses are in-
timidating.
Other Tags
Safe : Outside trouble doesn’t come here
unless the players bring it. Idyllic and
often hidden. If the Steading would lose
or degrade another beneficial tag get rid
of Safe instead.
Religion : The listed deity is revered here.
Exotic :
There are goods and services
available here that aren’t available any-
where else nearby. List them.
Resource : The steading has easy access to
the listed resource (e.g. a spice, a type of
ore, fish, grapes). That resource is sig-
nificantly cheaper.
Need : The Steading has an acute or on-
going need for the listed resource. That
resource sells for considerably more.
Oath : The Steading has sworn oaths to
thelistedSteadings. Theseoathsaregen-
erally of fealty or support, but may be
more specific.
Trade :
The Steading regularly trades
with the listed Steadings.
Market : Everyone comes here to trade.
Onanygivendaytheavailableitemsmay
befarbeyondtheirprosperity. +1toSup-
ply.
Enmity :
The steading holds a grudge
against the listed steadings.
History: Somethingimportantoncehap-
pened here, choose one and detail or
make up your own:
Battle, Miracle,
Myth, Romance, Tragedy.
Arcane: Someoneintowncancastarcane
spells for a price.
This tends to draw
more arcane casters, +1 to Recruit when
you put out word you’re looking for an
adept.
Divine : There is a major religious pres-
ence, maybe a cathedral or monastery.
They can heal and maybe even raise the
dead for a donation or resolution of a
quest. Take +1 to recruit priests here.
Guild : The listed type of guild has a ma-
jorpresence(andusuallyafairamountof
influence). If the guild is closely associ-
ated with a type of hireling, +1 to recruit
that type of hireling.
Personage : There’s a notable person who
makes their home here.
Give them a
name and a short note on why they’re
notable.
Dwarven : The Steading is significantly
or entirely dwarves. Dwarven goods are
lower price.
Elven: TheSteadingissignificantlyoren-
tirely elves. Elven goods are lower price.
Craft : The Steading is known for excel-
lence in the listed craft. Items that are a
product of that craft are of lower price,
higher quality, or both.
Lawless : Crime is rampant; authority is
weak.
Blight :
The Steading has a recurring
problem, usually a type of monster.
Power : The Steading holds sway of some
type. Typically Political, Divine, or Ar-
cane.
Steading Names
Greybark, Nook’s Crossing, Tanner’s
Ford, Goldenfield, Barrowbridge, Rum
River, Brindenburg, Shambles, Cov-
aner,
Enfield,
Crystal Falls,
Castle
Daunting, Nulty’s Harbor, Castonshire,
Cornwood, Irongate, Mayhill, Pigton,
Crosses,
Battlemoore,
Torsea,
Cur-
land, Snowcalm, Seawall, Varlosh, Ter-
minum,Avonia,Bucksburg,Settledown,
Goblinjaw, Hammerford, Pit, The Grey
Fast,
Ennet Bend,
Harrison’s Hold,
Fortress Andwynne, Blackstone
Making a Village
By default a village is Poor, Steady, Mili-
tia, Resource (your choice) and has an
Oath to another steading of your choice.
If the village is part of a kingdom or em-
pire choose one:
•
The village is somewhere naturally
defended: Safe, -Defenses
•
The village abundant resources that
sustain it:
+Prosperity, Resource
(your choice), Enmity (your choice)
•
The village is under the protec-
tion of another steading: Oath (that
steading), +Defenses
•
The village is on a major road: Trade
(your choice), +Prosperity
•
The village is built around a wizard’s
tower: Personage(thewizard),Blight
(arcane creatures)
•
The village was built on the site of re-
ligious significance: Divine, History
(your choice)
Choose one problem:
•
The village is in arid or uncultivable
land: Need (Food)
•
Thevillageisdedicatedtoadeity: Re-
ligious (that deity), Enmity (a settle-
ment of another deity)
•
The village has recently fought a bat-
tle: -Population, -Prosperity if they
fought to the end, -Defenses if they
lost.
•
The village has a monster problem:
Blight (that monster), Need (adven-
turers)
•
The village has absorbed another vil-
lage: +Population, Lawless
•
The village is remote or unwelcom-
ing: -Prosperity, Dwarven or Elven
Making a Town
The world
62
Making a Town
By default a town is Moderate, Steady,
Watch, and Trade (two of your choice).
If the town is listed as Trade by another
steading choose one:
•
The town is booming:
Booming,
Lawless
•
The town stands on a crossroads:
Market, +Prosperity
•
The town is defended by another
steading: Oath (that steading), +De-
fenses
•
The town is built around a church:
Power (Divine)
•
Thetownisbuiltaroundacraft: Craft
(your choice), Resource (something
required for that craft)
•
The town is built around a military
post: +Defenses
Choose one problem:
•
The town has grown too big for an
important supply (like grain, wood,
or stone): Need (that resource), Trade
(a village or town with that resource)
•
The town offers defense to others:
Oath (your choice), -Defenses
•
The town is notorious for an outlaw
whoisrumoredtolivethere: Person-
age (the outlaw), Enmity (where the
crimes were committed)
•
The town has corneredthemarket on
a good or service: Exotic (that good
orservice),Enmity(asettlementwith
ambition)
•
The town has a disease: -Population
•
The town is a popular meeting place:
+Population, Lawless
Making a Keep
By default a keep is Poor, Shrinking,
Guard, Need (Supplies), Trade (some-
place with supplies), Oath (your choice).
If the keep is owed fealty by at least one
settlement choose one:
•
The keep belongs to a noble family:
+Prosperity, Power (Political)
•
The keep is run by a skilled com-
mander:
Personage (the comman-
der), +Defenses
•
The keep stands watch over a trade
road: +Prosperity, Guild (trade)
•
The keep is used to train special
troops: Arcane, -Population
•
The keep is surrounded by fertile
land: remove Need (Supplies)
•
The keep stands on a border: +De-
fenses, Enmity(steadingontheother
side of the border)
Choose one problem
•
The keep is built on a naturally de-
fensible position: Safe, -Population
•
The keep was a conquest from an-
other power: Enmity (steadings of
that power)
•
The keep is a safe haven for brigands:
Lawless
•
The keep was built to defend from a
specific threat: Blight (that threat)
•
The keep has seen horrible bloody
war: History(Battle), Blight(Restless
Spirits)
•
The keep is given the worst of the
worst: Need (Skilled Recruits)
Making a City
By default a city is Moderate, Steady,
Guard, Market, and Guild (one of your
choice). It also has Oaths with at least
two other steadings, usually a town and
a keep. If the city has trade with at least
one steading and fealty from at least one
steading choose one:
•
Thecityhaspermanentdefenses,like
walls: +Defenses, Oath (your choice)
•
The city is ruled by a single individ-
ual: Personage(theruler),Power(Po-
litical)
•
Thecityisdiverse: DwarvenorElven
or both
•
The city is a trade hub: Trade (every
steading nearby), +Prosperity
•
The city is ancient, built on top of its
own ruins: History (your choice), Di-
vine
•
The city is a center of learning: Ar-
cane, Craft (your choice), Power (Ar-
cane)
Choose one problem:
•
The city has outgrown its resources:
+Population, Need (food)
•
The city has designs on nearby ter-
ritory:
Enmity (nearby steadings),
+Defenses
•
The city is ruled by a theocracy: -
Defenses, Power (Divine)
•
The city is ruled by the people:
-
Defenses, +Population
•
The city has supernatural defenses:
+Defenses, Blight (related supernat-
ural creatures)
•
The city lies on a place of power: Ar-
cane, Personage (whoever watches
the place of power), Blight (arcane
creatures)
Fronts on the Campaign Map
Ofcourseyour steadings are not the only
thing on the campaign map. In addition
to steadings and the areas around them
yourfrontswillappearonthemap,albeit
indirectly.
Fronts are organizational tools,
not
something the characters think of, so
don’t put them on the map directly. The
orcs of Olg’gothal may be a front but
don’t just draw them on the map. In-
stead for each front add some feature to
the map that indicates the front’s pres-
ence. You can label it if you like, but use
the name that the characters would use,
not the name you gave the front.
Forexample, theorcsofOlg’gothalcould
bemarkedonthemapwithaburningvil-
lagetheyleftbehind, firesinthedistance
at night, or a stream of refugees. Lord
Xothal, a lich, might be marked by the
tower where dead plants take root and
grow.
As your fronts change, change the map.
If the players cleanse Xothal’s tower re-
draw it. If the orcs are driven off, erase
the crowds of refugees.
Updating the Campaign Map
The Campaign Map is updated between
sessions or whenever the players spend
significantdowntimeinasafeplace. Up-
dates are both prescriptive and descrip-
tive:
if an event transpires that, say,
gathersalargerfightingforcetoavillage,
update the tags to reflect that. Likewise
if a change in tags mean that a village has
a bigger fighting force you’ll likely see
more armored men in the street.
Between each session check each of the
conditions below. Go down the list and
checkeachconditionforallsteadingsbe-
fore moving to the next. If a condition
applies, apply its effects.
Growth
When a village or town is Booming
and its Prosperity is above Moder-
ate you may reduce Prosperity and De-
fenses to move to the next largest type.
New towns immediately gain Market
and new cities immediately gain Guild
(your choice).
Collapse
When a steading’s Population is Ex-
odus and its Prosperity is Poor or
less it shrinks. A city becomes a town
with a Steady Population and +Prosper-
ity. A keep becomes a town with +De-
fenses and a Steady population. A town
becomes a village with Steady popula-
tion and +Prosperity. A village becomes
a ghost town.
The world
Updating the Campaign Map
63
Want
When a steading has a Need that is
not fulfilled (through trade, capture,
or otherwise) that steading is in want. It
gets either -Prosperity, -Population, or
loses a tag based on that resource like
Craft or Trade, your choice.
Trade
When Trade is blocked because the
source of that trade is gone, the route
is endangered, or political reasons, the
steadinghasachoice: gainNeed(atraded
good) or take -Prosperity.
Capture
When control of a resource changes
removethatresourcefromthetagsofthe
previous owner and add it to the tags of
the new owner (if applicable). If the pre-
viousownerhasaCraftorTradebasedon
that resource they now have Need (that
resource). If the new owner had a Need
for that resource, remove it.
Profit
When a steading has more Trade
than its current Prosperity it gets
+Prosperity.
Surplus
WhenasteadinghasaResourcethat
another steading Needs unless En-
mityorotherdiplomaticreasonsprevent
it they set up Trade. The steading with
the Resource gets +Prosperity and their
choice of Oaths, +Population, or +De-
fenses; thesteadingwiththeNeederases
that need and adds Trade.
Aid
When a steading has Oaths to a
steading under attack that steading
may take -Defenses to give the steading
under attack +Defenses.
Embattled
When a steading is surrounded by
enemyforcesitsuffersloses. Ifitfights
back with force it gets -Defenses. If its
new Defenses are Watch or less it also
gets -Prosperity.
If it instead tries to
wait out the attack it gets -Population. If
its new Population is Shrinking or less it
losesatagofyourchoice. Ifthesteading’s
Defenses outclass the attacker’s (your
call if it’s not clear, or make it part of
an Adventure Front) the steading is no
longer surrounded.
Opportunity
WhenasteadinghasEnmityagainst
a weaker steading they may attack.
Subtract the distance (in rations) be-
tween the steadings from the steading
with Enmity’s Defenses.
If the result
is greater than the other steading’s De-
fenses +Defense for each step of size dif-
ference (village to town, town to keep,
keep to city) they definitely attack. Oth-
erwise it’s your call: has anything hap-
pened recently to stoke their anger? The
forces of the attacker embattle the de-
fender, while they maintain the attack
they’re -Defenses.
Clash
When two steadings both attack
each other their forces meet some-
wherebetweenthemandfight. Ifthey’re
evenly matched they both get -Defenses
and their troops return home. If one has
the advantage they take -Defenses while
the other takes -2 Defenses.
Other Updates
The conditions above detail the most ba-
sic of interactions between steadings, of
course the presence of your Fronts and
the players mean things can get far more
complex. Since tags are descriptive, add
them as needed to reflect the players’
actions and your fronts’ effects on the
world.
Making a Hireling
Hirelings
64
25
Hirelings
Hirelings are those sorry souls that—for
money,glory,orstrangerneeds—venture
along with adventurers into the gloom
and danger. They are the foolhardy that
seek to make their name on adventures.
Hirelings serve a few purposes. To the
characters, they’re the help. They lend
their strength to the player characters’
efforts in return for their pay.
To the
players, they’re a resource. They buy the
characters some extra time against even
the most frightening of threats. They’re
also replacement characters, waiting to
stepupintothehero’srolewhenaplayer
character falls. To the GM, they’re a hu-
man face for the characters to turn to,
even in the depths of the earth of the far
reaches of the planes.
Hirelings are not heroes. A hireling may
become a hero, as a replacement charac-
ter, but until that time they’re just an-
other GM character, suffering the dan-
gers and perils of the world.
As such
their exact HP, armor, and damage isn’t
particularly important. A hireling is de-
fined by their Skill (or Skills) a Cost and
a Loyalty score.
A hireling’s skill is a special benefit they
providetotheplayers. Mostskillsarere-
latedtoclassabilities,allowingahireling
to fill in for a certain class. If you don’t
have a Ranger but you need to track the
assassin’s route out of Torsea anyway,
youneedaTracker. Eachskillhasarank,
usually from 1 to 10. The higher the rank
the more trained the hireling. Generally
hirelings only work for adventurers of
equal or higher level than their highest
skill.
If a hireling becomes a character their
skillsmaysuggestagivenclass,butthere
isn’t a requirement. When the moment
comes and the spotlight is on them they
may find strength they didn’t know they
had.
Skills don’t limit what a hireling can do,
they just provide mechanics for a cer-
tainability. Ahirelingwiththeprotector
skillcanstillcarryyourburdensorcheck
for traps, but the outcome isn’t guaran-
teed by a rule. It will fall entirely to the
circumstances and the GM. Sending a
hireling to do something that is clearly
beyond their abilities is asking the GM
for trouble.
Of course no hireling works for free. The
hireling’s cost is what it takes to keep
them with the player characters. If the
hireling’s cost isn’t paid regularly (usu-
ally once a session) they’re liable to quit
or turn on their employers.
When hirelings are in play, the players
may have to make the Order Hirelings
move. The move uses the loyalty of the
hireling that triggered the move:
Order Hirelings
Hirelings do what you tell them to, so
long as it isn’t obviously dangerous, de-
grading, or stupid, and their cost is
met. When a hireling find themselves
in a dangerous, degrading, or just flat-
out crazy situation due to your orders
roll+loyalty. On a 10+ they stand firm
and carry out the order. On a 7-9 they do
itfornow,butcomebackwithseriousde-
mands later. Meet them or the hireling
quits on the worst terms.
Making a Hireling
Hirelings are easy to make on the fly.
When someone enters the player’s em-
ploynotedowntheirnameandwhatcost
they’veagreedtoaswellasanyskillsthey
may have.
Start with a number based on where the
hireling was found. Hirelings in villages
start with 2–5. Town hirelings get 4–6.
Keephirelingsare5–8. Cityhirelingsare
6–10. Distribute the hireling’s number
betweenloyalty, amainskill, andzeroor
more secondary skills. Starting loyalty
higher than 2 is unusual, as is starting
loyalty below 0. Choose a cost for the
hireling and you’re done.
A hireling’s stats, especially their loy-
alty, may change during play as a re-
flection of events. A particular kindness
or bonus from the players is worth +1
loyalty forward.
Disrespect is -1 loy-
alty forward. If it’s been a while since
their cost was last paid they get -1 loy-
alty ongoing until their cost is met. A
hirelings loyalty may be permanently
increased when they achieve some great
deed with the players. A significant fail-
ure or beating may permanently lower
the hireling’s loyalty.
Costs
•
The Thrill of Victory
•
Money
•
Uncovered Knowledge
•
Fame and Glory
•
Debauchery
•
Good Accomplished
Skills
Adept
An adept has at least apprenticed to an
arcaneexpert,butisnotpowerfulintheir
own right. They may have mastered a
few simple spells, but they don’t have
anything like the wizard’s spellbook
ArcaneAssistance—Whenanadeptaidsin
the casting of a spell of lower level than
their skill, the spell’s effects have greater
range, duration, or potency. The exact
effects depend on the situation and the
spell and are up to the GM. The GM will
describe what effects the assist will add
before the spell is cast. The most impor-
Hirelings
Making a Hireling
65
tant feature of casting with an adept is
that any negative effects of the casting
are focused on the adept first.
Expert
Experts are skilled in a variety of areas,
most of them illicit or dangerous. They
are good with devices and traps, but not
too helpful in the field of battle.
Experimental Trap Disarming —When an
expertleadsthewaytheycandetecttraps
almost in time. If a trap would be sprung
whileanexpertisleadingthewaytheex-
pert suffers the full effects but the play-
ers get +skill against the trap and add
the expert’s skill to their armor against
the trap. Most traps leave an expert in
needofimmediatehealing. Iftheplayers
Make Camp near the trap, the expert can
disarm it by the time camp is broken.
Minstrel
When a smiling face is needed to smooth
thingsoverornegotiateadeal,aminstrel
is always happy to lend their services for
the proper price.
A Hero’s Welcome —When you enter a
place of food, drink, or entertainment
with a minstrel you will be treated as a
friend by everyone present (unless your
actions prove otherwise). You also sub-
tract the minstrel’s skill from all prices
in town.
Priest
Priest are the lower ranking clergy of a
religion, performing minor offices and
regular sacraments. While not granted
spells themselves, they are able to call
upon their deity for minor aid.
Ministry —When you make camp with
a priest if you would normally heal you
heal to your maximum HP value.
First Aid —When you call on a priest for
healing, the priest rushes to your side
and heals you of 2×skill HP. You take -1
forward as their healing is painful and
distracting.
Protector
A protector stands between their em-
ployer and the blades, fangs, teeth, and
spells that would harm them.
Sentry —When a protector stands be-
tween you and an attack you increase
your armor against that attack by the de-
fender’s skill, then reduce their skill by
1 until they receive healing or have time
to mend.
Intervene —When a protector helps you
Defy Danger you may opt to take +1 from
their aid. If you do you cannot get a 10+
result, a 10+ instead counts as a 7–9.
Tracker
Trackers know the secrets of following a
trail, but they don’t have the experience
with strange creatures and exotic locals
that make for a great hunter.
Track —When a tracker is given time
to study a trail while Making Camp,
when camp is broken they can follow the
trail to the next major change in terrain,
travel, or weather.
Guide —When a tracker leads the way
you automatically succeed on any Per-
ilous Journey of a distance lower than
the tracker’s skill.
Warrior
Warriors are not masters of combat, but
they are handy with a weapon.
They
won’t be leading anyone into battle any-
time soon, but their arm is good.
Man-at-arms —When you deal damage
while a warrior aids you add their skill to
the damage done. If your attack results
in consequences (like a counter attack)
the man-at-arms takes the brunt of it.
Using Monsters
Monsters
66
26
Monsters
Great heroes need horrendous antago-
nists. This section is about how to create
and play as those antagonists—from the
lowly goblin warrior to the hellish de-
mon.
Using Monsters
Amonsterisanyliving(orundead)thing
that stands in the players’ way.
How you use these monsters follows di-
rectly from your Agenda and Principles.
Stay true to your principles, use your
moves and pursue your agenda—you
can’t go wrong.
Your first agenda is to "Make the world
fantastic". This shines through strongly
based on how you think about monsters.
Everyone and everything who comes up
against the players is a monster but that
doesn’t mean you have to write their
stats out ahead of time.
In a fantastic
world, every goblin might end up in a
fight but you don’t have to know their
HP before that happens. A monster is
so simple to make you can jump right
into thefiction, describing whatever you
want and back it up with stats as you
need them.
Make the world fantastic:
describe your monsters first and worry
about their stats later.
The player characters are the heroes.
You shouldn’t be rooting for the mon-
sters, per se. Monsters exist to illustrate
what a dangerous awful place Dungeon
World can be—how it will remain if the
players don’t step in. If you feel like your
monsters are being beaten too quickly,
don’t worry.
Let the players revel in
their victory and prepare a bigger, bad-
der follow-up monster for next time.
Theprinciple of "Think dangerous" sums
up that philosophy—the world is just
as dangerous for the monsters as for
the characters. An evil overlord doesn’t
care about his every golem, demon, and
harpy. Until proven otherwise, consider
everymonsteranarrowfiredatthechar-
acters. The monsters are ammunition of
theDangeryou’representing. Somemay
be smarter, faster, or more dangerous
than others but until a monster warrants
aname,apersonality,orsomeotherspe-
cial consideration, it’s an arrow. Take
aim and shoot. Don’t worry if you miss.
A monster stops being an arrow when
it is given a chance to shine by the play-
ers’actions. Whentheplayersareforced
to run away from something it gains
weight. When a monster somehow sur-
vives the players’ assault it becomes in-
teresting to the players and to the world
atlarge. Theplayersaretheheroes. Your
monsters are only important when they
become important to the heroes and,
thus, important to the world.
One thing that your Agenda and Prin-
ciples don’t say anything about is set-
ting up a fair fight.
Heroes are often
outnumbered or faced with ridiculous
odds—sometimes they have to retreat
and make a new plan. Sometimes they
suffer loss. When adding a monster to
a front, placing them in a dungeon, or
making them up on the fly your first re-
sponsibility is to the fiction (Make the
world fantastic) and to give the charac-
ters a real threat (Make the characters
heroes), not to make a balanced fight.
Dungeon World isn’t about balancing
encounter levels or counting experience
points; it’sabouttellingstoriesaboutad-
venture and death-defying feats!
Elements of a Monster
The most important part of a monster
is what it does. These are it’s moves .
Just like the normal GM moves, they’re
things that you do when there’s a lull in
the action or when the players give you
a golden opportunity. Just like the nor-
mal GM moves they can be hard or soft
depending on the circumstances and the
move: a move that’s irreversible and im-
mediateishard,amovethat’simpending
or mitigable is soft.
Each monster’s raison d’être is summed
up in its instinct .
Much like Dan-
gers, monsters have instincts that de-
scribe their goals at a high level. Some
monsters live for conquest, or treasure,
or simply for blood. The monster’s in-
stinct is the guide to how to use the mon-
ster
The monster’s description is where all
its other features come from. The de-
scriptionishowyouknowwhatthemon-
ster really is, the other elements just re-
flect the description.
Damage is a measure of how much pain
the monster can inflict at once. Just like
player damage it’s a dice to roll, maybe
withsomemodifiers. Amonsterdealsits
damage to another monster or a player
when it uses its standard weapons and
tacticstohurtthem,orwhenamovesays
so.
Just like a weapon, monsters have tags
that describe how it deals damage, in-
cluding what range(s) it can do damage
at. When trying to attack something out
of its range (to close or too far) the mon-
ster’s out of luck, no damage. Any tag
that can go on a weapon (like Messy or
Slow) can also go on a monster.
There are also monster tags that apply
only to monsters. These tags, listed be-
low, describe the monster’s key attrib-
utes.
Every monster has a tag for its
scope: where it falls in the bigger picture
ofDungeonWorld. Thescopetagletsthe
GM know how to portray the monster in
a way that its stats back up, for example
if an army of gnolls can take a defended
village (hint: most likely). Some mon-
sters also have a size tag, which notes
Monsters
Monster Tags
67
their physical size. Monsters without a
size tag are just about human size, give
or take.
A monster’s HP is a measure of how
much damage it can take before it dies.
Just like players, when a monster takes
damageitsubtractsthatamountfromit’s
HP. At 0 HP it’s dead, no Last Breath.
Some monsters are lucky enough to en-
joy Armor .
Just like player armor:
when a monster with armor takes dam-
age it subtracts its armor from the dam-
age done.
Special qualities describe innate as-
pects of the monster that are important
to play.
These are a guide to the fic-
tion, and therefore the moves.
There
is no master list of special qualities,
they’rejustplain-englishdescriptionsof
the qualities of a monster that aren’t part
of an attack.
A quality like "Intangi-
ble" means just what it says: mundane
stuff just passes through it. That means
swinging a mundane sword at it isn’t
Hack and Slash, for a start.
Monsters Without Stats
Some creatures operate on a scale so far
beyond the mortal that concepts like HP,
Armor, and Damage just do not hold.
Thesecreaturesmaystillcauseproblems
for the players and may even be defeated
with clever thinking and enough prepa-
ration, they just won’t be trading blows.
If a creature is of such a scale far beyond
the players, or if it simply doesn’t live or
die like a mortal creature, don’t assign
it HP, Damage, or Armor. You can still
use the monster creation rules to give it
tags. The core of a stat-less monster is
its instinct and moves; the GM can still
make its moves and act according to its
instinct.
Monster Tags
Magical : It is by nature magical through
and through.
Devious : Its main danger lies beyond the
simple clash of battle.
Gibbous :
Its anatomy and organs are
bizarre and unnatural.
Organized : It has a group structure that
aids it in survival. Defeating one may
cause the wrath of others.
One may
sound an alarm.
Intelligent : Its smart enough that some
individuals pick up other skills. The GM
can adapt the monster by adding tags to
reflect specific training, like a mage or
warrior.
Hoarder : Italmostcertainlyhastreasure.
Stealthy :
It can avoid detection and
prefers to attack with the element of sur-
prise.
Terrifying : Its presence and appearance
evoke fear.
Cautious : It prizes survival over aggres-
sion.
Construct : It was made, not born
Planar : Its from beyond this world
Organization Tags
Horde : Where there’s one, theres more.
A lot more.
Group : Usually seen in small numbers,
3–6 or so.
Solitary : It lives and fights alone.
Size Tags
Tiny : It’s much smaller than a halfling.
Small : It’s about halfling size.
Large : It’s much bigger than a human,
about as big as a cart.
Huge: It’sasbigasasmallhouseorlarger.
Making Monsters
Monsters start with your description of
them. No matter if you’re making the
monster before play or just as the play-
ers come face-to-face with it, a monster
starts with a clear vision of what it is and
what it does.
If you’re making a monster between ses-
sionsstartbyimaginingit. Imaginewhat
it looks like, what it does, why it stands
out. Imagine the stories told about it and
what effects it has had on the world.
If you’re making a monster on the fly
during a session start by describing it
to the players. Your description starts
before the characters even lay eyes on
it: describe where it lives, what marks it
has made on the environment around it.
Your description is the key to the mon-
ster.
When you find you need stats for the
monster you use this series of questions
to establish them. Answer every ques-
tion based on the facts established and
imagined. Don’t answer them aloud to
anyone else, just note down the answers
and the stats listed with each answer.
Iftwoquestionswouldgrantthesametag
don’t worry about it. If you like you can
adjust damage or HP by 2 to reflect the
tag that would be repeated, but it’s not
necessary. If a combination of answers
would reduce HP or damage below 1 they
stay at 1.
Whenyou’refinishedyourmonstermay
have only one move. If this is the case
and you plan on using the monster of-
ten, give it another 2–3 moves of your
choice. These moves often describe sec-
ondary modes of attack, other uses for a
primary mode of attack, or connections
to a certain place in the world.
What is it known to do?
Write a monster move describing what
it does.
What does it want that causes problems for
others?
Thisisitsinstinct. Writeitasanintended
action.
How does it usually hunt or fight?
•
In large disorganized groups: Horde,
d6 damage, 3 HP
•
In small groups, about 2–5: Group,
d8 damage, 6 HP
•
All by its lonesome:
Solitary, d10
damage, 12 HP
How big is it?
•
Smallerthanahousecat: Tiny, Hand,
-2 damage
•
Halfling-esque: Small, Close
•
About human size: Close
•
As big as a cart: Large, Close, Reach,
+4 HP, +1 damage
•
Muchlargerthanacart: Huge,Reach,
+8 HP, +3 damage
What is its most important defense?
•
Cloth or flesh: 0 armor
•
Leathers or think hide: 1 armor
•
Mail or scales: 2 armor
•
Plate or bone: 3 armor
•
Permanent magical protection: 4 ar-
mor, Magical
What is it known for? (Choose all that apply)
•
Unrelenting strength:
+2 damage,
forceful
•
Skill in offense: roll damage twice
and take the best
•
Skill in defense: +1 armor
•
Deft strikes: +1 piercing
•
Uncanny endurance: +4 HP
•
Deceit and trickery: Stealthy, write a
move about dirty tricks
•
A useful adaptation like being am-
phibious or having wings: Add a spe-
cial quality for the adaptation
•
The favor of the gods: Divine, +2
damage or +2 HP or both (your call)
•
Spells and magic: Magical, write a
move about its spells
Treasure
Monsters
68
What is its most common form of attack?
Note it along with the creature’s dam-
age. Common answers include: a type
of weapon, claws, a specific spell. Then
answer these questions about it.
•
Its armaments are vicious and obvi-
ous: +2 damage
•
It lets the monster keep others at bay:
Reach
•
Its armaments are small and weak:
-damage dice size
•
Its armaments can slice or pierce
metal: Messy,+1Piercingor+3Pierc-
ing if it can just tear metal apart
•
Armor doesn’t help with the damage
it deals (due to magic, size, etc.): Ig-
nores Armor
•
It usually attacks at range (with ar-
rows, spells, or other projectiles):
Near or Far or both (your call)
Which of these describe it? (Choose all that
apply)
•
It isn’t dangerous because of the
wounds it inflicts, but for other rea-
sons:
Devious, -damage dice size,
write a move about why it’s danger-
ous
•
It organizes into larger groups that it
can call on for support: Organized,
write a move about calling on others
for help
•
It’s as smart as a human or there-
abouts: Intelligent
•
It actively defends itself with a shield
or similar: Cautious, +1 Armor
•
It collects trinkets that humans
would consider valuable (gold, gems,
secrets): Hoarder
•
It uses magic: Magical, write a move
aboutitsstyleofmagicandtheeffects
it can invoke
•
It’s from beyond this world: Planar,
write a move about using it’s other-
worldly knowledge and power
•
It’s kept alive by something beyond
simple biology: +4 HP
•
It was made by someone: Construct,
give it a special quality or two about
its construction or purpose
•
Its appearance is disturbing, terrible,
or horrible: Terrifying, write a spe-
cial quality about why it’s so horren-
dous
•
It doesn’t have organs or discernible
anatomy: Gibbous, +1 Armor, +3 HP
Treasure
Monsters, much like adventurers, col-
lect shiny useful things. When the play-
ers search the belongings of a monster
(be they on their person or tucked away
somewhere) describe them honestly.
If the monster has accumulated some
wealth you can roll that randomly. Start
withthemonster’sdamagedie,modified
if the monster is:
•
Hoarder: roll damage die twice, take
higher result
•
Far from home: +at least one ration
(usable by anyone with similar taste)
•
Magical: somestrangeitem, possibly
magical
•
Divine: a sign of a deity (or deities)
•
Planar: something not of this earth
•
Lord over others: +1d4 to the roll
•
Ancient and noteworthy: +1d4 to the
roll
Roll the monster’s damage die plus any
addeddicetofinethemonster’streasure:
1.
A few coins, 2d8 or so
2. An item useful to the current situa-
tion
3. Several coins, about 4d10
4. A small item (gem, art) of consider-
ablevalue, worthasmuchas2d10×10
coins, 0 weight
5. Some minor magical trinket
6. Useful information (in the form of
clues, notes, etc.)
7. A bag of coins, 1d4×100 or there-
abouts. 1 weight per 100.
8. A very valuable small item (gem, art)
worth 2d6×100, 0 weight
9. Achestof coins andother small valu-
ables. 1 weight but worth 3d6×100
coins
10. A magical item or magical effect
11. Many bags of coins for a total of
2d4×100 or so
12. Asignofoffice(crown,banner)worth
at least 3d4×100 coins
13. A large art item worth 4d4×100
coins, 1 weight
14. Auniqueitemworthatleast5d4×100
coins
15. All the information needed to learn a
new spell and roll again
16. A portal or secret path (or directions
to one) and roll again
17. Something relating to one of the
characters and roll again
18. A hoard:
1d10×1000 coins and
1d10×10 gems worth 2d6×100 each
Monster Settings
The monsters in this book are presented
in monster settings . A monster set-
ting is a location (or type of location) and
the monsters that inhabit it. It’s a way
of grouping monsters by where they fit
in the world.
A monster setting tells
youwhatkindofmonstersmightinhabit
an area while your Fronts tell you what
monsters are working together or have
ongoing plots.
When creating your own monster set-
tings, they can be more specific.
You
could create a monster setting for the
Great Western Steppes or the Domains
of the Horse Lords.
Consult a monster setting to populate a
Front or when you want a threat that is
only tangentially related to one of your
Fronts. For example, if the heroes are
battling against the Dungeon Front "The
Cult of Khul-ka-ra" by exploring the an-
cient ruins that the cult has made its
home thenyou mightuse monsters from
the Legions of the Undead as a related
threat—not truly part of the front but
still a block in the heroes’ path.
Monsterswithinagivensettingwilltend
to be about as powerful. This is a product
of their ecology—they’re in competition
for space and resources, after all. Cav-
ern Dwellers or Denizens of the Murky
Swamp are likely to be faced by fresh ad-
venturers as they are the creatures who
most often encroach on civilization. The
Gnarled Woods, Ravenous Hordes, and
Twisted Experiments settings hold more
powerful monsters, monsters that can
threaten the safety of whole cities. Pla-
nar Powers and Creatures of the Lower
Depths are the most dangerous enemies
the heroes can face—often endangering
entire kingdoms. The Legions of the Un-
dead are everywhere and can appear in
just about any setting or situation.
The monster stat blocks within these
settings describe not only HP, damage,
and all the other aspects of the mon-
ster,butalsothereasonsthosestatswere
assigned. These monsters were created
with the same process listed above, and
the reasons for their stats are just as im-
portant as the stats themselves. Look-
ing at the reasoning behind the stats will
allow you to present the monsters hon-
estly, answering questions that arise in
Dungeon World like "can a warband of
gnolls sack an entire village?"
Cavern Dwellers
At the edges of civilization in the caves
and tunnels below the old mountains
of the world dwell all sorts of schem-
ing, dangerous monsters. Some are wily
and old, like the race of goblins schem-
ing to burn villages and make off with
livestock. Othersarestrangeaberrations
of nature like the stinking, trash-eating
Otyugh. Awordofcaution,then,tothose
brave adventurers whose first foray into
danger leads them into these dank and
shadowy places; bad things live in the
dark. Bad things with sharp teeth.
Monsters
Monster Settings
69
Denizens of the Swamp
All things give way to rot, in the end.
Food spoils on the table, men’s minds
go mad with age and disease. Even the
world itself, when left untended and un-
cared for, can turn to black muck and
stinking air. Things dwell in these parts
of Dungeon World. Things gone just as
a bad as the swirling filth that fills the
swamps. In these cesspit lowlands ad-
venturers will find such creatures as the
deadly-eyed basilisk or the famed, un-
killable troll. You’ll need more than a
dry pair of boots to survive these putrid
fens. A sword would be a good start.
Legions of the Undead
The sermons of mannish and dwarven
gods would tell you that Death is the end
of all. They say that once the mortal coil
is unwound and a person takes their fi-
nal breath that all is warmth and song
and the white wings of angels. Not so.
Not for all. For some, after life’s embrace
losesitsstrengthadarkerpowercantake
hold. Black magic rips the dead from the
ground and gives them shambling un-
life full of hate and hunger. Sorcery and
witchcraft lend an ancient spell-smith
the power to live forever in the husk of
a Lich. There are bleak enchantments at
play in shadowy corners all throughout
Dungeon World. These creatures are the
spawn of that fell magic.
The Dark Woods
It would not be a lie to say that there are
trees that stand in the deepest groves of
DungeonWorldthathavestoodsincebe-
foremanorelfwalkedamidsttheirroots.
Itwouldbetrue, too, tosaythatthesean-
cienttreeshavelonglostthegreenleaves
of spring.
In the strands of the dark
woods one finds, if one looks in the right
place, sylvan monsters of old and pow-
erful nature. Here live the race of sav-
age Centaurs and the fey soul-stealing
creatures of olde.
Under the shadow
of the ancient trees, wolf-men howl for
blood. Hurry along the old forest road
and light no fire for food or warmth for
it’s said that flames offend the woods
themselves.
You wouldn’t want that,
would you?
Ravenous Hordes
"I’ve bested an orc in single combat" they
crow. "I’ve fought a gnoll and lived to
the tell the tale." Which is no small feat
and yet, you know the truth of these
boasts. Like vermin, spotting but one of
these creatures speaks to a greater doom
on the horizon.
No orc travels alone.
No slavering gnoll moves without his
pack. Youknowthatsoon,thewardrums
will sound and the walls will be besieged
by the full fury of the warchief and his
tusked berserkers. These are the mon-
stersthatwillbringcivilization, scream-
ingandweeping, toitsknees. Unlessyou
can stop them. Best of luck.
Twisted Experiments
For some who learn the arcane arts it’s
not merely enough to be able to live
for a thousand years or throw light-
ning bolts that can fry a man.
Some
aren’t quite satisfied with the power to
speak to the dead or draw the angels
downfromheaven. Hubriscallsonthose
cloaked-and-hooded"scientists"tomake
a strange and unholy life of their own.
No mortal children, these. These are the
wages of a mind gone foul with strange
magic. In this setting you will find such
nightmaresasthechimera,drippingpoi-
son. Here, too, are the protector golems
and mutant apes. All sorts of bad ideas
await you in the fallen towers of the mad
magicians of Dungeon World.
The Lower Depths
Ruins dot the countryside of Dungeon
World. Old bastions of long-forgotten
civilization fallen to decay, to monsters
or to the whim of a vengeful god. These
ruins often cover a much more danger-
ous truth – catacombs and underground
complexes lousy with traps and mon-
sters. Gold, too. Which is why you’re
here. Why you’re locked in mortal com-
bat with a tribe of spiteful dark elves.
Battling stone giants in caverns the size
of whole countries.
Maybe, though,
you’re the noble souls who’ve travelled
to the world’s heart to put an end to the
Apocalypse Dragon—the beast who, it is
said, will one day swallow the sun and
kill us all. We appreciate it, really. We’ll
all pray for you.
Planar Powers
Sometimes, monsters do not come from
Dungeon World at all.
Beyond the
mountainsattheedgeoftheworldorbe-
low the deepest seas the sages and wise
old priests say that there are gateways to
the lands beyond. They speak of elysian
fields; rivers of sweet wine and maidens
dancinginfieldsofgold. Theytelltalesof
the paradise of heavens to be found past
the Planar Door. Tales tell, too, of the
Thousandfold Hell. Of the swirling El-
emental Vortex and the devils that wait
for the stars to align so they can enter
Dungeon World and wreak their bloody
havoc.
You must be curious to know
if these tales are true? What will you
see when the passage to the beyond is
opened?
Cavern Dwellers
70
27
Cavern
Dwellers
Ankheg Group, Large
Bite (d8+1 damage) 10 HP 3 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Burrowing
A hide like plate armor and great crushing
mandibles are problematic.
A stomach full
of acid that can burn a hole through a stone
wall makes them all the worse. They’d be bad
enoughiftheywereproperinsect-sizedbutthese
things have the gall to be as long as any given
horse. It’s just not natural! Good thing they
tend to stick to one place?
Easy for you to
say—you don’t have an Ankheg living under
your corn field. Instinct : To undermine
•
Undermine the ground
•
Burst from the earth
•
Sprayforthacid,eatingawayatmetal
and flesh
Cave Rat Horde, Small
Gnaw (d6 damage 1 piercing) 7 HP 1 Ar-
mor
Close, Messy
Whohasn’tseenaratbefore? It’slikethat, but
nasty and big and not afraid of you anymore.
Maybe this one was a cousin to that one you
caught in a trap or the one you killed with a
knife in that filthy tavern in Darrow. Maybe
he’s looking for a little ratty revenge. Instinct
: To devour
•
Swarm
•
Rip apart something (or someone)
Choker Solitary, Stealthy, Intelli-
gent
Choke (d10 damage) 15 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Flexible
Somesaythesethingsdescendedfromthefam-
ilyofacruelwizardwhoforcedthemtoliveout
their lives underground. Say his experiments
ledhimtofearthesunandagespassedwhilehe
descended into unlife, dragging his folk along
withhim. Thesethingsresemblemen,inaway.
Head, four limbs and all that. Only their skin
is wet and rubbery and their arms long and
fingers grasping. They hate all life that bears
the stink of the sun’s touch, as one might ex-
pect. Jealousy, long instilled, is hard to shake.
Instinct : To deny light
•
Hold someone, wringing the breath
from them
•
Fling a held creature
Cloaker Solitary, Stealthy
Constrict (d10 damage ignores armor) 12
HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities:
Looks like a
cloak
Don’t put on that cloak, Gareth. Don’t. You
don’t know where it’s been. I tell you, it’s no
good. See! It moved! I’m not mad, Gareth, it
moved! Don’t do it! No! GARETH! Instinct
: To engulf
•
Engulf the unsuspecting
Dwarven Warrior Horde, Organized
Axe (d6 damage) 7 HP 2 Armor
Close
For ages, men believed all dwarves were men
and all were of this ilk—stoic and proud war-
riors. Axe-wielding and plate-wearing. Stout
bearded battle-hungry men who would push
them, time and time again, back up out of their
mines and tunnels with ferocity. It just goes
to show how little men know about the elder
races. These folk are merely a vanguard, and
they bravely do their duty to protect the riches
of the Dwarven realm. Earn their trust and
you’ve an ally for life. Earn their ire and you’re
not like to regret it very long. Instinct : To
defend
•
Drive them back
•
Call up reinforcements
Earth Elemental Solitary, Huge
Smash (d10+5 damage) 27 HP 4 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Made of stone
Our shaman says that all the things of the
world have a spirit. Stones, trees, a stream.
Now that I’ve seen the earth roil under my feet
and fists of stone beat my friends half to death
I’mliketobelievethatcrazyoldman. TheoneI
saw was huge—big as a house! It came boiling
up from a rockslide out of nowhere and had a
voicelikeanavalanche. Ipaymyrespects,now.
Rightly so. Instinct : To show the strength of
earth
•
Turn the ground into a weapon
•
Meld into stone
Goliath Group, Huge, Organized, In-
telligent
Mace (d8+7 damage) 14 HP 1 Armor
Reach, Forceful
They dwell beneath the earth because they do
not belong above it any longer. An undying
raceofmightytitansfledtheplainsandmoun-
tainsinagespast—drivenoutbymenandtheir
heroes. Left to bide their time in the dark, hate
andangerwarmedbythepoolsoflavadeepbe-
low. It’s said that an earthquake is a goliath’s
birthingcry. Somedaythey’lltakebackwhat’s
theirs. Instinct : To retake
•
Shake the earth
•
Retreat, only to come back stronger
Fire Beetle Horde, Small
Flames (d6 damage ignores armor) 3 HP
3 Armor
Near
Special Qualities: Full of flames
Cavern Dwellers
71
Scarabaeus Pyractomena! What a delightful
creature—see how its carapace glitters in the
light of our torches? Not too close now, they’re
temperamental, you see. The fire in their belly
isn’t just metaphorical, no. Watch as I goad
the beast. Aha! A spout of flame! Unexpected,
isn’tit? Oneofthesecreaturesalone,ifitcomes
up from below, can be a hellish nuisance to a
farmsteadorvillage. Awholeswarm? There’s
a reason they call it a conflagration of fire bee-
tles. I’ll say that much. Instinct : To enflame
•
Undermine the ground
•
Burst from the earth
•
Sprayforthacid,eatingawayatmetal
and flesh
Gargoyle Horde, Stealthy, Hoarder
Claw (d6 damage) 3 HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Wings
It’sasadthing,really. GuardiansbredbyMagi
ofthepastwithnomorecastlestoguard. Their
ancestors’ sacred task bred into their blood
leads them to find a place—ruins, mostly but
sometimesacaveorhillormountaincliff—and
guarditasthoughtheirmastersyetlivedbelow.
They’re notoriously good at finding valuables
buried below the earth, though. Find one of
these winged reptiles and you’ll find yourself a
treasurenearby. Justbecareful,they’rehardto
spot and tend to move in packs. Instinct : To
guard
•
Attack with the element of surprise
•
Take to the air
•
Blend into stonework
Gelatinous Cube Solitary,
Large,
Stealthy, Gibbous
Engulf (d10+1 damage ignores armor) 20
HP 1 Armor
Hand
Special Qualities: Transparent
How many adventurers’ last thought was
"strange,thistunnelseemscleanerthanmost?"
Too many and all because of this transparent
menace. A great acidic blob that expands to
fillasmallchamberorcorridorandthenslides,
ever so slowly along, eating everything in its
path. It cannot eat stone or metal and will of-
ten have them floating in its jelly mass. Blech.
Instinct : To clean
•
Fill an apparently empty space
•
Dissolve
Goblin Horde, Small, Intelligent, Or-
ganized
Spear (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Nobody seems to know where these things
came from.
Elves say they’re the Dwarves’
fault—dredgedupfromahiddenplacebeneath
theearth. Dwarvessaythey’rebadElvishchil-
dren,takenawayatbirthandraisedinthedark.
The truth of the matter is that goblins have al-
ways been here and they’ll be here once all the
civilizedraceshavefallenandgoneaway. Gob-
lins never die out. There’s just too damn many
of them. Instinct : To multiply
•
Charge!
•
Call more goblins
•
Retreat and return with (many) more
Goblin
Orkaster
Solitary,
Small,
Magical, Intelligent, Organized
Acid orb (d10+1 damage ignores armor)
12 HP 0 Armor
Near, Far
Oh lord, who taught them magic? Instinct :
To tap power beyond their stature
•
Unleash a poorly understood spell
•
Pour forth magical chaos
•
Use other goblins for shields
Otyugh Solitary, Large
Tentacles(d10+3damage)20HP1Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Filth Fever
The mating call of the otyugh is a horrible,
blaring cry that sounds like a cross between
an elephant dying and an over-eager vulture.
The otyugh spends much of its time partly
submerged in filthy water and prefers eating
garbage over any other food. As a result, it
often grows fat and strong on the offal of orcs,
goblins and other cave-dwelling sub-humans.
Gettooclose,however,andyou’llhaveoneofits
barbed tentacles dragging you into that soggy,
razor-toothedmaw. Ifyougetawaywithyour
life, best get to a doctor, or your victory may be
short lived. Instinct : To foul
•
Infect someone with filth fever
•
Fling someone or something
Maggot-Squid Horde, Small
Chew (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities:
Amphibious,
Paralyzing Tentacles
The gods that made this thing were playing
some sick joke on the civilized folk of the world.
The maggot-squid wields a face full of horrible
squirming tentacles that, if they touch you, feel
like being struck by lightning. They’ll paralyze
you and chew you up slowly while you’re help-
less. Best to not let it get to that. Instinct : To
eat
•
Paralyze with a touch
Purple Worm Solitary, Huge
Bite (d10+5 damage) 20 HP 2 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Burrowing
Iä! Iä! The Purple Worm! Blessed is its holy
slime! Wewalk, unworthy, initsmilesofmas-
sive tunnels. We are but shadows under its
violet and all-consuming glory. Mere acolytes,
we who hope someday to return to the great
embrace of its tooth-ringed maw. Let it con-
sume us! Let it eat our homes and villages so
that we might be taken! Iä! Iä! The Purple
Worm! Instinct : To consume
•
Swallow whole
•
Tunnel through stone and earth
Roper Solitary, Large, Stealthy, In-
telligent
Bite (d10+1 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Rock-like Flesh
Evolutionary happenstance has created a
clever underground predator. Disguised as a
rocky formation—most often a stalactite or
stalagmite—theroperwaitsforitspreytowan-
der by. When it does, whether it’s a rat, a gob-
lin or a foolhardy adventurer, a mass of thin,
whippingtentacleseruptsfromthething’shide.
A hundred lashes in the blink of an eye and the
stunned prey is being dragged into the roper’s
mouth. Surprisingly effective for a thing that
looks like a rock. Instinct : To ambush
•
Ensnare the unsuspecting
•
Burst from the earth
•
Sprayforthacid,eatingawayatmetal
and flesh
Rot Grub Horde, Tiny
Burrow (d6-2 damage) 3 HP 0 Armor
Hand
Special Qualities:
Burrow into
flesh
They live in your skin. Or your organ meat. Or
your eyeballs. They grow there and then, in a
bloody and horrific display, burrow their way
out. Disgusting. Instinct : To infect
•
Burrow under flesh
•
Lay eggs
•
Burst forth from an infected creature
Spiderlord Solitary, Large, Devious,
Intelligent
Mandibles(d8+4damage)16HP3Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Burrowing
Even spiders have their gods, whispered to in
webs with little praying arms. Instinct : To
weave webs (literal and metaphorical)
•
Enmesh in webbing
•
Put a plot into motion
Troglodyte Group, Organized
Club (d8 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close
Cavern Dwellers
72
Long-forgotten, our last remaining ancestors
dwell in caves in the wild parts of the world.
Driven away by our cities and villages, our
iron swords and our fire, these ape-men eat
their meat raw with sharp-nailed hands and
jaggedteeth. Theystrikeoutatfrontiervillages
wielding clubs and in overwhelming numbers
to seize cattle, tools, and poor prisoners to drag
into the hills. Known for their viciousness and
their stink, they’re an old and dying race we’d
all sooner forget existed. Instinct : To prey on
civilization
•
Raid and retreat
•
Use scavenged weapons or magic
Swamp Denizens
73
28
Swamp
Denizens
Bakunawa Solitary, Large, Intelli-
gent, Messy, Forceful
Bite (d10+3 damage 1 piercing) 16 HP 2
Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Amphibious
Dragon-turtle’s sister is a mighty serpent
queen. Ten yards of scales and muscle, they
say she wakes with a hunger when the sun
disappears from the sky. She is drawn in by
bright light in the darkness and like any snake,
the Bakunawa is sneaky. She will seek first
to beguile and mislead and will only strike out
with violence when no other option is avail-
able.
When she does, though, her jaws are
strong enough to crack the hull of any swamp-
boat and certainly enough to slice through a
steel breastplate or two. Instinct : To devour
•
Lure prey with lies and illusions
•
Lash out at light
•
Devour
Basilisk Solitary, Hoarder
Bite (d10 damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close
Few have seen a basilisk and lived to tell the
tale.
Get it?
Seen a basilisk?
Little bit of
basilisk humor there.
Sorry, I know you’re
looking for something helpful, sirs.
Serious
stuff, I understand. The basilisk, even without
its ability to turn your flesh to stone with a
gaze, is a dangerous creature. A bit like a frog,
bulbous eyes and six leaping-muscle legs. A
bit like an alligator, with snapping jaws and
sawingteeth. Coveredinstoneyscalesandvery
hard to kill. Best avoided, if possible. Instinct
: To collect stone
•
Turn flesh to stone with a gaze
•
Retreat into a maze of stone
Black Pudding Solitary, Gibbous
Corrode (d10 damage ignores armor) 15
HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Amorphous
How do you kill a pile of goo? A great squishy,
pileofgoothathappensalsotowanttodissolve
you and slurp you up? That is a good question
to which I have no answer. Do let us know
when you find out. Instinct : To dissolve
•
Eat away metal, flesh, or wood
•
Ooze into a troubling place: food, ar-
mor, stomach
Coutal Solitary, Intelligent Devious
Light ray (d8 damage ignores armor) 12
HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Wings, Halo
As if in direct affront to the decay and filth
of the world, the gods granted us the Coutal.
As if to say “there is beauty, even in this grim
place” have we been gifted the Coutal. A ser-
pent in flight on jeweled wings, these beautiful
creaturesglowwithasoftlight, asthesundoes
through stained glass. Bright, wise and calm,
a Coutal often knows many things and sees
many more. You might be able to make a trade
withitinexchangeforsomefavor. Theyseekto
cleanse and to purge and to make of this dark
world a better one. Shame we have so few. The
gods are cruel. Instinct : To cleanse
•
Pass judgement on a person or place
•
Summon divine forces to cleanse
•
Offer information in exchange for
service
crocodilian Group, Large
Bite (d8+3 damage) 10 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities:
Amphibious,
Camouflage
It’s a really, really big crocodile. Seriously. So
big. Instinct : To eat
•
Attack an unsuspecting victim
•
Escape into the water
•
Hold something tight in its jaws
Doppelganger Solitary, Devious, In-
telligent
Dagger (d6 damage) 12 HP 0 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Shapeshifting
Theirnaturalform,ifyoueverseeit,isahideous
thing. Like a creature who stopped growing
part-way, before it decided it was elf or man
or dwarf. Then again, maybe that’s how you
get to be the way a doppleganger is—without
form, withoutshapetocalltheirown,theyseek
little more than a place to fit in.
If you go
out into the world, when you come back home,
make sure your friends are who you think they
are. They might, instead, be a doppleganger
and your friend might be dead at the bottom of
a well somewhere. Then again, depending on
your friends, that might be an improvement.
Instinct : To infiltrate
•
Assume the shape of a person who’s
flesh it’s tasted
•
Use another’s identity to advantage
•
Leave someone’s reputation shat-
tered
Dragon Turtle Solitary, Huge, Cau-
tious
Bite (d10+3 damage) 20 HP 4 Armor
Reach
Special Qualities: Shell, Amphibi-
ous
Swamp Denizens
74
Bakunawa has a brother. Where she is quick
to anger and hungry for gold, he is slow and
sturdy. She is a knife and he is a shield. A great
turtle that lies in the muck and mire for ages as
theypass,mudpileduponhisback—sometimes
trees and shrubs.
Sometimes a whole mis-
guided clan of goblins will build their huts and
cooktheirrattymealsontheshellofthedragon
turtle. His snapping jaws, glacier-slow they
may be, can rend a castle wall. Careful where
you tread. Instinct : To resist change
•
Move forward implacably
•
Bring its full bulk to bear
•
Destroy structures and buildings
Dragon Whelp Solitary, Small, Intel-
ligent, Cautious, Hoarder
Elemental breath (d10+2 damage) 16 HP
3 Armor
Close, Near
Special Qualities: Wings, Elemen-
tal Blood
What?
Did you think they were all a mile
long? Did you think they didn’t come smaller
than that? Sure, they may be no bigger than a
dog and no smarter than an ape, but a Dragon
Whelp can still belch up a hellish ball of fire
that’ll melt your armor shut and drop you
screaming into the mud. Their scales, too, are
softer than their bigger kin but still turn aside
an arrow or sword not perfectly aimed. Size is
not the only measure of might. Instinct : To
grow in power
•
Start a lair, form a base of power
•
Call on family ties
•
Demand oaths of servitude
Ekek Horde
Talons (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Wing-arms
Ugly, wrinkled bird-folk, these. Once, maybe,
insomeancientpast,theywerearaceofangelic
menfromonhighbutnowtheyeatratstheyfish
fromthemurkwithtalon-feetanddevourwith
needle-teeth. They understand the tongues of
men and dwarves but speak in little more than
gibbering tongues, mimicking the words they
hear with mocking laughter.
It’s a chilling
thing to see a beast so close to man or bird but
not quite either one. Instinct : To lash out
•
Attack from the air
•
Carry out the bidding of a more pow-
erful creature
Fire Eels Horde, Tiny
Burning touch (d6-2 damage ignores ar-
mor) 3 HP 0 Armor
Hand
Special Qualities: Flammable oil,
aquatic
Thesestrangecreaturesarenobiggerorsmarter
then their mundane kin. They have the same
vicious nature. Over their relations they have
one advantage—an oily secretion that drips
from their skin. It makes them hard to catch.
On top of that, with a twist of their body they
ignitethestuff,leavingpoolsofburningoilatop
the surface of the water and roasting prey and
predator alike. I hear the slimy things make
goodingredientsforfire-resistantgear,butyou
have to get your hands on one, first. Instinct :
To ignite
•
Catch someone or something on fire
(even underwater)
•
Consume burning prey
Frogman Horde, Small, Intelligent
Spear (d6 damage) 7 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Amphibious
Croak croak croak. Little warty munchkins.
Some wizard or godling’s idea of a bad joke,
thesecreaturesare. Theystandasmen,dressin
scavenged cloth and hold court in their froggy
villages. They speak a rumbling pidgin form
of the tongue of man and war constantly with
their neighbors. They’re greedy and stupid but
clever enough when they need to defend them-
selves. Some say, too, their priests have a re-
markable skill at healing. Or maybe they’re
just really, really hard to kill. Instinct : To
war
•
Launch an amphibious assault
•
Heal at a prodigious rate
Hydra Solitary, Large
Bite (d10+3 damage) 16 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities:
Many heads,
Only killed by a blow to the heart
A bit like a dragon, wingless though it may be.
Heads, nine in number at birth, spring from a
muscled trunk and weave a sinuous pattern in
theair. Ahydraistobefeared—ascaledterror
ofthemarsh. Theolderones,though,theyhave
more heads for every failed attempt to murder
it just makes it stronger. Cut off a head and
two more grow in its place. Only a strike, true
and strong, to the heart can end a Hydra’s life.
Not time or tide or any other thing but this.
Instinct : To grow
•
Attack many enemies at once
•
Regenerate a body part (especially a
head)
Kobold Horde, Small, Stealthy, In-
telligent, Organized
Short spear (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Dragon connec-
tion
Some are wont to lump these rat-like little
dragon-men in with goblins and orcs, bug-
bears and hobgoblins.
They are smarter
and wiser than their kin, however.
The
Kobolds, beholden slaves to dragons and—in
ancient times—their lorekeepers and sorcerer-
servants. Their clans, named in fashion like
Ironscale and Whitewing, form around a
dragon master and live to serve and do its
bidding. Spotting a Kobold means more are
near—if more are near then a mighty dragon
cannot be far, either. Instinct : To serve drag-
ons
•
Lay a trap
•
Call on dragons or draconic allies
•
Retreat and regroup
Lizardman Group, Stealthy, Intelli-
gent, Organized
Spear (d8 damage) 6 HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Amphibious
A traveling sorcerer once told me that Lizard-
men came before we did.
That before elves
and dwarves and men built even the first of
their wattle huts a race of proud lizard kings
strode the land. That they lived in palaces of
crystal and worshipped their own scaly gods.
Maybe that’s true and maybe it ain’t—now
they dwell in places men long forgot or aban-
doned, crafting tools from volcano-glass and
lashingagainsttheworksofthecivilizedworld.
Maybe they just want back what they lost. In-
stinct : To destroy civilization
•
Ambush the unsuspecting
•
Launch an amphibious assault
Medusa Solitary, Devious, Intelli-
gent, Hoarder
Claws (d6 damage) 12 HP 0 Armor
Close
SpecialQualities: Lookturnsyouto
stone
The Medusa are children of a serpent-haired
mother, birthing them in ancient times to
bear her name across the ages.
They dwell
nearplacesofcivilization—luringfolkstotheir
caves with promises of beauty untold or riches.
Fine appreciators of art, the medusa curate
strange collections of their victims, terror or
ecstasy frozen forever in stone. It satisfies their
vanity to know they were the last thing seen in
somanylives. Arrogant,proud,andspiteful,in
theirway,theyseekwhatsomanydo—endless
company. Instinct : To collect
•
Turn a body part to stone with a look
•
Draw someone’s gaze
•
Show hidden terrible beauty
Sahuagin Horde, Intelligent
Endless teeth (d6+4 damage 1 piercing) 3
HP 2 Armor
Close, Forceful, Messy
Special Qualities: Amphibious
Swamp Denizens
75
The shape and craft of men wedded to the
hunger and the endless teeth of a shark. Vora-
cious and filled only with hate, these creatures
will not stop until all life has been consumed.
They cannot be reasoned with, they cannot be
controlledorsated. Theyarehungerandblood-
lust,drivenupfromthedepthsoftheseatorav-
age coastal towns and swallow island villages.
Instinct : To spill blood
•
Turn a body part to stone with a look
•
Draw someone’s gaze
•
Show hidden terrible beauty
Sauropod Group, Huge, Cautious
Trample (d8+5 damage) 18 HP 4 Armor
Reach
Special Qualities:
Armor plated
body
Great lumbering beasts, they live in places long
since forgotten by the thinking races of the
world.
Gentle if unprovoked but mighty if
their ire is raised, they trample smaller crea-
tures with the care we might give to crushing
an any beneath our boots. If you see one, drift
by and gaze in awe, but do not wake the giant.
Instinct : To endure
•
Stampede
•
Panic
Swamp Shambler Solitary, Large,
Magical
Lash (d10+3 damage) 23 HP 5 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Swamp form
Some elementals are conjured up in sacred cir-
cles etched in chalk. Most, in fact. There’s
a sort of science to it. Others, though, aren’t
so orderly—they don’t fall under the carefully
controlled assignments of fire or air or earth.
Someareanaturalconfluenceofvineandmire
and fungus. They do not think the way a man
might think. They cannot be understood as an
elf might be. They simply are. Spirits of the
swamp. Shamblers in the mud. Instinct : To
preserve and create swamps
•
Call on the swamp itself for aid
•
Meld into the swamp
•
Reassemble into a new form
Troll Solitary, Large
Club (d10+3 damage) 20 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Regeneration
Tall. Real tall. Eight or nine feet when they’re
young or weak.
Covered all over in warty,
tough skin, too.
Big teeth, stringy hair like
swamp moss and long, dirty nails. Some are
green, some grey, some black. They’re clannish
and hateful of each other, not to mention all
the rest of us.
Near impossible to kill, too,
unless you’ve fire or acid to spare—cut a limb
off and watch. In a few days, you’ve got two
trolls where you once had one. A real serious
problem, as you can imagine. Instinct : To
smash
•
Undo the effects of an attack (unless
caused by a weakness, your call)
•
Hurl something or someone
Wll-o-wisp Solitary, Large
Club (d10+3 damage) 20 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Body of light
Spot a lantern floating in the darkness, lost
traveller in the swamp. Hope—a beacon of
shimmering light. You call out to it, but there’s
no answer. It begins to fade and so you follow,
sloshing through the muck, tiring at the chase,
hoping you’re being led to safety. Such a sad
tale that always ends in doom. These creatures
areamystery—somesaythey’reghosts,others
beaconsoffaerielight. Nobodyknowsthetruth.
They are cruel, however. All can agree on that.
Instinct : To misguide
•
Lead someone astray
•
Clear a path to the worst place possi-
ble
Legions of the Undead
76
29
Legions of
the Undead
Abomination Solitary, Large, Con-
struct, Terrifying
Slam (d10+3 damage) 20 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities:
Many limbs,
heads, and so on
Corpses sewn unto corpses make up the bulk of
these shambling masses of dark magic. Most
undead are crafted to be controlled—made to
serve some purpose like building a tower or
serving as guardians. Not so the abomination.
The last aspect of the ritual used to grant fire
to their hellish limbs invokes a hatred so se-
vere that the abomination knows but one task:
to tear and rend at the very thing it cannot
have—life. Many students of the black arts
learn to their mortal dismay the most impor-
tant fact about these hulks. An abomination
knows no master. Instinct : To end life
•
Tear flesh apart
•
Spill forth putrid guts
Banshee Solitary, Magical, Intelli-
gent
Scream (d10 damage) 16 HP 0 Armor
Near
Special Qualities: Insubstantial
Comeawayfromanencounterwithoneofthese
vengeful spirits merely deaf and count your-
self lucky for the rest of your peaceful, silent
days. Oftenmistakenatfirstglanceforaghost
or wandering spirit, the Banshee reveals a far
more deadly talent for sonic assault when an-
gered. And angered they are. A victim of be-
trayal(oftenbyalovedone)theBansheemakes
known their displeasure with a roar or scream
thatcanputrefyfleshandrendthesenses. Ifyou
can, help them get their vengeance and they’ve
been known to grant rewards. Whether the
affection of a spurned spirit is a thing you’d
want, well, that’s another question. Instinct :
To avenge
•
Drown out all other sound with a
ceaseless scream
•
Unleash a skull-splitting noise
•
Disappear into the mists
Devourer Solitary,
Large,
Intelli-
gent, Hoarder
Smash (d10+3 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Most folk know that the undead feed on flesh.
The warmth, blood and living tissue continue
their unholy existence. This is true for most of
the mindless dead, animated by black sorcery.
Not so the Devourer.
When a particularly
wicked person (often a manipulator of men,
an apostate priest or the like) dies in a grue-
some way, the dark powers of Dungeon World
might bring them back to a kind of life. The
Devourer, however, does not feed on the flesh
of men or elves. The Devourer eats souls. It
kills with a pleasure only the sentient can en-
joy and in the moments of its victims’ expiry,
draws breath like a drowning man and swal-
lows a soul. What does it mean to have your
soul eaten by such a creature? None dare ask
for fear of finding out. Instinct : To eat souls
•
Devour or trap dying soul
•
Bargain for a soul
Dragonbone Solitary, Huge
Bite (d10+3 damage 3 piercing) 20 HP 2
Armor
Reach, Messy
Mysticalsorcerersdebate: isthiscreaturetruly
undead or is it a golem made of a particularly
rare and blasphemous material? The bones,
sinews and scales of a dead dragon make up
this bleak automaton. Winged but flightless,
dragon-shaped but without the mighty fire of
such a noble thing, the Dragonbone serves its
master with a twisted devotion and is often set
to assault the keeps and towers of rival necro-
mancers. It would take a being of some con-
siderable evil to twist the remains of a dragon
thus. Instinct : To serve
•
Attack unrelentingly
Draugr Horde, Organized
Rustysword(d6+1damage)7HP2Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Icy touch
In the Nordemark, the men and women tell
tales in their wooden halls of a place where the
nobledeadgo. Ameadhallatoptheirheavenly
mountain where men of valor go to await the
final battle for the world. It is a goodly place.
It is a place where one hopes to go when they
die. And the inglorious dead? Those who fall
to poison or in an act of cowardice, warriors
though they may be? Well, those mead halls
aren’topentoallandsundry. Somecomeback,
frozen and twisted and empowered by jealous
rage and wage their eternal war not on the
forces of giants or trolls but on the towns of the
men they once knew. Instinct : To take from
the living
•
Freeze flesh
•
Call on the unworthy dead
Ghost Solitary, Devious, Terrifying
Phantom touch (d6 damage) 16 HP 0 Ar-
mor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Insubstantial
Every culture tells the story the same way. You
live, you love or hate, you win or you lose, you
die somehow you’re not too fond of and here
you are, ghostly and full of disappointment
and what have you. Some people take it upon
themselves, brave and kindly folks, to seek out
the dead and help them pass to their rightful
rest. You can find them, most times, down
at the tavern drinking away the terrors they’ve
seenorbabblingtothemselvesinthemadhouse.
Death takes a toll on the living, no matter how
you come by it. Instinct : To haunt
•
Reveal the terrifying nature of death
•
Offer information from the other
side, at a price
Ghoul Group
Talons (d8 damage 1 piercing) 10 HP 1
Armor
Legions of the Undead
77
Close, Messy
Hunger.
Hunger hunger hunger.
Desper-
ate clinging void-stomach-emptiness hunger.
Sharp talons to rend flesh and teeth to tear
and crack bones and suck out the soft marrow
inside. Vomit up hate and screaming jealous
anger and charge on twisted legs—scare the
living flesh and sweeten it ever more with the
stink of fear. Feast. Peasant or knight, wizard,
sage,prince,orpriestallmakeforsuchdelicious
meat. Instinct : To eat
•
Gnaw off a body part
•
Gain the memories of their meal
Lich Solitary, Magical, Intelligent,
Cautious, Hoarder, Construct
Enervate (d10+3 damage ignores armor)
16 HP 5 Armor
Near, Far
“At the end, they give you a scroll and a jew-
eled medallion to commemorate your achieve-
ments. Grand Master of Abjuration, I was
called, then. Old man. Weak and wizened
and just a bit too senile for them—hose jealous
halfwits. Barely apprentices, and they called
themselvesTheNewCouncil. Itmakesmesick,
or would, if I still could be. They told me it was
an honor and I would be remembered forever.
It was like listening to my own eulogy. Fitting,
in a way, don’t you think? It took me another
ten years to learn the rituals and another four
to collect the material and you see before you
the fruits of my labour. I endure. I live. I will
see the death of this age and the dawn of the
next. It pains me to have to do this, but, you
see, you cannot be permitted to endanger my
research. When you meet Death, say hello for
me, would you?” Instinct : To un-live
•
Cast a perfected spell of death or de-
struction
•
Set a ritual or great working into mo-
tion
•
Reveal a preparation or plan already
completed
Mohrg Group
Bite (d8 damage) 10 HP 0 Armor
Close
You never get away with murder. Not really.
You might evade the law, might escape your
own conscience in the end and die, fat and
happy in a mansion somewhere. When the
gods themselves notice your misdeeds, though,
that’s where your luck runs out and a Mohrg
is born. The Mohrg is a skeleton—flesh and
skin and hair all rotted away. All but their
guts—theirtwisted,knottedgutsstillspillfrom
their bellies, magically preserved and often
wrapped, noose-like, about their necks. They
do not think, exactly, but they suffer. They kill
and wreak havoc and their souls do not rest.
Such is the punishment, both on them for the
crimeandonallmankindfordaringtomurder
one another. The gods are just and they are
harsh. Instinct : To wreak havoc
•
Rage
•
Add to their collection of guts
Mummy Solitary, Divine, Hoarder
Smash (d10+2 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
Close
Therearecultureswhoreverethedead. Theydo
notburytheminthecoldearthandmourntheir
passing. These people spend weeks preparing
the sacred corpse for its eternal rest. Temples,
pyramids, and great vaults of stone are built to
housethemandarepopulatedwithslaves, pets
andgold. Thebettertoliveinluxurybeyondthe
Black Gates, no? Do not be tempted by these
vaults—oh, I know that greedy look! Heed my
warnings or risk a terrible fate, for the honored
dead do not wish to be disturbed. Thievery will
only raise their ire—do not say I did not warn
you! Instinct : To enjoy eternal rest
•
Curse them
•
Wrap them up
•
Rise again
Nightwing Horde, Stealthy
Rend (d6 damage) 7 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Wings
Scholars of the necromantic arts will tell you
that the appellation “undead” applies not only
to those who have lived, died, and been re-
turned to a sort of partway living state. It
is the proper name of any creature whose en-
ergy originates beyond the Black Gates. The
creature men call the nightwing is one such
creature—empowered by the negative light of
Death’s domain. Taking the shape of massive,
shadowy, winged creatures (some more bat-
like,somelikevultures,otherslikesomeancient,
leatherythings)nightwingstravelinpredatory
flocks, swooping down to strip the flesh from
cattle, horses and unlucky peasants out past
curfew. Watch the night sky for their red eyes
and listen for their screeching call and hope to
thegodsyouhavesomethingtohideunderuntil
they pass. Instinct : To hunt
•
Attack from the night sky
•
Fly away with prey
Shadow Horde, Large, Magical, Con-
struct
ShadowTouch(d6+1damage)11HP4Ar-
mor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Shadow Form
We call to the elements. We call on fire, ever-
burning. We summon water, life-giving. We
beseech the earth, stable-standing. We cry to
the air, forever-changing. These elements we
recognize and give our thanks but ask to pass.
The elemental we call upon this night knows
another name. We call upon the element of
Night. Shadow, we name you. Death’s mes-
senger and black assassin, we claim for our
own. Accept our sacrifice and do our bidding
‘til the morning come. Instinct : To darken
•
Snuff out light
•
Spawn another shadow from the
dead
Sigben Horde, Large, Construct
Tail whip (d6+1 damage) 11 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Vampire spawn
Aswang-hound and hopping whip-tail! Sent
by vampires on their two, twisted legs, these
ugly things look like the head of a rat or a
crocodile, maybe, furry though and sharp of
tooth. They have withered wings, but cannot
usethemandlong,whippingtails,spurredwith
poison tips. Stupid, vengeful and mischievous
they cause all kinds of chaos when let out of the
strange clay jars in which they’re born. Only
a vampire could love such a wretched thing.
Instinct : To disturb
•
Poison them
•
Do a vampire’s bidding
Skeleton Horde
Slam (d6 damage) 7 HP 1 Armor
Close
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. In-
stinct : To take the semblance of life
•
Act out what it did in life
•
Reveal a fact from its life
Spectre Solitary, Hoarder
Withering touch (d10 damage) 12 HP 0
Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Insubstantial
For some folk, when they pass, Death himself
cannot release their grip on the places they love
most. A priest whose devotion to the temple
is greater than that of his god.
A banking
guild official who cannot bear to part with his
vault. A drunk and his favourite tavern. All
make excellent spectres. They act not out of
the usual hunger that drive the undead, but
jealousy. Jealousythatanyoneelsemightcome
to love their home as much as them and drive
themout. Theseplacesbelongtothemandthese
invisiblespiritswillkillbeforethey’llletanyone
send them to their rest. Instinct : To drive life
from a place
•
Turn their haunt against a creature
•
Bring the environment to life
Vampire
Group,
Stealthy,
Orga-
nized, Intelligent
Supernaturalforce(d8+5damage1pierc-
ing) 10 HP 2 Armor
Close, Forceful
Special Qualities: Changing form,
ancient mind
Legions of the Undead
78
We fear them, because they call to us. So much
like us, or how we hope to be: beautiful, pas-
sionate, and powerful. They are drawn to us
forwhattheycannotbe: warm,kind,andalive.
These tormented souls can only hope, at most,
to pass their dreadful curse along. Every time
they feed they run the risk of passing along
their torture to another and in each one lives
the twisted seed of creator.
Vampires beget
vampires. Suffering begets suffering. Do not
be drawn in by their seduction or you may be
given their gift—a crown of shadows and the
chains eternal undying grief. Instinct : To
manipulate
•
Charm someone
•
Feed on their blood
•
Retreat to plan again
Wight-Wolf Horde, Organized, Intel-
ligent
Pounce (d6+1 damage 1 piercing) 7 HP 1
Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Shadow form
Likethenightwing,thewight-wolfisacreature
not spawned in our world. Somehow slipping
the seals of the Black Gates of Death, these
spirits take the shape of massive hounds or
shadowy wolves and hunt the living for sport.
They travel in packs, led by a mighty alpha,
but bear a kind of intelligence unknown to true
canines. Their wild hunts draw the attention
ofintelligentundead—liches,vampiresandthe
like—who will sometimes make pacts with the
alphaandserveagrimpurposetogether. Listen
for the baying of the hounds of Death and pray
that they do not howl for you. Instinct : To
hunt
•
Encircle prey
•
Summon the pack
Zombie Horde
Bite (d6 damage) 11 HP 1 Armor
Close
Whenthere’snomoreroominHell . . . Instinct
: Braaaaaains
•
Attack with overwhelming numbers
•
Corner them
•
Gain strength from the dead, spawn
more zombies
Gnarled Woods
79
30
Gnarled
Woods
Assassin Vine Solitary,
Stealthy,
Gibbous
Thorns (d10 damage 1 piercing) 15 HP 1
Armor
Close, Reach, Messy
Special Qualities: Plant
Among the animals there exists a clear divi-
sion ‘tween hunter and hunted. All it takes is a
glance to know—by fangs and glowing eyes or
claws or venomous sting—which of the crea-
ture of this world are meant to kill and which
stand to be killed. Such a split, if you have
the eyes to see it, cuts the world of leaves and
flowers in twain, as well. Druids in their forest
circles know it. Rangers, too, might spot such
a plant before it’s too late. Lay folk, though,
they wander where they oughtn’t—paths into
the deep woods covered in creeping vines and
with a snap, these hungry ropes snap tight,
draggingtheirmeatypreyintotheunderbrush.
Mind your feet, traveller. Instinct : To grow
•
Shoot forth new growth
•
Attack the unwary
Blink Dog Group, Small, Magical, Or-
ganized
Bite (d8 damage) 6 HP 4 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Illusion
Now you see it, now you don’t. Hounds once
owned by a sorcerer lord and imbued with a
kind of illusory cloak, they escaped into the
woods around his lair and began to breed with
wolvesandwilddogsoftheforest. Youcanspot
them, if you’re lucky, by the glittering silver of
their coats and their strange, ululating howls.
They have a remarkable talent for being not-
quite where they appear to be and use it to take
down prey much stronger than themselves. If
you find yourself facing a pack of blink dogs
youmightwellcloseyoureyesandfight. You’ll
have an easier time when not betrayed by your
naturalsight. Bysuchsorceriesarethenatural
places of the world polluted with unnatural
things. Instinct : To hunt
•
Give the appearance of being some-
where they’re not
•
Summon the pack
•
Move with amazing speed
Centaur Horde, Large, Organized,
Intelligent
Bow (d6+2 damage 1 piercing) 11 HP 1 Ar-
mor
Close, Reach, Near
SpecialQualities: Half-horse,Half-
man
It will be a gathering of clans unseen in this
age. Call Stormhoof and Brightspear. Sum-
mon Whitemane and Ironflanks. Sound the
hornandweshallbeginourmeeting—weshall
speak the words and bind our people together.
Too long have the men cut the ancient trees
for their ships. The elves are weak and cow-
ardly, friend to these mannish slime. It will be
a cleansing fire from the darkest woods. Raise
the red banner of war! Today we strike back
againsttheseapesandretakewhatisours! In-
stinct : To rage
•
Overrun them
•
Move with unrelenting speed
Chaos Ooze Solitary, Planar, Terri-
fying, Gibbous
Warping touch (d10 damage ignores ar-
mor) 23 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Ooze, Fragments
of other planes embedded in it
The barrier between Dungeon World and the
Elemental Planes is not, as you might hope, a
wall of stone. It’s much more porous. Thin-
like, with holes. Places where the civil races
do not often tread can sometimes, how to put
this, spring a leak. Like a dam come just a
little loose. Bits and pieces of the chaos spill
out. Sometimes, they’ll congeal like an egg on
a pan—that’s where we get the material for
many of the Guild’s magical trinkets.
Use-
ful, right? Sometimes, though, it squirms and
squishesaroundabitandstaysthatway,warp-
ingallittouchesintosomeother, strangeform.
Chaos begets chaos, and it grows. Instinct :
To change
•
Cause a change in appearance or sub-
stance
•
Briefly bridge the planes
Cockatrice Group, Small, Hoarder
Peck (d8 damage) 6 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Stone touch
I ain’t ever seen such a thing, sir.
Rodrick
thought it a chicken, maybe. Poor Rodrick. I
figured it to be a lizard of a sort, though he
was right—it had a beak and grey feathers
like a chicken. Right, well, see, we found it
in the woods, in a nest at the foot of a tree
while we were out with the sow. Looking for
mushrooms, sir. I told Rodrick we were—yes,
sir, right sir, the bird—see, it was glaring at
Rodrick and he tried to scare it off with a stick
to steal the eggs but the thing pecked his hand.
Quickitwas,too. Itriedtogethimawaybuthe
just got slower and slower and . . . yes, as you
see him now, sir. All frozen up like when we
left the dog out overnight in winter two years
back. Poor, stupid Rodrick. Weren’t no bird
nor lizard, were it, sir? Instinct : To defend
the nest
•
Start a slow transformation to stone
Dryad Solitary, Magical, Intelligent,
Devious, Gibbous
Gnarled Woods
80
Crushing vines (2d10·w damage) 23 HP 5
Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Plant
Morebeautifulbyfarthananymanorwoman
born in the civil realms. To gaze upon one is
to fall in love. Deep and punishing, too. Thing
is, they don’t love. Not the fleshy folk who
often find them, though. Their love is a pri-
mal thing, married to the woods—to a great
oak that serves as home and mother and sa-
cred place to them. It’s a curse to see one, too,
they’ll never love you back. No matter what
you do. No matter how you pledge yourself to
them, they’ll always spurn you. If ever their
oakcomestoharm,you’venotonlythedryad’s
wrath to contend with, but in every nearby vil-
lagethere’sascoreofmenwithasecretlonging
in their heart, ready to murder you where you
sleep for just a smile from such a creature. In-
stinct : To love nature passionately
•
Entice a mortal
•
Merge into a tree
•
Turn nature against them
Eagle Lord Group, Large, Organized,
Intelligent
Claw (2d8·b+1 damage 1 piercing) 10 HP 1
Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Mighty wings
Some the size of horses.
Bigger, even—the
Kings and Queens of the Eagles.
Their cry
pierces the mountain sky and woe to those who
fall under the shadow of their mighty wings.
Theancientwizardsforgedapactwiththemin
theprimordialdays. Menwouldtaketheplains
and valleys and leave the mountaintops to the
EagleLords. Thesesacredpactsshouldbehon-
ored, lest they set their talons into you. Lucky
are the elves, for the makers of their bonds yet
liveandwhendangercomestoElvishlands,the
EagleLordsoftenserveasspiesandmountsfor
the elves. Long-lived and proud, some might
be willing to trade their ancient secrets for the
right price, too. Instinct : To rule the heights
•
Attack from the sky
•
Pull someone into the air
•
Call on ancient oaths
Elvish Warrior Horde, Intelligent,
Organized
Sword (2d6·b damage) 3 HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Sharp sense
Like all the elves do, war is an art. I saw them
fight, once. The Battle of Astrid’s Veil. Yes, I
am that old, boy, now hush. She was clad in
platethat shone like the winter sky. White hair
streaming and a pennant of ocean blue tied to
her spear. She seemed to glide across between
the trees the way an angel might, striking out
and bathing her blade in blood that steamed in
thecoldair. Ineverfeltsosmallbefore. Itrained
with the master-at-arms of Battlemoore, you
know. I’veheldaswordlongerthanyou’vebeen
alive, boy, and in that one moment I knew that
my skill meant nothing. Thank the gods the
elves were with us then. A more beautiful and
terrible thing I have not seen since. Instinct :
To seek perfection
•
Strike at a weak point
•
Set ancient plans in motion
•
Use the woods to advantage
Elvish High Arcanist Solitary, Magi-
cal, Intelligent, Organized
Flame (d10 damage ignores armor) 12 HP
0 Armor
Near, Far
Special Qualities: Sharp senses
True elvish magic isn’t like the spells of men.
Mannish wizardry is all rotes and formulas.
They cheat to find the arcane secrets that re-
soundallaroundthem. Theyaredeaftothear-
canesymphony that sings in the woods. Elvish
magic is fine ear to hear it and the voice with
which to sing. To harmonize with what is al-
readyresounding. Menbindtheforcesofmagic
to their will; Elves simply pluck the strings and
humalong. TheHighArcanists,inaway,have
become more and less than any elf. The beat of
their blood is the throbbing of all magic in this
world. Instinct : To unleash power
•
Work the magic that wants to be
worked
•
Cast forth the elements
Griffin Group, Large, Organized
Claw (d8+3 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Wings
On first glance, one might mistake the Griffin
foranothermagicalmistakeliketheManticore
or the Chimera. It looks the part, doesn’t it?
These creatures have the regal haughtiness of
a lion and the arrogant bearing of a eagle but
temper it with the unshakeable loyalty of both.
To earn the friendship of a Griffin is to have an
ally all your living days. Truly a gift, that. If
you’reeverluckyenoughtomeetoneberespect-
ful and deferential above all else. It may not
seem it but they can tell and answer perceived
slights with a sharp beak and talons. Instinct
: To serve allies
•
Carry an ally aloft
•
Strike from above
Ogre Group, Large, Intelligent
Club (d8+5 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
A tale, then. Somewhere in the not-so-long
history of the Mannish race there was a divide.
In days when men were merely dwellers-in-
the-mud with no magic to call their own, they
split in two: one camp left their caves and the
dark forests and built the First City to honor
the gods. The others, a wild and savage lot,
retreated into darkness. They grew, there. In
the deep woods a grim loathing for their softer
kin gave them strength. They found dark gods
of their own, there in the woods and hills. Ages
passed and they bred tall and strong and full
of hate. We have forged steel and they match
it with their savagery. We may have forgotten
ourcommonroots,butsomewhere,deepdown,
the Ogres remember. Instinct : To return the
world to darker days
•
Destroy something
•
Topple trees
•
Bring down the roof
Hill Giant Group, Huge, Intelligent,
Organized
Rock (d8+3 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Reach, Near, Far, Forceful
Ever seen an ogre before? Bigger than that.
Dumberandmeaner,too. Hopeyoulikehaving
cows thrown at you. Instinct : To hurl
•
Throw something
•
Shake the earth
Razor Boar Solitary
Bite (d10 damage 3 piercing) 16 HP 1 Ar-
mor
Close, Messy
The tusks of the razor boar shred metal plate
like so much tissue. Voracious, savage and un-
stoppable, they tower over their mundane kin.
To kill one? A greater trophy of bravery and
skillishardtoname,thoughIheararazorboar
killedtheDrunkardKinginasinglethrust. You
think you’re a better hunter than he? Instinct
: To shred
•
Rip them apart
•
Rend armor and weapons
Sprite Horde, Tiny, Stealthy, Magi-
cal, Devious, Intelligent
Dagger (2d4·w damage) 3 HP 0 Armor
Hand
SpecialQualities: Wings,FeyMagic
I’dclassifythemelementals,exceptthat“Being
Annoying”isn’tanelement. Instinct: Toplay
tricks
•
Play a trick to expose someone’s true
nature
•
Confuse their senses
•
Craft an illusion
Treant Group,
Huge,
Intelligent,
Gibbous
Wallop (d8+5 damage) 21 HP 4 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Wooden
Old and tall and thick of bark
walk amidst the tree-lined dark
Gnarled Woods
81
Strong and slow and forest-born
the treants anger quick, we warned
If to the woods with axe ye go
know the treants be thy foe
Instinct : To protect nature
•
Move with implacable strength
•
Set down roots
•
Spread old magic
Werewolf Solitary, Intelligent
Bite (d10+2 damage 1 piercing) 12 HP 1
Armor
Close, Messy
Special Qualities: Weak to silver
Beautiful, isn’t it? The moon, I mean. She’s
watching us, you know? Her pretty silver eyes
watch us while we sleep. Mad, too—like all the
most beautiful ones. If she were a woman, I’d
bendmykneeandmakehermywifeonthespot.
No, I didn’t ask you here to speak about her,
though. Thechains? Foryoursafety,notmine.
I’m cursed, you see. You must have suspected.
The sorcerer-kings called it “lycanthropy” in
their day—passed on by a bite to make more
of our kind. No, I could find no cure. Please,
Don’t be scared. You have the arrows I gave
you? Silver, yes. Ah, you begin to understand.
Don’t cry, sister. You must do this for me. I
cannot bear more blood on my hands. You
must end this. For me. Instinct : To shed the
appearance of civilization
•
Transform to pass unnoticed as beast
or man
•
Strike from within
•
Hunt like man and beast
Worg Horde, Organized
Bite (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
As horses are to the civil races, so go the worg
to the goblins. Mounts, fierce in battle, ridden
by only the bravest and most dangerous, are
found and bred in the forest primeval to serve
the goblins in their wars on men. The only safe
worg is a pup, separated from its mother. If
you can find one of these, or make orphans of a
litterwithasharpsword,you’vegotwhatcould
become a loyal protector or hunting hound in
time. Train it well, mind you, for the worg are
smartandneverquitefreeoftheirprimalurges.
Instinct : To serve
•
Carry a rider into battle
•
Give its rider an advantage
Satyr Group, Devious, Magical, Hoarder
Charge (2d8·w damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Enchantment
One of only a very few creatures to be found
in the old woods that don’t right out want to
maim, kill, or eat us.
They dwell in glades
pierced by the sun, and dance on their funny
goat-legs to enchanting music played on pipes
made of bone and silver. They smile easily and,
solongasyoupleasethemwithjokesandsport,
will treat our kind with friendliness. They’ve
a mean streak, though, so if you cross them,
make haste elsewhere; very few things hold a
grudge like the stubborn Satyr. Instinct : To
enjoy
•
Pull others into revelry through
magic
•
Force gifts upon them
•
Play jokes with illusions and tricks
Ravenous Hordes
82
31
Ravenous
Hordes
Formian Drone Horde, Organized,
Cautious
Bite (d6 damage) 7 HP 4 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Hive connection,
Insectoid
With good cause, they say that these creatures
(likeallinsects,really)areclaimedbythepowers
ofLaw. Theyareordermadeflesh—aperfectly
stratified society in which every larva, hatch-
ling and adult knows their place in the great
hive. The Formian is some strange intersec-
tion of men and ants (though there are winged
tribes that look like ants out in the Western
Desert, I’ve heard. And some with great saw-
tooth arms like mantids in the forests of the
east).
Tall, with a hard shell and a harder
mind, these particular Formians are the bot-
tomcaste. Theyworkthehillsandhoneycombs
withsingle-mindedjoythatcanbeknownonly
by such an alien mind. Instinct : To follow
orders
•
Raise the alarm
•
Create value for the hive
•
Assimilate
Formian Taskmaster Group, Orga-
nized, Intelligent
Spiked whip (d8 damage) 6 HP 3 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Hive connection,
Insectoid
It takes two hands to rule an empire: one to
wield the scepter and one to crack the whip.
These ant-folk are that whip. Lucky for them,
with two extra arms, that’s a lot of whip to
crack. They oversee the vast swarms of worker
dronesthatsettobuildthemightycavernsand
zigguratsthatdottheplacesthatformianscan
be found. One in a hundred, these brutes stand
two or three feet taller than their pale, near-
mindless kin and have a sharper, crueler wit to
match. They’ll often ignore the soft races (as
we’re known) if we don’t interfere in a project,
but get in the way of The Great Work and
expect nothing less than their full attention.
You don’t want their full attention. Instinct :
To command
•
Order drones into battle
•
Set great numbers in motion
Formian Centurion Horde, Intelli-
gent, Organized
Barbed spear (2d6·b+2 damage) 7 HP 3
Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Hive connection,
Insectoid, Wings
Whether in the form of a legionnaire, part of
theFormianstandingarmy, orasapraetorian
guard to the queen, every formian hive contain
a great number of these most dangerous insec-
toids. Darker in carapace, often scarred with
furrows and the ceremonial markings that set
themapartfromtheirdrones, theformiancen-
turions are their fighting force and rightly so.
Born,bredandlivingonlyforthesingularpur-
pose to kill the enemies of their kind, they fight
with one mind and a hundred swords. Thus
far, the powers of Law have seen fit to spare
mankind a great war with these creatures,
but we’ve seen them in skirmish—descending
sometimes on border towns with their wings
flickeringintheheatorspillingupfromasandy
moundtowipecleananewly-dugmine. Theirs
is an orderly bloodshed, committed with no
pleasurebutthecompletionofagoal. Instinct
: To fight as ordered
•
Advance as one
•
Summon reinforcements
•
Give a life for the hive
Formian Queen Solitary, Huge, Or-
ganized, Intelligent, Hoarder
Smash (d10+5 damage) 24 HP 3 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Hive connection,
Insectoid
At the heart of every hive, no matter its size
or kind, lives a queen. As large as any giant,
she sits protected by her guard, served by every
drone and taskmaster with her own, singular
purpose: to spread her kind and grow the hive.
To birth the eggs.
To nurture.
We do not
understand the minds of these creatures but
it is known they can communicate with their
children, somehow, over vast distances and
that they begin to teach them the ways of earth
andstoneandwarwhilestillpaleandwriggling
larva,withoutaword. Tokilloneistosetchaos
on the hive; without their queen, the rest turn
on one another in a mad, blind rage. Instinct
: To spread formians
•
Call every formian it spawned
•
Release a half-formed larval muta-
tion
•
Set designs on a formian goal
Gnoll Tracker Group, Organized, In-
telligent
Bow (d8 damage) 6 HP 1 Armor
Near, Far
Special Qualities: Scent
Ravenous Hordes
83
Once they scent your blood, you can’t escape.
Not without intervention from the gods, or the
duke’s rangers at least. The desert scrub is a
dangerous place to go exploring on your own
and if you fall and break your leg or eat the
wrong cactus, well, you’ll be lucky if you die of
thirst before the gnolls find you. They prefer
their prey alive, see—cracking bones and the
screams of the dying lend a sort of succulence
to a meal. Sickening creatures, no? They’ll
hunt you, slow and steady, as you die. If you
hearlaughterinthedesertwind,well,bestpray
Death comes to take you before they do. In-
stinct : To prey on weakness
•
Doggedly track prey
•
Strike at a moment of weakness
Gnoll Emissary Solitary, Divine, In-
telligent, Organized
Ceremonial dagger (d10+2 damage) 18
HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Scent
Oh, an emissary! How nice. I suspect you
didn’t know the Gnolls had ambassadors, did
you? Yes, even these mangy hyenas have to
makenicesometimes. No, no, notwithus. Nor
the dwarves, neither. No, the Emissary is the
one, among his packmates, who trucks directly
with their dripping demon lord. Frightening?
Too right. Every hound has a master with his
handonthechain. Thisgnollhearshismaster’s
voice. Hears it and obeys. Instinct : To share
divine insight
•
Pass on demonic influence
•
Drive the pack into a fervor
Gnoll Alpha Solitary, Intelligent, Or-
ganized
Sword (d10·b damage 1 piercing) 12 HP 2
Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Scent
Every pack has its top dog.
Bigger,
maybe—that’d be the simplest way.
Often,
though, with these lank and filthy mutts, it’s
not about size or sharp teeth but about cruelty.
About a willingness to kill your brothers and
eat them while the pack watches. Willingness
to desecrate the pack in a way that cows them
to you. If they’re that awful to each other—to
their living kin—think about how they must
view us. It’s hard to be mere meat in a land of
these kinds of predators. Instinct : To drive
the pack
•
Demand obedience
•
Send the pack to hunt
Orc Bloodwarrior Horde,
Intelli-
gent, Organized
Jagged blade (d6+2 damage 1 piercing) 3
HP 0 Armor
Close, Messy
The orcish horde is a savage, bloodthirsty, and
hatefulcollectionoftribes. Therearemythsand
storiesthattelloftheoriginoftheirrage—ade-
mon curse, a homeland destroyed, elven magic
gone wrong—but the truth has been lost to
time. Everyableorc,beitmanorwoman,child
or elder, swears fealty to the warchief and their
tribe and bears the jagged blade of a bloodwar-
rior. Men are trained to fight and kill—orcs
are born to it. Instinct : To fight
•
Fight with abandon
•
Revel in destruction
Orc Berserker Solitary, Large, Di-
vine, Intelligent, Organized
Cleaver (d10+5 damage) 20 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Mutations
Stained in the unholy ritual of Anointing By
The Night’s Blood, some warriors of the horde
risetoakindoftwistedknighthood. Theytrade
their sanity for this honor, stepping halfway
into a world of swirling madness. This makes
Berserkers the greatest of their tribe, though
as time passes, the chaos spreads. The rare
Berserker that lives more than a few years be-
comes horrible and twisted, growing horns or
an extra arm with which to grasp the iron
cleavers they favor in battle. Instinct : To
rage
•
Fly into a frenzy
•
Unleash chaos
Orc Breaker Solitary, Large
Massivehammer(d10+3damageignores
armor) 16 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Before you set out across the hordeland, brave
sir, hark a moment to the tale of Sir Regnus.
Regnus was like you, sir—a Paladin of the Or-
der, all a-shine in his armored plate and with
a shield as tall as a man. Proud he was of
it, too—Mirrorshield, he called himself. Tale
goes that he’d set his eyes on rescuing some lost
priest, a kidnap from the abbey on the borders.
Regnus came across some orcs in his travels, a
dozen or so, and thought, as one might, that
they’d be no match. Battle was joined and all
was well until one of them orcs emerged from
the fray with a hammer bigger than any man
ought to be able to wield. Built more like an
ogreoratroll,theysayitwas,andwithasingle
swing, it crushed Regnus to the ground, shield
and all. It were no ordinary orc, they say. It
were a breaker. They can’t make plate of their
own, see, so maybe it’s jealousy drives these
burly things to crush and shatter the way they
do. Effective tactic, though. Careful out there.
Instinct : To smash
•
Destroy armor or protection
•
Lay low the mighty
Orc One-Eye Group, Divine, Magical,
Intelligent, Organized
InflictWounds(d8+2damageignoresar-
mor) 6 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach, Near, Far
Special Qualities: One eye
In the name of He Of Riven Sight and by the
First Sacrifice of Elf-Flesh do we invoke the
Old Powers. By the Second Sacrifice, I make
my claim to what is mine—the dark magic of
Night. In His image, I walk the path to Gor-
sha-thak, the Iron Gallows! I call to the runes!
I call to the clouded sky!
Take this mortal
organ,eatofthefleshofourenemyandgiveme
what is mine! Instinct : To hate
•
Rend flesh with divine magic
•
Take an eye
•
Make a sacrifice
Orc Shaman Solitary, Intelligent,
Organized
Flame (d10 damage ignores armor) 12 HP
0 Armor
Close, Reach, Near, Far
SpecialQualities: Elementalpower
The orcs are as old a race as any. They cast
bones in the dirt and called to the gods in the
treesandstoneastheelvesbuilttheirfirstcities.
They have waged wars, conquered kingdoms,
and fallen into corruption in the aeons it took
for men to crawl from their caves and dwarves
to first see the light of the sun. Fitting, then,
that the old ways still hold. They summon the
powers of the world to work, to fight and to
protect their people, as they have since the first
nights. Instinct : To strengthen orc-kind
•
Give protection of earth
•
Give power of fire
•
Give swiftness of water
•
Give clarity of air
Orc Slaver Horde, Stealthy, Intelli-
gent, Organized
Whip (d6 damage) 3 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Red sails fly in the southern sea. Red sails and
ships of bone, old wood and iron. The warfleet
of the horde. Orcs down that way have taken
to the sea, harassing island towns and stealing
awaywithfishermenandtheirkin. It’ssaidthe
custom is spreading north and the orcs learn
the value of free work. Taken to it like a sacred
task—especially if they can get their hands on
elves. Hard to think of a grimmer fate than to
live out your life under a lash in an orcish fist.
Instinct : To take
•
Take a captive
•
Pin someone under a net
•
Drug them
Orc Shadowhunter Solitary, Stealthy,
Magical, Intelligent
Poisoned dagger (d10 damage 1 piercing)
10 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Shadow cloak
Ravenous Hordes
84
Noteveryattackbyorcsistorchesandscream-
ing and enslavement. Amongst those who fol-
low He Of Riven Sight, poison and murder-in-
the-dark are considered sacred arts. Enter the
shadowhunter. Orcs cloaked in Night’s magic
who slip into camps, towns and temples and
end the lives of those within. Do not be so dis-
tractedbythehowlingoftheberserkersthatyou
do not notice the knife at your back. Instinct :
To kill in darkness
•
Poison them
•
Melt into the shadows
•
Cloak them in darkness
Orc Warchief Solitary, Intelligent,
Organized
IronSwordofAges(2d10·b+2damage)16
HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities:
One-Eye bless-
ings, Shaman blessings
There are chiefs and there are leaders of the
tribes among the orcs. There are those who rise
to seize power and fall under the machinations
of their foes. There is but one Warchief. One
orc in all the horde who stands above the rest,
bearing the blessings of the One-Eyes and the
Shamans both. Who walks with the elements
underNight. WhobearstheIronSwordofAges
and carries the ancient grudge against the civil
races on his shoulders. The warchief is to be
respected, to be obeyed and above all else, to be
feared. All glory to the Warchief. Instinct :
To lead
•
Start a war
•
Make a show of power
•
Enrage the tribes
Triton Spy Solitary, Stealthy, Intelli-
gent, Organized
Trident (2d10·w damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close, Near
Special Qualities: Aquatic
A fishing village caught one in their net, some
time ago. Part a man and part some scaly sea
creature, it spoke in a broken, spy-learned form
of the common tongue before it suffocated in
the open air. It told the fishermen of a coming
tide, an inescapable swell of the power of some
deep-sea god and that the triton empire would
rise up and drag the land down into the ocean.
The tale spread and now, when fishermen sail
thechoppyseas,theywatchandworrythatthe
dying triton’s tales were true. That there are
powers deep below that watch and wait. They
fear the tide is coming in. Instinct : To spy on
the surface world
•
Reveal their secrets
•
Strike at weakness
Triton
Tidecaller
Group,
Divine,
Magical, Intelligent
Wave (d8+2 damage ignores armor) 6 HP
2 Armor
Near, Far
Special Qualities: Aquatic, Muta-
tions
Part priest, part outcast among their kind,
the tidecaller speaks with the voice of the
deeps.
They can be known by their muta-
tions—transparent skin, perhaps, or rows of
teeth like a shark. Glowing eyes or fingertips,
angler-lights in the darkness of their under-
water kingdom. They speak in strange tongue
thatcancallandcommandcreaturesofthesea.
They ride wild hippocampi and cast strange
spellsthatrotthroughthewoodendecksofships
or encrust them with barnacles heavy enough
to sink. It is the tidecallers who come, now,
back to the cities of the Triton, bearing word
that the prophecy is coming to pass. The world
of men will drown in icy brine. The tidecallers
speak and the Lords begin to listen. Instinct :
To bring on The Flood
•
Cast a spell of water and destruction
•
Command beasts of the sea
•
Reveal divine commands
Triton Sub-Mariner Group,
Orga-
nized Intelligent
Harpoon (2d8·b damage) 6 HP 3 Armor
Close, Near, Far
Special Qualities: Aquatic
The Triton are not a militant race by nature.
They shy away from battle except when the
sahuagin attack, and only then do they defend
themselves and retreat into the depths where
their foes can’t follow. This trend begins to
change. As the tidecallers come to rally their
people, some Triton men and women take up
arms. They call these generals “sub-mariners”
and build for them armor of shells and hard-
ened glass. They swim in formation, wielding
pikes and harpoons and attack the crews of
ships that wander too far from port. Watch
for their pennants of kelp on the horizon and
the conch-cry of a call to battle and keep, if you
can, yourboatsnearshore. Instinct: Towage
war
•
Lead Tritons to battle
•
Pull them beneath the waves
Triton Noble Group, Organized, In-
telligent
Trident (d8 damage) 6 HP 2 Armor
Close, Near, Far
Special Qualities: Aquatic
The Triton Ruling Houses were chosen, they
say,atthedawnoftime. Grantedlordshipover
all the races of the sea by some now-forgotten
god. These bloodlines continue, passing ruler-
shipfromfathertodaughterandmothertoson
through the ages. Each is allowed to rule their
city in whatever way they choose—some alone
orwiththeirspouses,othersincouncilofbroth-
ers and sisters. In ages past, they were known
fortheirsagacityandbloodlinesofeven-temper
were respected above all else. The tidecallers
prophecy is changing that: Nobles are expected
to be strong, not wise. The Nobles have begun
to respond, and it is feared by some that the
ancient blood is changing forever. It may be
too late to turn back. Time and tide wait for
none. Instinct : To lead
•
Stir tritons to war
•
Call reinforcements
Twisted Experiments
85
32
Twisted
Experiments
Bulette Solitary, Huge, Construct
Bite (d10+5 damage 3 piercing) 20 HP 3
Armor
Close, Forceful
Special Qualities: Burrowing
A seasoned caravan guard learns to listen for
the calls of a scout or sentry with a keen ear. A
few extra seconds after the alarm is raised can
mean life or death. Different cries mean dif-
ferent responses, too—a call of “orcs!” means
draw your sword and steady for blood but a
callof“bandits!”saysyoumightbeabletobar-
gain. One alarm from the scouts that always,
always means it’s time to pack up, whip your
horse and run for the hills? “LAND SHARK!”
Instinct : To devour
•
Drag prey into rough tunnels
•
Burst from the earth
•
Swallow whole
Chimera Solitary, Large, Construct
Bite (d10+1 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
Reach
Well known and categorized, the chimera is
a perfected creature. From the codices of the
Mage’sGuildtothefamouspagesofCullaina’s
Creature Compendium, there’s no confusion
aboutwhatChimerameans. Twopartslioness,
onepartserpent, headofashe-goat, andallthe
viciousmagiconecanmuster. Theactualritual
might vary, as might a detail or two—more
creative sorcerers switch the flame breath for
acid, perhaps. Used as a guardian, an assassin
or merely an instrument of chaos unchained,
it matters little. The chimera is the worst sort
of abomination: an intentional affront to all
natural life. Instinct : To do as commanded
•
Belch forth flame
•
Run them over
•
Poison them
Derro Horde, Devious, Intelligent,
Organized
Pickaxe (2d6·w damage) 3 HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Telepathy
It’s typical to think that all the malignant ar-
canemonstersmadeinthisworldarebirthedby
wizards, sorcerers, and their ilk. That the col-
leges and towers of Dungeon World are womb
to every bleak experiment. There are mistakes
madeinthedepthsoftheearth,too. Theseones,
the Derro, are the mistakes of a long-forgotten
dwarven alchemist.
The derro don’t forget,
though. Twisted and hateful, the Derro can
bespottedbytheirswollenskulls, brain-matter
grown too large. They do not speak except in
thoughts to one another and plot in the silent
dark to extract sweetest revenge—that of the
created on the creator. Instinct : To replace
dwarves
•
Fill a mind with foreign thoughts
•
Take control of a beast’s mind
Digester Solitary, Large, Construct
Acid(d10+1damageignoresarmor)16HP
1 Armor
Close, Reach
SpecialQualities: Digestacidsecre-
tion
It’s okay, magical experimentation is a messy
science. For every beautiful pegasus there’s a
half-done creature that wasn’t quite right. We
understand. The goblin-elephant you thought
was such a great idea. The Gelatinous Drake.
Just examples. No judgement here. Anyway,
we’ve got something for that. We call it the
Digester. Yes, just like it sounds. Strange look-
ing,Iknow,andthesmellisn’tthebest,butthis
thing—it’ll eat magic like Svenloff the Stout
drinks ale. Next time one of these unfortunate
accidents occurs, just point the Digester at it
and all your troubles drain away. Just keep an
eye on it. Damn thing ate my wand last week.
Instinct : To digest
•
Eat away at something
•
Draw sustenance
Ethereal Filcher Solitary, Devious,
Planar
Stolendagger(2d8·wdamage)12HP1Ar-
mor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Burrowing
Things go missing. A sock, a silver spoon, your
dead mother’s bones. We blame the maid, or
bad luck, or just a moment of stupid forget-
fulness and we move on. We never get to see
the real cause of these problems. The spidery
thingwithhumanhandsandeyesasblueasthe
deep ethereal from whence the creature comes.
We never see the nest it makes of astral silver
webbing and stolen objects arranged in some
madness pattern. We never watch it assem-
ble its collectionof halfling finger-bones, stolen
from the hands of the sleeping. We’re lucky,
that way. Instinct : To steal
•
Takesomethingimportanttoit’spla-
nar lair
•
Retreat to the Ethereal plane
•
Use an item from its lair
Ettin Solitary, Large, Construct
Club (d10+3 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Two heads
What could possibly be better than an idiotic
angry hill giant? One with two heads. Fan-
tasticidea, really. GradeAstuff. Instinct: To
smash
•
Attack two enemies at once
•
Defend its creator
Girallon Solitary, Huge
Rend (d10+5 damage) 20 HP 1 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Many arms
Twisted Experiments
86
The pounding of the jungle drums calls to it.
The slab of meat on the sacrificial stone to lure
intheGreatApe. Girallon,theycallit—aname
fromthelong-forgottentongueofthekingswho
bred the beast. Taller than a building, some
say. Cloaked in ivory fur with tusks as long
as scimitars. Four arms? Six? The rumors
are hard to verify. Every year it is the same:
some explorer visits the jungle villages seeking
theApeandreturn, neverquitethesame, never
witha trophy. The poundingofthe drumsgoes
on. Instinct : To rule
•
Answer the call of sacrifice
•
Drive them from the jungle
•
Throw someone
Iron Golem Group, Large, Construct
Slam (d8+5 damage) 10 HP 3 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Metal
A staple of the enchanters art. Every golemist
and mechano-thaumaturge in the Kingdoms
knows this. Iron is a misnomer, though. These
guardians are crafted of any metal, really.
Steel, copper, or even gold, in some small cases.
As much an art as a science, the crafting of
a fine golem is as respected in the Kingdoms
as a bridge newly built or a castle erected in
the mountains. Unceasing watchdogs, stal-
wart defenders, the iron golem lives to serve,
following its orders eternally. Any enchanter
worthhissaltcancraftone, ifhecanaffordthe
materials. If not . . . Instinct : To serve
•
Follow orders implacably
•
Use a special tool or adaptation built-
in
Flesh Golem Horde
Claw (d6+2 damage) 3 HP 0 Armor
Close, Forceful
Special Qualities: Many body parts
Stolen bits and pieces in the night. Graveyards
stealthilyuprootedandmaybetonightanarm.
A leg. Another head (the last one came apart
too soon). Even the humblest hedge-enchanter
can make due with what he can and, with a
little creativity, well—it’s not only the College
that can make life, hmm? We’ll show them.
Instinct : To live
•
Follow orders
•
Detach a body part
Kraken Solitary, Huge
Slam (d10+5 damage) 20 HP 2 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Aquatic
A cephalo-what? No, boy. Not “a kraken”
but “the kraken”. I don’t know what nonsense
they taught you at that school you say you’re
from, but here, we know to respect the Hun-
gerer. Right, that’s what we call it, The Hun-
gerer in the Deep to be more proper. Ain’t no
god, though we’ve got those, too. It’s a squid!
A mighty squid with tentacles thicker ‘round
than a barrel and eyes the size of the full moon.
Smart, too, the Hungerer. Knows just when to
strike—when you’re all too drunk or too tired
or run out of clean water, that’s when he gets
you. No, I ain’t ever seen him. I’m alive, aren’t
I? Instinct : To rule the ocean
•
Drag a person or ship to a watery
grave
•
Wrap them in tentacles
Manticore Solitary, Large, Construct
Sting (d10+1 damage 1 piercing) 16 HP 3
Armor
Close, Reach, Messy
Special Qualities: Wings
Ifthechimeraisthefirststepdownadarkpath,
the manticore is a door that can’t be closed
once its been opened. A lion, a scorpion, the
wings of a drake. All difficult to obtain but
not impossible and just animals, anyway. The
last component, the hissing hateful face of the
beast, is the ingredient that makes a manticore
so cruel.
Young or old, man or woman, it
matters not but that they are human, living
and breathing, married to the creature with
twisted magic. All sense of who they are is lost,
and maybe that’s a blessing, but the beast is
born from human suffering. No wonder, then,
that they’re all so eager to kill. Instinct : To
kill
•
Poison them
•
Rip something apart
Owlbear Solitary, Construct
Claw (d10 damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close
Bodyofabear. Feathersofanowl. Beak,claws,
and excellent night vision. What’s not to love?
Instinct : To hunt
•
Strike from darkness
Pegasus Group, Construct
Stomp (d8 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Wings
Don’t go thinking that every creature not
natural-born is a horrible abomination. Don’t
imagine for a second that they’re all tentacles
and screaming and blood or whatever. Take
this noble beast, for example. Lovely thing, is-
n’t it? A fine white horse with the wings of a
swan. Don’t look like it ought to be able to fly,
but it does. The elves work miracles, in their
ownway. Theybreedtrue—that’sthepurityof
elf-magic at work. Hatching from little crys-
tal eggs and bonded with their riders for life.
There’s still some beauty in the world, mark
my words. Instinct : To carry aloft
•
Carry a rider into the air
•
Give their rider an advantage
Rust Monster Group, Construct
Corrode (d8 damage ignores armor) 6 HP
3 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Corrosive touch
Averydistinctive-lookingcreature. Something
likeareddishcricket,Ithink. Longcricketylegs,
anyhow. Blind, too, as I understand it—they
feel their way around with those long moth-
looking tendrils.
Feed that way, too.
Sift
through piles of metal for the choicest bits.
That’s what they eat, don’t matter the type,
neither.
Their merest touch turns it all to
rusted flakes. Magic lasts longer but under
the scrutiny of a rust monster, it’s a foregone
conclusion. Only the gods know where they
camefrom,butthey’reacurseifyouvalueyour
belongings. Instinct : To decay
•
Turn metal to rust
•
Gainstrengthfromconsumingmetal
Xorn Solitary, Large, Construct
Maw (d10 damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Burrowing
Dwarf-made elemental garbage muncher.
Shaped like a trash bin with a radius of arms
to feed excess rock and stone into its gaping
maw.
They eat stone and excrete light and
heat. Perfect for operating a mine or digging
out a quarry. Once one gets lost in the sewers
below a city, though, or in the foundation of a
castle? You’re in deep trouble. They’ll eat and
eat until you’ve got nothing left but to collapse
the place down on it and move somewhere else.
Ask Burrin, Son of Fjornnvald, exile from his
clan. I bet he could tell you a story about a
Xorn. Instinct : To eat
•
Consume stone
•
Give off a burst of light and heat
Lower Depths
87
33
Lower
Depths
Aboleth Group, Huge, Intelligent
Tentacle (d8+3 damage) 18 HP 0 Armor
Reach
Special Qualities: Telepathy
Deepbelowthesurfaceoftheworld,infreshwa-
terseasuntouchedbythesundwelltheaboleth.
Fish the size of whales, with strange growths
of gelatinous feelers used to probe the light-
less shores. They’re served by slaves; blind al-
binovictimsofanyraceunfortunateenoughto
stumble on them, drained of thought and life
by the powers of the aboleth’s alien mind. In
thedepthstheybidandplotagainsteachother,
fishy cultists building and digging upward to-
wardsthesurfaceuntilsomeday,they’llbreach
it. For now, they sleep and dream and guide
their pallid minions to do their bidding. In-
stinct : To command
•
Invade a mind
•
Turn minions on them
•
Put a plan in motion
Apocalypse Dragon Solitary, Huge,
Magical, Divine
Bite (2d10·b+9 damage 4 piercing) 26 HP
5 Armor
Reach, Forceful, Messy
Special Qualities: Inch-thick metal
hide,Supernaturalknowledge,Wings
Theendofallthingsshallbeaburning—oftree
and earth and of the air itself. It shall come
upon the plains and mountains not from be-
yond this world but from within it. Birthed
from the womb of deepest earth shall come the
Dragon that Will End the World. In its pass-
ing all will become ash and bile and the earth
a dying thing will drift through planar space
devoid of life. They say to worship it is to invite
madness. They say to love it is to know obliv-
ion. The awakening is coming. Instinct : To
end the world
•
Set a disaster in motion
•
Breath forth the elements
•
Act with perfect knowledge
Chaos Spawn Solitary, Gibbous
Chaotic touch (d10 damage) 19 HP 1 Ar-
mor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Chaos form
Driven from the city, a cultist finds solace in
towns and villages. Discovered there, he flees
to the hills and scratches his devotion on the
cave walls. Found out, he is chased with knife
and torch into the depths, crawling deeper and
deeper until, in the deepest places, he loses his
way. First,heforgetshisname. Thenheforgets
his shape. His chaos gods, most beloved, bless
him with a new one. Instinct : To undermine
•
Rewrite reality
•
Unleash chaos from containment
Chuul Group, Large, Cautious
Claws (d8+1 damage 3 piercing) 10 HP 4
Armor
Close, Reach, Messy
Special Qualities: Amphibious
Let us, for a moment, consider the lobster. This
one is your worst seafood nightmare come to
life. A sort of vicious, half-man half-crawdad
cursed with primal intelligence and blessed
with a pair of razor-sharp claws.
Strange
things lurk in the stinking pools in caverns best
forgotten and the Chuul is one of them. If you
spot one, your best hope is a heavy mace to
crack its shell and maybe a little garlic butter.
Mmmm. Instinct : To split
•
Split something in two with mighty
claws
•
Retreat into water
Deep Elf Assassin Group, Intelli-
gent, Organized
Poisoned blade (d8 damage 1 piercing) 6
HP 1 Armor
Close
It was not so simple a thing as a war over re-
ligion or territory. No disagreement of Queens
led to the great sundering of the elves. It was
sadness. It was the very diminishing of the
world by the lesser races and the glory of all
the elves had built was cracking and turning
to glass. Some, then, chose to separate them-
selves from the world; wracked with tears they
turned their backs on men and dwarves. Oth-
ers, though, they were overcome with some-
thingnew. Afeelingnoelfhadfeltbefore. Spite.
Hatred filled these elves and twisted them and
they turned on their weaker cousins. Some still
remainafterthegreatexodusbelow. Somehide
amongst us with spider-poisoned blades, met-
ing out that strangest of punishments: elven
vengeance. Instinct : To spite
•
Poison them
•
Unleash an ancient spell
•
Call reinforcements
Deep Elf Swordmaster Group, Intel-
ligent, Organized
Barbed blade (2d8·b+2 damage 1 pierc-
ing) 6 HP 2 Armor
Close
The deep elves lost the sweetness and gentle
peace of their bright cousins ages ago but did
not abandon grace. They move with a swift-
ness and beauty that would bring a tear to any
warrior’s eye. In the dark, they’ve practiced. A
cruelty has infested their swordsmanship—a
wickedness comes to the fore. Barbed blades
and whips replace the shining pennant-spears
of surface elven battles. The swordmasters of
the deep elf clans do not merely seek to kill,
but to punish with every stroke of their blades.
Wickedness and pain are their currency. In-
stinct : To punish
•
Inflict pain beyond measure
•
Use the dark to advantage
Deep Elf Priest Solitary, Divine, In-
telligent, Organized
Smite (d10+2 damage) 14 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Divine connec-
tion
Lower Depths
88
The spirits of the trees and the lady sunlight
are far far from home in the depths where the
deep elves dwell. New gods were found, there,
waiting for their children to come home. Gods
ofthespiders,thefungalforests,andthingsthat
whisper in the forbidden caves. The deep elves,
everattunedtotheworldaroundthem,listened
withhatefulintenttotheirnewgodsandfound
a source of power yet unrealized. Hate calls
to hate and grim alliances were made. Even
among these spiteful ranks, piety finds a way
to express itself. Instinct : To pass on divine
vengeance
•
Weave spells of hatred and malice
•
Rally the deep elves
•
Pass on divine knowledge
Dragon Solitary, Huge, Terrifying,
Cautious, Hoarder
Bite (2d10·b+5 damage 4 piercing) 16 HP
5 Armor
Reach, Messy
SpecialQualities: Elementalblood,
Wings
They are the greatest and most terrible things
thisworldwilleverhavetooffer. Instinct: To
rule
•
Bend an element to its will
•
Demand tribute
•
Act with disdain
Gray Render Solitary, Large
Rend (d10+3 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
On its own, the render is a force of utter de-
struction.
Huge and leathery, with a maw
of unbreakable teeth and claws to match, the
render seems to enjoy little more than tearing
things apart. Stone, flesh, or steel, it matters
little. However, the gray render is so rarely
found alone. They bond with other creatures.
Some at birth, others as fully-grown creatures,
and will follow their bonded master wherever
it goes, bringing them offerings of meat and
protecting them while they sleep. Finding an
un-bonded render means certain riches, if you
survive to sell it. Instinct : To serve
•
Tear something apart
Magmin Horde, Intelligent, Orga-
nized, Hoarder
Flaming hammer (d6+2 damage) 7 HP 4
Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Firey blood
Dwarf-shaped and industrious, the magmin
are among the deepest-dwellers of Dungeon
World. Found in cities of brass and obsidian
built nearest the molten core of the planet, the
magmin live a life devoted to craft—especially
thatoffireandmagicalitemsrelatedtoit. Surly
and strange, they do not often deign to speak to
petitionerswhoappearattheirgates,eventhose
who have somehow found a way to survive the
hellish heat. Even so, they respect little more
than a finely made item and to learn to forge
from a magmin craftsman means unlocking
secrets unknown to surface blacksmiths. Like
so much else, visiting the magmin is a game of
risk and reward. Instinct : To craft
•
Offer a trade or deal
•
Strike with fire or magic
•
Provide just the right item, at a price
Minotaur Solitary, Large
Axe (d10+1 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Unerring sense
of direction
Head of a man, body of a bull. No, wait, I’ve
got that backwards. It’s the bull’s head and
the man’s body. Hooves sometimes? Is that
right? IremembertheoldKingsaidsomething
about a maze? Blast! You know I can’t think
under this kind of pressure. What was that?
Oh gods, I think it’s coming . . . Instinct : To
contain
•
Confuse them
•
Make them lost
Naga Solitary,
Intelligent,
Orga-
nized, Hoarder, Magical
Bite (d10 damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Ambitious and territorial above nearly all else,
the naga are very rarely found without a well-
formed and insidious cult of followers. You’ll
see it in many mountain towns—a snake sigil
scrawled on a tavern wall or a local church
burned to the ground. People going missing
into the mines. Men and women wearing the
mark of the serpent. At the core of it all lies
a naga; an old race now fallen into obscurity,
still preening with the head of a man over its
coiled, serpent body. Variations of these crea-
tures exist depending on their bloodline and
original purpose, but they are all master ma-
nipulators and magical forces to be reckoned
with. Instinct : To lead
•
Send a follower to their death
•
Use old magic
•
Offer a deal or bargain
Salamander Horde, Large, Intelli-
gent, Organized, Planar
Flaming spear (2d6·b+3 damage) 7 HP 3
Armor
Close, Reach, Near
Special Qualities: Burrowing
The excavationuncovered a basaltgate, the re-
ports called it. Black stone carved with molten
runes. When they dug it up, the magi declared
it inert but further evidence indicates that was
an incorrect claim. The entire team went miss-
ing. When we arrived, the gate was glowing.
Its light filled the whole cavern. We could see
fromtheentrancethattheareahadbecomefull
ofthesecreatures—likeredandorangeskinned
men,tallasanogrebutwithasnakestailwhere
there legs ought to be. They were clothed, too
—some had black glass armor. They spoke to
each other in a tongue that sounded like grease
in a fire. I wanted to leave but the Sergeant
wouldn’tlisten. You’vealreadyreadwhathap-
pened next, sir. I know I’m the only one that
got back, but what I said is true. The gate is
open,now. Thisisjustthebeginning! Instinct
: To consume in flame
•
Summon elemental fire
•
Melt away deception
Planar Powers
89
34
Planar
Powers
Angel Solitary, Terrifying, Divine, In-
telligent, Organized
Flame sword (2d10·b+4 damage ignores
armor) 18 HP 4 Armor
Close, Forceful
Special Qualities: Wings
So was it written that the heavens opened up
to Avra’hal and did an angel from the clouds
emerge to speak unto her and so did it appear
to her as her firstborn daughter—beautiful, of
ebon skin and golden eyes—and did Avra’hal
crytearstoseeit. “Benotafraid”itcommanded
her“gotothevillagesIhaveshownyouinyour
dreams and unto them show the word I have
writtenonyoursoul.”Avra’halweptandwept
and did agree to do this and did take up her
sword and tome and did into the villages go, a
great thirst for blood on her lips for the word
the angel wrote upon the soul of Avra’hal was
“kill”. Instinct : To share divine will
•
Deliver visions and prophecy
•
Stir mortals to action
•
Expose sin and injustice
Barbed Devil Solitary, Large, Planar,
Terrifying
Spine (d10+3 damage 3 piercing) 16 HP 3
Armor
Close, Reach, Messy
Special Qualities: Spines
There are a thousand forms of devil, maybe
more. Some common and some unique. Each
time the Inquisitors discover a new one they
write it into the codex and the knowledge is
shared among the abbeys in the hope that the
atrocitiesofthatparticularsortwon’tfindtheir
wayintotheworldagain. Thebarbeddevilhas
long been known to the brothers and sisters of
the inquisition. A literal thing, it appears only
at a site of great violence or when called by a
wayward summoner. Covered in sharp quills,
this particular demon revels in the spilling of
blood, being specifically fond of impaling vic-
tims piecemeal or in whole upon its thorns and
letting them die there. Cruel but not particu-
larlyeffectivebeyondslaughter. Alowinquisi-
torial priority. Instinct : To bloody
•
Impale someone
•
Kill randomly
Chain Devil Solitary, Planar
Crush (d10 damage ignores armor) 12 HP
3 Armor
Close, Reach
Do you think the phrase “drag him to hell”
means nothing? It is unfortunately literal, in
the case of the chain devil. Appearing differ-
ently to each victim, this summoned creature
has but a single purpose: to wrap its victim up
in binding coils and take it away to a place of
torment. Sometimes it will come as a man-
shaped mass of rusting iron, hooks and coils of
mismatched links. Other times, a roiling tan-
gle of rope or kelp or twisted bloody bedsheets.
The results are always the same. Instinct : To
capture
•
Take a captive
•
Return to whence it came
•
Torture with glee
Concept Elemental Solitary, Devi-
ous, Planar, Gibbous
Special Qualities: Ideal form
The planes are not as literal as our world.
Clothed in the elemental chaos are places of
stranger stuff than air and water.
Here,
rivers of time crash upon shores of crystal fear.
Bleak storms of nightmare roil and churn in
a laughter-bright sky.
Sometimes, the spir-
its of these places can be lured into our world,
though they are infinitely more unpredictable
and strange than mere fire or earth might be.
Easier to make mistakes, too—one might try
callingupaWealthElementalandbesurprised
to find a Murder Elemental instead. Instinct
: To perfect its concept
•
Show its concept in its purest form
Corrupter Solitary, Devious, Planar,
Hoarder
Secret dagger (2d8·w damage) 12 HP 0
Armor
Close
Surely,mygoodman,youmustknowwhyIam
here. MustknowwhoIam. Yousaidthewords.
You spilled the blood and followed the instruc-
tions almost to the letter. Your pronunciation
was a bit off but that’s to be expected. I’ve
come to give you what you’ve always wanted,
friend. Glory,love,money? Paltrythingswhen
you’ve the vaults of hell to plumb. Don’t look
so shocked, you knew what this was. You have
but one thing we desire. Promise it to us, and
the world shall be yours for the taking. Trust
me. Instinct : To bargain
•
Offer a deal with horrible conse-
quences
•
Plumbthevaultsofhellforabargain-
ing chip
•
Make a show of power
Djinn Group, Large, Magical
Flame (d8+1 damage ignores armor) 14
HP 4 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Made of flame
Stop rubbing that lamp, you idiot. I do not
care what you have read, it will not grant you
wishes. I brought you here to show you some-
thing real, something true. See this mural? It
shows the ancient city. The true city that came
before. They called it Majilis and it was made
ofbrassbythespirits. Theyhadgolemservants
and human lovers and, in that day, it was said
you could trade them a year of your life for a
favor. We are not here to gather treasure this
night, fool, we are here to learn. The djinn still
sometimes come to these places, and you must
understandtheirhistoryifyouaretoknowhow
to behave. They are powerful and wicked and
proud and you must know them if you hope to
survive a summoning. Now, bring the lamp
here and we will light it, it grows dark and
these ruins are dangerous at night. Instinct :
To burn eternally
Planar Powers
90
•
Grant power for a price
•
Summon the forces of the City of
Brass
Hell Hound Group, Planar, Orga-
nized
Fiery Bite (d8 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Hide of shadow
Whenonerenegesonadeal,doesnotthedebtor
come for payment? Does the owed party not
send someone to collect what is due? So too
with the Powers Below. They only want what
istheirs. Ahowlingpackofshadows,flameand
jagged bone, driven by the hunting horn. They
willnotcease, theycannotbeevaded. Instinct
: To pursue
•
Follow despite all obstacles
•
Spew fire
•
Summon the forces of hell on their
target
Imp Horde, Planar, Intelligent, Or-
ganized
Flame gout (d6 damage ignores armor) 7
HP 1 Armor
Close, Near, Far
Thesetinyobserver-demonsoftenactasafirst-
timebindingsubjectbyneonatewarlocks. They
can be found infesting arcane cabals, drinking
potionswhenno-onewatches,andchasingpets
andservantswithtinypitchforks. Acaricature
of true demonhood, these little creatures are,
thankfully, not too difficult to bind or extin-
guish. Instinct : To harass
•
Send information back to hell
•
Cause mischief
Inevitable Group, Large, Magical,
Cautious, Gibbous, Planar
Hammer (d8+1 damage) 21 HP 5 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Made of Order
All things come to an end.
Entropy bleeds
reality slowly out. At the edge of time itself
stand the Inevitable. Massive, powerful and
seemingly carved from star-stuff themselves,
the Inevitable intervene only where magic or
calamity have undone the skein of fate. Where
the arrogant and powerful boil the substance
ofdestinyawayandseektounderminethevery
laws of reality, the Inevitable arrive to guide
things back to the proper order. Unshakable,
seeminglyimmunetomortalharmandutterly
enigmatic, it is said that the Inevitable are all
that will remain when time’s long thread has
run out. Instinct : To preserve order
•
End a spell or effect
•
Enforce a law of nature or man
•
Give a glimpse of destiny
Larvae Horde, Devious, Planar, In-
telligent
Slime (2d4·w damage) 10 HP 0 Armor
Close
Those who have seen visions of the Planes Be-
low, and survived with their sanity intact,
speak of masses of these writhing wretches.
Maggots with the face of men and women,
crying out for salvation in a nest of flames.
Sometimes, they can be goaded out through
a rip in the planar caul and emerge, wriggling
andintorment,intoourworld. Oncehere,they
spreadmiseryandsicknessduringtheirmayfly
lives before expiring into a slurry of gore. All in
all, an inspiration towards good deeds in life.
Instinct : To suffer
•
Fill them with despair
•
Beg for mercy
•
Draw evil attention
Nightmare Horde, Large, Magical,
Terrifying, Planar
Trample (d6+1 damage) 7 HP 4 Armor
Close, Reach
SpecialQualities: Flameandshadow
The herd came from a pact made in the days
when folk still inhabited the Blasted Steppes.
Horselords, they were, who travelled those
lands. Born in the saddle, it was said. One
of theirs, in a bid to dominate his peers, made
a black pact with some fell power and traded
away his finest horses. He had some power,
sure—but what’s a thousand year dynasty
when a life is so short?
Now the fiends of
the pit ride on the finest horses ever seen. Coats
of shining oil and manes of tormented flame:
these are steeds of hell’s cavalry. Instinct : To
ride rampant
•
Sheath a rider in hellish flame
•
Drive them away
Quasit Horde, Planar
Hellishweaponry(d6damage)7HP2Ar-
mor
Close
Special Qualities: Adaptable form
An imp with some ambition. A quasit is a
kind of foot soldier in the demon realm.
A
commoner,armedwithfangsorclawsorwings
or some other thing to give it just a little edge
over its hellish peers.
Commonly bound by
warlocks to carry heavy loads or build bridges
orguardtheirtwistedtowers,aquasitcantake
many forms, none of them pleasant. Instinct
: To serve
•
Attack with abandon
•
Inflict pain
The Tarrasque Solitary, Huge, Pla-
nar
Special Qualities: Impervious
TheTarrasque. Legendaryunstoppablejugger-
naut—eater of cities and swallower of ships,
horses, and knights. A creature unseen in an
agebutaboutwhomallkindsofstoriesaretold.
One thread of truth weaves through these sto-
ries. It cannot be killed. No blade can pierce its
stonyshellnorspellpenetratetheshielditsome-
how bears. Stories say, though, that the will
of one pure soul can send it to slumber, though
what that means and, by the gods, where such
a thing might be found, pray we do not ever
need to learn. It slumbers. Somewhere in the
periphery of the planar edge, it sleeps for now.
Instinct : To consume
•
Swallow a person, group, or place
whole
•
Release a remnant of a long-eaten
place from its gullet
Word Daemon Solitary, Planar, Mag-
ical
All of mortal magic is just words. Spells are
prayers,roteformula,runescast,orsongssung.
Letters, words, sentences, and syntax strung
together in a language that the whole world
itself might understand. By way of words we
can make our fellows cry or exult, can paint
pictures and whisper desire to the gods. No
little wonder, then, that in all that power is
intent. That every word we utter, if repeated
andmeaningoremotiongiventoit,cansparka
kind of unintentional summoning. Word dae-
mons are called by accident, appear at random
and are often short-lived, but come to attend
a particular word. Capricious, unpredictable
and dangerous, yes—but possibly useful, de-
pending on the word. Instinct : To further
their word
•
Cast a spell related to their word
•
bring their word into abundance
Folk of the Realm
91
35
Folk of
the Realm
Acolyte
Can’t all be the High Priest, they said. Can’t
all wield the White Spire, they said. Scrub the
floor, theytoldme. TheCthonicOvergoddon’t
want a messy floor, do he? They said it’d be
enlightenment and magic. Feh. It’s bruised
knees and dish-pan-hands. If only I’d been a
cleric, instead. Instinct : To serve dutifully
•
Follow dogma
•
Offereternalrewardformortaldeeds
Adventurer Horde, Intelligent
Sword (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Endless enthusi-
asm
Scumoftheearth,theyare. Atroupeofarmored
men and women come sauntering into town,
brandishingwhat,forallintentsandpurposes,
isenoughmagicalandmundanepowertolevel
the whole place. Bringing with them bags and
bags of loot, still dripping blood from what-
ever poor sod they had to kill to get it. An
economical fiasco waiting to happen, if you
ask me. The whole system becomes completely
uprooted. Dangerous, unpredictable murder-
hobos. Oh, wait, you’re an adventurer? I take
itallback. Instinct: Toadventureordietrying
•
Go on a fool’s errand
•
Act impulsively
•
Share tales of past exploits
Bandit Horde,
Intelligent,
Orga-
nized
Dirk (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
Desperation is the watchword of banditry.
When times are tough, what else is there to do
but scavenge a weapon and take up with a clan
of nasty men and women? Highway robbery,
poaching, scams and cons and murder most
foul but we’ve all got to eat so who can blame
them? Then again, there’s evil in the hearts of
some and who’s to say that desperation isn’t a
want to sate one’s baser lusts? Anyway—it’s
this or starve, sometimes. Instinct : To rob
•
Steal something
•
Demand tribute
Bandit King Solitary, Intelligent, Or-
ganized
Trusty knife (2d10·b damage) 12 HP 1 Ar-
mor
Close
Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven. In-
stinct : To lead
•
Make a demand
•
Extort
•
Topple power
Fool
There’snotbutonepersoninalltheKing’scourt
allowed to speak the truth. The real, straight-
and-honest truth about anything. The Fool
couches it all in bells and prancing and chalky
face-paint, but who else gets to tell the King
what’s what? You can trust a Fool, they say,
especially when he’s made you red-faced and
you’d just as soon drown him in a cesspit. In-
stinct : To mock
•
Expose injustice
•
Play a trick
Guardsman Group, Intelligent, Or-
ganized
Spear (d8 damage) 6 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Nobleprotectorormerelydrunkenlout,itoften
makes no difference to these sorts. Falling just
shy of a noble Knight, the proud town guard
is an ancient profession none-the-less. These
folks of the constabulary often dress in the col-
ors of their lord (when you can see it under the
mud) and, depending on the richness of that
lord, might even have a decent weapon and
some armor that fits. Those are the lucky ones.
Even so, someone has to be there keep an eye
on the gate when the Black Riders have been
spotted in the woods. Too many of us owe our
lives to these souls—remember that the next
time one is drunkenly insulting your mother,
hmm? Instinct : To do as ordered
•
Uphold the law at all costs
•
Make a profit
Halfling Thief Solitary, Small, Intel-
ligent, Stealthy, Devious
Dagger (2d8·w damage) 12 HP 1 Armor
Close
It would be foolish, now, to draw conclusions
about folks just because they happen to be good
at one thing or another. Then again, a spade’s
a spade, isn’t it. Or maybe just the goodly,
soft-and-sweet type of Halfling have the mind
to stay in their grassy-hill homes and aren’t
the type you find in the slums and taverns of
the mannish world . Perhaps they’re there to
cut your purse for calling them “halfing” in the
first place. Not all take so kindly to the title.
Or they’re playing a game, pretending to be
a child in need of alms—and your arrogant
eyes can’t even see the difference until too late.
Well, it matters little. They’re gone with your
coin before you even realize you deserved it.
Instinct : To live a life of stolen luxury
•
Steal
•
Put on the appearance of friendship
Hedge Wizard Magical
Folk of the Realm
92
Not all those who wield the arcane arts are
adventuring Wizards. Nor necromancers in
mausoleums or sorcerers of ancient bloodline.
Some are just old men and women, smart
enough to have discovered a trick or two. It
might make them a bit batty to come by that
knowledge, but if you’ve a curse to break or a
lovetoprove,mightbethatahedgewizardwill
help you, if you can find his rotten hut in the
swamp and pay the price he asks. Instinct :
To learn
•
Castalmosttherightspell(foraprice)
•
Make deals beyond their ken
High Priest
Respected by all who gaze upon them, the high
priests and abbesses of Dungeon World are
treated with a sort of reverence. Whether they
pay homage to Ur-thuu-hak, God of Swords,
or whisper quiet prayers to Namiah, precious
daughterofpeace,theyknowathingortwothat
you and I, we won’t ever know. The gods speak
to them as a hawker-of-wares might speak to
usinthemarketplace. Forthis,forthebearing-
of-secrets and the knowing-of-things, we give
them a wide berth as they pass in their shining
robes. Instinct : To lead
•
Set down divine law
•
Reveal divine secrets
•
Commission divine undertakings
Hunter Group, Intelligent
Ragged bow (d6 damage) 6 HP 1 Armor
Near, Far
The wilds are home to more than just beasts
of horn and scale. There are men and women
out there, too—those who smell blood on the
wind and stalk the plains in the skins of their
prey. Whether with a trusty longbow bought
on a rare trip into the city or with a knife of
bone and sinew-made, these folk have more in
common with the things they track and make
their meals than with their own kind. Solemn,
somber and quiet, they find a sort of peace in
the wild. Instinct : To survive
•
Bring back news from the wilds
•
Slay a beast
Knight Solitary, Intelligent, Orga-
nized, Cautious
Sword (2d10·b damage) 12 HP 4 Armor
Close
What youngster doesn’t cling to the rail at the
mighty joust, blinded by the sun on their glit-
tering armor, wishing they could be the one
adorned in steel and riding to please the King
andQueen? Whatpeasantyouthwithnaught
butaloafofbreadandalamesowdoesn’twish
to trade it all in for the lance and the bright
pennant? A Knight is many things—a holy
warrior, a sworn sword, a villain sometimes,
too, but a Knight cannot help but be a symbol
to all who see her. A Knight means something.
Instinct : To live by a code
•
Make a moral stand
•
Lead peasants into battle
Merchant
Ten foot poles. Get your ten foot poles, here.
Torches,brightandhot. Mules,too—stubborn
but immaculately bred. Need a linen sack, do
you? Right over here! Come and get your ten
foot poles! Instinct : To profit
•
Propose a business venture
•
Offer a ’deal’
Noble
Are they granted their place by the gods, per-
haps? Is that why they’re able to pass their
riches and power down by birth? Some trick or
enchantment of the blood, maybe. The peasant
bends his knee and scrapes and toils and the
noble wears the finery of his place and, they
say, we all have our burdens to bear. Seems to
me that some of us have burdens of stone and
some carry their weight in gold. It’s a tough
life. Instinct : To rule
•
Issue an order
•
Offer a reward
Peasant
Covered in muck, downtrodden at the bottom
of the great chain of being, we all stand on
the backs of those that grow our food on their
farms. Some peasants do better than others,
but none will ever see a coin of gold in their
day. They’ll dream at night of how someday,
somehow, they’ll fight a dragon and save a
princess. Don’t act like you weren’t one before
you lost what little sense you had, adventurer.
Instinct : To get by
•
Plead for help
•
Offer a simple reward and gratitude
Rebel Horde, Intelligent, Organized
Axe (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
In the countryside they’d be called outlaw and
driven off or killed. The city, though, is full of
places to hide. Damp basements to pore over
maps and to plan and plot against a corrupt
system. Like rats, they gnaw away at order,
eithertosupplantitaneworjusterodethewhole
thing. The line between change and chaos is a
fine one—some rebels walk that thin line and
others just want to see it all torched. Disguise,
aknifeinthedarkorathrowntorchattheright
moment are all tools of the rebel. The burning
brand of anarchy is a common fear amongst
the nobles of Dungeon World. These men and
women are why. Instinct : To upset order
•
Die for a cause
•
Inspire others
Soldier Horde,
Intelligent,
Orga-
nized
Spear (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Foracommonerwithastrongarm,sometimes
it’s this or be a bandit. It’s wear the colors
and don ill-fitting armor and march into the
unknown with a thousand other scared men
andwomenconscriptedtofightthewarsofour
time. They could be hiding out in the woods
instead, living off poached elk and dodging the
king’sguard. Bettertoriskoneslifeinserviceto
a cause. To bravely toss one’s lot in with their
fellows and hope to come out the other side still
in one piece. Besides, the nobles need strong
menandwomen. Whatisittheysay? Ahand-
ful of soldiers beats a mouthful of arguments.
Instinct : To fight
•
March into battle
•
Fight as one
Spy
Beloved of Kings but never truly trusted. Mys-
terious, secretive and alluring, the life of a spy
is, if you ask a commoner, full of romance and
intrigue. They’re a knife in the dark and a pair
of watchful eyes. A spy can be your best friend,
your lover or that old man you see in the mar-
ket every day. One never knows. Hells, maybe
you’re a spy—they say there’s magic that can
turnfolksmindswithoutthemeverknowingit.
Howcanwetrustyou? Instinct: Toinfiltrate
•
Report the truth
•
Double cross
Tinkerer
It’s said that if you see a tinker on the road and
you don’t offer him a swig of ale or some of
yourfoodthathe’llleaveacurseofbadluckbe-
hind. A tinker is a funny thing. These strange
folk often travel the roads between towns with
their oddment carts and favorite mules. With
a ratty dog and always a story to tell. Some-
times the mail, too, if you’re lucky and live in
a place where Queen’s Post won’t go. If you’re
kind, maybe they’ll sell you a rose that never
wilts or a clock that chimes with the sound of
faerie laughter. Or maybe they’re just antiso-
cialpeddlers. Youneverknow,right? Instinct
: To create
•
Offer an oddity at a price
•
Spin tales of great danger and reward
in far-off lands
Moves in Detail
Volley
93
36
Moves
in Detail
Hack and Slash
Hack and Slash is for attacking a pre-
pared enemy plain and simple.
If the
enemy isn’t prepared for your attack—if
they don’t know you’re there or they’re
restrained and helpless—then that’s not
Hack and Slash. You just deal your dam-
age or murder them outright, depending
on the situation. Nasty stuff.
The enemy’s counter-attack can be any
GM move made directly with that crea-
ture. Agoblinmightjustattackyouback,
or they might jam a poisoned needle into
your veins. Life’s tough, isn’t it?
Note that an "attack" is some action that
a player undertakes that has a chance
of causing physical harm to someone
else. Attacking a dragon with inch-thick
metal scales full of magical energy with
a typical sword is like swinging a meat
cleaver at a tank: it just isn’t going to
cause any harm, so it’s not an attack.
Notethatcircumstancescanchangethat:
if you’re in a position to stab the dragon
on it’s soft underbelly (good luck with
getting there) it could hurt, so it’s an at-
tack.
If the action that triggers the move
could reasonably hurt multiple targets
roll once and apply damage to each tar-
get (they each get their armor).
Jarl is up to his not-inconsiderable belly
in slavering goblins. They have him sur-
rounded, knives bared. "I’ve had enough of
this!" he bellows "I wallop the closest goblin
with my hammer." We agree that this is a
combat situation and Jarl rolls the dice for
Hack and Slash. He rolls an 11, so he has a
choice. "Fear is for the weak! I deal extra
damage—let the goblins come." "The goblin
you strike certainly doesn’t like that much"
I say, "you smash your hammer into his
shoulder and are rewarded with the crunch
of goblin bones—and a deep knife wound
as the goblin counter-attacks. He deals 4
damage to you."
Cadeus has the drop on two orc war-
riors—he’s lurking in the shadows as the
orcs walk past. "I leap out and bring my
sword down in a sweeping arc, like this!"
he says, miming the strike. The orc wasn’t
ready to fight so I say "The orc is caught
entirely off-guard and doesn’t even have a
chance to raise his patchwork shield. Deal
your damage." Cadeus rolls his damage and
it’s enough to kill the orc. The other warrior
isstillstanding,soIsay"Theotherorcfreezes
in horror for a split second. Then he’s smil-
ing at you with his horrible tusked mouth as
he raises a signal horn from his belt. What
do you do?"
Bartelby has disarmed a duelist and has
him at sword point. "I’m not giving this
guy another chance to attack! I run him
through." Without thinking about it care-
fully I say "Oh, okay, sounds like Hack and
Slash, roll+Str." Bartelby rolls and gets a
7.
I try to make a move "You run him
through, he’s not able to defend himself, but,
uh . . . Oh,wait,he’snotreallyinmeleewith
you, is he? He’s helpless. Forget Hack and
Slash. You run him through and he slumps
to the ground coughing up blood."
Volley
Volley covers the entire act of drawing,
aiming, and firing a ranged weapon or
throwing a thrown weapon. The advan-
tagetousingarangedweaponovermelee
is that the attacker is less likely to be at-
tacked back. Of course they do have to
worry about ammunition and getting a
clear shot though.
On a 7-9, read "danger" broadly. It can
be bad footing or ending in the path of a
swordormaybejustgivingupyoursweet
sniper nest to your enemies. Whatever
it is it’s impending and it’s always some-
thingthatcausestheGMtosay"Whatdo
you do?" Quite often, the danger will be
something that will then require you to
dedicate yourself to avoiding it or force
you to Defy Danger.
Ifyou’rethrowingsomethingthatdoesn’t
have ammo (maybe you’ve got a move
that makes your shield throwable) you
can’t choose to mark off ammo. Choose
from the other two options instead.
Aranwe is on the floor of the ritualarium
as the orc eyegouger chants his ritual from
atop the pedestal.
"Since Thelian has the
other orcs busy, I take the opportunity to
site down my bow and take a shot at the
orc running the ritual." "Sounds like volley
to me." She rolls an 8, plus her Dex makes 9.
"Looks like you have a tough choice" I say.
"Well,I’malmostoutofarrows,andweneed
to get rid of him before the ritual finishes, so
I’m going to take the danger." "Sure, that
sounds good. Well, as the ritual progresses
the flames around him have gotten higher
and you have to move around to take the
shot. Youhithimdeadon,rollyourdamage,
but you had to step inside the ritual circle to
do it.
Everything outside the circle looks
cloudyandunreal,allyoucanhearistheorc
chanting. Thelian, you notice that Aranwe
is inside the circle. What do you do?"
Defy Danger
Moves in Detail
94
Halekisfiringontheadvancingkoboldmob.
He rolls an 8 and decides to be put in dan-
ger.
I think for a moment and then say
"You have to duck and dodge to get the shot
but you finally let it go and nail the lead
kobold.
You hear something behind you
and turn to see that you’re right next to the
ogre.
He smashes you with his club and
deals you 12 damage." "All that? Just for
getting put in danger? That seems like a lot
morethandanger."He’sright,ofcourse,soI
say "Oh, you’re right—danger’s something
that’sabouttohappen. Howabout,instead,
youturnaroundafterfiringtheshotandthe
ogre’srightinyourface! He’sabouttoswing
his club right down on you. What do you
do?"
Defy Danger
You Defy Danger when you do some-
thinginthefaceofimpendingperil. This
may seem like a catch-all. It is! Defy
Danger is for those times when it seems
like you clearly should be rolling but no
other move applies.
DefyDangeralsoapplieswhenyoumake
another move despite danger not cov-
ered by that move. For example, Hack
and Slash assumes that’s you’re trad-
ing blows in battle—you don’t need to
Defy Danger because of the monster
you’re fighting unless there’s some spe-
cific danger that wouldn’t be part of your
normal attack.
On the other hand, if
you’re trying to Hack and Slash while
spikes shoot from hidden traps in the
walls,you’reignoringaclearandpresent
threat and need to Defy Danger.
Danger, here, is anything that requires
resilience, concentration, or poise. This
movewillusuallybecalledforbytheGM.
She’ll tell you what the danger is as you
make the move. Something like "You’ll
have to Defy Danger, first. The danger
is the steep and icy floor you’re running
across. If you can keep your footing, you
can make it to the door before the Necro-
mancer’s magic gets you."
Which stat applies depends on what ac-
tion you take and your action has to trig-
ger the move. That means you can’t Defy
theDangerofthesteepandicyfloorwith
acharmingsmilejustsoyoucanuseCha,
since charmingly smiling at the ice floor
does nothing to it. On the other hand,
making a huge leap over the ice would be
Str, placing your feet carefully would be
Dex, and so on. Make the move to get the
results.
Emory is climbing a steep ravine.
Unbe-
knownst to him, a cultist sorcerer lurks
nearby. The sorcerer casts a spell of frost
on the cliffside, covering it with ice. "As you
reach for the next handhold, a terrible chill
overcomesyou. Ifyouwanttokeepclimbing,
Defy Danger or risk slipping" I say, making
sure to explain what the Danger is.
"No
way" Emory says, "I need to get the top of
this ravine! I grit my teeth and hold tight
even as my fingers go numb." He rolls Defy
Danger, getting an 8 including his Con for
enduring. Now it’s time for a hard decision.
"You make some progress but as your hands
go numb you start slipping. The only way
youcangetanymoretractionisbyjamming
your dagger into the ice to pull yourself up
the last few feet. If you do that, though, the
dagger is going to be jammed in the face of
the cliff until you get a chance to stop and
pry it out."
"Theathach’sthirdarmisswingingdownon
you with its crude club, what are you doing
Valeria?" I’ve just made a move to establish
an impending threat: the athach’s strike.
She says "I Hack and Slash it! I make a wide
swing sideways, right into its legs." Sounds
good to me, but she’s not doing anything
abouttheclubcomingather. "Okay,youcan
do that, but you take the athach’s damage
from the club coming right down on your
skull." "What? But trading blows is part
of Hack and Slash, right?" "It is, but before
you make your attack there’s already a club
comingatyou,HackandSlashdoesn’tcover
that. Do you still want to Hack and Slash,
or are you doing something about the club?"
Octavia is locked in battle with an ogre. She
says "I drop my shield and take up my ham-
mer in both hands. I swing it at the ogre.
That’sHackandSlash, right?""Yeah, itwill
be but first you’ve gotta Defy Danger. The
dangeristheogre’smassiveclub.""Isn’tthat
part of what Hack and Slash already is? I
mean if he couldn’t be smashing me with his
club then I wouldn’t be making the move at
all because we wouldn’t be in melee." "Oh
yeah, you’re totally right. Hack and Slash it
is, make your roll!"
Defend
Defending something means standing
nearby and focusing on preventing at-
tacks on that thing or stopping anyone
from getting near it.
When you’re no
longer nearby or you stop devoting your
attention to incoming attacks then you
lose any Hold you might have had.
You can only spend Hold when some-
one makes an attack on you or the thing
you’re Defending. The choices you can
make depend on the attacker and the
type of attack. In particular, you can’t
dealdamageto anattackerwhoyou can’t
reach with your weapon.
An attack is any action you can interfere
with that has harmful effects. Swords
and arrows are, of course, attacks but so
are spells, grabs, and charges.
If the attack doesn’t deal damage then
halving it means the attacker gets some
of what they want but not all of it. It’s up
to you and the GM to work out what that
means depending on the circumstances.
If you’re defending the Gem Eye of Oro-
Uht and an orc tries to grab it from its
pedestalthenhalfeffectmightmeanthat
the gem gets knocked to the floor but the
orc doesn’t get his hands on it, yet. Or
maybe the orc gets ahold of it but so do
you—now you’re both fighting over it,
tooth and nail. If you and the GM can’t
agree on a halved effect you can’t choose
that option.
Defending yourself is certainly an op-
tion. It amounts to giving up on making
attacks and just trying to keep yourself
safe.
Avon is weaving a powerful spell to send the
source of the Necromancer’s power back to
the Plane of Death. The spell takes time and
concentration and there’s zombies massing
onallsides! Luxsays"WhileAvon’scasting
his spell, it’s my duty to keep him alive. I
stand between him and the dead and slam
my hammer against my shield—’You want
him, you go through me!’ I’m Defending
Avon." That sounds good to me, so I say
"roll+Con." She gets an 11 and Holds three.
A few moments later Avon finishes his spell
but, in rolling for it, has to make a tough
choiceandputshimselfindanger. Isay"you
unleashthemagicofyourspell,sureenough.
Themagicaldisturbancedrawstheattention
of the zombie horde—they sense your power
and it drives their hunger! With a sudden
burst of speed, they’re right on top of you.
What do you do?" Avon looks unsure for a
moment, but Lux says "Let them come. I’ve
got his back. I’m spending a point of hold to
direct that attack to me. I push Avon back
andswingawidearcwithmyshield. I’llalso
spend a point of hold to halve the damage.
To be safe, I follow up with my hammer and
use one more hold to deal damage to the
gang of zombies." "Wow, okay. They get a
few feeble claws past your guard but you’re
mostly unscathed.
That does it for your
hold. Are you still defending him or are you
doing something else?" "I don’t think he’ll
live long without me. I yell at him to run
without taking my eyes off the zombies, I’m
not letting any of them past me." "Sounds
like you’re Defending again, roll+Con."
Moves in Detail
Spout Lore
95
Hadrian has been Defending Durga while
shehealsabadlywoundedWillem. Willem’s
in fighting shape again so Durga has leaped
forwards to drive back the troglodytes.
Hadrianisstilllockedinbattlewithadeadly
crocodilian. The troglodytes attack Durga
and Hadrian reacts. "Wait! I still have one
hold to Defend Durga. I’m doing to redirect
that attack to myself." That doesn’t sound
quite right to me, they’re spread out, now.
"How are you doing that if she’s over at
the troglodyte camp and you’re battling the
crocodilian in the water?" "Oh yeah. I guess
when I started doing something other than
standing guard I lost that hold. Damn."
Spout Lore
You Spout Lore any time you want to
search your memory for knowledge or
facts about something. You take a mo-
ment to ponder the things you know
about the Orcish Tribes or the Tower of
Ul’dammar and then reveal that knowl-
edge.
The knowledge you get is like consulting
a bestiary, travel guide, or library. You
get facts about the subject matter. On a
10+thosefactstheGMwillshowyouhow
thosefactscanbeimmediatelyuseful, on
a 7–9 they’re just facts.
On a miss the GM’s move will often
have to do with the time you take think-
ing. Maybe you miss that goblin mov-
ing around behind you, or the trip wire
across the hallway.
It’s also a great
chance to reveal an unwelcome truth.
Just in case it isn’t clear: the answers are
always true, even if the GM had to make
them up on the spot. Always say what
honesty demands.
Fenfaril has had the misfortune of drop-
pingthroughanillusoryfloorandnowfinds
himself in a murky pit. A mottled, eyeless
creature shambles towards him, mumbling
in a strange tongue. "I’m a little freaked
out—what is this thing? Is it going to at-
tack me? I probably read about these things
in a bestiary back in school." "Great, that’s
Spout Lore." I say. Fenfaril rolls and gets an
8. "Well of course you read about these. The
nameescapesyou, butyouclearlyremember
a drawing of a creature like this standing
in front of a doorway, like a guard, with
someonekneelingbeforeit."OnastronghitI
wouldhavegivensomeinformationonwhat
makes the creature let people pass.
Vitus has Spouted Lore on a gilded skull she
found on a pedestal and gotten a 10. I be-
gin by saying, mysteriously, "You’re pretty
sure you recognize the telltale signs of metal
forged in the City of Dis, the living planar
city."Icatchmyselfandremembertobegen-
erous with the truth and make it useful. I
add "You recognize some of the glyphs from
your spellbook, actually: they’re part of fire
spells,butwithothermagicsymbolssmaller
insidethem. Castinganon-firespellintothe
skull turns it into fire magic, based on the
glyphs."
Discern Realities
ToDiscernRealitiesyoumustcloselyob-
serve your target. That usually means
interacting with it or watching some-
one else do the same.
You can’t just
stick your head in the doorway and Dis-
cern Realities about a room. You’re not
merely scanning for clues—you have to
look under and around things, tap the
walls and check for weird dust patterns
on the bookshelves. That sort of thing.
Discerning Realities isn’t just about
noticing a detail, it’s about figuring out
the bigger picture. The GM always de-
scribes what the player characters expe-
riencehonestly, so during a fight the GM
will say that the kobold mage stays at the
other end of the hall. Discerning Reali-
ties could reveal the reason behind that:
the kobold’s motions reveal that he’s ac-
tually pulling energy from the room be-
hind him, he can’t come any close.
Just like Spout Lore the answers you get
are always honest ones. Even if the GM
hastofigureitoutonthespot. Oncethey
answer, it’s set in stone. You’ll want to
DiscernRealitiestofindthetruthbehind
illusions—magical or otherwise.
Unless a move says otherwise players
can only ask questions from the list. If
a player asks a question not on the list
the GM can tell them to try again or an-
swer a question from the list that seems
equivalent.
Of course, some questions might have a
negative answer, that’s fine. If there re-
ally, honestly is nothing useful or valu-
able here, the GM will answer that ques-
tion with "Nothing, sorry."
Finding a strangely empty room guarded by
deadly traps, Omar says "I don’t trust this
shiftyroom. I’mgoingtopokearoundalittle.
I take out my tools and start messing with
stuff—pullingcandlesticks,tappingthewall
with my stone hammer. My usual tricks." I
saytoOmar, "Soundslikeyou’reDiscerning
Realities?"Omaranswersintheaffirmative
and makes his roll. He rolls a 12 and gets
to ask questions. "What here is not as it
appears to be?" I think for a second, look at
my notes and tell him, "As you tap the walls
you find that there’s an odd, hollow space
on the north side. The stones look newer
too, this was added recently. It’s actually a
hidden room."
Omar still has two more questions. His his
next one is "Who sealed the hidden room?"
That’s not a question from the list but it
sounds to me like he’s really asking "what
happened here recently". I answer that in-
stead. "Looking at the stonework you notice
the wall bends out a little. The work’s def-
initely of goblin origin—shoddy and quick.
The only way it could get bent out like that is
if something pushed out on the stones from
within.""Sosomegoblinsblockeditfromthe
other side?" Omar says. "Yeah, exactly."
Parley
Parley covers a lot of ground including
oldstandbyslikeintimidationanddiplo-
macy.
You know you’re using Parley
when you’re trying to get someone to do
something for you by holding a promise
orthreatoverthem. Niceornot, thetone
doesn’t matter.
Merely asking someone politely isn’t
Parleying. That’s just talking. You say
"Can I have that magic sword?" and the
King’s knight says "Hell no, this is my
blade,myfatherforgeditandmymother
enchanted it" and that’s that.
To Par-
ley, you have to have leverage. Lever-
age is anything that could lure the tar-
get of your Parley to do something for
you.
Maybe it’s something they want
or something they don’t want you to do.
Like a sack of gold. Or punching them in
the face.
What counts as leverage de-
pends on the people involved and the
request being made.
Threaten a long
goblin with death and you have lever-
age. Threaten a goblin backed up by his
gang with death and he might think he’s
better off in a fight.
On a hit they ask you for something re-
lated to whatever leverage you have. If
your leverage is that you’re standing be-
fore them sharpening your knife and in-
sinuating about how much you’d like to
shank them with it they might ask you
to let them go. If your leverage is your
position in court above them they might
ask for a favor.
Aid or Interfere
Moves in Detail
96
Whatever they ask for, on a 10+, you
justhavetopromiseitclearlyandunam-
biguously. On a 7–9, that’s not enough:
you also have to give them some assur-
ance, right now, before they do what you
want. If you promise that you’ll ensure
their safety from the wolves if they do
what you want and you roll a 7-9 they
won’tdotheirpartuntilyoubringafresh
wolf pelt, for example. It’s worth noting
that on a 10+ you don’t actually have to
keep your promise. Whether you’ll fol-
low up or not, well, that’s up to you. Of
course breaking promises leads to prob-
lems. People don’t take kindly to oath-
breakers and aren’t likely to deal with
them in the future.
In some cases when you state what you
wantyoumayincludeapossiblepromise
for the creature to make, as in "Flee and
I’ll let you live." It’s up to the target of the
Parley if that’s the promise they want
or if they have something else in mind.
They can say "yes, let me live and I’ll go"
(with assurances, if you rolled a 7–9) or
"promise me you won’t follow me."
Leena is trying to convince Lord Hywn to
vouch for her so that she is granted an au-
dience with the Queen. She’s laid out what
she wants pretty well but I say "Lord Hywn
obviously isn’t convinced. Why should he
help you?" She smirks a bit.
"Oh.
That.
While I’m talking to him, I absentmindedly
start playing with the signet ring from that
assassin we killed. The one he hired to off
the prince. I make a big show of it just to
make sure he sees who’s ring it is." That’s
perfect; nowI knowwhattoaskfor. Leena’s
player hits her roll with an 8. "Once your
little show sets in, Hywn just looks at you
coldly. After a moment he says ’Enough be-
ing coy. You and I both know you murdered
my hired man. Give me that ring and swear
you’ll speak no more about it, then I’ll do
as you ask." "Oh sure, I give it to him" she
says"Wecanalwaysdigupmoredirtonthis
scumbag later."
Pendrell’stryingtogetintothegamblingden
where One-Eye usually plays. He saunters
up to the guards and says "Hey fellas, how’s
it going, care to open the door for me?" Pen-
drell’s player says "I’m being all suave as I
do it to; really cool so these guys will let me
in. That’s Parley! I roll+Cha." Something’s
not right here so I stop him "Wait a sec.
All you’ve done is tell these guys what you
want—you’re just talking. The big smelly
one on the right of the door steps in front of
you, looks you in the eyes and says ’Sorry,
private venue’ like he’s bored with keeping
people out and he’d rather be inside himself.
If you want to Parley him, you need some
leverage. A bribe maybe?"
Aid or Interfere
Anytimeyoufeelliketwoplayersshould
be rolling against each other, the de-
fender should be Interfering with the at-
tacker. This doesn’t always mean sabo-
taging them. It can mean anything from
arguing against a Parley to just being a
shifty person who’s hard to Discern. It’s
about getting in the way of another play-
ers’ success.
Always ask the person aiding or inter-
fering how they are doing it.
As long
as they can answer that, they trigger the
move. Sometimes,astheGM,you’llhave
to ask if interference is happening. Your
players might not always notice they’re
interfering with each other.
Aid is a little more obvious. If a player
can explain how they’re helping in a roll
and it makes sense, let them roll to aid.
Nomatterhowmanypeopleaidorinter-
fere with a given roll, the target only gets
the +1 or -2 once. Even if a whole party
of adventurers aid in attacking an ogre,
the one who makes the final attack only
gets +1.
Ozruk stands alone and bloodied before a
pack of angry hellhounds. Behind him, the
Prince of Lescia weeps in fear. Ozruk says "I
stand firm and lift my shield, despite certain
doom. I’m defending the Prince." At the last
moment, though (just as I’m about to have
Ozruk roll Defend) Aronwe appears from
theshadows,sworddrawn. "Doomisnotso
certain, Dwarf" he says. "I’m standing be-
side him, helping Ozruk Defend by covering
his sword arm." Aronwe rolls+bonds and, if
he succeeds, Ozruk will be able to add a +1 to
his Defend result.
Special Moves
Last Breath
97
37
Special
Moves
Special moves are moves that come up
less often or in more specific situations.
They’re still the basis of what charac-
ters do in Dungeon World—particularly
what they do between dungeon crawls
and high-flying adventures.
Last Breath
The Last Breath is the last moment that
stands between life and death.
Time
stands still as Death comes to claim the
living. Even those who stay will catch
a glimpse of the other side as they fight
for their life. Many are changed by this
moment—even those who escape alive.
The deal offered by death is decided by
the GM but it should always be a real
choice with real consequences.
If the
GM offers something completely pain-
less, the move is pointless. If the GM of-
fers a ridiculous price, no one will take it.
Think of ways that the character might
be changed by the event: a new goal in
life, a debt that must be paid, an obliga-
tion.
SparrowstandsatDeath’sblackgates. First
theGmdescribeswhatsheseesbeyondthem:
"In among the suffering souls you clearly
see Lord Hywn. It appears his double deal-
ing has caught up with him." Now for the
bargain: "The shadowy form of Death itself
steps between you and the gates. ’Here so
soon? I enjoy seeing the souls you send me.
I’ll return you to the world so that you may
serve me, but there is a cost: you will never
be able to move under the sun again, or you
will return to my realm immediately."
Encumbrance
A PC’s Load stat is determined by their
class and Str. Being able to carry more
is a clear benefit when trying to carry
treasure out of a dungeon or just making
sure you can bring along what you need.
Thismoveonlyappliestothingsaperson
couldwalkaroundandstillactwith. Car-
rying a boulder on your back is not en-
cumbrance—youcan’treallyactormove
much with it. It effects what moves you
can make appropriately in the fiction.
Carouse
Unless the PCs are particularly extrava-
gant or generous Carousing doesn’t cost
any gold. If the players are paying some-
one else’s tab or living the high life then
it’ll costs them appropriately.
You can only carouse when you return
triumphant.
That’s what draws the
crowd of revelers to surround adventur-
ers as they celebrate their latest haul. If
youdon’tclaimyoursuccessoryourfail-
ure is well known then who would want
to party with you anyway?
Undertake a Perilous Journey
Distances in Dungeon World are mea-
sured in rations. A ration is the amount
of supplies used up in a day. Journeys
take more rations when they are long or
when travel is slow.
A perilous journey is the whole way be-
tween two locations. You don’t roll for
one day’s journey and then make camp
only to roll for the next day’s journey,
too. Make one roll for the entire trip.
This move only applies when you know
where you’re going. Setting off to ex-
plore is not a perilous journey. It’s wan-
dering around looking for cool things to
discover.
Use up rations as you camp
and the GM will give you details about
the world as you discover them.
Make Camp
You usually Make Camp so that you can
do other things, like Prepare Spells or
Dutiful Prayer.
Or, you know, sleep
soundly at night. Whenever you stop to
catch your breath for more than an hour
or so, you’ve probably Made Camp.
When camping in dangerous territory
the selections made apply to the entire
camp. Every PC camping out needs to
roll.
Camping with fewer than three
characters, or without the Ranger, is
dangerous—there will always be at least
one option not selected.
What counts as dangerous territory is up
to the GM. She should call for the move.
When not Making Camp in dangerous
territory the camp is in all ways unex-
ceptional with neither benefits or dan-
gers.
StayinganightinaninnorhouseisMak-
ing Camp is a safe location. Regain your
hit points as usual, but only mark off a
ration if you’re eating from the food you
carry, not paying for a meal or receiving
hospitality.
Outstanding Warrants
Thismoveisonlyforplaceswhereyou’ve
caused trouble, not every piece of civi-
lizationyouenter. Beingpubliclycaught
upinsomeoneelse’stroublestilltriggers
this move.
Civilization generally means the vil-
lages, towns and cities of humans, elves,
dwarves, and halflings but it can also
apply to any relatively lawful establish-
ment of monstrous species, such as orcs
or goblins. If the PCs have stayed there
aspartofthecommunityit’scivilization.
Moves in Detail
98
38
Moves
in Detail
Multiclass Moves
Multiclass Dabbler
99
39
Multiclass
Moves
Multiclass Dabbler
Multiclass Initiate
Multiclass Master
For the purposes of these multiclass
moves the Cleric’s Commune and Cast
a Spell count as one move. Likewise for
the Wizard’s Spellbook, Prepare Spells,
and Cast a Spell.
If a multiclass move grants you the abil-
ity to cast spells you prepare and cast
spells as if you had one level in the cast-
ing class. Whenever you level up you
increase the level you prepare and cast
spells at too.
When Ajax gains 3rd level he takes Multi-
class Dabbler to get Commune and Cast a
SpellfromtheClericclass. Hecastsandpre-
pares spells like a first level Cleric: first level
spells and rotes only, a total of 2 levels of
spells prepared.
Bardic Lore
Bard Moves
100
40
Bard Moves
Bardic Lore
Treat the areas of your lore like books. Is
the upwards-flowing waterfall you just
came across something important that
would be covered in a book called "On
Spells and Magicks?" If so, your Bardic
Lore applies.
Ifyoucareenoughtoaskaquestionabout
it then it’s probably important.
Don’t
secondguessyourself: ifyoucareenough
to want to know more about it then it has
some importance.
Charming and Open
Speaking frankly means you really are
beingopenwiththem,notjustgivingthe
appearance of openness. It’s your true
sincerity that puts others at ease and lets
yougetinformationoutofthem;ifyou’re
trying to maintain a lie at the same time
you won’t get very far.
It Goes To Eleven
Of course the creature you effect must
have some way of harming your target
of choice. Spurring a wolf into a frenzy
to attack the eagle lord circling above
doesn’t do any good, the wolf doesn’t
have a way to attack it.
An Ear for Magic
Acting on the answers can mean act-
ing against them or taking advantage of
them. Either way you take +1 forward.
Cleric
Commune
101
41
Cleric
Commune
Ifyoulikeyoucanpreparethesamespell
more than once.
Guidance
Cleric Spells
102
42
Cleric Spells
Guidance
It’s up the the creativity of your deity
(and the GM) to communicate as much
aspossiblethroughthemotionsandges-
tures of you deity’s symbol. You don’t
get visions or a voice from heaven, just
somevisualcueofwhatyourdeitywould
have you do (even if it’s not in your best
interest).
Magic Weapon
Casting Magic Weapon on the same
weapon again has no effect. No matter
how many times you cast it on the same
weapon it’s still just magic +1d4 damage.
Magic though is nothing to be scoffed at.
Having a magic weapon may give you an
advantage against some of the stranger
beastsofDungeonWorld, ghostsandthe
sort.
The exact effects depend on the
monster and circumstances, so make the
most of it.
Animate Dead
Treating the zombie as your character
means you make moves with it’s ability
scores based on the fiction, just like al-
ways. Unless it’s brain is functioning on
itsownthezombiecan’tdomuchbesides
followthelastorderitwasgiven,soyou’d
better stay close. Even if its brain works
it’s still bound to follow your orders.
Fighter Moves
Signature Weapon
103
43
Fighter
Moves
Signature Weapon
The base description you choose is just
a description. Choosing a spear doesn’t
give you Close range, for example. You
could choose a spear as the description,
then Hand as the range.
Your spear
is something special, or your technique
with it is different, just describe why
your weapon has the tags you’ve chosen.
Heirloom
Theexactnatureofthespirits(andthere-
fore what knowledge they can offer to
you) is up to you and the GM to decide.
Maybe they’re dead ancestors, or echoes
ofpeopleyou’veslain,oraminordemon.
Up to you.
Armor Mastery
Armor and shields that are reduced to
0 armor are effectively destroyed. You’ll
prettymuchbepayingforanewoneany-
way, so you might as well drop them and
haul out some gold instead.
Evidence of Faith
Paladin Moves
104
44
Paladin
Moves
Evidence of Faith
Your +1 forward applies to anything you
dobasedonyourknowledgeofthespell’s
effects: defying it, defending against it,
using it to your advantage, etc.
Ranger Moves
Command
105
45
Ranger
Moves
Command
Yourbonusesonlyapplieswhenyouran-
imal is doing something it’s trained in.
Ananimalnottrainedtoattackmonsters
won’t be any help when you’re attacking
a otyugh.
Backstab
Thief Moves
106
46
Thief Moves
Backstab
Reducing armor until they repair it
means that they lose armor until they
do something that compensates for your
damage. If you’re fighting an armored
knight that might mean a fresh suit of
armor, but for a thick-hided ogre its un-
til they’ve had time to heal up (or protect
the wound you left).
Poisoner
Inordertomakemoredosesofyourcho-
sen poison you need to be reasonably
able to gather the required materials. If
you’re locked up at the top of a tower
you’re not going to be able to get the ma-
terials you need of course.
Wealth and Taste
In order to use this move it’s really got to
be your most valuable possession. It’s
the honest value you place on it that
draws others, no lies.
Disguise
Your disguise covers your appearance
and any basics like accents and limps.
It doesn’t grant you any special knowl-
edge of the target, so if someone asks you
what your favorite color is you’d better
think fast. Defying Danger with Cha is a
common part of maintaining a Disguise.
Wizard Moves
Prepare Spells
107
47
Wizard
Moves
Prepare Spells
You can prepare the same spell twice if
you like.
Empowered Magic
Maximizing the effects of a spell is sim-
ple for spells that involve a roll: a max-
imized Magic Missile does 8 damage.
In other cases it’s down to the circum-
stances.
A maximized Identify might
result in far more information than ex-
pected. If there’s no clear way to maxi-
mize it you can’t choose that option.
Likewise for doubling the targets.
If
the spell doesn’t have targets you can’t
choose to double them.
Dispel Magic
Wizard Spells
108
48
Wizard
Spells
Dispel Magic
The exact effects depend on the circum-
stances. A goblin orkaster’s spell might
just be ended; a deity’s consecration is
probably just dimmed. The GM will tell
youthelikelyeffectsof Dispelinga given
effect before you cast.
Fireball
"Nearby" means a few paces at most, de-
pending on the circumstances.
Polymorph
In some cases the GM may choose the
last option more than once to list each
unexpected benefit or weakness.
Summon Monster
The exact type of monster you get is up
to the GM, based on your choices. If you
want a non-reckless swimming creature
you might get a water elemental, a 1d8
damage+2Strcreaturemightbeabarbed
devil. Whatever the creature is you still
get to play it.
Making Moves
Starting Points
109
49
Making
Moves
At some point you’ll likely want to make
your own moves.
You might want to
create moves to reflect some particular
threat ("When you go alone into the Un-
hallowed Halls. . ."). You might create
moves to cover something that’s partic-
ularly important to you setting ("When
you swim in the dark waters. . ."). You
might create moves to expand a class, or
create your own class entirely.
This chapter covers how to create moves
and more importantly why to create
moves.
Moves are the simplest way to modify
the game, but you can go beyond that.
Maybe you have a cool idea for an entire
class, or you want to change how mon-
sters work, or even mess with the entire
GMing structure. Well get to those top-
ics too, but first: moves.
Starting Points
Where do moves come from?
You can start a move with the trig-
ger. Some actions will just feel like they
should be a move. This is the most com-
mon starting point for moves. You’ll see
some action coming up and feel like it’s
different enough from existing moves
that it needs its own rules.
You can start with the effect.
This is
particularly useful for class moves. You
know that casting a spell is something
that the Wizard does, so what triggers
that effect?
Rarely, you can even start with the
mechanics.
Sometimes you’ll think of
something cool, like a tamed demon
who’s happiness is a constantly varying
stat, and go from there. Be wary of any
idea that’s entirely mechanical.
Since
moves always start and end with the fic-
tion, a mechanical idea is the least im-
portant bit of the move.
A final starting point is someone else’s
move.
Between Apocalypse World,
DungeonWorld,Monsterhearts,andthe
dozensofothergamesusingmovesthere
are many great ideas out there.
If
you plan to use a borrowed move for
anything beyond your personal gaming
group, its a good idea to ask the author
first. They’re usually pretty cool about
it.
Types of Moves
What role the move is fulfilling deter-
mines what kind of move you’re creat-
ing.
Moves for dealing with the environment
or special features you’ve added to Dun-
geon World are special moves.
These
moves are usually the GMs domain, a
place to make parts of the world stand
out. Sincemovesarealwaystriggeredby
the players most moves like this should
be written or printed somewhere every-
one can look them over unless the move
covers something that the player char-
acters wouldn’t have any idea about.
Moves that reflect some special compe-
tency or power, or something the play-
ers do, are usually class moves. If the
move is clearly tied to a specific class,
add it to that class. If the move is tied
to some concept that multiple classes
might have access to, like a move only
accessible to those that have seen be-
yond Death’s Black Gates, you can create
a Compendium Class for those moves. A
Compendium Class is like a mini-class,
it’s a collection of moves around a fic-
tional theme. We’ll deal with them in
more detail later.
If your move is something the players
do but isn’t associated with any specific
theme or class it’s probably a basic of
special move. If it comes up all the time
it’s a basic move, if it comes up more
rarely it’s a special move.
Moves made by the players in response
to monsters, such as the effects of a dis-
ease or pressing on despite a focused
blast of wind from an air elemental, are
player moves associated with that mon-
ster.
Player moves associated with a
monster are fairly rare, most of the ways
a player will interact with a monster are
covered by the basic and class moves.
Moves made by monsters against the
players aren’t player moves at all.
They’re monster moves, simple state-
ments of what the monster does. Try-
ing to make every monster move into a
player move will seriously hamper your
creativity.
World Moves
Your Dungeon World is full of fantastic
things, right? You’re likely to find that
some of those fantastic things deserve or
demand custom moves to reflect exactly
what they do. Consider this one from
Chris Bennet:
When you open a sewer hatch roll+Str. On
a 10+, choose 3. On a 7-9 choose 1.
•
You avoid being covered in feces and
rotting animal entrails from the sew-
ers above.
•
You avoid having a gelatinous cube
land on you.
•
You find a secret back entrance to
wherethemerchant’sdaughterisbe-
ing held.
This move is strong because it is tied
strongly to a particular place at a par-
ticular time.
This move was written
by request for Jason Morningstar’s Dun-
geon World game as the players entered
someparticularlyhorriblesewerstofind
Class Moves
Making Moves
110
a powerful merchant’s daughter. Two of
the options here are very directly tied to
that precise situation.
Why would you write this move instead
ofjustusingDefyDanger? Youwouldn’t,
always.
Opening a pressurized sewer
hatch is certainly dangerous, you could
use Defy Danger. This move does have
the advantage of setting up the choices
ahead of time.
This is actually a very
strong technique: if there’s a particular
situationthatislikelytocauseDefyDan-
ger, you can write a custom move that
describes the tough choice to be made to
save the GM some thinking in the mo-
ment.
The other strength of moves like this is
they call out something as important.
By making the trigger "when you open a
sewerhatch"insteadof"whenyouactde-
spite an imminent threat" the move calls
out that these sewers are always danger-
ous.
Class Moves
Each class has enough moves to take
it through tenth level but that doesn’t
meanyoucan’taddmore. Addingmoves
to a class can demonstrate your idea of
Dungeon World. Take this one, for ex-
ample:
When you claim a room for you deity, mark
every entrance and roll+Wis. On a 10+ the
room is peacebonded: no one can take ac-
tion to cause physical harm within it. On a
7–9 the room is peacebonded, but the show
of divine power draws attention. You can
dismiss the peacebond as you see fit.
This move presents a slightly different
side of Dungeon World, one that can
demand peace (something that usually
doesn’tcomeeasilytoPCs). Thismaynot
be every Dungeon World game, but it’s
a great way to show how your Dungeon
World looks reflected in the characters.
When adding a move, look carefully at
what class it belongs to. Avoid giving
a class moves with infringe on another
class’s areas of expertise.
If the Thief
can cast spells just as well as the Wizard
the Wizard is likely to feel marginalized.
This is why the multiclass moves act as
one level lower, so that each class’s niche
is somewhat protected.
Be careful with any move that provides
the same benefit as an existing move
even if the trigger is different. +damage
moves in particular should be avoided
for the most part unless carefully crafted
with interesting triggers.
+armor too
can be problematic if given too freely.
The classes at present have damage and
armor increases the reflect the overall
danger of Dungeon World, giving them
more can negate potential threats.
New Classes
Creating a new class is more than just
writingsomenewmoves. Yourfirstcon-
siderationshouldbehowtheclassrelates
to the existing classes. No character ex-
istsinisolation,soyoushouldthinkcare-
fully about why this class is different.
An excellent first step to creating a new
class is to think about what fictional
characters you’d like to task an inspira-
tion.
Don’t slavishly follow what that
fictional character can do (after all, they
weren’tinDungeonWorld)butusethem
asaguideforwhat’scoolaboutbeingthat
person.
The inspirations for the classes in this
bookarefairlyclear, andmadeclearerby
the notes in the margins. Note that not
every inspiration is taken entirely: the
wizards of Discworld inspired slightly
pompous style of the Wizard, but the
Wizard is far more competent and casts
spells differently than the typical Disc-
world character. The inspiration is one
of style, not an attempt to recreate what
a certain character could do in a certain
book.
With a clear idea in mind you have a few
basic steps that aren’t a concern when
writing single moves: HP, Bonds, Look,
equipment, alignment, races.
Aclass’sHPisusuallysomebase+Constitution.
Base HP is almost always 4, 6, 8, or 10.
Having more HP than the Fighter and
Paladin might make those classes obso-
lete unless you’re careful. Having less
HP than the Wizard is probably charac-
ter suicide. 4 base HP makes for a class
that is deliberately fragile, they’ll need
help from others when the swords come
out. 6 base HP is for classes that aren’t
ready to fight, but can at least take a hit.
8 base HP is enough to take some hits
and get into combat a little, while 10 base
HP is for skilled warriors and those who
have no fear of battle.
Damage is chosen from the dice avail-
able: d4, d6, d8, d10. The classes pre-
sented here all use a single die with no
static bonus, but there’s no reason not to
experiment with other options: 2d4 or
1d6+2, for example. High HP and dam-
age tend to go together, as you usually
need one to make the other worthwhile.
Bonds are where the class’s outlook
shines through.
It’s the place where
you, the designer, will most clearly in-
teract with the player at character cre-
ation. Unless the class is particularly so-
cial or antisocial, write four bonds. If the
class is very connected to others, add a
Bond, if they’re cloistered remove one.
Avoid bonds that dictate alignment but
don’t be afraid to say something about
what the class is or does. You can use the
rules for writing new Bonds as a starting
point, but avoid including proper names
in starting Bonds.
Look is largely left to your imagination.
This is an excellent spot to think about
your fictional inspiration: what did they
look like?
How could they look dif-
ferent?
Including at least one choice
about clothes helps establish style with-
out making the player think about buy-
ing clothes.
The equipment choices should always
include at least one weapon option and
one armor option unless the class is
clearly non-martial and lacking in fight-
ing skill.
Dungeon Rations are also
pretty much required, a starting charac-
ter without food going into a dangerous
area borders on stupid.
Alignments are your place to show the
startingoutlookoftheclass. Mostclasses
willhaveNeutralasanoption,sinceonly
the most dedicated classes are so tied
up to an ideal that the self can’t come
first. A good alignment move is some-
thing that happens with some regular-
ity and requires the player to take action
theymightnototherwisetake. Analign-
ment that happens as part of the nor-
mal course of play, like "When you gain
treasure. . .," doesn’t really show the
character’sideals. Addingsomerequire-
ments, maybe "When you gain treasure
through lies and deceit. . .," adds an el-
ement of ideals.
Now the alignment
sayssomethingaboutthecharacter(they
prize pulling a con on the unsuspecting)
and requires the player to think about
how they play.
Compendium Classes
A Compendium Class is a class only
available to higher level characters who
meet specific requirements.
They’re
called Compendium Classes because
they first appeared in the Compendi-
ums for Dungeon World Basic. A Com-
pendium Class is the way to go for a con-
cept that can be layered onto multiple
other classes.
The basic structure of a Compendium
Class is to have a starting move that is
available only to characters who have
had a certain experience, like this:
When you enter the bodily presence of a god
or their avatar the next time you gain a level
you can choose this move instead of a move
from your class:
Divine Bond
Making Moves
Adventure Moves
111
WhenyouwriteanewBondinsteadofusing
the name of another character you can use
the name of a deity you’ve had contact with.
Anytime a Bond with a deity applies to the
current situation you can mark it off (as if it
was resolved) to call on the deity’s favor in a
clearanddecisivewaythattheGMdescribes.
At the end of the session you then replace the
markedoffBondwithanewone,withadeity
or player character.
Notethatthemoveisonlyavailableafter
the character has done a specific thing,
and even then only at their next level.
CompendiumClassesarebestwhenthey
rely on what the character has done, not
stat prerequisites or anything that hap-
penswithouttheplayer’saction. ACom-
pendiumClassthatisavailabletoanyone
who just gained 5th level doesn’t stand
for much, one that only applies if you’ve
been to Death’s Black Gates and lived to
tell the tale is more interesting.
A Compendium Class also usually has
2–3 moves that can be taken only if the
starting move is taken. These are just
like normal class moves, just with the
requirement that you have to have al-
ready taken the starting Compendium
Class move.
Compendium Classes are ideal for con-
cepts that don’t quite inspire a full class.
If you can’t think of what the class looks
like or how much HP it has, or if the class
overlaps with existing classes, it’s prob-
ably better as a Compendium Class.
Adventure Moves
Adventure moves deal directly with the
adventureunderway. Theycanmovethe
action along, change the rewards, or let
you jump into a bigger adventure.
If you’re running a short game, maybe at
a convention or game day, you may find
that you want to front load the experi-
ence a little more. Here’s a move that
covers "the adventure so far" so that you
can get straight into a short game in me-
dia res.
Stalwart Fighter: As if the bandits weren’t
bad enough! As if all the sword wounds,
bruises and batterings at the hands of
your enemies were insufficient—now this.
Trapped underground with your adventur-
ing companions when all you wanted was
to return to the town and spend your well-
earned bounty.
No such luck, warrior.
Sharpen that sword!
Certainly, the oth-
ers will need your protecting before safety is
found. Justlikelasttime. Oncemoreintothe
breach, right? I swear, one of these fellow
must owe you a favor or two by now . . .
Have a look around and roll+Cha. On a
10+ choose two party members, on a 7-9
just the one, on a miss you’re surrounded by
ingrates. Atamomentofneed, youcancash
in an owed favor. A PC must change their
actiontooneofyourchoosing,once. Aslong
as this action doesn’t involve them directly
taking damage, giving up a magic item they
already own or coming to immediate harm,
it’sfairgame. Useittomakethemagreewith
you, or give you that extra ration you want,
or giving you their slot in the loot lottery.
Leverage is sweet.
The most important part of this move is
not the roll or the effect, but the infor-
mation and tone.
It sets the stage for
a quick adventure and gives the player
reading it a starting point to work with.
The roll and result here are interesting,
but don’t greatly change the flow of the
game. Handing out a set of these, one to
each player, along with a playbook, is a
great way to run a con game.
You can also adapt the End of Session
movetoreflecttheadventureyou’rerun-
ning. When doing this it’s key that you
show the players the new End of Session
move. The goal isn’t to keep them in the
dark about what earns XP, but to make
the XP awards tie directly to this adven-
ture.
When you end the session, instead of us-
ing the normal end of session questions, use
these:
•
Did we learn something about the
Cult of the Scaled God?
•
Did we rescue a captured villager or
help defend the village of Secor?
•
Did we defeat a major agent of the
Cult of the Scaled God
Move Structure
Moves always follow a similar struc-
ture.
The most basic parts of a move
are the trigger ("when. . .") and the ef-
fect ("then. . ."). Every move follows this
basic format.
Triggers
Triggers are always fictional actions un-
dertaken by the player characters. Note
that a trigger never deals with precise
units of time. Don’t write a move that
begins "When you start a round adjacent
to a dragon." There’s no rounds (and ad-
jacent is maybe not the best phrasing,
as it sound removed from the fiction of
standingnexttoadamnfire-breathingdragon
). Prepare Spells isn’t "When you spend
one hour studying your spellbook" for
good reason. Time in Dungeon World
is a bit fluid, like in a movie where pac-
ingdependsonthecircumstances. Don’t
rely on concrete units either around the
table (rounds) or in the fiction (seconds,
minutes, days).
Here are some broad types of triggers:
•
When a character takes action .
Examples: Discern Realities, Fasci-
nate [Bard], Command [Ranger].
•
When a character takes action
under specific circumstances .
Examples: Hack and Slash, Gladiator
[Fighter], Backstab [Thief].
•
When circumstances dictate, no
character action . Examples: Or-
der Hirelings, End of Session, Saving
Throw.
•
When a character uses a thing
. Examples: Magic items, Heirloom
[Fighter]
•
From now on . Examples: Serenity
[Cleric], Poisoner [Thief]
Effect
Moves effects can be anything you can
think of; they are as limitless as your
ideas.
Don’t feel constrained to mak-
ingrolls,+1bonuses,andswappingstats.
Since all moves flow from the fiction, a
fictional effect like "They treat you as a
friend" is just as powerful and useful as
+1 forward, maybe more so.
Here are some broad types of effects, any
given move may use more than one of
them:
•
Roll. Examples: DefyDanger, Casta
Spell [Wizard], Called Shot [Ranger].
•
Substitute stats . Examples: Pre-
cise [weapon tag].
•
Trigger another move .
Exam-
ples: Charm Person [Wizard spell],
Envenom [Thief].
•
Giveabonusorpenalty,forward
or ongoing.
Examples:
Quarry
[Ranger], Beacon of Good [Paladin].
•
Deal or heal damage . Examples:
Volley, Backstab [Thief], Called Shot
[Ranger].
•
Choose options . Examples: Spout
Lore, Discern Realities, Ritual [Wiz-
ard].
•
Hold & Spend . Examples: Dom-
inate [Wizard spell],
Trap Sense
[Thief].
•
Ask & Answer . Examples: Charm-
ing and Open [Bard], Spout Lore.
•
Change circumstances .
Exam-
ples: Ascetic Freedom [Cleric], Sins
of the Flesh [Paladin].
•
Mark experience .
Examples:
Alignment moves.
•
Call for more information . Ex-
amples: Parley, Ritual [Wizard].
•
Add options . Examples: Survival-
ist [Ranger], Eye of Riches [Thief].
Changing the Basics
Making Moves
112
Changing the Basics
Moves can also change the basic struc-
ture of the game. Consider this one, to
avoid the use of damage dice:
When you would deal damage, instead of
rolling the dice, substitute each dice with the
listed number. d4 becomes 2, d6 becomes 3,
d8 becomes 4, d10 becomes 5, d12 becomes 6.
Moves like this change one of the basic
features of the game.
Be very careful
with moves that muck with the funda-
mentals. Any move that contradicts the
GM’s principles or agenda, or any move
that breaks the basic "take the action to
gain the effect" rule, should be seriously
rethought.
There are some parts of the game that
are exceptionally easy to change.
The
amount of XP to level reflects our view,
but you can easily make leveling more
or less rare. The way stats are assigned
by the class is a way of making the game
easier for new players and reflecting the
concept of each class but there may be
a place for a 17 Constitution Wizard.
If you’ve played enough to know what
you’re doing with each stat feel free to
assign them however you like.
Another basic that’s occasionally asked
for is a way to make, say, fighting a
dragon harder. The best answer here is
that fighting a dragon is harder because
the dragon is fictionally stronger. Just
stabbing a dragon with a normal blade
isn’t Hack and Slash because a typical
blade can’t hurt it. If, however, that isn’t
enough, consider this move from Vin-
cent Baker, originally from Apocalypse
World (reworded slightly to match Dun-
geon World rules):
When a player makes a move and the GM
judges it especially difficult, the player takes
-1 to the roll. When a player’s character
makes a move and the GM judges it clearly
beyond them, the player takes -2 to the roll.
The problem with this move is that the
move no longer reflects anything con-
crete. Instead, the move is a prompt for
the GM to make judgement calls with no
clear framework.
If you find yourself
writingthiscustommove,considerwhat
difficulty you’re really trying to capture
andmakeacustommoveforthatinstead.
That said, this is a valid custom move, if
you feel it’s needed.
Development of a Move
Let’s look at how one move developed
over time. Hack and Slash was one of
theearliestDungeonWorldmoves,orig-
inally written by Tony Dowler. The first
version looked like this (this version has
been reformatted and edited for gram-
mar only):
Whenyouwadeintocombat,attackingyour
enemies, deal damage to the enemy you’re
attacking, take that enemy’s damage, and
roll+Str.
On a 10+, choose 2.
On a 7-9
choose 1.
•
Prevent one ally from taking damage
this round
•
Kill one enemy of lower level than
you or deal max damage to otherwise
•
Put an enemy right where you want
them (drive them off, prevent them
from fleeing, etc.)
•
Divide your damage amongst any
number of targets you can reach with
your weapon
The first problem with this move is that
oneoftheoptions,preventingdamage,is
farlessusefulthantheothers. Beingable
tooutrightkillanenemyisnearlyalways
better than preventing that enemy from
doing damage. The first major revision
was to drop that option:
Whenyouwadeintocombat,attackingyour
enemies, deal damage to the enemy you’re
attacking, take that enemy’s damage, and
roll+Str. Ona10+choose2. Ona7-9choose
1.
•
Kill one enemy of lower level than
you or deal max damage to otherwise
•
Put an enemy right where you want
them (drive them off, prevent them
from fleeing, etc.)
•
Divide your damage amongst any
number of targets you can reach with
your weapon
This left only three options which is a
great number of options to have when a
10+letsyoupicktwo. Theplayermaking
the move always had to not choose one
option. All of the options are also clearly
useful. But there’s still an issue, easily
the biggest issue with this move: the fic-
tional action doesn’t tightly relate to the
outcome.
Consider this situation: Gregor attacks
an eagle lord with his mighty axe. He
describes his fictional action: "I swing
my axe right down on his wing with a
big overhead chop." Then he rolls the
move, gets a 10, and makes his choices.
Max damage is a clear choice and comes
rightfromthefiction. Theotheroptions,
however, don’t make much sense. If he
chooses to divide his damage, how does
that flow from his one fictional attack?
How did that one chop also hit the treant
behind him?
Scoping down the fictional effect of the
move lead to his version:
When you attack an enemy who can defend
themselves, roll+Str. On a 10+, you deal
your damage but your enemy does not get
to deal theirs to you. If you choose, you can
take your enemy’s damage and deal double
damageto theenemy. Ona 7-9, youtake the
enemy’s damage and deal your damage.
Here the move now has only the effects
that could clearly follow from a single
attack. Any action that couldn’t reason-
ably lead to a counter-attack isn’t Hack
and Slash, so now the trigger matches
the effects. Unfortunately double dam-
age was a bit much, so we changed it to
this:
When you attack an enemy in melee,
roll+Str. On a 7-9, you deal your damage
to the enemy and take their damage. On a
10+youdealyourdamagetotheenemy. You
can choose to also take the enemy’s damage
to deal +2 damage.
+2 damage is a clear advantage, but not
a game-breaker. The only problem here
is that it reduced the effects of an attack
to taking damage. Monsters do so much
more than just take away your HP; mon-
sters hurl you about the room and de-
stroy the ground you stand on, why can’t
they do that in response?
When you attack an enemy in melee,
roll+Str. On a 10+ you deal your damage
to the enemy. You can choose to let the en-
emy make an attack to deal +2 damage. On
a 7-9, you deal your damage to the enemy
and theenemy makes anattack against you.
Thisversion(thefinalone)allowsamon-
sterto"attack"notjustdealdamage. That
opens up a whole host of interesting
monster moves to be used. Now even
the 7-9 result has choices to make and
unpredictable outcomes.
Making Moves
Agenda, Principles, and GM Moves
113
Agenda, Principles, and GM Moves
Changing the GM’s side of the rules is an
entirelydifferentbeastfromwritingcus-
tom player moves. Writing GM moves
is the easy part. Since a GM move is just
a statement of something that fiction-
ally happens, feel free to write new ones
as you please. Most of the time you’ll
find they’re just specific cases of one of
the moves already established, but oc-
casionally you’ll come across something
new. Just keep in mind the spectrum of
hard to soft moves, your principles, and
your agenda and you’ll be fine. Remov-
ing a GM move is also kosher, but you’re
probablybetteroffkeepingthemoveand
just not using it. The players won’t know
anyway.
Changing the GM’s agenda or principles
is one of the biggest changes you can
make to the game. Changing these ar-
eas will likely require changes through-
out the rest of the game, plus playtesting
to nail it all down.
Play to find out what happens is the
leastchangeablepartoftheGM’sagenda.
Other options, like "play towards your
setplot"or"playtochallengetheplayers’
skills" will be resisted pretty strongly by
theotherrules. Themovesgivetheplay-
ers abilities that can change the course of
an planned adventure quite quickly; if
you’re not playing to find out what hap-
pens you’ll have to resist the moves at
every step or rewrite many of them.
Fill the characters’ lives with ad-
venture could be rephrased, but it’s
hard to really change. "Fill the charac-
ters’ lives with intrigue" might work, but
intrigue just seems like a type of adven-
ture. Removing this agenda entirely will
require major reworking since the move
structure is based on this. The effects of
a miss and the GM’s soft moves are all
there to create a life of adventure.
Make the world fantastic is maybe
the easiest to change, but it still re-
quiresconsiderablerewritingoftheclass
moves. A historical world, a grim world,
or a utopian world are all possible, but
you’ll need to carefully rethink many
moves. A historical world will require
magic,equipment,andseveralothersec-
tions to be nearly entirely rewritten or
removed. A grim world can only survive
if the players’ moves come with darker
costs. A utopian world won’t need many
of the moves as written. Still, this is the
easiestpartoftheagendatochange,since
it requires changing the moves, not the
basic structures of the game.
The GM’s principles are more muta-
ble than the agenda but still can seri-
ously change the game with only mi-
nor modifications. Address the char-
acters, not the players; Make your
move, but misdirect; Never speak
the name of your move; Begin and
end with the fiction; and Be a fan of
the characters are the most important
principles. Without these the conversa-
tion of play and the use of moves is likely
to break down.
Embrace the fantastic; Give every
monster life; Name every person;
Think Dangerous; and Give them
something to work towards are key
to the spirit of Dungeon World and fan-
tasy exploration. These are changeable,
but they amount to changing the setting
of the game. If you want to change any
of these, you may have to make changes
to all of them.
Leave Blanks; Sometimes, let them
decide; and Ask questions and use
the answers are important to running
Dungeon World well. They also apply to
manyother games in the same style. The
game will be diminished without them,
but the conversation of play will con-
tinue. These are also some of the most
portable principles, applicable to many
other games.
They may even work in
games with very different play styles.
Anadditionalprinciplethatsomepeople
prefer to add is Test their Bonds . This
principle is entirely compatible with the
others and with all the moves, but it
changesthefocusofthegamesomewhat.
Frontsneedtoberethoughttoworkfully
with this, and you might need to add
moves that speak to it.
Monsters
The easiest place to modify monsters is
inthequestionsusedtocreatethem. The
simplest changes have to do with adjust-
ing lethality or randomness to your lik-
ing.
You could easily change just one
question to add random damage to the
game (if you use random monster dam-
age you might consider having the play-
ers roll it so that you don’t have to man-
age dice just for damage).
How does it usually hunt or fight?
•
As part of large group, five or more:
2d4 damage, 1 HP, Horde
•
As part of a small group, around 2–5:
2d6 damage, 8 HP
•
All by its lonesome: 2d10 damage, 30
HP, Unique
Note that these changes also adjust
lethality slightly, you can play with the
numbers to make it more or less random
as you please.
A more interesting change is to change
the questions being asked to present a
different view of monsters. The views
built into the questions imply that mon-
stersaremoreorlesslikeothercreatures:
they can be of many alignments and
won’t always be opposed to the player
characters. IfyouwanttomakeDungeon
Worldmoreaboutindiscriminatekilling
of monsters that deserve it you might
rewrite some of the questions, maybe
adding this:
The monster is Evil through and through. Choose
one to reflect why it’s evil:
•
It’s an intrusion of the Old Ones Be-
yond The Walls: Planar, +5 damage
•
It’s a product of the Old Wizards of
the Red Tower: Construct, +5 HP
•
It’s from The Time Before Man: Pri-
mordial, +5 damage, +5 HP
When creating new monster questions
you can either reinterpret existing mon-
sters by answering the questions for
themagainoronlyusethenewquestions
for new monsters. If the new questions
you add or change are key to your vi-
sion of Dungeon World its best to redo
all the monsters you use, if the question
only applies to a specific kind of mon-
ster anyway you can just use it for new
monsters.
Special Thanks
114
50
Special
Thanks
Contributors
115
51
Contributors
Tresi Arvizo
Jeremy Friesen
Pitch It
Guild Members
116
52
Guild
Members
Since you’ve read this book it’s likely at
somepointyou’llbeteachingthegameto
others,eitherexperiencedroleplayersor
those new to the hobby. Throughout the
design process we’ve had many chances
toplaywithlotsofdifferentgamersfrom
different backgrounds and there are a
few things we’ve found work well for
teaching the game.
Pitch It
Before you play you’ll likely be explain-
ing the game to your new players (don’t
just spring it on them, that’s not cool).
We call that the pitch: it’s explaining
why you want to play Dungeon World
and why you think they’ll like it.
Firstandmostimportantly: putitinyour
own words. We can’t give you a script
becausethebestwaytogetpeopleexcited
about the game is to share your honest
excitement. There are, however, some
things you might want to touch on.
Withfirst-timeroleplayersit’sbesttofo-
cus on what roleplaying means in Dun-
geon World. Tell them what they’ll be
doing (portraying a character) and what
you’ll be doing (portraying the world
around them). Mention the general con-
ceit (adventurers and adventure).
It’s
usuallyagoodideatomentiontheroleof
the rules too, how they’re there to drive
the action forward in interesting ways.
With folks who’ve played RPGs be-
fore, especially those who’ve played
other fantasy adventure games, you
can focus more on what makes Dun-
geon World different from other similar
games. Ease-of-play, the way the rules
just step in at the right times, and the
fast pace are all things that experienced
roleplayers often appreciate.
No matter the audience, don’t just pitch
Dungeon World, pitch the game you’re
going to run.
If this is going to be a
trip into the city sewers, tell them that
right up front. If there’s an evil cult to be
stopped that should be part of your de-
scription. The interaction between you,
the players, and the rules will create all
kindsofinterestingsecretslateron,your
pitch should honestly portray the game
you intend to run.
Present the Classes
Once everybody’s on board for a game
of Dungeon World and you’ve sat down
to play start by presenting the character
sheets. Give a short description of each,
making sure to mention what each does
andtheirplaceintheworld. Youcanalso
read out the descriptions for each class,
those all include something about both
what the class does and how that fits into
the big picture.
Ifanybodyhasquestionsabouttherules,
answer them, but for now focus on de-
scribing what the classes do in plain
terms. If someone asks about the fighter
it’s more useful to tell them that the
fighterhasasignatureweaponthat’sone
of a kind then to go into detail about how
the Signature Weapon move works.
Create Characters
Go through the character creation rules
step-by-step.
The process of creating
a character is also a great introduction
to the basic concepts: the players will
encounter stats, moves, HP, and dam-
age all in an order that makes sense.
Don’t bother trying to front-load the
rules explanations. There aren’t really
any wrong choices.
Each player will encounter the rules
that are important to their class.
The
Fighter, for example, will see moves
about weapon ranges and piercing and
ask about them, explain them as needed.
IftheFighterplayerdoesn’taskyouwhat
piercing is, don’t worry about it. They’re
happy to choose based on the fiction,
which is all the stats and tags reflect any-
way.
If your players are particularly worried
aboutmakingtheircharacters’right’just
give them the option of changing them
later. Trying to cover every rule and give
them all the context now will just slow
the game down. In particular, don’t go
over the basic moves in detail yet. Leave
them out so that the players can read
them and ask questions, but don’t waste
time by explaining each. They’ll come
up as needed.
Astheplayersintroducetheircharacters
and start setting bonds move from an-
swering questions to asking them. Ask
about why they chose what they did
and what that means for their character.
Ask about details established by their
bonds.
Let their choices establish the
world around them. Take special note
of anything that you think you might
be able to make moves with (like an es-
tranged teacher or a simmering war).
Start Play
Start play by concretely describing the
world around them. Keep it brief and
evocative, use plenty of details, and end
with something that demands action.
Then ask them what they do.
Ending with something that demands
action is important. Don’t presume that
newplayerswillalreadyknowwhatthey
want to do.
Giving them something
to react to right away means you get
straight to playing.
Especially for new players make sure
that the action they’re thrown into is
something they have the tools to deal
with.
A fight is a good choice, as is a
tense negotiation (which can easily be-
Guild Members
Overview
117
come a fight). Keep it simple and let the
complexity build.
Even in a fight keep to simple monsters:
things that bleed, don’t have too much
armor, and don’t have piercing.
Give
them a chance to get used to their ar-
moranddealingdamagebeforeyoustart
using the exceptions to those rules, like
piercing and ignoring armor. Of course
if the fiction dictates ignoring armor or
piercing or a certain monster, use it, but
don’t lead with those.
For new players make liberal use of your
Show Signs of Doom move. New play-
ers, or those used to a different type
of fantasy adventure, may have differ-
ent assumptions about what’s lethal and
when they’re in danger, so make sure to
show them danger clearly. Once they’ve
started to pick up on what’s dangerous
you can give them a little less warning.
Ifyou’reGMingforthefirsttimefocuson
a few moves: Show Signs of Doom, Deal
Damage, Put Someone in a Spot. Only
look at your moves sheet if you’re pretty
sure none of those three apply. Even-
tually you’ll build up familiarity with
the whole range of GM moves and us-
ing them will seem like second nature.
Continuing Play
After an hour or two of play the players
will likely have everything down. As a
firsttimeGMyoumaytakeabitlongerto
pick up all your moves, maybe a session
or two. Just roll with it.
Ifyoufindyourselfstrugglinginthefirst
session consider it a pilot, like the first
episode of a TV show. Feel free to start
over or retroactively change things. If
a player decides that the Thief just isn’t
what they thought it was let them switch
classes (either remaking the same char-
acter or introducing someone new). If
your first adventure wasn’t working too
well scrap it and start something new.
While Dungeon World works great for
one-shots the longer cycles of levels and
bonds don’t really kick in for a bit. If
your first one or two sessions go well
consider scheduling out enough time for
5–10 more. Knowing that you’re plan-
ning to play that much longer gives you
some space to plan out your fronts and
resolve them.
There isn’t always time for prep. Peo-
ple aren’t entirely committed to a
game—you just want to test it out or
you’ve got a four-hour slot at a con-
vention that you want to fill and you’ve
never met the players before in your
life.
Maybe prep isn’t something you
care about or you think it’s more fun to
just take a map and run with it. Even
better, maybe you’ve got a favorite old-
school adventure module and you’d love
torunthroughusingtheDungeonWorld
rules. In this appendix, we’ll cover how
toconvertandadaptmaterialfromother
games into Dungeon World and give you
the same flexibility to run your favorite
adventures using the rules in this book.
Overview
The first step in preparing an adventure
for use with Dungeon World is reading
throughthatadventure, andthroughthe
Dungeon World rules.
For this book,
you’ll want to be familiar with all the ba-
sic rules, as well as familiar with the sec-
tion on Fronts and on the GM principles.
The former will be guiding you in adapt-
ing the framework of the adventure and
the latter will help keep your mind going
in the right direction—so that gameplay
stays true to the style and rules set out
in this book. You’ll want to read through
the module next, paying close attention
to the four following topics as you go.
•
Maps
•
Monsters
•
Magic Items
•
NPCs and Organizations
Flip through the adventure, make some
notes as you go, but don’t feel you need
to memorize the whole thing. Areas that
focus particularly on statistics are likely
to end up ignored, and you’ll want to
leaveblanksintheadventureforyouand
the players to discover as you go.
When you’ve finished, you’ll have a
broad understanding about what the ad-
venture is about—the power groups at
play in it, the special or cool monsters
the adventure contains, the threats and
dangers that its cast present to the world
and the kinds of things the PCs might be
interested in. Set aside the adventure for
now, and refer to the Fronts section of
Dungeon World. This is where the ma-
jority of your work is going to take place.
Fronts
The core of any standard adventure, sce-
narioor game session in Dungeon World
flows outward from the Fronts to the
players; the Fronts have their Impend-
ing Dooms, the players react, and in the
space between, you play the game to find
out what happens.
The same is true
when presenting a converted adventure.
Readingthroughthemodule,you’llhave
noticedthings—NPCs,placesofinterest,
special monsters and organizations that
might have an impact on the world or
some agenda to carry out. Depending on
the size of the adventure, there may be
just one or a few of these. Take a look
through the list of Front types and create
one for each group.
I’mgoingtoconvertanoldadventureIlove;
I’ve run it a dozen times in a bunch of dif-
ferent systems and I think it’d be a blast
to run my Dungeon World group through.
I’ve given myself a quick read through to re-
mindmyselfwhattheadventureisallabout.
In this case, there’s a town being menaced
in secret by a wicked cult who worships a
squamous reptile god. Sounds like fun! The
adventurehasasecretdungeon,acorruptre-
ligious order, a bunch of smelly troglodytes
andsomeveryhelplessadventurers. I’vede-
cided that the Fronts in this adventure are
The Cultists and The Troglodyte Clan
Now, I could make the sorcerous Naga that
livesinthecavernsherownFront,ifIwanted
to, or I could add in a Campaign Front for
the Reptile God itself, but I think I’ll only
be running this game a few sessions, so I’m
going to stay focused. The two Fronts I have
work together in some ways, but are unique
andoperateindependently,soI’veseparated
them.
Create these Fronts like you would nor-
mally, choosing dangers, impending
dooms, and grim portents. Ask one or
two stakes questions but be sure to leave
yourself lots of room—that’s where you
can really tie in the characters.
Nor-
mally, you’d be pulling these things
straight out of the inspiration of your
brain, but in this case, you’ve got the
module to guide you. Think about the
Fronts as themes, and the Dangers as
elements from the pages of your mod-
ule.
Look at the kinds of things your
Fronts are said to be doing in the adven-
ture and how that might go if the PCs
were never there to stop it. What’s the
worst that could happen if the Fronts
were able to run rampant?
This kind
of reading-between-the-lines will give
you ammunition for making your hard
moves as you play through the adven-
ture. This step is where you’ll turn those
stat-block NPCs into either full-fledged
dangers themselves, or members of the
Front’s cast.
If there are any traps, curses or gen-
eral effects in the adventure you’d like to
write custom moves for, do it now. A lot
ofoldadventureswillhaveelementsthat
call for a “saving throw” to avoid some
noisome effect—these can often simply
be a cause for a Defy Danger roll, or can
have whole, separate custom moves if
necessary. The key here is to capture the
intent of the adventure—the spirit of the
thing—rather than translate some me-
chanical element perfectly.
When you’re done, you’ll have a set of
Fronts that cover the major threats and
dangers the characters will face.
Monsters
Guild Members
118
Monsters
Most published adventures contained
one or two unique monsters not seen
anywhere else—custom creatures and
denizensofthedeepsthatcouldthreaten
playersinsomewaytheyhadn’tencoun-
tered before.
Take a look through the
adventure and make sure you’ve caught
them all. Many monsters will already
have statistics noted in Dungeon World
and you can, if you’re happy with them,
just make a note of what page they’re on
inyourFrontsandmoveonfromthere. If
you want to further customize the mon-
sters, or need to create your own, use the
rules to do so. In this step, try to avoid
thinkingabout“balancing”themonsters
or concerning yourself too much with
how many HP a monster has or whether
its armor rating matches what you ex-
pect. Thinkmoreabouthowthemonster
is meant to participate in the adventure.
Is it there to scare the pcs? Is it there to
bar their way or pose a riddle? What is
its purpose in the greater ecology of the
dungeon or adventure at large? Trans-
lating the spirit of the thing will always
giveyoubetter,moreengagingresults. If
themonsterhasacoolpowerorneattrick
you want to write a custom move for, do
so! Custom moves are what make Dun-
geon World feel unique from group to
group, so take advantage of them where
you can.
In my adventure, the monsters run the
gamut.
I’ve got a scary naga with some
mind-controllingpowers, anevilpriestwith
divine snake-god magic, a bunch of ruffian
cultists, a dragon turtle and a few miscella-
neous lizards, crocodiles and snakes. Most
oftheseIcanpullfromtheMonsterSettings,
but I’ll create custom stats for the Naga and
thecultistleader,atleast. Iwantthemtofeel
new and different and have some cool ideas
for how that might look. I use the monster
creation rules to put them together.
Direct Conversion
If you run across a monster that you
haven’t already created and which you
don’t know well enough to convert us-
ing the monster creation rules you can
instead convert them directly.
Damage
If the monster’s damage is a single dice
with a bonus of up to +10 keep it as-is. If
the monster’s damage uses multiple dice
of the same size roll the listed dice and
take the highest result. If the monster
uses multiple dice of different sizes roll
only the largest and take the highest re-
sult.
HP
If the monster’s HP is listed as Hit Dice
take the maximum value of the first HD
and add one for each additional hit dice.
If the monster’s HP is listed as a number
with no Hit Dice divide the HP by 4.
Armor
If the monster’s AC is average give it 1
armor. If the monster’s AC is low, give it
0 armor. If the monster’s AC is high give
it 2 armor, 3 armor for beasts that are all
aboutdefense. Ifit’snearlyinvulnerable,
4 armor.
+1 armor if it’s defenses are
magical.
Moves and Instinct
Look at the special abilities or attacks
listed for the monster, these form the
basis for its moves.
Maps
One of the biggest differences between
Dungeon World and many other fantasy
RPGs is the concept of maps and map-
ping. Inmanygames,you’llseeasquare-
by-square map denoting precisely what
goes where, often presented to give as
much detail as possible and leave little
to the imagination save the description
of the location in question.
Dungeon
World often leans the opposite direc-
tion—maps marked with empty space
and a one or two word description like
“blades” or “scary.” To adapt an exist-
ingadventureforuseinDungeonWorld,
simply keep in mind your Principles and
Agenda. Primarily, keep in mind that
as the GM, it’s your job to “draw maps,
leave blanks” and to “ask questions and
use the answers.”
To that end, it’s often best to re-draw the
map entirely, if you have time.
Don’t
copy it inch-by-inch but redraw it free-
hand, leaving spaces and drawing out
new rooms, if you’d like. Don’t stick to
themapexactlyaswritten,butgiveyour-
self some creative license. The idea here
is to give yourself room to expand—to
allow the players’ reaction to the adven-
turetosurpriseandinspireyou. Ifyou’ve
got the whole map nailed down in ad-
vance, there’s nowhere to go you don’t
already know about, is there? Pick a few
rooms that don’t interest you and wipe
outtheirinhabitants. Drawanewtunnel
or two. This will give you some space to
play around once you get into the game
itself.
If you don’t have the time or inclination
to re-draw the map, don’t worry. Just
take the original map, make a few notes
aboutwhatmightgowhereandleavethe
rest blank.
When the players go into
that room marked “4f” don’t look it up,
just make a guess at what might be there
based on your notes and what else has
been happening. You’ll find a comfort-
able balance between freely playing out
what happens and consulting your prep
as you go along.
The maps that come with my adventure are
a good mix of fun and cool and sort of bor-
ing fluff. I’ll keep most of what the dun-
geon describes under the city—the lair of the
troglodytes and the secret caves where the
captivevillagersarebeingkept—butI’mgo-
ing to throw away a lot of the stuff about
the village itself and just leave blank spaces.
It’llgivemeroomtousetheanswerstoques-
tions like “who do you already know, here?”
and “who lives in the abandoned hut up the
road?” I’ve made some notes about where
themapandmyFrontsintersect,butmostly
I’ve just given myself room to explore.
Magic & Treasure
Two things that are, traditionally, a “big
deal” in published modules are treasure
and magic items. This is less relevant
in Dungeon World (as the reward cy-
cle for characters is more about “doing”
than about “having”) but it’s still fun to
drudge through a dungeon or explore
lost ruins and come up with cool magic
items and piles of gold! Like the map,
it’s useful to get an idea of the kinds of
stuff that might be found in the adven-
ture—anythingparticularlycalledoutin
the text as relevant to the adventure it-
self (a magic sword that can be used to
woundthegolemonlevel4, orapendant
belongingtotheprincecapturedinroom
3) is particularly important. Like mon-
sters, it’s better to look at magic items in
terms of what purpose they fulfill: what
they’re “for” rather than the damage or
armor bonus they might give. Dungeon
World isn’t built on balancing treasure
against character level, for example, so
justlookthroughtheadventureforitems
that seem cool or fun or interesting and
create new magic items (with custom
moves as necessary) wherever you think
it’s needed. This is possibly the easiest
step of conversion. Again, you can leave
yourself exploratory room, here. Make
notes to yourself like “the wizard has a
magic staff, what does it do?” and find
that out in play. Ask the players about it,
seewhattheyhavetosay. LetSpoutLore
do some work for you.
“You’ve heard
that the wizard here has a strange mag-
ical staff. What rumors have you heard
of its origins?”
Guild Members
Introductory Moves
119
Introductory Moves
This step is entirely optional, but can
be really useful when running through
an adventure for a convention group or
othergroupwhererunningthroughafull
“first session” process just isn’t possible.
You can take variables of the adventure
and create “hooks” for that adventure,
writing custom moves to be made after
character creation but before play starts.
These moves will serve to engage the
characters in the fiction and give them
something special to prepare them or
hook them into what’s about to happen.
You can write one for each class, or bun-
dle them together, if you like. Here’s an
example:
Fighter, someone who loves you gave you
a gift before you left for a life of adventure.
Roll + CHA and tell us how much they love
you. On a 10+ pick two heirlooms, on a 7-9
pick one . On a miss, well, good intentions
count for something, right?
•
a vial of antivenom
•
a shield that glows with silver light
•
arustedoldkeyintheshapeofalizard
Thesesortsofmovescangivetheplayers
the sense that their characters are tied to
the situation at hand, and open the door
for more lines of question-and-answer
playthatcanfillthegameworldwithlife.
Think about the Fronts, the things they
endanger, the riches they might protect
and their impact on the world. Let these
intro moves flow from that understand-
ing, creating a great kick-start to the ad-
venture.
Sometimes the players will come across
someone who becomes important in the
moment. When the ritual goes wrong
and a poor captive gets the power cosmic
what does that villager do with it? Who
were they?
When you need a quick NPC all you need
is an instinct and some way to pursue it.
We call that a Knack, it can be anything
fromaskilltoatitletoadebtowed. Com-
bine the two and you have an NPC who
has something they want and a way to
try to get it, you’re ready to go.
100 Instincts
1.
To avenge
2. To spread the good word
3. To reunite with a loved one
4. To make money
5. To make amends
6. To explore a mysterious place
7. To uncover a hidden truth
8. To locate a lost thing
9. To kill a hated foe
10. To conquer a far-away land
11. To cure an illness
12. To craft a masterwork
13. To survive just one more day
14. To earn affection
15. To prove a point
16. To be smarter, faster and stronger
17. To heal an old wound
18. To extinguish an evil forever
19. To hide from a shameful fact
20.To evangelise
21. To spread suffering
22. To prove worth
23. To rise in rank
24.To be praised
25. To discover the truth
26. To make good on a bet
27. To get out of an obligation
28. Toconvincesomeonetodotheirdirty
work
29. To steal something valuable
30.To overcome a bad habit
31. To commit an atrocity
32. To earn renown
33. To accumulate power
34. To save someone from a monstrosity
35. To teach
36. To settle down
37. To get just one more haul
38. To preserve the law
39. To discover
40.To devour
41. To restore the family name
42.To live a quiet life
43. To help others
44.To atone
45. To prove their worth
46. To gain honor
47. To expand their land
48. To gain a title
49.To retreat from society
50. To escape
51. To party
52. To return home
53. To serve
54. To reclaim what was taken
55. To do what must be done
56. To be a champion
57. To avoid notice
58. To help a family member
59. To perfect a skill
60. To travel
61. To overcome a disadvantage
62. To play the game
63. To establish a dynasty
64. To improve the realm
65. To retire
66. To recover a lost memory
67. To battle
68. To become a terror to criminals
69. To raise dragons
70. To live up to expectations
71. To become someone else
72. To do what can’t be done
73. To be remembered in song
74. To be forgotten
75. To find true love
76. To lose their mind
77. To indulge
78. To make the best of it
79. To find the one
80. To destroy an artifact
81. To show them all
82. To bring about unending summer
83. To fly
84. To find the six-fingered man
85. To wake the ancient sleepers
86. To entertain
87. To follow an order
88. To die gloriously
89. To be careful
90.To show kindness
91. To not screw it all up
92. To uncover the past
93. To go where no man has gone before
94.To do good
95. To become a beast
96. To spill blood
97. To live forever
98. To hunt the most dangerous game
99. To hate
100.To run away
100 Knacks
1.
Criminal connections
2. Muscle
3. Skill with a specific weapon
4. Hedge wizardry
5. Comprehensive local knowledge
6. Noble blood
7. A one-of-a-kind item
8. Special destiny
9. Unique perspective
10. Hidden knowledge
11. Magical awareness
12. Abnormal parentage
13. Political leverage
14. A tie to a monster
15. A secret
16. True love
17. An innocent heart
18. A plan for the perfect crime
19. A one-way ticket to paradise
20.A mysterious ore
21. Money, money, money
22. Divine blessing
23. Immunity from the law
24.Prophecy
25. Secret martial arts techniques
26. A ring of power
27. A much-needed bag of taters
28. A heart
29. A fortified position
30. Lawmaking
31. Tongues
32. A discerning eye
33. Endurance
34. A safe place
35. Visions
36. A beautiful mind
37. A clear voice
38. Stunning looks
39. A catchy tune
40.Invention
41. Baking
42.Brewing
43. Smelting
44.Woodworking
45. Writing
46. Immunity to fire
47. Cooking
48. Storytelling
100 Knacks
Guild Members
120
49.Ratcatching
50. Lying
51. Utter unremarkableness
52. Mind-bending sexiness
53. Undefinable coolness
54. A way with knots
55. Wheels of polished steel
56. A magic carpet
57. Endless ideas
58. Persistence
59. A stockpile of food
60. A hidden path
61. Piety
62. Resistance to disease
63. A library
64. A silver tongue
65. Bloodline
66. An innate spell
67. Balance
68. Souls
69. Speed
70. A sense of right and wrong
71. Certainty
72. An eye for detail
73. Heroic self-sacrifice
74. Sense of direction
75. A big idea
76. A hidden entrance to the city
77. The love of someone powerful
78. Unquestioning loyalty
79. Exotic fruit
80. Poison
81. Perfect memory
82. The language of birds
83. A key to an important door
84. Metalworking
85. Mysterious benefactors
86. Steely nerves
87. Bluffing
88. A trained wolf
89. A long-lost sibling, regained
90.An arrow with your name on it
91. A true name
92. Luck
93. Theattentionofsupernaturalpowers
94.Kindness
95. Strange tattoos
96. A majestic beard
97. A book in a strange language
98. Power overwhelming
99. Delusions of grandeur
100.The wind at his back and a spring in
his step
Index
121
53
Index
1
7
1 Choose a Class
7
1st
18, 33
1st Level Spells
18, 33
2
7
2 Choose a Race
7
3
7
3 Choose a Name
7
3rd
18, 33
3rd Level Spells
18, 33
4
7
4 Choose Look
7
5
7
5 Choose Stats
7
5th
18, 33
5th Level Spells
18, 33
6
8
6 Figure Out Modifiers
8
7
8
8
8
8 Choose Starting Moves
8
7 Set Starting HP
8
7th
19, 34
7th Level Spells
19, 34
9
8
9 Choose Alignment
8
9th
19, 34
9th Level Spells
19, 34
10
8
10 Choose Gear
8
11
8
11 Introduce Your Character
8
12
8
12 Choose Bonds
8
100
119, 119
100 Instincts
119
100 Knacks
119
(cabal)
52
(cha)
12, 13, 23
(choir
52
(choose
67, 68
(dark
52
(from
35
(int)
30
(str)
20
(wis)
25
&
55, 118
a
Adding Steadings
60
Address
42
Address the characters not
the players
42
Adept
64
Advanced
13, 16, 21, 24, 26, 29,
31
Advanced Moves
13, 16, 21,
24, 26, 29, 31
Advancement
6, 55
Adventure
47, 48, 51, 111
Adventure Moves
111
Aegis
24
After Death
54
Agenda
41, 113
Agenda Principles and GM
Moves
113
Aid
9, 16, 16, 63, 96
Aid or Interfere
9, 96
Aim
29
Alchemist
29
Alignment
8, 12, 16, 21, 24, 26,
28, 30, 55, 56
ALittleHelpFromMyFriends
13
Ally
27
Always Say
41
Ambitious
49, 49
AmbitiousOrganizations
49
An Ear For Magic
13
An Ear for Magic
100
An Example Front The Open-
ing of the White Gate
52
Angels)
52
Animal
25
Animal Companion
25
Animate
102
Animate Dead
102
Anointed
16
Answers
42
A Port in the Storm
12
Apply)
67, 68
Arcane
12, 31, 31, 49, 49
Arcane Armor
31
Arcane Art (Cha)
12
Arcane Enemies
49
Arcane Ward
31
Arcanists
52
Argent
52
Arm
29
Armor
17, 21, 31, 36, 103, 118
Armored
20, 21, 23
Armored Perfection
21
Armor Mastery
21, 103
Art
12
A Safe Place
26
A Safer Place
26
Ask questions
47
Ask questions and use the an-
swers
42
Attack
68
Augmentation
32
Authority
24, 24
b
Backstab
28, 106
Backtrack
45
Bamboozle
13
Bard
1, 12, 100
Bardic
12, 100
Bardic Lore
12, 100
Bard Moves
100
Bars
20
Basic
9
Basic Moves
9
Basics
41, 112
Be a fan of the characters
42
Beginandendwiththefiction
42
Belly
26
Bend
20
BendBarsLiftGates(Str)
20
Big
67
Blacksmith
21
Blanks
42, 47
Blast
13
Block
14
Blood
21, 21, 53
Blood and Guts
53
Bloodthirsty
21
Bloody
24
Bloody Aegis
24
Blot
26
Blot out the Sun
26
Bolster
11, 60
Bonds
8, 13, 16, 21, 24, 26, 29,
31, 55, 55, 55, 55
Breath
10, 97
Brewer
29
Bribes
37
Buildings
37
c
Cacophony
13
Called
25
Called Shot
25
Camouflage
26
Camp
10, 97
Campaign
48, 62, 62
CampaignandAdventureFronts
48
Cantrips
33
Capture
63
Carouse
10, 59, 97
Cast
15, 30, 50, 52
Cast a Spell
15
Cast a Spell (Int)
30
Cautious
29, 29
Cavern
68, 70
Cavern Dwellers
68, 70
Challenge
45
Chance
47
Change
44
Changetheenvironment
44
Changing Alignment
56
Changing the Basics
112
Chaotic
13, 26, 28, 56
Character
7, 8, 47
Character Creation
7
Characters
42, 42, 45, 116
Charge
24
Charming and Open
12, 100
Cheap
29
Cheap Shot
29
Choose
7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8,
113
Choosing a Move
43
Chord
13
Chorus
13
Chosen
16
Chosen One
16
City
62
Clash
63
Class
7, 110
Classes
110, 110, 116
Class Moves
110
Cleric
1, 15, 18, 101, 102
Cleric Spells
18, 102
Closest
35
Collapse
62
College
52
Command
25, 105
Common
68
Commune
15, 101
Companion
25
Compendium
110
Compendium Classes
110
Con
14
Connections
29
Consequences
44
Continuing Play
117
Contributors
115
Conversion
118
Index
122
Cost
44
Costs
64
Counter
31
Counterspell
31
Create
116
Create Characters
116
Creating Dangers
48
Creating Fronts
48
Creating the world
59
Creation
7
Creature
44, 44
Creatures
53
Cursed
50, 50
Cursed Places
50
Custom
50, 52
Custom Moves
50, 52
d
Dabbler
13, 17, 21, 99
Damage
5, 44, 53, 53, 54, 118
Damage and HP
5
Damage From Multiple Crea-
tures
53
Danger
9, 43, 94
Dangerous
42
Dangers
48, 49, 52
Dark
69
Dead
102
Deal
44
Deal damage
44
Death
16, 54, 54
Death’s
21
Debilities
54
Defend
9, 94
Defender
24, 24
Defense
30, 67
Defenses
61
Defy
9, 94
Defy Danger
9, 94
Deity
15
Denizens
69, 73
Denizens of the Swamp
69
Depths
69, 87
Describe
47, 68
Description
50, 52
Description and Cast
50, 52
Detail
93, 98
Details
47
Development
112
Development of a Move
112
Devious
13
Devoted
16
Devoted Healer
16
Dice
3
Direct
118
Direct Conversion
118
Dirty
29
Dirty Fighter
29
Discern
9, 95
Discern Realities
9, 95
Disguise
29, 106
Dispel
108
Dispel Magic
108
Divine
15, 16, 16, 16, 17, 24, 24,
24
Divine Armor
17
Divine Authority
24
Divine Favor
24
Divine Guidance
15
Divine Intervention
16
Divine Invincibility
16
Divine Protection
16, 24
Doom
43, 51
Draw
42
Draw maps leave blanks
42
Duelist’s
13, 14
Duelist’s Block
14
Duelist’s Parry
13
Dungeon
1, 36, 44
Dungeon Gear
36
Dungeon Moves
44
Dungeon World
1
Dwarf
15, 20
Dwellers
68, 70
e
Ear
13, 100
Effect
111
Eldritch
13, 13
Eldritch Chord
13
Eldritch Tones
13
Elements
60, 66
Elements of a Monster
66
Elements of a Steading
60
Eleven
13, 100
Elf
12, 20, 25, 30
Embattled
63
Embrace
42
Embrace the fantastic
42
Empathy
26
Empower
16, 17
Empowered
31, 31, 107
Empowered Magic
31, 107
Enchanter
31
Enchanter’s
31
Enchanter’s Soul
31
Encumbrance
10, 97
End of Session
10
Enemies
49, 49
Envenom
29
Environment
44
Equipment
5, 35
Escape
29
Escape Route
29
Establish
47
Establishdetailsdescribe
47
Ethereal
31
Ethereal Tether
31
Evasion
29
Ever Onward
24
Evidence
24, 104
Evidence of Faith
24, 104
Evil
16, 21, 21, 29, 31, 56, 113
Evil Eye
21
Example
57
Expanded
31
Expanded Spellbook
31
Experiments
69, 85
Expert
28, 65
Exterminatus
24
Extremely
29
Extremely Cautious
29
Eye
21, 22
Eye for Weaponry
22
Eyes
21
f
Face
13
Faction
44, 44
Facts
47
Faith
24, 104
Familiar
26
Familiar Prey
26
Fan
42
Fangs
26
Fantastic
42
Favor
24
Fiction
42
Fight
67, 113
Fighter
1, 20, 29, 103
Fighter Moves
103
Figure
8
Finery
37
Fireball
108
First Aid
16
First Session
46
Flexible
28
Flexible Morals
28
Flow
4
Folk
91
Folk of the Realm
91
Follow
26
Follow Me
26
Forces
49, 49
Form
68
Fount
31
Fount of Knowledge
31
Friend’
26
Friends
13
Front
51, 52
Fronts
48, 48, 48, 48, 51, 62, 117
Fronts on the Campaign Map
62
Furthest)
35
g
Gate
52, 52
Gates
20
Gear
8, 13, 16, 21, 24, 26, 29, 31,
36
Getting Started
46
Gifts
37
Gifts and Finery
37
Give
42, 47, 47
Give each character a chance
to shine
47
Give every monster life
42
Glossary
35
Gm
41, 49, 49, 49, 50, 50, 113
GM Moves for Ambitious Or-
ganizations
49
GM Moves for Arcane Ene-
mies
49
GM Moves for Cursed Places
50
GM Moves for Hordes
50
GM Moves for Planar Forces
49
Gnarled
79
Gnarled Woods
79
God
26
God Amidst the Wastes
26
Good
12, 16, 21, 24, 26, 30, 56
Greater
16, 17, 31
Greater Empower
17
Greater Empowered Magic
31
Greater First Aid
16
Grim
50, 52, 52, 52
Grim Portents
50, 52, 52, 52
Growth
62
Guidance
15, 16, 102
Guild
116
Guild Members
116
Guts
53
h
Hack
9, 93
Hack and Slash
9, 93
Half-Elven
26
Half-elven
26
Halfling
20, 28
Hands
23
Healer
16
Healing
54
Healing Chorus
13
Healing Song
13
Heirloom
21, 103
Heist
29
Help the players understand
the moves
47
Hide
21, 21
Highly
31
Highly Logical
31
Hirelings
64, 64, 64
Hoards
37
Holy
24, 24
Holy Protection
24
Holy Smite
24
Hordes
50, 50, 69, 82
Hospitaller
24, 24
How big is it
67
How does it usually hunt or
fight
67, 113
HP
53, 118
Hp
5, 8, 53, 118
Human
12, 15, 20, 23, 25, 28,
30
Hunt
25, 67, 113
Hunt and Track (Wis)
25
Hunter’s
26
Hunter’s Prey
26
Hurlant
13
i
I Am the Law
23
Impending Doom
51
Impervious
24
Impervious Defender
24
Important
67
Improved
21
Improved Weapon
21
Indivisible
4
Indomitable
24
Initiate
13, 21, 99
Instinct
118
Instincts
119
Interfere
9, 96
Interrogator
21
Intervention
16
Introduce
8, 44, 47
Introduce a new faction or
type of creature
44
Introduce NPCs
47
Introductory
119
Introductory Moves
119
Invigorate
16
Invincibility
16
Iron
21
Iron Hide
21
Items
38
It Goes To Eleven
13, 100
Index
123
j
Journey
10, 97
k
Knacks
119
Knight
24
Know-It-All
31
Know-it-all
31
Knowledge
31
l
Land
37
Land and Buildings
37
Last Breath
10, 97
Law
23
Lawful
16, 24, 56
Lay
23
Lay on Hands (Cha)
23
Leave
42, 47
Leave blanks
47
Legions
69, 76
LegionsoftheUndead
69,76
Level
10, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 33,
33, 33, 34, 34, 55
Level Up
10, 55
Life
16, 42
Lift
20
Location
43
Logical
31, 31
Look
12, 15, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30
Look for interesting facts
47
Lore
9, 12, 95, 100
Lower Depths
87
m
Magic
13, 31, 31, 38, 100, 102,
107, 108, 118
Magic & Treasure
118
Magic Items
38
Magic Weapon
102
Makeamovethatfollows
42
Make Camp
10, 97
Make them backtrack
45
Making a City
62
Making a Hireling
64
Making a Keep
62
Making a Town
62
Making a Village
61
Making Monsters
67
Making Moves
109
Making your Move
43
Man’s
26
Man’s Best Friend’
26
Map
62, 62
Maps
42, 118
Martyr
16
Master
14, 29, 31, 99
Mastery
21, 103
Meals
36
Members
116
Merciless
21
Metal
13
Metal Hurlant
13
Minstrel
65
Modifiers
8
Monster
42, 43, 66, 67, 68,
108, 113
Monsters
66, 66, 67, 67, 113,
118
Monster Settings
68
Monsters Without Stats
67
Monster Tags
67
Morals
28
Move
42, 42, 43, 43, 43, 43, 111,
112
Moves
4, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15,
16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28,
29, 30, 31, 43, 44, 47, 49, 49,
49, 50, 50, 50, 52, 59, 93, 97,
98, 99, 100, 103, 104, 105, 106,
107, 109, 109, 109, 110, 111, 113,
118, 119
Moves and Instinct
118
Moves Are Indivisible
4
Moves in Detail
93, 98
Move Structure
111
Multiclass
13, 13, 14, 17, 21, 21,
99, 99, 99, 99
Multiclass Dabbler
13, 17, 21,
99
Multiclass Initiate
13, 21, 99
Multiclass Master
14, 99
Multiclass Moves
99
Multiple
51, 53
Multiple Adventure Fronts
51
Mystical
32
Mystical Puppet Strings
32
n
Name every person
42
Names
12,15,20,23,25,28,30,
61
Neutral
12, 21, 26, 28, 30, 56
Neverspeakthenameofyour
move
42
New Classes
110
Npcs
47
o
Observant
27
Offer
44
Offer an opportunity with or
without cost
44
Offscreen
43
Onward
24
Open
12, 100
Opportunity
44, 63
Order
64
Order Hirelings
64
Organization
67
Organizations
49, 49
Organization Tags
67
Orison
16
Orison for Guidance
16
Other Tags
61
Other Updates
63
OutstandingWarrants
11,60,
97
Overview
117
p
Paladin
1, 23, 104
Paladin Moves
104
Parley
9, 95
Parry
13
Penitent
16
Perfect
24, 24
Perfect Hospitaller
24
Perfection
21
Perfect Knight
24
Perilous
10, 97
Person
42
Pitch
116
Pitch It
116
Place
26, 26
Places
50, 50
Planar
49, 49, 69, 89
Planar Forces
49
Planar Powers
69, 89
Play
4, 116, 117
Players
42, 47
Point
44
Points
109
Point to a looming threat
44
Poison
29
Poisoner
28, 106
Poison Master
29
Poisons
36
Polymorph
108
Population
61
Port
12
Portal)
52
Portents
50, 52, 52, 52
Powers
69, 89
Prep
46
Prepare
30, 107
Prepare Spells
30, 107
Present
45, 45, 116
Present a challenge to one of
the characters
45
Present riches at a price
45
Present the Classes
116
Prey
26, 26
Price
45
Priest
65
Principles
42, 113
Problems
67
Prodigy
31
Profit
63
Prosperity
61
Protection
16, 24, 24
Protective
31
Protective Counter
31
Protector
65
Providence
16
Puppet
32
Put
44
Put someone in a spot
44
q
Quest
23
Questions
42, 47
Quick
31
Quick Study
31
r
Race
7
Range
35
Ranger
1, 25, 105
Ranger Moves
105
Range Tags (From Closest to
Furthest)
35
Ravenous
69, 82
Ravenous Hordes
69, 82
Realities
9, 95
Realm
91
Reaper
16
Recover
11, 60
Recruit
11, 60
Red
21
Reflect
113
Replaces
55
Reputation
13
Reputation (Cha)
13
Requirements
44
Requires
55
Requires & Replaces
55
Resolving a Front
51
Resolving Bonds
55
Resources
44
Results
4
Reveal
43
Reveal an unwelcome truth
43
Riches
45
Ritual
30
Rolls
4
Rolls and Results
4
Rotes
18
Route
29
s
Safe
26
Safer
26
Scales
16
Scent
21
Scent of Blood
21
Seeing Red
21
Self-Powered
32
Self-powered
32
Seraphim
52
Serenity
16
Serious Underdog
29
Services
36
Session
10, 46
Sessions
6
Set
8
Settings
68
Setting Up
3
Setup
24
Setup Strike
24
Shine
47
Shoot
29
Shoot First
29
Shot
25, 29
Show
43
Show signs of doom
43
Signature
20, 103
Signature Weapon
20, 103
Signs
43
Size
67
Size Tags
67
Skills
64
Slash
9, 93
Smaug’s
26
Smaug’s Belly
26
Smite
24, 24, 24
Song
13
Soul
31
Speak
42
Special
10, 27, 97, 114
Special Moves
10, 97
Special Thanks
114
Special Trick
27
Speech
26
Spell
15, 30, 30, 32
Spell Augmentation
32
Spellbook
30, 31
Spell Defense
30
Spells
18, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 30,
33, 33, 33, 33, 34, 34, 102, 107,
108
Spot
44
Index
124
Spout
9, 95
Spout Lore
9, 95
Stakes
51, 52
Start
116
Started
46
Starting Moves
12, 15, 20, 23,
25, 28, 30
Starting Points
109
Start Play
116
Stats
5, 7, 12, 15, 20, 23, 25, 28,
30, 67
Staunch
24
Staunch Defender
24
Steading Moves
59
Steading Names
61
Steadings
59, 60
Steading Tags
61
Steel
21
Steel Hide
21
Storm
12
Strider
26
Strike
24, 24, 26
Strings
32
Strong
29
Strong Arm True Aim
29
Structure
111
Study
31
Stun
54
Stun Damage
54
Summon
108
Summon Monster
108
Sun
26
Superior
22
Superior Warrior
22
Supply
10, 59
Surplus
63
Swamp
69, 73
Swamp Denizens
73
t
Tag
35
Tag Glossary
35
Tags
35, 61, 61, 67, 67, 67
Take Watch
10
Tandem
24
Tandem Strike
24
Taste
21, 29, 106
Taste of Blood
21
Tellthemtherequirementsor
consequences and ask
44
Terminology
5
Tether
31
The Argent Seraphim (Choir
of Angels)
52
The Bard
1, 12
The Basics
41
The Cleric
1, 15
The College of Arcanists (Ca-
bal)
52
The Dark Woods
69
The Fighter
1, 20
The First Adventure
47
The Flow of Play
4
The GM
41
The Lower Depths
69
The monster is Evil through
and through Choose one to
reflect why it’s evil
113
The Paladin
1, 23
The Ranger
1, 25
The Scales of Life and Death
16
The Thief
1, 28
The White Gate (Dark Portal)
52
The Wizard
2, 30
The world
59
Thief
1, 28, 106
Thief Moves
106
Think Dangerous
42
Think offscreen too
43
Threat
44, 44
Through Death’s Eyes
21
Tones
13
Town
62
Track
25
Tracker
65
Trade
28, 63
Trained
26
Transport
36
Trap
28
Trap Expert
28
Treasure
68, 118
Trick
27
Tricks
28
Tricks of the Trade
28
Triggers
111
True
29
Truth
43
Turn
15
Turn Undead
15
Twisted
69, 85
Twisted Experiments
69, 85
Type
44, 44
Types
49, 109
Types of Dangers
49
Types of Moves
109
u
Undead
15, 69, 76
Underdog
29, 29
Understand
47
Undertake
10, 97
Undertake a Perilous Journey
10, 97
Unforgettable
13
Unforgettable Face
13
Unnatural
27
Unnatural Ally
27
Unwelcome
43
Updates
63
Updating the Campaign Map
62
Use a monster danger or loca-
tion move
43
Use a threat from an existing
faction or type of creature
44
Use up their resources
44
Use what they give you
47
Using Dice
3
Using Monsters
66
v
Vicious
13, 13, 16
Vicious Blast
13
Vicious Cacophony
13
Village
61
Viper’s
26, 26
Viper’s Fangs
26
Viper’s Strike
26
Voice
24
Voice of Authority
24
Volley
9, 93
w
Want
63
Ward
31
Warrants
11, 60, 97
Warrior
22, 65
Wastes
26
Watch
10
Wealth
29, 106
Wealth and Taste
29, 106
Weapon
20, 21, 102, 103
Weaponry
22
Weapons
35
Well Trained
26
What does it want that causes
problems for others
67
What is it known for (Choose
all that apply)
67
What is it known to do
67
What is its most common
form of attack
68
What is its most important
defense
67
When to Make a Move
43
Which of these describe it
(Choose all that apply)
68
White
52, 52
Why
6
Wild
26, 26
Wild Empathy
26
Wild Speech
26
Wizard
2, 30, 33, 107, 108
Wizard Moves
107
Wizard Spells
33, 108
Woods
69, 79
World
1, 59, 59, 109
World Moves
109
Writing New Bonds
55
| textdata/thevault/Dungeon World (PbtA) [multi]/Dungeon World Pocket (Really Old Version).pdf |
A Norse Mythology Inspired adventure module (1st-15th level)
across The Nine Worlds Setting for 5th Edition
Journey to Ragnarok
2
Journey To Ragnarokis an Adventure and Setting inspired by
Norse Mythology, compatible with the 5th Edition of the most famous
role-playing game, designed by Michele Paroli
Author: Michele Paroli
Adventure Design:
Midgardr and the Clans: Andrea Lucca
The Nine Worlds: Alex Melluso
Ragnarok: Matteo Pedroni
Mechanics Design:
Classes: Andrea Bergamelli
NPC’s, Backgrounds and Magical Items: Matteo Pedroni
Effects of the Runes: Andrea Back
Names and additional materials: Alessandro Drighetto, Mila Fois
Art Director: Michele Paroli
Cover Art: Andrea Guardino
(Alice Candy Guerreri for the Limited Edition)
Interior Illustrators: Andrea Guardino, Milivoj Ćeran,
Simone Denti, Elisa Ferrotto, Olga Volkova
Graphic Designers: Michele Paroli, Elena Giovannetti
Proof-reader: Enrico Romeo, Michele Paroli
English Translation and Editing:
Francesco Castelli, Jason R. Forbus, Federico Gavioli
Playtesters, error hunters and special thanks:
Davide Ardizzone, Valerio Arnone, Federico Bellini, Luca Bellini,
Christian Zoltar Bellomo, Luca Bianco, Cristiano Bruzzo,
Francesco Castelli, Mattia Catania (Naux), Ivan Cavestro,
Cesare Costantini, Nicola Degobbis, Antonio Dell’Aquila, Patrick Eusepi,
Veronica Fantoni, Mila Fois, Giuliano Gianfriglia, Daniele Iannucci,
Giulia Ingrassia, Logan Lee Kober, Giacomo Kuroda, Eugenio Lauro,
Juri Loi, Robin Mallaby, Edoardo Montingelli (Quit108),
Mariano Mora, Matteo Moret, Marco Munari, Chiara Musi, Silvia
Paindelli, Mirko Paradisi, Paola Rota, Claudio Serena, Marco Signore,
Søren Møller Starcke, Andrea Vitaloni, Van Vought, Michele Zanni.
A monumental “Thank you!” to all the Backers who supported
the project on Kickstarter and effectively made it possible!
(Full list on page 326)
Journey To Ragnarok is © Michele Paroli 2018. All rights reserved
The reproduction of any material inside this work
without authorization from the Author is forbidden.
Journey To Ragnarok is a product of fiction,
any reference to people or events is accidental.
Illustrations on pages 6/7, 9, 123, 129, 191, 282/283, 288, 289,
290/291, 304/305 © Milivoj Ćeran, used with permission
FOREWORDS
5
CHAPTER 1 - THE NINE WORLDS
6
The Prophecy of the Volva
8
The Origins of the Worlds
10
The Nine Worlds
12
Death in the Nine Worlds
14
Alignments
14
The Nine Virtues
14
Asatru Ability
14
Magic in the Nine Worlds
15
CHAPTER 2 - PEOPLE OF MIDGARDR
16
Clans
18
Bear Warriors
19
Gjallarhorn
22
Icy Crows
25
Jötunn Sons
29
Odhinn’s Eye
32
Wolves of the Shadow
35
Classes
38
Barbarian
38
Bard
40
Cleric
41
Druid
42
Fighter
43
Monk
45
Paladin
46
Ranger
47
Rogue
48
Rune Master
50
Sorcerer
57
Warlock
59
Wizard
61
Backgrounds
63
Bondhi
64
Gothi
66
Huscarl
68
Jarlr
70
Skògarmadhr
72
Thallr
74
Vaeringhi
76
Vikingr
78
Equipment
80
CHAPTER 3 - THE JOURNEY TO RAGNAROK
84
CHAPTER 4 - THE JOURNEY: MIDGARDR
90
Midgardr
92
General Features
92
Maps
93
Norvgr
94
The Coastal Area [1-2]
94
Heill Hofn
97
The Snowy Mountains [4-5]
99
Siste Klintr
103
The Trolls Cavern
104
Index
3
Svtjod
106
The Great Forest [2-3]
106
Skjult Borg
108
Uppsala
110
Fenmark
113
The Swamp [4-5]
113
Fínnbol
114
Jutland
117
The Peninsula [4-5]
117
Danevirke
118
Siste Festning
120
The Islands [4-5]
122
The Journey on Midgardr
124
Expand Midgardr
128
Encounters on Midgardr
130
CHAPTER 5 - THE JOURNEY: NIFLHEIMR
156
Niflheimr
158
General Features
159
Maps
161
The Journey on Niflheimr
163
Encounters on Niflheimr
164
CHAPTER 6 - THE JOURNEY: HELHEIMR
166
Helheimr
168
General Features
168
Maps
171
The Journey on Helheimr
174
Encounters on Helheimr
176
CHAPTER 7 - THE JOURNEY: ASGARDR
182
Asgardr
184
General Features
184
Maps
187
The Journey on Asgardr
192
Encounters on Asgardr
193
CHAPTER 8 - THE JOURNEY: SVARTALFHEIMR 208
Svartalfheimr
210
General Features
210
Maps
211
The Journey on Svartalfheimr
215
Encounters on Svartalfheimr
216
Nidavellir
218
Gnitaheith, Fafnir’s Liar
219
Maps
221
Encounters on Nidavellir
222
CHAPTER 9 - THE JOURNEY: LJOSALFHEIMR
226
Ljosalfheimr
228
General Features
229
Maps
231
The Journey on Ljosalfheimr
232
Encounters on Ljosalfheimr
234
CHAPTER 10 - THE JOURNEY: VANAHEIMR
238
Vanaheimr
240
General Features
241
Maps
243
The Journey on Vanaheimr
244
Encounters on Vanaheimr
245
CHAPTER 11 - THE JOURNEY: JOTUNHEIMR
254
Jotunheimr
256
General Features
256
Maps
259
The Journey on Jotunheimr
260
Encounters on Jotunheimr
261
CHAPTER 12 - THE JOURNEY: MUSPELLSHEIMR 266
Muspellsheimr
268
General Features
268
Maps
271
The Journey on Muspellsheimr
272
Encounters on Muspellsheimr
274
CHAPTER 13 - RAGNAROK HAS COME
276
Prologue
278
Ragnarok
280
Epilogue
284
Key Players of Ragnarok
286
APPENDIX
294
MAGICAL ITEMS
296
RUNE DIVINATION
304
Table Results
306
Using The Runic Dice
306
Reading The Runes
307
Aett of Freyja
308
Aett of Heimdallr
312
Aett of Tyr
316
CHARACTER SHEETS
320
NAMES PRONUNCIATION
324
BIBLIOGRAPHY
325
BACKER LIST
326
CREATOR TOKEN
332
INDEX
333
OGL
336
Journey to Ragnarok
4
Journey To Ragnarok is a love letter to the Norse Mythology, the fruit of over 15 years of research and
documentation through travels and reading. The more I discovered, the more my passion grew, as I realized how
deeply the myths of the Norse people influenced fantasy literature, games, comics and movies.
It all started with a phonecall by the Red, Andrea Lucca. He told me “Man, you MUST come back to D&D! 5th
Edition is worth a shot!” and so he involved me with the Adventurers’ League group he was organizing in Cernusco
sul Naviglio, Milan.
In but a moment, the group of Game Masters, made up of friends both old and new, became incredibly close-
knit, organizing the crazy sessions that would lead to the formation of the larger Adventurers’ League of Milan.
That was the environment where the idea of joining these two passions and realize this book was born, both an
adventure and setting module and a journey throughout the Norse myths and legends.
I must thank Elena for supporting (and bearing with) me in the many hard spots during the project, the Red for
having believed in the project from the start and having helped to kickstart it with the right gusto.
I thank Alex, Pedro and the rest of the team for having followed me in this crazy endeavor, Enrico for having
pieced together the veritable mountain of bits this here book required and Andrea, Elisa, Simone and Olga for
translating my ideas into pictures.
Special thanks, of course, to Nicola for the reality of Need Games, that became like family.
Skål!
Michele Paroli
Author
Forewords
5
“Gods, Monsters and Men, will die together in the end”
It took me thirty years, but I can finally quote a Manowar song writing about something! It’s been a long wait,
fraught with temptation, like the time I presented an essay on Scandinavian myths for a History of Religions exam...
or the times I played Vikings with the ruleset of RuneQuest or Land of Giants, the great Beowulf and Scandinavia
supplement for Pendragon. None of them, however, deserved a Manowar quote more than this short preface.
It is easy to see why: Journey to Ragnarok... the title itself is tribute to epic metal. And if it wasn’t enough,
just open the book. Michele and his team of modern skald portrayed the Æsir, Vanir, Giants, Trolls and the undead,
vikings, varyags, sorcerers, thieves and the Nine Worlds where they live and fight in more than three hundred
pages of pure wisdom and lore. And what about the art? The illustrations by Guardino, Ćeran, Denti, Ferrotto and
Volkova alone are worthy of a separate book.
The love story between roleplaying games and Norse myths gave birth to countless publications, like
supplements for GURPS, Rolemaster, RuneQuest and even D&D, but Journey to Ragnarok is the first work
I have seen that successfully blends gods, monsters and men, three of the pillars of fantasy, in such a complete,
dynamic and original way.
What else can I say...?
“Valhalla, the Gods await me...”
Francesco Nepitello - Game Designer
Lex Arcana, The One Ring, Adventures in Middle Earth (...)
A few years ago, on a trip to the United States, I had the chance of flying over Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland
with a clear sky. I was rewarded with the sight of jagged mountains, white expanses, strips of volcanic land, frost
islands and endless grasslands fading into the ocean. It was barely the beginning of my journey and yet I already
felt fulfilled by that majestic experience, a memory that will accompany me as long as I live.
I wondered why I found these places so fascinating, I wondered how brave was Mankind to venture to these
inhospitable lands not only to live there but also to thrive. I found my answer by paraphrasing a famous saying:
there is no unfavorable place, only people who give up easily.
The howling of the wind, the silence of snow, the might of magma, all are incredibly powerful forces, so strong they
can spell doom for Mankind and convince it they are divine in nature, telling us “You have no place, here.” And yet,
the more Nature seems merciless and impossible to overcome, the more Mankind attempts to portray it, to reach it
and sometimes even to grasp it, even if for just a few instants… with only the foolish thinking they can best it.
The challenge in Journey to Ragnarok is not just monsters and intrigues, but also the chaotic
Norse environment, sometimes as hostile as a hailstorm, or as calm and benevolent as a warm, sunny day.
I am very proud of Michele and his team; they are all expert adventurers, more than capable of leading you in
these lands where Myths dwell. If you will be brave enough, you might even have the honor of fighting alongside
the Gods during Ragnarok!
Zoltar of Sage Advice
sageadvice.eu
Journey to Ragnarok
6
Chapter 1
In this introductory chapter, the foundations of Norse
mythology are illustrated, with the origins of the Nine
Worlds, followed by rules and setting.
The Prophecy of the Volva
8
The Origins of the Worlds
10
The Nine Worlds
12
Death in the Nine Worlds
14
Alignments
14
The Nine Virtues
14
Asatru Skill
14
Magic in the Nine Worlds
15
The Nine Worlds
7
Æsir and Vanir Fight - © Milivoj Ćeran
Journey to Ragnarok
8
The Prophecy of the Volva
Necklaces had I
and rings from Heerfather,
Wise was my speech
and my magic wisdom;
Widely I saw
over all the worlds.
Voluspá, (29)
Ljóða Edda
The Voluspá is the first poem of the Poetic Edda and
considered the most important in understanding
Norse mythology.
The prophecy begins with the discourse of the seer
to Odhinn, where she declares to know the origin
of Odhinn’s omniscience, telling and explaining the
secrets of the Ásgarðr gods.
Odhinn recognized the prophetic gift of the Volva
and gave the seer gifts and necklaces; he gave her wise
advice and conferred upon her the power of prophecy.
Her eyes now saw beyond the confines of the world,
the deepest past and the distant future.
The Volva tells of past events, from the creation of
the Nine Worlds and the people that populate them.
The sacrifice of Ymir in the war between Æsir and
Vanir that put an end to the golden age of peace, and
of future events, such as the assassination of Baldur
and the rebellion of some of the Gods and many of
the Jøtnar.
Volva concludes her prophecy by announcing the
twilight of the Gods, the Ragnarok, when the Nine
Worlds are overwhelmed by the violence of fire and
water, when the Gods fight their last battle and face
their destiny, describing the personal suffering of each
divinity. All the Gods will see their end and Odhinn
himself will die in the mouth of the wolf Fenrir.
From the ashes of the dead and total destruction,
a perfect world of abundance and prosperity will rise,
where Baldur will live again.
The Nine Worlds
9
Ymir - © Milivoj Ćeran
Journey to Ragnarok
10
The Origin of the Worlds
and the Sacrifice of Ymir
At the dawn of time, there was nothing. Everywhere
was Ginnungagap, a dark and formless abyss. The two
Initial Forces then were generated: the Infinite Ice of
the plain of Niflheimr and Primal Fire of the plain
of Muspellsheimr, with the Ginnungagap stretching
between them.
The cold winds of Niflheimr, which carried water
from its source the Élivágar, washed over this empty
void from the north, while the heat and sparks of
Muspellsheimr lashed it from the south. When the ice
met the heat of the fire, it melted and dripping, it gen-
erated life, which took shape: the first being was the
giant Ymir, who the Jötunn call Aurgelmir, along with
Auðhumla, the cosmic cow.
The drops that generated Ymir, however, contained
the poisonous water of the Élivágar, the eleven cosmic
rivers, and that is why the first living being was wise
but evil, as were all his descendants.
Ymir, nourished by the milk produced by
Auðhumla, generated the race of giants, while the cow,
licking the salt formed by the ice, gave life to Buri,
large, powerful and handsome, who generated a twin-
son called Borr (“ the generated “), Borr later took the
Giantess Bestla as his wife and from their union the
first Æsir were born: Odhinn, Víli and Vé.
Ymir was gargantuan in size and was able to cover
the whole earth. Muspellsheimr’s Fire resided in his
heart, giving him strength and allowing him to raise
his body temperature to very high levels, along with
Ice and Niflheimr’s poison.
The three brothers, Odhinn Vili and Vè, considered
him impure. With a necessary sacrifice, they killed
Ymir and drowned in his blood almost the entire lin-
eage of giants. Among the few survivors, there was
Bergelmir, who using a raft fashioned from a tree
trunk managed to survive with his family, ensuring
the survival of the species.
In the middle of Ginnungagap, the gods created
Midgardr using the body of the giant. Ymir’s flesh
became earth, his blood the waters of lakes and rivers.
Rocks and mountains rose out of his bones and his
hair turned into trees. The heavens were made with
Ymir’s skull. The four dwarfs Norðri, Suðri, Austri and
Vestri became the cardinal points. Odhinn then cre-
ated the wind, turning one of the sons of Bergelmir
into an eagle. He then threw pieces of the giant’s brain
into the sky and made the clouds.
I remember yet
the giants of yore,
who gave me bread
in the days gone by;
Nine worlds I knew,
he nine in the tree
with mighty roots
beneath the mold.
Of old was the age
when Ymir lived;
Sea nor cool waves
nor sand there were;
Earth had not been,
nor heaven above,
But a yawning gap,
and grass nowhere.
Voluspá, (2-3)
Ljóða Edda
In myth, the first Worlds were Niflheimr and
Muspellsheimr, the kingdoms of Infinite Ice and Primitive
Fire. From this pair, at whose center Ginnungagap rises,
the other Worlds were born, created by the remains of
Ymir, killed by Odhinn and his brothers.
The names of the worlds end either with the suffix
-heimr (house, kingdom or world) or with -garðr
(dwelling, earth, and fence), while from the root
of the name it is possible to understand its genesis.
Excluding Midgardr (which indicates “Middle-earth”
or the world as known to us, also called Manheimr
or the “world of Maðr”, men), born from the remains
of Ymir and the home of men, the remaining eight
Worlds can be divided into pairs of opposites:
Each world was created with specific characteristics.
Their respective position along the north-south axis
of Yggdrasill and and their proximity and affinity with
either of the Initial Forces alter their magical forces.
The following is a description of the magical forces
acting in each of the Nine Worlds, rather than the
setting itself.
Ásgardr
Ljosalfheimr
Jotunheimr
Niflheimr
Helheimr
Svartalfheimr
Vanaheimr
Muspellsheimr
The Nine Worlds
11
Journey to Ragnarok
12
Midgardr
Located at the center of the universe, the place where
Men live, is now the prey of the Fimbulvetr, the great
winter that precedes Ragnarok. In this unholy situa-
tion, with Worlds colliding with each other and the
limits placed on the use of magic by the gods gradu-
ally fading, divine and arcane forces invade this realm.
Being the center world, all magical sources are present.
However, since some of the limits set by the Gods are
still in force, spells are weaker than they should be.
Asgardr
On the high branches of Yggdrasill, is the world of
Asgardr (or Ásaheimr), the realm of the Æsir, bathed
by the light of the stars, full of luminescence reflected
by the Infinite Ice and strong brightness of the Primal
Fire. Here the predominant magical force is the result
of the friction between the Initial Forces, that arcane
spark that arises when ice and lava meet: there are no
half measures in the forces that permeate this world,
only absolutes in the abode of the Æsir.
There are no echoes of the Initial Forces: in Ásgarðr,
it is only the distant memory of the creation of the
Nine Worlds.
ljosalfheimr
Before reaching the land of men, descending along
Yggdrasill, there is Ljosalfheimr (also called Alfheimr),
the reign of the Ljósálfar, the elves of light. Located
above the clouds of Midgardr, created from the brain
of Ymir, this hyperuranium World is a place of high
thought. Here lies energy derived from blocking friction
between the Initial Forces, and which the highest of the
kingdoms are composed. The description of these forces
is mediated by their proximity to the kingdom of men.
Here, there is no echo of the initial great emptiness
or even that of the Superior Entities who existed at the
beginning of time.
Niflheimr
Located north of Midgardr is Niflheimr, the World
of Mist that comes from the Infinite Ice, the realm of
cold and ice that existed from the beginning of time.
In this place reside the hrímþursar, the last few Frost
Giants who survived the drowning of their lineage,
posted to guard the dwelling of the dishonorable dead.
Far from the Primal Fire, this kingdom is dominated
by dry cold and the absence of flame, but also by the
crystallized fluidity of the ice: everything flows, out
from this realm.
There are no archetypal forces of the Gods at work in
this world, since it existed before the arrival of all things.
Muspellsheimr
To the South lies the World of Muspellsheimr, the
other Kingdom that has existed since the beginning
of time, the place of origin of Primal Fire. This Initial
Force permeates this World making it fiery, deafening,
hot and dry. Here are the sons of Fire, the Fire Giants,
the Muspeli Jötunn.
There are no archetypal forces of the Gods at work in
this world, since it existed before the arrival of all things.
Jøtunheimr
To the east is Jotunheimr, where the giant Bergelmir
escaped to with his family, here the offspring of the Ice
Giants, the Jøtnar, were born. The flow of the Infinite
Ice, mediated by its proximity to “Middle-earth”, this
place is the solidification of ideas, where the earth and
ice meet. Ruled by cold and hardness, far from the
The Nine Worlds
13
fluidity of water (destined to freeze), it is the emblem
of stiffness and stubbornness.
There are no archetypal forces of the Gods in this
World, for their perfection has no place in this frozen
realm. The World of Jotunheimr is separated from
Midgardr by a mountain range where lies the fortress
of Utgardr, built to prevent the Jötunn from invading
the realm of Men.
Vanaheimr
To the west is Vanheimr, the kingdom of the Vanir, the
minor Gods, and a world of emanations of the Primal
Fire and illuminated by the light of Ljosalfheimr. In
this place lies dynamic thought and Nature in its cyclic
emanation: the great wheel of life watched over and
ruled by the divine beings that reside there.
Here, is no place for the stillness of the great initial
emptiness or even for the Superior Entities that existed
at the beginning of time.
Svartalfheimr
Below Midgardr, among the roots of Yggdrasill, is
Svartalfheimr, a kingdom situated in the shade of the
World Tree. Far from the friction of the Initial Forces,
this plain is inhabited by the Døkkálfar (the Dark Elves);
driven out of the upper realms, they worship a false World
Tree made from the original stone of this Kingdom.
Here, natural magic is absent, as well as that of the
Gods, the wickedness of Helheimr its only resonance.
This realm is surrounded by darkness and Hell, that
part of the world where Musphellsheimr fire flows as
the only exception. The two Worlds are near where
rises Nidavellir, the realm of the Dvergar and their
renowned forges.
Only in this place, unlike the rest of Svartalfheimr,
it is possible to find the archetypal force of the Gods.
Helheimr
In the depths of the Cosmos, beneath the roots of
Yggdrasill is the reign of the giant daughter of Loki,
Hel, who with divine powers rules over the dishonor-
able dead, the sick or diseased, in a place called Náir.
This marshy moor, lashed by the wind and rains, is
the ancestral emanation of the stillness of the ice, that
stasis at the end of a life without the flame of honor and
virtue. In this world, the magic is permeated by cold
death, one without memory, without name or future.
Only the echoes of the archetypal forces of the
Gods and the ancient force of the Superior Entities
have power in this kingdom.
Yggdrasill, The Ash of the Worlds
The Yggdrasill ash tree is the most imposing and best of
trees, with its immense trunk, branches and roots over
which clear waters flow. It supports all Nine Worlds.
The tree rests on three roots, which in turn, point in
three different directions, guaranteeing it nourishment.
The first root sinks into Niflheimr and slips
into the well of Hvergelmir, sinking to the abyss of
Helheimr where it holds the snake Níðhoggr and his
bloodline prisoner.
The second root extends to Jotunheimr, slipping
into the spring of Mímisbrunnr, where wisdom and
knowledge are hidden.
The third root rests on Midgardr, feeding off the
spring of Urðarbrunnr, where swans live. Here the
Æsir gather in council and the caretakers of the tree,
the three Norns, live. The location of the source of
the Urðarbrunnr is located in a place unknown to the
people of Midgardr and beyond their reach.
Journey to Ragnarok
14
Death in the Nine Worlds
When a character dies in the Nine Worlds, the Æsir
will immediately judge them within one minute.
Once their fate is sealed, the Valkyries take them to
the eternal feast in Valhalla or they sinks into the abyss
of Helheimr and the clutches of Hel.
“The fifth is Glathsheim,
and gold-bright there
Stands Valhall stretching wide;
And there does Othin
each day choose
The men who have fallen in fight.”
GRÍMNISMÁL (8-9)
Poetic Edda
The body of the fallen and all their earthly belongings
are then recreated in the appropriate afterlife.For this
reason it’s impossible to resurrect a character after one
minute from his death.
Alignments
The ethics of the vikingar are based on different values
from the classic 5th edition alignments (Lawful Good,
Neutral etc.). Respect of the Nine Virtues and a
honorable death are the key to becoming one of the
Einherjar to be welcomed into Valhalla.
The Journey to Ragnarok alignments are
instead:
•
Lawful Honorable
•
Chaotic Honorable
•
Lawful Dishonorable
•
Chaotic Dishonorable
The Nine Virtues
The Asatru moral code can be summed up by the Nine
Noble Virtues, these makes a character Honorable and
represent the summation of the ancient lore contained
in the Poetic Edda. They are:
1. Courage
2. Truth
3. Honor
4. Loyalty
5. Discipline
6. Hospitality
7. Industriousness
8. Self-reliance
9. Perseverance
Asatru ability (Wisdom)
Norse characters may learn the Asatru skill.
This skill is based on Wisdom and allows the
character to recognize and sometimes understand
the energies, entities and divine influences of the
Nine Worlds.
The Nine Worlds
15
Optional Rule:
Magic in the Nine Worlds
Norse culture is a very rich and complex macrocosm
where infinite forms of magic and religion merge, cre-
ating innumerable interpretations, all of which can
be traced back to the three oldest Initial Forces: the
Primordial Fire of Muspellsheimr, the Infinite Ice of
Niflheimr and the Water of the Cosmos runs along
the roots of Yggdrasill. These three entities, united
together in different and sometimes unharmonious
solutions, have shaped the Nine Worlds, different
from each other by results of their origin (depends
on how much of Ymir is present in each of them)
and their resonance with the three Initial Forces. The
direct consequence is the existence of different and not
always stable agglomerations of magic. The magical
force differs from World to World and it is not possible
to foresee its effects or the provenance of the energies it
was channeled as. Spells manifested with energy from
other Worlds cause one of four types of reaction to the
arcane forces present in that realm where the caster is.
•
Altered: the effect of each magic is aestheti-
cally altered depending on the World.
•
Augmented: the effect of every magic is maximized.
Example: 1d6 damage will result 6.
•
Decreased: the effect of every magic is minimized.
Example: 1d6 damage will result 1.
•
Unaltered: the effect of each spell is unaltered.
Option 1: Schools of Magic
Abjuration
Conjuration
Divination
Enchantment
Evocation
Illusion
Necromancy
Transmutation
Ásgardr
Augmented
Alterated
Decreased
Augmented
Unaltered
Augmented
Decreased
Decreased
Ljosalfheimr
Alterated
Alterated
Alterated
Augmented
Decreased
Augmented
Decreased
Alterated
Midgardr
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Niflheimr
Decreased
Decreased
Unaltered
Augmented
Alterated
Augmented
Augmented
Decreased
Muspellsheimr
Augmented
Augmented
Alterated
Decreased
Alterated
Decreased
Decreased
Augmented
Jotunheimr
Augmented
Unaltered
Alterated
Augmented
Augmented
Alterated
Unaltered
Augmented
Vanaheimr
Augmented
Augmented
Decreased
Alterated
Decreased
Alterated
Decreased
Augmented
Svartalfheimr
Alterated
Alterated
Alterated
Decreased
Augmented
Decreased
Augmented
Alterated
Nidavellir
Augmented
Augmented
Alterated
Augmented
Augmented
Alterated
Augmented
Augmented
Helheimr
Decreased
Unaltered
Augmented
Decreased
Alterated
Decreased
Augmented
Augmented
Option 2: Damage Types
Acid
Cold
Fire
Force
Lightning
Necrotic
Poison
Psychic
Radiant
Thunder
Ásgardr
Unaltered
Decreased
Augmented
Decreased
Augmented
Decreased
Decreased
Decreased
Alterated
Augmented
Ljosalfheimr
Decreased
Decreased
Augmented Augmented
Unaltered
Decreased
Decreased
Augmented Augmented
Unaltered
Midgardr
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Unaltered
Niflheimr
Augmented
Alterated
Unaltered
Decreased
Decreased
Augmented Augmented Augmented
Decreased
Decreased
Muspellsheimr
Decreased
Unaltered
Augmented Augmented Augmented
Decreased
Decreased
Decreased
Augmented Augmented
Jotunheimr
Decreased
Augmented
Decreased
Augmented Augmented
Decreased
Unaltered
Augmented
Decreased
Augmented
Vanaheimr
Decreased
Alterated
Augmented Augmented
Decreased
Alterated
Augmented
Decreased
Alterated
Decreased
Svartalfheimr
Augmented Augmented
Decreased
Decreased
Unaltered
Augmented Augmented
Decreased
Decreased
Unaltered
Nidavellir
Unaltered
Augmented Decreased Augmented Augmented Augmented Augmented
Alterated
Augmented
Unaltered
Helheimr
Alterated
Augmented
Decreased
Augmented
Decreased
Augmented Augmented Augmented
Unaltered
Decreased
Journey to Ragnarok
16
Chapter 2
In the chapter “People of Midgardr” you can find all the
information and the rules necessary for the creation of
characters in the Journey To Ragnarok setting.
Clans
18
Bear Warriors
19
Gjallarhorn
22
Icy Crows
25
Jötunn Sons
29
Odhinn’s Eye
32
Wolves of the Shadow
35
Classes
38
Barbarian
38
Bard
40
Cleric
41
Druid
42
Fighter
43
Monk
45
Paladin
46
Ranger
47
Rogue
48
Rune Master
50
Sorcerer
57
Warlock
59
Wizard
61
Backgrounds
63
Bondhi
64
Gothi
66
Huscarl
68
Jarlr
70
Skògarmadhr
72
Thallr
74
Vaeringhi
76
Vikingr
78
Equipment
80
The Nine Worlds
17
Journey to Ragnarok
18
The Clans of Midgardr
This chapter present a brief description of the main
clans of Midgardr.
Every human player character should be part
of one. It is not mandatory, but it’s highly recom-
mended, as the clans play a key role the adventure.
The following descriptions are the “stereotypes” of
the great clans, each one being an alliance of many
villages, families a smaller clans that share the same
moral, political and social values.
The Game Master and the players are free to create
new minor clans or sub-clans within the existing ones.
In the Norse culture clans were mostly linked to family
lineage. During your adventures on Midgardr, you are
going to meet representative of minor clans in every
hall and every village, these are – usually – people shar-
ing the name of a renowned ancestor.
Still, the information of this chapter are meant to
help you choose the most appropriate clan for you
character. More informations concerning the poli-
tics and geography of the clans are in the Setting of
Midgardr chapter.
People of Midgardr: The Clans
19
Bear Warriors
(Birnir Rekkar)
Berserkers. Bear-men. Savages. There are a number of epi-
thets to define the folks from the mountains of Norrvegr
and they all describe their lifestyle pretty accurately.
The Bear Warriors don’t talk much. They are practi-
cal, spontaneous and tend solve every problem with brute
strength. Almost nobody can stop them once they commit.
A true Bear Warrior will never pass a chance to show
his or her strength and will always be at the forefront
against any opponent.
The Bears tend to wear heavy furs – usually bears’ or
from other mountain animals – and wield heavy weapons
to maximize their strength advantage with devastating
effects. Those who are skilled in magic wears totems upon
totems, made of bone, wood or any other material avaible
at the top of their mountains.
An ancient motto of the lands of the North says: “It’s
not important to be friend with a Bear, what’s important
is that the Bear is on your side of the shield wall”.
The King of the Mountain
The Bear Warriors aren’t a proper clan, but they are
identified as such by the other denizens of the White
Mountains. The people of this region are, in fact,
primitive, savages, violent and have little time or inter-
est for politics.
The reason behind this error is that almost all the
chieftains of the villages scattered across the moun-
tains live in fear and under the thumb of Snjallrsons.
Ever This family have ruled Fjalltindr (“top of the
mountain”) the topmost village on the mountains for
many years. The current “King of the Mountain” is
Gamallbjarki (“old little bear”) of the Snjallrson.
Strength is the only law on the mountains
and another clan might challenge and replace the
Snjallrsons at any moment.
Journey to Ragnarok
20
Cold as a Glacier
The Great White Mountains are cold, inhospita-
ble and the resources are scarce. The inhabitants
struggle to survive each passing day. Over time,
this extreme lifestyle transformed these people into
mighty creatures with a strength vastly superior to
the dwellers of the valleys. At the same time, their
temper changed, the mountain-folk are cold and
distant like their homeland.
Natural Raiders
Since time immemorial, the lack of natural resources
has driven the mountain clans to cross the ford during
the more mild season, when their’ not blocked by
ice. Only the most ferocious and powerful warriors
undertook this journey and their objective was to raid
everything in their path.
After many years of conflicts, this tradition mel-
lowed out, as the other clans started offering the Bears
to participate the spring raids. Over time, this new
custom became more and more common, up to the
point that no ship sailed without a couple of Bears
on board and they became a curiosity in the coastal
villages thanks to their fame of mighty warriors.
The Priests of the Mountain
Contrary to the popular opinion, the mountain dwell-
ers aren’t just mighty warriors. every village hosts at
least one priest that is skilled in the ancient rituals to
commune with the spirit of the mountain and harness
its power.
These seers and sorcerers are highly respected and
they often clash with the those Icy Crows that visit the
Bears’ villages.
While the Bear Warriors are, in their own way,
followers of Æsir and Vanir, they also practice many
rituals to cuddle the favors of the Mountain, which
they worship as a true deity. these barbaric religious
practices are blasphemous in the eyes of the Crows,
who do their best not to speak about them, because
abusing the Bears’ hospitality might have lethal
consequences.
The Curse of the Bear
Recently, the snowstorms have become more and more
powerful, blocking many mountain passes, but strange
rumors started to circulate between the high-altitude
villages. They spoke of a terrible curse that turns war-
riors into bloodthirsty monsters. Many were cast out
of their villages under the suspicion that they were
“cursed” and, according to other rumors, they founded
their own village beyond Fjalltindr, in the uninhabited
part of the mountain.
Some villages literally disappeared overnight, as if
they were swallowed by the mountain itself. According
to the Bears’ sages, the Mountain is angry and it lust
for blood have to be satiated before Ragnarok.
Gamallbjarki, "Old Little Bear" Snjallrson
People of Midgardr: The Clans
21
Relationships with Other Clans
Gjallarhorn
These people with fancy clothes are great warriors,
but none of Mountain-folk have seen one of them in
a very long time. It’s possible that the Great Winter
killed them all. They should have worn thicker clothes.
Icy Crows
The Crows are considered wise and welcome. They
know the tales of Odhinn and the other Gods. They
can figure who is right without resorting to a battleaxe.
Unfortunately many of them are weak and haven’t
survived this winter season that grows ever stronger.
They died of cold or they were offered as sacrifices to
quench the craving for blood of the Mountain.
Some of them decided to become a voluntary sac-
rifice, they climbed to the top of the Mountain to beg
for an audience, but never returned.
Jötunn Sons
The folks of the swamp talk too much and they words
are empty. It’s better to shut their mouths before they
utter a curse.
Odhinn’s Eye
The people of the great hall and ships were always kind
with the Bears and allowed them to cross the sea. This
doesn’t mean that the Bears are ready to kneel and kiss
their boots or follow their orders: if the people of the
great hall push their luck too far the Bear will show
them the fury of the Mountain.
Wolves of the Shadow
The Wolves are trustworthy warriors, they are not as
powerful as the Bears, but they show honor on the
battlefield. This is the greatest praise a Bear can offer.
Guàrdinjandr, Cheftain of the Cursed Bears
Journey to Ragnarok
22
Gjallarhorn
The Gjallarhorns are proud, dedicated and pragmatic.
They are protectors born and raised, they are ready to go
any length to shield their companions, guiding them to fight
as single, cohesive force.
While they carry weapons clothes and armors of vastly
superior quality to the Odhinn’s Eye, the Gjallarhorns tend
to favor dark and simple design over lavish and shiny ones.
In everyday life and on the battlefield, a Gjallarhorn favor
actions over words.
While every Gjallarhorn desires to show her valor in a
raid, they are all dedicated to protecting their homeland first.
A true Gjallarhorn is always ready to abandon any task
to rush back and defend the homeland when it’s in peril.
Blood of the First Viking King
The Gjallaorn clan, formed by the descendants of the
first Viking King, rules uncontested upon the penin-
sula and the islands of the Jutland.
Despite the constant threat of an invasion, the
kingdom of Jutland is, probably, the richest and most
stable of the North. Because of this, the royal family is
very much loved by both the nobles and the popula-
tion. This state of “peace” was born from many years
of bloody and brutal war that drove the opponents of
the royal family almost to extinction.
The cheerful and kind ways, typical of the
Gjallahorn clan, are misleading. A visitor should not
think that the clan lacks resolve, the royal family is
ready to use the iron first when needed.
Defenders of the Northen Lands
The ruling family didn’t become legend just because
of its strength and wealth, it also built the Danevirke,
a great and ingenious fortification system that stretch
across the entire peninsula, protecting it from the
assaults from the nearby Frank Empire.
The first queen herself ordered the construction of
this great fortification and, to honor her memory, a
force of Gjallarhorn’s shield maidens choose to fight
on the borders, all worthy descendent of the great her-
oine of ancient times.
The clan itself is named after the gigantic horn
that sits in the capital. If the Danevirke should fall,
a system of lighthouses across the peninsula would
immediately alert the capital and the great horn will
be heard loud and clear.
According to legend, the horn was sounded once and
it’s so powerful that it can be heard in all of Midgardr.
The Gjallahorns are very faithful to the gods and,
according to legend, the clan descend from the god
Heimdallr and the clan took the name of his warhorn.
This belief gives their chosen task a divine aura, they
protect the North like Heimdallr protects Asgardr.
People of Midgardr: The Clans
23
Rich and Humble
Beside the political stability and more fertile lands,
compared to other regions of the North, the main
source of wealth of the inhabitants of the Jutland are
the raids. The peninsula is perfect to send ships against
the Frankish coasts and toward those inhabited by the
strange people of the East.
While today the sea are under the control of the
Odhinn’s Eye, it’s still possible to find good sailors
and shipyards in the peninsula and the nearby islands.
There is also the historical alliance between these two
clans that created many terrifying raider fleets that ter-
rorized all the seas of Midgardr.
Almost every important village of the Jutland has
stone buildings and the quality of life is far higher than
the rest of the North. In spite of all this prosperity, the
nobles of the Jutland tend not to boast their wealth,
especially compared to the Odhinn’s Eye.
Ever since Fimbulvetr hit the Jutland the situation
has changed dramatically and most of the population
wouldn’t have survived the first years without the help
of the royal family and the great stashes of supplies.
The Queen of L egends
During the last year, a great tragedy stroke the royal
family: a furious sea storm destroyed the ship of King
Horik Gottfredson, killing the King and his first-
born Erik Barn (“the Child”), while they were sailing
toward Heill Hofn to meet their ally Asbjørn the Red.
Apparently, nobody survived the shipwreck.
The population feared a time of political turmoil,
because the only living descendant was the king’s
daughter, princess Thorunn. The young princess didn’t
give up, showing to be a true Gjallahorn, she sum-
moned her faithful men of women and, in a single
night, eliminated all the nobles and leaders that con-
spired against her. After this show of strength, it was
simple to convince all the remaining sages to crown her
Queen. She took a second name in honor of her late
father becoming Queen Thorunn Horikdottir. After
establishing her power, the Queen took up sword and
shield and marched to Danevirke with her elite guard,
fighting on the forefront against the Franks’ invasion.
According to many rumors, the Great Winter hit the
lands beyond the wall with incredible ferocity, causing
a spike in the number of Franks’ attacks. The enemy
hopes to invade the Jutland to raid its resources.
Covered in the blood of the enemies and sur-
rounded by the superb warriors of the elite guard,
the Queen demonstrated her great skills as a leader,
earning her spot in legends and tales. It didn’t take
long for the Skalds to start comparing Thorunn with
the first queen of legends, she who started the con-
struction of the Danevirke.
Today, the people of Jutland, in spite of the extreme
poverty, see its warrior queen as a sign of hope.
Thorunn has become the incarnation of the faith and
hopes of her people.
While the Queen keeps a strict control over the
Jutland, she know that tradition is against her and the
court nobles, who never fully supported her, push so
that she find a husband worthy of the crown. Thorunn
isn’t happy with this perspective, but she also knows
that an alliance might help the Jutland rise again.
Thorunn Horikdottir
Journey to Ragnarok
24
Beyond the Danevirke
It’s not just the dreadful weather that bother the
Gjallahorns. While the Franks’ attacks suddenly
stopped, those few spies that returned from the enemy
lands have gone mad. They keep blathering about a
terrible disease, green lights and a terror that will soon
arrive from the South. Thorunn made sure that these
men could find an honorable death and that their rav-
ings didn’t circulate among the people.
The Queen doesn’t have resources to spare to dis-
cover what is really happening beyond the Danevirke,
right now the only course of action is to keep the realm
stable and survive the Great Winter. In spite of these
precautions, the rumors have spread among the com-
moners fueling the collective hysteria. Thorunn will
soon be forced to take action.
Relationships with Other Clans
Bear Warriors
It’s rare to find any barbarian from the mountain in
the Jutland, but not completely unheard of. Many
inhabitants of the far North are skilled sailors, who
dedicated their live at raiding and were “adopted” by
a warlord of Jutland. The tales of the Skalds made
these mighty warriors famous. A Bear Warrior will
always be welcomed with kind awe and amazement
by the people of these regions, who consider him a
legendary warrior.
Icy Crows
The Queen has conflicting opinions about the Icy
Crows in her territory.
On one hand, they are very useful to help those in
need and investigate the strange events of the last year.
On the other, they are a danger to the kingdom’s stability.
The Queen is perceptive enough to know that, behind
their shows of goodwill, the Crows have a precise design
and that myths and superstitions are much more effec-
tive than a sword to control her people. So, the Queen
harbors some well-grounded suspicions about the Icy
Crows. She won’t trust them fully until they show their
real goals. Until then, Thorunn would much prefer to
hang them, but she can’t risk to create some martyrs,
and keep with the tradition that the royal family has
never allowed any kind of political interference.
Jötunn Sons
For the people of Jutland the existence of the outcasts’
clan is almost a myth. While Thorunn is a very “pro-
gressive” ruler, she will never be able to forge a true
alliance with the Jötunn Sons, because her subjects are
still very devout to tradition. This doesn’t mean that
Queen cannot find a use for the Jötunn Sons and their
unique abilities: the outcasts might take care of some
delicate matters, like eliminating those few nobles that
she doesn’t trust fully, yet.
Odhinn’s Eye
The Gjallahorns don’t know about the recent changes
at the hall of King Asbjørn and, despite this lack of
communication, believe that the Odhinn’s Eye will
heed their call. The population – unaware of the recent
marriage of King Asbjørn – hopes that the two clans
might unite through the marriage between their heroic
monarchs: King Asbjørn and Queen Thorunn. Due
to situation getting worse and worse, it’s probable
that the Queen will soon send a delegation to ask the
Odhinn’s Eye for help, crossing the islands of Jutland
and the region of Svitjod.
Wolves of the Shadow
The Gjallarhorn clan never had any direct relationship
with the forest clan. Some Wolves fought alongside the
Gjallahorns during raids, but the differences between
the Clans and the alliance with the Odhinn’s Eye put a
stop to any possible treaty.
Still, the Gjallahorns deeply respect the Wolves
because of the prowess of their warriors.
The current Queen is less traditionalist and might
be incredibly grateful to the Wolves if they provide
her the help she so desperately need. She might even
change her allegiance, although she has only heard
rumors about what is happening oversea.
People of Midgardr: The Clans
25
Icy Crows
(Jokullsrafn)
The Icy Crows are famous for being meditative, serene
and intelligent.
A member of the Icy Crows often has visions of future
events or cast the runes to peer beyond the veil of fate. The
Icy Crows are also experts of ancient magic rituals passed
on orally within the clan.
A true Icy Crow live to serve the circle and its princi-
ples, she would do anything to preserve them.
An Icy Crow will never pass the opportunity to tell
a story, recall a legend or pass down a myth. It doesn’t
matter how urgent are her obligations, she will always
find time to tell about the way of the Gods and keep the
culture of the Nordic people alive.
Serving the Circle
Despite their preeminence in the politics of the North,
the Icy Crows aren’t a proper clan, they’re a vast and
highly structured circle, formed primarily by hermits,
wise seers, sorcerers and Skalds. they live according to
a precise code of conduct, fully devoted to preserving
the divine order on Midgardr.
The Icy Crows fulfill this divine call by retelling
the legends of the Gods, they spread the cultural and
moral values through their actions.
Teachers, Judges
and Arbitrators
The Icy crows are more than protector of the cul-
tural heritage, they often handles administrative and
bureaucracy for the other clans. It’s quite common for
a Crow to sit next to the Jarl – as an adviser or a judge
of the feuds between the citizens – or the fulfill the
role of the Løgsøgumaður (expert of the law) during a
þing, a gathering of a great clan.
Their presence – as adviser, teachers and wise men
or women – through almost every village of Midgardr
gives the Icy Crows an immense network of inform-
ants that the circle can always use for its own ends.
A L ifelong Path
While every Icy crow is free to act as she saw fit, there’s
a precise hierarchy within the circle.
The headquarter of the order is in the famous temple
of Uppsala (see page 110), in the region of Svitjod, very
close to the forests of the Wolves of the Shadow.
When a youngster join the circle, she has to swear
an oath to Fate itself and sever every bond with her pre-
vious life. These new recruits must embrace neutrality
and have a single purpose: serve the circle and pass on
its values.
Journey to Ragnarok
26
These adepts are called Rót (“Root”) and usually,
after a first term of studies in Uppsala, they serve a
Mímistafr (“Pillar of Wisdom”) as apprentices for ten
years, following the master in her journeys. During the
long apprenticeship a Rót must learn the old tales, how
to cast and read the Runes of Knowledge and study the
principles that regulate the life and death of every Crow.
Although there is no official age to join the Icy Crows,
it’s a common custom to send small children to the
circle. There are a number of reasons for that, these chil-
dren might be orphans or their parents swore an oath to
the Gods. Some villages – especially the Wolves of the
Shadow’ ones – send at least three children to the Crows
every year as a tribute. In some, much more rare, circum-
stanced a kid might be sent because she was born with
spot or other birthmarks that looks like the sacred Runes,
hinting at a higher call.
An Icy Crow might remain a Rót for just a few month
or her entire life. This spiritual journey has no per-deter-
mined length and only when the Mímistafr thinks the
Rót is ready, she would be appointed a proper Mímistafr
during a ceremony at the temple of Uppsala.
After the apprenticeship ends with a trial decided by
the master (usually a game of hnefatafl), the Rót becomes
a Mímistafr and can participate fully at the life of the clan
and the meeting of the circle, but she can’t vote.
These sages – the Mímistafr – are the heart of the
circle and, beside the usual responsibilities of every Icy
Crow, they are constantly traveling between Uppsala and
the villages of other clans. With very few exceptions, a
Mímistafr cannot stop in any given place for a long time.
These continuous travels help the circle to keep its net-
work alive, going from Mímistafr to Mímistafr across all
the Northen lands. Additionally, a Mímistafr must take
care of the education of the Rót – usually having one
apprentice at every time – and she must also rely instruc-
tions to the Flakkàndi she met.
Some Mímistafr choose to become Flakkàndi (“wan-
derers”) and pass the rest of their lives wandering from
a village to the next, serving the typical duties of an Icy
Crow at each stop. They’re free to go wherever they want,
unless the circle assign them a particular task.
Although they usually live in Uppsala, some Léradhr
are allowed to act as advisers to a Jarl of a different clan,
while others choose to become hermits.
The Léradhr usually act as teachers and mentors to
the lower ranks, passing on the tradition and the rules
of the clan. They’re also part of council of the Léradhr:
the ruling body that debates how the circle should
answer to the political evolution of Midgardr. They
have no decision-making power, though, this is usually
reserved to the three Mímaneidhr (“tree of wisdom”).
According to tradizione, the three Mímaneidhr are
chosen from three different age groups, to represent the
Norns and have a different point of view of every given
decision.
To make a decision official, all three Mímaneidhr must
agree.
When a Mímaneidhr dies or choose to abdicate, the
Flakkàndi bring the news to every member of the Icy
Crows and the circle gets ready for the new investiture.
To become a Mímaneidhr, a Crow must face three
extreme trials:
•
Swallow hot coals to become a vessel of the pri-
mordial fire of Muspell, bringer of life and death.
•
Be buried up to the neck on a beach, at the
water’s edge, waiting for the tide to shift; to con-
quer the sea and become one with Landvaettir,
the spirit of earth.
•
Offer and officiate a sacrifice.
If more than one candidate survive these trials, the
circle of the Mímistafr choose the one that made the
most significant sacrifice as the new Mímaneidhr.
After becoming a Mímaneidhr, a Mímistafr
renounce her name and receive a new spiritual name
from the circle of the Crows.
While a Crow cannot have a family, procreating is
not forbidden, just not recommended outside of cer-
tain times of the year. During certain festivities the
Icy Crows are used to organize great ritual orgies and
every child conceived during these conclaves is con-
sidered a child of the entire circle and raised by the
entire community.
People of Midgardr: The Clans
27
The Broken Circle
Today, the circle of the Crows is more fractured and
weaker than ever. Every important decision requires
the approval of all the three Mímaneidhr and, when
this doesn’t happen, the Icy Crows are forced to remain
neutral until there is a unanimous vote.
The current Mímaneidhr are (from the oldest to the
youngest):
The old Spekisvidhr, “Wood of Knowledge”
The very yong Límrún, “Rune of the Branches”
The adult Blóttré, “Tree of Sacrifice”
Journey to Ragnarok
28
During the last year, the biggest point of conten-
tion between the Mímaneidhr has been which side
the Crows will support, at least politically, in the
impending war between the Odhinn’s Eye and the
Wolves of Shadow.
Under the religious perspective, every Crow thinks
that it’s shameful and dishonorable for the King to
deny the Æsir and the Vanir. Almost the entire clan
thinks that the King’s companion is a powerful witch
and some believe she’s, at least partially, responsible for
the coming of the Fimbulvetr.
At the same time, there are no doubts that
Ragnarok is at the gates and facing the twilight of
the gods with the circle so weak and fractured will
bring shame to all the Crows. It’s imperative to find a
solution as soon as possible.
Finally, the circle has sent many Mímistafr, along
with their Rót, to investigate the rumors, more and
more frequent with each passing day, of monsters
appearing and other magical events. Unfortunately,
the terrible weather conditions make journeys harder
and harder.
Relationships with Other Clans
Bear Warriors
The Bears are considered pure being, the closest true
incarnations of the Nine Virtues. Because of that, the
Crows see them as exuberant children that need guid-
ance, so that they continue to follow the tradition and
honor the gods. Usually, at least one Crow lives all year
around at each Bears’ village to arbitrate those con-
flict that would be solved through violence otherwise.
These Crows also teach to the children and pass on
ancient legends.
Recently, the Sages of the snowy mountains stopped
sending news. Many think this is due to the terrible
weather, but the circle has grown more and more wor-
ried by this lack of communication.
Gjallarhorn
The Icy Crows always looked with suspicion and fear
at the rulers of the Gjallarhorn clan, because they
never allowed the Crows to interfere in the internal
politics of their lands and were ruthless in punishing
those who tried to meddle.
The Crows that still lives in these lands are trying to
contact the circle, but the weather isolated them and
the few missives that came through were garbled and
unreliable. They speak of a terrible war with the Franks
and of something horrible beyond the Danevirke, but
the only way to discover the truth would be send other
warriors into the unknown across the Jutland.
Jötunn Sons
It doesn’t matter how honeyed are their words, nor
that the Wolves trust them and neither that they now
seem willing to follow the Virtues: the cursed blood
remain such. The Crows know better than anyone else
who the true enemy is.
Despite the rule of neutrality, every Crow with a lick
of common sense will never turn her back to a Jötunn
Son. trusting a Gargan is never a good idea.
The origin of this rivalry is ancient and is grounded in
the foundation of the outcast clan, but only a handful of
people knows
Not all the battles are fought with swords and shields.
Since time immemorial these two clans duel using cun-
ning, magic and politics.
Odhinn’s Eye
While the King is bringing shame to the clan denying
the Gods, the Odhinn’s Eye is still considered an ally
by many Crows. The reason is twofold: most of the
Odhinn’s Eyes still pray the Æsir and the Vanir and the
entire clan still honor the Crows as keepers of virtue
and knowledge.
Still, the spreading of the faith of the Flame might
ruin the relationship between these two clans and
many scandalmongers whisper that the Mímaneidhr
haven’t reach an agreement yet because the King
bribed at least one of them.
Wolves of Shadow
The Wolves are the clan closest to the Crows. While
they are often too impulsive, they are, without a doubt,
the most devout clan.
Recently, the Crows are relying more and more
on the Wolves to investigate the strange sightings of
magical beings. While the rule of neutrality prevents
the Crows from openly admitting it, many of them
would immediately side with the Wolves to eliminate
the King of the Odhinn’s Eye and his clan.
People of Midgardr: The Clans
29
Jötunn Sons
(Jothnarsønir)
The Jötunn Sons are mellifluous, cunning and full of tricks.
It is a clan of outcasts, proud of their dissolute lifestyle
and openly mocking the Nine Virtues. Their clothes and
equipment are usually eccentric, yet functional. They are,
in fact, great experts of traps, poisons and other obscure
contraptions.
Barring some rare accidents, the Jötunn Sons try to
keep a neutral facade toward the other Clans: the last
thing they want is becoming the common enemy of every
other clan of North.
When a Jötunn Son goes into battle, she always takes
time to find the best way to win without dying and –
although considered a dishonorable behavior by many
– this is a clear sign of the clan’s superior strategic abilities.
These qualities and their vast knowledge of the magical
arts makes them very sought after allies for oversea raids,
in spite of the outcast status.
The Outcasts’ clan
Assassins, thieves, traitors and cursed ones, it doesn’t
matter why they were cast out from the Clans, those
who have the guts to look for the way through the
swamps and survive, will find a clearing beyond the
bogs and be welcomed among the outcasts known as
the Jötunn Sons.
The Jotuns are the only clan that does not follow
the Nine Virtue and even brags about this freedom.
They call themselves Gargan (“snakes”).
The clan continues to exists thanks to the constant
influx of outcasts, but also the sexual freedom enjoyed
by its members. Furthermore, many mothers that dis-
cover the signs of frost giants’ blood or other curses
upon they children try, as last act of motherly love,
to give them to the Gargan, to spare the young ones a
death sentence.
The Way Past the Swamp
The main Jötunn’s settlement is an encampment in
a dark and accursed clearing, at the heart of a foul
swamp. The precise location of Fínnbol (see page 114)
is a secret but, even if it wasn’t, it would be hard for
other clans to infiltrate it. According to some rumors
it should be in the northern part of Svitjod, where the
forest becomes a wasted plain.
The Jötunn Sons survive thanks to the scarce resources
of the swamp and the outcome of their nightly raids in
the villages near their encampment. The inhabitants of
this region are so terrified that the often leave offerings
and necessities along the borders of the swamp, hoping
to keep at bay its inhabitants, feared like evil spirits.
Journey to Ragnarok
30
Children of the Giant
The origins of the Jötunn Sons clan are lost to time
and today very few people remember how this pack
of outcasts united and has become one of the most
important clans. Many believe that the growth of
the outcast’s clan is a consequence of the power of its
founder, the legendary Hrókr Fjalson, “The Crow Son
of the Mountain”. Others claim that Fjalson has been
the only leader of the Jotuns since their foundation,
over 200 years ago. It’s possible that Hrókr Fjalson is
just one of the many lies created by the outcast clan to
bolster its reputation and strike fear into the hearts of
the Northeners.
Very few know the truth: Hrókr Fjalson is real and
so are the rumors that he’s the child of an unfortu-
nate encounter between an ice giantess and a mortal.
This half-breed has a really unusual look and, also, an
incredible longevity, far superior to ordinary humans.
Only four people – Hrókr himself and the three
Mímaneidhr of the Icy Crows – know the truth about
how the Jötunn Sons came to be: Hrórk was a very
powerful and respected Mímistafr of the Crows, accord-
ing to many it was written that he would become a
Mímaneidhr, but something went wrong. The Jötunn
blood pushed the Crow closer and closer to ancient
and forbidden rites. His desire for power consumed
his sense of honor, making the council more and more
worried. When his Rót was found dead, with the body
covered in unknown symbols and riddled with terrible
malformations, Hrókr was cast out from the Crows.
Since that time the rare blue blood, like his, is consid-
ered a terrible curse.
The hatred toward the children born with even a
hint of ice giant blood is so widespread among the
Crows that has spread to all the other Clans. It has
become customary to abandon these children, consid-
ered abominations.
Hrókr never accepted his exile and remains jealous
of his superiors. He passed the last 200 years hiding
in the swamp and preparing for a vendetta. After
this exile, desperate to escape, he discovered a path
through the swamps and, when he reached the clear-
ing, an ancient and magical statue of Loki. Desperate
and without anywhere to go, Hrókr put his fate in
the hands of the God and Loki answered, through
the statue. It has become tradition for Hrókr to pass
the same day every year talking to the statue, waiting
for instructions. This is an important festivity for the
Jötunn Sons and long, wicked celebration follows it.
The objectives and aims of the Jötunn Sons are
obscure and mysterious. The outcast clan blindly fol-
lows the orders of the half-giant, but these are so unclear
and guttural that nobody can understand them.
Hrókr Fjalson, “The Crow Son of the Mountain”
People of Midgardr: The Clans
31
Another key character of the Jötunn Sons is
Kynbani (“Bane of the Kins”) Bergelmirson, who
claims to be the son of Belgelmir himself. Kynbani
lives on a stilt house along the river that surrounds the
encampment. There he welcome the youth of the clan,
telling them about the deeds of the Jotuns to fuel their
hatred toward the Æsir.
L ies Until the End of the World
The members of the clan workship Loki above any
other deity and believe that the rest of the Æsir are
wicked liars: according to their beliefs the Æsir stole
the magic from Midgardr because they feared the
potential dormant in mankind.
All the Jötunn Sons have been waiting for the Great
Winter that heralds Ragnarok, as the oracle foreseen,
this will be the time of vengeance for the outcasts and
glory for the Jotuns.
The Jötunn Sons despise all the other Clans, but not
openly, considering them lapdogs of the Icy Crows.
The reserve a special, unlimited, hatred for the Crows,
to the point of organizing schemes and conspiracies to
bring down the circle.
In the depth of their souls, almost all Jötunn Sons
desire vengeance against the other Clans. Being part
of the Jotuns means that one was either cast out or, at
best, was born among the Gargan and taught to hate
everyone else since childhood.
Relationships with Other Clans
Bear Warriors
Upon the mountain of the far North everything con-
tinues are the oracle foresaw.
It doesn’t matter that the Bears are forming an alli-
ance, the ancient prophecy foretold that a sickness will
strike the mountain clans and, thanks to their alliances,
spread to the people of the valleys and, eventually, to
all the people of the North.
Gjallarhorn
The oracle showed to the half-giant the fate of the
men of Jutland: the chieftain of the Jotuns, as always,
revealed only what he needed, but he seem certain that
the warriors defending the Danevirke are too busy to
participate the upcoming war.
Icy Crows
The Icy Crows has always been a problem: the Jötunn
Sons grew up longing for a vengeance against those
who first marked the Gargan as renegades.
At the moment the Icy Crows are the only one
that might be cunning enough to unveil the lies of
the Jotuns, but the circle is weaker and more fractured
than ever. This might be the right time to eliminate the
current Mímaneidhr and replace them with someone
more malleable.
Odhinn’s Eye
The Odhinn’s Eye clan is one of the greatest threats to
the schemes and the survival of the Jötunn Sons.
Nothing ever helped the Gargan more than King
Asbjørn denying the Æsir. The Wolves of the Shadow
are bidding their time, but sooner or later the chieftain
would move against the heretics and the Jotuns are
waiting just for the blood to smear the snow.
Wolves of the Shadow
Everybody think that the Jötunn Sons are allied with
the Wolves of the Shadow, but the Gargan don’t know
the meaning of the word. The Wolves are just a mean
to their ends and this is the only reason why the
remain nonbelligerent.
Kynbani, “Bane of the Kins”
Journey to Ragnarok
32
Odhinn’s Eye
(Odhinsauga)
The Odhinn’s Eye clan is the most powerful and feared
among the vikingar clans. It’s famous for its brave warri-
ors and great strategists, clad in shining armors and armed
with magnificent weapons. They’re able to overwhelm any
enemy thanks to their superior numbers and the perfect
coordination of the warriors behind the shield wall.
The Odhinn’s Eyes consider themselves superior to the
other Clans and hope to, one day, unify all the people of
Midgardr under their banners, creating a kingdom based
on law and innovation.
Sacred Origins
The Odhinn’s Eye is the largest and most powerful clan
in the lands of the North. Although they’re relatives
of the same family that rule the Jutland, they always
tried to demonstrate that they’re from a sacred blood-
line, descendants of Odhinn himself. Although all the
Odhinn’s Eyes believe this theory – and don’t appre-
ciate jokes about it – it’s not hard to find those who
consider it just a way to intimidate the other clans.
The clan appeared out of the blue and rose to power
quickly, annexing all the nearby clans with strength
and guile, destroying all resistance by any mean nec-
essary. In less than half a century, what started as a
simple one-family clan has reach across the entire
region of Norrvegr, becoming a true royal household.
The Kingdom of the Fjords
The kingdom of the Odhinn’s Eye encompass primar-
ily the coast of Norrvegr, but the coastal villages of
Svitjod are within its sphere of influence.
From his lavish hall in the capital city of Heill
Hofn, the King governs villages and outposts thanks
to a host of trusted Jarls, who receive the authority to
rule freely on their territories in exchange for absolute
loyalty and subordination to the crown. During the
expansion of the Odhinn’s Eye, many opposing clans
were replaced by these Jarls and their families. This
division of power is the source of many quarrels and
instabilities between the Jarls. Usually the royal family
doesn’t intervene, leaving their vassals to figure it out
between them. Only if the King or his advisers suspect
that one of these squabbles might endanger the stabil-
ity of the kingdom the army intervene to drown the
dissidents in their own blood.
Seafarers, Conquerors
and Merchants
The Odhinn’s Eyes are famous across the Northern
lands as great shipbuilders and even greater sailors;
these skills allowed them to explore far away lands and
return heavy with loot. Their raids are nothing short
of legendary.
This also allowed the clan to forge important com-
mercial relationships with merchants from far away
lands and it’s very common, in the largest villages of
the clan, to find exotic market stalls, full of strange a
marvelous items. The clan include a large number of
People of Midgardr: The Clans
33
farmers and ranchers that, usually, prefer to live in the
smaller and quieter inland communities.
The King of Flame
The current ruler, King Asbjørn the Red, is one the
most ambitious and ferocious rulers the Odhinn’s Eye
ever had. Under his iron fisted rule the clan’s influence
has grown steadily, it took control of many other vil-
lages in the region, expanded its borders and bringing
many minor clans under the crown.
In spite of all his power, the King is the center
of a great cultural schism within the clan: about six
months after he took the throne, Asbjørn the Red
returned, despite the terrible weather, from a raid in
the West, in the land of Hibernia (Ireland). His loot
wasn’t of precious metals, but of flesh and blood, a
Hibernian wife.
Nobody – except Asbjørn’s most faithful retainers
– really knowns what happened in thos far away lands
and nobody knows how the King’s ship was able to
return despite the fury of the sea. What is known is
that the King married Sknaht (Brannagh), daughter
of a powerful ruler of Hibernia and priestess of the
flame god of those lands.
If the marriage was part of a political alliance, or if
it was even properly celebrated, is the favored rumor
of the commoners. What is known is that Asbjørn
has embraced this cult of Flame more and more,
eschewing the customs of the ancient gods.
Confronted with the warnings and curses of sages
and priests, the King stated – time and again – that
he doesn’t consider this “change” of faith problem-
atic: he consider the Flame as a manifestation of the
sacred power of Odhinn, from whom he descends.
Moreover, in the villages of the Odhinn’s Eye there’s
the absolute freedom of religion, at least so far. Every
day the god of the Flame gains new acolytes.
It’s hard to understand if these conversions are the
result of real faith or just a way to curry the favor of
this violent and powerful monarch. Many at court
think that the King’s most trusted wore the badge of
the Flame for purely political reasons.
The public opinion is very divided even in regard of
the King’s companion, Sknaht priestess of the Flame:
some worship her as a goddess, others think she is a
curse made flesh. In spite of these different opinion
everybody is in awe of the Queen, the rumors of her
great mystic powers are more than substantiated.
King Asbjørn, "the Red"
Queen Sknaht, “Queen of the Flame”
Journey to Ragnarok
34
The Long Winter
The Odhinn’s Eye clan doesn’t give much credit at the
rumors about the impeding Ragnarok. Despite the
fear and the worries of wise men and women, the King
thinks that the harsher weather is just a random event
and he doesn’t want to change his plans because of it.
This doesn’t mean that the Long Winter isn’t caus-
ing problems to the clan, but the King’s loyalists fake
optimism while everybody can see that the weather is
leaving its mark on the economy of the kingdom.
The harvests are poor, the cattle get sick or die of
frostbite and. worst of all, the terrible state of the sea
delay raids and trade missions. So far the clan has been
able to survive on the resources accumulated during the
years of plenty, but they are going to be depleted soon.
Relationships with Other Clans
Icy Crows
Despite the appearance of this men, the circle of sages of
the Icy Crows still keeps the King in the highest regard.
No member of the Odhinn’s Eye will deny hospitality
to traveling Crows and will always listen to their teach-
ings with utmost respect. So, every Icy Crow will always
find free lodgings at the villages of the Odhinn’s Eye.
Jötunn Sons
The relationships with the Jötunn Sons are scarce and
not very friendly. The outcast aren’t welcome in the
villages of the Odhinn’s Eye and must tread carefully
to avoid trouble.
Only the converted to the cult of the god of the
Flame speak of equality and piety and are friendly to
the Jötunn Sons. Because of this they’re often consid-
ered naive.
Gjallarhorn
There have not been news from the allies of the Jutland,
not for some time. Asbjørn was expecting the King of
the Gjallarhorn and his son – hoping to ask their help
the coming war – but their ship never arrived. The Red
believes that his ally decided not to depart because of
the terrible weather.
At the moment King Asbjørn is too busy with his
own conquests to bother with the events of the Jutland,
but he believes that his allies will be ready to assist him
again in the future.
Because of the winter weather it’s hard to meet any
Jutlander in Norrvegr, but those who are stuck here are
welcomed as family in the villages of the Odhinn’s Eye.
Wolves of the Shadow
The relationships between the Odhinn’s Eye and the
Wolves of the Shaodw were never very peaceful.
Over the year, the expansionist ambitions of the
Odhinn’s Eye and the wildly different traditions of the
two Clans made them natural enemies.
While a real war hasn’t erupted yet, over the last
year the clashes between the two Clans have grown
more and more frequent. According to the survivors
the attacks of the Odhinn’s Eye against the villages of
the Wolves are nothing short of true massacres.
Despite the mounting tension, the Odhinn’s Eyes
don’t consider their rivals a real threat, due to their
small numbers. They think that, if a true conflict
erupts, they would be able to erase the Wolves from
the chronicles.
Small groups of Wolves, or even lone travelers, may
enter the Odhinn’s eye villages, but they will be dis-
armed and under constant surveillance.
Bear Warriors
The members of the Odhinn’s Eye have a very super-
ficial approach toward the mountain Clans, especially
the ruling clan of the Bear Warriors. They believe that,
sooner or later, King Asbjørn will lead his army up the
mountains and force these savages into a blood bond.
Meanwhile, the mountain-folk that journey across the
lands of the Odhinn’s Eye usually sell their might as
mercenaries and laborers. They might stir the general
curiosity, but they are usually welcome.
People of Midgardr: The Clans
35
Wolves
of the Shadow
(Myrkir Vargar)
The Wolves of the Shadow are famous as ferocious warri-
ors, skilled in taking advantage of terrain in battle, using
simple – yet effective – team tactics to strike down their
enemies at best possible moment. Among he Wolves of the
Shadow there are many Úlfheðnar, warrior-shamans that
fight covered only in wolves’ pelts.
The Wolves use simple equipment of low quality and
they wear wolves pelts and fangs as clothes or ornaments.
This makes them even more feral and savage in the eyes of
the other clans.
The clan lives in harmony with nature, following the
Nine Virtues. According to the Wolves reuniting the clans
under a single ruler would weaken the linage and would
be a terrible shame in the eyes of Æsir and Vanir. They
truly enjoy the natural competition between the warriors
of the North.
The Savagery of the Hunt
The Wolves of the Shadow clan arose from the families
of hunters that traditionally lived in the Svitjod region,
especially the great inland forests.
The Wolves lives following the ways of their ances-
tors, they are nomadic hunters and their encampments
moves between the clearings of the great forest. Over
time, these routes between fixed locations have become
a true border, recognized by other clans. The Wolves
consider this region a holy hunting ground: whoever
hunts or disturb the forest face a swift and silent death.
Warrior Shadows
True to their traditions the clan didn’t grow in num-
bers, nor expanded its boundaries, but the Wolves of
the Shadow are still a great threat or a powerful ally
to the other great clans. It’s a very well know fact that
some of the fiercest, bravest and most skilled warrior
of Midgardr live among the Wolves.
According to the Wolves of the Shadow there’s no
difference between hunting and waging a war: the
youngsters are trained, since childhood, to consider
both with the same attention and dedication. The
life and training of these young warriors is marked by
extreme tests of survival, to improve their body and
mind.
Journey to Ragnarok
36
The Wolves of the Shadow are true masters in
taking advantage of terrain and weather. yet, even on
an open battlefield, the “packs” showed their mettle,
fighting as coordinated units and crushing the enemies
under their impetus. A true Wolf never leaves a prey
behind. It doesn’t matter if it’s an animal of an enemy,
both will hear only a rustle of leaves or a light step
before death caught it.
The Time of the Wolves
Talking of peace was, perhaps, possible once, but now
that the Great Winter is here the Time of the Wolves
is at hand. According to the most radical packs the
mention of wolves in the Voluspa is no mere coin-
cidence. Many, especially among the youngest and
most ferocious warriors of the clan, believe that
it’s time for the Wolves of the Shadow to show the
Gods their valor and secure their places among the
Einherjar. At the same time the infidels usurpers of
the Odhinn’s Eye have shows their true colors of blas-
phemous traitors, lapdogs of the witch, the whore of
the Westerners. She dripped hexes and lies in their
ears, turning them against the Allfather, from whom
they shamelessly claim to descend.
According to the “letter” of the legends, this cold
climate can only be a sign of the wrath of the Gods
that so many people of Midgardr denied.
The constant snowfalls and the days growing shorter
and shorter are a great boon for the raiding packs. They
attack outposts and caravans of the Odhinn’s Eye as
payback for the massacres in the villages traditionally
affiliated with the Wolves of the Shadow.
Despite the public excitement, the truth is very
different: many families are in dreadful conditions,
the clan always survived by hunting and exchanging
the loot from their raids and both are now impossible
with this weather.
The chieftain – also known as “pack leader” –
Koltønn (“ashen tooth”) – also know as Ginnungason
(“son of the abyss”) – and many elders know how crit-
ical the situation is and, for now, are trying to calm
down the warriors. Koltønn has to take some impor-
tant decisions, soon, for the survival of the clan, before
a young and radical Wolf decide to challenge him.
Koltønn Ginnungason, "Ashen Tooth, Son of Nothing"
People of Midgardr: The Clans
37
Relationships with Other Clans
Bear Warriors
The Wolves of the Shdow consider the Bear Warriors
as the key factor in the war against the Odhinn’s Eye.
Securing an alliance with the fearsome Berserkers
of the northern mountains, the Wolves of the Shadow
would be able to stop hiding in the forest and face
the Odhinn’s eye on the battlefield. Even the army of
King Asbjørn won’t be able to resist a joint attack from
wolves, Bears and Jotuns.
Gjallarhorn
According to the scarce news from the nearby islands,
it seem that the people of Jutland are too busy protect-
ing their borders to bother with their old allies.
The Wolves fear that the Gjallarhorns might come
to rescue the Odhinn’s Eye, once their problems are
over. The two clans together will be unstoppable.
Some Wolves of the Shadow are more optimist and
believe that, when faced with King Asbjørn’s heresy,
the Gjallarhorn clan would abandon its old allies and
help the Wolves.
Icy Crows
The Wolves of the Shadow have the utmost respect for
the Icy Crows. Even a rude answer to a Crow repre-
sent a great dishonor for a Wolf. The Crows spread the
word of the Gods and they are feared and respected for
this. Many wolves are in awe of the Crows because, the
rumors say, they are able to cast terrible curses upon
those that disrespect them.
For these reasons, the Wolves’ leader has tried to
persuade the crows to stand up against the Infidels of
the Odhinn’s Eye.
If the Icy Crow would deny King Asbjørn their
favor, it’s highly possible that many families would
abandon the clan, making the defeat of the heretic
King much easier.
Jötunn Sons
The wolves consider the Jötunn Sons as potential
allies in the impending war against the Odhinn’s Eye,
despite their reputation as tricksters.
In recent years the Wolves allowed the Jötunn Sons
to stay in their villages, whereas they previously drove
them off as outcasts.
In spite of this grant, many Wolves – especially the
older ones – consider the Jötunn Sons to be a threat
and don’t trust them, but not openly.
Odhinn’s Eye
The Wolves of the Shadow are about to wage a true
all-out war against the Odhinn’s Eye.
More and more villages across the Svitjob – once
faithful to the Odhinn’s Eye, now enraged by the blas-
phemy that corrupted the court – are leaving the clan
to join the Wolves.
The only reason to delay is that Koltønn knows that
facing the great army of King Asbjørn without allies
would cost the life of too many of his warriors, perhaps
all of them. Forging powerful alliances might tip the
scales in favor of the Wolves and, at that time, nothing
could stop them from fighting to the bitter end.
Journey to Ragnarok
38
In Journey to Ragnarok the players take the role
of fearless norse raiders known as Vikingar. Magical or
monstrous beings are an uncommon sight on Midgardr,
found chiefly in legends and lore. For this reason, it’s
suggested you play only human characters, although
all races from the 5th edition books are compatible. All
Backgrounds and Alignments presented in Journey to
Ragnarok are designed with humans in mind.
The changing of reality as the character become
pawns and victims in the gods’ games will awaken
extraordinary magical and physical abilities as they
gain levels.
Barbarian
Path of the Storm Wielder
Wind, Rain and Thunder. The Storm is the quintessential
force of nature, comparable only to volcanoes and earth-
quakes. A Barbarian can tune in with such a force by
manifesting the will to become unstoppable and inescap-
able. This bond is not without risk: once summoned, the
Storm can only grow until it discharges its immense power
on something or someone. Such as you.
Storm Caller
When you choose this Path at 3rd level, you harness
the power of the storms. Every time you use one of
your Storm Wielder features, you gain a number of
Storm Charges.
You can hold up to a number of Storm Charges
equal to your barbarian level .
Every time you have a number of Storm Charges
equal to your level,or when your Barbarian Rage ends,
People of Midgardr: The Classes
39
you immediately lose all charges and receive 1d6 points
of damage as the unbridled storm surges through your
body. This damage cannot be prevented in any way.
Thunder Blow
Starting at 3rd level, you can channel the might of
a gale-force-wind. When you use the Attack action
while raging, you can empower your weapon to deal
an extra 1d6 thunder damage with each successful
attack. You gain one Storm Charge for each attack
empowered this way, two charges on a critical hit.
Starting at 10th level, Thunder Blow feature adds
1d8 thunder damage instead of a 1d6.
Calamity Rod
Starting 3rd level, you can discharge the storm on
another living creature. As an action, while you are
raging, make a single melee weapon attack against a crea-
ture. If it hits, the target and all other creatures within
5 ft. of him suffer 1 thunder damage for every Storm
Charge you possess and you lose your all Storm Charges.
If the attack fails, you gain a number of Storm
Charges equal to your Rage Damage.
Starting at 10th level the area of effect of your
Calamity Rod feature increases to 10 ft.
Unleash The Gale
Starting at 6th Level, you have advantage on saving
throws made to resist being moved, pushed or knocked
prone. Also, when you’re hit by a melee attack, you can
unleash a sudden wind, causing 1d6 thunder damage
to the attacker and gaining a Storm Charge.
Imbue the Cloud
Starting at 6th level you can fill your weapon with
the essence of a rumbling blizzard cloud. When you
activate your Thunder Blow feature, you can convert
all the weapon damage (whether slashing, piercing or
bludgeoning) into lightning or cold damage. This fea-
ture also converts any extra damage, including your
Strength or Dexterity bonus.
Every time you make an attack with Imbue the
Cloud, you gain a Storm Charge, in addition to the
one gained from Thunder Blow.
One with the Winds
Starting at 10th level , you can cast Control Weather
as a ritual.
Step of Thunder
Starting at 14th level, as a bonus action, you can cause
a halo of lightning to surround you until the end of
your turn, gaining 5 Storm Charges.
When you do, each creature with 5 ft of you must
make a Dexterity saving throw.
On a failed save, the creature takes 5d6 lightning
damage.
On a successful save, the creature takes half as much
damage. The DC is 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
Constitution modifier.
Journey to Ragnarok
40
Bard
College of Valhalla
All Bards share a common passion for stories, but many
of them sing of the past. Bards of Valhalla instead rec-
ognize when the present is full of grandeur and learn
how to instill such greatness into others. Their words and
songs chant of heroes present, creating legends for future
generations.
Stef
Starting at 3rd level, every time you use Bardic
Inspiration, a number of friendly creatures up to your
Charisma modifier can use their reaction to sing a choir.
Each one of these creatures gains 10ft bonus move-
ment speed and a +1 bonus on their next ability check
or attack roll. These bonuses last until the beginning of
your next turn.
To benefit from this feature, a creature must be able
to see and hear you and respond vocally.
Testimony
Starting at 3rd level, every time a creature uses one
of your Bardic Inspiration Die, you gain a number of
temporary HP equal to the result of the roll.
Dræplingr
Starting at 6th level, you weave words to present some-
one as an awe-inspiring figure.
Choose one creature within 30 ft (including your-
self) and one skill, set of tools, weapon or musical
instrument. The creature gains proficiency with it, and
its proficiency bonus is doubled.
If a creature sees the chosen target use that particu-
lar skill or object, it must make a Charisma Saving
Throw to avoid being enthralled by the performance.
A creature enthralled by such manners won’t attack
the performer nor you, and will be generally friendly
toward both for the duration.
Heroes Calling
The ultimate proof of the greatness of a deed; by
declamating a tale about what’s happening, a war-
rior from Valhalla comes to aid you. Should one of
your comrades fall in battle, the tale will add a new
Lausavísa, and more Warriors will come.
Staring at 14th level, as an action, you can expend
one use of your Bardic Inspiration.
You summon a Spirit that takes the form of a typi-
cal warrior of the region (reference the statistics of the
Gladiator on the Monster Manual).
The spirit follows your verbal commands, acts during
your initiative and disappears if it drops to 0 Hit Points.
This apparition last for 1 minute and only one spirit
at a time can be present with this feature.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it
until you finish a long rest. If one of your
allies that you can see dies, you regain this
feature.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
41
Cleric
Sacrifice Domain
There’s power, in renouncing. Gifts and offerings are
always appreciated, but some deities care as much about
them that the act alone become power for the true wor-
shipper. Bearing a permanent scar becomes a sign of
attachment, and a receptacle of divine favor. Clerics of
the Domain of Sacrifice channel every voluntarily loss,
theirs or others, into a clear request for power, greatness,
and luck.
Sacrifice Domain Spells
Cleric Level
Spells
1st
False Life, Purify Food and Drink
3rd
Blindness/Deafness, Enhance Ability
5th
Bestow Curse, Beacon of Hope
7th
Blight, Death Ward
9th
Geas, Hallow
Ritual of the
Honored Offering
Starting at 1st level, as part of a long rest, you can per-
form a ritual. Choose a number of Permanent Injures
(see sidebar) equal to your Wisdom modifier among
any number of creatures you can see.
Each participant can choose one of the following
benefits for every injury it offered during the ritual:
Benefit of Fortune. The recipient can reroll a single
ability check, attack roll or saving throw.
Benefit of Endurance. As a bonus action, the
recepient can spend and roll one of its Hit Die, healing
that amount of Hit Points. If one choose this bene-
fit multiple times, it can use multiple dice in a single
bonus action.
Benefit of Knowledge. The recipient chooses
one1st-level spell they do not know nor can prepare.“
e poi “If they take this benefit multiple times, ithey
can learn a higher level spell, but must have spell slots
of the appropriate level.
Every benefit lasts until the next long rest.
Bonus proficiency
At 1st level, you gain proficiency with heavy armors.
Blessed Scars
Starting at 1st level, after you take damage while you
are already under your full Hit points, you gain tem-
porary Hit Points equal to your Wisdom Modifier, and
you add that same amount the next weapon attack and
damage roll you make within your next turn.
You can’t benefit from this feature if you already
have any amount of temporary Hit Points.
Channel divinity:
Glory of Martyrdom
Starting at 2nd level, you can offer a volunteer’s life on
the altar of war. As an action, you or a willing creature
you can see reduce all damage taken by 2 (before apply-
ing resistances and vulnerabilities), gain advantage on
all saving throws, but receive only half the effect of any
healing. These effects last 1 minute.
Journey to Ragnarok
42
Consecrated Loss
Starting at 6th level, if an ally within 30 ft. that you
can see takes damage, you can spend your reaction to
grant him the benefits of Blessed Scars. This ability
can’t be use on a creature who already has any amount
of temporary Hit Points.
Divine Strike
At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon
with divine energy. Once on each of your turns, when
you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can cause
the attack to deal an extra 1d8 radiant damage.
When you reach 14th level, the extra damage
increases to 2d8.
This Pleases the Gods.
Starting at 17th level, you can decide to gain advan-
tage or disadvantage on your death saving throws.
As an action, you touch a character that has been
restored to life within the last hour. It gains resistance
to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from
nonmagical weapons and it can lose this benefit as a
reaction to negate all the damage from a single instance
as soon as it gets hit.
A creature can receive the benefit of This Pleases the
Gods only once before completing a long rest.
What is a permanent Injury?
Honor comes from battle and gods grievous
wounds please the gods. But what makes an Injury
eligible for the Ritual of Honored Offering?
As a rule of thumb, any mutilation that hampers
the character. Here are some examples:
•
A missing eye, or being blind
•
A missing an ear, or being deaf
•
A missing hand or arm
•
A missing foot or leg
•
A missing nose
•
A disfiguring scar that renders you hideous
•
Suffering a permanent reduction of the
number of spell slots available
The GM’s word on what is considered a Permanent
Injury is final, and should allocate appropriate
drawbacks depending on the nature of the Injury.
If you remove the negative effects of such Injury,
by magic or any other mean, you cannot reap the
benefit of the Ritual.
Druid
Circle of Yggdrasill
Druids that enters the circle of World Tree understand a
fundamental law; there are many worlds and each must
be respected and protected, in its own way. The bond with
nature must change accordingly to what “Nature” means
in each Realm and this circle has sworn to blend with the
forces of every part of the Yggdrasill.
Soul Under the Bark
Starting at 2nd level, at the end of a long rest, choose a
favored energy type: radiant or necrotic.
The other becomes your adverse energy type.
As long as you are on your native World, you gain
the following benefits:
•
You add your Wisdom modifier to damage
rolls of spells and cantrips that deal the
damage of your favored energy type;
•
You have advantage on saving throws against
effects that deal your adverse energy type;
•
You have resistance against your adverse
energy type;
•
While you are in Wild Shape, every time you
successfully hit a creature with one of your
natural attacks, you can decide to switch the
damage to your favored energy type.
When you are on other Worlds, the GM can choose
two different energy types in accordance with the
nature of the World. You decide which one becomes
your favored and which one becomes your adverse.
Branch Explorer
Starting at 6th level, while you are on your Native
World you can detect the presence of non-native crea-
tures within 60 ft. as an action.
This ability gives you the number and the general
direction, but not any information about the type of
creatures, nor their precise location.
When you are somewhere other than your Native
World, you are acclimated to their extreme conditions.
You have advantage on saving throws caused by
environmental conditions.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
43
L eaf of the World Tree
Starting at 10th level, you can call the very essence of
another World to aid you. As an action, choose one
World other than the one you are on. A spherical area
with a radius of 40 ft. centered on you becomes imbued
with the characteristics of that World. This area is fixed
in space and it does not change the local geography, nor
does it materialize any creature of the chosen World.
This effect lasts 1 minute. The area counts effec-
tively as part of the chosen World, changing the laws
of magic and physics accordingly.
At the GM’s call, this feature might introduce haz-
ardous condition from the chosen World.
Shaker of the Roots
Starting at 14th level, every time you score a critical hit
or cast as spell of 1st level and above, you emit a blast
of your favored energy type within a 10-foot radius
around you.
Enemy creatures inside the area take 2d6 damage,
or half damage on a successful Dexterity saving throw.
Fighter
Martial Archetype: Warden
Where others retreat, the Warden stands. Where other
falls, the Warden holds the line. Those who decide to
become Warden learn different techniques to rebuke any
assault against them and their allies. While the typical
Warden (or Shield Maiden, the feminine counterpart)
favor a weapon and a shield, this is not the only choice.
Warden Tactics
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you learn
two Tactics, detailed below. Unless specified otherwise,
these Tactics are always active.
Interpose. If an enemy within reach of your melee
weapon hits a creature other than you, you can inter-
pose your weapon. As a reaction, roll your weapon
damage die and subtract the result from the creature’s
damage roll. If all damage is negated this way, you
deal half the negated damage to the attacker. If you’re
holding two melee weapons, roll both weapon’s dice
and choose the better result. You must use this feature
before knowing the damage total.
Overwatch. While you’re holding a ranged or
thrown weapon, you vigil over an area, preemptively
distracting any attacker. If an enemy within 20 ft. of
you hits a creature other than you, as a reaction you
can roll your weapon damage dice and subtract it from
the enemy’s damage roll. If this reduces the damage to
0, nothing else happens.
If the attack still deals damage, you deal half the
negated damage to the attacker.
You consume ammunition or lose the thrown
weapon regardless of the result. You must use this fea-
ture before knowing the damage total.
Reaction Surge. You learn how to react faster than
anyone else. During a round, you have an additional
reaction. You may only use your reaction once for each
triggering event. Once you use this feature, you must
finish a short or long rest before using it again.
Violent Retaliation. When you make an attack
of opportunity, you gain a bonus on your attack and
damage rolls equal to the number of Warden Tactics
you know.
Shield Wall. You coordinate your allies to with-
stand an assault. When you take the Dodge Action,
you and all allies within 5 ft gain advantage on
Strength and Dexterity saving throws. Enemies
Journey to Ragnarok
44
consider the terrain within reach of you and your
affect allies as difficult terrain.
Shield Bearer
Starting at 7th level, you are always ready for battle.
You can stow a weapon and don a shield, or stow a
shield and draw a weapon, when you would normally
be able to draw or stow only one of such objects.
Also, you can grant a +1 bonus to an ally’s Armor
Class until the start of your next turn as long as they
remain within 5 ft. of you.
Improved Warden Tactics
At 10th level, you learn two additional Warden Tactics
chosen from the list below. Unless specified otherwise,
these Tactics are always active.
Improved Reaction Surge. You gain the Reaction
Surge Tactic or, if you have it already, you gain an
additional use of it between two rests.
Invigorating Strike. When you hit a creature with
a weapon attack, you can forgo adding your relevant
ability modifier to the damage roll to gain 1d8 tempo-
rary hit points.
Protective Stance. As an action, you adopt a par-
ticular defensive guard. You protect all allies within
reach of your melee weapon (or 5ft if you aren’t wield-
ing a melee weapon). If an attack would hit anyone of
them, confront its AC and yours; if yours is higher, the
attack is redirected on you. This stance lasts until the
start of your next turn. While you are in this stance,
you can make a single weapon attack as a bonus action.
If you have the Wall of Iron Tactic, you gain its
benefits while you use Protective Stance.
Powerful Riposte. You learn the Interpose or
Overwatch Tactic. If you already knew one of those,
instead you can add your Strength or Dexterity mod-
ifier (depending on your weapon) to the damage
negated when using said tactics.
Superior Warden Tactics
At 15th level, you learn one additional Warden Tactic,
chosen from the list below. Unless specified otherwise,
these Tactics are always active.
Adept Maneuverer. You have resistance against
damage from attacks of opportunity.
Cover Retreat. Allies within reach of your weapon
(or 20 ft. if you have a ranged weapon) can Disengage
as a Bonus action.
Superior Reaction Surge. You gain the Reaction
Surge Tactic or, if you have it already, you gain an
additional use of it between two rests.
Master Warden Tactics
At 18th level, you learn one additional Warden Tactic,
chosen from the list below. Unless specified otherwise,
these Tactics are always active.
Inescapable. If you damage an Enemy up to one size
larger than you, you can knock him prone as a reaction.
Bastion. If you are about to receive an amount of
damage equal to or less than your Armor Class, you
can halve it as a reaction (before applying damage
resistance or vulnerability). You can use this ability
three times, and you regain all expended uses with a
long rest.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
45
Monk
Way of Glima
A glimpse. A flash. The prowess of many warriors comes
from fine training in martial arts, but your monastic path
already granted such feats. By adopting the techniques of
Glima, you become a master in controlling your oppo-
nents, locking them into close combat and causing pain by
twisting arms and legs. You dominate your foes with fast
movements, quick defenses and overwhelming strength.
Lausatok
At 3rd level, you gain proficiency in Athletics and
you can use your Strength score, instead of your
Dexterity score, when calculating Armor Class with
the Unarmored Defense feature.
Hand on the Neck
You are an expert close combat. Entering in a lock
means ruin for your foes, as your grip on them is pain-
ful and hampers their movement.
At 3rd level, you gain the following features:
•
Creatures you are grappling have disadvantage on
all attack rolls.
•
When you successfully grapple a creature, or when
that creature escapes your grapple, you can spend
1 Ki Point to deal damage equal to your Martial
Art Die + your Strength or Dexterity modifier.
Destructive throw
Your mastery in holds and grips lets you hurl anything
you’re currently holding in your hand.
Startingt at 6th level, as an action, you spend 1
Ki Point to use whatever you have in your hand, not
anchored to the ground, as a projectile.The object (or
creature) must be Large or smaller. This is an impro-
vised simple thrown weapon with a range of 10/30 ft.
that deals damage equal to Martial Arts Die + your
Strength or Dexterity modifier on impact. If the
hurled object is a creature, it takes the same amount of
damage, regardless if that attack hits or miss.
Grip of Iron
Starting at 11th level, if you are about to lose a con-
tested grappling check (that is, any ability check used
for entering or escaping grapples and such), you can
spend 2 Ki Points to strengthen your grip. You take
bludgeoning damage equal to your level + the differ-
ence between your check and your opponent’s check,
but you automatically win the check. This damage
cannot be prevented by any means, as you deliberately
open your guard to ensure your hold on the target.
Flash victory
You effortlessly achieve “victory”, the takedown of your
opponent while you are standing up, free of any grip.
Startingt at 17th level, if you are within reach of an
enemy at the start of the round, you can spend 4 Ki
Points to make a grapple attempt with advantage on
the roll.
This check happens before the normal initiative
count and you are still entitled to your normal turn.
You can use Destructive Throw as a bonus action.
Journey to Ragnarok
46
Paladin
Oath of the Chosen
Since you were able to understand words, you knew you
would be destined for great battles. Maybe your family
trained you to become a great warrior, or perhaps you
hear whispers in your head promising great rewards.
Whatever the case, you were Chosen and this fact alone
motivates you and your allies to go the extra mile when
swords clash. Swearing the Oath of the Chosen binds you
to a glorious destiny!
Tenets of the Chosen
Seek Honor Through Battle. If a situation can
be resolved with a honorable battle between factions
that recognize valor, this will be your chosen course of
action. Those who do not respect your position shall
be treated with tyranny, treachery and all the lowest
forms of combat.
Uphold your Position. You shall demand to be
listened to if you believe you’re in the right, and you
will have an open ear from the wise. No authority can
simply deny your request, and any solid justification
will be listened to.
Demand the River, Reward the Sea. When asking
for anything you need on your mission, you will always
repay more than what you have requested.
Oath of the Chosen Spells
Paladin Level Spells
3rd
Command, Heroism
5th
Enthrall, See Invisibility
9th
Beacon of Hope, Bestow Curse
13th
Compulsion, Dominate Beast
17th
Geas, Hold Monster
Channel Divinity
When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the
following two Channel Divinity options.
Balance of Battle. As an action, choose one
friendly and one hostile creature within 30 ft. The
hostile creature makes a Charisma Saving throw. On
a failed Save, every time the hostile creature makes an
attack roll he also rolls 1d4 and subtracts the result
from the attack roll. At the same time, the friendly
creature rolls an additional 1d4 when he makes an
attack roll and adds it to the final result. These effects
lasts for 1 minute. On a successful Save, only the
friendly creature gains the effect of this feature.
Unearthly Vigor. Your blessed presence brings
renewed strength to your allies. When you use your
Lay on Hands feature, you can spend 10 points of
healing and your Channel Divinity to remove a single
level of exhaustion. No more than one level can be
removed with this feature during a single use.
Aura of Valor
Starting at 7th level , your mere presence create an aura
of inspiration that exalts those around you.
All allies within a 20 ft radius that successfully
makes a saving throw, gain advantage on the first abil-
ity check or attack roll within their next turn.
At 18th level, the radius of this aura extends to 40 ft.
Feast of Odinn
Starting at 7th level, you feast like you’re already in
Valhalla. You gain the nourishment of a full meal from
a single flask of ale or chalice of wine.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
47
Stalwart Recovery
Starting at 15th level, when you fall to 0 hit points you
can spend a reaction to use Lay on Hands on yourself.
Valkyrie / Einherjar
You ascend to your preordained fate! You gain your
eternal reward before your final death, as you become
a creature that can sit with the gods at their banquet.
Starting at 20th level, you no longer need to eat or
drink to survive.
As an action, you transform into a divine emissary,
gaining the following effects for 1 minute.
•
You don’t need to breathe.
•
You are Immune to every spell that requires a
Wisdom or Charisma Saving throw.
•
If a creature within your Aura of Valor dies,
you can teleport at its location as a reaction
and immediately make a single weapon attack
or cast one spell with a casting time of 1 action
or 1 bonus action.
Ranger
Wolf Pack Archetype
Emulating the Wolf Pack means becoming part of some-
thing greater than yourself. You ensure that your group
triumph by trusting your allies and creating opportunities
for them to exploit. Each of their wounds fuels the boil-
ing anger that drives your animal instinct and to give
everything you have got in a fight.
Wolf Pack Fighter
You can lead your pack of comrades with every strike.
At 3rd level, you gain the following features:
•
If you hit a creature with a melee attack, the
next attack made by one of your allies against
the same creature gains advantage.
•
If you hit a creature with a ranged or thrown
weapon attack, that creature gains disadvan-
tage on opportunity attacks until the start of
your next turn.
•
If an enemy deals damage to one of your
allies, you can use your reaction to howl.
If you do, you deal 1d6 psychic damage against
that creature.
Wolf Pack L eader
You learn to conduct your pack on every track. Your
ability to navigate the wild becomes exceptional, and
you learn to anticipate the moves of your enemies.
At 7th level, you gain the following features:
•
You and your allies can travel at fast pace
stealthily, or without penalties to passive per-
ception, but not both.
•
When an enemy moves, you or one of your
allies can move up to 10 ft. as a reaction. If
an ally wants to use this ability, both of you
must be conscious. You must be able to speak
or make visual signals and your ally must be
able to hear or see you.
Swift Strike
Starting at 11th level, every time you kill an enemy
creature with an attack, you can immediately make an
additional attack with a melee or thrown weapon.
Wolf’s Endurance
Starting at 15th level, once per round during your turn,
you can expend of your Hit die to regain 1d8 + your
Constitution modifier hit points. This feature does not
require an action nor a bonus action.
Journey to Ragnarok
48
Rogue
Unshaped Archetype
Lies and cruelty. For some rogues the innate potential to
deeply harm others, in the flesh and the soul, becomes a
path to follow. By discovering and channeling such power
through acts and words, you learn how to twist your
appearance and your trickery becomes a deadly weapon.
Way of the Trickster
At 3rd level, you learn the Minor Illusion cantrip.
You learn to twist minds and bodies on a whim. You
gain access to a pool of spells and spell slots according
to the following table. You regain all the expended
spell slots after you finish a short or long rest. Your
Spell Save DC for Way of the Trickster is 8 + profi-
ciency bonus + Charisma modifier
Starting at 3rd level, you can cast Disguise Self and
Charm Person with your Way of the trickster.
Level Slots
Slot Level
3
1
1
4
1
1
5
1
1
6
1
1
7
1
1
8
1
1
9
2
2
10
2
2
11
2
2
12
2
2
13
3
3
14
3
3
15
3
3
16
3
3
17
4
4
18
4
4
19
4
4
20
4
4
People of Midgardr: The Classes
49
Vicious Wounds
Starting at 3rd level, after hitting with a sneak attack,
you can twist the weapon (or projectile) deep inside the
body of the target. The target has his movement speed
halved and disadvantage on opportunity attacks until
it uses an action to remove the weapon or projectile.
Also, any creature that successfully makes a saving
throw against one of your Way of the Trickster spells
takes psychic damage. Roll a number of d4 equal to
your Sneak Attack Dice.
Once a creature suffered a Vicious Wound (from
attack or spell), it is immune to these effects for 1 hour.
Smoke and Mirrors
Starting at 6th level, your lies and deceits are incredi-
bly durable. Anytime you succeed a Deception check,
or someone fails to see through one of your disguises,
that target is thoroughly convinced that it’s perceiving
the truth. No amount of proof presented by anyone
other than you can convince the target. This effect lasts
for an hour.
Improved Way of the Trickster
At 9th level you add Alter Self, Enhance Ability and Mirror
Image to your spell selection for Way of the Trickster.
Superior Way of the Trickster
At 13th level you add Major Image and Phantom Steed
to your spell selection for Way of the Trickster.
Mirror Riposte
Starting at 17th level, your deceiving nature lets you
turn the tide of a battle.
As a Reaction, when you or another creature within
30 ft. is hit by an attack, you can magically swap posi-
tions with another creature within 30 ft. of you. If
one or both creatures creatures are unwilling to trade
places, they may attempt a Charisma Saving Throw.
If he succeeds, this ability fails.
If the swap takes places, the creature now in place
takes the result of the attack. He is still entitled to any
saving throw required by the attack.
Once you use this feature, it can’t be used until the
next short or long rest.
Mastery of the Trickster
At 17th level, you add Confusion and Greater Invisibility
to your spell selection for Way of the Trickster.
Journey to Ragnarok
50
HitPoints
Hit Dice: 1d8 per rune master level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution
modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your
Constitution modifier per rune master level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor
Weapons: Simple weapons
Tools: Rune Crafting set
Languages: One of your choice
Saving Throws: Wisdom, Strength
Skills: Choose two skills from Arcana, History, Insight,
Nature, Perception, Religion, Survival
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to
the equipment granted by your background:
•
(a) a quarterstaff or (b) a sling
•
a rune set
•
(a) a priest’s pack or (b) a dungeoneer’s pack
•
Leather armor, and two daggers
Level
Proficiency
Bonus
Features
Cantrips
Known
Spells
Known 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1
+2
SpellCasting, Ritual Casting,
Futhark Circle, Runic Cantrip
1
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
+2
Ætt, Ætt spells , Circle Rune
1
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
+2
Protect the Inscribed, Expertise
1
6
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
+2
Ability Score Improvement
2
7
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
+3
Futhark Circle (d8)
2
8
4
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
+3
Rune Restoration
2
9
4
3
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
+3
Ætt Circle
2
10
4
3
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
8
+3
Ability Score Improvement
2
11
4
3
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
9
+4
Cantrips of the Ætt
2
12
4
3
3
3
1
-
-
-
-
10
+4
Futhark Circle (d10)
3
13
4
3
3
3
2
-
-
-
-
11
+4
Ætt Improvement
3
14
4
3
3
3
2
1
-
-
-
12
+4
Ability Score Improvement
3
15
4
3
3
3
2
1
-
-
-
13
+5
-
3
16
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
-
-
14
+5
Weaver of Fates
3
17
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
-
-
15
+5
Futhark Circle (d12)
3
18
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
-
16
+5
Ability Score Improvement
3
19
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
-
17
+6
-
3
20
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
18
+6
Improved Weaver of Fates
3
22
4
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
19
+6
Ability Score Improvement
3
22
4
3
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
20
+6
Enduring Prophecy
3
22
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
Rune Master
People of Midgardr: The Classes
51
Spellcasting
Runes are more than mere symbols. They are icons of
power, a fundamental principle of the universe, such
than even gods study and learn them. They can predict
and alter the fate of all beings, living and unliving. As
you attune to particular set of runes, you gain the abil-
ity to bring miraculous effects upon friends and foes.
Cantrips
You know one cantrip of your choice from the Rune
Master spell list. You learn additional Rune Master
cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the
Cantrips Known column of the Rune Master table.
You also have access to a special pool of cantrips; see
the Runic Cantrip ability.
From 10th level, when you gain a new cantrip, you
can choose it from the Rune Master Cantrip list, or
from the Runic Casting Cantrip list. If you choose one
from the latter option, it is removed from the Runic
Casting Cantrip list and it is added to your Rune
Master Cantrip list.
Spell Slots
The Rune Master table shows how many spell slots
you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher.
To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of
the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell
slots when you finish a long rest.
For example, if you know the 1st-level spell Cure
Wounds and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot
available, you can cast Cure Wounds using either slot.
Spells Known
of 1st L evel and Higher
You know four 1st-level spells of your choice from the
Rune Master spell list.
The Spells Known column of the Rune Master
table shows when you learn more Rune Master spells
of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level
for which you have spell slots, as shown on the table.
For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class,
you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you
can choose one of the Rune Master spells you know
and replace it with another spell from the Rune Master
spell list, which also must be of a level for which you
have spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your Rune
Master spells. Your magic comes from the intrin-
sic essence that resides in the Runes, the symbols of
power. You use your Wisdom whenever a spell refers
to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your
Wisdom modifier when setting the saving throw DC
for a Rune Master spell you cast and when making an
attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
Wisdom modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your
Wisdom modifier
Journey to Ragnarok
52
Ritual Casting
You can cast any Rune Master spell you know as a
ritual if that spell has the ritual tag.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use the runes carved on your equipment or
your tattooed runes as a spellcasting focus for your
Rune Master spells.
Runic Casting
Your training with the Runes lets you focus on some
particular aspects of the magic. By painting yourself
on the forehead or on your left hand palm a particular
rune, you absorb its power and its knowledge.
At the end of a long rest, you can choose one of
these cantrips, until the end of your next long rest, you
know it and can use it.
Every time you take a long rest, you may choose a
different Runic Casting cantrip.
Runic cantrips
Message
Poison Spray
Share Blood (see page 56)
Produce Flame
Futhark Circle
You can cast a rune circle, carving the Futhark alpha-
bet on the ground with your magic.
You use an action on your turn to choose a point
on the ground within 60 ft., creating a 10 ft. radius
Futhark Circle.
To maintain the circle active, you must use a bonus
action each turn and you must be able to see it.
When a creature you can see attacks a target other
than you that is inside the circle, you can expend on of
your Futhark Circle Dice as a reaction and subtract its
result from the enemy’s attack roll.
You have a number of Futhark Circle Dice equal
to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of one). You
regain any expended Futhark Circle Dice when you
finish a long rest.
Your Futhark Circle Die is a d6, and changes when
you reach certain levels in this class. It becomes a d8 at
5th level, a d10 at 10th level, and a d12 at 15th level.
Ætt
At 2nd level, you begin to develop a particular affinity
with one of the main groups of runes. The Runes of
Freyja, of Tyr and of Heimdallr grants you a vocation
for a particular magic. Your choice grants you additional
features at 7th level and again at 9th and 11th level.
Ætt Spells
Each Ætt has a list of associated spells. You gain access
to these spells at the levels specified in the Ætt descrip-
tion. Those spells are added to the Rune Master spell
list for you.
Protect the Inscribed
Starting at 3rd level, as part of a long rest you can paint
a special rune combination on the skin of one your
allies. This ally is now your Inscribed, and has the fol-
lowing advantages:
•
It is always considered as being inside your
Futhark Circle.
•
You can target the Inscribed with one of your
spell even if you can’t see him, and the effective
range of any spell is considered doubled to deter-
mine if the Inscribed is an eligible as a target.
You can only have one Inscribed at any time. Should
you decide to Inscribe another ally, the former one will
lose any benefit.
Expertise
At 3rd level you choose two of your skill proficiencies,
or one of your skill proficiencies and your proficiency
with Rune Crafting Set. Your proficiency bonus is dou-
bled for any ability check you make that uses either of
the chosen proficiencies.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th,
and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of
your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores
of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an
ability score above 20 using this feature.
Rune Restoration
Beginning when you reach 6th level, you regain all of
your expended Futhark Circle Dice when you finish a
short or long rest.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
53
Weaver of the Fates
The Runes not only talk about the future, they can
control it. You learn to chain the outcome of an action
to another creature’s fate.
Starting at 14th level, every time someone hits with
an attack or successfully cast a spell against a single
target that you can see inside your Futhark Circle, as
a reaction you can spend one of your Futhark Circle
Dice. If you do, you can target one creature inside
your Futhark Circle and duplicate the attack or spell
against him. The original attack roll must still equal
or exceed the Armor Class of the new target; and the
target of the copied spell can still make the same saving
throws as the original.
Once you use this ability, you can’t use it until you
complete a long rest.
Improved Weaver of the Fates
Starting at 18th level, you can use your Weaver of
Fates one more time between each long rest.
Enduring Prophecy
Startingt 20th level, when you roll for initiative and
have no Futhark Circle Dice left, you regain one die.
Heimdallr’s Ætt
The affinity with the runes of Heimdall express the desire
to face adversity. The runes protect the invoker, negating
harm and hindrances. Rune Masters of Heimdall often
becomes wardens of a community or answer the call for
help of the oppressed.
Heimdallr’s Ætt spells
You add the following spells to your Rune Master spell
list at the appropriate level.
Spell Level
Spells
1st
Heroism, Shield of Faith
2nd
Barkskin, Protection from Poison
3rd
Glyph of Warding, Spirit Guardians
4th
Private Sanctum, Stoneskin
5th
Wall of Force, Antilife Shell
6th
Guards and Wards
7th
Magnificent Mansion
8th
Power Word Stun
9th
Imprisonment
Algiz Seal
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to expend one of your
Futhark Circle Dice as a reaction to force rerolling an
opportunity attack made against a target inside the circle.
Journey to Ragnarok
54
Circle of Heimdallr
Starting at 7th level, allies inside your Futhark Circle
reduce any damage by an amount equal to half your
Wisdom Modifier. This reduction is applied before
resistances and vulnerabilities
Every time you use your bonus action to maintain
your Futhark Circle, you can move it up to 5 ft.
Cantrips of Heimdallr
At 9th level you add the Ray of Frost and Resistance
cantrips to your Runic Cantrip list.
Vigilance of Eihwaz
Startingt 11th level, you and your Inscribed require
only 1 hour of sleep during a long rest to gain its
full benefits, you can do other light activities for the
remaining time. Also, both of you gain advantage on
Wisdom (Perception) checks.
Freyja’s Ætt
The Rune Masters who choose to dedicate themselves to the
Freyja’s Ætt become beacons of hope, abundance, and pros-
perity. Like the Vanir Goddess, these Rune Masters fill empty
barns, mend broken bones and stand tall where hope is lost.
They tend to become doctors, midwives and keepers of the
land, draping the world with blessings and health.
Freyja’s Ætt spells
You add the following spells to your Rune Master spell
list at the appropriate level.
Spell Level
Spells
1st
Create or Destroy Water, Goodberry
2nd
Aid, Lesser Restoration
3rd
Revivify, Water Breathing
4th
Death Ward, Fabricate
5th
Creation, Raise Dead
6th
Heroes’ Feast
7th
Regenerate
8th
Antipathy/Sympathy
9th
True Resurrection
Blessing of Ansuz
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to expend one of
your Futhark Circles Dice as an action to heal a target
inside the circle by a number of hit points equal to
your Futhark Circle Die + your Wisdom modifier.
Circle of Freyja
Startingt 7th level, allies inside your Futhark Circle
gains advantage on death saving throws. Additionally,
an ally regains 1 hit point if he rolls a 19 or a 20 on a
death saving throw.
Every time you use your bonus action to maintain
your Futhark Circle, you can expand its radius by 5 ft.,
up to a maximum of 30 ft.
Cantrips of Freyja
At 9th level you add the Dancing Lights and Mending
cantrips to your Runic Cantrip list.
Ætt improvement:
Trust of Wunjo
Starting at 11th level. you and your Inscribed can take
the Help action as a bonus action.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
55
Tyr’s Ætt
The Ætt of the God of Justice is a straightforward but
hard calling: payback for every wrongdoing seen or heard.
Judging and declaring for entire clans and villages, Rune
Masters who tend toward this Ætt have the unbridled
power of destruction at their disposal to ensure that no
menace stands before them.
Tyr’s Ætt spells
You add the following spells to your Rune Master spell
list at the appropriate level.
Spell Level
Spells
1st
Guiding Bolt, Shield
2nd
Magic Weapon, Spiritual Weapon
3rd
Ligthing Bolt, Sleet Storm
4th
Banishment, Ice Storm
5th
Flame Strike, Hold Monster
6th
Chain Lightning
7th
Arcane Sword
8th
Incendiary Cloud
9th
Storm of Vengeance
Retribution of Tìwaz
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to expend one of your
Futhark Circle Dice as a reaction when you or a friendly
creature inside the circle is hit. Every enemy inside the
circle takes radiant damage equal to the result of your
Futhark Circle Die roll.
Circle of Tyr
Starting at 7th level, enemies inside your Futhark
Circle lose any resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and
slashing damage from nonmagical weapons.
Every time you use your bonus action to maintain
your Futhark Circle, you create a secondary Circle
around yourself. This new Circle has a 5 foot radius,
it’s centered on you and follows you if you move. It
lasts until the start of your next round.
Cantrips of Tyr
At 9th level you add the Sacred Flame and True Strike
cantrips to your Runic Cantrip list.
Ætt improvement:
Duty of Justice
Starting at 11th level, you and your Inscribed have
advantage on Intelligence (Insight) and Intelligence
(Investigation) checks.
Rune Master Spell L ist
Cantrips
Chill Touch
Guidance
Light
Shillelagh
Thaumaturgy
1st level
Alarm
Bane
Bless
Command
Comprehend Languages
Cure Wounds
Detect Evil and Good
Detect Magic
Detect Poison and Diseases
Expeditious Retreat
Faerie Fire
Jump
Longstrider
Purify Food and Drink
Sanctuary
Sleep
Speak with Animals
Thunderwave
2nd level
Augury
Blindness/Deafness
Darkness
Darkvision
Enhance Ability
Enlarge/Reduce
Gentle Repose
Hold Person
Locate Animals or Plants
Locate Object
Moonbeam
Pass without Trace
Prayer of Healing
See Invisibility
Warding Bond
Web
Zone of Truth
Journey to Ragnarok
56
3rd level
Beacon of Hope
Bestow Curse
Clairvoyance
Dispel Magic
Fear
Haste
Magic Circle
Phantom Steed
Plant Growth
Remove Curse
Slow
Speak with Dead
Tongues
4th level
Arcane Eye
Compulsion
Confusion
Control Water
Divination
Hallucinatory Terrain
Locate Creature
5th level
Commune
Contact Other Plane
Dispel Evil and Good
Dominate Person
Geas
Insect Plague
Planar Binding
Scrying
Seeming
Telepathic Bond
Teleportation Circle
Wall of Stone
6th level
Circle of Death
Contingency
Create Undead
Find the Path
Forbiddance
7th level
Conjure Celestial
Etherealness
Fire Storm
Symbol
8th level
Antimagic Field
Control Weather
Dominate Monster
Earthquake
9th level
Astral Projection
Foresight
Time Stop
New Cantrip: Share Blood
Necromancy cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
Target: 1 willing or unconscious creature
The creature’s skin and yours open, creating wounds
that let you share the essence of life itself.
You reduce your hit point maximum by 1d4, and
the target heals the same number of hit points. The hit
point maximum reduction by this spell restores with
a long rest.
Alternatively, if the target of the spell is not uncon-
scious, it can choose willingly to reduce its hit points
by 1d4 and heal you by the same number of hit points.
The healing and reduction increase to 3d4 at 5th
level, to 5d4 at 11th level and 7d4 at 17th level.
Share Blood is added on Cleric, Druid, and Warlock
spell list.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
57
Sorcerer
Jötunn Origin
The lineage of the inhabitants of Jotunheimr predates
even Odinn himself. Such eternal power flows through
gods, monsters and men alike. The glacial presence of
Ymir grants you arcane abilities, reminding constantly
that cold, in the end, awaits us all…
Son of Jotunheimr
The endless cold is part of you, your source of power.
But, once you have used its magic potential it starts
seeping on your very flesh.
Starting at 1st level, the first time you use all your
slots of a certain spell level, a part of your body become
ice. This transformation invigorates you, healing a
number of hit points equal to the spell slot that trig-
gered the transformation plus your level, and you gain
three times that number as temporary hit points.
While you are in this state, you gain the follow-
ing benefits:
•
You gain resistance to cold damage.
•
As an action, you can inflict freezing pain with a
mere touch. Make a melee spell attack; if it hits,
you deal damage equal to 1d6 + your Charisma
modifier + the spell slot level that triggered the
transformation.
These effects last for a minute.
Once you used this feature for a particular spell slot
level, you cannot use it again for that level until you
perform a long rest.
Starting at 5th level, your freezing touch deals 2d6
damage. At 11th level it deals 3d6, at 17th level it
deals 4d6.
Skin of endless Frost
Your blood pulses in unison with the realm of your
ancestors.
At 6th level, when you are hit by a melee attack, you
can, as a reaction, spend 2 sorcery points to emit flash
frost. The attacker makes a Dexterity saving throw. If
it fails, it becomes incapacitated and its speed becomes
0. If it succeeds its speed is halved. These effects lasts
until the end of his next turn.
Frozen Heart
As your power grows, so does your connection to
your ancestors. Your demeanor becomes more distant,
colder and callous.
Starting at 14th level, you have advantage on saving
throws and skill checks made to resist being intimi-
dated, charmed, or frightened.
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58
The Bones of Ymir
The World was made from the Bones of Ymir, the
First Giant. The Frost Jötunn lineage runs deep into
the very fabric of the universe, recalling the ancient
nature of the World.
At 18th level, as an action, you can expend a spell
slot and create an area of intense cold.
Snow begins to fall, blanketing everyone and
everything in a half a mile radius. If you use this fea-
ture underground or underwater, the snow falls on the
surface and does not reach you.Every creature within
30 ft. of you takes cold damage at the beginning of
its turn equal to the level of the slot used plus your
Charisma Modifier. A successful Constitution saving
throw halves this damage.
While the Bones of Ymir are active you can spend
and action and conjure an Ice Elemental. The Elemental
appears within 5 ft. of you, acts during at your initiative
count and follow your orders. You can do this a number
of times equal to the level of the slot used.
All these effects lasts 1 minute.All the Ice Elemental
summoned with this ability immediately disappear.
The snow melts at normal speed.
After using the Bones of Ymir, you must finish a
long rest before using it again.
Ice Elemental
Large elemental, neutral
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
8 (-1)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
5 (-3)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
5 (-3)
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 126 (12d10 + 60)
Speed 30 ft, burrow 30 ft, swim 30 ft.
Damage Vulnerabilities Fire
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, paralyzed, petrified,
poisoned, unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.,
passive Perception 10
Languages Terran
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Ice Elemental makes two slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft, one target.
Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
59
Warlock
Otherworldly Patron:
The Endbringer
Nidhoggr. Fenrir. Jörmungandr. Deep within the abyss of the
Nine Worlds, terrible beasts wait to unleash the apocalypse on
both man and god. Through dreams and prophetic quests,
you reached one of these fiends and agreed to become the
vessel of their hate toward the living and bring utter destruc-
tion in their name. Why you agreed to such a pact is up to
you, but ultimately, even the monster will meet their fate…
Expanded Spell L ist
The Endbringer lets you choose from an expanded list
of spells when you learn a Warlock spell. The following
spells are added to the Warlock spell list for you.
Spell Level
Spells
1st
Inflict wounds, Shield
2nd
Alter Self, Enlarge/Reduce
3rd
Haste, Stinking Cloud
4th
Evard’s Black tentacles, Stoneskin
5th
Antilife Shell, Cloudkill
Ranchor
You have an almost bestial behaviour. Your skin is
unnaturally tough and you react to any menace with
unbridled fury.
Starting at 1st level, while you are not wearing any
armor, your Armor Class is 13 + your Dexterity Modifier.
As a reaction, when you are hit by a melee attack,
you lash out at your attacker, dealing force damage
equal to your Charisma Modifier (minimum 1). This
damage improves by 1d8 at 5th level, 2d8 ah 11th
level and 3d8 at 17th level.
Ageless spite
Your patron despises any failure in ending another one’s
life, and urges you to keep going in such moments.
Starting at 1st level, every time you deal damage to a
creature with a warlock spell or cantrip and one or more
damage dice rolls a 1, you heal 1 hit point per such die.
If you choose the Pact of the Blade feature at 3rd level,
this feature extends to the damage of your pact weapon.
If you choose the Pact of the Chain feature at 3rd
level this feature extends to the damage deal by your
familiar’s attacks. Additionally, your familiar benefits
from the healing gained by this ability.
Relentless
Driven by your patron’s prophecy, you do not stop
against any obstacle
Starting at 6th level, attacks of opportunity against
you are made with disadvantage, and getting up from
prone costs you only 5 ft. or your movement. Also,
your movement speed cannot be reduced by any means,
though you can still become Restrained or Paralyzed.
Last Assault
Starting at 10th level, when you are reduced to 0 hit
points, you can use your reaction to cast a Warlock spell,
make one attack with your pact weapon or let your
familiar make one attack of its own.
Once you use this feature, you cannot use it until
you take a short or long rest.
Journey to Ragnarok
60
L ife Devourer
Starting at 14th level, when you hit a creature with an
attack, you can use this feature to devour it. The crea-
ture is magically shrunk and absorbed inside your body.
While in this state, it is restrained and incapacitated.
At the beginning of its turn, the creature can make a
Strength saving throw; if it succeed, it is freed from your
body and expelled to the nearest free space. If it fails, it
suffers 3d10 acid damage as you slowly dissolve its body.
If a creature is slain by such damage, its body disin-
tegrates completely, but you can regurgitate any object
it wore or carried, intact
Once you use this feature, you cannot use it until
you finish a long rest
Warlock
Otherworldly Patron:
The Norns
Distant and aloof, your patrons are a conclave of three
women that sit at the Well of Destiny, sprinkling Yggdrasill
with its water so that it may never rot. Although they
control the fate of all creatures – gods, monsters and men
alike – they cannot prevent all the ruinous event that the
future can bring. So, they are willing to strike a bargain,
conceding a strand of their power to a Warlock ready to
do their bidding.
Expanded Spell L ist
The Norns lets you choose from an expanded list of
spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following
spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.
Spell Level
Spells
1st
Bless, Create or Destroy Water
2nd
Augury, Locate Object
3rd
Clairvoyance, Nondetection
4th
Divination, Locate Creature
5th
Commune, True Seeing
Urðr, Verðanði and Skuld
At 1st level, the Norns instill in you the power to
control the fates of those around you. When a crea-
ture you can see makes an attack roll, ability check or
saving throw, you can use your reaction to roll 1d6 and
add or subtract the result from the d20 roll. You must
use this feature before knowing the result of the action
you are trying to manipulate.
You can use this feature once on a humanoid, undead
or beast; once on an aberration, giant or monstrosity;
and once on a celestial, dragon, elemental or fiend.
You regain all expended uses after a short or long rest.
Clay for the weakened
Starting at 6th level, just as your patrons preserve
the World Tree, you can preserve your life and those
of your allies. As an action, you can touch a willing
creature and remove one of the following conditions:
Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Paralyzed, Petrified or
Poisoned. The creature becomes immune to that par-
ticular condition for 1 minute.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until
you finish a short or long rest.
Break Gungnir
Startingt at 10th level, if you are hit by a ranged
attack, you can make a spell attack roll. If your result
is higher than the enemy’s, you redirect the attack to
another target of your choice within its range, using
your attack roll result instead. Once you successfully
redirect an attack with this feature, you cannot use it
again for 1 minute.
Weaving your own Fate
Starting at 14th level, you can reroll any of your own
ability check, attack roll or saving throw whose die roll
is 3 or lower, but you must accept the second result,
even if it’s lower. Note that if the roll is made with
advantage or disadvantage, you can only reroll one
those dice.
People of Midgardr: The Classes
61
Wizard
School of the Wanderer
In times and places where there’s no written knowledge,
the world itself is an open book. Wizards who follow the
School of the Wanderers are renowned travellers, adept
socializers, and connoisseurs of arcane mysteries. As all
the Nine Worlds are suffused with power, the Wanderers
learn to use it as a conduit for their magical might and
a as font of arcane wisdom.
Through the heart
Your experience in discovering the world extends to
your fellow men. With just a few words, you are able
to understand the needs of your interlocutors.
Starting from 2nd level, during a conversation last-
ing longer than 1 minute you can attempt a Wisdom
(Insight) check opposed by a Charisma (Deception
or Persuasion) check, as chosen by the target. If you
succeed, you know exactly what the target currently
desires the most. This feature does not work on crea-
tures immune to the Charmed condition.
Through the earth
As you gradually uncover the secrets of magic, you
learn to instill power into your surroundings.
If you cast a spell of 1st level or higher with a range
of touch or expressed in ft., you can decide to chan-
nel it through the surrounding. Choose one point in a
space that you can see within 15 ft. of you, it becomes
the origin point of the spell and you calculate line of
effect from that point instead of your actual position.
Once you use this feature, you cannot cast spells
except cantrips until the end of your next turn.
Knowledge of the World
You have traveled far and accomplished many things,
adaptability has become your ally.
Starting at 6th level, at the end of a long rest,
you can recall the actions of countless people you
have met before and learn from your memories.
Choose two specific skills, weapons or sets
of tools. You gain proficiency with them
until the end of your next long rest.
For example, you can gain proficiency in
Deception and the longsword, or learn to
use alchemist’s tools and carpenter’s tools.
World of Knowledge
Magic shapes worlds just as they shape
magic. By tapping into raw arcane power,
you discover new forms of incantations.
Starting at 6th level, as an action, you
can forget one prepared spell of 2nd level
or higher. If you do, the GM chooses two
wizard spells whose level is one lower than
the one you have forgotten and that you
don’t know. You pick one and it becomes
prepared for you for the following 8 hours.
The spell is not memorized for you and it
does not appear in your spellbook; as such,
Journey to Ragnarok
62
you cannot transcribe it into your spellbook or create
a spell scroll of it. You have just enough instinctual
understanding of the spell to cast it.
You can use this feature up to three times, but you
must wait at least 1 minute betwen each use. Once you
consumed your uses, you cannot use this feature until
the end of your next long rest.
Every time you use this feature, you cannot cast
spells except cantrips until the end of your next turn.
First Impressions
Starting at 10th level, you have advantage on the first
ability check made when socially interacting with some-
one you’ve never met before. This feature does not work
on creatures immune to the Charmed condition.
L ingering Magic
Starting at 10th level, as a reaction made when one or
more targets within 45 ft of you receive 10 or more
points of energy damage, you tap into residual energy.
Until the end of your next turn, any spell you cast
that deals that damage or include that type of energy
among its effects is considered cast using a slot 1 level
higher than usual.
After casting a spell empowered this way, you
cannot cast spells except cantrips until the end of your
next turn.
Make connections
Starting at 14th level, when you converse for at least
10 minutes with a creature you can see, you can magi-
cally strengthen or remove the memoy of you from its
mind. The creature makes a Charisma saving throw
against your Spellcasting DC. On a failed save, you
decide if the creature forgets you the moment he
doesn’t see you anymore, or if he can perfectly recall
your look, appearance and what you have talked
about. On a successful save, the creature is immune to
this feature for a month.
This feature does not work on creatures immune to
the Charmed condition.
Shared connections
Starting at 14th level, if the target of one of your spells
fails a saving throw against it, you can also sever their
connection with magic. The target cannot cast spells,
benefit from magic items and any magical attack they
have is considered nonmagical. These effects last until
the end of his next turn.
You can use use this feature three times before a long rest.
Once you use this feature, you cannot cast spells
except cantrips until the end of your next turn.
Spellbooks without literature.
As you can imagine, there is a noticable level
of discrepancy in using the Wizard class in a
setting with no common writing. How could
you resolve that?
This is definitely up to you and your GM, but
here are some ideas.
•
You have some rudimentary knowledge of
runes, not enough to channel power through
them, but enough to combine them into strings
of power that you record on slabs of bark, weave
into a mantle, or carve into your staff.
•
By reading the runes, you gain a minuscule
whiff of their power.
•
You draw your spells. You create elaborate
representations of the effect of the spell, and
this helps you remember all the gestures and
words you need to cast them.
•
You create fetishes. For every spell you know,
you craft a little totem made by stones,
feathers, blood (usually your own) and other
significant components. Only you can properly
understand such totems, and you carry them
inside a “sage satchel” for when you need them.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
63
In this chapter, we enter the depths of the characters’
minds, investigating from what point their history
originates the source of the motivations that drive
them to move in the world, pursuing a specific pur-
pose, and the ideals that guide them on their journey.
While the class will define how characters face the
challenges that fate puts before them and gives the clans
a choice of how to move, or not move, within a soci-
ety and to who they ally themselves, the Backgrounds
focus on the beginning of a characters story, the moti-
vations that have led him to become what he is and
what he was before leaving for adventure in this world
held in the hard grip of Fimbulvetr.
On Midgardr a man is judged by his strength, his
respect for the Nine Virtues and his social class, so a
Background is designed to represent the characters
belonging to the Norse social system and culture,
based on honor and pride of independence.
Leading each settlement is the Jarlr, a unique and
exclusive title, inferior only to the Konungr (King).
The Jarlr governs sitting at the head of Thing, an
assembly of elected local councilors chosen from the
freemen, such as the Bhondi, Gothi, Hersir, Huscarl,
Vaeringjar and Vikingar.
However, not all men are born equal. Slaves and
outcasts, Thrallr and Skògarmadhri occupy the lowest
rungs on the competitive social ladder of Midgardr.
Every man is moved to a higher destiny that is writ-
ten at the time of his birth, this chapter serves to define
his first step, but the rest of the path is in the hands of
the players.
To what glorious Fate will you lead your characters?
Journey to Ragnarok
64
This term designates a man in possession of a small
plot of cultivated land. In the harsh and hostile north-
ern territories, owning a piece of arable land can be
quite complicated. On Midgardr a free man is part of
a complex social organism regulated by precise laws.
Land and animals are the wealth of these men, free
before the law and rich enough to arm themselves so
that, in the recent past, a class of freemen competent
in the use of weapons has formed in Norse society.
The possession of such land allows the Bondhi to buy
the necessary equipment to go to war. The greater the
wealth of a land, the better the equipment to arm these
warrior peasants.
Being Bondhi is a major social responsibility as well
as constituting a tough lifestyle marked by hard work.
Being a Bondhi, however, is also a source of great pride.
A Bondhi will fiercely defend his independence and
autonomy both in the Thing and with the force of arms.
The Bondhi gather in Fridhr when they descend
into battle, ie bands belonging to the same community
or Thing, bound by kinship relationships.
These formations of warriors share close bonds and
are very combative, even if inclined to impulsive deeds
for the salvation of their families.
Skills: Animal Handling, Perception
Tools: Artisan tools
Equipment: common clothes, an artisan’s tool of your
choice, a bracelet adorned with a rune, a simple weapon,
a terracotta container, a leather bag with 15 gp.
Privilege:
A Hearth to Return to
When choosing this background, you also choose a
location on Midgardr. In that place, you have a plot
of land with a house and, at your discretion, a family
waiting for you. You are welcome by the community
of that location and you can turn to them in times
of need.
Suggested Characteristics
Being a Bondhi is in itself a matter of pride, personal
independence, a plot of land to cultivate and to be
able to say he is the lord in his own home are goals
to defend, whether they have been conquered with
prowess in battle, or through hard work and commit-
ment. Sometimes, however, this is not enough and a
Bondhi aspires to larger estates or positions that are
more prestigious.
Bondhi Variant: Hersir
A Hersir is a prominent member of a community who
holds sufficient wealth and land to be able to liaise with
a local lord and interact with the community, which he
represents. A Hersir has the same rights and duties as
any Bondhi. Indeed, he will have more burdens due to
having to finance military expeditions and leading his
own countrymen in battle, making sure that every man
is sufficiently armed for battle, that there are provisions
necessary to the expedition in progress and that the state
of health of his companions is good.
However, this also has advantages. Being such an
influential figure allows you to have a say on many
issues, especially in the face of overly despotic or
weak lords.
Variants Privilege:
Great holdings
In addition to the privilege of “A Hearth to Return
to”, as Hesir your estate is not limited to a home and
a small cultivated plot, your large estate yields fruit for
you and your home. If you choose this variant, start the
game with 5 gp more, moreover, the profit you earn
from the sale of the produce from your land is 2 gp
per day, which you can withdraw each time you return
home. Furthermore, you are considered a prominent
member of your community, but money, power, and
influence always attract envy and enemies: by staying
away from home for a long period there is the risk of
finding your property usurped and your family miss-
ing. In addition, the local lords you are bound to will
certainly be asking for favors and contributions.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
65
D8
Personality Traits
1
My place is at home.
2
The affairs of the Gods do not interest
me. I must look only to my work.
3
After the raids that allowed me
to gain my position, I want
to stay away from trouble.
4
Traditions are as important as work.
5
I believe that in order to obtain
anything you need sacrifice effort
and commitment.
6
I am a quiet man who respects
those above him.
7
I miss the iron and blood of battle.
8
I have never left my home and
the world seems too large for me.
D6
Ideals
1
Respect. Respect traditions and men
must respect me. (Honorable)
2
Work. Nothing counts in life but hard
work and enjoying its fruits. (Neutral)
3
Travel. Home will always be waiting for
me, while the world outside will not. In
addition, I want to see it all. (Chaotic)
4
Greed. I want more, there is no limit to
which I will go or the means I will take
to get it. (Dishonorable)
5
Duty. All my efforts are put into
my duties, as a master, a warrior
and a man. (Lawful)
6
Ambition. I aspire to become
something more than just a landowner,
the position of Jarlr or even the glory of
the Gods await me! (Any)
D6
Bonds
1
I have a friend in trouble and I must
save him.
2
I must defend my home at all costs.
3
I hide something important in
my house, no one suspects it.
4
I have sworn loyalty and I will
never fail in this oath.
5
Someone plots to have me lose
what I have conquered.
6
I lead others with my exemplary
behavior.
D6
Flaw
1
Sometimes I forget my most
important treasure: my home.
2
My house, at times, seems to suffocate me.
3
I do not think I really deserve
what I have managed to achieve.
4
I am willing to risk everything to get
what I want, even my loved ones.
5
I am afraid of the world outside
my home.
6
A little man has nothing to do
with stories, legends and Gods.
Journey to Ragnarok
66
The Northern communities have always lived their
spirituality in a natural and spontaneous way. Although
they do not have a true faith, they are aware of being
part of a much larger cosmos. The Nine Worlds, the
Æsir and the Vanir, the spirits of nature and the ghosts
of the dead, these entities for these populations are as
present and “tangible” as their own homes.
To mediate with these entities the Gothar exist. A
Gothi is not a priest in the strict sense, nor an ascetic
figure: he is a common person who, with simple rituals
or prayers, is the link between his community and the
vast universe that surrounds them.
These practices are, mostly for, solving the small
needs of everyday life. Sowing a field, building a house,
helping a pregnant woman are all activities for which
the watchful eye of a Gothi is required, to ensure that
everything goes the right way.
Skills: Asatru, Medicine
Tools: Herbalist’s tools
Equipment: ceremonial dress, herbalist’s tools, a pol-
ished stone talisman with a rune, 5 pieces of aromatic
bark, a leather bag with 15 gp.
Privilege:
good wishes and hospitality
As Gothi you are welcome in any community that
respects the traditions of the Ancient Gods. You will
be welcomed in the halls of the Jarlr or the village
chief; you will be offered food and shelter for the night
in exchange for auspicious rituals. This welcome also
extends to those who accompany you.
Suggested Characteristics
Other Gothar through oral recognition of respect for
traditions educates the Gothi, as a child. Usually, sec-
ond-generation students choose this path, but it is not
strictly necessary, just like the social class.
This path is prohibited to slaves and renegades.
These figures have the responsibility of passing on
traditions, rites and religious ceremonies to future
generations, keeping alive the spirituality of the
community.
The common defects in a Gothi are their excessive
attachment to ancient traditions and a lascivious infat-
uation with new ways, which is completely opposed to
his formation. Typical defects of the Gothi is neglect-
ing their duties or exploiting their social position for
their own benefit.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
67
D8
Personality Traits
1
My life is a continuous search
for the Gods.
2
The affairs of mortals do not interest
me; I seek the knowledge of the Gods.
3
Nothing happens by chance,
everything is driven by fate.
4
I feel a great concern for the future that
never abandons my thoughts.
5
I stubbornly follow the ancient
traditions and lament times past.
6
Those who do not respect traditions
do not deserve my respect.
7
I entrust myself to the Gods
for every aspect of my life.
8
I spent much time as a foreigner,
wandering from one village to another,
that I no longer feel comfortable in the
life of the community.
D6
Ideals
1
Teaching. The purpose of my life is to
train the new generations under the sign
of the Gods. (Honorable)
2
Knowledge. Each event is a sign of
the Gods and deserves to be studied to
understand its nature. (Neutral)
3
Discovery. Traditions and teachings
are a starting point from which
to discover the world. (Chaotic)
4
Enrichment. I have to use my
knowledge and position to live in
the most comfortable way possible.
(Dishonorable)
5
Tradition. My strength is that of the
ancient traditions, in that knowledge
there is all that is needed in my life.
(Lawful)
6
Aspiration. Guided by my knowledge I
aspire to reach the Gods who guide my
life. (All)
D6
Bonds
1
I have to fulfill the mission entrusted
to me by my mentor.
2
One day, in the world, there will exist
no other Gods but mine.
3
I put my community before all else.
4
I had a vision of the Gods and
I want to find them in person.
5
The only temple I need to be occupied
with is my body.
6
I want to find out if there are gods
beyond the sea.
D6
Flaw
1
I do not accept versions of the world
other than that recounted
in the traditions.
2
What happens in the outside world
questions my faith in the Gods.
3
I fear that my lifestyle is not honorable
to lead me to the Gods.
4
I am far too intrigued
by what I do not know.
5
Sometimes I change traditions
or divination results, to gain
personal advantage.
6
I do not think I have the respect
or consideration that I deserve.
Journey to Ragnarok
68
Sentinels, guardians, custodians. The Huscarlar are
all this, individuals in charge of a specific and delicate
task. In the past, the term generally indicated a man
who defended his home, today, these tasks are not lim-
ited only to the home.
A Huscarl can be recruited by anyone who can
afford his services, to monitor, at the cost of his own
life, a home or person, also acting as a bodyguard.
Being Huscarl is a great honor and a source of good
compensation, but it is a role that is not without risks.
It is about placing the protection of a place or a person
at the expense of their own safety, pain, death or exile.
It may happen that prestigious figures like a Jarl or
Konungr hire more than one Huscarlar for the defense
of their halls or to form groups of elite warriors to take
into battle.
Being a Huscarlar is the most “immaculate” way
that a man can take to cover himself in fame and last-
ing wealth, but it is also the longest.
Skills: Insight, Investigation
Equipment: common clothes, Huscarl uniform, a
large cloak, a helmet decorated with a rune, a martial
weapon, a leather bag with 20 gp.
Privilege: Huscarl skills
A Huscarl remains such until his death. Only Huscarl
who are dishonorable or guilty of crimes, betray the
solidarity pact that binds them.
With this background, you can count on the sup-
port of Huscarl guards, even from other areas, if you
are able to prove your membership. Except for situa-
tions of open hostility.
Suggested Characteristics
An honorable and respectable occupation with good
earnings but high risk. Being a Huscarl means respon-
sibility and integrity but sometimes it is a position
occupied by power or to give vent to the bloodlust.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
69
D8
Personality Traits
1
I am very suspicious of those
I do not know.
2
I try to display my honor on
every occasion.
3
Once having gained my trust,
I will never disappoint.
4
I never lose my concentration.
5
I do what I do to be able to vent
my violence without problems.
6
For me, actions are worth more
than words.
7
If I can rest, I will, I am very lazy.
8
Being a guard does not mean
being surly, I am very nice and
I love socializing.
D6
Ideals
1
Oath. Nothing on this earth is worth
more than the oath of a man. (Lawful)
2
Independence. I only intervene when
I consider it right. (Neutral)
3
Competition. I live every situation as
a challenge that I cannot lose. (Chaotic)
4
Power. I will perform my duties as
a guard until the right opportunity
presents itself for me to gain power.
(Dishonorable)
5
Protection. Those who have the
strength to defend themselves must
first defend others. (Honorable)
6
Comfort. Mine is an honorable but
dangerous profession, I do it to be able
to enjoy its rewards (Any)
D6
Bonds
1
A bond with a person, who is
very important to me, but distant,
draws me far away.
2
I am here because I want to protect
someone in particular.
3
I committed a dishonorable act
that must never be discovered.
4
I have no ties or interests with
the people I have to protect.
5
I envy a colleague very much.
6
What I must really protect
I have yet to find.
D6
Flaw
1
I am afraid I have been content
with choosing this life.
2
I am tired of my life.
3
I have no half measures; everything
for me is black or white.
4
I blindly trust all those above me.
5
The only God I follow is money.
6
I do not think I deserve to rest
with my fathers in Valhalla.
Journey to Ragnarok
70
The oldest families boast of descending from a famous
ancestor, a hero or even a deity, a sort of aristocracy
that rather than governing a region administrates it. It
is not uncommon for a Jarlr to be elected by the Thing.
You are the leader of a regional army in battle, you
choose the best men for your retinue, regulate the dis-
tribution of wealth and privileges among the Norse.
An expert in law as well as politics, you are required
to be present as a judge at trials.
Skills: Asatru, History
Equipment: fine clothes, embroidered cape, a precious
ring engraved with a rune, a brooch with a symbol of
the family name, a leather bag with 25 gp
Privilege: Heroes blood
When choosing this background, you also choose a
Midgardr location. In the chosen location, you are
considered the leader.
You, or your family, own the largest house in the
village, which is also the center of the town’s social life.
Your opinion is highly valued as if it were the law.
The ardor of your ancient ancestors has been
handed down in your blood and elevates you among
the proudest of men.
Great respect is due to you, and no one will ever
refuse you an audience or hospitality, you are worthy
of the name you hold among your peers.
Suggested Characteristics
Being a Jarlr means having great honor and respect but
it also means great expectations.
From an early age you grew up with the heroic tales
of your ancestors and you are expected to be worthy
of their name.
Educated in the oral traditions of the Gods and in
the laws of your land, you must remember that you are
not superior to other men.
For a Jarlr the border between pride and arrogance is
likely to be very subtle, as well as the desire to become
more powerful or aspire to become king.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
71
D8
Personality Traits
1
I believe that my heritage alone is
worthy of making a great man of me.
2
I feel that a great destiny is reserved
for me.
3
I look at everything from the top
to the bottom.
4
I feel like an ordinary person and
reveal my heritage only when necessary.
5
I believe that I am always right.
6
Every moment is opportune to
narrate the exploits of my ancestors.
7
I am insecure despite being
educated to command.
8
Responsibilities suffocate me.
D6
Ideals
1
Hero. Like my ancestors, I must live
a life worthy of being remembered for
the great deeds I have accomplished.
(Honorable)
2
Power. My power and determination
are the burdens with which my existence
is judged. (Neutral)
3
Pleasure. Life should be squeezed like
a sweet fruit to get as much as possible
out of it. (Chaotic)
4
Domain. My place is higher than
that of other men, so everyone must
serve me. (Dishonorable)
5
Justice. It is my task to enforce the
laws of my land in the most equitable
and just way possible. (Lawful)
6
Destiny. The hand of fate and the gods
guides me on the path to glory. (Any)
D6
Bonds
1
Nothing is more important to me
then my family.
2
I have a rival who has bested me in
all things since my childhood.
3
I feel that somehow my ancestors
are guiding me.
4
A person very important to me left for
the sea and did not return.
5
I have a sacred task entrusted to me by
an oracle, only I can accomplish it.
6
My pride is my people.
D6
Flaw
1
When I am proved wrong, I quickly
pass to violence.
2
I really do not think that I am worthy
of my ancestors.
3
In front of gold, my sense
of justice falters.
4
I am attracted to the pleasures
of flesh and wine.
5
Despite my heritage, I am often
inappropriate and awkward.
6
Behind the mask of a powerful man,
there is one weak and fearful.
Journey to Ragnarok
72
You are literally called “the one who lives in the woods”,
it is the worst fate that can happen to a Norseman.
Your assets have been expropriated, all your rights
have been removed, and you have been exiled from the
community and from your family.
Forced to live in the woods, you must constantly
watch your back as a death sentence hangs over you:
anyone you meet can and must kill you, remaining
unpunished.
You wander aimlessly; your only purpose is survival.
No refuge, no rights, only hardships and a probable
violent death await you.
Skills: Stealth, Survival
Equipment: ragged clothes, an oath bracelet with a
broken rune, a stone knife, 5 gp.
Privilege: False identity
After surviving in the woods during the winter you
have moved to an area far enough away that no one
knows your name or your story and you have built a
second fake identity, pretending to be an oracle beggar,
a freed slave or the only survivor of a dark tragedy.
Meet other Skògarmadhr like yourself, scattered
throughout safe hiding places in the depths of
Midgardr’s forests.
Suggested Characteristics
Being a Skògarmadhr is the lowest and most degrading
of human conditions. In your past, there are terrible
and dishonorable acts that have cost you exile from
your community.
The purpose of a Skògarmadhr is mainly to see the
dawn of the next day and make do with what you can
to survive.
But not all Skògarmadhr deserve the fate they face,
some are betrayed or framed by their enemies.
They can try to redeem their name, although it is
almost impossible.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
73
D8
Personality Traits
1
I now struggle to relate to another
human being.
2
I do not give value to money or
possessions, survival is all that counts.
3
I grieve for the times in which
I lived in society.
4
My behaviors are more like that
of a beast.
5
I do not trust anyone.
6
I cannot resist the pleasures of good
food and meat.
7
I have an honorable attitude, as I consider
it correct in spite of the unjust condition
in which I find myself.
8
I cannot afford distractions,
I am always focused.
D6
Ideals
1
Redemption. I do not know if it is
possible or not, but I want to win back
the honor of a man. (Honorable)
2
Peace. The only things I yearn for are
love, peace and tranquility. (Neutral)
3
Madness. Hunted by the world of
men, I will live in the world of fools.
(Chaotic)
4
Deception. My past remains what
it is; the consequences of my actions
will remain unpunished if I am able to
deceive even the Gods. (Dishonorable)
5
Traditions. Living far from society
does not prevent me from continuing
to live according to the customs
of my people. (Lawful)
6
Loneliness. There is nothing left to me
but to live far from the affairs of men
and gods and die alone. (Any)
D6
Bonds
1
I have a contact that helps me
despite my condition.
2
Someone in the village suspects me.
3
I have a man who has sworn
to kill me on my heels.
4
In the most remote lands, there is
a community of people like me.
5
I made a friend who suspects
nothing of my past.
6
I do not want relationships of any kind
with other human beings.
D6
Flaw
1
Even though I look for its solace,
I cannot hold my alcohol.
2
Risk of betraying myself by revealing
my identity if provoked.
3
I do not think I deserve
an honorable death.
4
To redeem my name I am willing
to do anything, even commit
dishonorable acts.
5
I feel constantly hunted
and do not trust anyone.
6
Every day a piece of my mind yields
to madness.
Journey to Ragnarok
74
The life of a Thrallr is hard, the life of a slave, forced
to perform any task that your owner imposes on you.
Whether by debt, imprisonment or condemnation
by the assembly, as Thrallr you have lost all rights and
you will be bound to the will of a master.
Luckily for you the Norsemen are not ruthless or
cruel masters: you have food, clothes and a roof over
your head.
You can free yourself through hard work or worthy
deeds. Norsemen, wherever they live in the lands of
the North, will always remain a pragmatic people, to
be a slave is not a detestable fate, provided you do not
become a human sacrifice…
Skills: Animal Handling, Performance
Equipment: poor clothes, work tools, rune engraved
on a piece of wood given by the master, a wooden
bowl, 5 gp.
Privilege:
Protected by the Master
You are considered the property of your master and, as
such, you have value.
You can always count on the support of your
master, able to help you in case of need even after
having redeemed yourself through your labors.
Food and shelter for the night you will always have
at your master’s house unless you have escaped or done
dishonorable deeds.
Suggested Characteristics
Life is hard for a Thrallr, who has to settle for a meager
meal and a roof over their heads in exchange for all
their sweat.
Being away from one’s home and the feeling of
having no power over one’s own destiny can create
strong and tempered personalities.
A Thrallr often tries to redeem his life through work
or conducting business for his master, this is how he
might try to liberate himself. Freedom and independ-
ence can be regrets, but also dreams and goals.
Thrallr Variant: Foreign Slave
Whether you are the spoils of a raid on the other side
of the sea. That you were bought from the slave mar-
kets in the Deep South.
Defeated in battle and taken as a slave, it changes
little: you find yourself forced to serve a master of a
people very different from yours, in an almost alien
environment, with rules, laws, and morals of a distant
culture and, for you, difficult to understand.
If you decide that, your background as a Thrallr is
due to one of these reasons you can choose the privilege
“Foreign knowledge” instead of “Protected by the owner”.
Variant Privilege:
Foreign Knowledge
If the character has the Thrallr background, you can
choose this privilege instead of “Protected by the Master”.
Your origin from a foreign country means that your
basic knowledge of the world is very different from that
of the Norse people.
You can ask your master for information and infor-
mation that is more precise about the foreign country
you come from, as well as having the advantage in the
arcane, religion or history trials concerning the customs
of cultures or foreign countries.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
75
D8
Personality Traits
1
Despite being a slave,
I am never broken.
2
Great ambitions are hidden behind
my fatigued face.
3
I am a quiet person who thinks only
of his duty, and of having enough food
and a roof over his head.
4
I am gentle and kind.
5
My eyes hide a great sadness.
6
My way of speaking is simple
and concise.
7
I am not comfortable in social
situations.
8
I appreciate the simple joys of life.
D6
Ideals
1
Fidelity. Mine is not just a job, but also
a task. Faithfully serve to the best of
my abilities for the good of the master.
(Honorable)
2
Survival. To remain alive, I must
continue to work. (Neutral)
3
Adventure. I would very much like the
chains of monotony of my slave life be
broken to let me live an adventure in
life. (Chaotic)
4
Escape. Every day may be the right day
to escape and rediscover my freedom.
(Dishonorable)
5
Patience. The efforts of an honorable and
just life are always repaid. (Lawful)
6
Liberation. With effort and hard work,
I will be able to redeem my freedom.
(Any)
D6
Bonds
1
I feel affection only towards animals.
2
I consider my master as a friend
or a family member.
3
I will never forget my real family.
4
There is a mystery related to my
previous life that makes me more
than a simple slave.
5
Plot a dishonorable deed together
with other servants.
6
I have many friends, even in the
upper castes.
D6
Flaw
1
Sometimes I forget my place.
2
My will is easily bent.
3
Resentment builds in me day by day.
4
For the money, I am willing
to do anything.
5
False promises of freedom are
pitfalls that make me do things
that are inconvenient.
6
I am persecuted by bad luck.
Journey to Ragnarok
76
Not all Norsemen feel the need to seek glory by crossing
the sea and fighting. You have chosen to venture with
your ships to the continent, going up the rivers to trade.
You formed brotherhoods, swearing on the sword
and promising to protect and share revenues with
your brothers. Need and pragmatism require those
who embark on these journeys to be a skilled and
experienced fighter, an astute trader and an attentive
connoisseur of human nature and foreign cultures.
Some groups of Vaeringjar settle along the rivers
and found new kingdoms where river trade is a source
of great wealth.
A distant empire of the continent seems to have
established a military body, founding the Vaerengjalidh,
the Vaeringjar Guard.
The Emperor, in his marble and gold court, admires
the courage and strength the Norsemen have shown in
battle and has offered them the opportunity to fight
as his bodyguards. The salary is very high, as is the
prestige of such an honor, and the Vaerengjar who
return home after an expedition with the commercial
brotherhood or as veterans of the Guard have great
influence on the community.
They are forgiven for their extravagance in dress, in
the tastes of food and in their way of speaking.
Skills: Insight, Persuasion
Tools: Artisan’s tools
Equipment: common clothes, a rudimentary porta-
ble scale, a metallic weight for trade with an engraved
rune, a small jewel of foreign origin, a leather bag with
15 gp.
Privilege: Sacred Oath
The oath taken on the sword that every Vaeringjar car-
ries when joining a merchant group is considered sacred
and more important than any other bond on Midgardr.
Like Vaeringjar you will always find passage by
ship or work to earn some money. You can even get
help from other Vaeringjar with whom you are not in
conflict.
Suggested Characteristics
You are independent, curious and awake; you are not
interested in power but certainly in gold, sometimes
too much.
You have no ties to your native land and the world,
beyond the sea, you think is a land of opportunity and
income.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
77
D8
Personality Traits
1
I can never stand still; I must always
be active and moving.
2
I always win my bet.
3
I carefully evaluate each situation
by listing the pros and cons.
4
Showing my wealth and success
is part of my duty.
5
I never really settle down.
6
I prefer to solve every situation
without extracting weapons if possible.
7
I do not know the meaning
of regret and nostalgia.
8
Fortune smiles on the clever man,
one such as me.
D6
Ideals
1
Perseverance. Even after a failure,
I always get back up and start
my journey again. (Honorable)
2
Comfort. This is just a way to live
quiet and fulfilled, materially and not.
(Neutral)
3
Discovery. I travel and trade to discover
new and fascinating things about the
outside world. (Chaotic)
4
Dishonesty. I will do anything to
get more than I should from each
transaction, especially by using
deception. (Dishonorable)
5
Honor. Doing my job well makes
me an honorable man who deserves
respect. (Lawful)
6
Premonition. To take me along my
travels is a recurring dream that I believe
is a message from the Gods. (Any)
D6
Bonds
1
I am loyal to myself first of all.
2
My companions are my brothers.
3
I travel in search of a person dear to me
and of who I have lost track.
4
Someone near to me wants to betray me.
5
I have a secret mission to complete
and my travels act as a cover.
6
I left because I was no longer welcome
in my home.
D6
Flaw
1
My eyes fall to a new goal even if I have
not finished the old one.
2
For greater profit, I am willing to
turn a blind eye or do something
dishonorable.
3
I leave everything behind
a little too easily.
4
I cannot resist a bet or a challenge.
5
I am full of the desire to travel
continuously.
6
Alcohol and gambling are my daily
bread. However, I often go wrong.
Journey to Ragnarok
78
Fara i vikingu: Depart as a Viking, an expression in
Norse that simply means independence.
Pirates, adventurers, looters, sailors and mercenar-
ies: these are Vikingar and this is you.
Showy, with provocative tattoos covering the arms,
neck and chest, garish or deliberately unsettling clothes,
make-up around the eyes and incisions on the teeth, all
to distinguish yourself from a Bondhi.
Plundering and raiding is an easy way to become
famous and rich, as well as to gain glory in the eyes of
the Gods.
Certainly, it is also the easiest and quickest way to
die. You will only be able to return home if you prove
yourself to be one of the ablest, strongest or luckiest.
Death is a constant companion for you, but the
rewards are worth the risk: raids are a valid tool to gain
influence at the political level.
In a Thing the relevance of an individual is given by
his possessions and his prestige; as Vikingr your success
in raids can determine your influence and with increas-
ing prestige, the number of men ready to follow you
grows. If the Bondhi communities are based on family
ties also on the battlefield, for a Vikingr like you, your
bonds are tightened through the Fòstbroedhralagr rite,
the Blood Brother Oath.
This ceremony makes men brothers on a spiritual
level. In this way, any previous bonds have been sev-
ered and a new bond has been forged, just as strong,
but free from family ties, a further reason why you are
feared or envied at home; new ties with greater free-
dom and autonomy.
Skills: Athletics, Intimidation
Tools: Navigator’s tools
Equipment: flashy clothing, a solar stone with an engraved
rune (counts as a navigator’s tools), a martial weapon, a
pointed tattoo cannula, a leather bag with 20 gp.
Privilege:
Brotherhood of Blood
The blood pact that binds you to your fellow raiders is
worth more than any family bond.
Each of them will put his life at risk in order to
protect you and will grant you all their aid, even siding
against those who are your superiors.
As Vikingr the population nurtures great respect
towards you as well as fear.
Suggested Characteristics
As Vikingr you are a resolute person, determined, and
convinced that the path you have taken is the most
direct for gaining glory and immortality, to be worthy
of entering the legends.
An exceptional fighter, without fear of death, you
often give in to excesses: violence and death accom-
pany you as inseparable lovers.
People of Midgardr: Backgrounds
79
D8
Personality Traits
1
Staring death in the face is the feeling
that most exalts and gives me joy.
2
I am extremely loyal to traditions.
3
I am tireless and insatiable.
4
I hardly ever speak... with the living.
5
I live every day as if it were the only
one worth living.
6
I love to look unique and extravagant.
7
Despite appearances, I am a thoughtful
and strategic type.
8
I take maniacal care of my person, my
body is a temple dedicated to the gods.
D6
Ideals
1
Death. I live, I fight and I will die
with honor. (Honorable)
2
Wealth. Raids are a great source of
income, risk your life to live better
(Neutral)
3
Challenge. My life is a constant
challenge of fate and the Gods, they will
have to work hard to end it. (Chaotic)
4
Cowardice. When the situation turns
bad, we are the first to flee, leaving
behind no witnesses. (Dishonorable)
5
Power. The defeats inflicted on foreign
enemies are a victory for the entire
Norse community. (Lawful)
6
Destiny. This life is part of my destiny,
by fighting, I will discover where it will
take me. (Any)
D6
Bonds
1
My ship is my best friend.
2
My companions are my real family.
3
I discovered directions to an enormous
treasure beyond the sea.
4
I hate those above me in the chain
of command.
5
I have an enemy among my
companions.
6
I formed a bond with an enemy
during a truce.
D6
Flaw
1
I do not know how to calm
or moderate my fury.
2
I have no respect for anyone outside
of what is shown on the battlefield.
3
Death actually frightens me.
4
I have no care for my safety.
5
I have doubts about the Gods
and ancient traditions.
6
I am tormented by all the deaths
I have caused.
Journey to Ragnarok
80
Exotic Items:
During the Character creation phase, it is advisable to
consider the Exotic Items, not available at the time of
the creation of the character but obtainable only on
the bodies of foreign enemies or trading, at double of
the original price, with merchants in large cities.
Armors
•
Splint Mail
•
Plate Armor
Weapons
•
Glaive
•
Halberd
•
Hand Crossbow
•
Heavy Crossbow
•
Light Crossbow
•
Rapier
•
Scimitar
Items
•
Book
•
Crossbow bolt
•
Hourglass
•
Ink Pen
•
Lantern, Bullseye
•
Lantern, Hooded
•
Magnifying Glass
•
Paper
•
Spellbook
•
Spyglass
Axes matter
In addition to the items included in the “Weapons”
table, add the short bearded axe and assault axe to the
Martial Melee Weapons.
The short bearded axe has a value of 6 gp and weighs
2 lb, inflicts 1d6 slashing damage and possesses the
Finesse, Light and Thrown (range 20/60) properties.
The assault axe has a value of 12 gp and weighs 4
lb, deals 1d8 slashing damage and possesses the Finesse
property.
People of Midgardr: Equipment
81
Clan
Heirlooms
The clan Heirloom are exclusive objects that are manu-
factured only at the clan to which they refer and can be
obtained only as a reward for having accomplished large
enterprises or as a sign of recognition by a clan chieftain.
Owning an Heirloom is a unique honor that is rare
and is synonymous with great value.
Bear Warriors
Claw of the Mountain
The Bear Warriors have never been par-
ticularly interested in the art of forging
and believe that the Mountain they
worship as a deity has encouraged them
by discovering her heart: a vein of a very resistant cold
rock that the Bear Warriors have learned to shape in the
head of powerful two-handed war hammers, delivered
into the hands of their strongest warriors to symbolize
the power and the link with the Mountain.
A Claw of the Mountain counts as a maul and
the character that holds it has advantage on Strength
(Athletics) ability checks to break down objects.
In addition, when a character hits a critical strike
against a shielded opponent, the player may choose to
break the shield instead of inflicting the damage from
the attack.
Gjallarhorn:
Clangorous Horn
The Clangorous Horn is a beautiful
battle horn made from a fine selection
of long-horned cattle raised by the royal
family that guards the Danevirke wall.
As a symbol of the Gjallarhorn, it gives advan-
tage on Charisma (Persuasion) ability checks to
those in possession that own it, if carried out for
commercial exchanges.
Once blown, it can be heard up to about 3 kilome-
ters away and gives to the person who played it and its
allies advantage on Saving Throws against the effects
of fear for 1 minute.
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82
Icy Crows:
Runic Branch
Obtained from a sacred ash at the Icy
Crows, one of Yggdrasill’s avatars on
Midgardr, this staff is decorated with
engraved knots and runes and has a white
quartz embedded in one of its ends.
Its incredible resistance ensures that a Runic Branch
has the characteristics of a quarterstaff, giving advan-
tage on Wisdom (Asatru) ability checks to those who
hold. It can also be used as an arcane or divine focus
by a spellcaster.
Jötunn Sons:
Witch’s Tooth
The extreme conditions in which the
Jötunn Sons are accustomed to living
have refined their adaptability and the
tools with which they can cope.
This reindeer horn knife has the characteristics of a
dagger, but its blade is of a special alloy: a character can
use this knife to light a fire, thanks to the sparks pro-
duced by the blade if rubbed, even in rough conditions.
In a bone insert on the end of the handle has a small
rattle, which legend serves to keep evil spirits away
while eating lunch.
A character who owns it has an advantage on
Wisdom (Survival) ability checks.
People of Midgardr: Equipment
83
Odyn’s Eye:
Ulfberht Sword
The smiths of Odhinn’s Eye clan are
famous for their ability to forge, as well as
having the best steel available throughout
Midgardr to arm their formidable army.
Their masterpiece is the Ulfberht sword, a long, very
sharp sword destined for the best warriors.
The reputation that the common weapons risk
breaking up against this prodigious blade discourages
many warriors to confront with those who hold it.
By embodying the power of Odhinn’s Eyes, a char-
acter who shows this sword has the advantage on
Charisma (Intimidation) ability checks against the
other inhabitants of Midgardr.
Wolves of the
Shadow:
Shadow of L eafage
The coordinated battle tactics of
the Wolves of the Shadow clan give
their best in the forest environment,
where they manage to camouflage themselves in the
vegetation to engage in deadly surprise attacks.
Their most daring warriors are equipped with
these wooden shields, light but very resistant, covered
with a weave of evergreen leaves to ensure maximum
camouflage.
A character carrying a Shadow of Leafage shield has
advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) ability checks when
trying to hide in vegetation or between the bush, as
well as having the armor bonus of a shield.
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84
Chapter 3
This section of the Journey offers a brief preview of what
will be the journey of the characters within the Nine
Worlds, from their rise on Midgardr to the Final Battle.
Introduzione alla Campagna
85
Journey to Ragnarok
86
Midgardr (1-7):
The characters have the chance to gather fame and
power on Midgardr, influencing the events of the
mortal realm. As shown in the table on page 126, the
characters have multiple ways of attracting the atten-
tion of the gods. Exploring Midgardr, the characters
will meet various NPC’s and will know their goals, as
they gather the necessary fame, honor and power.
Loki’s role: the Æsir think that Loki is imprisoned
in a cave of Eitr on Niflheimr, chained to a boulder
while a snake torments him. The reality is that the god
of deception managed to free himself without being
discovered by Æsir and now plot behind them for the
coming of Ragnarok.
In this chapter, the gods stay distant, playing their
role of mythological figures. Loki, too, does not inter-
fere with the journey of the characters. Unless they
undertake a very specific course of action, he intervenes
only when the characters are ready to start their Journey
to Ragnarok.
Niflheimr (7-8):
The group wakes up in Nilfheimr; the place is utterly
inhospitable and the characters run the risk of clash-
ing with the Hrímþursar, the hoarfrost giants. There is
only one way out of this realm.
Loki’s role: at this stage, the Trickster God’s influ-
ence is still latent, every now and then directing the
characters to the cavern of Gnipahellir through visions
or clues. This tunnel connects the World of Ice to the
domain of the goddess Hel and is completely frozen,
with no coming back.
Helheimr (8-9):
After crossing Gnipahellir, the group faces Garmr, the
chained guardian. Garmr is an encounter beyond the
power of the group to take on, as Fate itself set that it
cannot be killed yet, being one of the protagonists of
Ragnarok, so it must be bypassed rather than fought.
Then, they will meet Hermóðr, sent there to rescue Baldr.
Loki’s role: The Trickster God, also the father of Hel,
led the characters to this Realm to put their mettle to
the test. Because of this, Garmr does not behave like the
fierce opponent he actually is and Hel allows the heroes
to walk her realm.
Introduzione alla Campagna
87
Ásaheimr
Ásaheimr is the World the Æsir come from.
There lies the city of Ásgarðr
and its temples and palaces.
No word can portray the marvel that is the world
of the Æsir, as here live legends. Fate converges here
like the winds in the eye of the storm.
Miðgarðr
Miðgarðr is the “Middle-Fence”, placed at the center
of the universe. There live the scions of men, a pawn
in the hands of the gods.
Ljósálfheimr
In Ljosálfheimr live the Ljósálfar, the Light Elves,
created and protected by the God Freyr.
Covered mostly in thick vegetation, it is in
continuous evolution and shaped by the magic and
will of its inhabitants.
Svartálfaheimr
The World of Svartálfaheimr is in the underground,
very close to the borders of Nilfheimr. It is split in
half by violence among the two people living there,
the Dvergar and the Døkkálfar.
Múspellsheimr
The burning World of Múspellsheimr
predates the others. This region burns
and crackles and is utterly inhospitable
for those who were not born there. Here
live the fire giants, the Múspellsmegir,
and the soul tasked with guarding its
borders is named Surtr.
Jotunheimr
Jötunheimr is the World of the
Jötnar, a desolate and barren land.
It is located beyond the great
mountain ridge surrounding the
lands of Midgardr.
Vanaheimr
Vanaheimr is the land of the Vanir.
A realm where nature itself rules over
the bones of a dead civilization.
Its people wield the Seidhr, a secret
form of magic orally passed from one
generation to another, capable of altering
nature according to one’s wish.
Niflheimr
The frozen and misty Realm of
Niflheimr is in the extreme north,
where lies the region of eternal ice,
and is the bleakest and coldest of the
Nine Worlds. Constantly whipped by
winds and snowstorms, Niflheimr is
the most ancient of the Nine Worlds,
together with Múspellsheimr.
Helheimr
In the furthest and darkest corner of the universe, to
the north, lies a desolate land, flensed by the winds and
beaten by rain. Helheimr, the domain of Hel, queen of
the dead, as repulsive as she is beautiful.
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88
Asgardr:
By now, the characters have attracted the attention
of the Æsir. After their arrival, they are welcomed by
Heimdallr and immediately summoned by the council
of the gods where they meet all the major deities for
the first time. They are introduced to Odhinn as valor-
ous and exceptional warriors. The Allfather, then, tasks
them with going to Svartalfheimr to defeat Farnir, the
dragon, although his main goal is to recover Andvari’s
ring, as he clearly tells the characters. The hero Sigurd
failed in this task and during their travel there the
characters will have the chance to recover his blade.
Loki’s role: here he makes his first appearance in his
true form. He is intrigued by the characters but does
not show his curiosity as his true goal is to have them
become Odhinn’s champions.
Svartalfheimr (9-10)
In the underground world of Svartalfheimr, the char-
acters find themselves trapped in a realm torn by the
conflict between Dark Elves and Dwarves. Their mis-
sion will lead them through the caves of Nidavellir,
where they will face the king of the Dwarves and the
curse of his ring.
Loki’s role: he witness the unraveling of events,
ready to “help” the characters should the challenges they
face be too hard or they lose their way. He never shows
his presence, preferring instead to trick the group into
believing the help they receive is from Odhinn.
L josalfheimr (10-11)
Here, Odhinn meets the character to have the ring
they took from Fafnir back, in the hopes he is not dis-
covered. Of course, his plans are thrown to the wind
and the heroes are forced to meddle in the affairs of the
Light Elves and bear a much heavier burden.
Loki’s role: he continues to follow the group from
a distance, not wanting to reveal his presence just
yet. The trust that Odhinn put in the characters is a
weapon he wants to temper to see how strong it can
become.
Vanaheimr (11-12)
Questing for clues on this realm is meant to put the
players to the test due to the bizarre nature of the
magic wielded by the Vanir. The characters need a
guide to move about a world where nature was left free
to grow as it wished.
Loki’s role: the Trickster God intervenes once again
only if absolutely necessary and, even so, wearing
Odhinn’s appearance. He will not help the players, as
he fears the power of the Vanir.
Introduzione alla Campagna
89
Jotunheimr (12-13)
The group is once again put to the test, here. They will
explore the land, meeting famous Jötnar, until they
arrive at the fortress of Utgardr, its capital. Only the
giant Hymir knows the exact position of what they are
looking for.
Loki’s role: this is the last test for the group, as
overcoming the challenges of this realm is the final
deed to be worthy of the project the Trickster wants
them to be part of.
Muspellsheimr (13-14)
Now armed with Odhinn’s trust, the group faces the
final challenge, a suicide mission where only the favour
of the gods will allow them to take the lava world on
and find out where Naglfar is moored.
Loki’s role: he appears to the player, revealing his
plan. To complete the construction of Naglfar, the
Muspeli Jötunn need the bones of the bravest heroes
of Midgardr. The characters are mutilated and killed,
only to be elevated to the vaunted rank of Einherjar
and brought to Valhalla just in time for the opening of
its gates and the beginning of Ragnarok.
Ragnarok (14-15)
Ragnarok begins and the characters are faced with
choices:
•
Recovering the Svalin shield fell after Fenrir’s
sons devoured the Sun and the Moon
•
Saving Lif and Lifthrasir
•
Participating in the epic clashes between ances-
tral creatures and Gods.
Closing: Epilogue
A few words on distances
In Journey to Ragnarok, distances are measured in a
“cinematographic” way. Measuring the exact distance
between point A and point B is not necessary; on
Midgardr, the arrival of Fimbulvetr darkened the vast
majority of the stars, so orienteering is almost impos-
sible and on the other Worlds… well, they might not
even have stars, to begin with.
In the tales and myths we used as sources for this
book, there is no mention of a specific measuring
system, because that is not their point, so introducing
one here would make little sense. As such, the Game
Master has the power to lengthen or shorten the travel
time between two locations as it fits their campaign
and GM style better. As such, nothing prevents from
using the system you prefer: the maps we included in
the book are meant as just a hint on how to find the
way of doing things that suits your group best.
Journey to Ragnarok
90
Chapter 4
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the Midgardr
setting; the descriptions of the places and characters that
the Heroes will be able to explore and meet during their
journey through the Nine Worlds are reported, with an
appendix on the statistics.
Midgardr
92
General Features
92
Map
93
Norvgr
94
The Coastal Area [1-2]
94
Heill Hofn
97
The Snowy Mountains [4-5]
99
Siste Klintr
103
The Trolls Cavern
104
Svtjod
106
The Great Forest [2-3]
106
Skjult Borg
108
Uppsala
110
Fenmark
113
The Swamp [4-5]
113
Fínnbol
114
Jutland
117
The Peninsula [4-5]
117
Danevirke
118
Siste Festning
120
The Islands [4-5]
122
The Journey on Midgardr
124
Expand Midgardr
128
Encounters on Midgardr
130
The Nine Worlds: Midgardr
91
Journey to Ragnarok
92
Midgardr
“Brothers shall fight and fell each other;
and sisters’ sons shall kinship stain;
hard is it on earth, with mighty whoredom.
Axe time, sword time, shields are sundered,
wind time, wolf time, ere the world falls.
Nor ever shall men each other spare. (...)"
VOLUSPÁ (45)
Poetic Edda
In this age the ties and constraints that regulate the Nine
Worlds are increasingly blurred and magic, along with
some creatures not native to Midgardr, penetrates the
barrier between the Worlds, making it possible for the
characters to use their own special and magical abilities.
The Fimbulvetr (“Great Winter”) consists of the
first winter, three years in length, without seasons in
between, in which the Sun will give neither light nor
heat. Then a second winter lasting another three years
will follow, in which all social ties will fall into ruin.
The seers say that in the end the Sun and the Moon
will be devoured by the wolves that have chased their
chariots since the dawn of time, after which the
Ragnarok will begin.
Climate and Weather: The Fimbulvetr has fallen on
Midgardr for more than a year, changing the world of
men. All terrain is considered difficult and movement
speed is halved; visibility is reduced and the characters
suffer disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks
when traveling on open ground. During the night the
temperatures are harsh and all characters who cannot
find shelter must pass a DC 10 Constitution saving
throw every hour or receive a level of exhaustion.
Creatures with resistance or immunity to frost or who
have equipment suitable for low temperatures automat-
ically pass the tests.
Light and Visibility: The sky is perpetually cov-
ered and the sun obscured. Because of this, sunlight is
considered so weak that anyone who is vulnerable to
daylight suffers no malus.
Brothers against brothers: The extreme weather
conditions and the desperate lack of resources mean
that suspicion and fear poison the relationships
between the clans. For this reason all social interaction
tests suffer disadvantage.
The Nine Worlds: Midgardr
93
Journey to Ragnarok
94
Norvgr
The territories of this region are characterized by
jagged fjords and high snow-capped mountains. The
few plains that lay halfway between the coast and the
mountains are usually covered with woods and are
sparsely inhabited.
Most of the settlements are located along the
coast and are under the strict rule of the Odhinn’s
Eye, allowing those in the clan’s good graces to travel
safely and quickly.
The same cannot be said for the mountains and
the surrounding areas: the slopes of the great white
mountains are full of caves and cracks used as dens by
wild beasts or shelters for groups of bandits formed
by those who opposed the rule of the Odhinn’s Eye.
Finally, the White Mountains are a place suita-
ble only for those who have great survival skills, the
entire mountain range is a huge trap of snow and ice,
a desolate place where only the fierce barbarians of
the mountain Clans live.
The coastal area [1-2]
The coasts of Norvgr are rich in villages, shipyards and
large cities located on the main fjords. This dense network
of settlements, connected to each other by safe paths, rep-
resents the imposing kingdom of the Eye of Odhinn.
The two main cities of the kingdom are Heil Hofn
and Særhurdh, the Seagate. The first is famous for being
the kingdom’s capital and the seat of the ruling house.
The second, instead, is the market for the Northern
lands due to its strategic position and its reputation.
Traveling through these lands is safe and it is easy
to find hospitality, although enemies of the crown will
find only open hostility.
The rule of the Eye of Odhinn is deeply rooted and
absolute in the coastal villages, those not in agreement
with the King’s policies have long since left the region
or have suffered a painful death. The largest settle-
ments are governed by the faithful Jarl, and smaller
villages are watched over by a great many loyal minor
clans who wait for nothing more but to show their
loyalty to the crown in exchange for greater power.
Despite the military rigidity and extreme weather
The Nine Worlds: Midgardr
95
conditions caused by the Fimbulvetr, the cities of the
Eye of Odhinn are varied and exotic thanks to the pres-
ence of merchants and artisans who come in search of
wealth from all over Midgardr.
Another special feature is the increasingly wide-
spread presence of temples dedicated to the One God
of the Flame. These buildings are often surrounded by
enthusiastic acolytes in search of new followers and
who are at the same time viewed with hatred and curi-
osity by the population.
Random Encounters
To determine random encounters in this region, check
the “Norvgr - The Coastal Area” Table on page 152.
Small Villages
The smaller villages of the coastal area are all subjected
to the control of the Eye of Odhinn: Brokununnr,
“Rumbling Wave”, Eikinfjordhr “Oaken Fjord”, Jarnóss
“Iron Estuary”, and the city of Særhurdh, “Seagate”.
These settlements are similar in structure to the
larger coastal cities but of smaller dimensions.
All the Jarls of the coastal area are trusted men of
the King, who were often seated thanks to his support.
Because of this, in the smaller villages the atmosphere
is tenser than in the larger cities, even though most of
the people are still loyal to the crown.
Shipyards
A few of the fjords are used for the construction and
maintenance of ships, instead of being inhabited.
Those sites are occupied by one or more craftsmen
who dedicated their lives to building vessels for the
glory of the clan. Although often ambiguous and sol-
itary characters, these people are held in high esteem
because of this duty.
Shipyards are a key resource for the Eye of the
Odhinn clan so they are well guarded.
The construction of new vessels must be agreed
upon with the local Jarl and any work not approved is
considered a serious betrayal of the clan and is severely
punished.
2d10 Guards watch over the shipyard that host 1d4
Commoners.
Community of the only Flame
The first settlement where the only inhabitants are fol-
lowers of the Only Flame.
The community consists of a few dwellings made
of thatch, timber and skins, organized around a small
stone church.
The interiors are bare, the only object of value
being a huge effigy of the One God of the Flame made
of gold worth at least 200 gp located on a wooden altar
at the back of the church.
A group of fanatics obsessed with the new faith live
there. They will do anything to convince new arrivals
to join their community and if they believe that they
are in danger or are being laughed at by strangers they
reveal a violent and frightening nature.
In the village are always present 8 Priests of the
Only Flame (see page 143) and Leif Logisson (see
page 141), as well as 1d10 Commoners.
Cursed Woods
Some of the woods near the coast are surrounded by
ancient stones carved with runes and adorned with fet-
ishes with a reputation for being cursed.
Many sages agree that these woods grow on the ruins
of the ancient lost city of the Trolls.
For this reason almost no one dares to enter these
woods and those who do often come out terrified.
Those who are not lucky enough to return disappear
forever into the thick foliage of the trees.
The woods are inhabited by Trolls (see page 149)
that if threatened or disturbed will attack the characters.
Journey to Ragnarok
96
B
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a
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c
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d
e
e
e
f
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f
g
h
I
l
l
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1 square = 15 ft.
The Nine Worlds: Midgardr
97
Heill Hofn
Heil Hofn (“Safe Harbor”) is the capital of the Eye of
Odhinn kingdom and is considered to be one of the
richest and most opulent cities in the North. Inhabited
by the King and those loyal to him, its strategic position
makes it almost impregnable.
Despite the extreme conditions of the last few years,
the splendor of the city still lives on thanks mainly to
its flourishing market.
A. Barricade
With the exception of those parts overlooking the sea,
the settlement is defended by a wooden and earthen
barricade about 15 ft. tall.
Both sides of the fortification are composed of
sharpened wooden poles, with an earthen walkway in
the middle. Usually every section of the barricade is
patrolled by at least one Guard.
B. Defensive Towers
Outside the walls there is a series of simple wooden
watchtowers, about 30 ft. tall.
Defensive Towers usually house a Guard.
C. Poor District
This part of the city is mainly composed of simple
wooden houses, inhabited by the poorest citizens of
the city, usually farmers.
Despite their conditions the locals are still very
loyal to the King, because if it were not for the security
guaranteed by the Clans’ power, their living conditions
would be far worse.
Each dwelling is inhabited by 2d4 Commoners and
contains farming implements.
D. Hunters District
Although not only inhabited by hunters, this part of
the city is famous for hosting some of Norvgr’s most
famous explorers.
The buildings in this area look more expensive than
those of the peasants and are usually adorned with
animal skins and trophies. When entering one of these
houses, it is clear that the inhabitants are people of a
higher social class than the average citizen.
It is said that the Heil Hofn hunting district is the
ideal place for those who want to find a guide, an expert
scout or information on traveling or hunting routes.
Within each building live 1 Scout and 1d4
Commoners, containing hunting supplies, trophies
and 1d4 items from the Adventuring Gear Table.
E. Fishermen’s District
The part of the city that overlooks the sea is mainly
inhabited by fishermen or sailors. Since the great
winter has hit Midgardr the inhabitants of the district
have fared much worse.
This district is the perfect place for anyone look-
ing for an expert seaman. Few, however, still dare to
challenge the extreme conditions of the sea and many
preferred to find other ways to get by.
Buildings are inhabited by 2d4 Commoners who
roll sea- and navigation-related checks with advantage
and contain fishing or sailing implements and 1d4
rations of salted fish.
F. Heroes District
The dwellings built close to the King’s great house are
where his most loyal retainers live.
Most of them are veterans of many raids and bat-
tles, who earned the trust of the King by fighting
at their side for many years. The buildings in this
area are of excellent workmanship. Lately it’s quite
common to see religious symbols for the Only Flame
in the buildings and on it’s inhabitants.
Each building is inhabited by 1 Shieldmaster (see
page 144) and 1d4 Commoners. They also contain
200 gp worth of precious items, a weapon, a suit of
armor and 1d100 gp.
G. The Great Hall of the King
This imposing and sumptuous hall is built on a rocky
hill in the center of the village, dwarfing all the other
buildings. The main room of the building is accessible
by a stairway carved into the rock itself.
The center of the Mead Hall is occupied by wooden
tables and benches while the walls are decorated with
tapestries and precious objects looted in the many
raids carried out by the king.
On the opposite side of the entrance is the king’s
enormous throne flanked by the queen’s smaller one.
Both are made of precious wood, carved with beautiful
details of famous battles and decorated with precious
stones from past raids.
On the sides of the hall, wooden panels and fabric
walls form rooms dedicated to guests and servants,
while the private quarters of the royals are located
behind the two thrones.
It is said from the very rock of the hill have been
carved other rooms, believed to be dungeons used to
contain the enemies of the King or the laboratories
where the Queen performs her magical rituals.
Journey to Ragnarok
98
In the palace can be found King Asbjorn (see
pag 131) and Queen Sknaht (see pag 145). 4
Shieldmasters are always guarding the palace and 5
Commoner servants can be found inside the hall.
The palace contains various treasures for a total
value of 1000 gp at the discretion of the Game Master.
H. Church of the Flame
This small construction of unusual white stone differs
completely in style from the other buildings of the
village. This is the first temple dedicated to the One
God of the Flame and was built by explicit order of
the queen.
Every day, under the indignant glances of the citi-
zens, the resident Priest carries out the sacred rites of
the flame and bolsters the ranks of the faithful.
The inside is completely bare except for a few
benches reserved for the faithful, and an altar bearing
a flame effigy made of solid gold. The Priest is always
present inside and during the rituals the temple is filled
with the faithful. The only object of value is the golden
effigy which has a value of 200 gold coins.
I. The Stables
These modest-sized buildings host the steeds of the
richest citizens.
In the stables there are usually around ten horses
cared for by 2 Commoners. Every 30 minutes or so a
Guard patrols the area.
L. The Docks
The part of the on the sea consists mainly of a dense
network of piers and marinas.
Vessels of different sizes and classes moor there
waiting for the terrible weather to lift.
M. Sacred Rocks
An old hermit lives among the rocks near the city
walls. It is said he is able to see the future and the will
of the Gods.
As the rocks are taller than the city walls he is often
seen perform his rituals in the early hours of the morn-
ing. In the past the sages and the King spoke to the
people from here, but after King Asbjorn’s latest raid
and his religious conversion it is said that he has never
again set foot there.
N. The Great Market
This area of the city is occupied by a market square wel-
coming merchants from all the corners of Midgardr.
There, one can find exotic or special items or better
prices when dealing in the more common ones, if
gifted in the art of barter. The few local craftsmen
usually live near the market and can create objects of
mediocre quality.
In the market stalls one can find items up to a value
of 75 gp on sale (for more information see the equip-
ment section on page 80).
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99
The Snowy Mountains [4-5]
The hinterland of Norvgr is the opposite of its coastal
counterpart, the fjords almost immediately leaving space
to a long and mighty snow-capped mountain range.
The little land that lies between the mountains and
the sea is uneven terrain, covered with thick forests. For
this reason, the settlements of the Eye of Odhinn are
fewer and farther between moving towards the moun-
tains and it is commonly held that the valleys offer
shelter to hermits, bandits or outcasts.
Following the hidden paths and climbing the White
Mountains, it only gets worse.
The weather on the tops of the snow-capped moun-
tains is always extreme. Constant wind and storms make
it difficult to cross the passes and even the shortest jour-
ney is challenge against a deadly trap of ice, crevasses
and hungry predators.
To find the first settlements of the Bear clan living on
these inhospitable peaks it is necessary to follow what
is called “The Path”. It is an impervious, often barely
visible trail that leads into the heart of the mountains all
the way to the highest peak, home to many of the Bear
Warriors villages.
From here lucky travelers can enjoy one of the rare
moments of calm on the mountain and admire the
unique and breathtaking view of the lands of the North.
Random Encounters
To determine random encounters in this region, check the
“Norvgr - The Snowy Mountains” Table on page 152.
Bandit Camp
This primitive camp is covered by the forest cover and
rises in a massive rocky creek at the foot of the White
Mountains. The Bandit Chief Guthrum Óeidhar “The
Savage” was once the Jarlr of a village that opposed the
dominion of the Eye of Odhinn. Today he leads a gang
of twenty, criminals and outcasts from other clans who
also opposed the Eye of Odhinn.
The camp is mostly composed of wooden shacks
and is hidden in the vegetation and is occupied by
Bandits only during rests between raids. In case it is
discovered, it can be easily dismantled and moved.
Present in the camp are Guthrum Óeidhar (see
pag 137) and 20 Bandits.
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The Path
Voices and legends speak of this Path that allows trav-
ellers to cross the White Mountains and avoid the
greatest risks. Tradition has it that those who discover
the Path must not reveal it, as only the brave and
worthy should have the privilege of using it.
According to various sources the beginning of the
path is marked by a few rocks placed at the base of the
mountain range. The rocks look very old and worn,
bearing bas-reliefs that represent a man in the act of
putting his arm into gaping maw of a giant wolf.
A DC 10 Wisdom (Asatru) check makes it clear
that this is a representation of the sacrifice of Tyr, the
ultimate heroic deed to the community.
To follow the path it is necessary to find the Teiwaz
rune representing the God, placed under different
imposing sacred rocks.
In several places the rune is not easily identifi-
able and must be found with a DC 15 Wisdom
(Perception or Survival) check.
Ice Traps
The crevasses are one of the greatest threats to those
who decide to venture on the peaks of the White
Mountains.
Whenever the characters travel without following
the runes on the Path or they fail a check to find them,
the Game Master must roll a d20: on a result of 13 or
more, the characters are in the proximity of a crevasse.
The characters at the front of the group must make
a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw to avoid falling into
the crevasse that just opens under their feet or suffer
damage by falling fall damage. The crevasses usually do
not exceed 90 ft. in height.
Small Villages
Below the shadow of the highest peak of the mountain
are some of the smaller villages of the Bear Warriors:
Brotninnfjall “Broken Hill”, Raudhhals “Red Ridge”
and Thytr-brekka “Howling Ascent”.
These small settlements are mostly inhabited by
small, family-sized clan loyal to the lords of the peak.
They are usually made up of a few huts where large
and savage men live. However, despite their frigid and
wary ways, they will honour the Nine Virtues and will
not refuse hospitality to travelers.
These small Bear Warrior clans are concerned with
what they call “the curse”.
According to the elders, the mountain is thirsty
for blood and some villages have already fallen to its
wrath. It is said that these villages are less populated
because their warriors fall into insanity and choose the
path of solitude on the ice of the mountain.
In every village there is present 1d12 Berserker.
Ghost Village
The village of Thagallvørdhr, “Silent Guardian”, seems
to have been razed by a tremendous force.
There are no human remains or corpses in the village
but the ruins are soaked in blood.
Passing a DC 10 Intelligence (Nature or Medicine)
check reveals that it is of human origin.
Another DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check
shows strange marks on some of the remains in addi-
tion to blood that seem to be claw marks. A DC 12
Intelligence (Nature) or Wisdom (Survival) check
reveals that they were probably left by a large animal,
like an exceptionally large bear.
Passing a DC 16 Wisdom (Survival) checks to
follow its tracks allows the characters to spot blood-
stains that lead towards the top of the mountain
beyond Siste Klintr.
The Shrine of the Peak
At the top of the mountain, high above any settle-
ment, the sages have built a shrine of bones and stone
where they bring their sacrificial victims for the moun-
tain to feed upon. According to the villagers, only the
sages had the courage to climb to the shrine on the
peak, as all the others were terrified at the idea of being
devoured by the mountain itself.
The sanctuary is surrounded by the remains of flesh
and the impaled corpses of human beings.
With a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check
it is possible to identify some of the impaled men as
Ice Crows. A DC 13 Wisdom (Survival) shows traces
of blood and the footprints of large animals moving on
the opposite side of the peak.
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Hidden Entrance
On the other side of the summit there is a small depres-
sion in the rock, the entrance to a well-hidden cave and
tunnel that goes down into the depths of the mountain.
This passage is completely unknown to the locals,
who believe that this side of the mountain is cursed
because it is rarely touched by sunlight.
Once on the opposite slope of the peak, the
entrance of the cave is visible by passing a DC 15
Wisdom (Perception) check.
Characters with a passive Perception score higher
than 15 notice it without the need for a check.
Cave of the Cursed Berserker
The hidden entrance to the cursed summit allows
access to a long natural underground corridor that
descends into the depths of the mountain itself.
The cave walls are scarred by large claw marks.
A DC 13 Intellect (Nature) check reveals that they
were probably left by an oversized bear. There are also
runes apparently painted with blood.
A DC 15 Wisdom (Asatru) check is required to
recognize the Uruz rune drawn upside down, meaning
ferocity, aggression and dependence (see page 308).
Finally, the tunnel opens into a huge underground
cave permeated by a strong smell. A DC 13 Intellect
(Nature) or Wisdom (Survival) check allows the
characters to recognize the smell as blood, corpses and
the urine of wild animals.
The cave descends deep, opening into a cavern.
Several bestial humans and other, bear-like creatures
are either sleeping or wandering around. The floor is
covered with bones and pieces of corpses that are occa-
sionally gnawed on by both men and beast.
In the cave live Guàrdinjandr (see page 136) and 5
to 10 of his Cursed Berserkers (see page 133), at the
Game Master’s discretion.
A DC 18 Wisdom (Asatru) check allows the char-
acters to remember ancient legends of cursed berserker
warriors who fell prey to their own fury, becoming
creatures obsessed with human flesh.
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Siste Klintr
On the highest peak of the White Mountains the bar-
barian clans erected the great fortress of Siste Klintr
(“Last Cliff”).
The local traditions have it that the clan dominating
the fortress is the ruler of the mountain. The transi-
tion of power from one clan to another has never been
peaceful, reigning house keeping its power through
brute force and terror.
A. Barricade
The village is naturally protected by the cliffs sur-
rounding the peak. The only pass in the mountain is
blocked by a wooden barricade about 15 ft. tall and 10
wide with a packed earth and perennial ice walkway.
At either side of the main gate there are two lookout
posts, from which guards mount watch.
Each post garrisons 1d8 Berserker.
B. Huts
The vast majority of buildings in the village is rudimen-
tary wooden huts, as the only social difference among
the Bear clan are the slaves captured during raids or
survivors of one of the many battles with minor clans.
1d4 Berserker of the Bear Warriors and 1d4
Commoner slaves live in the huts with survival imple-
ments, heavy bear skins and a few pieces of gold.
C. Tents of the Mountain Sages
This part of the village consists of huge tents and is
festooned with rune stones and effigies bearing pieces
of flesh and bone, remains of some ancient ritual sac-
rifice. Here is where the elders and the sages of the
mountain live, following traditions that are said to be
older than the gods themselves.
They believe that the mountain itself is alive, to be
prayed to and venerated to escape its wrath. Because
of this, these sorcerers constantly practice rituals and
sacrifices of all kinds, rarely on willing victims.
Inside the huts there are always at least 5 Mìmirsfar
(Priests), several trinkets as well as ritual sacrifi-
cial tools. A DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) or
Wisdom (Perception) check reveals that among the
various remains of the sacrifices, there are pieces of
leather with Ice Crows heraldry.
D. Holmgang Circle
Within this circular palisade of sharp stakes, the
locals solve disputes through the Holmgang, duels
in which the challenger seeks often deadly compen-
sation for offenses they received.
One side of the palisade is the cliff itself on
which the village sits, making the Holmgang even
deadlier because of the prodigious strength of the
berserkers that allows them to throw over many of
their challegers.
E. Clan Chieftain’s Hut
The largest hut in the village is the one that houses
Gamallbjarki (see page 135) and his family. Made
of heavy wood, the interior is entirely covered in bear
skins, one side dedicated to a massive hearth, lit for
warmth and cooking.
The various rooms are simply divided by heavy tar-
paulins but usually after the banquets guests and Lords
alike fall asleep near the hearth.
F. Storage
This hut, next to the Chieftain’s residence, stores the
clan’s food reserves. So they last as long as possible,
foodstuffs are usually rationed.
G. Observatory
From this wooden structure on the cliff’s edge it is
possible to observe all the villages that lay below the
summit. Tradition has it that the chieftains of the peak
spend much of their time here observing their domain.
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The Trolls Cavern
The characters can hardly find this hidden and inac-
cessible place until they are in possession of all the
fragments of the Troll kingdom map. When the
Midgardr adventure begins, part of the map is in
Revr’s (known as the Fox) possession (see page 143),
while the other two pieces can be found with the Trolls
who infest the cursed forest. Whenever the characters
kill a Troll or pass a check to steal a fragment, there is a
25% chance of finding a piece of the map.
The entrance to the Troll cavern consists of a huge
stone door embedded in the rock of the mountains,
decorated with runes and ancient engravings.
Always closed and camouflaged with vines and trees.
With the complete map, the door becomes incredibly
easy to find.
Overcoming a check of Wisdom (Asatru) DC 15
you can interpret part of the engravings depicting the
Kings of the Northern lands bowing before a colossal
Troll wearing a crown.
Thanks to powerful magic the Troll King is able to
see who comes to the door, but he is hardly intrigued by
humans who, in case they stay too long in front of the
door, will be attacked by 1d6 Trolls (see page 149) from
the wood sent by the king to devour them.
The Troll King will immediately open the door if the
Troll Kidh is accompanied by the characters, who bow
before the door, as depicted by the inscriptions, or if the
characters bring with them a treasure of great value.
Once inside, the only way to leave this place is to
kill the Troll King, trick or convince him to entrust the
characters with a task.
The inside of the cavern is a natural grotto, modi-
fied by the Trolls rough excavations in the stone. The
environment is humid and warm, compared to the cold
of the forest. The darkness is interspersed with a few
sporadic fires whose smoke finds its way out through a
few natural chimneys. The rough floor does not allow
safe footing. However, the Trolls excavations have leve-
led the cavern floor in the larger rooms making it more
comfortable for moving about.
A. Entrance
Usually, in this cleft immediately beyond the colos-
sal portal, there stand 2 Troll guards. They watch over
those who venture near the door and give the alarm in
case of trouble.
Whoever shows up at the gates to the cave without
arousing the interest of the King, will receive no answers
and, if the adventurers cause no damage, they will be
free to leave unharmed. Otherwise, any other behavior
will trigger the fury of the trolls.
B. The cave of the Troll Kidh
This cave is filled with furs and strange artifacts made of
bones that resemble simple children’s games, macabre
and roughly made. A massive Troll cries and despairs
continuously. The creature is mad with grief over the
disappearance of the Troll Kidh and will ferociously
attack anyone who she thinks has her “pup”. In the
room there are, in addition to the games, the remains
of rotting meat and little else.
C. Throne Room
A large fire illuminates this vast natural cave and the
light of the flame is reflected on a pile of treasure accu-
mulated on one side of the cave (the cave is about
2000 square meters). The throne, made of tree trunks
and bear fur, sits on a raised wooden dais.
In front of the throne, a multitude of swords are
stuck in the ground: of every makes and size, among
these 45 swords are magic weapons +1 but only 1 stands
out among the others, covered by 1d12 Swarms of
Poisonous Snakes.
This is the Skofnung sword (see page 301).
Sitting on the throne, the Troll King rules his vast
court, happy to ignore the events of human beings.
Unfortunately, the kidnapping of the Troll Kidh has
changed things. In the throne room there are always,
in addition to the Troll King (see page 150), at least
12 Trolls and more can be summoned by a simple cry
of alarm. If the characters are in this room, they can
avoid fighting by swearing on their honor to bring back
the Troll Kidh. The King will consent to free the group,
granting until the new moon, that they return, with or
without the child. The king may be lenient, in case the
characters return empty-handed, respecting their given
word. Otherwise, the king will offer a rich reward to
those who bring him the heads of the characters.
D. Tunnels
In every tunnel is nested the den of a Troll: these crea-
tures burrow into the bare rock where they curl up
and fall into a state similar to the hibernation of ani-
mals. You understand too little about the physiology
of these creatures to know when this happens, but the
Trolls can recover from this state almost instantly and
unleash themselves in a homicidal frenzy searching for
meat to devour.
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Svtjod
Sheltered by the great White Mountains, lie the green
and lush plains of Svtjod. These wild and sparsely
inhabited lands are covered by huge woods and extend
from the inner shores of the North Sea to the dead
lands of the Keel.
Most of the local villages are ruled by independent
Clans whose allegiance changes following the wind.
In the southernmost part of Svtjod is the great
forest, a sacred and dark place where the legendary
Shadow Wolves clan lives. There stands the ancient
settlement of Uppsala, home to one of the most
important shrines.
Traveling eastwards, the woods and the green plains
give way to the grayness of the marshes. This unhealthy
and cursed land is inhabited by slimy and deceitful
men, the secret location of the clan of outcasts also
known as the Jötunn Sons.
Going south, beyond the great forest, is the
important city of Uppsala, seat of the most impor-
tant temple in the North. Ideal destination for those
seeking advice from the gods or wishing to offer an
important sacrifice, it is also the seat of the Druidic
Circle of the Icy Crows.
The Svtjod is a dangerous place for the inexperi-
enced travelers, the long distances between settlements
punishing the imprepared. Those who do not know
the path could easily cross sacred or, worse still, cursed
grounds without knowing they need the permission of
its guardians.
The Great Forest [2 – 3]
The innermost areas of Svtjod, thanks to the natural
shelter offered by the great White Mountains and the
many rivers that run through them, are dominated
by vast expanses of green forests with the occasional
large clearing.
Because of such features, most of the villages are
built on the forest edge or in its clearings, as venturing
into the heart of the forest means trespassing into the
lands of the Shadow Wolves clan.
The clan’s territories have no real border, so the most
experienced travelers usually avoid crossing the forest. A
longer trek is usually preferred to avert the risk of tres-
passing into the sacred hunting grounds.
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However, not everyone is afraid of such dangers, as
the legends speak of ancient ruins hidden deep in the
forest and full of treasures. For the common folk, how-
ever, such folly only bolsters the ranks of the unwary
who have disappeared.
Random Encounters
To determine random encounters in this region, check
the “Svtjod - The Great Forest” Table on page 153.
Coastal Villages
The coastal villages of Ásodhull “River Saddle” and
Vatnakinn “Water Jowl” are usually loyal to the Odhinn’s
Eye but are not as large or splendent compared to those
in Norvgr. Usually, the troops of the kingdom or the
Jarl loyal to the king are not particularly interested in
“occupying” these villages, left under the control of
minor clans with little political influence.
Recently several of them have been growing distant
from the King and are gradually being influenced by the
Shadow Wolves. King Asbjorn has not yet taken action
in the regards of these “rebel” villages but many of the
coastal inhabitants fear that soon the reckless actions of
some clan leaders will have dire consequences.
Villages on the edge
of the great forest
The villages of Skidhfyrd “Army of Wood” and
Varmrfors “Warm Fall”, located on the edge of the
forest, are historically loyal to the Shadow Wolves clan.
Like the coastal ones, they are small in size and
belong to minor Clans whose members in recent
years have developed a hatred towards the King’s
arrogant expansion.
The villagers provide what aid they can to the
bands of Shadow Wolves, supplying them with basic
necessities and other resources, knowing they can take
refuge in the forest without incurring the wrath of the
Shadow Wolves in case of dire need. However, such is
a concession that should not be abused.
Destroyed Village
This village of Dreymandibù, “Dreaming House”, is
very close to the forest and seems to have been struck
by a terrible tragedy.
From a mountain of charred bodies rises a thick
column of black smoke that produces a stench of
death that can be smelled from miles away. Also, the
banners of the Odhinn’s Eye clan are clearly visible
from a distance.
At the center of the village the Odhinn’s Eye has set
up camp for a garrison of 10 Guards commanded by
Jarlr Gundabald (see page 137).
They are not aggressive, unless attacked, but the
guards have orders to bring anyone approaching the vil-
lage to the presence of the Jarl, usually inside a huge tent
among the smaller tents that house his men and horses.
At the edge of the camp are two impaled corpses that
seem to belong to two young warriors of the Shadow
Wolves clan. A DC 15 Intelligence (Medicine) check
tells that they died at least ten days ago and have been
dragged for a long time.
The original inhabitants of the village are all dead.
If the players decide to investigate the abandoned
houses or the funeral pyre they can gather the fol-
lowing information by passing a DC 13 Intelligence
(Investigation) check:
Some homes show serious damage, as if something
powerful had furiously hit them.
Some of the corpses in the pyre seem to have been
crushed by something heavy, while others have been
completely ripped in half.
If the characters try to find tracks by passing a DC
13 Wisdom (Survival) check they see inhumanly large
footprints, heading into the nearby bush. These tracks
seem to be a couple of days old, not as fresh as those left
by the soldiers of the Odhinn’s Eye, leading to a hut in
the forest before disappearing in the undergrowth.
Forest Hut
A few hours walk from the destroyed village, inside the
brush, there is a small hut made of stone and mud. The
hut is inhabited by three sisters Gertrud, Melega and
Dontoka (see page 151), 3 Green Hags.
It is possible to tell the presence of the hut in the
distance by the smoke coming from its chimney.
Inside, there is usually only Gertrud, as the others
are often out in the woods.
The hut is filled with herbs and other ingredients
typically used for many different potions and boil-
ing over the fire is a huge pot that contains a colorful
liquid with a disgusting smell. Gertrud frequently stirs
the pot’s contents frequently.
Passing a DC 13 Wisdom (Survival) check allows
to spot many non-human footprints in the vicinity
of the hut.
The Troll Kidh (see page 149) is hidden among the
trees and is keeping a watchful eye on the characters.
Should they show any sign of aggression towards the
hags he will act immediately and rush to their aid.
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Lost Ruins
Inside the forest there are several abandoned ruins.
According to legends, they are all that is left of an
ancient kingdom that once thrived there.
According to other tales they are the remains of
the dwellings of the gods when they still walked
among Midgardr.
The ruins are full of treasures but are also protected
by a powerful curse. The spirits of their guardians still
haunt their empty armor, attacking on sight.
Those who enter these ruins immediately awaken the
spirits and are attacked by 5 suits of Animated Armor.
Inside one of the ruins the Conqueror’s Axe (see
page 296) is kept, which is said to have belonged to the
founder of the Wolves of the Shadow clan.
The other ruins, at the discretion of the DM, hide
a magical object of an uncommon type.
Minor Camps
The smaller clearings, devoid of sacred stones, are usu-
ally occupied by minor camps where live those Shadow
Wolves who prefer different hunting grounds or simply
greater autonomy. Their loyalty to the ruling household
of the clan, however, is always beyond question.
This “independence” is often only temporary and
during the following hunting season the camp may
reunite with that of the Pack Leader. In such occa-
sion, it is customary that the bounty from the hunt is
divided once again among everybody.
Camps of this kind are usually occupied by few
families and consist of pack tents, where 1 Druid, 1d6
Scouts and 1d10 Commoners live and sleep.
Camp of the Bloody Wolves
Many young warriors who do not fully share their
Leader’s caution live in this camp.
It is small and its warriors are in a perpetual state of
warlike frenzy, launching every day small assault packs
towards the territories of the Odhinn’s Eye where they
engage in acts of guerrilla warfare against the soldiers
of the King.
Despite their attitude, these young Wolves declare
themselves loyal to the Pack Leader. In fact, despite
the more cautious approach of their Leader, no law
bans these raids and their heroic deeds are often seen
as honorable behaviour by the most.
The young Wolves might soon choose an actual
commander, who will be inevitably forced to challenge
the current Leader for his place as the clan Chieftain of
the Shadow Wolves.
The camp is only a few small tents which are often
moved to facilitate attacks against the Odhinn’s Eye and
at all times 1d10 Thugs and 1 Bandit Captain, armed
with Assault Axe (see page 80) and Longbow, are there.
Skjult Borg
The Shadow Wolves are a nomadic clan, their camps
moving among the glades of the great forests following
the wildlife migrations. They hunt in a sacred ground
they consider their own. The clan’s main camp is
inhabited by the Pack Leader Koltønn Ginnungason
(see page 139) and his most loyal supporters. It is
difficult for a traveler to reach Skjult Borg “Hidden
Village” unless the Shadow Wolves themselves allow
it, as the surrounding woods are heavily patrolled by
the clan’s assault packs and those who are not welcome
never reach the clearing.
Despite its size, the camp is designed to be moved
from one glade to another as the seasons change
therefore using cloth, simple wood and foliage as
building materials.
A. Pack Leader’s Tent
The clan Chieftain’s tent is the largest in size and of
a better quality, made from fine leathers and skins
stitched together. It can accommodate many people
and its center is dedicated to a small fireplace used for
warmth and cooking. Being guests in the tent of the
Pack Leader is a great honor as it is usually occupied
only by his large family and his most loyal men.
The interior of the tent is adorned with the Pack
Leaders hunting trophies. In addition to Koltønn, 3
Scouts and 4 Berserkers live in the tent.
B. The Tents of the Pack
The whole camp consists of a cluster of small tents
around that of the Pack Leader and are mainly occu-
pied by single, extended families. There are no social
differences dictated by possessions or wealth within
the clan, so the larger tents are inhabited by those who
have shown their honor to the clan, earning a more
central place within the camp.
Other then in size, the tents do not differ from
each other in craftsmanship, heavy leather, rope and
wood being the only materials available. The inte-
riors are usually decorated with hunting trophies,
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protective amulets and other trinkets. Each tent hosts
1 Scout or 1 Berserker.
C. Reserve
In these tents, the elderly and women of the village
take care of butchering game animals, being careful
not to ruin the hides or other useful parts.
Meat is cured in this part of the camp, using
ancient traditional methods to make last as long as
possible without the need for precious salt.
D. Tents of the Ice Crows
The clan of the Shadow Wolves is historically tied to
the Druid Circle of the Ice Crows, so that inside the
main camp there are always some tents reserved for
those wise men when they visit the clan Chieftain.
This part of the camp is usually located near one of
the sacred stones where the Crows perform their rituals.
At the discretion of the Game Master in some tents
can be found Mímistafr (Priests) of the Ice Crows and
their ceremonial implements.
E. Sacred Stone
Each clearing where Skjult Borg stops holds at least
one sacred stone. These ancient boulders are covered
in ancient runes and are used by the Ice Crows to per-
form rituals and sacrifices.
Should one of the characters examine the inscriptions
and pass a DC 13 Wisdom (Asatru) check, the DM casts
and interprets a rune. (See Rune Divination, page 304).
F. Hidden Lookout Posts
Simple wooden structures covered in foliage surround
the camp and serve as a lookout posts to control its
boundaries without being seen.
This simple defensive system is easily moved and
allows the lookouts to strike from hiding at any enemy
that approaches while at the same time providing cover
from possible attacks.
G. Pyre
Every time the camp settles, a huge wooden pyre is
placed at its entrance. At nightfall, it is set on fire so
that the hunting packs can easily find their way back
if they are slow to return from the hunt. In other,
sombre, occasions the pyre is often used to burn the
bodies of those who have died with honor.
These, however, are not its only uses, as it is also lit
to commemorate important holidays or perform rituals.
Uppsala
Located in the southern part of the great forest under
a huge hill this peaceful village lies on the ruins of the
ancient city from which it takes its name.
The inhabitants of the village are, moreover, peas-
ants and farmers who live a quiet life, contributing in
large part to the sustenance of the many sages living in
the temple.
Once an opulent and rich city, today the settle-
ment is mostly modest huts and stables built out of
the remains of the Uppsala of old.
The village is under the control of Jarlr Alrekr
Sigthollr “Pillar of Victory”, who managed to be at the
same time vassal to King Asbjorn and friend to the
Leader of the Shadow Wolves.
A. The Jarlr’s House
The house of the Jarlr Alrekr Sigthollr (see page 130)
is the largest and oldest dwelling in the village, the
only one dating back to its golden age.
Its mighty structure and wooden walls are etched
with fine knotwork and scenes portraying the Æsir.
Within it, in addition to the Jarlr, live 4 Guards
and 4 Commoner servants.
B. Temple of Uppsala
A sacred path connects the village of Uppsala to its
temple, climbing the hill and then plunging into the
trees for a few hours of traveling before allowing pil-
grims to see the imposing temple.
A thick fog almost always shrouds the hilltop, giving
the temple a mystical and yet frightening appearance.
All are welcome to Uppsala, whether in search of
answers or forgiveness, and every day pilgrims bearing
offerings arrive at the temple and are welcomed by the
priests who live on the hill.
The temple and most of the sacred structures
surrounding it date back to the ancient splendor of
Uppsala. Only thanks to the meticulous care of the
sages they have been preserved to the present day.
The hill hosts several circles of Druids and priests,
that of the Icy Crows that make Upsala their true
home being among the largest and most illustrious.
C. Pilgrims Camp
This area is the only one where pilgrims visiting Upsala
can rest, a barren land for travelers to pitch their tents.
No other comforts are offered to those who come in
search for divine help.
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D. The Workshop of Svenn Skallfoss
Not all those who arrive in Uppsala are there for the
temple, however. It is said that the local blacksmith is
none other than the famous Svenn Skallfoss (see page
151), one of the best of all Midgardr.
According to others, Svenn once worked for the
court of King Asbjorn of the Odhinn’s Eye clan, going
into “exile” for his dark past.
There are also those who believe he unearthed a dwar-
ven forge dating back to the first settlement of Uppsala.
Whoever he is, those with enough gold to attract his
attention have never been dissatisfied with his work.
E. Offering Fence
Simple wooden fences contain the offerings that the
pilgrims have brought for the Gods.
Each enclosure contains a different type of offer-
ing, the most common being treasures and livestock
although it is not unusual to see people as well.
F. Sacrificial Altar
At the center of a depression in the ground there is a
huge rectangular stone that the sages think dates back
to the age when the gods still walked in Midgardr.
Most of the sacrificial rites take place on this altar
and for this reason its rock is stained red so that not
even the strongest rain can wash it away.
A hole in the stone collects the blood spilled during
the sacrifices and channels into vessels that are placed
in front of the altar during the rituals.
G. The Priests Camp
This part of the hill is home to the many Priests and
Druids staying or passing through the temple, either
to pose questions to the Æsir or to offer a sacrifice.
In sharp contrast with the pilgrims’ area, the
Priests camp is quiet and peaceful, the only noise that
interrupts the calm is their litanies regularly rising
above the tents.
Wisemen from all over Midgardr stay and, if the
characters are looking for an expert on some arcane
matter, they will surely find them here.
H. Seat of the Icy Crows
The circle of the Icy Crows uses as its headquarters
an ancient and complex stone building. Thanks to the
care of the clan the building is in excellent condition
but its interior has been completely emptied and it is
now a mystery what its original function was.
The largest part of the complex is composed of 5
adjoining buildings where all the Icy Crows not cur-
rently traveling throughout Midgardr sleep and live.
Close to the center of this complex is a larger build-
ing in which clan meetings are held, while in the side
rooms are the quarters of the three great Mímaneidhr
(see page 25): Límrún, the very young (see page 142),
Blóttré, the adult (see page 132) and Spekisvidhr, the
old one (see page 146).
I. Yggdrasill
At the top of the hill in front of the temple is a huge
ash tree said to predate even the very founding of
Uppsala. Many sages agree that the tree is an effigy of
Yggdrasill on Midgardr and for this reason it is con-
sidered sacred and only certain priests can approach it
and take care of it.
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Fenmark
The Swamp [4-5]
When seawater seeps into the ground, the forest begins
to die, slowly withering into a gray and putrid marsh.
This dead land located in the extreme east of Svitjod
separates the verdant forest from the endless desolation
of the Keel.
The locals have small, thin bodies and a sickly
appearance, rarely offering hospitality or showing
kindness to strangers.
But the real evil lies in the heart of the swamp itself;
in the center of this land hidden by foul mists lies the
camp of the outcast Jötunn Sons.
Death awaits those who consider these desolate
lands to be less dangerous than the forest. Under the
stagnant water, hungry and wicked creatures wait to
put their fangs into their next prey.
The composition of the terrain makes it very difficult
to move, the best solution being to travel using rafts.
Random Encounters
To determine random encounters in this region, check
the “Fenmark - The Swamp” Table on page 153.
Villages of the Swamp
The villages of Algràsol “Gray Sun” and Flaugunbarr
“Needles in the Wind” on the edge of the marsh are
stilt houses inhabited by men who move around the
swamp using simple wooden rafts.
These villages look destitute and the locals, few and
far between, scarcely want to deal with outsiders.
Finding something of value or interest in these
places can prove difficult and a prolonged stay could
easily make the inhabitants aggressive.
Those who live at the edge of the swamps often
leave small food offerings to the wandering specters.
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The Marshes
Moving through the marsh can prove very difficult a
task especially for those who do not know the way.
It is said that there is a path that can be used to cross
the swamp safely, the Nilfgata, or “Path in the Mist”. it
is also said that the Jötunn Sons and the Stilt Dwellers
know of it but are very reluctant to reveal its location.
In any case, moving inside the swamp requires a
DC 17 Wisdom (Survival) check every hour spent
into the marshes. The check is rolled with advantage
if the group includes a raftsman of the Stilt Dwellers
who is willing to cooperate.
On a fail, the characters suffer a local event. After
three successes, the group finds the path is marked by
small bone charms attached to the tree trunks. If so,
they do not need to roll checks to advance anymore.
A Jötunn Son knows the way and does not need
to roll any checks, but they may enjoy watching their
companions despair in the swamp.
Villages of the Hrimgrimnir Sons
Taking the Nilfgata, the characters must pass a DC 20
Wisdom (Survival) check to find evidence of a recent
fight and drag marks leading out of the path.
If they choose to follow these tracks, they must
pass a second DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check not to
lose their way in the marshes and arrive at one of the
hidden camps of the Hrimgrimnir Sons.
These people are Jötunn Sons who have been exiled
from their clan because of their hunger-induced can-
nibalism. They now live in small camps along the
Nilfgata, feeding on whoever they find and worshiping
Hrimgrimnir, the most terrifying of all Jötunn.
As ancient as time itself, born out of one of Ymir’s feet
and with six heads, Hrimgrimnir is addicted to any vice
and it is said he terrorizes the whole Jötunn population.
Each village of the Hrimgrimnir Sons is inhabited
by 1d4 fanatic cultists and 1d10 cultists armed with
Bearded Axes (see page 80).
Fínnbol
In the heart of the swamp surrounded by green mists
and dangerous creatures is Fínnbol, a sanctuary of the
outcast and dishonored. The place that the Jötunn
Sons clan calls home, it is a cluster of huts and stilt
dwellings built on a flat land of peat.
Fínnbol is barely accessible and incredibly danger-
ous and the fact that it has no guards does not mean
that anyone who enters is not being watched.
Entering the village of the outcasts does not mean that
one will be allowed to leave it on their own two feet.
A. Stilt Dwellings and Peat Huts
Located in the middle of the swamp, the Jötunn Sons
camp is a series of stilts joined together by wooden
walkways and earthen embankments, alternated with
peat huts where the land is denser.
B. Hrókr’s Hut
Near the effigy of Loki is the peat hut of the founder
of the Outcast clan, Hrókr Fjalson the half-giant (see
page 138).
The powerful sorcerer spends most of his time
inside his hut enshrouded by incense and other vapors
that cause powerful hallucinogenic effects. Entrance is
forbidden unless specifically invited.
C. Kynbani’s Hut
Northwards on the river banks, removed from the
village and its matters, Kynbani Bergelmirson,
“Bloodbane” (see page 140) lives in his hut.
Kynbani goes back and forth from a clearing not far
from the village (see Kynbani’s Goals).
D. Effigy of Loki
A huge statue representing the god Loki rises in the
center of Fínnbol. According to the legend, it was
already in the swamp when Hrókr took refuge there.
Many Outcasts spend their days in front of the
statue in the hope that it will speak to them as it did to
the half-giant, but the effigy remains silent.
Once a year Hrókr holds a large ritual in the pres-
ence of the whole clan and speaks with the statue,
revealing then to everyone the will of Loki.
Observing the statue, the characters will notice
nothing unusual. Should they make use of means of
magical perception, the statue reveals a powerful cha-
otic dishonorable aura.
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E. The Green Pyre
A huge wooden pyre is placed in front of the statue of
Loki and is lit whenever Hrókr must speak to the clan.
When the pyre is lit it does not behave normally,
the wood has in fact been treated to emit a green flame
and hallucinogenic fumes that gives strange visions to
anyone who breathes them.
F. Penitent’s Cage
Living with the Jötunn Sons does not mean absolute
freedom, however. The great and venerable Hrókr can
take the life of all those he wants as well as enforce
cruel punishments.
Those who incur into the Sorcerers wrath without
being killed serve their sentences locked into a small
cage exposed to the elements and the ridicule of their
companions.
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Jutland
The peninsula of the Kings and the surrounding
islands are the richest and most organized region of the
Northern lands, its powerful and enlightened ruling
house turning into a more developed region.
The islands and peninsula share a jagged and hard
land perennially beaten by the wind and unsuitable for
agriculture. For this reason, Jutlanders amassed their
great wealth mainly by raiding, now rendered almost
completely impossible by bad weather.
The peninsula is dominated by the Queen of the
reigning clan’s overwhelming power, who keeps the
peninsula under control thanks to the support of the
entire population and the noble families.
The islands, not as wealthy as the peninsula, have
remained isolated due to the extreme conditions of the
sea, their lords reigning from their isolated fortresses.
The Peninsula [4-5]
The populated centers of the peninsula are actual for-
tresses linked together by a great road that traverses
the entire region north to south. The marshlands have
been partly reclaimed and their peat used to construct
buildings and defensive earthworks. Danevirke, the
best known of these barriers, separates the peninsula
from the territories of the hostile Franks.
The peninsula is completely crossed by the wide
highway, a beaten path that connects the capital of
Siste Festning in the north to the great wall of the
Danevirke in the south connecting along the way all
the other minor Trelleborg.
Random Encounters
To determine random encounters in this region,
check the “Jutland - Dry Land” Table on page 154.
Rík Braut, the Great Path
The southern gate of Siste Festning immediately opens
onto the great dirt path that connects the whole of the
Jutland peninsula, linking the three main Trelleborg
together, and ends near the Danevirke.
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For most of the route, the trail is wide and can easily
be traveled on foot or horseback. In some places trav-
eling along the main road is more complicated due to
the uneven ground or the erosion of sea water.
Travelling along the great path is no longer as safe as
it once was, as now the queen’s troops mostly garrison
the fortresses and the wall.
Signal Fires
Every mile, the path passes near wooden 30 ft. tall
towers on top of which have been placed wooden
pyres ready to be lit in case of emergency.
In the past, clan guards watched over them, now
barely a few workers live there, tasked with keeping
an eye on the nearby pyres and lighting the fire should
the need arise.
1d4 commoners live in a peat hut near each pyre,
garrisoned by 1d4 Guards.
Minor Trelleborgs
Before reaching the great barricade, the Rìk Braut
passes through the other two main fortresses of the
peninsula, Gryttir Vordhr “Rock Guardian” and Skjald
Rif “Shield Shore”.
Although these fortresses are smaller than Siste
Festning, they share the same construction though
lacking the royal palace and the Great Horn.
The Minor Trelleborgs of the peninsula are gov-
erned by Jarl loyal to the Queen, living in the core of
their fortress.
Because of the extreme weather conditions the
poor and destitute wait in line at the entrance of the
Trelleborgs. Should the characters need or want to
gain access to fortresses, they would have to find ways
of convincing the guards to allow them in. Or arm
themselves with a great deal of patience.
The Rotting Forest
The closer to the wall, the stranger the area becomes.
Tales are many of what happens beyond the barrier, but
according to some the evil permeating the lands of the
Franks slipped past the wall and tainted the peninsula.
Some forests in the southern part of the peninsula
have been infected by this evil, the trees gray, their
trunks spotted and the earth dry and lifeless.
Those who lived near these woods have disappeared
without leaving a trace, their abandoned dwellings
bearing signs of struggle and traces of blood.
Some escaped from this fate by fleeing at the first
strange signs and have joined the swarms of refugees
who ask to enter the fortresses.
The air inside these forests is unhealthy and every
hour the characters spend in this terrain they must roll
a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or suffer a level
of exhaustion.
The forest is inhabited by creatures that have been
corrupted by the evil spirits haunting the kingdom of
the Franks, who wish death to all the living.
If the characters manage to kill or exorcise the cor-
rupted beasts, the curse on the forest is lifted and it
will slowly return to normal.
Danevirke
An enormous fortification that runs across the penin-
sula separating it from the enemy Franks.
Depending on the events that occurred during
the The Grey Wanderer adventure, or according to the
GM’s choices, the situation in the camps in defense of
the Danevirke can vary:
•
Erik “The Sleepless”, formerly Captain of the
Danevirke Guard, is now a Corporeal Draugr
(see page 133) and is still in possession of the
Angurvadal sword (see page 196). He terrorizes
the camps in defense of the Danevirke, creating
notices problems to the Gjallarhorn clan.
•
Erik was killed in the city of Silasthorp beyond the
Danevirke and now the Guard is preparing to face
the enemy without a charismatic guide.
•
Erik was saved during the events of “The Grey
Wanderer” and will be very grateful and hospitable
should he meet again the characters he owes his
life to.
In any case, the Danevirke is constantly under attack
by the enemy Franks, who always fight with more
ferocity. Each assault unit is generally composed of a
Knight, a Priest (or Priest of the Only Flame, see
page 143) and 8 Guards.
If any soldiers of the Frank army were to be
captured and interrogated, they will reveal to the char-
acters precious information, see “Expand Midgardr” on
page 126.
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Siste Festning
The capital of the Kingdom of the Gjallarhorn clan is
the largest fortress in the Northern lands, the first to
see a family leader becoming King.
The stronghold is overcrowded because of the many
refugees seeking shelter from the weather inside the
walls. The Queen has given orders to help all those in
need but every day that passes the already complicated
situation becomes more and more critical.
A. Perimeter Walls
The encircling city walls are 20 ft. tall and 10 wide,
constructed out of wood, earth, and peat, with a foot-
bridge about 3 ft. wide protected by wooden spikes.
Above two of the gates are wooden defensive towers
a few meters high, from which take cover and attack
enemies. At the back of each of the towers there is a
wooden ladder that allows to go down or climb the
walls of the fortresses.
Each tower houses at least one Guard while 1d12
others patrol the walls.
B. Entrance Gates
Four huge, wooden gates allow access inside the for-
tress, each leading to one of the main roads. They
are operated by hand and can be blocked with heavy
wooden beams placed from the inside.
C. External Guard Towers
Outside the walls of the fortress, there are a series of
simple wooden watchtowers about 30 ft. tall that host
2 Guards.
D. Refugees’ Huts
Outside the Trelleborg, wooden huts have been built
at the Queen’s order to provide shelter to the refugees.
The area is always patrolled by at least four Guards
who offer a hot meal and shelter to those in need.
However, their duty is also to break any revolts
among the many refugees who crowd the perimeter of
the wall waiting to gain access to the fortress.
E. Dwellings
The buildings inside the fortress, much like its defenses,
are well-made but not opulent, built out of stone and peat.
The interiors are practical, simple and yet more
varied than those that are found in other regions of the
northern territories.
Those who have the honor of living inside the for-
tresses are usually part of the clan’s army or warriors
with many raids under their belt, their homes dec-
orated with well-made weapons or strange objects
obtained during their travels in strange lands.
Every dwelling is inhabited at least 1 Veteran and
1d4 Commoners. Inside there are weapons at the
discretion of the Game Master and 3d100 gp worth
of treasures.
F. Craftsmen’s District
This area of the fortress is where the Jutland artisans
live. For the right price, they provide for weapons and
armor of superb craftsmanship, as it is well known that
no one in the Northern lands can compete with their
skills. The area is also inhabited by merchants who,
few in numbers, have no dedicated area of their own.
In this district, the characters can buy both equip-
ment and exotic items (see page 80), but all prices
have doubled.
G. The Great Gjallarhorn
In the large square of the fortress, in front of the
entrance to the royal palace, stands the imposing Horn
of the clan. It is said to be a faithful reproduction of
the one belonging to the god Heimdall, after which
the Gjallarhorns have been named.
No one now living has ever heard the sound of the
horn but the legends say that it has been blown only
once by the first King and the sound echoed through-
out Midgardr.
The horn is to be blown only in case of great danger,
the Queen willing to do so only should the Franks were
able to break through the Danevirke. Whoever dares
to use the horn for futile reasons would be immedi-
ately executed by the Queen herself.
H. Royal Palace
The royal palace, too, was built in ancient times by
the first clan King preferring functionality to pomp,
using only the best stone extracted from the moun-
tains south of Jutland. Many argue that even Dwarf
craftsmen contributed to the construction effort.
A huge wooden door allows access to the entrance
hall where two Veterans ensure that only those in
possession of a valid invitation and no weapons are
allowed inside.
A smaller door opens onto the throne room located
on the side opposite to the entrance.
Two series of four columns precede the throne, dec-
orating the room, and, when the court is gathered, one
of the eight Shield Maidens from the Queen’s Royal
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Guard stands at attention in front of each.
At the end of the colonnade, a series of steps lead to
the magnificent stone throne on which the queen sits
when she receives guests.
The other rooms of the palace are located at the
sides and behind the throne room and are occupied
by the Queen’s personal guard and her servants. No
longer having blood relatives, Thorun wanted the
palace to be populated only by women.
The palace contains 2.000 gp worth of treasures at
the Game Master’s discretion.
The Islands [5]
Those who live on the Jutland islands feel abandoned
and betrayed by the kingdom and antipathy towards
the peninsula has begun to grow. The local Jarls, then,
declared their independence by forming a league of
nobles outside the control of the mainland.
The Queen is at the moment forced to focus her
resources to maintain control of the peninsula but in
her heart she waits for the opportunity to rain down
punishment upon the noble rebels.
Reaching the islands is a deadly undertaking even for
the best of seamen and given the current political insta-
bility of the islands few are willing to set sail to them.
Random Encounters
To determine random encounters in the sea, check
the “The Sea Midgardr” Table on page 154.
Rebel Trelleborgs
Almost all the inhabitants of the islands have taken
refuge in the fortresses of the rebellious nobles accept-
ing their rule and often sharing their resentment
towards the crown.
The rebel trelleborgs share the same characteristics
of the mainland ones but have been further fortified to
prevent attacks by bands of bandits and wild creatures
and any markings of allegiance to the Gjallarhorn clan
have been either defaced or replaced.
Only those who profess complete loyalty to the
league of independent nobles can hope to live inside
the fortress and those who are suspected of being still
faithful to the crown are usually hung outside the trel-
leborg as a warning.
Each rebel Trelleborg has an army consisting of
9 Guards, 1d12 Shieldmasters (see page 144), 3
Assassins, led by a Noble.
Coastal Villages
On the coastal area of the islands there are still a few
villages loyal to the crown waiting for the arrival of the
Queen’s army to purge the rebellious nobles.
These locals barely survive to the assaults by bandits
and the scarcity of resources, but they know the area
very well and could prove to be ideal allies for those
wanting to challenge the power of the rebels.
Samsø Island
A little more than 6 miles from the coast lies the island
of Samsø, famous for the tombs of twelve berserker.
No one dares to approach and it is considered a cursed
place: it is said that the Twelve Berserkers who were
killed on those banks refuse to leave this world, haunt-
ing the island. Numerous fishermen say they have seen
terrifying nocturnal fires on the island, but no one has
ever dared to land.
If the characters decide to explore the island, they
will find twelve fires that rise from openings in the
ground, where the twelve warriors are buried in a circle.
They were twelve brothers, nephews of Svafrlame,
who claimed to descend from Odhinn himself and who
had blackmailed Dwarfs make for him the Tyrfing
sword “Finger of Tyr” (see page 302), the deadly but
cursed sword that brought ruin to his entire bloodline.
Passing a Wisdom (Asatru) DC 13 check, the
characters understand that they must pay tribute to
the fallen warriors in order to communicate with
them. In hailing the berserkers with respect, a Draugr
(corporeal see page 133) appears from the fire of one
of the openings.
It is Agantyr (see page 151), owner of the sword,
the oldest of the other eleven brothers (Incorporeal
Draugr, see page 134).
Should the character convince him to give them the
sword, Agantyr relinquishes it if defeated in a duel or
interested in their motivations. When freed from the
curse, he dissolves.
If the characters show disrespect to him, Agantyr
and his brothers attack.
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Draug - © Milivoj Ćeran
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Party loyal to a clan
Odhinn’s Eye
Parties loyal to King Asbjorn begin their adventure in
the territories of Norvgr at the service of the clan.
These groups should be composed primarily of
characters from the Odhinn’s Eye clan or those that
have not yet chosen their allegiance (Gjallarhorn, Bear
Warriors, Icy Crows). Of course, there should not be
members of the Jötunn Sons or Wolves of the Shadow.
Such parties begin their adventure with a mission
against a rival clan entrusted to them by a Jarlr, the
King in person or perhaps a prisoner.
Wolves of the Shadow
Parties loyal to the Pack Leader should begin their adven-
ture in the territories of Svtiod at the service of the clan.
These groups should be composed primarily of char-
acters from the Wolves of the Shadow clan, the Jötunn
Sons or those that have not yet chosen their allegiance
(Gjallarhorn, Bear Warriors, Icy Crows). Of course,
there should not be members of the Odhinn’s Eye clan.
Parties of this type begin their adventure with a
mission against a rival clan entrusted to them by the
Pack Leader, other warlords or after being attacked or
imprisoned by enemies.
Party with characters
above first level
Players who want to start with characters of a level
higher than first or who want a more difficult challenge
may choose to start from other points in Midgardr.
The White Mountains, the Great Forest or the Swamp
can be ideal starting points for the adventure for charac-
ters of second to fourth level.
Even the Jutland peninsula is perfect as an advanced
starting point especially for those players who want to
carry on the adventure that ended in The Grey Wanderer.
The first part of the adventure is designed to give the
player the opportunity to take an active part in the politi-
cal and mystical events that are taking place on Midgardr
and write their story. Will they fight for a clan, quest for
power and glory or will they investigate ancient mysteries
chasing after evil creatures of other Worlds?
Setting this kind of game can be complicated at the
beginning, especially for novice GMs, so we have decided
to give you some tips on how to start your adventure
depending on the composition and level of your party.
Remember, however, this is just advice. As the GM
you SHOULD expand, adjust and rewrite this material
to turn the Journey to Ragnarok into a truly epic experi-
ence for your players.
Party formed by mixed clan
characters
Returning from a distant voyage
The characters return to the lands of the North
exhausted after a long journey, to take part in the great
raid led by the then-prince Asbjorn. Fimbulvetr hit,
however, and the extreme weather conditions consid-
erably slowed their return home.
When they return to the North, the situation is
rather different than what it was when they left. When
they departed, the Clans were at peace, while the pres-
ent political situation is of discord and war.
It is advised to have the adventure begin in one of
the coastal villages of Norvgr or Svitjod perhaps near
Uppsala or Heil Hofn.
Summoned by Destiny
The characters’ dreams are disturbed by strange visions
of the Yggdrasill tree or they are summoned to the
Druid Circle of the Icy Crows in Uppsala, whether
they felt the need to go there or found themselves
there by chance.
An Elder of the Ice Crows awaits their arrival, who
saw in his dreams the characters beginning a journey to
resolve the fate of the Northern lands. Because of this,
he will do anything to join the group in their search.
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Advancement of
the Characters on Midgardr
As the characters make their way in this dangerous
world, challenges and intrigues will increase in level
and, consequently, so does their fame and influence,
perhaps by overthrowing one of the rulers and con-
quering their kingdom.
The table on the next page shows how to advance
characters through the milestone mechanism, the
Game Master is free to use it as a starting point and
model the rewards, depending on its history.
In the event that a group prefers to use a classic
advancement system through experience points, the
Game Master can assign additional rewards for achiev-
ing goals and not just for eliminating opponents.
This type of system is more suitable for a group that
wants to further expand Journey to Ragnarok
both in terms of the duration of the game and the
material to be integrated. As with the milestone mech-
anism, the reputation of the characters will increase as
they reach each new level.
Reputation
The reputation of the characters is based on how the
characters earn the milestones; being the hero of a clan
often means being the enemy of an opposing faction.
The Game Master is free to interpret the fame of
the characters as a tool for their own story; in the early
stages, the simplest way could be giving advantage or
disadvantage through social trials depending on the
places they journey through.
The Voyage on Midgardr
Depending on the clan of origin of the characters,
their players might receive different pieces of infor-
mation, at the beginning of Fimbulvetr, to push them
towards a specific mission. Whatever their first steps,
the characters must gather enough glory to attract the
attention of the gods, by conquering honor and fame
in Midgardr, the mortal realm.
The Game Master is free to use both the back-
ground and clan of the characters to help the players
in choosing one of the many adventures listed in this
chapter. As an example, King Asbjorn is willing to
put an end to the disputes with the bandits living in a
village at the foot of the White Mountains. Although
a frontal attack would bring much honor to the
characters, more cunning adventurers might want to
kidnap or kill their leader, Guthrum Óeidhar. Such
adventure is fitting for characters belonging to the
Odhinn’s Eye clan.
Characters closer to the Wolves of the Shadows
might want to visit Jarlr Alrekr Sigthollr, of Uppsala,
to see what he needs in order to turn his back to
the King and his heretical wife. Instead, should the
characters be indifferent to clan politics, they might
simply want to wander off, looking for adventure. As
winter is drawing closer, nights are longer and the
tales of monsters are more frequent at every campfire.
In the Norvgr region, the Cursed Woods are
ridden with trolls, while on the snowy mountains
crazed berserkers slaughter those few travelers who
still pass from those lands. In the Svtjod area, a
whole village was destroyed under mysterious cir-
cumstances, while in the peninsula the barrier that
should keep at bay the curse ravaging the Frank
lands seems to be losing its strength. Honorless
characters, should they want to swear themselves to
a darker goal, could look for a statue, half submerged
in putrid swamp waters, that appears to answer the
questions of those who find it.
Once the characters have shown they can influ-
ence the events leading to Ragnarok, they are chosen
by the gods for a sacred mission and are able to carry
on with their adventure in one of the following ways.
As always, they are but suggestion: you are free to
adapt them or come with new ones depending on
your story and plot.
Journey to Ragnarok
126
Activity
Example
Milestone
Reputation
Effect
Carry out the initial
quests offered by the
clan chieftains or
hunt minor monsters
or dangerous wild
creatures.
Defend the borders of
King Asbjorn from the
bandits. Gain the trust
of the Wolves of the
Shadow, demonstrating
honor to them.
When the characters
complete a task of this
kind for the first time,
they reach the second
level.
The characters are
known for their
achievements in the
groups with whom they
collaborated directly.
Characters may be
helped / hindered in a
lesser way by clans who
know their fame.
Conclude definitively
some of the quests of
the clan chieftain or
eliminate moderately
dangerous monsters.
Eliminate the threat
of bandits from the
coast. Solve the enigma
of the destroyed village
in Svjtiod.
When the characters
complete a task of this
kind for the first time,
they reach the third level.
Characters begin to be
very well known within
the clans influenced by
their deeds.
The characters will be
welcomed as friends /
foes by the clans who
know their fame.
Influence one of the
clan’s choices to tip
the balance.
Turn over the political
stalemate of the Crows.
Freeing the mountain
from the Berseker’s curse.
When the characters
complete a task of this
kind for the first time,
they reach the fourth
level.
The characters are
famous throughout
Midgardr as well as their
goals or the faction with
which they have sided.
Some allies will actively
help the heroes as some
enemies begin to attack
them if possible.
Take an active part in
the conflict or eliminate
threatening monsters.
Join a band of Wolves
to kill a clan Chieftain
of the Odhinn’s Eye.
Kill Trolls or discover
the treasures of the
ancient ruins.
When the characters
complete a task of this
kind for the first time,
they reach the fifth level.
The characters begin
to play a role of power
within the clans,
could become general
or advisors of one
of the leaders.
Bands of allies will join
the heroes and at the
same time bands of
enemies will be hired
to kill them.
Consolidate the power
of their allies or reduce
the power of a clan.
Restore power in the
rebel islands of Jutland.
Conquer villages or
minor territories
of a rival.
When the characters
complete a task of this
kind for the first time,
they reach the sixth level.
The characters now play
a role of prestige and
leadership within the
allied clans.
The characters become
owners of a territory or
Jarlr of a minor village.
Become a clan
Chieftain.
Killing or overthrowing
a Rival clan Chieftain.
When the characters
complete a task of this
kind for the first time,
they reach the seventh
level.
The characters are at the
head of a clan.
The villages under the
clan bow to the power of
the new chieftain while
the faithful to the old
sovereign seek revenge.
Conquer the North
Now the characters
have accumulated
enough power to decide
the fate of the North:
will they shed more
blood in search of new
possessions or will they
try to bring peace to
the Fimbulvetr?
The Nine Worlds: Midgardr
127
The adventure continues
Reaching the sixth level the characters have gained
such power that they can now change the fate of the
Northern lands, shaping them at will.
In reality, there are still threats beyond the abili-
ties of the characters, such as the evil Troll King (see
page 150) and the army of undead in the lands of the
Franks (see Expand Midgardr page 128), but, at this
level, the Game Master should allow the players to get
drunk on their accumulated power, preparing them
for first big plot twist of the campaign.
At the end of the section “The Journey on Midgardr”
three alternatives are presented to bring the characters
to the end of this Journey, at the discretion of the GM
the possibilities are many.
The characters have become the most valiant warri-
ors on Midgardr and Loki has laid his eyes upon them,
ready to make them the new puppets in his game.
They will be involved in a great enterprise, during
which, however, they will lose their senses and will
awaken on a desolate stretch of ice, in the World of
Niflheimr, thus reaching the seventh level.
The Begin of the Journey
When the characters have reached an adequate level,
it is time for the Game Master to set the scene for the
next step of their journey.
It is key that the players can live this moment as a
significant and memorable event.
It should be the last scene of the session, to leave
the players with a great cliffhanger to make them muse
on what might happen next.
The Game Master must not give explanations; the
surprise is the beginning of the next session when the
characters find themselves in another world...
This narrated sequence represents the moment the
game takes an unexpected turn for the characters, they
are about to leave their World of origin and explore the
Nine Worlds that they had just heard of in legends in
myths before that day.
The Game Master should have prepared some
ambience music (see page 325 for advice on the choice
of music), to set the adequate mood, dim the lights
and read in a grave tone the following paragraph:
While once you were nameless among the throngs
of your clan, now you have carved for yourselves a
place of honor in the history of the northern lands.
Now bards sing of your deeds, and your name is
known by everybody, causing terror in your enemies
and earning you the admiration of your allies.
Wherever you go, Jarlar and Kings throw rich ban-
quets in your honor and the requests of help in these
dark nights of the long winter grow by the day.
During a night similar to many others, as sleep
quickly took over your mind, a vision shakes you.
Jörmungandr, Midgardr’s serpent, rises from the
abyss of the sea, crushing the World into fragments
among its coils. As death and desperation surround
you, you catch a glimpse of gleaming figures on the
top of a mound of mangled bodies. You try to climb
this mountain of dead flesh, sinking into it as you try
to reach the light, crushing the air out of your lungs.
You start shaking in your sleep when a biting cold
suddenly wakes you up. Your body is ice-cold, in
spite of your being drenched in sweat.
Something changed. You are not in your bed, with
your fur blankets, anymore.
At this point, your players will want to know the fate
of their characters, arrived on Nilfheimr. Now, how-
ever, is the perfect moment to close the session and
leave wrapping their heads around what happened and
what might happen next session.
Journey to Ragnarok
128
Beyond the North
The men of the North are skilled travelers and expert
explorers driven by fame and wealth they have trave-
led far and wide discovering distant and exotic lands
inhabited by men with skin, costumes and divinities
different from their own in the North.
Below is a brief description of these places that may
serve as a starting point for the GM in the event that
the characters find a way to travel beyond the North
despite the critical conditions of the Fimbulvetr.
Frankland
Beyond the barrier built by the Jutlanders lies the
immense kingdom of the Frankland, ruled by an
ancient lineage of emperors. With its imposing castles,
hosts of paladins, templars, and priests ready to die for
the faith of the sacred light, the mighty kingdom has
now been struck by an obscure curse. It first infected
the plants and animals, turning them poisonous and
aggressive, eventually corrupting the minds and bodies
of the people into servants of an ancient evil.
Linguistic differences and continuous warfare have
kept the Jutlanders ignorant of the real Frank con-
ditions, no longer the opulent kingdom of shining
knights but now the dominion of an evil and ancient
Draugr with great powers bestowed upon him by the
great winter. He has turned the Frankland into a realm
of terror and death inhabited by the undead, ghosts and
other nameless horrors.
The army camped in front of the Danevirke and the
desperate people behind it are all that remains of the
Frank citizens, hopeful to find safety beyond the wall as
the priests of the sacred light have repeatedly foreseen.
Keel
To the South East of the Northern territories extends
the land known as Keel or the Great Desolation.
This expanse of ice perpetually beaten by strong
winds is considered uninhabitable except for a strange
people, nomadic mystics called Lapi.
Besides being famous for their ability to survive in
such a hostile land the Lapi are also known for being
wizards of the wind, with the innate power to control
the air currents.
These strange people are despised and feared by
the inhabitants of the North who look upon the Lapi
with distrust.
Ambitious men who looked beyond ethnic preju-
dices have tried to convince the Lapi wizards to join
them during their navigations to exploit their powers
and always have the winds at their favor.
No one can say with certainty, but according to
many this idea is pure folly and dangerous, as a Lapi
wizard onboard a ship can only bring disaster.
Colonies in the frozen sea
Some explorers have gone beyond the most extreme
North and reached unknown and uninhabited islands
where they founded colonies in the hope of finding
good farmland.
From the very beginning, the colonization of these
islands proved to be difficult, as there are periods when
the sea completely freezes, making impossible going
back and forth.
Since the beginning of the Fimbulvetr no one
knows what the fate of the settlers who remained on
the islands is and nobody is crazy enough to take the
chance to find out.
The kingdom of the Englar
The islands to the west of the Northern lands are ruled
by several Kings who vie for power with the aim of
unifying all the territories under their own crown.
However, these areas are not famous just for their
armies and kings. From here came the wife of King
Asbjorn and her faith, the religion of the Eternal
Flame. Great treasures are hidden within castles and
temples, but the Englar are deadly warriors, rivals even
to the men of the North.
Their warrior priests do not fear death and are said
to possess incredible powers given to them by their
unwavering faith in the Flame.
Some raids have been successful against the vil-
lages near the coast but when the Englar armies take
the field they are an opponent too powerful for the
Northern raiders.
The Nine Worlds: Midgardr
129
The Great Steppe
To the South East of the Northern lands extends the
great steppe, an alien and immense place inhabited by
men of long spears.
These lands offer great opportunities for daring trav-
elers but the risks are high.
None of the travelers who have ventured east have
found the end of these lands and the men of the North
are not used to traveling on hard land for such long dis-
tances. In addition, the natives of the steppes are skilled
and cruel fighters, lethal adversaries even for the pow-
erful Vikingar. however, many still choose to put their
lives at risk to discover the incredible mysteries of the
great steppe.
The Lands of the Inner Sea
In the South of the world there is an inland sea which
can be reached only by following routes known to a
selected few. Such journey is fraught with danger and
many ships have disappeared in the attempt to follow
the Southern route. The inland sea bathes many lands,
each of which inhabited by very different people.
Darker of skin than the Northern people, they have
a predisposition for the arts of politics and commerce.
The Land of the Spirits
Although mostly just myths, there are those who say
that pushing even further west one reaches an immense
land. This place is inhabited by evil spirits who haunt a
world forgotten by the Gods.
Those who miraculously returned from there claim
that no man should challenge the wrath of the Gods
trying to reach them.
The Well of Urðarbrunnr
The third root of Yggdrasill stretches out on Midgardr.
The legends tell of the Well of Urðarbrunnr, where the
three Norns tend to the tree. They live there and each
day they feed it with pure water, that then falls as dew,
and cover it in clay from a spring.
The legend holds that the Nors are called Urðr
(“Past”), Verðandi (“Present”) and Skuld (“Future”), who
weave, sing and play with the runes bearing the thread
of Destiny.
The exact location of the Well of Urðarbrunnr is
unknown as it seems to be shrouded in the mythical
mists that protect the place the Æsir are said to gather
and hold council, the Thing.
The Three Norns - © Milivoj Ćeran
130
Alrekr Sigthollr
"One day, these ruins will shine again like in ancient times and I will be
worthy of my ancestors".
Thanks to his political and speech skills, young Alrekr – son of a humble
merchant – climbed the social ladder, gaining the trust of Kings and Jarls.
After a great struggle with the noble houses that controlled the city, the
father of King’s Asbjorn made him Jarl of the ancient city of Uppsala.
While Uppsala is within the territories of the Odhinn’s Eye, Alrekr
earned the respect of the other Clans as well and today the jarl plays the
role of mediator to prevent a new war in his city.
Despite the appearances, the jarl and the Icy Crows aren’t going along
well: a year ago the jarl’s firstborn son became Límrún, new Mímaneidhr of
the Crows. This political move tied the jarl’s hands, preventing him from
swearing fealty to another clan to stabilize the city.
Roleplaying Alrekr
The jarl of Uppsala hides his true nature behind a calm and polite facade.
Alrekr is ready to do anything to achieve his goals and to face any
opponent with his trademark guile and skill.
He will use those PCs that appear to be a useful resource, otherwise he
will ignore them or find a clean way to dispose of them.
Alrekr’s Goals
The main goal of the Jarl is to restore Uppsala to its ancient glory. He
thinks that the influence of the Icy Crows bogged down this process
and that the city should be controlled by a clan that can provide greater
stability and security.
Meanwhile, he wants to free his firstborn from the Crows’ clutches;
Alrekr is no fool, he knows that this “great honor” they bestowed upon his
son is just an attempt from the circle to control him.
If the characters oppose the circle or try to bring Uppsala under the
wing of another powerful clan, Alrekr will do anything in his power to
help them.
Alrekr
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Honorable
STR
12 (+1)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
18 (+4)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
18 (+4)
Armor Class 18 (scale armor, shield)
Hit Points 76 (7d8 + 21)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +3, Con +5
Skills Deception +6, Insight +6, Perception +5, Persuasion +6
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Alrekr makes two shortsword attacks.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4
(1d6 + 1) slashing damage.
REACTIONS
Jarlr’s Guard. If Alrekr fights in Uppsala and is not incapacitated, on
initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties) he can summon 1d4 Guards to
defend him.
Alrekr
131
Encounters on Midgardr
King Asbjorn
Asbjorn, The Red
"I ask you one last time… do you renew the oath of fealty to your king?"
After the death of his father, Asbjorn’s first order as King was to sail to
the coasts of Englar for a glorious raid. Very few know exactly what hap-
pened to the young and brave prince – eager to make new discoveries and
dreaming of sailing over all the seas – during those years among enemies,
but when he returned he was a completely different man.
The sea returned to the Odhinn’s Eye a powerful and ruthless King that
greatly expanded the border of the clan’s lands.
The King also returned married to an alleged princess of Einglar,
Sknaht, and converted to her faith, which spreads in the lands of the
Odhinn’s Eye with each day that passes.
Roleplaying Asbjorn
Asbjorn is a straightforward and violent man, he demands absolute loy-
alty from his subjects and rarely comes to trust those he frowns upon.
The only person he trusts without reservation is his beloved queen. Her
wish is his command and the King will do anything to satisfy her.
If Asbjorn thinks that the PCs might damage him somehow, he will do
anything in his power to eliminate them or, if they might come in handy,
break them to make them his slaves. At the same time, he’s very generous
with those who serve him.
Asbjorn always wear the sign of the eternal flame on his chest. He
believes that it’s just another “human” way to represent the gods, so he
respects those who follow the ancient ways.
Asbjorn’s Goals
The main goal of the King is to create a safe and powerful kingdom that
spans all the Northlands.
He’s constantly looking for skilled individuals that can deal with his ene-
mies, both internals and externals. He will probably ask the PCs to deal with
rebellious bandits in his lands or personal enemies among the other clans,
rewarding them with gold, lands or positions within the Odhinn’s Eyes.
At the same time, the King doesn’t like to hear rumors about the end of
the world or monsters within his land and reward those who “silence” these
ideas or deal with the rumormongers in a discreet way.
Asbjorn
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Honorable
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 19 (scale armor, shield)
Hit Points 118 (12d10 + 36)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +9, Cha +7
Skills Asatru +5, Athletics +9
Damage Immunities fire
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Fierce. Asbjorn has advantage on all saving throws against being frightened.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Asbjorn makes three attacks with the Ulfberht Sword or two
attacks with the Ulfberht Sword and one Shield Bash.
Ulfberht Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 11 (1d8 + 6) slashing damage +3 (1d6) fire damage. or 12 (1d10 + 6)
slashing damage +3 (1d6) fire damage if used with two hands.
Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10
(2d4 + 5) bludgeon damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature,
it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Leadership (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute,
Asbjorn can utter a special command or warning whenever a non-hostile
creature that he can see within 30 ft. of him makes an attack roll or a
saving throw. The creature can add a d4 to its roll provided it can hear and
understand him. A creature can benefit from only one Leadership die at a
time. This effect ends if Asbjorn is incapacitated.
Royal Gaze. Asbjorn can intimidate an opponent with the sheer power of
his gaze. A creature within 5 ft. of him must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom
saving throw or suffer disadvantage on all melee attacks against Asbjorn for
1 minute. At the end of its turn, an intimidated creature can attempt a new
DC 15 Wisdom saving throw to end this effect. This ability doesn’t work
on a creature who previously succeeded on the saving throw.
REACTIONS
Parry. Asbjorn adds 3 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit
him. To do so, he must see the attacker and be wielding a shield.
LIAR ACTIONS
Royal Guard. If Asbjorn fights in a territory controlled by the
Odhinn’s Eye and is not incapacitated, on initiative count 20 (losing
initiative ties) he can summon 1d4 Guards to defend him.
132
Blóttré
Blóttré, “Tree of Sacrifice”
"Everything I did was to ensure the safety of this circle".
When Blóttré was picked up by the circle he was barely a toddler, left as
a gift by an unknown clan.
Blóttré has lived his entire life in the circle and struggled to reach an
important position within the clan’s ranks. Unfortunately, once he arrived
he realized how much the circle needs to the be reformed to face the trou-
bled times ahead. His master, Spekisvidhr, was a wise and good teacher, but
now it’s time for him to step down.
The first encounter between Blóttré and King Asbjorn was a casual affair,
but every encounter since was much more serious. During some secret meet-
ings, Asbjorn promised his full support, if the circle would ever collapse.
If Uppsala would ever to fall under the influence of the throne, Asbjorn
would shower Blóttré with gold and make him the sole Mímaneidhr.
Roleplaying Blóttré
Blóttré is a man that uses his intelligence and skills to make his oppo-
nents feel insignificant.
If necessary, he can put aside his polite facade in an instant, showing his
true colors of an authoritarian sage.
Blóttré’s Goals
Blóttré is planning to kill the other Mímaneidhr and infiltrate Asbjorn’s
warriors in Uppsala to seize control of the city. He is very suspicious and
won’t trust the PCs unless they can prove to be an agent of Asbjorn him-
self or they have rock-solid reasons to destroy the circle.
Blóttré isn’t aware of the plans of Jarl Alrekr – because he doesn’t trust
him – but the PCs might be the perfect tool to join the schemes of these
two conspirators.
Blóttré
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Dishonorable
STR
9 (-1)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
18 (+4)
CHA
12 (+1)
Armor Class 14 (padded armor)
Hit Points 58 (9d8 + 18)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +8
Skills Asatru +8, Deception +5, Nature, +8, Persuasion +5
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Spellcasting. Blóttré is a 9th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is
Wisdom (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks) and he has the
following druid spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): poison spray, shillelagh, thorn whip
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, entangle, fog cloud, thunder wave
2nd level (3 slots): barkskin, gust of wind, moonbeam
3rd level (3 slots): meld into stone, plant growth, sleet storm
4th level (3 slots): blight, grasping vine, stoneskin
5th level (1 slot): tree stride
ACTIONS
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
2 (1d6 - 1) bludgeoning damage or 3 (1d8 - 1) bludgeoning damage if
used with two hands.
Change Shape (2/Day). Blóttré magically polymorphs into a beast with
a challenge rating of 1 or less, and can remain in this form for up to 4
hours. He can choose whether his equipment falls to the ground, melds
with his new form, or is worn by the new form. Blóttré reverts to its true
form if it dies or falls unconscious. He can revert to its true form using a
bonus action on its turn.
While in a new form, Blóttré can’t speak and retains his game statistics and
ability to speak, but its AC, movement modes, Strength, and Dexterity
are replaced by those of the new form, and he gains any special senses,
proficiencies, traits, actions, and reactions (except class features, legendary
actions, and lair actions) that the new form has but that he lacks.
When Blóttré returns to his true form, he retains the same amount of hit
point he had prior to the transformation.
133
Encounters on Midgardr
Cursed Berserker
These skinchangers have completely lost their humanity and now they
survive as cursed bear, thirsting for human blood. Their minds are com-
pletely clouded by an insatiable hunger that never leaves them.
A long time ago, the skinchangers were proud berserker warriors with
supernatural powers, but something corrupted their spirits, like a disease,
and now they only way to save them is to kill them.
The Cursed Berserkers answer only to the commands of their leader and
immediately attack any human being in suight unless the leader restrains
them. it’s rare for one of these creatures to become human again, but when it
happens the guilt of its actions often crushes him.
Cursed Berserker
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Dishonorable
STR
16 (+3)
DEX
12 (+1)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
9 (-1)
WIS
11 (+0)
CHA
9 (-1)
Armor Class 12 (padded armor or natural armor in Bear Form)
Hit Points 64 (8d8 + 16)
Speed 30 ft. (40 ft. in Bear Form)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Common (can’t speak in Bear Form)
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Reckless. At the start of its turn, the Cursed Berserker can gain advantage
on the first melee weapon attack rolls during that turn, but attack rolls
against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.
Bear Form (recharge after a long rest). As an action, the Cursed Berserker
can take the form of a Cave Bear for 1 hour. Its strength becomes 20
(+5), but its intelligence drops to 7 (-2). It gains darkvision (60 ft.)
and advantage on all Wisdom (Perception) rolls related to smell. Any
equipment he’s wearing or carrying isn’t transformed.
If the Cursed Berserker dies or become incapacitated, it reverts to its
human form.
ACTIONS
Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage
if used with two hands.
Multiattack (only in Bear Form). While in Bear Form the Cursed
Berserker makes two melee attacks, one with its claws and one with its
bite.
Claws (only in Bear Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Bite (only in Bear Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.
Draugr
Even the bravest warriors who have led an honorable life may have a
moment of weakness and lose their honor or fall into battle without
having completed the businesses for which they were intended.
Seeing themselves denied their place among the Einherjar, they remain
attached to life in the form of Draugr, possessing or not of their body (see
Draugr, Corporeal and Draugr, Incorporeal). Wandering tormented by
dispelling their pain on the living or trying to ward off their condition.
Draugr, Corporeal
Medium undead, any Chaotic
STR
18 (+4)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
18 (+4)
INT
12 (+1)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
18 (+4)
Armor Class 18 (plate)
Hit Points 85 (14d8 + 6)
Speed 30 ft
Saving Throws Dex +2, Wis +2, Cha +2
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 10 (5900 XP)
Magic Resistance. The Draugr has advantage on saving throws against
spells and other magical effects.
Marshal Undead. Unless the Draugr is incapacitated, it and undead
creatures of its choice within 60 ft. of it have advantage on saving throws
against features that turn undead.
Spellcasting. The Draugr is a 10th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability
is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The Draugr
has the following paladin spells prepared:
1st level (4 slots): command, compelled duel, searing smite
2nd level (3 slots): hold person, magic weapon
3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, elemental weapon
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Draugr makes 3 longsword attacks.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10+4) if used with two hands, plus
18 (4d8) necrotic damage.
Hellfire Orb (1/Day). The Draugr hurls a magical ball of fire that
explodes at a point it can see within 120 ft. of it. Each creature in a 20
ft. radius sphere, centered on that point, must make a DC 17 Dexterity
saving throw. The Sphere spreads around corners. A creature takes 18
(5d6) fire damage and 18 (5d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half
as much damage on a successful one.
REACTIONS
Parry. The Draugr adds 6 to its AC against one melee attack that would
hit it. To do so, the Draugr must see the attacker and be wielding a
melee weapon.
134
Draugr, Incorporeal
Medium Undead, Any Alignment
STR
7 (+2)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
10 (+0)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
15 (+2)
Armor Class 11
Hit Points 75 (15d8)
Speed 0 ft, fly 40 ft (hover)
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning,
piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, grappled,
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 11
Languages all those it knew in life
Challenge 6 (2.300 PE)
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the Draugr fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Ethereal Sight. While Draugr is on the Material Plane, it can see up to
60 ft. in the Ethereal Plane and vice versa.
Incorporeal Movement. The Draugr can move through objects and
creatures as if they were difficult terrain. It suffer 5 (1d10) force damage if
it ends its movement inside an object.
ACTIONS
Withering Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 17 (4d6 + 3) necrotic damage.
Etherealness. The Draugr enters the Ethereal Plane from the Material
Plane, or vice versa. It is visible on the Material Plane while it is in the
Ethereal Plane, and vice versa, yet it can’t affect or be affected by anything
on the other plane.
Horrifying Visage. Each non-undead creature within 60 ft. of the
Draugr that can see it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw
or be frightened for 1 minute. If the save fails by 5 or more, the target
also ages 1d4 × 10 years. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw
at the end of each of its turns, ending the frightened condition on itself
on a success. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
it, the target is immune to this ghost’s Horrifying Visage for the next 24
hours. The aging effect can be reversed with a greater restoration spell,
but only within 24 hours of it occurring.
Possession (Recharge 6). One humanoid that the Draugr can see
within 5 ft. of it must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or
be possessed by the Draugr; the Draugr then disappears, and the target
is incapacitated and loses control of its body. The Draugr now controls
the body but doesn’t deprive the target of awareness. The Draugr can’t
be targeted by any attack, spell, or other effect, except ones that turn
undead, and it retains its alignment, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma,
and immunity to being charmed and frightened. It otherwise uses
the possessed target’s statistics, but doesn’t gain access to the target’s
knowledge, class features, or proficiencies. The possession lasts until the
body drops to 0 hit points, the Draugr ends it as a bonus action, or the
Draugr is turned or forced out by an effect like the Protection From
Good and Evil spell.
When the possession ends, the Draugr reappears in an unoccupied
space within 5 ft. of the body. The target is immune to this Draugr’s
Possession for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving throw or after
the possession ends.
LIAR ACTIONS
On initiative count 20 (losing ties) the Draugr can cause one of the
following effects:
Automatic Possession: The Draugr automatically possesses the
character that wields its object of desire (physical or figurated). The target
can be free if succeeds a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or dropping to
0 hp (in that case the Draugr will immediately leave the body) or if the
Draugr loses interests in the target.
135
Encounters on Midgardr
Gamallbjarki Snjallrson
"You don’t fear the mountain? Then you’re already dead".
Gamallbjarki Snjallrson “Little Old Bear” didn’t earn the respect of the
mountain by being gentle. The mountain taught him the way of strength
and he always follows that path.
With his strength, he has been able to control the peak and the barbar-
ian clans and punish those who tried to challenge his leadership.
Despite his rude behavior, Gamallbjarki Snjallrson always does every-
thing in his power to ensure the well-being of his people, managing men
and resources to survive the harsh environment of the mountain.
Roleplaying Gamallbjarki
Gamallbjarki Snjallrson is a giant of a man, all brute strength and few words.
He prefers acts over words and will be very generous with those charac-
ters that help him. He unleashes his fury only upon his enemies and those
who try to trick him.
While he’s devoted to the ancient gods, Gamallbjarki Snjallrson – like
many other mountain barbarians – believes that there are older and more
powerful beings than the gods, like the spirit of the mountain. He doesn’t
fear death but is afraid of the mountain’s ire and what it could possibly
bring down upon his people.
Gamallbjarki’s Goals
Gamallbjarki Snjallrson is looking for skilled individuals to discover what
is going on. If the PCs help the chieftain, he will become a stalwart ally,
ready to take the full might of his clan down into the valley to side with
the party.
Gamallbjarki
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Honorable
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
8 (-1)
Armor Class 16 (hide armor)
Hit Points 100 (10d12 + 30)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Str +9, Con +7
Skills Animal Handling +2, Asatru +4, Athletics +9
Damage Resistances all non-psychic and non-magical damage
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Reckless. At the start of his turn, Gamallbjarki can gain advantage on the
first melee weapon attack rolls during that turn, but attack rolls against
him have advantage until the start of his next turn.
Feral Roar (recharge 5-6). As a bonus action, Gamallbjarki can utter
a powerful roar that scares his enemies. Every opponent within 60 ft.
that can see and hear Gamallbjarki, must make a DC 15 Wisdom
saving throw. On a failed save it suffer 5 (2d4) psychic damage and has
disadvantage on its next attack roll against Gamallbjarki, on a successful
one takes half that damage and has no disadvantage. This ability doesn’t
work on creatures that are immune to being frightened.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Gamallbjarki makes three attacks with the maul.
Maul. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (2d6 + 6) bludgeon damage.
Powerful Maul Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 20 (4d6 + 6) bludgeon damage. The target must succeed
on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 ft. away from
Gamallbjarki and be knocked prone.
Gamallbjarki
136
Guàrdinjandr,
Pack L eader of the Cursed Berserkers
"Give me your strength… SATE MY HUNGER"
The Leader of the Cursed Berserkers was once a warrior and scout of the
Northlands, famous for his valor and feared for his supernatural berserk-
er’s powers. The curse stroke him when, in order to survive, he was forced
to feed on human flesh. This is now just a distant and buried memory.
Unfortunately, the curse was even able to infect others, starting with
the first berserkers sent to kill the Leader of the Cursed Berserkers. As the
pack started to grow, the Leader of the Cursed Berserkers decided to lead
them to a place where they could reproduce.
Roleplaying Guàrdinjandr
The Leader of the Cursed Berserkers is the only one among his peers that
can, partially, control his skin-changer powers.
He can shift between his bear and human form at will but, most of the
time, he prefers to remain a giant monstrous werebear.
When he’s looking for information about what is happening in the
Northlands, the journeys to nearby settlements masquerading as a polite
traveler, but this becomes more and more difficult. When he’s with his
pack, his countenance is that of a feral beast.
Guàrdinjandr’s Goals
The only thing that interest the Leader of the Cursed Berserkers is to feed
his pack and himself, hoping to sate the insatiable hunger.
He will destroy anyone that crosses his path, but he might curse par-
ticularly skilled warriors, adding them to the pack ranks. He’s the only
Cursed Berserker that can spread the curse.
When the pack will be ready, he will lead it down into the valley to
bring death and destruction.
Guàrdinjandr
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Dishonorable
STR
18 (+4)
DEX
12 (+1)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
11 (+0)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
12 (+1)
Armor Class 12 (padded armor or 13 natural armor in Bear Form)
Hit Points 80 (10d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft. (40 ft. in Bear Form)
Damage Immunities all non-magical damage
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common (can’t speak in Bear Form)
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Reckless. At the start of its turn, the Leader of the Cursed Berserkers can
gain advantage on the first melee weapon attack rolls during that turn,
but attack rolls against him have advantage until the start of his next turn.
Bear Form. The Leader of the Cursed Berserkers can use his bonus action
to polymorph into a cave bear, a bear-humanoid hybrid or back into
his true humanoid form. As a bear or a hybrid, he has Strength 20 (+5)
and gains darkvision (60 ft.) and advantage on all Wisdom (Perception)
rolls related to smell. Any equipment he’s wearing or carrying isn’t
transformed. If the Leader of the Cursed Berserkers dies, he reverts to its
human form.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. As a humanoid the Leader of the Cursed Berserkers makes
two battleaxe attacks. As a bear he makes two claws attacks. As hybrid he
can attack as one or the other.
Assault Axe (only in humanoid of hybrid form). Melee Weapon Attack:
+5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 12
(1d8 + 7) in hybrid form.
Claws (only in bear or hybrid form). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage.
Bite (only in bear or hybrid form). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage.
Guàrdinjandr
137
Encounters on Midgardr
Gundabald
“Drop that sword, before it’s too late”.
The left hand of King Asbjorn, Gundabald has always been at the King’s
side since their unruly childhood. After following the King in the great raid,
Gundabald was appointed Jarl of a coastal village very close to Heil Hofn.
Roleplaying Gundabald
Gundabald believes in Asbjorn without reservations and he’s willing to
do anything to help the King achieve his goals. He’s both feared and
respected and has no qualms about showcasing his strength and dedi-
cation when someone questions him. He doesn’t consider dishonorable
getting his hands dirty to serve his lord’s will.
Gundabal’s Goals
Gundabald put his lord above everything and he has a blood debt toward
Asbjorn, who saved him during a raid when they were younger.
He’s ready to do anything to serve the King and he would oppose his
friend and lord only if confronted with definitive proof of a manipulation.
Gundabald can be found in any of the clan’s villages, accompanied
by his soldiers, but at the beginning of the adventure, he should be in
the destroyed village, while he tries to frame the Wolves of the Shadow
and eliminate any clues to the Trolls’ presence. At the same time, he was
ordered to deal with any busybody.
If the Pcs start investigating, showing they don’t believe Gundabald’s
reconstruction, he will offer them shelter for the night and will try to kill
them while asleep.
Gundabald
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Honorable
STR
18 (+4)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
15 (+2)
Armor Class 18 (scale armor, shield)
Hit Points 80 (9d10 + 27)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +6
Skills Athletics +7, Perception +4
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1.800 XP)
Brave. Gundabald has advantage on all saving throws against
being frightened.
Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when
Gundabald hits with it (included in the attack).
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Gundabald makes three attacks with the battleaxe or two
attacks with the battleaxe and one Shield Bash.
Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 15 (2d10 + 4) slashing damage if
used with two hands.
Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
12 (3d4 + 5) bludgeon damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller
creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be
knocked prone.
REACTIONS
Parry. Gundabald adds 3 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit
him. To do so, he must see the attacker and be wielding a shield.
Guthrum Óeidhar, the Rebel L eader
"Don’t take another step or my men are going to shoot… who sent you?"
Guthrum, the Rebel Leader, was a clan chieftain from a coastal village
that refused to kneel to King Asbjorn.
He survived the brutal massacre of his home village at the hand of the
King’s warriors only because he was out hunting when they arrived.
Since then, he lives in the woods surrounding the white mountains
and has gathered a group of rebels and bandits, each with its own bone to
pick with the throne.
Roleplaying Guthrum
Guthrum is no longer the strong man he once was, he’s growing weaker
and gloom veils his eyes. He had to make compromises with people he
once would have exiled from his village, but there is little choice: to fight
the King he has to rely on criminals, not proud warriors.
The Rebel Leader required a proof of fealty from the PCs before deal-
ing with them. He fears that, soon, Asbjorn will send someone to kill him
and so he doesn’t trust strangers.
Guthrum’s Goals
Guthrum needs to find allies and resources to face and dethrone Asbjorn.
To this end, he steals gold from caravans and villages of the Odhinn’s Eye
and kidnaps generals and Jarl from the coastal villages.
If the PCs want to “work” with him they must prove their dedication
to the cause: raiding a village or shipyard of the Odhinn’s Eye, kidnapping
an important member of the clan or finding powerful allies to the cause.
Right now, the Rebel Leader have no contacts with other clans, but the
PCs might be the right one to act as ambassadors.
Guthrum Óeidhar
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Honorable
STR
16 (+3)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
11 (+0)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 17 (studded leather armor, shield)
Hit Points 71 (10d8 + 21)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +5, Dex +5, Wis +2
Skills Asatru +3, History +4, Persuade +4
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Strategic Guidance. As a bonus action, Guthrum grants advantage to an
attack roll to an ally he can see within 30 ft.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Guthrum makes three battleaxe attacks.
Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage if used
with two hands.
Leadership (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute,
Guthrum can utter a special command or warning whenever a non-
hostile creature that it can see within 30 ft. of it makes an attack roll or
a saving throw. The creature can add a d4 to its roll provided it can hear
and understand him. A creature can benefit from only one Leadership die
at a time. This effect ends if Guthrum is incapacitated.
REACTIONS
Parry. Guthrum adds 2 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit
him. To do so, it must see the attacker and be wielding a shield.
138
Hrókr Fjalson
"I am vengeance… let death and destruction come through me."
Very few people know that Hrókr Fjalson really exists and even less are
aware that he’s the result of the unholy union of a frost giantess and a
simple mortal. Thanks to his mixed blood, Hrókr has an unusual appear-
ance and long lifespan, way superior to other mortals.
Only two people know how the Jötunn’s Sons came to be: the oldest
Mímaneidhr of the Icy crows and Hrókr himself. The half-blood was once
a powerful and respected Mímistafr and many thought it was already writ-
ten that he would become a Mímaneidhr, but something went wrong.
Under the influence of his giant blood, Hrókr became more and more
interested in ancient forbidden rituals. The lust for power destroyed his
honor, making the council more and more worried. When they found his
Rót – his apprentice – dead, covered in unknown symbols and his corpse
twisted by terrible deformities, Hrókr’s was exiled.
Hrókr never accepted his exile, nor the spite of his betters. During
his escape, he found a way through the bogs, to a hidden clearing, where
he discovered an ancient and powerful statue of the god Loki. Desperate
and without a purpose, Hrókr put his life in the hands of the god and he
answered his prayers through the statue.
It time and protected by the bogs, Hrókr reunited more and more
outcasts like him, forced to flee from their own past. It has been almost a
century since the day when Hrókr discovered Loki’s statue and today the
Jötunn’s Sons number as much as the most prolific Minor Clans.
Roleplaying Hròkr
Hrókr’s half-giant appearance is the less terrifying part of him, which give
a good measure of how dreaded he is.
He is almost always holed up in his home, where he plans new tricks and
traps for his enemies.
His ability to exploit fears and worries is unrivaled and he often uses
powerful hallucinogenic poisons to induce terror. Thanks to his giant blood,
he’s immune to these toxins.
It’s very hard to surpass his skill with words or to hide anything from
him. The half-giant seem to possess an infinite number of ways to coerce the
truth out of somebody and to manipulate it.
Hròkr’s Goals
Loki revealed to Hrókr Fjalson his goals: the sorcerer is the spark that will
ignite a fratricidal war between the Clans before the Ragnarok.
The other goal of the half-giant is destroying the Icy Crow’s circle or
subject it to a more “agreeable” power, like the Wolves of the Shadow.
Hrókr
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Dishonorable
STR
10 (+0)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
8 (-1)
CHA
18 (+4)
Armor Class 10 (unarmored)
Hit Points 80 (10d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +8
Skills Arcane +4, Asatru +3, History +4, Intimidate +8, Perception +3,
Religion +4
Damage Immunities cold
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 6 (3,900 XP)
Spellcasting. Hrókr is a 10th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is
Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks) and he has the
following sorcerer spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): chill touch, frost ray, minor illusion,
shocking grasp, poison spray
1st level (4 slots): chromatic orb, disguise self, fog cloud, silent image
2nd level (3 slots): crown of madness, suggestion, gust of wind, web
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, lighting bolt, sleet storm
4th level (3 slots): greater invisibility, ice storm, stoneskin
5th level (2 slot): cloudkill, cone of cold
ACTIONS
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage or 4 (1d8) bludgeoning damage if used
with two hands.
REACTIONS
Cold Aura. After being hit by a melee attack, Hrókr can use his reaction
to freeze the attacker, who must make an immediate DC 16 Dexterity
saving throw. On a failed save it becomes incapacitated and its speed
drops to 0, on a successful one its speed is halved. These effects last until
the end of the target’s next turn.
Hròkr
139
Encounters on Midgardr
Koltønn Ginnungason
"Get ready to strike… on my mark".
One doesn’t become pack leader with words or wealth, but by earning the
respect of the warriors he fought side-by-side in battle after battle. Like
all the pack leaders before him, Koltønn Ginnungason, “Ash Tooth, Son
of the Nothing”, showed his honor in many skirmishes between the clans
during his youth.
Today, Koltønn Ginnungason is no longer that young bloodthirsty
viking, but a man who bears the scars of many harsh winters and has to
think of his pack’s well-being first, as his old allies become dreaded ene-
mies, much greater in numbers and strength.
Roleplaying Koltønn
Koltønn Ginnungason’s thoughtful behavior should not be mistaken for
weakness: he can be violent and merciless if he thinks that this can bring
even the smallest benefit to his clan.
Koltønn is as caring of the members of his pack, as he’s distrustful of
those who enter the forest without his permission. These are considered
enemy spies sent to kill him, unless they can offer definitive proof of the
contrary or another Wolf vouches for them.
Koltønn’s Goals
Koltønn Ginnungason struggled to keep a balance that grows more and
more unstable.
He knows that his fate is to wage war and kill the apostate King but,
opposite to many of his clan’s warriors, he knows that the Wolves alone
won’t stand a chance against Asbjorn’s war-dogs.
At the same time, he’s aware that his clan is a bunch of young hot-
blooded warriors that want nothing more than to go into battle and prove
their honor. He’s certain that, without a show of strength from him, some
young warrior will soon challenge him or one of the old ones will question
him in front of the minor packs.
The pack leader is desperately looking for new allies and the PCs might
be the right tool, but they have to prove their loyalty first, dealing with
one of the many dangers of the great forest or raiding a settlement of the
Odhinn’s Eye.
Koltønn
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Honorable
STR
16 (+3)
DEX
20 (+5)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
12 (+1)
Armor Class 19 (studded leather armor, shield;
18 when wielding two weapons)
Hit Points 100 (12d10 + 36)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Dex +9, Con +7
Skills Animal Handling +5, Asatru +7, Stealth +9, Survival +7
Senses Passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Shield of Shadow and Branches. Koltønn’s shield grants him advantage
to Dexterity (Stealth) rolls in the woods.
Hidden by the Leaves. While in the woods or another area with many
plants, Koltønn can use his action in combat to make a Dexterity
(Stealth) roll and hide, even if he’s in plain sight.
Dual Axes Mastery. Koltønn can fight with two non-light axes. He can
also drop the shield and grab an axe or drop an axe and strap the shield as
part of his Attack action.
Pack tactics. Koltønn and all his allies within 30 ft. have advantage on
an attack rolls against a creature if at least one ally, non-incapacitated, is
within 5 ft. of it.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Koltønn makes two melee attacks and one ranged attack, or
one melee attack and two ranged attacks.
Assault Axe. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
10 (1d8 + 5) slashing damage.
Handaxe. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range
20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Koltønn
140
Kynbani Bergelmirson
Few know the story behind the eyes of Kynbani Bergelmirson, who
claims to be a descendant of Bergelmir. Many believe that he was born
blind, but the truth is known only to Hrókr and Kynbani himself.
Not all of the Jötunn’s Sons support Hrókr’s madness, a few try to
oppose and dethrone him, but the half-giant’s retaliation is always brutal
and merciless. When he discovered that Kynbani and his three brothers
were planning to kill him, Hrókr lured them into the swamp. He forced
Kynbani to watch while he butchered his brothers, then blinded him and
left him in the swamp.
Kynbani managed to return to the village, but he was accused of mur-
dering his brothers while he was hallucinating. Nobody was ever able to
prove him guilty, but Kynbani holed up in his stilt house.
After many years, he started teaching the deeds of the Jotuns to the
clan’s young ones, fuelling their hatred for the Æsir.
Roleplaying Kynbani
Kynbani is just pretending to have accepted his place as an outcast
among the outcasts.
He spends all his time in his stilt house at the edge of the village, wel-
coming those who seek his tales and bowing his head to Hrókr. He only
shows his true spirit during his rare public appearance, when he speaks
against the Æsir and the other Clans.
If the CPS shows to be brave, he will pretend to be a victim and ask
for their help. This is actually a trick to use them to get his revenge.
Under the mask, Kynbani wants revenge and his hatred for Hrókr
still burns strong. He’s only biding his time.
Kynbani’s Goals
The real purpose of Kynbani is to bring his brothers back to Midgardr
and take revenge with them.
Thanks to the dark arts he managed to imprison their spirits in a dead
clearing not far from the Jötunn encampment.
His two brothers live in this place in the form of Incorporeal
Draugr, torn apart by an endless hatred and pain, caused by being
divided between two worlds.
Kynbani wants to give back to the brothers a physical body and the
characters could be ideal victims for this purpose. If the characters follow
Kynbani in the dead clearing they will be attacked immediately by the
Draugr whose sole purpose is to take possession of their bodies to return
to the village and kill Hròkr. The dead clearing is a place known only to
Kynbani who has traced a huge runic circle in the ground in which the
Draugar are found.
Kynbani
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Dishonorable
STR
11 (+0)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
12 (+1)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
Hit Points 42 (7d8 + 14)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Arcane +3, Deception +5, Persuade +5
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Spellcasting. Kynbani is an 8th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is
Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks) and he has the
following sorcerer spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, frost ray, mage hand, minor illusion
1st level (4 slots): color spray, disguise self, mage armor, magic missile
2nd level (3 slots): invisibility, mirror image, phantasmal force
3rd level (3 slots): major image, phantom steed
4th level (3 slots): phantasmal killer
ACTIONS
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range
30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage.
Kynbani
141
Encounters on Midgardr
L eif Logisson
"My sons, do not fear, nobody will hurt you here. The flame protect us and
guide us to help those in need”.
Leif Logisson, "Successor, Son of The Flame", leader of the Flame
Community was a warrior during Asbjorn’s great raid and met the priest
of Heil Hofn in the land of the Englar. He was invited to the royal palace
as ambassador and was immediately fascinated by the cult of the eternal
flame. He converted and became a priest before the King even consid-
ered marrying Sknaht, despite the scorn of his brothers in arms.
Roleplaying Leif
Leif looks like a crazy fanatic, he always wears a white linen garment and
a wooden medallion with the symbol of the eternal flame. He’s extremely
paranoid and fears that many plotting the destruction of his “perfect”
community, making him suspicious one any outsider.
Leif’s Goals
Recently Leif’s conversion techniques have become more and more
extreme. Any pagan that comes too close to the community is invited to
spend the night at Leader of the Flame Community’s home where he will
try anything to persuade his guest to embrace this new faith.
If this first attempt doesn’t work, Leif will try to capture the travelers
and lock them in a small cage under the church to continue his holy work.
For those who don’t accept conversion, there’s only one way: let the
eternal flame burn their flesh.
L eif
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Dishonorable
STR
16 (+3)
DEX
12 (+1)
CON
13 (+1)
INT
12 (+1)
WIS
8 (-1)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 12 (padded armor)
Hit Points 60 (10d8 + 10)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Perception +1, Persuade +4, Religion +3
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Fanatic. Leif has advantage on all saving throws against being charmed or
frightened.
Fiery Eminence. As a bonus action, Leif can expend a spell slot to cause
his melee weapon attacks to magically deal an extra 10 (3d6) fire damage
to a target on a hit. This benefit lasts until the end of the turn. If Leif
expends a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the extra damage increases by
1d6 for each level above 1st.
Spellcasting. Leif is a 4th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is
Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks) and he has the
following cleric and sorcerer spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): burning hands, cure wounds, sanctuary
2nd level (3 slots): scorching ray, silence, spiritual weapon
ACTIONS
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage or 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage if
used with two hands.
REACTIONS
Shield the Leader. When a creature attacks Leif, he can use his reaction
to choose an ally within 5 ft. The ally interposes between him and the
attacker, suffering any possible damage.
142
L ímrún, “Rune of the Branches”
"Don’t worry, father… I won’t disappoint you".
Young Límrún is the unwilling pawn in a much larger political scheme.
His appointment came out of the blue and, no matter how painful it
was to leave his family, such a great honor cannot be refused.
Límrún now lives near the great tree and meets his father only during
official ceremonies.
Roleplaying Límrún
Límrún received a strict education, which made him polite and consid-
erate. Unfortunately, his father didn’t have time to teach him the fine art
of deception and speechcraft. The child is still a pure and innocent soul,
constantly surrounded by the other sages of the circle, who often make
decisions in his name.
Límrún’s Goals
While Límrún considers his appointment a great honor, he doesn’t love
living with the circle. He wishes there was someone trustworthy to help
and guide him. With each passing day, he realizes that many among the
sages use him to further their own goals. If the PCs show that they are
loyal to him, he will trust them.
L ímrún
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Honorable
STR
7 (-2)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
10 (+0)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
8 (-1)
CHA
11 (+0)
Armor Class 12 (unarmored)
Hit Points 44 (6d8)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Asatru +1. Arcane +4, Perception +1
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Spellcasting. Límrún is a 2nd-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is
Intelligence (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks) and he has the
following wizard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): frost ray, light, mending
1st level (3 slots): color spray, magic missile, shield, thunder wave
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range
20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Límrún
143
Encounters on Midgardr
Revr, the Fox
"I have just the right job for people like you…".
Nobody knows the true identity of this strange adventurer, famous across
all the Northlands. According to the rumors, the Fox is a skilled treasure
hunter of great skill and bravery.
The truth is that the Fox is very adept at exploiting his companions
and he’s always looking for new adventurers to trick and kill, exploiting
any potential danger nearby, to get away with any treasure they find.
Roleplaying Revr
Revr is a cunning and charismatic character, who can easily find the right
friends at the right time.
He is going to offer the PCs a chance to find ancient treasures, hint-
ing at how this is going to be absolutely within their abilities and he is the
right man to help them. He always finds a way to make himself essential
to the adventure and, at the right moment, he will betray the PCs and
take the loot.
The Fox will approach the PCs as soon as their fame starts to spread
across the Northlands, asking their help for one of his goals.
During fights and other dangerous situations, the Fox tends to hide
and let the PCs deal with enemies, traps or other hidden dangers.
Revr
Priest of the Only Flame
"Repent while there is still time! The end is nigh, the only Flame will purge
this world of impiety!"
This Englar priest came from overseeing with Asbjorn to found the first
church of the eternal flame in the Northlands. He’s a fat, bald and doesn’t
really like his new life, but he saw firsthand what happens to those who
defy the will of the King and have no intention of risking his own life. He
speaks the Norse language with great difficulty and he’s not convinced
that his own faith suits the strange people of these lands – which he
doesn’t respect all that much – but he’s true to his call and follows all the
prescribed rituals.
He’s ready to accept new converted to the eternal flame and avoid any
contacts with the pagans who aren’t willing to do so. He’s in constant com-
munication with the community of the eternal flame and he’s very happy
of how it’s developing.
Priest of the Only Flame
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Honorable
STR
10 (+0)
DEX
10(+0)
CON
13 (+1)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 10 (unarmored)
Hit Points 32 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Medicine +5, Religion +5
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Fiery Eminence. As a bonus action, the Priest of the Eternal Flame can
expend a spell slot to cause his melee weapon attacks to magically deal an
extra 10 (3d6) fire damage to a target on a hit. This benefit lasts until the
end of the turn. If the Priest expends a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the
extra damage increases by 1d6 for each level above 1st.
Spellcasting. The Priest of the Eternal Flame is a 5th-level spellcaster.
His spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell
attacks) and he has the following cleric spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): light, mending, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, purify food and drink, sanctuary
2nd level (3 slots): continual flame, lesser restoration, spiritual weapon
3rd level (2 slots): beacon of hope, spirit guardians
ACTIONS
Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6)
bludgeoning damage.
144
Revr’s Goals
The Fox has two main goals, but the GM might decide to add others.
•
The Great Forest Ruins: The Fox knows the location of some ruins
in the great forest and he is going to try and persuade the characters
to accompany him. Of course, he won’t mention the guardians.
•
The Map for the Troll King’s Throne: The Fox found a piece of
map that, apparently, lead to the gate of the famous kingdom of the
Trolls. There are two more pieces, in possession of some Trolls that
live in the cursed forest of Novgr. Revr is going to ask the PCs to
accompany him, without mentioning the Trolls.
While Revr is an antagonist, he’s also fickle and might, depending on the
situation, become an ally.
The GM should let the flow of the story dictate how this character will
be remembered.
Revr
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Dishonorable
STR
10 (+0)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
13 (+1)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
11 (+0)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 15 (studded leather armor)
Hit Points 60 (10d8 + 10)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Dex +6, Int +5
Skills Deception +6, Perception +3, Stealth +6, Sleight of Hand +6
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Assassinate. During his first turn, Revr has advantage on attack rolls
against any creature that hasn’t taken a turn. Any hit he scores against a
surprised creature is a critical hit.
Evade. If Revr is subjected to an effect that allows him to make a
Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he instead takes no
damage if he succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if he fails.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Revr deals an extra 13 (4d6) damage when he hits
a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when
the target is within 5 ft. of an ally of the Fox that isn’t incapacitated and the
Fox doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Revr makes two shortsword attacks.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 13
Constitution saving throw, taking 13 (4d6) poison damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Shieldmaster
"We fight for our King and die for our King.".
The members of the elite royal guard live near the King’s palace. These
warriors are experts shield wall fighters, handpicked by the King himself
after they fought at his side during many battles and raids.
The shieldmasters swore their eternal fealty to the throne and will
never betray their King or master. They will help the PCs if so order the
King or if they can prove that he has been tricked.
Shieldmaster
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Honorable
STR
18 (+4)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
10 (+0)
Armor Class 18 (scale armor, shield)
Hit Points 80 (10d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +6, Con +5
Skills Asatru +3, Perception +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The shieldmaster makes two battleaxe attacks.
Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage if used
with two hands.
Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 9 (2d4 + 4) bludgeon damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller
creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be
knocked prone.
REACTIONS
Parry. The shieldmaster adds 3 to its AC against one melee attack that
would hit him. To do so, it must see the attacker and be wielding a shield.
145
Encounters on Midgardr
Sknaht
"Why this furrowed brow? Let me ease the burden of your heart, tell me about
your deepest fears."
Very little is know about the Queen of the Odhinn’s Eye: allegedly, she’s a
princess of the Englar, offered to Asbjorn to seal an alliance to stop the raids.
Many suspect that she’s a witch, who somehow altered the King’s
mind. No one even remotely conceived that she is actually a manifestation
of the god Loki who, after having fun corrupting the minds of the Englar’s
kings pushing them to slay one another, decided to return home in style.
The cult of the Only Flame is another trick of the God of Mischief.
The Only Flame represent the giant Surtur and every prayer offered to it
makes the fire giant more powerful before his arrival during Ragnarok.
Roleplaying Sknaht
Sknaht is extremely beautiful and feral. She’s always observing with her
great dark eyes and rarely speaks, but always keep a perfect composure.
When she speaks, her voice makes the heart of any man tremble, she is
so skilled with words that she can enchant even the wisest men. Her tone
is like the smoothest velvet and it’s rare for someone to deny her requests.
Loki will never reveal his true nature, unless the PCs can take Sknaht
down to 0 hit points. If this happens, the God of Mischief will appear
in his true form and, mildly amused, free the King of his enchantments
before disappearing.
Sknaht
Sknaht’s Goals
Sknaht intends to enjoy her vacation of Midgardr sowing chaos among
the mortals. The Queen wants war, so that voilence and bloodshed can
empower Hel’s undead army, at the same time she wants to spread the
cult of the eternal flame on Midgardr, so that the prayers can increase the
power of the great Surtur.
She will do anything in her power to defend her beloved Asbjorn,
but she might as well choose a new champion, making sure that the
King dies prematurely in an accident if this suits her purpose better.
Sknaht
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Dishonorable
STR
8 (-1)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
16 (+3)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
20 (+5)
Armor Class 13 (hide armor)
Hit Points 88 (14d6 + 28)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Wis +7, Cha +9
Skills Insight +7, Perception +7, Persuasion +9
Damage Immunities fire
Senses passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Magic Resistance. Sknaht has advantage on saving throws against spells
and other magical effects.
Spellcasting. Sknaht is a 12th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is
Charisma (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks) and she has the
following cleric and sorcerer spell prepared:
Cantrips (at will): friends, mage hand, message, minor illusion,
sacred flame, true strike
1st level (4 slots): burning hands, charm persons, fog cloud, shield
2nd level (3 slots): flaming sphere, scorching ray, suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): bestow curse, fire ball, gaseous form
4th level (3 slots): confusion, fire wall, greater invisibility
5th level (3 slots): animate object, dominate person
6th level (1 slot): sunbeam
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range
20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
REACTIONS
Flaming Rebuke. When another creature hit Sknaht with a melee
weapon, it must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw. The creature
takes 10 (2d10) fire damage on a failed saving throw or half as much on a
successful one.
146
Spekisvidhr, Wood of Knowledge
"Our fate entertwines with all the nine worlds. Focus and you are going to
feel how Yggdrasill’s roots hold up everything".
Spekisvidhr is the oldest and wisest member of the circle, he is incredibly
long-lived and has held his position for many winters, teaching to entire
generations of young Crows.
He’s the only one who knows the truth about how the Jötunn’s
Sons came to be, to his eternal shame. While he was extremely young
at the time and had no part in it, he thinks that the circle made a grave
mistake exiling Hrókr, instead of trying to heal his spirit.
Roleplaying Spekisvidhr
Old Spekisvidhr is an ancient man, who seems like a relic of a time long
past. His body is broken, plagued by too many winters, yet everybody can
see how much power he has in his spirit.
Spekisvidhr always speak slowly and calmly, if he notices that someone
didn’t understand he stops and wait for the right moment to lecture his
listener with a short and brief remark.
His wisdom is so great that anyone in his presence feels small and
stupid but, as of late, Spekisvidhr looks very gloomy: he regrets some of his
past choices and feels that he’s at a crossroad that might decide the salvation
or the doom of the circle.
Spekisvidhr’s Goals
Spekisvidhr has only one goal: preserve the circle and its neutrality.
He fears the machinations of the Jötunn’s Sons above everything
else and can sense the obscure schemes within the order. For this reason,
he doesn’t want to endorse any clan and believes that a war among the
Northmen will only allow evil to spread further.
Above all else, he regrets letting himself being talked into appointing
the son of Jarl Alrekr and if the PCs shows that their goal is to keep the
peace, he will ask for their help.
Spekisvidhr
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Honorable
STR
14 (+2)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
11 (+0)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
20 (+5)
CHA
12 (+1)
Armor Class 11 (leather armor)
Hit Points 60 (12d8)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +6, Wis +9
Skills Arcane +6, Asatru +13, History +6, Intimidation +5, Perception +9
Senses passive Perception 19
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Spellcasting. Spekisvidhr is a 12th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting
ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks) and he
has the following runemaster spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): chill touch, light, sacred flame,
shillelagh, thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): bless, sanctuary, shield, thunder wave
2nd level (3 slots): gust of wind, spiritual weapon, zone of truth
3rd level (3 slots): haste, lighting bolt, magic circle
4th level (3 slots): banishment, compulsion, ice storm
5th level (2 slot): dominate person, teleportation circle
6th level (1 slot): circle of death
Master of the Futhark Circle. Spekisvidhr can cast a rune circle, carving
the Futhark alphabet on the ground with his magic. He use an action
on his turn to choose a point on the ground within 60 ft., creating a 10
ft. radius Futhark Circle. To maintain the circle active, he must use a
bonus action each turn and he must be able to see it. When a creature
Spekisvidhr can see attacks a target other than him that is inside the
circle, Spekisvidhr can roll 1d10 and subtract the result from the enemy’s
attack roll. Enemies within the Futhark Circle lose any damage resistance
to bludgeoning, slashing and piercing damage from non.magical
weapons. Spekisvidhr is always considered inside a Futhark Circle.
Spekisvidhr has a number of Futhark Circle Dice equal to your Wisdom
modifier (a minimum of one). He regains any expended Futhark Circle
Dice when you finish a long rest and his Futhark Circle Die is a d10.
ACTIONS
Warhammer. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
6 (1d8 +2) bludgeoning damage or 8 (1d10 + 2) bludgeoning damage if
used with two hands.
REACTIONS
Spekisvidhr’s Retribution. When Spekisvidhr or one of his allies within
the Futhark Circle is hit, Spekisvidhr can use his reaction to cause 5
(1d10) damage to every enemy within the circle.
Spekisvidhr
147
Encounters on Midgardr
Thorleif Sikiroddr, “Silk Voice”
"Please, let me come with you, I swear I will make you legends".
The people of his village always considered Thorleif Sikiroddr a great
storyteller and an accomplished Skald.
For this reason, when he was younger, he embarked on a great jour-
ney across the Northlands, looking for inspirations for his ballads.
Unfortunately, the reality is much colder, muckier and way less glorious
than the stories told.
The arrival of the Great Winter didn’t improve the situation and now
the Skald is desperately looking for a way to survive and keep composing
ballads on anything but the eternal snow.
Roleplaying Thorleif
Thorleif Sikiroddr is a beautiful and charismatic man, who can raise the
spirit of any man and catch the eye of any woman when he plays his
instruments.
His main vices are women and mead and, while he claims to be looking
for adventure, he might be too scared to face any danger beyond his reach.
Thorleif
Thorleif’s Goals
Thorleif Sikiroddr is looking for ideas to create new ballads and gain even
more fame.
If he meets the PCs, he will do anything to convince them to let him
join and, if they refuse, he will follow them anyway.
He is going to stay with the party until he has enough material for a
new exciting ballad (at the GM’s discretion), after that he will go his sepa-
rate way to compose and spread the word of the PC’s deeds. Depending on
how the PCs acted, this might increase or destroy their reputation, provid-
ing advantage or disadvantage to social rolls.
Thorleif
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Honorable
STR
10 (+0)
DEX
14(+2)
CON
10 (+0)
INT
12 (+1)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
Hit Points 40 (6d8)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Asatru +4, History +3, Performance +5
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Common
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Song of Rest. Thorleif can perform a song while taking a short rest.
Any ally who hears the song regains an extra 1d6 hit points if it spends
any Hit Dice to regain hit points at the end of that rest. The bard can
confer this benefit on itself as well.
Taunt (2/day). Thorleif can use a bonus action on his turn to target
one creature within 30 ft. of him. If the target can hear him, it must
succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or have disadvantage on
ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws until the start of Tholeiff’s
next turn.
Spellcasting. Thorleif is a 5th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is
Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks) and he has the
following bard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): animal friendship, cure wounds, heroism,
speak with animals
2nd level (3 slots): animal messenger, magic mouth
3rd level (2 slots): plant growth, speak with plants
ACTIONS
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage or 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage if used with
two hands.
148
Thorunn Horikdottir
“I ask you to swear by loyalty and leave immediately to the Wall, to investi-
gate the incident and return to report what you’ll discover”.
Queen Thorunn Horikdottir didn’t have an easy or happy life.
After her father and brother disappeared at sea, her household was on
the brink of disaster and it would have been destroyed by other ambitious
nobles if it wasn’t for Thorunn’s strength and her innate knack for politics.
After getting a measure of political stability, Thorunn set off to the
Danevirke, to win the hearts of her subjects, fighting against the invaders
alongside her shieldmaidens.
The Skalds everywhere tell the tale to the return of the great queen and
her Valkyries. Despite the terrible state of Jutland, the entire peninsula
unconditionally love with the Queen.
Roleplaying Thorunn
The queen of Gjallarhorn clan is as beautiful as spring and as cold the
Great Winter.
Her life was never easy, but these hardships forged her into a woman of
iron, her personality is sharper than any blade forged on Midgardr. Yet, she
always look perfect and sunny like an autumn morning. She doesn’t allow
anyone to interrupt her while she speaks and, usually, one glance of her icy
blue eyes is enough to shut up the fool.
In spite of her cold disposition, the Queen is intelligent, smart and
always polite. She lets those who deserve her attention speak and always
rewards those who serve her, sometimes with one of her rare smiles, like a
warn glimpse of summer during Fimbulvetr. On the other hand, whoever
opposes her will be dealt swiftly with her own blade.
Thorunn
Thorunn’s Goal
Thorunn has a score of problems and she’s always looking for trustworthy
agents. Her first priority is to defend the borders against the invading
Franks, those who enlist in the Danevirke’s Guard have many chances of
winning her favor.
She also wants to know what is going on beyond the Wall, but
she doesn’t want panic to spread across the Jutland, so discretion is
paramount.
Then, she needs to show her power, punishing the rebellious jarls of
the islands. A group of brave warrior that can achieve this will be com-
pensated with grants and honors.
Finally, the queen knows that, sooner or later, she has to find a worthy
husband to keep the nobles in check. The obvious seems King Asbjorn,
since the news of his recent marriage haven’t reached the Jutland, yet.
There are numbers of powerful clan chieftains and jarls that might step
forward if they understand that Thorunn’s priority is an alliance to sta-
bilize the kingdom.
Thorunn
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Honorable
STR
14 (+2)
DEX
20 (+5)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
13 (+1)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 19 (studded leather armor, shield)
Hit Points 100 (12d10 + 36)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Dex +9, Con +7
Skills Animal Handling +5, Asatru +7, Stealth +9, Survival +7
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Champion of the Shield Wall. Thorunn’s allies within 5 ft. of her can
use their reaction to add 3 to their AC or to Thorunn’s AC.
Inspiring Leader. Thorunn’s allies within 60 ft. of her have advantage to
all saving throws against fear or charm effects.
Indomitable (2/day). Thorunn can re-roll a failed saving throw.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Thorunn makes three longsword attacks.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
11 (1d8 + 7) slashing damage or 12 (1d10 + 7) slashing damage if used
with two hands.
Leadership (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute,
Thorunn can utter a special command or warning whenever a non-hostile
creature that she can see within 30 ft. of her makes an attack roll or a
saving throw. The creature can add a d4 to its roll provided it can hear
and understand her. A creature can benefit from only one Leadership die
at a time. This effect ends if Thorunn is incapacitated.
REACTIONS
Parry. Thorunn adds 3 to hers AC against one melee attack that would hit
her. To do so, she must see the attacker and be wielding a shield.
149
Encounters on Midgardr
Troll of Midgardr
"Off with his head, so he’s stop squirming".
The trolls of Midgardr are greedy, shy and cruel.
They prowl the woods during the night in small group, usually two or
three trolls, hoping to find some unsuspecting traveler to rob and eat. In
spite of their size, trolls are very skilled at hiding among the trees and rarely
leave any trace.
They surprise their victims jumping them out of nowhere and hitting
very hard and fast. But they’re not dangerous just because of their size and
strength: each troll is very skilled at crafting lethal implements and their
weapons often have magical properties.
One of the main weaknesses of the Troll is that they’re not very
bright. According to many Skalds, the best way to escape a Troll’s grasp
is to trick it.
Troll of Midgardr
Large Giant, Chaotic Any Alignment
STR
18 (+4)
DEX
13 (+1)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
7 (-2)
WIS
9 (-1)
CHA
7 (-2)
Armor Class 16 (natural armor and thick troll clothes)
Hit Points 84 (8d10 + 40)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Natural Camouflage. The troll is unnaturally skilled at hiding among
the trees. It has advantage to all Stealth rolls while he’s in a forest and
can hide behind trees or among the shrubbery, even if it doesn’t provide
cover.
Keen Smell. The troll has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks
that rely on smell.
Regeneration. The troll regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn. If
the troll takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start
of the troll’s next turn. The troll dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit
points and doesn’t regenerate.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The troll makes three attacks, two attacks with the troll
mace and one with the bite.
Troll Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Troll Kidh
"Gnuuuu….ghuuuuu".
This troll is a bit smaller and less violent and cruel than most of its sib-
lings and is, in fact, the son of the Troll King. For some obscure reason,
the Three Witches that live in the forest kidnapped him and now they are
lovingly raising him as their own.
The “kid” hasn’t developed the usual troll temperament and doesn’t
understand the situation all that well. He loves the witches and roams
around the woods eating more or less everything.
A few days ago, strange lights and sounds lured him away from the
witches and he found a weird place, where strange pink creature he never
tasted before lived in houses.
The inhabitants attacked him immediately and, as retaliation, the “kid”
destroyed the entire village and slaughtered them all.
Troll Kidh
Medium Giant, Chaotic Dishonorable
STR
17 (+3)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
18 (+4)
INT
7 (-2)
WIS
5 (-3)
CHA
7 (-2)
Armor Class 16 (natural armor and thick troll clothes)
Hit Points 62 (6d20 + 32)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Perception +0, Stealth +5
Senses darkvision (60 ft.), passive Perception (10)
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Natural Camouflage. The Troll Kidh is unnaturally skilled at hiding
among the trees. It has advantage to all Stealth rolls while he’s in a
forest and can hide behind trees or among the shrubbery, even if it
doesn’t provide cover.
Keen Smell. The Troll Kidh has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on smell.
Regeneration. The Troll Kidh regains 5 hit points at the start of its
turn. If he takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn’t function at the
start of the troll’s next turn. He dies only if he starts his turn with 0 hit
points and doesn’t regenerate.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Troll Kidh makes two attacks, one with the troll mace
and one with the bite.
Troll Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Screeching Cry. The Troll Kidh can cry and scream. For 1 minute each
creature within 60 ft. must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw at the
start of its turn. On a failed save, it takes 1d4 psychic damage and have
disadvantage to all attacks against the Troll Kidh. The cry is very loud and
can be heard from very far away.
150
Troll King
"No creature of Midgardr can best me,
I hope you are ready for a painful death".
Nobody knows how this monstrosity came to be, but no one doubts that
the Troll King has earned his title thanks to his sheer size and boundless rage.
Thanks to these qualities, His Monstrosity defeated every opponent
until he retired in the heart of the mountains. From there – he says – he
commands the troll people while gazing upon the hoard accumulated over
centuries of murdering and pillaging.
While there is a Troll King, the species as a whole lacks of a clear
hierarchy. The strongest trolls lords over the weaker and their only,
apparent, interest are killing, stealing and hoarding treasures to satisfy
their sadistic needs.
Roleplaying the Troll King
The Troll King is one of the most devious and evil creature that ever
existed. The humongous Troll consider himself as the strongest being on
Midgardr and every other creature beneath him.
If the PCs meet the Troll King and somehow challenge him, he will
immediately attack to show them his superior might.
Humbling themselves in from of the Troll King and offer him a gift –
or promising one – might buy the PCs a few minutes, but it’s very likely
that the Troll King will eat them nonetheless out of spite or boredom.
Troll King’s Goals
The Troll King hates all the human rulers of Midgardr and will be
extremely grateful to whoever brings him a human king to devour.
The King is also very worried about his beloved son (the Troll Kid),
who went missing months ago. He is going to be very grateful to whoever
is going to bring the child back safe and sound.
If the PCs met the Troll King too soon, they might escape with their
lives promising to fulfil one of either of these tasks or bribing the King with
vague promises of a great ransom.
The King’s gratitude will be short-lived. After a few minutes, he will
give in to his hunger and, while he will be more merciful and eat his guests
after killing them, he won’t let anyone escape.
Troll King
Huge Giant, Chaotic Dishonorable
STR
25 (+7)
DEX
13 (+1)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
9 (-1)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
12 (+1)
Armor Class 15 (natural armor a thick troll clothes)
Hit Points 189 (14d12 + 98)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +11, Wis +4
Skills Athletics +11, Perception +4
Damage Immunities cold
Senses darkvision (60 ft.), passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge 12 (8,400 PX)
Natural Camouflage. The Troll King is unnaturally skilled at hiding
among the trees. It has advantage to all Stealth rolls while he’s in a forest
and can hide behind trees or among the shrubbery, even if it doesn’t
provide cover.
Keen Smell. The Troll King has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on smell.
Regeneration. The Troll King regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn.
If he takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the
troll’s next turn. The Troll King dies only if he starts his turn with 0 hit
points and doesn’t regenerate.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Troll King makes three attacks, two with the troll
hammer and one with the bite.
Troll Hammer. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft.
or range 60/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 26 (3d12 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 20 (2d12 + 7) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller
creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or become
grappled and entangled. Until this grapples ends, the Troll King cannot
bite another creature.
Swallow. Troll King makes one bite attack against a Medium or smaller
target he’s grappling. If the attack hits, the target is swallowed, and the
grapple ends. The swallowed target is blinded and restrained, it has total
cover against attacks and other effects outside the Troll King, and it takes
20 (3d12) acid damage at the start of each of the Troll King’s turns. If
the Troll King suffers 30 or more damage from a swallowed creature, he
must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw on regurgitating all
the swallowed creature, who will fall prone within 10 ft. If the Troll King
dies, a swallowed creatures can crawl out of his body using half of its
movement and emerge prone.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The Troll King can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time, and
only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Troll King regains spent
legendary actions at the start of his turn.
Troll Hammer. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft.
or range 60/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 26 (3d12 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Locate. The Troll King makes a Wisdom (Perception) roll.
Roar. The Troll King utters a fearsome roar. A single creature within 60
ft. of the Troll King, that can see and hear him, must succeed on a DC
18 Charisma saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. At the
begging of each of its turns, the target can make a DC 18 Charisma
saving throw to end this effect. This ability doesn’t work on a creature
who previously succeeded on the saving throw.
151
Encounters on Midgardr
Agantyr (Corporeal Draugr)
“Only those not afraid of death can wield Tyrfing, as only ruin follows in
its wake!”
Agantyr is not hostile to the characters if they address him with the due
respect. He attacks them only if threatened, attacked in the first place or
insulted, shouting in rage. As he bellows, eleven Incorporeal Draugr rise
from the ground and join the fight on his side.
Agantyr, who in truth wishes to get rid of the sword, can be challenged
to a duel or convinced to hand it over. In that case, he warns the characters
of the perils and misfortune it causes to its bearer.
Gertrud, Melega
and Dontoka (Green Hags)
“Why don’t you enter and eat some stew, dear?”
These three hags live in a hut in the great forests and believe they are the
incarnation of the three Norns of the sagas.
Although they are incredibly skilled in both magic and the brewing of
powerful potions, they are not adept in the art of divination and because of
this they usually act in difficult to foresee ways causing any kind of trouble.
Their last “vision” had them kidnap the son of the Troll King, succeed-
ing against all odds, who now lives with them in the great forest.
Heil Hofn Scouts (Scout)
“The path through the mountains? I wouldn’t lead you there even if you
forced me… if the pay is good enough, though, I might change my mind.”
The scouts of Heil Hofn are famous for being the best explorers in the
whole of Midgardr. For the right price, these expert trackers can point
the safest roads and fastest paths to the characters.
Svenn Skallfoss (Veteran)
“With weapons in such a bad state, how do you think you can honor the
gods?! Pass by tomorrow and you will find them as good as the day they
were forged!”
Svenn Skallfoss is considered one of the best blacksmith in the northern
lands. According to some, his skills match those of the Dwarves of Nidavellir,
as he is capable of forging items with magical properties, like them.
As his fame spread, King Asbjorn wanted him at his court to craft
weapons and armor for his army. Initially enthusiast, the blacksmith forged
formidable blades for the King’s own guard and taught the craftspeople of
Heil Hofn incredible techniques to make their weapons superior to those
of the King’s enemy and to conquest the Clans of the northern lands.
However, as Asbjorn returned from the great raid with a bride that
made him forsake the Gods, Svenn fled Heil Hofn to find shelter close to
the Uppsala temple.
Today, he offers his craft and skill to those adventurers who show
respect to the Æsir and Vanir, who can buy all sorts of items in his shop,
including those of a more exotic make.
Svenn can forge in a month any +1 magical weapon for 1000 gp.
If the characters earn his favor or liking, he gifts them a Sword of
Skallfoss (see page 302).
The Reef Hermit (Commoner)
“Come closer… enter the cavern… I was waiting for you.”
Among the reef close to Heilf Hofn are a few sacred rocks, where lives a
crippled, wise man who is said to be able to see through the mists of time.
This man, hunched and misshapen, is always covered in black clothes
stitched with runes and other magical symbols. To be granted an audience
with this wise man, one must leave an offer at the entrance of the cavern,
usually a sacrificial animal.
In the past, he was an advisor and the court of Asbjorn and his father
before him, both kings often visiting him to ask for his wise opinion. To
honor him, they spoke to the population from the sacred rocks.
This wise man despised the religion of the One Flame and firmly believes
that Queen Skhnat is a dangerous witch who tainted the King’s mind.
If the characters listen to his words and indulge him, the Reef Hermit
gifts them a True Sunstone (See page 302).
152
Norvgr - The Coastal Area
ÆTT / D6
Foes
Encounters
Weather
Freyja U
1
-
An errant Gothi
The sky is clear,
but the air is cold
Freyja D
2
1d6 Wolves
A dying child, telling the tale of
the destruction of her village at
the hand of an enormous Troll
Freezing winter mist
Heimdallr U
3
-
A group of pilgrims freshly
converted to the Only Flame
heading to the Community
Clouded sky, cold sea breeze,
ideal for sailing
Heimdallr D
4
2d6 Bandits
A group of Asbjorn’s guards
looking for a criminal
A strong wind rises from the sea
Tyr U
5
-
A merchant and their mercenary
escort heading to the capital
It snows
Tyr D
6
1d2 Warg
A vessel in distress is visible from
the coast
The coast is wracked by a storm
Norvgr - The Snowy Mountains
ÆTT / D6
Foes
Encounters
Weather
Freyja U
1
1d4 Swarms of Crows
A mastiff who lost his master
A few sunrays mitigate the harsh
weather
Freyja D
2
1d6 Ice Mephit
A man covered in grievous
wounds dies rambling
about a curse
It snows heavily and fresh snow
starts coating the land
Heimdallr U
3
2d6 Thugs
A man who forsook Asbjorn is
trapped in a crevasse
The sky is clear and
it does not rain
Heimdallr D
4
2 Cave Bears
A family abandons the
mountains, as life there
is too harsh
The air is noticeably chilly
Tyr U
5
2 Winter Wolves
A rock carved with one of
Tyr’s runes that might mean
something
Dark clouds and roaring
thunders shake the mountain
Tyr D
6
1 Air Elemental
A Runic Branch, broken and
drenched in blood
The mountains are wracked
by a terrible storm
These tables are to be considered as tools in the hands of GM, useful
to break the monotony of a journey, or as a characteristic element of
the geographical area to which they refer. To consult them the GM can
extract a rune, the effect of which can influence the result, or launch a d6.
Each column should be the result of separate shots, according to
what the GM has in mind to move the game. Each table can be modified
according to the vision of Midgardr that every GM builds in the theater
of his mind.
Moreover, if an event described particularly attracts the GM, he can
choose it without the use of a die roll or the influence of a rune.
153
Encounters on Midgardr
Svtjod - The Great Forest
ÆTT / D6
Foes
Encounters
Weather
Freyja U
1
2d4 Vine Blight
A group of the Blood Wolves
The sky is dark
and covered by clouds
Freyja D
2
1d4 Treant
A weird looking old lady,
gathering mushrooms
Light and low mist
Heimdallr U
3
1d4 Giant Elk
A wandering Druid, looking for
communion with nature
Wintery, yet not extreme,
weather
Heimdallr D
4
1 Galeb Duhr
A crazy adventurer, talking of
ruins infested by spectres
A strong wind rustles the tree
canopies
Tyr U
5
2d6 Wolves
The remains of a group of
soldiers of the Odhinn’s Eye who
borne the Flame
Heavy snowfall
Tyr D
6
1 Troll of Midgardr
Troll Kidh
A storm, with hail and thunders
Fenmark - The Swamp
ÆTT / D6
Foes
Encounters
Weather
Freyja U
1
1 Shambling Mound
A surly raftsman crosses the bog
The sun faintly peeks
through thin clouds
Freyja D
2
2d4 Spectres
Corpses floating in the water
Freezing rain
Heimdallr U
3
1d4 Swarms of Centipedes
Irreverent children
Clouded sky, although
it does not rain
Heimdallr D
4
1 Black Pudding
A crazy man, behaving
more like a beast
It snows slowly but steadily
Tyr U
5
1d6 Dire Wolves
A group of forsaken
looking for something
Thick mist
Tyr D
6
1 Ghost
An apparently abandoned
and drifting raft
The air is biting cold
and frost coats everything
154
Jutland - Dry Land
ÆTT / D6
Foes
Encounters
Weather
Freyja U
1
1d4 Corrupted Snakes (Basilisk)
A shieldmaiden (shieldmaster)
riding a majestic steed
The sun faintly peeks
through thin clouds
Freyja D
2
1d4 Aberrant Insect (Chuul)
Remains of a destroyed camp
Strong wind
Heimdallr U
3
1 Corrupted Boar (Bulette)
A group of Danevirke Guards
heading to the Wall
Clouded sky, although
it does not rain
Heimdallr D
4
2d6 Corrupted hen (Cockatrice)
Refugees heading to a fortress
for protection
Scattered and thin mist
Tyr U
5
1 Awakened Tree (Treant)
A wounded rebel
Torrential rain
Tyr D
6
1 Corrupted Toad (Otyugh)
A wounded and terrified
man rambles about
the awakened dead
A dark storm looms
from the south
The Sea Midgardr
ÆTT / D6
Foes
Encounters
Weather
Freyja U
1
1d6 Killer Whale/Hunter Shark
Fishing ships
The sky is clear and the wind
is moderately strong
Freyja D
2
1d6 Wight
A ship with no flags
The wind is still, but gelid
Heimdallr U
3
2d6 Pirates (Bandit Captain)
An approaching ship,
with a clan banner
The sky is partially clear
and the weather is stable
Heimdallr D
4
1 Water Elemental
The way is blocked
by icebergs and frost
It snows heavily and
the cold is beyond freezing
Tyr U
5
2 Giant Sharks
The survivors of
a shipwreck in distress
Thick fog and rough sea
Tyr D
6
1 Aboleth
The remains of
a destroyed mighty warship
A terrible storm rises
from the sea
155
Encounters on Midgardr
Journey to Ragnarok
156
Chapter 5
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the Niflheimr
setting; the descriptions of the places and characters that
the Heroes will be able to explore and meet during their
journey through the Nine Worlds are reported, with an
appendix on the statistics.
Niflheimr
158
General Features
159
Map
161
The Journey on Niflheimr
163
Encounters on Niflheimr
164
The Nine Worlds: Niflheimr
157
Journey to Ragnarok
158
Niflheimr
At the beginning of time, there was Ginnungagap,
the endless pit, the abyss of abysses. Two forces were
born from its bottomless void: the First Fire and
the Primordial Ice. The first shaped the World of
Muspellsheimr, the second giving birth to Nilfheimr.
Placed northernmost of Midgardr, Nilfheimr is the
realm of the Primordial Ice, constantly whipped by the
winds and frost storms and covered in a milky layer of
icy snow. Eleven rivers run its length, the Élivágar or
“Frozen Waves”, formed at the beginning of time. They
grew so distant from their spring that they froze and
became poisonous.
They come from Hvergelmir, the “Thundering
Cauldron”, an immense pit opening at the center of the
realm, its content boiling furiously and its howls echo-
ing all across the World.
Deep within Hvergelmir sinks one of the enormous
roots of Yggdrasill, the Ash Tree of the World, feeding
from its restless waters.
Tall mountains rise from the plains, providing nat-
ural shelter to the giants roaming these lands. They are
Hrímþursar, Frost Giants, direct descendants of the
towering Ymir.
They are scions of Bergelmir, the one who survived
the massacre of first generation of giants at his father’s
hand. Hrímþursar live in tribes, wandering the endless
ice wastes and, although they are known to remain in
the same area for relatively long periods, they do not
cross the rivers that surround their lands.
When they do, however, they are aware that meet-
ing with other tribes means trespassing into their
territories, which can only lead to war.
As they live alongside others of their kind and
dead creatures and feed on poisonous ice and salt,
Hrímþursar are extremely aggressive.
They are also known for relishing in acts of canni-
balism in the wake of particularly violent fights.
Lost within the fog and ice, lies Gnipahellir, the
cavern that connects Nilfheimr to the Realm of Hel.
As it is the only way out of this place, its entrance is
littered with the countless corpses of those who looked
for a way to escape.
The Nine Worlds: Niflheimr
159
General Features
Weather: Extremely cold. Without proper equipment,
the characters must pass a DC 15 Constitution saving
throw every hour or suffer one level of exhaustion.
Lighting: The eternal flame of Muspellsheimr is
reflected off the snow, through the fog, allowing for
180 ft. of difficult vision.
Sounds: The crunching of boots on snow, the distant
flow of a river, the constant howl and hiss of the wind.
Terrain - Plain: Although there are no roads or paths,
travel pace remains normal in this part of the World.
Terrain - Mountain: The steep slopes of the moun-
tains are challenging to climb, counting as difficult
terrain.
Terrain - River: Wading the waters and sailing on
them are impossible.
Terrain - Sea: Extremely hot. Even with proper equip-
ment, the characters must pass a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw every 180 ft. of travel or suffer one level
of exhaustion.
The Grey Mountains
Extremely tall, snowy peaks, clustered in isolated
ranges of steep mountains split the land of Nilfheimr
between the plains of the Élivágar rivers. Ancestral
home of the Frost Giants, who love hiding there while
waiting between migrations, they are riddled with cav-
erns, caves and shelters where those not used to the
poison cannot survive.
The price for taking refuge from the storms outside
of there is dear: almost every rock sheds sleet that finds
its way into the caverns, filling them with lethally poi-
sonous fumes.
In spite of this, it is easy to find Aptrgangar not
only while traveling through Nilfheimr, but also here.
Being on the path of such creatures never leads to any
good: their ferocity and determination in being reu-
nited with the goddess Hel are such that nothing will
stop them.
Not they have much to lose, anyway…
Élivágar, the Frozen Rivers
Slabs of ice grind one on the other, like massive bones,
their friction howling and spreading a dense hail of ice
shards and toxic poison.
Sight beyond even a few dozens of feet from the banks
is made impossible by the thick and poisonous fog.
Their flow is wide and deep, averaging each of the
Élivágar at a width of 210 ft. Crossing them is pos-
sible, although extremely dangerous, as breathing the
fumes is deadly for both body and mind. If a character
tries to cross one of the Élivágar, they must pass a DC
17 Wisdom saving throw every 30 ft. On a failure, the
Game Master casts a rune; if it is upright they check
the Poisons Chart; if it is reversed, they check the
Mental Damage Chart.
These rivers were born at the beginning of time,
when the frozen palls surrounding Nilfheimr were
melted by the burning waves of Muspellsheimr, rain-
ing down as caustic water. Such substance, called Eitr,
is poisonous and is the reason why the vast majority of
the Jotunkind born from it is aggressive and evil.
On the map, starting from the north clockwise,
the eleven rivers are: Gjöll, Svöl, Gunnthrá, Fjörm,
Fimbulthul, Slidr, Hríd, Sylgr, Ylgr, Víd and Leiptr,
each naming and feeding a hrímþursar tribe.
The best known of the rivers is Gjöll, the closest to
Gnipahellir, the cave to the Realm of Hel and the one
crossed by the River of the Dead.
Gjöll, after entering the atmosphere of Helheimr, is
twisted by the influence of the dreadful Queen of Hell,
becoming the deadly river of swords.
Hvergelmir, the Boiling Sea
Born from the liquid gushing from the horns of the
stag Eikþyrnir, it is one of the three springs at the foot
of Yggdrasill. Source of the Élivágar from the center of
Nilfheimr, the well of Hvergelmir is an immense sea,
boiling within the ice, at the center of which rises a
massive column of steam.
Alongside it, the coasts are irregular raft-like slabs
of ice, floating on the warm water. It can be crossed,
although at great peril, as it is extremely easy to fall
underwater and be buried below the ice.
The pak is a dangerous place, so when walking
from one slab to the other it is better to be extremely
careful. If one were to fall into the water, they would
suffer gravely. The farther from the coast, the higher
the temperature, so much that directly crossing the sea
is impossible.
The air is toxic, the heat is intolerable and the thick
pall of steam eliminates all possible points of reference.
The River of the Dead
The mortal remains of those who died in disgrace,
loathed by the gods and spiteful of their rules, rise
again in Nilfheimr, still bearing the clothes and items
they did when they fell.
These cyanotic corpses, their eyes milky and their
appearance shriveled, rise from the omnipresent coat
Journey to Ragnarok
160
of sleet and wander, looking for Helvegr, the path to
the Realm of Hel.
Gathered in one roving host, they appear like
an imposing greenish tide, slowly drifting towards
Gnipahellir, new corpses coming from all around
Niflheimr to bolster their ranks.
Being scorned in life, one cannot expect much from
them, even in death. They are not aggressive, but can
become ferocious if prevented from finding Helheimr.
Gnipahellir, the Cavern
This tunnel connects Nilfheimr to Helheimr and is
home to Helvegr, the magical path all the risen dead
must walk.
The cavern is located in a hilly area in the northern
region of the world, close to the river Gjöll and not too
far from the relative hrímþursar tribe camp. This ridge
looks like an imposing mountain of white snow from
afar. Closing in, however, it takes the form of a cavity as
dark as the starless night, made of smooth, black onyx,
plunging into the depths of Nilfheimr.
The winds, normally extremely loud, now are unnat-
urally still, leaving only silence and a deep, dull rumble
from deeper within the cavern in their absence.
The tide of the dead enters the cavern and steadily
drifts forward, disappearing from sight a few hundred
ft. from the entrance. Inside, there is no wind, only cold
emanating from the dark stone.
Entering the cave is challenging: the floor and walls
are smooth and slippery, without footholds for those
who wanted to climb.
Without climbing equipment, attempting characters
would be slammed onto the floor by violent bursts of
air just a few ft. from the entrance of the cavern, to the
point where keeping an erect stance is a challenge.
Characters equipped for the task can attempt a DC
15 Strenght (Athletics) check with disadvantage every
30 ft. to climb up the gorge. Failure means a quick fall
down to the darkest depths of the cave.
On the other side of the cavern, lies the realm of
Helheimr.
Hrímþursar Camps
Frost Giants are despicable creatures, poisoned in both
body and mind by the ice they feed upon.
They treat as “non-hostile”, since “friends” would
be too complex a concept for their intelligence, only
those who belong to their tribe… and sometimes not
even their own.
Their endless wandering and the scarce food tire
them greatly. When they choose to stop somewhere
they think is good for resting, they gather in small
groups a few dozen ft. apart and fall asleep into the
snow. Each tribe is named after the river running in
their plain, consequently leading to many misunder-
standings that culminate in ferocious feuds.
Upon arriving in one of their camps, one can find
4 to 8, fifteen feet tall, heaps of snow, each three or for
hrímþursar deep in their slumber.
Generally, in such camps movement is scarce and
the giants sleep as long as they deem necessary.
Only rarely a Jötunn thinks they have unresolved
matters with their kin and pretend to be deep in slum-
ber, then to stand up as the others sleep. It is in that
moment that the poisonous ferocity accumulated in
centuries is unleashed with glacial violence, followed
by acts of heinous cannibalism.
Meddling with such camps is never a good idea,
moreover if not made of ice and salt: any other food
source would wake the whole, hungry tribe.
Hrímþursar from Gjöll
Unlike their cousins, the hrímþursar from Gjöll did
not have the luck of wandering the plains, as their
camp is on an island in the middle of the river. They
fortified it with salt and dug caves in the very ice that
feeds them, connecting them with tunnels in what
looks like an underground city, their community now
unassailable from the outside.
The Caves of Eitr
Close to the coasts of Hvergelmir to the northeast and the
springs of the Svöl river to the south, low hills rise from
the water. Covered in a greenish layer of ice, at a distant
glance they look like they are riddled with caverns.
The stretch of sea that separates this isle from the
plains can be easily covered on foot.
Once on firm ground, the majority of what looked
like caves in the distance are indentations in the rock
or canals emanating poisonous fumes. Trespassing is
akin to a death sentence: a character must pass a DC
17 Wisdom saving throw every 30 ft., casting a rune
on a fail. If it is upright, check its result on the Poisons
Table; if it is reversed, check the result on the Mental
Damage Table.
Only a close investigation can reveal that one of the
depressions in the rock is an actual cavern, apparently
leading below the sea level.
The intricate cluster of tunnels making up the inside
of the Caves of Eitr is complicated to comprehend.
The Nine Worlds: Niflheimr
161
Gjøll
Svøl
Gunnthrá
Fjørm
Fimbulthul
Slidr
Hríd
Sylgr
Ylgr
Leiptr
Víd
Journey to Ragnarok
162
Tunnels and shafts of varying size twist and coil one
on the other, in a descending spiral. On its floor, many
tens of feet deep, lies a hemispherical grotto almost
forty feet in diameter, dense with a pall of poisonous
dust, almost invisible to the naked eye.
The majority of its perimeter is lined with the green
and bluish skin shed by a gigantic serpent. At the center
of the place, hanging from the ceiling and bolted to the
ground, the characters see two pairs of broken chains.
The area is completely devoid of any valuables and
highly dangerous, because of both the poison and the
potential presence of a dangerous snake.
Poisons Table
Nilfheimr is the quintessential realm of ice, although it
is not made up of water, but Eitr, a form of energy that
exists since the dawn of time and poisons the body and
mind of those who are not used to it. Cast a rune to
determine the effect on the following table.
ÆTT / D6
Effect
Freyja U
1
The character is scalded by the
exhalations, suffering 5d6 poison
damage.
Freyja D
2
The character suffers from
painful spasms, rolling to hit with
disadvantage until the next long rest.
Heimdallr U
3
The character’s body falls limp under
the effect of the Feign Death spell.
Heimdallr D
4
The character is riddled with
pustules and pocks and is under
the effect of the Contagion spell.
Tyr U
5
The character is wracked by
painful hallucinations, suffering
disadvantage to their saving throws
until the next long rest.
Tyr D
6
The character inhales the mephitic
fumes, suffering 5d6 acid damage.
Mental Damage Table
Eitr energy does not only poison, but it also corrupts
the minds of those unused to its contact. Cast a rune
to determine the effect on the following table.
ÆTT / D6
Effect
Freyja U
1
The character is not able to speak
until the next long rest
Freyja D
2
The character’s sight clouds, imposing
disadvantage to all their attack rolls
until the next long rest.
Heimdallr U
3
The character suffers from mild
amnesia and is under the effect of
the Confusion spell.
Heimdallr D
4
The character hears voices around
them and is under the effect of the
Compulsion spell.
Tyr U
5
The character is wracked by
painful hallucinations, suffering
disadvantage to their saving throws
until the next long rest.
Tyr D
6
The character must spend their
next action attacking the closest
creature.
The Nine Worlds: Niflheimr
163
The characters wake up in the cold of the plains
between the mountain ranges, close to one of the
rivers, in the northern regions. It is advised to make
the characters’ journey begin in the proximity of one
of the caves of the Grey Mountains, between the Svöl
and Gunnthrá rivers. The environment is definitely
hostile and to orientate themselves the characters must
pass a series of DC 17 Wisdom (Survival) checks, lest
they lose their way and stumble upon numerous perils.
As the fog hides any point of reference even a few
feet away, the only visible landmark is the immense
root of Yggdrasill that connects the vastness of the
firmament to the icy ground. By following it, the
characters will inevitably reach the wide salty sea at the
center of Nilfheimr. From its shores, the unusual hills
of the Caves of Eitr will catch their eye.
From one of the isles, whether they have been in
the Caves or not, they will be able to see one of the
offshoots of the River of the Dead heading north along
the shore. If they choose to follow, then they will be
led to the caverns of Gnipahellir.
Once the characters will enter Gnipahellir, the will
reach the 8th level.
164
Aptrgangar
“Those who walk after death”, the dead who committed heinous acts in
life and so wake up in Nilfheimr. However, their destiny is not joining
the River of the Dead and move to Helheimr. Instead, they will remain
in the frozen limbo of this realm.
Their appearance is that of any other dead person. Frozen body,
cyanotic limbs, their eyes milky and apparently incapable of perceiving
reality around them.
In truth, their mind is akin to sleeping, waking back up at the barest
stimulus. If they sense anything around them, they attack ferociously
with the tenacity of the dead. Often, their enemies are the Frost Giants,
who, stumbling upon these lifeless bodies, take them for food and quickly
devour them.
Aptrgangar
Medium undead, any dishonorable
STR
16 (+3)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
9 (-1)
WIS
9 (-1)
CHA
12 (+1)
Armor Class 14 (studded leather)
Hit Points 50 (7d8 + 21)
Speed 30 ft
Skills Perception +1, Stealth +4
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, necrotic, piercing and slashing from
non magical attacks
Damage Immunities cold, poison
Condition Immunities exhausted, incapacitated
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Undead Nature. Aptrgangar do not need to breathe, eat, drink or sleep.
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, ’Aptrgangar suffer
disadvantage to attack rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Aptrgangar make two greatsword attacks. They can use their
Deathly Frost in place of a greatsword attack.
Deathly Frost. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d4+3) necrotic damage plus 6 (2d6) cold damage. The target
must pass a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or their hit point
maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage they
took. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target
dies if this effect reduces their hit point maximum to 0.
Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 11 (2d6+3) slashing damage.
Hrimþursar
Hrimþursar, “Frost Giants”, are the true dwellers of Nilfehimr and one
of the major Giant kins alongside the Muspellsmegir, the Fire Giants.
With them, hrimþursar share the descendance from the first giant,
Ymir, who gave birth to them from his feet.
Of that first generation, drowned in the blood of their own father, only
Bergelmir survived, finding shelter on a hollowed trunk he used as a raft to
escape and make his legacy last through the centuries.
Their sturdy frames vary in size, with the youngest being barely 7 ft. tall
while the oldest towering 14 or 15 ft. above the ground.
Their arms reach well beyond their knees and their legs are thin, if
compared to their massive torso and broad, stalagmite-covered shoulders.
Covered only in ice crystals, they have neither clothes nor weapons,
using salt blocks they dislodge from the very ground as projectiles.
When conflict sparks between tribes, it starts with a thundering
exchange of salt blocks, used as both weapons and as a warning.
Then, both factions slowly close one onto the other, as if gathering their
wrath to unleash upon their intruding cousins. When in melee, hrimþursar
hit one another in blind abandon, with their bare fists, in an attempt to
break the ice that covers their opponents and rend flesh.
Once the fight is over, the winners are known to feast upon the corpses
of the vanquished.
Hrímþursar
(Frost Giants)
Large giant. chaotic dishonorable
STR
21 (+5)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
21 (+5)
INT
7 (-2)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
10 (+0)
Armor Class 15 (natural)
Hit Points 700 (10d12 + 350)
Speed 45 ft.
Saving Throws Cha +3, Con +8, Wis +3
Skills Intimidation +3, Perception +3, Stealth +3
Damage Immunity frost
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1.800 XP)
Natural Camouflage. When in Nilfheimr, Hrímþursar roll Dexterity
(Stealth) checks with advantage to hide in the terrain.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Hrímþursar make two Slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 18 (3d8+5) bludgeoning damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target.
Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
165
The Nine Worlds: Niflheimr
Niflungar
The “People of the Mist” is mentioned in many legends, stories told with
enthusiasm at banquet halls or whispered with fear at night around the
embers of a campfire on Midgardr.
There is true answer answer about who the Niflungar are, but it is said
of the great hero Sigurd who conquered a treasure and its eternal curse.
Some claim they come from Nani; an ancient and powerful dwarven king-
dom located in forgotten places and surrounded by mist but of which no
trace has ever been found.
Other, more sinister, sources speak of bodies of dvergar without rest,
brutally slaughtered for no known reason.
Niflungar
Medium humanoid (dwarf), any dishonorable
STR
16 (+3)
DEX
11 (+0)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
12 (+1)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
12 (+1)
Armor Class 14 (hide)
Hit Points 80 (10d8 + 10)
Speed 25 ft.
Skills Deception +5, Stealth +4
Damage Immunities cold
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Dwarven Resilience. The Niflungar rolls saving throws against poison
with advantage.
Light Sensitivity. When exposed to sunlight, the Nifungar suffer
disadvantage to attack rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
ACTIONS
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage. The target must pass a DC 14
Constitution saving throw or suffer 24 poison damage. If they fail by 5
or more, they are poisoned for 1 hour.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range
30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Petrifying Mist. The Niflungar summons a gelid mist around a creature
within 30 ft. of them that they can see. That creature must pass a DC 14
Constitution saving throw. If they fail, they start to magically turn into
stone and are restrained. The creature must repeat the saving throw at the
end of their next turn; on a success, the effect ends. On a failure, they are
petrified for 24 hours or until they are freed with a greater restoration spell
or other magic.
Hrimþursar
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166
Chapter 6
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the Helheimr
setting; the descriptions of the places and characters that
the Heroes will be able to explore and meet during their
journey through the Nine Worlds are reported, with an
appendix on the statistics.
Helheimr
168
General Features
168
Map
171
The Journey on Helheimr
174
Encounters on Helheimr
176
The Nine Worlds: Helheimr
167
Journey to Ragnarok
168
Helheimr
In the darkest and most distant land of the universe, at
the extreme north, lies a desolate land, whipped by the
winds and battered by rain. It is Helheimr, the domain
of the fascinating yet terrifying Hel, queen of the dead.
This realm is tied to Nilfheimr by the cave Gnipahellir,
allowing those who have committed grave crimes or died
without fighting to pass from one world to the other.
This land is a great, malodorous swamp, dominated
by the sweetish stench of decay. Infested with slimy and
slithering creatures and branches similar to skeletal arms
rising from the bog, a thick pall of mist shrouds the
swamplands.
Neither the gaze of sweet Sòl nor the caresses of pale
Mani reach here. There are no stars to show the way and
the laws of the gods lose their meaning in this realm of
desperation. There is nothing for a mortal here; no light,
no joy, no hope.
General Features
Weather: Constant rain, high humidity and intense cold.
Lighting: None. Visibility is reduced to 0 ft. What
follows is for the eyes of the Game Master only, so
that they can convey a claustrophobic and riveting
experience.
Sounds: The light drumming of water on the swamp
and the wind hissing and howling between the rocks.
Terrain - Swamplands: Walking in the slimy water
is difficult and progress is slow. While in water, all
Dexterity saving throws are rolled at disadvantage.
Terrain - Beaches: Walking on the dense layer of sand
is difficult and progress is slow. Running or moving at a
faster pace requires a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check.
Terrain - Underground: The smooth yet muddy floor
makes progress slow. Running or moving at a faster pace
requires a DC 15 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
Terrain - Gjöll: The river cannot be crossed without
suffering 2d6 slashing damage every round and rolling
a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check at disadvantage.
Terreno - Nidafjoll: The river cannot be crossed without
being dragged away by the stream, suffering 5d6 slash-
ing damage every round and rolling a DC 17 Strength
(Athletics) check at disadvantage.
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169
Terrain - Linnormr’s Nests: The smooth yet muddy
floor makes progress slow. Running or moving at a faster
pace requires a DC 15 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
The air is dense with mephitic vapors and is incredibly
poisonous. Every turn, characters must pass a DC 12
Constitution saving throw or suffer 3d6 poison damage.
The Swamps
Stagnant, brackish water, emanating putrid and oily
fumes. Its depth varies from a few inches to many feet
and every now and then there are patches of solid terrain.
The swamp floor is so muddy and dense, covered
in thick moss that oozes a viscous substance. Finding a
strong grip for walking is difficult.
Every now and then, figures similar to giant skeletal
fingers reach for the sky out of the ground. They give
the impression of being made of wood, when instead
they are veined stone. The trees of this realm are sculp-
tures the goddess Hel had placed to adorn her domain;
a feminine touch, one could say.
Rain constantly falls down from the sky, some-
times hard, sometimes thick, often heavy, never light.
Humidity and cold bite without mercy and those
unlucky enough to stay for more than 6 hours with-
out a shelter must pass a DC 17 Constitution saving
throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.
The waters are inhabited by the progeny of the great
lindworms, smaller than their ancestors, but equally
deadly. They are attracted by heat, since the environ-
ment is so cold and humid and a light or the heat of a
body would instantly attract their attention.
If a character stays for more than an hour in the water,
an immense snake will rise from the water and attack
the characters (use the characteristics of the Hydra)
Although the whole surface of this realm is
swampland, the serpents are its lords, in the bog that
separates Gnipahellir from Náströnd flows a river of
corpses from the cave to the sea. The dead, as those in
Nilfheimr, become aggressive if prevented from walk-
ing their path or otherwise disturbed.
The Sea of the Dead
An endless tide of cyanotic corpses, stacked one on top
of the other, slowly moves on, a host of white faces
that spills onto the beaches, falling and rolling before
walking again, one wave after the other.
This is the Sea of the Dead, the endless host of those
who await the ship of Ragnarok. Husks without a will,
drained by the eternal ice they condemned themselves
to after a dishonorable life. Ever watchful sentinels,
refugees left for dead on the shore, look-outs waiting
for their vessel, they came from the realm of endless
ice, going to a sea of stars crashing on a beach of mist.
Characters cannot swim in this sea; the moment
they enter the waters, tens of hands grasp them and
drag them to the bottom. To break free of such grasp,
one must pass a DC 21 Strength (Athletics) check and,
each round spent underwater, a DC 16 Constitution
saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.
Nástrønd
Crystal dust from the frozen sea settled down after hit-
ting the shores of this realm, the bank crawling with
the corpses exiled to Helheimr through Gnipahellir
and destined to the sea.
Crossing the host of the dead without disturbing their
vigil is impossible. If something other than them were
even to approach, they would turn as one to face the
threat and would approach it, shambling like zombies.
Engaging them in battle is pure folly, as their survival
instinct remained in their world of origin.
Among these bodies, however, crawl infamous crea-
tures, servants to the monstrous Níðhöggr, who drag
corpses away to the great Lindworm. This large dragon
is wedged into the root of the Worldtree, which extends
from the skies to the heart of this world, and cannot
break free. The creature is eager to feed, its hunger insa-
tiable, and to find something to unleash its wrath upon,
so its servants pile their findings close to him.
These servants are not particularly bright and take the
living and the dead alike. The Lindworm, in fact, awaits
only to be freed to devour everything.
Journey to Ragnarok
170
Nidafjoll
A mountain range rises from the northernmost reaches
of the world, one of the steepest ridges, reaching for the
sky like the waves of an ocean. Climbing those slopes
is extremely difficult, but the reward is well worth the
effort; from those cliffs, way beyond the putrid marsh-
land, lies a plateau from which to take in the best vista
in this world.
Numerous caverns open in the sides of the moun-
tains. Although many are mere bumps in the terrain,
two hide the lair of the Lindworms, such as the Lair
of Svafnir. For more information, see Linnormr’s Dens
paragraph on the matter.
The other is the cave the cosmic serpent Níðhöggr
comes from. Deep within those mountains lie the
numerous skin sheddings the Lindworm left behind
during its evolution. Although it is said that such mate-
rial is extremely durable and even magical, nobody
ever managed to recover some.
Gnipahellir
The tunnel linking the realm of Nilfheimr to that of
Helheimr looks like a dark hole in the ice, sheltered
from the wind by a frozen and bare hill. Rows of sta-
lagmites and stalactites at its entrance make it look like
an enormous black monster, its jaws gaping open.
The descent is steep, made all the harder by a thick
layer of slippery ice. Without proper equipment, pro-
gress is still possible, although it requires a DC 17
Strength (Athletics) check. Climbing back, instead, is
impossible. The inside of the tunnel is dark, as the onyx-
like and yet cold stone does not allow light to flow.
By passing a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check,
the characters notice a metal ring right above the
entrance to which was fastened an enormous chain
that disappears in the mist a few feet away. The other
end of the chain imprisons Garmr, who attacks with
its renowned murderous wrath all those not deemed
belonging to the River of the Dead.
After a DC 15 Wisdom (Asatru) check, the char-
acters remember tales about Garmr: it is possible to
escape the hellish hound only by wetting a morsel of
bread with one’s blood, as the creature is well beyond
the capability of any Midgardian character.
Gjøll
The River of Swords splits this realm in twain, passing
by the Nidafjoll to the north and the Sea of the Dead
to the south. Roughly two miles away, characters hear
a weird metallic tinkling that turns into a strong noise
of metal grinding against metal. When finally they
reach the banks of the river, the characters see a kilo-
meter-wide flow of swords, crossed by a golden bridge
further downstream.
Gjallarbrú
An elegant structure with a shining parapet, the
Golden Bridge crosses Gjöll. Large enough to be seen
from anywhere along the river banks, it is the only way
to cross the stream, flowing then to the Sea.
As the swamps are on rough terrain, the corpses arrive
at the bridge in small groups. Its guardian is Móðguðr,
“Battle Wrath”, a formidable woman whose duty is to
watch over those walk the bridge. Suspicious people
are interrogated by the imposing warrior, who is always
ready to punish the undesirables or those behaving in a
dishonorable way.
Nagrind
At first sight, it looks like a small hill a few dozen feet
tall, its top flat, almost as if blunted. Upon closer inves-
tigation, one can see it is covered in weird, moving
shrubs, which turn out to be arms growing out of the
surface of what is a mound of broken, mangled bodies.
An impressive wall, crawling with the arms, legs
and faces of the corpses who did not arrive at the sea
and so were used in the defenses of the royal palace of
this world, forming the Wall of Corpses. Those who
investigate could be grappled by many pairs of hands
and be torn to shreds by many tens of mouths.
Éljúðnir
The Fortress of the goddess Hel rises not far away from
the place where the root of the Worldtree meets this
realm. Surrounded by the invalicable Wall of Corpses,
a faint greenish luminescence surrounds the mists
shrouding it.
The only passage that allows crossing Nagrind is
the Gate, a thick fence of mystically interwoven bones
from which it is possible to see Éljúðnir, an enormous,
multi-storied building. Many wings join on a central,
rectangular structure, called höll. Like the palaces
of Midgardian kings or the Frankish emperor, these
numerous environments are dedicated to the most dif-
ferent functions.
The Nine Worlds: Helheimr
171
Journey to Ragnarok
172
The west wing hosts the local garrison, with
its sleeping quarters and the armory. There are 22
draugar (corporeal), guards ready to intervene at the
first sign of danger. In the east wing are the guesthouse
and quarters for more important guests.
The north wing, instead, leads to the internal clois-
ter, a rectangular colonnade that surrounds a marvelous
stone garden, with skeletal sculptures mimicking trees
and flowers. Here are situated the private chambers
of the lady of Helheimr, a large room in which rises
Kor, the “decaying canopy bed” draped in Blikjandabol,
or “lucent disaster”. A translucent curtain that emits a
faint light blue radiance, it is the way the queen chose
to defend her sancta sanctorum, as nobody is allowed
in that place.
Whoever gazes at the bed sees a most beautiful
woman through the curtain calling to them. If the
victim fails a DC 25 Charisma saving throw, they
are charmed and move to the bed, trying to embrace
Blikjandabol, ending up crushed and poisoned.
Each round, a charmed victim must pass a DC 20
Constitution saving throw or suffer 8d8 bludgeoning
damage, halving on a success, and 6d8 poison damage,
halved on another successful DC 17 Constitution
saving throw. To break free of Blikjandabol, a character
must pass a DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check.
At the center of this maze of rooms is located the
main body of the palace, the höll, where Hel holds her
court. She sits on her throne and keeps a watchful eye
on her kingdom, judging the newly arrived and ema-
nating her sentences. On the staircase leading to her
throne lies Ganglati, a frost giant always ready to bring
all his might to bear if he felt his Queen in danger.
The palace guards are at his beck and call, six
draugar rushing to his aid was he to call for them.
Below the höll are the dungeons, a maze of rooms
and hallways where are the prisons, torture rooms and
Hel’s personal treasury. Within, the Queen keeps the
untold riches she took by force or deception from the
forsaken dead that crossed her Realm.
The draugr’s hut
In a particularly putrid place of the bog lies a shack,
with a crude outside table and a few benches. The
wooden door is securely tied to its hinges, with no sign
of life coming from the inside, and the only two win-
dows of the building have no shutters.
The walls are missing a few boards every now and
then and the roof is in a bad state of repair, although it
could work as a shelter from the incessant rain. Inside,
the furniture of the only room is simple and the stench
of corpse and decay is so strong it almost covers the
putrid smell of the swamp.
The owner of this house is a draugr, a revenant, a
dead brought back to life by its own force of will. As
he could not escape this new condition, he attempted
to make his dwelling more hospitable hoping to find
somebody to use as a means of escape or at least as a
food source. As his most frequent meal is corpses from
the River of the Dead, he is completely deranged and
unreliable.
Should somebody arrive (in his madness he believes
that the Lady of Hel herself will visit him) he will hide
behind the door to assess the poor incoming soul. If he
thinks they are weak, he will wait for them to enter the
house to try eating them. Otherwise, he will attempt
to strike a deal with his “beloved guest” to help them
flee from this place and get back to his true home.
The Nine Worlds: Helheimr
173
Ormgudinna’s dwelling
From afar one would think a frost giant is sitting on
a clod of dirt in the swamp. Upon closer inspection,
it is revealed as an enormous albino willow tree, its
trunk and leaves coated in a viscous and dense, tar-
like, substance. It appears this tree contains a house,
recognizable by a small door at its base, open on the
faint glimmer of a kitchen hearth.
From the top of the tree, split in half, spreads
greyish smoke and the smell of burnt logs. This is
the dwelling of the Lady of the Beasts, an ambiguous
entity who can hardly be trusted. She does not like
novelty and thinks that the cycles of time are a source
of wisdom. Ormgudinna uses the statblock of a Night
Hag, including the coven powers.
L innormr’s dens
The dens of the cosmic serpents are similar in con-
struction. They twist from a central chamber deep in
the rock and spiral their way back to the surface in
progressively wider tunnels, looking like immense cav-
erns. Depending on the nature of the Lindworm that
dug them, they are inhabited by other creatures and
filled with natural traps.
1. Svafnir, The Slumbering One: its den lies within
Nidafjoll and is made of many spires and tun-
nels similar to the shapes of a smoke cloud.
The serpent loves retreating in one of the side
galleries waiting for its victims to delve deeper
before annihilating them with its poison. This
way, escape is only possible either by fleeing
deeper and deeper in the tunnels or fall to the
serpent’s breath.
2. Níðhøggr: its Nidafjoll den is uninhabited, a
crushing sense of desolation afflicting any visi-
tor as if the very absence of the linnormr made
those tunnels even more haunted.
3. Grabakr, the Grey-backed: its dwelling lies in the
southern mountains, beyond Gjöll. Grabakr’s
immense build prevents him from living below
the surface, so it learned to meld with the envi-
ronment. As long as somebody does not step
upon it, it is impossible to realize to be walking
on the back of this imposing linnormr.
4. Ofnir the Coiling One: the burrow of this mon-
ster is in Gjöll’s estuary, its entrance completely
submerged in frozen water and made inacces-
sible by the falling swords. Beyond such hellish
place lies an ever-changing spiral of frozen sand
and daggers. The linnormr tends to crush those
unfortunate enough to travel its caverns as it
rushes through them at great speed.
5. Moinn, the Beast of the Moor: the smallest and
calmest of the cosmic serpents, who hid the
entrance of its den among the shadows of the
root of Yggdrasill to the west of Gjöll. As it is
invisible to the outside, those who fall in it real-
ize too late they found themselves in a deadly
trap since the linnormr does not take it well to
intruders in its lair when it returns from hunting.
Journey to Ragnarok
174
The characters took the Gnipahellir from Nilfheim
and, after a long and dangerous journey along the
River of the Dead, they finally left it. Only darkness
awaits them, with the incessant drumming of rain on
water and the distant rumbling of backwash.
The entrance is littered with bones and excrements,
the area evidently inhabited. Perhaps, a large, wild animal
lives in here. If the characters are not cautious, they will
meet Garmr, the infernal hound (see page 176).
Once they have escaped the gaping maws of this
terrifying beast, the characters are swallowed by the
darkness and the rain. They are able to cross the Swamps
only relying on their hearing: Gjöll, Náströnd and
Níðhöggr make dreadful sounds the characters can use
as references for orientation. Each half an hour within
the Swamps the group must pass a DC 17 Wisdom
(Survival), with disadvantage if they are not relying on
hearing, or they will be lost.
When on the banks of the River of Swords, then,
they can see the faint glimmer of a brazier in the dis-
tance, Gjallarbrù, the Golden Bridge, and its guardian,
Móðguðr, “Battle Wrath”. Recognising them as living
people, when the group reaches the entrance of the
bridge she will ask them what is their destination and
the reasons they wish to reach the other side.
Móðguðr’s questions have no right or wrong answers,
she just wants to play with them. However, she does not
accept trivial answers, unworthy of heroes looking for
the favor of the gods. If questioned she tells the group:
•
Somebody already crossed Gjallarbrù, some-
body “whose step shook the bridge like five
hosts of the dead”.
•
To leave Helheimr, they should look for the
Æsir who rides Sleipnir, who must know the
way for sure.
To cross the bridge, the characters have three options:
•
Móðguðr will ask them for a tribute. If each char-
acter is willing to throw his weapon into the river of
swords, he declares that he is willing to let them pass.
•
If the characters face it, once it has dropped to 0
PF, Móðguðr will not die but will let them pass,
recognizing their value.
•
If a character is so brave that he tries to seduce her
by kissing her, after a violent punch that will make
him lose consciousness, Móðguðr will reward his
courage by letting them pass.
From there, delving deeper into the swamp, the group
would reach the Palace of Hel, after finding a way
around the massive Lindworm trapped within the root
of Yggdrasill.
Hailed by the sound of enormous jaws rending
piles of corpses limb from limb and passing a DC 15
Wisdom (Survival or Asatru) check, the group under-
stands that the direct route is not the wisest. To get
to Éljúðnir, they should find a way around the obsta-
cle. Following that route, they will find the Nagrind,
although its Gate is not easy to see. By circling the
Wall of Corpses, they will meet a fierce-looking war-
rior, an imposing eight-legged stallion at his side.
He introduces himself as Hermóðr, son of Odhinn,
tasked with rescuing Baldr from the realm of Hel. The
characters found him wondering if his horse can jump
high enough to vault over the Wall. Confident in the
help of the group, he suggests the group to request an
audience with the Queen.
However, Hermóðr does not know that Loki made
so the characters could enter Hel’s castle so they could
win Baldr’s trust and be brought to Asgardr. In fact,
both the Gate itself and the Palace doors will open by
themselves, without the barest of sounds, a clear sign
the group is expected.
When they enter the imposing palace, the charac-
ters immediately realize they are not alone. Ganglati was
not warned of their arrival and is not inclined to talk, 6
aggressive draugar (corporeal) (see page 133) material-
izing at his will.
Should the fight prove too difficult for the charac-
ters, Hermóðr rushes to their help riding Sleipnir. Once
the six creatures, Ganglati lets the group in and returns
to sleep, lazily leaning into a wall, as the Æsir continues
his search for Hel.
A smug clapping comes from the inside of the höll,
where an elegant warrior looks in the direction of the
group. His skin the color of pearl, his hair and beard
white and his eyes light, his pallor is almost a source of
light in of itself in such a grim and hostile place.
His light blue tunic is a strong contrast with his large
leather belt, its buckle a wide wheel chased and embossed
The Nine Worlds: Helheimr
175
to look like a sun. By passing a DC 12 Wisdom (Asatru)
check, he is recognized as the god Baldr.
Alongside him, a revolting figure, even more so if
compared to the beauty of the god. Its rotting body
the size of a half-giant and its rough skin an agate-hued
cobalt, it wears frayed and tattered clothes.
It welcomes the characters with a revolting grin of
rotten and yellowed teeth, introducing itself as Ganglöt
(Jötunn, see page 261) and inviting the group to sit
at the table at the center of the höll. A sad parody of a
Midgardian feast awaits the characters, putrid flesh in
place of roasted meats and swamp water instead of flow-
ing bear, the giant’s cackling the only battle song.
Turning down the invite is impolite and would be
met with a battle. Ganglöt, enraged, would summon
the four giant snakes hidden among the beams in the
ceiling to attack the group.
Should the battle turn in Ganglöt’s favor, it would
force the characters to eat. On the contrary, the giant
would flee from the hall, cursing the group and their
dishonorable behavior. Eating at the table poisons for
an hour and imposes a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw,
placing the target under the effect of the suggestion
spell on a fail. If so, the charmed person keeps eating
for the next eight hours.
The Æsir Baldr, whose behavior is clearly unusual, ate
the poisonous meats and now is under the effect of the
spell himself. To free him from such condition, a success-
ful DC 17 Intelligence (Arcana) or Wisdom (Asatru)
check reveals he must be fed food cooked the Midgardian
way. Once he recovers, he thanks his new friends, telling
them he is now a guest of the Queen of Helheimr and
cannot leave this world without her permission.
As a reward, he gifts Draupnir, the golden ring he
wore when he was burned alive, to the characters so
they bring it back to Odhinn. The Æsir will then loudly
ask Heimdall to open the Bifrost, through which the
characters will be able to reach Asgardr.
At this point, characters reach the 9th level.
176
Garmr
Hellish hound with a long mane, matted with blood, Gnipahellir’s
chained guardian. Nobody knows who placed the beast there, nor why;
the only sure thing about Garmr are its ferocity, cruelty and complete
lack of mercy. It is said that the hellhound will break its chains at the
arrival of Ragnarok and will fight with the giants against Tyr, in a battle
that will kill both of them.
The legend tells that it can be tricked with a morsel of blood imbued
with one’s own blood.
Garmr
Large beast, lawful dishonorable
STR
28 (+9)
DEX
26 (+8)
CON
28 (+9)
INT
7 (-2)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 20
Hit Points 120 (12d12 + 36)
Speed 60 ft
Damage Immunities acid, fire, frost, necrotic, poison; bludgeoning,
piercing and slashing from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed,
poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Senses darkvision 180 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 20 (25.000 XP)
Sacred Beast. Garmr’s attacks are considered magical.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Garmr fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Garmr rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Pack Tactics. Garmr has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if
at least one of Garmr’s allies is within 5 ft. of the creature and the ally isn’t
incapacitated. All Garmr’s allies have advantage on an attack roll against a
creature within 5 ft. of Garmr itself, provided he isn’t incapacitated.
Keen Sight and Smell. Garmr has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on sight and smell.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Garmr makes a Slam attack, two Claw attacks and a Bite attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 24
(4d6 + 9) piercing damage plus 27 (6d8) fire damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 22
(2d12 + 9) slashing damage.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 20 (2d10 + 9) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller
creature, they must pass a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Garmr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Garmr regains spent legendary actions at
the start of their turn.
Bite. Garmr makes a Bite attack.
Move. Garmr takes the Dash or Disengage action.
Terrifying Growl (2 actions). Garmr growls. Each hostile creature
within 60 ft. of it that can hear it must pass a DC 20 Wisdom saving
throw or be frightened until the end of their next round.
177
The Nine Worlds: Helheimr
Hel
““As we walked in this hall, I did not notice I had stepped on a cloak, so rapt
I was by the magnificent sight.
With a sudden movement, I turned to apologize and saw this cloak almost
entirely covering a young woman. I noticed half of her graceful and seducing
face rapidly hiding in the folds of her hood. However, much to my dismay, I got
caught in the fabric, wrenching the cloak off her shoulders. I was horrified; the
woman was naked. Half of her body was taut and attractive, her skin polished
and smooth, while the other half looked like that of a corpse, wizened and
rotten in many places, as if it had dried in a bog. Her smell was nauseous, of
butchered meat and stagnant waters, and I felt an unnatural frost pervading
my innards. Such a fearsome woman looked at me with malignant eyes, angrily
covering her horrible figure once again. I feared she would have attacked me,
was it not for my companion, who politely sent her away.”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
Queen of the realm of the dead, lady of the eternal mist, monstrous
daughter of Loki. Within her flows the primordial Jötnar blood, as she
is gifted with the chaotic magical powers of this kin. Usually, she can be
seen shrouded in a long cloak, hiding part of her body and visage.
Her visible part is of a bewitching beauty and yet, was she to reveal
her true form, she would cause only horror. Half of her body is that of
a shapely and attractive maiden, her milk-white skin crossed with sinu-
ous tattoos of snakes intertwined with branches and runes. Her other half,
however, is so putrid and rotting that one could tell the pulsing of her
organs below her skin.
When particularly furious, her cadaverous side looks like a charred
corpse, pulsing with the dying embers of a hearth. She does not love any-
thing or anyone, not even the father who condemned her to a half-life,
forcing upon her a monstrous condition and the solitude that dragged her
down the path to folly.
As there was a time Hel was not evil, ruling over the dishonorable dead
is not a welcome task for her, even less the derision and fear of the Æsir. Far
from everything and everyone, in a world shrouded in pain and mist, she
spends her time ruling with an iron fist and savagely torturing those who
oppose her, waiting for the Ragnarok. It is still not clear what role will she
play during the end of time as no prophecy mentions it, but it is sure she
will not just watch.
178
Hel
Large god, chaotic dishonorable
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
28 (+9)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
26 (+8)
WIS
22 (+6)
CHA
28 (+9)
Armor Class 20
Hit Points 300 (22d12 + 110)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Str +12, Con +12, Wis +13, Cha +16
Skills Deception +16, Intimidation +16, Perception +12, Persuasion +16
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; bludgeoning, piercing and
slashing from non-magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, poisoned
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 22, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 23 (50.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Hel’s weapon attacks are magical. When Hel hits with
any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant damage (included in
the attack).
Trickster’s Aura. Every attack against Loki fails unless his attacker passes
a DC 12 Charisma saving throw.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Hel fails a saving throw, it can choose
to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Hel rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Innate Spellcasting. Hel’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (saving throw
DC 24, +16 to hit). Hel can innately cast the following spells, without
the need for components.
At will: animate object, bestow curse, charm person, circle of death,
confusion, create undead, death ward, dominate person, feign death,
finger of death, fog cloud, gaseous form, greater invisibility, raise dead,
shield, suggestion
3/day each: antipathy/sympathy, eyebite, feeblemind, mass suggestion, mind
blank, weird
1/day: power word kill
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Hel makes two Deathly Flux attacks.
Deathly Flux. Ranged Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, range 60/150 f. one
target. Hit: 32 (6d6 + 8) necrotic damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Hel can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one
legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another
creature’s turn. Hel regains spent legendary actions at the start of their turn.
Spell. Hel casts a known spell.
Hypnotic gaze. A creature Hel is able to see within 60 ft. must pass a DC
18 Charisma saving throw or be charmed by Hle for 1 minute. A creature
who passes the saving throw is immune to the effect for 24 hours.
Teleport. Hel magically teleports in an unoccupied space he can see within
160 ft, with all the equipment she is wearing or carrying on her person.
L innormr
Sváfnir, Ófnir, Grafvölduðr, Grabakr, Móinn, Góinn. Legends and myths
tells of terrible serpents, the Linnormr or Lindworm, the “hunter snakes”
dwelling in Midgardr where the people only tell of their horrors, trying
to relegate them to the realm of poetry. Níðhöggr’s kin is so numerous
and terrifying because these monsters are constantly eroding the fabric
itself of existence and the cosmo, even during peacetime. Loki himself is
the father of one of these beings, the titanic Jörmungandr.
L innormr
Huge giant. unaligned
STR
26 (+8)
DEX
13 (+0)
CON
22 (+6)
INT
7 (-2)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
8 (-1)
Armor Class 18 (natural)
Hit Points 210 (17d12 + 102)
Speed 40 ft. burrow 30 ft.
Saving Throws Con +11
Skills Perception +4
Damage Immunities cold, fire, poison
Condition Immunities frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from
non magical weapons
Senses passive Perception 14, darkvision 60 ft., tremor sense 30ft.
Languages -
Challenge 12 (8.400 XP)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Linnormr makes one Claw attack and one Bite attack.
They can use Swallow instead of making a Bite attack.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 22
(4d6+ 8) slashing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit: 32
(4d10 + 8) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. If the target
is a Large or smaller creature, it must pass a DC 17 Strength saving
throw or be grappled and restrained. The Linnormr cannot use its Bite
attack against another target.
Swallow. The Linnormr makes a Bit attack against a Large or smaller
creature they are grappling. If the attack hits, the target suffers the attack’s
damage, is swallowed and the grappling ends. A swallowed creature is
blinded, restrained, has total cover against attacks and effects originating
outside the Linnormr and takes 21 (6d6) necrotic damage at the beginning
of the Linnormr’s turn. If the Linnormr suffers 30 or more damage from
a creature they swallowed, they must pass a DC 15 Constitution saving
throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures. They
fall prone in a space within 10 ft. of the Linnormr. If the Linnormr dies, a
swallowed creature is not restrained anymore and can leave the body using
15 ft. of movement and exiting prone.
Necrotic Roar (recharge 5-6). The Linnormr exhales a necrotic breath in a
60 ft. cone. Each creature in the area must pass a DC 16 Dexterity saving
throw, suffering 56 (16d6) necrotic damage or half that on a success.
179
The Nine Worlds: Helheimr
Móðguðr, Guardian
of the Golden Bridge
Mortals whisper her name with reverence, as legends about this oth-
erworldly entity are many but not in agreement. She is a giantess, as
attractive as she is unsettling, tasked with defending the Golden Bridge.
She is always bored, as her duty prevents her from leaving this place
and those travelers who are not damned souls are a very rare and wel-
come sight, a challenge for her to enjoy. Sensual and provoking, she has
a marked sense of humor and is more than willing to use her allure to
catch the unprepared by surprise with open and cheeky opinions. Should
somebody try to court her, she would consider it a reward of sorts, while
fighting to the death all those who try to trick her.
Móðguðr
Huge giant. chaotic dishonorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
21 (+5)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
22 (+6)
Armor Class 19
Hit Points 216 (18d12 + 90)
Speed 50 ft. (40 ft. while she is Large, 30 ft. while she is Medium)
Saving Throws Str +11, Con +9
Skills Persuasion +10, Perception +5
Damage Immunities cold, fire
Senses darkvision 60 ft. passive Perception 15
Languages Common
Challenge 12 (8.400 XP)
Adaptable. Móðguðr can change her size from Huge to Large or Medium
as an action, without any change to her statistics. All her equipment
adapts to her new size.
Brazen Beauty. Móðguðr adds her Charisma modifier to he AC score.
Battle Frenzy (recharges after any rest or killing an enemy). If an
enemy wounds her, Móðguðr can enter a state of battle frenzy as
a bonus action for 1 minute or until she is incapacitated. When in that
state, Móðguðr gains the following benefits:
•
Advantage to Strength checks and saving throws
•
+4 to damage
•
Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Móðguðr makes three melee weapon attacks.
Giant Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, range 10 ft. (5 ft if she
is Large or Medium size) one target. Hit: 28 (6d6 + 7) slashing damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Móðguðr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Móðguðr regains spent legendary actions
at the start of their turn.
Attack. Móðguðr makes a melee weapon attack.
Endless Swords. Móðguðr can summon any kind of swords in her hands.
Infatuating Gaze. A creature within 30 ft. of Móðguðr must pass a DC
17 Charisma saving throw or be charmed by her until the end of their
next turn. A creature passing the saving throw is immune to this effect for
the next 24 hours.
Ormgudinna
(Night Hag, to be considered in a Coven)
At first sight, this woman looks like a simple, feral-looking druid who prac-
tices black magic, a snake in each hand.
In truth, to a more accurate inspection, it is obvious that the Lady is
a truly supernatural being, its origin ancient and dark. Her language is a
hiss, whistling rather than articulating words, as if it was a serpent speaking
and not a human. She is incapable of any social interaction and is insular,
detached and laconic, fully aware of her ancient power and careless in get-
ting rid of those who oppose her plans. Even her appearance, to a point,
reminds that of a snake, her eyes yellow and her irises thin, her visage
elongated. From purple lips grow sharpened canines like those of a viper.
Her long, raven black hair dirty and coarse, like the mane of an animal,
are her only clothes for her naked body.
180
Níðhöggr
Níðhöggr is the most ancient of the linnormr, trapped among the roots
of Yggdrasill. According to the prophecy of the Seer, when his bonds will
break he will fly over the battlefield of the Last Battle, feasting upon the
corpses of the fallen.
It is said Níðhöggr shall survive Ragnarok, flying resplendent with the
bodies of the dead under his wings.
Níðhöggr
Gargantuan Dragon, unaligned
STR
40 (+15)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
32 (+11)
INT
16 (+3)
WIS
18 (+4)
CHA
22 (+6)
Armor Class 25 (natural)
Hit Points 700 (35d20 + 350)
Speed 60 ft., climb 60 ft., fly 120 ft.
Saving Throws Str +24, Con +20, Wis +13, Cha +15
Skills Intimidation +17, Perception +13
Damage Immunities acid, fire, frost, poison, thunder; bludgeoning,
piercing and slashing from non-magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, poisoned
Senses passive Perception 23, darkvision 120 ft., blindsight 60 ft.
Languages Common
Challenge 30 (155.000 XP)
Cosmic Dragon. Níðhöggr’s attacks are considered magical.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Níðhöggr fails a saving throw,
it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Níðhöggr rolls saving throws against spells and
magical effects with advantage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Níðhöggr can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes five
attacks: two with its Claws, one with its Tail, one with its Horns and one
with its Bite.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +24 to hit, reach 50 ft., one target. Hit: 42
(4d12+ 15) piercing damage plus 21 (6d6) necrotic damage. If the target is a
creature, they must pass a DC 23 Strength saving throw or become grappled
and restrained. Níðhöggr cannot use its Bite against another target.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +24 to hit, reach 30 ft., one target. Hit: 33
(4d8+ 15) slashing damage.
Horns. Melee Weapon Attack: +24 to hit, reach 40 ft., one target. Hit: 35
(6d6+ 15) piercing damage.
Swallow. Níðhöggr makes a Bite attack against a Large or smaller creature
it is grappling. On a hit, the target takes the Bite’s damage, is swallowed
and is no more grappled. A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained,
gains total cover from attacks and other effects outside of Níðhöggr and
suffers 62 (18d6) necrotic damage ad the beginning of Níðhöggr’s turn.
If Níðhöggr suffers more than 70 damage from a creature within itself, it
must pass a DC 20 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or
regurgitate any swallowed creature, who fall prone in a spot within 30 ft.
from Níðhöggr. If it dies, a swallowed creature is not restrained anymore
and can leave its corpse using 50 ft. of movement and exiting prone.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +24 to hit, reach 45 ft., one target. Hit: 37
(4d10+ 15) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller
creature, they must pass a DC 23 Strength saving throw or be knocked
prone 10 ft. off where they were hit.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of Níðhöggr’s choice that is within 120
ft. of it and aware of it must succeed on a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw
or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if Níðhöggr is
within their line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a
creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is
immune to Níðhöggr’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Necrotic Roar (Recharge 5-6). Níðhöggr exhales acid in a 120-foot
line that is 10 ft. wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 26
Dexterity saving throw, taking 120 (35d6) necrotic damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Níðhöggr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Níðhöggr regains spent legendary actions
at the start of their turn.
Detect. Níðhöggr makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tail Attack. Níðhöggr makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). Níðhöggr beats its wings. Each creature
within 30 ft. of Níðhöggr must succeed on a DC 26 Dexterity saving throw
or take 30 (4d6 + 15) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone 20 ft. off
where they were hit. Níðhöggr can then fly up to half its flying speed.
181
The Nine Worlds: Helheimr
Journey to Ragnarok
182
Chapter 7
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the Agardr
setting; the descriptions of the places and characters that
the Heroes will be able to explore and meet during their
journey through the Nine Worlds are reported, with an
appendix on the statistics.
Asgardr
184
General Features
184
Map
187
The Journey on Asgardr
192
Encounters on Asgardr
193
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
183
Journey to Ragnarok
184
Asgardr
Asgardr opens to the characters in all its endless glory,
welcoming with the blaring of horns those who lay
their eyes on its walls. There are no words to describe
the wonder that is the realm of the Æsir, no song or
mortal tale capable of recounting even a fragment of
the spectacular beauty of this place. Here, legends
walk, breathe, live and love.
Here, against the bastion of certainty that is
Asgardr, the sea of doubt and fear that crosses the uni-
verse breaks. Fate converges onto the city of the gods
like the winds in the eye of the storm and the scope of
truth the mortals witness in front of the gods leaves
them speechless. Here are the thrones of the gods, here
all began and all shall end.
The hazy and distant branches of Yggdrasill can be
seen around the peak at the base of Asgardr, from which
the Æsir ordained the destiny of the Nine Worlds.
General Features
Weather: Temperate and mild, like a summer day.
Lighting: Night and day cycle normally and visibility
is as usual.
Sounds: Horns blow far away in the distance, the wind
gently caressing the rustling grass.
Terrain - Plain: Walking on the soft grass is very
pleasant and very simple. The walking speed is regular
on this type of terrain.
Terrain - Mountains: Magnificent mountain ridges
rise like statues, almost impossible to climb without fol-
lowing specific paths.
Terrain - Forests: Conifer and evergreen trees, rich in
fauna and game. Outside of those few beaten paths,
traveling in the forests is incredibly hard.
Terrain - Sea: Falling in the waters means risk fall-
ing eternally off the edges of the world. Leaving the
waters requires a DC 22 Strength (Athletics) check
at disadvantage.
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
185
Mount Asfell
A gargantuan mountain, upon which was built
Asgardr, said to sink its roots into the branches of the
Worldtree. So cold it can freeze a Jötunn and its rock
so hard it can shatter a diamond, it cannot be climbed.
Idhavollr
In the middle of Asgardr opens an expanse of soft
grass, rustling under a warm northern breeze. Those
who set foot here feel in an ancient place, as it is sur-
rounded by magnificent palaces and majestic temples,
home to the gods. An idyllic painting, this is a place of
absolute peace and quiet.
Falling asleep in these meadows grants visions of
a distant past or glimpses of a possible future. At the
beginning of time, when the Nine Worlds had just been
born and humanity still did not know how to use fire,
the Æsir gathered here. Placing here their thrones, they
formed the first Thing, a gathering of free men usually
held by a lögsögumaður, someone versed in the legends.
Breidhablik
A golden glow constantly shines over Asgardr, bathing
such a pure and sacred place in a perpetual dawn, where
the sun is always bright. There is no hostility or vio-
lence and no evil act is perpetrated to harm somebody
else, in here. There are no walls, but artfully cared for
bushes and plants, colossal trees in place of columns,
their branches a roof over the Æsir’s heads. Thermal hot
springs, small orchards and flowers keep this place in an
eternal spring.
The beauty of Breidhablik is universally considered
the most precious jewel of Asgardr, especially as what its
loss would mean.
Magic runes, etched in the very fabric of the world,
shine everywhere, forming a shield against all evil.
Whoever tries to break the laws ruling these lands
would find themselves immobilized and muted, for a
sacrilege in Asgardr is akin to betraying the very foun-
dation of civilization.
Those who try something evil here without being
a god would immediately be under the effect of the
Imprisonment spell, automatically failing its saving throw.
This is Baldr’s home, that he placidly walks hold-
ing his wife Nanna’s hand. Nature here is lush and of a
heart-melting beauty.
Thrúðvangr
In the direction of the diaphanous borders with
Alfheimr, is a vast region of wavy, grassy hills and placid
groves, crossed by crystalline rivers in a joyous and calm
atmosphere. A titanic waterfall rumbles into the infinite
void and, at its side, rise Bilskirnir, the palace of the God
of Thunder, and Thrúðvangr, his realm.
Here he welcomes all those of mortal kin, protect-
ing them and gifting them a rare and supernatural
serenity. In fact, it is not rare witnessing former slaves
talking as equals with their once masters. Even the
dead can find rightful rest under the wing of the Æsir
after a life of sacrifice, as all men are free and equal and
Thor welcomes them all with fraternal love.
Walking these lands is soothing for both body and
mind and whoever is suffering from Exhaustion or
other Conditions is instantly healed when they set foot
in Thrúðvangr. As a testament of its power, famous
is the tale of Thor taking shelter there to heal from a
whetstone lodged in his skull.
Amsvartnir
Fear lies in the heart of men, at the center of their
chest, close to their breath. When fear leaves its cage,
the breath of men shifts and they realize they are free.
Much like men, so the Gods felt fear, in ancient
times, and so chose to exile such terrible monster in
the most secure place in all the Nine Worlds, a place
so close to them they could immediately notice if their
worst enemy had broken free of its chains.
At the center of Amsvartnir, the closed sea, lies the
isle of Lyngvi. There, tied with Gleipnir, a robe as light
as silk and yet strong enough to cut through a moun-
tain, is Fenrir. He waits to find an opening to escape
from the Æsir clutches, so far finding none.
And yet, one day...
Ydalir
Deers with majestic antlers, boars with mighty tusks,
wolves with thick manes, bears with frightening roars
and foxes with soft tails all run among the undergrowth
of the immense forest that embraces the whole of
Asgardr. Deep-eyed owls, flicker-feathered ravens and
sharp-clawed falcons find shelter and joy among the
forest’s branches. in the meanwhile trees like ash, elm,
oak, hazel and yew dominate this land, slender sentinels
watching the hunting grounds of Ullr, the God of Bows.
He swiftly travels the length and breath of the forest,
always aware of what happens among the trees, every
intruder tracked and hunted down. The divine hunter,
Journey to Ragnarok
186
when not out in the wild, makes majestic bows out of
the yews of Ydalir, all of them extraordinary tools for
hunting and war. Wood from this forest is also the main
source for almost any work of carpentry in Asgardr, as
it does not matter how many are felled during a day, an
equal number grows back during nighttime.
Asgrind
Two marble citadels proudly mark the skyline at the
end of Bifrost, among them a titanic iron gate adorned
with bronze and silver studs and iron etchings running
along the whole structure. To those who bring peace,
they show pictures of welcome and friendship, but to
those walking down the path of war to Asgardr, they
only show images of curses, death and suffering.
Asgrind, the gate of this world, is watched by
Valkyries who patrol the towers and parapets, their
armor shining and their hair waving in the wind. They
are ready to form an honour guard to any who was to
pass the bridge in triumph and under their watch no
army ever broke through without the permission of
the gods.
Bifrost
When the cold of rain meets the heat of the sun, the col-
ours that cross the sky are born. Many are the legends
told about these iridescent figures, as the ephemeral
matter of which the Rainbow Bridge is made makes it
tangible and abstract at the same time.
One step it holds those who walk it, the next one
it could not be there anymore. It was built to cross
the whole cosmos and connect Asgardr to Midgardr
running along the trunk of Yggdrasill or reach any of
the Nine Worlds.
The only way to reach Asgardr, any trespasser is
spotted by Heimdallr the moment they set foot on the
Bridge, only to be sent into a storm or in thick fog, too
far to see the towers of Asgrind and be welcome at the
seat of the gods.
Where do the mists or storms met while travelling
the Bifrost is unknown, as in its impalpable inconsist-
ency mortals see it like an apparition or an illusion and
those who made it back are only a few.
Bilskirnir
The homes of the Asi are as massive as their deeds, but
none is larger than Bilskirnir, the titanic palace of the
God of Thunder, riding on the enormous river that
becomes the waterfall of Thrúðvangr.
In the whole of Asgardr, there is no larger building,
as the tales of mortals tell it has 540 rooms. Their actual
number, however, is probably even larger. In fact, it is
more of a small town than a keep, so vast it is. It is told
that the whole of Midgardr, entire populations, could
fit in those halls without losing the sense of vastness of
this place or sit at its tables and feast for centuries.
The enormity of the fortress is reinforced by the over-
lapping of countless archways and pillars sustaining the
roof, so far from the ground it is invisible. Cloud banks
shroud the top of the columns, sundered by thunder-
claps echoing around the regions-wide halls.
The dead of any kin and social standing are met
with open arms, all equal in Thor’s presence. When the
god is home, feasts and banquets are common, a kind
word or a toast for any of the participants. In the main
court, where the tables are truly massive, lies Thor’s
seat and close by a stone rest upon which is often left
Mjollnir, the mighty hammer.
The palace has endless wings, some of them even
forgotten by the god himself. In one of them, small if
compared to the others, his goats are cared for and his
chariot is kept as mighty as the roiling thunder and as
quick as lightning.
The God of Thunder likes fighting, never turning
down an offer to do battle and loving the sound of
clashing weapons. When home, however, he strives for
peace above all else. Should it be perturbed, he would
propose a challenge, before wielding his trusty hammer.
These challenges are feats of strength, in which he
cannot be defeated, like log lobbing, axe throwing
or stone lifting. When a contender passes a test with
enough distinction, although without ever being able
to beat the host, they are awarded the honour of sitting
in the massive main hall and feast in the presence of
Thor himself.
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187
Journey to Ragnarok
188
Brenna
A thin layer of purple mold cakes the walls of this
small complex of rooms and tunnels, light just a faint
reverberation of a few pale torches bolted to the walls
and the air thick with a stagnant, pungent smell.
Here Loki set his court, as he likes to call it, a sad and
squalid place, barely lighted, where hatred and bitterness
stagnate. He takes pleasure specifically from this, the fact
that such a place stains the infinite beauty of Asgardr.
Venturing in these tunnels is not as dangerous in the
way one would normally think, no deadly traps await
the unfortunate souls who venture inside. In fact, Loki
does not need any: the corruption itself wafting here
is strong enough to taint as a dishonorable creature
(even for the purpose of spells or divine perceptions)
any who stays within for even a few minutes.
Eigvetr
The smell of sun-baked resin and pine needles rustling
in the spring winds are prevalent here. Whoever is
invited by the goddess Lofn, she who soothes and con-
soles, is gently led as they walk among the rooms of her
palace. A forest was allowed to grow inside, a temple
where life and all that is related to it could grow again,
from the cycle of seasons to the birth of living beings.
Lofn’s love for life is such that she often offers her
palace to forbidden lovers, so they can at least be made
whole by her sweet words.
Fensalir
A plain-looking palace, defended by tall walls deco-
rated with wave patterns stands close to the northern
wall.The imposing gate protecting the home of the
goddess Frigg is carved to look like the surging tide,
apparently ready to crush the uninvited guests.
The gate opens on a vast courtyard with a blooming
garden, where the smell of iridescent flowers and ripe
fruits delights the senses of those fortunate enough to
be there. There are many springs, which slightly salty
water flows through Fensalir via canals made to avoid
the forming of bogs and to nourish fruit and hazel trees.
When they reach the steps of the courtyard, these
waters rise up to the sky, spreading in the ether where
they form new stars.
Frigg’s quarters are on the first floor, from which
she can keep an eye on her husband’s movements,
who resides in the next palace. Not much is known of
the supreme goddess’ quarters, although much is said
about whom she meets.
Glitnir
The palace of Forseti, son of Baldr and Nanna, is a
place of magnificence and wisdom, the best tribunal
among men and gods.
The walls and columns of the palace are made of
solid gold, while the roof is silver. Athough the riches
here are comparable to those in Valaskjalf, there is nei-
ther solemnity nor regality, only justice and precision.
A wide basin in the ground opens at the center of
the main hall, where are many rows of benches and
tables are ready to be laid with food and water to
nourish those who will be called in the tribunal. At
the center of the basin lies a plain, wooden seat, where
Forseti sits as he listens to the words of men and gods
and he judges the facts presented to his attention.
Whoever enters the basin is subject to the aura of
truth of the tribunal. The individual under question-
ing, if not a god, is under the effect of the Zone of Truth
spell and can only answer truthfully. If Forseti feels he
has been lied to, he summons an ability he inherited
from his father, petrifying the liar with a Power Word
Stun. The wrongdoer is then brought to the presence
of Odhinn, to suffer an adequate punishment.
Himinbjorg
A double wooden palisade rises on an embankment just
outside the gates of Asgardr. A long line of yew trunks
lines the road leading from Asgrind into this structure,
the fortress Heimdallr calls home. Its circular base is split
at cardinal directions by two roads, the most important
connecting the last stretch of the Bifrost to the tallest
tower, built on its walls. The other one, instead, leads
to the inner, square-based courtyards with the stables,
armories and granaries.
At the center of Himinbjorg, on an altar surrounded
by runic boulders, is kept the Gjallarhorn, in wait for the
day it will be blown. The fortress reminds a Midgardian
fortification, entirely made out of stone. Although they
have been carved out to look like made of yew so dear to
the people of this World, the walls are not made of wood.
The White Guardian watches and observes from the
tallest tower, vigilating and keeping things under con-
trol. He is alone, as his watch must be solitary, his only
company a small herd of rams to feed from, left free
roaming around the fortress’ courtyards. He is not jeal-
ous and is always willing to share his food with those of
good will, serving only an unpleasant trip on the Bifrost
to the others.
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
189
Søkkvabekkr
The architecture of this palace is proof of its nature. At
first glance, it looks like any other wooden palace in
Midgardr, before noticing the inlay at its foundation,
similar to the keel of a ship. An intricate pattern of
silver-hued carvings reflects the blue of the sky, appear-
ing like a sapphire among the green, run through with
white vein reminding of ocean froth.
Past the entrance, visitors can see empty and dark
rooms, echoing with the sound of crashing waves and
thick with the smell of the sea. Those who hear these
sounds feel deep pangs of nostalgia creeping in their
heart, those without a strong spirit risking to lose
themselves inside the palace. Listening to the back-
wash or smelling the salt in the area causes to be under
the effect of the Mass Suggestion spell, compelling the
weaker-willed to delve deeper into Sága’s home.
Instead of rising, the palace expands in the under-
ground, like the keel of a ship sundered by the reef
opening on an abyss of water. Søkkvabekkr is made of
natural caverns and artificial halls. At ground level, water
is ankle-high, reaching the chest in those just below,
while the deeper rooms are completely submerged. Sága
loves to entertain her guests among the halls on the
ground floor where, accompanied by the sound of the
sea, she serves mead, often in Odhinn’s company.
Valaskjalf:
One of the most breathtaking palaces in the whole
of Asgardr is Valaskjalf, Odhinn’s own residence. His
home is proof of why he is the Allfather; solemn, spa-
cious, lit as if it was always daytime by large braziers
and beams of light from the ceiling. The roof and
columns are solid silver, a tribute to the One-eyed
god from all the deities, its walls strong and hospita-
ble, light filling its many arches. At sunrise, sunlight
reflects off the silver beams to engulf the whole great
hall like a star, until sundown, when the shining colors
turn into a blood-red luminescence.
At nighttime, it is even more breathtaking, as the
stars are reflected off the polished silver, a kaleidoscope
of lights chasing each other and mixing in a show of
magnificence impossible to ignore.
Here Odhinn has his home and his throne, Hliðskjalf,
in the central hall. Carved when the dwellings of the
gods were built, it is the core of Asgardr’s power and
the origin of authority throughout the Nine Worlds. A
masterpiece of beauty, refinement and elegance, carved
with animal and floral motifs, magical runes and meta-
phorical scenes about the creation of the Nine Worlds,
its armrest are shaped like dragons, their gaping maws
breathing intricately inlaid gouts of precious metals.
Valgrind
The Gate of the Fallen, the portal leading to Valhalla,
opened by the Valkyries who lead the valorous dead
in triumph to the feast. The warrior maidens guard
this treasure with jealousy and zeal, as laying eyes on
Valgrind is akin to beholding the certainty of exist-
ence, the meaning of life and the truth after death.
Even if violence marked the end of a mortal, the
golden gates of Valhalla are the entrance of the most
coveted reward; eternal glory.
Valhalla
The Hall of the Fallen, the place where celebrations,
feasts and battles are constant. Those who died with
honour find here their worthy home, being elevated
beyond the condition of mere mortals to the vaunted
ranks of the Einherjar, the greatest of honors.
It is the greatest of honors, as only Æsir and
Einherjar are granted access to this hall.
Odhinn takes the master seat, often letting his wolves
take his portion of food, taking only wine and meat as
sustenance. In Valhalla, the Einherjar sit at the side of
the gods, toasting and feasting to the glory of past deeds.
The hall itself is a testament to glory, its tall col-
umns made of bundles of spears tied together with
gold and silver bands. The roof is made of shields
riveted together with burnished bronze pegs and the
benches where the Einherjar and the Æsir sit are cov-
ered in suits of armor and coats of mail instead of furs.
The hall is dotted with racks heavy with weapons of
all kinds, spears, axes, swords, bows, daggers and many
others the mortal eye has never seen. There are also
plenty of suits of armor, coats of mail, lamellar armor,
leather and metal armor and some never seen before.
The river Thund flows within Valhalla, where both
the Einherjar and the Valkyries wash and bathe, joking
among themselves. The gigantic tree Laeradhr grows at
the center of the hall, so tall its branches make for part
of the bracing of the roof, a sweet reminder of the even
larger and more mysterious Yggdrasill.
The goat Heidhrùn nibbles at Laeradhr’s leaves and bark,
covered in runes that allow her to produce mead, instead of
milk, in quantity enough for all those who sit in the hall.
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190
A deer, Eikthyrnir, keeps Heidhrùn company graz-
ing from the tree and, like her, his body is covered in
runes that make the river Thund flow from his antlers.
The cook for the feasts is Andhrimnir, a dvergr
specialized in preparing meat of a boar species called
Saehrimnir, the meal’s main course.
Outside the west gate lies Valhalla’s garden, a refuge
from the constant din of the banquets. It is made of a
grove, Glasir, where the trees have leaves of burnished
gold, always in eternal autumn.
Valhalla is so vast mortal legends tell of its 540 doors,
so wide 800 Einherjar could fit in them side by side.
Although such numbers have not been confirmed,
Valhalla’s portals are hundreds upon hundreds, as are
the warriors who enter the hall each day, arrayed in
battle formation. The number of guests in the Hall of
the Fallen is beyond count, especially in these times of
violence, growing exponentially with each passing day.
During the night, the Einherjar feast drinking,
eating and toasting with the gods, or enjoying the
pleasures of the flesh. During the day, however, they
leave the hall arrayed in full panoply of war, to fight
tirelessly and with abandon on the fields of Vigrind,
constantly training for the coming of Ragnarok.
Those who are injured, mutilated or killed rise again
with their wounds closed and their limbs restored, to
return to Valhalla and resume feasting.
The constant alternating of rest and battle keeps the
Einherjar on their edge, making them the mightiest
army the cosmos have ever seen.
Valhalla has two secondary wings, branching out
off its main body, its map mimicking the shape of the
Teiwaz rune.
They are respectively Gladhsheimr and Vingòlf and
host the private chambers and minor halls of the coun-
cil, for the Æsir and Asynjur. They are also shrines,
where the grounds sacred to the gods are kept well
stocked with offerings by both Valkyries and Einherjar.
Every divine being has their own palace or fortress,
but many have their personal abode elsewhere. Tyr,
for example, can be often met in Gladsheimr, while
Gefjun and Sif, when not in company of her husband,
live in Vingòlf.
Becoming an Einherjar, however, is also a heavy
burden. Being a warrior who will spend eternity fight-
ing, dying and coming back to life knowing that they
will live in that condition just so they can fight during
Ragnarok breaks the will and shatters the mind of
many. But not that of an Einherjar.
When the Last Day will come and darkness shall
fall on all and everything shall die in violence and
pain, every sword shall be necessary. Every life of a hero
being snuffed out on Midgardr is a potential Einherjar
who will lend his strength and valor on the frontline
against what will come. There is a deep and romantic
tragedy in being an Einherjar, but none of them ever
will regret the opportunity to fight alongside the gods
during Ragnarok.
Vidhi (or Widi)
A palace slightly distant from the others, its appearance
not sharing their magnificence. Although well built, it
looks neglected, the carvings on its beams and pillars
partially hidden by mistletoe. Inside, grow thorns and
tall grass, as if nobody took care of them for a long time.
The wind howls through the windows, echoing like a
howling wolf in the main, empty hall. This is the place
where Vidharr lives, the sullen god of vengeance and
son of Odhinn. He hardly ever joins the other Æsir as
he prefers staying in his den like a wounded beast.
Vigrid
Beyond Asgrind, where the Bifrost ends, opens a sea of
emerald green, always rustling with shining waves that
cross its immensity to crash through one another. This
is Vigrid, the battlefield where every day the Einherjar
fight surrounded by the sacred law of the gods. It is writ-
ten that the battle of the Last Day will be fought here.
Valhalla - © Milivoj Ćeran
192
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192
Journey to Ragnarok
192
Bifrost’s light blinds the adventurers, as they find
themselves suspended in a dream-like vision of the
Nine Worlds and Yggdrasill. They behold Flame and
Ice, seeing Midgardr in a flash before being blinded by
the splendor of Asgardr.
When they recover from the light, the characters
see in front of them a tall and heavily built man, wear-
ing a helm with large ram horns, who smiles, his grin
flashing with golden teeth. Heimdallr welcomes the
group to Asgardr as honored guests, as a detail of Æsir
honor guard awaits them, ready to escort them directly
to Odhinn’s presence.
During the trip to the palace, the characters can see
the wonders of Asgardr, only for them to be dwarfed
by the splendor of Odhinn’s palace. Once they arrive in
Valaskjalf, crossing Idhavollr, they are led to the main
hall where has been prepared an immense banquet,
with the majority of the divine court present. Odhinn
himself is presiding, sat on his throne at the other end
of the hall, welcoming them with benevolence.
To the surprise of those present, to the table have
been added a few seats for the newcomers, who can eat
in the presence of the protagonists of the legends. At
the end of the feast, his court dismissed, Odhinn asks
the characters to give him the ring Draupnir.
Although he appears to be aware of the events
the heroes have been through until now, he will not
answer the many questions they might ask him, espe-
cially those regarding their shipwreck. Once Draupnir
is back in his possession, Odhinn greets them as hon-
oured guest of the gods, allowing them to rest and
recuperate feasting with the other divines.
The characters can spend a night on Asgardr. When
the sun is down, they are led to their quarters, where
they are able to rest under the stars of the highest of
the Nine Worlds.
The following morning, they are gently woken up
and dressed in godly clothes, allowing them to with-
stand extreme temperatures, like the insufferable heat
of the desert or the deathly cold of a glacier.
Odhinn, then, gathers them in a private hall, where
he gives them a task. As they showed honor and courage,
the Father of the Gods thinks them worthy of recovering
another ring dear to him, Andvaranautr (see page 300).
This cursed ring was gifted by Odhinn (who still
covets it) to king Hreidmar as compensation for the
death of his son Otr, accidentally killed by Thor, Loki
and Odhinn during a hunting expedition.
The curse of the ring, then, struck the royal family;
Hreidmar’s two children, Fafnir and Regin, started
wanting the ring, insisting their father should have
given it to them. The ring’s corruption spread so much
that Fafnir killed his father to take it and banished his
brother from Nidavellir.
They will have to ride again the Bifrost, to descend
in Svartalfheimr, the Night World, where they will
have to find a way to reach the depths of Nidavellir.
Once they are in that place of industry and fire, their
duty is defeating the dragon Fafnir. Odhinn could
have solemnly tasked them in front of the whole
court of the gods, on the base that the dragon was
crushing the Dwarves with its greed, but that would
only have doomed them to failure.
The hero Sigurd suffered that fate, failing in the
task, invested with the honor of bringing such a
scourge down, and lost the sword capable of rending
the dragon’s scale, Gramr.
Once the group accepts the task, they are
entrusted to Heimdallr once again, who escorts them
to Himinbjorg where they can take weapons from
his armory (every player can choose up to an item on
the Magic Items Table F). Clothed and armed like
gods, they are brought to Asgrind and from there to
Bifrost, for their descent to Svartalfheimr.
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The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
Baldr
“A young man caught me completely by surprise, catching ,e under his arm
and inviting me to sit with him. He poured mead into a silver cup, for me,
and a horn, for himself, and we toasted, as if I had been his most cherished
friend. However, I had never seen him before. Elegant in his appearance and
polite in his manners, his skin was the colour of pearls, his hair and beard
white as the first autumn snow, and his eyes the lightest. Although albino, his
pallor looked more like a source of light, rather than a flaw, as if his presence
irradiated in the entire hall. His hair was tied in a thick braid, bedecked in
golden beads, his beard short and well trimmed and his handlebar mustache
closed with two dark stone pearls. He looked like a great, luminous flame,
blinding and yet warm and pleasant as a newly found friendship. He wore
a light blue tunic and white trousers, those of a king, kept in place by a
leather belt with a wide, sun-chased wheel, so large it covered part of his
chest. Drinking with this man was an immense pleasure for me and yet it
made me feel extremely sad. I wondered, in surprise, how painful could it be
to see such a good man die.”
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of light and beauty
•
The kindest and best-loved of all the gods, in whose existence
lies a dire tragedy
•
He possesses modest clairvoyance skills, allowing him to
glimpse into the Fate of the world, although he looks the
other way
Baldr
Large god, lawful honorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
24 (+7)
Armor Class 18
Hit Points 140 (20d12)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Con +14, Wis +14, Cha +14
Skills Intimidation +14, Perception +14
Damage Immunities acid, fire, force, frost, lightning, necrotic, psychic,
radiant, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 24, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 24 (62.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Baldr’s weapon attacks are magical. When the Æsir
hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant damage
(included in the attack).
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Baldr fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Baldr rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Promise of Good Will. Everything in the world swore never to harm
Baldr, save for Mistletoe, too young to swear an oath. Any damage dealt
to Baldr by mistletoe weapons ignores his immunities.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Baldr makes two Blade of Asgardr attacks.
Blade of Asgardr. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 20 (2d10 + 8) piercing damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Baldr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Baldr regains spent legendary actions at
the start of their turn.
Attack. Baldr makes an attack.
Move. Baldr takes the Dash or Disengage action.
Divine Imposition (2 actions). Each creature at Baldr’s choice within
60 ft of them must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma saving throw or be
charmed by Baldr for a day. This effect does not stack. A creature who
succeeds on the saving throw is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
194
Bragi (Æsir)
“I heard music and my guide led me through the crowd to a small dais where
an old man was playing a magnificent harp, made of precious wood. His white
hair was tied on the back of his head, although it showed a largely reced-
ing hairline. His white beard was so long it brushed his knees, woven with
bronze and copper threads and the visible skin on his neck was as wrinkled as
an autumn leaf. His expert fingers caressed the instrument’s horsehair chords,
making the air around him echo with a crystalline and celestial sound. I felt
spellbound by the old man’s skill, whose wondrous melody was soon joined by
song. His harmonious voice, utterly unexpected by somebody his age, was that
of young, vigorous man. It was only then that I saw his tongue, adorned with
runes. When the song was over, the old man invited me onto the dais, to keep
him company and to play with him, although my music sounded pitiful and
miserable if compared to his.
However, as if by a spell, the melody of my lyre somehow took on that of his harp
and filled my heart with something new, a fire that had never before burned in
my chest. I had just found my inspiration.”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of poetry and song
•
Affable, kind, wise and knowledgeable cantor, his skill unmatched
•
Odhinn often asks for his advice
Forseti (Æsir)
“Not far away from a crowd of people fiercely argued. Among them, two people
were exchanging insults and vitriol about a topic I could not understand in the
confusion. A man in the crowd called for silence with a hand gesture and every-
body looked at him. He placed himself between the two contenders and started
talking with a clear and pure voice, the speech of an expert orator. This man kept
his chin clean shaved, with a thick mustache and hair the color of carrots.
Moderate and yet elegant in his clothing, draped in a cloak of crimson wool, his
appearance radiated strictness and rigor as well as tenderness and firmness. He
did not wear jewelry, save for a twisted silver bracelet on his left wrist. The dis-
tance did not allow me to hear him, but I was still able to catch a few sentences.
Quoting the norms and laws of the code utilized by the Emperor of the Inner Sea,
I was astounded by his knowledge, with which he solved the dispute peacefully
and everybody went back to celebrating”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of law
•
Learned, eloquent, sometimes even patronizing, he always tries to solve
every loophole or problem
Frigg (Æsir)
“A woman approached my companion, embracing him and greeting him with
a kiss, and hailed me. Her appearance emanated royalty and pride. Wise, pen-
etrating eyes, blonde hair with silvery locks expertly woven with gems and rock
crystals, her pale and mature visage crossed by a tattooed line descending from
her chin along her neck. I wondered which designs would she have etched onto
the rest of her skin, surely as regal as the woman herself. She had blue eyes, so
light she looked as if she was blind, in spite of the contrast with her lampblack
makeup. She wore large gold earrings and a necklace adorned with falcon feet
and gold-plated feathers.
Her clothes were heavy, a magnificent dark red dress, with silver trims, and a
wide, white fur wrapping around her like a cloud. Her pale hands were heavy
with rings cut entirely out of numerous different precious stones. She emanated
an air of solemn royalty and charme that intoxicated me like a perfume.
The woman whispered something into the old one-eyed’s ear and then left.”
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
Goddess of royalty, fecundity, war and clairvoyance
•
A queen so cunning and clever she crafted a second identity by the
name of Saga
•
When on the front line, she acts like a warlord, a powerful spell-
caster when not in the thick of the melee
195
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
Heimdallr
“As I beheld, amazed, the bystanders I noticed a man watching me intently.
Tall and heavily built, like the last tree standing from the taiga on the borders
of the frozen desert, he was studying me with such intensity I felt stark naked.
I could not see his face, hidden by a great helm the like of which I had never
seen, bearing two large ram horns.
His dark irises went surf-white, as impressive a feat as it was absurd. After
a few, eternal, seconds he smiled, removing his helm and I suddenly felt
relieved. I realized his teeth were pure gold and one of his ears was missing.
His red-hot hair was as long as it befits a man of experience and power,
decorated with white gold jewelry and his mail armor, bracers and greaves
bore platelets of the same precious metal. In the light of the fires, he looked
shrouded in a halo of white light. His strong hands, his skin scorched by the
sun of the endless watch, delicately cradled a signaling horn the size of a
man, intricately carved and inlaid such magnificent and complex motifs I
could have lost years to unravel their meaning. When he focused his attention
elsewhere, it was as if I had never existed.”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
Heimdallr
Large god, lawful honorable
STR
26 (+8)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
26 (+8)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
28 (+9)
CHA
28 (+9)
Armor Class 23
Hit Points 350 (25d12 + 175)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Str +15, Con +14, Wis +16, Cha +16
Skills Intimidation +16, Perception +23
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from
non-magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 24, darkvision 400 ft. truesight 400 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 25 (50.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Heimdallr’s weapon attacks are magical. When
Heimdallr hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant
damage (included in the attack).
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Heimdallr fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Heimdallr rolls saving throws against spells and
magical effects with advantage.
Eternal Vigilance. Heimdallr cannot be surprised, is immune to illusion
and cannot be put magically to sleep.
Innate Spellcasting. Heimdallr’s spellcasting ability is Wisdom (saving
throw DC 24, +16 to hit). Heimdallr can innately cast the following
spells, without the need for components.
At will: bless, clairvoyance, detect magic, detect thoughts, magic circle,
message, sanctuary, spiritual weapon, teleportation circle, thaumaturgy.
3/day each: blade barrier, holy aura, sunbeam
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Heimdallr makes two Blade of Asgardr attacks and one
Heimdallr’s Head attack.
Blade of Asgardr. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 23 (2d10 + 11) piercing damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage.
Heimdallr’s Head. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 20 (2d8 + 11) bludgeoning damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant
damage. The character must pass a DC 20 Constitution saving throw
or be knocked prone and stunned for 1 minute.
REACTIONS
Pommel Strike. Heimdallr attacks his target with the hilt of his Sword.
This attack uses the same roll to hit of the Sword attack, dealing instead 16
(1d8 + 11) bludgeoning damage. On a hit, the target must pass a DC 18
Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of their next round.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Heimdallr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Heimdallr regains spent legendary actions
at the start of their turn.
Gjallarhorn. Heimdallr blows his mighty horn. Every ally gains
advantage to hit rolls, skill checks and saving throws and is immune to
fear for 1 minute. Each enemy must pass a DC 21 Charisma saving
throw or suffer disadvantage to all to hit rolls, skill checks and saving
throws and be frightened for 1 minute.
Headbutt. Heimdallr makes a Heimdallr’s Head attack.
•
Sentinel god, the deity of the morning, civilization and war
•
Staunch, stern, proud and terse, revered father of human civilization
•
The best watchman in the universe, capable of seeing and sensing
almost anything
196
Hödhr (Æsir)
“The young albino approached me, leading a blind man. With great ten-
derness, he helped him sitting among us, pouring him a drink and handing
him a plate filled with hot food. Much to my amazement, the two men were
twins, exactly identical if not for a few details. His hair and beard were
charcoal black, his tunic and trousers the color of hearth smoke and the jewels
he wore on his arms and his mane burnished gold. His brother helped him
drinking and eating with affection and care, but there was something off
in the blind man. He looked like as if he was suffering a great shame from
something, but I could tell what it was, although I felt a great pity for him.
What manner of despicable act could have a poor blind man committed to
feel so ashamed of himself?”
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
Blind warrior god
•
Somber and depressed for something unfathomable. He can be dis-
tracted, however, and becomes a little happier if somebody talks to
him and listens to his tales
Idhunn (Æsir)
“A woman, dressed as a peasant, walked barefoot among the benches, holding
a basket full of apples under her arm. She wore a simple, lightly colored tunic,
numerous bags filled with herbs hanging from her belt.
Her only weapon was a boar tusk knife with a golden handle and a squirrel’s
tail kept in place by a golden stud. Surprisingly beautiful, she kept her brown
hair flowing on the back of the head and tied to her temples in two braids.
Her tanned skin bore white paintings around her neck and arms. Flowers
and pine twigs woven into her braids and hawthorn in the belt were the
only jewelry she wore. Her honey-colored eyes gleefully looked at the hall,
freckles dotting her cheeks like flowers on vernal snow, making her gentle
visage all the sweeter. She walked serenely, gifting an apple to whoever crossed
her. Those apples had an intense and fascinating smell and, I could not tell
if it was the fairytale-like light of the hall or my own enthusiasm tricking
me, I could have sworn they were made of gold, shining like tiny stars in the
woman’s hands”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
Goddess of immortality and spring
•
Her blood is an unusual mix of Dvergr and Alfr, making her a bit
naive and somewhat rustic
•
She guards the golden apples of immortality with magicks gifted to
her by her peculiar descent
Loki
“I noticed a man who walked among the crowd, bothering many people. He quar-
reled on purpose, insulted maidens and brawled with warriors, his behavior greatly
annoying me. He dressed in garish colours, in great contrast with his sickly, almost
translucent, complexion, with waist-long, smooth black hair framing a sharp visage.
The inserts and trims in his cloak and clothes reminded me of snakes whose coils
haunted my thoughts, while the jewels at his neck and wrists were more evidently
embossed with serpent motifs. His reptile-thin lips were always twisted in a sardonic
grin, darkened and defaced by many scars. Upon closer inspection, I realized his
mouth had been sewn shut; how many and what manner of insults and lies had
befallen such a punishment on him? I did not feel any pity for him, maybe because
such a vile being did not deserve any. I will never forget his eyes, so dark, hollow,
filled with hatred, sourness and malignancy. I felt fear and hoped never to see that
person ever again, as I had the feeling that man could commit unspeakable crimes”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of trickery and witchcraft
•
Sly, lustful, rancorous, liar and utterly untrustworthy
•
Clever and manipulating, he will always try to gain something out
of any situation
•
Æsir think that he is imprisoned in a cave of Eitr on Niflheimr,
chained to a boulder while a snake torments him, but he’s on the run.
197
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
Loki
Large god, chaotic dishonorable
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
26 (+8)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
30 (+10)
WIS
20 (+5)
CHA
30 (+10)
Armor Class 20
Hit Points 300 (25d12 + 125)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Str +12, Con +15, Wis +12, Cha +17
Skills Deception +17, Intimidation +17, Perception +12, Persuasion +17
Damage Immunities necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from
non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 22, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 23 (50.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Loki’s weapon attacks are magical. When Loki
hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant damage
(included in the attack).
Trickster’s Aura. Every attack against Loki fails unless his attacker passes
a DC 12 Charisma saving throw.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Loki fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Loki rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Innate Spellcasting. Loki’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (saving throw
DC 25, +17 to hit). Loki can innately cast the following spells, without
the need for components.
At will: animate object, bestow curse, burning hands, charm person,
confusion, dominate monster, dominate person, fireball, flaming sphere, fog
cloud, gaseous form, invisibility, scorching ray, shapechange, shield, suggestion,
wall of fire.
3/day each: antipathy/sympathy, counterspell, blade barrier, delayed blast
fireball, earthquake, eyebite, feeblemind, lightning bolt, mass suggestion,
mind blank, mirage arcane, sunbeam, sunburst, time stop, weird.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Loki makes two Dagger of Asgardr attacks.
Dagger of Asgardr. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10
ft. or 30/120 ft. range, one target. Hit: 19 (2d6 + 8) piercing damage plus
27 (6d8) radiant damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Lokican take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only
one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of
another creature’s turn. Loki regains spent legendary actions at the start
of their turn.
Spell. Loki casts a known spell.
Hypnotic gaze. A creature Loki is able to see within 60 ft. must pass a
DC 20 Charisma saving throw or be charmed by Loki for 1 minute. A
crature who passes the saving throw is immune to the effect for 24 hours.
Teleport. Loki magically teleports in an unoccupied space he can see within
160 ft, with all the equipment he is wearing or carrying on his person.
Nanna (Æsir)
“The young albino I was sitting with was joined by a graceful maiden who
sat at his side, resting her head on his shoulder. She kept her dark hair tied
behind the back of her head, like a young bride, wreathed in wildflowers. Her
neck was thin, her skin bright and her hands delicate. She made me think
of those young Jutlander maidens whose smile can melt iron. Her doe-like
eyes intently studied me. She was as beautiful as a blooming flower, gentle
and welcome after the rigors of winter and I thought about a thin birch, so
thin she looked. She must have been cut from as strong and tough a fabric
as the same plant, however, the only one capable of surviving in the frozen
lands of the north, if she was the one who earned the love of such a good and
sought-after man”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
Goddess of youth and childhood
•
Spontaneous, kind and gentle, although extremely brave and tenacious
198
198
Odhinn
“It was a summer night, not like these, an actual summer night. The sky
had so many stars I thought I was swimming in the air, surrounded by rock
crystal dust.
I was on my way to the king of Jutland, to entertain him with my singing,
you see and me and my companions had set the camp for the night. I was
admiring the starlight sky, hoping to find inspiration for my next work when
all of a sudden I noticed somebody by the fire.
An old man, so much I could not guess his age, dressed in rags, huddled by the
fire and I offered him food and drinks, even if he had not asked for them, as
if driven by an unknown sense of mercy or compassion.
“We all are travelers in this wide and strange world”, he said, as if reading
my very thoughts.
And then, before I could reply, he grasped my hand and in a dour voice he
said “Are you looking for inspiration? Are you looking for the song that will
carve your name into eternity? Let me show you.”
And so the old man rose, shaking off his rags. He was large, taller than me
by a whole head, with flowing grey hair caressing his back, tied with leather
strings and the bones of some unknown bird of prey.
His face framed by a thick, abdomen-long, ashen beard and his wrinkled
skin the color of leather, as if burned by a thousand suns, or pale, as if it had
never seen sunlight. He was immensely old and yet incredibly young. The
hand grasping me was large, with many callouses, what I could see of his body
crossed by a tangle of the thin lines of many, long-faded, tattoos. Perhaps, that
was why I could not tell the color of his skin.
His clothes, torn, ragged and patched in many places, were worthy of a king.
I recognized wool, silk, refined and sophisticated colors trimmed in golden
thread, covered by a wide grey cloak. His boots however, were worn down.
Only then I realized this man had only one eye. The empty socket was a hole,
set in the wrinkles of a wooden visage, although the good one was an even
more disconcerting pit. In that iris of endless, ever-changing colors like the
Northern Lights, I saw… I saw… there are no words for what I saw, but it
perturbed me, it fascinated me and frightened me.
The man covered his mouth with a hand, like a suckling, but when he showed
his palm to me I saw he was holding a handful of pale bones, perhaps as old
as he was and carved with unknown runes.
He glanced at me with his good eye for an instant that felt like an eternity
and then said, with a commanding attitude, “Come with me.”
And that is the beginning of this story of mine I am about to tell you”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of magic, war, death, poetry, knowledge, ecstasy, exile, travel,
violence, aggression, wisdom and runes.
•
Father of the gods, parent to a great many of them
•
He knows the flow of Fate, having met the Norns with Mimir and
drunk the mead of knowledge. He knows everything and yet his
words are cryptic
Odhinn
Large God, lawful honorable
STR
26 (+8)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
26 (+8)
INT
28 (+9)
WIS
30 (+10)
CHA
26 (+8)
Armor Class 25
Hit Points 450 (30d12 + 240)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Str +16, Con +16, Wis +17, Cha +16
Skills Intimidation +16, Perception +18
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; bludgeoning, piercing and
slashing from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed,
poisoned
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 28, darkvision 120 ft., truesight 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 26 (90.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. The weapon attacks of a Deity are magical.
When the Deity hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 12d8
radiant damage (included in the attack).
Supreme Knowledge. Odhinn is the keeper of ultimate knowledge and
always succeeds on Arcana, Asatru, History, Nature and Religion checks.
Implacable. Odhinn’s attacks ignore immunity or resistance.
Supreme Master of the Futhark Circle. Odhinn can magically create a runic
circle, etching it on the floor. As an action, he chooses a spot on the floor
within 120 ft., creating a circle 30 ft. in diameter. To keep it active, he must
be able to see the circle and use a bonus action every turn. When a creature
Odhinn can see attacks a target within the circle, he can roll a d12 and
subtract the result to that hit roll. Enemies within the Futhark Circle lose any
damage resistance. Odhinn is considered always within the Futhark Circle.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Odhinn fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Odhinn rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Innate Spellcasting. Odhinn’s spellcasting ability is Intelligence (saving
throw DC 26, +18 to hit). Odhinn can innately cast the following spells,
without the need for components.
At will: bless, circle of death, circle of power, clairvoyance, counterspell, detect
magic, detect thoughts, foresight, haste, heroes’ feast, magic circle, message,
mind blank, sanctuary, slow, teleportation circle, thaumaturgy.
3/day each: holy aura, time stop, true polymorph, zone of truth
1/day: power word kill
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Odhinn makes three Gungnir attacks.
The Spear Gungnir. Melee Weapon Attack: it automatically hits a creature
within reach and sight, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 25 (2d12 + 11)
piercing damage plus 54 (12d8) radiant damage.
Gungnir, thrown. Odhinn hurls Gungnir, all creatures in a straight line
120 ft. long and 5 ft. wide suffer 18 (1d12+11) piercing piercing damage
plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage. Gungnir returns to Odhinn’s hand at the
beginning his next turn.
REACTIONS
The Allfather Gaze. If an attack hits Odhinn and he can see his
aggressor, it fails.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Odhinn can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Odhinn regains spent legendary actions at
the start of their turn.
Gungnir. Odhinn attacks once with the spear Gungnir.
Runic Mark (3 actions). Odhinn magically etches a rune on a target he
can see within the Futhark Circle. That target must pass a DC 21 Wisdom
saving throw or suffer a condition at Odhinn’s choice among the following:
blinded, deafened, paralyzed, petrified or poisoned. A spell like lesser
restoration is capable of removing such condition.
Spell. Odhinn casts a known spell.
200
Geri and Freki, Odhinn’s Wolves
Geri and Freki are wolves of the forest of Jarnvid, although much smaller
in size than their cousins, the giant wolves. As Odhinn traveled, wearing
the identity of a wanderer, he met the two wolves and saw potential in
them. Geri and Freki can interact with the spiritual world, making them
the best of track hounds.
Geri / Freki
Large beast, lawful honorable
STR
22 (+6)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
17 (+3)
INT
11 (+0)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
10 (+0)
Armor Class 20 (natural)
Hit Points 120 (12d12 + 36)
Speed 60 ft
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, paralyzed, poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from
non magical weapons
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 12 (11.500 XP)
Sacred Beast. The attacks of the Wolves of Odhinn are considered magical.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If the Wolves of Odhinn fail a saving
throw, they can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The Wolves of Odhinn rolls saving throws against
spells and magical effects with advantage.
Pack Tactics. The Wolves of Odhinn have advantage on an attack roll
against a creature if at least one of their allies is within 5 ft. of the creature
and the ally isn’t incapacitated. All allies of the Wolves of Odhinn have
advantage on an attack roll against a creature within 5 ft. of the Wolves
themselves, provided they are not incapacitated.
Keen Sight and Smell. The Wolves of Odhinn have advantage on
Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight and smell.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Wolves of Odhinn make a Slam attack and two Bite attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18
(2d10 + 6) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, they must pass a
DC 18 Constitution saving throw or lose 10 hit points at the beginning
of their round for one minute. This effect does not stack.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15
(2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature,
they must pass a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The Wolves of Odhinn can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the
options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time
and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Wolves of Odhinn
regain spent legendary actions at the start of their turn.
Bite. The Wolves of Odhinn make a Bite attack.
Huginn and Muninn, Odhinn’s Ravens
Huginn (“Thought”) and Muninn (“Memory”) are two ravens who
wander the Worlds gathering news and information on behalf of
Odhinn. Their master sets them out at dawn and then awaits their
return at dusk, when they perch on his shoulders and whisper in his
ears what they saw and heard.
Huginn / Muninn
Tiny beast, lawful honorable
STR
6 (-2)
DEX
20 (+5)
CON
10 (+0)
INT
24 (+7)
WIS
20 (+5)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 25
Hit Points 75 (15d8)
Speed 10 ft. fly 120 ft.
Saving Throws Dex +10, Int +12, Wis +10
Damage Immunities poison; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from
non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, paralyzed, poisoned
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 20, truesight 150 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 400 ft.
Challenge 12 (11.500 XP)
Awareness. Odhinn’s Ravens immediately detect lies.
Mimicry. Odhinn’s Ravens can mimic any sound. Creature hearing the
sound can tell it is a mimicry by passing a DC 20 Wisdom (Insight) check.
Innate Spellcasting. The spellcasting ability of the Odhinn’s Ravens is
Intelligence (saving throw DC 20).
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If the Vanir fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead. They can innately cast the following spells,
without the need for components.
At will: clairvoyance, detect magic, detect thoughts, etherealness, message.
1/day: time stop, zone of truth
Magic Resistance. Odhinn’s Ravens roll saving throws against spells and
magical effects with advantage.
ACTIONS
Beack. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8
(1d60 + 5) piercing damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Odhinn’s Ravens can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and
only at the end of another creature’s turn. Odhinn’s Ravens regain spent
legendary actions at the start of their turn.
Flight. Flying, Odhinn’s Ravens either Dash or Disengage.
Spell. Odhinn’s Ravens cast a known spell.
201
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
Sleipnir, Odhinn’s Steed
Sleipnir is Odhinn’s eight-legged horse. He was born when Loki, under
the guise of a cow, seduced the horse Svadilfari to distract him from
building the walls of Asgardr.
Sleipnir is the noblest of all horses and is gifted with flight.
Sleipnir
Large beast, lawful honorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
18 (+4)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
11 (+0)
SWIS
17 (+3)
CHA
15 (+2)
Armor Class 18 (natural)
Hit Points 145 (12d12 + 60)
Speed 60 ft., swim 60 ft., fly 60 ft.
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, paralyzed, poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from non magical weapons
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 12 (11.500 XP)
Trampling Charge. If Sleipnir moves at least 20 ft. straight toward a
creature and then hits it with a hooves attack the same turn, that target
suffers an additional 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage and Sleipnir cannot
be targeted by attacks of opportunity if he leaves the area threatened by the
target. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC
18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Sleipnir fails a saving throw, they can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Sleipnir rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Magic Hooves. Sleipnir’s attacks are magical. Sleipnir can walk on water
surfaces or air as if it was open ground and ignores any penalty from the
terrain. Sleipnir moves freely from one world to the other with a movement
action, bringing with himself all he is carrying.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Sleipnir makes four Hooves attacks.
Hoof. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Sleipnir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Sleipnir regains spent legendary actions at
the start of his turn.
Dash. Sleipnir takes the Dash action
Hoof. Sleipnir makes a Hoof attack.
Move. Sleipnir takes the Dash or Disengage action.
Terrifying Snort. Sleipnir fiercely neighs, a dense, warm mist leaving his
nostrils. Each hostile creature within 60 ft. of him who can hear it must
pass a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of
their next round.
Sif (Æsir)
“A most peculiar warrior waded through the bystanders to get to the other end
of the hall. At her left side, she carried a broad-bladed sword, at her right one
hung a battleaxe. She wore a suit of armor made of embossed metal plates
over a horseman’s coat of mail and, in spite of her menacing appearance, had
many small bouquets of flowers tied to her belt, spreading a gentle smell as she
passed by. Her mane blazed like a flame, superb and untamed like a wildfire.
I could have lost myself in such resplendent hair, that looked as if extremely
skilled artisans had wrought from countless golden threads. Aware of her
charm, she shook her hair with one, fluid motion of her head, freeing into
the air a mysterious fragrance of resins and red-hot iron. As beautiful and
ferocious as the storm, in her blue eyes, I saw the loveliness and benevolence of
a mother with the sacred duty of protecting her children”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
Goddess of war and crops
•
Fierce combatant and an affectionate mother, she incarnates the
ideal of the warriors who defend her community
202
Thor
“Like the wind carries you over the waves to the destination of your journey
or glowing iron was brought to the shadow of the forge, so my attention was
stolen by a man. It looked as if the entire hall gravitated around him or he
was the center of the universe and I wondered if even I was but a dream
in the imagination of such a powerful being, whose might irradiated from
every fiber of his person. In his presence, I felt like an insect in front of the
inconceivable height of a mountain, paralyzed, I felt as if struck in the chest
by a hammer. I felt like the first time I saw the endless vastness of the tundra,
where days last weeks and nights more than a lifetime. I felt a childhood
memory, when my older brother wielded our sickly father’s axe to defend our
house from a bear. I felt safe and respectful like that day so long in the past.
Seeing that enormous man drinking and eating with the innocent glee of a
child caused in me a whirlwind of emotions. I felt both absolute, irrational
terror and then spontaneous admiration.
He had beyond the shoulder red hair, a thick red beard brushing his hairy
chest, his woven mustache closed by two blue stones. His eyes were of an
ever-changing color, one moment that of storm clouds, the following light
blue like the clear sky. They even looked like the deep red of a bird of prey.
His large and muscled shoulders were shrouded by a dark fur, his hips covered
in a simple kilt of overlapping leather strips held in place by a tall, bronze-
plated belt. He wore knee-high, fur-covered boots and some of his armils
looked as if they were to burst while attempting to contain his bulging biceps.
His forearms were plated in iron bracers that covered part of his hands and,
although he looked capable of crushing the bones of a person with just a hand,
I thought he was more of the jovial type, rather than a warrior. The moment
he saw my one-eyed guide, he suddenly stood, overturning the table and I was
deafened by an unexpected roar. Then, I saw a hammer in his hand, so large
its head was easily the size of my chest, and a horn overflowing with beer in
the other. He let out a powerful shout, as mighty as the sudden eruption of a
volcano, as deafening as a hundred thunderclaps, so intense that sent many
bystanders reeling, then he sat again as if nothing had happened. I believe I
saw sparks, like summer lightnings, in his impenetrable eyes”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of thunder, lightning, rain, fields, farmers and warriors
•
Irascible, gruff and extremely impulsive, his mentality is simple and
straightforward
•
Equally capable of anger and friendship, he is generous and
good-hearted
Thor
Large god, chaotic honorable
STR
30 (+10)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
28 (+9)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
28 (+9)
Armor Class 25
Hit Points 450 (30d12 + 240)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Str +18, Con +17, Wis +15, Cha +17
Skills Intimidation +16, Perception +15
Damage Immunities lightning, necrotic, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing
and slashing from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 25, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 25 (75.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Thor’s weapon attacks are magical. When Thor
hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant damage
(included in the attack).
Strength of the Storm. Thor rolls Strength checks with advantage.
He cannot be moved, shoved or knocked Prone.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Thor fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Thor rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Innate Spellcasting. Thor’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (saving throw
DC 25, +17 to hit). Thor can innately cast the following spells, without
the need for components.
At will: chain lightning, control weather, lightning arrow, shocking grasp,
thunderous smite, thunderwave.
3/day: storm of vengeance
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Thor makes three Mjolnir attacks.
Mjolnir. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 10 ft or range
60/120., one target. Hit: 30 (3d10 + 13) bludgeoning damage plus 27
(6d8) radiant damage plus 36 (8d8) lightning damage plus 14 (4d6)
thunder damage.
Divine Storm. Thor unleashes the power of the storm, thunder and
lightning scouring the battlefield. Every creature within 60 ft. must make
a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or suffer 55 (15d6) lightning damage
plus 36 thunder damage and be knocked Prone. On a pass, the damage is
halved and they are not knocked Prone.
REACTIONS
Aura of Sparks. When Thor is hit by a melee attack, he can spend his
reaction to deal 21 (6d6) lightning damage to his attacker, who must pass
a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed until the end of their
next round.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Thor can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Thor regains spent legendary actions at the
start of their turn.
Mjollnir. Thor attacks once with the hammer Mjollnir.
Spell. Thor casts a known spell.
Thunderbolt (2 actions). Thor takes a Dash action without provoking
attacks of opportunity. All creatures within 5 ft. of his passage suffer 21
(6d6) thunder damage and must pass a DC 20 Strength saving throw or
be knocked Prone.
203
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
204
Tyr
“A grown man passed me by. Tall and mighty, tough as the cliffs of the fjords.
Long, grizzled hair feathered his shoulders, untied and visible under a great helm
decorated with silver and bronze, chased with images of wolves and warriors.
His dark, silver-streaked beard, kept short and well-trimmed, framed his angular
features as eyes the color of morning light looked me over before moving on. His
massive figure was clad in a suit of lamellar and mail armor, worthy of a king
as it was adorned with small precious metal plates. His shoulders were covered by
a black cloak made with the skins of many wolves that gently brushed the floor.
Although worn out after untold battles, it still was solemn and regal.
His right hand was encased in a gauntlet, resting on the bejeweled furnishing of a
sword; the left one, instead, completely missing. The warrior had been mutilated.
His impairment, however, did not look to inconvenience him in the slightest. On
the contrary, his passage was hailed with great deference and respect, many offer-
ing him horns brimming with beer. He declined, however, with a simple nod.
No jest or look of pity for the maimed, who walked straight and proud, as the
noblest among the lords of Midgardr.”
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of war and gatherings
•
Cold and disciplined, careful and calculating when fighting
•
He is said to be the braves among the gods
Tanngnjóstr and Tanngrisnir,
Thor’s Goats
Tanngnjóstr (“Teethgritter”) and Tanngrisnir (“Teethfiler”) are the two
goats who pull Thor’s chariot. He is also known for often cooking and
eating them, as they can be returned to life by recomposing their corpses
and a little help of Thor’s own hammer, Mjöllnir.
Tanngnjóstr / Tanngrisnir
Large beast, lawful honorable
STR
22 (+6)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
18 (+4)
CHA
8 (-1)
Armor Class 14 (natural)
Hit Points 130 (10d10 + 70)
Speed 60 ft.
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, paralyzed, poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from
non magical weapons
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 10 (5.900 XP)
Trampling Charge. If the Goat of Thor moves at least 20 ft. straight
toward a creature and then hits it with a hooves attack on the same turn,
that target suffers an additional 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage and the
Goat of Thor cannot be targeted by attacks of opportunity if he leaves the
area threatened by the target. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it
must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If the Goat of Thor fails a saving throw,
it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The Goat of Thor rolls saving throws against spells and
magical effects with advantage.
Magic Goat. The Goat’s attacks are magical.
Regeneration. The Goat of Thor heals 20 hit points at the beginning
of its turn. It dies only if its entire body is destroyed, burnt to ash or
disintegrated.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Goat of Thor makes two Horns attacks.
Horns. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15
(2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
205
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
Ullr (Æsir)
“A young hunter was laughing and telling hunting stories to a few maidens.
Dark hair, green eyes and a coarse beard lent him an appearance as rustic
as it was captivating. His hair kept in a ponytail tied with a leather string
from which hang two raven feathers and two boar tusks, he carried a majestic
white wood bow. Both ends were decorated with gold, raven head-shaped fit-
tings and the whole weapon had been carved with flower-inspired knotwork.
He was dressed in a simple and unassuming manner, stained with mud, pine
needles and grass after many long chases when out hunting. A bone skinning
knife hung from his belt, fitted with a golden boar head and two hare skins
painted with maps of the woodlands peeked out of his haversack, as well as a
waterskin and a small bag of medicinal herbs. Mud stained boots comforta-
bly rested on the table and a hood mounted by roe antlers reminded me of the
riveting tales of those daring hunters who braved the woods that I so much
loved as a child”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of hunting and forests
•
Adventurous and daring, sometimes arrogant. With little warning,
he can change the mood and become silent and careful
•
The best archer ever, he knows every woodland
Vidharr (Æsir)
“I passed by a man who sat alone at a table, with no company no matter how
crowded the great hall was.
However joy surrounded him, he emanated a sense of somber sadness, pushing
others away from him. He was a half-naked young man, dressed in worn out rags.
His long mane of unkempt hair wrapped around his head, reaching down
to his waist, so dirty and knotted it was impossible to tell its original color.
His beard, equally dirty and coarse, grew from under a hawk-like nose and
an unusually hard scowl, as if he was a sculpture barely outlined with an axe
from a log, upon which had grown ivy and moss.
One could spot taut muscles under the rags, his skin covered in knotted, thorn-
like tattoos. Numerous weapons hung from his rope belt, like axes, knives,
swords, throwing axes and spear tips, all gleaming like silver and kept with
the best of care. When he noticed I was watching him, a hostile grin flashed
within his beard, showing teeth with longitudinal carvings and I set my gaze
elsewhere, never laying eyes on that unsettling young man ever again”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of vengeance
•
Hostile, bitter, grim, aggressive and introvert
•
His ferocity and savagery make relating with him almost impossible
Týr
Lawful god, lawful honorable
STR
28 (+9)
DEX
20 (+5)
CON
30 (+10)
INT
24 (+7)
WIS
26 (+8)
CHA
24 (+7)
Armor Class 26
Hit Points 450 (25d12 + 240)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Str +16, Con +17, Wis +15, Cha +14
Skills Intimidation +21, Perception +15
Damage Immunities lightning, necrotic, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing
and slashing from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 25, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 25 (75.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Týr’s weapon attacks are magical. When the Æsir
hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant damage
(included in the attack).
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Týr fails a saving throw, it can choose
to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Týr rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
As Strong as War Itself. Týr rolls Strength checks with advantage. He
cannot be moved, shoved or knocked Prone.
Innate Spellcasting. Týr’s spellcasting ability is Wisdom (saving throw
DC 25, +15 to hit). Týr can innately cast the following spells, without the
need for components.
At will: cloud of dagger, haste, sanctuary, shield, shield of faith, slow, spiritual
weapon, thaumaturgy
3/day each: blade barrier, destructive wave
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Týr makes three Týr’s Blade attacks and one Shield Slam attack.
Shield Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) bludgeoning damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage. If
the target is a creature, it must pass a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be
knocked Prone.
Týr’s Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 28 (3d10 + 12) slashing damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage.
REACTIONS
Parry. Týr adds 4 to his AC to an attack that would hit him and
counterattacks with a Shield Slam. To be able to do so, Týr must be
wielding a shield and see his opponent.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Týr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only
one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of
another creature’s turn. Týr regains spent legendary actions at the start of
their turn.
Greater Shield Slam. Týr makes a Shield Slam attack. If it hits, the target
must pass a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or be Stunned for 1 minute.
Move. Týr takes the Dash or Disengage action.
Spell. Týr can cast a known spell
206
Æsir statistics
For all the deities in this chapter that mention the word “Æsir” next to
the name, use the statistics below.
Æsir (Generico)
Large god, lawful honorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
24 (+7)
Armor Class 22
Hit Points 295 (22d12 + 154)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Con +14, Wis +14, Cha +14
Skills Intimidation +14, Perception +14
Damage Immunities necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from
non magical weapons
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 24, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 21 (33.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. The Æsir’s weapon attacks are magical. When the Æsir
hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant damage
(included in the attack).
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If the Æsir fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The Æsir rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Æsir makes three Blade of Asgardr attacks.
Blade of Asgardr. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (2d10 + 10) piercing damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage.
Mead (6/Day). The Æsir allows a creature to drink a sip of magic
mead, healing it 40 (8d8+4) hit points.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The Æsir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and
only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Æsir regains spent
legendary actions at the start of their turn.
Attack. The Æsir makes and attack.
Move. The Æsir takes the Dash or Disengage action.
Divine Imposition (2 actions). Each creature at the Æsir’s choice
within 60 ft of them must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma saving
throw or be charmed by the Æsir for a day. This effect does not stack.
A creature who succeeds on the saving throw is immune to this effect
for 24 hours.
Einherjar
Half of those who die in battle, those who fought with honor, are taken by
the Valkyries and escorted to the halls of Valhalla.
The other half is led to Sessrúmnir, Freyja’s home, who has the first
pick of the dead. Each day the Einherjar in Valhalla are woken up by
the song of the rooster Gullinkambi and march together to the field of
Idavoll at the center of Asgardr to tirelessly fight one against the other in
the Eternal Battle.
At the end of each day, when they have all fallen, they heal and return
to Valhalla. There, a glorious feast awaits them, prepared by the cook of
the gods, Andhrímnri. the warriors eat the meat of the porc Sæhrímnir,
fabled for being reborn each day, and drink the mead made with the milk
of Heiõrún, the divine goat who feeds only on the leaves of Yggdrasill. The
Einherjar spend the night here, feasting and sleeping with the valkyries
until they fall asleep.
They train endlessly to be ready for the Ragnarok, the Last Battle when
Heimdallr shall blow the Gjallarhorn calling the glorious dead to arms.
Einherji
Medium Celestial, any honorable
STR
22 (+6)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
18 (+4)
Armor Class 21 (scale armor and Asgardian shield, 16 without shield)
Hit Points 165 (15d10 + 75)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +10, Con +9, Wis +7
Skills Asatru +7, Athletics +10, Perception +7
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, incapacitated
Damage Immunities necrotic
Damage Resistances radiant; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from
non-magical weapon
Senses passive Perception 17, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages Common
Challenge 10 (5.900 EXP)
Divine Weapons. The Einherji’s weapon attacks are magical. When the
Einherji hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 3d8 radiant
damage (included in the attack).
Brute. Melee weapons deal an extra damage die when the Einherji hits
(already included in the attack).
Expert Brawler. The Einherji rolls Strengths checks and opposed checks
with advantage when grappling or shoving an enemy.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Einherji makes three Blade of Asgardr attacks or two
Blade of Asgardr attacks and one Shield Slam attack.
Blade of Asgardr. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) slashing damage o 20 (2d10 + 9) if wielded with both
hands plus 14 (3d8) radiant damage.
Shield Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10
(3d4 + 6) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature,
they must pass a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Mead (3/Day). The Einherji allows a creature to drink a sip of magic
mead, healing it 40 (8d8+4) hit points.
REACTIONS
Parry. The Einherji adds 3 to their Armor Class against a melee attack
that would hit him. To be able to do so, the Einherji must be able to see
his attacker and be wielding a shield.
207
The Nine Worlds: Asgardr
Valkyrjar
Immortal demigoddesses armed with spear and shield who ride in the
skies above a battlefield, accompanied by packs of ferocious wolves. They
choose among the fallen those to lead to Valhalla to become Einherjar.
Valkyrja
Medium celestial, any honorable
STR
21 (+5)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
11 (+0)
WIS
22 (+6)
CHA
25 (+7)
Armor Class 23
Hit Points 165 (15d10 + 75)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throw Str +10, DeX +11, Con +9, Int +5, Wis +11, Cha +12
Skills Animal Handling +10, Asatru +11, Acrobatics +10, Insight +11,
Medicine + 11, Perception +11
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, incapacitated
Damage Immunities necrotic
Damage Resistances radiant; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from
non magical weapon
Senses passive Perception 21, darkvision 120 ft., truesight 120 ft.
Languages Common
Challenge 15 (13.000 EXP)
Divine Weapons. The Valkyrja’s weapon attacks are magical. When the
Valkyrja hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 3d8 radiant
damage (included in the attack).
Divine Aura. The Valkyrja shines with the glory of Odhinn, emanating
light for 10 ft. The Valkyrja adds her Charisma modifier to her Armor
Class. Each creature of her choice in the light rolls Death and fear saving
throws with advantage or disadvantage at her choice.
Divina Mount. The Valkyrja is capable of summoning a Mount as an
action, as if she cast the Find Steed spell. The Mounts she can summon
are Giant Swan, Giant Raven, Giant Wolf and Pegasus. Each of them, if
they do not already can, gains a flying speed of 60 ft. and the resistances
and immunities of the Valkyrja.
Innate Spells. The spellcasting ability of a Valkyrja is Charisma (saving
throw DC 20, +12 to hit). The Valkyrja can innately cast the following
spells without the need for components:
At will: bless, cure wounds, death ward, detect thoughts, divine favor,
revivify, sanctuary, spare the dying
3/day each: banishing smite. divine word, regenerate, staggering smite,
thunderous smite, wrathful smite
1/day: power word heal, power word death
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Valkyrja makes two Blade of Asgardr attacks and one
Spear of Asgardr attack.
Blade of Asgardr. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (1d8 + 8) slashing damage o 14 (d10 + 8) if wielded with both
hands plus 14 (3d8) radiant damage.
Spear of Asgardr. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft.
or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d6 + 8) slashing damage or 13
(1d8 + 8) if wielded with both hands plus 14 (3d8) radiant damage.
Journey to Ragnarok
208
Chapter 8
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the
Svartalfheimr setting; the descriptions of the places and
characters that the Heroes will be able to explore and
meet during their journey through the Nine Worlds are
reported, with an appendix on the statistics.
Svartalfheimr
210
General Features
210
Map
211
The Journey on Svartalfheimr
215
Encounters on Svartalfheimr
216
Nidavellir
218
Gnitaheith, Fafnir’s Liar
219
Map
221
Encounters on Nidavellir
222
The Nine Worlds: Svartalfheimr
209
Journey to Ragnarok
210
Svartalfheimr
Svartalfheimr is a world torn by violence. In the begin-
ning, the Dvergar ruled alone, although its original
name is lost as they do not speak often about those
ancient times. Back then, there was only eternal night,
as Sol was not a guest the Dvergar were willing to host.
Invaders, then, came from another world.
In the aftermath of the bloody civil war between
the Alfar people, the Svartalfar were exiled from the
prosperous and lush world of Ljosalfheimr, creating
the rift between the two kins that still divides them.
Also called Dokkalfar, there were punished by the
Æsir with a terrible curse, that still today makes them
similar to the Dvergar; if exposed to sunlight, they
turn into stone. Such characteristic is most likely the
source of the tendency of mortal legends to consider
Svartalfar and Dvergar the same people.
When they came to this world, the Svartalfar took
of half of its territories for them, by violently chasing
the Dvergar off their homes and by settling lands that
were still not inhabited. It was then that the furious
Dvergar retaliated by denying them the sky so they
could not even enjoy looking at the stars. The sky of
that realm is in fact a pitch black and frightening vault,
a lightless pit similar to the Ginnungagap.
The legends do not tell how this happened, but the ter-
rifying vision of the black void is much worse than any tale.
The Svartalfar draw the power that fuels their
necromantic magic from the world of the dead.
Svartalfheimr develops around a vast network of enor-
mous caverns and tunnels, each hosting what could be
called a village or city. They, however, see them more
as districts, rather than settlements in of themselves.
From their point of view, in fact, Svartalfheimr is one
large metropolis spanning the whole underworld and,
in their arrogance, they think it is their own domain.
The Dvergar, however, showed them time and time
again with both magic and blade how such claim is
without any form of foundation.
Stalagmites and stalactites form breathtaking nat-
ural structures within those caverns, the Svartalfar
building their homes either there or directly hugging
the walls. By using the innate luminescence of gems
and moss to recreate the star-lit sky, they need very few
torches or other sources of light.
The most suggestive element of Svartalfheimr is the
Black Yggdrasill. As nothing grows on this world, the
Dokkalfar chose to recreate in their tunnels a symbol of
life that could bring them comfort in their exile. Their
sages built an ash tree made of onyx, a simulacrum of
the true Yggdrasill that was denied to them, in the heart
of the world, its roots reaching anywhere in their realm.
General Features
Weather: Cold, with no variation in temperature
because of the eternal darkness. Whipping winds alter-
nate with moments of complete stillness.
Lighting: Utterly absent. There is no natural light
shining within this world. Any form of light-based
magic has its effects halved.
Sounds: The howling of wind carries the cries of
ancient battles.
Terrain - Desert: Sand over and among the remains of
an ancient battle. Travel pace is normal.
Terrain - Dungeon: Dug with magic or more mun-
dane means, these warm and dank tunnels criss-cross
the whole world.
Terrain - Caverns: Many nooks and crannies run
through the underground of this world, a few opening
on cyclopean, dark caves. Travel pace is halved.
Joruvellir
Also known as the “Sand Plains”, Joruvellir is the border
with Nidavellir, a strip of desert that splits Svartalfheimr
in half and was the theater of a great many battles. The
Svartalfar usually avoid this area because the risk of
meeting Dvergar warbands or losing themselves among
the dunes is incredibly high.
And yet, there are elves who are brave or crazy
enough to challenge the desert looking for the ancient
battlegrounds. Dvergar weapons and suits of armor are
highly prized by the Dark Elf families for their excel-
lent craftsmanship and effectiveness in battle. Also, the
corpses of the fallen are necessary for the necroman-
tic magic of the Svartalfar. The endless struggle of the
Dokkalfar requires more magical energies, which in
turn require more corpses as fuel.
As such, Joruvellir is rich in resources… for those
who can avoid paying their price.
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211
Journey to Ragnarok
212
Aurvangar
The “Fields of Wet Clay”, the part of the Svartalfar
metropolis that acts as its capital and the most densely
populated area of the whole world. It owes its name
to the endless tide of blood that soaked the ground
during the many wars between the elven families. Such
reddish mud is used in the coloration of many build-
ings, lending a particularly unsettling appearance to
Aurvangar.
A. Hor’s Palace
An imposing building on the square where the Black
Tree rises. From the outside, as there is almost no light,
it is not possible to see its top, just a series of steel
blades running along the front.
To enter the palace, one must pass a black iron wall,
thick with spear tips and patrolled by abominations
created for that express purpose.
Once within, the building looks even more impos-
ing and its ceiling even further from the ground. Its
halls have been dedicated to the study of necromancy,
from the creation of servants for the running of the
palace itself to that of perfect warriors, pieced together
to be capable of fighting anywhere.
Hor the necromancer lives in the great hall on the
palace’s top floor, from which he can see the Black Tree
and the people below it.
B. Svarinsaugr
“Rocky ground”. In times past, these halls where the
shrine to the kin of Dvalinn, one of the most sacred
places to the Dvergar that the Svartalfar paid an incred-
ibly high price to conquer.
The Dvergar the shrine fought to the last man to
allow the rest of their people to escape, but in the pres-
ent day is the seat of Svartalfar power. Its halls have
been redesigned according to the style and tradition
of ancient Alfheimr bloodlines, with tree-shaped col-
umns and fountains similar to the crystalline springs
of their lost world. The very throne resembles a elegant
tangle of blooming branches, although it was built
with black onyx.
C. Black Yggdrasill
The heart of Svartalfheimr, the “temple” they built
in memory of what was lost and the hope of a bright
future in spite of their banishment, this titanic onyx
tree holds an enormous power.
Made from Muspellsheimr lava flowing from the
fire world to the borders of Svartalfheimr cooled by
Nilfheimr’s frozen winds, the two primordial princi-
ples of the cosmos meld and shape a work of art that
required a high price to be made. Its beauty com-
forts the tormented Svartalfar souls, who built a cult
around this imposing tree.
D. District of House Yr
The smallest of the Districts, as its inhabitants are often
out hunting or doing something else. in the north of
the realm, close to the narrow and danger tunnels lead-
ing to Joruvellir, it is formed by a handful of squat
dwellings where large families live.
The most lethal Svartalfar fighters patrol these areas,
the Yr being the main source of bodies for the master
necromancers, and wandering there without invitation
is an unusually bad idea.
E. District of House Álmr
The wide caverns leading to Joruvellir have been assigned
to the House of Álmr, always ready to remind the others
of their power. Imposing buildings, reminding visitors
of the Midgardian meadhalls, dot the caverns of this
District and the Svartalfar who live here can be found
measuring their mettle one against the other or sleeping
on stone table, drunk on poor mushroom liquor.
F. District of House Eikar
The largest of the Svartalfar Districts, around the
slopes of the Black Yggdrasill. Here, one finds the true
underground everyday life in the Svartalfar domain,
its streets brimming with merchants, necromancers,
nobles and undead servants.
It is divided in rings, arranged so that the impor-
tance of those who live there decreases the further they
are from the Black Tree. The closest is reserved to the
nobles, even of other Houses, and necromancers, the
second to merchants and craftspeople, the last one for
those who could not secure better arrangements.
In the last ring also lies the prison, instantly recog-
nizable for the spired roof, from which hang the most
dangerous of prisoners.
The king and their court live overlooking the city,
like in Svarinsaugr. The entrance of the city is patrolled
by the most experienced Eikar warriors, who live in
the barracks nearby to the north.
The Nine Worlds: Svartalfheimr
213
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b
c
d
e
f
h
g
Journey to Ragnarok
214
G. District of House Epli
Enormous mead halls with stone tables hosting calm
Svartalfar ladies deep in philosophical or necroman-
tic discussions dot the land. Only rarely the elves here
engage in violence, a deadly combat erupting when-
ever it happens. The famous and powerful Jod lives in
the most isolated palace to the east and it is difficult to
find her elsewhere.
Should a character stop by to talk to any of the elven
ladies of House Epli, they would run the risk of spend-
ing there a great deal of time because they are always
willing to speak but also jealous of their ideas, that they
will defend with violence if they think is necessary.
H. District of House Mistilteinn
The caves to the south-west have been taken over by
the Mistilteinn House, where their scholars practice
every school of lore, from magic to oratory. Once the
buildings reached the surface, but a stream of acci-
dents convinced the heads of the House to gather their
homes in just one cavern to have more room for study.
In the tallest building live the chieftain and their
small court, while the others live in the cluster of
dwellings. Only those who study the light have a sep-
arate structure.
The Nine Worlds: Svartalfheimr
215
The Bifrost leaves the characters on arid ground, the
rock dark and dusty, the scarce light coming from a
faint glimmer on the horizon. The only choice the
characters have is to go in the glimmer’s direction, as
anything else looks heading into the darkest darkness,
on terrain rich with crevasses and drops.
They pass through a place called Joruvellir, a des-
olate battlefield of sand where the two people living
here fought in ancient times.
In their journey, the characters stumble upon the
remains of a long forgotten battle. Although it is
impossible to determine who specifically fought there,
they soon discover that dark elves and dwarves engaged
one another in fierce combat.
Among the rubble, they see something shine, a
medallion that looks not affected by the passage of
time unlike everything else. It has been carved with
a representation of Yggdrasill on both sides, one pol-
ished and resplendent, the other dark and grim, almost
absorbing the light around it.
The inspection of the artefact is interrupted by a
battlecry, as a patrol of 12 Dvergar discovers the char-
acters. Looking for the medallion, they saw it in the
characters’ hands and try to have it back. Handling
the situation with diplomacy is possible, although
extremely difficult, as the Dvergar, though respectful
of the gods, are suffering under the iron fist of King
Fafnir, sick of the Dragon Sickness, and are terrorized
of what would happen to them should they return
empty-handed.
Should the fight go to the incredibly unlikely
favour of the heroes and they interrogate any sur-
vivor left, they would learn of the medallion’s story.
Alternatively, they can learn it from the last breath of
a dying Dvergar.
The medallion is an ancient artefact, made by the
runemaster Hor and lost in one of the many ancient
wars between the two people. Its power is said to be
able to reunite the Worldtree with its shadow. When
the a light beam is shone on the medallion and it casts
its shadow on the Black Yggdrasill, a bridge will open in
grim mockery of the Bifrost to lead the Svartalfar to their
ancestral home, Ljosalfheimr. Obviously, such powerful
item must not fall in elven hands, so the Dvergar want
it guarded in Nidavellir, negotiating to have their lives
spared, the medallion back and to escort the characters
to their realm and their King, Fafnir...
Should the Dvergar win the fight, instead, they
would capture the characters and bring them to the
presence of their King, Fafnir.
The characters can attempt an escape at any time
they want. The only way to do so is diving into any of
the crevasses or underground tunnels, usually patrolled
by Svartalfar of House Yr.
216
The Noble Houses
Yt (Yew)
Often hunters or explorers, with many Sages among their ranks. Introvert
and silent, they are dangerous enemies as many sell their skills as assas-
sins. They crest is a yellow yew tree on a purple field.
Álmr (Elm)
The majority of their members are warriors. When the Svartalfar were
exiled, their House paid the highest price being enslaved to the other
Houses. Of proud and stern temperament, they often fight just to prove
their strength.
Their crest is a black elm tree on a red field.
Eikar (Oak)
The king is the chieftain of this House. The first to arrive in Svartalfheimr,
they always held positions of power and dominance among the Elves.
Their nature is usually peaceful, although their bouts of murderous rage
are akin to those of the god of thunder.
Their crest is a green oak on a golden field.
Epli (Apple)
Only women are allowed to command the scions of Epli and there are
not many paths available to them, other than that of the Sage. Solar and
beautiful, they love to debate, discuss and drink until they pass out.
Their crest is a red apple on a silver field.
Mistilteinn (Mistletoe)
The least liked of the Houses, mostly because of their cold and reserved
manners. In truth, they are great scholars and affable wise folk, the best of
friends to the royal family who holds their word in high regard.
Their crest is a mistletoe branch on a white field.
Hor (Svartalfar Mage)
Powerful runemaster and shapeshifter. He removed the curse of Gulveig
from Odhinn and with Loki taught him to alter his form with magic.
Jord (Svartalfar Mage)
Also known as Fjorgyn, she lives in Verland, between Jotunheimr and
Svartalfheimr, where she spends most of her time. Daughter of Annar
and step sister to Aud and Dag, she claims she was Odhinn’s wife and
the mother of Thor and Meli. Her power over the earth and rocks is
immense, so that she can shape them at her leisure.
Svartalfar
Medium humanoid (elf), lawful dishonorable
STR
9 (-1)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
12 (+1)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 15 (leather armor)
Hit Points 20 (4d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +5
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Magic Resistance. Svartalfar roll saving throw against spells with
advantage.
Innate Spells. A Svartalfar’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (saving throw
DC 11). Svartalfar can innately cast any of these spells without the need
for components:
At will: dancing lights
1/day each: faerie fire, darkness
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, Svartalfar suffer
disadvantage to hit rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
ACTIONS
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
217
The Nine Worlds: Svartalfheimr
Svartalfar Warrior
Medium humanoid (elf), lawful dishonorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
24 (+7)
Armor Class 16 (studded leather, 17 with a weapon in each hand)
Hit Points 84 (12d8 + 24)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +8
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1.800 XP)
Magic Resistance. Svartalfar Warriors roll saving throw against spells
with advantage.
Innate Spells. A Svartalfar Warrior’s spellcasting ability is Charisma
(saving throw DC 11). Svartalfar can innately cast any of these spells
without the need for components:
At will: dancing lights
1/day each: faerie fire, darkness, levitate (only on itself)
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, Svartalfar suffer
disadvantage to hit rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. A Svartalfar Warriorr makes two Elven Sword attacks and one
Shortsword attack, or two Longbow attacks.
Elven Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8
(1d8 + 4) piercing damage.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage. The target must pass a DC 15
Constitution saving throw or suffer 12 (4d6) poison damage and be
poisoned for an hour. Once the creature has passed the saving throw, it is
immune to that effect for 24 hours.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 150/600 ft, one
target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.The target must pass a DC 15
Constitution saving throw or suffer 12 (4d6) poison damage and be
poisoned for an hour. Once the creature has passed the saving throw, it is
immune to that effect for 24 hours.
REACTIONS
Parry. The Svartalfar Warrior adds 2 to their AC against a melee attack that
would hit them. To do so they must be able to see their attacker and wield
a weapon in each hand.
Svartalfar Mage
Medium humanoid (elf), lawful dishonorable
STR
9 (-1)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
18 (+4)
WIS
13 (+1)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 13 (16 with mage armor)
Hit Points 84 (12d8 + 24)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Stealth +8, Perception +4
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1.800 XP)
Magic Resistance. Svartalfar MAges roll saving throw against spells
with advantage.
Innate Spells. A Svartalfar’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (saving throw
DC 11). Svartalfar can innately cast any of these spells without the need
for components:
At will: dancing lights
1/day each: faerie fire, darkness, levitate (only on itself)
Spellcaster. The Svartalfar Mage is a 9° level spellcaster. Their spellcasting
ability is Intelligence (saving throw DC 15, +7 to hit) and has prepared
the following Wizard spells:
Cantrips (at will): acid splash, chill touch, minor illusion, ray of frost
1st level (4 slots): mage armor, magic missile, ray of sickness, shield
2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, darkness, hold person, levitate,
ray of enfeeblement
3rd level (3 slots): fear, lightning bolt, slow
4th level (3 slots): blight, confusion, greater invisibility
5th level (1 slots): hold person
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, Svartalfar suffer
disadvantage to hit rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range
20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.
Journey to Ragnarok
218
Nidavellir
The realm of the Dvergar, or Dwarves, its eternal night
the reason why the gods confined them here. The beau-
tiful Sol never crosses this sky, as her hot rays of light
can be deadly for them. Nidavellir lies in the northern
half of the world, where the lava river Eldrmurra, falls
from Muspellsheimr on Svartalfheimr’s surface.
As time passed, lava solidified into tall mountains
that now host the Dvergar, who use the heat from the
hellish river to fuel their furnaces.
The contrast between the desolated and devastated
land of Joruvellir and Nidavellir is stark: beyond the
small strip of desert separating the two, the latter
appears as a great valley surrounded by mountains of
volcanic rock.
Once the eye gets used to the perpetual darkness,
one can see thin smoke plumes in the air, a telltale
sign of the many braziers scattered along the slopes of
the mountains or the plateaus. They are offerings the
Dvergar left on the barrows of their dead. They defend
these cairns with deadly efficiency and carve effigies
in the shape of stylized faces in the boulders close by.
They depict the bearded visage of Odhinn and Thor,
the more delicate ones of Freyja and Frigg, all deco-
rated with metal and bone nick nacks, surrounded by
pitchers and horns brimming with mead.
The Dvergar, contrary to the mortals of Midgardr
or the Alfar, do not worship the gods; they treat them
as relatives, acquaintances or, for the most, clients.
They leave these offerings out of respect or friend-
ship, prefering silence to prayers. One effigy, however,
Loki’s, is treated with great disdain, always featuring
an axe or pick wedged into whatever passes as its skull.
Beyond gates gaping like yawning maws lies an
almost endless daedalus of corridors and tunnels, each
leading into halls and caverns carved with great exper-
tise by the Dvergar into unique art pieces. Dwarven
craftsmanship makes it look like an endless hive,
heated by countless furnaces where Dwarven smiths
work with metals.
The Nine Worlds: Svartalfheimr
219
The characters see rock fading into the desert sand
and the stars lit by the glowing of the sky, after the
grim darkness of the elven kingdom. In such perpetual
reflection, the heroes find themselves in a large valley,
surrounded by imposing mountains, their slopes lit
with braziers.
The entrance to an ancient burial mound of titanic
proportions, surrounded by a stone lintel silhouettes the
side of the mountain. It is Dellingr’s Gate, defended by
Thjordhrorir (see page 222), a massive Dvergr wear-
ing a full, burnished suit of armor, a bearskin, a shield
and an axe. Together with him, the Dellingr’s Gate is
defened by 3 Dvergar Soldiers (see page 223).
Once they have gone past the warden and into
the vast dwarven realm, the characters pass the Halls
of Sindri. These incredible buildings extend both
above and below the surface in a twisting expanse of
halls, palaces, fortresses, treasure rooms and temples.
Whether they have been built using a natural rock for-
mation or made on purpose, the Halls of Sindri look
like a mountain shrouded in clouds or mist, always in
the half light of Svartalfheimr’s eternal night. Should
Sol deign this land of her warm gaze, one would be
blinded by the light reflected off the slopes of this
mountain, as it is completely made of red gold.
Everything there was shaped, forged, sculpted or
carved out of such precious metal and should a mortal
be lucky enough to see the insides of such marvel they
would be shocked by such richness and splendor. A
legend has it that in the Halls of Sindri the righteous
will find peace after the Ragnarok and, as much as it
can sound absurd, eternity or life after death would be
that of a King, here.
Delving deeper into the underground of Nidavellir,
the characters enter a giant cave hosting a vast complex
of buildings, the Forge of Ivaldi, even if he did not
create it and never even rule. The forges of Nidavellir
are a great many, but this is the most important for
sure. Ivaldi was a Dvergar craftsman of great skill,
although he is more famous for his descendance. It is
said that the Dvergar, the Children of Ivaldi, inherited
their skill at the forge from their father and became so
expert that the Gods themselves asked them to create
magical weapons for them.
In the Forge of Ivaldi lies the burning heart of
Nidavellir, deep within the constant, buzzing activity
of the Dvergar. Dwarves of all walks of life work the
bellows, the hammers and anvils, hellish heat spread-
ing from melting pots scattered everywhere and the
deafening hammering of metal on metal covering
anything else. Beasts of burden constantly draw carts
with raw resources that are moved to other areas of the
Forge to be worked into pieces of art.
Surprisingly, the air smells of ozone, as if a light-
ning bolt had struck close by. Whoever is gifted with
a modicum of mystical sensitivity feels an immense
power flowing through here, magic roaring like a
storm on the sea and blowing as the wind under the
wings of an eagle. It comes to no surprise, then, that
marvels like the mighty Mjolnir have been made here.
When in presence of the king, the characters have
the opportunity to behold the great riches hoarded in
the throne room were, sitting on his high desk, the King
interrogates them about the reasons of their journey.
Should he feel threatened by them or see his treasure
in their hands, he turns into a dragon and attacks them.
Once the characters have defeated Fafnir or run
with the ring, they will reach the 10th level.
Journey to Ragnarok
220
Gnitaheith
A. Entrance.
An enormous gate of silvered metal shifts easily on per-
fectly oiled hinges, showing an immense hall. Its ceiling,
supported by a thick network of columns, is too high
off the ground for torches to light it.
B. Large columns
Four, enormous columns support massive architraves.
They can instill terror and a sense of powerlessness in
those entering from the main entrance. Shrouded in
darkness, they can easily hide many guards in full battle
regalia. To the columns are affixed thick chains capable
of holding even the gods, thanks to the runes etched in
their cold steel.
C. Main hall
The grand hall’s columns remind of the thick branches
of a petrified forest. Although the evident signs of furi-
ous struggle, the hall’s majesty is not diminished. Its
numerous columns allow to easily hide an army, their
fallen and broken shapes evidence of the passage of a
large creature.
D. Throne
A majestic throne carved out a giant stalagmite domi-
nates the entire hall. At its base, a carpet of gold coins
and objects reflects the light shone by the torches. The
hoard of riches amassed here at the base of the throne is
tall enough to engulf a man to his chest and is consid-
ered difficult terrain.
E. Gramr (see page 297)
An enormous slab of black steel wedged in the ground.
Closing in, its top is recognizable as the long handle of
what is easy to imagine is a weapon. If the characters
attack Fafnir, the heroic spirit of Sigurd, the owner of the
sword and fallen in the attempt of liberating Nidavellir
from the dragon’s tyranny, attempts to catch the heroes
attention. The weapon pulses with energy and emanates
red light. A character of honorable alignment can take
the weapon, attuning to it without the need for a short
rest. That characters is also aware of Sigurd’s fall at the
hand of the dragon and his heroic deeds. If Fafnir is
defeated, the spirit of Sigurd leaves the sword, entrust-
ing it to its new master.
The Nine Worlds: Svartalfheimr
221
a
b
c
d
e
1 Square = 10 ft.
222
Brokkr and Eitri (Dvergar)
The heroes can meet these two Dvergar in a remote section of the Forge
of Ivaldi, marked by the signs of centuries of fires and explosions. The
two brothers own a small workshop where they tinker with extravagant
and experimental works, their brows furrowed in a frown even deeper
than that of the other Dwarves.
If they are given the chance to work on unusual projects, however, they
take a crazed face, their eyes bulging out of their sockets and an expression
of delirious joy.
Brokkr and Eitri should not be mistaken for some random lunatics; the
power coursing through the Forge is strong with them. It was them who
forged Mjollnir, after all.
The Daughters of Dvalinn (Dvergar Mage)
Three women walk about Nidavellir without a specific direction. They
could find in the Halls of Sindri as well as the Plains. They are three
Dvergar maidens of unusual beauty, almost fascinating if it was not for
the spectral aura shrouding them.
They are Nornir, those who know all of the past, the present and the
future, descendants of the powerful Dvalinn. Their revelations could com-
pletely twist the existence of a person.
Sons of Ivaldi (Dvergar)
An untold number of Dvergar distinguished by their task within the
Forge. They always wear an apron thick with ash and soot, thick gloves
and do not care about what has anything to do with their duty. Observing
them beyond their rough appearance and even rougher manners, one
could see a deep pride and self-aware dignity of the artisan who dedicated
their whole life to their profession. Never trick a Son of Ivaldi, for their
wrath in exacting their vengeance has no equals.
Thjodhrorir
The warden of the Gate of Dellingr shows himself whenever somebody
reaches the entrance of the underground kingdom. He is an imposing
Dvergar, with a long black beard starched with chalk and other, penetrat-
ing grey eyes a face painted black. His figure, clad in a burnished suit of
heavy armor, a bearskin, a shield and an axe, is frightening. However, he
also looks like a shaman of sorts, as if he was a figure of spiritual relevance
among the Dvergar, as he is festooned with bone trinkets, fangs, antlers
and bronze and brass discs.
Thjodhrorir is, in fact, a direct descendant of Dvalinn, one of the
founders of the Dvergar kin, inheriting a portion of his powers. His feroc-
ity and prowess in battle pale when compared to his powerful songs, as it is
rumored that in ancient times he used it to teach bravery to the Alfar and
instill power in the Æsir.
Thjodhrorir
Medium humanoid (dwarf), lawful honorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
24 (+7)
Armor Class 20 (full suit of armor, shield)
Hit Points 130 (15d10 + 90)
Speed 25 ft.
Saving Throws Con +9, Wis +7
Skills Athletics +6, Insight +4, Perception +6
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3.900 XP)
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Thjodhrorir fails a saving throw, he
can choose to succeed instead.
Dwarven Resistance. Dvergar roll saving throw against charms, illusions,
paralysis, poisons, spells with advantage.
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, Dvergar suffer
disadvantage to hit rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
Spellcaster. Thjodhrorir is a 7th level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is
Wisdom (saving throw DC 14, +6 to hit) and has prepared the following
Druid spells:
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, mending, poison spray
1st level (4 slots): entangle, faerie fire, fog cloud, thunderwave
2nd level (3 slots): barkskin, heat metal, locate object
3rd level (3 ): conjure animals, meld into stone, sleet storm
4th level (1 slot): stoneskin
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Thjodhrorir makes three Battleaxe attacks and one Shield
Slam attack.
Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10
(1d8 + 5) slashing damage.
Shield Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 9 (1d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Medium or
smaller creature, they must pass a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be
knocked prone.
Leadership (recharges after any rest). Thjordhrorir can give a special
command or warning to a non-hostile creature within 60 ft. of him that he
can see. For 1 minute, that creature can add 1d6 to any attack roll or saving
throw if they can hear and understand Thjordhrorir’s words. A creature
can benefit only from one Leadership die at a time and this effect tends if
Thjordhrorir is incapacitated.
REACTIONS
Parry. Thjodhrorir adds 2 to his AC against a melee attack that
would hit him. To be able to do so, he must see his attacker and be
wielding a shield.
223
The Nine Worlds: Svartalfheimr
Dvergar
Medium humanoid (dwarf), any honorable
STR
14 (+2)
DEX
11 (+0)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
9 (-1)
Armor Class 16 (scalemail, shield)
Hit Points 32 (4d8 + 12)
Speed 25 ft.
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Dwarven Resistance. Dvergar roll saving throw against charms, illusions,
paralysis, poisons, spells with advantage.
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, Dvergar suffer
disadvantage to hit rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
ACTIONS
Warhammer. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. o range
30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Dvergar Soldier
Medium humanoid (nano), lawful honorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
24 (+7)
Armor Class 20 (plate, shield)
Hit Points 130 (13d10 + 52)
Speed 25 ft.
Saving Throws Con +7, Wis +4
Skills Athletics +6, Insight +4
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (2.300 XP)
Dwarven Spearman. As long as they wield a shield, a Dvergar Soldier
can wield a pike as if they had both hands free.
Shield Wall. For each ally within 5 ft. from him who wields a shield, a
Dvergar Soldier gains a +1 bonus to AC (For a total maximum of +3).
A Dvergar Soldier must be wielding a shield to benefit from this.
Dwarven Resistance. Dvergar roll saving throw against charms, illusions,
paralysis, poisons, spells with advantage.
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, Dvergar suffer
disadvantage to hit rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. A Dvergar Soldier makes three melee weapon attacks, of
which only one can be a Shield Slam attack.
Pike. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range
30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Shield Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller
creature, it must pass a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked Prone.
REACTIONS
Parry. A Dvergar Soldier adds 2 to their AC against a melee attack
that would hit them. To do so they must be able to see their attacker
and wield a shield.
Dvergar Mage
Medium humanoid (dwarf), any honorable
FOR
14 (+2)
DES
12 (+1)
COS
16 (+3)
INT
18 (+4)
SAG
12 (+1)
CAR
9 (-1)
Armor Class 11 (13 with mage armor)
Hit Points 96 (12d8 + 18)
Speed 25 ft.
Saving Throws Con +6, Int +7, Wis +4
Skills Arcana +7, Insight +4
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (2.300 XP)
Dwarven Resistance. Dvergar roll saving throw against charms, illusions,
paralysis, poisons, spells with advantage.
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, Dvergar suffer
disadvantage to hit rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
Spellcaster. The Dvergar Mage is a 9° level spellcaster. Their spellcasting
ability is Intelligence (saving throw DC 15, +7 to hit) and has prepared
the following Wizard spells:
Cantrips (at will): acid splash, chill touch, poison spray, ray of frost,
shocking grasp
1° level (4 slots): mage armor, magic missile, shield, witch bolt
2° level (3 slots): darkness, levitate, ray of enfeeblement
3° level (3 slots): lightning bolt, raise dead, slow
4° level (3 slots): greater invisibility, polymorph, stoneskin
5° level (1 slots): animate objects
Accurate Spells. When the Dvergar Mage casts an evocation spell that
targets multiple creatures they can see, they can choose a number of
creatures equal to 1+spell level. These creatures automatically pass the
spell’s saving throw. If a success on the saving throw would half the
damage they take, they instead suffer none.
ACTIONS
Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
224
225
The Nine Worlds: Svartalfheimr
Fafnir, King of Nidhavellir
Fafnir is son of Hreimdar and brother to Regin and Otr. Greedy and
clever, he is one of the most powerful dvergar spellcasters, with no qualm
in bending magic to aid him in his quest for riches. After the Æsir killed
his brother Otr and gave the ring of Andvari to his family as compen-
sation, Fafnir killed his father to seize the ring and banished his other
brother Regin from the kingdom. As time passed, the influence of the
ring corrupted him, gradually turning him into a dragon.
He looks particularly agile and fair-skinned for a dvergar, although in
his quarters he takes his true form.
Fafnir
Huge dragon, lawful dishonorable
STR
9 (-1)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
18 (+4)
WIS
13 (+1)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 19 (natural)
Hit Points 205 (15d12 + Huge dragon, lawful dishonorable105)
Speed 40 ft., swim 40 ft., fly 40 ft.
Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +12, Wis +5, Cha +8
Skills Insight +5, Perception +5, Persuasion +8, Stealth +5
Condition Immunities poisoned
Damage Immunities poison
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing or slashing from non
magical weapons
Senses darkvision 120 ft., blind vision 18 m, passive Perception 15
Languages Common
Challenge 14 (11.500 PE)
Keen Smell. Fafnir has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks
that rely on smell.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Fafnir fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Fafnir rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Light Sensitivity. As long as they are exposed to sunlight, Fafnir suffers
disadvantage to hit rolls and sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Fafnir can use its Frightful Presence and the make one
Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: + to hit, reach 15 ft., one target.
Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Medium or
smaller creature, they must pass a DC 15 Strength saving throw or
be knocked prone 10 ft. off where they were hit.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage.
Shapeshift (3/day). Fafnir can magically alter its shape to that of
a Dvergar for 10 minutes. If Fafnir takes damage while in Dvergar
form, it must pass a Wisdom saving throw with a DC equal to
the damage it took or revert back to its Dragon shape. At death, it
returns to its Dragon form. Fafnir can use an action to return to its
Dragon form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or
carried into the new form, at Fafnir’s choice. In its new form, Fafnir
retains its alignment, Hit Points, Hit Dice, proficiencies, immunities,
resistances, Legendary Resistances, Lair Actions and Intelligence,
Wisdom and Charisma scores, in addition to this action. Its abilities
and features are otherwise replaced by those of the new form.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of Fafnir’s choice that is within
120 ft. of it and aware of it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom
saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the
effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful
or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to Fafnir’s Frightful
Presence for the next 24 hours.
Poisonous Breath (Recharge 5-6). Fafnir exhales poisonous gas from
its nostrils in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a
DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 50 (14d6) poison damage on
a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Fafnir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Fafnir regains spent legendary actions at
the start of their turn.
Detect. Fafnir makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Poisonous Spit. Ranged Attack: +11 to hit, range 30/45 ft. Hit: 8 (1d4
+ 6) poison damage. The target must pass a DC 13 Constitution
saving throw or be poisoned for 1 hour.
LIAR ACTIONS
If it fights within its cavern, at initiative count 20, losing ties, Fafnir
takes a Lair Action to cause one of the following effects. Fafnir cannot
use the same effect two times consecutively.
•
Part of the ceiling or the columns collapse on a creature Fafnir can
see within 45 ft. of it. The creature must pass a DC 13 Dexterity
saving throw or be buried below the rubble. The buried target is
restrained and cannot get up. A creature can take its action to make
a DC 10 Strength check to not be buried anymore.
•
The treasures in the cave whisper to the mind of a creature within
120 ft. of Fafnir. The creature must pass a DC 13 Wisdom saving
throw or be charmed by Fafnir until initiative count 20 next round.
•
Fafnir hurls some of the riches at a creature it can see within 45 ft.
to distract. That creature rolls to hit, skill checks and saving throws
at disadvantage until initiative count 20 next round.
Journey to Ragnarok
226
Chapter 9
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the
Ljosalfheimr setting; the descriptions of the places and
characters that the Heroes will be able to explore and
meet during their journey through the Nine Worlds are
reported, with an appendix on the statistics.
Ljosalfheimr
228
General Features
229
Map
231
The Journey on Ljosalfheimr
232
Encounters on Ljosalfheimr
234
The Nine Worlds: L josalfheimr
227
Journey to Ragnarok
228
Ljosalfheimr
Alfheimr is the World of the Light Elves, created by
and beloved to the God Freyr. Their culture, customs
and goals are completely alien to the humans, to whom
they look fickle, chaotic creatures, devoid of any logic.
The only ones to partially comprehend them are Æsir
and Vanir.
The Elves are long-lived creatures, who cannot die
to natural causes, whose magical skills are so developed
they could in a few cases rival those of the gods them-
selves. Their ever-changing nature deeply influences the
very weather, seasons and the landscape of their world.
Time on Alfheimr is not constant and does not flow
in any comprehensible way; night and day cycle irreg-
ularly and the hours one spends in one region could be
just a few moments in the one neraby, according to the
whim and need of the Elves.
On Alfheimr, even seasons do not change at the same
time, each region having its own different cycle. The
landscape is mostly thick, ever-changing vegetation, as
it mutates at will thanks to the magic influence of its
inhabitants. It is told that the Ljosalfar were born of
the Light and are considered minor deities of Nature
and Fertility, sometimes having contacts with humans
to help them in understanding magic.
Other tales tell, instead, how the Elves often
kidnap women and children from human villages for
unknown purposes.
A Dark Past
At the Dawn of Ages, Alfheimr was sundered by a
bloody civil war, its reasons unknown as any it was for-
bidden to ever speak of it. Part of the elven population,
now called Dark Elves, was exiled and took refuge on
Svartalfheimr after a long wandering.
There is a secret place on Alfheimr, hidden by an
immense, dark forest, where the scars of that conflict
are still visible. Animals stay well away from its dark-
ened, twisted and dry trees, and legends tell that the
first tree on Alfheimr was planted there, the only thing
left now a painful memory.
The Nine Worlds: L josalfheimr
229
General Features
Weather: Ever mutating. When temperature range is
too extreme, characters must roll a DC 19 Constitution
saving throw every hour or suffer a level of Exhaustion.
Lighting: Sunlight and moonlight are constant. If
not stated otherwise, the lighting is what humans
would expect.
Sounds: The crunching of boots on snow, the distant
flow of a river, the constant howl and hiss of the wind.
Terrain: The Valley: A thin layer of mud halves travel
speed.
Terrain: The Woods Beyond the Mountains: If tem-
perature is low, the paths are covered in snow and
ice, making travel impossible. On the opposite, air
becomes hard to breathe and each minute the charac-
ters must pass a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or
suffer one level of Exhaustion.
Terrain: Northern plateau: Its rivers cannot be crossed
swimming and sailing is impossible. The woods half
travelling speed of even the most seasoned hunter.
Terrain: The Region of Lakes and Rivers: Travel pace
here is normal, although there are neither roads nor paths.
Terrain: The Snow to the West: Moving without
proper equipment is impossible. The rivers and the
lake are frozen, but can turn in a deadly trap; failing a
DC 20 Dexterity saving throw opens a chasm below
the unfortunate soul walking on the ice, the icy waters
swallowing the victim as it suffers a level of Exhaustion
for each round spent there. Leaving the waters requires
a DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check.
Terrain: Yggdrasill’s branch: Roads and walkways
allow for normal travel.
The Valley
At the foot of the western mountains, born of a slow
and cold river, opens a frozen lake cut in two by an
imposing waterfall, the consequence of a plateau raised
to host the houses of the light elves of House Sfafr.
The main building, close to the falls, is the residence
of the head of the family, Bilingr, while the others are
workshops where the elves practice the most diverse
arts and crafts, from painting to sculpture, creating
magnificent masterworks. Time here flows as if it was
autumn, with long sunsets and sundowns, cold nights
where the sky is clear and full of stars. Days are cold
and often rainy, although it rarely is bothersome.
The woods beyond the mountains
Along the road leading north, beyond the waterfall
from the mountains surrounding the northern pla-
teau, in a basin interrupting the western mountain
ridge lies a circle of ritual stones, ready to be used.
On the hills and in the forests facing the circle
live the elves of House Rót. Their leader is Billingr,
a proud warrior who turned her back to her brethren
after many of the elves were exiled to Svartalfheimr. It
is thought that the cause of such separation is the spe-
cial bond she had with her twin brother. Since birth,
they always agreed, sharing similar ideas and never
finding one against the other, as it happened, instead,
when they had to choose the fate of the other Elves.
When Billingr was met with the fierce opposition of
her brother, she preferred to leave and vent her anger
elsewhere rather than starting a battle that could have
destroyed all she had.
Here days and nights are constantly changing in
length and weather can turn from a warm summer
morning to a freezing winter night.
The northern plateau
In Alfheimr’s northern region is a wide slope, formed
by the passing of two rivers, converging to feed a lake,
the mountains on its sides always white with snow just
on verge of melting. Among those peaks have been
raised the houses of House Blað, its chieftain and their
offsprings living in the west plateau buildings, isolated
from the others and buried under the snow. The other
elves live in dwellings on the east slope, although they
enjoy hunting in the northern woods, the richest hunt-
ing ground on this world, with rams, deers, boars and
sheeps finding balance in the great cold. The under-
growth is rather thick and the climate akin to spring,
with endless sunsets, sundowns and rainy nights with
a lead grey sky. Days are clear and the landscape from
the lake is breathtaking.
Journey to Ragnarok
230
The region of lakes and rivers
The the south-west, beyond the mountain ridge encir-
cling the houses at the base of the tree, opens a multi
colored valley, where wheat, hop and malt mingle with
countless other plants and flowers. There are no trees here
that can stop the mighty, all encompassing light of Sol.
To soothe the travellers, a maze-like network of
rivers run down the southern mountains, converging
on the immense lake at their foot. Among these rivers
rise the solitary homes of the House Lími elves, always
ready to entertain travellers with the tales and stories
of their household. Their chieftain lives in the central
area of the settlement, where they can talk and listen
to everybody. Dainn lives and works here.
In this city, the weather is that of summer, with
long, sunny and peaceful days and temperate nights,
rarely crossed by clouds.
The Snows to the west
This area is marked by conifer trees, snow, frozen rivers
and a lake where it is possible to see fish darting below
the clear ice layer. It is possible to reach this pass only
going back the frozen river that passes at the foot of
the old palace of the God Freyr.
Close to the great frozen lake, shrouded by a
thick grove of hazel trees, and beyond the mountains
to the south have been built the homes of House
Draugr, their chieftain living in the dwelling closest
to the frozen surface of the lake. The other elves, great
scholars, often wander the mountains or the woods
to observe and catalog what surrounds them. An elf
worthy of notice is the blacksmith Dain, who chose
metallurgy as his field of study and opened his work-
shop in this village. Time here is that of winter, with
extremely long sideral nights, often laden with snow,
and cold days suffused with sleet, a mix of snow in the
air and ice picked up by the cold southern winds.
Yggdrasill’s branches
At the center of Alfheimr a branch of the Worldtree
rises from the ground. Its leaves a golden green, they
reflect sunlight on those who dare staring at the sky.
Its magnificent and wrinkled trunk welcoming rain
and driving it gently to the ground. Its roots, that
in truth are just smaller branches, form a natural net
under which elven lovers can find solace and privacy.
A place where all the rivers of the world meet, it hosts
and refreshes the dwellings the light elves initially built
here as their homes.
These myriads of buildings are divided in five
districts, once lived in by the elves now exiled on
Svartalfheimr and now only by the vassals to the Five
Houses left on this world. Of these five districts, one
is deserted and left to ruin. It was here that House Rót
lived, the only one to defend the exiles, who chose to
leave such a sacred place out of pride. Time here flows
much like in Midgardr, although it is not unusual to
see the sun unexpectedly rising or falling, often at a
whim of one of the locals.
Alfgardr
A ring of swirling clouds, laden with thunder and light-
ning, shrouds the mountain where rises the plateau of
Freyr on Alfgardr. Getting here is a mighty feat, if not
downright impossible. Although there is a road lead-
ing further down, it crosses the layer of clouds, placed
there to defend the realm. Those uninvited by the god
himself cannot enter his domain without being struck
by thunderbolts or flayed by the howling winds. If one
manages to get past such an obstacle, they would find
themselves on the plateau where are the Bright Valley
and the palace of the god himself.
The Bright Valley
Although mistakenly called Valley for the presence of
an even taller mountain to the north, it is a plateau,
covered in moss and flowers and kissed by sunlight,
with herds of rams grazing around.
At the center rises the palace of the divine Freyr,
dominating everything and allowing him to keep a
watchful eye on those walking this world. Only the
brightest of Yggdrasill’s leaves, those furthest from its
roots, and the cap of the northern mountain are taller
than the windows of the palace.
Frosve
Enormous and majestic wooden palace, it is the size of
a small mountain. Its rooms are brightly lit and wide,
always kept warm by the shining of sunlight and the
whirling of cool winds from the mountain. In this palace,
the god Freyr shows off his best qualities, often giving
hospitality to Æsir who appreciate peace and quiet.
The Nine Worlds: L josalfheimr
231
Journey to Ragnarok
232
When light dissipates, another flash takes its place. The
characters find themselves in proximity of Yggdrasill
rising in the middle of this world. A warm and benevo-
lent sun welcomes them as they realize what surrounds
them. There, they find Odhinn, staring at them with
a hard eye from the inside of a glade. Initially, he asks
them what happened and to explain him the battle in
detail; then, as he understands the adventurers have
the precious item, he asks them to give it to him.
It is then that, from behind a bump in the
Worldtree, appear Frigga, Freyr and Freyja. Frigga dis-
misses Odhinn with but a few words, asking him what
he was doing in Alfheimr first. Then, after his answer,
she stares at the heroes, asking them what is happening.
Her gaze is almost impossible to bear; those who
try to hide information must pass a DC 22 Charisma
(Deception) check or be forced to tell the truth.
Once she discovers the presence of the ring, Frigga
decides it is too powerful to be left in custody of mor-
tals she does not know the valor of, as it would spell
disaster if it fell in the wrong hands, she says winking
at her husband. She chooses to put the Midgardians’
skills to the test by taking the ring off them and asking
Freyr to hide it in a safe place. Then, she tells the
adventurers that such place is known all over Alfheimr,
Freyr’s own palace, inaccessible to the uninvited.
They will be admitted inside only after they have
been able to garner the favour of the Five Houses of the
light elves. By taking her husband’s hand and bidding
Freyja farewell, Frigga takes the Bifrost back to Asgardr.
Freyja, alone with the group, describes to them
the Five Houses (read or paraphrase the “The Noble
Houses” sidebar), adding at the end that there is only
one way to fulfill Frigga’s request; they must convince
House Rót to make peace with the other ljosalf. She
only tells them that the main cause of the hostility is
that two brothers fought, although one of them is not
yet aware of the fact.
Then, she leaves giggling.
At that point it is necessary to talk with Billingr. Her
exile from the Five Houses is mostly due to the love still
binding her to her brother, with whom she would not
want to fight and argue. Billingr, instead, has no idea of
her true motives, still thinking that his sister left simply
because of her fickle and choleric nature.
Reuniting the twins is relatively easy, much less
talking to them, as the adventurers are foreigners,
humans from Midgardr, while the two rivals are Lord
and Lady of the Ljosalf Houses.
First of all, the group has to talk with the elves at
the base of Yggdrasill to discover what are the relations
of the Houses and understand which twins Freyja was
talking about. This part should see the characters wan-
dering around Alfheimr, looking for these two figures
and talking with anyone anywhere.
Once discovered the two names, the heroes must
be accepted as honorable traveller by undertaking the
tests imposed by the two Houses’ etiquette.
To be received by Billingr, the sisters ask a battle
between the group and equal number of Ljosalf, to be
won at first blood. This test is not fair at all, as both
sides have to fight naked and with no weapons. As the
elves will still be able to use their natural magic, they
taunt and mock the characters, who are left to fight an
extremely tough fight.
If even one of the characters were able to defeat
their opponent, the surprise would be such that
Billingr will be willing to receive them and listen to
their plea. Otherwise, they are still welcomed in the
home of the ljosalf, but they cannot try again the fight
before two moons.
Billingr, instead, receives them only if they prove
their worth. He asks them to enter the forest to the
north of his realm and bring back a log each that must
be in harmony with the world, analogous to their skills
and its branches must be worthy of their effigy.
These conditions, obviously expressed in a cryptic
tone, are meant to put the honour of the heroes to
The Nine Worlds: L josalfheimr
233
the test by a logic common to the light elves; noth-
ing of what surrounds them is set by chance. What
Billingr truly means is that the adventurers must find
a tree which trunk was not cut, but fell naturally, shar-
ing characteristics with its bearer and which leaves are
similar in color to the hero who choose it.
The difficulty in the test is in divining its words. A
successful DC 19 Wisdom (Asatru) check allows the
heroes to understand the logic of the Lord of House
Stafr and to enter the forest aware of what to look
for. Finding trees that fit the criteria takes a DC 19
Wisdom (Nature) check for each condition.
Once it is found, dragging it back to Billingr
requires a DC 19 Strength (Athletics) check at disad-
vantage given the nature of the place, rewarding clever
solutions. Once the characters have spoken with both
twins, their persuasive skills are put to the test. Either
part will not go back on their steps, although either is
willing to listen to the other’s reasons.
The only way is for the twins to accept their differ-
ences passing, if necessary, DC 14 Wisdom (Insight)
checks to understand their positions. Once the two
chieftains have come to an agreement, Freyja comes to
the characters to lead them to Freyr’s palace.
Once reached the Bright Valley, they find Odhinn
and Frigga waiting for them, the latter bearing the ring
looted from Fafnir. She benevolently looks at them,
giving them back the ring and investing them with the
honour of the gods. Odhinn, then, steps forward to
entrust to them, his own Champions, a new task.
They must find as much information as they can on
the ship Naglfar, said to carry the giants to battle at the
beginning of Ragnarok.
He then calls the Bifrost, sending them to Noatun
in Vanaheimr where resides Njordr, Vanir of the sea.
Once the characters leave Ljosalfheimr, the reach the
11th level.
234
The Noble Houses
Blað (Leaf)
Loud attention seekers and the best of companions, although they tend
to exceed in demonstrating their oratory and singing skills. They love
hunting, where they have few rivals and they draw inspiration from for
their songs. Their heraldry is a golden leaf on a white field.
Lími (Branch)
Proud and yet malleable, they often initiate a conversation just for the
sake of demonstrating their skill. Lovers of oratory, they spend their days
crafting small piece of art to keep their hands occupied and the mind
free to build sermons. Their heraldry is a red elm tree branch on a golden
field.
Meidhr (Trunk)
True lovers of the arts, seeing them as a vessel to go beyond their reserved
and shy manners. In truth, they are great scholars and affable erudites,
who love to dedicate themselves to the nature they are surrounded by.
They symbol is a hazel tree on a white field.
Stafr (Staff)
Usually they are peaceful, although they can occasionally fall prey to
excess and wrath. Artists and craftspeople of incredible skill, they have
developed a form of magic that allows them to manipulate any wooden
material the way they wish, drawing the marvelous shapes out of them.
The crest of their House is a green oak staff on a field of black.
Rót (Root)
Of matriarchal descent, happy and resplendent, they love poetry, drink-
ing and are used to fighting to stay warm. Their heraldry is a red apple
on a silver field.
Billingr (Ljosalfar)
Lord of House Stafr, he is the twin brother of the lady of House Rót,
Billingr. They share the love for drinking and a good, old honest discussion.
Dain (Ljosalfar)
The majority of his brethren loves to surround themselves with the mal-
leable and ephemeral nature of wood. Dain, instead, found that true
wisdom hides in the granite veins of rock. Like good ideas, once extracted
from their hard shell, they can be turned into sharpened weapons.
Dainn (Ljosalfar Archmage)
Expert rune master, whose skill is unmatched among the light elves. His
light skin shines like the sun itself, as if it was made of platinum. He
wears the lightest of silks, almost translucent, and his hair is always swept
by the wind.
L josalfar
Medium humanoid (elf), lawful honorable
STR
11 (+0)
DEX
18 (+4)
CON
12 (+1)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 15 (leather armor)
Hit Points 20 (4d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Stealth +5, Perception +2
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Elven Resistance. Ljosalfar roll saving throw against spells with advantage.
Innate Spells. A Ljosalfar’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (saving throw
DC 11). Ljosalfar can innately cast any of these spells without the need
for components:
At will: dancing lights
1/day each: faerie fire, darkness
ACTIONS
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
235
The Nine Worlds: L josalfheimr
L josalfar Archmage
Medium humanoid (elf), lawful honorable
STR
10 (+0)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
15 (+2)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 13 (16 with mage armor)
Hit Points 110 (18d8 + 36)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Arcana +9, Asatru +6, Perception +6
Condition Immunities aspeep
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Common
Challenge 12 (8.400 XP)
Elven Resistance. Ljosalfar roll saving throw against spells with advantage.
Ljosalfar Fencing. The Ljosalfar Archmage can add their Intelligence
modifier to their Sword attack and damage rolls.
Innate Spellcasting. The innate spellcasting ability of the Ljosalfar is
Charisma (saving throw DC 16). They can innately cast the following
spells, without the need for components:
At will: dancing lights
1/day each: darkness, faerie fire
Spellcaster. The Ljosalfar Archmage is a 18° level spellcaster. Their
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (saving throw DC 17, +9 to hit) and has
prepared the following Wizard spells:
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, light, mage hand, prestidigitation,
shocking grasp
1st level (4 slots): detect magic, identify, mage armor,magic missile
2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, mirror image, misty step
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, haste, fly, lightning bolt
4th level (3 slots): banishment, fire shield, stoneskin
5th level (3 slots): cone of cold, scrying, wall of force
6th level (1 slot): globe of invulnerability
7th level (l slot): teleport
8th level (l slot): mind blank
9th level (l slot): time stop
ACTIONS
Multiattack. A Ljosalfar Archmage makes two Elven Sword attacks.
Elven Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (1d8+6) piercing damage.
L josalfheimr Champion
Medium humanoid (elf), chaotic honorable
STR
11 (+0)
DEX
20 (+5)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
16 (+3)
WIS
15 (+2)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 17 (studded leather)
Hit Points 84 (12d8 + 24)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Dex +9, Int +7
Skills Acrobatics +9, Perception +6, Stealth +9
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3.900 XP)
Elven Resistance. Ljosalfar roll saving throw against spells and other
magical effects with advantage.
Eldritch Warrior. When the Ljosalfheimr Champion uses her action to
cast a single target spell or cantrip, she can use her bonus action to make
an attack roll.
Ljosalfar Fencing. The Ljosalfheimr Champion can add their
Intelligence modifier to their Sword attack and damage rolls.
Innate Spellcasting. The innate spellcasting ability of the Ljosalfar is
Charisma (saving throw DC 14). They can innately cast the following
spells, without the need for components:
At will: dancing lights
Spellcaster. The Ljosalfheimr Champion is a 7th level spellcaster. Her
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (saving throw DC 15, +7 to hit) and has
prepared the following Wizard spells
Cantrips (at will): firebolt, light, mage hand, prestidigitation,
shocking grasp
1st level (4 slots): expeditious retreat, magic missile, shield, thunderwave
2nd level (3 slots): cloud of daggers, invisibility, misty step
3rd level (3 slots): blink, haste, slow
4th level (1 slot): fire shield
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Ljosalfheimr Champion makes three Elven Sword attacks.
Elven Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (1d8 + 9) piercing damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.
236
Freyr
“The jolly sound of laughter drew my attention to a table. A blonde and
handsome man was drinking and eating with many others. As handsome as
his appearance was savage, his deep eyes were green and his beard long. He
wore boar tusks as earrings, his light hair tied in braids kept together with
strings and antler fragments. His beard was tied, too, but in a single, thick
braid, closed by a golden ring. His broad chest clad in a suit of leather-scaled
armor over clothes of all the shades of green, his copper-trimmed, emerald
green cloak ended in a hood carved out of a boar skull.
The savage charm of that man was such that I felt compelled to toast with
him and hear the story of his life.
However, what surprised me the most was the object hanging from his belt.
Instead of a sword or any other weapon, he carried a deer horn etched with
shapes of animals. Although his imposing and wild appearance, his presence
was not threatening. He saw me, raised his cup to me and returned to laugh-
ing and drinking with the others.”
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of fertility, woodlands, crops and war
•
Greatly revered Vani, a reveler, yet truthful, generous and prolific
•
He harbors a great hatred for the Muspellsynir because of the
destruction and chaos of their existence entails
Gerdhr (Jötunn, see page 261)
“To the right of the man with the deer horn sat a woman, dressed like him in
green clothes and suit of leather armor. She wore a wide cloak, trimmed with
fox furs and many animal-shaped jewels.
Her raven black hair, tied behind her head, made me realize she was his wife.
Alongside them stood a servant, dressed like the other two in the colors of the
woods. With deference he held a sword, its handle bejeweled and its blade so
sharp it looked like a maiden dancing among the flames.
The woman had the servant hand her the sword, admiring it as if lost in
a dream before sharing a smoldering kiss with her husband and giving the
weapon back.
She drank from a horn, slamming it loudly on the table. There was something
exotic in her appearance, something elusive and barely perceptible that made
her markedly different than her mate. For sure, there had to be a beautiful
story behind their union, a tale of love that I would have liked to hear.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
Goddess of fecundity
•
Of giant descent, deeply in love with her husband
•
Her giant blood surfaces when she is angered
237
The Nine Worlds: L josalfheimr
Freyr
Large god, lawful honorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
28 (+9)
Armor Class 22
Hit Points 295 (22d12 + 154)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Con +14, Wis +14, Cha +16
Skills Perception +14
Damage Immunities necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from
non magical weapons
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 24, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 22 (41.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Freyr’s weapon attacks are magical. When Freyr
hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant damage
(included in the attack).
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Freyr fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Freyr rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Innate Spellcasting. Freyr’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (saving throw
DC 24, +16 to hit). Freyr can innately cast the following spells, without
the need for components.
At will: awaken, control weather, goodberry, grasping vine, heroes’ feast, plant
growth, sunbeam, wall of thorns
3/day each: storm of vengeance, sunburst
ACTIONS
Multiattacco. Freyr fa tre attacchi con la Spada di Asgardr.
Spada di Asgardr. Attacco con Arma da Mischia: +17 a colpire, portata 3m,
un bersaglio. Colpito: 22 (2d10 + 10) danni perforanti più 27 (6d8) radianti.
Idromele (6/Giorno). Freyr dà un sorso di magico idromele ad una
creatura che recupera 40 (8d8+4) punti ferita.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Frey can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only
at the end of another creature’s turn. Freyr regains spent legendary
actions at the start of their turn.
Attack. Freyr makes and attack.
Move. Freyr takes the Dash or Disengage action.
Divine Imposition (2 actions). Each creature at Freyr’s choice within
60 ft of them must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma saving throw or be
charmed by Freyr for a day. This effect does not stack. A creature who
succeeds on the saving throw is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Gullinbursti,
Freyr’s Golden Boar
Crafted by the dwarven duo Brokk and Eitri as a gift for the God Freyr,
Gullinbursti faster than any living horse and runs at the same speed no
matter where. Whether pounding the ground, soaring through the air or
wading the seas, his golden bristles shine on the way of its rider.
Gullinbursti
Large construct, lawful honorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
20 (+5)
CON
22 (+6)
INT
9 (-1)
WIS
17 (+3)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 22 (natural)
Hit Points 130 (12d10 + 60)
Speed 60 ft., swim 60 ft., fly 60 ft.
Damage Immunities fire, frost, necrotic, poison, psychic, radiant
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed,
petrified, poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 12 (11.500 XP)
Trampling Charge. If Gullinbursti moves at least 20 ft. straight toward
a creature and then hits it with a hooves attack on the same turn,
that target suffers an additional 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage and
Gullinbursti cannot be targeted by attacks of opportunity if he leaves the
area threatened by the target. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it
must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Gullinbursti fails a saving throw, they
can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Gullinbursti rolls saving throws against spells and
magical effects with advantage.
Magic Construct. Gullinbursti’s attacks are magical. Gullinbursti can
walk on water surfaces or air as if it was open ground and ignores any
penalty from the terrain.
Shining Bristles. Gullinbursti’s shining bristles emanate light within 30
ft. of it, capable of dispelling any darkness, even magical one.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Gullinbursti makes one Slam attack and two Tusks attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d10
+ 7) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, they
must pass a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Tusks. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 20 (2d12 + 7) bludgeoning damage plus 9 (2d8) radiant damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Gullinbursti can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end
of another creature’s turn. Gullinbursti regains spent legendary actions at the
start of his turn.
Charge (2 actions). Gullimbursti moves at twis his speed and makes
a Slam attack.
Divine Light. Gullimbursti emits a mighty burst of divine light. Each hostile
creature within 60 ft. must pass a DC 18 Charisma saving throw or be
blinded until the end of their next turn.
Tusks. Gullimburst makes a Tusk attack.
Journey to Ragnarok
238
Chapter 10
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the Vanaheimr
setting; the descriptions of the places and characters that
the Heroes will be able to explore and meet during their
journey through the Nine Worlds are reported, with an
appendix on the statistics.
Vanaheimr
240
General Features
241
Map
243
The Journey on Vanaheimr
244
Encounters on Vanaheimr
245
The Nine Worlds: Vanaheimr
239
Journey to Ragnarok
240
Vanaheimr
Cosmic balance hangs on the coexistence of the Nine
Worlds, although one of them looks like it returned to
its ancient roots.
In ancient times, Vanaheimr was a prosper and lush
world, home of the divine Vanir. At the height of their
power, this world was the most vibrantly alive; wherever
a Vani walked, trees and plants bowed in their presence
and the stones themselves obeyed their will. The lands
teemed with birds and beasts. All of this happened
because of the Seidhr, the secret magic of the Vanir,
orally handed down through the generations and capa-
ble of altering nature to the point of making a river flow
backwards or change the seasons on a whim.
The Vanir themselves were happy to wander those
lands, contemplating the bloom of life. In their roaming,
they still obeyed court of Hoenir, the Æsir who acted
as their king for a long time even if he had been sent
there as a hostage to improve the relationship between
the two divine kins. The Æsir, however, were bound to
civilization, belligerent and fiery-tempered. The Vanir,
instead, were placid and passive, more keen on letting
the universe follow its cycles without interference.
As the Æsir strove against Fate, the Vanir followed
its guidance and it was this difference in view that exac-
erbated the relationships between the two people until
war broke out. Æsir and Vanir butchered one another
on battlefields across the universe, the former’s martial
prowess clashing with the latter’s Seidhr magic. As the
war seemed eternal and the number of the dead grew
beyond count, the conflict was ended by Thor, who
hurled Mjolnir at Hoenir, shattering his skull.
With the passing of time, the scars left by the war
of the gods healed, the Nine Worlds now free of its
taint, and Æsir and Vanir reconciliated. Njordhr and
the children of Freyr and Freyja were greeted as hon-
oured guests in Asgardr, as a sign of peace, although in
their heart of hearts the Vanir left in Vanaheimr kept
resenting the Æsir. They swore never to face the terror
of war again and never to come to terms with those
who opposed Fate.
They refused any possible form of contact with
the hypocrisy called civilization, living more like wild
animals than beings gifted with free will, and their
magics mutated. The Seidhr, then, became a primor-
dial entity, like the Ginnungagap, the primeval chasm.
They did not forsake the incestuous union of brothers
and sisters or parents and children, utter and complete
The Nine Worlds: Vanaheimr
241
rejection of civilization itself. As such, their following
generations were plagued by insanity and lunacy.
Soon their animal-like life brought them to ruin, as
one killed the other. Now Vanaheimr is this; a realm
where nature rules unopposed on the ruins of a dead
civilization. Swamps, endless forests and grassy plains
twist one within the other, climbing and diving off
mountains into the ocean, like flying seagulls.
Vanaheimr is criss-crossed with countless rivers,
their water so clear their floor reflects the sky to the
point where telling which is which becomes arduous.
Each river floor is different from the others, with moss,
stones, sand or black and smooth rocks.
Animals never seen by mortal eye prosper on
Vanaheimr, like droplets in the rain.
Vanaheimr, however, is an unnerving place, too,
as the waters cut jagged landscapes and its mountains
feature sharp profiles like those of the fanged maw of a
mythological creature, swallowing the sky. Vanaheimr
is both an enthralling and scary wonder.
General Features
Weather: Pleasant and mild climate, without excessive
temperature ranges, like the gentle breeze of a summer
morning.
Lighting: During the day, the sun sheds light on the
world and warms it. At night, the whitest of moons
lights Vanaheimr’s wonders.
Sounds: The rustling of the trees, the calm backwash
of the summer sea, the croaking of the crickets and the
chirping of birds.
Terrain - Plains: Although there are no roads or path,
travel pace in these areas is normal.
Terrain - Mountain: These steep walls are challenging
to climb, halving travel pace.
Terrain - Forests: A lush undergrowth makes travel-
ling slower.
Terreno - Sea: These clear and warm waters require
the guidance of an expert sailor, but do not slow trav-
elers down.
Folkvangar
In the heart of Vanaheimr, where the influence of the
Seidhr is so strong one could taste it, lies Folkvangar,
Freyja’s kingdom. The goddess rules this alien world
with wisdom and love for her subjects, both man and
beast alike. This place of power, in fact, welcomes
those at the end of their natural life cycle, granting
them the chance to understand the cosmic cycle as it
was conceived by the Vanir in ancient times.
Every natural environment, be it past, present or
future, exists in Folkvangar, as it features the wood-
lands of the northern lands, the tundra and the
vegetation of the warmer climates. The air vibrates
with the sounds of animals never seen before by men
and the dead live among them as the Vanir did once.
When she was given rule of Folkvangar, Freyja hoped
to restore Vanaheimr to its ancient splendor, creating
the place the mortals heard called “paradeisos”, in the
tales of far away lands.
The Vani, however, is the most skilled practitioner
of the Seidhr and those with the gall of entering her
realm uninvited would suffer a dreadful fate. Their
senses would be shattered, making them perceive real-
ity as a maddening nightmare. Each minute passed in
such a state requires a DC 25 Wisdom saving throw.
Failing means falling prey to insanity, shedding one’s
equipment and running amok in the forests, shouting
incoherently and attacking everything on one’s path as
if under the effects of the Feeblemind spell.
Cavern of the Echoes
As sun or moon light shines upon the rocks within this
caver, they refract in utterly unnatural ways, creating
kaleidoscopic contrasts that would disorientate any who
would dare entering the cave. From deep within the cave
rise an unknown dirge sung by a faint and young voice.
A strong smell of mead and mold comes from within
the cavern, stimulating both appetite and revulsion.
Entering this place is extremely dangerous; after
but a few steps, any unfortunate visitor would fall in
a trap dating back to the war between Æsir and Vanir,
a complex system of powerful enchantments. Each
minute spent within the cavern, characters must pass
a DC 25 Intelligence saving throw or lose themselves
in a labyrinthine daedalus of black and white lights, as
if under the effect of the maze spell.
Deep within the cavern, after a couple hundred
meters, are two elm tree desks smashed to the ground,
a few rune-carved and broken chains and the remain-
ings of an ancient campfire. Here is the place where
Odhinn and Loki were kept captive during the war
between Æsir and Vanir.
Galligarm
An immense elm tree, which leaves stand out of the
thickest forest in Vanaheimr, is surrounded by a cold
and dark aura. In the morning, mist takes the place
of rime, the other way around when the sun falls.
The undergrowth is lush, although its fruits look too
Journey to Ragnarok
242
perfect to be picked. Sunlight hardly ever reaches the
ground and close to the trunk of the elm tree its roots
are constantly shrouded in dim light.
A crushing melancholy strikes the soul of those
who visit the cosmic tree that gave life to the Vanir at
the beginning of time, the most sacred and painful of
the horgr in Vanaheimr.
Galligarm, a constant reminder to the gods of the
fate of the obstination and arrogance of the Vanir, is
also the quickest way of reaching Yggdrasill and the
rest of the universe. Here is possible to meet a few
of the dead who in life were druids, now wanting to
sense the suffering of this world, and Freydis Bergljot
(“Salvific Light,”) who spends her days talking with the
great tree seeking the deep wisdom of the cosmic trees.
The Isle of Hlèsey
Somewhere in the Vanaheimr sea lies an island, where
the waves are never strong and the sun does not shines
too strong. There grow fields of wheat and barley as tall
as young men, like carpets of gold.
This is where Ægir lives, where the Jötunn harvests
his crops and brews his beer. At least once per year, the
gods come here as guests of Ægir’s to feast.
Noatun
Instead of breaking on reefs or the sides of a mountain,
here the sea dug a deep bay, what the mortals would
call a fjord, joining with a river and creating an unusual
mixture of salt and fresh water. The lord of this land
is the Vani Njordhr, whose dwelling is a large palace
doubling as a harbor. The Vani spends much time fish-
ing, but also making vessels, owning many boats and
ships moored at his docks. Njordhr’s sequestered sanc-
tuary echoes with the sounds of seagulls and puffins
and smells of mountain resins and swamp plants, its
halls resounding with the gentle song of the whales.
Rarely visitors find Njordhr at his palace, as he is
much more likely to be chest-deep in water fishing or
playing with sea creatures.
The old Vani, however, does not dislike guests and
is known for being a munific and kind host; nobody
ever leaves his abode without lavish gifts or having
partaken in one of his banquets. He is not a hermit,
as both Vanir and Æsir love him, so he often is in
their company. Although he is of a placid and simple
nature, he should not be underestimated; his Seidhr is
powerful enough to fight any intruder, as he uses it to
disguise the enormous Asgardian war fleet as fishing
boats at his harbor, and the gods are ready to rush to
his aid should he need it.
Sessrumnir
In the heart of the Folkvangar rises Freyja’s massive
palace. Its hall is elegant and refined, decorated with
tapestries telling the deeds of heroes and gods, wooden
statues of animals and magnificent inlays in the walls
and columns. The air smells of honey and festivity,
hearths spreading the odorous smells of pine and fir
while warm laughter welcomes the newly arrived.
It is said that Sessrumnir is the safest hall in exist-
ence, as the Seidhr of its lady protects it confusing any
who would dare making their way inside without her
permission. Its massive cedar wood doors, in fact, are
so tight that not even an insect or a pin would be thin
enough to pass through their crack, much to the cha-
grin of Loki.
Freyja’s guests, although not Einherjar, are still great
fighters as half of those who fall in battle are brought
here because of an ancient covenant Freyja was able to
force Odhinn into. Although there are no Valkyries to
greet them, these fallen warriors are lovingly tended to
by the goddesses’ maidens, as the resources produced
by the Folkvangar allow to sustain great armies.
The Nine Worlds: Vanaheimr
243
244
Journey to Ragnarok
244
Journey to Ragnarok
244
Through the Bifrost, the characters arrive in the vicin-
ity of Sessrumnir. If they do not approach the palace in
a manner appropriate to the home of a goddess, Freyja
could even mistake them for a threat. Once she realizes
she is not under attack, she welcomes the adventur-
ers and listens to their words. Although visibly bored,
Freyja grants the characters the following information:
•
This world is protected by a magic they do not
know, the Seidhr.
•
The Seidhr is incredibly dangerous for those, like
them, who do not belong to Vanaheimr.
•
Only the vessels made by Njordhr can sail the seas
of this world.
•
Convincing Njordhr to give them one of his ships
is doomed to fail.
•
She does not know anything about the ship the
characters are looking for.
•
One who could know something about it is
Njordhr, who lives in Noatun.
•
- Vanaheimr is as lethal as it is beautiful, so the
characters will need a guide.
•
The characters should look for Freydis Bergljot,
usually found at a hörgr.
•
They should stay away from the few caves of the world,
as there is no way of knowing what is inside them.
Ended their audience with the goddess, she has the
characters taken care of by her maidens, who wash
them and dress them with clean and fresh clothes
before letting them go. Their task, now, is to find
Freydis Bergljot, and the way to deal with such task is
by looking for the hörgr (see page 249).
Once they find Freydis, they have to head to Noatun
to ask an audience with its lord, Njordhr, the only one
to know what they are looking for. He is a proud Vani,
however, and does not let mortals have information
from him before they have proved their worth. The
god tasks them with heading to Ægir’s islands aboard
one of his vessels to taste the Jötunn’s beer, return to
Noatun, taste Njordhr’s and decide which is the best.
The journey at sea is long and perilous, forcing
the characters to travel along the shoreline to dock
and resupply frequently if they are not expert sailors.
When they eventually reach the island of Hlèsey, they
find Ægir during the harvest, who welcomes the char-
acters as prestigious guests and leads them to his abode
to have a taste of his spirits. The Jötunn is famous for
being proud of his beer and never losing an opportu-
nity for sharing it. He returns to his crops as soon as
possible, however, because the harvest season is open.
When they return to Noatun, Njordhr has them
taste his own beer, waiting for the Midgardian verdict.
The two Vanir are sworn rivals and Njordhr accepts the
verdict only if it is spoken without falsehood. Should
they behave dishonorably, the Vani would enact his
punishment, forcing them to stay for a month in
Noatun tasting his beer until they admit it is the best
they ever had.
When the feasting is over, Njordhr tells them the
following:
•
The vessel they look for belongs to the frost giants.
•
It is not finished yet.
•
He has no idea what it still needs to sail.
•
The ship has not seen water yet.
•
The group’s search should lead them to Jotunheimr.
At this point the characters can recall the Bifrost,
which will take them to Jotunheimr.
When the characters leave Vanaheimr, they reach
the 12th level.
245
245
Ægir (Æsir)
“I found myself walking in a such a dense mist I feared it was some magick,
guided by the ancient one-eyed man. I walked on for an indefinite amount of
time, just an instant, and yet one that lasted a lifetime, until the mist lifted and
my eyes saw an immense mead hall.
The building, a sight to behold, was larger than any royal palace I ever had the
honor of visiting in my travels. In front of its gates, a man, as imposing as he
was extravagant, was waiting.
He was wearing unusual, greenish clothes, embellished with crustacean shells,
pierced seastone jewelry and leather strings with killer whale teeth. His thick,
curly beard was tied with seaweed, much like his hair, dotted with locks of
seagull feathers. His skin looked unnaturally green at a first glance, but then I
realized dense tattoos covered his body from neck to toe. Alongside him were an
equally tall woman and nine maidens, all extremely beautiful and yet of pecu-
liar appearance. The giant welcomed us with a broad smile and an embrace,
introducing us to the women who, I discovered, were his wife and daughters.
They offered us horns brimming with beer, which tasted like pine, honey and
juniper. Simply delicious. The man let us in the mead hall, the finest host to us,
his latest guests, among the endless crowd of celebrating people”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
The mate of the giantess Ran, he is a Jötunn lord of the sea. He cares
about his neutrality and shows benevolence towards Vanir, Æsir and
creatures from other worlds. He is good looking, old and venerable but
not ancient, and keeps his hair braided and his beard is the color of sea
foam. He can often be found taking good care of his crops with his
daughters, to brew his legendary beer, or fishing on the coast.
Albruna (Vanir)
Goddess of divination and clairvoyance. She can see for hundreds of kilom-
eters and is gifted with sharper senses than those of mortals, able to perceive
past and future. She looks like an emotionless woman with clothes of pearls
stitched together. If asked on what is to come, her answer is cryptic;
“A large, red bird flies in the sky, calling to itself the sun and the moon.”
Alcis (twins) (Vanir)
The twins represent freedom and prosperity, protecting farms and
domestic animals. People ask for their aid when it comes to having a
good hunt or to get rid of an oppressor. They look like two androgynous
men dressed in elk furs and antlers headdresses. They speak fluently and
elegantly, with one often beginning a sentence the other ends, as if they
were bonded by some form of telepathy. It is impossible to catch them
by surprise, as if they were always alert.
Almattki (Vanir)
God of honour and justice, who punishes those who break their oaths,
invoked when a covenant is sealed. He looks like a tall, authoritative man,
always fully armed and known for being an impartial judge. His Seidhr
allows him to read the heart and mind of men, finding the answers any
good man of law should tirelessly seek. His sentence is eternal, branded
with a rune on those who have been judged that the Æsir and Vanir see
shining on their forehead.
Bara (Vanir)
One of Ægir’s nine daughters. He occasionally calls her “Drofn” in a scold-
ing tone because she is a famous troublemaker. Sailors fear her because she
loves to send storms to punish those who disrespect the sea.
Her eyes shine like star, her smile sardonic. Her mind is lightning fast and
few things escape her, her spirit sharp. She grants calm seas and favourable
winds to those who leave her adequate offerings.
Blodughadda (Vanir)
One of Ægir’s nine daughters. Her skin is green, her hair red, embodying
the vegetation that grows belows the waves. Fish follow her wherever she
goes and her songs are charming for both gods and mortals.
Dufa (Vanir)
One of Ægir’s nine daughters. She is capable of assuming a liquid form
and being in many places at the same time. Because of this, she is a per-
fect spy, who can cover long distances in a short amount of time.
Vanir
Large God, lawful honorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
22 (+6)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
22 (+6)
Armor Class 21
Hit Points 204 (20d12 + 120)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Con +12, Wis +13, Cha +13
Skills Intimidation +13, Perception +13
Damage Immunities necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from
non magical weapons
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Damage Resistances radiant
Senses passive Perception 23, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 20 (25.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. The Vanirs weapon attacks are magical. When the
Vanir hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 4d8 radiant
damage (included in the attack).
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If the Vanir fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The Vanir rolls saving throws against spells and
magical effects with advantage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Vanir makes three Blade of the Vanir attacks.
Blade of the Vanir. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (2d10 + 10) piercing damage plus 20 (4d8) radiant damage.
Mead (6/Day). The Vanir allows a creature to drink a sip of magic mead,
healing it 40 (8d8+4) hit points.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The Vanir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. The Vanir regains spent legendary actions
at the start of his/her turn.
Attack. The Vanir makes and attack.
Divine Imposition (2 actions). Each creature at the Vanir’s choice within 60 ft
of them must succeed on a DC 18 Charisma saving throw or be charmed by
the Vanir for a day. This effect does not stack. A creature who succeeds on the
saving throw is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Move. The Vanir takes the Dash or Disengage action.
246
Freyja
“Like a queen with her retinue, standing out of the crowd, sat a woman at
a table, surrounded by many people. Long, wavy red hair brushed her hip,
eyes the color of lapis lazuli were set in an ivory visage, whose beauty was
unsettling. She wore an almost transparent tight white silk dress, allowing
bystanders to catch only glimpses of her perfect curves. The dress had generous
slits and a deep neckline held by two buckles with gemstones, fastening a
cloak of feathers from birds of prey that shrouded this noble figure. Around
her neck she wore a necklace made of chased and embossed gold discs of divine
craftsmanship, linked with thin chains of the same material, that disap-
peared between her breasts. That magnificent jewel made the woman’s allure
even deeper and, to my modest opinion, it was the most beautiful necklace in
the world, so much so that kings and queens would have waged war for it.
I would not have laid my eyes on a more beautiful woman for the rest of my
life, for another creature of such charm, beauty and charisma to leave me
breathless and make my blood boil or carve my own heart out of my very
chest to gift it to her could not exist. It was as if my breath had turned into
the scolding vapor of a geyser and my eyes did not want to lose anymore. I felt
lifted off the ground simply taking in her presence, I could fly higher than any
man and pluck the stars from the sky just for her. I would have done all of
that, just for a word of hers”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
Goddess of love, war, magic, seduction, beauty and birth
•
Vain, reckless, fascinating, seducing and well aware of her power
•
Her mastery on Seidhr has no equal
Freyja
Large goddess, lawful honorable
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
28 (+9)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
26 (+8)
CHA
30 (+10)
Armor Class 20
Hit Points 300 (22d12 + 110)
Speed 40 ft.
Saving Throws Con +12, Wis +15, Cha +17
Skills Perception +15, Persuasion +17
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; bludgeoning, piercing and
slashing from non-magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses passive Perception 25, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 23 (50.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Freyja’s weapon attacks are magical. When the Æsir
hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d8 radiant damage
(included in the attack).
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Freyja fails a saving throw, she can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Freyja rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Innate Spells. The spellcasting ability of Freyja is Charisma (saving throw
DC 25, +17 to hit). Freyja can innately cast the following spells without
the need for components:
At will: animate object, beacon of hope, blade barrier, calm emotions, charm
person, confusion, death ward, dominate monster, dominate person, geas,
greater invisibility, heroes’ feast, shield, spiritual weapon, suggestion.
3/day each: antipathy/sympathy, earthquake, eyebite, feeblemind, forcecage,
foresight, mass heal, mass healing word, mass suggestion, mind blank
1/day: power word heal
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Freyja makes two Seidhr Blast attacks.
Seidhr Blast. Ranged Spell Attacks: +17 to hit, range 60/gittata 18/150 ft.,
one target. Hit: 26 (4d6 + 10) force damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage.
The target must pass a DC 20 Intelligence saving throw or their Intelligence
score becomes 3 for 1 minute. In alternative, the target must pass a DC 20
Strength saving throw or their Strength score becomes 3 for 1 minute. A
creature who passes the saving throw is immune to this effect for 1 hour.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Freyja can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only
one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of
another creature’s turn. Freyja regains spent legendary actions at the start of
their turn.
Seducing Gaze. A creature Freyja can see within 60 ft. of her must pass a
DC 21 Charisma saving throw or be charmed by Freyja for 1 minute. A
creature who passed the saving throw is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Seidhr Disturbance. A creature Freyja can see within 60 ft. of her must
pass a DC 18 Intelligence saving throw or suffer disadvantage on any roll
until the end of their next turn.
Spell. Freyja casts a spell she knows.
247
The Nine Worlds: Vanaheimr
248
Freydis Bergljot
A legend whispered only in summer nights talks about a woman who
loved animals so much, especially her two cats, that her love for nature
and its creatures could rival that of the goddess Freyja.
The goddess, jealous of being compared with a mortal, descended on
Midgardr to take a look at the young woman. Such was her dedication
to the care of animals and plants that Freyja, after an initial surprise, and
wanted to take the young woman with her.
It is not known if this is just a legend or there is something true in it.
However, the name of Freydis Bergljot, “Saving Light”, is often whispered
as an example to follow around a campfire or in children stories.
Freydis
Medium humanoid (Human), chaotic honorable
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
28 (+9)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
26 (+8)
CHA
30 (+10)
Armor Class 14 (hidden armor)
Hit Points 110 (18d8 + 36)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +11
Skills Asatru +11, Medicine +11, Nature +7, Perception +11, Religion +7
Senses passive Perception 21
Language Common, Druidic
Challenge 12 (8.400 XP)
Spellcaster. Freydis is an 18th level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability
is Wisdom (spell saving throw DC 19, +11 to hit). Se has the following
Druid spells prepared.
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, mending, poison spray, produce flame
1st level (4 slot): cure wounds, ensnaring strike, fairie fire,
speak with animals
2nd level (3 slot): animal messenger, hold person, beast sense
3rd level (3 slot): conjure animals, meld into stone, water breathing
4th level (3 slot): dominate beast, locate creature, wall of fire, stoneskin
5th level (1 slot): commune with nature, mass cure wounds,
transport via plants
6th level (1 slot): sunbeam, heroes’ feast, heal
7th level (1 slot): fire storm
8th level (1 slot): animal shapes
9th level (1 slot): foresight
ACTIONS
Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.
Shape Shifting (2/Day). Freydis transforms into a beast or elemental of
Challenge 6 or lower and can keep such form for 9 hours.
She can choose what of her equipment falls to the grounds, merges into the
new form or is worn by it. Freydis reverts to her true form if she dies or falls
unconscious. She can revert to her true form as a bonus action in her turn.
When she shifts, she retains her statistics and the capacity to speak,
although her AC, Strength and Dexterity scores are those of the new
form, gaining any special sense, proficiency, trait, action or reaction save
the legendary or lair ones. Freydis can cast spells with verbal or somatic
components. The new form’s attacks are considered magical for the purpose
of ignoring resistances or immunities to non-magical attacks.
249
The Nine Worlds: Vanaheimr
Hörgr
Scattered in the four corners of Vanaheimr lay shrines built out of
carefully stacked stones, where the temperature varies wildly and light
almost fades. Often, figures appear in the vicinity, the echoes of the Vanir
defeated in the ancient war. They remained trapped in the Seidhr that
impregnates those lands.
As the names of these creatures have been lost to time, recognizing
them is not easy, so the druids who worship these idols have developed
a system to recognize them. They learned to read the small events before
their manifestation and divided them into six categories.
Each time the characters are close to a Hörgr, the Game Master rolls
the Rune Die (or a d16) and checks the result on the following table, to see
what the group finds nearby.
ÆTT / D6
Hörgr
Freyja U
1
Roll again to determine the type
of hörgr, Freydis is present
to satisfy its fury.
Freyja D
2
The hörgr is a Funi
Heimdallr U
3
The hörgr is a Hæl
Heimdallr D
4
The hörgr is a Eitr
Tyr U
5
The hörgr is a Ljómi
Tyr D
6
The hörgr is a Þrymja
250
251
The Nine Worlds: Vanaheimr
Horgr
Huge construct, lawful honorable
STR
10 (+0)
DEX
3 (-4)
CON
22 (+6)
INT
8 (-1)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 110 (18d8 + 36)
Speed 0 ft.
Saving Throws Wis +12
Skills Asatru +12, Medicine +12, Nature +4, Perception +12, Religion +4
Damage Immunities piercing; cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, poison,
psychic, thunder
Damage Resistances bludgeoning and slashing from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion,
frightened, grappled, paralyzed, restrained
Senses Truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 21
Languages Common, Druidic; telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 14 (11.500 XP)
Center of the Futhark Circle. The ground within 60 ft. from a Horgr
is considered a Futhark Circle. When a creature attacks a target they can
roll 1d10 and subtract the result to the attack roll. Enemies within the
Futhark Circle lose any resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing
damage from non magical weapons and any elemental damage resistance.
Fixed. A Horgr cannot move and can be moved only once destroyed.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If a Horgr fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Sanctuary. The attacks of a Horgr are considered magical and add its
Wisdom modifier to hit and damage rolls.
Spellcaster. A Horgr is a 15th level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability
is Wisdom (saving throw DC 17, +9 to hit) and has the following
Runemaster spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, ray of frost, sacred flame
1st level (4 slot): detect magic, thunderwave, sanctuary, shield
2nd level (3 slot): blindness/deafness, hold person, moonbeam,
prayer of healing, zone of truth
3rd level (3 slot): beacon of hope, bestow curse, magic circle, plant growth,
remove curse
4th level (3 slot): compulsion, divination, ice storm
5th level (2 slot): dominate person, scrying, teleportation circle, wall of stone
6th level (1 slot): circle of death, contingency
7th level (1 slot): fire storm, symbol
8th level (1 slot): control weather
ACTIONS
Multiattack. A Horgr makes two Strike attacks.
Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, range 20 ft., one target.
Hit: 17 (2d8 + 7) slashing damage. The target must pass a DC 16
Strength saving throw or be knocked back 15 ft.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
A Horgr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only
at the end of another creature’s turn. A Horgr regains spent legendary
actions at the start of their turn.
Attack. A Horgr makes a Strike attack.
Spell. A Horgr casts a spell it knows.
Arcane Recovery. A Horgr recovers a spell slot of 1d8th level
•
Funi (Fire): The air surrounding these places is scalding, smelling
of rotten eggs. Closing in, blades of lame rise impetuous in the
air. By shedding ram blood on the heap, the Vanir is appeased,
otherwise, they will attack those who disturb their shrine.
•
Hæl (Death): Air is thin around these places and breathing is
troublesome. Characters must pass a DC 17 Constitution saving
throw or suffer one level of exhaustion. Closing in, light almost
fades and a diaphanous figure appears out of thin air, attacking
whoever dared to disturb their slumber. By shedding raven blood
on the heap, the Vanir is appeased, otherwise, they will attack
those who disturb their shrine.
•
Eitr (Poison): The air around these places smells of honey and
incense, a thin layer of moss covering the stones, emanating a
faint light. Blades of smoke dance in the air, imposing a DC 17
Constitution saving throw not to suffer 4d8 poison damage.
By shedding snake blood on the heap, the Vanir is appeased,
otherwise, they will attack those who disturb their shrine.
•
Ljómi (Radiant): The air around these places is warm and
smells of linden. A blade of light pierces the canopy to shine off
this pile of rocks, twisting on itself as the characters move closer.
By shedding rooster blood on the heap, the Vanir is appeased,
otherwise, they will attack those who disturb their shrine.
•
Þrymja (Lightning): The air around these places is thick
with electricity and smells of freshly forged metal. Whoever
wears metallic armor, even just studs, must pass a DC 17
Constitution saving throw or suffer 8d8 lightning damage as
sparks ominously dance in the air. By shedding cat blood on the
heap, the Vanir is appeased, otherwise, they will attack those
who disturb their shrine.
252
Njörðr
“All of a sudden, the gate slammed open, showing a figure. A handsome,
although older, man, his skin scorched dark by the sun. His beard and hair,
as dark as fir, parted in two braids tied with leather strings and woven with
that jewel people from far away call coral. He looked like he had just returned
from a long day out in the sea fishing, with sleeves rolled up to his elbows
and his tunic undone. He held a rolled up fishing net under one arm, a few
harpoons in his left hand and his entrance was greeted with a joyful roar by
the entire hall. Men and women shouted his name and welcomed him with
such intensity that the candles flickered. Such was his joy, he let go of net
and harpoons to embrace whoever he could. He was offered many tankards,
horns and cups filled with beer or mead and he cheerfully drank. When he
passed close to me, I could notice a few details of his person. His clothes, dyed
with the colors of the open ocean, were not those of a common fisherman, but
more proper for both a sage and a king. They were embroidered with silver
thread, his arms and wrists clasped by golden and bronze armils and many
clinking bags from his belt. This fisherman both fascinated and troubled me
as I understood that he was like the sea, calm on the surface and yet hiding
many secrets in its depths”.
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Silk Voice”
•
God of the sea, fishing, oaths and wealth
•
A lavish and generous friend and host, he exacts grim punishment
from those who break their oaths
•
A potent spellcaster and practitioner of Seidhr magic
Njörðr
Large god, chaotic honorable
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
28 (+9)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
26 (+8)
CHA
30 (+10)
Armor Class 22
Hit Points 295 (22d12 + 154)
Speed 40 ft. swim 60 ft.
Saving Throws Con +14, Wis +14, Cha +14
Skills Intimidation +14, Perception +14
Damage Immunities frost, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing
from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed
Senses passive Perception 24, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 21 (33.000 XP)
Divine Weapons. Njörðr’s weapon attacks are magical. When the Æsir
hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 6d6 radiant damage
(included in the attack).
God of the Sea. Njörðr can breathe underwater and is not influenced by
sea temperature or conditions.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Njörðr fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Njörðr rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Innate Spellcasting. Njörðr’s spellcasting ability is Wisdom (saving throw
DC 23, +14 to hit). Njörðr can innately cast the following spells, without
the need for components.
At will: control water, control weather, fog cloud, gust of wind, lightning bolt,
thunderwave, water walk
3/day each: earthquake, storm of vengeance, tsunami
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Njörðr makes three Trident of the Vanir attacks.
Trident of the Vanir. Melee Weapon or Ranged Attack: +17 to hit, reach
10 ft. or range 60/120 ft., one target. Hit: 24 (2d12 + 10) piercing
damage plus 24 (6d6) force damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Njörðr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Njörðr regains spent legendary actions at the
start of their turn.
Attack. Njörðr makes an attack.
Divine Imposition (2 actions). Each creature at Njörðr’s choice within 60
ft of them must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma saving throw or be charmed
by Njörðr for a day. This effect does not stack. A creature who succeeds on
the saving throw is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Spell. Njörðr casts a known spell.
253
The Nine Worlds: Vanaheimr
Journey to Ragnarok
254
Chapter 11
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the Jötunheimr
setting; the descriptions of the places and characters that
the Heroes will be able to explore and meet during their
journey through the Nine Worlds are reported, with an
appendix on the statistics.
Jötunheimr
256
General Features
256
Maps
259
The Journey on Jötunheimr
260
Encounters on Jötunheimr
261
The Nine Worlds: Jotunheimr
255
Journey to Ragnarok
256
Jotunheimr
Jotunheimr is a desolate and barren land, beyond the
mountain ridges surrounding Midgardr. Vegetation
concentrates in small conifer forests, where plants
manage the pierce through the layer of ice coating the
surface, shrubs and withered bushes dotting the rest
of the area. The tundra that makes up the majority of
Jotunheimr is so flat and vast that an observer loses any
sense of perspective, the eye losing any point of refer-
ence for hundreds of kilometers without being able to
see anything other than mist and endless expanses of
flat, frozen, snow-covered earth.
Jotunheimr is the closest of the Nine Worlds to
Midgardr and is said that the mountain ridge surround-
ing the Realm of Man was raised by the Æsir to protect
mankind from the Jötunn menace. During Fimbulvetr,
when the barriers between worlds are thinner, it is
murmured that the lands of the Finnmark where those
mockingly called “Jotunkind” live might become a stag-
ing area for the Jötunn invasion of Midgardr.
The legends, myths told around the campfire and
the stories the people of the tundra hand down from
one generation to the other are in surprising agreement;
the Land of the Jötnar is surprisingly close, much
closer than the mortals imagine.
General Features
Weather: Biting cold, unbearable without proper
equipment. DC 18 Constitution saving throw every
hour to avoid suffering a level of exhaustion.
Lighting: Sol’s light reflects off the snow, a diffused
luminescence granting a couple hundred feet of visi-
bility through the fog.
Sounds: The crunching of boots on frozen rock, the
icy wind howling and the dull crack of breaking ice.
Terrain - Taiga: There are no roads or paths in the snow
covering the landscape. For each half day of march, the
group must pass a DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check not
to run around in circles.
Terrain - Mountains: The steep mountain slopes are
hard to climb, reducing travel pace to a fourth.
Terrain - Rivers: Rivers in Jotunheimr cannot be
waded by swimming and sailing is impossible.
Terrain - Sea: Falling in the frigid waters imposes a DC
25 Constitution saving throw each round not to suffer
The Nine Worlds: Jotunheimr
257
two levels of exhaustion. To leave the waters, a character
must pass a DC 21 Strength (Constitution) check.
Alvaldvellir
The most imposing mountain ridge of the realm. Its
southern reaches open in a massive series of valleys and
peaks, dotted with caverns where nameless monsters
live. This place is the domain of Alvaldi, whose sub-
jects work in the local goldmines.
The peaks are frequently patrolled by Alvaldi’s
troops, to protect newly discovered mines or simply
to watch over the land, ready to strike at any intruder.
Ettinvidr
A desolate plain with a small and yet thick forest lies
on a channel to the south of the frozen sea. Within the
forest, a hill hosts wooden buildings home to the Ettin
people. From his great hall, Fjolsvinn rules the area
with a steady hand.
Thrymheimr
This palace is made of tree trunks in a manner simi-
lar to that of the hall of Midgardian Jarlr, although it
seems unusual that someone would build something
out of wood in a place where grows so little of it. Thjazi,
in fact, was able to find such resource in his raids of
old in more temperate climates. The eternal frost of
Jotunheimr made this wood as hard as stone, no flame
capable of setting it on fire with ease, and cold wind
howls through its halls, after the Jötunn died.
From this palace, in fact, the tyrannical Jötunn
ruled over a large portion of the world and here were
his barracks and stables.
If the Jötnar were able to organize themselves
for something more than skirmishes and raids,
Thrymheimr would be a perfect strategic location.
Icefang Mountain Ridge
Although not much is known about the largest moun-
tain ridge in Jotunheimr, it is divided into three
progressive areas. The first features relatively shorter
heights, made of soft rock, mangled by erosion and
covered in extremely hard ice. Then, follow taller
mountains, atop one of which sits Utgardr, at the
center of the world. Finally, to the south, are glaciers
so large they defy logic.
Hagkorn
A completely frozen mountain ridge to the extreme
north of Jotunheimr, with storms of sleet and ice
harrowing its slopes. The taller reaches of these peaks are
plagued by storms of powdered rock and snow so fast
it can flense the skin of a man. Its top is only ice, both
clinging to the rocks and hanging in the air, almost as if
floating. Taking on such mountain is almost impossible,
even for a Jötunn.
Hnitbjorg
A mountainous bluff rising from the cold sea to the
south of Jarnvidhr. Here, weather is locked in a perpet-
ual storm embracing the strip of rocky land.
When closing in, adventurers must face lightning
bolts, thunders, sleet and rain. Crossing these waters is
extremely difficult and to follow a route they must pass
a DC 20 Wisdom (Survival) check.
While navigating through the storm, lightning bolts
continuously strike around the adventurers, imposing
a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw to suffer the half of
10d8 lightning damage and a DC 22 Constitution
saving throw to avoid suffering two levels of exhaus-
tion. Past those natural defenses, they would reach
the eye of the storm, where lies a building. There,
Odhinn hid the Mead of Poetry, tasking a linnorm
with defending it.
Tholley Island
The only island of this realm is barren. Its only fea-
ture is a small hill, with boars, rams, pigs and cows
living there in peace. Upon closer inspection, one
would see they are domesticated, their master Lodin
living with them. From his solitary retreat, he watches
over his island, ready to immediately strike down any
unwanted trespasser from the back of his boar.
Jarnvidhr, the iron forest
In Jotunheimr there are great forests and sporadic
spots of vegetation. To the east, however, beyond the
taiga, there is a thick and deep forest, where giant trees
crowd the earth like corpses in a mass grave. They have
neither leaves nor life, as their trunks are not made of
wood, but black iron.
If Jotunheimr is a dangerous world, then entering
the Jarnvidhr is a death sentence. The incessant howl-
ing of wolves follows every step among the darkened
trunks, often fading into hungry laughter and endless
whispers. There live only monsters and nightmares,
incessantly clawing at the gates of night. The wolfkin
here is cared for in wait for the end of times. There, the
Trickster gave birth to the great horrors that will bring
Ragnarok about; this, indeed, is the home of Angrboda.
Journey to Ragnarok
258
Okòlnir
Beer hall dedicated to Ymir, a dilapidated and tall
building, a cold and sad place. There, the dour and
livid toasts of the Jötnar celebrate the memory of the
first Giant, who need relief like any other creature;
and, like any other creature, they hunt relief through
drinking. It seems that the beer served in Okòlnir is
particularly good, although it has the aftertaste of the
direst memories. The Jötnar are not famed for being
cheerful people, but beer makes them even more
aggressive. It is not wise to wander around Okòlnir,
although nobody is forbidden entrance as long as they
are aware they do so at their own peril.
Celebrations are important for the frost giants and
they would hardly tolerate a violent or disrespectful
intrusion. Should a Jötnar think the characters are
not remembering the great Yimir in the proper way,
they would attack them to rip their arms off, without
thinking about the consequences of such act.
Utgardr
Only by climbing the mountains at the center of the
world, one would reach the palace of Utgardaloki, a
massive edifice built in the shadow of the tallest peak
of Jotunheimr. Such fortress is a hundred meters wide,
with squat buildings clustering one on the other and
Utgardaloki’s own home in the middle of it. Twelve
meters tall, the same distance between each pillar of
the front, and more than thirty deep, it is completely
made of stone or ice-hardened wood.
Utgard is an impenetrable settlement, probably
why it is also the most prosperous.
The main building hosts the hall, as wide as a wheat
field and dotted with tables and benches for the Jötunn
to gather to celebrate successful raids and plot future
travels. There, the lord of the fortress, sitting on his stone
throne in the shade of the mountain, gazes and ponders.
Mount L yfja
This mountain is the most powerful and dangerous
place in the world. Here is the dwelling of its king,
Hrymr, a fierce and violent warlord. The mountain is
not different from those of Jotunheimr, as the King’s
palace is. Only when reaching the square in front of
the royal palace one senses that something extremely
deadly lives there.
As such, nobody ever enters. The King alone leaves.
When he does, it is to kill.
Risivid
Although the name hints at a forest, it is not anymore. A
layer of black dust clouds hangs around these mounds of
earth. Below the caverns opened for mining operations,
precious metals and priceless gems with magical proper-
ties can be found. It is the land of the Risi, humanoids
who do not take visitors kindly.
Hoddmímis holt
One of the most fertile places in Jotunheimr, it is a
small but thick meadow where lies Mímisbrunnr,
the Well of Knowledge, the point where the root of
Yggdrasill reaching here connects with this world.
From the point where the root dips into the water of
the Well grew an imposing tree, called Mímameiðr,
that is immune to fire and blade. Its fruits gift fertility
and help with pregnancy. On top of Mímameiðr lives
a rooster, Víðópnir.
The Nine Worlds: Jotunheimr
259
260
Journey to Ragnarok
260
Bifrost leads the adventurers to Jotunheimr, dropping
them not far from the fortress of Utgardrd, its palace
partially under the shadow of the mountain.
The Jötunn are hostile to the characters more often
than not, the inhabitants of the city attacking them
almost on sight. During any fight in the city, at the ini-
tiative counter of 20 of the third round, the frost giant
Hrugnir leaves his palace to see what is happening and
stops the the brawl with a mighty roar.
If the characters have already been defeated,
Hrugnir brings their unconscious forms inside the
palace; otherwise, he invites them in to talk with the
Lord of Urgardr.
When in the presence of the large giant who rules
this kingdom, they are allowed a chance to explain
why Midgardians have entered his domain, before he
and his warriors kill them.
Hrugnir is willing to give the following informa-
tions; omens told him that Ragnarok is coming and
heard whispers about the Champions of Odhinn and
the ship Naglfar, not yet ready and requiring a last
piece. Nobody knows what that might be, however.
If the characters reveal they are looking for the vessel,
Hrugnir is willing to help them. If they wish to bargain
with a Jötunn, the characters discover that Hrugnir is
interested in their services; should they complete a series
of simple tasks for them, he will tell them where the ship
is moored. His tasks are surprisingly simple: retrieving
some Mead of Poetry from Hnnitbjorg, as he wishes to
become a poet, bringing back the head of an Ettin, for
Utgardaloki thinks it holds magic, finding magic metal
or wood from Risivid or the blood of one of the mon-
struos presences in Jornvidhr. Completed these deeds,
the characters are told that Naglfar is in Muspellsheimr.
Having revealed one of the most important of
Jötunn secrets, Utgardaloki welcomes them as broth-
ers and invites them to a banquet held in their honour.
The feast is clearly a trap; the lord of Utgard had what
he wanted from the heroes and now must only get rid
of these inconvenient strangers.
Utgardaloki invites the characters to sit at the
imposing, giant-sized table carved from ice, show-
ing curiosity as to how such a small band of humans
was able to go so far from their realm. Hrungnir also
repeatedly challenges the heroes, trying to humiliate
them in the most disparate contests, including fighting
on the frozen table.
The feasting continues and each attempt at leav-
ing the palace finds an upset Utgardaloki, who stops
them. It will be Hymir, friend of Hrugnir, to suggest
the characters to flee during the night, when the giants
are sleeping, and ask for the help of the gods. Leaving
the castle is no easy task, as the alcohol served during
the banquet and its fumes are highly toxic, being dis-
tilled from the poisonous waters of Jotunheimr.
Each time a character drinks or spends a half hour
at the banquet, they must pass a DC 25 Constitution
saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.
When they manage to leave the palace, Bifrost
appears, taking them to Odhinn’s presence. He tells
them he found the true location of the Naglfar vessel and
asks a last sacrifice of them; to make sure the ship is on
Muspellsheimr. The Æsir cannot attack without knowing
for sure where the ship actually is and the nature of Surtr’s
realm makes it so a small band of humans might pass
unnoticed. To allow them to survive the realm of Flame,
he gifts each one of them with a Medallion of the Heart
of Muspellsheimr (see page 298) that allows them 36
hours of immunity from the eternal fire. However, it will
also make them easier to spot, granting a +10 to the passive
Perception to whoever is in their vicinity. Odhinn, then,
lets them go through the Bifrost again, that Heimdall set
to lead them to the realm of Muspellsheimr.
Once the characters leave Jotunheimr, they reach the
13th level.
261
261
The Nine Worlds: Jotunheimr
Jötunn
Huge giant, any dishonorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
21 (+5)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
10 (+0)
Armor Class 16 (varied suits of armor)
Hit Points 138 (12d12 + 50)
Speed 50 ft., swim 75 ft.
Saving Throws Str +10, Con +8, Wis +5
Skills Intimidate +3, Perception +5
Damage Immunities frost
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3.900 XP)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. A Jötunn makes two Greatsword attacks.
Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 28 (6d6 + 7) slashing damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 30/250 ft., one target.
Hit: 34 (4d12 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Alvaldi (Jötunn)
Father of Thiassi, Idi and Gang. He is considered the richest of the Jötunn,
being the king of the vast kingdom of Alvadvellir. His ultimate goal is to con-
quer the throne of Jotunheimr and is known for granting his benevolence to
a blessed few of the great many who ask for it. In fact, he invests only in those
individuals who can somehow be beneficial for his rise to power.
Angrboda, Mother of Monsters
Halfblood giantess lover of Loki and mother of Fenrir, Jörmungandr and
Hel. She is the ruler of Jarnvidhr and is known for having taught the
arcane arts to many who sought their power.
Angrboda
Huge giant, chaotic dishonorable
STR
22 (+6)
DEX
9 (-1)
CON
25 (+7)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
20 (+5)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 12 (hidden armor and padded clothes)
Hit Points 210 (15d12 + 105)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws Wis +10, Cha +7
Skills Animal Handling +10, Intimidation +7, Perception +10
Damage Immunities cold
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing
from non magical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 20
Languages Common, Druidic
Challenge 15 (13.000 XP)
Feral. Angrboda has advantage on all Animal Handling and Survival
checks and can communicate with any animal as if under the effect
of the speak with animal spell.
Keen Smell. Angrboda has advantage on smell-based Wisdom
(Perception) checks.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Angrboda fails a saving throw,
she can instead choose to pass it
Spellcaster. Angrboda is a 15th level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability
is Wisdom (saving throw DC 18, +10 to hit). She has prepared the
following spells:
Cantrips (at will): thorn whip, minor illusion, ray of frost, shillelagh,
chill touch
1st level (4 slot): mage armor, charm person, witch bolt, shield
2nd level (3 slot): mirror image, levitate, barkskin, suggestion
3rd level (3 slot): conjure animals, gaseous form, meld into stone,
lightning bolt, hypnotic pattern
4th level (3 slot): giant insect, polymorph, stoneskin, fire shield, ice storm
5th level (2 slot): dominate person, insect plague
6th level (1 slot): mass suggestion
7th level (1 slot): regenerate
8th level (1 slot): antipathy/sympathy, earthquake
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Angrboda makes two Giant Staff attacks.
Giant Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 21 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target.
Hit: 33 (4d12 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Angrboda can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Angrboda regains spent legendary actions
at the start of their turn.
Attack. Angrboda makes a Giant Staff attack.
Detect. Angrboda makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Cantrip. Angrboda casts a cantrip she knows.
262
Asvid
The best Runemaster among the Jötunn, with students from the four
corners of Jotunheimr. Stern, but benevolent, he is willing to teach to
anybody, as long as they give their best in honing their skills for when
the Twilight of the Gods, Ragnarok, will arrive. His body tattooed with
runes, spells and glyphs can be easily recognized.
Asvid
Huge giant, lawful dishonorable
STR
24 (+7)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
22 (+6)
INT
12 (+1)
WIS
24 (+7)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 19 (hidden armor and padded clothes)
Hit Points 210 (15d12 + 105)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws For +11, Cos +12, Wis +12
Skills Asatru +11, Insight +11, Perception +7
Damage Immunities cold
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from non
magical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 15 (13.000 XP)
Jötunn Master of the Futhark Circle. Asvid can magically create a runic
circle, etching it on the floor. As an action, he chooses a spot on the floor
within 60 ft., creating a circle 10 ft. in diameter. To keep it active, he must
be able to see the circle and use a bonus action every turn. When a creature
Asvid can see attacks a target within the circle, he can roll a d10 and
subtract the result to that hit roll. Enemies within the Futhark Circle lose
resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from non magical
weapon and any elemental damage resistance. Asvid is considered always
within the Futhark Circle.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Asvid fails a saving throw, they can
instead choose to pass it.
Strength of Wisdom. Asvid adds his Wisdom modifier to his AC score.
Spellcaster. Asvid is a 15th level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Wisdom
(saving throw DC 17, +9 to hit). He has prepared the following spells:
Cantrips (at will): share blood, shillelagh, thaumaturgy, chill touch
1st level (4 slot): detect magic, thunderwave, sanctuary, shield
2nd level (3 slot): hold person, blindness/deafness, zone of truth
3rd level (3 slot): magic circle, bestow curse, remove curse, haste
4th level (3 slot): compulsion, divination, ice storm
5th level (2 slot): teleportation circle, dominate person, wall of stone
6th level (1 slot): circle of death
7th level (1 slot): symbol
8th level (1 slot): control weather
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Asvid makes to Giant Staff attacks.
Giant Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 22
(3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target.
Hit: 35 (4d12 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Asvid can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only
one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of
another creature’s turn. Asvid regains spent legendary actions at the start of
their turn.
Attack. Asvid makes a Giant Staff attack.
Cantrip. Asvid casts a cantrip he knows.
Futhark Circle (2 actions). Asvid creates a Futhark Circle if he does not have
another one already active.
Bergelmir
Primordial giant, son of Thrudgelmir and Grisla. He and his wife are two
of the few hrímþursar who survived the times when Odhinn and his breth-
ren killed the giant Ymir and drowned the frost giant in his blood. Escaped
by using the trunk of a Nilfheimr tree as a rowboat, he left for Jotunheimr
and gave his best to repopulate his kin, giving birth to the Jötunn.
Bergelmir now slumbers deep within the mountains of Jotunheimr,
having slept there for so long that nobody remembers his appearance any-
more. Hrymr, the king of the Jötnar, thinks Bergelmir is going to be an
invaluable asset in the final battle with the Æsir.
Bergelmir
Huge giant, lawful dishonorable
STR
28 (+9)
DEX
8 (-1)
CON
30 (+10)
INT
8 (-1)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
8 (-1)
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 340 (20d12 + 200)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws Str +15, Con +16
Skills Survival +7
Condition Immunities frightened
Damage Immunities cold
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing
from non magical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 17 (18.000 XP)
Natural Camouflage. Bergelmir has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth)
checks to hide or camouflage in the surrounding terrain if he is in
Nilfheimr, Jotunheimr or on a snowy or mountainous terrain.
Freezing Presence. The ground within 20 ft. of Bergelmir is considered
difficult terrain, as the giant’s presence is enough to freeze it. All creatures who
end their round in that area must pass a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or
suffer one level of exhaustion and see their speed halved for 1 minute.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Bergelmir fails a saving throw, they
can instead choose to pass it.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Bergelmir makes two Ice Slam or Ice Shard attack.
Ice Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 24 (4d6 + 9) bludgeoning damage, plus 15 (3d8) cold damage.
Ice Shard. Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target.
Hit: 36 (4d6 + 9) piercing damage plus 15 (3d8) cold damage. The target,
if hit, must pass a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or their speed is
halved for 1 minute.
Icy Breath (recharge 5-6). Bergelmir exhales a frozen wave of ice in a 60
ft. cone. Each creature in that area must pass a DC 19 Constitution saving
throw or suffer 54 (12d8). If they pass, they half that damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Bergelmir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end
of another creature’s turn. Bergelmir regains spent legendary actions at the
start of their turn.
Cold Determination. Bergelmir can attempt to recharge his Icy Breath.
Ice Shard. Bergelmir makes an Ice Shard attack.
Primordial Roar. Each creature at Bergelmir’s choice that is within 120 ft. of
him and aware of his presence must pass a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or
be frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end
of each of their turn, ending the effect on a success. If they pass the saving
throw or the effect ends, they are immune to it for the next 24 hours.
263
The Nine Worlds: Jotunheimr
Fjolsvinn (Jötunn)
Jötunn leader of the ettin living in Jotunheimr. He is the protector of
Menglod and is the master of two terrible hounds. After the prophecy of the
Norns, he moves with Menglod in a beautiful golden hall on mount Lyfja.
Hengiankiapta (Jötunn)
Guardian of the catacombs below Utgardr.
Hrungnir (Jötunn)
Called the Jötunn of challenges, he is famous for having raced with
Odhinn from Jotunheimr to Asgardr on horseback, confident his steed,
Gullfaxi, would beat Sleipnir. Once he was defeated, he challenged Thor
to a holmgang, with the help of Mokkurkalfi, an animated effigy, and lost.
In that fight, he managed to wedge his weapon, a whetstone, in the skull
of the god of thunder. Hrungnir is a good friend of Tyr’s father, Hymir.
Hrymr
Ruling “king of kings” of the frost giants. He waits the coming of
Ragnarok to lead the Jötnar in battle against the Æsir and creation itself.
Strong, valorous, ruthless and hateful, he is large and powerful even for a
Jötunn, with a long, white mane of hair. He conquered the iron crown of
Jotunheimr after having drenched the realm in blood after Thjazi’s death,
to whose memory he dedicated his conquest. Not that he is particularly
sad the former king died… he just needed an excuse to sate his ambition.
He was chosen to be the captain of Naglfar, the reason why sailors usually
pay homage to him.
Hrymir
Huge giant, lawful dishonorable
STR
28 (+9)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
27 (+8)
INT
12 (+1)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 20 (battle armor and giant shield, 16 without giant shield)
Hit Points 245 (17d12 + 136)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws Str +15, Dex +6, Con +14
Skills Athletics +15, Intimidation +9, Insight +8, Perception +8, Survival +8
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Damage Immunities cold
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing
from non magical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 17 (18.000 XP)
Peerless Navigator. Hrymir cannot be lost and rolls sailing-based
Wisdom (Survival) checks with advantage.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Hrymir fails a saving throw, he can
instead choose to pass it.
ACTIONS
Leadership (recharges after any rest). Hrymir can give a special order
or a warning. For 1 minute, every time a non-hostile creature he can see
within 60 ft. of him makes an attack roll or a saving throw, they can add
1d8 to the result. To do so, they must be able to hear and understand
Hrymir. A creature can gain the benefits of only one Leadership die at the
time. This effect ends if Hrymir is incapacitated.
Multiattack. Hrymir makes three Royal Sword of Jotunheimr attacks.
Royal Sword of Jotunheimr. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10
ft., one target. Hit: 31 (4d8 + 11) slashing damage plus 11 (3d6) cold
damage. The target, if hit, must pass a DC 18 Constitution saving throw
or their speed is halved for 1 minute.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target.
Hit: 36 (4d12 + 9) bludgeoning damage.
Royal Gaze. Hrymir can attempt to intimidate an opponent with the
strength of his gaze. A creature adjacent to him must pass a DC 19
Wisdom saving throw or suffer disadvantage on melee attack rolls against
him for 1 minute. At the end of their round, the intimidated creature can
attempt another DC 19 Wisdom saving throw to end the effect. This
feature does not work on a creature who already passed their saving throw.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Hrymir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Hrymir regains spent legendary actions at
the start of their turn.
Attack. Hrymir makes a Royal Sword of Jotunheimr attack.
Move. Hrymir takes the Dash or Disengage action.
Shove. Hrymir can shove an opponent within 10 ft. of him.
Hymir (Jötunn)
Father of Tyr and owner of an enormous pot that Ægir and many others
would like to borrow for their banquets. He lives to the east of the
Elivagar river, almost at the end of the sky, and loves fishing. He is a great
friend of Hrungnir’s.
Hyrrokkin (Jötunn)
Female Jötunn, one of the shipwrights of Naglfar. To stave off the suspi-
cion of the Æsir, she tries to gain their support. For example, she helped
releasing Baldur’s funeral ship when it got stuck among rocks. She looks
like a beautiful Jötunn, her often worried features framed by red hair.
Her athletic body has particularly large hands. She rides a giant wolf,
using vipers as reins.
Lodin (Jötunn)
Jötunn of beasts. He lives on Tholley Island, where he raises porcs and
cows, Instead of living in a palace, Lodi lives among the beasts, sleeping
with them in mud and looks uncouth, hairy and emanating a nauseating
smell. He does not know what manners are and defends with unmatched
ferocity his island from those he thinks are a threat.
He is known for riding a giant boar.
264
Mimir
Close to the Well of Knowledge, where the root of Yggdrasill plunges
into its waters, lies the still sentient head of the Jötunn Mimir, the wisest
being in the universe, who drinks from the Well every morning. Here, all
those who wish to drink from the Well for a gift, must sacrifice something;
Odhinn gave an eye and Heimdallr an ear.
Mimir is much wise, but that does not make him cordial, as he already
knows the matters of the characters and the reasons why Odhinn chose
them, and yet still wants to evaluate in person their honor and valor. If
the characters prove to be enough for Mimir’s expectations and pay a great
price at the Well, the Jötunn shares with them a prophecy on the impend-
ing Ragnarok. It will fall onto them to “bring Life and Life of the Body of
Men to the place where the conquests and sacrifices of the old world made a new
one bloom. They will find the primordial horror, there, mutated and misshapen
by the hatred for having to yield to the new.”
The reference is to Mímameiðr, the tree rising from the Well of
Knowledge, where the characters must lead Lif and Lífþrasir (literally “Life”
and “Life of the Body”) during Ragnarok to preserve mankind in the new
world that will be born. The other reference is to Hrimgrimnir, the last,
deadly foe the characters will have to vanquish, the most terrible of the Jötnar
who will try to use the Well and the tree to escape the end of the world.
The Well of Knowledge
Characters can offer a sacrifice to the Well of Knowledge as a Permanent
Wound (see page 42 for more information).
A character permanently obtains the following benefits, chosen by the
GM or using the following table:
ÆTT / D6
Effect
Freyja U
1
Their Wisdom score becomes 20. If it already
was 20, then it becomes 24.
Freyja D
2
Advantage to all Perception checks
Heimdallr U
3
Advantage to all Insight checks
Heimdallr D
4
Advantage to all Asatru checks
Tyr U
5
Advantage to all Wisdom saving throws
Tyr D
6
The character cannot be surprised
Skadhi (Jötunn)
“A woman caught my attention. She was standing, leaning into a pillar as she
held a cup, occasionally sipping from it. Her visage was of a savage beauty as
she drove her frozen gaze into mine. She dressed as a man, with loose trousers
tucked into her boots and a knee-long tunic. What was most unusual about
her clothing, however, were the padded coat and her cloak, both made out of
reindeer skins. At the same time, she was wearing jewelry of reindeer bones on
her arms, her neck, dangling from her belt and woven into her hair. The hood
was adorned with the skull of a reindeer with magnificent antlers, partially
hiding her hair. Alongside her, leant on the column, were a set of skis, a bow,
a quiver and a battleaxe. Something about that woman unsettled me. The
carvings on the bone jewelry, the details sewn into her clothes and the wide
use of reindeer skins made her different, almost alien if compared to the other
guests. Her beauty, as hard as winter frost, had an archaic and primordial
vibration to it. Then, as if it was nothing, with a smile she joined a group of
bystander and I lost her.”
- Thorleif Sikiroddr “Voce di Seta”
•
Goddess of snow, winter and the mountains
•
Belligerent, detached, proud and independent
•
Expert huntress, often living like the nomads of the tundra
Thjassi (Jötunn)
The Jötunn answering to the name of Thjiassi was a violent and brutal
being, unmatched in his thirst for power. From his fortress of Thrymheimr
he sent raiders and warriors to the four corners of Jotunheimr, sometimes
even plotting attacks on Midgardr.
Being a king of the Jötnar was not enough for him, iron-fisted tyr-
anny did not slake his thirst. His obsession soon became delirious, when he
wanted to be elevated to the same height of the Æsir themselves; to become
immortal and rule over the Nine Worlds. The secret to youth and immor-
tality of the gods lies within the golden apples guarded by the beautiful
Idhunn. So Thjiassi turned into an eagle, crossed the skies of each World
until he reached Asgardr and then kidnapped Idhunn, his plan succeeding
probably with Loki’s intervention. This, at least, is what mortal legends
seem to agree upon.
Thor’s timely arrival, however, tipped the balance back in favour of the
Æsir. With a strike of the mighty Mjolnir, the god of thunder caved the
skull of the giant eagle in, making him plummet to his doom on the frozen
Jotunheimr where his shattered remains still are. Frost and ice preserved his
corpse, still used by the Jötnar to keep their hatred for the Æsir burning.
Thrym (Jötunn)
Ruler of a rich kingdom in Jotunheimr, where many ogres live. He lives in
an enormous palace, with many servants and numerous beasts, including a
large pack of guard hounds. Looking for a worthy wife, he will try to steal
Mjolnir to exchange it for Freyja’s hand.
265
The Nine Worlds: Jotunheimr
Utgardhaloki
The fortress watching over Jotunheimr would be little more than a
cold heap of rocks if it was not for Uthgardaloki, lord of the fortress of
Utgardhr. Endowed with the strength and ancient hatred of the Jötunn,
he is cunning, deceiving, subtle and treacherous, not to mention a pow-
erful spellcaster capable of casting potent curses.
The very Thor and Loki were tricked in the past by his illusions, who
passed under the name of Skrymir.
This Jötunn is particularly taller than his kind, he is rich and is not above
showing it off wearing jewelry and refined clothes. His attire would result
extravagant and vain, was it not for the light of folly burning in his bestial
eyes. Uthgardaloki is an unrelenting fighter and an equally capable sorcerer.
Utgardhaloki
Huge giant, chaotic dishonorable
STR
22 (+6)
DEX
9 (-1)
CON
24 (+7)
INT
16 (+3)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
20 (+5)
Armor Class 12 (hidden armor and padded clothes)
Hit Points 210 (15d12 + 105)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws Wis +7, Cha +9
Skills Animal Handling +7, Intimidation +9, Perception +7
Damage Immunities cold
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing
from non magical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 16(15.000 XP)
Fortress of Illusions. The targets of Utgardhaloki’s spells roll saving throws
against illusions with disadvantage if they are within the Fortress of Utgardh
with Utgardhaloki.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Utgardhaloki fails a saving throw, they
can instead choose to pass it
Spellcaster. Utgardhaloki is a 16th level spellcaster. His spellcasting
ability is Charisma (saving throw DC 17, +9 to hit). he has prepared the
following spells:
Cantrips (at will): minor illusion, dancing light, ray of frost, shocking grasp,
chill touch
1st level (4 slot): mage armor, charm person, witch bolt, shield
2nd level (3 slot): mirror image, levitate, suggestion
3rd level (3 slot): counterspell, gaseous form, lightning bolt, major image,
hypnotic pattern
4th level (3 slot): confusion, greater invisibility, polymorph, stoneskin, ice storm
5th level (2 slot): animate object, dominate person, wall of force
6th level (1 slot): mass suggestion, eyebite
7th level (1 slot): reverse gravity
8th level (1 slot): dominate monster
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Utgardhaloki makes two Giant Greatsword attacks.
Giant Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 26 (6d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target.
Hit: 33 (4d12 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Utgardhaloki can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and
only at the end of another creature’s turn. Utgardhaloki regains spent
legendary actions at the start of their turn.
Attack. Utgardhaloki makes a Giant Sword attack.
Arcane Recovery. Utgardhaloki recovers a spell slot of 1d6th level.
Cantrip. Utgardhaloki casts a cantrip he knows.
Journey to Ragnarok
266
Chapter 12
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the
Muspellsheimr setting; the descriptions of the places
and characters that the Heroes will be able to explore
and meet during their journey through the Nine Worlds
are reported, with an appendix on the statistics.
Muspellsheimr
268
General Features
268
Map
271
The Journey on Muspellsheimr
272
Encounters on Muspellsheimr
273
The Nine Worlds: Muspellsheimr
267
Journey to Ragnarok
268
Muspellsheimr
Muspellsheimr is a burning land to the south of the
Nine Worlds, the opposite of Nilfheimr, realm of eter-
nal ice. In origin, Muspellsheimr’s extremely hot winds
melted Nilfheimr’s frost, giving birth and shape to
Aurgelmir, also known as Ymir, the father of all Jötunn.
It was Muspellsheimr’s fragments, then, that generated
the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. Utterly inhospitable
to any other life form, this world is an ideal abode for
the fire giants, as it offers good secrecy, while they plot
to turn the Nine Worlds into ash under the guidance of
their King Surtr, the Destroyer of the Universe.
Fire giants defend their burning domain attacking
without mercy any intruder, their primordial hatred
against any god or mortal making conflict their only
means of expression.
General Features
Weather: Scorching hot temperatures, beyond the
capacity of any mortal to withstand. Without magical
protection from the primordial fire, living beings are
immediately set ablaze, suffering 6d6 radiant damage
each round, halved by passing a DC 25 Constitution
saving throw.
Lighting: The strong, suffused glow of lava makes
focusing hard for those not used to the primordial
flame. Fighting close to lavic areas imposes disadvan-
tage to hit for those not native of this realm.
Sounds: The dull rumbling of ever-moving lava. The
crackling preceding the bursting of lava bubbles. The
deafening roar of erupting volcanoes.
Terrain - Lava: Moving on such terrain is impossi-
ble. Apparently solid, it swallows the fool who chose to
cross it on foot. Falling in the lava deals 24d8 radiant
damage each round.
Terrain - Volcanoes: The foot of the volcanoes are
perilous places to wander; thick with obsidian stalag-
mites and lava pool, they half travel pace. Heat is only
unbearable. Characters without fire resistance must
pass a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or suffer one
level of exhaustion.
The Nine Worlds: Muspellsheimr
269
Obsidian Plateau
Floating on incandescent lava, lies an archipelago of
jagged islands and isles made of volcanic rock. Three of
these are large enough to feature volcanoes more than
a thousand meters tall.
On the second-to-largest island is a sharp and jagged
expanse of black glass, glossy and polished, as large as a
dozen wheat fields, a titanic stone plateau rising from it.
Such place is left empty, as a sign of unity for the
Muspel; when the fire giants gather their war council,
they do not like being commanded by others, so they
form the council and discuss on how to fight their enemy.
Glassisvellir
Among the lavic islands making this world is a region
of boiling, swirling lava, drowning everything in waves
of blinding, extreme heat and molten rock. This is the
sacred sea of fire and lava under the control of Gudmund,
the place all the Muspel go before leaving for war. Below
the mass of magma, volcanic craters lead to underground
chimneys, accessible only to the fire giants, that allow
them to reach both Jotunheimr and Midgardr.
Eldrmurra
To the west of this realm there are no natural borders
to contain the impetuous push of primordial fire.
From the edges of this world spill a lava river, plunging
into the sideral void and producing a sight unique in
the whole universe.
The river Eldr crosses the void between worlds,
falling from Muspellsheimr to Nidavellir, lighting and
warming up anything on its pass.
Hellblindi’s Palace
To the east, lost in lava, is an island of considerable
size. From the top of the small rocky ripples on its
surface one can behold the point where the Eldr river
leaves the mountain and dives into the cosmic void
to cross the Hvergelmir on Nilfheimr and from there
reach Helheimr.
On one of these ripples lies a palace. Although it
reminds of a mjødhall, a mead hall, it was dug out of a
solidified bubble of magma, rather than being made of
wood. There lives Hellblindi, the bravest of the Muspeli
Jötunn, sitting on his high-backed throne at the center
of the main hall, strewn with obsidian slabs perhaps to
remind guests of tables. There is a second chamber, sep-
arated from the first one by a stone ridge, where the lord
of the house rests.
Eldjötnar’s Sveit
The clusters of dwellings where the fire giants live are
very similar one to the other, sharing elements with
Midgardian trelleborgs; a mighty outer wall of solidi-
fied magma encircles a circle of incandescent lava, with
a single opening from which passes an obsidian path
leading to the volcanic well within the structure.
Many magma bubbles have been shaped as shelters,
although only incandescent rocks and lava clusters can
fall from above. In the two sections at either side of
the obsidian road usually rests a dozen of giants, ready
to swarm out to attack other Muspeli communities or
enemies sighted in the sea of lava.
The Mooring
of Naglfar (see page 273)
At the center of Muspellsheimr, lies a great island
with an imposing bay, some kind of inner, hotter
and brighter lake, that gradually fades into a stretch
of solid magma ending in mountain ridges taller than
three thousand meters.
A river of liquid rock runs back this solid expanse to
form a lavic pool, from which small rivers of solid fire
climb the feet of the mountains. Where one of them
splits, close to the lavic pool, is a Muspeli settlement
where the ship Naglfar is moored.
A cavern close by holds both the fire giants and the
necessary equipment to build the ship, moored in the
flaming river and connected to the ground by bridges
of pumice stone.
Between the cavern and the vessel is a small square,
the necessary space to operate the immense tools and
resources required for this task.
Journey to Ragnarok
270
Movement System
of Muspellsheimr zones
The perennial flame of Muspellsheimr is eternally
revolving on itself, incessantly gurgling and mixing
with incandescent or semi solid lava. To portray such
feature of the world, we thought of making the world’s
geography “dynamic”.
On the map, a few hexagonal areas have been
marked as zones in continuous movement. Each zone
is given a number from 1 to 10, moving or rotating
randomly each hour.
Each hour, the Game Master rolls the runic die and
moves the zones a number of positions equal to the
rune’s value, clockwise if the rune is upright or coun-
terclockwise if it is down.
For example: the rune die rolls Ansuz (see page 309)
upside down, equalling 4. Every zones moves 4 positions
counterclockwise. Then, the following example explains
the movement of the first zone in relation to the upside
down Ansuz rune.
In fact, such system features its own sort of internal
clock, that allows it to realign itself based on the move-
ment of the central zone, the only one with a fixed
pattern of rotation. Each hour, it rotates one position
counterclockwise. After six movements, it returns to
its original position. When that happens, the map
resets, returning to its starting configurations.
Central
Zone
Zone
10
Zone
1
Zone
2
Zone
3
Zone
4
Zone
5
Zone
6
Zone
7
Zone
8
Zone
9
Movement 1
Movement 2
Movement 3
Movement 4
Zone Numbering
Rotation around
the central zone
Starting Position
Movement 1
Movement 2
Movement 3
Movement 4
Rotation on itself
The Nine Worlds: Muspellsheimr
271
272
Journey to Ragnarok
272
Small areas of half-emerged earth from the perpetual
flow of the lava, moving incessantly. The fiery fury of
the world is immediately evident upon arrival, but the
characters are protected by the jewel (see page 298)
gifted to them by the Æsir.
The group’s search of Muspellsheimr is going to be
extenuating, because of the nature of this world and
its inhabitants.
Each time the characters wish to pass from one zone
to another, they risk being seen by a Múspellsmegir
(see page 274) patrol, ready to attack them. Should
they defeat them, the adventurers can gather a few
pieces of information.
The few reference points are Glassisvellir, the sea of
lava, Hellblindi’s palace and the obsidian plateau. No
Múspellsmegir is aware of the harbor, as it is one of the
many secrets guarded by Hellblindi (see page 275).
Reaching his palace and obtaining his favor is the true
challenge of this realm.
Once they join him at his palace on the Eldr river, the
giant asks the characters to defeat him in, holmgang, the
honorable combat with no holds barred. He is the warlord
and will not allow the secret of the place where the Naglfar
is about to be completed fall into the wrong hands.
Once they have learned where the ship is being
built, the group must go back the river of lava to the
island in the central area, reaching the lavic pool and
from there the harbor.
Once in the dockyard, the characters discover that
the place is deserted and the vessel looks abandoned.
By passing a DC 22 Wisdom (Investigation) check,
they notice signs of combat and unusual mist clouds
wafting below the rocky vaults. Entering the cavern, the
heroes find the bodies of several fire giants, confirmed as
dead by passing a DC 20 Wisdom (Medicine) check.
Another, DC 25 Wisdom (Asatru) check allows the
characters to recognize unusual frost burn marks.
Should they spend more than 10 minutes into
the cavern investigating, a Muspeli Jötunn ambush is
sprung upon them: 20 Muspellsheimr attack them
by surprise with the strength of an avalanche. After 6
rounds, an impenetrable magical darkness descends on
the battlefield, as if under the effect of the Weird spell,
preventing anybody from doing anything.
Then, laughter echoes in the darkness and temper-
ature drops violently.
Loki’s voice mocks the characters, revealing them
what they might have already glimpsed.
•
They are not Odhinn’s heroes, although the
father of the gods seems convinced of that.
•
The trickster god has been keeping an eye on
them for a long time.
•
Loki needed heroes protected by the light of
the Æsir to fall in battle.
•
The god of trickery needed the bones of brave war-
riors to finish the ship’s hull and now he has them.
Now extremely close to the breaking of balance, time
stops flowing. Light violently embraces the characters
and they have a last glimpse of many frost giant over-
whelming them.
At this stage, apparently overwhelmed by the Jötunn
onslaught, their destiny will not be decided by weapons
or magic, but the deeds the characters have marked the
saga with. It will be the honour the showed in life to set
their role during Ragnarok.
When the characters leave Muspellsheimr, they reach
the 14th level.
Honor and glory
If the characters behaved honorably, following the laws
of gods and men, a group of Valkyries descends from
the blinding light over their butchered bodies. They have
become Einherjar, heroes honorably fallen in battle. They
will enter Valhalla (see page 189), but they will not have
the time for drinking even a single mead horn as the
golden gates slam open. As Odhinn calls all the Einherjar
to fight by his side against the giants, Ragnarok has begun!
Disgrace and redemption
If the characters behaved dishonorably, not heeding
the words of the Æsir, then the light embracing them
is that of Bifrost; the right to die is not theirs.
The neck breaking run on the Rainbow Bridge leads
them to Asgrind, where they will find Odhinn waiting
for them. Looking at them as guilty children, he explains
them they have one last chance to wash away the shame
of their dishonorable deeds, by fighting alongside him
against the giants. Ragnarok has begun!
273
273
The Nine Worlds: Muspellsheimr
1 Square = 10 ft.
274
Gudmund
A colossal mass of ferocious strength and explosive evil, with a lion-like
mane of lava framing his pugnacious face and running down his back like
horse hair.
He is Gudmund, lord of the Sacred Sea of Glassisvellir, son of
Gudmund, brother to Geruthus and Hleird and father to Hofund.
Gudmund
Huge giant, chaotic dishonobrale
STR
28 (+9)
DEX
13 (+1)
CON
27 (+8)
INT
8 (-1)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
10 (+0)
Armor Class 19
Hit Points 300 (20d12 + 160)
Speed 50 ft. swim 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +15, Con +14
Skills Intimidation +5
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Damage Immunities fire
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, cold, piercing, slashing
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 17 (18.000 XP)
Son of the Volcano. Gudmund can swim in lava as if it was water and his
movement is not reduced. All fire damage he would suffer from an enemy
are converted in hit points.
Reckless. At the beginning of his turn, Gudmund can gain advantage to
the first melee weapon attack of the turn. Attacks against him, however,
gain advantage until the end of his next turn.
Thick-skinned. Gudmund adds his Constitution modifier to his AC score.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Gudmund fails a saving throw,
he can instead choose to pass it
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Gudmund makes three Slam attacks or two
Flaming Rock attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, reach 10ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (18 + 9) slashing damage plus 11 (3d6) fire damage.
Flaming Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one
target. Hit: 36 (4d12 + 9) bludgeoning damage plus 11 (3d6) fire damage.
Volcanic Eruption (recharge 5-6). Gudmund channels the volcanic
energy from underground to a point within 60 ft. of him. In that point,
erupts a cylinder 100 ft. tall and 20 ft. wide. All creatures caught in the
area must make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or suffer 80 (20d6) fire
damage on a fail. On a success, they suffer half damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Gudmund can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only
at the end of another creature’s turn. Gudmund regains spent legendary
actions at the start of their turn.
Lavic Rocks. Gudmund breathes a stream of lavic rocks. A creature he
can see within 30 ft. of him must pass a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw
or be blinded until the end of their next turn.
Recovery (2 actions). Gudmund recovers 20 hit points.
Throw. Gudmund makes a Flaming Rock attack.
Braghist (Múspellsmegir)
One of the few survivors of the war with Alsvartr. He witnessed the dec-
imation and then rebirth of the Muspeli population, keeping his fiery
temperament in the wait for Ragnarok. His fellow giants often accuse
him of being responsible for Nidhoggr awakening.
Byleist (Múspellsmegir)
Son of Laufey and Farbauti, brother of Loki and Hellblindi. He is shy,
talking only if absolutely necessary and his memory is among the strong-
est. He is called “Eternal Flame”, burning slowly and fiercely. From the
outside, he looks like the least fierce of the Muspeli Jötunn, even less than
his brother Loki. To him come for aid those who need discipline, like
mercenaries or soldiers.
Farbauti (Múspellsmegir)
Husband of Laufey, father of Loki, Hellblindi and Byleist. Because of a
prophecy of one of the Norns, he gave his son Loki to the Æsir when he
still was an infant. An expert strategist, he is the leader of the war council
of the Muspeli Jötunn.
Laufey (Múspellsmegir)
Wife of Farbauti and mother of Loki, Hellblindi and Byleist.
Sinmara (Múspellsmegir)
Wife of Surtr and warden of Laevateinn, the fiery sword destined to burn
the universe to ash.
Múspellsmegir
Huge giant, any dishonorable
STR
29 (+9)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
22 (+6)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 16 (battle armor)
Hit Points 250 (20d12 + 120)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws Str +14, Con +11, Wis +8
Skills Athletics +8, Perception +8
Damage Immunities fire
Damage Resistances cold
Senses passive Perception 18
Languages Common
Challenge 13 (10.000 XP)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Múspellsmegir makes two Greatsword attacks.
Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 32 (5d8 + 9) slashing damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target.
Hit: 36 (4d12 + 9) bludgeoning damage.
275
The Nine Worlds: Muspellsheimr
Hellblindi
Sitting on his throne, a glowing-eyed fire giant watches over the Eldr river,
his skin tough and his face marked by a scar. He is considered the bravest of
the Muspeli Jötunn, completely fearless and extremely difficult to contain.
He is the son of Farbauti and Laufey, brother to Loki and Bylejst and the
Muspeli Jötunn of war and protection.
His duty is protecting Muspellsheimr from the threat of cosmic ser-
pents, like Nidhoggr.
Helblindi
Huge giant, lawful dishonorable
STR
30 (+10)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
28 (+9)
INT
12 (+1)
WIS
20 (+5)
CHA
16 (+3)
Armor Class 21 (plate armor and giant shield, 17 without giant shield)
Hit Points 352 (22d12 + 198)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws Str +16, Con +15, Wis +10
Skills Asatru +10, Intimidation +9, Perception +10
Condition Immunities charmed, frigthened
Damage Immunities fire
Damage Resistances cold
Senses Truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 18
Languages Common
Challenge 19 (22.000 XP)
Honor Scar. Helblindi rolls any Charisma (Intimidation) with
advantage.
Might of the Giants. Helblindi rolls with advantage any Strength checks
to grapple or shove an opponent within melee range. Helblindi cannot be
moved or knocked prone.
Flaming Presence. All creature ending their round within 20 ft. of
Helblindi must pass a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or suffer
11(3d6) fire damage and a level of exhaustion for the intense heat. If they
pass the save, they suffer half that damage and no level of exhaustion.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Helblindi fails a saving throw, they can
instead choose to pass it.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Helblindi makes three Muspeli Sword attacks, or two
Flaming Rock attacks.
Muspeli Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 29 (4d6 + 13) slashing damage or 32 (4d8 +13) if wielded with both
hands, plus 11 (3d6) fire damage plus 14 (3d8) radiant damage.
Flaming Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, range 60/240 ft. one
target. Hit: 37 (4d12 + 10) bludgeoning damage plus 11 (3d6) fire damage.
Burning Blaze (recharge 5-6). A powerful aura of burning energy
manifests around Helblindi with a 20 ft. radius centered on him. All
creatures caught in the area must pass a DC 18 Constitution saving
throw or suffer 75 (15d8) fire damage and a level of exhaustion. If they
pass, they suffer half that damage and no exhaustion.
REACTIONS
Parry. Hellblindi adds 4 to his AC against a melee attack that would hit
him. To do so, he must be able to see his attacker and be wielding a shield.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Helblindi can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end
of another creature’s turn. Helblindi regains spent legendary actions at the
start of their turn.
Move. Helblindi takes the Disengare or Dash action.
Shove. Helblindi can shove a target within 10 ft. of him.
Throw. Helblindi makes a Flaming Rock attack.
Surtr
The most famous of the Muspeli Jötunn, considered the protector of the
lands and people of Muspellsheimr. He is one of the rare survivors of
the war against Alsvartr and one of the main responsibles for trapping
Nidhoggr. His fate is to burn down the universe when the time has come.
Yggdrasill shakes,
and shiver on high
The ancient limbs,
and the giant is loose;
To the head of Mim
does Othin give heed,
But the kinsman of Surt
shall slay him soon.
Völuspá (47)
Poetic Edda
O’er the sea from the north
there sails a ship
With the people of Hel,
at the helm stands Loki;
After the wolf
do wild men follow,
And with them the brother
of Byleist goes.
Surt fares from the south
with the scourge of branches,
The sun of the battle-gods
shone from his sword;
The crags are sundered,
the giant-women sink,
The dead throng Hel-way,
and heaven is cloven.
Völuspá (51, 52)
Poetic Edda
Journey to Ragnarok
276
Chapter 13
This section of the Journey is dedicated to the advent of
the Ragnarok; a Prologue and an Epilogue are reported,
the description of the final Battle to which the char-
acters can participate, the divine missions entrusted to
him by the Gods, with an appendix concerning the sta-
tistics of the Key Players of Ragnarok.
Prologue
278
Ragnarok
280
Epilogue
284
Key Players of Ragnarok
286
Ragnarok
277
Journey to Ragnarok
278
by Mila Fois
Yggdrasill’s branches rustle, shaken by an icy
wind, as if they wanted to tell you something.
You stop, to understand what the great tree
wants to tell you and at that moment you clearly
hear the noise of broken chains, followed
by a fierce growl. This can mean only one thing;
Fenrir, the cruel son of Loki, finally broke free
of its ancient prison and is ready to paint the
seats of the gods red with the blood of its victims.
As the wolf howls, the stars are extinguished,
plunging the Nine Worlds into the darkness.
Far away, at the borders of the emerged lands,
the ocean stirs, its waves rippling, as the colossal
snake Jörmungandr twists waiting to crush those
same Gods who confined him in the abyss.
In the all-consuming darkness, three roosters
sing their song, announcing the beginning
of the last day. Their first call sounds clear,
waking the slumbering warriors; the Æsir call it
Gullinkambi and its fate is to announce
the coming of the great battle.
A second rooster, Fjalar, sings in the faraway
lands of the giants, announcing the moment
to take up arms against the hated Asgardian
gods has come. You can almost sense in the air
the thrill of the Jötnar as they sharpen their
enormous weapons, singing songs of hatred.
Eventually, you hear the song of the blood red
plumed rooster, faint for the distance, singing
from the dark halls of Hel. The army of the dead,
aboard the ship Naglfar built with the nails
of fallen warriors to bring ruin everywhere,
is ready to sail. Garmr, the black guardian
of the infernal gates, growls and drools,
shattering the bonds that held it at Helheimr’s
gates. Now that misty realm appears empty,
while the undead prepare to flood the world.
Elves, Dwarves and Gods whisper in their
palaces, worried and wondering what
is happening, when the sound of a mighty horn
drowns everything else. It is the Gjallarhorn
Heimdallr is blowing at the top of his lungs
as he is well aware that there is no more time
and every warrior must take to the field.
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279
If the characters
have just crossed Bifrost:
You just left the multicolored bridge behind you,
its glow still encircling you. In front of you lie the
massive gates of Asgrind, Asgardr’s wide entrance.
A blood chilling noise, like primordial ice breaking
or a mirror shattering, sounds behind you as
the crystalline surface of Bifrost starts cracking.
Alarmed, you start running again to Asgardr,
but are forced to stop once more as Valhalla’s gates
are opening. Odhinn, magnificent and terrible
to behold in his panoply, slams open
Valgrind’s gates and spurs the Einherjar
to charge with a bellowing warcry!
Right after, announced by the sound of weapon
scraping against shields, all the Gods, Valkyries
and the valorous dead march out of the gates
of Valhalla in tight formation, driven
by the wish to fight the enemy.
If the characters
are in Valhalla:
From the wide halls of Valhalla, you hear
the mighty call of the Gjallarhorn, reigniting your
souls with courage. Odhinn, in front of you, sits
on his massive throne from which it is said he
can see everything. Two ravens fly across the hall,
laying on his shoulders as if they wanted to make
a decision. This day, however, there is nothing
to decide, as Odhinn knows his fate and that
of the Nine Worlds better than anybody else.
Odhinn, he who is the father of all, rises in his
full magnificence, rallying his Einherjar, the best
warriors the Valkyries chose on the battlefields
for this moment, so they could be present
in the final battle. Initially, you hear only their
steps marching closer, but after a little time,
whole hosts of warriors arrive, lost in battle lust
and ready to follow their lord in the last
and most glorious of assaults flood the hall.
For countless years, men and gods have been
waiting for nothing else than this moment.
The last of Gjallarhorn’s song still sound and stir
your blood in your veins, filling you with courage
and veiling your eyes with valiant tears.
You feel ready to give your best for Odhinn,
for Asgardr, for the Nine Worlds, for your fallen companions
and for whatever good and beauty is left before
darkness and winter swallowed the world.
The much feared and waited hour has finally come.
RAGNAROK HAS COME!
Journey to Ragnarok
280
Naglfar, the Ship of the Dead helmed by the Trickster
God, eventually sets sail, beginning the Twilight of the
Gods. To announce the coming of Ragnarok, the set-
tling of final scores, is the song of Víðópnir, the rooster
at the top of Yggdrasill, heard in all the Nine Worlds.
At that moment, every bond is shattered, every
chain broken as the Worldtree shakes and draws its
roots back, setting the terrifying Níðhöggr free to fly
in the sky. The Worlds, now without any barrier to sep-
arate them, crash one on the other in a whirlwind of
earthquakes, floods and calamities without precedent.
The chains restraining Fenrir the Wolf break,
Miðgarðsormr rises at the borders of Midgardr, making
its Sea overflow. The legions of the Múspellsmegir
march on Bifrost, destroying it with their thunderous
steps and the goddess Hel takes the lead of the army of
the dead, now free to leave Helheimr. It is now, then,
that the god Heimdallr blows the Gjallarhorn through-
out the cosmos, warning Odhinn and the warriors in
Valhöll. The Allfather guides the Æsir and Vanir leading
the armies of Asgardr, with the characters right behind
them, a rightful honor for the Champions of Odhinn.
As Valhöll’s 540 doors open, the gathered hosts of
Einherjar and Valkyrjur flood the Vígríðr, the plain
where the final battle will be fought.
The Dvergar of Nidavellir and the luminous elves
of Ljosalfheimr united against the giant beasts of
the end of the world, the dead led by Hel, the dark
elves of Svartalfheimr, the cold Jötnar, the flaming
Múspellsmegir, they all gather in Vígríðr, ready for the
last battle.
When the gathered armies see each other, two
howls roil across the battlefield from afar.
All of a sudden, the Sun and Moon vanish from
the sky, soon followed by the stars turning off, plung-
ing the whole plain into the darkness. Only the gleam
of the gods, the burning hair and weapons of the
Múspellsmegir and any artificial light sources break the
thickest darkness, the last glimmer in the sky coming
off a fireball crashing somewhere in the distance.
Odhinn recognizes the howls, that can only belong
to the evil blood of Fenrir, the Drooling Wolf he is
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281
going to fight by himself. They Wolfkind are Hati e
Sköll, the terrible twins who chase the flying chariots
of Sól, with the Sun, and her brother Máni, who bears
the Moon, to swallow them and sate their hunger. The
falling light was Svalinn, Sól’s shield, plummeting to
the ground, the only object in the whole of creation
capable of defending her from the heat of her Star.
Svalinn is critical in making sure the new world
born out of the ashes of Ragnarok will be capable of
hosting life; the shield must be recovered, and the
monster who ate the stars must be killed to set them
free again.
To the heroes, now undisputed Champions of the
Allfather, falls the task of making sure the new cosmos
will be born after Ragnarok, as the gods shall face their
destiny in the Battle of Vígríðr.
Odhinn, who knows everything, explains to the
heroes that they must first take down the Children of
Fenrir, recover Svalinn and then save a young couple of
humans, called Líf and Lífþrasir to give them the shield.
To make sure they survive the end of times, they must
be led East, where once was Jotunheimr, at the center
of Hoddmímis Holt, to the well of Mímisbrunnr.
There, they must hide within the Mímameiðr.
Odhinn tells the players that others will find the
young couple for them. If the characters have already
visited the Well of Knowledge and received the proph-
ecy from Mimir, they already know where to go and
what perils they have to face. Otherwise, it will be
Odhinn himself to point them to the place. He will
not, however, warn them of the perils, as his sight and
knowledge stop right before the beginning of the end.
To allow the Champions to get to their destination as
soon as possible, they are gifted a dwarven-made char-
iot, pulled by a divine beast of their choice:
•
Tanngnjóstr and Tanngrisnir, Thor’s Goats
•
Gullinbursti, the Golden Boar of Freyr
•
Sleipnir, Odhinn’s Steed
The Father of the Gods bids his honorable Champions
farewell, wishing them an end worthy of the sagas of the
new world and then charges into the fray.
Moving across the plain of Vígríðr is no easy task. The
characters must cross the battlefield where armies fight
without respite or remorse, witnessing the great battles
of the Gods:
•
Odhinn against Fenrir, where the Allfather
succumbs, to be avenged by his son Víðarr
•
Thor against Jörmungandr, where the God
of Thunder vanquishes his foe only to die to
the serpent’s poison after walking nine steps.
•
Tyr against Garmr, who kill each other
because of Hel’s intervention
•
Heimdallr against Loki,
who kill each other
The characters can try to take part in these fights, only
to be seen off by the Gods in question to complete
their tasks and not interfere with matters of honor.
The characters should not be able to influence the
result chosen by Fate of any of these major duels, but
of course the last word is always the Game Master’s.
Between the Heroes and their destination are the
hosts of the Aptrgangar, the Draugr, the Hrímþursar, the
Svartalfar, the Jötnar (including the King of Jötunheimr
and the Naglfar’s captain, Hrymir, the terrifying
Primordial Hrímþursar Bergelmir and Angrboda if not
defeated earlier) and the Múspellsmegir. Potentially,
they could face Hel herself leading the army of the dead.
The Game Master is free to choose which encoun-
ters, challenges and dangers to throw at the players as
they carry out their mission.
Journey to Ragnarok
282
Recovering Svalinn, Sól’s Shield
The shield is visible from a distance as a burning brand
in the darkness of night.
Once in proximity of the glimmer, players find it
in the center of a wide crater, crashed to the ground
like a meteor.
If the characters have no light source of their own
and are able to see in the dark, they can attempt a DC
15 Wisdom (Perception) to spot the two enormous
Wolves, one white and the other black, catching their
breath not far away from the crater.
If the characters carry light sources of their own
or make their presence conspicuous, the two Wolves
notice their arrival and are ready to pounce on them
once the group reaches the crater. Skoll and Hati (see
page 288) fight to the death in either case and, when
they fall, the stars return to their place in the sky.
When the characters recover the Svalinn shield,
they reach the 15th level.
Saving L íf and L ífþrasirt
Once Svalinn has been recovered, the characters are
joined by the goddess Freyja, accompanied by a couple
of Midgardian humans, Líf and Lífþrasir. The heroes
must escort them to the place previously known as
Hoddmímis Holt, a meadow which only living tree is
the indestructible Mímameiðr, destined to be the next
Worldtree. Among its roots, there is a cavity where the
two Humans can hide and survive the end of the world.
The most terrifying of the Jötnar, Hrimgrimnir (see
page 292), however, terrorizes the area. To survive, the
six-headed frost giant sacrificed many of his brethren
to the Well of Knowledge, Mímisbrunnr, to discover
that the only safe hiding spot to endure the end of the
world is the tree born of the root of Yggdrasill that
feeds off the Well.
Hrimgrimnir is crazed with rage and keeps killing
any life form he meets, to throw its corpse into the Well
in the hope of obtaining more knowledge as the nook
Sköll and Hati - © Milivoj Ćeran
Sköll and Hati - © Milivoj Ćeran
Ragnarok
283
in Mímameiðr is too small for him to fit and he cannot
destroy the tree. He would also like to strangle Víðópnir
the rooster, whose song angers him so much, but to do
so he would have to climb the tree.
If the Game Master thinks the challenge needs to be
made more interesting, the frost giant has 1d4 Jötunn
with him, Jötnar who betrayed their people like their
master and want to survive Ragnarok. They help him
gather sacrifices for the Well, even if they have not
received any of its gifts and are not aware of their fate.
If the players have already visited the Well of
Knowledge and listened to Mimir’s prophecy, then they
know the scope of the Jötunn’s threat and the position
of the nook and can try to hide Líf and Lífþrasir before
facing Hrimgrimnir and any of his lackeys. Should they
reach the tree only on Odhinn’s directions, they have
no idea of what awaits them and the Jötunn might even
attempt to ambush them.
To find the nook where Líf and Lífþrasir must hide,
they must pass a DC 25 Intelligence (Investigation)
check or reach the top of the tree and convince
the rooster, Víðópnir, through a DC 20 Charisma
(Persuasion) check, to tell them.
Should the characters be able to defeat Hrimgrimnir
and save Líf and Lífþrasir within Mímameiðr after
giving them Svalinn, they can return to the great battle
just in time to see the gargantuan Surtur, the largest and
greatest of the Múspellsmegir, kill an unarmed Freyr
and then incinerate the universe itself with a swing of its
titanic sword of pure flame. Everything, including the
characters, will fade in the purest of light. The heroes
now know there are eternal glory and endless honor in
the world that will be born out of the ashes of the one
that just died, where there will still be life, thanks to
their extraordinary and heroic deeds.
Journey to Ragnarok
284
by Mila Fois
The seer was right: the day of the twilight
of the gods has come!
Heimdallr’s horn still echoes, like a funeral wail,
on the plateau soaked in the blood of the fallen
gods. Even its final notes, however, fade alongside
the Sun, Moon and the star, plunging the world in
eternal darkness.
Yggdrasill’s branches, shaking in rage during the
last battle, stop rustling almost as if the Worldtree
was waiting. Its trunk is scarred, the seven-colored
bridge shattered. The Nine Worlds have seen chaos
from which there is no coming back.
With a deafening roar, the dark sky shatters and
falls onto the earth. The gods, who once feasted in
the great halls, now lie dead and cold in the dust.
In the end, Surtr prevailed, the seething fire giant
coming from the south, sword tight in his fist, the
Sun of Fallen Gods. His step shook the earth, his
blows clove Bifrost into pieces, but the giant is not
satisfied yet.
His burning gaze lays on the world for the last time,
before his legendary blade descends on his prey.
Flames consume everything and, where men built
their houses the day they made their pact with
the gods, there is only fire. Each forest and dwell-
ing, everything is devoured by fire. Each of the
Nine Worlds is engulfed in flame and men, elves,
dwarves, giants and gods burn together, in the
grand day of the final battle.
Torn by the fangs of Fenrir, Odhinn’s body is
claimed by the fire, like Thor’s, who took only nine
steps after vanquishing the serpent, brought low by
the creature’s lethal poison. So fearless Freyr goes
down, he who killed the evil giants when armed
only of a deer antler after he lost his sword, yet
unable to stop Surtur.
Among the crackling flames, Loki’s laughter seems
to echo for a moment. His body lies still alongside
Heimdallr’s, after they killed each other. In all that
devastation, however, the dancing flames appear not
to have forgotten their lord; after all, he helmed the
ship that came from the east, carrying the red sparks
of Muspellsheimr to burn everything to ashes.
Black smoke rises to the sky, carrying flaming glares,
as the now exhausted earth slowly tries to hide its
face in the dark waves of the sea. Laden with the
victims of the last, final battle, the earth looks for
relief in the embrace of the primeval ocean.
The seer, however, knew this would not be the end.
Odhinn himself asked her for a prophecy and she
gazed beyond the secret plots woven by the Norns,
saying a new world, of light, songs and joy, would
rise from the ash of the previous one.
And lo! Ground emerges from the waters, young
again, green and lush, rich in forests, lakes and
rivers! Among the peaks flies an eagle, taking in
the marvels of the new creation. It dives down,
beyond the waterfalls, to clasp a salmon in its claws.
Nature renewed, animals and plants return to pop-
ulate an even more green world.
A new sun shines on all creation, the daughter of
Alfrodull, born before the wolf broke free from its
chains. The golden maiden walks the same path as her
mother, bathing everything in her benevolent light.
The world has been indeed renewed, this new
virgin earth shining in its primordial beauty.
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285
If the players saved
L if and L ifthrasir:
Lif and Lifthrasir found shelter among
the branches of the great tree, that protected
them from the terrible flames of Surtur.
There they hid, as everything around them fell
in ruin, feeding on Yggdrasill’s sweet dew.
They are the last ones and from them, mankind
will be born anew; as the gods shaped men
from the trunk of the World tree and once
again a tree will give birth to a new life.
If the players
found Svalinn:
The great, shining shield returns to its right-
ful place in front of the sun to protect the new
world from its scorching rays. The wise folk of
the past age knew that without Svalinn the
mountains would melt like butter, the waters
evaporating in a heartbeat. Now that the earth
has a mighty and calm warden to protect its
new cycle, however, this will not happen.
Ancient gods fell, but new ones have risen. Balder,
luminous as the sun at dawn, shall guide his
blind brother Hodur alongside Vidar and Valir,
of Odhinn’s kin, Modi and Magni, mighty heirs
of Thor, to the palace of Idavollr where the world
was created in times long gone.
There, in the halls of their fathers, the gods will
discuss of the last events, playing with golden
chessboards in the grass, abandoned for centuries,
and will remember the use of ancient symbols
with which to pronounce the names of the runes
and remember their great power.
The earth will grant bountiful harvests, winter now
a mere memory, and fields will blossom even when
not tended to. Now is the time of joy and light: in
Glimlé, the home of the just, the fortress covered
in gold, are welcome those who fought with honor
and, among songs, toasts and tales told around the
hearth, they will live forever without suffering, the
memories of their deeds in their hearts.
You too, intrepid heroes, are welcomed in these
gleaming halls, sitting at the side of the gods and
the fallen companions without knowing any pain
or sadness.
Each of you knows they have been part of the
Ragnarok, of the grand final battle. Each swing
of your weapons, each prayer to the Gods, each
individual deed was necessary for this world to
be renewed. After the most grueling of fights, it is
time to feast, singing the song of those who have
seen the end and the new beginning, the ancient
song that has always been a hero’s companion.
Now, you only have to raise horns filled with
mead and toast to a new world, filled with the
light of the new gods!
Skål!
286
Fenrir
Also known as Hrodvitnir, the wolf Fenrir is the result of the union
between Loki and the giantess Angrboda. He grew immensely, both in size
and power, in the forest of Járnviðr until the day he moved to Asgardr to
meet his father.
The Æsir were so frightened of his presence that, as soon as Loki was
not present anymore, they deceptively trapped him in the island of Lyngvi.
He was asked to test the resistance of Gleipnir, a dwarven chain
thought to be indestructible, with the promise of being freed just after. Tyr
put his hand in the wolf’s maw, sacrificing it as a guarantee for the ruse.
The Æsir, then, thrust a blade into the now chained wolf’s jaw, to
punish him with eternal torment. Since then, Fenrir seethes in hatred and
resentment for the Gods, wishing to once again run free once Ragnarok
breaks his chains.
Fenrir
Gargantuan beast, chaotic dishonorable
STR
30 (+10)
DEX
26 (+8)
CON
28 (+9)
INT
18 (+4)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 24 (natural)
Hit Points 580 (34d12 + 340)
Speed 120ft.
Saving Throws Str +18, Con +16
Skills Perception +16
Damage Immunities acid, fire, frost, necrotic, veleno; bludgeoning,
piercing or slashing from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing e slashing
Senses passive Perception 26, darkvision 120 ft.
Challenge 26 (90.000 XP)
Magical Immunity. Fenrir is immune to spells and other magical effects.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Fenrir fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Endless Hunger. Fenrir’s insatiable hunger makes him continuously
drool. Ground within 20 ft. of him is counted as difficult terrain because
of his drool’s extreme viscosity.
Divine Descendance. Fenrir’s attacks are magical.
Keen Sight and Smell. Fenrir has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on sight and smell.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Fenrir can use his Frightful Presence. Then, he makes
four attacks: one Slam attack, two Clar attacks and one Bite attack.
Instead of making the Bite attack, he can attempt to Swallow.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 45
(6d10 + 10) slashing damage plus 27 (8d6) force damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target.
Hit: 55 (10d8 + 10) piercing damage plus 27 (8d6) force damage. If the
target is a creature, it must pass a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be
grappled and restrained. Fenrir cannot Bite another target.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 45
(5d12 + 10) slashing damage plus 27 (8d6) force damage. If the target is a
creature, it must pass a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Swallow. Fenrir makes a Bite attack against a Large or smaller creature he
is grappling. On a hit, the target takes damage as usual, is swallowed and
the grappling ends. A swallowed creature is blinded, restrained, has total
cover from attacks and effects originated outside of Fenrir and takes 42
(12d6) necrotic damage at the beginning of Fenrir’s turns. If Fenrir suffers
70 or more points of damage from a creature he swallowed, he must pass
a DC 20 Constitution saving throw at the end of his turn or regurgitate
all the creatures he swallowed. They land prone in a space within 30 ft.
of Fenrir. If he dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained and can
leave his body with 50 ft. of movement, ending up prone.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of Fenrir’s choice that is within 120 ft.
of it and aware of it must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or
become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw
at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if Fenrir is within their
line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving
throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to
Fenrir’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Mighty Howl (Recharge 5-6). Fenrir roars in rage, unleashing the
elements around him in a powerful tornado. Each creature in a 120
ft. cone must pass a DC 21 Strength saving throw. On a fail, they
are knocked prone within a distance of 30 ft. suffering 27 (8d6) force
damage and 80 (12d12) thunder damage. On a success, they are not
moved and suffer half the thunder damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Fenrir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Fenrir regains spent legendary actions at
the start of their turn.
Detect. Fenrir makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Disgusting Drool. Fenrir roars at a creature he can see within 60 ft. of him,
covering it in his drool. That creature must pass a DC 21 Dexterity saving
throw or suffer disadvantage on all rolls until the end of its next turn.
Claw. Fenrir makes a Claw attack.
287
Ragnarok
288
Sköll and Hati
Skoll and Hati belong to the breed of giant wolves of the Jarnvid forest.
Their size is colossal and they are capable of flying.
They have been tasked by the Jötunn with following respectively Sól
and Máni, the Sun and the Moon, hijack by the Æsir.
Sköll
Huge beast, chaotic dishonorable
STR
25 (+7)
DEX
26 (+8)
CON
22 (+6)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 18 (natural)
Hit Points 204 (16d12 + 96)
Speed 60 ft.
Saving Throws For. +12, Dex +13,
Skills Perception +6
Damage Immunities fire, bludgeoning, piercing or slashing from non
magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed,
poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing e slashing
Senses passive Perception 16, darkvision 120 ft.
Challenge 15 (13.000 XP)
Magic Resistance. Sköll rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Sköll fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Divine Descendance. Sköll‘s attacks are magical.
Pack Tactics. Sköll has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at
least one of Sköll’s allies is within 10 ft. of the creature and the ally isn’t
incapacitated.
Keen Sight and Smell. Sköll has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on sight and smell.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Sköll makes three attacks; two Claw attacks and one Bite
attack. It can Swallows instead of using the Bite attack.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 19 (2d10 + 7) slashing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 30 (4d8 + 10) piercing damage damage plus 16 (4d6) fire damage. If
the target is a creature, it must pass a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be
grappled and restrained. Hati cannot Bite another target.
Swallow. Sköll makes a Bite attack against a Large or smaller creature
he is grappling. On a hit, the target takes damage as usual, is swallowed
and the grappling ends. A swallowed creature is blinded, restrained, has
total cover from attacks and effects originated outside of Sköll and takes
30 (8d6) fire damage at the beginning of its turns. If Sköll suffers 50 or
more points of damage from a creature it swallowed, it must pass a DC
20 Constitution saving throw at the end of his turn or regurgitate all the
creatures he swallowed. They land prone in a space within 30 ft. of Sköll.
If it dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained and can leave its
body with 50 ft. of movement, ending up prone.
Cone of Fire (Recharge 5-6). Sköll roars and a fiery, 60 ft. cone of fire
and flame comes out of its jaws. Any creature caught in the area must
pass a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or suffer 66 (12d10) fire damage
on a fail or half that on a success.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Sköll can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Sköll regains spent legendary actions at the
start of their turn.
Detect. Sköll makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Claw. Sköll makes a Claw attack.
Explosive Flare. Sköll spits an explosive sphere at a creature he can see
within 50 ft. of it. That creature must pass a DC 16 Dexterity saving
throw or suffer 11 (2d10) fire damage and be knocked prone 10 ft. away.
On a success, damage is halved the creature is not blown away.
Sköll and Hati - © Milivoj Ćeran
289
Ragnarok
Hati
Huge beast, chaotic dishonorable
STR
25 (+7)
DEX
22 (+6)
CON
26 (+8)
INT
11 (+0)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 16 (natural)
Hit Points 234 (16d12 + 128)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws For +12, Dex +13
Skills Perception +6
Damage Immunities freddo; bludgeoning, piercing or slashing
from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing e slashing
Senses passive Perception 16, darkvision 120 ft.
Challenge 15 (13.000 XP)
Magic Resistance. Hati rolls saving throws against spells and magical
effects with advantage.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Hati fails a saving throw, it can
choose to succeed instead.
Divine Descendance. Hati’s attacks are magical.
Keen Sight and Smell. Hati has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on sight and smell.
Pack Tactics. Hati has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at
least one of Hati’s allies is within 10 ft. of the creature and the ally isn’t
incapacitated.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Hati makes three attacks; two Claw attacks and one Bite
attack. It can Swallows instead of using the Bite attack.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, range 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 19 (2d10 + 7) slashing damage slashing.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, range 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 30 (4d8 + 10) piercing damage plus 16 (4d6) frost damage.
If the target is a creature, it must pass a DC 18 Strength saving throw or
be grappled and restrained. Hati cannot Bite another target.
Swallow. Hati makes a Bite attack against a Large or smaller creature he
is grappling. On a hit, the target takes damage as usual, is swallowed and
the grappling ends. A swallowed creature is blinded, restrained,
has total cover from attacks and effects originated outside of Hati and
takes 30 (8d6) frost damage at the beginning of its turns. If Hati suffers
50 or more points of damage from a creature it swallowed, it must pass a
DC 20 Constitution saving throw at the end of his turn or regurgitate all
the creatures he swallowed. They land prone in a space within 30 ft.
of Hati. If it dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained and can
leave its body with 50 ft. of movement, ending up prone.
Cone of Cold (Recharge 5-6). Hati roars and a frozen, 60 ft. cone of
cold and frost comes out of its jaws. Any creature caught in the area must
pass a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or suffer 66 (12d10) frost damage
on a fail or half that on a success.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Hati can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the
end of another creature’s turn. Hati regains spent legendary actions at the
start of their turn.
Detect. Hati makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Claw. Hati makes a Claw attack.
Freezing Drool. Hati spits a stream of drool at a creature he can see
within 50 ft. of it. That creature must pass a DC 16 Dexterity saving
throw or suffer 11 (2d10) cold damage and have their Speed reduced to
0 until the end of the next round. On a success, damage is halved and
Speed is not reduced.
Sköll and Hati - © Milivoj Ćeran
290
291
Ragnarok
Jörmungandr - © Milivoj Ćeran
292
Hrimgrimnir
Considered the “boogey man” of Jotunheimr, he is the most terrifying of all
the Jötunn. As old as time itself and born out of a foot of Ymir, he has six
heads and is known to revel in any kind of vice, violence and in terrorizing
the Jötunn population. He draws his power from cold and darkness and
finds amusing the suffering of others.
He is worshiped on Midgardr by sociopaths, the crazy and the murderous.
Hrimgrimnir
Huge giant, chaotic dishonorable
STR
30 (+10)
DEX
9 (-1)
CON
26 (+8)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
20 (+5)
CHA
14 (+2)
Armor Class 15 (varied suits of armor)
Hit Points 280 (20d12 + 160)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws Str +16, Con+14, Wis +7, Cha +7
Skills Intimidate +13, Perception +13
Damage Immunities frost, bludgeoning, piercing o slashing from non
magical weapons
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 23
Languages Common
Challenge 19 (22.000 XP)
Multiple Heads. Hrimgrimnir rolls Wisdom (Perception) and all saving
throws against the blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned and
unconscious conditions.
Regeneration. Hrimgrimnir heals 20 hit points at the beginning of his
turn. If Hrimgrimnir suffers acid or fire damage, this trait does not work
at the beginning of his next turn. Hrimgrimnir dies only if he starts his
turn at 0 hit points and cannot regenerate.
Sadistic Frenzy (recharges after any rest or after killing an enemy).
If he wounded an enemy, as a bonus action Hrimgrimnir can enter a state
of battle frenzy for 1 minute or until he is incapacitated. During such
state, he gains the following:
•
Advantage to Strength checks and saving throws
•
+4 bonus to damage
•
Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Hrimgrimnir makes two Greataxe attacks and one Maul attack.
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 37 (4d12 + 10) slashing damage.
Maul. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 34 (6d6 + 10) bludgeoning damage. The target must pass a DC 20
Strength saving throw or be knocked prone within 10 ft. of Hrimgrimnir
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range 30/250 ft., one target.
Hit: 37 (4d12 + 10) bludgeoning damage.
Wave of Frost (recharge 5-6). Hrimgrimnir’s mouth unleash a cold wind,
forming a 30 ft. radius sphere around him. All creatures caught must pass a
DC 18 Constitution saving throw or suffer 60 (12d8) points of frost damage
and have their Speed halved until the end of their next round. On a success,
damage is halved and Speed is not reduced.
Darkness. Hrimgrimnir vomits pure darkness from his mouths. It works like
the Darkness spell, but centered on Hrimgrimnir and with 60 ft. of radius.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Hrimgrimnir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and
only at the end of another creature’s turn. Hrimgrimnir regains spent
legendary actions at the start of their turn.
Detect. Hrimgrimnir makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Maul. Hrimgrimnir makes a Maul attack.
Terrifying Growl (2 actions). Hrimgrimnir’s heads howl. Each creature
within 60 ft. of it that can hear it must pass a DC 20 Wisdom saving
throw or be frightened until the end of their next round.
293
Ragnarok
Jörmungandr
Jörmungandr (“Demon of cosmic power”), also known as Miðgarðsormr
(“Midgardr’s Serpent”), is an enormous serpent living in the depths of the
sea of Midgardr. He is so long that he can coil around the whole World,
biting his own tail.
He was generated by Loki and Angrboða and grew in Jötunheimr
alongside his monstrous brethren until the Gods did not discover his exist-
ence. Afraid of the prophecies about the progeny of Loki, Odhinn chose to
throw the snake in the sea. Only Thor could complete such a monumental
task, becoming the sworn enemy of Jörmungandr.
In the abyss, Miðgarðsormr grew unchecked, waiting for the moment
of his revenge.
Jörmungandr
Gargantuan Dragon, chaotic dishonorable
STR
30 (+10)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
30 (+10)
INT
7 (-2)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
11 (+0)
Armor Class 24 (natural)
Hit Points 580 (34d12 + 340)
Speed 60 ft., swim 120 ft.
Saving Throws Str +18, Con+18
Skills Perception +8
Damage Immunities acid, poison, bludgeoning, piercing or slashing
from non magical weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed,
poisoned
Senses passive Perception 18, darkvision 120 ft.
Challenge 25 (75.000 XP)
Magic Resistance. Jörmungandr rolls saving throws against spells and
magical effects with advantage.
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If Jörmungandr fails a saving throw, it
can choose to succeed instead.
Divine Descendance. Jörmungandr attacks are magical.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Jörmungandr can use Frightful Presence. Then, he makes
three attacks; two Tail attacks and a Bite Attack. Instead of the Bite
attack, he can Swallow.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 70 ft., one target. Hit: 42 (6d8
+ 10) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must pass a DC 20
Strength saving throw or be knocked prone within 30 ft. of where it was hit.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 50 ft., one target. Hit: 32
(4d12 + 10) piercing damage plus 21 (6d6) poison damage. If the target is
a creature, it must pass a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be grappled and
restrained. Jörmungandr cannot Bite another target.
Swallow. Jörmungandr makes a Bite attack against a Large or smaller creature
he is grappling. On a hit, the target takes damage as usual, is swallowed and
the grappling ends. A swallowed creature is blinded, restrained, has total
cover from attacks and effects originated outside of Jörmungandr and takes
58 (15d6) necrotic damage at the beginning of its turns. If Jörmungandr
suffers 50 or more points of damage from a creature it swallowed, it must
pass a DC 20 Constitution saving throw at the end of his turn or regurgitate
all the creatures he swallowed. They land prone in a space within 30 ft. of
Jörmungandr. If it dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained and can
leave its body with 50 ft. of movement, ending up prone.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of Jörmungandr’s choice that is within 120
ft. of it and aware of it must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or
become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the
end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if Jörmungandr is within their line
of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is
successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to Jörmungandr’s
Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Poisonous Growl (recharge 5-6). Jörmungandr exhales a stream of bile in a
120 ft. cone. Each creature caught must pass a DC 21 Constitution saving
throw or suffer 80 (20d6) poison damage and be poisoned for 1 hour. On a
pass, they only suffer half the poison damage plus 45 (10d8).
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Jörmungandr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and
only at the end of another creature’s turn. Jörmungandr regains spent
legendary actions at the start of their turn.
Detect. Jörmungandr makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Poisonous Spit. Jörmungandr spits a poisonous glob on a creature it can
see within 60 ft. That creature must pass a DC 20 Constitution saving
throw or suffer 24 (6d6) poison damage and be poisoned for 1 hour.
Tail. Jörmungandr makes a Tail attack.
Journey to Ragnarok
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Ragnarok
295
Journey to Ragnarok
296
Ægir’s Tree-engraved
Drinking Horn
Marvelous Item, Very rare
This magic horn allows you to drink at twice the
normal rate and, other than being happily tipsy, you
will not suffer the effects of any alcohol you have
imbibed. Bearing this horn, you gain advantage to
Charisma (Persuasion) checks to convince somebody
to participate in a drinking contest or in social interac-
tions with people under the effect of alcohol.
Taking a swig of beer or mead from this horn grants
you advantage to saving throws against being fright-
ened for 24 hours.
Angurvadal (Flow of Anguish)
Weapon (any sword), rare
Angurvadal is a viking sword with magic runes etched
on the blade. You gain a +1 bonus to attack and
damage rolls made with this weapon.
Sentient. Angurvadal is a Lawful Honorable intelli-
gent magic weapon with Intelligence 8, Wisdom 12
and Charisma 10. It can’t speak, but it communicates
with its wielder by lighting up the runes on the blade
if there are enemies within 60 ft.
Personality. Even without speaking, Angurvadal can
relay its feelings to the wielder. Since it has been used
only in battle, during a fight it instills a feeling of fero-
cious joy.
Conqueror’s Axe
Weapon (any axe), Very Rare (requires attunement)
You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
with this magic weapon and you deal an additional
2d6 damage against undead creatures.
As long as you wield the Axe, you gain advantage to hit
rolls for shoving and grappling, to opposed checks to
keep a creature grapplend and to Strength (Athletics)
checks to climb.
Conqueror’s Axe
Ægir’s Tree-engraved
Drinking Horn
Angurvadal
Magical Items
297
Draupnir
Marvelous Item, Legendary
Every nine nights, eight new rings appear alongside
this one, identical to their original save for this effect.
Telling which of these simple gold rings is the original
requires a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check.
Freyja’s feathered Cloak
Marvelous Item, Legendary (requires attunement)
This beautiful cloak is made of braided falcon feathers
and belongs to the goddess Freyja. When you wear this
cloak you gain +2 to saving throws and AC.
You can also use an action to transform into a falcon
or revert back to your normal form. If you die while in
falcon form, you turn into your original form, suffer-
ing all the excess damage.
Gramr
Weapon (greatsword), Legendary (requires attunement)
You have a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
with this magic weapon.
When you hit an item, a creature who wears armor or has
a natural armor bonus to AC, you deal maximum damage.
When you attack an item and roll a natural 20 to hit,
it automatically breaks.
When you attack an armored creature and roll a natu-
ral 20 to hit, its armor is automatically destroyed and
cannot be used anymore.
Draupnir
Freyja’s
feathered Cloak
Gramr
Journey to Ragnarok
298
Gungnir, Odhinn’s Spear
Weapon (spear), Artefact (requires attunement)
Gungnir is the legendary spear that the sons of the
dwarf Ivaldi forged for Odhinn. As they were led by
Dvalin the blacksmith during the process, it is a per-
fect weapon in craftsmanship and balance.
Magical Weapon. Gungnir deals 1d12 damage. You
have a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with
this magic weapon and it deals an additional 3d8 radi-
ant damage.
Divine Aura. While attuned to Gungnir, your size
increases to Large, if it is not already, and your skin
gives off a faint aura, shedding dim light within 10 ft.
of you.
Relentless. All attacks with Gungnir hit automatically
and ignore any resistance or immunity.
Divine Influence. While attuned to Gungnir, your
ability scores are 20 if not already higher.
The Power of Time. While attuned to Gungnir, you
can use an action to cast the Time Stop and Magic
Missile spells as if a 9th level spell-slot were used,
without the need for components. After casting either
spell, roll a d6: on a 1 to 5, you cannot cast again that
spell until the next dawn.
Destroying Gungnir. Being perfection made steel,
Gungnir cannot be destroyed in any way.
Járngreipr, Dwarven Gauntlets
Marvelous item, variable (requires attunement)
Designed for the greatest of warriors, these dwarven
gauntlets are masterpieces that make any weapon
wielded while wearing them even deadlier.
Depending on their rarity, they grant their wearer
additional Strength points. Their wearer cannot be
disarmed and rolls grappling and shoving checks with
advantage. The only Legendary version of this item
ever made is owned by the god Thor.
Rarity
Bonus to Strength
score
Uncommon
+1
Rare
+2
Very Rare
+3
Legendary
+4
Medallion of the Heart
of Muspellsheimr
Marvelous Item, Rare
As long as you wear this medallion, you can tolerate
any environmental heat and are not damaged by nat-
ural fire.
Gungnir
Járngreipr
Medallion of the Heart
of Muspellsheimr
Magical Items
299
Megingjörð,
Belt of Dwarven Strength
Marvelous item, variable (requires attunement)
A great many legends speak of these powerful magic
items that the Dwarven people managed to infuse
with the strength of Giants.
While a character wears this belt, their Strength score
is set to the one corresponding to the belt’s rarity. If
their Strength score is already equal or higher, then
the belt has no effect. The character rolls with advan-
tage Strength (Athletics) checks and those not to be
knocked prone or not to lose their balance.
There are four variants of this belt, each infused with
the strength of powerful giants. The only known
Legendary version is owned by the god Thor.
Rarity
Strength score
Uncommon
20
Rare
22
Very Rare
24
Legendary
26
Mjollnir’s replica: Kuttnir
Weapon (any sword), Very Rare (requires attunement)
You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
with this magic weapon. On a hit, the target suffers an
additional 1d8 lightning damage.
If you roll a 19 or 20 to hit with this weapon, an unsta-
ble bolt of lightning surges from the blade to deal an
additional 2d8 lightning damage to up to 3 enemies
within 20 ft. from you.
Mjollnir, Hammer of Thor
Weapon (warhammer), Artefact (requires attunement)
Mjollnir can be lifted or attuned to only if wearing a
Megingjörð (Belt of Dwarven Strength) the Járngreipr
(Gauntlets of Dwarven Strength).
Magical Weapon. You have a +3 bonus to attack and
damage rolls made with this magic weapon. Targets
also suffer an additional 2d6 lightning damage and 2d6
thunder damage. Mjollnir possesses the Thrown prop-
erty, with a normal range of 20 ft. and a long range of 60
ft. After an attack, it flies back into your hand.
Aura of Storms. While attuned to Mjollnir, your size
increases to Large if it was not already and your skin
constantly crackles with faint electrical discharges.
When you are hit in melee, your attacker suffers 2d6
lightning damage.
Giantsbane. If you hit a giant, you deal an additional
4d8 damage with Mjollnir.
Father of Lightning. While attuned to Mjollnir, you
can use an action to cast the Chain Lightning spell
without the need for components. After casting the
spell, roll a d6: on a 1 to 5, you cannot cast again it
until the next dawn.
Medallion of Thunder. Speaking the command word
changes Mjollnir’s size and weight into that of a small
pendant.
Infusion of Strength. While attuned to Mjollnir, your
Strength score is 30.
Destroying Mjollnir. Only decades spent in the forges
of its birth can challenge the innate toughness of this
mighty weapon.
Kuttnir
Megingjørð
Mjolnir
Journey to Ragnarok
300
Ring of Andvari, Andvaranautr
Marvelous Item, Artifact (requires attunement)
This cursed ring gifts its owner with long life, at the cost
of making them covet riches and treasures. Every crea-
ture that sees the ring must pass a DC 15 Wisdom saving
throw or be fascinated by it and badly wanting to own it.
The Treasure of its Master. Taking the ring off, throw-
ing it away, ceding it to anybody else or breaking
attunement with it can be attempted only once a day
and requires a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. The
saving throw DC increases by 1 each time its bearer
tries to remove it.
Thief. While attuned to Andvaranautr, you are profi-
cient in the Stealth skill if you previously were not and
roll Dexterity (Stealth) checks with advantage to steal
gold and precious items.
Long life and prosperity. While attuned to
Andvaranautr, you gain the following benefits.
•
You are immune to diseases
•
You cannot be charmed or frightened
•
You age and need sustenance at a tenth the normal
rate for your race
•
You gain +1 AC
Curse. Andvari’s curse afflicts the bearer of this ring.
•
If you have been wearing the ring for a month,
your body starts growing glossy scales, granting
you an additional +2 natural AC. The DC to get
rid of the ring, if not already higher, is 18 and you
become particularly attracted by gold and treasure.
•
If you have been wearing the ring for 3 months,
your teeth become fangs and your nails sharpen
into claws. You obtain a bite attack (1d4 + STR)
and a claw attack (1d6 + STR). The DC to get
rid of the ring, if not already higher, is 20. You
become increasingly greedy and reluctant to share
riches with anyone else.
•
If you have been wearing the ring for 6 months,
your organism has been changing and you now
can breathe death onto your enemies (Poison
cone, 30 ft., 12d6 poison damage. DC 16 to halve
the damage). The DC to get rid of the ring, if not
already higher, is 25. Your primary goal becomes
hoarding immense treasures in a secure place.
•
If you have been wearing the ring for a year, you must
pass a DC 30 Wisdom saving throw each day. On a
fail, the essence of the ring permanently transforms
your body into that of an Adult Green Dragon.
The DC to get rid of the ring, if not already higher, is
30. Your only, all-consuming goal now becomes pro-
tecting from any other living being the hoard you have
gathered, treating anyone as a thief and an enemy.
Destroying the ring. In spite of its mundane appear-
ance, the Ring of Andvari must be cast into the flames
of Muspellsheimr after passing a DC 30 Wisdom saving
throw. On a fail, the bearer is charmed by its magics.
Those who try to destroy Andvaranautr in any other
way suffer 4d8 psychic damage and must pass a DC 30
Wisdom saving throw or are charmed.
Ring of the Silent Hunter
Marvelous Item, Rare (requires attunement)
This ring has 3 charges and recovers 1d3 charges
every dawn.
As an action, the bearer can spend a charge to cast
the Silence spell, without the need for material
components.
The spell has a radius of 5 ft. centered on a spot within
120 ft. of the bearer of the ring or on the ring itself.
Andvaranaut
Ring of the
Silent Hunter
Magical Items
301
Skíðblaðnir, Ship of Freyr
Marvelous Item, Legendary
Among the magical ships built by the Dwarves, the
most amazing is Freyr’s. This item appears as a one
pound leather bag, large enough to fit in a pocket, that
can float. It has 3 command words, each requiring an
action to be pronounced.
The first command word calls forth a boat from the
bag, 30 ft. long, 10 wide and 5 deep. It features a helm,
two pairs of oars, an anchor and mast with a sail. The
boat can fit 5 medium-sized creatures and will always
sail with fair winds, unless there are magical effects
that prevent it.
The second command word calls forth a boat from
the bag, 120 ft. long, 40 wide and 15 deep. It features
a helm, five pairs of oars, an anchor and two sailed
masts. The boat can fit 30 large-sized creatures and
their escort and will always sail with fair winds, unless
there are magical effects that prevent it.
The third command word causes the ship to return
into the bag, if empty of people.
Skofnung
Weapon (any sword), Legendary (requires attunement)
You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
with this magic weapon.
You can use your action to say the command word,
when wielding this weapon, to summon the spirits of
12 Berserkers within 60 ft. of you.
If you say the command word but are not of honorable
alignment, then the Berserkers will attack you.
Otherwise, they remain friendly to you and your allies,
following your orders.
Svalin, Shield of the Sun
Armor (shield), Artefact (requires attunement)
Svalin is the legendary shield that protects Sol from the
sun when she rides on her chariot.
Magic Shield. In addition to the usual AC bonus for a
shield, you gain an additional +4.
Solar Protection. If you wield Svalin while attuned to
it, you gain the following benefits.
•
You are immune to fire and frost damage and feel
comfortable in any temperature.
•
You cannot be charmed or frightened
•
You cannot be blinded, deafened or stunned.
Freezing Aura. While attuned to Svalin, your size
increases to Large if it was not already and your skin
constantly shimmers with condensing frost. When you
hit in melee, you deal an additional 1d6 frost damage;
when you are hit in melee, instead, the attacker suffers
a 2d6 frost damage.
Font of Frost. While attuned to Svalin, you can use
your action to cast the Cone of Cold spell without the
need for components. After casting the spell, roll a d6:
on a 1 to 5, you cannot cast it again until the next dawn.
Destroying Svalin. Only an extremely powerful
Disintegrate effect can destroy the Shield of the Sun.
Skíðblaðnir
Skofnung
Svalin
Journey to Ragnarok
302
Sword of Skallfoss
Weapon (any sword), Uncommon
These weapons are the opera magna of the legendary
blacksmith Skallfoss. They were dedicated to the Æsir
and Vanir and have been faithful companions of the
mightiest Midgardian heroes, handed down to the
next generation of warriors when the previous owner
was defeated.
You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
with this magic weapon.
As long as you visibly carry one of the Swords on your
person, you have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion)
checks when dealing with Æsir and Vanir.
True Sunstone
Marvelous Item, Very Rare
Using this sunstone as a navigation tool, the characters
cannot be lost in their travels at sea or on land. It can
also point the direction of any place or item the user
has already seen and they need to get to.
Tyrfing
Weapon (any sword), Very rare (requires attunement)
You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
with this magic weapon.
Hit points lost to this weapon cannot be regained by
resting, but only through regeneration or magic.
Once drawn, it is impossible to sheathe Tyrfing until it
has killed a sentient creature.
Sword of Skallfoss
Tyrfing
True Sunstone
Magical Items
303
Journey to Ragnarok
304
In this appendix the foundations of the rune divination
are presented, usable for the consultation of the Tables
of this manual and as an optional rule in play.
Table Results
306
Using the Runic Dice
306
Reading the Runes
307
Aett of Freyja
308
Aett of Heimdallr
312
Aett of Tyr
316
Magical Items
305
The Three Norns - © Milivoj Ćeran
Journey to Ragnarok
306
The word “rún” has its origin from the words “secret”
and “mystery”, but also “whisper”. It’s possible that this
comes from the custom of using glyphs to send secret
messages during battles, but also from religious tradi-
tion and meditation during the rune casting.
Table Results
In Journey To Ragnarok you can find some
Tables, based on Rune Divination.
The interpretation of the Runes for Tables results is
based on the different Ætt (or “families” of the runes).
This trinity came from the influence and domain of
Freyja, Heimdallr, and Tyr over the Futhark. During
the adventure, it’s possible to use the Runic Dice or to
cast Runes to determine the development of certain
events based on the Ætts. Alternatively one can roll a
d6 to determine which Ætt the rune comes from and
if it is in its proper or inverted form.
Using the Runic Dice
Rune Divination can be made using the Rune Dice,
designed exclusively for Journey To Ragnarok, or in
a more traditional way, casting Runes from a pouch.
If you choose to use the Rune Dice, in the following
page you can find a scheme to determinate if the result-
ant Rune is Upright or Reversed.
“I trow I hung on that windy Tree
nine whole days and nights,
stabbed with a spear, offered to Odhinn,
myself to mine own self given,
high on that Tree of which none hath heard
from what roots it rises to heaven.
None refreshed me ever with food or drink,
I peered right down in the deep;
crying aloud I lifted the Runes
then back I fell from thence.”
HÁVAMÁL - Rúnatal (138-139)
Poetic Edda
The stanzas from 138 to 145 of the Hâvamâl recount how
Odhinn learned the runes and of his sacrifice. According
to the legend, he impaled himself to Yggdrasill with a
spear. He remained there for nine nights – tortured by
cold, hunger thirst – alone and beyond any help. When
he was about to pass out, he glimpsed the runes and with
his last gasp, he snatched them.
The name of the runic alphabet, “Futhark”, comes
from the phonetic pronunciation of the first symbols
(Fehu, Uruz, Þurisaz, Ansuz, Raido, Kenaz).
Rune Divination
307
When a rune appears during the game, extracted from
a Rune Master bag or engraved in the scenario, the
optional rules of Rune Divination can be used.
Each character can choose to vote for a particular
rune of the Futhark alphabet and wear it as a talisman,
engraved on a stone, a jewel, a weapon or tattooed on
his body.
The masters of the runes, characters or non-player
characters, can extract a rune once every long rest that
will have an influence on the day of who assists the
extraction.
There are many other options to use Rune
Divination, how to insert a rune in the description of
a vision or a landscape, make it appear engraved in a
sanctuary or on logs in the forest...
The number of runes that affect the players every
long rest is at the discretion of the Game Master, a
Rune Master can extract more than one rune at the
same time, up to one for each character present.
In the event that the casted rune does not belong to
any Ætt among those which the characters are voted,
there will be no effect.
All effects last until the character makes a long rest.
Ætt Effect
When the casted rune belongs to the Ætt to which the
character is voted, it will be less influenced by it.
The effect of the Ætt is to be intended as a starting
point for role-playing and interpretation for the play-
ers to be introduced by the Game Master.
Rune Effect
When the rune to which the character is voted
appears, he will be more influenced by it.
The effect of the rune is added to the Ætt effect
and has an influence on the game mechanics.
Reading the Runes
Reading the Runes
Upright
Every rune has
a meaning when
it is read Upright.
Reversed
Some runes have
an opposite meaning
if read Reversed.
Upright Rune ( U)
U
Reversed Rune ( D)
U
Reversed Rune ( D)
U
Journey to Ragnarok
308
The Gift of Life, presided over by Audhumla, Freyr
and Freyja.
Ætt of Freyja Effect
You feel a surge of renewed optimism, everything
seems to go the right way.
Fehu Rune Effect
You gain +1 to all ability checks and a natural 20 is
always considered a success.
Ætt of Freyja Reversed Effect
Everything seem to go the right way, for everyone but
you. You feel envious of their successes and foresee
your own failures.
Fehu Rune Reversed Effect
You suffer -1 to all ability checks and a natural 1 is
always considered a failure.
The Survival Instinct, presided over by Ymir.
Ætt of Freyja Effect
Nothing in the Nine Worlds can stop you, you’ll live
to see another day.
Uruz Rune Effect
You gain proficiency on initiative rolls.
Ætt of Freyja Reversed Effect
Strength is apparent only when compared to weakness,
you can foresee oppression and abuse of power.
Uruz Rune Reversed Effect
You gain Advantage on Intimidation rolls and Attack
rolls against creatures with a Strength score lower than
yours. At the same time, you gain Disadvantage against
creatures with a Strength score higher than yours.
1. Fehu
1. Fehu
Upright
Deserved fortune,
success, wellness.
Reversed
Evil, jealousy,
envy.
2. Uruz
2. Uruz
Upright
Strength, courage,
initiative.
Reversed
Ferocity, aggression,
addiction.
Runes: Ætt of Freya
309
The Encounter, presided over by Thor.
Ætt of Freyja Effect
When the strongest storm comes, it’s time to find shel-
ter behind solid walls and create better strategies.
Thurisaz Rune Effect
Every time you suffer damage from a single source
reduce it by 1 point. If this brings the total to 0 or less,
you suffer no damage.
Ætt of Freyja Reversed Effect
You feel disheartened, unsure, defenseless, at the mercy
of the events, all your certainties crumble like a wall
without foundations.
Thurisaz Rune Reversed Effect
Every time you suffer damage from a single source
increase it by 1 point.
The Call, presided over by Odhinn.
Ætt of Freyja Effect
You foresee that today is a day for new ideas to arise,
solutions will be found and every crux will be undone.
Ansuz Rune Effect
You immediately gain Inspiration.
Ætt of Freyja Reversed Effect
You cannot trust anyone, betrayal and deception are
around any corner.
Ansuz Rune Reversed Effect
You cannot benefit from the Help action or any other
source of Advantage from other creatures.
3. Thurisaz
3. Thurisaz
Upright
Resistance, protection,
right decisions.
Reversed
Fragility, confusion,
unexpected event.
4. Ansuz
4. Ansuz
Upright
Healing, wisdom,
inspiration.
Reversed
Deceit, betrayal,
selfishness.
Journey to Ragnarok
310
5. Raido
5. Raido
Upright
Travel, Research,
new challenges.
Reversed
Slowdown,
renunciation, failure.
6. Kenaz
6. Kenaz
Upright
Reborn, understanding,
revelation.
Reversed
Ignorance, superficiality,
arrogance.
The Hero’s Journey, presided over by the Valkyries.
Ætt of Freyja Effect
Today, the world lays before you, free to explore, just
follow your feet.
Raido Rune Effect
You ignore difficult terrains.
Ætt of Freyja Reversed Effect
You foresee a difficult path, full of obstacles, danger,
and uncertainties. Is it really worth? You are consider-
ing surrendering at the first real problem.
Raido Rune Reversed Effect
You cannot take the Dash action, nor benefit from any
bonus to your base speed.
The Fire of Transformation, presided over by Surtr.
Ætt of Freyja Effect
Today, all will be well, every problem will become an
opportunity, every challenge a chance to improve.
Kenaz Rune Effect
Every time you fail a saving throw an attack or an abil-
ity roll, you gain Advantage on the next roll of the
same kind.
Ætt of Freyja Reversed Effect
Today you feel incredibly overconfident and, because
of this, you will face many avoidable problems.
Kenaz Rune Reversed Effect
Every time you succeed on a saving throw an attack or
an ability roll, you gain Disadvantage on the next roll
of the same kind.
Runes: Ætt of Freya
311
7. Gebo
7. Gebo
Friendship, brotherhood,
sharing, exchange,
gratitude.
8. Wunjo
8. Wunjo
Upright
Glory, hope,
harmony.
Reversed
Depression, solitude,
pessimism.
The Balanced Exchange, presided over by Freyr.
Ætt of Freyja Effect
This omen, reminds you that nature is like a single
entity, a spider web of relationships and bonds that
embrace humans too.
Gebo Rune Effect
You gain Advantage on all Charisma rolls, but when
an ally next to you suffer damage you take one-quarter
of that damage upon yourself (this can’t be reduced in
any way).
The Divine Emanation, presided over by Freyr and
Freyja.
Ætt of Freyja Effect
The sun shines brighter today, filling the hearts of men
with joy and they urge each other to do more.
Wunjo Rune Effect
When you roll a saving throw you can use the bonus of
an adjacent ally if its higher than yours.
Ætt of Freyja Reversed Effect
Grey clouds blanket the sky, hiding the sun and filling
hearts with dread, people feel alone and miserable.
Wunjo Rune Reversed Effect
When you roll a saving throw you must use the bonus
of an adjacent ally if its lower than yours.
Journey to Ragnarok
312
9. Hagalaz
9. Hagalaz
Purification, trial,
established path,
liberation, reconstruction.
10. Nauthiz
10. Nauthiz
Resistance, virtue,
determination,
inner strenght.
Breaking the Scheme, presided over by Urd.
Ætt of Heimdallr Effect
You foresee that the path in front of you leads to the
end of everything you are, for better or worse. Yet,
death is not the end, but merely a step before being
reborn.
Hagalaz Rune Effect
You have Disadvantage on the first Death saving throw
you make every time you are reduced to 0 Hit Points,
but every time you succeed on a Death saving throw
you can roll one of your Hit Dice, as if you had just
finished a Short Rest, and regains a number of Hit
Points equal to the result plus your Wisdom modifier.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a Short rest
before you can use it again.
Meeting Pain, presided over by Heimdallr.
Ætt of Heimdallr Effect
You foresee great hardships on your path but, deep
within your soul, you’re ready to face all the challenges
that fate has in store for you.
Nauthiz Rune Effect
Every time an ally – within 30 ft. and that you can
see – is reduced to 0 Hit Points, you gain a number of
temporary Hit Points equal to half your character level
and Advantage on the next saving throw you make
before the end your next turn. Once you use this fea-
ture, you must finish a Short rest before you can use
it again.
Runes: Ætt of Heimdallr
313
11. Isaz
11. Isaz
Moment of reflection,
focusing on objectives,
separation, limitation.
12. Jera
12. Jera
Cyclic nature of time,
patience, control,
harvest, process.
The Mind Without Chains, presided over by Buri.
Ætt of Heimdallr Effect
Suddenly, you realize that we are all alone in this world.
You have to take a moment to think deeply about the
meaning of your existence.
Isaz Rune Effect
When you drop at 0 Hit Points, you can make a
Wisdom saving throw, instead of the usual Death
saving throw, at the normal DC (usually 10).
The Cosmo’s Path, presided over by Sif.
Ætt of Heimdallr Effect
In your mind’s eye, you see a vision of the cyclic nature
of the world and understand that for every flower that
withers a new life is born.
Jera Rune Effect
When you drop at 0 Hit Points, you have Disadvantage
on your first Death saving throw, but every ally within
30 ft., immediately regains 1d6 Hit Points (2d6 at
level 5, 3d6 at level 10. 4d6 at level 17 and 5d6 at level
20). Once you use this feature, you must finish a Short
rest before you can use it again.
Journey to Ragnarok
314
13. Eihwaz
13. Eihwaz
Defense capability,
reliability, intelligence,
ability to prevent.
14. Perth
14. Perth
Upright
Joy, destiny,
luck.
Reversed
Sadness, illusion,
discouragement.
The Spiritual Journey, presided over by Hell and Ullr.
Ætt of Heimdallr Effect
Time and space become insignificant for those who
can travel with their mind instead of their bodies.
Eihwaz Rune Effect
When you suffer any damage, you can decide to ignore
it for a brief moment. You can use your Reaction to
delay that damage until the end of your next turn.
At the end of your next turn, you will suffer that
damage and halve your movement speed for one round.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a Short rest
before you can use it again.
The Fate’s Game, presided over by Vè.
Ætt of Heimdallr Effect
A deep meditation gave you the chance to truly under-
stand the meaning of life and the deepest secrets of the
world. This awakening and understanding the tides of
fate fill you with true and pure joy.
Perth Rune Effect
When one of your attack rolls, ability roll or saving
throws result in a natural 1, you may consider it as a
10. This might change the effect.
Ætt of Heimdallr Reversed Effect
Meditation didn’t bring the expected results, maybe
you misinterpreted the signs and symbols or, maybe,
your mind wasn’t ready for it. You misinterpreted their
meaning and now you are dejected and miserable.
Perth Rune Reversed Effect
When one of your attack rolls, ability roll or saving
throws result in a natural 20, you must consider it as
a 10. This might change the effect. If it was an attack
roll, you still deal critical damage, but the attack is not
a guaranteed hit.
Runes: Ætt of Heimdallr
315
15. Algiz
15. Algiz
Upright
Divine connection,
awakening, success.
Reversed
Loss of favor,
vulnerability, danger.
16. Sowilo
16. Sowilo
Power, rashness,
energy, anger,
purifying fire.
The Sacred Space, presided over by Baldr.
Ætt of Heimdallr Effect
You open your spirit and your mind to a higher plane
of awareness and come into contact with the entities
that control the fate of mankind. They are pleased with
you and reward your faith.
Algiz Rune Effect
When you suffer a critical hit, you gain Resistance
against that particular attack. Once you use this fea-
ture, you must finish a Short rest before you can use
it again.
Ætt of Heimdallr Reversed Effect
You try with every ounce of strength to push your spirit
in the higher planes, where the gods live, unfortu-
nately, they don’t take kindly upon your intrusion and
you know they will punish you for this transgression.
Algiz Rune Reversed Effect
When another creature attacks you with Advantage,
you take 1d6 extra damage from that attack.
The Power, presided over by Sòl.
Ætt of Heimdallr Effect
Your journey has been harsh and full of crossroads, ma
now you face the ultimate choice, the one that would
make your soul unbalanced toward Good or Evil.
You’re trembling, but you know which one would be
the right choice.
Sowilo Rune Effect
When you suffer any amount of damage from another
creature, you might use your Reaction to roll a
number of your Hit Dice, you reduce the damage by
the amount you rolled plus your Wisdom modifier
(if positive) and cause an equal amount of radiant or
necrotic damage to the attacker.
You can use up to half your remaining Hit Dice this
way (minimum 1). Once you used this feature, you
must finish a Short rest before you can use it again.
Journey to Ragnarok
316
17. Teiwaz
17. Teiwaz
Upright
Right direction,
victory, virtue.
Reversed
Punishment,
dishonesty, defeat.
18. Berkana
18. Berkana
Upright
Fertility, desire,
love.
Reversed
Immaturity, anxiety,
abandonment.
The Universal Order, presided over by Tyr.
Ætt of Tyr Effect
You know that today you are going to walk with the
stride of a father protecting his children, of a warrior
defending his homeland, of a righteous facing evil.
Teiwaz Rune Effect
When you score a critical hit, you can use your
Reaction to make a single weapon attack or cast a
cantrip that requires an attack roll.
Ætt of Tyr Reversed Effect
It takes just a moment for bravery to become arrogance,
for the desire to protect what you love to become con-
ceit and for strength to become prevarication.
Teiwaz Rune Reversed Effect
When you suffer a critical hit, you must succeed on a
Charisma saving throw (DC equal to half the damage
you just received) or you become Incapacitated until
the end of your next turn.
Worlds’ Bond, presided over by Frigga.
Ætt of Tyr Effect
Today, you see fertility wherever you look and new life
pouring out, gentle yet unstoppable, like a reawaken-
ing of senses.
Berkana Rune Effect
As an Action, you can heal every creature within 10 ft.
of you (including yourself) by a number of Hit Points
equal to 1d6 + your Charisma modifier, up to a maxi-
mum of half their maximum Hit Points.
Once you used this feature, you must finish a Short
rest before you can use it again.
Ætt of Tyr Reversed Effect
You can see how inadequate you are, like an unripe
fruit compared to the strong and blooming life you see
around you.
Berkana Rune Reversed Effect
You can use a Bonus Action to spend one Hit Dice as
if you just finished a Short Rest. But, you have to halve
the result of every Hit Dice you roll.
Runes: Ætt of Tyr
317
19. Ehwaz
19. Ehwaz
Upright
Improvement,
cooperation, union.
Reversed
Hurry, inhibition,
disharmony.
20. Mannaz
20. Mannaz
Upright
Open-mindedness,
conscience, brotherhood.
Reversed
Prejudice,
rigidity, fanaticism.
The Armony of Opposites, presided over by Sleipnir.
Ætt of Tyr Effect
You can see the invisible links and bonds between
everything, every creature and the forces of nature
themselves. The world is greater than the sum of its
parts… and so are you.
Ehwaz Rune Effect
During a Short Rest you and up to 6 allies can grasp
each other’s hands and meditate together for 1 hour.
Those who meditate suffer Disadvantage on Wisdom
(Perception) rolls and cannot act as effective sentries.
For each Hit Dice spent at the end of the Short
Rest one of your allies regain an additional number of
Hit Points equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum
1). Meanwhile, you regain an additional number of
Hit Points equal to the participants to the meditation
circle.
Ætt of Tyr Reversed Effect
It doesn’t matter how hard you try to see thing dif-
ferently, you have to accept that everything in nature
exists in opposition to countless others. For every new
bond hundred of others are destroyed. Nature is in
continuous conflict. Harmony is an illusion.
Ehwaz Rune Reversed Effect
Greater Negative Effect: Every time you roll initiative,
you can spend any number of Hit Dice.
For every Hit Dice you spend, you gain a bonus
to the initiative roll equal to your Wisdom modifier
(minimum 1).
The Cosmic Man, presided over by Heimdallr.
Ætt of Tyr Effect
In a moment of absolute clarity, you understand your
place in the world and how the world fits inside your-
self. You are the center but, at the same time, you’re
everything that spins around it. Your conscience is just
how the universe observes itself.
Mannaz Rune Effect
When you roll a saving throw against an unseen effect,
you can use your Reaction to gain Advantage on it.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a Short
rest before you can use it again.
Ætt of Tyr Reversed Effect
Who are you? What is the meaning of YOUR life? Is
reality as insignificant as it looks? Maybe not, maybe
it’s not as meaningless and futile… maybe you are.
You can only watch as others bask in the glory of dis-
covering their place in the grand scheme of things, while
you feel like a wrong line in the great poem of the cosmos.
Mannaz Rune Reversed Effect
Every time you cause damage you inflict 1 extra damage
of the same type if the target’s current Hit Points are
higher than yours. This extra damage increases to +2 at
level 11 and +3 at level 20.
You cannot willingly end your turn within 20’ from a
creature whose current Hit Points are higher than yours.
Journey to Ragnarok
318
21. Laguz
21. Laguz
Upright
Intuition, dream,
fantasy.
Reversed
Lack of creativity,
confusion, fear.
22. Ingwaz
22. Ingwaz
Sexuality, fertility,
agriculture, human warmth,
abundance.
The Well of Knowledge, presided over by Mimir.
Ætt of Tyr Effect
You can gaze upon the reality underlying the material
world known and inhabited by mortals.
Everything is a symbol, a sign, nothing is just what
it looks like upon the surface and only the Gods can
divine the truth of what this means. But today, you
can peek at it.
Laguz Rune Effect
You can cast the Augury spell as a ritual, without any
material component.
Starting at level 11, you can cast Divination
instead, as a ritual without any material component.
Ætt of Tyr Reversed Effect
You tried to push you conscience beyond the mate-
rial world, to understand its true essence, but nothing
came of it. Everything looks bleak, shallow, without
any ulterior meaning.
This frightens you, makes you uncertain, tarnish
the depths of your soul and makes you dejected.
Laguz Rune Reversed Effect
At the beginning of each combat you’re considered
frightened by any hostile creature you can perceive.
This condition lasts until the start of your second
combat turn.
Future of the Bloodline, presided over by Freyr.
Ætt of Tyr Effect
You feel a powerful lifeforce rushing through you, a
primal and vibrant energy, like a heat that makes your
heart beat stronger as if you were a source of hope
ready to give new life.
Ingwaz Rune Effect
As a Bonus Action, you can spend and roll one of
your Hit Dice to heal a number of Hit Points equal
to the result plus your Charisma modifier (minimum
1) divided among any number of creatures within 10
ft. of you.
You gain a number of temporary Hit Points equal
to half the amount you healed.
Runes: Ætt of Tyr
319
23. Othila
23. Othila
Upright
Property, family,
inheritance.
Reversed
Slavery, racism,
greed.
24. Dagaz
24. Dagaz
New beginning, hope,
growth, security,
enlightenment.
The Honor of Ancestors, presided over by Njordr.
Ætt of Tyr Effect
For just a moment you can clearly see the present, the
future and everything in between.
You see what will come from what you’re building
right now, what your efforts will bring and your legacy
to this world.
Othila Rune Effect
When you make an attack roll or an ability roll with
Advantage, you can re-roll the dice that score the lower
number. You have to keep the new result, even if it’s worse.
Once you used this feature, you must finish a Short
rest before you can use it again. You can use this fea-
ture only once per turn.
Ætt of Tyr Reversed Effect
A twisted and deceptive vision of the future leaves you
full of doubts and suspicions.
You don’t know who you can trust, you see your
supposed friends trying to abuse and overpower you,
you see mistrust everywhere… the only sane response
is to get ready for the worst and, when the time comes,
be the killer, not the killed.
Othila Rune Reversed Effect
When you make an attack roll or an ability roll
with Advantage, you add your Charisma modifier
to the final result (minimum 1), but if you roll with
Disadvantage you subtract your Charisma modifier
(minimum 1).
The New Era, presided over by Dagr.
Ætt of Tyr Effect
Your journey across the worlds and reality, on the wings
of conscience and the winds of enlightenment, brings you
to the top of the world, where everything looks simple,
small, perfectly set in the grand scheme of things.
You are now ready to begin your journey of enlight-
enment anew, but reaching this level of understanding
has made you stronger.
Dagaz Rune Effect
When this rune is casted, you regain all your hit points and
gain temporary hit points equal to half your maximum.
Every time you finish a Short Rest, you gain tempo-
rary Hit Points equal to half your Charisma modifier
(minimum 1).
Light
Medium
Heavy
CLASS & LEVEL
RACE
ALIGNMENT
EXPERIENCE POINTS
BACKGROUND
PLAYER NAME
CLAN
CHARACTER NAME
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
SAVING THROWS
ARMOR
SHIELD
MAGIC
MISC.
AC
DESCRIPTION
EXHAUSTION
ACTIONS
BONUS ACTIONS
REACTIONS
DAMAGE/TYPE
RANGE
PROF.
NAME & DESCRIPTION
SKILL
ATK BONUS
GP
SP
CP
Temporary Hit Points
CURRENT HIT POINTS
HIT POINTS
SUCCESSES
LEVELS
FAILURES
DEATH SAVES
HIT DICE
ATTACKS & SPELLCASTING
ACTIONS
EQUIPMENT
ARMOR
SKILLS
STRENGTH
DEXTERITY
CONSTITUTION
INTELLIGENCE
WISDOM
CHARISMA
Light
Medium
Heavy
Shields
ARMORS
WEAPONS
Simple
Martial
Others
OTHER PROFICIENCIES & LANGUAGES
INSPIRATION
PROFICIENCY BONUS
ARMOR
CLASS
INITIATIVE
SPEED
LANGUAGES
TOOLS & OTHERS
CONDITIONS
RESISTANCES
Acrobatics (Dex)
Animal Handling (Wis)
Asatru (Wis)
Arcana (Int)
Athletics (Str)
Deception (Cha)
History (Int)
Investigation (Int)
Medicine (Wis)
Insight (Wis)
Intimidation (Cha)
Nature (Int)
Perception (Wis)
Survival (Wis)
Performance (Cha)
Persuasion (Cha)
Religion (Int)
Sleight of Hand (Dex)
Stealth (Dex)
PROF.
EXP.
PASSIVE WISDOM (PERCEPTION)
PASSIVE WISDOM (ASATRU)
ALLIES
CLAN
RACE FEATURES
FEATS
FLAWS
PERSONALITY TRAITS
CHARACTER PORTRAIT
BONDS
IDEALS
BACKGROUND
CHARACTER NAME
GENDER
ALIGNMENT
AGE
FAITH
SIZE
HAIR
WEIGHT
SKIN
HEIGHT
EYES
RUNE
ÆTT
CLASS FEATURES
NOTES
Spell sheet
1st LEVEL
4th LEVEL
5th LEVEL
6th LEVEL
7th LEVEL
8th LEVEL
9th LEVEL
2nd LEVEL
3rd LEVEL
DESCRIPTION
LEVEL
REF.
SAVE
TIME
DURATION
RANGE
SCHOOL
COMP.
SPELL SAVE DC
ATTACK BONUS
ATTACK MODIFIER
SPELLS
SPELL SLOTS
SPELL/CANTRIP
Journey to Ragnarok
324
This small and essential compendium of Norse pronunciation is meant to help GM and players with dealing
with the names and nouns present in Journey To Ragnarok.
The ‘r’ after a consonant at the end of a word, like Vanaheimr, Jörmungandr etcetera
is pronounced as if there was a ‘u’ between consonants.
As an example, Jörmungandr is pronounced ‘JOR-mun-GAN-dur’,
and Vanaheimr is ‘va-na-HEI-mur’.
Á/á: is read like the ‘o’ in “house”, but longer.
É/é: is read like the ‘e’ in “great”, but longer.
Í/í: is read like the double ‘e’ in “feel”.
Ó/ó: is a long O, OO.
Ú/ú: is read like the double ‘o’ in “moon”.
Y/y: is read like the German ‘ü’. Sometimes, however, is just ‘u’.
Ý/ý: is read like the German ‘ü’.
Æ/æ: is an open È, as in “went”.
Ǽ/ ǽ: extremely rare, is read like the ‘i’ in “fight”.
Œ/œ: is a sound close to the German ‘ö’.
Ö/ö: is read like the ‘a’ in ”all”.
Ø/ø: read like the Danish or Norwegian ‘ø’ or the Swedish ‘ö’ it sounds like an ‘e’ with umlaut.
Ǿ/ ǿ: extremely rare, it is a longer ‘ø’.
F/f: is read like a normal ‘f’. If it is last or second-to-last in a word, though, it is read as ‘v’.
G/g: is read like a normal ‘g’, like in “good”.
H/h: silent before consonants. ‘hv-’ is read ‘v-’.
J/j: is read like the ‘y’ in “young”.
K/k: is read normally.
R/r: is a rolling ‘r’
Ð/ð: it is read like ‘th’ in “that”.
Þ/þ: it is read like ‘th’ in “thing”.
N/n: is read like a normal ‘n’. At the end of a word after a consonant, is read
as if there was a silent vowel in between. “Hrafn”, then, is read “RA-f(e)n”.
Bibliography
325
Edda
Ljóða Edda. Poethic or Elder Edda
•
Völuspá. Prophecy of the Völva
•
Hávamál. Sayings of the High One
•
Vafþrúðnismál. Sayings of Vafþrúðnir
•
Grímnismál. Sayings of Grímnir
•
Skírnismál. Sayings of Skírnir
•
Hárbarðsljóð. Lay of Hárbarðr
•
Hymiskviða. Hymir’s poem
•
Lokasenna. Loki’s flyting
•
Þrymskviða. Lay of Þrymr
•
Alvíssmál. Sayings of Alvíss
Edda Minora
•
Baldrs draumar. Baldr’s dreams
•
Grottasöngr. Song of Grótti
•
Svipdagsmál. Sayings of Svipdagr
Prose or Snorri’s Edda
Recommended Readings
We based our researches on many Italian books that we
want to report you. English books are listed in bold.
•
Edda, a cura di Giorgio Dolfini, 1975
•
Galdrastafir - I Magici Sigilli d'Islanda, Mila Fois, 2018
•
Heimskringla - The Olaf Saga, Snorri Sturluson
translated by Samuel Laing, 1964
•
La Stirpe di Frey: Heimskringla, Mila Fois, 2018
•
I Miti Nordici, Gianna Chiesa Isnardi, 1991
•
I Miti Norreni, Mila Fois, 2014
•
Iniziazione alla Runologia - Meditare con le Rune,
Gianni Vannoni, 2006
•
Le Rune, Elena Colucci, 2010
•
Miti e Leggende Nordiche, Salvatore Tufano, 1996
•
Myths of the Norseman, Helen A. Guerber, 1909
•
Norse Mythology, Neil Gaiman, 2017
•
Rune: Il Sangue di Odino, Mila Fois, 2018
•
Saghe Vichinghe, Mila Fois, 2016
•
Tales of Norse Mythology (new edition for
Myths of the Norseman),, H. A. Guerber, 2017
•
The Illuminated Edda, Andrew Walkauskas, 2016
•
The Memory of Odin, Jason R. Forbus, 2018
•
The Viking Runes, Lars Magnar Enoksen, 2010
•
The Vinland Saga - The Norse Discovery of
America (Grænlendinga Saga and Eirik’s Saga),
Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Palsson, 1965
•
Told by the Northmen - Stories from the Eddas
ands Sagas, retold by E. M. Wilmot-Buxton, 1914
Recommended Music
•
Danheim
•
Einar Selvik
•
Eivør Pálsdóttir
•
Heilung
•
Ivar Bjørnson
•
Tyr
•
Wardruna
326
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Sam Piaggio
Samuel J Flegal
Samuel Levesque
Samuel Merlin e Venanzio Colombo
Samuel Orlandini
Samuele Nicotra
Sarah Cass
Sascha Münchow
Scott Couch
Scott Kehl
Scott Kuhl
Scott Moore
Scott Paisley
Scott Peterson
Scott R Handren
Scott Sturm
Scott Zuris
Sean Birge
Sean D. Watson
Sean DeMontigny
Sean Esterline
Sean Owen
Sean Rogers
Sebastian Agoston
Sebastian Zacharias
Seren Wilford-Cole
Sergio Fernandez Gutierrez
Seth Parks
Seth Peck
Seth Richter
Seth Wade Turbyfill
Shanan Rodgers
Shane Bradley
Shane Cordes
Shannon kelly
Shaun Bellaman
Shaun Bellaman
Shaun Davis
Shauna Gordon
Shawn Jones
Shawn Polka
Shrimpiclese
Silvia
Simon
Simon Threasher
Simone Calcinardi
Simone Cortesi
Simone Erbeia
Simone Faedi
Simone Shay Piscitello
Simone Rocca
Simone Spurio
Siobhan Tate
Skyler Martin
Smink Sangsura
Solimr
Solomon Ingalls
Søren Møller Starcke
Spencer Chase
Spencer Harris Silbersmith
Stanta Maximilian
Stefan Bachmann
Stefan Friedl
Stefan Meertens
Stefan Persson
Stefán Þór Reykdal
Stefano
Stefano Marin
Stefano Repossi
Stefano Romeo
Stefano Vanetti
Steffanie Piche
Stepan Bulatov
Stephan Hoedl-Araujo
Stephanie LeBouthillier
Stephen Bowyer
Stephen Daniels
Stephen Edwards
Stephen Faure
Stephen Hindmarsh
Stephen Kalmas
Stephen Penders
Sterz Sebastian
Steve Cranford
Steve Edwards
Steven Danielson
Steven Dolan
Steven Lightheart
Steven Lord
Steven MacLauchlan
Steven Vaughn
Steven Wolpern
Stewart Wheeler
Storm Holloway
Stuart Foster
Superchunk
Sylvain Cousineau
Tadd Layton
Tahir Raines
Tahlia Ann Espenscheid
Takehiro
Tami Hamilton
Terry Zimmerman
Tessa Rose Beyers
Thaddeus R Winker
Thea Turnbow
Theodore Bomba
Theron Lind
Thethirdsin
Thierry Fonville
Thokada’Jin
Thomas Alexander Casadio Malagola
Thomas B Dean
Thomas Biskup
Thomas Franz
Thomas Harrison IV
Thomas Hughes
Thomas Jackson
Thomas Lincoln Hays
Thomas Martin Eifried
Thomas Milazzo
Thomas Saboy
Thomas Tramantano
Thomas Watchorn
Thomas Weber
Thor Anderson
Thorben Graumann
Thorbjørn Kaels
Tim Baker
Tim Christian Ustad
Tim Cunningham
Tim Rose
Tim Shannon
Timothy Ball
Timothy W Gibson Jr
Tiradhorn Tiravongchaipunt
Tiziano Grandi
Tobias Dworschak
Tobias Ekenberg
Tobias Johannesson
Toby Stanmore
Todd Rigertas
Todd Stephens
Toh Choon Hao
Tollis Antonio
Tom Dodson
Tomas Fontecilla
Tommaso De Benetti
Tommaso Franza
Tommaso Guarnieri
Tommaso Mondadori
Tommy Frost
Tony Martini
Tony Milani
Topher Bostick
Tramaine Stephens
Travis Lee Berg
Trevor Sieben
Troy Partridge
Troy Wells
Tudor Damian
Tyler Guthrie
Tyler Kechula
Tyler Matthews
Tyler Steigel
Tyler Williams
Tyron Sabel
Ugrivous
Ulf Henriksson
Valentina Mazzetto
Valerian Akselrod
Valerio Vistarini
VanQuishSquid
Vasil Lyutskanov
Veronica Carmocan
Victoria Barker-Woodlands
Violet Quinn Sidorick
Vincent A. DiPaula, Jr.
Vincent Hendrik Mengual
Vincent Laplante-Sasseville
Vincent Smith
Vincenzo Lancella
Vincenzo Messina
Vittorio Grimaldi
Vladislav Heger
Vullo Mauro
Wade Geer
Walter Seaton
Wesley Kern
Will Dawson
Will Sathre
Will Thomas
Will Tubbs
William Angus
William Bidlack
William Burgess
William Dease
William Ellaway
William Hunt
William Lee Roe
William Parker
William Tyler Murphy
William Verlinden
Yong Jun Park
Yu Tsai Su
Zac Stafford
Zach Starkey
Zachary Brown
Zachary Carter
Zachary O’Neill
Zachary Rademan
Ziv Plotnik
Zivan Denney
Zsolt Kohári
Χριστόφ μιξοβάρβαρος
331
Backer list
Men brave and generous
live the best lives,
seldom will they sorrow;
then there are fools,
afraid of everything,
who grumble instead of giving.
HÁVAMÁL - Gestaþáttr (48)
Poetic Edda
1427 thanks!
Journey to Ragnarok
332
Fun Fact
In addition to the Creator Tokens, there are non-
player characters within Journey To Ragnarok
whose faces are inspired by team members or our fans.
•
Asbjorn is inspired by Andrea Lucca.
•
Blóttré is inspired by Antonio Dell'Aquila.
•
The Cleric (page 41) is inspired by Mirko
Sacchetti.
•
Gamallbjarki is inspired by Alex Melluso.
•
Guàrdinjandr is inspired by Andrea Guardino.
•
Koltønn is inspired by Michele Paroli.
•
Kynbani is inspired by Andrea Bergamelli.
•
Límrún is inspired by Francesco.
•
Njörðr is inspired by Marco Munari.
•
The Rune Master (page 54) is inspired by
Daniele Iannucci.
•
Sknaht is inspired by Silvia Paindelli.
•
Spekisvidhr is inspired by Nicola Degobbis.
•
Thorunn is inspired by Elena Giovannetti.
Creator Token
During the Kickstarter campaign the following back-
ers chose to participate in the creation of Journey
To Ragnarok with a Creator Token.
They collaborated with the team in designing
Magic Objects or NPCs that will be part of your
gaming sessions!
Non-Player Characters
•
Benjamin Thomas Headlee has collaborated in
the design of Thorleif Sikiroddr (page 147)
•
Enrico Romeo has collaborated in the design of
Alrekr Sigthollr (page 130)
•
Gary Morris Hite has collaborated in the design of
Revr, the Fox (page 143)
•
Mark Judson Goodrich has collaborated in the
design of Freydis Bergljot (page 248)
Magical Items
•
Alex Stinger has collaborated in the design of
Mjollnir’s replica: Kuttnir (pag. 299)
•
Jack Falls has collaborated in the design of Sword
of Skallfoss (pag. 302)
•
Mirko Sacchetti has collaborated in the design of
Conqueror’s Axe (pag. 296)
•
Nicholas Purcell has collaborated in the design of
Ring of the Silent Hunter (pag. 300)
•
Skyler Martin has collaborated in the design of
Ægir’s Tree-engraved Drinking Horn (pag. 296)
Index
333
a
Ægir (Æsir)
245
Ægir’s Tree-engraved Drinking Horn 296
Æsir
206
Aett of Freyja
308
Aett of Heimdallr
312
Aett of Tyr
316
Agantyr (Corporeal Draugr)
151
Albruna (Vanir)
245
Alcis (twins) (Vanir)
245
Algiz
315
Alignments
14
Almattki (Vanir)
245
Alrekr Sigthollr
130
Andvaranautr
300
Angrboda
261
Angurvadal
296
Ansuz
309
Appendix
294
Aptrgangar
164
Asatru Ability
14
Asbjorn, The Red
131
Asgardr
184
General Features
184
Maps
187
Asvid
262
b
Backer List
326
Backgrounds
63
Bondhi
64
Gothi
66
Huscarl
68
Jarlr
70
Skògarmadhr
72
Thallr
74
Vaeringhi
76
Vikingr
78
Baldr
193
Bara (Vanir)
245
Bergelmir
262
Berkana
316
Bibliography
325
Blodughadda (Vanir)
245
Blóttré, “Tree of Sacrifice”
132
Braghist (Múspellsmegir)
274
Bragi (Æsir)
194
Brokkr and Eitri (Dvergar)
222
Byleist (Múspellsmegir)
274
C
Character Sheets
320
Clans
18
Bear Warriors
19
Gjallarhorn
22
Icy Crows
25
Jötunn Sons
29
Odhinn’s Eye
32
Wolves of the Shadow
35
Classes
38
Barbarian
38
Bard
40
Cleric
41
Druid
42
Fighter
43
Monk
45
Paladin
46
Ranger
47
Rogue
48
Rune Master
50
Sorcerer
57
Warlock
59
Wizard
61
Conqueror’s Axe
296
Creator Token
332
Cursed Berserker
133
d
Dagaz
319
Death in the Nine Worlds
14
Draugr, Corporeal
133
Draugr, Incorporeal
134
Draupnir
297
Dufa (Vanir)
245
Dvergar
223
Dvergar Mage
223
Dvergar Soldier
223
e
Ehiwaz
314
Ehwaz
317
Einherjar
206
Encounters on Asgardr
193
Encounters on Helheimr
176
Encounters on Jotunheimr
261
Encounters on Ljosalfheimr
234
Encounters on Midgardr
130
Encounters on Muspellsheimr 274
Encounters on Nidavellir
222
Encounters on Niflheimr
164
Encounters on Svartalfheimr 216
Encounters on Vanaheimr
245
Epilogue
284
Equipment
80
Expand Midgardr
128
f
Fafnir
224
Farbauti (Múspellsmegir)
274
Fehu
308
Fenmark
113
Fínnbol
114
The Swamp [4-5]
113
Fenrir
286
Fjolsvinn (Jötunn)
263
Forewords
5
Forseti (Æsir)
194
Freydis Bergljot
248
Freyja
246
Freyja’s feathered Cloak
297
Freyr
236
Frigg (Æsir)
194
g
Gamallbjarki Snjallrson
135
Garmr
176
Gebo
311
Gerdhr (Jötunn)
236
Geri and Freki
200
Gertrud, Melega and Dontoka 151
Gnitaheith, Fafnir’s Liar
219
Gramr
297
Guàrdinjandr
136
Gudmund
274
Gullinbursti
237
Gundabald
137
Gungnir
298
Guthrum Óeidhar
137
Journey to Ragnarok
334
h
Hagalaz
312
Hati
289
Heil Hofn Scouts (Scout)
151
Heimdallr
195
Hel
177
Helheimr
168
General Features
168
Maps
171
Hellblindi
275
Hengiankiapta (Jötunn)
263
Hödhr (Æsir)
196
Hor (Svartalfar Mage)
216
Hörgr
249
Hrimgrimnir
292
Hrimþursar
164
Hrókr Fjalson
138
Hrungnir (Jötunn)
263
Hrymr
263
Huginn and Muninn
200
Hymir (Jötunn)
263
Hyrrokkin (Jötunn)
263
i
Idhunn (Æsir)
196
Index
333
Ingwaz
318
Isaz
313
j
Járngreipr
298
Jera
313
Jord (Svartalfar Mage)
216
Jörmungandr
293
Jotunheimr
256
General Features
256
Maps
259
Jötunn
261
Journey on Asgardr, The
192
Journey on Helheimr, The
174
Journey on Jotunheimr, The
260
Journey on Ljosalfheimr, The 232
Journey on Midgardr, The
124
Journey on Muspellsheimr, The 272
Journey on Niflheimr, The
163
Journey on Svartalfheimr, The 215
Journey on Vanaheimr, The
244
Journey to Ragnarok, The
84
Jutland
117
Danevirke
118
Siste Festning
120
The Islands [4-5]
122
The Peninsula [4-5]
117
k
Kenaz
310
Key Players of Ragnarok
286
Koltønn Ginnungason
139
Kuttnir, Mjollnir’s replica
299
Kynbani Bergelmirson
140
l
Laguz
318
Laufey (Múspellsmegir)
274
Leif Logisson
141
Límrún, “Rune of the Branches” 142
Linnormr
178
Ljosalfar
234
Ljosalfar Archmage
235
Ljosalfheimr
228
General Features
229
Maps
231
Ljosalfheimr Champion
235
Lodin (Jötunn)
263
Loki
196
m
Magic in the Nine Worlds
15
Magical Items
296
Mannaz
317
Medallion of the Heart
of Muspellsheimr
298
Megingjörð
299
Midgardr
92
General Features
92
Maps
93
Midgardr, Casual Encounters 152
Fenmark - The Swamp
153
Jutland - Dry Land
154
Norvgr - The Coastal Area 152
Norvgr - The Snowy Mountains 152
Svtjod - The Great Forest 153
The Sea Midgardr
154
Mimir
264
Mjollnir
299
Móðguðr, Guardian
of the Golden Bridge
179
Muspellsheimr
268
Múspellsmegir
274
Index
335
n
Names Pronunciation
324
Nanna (Æsir)
197
Nauthiz
312
Nidavellir
218
Níðhöggr
180
Niflheimr 158
General Features
159
Maps
161
Niflungar
165
Nine Virtues, The
14
Nine Worlds, The
12
Njörðr
252
Norvgr
94
Heill Hofn
97
Siste Klintr
103
The Coastal Area [1-2]
94
The Snowy Mountains [4-5] 99
The Trolls Cavern
104
o
Odhinn
198
OGL
336
Origins of the Worlds, The
10
Ormgudinna
179
Othila
319
p
People of Midgardr
16
Perth
314
Priest of the Only Flame
143
Prologue
278
Prophecy of the Volva, The
8
r
Ragnarok
280
Raido
310
Reading The Runes
307
Reef Hermit (Commoner)
151
Revr, the Fox
143
Ring of the Silent Hunter
300
Rune Divination
304
s
Shieldmaster
144
Sif
201
Sinmara (Múspellsmegir)
274
Skadhi (Jötunn)
264
Skíðblaðnir
301
Sknaht
145
Skofnung
301
Sköll
288
Sleipnir
201
Sons of Ivaldi (Dvergar)
222
Sowilo
315
Spekisvidhr, Wood of Knowledge 146
Surtr
275
Svalin
301
Svartalfar
216
Svartalfar Mage
217
Svartalfar Warrior
217
Svartalfheimr
210
General Features
210
Maps
211
Svenn Skallfoss (Veteran)
151
Svtjod
106
Skjult Borg
108
The Great Forest [2-3]
106
Uppsala
110
Sword of Skallfoss
302
t
Table Results
306
Tanngnjóstr and Tanngrisnir 204
Teiwaz
316
The Daughters of Dvalinn
222
The Noble Houses, Ljosalfheimr 234
The Noble Houses, Svartalfhiemr 216
Thjassi (Jötunn)
264
Thjodhrorir
222
Thor
202
Thorleif Sikiroddr, “Silk Voice” 147
Thorunn Horikdottir
148
Thrym (Jötunn)
264
Thurisaz
309
Troll Kidh
149
Troll King
150
Troll of Midgardr
149
True Sunstone
302
Tyr
204
Tyrfing
302
u
Ullr (Æsir)
205
Uruz
308
Using The Runic Dice
306
Utgardhaloki
265
v
Valkyrjar
207
Vanaheimr
240
General Features
241
Maps
243
Vanir
245
Vidharr (Æsir)
205
w
Wunjo
311
Open Game L icense Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and
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15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000,
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System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast,
Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney
Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell,
Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend, based on original material by E. Gary
Gygax and Dave Arneson.
END OF LICENSE
Journey To Ragnarok Copyright © Michele Paroli, 2017 - Character Sheet - Based on Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
CLASS & LEVEL
RACE
ALIGNMENT
EXPERIENCE POINTS
BACKGROUND
PLAYER NAME
CLAN
CHARACTER NAME
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
SAVING THROWS
ARMOR
SHIELD
MAGIC
MISC.
AC
DESCRIPTION
HIT DICE
ACTIONS
BONUS ACTIONS
REACTIONS
DAMAGE/TYPE
RANGE
PROF.
NAME & DESCRIPTION
SKILL
ATK BONUS
GP
SP
CP
Temporary Hit Points
CURRENT HIT POINTS
HIT POINTS
SUCCESSES
FAILURES
DEATH SAVES
ATTACKS: WEAPONS & CANTRIPS
ACTIONS
EQUIPMENT
ARMOR
SKILLS
STRENGTH
DEXTERITY
CONSTITUTION
INTELLIGENCE
WISDOM
CHARISMA
Light
Medium
Heavy
Shields
ARMORS
WEAPONS
Simple
Martial
Others
PROFICIENCIES & LANGUAGES
INSPIRATION
PROFICIENCY BONUS
ARMOR
CLASS
INITIATIVE
SPEED
LANGUAGES
TOOLS & OTHERS
RESISTANCES
Acrobatics (Dex)
Animal Handling (Wis)
Arcana (Int)
Asatru (Wis)
Atletica (For)
Deception (Cha)
History (Int)
Investigation (Int)
Medicine (Wis)
Insight (Wis)
Intimidation (Cha)
Nature (Int)
Perception (Wis)
Survival (Wis)
Performance (Cha)
Persuasion (Cha)
Religion (Int)
Sleight of Hand (Dex)
Stealth (Dex)
PROF.
EXP.
PASSIVE WISDOM (PERCEPTION)
PASSIVE WISDOM (ASATRU)
Journey To Ragnarok Copyright © Michele Paroli, 2017 - Character Sheet - Based on Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
ALLIES
CLAN
RACE FEATURES
FEATS
FLAWS
PERSONALITY TRAITS
CHARACTER PORTRAIT
BONDS
IDEALS
BACKGROUND
CHARACTER NAME
GENDER
ALIGNMENT
AGE
FAITH
SIZE
HAIR
WEIGHT
SKIN
HEIGHT
EYES
Journey To Ragnarok Copyright © Michele Paroli, 2017 - Character Sheet - Based on Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
CLASS FEATURES
NOTES
Journey To Ragnarok Copyright © Michele Paroli, 2017 - Character Sheet - Based on Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Spell sheet
1st LEVEL
4th LEVEL
5th LEVEL
6th LEVEL
7th LEVEL
8th LEVEL
9th LEVEL
2nd LEVEL
3rd LEVEL
DESCRIPTION
LEVEL
REF.
SAVE
TIME
DURATION
RANGE
SCHOOL
COMP.
SAVING THROW DC
SPELLCASTING ABILITY
ATTACK MODIFIER
SPELLS
SPELL SLOTS
SPELL/CANTRIP
Journey To Ragnarok Copyright © Michele Paroli, 2017 - Character Sheet - Based on Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
SPELLS
DESCRIPTION
LEVEL
REF.
SAVE
TIME
DURATION
RANGE
SCHOOL
COMP.
SPELL/CANTRIP
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/Mana Project/Journey to Ragnarok - Adventure and Setting.pdf |
Official Errata for Necropolis (Original Book)
These changes apply with immediate effect to the original Necropolis setting. They comprise the major
changes to the rules found in the new print run of Necropolis 2350. They overrule any previous errata
published. Changes to the game’s background are not included here.
Change
These apply if you are using the Explorer’s Edition of Savage Worlds.
The half-damage from piercing weapons continues to apply. This is a major part of the Rephaim’s
strength and should not be removed. Consider it a setting specific rule.
Use the following weapon damages: baton (Str+d4), heartbreaker (Str+d6/2d6), molecular knife
(Str+d4+2, AP 2), molecular sword (Str+d8+2, AP 4), sledgehammer (Str+d8), spear (Str+d6), rune dagger
(Str+d6+2, AP 2), and rune sword (Str+d8+4, AP 4).
Note that molecular weapons retain the +2 bonus and AP even if a hero has a lower Strength die. For
instance, a Knight with Strength d6 causes 2d6+2 damage AP 4 with a molecular sword.
Clarification
Necropolis states in the Necromancy section that, “A necromantic damage-causing spell actually drains
the life-force of victims….” It then goes on to explain how the game mechanics for this work.
This bonus applies only to necromantic spells invoked using Necromancy, such as bolt or blast. Weird
Science gizmos, even weapons which simulate a damage-causing spell, do not gain these benefits. The key
difference is that Weird Science uses gizmos, not spells.
In pure game terms this is semantics, but in the world of Necropolis the difference is much greater—
necromantic spells draw energy directly from the Dark, whereas gizmos draw their power from human hearts.
Errata
Chaplains no longer have access to every spell from the Savage Worlds rules. They cannot use burrow,
fly, shape change, teleport, or zombie.
Errata
The Valhalla Graduate Edge has changed. It has a Wild Card requirement. The second paragraph now
reads, “The character gains +1” to his “command radius” per character Rank, starting at Novice. He gains +1 to
all Knowledge (Battle) rolls. In addition, he may ignore the Rank requirements when taking Leadership Edges.”
Errata
The Élan Edge has changed. Replace the second paragraph with, “Characters with the Élan Edge who
spend a benny to reroll a trait roll and score a raise on the reroll have their benny returned to them.”
Errata
The Tactician Edge has changed. It now reads, “At the beginning of a fight, before any initiative cards are
dealt, the hero makes a Knowledge (Battle) roll. For each success and raise he receives one initiative card.
These are kept separate from his regular initiative cards and are not placed back into the deck until used or the
combat ends.
At the start of any round, the hero may give one or more of these extra cards to his allies, whether Extras
or Wild Cards, who then use it as their initiative card for the round in place of the one dealt them. Only one
character per encounter may use this Edge.”
Errata
The Flagellant has a crew of 3, not 2 (commander, driver, gunner) and carries 1000 rounds per gun.
Errata
The flechette chain gun works in a different way. When fired on the ground, it can only be used to
conduct a Suppressive Fire attack. Each burst fires 50 rounds. Due to the chain gun’s high rate of fire, targets
have –1 to their Spirit rolls. Foes who roll a 1 or lower on their Spirit die (regardless of Wild Die) are hit and
suffer damage normally. When fired from an aircraft, it uses the Guns rule under aircraft support.
Errata
The second paragraph under the Flagellant now reads, “The Flagellant’s main drawback is that all four
guns must be fired at the same target area. Place four adjacent Medium Burst Templates (forming a square) on
the battlefield within range. Make a single Suppressive Fire attack (the guns are linked and all either hit or
miss).”
Errata
Exploding corpses ignore all piercing weapon damage. Heavy Weapons, other melee weapons, lasers,
explosive weapons, and flamethrowers inflict normal damage.
Errata
The following entries indicate minor, major, and mortal sins for characters with the Arcane Background
(Miracles) Edge. The WM is free to add or remove entries to suit his version of Necropolis.
Minor: Refusing to destroy an Extra undead, engaging in conversation with an undead (except to
Intimidate, Taunt, or interrogate it), allowing a corpse to be buried without proper rites, desecrating a tomb or
other sanctified burial place, refusing to aid a human in need (except known cultists), committing a minor
crime.
Major: Refusing to destroy a Wild Card undead, refusing to hand over a cultist to the Inquisition, using a
necromantic gizmo, committing a major crime.
Mortal: Knowingly aiding an undead or known cultist, taking a human life (except cultists), committing a
capital crime.
| textdata/thevault/Triple Ace Games/Necropolis 2350/Savage Worlds - Necropolis - Errata.pdf |
Mummy 2nd Edition
For those Egyptophiles out there, here is the reposting of
the original text for the Mummy 2nd Edition Errata.
Disregarding the moronic omission of the Mummy 2nd
character sheet, the new rules for freebie-point
expenditure and Sekhem costs are atrocious.
We were trying to do something different with the
freebie-point costs for mummies, much as we were with
the Discipline variations between (say) Dark Ages Celerity
and Masquerade Celerity. And, much as with the Dark
Ages Discipline differences, this proved to be a foolish,
bone-headed decision on WW's part. Mea culpa. So,
without further ado, here are some alternate charts for
mummy freebie-point expenditure.
Freebie Costs
Attribute - 5
Ability - 2
Hekau Path - 7
Background - 1
Virtue - 2
Sekhem - 2
Ba - N/A
Ka - 4
Humanity - 1
Willpower - 1
Experience Costs
Cost to Increase Sekhem: current rating.
Weather Spells: Certain Celestial magic and a couple of
other spells cannot be figured per the normal method. In
this case, treat the cost as (Level of the Spell+4).
| textdata/thevault/Storyteller [multi]/World of Darkness (WoD) [multi]/Vampire/Vampire (oWoD)/World of Darkness (WoD)/oWoD/Mummy (c)/Mummy 2nd Errata.pdf |
Руководство Кампании
Забытых Царств
Источник: Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, D&D 4
Перевод: Leytan, [email protected]
Глава 2
ПРИКЛЮЧЕНИЯ
Мир кампании Забытых Царств заполнен многими чудесными нациями, фантастическими расами, и мощной
магией. Новый век вводит еще более великие элементы невероятного к этому яркому, постоянно меняющемуся
миру. Торил – живой растущий мир, дом для многих тысяч интеллектуальных существ с их собственными
имена и делами, природой и историей. Могучие герои бродят по земле, создавая новые легенды своей
храбростью и намерениями. Рослые воины хафлинги сражаются против демонов, наводнивших Врата
Железного Клыка в Дамбрате. Колдуны дженази из чудесного Аканула изучают секретное искусство дикой
магии. Хитрые хулиганы Чессенты скрываются на аллеях и базарах Лутчека, Города Безумия. В мире героев,
как светлых, так и темных, вы должны выбрать, где будете сражаться и на чью сторону встать. За прошедшие
двадцать лет, много правил и идей были представлены в игровых приложениях, романах, комиксах и
видеоиграх, и то перенасыщение информацией поначалу может сильно сбивать с толку. Ключ к управлению
успешной кампании Забытых Царств – малый старт. Каждая кампания должна быть уникальной,
удовлетворяющая потребностям и индивидуальностям игроков и Данжон Мастера. Попробуйте не
ограничивать себя рамками или избегать чего–либо «не официального». Торил – очень большое место, с более
чем достаточным количеством мест для персонажей и кампании, чтобы развиваться вне того, что представлено
в этой книге или других источниках кампании Забытых царств.
Эта глава содержит следующие секции.
•
Ваша Кампания в 1479 DR: для ДМа, у которого уже есть идущая кампания, эта секция предлагает
идеи для перемещения игры в текущий год.
•
Путешествие по Миру: Чума Заклинаний и ее последствия сделало путешествие более опасным. Здесь
предлагаются некоторые из более безопасных способов передвижения.
•
История: краткий обзор главных периодов в Истории Торила до настоящего времени.
•
Сокровища: предметы искусства и другие ценные изделия добавляют небольшой аромат в запасы
сокровищ Забытых Царств.
•
Глоссарий: специальные слова и термины, добавляющие реализм в вашу игру.
ВАША КАМПАНИЯ В 1479 DR
Начиная с предыдущего выпуска кампании Забытых Царств, линия времени передвинулась на сто лет. Это
настоящий скачок, но то было необходимым для фокусировании на совершенно новой перспективе
потенциальных историй и приключений на Ториле и вне его.
Это – большое регулирование, но ДМ и игроки, кто вложил много сил в кампанию и своих персонажей, не
должны бросать свою игру. Вы можете включить новые идеи из этого выпуска в кампанию, планируя
изменения. Если у вас есть активная кампания, которая следует линии времени предыдущего выпуска, то
вы можете довольно легко продвинуть вашу игру на сто лет вперед с некоторыми регулировками. Вот
некоторые предложения для обработки изменений линии времени в вашей игре.
ПРОДВИЖЕНИЕ ЛИНИИ ВРЕМЕНИ
Самый легкий способ приспособить вашу кампанию – не изменять все внезапно. Продолжите события
вашей игры в 1375 DR и далее как вы хотите, возможно используя некоторые события, описанные в Главе 6
и в Великой Истории Царств, чтобы ввести «будущее истории» в вашу кампанию. Однажды вы достигните
естественной точки остановки, и сможете начать новую кампанию в Году Нестареющего. (Начало новой
кампании – также самый легкий путь к переходу правил 4ой редакции D&D).
Чума Заклинаний 1385 DR – возбуждающее, апокалиптическое событие, которое может быть великим
способом завершить вашу текущую кампанию. Включите ваших персонажей игроков в историю так или
иначе, в события, которые отражают (или создававшиеся непосредственно) убийство Мистры Цириком, с
подстрекательством Шар. Возможно события Чумы Заклинаний предзнаменовали подземелья, случаи,
элементы истории в вашей новой кампании.
ПРОДВИЖЕНИЕ ПЕРСОНАЖЕЙ
Если ваши игроки не хотят создавать новых персонажей, передвиньте РС в новую линию времени. Один из
способов выполнить эту задачу состоит в том, чтобы использовать Чуму Заклинаний непосредственно.
Вместо того, чтобы быть уничтоженными, РС были заключены в коконе в бесконечную магическую
матрицу, как насекомые в янтаре. Куколка наконец распалась или была сломана внешними силами в Году
Нестареющего. Игровые персонажи появляются, мигая и восстанавливаясь (и возможно некоторые из них
получили шрам заклинаний за это время).
Другой способ переместить ваших персонажей – портал замедленного времени. Порталы находятся на всем
протяжении Торила, и многие из них ведут себя довольно не определенно. Любой портал может
перемещать персонажа с места на место, но мудрецы знают, что время и место – две стороны одной
медали. Сбой в нормальной работе портала мог вызвать РС, чтобы появиться в будущем, на сто лет вперед.
Возможно персонажи даже знали, что данный портал не стабилен во времени, но они все равно решают
вступить в него, так как это путь ведет к злодею, которого они давно выслеживали и обязаны отдать под
суд. Вы также можете переместить персонажей по линии времени по договоренности. Вместо того, чтобы
делать это с оригинальными персонажами, ваши игроки могли бы взять на себя роль потомков этих
персонажей, заверенных семейной честью владеть оружием предков и закончить поиски, возложенных на
них как наследниках. Персонажи могут сохранить их концепцию и общий уровень силы, но использовать
правила 4ой редакции D&D.
ПУТЕШЕСТВИЕ ПО МИРУ
Континент Фаэрун в 1479 DR не имеет сетки торговых маршрутов как в старые времена. Бедствия,
бушующие монстры, возвышение злых империй изменили пейзаж. Множество дорог пришли в упадок и
имеют плохое состояние, несколько портов высоки и сухи, и многочисленные некогда города – теперь
пустые оболочки или затопленные руины.
Но смелость и риск окунуться в темноту между островками света остается по прежнему полезным и
возбуждающим предприятием. Путешествие по пересеченной местности опасно и часто трудно –
следующие средства транспортировки более безопасны и легче.
Дороги: некоторые дороги остаются в хорошем состоянии, требуя только крепкие ботинки или верховое
животное, чтобы было быстрее, если перемещение слишком замедлено.
Караваны: торговые караваны путешествуют и по дорогам и там, где приходится путешествовать на
длинные расстояния. Персонажи могли бы быть наняты в качестве охранников для поездки.
Корабли: путешествие водным путем остается популярным между городами с речными или морскими
портами.
Порталы: немного порталов все еще функционируют, и только самые удачливые натыкаются на них.
Однако заклинатели могут исполнять ритуалы, позволяющие быстрое путешествие между широко
отдаленными местами.
Полет: некоторые нации имеют воздушный транспорт, включая Высокий Имаскар, Тиманзер и Нетерил, но
такие перевозки редко доступны для использования приключенческими компаниями.
Хождение по Планам: планы Шедоуфелл и Фейвайлд несколько соответствуют географии Торила,
позволяя путешественникам обходить некотрые неблагоприятные места в мире, перемещаясь в одном их
этих планов некоторое время. Специальные ритуалы позволяют планарное перемещение для более
быстрого путешествия (конечно, другие планы также имеют собственные опасности).
ПРИКЛЮЧЕНИЕ И ЗАКОН
По определению, авантюристы хорошо вооружены и способны к магии. Они невероятно опасны для своих
врагов – и не всегда безопасны даже для друзей, окружающих их. Однако большинство жителей
Сердцеземья и Севера хорошо расположены к авантюристам с благими намерениями. Они знаю, что такие
люди ежедневно рискуют и не хотели бы сами сталкиваться с подобным.
Авантюристы, которые заверяют преданность правителю или стране, отношения которой совпадают с их
собственным, могут получить приключенческий чартер, предоставляющий им законность и защиту
мощного покровителя. Дипломированных авантюристов считают офицерами королевства, которому они
служат, они могут арестовывать, и им предоставляется защита против вмешательства местных лордов,
гарантируемая в соответствии с пунктами чартера.
КОРОЛЕВСКИЙ ЧАРТЕР КОРМИРА
В Кормире не только желательно получить чартер – это закон. Королевство закрывает глаза на тех, кто
путешествует по сельской местности как служащий армии, кто, по видимому, не имеет более высокой цели,
чем искать приключения. Без чартера могут быть авантюристы, типа любой силы, представляющей короля,
включая Пурпурных Драконов и местную милицию.
Чартер может быть получен с помощью Лорда Командующего Замка Высокий Рог, Начальника Восточных
Маршей из Замка Краг, или Лорда Высокого Маршала из Королевского Суда в Сюзейле. Основные
чартеры имеют ежегодную стоимость в 25 золотых, но не всегда гарантируют свободный проход, так как
они могут быть легко подделаны. Написанные вручную на золотой фольге и заверенные лично подписью
правителя Кормира стоят 1000 золотых монет с ежегодным обновлением в 300 золотых.
АМНИЙСКОЕ ПРЕДПИСАНИЕ КАПЕРА
Авантюристы, особенно колдующие, считаются вне закона в Амне, если их не лицензирует Совет Пяти.
Законное предписание капера, выпущенное в Аскатле, разрешает держателю носить оружие, творить
заклинания и атаковать морские суда, освобождаясь от преследования и находясь под полной защитой
Пяти Домов. Иностранцы видят в авантюристах, владеющих предписанием капера немногим лучше, чем
пиратов и охотников за сокровищами.
ИСТОРИЯ
Установка Забытых царств богата знаниями и историей. Как и наш собственный мир, Торил
сформировывался и ваялся беспощадными ветрами истории и временем. Древние войны, ужасные
катастрофы, личные трагедии и великие триумфы – все это дало начало последствиям, которые в свою
очередь вызвали другие войны и бедствия. Таким образом имеется бесконечный цикл причин и
последствий, растянувшийся на тысячи лет и затронувший сотни городов и королевств.
Самая общая история Торила ведет свои корни назад к древнему Нетерилу. Это популярный человеческий
миф о создании вселенной Богом Ао и последующей эпической борьбы между богами света и тьмы. Только
недавно появились другие, более древние легенды, записанные саррукхом Окотха и отраженные
драконорожденными с Вернувшегося Абейра. Объединяя общие нити из обеих записях, поддерживая
прилежным изучением и фактами, ученые и историки сегодня получили более ясное понимание о создании
вселенной.
СОЗДАНИЕ
В начале существовало мглистое царство бесконечного небытия, выделенного Ао Скрытым от сырого
элементного хаоса Флогистона. В пределах этой тусклой сферы несколько миров дрейфовали в Море Ночи.
Хотя миры были безжизненными и бесплодными, мощные существа энтропии и элементные сущности
жаждали их. Их имена были утеряны с веками; немногие из мудрецов сегодня знают об их существовании
и относятся к ним просто как изначальным.
Неизвестные изначальным, осколки от создания соединились вокруг вселенной как океан серебристой
жидкости. Из этого блестящего царства звездного света сформировались два существа близнеца, полные
противоположности друг друга, одно из тьмы, другое из света. Близнецы богини Астрального Моря быстро
переместили девственные миры для защиты от разрушительных изначальных. Другие боги были созданы в
результате божественных битв или вызваны из других измерений для помощи в борьбе против
изначальных и их чудовищных служителей.
ТЕНЕВАЯ ЭПОХА
В то время как боги и изначальные боролись целую вечность, жизнь боролась за существование в мирах,
которых они так жаждали. Синий драгоценный камень – Торил - искрился ярче всех из них, и был домом
для расы морских существ, населявших глубины всемирного единого обширного океана. Этой Голубой Эре
пришел внезапный и пугающий конец, когда Торил необъяснимым образом был погружен во тьму. Это
солнце было украдено зловещим изначальным, известным как Ночная Змея. Наступило глобальное
похолодание и скоро на планете большинство форм жизни погибло.
Немного известно об этой Теневой Эпохе, но мифы и легенды саррукхов говорят о мощнейших битвах
между изначальными и Древними Богами во главе с Оуроборосом Мировой Змеей. В конечном счете поток
повернули вспять, когда изначальные были преданы одним из них. Убтао Обманщик помог Древним Богам
в убийстве, заключении в тюрьму и изгнании оставшихся изначальных.
ДНИ ГРОМА
- 35 000 DR до – 30 000 DR
Вечность прошла прежде, чем солнечный свет снова согрел мир. Океаны таяли, затем отступали, позволяя
суше оголиться, чтобы возвыситься над холодной водой. В это древнее время большая часть земного
массива Торила была единственным суперконтинентом, названным Мерроуроборос.
В свою очередь каждая раса создателей доминировала над Мерроуроборосом, создавая и производя как
потомство меньшие расы. Благородные фей никогда не доминировали над континентом, вместо этого они
хотели управлять Фейвайлдом, царством из другого мира, свободно связанного с Торилом. Эти древние
народы известны более поздним расам, включая эльфов и людей, под эльфийским названием - икуа
Тель’Куэссир, или Раса Создателей.
ВЕК РАССВЕТА
- 30 000 DR до – 24 000 DR
Империи рас создателей исчезли в памяти, возвещая Время Драконов и Гигантов. Драконы одиночки и
кланы драконов управляли большими территориями, борясь со своими конкурентами за контроль над
землей, морями и небесами. В течение этого периода разрушительных войн между драконами,
изолированные и прежние территории драконов перешли под контроль гигантов. В течение долгого
времени такие королевства гигантов угрожали гегемонии расе драконов, приводя к великим битвам. Строго
обособленные, гиганты были спасены от вымирания высокой магией фей, наславшей на драконов
пароксизм ярости и разрушения.
ПЕРВЫЙ РАСЦВЕТ
- 24 000 DR до – 12 000 DR
Великие эльфийские цивилизации Эривандаар, Иллефарн, Майеритар, Шантел Отрейер и Келтормир
достигли своего пика. В результате успеха эльфов против орд орков, драконов и гагантов, другие расы
(включая людей) процветали в безопасности и начался медленный подъем их цивилизаций. Этот век также
засвидетельствовал необузданную ярость Раскола, бедственное последствие высокой магии, разломившей
Мерроуроборос на части, создав несоизмеримые континенты Фаэрун, Мазтика и Каташака. Среди бурных
вод недавно сформированного океана, позже известного как Бездорожное Море, возник Зеленый остров
Эвермит, задуманный как часть Арвандора и мост между мирами.
ВОЙНЫ КОРОНЫ
- 12 000 DR до – 9 000 DR
Много наций на юге пали в течение этого ужасного времени, включая Теарнитаар, Эиелур, Сайорпиир и
Оришаар. Темное Бедствие ( -10 000 DR) разрушило лесное царство Майеритар, оставляя взорванные
равнины, известные сегодня как Хай Мур (High Moor). Возможно из-за дикости войн короны, или под
долгим влиянием других факторов, темные эльфы стали испорченными в течение этой эры. Они покончили
со своими родственниками и после большого количества войн и жестокости, в конце концов были высланы
под поверхность мира, чтобы стать дроу (дхаэроу или «предатель» на эльфийском).
ВРЕМЯ ОСНОВАНИЯ
- 9 000 DR до – 3 000 DR
Также известно как Век Гордых Народов, это эра совместного возвышения многих гуманоидных
цивилизаций, время, когда драконы и гиганты были свергнуты и войны эльфов больше не угрожали всем и
каждому. Дварфская цивилизация особенно расцвела; дварфы основали королевства Шанатар, Сарфил,
Огранн, Хонгданнар, Горагхор, Бесилмер, Аммариндар и Делзун в течение этой эры. Цраства фей
Силуванидей, Шаррвена, Иэрлэнн и Эвереска были также созданы в это время, как и могучие человеческие
нации Калимшана и Джаамдата.
ЭРА ЧЕЛОВЕКА
- 3000 DR до 1358 DR
Эта эра отмечена драматическим увеличением человечества на Ториле, в отличие от эльфийских и
дварфийских империй, которые пришли в упадок. В течение этого периода возникли могучие человеческие
империи, такие как Нетерил, Имаскар, Малхоранд, Унтер, Нарфел и Роматар. Также великие человеческие
нации развивались в землях за пределами Фаэруна – в дальневосточных царствах Ва и Шу Лунг в Кара –
Туре, Закхаре, и в отдаленной Мазтике.
ЭРА ПЕРЕВОРОТА
1358 DR до наших дней.
Сегодня ученые отмечают пагубные события Кризиса Аватаров в Году Теней (1358 DR) как начало Эры
Переворота. Немногие ранние дни в физическом и магическом хаосе Времени Неприятностей возможно
служили предсказанием и прелюдией к Чуме Заклинаний, и катастрофическому слиянию двух миров,
которое произошло сразу после. Хотя союз с Абейром был краток, его отметина на Ториле была
существенной и устойчивой. Даже боги, впервые в вечностях познали это и устрашились, их число
уменьшилось, а надолго высланные изначальные вернулись, чтобы выступить против них, сея повсюду во
вселенной хаос.
РАСКОЛОТЫЙ АБЕЙР
В заключительные дни цивилизации батрачей (с – 31 000 DR) , невообразимая катастрофа ударила по
Торилу. Говорят, что амфибиоиды вели безвыиграшную войну против армии титана Аннама. В отчаянии,
батрачи исполнили эпический ритуал призывания и выпустили на свободу несколько изначальных из
заключения. Боги быстро выступили против своих древних врагов, и вся планета содрогнулась в ужасных
землетрясениях, огне и бурях. Под грохот, изачальный, называющий себя Асгорот Изменяющий Мир,
швырнул ледяную луну на Торил, намереваясь разрушить мир, если он сам не мог им владеть. Все же
прежде, чем мир был полностью разорван, вмешался Скрытый. Бог Ао создал планеты близнецы,
предоставляя изначальным доминион в новом мире Абейре, а богам отдал управление над первоначальным
миром – Торилом. Древние записи саррукхов отмечают «изменения звезд», но до Чумы Заклинаний и
возвращение Абейра, очень немногие когда либо принимали в расчет эти легенды.
КАЛЕНДАРИ И ХРАНЕНИЕ ВРЕМЕНИ
Почти каждая земля и раса имеют свою собственную предпочтительную систему, чтобы отмечать
проходящие годы. Народы Муншае отмечают восхождение на трон Симрика Хью в качестве Высокого
Короля тринадцать столетий назад как начало календаря. Уотердивиане отсчитывают годы с даты, когда
Агейрон стал первым Лордом Уотердипа почти 500 лет назад. Календарь, используемый в этой книге –
Отсчет Долин (DR). Год 1 DR отмечен установкой Стоячего камня и договором между Эльфами
Кормантора и первыми человеческими поселенцами Долин почти 1 500 лет назад.
Очень немногие из людей беспокоятся заплесневелыми календарями и бессмысленными числами. Вместо
этого годы известны по именам. Например, 1479 DR – текущий год – назван Годом Нестареющего.
Большинство жителей использует Календарь Харптоса, чтобы отмечать приход дней.
Каждый год состоит из 365 дней, разделен на 12 месяцев и 30 дней. Пять специальных дней попадают
между месяцами, отмечая сезоны или их изменения. Один раз в каждые четыре года, к календарю
добавляется Шилдмит, добавочный день, сразу после ночи Разгара Лета. Слова «час» и «минута»
используются в мире. «Песочные часы» (различных размеров) известны в большинстве зданий и магазинов.
Солнечные и водяные часы существуют, но редко говорят точнее приблизительно одной трети дня, и таким
образом их считают просто мишурой и любопытством для знати и храмов.
ВЕЛИКАЯ ИСТОРИЯ ЦАРСТВ
Данжон Мастеру, которого интересует более подробная история Забытых Царств, рекомендуем
рассмотреть приложение Великая История Царств. Кроме того, обновления к Великой Истории, обширной
и всесторонней линии времени, периодически доступно онлайн в D&D Insider
(<http://www.dndinsider.com>).
ГЛОССАРИЙ
Язык живет, изменяя вещи. Использование части из следующих слов в течение игры – великолепный
способ приукрасить отыгрыш роли. Эта секция – направление на то, как использовать «диалекты царств».
Эти слова могут помочь придать настроение в течение столкновения, но нет никакой потребности
пробовать их все, или использовать любое, которое, как кажется, нарушает настроение. Злоупотребление
диалектом или изобретение слова выглядит неуклюже, но вы можете привнести в кампанию жизнь,
изобретая или изменяя слова и фразы, чей контекст ясно дает понять их значение.
Большинство этих терминов и выражений принадлежат Общему языку. Остальные из других языков также
обозначены.
НАГЛЯДНЫЕ ТЕРМИНЫ
Искусство: вся магия, не дарованная богами (тайная сила), слово всегда капитализируется; «искусство»,
относящееся к живописи, вырезанию, ваянию и созданию, которое вы можете видеть и касаться, не
считается искусством.
Бедайн: название племени, которое обитало на прежней территории Пустыни Анорач (теперь Нетерил). По
сей день все еще используется как название племени – но теперь много Бедайн – горожане, а другие
сепаратисты, выступающие против Нетереза.
Измененные земли: определяющий термин для части ландшафта, который явно не подходит под
ближайший окружающий ландшафт, вероятно из-за Чумы Заклинаний.
Этмоут (earthmote): летающий кусок пейзажа, висящий в небе.
Земной узел: место, где магическая сила сконцентрирована.
Ффолк: одна из двух групп народа (другие известны как Северяне), которая населяет Острова Муншае.
Дженази: гуманоиды элементного наследия, уроженцы Абейра, но также многочисленные во многих
местах на Фаэруне.
Пожар глотки (qulletfire): плохое пиво или вино.
Хокснарл, Ястребиный клубок (hawksnarl): человек, который всегда вопит или бушует, или ведет себя
более противно и более агрессивно, чем того требует благоразумие или необходимость (более жестче:
«реальный хокснарл»).
Высокое солнце: полдень, технический момент, когда солнце занимает свою наивысшую точку.
Большинство народов используют этот термин для обозначения полдня, два часа или также около полудня.
Келл: пробовать. Слово используется только, когда что–либо предпринятое является опасным,
незаконченным, хитрым или сомнительным.
Мифаль: объект, зачарованный на основе мощной фейской магии.
Нентиарх: титул друидов Великой Долины используется для обозначения их лидера.
Фея Нобель, Благородная фея: мощный эладрин Фейвалда.
Измененный чумой: термин для существ, которых коснулась первая волна Чумы Заклинаний в Году
Синего Огня; обычно ужасные монстры.
Чумная земля: определяющий термин, описывающий земли, где активная Чума Заклинаний все еще горит.
Plaguewrought Land: определенное местоположение, наибольшая чумная земля на Фаэруне.
Портал: магический «дверной проем», который позволяет мгновенное путешествие между двумя
отдаленными местами. Многие из порталов на Фаэруне были разрушены или деформированы Чумой
Заклинаний.
Вернувшийся Абейр: континент, который был присоединен к Торилу к западу от Бездорожного Моря в
течение событий Года Синего Огня.
Риввим (rivvim): сраженный, пораженный (как «я полностью риввим, когда я смотрю на нее»); вежливый
термин и используется в обоих родах.
Обжигающий чайник (scorchkettle): женщина, которая высказывается в адрес кого-то публично,
используя выразительные и горячие слова; см. также «хокснарл».
Продажный меч: известный или старый наемник, или одна внушительная репутация.
Чума Заклинаний: событие в 1385 DR в результате смерти Мистры, который изменил магию и мир
навсегда. Также используется в том случае, когда обращают внимание на эффект или вещество, оставшееся
в местах после произошедшего события.
Шрам заклинания: клеймо синего огня, которое предоставляет способность, обычно выгодную, но с
некоторым отрицательным аспектом.
Магошрам: термин для существа (обычно гуманоида), прикоснувшийся позже к более слабой опасной
силе Чумы Заклинаний, обладающий шрамом заклинания.
Spurnarmor: хорошо-обеспеченный мужчина или женщина (как в «Галад! Какой spurnarmor!»).
Десятидневка: буквально, десять последовательных дней, используемых также, как и представители
реального мира, говорящие «неделя».
Throatslake: что-нибудь питьевое, утоляющее жажду и не вызывающее болезнь при этом, но не особенно
приятное.
Утгард: название, разделяемое несколькими племенами человеческих кочевников, которые занимают
глухие области в пределах Луруара и Высокого Леса, другими упоминаемые также как «варвары Утгарда».
Плетение: термин для магии; использовался для обозначения магии, установленной Мистрой.
ПРИВЕТСТВИЯ И ПРОЩАНИЯ
Алэй (Alae), (ah-lay): «удачная встреча». Сокращенная старая эльфийская фраза, используемая в качестве
общего приветствия и заверения мирного намерения.
Дургосз (Durgos), (dur-ghosz): «мир». Измененное орками в durgreos (см. ниже), используется
драконорожденными, многими торговцами, моряками всех рас, и почти всеми работорговцами.
Дургриозз (Dugreos), (dur-gree-ohzz): «без ссоры». Приветствие и часть ответа, используемого орками.
Хикаят (Hykyath), (hik-ah-yath): «гордая походка!» когда то сатирическое замечание, но теперь
используется полуэльфами и эльфами (и даже саркастически, обозначая «живой взгляд» моряками,
воинами и орками).
Ламмат дриос (Lammath drios), (lham-math dree-ohs): «фортуна нашла тебя». Определение использовали
все вокруг Моря Упавших Звезд, но не было одобрено в Сембии, где считалось «низкой речью»,
приспособленной только для мужланов и навозников страны.
Рамбукъя (Rhambukka), (ram-bookh-yah): «высокой поездки». Используется как приветствие в
Эльфхарроу и всех восточных и южных землях.
Саббас (Sabbas), (sab-bas): «свободный бег». Напутствие, используемое кентаврами, кочевниками или
наездниками других рас.
Стеттар вох (Stettar voh), (stet-tar voh): «божественная сила хранит тебя хорошо». Формальное мирное
приветствие и напутствие среди торговцев в южном Фаэруне и Вернувшемся Абейре.
Тантэм (Tantam), (tan-tam): «привет». Мирное приветствие на пути через северный Фаэрун.
Улуваутэй (Uluvathae), (oo-loo-vaw-thay): «фортуна приносит вам радость». Дружественное,
неофициальное приветствие, используемое эльфами и полуэльфами другой расы, кого они приветствуют;
между близкими друзьями это также является нейтральным приветствием или предупреждением: «ничего
не говорите; нас слушают».
Вландранна (Vlandranna), (vlan-dranna): «боги предоставляют,» подразумевая то, что происходит по их
воле. Старое, развращенное дварфийское слово, теперь используемое всеми расами вокруг Внутреннего
Моря и на землях к востоку и к северу от него.
ФОРМЫ ОБРАЩЕНИЯ
В большинстве городов, к мужчине незнакомцу вежливо обращаются как «добрый сэр» (goodsir) и
женщине как «добрая женщина» (goodwoman), или иногда как «прекрасная леди». Известная знать и
чиновники – «Лорд» и «Леди», наряду с «милордом» и «миледи» (более безопасно), при обращении к
персоне, которая кажется великой, богатой и важной, но чей точный статус не определен. При формальном
обращении к известной, определенной персоне (мужчине или женщине), или в письменной форме, или
речи чиновника, используется его или ее титул (даже обыденный титул, типа Мастера Гильдии или
Мастера Масона). Если человек испытывает недостаток в таком обращении, его упоминают не как «добрый
сэр», а как «Хозяин» («Хозяин Драекур из Переулка Чертополоха»). Женщина же в таком случае всегда
упоминается как «хозяйка». Когда же персона должна быть упомянута, но как известно, не является
человеком, то используется «goodfaer» не зависимо от рода.
РАСОВЫЕ И КОЛЛЕКТИВНЫЕ ТЕРМИНЫ
Расовые термины – не всегда умаления, или должны обязательно браться. Всякий раз вы должны проявить
большую заботу, используя некоторые из нижеследующих выражений.
Зверолюди (beast-man): огры (прежде использовалось только людьми, теперь же и гномами с
хафлингами). Нелестный термин, но огры вообще враждебны так или иначе.
Ломкие кости (brittlebones): люди (используется только орками).
Светлый Народ (Fair Folk, the): эльфы и эладрины (эльфы используют его только для обозначения
эладринов).
Свободный Народ (Free Folk, the): сатиры (человеческий термин, теперь используется всеми расами,
включая сатиров).
Хин: хафлинги (неофициальный, но вежливый; каждодневно используется среди хафлингов).
Харбрин (Hurbryn): люди (термин среди сатир и дриад, означающий «неповоротливый», также теперь
используется хафлингами и проникает в в использование другими расами).
Многорукие (manyhanded, the): люди (возникшее из «многорукого проклятья», старого эльфийского
оскорбления).
Мясо: вся интеллектуальная добыча (используется только орками).
Могучий: орки (используется только орками, чтобы обозначить собственную расу).
Оруш (oroosh): люди (используется треантами, что буквально означает «говорящие-без-остановки»).
Народ: эльфы (используется только эльфами).
Гордые Народы: дварфы и эльфы, все вместе (используется только людьми и становится все более
архаичным).
Быстрый Народ: хафлинги (рассматривается как приветственный термин, и часто ими же используется,
когда говориться о них же).
Тихий Народ: гномы.
Хитрый Народ: хафлинги (главным образом используется только людьми и дварфами).
Сорн (sorn): дроу (используется только эладринами, эльфами и полуэльфами, а также дроу).
Крепкий Народ: дварфы.
Черви: гоблины и маленькие или крошечные орки (используется только орками). Оскорбительный термин.
Руководство Кампании
Забытых Царств
Источник: Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, D&D 4
Перевод: Leytan, [email protected]
ГЛАВА 4
КОСМОЛОГИЯ
Торил и Абейр, соединенные в один мир, расположены среди других планов существования. Большинство
теоретиков помещают Астральное Море, область богов и место отдыха их доминионов, выше мира. Смесь
энергии и элементов существует ниже в Элементном Хаосе; в его основании, Абисс лелеет свои демонические
ужасные желания. Рядом с миром существуют его отражения: мистический Фейвалд, место неистовой жизни и
магии, и мрачный Шедоуфелл, мрачное царство распада и апатии. Чума Заклинаний началась благодаря
намерениям и целям в доминионах богов. Цирик убил Мистру, «распутывая» магию в космосе и разрушая ее
доминион. В то же самое время случилось соприкосновение Абейра и Торила. Это катастрофическое
совпадение привело к перевороту, сотрясая первобытный порядок, открывая бреши в защите и изменяя
элементы. Когда все это было закончено, перестройка сил ясно продемонстрировала новый космический
порядок, существующий по сей день. Теперь исследовать планы различными способами стало легче, чем
раньше. Хотя многие внемировые места враждебны и мало пригодны для простых смертных, существует
довольно мало мест, которые убивают посетителей напрямую. Те, кто имеют силу, могут путешествовать
между измерениями в любое место, как пожелают. Эта глава – географический справочник космоса, описание
царств вне Торила. Как герои, так и злодеи, могут исследовать внемировые области и непосредственно
контактировать с могущественными существами из других планов. Эта глава содержит следующие секции.
•
Астральное Море: дом богов, этот план является царством чистой мысли и творческого потенциала.
Эта секция описывает главные доминионы и их жителей.
•
Элементный Хаос: изначальные живут в этом загрязненном шторме сырой материи. Эта секция
предлагает краткий тур по главным изначальным царствам.
•
Фейвалд: яркое отражение мира, этот план является родиной благородных фей и ужасных монстров.
•
Шедоуфелл: мрачное эхо мира, этот план является землей потерянных душ и существ, которые таятся
в темноте.
АСТРАЛЬНОЕ МОРЕ
Область разума и духа, Астральное Море, где чистое воображение может стать реальностью. Эта великая
серебристая пустота содержит доминионы богов.
ПУТЕШЕСТВИЕ
Путешествие к Астральному Морю требует только надлежащего ритуала, проход через тропы, найденные в
мире, Фейвалде, и особенно в Шедоуфелле. Путешествие в Астральном Море также легко, как полет. Смертные
существа, которые имеют способность перемещаться по планам, могут пересекать, путешествовать и даже
населять доминионы Моря. Некоторые доминионы неприветливы, однако и немногие из божеств будут
любезны к вторжению смертных, которые прибывают без приглашения.
ДОМИНИОНЫ
Ранее имея структуру дерева, божественные доминионы начали дрейфовать в Астральном Море благодаря
Чуме Заклинаний. В течение Чумы Заклинаний, старые доминионы упали, были слиты или полностью исчезли,
и возникли новые. Каждый доминион – обширное, но конечное место, дом одного или более богов, которые
используют собственную божественную силу для поддержания его структуры.
Черты: доминионам диктовали черты мощные сущности, которые населяли их. Доминион мог иметь
мировоззрение, полученное прежде всего от великого бога, который управлял им, а также в свою очередь от
других божеств, которые разделяли это место. Доминионы могут иметь связь с различными местами в космосе
– другими доминионами, другими планами или царствами в Элементном Хаосе. Эти связи созданы в
соответствии с соглашениями среди богов и других сущностей. Каждым доминионом управляет великий бог,
но другие боги часто разделяют его, хотя они не обязательно должны работать совместно с первоначальным
божеством. Меньшие божественные существа, зовущиеся экзархами, также населяют каждый доминион и
служат одному или большему количеству богов.
АРВАНДОР
Арвандор – место естественной красоты и магии, даже в большей степени, чем Фейвалд. Божества занимают
отдельные области, но немногие признают точные границы. Согласно принятому в Арвандоре, центром
является дворец Кореллона, Возрастающая Роща, где он живет со своей королевой, Ангаррадхой. По всему
Арвандору рассеяны семь обширных холмистых местностей, покрытых золотистой травой. Семь Золотых
Холмов – прежде всего царства гномов, хотя боги гномов живут и бродят там, где пожелают.
Мировоззрение: добро.
Связи: Дипвайлдс, Фейвалд, Врата Луны, Небесный Дом.
Основные жители: Кореллон (великий бог) и его экзархи Глубокий Сашелас, Эреван, Фенмарел, Лабелас,
Шевараш и Солонор; Ангхаррадха (богиня); Гарл Глиттерголд (бог) и его экзархи Баэрван, Баравар и
Каллардуран.
БЭЙНХОЛД
Из своего Черного Бастиона, Бэйн управляет доминионом со своей супругой Ловиатар, принявшую его
сторону. Под давящим небом, освещенным мрачным зеленым светом, Бэнхолд разделен на феодальные
владения, управляемые божественными вассалами Черного Лорда. Эти земли холодны и мучаются
постоянными раздорами. В отдалении, в опустошении все еще сохранились разрушенные цитадели и
взорванные пейзажи из скал, обсидиана, песка и изъеденного железа. Над всем этим распростерлось красное
небо, изломанное штормовыми облаками. Эти области служат предупреждением тем существам, которых Бэйн
поработил в течение Чумы Заклинаний. В этих внешних землях Тиамат, служитель Бэйна, скрывается и строит
заговоры в разных логовищах, которые Черный Лорд позволил ей построить.
Мировоззрение: зло.
Связи: нет.
Основные жители: Бэйн (великий бог) и его экзархи Аббатор, Фзоул Чембрил, Иней, Храггек и Маглубайт;
Ловиатар (богиня); Тиамат (богиня).
СЕЛЕСТИЯ
Огромная гора, окруженная тремя меньшими пиками, плывет сквозь Астральное Море. При встрече испускает
серебристый свет, освещая все. Чудесная жизнь представлена обильно, с чистыми свободными водными
потоками. Около вершины горы – звонящий город, известный также как Истинный Суд, где управляет Торм из
своего дворца, называющийся Высоким Местом (High Seat). На одном из меньших пиков – домен Ильматера,
Мученика. Идиллическое место, где никто не может пострадать, центр мученичества в открытом храме из ряда
белых столбов. В основе этого санктуария находится постамент из белого камня, в который погружен длинный
меч Юстицар (Justicar). Надпись на камне стилизована под чешую, слова гласят – «Justice endures».
Мировоззрение: законное добро
Связи: Дом Дварфов, Вечное Солнце.
Основные жители: Торм (великий бог); Ильматер (бог); Бахамут (бог).
СИНОСУР (ПОЛЯРНАЯ ЗВЕЗДА)
Как нейтральная земля для встречи богов, Синосур обычно закрыт и необитаем. Это – величественная палата
для встреч, полная высоких столбов, украшенных изображениями живых и мертвых богов, открытый и
заполненный звездным пространством Астрального Моря. Путешествие к Синосуру может быть выполнено
только божественными существами с помощью средств, в качестве которых выступают порталы в их
доминионах.
Связи: Синосур соединяется с каждым доминионом, но портал может быть открыт только с согласия и
разрешения соответствующего бога.
ДИПВАЙЛДС
Доминион Сильвануса – обширное пространство неприрученной дикой местности. Он содержит часть каждого
вообразимого земного ландшафта, включая тьму и предвещающий океан. В его пределах никакое уверенное
знание не портит бурление места, хотя жители одевают себя и используют инструменты, приспосабливая свою
чувствительность. Зимний Зал Аурил, построенный исключительно из ветра и льда, медленно перемещается
вдоль доминиона, принося зиму туда, где находится.
Мировоззрение: без мировоззрения.
Связи: Арвандор, Мрачные Пещеры, Элементный Хаос, Вечное Солнце, Фейвалд, Врата Луны.
Основные жители: Сильванус (великий бог) и его экзарх Малар; Аурил (богиня); Миеликки (богиня) и ее
экзарх Шиалия; Амберли (богиня).
ЯМЫ ПАУТИНЫ ДЕМОНОВ
Дом для Лолт и грязным сущностям, которые выполняют ее волю. В центре этой огромной темноты, сотканной
из планарной материи, Демоническая Королева Пауков находится в пределах железной крепости,
сформированной подобно гигантскому арахниду.
Мировоззрение: хаотическое зло.
Связь: Абисс (в Элементном Хаосе).
Основные жители: Лолт (великая богиня).
МРАЧНЫЕ ПЕЩЕРЫ
Это великий подземный лабиринт естественных пещер, освещенных только фосфоресцирующими грибами и
потоками лавы. Мрачные Пещеры – доминион таинственного бога по имени Гонадор. Этот пустынный мрак
также в большом количестве разделяют другие мощные существа и грязные изверги, но любой, кто желает
выжить или служить, избегают владельца Мрачных Пещер.
Мировоззрение: хаотическое зло.
Связи: Абисс (в Элементном Хаосе), Дипвайлдс, Рутхолд (в Элементном Хаосе).
Основные жители: Гонадор (великий бог).
ДОМ ДВАРФОВ
Чудесное королевство Морадина прославляет идеалы ремесла, рабочей силы и богатства. Его поверхность –
протяжение красивых скал, которые изобилуют жизнью. Как наверху, так и внизу этих гор, дварфские боги
живут и работают. В основе всего этого великий зал Морадина и его жены Берронар, названный Эракинором,
где отдыхает Дух Создания Морадина.
Мировоззрение: законное добро.
Связи: Селестия, Рутхолд (в Элементном Хаосе).
Основные жители: Морадин (великий бог) и его экзархи Клангеддин, Дагмарен, Мартаммор, Тард и
Варгадэйн; Берронар (богиня).
ВЕЧНОЕ СОЛЦЕ
Дворец Четырех Солнц – люминесцентная цитадель, расположенная среди сияющих, процветающих земель и
морей Вечного Солнца. Здесь живет Амонатор, Хранитель Золотого солнца. Окружает центр золотого города
замок – Вечный Рынок Ваукин, где бизнес и законы торговли имеют приоритет.
Мировоззрение: законное добро.
Связи: Селестия, Дипвайлдс.
Основные жители: Амонатор (великий бог) и его экзарх Сиаморф; Ваукин (богиня.
ПЛАН ФУГУ
Кристаллический Шпиль, башня сверкающей прозрачной скалы, наблюдает за Городом Правосудия, серой
столице мертвых, или иначе дом и невыразительный План Фугу. Из Кристаллического Шпиля Келемвор и его
сенешаль, Джергал, судят мертвых.
Мировоззрение: без мировоззрения.
Связи: Шедоуфелл; План Фугу также имеет связь со всеми другими доминионами, но использование таких
связей ограничено теми, кто собирается транспортировать мертвых для загробной жизни.
Основные жители: Келемвор (великий бог) и его экзарх Джергал.
ВРАТА ЛУНЫ
Скалистые острова плавают в серебристом море. Луна прибывает и убывает и видна также хорошо при ярком
свете днем, как и ночью. Естественная красота наполняет каждый остров, наряду с прекрасными зданиями в
диапазоне от странных домов, до изящных поместий. Врата Луны – место красоты и радости,
сконцентрированное вокруг сияющего зала Селуне, Арджентила. Окружает остров Арджентил –
романтический город Сьюн, Светлые Воды (Brightwater). Великое Колесо – семь этмоутов, соединенных
высокими мостами, является царством Тиморы.
Мировоззрение: добро.
Связи: таинственная Лестница Богов (Infinite Staircase) в Арджентиле имеет порталы к городам в каждом
уголке космоса. Большинство из них – односторонние проходы. Селуне также поддерживает тропы к
Арвандору, Дипвайлдс, Фейвалду и Зеленым Полям.
Основные жители: Селуне (великая богиня); Сьюн (великая богиня) и ее экзархи Ллиира и Шаресс; Тимора
(богиня).
ЗЕЛЕНЫЕ ПОЛЯ
Идиллическое царство зеленых холмов, великих вращающихся равнин и пышных речных долин, Зеленые поля
– место благосостояния и отдыха. В его пределах – прекрасный Сад Матери Чонти, где имеющие пищу
растения вырастают дикими и в великом изобилии. Постоянно странствующие божества хафлингов
перемещаются с места на место, живя в одном месте некоторое время, перед тем как углубиться в исследование
изумительного и вечно меняющегося пейзажа.
Мировоззрение: добро.
Связь: Врата Луны.
Основные жители: Чонти (великая богиня); Шила (богиня) и ее экзархи Арворин, Брандобарис и Цирроллали.
ДОМ ЗНАНИЯ
Дом Знания – древний и прирученный лес высоких дубов и ясных, свежих озер и источников. Это место
наполнено музыкой, историей и секретами. Библиотека Всего Знания – ряд зданий, расположенных всюду по
доминиону, в пределах которого содержаться все секреты вселенной, как говорят. Божественные жители этого
доминиона делят здания, хотя Гонд предпочитает часть библиотеки, известной как Дом Чудес.
Мировоззрение: без мировоззрения.
Связи: нет.
Основные жители: Огма (великий бог) и его экзарх Милил; Гонд (бог).
ДЕВЯТЬ КРУГОВ АДА
Управляемый богом-убийцей Асмодеем из Малшима, Цитадели Ада, этот обширный доминион – царство
дьяволов. Восемь других архиизвергов управляют равным числом территорий как вассалы Асмодея. Водный
путь, зовущийся Рекой Крови, или Рекой Стикс, протекает через Девять Кругов Ада. Он вымывается через Ад и
попадает в Астральное Море, загрязняя окружающую область извергской порчей.
Мировоззрение: зло.
Связи: нет.
Основные жители: Асмодей (великий бог) и архидьяволы Баалзебул, Белл, Белиал, Диспатер, Гласья,
Левистус, Мамон и Мефистофелес.
НИШРЕК
Нишрек – естественная область, исковерканная орочьими идеалами и разоренная вечной войной, темное
отражение Отдыха Воина. Черные моря и темные реки выделяют запутанные леса, иссеченные бесплодные
земли и жаркие пустыни. Груумш, и его посвященные Бахтру и Обольд, следит за своим доминионом из
Железной Крепости. Его помощник, Лутик, живет в пещерах ниже цитадели. Шаргаас и Вапрак скрываются в
темных цитаделях в другом месте в пределах Нишрека.
Мировоззрение: хаотическое зло.
Связь: Абисс (в Элементном Хаосе).
Основные жители: Груумш (великий бог) и его экзархи Бахтру, Обольд, Шаргаас и Вапрак; Лутик (богиня).
ВЫСШИЙ ТРОН
Ветер воет через изуродованный пейзаж Высшего Трона. Единственная постоянная структура – Расколотый
Замок, рушащаяся цитадель, которая однажды была местом силы Цирика. Теперь же служит его тюрьмой, и
если другие боги навещают его, то делают это не чаще раза в столетие.
Мировоззрение: хаотическое зло.
Связь: не существуют никакие связи между Высшим Троном и другими планарными местами. Кроме того, это
место запечатано против любых попыток попасть сюда.
Основные жители: Цирик (великий бог).
БАШНЯ НОЧИ
Этот доминион, погруженный во мрак невежества, более обширен, чем любой другой в Астральном Море. Это
– темная пустошь, полная скалистых пределов и пустынь черного песка. Зловещие моря и реки, так же как
ужасающие леса и трясины – вот основной пейзаж. Запретные цитадели возвышаются в беззвездном темноте.
Наибольшая из них – Дворец Потери, основное местожительства Шар, отдыхающей на самом высоком пике
доминиона. В пределах Скользящих Джунглей, главного леса доминиона, возвышается Город Змей бога Ссета,
сосредоточенный вокруг черной пирамиды. Много дальше и глубже в доминионе, во власти переполненного
болезнями болота, находится другая черная пирамида – Чумной Дворец богини Талоны, нарушитель Зехир
занимает многочисленные туннели под откосом рядом с Морем Яда.
Мировоззрение: зло.
Связь: Шедоуфелл.
Основные жители: Шар (великая богиня); Ссет (бог); Талона (богиня); Зехир (бог).
ОТДЫХ ВОИНА
Доминион Темпуса, Отдых Воина – скалистый и бесплодный пейзаж, который незаметно изменяется и быстро
оправляется от войн, бушующих вдоль всего его предела. Большая часть относительно плоская, с высокими
столовыми горами, внезапно возвышающимися из равнин. Здесь война – спорт, играемая между теми, кто не
может умереть. Темпус блуждает по Отдыху Воина, перемещаясь среди бесчисленных залов, где победные
фракции кутят и веселятся, пока они могут сохранять эту территорию. Иногда Темпус может находиться в
пределах отдельной ото всех гранитной башни на Кровавой Скалистой вершине, где живет его возлюбленная
Бешаба. Он также посещает Красного Рыцаря, которую он рассматривает в качестве дочери, в ее Красной
башне. Другие экзархи Темпуса поддерживают собственные царства.
Мировоззрение: без мировоззрения.
Основные жители: Темпус (великий бог) и его экзархи Гарагос, Красный Рыцарь, Утгар и Валкур; Бешаба
(богиня).
ДЕМИПЛАНЫ
В пределах Астрального Моря , сильная воля, сфокусированная на идее, может вырезать и удержать маленькое
место из других доминионов. Это царство может быть столь же большим, как позволяет используемая сила, но
всегда ограничено и меньше, чем доминион божества. Большинство демипланов сформированы как результат
преднамеренного создания, но немногие существуют просто как изгибы или карманы в планарной структуре.
Демиплан имеет любую черту, которую устанавливает его создатель. Это могло бы быть отсутствие
гравитации, неприветливая окружающая среда, или пейзаж, который может формироваться силой мысли, также
демиплан мог бы объединять несколько черт в себе. Большинство демипланов существуют для какой то цели,
однако их форма следует за их функцией. Точно также демиплан обычно привязывается к определенному месту
на другом плане или доминионе. Использование демиплана определяет его местоположение и точки доступа.
Как демиплан используется, может быть затронут, как он изменяется и что там случается. Много демипланов
уже существуют, созданные могией и оставленные позже.
ДАЛЕКОЕ ЦАРСТВО
Вне известного космоса существует царство, где законы действительности, которые признает большинство
существ, не имеют никакого значения и силы. Немногие, кроме ученых, вообще знают о том, что это царство
существует. Ученые могут лишь размышлять о том, что в действительности является Далеким Царством и что в
нем содержится. Там, где Далекое Царство касается мира, начинает просачиваться его безумие. Это влияние
может быть столь же простым, как регулярные кошмары у подверженных жителей городка, или как
существенное деформирование окружающей среды и жителей. Из такого испорченного пейзажа порой
появляются странные существа, которые исчезают тогда, когда между Далеким Царством и действительностью
усиливается существующий барьер. Причудливые существа, типа пожирателей разума (майндфлаеров),
аболетов, дестрачанов и фоулспаунов – все они потомки Далекого Царства, смешанные с другой реальностью.
Они стремятся повернуть мир к чему то большему в соответствии с их совершенно чуждым складом ума.
Великий бог Гонадор является самым могучим из всех сущностей, как думают, прикоснувшихся к Далеким
Царствам.
ПОТЕРЯННЫЕ ДОМИНИОНЫ
В истории Торила умерло много богов различными способами. Другие изменили преданность или пострадали
от эффектов Чумы Заклинаний. Немногие исчезли в Абейре. Действительно, целые пантеоны Фаэруна ушли
или были разрушены. Когда доминион покинут или разрушен, то в значительной степени исчезает из
существования или существует обособленно. Однако остатки иногда сохраняются в Астральном море. То же
самое касается и тел убитых божеств – некоторые остаются неповрежденными, некоторые оставляют признаки,
некоторые просто исчезают. Другие астральные объекты иногда населяют эти фрагменты. Возможно
вытягивать силу из такого астрального плавающего обломка, поэтому их обаружение может быть чрезвычайно
выгодным. Из всех астральных объектов, гитиянки являются наилучшими в накоплении таких ценных активов.
ЗАГРОБНАЯ ЖИЗНЬ
Души тех, кто умирает, путешествуют через Шедоуфелл на План Фугу. Там они ожидают суда. Куда эти души
уходят, не знают даже боги. Те, кто имеет сильную веру и способности, могут быть приняты в доминион бога,
чтобы служить ему или ей вне жизни. Другие остаются на Плане Фугу в качестве помощников бога смерти.
Немногие цепляются за Шедоуфелл или за мир, превращаясь в привидения или другую бестелесную нежить.
ЭЛЕМЕНТНЫЙ ХАОС
Смешивающиеся и сталкивающиеся типы энергии, небесный свод и земля, огонь и вода – все это составляет
действительность Элементного Хаоса. Сформированный из несоизмеримых элементных измерений, которые
были однажды уроженцами Торила, вместе с планом, который когда то существовал как космический
родственник Абейра, Хаос состоит из непредсказуемых элементов и борьбы без контроля морали и этики.
Стихии могли бы даже действовать как другая земля, циркулирующая как вода или плывущая по воздуху, или
проливаться как огненный дождь. Определенные места в пределах Хаоса могут казаться нормальными или
приятными по мирским стандартам, но видения другого мира и угрозы являются банальными. Единственное,
что постоянно – изменение.
ПУТЕШЕСТВИЕ
Обычно требуется ритуал, чтобы попасть на Элементный Хаос. Однако, существуют многочисленные места,
где Хаос касается мира, и через них существо может пройти от одного царства до другого. Земли Хаоса могут
быть резкими, пустынными, или совмещать в себе эти элементы, но путешествие по ним не так легко, как
пересечение подобного мирского пейзажа.
АБИСС
У основания Элементного Хаоса кипит Абисс, ужасно развращенное отражение чистой энтропии – и это его
главное качество. Черные пропасти соединяют Абисс с остальной частью Хаоса, и эти места угрожают телу и
разуму любого, то смеет к ним приближаться. Абисс изобилует демонами, это тот ответ на отсутствие власти за
исключением того, кто владеет ею через энергию и устрашение. Самые мощные демоны являются лордами
целых царств. Особенности и царства в пределах Абисса неисчислимы.Они перемещаются и изменяются без
объяснения. Только лорд демон может поддерживать область в соответствии с исковерканными стандартами,
вырезая бессмысленную империю из руин проникновения. Протекает через этот безумный план – мутная Река
Стикс, с ядовитыми водами и неустойчивым течением.
Мировоззрение: хаотическое зло.
Связи: Ямы Паутины Демонов, Мрачные Пещеры, Нишрек (все в Астральном Море).
Основные жители: лорды Демоны, типа Бафомета, Дагона, Демогоргона, Граз’зта, Костчтчи, Оркуса и Йеногу.
ЦАРСТВА
Большая часть Элементного Хаоса – опасная дикая местность, полная чудесных достопримечательностей и
непредсказуемыми жителями. В пределах царств Хаоса существуют Великие Изначальные – лорды
элементного характера. Как боги поддерживают свои доминионы в Астральном Море, так Изначальные
управляют царствами здесь.
Черты: достаточно мощное существо может организовать Элементный Хаос по своему желанию, налагая
определенный порядок из некоторых видов в ограниченной области. Великий огонь покрывает свое царство
пламенем, в то время как существо мороза делает лед доминирующим. В таких царствах энтропия Элементного
Хаоса подавляется волей формирующего. Царство может иметь мировоззрение, соответствующее
изначальному хозяину. Царства здесь могут иметь, как таковые, связи с доминионами Астрального Моря.
Элементный Хаос имеет сильные связи с миром и Астральным доминионом – Дипвайлдс. Индивидуальные
элементные царства соединяются с доминионами там, где связи остаются сильными между изначальными, с
которыми когда то имели дело боги и те, кто все еще это делает.
УКРАШЕННЫЕ ГРЕБНЕМ ШПИЛИ
Здесь вода проливается вверх, постоянно освежая его сущность. Это стабильное движение создает структуру,
созданную буквально из течения воды. Истишиа позволяет ее дому течь вдоль всей воды Элементного Хаоса.
Мировоззрение: без мировоззрения.
Связи: нет.
Основные жители: Истишиа (изначальная).
ЦИТАДЕЛЬ КОРНЯ
Обширные подземные залы составляют Цитадель Корня Грумбара. Туннели соединяют некоторые области;
другие доступны только тем, кто может пройти сквозь камень. Все богатство, которое может предложить земля,
может быть найдено здесь, в Цитадели Корня, сохраняя сырую форму, наряду с опасностями.
Мировоззрение: без мировоззрения.
Связи: Мрачные Пещеры, Дом Дварфов (оба в Астральном море).
Основные жители: Грумбар (изначальный).
НЕБЕСНЫЙ ДОМ
Небесный Дом – широкое царство облаков и бризов, темных штормов и ревущих ветров. Воздушные струи
создают определенный рисунок, чтобы удерживать вес и форму структуры. В его пределах существуют палаты,
где время от времени отдыхает Акади. Однако чаще всего Королева Воздуха скитается в Хаосе или на
некотором другом плане.
Мировоззрение: без мировоззрения.
Связь: Арвандор (в Астральном Море).
Основные жители: Акади (изначальная).
БЕССМЕРТНОЕ ПЛАМЯ
Вулканическое стекло, дым, достаточно толстый, чтобы можно было идти по нему, и жгучее пламя – все это
составляет башню Коссута, где он живет. Бессмертное Пламя перемещается по воле Коссута, и область,
окружающая его, известна как Пылающие Земли. Коссут перемещает свое царство постоянно, чтобы нести
огонь и возобновлять пожары во все пределы Элементного Хаоса. Он делает паузу только тогда, когда имеет
дело с достойными пламенными сущетсвами, типа ифритов Города Латуни и Суртра Маспелхейма.
Мировоззрение: без мировоззрения.
Связи: нет.
Житель: Коссут (изначальный).
ЦАРСТВА ТИТАНА
Наибольшие и самые мощные титаны имеют царства в пределах Элементного Хаоса. Однако, Скораэус, самый
сильный среди каменных гигантов, вместо этого блуждает по постоянно-меняющимся горным областям плана.
Фимбулвинтер: из своей цитадели и мрачного фестхолла, Нифхолла, Трим управляет обширонй тундрой,
освещаемой блестящими ледопадами.
Скрытое Царство: все титаны воздают должное самому могучему среди них – таинственному Аннаму, чье
одинокое Скрытое Царство практически невозможно найти.
Маспелхейм: величайший в пределах этого пламенного царства, Суртр – тот, кто управляет своей
вулканической землей из цитадели, называющейся Железная Гора.
Стидинг: в перекатывающемся ландшафте, полном большего размера существами и растениями, находится
Стидинг, деревянный зал, где Гролантор измывается над своими меньшими.
Траотор: плывущий в небесах, в пределах вечного шторма – Траотор, крепость Мемнора.
ДРУГИЕ ЦАРСТВА
Много других существ, великих и малых, называют Элементный Хаос своим домом. Некоторые из них
вырезали из водоворота Хаоса дома и королевства.
Город Латуни: ифриты Элементного Хаоса разделяют много пламенных царств между собой, формируя
феодальную иерархию меньших огненных существ. Их главная цитадель – Город Латуни, древняя столица,
довольно терпимая к различным формам жизни, благодаря чему различные планарные путешественники могут
собираться тут и торговать.
Джинмоутс: кланы джинов собираются под руководством лидеров племени на кусках земли, плывущих в
высотах загрязненного Хаосом пейзажа. Эти существа воздуха перемещают свои цитадели для войны с
ифритами и титанами.
Монастыри Гитцераев: гитцераи имеют постоянные поселения в Элементном Хаосе. Внутри они оттачивают
и совершенствуют свои тела и разум.
ФЕЙВАЛД
Фейвалд – магическое и таинственное эхо мира. Фейри, названные так в древних текстах и эльфийских работах,
Фейвалд является родиной бесчисленных фей, и оттуда происходят эльфы Торила и эладрины со своими
божествами. Их отношение к миру уменьшалось тысячилетиями. В течение прошлых времен эладринами были
построены царства на Фаэруне, более тесно связанные с Фейвалдом, чем другие места в остальной части мира.
Возможно через эти связи Чума Заклинаний удержала Фейвалд вблизи Торила. Фейвалд – сумеречное царство
оглушительной естественной красоты и сырой магии. Его пейзажи полны блеска и опасности, чуждых
смертному миру. Многие из его существ существовали в мире веками, но не в столь ужасной и организованной
форме, как они это делают в Фейвалде. Существует некоторое соответствие между мирским ландшафтом и
землями фей. Хотя не каждая особенность Торила имеет близнеца в Фейвалде, многие все же их имеют.
ПУТЕШЕСТВИЕ
Фейвалд легко достигнуть, так как барьер между ним и миром весьма тонок. Мир и Фейвалд иногда сходятся,
позволяя целым царствам существовать в обоих планах или в проходе между ними. В некоторых местах
путешественник вообще не нуждается в ритуале и может наткнуться на Фейвалд весьма неожиданно. В других
местах, перекрестках фей (см. стр. 53), позволяется доступ тем, кто знает надлежащий обряд. Фейвалд столь
отгорожен от мира в некоторых местах, что требуется мощная магия, чтобы пересечь границу. Фейвалд
неопределенно красив и мрачно рискованный. Путешествие там очень похоже на перемещение в мире, но
магические и существа феи управляют вмешательством в этот очаровательный план. Потребности существ из
мира редко кого волнуют, и немногие феи активно злонамеренные по отношению к ним.
Связи: путешествие к астральным доминионам возможно через Фейвалд. Арвандор, Дипвайлдс и Врата Луны
имеют прямые связи, которые позволяют свободно проходить через определенные места в Фейвалде.
Изменения бывают, и планарные путешествия обычно опасны или хорошо охраняются.
ТЕРРИТОРИИ
Первоначальный дом эльфов и эладринов, Фейвалд является также родиной всех фей. В нем сосредоточены
руины разрушенных и оставленных эльфийских и эладринских областей. Он также содержит великие
королевства эладринов, которые никогда не были на Ториле, так же как зловещие домены лордов фомориан и
их лакеев, циклопов. Нельзя положиться ни на какую силу, чтобы отнести ее к добру, как это слово
традиционно используется, но фомориане, конечно, более злы, чем другие. Между этими главными силами
существуют и другие королевства фей и цитадели. Феи доминируют над Фейвалдом, и их сила простирается в
некоторые места в мире, типа Леса Амтара (Дамбрат), Горы Курны (Истганд), Лес Летира (Великая Долина),
Гултандор (Побережье Дракона), Высокий Лес (Луруар), Земли Орды, Рашемен, Юирвуд (Агларонд) и другие
дикие регионы Фаэруна. Цитадели эльфов и эладринов, типа Эльфхарроу, Эверески, Муншае, Шилмиста
(Тетир) и Вилдат (Тетир) имеют сильные связи с Фейвалдом.
МЭГ ТЕРИХ (Mag Tureah)
Ненавистное нагноение в пределах подземных земель Фейвалда известно как Фейдарк. В этих мрачных
глубинах находится Крепость Мэг Терих, дом великого короля фомориан – Бреса. Железные башни Мэг Терих
возвышаются в пещере, размеры которого не уступают целому царству. Оникс, испещренный пылающими
драгоценными камнями и кристаллами, составляет свод пещеры. Выглядит он как ночное небо, со светом и
даже порой создает ощущение мглистых иллюзорных сумерек. Ваяемый черный камень украшает великий
грот, формируя преграды и столбы, которые, кажется, исчезают в ложном небе.
В пределах Мэг Терих – это лабиринт железа и камня, в отличие от других цитаделей фомориан. Он содержит
многочисленные порталы на и в Торил, все из которых открываются и разрушаются довольно неочевидно.
Больше чем один неудачливый смертный наткнулся в древних руинах мира на портал и попал в царство Бреса,
только для того, чтобы быть порабощенным служителями фомориан. Брес сидит внутри крепости на железном
троне, составляя заговор и размышляя о том, как установить беспорядочные врата в пределах его царства для
своего злого использования.
СИЛЬДЕЮИР
Сильдеюир был однажды демипланом, соединяющимся с Юирвудом в Агларонде. Эладрин Юирешаньяар
(иногда называемый звездным эльфом), создал его для попытки избежать человеческое вторжение в их царство.
Сильдеюир расположен в Фейвалде в том же месте, в каком находится Юирвуд в мире. Поскольку Юирвуд
переполнен Чумой Заклинаний, порталов, позволяющих перемещаться между этими двумя царствами нет. Но
даже в этом случа феи Сильдеюира рискуют прокладывать пути в Юирвуд время от времени. Начиная с
лидеров Миф Драннора, изучавших Сильдеюир, многие феи Фаэруна отбыли в это царство Фейвалда и
поселились там. Под сумеречным небом, заполненным звездами, изящные стеклянные цитадели возвышаются
над чудесными серебряными деревьями Сильдеюира. Эладрины, эльфы и их семьи обосновались здесь в
небольшом количестве. Несмотря на недавние притоки населения, цитадели Сильдеюира обычно находятся
далеко друг от друга. Его лидеры встречаются довольно редко, а его неприрученные области изобилуют
существами феями.
ШЕДОУФЕЛЛ
Мрачное эхо Торила, Шедоуфелл одновременно и древний, и новый. Темная богиня Шар изменило то, что
было известно как План Тени в течение некоторого количества лет после Чумы Заклинаний. Используя свое
ремесло, она свернулась в энергию смерти и сделала так, что не попала на Элементный Хаос. Она
переименовала свое создание в Шедоуфелл, которое стало распространенным названием среди смертных, хотя
некоторые все еще обращаются к этому плану как «Тень». Шедоуфелл – мрачное, жуткое место. Там, где
Фейвалд отражает мир захватывающими дух способами, Шедоуфелл показывает распад, кошмарные пейзажи
унылых цветов. Задумчивая полутьма заменяет причудливые сумерки Фейвалда, и каждая особенность места
кажется жуткой и угрожающей. Области некротической энергии обычно слишком слабые и самое большее
расстраивают проживающих в них, блуждают вдоль мрачного теневого пейзажа.
ПУТЕШЕСТВИЕ
Путешествие в Шедоуфелл более трудно, чем путешествие в Фейвалд. Простое попадание в Тень является
довольно необычным. Однако, существуют определенные места в пределах мира, которые соединяются с
Шедоуфеллом сквозь тонкую завесу. Эти порталы легко определить и они обычны в глубоком Подземье, много
миль ниже поверхности. Родные существа здесь преследуют путешественников. Так же как это деалют
беспокойные мертвецы и души тех, кто проходит в Тень, но отказывается идти дальше. Гуманоиды
Шедоуфелла являются, по крайней мере, столь же плохими как феи. Наихудшие существа служат Шар, Сету,
Талоне и Оркусу, добиваясь в Шедоуфелле различных низких целей. Истинную безопасность трудно
обнаружить в этих темных землях.
Связи: Шедоуфелл соединяется с Планом Фугу и Башнями Ночи. Мертвые путешествуют через Шедоуфелл на
пути к загробной жизни, хотя некоторые остаются в мире или Шедоуфелле, боясь или неспособные пересечь их
в будущем.
ТЕРРИТОРИИ
Большая часть Шедоуфелла суровое и заполненное монстрами отражение мира. В таких местах редко кто
селится, кроме призраков, спектров и другой нежити. Небольшие сообщества темных (люди, превратившиеся
из древних нетерезов), шадар-каев, в большом количестве ращзумной нежити, или смешение этих типов
предлагают подобие убежища. Но любое такое место, как бы то ни было, лишь немногим предпочтительнее
диких мест Шедоуфелла. Смертельные гиганты и ходящие в ночи, некоторые из которых служат Шар,
управляют регионами Шедоуфелла. Приверженцы темных богов и демонов устанавливают святыни, храмы и
домены в пределах Тени. Некроманты располагают свои лаборатории на Шедоуфелле, либо как-то связанные с
ним, чтобы познавать несмерть. Некоторая мощная нежить также обитает в пределах Шедоуфелла, используя в
своих интересах убежища, обеспечивающие защиту от враждебного мира. Те, кто не является уроженцем Тени,
часто поддерживают средство для возвращения обратно на Торил.
ФУНДАМЕНТ ПОТЕРИ
Глубокое, черное, похожее на перевернутую башню, отмечено место, где раньше жила Шар. Ее дом теперь
находится в астральном доминионе Башни Ночи, но когда-то Хозяйка Ночи управляла Тенью. Фундамент
Потери служит напоминанием той правды и дверью в новый дом Шар. Вся область проникнута ощутимым
горем, как будто само место оплакивает ее уход. Леденящие душу рассказы повествуют о том, что только
верующий Шар может посетить это место и вернуться. Фактически, некоторые предпринимают попытки
совершить паломничество в Фундамент Потери. Поэтому крайне опасные и злые существа, преданные тьме,
окружают это место, изматывая и охотясь на неосторожных путников. Некоторые говорят, что секреты
творения и разрушения могут быть изучены непосредственно в пределах Фундамента. Сорроусворны,
рожденные в темноте, охраняют секреты, и бросают вызов тем, кто ищет свою судьбу в пределах пустоты.
ТЕНЕВАЯ ЦИТАДЕЛЬ
Сокрытая в пределах сурового пейзажа Шедоуфелла, Теневая Цитадель является местом обитания бога,
пропавшего без вести до или в течение Чумы Заклинаний. Всеми забытый теперь, Мастер всех Воров, Маск,
держал свою цитадель, построенную полностью из тени. Он использовал ее в качестве укрытия, когда
утомлялся блужданиями или очередной проказой на планах. Со времени исчезновения Маска, его Избранный
иногда занимает цитадель.
Теневая Цитадель едва видима во мраке Шедоуфелла, и прежде замеченная как более глубокая тень, и можно
даже пройти через ее стены. Но тем не менее ее стены тверды. Старое логово Маска не разрушается, несмотря
на отсутствие его владельца. Давно, часть цитадели была преобразована в легендарный Храм Теней, который
путешествовал по мирам и планам, служа непостижимым целям различных богов и богинь теней, сумерек и
темноты. Говорят, что Маск манипулировал другими богами так, что смог назначить стража Храма,
неизвестного происхождения. Теневая Цитадель Маска является как бы якорем для Храма. Время от времени
он материализуется из темноты и снова соединяется с Цитаделью. Без сомнения, в Цитадели и Храме
содержатся обширные сокровища и артефакты, украденные Маском со всех концов космоса. Оба строения
также содержат внушающих страх смотрителей и наборы ловушек, чтобы ловить или убивать непрошенных
гостей.
Руководство Кампании
Забытых Царств
Источник: Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, D&D 4
Перевод: Elminster (http://faerunlands.info/profile.php?lookup=337)
ГЛАВА 5
ПАНТЕОН
Мир Торила полон могущественных сущностей и их слуг. Конкурирующие секты одного и того
же божества могут вести смертельные войны или работать вместе, в зависимости от
обстоятельств.
В Фаерунском Пантеоне главенствуют Старшие Боги ,которые владеют собственными
доменами, а также им прислуживают боги разных рангов, экзархи и другие экстрапланарные
существа. Большинство из богов любят своих прихожан, они заключают и разрывают союзы,
воюют и влюбляются, ненавидят и убивают, поглощают или воскрешают друг друга.
Боги принимают активную участь в существование Торила через действия своих смертных
служителей. Жрецы в тысячах разных сектах получают божественное покровительство в обмен
на служение в церкви того или иного бога. Они являются первичными инструментами в деяниях
церквей в этом мире.
Эта статья содержит следующие разделы:
• Старшие Боги
• Боги
• Экзархи
• Примордиалы
• Архидияволы
Старшие Боги
Роль божеств и иерархия, которую они занимали, менялась много раз за тысячелетия. И
единственное, в чем можна быть уверенным, так это то, что эта иерархия будет меняться и
дальше. Боги Фаеруна имеют разную форму и разные уровни силы и влияния, но некоторые
правила действуют на всех. Восемнадцать Старших Богов соперничают за внимание смертных
прихожан. Здесь дается краткое описание могущественных сущностей, как божественных ,так
и примордиалов, которые правят космосом.
Жизнь и Смерть
Хотя боги и бессмертные, их можно убить; хотя они вечные, их можно создать. За долгую
историю космоса, много существ ставали богами и столько же пропало из памяти смертных.
Иные божества, такие как Лолс, прошли экстраординарную трансформацию, изменив свою
природу, природу свого домашнего плана бытия и мировоззрение прихожан.
Аватары
Большая редкость, чтоб у бога была физическая оболочка. Однако, они могут появляться в
мире как аватары и так вступают в контакт со своими последователями. Божество может
принять любую форму, которую только пожелает. Он или она может явится человеком для
людей, эльфом для эльфов или даже принимать различные формы для последователей разных
рас. Хотя, большинство богов имеют любимую аватару .в которой и появляются.
Божественные слуги
Кроме экзархов, богам служат и другие экстрапланарные существа. Большинство жрецов
никогда не говорят напрямую с своим богом, но они имеют прямой контакт со слугами
божественной иерархии. Вот несколько примеров таких слуг:
• Ангели: Большинство богов имеют слуг ангелов. Эти, наполовину самостоятельные
существа, созданные богами, имеют свободную волю и могут «падать с небес»
• Гаунаданы: Эти аморфные существа являющиеся первобытными ooze с очень
маленьким интеллектом и служат Гаунадауру.
• Йоклол: Эти демонические создания являются творениями великой богини Лолс,
имеют острые, как бритва, клыки и плоть, похожая на воск.
Жрецы
Жрецы- это смертные, которые присвятили свою жизнь служению определенному божеству.
Считается, что они разделяют мировоззрение своего бога, хотя это не обязательно так. Жрецы
иногда приспосабливают свою преданность к росту их силы. Они служат экзарху на
героических уровнях, богу- на переходных уровнях и Старшему богу на эпических уровнях.
Другие тянутся к Старшему богу или служат божеству, у которого совсем нет экзархов.
Избранный
Божество может коснутся смертного последователя своей божественной силой, таким образом
творя Избранного, инструмент в смертном мире. Сила и задания Избранного колеблются в
зависимости от бога. Избранный может стать экзархом, как в случае с Клангединном
Серебробородым и Обальдом. Некоторые, как например, Кающая Леди Лолс, Халистра
Меларн, создаются для определенных целей, а потом уничтожаются. В мире после
Магической Чумы нет ни одного Избранного, который бы ни был экзахаром.
Амонатор
Хранитель Желтого Солнца
Законно-добрый Старший Бог
Амонатор- это реинкарнация божества солнца и хранителя времени богов. Хотя некоторые
говорят, что он умер, он фактически преобразовался в Латандера, и был почитаем под тем
именем в течение многих столетий, перед тем как окончательно не возвратил себе и свое имя и
свое призвание. Он заставляет солнце вести свой курс через все небо, таким способ отмечая
время. Все, кто зависят от часов и календарей- фермеры, торговцы и кочевники- почитают
Амонатора. Он также в почете у тех, кто живет по закону и справедливости. Его жрецы, лорды
солнца, предлагают свои услуги, в качестве судей и должностных лиц. Их наиболее
торжественный праздник- это день летнего солнцестояния.
Асмодеус
Верховный Правитель Девяти Кругов Ада
Злой Старший Бог
Уничтожение Сердца Двеомера в 1385 послало умирающего Азута (GHotR) на уровень
Баатора, принадлежавшего Асмодеусу. Тот убил его и поглотил его божественную сущность.
Потом он закончил Войну Крови, закинув Абисс на дно Элементального Хаоса. Теперь
Асмодеус заправляет всеми Девятью Кругами Ада, ему служат восемь архидьяволов, армии
меньших дьяволов и постоянно растущее число смертных последователей. Жрецы, служащие
Асмодеусу, называемые «мордаи», ищут любого, кому не чужды жадность и насилие. У его
сект нет святых дней. Асмодеус может быть харизматичным и добрым божеством, быстро
награждающий любого, кто готов расстаться с душой. После смерти, проклятые навеки стают
рабами их бога-изверга.
Бэйн
Черный Лорд
Злой Старший бог
Будучи уничтоженным во Время Бедствий, Бэйн возродился в 1372 году ЛД и продолжает
свою миссию по порабощению каждой смертной души в Ториле. Черный Лорд Бэйнхолда- это
воплощение самой тирании. Желание Бэйна владеть миром не возможно остановить
мистическими стенами, которые отделяют смертный мир от безжизненного серого Бэйнхолда.
Бэйн также ищет управления другими божествами, и он убил и поглотил жизненную эссенцию
ряда божеств. Бэйн подчинил себе гоблинские божества Маглубиет и Хругек, а также богиню
Ловиатар. Жрецы Бэйна стремятся доминировать над всеми вокруг них. У церкви Бэйна нет
никаких святых или праздничных дней. Когда смертный присягает на службу Бэйну, это
служение абсолютно.
Чонтия
Великая Мать
Законно-добрая Старшая Богиня
Чонтия- одна из старейших богов, присутствовала при рождение самого Абейл-Торила. Она
же вселила в мир жизненную эссенцию. Она следит не так за естественным миром, как за
ходом жизни смертных, населяющих его. Великую Мать почитает любой, чья жизнь зависит от
земли и ее плодов. Жрецы Чонтии молятся к ней на закате. Для ее благосклонности достаточно
почитать природу и естественный кругооборот в ней. Ее прихожане поделены на две касты:
пасторали, которые управляют фермерами и землепашцами; и истинные закройщики,
солнечные друиды, видящие истину в диких землях, которые надо приручить.
Кореллон
Первый из Селдарина
Добрый Старший Бог
Легенды об эпических битвах между Кореллоном (иногда называемым Кореллоном
Ларетианом) и Груумшом являются самими рассказываемыми во всем Ториле.Во время
большой битвы, эладрины родились из крови Кореллона. Он был добрым правителем
Арвандора и лидером Сэлдарина («Братья и сестры леса»), богом и покровителем эладринов,
их гордостью и честью. Хотя он великий воин, это с его помощью эладрины смогли добиться
великих успехов в магии. Целестиалы Кореллона защищают традиции и достижения расы
эладринов. Они выступают советниками эльфийских королей и королев. Самим святым днем
для Кореллитов является Шилдмит, но каждый месяц они собираются вместе под луной, чтоб
наблюдать Лате’куор, Лесное Вероисповедание Двурогой Луны, прославляя свое божество
множеством искусных примеров их мастерства.
Кайрик
Принц Лжи
Хаотично Злой Старший Бог
Будучи безумным богом интриг и лжи, Кайрик воплощение самого хаоса. Он был дважды
оскорблен богами, которые предотвратили его безумные полеты фантазии и мечты по
порабощению смертных. Когда в Году Голубого Огня (1385 ЛД), он убил Мистру, ее родной
план, Сердце Двеомера, взорвался и, как результат, началась Магическая Чума. Тир, Латандер
и Сьюн объединились, чтоб заключить его в его кошмарном доме на плане Высший Трон, где
он находится по сей день, один и исключительно безумен. Кайриниты сеют хаос, уничтожение
и безумие всюду, где только возможно. Немногие могут понять, какая подлая болезнь разума
может заставить смертного служить такому божеству, но Кайринитов становится все больше и
больше. Жизнь Кайрика описана в «Кайринишаде», в книге, которая доводит любого
прочитавшего ее до полного безумия.
Гаунадаур
Следящий
Хаотично Злой Старший Бог
Прихожанами Гаунадаура были дроу, и он сосуществовал с Лолс, когда Яма Паутины Демонов
лежала в Абиссе. После того, как Лолс трансформировалась в Старшее божество, она
переманила последователей -дроу Гаунадаура к себе. Следящий видел, как погибли все
дроуские божества в борьбе с Лолс, и ему стало ума спрятаться в самый далекий и самый
темный уголок космоса, какой он только мог найти. На плане Унылые Пещеры, сила
Гаунадаура возросла. Он стал править низшими формами ooze, slims и abomination. Его
почитают неимоверно древние существа, такие как abomination с Аболетского Суверенитета.
Жрецы Гаунадаура не празднуют никаких святых дней и живут только, чтоб сеять разруху во
имя своего, полного ненависти, хозяина.
Груумш
Одноглазый Бог
Хаотично Злой Старший Бог
Влияние Груумша возросло относительно недавно, после того, как увеличилась популяция
орков и других гуманоидов, ему поклоняющихся. Его недавний триумф включает в себя
подчинения себе пантеона орков и других меньших божеств. Хотя груумшиты считают, что их
бог родился с одным глазом, эладрины думают иначе, что он потерял глаз в бою с Кореллоном.
Два божества бились множество раз и навсегда остались наибольшими врагами. Груумш- это
бог завоеваний, и идет к своей цели через многочисленные жертвы врагов. Его шаманы
советуют лидерам и военачальникам грабить, убивать и завоевывать. В последний день
Марпенота, который груумшиты называют Гарфек’тааз, («Праздник Кровавых Камней»)
празднуется господство Груумша, как хозяина Нишрека. В этот день происходит посвящение
новых шаманов и адептов ордена, а также жертвоприношения.
Келемвор
Лорд Мертвых
Старший Бог без мировоззрения
Келемвор контролирует грань между жизнью и смертью твердой рукой и с завидным
изяществом. Он глубоко честен в роли Судьи Проклятых, поставив себя выше закона и хаоса,
добра и зла. Он берет каждую душу, которая к нему попадает и судит ее по ее деяниям, на пути
с одного мира в другой. Потому что Келемвор очень уважает как жизнь так и смерть, нежить
приводит его в ярость. Его жрецы- это неутомимые борцы с некромантией. Келемворовы
Хранитель Рока утешают семьи, которые потеряли кого-то простой философией: «Где есть
свет- должна быть тьма, где есть день- должна быть ночь, где есть жизнь- должна быть
смерть». Шилдмит и Фестиваль Луны- два самых почитаемых праздника у прихожан
Келемвора и дни воспоминаний об усопших.
Лолс
Королева Ямы Паутины Демонов
Хаотично Злая Старшая Богиня
Паучья Королева сидит одна на Дне Паутины Демонов, управляя дроу и их разнообразными
предательствами и интригами. Она купается в крови, жаждет жертвоприношений и играет со
своими последователями и жертвами. Она- это холодное и жестокое порождение чернейших
мест бесконечного Абисса. Лолс существует на своем родном плане в виде семи ужасных
пауков и одной красивой женщины-дроу. Она приняла эту форму, когда по своей ужасной
воле, она переродилась в Старшую Богиню, которой и является сегодня. Лолс иногда является
своим прихожанам, но не потому что была вызвана. Лолс никому не служит, и она требует
преданности от всех без исключения дроу, хотя только женщины-дроу могут стать ее
арахнами. Мужчин считают нечистыми в плане поклонения, и если мужчина позволит себе
повернется к Лолс спиной, месть не заставит себя ждать.
Морадин
Кузнец Душ
Законно-добрый Старший Бог
Всеотец выковал дварфов из драгоценных камней и металлов в самом сердце мира, и наделил
их справедливостью и неутомимостью в их начинаниях. Он безоговорочный Король Дома
Дварфов, где он предводительствует в Морадинсаммане, лояльное сообщество богов и
экзархов. Наиболее лояльна к нему, его преданная жена Берронар Истинное Серебро.
Фактически неспособный к компромиссу, строгий и неумолимый, Морадин неутомимый
защитник дварфских ценностей, бесстрашный даже перед лицом других богов. Не единожды
Морадинсамман шел маршем через космос под предводительством короля. Жрецами
Морадина становятся представители лучших дварфских кланов. Они вдохновляют своих
соплеменников стойко бороться с орками и им подобными. Их способность поднимать боевой
дух воинов очень знаменито. Разные кланы развивают свои традиции и дни святого
поклонения. Когда дварфы прикладаются к своей «святой воде» (которую люди бы назвали
хорошей пинтой пива), пьяные аргументы по поводу того, к кому их бог более лоялен, часто
приводят к доброжелательным дракам.
Огма
Хранитель Всего, Что Известно
Старший Бог без мировоззрения
Божество Знаний рассматривает идеи и инновации, решая, что будет дано людям, а что будет
забыто. Это ответственность, которую Огма несет со всей серйозностью, несмотря на
внешнюю беззаботность. Огма процветает на идеях. Огма принимает любую мысли, не
зависимо от того, что из нее получилось, добро или зло. Это он решает, пойдет ли понятие или
идея дальше его автора и будет ли оно защищено. Когда Избранный Огма, Гранд Патриарх
Куллен Кордамант, изчез более чем 120 лет тому назад, его вера раскололась на две фракции-
Прокампурская Ортодоксальная Церковь Огма и церковь Огма в Изгнании, сначала в Сембии,
а теперь в Кормире. Ортодоксальные жрецы известны как Хранители Знаний; Огманиты же
называют себя «Именующими». Обе фракции содержат большие и дорогие библиотеки и
охотятся за текстовыми и устными знаниями по всему Торилу.
Сэлуна
Лунная Дева
Добрая Старшая Богиня
Вместе со своей сестрой Шар, Сэлуна сотворила Абейл-Торил из космического эфира и
содействовала Чонтии в ее благословление жизни в мире. Она вдохнула свой дух в Луну и
теперь все время смотрит вниз на мир, который помогла создать. Влияние Сэлуны на Торил
проявляется в приливах и отливах и в мягких серебряных лучах лунной ночи. Она вносит свет
во тьму и сдерживает то зло, которое излучает ее сестра Шар. В большинстве своем женщины,
жрицы Сэлуниты известны как «серебряные звезды», несут свое учение терпеливо и спокойно,
говоря что «где светит Луна, там место Сэлуны». Серебряные звезды ведут постоянною борьбу
с темной стороной ликантропии. Они прочесывают Торил в поисках оборотней, пытаясь их
вылечить, взять под контроль или уничтожить тех, чья животная сторона пересилила
человеческую.
Шар
Владетельница Ночи
Злая Старшая Богиня
Древняя как сам космос, Шар одна из божеств-близнецов, что создали мир из первичного хаоса
Ао. В отличие от любви к изяществу своей сестры, Шар живет в глубочайших тенях, лелеет
тайную ненависть и неприродные желания, а также жаждет мести всеми фибрами своей
темной и черной души. Ее последователи владеют великой силой над смертными и
прокладают пути к самым высшим чинам в разных королевствах. В империи Нетерил,
преданной Шар, существует один закон- Шар. Ее Ночные Плащи образуют отдельную
фракцию, борющуюся за любое тайное знание, которое могут только найти. Храмы Шар
практикуют поклонение своей богине очень разными способами. Как правило существования
такого храма известно очень узкому кругу посвященных последователей, которые
распространяют догмы Шар любимыми путями.
Сильванус
Лесной Отец
Старший Бог без мировоззрения
Будучи защитником дикой природы, Сильвануса часто считают божеством злых и
мстительных друидов, для которых жизнь деревьев значит больше, чем жизнь человека.
Фактически, Сильванус учит ценить любую жизнь. Однако, его влияние может быть
интерпретировано двояко, или как целостное уважение естественного мира и порядка, или как
угроза всерастущей экспансии цивилизаций дикой природы. Друиды Сильвануса молятся на
заходе солнца и почитают дни Зеленой Травы, Мидсаммер и Хайхарвесттайд, как дни для
медитации и воссоединения со своим божеством. Очевидно по своей прихоти, заставляет
природу оживать, ручьи находят свой путь, деревья начинают ходить. Это явление, известное
как Ночная Прогулка Леса, может быть узколокализованым или глобальным, зависящим от
неизвестных желаний Лесного Отца. Сильванус учит своих друидов защищать лес, не судить
слишком быстро и сохранять баланс жизни и смерти.
Сьюн
Леди Любви
Добрая Старшая Богиня
Богиня любви имеет множество образов, включая Ханали Целанил, долго служившая богиней
для эладринов. Она богиня всего красивого и нежных эмоций. Много богов, от Аманатора до
Торма, были сражены богиней любви, но она оставалась в стороне от этого (если не считать
постоянного флирта), оставляя свою любовь смертным, присягнувшим ей. Поклонение Сьюн
наиболее поширено в больших городах и среди аристократии, которая имеет много времени
для романтики и созерцания прекрасного. Серцееды Сьюн- это представители самых красивых
людей, эладринов и полуэльфов Торила. Их неофициальная иерархия контролируется самыми
харизматичными жрецами. Ее храмы это дань архитектурному исскуству, а ее последователи
должны проявлять любовь каждый день.
Тэмпус
Молот Врага
Старший Бог без мировоззрения
Лорд отдыха Воина способствует обеим сторонам любого конфликта, так как обе стороны
стремятся к победе. Он патрон воинов всех рангов- от простого рядового до командующего
армией. Для Тэмпуса, война это сила природы, которую надо уважать, так как она позволяет
цивилизациям меняться и расти. Почти любой солдат в Ториле возносит свои молитвы к
Тэмпусу перед лицом битвы. Именно из таких военных кличей-молитв Тэмпус черпает свою
экстраординарную силу. Его бэттлгарды консультируют военоначальников и благословляют
оружие во имя Тэмпуса. Вероучение Тэмпуса исповедуется по всему Торилу, независимо от
того, какое оружие было взято в руки, и его жрецы живут повсюду, от цивилизованных наций
до кочевых племен холодного Севера.
Торм
Лояльная Ярость
Законно-добрый Старший Бог
Торм стал Лордом Целестии после героического самопожертвования легендарного Тира
(который погиб, защищая верхние королевства от нашествия демонов). Теперь он воплощает
закон в космосе и стоит на страже правосудия в пантеоне. Правда, лояльность и стойкое
убеждение в своей правоте - это дары Торма своим последователям, да и другим
представителям Пантеона также. Церковь Торма включает в себя большое количество
паладинов разных организаций со всего мира, а его жрецы, известные как святые чемпионы,
являются сильными воинами, готовыми при надобности защищать принципы закона и порядка.
Его храмы имеют форму неприступных крепостей, их архитектура символизирует стойкость
Торма перед лицом хаоса. Исходя из этого, жрецы и паладины Торма путешествуют по
Торилу, искореняя зло и хаос. Вероподданные почитают два важных святых дня. Святая
Смерть (13 Марпенота), день когда Торм уничтожил Бэйна ценой своей смерти в Тантрасе во
Время Бедствий; Истинной Воскресение, два дня позже возвращения Торма к жизни, в то
время, как Бэйн остался мертвым (правда временно).
Боги
Большинству Старших Богов служат боги меньшей силы, которые разделяют их
мировоззрение и живут на их планах бытия. Боги также имеют своих смертных прихожан,
иногда отличных от оных Старших Богов. Девятнадцать богов почитаются в Фаэруне, все они
с разными взглядами на мир и в разных сферах бытия управляют. Как правило, боги действуют
независимо от поведения Старших Богов их плана, хотя некоторые, например Бэйн, держит
всех обитателей своего плана в постоянном контроле. Умберлии- это пример такого бога. Он
живет в Доме Природы Сильвануса, вместе с Аурил и Милликой.
Умберли
Королева Сука
Хаотично- злая Богиня Дома Природы
Королева Глубин- жесткая повелительница, в основном не волнующаяся про своих смертных
прихожан, когда один из ее штормов налетает на моря и океаны Торила, убивая многих. Ее
последователи зависят от скудной милости своей богини и молят океан оставить им жизнь.
Экзархи
Экзархов часто отождествляют с полубогами. Большинство из них это смертные служащие
Старшим Богам, возвышенные до агентов своих божеств и для их целей. Некоторые экзархы
привлекают собственных прихожан, но большинство служат своим богам в одиночку. Экзархи
способны создавать свои собственные планы, такие себе карманные миры. Мартхаммор Дуин
является экзархом. Он служит Морадину, в числе других экзархов и богини Берронар, в
чертогах Дома Дварфов.
Мартхаммор Дьюин
Искатель Следов
Добрый Экзарх Дома дварфов
Наиболее часто столкнуться с жрецами Мартхаммора, так зваными воламтарами, можно в
цивилизованных обществах Севера. Дварфы, которые предпочли путешествия и приключения
безопасной и спокойной жизни в клане, молятся Мартхаммору Дьюину.
Премордиалы (Первоэлементы)
Элементальный Хаос является составными блока для всей материи космоса, и премордиалы
есть часть этого Хаоса. Боги боятся этого дикого плана с невообразимыми опасностями и они
уважают премордиалов, населяющих этот план бытия.
Элементальные Лорды
Пять премордиалов правят Элементальным Хаосом. Все, кроме хаотически-злого Базим-
Горага, не имеют определенного мировоззрения.
Акади: Королева Воздуха, повелительница летающих существ и всего, имеющего отношение
к воздуху. Ее Гуляющие по воздуху учат, что мудрость приходит через попытки и ошибки и
дорога к вере такая же тонка, как и воздух, которым владеет их повелительница.
Базим-Гораг: Лорд Камня Пандемониума ведет свой род от батрачи, жившие чистым
хаосом. Он случайное воплощение, призываемый бессильными игроками, теми, кто потерял
последнюю надежду в справедливую судьбу.
Грумбар: Лорд Земли, состоящий из камня и грязи и является строительным материалом для
всего. Земля не идет на компромиссы- она просто существует. Его Гуляющие по земле
противятся любым изменениям.
Истишия: Лорд Воды- воплощение постоянно изменяющейся природы воды. Абсолютно не
интересующийся штормами Умберли и моряками Валькура, он все время остается в стороне от
всего происходящего.
Коссут: Гуляющие в огне, служащие Лорду огня, поддерживают мнение об очистной
способности огня и его роли в обновлении жизни. Когда люди видят, как их дома сгорают до
тла, они всегда аппелируют к Коссуту.
Семь Потерянных Богов: Этот термин используется для обозначения различных групп
могущественных сущностей, существовавших в разные времена. Некоторые из этих, так
званых «потерянных богов», могли быть премордиалами. Одна из групп существ .подходящая
под описание включает в себя Дендара Ночнуа Змея, Кезеф Гончая Хаоса и Борем Киплящая
Грязь
Архидьяволы
Наиболее могущественный существа чистого зла в космосе населяют Девять Кругов Ада. Они
стали еще большей угрозой для добрых сил после того, как Асмодеус стал Старшим Богом.
Каждый Архидьявол управляет одним из Кругов Ада. Бесчисленное количество извергов
служит
Архидьяволам
безоговорочно
и
преданно.
Мефистофель
наверное
самый
могущественный из всех Архидьяволов.
Мефистофель
Лорд Восьмого Круга Ада
Герцог Кании воплощает в себе всю хитрость Девяти Кругов Ада. Из лабиринтообразной
цитадели на ледяных склонах Восьмого Круга, Мефистофель сеет свой грех, не обминая даже
детей, в своем желание владеть душами.
Поклонение дьяволам
Некоторые дезинформированные люди попадают в поклонение одному или нескольким
архидьяволам. Совращенные грандиозными обещаниями, те, кто принял поклонение дьяволам
скоро начинают понимать, что церемонии и ритуалы, проводимые в честь Архидьяволов, самое
худшее, из того, что можно представить. Хотя, такие культы не являются обыденными, но в тех
местах, где они существуют, внутренний круг посвященных обменивают души своих прихожан
на великую силу.
Поклонение Асмодеусу также считается поклонением дьяволам. Однако, потому что Лорд
Девяти Кругов есть истинным богом, его последователям не нужно проводить ритуалы с
жертвоприношением, чтоб получить силу своего бога, в отличие от тех, кто поклоняются
дьяволам Ада. Количество поклоняющихся дьяволам сект точно не известно; однако, одна из
самых либеральных группировок из их числа походит из Эльтургарда. Высший Суд Торма
верит, что каждый из девяти Лордов Ада поддерживает как минимум одну такую секту, и одна
из них близ Кормира. Точно известно про одну тайную секту, которая находится в Высоком
Имаскаре.
Там,
самопровозглашенный
ребенок
Мефистофеля
поднялась
до
уровня
Императрицы, уничтожив истинного претендента на трон.
Руководство Кампании
Забытых Царств
Источник: Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, D&D 4, Глава 6
Перевод: LE_Ranger, [email protected], icq 307744148
Вернувшийся Абейр
Давным-давно мир был раздоен, дабы спасти его от финального конфликта между богами и исконными. Боги
взяли одну часть (Торил), исконные потребовали другую (Абейр).
Века спустя Чума Заклинаний (которую абейранцы называют Синее Дыхание Перемен) заставили два
отдельных мира столкнуться и наложиться. Части каждого из миров переместились в другой. Затем миры вновь
разделились, но каждый из них оставил на другом свой след. Примерно четверть Торила теперь приютила
родные земли Абейра.
Две самых существенных "пересаженных" земли на континенте Фаэрун - Аканул и Тимантер. Однако, самая
большая из новых земель - целый континент, который фаэрунцы называют Вернувшимся Абейром, который
находится к западу от Бездорожного Моря.
На
Вернувшемся
Абейре
драконы
управляют
обширными
царствами
рабов.
Драконорожденные
многочисленнее всего, но жертвуют собой при восстаниях. Дварфов и людей много. Дженази также были
многочисленны, но главным образом на восточном континенте Шир (континент, который не был перенесен на
Торил Синим Дыханием Перемен). Другие расы менее многочисленны, и феи типа эльфов и эладринов редки и
появляются лишь в последнее столетие. Организованная религия на Вернувшемся Абейре (веры, простые
святыни и путешествующее духовенство) в новинку; даже концепция богов, отвечающих на молитвы, для
многих все еще чужеродна, хотя некоторые божества Торила основали свои опорные точки на возвращенных
землях.
Прошлое Абейра
Истинная история долгого развертывания событий на Абейре скрыта от большинства смертных, живущих в
наши дни, хотя есть много противоречивых взглядов на прошлое. Среди людей лишь горстка священников и
мудрецов знает что-то больше того, что указано ниже (что большинство абейранцев считает истиной).
В старые времена Рассветные Титаны (исконные) бились с Эстелар (богами) и были унижены. Резня
Рассветных Титанов была огромной, но они сохранили себе Абейр. Иссушенные и разоренные божественным
огнем своих противников, немногие выжившие были утомлены раздорами. Ощутив это, их скакуны-драконы
восстали и обратились против Рассветных Титанов, убив большинство их, пока пережившие это не отступили в
камни гор и не затихли.
Затем торжествующие драконы пошли войной друг на друга и на драконов, оставшихся лояльным Рассветным
Титанам. Это событие называлась Войной Клыка и Когтя, и во время ее драконы опрометчиво выпустили
покинутую магию исконных. Большая часть Абейра была опустошена, да и драконы в свою очередь остались
травмированными, немногочисленными и утомленными войной.
Тогда легендарный Горлаун, дракон огромного размера, мощи и возраста, основал первую империю драконов.
С тех пор пошла конкуренция драконьих царств и началось долгое Правление Драконов.
Драконы ссорились, империи поднимались, ширились и распадались или оказывались вырванными из когтей
своих умирающих императоров, но драконье правление было почти бесспорным, пока Синее Дыхание Перемен
не обнажило малое количество янтаря-губителя драконов - достаточно, чтобы разрушить Правление Драконов.
Сейчас целые земли Вернувшегося Абейра управляются самостоятельно, свободные от драконьего правления -
по крайней мере, в настоящее время.
Формирование земли
Вернувшийся Абейр находится во власти могучих горных цепей с трех сторонах, образовывающих дугу
вокруг великого центрального залива - Моря Дракона.
Северное побережье Вернувшегося Абейра состоит из суровых необитаемых утесов, спускающихся к волнам с
холодных иззубренных горных высот, где Рассветные Титаны спят в ледяном Фимбруле. Юг - горная земля
Релмаур, дом враждующих драконорожденных и орков, и естественный барьер между последними двумя
выжившими царствами драконов: джунглями Мелабраута на западе и обширными полями Скелкора на востоке.
Горная цепь отделяет Скелкор от удерживаемого людьми Эскорна и Земель Меча. Западная земля Гонтал
гнездится за горной границей и не особо показывается чужакам. Эта земля - тайна для большинства абейранцев,
а граждане Гонтала считают ее местом для бушующих интриг.
СТАЛЬНЫЕ НЕБЕСА
На Абейре приятное синее небо давно уже забыто. Вместо этого от горизонта до горизонта протянулся свод
металлического цвета. При приближении плохой погоды стальные небеса кипят темно-зелеными и медными
облаками. Стальные небеса не затеняют солнечный, лунный или звездный свет.
Небо имеет металлический оттенок из-за арамбара - остаточной энергии древних исконных. Арамбар был
Рассветным Титаном, сила которого была настолько обширной, что даже после смерти остаток ее сохраняется
на Вернувшемся Абейре.
СУМЕРЧЕНЫЕ ПОРТЫ
Абейранцы часто используют "Сумеречные Порты" в качестве удобного общего названия, но эти города на
западных берегах центрального Моря Дракона никогда ни в чем не сотрудничали. Тем не менее, все они
считаются с мнением Орларракх, старшего зеленого дракона.
Знания о Сумеречных Портах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Мудрости Улиц.
DC 20: Сумеречные Порты внешне кажутся свободными, но, по правде говоря, они находятся в рабстве у
Орларракх, Зеленой Герцогини. Орларракх собирает дань для Мелаутаура Бессмертного, правителя Мелабраута
(страница 210). Хотя каждый Сумеречный Порт - жестокий конкурент для всех остальных, в каждом из них
также поддерживается крепость-логовище для Орларракх, если она решит нанести визит. При каждом
посещении Зеленая Герцогиня требует аудиенции нынешних лордов каждого из городов. Иногда после таких
аудиенций приходится выбирать новых лордов.
ОРДЕН РАССВЕТА
Несколько культов на Вернувшемся Абейре тайно поклоняются Рассветным Титанам, моля их о возвращении
и веруя, что они убьют драконов или по крайней мере сломят их власть и восстановят в Абейре причудливый
золотой век свободы. Эта вера находится под строгим запретом лордов-драконов, так что эти культы
встречаются в предельной тайне. У большинства их нет никаких секретных знаний или ритуалов и, таким
образом, их секретные встречи - просто показуха. Некоторые, типа Ордена Рассвета в Мрейелундаре, заявляют,
что обладают реликвиями Рассветных Титанов.
Орден Рассвета поклоняется массивному черепу, который иногда говорит. Члены полагают, что череп
принадлежал древнему исконному, убитому драконом Горлауном. Канонада слов черепа, конечно, кажется
достаточно внушительной, но все они - в основном загадки. Некоторые члены некогда утверждали, что за
говорящим черепом стоит Мастер Культа, драконорожденный по имени Рован Бабар, и что он стремится
обмануть культистов. Все такие члены скоропостижно скончались, и новые ничего об этом событии не знают.
Рован проповедует, что до прихода драконов континент был дикой местностью, по которой бродили
гуманоиды, жившие в мире с Рассветными Титанами. Рован заявляет, что исконные отдыхают в сердце самых
глубоких пещер в северных горах Вернувшегося Абейра. В своей легкой дремоте они знают, что происходит в
мире, и осведомлены о почестях, воздаваемых им Орденом Рассвета. Рован говорит, что если поклонение
ордена чисто и достаточно сильно, Рассветные Титаны явятся и вновь сделают драконов своими скакунами,
каковыми они и были раньше.
Если Зеленая Герцогиня когда-либо узнает, до чего дошел Орден Рассвета, она скорее всего вырежет весь
Мрейелундар лишь для того, чтобы убедиться, что ни один культист не ушел.
Дусклан
Портовый город; население 56,600
Дусклан состоит из мешанины рас. В отличие от Тармалуна (страница 216), Дусклан добр к беглым рабам из
других царств и других Сумеречных Портов (поскольку любого могут выбрать наугад на съедение старому
зеленому ужасу). В Дусклане даже живет несколько орков, живущих в Нижнем Порту, окрестностях доков, где
много борделей и теневых торговцев. По неким неясным причинам Орларракх является в Дусклан не так часто
и редко остается достаточно долго, чтобы съесть более чем нескольких неудачливых граждан.
Дусклан - намного более веселое место, чем другие Сумеречные Порты. Местные жители имеют хороший
вкус к пирам, танцам, пению, театрам и публичным шуткам. Воровство и ссоры в причальных тавернах
достаточно обычны, но убийств, похищений и поджогов почти не бывает.
Дусклан - центр абейранской подделки (монеты - местная специализация) и фальшивых документов для всех,
кто может за это заплатить. Особенно этот аспект города любят беглые рабы.
Городом управляет Дуспранар, живущий в огромном особняке, издающий декреты и выносящий решения по
торговым спорам и в вопросах, грозящих нарушением закона. После каждого из нечастых посещений Орларракх
выбирается новый Дуспранар.
Лилорн
Портовый город; население 68,000
Отчаянно гордые лилары всегда были одними из самых смелых среди абейранских моряков, путешествуя
далеко по морям в поисках новых мест для торговли (и островов для разграбления). Лиларские пираты -
основной элемент абейранского фольклора, и лилары конкурируют с самбрезами с Земель Меча по
выдумыванию овкорблений и обнажению стали для их возмещения. Однако, они не убивают более слабых или
старых противников, но носят маленький пояс-кнут для наказания подобных обидчиков.
Лилорн однозначно самый большой, богатейший и самый доминирующий из Сумеречных Портов. Он получил
этот статус, пожертвовав самым большим количеством своих граждан безграничному аппетиту Орларракх.
Лилары предпочитают окруженные стенами висячие сады и внутренние дворы в своих каменных домах с
окнами-арками. Внутри их домов - богатые гобелены, насыщенные ковры, дорогостоящие статуэтки и другая
роскошь, включая весь спектр очень пряной домашней птицы на обеденных столах.
Под лапой Орларракх Лилорном управляет лорд, избираемой другой знатью. Голосуют главы всех семнадцати
лиларских благородных домов, обычно выбирая пожилых, консервативных мужчин (если Орларракх съест
старика, то по крайней мере жертва прожила полную жизнь перед тем, как встретить столь ужасный конец).
Неправдоподобно богатые Нандрел Гостур и Зашина Дретил возглавляют Теневой Поцелуй - банду нарко- и
ядоторговцев, действующую по всему Морю Дракона. Зашина любит авантюристов, страстно выискивая
новости об их делах, часто нанимая и даже совращая их, когда считает, что это достаточно безопасно. Она
строит планы по использованию своих наркотиков для контроля Орларракх.
Марраук
Портовый город; население 38,800
Холмы вокруг Марраука суровы и голы от растительности, так что он долго был известен как Город Пыли из-
за носимого ветрами песка (называемого пескодуй), хлещущего его массивные каменные здания и убивающего
всю растительность. Пять долин прямо внутри его заполнены глубокими залежами очень мелкой и чистой соли,
которую Марраук теперь экспортирует на весь Возвращенный Абейр и на большую часть западного Фаэруна.
Особенность местной одежды - темные, закрытые плащи для защиты от пескодуя, что делает всех на улицах
очень похожими. Марраукилы - строгий, немногословный народ, управляемый наследственным высоким
лордом. В настоящее время на этой должности находится спокойная и любимая всеми женщина по имени Дауна
Лорастур. Трое ее молодых сыновей волнуются за мать, все менее повинующуюся Зеленой Герцогине.
Мрейелундар
Портовый город; население 29,900
Этот влажность, гниющий город всегда был известен богатством, развратом, беззаконием и незаконными
методами. Здесь живут и работают лучшие ювелиры и огранщики Вернувшегося Абейра, и в жизни верховодят
банды. Мелабраут получает от этого города немалую дань - после того, как ее собирает Орларракх.
Ювелир Труск Рантин - Лорд Врат города, но банды боятся и повинуются Нарнорну, таинственному и
легендарному вору, который и правит фактически.
При том, что часть свободного народа Земель Меча очарована драконами и жаждет их мощи, таковые из
Сумеречных Портов по себе знают, что драконы недостойны изучения или поклонения. В отчаянии некоторые
из них тайно обращаются к поклонению исчезнувшим Рассветным Титанам. Недавно основанный Орден
Рассвета быстро становится реальной силой за закрытыми дверьми Мрейелундара.
Тарсит
Портовый город; население 46,800
Основанный вокруг устья Реки Эсмур, где всегда было в избытке рыбы, угрей и песчаных моллюсков, Тарсит -
самый занятой рыбацкий центр Вернувшегося Абейра. Каждый день сотни граждан выходят на веслах или под
парусами в небольшой залив реки Эсмур, чтобы вытянуть сети, полные сверкающего улова. Большинство угрей
и моллюсков съедается тут же, но скальных крабов закатывают в речную глину и запекают в твердые шары,
хорошо переносящие путешествие, а рыбу потрошат и сушат. Эти пищевые продукты стали главным экспортом
Тарсита, опережая его традиционную гордость - самые прекрасные веревки и паруса на всей земле. Ткачи
Тарсита делают лучшие ткацкие станки на Вернувшемся Абейре, но они не идут на продажу (и время от
времени крадутся при смелых набегах, науськиваемых ткачами из других городов).
Тарситом управляет Тарандар, владеющий магической тростью, который получает приказы от Орларракх. Это
в большинстве своем спокойный город, который иногда взрывается неожиданным ужасом, когда Зеленая
Герцогиня подбивает другого подобного дракона из Мелабраута на соревнование - кто больше съест.
ЭСКОРН
Это бывшее драконье царство - ныне человеческая земля ("Эскорн" - сокращение от Эскорнамундир, имя его
свергнутого драконьего правителя). Широко известный в других местах Вернувшегося Абейра как отсталое,
глухое царство, таковое лишь в названии, Эскорн едва управляется. Король перемещает свой двор из замка в
замка, поддерживая порядок со своими быстроходными рыцарями. Закон короля часто простирается лишь на
длину мечей рыцарей.
Кроме рыночных мест (расположенных на перекрестках дорог или на пересечении троп с судоходной рекой),
чужеземцы и нелюди встречаются редко, даже при том, что драконорожденные тоже некогда были рабами
Эскорнамундира. Когда дракон-император Эскорна пал, драконорожденные поспешили на помощь своим
сородичам в Скелкоре.
Знания об Эскорне
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 10: Эскорн был вырван из драконьих когтей не только героизмом людей-рабов, повсеместно
поднявших восстание, но и благодаря определенным делам авантюристов во главе с сильным и жестким воином
Аунглассом Роарилом, от которого и идет нынешний королевский род. Начиная с Избавления, как называется
это событие, правили пять человеческих династий. Четыре династии закончились насильственно.
Эскорн известен как Царство Дикого Дракона - не за свое драконье прошлое и не за распространенность диких
драконов, а из-за Дикодраконов - одно из бывших правящих семейств. Большинство мудрецов полагает, что
Дикобраконы были ситреблены кланом Хайлраэвин, но легенды всегда настаивали, что они живы, рассеявшись
средь эскорнаров, не зная о своем происхождении, породив много успешных авантюристов (и изгоев). В один
прекрасный день Дикодраконы вернутся на трон, и начнется время величия Эскорна. Некоторые из старших и
самых ученых волшебников Вернувшегося Абейра объявили, что правы легенды, а не мудрецы.
История DC 15: В некоторых из руин Эскорна все еще есть невероятные сокровища. Гробницы древних
драконьих императоров усеивают землю, не говоря уже об отдельной колоссальной постройке, возвышающейся
на мили в стальное небо, в которой, как считают, размещается Рассветный Титан, который никогда не был
побежден в течение Правления Драконов. Однако, никто никогда не смог даже поцарапать каменные врата,
запечатывающие вход в гигантский шпиль.
Мудрость Улиц DC 10: Главный экспорт Эскорна - древесина, кувшины с лекарствами и лесорастительный
джем (особенно коричневый, известный как таррум), выделанные шкуры и соленое мясо. Добыча включает
волов, кабанов, оленину и земляных кур - термин, используемый эскорнарами для диких индюшек, которые
могут вырастать размером с человеческого ребенка.
Мудрость Улиц DC 15: Орнан, нынешний король Эскорна - краснолицый, жестий постаревший ветераном,
проведший много лет в седле - в болрьбе с изгоями, потенциальными узурпаторами и монстрами. Это грубый
человек, желающий быть светлым и справедливым, но он не мешкает с теми, кто бросают ему вызов или с
любым, кто обманывает. Король Орнан любит простые разговоры, честные деловые отношения и тех, кто добр
и благосклонен друг к другу. Под его правлением убийц казнят, воров порют, об их преступлениях широко
сообщается, и обеспечивается, чтобы они возместили вдвое больше, чем украли (обеспечивая работу под
наблюдением его рыцарей, если нет иного способа сделать это).
ШТОРМОВАЯ РУНА
Штормовая Руна - кабала из примерно дюжины богатых штормхарских торговцев и землевладельцев,
встречающихся в секрете и скрывающие личности от своих агентов, занимающих более низкую ступень.
Агенты никогда не совершают жестоких или явно незаконных дел; работая через шпионов и посредников для
защиты личностей своих членов от предательства, Руна нанимает для такой работы авантюристов-чужеземцев -
по принципу разовой задачи.
Нат Харандал, коварный и расчетливый изготовитель ядов и торговец парусиной, веревками, шнурами и
палатками, возглавляет Штормовую Руну. Ему помогает Беласкур Халлоудрин, надменный расист и
превосходный актер, занимающийся прекрасными платьями, тесьмой, духами, перчатками и шляпами. Когда
доходит до темных дел, Нат и Беласкур - самые энергичные мыслители и исполнители Руны, и они могут всегда
обратиться за помощью к мускулам холодного убийственного торговца лошадьми Мордрара Хаммеска и к
жестокому тележнику Остралу Бардвику.
Штормовая Руна не заинтересована управлением Эскорном, но ее членов очень интересует обогащение и
получение большей силы - через манипулирование рыцарями Эскорна и медленное формирование популярных
взглядов. Они поощряют всех разделять точку зрения, что торговцы - истинные друзья народа, потому что они
делают всех богаче и дают комфорт, принимая во внимание, что король и его рыцари, при всех их разговорах о
справедливых законах - на самом деле угнетатели.
Всякий раз, когда Руна способна подтолкнуть рыцаря или любого придворного или королевского агента к
действию или разговору в резкой или своевольной манере, она стремится сделать это. Всякий раз, когда ее
агенты могут представить указы короля или рыцарей чрезмерно жестокими или тираническими, они стараются
придать им именно этот оттенок. Они также заботятся о том, чтобы никто не начал видеть в торговцах
объединенную угрозу. Кабалла работает против не-членов, используя воровство, вандализм и случайные
поджоги - так, чтобы члены Руны процветали, в то время как другим торговцам Эскорна приходилось бороться.
КОРОЛЕВСКИЕ ТВЕРДЫНИ
Королевские твердыни Эскорна - всего лишь одиночные каменные башни, окруженные рвами, и деревни
вокруг них. Несмотря на название, каждая из них - по сути лишь приют для продавцов маленьких и ценных
изделий, ростовщиков и богатого люда, желающего жить в безопасности. Многие достаточно густонаселенны,
чтобы иметь "высокое общество", которое мало, ревнует к "этим высоким трепачам" из Штормошлема и
отчаянно стремится изучать и подражать этой моде высоких трепачей.
Поселения и приметные черты
Большинство Эскорна - раскидистые лесистые холмы, усеянные маленькими усадьбами на несколько
семейств. Тропы встречаются часто, но дорог немного, указателей нет вообще; в этой стране легко заблудиться.
Изобилуют потоки, болота и много крошечных водоемов, окутанных мглой на рассвете и в сумерках. Кроме
рыцарей и рауренов (шпионы и посланники короля), лишь коробейники и выносливые ездоки хорошо знают
маршруты и вехи сельской местности.
Эскорн наиболее густонаселен и сильнее всего патрулируется по прибрежным дорогам, соединяющим
королевские твердыни. По мере путешествия на восток земля становится все дикой и опасной; по ней бродят
многочисленные твари и банды изгоев. В конечном счете жители, тропы и закон разом исчезают в Лесу
Харглет. Все знают, что в лесу есть руины, но немногие эскорнары знают о них что-то конкретное (кроме руин
рядом с тем местом, где они живут).
Штормошлем
Столица; население 18,000
Столица Эскорна - растянутый, не окруженный стенами каменный город, восстановленный людьми из руин
древних дварфских зданий, в которых драконы некогда устраивали свое логовище. Он назван по имени
легендарного человека-воина, погибшего в великолепной борьбе за свободу от драконов за столетие до
успешного восстания людей.
В Штормошлеме грязные дороги для фургонов меж гравийных пешеходных дорожек, расположенные как
попало, и деревьев и неразработанных площадей больше, чем плотной застройки. Его самое большое здание -
амбароподобная каменная крепость, называемая Тронным Залом, дом Короля Орнана Роарила. Во время
путешествий Орнан оставляет правителем своего геральда, любезного, но глуповатого Мрескана Хондла, дабы
тот выслуживал просьбы и жалобы подданых. Король и его геральд часто общаются посредством эскорнанской
драгоценности - Видящих Камней.
Король Орнан похоронил трех жен, но вырастал троих детей. Наследный принц Имрар Роарил -
импульсивный, гордый и способный воин, глумящийся над своим младшим братом. Принц Фландарр Роарил
ненавидит Имрара и строит планы, как стать королем при поддержке слабоорганизованной кабаллы жадных
эскорнанских торговцев и многих из давних доверенных шпионов короля. Однако, большая часть все более и
более беспокоящейся знати царства поддерживает Принцессу Длорну Роарил - интеллектуального,
справедливого и дипломатичного младшего ребенка Орнана.
Благородные семейства Калат, Хорнлар и Сардрон тайно настроены в оппозиции к восхождению на трон
любого из Роарилов после смерти Орнана. Давний конкурент Короля, проницательный и искушенный Амонтур
Сардрон хочет продвинуть в короли своего сына - бойкого, превосходного актера Арангура, и готов ради этого
нанять кого угодно или вступить в любой союз. Дларрин Калат не заботится о том, кто именно король, пока
реальным правителем является он сам, и он ищет свособы влияния на каждого из значимых рыцарей (часто -
запугиванием или угрозами шантажа).
Большинство эскорнаров в той или иной степени привязанны к своему королю и полагают, что угрозы его
правлению - работа зловещих чужеземцев или чрезмерно честолюбивых рыцарей. Однако, в повседневной
жизни Штормошлема царит интенсивный интерес к вечноменяющимся интригам, влиянию и относительному
социальному положению всех придворных и рыцарей. В Штормошлеме нет гильдий, но он давно уже развил
противоречие жестокости некоторых из самых своевольных рыцарей: таинственную Штормовую Руну.
В Штормошлеме живут богатейшие семейства эскорнаров. Благородные семейства имеют в черте города
окруженные стенами особняки. В Штормошлеме правят бал все моды, сплетни, игры (типа метания ножей и
различных карточных игр) и хобби Царства Дикого Дракона. Штормошлем - единственное место в Эскорне, в
жилищах которого есть украшенные холлы и шикарно оборудованные комнаты, использующиесяся лишь для
развлечения гостей.
Айронхар
Королевская твердыня
Айронхар - самая большая из королевских твердынь. Несколько богатых сборщиков живут здесь, часто
нанимая авантюристов в качестве цепких рук на окрестных землях.
Завсегдатай, чаще всего нанимающий группы авантюристов в Айронхаре - Драмар Лорнен. Она одержима
мечтами о Шпиле Рассветного Титана (страница 207) и придумала многогранный план для получения
возможности войти в него. Говорят, что многие наняты ей в Эскорне и в других местах, выполняя маленькие
задачи, которые в конечном счете дадут Драмар ключ для входа в Шпиль.
Мглистая Поросль
Королевская твердыня
Известная богатой местной историей превосходных певцов, менестрелей и изготовителей инструментов,
Мглистая Поросль недавно стала центром вандализма, поджогов и нападений на королевских агентах, хотя
никто из злодеев так и не был схвачен. Местные жители все чаще полагают, что определенные благородные
семейства нанимают чужеземных бандитов и хулиганов, но никто не смеет называть имен. Охота ради спорта и
ради добычи Лесу Харглет особенно хороша близ Мглистой Поросли, и местные охотники часто нанимают
авантюристов в качестве охраны, когда вероятность атак монстров или изгоев возрастает достаточно, чтобы
стать реальной проблемой.
Остроглазый, но старый Умел Рассекающий Зуб из Мглистой Поросли искал группу, которая может провести
его, несмотря на его немалый возраст, к руинам, которые в молодости он исследовал вместе с давно уже
мертвыми соотечественниками. У Умела есть фрагмент старой карты и полустертые воспоминания, способные
привести наемников в место под названием Саванфаст, где, по словам Умела, "огни в земле поют идеально
чистыми голосами".
Норнгласт
Королевская твердыня
Эта самая маленькая и отдаленная из трех королевских твердынь Эскорна названа по имени семейства-
основателя - ранее видного, но ныне заглохшего клана Норнгласт. Благородные Норнгласты накопили
невероятное богатство, и предполагается, что они потратили немалую часть своих монет на семейный проект, о
котором чужакам не рассказывали. Многие из местных говорят о "Секрете Норнгластов" - но по сути это лишь
отмечает, что Норнгласты отличались от других, но никто не знает - чем именно.
Ясно одно: Норнгласт кажется заполоненным духами своего прошлого - духами, которые словно преследуют
свои прижизненные цели, иногда забираясь ради этого далеко за пределы Эскорна. Как говорят об этом
эскорнары, "Норнгластом управляют привидения". По правде говоря, у Возвышения Араунта есть комплекс
катакомб под твердыней - это одно из его центральных княжеств. См. страницу 252 для большей информации о
Возвышении Араунта.
Рондевал
Королевская твердыня
Самое большое место для рыночных встреч в Эскорне носит имя легендарного, давно уже мертвого
исполнителя, известного своим остроумием, очарованием и распутностью. Рондевал построил хорошую
гостиницу там, где у перекрестья дорог били источники приятной, чистой питьевой воды. С тех пор тут
развился торговый городок - без правительства, помимо владельцев гостиниц и их наемных рук. Сейчас это
лучшее место в царстве, где можно найти квалифицированных ремесленников.
Рондевал - место постоянных сплетен и интриг, где безденежные и желающие быстро разбогатеть собираются,
дабы попытаться урвать благосостояние - или хотя бы прожить - от любого, кто пожелает их нанять. Чужеземцы
могут купить в Рондевале изумительный ассортимент "карт сокровищ" - или нанять квалифицированных
художников для рисования новых, еще более причудливых.
ВОЗВЫШЕНИЕ АРАУНТА
Под Норгластом лежит сеть портальных путей, скрытых для всех, кроме нежити. Живущее существо арка или
дверь с тремя вертикальными полосками над ней приведет в обычный туннель катакомб или в склеп, но
разумную нежить, знающую значение меток, тот же самый проход может привести в другие катакомбы или
кладбища куда-то еще на Вернувшемся Абейре. Называемые путями смерти, эти маршруты плотнее всего
используются группой самоорганизованной нежити, базирующейся в Эскорне, которая называет себя
Возвышением Араунта (см. страницу 252 для большего количества деталей об этой организации).
Возвышение Араунта существует в виде сети портальных путей, тропы которой формируют незримое
королевство мертвых. Порталы ежегодно проникают на все большую территории, и по сути Возвышение
полагает, что каждый склеп, каждая королевская гробница, каждый забытый уголок мира, где нежить защает
прихоти давно ушедших владык - фактически обширное, хоть по себе и маленькое, княжество Араунта.
В катакомбах под Норнгластом содержит свой двор нежить, известная как Лод и Меремот.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Аргул: Этот длинный рассеченный замок был построен драконорожденными рабами в качестве логовища для
их драконьего владыки - гигантского дракона по имени Аргуларрагх. Рабы называли этого великого вирма
Аргулом, и за столетия это стало и названием логовища. Замок был разодран на части конкурирующими
драконами, ищущими сокровища (и закусившими оставшимися драконорожденными рабами) после того, как
Аргуларрагх исчез. Большинство драконов считало, что вирм погиб при некотором происшествии или битве над
морем, погрузившись в водяную могилу, но кое-кто полагает, что Аргуларрагх научился менять форму и живет
в различных обликах и по сей день. Другая легенда намекает, что великий дракон был затянут в магическое
изделие и остается в ловушке.
Твердыня Белприна: Этот маленькая, выпотрошенная огнем каменная твердыня имеет забытое человеческое
происхождение. Она носит имя известного изгоя, жившего в этих разрушенных стенах столетия назад, собрав
вокруг себя множество объявленных вне закона. Бандитов неоднократно вышвыривали из твердыни различные
эскорнарские короли и рыцари. Но бандиты всегда возвращались, оставляя за собой неизбежные рассказы о
спрятанных сокровищах, все из которых сосредоточены в руинах. Хищные монстры начали бродить
поблизости, ища возможность закусить очередными изгоями или искателями сокровищ, посещающими
Твердыню Белприна.
Шпиль Рассветного Титана: Эта монолитная структура вздымается в небо на две мили, словно стройный
молочно-белый клык. Она словно построена из мрамора, хотя фактически он прочнее железа. Является ли это
уникальное вещество само по себе слишком твердым, или это магически усиленный мрамор - никто из
потенциальных исследователей так и не смог определить. Большинство полагает, что внутри массивной
крепости живет Рассветный Титан - один из исконных древних времен, которым драконы так и не смогли
нанести поражение, но они все равно исчезли из этого мира. По слухам: есть и другие подобные постройки -
типа цитадели размером с графство из горящего льда, которое было на диком континенте Шир на востоке,
прежде чем Синее Дыхание Перемен навсегда изменило мир и Шир исчез во мраке. Что случилось с Широм и
исконным деспотом Каршимисом - неизвестно и вряд ли когда-то откроется.
Огненные Деревья: Опаленные, перевернутые камни этой когда-то внушительно, но ныне разрушенной
крепости лежат в "шраме" из сожженных стволов деревьев и почерневших от огня камней, где не растут новые
растения. В темноте над камнями плывет жуткое свечение и, по слухам, там очень активна магия, изменяющая
чувства, способности и формы живущих существ.
На месте Огненных Деревьев когда-то стояла укрепленная тюрьма драконорожденных Раурокх, названная по
имени правившего там дракона. Раурокхимдхар держал и разводил здесь драконорожденных. Под Раурокхом
есть глубинные пустоты - давно покинутый дварфский город под названием Дурлиндболд. Город был очищен
от своих строителей века назад разумной магией, от которой гнила плоть. Перед угрозой смерти дварфы
рассеялись по множеству маленьких пещерных домов по всему Абейру. И по сей день тут можно встретить
монстров, беспощадную магию, разумную чуму, вытеснившую дварфов, и кое-какие утерянные сокровища
меньших драконов, а также драконорожденных беглецов из Раурокхах, проживших всю жизнь в пустотах
Дурлиндболда.
Орот: Давно известный как Полая Гора, этот большой, но низкий разрушенный вулканический пик зарос
густым лесом. Орот уже не пуст: область изобилует монстрами всех видов, удерживающими даже самых
смелых авантюристов. Как показывает история эскорнаров, рыцари царства не рискуют появляться близ Орота,
даже если подвергнуты опасности королевские наследники.
Старший черный дракон Лхарглорот, бывший лояльный служитель Мелаутаура Бессмертного (страница 210),
давно уже сбежал в Орот и все еще живет там. Дракон продолжает свои сумасшедшие эксперименты без
внимательного присмотра своего владыки. Он удобно устроился в пещерах в глубине Орота, продолжая
экспериментировать на живущих существах мощной магией своего собственного изобретения, создавая новых
ужасающих монстры.
Большинство созданий Лхарглорота - уникальные бесплодные кошмары, но наряду с такими есть и воистину
успешные. Некоторые из неудавшихся экспериментов дракона (большинство из которых - твари-бормотуны)
иногда сбегают, бродя по лесам Орота и пожирая друг друга и всех вторгшихся.
Саванфаст: У древних дварфов Дурлиндболда были заставы под землей, с которых они наблюдали за
мародерствующими драконами в течение первых нескольких тысячелетий Правления Драконов. Одна из таких
застав была построена в пустототелом естественном каменном куполе. Хитрые окна магии, которых нет на
внешней стороне, были высечены в склонах естественного формирования, позволяя дварфам то, что находится
на поверхности. Время от времени существа из внешнего мира случайно получают доступ в Саванфаст,
покружившись перед пригорком в особой манере. Внутри находятся узлы магического света, поющие
предупреждения всякий раз, когда на них встают вторгшиеся, а также туннели, ведущие далеко под землю -
возможно, к Дурлиндболду и другим местам, когда-то построенным дварфами. Лабиринт также заполонен
существами, проникшими в него, но неспособными из него выбраться.
ФИМБРУЛ
Фимбрул, Земля Гигантов - холодный, бездорожный и на вид бескрайний горный регион. В нем властвуют
возвышающиеся одетые снегом пики, воющие снежные бури, глубокие пропасти и узкие скрытые долины. Под
его могучими пиками лежат длинные сети пещер с реками и озерами талой воды, где живет большинство живых
существ Фимбрула.
Земля настолько обширна и похожа на лабиринт, что в ней может скрываться почти что угодно - даже
Рассветные Титаны. Когда швыряемый штормом снег не жалит глаза, на землю ложатся облака, скрывая все
влажным, цепким туманом, блокирующим видение и сверхъестественно искажающим звуки.
Скрытые высокие долины Фимбрула полны кабанов и лосей. Его скалы содержат самые богатые из известных
жил сырых металлических руд и самоцветов всего мира, доступные из тысяч не отмеченных на картах,
безымянных пещер.
Знания о Фимбруле
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 15: Горстка они появилась в Фимбруле лишь десять лет назад. Они начали собирать рассеянных,
отчаянно ищущих продовольствие поверхностных орков в огромнын военные банды, каждая из которых
состоит из двух дюжин дисциплинированных налетчиков. Они и их силы охотятся на горных козлов, когда их
набеги на юг проваливаются. Они редко забираются в туннели под отшлифованной людом горной местностью.
История DC 30: Исконные дремлют в Фимбруле, самопогребенные в сплошной скале, лишь в общих чертах
зная то, что происходит вокруг. В прошлом определенные дела или выпущенная магия пробуждали их и
заставляли приложить руку к событиям - но легенды дают лишь намеки, что это могло быть и сработает ли это
еще раз.
Мудрость Улиц DC 10: То, что другие абейранцы называют "зимой", продолжается в Фимбруле круглый год.
В течение зимы на остальной части Вернувшегося Абейра Фимбрул страдает от воющих ледяных штормов, не
позволяющих летать - даже драконам. Эти штормы превращают сухопутное путешествие в череду падений, при
которых легко переломать кости. Пик лета приносит двухмесячный "сезон туманов", которого хватает, чтобы
вдохнуть минимум жизни в чахлые деревья, которые растут без листьев и со странно длинными ветвями в
высоких горных долинах. В пещерах внизу времена года не ощущаются.
Поселения и приметные черты
Среди своих бескрайних Воющих Гор Фимбрул известен несколькими приметными пиками, и кое-какие
общины скрываются в его снежных, продуваемых ветрами внутренностях.
Дарраун
Столица; население 6,600
В группе великих пещер глубоко под тремя высокими пиками, известными как Громовые Клыки, находится
Дарраун, столица и единственный город Фимбрула.
Город населяют земные гиганты и галеб дар. Построек не так много, и сделаны они при помощи
формирования естественных скал, создавая пещеру с чудесными скальными драпировками, искусные ячеистые
стены, кварцевые скаты, светящиеся прозрачные сталактиты и другие чудеса.
Фимбранские гиганты проводят свою жизнь в охоте в далеких пещерах и на снежной поверхности Фимбрула,
особенно в долинах. Пойманное они не готовят на огне, а съедают после погружения его в размягчающий плоть
бульон. Гиганты ведут бесконечную войну с драконов, восставшими галеб дар из дальних пещер, а недавно - с
бандами орков они. До недавнего времени гиганты охотились на орков как на еду; теперь они охотятся на них из
гнева. Фимбранские земные гиганты также делают мощное спиртное - гуллук - из перебродившего кулинарного
бульона, сильно приправленного.
Черная Твердыня
Пещера для встреч; население 800
Черная Твердыня - островок теплоты и комфорта для гуманоидов на суровой земле Фимбрула. Его население
растет и падает по мере того, как приходят и уходят торговцы и авантюристы, все из которых считают его
нейтральной землей для встреч; это - единственный на многие лиги приют, где можно остдохнуть, поторговать
и оправиться от ран. На Черную Твердыню редко нападают орки, драконы или гиганты, так что она считается
сравнительно безопасной.
Ксенофобные дварфы сообщества Кузнечных Огней прибывают в Черную Твердыню, чтобы встретиться с
более широким миром, который они не допускают в свой дом. Здесь они торгуют сделанными в Кузнечных
Огнях монетами, оружием, доспехами и скобяными изделиями. Люди и другие авантюристы используют
Твердыню для пополнения запасов, отдыха и вербовки.
Жилища Черной Твердыни - цепочки узких связанных палат по сторонам, высеченных дварфами в стенах ее
главной пещеры. В главной области много загонов для тварей, каменных "подиумов", вонючих навозных куч, и
глубокий Пруд Питьевой Воды.
Кузнечные Огни
Пещерная цитадель дварфов; население 400
Никто, кроме дварфов, не допускается в эту плотно охраняемую вереницу пещер. Ее дварфы преднамеренно
держат ведущие к ней туннели слишком маленькими, чтобы гиганты или драконы могли вести переговоры.
Даже с незнакомыми дварфами, приближающимися к Кузнечным Огням, обращаются с подозрением. Рассказы
предупреждают, что в цитадели есть сотни скрытых туннелей и дверей, за большинством которых скрыты
вооруженные и закованные в броню дварфы.
В самых глубоких подвалах жилых пещер Кузнечных Огней есть вулканические трещины, где дварфы куют
весь спектр инструментов, монет, оружия и доспехов. Трещины делают Кузнечные Огни теплым, влажным
местом; конденсирующуюся влагу собирают и используют для мытья, окраски и кухонных дел.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Двор Рорна: В самых глубоких пещерах Фимбрула спит двор Рассветного Титана по имени Сверкающий
Рорн Яростный (см. "Двор Рорна" на странице 242 для большего количества информации). Кое-кто
перешептывается, что Рорн и его двор окончательно пробудится после тысячелетий безмолвия и дремоты.
Драконьи Кости: Эта длинная и по общему мнению бездонная пропасть - место, куда драконы прилетают,
чувствуя близость смерти. Говорят, что они падают в нее, гибнут и таким образом кости их перемешиваются с
таковыми их предков, сородичей и даже конкурентов. Когда дракон умирает в другом месте, абейранец
приносит одну из его чешуек или костей к Драконьим Костям, бросая его вниз - на удачу. Ни одному из
заклинателей еще не удалось вытянуть беспокойную магическую энергию, клокочущую внизу.
Глаэдорн: Где-то в Воющих Горах есть по крайней мере шесть входов в отдельную блистающую пещеру,
стены которой усеяны огромными драгоценными камнями. Глаэл Дорн был дварфом, первым нашедшим ее
давным-давно. Кристаллы считают отделенными пальцами Рассветного Титана, иногда движущимися по своему
усмотрению.
Римлост: Высокая башня высится на северных утесах Фимбрула - башня, вокруг которой штормы воют с
особой яростью. Римлост - секрет, известный очень немногим, поскольку в ней размещается один из культов
Вернувшегося Абейра, поклоняющийся Рассветым Титанам - прямо нарушая указ драконов. Оставшиеся
драконы Вернувшегося Абейра идут на любые усилия, чтобы выслеживать и истреблять любого, кого считают
вовлеченным в подобное поклонение, поскольку у них нет ни малейшего желания видеть, как их старые
владыки пробудятся от вечного сна на этом континенте, как это случилось в утерянном Шире.
КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ ЖИТЕЛИ ЧЕРНОЙ ТВЕРДЫНИ
В Черной Твердыне нет какого-либо правительства или правителя, но кое-кто в ней живет дольше других.
Матушка Длинные Пальцы: Пожилая, но все еще изящная балерина и бывшая ошеломительная красотка,
знающая и обихаживающая всех в Черной Твердыне, Искх "Длинные Пальцы" Ламмараск имеет поразительные
золотые глаза под суровыми черными бровями на морщинистом лице. Она управляет Отдыхом Искх - банями и
спальными помещениями, где она обслуживает несчетное количество ванн и хранит ключи, мелкие изделия и
секреты завсегдатаев.
Клинок: Также известный как "Старый Клык", молчаливый одноглазый иссеченный шрамами владелец
магазина оснащения Скрещенные Клинки, Блейс "Клинок" Орлтаск никогда не обманывает клиентов, но всегда
находит способ поквитаться с теми, кто переходит его дорожку. Тысячи красочных рассказов повествуют о
наследственных домах и злых делах дварфа.
Укрытый Плащом: Единственный известный местный волшебник Черной Твердыни всегда обмотан
закрытым черным плащом и одеяниями, под которыми он (или она) носит черный марлевый саван вокруг
головы - и под ним еще некоего рода персональную ауру магической тьмы, скрывающей кожу. Укрытый
Плащом за плату исполняет ритуалы, но никогда не уходит за приключениями и не покидает Черную Твердыню
ни по какой причине.
МЕЛАБРАУТ
Старейшая из выживших драконьих империй Вернувшегося Абейра, Мелабраут - обширные, дикие джунгли.
Заполоненные дикими монстрами джунгли день и ночь отзываются эхом рева, зова на помощь и предсмертными
воплями. Разрушенные каменные пирсы вонзаются в моря в естественных гаванях вдоль побережья.
Рассказывают, что глубоко в джунглях есть утерянные заросшие руины. Эти сооружения - единственный
признак того, что драконорожденные или другие гуманоиды когда-то жили в этой области, но теперь их тут нет.
Это - земля драконов и монстров. Мелабраутом правит Мелаутаур Бессмертный, нестареющий гигантский
черный дракон.
Знания о Мелабрауте
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 15: Когда пришло Синее Дыхание Перемен, империя Бессмертного почти пала от восстания ее
драконорожденных рабов. Мелаутаур ничего не сделал, чтобы защитить служивших ему меньших драконов от
резни драконорожденными, владевшими янтарем-губителем драконов. Когда восстание было подавлено,
Бессмертный позволил джунглям захватить свои земли и не стал захватывать новых гуманоидных рабов.
Мудрость Улиц DC 30: Мелаутаур - фактически исписанный рунами драколич, продолжающий усиливать
свои силы нежити. Иногда он посылает своих драконов-подчиненных в отдаленные части Вернувшегося
Абейра, очевидно - в поисках ключей к реликвии, утерянной в древние времена во время войны между
Эстеларом и Рассветными Титанами. Считают, что реликвия, называемая Тенью Ао, имеет силу обновить мир.
Поселения и приметные черты
В Мелабрауте нет никаких известных поселений, дорог или троп. Его многочисленные реки судоходны на
некоторое расстояние вглубь от побережья, но жестокие и постоянные атаки монстров препятствуют любому
посетителю Империи Джунглей.
Драконорожденные не служат мелбраутским драконам. Прислужнические обязанности возложены на
драконье отродье, молодых драконов и на других существ. Никто не знает, где живет Мелаутаур, хотя чужаки
подозревают, что у него есть несколько логовищ, большинство из которых - в горах.
Клык: Этот зубоподобный кищащий монстрами прибрежный пик используется моряками для навигации.
Река Випаэрин: Чернильно-спокойные воды самой большой реки Мелабраута и многочисленные болота по ее
берегам скрывают множество смертельных водных хищников.
Звездный Шпиль: Этот одинокий пик словно вонзается в небосвод. Ходит немало рассказов о его
невероятных сокровищах и секретах, но в немногочисленных пещерах по его сторонам есть лишь ловушки и
трупы павших захватчиков.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Джерад Кусолд: Одни из каменных руин Империи Джунглей были городом рабов-драконорожденных,
который стал крепостью мятежников, когда Синее Дыхание Перемен ненадолго снабдило Вернувшийся Абейр
янтарем-губителем драконов. Драконорожденные Мелабраута сумели убить почти четверть драконов
Бессмертного. Но Бессмертный обнаружил хранилище знаний Рассветного Титана, заставив землю поглотить
Джерад Кусолд, всех его защитников-драконорожденных и его желтый кристалл. Это место сейчас упоминается
как Проглоченный Город. В поисках его ежегодно погибает множество драконорожденных.
МЕЛАБРАУТСКИЕ СВЕРХДРАКОНЫ
Из тысячи необычных драконов, живущих в Мелабрауте, примерно двадцать достаточно мощны, чтобы быть
сверхдраконами, управляющими собственными территориями. Некоторые из этих сверхдраконов кратко
описаны ниже.
Если кто-либо из сверхдраконов становится слишком честолюбивым или планирует фактическое
предательство, Мелаутаур словно всегда знает об этом и немедленно приказывает четырем другим
сверхдраконам атаковать и убить предателя. В остальном Мелаутаур позволяет им заниматься своими делами,
что часто включает охоту на людей и драконорожденных ради удовольствия.
Ророарос: Этот старший черный дракон восхищается изничтожением тех, кто бросает ему вызов, но он
осторожен и частенько консультируется с Мелаутауром. Он управляет прибрежной территорией и часто
разбирается со вторгающимися с моря.
Наэриндрот: Хитрый и мастерский актер, этот взрослый черный дракон имеет тайник с магическими
изделиями, предоставляющими изобилие иллюзий и обманов.
Саракрор: Взрослый зеленый, этот хитрый любитель противоречивых приказов частенько вгоняет своих
подчиненных в конфликты.
РЕЛМАУР
Иногда называемый Барьерным Царством, Релмаур находится между драконьими империями Мелабраут и
Скелкор. Релмаур - суровая земля гор, высокогорных долин, утесов, бурных ущелий и водопадов. Она теплее и
лежит ниже, чем Фимбрул на севере, и поэтому укрыта густыми хвойными лесами. Стада диких лосей, овец,
кабанов, волков и более устрашающих тварей бродят по Релмауру. Он усеян приземистыми, спартански
простыми каменными башнями, которые в основном выглядят покинутыми (карта Релмаура включена в карту
Фимбрула).
В пещерах, пронизывающих Горы Релморн, живут гоблины, хобгоблины и две доминирующие расы, ведущие
друг с другом бесконечную войну: драконорожденные и орки. У драконорожденных лучше оружие, они умны и
дисциплинированы, но следует учесть, что орки быстро размножаются и охотятся и бьются почти с рождения,
превосходя своих противников агрессией и явной численностью.
Знания о Релмауре
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 15: Релмаур, долгое время свободный от драконьего контроля, столетиями приветствует беглых
рабов-драконорожденных из других земель. Хотя жизнь на этой земле, оспариваемой орками, трудна, это одно
из немногих мест, где драконорожденный мог жить свободным до Синего Дыхания Перемен.
Мудрость Улиц DC 15: Драконорожденные строят и обслуживают башни на верхушках гор в качестве
патрульных пунктов и препятствий для вторгающихся драконов. Драконорожденные живут в горах и под ними,
постоянно присматривая за мародерствующими орками и разведчиками дварфов. Исследователи-дварфы ищут
богатые жилы металлов и более редкие, но просто невероятные залежи самоцветов, которые можно встретить в
самых глубоких пещерах Релморна.
Мудрость Улиц DC 25: У драконорожденных Релморна есть три основных клана: Беларрак, Гарандорн и
Урлингскар. Урлингскары правят, но нынешний Высокая Корона Релмаура, строгий Харангор Урлингскар,
доброжелательно правит посредством Коронного Совета из шести Коронных Мечей - по два от каждого клана.
Поселения и приметные черты
ПО всему Релмауру нет поверхностных поселений или дорог. Драконорожденные Релморна живут под землей,
в комплексах пещер со множеством входов, охраняемых продуманно построенными воротными помещениями.
Лабиринтообразные Нижние Пещеры Релмаура иногда переходят из рук в руки в постоянно идущих войнах
между драконорожденными и орками.
Рокторл
Столица драконорожденных; население 800
Любая населенная в настоящий момент каверна Высокой Короны именуется Рокторлом, столицей Релмаура.
Драконорожденные стараются поддерживать по крайней мере еще два пещерных поселения близ восточной и
западной границ - Харон Тар и Арангтал соответственно.
Заговоры и места для приключений
В бескрайних на вид Нижних Пещерах есть несколько уровней каверн и подземных озер. Помимо орков и
драконорожденных, они и фимбранских галеб дар во тьме бродят шпионы и прожорливые змеи.
Море Яда: В одном из подземных водоносных пластов под Релмауром жил клан дженази, обосновавшийся на
кристаллическом острове в центре. Эти дженази, называемые Сакур, утверждали, что кристалл был
окаменевшим сердцем убитого бога. Они стремились извлечь силу кристалла, надеясь дать одному из своих
представителей силу божества. Но что-то пошло не так - кристалл потемнел, и большинство Сакур было
уничтожено, хотя некоторые из них превратились в неповоротливую кристаллическую нежить.
Вопящая Пропасть: Немногие из орков или драконорожденных рискуют появляться близ пещеры, в которой
находится то, что называют Вопящей Пропастью. Звуки, исходящие из темной дыры в полу пещеры, считают
криками безумного Рассветного Титана, заточенного глубоко внизу его древними собратьями за преступную
помощь Эстелару.
СКЕЛКОР
Скелкор - истинно злая империя Вернувшегося Абейра. Это - земля самая устрашающая, ненавистная и
избегаемая свободным народом.
Противореча ужасной репутации этого места, пейзаж Скелкора - в значительной степени открытые,
раскидистые равнины с пышной травой, по которым бродят стада различных тварей. За некоторыми стадами
присматривают рабы с потухшим взором - драконорожденные, люди и халфлинги; другие твари пасутся сами по
себе (типа опаленных тварей; см. ниже). Лентоподобные леса бегут вдоль рек и окружают маленькие, редкие
болотца. Но воздух наверху редко чист от охотящихся драконов - иногда их следующей добычей становится
визжащая тварь из стада, в другой раз - пастух-драконорожденный.
Скелкором правит Гоувервиндал (коротко Гоувер), Императрица Дракон, из своей внушительной
гороподобной крепости Марангор. Гоувер откладывает одно за другим потомства вирмлингов, жизни которых
коротки и зверски - лишь сильнейший из каждой кладки доживает до взрослой жизни. Императрице Дракон
служат рабы-драконорожденные и драконы, непосредственно связанные с Гоувер и пережившие ужасающий
процесс отсева при взрослении. Эти верховные, как их называют, живут в великих каменных залах в
укрепленных городках рабов, усеивающих царство.
Знания о Скелкоре
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 10: Большинство существ на Вернувшемся Абейре знает, что вслед за Синим Дыханием Перемен
земля была разодрана и расколота. Затем по всей земле были обнаружены кристаллы янтаря, простое
присутствие которых ослабило драконов почти до смерти. Эти кристаллы янтаря были плодовитее всего в
Скелкор, хотя в меньших количествах их находили и на других землях. За вещество, названное "янтарем-
губителем драконов", мигом ухватились рабские расы. Тогда многие из драконов были убиты, и пали некоторые
из древних империй. Императрица Дракон выжила, лишь умудрившись сбежать со своих земель с частью
стражей-верховных.
История DC 20: К счастью драконов Вернувшегося Абейра, количество янтаря-губителя драконов
ограничено. Будучи использован, кристалл рассыпается в бесполезную пыль. Более чем за десятилетия все
известные залежи янтаря-губителя драконов были исчерпаны. Безрассудные дни великих восстаний
закончились. В настоящее время крошечные частицы янтаря-губителя драконов обнаруживают в старых руинах,
но редко в достаточно большом количестве, чтобы повредить хотя бы одному дракону, не говоря уж о том,
чтобы свалить драконью империю.
История DC 25: За столетия до появления янтаря-губителя драконов особенно способный клан рабов-
драконорожденных восстал и сумел отбить себе и удерживать почти два столетия целую отдаленную
провинцию Скелкора. Мятежники назвали эту провинцию Тиманчебар и жили свободными, хотя им постоянно
угрожали налеты драконов. Затем землю сотрясло Синее Дыхание Перемен. Когда небесам вернулся их
серебристый оттенок, все увидели, что сердца Тиманчебара, Джерада Тимара, больше нет. Хотя оставшиеся
свободными драконорожденные бились за сохранение своей автономии, их дух был сломлен. Даже
вооруженные янтарем-губителем драконов, они не сумели свергнуть правление Императрицы Дракон.
Мудрость Улиц DC 15: Недавно Императрица Дракон уполномочила горстку рабов - людей и
драконорожденных - в качестве посланников на свободные земли Вернувшегося Абейра. Их возглавляет Хаэл
Дарандар, высокий вежливый дипломат, известный способностью зачаровывать змеиную чешую. Посланники
Дарандара, очевидно, стремятся основать торговлю со свободными землями. Они предлагают обменивать
выращенное рабами продовольствие и сделанные рабами изделия на товары, производимые других местах.
Немногие доверяют Дарандару или его посланникам, считая их просто шпионами Скелкора и первой частью
окольного и глубокого злого заговора Императрицы Дракон.
ДРАКОНЬИ ГРЕЗЫ
Императрица Дракон велит малой доле своих верховных ловить забытые обрывки знаний в грезах,
преподносимых арамбаром (см. выше). Она исполняет над этими верховными секретный ритуал, чтобы их сны
предоставляли им особенно тесную связь с окружающей энергией давно мертвого Рассветного Титана. Иногда
эти драконы пробуждаются со знанием нынешних или прошлых событий, полезных для Гоувер. Большинство
времени они не узнают ничего.
В редких случаях один из этих подготовленных ритуалом драконов оказывается в состоянии пробудиться.
Такие драконы превращаются в призрачных бестелесных светящихся белых духов, называемых ратреа
(драконорожденные называют их драконами-привидениями). Императрица Дракон высоко ценит ратреа,
поскольку каждый из них способен пророчить будущее в ограниченной области и промежутке, но никогда не на
долгое время. В пределах максимум нескольких недель большинство ратреа "возвышаются" (исчезают).
Поселения и приметные черты
В Скелкоре преобладают раскидистые равнины и города рабов. Немногие из иноземных драконов или
гуманоидов стремятся войти в царство Императрицы Дракон. Но все же истории о неоткрытых полях янтаря-
губителя драконов регулярно притягивают глупцов, находящих лишь преждевременную смерть.
Марангор
Город Драконов; население 7,600
Столица Скелкора - внушительная гороподобная крепость из концентрических каменных стен,
поднимающихся к центру, обеспечивая сотни драконов с укрытыми логовищами. Она строилась и расширялась
драконорожденными в течение тысячелетий. Город Драконов - центр власти Гоувервиндал. На него часто
напали, и однажды он даже был взят восставшими драконорожденными, потрясающими тяжелыми копьями,
увенчанными янтарем-губителем драконов. Но при помощи пророчества ратреа Императрица Дракон сбежала с
мощной гвардией верховных, ожидая, пока восстание сожжет свои ограниченные ресурсы. Позже она вернулась
в ярости, убив девять из каждых десяти рабов и замучив остальных в изломанных оболочках.
Лишь около 800 драконов живет в Марангоре, плюс примерно 400 драгонетов (молодые драконы, еще не
ставшие верховными), рядом с тысячами драконорожденных, людей и халфлингов и горсткой дженази. Под
логовищами меньших драконов и верховных находится Яйцепитомник. Этот комплекс пещер покрыт
тысячелетними осколками яичной скорлупы и костями неудачливых вирмлингов. Он отзывается эхом криков
чуть более удачливых вирмлингов, пытающихся освободиться от своих старших голодных братьев. Каждые
несколько месяцев Императрица Дракон спускается в питомник, откладывая новые яйца и забирая одного из
старших выживших с собой в качестве верховного ученика.
Под Яйцепитомником скрытые сокровищницы Марангора ломятся от богатств, собранных в течение злого и
похотливого правления Императрицы Дракон.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Пустая Дерзость: Древнее дварфское царство Пустая Дерзость находится под большей частью того, где ныне
находится Скелкор. Мили коридоров, давным-давно забытых и запечатанных, вьются во тьме глубоко под
равнинами, на которых охотятся драконы. Они соединяют рассыпающиеся дварфские твердыни, главным
образом пустые, хотя в некоторых из них действительно может храниться древнее богатство, не разграбленное
драконами и их служителями.
Гора Корманда: В этом дымящем вулкане живет лорд-демон по имени Корманда - один из первых демонов,
обнаруживших Вернувшийся Абейр вслед за Чумой Заклинаний. Однако, вулкан - ловушка для демона: нижняя
часть его тела сплавилась с камнем пустой лавовой трубы, когда карман Чумы Заклинаний вспыхнул и поймал
его. Существо огня и зла, теперь измененный чумой и имеющий власть над лавой, Корманда все равно
неспособен освободиться из своей тюрьмы, и его жажда свободы растет с каждым годом. Пустой кратер в
калдере вулкана - единственный вход туда, где неистовствует Корманда. Если кто-либо - дракон, гуманоид или
иное существо - найдет его, Корманда пообещает в обмен на свою свободу практически что угодно. Демон
сожжет лавой тех, кто не согласится помочь ему.
КОРОНА ВИРМОВ
Гоувер носит магическую корону, которая, судя по всему, позволяет ей отравлять любого дракона, связанного
с ней, или даже любого дракона, кровь которого она попробовала. Диапазон действия Короны Вирмов, похоже,
охватывает весь континент Вернувшегося Абейра. Немногие из драконов смеют бросать вызов Гоувер, даже не
связанные с ней. Все живут в страхе того, что она так или иначе сумела заполучить образец их крови и
попробовала ее.
ЗЕМЛИ МЕЧА
Люди на Вернувшемся Абейре процветают на маленьких, зеленых землях, лежащих по берегам судоходной
Реки Меча. Эти графства иногда называют "царствами хвастунов", поскольку они малы, относительно бедны и
беззаконны, и часто умирают или возвышаются вместе с жизнью отдельных лидеров. Земли Меча всегда
испытывали недостаток единого правителя - и жители Земель Меча этим довольны.
Люди безмятежно живут в этой великой долине с раскидистыми фермами на холмах, огороженными живыми
изгородями, растущими по камням и на пнях, выкорчеванных из полей. Частенько сельхозугодья прерываются
рощицами и маленькими дикими лесами.
Жизнь на Землях Меча для простого народа хороша, если он сможет избежать несчастий от стычек между
вооруженными, честолюбивыми и могучими. Еда и питье обильны, сельские места приятны, нет нехватки
ремесленников, делающих практически все, что нужно для жизни. Те, кто ненавидит сельское хозяйство, могут
охотиться, обменивая добычу на товары. Цены на все, кроме самых лучших инструментов и вооружения, низки,
а сплетен ходит много. Постоянные горячие темы - кому из лордов собирается нанести поражение другой лорд,
чей наследник собирается сбежать с ребенком ненавистного конкурента, и поиски утерянного Драконьего
Наследника (см. ниже).
Почему ни один из драконов не заявлял своих прав на эту область - источник множества баллад,
исследовательских работ волшебников и детских сказок. Невзирая на причины, люди давно поняли, что могут
жить там и оставаться свободными от порабощения драконами.
Знания о Землях Меча
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 15: Истории на Землях Меча важны, и любимая из них - про Амру, некогда существовавшую
страну. У Амры был король-человек, кто успешно противостоявшей Императрице Дракон и заполучивший от
нее обещание, что ни один дракон никогда не нападет на Амру. Это обещание сохраняется до наших дней, даже
при том, что Амра раскрошилась сотни лет назад от рук убийцы. Амра пала, поскольку каждый из лордов
потребовал себе прерогатив прежнего короля. Последовала война, и многие из великих замков и твердынь пали
от рук людей, а не драконов. До наших дней руины древней Амры усеивают сельскую пастораль.
Мудрость Улиц DC 10: Сегодня долину Земель Меча заполняет вереница маленьких враждующих земель,
каждой из которых управляет из своего замка лорд. Лорды постоянно враждуют, но у них недосточно монет для
сбора больших армий и сокрушения противников. Когда один вторгается к другому, другие лорды вступают в
союз с пострадавшим, страшась, что один из лордов может получить превосходство над остальными.
Коварство и шпионаж вездесущи. Во время вражды энергично ведутся убийства волшебников, слуг лордов и
барственных наследников и супругов, а вражда нынче настолько запутанна и закоренела, что завершается, лишь
когда затухает линия семейства и появляется новый лорд.
ТЕКУЧАЯ ГЛИНА
Текучая глина - редкость, которую можно встретить лишь в маленьких ущельях в южных и восточных Землях
Меча. Кратковременные реки теплой грязи выплескиваются на поверхность, выделяя ядовитые газы, и текут
примерно на расстояние полета стрелы, прежде чем охладиться дотверда и в конечном счете быть сдутыми во
время штормов. Вдыхание газов, как правило, причиняет головокружение, а длительное подверганием им - даже
смерть. Иногда в текучей глине находят глыбы чистых руд металлов, так что подобных извержений
нетерпеливо ждут.
Поселения и приметные черты
Лордства приходят и уходят, но самые большие поселения на Реке Меча остаются - независимо от того, кто
утверждает, что правит ими. Жители Земель Меча подозрительны к посетителям из портовых городов и плотно
за ними присматривают.
Алдрет
Речной портовый городок; население 6,000
Самый большой и искушенный (или, как считают жители Земель Меча выше по реке, самый задиристый)
городок Земель Меча, Алдрет всегда имел лучшие рынки, наибольшее богатство и величайшее разнообразие
товаров, путешественников и необычных сувениров издалека. Его богатые старшие торговцы решают, кто
должен быть лордом, при помощи финансовой поддержки (и осторожных убийств), а также любят думать, что
контролируют направление и дух жизни на Землях Меча, в которые они вкладывают капитал.
Годы назад жители Земель Меча выше по реке начали нанимать авантюристов, чтобы сбросить "стариков
Алдрета" - и недавно торговцы-алдраны начали нанимать для защиты авантюристов.
Фейндаун
Речной портовый городок; население 4,000
Традиционно дом множества менестрелей, шутов и шутников, Фейндаун - одно из немногих мест на
Вернувшемся Абейре, где издаются книги. Городком управляет пышный пижон, Лорд Хансибран Маэрл.
Хариммон
Укрепленный речной портовый нородок; население 5,700
Просто "Риммон" для жителей Земель Меча, этот обрушившийся бывший замок - ныне лабиринтоподобный
городок, переполненный любителями теневых делишек. Городок - словно магнит для мечей-на-продажу, слухов
и ворованных товаров.
Рорст
Речной портовый городок; население 3,600
Заселенный воинами вне закона, Рорст - давний центр оружейных мастеров и крепко пьющих любителей
помахать мечами.
Уларк
Речной портовый городок; население 3,800
"Уларк-городок" для жителей Земель Меча, это - веселый, терпимый дом множества борделей и плутов.
ПРУДЫ ФЕЙРИ
В недавние десятилетия ходило много рассказов о фей-существах, заманивающих людей к прудам фейри для
свиданий или фатальных встреч, но правда не имеет вообще никакого отношения к Земле Фей.
Пруды фейри - маленькие водные пруды, зараженные неким странным новым минералом в скалах (возможно,
внесенным Синим Дыханием Перемен). Эти пруды иногда производят газы, устраивающие "воздушный мороз"
(белое искрение, подобно снежинкам, поднимающимся в воздух и моментально исчезающим). В остальном пар
невидим. Если его вдохнуть, он причиняет краткие, но яркие галлюцинации. Некоторые используют
галлюцинации для предсказаний; говорят, что люди с твердой волей могут управлять предметами своих
видений.
ДРАКОНЬИ НАСЛЕДНИКИ
Драконий Наследник - любой, кто унаследовал силы Драконьего Мастера - человека, способного управлять
драконами взглядом, голосом или касанием. Похоже, что эти силы проявляются лишь в человеческих
родословных. Некоторые верят, что последний король Амры был Драконьим Мастером, настолько мощным, что
обещание, сделанное Императрицей Дракон, сохраняется и столетия спустя.
Легенды говорят, что величайшие из Драконьих Наследников могут причинять взглядом или касанием
фактический вред драконам. Некоторые рассказывают: что истинный Драконий Наследник может "сбросить"
дракона при противостоянии, заставляя вирма бежать в отдаленное место и затем впасть в оцепенение. Опять
же, эти истории могут быть сильно преувеличенными.
Жители Земель Меча часто говорят об "утерянном Драконьем Наследнике". Любимая история - что кровь
Драконьего Наследника течет в жилах кланов Рогатый Дракон, Аркелд, Релгулд и Мергелевая Змея. Сегодня из
кланов Аркелд и Релгулд живы немногие, а два других клана уничтожены (хотя предполагаемые кровные
потомки продолжают заявлять о себе).
ТАРМАЛУН
Иногда называемый в абейранских записях Тармалуном Великим Портом, этот суетливый космополитичный
портовый город может поспорить с Уотердипом богатством, деятельностью, терпимостью, разнообразием и
граждан, и посетителей, и явным количеством постоянно подворачивающихся возможностей. В нем почти
70,000 жителей, и он день ото дня становится все полнее и богаче, несмотря на стойкий рост цен. Каждый
проходящий месяц приносит обновление моды, новые пути делать дела или вести торговлю и новых лиц,
удерживающихся в центре общественного внимания или являющихся реальной силой среди инвесторов и
торговцев.
Несмотря на свою свободу от драконов, Тармалун также известен неприязнью к рабам, сбежавшим из
управляемых драконами царств. Здесь говорят деньги, и у беглецов нет ничего. Что еще важнее, местные
жители не желают давать приют беглым рабам, чтобы дракон не решил уничтожить подобный рассадник.
Тармалун известен 100-футовым огненным столбом, день и ночь горящим в центре города. Пылающий столб
горит без топлива, и его не могут подавить ни дождь, ни снег, ни песок. Иногда оторвавшиеся от него языки
огня поджигают здания даже в сотнях футов.
Знания о Тармалуне
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 20: Тармалун и окрестные Порты Восходящего Ветра долго были рабами Рассветного Титана по
имени Ачазар, который проявлялся в виде циркулирующей колонны огня, горящего настолько жарко, что даже
огнедышащие драконы боялись к ней приближаться. С ходом тысячелетий Ачазар двигался все меньше и
меньше, все реже и реже беспокоя своих рабов. Еще до Синего Дыхания Перемен столб Ачазара прекратил
отвечать на призывы людей, дженази, дварфов и других рабов Рассветного Титана. В конечном счете рабы
объявили себя свободными - поначалу с опаской, затем все смелее, поскольку Ачазар не пробудился и не сжег
их за такое нахальство. Но и тогда драконы с других земель предпочитали держаться подальше - на тот случай,
если Ачазар сидит в столетней засаде. Большинство местных жителей не знает, чем в действительности является
горящий столб в центре Тармалуна, или они не полностью поняли его значимость.
Мудрость Улиц DC 10: Тармалуном управляет коварный и беспристрастный Хамминас Дорн, отставной
авантюрист, основавший правящий совет и лично возгладвляющий полицейские силы, называемые
Бдительными. Дорн бес конца воюет с неповинующимися торговцами, ворами, уклоняющимися от налогов
грузоотправителями и членами совета, считающими, он должен всего лишь озвучивать их мнение.
Мудрость Улиц DC 15: Совет Тармалуна из двадцати членов состоит из торговцев от самых разных отраслей.
Не так давно совет выдал свое единственное к настоящему времени повсеместно популярное решение: основать
Орден Тушения Огня, группу из дюжины волшебников, посвященную стремительному тушению пожаров.
Некоторые говорят, что волшебники также присматривают за столбом огня в центре Тармалуна, ища некие
способы общения с ним.
Мудрость Улиц DC 20: Оппозиция власти Дорна сплачивается вокруг Ратгара Малинда, мастера битв,
управляющего свое собственной наемной компанией, обеспечивающей охрану магазинов, домов и складов, а
также личную безопасность всех заплативших клиентов. Малинд публично критикует компетентность
Бдительных и вмешательство Дорна в то, что, как он настаивает, делает Тармалун воистину великим. Он любит
говорить, что действительно свободный город не должен иметь владыки иного, чем торговля, и никого, кто
стремится быть столь же великим, как дракон.
Городские районы
Улицы Тармалуна широки, но забиты фургонами, телегами и народом - и верхом, и пешком. Большинство
городских домов - узкие, взмывающие ввысь четырехэтажные каменные здания, ощетинившиеся мансардными
окнами. Как правило, учреждения обосновались в перестроенных домах - магазин в подвале, еще один на
уровне улицы, и комнаты за арендную плату на верхних этажах. С задней стороны в переулки ведут лестницы, и
у большинства жилищ сзади есть свои маленькие конюшни.
Тармалун переполнен и шумен день и ночь; его народ честолюбив и энергичен, живя ради мечты о
достижении великого богатства. Они живут тяжело, восхищаясь кутежами и решимостью, и в магазинах
Тармалуна продается весь спектр оснащения.
Округ Арендермор
"Благородные" окрестности Тармалуна
Самый надменный район города - Арендермор, названный по имени ныне мертвого дварфа-строителя
Арендера, возводившего многие из его великолепных особняков с башенками. Модные "нувориши"
предпочитают жить на фешенебельной Рассветной Стороне, переполненной бальными залами и салонами.
Цитадель Тушения Огня
Гильдия волшебников-пожарных
Близ столба в центре Тармалуна высится массивная базальтовая цитадель, где находится штаб Ордена
Тушения Огня. Мандат ордена - следить за пожарами, столь частыми в Тармалуне. Для многих волшебники
Ордена Тушения Огня - герои. Большинство не знает, что волшебники взяли это на себя, чтобы глубже изучить
столб пламени. Они знают, что это - остаточное физическое проявление Ачазара. Они исследуют его ритуалами,
стараясь увидеть, есть ли в нем какая-либо чувствительность, с заявленной целью - избавиться от пламени
навсегда. Но те, кто работают над этим проектом, больше заинтересованы изучением секретов силы Рассветного
Титана, чем его уничтожением.
Округ Рыбной Вони
Самые противные окрестности Тармалуна
Наихудший район города - Рыбная Вонь, названный так из-за резкого запаха ежедневно продаваемой там
рыбы; беднота Тармалуна закусывает чайками, которых молодежь убивает там брошенными камнями или
сетями и дубинками. Банды бродят по Рыбной Вони, и сбежавшие рабы из других царств, прибывающие в
Тармалун без гроша, часто в конце концов попадают туда. Большинство никогда не стремится туда - Тармалун
не известен своим милосердием.
Дом Халаготры
Местный целитель Тармалуна
Халаготра Целитель - раздражительная старуха, способная излечивать наложением рук - способом, который
никто не может понять или повторить. Иногда она берет монету в оплату своих услуг; в другой раз она требует
исполнить некое задание. Халаготра живет в охраняемом особняке, переданном ее Ратгаром Малиндом.
Несколько лет назад силы безопасности Дорна не сумели уберечь целительницу, которую граждане считают
местным сокровищем, от похищения агентом Императрицы Дракон. В конце концов Дорн и его Бдительные
вернули ее, но Ратгар получил немалую известность за свой широкий жест.
Дом Искателя Чешуи
Драконий культ
Свободолюбивый Тармалун толерантен к группе граждан, поклоняющихся драконам для изучения секретов
силы и богатства. В основном неодобряемые, Искатели Чешуи встречаются в высокой башне на краю города.
Члены их включают гербалиста Мокаэра Морнтарна, мрачно-красивого владельца Чудес Морнтарна на Улице
Дут, и дварфа Анрату Бороношторм, владельца Прекрасных Облачений на Пути Зимнего Леса.
Культисты полагают, что их усиленные травами ритуалы временно позволяют празднующим настраиваться
мыслями на ближайшего дракона. Большинство считает их простыми сумасшедшими. По правде говоря,
культисты фактически желают узнать, как стать драконами и получить таким образом силу.
ПОРТЫ ВОСХОДЯЩЕГО ВЕТРА
Тармалун - самый большой, богатейший и социально видный из Портов Восходящего Ветра - независимых
городов на восточном берегу Моря Дракона.
Харгласт: Торговцы-корабельщики Харгласта немногословны и практичны. Их спартанский каменный город,
управляемый драконорожденный Лордом-Торговцем Белрором Тетелом, отражает подобное отношение.
Отесанный камень и сушеные фиги - главный местный экспорт.
Имдолфин: Это - вздымающийся каменный город с узкими, крутыми, вьющимися мощеными улицами.
Богатый порт, Имдолфин долго был передовым центром судостроения Абейра. Город управляется известной
торговкой текстилем и благовониями, ныне отошедшей от дел (по крайней мере, по ее словам), Лордом
Отмирой Таласк.
Рамеко: Этот ветхий город построен вокруг илистого устья Реки Сундарра. Рамеко неуправляем, беззаконен -
и при этом удивительно мирный и популярный. Его торговцы нанимают авантюристов, чтобы разобраться с
нарушителями спокойствия.
Самбрал: Самбрезы - мастера клинков, наслаждающиеся красивыми речами. Они любят благовония и
преданы использованию косметики, сложных причесок и и драматичной одежды. Самбралом управляют
Двенадцать Лордов, многие из которых - члены Искателей Чешуи.
Руководство Кампании
Забытых Царств
Источник: Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, D&D 4, Глава 6
Перевод: LE_Ranger, [email protected], icq 307744148
Подземье
Подземье - сеть подземных туннелей, пещер, морей и рек, охватывающая весь мир. Лишенное света, но далеко
не безжизненное, Подземье - дом множества головокружительных существ, от цивилизованных, но неумолимых
дроу до плотоядных монстров, рыскающих во тьме.
Верхнее Подземье
Включающее около 3 первых миль глубины Верхнее Подземье - царство, которое делят дроу, дуэргары (серые
дварфы) и другие дварфы и глубинные гномы. Здесь расы Мира Наверху (как обитатели Подземья называют
поверхностные земли) смешиваются с теми, кто живет в темноте. Здесь можно столкнуться с кем угодно - от
патрулей дроу или дварфов до целого спектра блуждающих монстров и охотничьих партий гуманоидов. Самая
большая концентрация чумных пещер (см. ниже) находится как раз в Верхнем Подземье.
Среднее Подземье
Более крупные города дроу и глубинных гномов расположены в этом слое, от 3 до 10 миль ниже поверхности.
Эта область была относительно изолирована от эффектов Чумы Заклинаний, так что многие из городов дроу
остались неизменными, и чумные пещеры здесь редки. Однако, концентрация фаэрзресс (см. ниже) в Среднем
Подземье значительно растет.
Нижнее Подземье
Ниже 10 миль лежат самые опасные и чуждые преедлы Подземья - места, в которые редко забираются даже
дроу. В Нижнем Подземье больше тупиков и изолированных убежищ, а фаэрзресс мощнее и по мере спуска
перекрывает все большие и большие области все большими арканными эффектами. В Нижнем Подземье стены
между планами могут истончаться, и туннели могут выходить в Девять Адов, в Абисс, в Царство Теней и в
другие домены хаоса и зла.
КЛАНОВЫЕ ТВЕРДЫНИ
Верхнее и Среднее Подземье усеяны разбросанными племенами орков, гоблинов, кобольдов и других
гуманоидов. Их пещерные жилища, называемые клановыми твердынями, почти всегда скрыты, их туннели
запечатаны и охраняются для защиты невоюющих женщин и молодежи племени. Клановые твердыни Подземья
выпускают разведывательные и охотничьи партии и иногда укрепляют подходы к своим владениям стенами,
точками для засад, одомашненными монстрами и ловушками. Изощренность клановой твердыни зависит от
интеллекта и богатства племени, варьируясь от вонючей пещеры с парой огненных ям и, возможно, с доступом
к воде до истинной подземной деревни.
ИЗГНАННИКИ И ОТШЕЛЬНИКИ
Иногда гуманоид - уроженец Мира Наверху сбегает из своего дома или блуждает по Верхнему Подземью.
Многие из таких существ никогда не находят пути наружу, а некоторые не хотят и пытаться. Эти изгнанники,
отшельники, изгои и неприкаянные могут быть встречены живущими с племенами гуманоидов или
скрывающимися в пещерах в одиночку. Некоторые яростно защищают свою приватность, другие отчаянно
нуждаются в поддержке на пути к поверхности, третьи - просто безумны. Эти дикие изгои могут быть ценными
союзниками из-за хорошего знания ими окружающей среды или опасными каннибалами, стремящимися к
легкой пище.
Поселения и приметные черты
Подземье - целый самостоятельный мир, с опасностями - магическими и мирскими, и с варьирующейся
экологией, поддерживающей миллионы разумных существ и голодных монстров.
Фаэрзресс
Эта магическая радиация, след работы темной высокой магии, случайно раскидана по всему Подземья.
Фаэрзресс препятствует заклинаниям и эффектам магических изделий, часто непредсказуемыми способами, но
оказывает самый вредный эффект на предсказания, телепортацию и на большинство других форм магического
путешествия.
Фаэрзресс принимать разнообразные формы - от групп светящихся камней до едва заметной перемены
температуры. Уроженцы Подземья знают, что следует искать колонии магивор - формы жизни, представляющей
собой нечто среднее между растениями и кораллами, питающиеся магической радиацией. Колонии магивор и их
летучие споры-семена обеспечивают готовый источник продовольствия для низших форм животной жизни
Подземья.
Особенно талантливые волшебники могум производить ритуалы, способные определенными способами
изменять форму заводей фаэрзресс, но эти ритуалы чаще всего привлекают внимание существ, питающихся
магиворами - и существ, которые в свою очередь питаются ими.
Земные узлы
Земные узлы - ценные источники сырой магии, собранной из глубочайшего ядра Торила и стекающейся в
центральную точку, неотличимую от окружающей ее территории. Найти их трудно, но они чрезвычайно ценны.
Целые города Подземья и немалое количество ревностно охраняемых цитаделей было построено вокруг земных
узлов, дабы использовать их силу. См. "Земные узлы" на странице 51 для большей информации об этих
магических явлениях.
Земные узлы иногда производят случайные эффекты, типа локальных землетрясений или предоставления
эффекта каменной кожи существам поблизости. За последние несколько десятилетий многочисленные усилия
арканистов-дроу вылились в сеть порталов земных узлов, игнорирующих эффекты фаэрзресс.
Чумные пещеры
Чума Заклинаний прошла по Верхнему Подземью, воздействуя на тамошних существ и ландшафт подобно тому,
как она изменила Мир Наверху. Чумные пещеры - области, где активные карманы Чумы Заклинаний оказались
пойманы в замкнутом пространстве, через какое-то время скрутив естественную структуру пещер и туннелей в
нечто причудливое. Здесь потоки текут по воздуху, вода падает вверх, а земные мотыльки парят, словно рыбы в
капле воды.
Некоторые из жителей Подземья обитают в чумных пещерах, особенно - магошрамы-иллитиды, известные как
Мозгочумные. Большинство жителей Подземья стараются находиться подальше от чумных пещер - дроу в
особенности избегают их любой ценой.
Пропасти
Однозначно самые опасные из естественных формирований Подземья, эти глубокие ямы, отверстия и расколы
не просто кажутся безграничными. Некоторые уходят на другие планы существования, включая царства типа
самого Абисса и Девяти Адов, из которых выползает немало искривленных существ, населяющих Подземье.
Моря, озера и реки
Вода в Подземье обильна и принимает в подземелье столь же много форм, как и на поверхности. Потоки
пресной воды блуждают по туннелям, собираясь в пруды или соединясь с другими потоками, формируя реки,
впадающие в озера или моря, способные помериться с некоторыми из больших внутренних морей поверхности.
Некоторые пещеры полностью затоплены, в них живут водные монстры и гуманоиды и привязанные к воде
аболеты.
Климат
Хотя большинство Подземья пребывает в постоянной прохладе, с воздухом, циркулирующим сквозь шахты и
туннели, часть его может испытывать что-то вроде непогоды. Холодные области и жаркие точки, ветреные
туннели и странная вздымающаяся мгла появляются со случайными интервалами.
ГЛУБИННЫЕ ПУСТОШИ
Области Подземья под Долинами и Лунным Морем скудно населены и полны монстров. Руины и глухие
области намного превосходят численностью все, что напоминает цивилизацию.
Знания о Глубинных Пустошах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Строительства Подземелий.
DC 25: Существа-аберранты более широко распространены в Глубинных Пустошах, чем в других областях
Подземья. Некоторые из них формируют ужасные племена, в то время как другие охотятся во тьме в одиночку.
Дестрачаны многочисленные на востоке, а бехолдеры обычны на западе. Возможно, эту концентрацию
аберрантов можно объяснить прошлым присутствием вымерших ныне фаэриммов. Так или иначе, Глубинные
Пустоши гораздо опаснее, чем некоторые из кишащих троглодитами глубин.
Поселения и приметные черты
Мрачные дикие места Глубинных Пустошей оттенены лишь несколькими местами, которые можно назвать
поселениями.
Шшиндилрин
Город дроу; население 15,000
Глаза Кормира обращены на Нетерилу, в то время как темная угроза Шшиндилрин скрывается глубоко под
корнями Леса Короля. Также известный как Город Порталов из-за множества магических ворот, соединяющих
его с другими местами Подземья, Шшиндилрин имеет дальнюю досягаемость - и в торговле, и в войне. Город
построен на руинах куо-тоа на отмелях Озера Талмиир. В нем есть затопленные секции, включая подводные
порталы.
Квалифицированные торговцы, разведчики, работорговцы и ритуальные заклинатели, дроу Шшиндилрина
сплотили свои силы более чем за столетие после неудавшейся попытки победить Мензоберранзан. Они
расширяют свою территорию в дикие места Глубинных Пустошей, работая для того, чтобы получить
возможность отобрать руины Маэримидры. Жрицы Лолс Шшиндилрина также простирают свои темные мысли
на земли, освещенные солнцем.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Брикклекст: Название лабиринта гоблинов, когда-то существовавшего здесь и достаточно позорного, чтобы
быть известным даже на поверхности, Брикклекст, теперь относится ко всей свободной конфедерации гоблинов
этого региона. Большинство области лежит в пределах 1,000 футов от поверхности, и большая часть ее
затоплена плохо огороженными пресноводными источниками. Все это - часть чумной земли, простирающейся
на поверхность. Началась ли эта чумная земля в туннелях Брикклекста или на поверхности - неизвестно, но у
старого городка гоблинов есть репутация странной магии.
Возглавляемый порочными и часто безумными багбирами и магически талантливыми гоблинами,
искривленный народ Брикклекста - магошрамы или измененные чумой чудовища. Магикианы конфедерации
неустанно работают, чтобы использовать энергию чумной земли и далее создавать воинов и племенных тварей
под их влиянием. Они совершают набеги для захвата незараженных гуманоидов и монстров и используют их в
грязных экспериментах. Крутятся слухи о ямах со светящейся жидкостью, обычных по всему брикклекстскому
региону Гор Земная Шпора.
Брикклекст, несомненно, и был источником ужасных монстров, спускающихся с Земной Шпоры, беспокоя
пограничные области Импилтура. Похоже, что гоблины накопили достаточно сил, чтобы экспериментировать с
троллями и другими существами, которые обычно их отталкивают. Это шевеление привлекло внимание
аккордантов Ордена Синего Огня, и вполне возможно, что среди гоблинов Брикклекста работают шарны.
Лоросфир: Эта длинная пропасть в Подземье - личный домен исписанного рунами драколича по имени
Анабраксис Черный Коготь. Подтвержденный лидер Культа Дракона (страница 246), Анабраксис регулярно
летает по всей длине Лоросфир, останавливаясь в различных логовищах, которые она основала. Через
безграничную пропасть, в действительности являющуюся одним огромным естественным порталом, она также
по желанию переходит в Царство Теней, занимаясь своими делами по своему усмотрению. Анабраксис не
допускает никаких нарушителей, кроме своих подчиненных по культу. Ужасающая нежить бродит по выступам
Лоросфир, и духи мелькают в его мраке. Племя смертельных гигантов, присягнувших драколичу, живет в
глубинных областях пропасти.
Маэримидра: Потерянная при религиозной войне в течение периода, когда Лолс не отзывалась своим
последователям, Маэримидра некогда была величайшим городом дроу в регионе. Мощная жрица богини
нежити дроу (давно убитой Лолс) захватила город при помощи гоблинов и огненных гигантов.
Огненные правят в Маэримидре и поныне. Гиганты скрепили свой контроль под королевой, огненным титаном
Хледх. Гиганты и их служители восстановили большинство города в пропорциональных размерах и расширили
убежище, в котором он был построен. Азеры и адские гончие патрулируют близлежащее Подземье, и гиганты
держат в качестве рабов сотни дроу.
Не обязательно идти в Маэримидру, чтобы встретить гигантов. Все заставы, когда-то охранявшие окружающее
Подземье, также находятся под контролем клана Хледх. Обезопасив свою территорию, Хледх может начать
обдумывать, удастся ли ей завоевать часть Долин.
Шахты Тетиамара: Некогда легендарные из-за своего богатства и блеска, шахты дварфского царства Тетиамар
- ныне логово зла. Гоблины, огры, гиганты и демоны вытеснили дварфов из шахт под Горами Глотки Пустыни в
область Лунного Моря и Долин. Едва победив, орда развалилась на жадные ссорящиеся фракции. Почти все
сокровища лордов-дварфов Тетиамара остаются в здешних залах, среди богатств завоевателей.
Сила Нетерила на западе растет, и в один прекрасный день этих монстров могут собрать под его знаменем.
Однако, прибытие лорда-фомориана из Земля Фей также может оказать некое влияние. Эмиссары шадар-кай
работают среди глубинных племен, отбраковывая слабых, играя на племенной ненависти и убивая на выбор.
Партии циклопов разведали самые глубокие шахты, победив тамошних жителей и основав добычу минералов.
Захороненные Царства
Эти места под Нетерилом граничат с Глубинными Пустошами.
Оолтул: Этот город бехолдеров давно уже пал перед свободными фаэриммами. В течение своей кампании
против фаэриммов современные нетерезы немалой ценой обнаружили и уничтожили Оолтул и другие твердыни
фаэриммов. При этом они волей-неволей обезопасили другие кланы бехолдеров в этой области.
Люминесцентные минералы и драгоценные камни подсвечивают колоколообразную пещеру до стостояния
бесконечных сумерек. В ней все еще есть разбитые останки массивных каменных формирований, некогда
просеченных насквозь ульями бехолдеров. Озеро в центре пещеры усеяно островами, сформированными из
частей того, что, вероятно, было огромной колонной. Живые бехолдеры бродят в проходах поблизости, а в
Оолтуле обитают беспокойные духи и нежить с обеих сторон конфликта, а также авантюрные существа,
готовые делить с привидениями большое убежище.
Гробница Таалудов: Легенда гласит, что первоначальный создатель таалудов - демилич, именуемый
Хранителем Таала - поддерживает убежище глубоко под Нетерилом, где его создания все еще служат ему,
приносят собираемые ими магические изделия. Этот тайник столетиями был целью смелых копателей но
немногие нашли его, и еще меньше смогли выжить, чтобы сбежать оттуда (см. страницу 262 для большего
количества информации о таалудах).
"Гробница" - фактически овоидный демиплан примерно в 2 кубические мили размером. Его единственный
портал постоянно меняет местоположение и требует дляоткрытия уникальный адамантиновый ключ, если
таалуд не лоялен создателю демиплана. Внутри него - огромная пещера, заполненная летучими земными
мотыльками, увенчанными странными зданиями и окруженными летучими валунами. Перемещаться по пещере
можно, используя валуны в качестве мостов, что и делают таалуды, или при помощи полета, доступного
большинству нежити, служащей Хранителю.
ПОГРАНИЧНЫЕ ОБЛАСТИ
Другие регионы Подземья граничат с Глубинными Пустошами достаточно тесно, так что некоторые даже
считают их частью той же самой территории.
Захороненные Царства: Под Нетерилом лежат пустые пещеры, в которых когда-то размещались фаэриммы,
огромные червеподобные колдуны, не имевших большего желания, кроме как избавить мир от меньших
разновидностей. Им удалось уничтожить древний Нетерил, косвенно сформировав Пустыню Анорач, но армии
и маги вернувшегося Шейда охотились на них до последнего. Теперь эти правители Нетерила контролируют
большую часть Подземья, раскапывая древние места и реликвии. Однако, этот первобытный глубинный дом
больше, чем предполагают шейды - включая древних саррукхов-нежить, терпеливо наблюдающих из своих
древних залов.
Мерцающее Море: Глубоко под Морем Упавших Звезд раскинулось Мерцающее Море, известное также как
Море Звездной Ночи. Это обширное подземное соленое озеро лежит в 20 милях подо дном Моря Упавших
Звезд, и его воды по крайней мере отчасти пополняются лентообразными водопадами, идущими из сводчатых
потолков. На этих же потолках зачастую есть люминесцентные минералы или флора, что делает их
напоминающими звездное ночное небо, отражающееся в воде. Берега Мерцающего Моря простираются под
некоторыми странами, типа Агларонда, в то время как под некоторыми частями Моря Упавших Звезд нет
Мерцающего Моря.
КОРЕНЬ ЗЕМЛИ
Под странами Агларонд, Великая Долина, Нарфелл, Тэй, Теск и Мархом, а также под Землями Орды, находится
область Подземья, именуемая Корнем Земли.
Знания о Корне Земли
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Строительство Подземелий DC 25: Часть Корня Земли населяют гуманоиды. Дроу поддерживают под Тэем
протяженный и необычный метрополис, называемый Ундрек'Тоз. Жестокие дуэргары живут под Рассветными
Горами, иногда беспокоя рашеми и кочевников Бескрайней Пустоши. Самые многочисленные из существ-
аберрантов Корня Земли - плащевики Валов Ночи, где Корень Земли уходит в Царство Теней. Затворнические
шадар-кай также живут в Валах, скрываясь от своих владык из Нетерила.
История DC 30: Эта земля внизу, подобно поверхностным царствам над ней - местоположение утерянных
империй. Древние Нарфелл и Роматар установили здесь свои владения. Мулхоранд построил секретный
некрополис в глубинах еще в те времена, когда он управлял Тэем. Даже имаскарцы пережили крах своей
империи, отступив в Корень Земли.
Мудрость Улиц DC 35: Глубинный Имаскар все еще существует в Корне Земли, но Чума Заклинаний оказалась
для него бедствием. Так или иначе, имаскарцы сумели выжить и восстановиться и, в отличие от Халруаа,
Глубинный Имаскар никогда не стал чумной землей. Ходят слухи, что имаскарские волшебники достигли
некоторого успеха в очистке чумных земель и даже в лечении магошрамов.
Поселения и приметные черты
В Корне Земли много странного. Немногие на поверхности могут вообразить себе опасности, представляемые
его глубинами.
Холодное Море
Подземное пресноводное озеро
Холодное Море находится непосредственно под Озером Ашейн в Рашемене, и вода этого озера питает его
сверху. Связь с Рашеменом существенна, поскольку у Холодного Моря есть сильные связи к Землей Фей.
Странные феи населяют воды и окрестные пещеры. Фоморианы владеют блистающими пещерами вдоль
западного берега моря, их царства идут на запад под восточной оконечностью Сумрачного Леса и Леса Летир.
КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ ФИГУРЫ ГЛУБИННОГО ИМАСКАРА
Глубинный Имаскар не подчинен правлению лидера Высокого Имаскара, Усузи Манааллин. Вместо этого
Высокий Лорд-Планировщик Ианну Хивиллан управляет при помощи совета волшебников, известного как
Планировщики.
Высокий Лорд-Планировщик сам командует Леди Понимающей Синнис Нарамиксной, офицером разведки и
управляющей оберегами защиты города.
У Ианну также есть Лорд Предписывающий Вардин Ксалзусси для насаждения законов и для военных
вопросов.
Глубинный Имаскар
Имаскарский город; население 15,000
Когда их цивилизация пала перед воплощениям богов своих рабов, несколько имаскарцев сбежали в Подземье,
возглавляемые лордом-волшебником Илфемоном. Используя невероятную магию, Илфемон и его свита создали
Великую Печать, закрывшую их в огромном убежище. Великая Печать скрыла Глубинный Имаскар, в то же
самое время позволяя имаскарцам выращивать продовольствие, наслаждаться свежим воздухом и греться в
ярком свете.
Чума Заклинаний тяжело поразила Глубинный Имаскар. Синий огонь прорвался в город. Здания падали,
экстрапространство рушилось. Многие из великих волшебников сошли с ума и взбесились. Заклинания,
которыми обычно затачивали преступников, проваливались. Правительство рухнуло. Тысячи погибли, и сотни
получили магошрамы. Глубинный Имаскар выжил лишь потому, что его непредсказуемые обереги
перенаправили большую часть необузданной магии за пределы города.
Императрица Усузи Манааллин и другие высокие имаскарцы прибыли на помощь осажденному царству. С их
помощью оставшиеся глубинные имаскарцы очистили и восстановили свой город, отказавшись покинуть то, что
они считали своей родиной. Они убили существ-магошрамов или отогнали их. Однако, магошрамы-имаскарцы,
сохранившие свои способности, были приняты в новое общество.
Многое из недавней истории города связано с царством Высокий Имаскар. Глубинный Имаскар остается
связанным со своим наземным побратимом, но это - независимое государство. Многие из более
предприимчивых имаскарцев вернулись на поверхность, а те, кто остался в Глубинном Имаскаре, обычно
консервативны и замкнутый - если не сказать параноидальны. Недоверие и негодование создают напряженность
между верхним и нижним царствами.
Структура города: Глубинный Имаскар занимает убежище длиной 3 мили, шириной 1 милю и в полмили
высотой. Магия позволяет зданиям стоять на изгибающихся стенах убежища и соединяет их определенными
арканными переходными мостами. Таким образом, город Глубинный Имаскар фактически имеет в поперечнике
около 2 миль.
Глубинные имаскарцы также используют магию для изменения пространства внутри своих зданий, так что
внутри они больше, чем можно предположить снаружи. Относительно маленькие купола, обычные для
имаскарской архитектуры, часто скрывают под собой огромные пространства, похожие на площадки на
открытом воздухе. Фактический размер города вычислить невозможно, так как он изменяется по прихоти своих
граждан - с разрешения Планировщиков.
Магические сады производят продовольствие для глубинных имаскарцев, все из которых - вегетарианцы.
Подобными же средствами постоянно текут в город чистая вода и воздух. Чума Заклинаний вынудила
Глубинный Имаскар некоторое время полагаться на высокий Имаскар, и между этими двумя царствами есть
кое-какая торговля и путешествия. Больше Глубинный Имаскар ни с кем дел не имеет.
Великая Печать: Физической формы Великой Печати Глубинного Имаскара больше не существует. На ее
месте в северной стене хранилища есть совершенно круглое отверстие шириной в 2,000 футов. Эта пустота
позволяет глубинным имаскарцам выходить в собственно Подземье и все еще несет на себе тысячи
возобновленных оберегов, защищающих город. Никакое существо-магошрам не может пересечь порог города
без надлежащих паролей.
Ложа Возмездия: В пределах Глубинного Имаскара есть новая ложа старой имаскарской секты, известной как
мстители. Коллеги индивидуумов с тем же титулом в Высоком Имаскаре, мстители приносят правосудие тем,
кто вредит Глубинному Имаскару или любому другому, кого или что они поклялись защищать. Главная цель
ложи в Глубинном Имаскаре - вытеснить Мастеров Абсолютного Согласия (см. ниже) из бывшей Ложи
Карательных Мастеров.
Фраасз
Город дуэргаров; население 5,000
Когда разрушающее землю смещение Тэя опустошило их давние владения, серые дварфы Фраасзуммдина
основали новое поселение в близлежащем убежище. Расположенный под Рассветными Горами Восточного
Рашемена, Фраасз окружен лабиринтом туннелей, которые дуэргары называют Блужданием. Поселение
настолько изолированно и хорошо защищено, что не имеет поблизости никаких реальных конкурентов.
У дуэргаров Фраасза есть навыки обращения с подземными тварями. Носящий такое же название, что и город,
ведущий клан наблюдает за торговлей и присматривает за конкурентами. Клановая вражда в капризном
сообществе обычна, и чужакам приходится принимать чью-то сторону, хотят они того или нет - зачастую
просто имея дело с определенными дуэргарами.
Помимо обучения животных и выпаса их, дуэргары ищут минералы, иногда состязаясь вблизи поверхности с
рашеми. Рабство - также общепринятый бизнес, и здешние дварфы ради забавы и прибыли устраивают набеги
на владения гоблинов, лабиринты кобольдов и на отдаленные поселения более цивилизованных рас.
Валы Ночи
Теневая Пропасть
Под Землями Орды и восточными Рассветными Горами близ Тэя раскинулась огромная пропасть. Валы Ночи
расширились в течение Чумы Заклинаний, поглотив немалую часть Корня Земли под Медными Горами в
Мархоме. Никакая из частей пропасти не достигает поверхности, но она безгранична - все пространство
соединяется с Царством Теней. Теневые существа наводняют его стены, и любой, кто достаточно вынослив для
этого, может пройти через каньон в Царство Теней.
Заставы свободных шадар-кай разбросаны по всем Валам Ночи, подальше от Нетерила и от досягаемости
Принцев Шейда. Эти шадар-кай пожинают мирские ценности Подземья. Они также устраивают набеги, изводя и
поселения Тэя и Земель Орды, и дроу Ундрек'Тоз.
Икемму
Город шадар-кай; население 8,000)
Самый большой анклав шадар-кай существует в этом сгоревшем и разрушенном городе, который они основали
на краю Валов Ночи. Плащевики были единственными аборигенами поселения и называли это место Сфар Упра
("Сумеречный Дом"). Большая часть города вертикальна. Шадар-кай используют свои теневые силы, чтобы
облегчить его пересечение, в то время как коренные плащевики летают.
Половина Икемму существует теперь в каньоне, отражающем Валы Ночи в Царстве Теней. Шадар-кай
используют его как главный торговый пункт между планами, и они даже допускают сюда чужеземцев. Лишь
одобренные властями могут проходить в сторону города в Царстве Теней.
Некоторые прибывают в Икемму, чтобы исследовать его таинственное прошлое. Шадар-кай не строили города,
и архитектура его не похожа ни на что, что можно встретить в других местах. Резьба, оставшаяся на этом месте,
изображает вместе с плащевиками изящных крылатых гуманоидов, а огненный урон намекает на синее пламя
Чумы Заклинаний. Таинственные двереподобные арки, гравированные ритуальными символами, вырезаны на
стенах одного из открытых рынков города. Ученые наблюдатели предполагают, что прежние жители
использовали эти двери, чтобы уйти в другой мир, возможно - предвидя приближающуюся Чуму Заклинаний.
Ундрек'Тоз
Метрополис дроу; население 50,000
Так называемый Сегментированный Город - фактически конфедерация поселений дроу, называемых
сегментами, распространенных по Подземью около Тэя и связанных порталами. Эти общины когда-то были
отдельными и изолированными, но они объединились столетия назад для взаимозащиты. С тех пор
индивидуальные традиции и социальные методы смешались, став единой нормой.
Из-за своего географического положения Ундрек'Тоз значительно пострадал в течение Чумы Заклинаний и при
последующем возвышении Тэя. Архитектурная и вулканическая деятельность разрушила два сегмента под
Горой Тэй; землетрясения засыпали и позволили близлежащему Холодному Морю затопить другой сегмент под
Озером Мулсантир. Магическая отдача разрушила еще один под руинами Делумайда. Хаос оставил все
сегменты поврежденными и открыл дверь решительным переменам.
В течение катаклизма вспыхнуло восстание. Союз Почерневшего Кулака (независимый клан монахов-дроу),
Архимаги Нуримм Зек, Виралд Зек и Матрона Хартел Врасл атаковали все остальные главные дома города.
Мятежникам улыбнулась удача, и в Ундрек'Тоз заняли выдающееся положение арканная сила и дроу-мужчины.
Портальное путешествие: Члены Почерневшего Кулака стоят на страже, проверяют документы и собирают
пошлины у порталов по всему Ундрек'Тоз. Документы, определяющие личность и намерения, требуются для
любого вида путешествий через порталы, и те, у кого нет подобной идентификации, могут быть арестованы,
порабощены или убиты. Пошлины также должны быть оплачены, эти доходы финансируют обслуживание
порталов и пополняют казну Почерневшего Кулака, архимага и Дома Зек. Эта система контроля помогает
контролировать движение, а также помогает перехватывать сбежавших рабов и беглых преступников.
Ал'Врасл: Старый дом Матроны Врасл - теперь торговый центр, обслуживающий выходы в Рассветные Горы
для совершения набегов на Земли Орды и для ограниченной торговли с Тэем. Здесь широко практикуется
некромантия.
Брундаг: Брундаг был городом хобгоблинов, и те же самые хобгоблины столетиями были рабами дроу.
Возвышение Тэя и сожжение Амрутара почти положили конец Брундагу, но сегмент был восстановлен. Он с тех
пор получил благо доступа к геотермической и вулканической деятельности. Пещеры города теплы, влажны и
богаты фауной Подземья. Тепловые шахты и лава обеспечивают механическую силу.
ПОГРАНИЧНАЯ ОБЛАСТЬ: ГЛУБИННЫЙ РОРИН
Под Пустыней Рорин и Равнинами Пурпурной Пыли лежит регион-побратим Корня Земли, известный как
Глубинный Рорин. Пустыня Рорин сама по себе отдаленна и пустынна, а Подземье под ней неизвестно
большинству цивилизованных народов. Но это - регион, полный истории, магии и недоброжелательности.
Гадючье Сердце: В Глубинном Рорине таится обширный храмовый и кладбищенский комплекс, некогда
посвященный богу Сету, который ныне является Ссетом. Змеиные порталы соединяют Гадючье Сердце с
другими храмами, с Царством Теней и с Башнями Ночи. Хотя змеиные существа, василиски, медузы и даже
несколько юань-ти заполоняют залы храма, постройка - прежде всего центр человеческих и нерептилианских
прихожан Ссета. В его палатах размещаются культисты различной силы, а также ненавистные и ядовитые
магические секреты. В некрополисе есть удостоенные мертвые, заточенные духи и стражи-нежить.
Фундамент Пурпурного Императора: Когда-то в Рорине стоял Дворец Пурпурного Императора. Он исчезл
при Небесном Упадке (см. страницу 140) в последние дни Имаскара и вернулся перед Чумой Заклинаний. Усузи
за многие годы переместил дворец на его нынешнее место. Теперь он называется Небоклав. Однако, его
первоначальный фундамент и нижние уровни остаются под пылью и песком. Даже с учреждением Высокого
Имаскара эти руины никогда не были возвращены.
Ифрит-караджин по имени Зонаггати теперь управляет фундаментом из богатого зала в Глубинном Рорине. Его
легионы огненных существ и других элементалов работают, стараясь открыть нижние залы этого старого
имаскарского места и разведать могучее колдовство. С собранной им силой Зонаггати - поднимающаяся угроза,
повелевающая лояльностью других ифритов Рорина.
Вутивир: Поселения древнего Имаскара лежат, захороненные под Рорином и Равнинами Пурпурной Пыли. В
некоторых из этих старых мест есть открытые хранилища и проходы, формирующие верхний слой Глубинного
Рорина. Раса подземных лизардфолков, смешанных с троглодитами, называющая себя Вутивир, правит в
западных пределах этих руин. Развращенные старой невиданной энергией, выхлестнувшей в течение Чумы
Заклинаний, эти существа безрассудны, несут магошрамы, и среди них есть существа-аберранты. Они также
обладают фантастическими силами и сокровищами, добытыми из утерянного наследия Имаскара. Некоторые из
возникших историй предполагают, что Вутивир - заложники двуногого саррукха или некоей другой исконной
сущности.
Дом Лишенной Света Правды, цитадель монахов Почерневшего Кулака - самое видное здание Брундага. Чтобы
избежать ярости Паучьей Королевы и следить за служащими ей жрицами, монахи поддерживают в цитадели
большой храм Лолс. Хазнин Теллен'хез, лидер Почерневшего Кулака - самый мощный из мужчин-дроу в
Ундрек'Тоз. Его жена, Матрона Хуиранн Теллен'хез, когда-то простой обыватель, намеревается, чтобы он
таковым и оставался.
Онамим: С падением Дома Дженн'Иксир, бывшего тезки этого сегмента, выдающееся положение занял Дом
Онамим. Онамим имеет выходы в Рассветные Горы, к Тэю и Мархому. Ведущими професиями здесь остаются
набеги и работорговля.
Фаундакулзан: Находящееся под самой восточной частью Гор Теск, это поселение - самое большое и видное в
Ундрек'Тоз после Чумы Заклинаний. Здесь правит Дом Фаундал при поддержке вездесущих монахов
Почерневшего Кулака. У сегмента есть давняя традиция арканной силы, и многие из видных его жителей -
чародеи, мечемаги, колдуны или волшебники. Фаундакулзан также управляет комплексом по всей Горе Нирг в
Горах Теск (страница 183).
Врасл: Этот сегмент, когда-то известный как Трун'зой'зл - религиозный центр Ундрек'Тоз. Лич Матрона Хартел
Врасл присматривает за храмовым комплексом города. Нежить усиливает ряды солдат, пауков, демонов и
монахов Почерневшего Кулака, защищающих этот сегмент.
Вао'Зек: Стабилизация, спасшая Эльтаббар и Озеро Тэйламбар в Тэе, также спасла и этот сегмент, некогда
называвшийся Мезрилорнилом. В этом сегменте размещаются Архимаг Ундрек'Тоз, а также таковой Дома Зек, а
управляет им Матрона Виралд Зек. Волшебники Вао'Зека поддерживают порталы, соединяющие сегменты.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Костяной Двор: Построенный мулхорандскими некромантами более тысячелетия назад под Теском около Леса
Летир, Костяной Двор - кладбище, по-настоящему именуемое Фолзуббалт. Оно получило свое обычное
прозвище от группы исследователей, обнаруживших его и отступивших, отметив его на карте. Широкие
проходы и склепы Фолзуббалта некогда размещали несколько очень мощных некромантов и нежить - и
разумную, и дикую. Чума Заклинаний разрушила многих из них сполохами Синего Огня.
Эспера, некромант-дженази, уже связала себя с теневой силой Шар. Она умерла в пожарище, но была
возрождена как маг-личинка. Бывшее свое заветное желание - стать нежитью - Эспера воплотила в ритуальном
воссоздании нежити Костяного Двора и в создании лейтенантов. Теперь ей служат несколько лордов черепа, а
также демоны, костяные когти и уникальное скелетное существо, сложенное из останков драколича. Она также
достигла союза с ночным ходоком, другим служителем Шар, и таким образом имеет в своем распоряжении
бодаков.
С такой силой ненависть Эсперы к живому может вскоре подхлестнуть ее к войне даже с могучим Ундрек'Тоз.
Если она победит этот город, то сможет вывести свои армии на поверхность в Тэе, Мархоме и на Землях Орды.
Кошмар лишь ухудшится, если харизматичный Сзасс Тэм убедит Эсперу присоединиться к нему.
Лечение: Волшебники Глубинного Имаскара посылают исследователей на чумные земли и экспериментируют
на магошрамах. Они даже приветствуют чужаков, желающих побывать на чумных землях, чтобы принести
образцы и испытать контрмеры. У них был кое-какой успех по зачистке области, ближайшей к Глубинному
Имаскару, и по изменению некоторых магошрамов, особенно сокрушенных недавно.
Чумная земля Глубинного Имаскара: Подземье вокруг Глубинного Имаскара и даже поверхность над
городом - кипучая чумная земля, полная магошрамов - и монстров, и нескольких безумных имаскарцев.
Приблизиться к городу из подземелья - ненадежный вариант, редко заканчивающийся доступом к городу. Те,
кого приветствуют в Глубинном Имаскаре, обычно прибывают через порталы с поверхности, большинство из
которых находится в Высоком Имаскаре.
Мастера Абсолютного Согласия: Около Глубинного Имаскара, где когда-то была Ложа Карательных
Мастеров, есть безумное место. Мстителям и волшебникам Глубинного Имаскара, изолированным в пределах
трех могучих арканистов, сведенных с ума в течение Чумы Заклинаний, помог один из старших членов ложи.
Пойманные безумные маги и старший мститель слились друг с другом, сформировав четверную сущность,
известную как Мастера Абсолютного Согласия. См. "Орден Синего Огня" (страница 264) для большего
количества информации.
Мастера тянутся из своей тюрьмы, манипулируя близлежащими существами и ландшафтом. Иногда им удается
формировать и посылать вдаль человекоподобные тела или духов меньшей силы. Время от времени они
проводят атаки на Глубинный Имаскар. Ходят дикие рассказы, что Мастера говорили с народом и даже
управляли событиями на чумных землях по всему Фаэруну. Никто не знает их цели, но без каких-либо
оснований многие полагают, что они злорадны.
Многие существа-магошрамы, особенно таковые Ордена Синего Огня, связывают видения или озарения с
Мастерами. Те, кто знают о Мастерах, ищут их, словно они - мессии или даже божественные лица. Не у многих
есть какие-либо подозрения о том, где живут Мастера, и еще меньше могут справиться с опасностью
приближения к этой причудливой сущности.
ВЕЛИКИЙ БАЭРИНДЕН
Под обширной Расселиной и большинством южного Фаэруна разверзлось царство Подземья, ныне известное
как Великий Баэринден. Многое из этой области было разрушено при формировании Расселины, сместившем и
разрушившим многочисленные заставы и поселения. Подобно Миру Наверху, Великий Баэринден со временем
восстановился, даже при том, что многое из него теперь - сумеречный мир, сжигаемый солнцем в середине дня.
Знания о Великом Баэриндене
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Истории.
DC 40: Немногие знают, что крах Расселины - катастрофическое эхо давно минувших событий. Еще меньшее
знает, что на самом деле было потеряно при создании этого великого провала.
Регион был первоначальной родиной двух великих рас Фаэруна - дварфов и дроу. Дварфы называли пещеры
юга Баэринденом, и они поддерживали там царство в течение тысяч лет. Баэринден пал, когда дроу спустились
в Подземье и основали область Телантивар. В беспощадной войне они вытеснили дварфов из их древнего дома
во многие другие области Фаэруна. По причинам, затерянным во времени, пещеры, содержащие большую часть
Телантивара, рухнули менее двух тысячелетий спустя, сформировав Великую Трещину. Дроу рассеялись, и
вскоре после этого дварфы вернулись и заселили Великую Трещину. Крах Расселины разрушил часть Великой
Трещины и сокрушил многие из оставшихся царств дроу, несомненно похоронив ценные антики и незаменимые
исторические записи. Восточная Трещина - практически все, что осталось неповрежденным.
Поселения и приметные черты
Хоть это и несколько неожиданно после провла Расселины, глубины Великого Баэриндена предлагают широкий
спектр жизни.
Конец Земли
Городок; население 1,500
Находящийся более чем в 20 милях под северо-восточным Халруаа Конец Земли - сообщество, населенное
земными существами, дженази и халруанцами, избежавшими магического пожарища, уничтожившего их
страну. Городок всегда был связью элементной деятельности из-за имеющегося в нем планарного портала.
Однако, он был изолированным царством, далеким от поверхности. Прибытие людей, намеревающихся
остаться, и создание Расселины изменило эту ситуацию.
Волшебники изменили Конец Земли, чтобы сделать его удобным домом для людей. Там, где земные карманы
когда-то позволяли проходить лишь тем, кто так или иначе мог двигаться сквозь скалу и почву, волшебники
сделали городок из изящных проходов и магически освещенных комнат. Некогда достижимое лишь для тех, у
кого была сила спуститься сквозь или телепортироваться в землю, теперь поселение имеет выход в Расселину.
Ради обычной торговли и путешествий граждане выстроили дорогу по предательским осыпям Расселины к
Восточной Трещине, по совпадению расширив пределы до Делзиммера. Конец Земли имеет доступ к ценным
полезным ископаемым, а также ко многим магическим порталам, но его отдаленность защищает его так же, как
и его граждане.
Дженази: Дженази, большинство из которых имеют связанные с землей способности, в Конце Земли обычны.
Они наслаждаются особой позицией в качестве посредников для элементалов и людей и удерживают в городке
влиятельные положения. Большая часть полиции - дженази, и муниципалитет всегда выбирает мэра-дженази,
называемого спелеосой - слово на Исконном, приблизително означающее монарха. Спелеоса наблюдает за
городком и голосует в случае тупиковых ситуаций в совете, и обычно у него есть некая сила, связанная с
природой или стихиями.
Люди: Люди Конца Земли немногочисленны, но сила их велика. Семь волшебников наряду со своими семьями
избежали Чумы Заклинаний, сбежав в Конец Земли. Традиция волшебства и уважения к элементным существам
среди людей сильна. Молодежь часто предпринимает добровольный обряд пригодности, выходя на Фаэрун в
поисках благосостояния, подходящего супруга и другого представительного народа, способного пожелать уйти
в городок. Конец Земли - источник авантюристов, а также место их назначения.
Другие: С людьми и дженази Конца Земли сосуществуют земные существа всех мастей. Не впускают лишь
злых и разрушительных. Группа наполненных землей дварфов, называющих себя урдуннир и плотно
поддерживающих философию Грумбара, является существенной частью населения, наряду с другими дварфами.
За эти годы в Конец Земли также прибыли маленькие количества других нелюдей.
ПОРТАЛЫ
Конец Земли содержит множество порталов. Наиболее обычные среди них - ограниченные порталы,
впускающие свет из Мира Наверху, но не позволяющие проходить физическим объектам. Порталы в
Элементный Хаос регулярно вводят свежий воздух и воду, а также удаляют отходы. Главные порталы
позволяют проход в элементное царство Владения Корня и в илматерский Монастырь Желтой Розы в Горах
Земной Шпоры в Дамаре.
Флувенилстра
Город; население 10,000
Флувенилстра, в 11 милях под Шаарским Опустошением, не особенно известна на поверхности. Некоторые
называют ее Городом-Садом Великого Баэриндена, потому что в поселении есть величайшее изобилие
съедобной и полезной флоры Подземья в регионе, если не на всем Фаэруне. Флувенилстра наслаждается водой,
которая более не достигает пустыни наверху. В ней также живет большое количестве дженази с водными и
земными способностями. Дженази, демонстрирующие или желающие отточить подобные врожденные таланты,
зачастую прибывают во Флувенилстру для обучения.
Другие храбрые души, дженази или иный, стремятся служить в рядах Круга Глубин - священников Силвануса,
управляющих Городом-Садом. Третьи - туристы, желающие посетить подземные джунгли, каковыми является
Флувенилстра, освещенные лишь люминесцентными грибами. Мирские растения - не все, что можно увидеть
здесь. Бесчисленные растительные существа населяют и охраняют город, включая разумный грибной народ,
называемый миконидами. Магически улучшенные растения формируют собой здания и живые защитные
системы.
Также город защищает несколько сотен солдат, но мирные посетители, даже из необычных мест, здесь
приветствуются. Флувенилстра поддерживает контакты и порталы с Гултандором, Лесом Амтар и с другими
регионами. Граждане города иногда используют порталы, чтобы путешествовать на поверхность или
исследовать более широкое Подземье и Расселину.
Т'линдет
Город; население 20,000
Самый большой анклав дроу в Великом Баэриндене, Т'линдет потратил десятилетия, оправляясь от восстания
внутри и от потери Дамбрата. Расположенный в 3 милях под Горами Гноллуотч, город протянулся по плоскому
возовышению в пределах великой пещеры. Вокруг этого возвышения течет река, так что воды у города вполне
достаточно.
Получив хороший урок от рук восставших дамбратцев, шестнадцать домов Т'линдета активно соперничают за
власть. Дроу города наслаждаются своим комфортом и кровавыми жертвами. Хотя дорога из Дамбрата в
Т'линдет была запечатана и никогда не открывалась вновь, у дроу есть секретные способы достижения
поверхности для охоты на людей и эльфов Амтара. Они также рыскают по Расселине, регулярно совершая
набеги на дорогу между Концом Земли и Восточной Трещиной.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Слизистые руины: Разбитый сокрушительным весом земли, город дроу Ллурт Дрейер более не существует. На
его месте - поля щебня и осыпавшихся камней. Пространства и промежутки среди руинов все еще дают доступ к
остаткам владений дроу. Там скрываются в тенях чудовищные илы и искривленные существа-аберранты. Ходят
слухи, что в открытом склепе живет аморфное существо отвратительных размеров, и что это существо - аватар
Гонадора.
Пьющая Свет: Пропасть, известная как Пьющая Свет, простирается от поверхности на непостижимую
глубину, уходя в Царство Теней. Свет проникает во мрак, окутывающий пропасть, лишь на половину
нормального расстояния, и путешествие в пределах Пьющей Свет схоже с путешествием на открытом месте в
пасмурный зимний день. Над этим местом висит утомленность миром. Теневые существа бродят в глубинах, а
стены пропасти усеяны пещерами. Могучий ночной ходок содержит свой двор где-то в Пьющей Свет или в
смежном Царстве Теней, и бодаки существа охотятся в зияющих пределах.
Дикие дроу: Ллурт Дрейер умер, но тысячи дроу этого гнойного города выжили. Те, кто были способны и
желали, сбежали в другие владения дроу, типа Т'линдета. Другие расползлись, словно поганые крысы, нападая
на любое место, которое они считали способными удержать. Некоторые даже сумели отобрать Поддомье у
дварфов Восточной Трещины. Теперь, отказываясь от сотрудничества, достаточного для построения сколь-либо
крупного поселения, дикие кланы дроу блуждают по Расселине, набрасываясь на любого, кто забредает в это
место.
МЕНЗОБЕРРАНЗАН
Находящийся в огромной естественной пещере глубоко в Подземье, Мензоберранзан, Город Пауков - дом
примерно 25,000 дроу и почти стольки же рабов. Это - центр поклонения Лолс, Королеве Ям Паутины Демонов.
Знания о Мензоберранзане
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 12: Мензоберранзан был основан более пяти тысячелетий назад жрицами Паучьей Королевы и с
тех пор управлялся твердой матриархальной теократией, преданной их темной богине. Город был потрясен в
начале 1370-х DR внезапным уходом Лолс от ее прихожан, и Мензоберранзан послал экспедицию в Ямы
Паутины Демонов, чтобы обратиться к своей замолкшей богине. Там они нашли великий кокон и
преобразованную Лолс - гораздо более мощную, чем когда-либо.
Мудрость Улиц DC 15: Жизнь в Мензоберранзане может быть жестокой и короткой для тех, кто не желает
принимать пути дроу - обман, манипуляцию и подчинение матронам-матерям.
Но не все в Городе Пауков жестоко и зверско. Честолюбивые женщины-дроу из меньших домов или даже из
крестьянства могут подняться до высочайших уровней силы - или по крайней мере занять неплохое место в
этом расслоенном царстве. Но мужчины ограничены тем, насколько высоко они могут подняться в
матриархальном обществе, особенно те, кто потеряли защиту одного из благородных домов.
Городские районы
Весь город Мензоберранзан высечен в высоких сталагмитах и огромных сталактитах, свисающих с
тысячефутового свода пещеры, запутанно вырезанных и сверкающих невиданным пламенем.
Базар
Вечноменяющийся Рынок
Круг голых скал примерно 750 футов в диаметре, Базар - рынок, полный ларьков и тележек, где дроу
Мензоберранзана могут покупать и продавать практически все, что можно себе вообразить. Базар - мирное и
открытое место, патрулируемое охранниками домов и оттеняемое уличными исполнителями и мелкими
торгашами.
Торговцам не позволяется размещать свои тележки или ларьки на одном и том же месте дольше суток, так что
расположение и смешение продавцов всегда различно.
Браэрин
Смрадные Улицы
Заваленные мусором переулки и полные пауков лачуги низших предместий Мензоберранзана - приют
бездомных мужчин, лишенных духовного сана жриц, искалеченных солдат и разоренных торговцев. Жизнь на
Смрадных Улицах ценится дешево, и богатые дроу иногда ходят туда на пьяную охоту, упорно гоняясь ради
развлечения за беглыми рабами и опозоренными дроу.
Истмир
Рабочий Район
Хоть и недалеко ушедший от Многонарода, Истмир - более бедные предместья старающихся изо всех сил
торговцев, меньшего торгового люда и наемников. Тут нет ни одного из главных правящих домов, кроме руин
Домов Облодра и Фрет и покинутого комплекса Дома Кенафин, приюта самовольных поселенцев и беглых
рабов.
Многонарод
Торговый Район
Если в Городе Пауков и есть средний класс, то он живет во вьющихся проездах Многонарода, в котором самая
высокая концентрация постоянных торговых персон и торговцев города.
Гостиницы, таверны, фестхоллы высокого класса и множество прекрасных массажных салонов раскиданы по
всему району. Здешние улицы переполнены дроу и их рабами, занимающимися своим повседневным бизнесом.
МАТРОНА-МАТЬ КУЭНТЕЛ БЭНР
Самая мощная Матрона-Мать Мензоберранзана - Куэнтел Бэнр, Мать-Хозяйка Арах-Тинилит, побывавшая в
Ямах Паутины Демонов для возрождения Лолс. Возвратившись в Городу Пауков в качестве темной героини
своего фанатичного народа, она провозглавила себя первой из десяти, чтобы подтолкнуть свою сестру Триэль к
конфронтации, в которой более слабая сестра не могла и надеяться на победу.
КОГТЕРАЗЛОМ
Эта пропасть в форме когтя - одна из трех, портящих поверхность Города Пауков, но Когтеразлом имеет самое
легендарное прошлое и самую пугающую репутацию.
Бывший Третий Дом Мензоберранзана, Дом Облодра, некогда был расположен в огромном и роскошном
комплексе между первым и вторым "пальцами" Когтеразлома. После длительной войны с Домом Бэнр Облодра
был утянут в безграничный на вид провал чудовищными когтями самой Лолс.
Ныне место для разведения рабов-кобольдов и одно из многих безопасных убежищ наемников Бреган Д'аэрт,
Когтеразлом остается символом мощи Дома Бэнр.
Нарбонделлин
Район Широких Улиц
Эти
исключительные
окрестности
с
большими
поместьями
и
фешенебельными
магазинами
-
достопримечательность Мензоберранзана. Здешние сталагмитовые башни более мастерски вырезаны и более
запутанно украшены магическим огнем, чем таковые в любой другой части города.
Нарбонделлин - дом многочисленных огранщиков и ювелиров, включая ожесточенных конкурентов Хондела
Белек'тира и Юрона Шадалуна (сына Мритта Шадалуна, найденного мертвым в хранилище Белек'тира в 1463
DR), торгующих самыми экзотическими драгоценными камнями на всем Ториле и за его пределами.
Столь же известные, как и ювелиры, парфюмеры Нарбонделлин продают свой товар лишь лучшим дроу
Мензоберранзана, и их ароматы пронизаны магическими побуждениями, делающими их чем-то большим, чем
простая косметика. В правильных руках подобные духи - ключ к силе и влиянию, двум любимым вещам любого
дроу.
Нарбондель: Этот огромный сталагмит магически разогревается каждый вечер самим Громфом Бэнром. Жар
поднимается от основания столба к его оконечности в течение 12 часов, а затем он остывает в течение такого же
отрезка времени. При помощи этой светящейся скальной башни мензоберранир отмечают ход времени в
тусклом Подземье.
ИЗВЕСТНЫЕ ТОРГОВЦЫ МНОГОНАРОДА
Ровиас дел'Игана занимается экзотическим оружием, включая покрытые ядом дротики и ручные арбалеты,
традиционно характерные для воинов-дроу. Она утверждает, что знает миллион различных способов скрыть
оружие на любом дроу.
Работорговец Хрогн Вольноотпущенный купил свою свободу после двух десятилетий в гладиаторских ямах
Западной Стены. Он остался в городе для продажи кобольдов, гоблинов и более экзотических гуманоидов,
включая необычных людей, самым проницательным рабовладельцам Мензоберранзана.
Женщина-дроу Ш'аун Дарнрюэл продает изящные платья из прекраснейшего паучьего шелка матронам-матерям
и тем, кто надеется в один прекрасный день пополнить их ряды.
КОМПЛЕКС ДОМА БЭНР
Как и приличествует Первому Дому Мензоберранзана, внушительный комплекс Бэнр - собрание из двадцати
сталагмитов и тридцати сталактитов, окруженное забором из зачарованной серебряной паутины и охраняемое
самой прекрасной армией Города Пауков.
Центральный курган скрывает часовню, посвященную Лолс, в которой Матрона-Матерь Куэнтел содержит свой
двор. Пещеристая палата для аудиенций ее предшественницы на вершине кургана была запечатана по приказу
Куэнтел - с погребенной в ней гниющим трупом ее сестры.
Ку'элларз'орл
Место Знати
Эта высокая "полка" на южном конце города смотрит на остальную часть Мензоберранзана, и с ее высоты
взирает на остальную часть города массивный комплекс Дома Бэнр.
Массивный лес гигантских грибов придает странную красоту плато, патрулируемому охраной Домов Бэнр,
Ксорларрин и Миззрим. Все эти три дома тренируют свои войска и волшебников на открытых пространствах,
демонстрируя силу остальной части города.
У одной из стен западного конца Ку'элларз'орл есть маленькая, хорошо охраняемая пещера - Палата Правящего
Совета, в которой встречаются матроны-матери восьми самых мощных домов.
Тиер Бреч
Академия
Доминирующая над северными пределами города великая лестница Тиер Бреч - самая большая из построек
Мензоберранзана. Подходы охраняются бесчисленными смертельными ловушками, почетным караулом из двух
выпускников Мили-Магтир и двумя 15-футовыми нефритовыми пауками, способными оживать для защиты
этого места.
На вершине Тиер Бреч находятся три отделения Академии, центр изучений и источника "правосудия" дроу,
обслуживаемый и управляемый матронами-матерями по усмотрению их могучих лидеров.
Арах-Тинилит: Размещенная в здании в форме гигантского паука Арах-Тинилит - самая мощная ветвь
Академии. Начиная с возвышения Куэнтел Бэнр она еще теснее объединена с Первым Домом. Куэнтел
официально не оставила свой титул Матери-Хозяйки Арах-Тинилит, несмотря на тот факт, что для матроны-
матери является беспрецедентным ношение обеих титулов одновременно.
Женщин-дроу посылают в Арах-Тинилит в возрасте сорока лет для проведения пяти десятилетий обучения на
жестокой и требовательной службе их демонической богине. Там они учатся вызвать демонов, управлять ими и
спариваться с ними.
Мили-Магтир: Эта школа военного искусства производит одних из самых одаренных и ловких рукопашников
Ториле. Те, кого отбирают для прохождения десятилетнего курса - главным образом мужчины. Само здание -
неукрашенная каменная пирамида.
Сорцере: В стройной и изящной башне размещается школа волшебников Академии, курируемая Архимагом
Мензоберранзана. Дроу (главным образом мужчины), демонстрирующие талант или склонность к магии,
распознаются в молодости и затем направляются в Сорцере в возрасте двадцати пяти лет для прохождения
тридцатилетнего обучения.
Западная Стена
Старый Квартал
Эти предместья меньших домов и богатых торговцев - тихое место, где редко случается что-либо интересное -
да и жители тут соответствующие. Некоторые из соседей балуются тайными делишками: азартной игрой с
рабами, вынужденными биться насмерть, собирая арканные магические артефакты по мультивселенной или
охотясь и захватывая странных существа в Мире Наверху. Хотя любой, кто ходит по улицам Западной Стены,
никогда и не знает о подобных делах. Здешний лозунг - осмотрительность.
ГРОМФ БЭНР
Архимаг Мензоберранзана Громф Бэнр - брат и главный конкурент Куэнтел. Эти двое никогда не встречались с
глазу на глазу и все равно иногда пытаются убить друг друга, хотя Громф в трудные времена оставался лоялен
матриархату. Если бы он когда-либо и собирался захватить управление Мензоберранзаном - это было бы в
течение Безмолвия Лолс, когда он был самым мощным заклинателем города. Но Громфу нравится руководить
из теней, тайно подталкивая и подстрекая город в выбранном им направлении.
Он поддерживает санктум, который может находиться в башне Сорцере или в созданном им самим карманном
измерении. Громф предпочитает об этом не распространяться.
ТЕМНЫЙ ДОМИНИОН
В пределы обширной палаты Мензоберранзана правление благородных домов привносит относительный мир и
безопасность, но Город Пауков - все еще часть Подземья. Многочисленные пещеры ведут из города в
бесконечный лабиринт туннелей и палат Подземья, вместе известных как Темный Доминион. Всего несколько
шагов за пределы города - и эта подземная дикая местность вступает в свои права.
Дроу используют туннели для тайных встреч в местах типа Светящихся Камней - пещеры люминесцентных
камней на севере - или Пещеры Оторванных Щупалец на юге, названной так из-за давней борьбы между дроу и
иллитидами. Области фаэрзресс накладываются на магические, странные существа преследуют любую
теплокровную добычу, а дроу иногда встречаются с другими расами для обсуждения предательств, убийств и
торговых соглашений.
Правящие Дома
Восемь самых мощных кланов дроу формируют Правящий Совет, и они твердо держат в кулаке все дела Города
Пауков.
Дом Бэнр
Первый Дом
Дом Бэнр удерживает свое положение настолько давно, что никто из живущих дроу и не помнит другого
Первого Дома, но за столетия он прилагал огромные усилия для отражения попыток изменить этот статус. С
матронами дома Бэнр пересекались пути Домов типа Облодра, До'Урден и Аграч Дирр, и все они пали.
Первый Дом по сути управляет всеми тремя отделениями Академии и удерживает устойчивые союзы с
большинством других правящих домов. Однако, сила в Мензоберранзане привлекает внимание, а внимание
любого дроу может быть опасной штукой. Дом Бэнр всегда остается начеку.
Дом Баррисон Дел'Армго
Второй Дом
Матрона-Мать Мез'Баррис Армго и ее три выживших дочери быстро заполнили пустоту, оставшуюся от
опозоренного Дома Аграч Дирр, став Вторым Домом. Хотя у дома меньше жриц, чем у других правящих домов,
Баррисон Дел'Армго собрал первоклассных волшебников Мензоберранзана.
Дом обычно держит свой собственный совет, сторонясь тесных союзов или открытого конфликта с любым из
других домов. Десятилетиями ходят слухи, что между Мез'Баррис и Громфом есть некие близкие отношения, но
никто не смеет подтвердить их.
Дом Ксорларрин
Третий Дом
В дни после окончания Безмолвия Лолс Дом Ксорларрин наслаждался покровительством Триэль Бэнр за свой
неустанный и тесный военный союз против захватчиков-дуэргаров и выскочки Аграч Дирр. Этого
покровительства оказалось достаточно, чтобы помочь Матроне-Матери Зирит Ку'Зорларрин перескочить Дому
Фаэн Тлаббар и захватить ранг Третьего Дома.
Подобно Баррисон Дел'Армго, Дом Ксорларрин использует немало волшебников, все из которых базируются в
величественной Башне Заклинаний Ксорларрин, смежной с Домом Бэнр на Ку'элларз'орл.
Дом Фаэн Тлаббар
Четвертый Дом
Жрицы Дома Фаэн Тлаббар, возглавляемые Матроной-Матерью Генни'тирот Тлаббар - одни из самых
набожных в Мензоберранзане. Они настолько фанатичны, даже некоторым из высоких жриц Арах-Тинилит
нелегко от их диких оргий с демонами и от массовых жертв во имя их искривленной богини.
Дом Миззрим
Пятый Дом
Близкий союзник своих соседей по Ку'элларз'орл - и Бэнр, и Ксорларрин, Матрона-Мать Миз'ри Миззрим -
коварная и двуличная переговорщица, имеющая торговые контакты по всему Подземью и даже в Мире Наверху.
Немалая часть работорговли в Мензоберранзане контролируется Домом Миззрим, также как и торговля
незаконными магическими изделиями.
Дом Фей-Бранч
Шестой Дом
Фей-Бранч - один из самых старых правящих домов, занимавший место в высшем ряду кланов дроу в течение
более чем четырех тысячелетий. Немалой частью этой долговечности он обязан тому, что столь долго
прислуживал другим домам. Хотя Фей-Бранч занимает ранг Шестого Дома, Матрона-Мать Биртин Фей
ожидает, что и Меларн, и Вандри вскоре бросят ей вызов, и дому скорее всего вновь придется занять восьмой
ранг.
Дом Меларн
Седьмой Дом
Самый молодой, и намного, из правящих домов, Дом Меларн сформировался из союза Домов Хорлбар и
Кенафин десятилетие спустя после окончания Безмолвия Лолс и получил свое название в честь Кающейся Леди
Лолс, Халисстры Меларн. Он поглотил струйку выживших из первоначального Дома Меларн, павшего при
разрушении Чед Насада, но Матрона-Мать, Жиндия Меларн - дочь Матроны-Матери Джерлис из Дома Хорлбар.
Дом Вандри
Восьмой Дом
Убив свою неэффективную мать Трокен'тер в 1388 DR, Матрона-Мать Фиирнел'тер Вандри процарапала себе
путь от Семнадцатого Дома под угрозой более мощной Баррисон Дел'Армго до места в Правящем Совете.
Возможно, даже сама Фиирнел'тер не знает, сколько дроу ей пришлось для этого убить.
БРЕГАН Д'АЭРТ
Бреган Д'аэрт - компания наемников, убийц и разведчиков, основанная и все еще возглавляемая (хотя и издалека
и через посредников) Джарлакслом Бэнром (страница 251). Компания поглощает в себя бездомных мужчин и не
имеющих мировоззрения выпускников Мили-Магтир, делая их услуги доступными тем, кто предложит самую
высокую цену - а иногда и всем претендентам. Нет ничего необычного в том, что агенты Бреган Д'аэрт работают
на оба фронта борьбы между враждующими домами, но они никогда не выступают против Дома Бэнр.
Джарлаксл сообразительнее их.
Бреган Д'аэрт активно налаживает и поддерживает контакты с гильдиями воров и убийц Мира Наверху, иногда
обеспечивая им наемников-дроу.
Нынешний мастер Бреган Д'аэрт - доверенный лейтенант Джарлаксла, Киммуриэл Облодра, мастерство
псионических искусств которого делает его холодным и расчетливым убийцей и ценным активом для его
клиентов.
НОРТДАРК
Протянувшийся от Побережья Меча на западе до края Нетерила на востоке и от Хребта Мира на севере до Врат
Балдура на юге, Нортдарк - один из самых давнозаселенных и наиболее "цивилизованных" регионов Подземья.
Знания о Нортдарке
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Мудрости Улиц.
DC 10: Самый большой и доминирующий город Нортдарка - метрополис дроу Мензоберранзан, место
поклонения Королеве Ям Паутины Демонов. Дроу делят Нортдарк с другими расами Подземья и постоянно
вступают в разногласия с дварфскими залами Хребта Мира.
Поселения и приметные черты
В Нортдарке изобилуют города, деревни и рассеянные клановые твердыни, и мили естественных туннелей
нанесены на карты в качестве караванных маршрутов.
Аммариндар
Маленький город; население 7,000
Некогда связанный с Миром Наверху через нижние пределы Хеллгейт Кипа, Аммариндар был блокирован от
поверхности после десятилетий борьбы, последовавшей после исчезновения камбиона Каанира Вхока.
Рыщущий Легион Вхока, армия танарукков (демонических орков), в конечном счете оказался под управлением
одного из своих представителей, Военного Вождя Гааржвекса. Сегодня танарукков Аммариндара возглавляет
Высокий Военный Вождь Гиирвокс. Танарукки иногда совершают набеги на своих соседей или нанимаются в
качестве наемников. Таинственный Кровавый Опустошитель Джерваан принес в Аммариндар пылкое
поклонение экзарху Темпуса - Гарагосу.
Аромикос
Несомненно самая большая из отдельных форм жизни на всем Ториле, Аромикос также, возможно, и самый
старый. Эта массивная грибная колония охватывает сотни квадратных миль Верхнего Подземья под Высоким
Лесом. Это - приют для грибных существ, особенно миконидов, скрывающихся среди его серо-белой массы.
В течение Чумы Заклинаний с Аромикосом что-то случилось. Еще до бедствия ходили слухи, что у колонии
появились зачатки разума. Сейчас эти истории подтверждаются. Часто называющая себя Королем Аромикосом
разумная масса грибной растительности привела под свой доминион тысячи, возможно даже миллионы
миконидов. Она посылает усики и споры по всему Верхнему Подземью, вынуждая города типа
Мензоберранзана, Чед Насада и Йатчола охранять многие из своих подходов от грибного вторжения.
Но все же его чужеродное присутствие можно почувствовать. Аромикос атакует любое разумное существо в
пределах сотен миль странными кошмарами - грезами о комфорте массовой воли и о безнадежном хаосе
индивидуальности, которые дроу называют голхиррл'фхаазт ("Ловушка Грез"). Лишь иллитиды кажутся почти
иммунными к его влиянию. Бесчисленных дроу, глубинных гномов, танарукков и других, поддавшихся его
чарующему призыву, больше никогда не видели.
Блингденстоун
Маленький город; население 5,000
Покинутый своим первоначальным населением - глубинными гномами, Блингденстоун оказал гостеприимство
всем - от облаков разумной магической пыли до глубинных гномов-крысооборотней и от любого количества
блуждающих монстров до мусорщиков - людей и дроу, ищущих сокровища, оставшиеся от прежних хозяев. Тем
не менее, в течение последних четырех десятилетий первоначальные жители Блингденстоуна, возглавляемые
Самым Удостоенным Хранителем Нор Каргиеном Диссенгулпом, переместились обратно, получая поддержку
из самых неожиданных мест, включая Сильверимун и Мифриловый Зал.
КЛАНОВАЯ ТВЕРДЫНЯ ПЛЕМЕНИ КЛЫКА ГРИЗЛИ
Деревня; население 275
Кобольдов Племени Клыка Гризли возглавляет Вождь Гвурзз и его помощник Клаах, направляющие племя к
поклонению архидьяволу Маммону. Племя устроило себе дома в ряде пещер, потолки которых редко
возвышаются более чем на 5 футов - что удобно для кобольдов, но ограничивает большие расы, которых у них
хватает ума избегать. Их пещеры расположены примерно на полпути между Эриндлином и Аромикосом,
чарующие призывы которого постоянно их беспокоят.
Ч'Читл
Маленький городок; население 500
Некогда разумно цивилизованное поселение иллитидов, управляемое соглашением старших после смерти его
старшего мозга, Ч'Читл была перевернут в Году Синего Огня. Теперь пещера, в которой это находится, стала
чумной пещерой совершенно ирреального вида. Трое старших были объединены в отвратительную
мутировавшую тварь, ставшую новым старшим мозгом Ч'Читла. Его тело умерло, но разум живет в
пульсирующей массе серой материи, исчерченной шипящими линиями Синего Огня.
Иллитиды Ч'Читла стали Мозгочумными, существами-магошрамами, способными к экстраординарным
псионическим умениям, подпитываемым и смешивающимся со свойственными магическими способностями их
магошрамов.
Чед Насад
Маленький город; население 7,500
Разрушенному в хаосе после Безмолвия Лолс Чед Насаду потребовалось столетие для восстановления своего
места среди городов дроу Нортдарка. Многие из построек города, некогда сгруппированных на великих прядях
затвердевшей паутины, так и лежат в руинах. Фаатрилл Тех'Кинреллз, Матрона-Мать Первого Дома Чед Насада,
твердо держит контроль над городом и шестью его новыми и восстановленными домами. Одна из сделанных ей
уступок - продолжающееся тесное общение с Джаэзред Чолссин.
Граклстаг
Большой город; население 30,000
Этот большой и хорошо защищенный город Среднего Подземья размещает огромное население дуэргаров и их
рабов и союзников. Город гнездится в большой пещере на краю Темного Озера. Дуэргары рыбачат на Темном
Озере со своих плоскодонных лодок, но избегают более глубоких вод, страшась многих свирепых существ,
живущих в его глубинах.
Город защищен одной из самых больших и хорошо экипированных армий Нортдарка, но у солдат до опасного
мало арканной и божественной поддержки.
Король дуэргаров молод, унаследовав пост от своего отца в 1372 DR, но Хоргар Стальная Тень V - способный
воин, не медлящий с принятием решений и довольно быстро теряющий свою раздражительность. Некоторые
говорят, что король неграмотен, но умеет это скрывать.
Йатчол
Маленький городок; нселение 1,000
Фактически группа из девяти отдельных торпов, сообщество читайнов Йатчол - ужас Среднего Подземья. Эти
странные паукоподобные существа, изгнанные после неудавшихся экспериментов в Чед Насаде, сформировали
свое собственное общество, подобное таковому своих прежних хозяек - вокруг поклонения Лолс.
Население городка за последнее столетие удвоилось, и его патрули забираются на восток до Глубинных
Пустошей, а на юг - до края Старого Шанатара. Никто не уверен в том, какое именно зло планируют читайны -
возможно, финальную месть Чед Насаду, - но никто не может предсказать желания этих существ.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Гонтлгрим: Этот легендарный дом дварфов Делзуна продолжает владеть мыслями дварфов со всего Севера.
Усилия по возврату этого места потерпели неудачу, но истории о хранящихся там умопомрачительных
сокровищах продолжают делать его популярным в рассказах по тавернам и высшей наградой для самых жадных
авантюристов.
Скуллпорт: Некогда город работорговцев, пиратов и недобросовестных торговцев, ныне Скуллпорт -
разрушенный город, дом абсолютного сброда Нортдарка - от бездомных негодяев-дроу до кобольдов-
магошрамов, сводимых с ума магией, которую они не могут понять. Люди-авантюристы, забиравшиеся на его
гниющие улицы и выжившие, чтобы рассказать об этом, описывают его как "Лускану, но без солнца".
Магические Пещеры Эриндлина: Эриндлин некогда был процветающим городом дроу, но религиозная
борьба и угрозы извне оставили его почти покинутым. Земной узел близ города поглощал эффекты Чумы
Заклинаний и сделал пещеру самой глубокой чумной пещерой Нортдарка.
ДЖАЭЗРЕД ЧОЛССИН
Эта коварная банда убийц - теневых драконов-полудроу - по полной использовала преимущество Безмолвия
Лолс, работая своими темными щупальцами по большинству Нортдарка. Но со своим поражением при Осаде
Мензоберранзана она в конечном счете оказалась неспособна поддерживать контроль над восстановлением Чед
Насада. Джаэзред Чолссин возвратилась в покинутый город Чолссин, стоящий наполовину в Царстве Теней,
наполовину - вне его. Убийцы стали временными союзниками нетерезов, от которых они получают заказы, но
они пока что сопротивляются поглощению в империю.
СТАРЫЙ ШАНАТАР
Регион Подземья, некогда заселенный славными дварфскими королевствами, Старый Шанатар ныне стал
местом причудливых цивилизаций и темных ритуалов.
Знания о Старом Шанатаре
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Истории.
DC 10: Древнее дварфское царство Старый Шанатар некогда было домом тысяч мирных дварфов, но ныне стоит
лишь одно из восьми великих королевств.
Поселения и приметные черты
В Старом Шанатаре искусственных мест - шахт, городов и внушительных работ дварфского ремесленного
производства и архитектуры - больше, чем в любой другой части Подземья.
Гуаллидарт
Большой город; население 16,000
Один из самых больших и, конечно же, старейший из южных городов дроу, Гуаллидарт был местом, где
поклонение Лолс оставалось на произволе многочисленных конкурирующих сект, и аж две сотни благородных
домов соперничали за власть. Но за годы после Безмолвия Лолс в Гуаллидарт пришел новый порядок.
Различные
храмы
были
объединены
змееголовым
бичом,
Матерью-Хозяйкой
Физзри
Хавен-Гелл,
систематически чистившей враждующие дома, пока их не осталось всего двадцать четыре - во главе с Первым
Домом Луур'Тчаан. Этот период "перехода" (теперь никто не смеет называть его гражданской войной)
сдерживал расширение Гуаллидарта в течение нескольких десятилетий, но за последние тридцать лет
гуаллидартские патрули начали располагаться все дальше и дальше от границ своего города.
Илтказар
Маленький город; население 4,500
Илтказар - последний оставшийся дварфский анклав в Старом Шанатаре. Этот внушительный многоуровневый
город-крепость - памятник величайшим из когда-либо живших шахтеров-дварфов. Здесь высятся скульптуры, а
лестницы широки настолько, что по ним может маршировать целая армия. Город освещен серебристо-синим
лишайником, покрывающим потолки.
Мучительнее всего в Илтказаре - чувство его пустоты. В милях и милях коридоров стоит тишина, а население
уменьшилось до крошечной доли своей древней славы.
Королевством управляет серебряный дракон, Король Мит Барак, пришедший к власти в 66 DR, а затем
потерявшийся на некоторое время, пока его астральная форма была захвачена Тиамат в 1367 DR. Он
возвратился к жизни всего два года назад, пробыв в заточении целое столетие, пока череда регентов управляла с
его трона, а население Илтказара продолжало уменьшаться.
Король Мит Барак поклялся возвратить Илтказару и всему Старому Шанатару всю его былую славу, но путь его
будет долог.
Малидрен
Маленький город; население 6,000
Вершина высочайших из многоступенчатых пирамиды, составляющих затонувший город Малидрен, лежит в 50
футах под неподвижными водами Озера Сияющей Мглы. Мистически освещенная архитектура икзанов (раса
интеллектуальных скатов) и пар от их печей дают озеру его название.
Скрытый от любопытных глаз всех, кроме самых предприимчивых исследователей, Малидрен - город широких
проспектов. Икзаны порабощают любых приближающихся разумных существ, предоставляя им способность
дышать под водой, пока они абсолютно преданно служат. Наказание бывает лишь одной формы: утопление на
глубине в 150 футов или больше.
ЧУМНАЯ ПЕЩЕРА ОАКСАПТУПЫ
Очень немногие знают, каким некогда было это место. Изобилуют слухи о том, что когда-то в этой пещере жила
великая цивилизация существ-инсектоидов. Вся память об этих существах была стерта, когда Год Синего Огня
соединил Абейр с Торилом. Эта цивилизация была либо уничтожена, либо целиком была переброшена на
Абейр.
Независимо от того, что случилось с той цивилизацией, если она вообще существовала, ныне Оаксаптупа -
громадная чумная пещера, где законы физики вечно меняются, а колоссальные насекомые - ничуть не
цивилизованные - охотятся на все, что кровоточит.
Рринглор Норот
Маленький город; население 8,000
Город Вздымающихся Теней - самое большое сообщество плащевиков в Верхнем Подземье. Разделенные на
жесткие касты, плащевики Рринглор Норота продолжают экспериментировать с идеей совместной жизни в чем-
то городоподобном.
Вместе их соединяет Теневой Пролет - огромный мост, построенный расой, предшествовавшей дварфам
Старого Шанатара. Один конец моста начинается в середине Озера Сияющей Мглы, другой появляется из
подобного озера глубоко внутри Царства Теней. Промежуток посередине разрушен и требует ремонта.
Время от времени из Царства Теней появляется таинственное существо, известное просто как Эмиссар. Оно
нашептывает инородную мудрость в уши дюжины лордов-плащевиков, формирующих Конклав Теневой Сферы.
Они более двух столетий трудятся для восстановления Теневого Пролета; будучи завершен, он полностью
пересечет пространство между озерами.
Слупдилмонполоп
Большой город; население 12,000
Когда-то это был святой город божества куо-тоа, Блибдулпулпа, но некогда могучие шаманы давно уже не
получали известий от своего бога. Многие из куо-тоа обратились к поклонению Гонадору, Бэйну или Истишиа.
Также прибыли тысячи беженцев куо-тоа, убегающих от тирании Аболетского Суверенитета.
Король-Священник Ни-Гул-Вин Вибулкугург полностью обратился к служению Гонадору и игнорирует все
остальные веры. Тем не менее, он втайне задается вопросом, правильную ли сторону он выбрал, и стремится
доказать самому себе, что прав.
Цараз
Маленький город; население 7,000
В 20 милях ниже поверхности, под современным Дарромаром, лежит огромный улей бехолдеров. Хотя
постоянное население колеблется от 5,000 до 10,000, сборы кланов бехолдеров в течение сезона размножения,
когда правят хаос и насилие, могут раздувать население почти до 50,000.
Цараз окружен огромными пространствами фаэрзресс, особенно большой земной узел лежит прямо в центре
улья, и из него молодые бехолдеры тянут питание в течение первого десятилетия своей жизни.
Рабы, которых утянули в эту ужасную яму, ведут наинесчастнейшее из вообразимых существований.
Бехолдеры не ценят жизнь, и несчастного раба могут использовать и для черных работ, и для вивисекции.
Заговоры и места для приключений
Павшие гробницы: Когда землетрясение сотрясло Нижнее Подземье под руинами эльфийского города Миф
Ринн в глубинах Вилдата, секция древних гробниц города оказалась вытолкнутой в темные пределы между
Средним и Нижним Подземьем. Считается, что гробницы все еще не повреждены и полны богатств некогда
великого города, но их пока что никто так и не нашел.
Рриннорот: Некогда дварфская цитадель, защищавшая критически важные водные запасы Озера Сияющей
Мглы, Рриннорот давно уже пал в руины. Немного времени спустя здесь обосновался зже это стало
местожительством особенно противный красный дракон по имени Чарвеканнатор Алый.
"Чар" вступил в союз с племенами токкуа, троллей и различных других жителей низов Среднего Подземья. Они
служат его охраной, защищая подходы к Рриннороту от тех, кто приходит сюда в поисках его великолепных
сокровища, пока дракон охотится в небесах над Равниной Гиганта.
Пропасть Ксенфирта: Эта черная яма сотню футов в диаметре выходит в центр давно покинутой дварфской
твердыни. Окрестные постройки по краям этой дыры снесены, словно снизу выкопалось что-то большое.
Пропасть выходит на темное царство с суровыми серыми пейзажами, залитыми кислотным дождем. Никто не
знает название этого забытого плана или давно мертвого бога, когда-то жившего здесь.
Эта пропасть названа по имени волшебника Ксенфирта, который был единственным выжившим из партии
приключенцев, обнаружившей дыру в 1418 DR.
УМБРОВЫЕ УВАЛЬНИ НЕЗЧЕНЗУРА
Клановая твердыня; население 500
Хотя большинство умбровых увальней предпочитает жизнь уединенных кочевников, блуждая по Подземью в
поисках добычи, клановая твердыня Незчензур, расположенная примерно в 120 милях к северо-востоку от
Слупдилмонполопа, становится активным, хотя и грубоватым и опасным местом, где представители этой
неверно воспринимаемой расы могут встречаться и торговать. Хоть они еще и не открываются для торговли с
кем-либо помимо своих собратьев - умбровых увальней, искушенность их торговцев изо дня в день растет.
Руководство Кампании
Забыбых Царств
Источник: Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, D&D 4
Перевод: LE_Ranger, [email protected], icq 307744148
УГРОЗЫ
Торил всегда был опасен, и стал еще опаснее после перемен последнего столетия. Монстры охотятся в его
пределах, в неприрученных или в цивилизованных, утаскивая неосторожных и угрожая жизням тех, кто знает о
них. Некоторых из этих существ самих по себе достаточно для удовлетворения тех, кто стремится встать лицом
к лицу с опасностью или уничтожить зло. Но опасность в этом мире принимает множество форм.
Многие из разумных существ со всего Торила питают лишь ненависть к доброму люду. Гоблины и еще более
зверские гуманоиды охотятся и порабощают беззащитных. Дроу плетут жестокие сети глубоко в земле, надеясь
связать всех в хомуте Лолс. Шейды Нетерила считают мир своими законными владениями, но им придется
бороться за правление со змеиными саррукхами и их потомством - юань-ти. Планарная зловредность сочится в
мир: демонические вторжения, дьявольские заговоры и дикость стихий. Сзасс Тэм все еще правит в
заполоненном призраками Тэе и стремится ко всемогуществу - потенциально ценой всех остальных.
Существа, организации и злодеи, представленные в этой главе, помогут Вам создать игру, скроенную согласно
вашим предпочтениям.
ЦЕРКОВЬ БЭЙНА (CHURCH OF BANE)
Черный Лорд консолидировал свою силу в течение Чумы Заклинаний. Его церковь, хорошо отточенное оружие
завоевания и тирании, стала намного опаснее. Бэйн хочет поработить под своей властью всех существ, и его
организация зачастую ради этого действует открыто.
Знания о Церкви Бэйна
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 15: Фзоул Чембрил погиб, защищая Жентил Кип от шейдов Нетерила. Несмотря на его неудачу,
Бэйн после этого взял Фзоула в качестве экзарха. Начиная с этого времени последователи Фзоула
NPC-МЕЧЕМАГИ
Вы можете применить класс мечемага из Руководства Игрока Забытых Царств в качестве шаблона для NPC,
используя процесс применения шаблонов класса, описанный на странице 182 Руководства Ведущего. Мечемаг
- элитный солдат со следующими способностями и характеристиками.
Источник силы: Арканный
Защиты +2 Воля
Спасброски +2
Очки действия 1
Очки жизни +8 на уровень + показатель Телосложения
Мастерство оружия Простое рукопашное, военные легкие клинки, военные тяжелые клинки, простое
дальнобойное
Мастерство доспехов Ткань, кожа
Тренируемые навыки Аркана плюс еще один навык из списка класса мечемага: Атлетика (Сила), Дипломатия
(Харизма), Выносливость (Телосложение), История (Интеллект), Понимание (Мудрость) и Запугивание
(Харизма)
Классовые черты Мечесвязь, эгида мечемага
Принадлежности Любые легкие или тяжелые клинки
сосредоточились на поддержании влияния Бэйна в регионе Лунного Моря. Под руководством Фзоула они
работают против Нетерила.
Религия DC 15: Бэйн был поколеблен, когда шейды снесли Жентил Кип и Цитадель Ворона, переломив
спинной хребет Жентарима. Но потерянное в тот раз он вернул с избытком. Мало того, что он подмял под свою
власть божества гоблинов, но он также получил через Аббатора поклонение злых дварфов. Сорвав желание Шар
занять сферу мести, Бэйн защитил и поработил Хоара. Он продвинул свои силы, взяв в супруги Ловиатар и
объединив две веры. Даже великая Тиамат теперь служит Бэйну.
Организация
Бэйн ожидает, что его последователи будут поддерживать порядок. У всех в его церкви есть свое место и путь
наверх, так что необычные действия обнаружить намного проще.
Штаб: Дом Черного Лорда, Мулмастера, регион Лунного Моря (страница 150).
Иерархия: Авторитарная религия Бэйна поддерживает строгую командную цепочку. Его храмы похожи столь
же на крепости, сколь на дома для поклонения, и у каждого есть единственный лидер, обычно - мощный
священник, известный как наставник. Наставники отвечают перед высокими наставниками, по одному в каждой
стране, а они в свою очередь отвечают перед великим наставником, Избранным Тираном Бэйна, в Мулмастере.
Члены: Церковь Бэйна разыскивает тех, у кого есть сила, и ведет их на путь Черного Лорда, предлагая дары и
показывая ценность власти. Из способных индивидуумов с меньшим влиянием тоже получаются ценнын агенты
или священники. Более всего ценятся те, кто отвернулся от добра ради служения Бэйну. Мерзкие обряды
инициирования и внимательный присмотр гарантируют лояльность таких приверженцев.
Фзоул Чембрил
Фзоул Чембрил некогда был Избранным Тираном Бэйна, командующим Жентаримом (страница 282) и самым
пугающим индивидуумом региона Лунного Моря. После смерти он все еще велик, поднявшись для службы
Бэйну в качестве экзарха. Теперь у него много новых последователей, и часть Жентарима все еще следует его
словам. Его задача состоит в том, чтобы вернуть то, что он потерял, противостоя Нетерилу. Однажды потерпев
неудачу с Бэйном, Фзоул не может позволить себе пасть вновь.
Фзоул Чембрил Уровень 28 элитный контроллер (лидер)
Средний бессмертный гуманоид XP 26,000
Инициатива +21 Чувства Восприятие +23
Глаз Тирана (психический) аура 5; враг, начинающий свой ход в ауре, берет 5 психический урон.
ОЖ 500; Кровоточащий 250; см. также темное величие
AC 44; Стойкость 43, Рефлексы 42, Воля 46
Сопротивление 15 некротический, 15 яд
Спасброски +2 (+5 против эффектов устрашения и зачарования и против эффектов, которые обездвиживают, ограничивают или замедляют)
Скорость 6, полет 8
Очки действия 1
Р. Скипетр Избранного Тирана (стандарт; по желанию) Психический, Оружие
+33 против AC; 1d10+9 урон (крит 6d10+19), и цель получает продолжающийся 10 психический урон (спасбросок заканчивает). Фзоул не
может быть разоружен от этого оружия.
Д. Скипетр Избранного Тирана (стандарт; по желанию) Сила, Психический, Оружие
Дальность 5; +32 против AC; 1d10+9 силовой урон (крит 6d10+19), и цель вытолкнута на 1 квадрат и получает продолжающийся 10
психический урон (спасбросок заканчивает).
К. Декрет-разнос (стандарт; столкновение) Гром
Близкий взрыв 10; цели - враги; +33 против Стойкости; 2d6+9 громовой урон, и цель ошарашена до конца следующего хода Фзоула.
Д. Правящая команда (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Зачарование, Психический
Дальность 20; +34 против Воли; 2d6+10 психический урон, и цель получает продолжающийся 5 психический урон и доминируется
(спасбросок заканчивает оба, -2 штраф к спасброску). Фзоул может доминировать только над одним существом одновременно.
Осуждающий удар (малое; перезарядка)
Если Фзоул попадает своей следующей атакой Скипетром Избранного Тирана (рукопашной или дальнобойной), атака считается
критическим попаданием.
К. Восстановление преданных (стандарт; столкновение) Лечение
Близкий взрыв 10; Фзоул и каждый из его союзников тратят лечащую волну и восстанавливают одну четверть от максимальных очков жизни
(125 ОЖ для Фзоула).
Темное величие
Пока не кровоточит, Фзоул получает +4 бонус ко всем защитам против атак возможности.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Все
Навыки Аркана +23, Блеф +29, Дипломатия +29, История +23, Понимание +28, Запугивание +29, Религия +23
СИЛ 26 (+22) ЛОВ 25 (+21) МУД 28 (+23)
ТЕЛ 21 (+19) ИНТ 18 (+18) ХАР 30 (+24)
Оснащение Скипетр Избранного Тирана (см. страницу 57)
Тактика Фзоула
Фзоула всегда сопровождают войска, включая его вечно бдительных телохранителей - злых духов страха 28
уровня. Фзоул проповедует указы Бэйна в битве, говоря декрет-разнос, а затем идет в рукопашную. Его скипетр
швыряет силовые заряды, и также Фзоул может использовать правящую команду, чтобы атаковать с расстояния.
Нага-бейнлар (Banelar Naga)
Злые и величественные, наги-бейнлары давно союзничают с Церковью Бэйна.
Знания о нагах-бейнларах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Религии.
DC 20: Многие наги-бейнлары предали Бэйна, перейдя на сторону секты Цирика, когда бог умер в течение
Времени Неприятностей. Бэйн был перерожден, и он усилил лояльных бейнларов, дабы те нашли и уничтожили
нелояльных. Сейчас практически все бейнлары объединены с Бэйном, даже если они сами и не служат церкви
Бэйна.
Нага-бейнлар Уровень 18 соло контроллер
Огромная бессмертная магическая тварь (рептилия) XP 10,000
Инициатива +10 Чувства Восприятие +17; темновидение
ОЖ 825; Кровоточащий 412; см. также темное величие
Регенерация 20
AC 36; Стойкость 38, Рефлексы 29, Воля 34; см. также губительное произнесение
Сопротивление 15 кислота, 15 яд
Спасброски +5 (+8 против эффектов устрашения и зачарования и против эффектов, которые обездвиживают, ограничивают или замедляют)
Скорость 6, плавание 6
Очки действия 2
Р. Жало (стандарт; по желанию) Яд
Досягаемость 2; +24 против AC; 2d6+10 урон, и цель получает продолжающийся 10 урон ядом (спасбросок заканчивает).
Д. Решительное слово (малое; по желанию) Зачарование, Психический
Дальность 10; +22 против Рефлексов; 1d4+8 психический урон, и цель вытолкнута на 1 квадрат.
Р. Протыкание (стандарт; по желанию) Яд
Нага-бейнлар делает две атаки жалом. Если обе атаки поражают одну и ту же цель, цель также без сознания (спасбросок заканчивает).
Бессознательная цель не может делать спасбросок против продолжающегося урона ядом, пока бессознательное состояние не закончится.
Д. Радуга бейнлара (стандарт; по желанию)
Дальность 10; +22 против Рефлексов; 2d6+8 психический урон, и цель ошеломлена (спасбросок заканчивает). Радуга атакует до двух
вторичных целей в пределах 10 квадратов; +22 против Рефлексов; 1d4+8 психический урон, и цель ошарашивается (спасбросок
заканчивает).
Д. Губительное произнесение (немедленная реакция, когда повреждена атакой; по желанию) Зачарование
Нага-бейнлар делает атаку против нападавшего; Дальность 10; +22 против Воли; цель ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает) и сдвигается
на 3 квадрата.
Темное величие
Пока не кровоточит, нага-бейнлар получает +4 бонус ко всем защитам против атак возможности.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Общий, Драконий, Божественный
Навыки Аркана +19, Блеф +22, Понимание +17, Запугивание +22
СИЛ 30 (+19) ЛОВ 13 (+10) МУД 16 (+12)
ТЕЛ 21 (+14) ИНТ 21 (+14) ХАР 26 (+17)
Тактика наги-бейнлара
С надменной свирепостью бейнлар сам встает перед своими противниками. Он говорит решительное слово,
чтобы сдержать опасных противников, жаля и кусая нападавших, отвечая губительным произнесением, когда
враг наносит ему удар. Он рад использовать радугу бейнлара, когда противники вне его досягаемости.
Группы при столкновениях
Преданные Черного Лорда наслаждаются помощью фракции Жентарима. Прихожане Ловиатар служат частью
иерархии Бэйна. Среди последователей Бэйна теперь также есть огромное количество гоблинов, а также злых и
жадных дварфов. Через Тиамат целям Бэйна служат многочисленные злые драконы.
Столкновение 6 уровня (XP 1,300)
- 1 хобгоблин Рука Бэйна (уровень 8 элитный солдат)
- 4 воина-хобгоблина (уровень 8 миньон)
- 2 огра-налетчика (уровень 8 налетчик)
- 1 пламенный череп (уровень 8 артиллерия)
ЦЕРКОВЬ ШАР (CHURCH OF SHAR)
Прихожане Шар формируют высокоскрытную сеть священников, магов и воинов, посвященных тьме.
Философия церкви - таковая нигилизма, что жизнь и даже существование не имеют большой ценности. Таким
образом, агенты Шар очень опасны, будучи готовы для пользы веры пожертвовать собой и любым количеством
не-сторонников.
Знания о Церкви Шар
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 20: Поклонение Шар существовало с древнейших времен, но - в тайне. В течение прошлых
раздоров, типа Времени Неприятностей и Чумы Заклинаний, Темная Богиня открыто поднималась против своих
врагов и убивала их. Вера Шар возродилась с возвышением Нетерила, а ее участие в смерти Мистры лишь
усилило ее влияние.
Религия DC 15: Шар некогда была сутью тьмы, созданной в начале времен. Она и ее сестра, Селунэ, создали
вселенную, в которой существует Торил. С тех пор между Шар и ее светлым близнецом был лишь раздор.
Селунэ желает неукротимого созидания и света, а Шар стремится возвратить все к первобытному небытию.
Ради этого она и работает - чтобы в конечном счете подавить всех остальных богов и ниспровергнуть все
созданное.
Организация
Церковь Шар - фактически сложная сеть независимых ячеек и скрытых храмов. Помимо Нетерила, немногие
земли допускают открытое почитание Хозяйки Ночи. Преданные Шар работают в тени, подрывая власть и
развращая добро.
Штаб: Купол Ночи, Анклав Шейд, Нетерил (страница 164).
Иерархия: Церковь в целом не имеет лидера. Определенной шарранской ячейкой управляет самый способный
из местных священников. Поиск более высокого статуса в пределах церкви запрещен, но текучка среди членов,
обычно из-за смерти, банальна. Новичков в церкви просто называют "инициированными". Те, кто проводят
вместе обучение, называют друг друга "темный брат" или "темная сестра". Лидеры берут титул "темный отец"
или "темная мать".
Члены: Шарраны ревностно ищут новых членов, стараясь показать добрые дела бессмысленными и даже
глупыми. Они раскрывают и используют темные секреты для манипулирования и вреда другим. Шарранские
заговоры приносят горе и безнадежность потенциально ценным последователям, лелея темные эмоции, пока их
цели по своей воле не обратятся к Шар. Большинство последователей Шар - нормальный народ, спасовавший
перед отчаянием.
Новые рекруты должны доказать свою лояльность, выполняя злые дела, типа пожертвования разумных
существ. Принятые члены должны беспрекословно повиноваться воле Шар согласно указаниям старшего
духовенства.
Монахи Темной Луны
Другие веры поддерживают рыцарские ордена, но секта Шар предпочитает скрытных, ужасающих убийц. Эти
фанатики не только работают для церкви, но также и поддерживают порядок в духовенстве Шар и среди других
ее последователей.
Штаб: Монастырь Темной Луны, Пурскул, Амн.
Иерархия: К концу основного титула, обычного для шарран, у монастырских лидеров добавляется "аббат"
или "аббатисса"; например, "темная мать аббатисса".
Члены: Монахи Темной Луны приходят из числа преданных Шар, но предопределенные священники в ордене
обучаться не могут. Группа предпочитает тех, у кого также есть талант к арканным или теневым силам.
Большинство монахов ордена также знакомы с несколькими темными ритуалами.
Будучи не в пределах шарранского храма или монастыря, эти монахи содержат секретные святыни и
тренировочные территории в отдаленных областях. Они также формируют спальные ячейки в поселениях, где
поклонение Шар отвергается, поддерживая укрытия для товарищей-шарран.
Тактика монаха Темной Луны
Монахи Темной Луны начинают битву теневым щупальцем для получения преимущества, поддерживая его в
каждом раунде и перемещая его для поражения других целей. Затем монах атакует разделенных врагов
невооруженными ударами. Монах Темной Луны может спонтанно создавать теневой призрачный сюрикен для
метания, но приберегает эту атаку для противников, избегающих рукопашной.
Монах Темной Луны Уровень 6 солдат
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек XP 250
Инициатива +10 Чувства Восприятие +10
ОЖ 68; Кровоточащий 34
AC 22; Стойкость 16, Рефлексы 20, Воля 18
Скорость 7
Р. Неворуженный удар (стандарт; по желанию)
+12 против AC; 1d8+4 урон.
Д. Призрачный сюрикен (стандарт; по желанию) Холод или Некротический
Дальнобойная 6/12; +10 против Рефлексов; 1d4+3 урон плюс 1d4 некротический или холодный урон (на выбор монаха).
Д. Теневое щупальце (стандарт; поддержка - малое [см. текст]; столкновение) Призывание, Некротический
Дальность 10; монах призывает теневое щупальце в незанятом квадрате в пределах диапазона, и щупальце атакует смежных существ на ходу
монаха: +10 против Рефлексов; 1d6+3 некротический урон, и цель схвачена (пока не спасется). Щупальце может захватывать только одну
цель за раз, нанося захваченному противнику 1d6+3 некротический урон в каждом раунде, пока монах поддерживает захват. Как
стандартное действие, монах может менять цель и может перемещать щупальце до 5 квадратов.
Р. Кулак мрака (стандарт; перезарядка) Некротический
+12 против AC; 1d6+4 урон, и цель берет продолжающийся 5 некротический урон и ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает оба).
Р. Удар Темной Луны (малое; столкновение)
В следующий раз, когда монах попадает рукопашной атакой, она считается критическим попаданием.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Чондатанский (РИ), Общий
Навыки Акробатика +13, Атлетика +12, Скрытность +13
СИЛ 18 (+7) ЛОВ 20 (+8) МУД 14 (+5)
ТЕЛ 12 (+4) ИНТ 10 (+3) ХАР 16 (+6)
Кир-ланан (Kir-Lanan)
Кир-лананы - таинственные крылатые гуманоиды, появившиеся после смерти нескольких злых богов в течение
Времени Неприятностей. Теперь они служат Шар.
Знания о кир-лананах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Аркана DC 15: Кир-лананы живут в общинах, которые они называют лежбищами. Однако, поскольку Шар
часто требует, чтобы они работали вместе с другими ее приверженцами, кир-лананов можно встретить в
шарранских анклавах по всему Фаэруну.
Аркана DC 20: Культура кир-лананов основана на кастах. Членов низшей касты называют крыльями.
Элитные крылья, называемые глазами, имеют силы, позволяющие им служить шпионами и убийцами. Через
самую высокую касту, называемую голосами, кир-лананы узнают волю Шар.
Религия DC 20: Первоначально появившись, кир-лананы были вне божественного влияния и ненавидели всех
божеств. Однако, они сформировали временные союзы со служителями злых божественых сил, главным образом
Шар. Многим из кир-лананов нравилась доктрина Шар о всеобщем разложении. Через какое-то время раса
попала под влияние Шар.
Тактика кир-лананов
Кир-лананы предпочитают атаковать с воздуха или с возвышенности, если возможно - из укрытия. Крыло кир-
лананов сначала запускает луч ослабления, а затем раз за разом набрасывается для атаки.
Крыло кир-лананов Уровень 4 налетчик
Средний теневой гуманоид XP 175
Инициатива +7 Чувства Восприятие +6; видение при слабом освещении
ОЖ 52; Кровоточащий 26; см. также некротическое лечение
AC 19; Стойкость 17, Рефлексы 17, Воля 15
Уязвимость 5 сияющий
Скорость 5, полет 8; см. также мобильная рукопашная атака
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию) Некротический
+10 против AC; 1d4+5 урон плюс 1d4 некротический урон.
Р. Мобильная рукопашная атака (стандарт; по желанию) Некротический
Во время полета крыло кир-лананов может переместиться на половину своей скорости и сделать одну базовую рукопашную атаку в любой
точке в течение этого движения. Крыло кир-лананов не вызывает атаки возможности при перемещении от цели своей атаки.
Д. Луч ослабления (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Некротический
Дальность 10; +8 против Рефлексов; 1d6+3 некротический урон, и цель берет -2 штраф на броски атаки (спасбросок заканчивает).
Боевое преимущество
Крыло кир-лананов наносит дополнительный 1d6 урон при атаках против любой цели, против которой имеет боевое преимущество.
Некротическое лечение (немедленная реакция, когда поврежден некротической атакой; столкновение) Лечение
Крыло кир-лананов восстанавливает 13 очков жизни.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Общий, Кир-Ланан
Навыки Скрытность +10
СИЛ 20 (+7) ЛОВ 16 (+5) МУД 9 (+1)
ТЕЛ 12 (+3) ИНТ 10 (+2) ХАР 12 (+3)
Голоса
Голос кир-лананов - контроллер (лидер) 6-го уровня или выше, сосредотачивающийся скорее на Харизме, чем на
Силе. Он может перезаряжать луч ослабления при 4 или выше. У голоса также есть теневая преданность, слово
потери и теневой призыв. Эти три последние силы описаны ниже. Вы можете использовать информацию из
Главы 10 Руководства Ведущего для детализации голоса кир-лананов.
Теневая преданность аура 5; союзники в ауре получают +1 бонус к броскам атаки; теневые союзники в ауре также получают +2 бонус на
броски урона.
Д. Слово потери (стандарт; перезарядка 4 5 6) Психический
Дальность 10; [уровень +5] против Воли; [низкий нормальный] психический урон, и цель ошеломляется до конца следующего хода голоса
кир-лананов.
К. Теневой призыв (стандарт; столкновение) Некротический, Сон
Близкий взрыв 3; [уровень +4] против Воли; [низкий нормальный] некротический урон, и цель падает без сознания (спасбросок
заканчивает).
Группы при столкновениях
У Церкви Шар немного союзников. Шарраны могут найти обильную помощь в Нетериле. Многие злые
существа, особенно таковые Царства Теней, охотно служат или работают с преданными Шар. Ученики Талоны и
Ссета признают в приверженцах Шар родственный дух.
Столкновение 6 уровня (XP 1,400)
- 1 голос кир-лананов (уровень 7 контроллер [лидер])
- 2 монаха Темной Луны (уровень 6 солдат)
- 1 шадар-кай цепной боец (уровень 6 налетчик)
- 2 крыла кир-лананов (уровень 4 налетчик)
ДВОР РОРНА (THE COURT OF RORN)
Сверкающего Рорна Яростного, также называемого Рорном Неистовства, помнят смутно - лишь как имя ужаса в
красочных абейранских легендах. Рассветный Титан (исконный), Рорн неудержимо сверкал ярче солнца, когда
его гнев горел жарче всего. Однако, подобно многим Рассветным Титанам, Рорн утомился мировой войной, и
после того, как Абейр был отделен от Торила, он затих и проспал века.
Теперь Рорн пробуждается, хоть он еще и не полностью обрел сознание. Его уже пробудившиеся
последователи начали работу своего хозяина, разбираясь с меньшими врагами Рассветных Титанов. Тут и там
пропадают и священники, и меньшие драконы. Святые места и сокровищницы драконов таинственно
разрушаются. Короли-драконы и сами боги падут перед яростью Рорн - когда он пробудится.
Знания о Дворе Рорна
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Истории.
DC 25: Сверкающий Рорн Яростный был одним из самых печально известных Рассветных Титанов. Рорн был
известен своей яростью, при которой он убивал богов, экзархов и собратьев-исконных с непревзойденной
свирепостью. Прежде чем Ао соединил миры, Рорн был среди исконных тем, кого боги более всего ненавидели и
боялись. В свою очередь, Рорн отвечал на насилие насилием, на возмущение - яростью и на оскорбление -
злодеянием, будучи рабом своей внутренней ярости.
DC 30: Когда его исконный характер не воспламенялся звездоподобной яростью, Рорн знал благоразумие,
терпимость и компромисс. В такие ясные моменты Рорн объявлял о своем желании быть в мире и с исконными,
и с богами. Однако, Рассветный Титан убил слишком много божественных существ, чтобы Эстелар (боги)
забыли его. Ненависть к Рорну росла, неважно -
бушевал он или отдыхал.
DC 35: После того, как Абейр откололся от Торила, Рорн думал, что его вспышки ярости закончатся. Затем
поднялись драконы, заявив свои права на владение Абейром. Вместо того, чтобы пробуждать свою ярость из-за
предательства драконов, Рорн пожелал изолировать себя и своих служителей, ожидая, пока мир изменится. Он и
существа его двора проспали века, скрытые в самых корнях Фимбрула, в глубоком стасисе, при котором они ни
старились, ни ветшали.
DC 40: Рорн заворочался от шума Синего Дыхания Перемен, когда Абейр и Торил яростно изменяли друг
друга в хаосе, убившем многих исконных и бесчисленное множество меньших существ. За десятилетия он
достиг мобильности и осознания, его сон с каждым проходящим годом становится все беспокойнее. Сейчас
придворные Рорна копошатся под Фимбрулом, готовясь к полному пробуждению своего хозяина.
Организация
В отсутствии прямых команд своего владыки Двор Рорна готовится к захвату Вернувшегося Абейра и, оттуда -
всего мира.
Лидер: Рорн. Однако, великий исконный все еще дремлет на грани неусыпности, судорожно поддерживая
связь со своим двором лишь грезами.
Штаб: Глубочайшие пещеры Фимбрула (страница 208) на Вернувшемся Абейре.
Иерархия: Самые мощные придворные Рорна - мордрины (земные гиганты и земные титаны, измененные и
усиленные Рорном, чтобы служить его чемпионами). Также с грезящим Рорном живут странные существа,
прошедшие сквозь века - хараэворы и свирепые челюсти (первобытные рептилианы, стражи пещер) и
мучительные щупальца (глаза, уши и цепкие пальцы скрытого двора).
Члены: Ниже собственно двора - разросшаяся организация из существ-служителей, шпионов, осведомителей,
культистов и мечей-на-продажу по всему Вернувшемуся Абейру, многие из которых даже знают, кто им в
конечном счете платит. Последователи Рорна действуют и без него, думая о благодарности владыки, когда он
наконец пробудится.
Первый приказ - разобраться с драконами, предполагающими управлять Вернувшимся Абейром. Двор Рорна
стремится уничтожить или поработить по крайней мере меньших из них. Теперь, когда Абейр (или по крайней
мере эта его часть) вновь находится в пределах досягаемости ненавистного Эстелар, богам также придется
противостоять. Пока что двор действует осторожно, выведывая, которые из богов выжили и какие новые боги
ищут прихожан. Обнаружив силы, цели и идеалы богов, Двор Рорна может лучше спланировать их возможное
уничтожение.
Сверкающий Рорн Яростный
Рорн - гигантский драконоголовый хвостатый гуманоид с кожей, структурой и цветом похожей на остывшую
лаву.
Тактика Рорна
Рорн начинает борьбу своей силой земных цепей, затягивая врагов в диапазон своей сверкающей ауры и в
пределы своих рукопашных атак. Он использует малое действие в каждом раунде для повторения этой атаки,
пока необходимо держать врагов в пределах диапазона. Затем он взрывает их доминионом пламени, пока они
лишены любого сопротивления огню. Другим малым действием он хлещет своим хвостом. Он продолжает
атаковать когтем и хвостом, используя доминион пламени всякий раз, когда он доступен, пока не начнет
кровоточить. Будучи в своей Гигантской форме сверкающей звезды, он использует сверкающее действие для
уничтожения сильно поврежденного врага после окончания своего хода.
Сверкающий Рорн Яростный Уровень 33 соло исконный
Огромный элементал гуманоид (земля, огонь) XP 155,000
Инициатива +23 Чувства Восприятие +25; чувство вибраций 100
Сверкающая аура (огонь) аура 10; существа в пределах ауры теряют сопротивление огню. Каждое существо, начинающее свой ход в ауре,
притягивается на 2 квадрата в начале своего хода. Когда Рорн кровоточит, каждое существо, начинающее свой ход в ауре, также получает
20 огненный урон.
ОЖ 1,545; Кровоточащий 772; см. также ярость сжигающих звезд и сверкающее действие
AC 50; Стойкость 51, Рефлексы 45, Воля 48; см. также вулканическая реакция
Иммунитет атаки персонажей ниже 20 уровня; огонь
Спасброски +5; всякий раз, когда атака применяет к Рорну эффект, который может быть закончен спасброском, он делает спасбросок
немедленно. Если он преуспевает, эффект его не затрагивает. Рорн делает спасброски в конце каждого хода как обычно.
Скорость 10, подъем 10; земная прогулка; фаза (только сквозь землю или лаву)
Очки действия 2
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию)
Досягаемость 3; +38 против AC; 3d8+12 урон. Когда Рорн кровоточит, цель также получает продолжающийся 5 огненный урон (спасбросок
заканчивает).
Р. Удар хвостом (малое; по желанию)
Досягаемость 4; +36 против Рефлексов; 2d10+12 урон, и цель сбита наземь. Когда Рорн кровоточит, цель также получает продолжающийся 5
огненный урон (спасбросок заканчивает).
Д. Земные цепи (малое; перезарядка 5 6)
В поле зрения; +36 против Стойкости или Рефлексов; 2d6+13 урон, и цель притянута на 10 квадратов. Летучее существо, пораженное этой
атакой, замедлено (спасбросок заканчивает). Когда Рорн кровоточит, цель также получает продолжающийся 5 огненный урон (спасбросок
заканчивает оба). Проваленный спасбросок: Существо не может летать, и падает, если уже летит (спасбросок заканчивает).
К. Доминион пламени (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Огонь
Близкий взрыв 20; +36 против Рефлексов; 2d8+13 огненный урон, и цель получает продолжающийся 10 огненный урон (спасбросок
заканчивает).
К. Вулканический ответ (немедленная реакция, когда поражен атакой; по желанию) Огонь
Близкий взрыв 2 (взрыв 5, когда Рорн кровточит); +36 против Рефлексов; 2d8+13 огненный урон.
Угрожающая досягаемость
Когда он кровоточит, Рорн может делать атаки возможности против всех существ в пределах своей досягаемости (3 квадрата).
Ярость сжигающих звезд (когда впервые начинает кровоточить; столкновение)
Рорн изменяется в свою форму сверкающей звезды. Его размер увеличивается до Гигантского, и он выталкивает существа в пределах своего
нового места на ближайшие смежные квадраты. Он берет дополнительный ход прямо после хода персонажа, сделавшего его
кровоточащим, а затем вновь занимает свое обычное место в первоначальном порядке. Он остается в своей форме сверкающей звезды до
конца столкновения.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки Все; телепатия 100
Навыки Дипломатия +31, Выносливость +34, Понимание +30, Запугивание +31, Природа +30, Религия +31
СИЛ 35 (+28) ЛОВ 24 (+23) МУД 28 (+25)
ТЕЛ 37 (+29) ИНТ 21 (+21) ХАР 30 (+26)
Свирепые челюсти (Felljaw)
Свирепые челюсти - грифельно-серые, лишенные конечностей бескрылые змеи. Их головы похожи на таковые
драконов, а кожа - на скрепленные каменные плитки.
Знания о свирепых челюстях
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Природы.
DC 25: Старый исследователь глубоких пещер Вернувшегося Абейра когда-то назвал этих существ
"прожорливыми волками Подземья", что в точности описывает безжалостное поведение стаи свирепых
челюстей.
DC 30: Свирепые челюсти - тип драконьего отродья, дикие монстры, созданные отвратительным
скрещиванием драконов и других существ. Их происхождение - смесь дракона (возможно, черного) и огненного
титана.
Свирепые челюсти Уровень 25 солдат
Большая естественная тварь (рептилия) XP 7,000
Инициатива +21 Чувства Восприятие +14; темновидение
ОЖ 250; Кровоточащий 125
AC 41; Стойкость 39, Рефлексы 37, Воля 34
Сопротивление 20 огонь
Скорость 8, подъем 4
Р. Иззубренные клыки (стандарт; по желанию) Огонь
+31 против AC; 1d10+10 урон, и цель получает продолжающийся 10 огненный урон.
Р. Перетягивание (стандарт; по желанию)
Свирепые челюсти делает базовую атаку. Другой свирепые челюсти, смежный с целью, может делать базовую атаку против той же самой
цели, как немедленная реакция. Если обе атаки попадают, цель берет дополнительный 10 урона и захвачена обоими свирепыми
челюстями (пока не спасется).
Р. Разрывающие клыки (малое; по желанию) Огонь
Только захваченная цель; +30 против Стойкости; 2d10+10 урон, и цель получает продолжающийся 10 огненный урон.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 30 (+22) ЛОВ 25 (+19) МУД 14 (+14)
ТЕЛ 26 (+20) ИНТ 2 (+8) ХАР 20 (+17)
Тактика свирепых челюстей
Свирепые челюсти нападают группами по двое или больше, выбирая самого большого и сложного противника.
Пакет старается окружить цель, захватывая его своими слюнявыми челюстями и стараясь разорвать на части.
Капающая магма постоянно опаляет их добычу.
Хараэвор (Haraevor)
Хараэвор похож на 20-футового крокодила с четырьмя одинаковыми шеями и клыкастыми головами, верхней
парой и нижней парой, растущими из массивных плеч.
Знания о хараэворах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Природы.
DC 30: Хараэворы - тип драконьего отродья, дикие монстры, созданные отвратительным скрещением
драконов и других существ. Их происхождение - смесь дракона (возможно, серого) и земного титана.
DC 35: В запрещенном томе Исконные и их служители, изданном культом Ордена Рассвета, хараэворы
описаны как "внезапная, сокрушительная смерть из земли". Это описание намекает на их способность ударять
вторгшихся сквозь сплошной камень.
Хараэвор Уровень 26 элитный скрывающийся
Большая естественная тварь (рептилия) XP 18,000
Инициатива +24; см. также четыре головы Чувства Восприятие +14; чувство вибраций 20
ОЖ 375; Кровоточащий 187
AC 42; Стойкость 42, Рефлексы 39, Воля 37
Уязвимость критические попадания; см. также четыре головы
Спасброски +2
Скорость 8, копание 8
Очки действия 1
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию)
+31 против AC; 1d12+10 урон.
К . Поток укусов (стандарт; по желанию)
Близкий взрыв 2; +30 против AC; 1d12+10 урон.
Первый удар
Хараэвор имеет боевое преимущество против любого существа, которое еще не действовало в столкновении.
Боевое преимущество
Хараэвор наносит дополнительный 3d10 урон атаками против любой цели, против которой имеет боевое преимущество.
Четыре головы
Хараэвор бросает инициативу четыре раза (по разу для каждой из голов) и использует самый высокий результат. Хараэвор теряет голову
всякий раз, когда получает критическое попадание. Если у него не осталось голов, он немедленно умирает. Головы никогда не отрастают
снова.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 30 (+23) ЛОВ 25 (+20) МУД 14 (+15)
ТЕЛ 26 (+21) ИНТ 2 (+9) ХАР 20 (+18)
Тактика хараэвора
Хараэворы широко путешествуют под прикрытием камня и предпочитают начинать атаку, внезапно появляясь из
земли и таким образом получая боевое преимущество. Хараэвор использует поток укусов настолько часто,
насколько возможно, пока не начнет кровоточить, после чего начинает биться более осторожно, перемещаясь в
камень и обратно. Едва заняв выгодную позицию, хараэвор использует свое очко действия для повторения атаки.
Хоть и не слишком сообразительное, существо имеет достаточно понимания, чтобы закопаться в безопасное
место, когда его жизнь в опасности.
Мордрин (Mordrin)
Мордрин - 30-футовое существо из неотесанных, грубо собранных камней, несколько подобное земному титану,
но крупнее. Вокруг него постоянно кружится ореол камней и валунов.
Знания о мордринах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Арканы.
DC 35: Мордрины - старшие из земных титанов, первые, кого сформировали исконные, стремясь обрести
служителей. Они всегда спокойны, даже в боли или при смерти, и незыблемо лояльны Рорну.
Мордрин Уровень 28 элитный зверь
Гигантский элементал гуманоид (земля, гигант) XP 26,000
Инициатива +15 Чувства Восприятие +17; чувство вибраций 20
Ореол камней (земля) аура 2; существо, вступающее в ауру или начинающее в ней свой ход, получает 10 урон.
ОЖ 636; Кровоточащий 318
AC 43; Стойкость 43, Рефлексы 37, Воля 38
Спасброски +2
Скорость 6
Очки действия 1
Р. Хлопок (стандарт; по желанию)
Досягаемость 4; +31 против AC; 3d10+9 урон.
Р. Подкашивающие кулаки (стандарт; по желанию)
Мордрин делает атаку хлопком против двух различных целей в пределах досягаемости.
А. Швыряние камней (стандарт; по желанию)
Область взрыва 1 в пределах 20; +29 против Рефлексов; 2d8+9 урон, и цель ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает).
К. Земной удар (стандарт; столкновение)
Близкий взрыв 2; +30 против Стойкости; 3d10+9 урон, и цель ошеломлена до конца следующего хода мордрина. Промах: Половина урона, и
цель не ошеломлена.
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки Гигантский, Исконный
СИЛ 29 (+23) ЛОВ 12 (+15) МУД 17 (+17)
ТЕЛ 28 (+23) ИНТ 16 (+17) ХАР 19 (+18)
Тактика мордрина
Подобно земному титану, мордрин сбрасывает на противников камни, пока они не сблизятся до рукопашной,
после чего вступают в дело его каменные кулаки. Когда рядом достаточно врагов, он тратит свое очко действия,
чтобы использовать земной удар, ошеломляя их и продолжая разбивать их своим ореолом камней. Мордрины
твердо стоят до последнего, даже когда битва явно проиграна.
Мучительное щупальце (Tentacled Torment)
Мучительное щупальце - летучая черная сфера примерно 10 футов в диаметре, ощетинивающаяся черными
хребтами, вокруг которой "плавает" множество глаз - парящие мерцающие точки света, способные
группироваться, чтобы смотреть на что-либо.
Знания о мучительных щупальцах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Арканы.
DC 35: Древние существа из искривленного семени, мучительные щупальца, как предполагается, были стерты
в Рассветную Эру. Однако, Рорн сохранил несколько их скрытыми подальше, и с тех пор они служили ему.
DC 40: Мучительные щупальца развили естественную связь разума с зайртайлами (страница 280) и иногда
используют этих существ, чтобы шпионить за теми, кто их обучает.
Мучительное щупальце Уровень 29 контроллер
Большая магическая тварь-аберрант XP 15,000
Инициатива +22 Чувства Восприятие +19; темновидение
ОЖ 262; Кровоточащий 131
AC 42; Стойкость 39, Рефлексы 41, Воля 44
Скорость 4, полет 8
Р. Щупальце (стандарт; по желанию)
Досягаемость 4; +32 против Рефлексов; 2d10+8 урон.
Р. Командующее щупальце (стандарт; по желанию) Зачарование, Психический
Досягаемость 4; +32 против Рефлексов; 2d10+11 психический урон, и мучительное щупальце выбирает одну из следующих вторичных атак.
Вторичная атака: +33 против Воли; цель перемещается со своей скоростью подальше от мучительного щупальца.
Вторичная атака: +33 против Воли; цель делает базовую атаку против существа на выбор мучительного щупальца как свободное действие.
Д. Лечащее щупальце (малое; перезарядка) Лечение
Дальность 4; цель излечивает 33 очка жизни.
Невидимость (малое; столкновение) Иллюзия
Мучительное щупальце и до двух его союзников в пределах 20 квадратов становятся невидимыми до конца своего следующего хода.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки понимает Исконный; телепатия 20
СИЛ 18 (+18) ЛОВ 27 (+22) МУД 21 (+19)
ТЕЛ 22 (+20) ИНТ 18 (+18) ХАР 32 (+25)
Тактика мучительного щупальца
Если это возможно, мучительное щупальце предпочитает найти одинокого индивидуума и незримо подкрасться
к нему, а затем использовать командующее щупальце для направления действий существа. Оно заставляет самых
опасных бойцов-рукопашников бежать, принуждая дальнобойные угрозы атаковать своих собственных
союзников.
Оно предпочитает работать с союзниками, способными занять выгодные позиции, будучи невидимыми,
возможно - чтобы украсть важные предметы или документы. Оно использует лечащее щупальце по мере
необходимости, чтобы держать своих союзников здоровыми. Будучи пойманным группой мощных противников,
мучительное щупальце бежит.
Группы при столкновениях
С придворными Рорна главным образом можно столкнуться глубоко под Фимбрулом, но, поскольку они
смелеют, ударная группа может появиться почти где угодно. Когда-нибудь сам Рорн пробудится до
беспрецедентной ярости.
Столкновение 29 уровня (XP 73,000)
- 2 свирепые челюсти (уровень 25 солдат)
- 1 хараэвор (уровень 26 элитный скрывающийся)
- 1 мордрин (уровень 28 элитный зверь)
-1 мучительное щупальце (уровень 29 контроллер)
КУЛЬТ ДРАКОНА (CULT OF THE DRAGON)
Некоторые из вер утверждают, что драконам предназначено править миром, но Культ Дракона доводит такую
веру до крайности: лишь драконы-нежить воистину бессмертны и заслуживают этой роли. Культ помогает
судьбе влиять на то, чтобы драконы стали драколичами, к которым культ относится как к Священным. Культисты
боготворят драконов почти как божественных, и немало драконов приняло предлагаемое культом бессмертие.
Знания о Культе Дракона
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 30: Пол-тысячелетия прошло с тех пор, как Культ Дракона сформировался под руководством
безумного архимага Саммастера. Он собрал последователей, которых привлекало его иллюзорное видение,
пророчившее вечное правление Фаэруном драконами-нежитью. Затем он изложил процесс создания первого
драколича, который записал в своей работе - Томе Дракона. Саммастер мертв, но его зловещее наследие живет.
Мудрость Улиц DC 30: Культу Дракона нужны экзотические товары для исполнения его темных ритуалов, и
это означает, что ему требуются деньги. Таким образом, это настолько же преступная и торговая организация,
наколько и магическая кабалла. Некоторые из его членов - законные торговцы, использующие свои деньги для
финансирования проектов культа. Другие занимаются преступной деятельностью - от торговли с рук до
контрабанды, шантажа, вымогательства и похищений. Некоторые ячейки занимаются открытым бандитизмом и
шпионажем.
Организация
Очень скрытный, Культ Дракона поддерживает свободно связанную сеть автономных ячеек. На его веру и
методы в большинстве цивилизованных областей смотрят с недовольством. Поэтому культ обычно использует
ширмы и обман, чтобы отвлечь внимание от своих реальных целей.
Лидер: У культа нет истинного лидера, но исписанного рунами драколича по имени Анабраксис Черный
Коготь уважают как высший авторитет группы. Анабраксис устраивает логовище в безграничной пропасти
Лоросфир, в Глубинных Пустошах Подземья (страница 220).
Штаб: Самая известная застава культа - Дом Дракона в Мархоме, который по сути является лишь отделением
Башни Когтя (см. страницу 155). У него также есть цитадель в Колодце Драконов (см. ниже). Культ принимает
драконорожденных через свою Академию Вирмов, скрытую в руинах Унталасса в Тимантере. Он также
поддерживает Красный Рог, крупное владение в Горах Хребта Дракона.
Иерархия: Большинство культистов занимают посты, основанные на их целях и целях отдельной ячейки.
Немногие обращаются друг к другу по каким-либо религиозным титулам. Некоторые ячейки не присуждают
никаких титулов, помимо того, что обозначает лидера для всех культистов - Носящий Пурпур. Носящие
Пурпура, называемые так из-за их церемониальных фиолетовых одеяний - лидеры ячеек культа. Чем меньше
ячейка, тем меньше в ней Носящих Пурпур. В некоторых ячейках он всего один. Многим из таких лидеров
известны секреты создания драколича. Они контролируют казначейство ячейки, направляют сбор богатств и
создают магические изделия - все это ради взяток драконам. Если ячейка слишком уменьшается, Носящие
Пурпур проводят вербовку. Они также возглавляют ячейки в битве с врагами.
Члены: Несмотря на желание тайны, Культ Дракона всегда нуждается в новых членах для выполнения своих
планов. Он нанимает большинство их из числа родственников и знакомых нынешних членов. Он также
потихоньку разыскивает идеальные перспективы и терпеливо обихаживает их для инициирования. Культ ищет
способных индивидуумов всех мастей, но предпочитает имеющих талант в финансовой сфере. Выше всего он
ценит тех, кто имеет силу освоить и исполнить ритуалы, требуемые для создания драколича. Он подкупает таких
потенциальных Носящих Пурпур доступом к легендарным работам Саммастера.
Множество культистов присоединяется к организации только ради власти и монет. Другие просто морально
слабы или наслаждаются жуткими ритуалами. Члены, видевшие драколича или являвшиеся свидетелями
создания такового, становятся фанатичными истинными сторонниками.
Колодец Драконов
В каньонах близ Закатных Гор, к северу от Реки Ричинг, есть потухший вулкан, известный как Колодец
Драконов. Легенды гласят, что там было кладбище драконов - место, куда старые драконы уходят умирать. Это
правда.
Культ Дракона нашел Колоцец Драконов и освободил его древнего стража, теневого дракона-нежить.
Несмотря на сопротивление многих фракций, культ построил на этом месте крепость, охраняющую вход в
подземные пустоты, оставшиеся от вулкана. Хотя большинство старых драконов теперь уходят в другие места,
чтоб испустить свой последний вздох, некоторый все еще приходят в Колодец Драконов, чтобы заключить
сделку на бессмертие.
В пределах цитадели и на ее подземных уровнях культ хранил множество сокровищ, оставленных
умирающими драконами. Он также содержит обширную комнату, называемую Палатой Возвышения, где
исполняется ритуал преобразования дракона в драколича. Колодец Драконов плотно охраняется, так как
переносит непрерывные атаки от искателей благосостояния, и от шпионов, и от оскорбленных драконов. Среди
стражей культа выделяются Арсекасликс (женщина взрослый красный дракон), Амнемис (женщина взрослый
черный дракон) и Эникстрикс (мужчина взрослый черный дракон).
Лорд Колодца Драконов - человек, рыцарь смерти Наэргот Лорд Клинка. Равный ему и церемониальный
владыка Колодца Драконов - лич Варго Безликий. Будучи человеком, Варго использовал ритуал для наполнения
себя кровью черного дракона. Его силы сосредоточены на кислоте, и черные драконы Колодца полностью
лояльны ему.
Скованный драколич (Fettered Dracolich)
Культ Дракона уважает драконов и обычно позволяет драколичам, которых создает, сохранить добрую волю. Тем
не менее, иногда у него появляется потребность в драколиче, подвластном желаниям культа. Такое существо
может действовать в качестве агента террора, не требуя награды.
Скованный драколич Уровень 12 соло контроллер
Большая естественная магическая тварь (дракон, нежить) XP 3,500
Инициатива +10 Чувства Восприятие +10; темновидение
ОЖ 620; Кровоточащий 310; см. также кровоточащее дыхание
AC 30; Стойкость 31, Рефлексы 27, Воля 27
Иммунитет болезнь, устрашение, яд; Сопротивление 20 некротический; Уязвимость 10 сияющий
Спасброски +5
Скорость 8, полет 10 (неуклюже)
Очки действия 2
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию)
Досягаемость 2; +18 против AC; 2d6+6 урон. Против ошеломленной цели эта атака наносит дополнительный 2d8 некротический урон.
К . Дыхательное оружие (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Некротический
Близкий взрыв 10; +16 против Рефлексов; 2d8+5 некротический урон, и цель ошеломлена до конца следующего хода скованного драколича.
Промах: Половина урона, и цель не ошеломлена. Попадание или промах: Цель теряет любое некротическое сопротивление, которое имеет
(спасбросок заканчивает).
К. Кровоточащее дыхание (немедленная реакция, когда впервые начинает кровоточить; столкновение)
Оружие дыхания скованного драколича перезаряжается автоматически, и драколич использует его немедленно.
Р. Сумасшедшая плеть (немедленная реакция, когда враг перемещается на позицию замыкания скованного драколича; по желанию)
Досягаемость 2; скованный драколич делает атаку ударом хвоста против врага; +18 против AC; 2d4+6 урон, и цель вытолкнута на 1 квадрат.
К. Ужасное присутствие (стандарт; столкновение) Устрашение
Близкий взрыв 5; цели - враги; +15 против Воли; цель ошеломлена до конца следующего хода скованного драколича. Последействие: Цель
берет -2 штраф на броски атаки до конца столкновения.
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки понимает Общий и Драконий
Навыки Выносливость +16
СИЛ 22 (+12) ЛОВ 18 (+10) Мудрости 9 (+5)
ТЕЛ 20 (+11) ИНТ 9 (+5) ХАР 16 (+9)
Знания о скованных драколичах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Религии.
DC 25: Некоторые ячейки культа занялись захватом молодых драконов и пропусканием их через измененный
ритуал возвышения. Этот ритуал подчиняет волю дракона тому, у кого находится его филактерия, и получается
скованный драколич. Скованный драколич может понимать Общий и Драконий, но неспособен говорить.
DC 30: Интеллект и восприятие скованного драколича уменьшены, но он сохраняет сильную
индивидуальность, стремящуюся вырваться на поверхность. В результате его поведение непредсказуемо и
разрушительно. Если его филактерия возвращается к нему, скованный драколич выходит из рабства. Он
становится стандартным драколичем.
Тактика скованного драколича
Скованный драколич запугивает слабовольных своим ужасным присутствием, а затем рвется в бой, выпуская
свою ярость подобно дикой твари. Он вдыхает сверкающий взрыв некротический энергии всякий раз, когда
может затронуть им более одного врага, иначе набрасываясь зубами и когтями.
Если драколичу удается заполучить свою филактерию, он становится намного более расчетливым и опасным
противником. Вероятно, он будет мстить поработившим его культистам, как только избавится от самых
угрожающих противников.
Группы при столкновениях
Культ наслаждается устрашающим союзом с драконьими существами. Хотя у немногих ячеек в центре
фактически стоит Священный, постоянные дела с культом могут в конечном счете привести и к появлению
драколича.
Некоторый живущие дракону союзничают с культом, заинтересовавшись его философией и силой, и
культисты, стремящиеся нанять живущих драконов, охотно действуют в качестве их агентов. Драконорожденные
в ячейках также обычны, их милитаристские идеалы хорошо сочетаются с идеологией культа.
Культ Дракона не гнушается миньонами и союзниками из среды нежити, и некоторые из Носящих Пурпур
сами являются разумной нежитью.
Столкновение 7 уровня (XP 1,654)
- 1 человек-маг мастер смерти (уровень 4 элитный контроллер)
- 1 скелет (уровень 3 солдат)
- 1 молодой черный дракон (уровень 4 соло скрывающийся)
- 9 человеческая чернь (уровень 2 миньон)
ДРОУ (DROW)
Дроу Фаэруна - бесспорные хозяева Подземья, а также бич поверхностных земель. Их царства простираются по
всему подземному миру, вылезая на поверхность тут и там, словно смертельные грибы. В течение последнего
столетия они были выдавлены из древнего эльфийского доминиона, понесли огромные потери в кампании Лолс
против других божеств дроу и получили удар от Чумы Заклинаний. Но теперь, объединенные под властью Лолс,
дроу - одна из мощнейших угроз в мире.
Знания о дроу
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
DC Строительства Подземелий 20: Центр силы дроу на Фаэруне - царство Подземья Нортдарк, где
находится могучий город Мензоберранзан(страница 228). Также там есть другие крупные поселения дроу, типа
Чед Насада.
История DC 15: Дроу воспользовались Эльфийским Исходом из Леса Кормантор в середине прошлого
столетия. Несколько фракций дроу, среди них Дом Джаэрл и вождь клана Озковин, захватили покинутые
поселения и места, где сопротивление было слабым. Дроу Джаэрла осели в старых эльфийских владениях, в то
время как Озковины были довольны просто бродить по лесистой местности. Илсевел Миритар вытеснила дроу
обратно в Подземье, когда отобрала Миф Драннор, но они остаются проблемой в областях под Миф Драннором
и Долинами.
История DC 20: Тысячелетия назад эльфы-иллитиири начали завоевательную войну, борясь против других
эльфийских стран Фаэруна. В течение этих столкновений иллитиири обратились к силе злых богов, включая
Гонадора и Лолс. В конце концов Селдарин (эльфийские боги) проклял иллитиири и их эльфийских союзников,
сделав солнечный свет болезненным для них. В течение нескольких месяцев, дхаэроу ("предатели" на
Эльфийском) отступили в Подземье, и это было назано Изгнанием.
Даже после Изгнания дроу продолжили войну возмездия для захвата подземных территорий. При этом они
заработали вражду дварфов и других подземных рас. С тех пор дроу распространились по всему Подземью, неся
войну, притеснение и раздор своим соседям и поверхностному миру. Они все еще таят глубокое недовольство
Селдарина, который, как они считают, проклял дроу из ревности к их успешным древним кампаниям.
Религия DC 20: Арошни некогда была супругой Кореллона, Ткачом Судьбы и покровителем всех эльфов,
разделявших ее прекрасные темные черты. Но где-то близ начала зарегистрированной истории она предала
Селдарин и напала на Арвандор при помощи Гонадора и других злорадных божеств. Она проиграла битву и
была сброшена в Абисс, где взяла имя Лолс, Королева Пауков.
Культура дроу
Дроу живут в несправедливом обществе, управляемом матриархальной теократией, посвященной Лолс. Жрицы
Лолс удерживают величайшую власть. Женщины-главы благородных домов, называемые матерями-матронами
или просто матронами, также имеют великое влияние, потому что каждый благородный дом поддерживает свои
собственные вооруженные силы. Зачастую подобный дворянин - жрица Лолс, но это не всегда так.
Закон
Никакой закон реально не управляет дроу. Те, у кого есть сила, делают то, что захотят. Способность дроу
действовать безнаказанно ограничена лишь его способностью бросить вызов тем, кто может пожелать
остановить его. Единственная власть, с которую дроу отказываются пересекаться - Церковь Лолс. Даже эти
жрицы должны обдумывать свои шаги, хоть у них и есть право осудить того, кого они пожелают - нанесение
вреда другому дроу всегда несет с собой риск возмездия.
Сила
Общество дроу ценит страсть и авторитет. Способность накапливать и сохранять персональную силу -
единственная мера ценности для любого дроу. Поэтому поселения дроу полны внутренней борьбы за
господство, чуть скрытой под внешней шелухой.
Покорение слабых и уважение к могучим - социальные нормы дроу. Рабство и злоупотребление также
традиционны. Добавьте к ним нездоровое объединение черной магии и злой религии, включая кровавые жертвы
и якшание с извергами, и получите результат - невообразимо искривленную культуру.
Хотя дроу вступают в союзы, чтобы помочь друг другу в преследовании общих целей, ни один из них
полностью не доверяет другим. Требование помощи от другого сулит проблемами в будущем. Но отказ помочь -
или неудавшаяся попытка помощи - влечет месть или наказание.
Статус
Преимущества рождения помогают некоторым дроу в их голодном до власти обществе. Так как общество дроу
матриархально, женщины ставят свой пол выше мужского. Поскольку при наличии силы легче получить что-
либо, рожденные с более высоким статусом ставят ногу на своих более непритязательных коллег. Но даже
скромные бьются за силу, которую могут заполучить.
Родовые роли - особая проблема среди дроу. Никакому из мужчин не позволяется быть частью духовенства
Лолс, и поэтому от мужчин закрыты верхние ранги культуры. Далее, у женщин в семействе есть власть над
родственниками-мужчинами, а также лучшие возможности, чем у мужчин. Мужчины получают силу
достижениями в военных или магических областях или добиваясь и заполучая нужную женщину.
Роскошь
Дроу любят комфорт и потворствуют своим желаниям при любой возможности. Широко распространены
распущенность и развращенность; обычные развлечения включают кровавый спорт, использование мощных
интоксикантов и пожертвование разумных существ. Дроу берут у слабых то, что хотят, порабощая других
существ, чтобы избежать физической работы, которая им противна.
Драэглот (Draegloth)
Связь Лолс с демонами долго влияла на общество дроу. Дроу эксплуатируют эту злорадную силу ради личных
целей, используя извергов в качестве ударных отрядов, стражей и отвратительных домашних любимчиков.
Драэглоты - извергские существа, рожденные жрицами-дроу.
Драэглот Уровень 13 элитный зверь
Большой элементал гуманоид (демон) XP 1,600
Инициатива +10 Чувства Восприятие +11; темновидение
ОЖ 316; Кровоточащий 158
AC 27; Стойкость 29, Рефлексы 26, Воля 24
Сопротивление переменное 10 (РМ 282)
Спасброски +2
Скорость 6, прыжок 5
Очки действия 1
Р. Когти (стандарт; по желанию)
Досягаемость 2; +16 против AC; 3d6+7 урон; см. также быстрый укус.
Р. Быстрый укус (свободныо когда драэглот-достойная попадает атакой когтем; по желанию)
Досягаемость 2; +16 против AC; 1d6+7 урон.
Р. Подсекающий коготь (стандарт; по желанию)
Драэглот делает атаку когтем; при попадании он может делать другую атаку когтем против другой цели, которая в пределах досягаемости и
смежна с первой целью.
Д. Темный огонь (малое; столкновение) Сияющий
Дальность 10; +14 против Рефлексов; до конца следующего хода драэглота цель дает боевое преимущество для всех атак, и цель не получает
преимуществ от невидимости или укрывательства.
А. Упадок Лолс (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Некротический
Область взрыва 4 в пределах 20; цели - враги; +14 против Воли; 2d6+3 некротический урон, и цель ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает).
Промах: Половина урон, и цели не ошарашиваются.
К. Облако тьмы (малое; столкновение) Зона
Близкий взрыв 1; эта сила создает зону темноты, которая остается на месте до конца следующего хода драэглота. Зона блокирует линию вида
для всех существ, кроме драэглота. Любое существо, полностью находящееся в пределах области (кроме драэглот), ослеплено.
Мировоззрение Хаотически злое Языки Абиссал, Эльфийский
Навыки Религия +12, Скрытность +15
СИЛ 24 (+13) ЛОВ 19 (+10) МУД 10 (+6)
ТЕЛ 18 (+10) ИНТ 12 (+7) ХАР 16 (+9)
Тактика драэглота
Типичный драэглот - порочный боец, любящий кровавую битву. Он предпочитает нападать исподтишка,
используя облако тьмы, чтобы скрыть свое приближение. Оставаясь посреди своих противников, он сечет их
своими когтями и клыками. Под давлением он использует упадок Лолс для создания взрыва черных
паукообразных пятнышек энергии, сосредоточенного на себе, карающих любого, кто смеет на него напасть. Он
может воспользоваться преимуществом этой силы, чтобы прикрыть свое отступление.
Драэглот достойная Уровень 16 элитный контроллер
Большой элементал гуманоид (демон) XP 2,800
Инициатива +12 Чувства Восприятие +21; темновидение
ОЖ 308; Кровоточащий 154
AC 32; Стойкость 30, Рефлексы 28, Воля 32
Сопротивление переменное 10 (РМ 282)
Спасброски +2
Скорость 6, прыжок 5
Очки действия 1
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию)
Досягаемость 2; +22 против AC; 2d6+6 урон; см. также быстрый укус.
Д. Луч наказания (стандарт; по желанию) Некротический
Дальность 10; драэглот-достойная атакует две цели; +20 против Рефлексов; 2d6+4 некротический урон, и цель ошарашивается (спасбросок
заканчивает).
Р. Быстрый укус (свободныо когда драэглот-достойная попадает атакой когтем; по желанию)
Досягаемость 2; +20 против AC; 1d6+6 урон.
Д. Темный огонь (малое; столкновение) Сияющий
Дальность 10; +20 против Рефлексов; до конца следующего хода драэглота цель дает боевое преимущество для всех атак, и цель не получает
преимуществ от невидимости или укрывательства.
А. Упадок Лолс (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Некротический
Область взрыва 4 в пределах 20; цели - враги; +18 против Воли; 2d6+3 некротический урон, и цель ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает).
Промах: Половина урон, и цели не ошарашиваются.
А. Затемнение (стандарт; ежедневно) Некротический, Зона
Область взрыва 5 в пределах 10; воздействует на существ без темновидения в области: +20 против Воли; 1d4+8 некротический урон, и цель
ослеплена (спасбросок заканчивает). Эта сила создает зону темноты, которая остается на месте до конца следующего хода достойной.
Мировоззрение Хаотически злое Языки Абиссал, Эльфийский
Навыки Религия +14, Скрытность +17
СИЛ 22 (+14) ЛОВ 19 (+12) МУД 26 (+16)
ТЕЛ 18 (+12) ИНТ 12 (+9) ХАР 16 (+11)
Тактика драэглота-достойной
Хотя ее оберегают больше, чем обычного драэглота, достойная не уклоняется от битвы. Ей приятно оставаться
вне рукопашной, за рядами солдат-дроу, и использовать скорее не когти, а свой луч наказания и другие
дальнобойные силы. Упадок Лолс - ее открытие, и она использует его при любой возможности. Затемнение -
совершенная уловка для середины боя, сбивающая с толку противников, решивших, что они преодолели темноту
дроу.
Абисская ярость
Некоторые очень мощные драэглоты могут проявлять силу Абисса, призвая демоническую ярость. Такие
продвинутые драэглоты имеют силу абисская ярость, описанную ниже.
Абисская ярость (немедленная реакция, когда впервые начинает кровоточить; столкновение)
Драэглот тратит лечащую волну и восстанавливает четверть своих максимальных очков жизни. На остальную часть столкновения драэглот
берет -2 штраф ко всем защитам, и урон, наносимый его атакой когтем, равняется его модификатору Силы при промахе.
Достойные редко развивают эту способность - они предпочитают грубой силе темную магию.
Знания о драэглотах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Арканы.
DC 15: Некоторые из преданных Лолс, особенно свежепосвященное духовенство, исполняют ритуал,
позволяющий спаривание с демоном. В редких случаях Лолс благословляет безобразный союз, и жрица позже
рождает драэглота.
DC 20: Драэглоты одобрены Лолс, и развращенная культура дроу всеми способами потворствует их желаниям.
Хоть они и не должны есть, они любят пировать плотью живущих жертв. Драэглот обычно остается со своей
матерью и следует ее приказам. Однако, подобно своей семье-дроу, он не смущается в определенный момент
совершить предательство, чтобы избежать потери своего привилегированного положения.
DC 25: Изредка рожадется драэглот-женщина с лучшими умственными способностями, чем у других
представителей его вида. За такой "достойной" ухаживают, чтобы она стала жрицей, физически реализуя идеалы
Лолс.
Бреган Д'аэрт
Наемники, не относящиеся ни к одному из домов, но все же достаточно мощные, чтобы наслаждаться
процветанием и льготой матрон, дроу Бреган Д'аэрт занимают уникальное положение в Подземье.
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Мудрости Улиц.
DC 30: Наемники и убийцы Бреган Д'аэрт - джокер в политике дроу, внешне неосязаемый класс мечей-на-
продажу. У группы есть заставы в поселениях Подземья по всему северному и западному Фаэруну. Ее членов
можно найти за работой в поверхностных интересах в западных землях от Луруара до Тетира и на северо-восток
аж до Импилтура.
Организация
Бреган Д'аэрт порождена в городе Мензоберранзан. Ее основатель, Джарлаксл Бэнр, ловко распространил свою
философию по другим городам дроу, и теперь его общество, когда-то насчитывавшее всего несколько сотен,
сейчас имеет более тысячи членов. Немногие из дроу собираются идти против Бреган Д'аэрт, потому что на
организацию есть спрос - особенно в деле сборе информации из Подземья и поверхностного мира.
В найме наемников Бреган Д'аэрт также есть свой риск. Как и можно ожидать в организации дроу, контракт
достается лицу, предложившему самую высокую цену - зачастую покровителю, предлагающему группе самое
большое преимущество. Силы Бреган Д'аэрт переходили с одной стороны на другую уже не в одном бою, или
играли на обе стороны, уничтожая и тех, и других.
Лидер: В конечном счете Джарлаксл, но его доверенный лейтенант Киммуриэл Облодра управляет
организацией в течение частых и длинных отсутствий Джарлаксла.
Штаб: Мензоберранзан.
Иерархия: Самый квалифицированный, харизматичный и проницательный из местных членов управляет
определенной ячейкой Бреган Д'аэрт, хотя есть и исключения.
Члены: Хорошо оснащенные и квалифицированные дроу из павших домов, включая нескольких лишившихся
своих прав жриц, формируют кадры Бреган Д'аэрт, посвященные профессиональной солдатской деятельности и
взаимозащите. Как известно, Бреган Д'аэрт принимает отдельных дроу, квалифицированных в любом виде
боевых методов. Однако, группа не проводит активных усилий по вербовке.
Джарлаксл и Бреган Д'аэрт имеют контакты в поверхностных городах типа Уотердипа, Врат Балдура, Аскатлы
и Дарромара, а также в Мулмастере и Лирабаре. Несколько гильдий преступного мира даже считают Бреган
Д'аэрт своим союзником. С помощью этих связей Джарлаксл и его последователи расширяют свое влияние и
становятся все богаче.
Джарлаксл Бэнр
Бреган Д'аэрт видит в любезном Джарлаксле свое высшее вдохновение. Сам дроу надменен и нахален, обладая
талантами, поддерживающими его готовность нагло презирать традиции дроу. Джарлаксл давит на шутливое
поведение, улыбаясь и подшучивая больше, чем любой дроу. Он одевается чрезмерно пышно и даже носит
ненужную ему повязку на глазу, которую по своему желанию повязывает то на один глаз, то на другой.
Специалист по выживанию, Джарлаксл словно всегда стоит на верной стороне любой договоренности, даже
имея дело с церковью Лолс. Он балуется удовольствиями жизни при любой возможности. Битва не уменьшает
его веселых манер, но Джарлаксл смертелен и жесток со своими врагами. Даже в этом случае дроу делает то, что
необходимо для гарантий его длительного существования.
Джарлаксл Бэнр Уровень 21 элитный налетчик
Средний фей гуманоид XP 6,400
Инициатива +21 Чувства Восприятие +23; темновидение
ОЖ 392; Кровоточащий 196
AC 39; Стойкость 34, Рефлексы 38, Воля 35
Спасброски +2
Скорость 8
Очки действия 1
Р. Рапира (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+27 против AC; 1d8+14 урон (1d8+20 против кровоточащих целей) (крит 5d6+22, или 5d6+27 против кровоточащих целей).
Р. Кинжал (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+26 против AC; 1d4+13 урон
Д. Брошенный кинжал (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Дальнобойная 5/10; +26 против AC; 1d4+13 урон.
Р. Ловкий фехтовальщик (стандарт; по желанию) Некротический, Оружие
Джарлаксл делает одну атаку рапирой и одну - рукопашную кинжалом. Если обе атаки поражают одну и ту же цель, эта цель ошарашивается
до конца следующего хода Джарлаксла.
Р. Показное разоружение (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Оружие
+27 против Рефлексов; 3d8+14 урон, и цель выпускает одно оружие, которое держит. Оно отбрасывается в квадрат на выбор Джарлаксла до 6
квадратов вдаль.
Д. Темный огонь (малое; столкновение) Сияющий
Дальность 10; +24 против Рефлексов; до конца следующего хода Джарлаксла цель дает боевое преимущество для всех атак, и цель не
получает преимуществ от невидимости или укрывательства.
К .Облако тьмы (малое; столкновение)
Близкий взрыв 1; эта сила создает зону темноты, которая остается на месте до конца следующего хода Джарлаксла. Зона блокирует линию
вида для всех существ, кроме Джарлаксла. Любое существо, полностью находящееся в пределах области (кроме Джарлаксла), ослеплено.
К. Капюшон дурачества (немедленная реакция, когда поражен атакой; ежедневно) Телепортация
Джарлаксл телепортируется до 5 квадратов, и до конца своего следующего хода он получает боевое преимущество против нападавшего.
Джарлаксл получае от этой атаки половину урона.
Кружение уклонения (немедленное прерывание, когда поражен рукопашной атакой; столкновение)
Джарлаксл смещается до 6 квадратов.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Абиссал, Эльфийский
Навыки Акробатика +26, Атлетика +18, Блеф +21, Дипломатия +21, Запугивание +23, Понимание +23, Скрытность +21
СИЛ 16 (+13) ЛОВ 28 (+19) МУД 17 (+13)
ТЕЛ 20 (+15) ИНТ 18 (+14) ХАР 23 (+16)
Оснащение +4 капюшон дурачества, глазная повязка проницательности (+5 Понимание и Восприятие), удобная шляпа удержания
(действует как удобный рюкзак), рапира, 4 кинжала
Тактика
Джарлаксл в бою подвижен, танцуя вокруг противников и проворно выбрасывая руку то с одним, то с другим
своим устрашающим клинком. Он держится поблизости от большинства врагов, используя свои дальнобойные
атаки против неуловимых или слишком серьезных противников. Он использует свой капюшон дурачества,
только если думает, что угроза это оправдывает. Всегда находчивый, он носит специализированные магические
изделия (сверх тех, что перечислены в блоке его статистики) на определенные миссии.
Группы при столкновениях
Темных эльфов Торила справедливо боятся за порочные атаки, которые они устраивают из Подземья.
Столкновение 14 уровня (XP 5,100)
- 1 священник дроу (уровень 15 контроллер [лидер])
- 1 драэглот (уровень 13 элитный зверь)
- 1 арахномант дроу (уровень 13 артиллерия [лидер])
- 3 клинковый паук (уровень 10 зверь)
ВОЗВЫШЕНИЕ АРАУНТА (EMINENCE OF ARAUNT)
Возвышение Араунта - обширное королевство мертвых, граждане которого по всему Вернувшемуся Абейру (и
теперь - Фаэруну) связаны не географией, а общим идеалом. Возвышение полагает, что каждый королевский
склеп и каждый забытый уголок мира, где нежить все еще служит давно ушедшим хозяевам - фактически
княжество Араунта. Иногда грабители гробниц замечают символ Возвышения (три вертикальных разреза) и
удивляются - что бы это могло значить, но немногие когда-либо узнают правду.
Знания о Возвышении Араунта
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 30: Более пяти сотен лет протекло с тех пор, когда существо-нежить по имени Лод "основало"
первое княжество Араунта в эскорнарской гробнице дракона. Лод, костяная нага, записал трактат на каменных
скрижалях, названных Кодексом Араунта, в котором пророчил, что с медленным ходом столетий его
королевство будет расширяться.
Аркана DC 35: Ритуалы, написанные в Кодексе Араунта, могут связывать широко разбросанные места
захоронений и мавзолеи, создавая портальную тропу, невидимую для тех, кто не присягнул организации. Кодекс
содержит и другие ритуалы - для создания нежити из духов мертвых воинов, освобождаения нежити-стражей от
их оков и усиления нежити полезными способностями. Перешептываются, что неизвестные ритуалы
предоставляют блага нежити и повергают в упадок живущих.
Мудрость Улиц DC 30: Стражи-нежить занимают в Возвышении Араунта ключевые посты. Ужасные шлемы
или думсепты почти наверняка служат секретному королевству мертвых.
Мудрость Улиц DC 35: Возвышение Араунта в последнее время начало собирать живущих гуманоидов в
качестве агентов своего темного безземельного королевства. Возвышение использует тех, кто все еще жив, как
шпионов, торговых агентов и поставщиков экзотических товаров, требуемых для ритуалов по связыванию еще
большего количества гробниц.
Мудрость Улиц DC 40: Возвышение не дружит с другими группами, культами или странами нежити. Оно
господствует на Абейре, но в течение последнего десятилетия вступило в контакт с Фаэруном. Теперь Араунт
знает о таких группах, как Искривленная Руна, Культ Дракона и Тэй. С тех пор секретное королевство начало
медленную кампанию по втягиванию в Араунт их всех - даже Тэй. Было уже несколько стычек.
Организация
Таинственное Возвышение Араунта существует через свою сеть портальных троп, называемых путями смерти,
скрытых для всех, кроме нежити, присягнувшей королевству. Немногие из живущих имеют хотя бы
представление об организации, хотя некоторые, присягнувшие Араунту, могут проходить через эти порталы.
Возвышение распространяется через кладбища и гробницы незримо, словно болезнь, а затем запланированно
развивается и устраивает набеги.
Лидер: Возвышение полагает, что все члены равны. Но даже среди равных некоторые из граждан выделяются,
типа самого Лода, а также Меремот (ламия-нежити).
Штаб: Возвышение скрывается на ровном месте, в катакомбах Норнгласта в Эскорне (см. страницу 206).
Норнгласт уже обладает репутацией "управляемого привидениями", хотя те, кто говорят об этом между делом,
не знают, что это так и есть.
В катакомбах Норнгласта Лод и Меремот содержат двор на костяном дворе в сотни футов шириной, на
перекрестке нескольких дюжин путей смерти.
Иерархия: Несмотря на равенство членов, некоторые в пределах Араунта являются однозначными
служителями других. Ужасные шлемы связаны с королевством ритуалом их создания, и они посвящены охране
его путей смерти и рассеянных княжеств.
Члены: Истинные слены Возвышения Араунта включают в себя большинство нежити, особенно - ужасных
шлемов и думсептов. Эгоцентричная и решительная нежить, особенно вампиры и личи, редко присоединяется к
Возвышению или остается в нем. Те, кто остаются в его рядах, в общем стремятся управлять секретным
королевством для своих собственных целей, и когда такая деятельность обнаруживается, их вышвыривают.
Ужасный шлем (Direhelm)
Ужасные шлемы - стражи-нежить, которых можно встретить в широком разнообразии в пустующих
разрушенные местах Вернувшегося Абейра. Похожие на летучую верхнюю половину пустого пластинчатого
доспеха, ужасные шлемы скользят по воздуху, размахивая своим оружием в смертельной тишине.
Знания об ужасных шлемах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Арканы.
DC 30: Ужасные шлемы созданы при помощи ритуала из Кодекса Араунта с применением могильной грязи из
гробниц воинов, павших в битве. Ужасные шлемы, созданные этим ритуалом, автоматически связаны с
Возвышением Араунта и с целями секретного королевства.
Ужасный шлем Уровень 15 солдат
Средний теневой гуманоид (нежить) XP 1,200
Инициатива +14 Чувства Восприятие +8; см. также пронзающий взгляд
ОЖ 148; Кровоточащий 74; см. также гробовой удар
AC 31; Стойкость 29, Рефлексы 27, Воля 24
Иммунитет болезнь, яд; Сопротивление 15 некротический; Уязвимость 10 сияющий
Скорость полет 6 (парение)
Р. Длинный меч (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+22 против AC; 2d8+7 урон.
К. Гробовой удар (стандарт; перезарядка, когда начинает кровоточить) Некротический, Оружие
Близкий взрыв 1; +22 против AC; 1d10+7 некротический урон, и цель сбита наземь.
Пронзающий взгляд (малое; перезарядка)
Ужасный шлем получает истинное видение 10 и игнорирует укрывательство до конца своего текущего хода.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки -
СИЛ 25 (+14) ЛОВ 20 (+12) МУД 13 (+8)
ТЕЛ 20 (+12) ИНТ 9 (+6) ХАР 15 (+9)
Оснащение 2 длинных меча
Тактика ужасного шлема
Ужасный шлем бьется прямолинейно. Он сближается для рукопашной и использует гробовой удар, как только
окажется смежным с несколькими врагами. Затем он ударяет по ближайшей сбитой наземь цели, нападая до тех
пор, пока враг не будет выведен из строя, а затем переключается на другого. Он бьется насмерть, вновь
используя гробовой удар, когда начинает кровоточить.
Думсепт (Doomsept)
Думсепт - спектральная светящаяся нежить, составляемая из нескольких духов. Они выглядят как безмолвные,
леденяще-холодные прозрачные образы людей-воинов, держащих призрачное оружие в разнообразных позах.
Знания о думсептах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Арканы.
DC 30: Думсепт - семикратный дух, созданный одним из ритуалов Кодекса Араунта. Каждый из духов
обеспечивает существу целиком некоторую маленькую уникальную способность.
DC 35: Легенды гласят, что если назвать имя одного или нескольких его духов, думсепт прекратит любую
деятельность. Названный дух поднимается на поверхность и отвечает на вопросы, как будто под воздействием
ритуала Говорить с мертвым (тот, кто задает вопросы, должен делать проверку Акрканы, как и при исполнении
ритуала). Как только на все вопросы даны ответы, дух вновь вливается в думсепта, который атакует задававшего
вопросы с удвоенной яростью.
Тактика думсепта
Думсепт проскакивает мимо врагов, ударяя и перемещаясь сквозь них и никогда не оставаясь на одном месте.
Он использует многократный удар при любой возможности, всякий раз приспосабливая свою позицию для
максимальной выгоды и замыкания.
Думсепт Уровень 16 налетчик
Средний теневой гуманоид (нежить) XP 1,400
Инициатива +17 Чувства Восприятие +10; темновидение
ОЖ 108; Кровоточащий 54
AC 28; Стойкость 28, Рефлексы 29, Воля 24
Иммунитет болезнь, яд; Сопротивление 15 некротический, иллюзорный; Уязвимость 10 сияющий
Скорость полет 7 (парение); фаза
Р. Эфемерный меч (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+21 против AC; 2d8+7 урон.
К. Многократный удар (стандарт; перезарядка 6) Оружие
Близкий взрыв 3; цели - три врага в области; +20 против AC; 1d10+7 урон. Думсепт смещается на 2 квадрата за каждую успешную атаку.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки -
СИЛ 22 (+14) ЛОВ 24 (+15) МУД 14 (+10)
ТЕЛ 18 (+12) ИНТ 12 (+9) ХАР 15 (+10)
Группы при столкновениях
Разбойничья партия Возвышения Араунта включает одного или нескольких интеллектуальных лидеров-нежить,
поддерживаемых ужасными шлемами или думсептами. Иногда партию возглавялет живой командир.
Столкновение 16 уровня (XP 7,000)
- 2 ужасных шлема (уровень 15 солдат)
- 1 думсепт (уровень 16 налетчик)
- 1 человек-боец рыцарь смерти (уровень 17 элитный солдат)
ПЯТЬ КОМПАНИЙ (THE FIVE COMPANIES)
Великая Халруаа пала, но ее наследие живет в пяти бандах бродячих наемников, контрабандистов, торговцев и
пиратов. У каждой из них есть магическое транспортное средство, известное как небесный корабль. В тавернах
болтают, что каждая из компаний сформировалась вокруг волшебника, сбежавшего из Халруаа.
История DC 30: Истории, рассказываемые большинством, не совсем точны. Перед Годом Синего Огня
лизардфолкам Ретилда были переданы три небесных корабли - по одному от торговых домов трех халруанских
городков. Предполагалось, что король-ящер Чассис использовал суда для изведения Кринти Дамбрата и пиратов
на Великом Море.
После разрушения Халруаа волшебники, убегающие из Маэрухала вместе со своими немногочисленными
небесными кораблями, наткнулись на пиратскую базу Яуланза. Халруанский маг-ренегат защитил приют пиратов
мощной магией, но обереги во время Чумы Заклинаний взбесились, разрушив городок и превратив часть его в
земной мотылек. В скоротечном столкновении беженцы-халруанцы отобрали мотылек Яуланзы и заключили
соглашение с оставшимися там пиратами. Между делом они узнали о небесных кораблях Чассиса и затем
вырвали их из лап лизардфолков.
В конце концов у народа Яуланзы оказалось пять рабочих небесных кораблей и маленькое, хорошо
защищенное поселение. Для взаимозащиты они заключили Договор Яуланзы. Со своих сторон они
намереваются ручаться за выживание, и в конечном счете родились Пять Компаний.
Небесные корабли
Небесные корабли Пяти Компаний напоминают обычные мореходные корабли, полностью управляемые тремя
мачтами и парусами. У них есть две панели с каждого борта, которые можно развернуть для управления и
стабилизации, а также широкое днище, позволяющее им приземляться на плоской поверхности без
повреждений.
Магия позволяет им подниматься или опускаться в воздухе, но они могут и плавать по морям. В любом
случае: для перемещения они полагаются на ветер. Пока есть магия, небесный корабль не будет падать с небес
или тонуть.
Компании
Потомки тех, кто почти столетие назад заключил Договор Яуланзы, управляют Пятью Компаниями как
независимыми, но союзническими группами. Будучи наследниками халруанской магии, наемники насчитывают
большое количество волшебников. Наемные небесные корабли часто обеспечивают дальнюю поддержку с
воздуха или другие магические услуги.
Компания Без
Арканный бой - специальность Компании Без. Марисс Без - нынешний капитан Шторма Мести, небесного
корабля компании, известного своими палящими воздушными штурмовками. Судно повернуло течение далеко
не одной битвы.
Компания Эрроуд
Компания Эрроуд более других ориентирована на сервис. Ее волшебники исполненяют ритуалы и предлагают
другие магические услуги, особенно в области сдерживания, контрабанды и быстрой транспортировки. Щит
Савраса - небесный корабль компании - знаменит тем, что появляется именно тогда, когда он нужен. Его
капитан, Джоррз Эрроуд, обладает великой пророческой силой.
Компания Флурриг
Хоть она и участвует в войне за прибыль, Компания Флурриг поддерживает более строгую контрактную
политику, чем ее товарищи. Капитан Ианджо Штон, потомок благородного халруанского рода Флурриг,
предпочитает высокую мораль. Хотя, это не подразумевает, что ему и команде Ламассу не приходилось бывать
по другую сторону закона.
Компания Тундаг
Лучшие солдаты Пяти Компаний принадлежат Компании Тундаг, смеси дварфов и людей, первыми
придумавших идею наемного оснащения. Корабль Тундаг, Громовой Молот, летает под командованием дварфа
Куркара Рандреда.
Компания Ярго
Видное семейство халфлингов, происходящее от печально известного Пиратского Короля Ярго из старой
Яуланзы, все еще возглавляет Компанию Ярго. Компания берется за все виды работ, и ее члены не отказываются
за хорошую цену проливать кровь. Слеза Пирата, небесный корабль под командованием Шил Ярго, занимался
пиратством и в небе, и на море.
Капитан Шил Ярго Уровень 11 элитный налетчик
Маленький естественный гуманоид, халфлинг XP 1,200
Инициатива +13 Чувства Восприятие +11
ОЖ 224; Кровоточащий 112
AC 27 (29 против атак возможности); Стойкость 23, Рефлексы 26, Воля 23
Спасброски +2 (+7 против эффектов устрашения)
Скорость 6; см. также бросок по палубе
Очки действия 1
Р. Кинжал (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+16 против AC; 1d4+8 урон (крит 2d6+12, или 2d8+12, если Шил имеет боевое преимущество против цели).
Д. Кинжал (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Дальнобойная 5/10; +16 против AC; 1d4+8 урон.
Р. Глубокий удар (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+16 против AC; 2d4+8 урон, и цель ошарашивается до конца следующего хода Шил.
Р. Кружащиеся ножи (стандарт; столкновение) Оружие
Шил делает три базовых рукопашных атаки. Она может смещаться на 1 квадрат перед или после каждой из атак.
Р. Бедрорез (стандарт; перезарядка) Оружие
Шил делает две базовых рукопашных атаки. Если любая из них попадает, цель также замедлена (спасбросок заканчивает); если обе
поражают одну и ту же цель, она также сбита наземь. Шил может смещаться на 1 квадрат перед или после каждой из атак.
Бросок по палубе (малое; столкновение)
Шил смещается на 3 квадрата.
Боевое преимущество
Шил наносит дополнительный 2d8 урон при рукопашных атаках против любой цели, против которой она имеет боевое преимущество.
Второй шанс (немедленное прерывание, когда поражена атакой; столкновение)
Шил вынуждает нападавшего перебрасываеть атаку и использовать новый ее результат.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки Общий, Халруанский
Навыки Атлетика +13, Блеф +15, Понимание +11, Скрытность +16, Воровство +18
СИЛ 13 (+6) ЛОВ 22 (+11) МУД 12 (+6)
ТЕЛ 16 (+8) ИНТ 10 (+5) ХАР 20 (+10)
Оснащение кожаный доспех, 2 кинжала
Тактика
Шил бесстрашно мчится в бой с двумя длинными тонкими ножами. Она полагается на занятие выгодной
позиции и использует глубокий удар для ее удержания. Шил предпочла бы умереть или уничтожить свой
корабль, чем позволить ему попасть в чьи-либо руки.
Яуланза
Мотылек Пяти
Летучая крепость, население 400
Яуланза - цитадель и торговый центр, высеченный в прибрежной скале высокомагического земного мотылька,
ранее - части побережья Халруаа. Цитадель, состоящая из пяти башен и центральной твердыни, возвышается
над центральной площадью деревни - по одной башне для каждой из Пяти Компаний, центральная твердыня -
для Дома Джордайн (см. ниже). В поселении еще есть склады и владения торговцев, а также дома граждан.
Старые морские пещеры и выкопанные пиратские укрытия пронизывают мотылек.
Правительство: Правление Яуланзы - орган, известный как Совет Договора, сформированный из ранговых
членов каждой из компаний, представителей торговцев деревни и единственного члена Дома Джордайн. Все
дела совета ведутся на Халруанском языке, который в большинстве своем мертв вне этого анклава.
Защита: Лучшая защита Яуланзы - ее мобильность. Мотылек медленно плывет в любом направлении на
выбор Совета Договора. В критическом положении мотылек может временно перемахнуть в Астральное Море.
Торговля: Яуланза работает отдельно от Пяти Компаний. Городок воистину поддерживает свой статус
нейтральной земли и торгового центра, приветствуя всех, кто уважает его принципы. Он даже предоставляет
транспортировку с земли и обратно, когда открыт для торговли. Мотылек Пяти обычно долгожданен в
фаэрунских странах, хотя он уважает закрытые границы и держится подальше от враждебных территорий типа
Нетерила и Тэя.
Дом Джордайн
Эта группа занимает центр колесообразной крепости, царящей над Яуланзой. Членов дома не интересуют дела
Пяти Компаний. Они живут для гарантий безопасности Яуланзы, и член-Джордайн в Совете Договора лишь
ведет обсуждение, но никогда не голосует - кроме случаев ничьей.
Штурмовики Джордайнов, эксперты рукопашного боя и методов защиты - полиция Мотылька Пяти. Они
высококвалифицированны в наблюдении и памяти, и у них есть сверхъествественная способность
перенаправлять нацеленные на них атаки. Они исполняют волю Совета Договора против противников Яуланзы и
налагают правление закона даже среди Пяти Компаний.
Тактика штурмовика Джордайнов
Навыки штурмовика Джордайнов полезны не только при переговорах, но также и позволяют ему предугадывать
движения врага и создавать возможности в бою. Перед боем и даже во время его штурмовик предлагает врагам
шанс сдаться и пытается вывести противников из строя ошеломляющими эффектами. Однако, штурмовик не
отказывается использовать силу и использует узнанное при любой возможности.
Штурмовик Джордайнов Уровень 7 элитный солдат
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек XP 600
Инициатива +10 Чувства Восприятие +13
ОЖ 164; Кровоточащий 82
AC 24; Стойкость 19, Рефлексы 20, Воля 20; см. также перенаправление атаки и рефлекторное уклонение
Спасброски +2
Скорость 7
Очки действия 1
Р. Невооруженный удар (стандарт; по желанию)
+12 против AC; 1d8+5 урон, и цель вытолкнута на 1 квадрат.
Р. Головокружительные удары (стандарт; по желанию)
Штурмовик Джордайнов делает две базовых рукопашных атаки. Если обе они поражают одну и ту же цель, эта цель также ошарашена
(спасбросок заканчивает).
Боевое исследование (малое; перезарядка 4 5 6)
Штурмовик Джордайнов получает +2 бонус ко всем защитам и к проверкам Восприятия до конца своего следующего хода.
Р. Использование узнанного (стандарт; перезарядка после использований штурмовиком исследования битвы) Оружие
+12 против AC; 1d8 +5 урон, и цель сбита наземь.
Перенаправление атаки (немедленная реакция, когда промахивается рукопашная или дальнобойная атака; перезарядка при перемещении
штурмовика)
Штурмовик Джордайнов перенаправляет атаку на смежного врага, кроме сделавшего атаку (если промахивается рукопашная атака) или на
врага в пределах 3 квадратов (если промахивается дальнобойная атака). Существо, атака которого вызвала эту силу, делает новый бросок
атаки с использованием той же самой атаки для определения успеха перенаправленной атаки.
Боевое преимущество
Штурмовик Джордайнов наносит дополнительный 1d6 урон при рукопашных атаках против любой цели, против которой он имеет боевое
преимущество.
Рефлекторное уклонение
Атака вплотную или по области, которая нанесла бы половину урона при промахе, не наносит штурмовику Джордайнов никакого урона,
если промахивается. Кроме того, нападавший получает 5 урон того же типа, что наносит атака.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки Общий, Драконий, Халруанский
Навыки Акробатика +13, Атлетика +9, Понимание +13
СИЛ 13 (+4) ЛОВ 21 (+8) МУД 20 (+8)
ТЕЛ 18 (+7) ИНТ 14 (+5) ХАР 16 (+6)
Группы при столкновениях
Патрули Джордайнов обычны в залах цитадели Совета Договора.
Столкновение 6 уровня (XP 1,475)
- 1 штурмовик Джордайнов (уровень 7 элитный солдат)
- 1 человек-маг (продвинутый; уровень 6 контроллер)
- 1 халфлинг-бродяга (уровень 6 скрывающийся)
- 5 человек-лакеев (уровень 7 миньон)
ГИББЕРЛИНГ (GIBBERLING)
Голодные гибберлинги собираются в визжащие орды, наводняющие Подземье.
Знания о гибберлингах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Строительства Подземелий.
DC 10: Гибберлинги - любящие темноту существа, зимующие под землей. Пробудившись, они собираются и
охотятся огромными стаями.
DC 15: За пределами Подземья гибберлинги в течение дня зарываются в землю. Существа в это время
уязвимы, но они пробуждаются, если атакованы, или с приходом сумерек. Разбуженные, они появляются
одновременно и продолжают свое буйство, двигаясь медленно, если есть дневной свет.
DC 20: Измененные чумой гибберлинги не имеют никакой близости к своей обычной семье, пожирая родичей
столь же рьяно, как и любую другую добычу.
Стая гибберлингов Уровень 1 зверь
Средний естественный гуманоид (рой) XP 100
Инициатива +2 Чувства Восприятие +3; темновидение
Гибберлинг аура 10; враги в ауре берут -1 штраф ко всем защитам. Гибберлинги не могут удивлять существ, которые не оглушены.
Атака роя аура 1; стая гибберлингов делает базовую атаку как свободное действие против каждого врага, который начинает свой ход в ауре.
ОЖ 32; Кровоточащий 16
AC 13; Стойкость 13; Рефлексы 15; Воля 11
ИммунитетАтака роя аура 1; стая измененных чумой гибберлингов делает базовую атаку как свободное действие против каждого врага,
который начинает свой ход в ауре
Иммунитет зачарование, устрашение Сопротивление половина урона от рукопашной и дальнобойной атак; Уязвимость +5 урон от атаки
вплотную и по области
Скорость 6 (Если стая гибберлингов получает сияющий урон, она замедлена до конца следующего хода нападавшего; получив оненный
урон, она обездвижена до конца следующего хода нападавшего).
Р. Укус роя (стандарт; по желанию)
+4 против AC; 3d4+2 урон. Если стая уменьшает урон от этой атаки на 2d4, ее цель также сбита наземь.
Р. Толчок вниз (стандарт; по желанию)
+4 против Стойкости; 1d4+1 урон, и цель сбита наземь.
Нахождение внизу
Стая может делать атаки возможности против смежных целей, стоящих у сбитого наземь.
Обдирание костей
Стая наносит дополнительный 2d4 урон против сбитых наземь целей.
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки -
СИЛ 10 (+0) ЛОВ 14 (+2) МУД 7 (-2)
ТЕЛ 12 (+1) ИНТ 5 (-3) ХАР 2 (-4)
Тактика гибберлингов
Гибберлинги просто несутся вперед, нападая на все, что попадается на пути. Измененные чумой гибберлинги
еще опаснее - кровоточа, они вспыхивают взрывом синего огня, препятствующим спасению добычи.
Стая измененных чумой гибберлингов Уровень 6 зверь
Средний естественный гуманоид (рой) XP 200
Инициатива +7 Чувства Восприятие +8; темновидение
Гибберлинг аура 10; враги в ауре берут -2 штраф ко всем защитам. Гибберлинги не могут удивлять существ, которые не оглушены.
Атака роя аура 1; стая измененных чумой гибберлингов делает базовую атаку как свободное действие против каждого врага, который
начинает свой ход в ауре.
ОЖ 87; Кровоточащий 43; см. также взрыв синего огня
AC 19; Стойкость 18; Рефлексы 19; Воля 15
Иммунитет взрыв синего огня (см. ниже), зачарование, устрашение Сопротивление половина урона от рукопашной и дальнобойной атак;
Уязвимость +5 урон от атаки вплотную и по области
Скорость 6 (Если стая измененных чумой гибберлингов подвергнута солнечному свету, она замедлена до конца следующего хода
нападавшего).
Р. Укус роя (стандарт; по желанию) Сила
+9 против AC; 4d4+4 урон. Критическое попадание: Цель получает дополнительный 1d6 чиловой урон (спасбросок заканчивает).
Р. Толчок вниз (стандарт; по желанию)
+9 против Стойкости; 1d4+1 урон, и цель сбита наземь.
Нахождение внизу
Стая может делать атаки возможности против смежных целей, стоящих у сбитого наземь.
Обдирание костей
Стая наносит дополнительный 2d4 урон против сбитых наземь целей.
К. Взрыв синего огня (немедленная реакция, когда впервые кровоточит; столкновение)
Близкий взрыв 2; +6 против Рефлексов; 1d4+3 силовой урон, и цель замедлена (спасбросок заканчивает).
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки -
СИЛ 12 (+4) ЛОВ 18 (+7) МУД 10 (+3)
ТЕЛ 17 (+6) ИНТ 8 (+2) ХАР 2 (-1)
Группы при столкновениях
Обычные гибберлинги общаются лишь с подобными себе. Измененных чумой гибберлингов иногда можно
встретить в компании членов Ордена Синего Огня.
МАЛАГРИМ (MALAUGRYM)
Малагримы - эгоманиакальные и развращенные меняющие форму, которые любят играть с разумными
существами, дразнить их и охотиться на них. В своей естественной форме малагрим - мясистая сфера с тремя
глазами, тремя крюкастыми щупальцами и клювом.
Каждый малагрим - отличный элитный монстр, обычно изряда образцов или выше. Он может играть любую
роль, но предпочитает артиллерию, контроллера или налетчика.
Аратлут
Аратлут шастает по Побережью Меча под разнообразными псевдонимами, изображая из себя торговца или
наемного убийцу. Он принимает много форм, почти все из них - мужчины-гуманоиды. Аратлут поддерживает
контакты в преступных организациях от Зазесспура до Уотердипа.
Аратлут Уровень 16 элитный налетчик
Средняя магическая тварь-аберрант (меняющий форму) XP 2,800
Инициатива +17 Чувства Восприятие +14; видение при слабом освещении
ОЖ 292; Кровоточащий 146
Регенерация 10 (если Аратлут получает урон от серебряного оружия, его регенерация не функционирует на его следующем ходу).
AC 32 (34 против атак возможности); Стойкость 29, Рефлексы 32, Воля 29
Иммуннитет яд
Спасброски +2
Скорость 2 (неуклюже), форма с ногами 6; полет 6 (парение)
Очки действия 1
Р. Хлопок (стандарт; по желанию)
+21 против AC; 2d6+7 урон.
Р. Болтающиеся плети (стандарт; по желанию)
Аратлут делает две базовых рукопашных атаки. Если атака попадает, цель также сдвигается на 2 квадрата. Аратлут может перемещаться на 3
квадрата перед или после каждой атаки.
Р. Прокатывание (стандарт; перезарядка 4 5 6)
Аратлут делает две базовых рукопашных атаки против одной и той же цели. Если обе они попадают, он делает вторичную атаку против этой
цели. Вторичная атака: 1d8+7 урон (без необходимости броска атаки).
Боевое преимущество
Аратлут наносит дополнительный урон 2d6 при рукопашных атаках против любой цели, против которой имеет боевое преимущество.
Смена формы (малое; по желанию) Полиморф
Аратлут может изменять свою физическую форму, чтобы выглядеть как любое Маленькое, Среднее или Большое существо (см. Смену
формы, РМ 280).
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки Чондатанский (РИ), Общий, Глубинная Речь
Навыки Акробатика +20, Блеф +18, Понимание +14, Запугивание +18, Скрытность +20
СИЛ 11 (+8) ЛОВ 25 (+15) МУД 12 (+9)
ТЕЛ 20 (+13) ИНТ 19 (+12) ХАР 21 (+13)
Тактика Аратлута
Аратлут предпочитает казаться гуманоидом до тех пор, пока не сможет обескуражить врагов взлетом или сменой
формы. Затем он хлещет их своими щупальцами.
Лутваэринн
Работающий из Телфлэмма на Побережье Дракона Лутваэринн - жадный малагрим, ведущий дела - и законные,
и незаконные. Он предпочитает женские гуманоидные формы, и в одной из своих гуманоидных форм он имеет
пост в Совете Торговцев города.
Лутваэринн Уровень 15 элитная артиллерия
Средняя магическая тварь-аберрант (меняющий форму) XP 2,400
Инициатива +13 Чувства Восприятие +13; видение при слабом освещении
ОЖ 232; Кровоточащий 116
Регенерация 10 (Если Лутваэринн получает урон от серебряного оружия, его регенерация не функционирует на его следующем ходу).
AC 29; Стойкость 27, Рефлексы 27, Воля 29
Иммуннитет яд
Спасброски +2
Скорость 2 (неуклюже), форма с ногами 6; полет 6 (парение)
Очки действия 1
Р. Хлопок (стандарт; по желанию)
+20 против AC; 1d6+4 урон.
А. Кошмарная дремота (стандарт; столкновение) Зачарование, Психический
Область взрыва 4 в пределах 10; цели - враги; +19 против Воли; 1d8+7 психический урон, и цель ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает).
Первый проваленный спасбросок: Цель без сознания (спасбросок заканчивает). Последействие: Цель ошарашена (спасбросок
заканчивает).
Д. Луч истощения (стандарт; по желанию) Психический
Дальность 10; Лутваэринн делает две атаки; +18 против Воли; 1d8+7 психический урон, и цель ослаблена (спасбросок заканчивает).
Д. Луч боли (стандарт; перезарядка 4 5 6) Некротический
Дальность 20; +18 против Воли; 3d8+7 некротический урон, и цель получает уязвимость 10 психический (спасбросок заканчивает). Цель не
может делать попытку спасброска против этого эффекта, пока находится в пределах 10 квадратов от Лутваэринна.
Р. Прокатывание (стандарт; перезарядка 6)
Лутваэринн делает две базовых рукопашных атаки против одной и той же цели. Если обе они попадают, он делает вторичную атаку против
этой цели. Вторичная атака: 1d8+4 урон (без необходимости броска атаки).
Смена формы (малое; по желанию) Полиморф
Лутваэринн может изменять свою физическую форму, чтобы выглядеть как любое Маленькое, Среднее или Большое существо (см. Смену
формы, РМ 280).
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки Абиссал, Чондатанский (РИ), Общий, Глубинная Речь
Навыки Аркана +17, Блеф +19, Дипломатия +19, Понимание +13
СИЛ 12 (+8) ЛОВ 18 (+11) МУД 12 (+8)
ТЕЛ 20 (+12) ИНТ 21 (+12) ХАР 25 (+14)
Тактика Лутваэринна
Лутваэринн предпочитает оставаться за стеной лакеев, с готовностью бросая их, если борьба идет плохо. Со
своей защищенной позиции он проводит различные атаки, пылающие фиолетовой энергией, начиная с
кошмарной дремоты для подавления противников. Лутваэринн использует луч боли и луч истощения против
рукопашных угроз.
Знания о малагримах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Аркана DC 15: Малагрим может подражать формам широкого спектра существ, но по крайней мере часть
новых форм иллюзорна, потому что способности существа не изменяются. В своей естественной форме
малагрим имеет три когтистых щупальца и клюв, но, будучи в дополнительной форме, он может использовать
магическое оружие. Во всех формах у него характерные золотые глаза.
Аркана DC 20: Хоть существа и бесполы, определенные малагримы предпочитают определенные формы и
поддерживают отдельную индивидуальность, часто выбирая очевидный пол. Малагримы никогда не умирают от
старости - не потому, что они бессмертны, а потому, что более молодые малагримы уничтожают старших, чтобы
завладеть их силой.
Аркана DC 25: Малагримы используют термин "Владыка Тени" для обращения к самому мощному в своей
среде. Существ в целом иногда называют владыками тени. Как ни странно, многие из злых сил Тени, типа
шейдов Нетерила, полагают, что малагримы будут их врагами.
Аркана DC 30: Малагримы живут в Царстве Теней и путешествуют из него, но это темное место не является
их первоначальным домом. Они происходят из измерения за пределами известных миров. При
переформировании планов малагримы были отрезаны от своего родного плана и не имеют больших шансов
завоевать Торил, как они когда-то хотели. Их численность, и без того небольшая, истощается и далее, так что
они ищут способ вновь попасть на свою родину.
История DC 20: Малагримы появились на Фаэруне более тысячи лет назад, нажив врага в лице молодого
Эльминстера.
История DC 30: Легенды говорят, что малагримы - потомки волшебника Малауга. Возможно, первый человек,
вошедший на План Тени (ныне часть Царства Теней), Малауг никогда после этого не подавал о себе известий.
Группы при столкновениях
Малагримы редко показывают свою истинную природу, но управляют другими для насаждения своих коварных
планов. Они упиваются обманом добряков, заставляя тех делать грязное дело, даже при том, что злых существ
одурачить легче. Однако, предательство для малагримов естественно, и существа предают своих последователей
и товарищей просто по прихоти. Таким образом, малагримы плохо работают друг с другом.
Столкновение 14 уровня (XP 5,750)
- Лутваэринн (уровень 15 элитный контроллер)
- 1 военный тролль (уровень 14 солдат)
- 2 берсерка-гримлока (уровень 13 зверь)
- 3 миньона-гримлока (уровень 14 миньон)
НЕТЕРИЛ (NETHERIL)
Некогда павший Нетерил вновь царит над северным Фаэруном. Населенная главным образом людьми, эта
могучая и высокомерная империя угрожает покорением всем соседним землям. Если она преуспеет в своих
тиранических целях, ее расширение на этом не закончится.
Знания о Шейде
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Арканы.
DC 15: Большинство обычных нетерезов - люди, но самые могущественные из защитников Нетерила - шейды.
Это опасные и чрезвычайно способные агенты империи, но отдельные индивидуумы могут иметь собственные
цели, в зависимости от своего статуса среди имперских командиров и правителей.
DC 20: Многие из шейдов прибыли вместе с Анклавом Шейд, когда этот город вернулся из Царства Теней.
Другие возникли, заключив с тенью сделку или просто получив ее сущность.
Принцы Шейда
Рожденные перед разрушением древнего Нетерила, могучие арканисты-нетерезы, называемые Двенадцатью
Принцами Шейда, управляют своей страной. Всецело злые, они стремятся расширить власть империи любыми
необходимыми средствами. Они весьма способны к массовому разрушению и геноциду, но предпочитают
прямым завоеваниям подрывную деятельность, оставляя инфраструктуру цели неповрежденной.
Каждый из принцев - эпический элитный шейд-контроллер с уникальными талантами. Все они имеют
некоторые навыки в арканных или теневых методах. Некоторые специализируются в военных или божественных
силах.
Теламонт Тантул
Теламонт - Самый Высокий среди Принцев Шейда, отец всех остальных. Более двух тысяч лет возрастом, он
спокойно уверен в том, что почти бессмертен. Его граждане видят в Высоком Принце Теламонте воплощение
идеалов нетерезов, и он также полагает, что лишь он способен оживить и расширить империю. Эти идеи
выражаются его экстравагантной имперской одеждой - черной мантией, стилизованной под крылья дракона,
подобными черными наручами и ниспадающими фиолетовыми одеяниями.
Высокий Принц уважает традиции древнего Нетерила, но также и установил новые, чтобы пережить столетия
в Тени. Все они все еще действуют в четко структурированном обществе нетерезов.
Принц Ривален Тантул
Высокий священник Шар всего Нетерила, Ривален - самый мощный приверженец богини в мире, сопоставимый
экзархам других богов. Нетерезами правят Самые Высокие, но Ривален - их духовный лидер. Его Купол Ночи в
Анклаве Шейд - мировой центр поклонения Шар. Чудотворные силы Ривалена также защищают Принцев
Шейда от насильственной смерти - и он уверен, что им это известно.
Другие Принцы
Другие десять сыновей Теламонта наблюдают за различными аспектами империи, работая вместе для
продвижения целей своего отца. Принц Кларибурнус - генерал армий Нетерила, как и его брат Идер, также
являющийся главным храмовником Купола Ночи. Агларел - лидер частных легионов Самых Высоких и личный
телохранитель Теламонта. Бреннус, Фаоулд, Ламорак, Мелегонт и близнецы Маттик и Ваттик осуществляют
различные правительственные функции. Детхуд - главный в разведывательных силах Нетерила. У него
репутация тихого мудреца, и он регулярно дает советы всем Принцам Шейда.
Шейды
Становление шейдом считается великой наградой за службу империи. Самые мощные из нетерезов
обычно являются шейдами.
Шейд сохраняет свой первоначальный облик, но выглядит изможденным. Его кожа принимает тусклый
оттенок, а глаза начинают немного светиться. Ему более не требуется есть или спать, и его старение значительно
замедляется. По мере того, как шейд становится старше, его внешность становится все более темной и более
чудовищной, со странными особенностями типа острых зубов.
"Шейд" - шаблон, который может быть добавлен к любому гуманоидному существу; большинство шейдов
некогда были людьми. Шейд может играть любую роль или быть членом любого класса.
Предпосылки: Гуманоид, уровень 11
Ритуалы: Любой шейд, выполняющий требования, может изучить ритуал Теневой прогулки (КИ 312) у
других шейдов, знающих его.
Элита Шейда (любая роль)
Теневой гуманоид XP элита
Чувста темновидениев
Мрачное присутствие аура 10; в пределах ауры производящие свет эффекты, уровень которых ниже такового шейда, могут создавать лишь
тусклый свет.
Защиты +2 AC, +2 Стойкость, +2 Рефлексы, +2 Воля
Спасброски +2
Очки действия 1
Очки жизни +6 на уровень (артиллерия, скрывающийся)/+8 на уровень (контроллер, налетчик, солдат)/+10 на уровень (зверь) + показатель
Телосложения
Регенерация 10 образец/15 эпический (Если шейд получает сияющий урон, его регенерация не функционирует на его следующем ходу).
Теневой шаг (движение; перезарядка 5 6) Телепортация
Шейд может телепортироваться на 20 квадратов, но должен закончить свое движение в тусклом свете или в темноте. (Более мощные шейды
могут перезаряжать эту силу чаще).
Срастание с тьмой
Если шейд перемещается любыми средствами на 3 или более квадратов, он скрыт сверхъествественной темнотой, получая полное
укрывательство.
Навыки шейды имеют +5 расовый бонус по проверкам Скрытности.
Пример шейда: Нарамус
Нарамус - рыцарь Шейда. Он командует эскадронами шадар-кай, координируя и иногда непосредственно
наблюдая за миссиями. Его первичная обязанность - защита города Шейд, хотя иногда он обеспечивает
поддержку для важных теневых караванов (страница 177).
Нарамус Уровень 11 элитный налетчик (лидер)
Средний теневой гуманоид 1,200 XP
Инициатива +11 Чувства Восприятие +12; темновидение
Мрачное присутствие аура 10; в пределах ауры производящие свет эффекты, уровень которых ниже такового Нарамуса, могут создавать
лишь тусклый свет.
ОЖ 208; Кровоточащий 104
Регенерация 10 (Если Нарамус получает сияющий урон, его регенерация не функционирует на его следующем ходу).
AC 27; Стойкость 25, Рефлексы 23, Воля 24
Спасброски +2
Скорость 5; см. также теневой шаг
Очки действия 1
Р. Полуторный меч (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+17 против AC; 1d10+7 урона (крит 1d6+17).
Д. Чакрам мрака (стандарт; по желанию) Сила
Дальность 5; +15 против AC; 2d6+4 силовой урон.
Р. Дуговые колебания (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Нарамус делает две базовых рукопашных атаки и смещается на 1 квадрат после первой атаки.
Р. Разрушабщий удар (стандарт; перезарядка 6) Сила, Оружие
+17 против AC; 3d10+7 урон плюс продолжающийся 5 силовой урон (спасбросок заканчивает).
Торжествующий крик (свободно, когда Нарамус выбрасывает критическое попадание или уменьшает врага до 0 очков жизни; по желанию)
Нарамус или союзник в пределах 20 квадратов может делать рукопашную или дальнобойную атаку.
Теневой шаг (движение; перезарядка 5 6) Телепортация
Нарамус может телепортироваться на 20 квадратов, но должен закончить свое движение в тусклом свете или в темноте.
Срастание с тьмой
Если Нарамус перемещается любыми средствами на 3 или более квадратов, он скрыт сверхъествественной темнотой, получая полное
укрывательство.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Общий, Нетерез (РИ)
Навыки Дипломатия +15, Запугивание +15, Понимание +12, Скрытность +12
СИЛ 23 (+11) ЛОВ 18 (+9) МУД 14 (+7)
ТЕЛ 18 (+9) ИНТ 12 (+6) ХАР 21 (+10)
Оснащение пластинчатый доспех, тяжелый щит, полуторный меч
Тактика Нарамуса
Нарамус смело идет впереди, подавая пример своим последователям, и предпочитает бросать вызов противнику,
который выглядит опаснее остальных. Перед тем, как вступить в ближний бой, он запускает чакрам мрака (диск
из твердой тени). В бою он мобилен, используя теневой шаг для получения самого выгодного положения, и
хлещет противника разрушающим ударом при любой возможности. Всякий раз при критическом ударе Нарамус
воет от ликования, вдохновляя своих союзников.
Служители Шейда
Долгие годы шедовары смешивали теневую сущность и даже кровь извергов с человеческим родом ради
создания служителей.
Кринт
С самого момента их создания эти строгие серокожие гуманоиды были рабами шедоваров. Они - способные и
почти что бесстрашные воины, служащие своим хозяевам с убийственной самоотреченностью. Но зараза
демонического наследия делает их опрометчивыми и кровожадными. Начиная с появления шадар-кай население
кринтов резко стало падать и вскоре, вероятно, заглохнет совсем.
Шадар-кай
Чума Заклинаний и изменение ей космоса возымели странный эффект на некоторых нетерезов. Их
акклиматизация к столетиям в Тени заставила их превратиться в шейдоподобных существ или рождать таковых.
Принц Ривален объявил, что это чудо, посланное Шар. Он поименовал измененный народ шадар-кай, что и
стало обычным названием этой расы.
Молодежь шедоваров на пороге юности иногда становятся шадар-кай, хотя подобный феномен не так част.
Шадар-кай живут с истинно подобными себе, и их союзы с людьми также производят шадар-кай. Ривален также
изобрел ритуал для превращения любого человека в шадар-кай, мало чем отличающийся от такового для
создания шейдов.
Шадар-кай нетерезов существовали более трех поколений. Они - привилегированный класс, не столь
благословляемый, как шейды, но получающий уникальное обучение. Агенты-шадар-кай работают для лучшей
связи Нетерила с Фаэруном и собирают ресурсы и информацию со всего их протяжения. Большинство их
становится истинными шейдами.
Не все шадар-кай служат Нетерилу. Многие бегут из империи, чтобы идти по миру своим путем. Другие -
потомство людей, давно порвавших с шейдами или отказавшиеся пересекать Царство Теней.
Шадар-кай Нетерила обычно поклоняются Шар и сильнее склоняются ко злому поведению, чем их коллеги -
не-нетерезы. Те, кто из Царства Теней, предаются жуткому поведению ради острых ощущений. Многие уважают
Темпуса, хотя некоторые следуют Шар, Цирику, Бешабе или даже Асмодеусу. Редкие и немногие очень уважают
Тимору.
Таалуды (Thaaluds)
Известные авантюристам по всему Фаэруну как "могильные топтуны", таалуды изначально были созданы
древними нетерезами. Теперь, с возвращением шедоваров, ритуал их создания вновь известен миру, и растущее
количество таалудов защищает поселения Нетерила и бродит в Подземье.
Таалуд Уровень 20 элитный солдат
Огромный естественный оживленный (конструкция) XP 5,600
Инициатива +15 Чувства Восприятие +16; слепой, слепое видение 20
ОЖ 380; Кровоточащий 190
AC 38; Стойкость 35, Рефлексы 31, Воля 32
Иммунитет яд; Сопротивление 10 холод, 10 огонь, 10 молния
Спасброски +2
Скорость 8 (земная прогулка), копание 2 (туннель)
Очки действия 1
Р. Кувалда (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Досягаемость 3; +27 против AC; 2d8+11 урон.
Д. Бросок кувалды (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Дальнобойная 10/20; +26 против AC; 2d8+11 урон. Кувалда возвращается к таалуду в конце его хода.
Р. Двойная атака (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Таалуд делает две базовых рукопашных атаки.
Р. Подсекающая кувалда (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Требует кувалды; досягаемость 3; +20 против AC; 2d8+11 урон, и цель вытолкнута на 2 квадрата и сбита наземь. Попадание: Таалуд может
делать базовую рукопашную атаку против другого существа в пределах досягаемости.
А. Шипы-камни (стандарт; столкновение) Зона
Область взрыва 3 в пределах 20; +24 против AC; 1d8 урон, и цель замедлена (спасбросок заканчивает). Критическое попадание: Как выше,
но цель берет -5 штраф к своему спасброску для окончания замедленного состояния. Зона - трудный ландшафт до конца столкновения.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки понимает Общий и Нетерез (РИ); телепатия 20
Навыки Аркана +21
СИЛ 30 (+20) ЛОВ 17 (+13) МУД 12 (+11)
ТЕЛ 22 (+16) ИНТ 22 (+16) ХАР 24 (+17)
Оснащение +1 адамантиновая магическая кувалда
Тактика таалудов
Таалуд может ощущать колебания большинства субстанций, и он использует эту информацию для обнаружения
и поражения врагов. Он может использовать эту способност, даже находясь под землей. Таалуды стараются
зарыться под врагов и напасть на них неожиданно. Таалуд начинает битву шипами-камнями, чтобы уменьшить
маневренность своих противников, а затем полагается на свою разрушительную способность к рукопашной для
добивания.
Знания о таалудах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Аркана DC 15: В Нетериле таалуды служат не только охранниками, но также и способными строителями, и
даже в рли осадных орудий. Они не могут говорить, но понимают языки своих создателей. Существуют также
меньшие и великие таалуды.
Аркана DC 20: У всех таалудов есть сверхъествественная способность разминать камень в желаемую форму,
если он необработан. Некоторые способны на точную работу, используя мирские инструменты после грубого
формирования камня.
История DC 20: С возвращением Нетерила множество свободных таалудов, выживших до сей поры в
Подземье, вернулось к своим старым хозяевам. С тех пор их численность значительно выросла.
Везераб (Veserab)
Везераб - летучее существо 10-футовой длины, похожее на нечто среднее между безглазым лампреем и летучей
мышью.
Знания о везерабах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Арканы.
DC 20: Дикие везерабы есть в больших количествах лишь в диких местах Царства Теней. Там они формируют
пары или маленькие скопления, каждое из которых возглавляет его самая крупная самка (самки крупнее самцов).
DC 30: Везерабов обучают в качестве скакунов для привилегированых жителей Нетерила. На Фаэруне тварей
проще всего встретить в анклавах Саккорс и Шейд, где часто нужен полет.
Везераб Уровень 6 скрывающийся
Большая теневая тварь (скакун) XP 250
Инициатива +11 Чувства Восприятие +11; слепой, слепое видение 20
ОЖ 60; Кровоточащий 30
Иммуннитет вредное дыхание
AC 20; Стойкость 20, Рефлексы 17, Воля 17
Скорость 4 (неуклюжий), полет 8
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию)
+11 против AC; 2d6+5 урон.
Р. Крылокоготь (стандарт; по желанию)
+11 против AC; 1d6+5 урон; см. также пикирующее царапание крылом.
К . Вредное дыхание (стандарт; столкновение) Яд, Зона
Близкий взрыв 4; +9 против Стойкости; 2d6+3 урон ядом, и цель берет -2 штраф ко всем защитам до конца следующего хода везераба. Эта
сила создает зону черных вредоносных паров, остающихся на месте до конца столкновения. Эта зона блокирует линию вида, и существа,
вступающие в зону или заканчивающие в ней свой ход, получают 5 урон ядом. Везерабы иммунны к эффектам этой силы.
Р. Пикирующее царапание крылом (стандарт; по желанию)
Везераб делает атаку с разгона, делая две атаки крылокогтями. После атаки везераб перемещается на 1 квадрат и приземляется в незанятом
месте.
Темные крылья (когда есть дружественный наездник 6-го уровня или выше; по желанию)
Наездник везераба получает сопротивление яду 5 яду и иммуннитет к эффектам вредного дыхания любого везераба.
Боевое преимущество
Везераб наносит дополнительный 1d6 урон при рукопашных атаках против любой цели, против которой он имеет боевое преимущество.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
Навыки Скрытность +12
СИЛ 20 (+8) ЛОВ 18 (+7) МУД 17 (+6)
ТЕЛ 17 (+6) ИНТ 2 (-1) ХАР 4 (+0)
Тактика везерабов
Дикие везерабы нападают на кого угодно, что считают способными убить и съесть; скакун находится под
контролем своего наездника. В бою везераб сначала выпускает свое вредное дыхание, а затем пикирует на цели,
пойманные в его области. Он обычно нацеливается на самое маленькое или слабо выглядящее существо, надеясь
на легкую пищу. Везерабы поражают использованим своего дыхательного оружия при совместной охоте.
Группы при столкновениях
Агенты-нетерезы, главным образом люди или шадар-каи, вовлечены в заговоры всех мастей практически где
угодно. Среди сил Нетерила есть теневые существа и нежить, типа духов, теневых драконов, смертельных
гигантов, свирепых вивернов и даже драколичей. У империи также есть немалое количество злых гуманоидных
рабов, и она заключает союзы с подобными существами, например - с орками Королевства Множества Стрел.
Столкновение 7 уровня (XP 1,500)
- 1 шадар-кай сумрачный клинок (уровень 6 скрывающийся с преимуществом скакуна)
- 1 шадар-кай цепной боец (уровень 6 налетчик с преимуществом скакуна)
- 2 везераба (уровень 6 скрывающийся, скакуны шадар-каев)
- 2 теневых гончих (уровень 6 налетчик)
Столкновение 9 уровня (XP 2,900)
- Нарамус (уровень 11 элитный солдат [лидер])
- 1 пламенный череп (уровень 8 артиллерия)
- 1 воин шадар-кай (уровень 8 солдат)
- 1 темный сталкер (уровень 10 скрывающийся)
- 5 воинов-орков (уровень 9 миньон)
Столкновение 21 уровня (XP 20,300)
- 1 шейд волшебник лич (уровень 22 элитная артиллерия)
- 1 мучительное привидение (уровень 21 контроллер)
- 2 таалуда (уровень 20 элитный солдат)
ОРДЕН СИНЕГО ОГНЯ (ORDER OF BLUE FIRE)
Орден Синего Огня широко известен как доброжелательная группа магошрамов, готовых помочь другим
побольше узнать об эффектах Чумы Заклинаний.
Знания об Ордене Синего Огня
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 35: Мастера Абсолютного Согласия сформировались в Глубинном Имаскаре (страница 222) или
около него в течение Чумы Заклинаний. Они все еще заточены близ этого города в Подземье и могут
манипулировать чумными землями и посылать видения магошрамам. Их руководство более последовательно,
чем таковое шарнов (см. ниже), но все равно усиливает и распространяет Чуму Заклинаний.
Религия DC 30: Публичное лицо ордена - ширма для более зловещей организации. Первоначально это был
культ, посвященный идее того, что Чума Заклинаний - святое космическое событие, работу которого следует
продолжать.
Шарны представляют собой выражение Чумы Заклинаний, ведя тех, кто следует глубочайшим заповедям
ордена. Время от времени их указания культу становятся беспорядочными, противоречивыми и даже
нелогичными, что приводит к удивительным и ужасным событиям, распространяющим и питающим
существующее активные заводи Чумы Заклинаний.
Мудрость Улиц DC 35: Орден Синего Огня фактически является источником многих проблем, которые он
словно пытается решить. Тем не менее, учитывая хорошую репутацию ордена, убедить кого-либо в этом почти
невозможно. Его официальные лица отрицают действия членов, способствующие Чуме Заклинаний и ее
изменениям.
Организация
У Ордена Синего Огня есть отделения во многих поселениях по всему Фаэруну. Он поддерживает приюты для
размещения и обучения магошрамов. В домах Ордена есть подборки знаний и преподаватели для обучения
народных масс относительно чумных земель и Чумы Заклинаний. Дома также являются базами для экспертов,
экипированных для приручения неконтролируемых магошрамов и измененных чумой существ, обычно
безвозмездно. По этим причинам орден зачастую приветствуется и уважается в сообществах.
В глубине ордена таятся фанатики, зацикленные на изменении мира согласно учению шарнов и Мастеров
Абсолютного Согласия. Они тонко работают для выпускания в цивилизованные области проблем, связанных с
Чумой Заклинаний. Однако, на чумных землях эти экстремисты действуют безнаказанно.
Лидер: Шарны и Мастера Абсолютного Согласия - скрытые лидеры ордена.
Штаб: Ормпетарр в Вилонских Дебрях (см. страницу 193).
Иерархия: Большинство организации неофициально, при этом самые компетентные или старшие члены
принимают в данной ячейке роль лидеров. Командиры заботятся о нуждающихся и желающих принять контроль
энергии Чумы Заклинаний; они часто служат лидерами и обращают других в свою "веру". Мастера знаний -
философы-арканисты, преподающие и накапливающие знание, а рыцари защищают владения ордена и помогают
управлять проявлениями Чумы Заклинаний, принимая командование лишь в случае военных действий.
Члены: Многие из членов ордена - народ-магошрамы, но общество принимает на службу почти всех
способных добровольцев. Поскольку работа с проявлениями Чумы Заклинаний - лишь часть доктрины ордена,
более высокие эшелоны группы включают большее количество членов-магошрамов. Посвященные во
внутренние тайны принимают в дополнение к другим титулам титул "аккордант" ("соответствующий");
например - рыцарь-аккордант.
Члены Ордена также предпринимают шрамопаломничества на чумные земли, надеясь увеличить и
распространить знание о таких местах. Некоторые из тех, кто рискует забираться за пределы искривленных
границ таких территорий, возвращаются с чудесными рассказами. В ордене чтят таких храбрых паломников -
выживают они или нет. Немногие за пределами ордена считают их более чем безумными или безрассудными.
Аккорданты Синего Огня
Фанатики в рядах Ордена Синего Огня формируют внутренний круг агентов, продвигающих истинные цели
ордена. В их ряды приглашают лишь истинных сторонников, обычно - после посещения шарна или проявления
Мастеров Абсолютного Согласия. Особенно в пределах чумных земель типа остатков Халруаа аккорданты
зачастую игнорируют ранги и ведут себя беспорядочно - мастера знаний в частности.
Многие из аккордантов Синего Огня - способные бойцы стороны, обученные работать вместе в маленьких
группах. Компания аккордантов может иметь столь же разнообразные таланты, как таковые любой
квалифицированной приключенческой группы, с добавлением магошрамовских сил. Рыцарь-аккорданты охотно
принимает приказы от командиров, мастеров знаний и вышестоящих рыцарей.
Рыцарь-аккордант Уровень 10 Солдат
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек, магошрам XP 500
Инициатива +8 Чувства Восприятие +14
ОЖ 105; Кровоточащий 52
AC 26; Стойкость 24, Рефлексы 19, Воля 22
Скорость 5
Р. Военная кирка (стандарт; по желанию) Сила, Оружие
+17 против AC; 1d8+6 плюс 3 силовой урон (критический 1d8+14 плюс 3 сила), и цель отмечена.
Д. Длинный лук (стандарт; по желанию) Сила, Оружие
Дальнобойная 20/40; +13 против AC; 1d10+1 плюс 3 силовой урон, и цель отмечена.
Шип Синего Огня (малое; перезарядка 3 4 5 6) Сила
До начала следующего хода рыцаря оружие рыцаря становится энергетическим, атакуя Рефлексы цели вместо ее AC и нанося
дополнительный 1d10 силовой урон.
Глаз рыцаря (немедленная реакция, когда смежный враг смещается или когда смежный враг, отмеченный рыцарем, атакует союзника; по
желанию) Сила, Оружие
РАСШИРЕНИЕ РЯДОВ ОРДЕНА
Аккорданты, представленные здесь - типичные члены Ордена Синего Огня, предназначенные для работы с
шарнами на чумных землях - в местах, лучше всего подходящих для приключений персонажей верхнего
героического ряда или ряда образцов.
Легко сделать других аккордантов - уровнем ниже или выше этих примеров, согласно указаниям Главы 10
Руководства Ведущего. Например, наемники Жента (страница 282) легко могут быть оперативниками-
аккордантами низшего уровня. Вы можете легко варьировать расу аккорданта, добавляя расовые черты и
регулируя его показатели способностей соответственно.
Вы можете также использовать информацию о магошрамах из Руководства Игрока Забытых Царств для
создания уникальных магошрамов и даже измененных чумой NPC или монстров. Силы этих примеров
аккордантов - хорошая отправная точка для разработки таковых оригинальных. Этот народ явно
сверхъестественный, так что введение таких противников будет означать немалое удовольствие для ваших
игроков.
Рыцарь делает базовую рукопашную атаку против врага.
Решительный критический
При критическом попадании любой атакой, цель также сдвигается на 1 квадрат.
Мировоззрение Любое Языки Общий, один региональный язык (РИ)
Навыки Выносливость +11, Запугивание +12
СИЛ 22 (+11) ЛОВ 12 (+6) МУД 19 (+9)
ТЕЛ 17 (+8) ИНТ 10 (+5) ХАР 15 (+7)
Оснащение чешуйчатый доспех, тяжелый щит, военная кирка, длинный лук, 20 стрел
Тактика рыцаря-аккорданта
Рыцари-аккорданты делают то, что требуется для защиты более уязвимых союзников. Они связывают
противников рукопашной и маневрами для обеспечения боевого преимущества для других рыцарей. Рыцарь-
аккордант использует шип синего огня при любой возможности, чтобы побыстрее расправиться с противником.
Аккордант мастер знаний Уровень 11 Артиллерия
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек, магошрам XP 600
Инициатива +5 Чувства Восприятие +9
ОЖ 90; Кровоточащий 45
AC 23; Стойкость 22, Рефлексы 25, Воля 23
Скорость 6
Р. Силовой посох (стандарт; по желанию) Сила, Оружие
+15 против AC; 1d8 силовой урон.
Д. Изменяющий луч (стандарт; по желанию) Сила, Полиморф
Дальность 10; синий луч деформирует цель на мгновение; +16 против Рефлексов; 1d8+6 силовой урон, и цель ошарашена до конца
следующего хода мастера знаний.
К. Изменяющая волна (стандарт; столкновение) Полиморф
Близкий взрыв 5; волна синего огня вырывается из мастера знаний, деформируя формы тех, кто оказывается пойманным в ней; +15 против
Стойкости; 1d4+6 урон, и цель замедлена и ослаблена до конца следующего хода мастера знаний.
Д. Соответственное видение (стандарт; столкновение) Психический
Дальность 20; +15 против Воли; 1d12+6 психический урон, и цель ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает).
Мировоззрение Любое Языки Общий, один региональный язык (РИ)
Навыки Аркана +16, Строительство Подземелий +14, История +16, Понимание +14
СИЛ 10 (+5) ЛОВ 11 (+5) МУД 19 (+9)
ТЕЛ 17 (+8) ИНТ 22 (+11) ХАР 12 (+6)
Оснащение робы, четвертной посох
Тактика аккорданта мастера знаний
В битве аккордант мастер знаний остается позади союзнических рыцарей, используя изменяющую волну для
ослабления многократных целей, как только возникает такая возможность. Затем мастер знаний посылает
соответственное видение для нанесения вреда атакующим и защитным способностям врагов. Для нападения он
сосредотачивается на изменяющих лучах, атакуя своим пылающим синевой посохом лишь в крайнем случае.
Командир-аккордант Уровень 11 налетчик (лидер)
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек, магошрам XP 600
Инициатива +11 Чувства Восприятие +16
ОЖ 113; Кровоточащий 56
AC 25; Стойкость 22, Рефлексы 23, Воля 25
Скорость 6; см. также изменяющий сдвиг
Р. Касание Чумы Заклинаний (стандарт; по желанию) Сила
+14 против Рефлексов; 1d4+6 силовой урон, и цель получает продолжающийся 5 силовой урон (спасбросок заканчивает).
Д. Сфера Чумы Заклинаний (стандарт; по желанию) Сила
Дальность 20; +14 против Рефлексов; 1d4+6 силовой урон, и цель получает продолжающийся 5 силовой урон (спасбросок заканчивает).
Р. Дух Чумы Заклинаний (стандарт; поддержка стандарт; столкновение) Сила, Полиморф
Командир становится духом Синего Огня. Он становится иллюзорным и может входить и двигаться через местоположения врагов и
пористые препятствия, в иных случаях не позволяющие движение (типа двери или взломанного окна). Командир делает базовую
рукопашную атаку против любого существа, в местоположение которого он входит, но не может этим способом атаковать цель более
одного раза.
К. Помощь синего огня (малое; перезарядка 5 6) Лечение
Близкий взрыв 5; один союзник в пределах области восстанавливает 11 очков жизни (магошрамы и измененные чумой существа также
добавляют свой бонус Телосложения). Кроме того, этот союзник получает 1d6 временных очков жизни в форме мерцающей синей ауры.
Измененяющий сдвиг (движение; по желанию) Полиморф
Командир смещается на 2 квадрата. Он становится иллюзорным и может двигаться через местоположения врагов до конца этого
перемещения.
Мировоззрение Любое Языки Общий, один региональный язык (РИ)
Навыки Аркана +11, Излечение +16, Скрытность +13
СИЛ 11 (+5) ЛОВ 19 (+9) МУД 22 (+11)
ТЕЛ 17 (+8) ИНТ 12 (+6) ХАР 12 (+6)
Оснащение шкурный доспех
Тактика командира-аккорданта
Охваченный в течение битвы слегка колеблющимся синим огнем, командир-аккордант предпочитает ближний
бой, приберегая сферу Чумы Заклинаний для изворотливых врагов. Проповедуя литанию добродетелей Чумы
Заклинаний, командир открывает дух Чумы Заклинаний, чтобы маневрировать позади вражеской линии и
повреждать несколько целей. Затем он использует изменяющий сдвиг для поддержки боевого преимущества при
атаках касанием Чумы Заклинаний. Замыкающий рыцарь-союзник - первичная цель для помощи синего огня.
Шарн (Sharn)
Шарны - очевидно бессмертные существа, сформированные из слитого сознания.
Шарн Уровень 12 соло артиллерия
Большая магическая тварь-абберрант XP 3,500
Инициатива +12 Чувства Восприятие +16; темновидение
ОЖ 615; Кровоточащий 307; см. также второй ветер
Регенерация 10
AC 28; Стойкость 28, Рефлексы 28, Воля 29
Иммунитет окаменение, полиморф
Спасброски +5 (+8 против эффектов устрашения и против состояний, препятствующих движению); см. также независимое сознание
Скорость 4, полет 8 (парение)
Очки действия 2
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию)
Досягаемость 2; +16 против AC; 1d6+5 урон.
Д. Адаптивный синий заряд (стандарт; по желанию) Сила (см. текст)
Дальность 20; +16 против Рефлексов; 1d6+7 силовой урон, и продолжающийся 5 переменный урон. Продолжающийся урон - тип, к которому
цель наиболее уязвима (на выбор шарна; тип урона не изменяется, будучи выбранным). Если цель не имеет никакой уязвимости,
продолжающийся урон - силовой.
Д. Хекс-портал (малое; поддержка - малое [см. текст]; по желанию) Призывание
Дальность 5; шарн создает шестиугольное окно из синего света, через которое он может атаковать, как будто находится на месте этого
портала. Как малое действие, он может перемещать один портал на 4 квадрата. Порталы не блокируют линию вида, линию эффекта или
вражеское движение. Шарн может поддерживать до трех таких порталов одновременно единственным незначительным действием; он
может закрывать их столько, сколько пожелает, свободным действием.
Д. Скачущий чумной огонь (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Огонь, Сила
Шарн посылает взрыв Синего Огня против трех целей; первая цель должна быть в пределах 10 квадратов от шарна, а две другие цели в
пределах 5 квадратов от первой цели. Первичная цель: +17 против Стойкости; 2d6+7 огненный и силовой урон. Вторичные цели: +17
против Рефлексов; 1d6+7 огненный и силовой урон, и цель ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает).
Независимое действие (стандарт; по желанию)
Шарн делает две базовых атаки (рукопашных или дальнобойных). Если два различных вида базовых атак поражают одну и ту же цель (типа
когтя и укуса), эта цель также ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает).
Второй ветер (стандарт; столкновение) Лечение
Шарн тратит лечащую волну и излечивает 153 очков жизни. Шарн получает +2 бонус ко всем защитам до начала своего следующего хода.
Двойные действия
Шарн бросает инициативу дважды, получает два хода в течение раунда и имеет полный набор действий (стандарт, движение, малое) на
каждом ходу. Каждый набор действий соответствует различному сознанию. Способность шарна брать непосредственные действия
регенерирует на каждом из его ходов.
Независимое сознание
Шарн автоматически спасается от ошарашивающих и ошеломленных состояний и против эффектов зачарования, которые может закончить
спасбросок.
Угроза досягаемости
Шарн может делать атаки возможности против всех врагов в пределах своей досягаемости (2 квадрата), включая таковые через хекс-
порталы.
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки Общий, Глубинная Речь
Навыки Аркана +16, Понимание +10, Религия +16
СИЛ 21 (+11) ЛОВ 23 (+12) МУД 8 (+5)
ТЕЛ 23 (+12) ИНТ 21 (+11) ХАР 24 (+13)
Тактика шарнов
Шарн открывает бой скачущим чумным огнем, заставляя синий огонь вырваться из одного противника и
перепрыгивать на других. Затем он основывает сеть хекс-порталов, чтобы ударять своих врагов с неожиданных
направлений, в особенности атаками возможности.
Знания о шарнах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Аркана DC 30: Шарны живут в глубинном Подземье около земных узлов, но проводят большинство времени
на своем родном демиплане. Они могут "отдыхать" определенным аспектом своей групповой личности, в то
время как другие функционируют, так что они не спят. Шарны воспроизводятся исполнением ритуала
впитывания желающего живого существа. Чем более продвинут шарне, тем большее количество лиц он впитал.
Многие в Ордене Синего Огня считают воссоединение с шарном высшей честью.
Аркана DC 35: Отдельный шарн - "пузырь" собранного понимания, вытесненный из своего родного
демиплана, который странно связан со всем космосом. Чума Заклинаний коснулась и этого широко
распространенного демиплана, инфицировав его жителей. Теперь все шарны - воплощения Чумы Заклинаний.
История DC 35: Шарны сформировались древние времена в течение Войн Короны, ужасных столкновений
среди эльфов и эладринов, которые привели помимо прочих ужасов к рождению дроу. Темное Бедствие,
произошедшее в -10,500 DR, было убийственным штормом, охватившим и разрушившим целиком царство
Миеритар, где ныне находится Высокая Пустошь. Маги пытались подавить Темное Бедствие, но были
поглощены им, даже при том, что они сдержали его в пределах демиплана. Внутри этой бури магического хаоса,
когда тела магов растворились и вновь слились, и были рождены первые шарны.
Измененный чумой гхол (Plaguechanged Ghoul)
Чума заклинаний убивала без разбора, но и подняла некоторых из тех, кого убила, в голодающей форме.
Измененный чумой гхол Уровень 9 зверь
Средний естественный гуманоид, магошрам (нежить) XP 400
Инициатива +8 Чувства Восприятие +5
ОЖ 109; Кровоточащий 54
AC 21; Стойкость 21, Рефлексы 21, Воля 20
Иммунитет болезнь; Сопротивление 5 некротический, 5 силовой
Скорость 6, подъем 4
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию) Сила
+13 против AC; 2d10+5 силовой урон, и цель вытолкнута на 1.
Р. Утроба кишки (стандарт; по желанию) Сила
Вызывает атаки возможности; +13 против Рефлексов; 2d8+3 силовой урон, и гхол может расходовать лечащую волну.
Р. Проходящий расход (немедленная реакция при промахе рукопашной атаки от смежного нападавшего; перезарядка 5 6) Сила
Измененный чумой гхол может делать атаку утробы кишки, не вызывающую атаки возможности.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки Общий
СИЛ 18 (+8) ЛОВ 19 (+8) МУД 3 (+0)
ТЕЛ 21 (+9) ИНТ 6 (+2) ХАР 17 (+7)
Тактика измененных чумой гхолов
Стая измененных чумой гхолов бьется подобно группе неистовых волков. Группа окружает противника
настолько быстро, насколько возможно. Оставаясь в ближнем бою, гхолы подталкивают врагов к соплеменникам
или к другим союзникам-рукопашникам.
Знания об измененных чумой гхолах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Религии.
DC 25: Измененные чумой гхолы выглядят подобно нормальным гхолам, кроме пламенной синей утробы,
которая есть у измененный чумой в кишках. Эта нежить также словно существует в состоянии чуть ближе к
жизни, чем типичная нежить. Подобно типичным гхолам, они жаждут плоти, демонстрируя лишь некоторую
близость к существам, имеющим сверхъествественные силы, и презирают поедать магошрамов или измененных
чумой.
Оставшись за прошедшей Чумой Заклинаний, измененные чумой гхолы населяют отдаленные места и все еще
появляются на чумных землях. Они не объединены ни с какой из известных экстрапланарных сил, но Оркус,
конечно же, хотел бы повлиять на них.
ЕРЕСЬ
Хоть мировоззрение аккордантов может быть любым, большинство их не имеет мировоззрения, хаотически злы
или злы. Тем не менее, в организации есть множество добросердечных членов, особенно в более низких
эшелонах. Многие из них могут даже приходить к вере в истинную догму организации, но они не используют
зло или двуличные методы этого кредо.
Как и в любой большой организации, среди тех, кто желает и дальнейших изменений Чумы Заклинаний на
Фаэруне, возникает противоречие планов и действий. Приказы со стороны шарнов беспорядочны, и они часто
противопоставляются действиям, вдохновленными видениями, посланными Мастерами Абсолютного
Согласия. Таким образом, различные секты в пределах ордена могут вступать в разногласия друг с другом.
Конфликты в пределах Ордена Синего Огня могут дать богатые возможности для использования организации
в кампании в качестве неоднократно появляющегося злодея. Вкупе с тем фактом, что орден часто создает
проблемы, про которые утверждает, что они были решены, зачастую его члены могут оказаться по обе стороны
конфликта. Подсекты могут также преследовать свои собственные цели в дополнение к общей цели ордена.
DC 30: Измененных чумой гхолов можно встретить в качестве миньонов Ордена Синего Огня. Орден влияет
на них продовольствием и предложением безопасной зоны. Также похоже, что определенное влияние на гхолов
имеют шарны.
Группы при столкновениях
Шарны появляются в одиночку, парами или с аккордантами и их подчиненными. Аккорданты работают со всеми
видами существ, продвигающих цели ордена. Чаще всего их союзники - другие аккорданты, существа-
аберранты, существа-магошрамы и измененные чумой существа - типа измененных чумой гибберлингов или
гхолов.
Столкновение 9 уровня (XP 2,400)
- 1 рыцарь-аккродант (уровень 10 солдат)
- 1 измененный чумой гхол (уровень 9 зверь)
- 1 катун грязного отродья (уровень 8 налетчик)
- 1 доппельгангер-убийца (уровень 9 скрывающийся)
- 1 дестрачан (уровень 9 артиллерия)
- 1 эладрин сумеречный инкантер (уровень 8 контроллер)
КОРОЛЕВСТВА РЕПТИЛИЙ (REPTILE KINGDOMS)
В первобытные времена змеиные саррукхи взошли к силе и создали великие империи, сформировав много
новых существ для удовольствия и для прислуживания себе. Затем численность саррукхов уменьшилась, и они
на целые эры покинули Торил - для сна или для планарных исследований. В мире все еще есть маленькое
количество этих великих повелителей-рептилианов, ныне пробужденных и готовящихся выступить против
существ, правящих миром сегодня. В их царстве Окотх (см. страницу 166) все еще есть записи о многом из их
истории.
Интеллектуальные существа, созданные саррукхами, все вместе известные как Чешуйчатые, сформировали
новые культуры и новые царства после ухода своих создателей. Заводи деятельности рептилианов обычны по
всему Фаэруну, но есть и могучие царства, управляемые Чешуйчатыми.
Гуманоиды-рептилианы беспокоят народ по всему Фаэруну, но их численность выше всего на юге. Чалт,
руины Леспера и южный Люирвуд принадлежат юань-ти. Наджара - доминион, управляемый нагами, а Ретилд -
величайшее царство лизардфолков Фаэруна. Окотх, подобно своему старому тезке, принадлежит саррукхам.
Терпенци, Страж Наджары
Некогда великая бессмертная нага, основатель и давний правитель Наджары, Терпенци давно потерял свою
жизнь и статус. После его падения ужасающие ритуалы ограничили его душу в скелетном теле.
Силой Мергелевого Шпиля Наджары (см. страницу 57) древняя нага-нежить полностью подчинена воле
правителя Наджары. Терпенци все еще заботится о Наджаре, своем бывшем доминионе, но он постоянно
проверяет границы контроля, наложенного на него Мергелевым Шпилем.
Терпенци устроил свое логовище в Змеиной Яме, в Подземье, в самой нижней точке наджарского города
Сс'кханаджа, среди обширной сокровищницы Джаранта, Короля Змей.
Терпенци Уровень 30 соло контроллер
Огромная бессмертная магическая тварь (нежить) XP 95,000
Инициатива +27 Чувства Восприятие +30; темновидение
Пленяющее присутствие (Зачарование, Психический) аура взгляда; пока Терпенци не кровоточит, любой враг, атакующий его, получает
15 психический урон или ошарашивается до начала следующего хода этого существа (на выбор врага). Враг, который уже ошарашен,
вместо этого становится ошеломленным.
ОЖ 1,400; Кровоточащий 700; см. также перекачка раба
AC 45; Стойкость 47, Рефлексы 48, Воля 48
Иммунитет болезнь, яд; Сопротивление 30 некротический; Уязвимость 15 сияющий
Спасброски +5
Скорость 6, полет 8
Очки действия 2
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию) Некротический
Досягаемость 3; +35 против AC; 4d6+8 урон, и продолжающийся 10 некротический урон (спасбросок заканчивает).
Р. Жало на хвосте (стандарт; по желанию) Яд
Досягаемость 3; +35 против AC; 2d8+8 урона ядом, и цель ослаблена и получает продолжающийся 10 урон ядом (спасбросок заканчивает
оба). Последействие: Цель ослаблена (спасбросок заканчивает).
Д. Порабощающий взгляд (малое; перезарядка 6) Зачарование
Дальность 10; +35 против Воли; цель ошарашивается (спасбросок заканчивает). Первый проваленный спасбросок: Цель ошарашивается и не
может атаковать Терпенци (спасбросок заканчивает оба). Второй проваленный спасбросок: Над целью доминируют (спасбросок
заканчивает). Все спасброски для окончания этих эффектов берут -2 штраф.
А. Стена леденения души (стандарт; поддержка - малое; перезарядка 5 6) Призывание, Некротический
Область стены 10 в пределах 10; призывается стена смежных квадратов, заполненных тьмой, блокирующая линию вида для всех существ,
кроме Терпенци. Стена может быть до 5 квадратов длиной и до 2 квадратов высотой. Место, занятое стеной леденения души - трудный
ландшафт. Любое существо, вступающее в область или начинающее в ней свой ход, берет 15 некротический урон.
Д. Перекачка раба (малое; перезарядка 5 6) Лечение, Некротический
Дальность 20; Терпенци наносит 30 некротический урон существу, над которым доминирует, и восстанавливает 30 очков жизни.
Угроза досягаемости
Терпенци может делать атаки возможности против всех врагов в пределах своей досягаемости (3 квадрата).
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Общий, Божественный
Навыки Аркана +30, Блеф +32, Дипломатия +32, Понимание +30, Запугивание +32, Скрытность +32 (+40, чтобы скрыться)
СИЛ 27 (+23) ЛОВ 34 (+27) МУД 31 (+25)
ТЕЛ 32 (+26) ИНТ 30 (+25) ХАР 34 (+27)
Тактика Терпенци
Терпенци всегда начинает "танец смерти", как он называет бой, с использованием порабощающего взгляда,
чтобы сломить своей сокрушительной волей выбранного противника. Как только он доминирует над врагом,
Терпенци делит поле битвы и блокирует дальнобойных нападавших тщательно размещенной стеной леденения
души. Затем великая змея нападает врукопашную, держа доминируемое существо поблизости, чтобы
эксплуатировать по мере необходимости перекачку раба.
Саррукхи
Саррукхи - раса-прародитель всех змей и большинства недраконьих существ-рептилианов Торила. Они считают
тех, у кого нет подобного великолепного наследия, слабаками, подходящими лишь в качестве рабов.
Каждый из саррукхов - уникальный элитный монстр, обычно эпического ряда, со своими собственными
силами и целями. Он может играть любую роль, но предпочитает артиллерию, контроллера или солдата, часто с
подролью лидера. Некоторые из саррукхов используют магические изделия в дополнение к своим собственным
устрашающим способностям.
Знания о саррукхах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Природы.
DC 15: У всех существ есть врожденный страх перед саррукхами, который можно подавить, лишь увидев
своими глазами поражение одного из них. Первобытное блистание саррукхов позволяет им деформировать
восприятие врага своим взглядом.
ЧЕШУЙЧАТЫЕ
Саррукхи создали почти всех существ-рептилианов Торила. Все основные разновидности обсуждаются ниже.
Лизардфолки: Лизардфолк Торила менее заражены своими создателями, чем многие другие существа-
рептилианы. Однако, они столь же жестоки и разрушительны, как и теч, что показаны в Руководстве
Монстров, и они скорее всего будут склоняться ко злому мировоззрению. Далеко не одним племенем
управляют злорадные и даже развращенные извергами индивидуумы.
Наги: Существуют стражи, подобные таковым из Руководства Монстров, но все, кроме Терпенци -
естественные магические твари, а не бессмертные. Наги-бейнлары (страница 239) были созданы для
служения богу Бэйну и являются бессмертными существами. Многие из наг Торила столь же злы, как и их
прародители.
Троглодиты: Саррукх создали троглодитов для исследования охраны подземных царств. Жестокие и
туповатые, эти существа без руководства своих прародителей быстро одичали. Они развили жадную и
территориальную культуру, быстро распространившуюся по всему Подземью.
Юань-ти: Саррукхи создали юань-ти по своему образу и подобию, и юань-ти в свою очередь научились
создавать других. Юань-ти Фаэруна владеют великой силой и влиянием, хоть они и уменьшились по
сравнению с ушедшими временами. Их великие дома некогда управляли империями наряду с саррукхами, и
теперь они существуют средь руин тех цивилизаций. Юань-ти - коварное зло Торила, и когда они не
злодействуют и не мучают других существ ради исполнения своего желания доминировать, они работают от
имени саррукхов во имя еще более худших целей.
Другие Чешуйчатые: Саррукхи ответственны за существование многочисленных других тварей-
рептилианов и существ с сознанием или странными силами, включая бегемотов, селезней и змей-мутантов.
DC 20: Саррукх может принимать одну из двух форм: гуманоидное тело, сужающееся в змеиный хвост, или
двуногая человекоподобная форма, любая из которых увенчивается змееподобной головой. Их двойная природа
вдохновила саррукхов на создание столь широкого спектра существ.
DC 25: Сверхъествествено способные избегать опасности, саррукхи словно изгибаются от некоторых атак.
Хотя они используют ритуалы для осторожного формирования, у всех их есть способности быстро запечатывать
глаза, гнуть кости и причинять великую боль.
DC 30: Подобно своим созданиям, особенно юань-ти, саррукхи некогда жили в кланах или благородных
домах. Теперь их количество невелико, а взгляды обращены на Императора Окотха. Бесплодные и
малочисленные, они медленно и тонко движутся к возвращению своей былой славы и к рождению новых
поколений.
Сат'фисс'ит Небовяз
Один из саррукхов Окотха, Сат'фисс'ит, заработал титул Небовяз своим мастерством солнца, ветра и шторма.
Сат'фисс'ит Небовяз Уровень 25 элитный контроллер
Средний естественный гуманоид (рептилия) XP 14,000
Инициатива +17 Чувства Восприятие +19; темновидение,
видение невидимых существ
Змеиный террор (устрашение) аура 10; пока Сат'фисс'ит не кровоточит, враги в ауре замедлены.
ОЖ 465; Кровоточащий 232; см. также змеиный террор
AC 42; Стойкость 37, Рефлексы 38, Воля 39; см. также змеиное уклонение
Иммунитет яд; Сопротивление 30 огонь
Спасброски +2
Скорость 6, полет 8; см. также ускользание
Очки действия 1
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию)
+30 против AC; 1d8+9 урон.
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию) Яд
+30 против AC; 1d6+9 урон, и цель получает продолжающийся 10 урон ядом (спасбросок заканчивает).
Д. Солнечная сфера (стандарт; по желанию) Сияющий
Дальность 20; +28 против Стойкости; 1d10+10 сияющий урон, и цель ослеплена (спасбросок заканчивает).
Д. Ггипнотические глаза (малое; по желанию) Зачарование
Дальность 10; +28 против Воли; цель ошарашивается до конца ее следующего хода.
А. Вредный вихрь (стандарт; поддержка - малое; перезарядка 5 6) Яд
Область взрыва 1 в пределах 10; +28 против Стойкости; 2d6+7 урона ядом, и цель обездвижена (спасбросок заканчивает). Промах: Половина
урона, и цели выдвинута на 1 квадрат и не обездвижена.
Д. Гадючья молния (стандарт; столкновение) Молния, Яд
Дальность 20; Сат'фисс'ит делает две атаки против различных целей; +28 против Рефлексов; 1d6+10 урон молнией, и цель получает
продолжающийся 10 урон ядом и замедлена (спасбросок заканчивает оба).
Ускользание (стандарт; по желанию) Иллюзия
Сат'фисс'ит становится невидимым до начала своего следующего хода и перемещается со своей скоростью.
Змеиное уклонение
Когда атака вплотную или по области, нацеленная на AC или Рефлексы Сат'фисс'ита, промахивается, но наносит урон при промахе, он не
получает урона от атаки вообще.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Общий, Драконий, Исконный, Саррукхар
Навыки Аркана +27, Блеф +28, Понимание +24, Запугивание +28, Скрытность +22
СИЛ 28 (+21) ЛОВ 20 (+17) МУД 24 (+19)
ТЕЛ 25 (+19) ИНТ 30 (+22) ХАР 32 (+23)
Тактика
Сат'фисс'ит беспощадно расправляется с противниками, выпуская всю ярость своих мистических сил, прежде
чем перейти к когтям и клыкам. Он использует вредный вихрь, чтобы поднять зелеными парами столько
противников, сколько возможно, и гипнотические глаза, чтобы маневрировать без риска по крайней мере со
стороны одного из противников. Он уничтожает противников разветвленными изумрудными зарядами гадючьей
молнии; в дальнобойных противников он запускает золотые солнечные сферы.
Змееоборотень (Wereserpent)
Змееоборотень - ликантроп-рептилиан, способный принимать человекоподобную форму или превращаться в
непропорционально большую змею. Его гибридная форма - двуногий чешуйчатый гуманоид со стройными,
гибкими членами и длинным хвостом.
Знания о змееоборотнях
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Природа DC 15: Ликантропия наследственна, и большинство змееоборотней рождено по крайней мере при
одном родителе-змееоборотне. Однако, в тавернах рассказывают о неудачниках, проклятых стать подобными
монстрами просто от укуса такого существа.
Природа DC 20: На Фаэруне змееоборотни часто объединяются в неизвестные общества. Они обычны в
анклавах юань-ти или возле них, особенно в тропиках. Большинство змееоборотней странно привлекательны,
легко притягивая к себе других. Также они часто связаны с торговым или преступным миром, или с ними
обеими.
Природа DC 30: У юань-ти и саррукхов все еще есть знания об изменении людей и подобных гуманоидов в
змееоборотней.
Мудрость Улиц DC 35: В семействе Джанор, павшем благородном доме Тетира, есть множество
змееоборотней. Семейство держит это в секрете, но слухи все же есть. Оно поддерживает свое богатство,
вкладывая капитал в бизнес, законный и незаконный, вверх и вниз по Побережью Меча.
Змееоборотень Уровень 6 контроллер (лидер)
Средний естественный гуманоид (рептилия, меняющий форму) XP 250
Инициатива +7 Чувства Восприятие +9; видение при слабом освещении
ОЖ 60; Кровоточащий 30
Регенерация 5 (Если змееоборотень берет урон от серебряного оружия, его регенерация не функционирует на его следующем ходу).
AC 20; Стойкость 19, Рефлексы 18, Воля 17
Скорость 6, подъем 4 (только в змеиной форме), плавание 4; см. также змеиное изменение
Р. Скимитар (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+12 против AC; 1d8+5 урона (крит 1d8+13).
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию) Яд
+12 против AC; 1d6+5 урон, и цель берет -2 штраф на броски атаки и ослаблена (спасбросок заканчивает оба).
Р. Захват хвостом (стандарт; по желанию)
+12 против AC; цель схвачена (пока не спасется). Змееоборотень может захватывать только одно существо одновременно.
Р. Утягивание противника (движение; по желанию)
Воздействует на цель, схваченную змееоборотнем; +10 против Стойкости; змееоборотень может двигаться со своей скоростью и тянуть за
собой схваченную цель.
Р. Сжимание (стандарт; по желанию)
Воздействует на цель, схваченную змееоборотнем; +10 против Стойкости; 1d4+5 урон, и цель ошарашивается до конца следующего хода
змееоборотня.
Змеиное изменение (движение; по желанию)
Змееоборотень смещается на 4 квадрата, и союзники-змеи в пределах 10 квадратов от него могут смещаться на 3 квадрата как свободное
действие.
Смена формы (малое; по желанию) Полиморф
Змееоборотень может изменять свою физическую форму, чтобы выглядеть как удав или как уникальный человек (см. Смену формы, РМ
280). Он не может использовать свои атаки укусом, сжиманием или захвата хвостом в человеческой форме и не может делать атаки
скимитаром в форме змеи.
Мировоззрение Любое Языки Общий, один другой
Навыки Акробатика +12, Блеф +12, Скрытность +12
СИЛ 20 (+8) ЛОВ 17 (+6) МУД 12 (+4)
ТЕЛ 15 (+5) ИНТ 10 (+3) ХАР 18 (+7)
Оснащение кожаный доспех, скимитар
Тактика змееоборотня
Змееоборотень, втянутый в битву, предпочитает свою гибридную форму, позволяющую использовать самый
широкий спектр сил. Он кусает опасного противника, вводя свой ослабляющий яд, затем поскорее захватывает
этого противника своим хвостом. Он продолжает сжимать это существо, даже борясь с другими.
Группы при столкновениях
Существ-рептилианов часто можно встретить вместе, особенно - таковых змеиной формы. Наги, юань-ти,
змееоборотни и саррукхи - обычные союзники. Известно, что даже драконы повиновались саррукхам. Многие из
этих существ также легко управляют существами-нерептилианами.
Змееоборотни: Индивидуальные змееоборотни развивают различные навыки, склоняющиеся к ролям солдата
или налетчика, встречаются и случайные маги или священники. Подобно крысооборотням, которые также
вливаются в цивилизации, змееоборотни могут быть найдены среди всех видов существ. Они привлекают змей и
сами тянутся к ним и часто держат змеиных тварей в качестве домашних животных. Юань-ти и другие мощные
существа-рептилианы, типа саррукхов Окотха, часто имеют лакеев-змееоборотней.
Столкновение 5 уровня (XP 1,075)
- 1 змееоборотень (уровень 6 контроллер [лидер])
- 2 смертельных гремучих гадюки (уровень 5 зверь)
- 1 железная кобра (уровень 6 налетчик)
- 1 человек-маг (уровень 4 артиллерия)
Столкновение 24 уровня (XP 32,850)
- Сат'фисс'ит (уровень 25 элитный контроллер)
- 1 великий пламенный череп (уровень 24 артиллерия)
- 1 анафема юань-ти (уровень 21 элитный налетчик)
- 2 гигантских мумии (уровень 21 зверь)
Столкновение 31 уровня (XP 109,000)
- Джарант, Король Змей (темная нага, уровень 21 элитный контроллер)
- Терпенци (уровень 30 соло)
ОПАЛЕННАЯ ТВАРЬ (SCATHEBEAST)
Слизнеподобные опаленные твари - полевые травоядные существа. Их можно встретить в маленьких диких
стадах на равнинах с высокой травой на Вернувшемся Абейре, хотя несколько проделали и путь на Фаэрун
(особенно в Тимантер). Эти существа скользят по земле на кислотной слизи, оставляя за собой тропу из
увядшей, придавленной травы. Драконы охотятся на них, но меньшие существа в общем остаются в покое.
Одинокая опаленная тварь достаточно опасна, но пробудившееся стадо может рвануться в сокрушительное
паническое бегство.
Хоть они и злобны, одинокие опаленные твари могут быть захвачены и при некоторых усилиях обучены
работать с другими существами, типа драконорожденных или людей.
Знания об опаленной твари
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Природа DC 10: Старые абейранские мифы гласят, что опаленные твари давным-давно были созданы
драконами из драконорожденных рабов в великом магическом преобразовании. Мудрецы, исследовавшие трупы
и драконорожденных, и опаленных тварей, говорят, что это почти наверняка не так, но такая вера сохраняется, и
многие драконорожденные наотрез отказывающийся нападать на опаленных тварей.
Природа DC 15: У опаленных тварей сильные семейные связи, основанные на запахе. Они нападают на
любое существо, повреждающее или убивающее семью, или оно угрожает стаду. Поколения нападок драконов
(смакующих их плоть) заставляют опаленных тварей инстинктивно бояться всего большого, нападающего с
неба, и особенно - любых источников огня. Авантюристы вокруг походных костров часто бывали убитые в
панике бегущими стадами опаленных тварей. Иногда дракон нападает на существ, досаждающих его любимому
стаду.
Природа DC 20: Опаленные твари питаются, растворяя продовольствие и впитывая его прямо сквозь свою
слизистую кожу. Слизь опаленной твари варьируется согласно источнику ее продовольствия. Обычно это
несильная кислота, не убивающая корни трав равнин, на которых обычно пасется существо. Некоторые
опаленные твари почувствовали вкус к мясу. Если опаленная тварь охотится на живую добычу или защищает
соплеменников, едкие выделения могут мгновенно растворять плоть.
Природа DC 30: Некоторые утверждают, что длительные атаки определенным видом урона могут фактически
излечивать опаленных тварей. Даже если это и не так, повторные атаки одним и тем же типом урона, похоже,
оказывают все меньший и меньший эффект на данную опаленную тварь.
Группы при столкновениях
Стада опаленных тварей редко насчитывают более пяти-восьми индивидуумов. Существа инстинктивно
избегают уничтожать поля чрезмерным выпасом.
Столкновение 6 уровня (XP 1,350)
- 1 бык опаленной твари (уровень 6 контроллер)
- 3 взрослых опаленных твари (уровень 4 зверь)
- 1 наблюдатель опаленной твари (уровень 4 налетчик)
- 1 рой зайртайлов (уровень 3 налетчик; страница 280)
- 2 теленка опаленной твари (уровень 2 зверь)
Теленок опаленной твари Уровень 2 зверь
Средняя естественная тварь XP 125
Инициатива +0 Чувства Восприятие +2
ОЖ 48; Кровоточащий 24
AC 14; Стойкость 17, Рефлексы 12, Воля 14
Иммунитет яд; Сопротивление переменное 5 (РМ 282). Каждый раз, когда опаленная тварь сопротивляется урону, ее сопротивление этому
типу урона увеличивается на 5 до конца столкновения.
Скорость 5
Р. Сокрушение (стандарт; по желанию)
+5 против AC; 2d6+3 урон.
Паническое бегство (стандарт; столкновение)
Как немедленная реакция, одна другая опаленная тварь в пределах 5 квадратов от теленка опаленной твари может разгоняться на ту же цель,
на которую разгоняется теленок опаленной твари.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 16 (+4) ЛОВ 8 (+0) МУД 13 (+2)
ТЕЛ 18 (+5) ИНТ 2 (-3) ХАР 6 (-1)
Тактика теленка опаленной твари
Размером примерно с пони, теленок опаленной твари не впечатляет на фоне взрослых членов стада. Телята
робки, если пойманы в одиночку, но они не смущаются атаковать вместе с остальной частью стада.
Взрослая опаленная тварь Уровень 4 зверь
Большая естественная тварь XP 175
Инициатива +1 Чувства Восприятие +4
ОЖ 70; Кровоточащий 35
AC 16; Стойкость 19, Рефлексы 14, Воля 16
Иммунитет яд; Сопротивление переменное 5 (РМ 282). Каждый раз, когда опаленная тварь сопротивляется урону, ее сопротивление этому
типу урона увеличивается на 5 до конца столкновения.
Скорость 6
Р. Сокрушение (стандарт; по желанию)
+7 против AC; 2d8+3 урон.
Р. Пищеварение (стандарт; перезарядка 4 5 6) Кислота
+5 против Стойкости; 2d6+3 урон, и цель схвачена (пока не спасется) и сбита наземь. Захваченная цель берет 5 кислотного урона в начале
своего хода.
Паническое бегство (стандарт; столкновение)
Как немедленная реакция, одна другая опаленная тварь в пределах 5 квадратов от взрослой опаленной твари может разгоняться на ту же
цель, на которую разгоняется взрослая опаленная тварь.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 17 (+5) ЛОВ 9 (+1) МУД 14 (+4)
ТЕЛ 19 (+6) ИНТ 2 (-2) ХАР 6 (+0)
Тактика взрослой опаленной твари
Взрослые при атаке валят противников наземь, а затем сокрушают их своей тушей, давая работу
пищеварительной кислоте.
Наблюдатель опаленной твари Уровень 4 налетчик
Большая естественная тварь XP 175
Инициатива +8 Чувства Восприятие +8
ОЖ 55; Кровоточащий 27
AC 18; Стойкость 15, Рефлексы 17, Воля 14
Иммунитет яд; Сопротивление переменное 5 (РМ 282). Каждый раз, когда опаленная тварь сопротивляется урону, ее сопротивление этому
типу урона увеличивается на 5 до конца столкновения.
Скорость 8
Р. Сокрушение (стандарт; по желанию) Яд
+9 против AC; 2d6+1 урон. Если наблюдатель опаленной твари имеет боевое преимущество против цели, цель также получает
продолжающийся 5 урон ядом (спасбросок заканчивает), и наблюдатель опаленной твари может сместиться на 1 квадрат.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
Навыки Скрытность +11
СИЛ 13 (+3) ЛОВ 19 (+6) МУД 12 (+3)
ТЕЛ 14 (+4) ИНТ 2 (-2) ХАР 6 (+0)
Тактика наблюдателя опаленной твари
В каждом стаде есть один наблюдатель. Наблюдатели работают совместно с другими опаленными тварями для
получения и поддержки боевого преимущества.
Бык опаленной твари Уровень 6 контроллер (лидер)
Большая естественная тварь XP 250
Инициатива +3 Чувства Восприятие +5
ОЖ 75; Кровоточащий 37
AC 20; Стойкость 20, Рефлексы 15, Воля 17
Иммунитет яд; Сопротивление переменное 5 (РМ 282). Каждый раз, когда опаленная тварь сопротивляется урону, ее сопротивление этому
типу урона увеличивается на 5 до конца столкновения.
Скорость 6
Р. Сокрушение (стандарт; по желанию)
+11 против AC; 2d8+3 урон.
Д. Слюна-слизь (стандарт; по желанию) Кислота
Дальность 10; +9 против Рефлексов; 2d4+5 кислотный урон.
К. Слизистый спрей (стандарт; перезарядка 4 5 6) Кислота
Близкий взрыв 4; +9 против Рефлексов; 2d4+5 кислотный урон, и цель обездвижена до конца следующего хода быка опаленной твари.
Паническое бегство (стандарт; столкновение)
Выберите до двух других опаленных тварей в пределах 5 квадратов от быка опаленной твари. Как немедленная реакция, каждая из этих
опаленных тварей может разгоняться на ту же цель, на которую разгоняется бык опаленной твари.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 13 (+4) ЛОВ 10 (+3) МУД 15 (+5)
ТЕЛ 20 (+8) ИНТ 2 (-1) ХАР 7 (+1)
Тактика быка опаленной твари
Бык начинает бой со слизистого спрея, чтобы выявить врагов, а затем начинает разгон, чтобы поскорее с ними
покончить.
Гигантская опаленная тварь
Уровень 6 элитный зверь
Огромная естественная тварь XP 500
Инициатива +6 Чувства Восприятие +3
ОЖ 180; Кровоточащий 90
AC 20; Стойкость 22, Рефлексы 20, Воля 17
Иммунитет яд; Сопротивление переменное 5 (РМ 282). Каждый раз, когда опаленная тварь сопротивляется урону, ее сопротивление этому
типу урона увеличивается на 5 до конца столкновения.
Спасброски +2
Скорость 8
Очки действия 1
Р. Сокрушение (стандарт; по желанию)
+9 против AC; 2d10+3 урон.
К. Массовое пришпиливание (стандарт; столкновение) Кислота
Близкий взрыв 1; цели - враги; +7 против Стойкости; 2d6+3 урон, и цель схвачена (пока не спасется) и сбита наземь. Схваченная цель берет 5
кислотного урона в начале своего хода.
Р. Хлестание (немедленная реакция, когда гигантская опаленная тварь получает урон от атаки существа в пределах 2 квадратов от нее; перезарядка 5 6)
Досягаемость 2; +7 против Стойкости; 2d6+3 урон, и цель притягивается смежно с гигантской опаленной тварью и схвачена (пока не
спасется).
Паническое бегство (стандарт; столкновение)
Как немедленная реакция, одна другая опаленная тварь в пределах 5 квадратов от гигантской опаленной твари может разгоняться на ту же
цель, на которую разгоняется гигантская опаленная тварь.
Мировоззрение нет Языки -
СИЛ 16 (+6) ЛОВ 16 (+6) МУД 10 (+3)
ТЕЛ 20 (+8) ИНТ 2 (-1) ХАР 7 (+1)
Тактика гигантской опаленной твари
Гигантские опаленные твари охотятся на гуманоидных существ, плоть которых они распробовали.
ТЭЙ (THAY)
Тэй маячит на востоке, словно убийца, вернувшийся из могилы, чтобы закончить свою темную работу.
Немногие в мире знают степень амбиций его правителя, но все страшатся силы Тэя и его армий нежити.
Знания о Тэе
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Религия DC 40: В течение гражданской войны в Тэе Сзасс Тэм заключил договор с Бэйном, чтобы быть
уверенным в своей победе. Но теперь Тэм задолжал Бэйну поклонение тэйского народа, и Черный Лорд в
конечном счете заберет его душу. Служителей Бэйна в Тэе приветствуют, хотя немногие из них имеют сколь-
либо высокое положение в иерархии правительства Тэя.
Мудрость Улиц DC 40: Тэй выглядел замкнутым, ушедшим в себя в течение долгого времени, в то время как
Сзасс Тэм разрабатывал колоссальный ритуал, который должен был разрушить мир и перестроить его по его
желанию. Лич стал бы величайшим богом нового мира, но ему помешали. Тэй теперь для ритуала не годится,
так что Тэм рано или поздно пойдет войной на какую-нибудь из соседних земель. Агларонд и Теск кажутся
самыми вероятными целями, и тэйские силы уже проводили успешные набеги в эти страны или около них.
Воин страха (Dread Warrior)
Некроманты Тэя - одни из лучших в мире, и их создания-нежить попросту более способны и выносливы, чем
другие. Тэй производит немало волочащихся трупов, но его Легионы Страха содержат существенное количество
интеллектуальных скелетов и зомби. Известные как воины страха, эта злая нежить может следовать приказам,
общаться и биться точно так же, как и их живущие коллеги, но они делают это, не страшась смерти. "Воин
страха" - шаблон, который Вы можете применять к любому гуманоидному существу для представления одного
из этих тэйских чудищ. Самые обычные воины страха - героические солдаты, типа человеческой стражи.
Предпосылка: Гуманоид
Воин страха элита (любая роль)
Естественный гуманоидн (нежить) XP элита
Чувства темновидение
Иммунитет болезнь, яд; Сопротивление 5 некротический, 10 некротический на 11-м уровне, 15 некротический на 21-м уровне;
Уязвимость 5 сияющий, 10 сияющий на 11-м уровне, 15 сияющий на 21-м уровне
Спасброски +2 (+4 против эффектов зачарования)
Очки действия 1
Очки жизни +6 на уровень (артиллерия, вкрывающийся)/+8 в уровень (контроллер, налетчик, солдат)/+10 на уровень (зверь) + показатель
Телосложения
Сзасс Тэм
Печально известный Сзасс Тэм - одно из самых хитрых, честолюбивых и черствых существ, которые все еще
живы. Насчитывающий почти 400 лет возраста, он высокомерен, но осмотрителен. Он занимает свое время
далеко идущим планированием, но его не пугает и возможность лично столкнуться с проблемой, если возникнет
потребность, что он и продемонмтрировал в течение гражданской войны в Тэе.
Тэм готов эксплуатировать ради своих целей необычные союзы, и в прошлом он даже помогал доброму люду.
Однако, такая уверенность или доверие к другим причинили ему неприятности, сорвав его заговор для
получения бессмертия. Теперь старый лич особенно осторожен в ведении дел.
Известный своим спокойствием и любезностью, даже с врагами, Сзасс Тэм решителен в своих желаниях. Он
ожидает, что все, кто служат ему, будут повиноваться немедленно, и строго наказывает тех, кто его подводит.
Хотя, он никогда не бросается ресурсами - некоторые из служителей слишком ценны, чтобы их просто
уничтожить.
Сзасс Тэм командует силами Тэя и работает через служителей и посредников всякий раз, когда не требуется
его непосредственного вмешательства. Генералы-нежить и некроманты направляют армии Тэя по воле Тэма.
Сзасс Тэм Уровень 30 элитная артиллерия (лидер)
Средний естественный гуманоид (нежить) XP 38,000
Человек волшебник лич
Инициатива +17 Чувства Восприятие +23; темновидение
Некромантская аура (Некротический) аура 5; любое живущее существо, вступающее в ауру или начинающее в ней свой ход, берет 5
некротический урон.
ОЖ 388; Кровоточащий 194; см. также неразрушимый
Второй ветер (стандарт; столкновение) Лечение
Сзасс Тэм тратит лечащую волну и излечивает 100 очков жизни. Он получает +2 бонус ко всем защитам до начала своего следующего хода.
Регенерация 10 (Если Сзасс Тэм получает сияющий урон, его регенерация не функционирует на его следующем ходу).
AC 45; Стойкость 45, Рефлексы 43, Воля 46
Иммунитет болезнь, устрашение, яд; Сопротивление 20 некротический
Спасброски +2 (+5 против эффектов зачарования)
Скорость 6, полет 8 (парение)
Очки действия 1
ДОРАБОТКА СЗАССА ТЭМА
Будучи Регентом Тэя, Сзасс Тэм имеет доступ к потрясающим ресурсам и готов рыться в магических тайнах. Он
может быть высшим злодеем в любой кампании, и Вам следует адаптировать его способности для лучшего
вызова вашим авантюристам.
Тэм имеет фактически неограниченное магическое знание, позволяющее ему использовать другие арканные
силы - от других классов или монстров или те, что Вы создадите сами. У него также есть обширная библиотека
ритуалов, многие из которых неизвестны другим, позволяющая ему готовить любое количество угрожающих
миру заговоров, которые персонажам придется остановить. Он имеет доступ ко множеству магических изделий,
которые может использовать против противников, включая артефакты типа Трона Такорсила (страница 58).
Изменение его внешности не особенно важно, так что Тэм может напоминать практически любого, хотя он
предпочитает форму здорового и высокого человека средних лет. Он также использует ритуал, посылающий его
образы для связи с союзниками и служителями где-нибудь в мире - и за его пределами.
Д. Вампирическое тяжелое копье (стандарт; по желанию) Некротический
Дальность 20; +35 против Рефлексов; 3d6+10 некротический урон, и Сзасс Тэм получает 5 временных очков жизни.
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию) Некротический
+34 против AC; 1d6+10 урон, и 10 продолжающийся некротический урон (спасбросок заканчивает).
К. Удар души (стандарт; ежедневно) Некротический
Близкий взрыв 10; цели - враги; +35 против Рефлексов; 5d10+11 некротический урон. Промах: Половина урон.
Некротический мастер
Сзасс Тэм может конвертировать любую атакующую силу, которую он имеет, в некротическую. Замените ключевое слово энергии силы на
"некротический" или добавьте некротическую энергию к силе атаки, обычно не наносящей энергетического урон.
Д. Фленшер (стандарт; поддержка - малое; столкновение) Устрашение, некротический
Дальность 20; +35 против Стойкости; 3d6+11 некротический урон, и цель ошеломлена (спасбросок заканчивает). Все союзники цели в
пределах линии вида берут -2 штраф на броски атаки (спасбросок заканчивает). Сзасс Тэм должен делать новый бросок атаки против
цели, пока поддерживает этот эффект. Он может менять цель как стандартное действие.
Д. Сопротивление (малое; ежедневно)
Дальность 10; Сзасс Тэм или 1 союзник в пределах диапазона получает сопротивление 10 против одного типа урона до конца столкновения.
Выберите из кислотного, холодного, огненного, силового, молнии, некротического, яда, психического, сияющего или громового урон.
Остановка времени (малое; ежедневно)
Сзасс Тэм получает два дополнительных стандартных действия, которые он не может использовать для нападения на других существ.
Теневая циркуляция (малое; столкновение) Иллюзия
Сзасс Тэм использует силу, содержащуюся в его одеждах, чтобы стать невидимым до начала своего следующего хода.
Мастер заклинаний (малое; перезарядка 5 6)
Сзасс Тэм восстанавливает использование израсходованной силы столкновения.
Неразрушимый
Когда Сзасс Тэм уменьшен до 0 очков жизни, его тело и имущество рассыпается в пыль, но он не уничтожен. Он вновь появляется (вместе со
своим имуществом) за 1d10 дней в пределах 1 квадрата от своей филактерии, если филактерия также не найдена и не уничтожена.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Абиссал, Общий, Драконий, Эльфийский, Адский, Мулхорандский
Навыки Аркана +31, Строительство Подземелий +28, История +31, Природа +28, Скрытность +22
СИЛ 12 (+16) ЛОВ 14 (+17) МУД 27 (+23)
ТЕЛ 28 (+24) ИНТ 32 (+26) ХАР 30 (+25)
Оснащение сфера
Тактика
Сзасса Тэма обычно сопровождает армия нежити. Он бьется с ясностью и холодным глумлением,
противоречащим его тлеющей ярости. Сначала он использует остановку времени, чтобы поднять свои защиты и
взлететь на самую защищенную позицию, а затем взрывает противников ударом души. Он призывает порожнее
проклятие, изводя тех, кто выходит из боя, и фленшер, чтобы мучить бойцов-рукопашников. Теневая циркуляция
позволяет Тэму делать стратегические отступления, так что он может перезаряжать силу столкновения, хотя он
может также использовать ее, чтобы оказаться посреди почти мертвых противников и использовать
кровожадное влияние.
Группы при столкновениях
В пределах ужаса Тэя зло - норма. Его правителям служит нежить всевозможных сортов, и лакеи Сзасса Тэма
управляют правительством. Наряду с нежитью - весь спектр злых существ, от непритязательных гоблинов, орков
и гноллов-солдат до смертельных гигантов, извергов и темных ангелов на службе Бэйна.
Столкновение 6 уровня (XP 1,426)
- 1 боевой дух (уровень 9 солдата)
- 2 гнолла бойца на когтях (уровень 6 налетчик)
- 1 тифлинг еретик (уровень 6 артиллерия)
- 1 дух (уровень 5 скрывающийся)
- 2 воина-хобгоблина (уровень 8 миньон)
- 2 человека-лакея (уровень 7 миньон)
Столкновение 14 уровня (XP 5,800)
- 2 костяных когтя (уровень 14 солдат)
- 1 мечедух (уровень 17 скрывающийся)
- 1 лич (уровень 14 элитный контроллер)
- 6 гхолов орды (уровень 13 миньон)
Столкновение 29 уровня (XP 88,125)
- Сзасс Тэм (уровень 30 элитная артиллерия [лидер])
- 1 рыцарь смерти (уровень 25 элитный солдат)
- 2 духа страха (уровень 25 скрывающийся)
- 7 остатков лича (уровень 26 миньон)
- 5 абиссалских гхолов-мирмидонцев (уровень 23 миньон)
РЫЦАРИ-КОЛДУНЫ ВААСЫ (WARLOCK KNIGHTS OF VAASA)
Рыцари-Колдуны - дворяне зверской феодальной системы Ваасы. Их искривленный дворянский орден основан
на сущности из другого мира, известной как Телос, упавшей на землю в течение Чумы Заклинаний. Они владеют
разнообразными силами, наносящими сияющий урон, влекомый сущностью Телоса.
Знания о Ваасе
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Мудрости Улиц.
DC 20: В Ваасе почти все материально проирывают крестьянам других земель. Существенная часть населения
состоит из гуманоидных рабов и чудовищных существ, служащих Рыцарям-Колдунам. Однако, свободный народ
в Ваасе также должен трудиться, рискуя жизнью и свободой, если окажется не в состоянии исполнить темные
пожелания своих владык. Лучшее, на что можно надеяться в Ваасе, помимо становления Рыцарем-Колдуном -
быть неприметным либо квалифицированным до уровня незаменимости.
DC 30: В центре Совета Железного Вихря стоит его тринадцатый член и самый старый из живущих Рыцарей-
Колдунов - злой человек, называющий себя Голосом Телоса. Считается, что он первым обнаружил павшую
форму Телоса в тундре Ваасы. Если в Ваасе и есть король, то это - Голос Телоса, поскольку все остальные
Рыцари-Колдуны преклоняются перед его властью.
Рыцари-Колдуны
Беспощадные владыки Ваасы, также как и многие из их элитных агентов, практикуют темные арканные
искусства для поддержки других талантов. Другие почти исключительно используют силу, полученную от их
пактов и связанной формы Владыки Железного Неба.
Подобно знати других царств, Рыцари-Колдуны предоставляют власть тем, кто ниже их, но они - истинные
правители и владыки Ваасы. Даже самый непритязательный среди них имеет жизненно важную власть над
простым народом. Двенадцать самых влиятельных Рыцарей-Колдунов составляют Совет Железного Вихря,
имеющий власть над всей группой.
Лидер: Голос Телоса.
Штаб: Телос, в Ваасе (страница 189).
Иерархия: Иерархия Рыцарей-Колдунов свободно базируется на феодальных и воинских традициях, обычных
в других землях. Рыцари без земли известны как исполнители, и эта мелкая знать служит эмиссарами,
шпионами, солдатами и убийцами для более высоких Рыцарей-Колдунов. Рыцари с землей, также известные как
феллтаны, имеют абсолютную власть в своих владениях и поддерживают частные армии. Они - вассалы более
мощных фигур, известных как защитники. Величайшие защитники составляют Совет Железного Вихря,
вращающийся вокруг Голоса Телос.
Светила - члены независимой секты, сформированной Голосом Телоса, функционирующей почти как
священники в других королевствах. Они глубже всего преданы пакту, связывающему Рыцарей-Колдунов с
Телосом, и их можно встретить в качестве советников при большинстве дворов Рыцарей-Колдунов.
Члены: Рыцари-Колдуны - элита, выбираемая из числа самых безжалостных и способных в Ваасе. Несколько
титулов перешло по наследству, но лишь тем наследникам, которые продемонстрировали, что достойны. Те, кто
желают повыситься в ранге, должны служить правильным интересам и в нужный момент перерезать нужную
глотку. Как только они показали себя перед теми, кто у власти, они в свою очередь становятся дворянами.
Каждый Рыцарь-Колдун должен присматривать за меньшими товарищами, понимая, что любая слабость может
отворить дверь для нападения или для чего-то похуже.
ЖЕЛЕЗНЫЙ ВИХРЬ (IRONFELL)
Рыцари-Колдуны собирают материал постоянно регенериующего тела исконного Телоса. Они используют этот
материал для выделки изделий и для создания конструкций, называемых осколками души. Телос быстро
оправляется от таких разработок, так что у Рыцарей-Колдунов есть почти бесконечный запас материала,
который они называют железным вихрем, или просто "железом".
Обработанный железный вихрь тверд как сталь, хотя и более тусклый и с кристаллической структурой. Из
него легко делать магические изделия. Величайшая естественная сила железного вихря очевидна лишь в руках
Колдунов, имеющих особый звездный пакт с сонным Телосом. Их оружие из железного вихря наносит
сияющий урон, равный бонусу Харизмы владельца. Иные силы, наносящие сияющий урон, пылают
фиолетовым звездным блеском. Доспех, сделанный почти полностью из железного вихря, дарует носящему
его сопротивление сияющему урону, равное его модификатору Харизмы.
Будучи пользователями арканной силы, многие Рыцари-Колдуны - также ритуальные заклинатели. Они
исполняют уникальные ритуалы, связанные с железным вихрем, включая используемые для поднятия
осколков души. Более всего из них известен Пакт Железного Кольца (страница 59).
Все Рыцари-Колдуны носят простую петлю из темного, прозрачного железа в качестве символа своего статуса
и силы. Несмотря на слухи о том, что они способны прогибать разум, эти кольца не имеют никаких внутренних
магических способностей. Они функционируют как фокусы для некоторых из ритуалов и сил Рыцарей-Колдунов
и могут быть переделаны в магические кольца.
Рыцарь-Колдун исполнитель Уровень 9 элитный налетчик
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек XP 800
Инициатива +11 Чувства Восприятие +9
ОЖ 194; Кровоточащий 97
AC 25; Стойкость 22, Рефлексы 25, Воля 23
Спасброски +2
Скорость 6
Очки действия 1
Р. Кинжал железного вихря (стандарт; по желанию) Сияющий, Оружие
+15 против AC; 1d4+6 урона плюс 4 сияющий урон.
Д. Сюрикен железного вихря (стандарт; по желанию) Сияющий, Оружие
Дальнобойная 6/12; +14 против AC; 1d6+6 урона плюс 1d4 сияющий урон.
Воин Звезды Осколка (стандарт; по желанию) Сияющий, Оружие
Исполнитель делает две основных атаки (рукопашных или дальнобойных).
Д. Звездопад железных небес (стандарт; столкновение) Сияющий
Дальность 10; +12 против Воли; 1d6+4 сияющий урон, и цель ошарашивается до конца следующего хода исполнителя.
Собственная удача Темного (свободно, когда исполнитель делает бросок атаки, спасбросок, проверку способности или проверку навыка;
ежедневно)
Исполнитель перебрасывает и использует лучший из двух результатов.
Боевое преимущество
Исполнитель наносит дополнительный 2d6 урон в рукопашной и дальнобойной атаках против любой цели, против которой имеет боевое
преимущество.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Общий, Дамарский (РИ)
Навыки Аркана +10. Блеф +13, Дипломатия +13, Понимание +9
СИЛ 15 (+6) ЛОВ 22 (+10) МУД 10 (+4)
ТЕЛ 17 (+7) ИНТ 12 (+5) ХАР 18 (+8)
Оснащение кожаный доспех, 2 кинжала железного вихря, 15 сюрикенов железного вихря, железное кольцо
Тактика исполнителя
Исполнитель предпочитает путешествовать с окружением из головорезов и миньонов, натравливая их на
противников и тем самым создавая себе лучшую тактическую ситуацию. Он использует свои арканные силы для
получения боевого преимущества или чтобы открыть себе путь для беспрепятственного движения.
Рыцарь-Колдун защитник Уровень 15 элитный солдат (лидер)
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек XP 2,400
Инициатива +9 Чувства Восприятие +7
Маяк Телоса аура 5; союзники в пределах ауры получают сопротивление 10 против огня, психического и сияющего урон.
ОЖ 286; Кровоточащий 143
AC 32; Стойкость 30, Рефлексы 27, Воля 28
Сопротивление сияющий 5
Спасброски +2
Скорость 5; см. также преследование железного неба
Очки действия 1
Р. Глефа железного вихря (стандарт; по желанию) Сияющий, Оружие
Досягаемость 2; +21 против AC; 2d4+7 урона плюс 1d10 сияющий урон, и цель отмечена до конца следующего хода защитника.
Преследование железного неба (немедленная реакция, когда враг, отмеченный защитником в пределах 5 квадратов от защитника,
перемещается вовне; по желанию)
Защитник перемещается до 4 квадратов к отмеченному врагу.
Р. Дуги глефой (стандарт; по желанию) Сияющий, Оружие
Защитник делает две атаки глефой железного вихря.
К. Метеорное воздействие (стандарт; перезарядка 6) Сияющий, Оружие
Близкий взрыв 2; +21 против AC; 2d4+7 урона плюс 1d10 сияющий урон, и цель сдвигается на 1 квадрат.
Д. Звездопад железных небес (стандарт; столкновение) Сияющий
Дальность 10; +19 против Воли; 1d6+5 сияющий урон, и цель ошарашивается до конца следующего хода защитника.
Собственная удача Темного (свободно, когда защитник делает бросок атаки, спасбросок, проверку способности или проверку навыка;
ежедневно)
Защитник перебрасывает и использует лучший из двух результатов.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Общий, Дамарский (РИ)
Навыки Аркана +16, Атлетика +17, Дипломатия +17, Запугивание +17
СИЛ 24 (+14) ЛОВ 10 (+7) МУД 11 (+7)
ТЕЛ 15 (+9) ИНТ 18 (+11) ХАР 20 (+12)
Оснащение пластинчатый доспех железного вихря, глефа железного вихря, железное кольцо
Тактика защитника
Зачастую лидер команды Рыцарей-Колдунов и других отрядов, защитник использует преимущество
досягаемости, руководя из задних рядов боевой линии. Кружа свою глефу железного вихря, он
сосредотачивается на отмеченной цели, пока та не падет. Он обращает невиданный взрыв и звездопад железных
небес на противников, держащихся на расстоянии.
Рыцарь-Колдун светило Уровень 16 элитная артиллерия
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек XP 2,800
Инициатива +8 Чувства Восприятие +10
ОЖ 245; Кровоточащий 122
AC 30; Стойкость 30, Рефлексы 29, Воля 32
Спасброски +2
Скорость 6; см. также звездную тропу
Очки действия 1
Р. Шестопер железного вихря (стандарт; по желанию) Сияющий, Оружие
+18 против AC; 1d10+1 урон плюс 7 сияющий урон.
Д. Невиданный взрыв (стандарт; по желанию)
Дальность 10; +20 против Рефлексов; 1d10+7 урон.
Д. Удвоенный невиданный взрыв (стандарт; по желанию)
Производится две атаки невиданным взрывом против различных целей.
А. Ленты Телоса (стандарт; поддержка - малое; ежедневно) Сияющий
Область взрыва 1 в пределах 10; +20 против Стойкости; 4d6+7 сияющий урон, и цель ограничена (спасбросок заканчивает). Светило должен
делать новые броски атаки, пока поддерживает эффект.
К. Метеоры железных небес (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Сияющий
Близкий взрыв 10; воздействует на две цели в области; +20 против Воли; 2d6+7 сияющий урон, и цель ошарашивается до конца следующего
хода светила.
Собственная удача Темного (свободно, когда светило делает бросок атаки, спасбросок, проверку способности или проверку навыка;
ежедневно)
Светило перебрасывает и использует лучший из двух результатов.
Проклятие железного вихря (малое; по желанию)
Светило выбирает ближайшего врага в пределах линии вида. Этот враг берет дополнительный 2d6 урон от атак светила. Светило не может
проклинать врага, уже находящегося под эффектом проклятия железного вихря или проклятия другого существа.
Судьба железного вихря
Когда враг под эффектом проклятия железного вихря уменьшен до 0 очков жизни, светило получает +5 бонус силы к отдельному броску d20
перед концом его следующего хода.
Звездная тропа (движение; столкновение) Сияющий
Светило перелетает до 7 квадратов, приземляясь на незанятом месте; он становится иллюзорным в течение этого движения. Враг, который
делает атаку возможности против светила в течение этого движения, берет 10 сияющего урон.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Общий, Дамарский (РИ), Исконный
Навыки Аркана +17, Блеф +20, Запугивание +20, Мудрость Улиц +20
СИЛ 12 (+9) ЛОВ 10 (+8) МУД 14 (+10)
ТЕЛ 20 (+13) ИНТ 18 (+12) ХАР 24 (+15)
Оснащение робы, шестопер железного вихря, железное кольцо
Тактика светила
С тыла защитной группы светило сначала устанавливает контроль над полем битвы лентами Телоса,
светящимися фиолетовыми прядями: вырывающимися из земли. Затем он использует проклятие железного
вихря, предпринимая малое действие в каждом раунде, чтобы проклясть столько противников, сколько
возможно, и обжигает проклятых противников вспышкой сломанного разума. Дождь метеоров железных небес
избивает противников при любой возможности. Звездная тропа позволяет светилу ненадолго перемещаться в
виде кометы фиолетового света, меняя позицию для тактической выгоды или для спасения.
Осколок души (Shardsoul)
Сформированные из экстрапланарного железа, вырезанного из тела Телоса, осколки души - безумные автоматы,
служащие неустрашимыми солдатами Рыцарей-Колдунов.
Осколок души убийца Уровень 8 солдат
Средний элементный оживленный (конструкция) XP 350
Инициатива +13 Чувства Восприятие +5; темновидение
Сводящая с ума аура (Зачарование) аура 5; враги в пределах ауры берут -2 штраф на броски атаки и получают +2 бонус на броски урон.
Каждый враг, атака которого по осколку души убийце промахивается, должен делать базовую рукопашную атаку против ближайшего
союзника в пределах досягаемости как свободное действие.
ОЖ 90; Кровоточащий 45; см. также отпускание осколка души
AC 23; Стойкость 21, Рефлексы 20, Воля 18
Иммунитет болезнь, яд; Сопротивление 5 сияющий
Скорость 6, прыжок 4
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию)
+14 против AC; 1d8+5 урон, и цель отмечена до конца следующего хода осколка души убийцы.
Р. Убийственное безумие (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6)
Осколок души убийца делает две атаки когтем. Если любая из атак поражает цель, отмеченную осколком души убийцей, или если обе атаки
поражают одну и ту же цель, эта цель также ошарашивается до конца следующего хода убийцы.
Сосредоточенный убийца (немедленное прерывание, когда смежный враг, отмеченный осколком души убийцей, перемещается; по
желанию)
Осколок души убийца делает атаку когтем против этого врага.
Разгон падением с неба
Когда осколок души убийца разгоняется, он наносит дополнительный 1d8 урон.
Д. Отпускание осколка души (когда уменьшен до 0 ОЖ; столкновение)
Дальность 10; воздействует на одного другого осколка души уровня осколка души убийцы или ниже; цель может предпринять одно
дополнительное стандартное действие в каждом двух своих последующих ходов.
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки понимает Общий и Исконный
СИЛ 21 (+9) ЛОВ 18 (+8) МУД 3 (+0)
ТЕЛ 17 (+7) ИНТ 6 (+2) ХАР 15 (+6)
Оснащение великий меч
Тактика осколка души убийцы
Осколок души убийца начинает битву разгоном падением с неба, распространяя по врагам свою сводящую с ума
ауру. Затем он обрушивает свои взбешенные атаки на отдельной цели, отвлекаясь лишь в том случае: если
серьезно поврежден другим нападавшим или когда его первый противник падет.
Никакой из осколков души не задумывается о своем выживании. Он открывает себя атакам возможности,
чтобы получить лучшую тактическую позицию, и охотно жертвует собой, чтобы забрать с собой и противника.
Это может включать в себя и подталкивание врага к пропасти либо некую другую самоубийственную атаку.
Осколок души аватар Уровень 16 солдат
Большой элементный оживленный (конструкция) XP 2,800
Инициатива +19 Чувства Восприятие +9; темновидение
Сводящая с ума аура (Зачарование) аура 5; враги в пределах ауры берут -2 штраф на броски атаки и получают +2 бонус на броски урон.
Каждый враг, атака которого по осколку души аватару промахивается, должен делать базовую рукопашную атаку против ближайшего
союзника в пределах досягаемости как свободное действие.
Аура звездного визга (Психический) аура 1; враг, который начинает свой ход в пределах ауры, берет 5 психический урон.
ОЖ 156; Кровоточащий 78; см. также отпускание осколка души
AC 31; Стойкость 31, Рефлексы 27, Воля 27
Иммунитет болезнь, яд; Сопротивление 10 сияющий
Скорость 8, прыжок 6
Р. Коготь (стандарт; по желанию)
Досягаемость 2; +22 против AC; 2d6+8 урон, и цель отмечена до конца следующего хода осколка души аватара.
Д. Луч железного вихря (стандарт; по желанию) Сияющий
Дальность 10; +19 против Рефлексов; 1d10+6 сияющий урон, и цель сдвигается на 1 квадрат.
Р. Убийственное безумие (стандарт; перезарядка 4 5 6)
Осколок души аватар делает две атаки когтем. Если любая из атак поражает цель, отмеченную осколком души аватаром, или если обе атаки
поражают одну и ту же цель, эта цель также ошарашивается до конца следующего хода аватара.
К. Метеорный удар (стандарт; столкновение) Сияющий
Близкий взрыв 5; +21 против Стойкости; 1d4+8 урона плюс 1d6 сияющий урон, и цель вытолкнута на 1 квадрат и сбита наземь. Промах:
Половина урона, и цель не вытолкнута и не сбита наземь.
Сосредоточенный убийца (немедленное прерывание, когда смежный враг, отмеченный осколком души аватаром, перемещается; по
желанию)
Осколок души аватар делает атаку когтем против этого врага.
Разгон падением с неба
Когда осколок души аватар разгоняется, он наносит дополнительный 2d6 урон.
Д. Отпускание осколка души (когда уменьшен до 0 ОЖ; столкновение)
Дальность 10; воздействует на одного другого осколка души уровня осколка души аватара или ниже; цель может предпринять одно
дополнительное стандартное действие в каждом двух своих последующих ходов.
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки понимает Общий и Исконный
СИЛ 26 (+16) ЛОВ 23 (+14) МУД 3 (+4)
ТЕЛ 20 (+13) ИНТ 6 (+6) ХАР 20 (+13)
Оснащение великий меч
Тактика осколка души аватара
Осколок души аватар рвется в бой так же, как и убийца, при любой возможности выпуская метеорный удар. Он
предпочитает разрывать противников на куски в рукопашном бою, но использует свой фиолетовый луч
железного вихря, если это не может добраться до врагов.
Знания об осколке души
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке Арканы.
DC 30: Каждый осколок души несет в себе частицу сущности Телоса, и его отделение от исконного делает его
опрометчивым бойцом и капризным служителем. Он инстинктивно знает, что когда его тело раскрошится, его
оживленный дух воссоединится с Владыкой Железного Неба. Хоть он и не может говорить, осколок души
понимает Общий и Исконный.
Группы при столкновениях
Большое количество людей, гноллов, гоблинов и орков целенаправленно служит в армиях Ваасы. Рыцари-
Колдуны также управляют или порабощают более чудовищных существ, типа различных тварей, конструкций,
драконов, извергов, гигантов и нежити - невзирая на их мощь и печальную известность. Некоторые из них -
просто союзники Железного Совета, в то время как другие непосредственно подчинены его воле.
Столкновение 9 уровня (XP 2,450)
- 1 Рыцарь-Колдун исполнитель (уровень 9 элитный налетчик)
- 2 осколок души убийца (уровень 8 солдат)
- 1 вождь орков (уровень 8 зверь)
- 6 воинов-орков (уровень 9 миньон)
Столкновение 16 уровня (XP 7,650)
- 1 Рыцарь-Колдун светило (уровень 16 элитная артиллерия)
- 1 Рыцарь-Колдун защитник (уровень 15 элитный солдат [лидер])
- 1 осколок души аватар (уровень 16 солдат)
- 3 огра-громилы (уровень 16 миньон)
ЗАЙРТАЙЛ (ZAIRTAIL)
Зайртайлы - маленькие, стремительные ящерицы, обычные на Вернувшемся Абейре. Некоторые сходятся со
слизнеподобными опаленными тварями (страница 272), разъезжая роем на спине одного из существ, ловя
своими щелкающими языками насекомых. Другие приспособились к другим окружающим средам континента.
Большинство разновидностей зайртайлов стройно и проворно. Их тела покрыты гладкой чешуей различных
ярких оттенков. Типичный зайртайл размером примерно с руку большого человека с хвостом вдвое длиннее;
само большой - размером всего лишь с собаку. Хвост и тело - гладкое единое целое.
Зайртайлы жестоки и нападают практически на любое существо.
Знания о зайртайлах
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
Природа DC 10: Зайртайлы ценятся как источник чернил и краски, получаемых из их сваренных шкурок. Они
съедобны, но их жирная плоть масляниста, тяжела и неприятна на вкус ("словно болотная грязь"). Трупы
зайртайлов огненных языков горят дымным пламенем и могут использоваться в связке в качестве факелов.
Природа DC 15: Зайртайлы откладывают около пяти белых, эластичных яиц, покрытых вонючей слизью.
Кроме огненных языков, предпочитающих более теплые гнезда, большинство зайртайлов роют норы в открытой
почве и откладывают яйца без особых церемоний. Закопав яйца, они оставляют свое потомство на произвол
судьбы.
Природа DC 20: Зайртайлов-резаков иногда обучают для использования их убийцами. Убийца добывает запах
цели на платке или другой оторванной части одежды, затем приучает к запаху одного или нескольких резаков и
выпускает их около дома цели. После того, как кровавая работа сделана, убийца забирает существ, даже и ногой
не вступая в постройку. Если расследователь не знаком с зайртайлами-резаками, орудие убийства проследить
почти невозможно.
БЕСШУМНЫЙ НОЖ
Эта кабалла капитанов кораблей и прибрежных торговцев недавно возникла и в Портах Восходящего Ветра, и в
Сумеречных Портах Вернувшегося Абейра. Бесшумный Нож начинал как картель, распространявший слухи и
нехватке или сговаривавшийся ограничивать поставки для взвинчивания цена на свой груз. Теперь он взялся за
убийства членов портовых и воровских банд и даже за убийства коррумпированных хранителей законов и
политических фигур.
Бесшумный Нож использует обученных зайртайлов для переноски сообщений, написанных на бумаге или
прямо на их чешуе. Член, прибывающий в порт, выпускает зайртайла, бегущего к известной ему клетке члена,
живущего в этом порту. Доставив свое сообщение, зайртайл возвращается на корабль за сладкой наградой.
Члены Ножа не знают, что у мучительных щупалец (см. "Двор Рорна", страница 242) есть естественная
ментальная связь с зайртайлами. Теперь придворные Рорна через зайртайлов наблюдают и исподволь влияют
на деятельность Бесшумного Ножа.
Аркана DC 20: У зайртайлов есть неопределенное подобие драконам, что не случайно. Подобно тому, как
селезни - отдаленные родственники драконов, зайртайлы - гораздо более деградировавшая ветвь этого могучего
происхождения.
Рой зайртайлов Уровень 3 налетчик
Средняя естественная тварь (рептилия) XP 150
Инициатива +7 Чувства Восприятие +3; видение при слабом освещении
Атака роя аура 1; рой зайртайлов делает базовую атаку как свободное действие против каждого из врагов, начинающих свой ход в ауре.
ОЖ 40; Кровоточащий 20
AC 17; Стойкость 13, Рефлексы 18, Воля 16
Сопротивление 5 кислота, половина урона от рукопашной и дальнобойной атак; Уязвимость
5 против атак вплотную и по области
Скорость 8; может входить или двигаться через местоположение врага, не вызвая атаки возможности
Р. Рой зубов (стандарт; по желанию)
+8 против AC; 1d8+4 урон плюс продолжающийся 3 урон.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 7 (-1) ЛОВ 19 (+5) МУД 14 (+3)
ТЕЛ 9 (+0) ИНТ 2 (-3) ХАР 8 (+0)
Тактика роя зайртайлов
Рой зайртайлов бесстрашно кидается на врага, прыгая с опаленной твари, на которой ездит, при первом же
поводе.
Зайртайл огненный язык Уровень 3 артиллерия
Маленькая естественная тварь (рептилия) XP 150
Инициатива +5 Чувства Восприятие +0; видение при слабом освещении
ОЖ 36; Кровоточащий 18
AC 15; Стойкость 15, Рефлексы 17, Воля 12
Ошпаривающее тело Когда зайртайл огненный язык поражен рукопашной атакой или схвачен, нападающий берет 5 огненного урона, и
огненный язык смещается на 1 квадрат.
Сопротивление 10 огонь
Скорость 6
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию)
+8 против AC; 1d8+4 урон.
Д. Сжигающая желчь (стандарт; по желанию) Огонь
Дальность 10; +10 против AC; 2d6+2 оненный урон.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 8 (+0) ЛОВ 19 (+5) МУД 9 (+0)
ТЕЛ 14 (+3) ИНТ 2 (-3) ХАР 7 (-1)
Тактика зайртайла огненного языка
Эта багровая ящерица - размером с маленькую собаку и ошпаривающе-горячая на ощупь. Она использует свой
естественный жар, чтобы препятствовать хищникам, плюя сжигающей желчью в самых опасных врагов.
Смотрящий зайртайл Уровень 3 контроллер
Маленькая естественная тварь (рептилия) XP 150
Инициатива +3 Чувства Восприятие +8; видение при слабом освещении
ОЖ 40; Кровоточащий 20
AC 17; Стойкость 12, Рефлексы 15, Воля 17
Скорость 6, подъем 6
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию)
+8 против AC; 1d8+2 урон.
К. Дезориентирующий взгляд (стандарт; по желанию) Зачарование
Близкий взрыв 5; цели - враги; слепые существа иммунны; +7 против Воли; цель ошарашена до конца следующего хода смотрящего
зайртайла.
Тревога зайртайлов (стандарт; перезарядка 4 5 6)
Все зайртайлы в пределах 10 квадратов могут перемещаться со своей скоростью как свободное действие.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 7 (-1) ЛОВ 14 (+3) МУД 14 (+3)
ТЕЛ 9 (+0) ИНТ 2 (-3) ХАР 19 (+5)
Тактика смотрящего зайртайла
На ногах смотрящих зайртайлов есть липкие подушечки, позволяющие им цепляться за деревья, потолки и
другие идеальные для преимущества поверхности. Выпирающие глаза смотрящего придают ему симпатичный
вид, но они - гипнотическое оружие для отвлечения добычи, пока он подзывает на кормежку рой своих
собратьев.
Зайртайл-костолом Уровень 4 зверь
Маленькая естественная тварь (рептилия) XP 175
Инициатива +3 Чувства Восприятие +1; видение при слабом освещении
ОЖ 67; Кровоточащий 33
AC 16; Стойкость 18, Рефлексы 15, Воля 13
Скорость 6
Р. Укус (стандарт; по желанию)
+7 против AC; 2d6+4 урон, и цель захвачена (пока не сбежит; см. также мертвая хватка).
Р. Утягивание (стандарт; по желанию)
Только захваченная цель; +6 против Стойкости; 2d6+4 урон, и зайртайл перемещается со своей скоростью, утягивая за собой захваченную
цель.
Мертвая хватка
Зайртайл-костолом не должен поддерживать захват. Его захват продолжается, пока жертва не спасется или пока костолом ее не отпустит;
костолом имеет +5 бонус к защите Стойкости против попыток спасения. Подвергание состоянию, не позволяющему костолому
предпринимать действия возможности, не заканчивает его захват. Если костолом подвергнут вынужденному движению, он тянет
захваченное существо с собой.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 19 (+6) ЛОВ 12 (+3) МУД 9 (+1)
ТЕЛ 17 (+5) ИНТ 2 (-2) ХАР 7 (+0)
Тактика зайртайла-костолома
Размером с большую собаку, костолом имеет непропорционально большие челюсти и загнутые внутрь клыки.
Он делает выпад, чтобы захватить цель своим укусом, и утягивает добычу, чтобы съесть ее на досуге. Как только
его челюсти сомкнутся, лишь его собственная смерть или смерть его жертвы может заставить костолома
разомкнуть их.
Зайртайл-резак Уровень 5 налетчик
Маленькая естественная тварь (рептилия) XP 200
Инициатива +9 Чувства Восприятие +4; видение при слабом освещении
ОЖ 58; Кровоточащий 29
AC 19 (23 против атак возможности); Стойкость 15, Рефлексы 20, Воля 17
Скорость 8
Р. Рубящий гребень (стандарт; по желанию)
+10 против AC; 1d8+5 урон.
Р. Неуловимый разрез (стандарт; по желанию)
+10 против AC; 1d8+5 урон, и зайртайл-резак смещается на 2 квадрата.
Секущий разгон (стандарт; перезарядка 4 5 6)
Зайртайл-резак перемещается со своей скоростью. Он может делать отдельную базовую атаку против каждого из существ, мимо которых
перемещается смежным в течение этого движения.
Мировоззрение Нет Языки -
СИЛ 8 (+1) ЛОВ 20 (+7) МУД 15 (+4)
ТЕЛ 10 (+2) ИНТ 2 (-2) ХАР 8 (+1)
Тактика зайртайла-резака
Зайртайл-резак никогда не останавливается, но бросается в битву и из нее со своим секущим разгоном, при
возможности используя неуловимый разрез для получения боевого преимущества.
Группы при столкновениях
Рой зайртайлов обычно можно встретить вместе с группой пасущихся опаленных тварей. Чаще зайртайлы
формируются в смешанные охотничьи группы, обычно включающие смотрящего.
Столкновение 3 уровня (XP 700)
- 2 зайртайла-костолома (уровень 4 зверь)
- 1 смотрящий зайртайл (уровень 3 контроллера)
- 1 зайртайл-резак (уровень 5 налетчик)
ЖЕНТАРИМ (ZHENTARIM)
Жентарим, также известный как Черная Сеть - группа безжалостных наемников. Женты, как они известны, за
хорошие деньги нанимаются практически на любую работу, невзирая на этику.
Знания о Жентариме
Персонаж знает следующую информацию при успешной проверке навыка.
История DC 20: Мэншун, волшебник-правитель Жентил Кипа, основал Черную Сеть. Он создал огромную
организацию, включавшей в себя много злых церквей, прежде всего - таковую Бэйна. Его действия в конечном
счете привели к противоречию с честолюбивым Фзоулом Чембрилом, вырвавшим первичный контроль над
сетью у Мэншуна.
История DC 25: Под лидерством Фзоула Жентарим некогда контролировал половину региона Лунного Моря.
Группа попыталась править Долинами и уничтожить Миф Драннор, но в конечном счете потерпела неудачу.
Затем Фзоул заключил союз с фаэриммами, который и повлек за собой уничтожение Жентарима.
В течение истребительной войны с фаэриммами шедовары узнали о связи их с Жентаримом. Нетерилу
достаточно было и маленькой провокации, чтобы уничтожить Черную Сеть. Он превратил в пустошь Жентил
Кип и Цитадель Ворона.
Религия DC 20: Когда преданные Бэйна перенесли серьезное поражение, выжившие удалились из
Жентарима. Сильное следование богу Цирику существовало в Даркхолде, который внезапно стал видной
крепостью Черной Сети. Цирикисты быстро получили верх в оставшейся наемной группе, и женты стали
видными союзниками Церкви Цирика.
Однако, связь Цирика с Жентаримом далеко не тверда. Фзоул Чембрил ненавидит нетерезов за уничтожение
ими Черной Сети, и эта ненависть дала ему последователи среди жентов. Хотя церковь Бэйна формально не
объединена с Жентаримом, эти две группы часто имеют общие цели и ради этого работают вместе. Нить
уважения и даже поклонения Бэйну все еще существует в Жентариме - нить, которую приверженцы Цирика
хотели бы обрубить.
Мудрость Улиц DC 15: Мечи-на-продажу Жента приметнее всего на Побережье Дракона около Вестгейта и в
южной области Побережья Меча. Они также беспокоят земли близ этих регионов, типа Кормира и Луруара.
Существенное количество баз, убежищ и цитаделей Жентарима рассеяно в северо-западной части Фаэруна.
Организация
Наемники Жента широко распространены, но их досягаемость не обязательно приравнивается к силе.
Организация Жентарима в чем-то свободна, и обширные наемные ячейки не обязательно отчитываются о работе,
если вообще делают это.
Жентарим предлагает свою защиту торговцам и устраивает атаки против тех, кто не платит. Они занимаются
разнообразными преступными делами, от мелкой контрабанды до открытых убийств и разработки схем
шантажа. Женты захватывают монстров, помогают им и направляют их для угрозы мирным поселениям по
различным причинам - включая найм для отгона существ.
Лидер: Мэншун.
Штаб: Штормостраж (см. ниже) и город Побережья Дракона Вестгейт.
Иерархия: Мэншун и все первичные лидеры Черной Сети - лорды-вампиры, и этот факт известен немногим,
чей статус ниже такового промежуточного лидера. Волшебники и другие арканисты, все вместе известный как
Черные Плащи, удерживают в Жентариме самые видные посты, командуя ячейками Жента и составляя заговоры.
Ниже Черных Плащей стоят военные командиры, а ниже их - видные торговцы, являющиеся частью Черной
Сети. Большинство наемных офицеров - профессиональные солдаты. Некоторые из них - чемпионы Цирика или
некоей другой темной веры.
Члены: Жентарим расширяет свою численность, нанимая шпионов и мечей-на-продажу, а также вербуя злых
священников и арканистов. Наемная группа также приветствует нечеловеческих членов - чем мощнее, тем
лучше. Подобно лидерам группы, некоторые из членов Жентарима - вампиры.
Наемники Жента
Наемные силы формируют собой центр Черной Сети. Таланты наемного люда разносторонни, но чаще всего
встречаются солдаты и волшебники, наряду со священниками Цирика.
ЦЕРКОВЬ ЦИРИКА
После заточения Цирика сила и влияние его церкви на Фаэруне несколько уменьшились. Церковь остается
влиятельной в Амне и Муранндине. У нее также есть великий авторитет среди членов Жентарима - Бэйн
"проиграл" борьбу за Черную Сеть, когда нетерезы разрушили Жентил Кип. Помимо этих основных
точек, существуют более чем несоизмеримые культы цирикистов. В один прекрасный день эти отдельные
ветви преданных Цирика могут объединиться, но пока что они далеки друг от друга.
Влияние цирикистов на Жентарим питает разрушительное поведение группы. Оно также ведет жентов к
охотной связи с мерзкими существами и к исполнению отвратительных действий. Цирикисты в пределах
Жентарима намереваются использовать ресурсы организации для освобождения своего бога. Преданность
цирикистов обману помогает им работать с некоторой тонкостью. Агенты, как известно, использовали для
определенных задач обманутых добряков.
Солдат Жента Уровень 5 солдат
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек XP 200
Инициатива +4 Чувства Восприятие +2
ОЖ 63; Кровоточащий 31
AC 21; Стойкость 18, Рефлексы 16, Воля 16
Скорость 5
Р. Длинный меч (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+10 против AC; 1d8+6 урон, и цель отмечена до конца следующего хода солдата Жента.
Д. Арбалет (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Дальнобойная 15/30; +9 против AC; 1d8+2 урон.
Р. Хитрый разрез (стандарт по желанию) Оружие
Требует длинного меча; воздействует на цель, отмеченную солдатом Жента; +12 против AC; 1d8+6 урон, и цель замедлена (спасбросок
заканчивает).
Р. Поток железа (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
Требует щита; +11 против AC; 1d8+4 урон, и цель вытолкнута на 1 квадрат, если она Большая или меньше. Солдат Жента может сдвинуться
на 1 квадрат на место, освобожденное целью.
Фаланга Жента
Пока солдат Жента смежен с союзником, он не предоставляет боевого преимущества для замыкающих врагов.
Отмеченное преимущество
Солдат Жента наносит дополнительный 1d4 урон при всех атаках против цели, которая отмечена им.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Чондатанский (РИ), Общий
Навыки Выносливость +7, Запугивание +9, Мудрость Улиц +9
СИЛ 18 (+6) ЛОВ 15 (+4) МУД 11 (+2)
ТЕЛ 15 (+4) ИНТ 10 (+2) ХАР 15 (+4)
Оснащение чешуйчатый доспех, тяжелый щит, длинный меч, арбалет, 20 зарядов
Тактика солдата Жента
Солдат Жента обучают как связную единицу для формирования боевой линии и защиты друг друга и более
уязвимых союзников. Они подталкивают врагов назад, позволяя линии маневрировать, и с удовольствием
бьются нечестно, когда противник остается раскрытым.
Адепт Черного Солнца Жента Уровень 6 контроллер
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек XP 250
Инициатива +3 Чувства Восприятие +5
ОЖ 67; Кровоточащий 33
AC 20; Стойкость 17, Рефлексы 18, Воля 20
Скорость 5
Р. Шестопер (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+10 против AC; 1d10+2 урон.
Д. Черный солнечный луч (стандарт; по желанию) Некротический или Сияющий
Дальность 10; +11 против Рефлексов; 1d4+5 некротический или сияющий урон, и цель берет -2 штраф ко всем защитам (спасбросок
заканчивает).
К. Созерцание Черного Солнца (стандарт; столкновение) Зачарование
Близкий взрыв 2; +10 против Воли; цель сдвигается на 1 квадрат, сбита наземь и ошарашена до конца следующего хода адепта.
Д. Бунтующие члены (стандарт; перезарядка 5 6) Зачарование, Психический
Дальность 10; +10 против Воли; 1d4+5 психический урон, и цель сдвигается на 2 квадрата и делает базовую рукопашную атаку против самой
себя.
Мировоззрение Хаотично злое Языки Чондатанский (РИ), Общий
Навыки Блеф +13, Дипломатия +13, Понимание +10, Религия +11
СИЛ 15 (+5) ЛОВ 10 (+3) МУД 14 (+5)
ТЕЛ 11 (+3) ИНТ 16 (+6) ХАР 20 (+8)
Оснащение цепная кольчуга, легкий щит, шестопер, железный святой символ (Цирик)
Тактика Адепта Черного Солнца Жента
Почти обезумев от преданности Цирику, Адепт Черного Солнца мчится в битву, воздев железное черное солнце -
символ Цирика. Созерцание Черного Солнца ввергает врагов в изнеможение. Опасный противник может быть
сдержан бунтующими членами, вынуждающими этого врага перемещаться и открываться для атак возможности
- или даже атаковать самого себя. Адепты держат наготове свои черные солнечные лучи, но с удовольствием
ударят и шестопером.
Военный маг Жента Уровень 6 артиллерия
Средний естественный гуманоид, человек XP 250
Инициатива +6 Чувства Восприятие +6
ОЖ 56; Кровоточащий 28
AC 19; Стойкость 17, Рефлексы 19, Воля 18
Скорость 6
Р. Кинжал (стандарт; по желанию) Оружие
+9 против AC; 1d4 урон.
Д. Магическая ракета (стандарт; по желанию) Сила
Дальность 20; +11 против Рефлексов; 2d4+5 силового урон.
К. Вспышка Жента (стандарт; столкновение) Сияющий
Близкий взрыв 3; +10 против Рефлексов; 1d8+5 сияющий урон, и цель ослеплена до конца следующего хода военного мага.
А. Огненный взрыв (стандарт; по желанию) Огонь
Область взрыва 1 в пределах 10; +10 против Рефлексов; 1d6+5 огненного урон.
А. Черные пары (стандарт; ежедневно) Яд
Область взрыва 3 в пределах 20; +10 против Рефлексов; 1d6+5 урона ядом, и цель получает продолжающийся 5 урон ядом и берет -2 штраф
на броски атаки (спасбросок заканчивает оба).
Жезл Точности (свободный; столкновение) Орудие
Требует жезла; военный маг получает +3 бонус к одному броску атаки.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Чондатанский (РИ), Обычный
Навыки Аркана +13, Дипломатия +9, Строительство Подземелий +11, Понимание +11
СИЛ 10 (+3) ЛОВ 16 (+6) МУД 16 (+6)
ТЕЛ 14 (+5) ИНТ 20 (+8) ХАР 12 (+4)
Оснащение робы, кинжал, жезл
Тактика военного мага Жента
Большинство военных магов - командиры боевых единиц Жентарима. Это волшебники с жезлами,
сосредотачивающиеся на нанесении урона с расстояния многократным противникам и маневрирующие, чтобы
избежать рукопашной. Они взрывают своих противников золотой вспышкой Жента или дымящим огненным
взрывом, или выдыхают черные пары, чтобы отравить своих врагов. Военный мага выпускает магическую
ракету, только если у него не остается других вариантов.
Мэншун
Некогда безжалостный лорд Жентил Кипа, Мэншун всегда был бесстрастным и хитрым манипулятором. Именно
он протянул первые нити Черной Сети, объединив кабаллу злых волшебников, которых назвал Черными
Плащами. Именно он расширил силу Жентарима, объединившись со Фзоулом Чембрилом и, таким образом - с
Церковью Бэйна. Но честолюбивый Фзоул сделал резкий поворот и уничтожил Мэншуна... почти.
Фзоул убил Мэншуна, чтобы захватить власть, но коварный волшебник предвидел подобное. Его смерть
выпустила его душу и дюжину или более клонов, каждый из которых считал себя "реальным" Мэншуном. Эти
двойники презирали друг друга, и через какое-то время большинство их погибло в боях, пока не осталось лишь
трое: один в Подгорье, другой воссоединился с Жентаримом, а третий получил влияние над преступным миром
Вестгейта и назвал себя Орбакхом. Жентаримский Мэншун был убит при нападении Нетерила на Жентил Кип.
Мэншун из Подгорья умер во время Чумы Заклинаний. Остался лишь Орбакх.
Став вампиром, Мэншун переименовал себя в Орбакха Ночного Короля и установил господство над основной
воровской гильдией Вестгейта, вампирическими Ночными Масками. Но когда Огненные Ножи зачистили
Вестгейт от вампиров, он удалился в свое запасное логовище - замок с привидениями Штормостраж.
Несмотря на зачистку Вестгейта, Мэншун все еще поддерживает связи с городом и его правящим домом. В
свою очередь, Дом Блет иногда нанимает наемников-жентов и позволяет волшебникам-жентам поддерживать
дома в городе. Взамен Жентарим помогает Дому Блет против вторжений якудза.
Штормостраж
Логовище Мэншуна стоит между Вестгейтом и руинами Стармантла, недалеко от старой дороги, когда-то
соединявшей эти два города. Известная большинству просто как замок с привидениями, из которого никто не
возврался, цитадель вполне соответствует своему декадентскому бессмертному владыке, и глубоко внутри ее
находятся его персональные палаты и могила. Мэншун держит здесь небольшие силы из живущих жентов, но
его слуги-нежить превосходят своей численностью живых.
Плащ темных штормовых облаков висит над Штормостражем и на мили вокруг него, независимо от погоды в
окрестностях. Солнечный свет не достигает земли. Нежить-служители Мэншуна бдительно патрулируют землю
под покровом, в то время как женты ездят и осматривают пути на восток - из Вестгейта и Тезиира.
Мэншун Уровень 28 элитный контроллер
Средний естественный гуманоид (нежить) XP 26,000
Человек волшебник лорд-вампир
Инициатива +17 Чувства Восприятие +17; темновидение, видение невидимых существ
ОЖ 500; Кровоточащий 250; см. также иссушение крови
Второй ветер (стандарт; столкновение) Лечение
ДОРАБОТКА МЭНШУНА
Мэншун - могучий волшебник, имеющий библиотеку с широким спектром дополнительных заклинаний, чтобы
разобраться с ожидаемой проблемой, а также всевозможные ритуалы. У него также есть доступ к многим
мощным магическим изделиям (и он никогда не появляется без своей кровавой маски).
Мэншун тратит лечащую волну и восстанавливает 125 очков жизни. Он получает +2 бонус ко всем защитам до начала своего следующего
хода.
Регенерация 10 (регенерация функционирует, даже когда Мэншун подвергнут прямому солнечному свету, пока он носит кровавую маску
Мэншуна)
AC 45 (47, когда кровоточит); Стойкость 42, Рефлексы 44, Воля 43
Иммунитет болезнь, яд; Сопротивление 15 некротический, 10 против дальнобойных атак; Уязвимость 10 сияющий (только не при
ношении кровавой маски Мэншуна)
Спасброски +2 (+8 против эффектов зачарования; +4/+10, когда кровоточит)
Скорость 6, подъем 4 (подъем паука); см. также боевой телепорт
Очки действия 1
Р. Посох (стандарт; по желанию) Сила, Оружие
+31 против AC; 1d6+8 урон.
R Тайный Заряд (стандарт; по желанию)
+33 против Рефлексов; 2d6+10 урон.
Р. Иссушение крови (стандарт; столкновение; перезаряжается, когда смежное существо становится кровоточащим) Лечение
Требует боевого преимущества; +31 против Стойкости; 2d12+9 урон, цель ослаблена (спасбросок заканчивает), и Мэншун восстанавливает
125 очков жизни.
Д. Доминирующий взгляд (малое; перезарядка 6) Зачарование
Дальность 5; +32 против Воли; над целью доминируют (спасбросок заканчивает, с -2 штрафом спасброску). Последействие: цель
ошарашена (спасбросок заканчивает). Мэншун может доминировать только над одним существом одновременно.
Невиданные усики (стандарт; поддержка - малое; столкновение) Сила
Область взрыва 4 в пределах 10; +33 против Рефлексов; 2d6+10 силового урона, и цель обездвижена до конца следующего хода Мэншуна.
Мэншун делает новые броски атаки, когда поддерживает этот эффект.
Д. Аркзаряд (стандарт; по желанию)
Мэншун делает две атаки арканным зарядом. Если обе атаки поражают одну и ту же цель, она ошарашивается до конца следующего хода
Мэншуна и сбита наземь.
Д. Чистка сосудов (стандарт; столкновение) Устрашение, Лечение
Дальность 20; +33 против Стойкости; 2d10+10 урон, и цель ошеломлена (спасбросок заканчивает). Все cоюзники цели, способные ее видеть,
ошарашиваются (спасбросок заканчивает). Существа нежити в пределах 3 квадратов от цели восстанавливают 15 очков жизни.
Боевой телепорт (движение; перезарядка 4 5 6) Телепортация
Мэншун телепортируется на 4 квадрата.
Форма мглы (стандарт; столкновение) Полиморф
Мэншун становится иллюзорным и получает скорость полета 12, но не может делать атаки. Он может оставаться в форме мглы до 1 часа или
закончить эффект как малое действие.
Мировоззрение Злое Языки Абиссал, Чондатанский (РИ), Общий, Драконий, Эльфийский, Божественный
Навыки Аркана +29, Дипломатия +28, История +29, Понимание +28
СИЛ 12 (+15) ЛОВ 16 (+17) МУД 16 (+17)
ТЕЛ 26 (+22) ИНТ 31 (+24) ХАР 28 (+23)
Оснащение посох, кровавая маска Мэншуна (см. страницу 57)
Тактика Мэншуна
Мэншун держит своих закадычных друзей, особенно вампирское отродье, между собой и своими врагами - и в
стратегических, и в тактических ситуациях. На поле битвы он телепортируется при необходимости, создавая
себе новых временных служителей с применением своего доминирующего взгляда. Невиданные усики
блокируют часть поля, пока Мэншун запускает аркзаряды в удерживаемых там врагов. Чистка сосудов
заставляет кровь вырываться из жертвы, и Мэншун использует ее в критический момент для помощи своим
союзникам-нежити. Он приберегает взрыв темной энергии - разбивание разума - на тот случай, если его
противники укроются, хотя он и не против для его использования телепортироваться в самый центр
противников. Он пьет кровь только по необходимости или когда для этого представляется легкая возможность.
Группы при столкновениях
В Жентариме приветствуют всех способных гуманоидов, так что расы агентов-жентов весьма разнообразны. В
Жентариме есть гуманоидные существа типа убийц-доппельгангеров, разведчиков-эльфов или тифлингов-
темных клинков. Гуманоидные миньоны часто оказываются среди наемников-жентов дополнительными, но
более слабыми солдатами, либо рабами.
Женты презренны и не гнушаются использовать или работать с любыми существами, способными
содействовать их целям. Волшебника-жента можно встретить среди налетчиков-орков; хобгоблины часто носят
цвета Жентарима. Среди агентов Жентарима бывает вампирское отродье или другая разумная нежить. Более
мощные женты могут быть лордами-вампирами или иметь устрашающих компаньонов, типа огров или гигантов.
Столкновение 5 уровня (XP 1,200)
- 2 солдата Жента (уровень 5 солдат)
- 1 Адепт Черного Солнца Жента (уровень 6 контроллер)
- 1 военный маг Жента (уровень 6 артиллерия)
- 4 человека-лакея (уровень 7 миньон)
Столкновение 5 уровня (XP 1,240)
- 1 солдат Жента (уровень 5 солдат)
- 5 человека-охранника (уровень 3 миньон)
- 1 Адепт Черного Солнца Жента (уровень 6 контроллер)
- 2 дварфа-перебежчика (уровень 4 артиллерия)
- 1 багбир-душитель (уровень 6 скрывающийся)
| textdata/thevault/Подземелья и драконы [RU]/ДнД 4/Сеттинги/Забытые королевства/книга приключений.pdf |
Mysteries in Mannath
An Easy, Group Adventure
By Thom Wilson
For Swords & WizardryTM
TG2101
E1
A group adventure for 1st through 2nd level characters
Nine separate adventures within a single town!
52 pages of material!
Old school stat blocks!
Table of Contents
ThrowiGames LLC
Mysteries in Mannath
Version 1.01
June 2013, rev20171028
By Thom Wilson
TG2101 for Swords & WizardryTM
Introduction
1
Adventure Background(s)
2
Play
6
Town of Mannath
6
Encounter Areas
16
A: “Infestation”
16
B: “Dry Well”
24
C: “Haunted Tower”
25
D: “The Mystery of Juntor
Manor”
31
E: “Revenge of Grungle”
44
F: “Mystery of the Missing
Ancestor”
46
G: “Wicked, Witch of the
Water”
47
H: “The Long Forgotten
Door”
49
Town Map
Inside cover
Contributors
Thom Wilson—author, cartography
Cover Art: 7th Sea: Nations of Theah Land-
scapes Pack, by John Wick Presents
(RPGNow) through CCA for the Explorer’s
Society.
Interior Art: Lucas Pandolfelli
Legal and Notice
Copyright © 2017 by Thomas R. Wilson,
throwigames.com. All rights reserved
worldwide. May not be copied or distrib-
uted without prior written permission with
the exception of personal roleplaying use.
Wandering Monsters
D20 roll
Result
1
Grungle (see Area E)
2
1d4 Wolves
3
1d4 Giant Ants
4
1d4 Bandits
5
Mannath Townsfolk *
6-20
Nothing Encountered
* choose one of the townsfolk or town
guards
RPGNow and the company web-
site has several more adventures
for S&W and other old school sys-
tems.
Introduction
Mysteries in Mannath was the first
easy difficulty, group adventure
released for the SRS Guidelines.
It was redesigned for a small party
of 1st through 2nd level Swords &
WizardryTM adventurers - the en-
counters found herein should be
challenging for two to four charac-
ters but not too difficult or danger-
ous.
The contents of this book are bro-
ken into two sections: Prepare, Play
and Play. The Prepare section pro-
vides all the necessary details and
background for the GM to be
ready to run the adventure. The
Play section details individual en-
counters, puzzles and challenges
that the player will likely face.
Along with details of Mannath
(buildings and inhabitants), each
of the nine adventures within the
book are found in this section.
The town of Mannath is a good
town for characters to use as a
home base in any realm; although
Mannath is found in the Terra Mi-
nor world, it can be added to any
region in the GM‘s campaign.
Enjoy!
Thom Wilson
Prepare
This section provides background
information for the GM. If you
plan on playing an adventurer in
Mysteries in Mannath, stop reading
now. If you are the GM, keep
reading.
Materials Needed
As the GM, you will want to be
familiar with the Swords and Wiz-
ardryTM
system;
the
rulebook
should be at the table with you
when you play. Knowing how to
run this game is important! Al-
though not necessary, having read
the SRS World Guide will benefit
you as a GM.
The player should have a S&W
Character Sheet to make game-
play easier. These sheets can be
found at the Frog God Games or
Mythmere websites.
Both you and the player should
have a set of polyhedral dice. You
and the player can use table top
miniatures and other visual game
aids if desired.
Final Note: Swords & Wizardry,
S&W and Mythmere Games are
trademarks of Matthew J. Finch.
ThrowiGames is not affiliated in
any way with Matthew J. Finch,
Mythmere GamesTM or Frog God
Games.
1
Adventure Background
This adventure booklet contains
nine mysteries in total. Each mys-
tery scenario has been designed to
take one to two short sessions to
complete. It is likely that the ad-
venturers will gain enough experi-
ence to increase one or two levels
after solving these mysteries.
The town of Mannath is plagued
with several small yet annoying
mysteries and issues. The Mayor,
Han Kildor, does not have enough
local resources to address the
many problems his town is cur-
rently facing. Most of the issues
are unrelated but a few originate
from one mystery and are likely to
be solved in a particular order.
Solving
the
critical
mystery
―Ellana‖ should prove to the
Mayor that the adventurers can be
trusted and are well suited to help-
ing the town resolve its many
other concerns.
Mysteries in Mannath
Area
Page
Mystery Name
Related to
A
―Infestation‖
B
―The Dry Well‖
H
C
―Haunted Tower‖
D
―The Mystery of Juntor Manor‖
Mayor‘s Home
E
―Revenge of Grungle‖
D
F
―The Mystery of the Missing Ancestor‖
E
G
―Wicked, Witch of the Water‖
B
H
―The Long Forgotten Door‖
G
spec
―Ellana‖
Table 1-1 lists the nine adventures
within the town of Mannath and
their relationships to the other
mysteries. Table 1-2 provides a
one-line synopsis of each mystery.
If the GM is using Terra Minor for the
campaign world, Mannath is found in
the southernmost portion of the Wyn-
helm province. The small hamlet is
east of Greensedge and west of Thuil
and Helmhall. Mannath is within a
few days travel to the southern ocean
sea, the Forbidden Waters. A copy of
the Terra Minor World Guide is avail-
able as a free PDF download from the
company website, found at http://
throwigames.com.
There are several other S&W adven-
tures set within the Terra Minor Cam-
paign setting, mostly within the Wyn-
helm and Nolgur-Wul provinces. You
can find most of these adventures on
RPGNow.
Table 1-1
2
2. Yalifina, an old woman living
alone at area G, is searching for an
artifact of great power. She be-
lieves it can be found in the re-
cently discovered burial chambers
beneath the local Church (area 16/
H). Using her limited magical
abilities,
she
has
accidentally
caused a cave in under the church.
While this cave in does not affect
the church or the burial chambers
directly, it has temporarily re-
routed water from an under-
ground river, one that supplies
water to the town well. Of course
this well has begun to run dry and
the townsfolk are looking for a
culprit. The old woman is an easy
target.
Further details to these story-lines
as well the lesser mysteries in ar-
eas A, C, and F can be found in
their respective sections later in the
book.
Facts
There are two main yet unrelated
plot-lines in Mannath that account
for the majority of the mysteries.
1. Recently, bandits have moved
into the abandoned manor house
at area D. These bandits are work-
ing to supply a much larger slav-
ing organization by ensnaring local
farmers and villagers on the main
road through Mannath. Their
unlikely ―boss‖ is Grungle, an ogre
with
above
average
intellect.
When the adventurers arrive in
Mannath,
Ellana,
the
Mayor‘s
daughter, has been missing for two
days. She is locked up in the base-
ment of Juntor Manor awaiting
transportation west.
The main mystery begins with the
mayor asking the characters for
help in finding his missing daugh-
ter.
Encounter Areas
Area
Synopsis
A
Giant ants have infested the croplands under Maplin‘s Farm.
B
The town well has gone dry… what is the cause?
C
The long-time tower-keeper recently passed away but his spirit lingers on.
D
Strange noises and lights are coming from the long abandoned manor house.
E
An unlikely bandit leader retaliates.
F
A sacred burial mound is missing its lone inhabitant.
G
A shunned old woman is accused of witch-craft.
H
A key has been found for an ancient burial crypt under the church…
spec
The mayor‘s daughter, Ellana has gone missing…
Table 1-2
3
Hooks
There are several ways for players
to begin these mysteries. The list
below offers a few suggestions.
1. The adventurers are passing
through town and get recruited to
help find the Mayor‘s daughter.
2. Word has gone out that Man-
nath has a rich mayor and is will-
ing to pay to resolve a few issues.
3. The adventurers return to this
town after many years away and
want to help solve the mysteries.
4. Adventurers have ―graduated‖
from a local training school and
are sent to Mannath as a final test
of their newly learned skills.
Of course, the GM can add this
town and all its mysteries as a side
excursion as part of a larger cam-
paign.
Encounter Areas
The following table lists the main
encounter areas:
Encounter Areas
Area
XP
Foes
A5
30-60
1-2 Giant Ants
A6
30-60
1-2 Giant Ants
A9
30
1 Giant Ant
A10
60
2 Giant Ants
A11
150
5 Giant Ant Soldiers
A12
1040
6 Giant Ants, 2 Giant Ant
Soldiers, Queen
Hints to Playing the Main Actors
Grungle, the bandit leader, desires
to continue his enterprise as long
as possible and does not fear the
limited resources of Mannath. The
young local guards pose no threat
to his bandit group and he will
continually increase the frequency
in which his men will kidnap vil-
lagers. His group will become so
bold over time that they will even-
tually march in to town and take
as many people as possible!
The ogre is vain, cocky and smart.
He is of average strength and will
not back down from a fight. He
will not flee nor will he go to his
superiors in the slaving organiza-
tion for help.
The old woman Yalifina is quiet
and smart, but beginning to go
mad. She believes that an ancient
Encounter Areas
Area
XP
Foes
C4
240
Zuldi-Mar‘s Ghost
D1
30
2 Bandits
D2
15
1 Bandit
D3
45
3 Bandits
D5
30
Bandit Leader
D9
15
Skeleton
D10
240
Ghost
D11
30
2 Skeletons
E
120
Ogre
F
210
7 Wolves
H1
120
8 Skeletons
H2
1100
Undead Witch
4
Future Concerns
If not rescued in time, Ellana will
eventually be moved out of Man-
nath in four days (see the Table on
page 32 for timeline). Addition-
ally, the bold bandits in area D will
continue to kidnap Mannath resi-
dents until the remaining towns-
folk flee the area.
Map Notes
Each map is drawn so that north is
on the top most side of the image.
Lighting is not indicated in the
map or notes (left as a GM deci-
sion).
artifact is under the town, specifi-
cally the local church. While there
is a magical item to be found in the
burial chambers, it is not of the
power she believes it to be. She
defends her home to the death but
flees from any confrontation else-
where. She rarely leaves home
during daylight hours.
Mayor Kildorn is a portly fellow of
great wealth. His family has gov-
erned this town for many genera-
tions. He spends his family for-
tune on the town but not necessar-
ily in the most productive of ways.
For example, he‘d rather build a
stone fountain than train his town
guardsmen. He is a loving family
man with a wife, Gelda, and six
children. He can be found in area
1 when not walking about town.
When the adventurers arrive in
town, they will likely be met and
questioned by the town guard.
The Mayor is beside himself with
worry and fear now that his
daughter Ellana is missing. If the
adventurers offer their help to the
mayor, he will likely take it
quickly. He and his wife are des-
perate for the return of their
daughter. The Mayor has begun to
let most of his duties slip while he
frantically searches for his missing
child.
Priestess Brognalla, follower of Etu
the Living, leads services at the
Mannath church (area 16). She is a
young yet exceptionally educated
woman who is eternally devoted
to her goddess. She will offer her
healing services for a church dona-
tion or free for devoted Etu follow-
ers.
5
Play
The adventures begin in the town
of Mannath. As the GM you will
have to guide the player to the
town to begin the detailed encoun-
ters listed later in this booklet.
If you are using the Terra World
Guide, you will find Mannath in
the southern portion of Wynhelm.
Mannath and several other small
border towns continue to thrive
near the borders of Sivona and
Nolgur-Wul. Of course, Mannath
can be planted in to any world.
If the adventurers complete most
or all of the mysteries within this
booklet, there is a good chance that
they
will
increase
their
level
enough to move on to the next set
of adventures in Umfall (see the
Wrap Up section at the end of the
booklet).
Mannath
The town of Mannath is a small,
growing farming village. Twenty
or more large buildings, many of
which are two stories, constitute
the village. Several buildings are
made of stone and have stood for
many generations. A large watch-
tower (area C) was used until re-
cently to watch the main road for
travelers and bandits.
The town church (area 16) wor-
ships the local Goddess Etu the
Living, deity of life and creation,
(growth, crops and farming).
Priestess Brognalla leads daily ser-
vices in celebration of Etu‘s many
blessings. Donations are welcome.
A central well provides water for
the villagers in town. Although
the water from the river is clean,
villagers now avoid leaving town
in fear of kidnappers. When the
adventurers arrive in town, the
well is beginning to go dry.
Several small businesses in town
provide services and goods to local
inhabitants as well as passersby.
Smaller villages to the east and
west used to travel to Mannath for
goods but have stopped with the
many disappearances on the road.
The village is well kept, clean and
the townsfolk are generally a good
natured brood. Until the recent
problems, they have always been a
welcoming town. The adventurers
may sense some distrust or out-
right hostility from a few villagers.
The map of Mannath can be found on
the inside of the back cover.
Village Buildings and Locations
Area 1: Mayor Kildorn’s Home
The entrance to the Mayor‘s home
is quite impressive. Well-tended
gardens can be found within the
spacious trimmed lawn. Fruit
bearing trees line the walkway to
the front door of the home.
6
The mayor‘s home is a two story,
stone dwelling with many rooms
for his family of eight. Three ser-
vants work and live within the
home. Mayor Kildorn‘s large of-
fice is on the first floor, directly to
the right of the front door.
Hundup, the manservant of the
home, will answer the door and
work with adventurers trying to
gain audience with the mayor. He
is a devoted servant of the home
and will defend the Kildorn family
to his death if necessary. His sta-
tistics can be found in the back of
the booklet. Note that he has some
experience in combat and should
not be overlooked.
Mugla is the Kildorn family maid
and cook. She is quite talented
with food preparation; her meals
are quite excellent. Lunna is the
family nanny and primary educa-
tor for the Kildorn children.
Mayor Kildorn keeps the family
treasure in four separate chests
hidden within and under the
home. The total wealth of all
coins, bars, gems and jewelry in
the four chests is close to 1,000 gp.
Area 2: Mannath Watchtower
This four story stone watchtower is
several generations old and pro-
vides an excellent view of the town
and surrounding countryside. Un-
til recently, Zuldi-Mar, the town
tower-keeper
has
provided
a
watchful eye on the road and
woods to the west. Unfortunately,
Zuldi-Mar passed away two weeks
previous to the adventurers‘ arri-
val. His dedication to the watch
tower was so strong that his spirit
lingers on in the tower, protecting
the watch bell in the topmost story.
No Mannath resident dares to en-
ter the top two stories in fear of the
spirit of Zuldi-Mar. Encounter
Area C provides more information
on this area and Zuldi-Mar.
Area 3: Gunpal Family Residence
A single story wooden home is the
residence of the Gunpal family.
Jak and Billa live here with their
three
young
sons
and
infant
daughter. Jak works for Mayor
Kildorn, providing lawn care and
small tasks as needed. Billa works
in the kitchen of the Mannath Tav-
ern (area 13). The family has very
little in overall wealth or savings.
7
Area 4: Mannath Apartments
Four families live within this two
story wooden structure. On the
bottom floor, Gral Tybor and his
wife, Gippa live on the west side,
and Urnla the Widow lives with
her three young daughters on the
east side. On the top floor, Onta-
Bir, the retired Captain of the
Guard, lives alone in residence on
the west side. Munwas Ruffel re-
sides on the east side with his six-
teen year old son Jakobbe. It is
rumored that Munwas and Umla
have been courting.
Area 5: Mannath Blacksmithy
Grunm the Blacksmith provides
services to Mannath and surround-
ing villages. He is proficient with
horseshoeing, metal armor and
weapon repairs, and can forge sim-
ple steel items at normal costs.
Hidden in the back of his store-
room, Grunm has a magical steel
sword he received in trade for
work several years ago. He is un-
sure of its powers but knows it is
an above average blade. Unbe-
knownst to Grunm, the blade is
―Shield-Sunder‖, a magical long
sword that automatically destroys
any normal shield it hits (50%
change to render a magical shield
useless – requiring repair).
Area 6: Fuldorp, Leatherworker
The village leatherworker, Ful-
dorp, has recently moved here and
set up business after the former
leatherworker died of old age last
spring. He is quiet and shy but is
quite good at his craft. He charges
fair prices to repair and build com-
mon leather items.
Area 7: Two-story Residence
Two large families live in this large
wooden building. On the bottom
floor, the entire Dulpasa family
squeezes into the six rooms. Hulp
and his wife Anwa are the proud
parents of ten young children (two
sets of twins). On the top floor,
out of work (and often drunk)
Yustofi, his wife Twalla, and their
eight children manage in their five
rooms. Twalla and Anwa both
work at the Piglet Pub (area 10) as
barmaids. Hulp assists Lingle
(area 8) with odd jobs and running
errands.
Area 8: Lingle’s Supply Shop
Local legend and well to do Lingle
sells supplies from the ground
floor shop in this two story build-
ing. He supplies Mannath and
other nearby villages with fair
priced farming supplies and a
small amount of grocery items.
His shops comprises a third of the
ground floor with the other por-
tion representing a storeroom for
extra supplies and small barn for
his horse and wagon (he travels
the road occasionally).
8
The second floor of this building
provides residence to the Hustuu
family. Tuska and Verna Hustuu
live in the small apartment with
their two children. Tuska has
worked with the Maplin family at
their farm (area 18) since his teen-
age years. Verna works the
counter at Hurver‘s Oddities and
Trinkets (area 11) during Hurver‘s
lunch break.
Lingle also has his large apartment
on the second floor. It is well fur-
nished, clean and full of books and
scrolls. He keeps his lifesavings in
a fake book on one of the many
shelves. The book is not easy to
find. It consists of 2 gold bars
(each worth 20 gp), 4 silver bars
(each worth 20sp), 27 gp, and 39
sp.
Area 9: Two Story Residence
Four families inhabit this large,
two story wooden structure. The
young Hulbard family lives in the
northern side bottom floor. Gil
and Beccy Hulbard have a set of
identical twin daughters, Maci and
Graci. Gil works at Gavits Farm as
lead field worker and Beccy tends
tables at the Mannath Tavern. On
the south side bottom floor, the
Amtupp family takes residence.
Fillip and Gwunn Amtupp, and
their three young boys, Yuf, Ripp,
and Dunn, fill the six rooms. Fillip
works at Gavits farm.
Upstairs on the north side, retired
guardsmen and widower Immil
Dux enjoys a quiet existence.
Known for his prowess with a
sword, Immil trains new recruits
for Mannath when necessary. The
Muggir family lives on the south
side. Qwelto and Urna Muggir
have two sons, Wilnot (a town
guardsman of only a few weeks)
and Justnot, a teenager. Qwelto is
one of two town guards who are
posted at night. Uma is the night
cook at Mannath Tavern.
9
Area 10: The Piglet Pub
The rowdier of the two drinking
establishments in town, the Piglet
Pub offers good gossip, average
drink at cheap prices, and the occa-
sional farmhand fight. Although
altercations are infrequent and
rarely severe, they are amusing to
the townsfolk. The town guard is
only called if anything beyond the
pride of one of the participants is
injured.
Jiffnet, the owner of Piglet Pub, is a
former adventurer and has an eye
for those on a similar path. He will
quickly befriend any travelers
stopping by the pub; he‘ll offer a
free drink if there is news from
outside Mannath to share. Jiffnet
is a large, jovial fellow but will
attempt to stop any tussles that
could damage his pub. If adven-
turers pry Jiffnet for information,
it‘s possible that he may share
something he has heard. See the
Gossip chart (Table 1-3) on the
next page for possible information.
Jiffnet charges fair prices for local
wine, ale and mead. He offers a
limited food menu (breads, cheeses
and soups). The Piglet Pub does
not have rooms for rent; Jiffnet will
reluctantly recommend the Man-
nath Tavern for overnight needs.
Mannath is a farming community
and patrons will depart for home
within one to two hours following
sunset. If the adventurers enter
the Piglet Pub during peak hours
(right after dinner), they are likely
to overhear some gossip from the
same chart (Table 1-3) on the next
page.
Area 11: Hurver’s Oddities
A former wizard, the retired
Hurver now prefers selling trin-
kets and oddities to travelers and
locals. For townsfolk, he has sim-
ple items for sale. These include
necklaces, music boxes and the like
which are great for birthdays or
special occasions. He will spot
true adventurers when they enter
and will try to sell his specialty
items. These can be found in the
chart (Table 1-4) on the next page.
He is willing to negotiate but
unlikely to drop his prices by any
lower than 10%.
Hurver is trained as a wizard and
can help fellow mages with spell
book entries and scrolls. For a fee
of 100 sp per spell, he‘ll scribe a 1st
or 2nd level spell into their spell
book (DM to choose Hurver‘s
spells). He cannot be convinced to
adventure with the group; he no
longer desires adventuring as he
won‘t venture out in harm‘s way.
10
Piglet Pub Gossip
2d6 Roll
Patron Gossip
Jiffnet Gossip
2-5
Nothing of real interest (or DM to
make something up).
Not yet talkative enough.
6
A ghost haunts the old watchtower
and they have yet to remove Zuldi-
Mar‘s body from the top floor (true).
The Mannath Tavern waters down
their ale and wine (false).
7
Mayor Kildorn has a stockpile of
treasure buried under his home (true).
Wolves have been seen in town at
night. They might be carrying off
the missing townsfolk (false).
8
That old witch Yalifina has cast a
poisoning spell on the river and the
well. She means to destroy this town!
(false)
Gunm the Blacksmith does the best
work around and for the best price
too! (true)
9
The mayor‘s wife has been seen slip-
ping around town at night visiting the
town guard at their posts (false).
Hurver at the ―magic shop‖ is
more than he seems. He is an odd
fellow but he knows a thing or two
about magic, he does. (true)
10
Strange sounds have been heard in
the forest west of town. With the
watch tower closed, we can‘t see in to
the wood as before (true).
I used to be a powerful warrior in
my day. Was known to take a
goblin‘s head clean off with a club
in one swing! (false)
11
The migrant farm workers in West
Mannath Village were seen listening
to that old witch‘s stories and lies.
(true)
Umfall, the village to the west, has
been deserted! Rumor has it that
undead roam their streets. (true)
12
A forgotten treasure is buried in the
basement of the watch tower. It is
guarded by a dead sorcerer who
should not be awakened! (false)
Large insects have invaded the
Maplin farm! I heard that several
town guardsmen are injured or
missing! (true – town guard part is
true if encounter is not the first
one undertaken)
Table 1-3
Hurver’s Oddities and Trinkets
Cost
Specialty Item
250 gp
Rescue Health Vial – when imbibed, will restore 3d6 points of damage. Hurver
has two vials for sale.
100 gp
Ring of the Extra Step – when worn, the wearer can move one extra step each
turn (5 feet or 1 square in combat, if using grid tiles).
500 gp
Cap of the Cat – a leather cap that allows the wearer double hearing range.
Betters the Armor Class by 1 point.
150 gp
Bracers of Easy Swimming – when worn, all swimming attempts are easier than
normal. Encumbrance does not affect swimming.
500 gp
Necklace of Magic Assistance – when worn, adds 1 extra hit point of damage or
1 HD of affected creatures for any spell.
Table 1-4
11
Area 12: Guardhouse Residence
This large, two story stone build-
ing houses the local town guard
and their families. The guard of-
fice, three holding cells, a kitchen,
and a small room with two bunks
fill half of the bottom floor.
Guards who are on duty but not at
a designated post will be found
here most of the time. The other
half of the bottom floor has 2 small
apartments for the Captain and
Sergeant of the Guard, both of who
are unmarried.
Two exterior stairways found on
opposite sides of the building lead
to the second floor. The top floor
has
six
small
apartments
for
guardsmen and their small fami-
lies. If a guard‘s family grows be-
yond the small apartment, they are
welcome to live elsewhere in town
(as two currently do; see Area 9).
The residents of the three north-
He has a small apartment in the
back of the shop which contains
only a cot, a few bookcases and a
small chest. The chest is magically
locked (requires Dispel Magic spell
to unlock) and contains 147 sp and
22 gp. In the very bottom of the
chest is a small silver dagger,
wrapped in a purple cloth. It is a
Dagger of Pain, dealing a bonus of
2 additional damage with any suc-
cessful strike (in addition to rolled
damage).
side apartments are Otto and Gilly
Barley; Hulpy Grenfrew, his wife
Illia, and infant son Bulfer; and
Giffen O‘Nanit. Living in the three
apartments on the south-side of
the floor are Gibble and Essa Sup-
tux; Beb Cuffins; and Lazy Toman.
Each guard covers an eight to
twelve hour shift. The shift roster
can be found below (Table 1-5).
Captain Kyal B‘Dold works morn-
ings and his Sergeant, Ulywe
Grumbor, takes the afternoon and
evenings. A couple of guards
overlap shifts to ensure good cov-
erage.
Guard Shifts
Shift
Time
Guard(s)
A
4am—12pm
Otto Barley
A
4am—12pm
Gibble the Stout
(Suptux)
A
4am—2pm
Beb Cuffins
A
4am—4pm
Captain Kyal
B‘Dold
B
12pm—8pm
Hulpy Grenfrew
B
12pm—8pm
Wilnot Muggir
B
12pm—10pm Lazy Toman
B
12pm—12am Sergeant Ulywe
Grumbor
C
8pm—4am
Qwelto Muggir
C
8pm—4am
Giffen O‘Nanit
Table 1-5
12
The C shift guards will be found at
their posts, one at the western
bridge, and the other near the
mayor‘s home where the walkway
meets the road. Shift A and B
guards
generally
move
about,
changing locations and assisting
villagers as needed. The Captain
and Sergeant check in with the
Mayor at least twice during their
respective shifts.
Area 13: Mannath Tavern
This two story stone building is
one of the two social establish-
ments in Mannath. The rather tall
and stout looking tavern owner
Orla Forsnet, runs the relatively
mild tavern with her two grown
sons, Tumis and Churls. Orla will
not tolerate any poor behavior; she
has been known to throw grown
men out of the tavern by herself!
Her sons assist in controlling
drunk or hostile patrons as neces-
sary.
Orla charges average prices for
food, drink and rooms. She gener-
ally has three to four nice rooms
available but if filled, will offer
travelers a discounted rate to sleep
in the common room (10 sp per
person per night). Orla and her
two sons each have their own
room in the back of the tavern, be-
hind the kitchen.
―Rugged Red‖, a local wine pro-
duced by Orla, is made from the
grapes grown at Gavits Farm. Orla
has a small winery in the basement
of the tavern and makes only 50
bottles of the spicy red each year.
Mayor Kildorn is her primary cus-
tomer, buying nearly half her stock
each season. A glass of ―Rugged
Red‖ costs 5 gp, a bottle 100 gp.
Billa Gunpal (area 3) works the
kitchen during the day and Uma
Muggir during the evening. Beccy
Hulbard (area 9) tends tables dur-
ing the peak hours of the tavern.
Area 14: Mannath Schoolhouse
Unlike many neighboring villages,
the children of Mannath are fortu-
nate to have a small school in
town. Boys and girls of ages eight
to fourteen are instructed in farm-
ing, cooking, sewing, and other
common tasks. Specialized train-
ing such as leatherworking or
blacksmithing is given to those
that show an aptitude beyond the
simple lessons. Those that excel
may get the chance to apprentice
for those specialized trainers.
The lead trainer for the Mannath
School is YuggT‘Mori, an older
woman who recently moved to the
village about two years ago. She
lives in the back of the school in a
small apartment and has very little
in the way of personal wealth.
13
Area 15: Gavits’ Farm
The Gavits family runs the second
largest farm in Mannath, produc-
ing wheat, barley, common vegeta-
bles and fruit, and a few variations
of grapes. Although the town
lacks a mill, the grains are pro-
duced and shipped to nearby vil-
lages. A portion of the grains are
returned to Mannath as flour and
distributed accordingly. The vege-
tables, mostly carrots, lettuce, to-
matoes,
radishes,
squash,
and
pumpkins, are sold in town.
Gered Gavits, married to Elsanna,
has twelve children of various
ages. The boys that are old enough
help out on the farm. Gered re-
cruits field workers from West
Mannath Village during the critical
planting and harvest seasons. Gil
Hulbard (area 9) works at the farm
as lead field hand, instructing and
training migrant workers each sea-
son. Fillip Amtupp (also of area 9)
primarily repairs equipment and
runs errands for the Gavits.
Area 16: Church of Etu
This massive stone structure is the
oldest building in Mannath, built
when this area was a midway stop
on the main road between two lar-
ger villages. This church cele-
brates life and all its blessing
through the worship of Etu the
living, Goddess of Life and Crea-
tion. Priestess Brognalla leads two
daily services, at sunrise and sun-
set, for all those in attendance.
Two acolytes, Kispa and Fenna,
assist the Priestess in services and
other spiritual matters such as vis-
iting the sick or injured, and run-
ning various errands. The acolytes
are trained in the Heal specializa-
tion and will use their skills as
needed or instructed.
A large cemetery lies directly
south and behind the church.
Nearly all former Mannath resi-
dents from the last fifty years are
buried here, with the exception of
the Gavits, Maplins and Kildors
families who have private plots on
their properties. Previously de-
ceased were buried beneath the
church in a surprisingly large
crypt. Portions of the crypt have
been recently rediscovered by the
acolytes. See Encounter Area H
for more details on the crypt.
Area 17: West Mannath “Slums”
Three poorly built, simple struc-
tures have been hastily constructed
on the southwest portion of the
Gavits Farm. These rickety build-
ings house migrant workers from
nearby villages and towns during
the planting and harvest seasons.
Six families totaling nearly 25 peo-
ple live in these structures.
14
These shoddy buildings were usu-
ally empty during the offseason
but the last two years, families of
workers have stayed here through-
out the year. Although Gered Ga-
vits isn‘t opposed to their being
here year round and can even find
offseason work for some of the
family members, the rest of Man-
nath isn‘t as keen on the outsiders‘
presence. While out of work many
of the young men come in to the
village center, cause trouble and
harass many of the young Man-
nath ladies. Recently, a few of the
migrant children have tried to at-
tend
classes
at
the
Mannath
School.
Many of the villagers are spread-
ing rumors that the families in the
―Mannath Slums‖ have taken to
following the wood-witch Yalifina.
They believe that the migrant
workers have stayed in Mannath
to serve her and her evil ways. Of
course, this is false. Yalifina does
interact with the migrant families
but only for the purpose of trading
supplies and food.
Mayor Kildorn has yet to make a
decision on what to do with this
secondary village and its inhabi-
tants. He is likely to act soon since
Gered has started work on two
new structures for more workers.
Area 18: Maplin Farm
The largest farm in Mannath pro-
duces corn, oats, wheat, peppers,
beans, and other varieties of vege-
tables. Like the Gavits Farm, the
Maplins ship their grains to nearby
towns for milling and in turn, re-
ceive the byproducts for use in
town.
Bern and Thranna Maplin have
eight children, all teenagers or
young adults. All the children
work the farm, with assistance
from a few Mannath villagers.
Tuska Hustuu (area 8) has worked
at the Maplin Farm for many
years; he leads many of the plant-
ing and harvesting activities and is
treated almost as if he was a
Maplin.
Recently, an Giant Ant Queen has
set up a lair under the middle of
the Maplin Farm fields. She plans
to produce a significant number of
Giant Ants in the next few weeks.
More details can be found in the
Encounters section in Area A.
15
Encounters
There are nine main encounter ar-
eas in this adventure booklet. This
section provides background de-
tails and other information to help
the GM navigate and run the mys-
teries in Mannath. Recall Table 1-1
from the ‗Adventure Background‘
section of the book; this provides
information about the relationship
of the encounters, and the order
they are best solved.
Recently, a Giant Ant Queen and a
few of her soldiers decided to
make a new home under the
Maplin Farm (Area 18). They dug
a large hole squarely in the middle
of the main corn field and have
burrowed down well over 100‘
under the earth. They have cre-
ated chambers for food storage
and eggs, and a large nesting
chamber for the Queen. Including
the Queen, there are about 10-12
Giant Ants in this lair.
At the time of the adventurers‘
arrival, Bern Maplin will have just
reported to the town guard that an
unusual hole has been found in the
middle of his corn field and two of
his hunting dogs are missing.
Captain Kyal B‘Dold will send two
guards to investigate. The guards
aren‘t well trained in combat and
are likely to return without going
too far in to the hole. The GM can
Encounter Area A
“Infestation”
choose to have the ants engage the
guards if it fits the story line at this
point.
If the adventurers have already
gained the trust of Mayor Kildorn
and/or the Captain, they may be
asked to investigate the hole fur-
ther. If the adventurers are en-
gaged in other activities, e.g. a dif-
ferent mystery, by the time they
get involved, several guards and/
or villagers may have been at-
tacked, killed or carried off to the
ant lair. Either way, only the ad-
venturers have the skill to defeat
the ants.
If the adventurers ask Captain
B‘Dold for additional support from
the town guard, there is a chance
that he may lend a single guard as
a guide. Wilnot Muggir was part
of the investigating guard group
and knows the location of the hole.
He and the other guards went as
far as area A2 before retreating.
Wilnot will likely flee from the ant
lair if the group meets more than
one or two ants.
Read the following text (on the
next page) to the players as they
walk through the corn fields to
where the hole was found:
Area A—Wandering Foes
Roll 1d6
Foe
1
1-2 Soldier Ants
2
1-2 Worker Ants
3-6
Nothing
16
As you walk through the corn
field, you notice the eerie quiet of
the surrounding area. The com-
mon insect and animal sounds of
the countryside seem to be miss-
ing. Corn stalks have been up-
rooted in places, some cut in half
at a low height. Soon, traces of
blood are smeared on the ground
and cornstalks on your path. Sud-
denly, you come upon a large
mound of dirt, nearly three feet in
height. In the center of the mound,
a hole descends at a moderate
slope downward in to darkness.
The blood trails also disappear in
to the hole. The hole is large
enough for a normal sized man to
enter, either by sliding or crawling.
Area A1: Ant Lair Entrance.
This entrance is five to six feet
wide and descends on a slight
slope downward, easy enough to
crawl or walk while crouched. The
tunnel continues down, eastward
for 20 feet and ends in a chamber.
A quick search will discover traces
of blood near and within the hole.
Adventurers with a good sense of
smell will likely detect a foul odor
coming from within the hole. A
more through search will find un-
usual excrement droppings near
the entrance.
17
Area A2: Entry Chamber.
This chamber is barely 10 feet long
and wide with a ceiling of about 6‘
in height. Tall adventurers will
have to crouch here. Light is fad-
ing at this point; adventurers
should have torches or a magical
light source. The tunnel continues
east. Parts of an animal, perhaps a
dog or deer, can be found on the
floor of the chamber.
A bright adventurer will deter-
mine that the hind section of a dog
has been left here by something. It
looks cleanly cut from the rest of
the missing body. A blood trail
leads eastward.
Area A3: First Cross Tunnel.
Four tunnels converge at this cross
section. Ants entering the lair
from outside will generally bring
their prey, alive or dead, south to
area A5. Dead or dying ants are
brought north to area A4. The
main tunnel also continues east,
sloping
downward
slightly.
Tracks are easily found here, run-
ning in every direction at this cross
tunnel. They appear to be small
and non-humanoid in shape. A
longer search will find a blood trail
that continues eastward. A bad
smell is barely noticeable from the
south tunnel.
There is a 1 in 6 chance that a lone
Giant Ant will be transporting ei-
ther excess food to area A5 or an
injured ant to area A4 to die. If an
ant is encountered here, it is likely
to retreat eastward to gain help
from the soldier ants in area A11.
Adventurers will have to move
quickly to block the eastern exit of
the tunnel and prevent the ant
from escaping. If the Giant Ant
successfully
escapes,
additional
ants will arrive in mere minutes.
Area A4: Death Chamber.
When the adventurers enter this
chamber, it will be obvious by the
horrible stench that something has
died in here. Insect shapes are
piled up in the corner of this room.
Large ants, nearly two to three feet
in length, rot in a pile. Their man-
dibles look strong enough to cut
through wood.
Three giant ants, recently dead,
have been moved here to rot. Liv-
ing ants do not enter this room
unless to bring another fallen ant
or to pursue prey. One of the dead
ants was killed by a recent struggle
with Bern Maplin‘s two dogs. The
other two were killed by the
Queen.
Area A5: Food Storage.
The ants use this chamber to store
their food. They will take some to
the Queen when they first arrive
and leave the rest for other ants.
Giant ants are in an out of this
chamber throughout the day. It is
likely that one or two giant ants
might be found leaving or entering
the chamber when the adventurers
arrive (a roll of 1 on a d6).
18
Parts of dogs, deer, and goat are
lying around the chamber floor.
Non-humanoid tracks are found in
the tunnel to this chamber. If an
intensive search is made, one of
the group may find the lower half
of a human body under the rotting
remains of a deer. A pouch on the
belt of the trousers holds 3 sp.
Area A6: Second Cross Tunnel.
The tunnel here has been enlarged
to allow the Queen access to the
egg chamber to the north (areas
A7, A8, A9). The tunnel to the
south is also the same height, but
the Queen rarely goes this way.
The soldier ants generally bring
the water to her in area A12. This
busy intersection is likely to find
traveling ants; a roll of 1-2 on a d6
encounters one or two giant ants.
The main tunnel continues east,
again dropping a few feet down-
ward.
Anyone who listens for a minute
or two may hear the sounds of
dripping water from the south and
notice that the roof of the tunnel is
now larger, close to 10‘ high.
Searching for a few minutes here
may discover that tracks are every-
where but one set of tracks, much
larger than the others, move from
the north tunnel to the east in both
directions.
Area A7: Egg Chamber.
Dozens of transparent eggs are
stuck to the walls, ceiling and floor
in this chamber. Several opened
eggs shells can be found. It‘s obvi-
ous to the casual observer that
these eggs are nearly ready to
hatch; the shapes of giant ants are
clearly seen through the thin
shells.
If the adventurers wait here long
enough, there is a slight chance
(roll of 1 on 2d6) that an egg will
open, releasing a new soldier or
worker ant. The young ant (half
HD and hit points) will instantly
attack any non-ant creature.
Destroying the eggs does not re-
quire a to-hit roll (and does not
give experience).
Area A8: Maturing Egg Chamber.
Hundreds of cloudy shell eggs fill
the room. These eggs look like
they have awhile to go before
hatching. The shells are too cloudy
to see their contents.
Hundreds of eggs were laid a few
weeks ago, when the Queen re-
gained her strength. When this
room hatches, her new army of
soldiers and workers will be ready
to expand beyond this small lair.
Giant Ant, Young: HD 1d4
hp (1 hp); AC 6 [13]; Atk:
bite (1d4-1); Move 9; Save
18; CL/XP A/5; Special:
none
19
Area A9: New Egg Chamber.
Only a dozen eggs with bright
white shells are found in this small
chamber. A quick scan will un-
cover large tracks near the new
eggs.
It is extremely likely (roll of 1-4 on
a d6) that a giant ant will be here,
guarding and caring for the new
eggs.
20
Giant Ants (2): HD 2 (5, 4
hp); AC 3 [16]; Atk: bite
(1d6); Move 18; Save 16;
CL/XP 2/30; Special: None.
Additional GM Notes:
Area A10: Large Chamber.
This large chamber has four sets of
root systems hanging from the roof
to the floor that obstruct vision to
the south end. Water can be heard
farther in to the chamber. Addi-
tionally,
something
is
moving
northward toward the chamber
entrance.
When the Giant Ants burrowed
this chamber, they found an un-
derground pool. The pool is
slowly spreading and will eventu-
ally fill this chamber and over
time, the entire lair
Two giant ants are retrieving water
for the Queen and are heading
back to the tunnels leading to A6.
Trapped, they will fight to get past
the adventurers and alert the sol-
dier ants at area A11.
If an adventurer searches the water
pool, an old skeleton can be found
art rest at the bottom. A long since
decayed pocket held 4 sp, now
found under the pelvic bone of the
former owner.
Area A11: Soldier Ant Chamber.
The tunnel opens up to a large
chamber filled with five larger,
more
aggressive
looking
ants.
Their oversized mandibles look
capable of cutting a man in half.
Unless the characters are stealthy,
the giant soldier ants will feel the
movement at the west entrance of
the chamber and rush to investi-
gate and attack. These ants will
use their poisonous attacks to pro-
tect their queen in the next cham-
ber. They fight to the death.
Giant Ants, Soldier (5):
HD 3 (12 hp each); AC 3
[16]; Atk: bite (1d6 +
poison); Move 18; Save 14;
CL/XP 2/30; Special: Poi-
son.
Additional GM Notes:
21
Area A12: Giant Ant Queen.
Entering the large chamber, the
adventurers will quickly notice a
large mound of mud, roots and
debris that is nearly five feet off
the ground. Upon the mound sits
a much larger giant ant with wings
and a massive thorax. The Giant
Ant Queen is being served bits of
prey and water as she continues to
produce eggs. Two soldier ants
guard the entrance while six
worker ants attend the queen. The
soldiers will engage immediately
while the workers await instruc-
tions from the queen.
The Giant Ant Queen can use her
special communication skill to call
any ants from other chambers to
assist in her protection. If the ad-
venturers have not cleared the
other chambers yet, they may get
pinned between two groups of
ants here. The Queen will not
leave the mound unless she is the
last ant left. She may try to fly
over the adventurers and exit the
lair. Note, she has grown consid-
erably over the last few weeks and
may have trouble fitting through
the western tunnels and lair en-
trance.
22
If forced to fight, the Giant Ant
Queen will either use her mandi-
bles to bite at the nearest adven-
turer, or fire one or two antennae
quills at a single foe. Treat the an-
tennae quills as darts (1d4 dam-
age).
If the adventurers survive the bat-
tle and destroy the Giant Ant
Queen, they can search the mound.
A careful search will turn up sev-
eral human remains with personal
effects. One pouch contains 13 sp,
another has 3 small gems (worth 5
gp each). What looks to be a rusty
dagger is actually a finely made
blade worth double the normal
value.
Encounter Completion.
Unless all the eggs are destroyed,
there is a chance that the ant lair
will repopulate itself; one of the
eggs may contain a new queen ant.
The new queen will be ready to lay
more eggs within several weeks.
The adventurers should put the
eggs to the sword or torch to de-
stroy the lair once and for all.
The adventurers should notify the
town guard or the Mayor after
they‘ve eliminated the ants. If this
is their first solved mystery in
Mannath, it is highly likely that the
Mayor will ask the group for help
in finding his daughter, Ellana (see
Encounter Areas 1 and D).
Giant Ants, Soldier (2):
HD 3 (12 hp each); AC 3
[16]; Atk: bite (1d6 +
poison); Move 18; Save 14;
CL/XP 2/30; Special: Poi-
son.
Additional GM Notes:
Giant Ants (6): HD 2 (4 hp
each); AC 3 [16]; Atk:
bite (1d6); Move 18; Save
16; CL/XP 2/30; Special:
None.
Additional GM Notes:
Giant Ant, Queen: HD 10
(40 hp); AC 3 [16]; Atk:
bite (1d6); Move 3; Save
5; CL/XP 8/800; Special:
Limited Flight.
Additional GM Notes:
23
Encounter Area B
“The Dry Well”
The residents of Mannath heavily
rely on the single well within town
for their drinking water. Many
even use this well for bathing wa-
ter. For as long as anyone can re-
member, this well has provided
water and even in the driest of sea-
sons, has never run dry.
In the last few months, the villag-
ers have noticed that the water
level in the well has dropped con-
siderably and that the water con-
tains more dirt and minerals than
normal. Superficial investigations
within the well have not produced
the cause but many of the towns-
f o l k
s u s p e c t
t h a t
t h e
―witch‖ (Encounter Area G) is to
blame. They are partially correct.
Yalifina, a local hermit of consider-
able age, is on a search for a magi-
cal item of great power. She be-
lieves it to be under the church in
the
recently
discovered
burial
chambers. Although there are
magical items in these chambers,
the one she seeks is not there. In
fact, this artifact has been gone for
generations and her ―research‖
that describes its location as under
the church is completely made up
in her own mind. Yalifina has
been going mad for the last few
years.
The old hermit has attempted to
enter the burial chambers from
both the well and from under the
church. She has been seen around
the well in the evening hours by a
few villagers. In her attempt to
gain access to the chambers, she
has caused a cave-in that has redi-
rected the underground river from
passing near the well to a new di-
rection. This underground river
freshly supplied the vast pocket of
water for the well, and with its
change in direction no longer re-
fills the well‘s reservoir. She does
not realize she has caused this is-
sue; she only knows that the vil-
lage is hostile towards her and
doesn‘t understand why. She sus-
pects that they may be after her
artifact.
With the water in the well at a
dangerously low point and the
water from the western river not
clean enough for drinking, the
Mayor is beginning to panic. He
will likely ask the adventurers for
help in solving this mystery. If
asked, he will not directly blame
Yalifina but will have enough sus-
picion to suggest the adventurers
talk to her.
The water in the well is low
enough for adventurers to enter
the supply tunnel, now dry. This
tunnel will eventually lead the ad-
venturers to the cave-in. If the de-
bris from the cave-in is moved, ei-
24
25
ther by digging or through magical
means, there is a chance that water
will begin to flow back in to the
tunnel feeding the well‘s reservoir.
The rate of this water flow could
be dangerous to careless or unpre-
pared adventurers. This cave-in
can be cleared from this encounter
area or encounter area H, under
the church.
Additional information about Yali-
fina‘s searches and behavior can be
found in Encounter Area G, ―The
Wicked Witch of the Water‖. It‘s
important to remember that Yali-
fina wasn‘t trying to ruin the well,
but was only searching for her lost
treasure.
Encounter Completion.
Once the water begins flowing in
to the well reservoir, it will take
between seven to ten days for it to
return to normal levels. The dirt
and mineral sediment will take an
additional week to settle down. As
with all solved encounters, the
Mayor will be extremely grateful
for the help. As his trust grows in
the group, he will ask for more
help.
Encounter Area C
“Haunted Tower”
The four story stone tower just be-
hind the Mayor‘s home is one of
the oldest structures in Mannath.
After the church of Etu was con-
structed, this tower was raised so
that priests and acolytes could
view the three main roads inter-
secting here for other clergy, com-
mon travelers or bandits.
After the village of Mannath grew
large enough to have their own
town guard, the priests of Etu re-
leased the tower to the Mayor and
no longer took watch in its highest
floor. Since that time, the Mayor
has elected a tower-keeper to man
the tower day and night. The posi-
tion of tower-keeper is one of the
most prestigious and rarely va-
cated positions in the village. Most
tower-keepers serve for their life-
time, or until they are physically
unable to perform their duties.
The most recent tower-keeper, well
in to his seventies, is believed to
have passed away in his chambers
in the top floor of the tower. He
hasn‘t been seen at his post in sev-
eral days. The mayor sent several
villagers to retrieve his body only
to find them return, shaken and
scared. They reported hearing sus-
picious and unnatural noises com-
ing from the top floor. When
pressed for more detail, they said
they heard tortured screams of
pain and anguish.
If the adventurers are available to
help, the Mayor will enlist them to
retrieve
the
tower-keeper
for
proper burial. A new tower-
keeper cannot be elected until the
old fellow can be buried.
The deceased tower-keeper, Zuldi-
Mar, was one of the most dedi-
cated and steadfast tower-keepers
in the long line of guards. He
never married (most usually don‘t)
and stood watch from the tower
day and night, rarely sleeping
more than 30 minutes at a time at
different points in the day. The
tower lantern was used to warn
town guard on the ground of in-
coming danger, using flashes of
light to signal direction and num-
ber. This lantern was an incredibly
important artifact for the tower-
keeper; its safety was a sacred
duty.
When Zuldi-Mar died of old age,
his spirit did not depart from this
world for the next. Although his
body failed, his essence became
tied to the lantern, continuing the
protection of the tower and town.
Zuldi-Mar has become a ghost,
fiercely guarding the lantern. His
ghost cannot be reasoned with, but
only destroyed to free him from
this existence. His decaying body
will be found near the lantern and
ghost.
26
Area C1: Bottom Floor.
Read the following text to players
as they enter the tower‘s first floor:
The door opens outward, letting
the first sunshine into the lower
level in days. Several chairs, tables
and other furniture are spread
throughout
the
square
room,
measuring
roughly
forty
feet
across and wide. The room is dark
but for the outside light. A faint
odor emanates from the stairs
leading up, across from your cur-
rent position.
The odor is indeed from the decay-
ing body three floors above. There
is a slight chance that either a
moan or scream from Zuldi-Mar‘s
ghost can be heard. For each level
of the tower the adventurers as-
cend, increase their chance to hear
the ghost above.
On closer inspection, a few of the
chairs closer to the stairs are
knocked over. This is likely from
the villagers who quickly exited
the tower. Fruits and vegetables
are starting to decompose in the
kitchen area of this floor. The fire-
place has been out for days, mak-
ing this room damp and cool. If a
careful search is made of the left
side of the fireplace, approximately
five feet above the floor level, a
small iron box can be found be-
hind a loose stone. Within the box,
a small pouch contains ancient
coins from ages past, worth 25 sp.
27
The stairs on the north side of the
room lead to the second level. Ex-
cept for the small iron box, there is
nothing of real value in this area.
Area C2: Second Floor.
The stairs open up to another large
chamber, containing a large table,
several chairs, and many dusty old
bookshelves. This area is used for
meetings with the tower-keeper
and town officials. Previous tower
-keepers were well educated men;
these bookshelves have consider-
able information on the town and
its history, as well as nearby loca-
tions. If a thorough search is, a
few interesting books might turn
up. One in particular, entitled
―Forefathers of Mannath‖, has this
passage on one of the first few
pages:
“With the passing of the hardest winter
known to Mannath, several forefathers,
victims to the dreaded bloody-scourge,
could now be buried. Chambers away from
the common crypt have been prepared for
their burial. With them, go the treasures
of the last wars of the north.”
28
This passage refers to the newly
discovered burial chambers under
the Church of Etu, Encounter Area
H. Priestess Brognalla would be
particularly interested in this book
as well as several others in this
room. Many church tomes were
left here when the acolytes de-
parted. The Priestess will find no
record of the bloody-scourge men-
tioned in any other church tomes.
In fact, this is a cover up for the
false acolyte atrocity that occurred
(see Areas D7 and H).
Stairs on the south wall, opposite
those from the first floor, lead up-
ward. There is nothing else of
value or interest in this room.
Area C3: Third Floor.
This floor was built as the sleeping
quarters for the priests and aco-
lytes long ago. Tower-keepers
rarely use this level for sleeping
due to the lack of visibility to the
surrounding countryside. The
windows on the fourth floor are
considerably larger and the roof
has complete panoramic views of
the area.
Four ancient beds, without linen or
bedding, line the east and west
walls. A small chest for personal
belongings lies at the foot of each
bed. Two small tables and four
chairs occupy the center of the
room. Old murals, painted on the
stone walls, depict a beautiful god-
dess providing rays of sunlight,
rainwater and crop growth for a
small village. These are early
paintings of Etu, blessing Man-
nath.
North, across from the second
floor stairs, another set of stairs
leads to the fourth floor. The room
is relatively bare and looks mostly
unused. The chests are empty.
29
Area C4: Fourth Floor.
When the adventurers enter the
fourth floor, read the following
text to the players:
Moving up the stairs, the once
faint odor now overwhelms your
senses. As you enter the fourth
floor, the scene before you is both
confusing and terrifying. A decay-
ing corpse lies near an old, worn
bed. Nearby, a shadowy figure
hovers near an antique brass lan-
tern. The shadowy image notices
your arrival, emits a horrifying
scream, and moves in your direc-
tion!
This shadowy creature is Zuldi-
Mar‘s ghost. Its sole purpose now
is to protect the lantern and will
try to destroy the adventurers with
its Chilling Touch. The ghost can
only be harmed with magical
means; common weapons have no
effect on the creature. The ghost is
destroyed only when its hit points
are reduced to zero or lower.
Ghost: HD 2 (10 hp); AC 4
[15]; Atk: 1 touch (1d4 +
Chilling Touch); Move 9;
Save 10; CL/XP 5/240; Spe-
cial:
Chilling
Touch
(drains 1 point of Consti-
tution), immune to non-
magic weapons.
Additional GM Notes:
30
If the lantern is removed while its
protector is undestroyed, the ghost
will follow the item and re-
manifest near it later. If Zuldi-
Mar‘s body is removed and the
lantern left alone, the ghost will
likely not follow. The adventurers
should realize that the ghost will
have to be dealt with at some
point; a new tower-keeper cannot
take his post until the ghost is de-
stroyed. Priestess Brognalla may
help to cleanse the tower of the
lingering spirit if other options
have been exhausted.
The room contains a simple and
much worn bed, a chest for Zuldi-
Mar‘s belongings, and a dresser of
common clothing. A small side
table and single chair are near the
bed. A map of the surrounding
area lies flat on the small table.
Large windows on each wall open
up to give an observer an expan-
sive view of the area. A simple
wooden ladder on the south wall
leads to a trap door in the ceiling.
Zuldi-Mar‘s life savings are hidden
in the back of the bottom drawer of
the dresser. The stash is difficult
to find as it is well hidden. Zuldi-
Mar had 15 sp, 2 gp, and three
small gems, each worth 100 gp.
Stealing from the dead tower-
keeper should be discouraged, es-
pecially if anyone from the town is
present. Personal belongings of
dead tower-keepers are given to
their families or the next tower-
keeper if no immediate family ex-
ists.
Several old swords and daggers
hang from the walls; all are fairly
worthless as they have not been
maintained. An old bow and
quiver of 10 arrows can be found
in the chest.
31
Area C5: Tower Roof.
The ladder from the fourth floor
leads to an unlocked trap door in
the roof of the tower. On each side
of the roof, a simple wall of crenel-
lations provides cover yet visual
access to the surrounding area. A
dozen old spears and several quiv-
ers of near worthless arrows are
positioned in various places along
the wall. A single chair on a raised
base, positioned facing eastward,
allows a seated individual to see
well enough in to the distance.
Nothing else of value is on this
roof.
Encounter Completion.
This encounter is complete when
the adventurers retrieve the body
of the tower-keeper. Although
destroying the ghost is not neces-
sarily part of the completion, the
spirit will still need to be de-
stroyed at some point for the tower
to be inhabited again. The mayor
may ask the adventurers to return
to finish off the ghost following
Zuldi-Mar‘s burial. If asked, he
may send one or two town guards
to assist.
Every touch of Zuldi-Mar‘s ghost
drains one point of Constitution
which takes 24 hours to regain.
The adventurers may require rest
to restore any lost points before
continuing on with further myster-
ies in town. Magical healing may
assist in the recovery process.
Encounter Area D
“The Mystery of Juntor Manor”
Recently, a small group of seven
human bandits have moved in to
the woods to the west of Mannath.
These bandits, led by Kulch, work
for Grungle the Ogre. Grungle
supplies slavers to the west with
young villagers and supplies taken
on the road.
Kulch and his bandit group have
established themselves in Juntor
Manor, the former residence of the
Juntor family. The Juntor family
was completely wiped out by an
epidemic of nerve blight over a
dozen years ago; the village has
avoided the manor house since.
The bandits have moved east to
Mannath because they‘ve nearly
taken the entire town of Umfall
over the last several months and
need more victims.
The bandit group mostly preys on
lone travelers on the road west of
Mannath (and beyond, in Umfall).
Recently, they have been snatching
up two or three travelers at a time.
They don‘t believe anyone sus-
pects them yet and they are bold
enough to think they have no real
opposition; they faced none in Um-
fall, after all.
32
Kulch and his group capture trav-
elers and store them in the Juntor
Manor basement. Once they have
six or more victims, Kulch will
send word to Grungle that he has
another group to move west to the
slavers. Grungle will arrange for a
transport group to move the vic-
tims out in the cover of darkness.
Captured travelers sometimes stay
as long as two weeks in the Juntor
Manor basement.
Ellana Kildorn, the Mayor‘s eldest
daughter, is imprisoned at the
manor house, awaiting transport
in the coming days. The adventur-
ers will not have much time to dis-
cover the bandits and rescue El-
lana before she is gone. There are
three other villagers, all from Um-
fall, also awaiting transport.
Time Line / Events
Day/Time
Event
Night before
adventurers
engage
13 year old boy taken while
escaping from Umfall.
(boy found in cell D6a)
Adventurers
begin search
for Ellana.
Bandits lay low. Kulch
meets with Grungle (at
encounter area E).
Day + 1,
evening
Bandits capture old man on
road to Mannath. (old man
Put in cell D6c)
Day + 2,
evening
Bandits capture twin 11
year old girls from Umfall,
escaping to Mannath. (girls
put in cells D6e and D6f)
Day + 3,
evening
Bandits lay low. Slaver
transport arrives at Juntor
Manor.
Time Line / Events (cont’d)
Day/Time
Event
Day + 4,
evening
Slaver transport departs
with 8 victims, including
Ellana Kildorn. Transport
moves at night westbound
for parts unknown.
Day + 5 to
Day + 21
Bandits continue to capture
travelers. Bandit group gets
bolder, closer to Mannath.
Day + 22,
day time
Bandits head in to town,
taking people in plain sight,
killing guards as necessary.
Mannath goes in to a panic.
Day + 23 and
beyond
Mannath is likely enslaved
or people flee their homes.
All that remains is the
Church of Etu.
When the adventurers begin their
hunt for Ellana, the GM can use
this timeline to help move the
story along.
As the table above indicates, the
bandits will eventually march in to
town and take whomever they
wish. If the town guard resists,
Grungle likely joins in the combat,
dealing horrific damage and de-
stroying all that resist. If the ad-
venturers choose not to help, they
will still get caught up in the fray,
unless they have already departed
from town.
Kulch and Grungle are formidable
foes but the rest of the bandits are
less intimidating; many lack real
combat experience. After all, cap-
turing the old or young, single
traveler on the road requires little
combat training. If the adventur-
ers engage in battle and Kulch
33
falls, it is likely that the other hu-
man bandits will surrender or flee.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a secret
door in the manor‘s basement
opens to the Juntor family crypt.
A ghost and two skeletons now
inhabit this area. The Juntor fam-
ily treasures will not be easily
taken.
The Juntor family crypt is not part
of this Encounter completion but
adds additional opportunities for
experience and treasure. Addi-
tionally, information found below
the manor should help with En-
counter H, ―The Long Forgotten
Door‖.
Read this paragraph to the players
if their adventurers find the trail to
the manor house on the west road:
A poorly concealed trail leads
north from this road. You recog-
nize human sized footprints, mov-
ing in both directions on the path.
Just inside the forest, a few tracks
lead off the path but return within
a few feet of where they left it. To
the left of the trail, something
shiny catches your eye.
recognize the family crest if they
have been within Ellana‘s home, or
when speaking to the Mayor, have
seen the pendant around his neck.
There is a one in six chance that
one to two bandits will be on this
path anywhere along from the
west road to the manor house. The
GM can check as many times as he
or she wishes. A single bandit will
probably return to the manor
house to warn the others or at-
tempt to hide, if unseen.
When the adventurers reach the
clearing of the manor, read the
following text to the players:
The shiny object is a brooch with
the Kildorn family crest. While
being dragged to the manor house
after her capture on the road, El-
lana intentionally dropped this
along the trail, hoping for it to be
found. Observant adventurers will
A small, two-story home sits upon
a small hill in this clearing. The
forest looks to be closing in on the
building;
younger
trees
have
grown within 20 feet of the hill.
The forest path continues up the
hill to an old front door of the
building. Two chimneys poke
from the center of the roof. The
second story seems to be smaller
than the first.
Any adventurer that specifically
looks at the chimneys, may see a
faint wisp of smoke from one of
them (DR: Moderate, 3 [Mental
Strength]). The bandits are careful
not to burn wet or unseasoned
wood, but the fire in the main liv-
ing space does create a small
amount of smoke.
Tracks lead off the path and head
around to the back door. A major-
ity of the footprints head straight
to the front door of the manor
home. During the day, there is a
one in six chance that a lone bandit
will be outside the front door in a
chair, keeping watch or dozing. At
night, the door will be locked shut
with no guard posted.
A small building in the back of the
property is used to store stolen
wagons, empty crates, and other
items lifted from victims. The ban-
dits have converted part of the
barn to an outhouse.
Area D1: Manor House Parlor.
The front door of the house will be
unlocked most of the time (1-4 on a
d6). As the front door opens in,
there is a small entry way or parlor
to the manor. If a bandit was
found outside the manor in the
chair, this room will be empty. If
the bandits were alerted previ-
ously to the adventurers‘ arrival,
there will be two waiting here (one
with a club, the other with a bow).
Vuugut and Hissel are the two
found in this room is the bandits
have been alerted. Each has d6 sp.
If the adventurers quickly over-
whelm Vuugut, Hissel will run for
help through the rear door of the
room. Support will return from
both the rear and side doors to this
room.
34
Vuugut, Bandit: HD 1 (5
hp);
AC
7
[12];
Atk:
weapon; Move 12; Save 17;
CL/XP 1/15; Special: none.
club
Additional GM Notes:
Hissel, Bandit: HD 1 (4
hp);
AC
7
[12];
Atk:
weapon; Move 12; Save 17;
CL/XP 1/15; Special: none.
Short bow, 10 arrows
Additional GM Notes:
Area D2: Kitchen and Dining.
This kitchen and dining area are a
smelly, dirty mess. The bandits
aren‘t the cleanest group; several
days of dishes, cutlery and old
food are found on tables, counters,
chairs, and floor. Two doorways
enter other rooms in the house – a
hall and door lead to Area D1 and
a door opens in to area D3. A
locked back door opens up to the
backyard of the manor. Unless
called to help from the parlor, Old
Evun will be trying to clean up the
mess when the adventurers arrive.
If surprised, he will flee to area D3
or through the secret door to the
basement (one in three chance, 1-2
on a d6 roll).
35
Old Evun, Bandit: HD 1 (3
hp);
AC
7
[12];
Atk:
weapon; Move 9; Save 17;
CL/XP 1/15; Special: none.
dagger
Additional GM Notes:
Area D3: Living Room.
This once beautiful living area is
now the common room for the
bandit group. Six roughly made
bunk beds take up nearly half the
room. A table with three chairs
occupies the middle of the room
and a fireplace on both the west
and north walls provide modest
warmth. A circular stairway in the
northeast corner of the room spi-
rals upward.
36
During the day, the remaining
bandits will be found lounging
here unless previously alerted to
action. At night, all but one or two
will be found sleeping here. Josef,
Bull, and Gragoree will join into
any action as necessary. Bull is
strong and capable of doing brutal
damage. Josef will likely run up-
stairs to get Kulch if the manor
house is invaded.
Josef, Bandit: HD 1 (4
hp);
AC
7
[12];
Atk:
weapon; Move 12; Save 17;
CL/XP 1/15; Special: none.
Short sword
Additional GM Notes:
Bull, Bandit: HD 1+1 (7
hp);
AC
7
[12];
Atk:
weapon; Move 12; Save 17;
CL/XP 1/15; Special: none.
Axe, +1 damage (from STR)
Additional GM Notes:
Gragoree, Bandit: HD 1 (5
hp);
AC
7
[12];
Atk:
weapon; Move 12; Save 17;
CL/XP 1/15; Special: none.
Dagger, 2 javelins
Additional GM Notes:
The bandits will each have d6 sp
and the weapons and armor listed
in their statistic charts in the Ap-
pendix. Bull wears a plain, steel
ring on his left pinky that is actu-
ally a Ring of Fluctuating Skill
(adds +1 or -1 to attacks in alter-
nating fashion). This ring would
be of interest to Hurver (area 11 in
Mannath); he would likely pay up
to 250 gp for it.
Area D4: Secret Stairwell.
An easy to find but hard to operate
secret door opens in to this small
hallway and circular staircase. The
wall of the secret door is poorly
made and looks different than the
rest of the wall. However, discov-
ering the mechanism‘s opening
sequence is more challenging. The
wall must be pushed up until a
click is heard, then over until an-
other click, and then down again,
where it will then slide in to the
adjoining wall.
A spiral staircase leads down to
the Manor basement. A lantern
hangs over the staircase, providing
enough light to descend the stairs
with relative ease.
37
Area D5: Kulch’s Quarters.
The entire second floor of the
manor is used by Kulch, the bandit
leader. His quarters are richly fur-
nished and expansive compared to
the bandit‘s common area below.
There is a large four post bed with
warm furs, two large chests, and
two fireplaces. A large cabinet
stands on the north wall, and a
table and two chairs occupy the
south wall, under a shuttered win-
dow.
If Kulch is found here, he will
likely be studying the maps at his
table or resting, depending on the
time of day. The maps indicate
locations where travelers have
been captured on the road, and the
rendezvous points for slave trans-
portation. Also on the table, a note
from Grungle written in the com-
mon speech reads:
―Get ready for next drop off of
slaves. I send word when
group arrives. Don’t be late this
time. Being late costs me
money. – G‖
This note is of course from Grun-
gle, letting Kulch know to prepare
his victims for transport soon. The
handwriting is poor yet legible.
chests around his neck. If cap-
tured, he will exchange answers to
questions about the bandit group
for his freedom.
In one of the locked chests, Kulch
has a magical rod stored, taken
from a lone traveler last year.
Kulch knows it is magical but
doesn‘t know how to use it. This is
actually a Rod of the Snake. Once
per day, upon the utterance of the
magical word ―Binchna‖, the rod
turns into a python (ten feet in
length). It attacks the nearest foe
of the one who called it forth. It
lasts until slain or recalled to a rod
by using the same magical word
again. This rod is found under
several layers of clothes within the
chest.
The other locked chest contains
4d6 gp, one silver bar (worth 100
sp, several past notes from Grun-
gle, and two backup short swords
of average quality. Both chests can
be unlocked without the key.
Kulch is a fierce combatant and is
less likely to surrender or flee than
his recruits. He wields a finely
crafted short sword, and wears a
leather vest and helm when awake.
He wears the key to both locked
Kulch, Bandit: HD 2 (9
hp);
AC
5
[14];
Atk:
weapon; Move 12; Save 16;
CL/XP 2/30; Special: none.
Finely made short sword
Additional GM Notes:
38
Area D6: Holding Cells.
When the adventurers descend the
stairs from above, they will imme-
diately notice a drastic change in
temperature. As they reach the
bottom, smells of human waste
and refuse permeate the air. This
square, bleak room once contained
eleven storage closets for the Jun-
tor family‘s supplies. The bandits
have adapted the closets to short
term holding cells. Each cell con-
tains a sleeping mat, small bucket,
and chain restraint for a prisoner.
Depending on when the adventur-
ers arrive, four to eight prisoners
will be found, awaiting transport.
Empty cells will contain bandit
and prisoner refuse.
If any bandits have escaped from
above to this area, they will fight
like cornered animals unless given
the opportunity to flee. They will
attack the first adventurer down
the stairs, seeking a surprise ad-
vantage. Any bandits with missile
options will keep their distance,
attempting to kill the adventurers
before they reach the floor.
Ellana will be found in cell D6g.
Like the rest of the prisoners, she
will be very cold, possibly sick
from exposure and lack of proper
food and water, and quite dis-
traught about her current condi-
tion. If there are no bandits here
when the adventurers enter the
39
room, they will call out for help.
An easy search of the room will
find a single large key hanging on
the back wall of the stairs that
opens all the cells. If the keys
aren‘t found or are missing, they
can be unlocked by a talented
thief.
Except for the old man (captured
the day after the party starts the
search for Ellana), all prisoners can
walk without aid. If the bandits
have been dispatched, it is an easy
walk back to Mannath. None of
the prisoners are fit for combat.
Any encounter with bandits after
their rescue will likely cause them
to flee in any direction, even back
to their cells to avoid injury.
Encounter Completion (Part 1).
Although there is more to this
basement than anyone realizes,
this part of the encounters ―the
Mystery of Juntor Manor‖ and
―Ellana‖ is complete. When the
adventurers return to Mannath
with the prisoners, the Kildorn
family will be overjoyed to have
their daughter back, and the
Mayor will likely reward the ad-
venturers with the long term use of
Juntor Manor. He will also likely
ask for more help in any of the re-
maining mysteries. The other pris-
oners will return to Umfall, but
may return for help in several days
as Umfall is now in disarray (see
adventure M2, “Walking Dead in
to Umfall”).
Additionally, the elimination of
the bandit group will start Encoun-
ter E, ―Revenge of Grungle‖. The
ogre will want to find out who has
thwarted his enterprise and if the
adventurers use Juntor Manor as a
base of operations, it won‘t take
the ogre long to figure it out.
If the adventurers search the base-
ment before or after the rescue of
the prisoners, they may find the
secret door in area D6 that leads to
the long forgotten Juntor family
crypt. Discovering the mechanism
and operating the door are both
difficult (attempt with penalty).
When the adventurers finally open
the secret door, read the following
text:
As the secret portal slides down in
to the floor, a wave of ancient dust
and stagnant air washes over you.
You immediately sense that you
are the first living beings to open
this door in many years. An or-
nately built stone passage leads
away from you, shrinking in to
absolute darkness. Where does it
lead?
The family crypts are completely
dark, adventurers must bring their
own light sources with them. All
sounds are magnified and echo
throughout the chambers. Exces-
sive sound will bring forth the cur-
rent denizens in areas D9 and D11.
40
Area D7: Hallway of History.
The dark passage is actually much
shorter than first expected. It ends
in a hand carved, wooden door
which is locked. If inspected, the
walls of this passage tell two parts
of the story of the first Juntor fam-
ily‘s rise to power and fall from
grace. On the left wall, common
tongue text reads as follows:
“Stop and read these warnings
before going forward, I beg you!
The once proud men of Juntor-al
-Mannath are buried beyond
this door. In life, these men
were just, loving and kind. In
death, they are the opposite.
Evil and wicked, unwilling to
leave this world, they are locked
here forever.
Leave this door be! Do not enter
this vile place!”
On the right wall, the following is
inscribed, augmented by pictures:
“In the beginning, the Juntors
were the sole protectorates of
the First Church of Etu. We lent
our backs, minds and hearts to
the earnest acolytes as the
stone church was raised from
desire to reality. We donated
much of the family fortune to
Etu, to ensure her followers
would have a safe place of wor-
ship.
And
Etu-al-Mannath
grew.
Goddess Etu blessed us with
family and good fortune. Sev-
eral prosperous growing sea-
sons filled our barns, and our
cradles were filled with healthy
children. Joyful praises be to
Etu the Living!”
There is a large gap in the writing,
but after a few feet, continues in
hastily scratched handwriting:
“Then one autumn morning, she
came. She changed our family
forever. She was not of Etu, her
desires were too great for mere
mortals. Our oldest son Jakub
was the first to succumb. Then
Rugdor, and his little brother
Hully both fell. Finally, my lov-
ing husband, Kressnar, in an
attempt to alert the Priestess of
her new acolyte, a demon in
disguise, fell victim to the same
sinful desires as his sons.
Other town men fell. We cursed
Etu for allowing one woman to
pollute our town, our lives.
Someone had to destroy her.
Soon, the town guards will come
for me. I have committed a hei-
nous crime against humanity,
against Etu. But the witch is
now
and forever
destroyed.
And she is to be buried with the
town ancestors! Blasphemy!
None should pass through this
portal without knowing the pain
and suffering, hatred and dis-
gust that filled these men at the
ends of their lives. Beware, for
their fate may become yours.”
41
It is apparent from the stories writ-
ten on these walls, that an acolyte
from the Church of Etu was not all
that she seemed to be. A witch,
hidden by the robes of Etu, nearly
destroyed the town before the mis-
tress of the Juntor family killed
her. The mistress was hung for her
crime against Etu and is not buried
here with her family. It is likely
that the Juntor family was forever
cursed; all Juntors who have lived
in this Manor house since have
contracted rare diseases or have
died in bizarre farming accidents.
The witch was buried by the
Priestess in the town crypts under
the church. In fact, many of the
dead town ancestors rose again
after the witch‘s body was placed
in her tomb, prompting the aco-
lytes to seal off that portion of the
crypts. This is the same portion of
the crypts that has recently been
rediscovered (see Encounter H).
Four unlit urns sit in each corner of
the chamber. Dust is heavy
throughout the area but faint foot
prints can be found if looked for.
These foot prints are from the
skeletons in areas D9 and D11 as
they
wander
mindless
about.
Three passages, heading west, east,
and south exit this area. There is
nothing else of interest here.
If the adventurers have been quiet,
the skeletons in areas D9 and D11
will likely be in their burial cham-
bers. Otherwise, they will have
already started toward this cham-
ber and may arrive at the same
time the adventurers enter.
Area D8: Funeral Room.
The door opens in to a square
room once used for last rites or
funeral services before the dead
were laid to rest in their tombs.
Area D9: First Son of Kressnar.
The hallway emerges in a small
burial chamber with a single stone
tomb, raised on a short base. The
top of the stone coffin has been slid
off and lies smashed and broken to
the side. A dusty glass case
mounted on the west wall of the
chamber displays a rapier in a
worn leather scabbard.
As the adventurers enter this
chamber, Jakub Juntor, now a
skeleton (if not encountered yet)
will be found milling about the
chamber. He will notice any
noises and turn to face the intrud-
ers. No form of communication
will work with Jakub; he is dead
and will only seek to destroy who-
ever enters the burial chambers.
The rapier on the wall was Jakub‘s
personal blade. Named “Silver
Death” by the blacksmith who
made it, this lightly magical rapier
provides a +1 to the first initiative
round in any encounter. The bo-
nus is not applied to any rounds
past the first. It is worth 500 to
1,000 gp to a collector.
A search of the chamber will dis-
cover two gold rings, long ago
fallen off Jakub‘s decaying fingers.
Each is worth 50 gp to buyers out-
side Mannath; local residents will
recognize the family letter ‗J‘ en-
twined around the bands and
avoid them.
42
Jakub Juntor, Skeleton: HD
1 (4 hp); AC 8 [11]; Atk:
strike
(1d6);
Move
12;
Save 17; CL/XP 1/15; Spe-
cial: immune to sleep and
charm spells.
Additional GM Notes:
Area D10: Kressnar’s Tomb.
This southern hall ends in a small
burial chamber with a single stone
coffin. A shimmering mist hovers
nearby the closed container. The
mist
emits
small
whispering
sounds much like a man crying.
When the adventurers enter, the
mist will further form in to a ghost,
the spirit of Kressnar. He is bound
to the family pendant that now lies
within the coffin. He attacks any
intruders as soon as they are no-
ticed.
All of his Hit Points must be re-
duced to zero for his spirit to fi-
nally be released. A Strength
check is required to remove the lid
of the coffin. Inside, Kressnar‘s
decaying bones, his family pen-
dant, and a small jeweled dagger is
found. The family pendant is
worth 250 gp to any buyer outside
of Mannath. The jeweled dagger
has no magical properties but is
worth 150 gp to a collector. There
is nothing to connect this dagger to
the Juntor family.
A small, secret tray at the base of
the coffin holds the family fortune,
20 silver bars (100 sp each) and 5
gold bars (100 gp each). It is
trapped and very difficult to find.
If the trap is sprung, a blade slides
from the coffin and cuts into or
through the hand of the victim.
This blade will do 1d6 damage.
43
Kressnar Juntor, Ghost: HD
2 (11 hp); AC 4 [15]; Atk:
1 touch (1d4 + Chilling
Touch); Move 9; Save 10;
CL/XP
5/240;
Special:
Chilling Touch (drains 1
point
of
Constitution),
immune to non-magic weap-
ons.
Additional GM Notes:
Area D11: Brothers Juntor.
The eastern passage empties in to a
burial chamber with two stone cof-
fins lying side by side. One coffin
is considerably larger than the
other. Both lids have been re-
moved and flung away to the side.
Two small chests, closed and cov-
ered in dust, occupy two corners of
the room. The skeletons of Rugdor
and Hully, if not encountered al-
ready, are standing about. They
engage at the first noise.
Rugdor was a large young man,
his skeletal frame close to six and
half feet tall. Hully was still a
teenager when he died and is
much
smaller
than
his
older
brother. The GM can opt to have
Rugdor do additional damage
with successful strikes if they wish.
Hully‘s chest is in the northeast
corner and is filled with clothing,
books, and small silver toy sol-
diers. Most of the books are worth
little but one, entitled ―True Goblin
Stories‖, is actually a collector‘s
item and can fetch up to 50 gp by
an avid book buyer. The silver toy
soldiers can be melted down to
about 5 sp value.
The chest in the southeast corner
holds Rugdor‘s belongings. The
common leather clothing found in
the chest has deteriorated, except
for an oddly patterned belt. The
belt has intricate etchings of large
mammals, such as bears, wolves,
and deer, from one end to the
other. When worn, this belt pro-
vides +1 resistance checks to nor-
mal cold weather or cold attacks.
Also found in the bottom of the
chest is a small box that contains
25 sp and pair of loaded dice (one
always rolls odds, the other evens).
Rugdor Juntor, Skeleton:
HD 1 (7 hp); AC 8 [11];
Atk: strike (1d6); Move
12; Save 17; CL/XP 1/15;
Special: immune to sleep
and charm spells.
Additional GM Notes:
Hully Juntor, Skeleton: HD
1 (5 hp); AC 8 [11]; Atk:
strike
(1d6);
Move
12;
Save 17; CL/XP 1/15; Spe-
cial: immune to sleep and
charm spells.
Additional GM Notes:
44
Encounter Completion (Part 2).
Although finishing this part of Jun-
tor Manor does not complete any
of
the
main
encounters
in
―Mysteries in Mannath‖, it is still
an important part of the main story
line. The inscribed text from the
Mistress of Juntor provides clues
to the mystery under the church, in
Encounter H. Also, Priestess Brog-
nall may be interested to learn that
a former Etu priestess covered up
a church scandal when one of her
acolytes nearly seduced and de-
stroyed the town many years ago.
Encounter Area E
“Revenge of Grungle”
This encounter may take place in
one of three areas. If the adventur-
ers search the manor grounds, they
may find Kulch‘s footprints lead-
ing along the north path to Grun-
gle‘s shack, farther in the woods.
Confronting the ogre at his shack
provides the group with the ele-
ment of surprise and only happens
before Grungle is aware that his
bandit group has been defeated.
Grungle will search Juntor Manor
for Kulch and the bandits, and
should discover that they have
been eliminated. He might search
for the culprits or lay in wait, hop-
ing for the responsible party to
return to the house.
If the adventurers do not return to
Juntor Manor for several days,
Grungle will become so enraged
that he will walk right in to Man-
nath, prepared to destroy any liv-
ing thing he can find. The town
guard will be outmatched and
Mannath will probably lose several
villagers before the ogre can be
killed or run off. However, if the
adventurers are in town when this
happens, they can take the ogre
down, ending the encounter with
Grungle, the bandits, and the kid-
napping fears.
Note that the elimination of Grun-
gle may also bring the slavers into
the story line. The GM should de-
termine how that part of the plot
should unravel, if at all.
45
Area E1: Grungle’s Shack.
Grungle has erected a small shack
in the woods off this trail and uses
it as his hideout. Of all the ban-
dits, only Kulch is allowed en-
trance to Grungle‘s home. Al-
though tall at fifteen feet in height,
the shack is built like a single room
cave, much like what ogres are
used to. The shack has a single
room with a central fire pit, a pile
of old rugs for a bed, and several
chests, crates and barrels. A large
table and chair take up one corner
of the shack. The chests contain
old weapons, human clothes, and
other worthless items. The crates
and barrels hold salted pork and
red ale, respectively.
Under the table, there is a hard to
find trapdoor that opens to Grun-
gle‘s treasure pit. Once found, the
adventures can haul up two small
chests, two wrapped items, and a
large pouch.
The pouch contains 497 sp, 14 gp,
and 12 small rubies, each worth 10
gp. The wrapped items contain a
leather cap and a quiver of cross-
bow bolts. The magical leather cap
prevents the wearer from falling
asleep, even when exhausted. If
the wearer has not slept for a long
period of time, he or she will fall
unconscious once the cap is re-
moved. The 10 bolts in the quiver
are magical in that they will not
break, regardless of what they
strike. They do 1 DP like the non-
magical variety. Both the cap and
bolts were stolen from the burial
mound at Encounter Area F.
One of the two chests contains su-
perior leather armor for an ogre.
Grungle will don this before battle
if he has the time. It provides extra
DP as normal leather, and consists
of a cap, shirt, and pants. Grungle
uses a massive dark oak club,
etched with ogre runes and tally
marks for the number of men he
has killed (there are over three
dozen tallies). The second chest
contains all correspondence be-
tween Grungle and the slaving
ring to the northwest. This infor-
mation can be used to continue the
story line if desired. There is noth-
ing else of value within this shack.
Grungle, Ogre: HD 4+1 (22
hp); AC 5 [14]; Atk: 1
weapon (1d10+1); Move 9;
Save 13; CL/XP 4/120; Spe-
cial: None.
Additional GM Notes:
Encounter Area F
“Mystery of the Missing Ancestor”
46
While searching for supplies to
build his shack, Grungle stumbled
upon this ancient burial mound.
He robbed the chamber below,
stealing the two magical items
(found in Encounter Area E), and
threw what was left of the town
ancestor‘s
bones
out
on
the
ground. The empty chamber has
nothing else of material value.
An etching inside of the tomb de-
picts a man with cap and cross-
bow, hunting bears under a large,
full moon. Under the etching, the
name ―Juskof‖ is carved into the
stonework. Juskof was one of the
town‘s forefathers and helped set-
tle the area in Mannath. He mar-
ried one of the Juntor daughters
and was buried in their woods af-
ter his death.
Although Mannath historians are
aware of this ancient tomb, they
avoid the area, fearing disease and
death from Juntor Manor nearby.
If the Mayor learns of the defiled
tomb, he will ask the adventurers
to help gather the bones and items
and return them to the burial site.
Unfortunately, a wolf pack in the
area has picked up most of the
bones and brought them to their
lair, approximately 250 feet north-
west of the tomb. The wolf path is
easy to track and find. The path
leads directly to the wolf den
where some or all of the wolves
will be when the adventurers find
it. Adjust the wolf numbers to the
strength of the adventurer group.
Besides the slightly gnawed ances-
tor‘s bones, the wolf den will have
nothing of value.
Wolf, Alpha: HD 2+2 (10
hp); AC 7 [12]; Atk: 1
bite
(1d6+1);
Move
18;
Save 16; CL/XP 2/30; Spe-
cial: Leadership.
Additional GM Notes:
Wolf (6): HD 2+2 (8 hp);
AC 7 [12]; Atk: 1 bite
(1d6+1); Move 18; Save 16;
CL/XP 2/30; Special: none.
Additional GM Notes:
Encounter Completion.
Although the encounter can be
completed by returning only Jus-
kof‘s bones, Mayor Kildorn will be
thrilled if the plundered items are
also found and returned. If the
adventurers have taken the cap
and crossbow bolts from Grungle‘s
shack (Area E), the town historians
may not associate the items to
those belonging to the burial tomb.
47
Encounter Area G
“Wicked, Witch of the Water”
The townsfolk believe that the old
witch in this hut, Yalifina is evil
and trying to destroy the town wa-
ter supply. They also believe she
has poisoned the river to the west
of town. Although she is partially
guilty for the well running dry, she
is not to blame for any of the dis-
ease in the river water coming
from the north (its cause is discov-
ered in an upcoming adventure,
not in this book).
While quite mad, Yalifina is not
evil and really means no harm to
the town she has lived in her entire
life. In previous years, she has as-
sisted families with special herbs
and salves for sick or injured chil-
dren. Those times of help have
been quickly forgotten by a town
looking for answers. She still as-
sists the inhabitants of West Man-
nath Village; the migrant workers
appreciate her help with the ill.
Yalifina spends most of her day
within her large hut. Several old
tomes and maps litter the tables
and floor of her home. She contin-
ues to research the great artifact
she believes is under the church.
The artifact she seeks is the ancient
―Terra-al- Etu‖, a pouch of dirt
that when sprinkled on land, will
increase the production of any
grains, vegetables, fruits, or plants
one-hundred fold. Even during
the worst seasons or weather con-
ditions, anything will grow. Dur-
ing the best times, it produces
much more than one could hope
for.
The ―Terra-al-Etu‖ pouch is long
gone, destroyed in the bleaker
days of Mannath, several genera-
tions ago. Although she has read
every word of the tomes and
scoured every inch of the maps
several times, she has refuses to
believe the artifact is gone. She has
begun to make up passages from
the tomes in her mind and sees
doorways on maps that aren‘t
drawn.
Yalifina will not allow anyone in
her home; entering causes her to
become enraged. She has several
pet felines that will attack intrud-
ers and although they are small
and appear weak, will do harm to
anyone unwilling to defend them-
selves. She is capable spell caster
and magic wielder, using her pow-
ers and tools to defend her home
and drive forth any that have vio-
lated her commands to leave. Her
statistics, as well as the felines, are
found in the Appendix. GMs are
urged to play Yalifina slightly
crazy but competent enough to
demonstrate
her
extraordinary
powers with magic.
48
If the tomes are read and maps are
examined carefully, the obvious
conclusion will be that the artifact
is not under the church and is
likely gone from the world. How-
ever, the maps will show old
crypts buried beneath the church,
behind a long forgotten door that
has recently been found (see En-
counter Area H).
If the adventurers simply talk to
Yalifina and offer their assistance,
she will likely take it. She is mad
but accepting of generosity, return-
ing in kind when she can. She is
afraid to leave her home during
the day and most nights now that
she knows the townsfolk are accus-
ing her of harming the village. She
will ask the adventurers to explore
the area under the church for her
and search for the artifact. She is a
capable natural healer and can as-
sist with any adventurer injuries.
If the adventurers fail to find the
artifact, Yalifina will not give up.
She will only cease to believe of its
existence if she searches the crypts
herself, doing so only after the ad-
venturers have cleared out any
dangerous foes and convinced the
town to leave her be.
When not in the slums, Yalifina
can be found in her home nearby.
Area G on the main map shows
her house location.
Encounter Completion.
The adventurers should discover
that Yalifina has no desire to hurt
the town inhabitants and that she
is not directly responsible for the
well issues. The mayor will be
happy to know that the old
woman is not malicious but merely
curious. Any proof that the adven-
turers can provide will be ex-
tremely helpful.
Yalifina,
Druid:
HD
4
[Druid, level 4] (12 hp);
AC 7 [12]; Atk: 1 weapon
(1d4) or spells; Move 12;
Save 12; CL/XP 7/600; Spe-
cial: spells (see below).
Additional GM Notes:
Her home is filled with druidic
components, research and other
interesting materials. The GM
should populate her hut with
items as needed.
Yalifina‘s Spells:
1st Level: Detect Magic, Locate
Animals, Purify Water
2nd Level: Cure Light Wounds
3rd Level: Cure Disease
49
Encounter Area H
“The Long Forgotten Door”
Several weeks ago, acolytes of the
Church of Etu noticed an increas-
ing water level in the tombs below
the temple. Even during the wet-
test of months, excess water runoff
from
supposed
underground
pockets barely reaches an inch or
two. Water levels have steadily
risen over the last few weeks, cur-
rently at a foot deep in the lowest
levels of the crypts. Masons from
nearby villages were hired to find
the source and fix any issues
found. At first, no apparent cause
was discovered until last week
when a dwarven mason found a
wall façade in the furthest, deepest
part of the tombs. Water was in-
deed flowing from cracks in the
fake wall and filling the lower
chambers.
Priestess
Brognall
urged the masons to tear down the
wall and continue to hunt for the
source of the water. Once the wall
was removed, an ancient steel door
inscribed with a cryptic message
was found by the workers. Not
only was water bubbling out from
under the mysterious portal, but
faint wailing sounds were heard
from beyond, sending the workers
scrambling to the surface. They
are currently unwilling to return to
the tombs in fear of the terrifying
sounds from behind the door.
Priestess Brognalla cannot find any
mention of this door or the con-
tents beyond it in her temple re-
cords. The door is mysteriously
locked and neither the Priestess,
nor her acolytes can figure out
how to open it. They have
searched the temple from top to
bottom, hoping to find the key for
the ornate looking keyhole. In fact,
the door is locked with a complex
magical device and not a key at all.
The cryptic message on the door
reads:
“Just beyond this door lies the un-
sleeping,
Removed from this world yet ready to
return,
Hold fast this portal to protect Etu-al-
Mannath,
Keep the evil at bay until the way is
found,
Journey then inside to send her to the
final death.”
50
There are two ways to use the mes-
sage to open the door. The first
letter of each sentence in the mes-
sage is the first initial of the Juntor
family men who fell to the false
acolyte (see Area D7, Hallway of
History for more information). If
the names of the Juntor men are
spoken in the order they fell, the
door will open (―Jakub, Rugdor,
Hully, Kressnar, Juntor‖). Also, if
the letters of the name ‗Juntor‘ are
touched in the correct order in the
first line of the message, the door
will open.
The door can also be opened by
magical force, after which the door
can then be simply pushed open.
No amount of physical effort can
force the door open with the magi-
cal lock in place. If the locking
mechanism cannot be figured out,
magic can be used to illuminate
the letters in the first sentence.
The encounter begins at the west-
ern door of Map 2. Map1 is only
provided for reference and can be
further developed by the GM if
needed.
Area H1: The Fallen.
Once the door is opened, the ad-
venturers will find a large chamber
with several open stone sarcophagi
amidst the rising waters. Opposite
the entrance, an open archway
leads to a secondary, darkened
room.
The center of this room drops
down a foot; the water will be
close to two feet deep there. As
they enter the chamber, the fallen
men of Mannath, in a state of un-
death, will emerge from the shad-
ows. Eight skeletons attack the
group. Note: The GM should feel
free to increase or decrease the
number of foes as necessary.
Like all skeletons, they will con-
tinue to attack even if they lose one
or more limbs. The adventurers
must reduce each skeleton to 0 hit
points to destroy them.
Skeletons (8): HD 1 (4 hp
each); AC 8 [11]; Atk:
strike
(1d6);
Move
12;
Save 17; CL/XP 1/15; Spe-
cial: immune to sleep and
charm spells.
Additional GM Notes:
51
The men were buried here without
any treasure or personal items. A
careful search will only reveal mi-
nor worthless trinkets. The raised
dais in the next room can be seen
from the archway. Crossing the
archway lifts the protective shield
over the witch.
Area H2: The False Acolyte.
A raised platform with a black sar-
cophagus occupies the center of
this chamber. A pulsating energy
field encircles the entire platform.
Any movement through the arch-
way of the chamber, including
items thrown or shot, will cause
the energy field to dissipate. Once
the energy field drops, the false
acolyte will stir and begin to move.
She will rise from her open top
stone coffin and search the cham-
ber for foes. Even in death, she
maintains her stunning beauty.
The undead witch has arcane and
divine powers, and will use the
stored spells of her magical cloak
to attack the adventurers. Her first
option is to use her obvious beauty
and charm power on the weaker
willed party members to assist her
in defeating any adversaries pre-
venting her from escaping her
prison. Those that fail to be
charmed will be targeted by her
destructive spells. She may also
choose to attack with her clawed
hands. Her touch temporarily
weakens victims; a single point of
Wisdom is lost for 24 hours with
every physical attack of the witch.
She can only be fully destroyed
with magical items or spells, or
with clerical turning (as a wight).
She must be reduced to a total of 0
or less hit points, with the final
blow from some magical item or
spell. If reduced to 0 or less hit
points with a regular weapon, she
will rise again within an hour.
The energy field around her coffin
cannot be restored once triggered
off. Any converted adventurers
will return to normal upon the
witch‘s true and final death.
The witch wears a magical red
cloak that can store up to three
spells for future use. Unfortu-
nately, this is a one-time event;
once the spells are used, the cloak
can no longer store magic. If the
witch is destroyed with spells still
within it, it can be used by any
Magic-User or Cleric.
She also wears an evil necklace
that at first seems to have no obvi-
ous power yet cannot be simply
removed from her body. It is an
item that binds her to an ancient
and evil goddess. If the device is
somehow removed and placed
around the neck, the new wearer
becomes bound to the Goddess of
Strife and Malice, Heznabul. The
wearer cannot remove the necklace
and begins a pattern of evil ways.
The GM is encouraged to play this
change of events out as necessary.
Water streams from a large crack
in the wall of this chamber – this is
the cause of the rising water in the
tombs. Once the witch is dis-
patched, the masons can return to
patch this hole. Note that the ad-
venturers can enter the waterways
that feed the well here (Area B).
False Acolyte, Witch: HD 3
[cast spells as Magic-User
and Cleric] (15 hp); AC 5
[14]; Atk: spell or claws
(1d4 each); Move 12; Save
12; CL/XP 9/1100; Special:
(see description).
Additional GM Notes:
Encounter Completion.
Killing the witch is a difficult task
and may take more than one at-
tempt. This area of the tombs is
considered cleared when the witch
is finally dead and the masons can
return to repair the walls. Addi-
tionally, the adventurers can enter
the hole in the wall to enter the
area of the cave-in (Area B) to dig
out the debris that is causing the
well to run dry.
52
The False Acolyte‘s Powers:
At-will: Darkness, 15‘ radius,
Cause Light Wounds
Three times per day (each): Charm
Person, Protection from Good, In-
visibility
Cloak Spells: Magic Missile, Hold
Portal, Hold Person
Town of Mannath
Blue locations are adventure areas; red locations are Mannath buildings.
Mysteries in Mannath
$2.50
TG2101
The small village of Mannath is faced with several different issues, but lacks the
resources to solve them properly. The mayor of the small hamlet, Hans Kildor,
is eagerly seeking outside help and will immediately ask any visitors for assis-
tance the moment they arrive.
This adventure book contains nine different adventures, each designed to last
an evening of gaming.
A group adventure for 1st through 2nd level characters.
Designed for Swords & WizardryTM
Swords & Wizardry, S&W and Mythmere Games are trademarks of Matthew J. Finch
ThrowiGames is not affiliated in any way with Matthew J. Finch, Mythmere GamesTM or Frog God Games
Bringing Your Brain Back to the Game
ThrowiGames.com
| textdata/thevault/Swords & Wizardry (osr) [multi]/SnW 1e & 2e/Adventures & Settings/SnW - E1 Mysteries In Mannath.pdf |
michael SAnds
mOnster of
theWeEk
EHP0009 • ISBN 978-1-61317-092-2 • US $25.00
www.evilhat.com • @EvilHatOf cial
facebook.com/EvilHatProductions
A monster lurks in the shadows...
Most people don’t believe in monsters, but you know the truth.
They’re real, and it’s your task to bring them down. This revised
edition of Monster of the Week brings that adventure to life.
Monster of the Week is a standalone action-horror RPG for 3-5
people. Hunt high school beasties a la Buf y the Vampire Slayer,
travel the country to bring down unnatural creatures like the
Winchester brothers of Supernatural, or head up the government
investigation like Mulder and Scully. This book contains everything
you need to tackle Bigfoot, collar a chupacabra, and drive away
demons.
In this revised edition, you’ll fi nd:
•
Character creation rules to bring your hunter to life and
create a cohesive hunting team.
•
Eight simple moves to investigate and deal with monsters.
•
An easy-to-use system based on the popular Apocalypse
World RPG.
•
Thorough mystery-creation tools and two ready-to-play
mysteries.
•
New material including an introductory mystery; example
monsters like Balkan vampires, ghouls, and spore trolls;
and hunter types like the Crooked and the Spell-Slinger.
Grab the fi replace poker and open your spell book.
That monster’s going down!
Revised Edition, 2015
mOnster of
theWeEk
Michael Sands
Author
Daniel Gorringe,
Juan Ochoa,
and Kurt Komoda
Interior Art
Eric Quigley
Cover Art
Sean Nittner
Project Management
Steve Hickey
Editor
Fred Hicks
Layout and
Spell-Slinger Playbook
Chris Hanrahan
Business Development
Carrie Harris
Marketing
For Amanda and Zelda with love, for their support and tolerance
over the very long time this game was in development.
An Evil Hat Productions Publication
in partnership with Michael Sands
www.evilhat.com • [email protected]
@EvilHatOfficial on Twitter
facebook.com/EvilHatProductions
Monster of the Week Revised Edition
EHP0009 • ISBN 978-1-61317-091-5
Text copyright © 2015 Michael Sands.
Art and Spell-Slinger playbook are copyright © 2015
Evil Hat Productions, LLC and their respective creators.
All rights reserved.
First published in 2015 by Evil Hat Productions, LLC.
10125 Colesville Rd #318, Silver Spring, MD 20901.
Evil Hat Productions and the Evil logo are trademarks owned
by Evil Hat Productions, LLC. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior express permission of the publisher.
That said, if you’re doing it for personal use, knock yourself out.
That’s not only allowed, we encourage you to do it.
For those working at a copy shop and not at all sure
if this means the person standing at your counter
can make copies of this thing, they can.
This is “express permission.” Carry on.
This is a game where people make up stories about wonderful,
terrible, impossible, glorious things. All the characters and
events portrayed in this work are fictional. Any resemblance to
real people, creatures of the night, psychic hunters hellbent on
ending the werewolf threat, or actual Mongolian death worms
is purely coincidental, but kinda hilarious.
Acknowledgements For the Revised Edition
Thanks to Fred Hicks and the Evil Hat crew for supporting this revised
edition, to Steve Hickey for once again editing my words into shape,
and to everyone who has played Monster of the Week over the past two
and a half years.
Acknowledgements for the First Edition
Thanks go to many people who helped me with this game. Firstly, to
Vincent Baker for Apocalypse World, and for not minding that I took
his rules and changed them all around to fit my vision.
Also, to the many playtesters who indulged me by joining in and
hunting monsters over four or five years of development (especially
my regular Monday night crew: Scott Kelly, Bruce Norris, Andrew
McLeod, Jason Pollock, and Stefan Tyler).
Steve Hickey, who edited the game, was one of my first enthusi-
astic fans, the first Keeper (aside from me), and has provided great
feedback throughout the process. Thanks to my other early fans: Jenni
Sands, Sophie Melchior, Hamish Cameron, and Stefan Tyler.
Daniel Gorringe for the art: he was on the same page as me
instantly in terms of style, and his work is fantastic.
Thanks to Amanda Reilly, Todd Furler, Patrice Hede, Stephanie
Pegg, and Peter Aronson for finding typos above and beyond the call
of duty.
Thanks also to everyone who contributed to the game’s fundrais-
ing campaign: the game would have been much rougher without you.
And, finally, to my wife and daughter. As the dedication says, they
put up with a lot while I was writing, and were supportive all along.
Thanks also to all the fans who have played and enjoyed Monster
of the Week since the first printing, especially those of you who have
created new hunter classes, mysteries, monsters, talked about your
games, or shared it at conventions.
Play-testers Roll of Honour
Revised edition: Dennis McFaull, Stefan Tyler, Paul Wilson, Chris
Fletcher, Sara Fletcher, and Nasia Alevizos, John Adamus, Matthew
Aaron, Mark Miller, Sophie Legacé, Rick Neal, Michael Robbins.
First edition: Andrew McLeod, Scott “It’ll be fine” Kelly, Jason
“Dark past” Pollock, and Stefan “Unstoppable” Tyler, Steve Hickey,
Sophie Melchior, Hamish Cameron, Jenni Sands, Svend Andersen,
Celeste Mackintosh, Wayne Ulyate, Dale Elvy, Karen Wilson, Stepha-
nie Pegg, Ellen Couch, Andy Millar, and Nick Cole.
Many more people playtested earlier beta versions of this game.
Thanks to you all, too.
Funders Roll Of Honour
Thanks to all of you who contributed to the first edition crowd-fund-
ing campaign:
Peter Aronson, Lester Ward, Alasdair Sinclair, Sophie Melchior,
Malcolm Harbrow, Colin Jessup, Dev Purkayastha, Marco Andreeto,
Hamish Cameron, Shane Mclean, Jamas Enright, Jeremy Tidwell, Rohan
Smith, Ian Raymond, Morgan Davie, Stephanie Pegg, Andrew Millar, Robert
Oglodzinski, Herman Duyker, Todd Furler, Luke Walker, John Harper,
Jonathan Davis, Avram Lewis, Fealoro, Martin Gray, Eirik Kildal Stangnes,
Emma-Jean, Jason Pollock, Antoine Fournier, Sevag Bakalian, Steve Dempsey,
Rich Rogers, Marcus Constable, Yragaël Malbos, Nathan Roberts, Joseph
Le May, Linda Larsson, Vincent Baker, Jonathan Bristow, Stuart Chaplin,
Robert T Roy, Marc Majcher, Kevin Lindgren, Nick Reynolds, Dale Elvy,
John Ryan, Mike Olson, Brian Allred, Ken Finlayson, Guns_n_Droids, Alan
Jackson, Scott White, Matthew Edwards, Guillaume Carré, Svend Andersen,
Stefan Tyler, Paul Wilson, Florian Hoheneder, Peter Borah, Bryan Chavez,
Dag Sverre Syrdal, David Bowers, Paul Edson, Jason L Blair, Marcus Bone,
Jeremy Friesen, Phil Garrad, Adam Waggenspack, Tim Ireland, Sevag
Bakalian, Nathan Riddell, Richard Rogers, Derek Grimm, Julianna Backer,
Ferrer Jean-Olivier, James Iles, Katrina Allis, Nicolas Brian, Sean Dunstan,
Chris Norwood, Mark Harris, Gary Anastasio, Felan Parker, Steve Hickey,
Noah Doyle, Karen Wilson, Sven Folkesson, Gino Moretto, Frank Pitt, Chris
Moriarty, Jenni Dowsett, Neal Dalton, Alden Strock, Reid San Filippo, Zoe
Tsang, Christopher Weeks, W. Mark Woodhouse, Ben Wootten, James
Gabrielsen, Aurynn Shaw, Alex Abate Biral, Jason Pitre, Justin Koopmans,
René John Kerkdyk, Diogo Curado, Grégoire Pinson, Brett Easterbrook,
Wayne West, Nicolas Ronvel, Alex Fradera, Noam Rosen, Mark Shocklee,
Scott Kelly, Will A Wright, John Machin, Peter Edwards, Guy Milner, Joe
Beason, Avery Mcdaldno, Gerry Saracco, Jim Sweeney, Carl Rigney, Jonathan
Walton, Keith Higdon, Scott Bennett, Joshua Cupp, Parke Hultman, Bryan
Rennekamp, Andrew Rosenheim.
Table of Contents
Foreword to the
Revised Edition 9
There Are Monsters
Out There 11
What You’ve Signed Up
For 12
What You’ll Need 13
What You Should Read 14
Structure 15
Feedback 15
The Hunters 17
The First Session 18
Extra Hunter Types . . . . . . 20
Just One Of Each . . . . . . . . 21
Making Your Hunter . . . . . . 21
Team Concepts 22
Team Customisation . . . . . . 22
Example Team Concepts . . . 23
Before You Get Started 25
Moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
The Ratings . . . . . . . . . . . 27
The Playbooks 29
The Chosen 30
The Crooked 35
The Divine 41
The Expert 46
The Flake 51
The Initiate 55
The Monstrous 60
The Mundane 66
The Professional 70
The Spell-Slinger 75
The Spooky 81
The Wronged 86
Get Ready
For Action 93
Introductions 94
History 95
How To Play 96
Hunter Agenda . . . . . . . . . 96
The Game Is A Conversation . 96
Moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
The Basic Moves . . . . . . . .101
Big Magic 107
Fights 109
Unarmed Attacks And
Improvised Weapons. . .109
Harm 110
Monsters and Harm . . . . . .110
Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Resurrection . . . . . . . . . .112
The Luck Counter 113
When You Run Out Of Luck .113
Gear 114
Getting New Gear . . . . . . .114
Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Armour . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Other Gear . . . . . . . . . . .117
Gear Tags . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Custom Gear Moves . . . . . .117
Leveling Up 118
End Of Session Experience . .118
Improvements . . . . . . . . .118
Advanced Improvements . . .120
Advanced Moves . . . . . . . .122
Summary: Hunter’s
Session 125
The First Time Only . . . . . .125
Every Game . . . . . . . . . . .125
The Keeper 127
What You Do 128
How It Will Play Out . . . . . .128
It’s About the Hunters, Not
The Mystery . . . . . . . .129
Before Your First Game 130
Think About Style . . . . . . .130
Get Into The Keeper Mindset 130
The Keeper Agenda . . . . . .131
The Keeper Principles . . . . .131
Creating Your First
Mystery 132
An Example Mystery:
Mongolian Death
Worm Attack . . . . . . .132
Preparing Your First Mystery .136
Mystery Countdowns . . . . .146
Summary: First Mystery
Creation . . . . . . . . . .147
Introductory Mystery:
Dream Away
the Time 149
Mystery concept . . . . . . . .150
Hook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
Countdown . . . . . . . . . . .150
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151
Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
The First Session 163
Hunter Creation 164
Introductions . . . . . . . . . .165
History . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
Mention How Things Work . .165
Running The First
Mystery 166
The Game Is A Conversation .166
Keeper Agenda . . . . . . . . .166
The Keeper Principles . . . . .167
Always Say . . . . . . . . . . .170
Moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
The Basic Keeper Moves . . .172
Threat Moves . . . . . . . . . .176
The Basic
Hunter Moves 181
Act Under Pressure . . . . . .182
Help Out . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Investigate A Mystery . . . . .184
Kick Some Ass . . . . . . . . .188
Manipulate Someone . . . . .190
Protect Someone . . . . . . . .193
Read A Bad Situation . . . . .194
Use Magic . . . . . . . . . . . .195
Big Magic . . . . . . . . . . . .197
Playbook Moves . . . . . . . .199
Actions Not Covered By A
Move . . . . . . . . . . . .199
On With The
Mystery! 201
Start-Of-Mystery Moves . . .202
The Teaser . . . . . . . . . . . .202
Beginning the Investigation . .203
Use The Countdown . . . . . .205
I’m Not Prepared For This . .205
It Always Comes To A Fight .206
Harm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
An Example Fight . . . . . . .216
End of the First Session 223
Getting Ready For Next Time .223
Summary: Keeper’s First
Session 225
Between Game
Sessions: Arcs 227
Arcs 228
Building Arcs . . . . . . . . . .228
The Basic Concept . . . . . . .229
Arc Threats . . . . . . . . . . .230
Arc Countdowns . . . . . . . .232
Arc Templates 233
Ancient Evil Rising . . . . . . .233
The Nemesis . . . . . . . . . .234
The End of Days . . . . . . . .235
Corruption . . . . . . . . . . .236
Arc Custom Moves 237
Summary: Arc Creation 237
Between Game
Sessions: Subsequent
Mysteries 239
Summary:
Mystery Creation 240
Basic Concept . . . . . . . . . .241
The Hook . . . . . . . . . . . .242
The Threats . . . . . . . . . . .243
The Countdown . . . . . . . .260
Messing With The Formula . .264
Sessions and Mysteries . . . .266
Mystery Letters . . . . . . . . .267
Running Subsequent
Mysteries 270
At the Beginning of Each
Session . . . . . . . . . . .270
Playing the Mystery . . . . . .270
At the End of Each Session . .271
Summary: Keeper’s Session . .271
Mystery:
Damn Dirty Apes 273
Requirements . . . . . . . . . .274
Hook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274
Countdown . . . . . . . . . . .274
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275
Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276
As the Game
Goes On 287
At the End of Each
Mystery 288
Checking On Your Arcs 289
Building Mythology . . . . . .289
Endgame 290
Leveling Up and
Improvements . . . . . .290
Running Out Of Luck . . . . .290
Dealing With Arcs . . . . . . .291
Other Things To Consider . .291
How To End A Game . . . . .291
One-Shot Games 292
One-Shot Hunters . . . . . . .292
One-Shot Mystery Creation .293
One-Shot Mystery Play . . . .293
Player Numbers 294
Customising Your
Game 295
Custom Moves 296
Defining The Move . . . . . . .296
Triggering The Custom Move 297
Move Types . . . . . . . . . . .297
Example Custom Moves . . . .297
Custom Threats 301
Legacy Experience Rules 301
Sharing The Keeper
Duties 302
Custom Playbooks 302
A Whole New Game 305
Inspiration 307
Television . . . . . . . . . . . .307
Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .307
Novels . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308
Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308
Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308
Index 309
8
Foreword
to the Revised Edition
Hi there! My name’s Fred, and I’m a bit late to the party.
I’ve always loved the urban fantasy genre, and I’ve been partic-
ularly happy to see it take over primetime with shows like Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Sleepy Hollow. Yet somehow the
first edition of Monster of the Week—a game modeled after shows like
those—flew under my radar.
But when I finally did find Monster of the Week, man, did it bite
me hard: a system driven by Apocalypse Engine sexiness, a genre I go
ape for, and smart choices made at every turn in the text and design.
The game had it all. I was particularly taken by its clarity: this is a game
that’s easy to read, learn, and put into practice.
As is my way, I threw a lot of enthusiasm at the game. I started a
(still-ongoing) campaign inspired in part by Harry Connolly’s Twenty
Palaces series, and I wrote up a new playbook based on a particular
wizard of my acquaintance (you’ll find it in this book as the Spell-Slinger).
I also looked into how this game was getting out into the world,
because, man, it deserves to go far. Turns out, it wasn’t getting out into
the world in all the ways it could—it wasn’t in retail distribution, and
physical copies largely only happened via print on demand.
I wanted to help bring Monster of the Week to a broader audience,
so I asked Michael Sands, the author, if he’d be interested in partner-
ing with Evil Hat to get the game out to retail. Michael was on board
with the idea. And he had a few revisions in mind, too. And I had
some ideas about improving the layout and increasing the amount of
art ... and several months later you’re reading the result: a game that’s
as great as it ever was, and better in some ways than ever before.
I can’t wait to hear how it works at your table! You’re in for a treat.
— Fred Hicks
9
10
FOREWORD TO THE REVISED EDITION
There Are Monsters
Out There
Most people don’t believe in monsters, but they’re real.
When someone finds out that monsters are real, it’s
usually just before they get eaten.
But some people are mean enough, smart enough,
crazy enough, or hurt enough, that they live.
And some of those survivors go on a crusade against
the monsters.
That’s you.
It could be that you make a stand and defend your
hometown from everything evil that comes there.
It could be that you take to the road and go hunt
them down, wherever you can find them.
It could be that you have magic powers to put you
on an even footing, or that your name came up in
prophecies thousands of years ago.
The one sure thing is that you aren’t gonna go back
to your old safe life.
11
12
THERE ARE MONSTERS OUT THERE
What You've
Signed Up For
When you play this game, most of you will create hunters, people who
have devoted their lives to killing monsters.
One player will be the Keeper (that’s short for “Keeper of Mon-
sters and Mysteries”). The Keeper will be in charge of:
• designing monsters and mysteries for the hunters to deal with
• bringing the world to life
• portraying the monsters and people the hunters meet.
The rest of you will decide how the hunters work together to
investigate the weird situations they find, slay the monsters causing
the trouble, and save the people in danger.
Your hunters aren’t normal people; you’re not even normal
monster hunters. You are the ones who stand out, larger than life and
twice as badass. You can change the world—save it, destroy it, or alter
it forever. One way or another, you will make a difference.
What You'll Need
The game works best with three to five people, with one of you acting
as Keeper. It works with more or less people, too, but there will be
a corresponding change to how much time each person gets in the
spotlight.
Make sure you have:
• copies of the hunter playbooks (each of these is a rules refer-
ence and record sheet for your hunter)
• enough hunter reference sheets to go round
• a Keeper reference sheet
• one mystery sheet for the Keeper, or an introductory mystery
to play (there’s one on page 149)
• pencils and note paper for everyone
• a pair of normal six-sided dice for each hunter (the Keeper
won’t need dice).
The files you need can be downloaded from here:
http://www.evilhat.com/home/monster-of-the-week/
or from http://genericgames.co.nz.
Also handy, mostly for the Keeper, is a big list of names that you
can use for the characters that will be part of the game (I like to use the
Story Games Names Project book, but a phone book or the cast and
crew list of a film work just as well). If you want to set your adventures
in real places you’ll find a source of maps, such as Google Maps, will
also be useful.
It’s a good idea to have drinks and snacks for everyone, too.
A mystery is one situation for the hunters to deal with—like
a typical monster of the week episode on Supernatural, Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, or The X-Files. Each time you sit down to play expect
to get through a single mystery in about 2-4 hours. Sometimes it
might stretch out longer, so that the mystery is split like a two-part
episode instead. The first game will take a little longer because you
have to make up your hunters at the beginning.
13
THERE ARE MONSTERS OUT THERE
What You Should Read
I’ve written the rulebook in the order that you’ll need as you play, with
all the hunters’ information first and then the Keeper’s section after.
If you want to skip that and just hit the basics, here’s some sug-
gestions:
• If you’re going to be Keeper, focus on the First Session section
(page 163): that covers what you need to prepare and what
to do for the first game. It’s best to know the hunters’ basic
moves (page 181) and playbooks (from page 29), at least
in passing
• If you’re going to play a hunter, read the hunter playbooks
(from page 29), and about moves (page 101) and ratings
(page 27). Most important is to pick which hunter type(s)
you want to play.
• If you’ve played Apocalypse World (or another game based on
those rules, such as Monsterhearts or Dungeon World) then
plenty here will be familiar. Check out ratings (stats in Apoc-
alypse World) (page 27), playbooks (page 29), and basic
moves (page 101) to get a sense of the main differences. Luck
is new (page 113). The Keeper’s (MC in Apocalypse World)
agenda and principles (page 131), threats (page 137), and
moves (page 172) are different, and mysteries (page 132 &
page 239) and arcs (page 227) take the place of fronts.
• If you’re an experienced roleplayer who hasn’t played Apoc-
alypse World (the game these rules are adapted from),
check out the hunter playbooks (page 29) and the moves
(page 101) and ratings (page 27). From there everything
else should fall into place.
• If you want to run a game right away, skim “Running the First
Mystery” (page 166) and “On With the Mystery” (page 201)
and then read through “Dream Away the Time” on page 149.
That should be enough to get you up and running. You can
come back for more detail later.
14
THERE ARE MONSTERS OUT THERE
Structure
This book is split into two main sections, The Hunters and The Keeper.
Each section contains the rules for the corresponding player role.
It’s helpful for the Keeper to be familiar with how the rules work for
hunters as well as for their own Keeper responsibilities. There’s also
no reason for other players to avoid the Keeper’s section (there are no
spoilers there, except in the example mysteries) if you want another
perspective on the rules.
Feedback
If you have some feedback or just want to talk about the game, you can
send me email at [email protected], or post at:
• the Monster of the Week forum at apocalypse-world.com/
forums/index.php?board=33.0
• The Monster of the Week Roadhouse G+ community at: plus.
google.com/communities/110209328442902551212
If you want to keep up with Monster of the Week news and
updates, you can watch the game website at http://www.evilhat.com/
home/monster-of-the-week/ or http://genericgames.co.nz or follow
@MotW rpg on Twitter.
15
THERE ARE MONSTERS OUT THERE
16
THE HUNTERS
The Hunters
So, you’re going to be a monster hunter. I’ll take you
through what happens the first time you sit down to
play: creating hunters, coming up with a team history,
and getting on with investigating mysteries and
slaying some monsters.
It’s written to tell you what you need to know in
the order you’ll need it (with a few digressions along
the way).
17
The First Session
In the first session, you’ll create your hunters and investigate your first
mystery.
The first step is to decide if the group wants to pick a team concept
(page 22). That’s the reason you are a team, for example, “We all
work for a secret monster hunting agency” or “We defend our home
town against the monsters that keep coming here.” The Keeper may
have some suggestions based on what they’ve been planning.
If you have a team concept that needs certain hunter types, allo-
cate those first.
If you don’t have a team concept, just let everyone pick a play-
book (that’s your hunter rules and record sheet) and see what the team
looks like. You’ll work out why they are together as you create your
hunters, establish their history with each other, and as you play the
game.
The hunter types are:
• The Chosen: a once-ordinary person who discovered they have a
special destiny, and who has been given the power to accomplish
it. The Chosen is good in a fight, with some weird powers. E.g.
Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. See page 30.
• The Crooked: a criminal turned monster hunter, haunted by their
past and enemies. The Crooked is good in social situations and
has a lot of contacts. E.g. Anna Valmont from The Dresden Files,
Peter Bishop from Fringe. See page 35.
• The Divine: an agent of a higher power, with a mission to fulfill.
The Divine is very tough and has been granted holy powers. E.g.
Castiel from Supernatural; Michael Carpenter from The Dresden
Files. See page 41.
• The Expert: the hunter who knows all about monsters and magic.
The Expert knows a lot of hidden secrets and how to find out
more, and also has a well-supplied base to work from. E.g. Bobby
Singer from Supernatural; Rupert Giles from Buffy the Vampire
Slayer. See page 46.
• The Flake: a conspiracy theorist. The Flake is great at finding
things out and seeing how the events of separate mysteries are
connected. E.g. Agent Mulder or the Lone Gunmen from The
X-Files. See page 51.
18
THE HUNTERS
19
THE HUNTERS
• The Initiate: a member of an ancient monster-slaying Sect,
trained to fight and use magic. The Initiate is good with magic,
and their Sect provides help (and sometimes problems). E.g.
The Wardens from The Dresden Files; Annelise from the Twenty
Palaces series. See page 55.
• The Monstrous: a monster fighting for the good guys. The
Monstrous is very weird, and can have a variety of different
powers based on what monster breed they are. E.g. Angel from
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel; Bill Compton from True
Blood (page 60).
• The Mundane: just a normal regular person, especially good at
dealing with regular people you meet and have to save, and at
getting captured by monsters (which can be more useful than you
might expect). E.g. Xander or Cordelia from Buffy the Vampire
Slayer. See page 66.
• The Professional: you work for an agency that hunts monsters.
The Professional is good in a fight, and a good team player. E.g.
Riley and the Initiative from Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Olivia
Dunham from Fringe. See page 70.
• The Spell-slinger: a trained wizard, wielding powerful magic in
their crusade against evil. The Spell-slinger’s arcane training gives
them an advantage when dealing with eldritch secrets. E.g. Harry
Dresden from The Dresden Files; Willow from Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, in the later seasons. See page 75.
• The Spooky: has psychic or magical
powers. These powers are
strange and sinister ... and
not completely under
the Spooky’s control. E.g.
Sam Winchester from
Supernatural; Willow from
earlier seasons of Buffy
the Vampire Slayer.
See page 81.
• The Wronged:
revenge-driven, and
really tough. The
Wronged is all about
killing a specific breed of monster
and protecting others as you do
it. E.g. Dean and John Winchester
from Supernatural. See page 86.
Extra hunter types
There are some extra playbooks out there, some official and others
fan-made. You can find advice on making your own on page 302.
The currently available hunters include:
• The Action Scientist. Just like it says, a scientist ready for
action and dealing with monsters. Directly inspired by
Atomic Robo.
• The Big Game Hunter. An expert hunter who has decided
to hunt monsters for the thrill of the chase rather than the
need to protect.
• The Constructed. A built being, now free of its maker.
Inspired by Frankenstein’s monster.
• The Exile. A monster hunter from the past who has been
transported to the present day.
• The Hard Case. The toughest, hardest to kill fighter. E.g. Ray
Lilly from the Twenty Palaces series or Owen Pitt from the
Monster Hunter International series.
• The Luchador. A heroic masked wrestler, fighting to protect
the innocent between matches.
• The Mad Scientist. A crazy scientist who has seen the
error of their ways and is now working for good. So they say,
anyhow.
• The Meddling Kid. Jinkies! I think there’s something more
going on here, and old man Smithers seems to be involved!
E.g. Scooby-doo and the Scooby gang.
• The Sidekick. They worship another hunter on the team, and
is good at helping them out. And one day, they’ll be just as
good as their hero. E.g. Garth from Supernatural.
• The Snoop. A journalist looking for the real story behind
weird events. Great at finding stuff out, terrible at fighting.
E.g. The Ghostfacers from Supernatural.
• The Summoned. A creature summoned to end the world but
who has decided they do not want to do that. Lots of weird
powers, dangerous, and hard to kill. E.g. Hellboy.
Most of these are available on the Monster of the Week website.
20
THE HUNTERS
Just One Of Each
Only one hunter of each type is allowed at the same time in any game.
That’s because you’re not just one of that type of hunter: you’re the
archetype. There may be a whole agency of professional monster
hunters, but only one of them is The Professional.
Making Your Hunter
After you’ve all picked your hunter types, you’ll spend about 20-30
minutes of the first session defining their abilities and establishing the
relationships in your team. Follow the instructions in your playbook
to create your hunter. You don’t need to spend too long deciding on
each option in the playbook—if you make any choices you regret, you
can always revise them after the first session.
When you get to the ‘Introductions’ section, wait until every-
one catches up. The Keeper will guide everyone as you make up your
hunters, so ask them if you have any questions (For the Keeper, there
are instructions on how to guide this process in ‘The First Session’
section on page 163).
21
THE HUNTERS
Team Concepts
It’s good to work out why the hunters formed their team. You may
have decided on this already. If not, have a quick discussion and see if
you come up with an idea—even if it’s just a vague one.
The combination of playbooks you’ve selected may demand a
particular team concept. Or it may seem like two (or more) teams
of hunters have been mashed together (for instance, a family and a
government agency)—in which case, it’s good to ask yourselves why
they’re co-operating.
If nobody has any ideas, you can either work it out later on (after
you have all made your hunters, and figured out your history together),
or you can accept that this is a random collection of hunters: some-
times it’s okay to let things develop in play.
Don’t set your concept in stone yet. You’ll want to revise it as you
make up your hunters, based on the choices you make along the way.
Team Customisation
Sometimes your team concept will require additional stuff on top of
the normal character creation options. This is stuff that enables the
game to run smoothly. If you find yourselves saying, “It doesn’t make
sense that we don’t have this,” and everyone agrees, then it’s a good
candidate for customisation.
Decide as a group if any changes are needed, and what they will
be. You can work these out at any point: it might come up right away
when you pick your concept, or you might think of it later on.
Your concept might require:
• Equipment that isn’t in your playbook options. For example:
your team concept has the hunters always on the move, but
none of your playbooks include transport in the gear section.
You can decide the team has a van to travel in.
• Something that can be written up as a custom move (page 296).
For example: the team concept is that you are all members of
a secret organisation, so everyone starts with a version of the
Professional’s deal with the Agency move (page 72).
• New options when you level up (page 118). For example: the
team concept has a special mystical artifact for each hunter,
but these artifacts’ powers are not initially available. Each
hunter may choose to unlock one of their artifact’s powers
when they level up.
22
THE HUNTERS
Example Team Concepts
Here are some example team concepts and the playbooks that work
with them. Use them as they are, or as inspiration for your own ideas.
Slayer and Entourage
There’s a chosen one, and their support group. Hopefully, together
you’ll be able to save the world.
The team has a Chosen, who is at the centre of things. An Expert,
Initiate, or Spell-slinger would make a good mentor. A Mundane
or Flake could be a friend of the Chosen. A Divine, Monstrous, or
Spooky gives the team some magical powers to draw on.
The Unexplained Cases Team
The Agency needs a team to handle all the weird stuff regular agents
don’t understand. That’s you: the Unexplained Cases Team. You check
out the mysterious disappearances, the fungus monsters, the alien
abductions, the vampires and everything else the regular agents can’t
handle.
This team concept requires a Professional. A Flake, Mundane,
Expert, Spooky, and Wronged would all be good choices to fill out the
team’s skill profile, while a Crooked might have some useful contacts.
The Professional’s Agency will employ the whole team. As a cus-
tomisation, allow any of the hunters to take the Professional’s deal
with the Agency move as a leveling up option (page 72). Until then,
they’re just consultants, contractors, or temps.
23
THE HUNTERS
The Order
You are all members of an ancient order of monster slayers.
You’ll need an Initiate. Everyone else makes up the team the Ini-
tiate commands: the Spooky, Expert, Mundane, Flake, Crooked, or
Chosen all work well here.
Everyone is a member of the Order, but initially only the Initiate
will have to deal with your superiors. As a customisation, anyone can
take the Initiate move for when you are in good standing with the
Sect as a leveling up option (page 56). Anyone may also substitute
one of the Initiate’s old-fashioned weapons (page 57) for a regular
weapon choice.
Road-tripping Hunter Family
Your family’s trade is hunting monsters. The nomadic life, drifting into
town just long enough to find and slay whatever is causing trouble...
well, it suits some of you just fine. Others, not so much.
This team concept suits the Wronged, Spooky, Divine, Expert,
Flake, and Chosen best. A Monstrous could fit in too, but not com-
fortably. All the others except the Professional could round out the
team. If there’s an Initiate, maybe the Sect is comprised of certain
bloodlines, so everyone in the family is a member.
You are all family, or as good as family.
Oh, and make sure you have a cool car. Or a sensible anonymous
car, if that’s your thing. If none of the hunters has a vehicle, you can
decide the team gets one as a customisation.
24
THE HUNTERS
Before You GET STARTED
Before you get started, you need to know about two game concepts:
moves and ratings.
The hunter playbooks mention some other terms that I haven’t
introduced yet. Don’t worry about those, you don’t need to under-
stand them just now. If you want to find out more, read the “How to
Play” section starting at page 96.
Moves
Moves cover situations when the game rules step in to help you deter-
mine what happens. If your hunter wants to do something that any
normal person can do, then it just happens. Moves are used to deter-
mine what happens in cases where your hunter tries to do:
• something normal people can’t do, such as casting a magic
spell
• something dangerous, such as getting into a fight with a
monster
• something that’s more exciting if we don’t just decide the
outcome on our own. For example, seeing if your hunter’s lie
to a monster-attack victim has any repercussions.
Each move is triggered when a particular situation happens in the
game. Look at when the move says it happens, and follow the instruc-
tions when you do it.
For example, you need to use the move protect someone to
save another hunter from a bone puppet’s attack. The move
says when you protect someone from harm, roll +Cool, so you
roll the dice and get a two and a five. That’s seven, plus your
hunter has Cool +1 for a total of eight. The move’s instructions
say that on a 7-9, you protect the target okay but you may
suffer some or all of the harm instead.
After you’ve recognised the move’s trigger, it will tell you want to
do next. Moves can:
• ask you to roll the dice, with the results of the roll determining
what happens next
• grant you a special ability that you can use whenever you
want
• give you a bonus to certain rolls
• give you extra options to use in certain situations.
25
THE HUNTERS
The Hunter Basic Moves
All the hunters have a set of moves that allow them to investigate and
deal with monsters. These are called the “basic moves” (page 101).
There are eight basic moves:
• Act Under Pressure, used for any difficult or dangerous
action that isn’t covered by another move.
• Help Out, used to help another hunter do something. If you
succeed, you’ll give them a bonus on their task.
• Investigate a Mystery, used to work out what kind of
monster you are dealing with, what it can do, and what it’s
planning.
• Kick Some Ass, used for fighting. Fighting monsters, mainly.
• Manipulate Someone, used to try and get someone to do
something for you, after you give them some kind of reason.
• Protect Someone, used to save someone from danger.
• Read a Bad Situation, used to work out what dangers are
immediately threatening you. For instance, if you think you
are walking into a trap, or want to do some tactical analysis.
• Use Magic, used to cast magic spells or use enchanted items.
In addition, each hunter playbook has its own set of moves. These are
called “playbook moves.”
26
THE HUNTERS
The Ratings
Your hunter has ratings that describe how good they are in certain
areas that are important when hunting monsters. The ratings add to
(or subtract from) your dice total when you roll for a move.
• Cool is how calm and collected you are. It is added to your
die roll for the act under pressure and help out basic moves.
• Tough is how strong and mean you are in a fight. It is added
to your die roll for the kick some ass and protect someone
basic moves.
• Charm is how pleasant and persuasive you are. It is added to
your die roll for the manipulate someone basic move.
• Sharp is how observant you are. It is added to your die roll
for the investigate a mystery and read a bad situation basic
moves.
• Weird is how attuned to the supernatural you are. It is added
to your die roll for the use magic basic move.
The ratings range from -1 to +3.
• -1 is bad
• 0 is average
• +1 is good
• +2 is really good
• +3 is phenomenal
27
THE HUNTERS
28
THE HUNTERS
The Playbooks
Next up are the hunter playbooks, which define how
to create your hunter and what abilities each hunter
can use.
29
The Chosen
Your birth was prophesied. You are the Chosen One, and with
your abilities you can save the world. If you fail, all will be
destroyed. It all rests on you. Only you.
To make your Chosen, first pick a name. Then follow the instructions
below to decide your look, ratings, fate, moves, gear, and your special
weapon. Finally, introduce yourself and pick history.
30
THE CHOSEN • THE PLAYBOOKS
Look, pick one from each List:
• Man, woman, boy, girl, androgynous.
• Fresh face, haggard face, young face, haunted face, hopeful face,
controlled face.
• Preppy clothes, casual wear, urban wear, normal clothes, neat
clothes, street wear.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm+2, Cool-1, Sharp+1, Tough+2, Weird-1
b Charm-1, Cool+2, Sharp+1, Tough+2, Weird-1
b Charm+1, Cool+2, Sharp+1, Tough+1, Weird-1
b Charm-1, Cool+1, Sharp+2, Tough-1, Weird+2
b Charm+1, Cool+2, Sharp-1, Tough-1, Weird+2
Fate
You get to decide what sort of fate is in store for you. Pick how you
found out about your fate, from the list below.
How You Found Out (pick one):
b Nightmares and visions
b Some weirdo told you
b An ancient cult found you
b Sought out by your nemesis
b Attacked by monsters
b Trained from birth
b You found the prophecy
Then pick two heroic and two doom tags for your fate from the lists
below. This is how your fate will unfold. It’s okay to pick contradictory
tags: that means your fate is pulling you both ways.
Whenever you mark off a point of Luck, the Keeper will throw
something from your fate at you.
Heroic (pick two):
b Sacrifice
b You are the Champion
b Visions
b Secret training
b Magical powers
b Mystical inheritance
b A normal life
b True love
b You can save the world
b Hidden allies
b The end of monsters
b Divine help
Doom (pick two):
b Death
b You can’t save everyone
b Impossible love
b Failure
b A nemesis
b No normal life
b Loss of loved ones
b Treachery
b Doubt
b Sympathy with the enemy
b Damnation
b Hosts of monsters
b The end of days
b The source of Evil
31
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE CHOSEN
Moves
You get all of the basic moves, plus three Chosen moves.
You get these two:
B Destiny’s Plaything: At the beginning of each mystery, roll
+Weird to see what is revealed about your immediate future.
On a 10+, the Keeper will reveal a useful detail about the coming
mystery. On a 7-9 you get a vague hint about it. On a miss, some-
thing bad is going to happen to you.
B I’m Here For A Reason: There’s something you are destined to
do. Work out the details with the Keeper, based on your fate. You
cannot die until it comes to pass. If you die in play, then you
must spend a Luck point. You will then, somehow, recover or be
returned to life. Once your task is done (or you use up all your
Luck), all bets are off.
Then pick one of these:
b The Big Entrance: When you make a showy entrance into a
dangerous situation, roll +Cool. On 10+ everyone stops to
watch and listen until you finish your opening speech. On a 7-9,
you pick one person or monster to stop, watch and listen until
you finish talking. On a miss, you’re marked as the biggest threat
by all enemies who are present.
b Devastating: When you inflict harm, you may inflict +1 harm.
b Dutiful: When your fate rears its ugly head, and you act in accor-
dance with any of your fate tags (either heroic or doom) then
mark experience. If it’s a heroic tag, take +1 forward.
b Invincible: You always count as having 2-armour. This doesn’t
stack with other protection.
b Resilience: You heal faster than normal people. Any time your
harm gets healed, heal an extra point. Additionally, your wounds
count as 1-harm less for the purpose of the Keeper’s harm moves.
Gear
You can have protective gear worth 1-armour, if you want it.
You have a special weapon you are destined to wield.
32
THE CHOSEN • THE PLAYBOOKS
Your Special Weapon
Design your weapon by choosing a form and three business-end
options (which are added to the base tags), and a material. For example,
if you want a magic sword you could choose the following: handle +
blade + long + magic.
Form (choose 1):
b staff (1-harm hand/close)
b haft (2-harm hand heavy)
b handle (1-harm
hand balanced)
b chain (1-harm hand area)
Business-end (choose 3 options):
b artifact (add the
“magic” tag)
b spikes (+1 harm, add
the “messy” tag)
b blade (+1 harm)
b heavy (+1 harm)
b long (add the “close” tag)
b throwable (add
the “close” tag)
b chain (add the “area” tag)
Material (choose 1):
Finally, pick what material the business-end is made from: add “steel,”
“cold iron,” “silver,” “wood,” “stone,” “bone,” “teeth,” “obsidian,” or any-
thing else you want.
Material:
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Chosen by
name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. On your turn, pick one of these for each
other hunter:
• You are close blood relations. Ask them exactly how close.
• They are destined to be your mentor. Tell them how this was
revealed.
• Your best friend in the world, who you trust totally.
• A rival at first, but you came to a working arrangement.
• Romantic entanglement, or fated to be romantically entangled.
• Just friends, from school or work or something. Ask them what.
• They could have been the Chosen One instead of you, but they
failed some trial. Tell them how they failed.
• You saved their life, back when they didn’t know monsters were
real. Tell them what you saved them from.
33
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE CHOSEN
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If your Luck boxes all get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Chosen special: When you spend a point of Luck, the Keeper will
bring your fate into play.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Charm, max +3
b Get +1 Cool, max +3
b Get +1 Sharp, max +3
b Get +1 Tough, max +3
b Get +1 Weird, max +3
b Take another Chosen move
b Take another Chosen move
b Gain an ally
b Take a move from
another playbook
b Take a move from
another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b Delete one of your Doom tags, and (optionally) one of your Heroic
tags. You have changed that aspect of your destiny.
34
THE CHOSEN • THE PLAYBOOKS
The Crooked
“Yeah, I’ve been around the block. A bit of this, a bit of that.
When I came across the secret underworld of monsters and
magic… well… it wasn’t so different from the underworld I
already knew. It was easy to find an angle, just like before.”
To make your Crooked, pick a name. Then follow the instructions
below to decide your look, ratings, background, heat, underworld,
moves, and gear. Finally, introduce yourself and pick history.
35
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE CROOKED
Look, pick one from each List:
• Man, woman, concealed.
• Hard eyes, friendly eyes, watchful eyes, smiling eyes, calculating
eyes.
• Street wear, tailored suit, cheap suit, tracksuit, nondescript
clothes.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm +1, Cool +1, Sharp +2, Tough 0, Weird -1
b Charm -1, Cool +1, Sharp +1, Tough +2, Weird 0
b Charm -1, Cool +2, Sharp +2, Tough 0, Weird -1
b Charm +2, Cool +1, Sharp +1, Tough 0, Weird -1
b Charm +2, Cool 0, Sharp +1, Tough -1, Weird +1
Background
You worked a less-than-legal job before you became a monster hunter.
What did you do?
b Hoodlum. You can use Tough instead of Charm to manipulate
someone with threats of violence.
b Burglar. When you break into a secure location, roll +Sharp.
On a 10+ pick three, on a 7-9 pick two: you get in undetected,
you get out undetected, you don’t leave a mess, you find what you
were after.
b Grifter. When you are about to manipulate someone, you can
ask the Keeper “What will convince this person to do what I want?”
The Keeper must answer honestly, but not necessarily completely.
b Fixer. If you need to buy something, sell something, or hire
someone, roll +Charm. On a 10+ you know just the person who
will be interested. On a 7-9 you know the only person who can
do it, but there’s a complication. Pick one: you owe them; they
screwed you over; you screwed them over. On a miss, the only
person who can help is someone who absolutely hates you.
b Assassin. When you take your first shot at an unsuspecting target,
do +2 Harm.
b Charlatan. When you want people to think you are using magic,
roll +Cool. On a 10 or more, your audience is amazed and fooled
by your illusion. On a 7-9 you tripped up a couple of times, maybe
someone will notice. You may also manipulate people with
fortune telling. When you do that, ask “What are they hoping for
right now?” as a free question (even on a miss).
b Pickpocket When you steal something small, roll +Charm. On
a 10 or more, you get it and they didn’t notice you taking it. On
a 7-9 either you don’t grab it, you grab the wrong thing, or they
remember you later: your choice.
36
THE CROOKED • THE PLAYBOOKS
Heat
You didn’t get here without making enemies. Pick at least two of these
and name the people involved:
b A police detective, , has made it a personal goal
to put you away.
b You have a rival from your background, , who
never misses a chance to screw you over.
b You pissed off a well-connected criminal, , and
they’ll do whatever they can to destroy you.
b is someone with special powers, a person or
monster, who you took advantage of.
b is an old partner you betrayed in the middle of
a job.
Underworld
Pick how you discovered about the real underworld. Keep this in mind
when you select your moves in the next section, so that everything fits
together.
b The target of a job was a dangerous creature. Pick one: vampire,
werewolf, troll, reptiloid.
b You worked with someone who was more than they seemed. Pick
one: sorcerer, demon, faerie, psychic.
b You were hired by something weird. Pick one: immortal, god, out-
sider, witch.
b Things went south on a job—including, but not limited to, running
into (choose one): a horde of goblins, a hunger of ghouls, a dream-
eater, a salamander.
37
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE CROOKED
Moves
You get all the basic moves, and two Crooked moves:
b Artifact: You ‘found’ a magical artifact with handy powers, and
kept it. Pick one: Protective amulet (1-armour magic recharge),
Lucky charm (may be used as a Luck point, once only), Grimoire
(studying the book gives +1 forward to use magic), Skeleton key
(opens any magically sealed lock), Imp stone (A weak demon is
bound to serve the holder. The imp must be summoned with the
use magic move).
b Crew: You have a regular crew, a team of three or four people
who will help you out with pretty much anything. They count as
a team (see page 119).
b Deal with the Devil: You sold your soul to the Devil. Pick one or
two things you got out of the deal: wealth, fame, youth, sensual
gratification, skill (add +1 to two ratings). Payment is due either
when you die, in six months (if you picked two things) or other-
wise in a year.
b Friends on the Force: You know a few cops who can be persuaded
to look the other way, or do you a favour, for certain consider-
ations. You can act under pressure to get in touch with them
when you need to divert any law enforcement attention. There
will be a cost, although maybe not right now.
b Made: You’re “made” in a gang. Name the gang and describe
how their operations tie into your background. You can call on
gang members to help you out, but they’ll expect to be paid. Your
bosses will have requests for you now and again, but you’ll be paid.
Minor trouble will be overlooked, but you better not screw over
any other made gangsters.\
b Driver: You have +1 ongoing while driving, plus you can hotwire
anything (the older it is, the fewer tools you need to do it). You
also own two handy, widely-available vehicles (perhaps a sports-
car and a van).
b Home Ground: Your crew made a point of keeping the locals
happy - keeping them safe, ensuring things always went down
okay. When you’re back in your old neighbourhood, you can
always find people who will hide you or help you with a minor
favour, no questions asked.
b Notorious: You have a reputation from your criminal past. When
you reveal who you are, your terrifying reputation counts
as a reason for people to do what you ask, for the manipulate
someone move. Revealing your identity to someone can create
other problems later, of course.
38
THE CROOKED • THE PLAYBOOKS
Gear
Effective weapons, pick three:
b .22 revolver (1-harm close reload small)
b .38 revolver (2-harm close reload loud)
b 9mm (2-harm close loud)
b Shotgun (3-harm close messy)
b Hunting rifle (2-harm far loud)
b Big knife (1-harm hand)
b Baseball bat (1-harm hand)
b Submachinegun (2-harm close reload auto)
b Assault rifle (3-harm close/far auto)
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Crooked by
name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. When it’s your turn, pick one for each of
the other hunters:
• This hunter knows about your criminal past. Tell them what
crimes they saw you commit.
• This hunter was there when you decided to give up the life and
hunt monsters instead. Work out together what happened.
• This hunter is your younger sibling or child (possibly adopted).
You look out for them.
• This hunter is a cousin or more distant relative.
• This hunter saved your life when a monster had the drop on you.
Now you owe them one.
• This hunter worked with you on a semi-legal or illegal job. Work
out what it was.
• This hunter is your moral compass. When you talk over things
with them, their advice keeps you on the straight and narrow.
• You’re powerfully attracted to this hunter. Maybe someday you’ll
deserve them.
39
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE CROOKED
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as just 0-harm. If your Luck boxes all get filled, you’ve run out
of good luck.
Crooked special: Whenever you spend a Luck point, someone from
your past (heat or underworld) will re-appear in your life. Soon.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark of the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. More than four harm is especially dangerous.
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll a six or less, or when a move tells you to, mark an
experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the list below.
Improvements
b Get +1 Sharp, max +3
b Get +1 Tough, max +2
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Charm, max +2
b Take another
Crooked move
b Take another
Crooked move
b Gain an ally: one of your old crew.
b Recover a stash of money from the old days, enough to live
without care... for a year or two.
b Take a move from another playbook
b Take a move from another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these, from the list below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b Erase one used luck mark from your playbook.
40
THE CROOKED • THE PLAYBOOKS
The Divine
I am the Light, the Sword.
I am sent to defend the meek from Darkness.
All Evil fears me, for I am its end.
To make your Divine, first pick a name. Then follow the instructions
below to decide your look, ratings, mission, moves, and gear. Finally,
introduce yourself and pick history.
41
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE DIVINE
Look, pick one from each List:
• Man, woman, androgynous, asexual.
• Blazing eyes, terrifying eyes, placid eyes, sparkling eyes, perceptive
eyes, starry eyes, glowing eyes.
• Dirty clothes, perfect suit, rumpled suit, casual clothes, practical
clothes.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm+1, Cool+1, Sharp-1, Tough+2, Weird=0
b Charm-1, Cool+2, Sharp-1, Tough+2, Weird=0
b Charm-1, Cool=0, Sharp+1, Tough+2, Weird+1
b Charm+1, Cool+1, Sharp=0, Tough+2, Weird-1
b Charm-1, Cool+1, Sharp=0, Tough+2, Weird+1
Mission
You have been put on Earth for a purpose. Pick one:
b You are here to fight the schemes of an Adversary.
b The End of Days approaches. Your role is to guide these hunters
and prevent it from coming to pass.
b The End of Days approaches. Your role is to guide these hunters
and ensure it comes to pass.
b You have been exiled. You must work for the cause of Good
without drawing attention from your brothers and sisters, as they
are bound to execute you for your crimes.
b One of the other hunters has a crucial role to play in events to
come. You must prepare them for their role, and protect them at
any cost.
42
THE DIVINE • THE PLAYBOOKS
Moves
You get all the basic moves, and pick three Divine moves:
b Boss from Beyond: At the beginning of each mystery, roll
+Weird. On a 10+, your Superiors ask you to do something simple.
On a 7-9, they ask you to do something complicated or difficult.
In either case, you get to ask them one of the questions from
the investigate a mystery move right now. On a miss, you are
required to do something terrible. If you do not accomplish what
they’ve ordered, you cannot use this move again until you have
made up for your failure.
b Angel Wings: You can go instantly to anywhere you’ve visited
before, or to a person you know well. When you carry one or
two people with you, roll +Weird. On a 10+ you all go where you
wanted. On a 7-9, you don’t quite manage it. Either you are all
separated, or you all appear in the wrong place.
b What I Need, When I Need It: You may store any small object
you own, putting it into a magical space nobody can get to. You
may retrieve anything you stored at any time; it appears in your
hand.
b Soothe: When you talk to someone for a few seconds in a
quiet voice, you can calm them down, blocking any panic, anger,
or other negative emotions they have. This works even if the thing
that freaked them out is still present, as long as your voice can be
heard.
b Lay On Hands: Your touch can heal injury and disease. When
you lay your hands on someone hurt, roll +Cool. On a 10+, heal
2 harm or an illness, plus they’re stabilized. On a 7-9, you can heal
the harm or illness as on a 10+, but you take it into yourself. On a
miss, your aura causes them extra harm.
b Cast Out Evil: You may banish an unnatural creature from
your presence. Roll +Tough. On a 10+ it is banished. On a 7-9 it
takes a little while for the banishing to take effect—the creature
has time to make one or two actions. Either way, the banished
creature is unharmed, and you have no control over where it goes.
This move may be used on unnatural hunters (e.g. the Monstrous).
On a miss, something is keeping it here. That’s bad.
b Smite: Your body and divine weapon always count as a weakness
against the monsters you fight. Your unarmed attacks are 2-harm
intimate hand messy.
43
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE DIVINE
Gear
Pick one divine weapon:
b Flaming sword (3-harm hand fire holy)
b Thunder hammer (3-harm hand stun holy)
b Razor whip (3-harm hand area messy holy)
b Five demon bag (3-harm close magic holy)
b Silver trident (3-harm hand silver holy)
You also get divine armour (1-armour holy). It has a look suited to
your divine origin.
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Divine by
name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. When it’s your turn, pick one for each of
the other hunters:
• If you are protecting another hunter as your mission, tell them
this: You have a crucial role in what is to come. I am here to guide
and defend you.
• They should not be involved in this situation: the prophecies
didn’t mention them at all. This gets your attention but you don’t
know what it means yet.
• They are, at heart, a good and righteous person. You must help
them stay that way.
• They are an abomination, and should be destroyed. Except you
can’t–work out with them why not.
• Their prayer (perhaps an informal or even unconscious prayer)
summoned you.
• They fill you with feelings of sexual infatuation. You are confused
by the associated mortal emotions.
• They saved your life, and you understand (intellectually at least)
that you owe them for it.
• They’re the person you go to for advice on mortal stuff (e.g sex,
food, drugs, television, etc).
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as just 0-harm. If your Luck boxes all get filled, you’ve run out
of good luck.
Okay bbb b bbb Doomed
44
THE DIVINE • THE PLAYBOOKS
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark of the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable”.
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever your roll totals 6 or less, or when a move tells you to, mark
an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the list below.
Improvements:
b Get +1 Tough, max +3
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Charm, max +2
b Get +1 Sharp, max +2
b Get +1 Weird, max +2
b Take another Divine move
b Take another Divine move
b Gain a lesser divine being
as an ally, sent from above
to help with your mission
b Take a move from
another playbook
b Take a move from
another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b Erase one used Luck mark from your playbook.
b Change your mission. Select a different mission from the normal
options, or (with the Keeper’s agreement) a new mission of your
creation.
45
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE DIVINE
The Expert
I have dedicated my life to the study of the unnatural. I know
their habits, their weaknesses. I may not be youngest or stron-
gest, but my knowledge makes me the biggest threat.
To make your Expert, first pick a name. Then follow the instructions
below to decide your look, ratings, moves, haven, and gear. Finally,
introduce yourself and pick history.
Look, pick one
from each List:
• Man, woman, indeterminate.
• Thoughtful face, lined face,
scarred face, contemplative
face, stern face, avuncular face,
experienced face, ancient face.
• Old fashioned clothes, casual
clothes, utility clothes, tai-
lored clothes, outdoor clothes.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm-1, Cool+1, Sharp+2,
Tough+1, Weird=0
b Charm=0, Cool+1, Sharp+2,
Tough-1, Weird+1
b Charm+1, Cool-1, Sharp+2,
Tough+1, Weird=0
b Charm-1, Cool+1, Sharp+2,
Tough=0, Weird+1
b Charm-1, Cool=0, Sharp+2,
Tough-1, Weird+2
46
THE EXPERT • THE PLAYBOOKS
Moves
You get all of the basic moves, plus pick two Expert moves:
b I’ve Read About This Sort Of Thing: Roll +Sharp instead of
+Cool when you act under pressure.
b Often Right: When a hunter comes to you for advice about a
problem, give them your honest opinion and advice. If they take
your advice, they get +1 ongoing while following your advice, and
you mark experience.
b Preparedness: When you need something unusual or rare, roll
+Sharp. On a 10+, you have it here right now. On a 7-9 you have it,
but not here: it will take some time to get it. On a miss, you know
where it is, but it’s somewhere real bad.
b It Wasn’t As Bad As It Looked: Once per mystery, you may
attempt to keep going despite your injuries. Roll +Cool. On a
10+, heal 2 harm and stabilize your wounds. On a 7-9 you may
either stabilize or heal 1 harm. On a miss, it was worse than it
looked: the Keeper may inflict a harm move on you, or make your
wounds unstable.
b Precise Strike. When you inflict harm on a monster, you can aim
for a weak spot. Roll +Tough. On a 10+ you inflict +2 harm. On
a 7-9 you inflict +1 harm. On a miss, you leave yourself open for
the monster to hit you.
b The Woman (or Man) With The Plan: At the beginning of each
mystery, roll +Sharp. On a 10+ hold 2, on a 7-9 hold 1. Spend the
hold to be where you need to be, prepared and ready. On a miss,
the Keeper holds 1 they can spend to have you be in the worst
place, unprepared and unready.
b Dark Past: You dabbled in the worst sort of mystical arts before
you became one of the good guys. If you trawl through your
memories for something relevant to the case at hand, roll +Weird.
On a 10+ ask the Keeper two questions from the list below. On
a 7-9 ask one. On a miss, you can ask a question anyway but that
will mean you were personally complicit in creating the situation
you are now dealing with. The questions are:
• When I dealt with this creature (or one of its kind), what did
I learn?
• What black magic do I know that could help here?
• Do I know anyone who might be behind this?
• Who do I know who can help us right now?
47
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE EXPERT
Haven
You have set up a haven, a safe place to work. Pick three of the options
below for your haven:
b Lore Library. When you hit the books, take +1 forward to inves-
tigate the mystery (as long as historical or reference works are
appropriate).
b Mystical Library. If you use your library’s occult tomes and
grimoires, preparing with your tomes and grimoires, take +1
forward for use magic.
b Protection Spells. Your haven is safe from monsters—they
cannot enter. Monsters might be able to do something special to
evade the wards, but not easily.
b Armory. You have a stockpile of mystical and rare monster-killing
weapons and items. If you need a special weapon, roll +Weird.
On a 10+ you have it (and plenty if that matters). On a 7-9 you
have it, but only the minimum. On a miss, you’ve got the wrong
thing.
b Infirmary. You can heal people, and have the space for one or
two to recuperate. The Keeper will tell you how long any patient’s
recovery is likely to take, and if you need extra supplies or help.
b Workshop. You have a space for building and repairing guns, cars
and other gadgets. Work out with the Keeper how long any repair
or construction will take, and if you need extra supplies or help.
b Oubliette. This room is isolated from every kind of monster, spirit
and magic that you know about. Anything you stash in there can’t
be found, can’t do any magic, and can’t get out.
b Panic Room. This has essential supplies and is protected by
normal and mystical means. You can hide out there for a few days,
safe from pretty much anything.
b Magical Laboratory. You have a mystical lab with all kinds of
weird ingredients and tools useful for casting spells (like the use
magic move, big magic, and any other magical moves).
48
THE EXPERT • THE PLAYBOOKS
Gear
You get three monster-slaying weapons.
Monster-slaying weapons (pick three):
b Mallet & wooden
stakes (3-harm inti-
mate slow wooden)
b Silver sword (2-harm
hand messy silver)
b Cold iron sword (2-harm
hand messy iron)
b Blessed knife (2-harm
hand holy)
b Magical dagger (2-harm
hand magic)
b Juju bag (1-harm far magic)
b Flamethrower (3-harm
close fire heavy volatile)
b Magnum (3-harm
close reload loud)
b Shotgun (3-harm
close messy loud)
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Expert by
name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. On your turn, pick one of these for each
other hunter:
• They are your student, apprentice, ward, or child. Between you,
decide which.
• They came to you for advice, and your advice got them out of
trouble. Ask them what the trouble was.
• They know about some of your dark secrets, but they’ve agreed to
keep quiet about them. Tell them what they know.
• A distant relation. Tell them exactly what.
• You were previously both members of an eldritch group, now dis-
banded. Ask them why they left, then tell them why you did.
• They once helped you get a singular item that is now part of your
haven. Tell them what it was.
• You were taught by the same master. Ask them how it ended.
• You saved their life in a tight spot. Tell them what happened.
49
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE EXPERT
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If your Luck boxes all get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Sharp, max +3
b Get +1 Charm, max +2
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Weird, max +2
b Take another Expert move
b Take another Expert move
b Add an option to
your haven
b Add an option to
your haven
b Take a move from
another playbook
b Take a move from
another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
50
THE EXPERT • THE PLAYBOOKS
The Flake
Everything’s connected. But not everyone can see the patterns,
and most people don’t even look that hard.
But me, I can never stop looking deeper. I can never stop
seeing the truth.
I spot the patterns. That’s how I found the monsters, and
that’s how I help kill them.
To make your Flake, first pick a
name. Then follow the instruc-
tions below to decide your look,
ratings, moves, and gear. Finally,
introduce yourself and pick
history.
Look, pick one
from each List:
• Man, woman, transgressive,
concealed.
• Wild eyes, moving eyes,
focused eyes, searching
eyes, suspicious eyes, wide
eyes, guarded eyes.
• Ratty clothes, casual
clothes, rumpled suit,
neat clothes, comfortable
clothes, army surplus gear.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm+1, Cool+1, Sharp+2,
Tough-1, Weird=0
b Charm=0, Cool+1, Sharp+2,
Tough-1, Weird+1
b Charm+1, Cool-1, Sharp+2,
Tough+1, Weird=0
b Charm+1, Cool-1, Sharp+2,
Tough=0, Weird+1
b Charm-1, Cool-1, Sharp+2,
Tough=0, Weird+2
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE FLAKE
Moves
You get all of the basic moves, plus pick three Flake moves:
b Connect the Dots: At the beginning of each mystery, if you look
for the wider patterns that current events might be part of, roll
+Sharp. On a 10+ hold 3, and on a 7-9 hold 1. Spend your hold
during the mystery to ask the Keeper any one of the following
questions:
• Is this person connected to current events more than they are
saying?
• When and where will the next critical event occur?
• What does the monster want from this person?
• Is this connected to previous mysteries we have investigated?
• How does this mystery connect to the bigger picture?
b Crazy Eyes: You get +1 Weird (max +3).
b See, It All Fits Together: You can use Sharp instead of Charm
when you manipulate someone.
b Suspicious Mind: If someone lies to you, you know it.
b Often Overlooked: When you act all crazy to avoid something,
roll +Weird. On a 10+ you’re regarded as unthreatening and
unimportant. On a 7-9, pick one: unthreatening or unimportant.
On a miss, you draw lots (but not all) of the attention.
b Contrary: When you seek out and receive someone’s honest
advice on the best course of action for you and then do some-
thing else instead, mark experience. If you do exactly the opposite
of their advice, you also take +1 ongoing on any moves you make
pursuing that course.
b Net Friends: You know a lot of people on the Internet. When you
contact a net friend to help you with a mystery, roll +Charm.
On a 10+, they’re available and helpful—they can fix something,
break a code, hack a computer, or get you some special informa-
tion. On a 7-9, they’re prepared to help, but it’s either going to
take some time or you’re going to have to do part of it yourself.
On a miss, you burn some bridges.
b Sneaky: When you attack from ambush, or from behind, inflict
+2 harm.
52
THE FLAKE • THE PLAYBOOKS
Gear
You get one normal weapon and two hidden weapons.
Normal weapons (pick one):
b .38 revolver (2-harm close reload loud)
b 9mm (2-harm close loud)
b Hunting rifle (2-harm far loud)
b Magnum (3-harm close reload loud)
b Shotgun (3-harm close messy loud)
b Big knife (1-harm hand)
Hidden weapons (pick two):
b Throwing knives (1-harm close many)
b Holdout pistol (2-harm close loud reload)
b Garrote (3-harm intimate)
b Watchman’s flashlight (1-harm hand)
b Weighted gloves/brass knuckles (1-harm hand)
b Butterfly knife/folding knife (1-harm hand)
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Flake by
name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. On your turn, pick one of these for each
other hunter:
• They’re somehow tied into it all. You’ve been keeping an eye on
them.
• They’re a close relative. Ask them to decide exactly what.
• Old friends, who originally met through a long chain of coinci-
dences.
• You went through hell together: maybe a monster, maybe military
service, maybe time in an institution. Whatever it was, it bound
you together, and you have total trust in each other.
• Members of the same support group.
• Fellow freaks.
• The signs all pointed to working together. So you found them and
now you work together.
• You know each other through cryptozoology and conspiracy
theory websites.
53
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE FLAKE
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If your Luck boxes all get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Sharp, max +3
b Get +1 Charm, max +2
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Weird, max +2
b Take another Flake move
b Take another Flake move
b Get a haven, like the Expert
has, with two options
b Gain another option
for your haven
b Take a move from
another playbook
b Take a move from
another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
54
THE FLAKE • THE PLAYBOOKS
The Initiate
Since the dawn of history, we have been the bulwark against
Darkness. We know the Evils of the world, and we stand
against them so that the mass of humanity need not fear. We
are the Flame that cleanses the Shadows.
To make your Initiate, first pick a name. Then follow the instructions
below to decide your look, ratings, moves, Sect, and gear. Finally,
introduce yourself and
pick history.
Look, pick one
from each List:
• Man, woman,
masked, concealed.
• Hardened body,
tattooed body, agile
body, strong body,
thin body, angular
body, hunched body.
• Archaic clothes,
unfashionable clothes,
ceremonial clothes,
mismatched clothes, formal
clothes.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm-1, Cool+1, Sharp=0,
Tough+1, Weird+2
b Charm=0, Cool+1, Sharp+1,
Tough-1, Weird+2
b Charm-1, Cool=0, Sharp-1,
Tough+2, Weird+2
b Charm+1, Cool-1, Sharp+1,
Tough=0, Weird+2
b Charm=0, Cool=0, Sharp=0,
Tough+1, Weird+2
55
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE INITIATE
Moves
You get all of the basic moves, plus four Initiate moves. You get this one:
B When you are in good standing with your Sect, at the begin-
ning of each mystery, roll +Charm. On a 10+ they provide some
useful info or help in the field. On a 7-9 you get a mission associ-
ated with the mystery, and if you do it you’ll get some info or help
too. On a miss, they ask you to do something bad. If you fail a
mission or refuse an order, you’ll be in trouble with the Sect until
you atone.
Then pick three of these:
b Ancient Fighting Arts: When using an old-fashioned hand
weapon, you inflict +1 harm and get +1 whenever you roll protect
someone.
b Mystic: Every time you successfully use magic, take +1 forward.
b Fortunes: The Sect has ancient prophecies or divination tech-
niques to predict the future. Once per mystery, you may use them.
If you look at what the future holds, roll +Weird. On a 10+ hold
3, and on a 7-9 hold 1. On a miss, you get bad information and the
Keeper decides how that affects you. Spend your hold to:
• have a useful object ready.
• be somewhere you are needed, just in time.
• take +1 forward, or give +1 forward to another hunter.
• retroactively warn someone about an attack, so that it doesn’t
happen.
b Sacred Oath: You may bind yourself to a single goal, forsaking
something during your quest (e.g. speech, all sustenance but bread
and water, alcohol, lying, sex, etc). Get the Keeper’s agreement on
this—it should match the goal in importance and difficulty. While
you keep your oath and work towards your goal, mark experience
at the end of every session and get +1 on any rolls that directly
help achieve the goal. If you break the oath, take -1 ongoing until
you have atoned.
b Mentor: You have a mentor in the Sect: name them. When you
contact your mentor for info, roll +Sharp. On a 10+, you get
an answer to your question, no problem. On a 7-9 you choose:
they’re either busy and can’t help, or they answer the question but
you owe a favour. On a miss, your question causes trouble.
b Apprentice: You have an apprentice: name them. Your job is to
teach them the Sect’s ways. They count as an ally: subordinate
(motivation: to follow your instructions to the letter).
b Helping Hand: When you successfully help out another hunter,
they get +2 instead of the usual +1.
b That Old Black Magic: When you use magic, you can ask a ques-
tion from the investigate a mystery move as your effect.
56
THE INITIATE • THE PLAYBOOKS
Sect
You are part of an ancient, secret order that slays monsters. Where are
they from? How old are they? Are they religious? Why do they stay
secret? How do they recruit?
You also need to pick the Sect’s traditions (these will be used by
the Keeper to determine the Sect’s methods and actions):
Good Traditions (pick two):
b Knowledgable
b Ancient lore
b Magical lore
b Fighting arts
b Modernised
b Chapters
everywhere
b Secular power
b Flexible tactics
b Open hierarchy
b Integrated
in society
b Rich
b Nifty gadgets
b Magical items
Bad Traditions (pick one):
b Dubious motives
b Tradition-bound
b Short-sighted
b Paranoid and secretive
b Closed hierarchy
b Factionalised
b Strict laws
b Mystical oaths
b Total obedience
b Tyrannical leaders
b Obsolete gear
b Poor
Gear
If the Sect has fighting arts or obsolete gear, then pick three old-fash-
ioned weapons. If the Sect has modernised or nifty gadgets, you
may pick two modern weapons. Otherwise, pick two old-fashioned
weapons and one modern weapon.
You also get old-fashioned armour (1-armour heavy).
Old-fashioned weapons (pick either two or three, as above):
b Sword (2-harm
hand messy)
b Axe (2-harm hand messy)
b Big sword (3-harm
hand messy heavy)
b Big axe (3-harm hand
messy slow heavy)
b Silver knife (1-harm
hand silver)
b Fighting sticks (1-harm
hand quick)
b Spear (2-harm hand/close)
b Mace (2-harm hand messy)
b Crossbow (2-harm
close slow)
Modern weapons (pick either one or two, as above):
b .38 revolver (2-harm
close reload loud)
b 9mm (2-harm close loud)
b Sniper rifle (3-harm far)
b Magnum (3-harm
close reload loud)
b Shotgun (3-harm
close messy)
57
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE INITIATE
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Initiate by
name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. On your turn, pick one for each of the
other hunters:
• They are a lay member of your Sect.
• You fought together when the tide of monsters seemed unstoppable.
Ask them how it went.
• Friends, but they first met you under your cover identity, and
learned about the Sect later. Ask how they feel about that.
• They are your close relative, or partner/spouse. Decide between
you exactly what the relationship is.
• Fellow ancient weapons/martial arts club members.
• They’re described in the prophecies, but the role they will play
isn’t stated.
• An ex-member of the Sect, but still friends. Ask them why they
left or got thrown out
• You met researching mystical weirdness, and you’ve been occult
comrades ever since.
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If all your Luck boxes get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
58
THE INITIATE • THE PLAYBOOKS
59
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE INITIATE
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Weird, max +3
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Sharp, max +2
b Get +1 Tough, max +2
b Take another Initiate move
b Take another Initiate move
b Get command of your chapter of the Sect
b Get a Sect team under your command
b Take a move from another playbook
b Take a move from another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced
Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating,
max +3.
b Change this hunter to
a new type.
b Create a second
hunter to play as well
as this one.
b Mark two of the basic
moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of
the basic moves as
advanced.
b Retire this hunter to
safety.
b Become the leader, or
effective leader, of the
whole Sect.
The Monstrous
I feel the hunger, the lust to destroy. But I fight it: I never give
in. I’m not human any more, not really, but I have to protect
those who still are. That way I can tell myself I’m different to
the other monsters. Sometimes I can even believe it.
To make your Monstrous, first pick a name. Then follow the instruc-
tions below to decide your look, ratings, breed, moves, and gear.
Finally, introduce yourself and pick history.
look, pick one from each List:
• Man, woman, mysterious, transgressive.
• Sinister aura, powerful aura, dark aura, unnerving aura, energetic
aura, evil aura, bestial aura.
• Archaic clothes, casual clothes, ragged clothes, tailored clothes,
stylish clothes, street clothes, outdoor clothes.
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THE MONSTROUS • THE PLAYBOOKS
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm-1, Cool-1, Sharp=0, Tough+2, Weird+3
b Charm-1, Cool+1, Sharp+1, Tough=0, Weird+3
b Charm+2, Cool=0, Sharp-1, Tough-1, Weird+3
b Charm-2, Cool+2, Sharp=0, Tough=0, Weird+3
b Charm=0, Cool-1, Sharp+2, Tough-1, Weird+3
Breed
You’re half-human, half-monster: decide if you were always this way
or if you you were originally human and transformed somehow.
Now decide if you were always fighting to be good, or if you were
evil and changed sides.
Define your monstrous breed by picking a curse, moves, and
natural attacks.
Create the monster you want to be: whatever you choose defines
your breed in the game. Some classic monsters with suggestions for
picks are listed below. These are only suggestions: feel free to make a
different version!
Monster Breed Suggestions
• Vampire: Curse: feed (blood or life-force). Natural attacks: Base:
life-drain or Base: teeth; add +1 harm to base attack. Moves:
immortal or unquenchable vitality; mental domination.
• Werewolf: Curse: vulnerability (silver). Natural attacks: Base:
claws; Base: teeth. Moves: shapeshifter (wolf and/or wolfman);
claws of the beast or unholy strength.
• Ghost: Curse: vulnerability (rock salt). Natural attacks: Base:
magical force; add hand range to magical force. Moves: incorpo-
real; immortal.
• Faerie: Curse: pure drive (joy). Natural attacks: Base: magical
force; add ignore-armour to magical force. Moves: flight; preter-
natural speed.
• Demon: Curse: pure drive (cruelty). Natural attacks: Base: claws;
+1 harm to claws. Moves: dark negotiator; unquenchable vitality.
• Orc: Curse: dark master (the orc overlord). Natural attacks: Base:
teeth; add ignore-armour to teeth. Moves: Unholy strength; dark
negotiator.
• Zombie: Curse: pure drive (hunger), feed (flesh or brains).
Natural attacks: Base: teeth; +1 harm to teeth. Moves: immortal;
unquenchable vitality.
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE MONSTROUS
Curses, pick one:
b Feed: You must subsist on living humans—it might take the form
of blood, brains, or spiritual essence but it must be from people.
You need to act under pressure to resist feeding whenever a
perfect opportunity presents itself.
b Vulnerability: Pick a substance. You suffer +1 harm when you
suffer harm from it. If you are bound or surrounded by it, you
must act under pressure to use your powers.
b Pure Drive: One emotion rules you. Pick from: hunger, hate,
anger, fear, jealousy, greed, joy, pride, envy, lust, or cruelty. When-
ever you have a chance to indulge that emotion, you must do so
immediately, or act under pressure to resist.
b Dark Master: You have an evil lord who doesn’t know you
changed sides. They still give you orders, and they do not tolerate
refusal. Or failure.
Natural Attacks
Pick a Base and add an extra to it, or
two Bases.
b Base: teeth (3-harm intimate)
b Base: claws (2-harm hand)
b Base: magical force (1-harm
magical close)
b Base: life-drain (1-harm
intimate life-drain)
b Extra: Add +1 harm to a base
b Extra: Add ignore-armour to a
base
b Extra: Add an extra range to
a base (add intimate, hand, or
close).
62
THE MONSTROUS • THE PLAYBOOKS
Moves
You get all the basic moves, plus pick two Monstrous moves:
b Immortal: You do not age or sicken, and whenever you suffer
harm you suffer 1-harm less.
b Unnatural Appeal: Roll +Weird instead of +Charm when you
manipulate someone.
b Unholy Strength: Roll +Weird instead of +Tough when you kick
some ass.
b Incorporeal: You may move freely through solid objects (but not
people).
b Preternatural Speed: You go much faster than normal people.
When you chase, flee, or run take +1 ongoing.
b Claws of the Beast: All your natural attacks get +1 harm.
b Mental Dominion: When you gaze into a normal human’s eyes
and exert your will over them, roll +Charm. On a 10+, hold 3.
On a 7-9, hold 1. You may spend your hold to give them an order.
Regular people will follow your order, whatever it is. Hunters can
choose whether they do it or not. If they do, they mark experience.
b Unquenchable Vitality: When you have taken harm, you can
heal yourself. Roll +Cool. On a 10+, heal 2-harm and stabilise
your injuries. On a 7-9, heal 1-harm and stabilise your injuries.
On a miss, your injuries worsen.
b Dark Negotiator: You can use the manipulate someone move
on monsters as well as people, if they can reason and talk.
b Flight: You can fly.
b Shapeshifter: You may change your form (usually into an animal).
Decide if you have just one alternate form or several, and detail
them. You gain +1 to investigate a mystery when using an alter-
nate form’s superior senses (e.g. smell for a wolf, sight for an eagle).
b Something Borrowed: Take a move from a hunter playbook that
is not currently in play.
Gear
If you want, you can take one handy weapon:
b .38 revolver (2-harm close reload loud)
b 9mm (2-harm close loud)
b Magnum (3-harm close reload loud)
b Shotgun (3-harm close messy)
b Big knife (1-harm hand)
b Brass knuckles (1-harm hand quiet small)
b Sword (2-harm hand messy)
b Huge sword (3-harm hand heavy)
63
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE MONSTROUS
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Monstrous
by name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. When it’s your turn, pick one for each of
the other hunters:
• You lost control one time, and almost killed them. Ask them how
they stopped you.
• They tried to slay you, but you proved you’re on the side of good.
Ask them what convinced them.
• You are romantically obsessed with them. Ask them if they know,
and if they reciprocate.
• Close relations, or a distant descendant. Tell them which.
• You saved them from another of your kind, and prevented repri-
sals against that individual creature (maybe it’s another good one,
or maybe it has a hold over you).
• They are tied to your curse or origin. Tell them how.
• You fought together against the odds, and prevailed.
• They saved you from another hunter who was prepared to kill you.
Ask them what happened.
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If all your Luck boxes get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
64
THE MONSTROUS • THE PLAYBOOKS
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Charm, max +2
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Sharp, max +2
b Get +1 Tough, max +2
b Take another Monstrous move
b Take another Monstrous move
b Gain a haven, like the Expert has, with two options
b Take a natural attacks pick
b Take a move from another playbook
b Take a move from another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b Free yourself from the curse of your kind. Your curse no longer
applies, but you lose 1 Weird.
b You turn evil (again). Retire this character, they become one of the
Keeper’s threats.
65
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE MONSTROUS
The Mundane
You heard about how monsters only pick on people with crazy
powers who can fight back on even terms? Yeah, me neither.
But, hell, I ended up in this monster-hunting team so I gotta
do what I can, right?
To make your Mundane, first pick a name. Then follow the instruc-
tions below to decide your look, ratings, moves, and gear. Finally,
introduce yourself and pick history.
Look, pick one from each List:
• Man, woman, boy, girl, androgynous, concealed.
• Friendly face, alluring face, laughing face, trustworthy face,
average face, serious face, sensual face.
• Normal clothes, casual clothes, goth clothes, sporty clothes, work
clothes, street clothes, nerdy clothes.
66
THE MUNDANE • THE PLAYBOOKS
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm+2, Cool+1, Sharp=0, Tough+1, Weird-1
b Charm+2, Cool-1, Sharp+1, Tough+1, Weird=0
b Charm+2, Cool=0, Sharp-1, Tough+1, Weird+1
b Charm+2, Cool=0, Sharp+1, Tough+1, Weird-1
b Charm+2, Cool+1, Sharp+1, Tough=0, Weird-1
Moves
You get all the basic moves, plus pick three Mundane moves:
b Always The Victim: When another hunter uses protect someone
to protect you, they mark experience. Whenever a monster cap-
tures you, you mark experience.
b Oops! If you want to stumble across something important,
tell the Keeper. You will find something important and useful,
although not necessarily related to your immediate problems.
b Let’s Get Out Of Here! If you can protect someone by telling
them what to do, or by leading them out, roll +Charm instead of
+Tough.
b Panic Button: When you need to escape, name the route you’ll
try and roll +Sharp. On a 10+ you’re out of danger, no problem.
On a 7-9 you can go or stay, but if you go it’s going to cost you
(you leave something behind or something comes with you). On a
miss, you are caught halfway out.
b The Power of Heart: When fighting a monster, if you help
someone, don’t roll +Cool. You automatically help as though
you’d rolled a 10.
b Trust Me: When you tell a normal person the truth in order
to protect them from danger, roll +Charm. On a 10+ they’ll do
what you say they should, no questions asked. On a 7-9 they do it,
but the Keeper chooses one from:
• They ask you a hard question first.
• They stall and dither a while.
• They have a “better” idea.
On a miss, they’re going to think you’re crazy and maybe danger-
ous too.
b What Could Go Wrong?: Whenever you charge into immedi-
ate danger without hedging your bets, hold 2. You may spend
your hold to:
• Inflict +1 harm.
• Reduce someone’s harm suffered by 1.
• Take +2 forward on an act under pressure roll.
b Don’t Worry, I’ll Check It Out: Whenever you go off by yourself
to check out somewhere (or something) scary, mark experience.
67
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE MUNDANE
Gear
You get two Mundane weapons and a means of transport.
Mundane weapons (pick two):
b Golf club, baseball bat, cricket bat, or hockey stick (2-harm hand
innocuous messy)
b Pocket knife or multitool (1-harm hand useful small)
b Small handgun (2-harm close loud reload)
b Hunting rifle (3-harm far loud reload)
b Sledge-hammer or fire axe (3-harm hand messy)
b Nunchuks (2-harm hand area)
Means of transport (pick one):
b Skateboard
b Bicycle
b Fairly new car in
decent condition
b Classic car in terrible
condition
b Motorcycle
b Van
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Mundane by
name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. When it’s your turn, pick one for each of
the other hunters:
• You are close relations. Tell them exactly how you’re related.
• Initially rivals, you both now respect each others’ talents.
• Romantically involved, or you just have a crush on them. Ask
them which they prefer.
• They’re your hero, exactly the kind of monster hunter you aspire
to be. Tell them why you worship them.
• Good friends. Tell them if it’s from way back, or recently.
• You’re a bit suspicious of them (maybe due to their unnatural
powers or something like that).
• They introduced you to the existence of monsters. Tell them how
you feel about that.
• You saved their life from a monster due to an unlikely chain of
events. Tell them what.
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THE MUNDANE • THE PLAYBOOKS
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If all your Luck boxes get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Charm, max +3
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Sharp, max +2
b Get +1 Tough, max +2
b Take another
Mundane move
b Take another
Mundane move
b Get back one used
Luck point
b Get back one used
Luck point
b Take a move from
another playbook
b Take a move from
another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b Get back one used Luck point.
b Get back one used Luck point.
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE MUNDANE
The Professional
It’s kind of strange when your regular 9-to-5 job is to hunt
down monsters. Still, that’s the job I took on when I joined
this outfit. It pays well, and the benefits are good. Like they
say “You don’t have to be crazy to work here, but it sure helps!”
To make your Professional, first pick a name. Then follow the instruc-
tions below to decide your look, ratings, Agency, moves, and gear.
Finally, introduce yourself and pick history.
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THE PROFESSIONAL • THE PLAYBOOKS
look, pick one from each List:
• Man, woman, concealed.
• Chiseled face, scarred face, unshaven face, soft face, young face,
old face, determined face.
• Tailored suit, shabby suit, perfect suit, utility coveralls, battle-
dress, paramilitary uniform, lab coat.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm=0, Cool+2, Sharp-1, Tough+2, Weird-1
b Charm-1, Cool+2, Sharp+1, Tough+1, Weird=0
b Charm+1, Cool+2, Sharp+1, Tough-1, Weird=0
b Charm-1, Cool+2, Sharp+1, Tough=0, Weird+1
b Charm=0, Cool+2, Sharp+2, Tough-1, Weird-1
Agency
Decide who it is you work for. Are they a black-budget government
department, a secret military unit, a clandestine police team, a private
individual’s crusade, a corporation, a scientific team, or what?
Is the Agency’s goal to: destroy monsters, study the supernatural,
protect people, gain power, or something else?
Pick two resource tags for the Agency, and two red tape tags:
Resources (pick two):
b Well-armed
b Well-financed
b Rigorous training
b Official pull
b Cover identities
b Offices all over the place
b Good intel
b Recognised authority
b Weird tech gadgets
b Support teams
Red Tape (pick two):
b Dubious motives
b Bureaucratic
b Secretive hierarchy
b Cryptic missions
b Hostile superiors
b Inter-departmental rivalry
b Budget cuts
b Take no prisoners policy
b Live capture policy
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE PROFESSIONAL
Moves
You get all the basic moves, plus four Professional moves.
You get this one:
B When you deal with the Agency, requesting help or gear, or
making excuses for a failure, roll +Sharp. On a 10+, you’re good—
your request for gear or personnel is okayed, or your slip-up goes
unnoticed. On a 7-9, things aren’t so great. You might get chewed
out by your superiors and there’ll be fallout, but you get what
you need for the job. On a miss, you screwed up: you might be
suspended or under investigation, or just in the doghouse. You
certainly aren’t going to get any help until you sort it all out.
Then pick three of these:
b Bottle It Up: If you want, you can take up to +3 bonus when you
act under pressure. For each +1 you use, the Keeper holds 1.
That hold can be spent later—one for one—to give you -1 on any
move except act under pressure.
b Unfazeable: Take +1 Cool (max +3).
b Battlefield Awareness: You always know what’s happening
around you, and what to watch out for. Take +1 armour (max
2-armour) on top of whatever you get from your gear.
b Leave No One Behind: In combat, when you help someone
escape, roll +Sharp. On a 10+ you get them out clean. On a 7-9,
you can either get them out or suffer no harm, you choose. On a
miss, you fail to get them out and you’ve attracted hostile atten-
tion.
b Tactical Genius: When you read a bad situation, you may roll
+Cool instead of +Sharp
b Medic: You have a full first aid kit, and the training to heal people.
When you do first aid, roll +Cool. On a 10+ the patient is stabi-
lized and healed of 2 harm. On a 7-9 choose one: heal 2 harm or
stabilize the injury. On a miss, you cause an extra 1 harm. This
move takes the place of regular first aid.
b Mobility: You have a truck, van, or car built for monster hunting.
Choose two good things and one bad thing about it.
Good things: roomy; surveillance gear; fast; stealthy; intim-
idating; classic; medical kit; sleeping space; toolkit; concealed
weapons; anonymous; armoured (+1 armour inside); tough;
monster cage.
Bad things: loud; obvious; temperamental; beaten-up; gas-
guzzler; uncomfortable; slow; old.
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THE PROFESSIONAL • THE PLAYBOOKS
Gear
Pick one serious weapon and two normal weapons.
You get either a flak vest (1-armour hidden) or combat armour
(2-armour heavy) for protection.
Serious weapons (pick one):
b Assault rifle (3-harm far area loud reload)
b Grenade launcher (4-harm far area messy loud reload)
b Sniper rifle (4-harm far)
b Grenades (4-harm close area messy loud)
b Submachine gun (3-harm close area loud reload)
Normal weapons (pick two):
b .38 revolver (2-harm close reload loud)
b 9mm (2-harm close loud)
b Hunting rifle (2-harm far loud)
b Shotgun (3-harm close messy)
b Big knife (1-harm hand)
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Professional
by name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. On your turn, pick one for each of the
other hunters:
• Your relationship with them has romantic potential. So far it
hasn’t gone further.
• They’re on the Agency’s watch list, and you’ve been keeping an
eye on them.
• You are related. Tell them how close.
• You met on a mission and worked together unofficially. And suc-
cessfully.
• They’ve worked with the Agency before, and they’re well regarded.
• You were friends back in training, before the Agency recruited
you. This could be military, law enforcement, or some weirder
school: decide the details between you.
• They pulled you (and maybe your team) out of a terrible FUBARed
mission.
• You got sent to “deal with them” as a hazard to the Agency’s poli-
cies one time. Tell them how you resolved this.
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE PROFESSIONAL
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If all your Luck boxes get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Cool, max +3
b Get +1 Charm, max +2
b Get +1 Sharp, max +2
b Get +1 Tough, max +2
b Take another
Professional move
b Take another
Professional move
b Add a new resource
tag for your Agency or
change a red tape tag
b Get command of an Agency
team of monster hunters
b Take a move from
another playbook
b Take a move from
another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b Get some or all of the other players’ hunters hired by your agency.
They get the deal with the agency move, as well as salary and
benefits.
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THE PROFESSIONAL • THE PLAYBOOKS
The Spell-Slinger
Fight fire with fire magic.
To make your Spell-slinger, first pick a name. Then follow the instruc-
tions below to decide your look, ratings, Combat Magic, moves, and
gear. Finally, introduce yourself and pick history.
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE SPELL-SLINGER
Look, pick one from each List:
• Woman, man, androgynous.
• Rumpled clothes, stylish clothes, goth clothes, old fashioned
clothes.
• Shadowed eyes, fierce eyes, weary eyes, sparkling eyes.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm-1, Cool+1, Sharp+1, Tough=0, Weird+2
b Charm=0, Cool-1, Sharp+1, Tough+1, Weird+2
b Charm-1, Cool=0, Sharp+2, Tough-1, Weird+2
b Charm+1, Cool=0, Sharp+1, Tough-1, Weird+2
b Charm=0, Cool=0, Sharp+1, Tough=0, Weird+2
Combat Magic
You have a few attack spells you can use as weapons. When you use
these spells to kick some ass, roll +Weird instead of +Tough. Some-
times the situation may require you to act under pressure to cast
your spell without problems.
Pick three options from the list below.
Your combat spells can combine any of your base spells with any
of your effects.
Combat magic, pick three (with at least one base):
Bases:
b Blast: 2-harm magical close obvious loud
b Ball: 1-harm magical area close obvious loud
b Missile: 1-harm magical far obvious loud
b Wall: 1-harm magical barrier close 1-armour obvious loud
Effects:
b Fire: Add “+2 harm fire” to a base. If you get a 10+ on a combat
magic roll, the fire won’t spread.
b Force or Wind: Add “+1 harm forceful” to a base, or “+1 armour”
to a wall.
b Lightning or Entropy: Add “+1 harm messy” to a base.
b Frost or Ice: Adds “-1 harm +2 armour” to a wall, or “+1 harm
restraining” to other bases.
b Earth: Add “forceful restraining” to a base.
b Necromantic: Add “life-drain” to a base.
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THE SPELL-SLINGER • THE PLAYBOOKS
Moves
You get all the basic moves and four Spell-slinger moves. You have
this one:
B Tools and Techniques: In order to use your combat magic effec-
tively, you rely on a collection of tools and techniques. If you don’t
use them, there are drawbacks. Cross off one; you’ll need the rest.
• Consumables: You need to have certain supplies— powders, oils,
etc— on hand to cast your spell. They’re used up when you cast
the spell. If you don’t have them on hand, your body will be the
substitute: take 1-harm ignore-armour when you cast.
• Foci: You need wands, staves, and other somewhat obvious props
to focus your efforts at their most powerful. If you don’t have
what you need on hand, your combat magic does 1 less harm.
• Gestures: You need to be able to wave your hands around obvi-
ously in order to use your combat magic. If you’re restrained in
any way, you can still cast the spell but it’s more likely to go wrong;
take -1 ongoing to your combat magic.
• Incantations: You must speak in an arcane language to control
your magic without it filtering directly through your mind. If you
use combat magic spell, successfully or failed, while unable or
unwilling to speak, you must immediately act under pressure
to avoid scrambling your thoughts—producing hallucinations,
sensory deprivation, and general befuddlement.
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE SPELL-SLINGER
Plus pick three of these:
b Advanced Arcane Training: If you have two of your three Tools
and Techniques at the ready, you may ignore the third one.
b Arcane Reputation: Pick three big organizations or groups in the
supernatural community, which can include some of the more
sociable types of monsters. They’ve heard of you and respect your
power. With affected humans, take +1 forward when you manip-
ulate them. You may manipulate affected monsters as if they
were human, with no bonus.
b Could’ve Been Worse: When you miss a use magic roll you can
choose one of the following options instead of losing control of
the magic:
• Fizzle: The preparations and materials for the spell are
ruined. You’ll have to start over from scratch with the prep
time doubled.
• This Is Gonna Suck: The effect happens, but you trigger all of
the listed glitches but one. You pick the one you avoid.
b Enchanted Clothing: Pick an article of every-day clothing–it’s
enchanted without any change in appearance. Take -1 harm from
any source that tries to get at you through the garment.
b Forensic Divination: When you successfully investigate a
mystery, you may ask “What magic was done here?” as a free
extra question.
b Go Big or Go Home: When you must use magic as a require-
ment for Big Magic, take +1 ongoing to those use magic rolls.
b Not My Fault: +1 to act under pressure when you are dealing
with the consequences of your own spellcasting.
b Practitioner: Choose two effects available to you under use
magic. Take +1 to use magic whenever you choose one of those
effects.
b Shield Spell: When you protect someone, gain 2-armour against
any harm that is transferred to you. This doesn’t stack with your
other armour, if any.
b Third Eye: When you read a bad situation, you can open up
your third eye for a moment to take in extra information. Take +1
hold on any result of 7 or more, plus you can see invisible things.
On a miss, you may still get 1 hold, but you’re exposed to super-
natural danger. Unfiltered hidden reality is rough on the mind!
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THE SPELL-SLINGER • THE PLAYBOOKS
Gear
You don’t need much—aside from any foci or consumables to power
your magic. Still, it’s good to carry some backup. Pick one:
b Old revolver (2-harm close reload loud)
b Ritual knife (1-harm hand)
b Heirloom sword (2-harm hand messy)
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Spell-slinger
by name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. On your turn, pick one for each of the
other hunters:
• They act as your conscience when the power goes to your head.
Ask them about the last time this happened.
• Blood relation, though you were out of contact for years. Ask
them how they reconnected with you.
• Mentor from another life. Ask them what they taught you.
• Your magic-fueled rescue of them introduced them to the super-
natural. Tell them what creature was after them.
• An old rivalry has turned into a tight friendship. Tell them what
you once fought over.
• You thought they were dead, and now they’re back. What “killed”
them?
• They’re an on-again/off-again love interest. Ask them what keeps
you apart. Tell them what keeps you together.
• A comrade-in-arms. You’ve faced the biggest threats together.
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If your Luck boxes all get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE SPELL-SLINGER
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Weird, max +3
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Sharp, max +2
b Get +1 Tough, max +2
b Take another Spell-Slinger move.
b Take another Spell-Slinger move.
b Take a move from another playbook.
b Take a move from another playbook.
b Take another Combat Magic pick.
Advanced Improvements
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below:
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b Erase one used Luck mark from your playbook.
b Take another Combat Magic pick.
b You may cross off another option from your Tools and Techniques.
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THE SPELL-SLINGER • THE PLAYBOOKS
The Spooky
I can do things, things that normal people can’t. But there’s a
price—I haven’t paid it in full, yet, but the bill’s gonna come
due soon. It’s best I don’t tell you any more. You get too close,
you’ll get hurt.
To make your Spooky, first pick a name. Then follow the instructions
below to decide your look, ratings, moves, dark side and gear. Finally,
introduce yourself and pick history.
Look, pick one from each List:
• Man, woman, boy, girl, concealed, androgynous.
• Burning eyes, dark eyes, pained eyes, blank eyes, unblinking eyes,
piercing eyes, shadowed eyes, creepy eyes.
• Ratty clothes, casual clothes, goth clothes, neat clothes, nerdy
clothes.
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE SPOOKY
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm+1, Cool=0, Sharp+1, Tough-1, Weird+2
b Charm-1, Cool+1, Sharp=0, Tough+1, Weird+2
b Charm+2, Cool=0, Sharp-1, Tough-1, Weird+2
b Charm=0, Cool-1, Sharp+1, Tough+1, Weird+2
b Charm-1, Cool-1, Sharp+2, Tough=0, Weird+2
Moves
You get all the basic moves, plus pick three Spooky moves:
b Telepathy: You can read people’s thoughts and put words in their
mind. This can allow you to investigate a mystery or read a bad
situation without needing to actually talk. You can also manip-
ulate someone without speaking. You still roll moves as normal,
except people will not expect the weirdness of your mental com-
munication.
b Hex: When you cast a spell (with use magic), as well as the
normal effects, you may pick from the following:
• The target contracts a disease.
• The target immediately suffers harm (2-harm magic ignore-
armour).
• The target breaks something precious or important.
b The Sight: You can see the invisible, especially spirits and magical
influences. You may communicate with (maybe even make deals
with) the spirits you see, and they give you more opportunities to
spot clues when you investigate a mystery.
b Premonitions: At the start of each mystery, roll +Weird. On
a 10+, you get a detailed vision of something bad that is yet to
happen. You take +1 forward to prevent it coming true, and mark
experience if you stop it. On a 7-9+ you get clouded images of
something bad that is yet to happen: mark experience if you stop
it. On a miss, you get a vision of something bad happening to you
and the Keeper holds 3, to be spent one-for-one as penalties to
rolls you make.
b Hunches: When something bad is happening (or just about to
happen) somewhere that you aren’t, roll +Sharp. On a 10+ you
knew where you needed to go, just in time to get there. On a
7-9, you get there late—in time to intervene, but not prevent it
altogether. On a miss, you get there just in time to be in trouble
yourself.
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THE SPOOKY • THE PLAYBOOKS
b Tune In: You can attune your mind to a monster or minion.
Roll +Weird. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7-9, hold 1. On a miss, the
monster becomes aware of you. Spend one hold to ask the Keeper
one of the following questions, and gain +1 ongoing while acting
on the answers:
• Where is the creature right now?
• What is it planning to do right now?
• Who is it going to attack next?
• Who does it regard as the biggest threat?
• How can I attract its attention?
b The Big Whammy: You can use your powers to kick some ass:
roll +Weird instead of +Tough. The attack has 2-harm close
obvious ignore-armour. On a miss, you’ll get a magical backlash.
b Jinx: You can encourage coincidences to occur, the way you want.
When you jinx a target, roll +Weird. On a 10+ hold 2 and on a
7-9 hold 1. On a miss, the Keeper holds 2 over you to be used in
the same way. Spend your hold to:
• Interfere with a hunter, giving them -1 forward.
• Help a hunter, giving them +1 forward, by interfering with
their enemy.
• Interfere with what a monster, minion, or bystander is trying
to do.
• Inflict 1-harm on the target due to an accident.
• The target finds something you left for them.
• The target loses something that you will soon find.
The Dark Side
Your powers have an unsavory source, and sometimes you get tempted
to do things you shouldn’t. These could be orders from whatever
granted your power, or urges that bubble up from your subconscious.
Something like that. Whatever it is, it’s unsettling.
Pick three tags for your dark side:
b Violence
b Depression
b Secrets
b Lust
b Dark bargain
b Guilt
b Soulless
b Addiction
b Mood swings
b Rage
b Self-destruction
b Greed for power
b Poor impulse
control
b Hallucinations
b Pain
b Paranoia
The Keeper can ask you to do nasty things (in accordance with the
tags), when your powers need you to. If you do whatever is asked,
mark experience. If you don’t do it, then your powers are unavailable
until the end of the mystery (or until you cave). As you mark off Luck
boxes, these requests will get bigger and nastier.
83
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE SPOOKY
Gear
You get two normal weapons and any magical items or amulets that
you use to invoke your powers.
Normal weapons (pick two):
b .38 revolver (2-harm close reload loud)
b 9mm (2-harm close loud)
b Hunting rifle (2-harm far loud)
b Shotgun (3-harm close messy)
b Big knife (1-harm hand)
Introductions
When you get here, wait for everyone to catch up so you can do your
introductions together.
Go around the group. On your turn, introduce your Spooky by
name and look, and tell the group what they know about you.
History
Go around the group again. On your turn, pick one of these for each
hunter:
• They taught you to control your powers, to the extent that you can
control them at all.
• You are blood-kin. Decide together exactly what.
• You are married, or romantically involved. Decide between you
the exact relationship.
• You’re old friends, and trust each other completely.
• You used your powers on them one time. Decide if it was for
selfish reasons or not, and tell them if they found out about it.
• You’ve known each other some time, but since your powers man-
ifested, you keep them at a distance emotionally.
• You hope they can help you control your powers.
• They saw you use your powers for selfish or vindictive reasons.
Ask them who the victim was, and then tell them what you did.
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If all your Luck boxes get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Spooky special: As you mark off Luck boxes, your dark side’s needs
will get nastier.
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THE SPOOKY • THE PLAYBOOKS
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Weird, max +3
b Get +1 Charm, max +2
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Sharp, max +2
b Take another Spooky move
b Take another Spooky move
b Change some, or all, your dark side tags
b Get a mystical library, like the Expert’s haven option
b Take a move from another playbook
b Take a move from another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b You discover how to use your powers at a lower price. Delete one
dark side tag permanently.
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE SPOOKY
The Wronged
They took my loved ones. Back then I wasn’t strong enough to
fight, but I studied, trained, and now I’m ready to cleanse the
world of their taint. I’ll kill them all. That’s all I have left.
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THE WRONGED • THE PLAYBOOKS
To make your Wronged, first pick a name. Then follow the instruc-
tions below to decide your look, ratings, who you lost, moves, and
gear. Finally, introduce yourself and pick history.
Look, pick one from each List:
• Man, woman, concealed.
• Sad eyes, icy eyes, angry eyes, untouchable eyes, emotionless eyes,
hurt eyes, harrowed eyes.
• Nondescript clothes, ragged clothes, casual clothes, hunting gear,
army surplus gear, old clothes.
Ratings, pick one line:
b Charm=0, Cool+1, Sharp-1, Tough+2, Weird+1
b Charm=0, Cool=0, Sharp+1, Tough+2, Weird=0
b Charm+1, Cool=0, Sharp+1, Tough+2, Weird-1
b Charm-1, Cool-1, Sharp=0, Tough+2, Weird+2
b Charm+1, Cool-1, Sharp=0, Tough+2, Weird+1
Who You Lost
Who did you lose? Pick one or more of:
b Your parent(s):
b Your sibling(s):
b Your spouse/partner:
b Your child(ren):
b Your best friend(s):
What did it?
With the Keeper’s agreement, pick the monster breed.
My prey:
Why couldn’t you save them? You were (pick one or more):
b at fault
b selfish
b injured
b weak
b slow
b scared
b in denial
b complicit
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE WRONGED
Moves
You get all the basic moves plus three Wronged moves. You get this one:
B I Know My Prey: You get +1 ongoing when knowingly investigat-
ing, pursuing or fighting the breed of monster that caused your
loss.
Then pick two of these:
b Berserk: No matter how much harm you take, you can always
keep going until the current fight is over. During a fight, the
Keeper may not use harm moves on you and you cannot die.
When the fight ends, all harm takes effect as normal.
b NEVER AGAIN: In combat, you may choose to protect someone
without rolling, as if you had rolled a 10+, but you may not choose
to “suffer little harm.”
b What Does Not Kill Me : If you have suffered harm in a fight,
you gain +1 ongoing until the fight is over.
b Fervor: When you manipulate someone, roll +Tough instead of
+Charm.
b Safety First: You have jury-rigged extra protection into your gear,
giving you +1 armour (maximum 2-armour).
b DIY Surgery: When you do quick and dirty first aid on someone
(including yourself), roll +Cool. On a 10+ it’s all good, it counts
as normal first aid, plus stabilize the injury and heal 1 harm. On
a 7-9 it counts as normal first aid, plus one of these, your choice:
• Stabilise the injury but the patient takes -1 forward.
• Heal 1-harm and stabilise for now, but it will return as 2-harm
and become unstable again later.
• Heal 1-harm and stabilise but the patient takes -1 ongoing
until it’s fixed properly.
b Tools Matter: With your signature weapon (see your gear, below),
you get +1 to kick some ass.
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THE WRONGED • THE PLAYBOOKS
89
THE PLAYBOOKS • THE WRONGED
Gear
Pick one signature weapon and two practical weapons.
You have protective wear, suited to your look, worth 1-armour.
If you want, you may take a classic car, classic motorcycle, plain
pickup, or plain van.
Signature Weapons, pick one:
b Sawn-off shotgun (3-harm hand/close messy loud reload)
b Hand cannon (3-harm close loud)
b Fighting knife (2-harm hand quiet)
b Huge sword or huge axe (3-harm hand messy heavy)
b Specialist weapons for destroying your foes (e.g. wooden stakes
and mallet for vampires, silver dagger for werewolves, etc.).
4-harm against the specific creatures it targets, 1-harm otherwise,
and other tags by agreement with the Keeper.
b Enchanted dagger (2-harm hand magic)
b Chainsaw (3-harm hand messy unreliable loud heavy)
Practical weapons, pick two:
b .38 revolver (2-harm close reload loud)
b 9mm (2-harm close loud)
b Hunting rifle (2-harm far loud)
b Shotgun (3-harm close messy loud)
b Big knife (1-harm hand)
b Brass knuckles (1-harm hand stealthy)
b Assault rifle (3-harm close area
loud reload)
Introductions
When you get here, wait for
everyone to catch up so you
can do your introductions
together.
Go around the group.
On your turn, introduce
your Wronged by name
and look, and tell the
group what they know
about you.
History
Go around the group again. When it’s your turn, pick one for each of
the other hunters:
• They helped you at a critical point in your quest for revenge. Tell
them what you needed help with.
• They stood between you and what you needed to find out. Ask
them why.
• They also lost a friend or relative to these monsters. Ask them
who it was.
• Relations, close or distant. Tell them exactly what.
• You saved their life, back when they were a pathetic newbie hunter.
Ask them what you saved them from.
• You respect their hard-earned knowledge, and often come to
them for advice.
• They showed you the ropes when you were learning how to fight.
• They saw you absolutely lose it and go berserk. Tell them what
the situation was, and ask them how much collateral damage you
caused.
Luck
You can mark off a Luck box to either change a roll you just made to a
12, as if you had rolled that; or change a wound you have just taken to
count as 0-harm, no matter how bad it was. If your Luck boxes all get
filled, you’ve run out of good luck.
Okay bbbbbbb Doomed
Harm
When you suffer harm, mark off the number of boxes equal to harm
suffered. When you reach four harm, tick “Unstable.”
Okay bbb|bbbb Dying
Unstable: b (Unstable injuries will worsen as time passes)
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THE WRONGED • THE PLAYBOOKS
Leveling Up
Experience: bbbbb
Whenever you roll and get a total of 6 or less, or when a move tells you
to, mark an experience box.
When you have filled all five experience boxes, you level up. Erase
the marks and pick an improvement from the following list:
Improvements
b Get +1 Tough, max +3
b Get +1 Cool, max +2
b Get +1 Sharp, max +2
b Get +1 Weird, max +2
b Take another Wronged move
b Take another Wronged move
b Gain a haven, like the Expert has, with two options
b Add one more option to your haven
b Take a move from another playbook
b Take a move from another playbook
After you have leveled up five times, you qualify for advanced improve-
ments in addition to these. They’re below.
Advanced Improvements
b Get +1 to any rating, max +3.
b Change this hunter to a new type.
b Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
b Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
b Retire this hunter to safety.
b You track down the specific monster(s) responsible for your loss.
The Keeper must make the next mystery about them.
b Change the target of your vengeful rage. Pick a new monster
breed: I know my prey now applies to them instead.
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THE PLAYBOOKS • THE WRONGED
92
THE PLAYBOOKS
Get Ready
For Action
Once you’ve picked your hunter playbook, work
through it to create your hunter, making the choices
your playbook gives you.
The Keeper will guide you through the process,
and can answer any questions you have.
93
Introductions
When you’ve all reached the “Introductions” section, you’ll take turns
introducing your hunter to the others. Describe how your hunter
looks, and the main things the team would know about you. What are
you good at? What drives you? What personality traits stand out? The
Keeper or the other hunters might have some questions for you too.
Answer them as appropriate.
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History
When everyone has introduced their hunters, you’ll each take another
turn, this time picking “History.” That’s the significant shared memo-
ries, or relationships, between the hunters. Each playbook has a list to
choose from.
Select one of the hunter players to start. This starting player picks
a history option from the list for each other hunter in the group. Many
of these options require some additional detail. Sometimes the history
choice will tell you who decides on the detail. If not, just work it out
between you. The Keeper or the other hunters might ask questions
here as well. Answer these, too.
If there’s an option that you’d like to assign but it’s not clear which
hunter would fit it best, ask the group if anyone wants to volunteer.
It’s okay if you can’t decide which option to assign to a hunter. Pass
the turn to the next player and choose your remaining options after
you’ve learned more.
At each other hunter’s turn, they’ll pick a history option for you,
so in the end each pair of hunters will have two history choices defin-
ing their backstory. This gives you a good opportunity to figure out
which of your history options might fit with them—and which ones
might complicate your relationship.
Take a few moments to work out what the history choices imply
about how and why the team came to work together. Tie this in to
your team concept, or use it to build a team concept if you didn’t pick
one already.
Get Started
The Keeper will have prepared a mystery for you to investigate, and
will start by telling you what clues drew you in.
Moves for the Beginning Of The Mystery
If you have a move that is triggered at the beginning of a mystery, you
should make it now.
The Chosen and Initiate have moves they always make at this
point.
The Divine, Expert, Flake, and Spooky all have moves that can
take place now. If you picked one of those moves, make it now (if it’s
mandatory) or decide if you want to (if it’s optional).
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How To Play
This is what you do when you are playing your hunter.
Hunter Agenda
When you’re playing your hunter:
• Act like you’re the hero in this story (because you are).
• Make your own destiny.
• Find the damn monsters and stop them.
• Play your hunter like they’re a real person.
Think like your hunter would think. Do what your hunter would do.
Remember that you’re a badass: extremely dangerous, and good at
what you do.
When you get into a fight, you might take a lot of harm, but
hunters are lucky and heal quickly. Use Luck to avoid harm if you need
to. Alternatively, you can hold on until the end of the fight and then
take a break to rest up and heal. For the full harm and healing rules
see page 110.
You need to work out what’s behind each situation. Then work out
how to find it and what its weaknesses are. Then kill it.
The Game Is A Conversation
This is an improvisational game in which you create a story together.
The story emerges from a conversation between the players, with
the Keeper describing the initial situation and the rest of the players
describing what their hunters do in response.
This leads into an ongoing back-and-forth between the Keeper
and hunters. The Keeper will ask you questions and describe how the
inhabitants of the game’s world react, based on your answers.
The Keeper will also present you with situations and crises to
do with the monster you’re hunting and its potential victims. These
require new decisions from you about what happens next: you’ll
describe what your hunter does, and make moves when they’re called
for. Each of your decisions and actions will lead to new situations.
When deciding how to react, think like your hunter and keep your
agenda in mind.
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Moves
Hunters make moves to find the
monster, and to defeat it. Moves are
moments of danger and uncertainty.
You never know quite how they’ll
turn out.
Your hunter’s moves cover all
the things you can do where the
game’s rules get involved in the story.
Most of the time, you’ll be
describing what your hunter says,
where they go, or what they do
without activating a move. That
goes for everything that a normal
person could do, in situations where
failure would not be interesting and
where there’s no particular danger.
In
circumstances
where
a
normal person couldn’t do what
you want to do, or the drama of the
story requires it, or it’s dangerous,
that’s when the moves come in and
control how well you do.
Here are some examples:
Archer is checking out the site of a monster attack. There’s
blood and guts all over the place, and police have walked in
and out of the area. Archer starts trying to track where the
monster went after the attack. When she makes the investi-
gate a mystery move, what does she discover?
Chris realises that a ghul is sneaking up on him, so he gets
out his sawn-off shotgun and blasts it in the face as it leaps for
him. Does Chris get hurt? He makes the kick some ass move
to find out how bad his injuries are and what happens to the
ghul.
A roof-beam comes down on Ted as a giant spider
smashes through the wall and scampers to freedom. Ted’s
partner, Rainer, grabs a chair and tries to wedge the beam so
there’s room for Ted to escape. Does she succeed? How badly
is Ted hurt? Is he trapped? She needs to make the act under
pressure move to find out.
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You Have To Make The Move
A key element of the use of moves is “You have to make the move.”
This means that if you want to (for instance) manipulate someone
in the game, you need to describe your hunter doing that. How do you
ask? What do you offer, to make them do what you want? Why would
they believe your offer is genuine?
For example:
Alan, the Keeper: “The flayed one is racing you to the car,
and it looks like it’s going to get to you before you can close the
door. So Mark, what do you do now?”
Mary, playing her hunter Mark: “I kick some ass!”
Alan: “What are you doing?”
Mary: “I’m going to smash it out the way with my baseball
bat so I can get in the car.”
Alan: “That sounds like you’re not really getting into a
fight: what’s most important? Killing the flayed one or getting
to the car?”
Mary: “Oh, yeah, killing it I guess. I’ll stop running and
just start smashing it on the head.”
Alan: “Sure. The flayed one brandishes its skinning knife
as it grabs you. It screams, ‘You will become one of us now,
hunter!’ Now roll kick ass.”
It works the other way too—if you are describing what you are doing,
someone might notice that you are making one of the moves. In that
case, go ahead and roll the dice to see what happens.
For example:
Alan: “Okay, you get to the place the body was found. You
can still see some bloodstains on the concrete, and there’s some
scratches there that might be related to the attack.”
Mary: “I want to carefully check the bloodstains, to work
out how she was killed. Like is it a blood spray from a torn
throat or did she bleed out slowly from a wound or what?”
Alan: “That sounds like you’re investigating a mystery.
Why don’t you roll?”
Sometimes the Keeper will ask you questions to clarify what’s going
on. That’s cool; for the game to work, everyone needs to clearly under-
stand what’s happening, so make sure your answer in as much detail
as you can.
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GET READY FOR ACTION
Rolling the Dice
Often the rules for a move will tell you to roll, say, +Cool. This means
you should grab two everyday six-sided dice, roll them, add them
together and then add whatever number is written down for your
hunter’s Cool.
If it says something else instead of Cool (usually another rating),
then add that number instead. So, if you are told to roll +Weird, roll
two dice and add your Weird rating. If you are told to roll +Tough, roll
two dice and add your Tough rating. If you have a negative rating, like
-1, then you subtract one from your total instead.
The move description will say what the different results mean.
Usually, 7 or higher is good, and 10 or higher is really good. A result of
6 or lower is a miss, which means the Keeper will have an opportunity
to screw your hunter over.
Example:
I need to roll “manipulate someone.” That’s a +Charm roll,
and my Charm is +1. I roll the dice and get a 2 and a 5. My
total is 1 + 2 + 5 = 9. That’s a partial success for manipulate
someone.
Bonuses and Holds
Sometimes a move will give you a bonus to future dice rolls: you get
to take the bonus “forward” or “ongoing.” Sometimes a move will give
you a “hold.”
Forward
If you get +1 forward, you get +1 on your very next roll only.
For example:
Another hunter can give you a bonus of +1 forward as
the result of a move. The next thing that happens is that you
charge in to attack a monster. You get +1 on your kick some
ass roll. If you had decided to use magic instead, to cast a
protection spell, then you would have gained the +1 on that
roll. Once you have used the bonus, it’s gone.
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Ongoing
If you get +1 ongoing, you get +1 to every roll you make until the sit-
uation no longer applies.
For example:
If you read a bad situation, you might be awarded +1
ongoing while using an escape route you spotted. You get +1
on all rolls while escaping via that route, but nothing more
once you have escaped. You also get no bonus if you don’t try
to escape via the way you spotted.
Hold
When you get a hold, you’ll get a number of points. Each point can be
spent one-for-one to get a specific effect. The move will list the effects
you can spend your hold on.
For example, you are interviewing the witnesses to a monster
attack and you make an investigate a mystery roll. Your
result gives you 3 hold. You can spend your hold to ask the
Keeper questions from the list in the investigate a mystery
move.
You ask a witness, “Did you see where the attacker went?”
and spend one hold. (“Where did it go?” is one of the ques-
tions.)
The Keeper says (as Mrs Henderson, the witness), “It scur-
ried over there, and pulled up that grating and went into the
sewers.”
As the conversation with the witnesses continues, you
spend the next hold to ask the Keeper about the monster’s
powers. “Hey, from all the things they’ve told me, can I work
out any powers?” (“What can it do?” is another question.)
The Keeper replies, “The witness descriptions don’t agree
at all. It must be able to change shape or maybe change mem-
ories.”
Later the last hold goes to ask the Keeper about whether
a witness is hiding something. That exhausts your hold, so you
don’t get any more questions for now.
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GET READY FOR ACTION
The Basic Moves
I introduced the basic moves earlier: the things every hunter can do
to find the monster and kill it. Now that you’re about to start, let’s go
into more detail about what these are.
Act Under Pressure
This covers trying to do something under conditions of particular
stress or danger. Examples of acting under pressure are: staying on
task while a banshee screams at you; barricading a door before the
giant rats catch up; resisting the mental domination of a brain-worm;
fighting on when you’re badly injured.
When you act under pressure, roll +Cool.
• On a 10+ you do what you set out to.
• On a 7-9 the Keeper is going to give you a worse outcome,
hard choice, or price to pay.
• On a miss, things go to hell.
Help Out
When you help another hunter with a move they are making, roll
+Cool.
• On a 10+ your help grants them +1 to their roll.
• On a 7-9 your help grants them +1 to their roll, but you also
expose yourself to trouble or danger.
• On a miss, you expose yourself to trouble or danger without
helping.
Note that help bonuses do not stack: if two people help out, the
hunter just gets +1 on their roll.
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GET READY FOR ACTION
Investigate A Mystery
Investigating can be done any number of ways: following tracks, inter-
viewing witnesses, forensic analysis, looking up old folklore in a library,
typing the monster’s name into Google, capturing the monster and
conducting tests on it, and so on. Anything that might give you more
information about what’s going on is fair game for an investigate move.
When you investigate a mystery, roll +Sharp.
• On a 10+ hold 2, and on a 7-9 hold 1.
One hold can be spent to ask the Keeper one of the following
questions:
• What happened here?
• What sort of creature is it?
• What can it do?
• What can hurt it?
• Where did it go?
• What was it going to do?
• What is being concealed here?
On a miss, you reveal some information to the monster or whoever
you are talking to. The Keeper might ask you some questions, which
you have to answer.
It’s important that your attempts to investigate (and the results
you get from them) are plausible and consistent with what’s happen-
ing. For example, if you’re using laboratory equipment to investigate
evidence, you probably won’t be able to learn anything about the mon-
ster’s magical origins. The Keeper is obliged to answer truthfully, but
not necessarily in full—just what you can work out in your current
situation and using your current methods. The Keeper may choose to
describe how something you’ve just discovered relates to something
you learned previously.
The Keeper may ask, “How do you find that out?” If you don’t have
a good answer, choose another question instead.
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GET READY FOR ACTION
Kick Some Ass
This is used when you are fighting something that’s fighting you back.
When you get into a fight and kick some ass, roll +Tough.
On any success (i.e., total 7 or more) you and whatever you’re
fighting inflict harm on each other. The amount of harm is based on
the established dangers in the game. That usually means you inflict
the harm rating of your weapon and your enemy inflicts their attack’s
harm rating on you.
You can take seven harm before you die.
If you roll a 10+, choose one extra effect:
• You gain the advantage: take +1 forward, or give +1 forward
to another hunter.
• You inflict terrible harm (+1 harm).
• You suffer less harm (-1 harm).
• You force them where you want them.
On a miss, you get your ass kicked instead. You suffer harm or get
captured, but don’t inflict any harm back.
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GET READY FOR ACTION
Manipulate Someone
This move is used when you want someone to do something for you
and they don’t want to do it. To get them to do what you’re asking
you’ll need a good reason. What counts as a good reason depends on
what you are asking for and your relationship with them.
For friends and allies, you might just need to ask. For witnesses to
a monster attack, you could tell them you are with the police, or just
offer them some cash for answering your questions.
Once you have given them a reason, tell them what you want
them to do and roll +Charm.
For a normal person:
• If you get 10+, then they’ll do it for the reason you gave them.
If you asked too much, they’ll tell you the minimum it would
take for them to do it (or if there’s no way they’d do it).
• On a 7-9, they’ll do it, but only if you do something for them
right now to show that you mean it. If you asked too much,
they’ll tell you what, if anything, it would take for them to
do it.
• On a miss, your approach is completely wrong: you offend or
anger the target.
For another hunter:
• On a 10+, if they do what you ask they mark experience and
get +1 forward.
• On a 7-9, they mark experience if they do what you ask.
• On a miss, it’s up to that hunter to decide how badly you
offend or annoy them. They mark experience if they decide
not to do what you asked.
Manipulating Monsters
Manipulate someone does not normally work on monsters, even if
they can reason and talk. You can try and make a deal with one if you
really want, but you don’t get to roll to ensure it keeps its side of the
bargain. You just have to hope it’s an honourable fiend. Good luck
with that.
If you take the Monstrous move dark negotiator (or any other
move that specifically allows it) then you are allowed to manipulate
monsters, at least if they can reason and talk. Of course, a monster
probably needs a different sort of reason than normal people—quite
possibly something you really won’t want to do.
Minions may or may not be susceptible to manipulation. It may
be possible to manipulate minions who are human, or almost human;
those that are incapable of understanding or reason cannot be manip-
ulated.
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Protect Someone
If someone is about to suffer harm and you can somehow prevent it,
then you can try to protect them.
When you prevent harm to another character, roll +Tough.
On any success (i.e., 7 or more), you protect them okay, but you’ll
suffer some or all of the harm they were going to get.
If you got a 10+ choose an extra:
• You suffer little harm (-1 harm).
• All impending danger is now focused on you.
• You inflict harm on the enemy.
• You hold the enemy back.
On a miss, then you end up making things worse.
Read A Bad Situation
When you look around and read a bad situation, roll +Sharp.
On a 10+ hold 3, and on a 7-9, hold 1.
One hold can be spent to ask the Keeper one of the following
questions:
• What’s my best way in?
• What’s my best way out?
• Are there any dangers we haven’t noticed?
• What’s the biggest threat?
• What’s most vulnerable to me?
• What’s the best way to protect the victims?
If you act on the answers, you get +1 ongoing while the infor-
mation is relevant. For example, if you ask for the best way into the
monster’s lair then you’ll get +1 while you are infiltrating it. But once
you’re in, the information doesn’t help you any more. The bonus is
only applied once on each roll, even if more than one question applies
to your course of action.
On a miss, you might mis-read the situation (e.g. “Everything is
fine here! It will be totally safe to go investigate alone!”), or you might
reveal tactical details to your enemies (which means the Keeper can
ask the questions above of you).
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Use Magic
When you use magic, say what you’re trying to achieve and how you
do the spell, then roll +Weird.
• If you get a 10+, the magic works without issues: choose your
effect.
• On a 7-9, it works imperfectly: choose your effect and a glitch.
The Keeper will decide what effect the glitch has.
• On a miss, you lose control of the magic. This never ends well.
By default the magic has one of the effects listed below, lasts for
around thirty minutes, and does not expose you to danger, unwanted
attention, or side-effects. If there’s a glitch that might change.
Effects:
• Inflict harm (1-harm ignore-armour magic obvious).
• Enchant a weapon. It gets +1 harm and +magic.
• Do one thing that is beyond human limitations.
• Bar a place or portal to a specific person or a type of creature.
• Trap a specific person, minion, or monster.
• Banish a spirit or curse from the person, object, or place it
inhabits.
• Summon a monster into the world.
• Communicate with something that you do not share a lan-
guage with.
• Observe another place or time.
• Heal 1-harm from an injury, or cure a disease, or neutralize
a poison.
Glitches:
• The effect is weakened.
• The effect is of short duration.
• You take 1-harm ignore-armour.
• The magic draws immediate, unwelcome attention.
• It has a problematic side effect.
The Keeper may require one or more of the following:
• The spell requires weird materials.
• The spell will take 10 seconds, 30 seconds, or 1 minute to cast.
• The spell requires ritual chanting and gestures.
• The spell requires you to draw arcane symbols.
• You need one or two people to help cast the spell.
• You need to refer to a tome of magic for the details.
If you want to do magic that goes beyond these effects, it counts as big
magic. Big magic uses different rules, described below.
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Big Magic
Sometimes the everyday spells and rituals of the use magic basic
move aren’t enough. Big magic covers everything more powerful,
such as bringing someone back from the dead or opening a portal to
another dimension. Big magic is both more powerful and more dan-
gerous than the basic use magic.
Decide what magical effect you want to make happen, and tell
the Keeper. They will determine what you must do in order to cast the
spell. The options (and the Keeper can pick more than one) are:
• You need to spend a lot of time (days or weeks) researching
the magic ritual.
• You need to experiment with the spell—there will be lots of
failures before you get it right.
• You need some rare and weird ingredients and supplies.
• The spell will take a long time (hours or days) to cast.
• You need a lot of people (2, 3, 7, 13, or more) to help.
• The spell needs to be cast at a particular place and/or time.
• You need to use magic as part of the ritual, perhaps to
summon a monster, communicate with something, or bar
the portal you opened.
• It will have a specific side-effect or danger.
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Once you know the requirements, you need to arrange them.
Once you’ve done that, the magical effect you want will simply happen.
You don’t need to roll any move for big magic itself, but you might
need to roll some other moves, as you try to meet the requirements.
Here are some examples of how you can use big magic.
The hunters want to discover where a particular person is,
with only a photograph to go on. The Keeper decides this will
require three people to take part in the ritual, and that they
need a very precise map of the area—the spell will guide a
pendulum to the person’s location.
The hunters are investigating a frogbeast that’s been devour-
ing people. After discovering it’s from an alien dimension, the
hunters propose casting a spell that “detunes” it from our
dimension and sends it home (or somewhere else, at least).
The Keeper decides this will require a few experiments taking
up the afternoon, the spell will take around six hours to cast,
it requires them to use magic to banish the frogbeast from
this dimension, and it will expose them to danger—the frog-
beast will feel the spell being cast and know where the force is
coming from.
One of the hunters on the team has died, and the others want
to bring her back to life. The Keeper decides that it will take
some weeks of research, the ritual requires her body, it must
take place at dawn on the spring solstice in view of the rising
sun, they must use magic to summon back the dead hunter’s
soul from Death’s realm, and it exposes them to a big danger—
Death will be angered by this transgression.
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Fights
Here are some things to remember when you get down to the slaying.
Don’t always go right to rolling dice for kick some ass. That move
puts you in danger of harm as well as your enemy. If you can find a way
to attack without putting yourself in danger, then you can inflict harm
on the enemy without suffering any yourself (and without needing to
succeed on a roll).
Remember you can try to protect someone whenever they are
threatened with harm. Think about who needs protecting, and where
everyone is in relation to each other. If you set things up right, you
might even be able to save a teammate from the harm they’re going to
suffer if they miss a roll.
Remember that you can help another hunter to give them +1 on
a roll. This can sometimes be the difference between life and death,
plus if you help in a fight the Keeper might say you can add the harm
from your attack to the attack of the hunter you’re helping—so you
can take a monster down faster.
Unarmed Attacks And
Improvised Weapons
If your hunter has been caught unarmed, and is just fighting with fists
and feet, you do 0-harm hand/intimate. You can still hurt things if you
have a bonus to harm. That could come from getting a 10+ on a kick
some ass roll, or a move you have.
If your hunter grabs a random object to use as a weapon, decide
between you and your Keeper about how it is rated. Here are some
guidelines:
• If it’s hardly more dangerous than a punch, 0-harm hand.
• If it’s sharp or heavy (kitchen knife, lamp), 1-harm hand.
• If it’s really heavy (microwave, bar stool), 2-harm hand heavy.
• If you can throw it, add “close” range.
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Harm
When you take harm, the Keeper will tell you what happened and how
many points of harm it was. Mark off that number of boxes on your
harm track. There will be an additional effect: the Keeper will tell you
what it is.
Injury severity depends on how much harm you have suffered:
• 0-harm wounds have only minor, short term effects.
• 4-7 harm wounds are serious and unstable. They will get
worse unless treated. Mark the “Unstable” box.
• 8-harm or more will kill a normal human, including a hunter.
• Note that armour reduces the harm suffered by the number
of points it is rated for.
There are more details in the Keeper section (page 212).
Monsters and Harm
Monsters are usually a lot harder to kill than humans. Minions (lesser
supernatural creatures) can be as well.
All monsters (and some minions) have weaknesses. That means
they cannot be killed until you use their weakness against them. How
to use a weakness against a monster depends on what the weakness is.
Weaknesses can include:
• Things that can be used as a weapon: e.g. fire, cold iron.
• Specific methods of attack: e.g. a silver weapon, decapitation.
• Something to do: e.g. a magic ritual, a burial procedure.
• A harmful environment: e.g. sunlight, running water.
If you know the monster’s weakness, use it.
If you don’t know its weakness, find out using your moves.
If you don’t use a creature’s weakness, it will come back, even if
you win the fight.
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Healing
A 0-harm wound goes away right after you get it. It can cause a
momentary problem, but after that it is purely cosmetic.
Moderate wounds (1-3 harm) will improve when your hunter has
a chance to rest up (e.g. a decent night’s sleep), or get some first aid
treatment. This reduces an injury by 1-harm.
First aid does not normally require a move, it’s just regular prac-
tice. Hunter moves that provide healing may be used in addition to
first aid. You can only benefit from first aid once per injury or condi-
tion.
Serious wounds (4+ harm) require treatment. They are normally
unstable, meaning that they will worsen if untreated (the Keeper will
tell you when to mark off another point of harm). Left too long, serious
wounds will kill you. If a move tells you that the injury is now stable,
you can erase the mark in the unstable box. If you take more harm and
are still at 4-harm or more, then your injuries become unstable again.
For serious wounds, first aid heals one harm but it will still be unstable.
What counts as treatment depends on the wound, but it will
usually be one of the following:
• A hunter’s healing move.
• Time in an infirmary in someone’s haven.
• A visit to a doctor or emergency room.
• A magic spell.
Healing moves will mention how many harm they heal.
Healing Between Mysteries
After a mystery is concluded, but before the next one, all the injured
hunters will get some healing.
If there was a while to rest between mysteries, then heal all your
harm.
If there was no time to rest between mysteries, then heal 1-harm.
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Resurrection
If someone wants to bring a slain hunter (or someone else) back from
the dead, this requires big magic. But there’s an extra step for this
particular case.
When you return to life, roll -Weird (so subtract three if you
have +3 Weird, add one for -1 Weird, etc.). The weirder you are, the
weirder it is when you come back from the dead.
On a 10+, you have changed a little. Mark experience and pick any
one of the options below (for 7-9 or miss results).
On a 7-9, choose one of these:
• You come back a little bit broken (memory loss, stressed, dis-
connected).
• You come back a little different. Add 1 to one rating (max +3)
and subtract 1 from another (min -2).
• You come back very different. Change to a new playbook, just
as if you took that advanced improvement (see page 121).
• Your revival satisfies an ancient prophecy.
• Something comes back with you (e.g. a possessing spirit, a
slain monster is revived, an ancient evil is released), but it’s
not a pressing danger.
• You, or the one who brought you back, owes a favour to a
powerful spirit, monster, or demon.
On a miss, choose one of these:
• You come back broken (soulless, insane, depressive).
• You come back disabled. Take -1 to a rating (to -2, at worst).
• Your revival satisfies an ancient, dark, and terrible prophecy.
• Something comes back with you (e.g. a possessing spirit, a
slain monster is revived, an ancient evil is released). It is an
immediate and pressing danger.
• You, or the one who brought you back, owes a huge debt (soul,
firstborn, ten years of servitude, etc.) to a powerful spirit,
monster, or demon.
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The Luck Counter
Every hunter has a certain amount of Luck they can call on in emer-
gencies.
When you mark off a point of Luck, you can choose one of the
following lucky breaks:
• Decrease a wound you just suffered to 0-harm.
• After you roll, retroactively change the result to a 12.
Your playbook has a Luck counter that keeps track of how much
is left. You only get a limited supply. Make it count.
When You Run Out Of Luck
When you have marked off all your Luck, the Keeper is allowed to hit
you with more bad stuff. Fate will be looking for some payback.
If your playbook includes fate-related stuff (such as the Chosen’s
fate or the Spooky’s dark side), running out of Luck means all that bad
stuff is going to start happening.
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Gear
Here are the rules for gear, vehicles, teams, allies, havens and all that.
Getting New Gear
If you want to get something that you could just buy, just buy it.
You can also get new gear when you take certain improvements.
If you want something that you couldn’t just buy (like a flame-
thrower, or a magical artifact), or something you don’t have the
resources to get, then you need to do something special (like call in a
favour, or steal it). Tell the Keeper what you’re doing, and play through
the acquisition attempt to see how well it works.
The same thing can apply if you want an ally, a team under your
command, or something else hard to arrange (like an Expert’s haven).
If you do everything necessary to get the new gear, well, then you
get it (even without using an improvement or anything like that).
Weapons
All weapons have some “tags” (i.e. lists of descriptions) that describe
how they work. All weapons have a harm and range tag, that let you
know how much harm an injury from it causes, and how far away the
target can be.
For example: Power drill (2-harm hand loud messy)
“2-harm” “hand,” “loud,” and “messy” are the tags. “2-harm”
is the harm tag, “hand” is the range tag, and “loud” and “messy”
are descriptive tags.
Here’s what the tags mean:
• 1-harm, 2-harm, 3-harm, etc: This is how much harm the attack
inflicts.
• area: Can hit multiple foes. You may divide the harm you inflict
among multiple targets.
• balanced: Easy to wield and keep your grip on.
• barrier: Does harm to anything that passes through. Counts as
armour against any attacks that pass through it.
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• close: Effective at fairly close quarters—outside arms’ reach, but
not too far.
• far: Effective at long range.
• fire: Sets things on fire.
• forceful: Pushes things around, allowing you to “force them
where you want them” in addition to normal attack effects.
• hand: Effective within arms’ reach.
• life-drain: Transfers life energy: the wielder is healed for as many
points of harm as were inflicted. E.g. if you inflict 2-harm, then
you heal 2-harm from your injuries.
• heavy: This weapon is heavy and difficult to wield.
• holy: This will be more effective against monsters with a weak-
ness to holy items.
• ignore-armour: Ignores protective armour. Armour has no effect
on this harm. If armour has the magic tag, then the attack needs
both ignore-armour and magic to bypass the armour.
• innocuous: Doesn’t draw suspicion.
• intimate: Effective at the closest of quarters—within the embrace
of your foe.
• loud: Loud enough that it draws attention.
• magic: Enchanted, and so can affect certain creatures and
armours that are proof against normal weapons.
• many: These weapons are small enough you can carry a large
number of them.
• [a material]: This weapon is made from the named material, and
is thus useful against monsters with that weakness.
• messy: Spreads a lot of blood and gore around.
• quick: Fast to prepare and attack with, giving you a better chance
of going first.
• reload: This weapon has limited ammunition, and may run out
and need to be reloaded.
• restraining: A successful attack entangles or grabs the victim.
• slow: This weapon is slow to prepare and attack with.
• small: This weapon is tiny and easy to conceal.
• unreliable: This weapon needs regular cleaning and maintenance,
otherwise it just isn’t gonna work.
• useful: This weapon has other uses aside from violence.
• valuable: This weapon is antique, or made of valuable materials.
• volatile: This weapon is dangerous and unstable.
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Custom Weapons
If your hunter (or your foes) get a new weapon that needs tags, you
can define your own. Think about the way the weapon is used and
what effects it will have, then write down tags in accordance with that.
Every weapon must have a harm and range tag. There’s no upper
limit on the harm rating, but 4 or more is unusually destructive. Use
the existing weapons in the hunter playbooks and the following table
as a guide. Permitted range tags are intimate, hand, close, and far.
Other tags are optional.
• If it’s hardly more dangerous than a punch, 0-harm hand.
• If it’s sharp or heavy, 1-harm hand.
• If it’s dangerous, 2-harm hand heavy.
• If it’s a weapon designed to kill, 3-harm.
• If it’s overkill for a person, 4-harm.
• If you can throw it, add +close.
For example, a hunter decides they want a super-soaker type
water gun for a monster that has “water” as a weakness. It needs a
“liquid” tag (not “water,” because you could fill it with something else
too), so write it: water gun (0-harm close liquid).
Armour
Armour reduces the harm suffered by the wearer, by the number of
points that it is rated for. For example, if you are wearing a leather
jacket worth 1-armour, and a sewer mutant claws your arm for 3-harm,
you only suffer a 2-harm injury.
1-armour includes heavy leather jackets, motorcycle armour, bul-
letproof or stab-proof vests and other light but significant protection.
2-armour includes military body armour, police riot gear, medi-
aeval mail, or other seriously bulky and highly effective protective gear.
If armour has the magic tag, then normal weapons that have
ignore-armour don’t bypass the rating. Only weapons that have magic
and ignore-armour will bypass magic armour.
Normally hunters can only get gear worth 1 or 2-armour. Armour
worth more than that would be something very rare and special:
perhaps ancient magic, or the results of weird science.
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Other Gear
In general your hunter can simply use other gear without needing any
extra rules for it.
It’s not necessary to define every piece of equipment that comes
into play, but if something becomes significant in play then you can
define it in more detail so that everyone’s on the same page. This can
be done via gear tags and custom gear moves.
Gear Tags
Defining tags for a piece of gear gives you a definition of what it can do,
and the advantages or disadvantages of using it.
Tags come into play by opening up possibilities for the hunters.
For example, night-vision goggles (tag: see in the dark) allow you to
follow a creature’s tracks even when it’s dark.
Custom Gear Moves
If tags aren’t quite enough, you can also define a custom move for gear.
Custom moves are dealt with in detail on page 296, but the basic
idea is simple: just define when the gear works, and what it does for
the user.
For example, if you get a sports car, you could define a custom
move to represent its speed and performance. E.g. “When you flee or
pursue in a sports car, you get +1 ongoing.”
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Leveling Up
You get an experience point whenever your roll totals six or less, or
when a move tells you to. Mark your next experience box.
Whenever you mark the fifth experience box on your playbook,
you level up. Erase all five marks and choose an improvement from
the list in your playbook. Mark the improvements off as you take
them: each can only be selected once.
Then you start collecting experience marks again, until you level
up again when you get another five experience points.
When you have leveled up five times, you can start choosing from
the advanced improvements list as well (page 120).
End Of Session Experience
At the end of each session, the Keeper will ask the following questions:
• Did we conclude the current mystery?
• Did we save someone from certain death (or worse)?
• Did we learn something new and important about the world?
• Did we learn something new and important about one of the
hunters?
If you get one or two “Yes” answers, each hunter marks one experi-
ence. If you get three or four, each hunter marks two.
Improvements
There are ten types of improvement. Here are the details:
Get +1 To A Rating (Max +X)
Permanently raise the specified rating. The maximum is a limit: you
can only raise the rating to the listed maximum, and no further. If your
rating is already at (or above) the listed maximum, then don’t select
this improvement.
For example, your hunter has Tough=0 and you select an
improvement: “+1 Tough (maximum +3).” Increase your
Tough rating to Tough +1.
Take Another Move From Your Playbook
Select another one of the moves from your playbook.
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Take A Move From Another Playbook
Select a move from any other playbook that’s available in your game
(whether it’s currently in use or not).
This improvement requires a little care. It won’t always make
sense to take certain moves (especially supernatural ones). Make sure
that the new move makes sense for your hunter.
Gain an Ally/Gain a Team
You gain a new ally or a friendly team of people to help you out. You
might already know the ally/team, or they might be new to the story.
Allies and teams are defined the same way, even though an ally
is individual and a team is several people (usually 2-6). The main dif-
ference is that for a team, the motivation describes how they act as a
team, but the individual members can have their own, different, moti-
vation when they do their own thing.
Pick one of the following types (the “motivation” is the guideline
for the Keeper about how they act):
• Ally: subordinate (motivation: to follow your exact instruc-
tions)
• Ally: lieutenant (motivation: to execute the spirit of your
instructions)
• Ally: friend (motivation: to provide emotional support)
• Ally: bodyguard (motivation: to intercept danger)
• Ally: confidante (motivation: to give you advice and perspec-
tive)
• Ally: backup (motivation: to stand with you)
If the ally/team members don’t have names yet, pick them now. Decide
what their background is too, how they look, and any special skills
they bring.
Gain A Haven Like The Expert Has
You get a haven. When you take this, it will tell you how many options
you can pick from the list in the Expert playbook.
Decide how you got the haven, and where it is.
Add An Option To Your Haven
Select a new haven option from the list in the Expert playbook. You
have added this facility to your haven.
Don’t bother taking this improvement if you don’t have a haven!
Crooked: Recover a Stash of Money
Like it says, you get a big pile of cash to spend. It’s a lot, but not unlim-
ited.
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Initiate: Gain Command Of Your
Chapter Of The Sect
The Initiate can take this. It means they get promoted to be head of
their local chapter. This gives the Initiate access to all the Sect’s local
facilities and command of the chapter’s members.
It doesn’t mean you can constantly bring people along to help you
on your mysteries—you need to take a team under your command
for that.
You can still call on resources from the Sect on a case by case
basis, using your usual start-of-the-mystery move, but you can ask for
bigger things now. Of course, your new superiors also expect more
from you.
Mundane: Erase a Luck Mark
Erase a used Luck mark from your sheet. You have bought some time
before Fate comes for you.
Professional: Add Resource Tag/
Change Red Tape Tag
If you want to add a new resource tag, pick one from the list in the
Agency section of your playbook.
If you want to change a red tape tag, erase the one you don’t want
and put a new one from the list in its place.
Either of these changes may imply the Agency is altering tactics
or objectives, so there might be further consequences because of this.
Spell-Slinger: Take another combat magic pick
Pick a new combat magic option, either a new base or a new extra.
Spooky: Change Some Or All
Of Your Dark Side Tags
Erase the old tags and substitute new ones that you want to change to.
You don’t get to have any fewer, just change them around.
This implies that you have changed your relationship with your
powers in some way.
Advanced Improvements
After a hunter has leveled up five times, they unlock the advanced
improvements. That’s a list of new improvements you can choose
from in addition to the basic improvements. From now on, when you
level up choose from either the basic or advanced improvement lists.
Some of the playbooks have special advanced improvements of
their own. These are unlocked at the same time (after five level-ups).
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+1 to Any Rating (Max +3)
Just like the normal +1 to a specific rating advance, except you can
choose whichever you want. +3 is the maximum for any rating—once
you’re there, you can’t improve any further.
Change Your Hunter To A New Type
When you change your type, pick another playbook you wish to
change to.
Your ratings and history stay the same.
You may change your name or look, if you want.
For your old moves, check each one and decide (with the Keeper)
if it is intrinsic to who you are, or just something you did for a while. If
it’s intrinsic, keep that move. If not, erase it.
Then add new moves from your new playbook, as if you were cre-
ating a new hunter.
Finally, you may or may not get the new gear, or keep your old
gear, depending what makes sense given the circumstances of your
change.
Make A Second Hunter
Create a new hunter to join the team. You can play both hunters at
once, or maybe take turns, deciding which of them will come along on
a mystery on a case-by-case basis.
Make up the new hunter as normal, except for history. Only pick
history for the hunters played by different people—don’t tie your own
hunters together with history picks.
Retire To Safety
Your hunter retires to a safe place. They no longer actively hunt mon-
sters, and have found a place to live that’s safe from old enemies.
Give your hunter to the Keeper to look after from now on. They
are safe from the Keeper’s threats, and never count as a threat them-
selves. Your retired hunter might, at your and the Keeper’s discretion,
count as an ally for the other hunters.
Erase One Used Luck Mark
Erase a used Luck mark from your sheet. You have bought some time
before Fate comes for you.
Mark Two Of Your Basic Moves As Advanced
This means you get better at the basic moves.
There’s a new result for each advanced move, that applies when
you roll a 12 or higher. These 12+ results represent the extraordinary
levels of success you can now achieve. See below for details.
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Advanced Moves
If you have advanced a basic move, you gain access to an even better
result when you roll a 12 or more for the move.
For act under pressure, on a 12+ you rise above the pressure
completely. You may choose to either do what you wanted and some-
thing extra, or to do what you wanted to absolute perfection (so that
people will talk about it for years to come).
For help out, on a 12+ you make the difference. The person you
are helping acts as if they just rolled a 12 on their move, regardless of
what they actually got.
For kick some ass, on a 12+ you devastate and overawe your
enemy. You inflict and suffer harm as normal, and pick one of these
enhanced effects:
• You completely hold the advantage. All hunters involved in
the fight get +1 forward.
• You suffer no harm at all.
• Your attack inflicts double the normal harm.
• Your attack drives the enemy away in a rout.
For protect someone, on a 12+ you defend them perfectly. Both
you and the character you are protecting are unharmed and out of
danger. If you were protecting a bystander, they also become your ally
(pick a type for them as if you had taken the “gain an ally” improve-
ment on leveling up, see page 119).
For manipulate someone, on a 12+ you absolutely convince them.
They do what you want right now. For a hunter, they must act under
pressure to resist your request. If they do what you ask, they mark
one experience and take +1 ongoing while doing what you asked. For
a bystander, not only do they do what you want right now, they also
become your ally (pick a type for them as if you had taken the “gain
an ally” improvement on leveling up, see page 119) for the rest of the
mystery (or, if you do enough for them, permanently). Note that allies
can be lost, too! If they discover you’ve manipulated them into acting
against their best interests, your new ally may become a threat to you.
For investigate a mystery, on a 12+ you may ask the Keeper any
question you want about the mystery, not just the listed ones.
For read a bad situation, on a 12+ you may ask the Keeper any
question you want about the situation, not just the listed ones.
For use magic, on a 12+ you are infused with magical power.
What you wanted to do happens and the Keeper will offer you some
extra benefit on top of that.
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Playbook-Specific Advanced Improvements
These are only available to the hunters of the type listed. They become
available after you have leveled up five times, the same as the usual
advanced improvements.
For the Chosen
• Delete one doom tag from your fate, and (optionally) change one
heroic tag as well.
For the Divine
• Change your mission. When you choose this, you accept that
your initial mission has failed, that it is impossible, or that things
have changed too much to continue. Whatever the reason, decide
with the Keeper what your new mission is. If none of the original
choices are right for you, make up something new.
For the Initiate
• Become the leader, or effective leader, of the whole Sect.
This operates similarly to becoming the leader of your chapter.
You are now in charge of everything. You don’t have superiors any
more (except maybe divine ones), but you’ll still have to manage
the factions within the Sect to get things done.
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For the Monstrous
• You have freed yourself from the curse of your kind: your curse no
longer applies, but you lose 1 Weird.
• You turn evil (again): retire this character, they become one of the
Keeper’s threats.
Turning evil takes your hunter out of your control perma-
nently. The character is now a threat, for the Keeper to use against
the hunters. Given how many of the team’s secrets your hunter
knows, this option shouldn’t be chosen lightly!
For the Professional
• You can get some or all of the hunters hired by your agency (they’ll
get the deal with the agency move, as well as salary and benefits).
All the hunters you pick are now Agency employees. They all
get the deal with the Agency move, and everything else that goes
along with being an agent.
For the Spell-Slinger
• You may cross off another option from your Tools and Techniques.
This works just like when you first created your Spell-slinger—you
are now less restricted in your spell casting.
For the Spooky
• You discover how to use your powers at a lower price. Delete one
dark side tag permanently.
For the Wronged
• You track down the specific monster(s) responsible for your loss—
the Keeper must make the next mystery about them.
Note that this doesn’t mean you get to automatically win. You
just get a shot at them. Keeper, the Wronged’s targets should be
central to the next mystery but otherwise create the mystery as
normal.
• Change the target of your vengeful rage. I know my prey now
applies to these monsters instead.
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Summary: Hunter's
Session
There’s two parts to this: the things you’ll do just at the start of a new
game, and then the things you’ll do every time.
The First Time Only
• Choose hunter playbooks and come up with a team concept.
• Create your hunter while everyone else creates theirs.
• Go around the group: each of you introduces your hunter to the
others
• Go around the group again: each of you picks a history option for
every other hunter on the team.
• Keeping your selected history options in mind, tidy up the team
concept and work out your backstory.
• Go on to the things you do every game (see below)
• At the end of the first session, review your hunter’s playbook and
decide if any of the options you picked didn’t match your vision
of what the character would be like. If you need to make some
changes, go ahead and do it.
Every Game
• Do all the start-of-mystery moves.
• Get the first clue from the Keeper, and make a plan.
• Investigate the mystery: interview witnesses; check out where key
events happened; look into any other weird stuff going on.
• When you know what you’re hunting, work out its weaknesses
and where to find it.
• Whenever a roll totals six or less, mark experience. Whenever a
move tells you to, mark experience.
• When you mark your fifth experience point, level up, select an
improvement and reset your experience to zero.
• Protect all the innocent bystanders.
• Go and kill the monster!
• When you’re done, answer the end-of-session experience ques-
tions and mark any experience you earn from the answers.
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The Keeper
If you are going to be the Keeper, your responsibilities
are quite different to playing a hunter. This section
takes you through all that.
It’s written to tell you what you need to know in
the order you’ll need it (with some digressions along
the way).
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What You Do
Your job as Keeper has two parts.
First, before each game you need to spend a few minutes invent-
ing a mystery: a monster and a situation for the hunters to investigate
and sort out.
Second, when you sit down to play, you are responsible for por-
traying the hunters’ world: describing the places, people and monsters
they meet, and how those things react to the hunters’ actions.
Incidentally, the term “Keeper” comes from the classic
game Call of Cthulhu. It’s short for “Keeper of Arcane
Lore” there, but in Monster of the Week the meaning is
“Keeper of Monsters and Mysteries.”
How It Will Play Out
This is an improvisational game. You will start each mystery having
defined the monster and other details, but you won’t know how the
situation will play out once the hunters get involved. Let them do what
they want: it’s your responsibility to decide how the people and mon-
sters and anything else react to those actions.
The game is improvised in the wider scale too: you and the other
players will develop a backstory and mythology about the hunters and
their world as you play. When something happens in an individual
mystery, you can weave some of those events back into later events to
build a consistent world.
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THE KEEPER
No Planning Ahead
One thing that the Keeper definitely does not do is decide what is
going to happen to the hunters. You’ll prepare the situation that
they’re coming in to investigate, and you’ll think about what would
happen if they didn’t come.
But once you sit down to play your mystery with the hunters, then
everything is up to them. They get to choose which places they visit,
which people they talk to, how they chase down the monster, and
everything else.
Your preparation gives you a sketch of what’s going on, just enough
for you to work out how everything will react to what the hunters do.
It’s fine to speculate about what is likely to happen. Say if you have
a hunter who is likely to be sympathetic to a particular person in the
mystery, you can go ahead and think about some possible things that
might happen because of that. Or perhaps you set up a place because
you are sure that the hunters will track the monster down there and
have a big fight. That sort of thing is fine: just as long as you remember
it’s only a possible outcome.
What you should not do is force the story to go a certain way.
Instead, let the hunters do whatever they want, in the situation you
have set up for them.
It's About the Hunters,
Not The Mystery
Another thing to remember is that although in each game of Monster
of the Week the hunters have a mystery to solve, this isn’t really a game
about solving mysteries. We want to see the hunters being awesome,
and that requires that they solve the mystery and find out your secrets
about what’s going on in the wider world. Then we see what they do
with the answers.
We play for the times when the hunters realise they need to do
something terrible, or put themselves in danger, or pull out all the
stops. When the hunters make those decisions, and we play out all the
consequences, that’s what this game is about.
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Before Your First Game
There’s a few things you need to do before you begin.
• Think about the style you want.
• Get into the Keeper mindset.
• Create a mystery for the hunters to investigate.
Think About Style
Before you begin playing, spend some time thinking about the style
you want to bring to the game. Consider the monster hunting fiction
that excites you the most, and maybe watch or read some of it. Gen-
erate some ideas about how you want the world of the game to work,
how it will look to the hunters, and what sorts of things might be
going on. You’ll find a list of my favourite monster hunting fiction on
page 307 if you need some extra inspiration.
The game is going to be built by you and the other players together:
so at this stage consider your ideas just a sketch. Once the hunters are
created and the game begins, all your sketches might get overwritten.
Having something in mind gives you a skeleton of the world to begin
with, but you’ll fill in the details as a group, in play.
Get Into The Keeper Mindset
You also need to prepare yourself for how to run the game.
I’ve codified my best practices for running Monster of the Week
into a ‘toolbox’ of advice. This toolbox owes a huge debt to Vincent
Baker: in Apocalypse World Vincent described his methods for
running that game. As he’s done, I’ll present an agenda for what you
do as Keeper, what you should always say, the principles you use to
create the world, and the moves you can make.
I’ll have more to say about these later, but I’ll present them here so
you have them in mind while you prepare your first mystery.
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The Keeper Agenda
The Keeper agenda is what you should focus on in play. It’s the foun-
dation for everything else you do.
Your agenda is made up of three elements:
• Make the world seem real.
• Play to see what happens.
• Make the hunters’ lives dangerous and scary.
The Keeper Principles
The Keeper principles are twelve specific ways to
apply your agenda:
• Put horror in everyday situations.
• Address yourself to
the hunters, not the
players.
• Use the Keeper moves,
never use their names.
• Be a fan of the hunters.
• Build up a coherent
mythology of the world as
you play.
• Nothing is safe. Kill bystanders and
minions, burn down buildings, let
monsters be slain.
• Name everyone they meet, make them
seem like normal folks.
• Ask questions and build on the answers.
• Sometimes give the hunters exactly what
they earned, rather than everything they
wanted.
• Think about what’s happening off-screen.
• You don’t always have to decide what
happens.
• Everything is a threat.
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Creating Your
First Mystery
Before each game, you’ll create a mystery for the hunters to investi-
gate. Here’s how to build your first mystery.
If you want to skip this step, you can use either of the introduc-
tory mysteries: “Dream Away the Time” on page 149, or “Damn
Dirty Apes” on page 273. Then you can resume reading at “The First
Session” on page 163 for advice on how to run the game.
A mystery is made up of six basic elements. You can create them
in any order, but I’ll show you the order I usually use:
• A basic concept for the mystery.
• The hook that got the hunters’ attention.
• The monster.
• The minions, bystanders, and locations that are involved.
• The mystery countdown.
• Optionally: custom moves for special aspects of the mystery.
Before I get into the guts of it, here’s what a finished mystery looks like.
Read it, and then I’ll talk about how the pieces fit together.
An Example Mystery:
Mongolian Death Worm Attack
The hunters get a report of some strange deaths at a local
museum. Professor Josh Singer, Dr Jennifer Sofia, and Michelle
Fitzsimmons were last seen alive working late unpacking
and cleaning up new items for the collection. The
next morning they were found “burned and par-
tially dissolved” (according to police reports).
The monsters are three newly hatched
Mongolian death worms. They’re bright red
and look moist and intestinal. Each
is about 5cm thick and 50cm
long. They have a deadly venom
that they can spit, and excrete
via the skin. Plus, they can
shoot lightning bolts. They like things dry, and water is poi-
sonous to them.
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There’s someone here working for the monster, sort of. Dr
Kelly Morrison became obsessed with them during field work
in the Gobi Desert, and she smuggled the eggs back. Her plan
didn’t include them hatching and getting out, but now that
they have she wants to protect and observe them.
While the hunters are investigating, they are likely to
come across these people:
• Dr Frances Ferrara, who worked with the victims.
She’ll be helpful to the hunters, which may endanger
her.
• Detective Patrick Eagan. He’s the police officer in
charge of investigating the deaths, and won’t appreci-
ate the hunters getting involved.
• Chris Larsen, museum administrator. A stickler for
procedure, he will annoy the hunters with demands
for authorisation and interfere with anything he
thinks is strange or against the rules.
The Natural History Museum is a large, modern complex.
It’s divided into several wings, each with plenty of exhibition
halls, offices, store rooms, and work rooms. Looking for things
here, the hunters are going to be poking into all kinds of dark
corners.
The worms have split up and are looking for warm, dry
spaces to nest. Once they find those (and finish digesting their
initial meal) they’ll start hunting through the museum: they
won’t need to start small, either, due to their venom. Humans
will be on the menu right away. Once they’ve eaten and grown,
they’ll mate (each is hermaphroditic) and each lay a clutch
of eggs. When those hatch, a plague of dozens of worms will
spread out from the museum.
What That All Means
That mystery writeup shows the level of detail you need to play the
game. You also give the hunters a reason to come and investigate the
situation and to deal with the monster(s) at the bottom of it. You start
the game knowing what the monster’s doing, some important people
and places, and with a plan about what will happen if the hunters don’t
sort it out.
When you’re making up your own mystery, some of these ele-
ments will be defined in game terms to make it easier for you to
manage them. I left the jargon out of the example, but I’ll describe
each of the pieces now. These are the six mystery elements I men-
tioned before.
Components Of A Mystery
The basic concept is your original idea, the thought that led to this
mystery.
In the example, the basic concept is the Mongolian death
worms—the stories are awesome, so I wanted to make a
mystery about them.
The hook is whatever has drawn the hunters’ attention to the situa-
tion: reports of deaths or disappearances, a monster sighting, or some
weird phenomena. You’ll tell the hunters up front what the hook is,
but after that it’s totally up to them how they deal with what’s going on.
In the example, the hook is the news reports of the first three
deaths.
Next there’s the monster. The monster has a type that defines its moti-
vation, a description of what it looks like, what it can do, the attacks it
can use in a fight with the hunters, and some powers (its supernatural
abilities). Monsters also have a weakness: until the hunters use the
monster’s weakness against it, it cannot be destroyed.
Mongolian Death Worms are monsters. They are beasts (a
specific style of monster in the game), which means they have
the motivation “to run wild, killing and destroying.”
Powers:
• Venom: When you are poisoned by a worm, its venom
will cause 1-harm every five minutes until the injury is
stabilized or the affected area is flushed clean with water.
Attacks: Venom: 4-harm hand/close poison; Lightning blast:
3-harm close electricity stun.
Weakness: Water.
Next up are minions. These are servants of the main monster, who
help it out and work against the hunters. Minions also get a type and
motivation to guide you about how they act.
In the example, Dr Kelly Morrison is a minion. She’s a guard-
ian, with the motivation “to bar a way or protect something.”
She’s going to try and protect the worms as they nest and breed,
because she wants to study and understand them.
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There’s also a list of bystanders. These are the people involved in the
situation. These can be people who are in danger, who might help
the hunters’ investigation, who might get in the way. Bystanders each
have a type and associated motivation.
Dr Francesco Ferrara, is a victim with the motivation “to put
herself in danger.” She’ll put herself in danger by helping the
hunters as much as she can.
Detective Patrick Eagan is a detective, with the moti-
vation “to rule out explanations.” If the hunters talk to him,
they’ll quickly discover that the deaths were no normal acci-
dent or criminal attack.
Chris Larsen is an official with the motivation “to be sus-
picious.” He is there to get in the way of the hunters by bringing
up annoying regulations they need to comply with, and that
sort of thing. Just so the hunters don’t have too easy a time
exploring the museum.
Next up is one or more locations that will be important. Locations
are allocated a type from a list. The type has a descriptive name and a
motivation. Locations in this game are able to do things. The motiva-
tion tells you what sort of things this particular place will do.
In the example, the one location is the Natural History
Museum. It’s a Wilds, with the motivation “to contain hidden
things.” The plan is to have it full of scary places, and fake-out
scares, as well as people to protect and worms to hunt down.
Those elements (monsters, minions, bystanders, and locations) are
threats. Threats are the things that make trouble for the hunters, one
way or another. Each threat gets a type and a corresponding motiva-
tion.
Any kind of threat can have a custom move, too. This is a special
rule that defines something this particular threat can do. See page 296
for how to create custom moves.
The last required element is a countdown. That’s what would
happen if the hunters never dealt with this situation. I’ve summarized
it in the final paragraph of the example, but when you’re making your
own mysteries, you’ll note down six particular events that will happen
unless the hunters prevent them.
That covers enough ideas and game-related notes to get started
creating your first mystery.
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Preparing Your First Mystery
This first mystery is going to be everyone’s introduction to the hunters
and to your game’s world. Build a straightforward hunt, to give the
hunters space to talk and get a sense of how the team operates. Pick
a classic monster that everyone will recognise from folklore, urban
legend, or pop culture.
Once you have a monster, come up with a basic concept. Think
about what the creature could want, and what bad stuff is going to
happen if the hunters don’t stop it. The bad stuff might be personal,
local, or apocalyptic in scale.
I’ll build an example ghost story while we go through the process,
to illustrate each piece.
The basic concept is a haunted house story. There’ll be a ghost,
murdered unjustly, who wants restitution and is lashing out
at anyone who stays in the house.
Marie O’Connell is the angry ghost. She was murdered
by her husband Damian (in an unjustified jealous rage) and
subsequently drove him to suicide.
The Hook
Now come up with a hook for the hunters. That’s the mysterious event
or clue that points to a supernatural problem. The hook is what came
to the hunters’ attention: it needs to clearly point to the mystery.
The ideal hook screams “There is a monster here!” to a hunter, but
would be easily dismissed by normal folks who don’t believe in mon-
sters. It also suggests what sort of monster it might be.
A family just moved into the haunted house and attracted the
attention of the ghost. The house has been in the family for a
long time, but uninhabited for many years. Local news reports
have been running puff pieces about the haunting. Specifically,
the family have heard strange noises, objects have been moved,
and parts of the house are always cold. The articles mention
the tragic suicide of Damian O’Connell in the house 42 years
ago, after his wife Marie disappeared.
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The Threats
Now the mystery needs some threats. These are the things that will
interfere with the hunters as they attempt to sort out the mystery.
Threats come in four types:
• Monsters (the big bad behind these events).
• Minions (allies of the monster, usually weaker creatures).
• Bystanders (normal folks who are involved).
• Locations (significant places).
Threat categories are more concerned with the role that the entity will
have in the mystery than rigid definitions. Sometimes powerful crea-
tures will be “minions” because that’s how they fit into the situation.
In other cases, normal people could be a “minion” (if they’re inadver-
tantly supporting a monster) or even a “monster” (if they’re a mass
murderer). Think about how the situation in your mystery is set up,
and choose threat types based on which part each element plays.
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THE KEEPER
Monsters
Start with the monster. Most mysteries will have just one: the single
creature behind everything bad that’s going to happen.
Monsters need the following details:
• A description.
• A monster type and motivation.
• Supernatural powers.
• Attacks and armour.
• How much harm will kill it.
• Any weaknesses it has.
• Custom moves for its powers (optional).
First, pick the monster’s type. The twelve types (and the motivations
that go with them) are:
• Beast (motivation: to run wild, destroying and killing)
• Breeder (motivation: to give birth to, bring forth, or create
evil)
• Collector (motivation: to steal specific sorts of things)
• Destroyer (motivation: to bring about the end of the world)
• Devourer (motivation: to consume people)
• Executioner (motivation: to punish the guilty)
• Parasite (motivation: to infest, control and devour)
• Queen (motivation: to possess and control)
• Sorcerer (motivation: to usurp unnatural power)
• Tempter (motivation: to tempt people into evil deeds)
• Torturer (motivation: to hurt and terrify)
• Trickster (motivation: to create chaos)
In my example, Marie O’Connell, a ghost seeking justice,
makes a good Executioner with the motivation “to punish the
guilty.” To give her a reason to be angry at the hunters, she
wants to be properly laid to rest (Damian buried her under
the basement floor), and treats anyone who isn’t actively doing
that as one of the guilty parties she is punishing.
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Next up, think about the supernatural powers the monster possesses.
Think about your initial inspiration for the monster and work out what
it can do. There’s no particular level of detail you need for monster
powers. Some might be a simple descriptive note, such as “can fly.”
For others you might need more detail: note down as much about the
power’s effects and limitations as you can think of (this is a custom
move for the power: there’s more about them on page 296).
For powers, Marie has the ability to appear instantly any-
where in the house. And telekinesis which allows her to throw
knives and stuff around, and hold doors and windows closed.
As she’s only a ghost, a lot of attacks won’t hurt her. Only
attacks using rock salt, cold iron, or magic can harm her at
all (I’m drawing inspiration straight from Supernatural
here). This is a power that restricts what attacks can affect her.
There’s also a special weakness that a monster has that must
be used to kill her for good—that’s addressed below.
Once you know the monster’s powers, it’s time to make a note of its
attacks. Think about how it hurts and kills, and define an attack for
each method. Attacks are described just like hunter weapons: how
much harm is inflicted, the range of the attack, and any descriptive
tags for additional effects. Pick something in the range of 2 to 4 harm
for each attack.
Marie’s attack uses her telekinetic powers. I describe this as 2
to 4-harm close (the exact harm will depend on what she has
to work with: the kitchen will be especially dangerous).
Now decide how resilient the monster is.
Decide how many points of harm will kill it. Take seven as your
basic minimum (the same as a hunter). Increase it based on how large
and robust the monster is. There’s no set maximum, but more than
fourteen would be exceptional. Sometimes a monster might be more
fragile, too: in those cases, reduce the harm capacity.
Secondly decide if it has an armour rating, based on its innate
toughness or a power that makes it harder to hurt. 1- or 2- armour
is normal. Higher values make it difficult for the hunters to hurt the
monster, and no armour makes the monster very vulnerable.
Marie is an averagely resilient ghost. I’ll set her harm capac-
ity to seven. But I won’t give her any armour: her incorporeal
power is enough for the hunters to deal with.
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Now think about a weakness. All monsters must have one, and most
monsters have two or three. If the monster’s weakness is not used
against it, then the hunters cannot kill it. Weaknesses come in three
main types:
• Something that will harm the monster directly, such as using
silver against a werewolf.
• An environment that weakens or harms the monster, such as
sunlight against a vampire.
• A special ritual or action that must be taken, such as an exor-
cism to drive out an evil spirit.
Think about your idea about the monster, and decide what it will have
as weaknesses.
For weaknesses, I pick “her mortal remains” (that works well
with allowing proper burial to lay her to rest) and “the house”
(her association is so great that harming the house can also
harm her).
Marie can be harmed by rock salt, cold iron, or magical
attacks but she can’t be killed unless her body is properly
buried or destroyed or unless the house is destroyed.
If you haven’t already worked out what the monster is trying to achieve,
give that some thought now. If the initial concept doesn’t suggest a
plan, look at the type you have given the monster. Use the motiva-
tion as a starting point, and work out what is the worst thing that this
monster could be planning to do here?
Marie is obsessed with being laid to rest properly. She can’t
communicate with anyone directly, she’s just going to vio-
lently attack them whenever they don’t seem to be helping
her. If people persist in not helping, she’s just going to kill them.
Because the family have been here longest without helping her,
she’ll target them first.
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Minions
Decide if the monster is working on its own or if it has minions to help
it. If it has minions, detail them now. Minions can be weaker individ-
uals of the same kind of monster, allied creatures of different kinds,
human worshippers, or human (perhaps unwitting) servants.
Minions need the following details:
• A description.
• Minion type and motivation.
• Supernatural powers, if any.
• Attacks and armour.
• How much harm will kill it.
• A weakness (optional).
• Custom moves for powers (optional).
There are ten minion types:
• Assassin (motivation: to kill the hunters)
• Brute (motivation: to intimidate and attack)
• Cultist (motivation: to save their own skin at any cost)
• Guardian (motivation: to bar a way or protect something)
• Right hand (motivation: to back up the monster)
• Plague (motivation: to swarm and destroy)
• Renfield (motivation: to push victims towards the monster)
• Scout (motivation: to stalk, watch, and report)
• Thief (motivation: to steal and deliver to the monster)
• Traitor (motivation: to betray people)
Minions may have powers and weaknesses like a monster. They are
usually weaker, but otherwise you can follow the rules and guidelines
for monster powers and weaknesses.
Define attacks, harm capacity, and armour for all minions.
Minion attacks should be in the 1- to 4- harm range. The amount of
harm required to kill the minion should range from 5 to 10 (although
weaker and stronger minions are both possible).
A group of minions can be defined the same as an individual. Do
this if the minions are a gang or swarm of nameless goons or critters,
to keep things simple. Define their attacks, armour, and harm capacity
to account for the group as a whole. A group of minions should have
their attacks boosted by one to represent their multiple attacks. The
group can be given a single harm track for all of the minions: harm
taken represents defeat of the group as a whole.
If minions have armour, they normally have 1-armour, and only
rarely 2-armour or higher.
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There’s no obvious minions in the situation so far, but I have
an idea that Marie has a psychic connection with the rats that
live in the house. They’ll make good minions, probably mainly
to keep an eye on everyone in the house.
The possessed rats are Scouts (motivation: to stalk, watch,
and report). If they attack, they do 1-harm intimate as a
swarm. 10-harm must be inflicted to disperse the group com-
pletely.
Bystanders
Bystanders are the normal people who are involved in the situation.
They’re the victims, witnesses, interfering cops, and anyone else.
Each bystander needs the following details:
• A name.
• A description.
• A bystander type and motivation.
There are nine types of bystander:
• Busybody (motivation: to interfere in other people’s plans)
• Detective (motivation: to rule out explanations)
• Gossip (motivation: to pass on rumours)
• Helper (motivation: to join the hunt)
• Innocent (motivation: to do the right thing)
• Official (motivation: to be suspicious)
• Skeptic (motivation: to deny supernatural explanations)
• Victim (motivation: to put themselves in danger)
• Witness (motivation: to reveal information)
Include at least two bystanders: it’s important to have some people for
the hunters to save.
Start by defining the people directly involved in the situation: sur-
viving victims, witnesses, official investigators. Think about why they
are here, why they’re involved in the monster’s plan, and what they
want to achieve. Coming up with those details helps develop them as
real people, in a real world.
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You generally don’t need to worry about how much harm a
bystander can take (it will almost always be seven, the same as a
hunter) or what their weapons are. If a bystander has a good chance
of getting involved in a fight (helpers in particular might do this), note
down what they’re armed with.
It’s a good idea to include some partially defined bystanders: just
a name and type. You can use them in play for unexpected bystander
characters: just add any extra details at the time.
For bystanders, there’s the family who’ve moved into the house.
Their names are Mark and Andi Hadley and their kids Sean
and Ashley.
The family moved to the country for Andi to get a rest after
quitting a stressful job, and to help with Sean’s asthma. Mark
has a job he can do from the country—he’s a web designer.
Andi was a lawyer. Sean is 11 and Ashley is 6.
Now I need to pick which sort of bystander each one is.
Mark Hadley is a Skeptic (motivation: to deny supernat-
ural explanations). Having him regard any talk of ghosts or
magic as foolishness will give the hunters something they need
to deal with: how do they handle Mark and still get the ghost
sorted out?
Andi Hadley is a Witness (motivation: to reveal infor-
mation). Because I’ve made Mark into someone difficult, I’ll
make Andi helpful. At least, that will be her intention at first.
Once things get strange and stressful, she won’t handle it well.
Helpful bystanders are a whole new sort of problem for the
hunters!
Sean Hadley is a Victim (motivation: to put himself into
danger). I’m going for the easy “kids in peril” scares here.
Ashley Hadley is a Helper (motivation: to join in the hunt).
I can see a six year old being totally fascinated by a team of
monster hunters. Of course she wants to help out!
The bystanders could be rounded out with some more
people in the town, but I think we have enough.
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Locations
Locations are places that can cause trouble for the hunters. They’re
metaphorically hostile, encompassing all the stuff that can go wrong
around the hunters (like the phones not working, or a car not starting,
or getting lost and ending up alone in the dark).
Locations need the following details:
• A name.
• A description.
• Location type and motivation.
• Optionally, a map.
• Optionally, one or more custom moves.
There are ten location types:
• Crossroads (motivation: to bring people, and things, together)
• Deathtrap (motivation: to harm intruders)
• Den (motivation: to harbor monsters)
• Fortress (motivation: to deny entry)
• Hellgate (motivation: to create evil)
• Hub (motivation: to reveal information)
• Lab (motivation: to create weirdness)
• Maze (motivation: to confuse and separate)
• Prison (motivation: to constrain and prevent exit)
• Wilds (motivation: to contain hidden things)
Define a location for anywhere that you expect significant parts of the
mystery will take place. Anywhere that is going to be an important
scene of investigation or action, or where the monster is active should
be written up as a location threat.
Good locations to start with are:
• The general area.
• The monster’s lair.
• Places where the monster has been active, or attacked
someone.
• Places that the bystanders will be found.
Maps can help define the location so that everyone can see how it
looks. Even a quick sketch of the area can help the group picture
what’s going on and what the place is like. Another good source for
town or region maps is to find an appropriate looking place in Google
Maps and print it out.
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We have the O’Connell house. A location is an obvious fit, but
what kind? Maybe it’s a huge, rambling place, making it a
perfect Maze (motivation: to confuse and separate). That will
give it lots of good moves to force the hunters to explore dark,
cluttered rooms... alone. The house has one custom move:
Once Marie closes the front door, if you try to leave the house,
you can not get out. Only laying Marie to rest, or destroying
her, will allow the hunters (and family) to leave.
There’s also the nearby town. It’s likely the hunters will do
a bit of preliminary asking around, making a Hub (motiva-
tion: to reveal information) a good choice. The town’s small,
not much more than a service centre for nearby farms. There’s
a run-down motel that the hunters will probably end up
staying in, a diner, and a couple of bars.
More Threats
As you continue to detail the mystery, you may realise that you need
to go back and add another threat of a certain type. Just put them in
as you think of them.
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Mystery Countdowns
Each mystery has a countdown: this is the sequence of terrible things
that will happen if the hunters don’t stop the monster. The countdown
will be your guide to what will be going on off-screen as the hunters
investigate.
To create the countdown, think about what would happen if the
hunters never came to help.
• Who would be attacked?
• Who would die?
• What is the monster’s ultimate plan?
Once you have an idea, divide it into six events in the order they will
occur. Then allocate them to the steps in the countdown. Countdowns
always have the following six steps:
• Day.
• Shadows.
• Dusk.
• Sunset.
• Nightfall.
• Midnight.
The names of each step are intended to give a sense of things
getting worse. They are metaphorical: the “sunset” step of a count-
down doesn’t have to happen at sunset; the steps don’t have to happen
on the same day.
As the countdown is what would happen if the hunters didn’t
interfere, it normally won’t play out how you wrote it. But even when
the monster’s plan has been derailed, it will still be trying to achieve
its goals and the countdown is useful as a guide (or something to
adapt) to determine what happens next.
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For example:
Here’s the countdown for our haunted house story.
• Day: Marie traps the Hadleys in the house.
• Shadows: Marie begins scaring them, hoping to push
them towards the cellar by fear.
• Dusk: Mark is killed while trying to get a window open.
• Sunset: Marie tries to get Andi and the kids to dig up her
remains, but they don’t understand and she kills them all
in a rage.
• Nightfall: In another year, Marie kills four more people
who squat in the house overnight.
• Midnight: Five years later, another family moves in and
Marie kills them.
This is all the stuff that will happen if the hunters never
came. I expect that with the hunters present, they’ll be trapped
in the house as well as (or instead of) the Hadleys. After that,
I’m not sure how it will go. We’ll find out when we play.
Summary: First Mystery Creation
• Come up with a cool but uncomplicated basic concept for the
monster and mystery.
• Create a hook: the clue that caught the hunters’ attention.
• Create the monster: name, description, type & motivation,
then define its powers, weaknesses, attacks, armour, harm
capacity, optionally custom moves.
• Create the minions (if any): name, description, type & moti-
vation, then define their powers, attacks, armour, harm
capacity, optionally weaknesses and custom moves.
• Create the bystanders (at least two): name, description, type
& motivation.
• Create the locations: name, description, type & motivation,
optionally maps and custom moves.
• Define the mystery countdown: six terrible events that would
occur if the hunters never came.
• Go back over everything and make sure it all hangs together.
Fill in gaps where something seems to be missing.
147
THE KEEPER
148
THE KEEPER
Introductory Mystery:
Dream Away
the Time
Here’s a first mystery you can use if you don’t have
time to prepare your own.
This mystery, like any mystery, asserts that certain
things will be true in your game. When reading it,
decide if these things fit your vision. In this case, for
the mystery to work it requires the existence of Faerie
(along with the inhabitants of Faerie that are causing
trouble in Handfast).
149
Mystery concept
The village of Handfast has a long-standing contract with Oberon,
King of Faerie. In return for Oberon’s blessings of health and pros-
perity, the town needs to give up a beloved child every forty years at
midsummer.
This pact was upheld for centuries, but the various upheavals
of the twentieth century mean no-one’s left in Handfast who knows
about it. The last child was given over to Oberon exactly forty years
and one day ago. He’s angry and has invoked the penalty clause.
Hook
The hunters will be alerted to the mystery by the following events in
Handfast and the surrounding farmland.
• One unusual weather event after another: a summer heat-
wave, a tornado, flooding.
• A spate of attacks in which a person alone, at night, has been
beaten and suffered a single cut, but can remember nothing
about the event or their attacker. This has happened four
times over the past week.
• Accounts from a number of homes in town of food spoiling
overnight, knives being blunted, objects being thrown about,
and appliances failing.
Countdown
Oberon has Violet (a changeling)
and Bonecruncher (a redcap)
cause trouble in town.
Day
Violet finds the most beloved child.
Shadows
Violet and Bonecruncher abduct
the most beloved child.
Dusk
Oberon lets Bonecruncher off the
leash. He kills several people.
Sunset
Bonecruncher makes his lair in the town
hall, killing more people in the process.
Nightfall
The other townsfolk must leave or be eaten.
Midnight
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
Notes
This mystery is unusual in that the most dangerous supernatural
being here (Oberon) is not the monster to be defeated (which is Bone-
cruncher the redcap). Oberon has set certain things in motion, but
Bonecruncher is the immediate danger to the town and the hunters.
Threat types are defined by their role in the mystery, which is why this
one has Oberon as a “minion” even though he’s really in charge.
Aside from defeating Bonecruncher, the mystery has a few other
threads the hunters might want to tie up.
• Oberon is indulging his desire for revenge due to the town’s
betrayal, but for him this is quite a small betrayal. If the hunters
propose some kind of reparation, he’ll be happy to leave the
town to its own devices. Cunning hunters might even argue
that the things he has already done are enough punishment
for the town to consider the contract quit. Another angle they
can take is that none of the people now suffering were parties
to the contract (Oberon will respond that they benefited
from his influence over the town, so are bound by the terms
for that reason). Hunters could also call upon another major
power as a mediator, but they would still need to successfully
present their argument against Oberon. Note that it is pos-
sible the hunters may use manipulate someone on Oberon,
but he will demand a high price, such as servitude for one
hundred years, or a unique magical treasure.
• Bonecruncher could be sent away as one of the terms of a
deal the hunters cut with Oberon, but otherwise the redcap
will be left to roam and kill as he wishes.
• Violet poses another problem. She is currently happy being a
member of Oberon’s court, but her family would love to have
her returned. Hunters might think about restoring her mem-
ories of her mortal life, or breaking the glamours of Faerie. A
disenchanted Violet will be unhappy to lose Faerie (and her
friends there) but will gradually settle back into a normal life.
And, after all, her fairy friends can still come and visit (that
could be a starting point for a later mystery). Hunters can use
manipulate someone on Violet as with any normal person,
although her wants are rather twisted by her time in Faerie.
In case the hunters go looking for it: beloved children were sent to
Faerie on Midsummer Day in 1615, 1655, 1695, 1735, 1775, 1815, 1855,
1895, 1935, and 1975. These dates assume a game set in 2015—shift
them if your game is set some other time! The most recent disappear-
ance must be 40 years back, and you can shift the town’s founding date
from 1615 if needed to make it fit.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
Threats
Oberon, King of Faerie
Minion: Right Hand (motivation: back up the monster)
Oberon has waited forty years and
one day, and no beloved child has
been given to him. As the contract
is now null and void, he wishes to
punish the town for their failure to
live up to their end. In order to do
so, he has dispatched two vassals
with the orders, “Create chaos,
scare them, perhaps even kill some
of them.” The vassals are Violet,
the last beloved child given to him
(who has no memory of her life
before she was brought to Faerie)
and Bonecruncher, a redcap (an
ogre who dyes his hat with the
blood of his victims).
Most
likely,
Oberon
will
remain in his fortress in Faerie.
Extraordinary events might draw
him to the mortal world, but oth-
erwise he will remain offscreen
unless the hunters go and find him.
Note that actually fighting Oberon
is a terrible idea. When physically
threatened, Oberon’s first action is
to summon his army, which should
give the hunters some idea of what
they’re dealing with.
In person, Oberon is patron-
ising and arrogant. After all, he
is an immortal elf-king and these
are just a bunch of dirty human
monster hunters. Try to give the
impression that anything he does
for them is an immense favour.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
Powers:
• Gift Of Power: Oberon may gift mortals with various powers
and traits, such as magical knowledge, luck, bountiful harvests,
or eternal youth. He will only do so for a very high price.
• Glamour. Oberon may appear in any guise he wishes, and like-
wise transform others.
Oberon has many other powers but those two will be the ones most
appropriate for this mystery. If it really seems like he should have
another power, feel free to add it for your game.
Attacks: Sword: 3-harm hand poison; Host of elf-knights plus goblin
infantry: 4-harm hand/close/far area.
Harm capacity: 15
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
Armour: Faerie mail: 3-armour magic
Weaknesses:
• Winter. Note that this weakness is of little use as the mystery
takes place a few weeks after midsummer day.
• His Word. If Oberon lies to or goes back on a promise or con-
tract, the wronged party has power over him, which counts as a
weakness. As Oberon is aware of this, he will go to extraordinary
lengths to never put himself in this position.
Oberon's Fortress
Location: Crossroads (motivation: bring people and things
together)
This is in Faerie. The hunters may travel here to try and come to an
arrangement with Oberon.
If you want, you can make the journey through Faerie a major
task and extend the mystery. Alternatively, you can have the hunters
act under pressure to find their way, or have them meet a guide who
will take them swiftly to Oberon.
King Oberon is very powerful and has hosts of fairies under his
command, so the hunters should treat this as a negotiation rather than
a battle.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
Violet, a changeling
Minion: Thief (motivation: to steal and deliver to the monster).
Although 43 years old, her aging has been slow and she appears about
15. She wears silken elf-dresses, decorated with flowers and leaves.
She is barefoot, but has her dagger and bag of dust on a woven belt.
This is the last human child given to Oberon. With no memory of
her mortal life, she is a willing servant to the King of Faerie. She knows
nothing of the mortal world, except that it is dangerous and people are
not to be trusted.
Her current mission is to find the most beloved child in the town,
and along the way take whatever revenge she wishes on the town that
has betrayed her Lord.
Violet is curious about mortals, and playful, so the hunters can
probably get her talking easily. Play her as unworldly and naïve, but a
little wild and dangerous as well.
Powers:
• Bane dust. Violet has a large bag of this “pixie dust”. When cast
about, it causes misfortune and mishaps (including spoiling food,
making people ill, and causing things to fail or break).
• Glamour. Violet may alter her guise at whim, but may not change
her size.
Attacks: Faerie dagger. 1-harm intimate/hand sleep magic. Anyone
harmed by this dagger may also suffer “falls into an enchanted slumber”
as a harm move.
Harm capacity: 7
Okay bbbb|bbb Dying
Armour: None
Weaknesses: She is a normal human.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
Bonecruncher, a Redcap
Monster: Beast (motivation: to run wild, destroying and
killing)
A seven foot hulking brute, with red eyes, gray stony skin, and sharp
teeth. He wears a woollen cap dyed with blood, and a shapeless tunic
that’s spattered with more.
Bonecruncher is working for Oberon, taking revenge on the town
and keeping an eye on Violet.
Bonecruncher is a simple creature, desiring only to kill mortals
to dye his cap and then eat their flesh. Oberon has given him strict
orders not to kill anyone yet, but Bonecruncher’s hunger is growing
and his will is quickly weakening. He’s taken to following people who
are alone at night, concealing himself in a cloak of shadows, brutally
beating them and cutting them a single time in order to keep his cap
damp with their blood. With so many potential victims around it’s
only a matter of time until Bonecruncher snaps and eats someone.
If the hunters talk to him, Bonecruncher will insult and threaten
them, hoping to provoke a fight. If things go badly, he’ll call shadows
to conceal his escape.
Powers:
• Shadow Glamour. He may cloak himself in shadows, and put
shadows in people’s minds (this is why they don’t remember him).
• Immense Strength. He automatically beats any normal human
in contests of strength.
Attacks: Razor-sharp Poleaxe: 3-harm hand/close; Terrible Talons:
1-harm hand; Sharp Teeth: 2-harm intimate ignores-armour.
Harm capacity: 9.
bbbbbbbbb
Armour: None
Weaknesses:
• Fresh Blood: Needs fresh blood to dye his cap frequently. The
weakness is activated if the cap is destroyed or stolen, or if the
blood dries out.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
The Old Forest Nature Reserve, near Handfast
Location: Wilds (motivation: to contain hidden things)
This is where Violet and Bonecruncher are lurking between attacks.
In the center of the forest is an overgrown stone circle. This is
where Violet and Bonecruncher are camping, and it’s also the place
where a portal to Faerie may be found. It’s elusive—difficult for
mortals to find unless a fairy guides them or magic is used.
When a hunter uses magic at the stone circle, they may choose
“Open a path to Faerie” as the effect. Any fairy (including Violet) may
freely open or close this path.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
Handfast, the Town
Location: Hub (motivation: to reveal information)
A remote town, settled in 1615 but far from the main trade routes. It is
nestled in a fertile valley, and has a history of being a thriving farming
town. More recently, it’s become a tourist haven, as a lovely piece of
history that’s off the beaten track.
The town has a quaint town square surrounded by shops, a few
businesses nearby, and the rest is houses (for both locals and tourists).
Tornado And Flood Wreckage
Location: Maze (motivation: to confuse and separate)
Parts of Handfast have been badly damaged by the recent freak
weather events, and the abandoned and damaged homes are difficult
to get through. Because the storms were supernaturally driven, the
pattern of damage is arbitrary: some destroyed houses have neigh-
bours that are perfectly fine.
Violet and Bonecruncher will both take advantage of these areas
to hide or shake off pursuit.
Handfast Children's Park
Location: Crossroads (motivation: to bring people, and things,
together)
Not far from the center of town is a large play area. Children will be
found here after school closes and during the weekends. The play area
has an elaborate (and huge) fairy-tale fort for the kids to climb on.
The fort is also a hangout of the village’s teenagers after dark on
Fridays and Saturdays.
Violet can often be found here, watching the children play, and
deciding which family she will target next.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
Max Tilley, a beloved child
Bystander: Innocent (motivation: to do the right thing)
Max is the most beloved child in Handfast. He’s a cherubic four year
old, charming and full of laughter.
Mary and Samuel Tilley, Max's parents
Mary—Bystander: Official (motivation: to be suspicious)
Mary works at an artisanal bakery in the center of town. She’s tall,
with short hair and doesn’t have any patience for messing about. She’s
forthright, sometimes verging on rude, when dealing with people.
Samuel—Bystander: Skeptic (motivation: to deny supernatu-
ral explanations)
Samuel looks after Max and the family home (he’s also an aspiring
writer). He’s a messy dresser, perpetually worried about something he
might have forgotten to do.
John and Alice Chilton, Violet's parents
John: Bystander: Official (motivation: to be suspicious)
As a traditional breadwinner in his youth, John never quite recovered
from the loss of his child, and threw himself into his career (he was
a workshop foreman) to cope. Now that he’s approaching retirement,
he’s feeling a little lost.
Alice: Bystander: Helper (motivation: to join in the hunt)
Alice had a different reaction to her loss—as the worst has now hap-
pened, the world holds nothing that can harm her any more. If she
learns that her daughter is involved in the events in Handfast, she will
do anything necessary to get her back.
If the hunters come to the Chiltons with news of Violet, they will
initially view the hunters as crazies and disregard them. If the hunters
can provide proof—most likely a photo, or leading Violet to her
parents—then they will be eager to “get her back” and will accept and
help with anything the hunters suggest—up to and including taking
part in a magic ritual.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
Officer Edward Turner
Bystander: Gossip (motivation: to pass on rumours)
Officer Turner is the whole of the village police
force, which is run from an office in the
front room of his cottage. Optimistic by
nature, he thinks that most likely this
is pranks getting out of hand. In his
experience, bad things don’t really
happen in Handfast. Play up his
geniality, and inability to really recog-
nise the possibility of something terrible.
The four victims of the assaults all report
the same thing:
• They were out at night on a routine
chore or walk.
• It was very dark.
• They woke up, or were found
and woken, to find they had been
beaten and left with a big bleeding
cut on their forearm. Some victims
were cut on the left arm, some the
right.
• An assault has taken place every
second night. The next is due tonight.
The strange phenomena in peoples’
homes are even weirder. Things are messed
up, gadgets and tools broken, and food gone
bad. The victims are either families with
young children or homes where everyone is
over forty, but the Sheriff hasn’t picked up on
that yet—a hunter might spot it if they get all
the household details from the police.
Sheriff Turner has no idea what the heck
is going on here. Maybe college students up to pranks? Who knows?
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
The Assault Victims
These are the four people attacked by Bonecruncher:
Name
Bystander type
Trait
Alice Rigsdale
Gossip (motivation:
to pass on rumours)
Boisterous
Christopher Prower
Gossip (motivation:
to pass on rumours)
Lazy
Constance Hopkins
Gossip (motivation:
to pass on rumours)
Sarcastic
Frank Gardiner
Gossip (motivation:
to pass on rumours)
Elegant
Unfortunately, they only provide useful information by omission.
Each knows only the following:
• They were out at night on a routine chore or walk.
• It was very dark.
• They woke up, or were found and woken, to find they had
been beaten and left with a big bleeding cut on their forearm.
Some victims were cut on the left arm, some the right.
Magic (“observe another time or place”) can allow the hunters to
see what really happened. CCTV footage is of limited use as Bone-
cruncher cloaks himself in shadow when attacking, although the result
will definitely be suspicious, as a blob of shadow engulfs each victim.
Jane Howland, Editor of the Handfast Herald
Bystander: Witness (motivation: to pass on information)
Aged 48, Jane is old enough to have heard hints of the contract, and
remembers Violet’s “death”, but has no reason to connect these or
suspect a conspiracy.
She does, however, have a willingness to chat to visitors and a
huge archive of Handfast Herald issues, all the way back to April 1830.
Investigating the archive looking for missing or dead children, or
at mid-summer, reveals a pattern of “dead” children. Every forty years
(in 1855, 1895, 1935, and—for Violet—1975), on midsummer day, a
loving obituary is presented for a child between two and five years old.
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
The Crowne Tavern
Location: Crossroads (motivation: to bring people, and things,
together).
This centuries-old tavern is the main bar, diner, and restaurant for
Handfast. Most anyone can be found here sometime, having coffee, a
meal, or drinking in the evening.
Ely Holbeck is the owner.
Ely Holbeck, Bartender
Bystander: Gossip (motivation: to pass on rumours)
Well-used to dealing with tourists, Ely will happily “play along” with
the hunters questions as long as they buy some food or drink. A young
man, he’s got no knowledge at all of the contract, but if prompted for
weird stuff, he’ll mention that as a kid he used to go into the “haunted”
spot in the centre of the Forest Reserve. He can describe how to get
there (or show them himself, if given a good reason). Like all mortals,
Ely will be unable to see the stone circle where Violet and Bone-
cruncher are staying without some help from the hunters.
Other Bystanders
Use these templates as starting points for any other people the hunters
talk to.
Name
Bystander type
Trait
Richard Story
Detective (rule out
explanations)
Tough
Eleanor Browne
Victim (put herself
in danger)
Geeky
Joseph Latham
Witness (reveal
information)
Bookish
John More
Victim (put himself
in danger)
Mean
Elizabeth
Thompson
Gossip (pass
on rumours)
Honest
Susanna White
Witness (reveal
information)
Morose
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INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
162
INTRODUCTORY MYSTERY: DREAM AWAY THE TIME
The First SesSion
Getting everyone into a room to play is the next step.
I’m going to assume that you get all the saying, “Hi,”
and getting snacks and drinks and catching up out
of the way first. I’ll tell you about the game stuff you
need to do.
163
Hunter Creation
Your first task is to guide the other players through the process of cre-
ating their hunters.
Introduce the idea of team concepts (page 22). Help the group
come up with a concept that gets them all excited. If nobody thinks of
an exciting concept now, you can wait until later to work that out (wait
until after they’ve decided on their hunters’ histories with each other).
Next, allocate hunter playbooks. It’s perfectly reasonable to limit
the hunter types available if you have a particular style in mind for
your game. This can also speed up hunter creation, as there are fewer
decisions to make.
If the team has a concept that requires certain playbooks, have
people choose from those first. Otherwise, just let everyone have a
quick look at each and grab the one they like the look of. If anyone is
having trouble, ask them what sort of hunter they would like and you
can suggest which playbooks suit that idea.
Then get everyone to follow the instructions in their playbook up
to “Introductions.” Be ready to answer any questions, and watch for
anyone who seems to be having trouble. You can help them work out
what moves or options will best fit their idea of the hunter. Put some
questions to the whole group, too, and get everyone’s input. If people
seem to be getting bogged down, tell them to just choose what seems
coolest now as they’ll have a chance to revise things after you play
your first session out.
As everyone gets close to done, go around those who’ve finished,
find out what they’ve picked, and point out any implications you
can see from their choices. For example, there might be a mismatch
between the ratings they picked and what they need to roll for their
moves, or a possible duplication of abilities with the other hunters.
That sort of thing isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s worth thinking about
whether they really want to do it.
164
THE FIRST SESSION
Introductions
Once everyone’s ready to introduce themselves, facilitate taking turns
to introduce hunters. The most important things each player should
describe are their hunter’s name, playbook and looks, though they can
add more if they want.
You should ask a few questions of each player to tease out more
details that you and the others might need to know, especially about
things that will have a big impact on the game (the Chosen’s destiny,
the Professional’s agency, the Wronged’s loss, etc). This is also a good
time to ask what each hunter can do, so that everyone can see how the
team works together.
History
Then go around the group again and have each player pick their hunt-
er’s history with the other hunters. They do this by picking one of the
shared events or relationships from the list in their playbook.
Some picks require extra details: follow the instructions listed. If
it doesn’t say who decides, the player concerned gets the final word.
Help with suggestions if anyone has a mind-blank when the time
comes to think of something, and make sure everyone’s cool with the
answer.
At the end, each hunter should have two facts about their history
with every other member of the team (one they picked themselves,
and one picked by the other hunter about them).
Now you can work out the team’s story, based on all those bits
of history. You don’t need to go into detail, but work out the basics of
how the hunters got to know each other and started hunting monsters
together, and maybe a rough chronology of what happened when.
Mention How Things Work
This is a good time to explain the player agenda (page 96), basic
moves (page 101), what to roll and add (page 99), using Luck
(page 113), when to mark experience (page 118), and how to level
up (page 118). Give just enough detail to get started, rather than
trying to explain everything right now. You can fill in more details
when they are needed.
165
THE FIRST SESSION
Running The
First Mystery
I’m going to start by talking a bit about the way to play the game, then
remind you of the Keeper agenda and principles, then discuss how to
use them. I will then introduce two more concepts you need: what you
should always say and the Keeper moves. That will give you all the
rules you need to run the game. I’ll pull all of this together to explain
how to run your mystery on page 201.
The Game Is A Conversation
This is an improvisational game in which you create a story together.
The story emerges from a conversation between the players.
You’ll describe an initial situation and the other players will describe
how their hunters respond. This leads into an ongoing back-and-forth
between you and the hunters, as each decision the hunters make leads
to a new situation, requiring new decisions about what happens next.
To help you make your decisions about what happens next when-
ever the outcome is uncertain, the rules restrict you to certain options.
These parts of the conversation are called “moves.” Keeper moves work
differently to hunter moves: your moves are more general, to allow
you to build the game’s world in accordance with your responsibilities.
The moves flow from your Keeper agenda, Keeper principles, and the
things you should always say, so I’ll explain more about those, first.
Keeper Agenda
Remember that your agenda is to:
• Make the world seem real.
• Play to see what happens.
• Make the hunters’ lives dangerous and scary.
166
THE FIRST SESSION
How To Use the Keeper Agenda
Making the world seem real means that you describe the world in a
way that makes sense. Most things are going to be the same as they
are in our world. Normal people will act like normal people, for
instance. As part of making the world seem real, the rules you estab-
lish for magic and monsters should be consistent (unless you decide
to undermine that in order to make the hunters’ lives dangerous and
scary—see below).
Play to see what happens means you let the story develop natu-
rally. When you prepare a mystery, you decide what will happen if the
hunters don’t get involved. When the hunters start interfering in the
monster’s plans, let the results from that happen organically, based on
what the hunters do and the moves you decide to make.
Make the hunters’ lives dangerous and scary. Well, that’s just what
it says. The hunters are cool action heroes and for that to matter they
need to be dealing with horrific and overwhelming stuff. The harder
it is to save the bystanders they meet, the more rewarding it will be
when they manage.
The sections that follow (about your principles, the things you
should always say, and your moves) are all designed to support you in
sticking to your agenda.
The Keeper Principles
Remember that your principles are:
• Put horror in everyday situations.
• Address yourself to the hunters, not the players.
• Use the Keeper moves, but never use their names.
• Be a fan of the hunters.
• Build up a coherent mythology of the world as you play.
• Nothing is safe. Kill bystanders and minions, burn down
buildings, let monsters be slain.
• Name everyone they meet, make them seem like normal
folks.
• Ask questions and build on the answers.
• Sometimes give the hunters exactly what they earned, rather
than everything they wanted.
• Think about what’s happening off-screen.
• You don’t always have to decide what happens.
• Everything is a threat.
167
THE FIRST SESSION
Using the Keeper Principles
The Keeper principles keep your agenda at the front of your mind.
Here’s more detail on each of the principles:
Put horror in everyday situations because that’s a way to make it
hit home. If the victims are regular people, just like us, then that gives
the horror emotional bite. Plus we’re creating a world almost like the
real one.
Address the hunters, not the players to keep things immediate.
If you talk to Diana the hunter instead of Stefan the player, you’re
putting him into that zone, where he needs to deal with what Diana
has in front of her right now.
Make your move but never use its name. You have a list of moves
you are allowed to make (see page 172). You should not, however, tell
the hunters that you are picking a particular move from the list. Tell
them what happens in the story, the actions that comprise your move.
“The swamp gargoyle grabs you and leaps up onto the roof, leaving
everyone else in the alley” is a lot more interesting than “I separate you!
Francis, you’re grabbed and on the roof now.” Grounding your moves
in the events of the game keeps the sense that things are happening
because they make sense, rather than that you picked an option from
a list.
Be a fan of the hunters because that’s the whole point of the game.
We’re here to see how awesome these hunters can be. Your job is to
make life hard for them, but only so you can see how the hell they get
out of their next predicament!
Build up a coherent mythology of the world as you play is another
way to make the world seem real. When the hunters fight a vampire,
it should have the same instincts, powers and weaknesses as the
vampire they fought a month ago (unless you already know that there
are several kinds of vampire, of course.) Keep track of what’s hap-
pened, and how it fits together. Then you can start working out the
deeper truths that underlie it all.
Nothing is safe because this is a horror game. The monsters are
going to kill people (or worse) unless the hunters stop them. And the
same goes for your monsters and minions: when the hunters track
them down, let them die. Let stuff burn, explode, or fall into a magical
rift forever.
Name everyone they meet, make them seem like normal folks is
there to make the hunters want to save these people. But normal folks
could be jerks, or dumb, or annoying, and they still need to be saved. If
the hunters meet a bystander a second time, make sure that bystander
remembers what happened last time and acts based on what the
hunters did then.
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THE FIRST SESSION
Ask questions and build on the answers helps you populate the
world. At the beginning, none of you know what the story is here.
You’re going to invent details as you fill the world, but some of this
is up to the other players. When a hunter does something, ask how
they do it. What did it seem like to everyone else? Why do they do it
that way? Have you fought one of these creatures before? What did
you learn then? Use the answer they give you and expand on it: build
it into the game’s mythology and into the mysteries and recurring
threats you create.
Sometimes give them exactly what they earned, rather than what
they wanted keeps things interesting. Usually it’s pretty obvious what
the hunters want when they make a move, but you don’t have to give
them more than the rules say. For example, say someone chooses
“Who’s most vulnerable?” Your answer could be “Well, you can see
where another ghoul is hiding, you could get behind it” but sometimes
the answer is “the one that’s half dead on the floor in front of you.”
Don’t always do this—remember to do what your preparation and
honesty demand (see the always say section, below). But, sometimes,
just do what the rules demand.
Think about what’s happening off-screen is a reminder that what
you’re focused on right here and now isn’t the only thing that’s going
on. What is the monster doing at the moment? What about the people
the hunters talked to before? Who is in danger and who is up to some-
thing? If the hunters have split up, what are the others doing?
You don’t always have to decide what happens. Sometimes there
are places where you have a choice—for instance, would the monster
kill this victim right now?—and you don’t have a clear idea how it
should play out. Maybe you can give the hunters a chance to inter-
vene. Or you could think about what’s going through this monster,
minion or bystander’s head, and let them decide. Does the monster
really want to kill that person, or would it maybe take them captive,
or maybe scare them and leave? Or maybe the victim has a plan? You
don’t need to make every single judgment based on some unattainable
perfect first impulse. There are other ways to work it out.
Everything is a threat. Obviously the monsters and minions are
threats, but so is everything else. “Threat” here is meant very broad-
ly—a threat is anything that’s going to make trouble for the hunters.
So even the people the hunters are trying to help are going to be
threats. They’ll get in the way, or panic, or do something really stupid.
That applies to everything else that turns up in the game, too. Places,
objects, cults, police departments. Everything is a threat.
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THE FIRST SESSION
Always Say
When it’s time for you to say something, what you say is one of these:
• What the principles demand.
• What the rules demand.
• What your prepared mystery and arcs demand.
• What honesty demands.
Using What You Always Say
The “Always say” rules ensure you stick to your job.
Say something that the principles demand. The principles keep
the style of the game grounded in action-horror, and help you decide
what will come next.
Say what the rules demand. When someone makes a move, follow
the rules for that move. Don’t apply them inconsistently.
Say what your prepared mysteries and arcs demand. That’s what
you prepared them for, after all. If the mystery countdown says the
rakshasa is going after the mayor next, that’s what you say (unless
other events have changed its plan, of course). Arcs are ongoing or
recurring threats, like season-long stories or big bad monsters (I talk
more about them on page 227), but are treated here the same as mys-
teries.
Say what honesty demands means you should let the hunters
know anything they would be aware of. For example, there’s a monster
waiting to ambush them and they’re walking right into it. But an expe-
rienced, bad-ass hunter would know to be careful here. It makes sense
to say to them, “This would be a good ambush spot—maybe you want
to read a bad situation?” Or, if they’re talking about the werewolf
they’re hunting and they say, “Silver kills werewolves” but that isn’t
true for your werewolves, then let them know, “Actually silver is a
myth, but wolfsbane works.” Or if they’re going to make a move like
protect someone and they’ll need to throw themselves in front of a
flesh-stitcher, let them know that they’re going to suffer a lot of harm
if they do it.
More generally: You should be a fan of the hunters, so don’t let
dumb, unsaid stuff trip them up.
Extending that, you can always give a player a do-over if a situa-
tion wasn’t what they thought it was. For example, if someone chooses
to suffer harm as a move result, thinking it will only be a minor injury
but in fact it’s enough to kill them. In that case, let them go back and
choose the option that keeps them alive instead.
170
THE FIRST SESSION
Moves
Moves cover situations when the game rules step in to help determine
what happens.
Just as the hunters have basic moves and playbook moves, you
have a set of basic Keeper moves. You also get moves that go with each
type of threat, and harm moves for when someone (or something)
gets hurt.
For the hunters, their moves cover specific cases. Hunter moves
say that when a hunter does this, it is resolved like so. Your Keeper
moves are more general, giving you broad but definite options.
To Do It, You Have To Do It
This is important: when you (or the hunters) make any move, you
must describe how it happens.
Always say what is happening in the game, not just the rules side
of things. Don’t tell someone “roll act under pressure!” tell them “the
warlock’s gaze insinuates itself into your mind and as it hisses, ‘Kill
your comrades,’ you feel an overwhelming urge to comply. What do
you do?”
There’s a flip-side to this as well. When one of the hunters is doing
something that is a move, make sure they follow the rules for that
move. For example, if someone says “I go up to the park ranger and
ask her ‘Did you see anything weird last Sunday night?’” then you
should ask them to roll the investigate move before you decide how
the ranger answers.
171
THE FIRST SESSION
The Basic Keeper Moves
Every time it’s your turn in the conversation to tell the hunters what
happens, or when they look at you expecting you to say something,
use one of these moves:
• Separate them.
• Reveal future badness.
• Reveal off-screen badness.
• Inflict harm, as established.
• Make them investigate.
• Make them acquire stuff.
• Tell them the possible consequences and ask if they want to
go ahead.
• Turn their move back on them.
• Offer an opportunity, maybe with a cost.
• Take away some of the hunters’ stuff.
• Put someone in trouble.
• Make a threat move, from one of your mystery or arc threats.
• After every move, ask what they do next.
Using The Keeper Moves
These moves are your main tool in play. Most of the time, when you’re
saying something, it will be one of these Keeper moves. Here are the
detailed explanations of them all:
Separate them is just that. You can arrange a separation lots of
different ways. Maybe a monster grabs someone, maybe someone falls
behind, or maybe you can just say, “While Francis is checking out the
kitchen, you’re upstairs searching the bedrooms.” Anything to get the
hunters away from each other and from the people they’re trying to
help. Separating people can be used to make them vulnerable, or you
can use it to put certain people together, away from the others, if you
think that will lead to something interesting.
Reveal future badness allows you to hint at something that the
hunters will need to deal with later. It can be obvious, for example
when they see a person with a snake-like face approaching, or when
they ask about what’s likely to happen as part of an investigate move.
It can be subtle, such as you mention the sun is setting (and, by impli-
cation, that the monsters are coming), or they hear an indistinct noise
ahead of them while they explore a haunted house. It could be some-
thing from your mystery countdown that will be happening soon. It
could be something from one of your arcs that might not matter right
now, but which creates awareness of bigger problems for the hunters.
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THE FIRST SESSION
Reveal off-screen badness is similar, but it’s something happening
right now, somewhere else. It could be things seen or heard in the dis-
tance (screams, sirens, a fire, etc). Or it could be what’s going on from
someone else’s point of view, such as a potential victim seeing the
monster coming for them. You can even cut away from the hunters,
just like in a TV show, and show the players who is in danger, or who
is up to something.
Inflict harm, as established is used when a person or other thing
in the world was being threatened with damage and nothing pre-
vented it. The “as established” part is important—you can only inflict
harm that is plausible and already present in the story. For example, if
a hunter is pushed down a flight of stairs you immediately have a good
idea of the potential harm. It is likely they’ll be shaken and bruised,
possible that they broke a bone or got a concussion, but they can’t
suffer severe burns.
Make them investigate keeps the game moving. In each mystery
the hunters need to find clues until they know enough to face the
monster behind it all. If the hunters get stumped, ask them what they
look for next. If they ask you for information, ask them how they find
it out, then get them to make the investigate a mystery move. The
answers from investigating depend on what the hunter did: by asking
a witness questions they will learn different things than when they
analyse samples in a lab. If the hunters ask a question and you can’t see
how they could discover that, ask them to explain how.
Make them acquire stuff. Use this move when the hunters need
something special, like they want to build a spirit detector, or cast a
spell, or find an old book, or get a new weapon. Ask them how they
pay for it, steal it, or find it.
Tell them the possible consequences and ask. Often, the hunters
will want to do something but it isn’t a move. Let them know they can
do it, but only if they pay a certain price or suffer certain effects. For
example, you can get away through that vent, but you’ll have to leave
your shotgun behind. Or you can grab that bag, but only by putting
yourself in the firing line. The consequences could be a move, too:
“you can do it, but you’ll need to act under pressure.”
Turn their move back on them is for when a hunter misses a move
roll. Whatever they were trying to do happens to them instead. If
they were trying to protect someone, they made the danger worse.
If they were investigating a mystery, they revealed something to the
monster. If they were using magic, it has the opposite of its intended
effect.
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THE FIRST SESSION
Offer an opportunity, maybe with a cost. If they need something,
offer what they need and tell them what they need to pay for it. For
example, maybe the sheriff will let them continue investigating in his
town, but only if they guarantee his children’s safety.
Take away some of the hunters’ stuff. Things break. Weapons can
be dropped. Vital equipment can be thrown across the room by a
monster, or smashed to pieces. The “taking away” doesn’t have to be
permanent, either: cellphones can lose the signal, the car could be out
of gas, or a gas leak might make it too dangerous to fire a gun right
now.
Put someone in trouble. Hunters are out to save people, so you
need to provide people for them to save. Threaten bystanders, endan-
ger other members of the team, and send monsters after a hunter’s
family. Plus there are other kinds of trouble as well, such as suspicious
cops or neighbours who don’t like the hunters snooping around.
Make a threat move, from one of the current mystery’s threats or
one of your arc threats. This list of Keeper moves is not the whole story.
Each type of threat has its own list of special moves it can make: see
pages 176 to 179. Use these when the threats are present and active.
After every move, ask what they do next. Just as it says, every time
you make a move, immediately ask what the hunters do next. Let them
drive the action, by asking what they do next at every chance you get.
Which Keeper Move To Use
Mostly it will be obvious what should happen next, and picking your
move is easy. Other times it’s not so obvious, and you might need to
think a little about what you will do. That’s fine, take a moment if you
need to. Or you can just ask the hunters what they do—that’s a good
default move when you can’t think of anything right now.
If you can’t decide, you can always fall back on your Keeper prin-
ciples or your agenda, and describe something consistent with them.
Soft Moves And Hard Moves
You can use each Keeper move in one of two ways: as a “soft” move or
as a “hard” move.
A soft move is one that threatens danger, or pushes the hunters in
a certain direction, but there’s a way to a stop the danger, or divert it.
For example: “The ice weasel races down the hall, teeth bared
to rend!”
This is a reveal future badness move, and gives the hunters
something to react to—they can do something to prevent the danger,
or ignore it and do something else instead.
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THE FIRST SESSION
A hard move doesn’t give the hunters a chance to react.
For example: “The ice weasel shoulders your arm out the way,
and its teeth bite deep into your shoulder, ripping through
clothes, skin, and muscle. Take four harm.”
This time it’s inflict harm as established, but because it’s used as
a hard move, the hunter doesn’t have any chance to respond (or avoid
suffering the harm).
Soft Moves Set Up Hard Moves
Use soft moves to set up situations that will lead to a hard move. A
soft move gives the hunters something to deal with. If they solve that
problem, great. If not, then a follow-up hard move is the consequence
of failure.
When To Make A Hard Move Without Setting It Up
As well as a failed attempt to deal with a soft move, events in play can
turn out so that a hard move is appropriate. Specifically:
• When the hunters hand you a golden opportunity
• When a hunter misses a roll (that is, rolls a 6 or less)
• When a hunter has used up all their Luck.
Handing you a golden opportunity is a situation where, for example,
the hunter says, “I leap down into the horde of zombies!” If you inflict
4-harm on them from zombie bites and clawing, that’s too bad: they
knew what they were getting into.
Missing a roll (with a total of six or less) is always a time when
you can make a hard move. The hunter’s screwed something up badly,
so do whatever you need to. For example, if a hunter tries to protect
someone and blows it, then you can inflict harm on the victim, maybe
even kill them: make whatever was threatened come to pass.
The last one’s a different case. When someone has used all their
Luck, they become ‘doomed’. This means you are allowed to make hard
moves against them any time. For example, let’s say a hunter says “I’ll
go check out the camp site” and you know the yeti have set up an
ambush there. Normally it would make sense to give them a chance to
spot this, for instance by asking if they want to read a bad situation as
they approach. But if the hunter is doomed (and doesn’t make a point
of checking for danger), then you can choose to make a hard move,
which means they only find out when two yeti grab them.
These situations are times when you are justified making as hard a
move as you like. You don’t have to, but you can. Always refer back to
your agenda and principles when you make these choices.
175
THE FIRST SESSION
Threat Moves
Each type of threat has its own set of special moves it can make. Use
these as well as the basic Keeper moves when you’re describing what
a threat is doing.
Threat moves are used in the same way as the basic Keeper moves,
except that a particular threat has to be the source of the move.
Monster Threat Moves
Monsters get fourteen moves:
• Hint at its presence
• Display its full might
• Appear suddenly
• Attack with great force and fury
• Seize someone or something
• Attack with stealth and calculation
• Order underlings to do terrible acts
• Destroy something
• Escape, no matter how well contained it is
• Give chase
• Return to home ground
• Boast and gloat, maybe revealing a secret
• Return from seeming destruction
• Use an unnatural power
Using Monsters
Monsters are the key threat type, always there in the shadows, behind
everything bad that is happening. They should be dangerous and
scary, but also remote at first. Let the monster be revealed slowly, as
the hunters close in. This will be matched by the hunters gradually
learning about the monster’s powers and weaknesses.
Don’t be afraid to use the monster threat moves to get it out of
trouble, either. Especially in cases where the hunters track it down
early in the mystery, you can let it escape for the time being, allowing
it (and the hunters) a chance to rest and regroup.
Finally, it will likely come down to a fight between the hunters and
the monster. This is the chance to throw everything at them: use all its
unnatural powers, gloat, and generally make the final fight as tough
and exciting as possible.
176
THE FIRST SESSION
Minion Threat Moves
Minions get eleven moves:
• A burst of sudden, uncontrolled violence
• Make a coordinated attack
• Capture someone, or steal something
• Reveal a secret
• Deliver someone or something to the master
• Give chase
• Make a threat or demand on behalf of the master
• Run away
• Use an unnatural power
• Display a hint of conscience or humanity
• Disobey the master, in some petty way
Using Minions
Minions are there to support and guard the monster. While monsters
should be kept at a distance to start with, it’s fine for minions to be
noticed and fought early in the mystery.
Minions can also be used to build up tension, giving the hunters a
feeling of being surrounded by danger, or of constantly being watched.
Don’t have minions always fight to the death: they can flee, sur-
render, or offer a deal to be left alive or betray their master. This is
especially true for human minions.
177
THE FIRST SESSION
Bystander Threat Moves
Bystanders get ten moves:
• Go off alone
• Argue with the hunters
• Get in the way
• Reveal something
• Confess their fears
• Freak out in terror
• Try to help the hunters
• Try to protect people
• Display inability or incompetence
• Seek help or comfort
Using Bystanders
Bystanders don’t normally intend to cause trouble for the hunters, but
they do so anyway. Think of each bystander as a person who wants
one simple thing (which is represented by their motivation). A victim
might want to just stay in his apartment, whatever the hunters say is
coming. An official might just want to finish the paperwork and be
done with this case, without dealing with any crazy hunters.
When thinking about bystander moves, consider the bystand-
er’s motivation, and what dumb thing they could do that will lead to
trouble for the hunters. What can the bystander complicate for the
hunters? How can they get in the way? This applies even when the
bystander helps the hunters: this will give the hunters extra problems,
starting with keeping the helper alive.
Bystander motivations are not always things that immediately
lead to trouble. For example:
A witness is motivated to reveal information. Although when you
reveal information to a hunter, that does tend to lead to trouble: telling
the hunters where to find a monster usually leads to them going to
fight it! Witnesses might also give the hunters too much information,
or tell them something incomplete or just plain wrong.
A helper can easily create trouble despite wanting to help the
hunters, just by giving the hunter someone to look after. Or consider a
helper who tries to lure the monster towards the hunters.
An innocent, wanting to do the right thing, can cause trouble
by insisting that the authorities get involved, or by telling people the
whole truth at an inopportune time.
Any normal person the hunters talk to should be given a name
and threat type, almost always a bystander type. If you have no partic-
ular idea what their role in the story is going to be, default to witness
if they might have some clues for the hunters, or victim otherwise.
178
THE FIRST SESSION
Location Threat Moves
Locations get eleven moves:
• Present a hazard
• Reveal something
• Hide something
• Close a way
• Open a way
• Reshape itself
• Trap someone
• Offer a guide
• Present a guardian
• Something doesn’t work properly
• Create a particular feeling
Using Location Threats
Locations normally don’t have intentions in the way that monsters,
minions and bystanders do. Instead they stand in for things that go
wrong around the hunters, due to hazards in the environment. For
example, in a maze, an exit door could get jammed, or the GPS in the
hunters’ car might start glitching out.
Location threat moves give you ways to move the mystery along,
or put obstacles in the way of the hunters. They’re useful to pace the
mystery as it plays out—to slow the progress down, or speed it up. The
moves also work well when there’s action, to keep things exciting.
179
THE FIRST SESSION
180
THE FIRST SESSION
The Basic
Hunter Moves
The earlier description of the basic hunter moves (on
page 101) is written from the hunters’ point of view.
Here’s some extra information about the moves from
the Keeper’s point of view.
181
Act Under Pressure
Here’s the move:
This covers trying to do something under conditions of partic-
ular stress or danger. Examples of acting under pressure are:
staying on task while a banshee screams at you; barricading a
door before the giant rats catch up; resisting the mental domi-
nation of a brain-worm; fighting on when you’re badly injured.
When you act under pressure, roll +Cool.
• On a 10+ you do what you set out to.
• On a 7-9 the Keeper is going to give you a worse
outcome, hard choice, or price to pay.
• On a miss, things go to hell.
This is a general purpose move, for any time a hunter tries something
that is dangerous or liable to fail, and isn’t covered by any other moves
(either a basic move, or one from a playbook).
The pressure can be anything from being detected when they’re
hiding to resisting death as they try and escape a blazing building.
Make sure you establish what the pressure is at the start, so the
hunters know what they’re in for if they mess up. You need to know
what they’re trying to do, and to let them know what’s making it hard.
A result of 7-9 tells you to give them a worse outcome, hard
choice, or price to pay—they can do what they wanted, if they accept
what you pick. It is still a success, so they should be able to do what
they wanted, although the cost might be high enough that they decide
not to. Use your agenda and principles to help decide.
For our hiding example, maybe they can stay hidden, but only if
they let the monster trap them in a dead end. Or they have to go so far
back that they can no longer see what’s happening. In both of these
cases, the hard choice is about where they’re positioned in the story.
They could stay hidden, but have to pay the price.
For the burning building, maybe they can escape if they jump out
a second floor window. Or they can run through flames to escape or
stay somewhere that is safe for now. In these cases, the price is some
harm from the fall or the fire.
On a miss, then whatever the pressure has overwhelmed the
hunter.
182
THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Help Out
Here’s the move:
When you help another hunter with a move they are making,
roll +Cool.
• On a 10+ your help grants them +1 to their roll.
• On a 7-9 your help grants them +1 to their roll, but you
also expose yourself to trouble or danger.
• On a failure, you expose yourself to trouble or danger
without helping.
This is used when a hunter wants to help another hunter make a move.
Helping will give the other hunter +1 on a single roll. It’s okay to see
what the result is before deciding to help out, as long as it still makes
sense that the hunter could do something to help improve the results.
Make sure they tell you what concrete action they are taking to
help out. If they can’t think of how they help, then they don’t get to
do it. You should also make sure their actions actually do help in the
game, too. For example, helping with an attack might allow the helper
to add their weapon’s harm to the injury the first hunter inflicts on the
monster.
A result of 7-9 means that the hunter succeeds in helping, but
exposes themselves to trouble. A lot of the time this trouble will be
obvious, as when they are helping someone kick some ass. Here you
could inflict harm on both of the hunters. In other cases the trouble
will be less obvious, such as a when trying to help investigate a
mystery by interviewing witnesses: this might lead to hostile rumours
circulating about the hunter later on, or make an enemy of a witness.
On a miss, the help does no good and the helper exposes them-
selves to trouble or danger. This could be the same as the danger of the
move being helped, or something else entirely.
183
THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
184
THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Investigate A Mystery
Here’s the move:
Investigating can be done any number of ways: following
tracks, interviewing witnesses, forensic analysis, looking up
old folklore in a library, typing the monster’s name into Google,
capturing the monster and conducting tests on it, and so on.
Anything that might give you more information about what’s
going on is fair game for an investigate move.
When you investigate a mystery, roll +Sharp.
On a 10+ hold 2, and on a 7-9 hold 1.
One hold can be spent to ask the Keeper one of the follow-
ing questions:
• What happened here?
• What sort of creature is it?
• What can it do?
• What can hurt it?
• Where did it go?
• What was it going to do?
• What is being concealed here?
On a miss, you reveal some information to the monster
or whoever you are talking to. The Keeper might ask you some
questions, which you have to answer.
It’s important that your attempts to investigate (and the
results you get from them) are plausible and consistent with
what’s happening. For example, if you’re using laboratory
equipment to investigate evidence, you probably won’t be able
to learn anything about the monster’s magical origins.
The investigate a mystery move will be used frequently. When the
hunters begin each new mystery, they will have (at best) a vague idea
of what they’re hunting. Investigation is the main way to find out
what’s going on, where the monster is, who they need to protect, and
anything else they need to know.
The move covers any investigation technique the hunters can
think of: interviewing witnesses, sending monster DNA to the lab,
tracking it through the alleys, looking at a dead body and reconstruct-
ing what happened, looking through ancient tomes of monster lore,
and hacking into police databases. These are all legitimate ways to
investigate.
Ask yourself, “Could they conceivably find anything useful that
way?” If the answer is “Yes,” tell them to go ahead. If the answer is “No”
then ask, “How would you find that out?” If they have a good reply, let
them know the answer. If there still isn’t a way to find out, you can ask
them to pick a different question instead.
It’s important that you give the hunters as many clues as you can.
It’s easy to make the hunters work hard to discover the details of the
mystery. But that isn’t part of your agenda. Every success on an inves-
tigate move should give the hunters something solid. You should also
be generous with obvious details, even on a miss. We play to find out
what the hunters do once they’ve uncovered the mysteries, not how
they do it. The investigate move is a way for you give them the infor-
mation they need to decide.
For example, if a hunter is investigating by looking at the body
of a monster victim, you should describe the state of the body first.
“It’s been ripped apart, looks like it went for the heart. The heart is
missing.” Those details don’t require a move, because they’re obvious
and don’t address the investigate questions directly. If the hunter
then gets a success on the roll, they may ask you to tell them about the
creature’s powers—that’s something that requires careful analysis of
the scene and injuries.
Sometimes the answer to one of the questions will be a negative,
such as when you are asked for more about the creature’s weaknesses
when the hunters have already discovered them all. In these cases,
make it clear that they know this. “Your hours poring over the books
tell you that the creature has no more weaknesses.”
Misses for this move lend themselves to trouble with normal
people (e.g. annoying the witness; being caught stealing evidence,
etc) or giving away information to their enemies (e.g. the monster or
minions hear about questions being asked; the hunters are observed
in their evidence collection; etc).
185
THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
An Example Investigation
Here’s an example showing how an investigation scene might play out.
Our cast is:
• Mary, playing Mark (a Wronged hunter).
• Chris, playing Cray (a Spooky hunter).
• Alan, the Keeper (who is also playing Officer Hannah Tarlton,
a bystander, whose motivation is to join the hunt).
The investigation:
Hannah has brought the hunters to the place she saw an attack
take place. The hunters are posing as FBI agents.
Alan (speaking as Hannah): “Right, here’s where it happened,”
says Hannah, “You can see the blood on the wall there.
Our witness said the attacker ran off down that alley and
over a fence.”
Chris (speaking as Cray): “You mind if I take some samples?”
Then I just start, without waiting for permission.
Alan (speaking as Hannah): “Uh, sure. Forensics are already
taking a look at it.”
Mary (speaking as Mark): “So, what did the witness have to
say about the attacker? I’m interested in anything, even if
it’s kinda weird.”
Alan: Okay, roll investigate a mystery for me.
Mary rolls the dice and adds Mark’s Sharp.
Mary: I got a nine. One question?
Alan: Well, you already asked about the witness seeing any-
thing weird, so I figure you’re interested in its powers?
Mary: Definitely.
Alan: Okay, Hannah says “Well, the guy claimed that the
attacker just vaulted over that fence down there. But he’d
been drinking.”
Mary (speaking as Mark): “Right. Witnesses, huh?”
Chris: While they are chatting I want to test the bloodstains
to work out what it is.
Alan: Um, how do you test a bloodstain for what kind of
monster attacked?
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Chris: I’m going to get out my chemistry test kit and try the
samples with, like, silver to see if there’s a reaction that
you might see from werewolf blood, or if there’s sulphur
present that might mean it was a demon, or if it reacts to
holy water, that could be a vampire or demon blood. That
sort of thing.
Alan: I guess that might work. But only for things you could
learn from the bloodstains—and it seems to be mainly
human blood, maybe all human. Roll it.
Chris rolls the dice and adds Cray’s Sharp.
Chris: Yeah, a twelve. First question: what is it?
Alan: Okay, you find a couple of splashes of blood that are
a slightly different colour—more richly red, and slower
drying. They react to the holy water test, and let’s say you
had garlic in there too. The blood starts smoldering in
contact with both. So a vampire, most likely.
Chris: Vampire. Got it. In that case, next question is “what
can it do?”
Alan: How are you going to find that out from bloodstains?
Chris: Remember how I spent all that time researching vam-
pires for the case last month? I know that turned out to be
a chupacabra, but I still read all those books.
Alan: Okay, so we flash back to you going over all those old
books, and you’re making a list of vampire powers on a
pad: super strength, fast, mesmerism, rapid healing are
the things you wrote on the list. Hannah says “So, you fin-
ished your tests and everything? I have a job to do here.”
Chris (speaking as Cray): “Yes, that’s everything for now.
Thanks for your help.”
Alan: Cool, she gets back to her own work. What do you do
now?
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Kick Some Ass
Here’s the move:
When you get into a fight and kick some ass, roll +Tough.
On any success (i.e., total 7 or more) you inflict harm on
(and suffer harm from) whatever you’re fighting. The amount
of harm is based on the established dangers in the game. That
usually means you inflict the harm rating of your weapon and
your enemies inflict their attack’s harm rating on you.
If you roll a 10+, choose one extra effect:
• You gain the advantage: take +1 forward, or give +1
forward to another hunter.
• You inflict terrible harm (+1 harm).
• You suffer less harm (-1 harm).
• You force them where you want them.
On a miss, you get your ass kicked instead. You suffer
harm or get captured, but don’t inflict any harm back.
This is the basic fighting move, covering the back and forth of a short
burst of fighting, rather than a single attack.
By default when a hunter kicks ass both sides inflict harm as
established—the hunter with their weapon and the enemy theirs. The
precise amount of harm that’s traded will depend on what’s happening
at that moment in the fight.
For example, Hoss the hunter is going to shoot a zombie
with his shotgun (harm-3 close load messy reload), while the
zombie is trying to bite Hoss (the zombie’s bite attack is rated
“2-harm hand”). If the zombie is still out of reach (i.e. out of
hand range), Hoss will inflict 3-harm on it but be safe from the
zombie’s bite. Once the zombie is right up in Hoss’s face, then
Hoss can still blast it for 3-harm and this time the zombie can
bite him back for 2-harm.
Don’t automatically call for this move any time a hunter attacks some-
thing. If a hunter attacks a foe that cannot (or will not) fight back,
then it is appropriate to just use the Keeper move inflict harm as
established instead. What the hunter’s doing could also be a move
like protect someone or act under pressure (or another move alto-
gether): use what the player has stated the hunter’s intentions are and
the actions they’ve described the hunter taking to determine what
makes sense.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
On a success of 10+, the hunter gets to pick an extra effect. Always
ask them what happened.
If the hunter takes +1 forward, or gives another hunter +1 forward,
then make sure to ask them what they did to set up an advantage. This
might include things like tactical maneuvering, grappling with the
enemy, pushing the enemy back, or knocking the enemy off balance.
If the hunter inflicts terrible harm, then they inflict one more
point of harm. That means they did something extra-nasty with their
attack, so be sure to ask them what that was.
If the hunter suffers less harm, then reduce the harm the enemy
inflicts by one. Ask them what they did to reduce the harm.
If the hunter forces the enemy where they want them, this will
allow them to push the bad guys wherever they want. Be generous
with this, as long as it’s consistent with what is happening in the game:
you can’t drive the monsters out if they’re in a dead end, for instance.
When a hunter misses on kick some ass, they’re usually going
to be in a lot of trouble. Your move doesn’t always have to be inflict
harm as established. Sometimes your other moves can apply too:
maybe the hunter gets captured, or the monster gets a chance to flee
the fight.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Manipulate Someone
Here’s the move:
This move is used when you want someone to do something
for you. You’ll need a good reason for them to do it, and what
counts as a good reason depends on what you are asking for
and your relationship with them.
For friends and allies, you might just need to ask. For wit-
nesses to a monster attack, you could tell them you are with
the police, or just offer them some cash for answering your
questions.
Once you have given them a reason, tell them what you
want them to do and roll +Charm.
For a normal person:
• If you get 10+, then they’ll do it for the reason you gave
them. If you asked too much, they’ll tell you the minimum
it would take for them to do it (or if there’s no way they’d
do it).
• On a 7-9, they’ll do it, but only if you do something for
them right now to show that you mean it. If you asked too
much, they’ll tell you what, if anything, it would take for
them to do it.
• On a miss, your approach is completely wrong: you offend
or anger the target.
For another hunter:
• On a 10+ they mark experience and get +1 forward if they
do what you ask.
• On a 7-9, they mark experience if they do what you ask.
• On a miss, it’s up to that hunter to decide how badly you
offend or annoy them. They mark experience if they do not
do what you asked.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Here’s the most important thing to remember about the manipulate
someone move: the hunter needs to offer something that makes the
target willing to do what the hunter asks.
This doesn’t mean it should be hard. It can be enough for a hunter
to pretend to be a police officer, or say “I’ll look after you,” or promise
to help out later.
But don’t let it be too easy either. If a hunter is asking a bystander
to be bait in a monster trap, there may be nothing the hunter can
offer that will convince them to do it. Use the target’s motivation to
help determine what might be enough for them. Use your agenda of
making the world seem real and the rule to always say what honesty
demands to assess whether the target would be willing to do what the
hunter is asking for.
When a hunter tries to manipulate another hunter, things work
differently. In this case, the incentive is the experience check and
bonus that will be available to the target if the move succeeds. The
target hunter gets to choose whether that incentive, along with what-
ever they were offered in the game, is enough to convince them do
what is asked.
Misses on this move naturally lead to offending the target, or
the hunter coming across as obtuse or annoying. When the move is
used on the other hunters, one of these results will probably happen
naturally. For misses with bystanders, the target could see through a
disguise, or refuse to believe a critical lie (or truth!). Look at the threat
type for the character (or pick one for them right now) and their moti-
vation will give you an idea how they are going to react.
If the hunter promises something as part of manipulating
someone, but then fails to do what they promised, you can use that
in the game. If they ever meet that person again, this failure is not
going to be forgotten! That means that you can set a new mystery in
the same place, and the hunters will need to deal with bystanders who
have no reason to trust them, or who may even want revenge.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Manipulating Monsters
By default the hunters can’t manipulate monsters. Even if a monster
can talk and reason, it cannot be trusted to keep its word. You should
certainly allow the hunters to make a deal with a monster, if they try
to, but they do not get to roll manipulate someone and they certainly
will not get a guarantee that the monster will hold up its end of the
bargain. From the monster’s point of view, hunters wanting to make
a deal are probably in a weak position so this is a great opportunity to
take advantage of them.
The only exception is when a hunter move explicitly allows it
(such as the Monstrous move dark negotiator). If a hunter has a
move allowing this, then manipulate works as normal (although what
a monster wants in return could be quite unpleasant).
Minions may or may not be vulnerable to manipulation. If the
minion is a normal human working for a monster, then hunters can
manipulate them fine. The other extreme are minions who can’t
understand speech and may not be capable of making deals, such as
brain-eating zombies or a malevolent fungus. Make decisions for the
in-between cases as they come up, and remember that the minion
might want something nasty in return for doing what the hunter asks.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Protect Someone
Here’s the move:
When you prevent harm to another character, roll +Tough.
On any success (i.e., 7 or more), you protect them okay,
but you’ll suffer some or all of the harm they were going to get.
If you got a 10+ choose an extra:
• You suffer little harm (-1 harm).
• All impending danger is now focused on you.
• You inflict harm on the enemy.
• You hold the enemy back.
On a miss, then you end up making things worse.
This can be used any time someone is about to suffer harm, including
as the result of another move (i.e. a kick some ass move that means a
hunter is going to suffer harm).
As with help out, always ask the hunter how they are going to
protect this person in this situation.
By default, any success means that the hunter has successfully
protected the target (so the target is not harmed at all) but the hunter
will suffer harm instead (usually, but not always, the same harm).
On a 10+ the hunter gets to pick an extra effect. Ask the hunter
what happened.
They can choose to suffer little harm, taking one less harm. Ask
what they do to reduce the harm.
If they choose “All impending danger is now focused on the
hunter,” they’ve put themselves right in harm’s way. Ask them what
they do to get all the danger. Don’t be shy when this is picked: the
hunter has chosen to have the entire enemy force have a go at them.
If they choose to “inflict harm on the enemy,” they get to harm an
enemy as well as protecting the target. Ask how they did that. As usual,
the amount of harm done depends on the hunter’s weapon.
If they choose “Hold the enemy back” then the bad guys can’t get
past the hunter. Other hunters, or even bystanders, may help fight
from this position if it makes sense. This works best when defending a
small space like a doorway. If the hunters are in the open, the bad guys
will be able to work their way around them eventually.
Missing a protect someone roll is very bad. In general, harm to
both the original victim and the hunter is a good choice. Things could
be even worse, e.g. the target might be captured as well. As with kick
some ass, when things go bad here, they go really bad. Feel free to
inflict harm as established and follow up with a hard move.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Read A Bad Situation
Here’s the move:
When you look around and read a bad situation, roll +Sharp.
On a 10+ hold 3, and on a 7-9 hold 1.
One hold can be spent to ask the Keeper one of the follow-
ing questions:
• What’s my best way in?
• What’s my best way out?
• Are there any dangers we haven’t noticed?
• What’s the biggest threat?
• What’s most vulnerable to me?
• What’s the best way to protect the victims?
If you act on the answers, you get +1 ongoing while the
information is relevant. For example, if you ask for the best
way in to the monster’s lair then you’ll get +1 while you are
infiltrating it. But once you’re in, the information doesn’t help
you any more.
On a miss, you might mis-read the situation (e.g. “Every-
thing is fine here! It will be totally safe to go investigate alone!”),
or you might reveal tactical details to your enemies (which
means the Keeper can ask the questions above of you).
This move is for when a hunter goes into a situation they know is hos-
tile—e.g. when they know the monster’s in this house somewhere. It
can also be used in the middle of a dangerous situation, if the hunter
needs some more tactical information.
Misses on reading a bad situation lend themselves to you turning
the move back on the hunter—ask them some of the questions on
behalf of whatever enemies are present, and then have the enemies
act on those answers.
Misses can also give you a chance to put the hunters into danger—
for example, they just failed to notice the ambush they’re walking into.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Use Magic
Here’s the move:
When you use magic, say what you’re trying to achieve and how
you do the spell, then roll +Weird.
• If you get a 10+, the magic works without issues: choose
your effect.
• On a 7-9, it works imperfectly: choose your effect and a
glitch. The Keeper will decide what effect the glitch has.
• On a miss, you lose control of the magic. This never ends well.
By default the magic has one of the effects listed below, lasts for
around thirty minutes, and does not expose you to danger, unwanted
attention, or side-effects. If there’s a glitch this might change.
Effects:
• Inflict harm (1-harm ignore-armour magic obvious).
• Enchant a weapon. It gets +1 harm and +magic.
• Do one thing that is beyond human limitations.
• Bar a place or portal to a specific person or a type of creature.
• Trap a specific person, minion, or monster.
• Banish a spirit or curse from the person, object, or place it
inhabits.
• Summon a monster into the world.
• Communicate with something that you do not share a lan-
guage with.
• Observe another place or time.
• Heal 1-harm from an injury, or cure a disease, or neutralize
a poison.
Glitches:
• The effect is weakened.
• The effect is of short duration.
• You take 1-harm ignore-armour magic.
• The magic draws immediate, unwelcome attention.
• It has a problematic side effect.
The Keeper may require one or more of the following:
• The spell requires weird materials.
• The spell will take 10 seconds, 30 seconds, or 1 minute to cast.
• The spell requires ritual chanting and gestures.
• The spell requires you to draw arcane symbols.
• You need one or two people to help cast the spell.
• You need to refer to a tome of magic for the details.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Magic, by its nature, breaks the rules. The use magic move lists the
possible effects for magic spells. Magic that goes beyond these effects
counts as big magic (see below).
When a hunter uses magic, it’s important to ask them what
they’re trying to do (and work out which of the effects they are trying
for). Ask the hunter how they cast the spell, and what it looks like too.
Then consider the scope of what they’re doing, how they said the
spell is cast, and decide if you will require anything extra from the list.
Pick extra requirements based on the size of magical effect. Magic
that has a big effect should need a bigger effort. Usually pick one or
two things including anything the hunter included in their description
of casting the spell. You can offer alternatives, too, so that the hunter
either takes one minute or needs arcane symbols, say.
Partial successes when using magic mean that the hunter has to
pick a glitch. Glitches are bad news, but it’s up to the hunter to decide
which one happens. Magic should always be dangerous and unpredict-
able, so hammer that home when you decide how the glitches take effect.
On a miss using magic, make as hard a move as you like: anything
can happen when magic goes wrong. Reversing the intended effect of
the spell is an option, so that the exact opposite of what the hunter
wanted happens. You can also go for off-the-wall weirdness: portals to
other dimensions; angry spirits converging on the hunter; or changes
to the laws of physics around the hunter—that sort of thing.
One Thing Beyond Human Limitations
This particular effect is an important one because what you allow here
will define how powerful magic is in your game.
For a gritty game, going ‘beyond human limitations’ might include:
• lifting a car just enough to free someone trapped underneath
• carrying on despite a nasty injury
• resisting a mental attack from a monster.
For a more super-heroic game, going ‘beyond human limitations’
might include:
• flying up to a rooftop.
• surviving a deadly injury.
• reading the thoughts of everyone around you.
So, when a hunter wants to exceed human limitations, think care-
fully about what allowing their desired effect in this case implies for
your entire game. You can think of your decisions about this as a dial
that determines how much power the hunters can get from everyday
magic spells.
If you think the desired effect is too powerful, tell them they
would have to do it with by using a big magic ritual instead).
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Big Magic
The rules for the use magic move are constrained, but big magic is
not. Big magic is for everything else, from curing someone of vampir-
ism to opening a gate to another dimension.
The only limits on big magic are those that have been established
in your game. For example, it may be that you decided magic never
allows anyone to travel into the past.
Even these established rules might be broken if there is a strong
enough reason in the story. For example, the hunters might realise
that the only way to defeat a monster is to go back in time to when
it was weaker. If you reveal that a limit can be broken in certain cir-
cumstances, think about what this reveals about the world. This sort
of event should always be a big deal, with big repercussions in your
story. In our time travel example, maybe travel into the past changes
the timeline irrevocably; or maybe the rule being broken unleashes an
angry time god on the hunters.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
When the hunters want to do big magic, you decide what it
requires, the same as when someone uses magic normally. Once
the hunters meet the requirements, the spell happens successfully,
without a roll. Here are the options for requirements that you can
choose from:
• Spend a lot of time (days or weeks) researching the magic
ritual.
• Experiment with the spell—there will be lots of failures
before you get it right.
• The hunter needs some rare and weird ingredients and sup-
plies.
• It will take a long time (hours or days) to cast.
• The hunter needs a lot of people (2, 3, 7, 13, or more) to help.
• It needs to be done at a particular place and/or time.
• You need to use magic as part of the ritual, perhaps to
summon a monster, communicate with something, or bar
the portal you opened.
• It will have a specific side effect or danger.
You can pick multiple requirements, that all need to be satisfied:
For example, you can tell the hunters “You need to spend a
few days doing research and then get a lava snake fang to cast
this spell. And then you’ll need three people to help you cast it.”
You can also give the hunters alternatives:
For example, you can tell the hunters “You need to spend a few
days doing research for a simple version, or if you get a lava
snake fang then you can cast it right now. Either way you need
three people to help out.”
Make the requirements consistent with how big a deal this spell is
going to be. Also, because the big magic does not require a roll for any
move (except, incidentally, as part of meeting the requirements), you
need to consider the perils and side effects of the spell and bring them
into play as Keeper moves.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
Playbook Moves
I’ve gone into detail about how to handle the basic moves, but there
isn’t room to cover all the playbook moves in the same depth.
The overarching rule is to interpret results using the Keeper’s
agenda, principles, things to always say, and all your moves. If you
stick to those, you won’t go wrong.
Actions Not Covered By A Move
Sometimes the hunters will come up with something they want to try
that isn’t covered by existing moves. Depending on exactly what it is,
there are several ways to deal with this.
If the action is something a normal person could do, then you can
just accept it. Look at your list of Keeper moves and see if any of them
apply to the action: if they do, then use that move. Quite often, I find
that the Keeper move that applies is “Ask them what they do next.” Let
them do what they want and see what comes of it.
If it’s something that moves the mystery along, and you can’t think
of how rolling dice for it will be more interesting than just accepting it,
that’s another case where it’s best for them to just do it.
If it’s something that a normal person could do, but it’s really hard
and/or dangerous, ask them to act under pressure.
If it’s something that a normal person couldn’t do at all, then you
can ask them to use magic, or big magic.
In fact, act under pressure and use magic are intended to be
catch-alls. If you can’t work out which move to use, one of these two
will usually work.
Another alternative is to quickly make up a custom move for this
particular situation. Only do this if you think it will come up again,
and only once you are comfortable enough with the moves that you
can do this quickly. There’s a section on making custom moves on
page 296.
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
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THE BASIC HUNTER MOVES
On
With
The Mystery!
That covers the basic rules that you need to keep
in mind—it’s time to get on with the mystery. The
previous section was a long digression: but if you
cast your mind back to “Running the First Mystery”
(on page 166), the group had just finished creat-
ing hunters and were ready to start playing out the
mystery. You should have your prepared mystery in
front of you.
201
Start-Of-Mystery Moves
First, check if anyone has a move to roll at the beginning of the
mystery. The Chosen always does, and an Expert, Flake, Initiate, or
Spooky might have one. Ask them how they do the move. Then have
them roll and see what the effect is. Make sure that anyone who rolled
six or less marks experience.
The Teaser
Begin the game with a scene to introduce the hook.
The way you introduce the hook allows you to select a certain
atmosphere and pace for the mystery. For example:
• Dramatize the most recent monster attack, showing the
victim from the monster’s point of view.
• Ask the hunters what they are doing when they find out about
the hook.
• Describe the hunters at a diner near the scene of the latest
attack, discussing the hook.
• Describe the hunters at the scene of the latest attack, check-
ing out the environment for clues and talking to witnesses.
The default is to start the hunters at the scene. Other options will
increase the time it takes to complete the mystery and allow more
time for the hunters to develop their characters and relationships. If
you dramatise the monster attack, you may find it gives players who
are new to the game a nice sense of competence when their hunters
start investigating the mystery and ask the right questions.
Introduce the teaser and then ask the hunters what they’re doing.
For example, are they undercover? What do they want to check out
first?
202
ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Beginning the Investigation
Tell them about the location and sketch a quick map of the area (or
show them one you already prepared). Include important features,
especially anything that was mentioned in the hook—where bodies
were found, which house appears to be haunted, the location of the
police station that filed the report, and so on. Then ask them “So,
where are you going first? Are you all going or are you going to split
up and cover more ground?” After this, let the hunters drive the inves-
tigation.
Play out the hunters’ interviews with normal folks, and their
examination of places. If they meet bystanders you prepared with the
mystery, use the details you wrote down. If they talk to someone new,
give that bystander a name, and a bystander type (pages 142 and 178).
Draw a map of everywhere they search, and everywhere there’s some
action. Give each place a location threat type (pages 144 and 179).
Ask Questions
All the way through this first mystery, you need to ask questions all the
time. That’s how to get a handle on the hunters: how each approaches
things, how the team works together, and how each hunter’s back-
story is going to factor into the game. When they do something, ask
them how they do it. If they want to know if they have a torch (or
whatever), ask them “Do you normally carry one?” When they find
out about an important location, ask them if they’ve been there before.
If they have, ask them what it was like. Let everyone contribute to the
world you are creating in your game, and, as Keeper, build on their
answers to your questions.
Make notes of all the answers you get, in case you need them later.
Give them Tough Choices
The heart of the game is seeing what the hunters decide when they’ve
only got an array of crappy options to choose from. Make sure they
have difficult choices, and push at them to go one way or another.
There are any number of ways you can do this. Here are some of
my favourites:
• a monster’s weakness that is terrible to take advantage of.
• a big magic ritual that has nasty stuff for its requirements.
• a monster that is, in its way, a victim.
• a simple but awful solution to the mystery’s central problem.
203
ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Call For Moves
Call for investigate and manipulate moves when the hunters look for
clues. And if they go somewhere dangerous, suggest that they might
want to read a bad situation.
If a hunter wants to do some crazy, impossible stuff then remind
them they can use magic for that sort of thing.
Use Your Keeper Moves
Keep in mind your agenda and principles (page 166), and moves
(page 172).
Respond to the hunters’ actions with your Keeper and threat
moves. Make soft moves that the hunters must deal with, and then
make a hard move if they don’t deal with it (see page 174).
Recall that when a hunter misses a move roll (that is, their total
is six or less), you get to respond with a move of your own (and it can
be a hard move):
• For act under pressure, things go to hell for the hunter.
• For help out, the hunter exposes themselves to trouble or
danger.
• For kick some ass, the hunter gets their ass kicked.
• For protect someone, the hunter makes things worse.
• For manipulate someone, the hunter angers or offends the
target.
• For investigate a mystery, the hunter reveals something to
the monster or whoever they are talking to.
• For read a bad situation, the hunter reads the situation all
wrong or reveals tactical details to their enemies.
• For use magic, the hunter loses control of the magic and any-
thing can happen.
Remind the hunters that they can help each other, too, especially if
someone just missed a roll by one (help can be given after a roll has
been made). However help bonuses do not stack (e.g if three hunters
successfully help, they don’t give a +3 bonus).
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Use The Countdown
Mark off the steps on the countdown if the corresponding event
happens in play, or when you decide it has now happened off-screen.
Advancing the countdown isn’t one of your moves by itself, but it
represents a move that was just made or is about to be made. Good
times to advance the countdown are:
• you announce off-screen badness that warns about the
event about to happen, or shows that it is happening now.
• a hunter blows an investigate move that could have led to
finding out about the next event.
• you make a move for a threat that completes the next event.
• a hunter misses a move roll attempting to stop the next event.
As the countdown is what would happen if the hunters didn’t interfere,
you will usually need to revise the plan based on what happens in play.
The hunters might prevent something directly, or the monster might
change its plans in response to what the hunters do. Maybe some of
the events will be changed, or maybe some will be skipped, or they
could all become irrelevant. That’s fine. The important thing is that
the countdown provides you with a guide to what the bad guys are
trying to do.
I'm Not Prepared For This
The hunters will do things you didn’t expect. They might check out
somewhere you didn’t define, or talk to someone you hadn’t thought
about.
If this happens, just make a note of the person or place, give them
a name, and quickly pick a threat type for them. That’s all you need to
do, after which you can treat that person or place the same as any of
your prepared threats.
You can even do this with monster and minion threats, if it makes
sense, although then you also need to pick powers, weaknesses, attacks,
armour, and harm capacity. It’s less common for an unexpected
monster to be called for, but you can never be sure. The hunters might
summon a creature to help them, or something like that.
In general, just note down the minimum that you need to get on
with the game, and then get on with it. Fill in more details if and when
you need them.
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It Always Comes To A Fight
Once the hunters get a handle on what they’re hunting, they’ll want
to take it out. The following sections have a lot of advice for running
fights, but this is the overview.
Start fights somewhere interesting, with lots of stuff that can be
used in move descriptions, by you and the hunters. Every fight scene
should have a location threat type, too, so remember to use those
location threat moves when appropriate.
Aim to have a couple of set-piece fight scenes: it’s really the hunters
who determine how fast they catch the monster, but you still have a bit
of control over the pacing via your moves. For example, if the hunters
track down the monster early on and it feels anticlimactic, have the
monster disengage or run away (perhaps using the monster threat
move escape, no matter how well contained it is). Conversely, if the
hunters are moving slowly, the monster might decide to attack them
first (the monster threat move could be show its full power, attack
with great force and fury, or attack with stealth and cunning), or
it could send minions after them (monster: order underlings to do
terrible acts, minions: a burst of sudden uncontrolled violence, a
coordinated attack, give chase)
Try to hurt the hunters: they have plenty of Luck at the beginning
so they are not any real danger. A hard fight in the first mystery sets
an expectation of danger and risk for the game, which helps create a
sense of horror.
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Keeping Fights Interesting
There are going to be a lot of fights, and you need to keep them novel.
It’s easy to fall into giving everyone a turn, the hunters each rolling
kick some ass one at a time, but that’s dull.
I’m going to present a variety of techniques to keep fight scenes
exciting. Use them in your game (with your Keeper moves) whenever
you can. The techniques are:
• Think about what’s at stake.
• Decide who has the initative.
• Use the environment.
• Make maps.
• Apply weapon tags.
• Be creative with moves.
• Most times, do the obvious thing.
• Balance spotlight time.
• Don’t drag things out
• Use soft moves to set up hard moves.
Think About What’s At Stake
There are a lot of reasons for the hunters to get into a fight. Think
about what their enemies want. If a monster is fighting to destroy the
hunters before they kill it, then it has more at stake than if they caught
it sneaking around. In the first case, it might fight to the death. In the
second, maybe it just wants to run away.
Take a moment to work out what the combatants want to achieve,
and that will help you pick their tactics.
Decide who has the initiative
When a fight starts, pick who gets the first move, and base your deci-
sion both on what’s happening and in accordance with your agenda
and principles.
If a hunter just missed a read a bad situation roll, maybe the first
she knows about the troll is when it attacks. Conversely, if the hunters
have made a concerted effort to infiltrate a lair undetected, they’ll be
the ones attacking without warning.
Other times, both sides are aware of each other. Use your common
sense here, and base the decision on what’s happening, as always in
accordance with your agenda and principles.
If a hunter or a monster is using a weapon that has the ‘quick’ tag
they will normally go first, and anything tagged ‘slow’ will normally
go last.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Use The Environment
To keep fights fresh, make sure the action, your moves and questions
all take advantage of where it’s happening. Whether it’s in a house,
sewer, street, or cave, think about what makes this particular location
unusual for this sort of place (and always include something unusual,
something that sets it apart from average).
For example:
This house looks rundown but normal, except there’s a
dusty smell from the piles and piles of magazines everywhere.
Looks like the owner really loves National Geographic.
The leshy disappears into the forest and as you reach the
edges you see the whole place is damp and marshy, with mud
and moss that your feet start sinking into.
The extra details in both those examples might not directly affect what
happens in the game (although they might). They create a much more
evocative picture in the imagination than “It’s a rundown house” or
“The leshy disappears into the forest” would have done, which can help
inspire the hunters when they’re deciding what to do
You should also decide on a location threat type every time a fight
takes place. This provides you with hints about how to describe the
place (based on its motivation), and gives you access to the location
threat moves.
Make Maps
Drawing a map is a good idea, and will give everyone an agreed picture
of the space and who is where. Make sure you include details that the
hunters (and their enemies) can use to their advantage. Use details
like what furniture is present, where the slimy puddles are, the iron
candlesticks around the temple altar, where the traffic is rushing past.
Even if the hunters don’t use these things, you can. When someone is
hurt don’t just say that they take harm. Say that they get thrown at the
altar, knocking candlesticks everywhere.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
APPLY WEAPON TAGS
Pay attention to the tags of the weapons used in the fight, so you can
work them into your descriptions of what’s going on. Many of the
weapon tags can influence the direction of the fight and the story in
unpredictable directions. As well as the hunters’ weapon tags, use the
monster’s and minions’ attack tags.
Make sure that you take weapon range tags into account, too. If a
weapon is being used out of its normal range, that will be a disadvan-
tage to the wielder. That might prevent it from being used at all, or it
might be less effective (e.g. causing less harm than usual, or requiring
an act under pressure to use it properly).
Be Creative With Moves
Vary the Keeper moves you use. If you find yourself repeating the
same sort of thing, take a moment to check the Keeper moves list and
think about what else could happen right now.
Call for the hunters to use act under pressure, help out, protect
someone, and read a bad situation whenever an opportunity comes
up, so the hunters do not just use kick some ass all the time.
Remember that you can also use the move inflict harm as estab-
lished. If an attack doesn’t require the hunter to expose themselves
to danger, just let them inflict harm instead of asking them to kick
some ass.
Make sure the hunters always describe what they are doing in
detail. If they’ve used enough detail, you’ll find it easy to work out
how to react.
When a hunter misses a move roll, think a little about what could
go wrong, given what they tried and what else is happening.
For example:
Terry (playing the hunter Isis) says “I shoot the cyclops
slug.” You can ask “Okay, where do you shoot it?” or “Are you
leaning around the doorframe or coming into the passage to
get a clear shot?” or “Is it a carefully aimed shot or quick shot?”
If Isis misses her kick some ass roll, then you can react
based on the answer:
• If she shot it in the face, it could blind the single eye.
• If she shot it in the body, it can’t come at her so fast.
• If she went into the passage, it can slime her.
• If she stayed in the doorway, it can smash through the wall.
• If she tried to get a careful shot, maybe the cyclops slug
rushed her before she could fire.
• If she tried a quick shot, maybe it hits something else
important (a victim, or a gas pipe maybe?)
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Most times, Do The Obvious Thing
Don’t get hung up on trying to always think up the most innovative,
creative thing to do. Usually, if you think about what exactly is hap-
pening, it will be obvious what should happen next (whether you are
deciding how a monster reacts, or what move you should make in
response to what a hunter just did). In those cases when there is a
single, obvious thing to do next, trust your instincts and do it.
Balance Spotlight Time
You need to strike a balance between spotlight time (giving each
hunter a turn) and doing what is obviously next. E.g. if one hunter
keeps attacking the monsters, take a break from them to check what
everyone else is up to (even if the fight is the main thing that is going
on).
If some of the hunters don’t join the fighting, ask them what
they’re doing while it goes on. Give these activities just as much
emphasis as the combat: those hunters might be able to help save the
day with magic, or a non-combat use of a monster weakness, or some
other cunning plan.
Don’t Drag Things out
Don’t be afraid to resolve fights quickly, especially if the hunters are
fighting outclassed minions, or a difficult bystander. One successful
kick some ass can be enough to win an easy fight. Remember that
many minions and most bystanders won’t just fight to the death: they
might surrender or flee after a single hit.
Use Soft Moves
Don’t just use hard moves on the hunters (or anyone else). Use soft
moves that prepare for a follow-up hard move, giving the hunters a
chance to do something about whatever is coming.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Summary: Running Fights
• Think about what’s at stake.
• Work out how the fight starts based on what’s happening in
the game.
• Describe the location and pick a type for it, then use those
details and threat moves. Consider what makes this place
unusual.
• Make maps.
• Use the combatants’ weapon and attack tags.
• Use moves creatively.
• Most times, do the obvious thing. Usually the first thing you
think of is perfectly appropriate.
• Balance spotlight time between the hunters.
• Don’t drag things out. You can zoom out on the action when
it’s not so important, or not so interesting.
• Use soft moves and give the hunters a chance to react.
• Try to hurt the hunters: they can handle it.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Harm
Whenever a character (hunter, monster, minion, or bystander) gets
harmed, note down the wound and how much harm was caused. For
example, “clawed left arm, 3-harm” or “shot in the head, 2-harm.”
Remember that if the victim has armour, that reduces the amount
of harm suffered by its rating.
If it’s a hunter, tell them how many harm boxes to check off. Make
sure you know if they’re up to four (after which the injuries become
unstable, and will get worse until treated).
Describe the pain, how bad the wound looks, how much blood is
coming out, if a bone is sticking out, if they’re feeling faint, and so on.
All the gory detail you can think of. This leads into which harm move
affects them.
The Harm Moves
Harm moves are used when a hunter, monster, minion, or bystander
suffers injury of any kind (physical, magical, psychic, etc.). Pick a
harm move based on how many points of harm were suffered and the
details of the injury.
The harm moves are listed below, along with the minimum harm
level for each.
0-harm or more:
• Momentarily inhibited.
• Drop something.
• Take -1 forward.
1-harm or more:
• Fall down.
• Take -1 ongoing.
• Pass out.
• Intense pain.
Unstable wounds:
• +1 harm.
8-harm or more:
• Dead.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
How To Use The Harm Moves
Injuries must be as serious as they have been described in order to
make the world seem real. Use the harm moves to help with that
impression. Use a harm move whenever someone is hurt, to represent
the immediate effects of the attack.
Think about each of the harm moves you could use, and whether
any of the following might apply:
• Is the wound bad enough that the victim might be knocked
down? Examples of wounds that might cause knockdown: a
really strong hit; a hit with lots of inertia; an intensely painful
wound; being hit in the legs.
• Is the wound going to cause ongoing difficulty? Examples of
ongoing difficulty: intense pain; something got stuck in the
wound; an irritant (dust, sand, gravel) gets in the wound; it’s
somewhere distracting (like your hand).
• Could the wound render the victim unconscious? Examples:
a blow to the head; shock from blood loss.
• Is the wound going to be especially painful? For example:
burns; injuries to the hands or face; an existing injury is
struck again.
• Could the injury kill the victim? Examples: blood loss; head
trauma; chest or abdomen hits (which could rupture a major
organ).
Unstable Wounds
Once a hunter has suffered 4-harm, their injuries become unstable.
That means that it will get worse, until it’s properly treated.
While the injuries are unstable, you may tell the hunter they take
another point of harm at any time. Use the same process as deciding
which harm move to use: given the type and severity of the injuries,
would it be likely to have gotten worse yet?
If an unstable wound has been left for a day and you haven’t added
any more harm yet, do it then.
Minions, Bystanders and Harm
For minions and bystanders, you don’t have to track wounds in detail.
You can just make a call based on each injury: is this enough to take
them out of the fight? Is this enough to kill them? Make the decision
about the injury’s severity based on your usual Keeper’s agenda and
principles, and (for minions) based on the harm capacity you picked
for them.
Bystanders, and some minions, will be inclined to flee or surren-
der when injured rather than fight to the death.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Killing Monsters
When you defined the monster, you picked the harm capacity it has.
That’s how many points of harm it can take before it’s dying. You
should inflict harm moves on monsters as normal whenever they are
injured.
Monster injuries do not become unstable when they have taken
four harm or more. The hunters will have to inflict all the harm them-
selves.
Additionally, recall that the monster is only really dead if the
hunters used a weakness against it.
When A Monster Isn’t Really Dead
If the hunters deal enough damage to a monster to kill it (or enough
to kill it several times over), but haven’t used a weakness, then that
monster is not dead. One way or another, it will come back.
Here’s some ideas for ways a seemingly-dead monster can come
back:
• The monster just keeps going, regardless of the terrible inju-
ries it has sustained.
• The monster’s apparently dying body turns to dust, or mist,
or shadow, and escapes.
• The monster returns in a new form (maybe as an even more
dangerous spirit?).
• Fire (or acid, or whatever) simply has no effect on the injured
monster.
• The monster reveals a new power, healing itself suddenly or
overwhelming the hunters.
• Minions hold the hunters back, while others grab and run off
with the crippled monster.
• No matter what the hunters did to it, slowly the pieces of the
monster make their way back together and rebuild them-
selves.
• Far away, minions begin a magical ritual to return the
monster to life.
• The monster has tricked them: the thing that died was a fake
(A magical illusion? A transformed minion?).
• The monster was just pretending to be almost defeated: as
soon as the hunters drop their guard, it goes back on the
offensive.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Knowing The Monster is Dead
When the hunters finally take down a monster, it needs to be really
obvious.
Lots of monsters can disappear, turn invisible, and so on. That
means that you should ensure a dying monster gets a good description
of how it dies.
If a monster just falls over when the hunters inflict the final blow,
that’s an anticlimax. But if it bursts in a huge spray of blood and gore,
or explodes and takes down the building, or gets pulled screaming
into another dimension?
Then everyone knows they properly killed it.
Healing
The rules for healing (from the hunters’ perspective) are on page 111.
In brief, they are:
• 0-harm wounds only apply at the moment they happen: no
healing time is required to get over them.
• Stable wounds get better by 1 point for each day of rest, or
when medical attention is given.
• 4+ harm wounds need stabilization and long term treatment.
It’s your call how long that takes. As a general rule, any proper
treatment (a visit to a doctor or emergency room, or time in
a haven infirmary) will stabilise the injury and heal 1 harm.
• 8-harm or more means the victim is dead.
• Routine first aid heals 1 point of harm for a single injury or
condition and takes a few minutes. Additional first aid will
only help someone if there’s a new injury or condition to treat.
• Healing moves will say how much they heal.
Additionally, at the end of a mystery all the hunters get healed to
account for the time passed.
If there’s downtime before the next mystery, have everyone erase
all harm: there’s time for them to have had all the treatment they need.
If the next mystery follows right on the last, everyone gets 1-harm
healed. That represents that they’ve had time for some recovery, but
not much.
For monsters and minions, it’s up to you to decide if (and how
much) they might have healed between encounters. Some creatures
might have the power to heal easily and be completely fine the next
time the hunters meet them; others might heal the same as a normal
human does, or not at all.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
An Example Fight
This illustrates some of the techniques I’ve outlined above, demon-
strating how it works in play.
Our cast is:
• Alan, the Keeper, playing (variously): Jerry Parsons, a
bystander, and Lucius, a vampire (already on 3-harm from an
earlier encounter).
• Mary, playing Mark (a Wronged hunter)
• Chris, playing Cray (a Spooky hunter)
• The house is a location: deathtrap (motivation: to harm
intruders).
Mark and Cray are pursuing a vampire. They’ve tracked it to
a disused house, and manipulated the caretaker, Jerry, to let
them in.
Alan: Jerry leads you into the house, shining a flashlight
around. The place is full of furniture covered in sheets to
keep the dust off.
Alan (speaking as Jerry): “The place seems like I left it—um, I
don’t think anyone’s been in here.”
Mary (speaking as Mark): “We’re sure it... ah, he came this
way. Probably best you leave us to it now.”
Alan: The door swings shut with a slam.
Alan used the location move close a path.
Alan: At the same moment you notice a trail in the dust—
someone has been coming and going here recently. Cray,
there are three ways out of the hallway—into the house,
left into a family room or lounge, and right into what
was maybe a study. There’s a flicker of movement in the
study. Jerry is walking down the hall shining his flashlight
around.
Alan used the Keeper move announce future badness. He
then sketches a map of the hallway and adjoining rooms.
Alan (speaking as Jerry): “Did you hear that?”
Chris: Cray’s going to check out the study.
Chris (speaking as Cray): “Hey Mark, watch my back!”
Alan: Are you reading a bad situation?
Chris: I sure am.
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Chris rolls the dice and adds Cray’s Sharp.
Chris: I got... eight. Let me see... any dangers we haven’t
noticed?
Alan: The only things moving in here are you guys and what-
ever’s in the study.
Chris: Okay, it clearly knows we’re here.
Chris (speaking as Cray): “Show yourself you unholy bastard!”
Alan: Are you stepping into the room?
Chris: Yes, but slowly.
Mary: Mark’s covering him with the rifle.
Alan: There’s a swirl of shadow and the vampire takes form
directly in front of you.
Alan used the monster move appear suddenly.
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Chris: I already have my magnum out, okay?
Alan: Sure.
Although Chris didn’t say Cray got his gun ready, there’s no
reason to think that he wouldn’t have done so in this situation.
Chris: I shoot it in the face!
Alan: The vampire’s trying to grab you by both shoulders, and
opening its mouth ready to sink fangs in your neck. But
you can shoot it in the face as it comes for you. Mark, you
don’t have a clear shot here. Jerry jumps and screams
when the shots are fired. Roll me kick ass.
Alan used the monster move attack with great force and
fury.
Chris rolls the dice and adds Cray’s Tough
Chris: Right, that’s a... five. Crap.
Alan: Did you remember +1 for reading the situation just
then? You’re acting on what you saw.
Chris: Yeah, five is with the bonus.
Alan: Yeah, so you shoot it in the face a couple of times and
it doesn’t even slow down. It grabs your shoulders and
comes in to bite.
Because Cray’s kick some ass move failed, Alan is responding
with inflict harm, as established.
Mary: Can Mark get a shot now? Before it bites him?
Alan: Um... I guess, it’s close but Cray’s still in the way. You
could maybe club it.
Mary: Can I knock its face away?
Alan: With the rifle butt? Yes, that might work. Roll... This
seems like it will interrupt the attack, so roll protect
someone.
Mary: Sweet, I use Never again to make it like I rolled a 10.
As usual, all impending danger on me.
The vampire’s bite was interrupted by Mark’s protect
someone move, so Cray doesn’t suffer harm.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Mary (speaking as Mark): “Bring it!”
Alan: Okay, so you smash its face, and it spins Cray out the
way and comes for you. It smashes you up against the wall
on the far side of the hallway, and you notice you go a
ways into the plaster. Now what?
This is the Keeper move inflict harm, as established and the
effects of the successful protect someone move.
Mary notes down that Mark took 2-harm.
Mary (screaming as Mark): “ARRRRGH!”
Alan: Okay, you drop your rifle too.
Alan uses the harm move drop something.
Mary: Sure, I drop the rifle as I fly back and scramble for my
sawn-off. BLAM! Both barrels, sucker!
Alan: Okay, roll kick some ass. It’s trying to get with the biting
on you, but it’s going for inside your elbow rather than
your neck, grabbing for your arm as you shoot.
Mary rolls and adds Mark’s Tough.
Mary: Ha ha! Eleven! I shoot it in the gut, so it goes flying
back! Four harm!
Alan notes down 3-harm from shotgun blast for the vampire:
it has 1-armour. Again, this is inflict harm, as established.
Alan: Yep, the vampire is blasted back, catches itself on a
covered table, then gets back up. It caught your arm with
its talons before you fired, so you take two harm as well,
and there’s blood everywhere
Mary: I’m reloading!
Alan: Your hands are covered in your own blood, so it’s going
to take a few moments to finish that. Cray? What are you
doing?
Alan used the harm move momentarily inhibited to reflect
Mark’s injury.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Chris: I’m going back into the hallway to check Jerry isn’t
doing anything stupid.
Alan: Okay. He’s not—just standing there, mouth open, watch-
ing what you’re all doing. The vamp grabs the dust sheet
and swirls it up in the way. When it comes down you can’t
see where it’s gone, although the only options are out the
front door or into the other room. Unless it can turn invis-
ible or something.
Alan used the bystander move display inability or incompe-
tence for Jerry, and the monster move escape no matter how
well contained it is for Lucius.
Chris: Okay, I want to make sure it can’t escape. I’m casting a
spell to keep it in here.
Alan: Sure, you can use magic to bar a place or portal to a
monster. I think keeping it from leaving counts. How do
you cast this spell? I think you’re going to need at least
some weird ingredients.
Chris: It’s undead, so I’ll use some goofer dust. I sprinkle it
on the door and write mystic symbols in it with my finger.
Alan: Okay, roll it. Mark, what are you doing while this hoo-
doo’s happening?
Mary: Just keeping an eye on things. I get the mallet and stakes
we brought out of my pack, too.
Alan: Keeping an eye where exactly?
Mary: On the lounge room or whatever, and on Cray.
Mary (speaking as Mark) “Hurry that creepy shit up! There’s
a disappearing vampire in here!”
Alan: Okay. Jerry screams. You both look back and the vampire
has him, neck chomped and blood all over the place.
Alan used the monster move attack with stealth and calcu-
lation.
Alan notes down that Jerry took 5-harm from a vampire
bite.
Alan: Jerry’s gone all limp in the vampire’s grasp.
Alan used the harm move pass out.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Mary (as Mark): “Dammit!” Can I get there in time to save
him?
Alan: Ah... maybe, if you act under pressure?
Mary: Is there like a light hanging above him I can shoot
down?
Alan: Sure! So, you want it to fall on the vampire? Protecting
Jerry?
Mary: Yes! And I’ll use never again for a ten. I guess all its
attention is focused on me now?
Alan: Yeah, when the light fitting comes down, it smashes on
top of it, and the vampire drops Jerry and just looks at you,
then starts walking towards you like a gunfighter heading
for a showdown.
This is the result of the protect someone move.
Alan (speaking as Lucius): “Very well! I will take you first.”
Mary (speaking as Mark): “Cray! Forget your stupid spell!
Grab the vamp so I can stake it!”
Chris (speaking as Cray): “What? Grab it? No way!”
Chris: I’ll cast a spell to make the cable from the light shade
snake down and tie it up!
Alan: That’s the ‘trap a monster’ effect. How do you cast the
spell?
Chris: I just look hard at it and focus my mind, and then pull
it down like I’m using the Force.
Alan: Cool.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Chris rolls and adds Cray’s Weird.
Chris: Yeah, it’s a nine. Glitch is short duration “Make it fast,
Mark!”
Alan: Okay, so the vampire’s all tangled but the cable’s already
starting to come loose.
Alan (speaking as Lucius): “What? What’s happening? Gah,
stupid plastic rope!”
Mary: I stake it!
Alan: Sure, roll kick ass—it might be able to scratch you a bit
even tangled up.
Mary rolls the dice and adds Mark’s Tough.
Mary: Nine! I guess it gets me then. I do 3-harm with the stake.
Alan notes down harm to Lucius, and that Lucius has been hit
with a weakness: a wooden stake to the heart.
Alan: Mark, take one harm. You hammer the stake in but it
doesn’t look like it went in far enough to get the heart yet.
It gets one nasty scratch across your face that momentar-
ily blinds you: take -1 forward.
Alan has given Mark -1 forward as a harm move. Mary notes
down the harm to Mark.
Mary: I stake it again!
Mary rolls the dice and adds Mark’s Tough.
Mary: Thirteen, even with that -1! I inflict terrible harm!
Alan notes down that harm, sees that this puts Lucius at
12-harm total: he has harm capacity of 10, so this is enough
to kill him (and permanently, as a weakness has been used).
Alan chooses to not to inflict harm on Mark again, reasoning
that between being trapped and staked through the heart, the
vampire is no longer actively fighting back.
Alan: Okay, that sure got the heart. There’s a burst of dust as
the vampire’s flesh disintegrates, leaving just the bones
and shriveled heart, complete with stake.
The details of what happens when a vampire gets staked are
part of the game’s mythology.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
End of the First Session
Once the mystery has been solved, take some time to go around the
table and check that everyone’s happy with how it played out. If the
hunters didn’t finish up this mystery, that’s okay too. Just finish when
you or the group thinks it’s a cool time to put “To be continued...” up
on the screen. You can find out what happens next time.
Then ask the end-of-session experience questions:
• Did we conclude the current mystery?
• Did we save someone from certain death (or worse)?
• Did we learn something new and important about the world?
• Did we learn something new and important about one of the
hunters?
If you get one or two “yes” answers, have the hunters mark one expe-
rience. If you get three or four, they mark two.
It’s a good idea to let everyone revise aspects of their hunter now
that they’ve played: they might want to change something now they’ve
seen how the game works. Ask them if they have any more ideas about
their hunter’s backstory, what their hunter’s planning to do next, what
they thought of the mystery, and anything else they liked or didn’t like.
Make a note of all the answers, for ideas you can use later.
Then you can let everyone go home, or go home yourself.
Getting Ready For Next Time
Make notes of all the stuff you might need to remember later:
• Elements from a hunter’s past.
• Friction in the hunter team.
• Themes with emotional resonance for the hunters or players.
• Ideas for monsters that might be particularly unsettling.
• Bystanders they might meet again.
• Any monsters that got away.
• Facts about how the world works in your game.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Looking Ahead
Now think about events from the story that suggest there’s something
bigger going on in the shadows.
The sort of things that might have come up include:
• Hunters’ history choices that indicated a pattern of events or
a significant incident.
• Events during the mystery that hinted at bigger troubles hap-
pening somewhere else.
• Unfinished business from the mystery.
• Hunter choices that have a wide reach, such as the Chosen’s
fate, the Professional’s Agency, and the Initiate’s Sect.
• Anything that came up in play that suggested something
more is going on, or that a secret is waiting to be uncov-
ered. Examples include the results of the Expert’s dark past
move, or someone saying something interesting about their
past (e.g. Keeper: “Have you ever dealt with a snake demon
before?” Hunter: “Oh, sure, we got a lot of them back on the
farm.”)
If something like that came up, make a note.
You’ll use these notes to build subsequent mysteries and your arcs
(arcs are long-term problems). If you’re already thinking about long-
term problems and plots, go and read about building arcs (page 227)
and start your first one. It may not be totally defined yet: it could
just be one or two threats and a couple of notes. That’s fine. You can
develop and polish it as you go on.
If nothing springs to mind yet, wait until events in later mysteries
give you some ideas.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
Summary: Keeper's
First Session
• Discuss team concepts, and maybe pick one for the game.
• Guide the others through picking playbooks and creating
their hunters.
• Do introductions and history for the hunters.
• Have any hunters with start-of-mystery moves do them now.
• Start the mystery with a teaser scene.
• Let them begin investigating. Ask lots of questions to work
out how each hunter does things, and to find out about their
pasts.
• Put lots of horror into the stuff they find. Give them prob-
lems so they can show how cool they are as they solve them.
• Make sure that if a hunter rolls and gets a miss, they mark
experience.
• When any character suffers harm, use a harm move on them.
• Make a note of everything you can.
• Have some fights and action scenes as they get close to the
monster.
• They confront the monster. Hopefully, the hunters win.
• Go through the end-of-session experience questions and
have the hunters mark experience based on the answers.
• Discuss how it went. Let them change their hunters around
a bit if required.
• Look at your notes, and think ahead. Think about possible
future mysteries and monsters.
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
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ON WITH THE MYSTERY!
There’s a few things you need to do after each game
session, and before the next. I’ll take you through
those here.
In fact, you already started when you thought
about what came up in the previous session that you
could use later on. Going over the events of the last
mystery provides you with ideas to use for the next
mystery, or for new or existing arcs.
Most importantly, before the next game you will
need to create a new mystery for the hunters to deal
with. That works pretty much the same as the first one
did.
I’ll discuss arcs here, and then how to create your
later mysteries in the next chapter.
Between Game Sessions:
Arcs
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Arcs
Arcs are like mysteries that play out slowly in the background. They
describe things that are causing trouble for the hunters over the long
term. Think of them like the season-long plots used in Buffy and
Supernatural: a big bad monster and its ongoing plan is a perfect basis
for an arc.
Building Arcs
An arc is made up of four basic elements,
similar to a mystery. You can create them in
any order you want, but I’ll go through them
in the order I usually use:
• Basic concept.
• The threats.
• One or more countdowns.
• Optionally, some custom
moves.
Arcs work fine without being fully
detailed at first. Sometimes you’ll
have only a few ideas about
what’s going on. That’s fine:
just note the details you have
now, and fill in others as you
think of them. Events in play
will suggest further elements
to be added in later.
The Basic Concept
Decide on a starting concept for your arc. Mysteries usually start with
a monster, but arcs can come from a wide variety of places: a hunter’s
history, unfinished business from a mystery, or a neat idea you have
for an evil plan.
You may get some ideas for arcs right at the beginning of a new
game when the hunters are created. Perhaps the team concept and
backstory of the team suggests something. Some playbooks also have
built-in arc seeds, specifically:
• The Chosen’s fate. Use the details that you work out with the
player about what is in store for the Chosen.
• The Divine’s mission may require an arc, depending on the
details you worked out with the player.
• The Initiate’s Sect and Professional’s Agency both deserve
an arc. Use the choices the player made to decide what the
organisation’s motivations are, and how these will affect the
hunters. The organisation may mean well, but still cause
trouble by accident. On the other hand, some organisations
might have a sinister purpose for hunting monsters.
• The Wronged’s loss: every Wronged should have an arc
involving the creature(s) that caused their loss.
• Any player might make a decision during hunter creation that
gives you an idea for an arc.
In all these cases, ask the player questions about their hunter and their
history, in order to tease out ideas you can use for an arc.
Another way to get arc ideas is to take unfinished business from
the mysteries you play. For example:
• If the hunters failed to defeat a monster, it might decide to
track them and get revenge. Alternatively, it might restart its
evil plan somewhere else.
• If the hunters failed to notice and stop an evil plot, the plot-
ters can move on to the next step in their terrible plan.
• If the hunters miss an important detail, it might start a new
problem (for instance, a roach-person’s eggs are left in place
to hatch a new generation).
Lastly, as the game goes on you might notice that previously uncon-
nected facts or events make more sense if they were really connected
all along. That is the seed of an arc. Maybe you’ve had two mysteries
that both had a naga as the monster. Could there be a naga conspir-
acy that led to both situations? Think about what the nagas might be
trying to achieve, and use that as your arc concept.
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BETWEEN GAME SESSIONS: ARCS
An example arc:
Let’s say that there was a particularly annoying werewolf
pack leader who eluded the hunters. She seems like a good
choice to start an arc around (especially as the team has a
Wronged who is hunting werewolves).
The hunters killed most of the werewolf pack, so the leader
will definitely hold a grudge, and she was pretty smart in
her tactics, so the idea of her starting a crusade against the
hunters makes perfect sense.
Arc Threats
Arc threats are created (and work) in exactly the same way as mystery
threats, except there doesn’t need to be a monster. Arcs dealing with
human organisations (an Agency or Sect, for example) might be made
up of only bystanders and locations.
For example:
Our werewolf leader was already written up as a threat in
that original mystery, so we’ll add her first.
Nina Keenan. Monster: Queen (motivation: to possess and
control). I’ll omit her werewolf powers and weaknesses here,
but they will be the same as when she appeared previously
(and in keeping with the established rules for werewolves).
The Wronged is hunting a werewolf too. His name is
George Tovey, but the Wronged just calls him “the black were-
wolf.” Let’s put that one here too. This threat was established
by the player when she made the Wronged, but it is currently
unallocated to any mystery or arc. I’ll add him to this arc now.
“The Black Werewolf” aka George Tovey. Monster: Tor-
turer (motivation: to hurt and terrify).
My idea is that Nina is in charge of this new pack, and
she’s brought in George to be her top enforcer.
That’s enough key werewolves for this pack, but we’ll add
two minion threats for the rest of the pack. The first I’m calling
“werewolf brutes.” They’re my generic werewolves to throw in at
will. I’ll also have a few who are going to be tougher, and sent
after the hunters. They’ll be “werewolf assassins.” Both groups
are named after their minion type.
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Werewolf brutes (there are a dozen or so). Minion: Brute
(motivation: to intimidate and attack).
Three werewolf assassins. Minion: Assassin (motivation:
to kill the hunters).
Nina’s new werewolf pack will have taken a town (let’s call
it “New Hampstead”) as their new territory, and will be begin-
ning to take over the whole area. I’ll define that as a location,
because sooner or later the hunters will go there.
New Hampstead and surrounds. Location: Den (motiva-
tion: to harbour monsters).
Given that the most likely thing that will happen to the
hunters when they visit is a succession of werewolf attacks,
that type seems very appropriate.
I don’t think the arc needs any more threats at this stage.
Maybe some of the people in New Hampstead will be bystand-
ers in this arc later on, but this is enough to start with. The
initial ideas have given me plenty to use when writing up
mysteries: werewolf attacks, people asking around about the
hunters, rumours of werewolf activity, and so on.
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Arc Countdowns
Arc countdowns are like mystery countdowns, except they are on a
bigger scale.
Aim for each step of the countdown to have the potential to be
a whole mystery (either with the hunters attempting to stop it, or
dealing with the aftermath).
For example:
The arc countdown for our werewolf revenge arc is going
to center on Nina and George getting ready to take out the
hunters.
• Day: Nina consolidates her hold over New Hampstead
and creates a bunch of new werewolves.
• Shadows: The pack begins sending out spies to find the
hunters and assassins to kill the hunters’ loved ones and
support network.
• Dusk: George decides to target the Wronged, by hunting
down her family (aiming to turn them into werewolves,
rather than “just” kill them).
• Sunset: The pack makes a concerted assault on the
hunters and takes them out.
• Nightfall: The pack kills any other monster hunters who
are active in the region, and begins turning people in posi-
tions of authority.
• Midnight: Nina rules the whole region through the pack.
Note that this countdown needs to be created a little differently
than usual. Because the arc was triggered by the hunters’ actions, it’s
not what would happen if they never got involved. They’re already
involved! So this one is what will happen if the hunters don’t find out
about Nina and the werewolves, or if the hunters do not stop Nina’s
plan in time.
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Arc Templates
Here are some simple skeletons for arcs that allow you to slot in some
threats and build up the rest of the arc quickly.
Use them as-is, or as inspiration for your own arcs.
I’ve included a starting point in each. These are events that might
happen in your game that provide a perfect opportunity to put that
arc into play.
Ancient Evil Rising
This centers on a dormant, dead, or imprisoned monster and the allies
or servants working to bring it back.
Starting point: the hunters stumble upon early preparations for the
awakening.
Threats:
• The monster that’s awakening.
• Minions and allied monsters.
• The location where the monster is waiting.
Countdown:
Minions are collecting potential sacrifices
to prepare for the awakening.
Day
Minions conduct a dark ritual to prepare
the way, killing the sacrifices.
Shadows
Minions conduct the dark ritual
that awakens the monster.
Dusk
The monster awakens and wreaks havoc.
Sunset
The monster builds up its armies of minions.
Nightfall
The monster converts the area into a hellish
kingdom where all humans are enslaved or killed.
Midnight
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The Nemesis
This works for any hunter(s) with a nemesis—possibly a monster that
escaped, or the one the Wronged is hunting down, or something from
a destiny or dark past. The nemesis might be after an individual hunter,
or the whole team.
Note that my werewolf example arc, above, is a version of this
template (although with a few changes, to reflect the details of that
particular game).
Starting point: A monster gets away, or there is a Wronged in the team.
Threats:
• A monster (the nemesis).
• Minions and allied monsters.
• Bystanders (people the hunter cares about).
Countdown:
The nemesis recruits allies and minions.
Day
The nemesis starts investigating the hunters,
to find out where they are vulnerable.
Shadows
The minions attempt to abduct, torture
and kill people the hunters care about.
Dusk
The nemesis sends minions out to interfere
with the hunters during other mysteries.
Sunset
The nemesis and minions set a trap for the hunters.
Nightfall
The nemesis kills the hunters.
Midnight
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The End of Days
This is about the Apocalypse. The world is going to end.
Starting point: The End of the World is prophesied, or the hunters are
told of what is being planned by a monster or conspirator, or there is
a Chosen in the team.
Threats:
• Several monsters, including at least one destroyer.
• Hordes of minions.
• A location (the place it begins).
Countdown:
A monster starts looking for a special artifact
that is needed to bring about the end.
Day
There are prophecies, clues in mysteries, and
other signs that bad things are coming.
Shadows
The monster finds the artifact.
Dusk
The monster and minions go to the place it will
begin, and conduct an evil magic ritual.
Sunset
The Apocalypse begins.
Nightfall
The world is destroyed (or irrevocably
changed for the worse).
Midnight
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Corruption
This is for games with a critical organisation that the hunters have to
trust. Unfortunately it has been infiltrated by evil, or perhaps always
has been evil. A Professional’s Agency or Initiate’s Sect might qualify,
or it could be an organisation that the hunters come across, or ally
with, in play.
Starting point: The hunters come across something that shows that
they are being lied to, or that people they trust are up to something
sinister.
Threats:
• Minions (the traitors).
• Bystanders (the people who bought the cover story).
• Monsters behind the scenes.
• Locations for organisation sites.
Countdown:
The organisation sends the hunters on a
mystery with incomplete intelligence.
Day
The organisation sends a second
team to do something at odds with
the hunters’ goal on a mystery.
Shadows
The organization recruits monsters
and minions directly.
Dusk
The traitors start liquidating good agents.
Sunset
The traitors start openly doing out-and-out evil deeds.
Nightfall
The evil plan is complete (e.g. immortality
for the traitors, “We’ll be eaten last,” etc.).
Midnight
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Arc Custom Moves
Arcs and arc threats may have custom moves, the same as mysteries
and mystery threats (the rules for custom moves are on page 296).
Think about creating custom moves for threats that the hunters will
deal with directly, or to highlight special features of the arc.
For example:
This arc relies on the werewolves “recruiting,” so let’s think
about how that happens. I don’t want it to be every time you
get hurt by a werewolf, maybe it has to be a serious injury?
When a werewolf attack causes 4-harm, you start
becoming a werewolf. You’ll be feverish all the time, and
suffer random pains. As the full moon approaches, you’ll have
sharper senses (especially smell, hearing, and night vision) and
crave raw, bloody meat. The transformation may be stopped
by a big magic ritual, or treatment with silver (anything that
will affect the whole body, such as colloidal silver capsules,
will do). If not cured by the next full moon, you’ll transform
and it will be too late to save you: change your playbook to
Monstrous. Note that almost no bystanders who suffer such a
werewolf attack will be able to cure it, so they will almost all
be turned.
Summary: Arc Creation
• Come up with a basic concept: a long-term evil plot that
threatens the hunters or the world.
• Create the threats for the arc, using the rules for mystery
threats.
• Create a countdown for the arc.
• As you play, add more details to the arc based on what
happens in each related mystery.
• Advance the arc countdown when the hunters do not stop
the evil plan.
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Between Game Sessions:
Subsequent
Mysteries
The process for creating subsequent mysteries is
much the same as when you create the first one. I’ll
summarize the process again here, and then explain
what you need to do differently.
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Summary:
Mystery Creation
• Come up with a basic concept: a cool monster, mystery idea, or
something inspired by a previous mystery or by your arcs.
• Create a hook: the clue that caught the hunters’ attention.
• Create the monster(s): name, description, type and motivation,
define powers, weaknesses, attacks, armour, harm capacity.
• Create the minions (if any): name, description, type and motiva-
tion, define powers, weaknesses, attacks, armour, harm capacity.
• Create the bystanders: name, description, type and motivation.
• Create the locations: name, description, type and motivation.
• Define the mystery countdown: six terrible events that would
occur if the hunters never came.
• Create any custom moves required for these threats, or the
mystery as a whole.
Basic Concept
Start by coming up with a concept. Think about:
• Favourite monsters from myth, folklore, urban legend or
popular culture.
• Loose ends from previous mysteries.
• The next problem from one of your arcs (see page 227).
• Steal a plot from somewhere else and file off the serial
numbers (by changing the location and/or type of monster).
• A place you’ve been, or know about, that has potential as
somewhere a monster could be lurking.
• Any secrets the hunters found out and want to explore.
• Bystanders from old mysteries call the hunters for help.
• A monster the hunters failed to kill returns.
• Ambush the hunters with monsters of a type they’ve fought
before.
• Return to the place a previous mystery happened.
• Create a different variety of monsters they have previously
encountered.
Pick something that inspires you, then work out what’s going to
be happening.
If your concept has a monster, what does it want to achieve?
If the concept has come from somewhere else, work out which
monster(s) fit into it.
Using Your Arcs
You can use arcs in a few different ways to inspire your mysteries:
• Use aspects of the arc. Most obviously, the next event in the
arc countdown could be the basis of a mystery. A mystery
might also be connected tangentially to the arc, for instance
if the arc threats have indirectly caused it.
• The hunters might investigate elements of an arc on their own
initiative, so they might pre-empt the next countdown event.
• The threats from an arc might turn up as minor (or major)
elements in a mystery. For instance, maybe a minion from the
arc is an ally of the monster in your mystery?
• Clues referring to an arc can be found while investigating
something else.
• While investigating a mystery, the hunters could be tar-
geted by monsters or minions from an arc. Possibly this is a
pre-emptive attack, or possibly the hunters are just in the way
of something the creatures need to do.
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The Hook
The hook is the clue that brought the hunters to this situation, such as
something weird in the news that says “monster” to hunters but seems
normal to those who aren’t in the know. For subsequent mysteries you
can consider other sorts of hooks:
• If any of the hunters have a particular interest in a specific
sort of monster or phenomenon, their research could find
signs of suspicious activity.
• A bystander that the hunters have helped before might
contact them if they encounter another monster.
• A monster that has reason to hate the hunters can come
looking for them. The hook here might be the first attack on
the hunters.
• A clue that is similar to something the hunters have seen
before, but with an important difference.
• Something the hunters have done might have drawn super-
natural attention, so that the next mystery comes to them.
The hook will be when things start getting weird.
• One of the hunters is told a prophecy or has a vision of what
is going to happen (or is already happening).
• If the hunters are associated with an organisation (e.g., a Pro-
fessional’s Agency or Initiate’s Sect) then they may be given
the mission by their superiors.
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The Threats
Just like the first mystery, your threats are monsters, minions, bystand-
ers, and locations.
Monsters
For your monster, it’s best to start with something from folklore or
urban legend (there’s plenty of online sources for this: I use Wikipe-
dia as my starting point). Working from established folklore means
everyone will have a general idea about what the monster is capable of
(once they work out what it is).
If you don’t want to take a creature from folklore or urban legend
as the basis of your mystery, here are some other good sources:
• Use a monster from another source (perhaps a film, novel,
TV show, or comic). I recommend changing things around
a little, so that any of your players familiar with the source
won’t recognise it immediately.
• Use a basic idea from folklore or urban legend, but change it
in major ways.
• Come up with a cosmological reason for the monsters in your
game, and use that to decide how they consistently appear
and act. A game in which monsters are dangerous manifes-
tations of features in the natural world (cities, forests, oceans,
etc) will have a very different style to one where every monster
is an inscrutable intrusion from outside our universe.
• Create your own creature, perhaps based on your game’s
existing mythology.
• Use a monster breed the hunters have encountered before,
but vary its abilities or motivation.
• Use a monster breed the hunters have encountered before,
but showing a different aspect of it (e.g. maybe the sewer troll
they met before was a hermit, and most sewer trolls live in
family groups).
Pick a type based on the creature’s motivation rather than its abilities.
Not every blood-drinking vampire is a devourer, for example; it might
be a breeder, because its real goal is to create an army of vampire
minions.
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Here are the twelve monster types again:
• Beast (motivation: to run wild, destroying and killing)
• Breeder (motivation: to give birth to, bring forth, or create
evil)
• Collector (motivation: to steal specific sorts of things)
• Destroyer (motivation: to bring about the end of the world)
• Devourer (motivation: to consume people)
• Executioner (motivation: to punish the guilty)
• Parasite (motivation: to infest, control and devour)
• Queen (motivation: to possess and control)
• Sorcerer (motivation: to usurp unnatural power)
• Tempter (motivation: to tempt people into evil deeds)
• Torturer (motivation: to hurt and terrify)
• Trickster (motivation: to create chaos)
Decide on all the remaining elements that you’ll need: its powers,
attacks, armour, harm capacity, and weakness(es):
• Pick the type for the motivation this monster needs.
• Note down all the supernatural powers that it has.
• Define weaknesses.
• Define its attacks: how much harm does it do (usually 3-5)?
What range? Are any other tags required?
• How much armour does it have?
• How much harm can it suffer before it dies (usually 8-12)?
• Optionally, custom moves for the monster’s powers.
When your hunters are experienced and capable, you can make the
monsters tougher than those guidelines. For attacks, the normal
range is 3- to 5-harm, but go higher if a monster especially dangerous.
An attack doing 8-harm or more is instant death (hunters have ways
to survive such nasty attacks, of course: spending Luck, or another
hunter protecting them).
If you haven’t already worked out what it’s trying to achieve, give
that some thought now. You need to know what its plan is, even if that
plan is just “eat a lot of people.” If your initial idea doesn’t suggest a
plan, look at the type you have given it. The motivation should suggest
a certain sort of goal. Think about that, and then work out (given what
you’ve already thought of) what is the worst thing that monster could
be planning here? The plan could also fulfill the next stage in one of
your arcs, or be a new twist on something that happened in a previous
mystery.
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Example Monsters
Here are some examples to illustrate a variety of different monsters.
Note that I’ve given each one a monster type that fits the basic concept
of the creature, but if you use it in a mystery you should consider
whether it fits the monster’s role for that adventure, and change the
type if you find a better match.
A Classic Vampire
A vampire based on the novel Dracula.
Monster: Queen (motivation: to possess and control).
Powers:
• Immortal.
• Mesmerism: When it commands you, roll +Cool. On a 10+, you
can choose whether to do it or not. If you do, mark experience
and take +1 forward. On a 7-9, you can choose whether you do it
or not. If you do, mark experience. If you don’t, take +1 the next
time he tries to mesmerise you. On a miss, you do what it asks.
• Transform into wolf, bat, or shadow.
• Extremely strong.
• Can climb any wall.
• Incredibly stealthy.
• Vampiric bite: victims bitten three
times become vampires themselves.
• Master vampire: he controls all the
vampires he has created.
• Plague bringer: Disease and vermin
thrive when a vampire is nearby.
Attacks: Punch/throw: 4-harm hand;
Bite: 3-harm intimate vampiric.
Armour: Physical toughness:
1-armour.
Weaknesses:
Must
subsist
on human blood. Must sleep in the soil of his
homeland. A wooden stake through the heart.
Decapitation.
Harm capacity: 9 harm.
A Monstrosity From Beyond
This is an alien being. It has no name. It looks like a collection of
moving shapes or roiling bubbles and is an oily black shimmery colour.
Monster: Collector (motivation: to steal specific sorts of things).
Powers:
• Devour Memory: If the creature succeeds with a “devour
memory” attack (see below) it extrudes a tentacle into the vic-
tim’s head. The victim takes 3-harm ignore-armour and loses one
memory of the Keeper’s choice. It doesn’t much care if the victim
is human or not, so it will be happy eating memories from any-
thing that has them.
• Phasing: The creature is not exactly in our dimension, so it can
squeeze itself through solid objects. Note that when it lashes
people with its tendrils in defense, they will in fact lash through
the target (that’s why it has ignore-armour).
Attacks: Devour memory: 3-harm ignore armour 1-memory; Tendril
lash: 4-harm close ignore-armour phasing.
Armour: Its semi-physical body counts as 2-armour.
Weaknesses: Its form can be disrupted by high energy (e.g. intense
heat, industrial-voltage electricity, high powered laser, etc.).
Harm capacity: 12 harm.
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Uhul, Demon Prince
Uhul is immensely powerful, and hard to call to Earth. It’s even harder
to banish. It may appear in many forms, but prefers to pass as human
(with a few clues, e.g. small horns at its temples) or as a towering
archetypal demon (reptilian, red, fangs, cloven hooves, wings, and
tail).
Monster: Tempter (motivation: to tempt people into evil deeds).
Powers:
• Grant Magical Power: Uhul may gift a
human with a magical ability. It only does
this in exchange for something of great
value, such as a soul. Hunters making this
deal can take a magical move from any
playbook, or something similar.
• Change Form: Uhul may take any human-
like form it wants, but retains at least one
demonic feature.
• Summon spear: The spear appears in
Uhul’s hand at will.
Attacks: Fisticuffs: 2-harm hand; Demonic
talons: 4-harm hand; Barbed iron spear:
5-harm hand close heavy.
Armour: 1-armour (just generally
hard to hurt).
Weaknesses: A specific big magic
banishing ritual (requires 7 people,
some rare crystals, requires use
magic to banish Uhul, and takes 4
hours to cast).
Harm capacity: 12 harm.
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A Vrykolakas, a Balkan vampire
A vrykolakas rises each night to visit the
houses of people it knew. At each
house, it knocks once and
calls for its friends and family.
Anyone who answers the knock
begins to suffer from a wasting
disease, and when dead they
will also rise as a vrykolakas.
These
creatures
have
bloated bodies which their
skin stretches and strains to
fully cover, resulting in some
areas that are flushed and others
that are near-transparent. They
wear the remains of whatever
they were buried in, although
it is partly chewed if you look
closely (a consequence of their
hunger before they got out of the coffin).
A vrykolakas sleeps in its den (any place that won’t be disturbed)
during the day (except for Saturdays, when it must lie in its grave).
Monster: Breeder (motivation: to give birth to, or bring forth, evil).
Powers:
• Wasting Call: If the vrykolakas knocks (once) on your door and
calls your name, and you answer, you will contract a wasting
disease. You suffer 1-harm from the wasting disease every day,
and you will die and rise again as a vrykolakas once it gets to
7-harm. Killing the original vrykolakas will stop the disease’s pro-
gression.
• Night Terrors: If the monster comes into your bedroom, it can
suffocate you. If you have the vrykolakas’ wasting illness, add +2
to the harm total from the disease. If not, take 3-harm from the
suffocation and life drain before you wake up.
Attacks: Claws: 1-harm hand messy; Teeth: 1-harm intimate conta-
gious (‘contagious’ gives the victim the wasting illness).
Armour: 2-armour
Weaknesses: Sleeps in its grave on Saturday; Fire; Decapitation.
Harm capacity: 10 harm.
Spore Troll
Spore trolls are fungal creatures that grow when an animal is infected
with special spores. The infected animals grow supplementary fungal
masses and keep getting bigger and bigger. Although strong, spore
trolls aren’t very smart. They exist to defend the queen-mass, and to
(eventually) explode, releasing more spores and infesting a new area.
Each nest centers on a queen-mass, a horrible growth that is the nexus
of all the offspring spore-trolls and other fungal workers and drones.
Monster: Parasite (motivation: to infest, control, and devour)
Powers:
• Spore Explosion: may infect victim: within a few days, they begin
turning into another spore troll.
• Regrowth: if dismembered, they will regrow lost body parts in a
few hours.
Attacks: SMASH!: 3-harm hand messy; Cutting lash: 2-harm close.
Armour: 2 armour.
Weaknesses: Link to the fungus-queen-mass: destroying the queen-
mass or severing the mental link allows the spore troll to be destroyed.
Harm capacity: 12 harm.
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A Classic Werewolf
A person can become a werewolf in two ways. They may be cursed (by
a big magic ritual) or injured by a werewolf but not killed.
Werewolves transform into wolves on the night of the full moon
each month, and run wild, attacking any human or animal prey they
find.
Although a werewolf is very tough in wolf form, it doesn’t heal any
faster than normal. This means that werewolves can be identified—if
wounded in wolf form—by looking for a corresponding injury in the
daytime.
Monster: Beast (motivation: to run wild, destroying and killing).
Powers:
• Transform into a wolf: automatically, every night of the full
moon.
• Supernatural toughness: gains extra harm capacity and armour
in wolf form.
Attacks: Human—as normal; Wolf—Bite: 2-harm hand; Wolf—Rend:
3-harm hand messy.
Armour: Human—none; Wolf—1-armour.
Weaknesses: Silver; Wolfsbane.
Harm capacity: Human: 7 harm; Wolf: 18 harm.
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The De-Identifier
An entity from another dimension that feeds on what makes any thing
distinguishable from other things. The creature appears as a hovering
scaled creature with a catlike form. It moves via gentle flight, unaf-
fected by gravity. When it takes away something’s individuality, it
must touch the target and concentrate for a few seconds.
The hunters may hear about cases of people and things disappear-
ing without a trace—in fact, they are still there, just nobody can tell
them apart to recognise them. During the investigation, mention the
presence of some generic people and objects—these are the current
victims! If the hunters try to find out such a person’s name, or what
they look like, they will not be able to (which should be a big clue
about what is going on).
Monster: Devourer (motivation: to consume people).
Powers:
• Unaffected by gravity: It moves wherever it wishes, drifting at
walking speed.
Attacks: Take away individuality 0-harm concentration hand (see
below).
Armour: None.
Weaknesses: Identity (if the hunters somehow name it, they may kill
it; this will require big magic or a very creative plan); Banishment (it
may be sent back to its own dimension permanently).
Harm capacity: 7-harm.
Custom moves:
Take Away Individuality: when it touches something, the
De-Identifier takes away aspects of the entity that may be used to tell
it apart from others of its kind. Entities with their individuality taken
away are still whole, so the hunters can interact with such objects or
talk to such people, etc. However, it will be impossible recall anything
to help find that object or person again (only use magic or big magic
will supersede this effect). If any hunter is successfully targetted by
this custom move, take away a single thing that distinguishes them
each time—their name, or an aspect of their look. When a hunter’s
name and all look choices are gone, they are completely de-individu-
alised. Recovery of these things will require big magic.
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Chupacabras
Historically, chupacabras are a fairly new urban legend originating in
Puerto Rico in the 1990s. Perhaps that is just when they began visiting
us?
The chupacabras is a thin, doglike, spiny creature that drinks
blood. It is most known for attacking farm animals, but will happily
feast on human blood if given the chance.
Individually, chupacabras are not very dangerous to a hunter
team. However, they often appear en masse: a plague of the creatures
afflicting a region.
Monster: Devourer (motivation: to consume people).
Powers:
• Night Walker: A chupacabras can disappear into the darkness,
reappearing in its den. It cannot be tracked home, as it did not
walk through the intervening space.
Attacks: Bite: 1-harm hand; Blood-suck: 2-harm intimate, must bite
first.
Armour: None.
Weaknesses: Sunlight; Enclosure (if you can trap it within a given
area, it may not night-walk away and may be killed).
Harm capacity: 5-harm.
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Ghoul
Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft, these ghouls are once-human cannibal
gibberers-in-darkness. They have pronounced snouts, a hunched and
scrambling gait, and rubbery skin. Their teeth are long and sharp, and
their dirty claws grab and tear.
Ghouls are created when a person repeatedly engages in cannibal-
ism, or simply spends too long in morbid contemplation of graveyards
and sites of death. These proclivities may lead to a gradual transforma-
tion into a ghoul, especially when a nest exists nearby.
Ghouls usually seem to have a low intelligence: only interested in
eating and horrifying humans around them. However, some maintain
their memories and rationality (to a greater or lesser extent). These
may learn many secrets of the world while traversing the ghoul tunnel
networks, as well as through their dealings with the undead and other
unnatural beings.
Monster: Torturer (motivation: to hurt and terrify)
Powers:
• Immortal: Ghouls do not age.
• Tunnels Beneath: Ghouls delve systems of tunnels beneath
graveyards, first to access the flesh of the dead, but they may also
travel great distances (sometimes even through time) via these
passages.
• Rubbery Flesh: The sinews and body of a ghoul is strong and
tough. Hunters who attempt to contest with a ghoul in brute
strength take -1 ongoing.
• Creature
of
the
Night:
Ghouls can see perfectly well
in the dark, but bright light
dazzles them.
Attacks: Grabbing claws (1-harm
hand), Rending teeth (1-harm inti-
mate).
Armour: The rubbery flesh of a
ghoul counts as 1-armour.
Weaknesses: Sunlight.
Harm capacity: 8 harm.
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Minions
Minions can be supernatural creatures (maybe weaker versions of a
monster breed), or normal people (who could be voluntarily or invol-
untarily helping the monster). They can also be a group that work
together.
Minions help the monster and work against the hunters.
There are ten minion types:
• Assassin (motivation: to kill the hunters)
• Brute (motivation: to intimidate and attack)
• Cultist (motivation: to save their own skin at any cost)
• Guardian (motivation: to bar a way or protect something)
• Right hand (motivation: to back up the monster)
• Plague (motivation: to swarm and destroy)
• Renfield (motivation: to push victims towards the monster)
• Scout (motivation: to stalk, watch, and report)
• Thief (motivation: to steal and deliver to the monster)
• Traitor (motivation: to betray people)
Decide on all the elements that you’ll need:
• Description.
• Pick the type (and associated motivation) for the minion.
• Note down all the supernatural powers it has, if any.
• Weaknesses, if any.
• Define its attacks: how much harm does the minion do
(usually 2-4)? What range? Are any other tags required?
• How much armour does it have, if any?
• How much harm can it suffer before it dies (usually 5-10)?
• Optionally, custom moves for the minion’s powers.
As with monsters, when your hunters are experienced and capable,
you can make the minions tougher than these guidelines.
Remember minions may be a group of undistinguished foes as
well as individuals. If you create a group minion, the harm capacity is
how much is required to kill or disperse the whole group.
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Example Minions
Here are two example minions, illustrating a couple of ways to create
a minion that isn’t just a weaker version of a monster.
Homunculus Swarm
The homunculus swarm is a number of small critters. A golemancer
has been building them from parts of dead people. They act as scouts
and guards for the golemancer while she builds bigger and better ver-
sions.
They look nasty: strips of muscle, bits of bone, pieces of organs, an
eye or three; all just kinda put together into a vaguely sensible shape,
with varying numbers of legs, claws, and teeth. They’re not smart or,
individually, very tough.
Minion: Brute (motivation: to intimidate and attack).
Attacks: Individuals have an attack of 1-harm (if rat-sized) or 2-harm,
(if cat-sized). There aren’t any bigger ones (yet). If they attack as a
group, then they have a 3-harm area attack. Range is hand/intimate.
Harm capacity: 7-harm will disperse the swarm. Each point of harm
kills one or two individuals.
Chuck The Bartender
Chuck is the hunters’ good friend at their favorite bar, always happy to
give them a couple of free drinks and to listen to them unload about
their problems. Unfortunately, Chuck also makes a bit of extra money
passing information back to the hunters’ biggest enemies.
Minion: Traitor (motivation: to betray people)
Chuck is friendly and a little too generous. He won’t do anything
obvious against the hunters, but make him just a little nicer than he
needs to be. And make sure that the monster hears about everything
that they tell Chuck (assume the monster knows how to fill in any gaps
the hunters have left out because they are talking to a civilian).
Chuck’s just a normal person. He doesn’t have any special powers,
attacks, or armour.
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Bystanders
These are people who, often inadvertently, make it harder for the
hunters to solve the mystery.
Think about your agenda and principles when you’re creating
bystanders. Make sure each has something that they will want from
the hunters. It works best if it’s something simple, like “go away and
leave me alone,” or “save me.”
It’s useful to put some partially-defined bystanders into each
mystery, with just a name and threat type. That way, when the hunters
want to talk to someone you didn’t think of in advance, you can just
use the next partial description (and fill in any extra details then and
there).
There are nine bystander types:
• Busybody (motivation: to interfere in other people’s plans)
• Detective (motivation: to rule out explanations)
• Gossip (motivation: to pass on rumours)
• Helper (motivation: to join the hunt)
• Innocent (motivation: to do the right thing)
• Official (motivation: to be suspicious)
• Skeptic (motivation: to deny supernatural explanations)
• Victim (motivation: to put themselves in danger)
• Witness (motivation: to reveal information)
Decide on the details the bystanders need:
• A name.
• A description.
• Bystander type and motivation. This may suggest what they
will want from the hunters.
• Optionally, a custom move.
Example Bystanders
Here are a couple of example bystanders. They’re a bit more detailed
than you need for a single mystery: this level of description is for
someone who is going to be a recurring character.
Harvey Jones, Monster Investigator
Harvey is a conspiracy theorist and cryptozoologist, just short
of donning a tinfoil hat. If there’s a Flake on the team with the net
friends move, maybe they even know Harvey (probably one of his
pseudonyms).
Bystander: Detective (motivation: to rule out explanations).
If there’s monster activity in Harvey’s town, he’s going to be investi-
gating it. He’s likely to get in the way of the hunters, both directly and
by annoying other people before the hunters get to them. He’ll be sus-
picious of the hunters (maybe even deciding they are Men in Black).
He can also be encountered investigating a mystery away from
home: he could pick up on the same things that the hunters did and
have worked out that a monster is active there.
Christine Fleming: She Would Like To Help
Christine is an empathetic type, who will notice any of the hunters
who have emotional baggage, and try to draw that out of them. It’s
always better to talk things out, right?
Bystander: Innocent (motivation: to do the right thing).
Use Christine to give the hunters a whole different thing to worry
about: someone trying to give them amateur psychological aid for
their perceived emotional damage (chances are that she can find at
least two members of the team who seem damaged).
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Locations
Locations are significant places in the mystery. Define a location threat
for any places that are likely to be important during the mystery. You
can also add a location threat type when, during play, a place becomes
the scene of action or significant events.
It’s important to note that the types describe the location in terms
of what sort of things happen there, not the actual form of it. A diner
could be a crossroads, because people meet there. Another diner
could be a hellgate, because creatures from beyond are summoned in
the back room. When picking a location threat type, think of what the
place is emotionally, symbolically, and functionally, not literally.
There are ten location types:
• Crossroads (motivation: to bring people, and things, together)
• Deathtrap (motivation: to harm intruders)
• Den (motivation: to harbour monsters)
• Fortress (motivation: to deny entry)
• Hellgate (motivation: to create evil)
• Hub (motivation: to reveal information)
• Lab (motivation: to create weirdness)
• Maze (motivation: to confuse and separate)
• Prison (motivation: to constrain and prevent exit)
• Wilds (motivation: to contain hidden things)
Decide on all the details your locations need:
• A name.
• A description.
• Location type and motivation.
• Optionally, a map.
• Optionally, one or more custom moves.
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Example Locations
Here’s two example locations to illustrate some different ways you can
use location threats. As with the example bystanders, this might be a
little more detail than required for an average location in a mystery:
this is the amount you’d need if it is a central part of a mystery or will
be a recurring place.
The Portal of Darkness
Here’s a location that could be the center of a mystery (or an arc).
A huge, ancient gateway made of a circular grassy area surrounded
by three enormous stones which are covered in eldritch runes.
Location: Hub (motivation: to reveal information).
Although the portal looks scary, it’s not dangerous in itself.
Instead, the records of the site and deciphering the runes carved here
can give the hunters a lot of clues about what’s going on. If the portal
is eventually activated, it might change to be a hellgate or lab instead.
Home
This location is someone’s home: maybe a Chosen, Mundane, or
Spooky who is still living with their family. It’s safe, but also has their
family to cause trouble.
Location: Prison (motivation: to constrain and prevent exit).
Custom move: When you make excuses to the family for some-
thing to do with monster hunting, roll +Charm.
• On a 10+, you smooth over things but you might need to help
out with some chores in the near future.
• On a 7-9, they know you aren’t telling the whole truth. You
smooth over things for now, but you’ll need to make an effort
to be seen as the good kid. Also, take -1 the next time you roll
this move.
• On a miss, they catch you out. You’re in big trouble!
Note that this move doesn’t need to just apply to a hunter who lives
here. Sometimes the other hunters might need to make excuses to the
family, too!
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The Countdown
To create the mystery countdown, work out what will happen if the
hunters never come to help. Remember, this is just your plan for what
will happen until the hunters interfere, and the step names are meta-
phorical.
Then allocate them to the steps in the countdown. Countdowns
have the following six steps:
• Day.
• Shadows.
• Dusk.
• Sunset.
• Nightfall.
• Midnight.
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Mystery Scope
The countdown gives you a way to define the scope of a mystery.
A confined, personal mystery has each event about the same
person, or their immediate family and surroundings.
An epic mystery has the effects of each step affecting a wider
area. The countdown for an epic mystery might start with a hook that
focuses on a home, neighbourhood or town while its final steps affect
the whole world (or the whole universe).
To make the mystery more intense, a good trick is to take your
finished countdown, move the “midnight” event to “dusk” or “sunset.”
Work out what happens next to fill up the remaining steps again.
Mystery Templates
Here are some simple skeletons for mysteries that allow you to slot in
a monster and build up the rest of the mystery quickly. Use them as-is
if you’re in a hurry, or as inspiration for your own mysteries.
A Bug Hunt
A straightforward monster hunt. Bug hunts suit monsters that have
simple motivations, such as a devourer, torturer, beast, or executioner.
Hook: There have been one or more killings which, to those in the
know, are obviously the work of an unnatural creature.
Threats:
• The monster.
• A location: the general vicinity.
• A location: the monster’s lair.
• At least two bystanders to be potential witnesses and victims
(some sympathetic, others annoying).
Countdown:
The monster kills again.
Day
The monster kills again (a helpful bystander).
Shadows
The monster kills again (an annoying bystander).
Dusk
The monster abducts some innocent victims.
Sunset
The monster devours all the captives.
Nightfall
The monster grows in strength and power.
Midnight
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An Evil Ritual
A monster (or an evil human sorcerer) is planning a terrible ritual to
unleash horrors upon the world.
Hook: An ancient prophecy, a vision of the future, or everyday inves-
tigation and research tells the hunters that the ritual is going to occur.
Threats:
• A monster.
• Some minions (including your sorcerer, if you have one).
• A location (the ritual ground—most likely a hellgate).
• At least one bystander (a potential sacrifice).
Countdown:
The monster/sorcerer prepares the ritual ground.
Day
The monster/sorcerer kills in the process of
getting something required in the ritual.
Shadows
The monster/sorcerer abducts a sacrificial
victim (preferably the bystander or a hunter).
Dusk
The ritual begins.
Sunset
The victim is sacrificed.
Nightfall
The ritual is completed and horrors are unleashed.
Midnight
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Not What It Seems
This template is used for mysteries that start out looking like one sort
of monster but which turn out to be something else (maybe just a dif-
ferent variety of that type, maybe something totally different).
You’ll need to come up with the monster, and work out why it
initially seems to be something else. Is it intentionally trying to throw
off the scent? Is it a different variety with different motives and habits?
Hook: A death that appears, to those in the know, to be a certain sort
of monster.
Threats:
• A monster.
• The area where the attacks are happening.
• Lots of bystanders.
Countdown:
The monster attacks someone else
in a misleading manner.
Day
The monster does something that hints that
it is not what the initial clues implied.
Shadows
The monster attacks someone in a manner totally
out of keeping with what the initial clues implied.
Dusk
Someone sees the monster’s true nature and escapes.
Sunset
The monster puts its true plan into action.
Nightfall
The true plan is enacted.
Midnight
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Messing With The Formula
The instructions above are the formula for a normal Monster of the
Week mystery. But if every mystery ends up being built the same way
it will get boring. Change things up now and again to prevent that.
Here are some ideas of how to do this:
• Give the mystery two monsters, at odds with each other. Maybe
the hunters will have a chance to team up with one, in a “my
enemy’s enemy...” sort of story? Maybe both monsters need to be
stopped?
• Revisit a person, place, or monster that was especially memora-
ble. This is a good way to build up your game’s mythology and to
advance an arc. Returning to elements that you’ve used before
means there will be associations and prejudices built in. Make
sure to get your notes from the previous time(s) and update each
threat: think about what’s the same and what has changed.
• There’s no monster at all. This could be due to the situation having
a weird but natural explanation. Or it could be that there is super-
natural weirdness about the place (a location threat) that needs to
be dealt with. You could even have a monster with a pseudo-sci-
entific explanation (like a mind-controlling fungus, or a deadly
disease). These options work great for a game inspired by The
X-Files or Fringe, where the team is not necessarily hunting mon-
sters, but instead investigating weird events.
You can write up a weird phenomenon as if it were a monster,
complete with motivation, powers, and attacks. For a weakness,
decide what the hunters need to understand to prevent any
ongoing danger. When the hunters investigate the mystery, they
can learn more about the phenomenon’s origin, effects, and how
to stop it.
• There’s no monster, but instead low-powered minions are the
problem. A plague of giant spiders, for example, could work this
way.
• A session where the hunters are off-duty gives an opportunity to
explore the relationships in the team, and with their friends and
family outside the team as well.
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• The discussion of one-shot games (page 292) includes some
ideas for more intense, self-contained mysteries that you can use
in an ongoing game as well.
• A flashback mystery could explore aspects of the team’s history
(such as when they met, or events that intrigued you from the
characters’ backstories).
• There are no bystanders. In this sort of mystery, maybe the hunters
are thrown into a remote location with only unnatural horrors for
company. There won’t be any time for chatting to normal folks,
you’ll be too busy staying alive.
• A comedy episode. Set things up to be silly, maybe in a way that
pokes fun at the hunters and yourself. You can steal one of the
comedy episode ideas from Buffy, Angel or Supernatural, and
then adjust it to make your own version.
• A mystery based directly on what’s happening in one of your arcs.
This will contribute to the ongoing plot, and can help alert the
hunters about the bigger problem.
• A deadly mystery, where the players all create new hunters with
just 1 or 2 Luck. Use the tweaks for a one-shot game (page 292),
and aim to kill them all. These events can then become the back-
ground for a mystery with the normal hunter team, and may
illustrate something about an arc they haven’t noticed yet.
• You can present the hunters with hooks for two (or more) mys-
teries, and let them decide which one they want to deal with. This
is a very high-stakes tough choice, especially if the hunters can
see the mysteries relate to different evil plots they need to stop
(i.e. your ongoing arcs). Once the first mystery has been dealt
with, you’ll need to decide how things have worsened in the other
situation(s): the countdowns may have advanced a little, or a lot.
Make these decisions based on your Keeper agenda, principles
and what you always say.
In the end though, take any cool idea you have, write it up as a list of
threats and you’re good to go.
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Sessions and Mysteries
Most mysteries will fill one session of play, so that you can sit down
for an afternoon or evening and play through a self-contained mystery.
Of course, there’s plenty of ways to vary that if it doesn’t work for your
group.
Some groups have short time slots by necessity, so you might
need to break each mystery up over two or three sessions.
Alternately, if you have a longer block of time to play or just work
through a mystery quickly, you might be able to get through two mys-
teries at a time.
Multi-Part Mysteries
You can build two-part mysteries, or even longer connected sequences.
For a two-part mystery, build it just like two normal ones, except
that the end point of the first mystery (monster defeated and/or secret
revealed) leads into the next one. That way you can end on a shock-re-
veal and tell everyone “to be continued...” If events in the game fall into
place just right you might be able to end on a cliffhanger, but you can’t
count on this.
The second mystery is probably best just sketched out, for you
to complete once the first one is done. That way you will know which
threats from part one are still around, and tailor the conclusion of the
mystery based on what the hunters did in the first part.
Sometimes a mystery might just take longer to finish than
expected. In these cases, you can stop in the midst of the action and
say, “To be continued...” Before the next session, have another look
at the remaining sections of the mystery and update them based on
what has already happened, then continue the mystery from where
you left off.
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Longer Mystery Sequences
If you want to build a longer set of connected mysteries, the same
process applies. A series of connected mysteries works well for an
arc—you can just drop in the next adventure in the series now and
again, the way that The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Fringe
intersperse one or two episodes about the overarching plot amongst
the usual monster-of-the-week episodes.
The more connected the mysteries, of course, the less you can
assume in advance. Not knowing what the hunters will achieve in the
coming mysteries, you’ll have to make the ones further in the future
more vague. You might have a monster that is supposed to be a key
player later on killed early, so bear in mind the need to be flexible and
ready to change your plans depending on what happens in play.
Absences
I expect play to mainly be the same group of people meeting together
to play out a series of mysteries. Real life doesn’t always allow that.
One of the advantages of the mystery-centered structure is that
it allows some of the players to miss a game with minimal disruption.
You can just say, “Oh, Owen is off hunting down something on his
own this week, and can’t help you with this case.” Next time when the
player is back you can ask what they were doing on their own (or write
a mystery letter for them to cover it.)
Mystery Letters
Mystery letters are a technique to give the hunters information to set
up a new mystery and start the game with a roar. They’re especially
useful when:
• You are running a convention game.
• Someone missed a game, to bring them (and yourself) back
up to speed.
• There’s been a hiatus in your game.
• There’s some unfinished business from the last game session.
• You want to give the hunters some clues about the mystery.
• You want to start with the hunters already in the midst of the
action.
The letter should briefly remind the hunter what happened last time,
and where you left off. Include any new information that you want to
give the hunter. For example, you can put the hook for this mystery
and some background information they have already discovered.
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Then put in a custom move for the hunter to roll, or pick from a
list of options. The moves should either provide some useful informa-
tion, or put the hunter right into the action, or both.
Here’s some fragments from letters I used for a convention sce-
nario. The team are in a haunted house, attempting to exorcise a
poltergeist.
An information-finding move:
Obviously you checked out the haunting’s background before
the job. Roll me +Weird, to see what you’ve found out, or
worked out. On a 10+ ask me two of these, on a 7-9 ask me
one. On a miss, you can ask me one anyhow but you had to do
something dangerous to find out. I’ll let you know what that
was. The questions you can ask:
• What’s the buzz on the cryptozoology and ghost hunter
message boards and mailing lists?
• I found some writing in blood on a mirror. What did it say?
• What did I notice when I looked at the map?
A move to get into the action:
The initial check of the house went okay, but then things turned
bad. Roll me +Sharp and see what happened: On a 10+ pick
two, on a 7-9 pick one:
• You have the poltergeist in a ghost trap.
• You do not have a huge shard of mirror embedded in your leg
(that means you do otherwise).
• You know where some of the other ghosts are.
On a miss, well. I’ll let you know what’s going wrong (every-
thing).
In both moves I have options that will suggest what’s going on beyond
the immediate situation. In the first, the fact that the map is important
is raised even if they don’t ask me about it. In the second, the “other
ghosts” had not been mentioned earlier, so this is the first hint that
there’s something extra going on.
There’s also that negatively phrased option about the mirror shard.
The hunter has to pick it to avoid trouble, because otherwise (by impli-
cation), they’ll have that injury.
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Example Mystery Letter
Here’s an entire mystery letter to use as a model. This one is for a
hunter who was away because the player missed the previous session.
Dear Carter,
Remember how you’d taken that sample from the lake
creature for tests? You’ve got your results back from your
friend in the police forensic lab. Ask me one of these questions
to find out what you learned:
• Is it related to anything we have met before?
• Did we really kill it?
• How does it tie in with that old woman... what was her
name, Janice? and what she told you?
You’ve been away from the team for a week now, and I’d
like to know what you’ve been up to, and what you achieved.
Here are some things I know you wanted to do:
• Check up on where the Unseeing Ones might have holed
up.
• Research a spell that will cure Theresa.
• Get hold of some of those “can kill anything” bullets from
that creepy dude.
If there’s anything you want to add to that list, go ahead
and ask. I’ll let you know if it’s okay (anything you could do in
a week should be fine).
Roll +Sharp to see how much you got done.
• On a 10+ you can pick two of them to be done, on a 7-9
only one.
• On a miss you can pick one if you want, but you got into
trouble doing it. Getting you out of that trouble is where
we’ll kick off today.
Love and kisses, your Keeper
Here you can see: a reminder and a chance to learn a little about the
bigger picture, a custom move that can tell the hunter some useful
facts and add information for the story, and another move to help the
hunter work towards one of their goals.
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Running Subsequent
Mysteries
Mostly, this works just like the first one. There’s just a few differences.
At the Beginning of Each Session
If it’s a new mystery, have everyone who has a start-of-the-mystery
move do it now.
Update the hunters’ harm to account for healing time:
• If there’s been some time to get treatment and recover, have
everyone erase all harm.
• If you are following right on the last mystery, everyone gets
1-harm healed.
Playing the Mystery
This goes just like the first time, except you don’t need to ask so many
questions.
As you go on, there’s room for more interaction with normal folks,
for fighting tougher monsters or large groups of minions, and stuff
like that.
It’s also good to put pressure on the things that hold the team
together. Say your hunters have a disagreement about how to handle
a bystander who’s in the way. That’s interesting: it’s an opportunity to
push and see what happens in a more intense situation. Take these
tensions and put the hunters into positions where they have to make
similar decisions. This is not something you do to mess with them: it’s
being a fan. Being a fan means being interested in what happens when
the hunters have to make hard decisions.
And you should play hardball with the hunters. They are awesome,
and they have a load of different ways to avoid harm and stay alive. So
have your monsters and minions hit the hunters as hard as they can.
Do not shy away from making the monsters tough, and giving them
attacks that could easily kill a hunter. Hunting monsters is not sup-
posed to be easy or safe.
We’re not interested in the hunters having everything go their
way. It’s much cooler to put them in bad spots, so we can be amazed
by the ways they get out and to give them tough choices so we can find
out what they truly believe in and what they’re willing to do.
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At the End of Each Session
At the end of each session, remember to ask the end-of-session expe-
rience questions:
• Did we conclude the current mystery?
• Did we save someone from certain death (or worse)?
• Did we learn something new and important about the world?
• Did we learn something new and important about one of the
hunters?
If you get one or two “Yes” answers, have the hunters mark one expe-
rience. If you get three or four, they mark two.
Summary: Keeper's Session
• Update injured hunters for healing since the last mystery. All
harm is healed if there’s been time, or just 1-harm each if
you’re following right on from the last mystery.
• Do start-of-mystery moves for hunters who have them.
• Tell the hunters the hook.
• Let them investigate the mystery.
• Ask questions.
• Take note of everything you can.
• Put lots of horror into the stuff they find. Give them prob-
lems so they can show how cool they are as they solve them.
• Put pressure on the relationships in the hunter team, or on
their relationships with bystanders.
• When they meet someone you didn’t prepare, give them a
name and bystander type (usually a witness or victim).
• When they visit somewhere you didn’t prepare, describe it
and give it a location type.
• Make the action and fight scenes exciting.
• When a hunter misses on a roll, have them mark experience.
• When any character suffers harm, use a harm move on them.
• Confront the monster! Hopefully the hunters win.
• Ask the end-of-session experience questions to see whether
each hunter gets to mark zero, one or two experience.
• Think about how events in the mystery will affect your arcs or
later mysteries. Tidy up your notes.
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Mystery:
Damn Dirty Apes
The mystery is set in a small university town. The uni-
versity needs to have an engineering school, a medical
school, and a liberal arts faculty. The villain who set
things in motion is an unbalanced professor, forced
to resign from the university in shame and now ready
to take his revenge. In true evil villain fashion he’ll
demonstrate that his theories work—and so what if
that proof takes the form of an army of crazed cyborg
primates?
273
Requirements
Like “Dream Away the Time,” this mystery requires some things to be
true about your game. In this case, mad science that works in parallel
with magic to bind spirits, and the spirits themselves: entities from
another dimension that are hostile to life.
Hook
The hunters will hear that a spate of unusual burglaries at a university
has now culminated in a murder.
What makes the burglaries unusual is that they have been tar-
geted on engineering and electronics workshops. Some artifacts have
also been stolen from the Anthropology department. In all the raids,
security cameras and alarms have been tampered with.
Yesterday a security guard called Chris Lamb was torn to pieces
(literally) during another theft in the Engineering building.
Countdown
Another attack takes place, this time
leaving a survivor (Pauline Brooks).
Day
Dr Beech enhances himself with bionic
experiments, thereby fusing an evil spirit into his
mind. This leaves him completely deranged.
Shadows
Dr Beech sends his minions after his academic rivals.
Dusk
Dr Beech sends his army out to
conquer the university.
Sunset
The university is captured. Dr Beech announces
that he is now “grand chancellor” in an attack on
the graduation ceremony. He begins transforming
more people and animals into insane bionic soldiers.
Nightfall
The army is called in to deal with the primate army,
and the town is devastated with great loss of life.
Midnight
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Notes
This mystery has a fairly limited scope, with most of the events and
investigation likely to take place at the university.
Many of the bystanders know or suspect the truth, but have
reasons to hide their involvement. Be sure to let the hunters know
when the bystander they are talking to is being evasive or obviously
concealing something, and make the hunters push each character
hard to get the information. These secrets are another way to see how
much the hunters will do—in this case, how hard will they push these
bystanders?
The strange thefts (in order of occurrence):
• Medical school labs: 18 living monkeys and 3 chimpanzees.
This was initially assumed to be the Animal Freedom Militia,
and so far no-one has connected it to the spate of burglaries.
• Electronics workshop storeroom. Various components stolen,
no doors unlocked or unbroken—access probably via a loose
ventilation grille.
• Robotics lab. Several works-in-progress and some parts
stolen.
• Anthropology library. Some books on pagan cults stolen.
• Another electronics lab (this time in the computer science
department). Various parts, including programmable control
chips, stolen.
• Medical school labs: A number of experimental prosthetics
and control computers.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Threats
Dr Lawrence Beech, Mad Scientist
Monster: Sorcerer (motivation: to usurp unnatural power)
The stress of academic life has led to Beech flipping out and deciding to
take over the university and rule it as an absolute monarch. He’s only
just moved into his hidden lab, where he’s putting the final touches
on his army of robo-primates before taking over the university. Beech
was not a normal, sane person even before this flipout.
Beech has no supernatural powers or abilities beyond those he
uses to create his supersoldiers. If Beech upgrades himself, he gains
the powers and upgrades marked “post-upgrade” below.
Powers:
• Etheric-Bionic Binding Spell: Uses intricate mathemagical
programming techniques to bind bionics to a living host. An oth-
er-dimensional consciousnesses is installed into the bionics as
a control interface. Has the unfortunate side effect of overwrit-
ing the host mind with the mind of the other dimensional being
(which cannot comprehend this universe).
• (Post-upgrade) Surgical robot hand (see attacks).
• (Post-upgrade) Minion radio net. He can sense anything that any
of his bionic minions can sense, although he must actively con-
centrate to do so.
• (Post-upgrade) Etheric blast (see attacks).
• (Post-upgrade) Etheric awareness. He is conscious of all living
things in his immediate vicinity (within about 50m), regardless
of obstacles. “Etherically active” individuals are easier for him to
detect—for hunters, that’s anyone with Weird +2 or +3.
Attacks: (Pre-upgrade) Ineffectual slap: 0-harm hand; (Post-upgrade)
Surgical robot hand: 3-harm hand slow; (Post-upgrade) Etheric blast:
1-harm close magic ignores-armour
Armour: (Pre-upgrade) None; (Post-upgrade) 2-armour.
Harm capacity: 7. Okay bbbb|bbb Dying Unstable: b
Weaknesses: Gloating monologue: Dr Beech cannot be defeated
until the hunters have listened to him rant about his evil plans;
(Post-upgrade) Etheric-Bionic Control Interface: If the interface
is disrupted with magic or electromagnetic energy, Dr Beech will no
longer be able to control the bionics and is vulnerable.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Dr Beech's Research Lab
Location: Den (motivation: to harbour monsters)
Dr Beech can currently be found here. He sends monkeys and chimps
to do or obtain anything he needs outside his lab.
Beech has been absent from work for a week. That’s long enough
to have been noticed by people who also know about the allegations,
but most of them have assumed he’s on “gardening leave” while the
whole mess is sorted out.
If the hunters visit Beech’s apartment they will find it abandoned,
with some evidence of packing for a long absence.
The lab was originally a disused storage basement attached to the
university’s steam tunnels. Beech has converted it into a robo-primate
conversion factory. There are workbenches, operating tables, surgical
robots, and a large number of robo-primates: up to 30 monkeys, and
Koko and the chimps (if they are not on a mission elsewhere).
The surgical robots can be used as a weapon by Beech, but they’re
tied to the operating tables, so easily avoided. They are, however, a
very dangerous part of the background of any fight. If a hunter ends
up on an operating table, the robotization process will begin, starting
with removal of limbs.
The Steam Tunnels
Location: Deathtrap (motivation: to harm intruders)
The tunnels are the only way the hunters can get to Dr Beech’s lab, and
they have been rigged to repel intruders with ambushes. Beech has set
up lots of motion detectors and cameras to ensure he’s warned about
intruders, and he will send out monkeys to deal with anyone snooping
around. The monkeys are equipped with infrared-vision camera eyes,
so they can see heat signatures in the total darkness of the tunnels.
The tunnels can be confusing to navigate, so you might want
to call for an act under pressure move for the hunters to orientate
themselves properly after a monkey attack.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Koko, robo Gorilla (mark 3)
Minion: Assassin (motivation: to kill the hunters)
A possessed bionic silverback gorilla, Koko has been kept caged so
far as he is too dangerous and unstable to be let out. Once Beech
knows about the hunters, or is ready to make his move, Koko will be
unleashed.
Note that Koko was not stolen from the university, but acquired
through other means. Most likely, Dr Beech has been in contact with
animal smugglers, but this loose end is a good candidate for tying into
other parts of your own game.
Powers:
• Immense Strength. Koko’s
augmented gorilla limbs
can overpower any human
and deal with almost any
barrier or weight.
• Laser cannon. Koko has a
laser cannon mounted over
his left shoulder.
Attacks: Laser: 2-harm hand
close far; Tear limb from limb:
4-harm hand messy.
Armour: Bionic Armour Plating:
2-armour.
Harm capacity: 12.
bbbbbbbbbbbb
Weakness:
Etheric-Bionic
Control
Interface:
If
the
interface is disrupted with magic
or electromagnetic energy, Koko
will no longer be able to control
the bionics and is vulnerable.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Clara, Virgil, and Nim: robo chimps (mark 2)
Minion: Thief (motivation: to steal, and deliver to the master)
The chimps are crazy, but smart. They like to sneak about and steal
things.
Powers:
• Electro-grapple. Each chimp has one arm replaced with a
mechanical grapple and line. The hand may be fired up to 30
meters and winched back in. The chimps can use this to ascend,
swing around, attack, and steal things.
Attacks: Electro-grapple Strike: 2-harm close restraining; Grapple:
3-harm intimate hand restraining messy; Bite: 2-harm intimate.
Armour: Bionic Armour Plating: 1-armour.
Harm capacity: 7.
bbbbbbb Clara
bbbbbbb Virgil
bbbbbbb Vim
Weakness: Etheric-Bionic Control Interface: If the interface is
disrupted with magic or electromagnetic energy, the chimp will no
longer be able to control the bionics and is vulnerable.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Robo Monkeys (mark 1)
Minion: Plague (motivation: to swarm and destroy)
Beech has around thirty robo-monkeys of various species. The
monkeys will tend to attack as in two groups of about 15 each, and the
stats below are for one of these groups of 15.
Powers:
• Railgun: Each monkey is equipped with a small electromagnetic
cannon, which they’ll load with whatever comes to hand—stones,
rubbish, poo, etc.
• Camera Eyes: They can see infrared, so the robo-monkeys have
excellent vision in total darkness, especially for spotting people.
Attacks: Railgun: 0-3-harm (depends on ammunition) close far; Bite:
2-harm intimate.
Armour: Bionic plating: 1-armour
Harm capacity: Each group: 5.
Group one: bbbbb
Group two: bbbbb
Each point of harm suffered by the group means 3 monkeys are out
of action.
Weakness: Etheric-Bionic Control Interface: If the interface is dis-
rupted with magic or electromagnetic energy, the monkey will no
longer be able to control the bionics and is vulnerable.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
University Quad
Location: Crossroads (motivation: to bring people, and things,
together)
There’s a large quad in the center of the university campus. It’s usually
filled with students. On the edges of the quad the hunters will find
two cafes, the university library, and the main administration building.
University Departments
Location: Hub (motivation: to reveal information)
The various departments the hunters may be interested in are all
similar: long hallways, doors with opaque numbering systems (differ-
ent for each department), and an assortment of offices, classrooms,
labs, and storage areas lining any particular corridor.
University Grand Hall
Location: Prison (motivation: to constrain and prevent exit)
The Grand Hall is almost a hundred years old, and built in an ornate
gothic style. A cramped balcony looks down on the main stage and
seating area. Stained glass windows illustrating academic virtues take
pride of place behind the stage.
This is the hall where the graduation ceremony is held each year,
and it’s at that ceremony that Beech plans to attack. He is trying to
capture as many of his academic enemies as possible.
For his attack, Beech will position the monkeys and chimps on the
balcony, then take the stage escorted by Koko. He will then announce
his takeover in a deranged monologue, declaring that he is now “grand
chancellor” of the university. The only reason he will pause will be
to order the robo-primates to restrain anyone escaping or to subdue
anyone resisting.
After Beech has finished his speech, the primates will begin
escorting groups of staff and students through the steam tunnels to
the robo-primate conversion factory.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Pauline Brooks
Bystander: Victim (motivation: to put themselves in danger)
A security guard at the university, doomed to be maimed in the events
of “day” in the countdown. Before then, Pauline can help the hunters
with details of the usual routine for the security team. They’re gener-
ally more concerned with students causing minor trouble rather than
any kind of serious threat.
Attacks: Nightstick: 1-harm hand
Armour: Stab-proof vest: 1-armour
Harm capacity: 7.
bbbb|bbb
Dr Andrew Crouch, Medical School Dean
Bystander: Victim (motivation: to put themselves in danger)
Hates Dr Beech intensely, regarding him as unbalanced and dan-
gerous. It was Dr Crouch who finally revoked Beech’s funding and
triggered the current crisis.
Does not want to reveal anything about Dr Beech because it
would reflect badly on the school. He has little idea about the details
and extent of Beech’s research except that many other people thought
it was crazy, out-beyond-the-fringe stuff.
Dr Karen Wathey, Prostethics Researcher
Bystander: Gossip (motivation: to pass on rumours)
Previous collaborator with Dr Beech, decided he was going too far
and stopped helping. Also leaked details of Beech’s ethics violations
to the Dean in an effort to get Beech punished.
Does not want to reveal anything about Beech because it might
endanger her own career. She knows that Beech has no qualms at all
about breaching ethics rules, and has begun to worry about the possi-
bility that he has no qualms about breaking other rules either.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Dr Harvey Noble, Roboticist
Bystander: Victim (motivation: to put themselves in danger)
Noble has devoted much of his career to criticizing Dr Beech, ever
since their first disagreement over who deserved the nicer office in a
building that has since been demolished and rebuilt.
Noble will happily rant about the various shortcomings of Dr
Beech, but his perspective is that Beech acts mainly in order to snipe at
Noble. Any useful information is likely to be hidden in Noble’s general
accusations of misconduct. He is aware that Beech was looking into
“crazy” control systems for bionics, verging into parapsychology in
some cases.
Dr Clayton Holt, Ethics Committee Chair
Bystander: Witness (motivation: to reveal information)
Holt is in charge of the university research ethics committee and thus
has access to a number of Beech’s research proposals. Most of these—
especially the most recent and disturbing ones—were denied.
Holt also oversaw the ethics breach complaints against Beech and
is aware that Beech was conducting hideous prosthetic experiments
on animals.
The university (specifically Dean Crouch) prevailed upon the
committee to keep the details of these sessions confidential due to the
danger they posed to the university’s reputation. Holt is not wholly
happy with that situation and can be persuaded to reveal what he
knows if the hunters provide good reasons (such as clues that Beech is
continuing his work illicitly).
Amy Pritchard, Student
Bystander: Official (motivation: to be suspicious)
Former student of Dr Beech. Shocked by the experiments he was con-
ducting, Pritchard has now joined the Animal Freedom Militia.
Does not want to tell anyone about Beech and the experiments
because she’s ashamed of her own involvement in them. She knows
a great deal about Beech’s theories of etheric-bionic synergy, but has
no idea that he has managed to get them working in practical applica-
tions, even imperfectly.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Robin Harding, Animal Freedom Militia Liberationist
Bystander: Innocent (motivation: to do the right thing)
Harding is the head of the university’s branch of the AFM. She is a
strict vegan, and a zealous protector of animals.
If questioned, she denies the AFM had anything to do with the
stolen primates, but only because they have not been able to free the
primates themselves. The activities of other animal liberators are fully
supported by the AFM.
Harding has plenty of contacts with animal shelters and rescue
groups, and would be good to have on-side if any of Beech’s primates
are rescued alive and need to be rehabilitated.
Crazy Cats Club
Location: Crossroads (motivation: to bring people, and things,
together)
A bar and punk/alternative music venue, this is also the de facto head-
quarters of the Animal Freedom Militia. The bar is cramped and noisy,
the walls covered with messy murals and graffiti.
If the hunters come here undercover as cops or other authority
figures, the patrons will tend to be hostile.
Amy and Robin can be found here most evenings, and if not then
someone will know where they are.
Claire Guimaras, Local police chief
Bystander: Witness (motivation: to reveal information)
Concerned mainly with the weirdness of the crime, Guimaras has no
particular leads when the hunters first arrive. It’s clearly linked to the
other recent thefts at the university, but the extreme violence of the
attack on the security guard has left her puzzled.
Later in the adventure, forensic technicians will report that
samples from the scene reveal that at least two chimpanzees were
involved. This fact does not help Guimaras in any meaningful way.
If the hunters can give her some leads or any kind of explanation
about what is really going on, she’ll be grateful.
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
Other Bystanders
Use these templates as starting points for any other people the hunters
talk to.
Name
Bystander type
Trait
Lavonyelle Robinson
Witness (reveal
information)
Stoic
Yvette Suhre
Victim (put herself
in danger)
Punctual and
organised
Bernard Warnes
Gossip (pass
on rumours)
Spiritual
Louise Farrar
Victim (put herself
in danger)
Determined
and optimistic
Kris Kiesling
Busybody (interfere
in others’ plans)
Over-dramatic
Yukiko Katagiri
Official (be
suspicious)
Grumpy
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MYSTERY: DAMN DIRTY APES
287
As the game
Goes On
As you play through mysteries, and elaborate on the
team’s history and the world, here are the things you
need to keep in mind.
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AS THE GAME GOES ON
At the End Of
Each Mystery
This works the same as for the first mystery:
• Tidy up your notes from the mystery.
• Talk to everyone about how it went and see if they have plans for
what to do next, or ideas for later.
• Think about whether the mystery gave you more ideas for your
existing arcs, or suggested a new one.
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AS THE GAME GOES ON
Checking On Your Arcs
After each mystery, look at each of your arcs and think about what got
revealed in play. If something relevant happened, update the arc with
the new, altered, or defeated threats.
Advance countdowns based on events in play or off-screen. You
should do this if events during the last mystery pointed to it (for
example, if the hunters failed to foil the evil plot), or if it has been
so long that the next event in the arc countdown would have hap-
pened (for example, isolated reports of zombies over the past couple
of months become widespread reports of zombie attacks).
If you advance an arc due to off-screen events, you should make
the next mystery about that arc so the hunters have a chance to stop
it progressing further.
Also, an arc countdown might suggest an idea for the next mystery,
even if it’s not directly tied to the countdown advancing.
Building Mythology
As the game goes on, over the course of many mysteries, keep building
up the mythology of your world: the history, logic, and rules behind
why things are the way they are. What are the rules of magic? Why are
these monsters out there? Who are the big powers that are conspiring
against humanity?
This should develop naturally. As the world develops, you’ll find
yourself thinking “Why did this monster do that?” or “Why does this
mad cult leader want that?” The answers to questions like this will
form the basis of your mythology.
To make the process easier, keep track of all the pieces you created
with a mystery or added as you played. Keep the mystery sheets too.
Track any loose ends, enjoyable threats, significant deaths, and other
details that might be worth revisiting.
Look at the implications of each mystery: do they suggest some-
thing that should be part of your mythology? Maybe you’ve discovered
a rule for magic or how monsters come to be? Or how these creatures
operate, or what their ultimate goal is?
Arcs and mythology work hand in hand. How your mythology
accretes will suggest the ways your arcs should play out. And the arcs
will point at elements that ought to be part of the mythology.
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AS THE GAME GOES ON
Endgame
The game has some built-in measures of progress: things that might
tell you that one of the hunter’s stories is coming to a close, or even
that the whole team’s story is. I’ll talk here about what to look for and
how to deal with these signs when you see them.
Leveling Up And Improvements
Most sessions, expect each hunter to level up once or twice, getting
one or two improvements. At first, this does not contribute one way
or another to how the story is playing out.
However, when the hunters get to the advanced improvements
after five level-ups, they will be getting to peak effectiveness. A
hunter who has taken most of their starting improvements and a few
advanced improvements will have a wide array of moves to deal with
the problems they encounter, and things usually go the way they want.
Once a hunter reaches this point, try to push arcs relating to that
hunter towards closure. Depending on exactly how fast the hunters
earn advances in your game, expect them to reach this point after ten
to twenty sessions.
There’s also that advanced improvement “retire your hunter to
safety.” If anyone picks that, or is seriously considering it, that’s a clue
that that hunter’s story is approaching an end (although it might not
be the end of the story for the rest of the team).
Running Out Of Luck
Luck scores are another measure of story progress. Luck will gradually
get used up as you play.
If a hunter is getting to the end of their Luck, that’s another sign
their story needs to end. If not, they’ll be killed by a monster sooner
or later (either because they can no longer reduce the harm they suffer,
or because of a hard move you make against them).
Some hunter types have special effects as they spend Luck, as well:
• When the Chosen spends Luck, you need to include some-
thing from their fate in the game.
• When the Crooked spends Luck, that means someone from
their past is going to reappear soon.
• When the Spooky spends Luck, the demands of their dark
side will grow.
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Dealing With Arcs
The other game element that feeds in to the endgame are your arcs: if
the arcs the hunters are most concerned with have concluded (either
via the hunters stopping whatever is happening, or failing to stop it),
that suggests it’s nearing time to wind up.
Other Things To Consider
The rhythms of hunter development and arcs are not the only things
that you should use to make decisions about when a game is ending. If
a hunter dies and the player creates a fresh replacement, or someone
decides to play a second character, then that new hunter starts at the
beginning. This will mix up the capabilities between the different
characters. And if hunters are retiring and being replaced on the team,
that might mean you’re in for a long saga.
How To End A Game
If you feel that things are moving towards a climax and resolution, it’s
a good idea to talk to the rest of the group and mention that you feel
that way. They’ll let you know if they agree, or if they think there’s still
unfinished business to deal with.
If there is general agreement that it’s time to finish the game, make
sure you plan the next few mysteries to suit. Have them be bigger in
scope, more epic, and ensure the important arcs get resolved.
If there’s no agreement that it’s time to finish up and there’s enthu-
siasm to continue, that’s your cue to start thinking up some new arcs
to replace the ones that have been dealt with, and maybe for some new
hunters to join the team.
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One-Shot Games
If you want to run a single mystery (maybe as a convention game or
for a change from a regular game), here’s what to do.
One-Shot Hunters
Use mystery letters to share background information the hunters
should know. They can also be used to let them know any custom
rules for creating their hunters (see below). If you’re not providing
specific hunter playbooks, you can write letters that are aimed at dif-
ferent specialities: for example one for a brawler, one for a magician,
one for an investigator.
The hunters should start with fewer Luck points: give them 1-3
(depending on how tough you want the mystery to be). You may allow
them to have a free level-up after creating their hunter, to make up for
having fewer Luck points to save them.
It’s useful to pick a team concept for the game, and just tell every-
one who the team are and how they operate. You may need to make
certain playbooks mandatory, suggest others that fit in, and leave out
others completely. For example, if your team concept is centered on
the Professional, having an Initiate might not work so well. Don’t offer
the Initiate playbook as an option.
I strongly advise that you let everyone make up their own hunter
(even if you restrict the types available). Making all the choices during
hunter creation—about their abilities, history and so on—gives the
players a stake in the way the game is going to play.
You may reduce the options available in hunter creation to suit
your mystery. You can do this with a mystery letter: include an instruc-
tion like “By the way, when you are picking your moves, this move will
be especially useful for this mystery, that move is not allowed, and
other move will probably not be very relevant.”
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One-Shot Mystery Creation
A twist or two works very well in a one-shot game. For example, give
the hunters a hook that appears to be a classic monster (ghost, vampire,
werewolf, etc), but which turns out to be something quite different.
You can make things easy on yourself if you bring a map of pos-
sible locations, a list of names, and some pre-written bystanders (e.g.
you can always find room for a suspicious cop and some naïve victims).
Without the expectation that the game will continue, you should
also feel free to ramp up the danger level of the threats. You can have:
• more unnatural powers.
• more minions, or multiple monsters.
• higher damage attacks for monsters and minions.
• higher harm capacity for monsters or minions before they
are killed.
• threats target the hunters, or their loved ones, directly.
Also, think about the scale of events. In a one-shot, the stakes of the
mystery can be huge: zombie epidemics, the legions of Hell being
unleashed on earth, hideous gods from beyond the stars—any huge
threat is fair game.
If your team includes hunters with central story elements (the
Chosen and her fate, the Wronged’s nemesis, the Professional and her
Agency, the Initiate and his Sect, etc) then tie those into the mystery
as well. Think about these central elements when you decide which
hunter books to bring to the table, and then you can leave the right-
shaped holes in your mystery (e.g. you could leave yourself space to
adjust the threats to match the Chosen’s fate). You should have time
to do this as the other players make up their hunters: as they go, find
out what they picked for their hunters, and you can quickly adjust
your notes to fit, or suggest to the players things that work with what
you have planned.
One-Shot Mystery Play
In general, follow the instructions for a first session.
Give everyone a quick introduction to the rules before they make
their hunters. The idea of moves and what the ratings mean (page 25)
is enough. Explain other rules when you need them in the game.
Go a little easier on the questions, as you don’t need to build so
much mythology from the answers.
You can also go much harder on the hunters in play. Push for
more horror, and don’t hold back with the danger.
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Player Numbers
The ideal number of people to play Monster of the Week is three or
four hunter players and a Keeper. Of course you can’t always arrange
exactly that many people to play.
If you only have one or two hunters in a game, it’s going to be
more focused on those hunters. Let them talk more, and make an
extra effort to draw in elements that the players come up with for their
hunter’s stories, weaving them into your mysteries and arcs.
If you have more than four hunters, you’ll find hunter creation
takes longer: if you want, you can save some time by having each player
only pick history for some of the group—such as for every second
hunter going around the table. Connections with other hunters can
develop in play.
You may also find that spotlight time is harder to juggle with such
a large group. You can suggest the team splits up to cover the mystery,
allowing you to switch back and forth between the different groups as
the mystery unfolds. You can encourage the other players to share the
spotlight and to be fans of the other hunters.
With large groups, you will also find that each hunter makes fewer
move rolls (and so will get a little fewer experience marks), and that
combat can become either a cake-walk or overly drawn out. Some of
the techniques for keeping fights interesting will help in these situa-
tions (see page 207).
295
Customising
Your Game
There are are variety of ways you can customise your
Monster of the Week game. Here’s my advice, working
from modest changes (custom moves) to the most
ambitious (hacking it into a whole new game)
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Custom Moves
Custom moves are moves that you create to give your own game a
unique feel and identity. If you want to define a monster’s unique
powers, special things that another threat can do, or even new moves
that the hunters can use, create a custom move using the process
below.
Defining The Move
Custom moves for threats start with a basic idea. What does the threat
need to be capable of? If the threat’s abilities are not covered by the
existing Keeper and threat moves, then you need to define a custom
move.
Custom moves for the hunters could be available as an improve-
ment, or something they can all do when certain conditions are met.
It can also codify something that a hunter does already, if you want a
consistent rule for how it works.
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Triggering The Custom Move
Carefully define when the custom move applies: having a specific
trigger condition ensures that you know when to use the move. The
trigger is there to enforce describing the move properly, so there’s no
doubt about when it happens. Something like “when you go down
into the sewers,” “when you call on the demon Uhul,” or “when you’re
splashed with lamia-bile.”
Move Types
Moves come in three main types:
• A roll, usually adding a rating. Define what happens on a good
success (10+), partial success (7-9) and a miss (6-). Note that
you could specify a different number to add, not just a rating:
harm suffered, number of people sacrificed to cast a spell, etc.
• A bonus or penalty for some circumstance.
• A special effect that applies in certain circumstances.
Use the moves I’ve provided throughout this book as examples and
guidelines. All the character moves, the basic moves, and the example
moves in the Mysteries and Arcs section have been created to fit this
pattern.
Custom moves might be much more limited than other moves, or
they might be vastly more powerful. That’s fine, as long as they are just
what is needed for that part of your game.
Example Custom Moves
Here are a bunch more examples to show you the sorts of moves you
might create. I’ve put the trigger of the move in bold, so you can see
when it applies. Then I’ve explained more reasons for creating the
move that way, and the effect I intend.
An Aura Of Terror
An ancient wraith has an aura of terror. Anyone within 5
metres of the wraith takes -1 ongoing, unless they act under
pressure to resist the fear.
This is a penalty move, triggered by being close to the monster. It’s
designed to make attacking the ghost up close harder, which may get
the hunters thinking of alternative ways to defeat it.
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Knows It Like The Back Of His Hand
Ed O’Grady (bystander: witness) is a keen walker, and knows
the woods and hills nearby like the back of his hand. If you
ask his advice on the terrain or how to find somewhere, hold
1 that you can spend to get +1 on any roll you make following
his directions.
This is a bonus move, something to mark out this particular bystander
as someone worth paying extra attention to.
The Infernal Hunting Pack
This hunting pack of thirteen infernal hounds (minions:
brutes) serve a demon lord. The hounds may mark someone
for death with a bite. The marked person is then allowed to
escape, but the pack will know the location of a marked person
forever.
This is a special-effect move, triggered by the hounds biting a person.
This move adds a long-term problem that could remain in play even
after the current mystery is solved.
Searching The Marshes
When you search in the marshes (location: maze) roll +Sharp.
On a 10+ things seem to point somewhere in particular: take
+1 forward for investigating. On a 7-9, you can investigate, but
then you must pick one of the bad things below. On a miss, all
three bad things are true.
Bad things that can happen in the marshes:
• Something is following you.
• You are lost, and your phone and GPS are not working prop-
erly.
• You stumble upon something abominable.
Searching the marshes is a roll move. It is designed to make the
marshes a bit more exciting than a usual location threat. By making
it a roll, you make the player pick what happens. This gives them a bit
more of a stake in the situation (plus it can be exciting just knowing
there’s a special move to roll).
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Nightmares
When you go to sleep in this town, count how many times
you have slept here and roll +sleeps. On a 10+, you have
nightmare visions of what is to come and you know it can’t
be stopped: you must act under pressure to break out of your
despair and actually do something about the visions. On a 7-9
you have nightmare visions of what’s coming, but that’s all. On
a miss, you sleep like a baby.
This move belongs to the location threat that describes the town. It is
another roll type move, that tells the hunters that this town is in big
trouble, and they need to sort it out before too many nights pass.
Calling The Flame Spirits
Here’s a move for a hunter who made the use magic move a lot for a
particular effect, so we decided to make a custom move for that spell.
When you call the flame spirits you need to spill some very
strong liquor into a fire and call the spirits by name (as many
or as few names as you want). Roll +Weird. On a 10+ all the
spirits you named come, and they’ll tell you some specific
things and burn anything you want. On a 7-9 one of them
comes and tells you some obscure things and then it burns
some stuff, mostly what you wanted burned. On a miss, the
fire spirits are angered. They might refuse your summons for a
long time, or some of them might appear and demand a signif-
icant sacrifice from you right now, or else.
This is another roll move, designed to be a slightly different version of
use magic that deals with this particular spell. Note that it is safer, but
a lot more specific, than the use magic move.
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Inaccurate Memories
Here’s a move for a mystery that deals with a monster that can domi-
nate people’s minds.
When a hunter questions someone who has seen the monster,
they get told one of these in addition to any normal questions
and answers:
• They say something that directly contradicts a fact the hunters
already know (e.g. “I was at work” when they know she wasn’t).
• They can’t remember that time at all.
• They can remember the time, but their memory is an obvious
fabrication (e.g. “After I got home I had dinner, watched some
TV, then I had dinner”).
This is a special-effect move. The obvious contradictions here are a
way to let the hunters know that the monster they are after can get
into people’s minds and change their memories, or make them lie, or
something like that.
Checking Out An Agency Facility
Here’s a move for an arc. It goes with an arc about a Professional’s
Agency.
When you explore an Agency facility it counts as investigat-
ing a mystery, but you can also ask these questions:
• What do I find out about the Agency’s real goals?
• Who do I find out something suspicious about?
This is a special-effect move, adding some extra options for investi-
gation that bear on specific issues that have come up in the hunters’
previous investigation of the Agency (and a similar move in your
game would have questions tailored to what’s already happened to
your hunters). You add more questions later, if the hunters come up
with other things they want to look for.
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Custom Threats
If there’s a need for a threat type that doesn’t quite fit into the ones
that are already defined, just add it. All that’s needed are a name, a
motivation, and any custom moves it can make.
Think about whether it is a monster, minion, bystander, or loca-
tion. If it doesn’t fit into any of those, you can create a new threat type
with its own list of special moves.
Example Custom Threat: An Evil Cult
This custom threat represents an evil cult infesting a small town. It’s
a minion threat.
They’re Everywhere! (motivation: make people scared to speak out).
This threat has this custom move.
When a hunter asks locals about something weird, roll +Sharp.
On a 10+, the hunter works out:
• if they are talking to a member of the cult, this person is con-
cealing something important.
• if they are talking to a normal person, this person is too
scared to reveal anything.
On a 7-9, the hunter knows something isn’t right, but not exactly
what.
On a miss, the cult gets told that this hunter is asking questions
about them (regardless of whether that was the subject or not).
Legacy Experience Rules
In the first edition of Monster of the Week, the way hunters gained
experience points was different. Here is the original system for those
who prefer the it, or are interested in what it was.
Hunters do not mark experience on a missed roll (6 or less), and
there’s no end-of-session list of questions that can earn experience.
Any specific moves that say a hunter marks experience are
unchanged.
At the beginning of each session, each hunter should pick another
hunter on the team who they feel they currently have the closest rela-
tionship with. That hunter’s player picks a rating to highlight. Then
the Keeper picks a second rating to highlight for each hunter.
Whenever a hunter makes a roll with a highlighted rating, they
mark experience, regardless of whether the result is a hit or a miss.
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Sharing The Keeper Duties
If your group wants to swap around the duties (who is the Keeper,
and who plays the hunters), the game can handle that without much
trouble.
You’ll need to decide if you have all the game’s arcs open, for
people to use how they want when it’s their turn to be Keeper, or
secret. If the arcs are secret, then each of you will have to look after
your own, and tie them into your own mysteries.
Then you can take turns as Keeper, each preparing a mystery and
running it. I’d suggest that each current Keeper’s hunter take a break
from the team (because tracking everything that your hunter and all
the mystery threats are doing is too much to handle). You may want to
consider a team concept that allows some of the hunters to be absent,
whenever convenient, in a believable way. For example, you might all
work for an organisation that investigates monsters, with each team
built as needed at the time: that way any hunter can be said to be on
another case (or on leave) to explain their absence.
It’s also a good idea to keep a shared journal (or set up a wiki) with
all the mysteries, monsters, and other things you have encountered,
so that everyone will be on the same page when re-using elements
from earlier mysteries.
Custom Playbooks
I encourage the creation of custom hunter types for your game, and
to share the results with other players and groups over the Internet.
Here’s how to go about putting a new playbook together.
Concept
To start with, make sure your concept is good enough. If you can only
think of a single example of your possible hunter type in fiction, the
concept is probably too specific. But if you can think of a type, then it’s
a good candidate. Aside from that, just go for something really cool.
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Ratings
Rating lines should add up to three, and normally each hunter type
has one rating that is always +2. If you give a line a second rating at +2,
count that second +2 as a +3 instead.
A normal rating line:
Charm +2, Cool +1, Sharp -1, Tough +1, Weird=0 (Total 3)
A rating line with two +2 ratings:
Charm -1, Cool +2, Sharp -1, Tough +2, Weird=0 (Total 2,
but counted as 3 due to the second +2)
The Monstrous always gets +3 Weird, as a special case: there’s an
unstated move that gives the Monstrous +1 Weird.
The Chosen varies the rule as well: she gets two +2 ratings (each
line has a different pair), plus each line adds up to four: the Chosen
also has an unstated extra move to give her this advantage.
Moves
Each hunter type gets three moves as well. For many, one or two of
these moves are mandatory.
Some of the moves don’t count as one against their count: that’s
for moves that aren’t purely an advantage, but that have both a good
and bad side. The Initiate’s move when in good standing with the
Sect is one of those: the move’s good and bad sides balance out, so the
Initiate gets another three choices of purely useful moves.
Some playbooks have moves that are purely bad (the Monstrous’
curse and the Spooky’s dark side, for example). When a playbook has
a purely bad move, give them an extra useful move to make up for it.
Not all the moves in the playbooks are explicitly called that, either.
For example, the Expert’s haven is a move, but not referred to as one.
Do this if your move is something special that doesn’t fit into the usual
list of things the hunter can do.
Gear
Gear and weapon lists are primarily driven by what makes sense for
the playbook. Try to include items that push towards your vision of
what is cool and exciting about the concept.
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History
The history choices are another place that gives you a great oppor-
tunity to drive towards your concept. Each potential relationship
with another hunter should reflect an aspect of what makes your new
hunter type exciting.
Improvements
Improvements usually include:
• One rating that may be improved to +3.
• Three ratings that may be improved to +2.
• Two choices of moves from another playbook.
• Two choices of extra moves from this playbook.
• Two special choices. These should be specific to the hunter
type and reflect how they will develop and grow.
• Optionally, add an advanced improvement (or two) specific
to this hunter type. Only do so if there is something that
really needs to be here, like the final resolution of thematic
issues unique to the playbook.
Balance?
Don’t worry about balancing your hunter type against the others. If
you follow the guidelines above (more or less), the playbook will work
fine with the other hunter types.
Sharing
Please share your own content with other Monster of the Week fans.
See page 15 for some places that you’ll be able to find us.
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A Whole New Game
Vincent Baker’s Apocalypse World was built with hacking in mind. I
don’t have a lot to add to the guidelines in that game, but as you may
not own Apocalypse World, I’ll say a little about what to do if you want
to take these rules and use them for something else.
The key things are the Keeper’s agenda and principles, and the
basic moves. They are the most important dials that control how the
game plays out.
The setting can be left mainly implicit. Use the playbooks, basic
moves, threats, and Keeper moves to provide the game’s setting. That
allows each group to fill in the other details to suit themselves and
their game.
If you want to compare and contrast, here are some other hacks
of Apocalypse World that might be of interest:
• Monsterhearts by Avery Mcdaldno draws from a similar place
to Monster of the Week, but it’s about the messy supernatu-
ral romance side of Buffy and True Blood (and Twilight). In
particular, check out how the basic moves in Monsterhearts
emphasise different ways of resolving conflicts to Monster of
the Week.
• Avery also created Simple World, a framework for building
your own game using rules based on Apocalypse World. It’s a
really good place to start your hack.
• Dungeon World by Sage LaTorra and Adam Koebel is a
modern take on classic dungeon crawl roleplaying.
• Sagas of the Icelanders by Gregor Vuga has moves and play-
books that reflect expected social roles.
• World of Dungeons by John Harper is an extremely cut down
(but still perfectly playable) version of Dungeon World. It’s a
great illustration of how little you can get away with.
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307
Inspiration
Here’s a big list of things that inspired me, to a greater
or lesser extent.
The various fiction inspirations below fed into my conception of
what monster hunters in the modern world might be like. They cover
a range of styles, from straight-up horror through to comedy. Monster
of the Week can fit anywhere along that continuum, but by default it’s
like the television show Supernatural. That’s my number one inspira-
tion.
The game inspirations gave me ideas for the rules, how to arrange
the text, or how to use horror in roleplaying.
Television
The primary sources are Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Also relevant are: Fringe; The X-Files; True Blood; Being Human;
Doctor Who; Grimm; The Fades; Werewolf; Brimstone; Reaper; Sanc-
tuary; Sleepy Hollow; Penny Dreadful; The Vampire Diaries; and The
Originals.
Film
Big Trouble in Little China; Near Dark; Dracula (any version: my
favorites are Murnau’s Nosferatu, Herzog’s remake of Nosferatu, and
Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula); The Hunger; Bubba Ho-Tep; An
American Werewolf in London; Dog Soldiers; The Lost Boys; Fright
Night (old or new); Hellboy & Hellboy 2: The Golden Army; Army of
Darkness; My Name Is Bruce; Troll Hunter; Attack the Block; Alien;
Aliens; Carpenter’s The Thing; Night Watch and Day Watch.
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INSPIRATION
Novels
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher; the Twenty Palaces books by Harry
Connolly; the Felix Castor books by Mike Carey; the Monster Hunter
International books by Larry Correia; Dracula by Bram Stoker; any-
thing by H. P. Lovecraft; the Strain trilogy by Guillermo del Toro
and Chuck Hogan; Declare, Last Call, Expiration Date, Earthquake
Weather, and The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers; Charles Stross’
Laundry series; Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom trilogy; The Rook by Daniel
O’Malley.
Comics
Hellboy, BPRD, and BPRD: Hell On Earth by Mike Mignola; Hellblazer;
Atomic Robo by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener; Nextwave: Agents
of H.A.T.E. by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen; S.H.O.O.T. First by
Justin Aclin and Nicolas Daniel Selma; Dylan Dog created by Tiziano
Sclavi
Games
This is a hack of Vincent Baker’s Apocalypse World, which is a great
game, and I highly recommend it if you feel like spending some time
in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Other games that provided inspiration (in no particular order):
Unknown Armies; Fiasco; Geiger Counter; Mouse Guard; InSpectres;
GURPS: Black Ops; GURPS: Horror; Cold City; Call of Cthulhu; Trail
of Cthulhu; Dungeon World; Monsterhearts; and World of Dungeons.
Graham Walmsley’s Play Unsafe has great advice for improvisa-
tion in games (and Monster of the Week is largely improvised, so that
advice is all directly applicable). His book Stealing Cthulhu has advice
about writing Lovecraftian adventures: these ideas can be used to
good effect for Monster of the Week mysteries, too.
309
Index
Absences, 267
Act under pressure, 26, 101, 182
advanced moves and, 122
as a general purpose move,
199
Cool and, 27
custom moves and, 297, 299
Crooked and, 38
examples of, 97, 171, 182
Expert and, 47
fighting and, 209, 221
during the investigation, 204
Keeper moves and, 173,
Keeper’s notes, 182
kick some ass and, 199
Monstrous and, 62
Mundane and, 67
Professional and, 72
Spell-Slinger and, 76, 77, 78
Action Scientist, 20
Actions, not covered by moves,
199
Advanced arcane training move,
78
Advanced improvements, 120-
21
basic moves, 121
erasing used Luck mark, 121
change Hunter type, 121
endgame indicator, 290
improve a rating, 121
playbook-specific, 123-24
retire to safety, 121
second hunter, 121
Advanced moves, 122
Agency, 71, 165, 293, 300
Alien Monstrosity from Beyond,
246
Ally, 56, 119
chosen and, 34
creating using advanced
Manipulate Someone move,
122
crooked and, 40
divine and, 45
types of, 119
Always the victim move, 67
Ancient evil rising, 233
Ancient Fighting Arts move, 56
Angel, 19
Angel (character), 19
Angel wings move, 43
Annelise (character), 19
Apocalypse, 235
Apocalypse Engine system, 9
310
INDEX
Apocalypse World, 14, 130, 305,
308
Apprentice move, 56
Arc(s)
basic concept, 229
building, 228
checking on, 289
countdowns, 232
custom moves, 237, 300
endgame indicator, 29
how to use, 241
templates, 233-36
threats, 230-31
unfinished business and, 229
Arcane reputation move, 78
Armory (haven option), 48
Armour
for hunters, 116
for monsters, 139
Artifact move, 38
Assassin
Crooked background, 36
example of, 278
minion type 141, 254
Atomic Robo, 20, 308
Aura of terror, 297
Baker, Vincent, 130, 305, 308
Balance (for playbooks), 304
Balkan vampire, 248
Basic moves (hunter), 25-26,
101, 165, 181-96
Basic moves (keeper) 172-3
Battlefield awareness move, 72
Beast, 138, 244
examples of, 134, 155, 250
Beech, Dr. Lawrence, mad sci-
entist, 276
Beginning of mystery moves, 95
Berserk move, 88
Beyond human limitations, 106,
196
Big Game Hunter, The, 20
Big magic, 107-8, 197, 203
examples of, 108, 198
Keeper’s notes, 197-98
resurrection, 112
Big whammy move, 83
Bishop, Peter (character), 18
Bonecruncher, a Redcap, 155
Bonus
forward, 99
moves, 297, 298
ongoing, 100
Boss from beyond move, 43
Bottle it up move, 72
Breed, Monstrous, 61
Breeder, 138, 244
example of, 248
Brute, 141, 254
example of, 255
Buffy (character), 18
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 9, 13,
18, 19, 265, 305
Bug hunt, 261
Building your own game, 305
Burglar (Crooked background),
36
Busybody, 142, 256
Bystanders, 142, 256
examples of, 257
first mystery and, 135, 137,
147
subsequent mystery creation
and, 256
using, 178
moves, 178
wounds and, 213
Calling the flame spirits move,
299
Cast out evil move, 43
Changeling, 154
Character names, 13
Charlatan (Crooked back-
ground), 36
Charm (rating), 27
Checking out an Agency facility,
300
311
INDEX
Chosen, 30-34, 18, 95
advanced improvements and,
123
arcs and, 229
mystery moves and, 202
one-shot mystery and, 293
running out of Luck and, 290
Chuck the bartender, 255
Chupacabras, 252
Claws of the beast move, 63
Collector, 138, 244
example of, 246
Combat magic move
bases, 76
effects, 76
Comics (sources), 308
Compton, Bill (character), 19
Connect the dots move, 52
Connolly, Harry, 9
Constructed, 20
Consumables, 78
Contrary move, 52
Cool (rating), 27
Cordelia (character), 19
Corruption, 236
Could’ve been worse move, 78
Countdown, 135, 146, 205, 260
arcs and, 232
in Damn Dirty Apes, 274
in Dream Away The Time,
150
Crazy eyes move, 52
Creature of the night, 253
Crew move, 38
Crooked, 35-39, 18
recover stash of money and,
119
running out of Luck and, 290
Crossroads, 144, 258
examples of, 153, 157, 161,
281, 284
Cultist, 141, 254
Custom move(s), 296, 22, 199
examples of, 297-98
triggering, 297
types of, 297
Custom playbooks, 302-4
Custom threats, 301
Damn Dirty Apes mystery, 273-
85
Dark Master curse, 62
Dark negotiator move, 63, 104,
192
Dark past move, 47
Dark side, 83
Day, 146, 147
Deal with the Agency move, 22,
23, 72
Deal with the devil move, 38
Deathtrap, 144, 258
example of, 277
De-identifier, 251
Demon (Monstrous breed), 61
Den, 144, 258
example of, 277
Destiny’s Plaything move, 32
Destroyer, 138, 244
Detective, 142, 256
example of, 161, 257
Devour memory attack, 246
Devourer, 138, 244
examples of, 251, 252
Dice rolling, 99
Divine, 41-45, 18, 95
advanced improvements and,
123
arcs and, 229
DIY surgery move, 88
Don’t worry, I’ll check it out
move, 67
Dracula, 245, 308
Dream Away the Time mystery,
149-161
Dresden, Harry (character), 19
Dresden Files, The, 18, 19, 308
Driver move, 38
Dungeon World, 14, 305, 308
Dunham, Olivia (character), 19
Dusk, 146, 147
312
INDEX
Flake, 51-54, 18, 95, 202
Flight move, 63
Folklore, 243
Forensic divination move, 78
Fortress, 144, 258
Fortunes move, 56
Frankenstein’s monster, 20
Friends on the force move, 38
Fringe, 18, 19, 264, 265, 307
Game feedback, 14
Game play, 12, 96-100
advanced improvements, 120-
21
advanced moves, 122
advanced playbook-specific
movements, 123-24
armour, 116
basic moves, 101-6
big magic and, 107-8
end of session experience, 118
every game hunters’ summary,
125
fights, 109
file downloads, 13
first time hunters’ summary,
125
gear, 114, 117
harm, 110
healing, 111
improvements, 118-20
improvised weapons, 109
leveling up, 118
Luck, 113
moves, 25-26
ratings, 25, 27
recommended number of
players, 13, 294
resurrection, 112
time allotment, 13
unarmed attacks, 109
weapons, 114-16
Game website, 14
Games (sources), 308
Garth (character), 20
Electro-grapple, 279
End of days, 235
Endgame, 290-91
Equipment, not in playbook, 22,
114, 117
Etheric-bionic control interface
and powers, 276, 278, 279,
280
Evil cult, 301
Evil ritual, 262
Executioner, 138, 244
Exile, 20
Experience, 118, 165, 202
end of session and, 118, 223
rules, legacy, 301
Expert, 46-50, 18, 95, 202
haven, 119, 303
Faerie (Monstrous breed), 61
Fate, Chosen’s, 31
Feed curse, 62
Fervor move, 88
Fight(s), 109, 206-11
environment usage in, 208
example of, 216-22
initiative in, 207
Keeper techniques and, 207
maps and, 208
resolution of, 210
soft moves and, 210
spotlight time and, 210
weapons in, 209
what’s at stake, 207
Fighting arts move, 57
Film (sources), 307
First session, 163, 225
ending, 223-24
game workings, 96, 165
history, 165
Hunter creation, 164
introductions, 165
playbook selection, 18
running, 166
team concept selection, 18
Fixer (Crooked background), 36
Fizzle (use magic option), 78
313
INDEX
Gear, 114
custom moves, 117
custom playbooks, 303
new, 114
other, 117
tags, 117
Gestures, 77, 106, 195
Getting started, 95
Ghost (Monstrous breed), 61
Ghostfacers (characters), 20
Ghoul, 253
Giles, Rupert (character), 18
Gloating monologue, 276
Go big or go home move, 78
Google Maps, 13, 144
Gossip, 142, 159, 161, 256, 282
Greek vampire, 248
Grifter (Crooked background),
36
Guardian, 141, 254
Hacks, 305, 308
Hard Case, 20
Hard move(s), 175, 204
Harm, 110, 139, 212
monsters and, 110
moves, 212
using, 213
unstable wounds and, 213
Harper, John, 305
Haven, 48, 119
Haven options, 48, 119
Healing, 111, 215
Heat, 27
Hellboy, 20, 307, 308
Hellgate, 144, 258
examples of, 259, 262
Help out, 26, 27, 101, 183
advanced moves and, 122
during investigation, 204
fights and, 209
initiate and, 56
protect someone and, 193
Helper, 142, 178, 256
example of, 158
Helping hand move, 56
Hex move, 82
History, 18, 95, 125, 165, 224,
225
in one shots, 292
Hold, 99, 100
Home, 259
custom move, 259
Home ground move, 38
Homunculus swarm, 255
Hoodlum (Crooked back-
ground), 36
Hook, 134, 136, 147, 150
in Damn Dirty Apes, 274
in Dream Away the Time, 150
in subsequent mystery cre-
ation, 242
Hub, 144, 258
examples of, 157, 259, 281
Hunches move, 82
Hunter(s), 12
agenda, 96
creation, 21, 164
custom moves, 296
every game summary, 125
extra types, 20
first session only summary,
125
making second, 121
new type, 121
one-shot, 292
playbooks 13, 29-91
reference sheets, 13
type limitation, 21
types, 18-19
what to read, 14
I know my prey move, 88
I’m here for a reason move, 32
I’ve read about this sort of thing
move, 47
Immortal move, 63
Improvements, 118-20, 290
advanced, 120-21
custom playbooks, 304
increase rating, 118
take another move, 118-19
314
INDEX
Improvisational gaming, 96, 166
Improvised weapons, 109
Incantations move, 77
Incorporeal move, 63
Infernal hunting pack custom
move, 298
Infirmary (haven option), 48
Inflict harm as established, 175
Initiate, 55-59, 19
advanced improvements, 123
command your sect improve-
ment, 120
custom playbook, 303
one-shot mystery and, 293
sect arc, 229
start-of-mystery move, 95,
202
using the sect as a hook, 242
Initiative, fights, 207
Innocent (bystander), 142, 256
examples of, 158, 257, 284
moves, 178
Introductions, 94, 165
Introductory mystery, 13
Damn Dirty Apes, 273-85
Dream Away the Time, 149-
61
Mongolian Death Worms,
132-35
The Old O’Connell House,
136, 138-40, 142-43, 145,
147
Investigate a mystery, 26, 102,
184-86
advanced moves and, 122
divine and, 43
example of, 97, 100, 186-87
expert and, 48
initiate and, 56
Keeper moves and, 183
monstrous and, 63
Sharp and, 27
spell-slinger and, 78
spooky and, 82
Investigation, beginning, 203-11
It wasn’t as bad as it looked
move, 47
Jinx move, 83
Jones, Harvey, monster investi-
gator, 257
Keeper (of Monsters and Mys-
teries), 12
actions not covered by a
move, 199
agenda, 131, 166-67
always say rules, 170
arc creation, 228-37
awarding experience, 223
before first game, 130-32
between sessions, 223-24
bystanders creation, 142-43
countdown, 146-47, 205
do the obvious, 210
fight example, 216-22
fights, 206-11
file downloads, 13
first mystery preparation,
135-47
first session, 163-65, 202-211,
223
hard moves, 175, 204
harm, 212-13
harm moves, 212-13
Hunter creation, 21, 164-65
Hunter healing, 111, 215
Hunter moves and, 181-98
improvisational play, 128-29
introductory mysteries, 149-
61, 273-85
investigation and, 203-05
killing monsters and, 214-15
locations creation, 144-45
materials needed, 13
minions and, 141-43, 215
monsters and, 137-40, 215
keeper moves, 166, 168, 171-
74, 204, 209
315
INDEX
mystery components, 134-35
playbook moves, 199
preparing for next time, 223-
24
principles, 131, 166-69
reference sheet, 13
role of, 14, 96, 98, 128-29
session length, 13
setting limits of use magic
move, 196
sharing duties, 302
soft moves, 174
spotlight time and, 210
threats and, 137-145, 176-79
unexpected player actions,
205
use magic and, 195-96
what to read, 14
Kick some ass, 26, 97-99, 103
advanced moves, 122
examples of, 97-98, 218-19,
222
fights and, 207, 209-210
help out and, 183
improvised weapons and, 109
Keeper’s notes, 188-89, 193
monstrous and, 63
protect someone and, 193
spell-slinger and, 76
spooky and, 83
Tough and, 27
wronged and, 88
Knows it like the back of his
hand custom move, 298
Koebel, Adam, 305
Koko, robo gorilla, 278
Lab, 144, 258
Large groups, 294
Laser cannon, 278
LaTorra, Sage, 305
Lay on hands move, 43
Leave no one behind move, 72
Let’s get out of here move, 67
Leveling up, 118, 165, 290
options, 22, 24
Lilly, Ray (character), 20
Location(s), 137, 144, 258
examples of, 135, 145, 259
examples of custom moves,
277, 298-99
threat moves and, 179, 208, 259
types, 144
Lone Gunmen (characters), 18
Longer mystery sequences, 266
Lore Library (haven option), 48
Lovecraft, H.P., 253
Luchador, 20
Luck
counter, 113
running out of, 113, 290
Mad Scientist, 20
Made move, 38
Magical Laboratory (haven
option), 48
Manipulate someone, 26, 104
advanced moves and, 122
Charm and, 27
Crooked and, 36, 38
Dark Negotiator move, 63
example of, 98-99
Flake and, 52
Keeper’s notes, 190-92
manipulating monsters, 104,
192
Monstrous and, 63
Spooky and, 82
Wronged and, 88
Maps, 13, 144, 208
Maze, 144, 258
examples of, 157, 179
Mcdaldno, Avery, 305
Meddling Kid, 20
Medic move, 72
Mental dominion move, 63
Mentor move, 56
Midnight, 146, 260-61
examples of, 147, 150, 232-36,
261-63, 274
316
INDEX
Minion(s), 137, 141, 147, 254
example of, 134, 142, 152-54,
231, 255, 280
group of, 141
healing and, 215
in fights, 213
manipulation, 104, 192
threats and, 177, 301
types of, 141
using, 177
wounds and, 213
Mobility move, 72
Mongolian Death Worm Attack
mystery, 132-35
Mongolian Death Worm, 134
Monster(s), 134, 137, 147
armour, 139
attacks, 139
examples of, 134, 138-40, 155,
230, 245-53, 276
harm and, 110
healing and, 215
killing, 214-15
manipulation, 104, 192
powers, 139
in subsequent mystery cre-
ation, 243-44
threat and, 176
types of, 138, 244
using, 176
weakness and, 140
Monster Hunter International,
20
Monsterhearts, 14, 305
Monstrous, 60-65, 19
advanced improvements and,
124
custom playbooks and, 303
manipulate someone and, 192
Moves, 25, 97
advanced, 122
basic, 26, 101-6
general purpose moves, 199
Keeper, 171-74
making, 98-99
in custom playbooks, 303
in playbook, 26, 199
triggers for, 25, 297
types of, 297
Mulder, Agent (character), 18
Multi-part mysteries, 265-66
Mundane, 66-69, 19
erase a Luck mark, 120
Mystery
basic concept of, 134, 136
bystanders, 135
changing formula, 264-65
countdown, 135, 146-47,
260-61
creation, 240-44, 254, 256,
258, 260-61
creation, one-shot, 293
Damn Dirty Apes, 273-85
Dream Away the Time, 149-
61
end, 288
hook and, 134, 136, 242
investigation and, 203-11
locations, 135, 137, 144, 258
minions and, 134, 141, 254
Mongolian Death Worm
Attack, 132-35
monster and, 134, 136, 138-
40, 243-44
The Old O’Connell Haunted
House, 136, 138-40, 142-43,
145, 147
scope, 261
sheet, 13
templates, 261-63
threats and, 135, 137
317
INDEX
Mystery letters, 267-68
examples of, 268-69
Mystic move, 56
Mystical Library (haven option),
48
Mythology building, 289
Net friends move, 52, 257
NEVER AGAIN move, 88
Nightfall, 146, 147
Not my fault move, 78
Notorious move, 38
Novels (sources), 308
Oberon, King of Faerie, 152-53
Official (bystander), 142, 178,
256,
examples of, 158, 283
Often overlooked move, 52
Often right move, 47
Old O’Connell Haunted House
mystery, 136, 138-40, 142-43,
145, 147
One-shot games, 292-93
One-shot hunters, 292
One-shot mystery
creation, 293
play, 293
Oops! move, 67
Orc (Monstrous breed), 61
Order, The (team concept), 24
Oubliette (haven option), 48
Panic button move, 67
Panic Room (haven option), 48
Parasite, 138, 244
example of, 249
Penalty move, 297
Phasing, 246
Pickpocket (Crooked back-
ground), 36
Pitt, Owen (character), 20
Plague, 141, 254
example of, 280
Playbook, 18-21, 164 -65
advanced improvements, 123-
24
Chosen, 30-34
Crooked, 35-40
Divine, 41-45
Expert, 46-50
Flake, 51-54
Initiate, 55-59
Monstrous, 60-65
Moves, 26, 199
Mundane, 66-69
Professional, 70-74
selection, 18-19
Spell-Slinger, 75-80
Spooky, 81-85
Wronged, 86-91
Player
agenda, 96
numbers, 294
Power of heart move, 67
Practitioner move, 78
Precise strike move, 47
Premonitions move, 82
Preparedness move, 47
Preternatural speed move, 63
Prison, 144, 258
examples of, 259, 281
318
INDEX
Professional, 70-74, 19, 21, 165
add resource tag, change red
tape tag, 74, 120
advanced improvements, 124
Agency arc, 229
example custom moves and,
300
one-shot hunter/mystery
creation and, 292-93
team concepts, 22-23
using the Agency as a hook,
242
Protect someone move, 26, 105
advanced moves and, 122
basic Keeper moves, 173, 175
examples of, 25, 170
fights and, 109, 209
Initiate and, 56
investigation and, 204
Keeper’s notes, 188, 193
Mundane and, 67
Spell-Slinger and, 78
Tough and, 27
Wronged and, 88
Protection Spells (haven option),
48
Pure Drive curse, 62
Queen, 138, 244
example of, 245
Ratings, 27
in custom playbooks, 303
Read a bad situation, 26, 105
advanced moves and, 122
hard moves and, 175
examples of, 100, 170, 207,
216-217
fights and, 207, 209
investigation and, 204
Keeper’s notes, 194
Professional and, 72
Sharp and, 27
Spell-slinger and, 78
Spooky and, 82
Renfield, 141, 254
Resurrection, 112
Reveal future badness, 172
Right hand, 141, 254
example of, 152
Riley and the Initiative (charac-
ters), 19
Road-tripping hunter family
(team concept), 24
Roll move, 297-98
Sacred oath move, 56
Safety first move, 88
Sagas of the Icelanders, 305
Scooby-doo and Scooby gang
(characters), 20
Scout, 141, 254
examples of, 142, 255
Sect, 57, 293
See, it all fits together move, 52
Sessions, 266
Shadows, 146, 260
Shapeshifter move, 63
Sharp (rating), 27
Shield spell move, 78
Sidekick, 20
Sight move, 82
Simple World, 305
Singer, Bobby (character), 18
Six-sided dice, 13
Skeptic, 142, 256
examples of, 143, 158
Slayer and entourage (team con-
cept), 23
Sleepy Hollow, 9
Smite move, 43
Sneaky move, 52
Snoop, 20
Soft moves, 174, 175, 204, 210
Something borrowed move, 63
Soothe move, 43
Sorcerer, 138, 244
example of, 276
Special-effect move, 297
examples of, 298, 300
319
INDEX
Spell-slinger, 75-80, 9, 19
advanced improvements, 124
combat magic pick, 120
Spooky, 81-85, 19
advanced improvements, 124
changing dark side tags, 120
custom playbook, 303
endgame indicator, 290
start-of-mystery moves, 95,
202
Spore troll, 249
Spotlight time, 210, 294
Start-of-mystery moves, 202
Story Games Names Project
book, 13
Subordinate (ally), 56, 119
Subsequent mysteries
running, 270-71
session beginning, 270
session ending, 271
Subsequent mystery creation,
240-65
countdown, 260
scope, 261
templates, 261-63
threats, 243-59
Summoned, 20
Sunset, 146, 260
Supernatural, 9, 13, 18-20, 307
Surgical robot hand, 276
Suspicious mind move, 52
Tactical genius move, 72
Tags
gear, 117
weapon, 114-15
Team concepts, 18, 22, 119, 164
customisation, 22
examples, 23-24
selection, 18
Team playbook option, 119
Telepathy move, 82
Television (sources), 307
Tempter, 138, 244
example of, 247
That Old Black Magic move, 56
Thief, 141, 254
example of, 154, 279
Third eye move, 78
This is gonna suck (use magic
option), 78
Threats, 135, 137, 176-79
arc and, 230-31
custom moves and, 296-300
in subsequent mystery cre-
ation, 243-59
Tools and techniques move, 77
Tools matter move, 88
Torturer, 138, 244
example of, 253
Tough (rating), 27
Traitor, 141, 254
example of, 255
Trickster, 138, 244
True Blood, 19, 305, 307
Trust me move, 67
Tune in move, 83
Twenty Palaces, 9, 19, 20
Twilight, 305
Uhul, demon prince, 247
Unarmed attacks, 109
Underworld, 37
Unexplained cases team (team
concept), 23
Unfazeable move, 72
Unholy strength move, 63
Unnatural appeal move, 63
Unquenchable vitality move, 63
Urban legend, 243
320
INDEX
Use magic, 26, 106
advanced moves and, 122
as a general purpose move,
199
big magic and, 107, 108, 197-
98
Crooked and, 38
custom moves example, 299
effects, 106
Expert and, 48
fight example, 220
glitches, 106
initiate and, 56
investigation and, 204
Keeper’s notes, 195-96
Spell-Slinger and, 78
Spooky and, 82
threats and, 247, 251
Weird and, 27
Valmont, Anna (character), 18
Vampire (Monstrous breed), 61
Vampire (example monster),
245
Victim (bystander), 142, 178,
256, 282
examples of, 135, 161
Violet, a changeling, 154
Vrykolakas, 248
Vuga, Gregor, 305
Vulnerability curse, 62
Wardens, The (characters), 19
Weapons, 114
custom, 116
improvised, 109
tags, 114-15, 207, 209
Weird (rating), 27
Werewolf (Monstrous breed), 61
Werewolf (example monster),
230-32, 250
What could go wrong? move, 67
What does not kill me move, 88
What I need, when I need it
move, 43
Wikipedia, 243
Wilds, 144, 258
examples of, 135, 156
Willow (character), 19
Winchester, Dean (character),
19
Winchester, John (character), 19
Winchester, Sam (character), 19
Witness, 142, 178, 256
examples of, 160-61, 282-84
Woman (or Man) with the Plan
move, 47
Workshop (haven option), 48
World of Dungeons, 305
Wounds, unstable, 213
Wronged, 86-91, 19, 165, 293
advanced improvements, 124
arc, 229
Xander (character), 19
X-Files, The, 13, 18, 264, 307
Zombie (Monstrous breed), 61
| textdata/thevault/Monster of the Week (PbtA) [multi]/Monster of the Week (revised)/MotW - Corebook - Monster Of The Week Revised.pdf |
1
Strange WorldS:
DeaD
planets
Kim Frandsen
2
strange WorlDs
Credits
Ben Dowell, Eric Hindley, Ismael Alvarez, J Gray, Jason Owen Black, Jeffrey Swank, John
Bennett, Justice Mora, Kalyna Conrad, Kiel Howell, Kim Frandsen, Landon Winkler, Matt Roth, Michael Ritter,
Rodney Sloan, Taylor Hubler, Lucus Palosaari, Rick Hershey, and Troy Daniels
Credits
Ben Dowell, Eric Hindley, Ismael Alvarez, J Gray, Jason Owen Black, Jeffrey Swank, John
Bennett, Justice Mora, Kalyna Conrad, Kiel Howell, Kim Frandsen, Landon Winkler, Matt Roth, Michael Ritter,
Rodney Sloan, Taylor Hubler, Lucus Palosaari, Rick Hershey, and Troy Daniels
Strange WorldS:
DeaD planets
Compatibility with the Starfinder Roleplaying Game requires the Starfinder Roleplaying Game from Paizo Inc. See http://paizo.com/
starfinder for more information on the Starfinder Roleplaying Game. Paizo Inc. does not guarantee compatibility, and does not
endorse this product.
Starfinder is a registered trademark of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and the Starfinder® Roleplaying Game and the Starfinder® Roleplaying
Game Compatibility Logo are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under the Starfinder® Roleplaying Game
Compatibility License. See http:// paizo.com/starfinder/compatibility for more information on the compatibility license.
Open Game Content: All material — including but not limited to art, place and character names, character and setting
descriptions, background, and new class descriptions—is Product Identity. All other content is considered Open Game Content.
Reference in non-Open Game Content (thus not covered by the Open Game License) in this work to content owned by others is not
a challenge to their ownership and is used under Fair Use.
3
The
The
Contents
Introduction
4
Temperature
4
Food & Water
4
Visibility & Winds
4
Terrain
5
Airless Worlds
5
Artificial Heaven
6
Extinct Civilization
7
Former War World
8
World of the Unquit
10
Creatures of the Dead Planets
11
Bloodshade CR 20
11
Embalmed One CR 2
12
Living Hologram CR 5
13
Robot, Overseer CR 10
14
4
strange WorlDs
»
IntroDuCtIon
She looked out upon the barren wasteland. Had someone
really lived here? It wasn’t possible to believe. The gray
dust covered everything, and while there was gravity, there
hadn’t been an atmosphere for millennia, and apart from
the occasional alien visitor, the landscape and the dust had
been undisturbed for all this time. Yet someone still believed
that there was value here, among the ruins of the ancients.
After all, that was why she had been hired. She activated
her commlink “Right people, let’s move. Remember to check
your that your air is topped up and your indicators are
working. We’ve got 5 hours on this shift before we should
need to refill, so let’s make the most of it.”
Sentient beings are, by nature, drawn to planets with
atmosphere, with life, with water, and with the ability
to propagate themselves and colonize the world in
question. And due to the nature of sentience, and the
vast difference between alien species, most worlds are
hospitable to one form of life or another. But there are
those worlds, where it is not so. Worlds where most
aliens fear to tread, be that for a lack of atmosphere,
gravity, some supernatural phenomenon, or simply the
leftovers of a careless and forgotten war. These are the
dead planets, where life, as most races recognize it, no
longer exists and where no sane person would travel.
Strange Worlds: Dead Planets aims to introduce you,
and your gaming group to a variety of these planets. As
such, where the Strange Worlds series normally focuses
on a particular biome, this time around we’re looking at
a particular type of planet, that can exist for a variety of
reasons. In this book, you’ll find ideas, reasons, hazards,
and creatures that can populate these worlds for you, be
it an old war world, now forgotten, a planet destroyed
by radioactivity or pollution, one laid low by technology
as it lost itself to A.I. or one ravaged by disease. All these
and more is what we outline and introduce for you here,
drawing upon the existing parts present in the Starfinder
Core Rulebook and expanding your options. It is our hope
that some of these fascinating places will find their way
to your gaming table.
envIronment
Unlike a single-biome planet, dead worlds have no
unifying features and can look vastly different. The only
constant that they share is the lack of life that might
fill that of other planets, but even on these planets
SENTIENCE can still exist, even if it is not tied to a living,
breathing entity. The planets themselves no longer
support life, and life is incapable of arising on the planet
of its own accord, with any living creature being a visitor
or a left-over from long ago. Those few living beings that
do visit one of the dead planets rely on technology or
magic to survive.
temperature
Temperatures on a dead planet can vary wildly, going
the whole spectrum from desert to ice, but that is usually
not the case. It is usually either temperate or so cold
as to reach absolute 0 due to the lack of atmosphere.
Even with atmosphere, many planets would require you
to have a full environmental suit to survive or a fully
enclosed vehicle.
FooD & Water
Food is either nonexistent or inedible due to the local
conditions, with water being equally absent or polluted
beyond measure.
vIsIbIlIty & WInDs
Winds on a dead planet can be both gentle and
strong, but the main problem with them is that they
almost invariably kick up dust or dirt, causing the
visibility to drop.
In general, the maximum distance in dusty terrain at
which a creature can succeed at a Perception check to
detect the presence of others is 6d6×20 feet; beyond
this distance, elevation changes and light reflection or
snow in the air makes sight-based Perception checks
impossible. The presence of hilly terrain limits spotting
distance to 6d6×10 feet. The likely lack of undergrowth
5
makes it difficult to hide, but for creatures that are
equipped to deal with the dust, mud or dirt, (or dresses
for the occasion), it becomes possible to almost
completely blend in with the browns, greys, and blacks
dominating the landscape.
terraIn
Terrain is where a dead planet truly shines, as it can
vary greatly, and as such we have broken it into sub-
categories to make it easier for you to find the planet
type that fits your campaign. In each section, we also
introduce various unique hazards to that type of world,
so that you can use them to liven up your campaign.
aIrless WorlDs
A world with no air is inherently dangerous to most
species, as they are not usually capable of surviving in a
vacuum. This means that anyone going here should be
protected in a suit, to avoid suffocation. These planets
have either always been in this state, or they have been
subjected to some catastrophe in the past, that caused
the air to disappear, usually a catastrophe on a galactic
scale, such as a collision with the planet’s own moon, or
an asteroid passing much too close and ripping a hole in
the atmosphere, carrying with it so much of the air, that
what is left is too thin for creatures to breathe.
terraIn: lIFeless & aIrless
While the features of an airless world can be as varied
as that of most worlds, there is one common factor
on them, the lack of flora and fauna. No plants survive
on the surface of these planets, just as no creatures
live there either. The surface of the planet is therefore
dominated by plains, hills, and mountain ranges, but
the dirt and dust is not kept in check by any plants,
nor is the surface disturbed by any storms or winds.
Any impression is therefore left for the ages unless
deliberately obscured. This makes tracking enormously
easy, as the signs of passage are not removed by the
passage of time, and any Survival checks made to
track someone is not increased by the passage of time.
(I.e. you can ignore the “Time since tracks were made”
portion of the Follow Tracks usage of the Survival skill).
Anyone who is not wearing armor or other equipment
allowing you to breathe in airless environments,
immediately start to suffocate (as per the Starfinder Core
Rulebook) on one of these planets, making it extremely
hostile if a creature was to crash land upon one of these
planets and have some of the equipment break.
The final thing to note on an airless world is that there
can be no sound, as the sound waves cannot transmit.
Weapons that deal sonic damage are therefore useless,
as are spells that deal sonic damage, though creatures
might still be able to cast the spells, depending on the
equipment that they have in place.
Wind Force
Wind Speed
Checked Size
Blown Away Size
Piloting and Perception Penalty
Calm
0–10 mph
—
—
—
Moderate
11–20 mph
—/—
—
—
Strong
21–30 mph
Tiny
—
–2
Severe
31–50 mph
Small
Tiny
–4
Windstorm
51–74 mph
Medium
Small
–8*
Hurricane
75–174 mph
Large
Medium
–12*
Tornado
175–300 mph
Huge
Large
–16*
*Perception checks at wind forces higher than windstorm become impossible on a dust-covered planet, as the dust obscures everything.
6
strange WorlDs
raDIatIon
(HazarD, Cr varIes, see beloW)
Because there is no atmosphere on these planets, they
are constantly bombarded with cosmic rays, causing
radiation to be prevalent. These radiation levels can be
deadly, even if a creature suffers only a short exposure,
depending on the strength of the radiation on the
planet. Below is the DC and CR ratings for the various
radiation levels on these planets.
Radiation Level
Fortitude Save DC
CR
Low
13
2
Medium
17
7
High
22
14
Severe
30
24
Creatures exposed to radiation only receives the CR
reward, provided they are actually vulnerable to the
radiation level that is prevalent on that particular planet.
It is therefore worth noting that all armor protects
you against low levels of radiation and grants a +4
circumstance bonus to saving throws against higher
levels of radiation. Armor of 7th level and higher grants
immunity to medium radiation levels and provides a
+6 circumstance bonus to saving throws against higher
levels of radiation. No armor’s bonuses apply to saves
against radiation sickness, regardless of the level of
radiation exposure that caused you to contract it.
Furthermore, while radiation itself is a poison,
radiation sickness is a disease, with the following
profiles:
Radiation
Type poison, emanation (omnipresent on these
planets); Save Fortitude (see chart above)
Track Constitution; Frequency 1/round
Effect At each state of impaired and beyond, the
victim must succeed at a DC 18 Fortitude saving
throw or contract the radiation sickness disease
(see below).
Cure none
Radiation SickneSS
Type disease; Save Fortitude (same DC as the level
of radiation that caused the radiation sickness)
Track physical; Frequency 1/day
Effect Radiation sickness isn’t contagious.
Cure 3 consecutive saves
artIFICIal Heaven
These worlds are the provinces of the artificial
intelligence and robotic constructs. No living being lives
here, and those that do arrive are either killed, driven off,
or leave of their own accord as they find the unblinking
eyes of the constructs around them to be disconcerting.
These worlds can be as normal as any other inhabited
planet, or as foreign as an airless, gravity-less asteroid,
but the feature they all have in common, is that they’re
subject to the rule of no living creature. As such the
terrain on these planets are varied and the hazards and
terrain that you might find on them can vary greatly. Two
hazards are unique to these planets, however.
laW 0: overrIDen
(HazarD, Cr 10)
The robotic inhabitants of planets where Law 0
has been overridden are extremely hostile to living
creatures, as they will actively seek out and destroy any
traces of living beings, though they are not interested
in leaving their own homeworld. To this end, they have
created nanite robots, that track down and attack living
beings. These are based in nodes around the planet, and
set up in innocent looking canisters, usually in the shape
of garbage cans, street lights, or a similar ubiquitous
technological invention. When these are disturbed,
however (a living being passing within 10 ft.), a nanite
swarm is released, attacking and infecting any living
being within a 30 foot radius.
7
nanIte InFeCtIon
Type disease (contact or inhaled); Save Fortitude
DC 19
Track physical; Frequency 1/hour
Effect At the bedridden state, the effects become
permanent until the victim benefits from a
restoration spell, as the nanites destroy nerve
endings and bone structures.
Cure 2 consecutive saves
equIpment FrItz
(HazarD, Cr 2)
On some worlds, the robots committed genocide
and killed off their creators, but this was not necessarily
done on purpose. On some worlds, the magnetic fields
of the planet are simply so strong that it has a chance of
destroying to warping equipment after even short-term
exposure. Anyone bringing a technological item to one
of these planets must make a DC 11 Will save every time
they wish to use the equipment. A failure indicates that
the equipment does not function and requires at least
a full minute’s worth of repairs to fix (an Engineering
check with a DC of 10 + the level of the item). Sensitive
equipment such as computers, robots, and in some
cases androids, might be affected further by prolonged
exposure as adjudicated by the GM.
extInCt CIvIlIzatIon
These planets were once inhabited by ancient beings,
but these somehow died out long ago. What is left now
is ill-understood technology, crumbling ruins, and the
hollow shells of buildings that were abandoned long
ago. These planets might still have plant life on them,
but they were normally so heavily industrialized (or the
civilization lived underground), that no native plant life
or animal life remains.
terraIn: CrumblIng ruIns
On most dead planets of this type, old ruined
buildings will take up the majority of the landscape.
These will be falling apart, and may well be so old
that they cannot support the weight of being moving
across them. In a settlement with wide, open streets,
the maximum distance at which a creature can succeed
at a Perception check to detect the presence of others
is 2d6×10 feet. In a settlement where the buildings are
more crowded, standing close together, this distance is
1d6×10 feet. These places will, however, be unusually
quiet, meaning that sound carries much further than
vision. Any Perception checks that rely on sound are
therefore far easier than normal, lowering the DC of any
sound-related Perception checks by 5.
Movement through these crumbling ruins is usually
not affected, but certain areas, where buildings have
collapsed could be difficult or even impassable terrain, at
the GM’s discretion.
anCIent teCHnology
(HazarD, Cr varIes)
Ancient technology can be found in many ruins, items
that no one can be certain of what does without extensive
study. However, even the mere removal of them can cause
problems, and cause them to activate with potentially
disastrous results. Most artifacts of this kind would likely
be inoffensive (i.e. eating utensils, furniture, and the like),
but some objects could potentially be weaponized or
simply dangerous if mistreated.
When the GM decides that the players have
encountered such an item, he should determine the
potential lethality of the object in question. For example,
a commlink is likely to be relatively harmless, though
mishandling it could result in a nasty shock, so he
assigns it a CR of 1. However, if those same players had
found an ancient plasma grenade or an electrified fence,
he might assign that with a CR of 5, 10, or more. Below
is a list of CRs, damage based upon that CR, and the
corresponding difficulty of a check to recognize the item
for what it is. (This could be any skill check, but would
typically be things like Culture, Engineering, Medicine, or
Physical Science).
8
strange WorlDs
CR
Save DC
Damage
1/3
10
1d4
1/2
11
1d6
1
12
1d8
2
13
1d10
3
14
1d6+3
4
15
1d8+3
5
15
1d10+3
6
16
3d8
7
17
3d10
8
18
4d8
9
18
4d10
10
19
5d8
11
20
5d10
12
21
7d8
13
21
7d8
14
22
6d10
15
23
7d10
16
24
9d8
17
24
10d8
18
25
10d10
19
26
10d10
20
27
11d10
FallIng DebrIs
(HazarD, Cr varIes, see beloW)
When the winds are strong (above Strong [or 30
mph]), there is a chance of debris being knocked loose,
if there are tall buildings still standing. Anyone within
30 feet of a tall building (more than 30 feet), has a 25%
chance of being hit by falling debris. A character hit by
debris must succeed on a Reflex saving throw or take
damage as indicated by the table below.
Height of Building
Save DC
Damage
CR
30–50 feet
12
1d6+1
1
50–80 feet
15
2d6+2
4
80–110 feet
18
3d6+3
7
110+ feet
21
4d6+4
10
Former War WorlD
Fought over by many, and then abandoned, this type
of world is littered with the leftovers of the soldiers who
gave their lives here, some buried in mass graves, and
some left to rot on the battlefield itself. The planet is
crisscrossed with defensive lines, trenches, and dugouts,
created by the soldiers in an attempt to keep themselves
alive for longer. Abandoned weapons and unexploded
ordnance litter a planet such as this, as it is would have
been impossible for the warring factions to clean up the
mess, without a concerted effort. Instead, the planet
was left to die on its own, and depending on how long
ago the war happened, the weapons might still be
usable. Regardless, the unexploded ordinance retains its
lethality for hundreds or thousands of years.
terraIn: DeFensIve lInes
Defensive lines were things like tank-traps and
trenches, set up by the warring factions, to slow down
enemy vehicles and terrain. This means that moving
through them counts as difficult terrain, and each move
into a square of difficult terrain counts as 2 squares of
movement. Each diagonal move into a difficult terrain
9
square counts as 3 squares and you can’t run or charge
across difficult terrain. Further, anyone who has taken
cover behind the defensive lines (these are usually
created so that it’s clear which side the attacker is on,
and which side the defender is one), gain concealment
(20% miss chance) and a +2 circumstance bonus on
saving throws against any weapon or spell that does
not fire indirectly (Most weapons fire directly, with the
exception of things like grenades and grenade launcher,
and some missile launchers. Some spells, like explosive
blast, might fire indirectly as well, being set to explode
above the trenches). This is best left to the GM to decide,
depending on the flavor of the game he is creating).
Corpse stenCH (HazarD, Cr 4)
On recently abandoned battlefields, and near mass
graves, the environment tends to be less than hygienic,
often with rotting corpses lying about, and almost
unbreathable air. On most planets, these corpses would
eventually be devoured by scavengers, but on a dead
planet, they freely rot and only the most foolhardy
visitors come near.
When moving into an area affected by corpse stench
(usually a larger area, but never less than 30 feet in
diameter), any breathing creature is potentially affected
by the disease. This has the following profile:
coRpSe Stench
Type disease (inhaled); Save Fortitude DC 15
Track physical; Frequency 1/day (1/10 minutes
while in the area under the effect)
Cure 2 consecutive saves
Effect Once the victim reaches the bedridden
state, they start to have difficulty breathing,
and requires a permanent supply of air (usually
oxygen, though races may vary), as their lungs or
equivalent organs slowly turns to liquid. If this is
not provided at all times, he automatically moves
one step further every 20 minutes.
mIneFIelD
(HazarD, Cr varIes)
Minefields are used on a battlefield for area denial,
securing positions from attack, or at worst helping the
defenders out, when incoming opponents are storming
towards them. When a battlefield is abandoned, mines
are often left behind and can remain dangerous many
years after a conflict has ended, remaining a threat to
anyone passing through the area until properly cleared.
All mines are based on upon grenades, gaining the
same CR as the level of the grenades, i.e. a minefield
based on a cryo grenade I, would be CR 6, as it is a level
6 item.
Each minefield fills up a number of squares, with each
square containing 1 mine. For each square that anyone
traversing the minefield will have to pass through,
increase the CR by one. (To use the example from before,
a person moving through 2 squares with mines based on
a cryo grenade I, would be facing a CR 7 challenge).
DemolItIons, explosIves,
& mInes
Mines are a particular type of explosive, that are
very similar to grenades. These weapons cost the
same as their parent grenade, but have the following
changes:
Motionless: A mine cannot be thrown like a grenade.
Instead, it must be set, requiring an Engineering
check DC 10+item level of the grenade, allowing for
a remote explosion without the use of a detonator.
This standard setting detects anyone walking on top
of the mine and then explodes upon contact. Usually,
the weight limit is set at 5 lbs, to ensure that it is not
set off by smaller local animals, but the handler of the
mine can choose a different setting if this is required.
A timer can also be added (adding 5 to the DC)
allowing the mine explosion to be delayed for up to
5 rounds after first being triggered. The mine can be
disabled with a similar Engineering check, but failure
by 5 or more results in the mine exploding.
10
strange WorlDs
WorlD oF tHe unquIet
Unquiet worlds are those worlds where undeath has
taken over, and where it still propagates actively. These
are the worlds lost to necromantic rituals, deadly undead
plagues, and cybernetic overloads. These worlds may still
be habitable if cleared of the undead, and might even
still be well-maintained depending upon the undead in
question, but they’re usually nothing more than gigantic
mortuaries or necropoli where no living creature draws
breath. They still have the remnants of their civilizations
showing on the surface of the planet, with any buildings
often left standing so that one wouldn’t be able to tell
that anything was wrong if it hadn’t been for the fact
that no one is around.
As the terrain would be as varied as the places that the
living inhabited, a GM should refer to either one of the
other worlds as needed (an unquiet world might well
be either extinct or a former battlefield) or to the terrain
section of the Starfinder Core Rulebook as appropriate.
These worlds might also have hazards as appropriate
to them (i.e. an unquiet world that’s a former war world
might well have a minefield or corpse stench). Below is a
hazard unique to undead worlds.
blooD boIl (HazarD, Cr 6)
A blood boil is a marshy area where necrotic
energies have gathered and simmered for hundreds of
years, seeping into the very soil and making the area
dangerous by its mere existence. When a living creature
approaches within 60 feet, the waters of the marshes
start to bubble and pop, becoming more frequent as a
creature moves closer. Should a creature move to within
30 feet, the blood boil starts rapidly generating gasses
and the air fills with lethal fumes within seconds. Anyone
moving to within 30 feet of a blood boil (which can be
anything from 30 feet across to several miles) must make
a DC 16 Fortitude save or contract a disease known as
brain rot. Anyone remaining in the area must take a new
save every 10 minutes unless they have brought their
own air supply.
BRain Rot
Type disease (inhaled); Save Fortitude DC 16
Tracks mental; Frequency 1/day
Effect progression track is Healthy-Weakened-
Impaired-Befuddled-Comatose-Dead. Once the
creature dies, it turns into an embalmed one, as
described below.
Cure 3 consecutive saves
11
CE Huge undead
Init +6; Senses blindsight (life) 120 ft., darkvision 60
ft.; Perception +34
Aura death (30 ft., DC 25)
deFenSe
hp 465
EAC 35; KAC 37
Fort +21; Ref +21; Will +19
Defensive Abilities fast healing 10, undead
immunities
oFFenSe
Speed 60 ft.
Melee wracking bite +34 (6d12+32 P plus lifedrain
and swallow whole)
Multiattack wracking bite +34 (6d12+32 B plus
lifedrain), 2 blood tentacles +31 (6d12+32 B each)
Ranged blood breath +31 (12d6+20 C)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Offensive Abilities swallow whole (6d12+32 A, EAC
35, KAC 37, 116 HP)
StatiSticS
Str +12; Dex +6; Con—; Int —; Wis +9; Cha +0
Skills Athletics +39, Stealth +34
Other Abilities unliving
ecoLoGY
Environment any
Organization solitary
SpeciaL aBiLitieS
Aura of Death (Su) Any living creature within
30 feet of a bloodshade must make a DC 25
Fortitude saving throw, or take 10d20 points
of cold damage. Creatures that succeed the
Fortitude saving throw only take half damage.
A creature that succeeds on the saving throw
cannot be affected again for 24 hours, but one
who fails the saving throw must continue to
make a saving throw each round until it succeeds.
Life Drain (Su) Any creature who takes damage
from the wracking bite attack must succeed on
a DC 25 Fortitude saving throw or take a further
2d12 points of cold damage, which will heal the
bloodshade for a similar amount.
Bloodshades are the remains of the dead, leftover
after battles or massacres that killed tens of thousands
of individuals. The amount of negative energy unleashed
in those situations eventually coagulate, taking on
an ooze-like form, the color of translucent blood. It is
actively hostile towards all life, mindlessly seeking out
and destroying any lifeforms that it encounters. Being
mindless, it is utterly fearless and impossible to detract.
The only known way to distract a bloodshade is to offer
it a bigger target, consisting of more individual lifeforms
to destroy. It will even attack vehicles to get to the
lifeforms inside if needed.
Thankfully these creatures are incredibly rare, and any
occurrence of these creatures is usually followed by a
planetwide quarantine to ensuring that it does not leave
the planet.
»
Creatures oF tHe
DeaD planets
Below you’ll find sample creatures for you to use in your games. There are 4 creatures of different Challenge Ratings so
that you have an opportunity to challenge players of various levels with these creatures of the dead planets.
blooDsHaDe
Cr 20
xp 307,200
[Combatant]
12
strange WorlDs
CE Medium undead
Init +2; Senses blindsense (life) 60 ft., darkvision
60 ft.; Perception +7
deFenSe
hp 25
EAC 13; KAC 15
Fort +4; Ref +4; Will +3
Defensive Abilities undead immunities
oFFenSe
Speed 30 ft.
Melee slam +10 (1d6+6 B)
Ranged noxious vomit +7 (1d4+2 A plus disease)
Offensive Abilities embalming, noxious vomit
StatiSticS
Str +4; Dex +2; Con —; Int +0; Wis +1; Cha +0
Skills Athletics +7, Intimidate +7, Stealth +12,
Languages Common
Other Abilities unliving
ecoLoGY
Environment any
Organization solitary, pack (2-5) or army (20+)
SpeciaL aBiLitieS
Embalming (Su) As a standard action an
embalmed one may choose to perform a grapple
combat maneuver. This is resolved as normal, but
if the opponent loses, and gains the grappled
condition, the opponent takes 1d6 points of cold
damage automatically each round, on top of any
slam attacks. These Hit Points are then gained by
the embalmed one as healing. Any surplus Hit
Points are lost.
Noxious Vomit (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds, as a
standard action, an embalmed one can spit a
glob of vomit at a target within 60 feet. Anyone
hit must make a DC 11 Fortitude save or be
affected by slimy doom (see Starfinder Core
Rulebook). Anyone dying from this disease rises
within 1d4 days as an embalmed.
The embalmed ones are the remaining souls of a
destroyed planets. They’ve managed to cling on through
all the hardships that their world suffered and were
among the last to die, cursing the gods as they died.
Mere days after their deaths, they rose once more,
seeking out living creatures, to sate their hunger for life,
their will to live on giving them this dreaded curse.
Only the act of causing the deaths of others seems
to alleviate the painful existence of undeath, but on
an already dead planet, they find this very hard to
accomplish, and actively shun each other’s company as
they cannot stand the sight of what they have become.
embalmeD one
Cr 2
xp 600
[Combatant]
13
N Medium construct (mechanical)
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision;
Perception +11
deFenSe
hp 60 Rp 2
EAC 16; KAC 17
Fort +2; Ref +2; Will +6
Defensive Abilities construct immunities, incorporeal
oFFenSe
Speed 0 ft. (see below)
Melee electrifying touch +9 (1d4+5 E)
Ranged lightning beam +11 (1d4+5 E)
Offensive Abilities master of devices, projection
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th)
1/day—holographic image (DC 17), logic bomb (DC 17)
3/day—detect tech, disguise self, overheat (DC 16)
At will—ghost sound (DC 15), psychokinetic hand
StatiSticS
Str +0; Dex +0; Con —; Int +5; Wis +2; Cha +3
Skills Culture +16, Diplomacy +16, Sense Motive +11
Languages Celestial, Common, Infernal, Kasatha,
Shirren, Terran, Ysoki
Other Abilities unliving
ecoLoGY
Environment any
Organization solitary
SpeciaL aBiLitieS
Master of Devices (Ex) As a standard action, a
living hologram can use 1 RP to gain control of
an armor, technological device, or weapon. This
allows it to perform any action that a creature
holding, carrying, or wearing the device would
normally be capable of, such as dropping a clip
out of the weapon, discharging a weapon at the
owner (using the living hologram’s ranged attack
bonus) or shutting down the life support systems
of a suit of armor. A DC 15 Will save on behalf of
the owner prevents this effect.
Projection (Sp) As a move action, a living hologram
can teleport up to 60 feet away. It must have line
of sight to its destination. This movement doesn’t
provoke attacks of opportunity. However, the
living hologram can only use this ability within
the location where it was originally installed, or
where holographic transmitters have been set up
(at the GM’s discretion). This means that the living
hologram cannot leave the location where it was
originally placed.
Living holograms are the technological remainders
of a heavily industrialized world. During their prime,
they often served as guides and helpful assistants to the
inhabitants and visitors to the areas where they were
installed. Originally they’d only been intended as virtual
intelligences (basically computer programs capable of
simulating intelligence through a series of pre-recorded
responses), but once the creatures that inhabited their
world moved on, leaving the holograms alone, they
started corresponding with each other, and
eventually, they developed true sentience.
Now they inhabit their original
places still, unable to leave
them unless outside
forces carry one of their
transmitters elsewhere, and
after possibly thousands of
years, of seeing the same
scenery decaying around
them, they yearn to be able to
experience new worlds. As they
themselves are incorporeal,
they need the
assistance of others to
help them leave their
homes and rejoin society
once more. They are not
willing to take no for
an answer, though
they prefer to coerce
creatures into helping
them, rather than having
to subdue them.
lIvIng Hologram
Cr 5
xp 1,600
[spellCaster]
14
strange WorlDs
LN Medium construct (mechanical)
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision;
Perception +19
deFenSe
hp 150
EAC 23; KAC 24
Fort +9; Ref +9; Will +13
Defensive Abilities construct immunities, nanite
regeneration
oFFenSe
Speed 30 ft.
Melee electric touch +20 (2d8+15 E)
Ranged beam of light +18 (3d4+10 F)
Offensive Abilities piercing gaze
StatiSticS
Str +5; Dex +0; Con —; Int +3; Wis +8; Cha +0
Skills Athletics +19, Computers +24, Engineering
+24 , Physical Science +24, Profession (GM’s
choice) +19
Languages Common, Infernal, Shirren, Ysoki
Other Abilities unliving
ecoLoGY
Environment any
Organization solitary or patrol (2)
SpeciaL aBiLitieS
Nanite Regeneration (Ex) While within 30 feet
of any metallic structure or vehicle that weighs
more than 300 pounds, and is at least Medium
size, an overseer gains fast healing 5.
Piercing Gaze (Ex) As a standard action, an
overseer can stare upon a creature, making it
feel the full force of its willpower. The targeted
creature must succeed on a DC 19 Will save or be
staggered for 1d6 rounds.
Overseers are the guards and in some cases normal
inhabitants of robotic worlds. They were created to be
an active guard or security force, capable of repairing
any damage caused by unfriendly activity, and to this
day they still guard the sites where they were assigned.
Highly intelligent, they will sometimes interrogate
sentient creatures to determine activities in the
galaxy at large, and how it will affect their duties. Any
attempts to stop them in their duty (whatever these
may be) result in first a warning, and then a show of
force to remove the interference.
robot, overseer
Cr 10
xp 9,600
[expert]
15
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000
Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a) “Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who
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12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this
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13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all
terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All
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14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision
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15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
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System Reference Document. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors:
Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave
Arneson.
Starfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. © 2017, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Alexander
Augunas, Logan Bonner, Jason Bulmahn, Thurston Hillman, Amanda Hamon Kunz, Jason
Keeley, Robert G. McCreary, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Amber E. Scott, Mark Seifter, Owen
K.C. Stephens, and James L. Sutter, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and
Skip Williams.
Starfinder: First Contact © 2017, Paizo Inc; Authors: John Compton, Jason Keeley, Robert
G. McCreary, and James L. Sutter.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document. © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC;
Author: Paizo Publishing, LLC.
Strange Worlds: Dead Planets. © 2017, Fat Goblin Games; Author: Kim Frandsen
16
strange WorlDs
pIrates: ports anD CreWs
» start your spaCe
aDventures rIgHt WItH Fat
goblIn games!
CosmIC oDyssey: pIrates oF
tHe starstream
Cosmic Odyssey is a line of Starfinder Roleplaying Game compatible
products designed to give you, as both a player and as a gamemaster,
all the tools you need to fully explore a classic motif of science fiction
with new character options, equipment and vessels, as well as a
location and NPCs. Designed to be dropped into your existing game, or
to serve as a starting point for your adventures, each Cosmic Odyssey
is ready-made for action. In Pirates of the Starstream we bring you to
8-Pieces Port, a safe haven to criminals that caters to the corsairs and
buccaneers of the spaceways. Included in this book are new themes
such as the brute and rogue, new drone options for mechanics, a new
spell, new equipment for boarding and ramming, new sample starships
like the gunboat, and several NPCs for you to drop into your campaign.
CosmIC oDyssey: servICe bots
anD syntHetIC CompanIons
Cosmic Odyssey is a line of Starfinder Roleplaying Game compatible
products designed to give you, as both a player and as a gamemaster,
all the tools you need to fully explore a classic motif of science fiction
with new character options, equipment, and vessels, as well as a
location and NPCs. Designed to be dropped into your existing game, or
to serve as a starting point for your adventures, each Cosmic Odyssey
is ready-made for action. In Service Bots & Synthetic Companions,
we bring you all the rules you need for building your very own robot
pal as well as several pre-made Service Bots, or SBs. These synthetic
companions exist in a space outside the fully-autonomous android race
and the advanced machine companions of the mechanic class’s drones.
Instead, our SBs are robotic companions for everyone (that can afford
them). And, rather than just generic rules, an entire corporate world of
competing manufacturers with different goals and ideals — as well as
of course designs — is presented to provide gamemasters with a rich
tapestry of backdrops and plot hooks, as well as to give players more
flavorful companions then just a string of letters and numbers for their
robotic buddies.
» avaIlable noW!
| textdata/thevault/Starfinder [multi]/3rd Party/Fat Goblin Games/FGG - Strange Worlds - Dead Planets.pdf |
1
Wiping the Slate Clean - Part II
an adventure for the Dying Earth RPG, suitable for Turjan-level characters
By Steve Dempsey
In which the player characters purge themselves of an unpleasant memory.
This part of the adventure is very unstructured and is an opportunity to use Robin's “Yes, but ...” from
this and last month's columns. The adventure takes place in the PCs' collective memory so it is
essentially up to the players to construct the backdrop to the adventure. The film Eternal Sunshine of
the Spotless Mind has sequences that illustrate this kind of thing, and it's well worth seeing too!
1. In which the sanity of the scenarist is doubted.
This is the final part of Klazan's plan to destroy himself by being wiped from the memory of the last
beings that remember him, the PCs and Amaranth.
When we last left the brave characters, they had just freed the monstrous god of memory, Klazan, from
his prison in the laboratory of the dead Archmage Pandido. Once Klazan is freed, by whatever method,
something strange happens. Everyone gets an intense feeling of déja vu as the whole room in which
they are standing appears to shimmer.
Although the PCs still seem to be in Pandido's laboratory, there are in fact in the Memory Maze. This is
not anywhere as such. It is a form of collective memory shared between the PCs and can exist only
because of Klazan's powers as the God of Memory. It is made up of the pooled memories and
experiences of the PCs. This part of the adventure will depend very much on the players driving things
forward but it will be up to you as the GM to provide interesting challenges based on the direction that
the PCs take.
If it sounds scary letting the players come up with the adventure, don't worry too much. As a GM,
you've been doing this kind of thing all along, you just haven't thought of it as being like that. In your
other games, you might have planned the initial structure for your adventure but once you let the
players loose in it, it really becomes their reality. They are the ones who really decide which way things
are going to go. In this part of the adventure you'll just be the same as before, only more so. Read
Robin's articles which will help greatly with this style of play.
2. In which the nature of the Memory Maze is exposed.
The Memory Maze is created by the PCs own memories of places and people so it is colored very
much by their perceptions. If a PC was born in Kaiin but hadn't visited it since they were a child, their
version of it will be very loud and scary. The buildings and people will all be monstrously tall, a
cacophonous din will drown out all but shouted talk and it will be impossible to navigate the tortuous
streets without somebody dragging them around by the hand.
Places will also be tainted by the PC's feelings at the time. So in the above example, most things will
appear frightening and moving away from the guiding hand would require a Wherewithal check. If the
PCs visit a place where one of them was celebrating the find of a rather splendid manuscript,
All words and images are ©2004 Pelgrane Press. Based on the Dying Earth book series by Jack Vance. Produced and distributed by
agreement with Jack Vance c/o Ralph Vicinanza. The Dying Earth Roleplaying Game and Dying Earth Quick Start Rules are trademarks of
Pelgrane Press. All rights reserved.
2
everything will be brightly colored and friendly at first, turning darker and more ponderous as the PC
celebrated too much and finally becoming a place of anger and despair as they discovered that the
manuscript had been stolen whilst they engaged in drunken revelry.
So, the PCs can go anywhere that they remember, either through having been there or having read or
heard about the place. The amount of detail in a scene depends very much on how direct an experience
it was for the PC. A place they lived in will be vivid, noisy and colorful. Somewhere they once read
about will contain the things that were described but won't have any extra details. Backgrounds will be
hazy, faces indistinct and objects insubstantial. A place on mentioned in passing by a stranger in a
tavern will be almost completely misty and indistinct, the only color, provided by the impression that
the PC had of the place when they first heard about it.
In practice this means that as the PCs visit each new place, you must ascertain how much familiarity
they have with their location and under what circumstances.
For example, the PCs decide to visit Taun Sfere, happy childhood home of one and where yet another
passed three dismal months trying to recapture an escaped vat creature. Taun Sfere is well known to
two PCs and so should be rather detailed in its Memory Maze representation. However its aspect
should be a mixture of enormous happy places (the childhood memories) and dark fruitless allies and
foreboding hostelries (the unhappy pursuit). The people encountered should also be either gigantic and
enthralling family members of the one PC or secretive and hostile encounters of the other.
In this scenario it is important that you describe the perceptions of the PCs because these will be what
drives the adventure forwards. Don't be afraid to embroider! Vancian fiction is full of fanciful vistas
and you should not shy from them.
3. In which the nature of the quest is elucidated.
Although they don't know it, the PCs' mission is to fulfill Klazan's desire to die. As Klazan's body is
now dead, all that is left is what the PCs remember of him and his basic self-preservation prevents this
from being an easy thing to destroy. His representation in the PCs' memories will attempt to hide away
from them in neglected places in their memories: a stolen glance at a fetching courtesan, a non-
nondescript meal in a third rate inn or an embarrassing punishment endured as a child. Klazan's
memory presence, henceforth just called Klazan, will disguise itself in some way in these scenes and
could appear as anything: the reflection of the courtesan in a mirror, the third flask of flat beer or the
very cane that beat the child. Although the disguise will be good, in someway it should be noticeable to
the PC in whose recollections the PCs are searching. Perhaps the reflection is more colorful than the
rest of the scene, the beer bubbles slightly too noisy or the cane even more penetrating of the PC's
undergarments. Match Klazan's Concealment skill against the Perception of anyone looking for him.
If the PCs spot Klazan and break whatever representation he is taking on, then Klazan loses one point
of Health. Each time this happens the deja vu feeling that happened before should be re-experienced
and the scene should shift to a different memory.
All words and images are ©2004 Pelgrane Press. Based on the Dying Earth book series by Jack Vance. Produced and distributed by
agreement with Jack Vance c/o Ralph Vicinanza. The Dying Earth Roleplaying Game and Dying Earth Quick Start Rules are trademarks of
Pelgrane Press. All rights reserved.
3
4. In which the characters receive some guidance.
Whilst Klazan is hoping that the PCs will finish him off of their own accord, he is not leaving
everything entirely to chance. He has sent along a guide to help push them in the right direction.
Through his long association with Amaranth, he has managed with his last real breath to create a
facsimile of her in the PCs' memories that has some independence from their memories of her,
enabling her to help things along. She will not tell the PCs directly what is going on for to do so would
push Klazan deeper into the PCs' memories and make him even harder to find and destroy.
As she is only a phantasm of their collective memories, Amaranth doesn't actually know any more than
the PCs do, but she is aware of inconsistencies and will attempt to point out any to the PCs. This way
she hopes to prompt them into action against Klazan.
5. In which the end of Klazan is foretold, and perhaps even brought about.
Eventually, the PCs will reduce Klazan to 0 Health. When this happens, the PCs will be returned to
Pandido's manse wherein they will discover a fetid mass that was once Klazan but is now
unrecognizable to them. Amaranth will also be here and will explain to the PCs that her time is finished
and that they must kill her before she can undo the good work that they have done. They will have no
recollection of what this work actually was. If they press her to reveal what they have done, or use
magical means to accomplish this, they will once again be plunged back into the Memory Maze. In fact,
if at anytime they ever seek to recover their missing memories, they will return to the Memory Maze
and have to hunt down Klazan once more.
6. “Thus and so”, an aid to the harassed GM.
Here is an example of play to illustrate the process that I have been describing.
There are three player characters: Borkquorce, Drowel and Erelkode. They have dispatched Klazan's
earthly body and now are looking around for treasure to loot. Amaranth is sitting nearby with a strange
expression on her face. It seems to be part melancholy, perhaps at the passing of her creator, and part
amusement, at the PCs failure to find anything of interest amongst the ruins of the laboratory.
Drowel notices Amaranth's semi-smirk and requires her to furnish him with a suitable reason for her
lack of proper decorum. She acquiesces not without good grace and points out that he has missed
something. Following her line of sight he notices a mirror in which the reflection of the laboratory is
different. It is as if no violence had ever been wreaked upon it by the PCs! Drowel feigns a passing
interest and hastens to purloin the magical mirror before his fellow mages notice.
The mirror however, being Klazan's memory presence, has other ideas and attempts to move away. Or
at least that part that is Klazan does. And so the image of the pristine laboratory shifts out of the mirror
and across the room, seemingly somehow suspended in mid air. Attempts to prevent it escaping with
paralyzing magics fail and the mages are obliged to try more forceful methods, causing it to shatter.
Suddenly the scene shifts through a strange sensation of déja vu to an old memory of another PC,
Erelkode say. The GM describes to Erelkode that they appear to be in an underskullery of his
childhood home and prompts the player to describe the scene. The GM has in mind that the Erelkode's
father created his mother in his vats but that Erelkode would rather not remember this and so by using
All words and images are ©2004 Pelgrane Press. Based on the Dying Earth book series by Jack Vance. Produced and distributed by
agreement with Jack Vance c/o Ralph Vicinanza. The Dying Earth Roleplaying Game and Dying Earth Quick Start Rules are trademarks of
Pelgrane Press. All rights reserved.
4
the “Yes, but ...” technique steers Erelkode's recollections round to something rather dark and
threatening. The walls of the manse seem to close in on the PCs, pictures leer at them and beautiful
creatures run madly through the halls and misshapen lumps of beings proffer strange counsel.
Let Erelkode's player describe the setting whilst using the power of the “but” to steer the game round
to the atmosphere that you want. Remember, this is a Turjan level game so aim for Horror,
Opportunity for Bloodshed and Ruined Wonders. I shouldn't wonder if, in under such circumstances,
Klazan doesn't end up being part of Erelkode's mother, or a favorite pet. Something that he once
cherished and that he will have to see rent apart by his accomplices. It doesn't much matter what the
outcome is, as long as it is something that has the right feel about it.
Characters
Klazan's Memory Presence
Health X1 Concealment 10
A mentioned above, this figment of memory can take on any form it chooses. Any other attributes will
be those of the form of which it takes. As regards Health, the number above is the value for the
Memory Presence itself. If is in the form of a creature, for example, the PCs will have to destroy the
Health of that creature before the Memory Presence loses a point.
1Choose this to suit your game and have it equal 0 when you think the players have had enough.
All words and images are ©2004 Pelgrane Press. Based on the Dying Earth book series by Jack Vance. Produced and distributed by
agreement with Jack Vance c/o Ralph Vicinanza. The Dying Earth Roleplaying Game and Dying Earth Quick Start Rules are trademarks of
Pelgrane Press. All rights reserved.
| textdata/thevault/Dying Earth/Dying Earth - Pelgrane Press - Module - Wiping the Slate Clean Part 2.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed
by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of Wizards of the
Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20.
This is an official RPGA
® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and
Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the
United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written
permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely
coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc and the adventure author or authors.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
For questions specific to this document and your region please e-mail your triad point of contact (POC) at [email protected]. For LIVING GREYHAWK
campaign questions email [email protected].
BIS5-IS3
Words of Wisdom
A One-Round D&D LIVING GREYHAWK
®
Bissel Regional Introductory Adventure
Version 1.0
By Michael Hallet
Edited by Jay Babcock
Playtested by Dashiell Anderson, Chris Babcock, Crystal Babcock, Kevin Baumann, Sharon Baumann, Gabe
Bonder, Phil Bonder, Lee Burton, Bob Gallant, Christine Hallet, Bob Lutinski, Rebeka Marcus, Keith Richmond,
and Jon Sedich
Every year the Nightwatch hosts Remembrance Day in honor of those who made sacrifices in the service of the March.
But in times like these, when new heroes are made every day, who knows what people will have left to remember for
next year? An introductory LG adventure set in the March of Bissel.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 2
RPGA SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide,
ongoing D&D campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—
you must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event
could be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
group of friends meeting at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the table Dungeon
Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all
the time in the cases of home events) the senior
gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have to be a
HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not
the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game,
and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2006.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit
the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
PLAYERS READ NO FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than
this section, you’ll know too much about its challenges,
which kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this
point makes you ineligible to do so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of
the following D&D books: Player’s Handbook, Dungeon
Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics provides
player information for you to paraphrase or read aloud
when
appropriate.
Sidebars
contain
important
information for you, including special instruction on
running the adventure. Information on nonplayer
characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated
form in the adventure text. Full information on NPCs
and monsters are given in the Appendices.
Along with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA Table
Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as part of
an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in this
sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll also
find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportionate to the modified average character level of
the PCs participating in the adventure. To determine this
modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps
below:
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely dogs trained for war), other than
those brought by virtue of a class ability (such as
animal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or
the warhorse of a character with the Mounted
Combat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine the
number of levels you add to the sum of step one. Add
each character’s animals separately. A single PC may
only bring four or fewer animals of this type, and
animals with different CRs are added separately.
3.
Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the
number of characters playing in the adventure.
Round up to the nearest whole number.
4.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of
challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-
numbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on
an odd number, ask them before the adventure begins
whether they would like to play a harder or easier
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience and gold a
PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 3
character is three character levels or more either higher
or lower than the APL at which this adventure is being
played, that character receives only one-half of the
experience points and gold for the adventure. This
simulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged
as much as normal or relied on help by higher-level
characters to reach the objectives.
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher
than the highest APL supported by the adventure may
not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL
2 and higher. Four or five 1
st-level characters may find the
challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the
following to these groups to help increase their chances
of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
1.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them.
INTRODUCTORY
ADVENTURES
Welcome to Living Greyhawk and the March of Bissel.
This document is an introductory adventure designed to
introduce characters and players to Living Greyhawk in
general and the Bissel campaign in particular. As such, it
can only be played by 1
st level characters. Higher level
characters must play standard regional, meta-regional, or
core adventures. This adventure is only playable at APL 2.
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard one-round introductory Regional
adventure, set in Bissel. Characters native to Bissel pay
one Time Unit per round, all others pay two Time Units
per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12gp per Time
Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50gp per Time Unit. Luxury
Upkeep costs 100gp per Time Unit. Characters that fail to
pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain temporary ability
damage until the next adventure, must buy new spell
component pouches and healer’s kits, and may suffer
other in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-game
benefits) as may be detailed in this adventure.
A character who does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties by
living off the wild. If the character possesses four or
more ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a Survival
check (DC 20), the character will heal temporary ability
damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, may
refill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may
restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the character has at
least four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). The player is
allowed to Take 10 on this roll.
More information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can
be found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of
Chapter 3 of the LIVING GREYHAWK Campaign Sourcebook.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
Fifteen years ago Evard the Necromancer led the
Insurrection, an attempt to arrest control of the March of
Bissel. Though the coup failed, many of the evil items of
power used by Evard would not be put to rest so easily.
One such artifact, the Iron Bone, was used during an
assault on the city of Truelight. The rod, said to have
powers over the dead, gave Evard’s undead army near
limitless power. If it were not for the noble sacrifice of
six brave heroes, Truelight surely would have been
overtaken.
Fifteen years later, the city of Truelight honors its
heroes that fell during both the Insurrection and Evard’s
recent return. The bards recount the stories and the
Nightwatch, whose members sponsor and lead these
memorials, recall their founding.
The Iron Bone, its powers supposedly contained, has
slowly been awakening. Sealed away with one of the
heroes, the rod has slowly corrupted him, granting him
undeath so that the artifact’s purpose can be fulfilled.
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect on
APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 4
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
The PCs are in Truelight to observe Rememberance
Day, a holiday in the Barony of Nightwatch in Bissel.
During this annual event the survivors of the war against
Evard gather to remember the fallen.
During the ceremony, chaos breaks out as undead
swarm out of the cemetery and into the streets. The PCs
are forced to act quickly to save the life of a young
woman.
The father of the young woman, the cemetery’s
groundskeeper, is also missing and it is feared that he
returned to his house within the walls. The Nightwatch
cannot spare a soul to go looking for Hegard, so they ask
the PCs to help.
Inside the Mausoleum, the PCs find the true cause
of the horror plaguing the city where they can put an end
to it and become true heroes to the people of Truelight.
This year in Truelight, the stories will have a new
ending. Will it end with Truelight’s destruction, or will
the city have new heroes to honor?
Introduction: The Waiting Game
The PCs enter Truelight. During the long wait, they
become familiar with the strict laws of the Barony and are
introduced to the Nightwatch.
Encounter 1: A Day to Remember
The Remembrance Day ceremony takes place. The
PCs learn some of Bissel’s history regarding Evard, the
Necromantic
Insurrection,
and
the
Barony
of
Nightwatch.
Encounter 2: Time for Action
Undead erupt from the cemetery and the PCs must
intervene to save the life of a young woman, Maelina
Aerist.
Encounter 3: The Aerist House
The PCs explore the home of the Aerist family.
Encounter 4: The Mausoleum
The PCs explore the Truelight mausoleum. They
deal with the undead lurking there and with the Iron
Bone. They also have a chance to rescue Hegard Aerist.
Conclusion A
The PCs fail to unlock the riddle of the Iron Bone.
They return with the information they have collected
and report to the Baron.
Conclusion B
The PCs solve the riddle of the Iron Bone. They learn
the secrets of Inselda’s assistant. They then return with
the information they have collected and report to the
Baron.
INTRODUCTION: THE
WAITING GAME
Today is Remembrance Day, when the Baron of
Nightwatch hosts a celebration of somber reflection
meant to honor the heroes that have kept the March
safe from Evard since the days of the Insurrection.
Of all the ceremonies, the grandest occurs at the
baronial capital of Truelight at the steps of the
Temple of Pelor.
Though you arrived just before dawn, you have
spent the last two hours standing in line at the city
gates. The early summer morning is cooler than
usual thanks to recent rain and overcast skies. A
guard patrol has slowly been making its way up the
line, ignoring many, but sending others to a second
line that leads to an unremarkable tent.
By the time the patrol makes its way to you, all
the sergeant says is a gruff, “You <number of
characters at the table>, over ‘ere,” as he points
towards the tent.
If the PCs can succeed at a Sense Motive check (DC
10) they can tell that the sergeant has grown tired of this
routine. He expects them to cooperate without question.
Should anyone voice dissent or ignore his order, the
sergeant will become more abrasive with them:
“I said get in that line and don’ give me any of
yer attitude!”
If the PC still refuses, give them one last chance.
The PCs can ask the sergeant to show some manners all
they want, but he really isn’t entitled to give them any.
This is the best he’ll do:
The sergeant sighs and sizes you up for a
moment. “Look, with the war going on, we’ve been a
little on edge. We’ve got men that can snuff out our
life or raise an army of undead with a wave of their
hand trying to do us in. It makes a fellow a bit
paranoid. If you want to get in, you’ve got to follow
the rules. So, can you help me out here?”
Unrelenting PCs will not be allowed into the city of
Truelight.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 5
Once all PCs have either agreed to stand in the other
line, proceed with this:
As you make your way to the back of the other
line leading towards the tent, you notice that all the
people in this line are those that have taken up a life
of adventure. The line winds all the way down the
side of the hill along the brook that runs parallel to
the main road into town. It appears as though you
are in for another long wait.
At this point the PCs have time to make their
introductions. Once they have finished, continue:
An hour later, you finally make it to the front of
the line and are ushered into the tent. Inside you
find three people seated at a table. Each of them
wears a simple tabard emblazoned with the arms of
Bissel, above which is a stylized owl’s head.
Give the players Player Handout 1 - Symbol of the
Nightwatch. Citizens of Bissel can roll a Knowledge (local
– Sheldomar Valley Metaregion) check (DC 10) to know
that the men are wearing the insignia of the Nightwatch.
The three introduce themselves as members of
the Nightwatch, a group of magic-using Bisselites
charged with policing the use of magic within the
borders of the March.
After casting a few spells, the Nightwatch agents
carefully look over the group. They then ask you
many of the same questions that the guards did. At
the end of the interview they inform you that all of
your weapons are to be peace-bonded before
entering the city, and that all spell component
pouches are to be searched and any material
components
for
Necromancy
spells
will
be
confiscated.
If the PCs succeed at Spellcraft checks (DC 16), they
can identify either of the spells being cast as detect evil and
detect magic.
A peace-bonded weapon requires a full-round action
to make ready.
Anyone who wishes to hide a weapon or spell
component pouch from the Nightwatch should make a
Sleight of Hand check opposed by the Search check of
the Nightwatch agent. The searching NPC gets a +4
circumstance bonus to his check as it is easier to spot a
hidden item than to hide one.
Anyone who refuses to peace-bind all their weapons
(padded sacks will be tied around the heads of weapons
that do not sheath easily) and spellcasters who refuse to
turn over their spell component pouches for inspection
will be denied entrance into the city.
Once that bit of bureaucracy is taken care of,
continue with this:
Finally you are cleared by the Nightwatch to
enter the city when those dreadful words are
uttered: “Well, I guess you can all get back in line at
the gates”.
Another few hours pass, and dawn has given
way to high sun. Even once you make your way into
the city there is a wait for everything. Famished, you
finally get something to eat, but by this time it is
late in the afternoon. You manage to find a spot
near the cemetery wall that affords you a decent
though not perfect view of the hill upon which
stands the Temple of Pelor.
Once the PCs have successfully entered the town of
Truelight, continue on with Encounter 1.
All APLs
� Nightwatch, Divine Watcher: Male human
Clr3 (Diplomacy +8, Intimidate +4); AL LG; hp 18.
� Nightwatch Agents: Male human Clr1 (Spot +6,
Search +3); AL LG; hp 6.
ENCOUNTER 1: A DAY TO
REMEMBER
The temple bells ring, turning everyone’s
attention to the top of the hill. Two men step
forward from the congregation gathered at the
temple doors. One is dressed in resplendent
vestments with gold embroidery glistening in the
sunlight. A finely-crafted ornamental mace hangs at
his side. The staff he carries is topped with a large
disk, carved in the shape of a sunburst and face - the
holy symbol of Pelor.
The man standing next to him wears the same
Nightwatch uniform you’ve seen all around the city.
His belt holds both a sword and a ring of dozens of
keys of all shapes and sizes.
A third man, of obvious noble bearing and
dressed in well-polished full plate armor steps
through the crowd carrying a battle standard.
If the PCs can succeed on a Knowledge (religion)
(DC 15), Knowledge (local – Sheldomar Valley
Metaregion) (DC 18), or Bardic Knowledge check (DC
20) they can identify the first individual as Andrin
Hissler, the Archpriest of Pelor in Bissel.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 6
If the PCs can succeed on a Knowledge (nobility and
royalty) (DC 15), Knowledge (local – Sheldomar Valley
Metaregion) (DC 18), or Bardic Knowledge check (DC
20) they can identify the second individual as Rovan
Burncroft, who is also known as the Keeper of Keys. He
is one of the founding members of the Nightwatch, and
one of the very few who possess no known magical
ability - normally a requirement to join the organization.
If the PCs can succeed on a Knowledge (nobility and
royalty) (DC 15), Knowledge (local – Sheldomar Valley
Metaregion) (DC 18), or Bardic Knowledge check (DC
20) they can identify the third individual as Baron
Argwen Helinaut, the ruler of the Barony of Nightwatch.
Baron Helinaut is a brave warrior that converted to the
worship of Pelor after the horrors of the Insurrection.
Furthermore, If the PCs can succeed on a
Knowledge (history) (DC 15), Knowledge (local –
Sheldomar Valley Metaregion) (DC 18), or Bardic
Knowledge check (DC 20) they can identify the symbol
on the standard as the old crest of the Barony of Wynith,
which was renamed Nightwatch after the Insurrection.
A young squire moves to meet the nobleman
and takes the standard from him. The noble then
looks up to the temple and raises his arms to the
sky. The late day sun is just barely touching the top
of the temple.
“Sun Father, bless us this day as you blessed us
fifteen years ago and every day since. Lead us as we
honor those whom you helped lead in our hour of
need. Accept me as your humble servant as you
accepted me that day when I prayed to you…”
“Lord Pelor, Bringer of Life, the Light of Oerth,
grant me the strength to lead my people in these
dark times for we have lost our way. We are blinded
by our folly.”
“Day after day the horrors of the Necromancer
would visit us. They would blight our crops, raze
our villages, and then turn our dead against us.
Every day our fortunes waned until this day fifteen
years ago when this hill, Kellsgrove Hill, would
become the place where Wynith would see its
greatest day… and its last.”
“As the sun set beyond the hill, the hordes came
for us. Though we fought valiantly, we cannot forget
the six heroes of Truelight, without whom we would
have fallen.”
Pause reverently in between each name.
Dein Gerich… Razmi Al-Hastoori… Elsabet
Leig… Alfden Moorwick… Moreland Hansil…
Shulla an-Dour…
“They gave their lives to stop the necromancers
and the evil they would bring. They contained them
and thus turned the tide of battle.”
“Though they never saw the light of day again, it
is thanks to them that some of us on that hill did.”
At this time the noble walks up the hill to take
his place by the side of the priest.
“But let us not forget those who fought and died
on the hill that day…”
With that, the man in the Nightwatch uniform
is handed a scroll from the by the priest of Pelor. He
begins to read names one by one from it. Several
hundred are read, and by the time he has finished
the last remnants of the day are a rosy line on the
horizon.
After he is finished the priest speaks: “Every
year our battle against the forces of evil adds many
names to the list of those who have given their lives
for the March. I welcome those who would wish to
remember them to come up here and be heard.”
With that, several people begin to form a line
leading up to the temple. As each person reaches the
temple, they eulogize someone who has died in the
war against the Necromancer.
Give the players a chance to eulogize someone if
they wish. This is a good time for the more experienced
players to fondly remember old characters that may have
been lost.
Once they are done, continue with Encounter 2.
ENCOUNTER TWO: TIME FOR
ACTION
As the last of those paying tribute to the fallen
begin to leave the stage, a trio of bards begins
singing a slow, mournful dirge. Night falls, casting a
somber shadow over the proceedings.
What sounds like a peal of thunder sends
everyone’s attention skyward. A moment later,
screams erupt and chaos ensues as people try to flee,
trampling over stranger and friend alike. As you
strain to see what is happening, you watch in horror
as a number of undead abominations climb over the
cemetery wall and onto the street.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 7
Within moments the panicked crowd flees from
the terrors, but a young girl isn’t so lucky. Tripped
and trampled her barely conscious form lies only
yards from several rampaging skeletons.
Please refer to DM Aid – Map #3 – The Cemetery Wall.
All APLs (EL 2)
� Human Warrior Skeletons (6): hp 6 each; see
Monster Manual page 226.
� Maelina Aerist: Female human Com 1; hp 2
(currently 0).
Preparations: Place Maelina about 15 feet from the
skeletons - she is currently disabled and prone. The
skeletons should be placed about 30 feet or so from the
majority of the PCs.
Tactics: The act of climbing over the fence
constitutes the skeletons’ surprise round action. If the
skeletons act before the PCs can cut them off, the
skeletons will walk up to Maelina and attack. A hit will
send Maelina into a dying state. Once she is dying, the
skeletons will move on to the next closest target,
charging if possible.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 34 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
Once the undead are dispatched, continue with this:
A number of clerics and Nightwatch agents step
forward from the panicked crowd. Their voices are a
jumbled cacophony of chants, prayers, and arcane
syllables – but their meaning becomes very clear as
the street erupts with divine light and magical fire..
When your vision clears, the undead have been
reduced to smoldering piles of ash, and all that is
left is the crowd, - left to wonder how a group of
such abominations could strike so close to home
without warning.
Assuming Maelina survives and someone heals her,
she will thank her rescuers, but then become very
concerned:
“My father… please heroes tell me… is Father
all right? He was inside before those things
emerged.” She points to a two-story stone house on
the other side of the cemetery gates. “You must…
help.” Tears start to freely flow down her face. She
buries her head in her hands and begins to sob, her
straw-like locks bouncing loosely.
Once the PCs have figured out what they are doing
next, continue with this:
As you make ready to leave the scene, three
people, all attired in the uniform of the Nightwatch
come walking up to you. Their tunics bear many rips
and their hands and faces welts and scratches. The
one in the middle has a deeper wound in his side
and he requires the assistance of his two comrades.
Should one of the PCs try to administer any healing,
the man will raise his hand to ask them to stop. The
other two will hesitate for the moment before one of
them speaks.
“Friends, save your healing for those who still
have some fight left in them. We are simply
gathering the wounded to bring them to the temple.
We will take young Maelina off your hands now;
her father must be looking for her.”
If Maelina did not survive the battle read the
follwing:
The man looks over at the body of the young girl
and gasps. With some help, he leans over her and
hold her face in his hands.
“Young Maelina, why does this have to happen
to one so young? My friends, I thank you for your
efforts to help Maelina, but perhaps it is not too late
to save her father. Hegard would have probably
gone back into his house to try and protect his
daughter.”
If someone mentions Hegard (due to Maelina’s pleas
or their own comments), the Watchers will hint that the
PCs should investigate:
A sad look crosses the face of the man in the
middle. You can tell by the respect and deference
shown by the other two that he is their superior -
and a well-liked one at that. “Our orders are to hold
the perimeter of the cemetery. The Aerist house lies
within. No one would be sent in until it is far too
late. I could not dream of sending another into
danger when I cannot go myself, but Hegard is a
good friend of mine…”
Pride prevents him from finishing his request, but
he hopes the PCs get the gist of what he is saying.
Once the PCs agree to investigate the Aerist home,
continue with this:
With his mind a little more at ease, he motions
for his comrades to pick up Maelina and they walk
away together.
Continue with Encounter 3.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 8
All APLs
� Divine Watcher Narden Wallis: Male human
Ftr 2/Clr 3; hp 31 (currently 0).
� Watcher Tinneus Barret: Male human Clr 3;
hp 21 (currently 15).
� Watcher Haeli Corston: Female human Wiz 3;
hp 13 (currently 8).
ENCOUNTER THREE: THE
AERIST HOUSE
As most people in Truelight know, Hegard Aerist
has been the caretaker of the cemetery for over twenty
years.
What most people do not realize is that Hegard
studied as a wizard in his youth. He moved to Truelight
to put that all behind him when he met his wife, Inselda.
Inselda was an architect and engineer. Among her more
notable projects were their house, the cemetery walls,
and the town mausoleum - though the last project was
left unfinished due to her untimely death. The
mausoleum was instead finished by her assistant,
Talascus Blanock.
Though Hegard was not cut out for the life of a
wizard, he never forgot his skills. His curiosity and his
fear of necromancy led him to dabble every so often to
“keep an eye on things”. Over the past two weeks, he had
noticed an increase in magical energy radiating from the
mausoleum, but he did not report it to anyone for fear
that his secret would be exposed and he would be taken
from his daughter.
Please refer to DM Aid – Map #1 – The Aerist House.
The walls and doors of the Aerist house share the
following characteristics:
� Wooden Doors: 1½ in. thick; hardness 5; hp 15; AC
5; Break DC 18.
� Masonry Walls: 12 in. thick; hardness 8; hp 90; AC 5;
Break DC 35.
Location A - Foyer
As you open the front door to the Aerist house,
you are greeted by a large open foyer. This 20 foot
square room is covered from floor to ceiling in
white marble. A pair of staircases leads to a balcony
overlooking the room. At the far wall is a fireplace
over which a life-sized portrait of a beautiful
Baklunish woman with long dark hair wearing a
purple and blue dress in a seated pose. Her left hand
is crossed over her right, showing off a gold ring
with a sizable diamond. Hanging in the center of the
room, a decorative chandelier casts off light to every
corner.
Location B - Sitting Room
Off to the east of the foyer is a sitting room.
Several chairs and a couch are placed around an
ornate rug that lies in the center of the room.
Location C - Dining Room
A large oak table stands at the center of the
dining room, nearly filling it. A few tapestries
depicting tranquil woodland scenes hang on the
walls. Though the fireplace has been cleaned, a hint
of burnt hickory tickles your nose.
Location D - Kitchen
Contrary to all the other rooms of the house, the
kitchen emphasizes functionality over form. This
long, narrow kitchen has a fireplace at one end,
several shelves full of food and a long wooden table.
Everything is neat here and the scents of a recently
cooked meal still linger in the air.
The door in the northern section of the west wall
leads to a staircase that descends into the basement.
(Location B on DM Aid – Map #2 – The Mausoleum). If the
PCs proceed this way, continue with Encounter 4.
Location E - Study
Off the sitting room, you come to a small study
about half the size of the former room. A simple
cherry desk has three books standing on end. A few
more tomes are neatly stacked in a bookshelf on the
far wall. The candles in the room are new.
Characters who study the books will find them to be
of a variety of mundane topics from gardening to
carpentry and painting. There is even a Pelorite liturgical
text among the books on the shelf.
The northern section of the east wall contains a
secret door that leads into another study (Location F). If
the PCs can succeed on a Search check (DC 20) they can
find this door.
Location F - Secret Study
With a firm push, the secret door grinds open
revealing another study the same size as the last.
The desk in this room is older and in much worse
condition than all the rest of the furniture in this
place. An old balance and a sextant lie on the desk.
A spiral staircase leads to the upper floor.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 9
This room holds a few remnants of Hegard’s
wizardly career. If someone searches the draws all they
will find is an odd assortment of knickknacks, but a
successful Knowledge (arcana) check (DC 15) will
recognize that these items are among those typically
found in a spell component pouch. The bottom drawer
contains two flasks of holy water stamped with the
symbol of Pelor and three potions of cure light wounds.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 4 gp; C: 0 gp; M: potion of cure light wounds
x3 (4 gp each).
Location G - Studio
This large room contains a desk with many
drawing tools. A pair of bookshelves stocked full of
books flank the desk. An open book is set on a table
along the north wall. A half finished architectural
drawing is set up on an easel. The entire room is
coated in a layer of dust - its contents haven’t been
disturbed in some time.
If someone looks at the drawing on the easel, give
them Player Handout 2 - Mausoleum Map.
The architectural tools in this room are functional
but in no way remarkable. The only thing of interest is a
secret compartment in the desk. On a successful Search
check (DC 20) someone searching the desk will find the
secret compartment and the letter that Inselda had been
saving inside. If they find it, give them Player Handout 3 -
Letter to Inselda Aerist. Anyone making a successful
Knowledge (local – Sheldomar Valley Metaregion) or
Bardic Knowledge check (DC 15) will recognize the seal
as belonging to the magical college of the Guild of the
Arcane Path in Sareden. Any PC who has participated in
BIS5-IS2: A Day at the GAP will recognize both the seal
and the name of Professor Sal’lasterious Ugumondil.
Location H - Master Bedroom
The master bedroom contains a large bed on the
west wall, opposite a large armoire. Like the dining
room, the floors are a polished hardwood. An area
rug sits between the bed and dresser.
There is nothing else in this room other than simple
men’s clothing in the armoire.
Location I - Bedroom
A smaller bedroom contains a single bed. A
chest lies at the foot of the bed. Next to the chest is
a pair of ladies’ slippers. A dulcimer sits in a corner
of the room.
A search of the chest will turn up several outfits for a
woman.
Location J - Secret Observatory
Ascending the stairs you arrive at another
simple room. The only things currently here are a
brazier in the northeast corner, a telescope perched
on a tripod set upon a wooden pallet, and an open
journal perched on a mahogany stand. The single
window in this room where the telescope is set
looks out over the cemetery.
If a PC looks out the telescope at the cemetery, they
will notice that there are signs of recent battle, but that it
is quiet at the moment. If the PC looking through the
telescope makes a Spot check (DC 20), they will notice
the body of a man trapped under some fallen pillars. This
is the paladin described in Location A of Encounter 4.
If someone looks at the journal give them Player
Handout 4 – Journal of Hegard Aerist.
ENCOUNTER FOUR: THE
MAUSOLEUM
The Truelight Mausoleum was Inselda Aerist’s most
ambitious project and ultimately the one that lead to her
death. She envisioned her project as a grand palace for
the city’s heroes.
Please refer to DM Aid – Map #2 – The Mausoleum.
The
walls
and
doors
share
the
following
characteristics:
� Reinforced Wooden Doors: 2 in. thick; hardness 5;
hp 40; AC 5; Break DC 33.
� Superior Masonry Walls: 18 in. thick; hardness 8;
hp 135; AC 5; Break DC 35.
If the PCs go to find the outside entrance, they will
find their path blocked. As the undead poured forth, they
brought part of the structure down with them:
Location A – The Mausoleum Entrance
You find the entryway to the mausoleum
blocked. Some of the stone pillars lining the path
have been toppled, the gates lies in ruins, and even a
few trees have been uprooted. With no windows in,
you will have to find some other way to enter.
The only other entrance that is useable at this time is
the breach in the basement of the Aerist house.
If the PCs succeed at a Spot (DC 15) or Search (DC
10) check, they notice the broken body of a man trapped
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 10
under one of the broken pillars. The warrior bears a
silver holy symbol of Pelor and wears a suit of chainmail.
A Heal check (DC 10) will reveal that the pillars are what
killed him and that he died less than an hour ago.
If someone moves the pillars they will find a
masterwork long sword that used to belong to the
deceased paladin.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 40 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
Location B – Breach in the Walls
As the PCs enter through the breach, continue with
the following:
You take the first few tentative steps into the
mausoleum. Your light flickers off the mineral
specks embedded within the solid granite blocks
that form the walls. Carved frescoes depicting
scenes of the battle line the walls.
Location C – Trap and Well-Traveled Path
The halls here are fairly clean but the dirt floors have
been heavily traveled recently. Anyone with the Track
feat looking for signs of Hegard’s passing can notice a set
of boot prints amongst the skeletal tracks on a successful
Survival check (DC 15). The tracks lead out the main
hallway to a razor-wire trap at Location C.
The trap was placed across the archway by Hegard
Aerist to trip up any non-intelligent undead if they were
ever raised from their graves. What he did not count on
was an intelligent undead being created that would lead
them through breaches in the mausoleum’s structure.
The boot prints end at the trap, but there is evidence
that someone was dragged away here. Even those that
did not notice Hegard’s prints before can find the drag
marks on a successful Search or Survival check (DC 10).
A second set of prints can be picked up, but they have
been covered over by the dragging, so finding them
requires a Survival check (DC 20) by someone with the
Track feat. The tracks are the slender humanoid feet of
Inselda Aerist, now the ghoul prowling the mausoleum.
All APLs (EL 1)
� Razor-Wire
across
Hallway:
mechanical;
location trigger; no reset; Atk +10 melee (2d6, wire);
multiple targets (first target in each of two adjacent
5-ft. squares); Search DC 22; Disable Device DC 15.
The trap had been tripped before, but Inselda knew
where Hegard kept the extra strings (in a hollow in the
wall) and rebuilt the trap. The PCs can find some extra
strings by succeeding on a Search check (DC 20) in the
general area of the trap.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 22 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
The nineteen wall sections in between the crypt
chambers bear bronze and marble plaques each bearing
an inscription memorializing the heroes buried within.
A final plaque is hung the end of the hallway that leads
into the Hall of The Most Revered. The numbers on the
map correspond with the locations of the inscriptions
listed in Player’s Handout 5 - Memorial Plaques. Etched into
the bottom part of the frame of each plaque is a
dedication date. Plaque #1 has their earliest date and they
proceed in ascending order as numbered with plaque #20
being the last to be added.. You should read these
inscriptions aloud until such time as the PCs indicate
that they are taking the time to record all of them. Once
they do, you can just give them the handout in order to
speed things up.
Location D – Ambush
As the PCs round the corner from the first hallway
to the second, they will pass by the room where Inselda
Aerist is lurking. The power of the Iron Bone has
transformed her into a ghoul, turning her determination
in life into an unholy hunger for flesh. Inselda has been
hunting dire rats and the leftovers from her hunt have
drawn a small pack of giant centipedes looking for
carrion. They have formed a symbiotic relationship,
assisting each other in the hunt. As the players pass the
entrance of this room, read the following:
As you round the corner the smell of carrion
assaults your nose. In the burial chamber directly
across from you, you see six giant insects feasting on
the corpses of some of the denizen of these tombs.
They begin clicking their mandibles excitedly as you
round the corner.
Please refer to DM Aid – Map #4 – Ghoul Ambush.
All APLs (EL 4)
� Ghoul: hp 13; see Monster Manual page 119.
� Medium Monstrous Centipedes (6): hp 4
each; see Monster Manual page 287.
Tactics: The ghoul is hiding around the corner of
the burial chamber marked as Location D, using the
centipedes as a diversion. As each PC enters or passes by
the room, secretly make a Spot check (DC 16). If the
check succeeds, inform the player that their character
notices something hiding in the room. The ghoul is
hoping someone will enter the room. If the PC entering
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
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the room does not spot the ghoul, the PC will be
considered flat-footed against the ghoul’s first round of
action. On her turn, she will step out from behind the
door, looking to make a full attack against a flat-footed
opponent. If everyone ignores the room, the ghoul will
try to sneak up an attack one of the PCs at the back of the
group. The PCs can make Listen checks (DC 16)
modified by the distance each PC is from the doorway. If
no one notices, she will charge down the hall during the
surprise round. The centipedes will follow on their
action.
A centipede attacking a PC on the ground while it is
within a sarcophagus is entitled to a bonus for higher
ground.
Moving
from
the
sarcophagus
to
the
sarcophagus requires 10 feet (2 squares) of movement.
When the last opponent is defeated, read the
following:
As the last of your foes fall, your attention is
fixed on the ghoul. Though its features are no longer
recognizable and its clothing is tattered and dirty,
there is no mistaking it. The indigo and lavender
dress that loosely frames the ghoul is the same style
as the one that you saw in the painting of Inselda
Aerist that hung above the mantle in the Aerist
house.
The only other remarkable item on her is a tarnished
gold and diamond ring worth 250 gp. If any of the PCs
remove the ring to examine it, their suspicions will surely
be confirmed:
The inside of the band is still intact, and the
inscription can clearly be read:
To My Dearest Inselda. With Love – Hegard.
Location E – Inselda’s Grave
The corridor turns to your left once more, and
less than twenty feet ahead of you is a large pit, ten
feet wide, ten feet long, and ten feet deep. Only an
inch-wide length of rope, fastened at both ends by
iron spikes, crosses the pit that lies between you and
the iron door at the far end. The remnants of a rope
bridge lie in the pit below.
Inselda Aerist, the original architect of the
mausoleum was killed at this very spot when the ground
beneath her collapsed into a sinkhole. Her assistant
carried on the work, but had the sinkhole dug out into
the chamber that is there now. Her grave, now
unoccupied, lies in this chamber.
A rope bridge was built to span the pit, but it was
trapped so that it could drop away, protecting the
treasures of The Most Revered from looters and invaders.
The deathlock had triggered the trap and fell into the pit,
but its abilities allowed it to survive and escape. The rope
bridge covers the grave below, but anyone in the pit can
move the bridge.
There are several ways to cross the pit, but any
method is difficult at best. There is not sufficient room
for a running start, so jumping across would require a
Jump check (DC 20). One could also attempt to walk
along the rope, but doing so requires a Balance check (DC
20). It is possible to climb or jump down the near side of
the pit and up the far wall, but climbing either wall
requires a Climb check (DC 20). Additionally, a PC can
hang from the rope and move across with his hands;
doing this requires a Strength check (DC 15) to cross and
a Climb check (DC 15) to pull himself up the opposite
ledge. In the case of anything but a jump check, failure
by less than 5 means the character does not move that
round. Failure by 5 or more indicates a fall resulting in
1d6 points of damage. A Jump check failed by less than 5
means the character is within arms’ 'reach of the far
ledge. Catching the ledge requires a Reflex saving throw
(DC 15) which would then be followed by a Climb check
(DC 15) for that PC to pull himself up. Failing the Jump
check by 5 or more means the character comes up way
short and falls. These DC can be modified for any
situations, tool, or plans the PCs come up with; use your
discretion.
Anyone viewing the pit from above might notice a
human hand partially concealed by the bridge on a
successful Spot check (DC 15). At the bottom of the pit,
the check is easier (DC 10) due to the decreased distance
and the better angle they have.
If anyone moves the rope bridge, describe what they
find:
As you heave the broken bridge aside, you make
a grim discovery. Inside a recently dug out grave, the
body of Hegard Aerist lies here. His arm is broken,
twisted at an odd angle, the ring finger of his left
hand has been severed, there is a large bruise on his
forehead, and his feet have been lacerated at the
ankles, coating his shoes with so much blood that
they are soaked through. Though toppled over and
cracked, you can see the inscription on the
headstone: ‘Inselda Aerist, 553 – 581’.
If someone checks the body, a successful Heal check
(DC 15) will reveal that in actuality, Hegard barely clings
to life.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 12
All APLs
� Hegard Aerist: Male human Wiz (Div) 3; hp 10
(currently -8 and stable).
As you check one last time for vital signs, your
efforts are rewarded with a cough that brings up
some blood. Surprised and perhaps a bit disgusted
for a moment, you wipe the blood off your arm and
continue to attend to Hegard. His breath is very
shallow though he appears stable.
When Hegard entered into the mausoleum, he
unexpectedly encountered his wife transformed into a
ghoul. He momentarily lost himself and when he tried to
approach his late wife, he was tripped up by his own trap.
The fall broke his arm and caused the injury to his head.
His wife, still clinging to some of the memories of life,
decided that Hegard was a morsel worth saving and
savoring. She only ate the finger that still held his
wedding band and then dumped his battered body into
the pit where she placed him in her own grave. Luckily,
Hegard stabilized, but he will not survive the night one
way or another.
It will be tricky to get Hegard out alive in his
condition, as another fall will surely be fatal. The party
will have to do something to get him out, since he will
not survive long enough for someone else to come in and
get him.
If the PCs search Hegard they will find two more
potions of cure light wounds that he has not yet used. The
players can certainly use them to help Hegard.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: potion of cure light wounds
x2 (4 gp each).
Location F – Hall of the Most Revered
The door leading the room of The Most Revered is
the only door in the entire mausoleum that is currently
closed. The deathlock has rearmed the trap on the door.
Crossing the pit you find yourself standing on a
ledge only 10 feet wide and 15 feet long in front of
an iron door. A large owl is carved in bas-relief into
the door. Its eyes are opened wide as if guarding the
hall, watching every movement, watching… you. Its
talons are outstretched as though ready to swoop
down and snatch up any who dare to defile this
tomb.
The tomb door has the following characteristics:
� Iron Door: 2 in. thick; hardness 10; hp 60; AC 5;
Break DC 28.
The door opens into the room and is trapped. As the
PC opens the door, the chain mechanism will pull the
door open wide and activate the tripping chain trap that
will target that PC.
Once the PCs enter the room, continue with this:
As you open the door, your eyes sweep over the
regally decorated room. The moldings are adorned
with fine gold filigree. Rather than native stone, the
sarcophagi here are carved from expensive green
marble that must have been imported from some far
away land. You admire the blue silk cushions that
line the sarcophagus to your right, but only long
enough to realize that it lies open. From the
opposite doorway, two narrow points of red light,
the eyes of some desiccated undead creature are
glaring at you. Though he is wearing the garb of a
Bissel officer, he is most assuredly not on your side.
He raises his arms and prepares for battle. A
hulking, undead, reptilian humanoid with a javelin
in its hand and a greatclub behind him stands
guard.
A few days ago, a nightwatch patrol killed a
troglodyte skulking around the mausoleum. The Iron
Bone has since animated it.
Please refer to DM Aid – Map #5 – Hall of the Most
Revered.
All APLs (EL 5)
� Deathlock: hp 19; see Appendix 1.
� Troglodyte Zombie: hp 29; see Monster Manual
page 266.
� Tripping Chain Trap: mechanical; location
trigger; automatic reset; multiple traps (tripping and
melee attack); Atk +15 melee touch (trip), Atk +15
melee (2d4+2, spiked chain); Search DC 15; Disable
Device DC 18. Note: This trap is really one CR 1 trap
that trips and a second CR 1 trap that attacks with a
spiked chain. If the tripping attack succeeds, a +4
bonus applies to the spiked chain attack because the
opponent is prone.
Preparation: The deathlock has expended its two
daily uses of its ghoul glyph ability (see Appendix Two) in
this chamber. A PC entering the squares so marked on
the map will be affected by the spell.
Tactics: The deathlock will try to incapacitate
weaker foes by using its magic missile ability. Fighters are
prime targets for its cause fear ability. Once all the targets
are incapacitated in some way, it will use it’s summon
monster ability to create attackers to finish off the PCs. It
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 13
loathes melee combat and will only resort to it if there is
no other option. The troglodyte zombie will do the best
it can to guard the deathlock, but its slow speed might
hinder it. The zombie is under the command of the
deathlock and will not charge up to attack unless ordered
to do so by the deathlock or upon the deathlock’s
destruction.
When the deathlock is destroyed read the following:
As the final blow strikes home, the undead
creature shudders for a moment and then falls to
one knee. The whole time he does not take his hate-
filled eyes off of you until the very moment the red
light fades from them and he collapses to the
ground.
Once the PCs dispatch the undead, continue with
this:
The threat dispatched, you take a moment to
survey the Hall of The Most Revered, the burial
chamber of the six Heroes that saved the town of
Truelight fifteen years ago at the cost of their own
lives. Inside the open sarcophagus are a well-crafted
breastplate and a gold holy symbol of Pelor that
contains small diamonds in the eyes that appear to
have been discarded by its occupant. At each end of
the room is a stone plate that which delivers a
cryptic message.
Show the players Player Handout 6 - Marker of The
Most Revered.
None of the other sarcophagi contain anything
particularly valuable; however, the plates in the floor
have a hidden switch. The cache of goods under each
plate was left here in cast the mausoleum needed to be
defended. Finding the switch requires a Search check
(DC 20). Underneath each plate are three flasks of holy
water, a potion of lesser restoration, two potions of cure light
wounds and a scroll of arcane lock.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 41 gp; C: 41 gp; M: potion of lesser restoration
x2 (25 gp each), potion of cure light wounds x4 (4 gp
each), scroll of arcane lock x2 (12 gp each).
Location G – The Iron Bone
You proceed through the already opened secret
door and reach another chamber. In stark contrast
with the rest of the mausoleum, the chamber
appears to be hastily constructed. There is a cheap
wooden desk up against the far wall. The walls are
constructed of worked stone with two wooden
supports holding up the ceiling. In between those
supports is the only part of the room that appears to
be carefully crafted, a silver circle inlaid into the
floor. At the center of the circle, suspended in
midair, is a rod made to look like a femur made
entirely of iron. The upper tip is glowing bright red,
casting runes and words upon the floor and walls of
the chamber. The right hand wall of the chamber
once held a portcullis that connected to the sewers,
but crumbling plaster has sealed that exit off.
The runes on the walls are incomprehensible. In
order to read the words on the floor, a PC will have to
move closer to the circle. Once someone does, give the
players Player Handout 7 - The Mausoleum Puzzle.
If anyone inspects the desk, and succeeds at a Search
check (DC 10), they will find a leather pouch containing
300 gp and a tattered old diary. Most of the pages have
been ruined due to water or vermin, but one page is
mostly intact. Give the players Player Handout 8 - Diary of
Talascus Blanock.
At this point there is really only one thing to do -
Someone should take hold of the Iron Bone and attempt
to answer the riddle. If the person holding the bone gives
an incorrect answer, the Iron Bone will flare up with
negative energy. The PC must make a Fortitude saving
throw (DC 18) or take 1 point of Strength damage. The
player can stop trying to guess the answer at any time,
and another player can grasp the artifact and try instead.
If a PC’s Strength is reduced to zero, that character is
slain and then immediately transformed into a shadow
that leaves through a gap in the plaster to terrorize the
city.
If all the PCs give up on solving the riddle, continue
with Conclusion A.
If the PC grasping the rod gives the correct answer
to the riddle (“dreams”), continue with Conclusion B.
CONCLUSION A
In this case, the party does not solve the riddle. They
return to town with what they have learned.
Try as you might, the riddle of the Iron Bone
eludes you. What could this conundrum possibly
mean? At your wits end, you have no choice but to
leave this to others more skilled than yourselves.
You emerge into the streets of Truelight. Two of
the Nightwatch members who helped Maelina
earlier in the evening are waiting for you. Without
as much as a word they escort you up Kellsgrove Hill
to the steps of the Temple of Pelor. Ascending those
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 14
steps, you enter the hallowed halls where Baron
Helinaut awaits your report.
Should anyone show the excerpt taken from
Talascus’ diary, the Baron will reach out for it. Continue
with this:
Slowly the Baron reads the page. He takes in
every word of it and every word weighs heavily upon
him. As he takes the page away from his face, you
can see his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“This is very grave news you bring to me.
Talascus Blanock was Inselda Aerist’s assistant.
Upon her death he had a hand in almost anything to
do with rebuilding the city. The Mausoleum, the
walls, this very temple, even my manor… and they
are all compromised. Talascus left Truelight eight
months ago to pursue other projects - or so we were
told, but who knows what secrets he has left for us?”
“But you have brought us hope, and perhaps
that is all we ever really needed. Now we can
prepare for the worst, the inevitable day that may
see this Barony brought yet again to the brink of
destruction… But heroes like you have given me
faith that someone will be ready to face that day and
deliver us once again.”
The Baron arranges a place in his manor for you
to stay the evening. In the morning he helps see you
off and before you leave he hands each of you a
pouch of coins.
Each PC is given a pouch containing 125 gp.
“It is what little I can do right now but it will
never be enough to repay you for all you have done.
Nightwatch and its people will always be in your
debt. Godspeed good heroes; hopefully our paths
shall cross again.”
The End
CONCLUSION B
In this case, the party solves the riddle. They are
granted a vision, before returning to town with what they
have learned.
As you speak the answer to the riddle, a surge of
power radiates from the Iron Bone. A spark of magic
dances between you and the artifact. A strange
compulsion grabs a hold of you and you feel as
though you are floating outside your body. You lift
the artifact from its resting place and suddenly you
see someone else holding it.
Though he carries many of the features of a
strong man, the small vestibule horns at the top of
his head and steel gray skin betray his devilish
heritage. He stands atop a great iron fortress
surrounded among all types of hellish creatures.
Undead of all sorts and sizes are laying siege to his
castle, attacking the gates and climbing the walls.
With a word, he takes up the Iron Bone and its
power surges forth in a great wave. It washes over
the army of the dead and suddenly they turn against
one another. The bones of many strange fiends rise
up and join in pushing back the invaders. At the
back of the army, a large demonic looking creature
with a bloated body and tusked mouth shrieks in
anger before he lifts off under the power of his
enormous bat-like wings.
The next thing you see is back on the castle
battlements and once again it is you who is there
holding the Iron Bone. You feel the cold power of
death coursing through your body yet you are not
afraid. You feel in control as though you are death’s
master and the world would tremble at your feet if
you gave into its awesome potential.
But somewhere in the back of your mind your
conscience screams for you to resist, imploring you
to fight the temptation at all costs. Then a low,
powerful voice whispers to you. “Speak your wish
and by my powers shall it be granted.” You know
that it is the Iron Bone that speaks to you, but what
is your choice? Do you give into its powers or do you
do something else? All you know is that you must do
something while the choice is yours to make.
Ideally, the PC would ask the artifact to destroy or
banish itself. If that is what happens, read the following:
“Too bad hero; we could have had so much
power by working together,” says the voice. Then
suddenly the power playing between you and the
artifact intensifies but then it begins the crumble, to
rust in your very grasp. Soon it is gone, dust carried
upon some unknown breeze and all is quiet once
again.
If the PC asks for anything that would result in some
amount of personal gain, even minor - even some way to
defeat Evard or save Bissel - then he is succumbing to the
temptation of the infernal artifact. He earns the Taint of
the Iron Bone item on the Adventure Record. Read the
following:
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 15
The Iron Bone’s emanations of power start to
grow even stronger until it begins to glow red-hot
from the inside. A searing pain shoots up your arms,
but you are not able to let go. The circle of power
that you are standing in begins to melt and swirl
beneath your feet. Suddenly a portal of fire and
brimstone opens up beneath you, and though you
scream, evil laughter is only sound you here before
the Iron Bone is sucked into the gate. As quickly as
it opened, it is gone. Examining your hand you find
a strange rust-colored mark imprinted onto your
palm.
Alternatively, the PC could simply choose to do
nothing and put the rod down. In that case another PC
can choose to pick it up, speak the answer to the riddle
and make a decision or they can all just leave it alone.
Once the PCs decide to leave, continue with this:
You emerge once again onto the streets of
Truelight where two of the Nightwatch members
who helped Maelina earlier in the evening are
waiting for you. Without so much as a word they
escort you up Kellsgrove hill to the steps of the
Temple. Ascending those steps you enter the
hallowed halls where Baron Helinaut, Archpriest
Hissler, and Rovan Burncroft await your report.
Should anyone show the excerpt taken from
Talascus’ diary, the Baron will reach out for it. Continue
with this:
Slowly the Baron reads the page. He takes in
every word of it and every word weighs heavily upon
him. As he takes the page away from his face, you
can see his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“This is very grave news you bring to me.
Talascus Blanock was Inselda Aerist’s assistant.
Upon her death he had a hand in almost anything to
do with rebuilding the city. The Mausoleum, the
walls, this very temple, even my manor… and they
are all compromised. Talascus left Truelight eight
months ago to pursue other projects or so we were
told, but who knows what secrets he has left for us?”
“But you have brought us hope, and perhaps
that is all we ever really needed. Now we can
prepare for the worst, the inevitable day that may
see this Barony brought yet again to the brink of
destruction… But heroes like you have given me
faith that someone will be ready to face that day and
deliver us once again.”
The Baron arranges a place in his manor for you
to stay the evening. In the morning he helps see you
off and before you leave he hands each of you a
pouch of coins.
Each PC is given a pouch containing 125 gp.
“It is what little I can do right now but it will
never be enough to repay you for all you have done.
Nightwatch and its people will always be in your
debt. Godspeed good heroes; hopefully our paths
shall cross again.”
The End
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
roleplaying) to each character.
Encounter 2
Defeat the skeletons
APL 2: 60 xp.
Encounter 4
Survive the razor-wire trap
APL 2: 30 xp.
Defeat the ghoul and her minions
APL 2: 120 xp.
Defeat the deathlock and his minions, and survive the
tripping chain trap
APL 2: 150 xp.
Story Award
Save Maelina Aerist in Encounter 2
APL 2: 20 xp.
Rescue Hegard Aerist in Encounter 4
APL 2: 20 xp.
Solve the riddle of the Iron Bone in Encounter 4
APL 2: 20 xp.
Discretionary Roleplaying Award
APL2: 30 xp.
Total possible experience
APL2: 450 xp.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 16
TREASURE SUMMARY
During an adventure, characters come upon treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each character
gains if the foes are plundered of all their earthly
possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 minutes
per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot take the
time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this gold. If you
feel it is reasonable that characters can go back to loot the
bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by
dungeon scavengers, removed from the scene by the
local watch, and so on), characters may return to retrieve
loot. If the characters do not loot the body, the gold piece
value for the loot is subtracted from the encounter totals
given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each character
gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a
round or so. If for some reason, they pass up this
treasure, the coin total is subtracted from the encounter
totals given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure is
the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because characters may want to use them during the
adventure. Many times characters must cast identify,
analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine what the
item does and how to activate it. In the case of potions,
they may use Spellcraft to identify them. Other times
they may attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic
item is consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and
the item is used before the end of the adventure, its total
is subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in
the GP Gained field of the adventure certificate. Because
this is a Regional scenario, characters may spend
additional Time Units to practice professions or create
items immediately after the adventure so this total may
be modified by other circumstances.
L: Looted gear from enemy
C: Coin, Gems, Jewelry, and other valuables
M: Magic Items (sell value)
Encounter 2:
APL 2: L: 34 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
Encounter 3:
APL 2: L: 4 gp; C: 0 gp; M: potion of cure light wounds
x3 (4 gp each).
Encounter 4:
APL 2: L: 103 gp; C: 91 gp; M: potion of cure light
wounds x6 (4 gp each), potion of lesser restoration x2 (25
gp each), scroll of arcane lock x2 (12 gp each).
Conclusion:
APL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 125 gp; M: 0 gp.
Total Possible Treasure (Maximum Reward
Allowed):
APL 2: L: 141 gp; C: 216 gp; M: 110 gp – Total:
467 gp (450 gp).
ITEMS FOR THE
ADVENTURE RECORD
Special
� Favor of Baron Helinaut: For uncovering the
plans of Talascus Blanock, you have earned the favor
of Argwen Helinaut, Baron of Nightwatch. This will
have consequences in future adventures.
� Favor of the Nightwatch: For helping the
Aerist family, Divine Watcher Narden Wallis has put
it a good word for you with Roven Burncroft. This
will have consequences in future adventures.
� Taint of the Iron Bone: You have been marked
by an odd infernal relic. This will have consequences
in future adventures.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 17
APPENDIX ONE – NEW CREATURES
DEATHLOCK
Source: Libris Mortis page 94
Medium Undead
Hit Dice: 3d12 (19 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+2 Dex, +1 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+1
Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d4)
Full Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d4)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., undead traits, +2 turn resistance
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 15, Con –, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 14
Skills: Concentration +8, Hide +8, Knowledge (arcana) +8, Listen +9, Spellcraft +8, Spot +9
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary, trio, or college (5-9)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +3
Skeletally thin, this figure wears a dramatic cloak fringed with magical sigils. Its cadaverous eyes sizzle with cursed power, and
deadly spells dance on its fingertips.
Deathlocks are undead born of the corpses of powerful spellcasters whose remains are so charged with magic that
they are unable to lie quiet in the grave. Animate, but shorn of the spirit that once ruled their forms, deathlocks seek to
bring all those they meet into an intimate embrace with death. Only their knowledge of spellcasting remains, though
twisted and changed.
Sometimes, deathlocks retain a single shred of memory from their former spirits. If the recollection was dear to the
spirit that once inhabited the now shriveled and blasted body of the deathlock, the creature usually seeks out the source
of that memory, hoping to destroy it, compromise it, or undo the deeds associated with it.
Deathlocks stand between 5-1/2 and 6-1/2 feet tall and weigh between 100 and 120 pounds.
Deathlocks speak Common, Abyssal, and Infernal.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 18
Combat
A deathlock prefers to use its spell-like abilities from a distance, disdaining melee. Thus, it can also use inflict minor
wounds to heal itself.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – detect magic, inflict minor wounds (DC 13), read magic; 3/day – cause fear (DC 13), magic
missile, summon monster I; 2/day – death knell (DC 14), ghoul glyph (DC 14). Caster level equals the deathlock's HD. The
save DCs are Charisma-based.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 19
APPENDIX TWO – NEW SPELLS
GHOUL GLYPH
Source: Libris Mortis page 66
Necromancy
Level: Hunger 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Effect: One ghoul glyph that must fit within a 1-ft. square
Duration: Permanent until discharged
Saving Throw: Fortitude Partial
Spell Resistance: Yes
You inscribe a glyph that paralyzes any living creature of Large or smaller size that enters passes, or opens the
warded area. You can scribe the glyph to be visible as faintly glowing lines, or invisible. You can inscribe a ghoul glyph
on a portable object, but if the object is moved more than 5 feet, the glyph fades.
Conditions for triggering a ghoul glyph are stringent. It takes effect on any creature other than yourself that move
to or within 2 feet of it. It affects invisible creatures normally but is not triggered by those that travel past it ethereally.
Only a single ghoul glyph can be inscribed in a 5-foot square.
Ghoul glyphs cannot be affected or bypassed by such means as physical or magical probing, though they can be
dispelled. Mislead and nondetection can fool a ghoul glyph.
Read magic allows identification of a ghoul glyph with a successful DC 13 Spellcraft check, if the glyph is noticed
before it is activated. A rogue (only) can use the Search skill to find a ghoul glyph and Disable Device to thwart it. The
DC in each case is 27.
When a glyph is activated, the subject is paralyzed for 1d6+2 rounds. Additionally, if the subject fails his Fortitude
save, the paralyzed subject exudes a carrion stench that causes retching and nausea in a 10-foot radius. Those in the
radius must make a Fortitude save or take a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill
checks, and ability checks until the spell ends.
Material Component: You trace the glyph with earth from a ghoul’s lair.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 20
DM AID - MAP #1 – THE AERIST HOUSE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
S
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 21
DM AID - MAP #2 – THE MAUSOLEUM
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
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DM AID - MAP #3 – THE CEMETERY WALL
DM AID - MAP #4 – GHOUL AMBUSH
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 23
DM AID - MAP #5 – HALL OF THE MOST REVERED
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
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PLAYER HANDOUT 1 – SYMBOL OF THE NIGHTWATCH
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 25
PLAYER HANDOUT 2 – MAP OF THE MAUSOLEUM
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
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PLAYER HANDOUT 3 – LETTER TO INSELDA AERIST
A letter from Hegard Aerist to Inselda Aerist. The note bears a strange seal that is still mostly intact.
My dearest Inselda,
I bring the most spectacular news! Professor Ugumondil has persuaded the
dean to allow my leave! I am arranging passage on a caravan to Parulla that
leaves one week hence. I shall be arriving in about twenty days.
It feels like it has been ages since I’ve held you and gazed into those pretty
lavender eyes of yours. The way the moonlight dances in them during our
evening walks captivates me.
I know this must have caught you entirely by surprise (though a happy one)
as mid-semester leaves are quite unusual, but when I explained everything - all
the important things I must tell you - they understood.
Though your apprenticeship has kept you awfully busy these past four
months, I’ve never felt alone with the locket you gave me when last we met. I
shall fondly gaze upon it often on my journey as I so do whenever you are near
me.
May distance never keep our hearts apart, my love,
Hegard
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 27
PLAYER HANDOUT 4 – JOURNAL OF HEGARD AERIST
A journal written by Hegard Aerist, found in his secret observatory.
I was hoping beyond hope that today’s observations would reverse the trend
of the past two weeks. Though I wish my measurements were wrong, I cannot
deny them. Something magical, powerful, and evil has come to life behind the
walls of the mausoleum. It is a power most foul and it is growing. What
started out as a tiny point of energy from within the Hall of the Most Revered
has grown to encompass the entire cemetery.
The Nightwatch is much too busy preparing for tonight’s ceremony to have
time for me. If only I could bring proof of my observations to the baron without
giving up a few dear… secrets, then I would bring this grave matter to his
attention in an instant.
But tonight, all I can do is take a closer look for myself. While everyone is
attending the ceremony I will check out the mausoleum. Hopefully by
tomorrow it will not be too late to show them what I find.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
Page 28
PLAYER HANDOUT 5 – MEMORIAL PLAQUES
The following inscriptions are found on the various markers in the mausoleum of Truelight:
1. OF ALL THE PEOPLE I’VE KNOWN AND LOST, I WILL MISS YOU THE MOST. (COLDEVEN 14, 581)
2. LIFE LIVED FULLEST IS OFTEN LIFE LIVED SHORTEST. (COLDEVEN 23, 581)
3. NOT A SINGLE DAY SHALL PASS THAT I WILL NOT THINK OF YOU. (FLOCKTIME 7, 581)
4. DEATH CAN NEVER CONQUER THE NOBLE SPIRIT. (FLOCKTIME 21, 581)
5. IN TROUBLED TIMES HEROES LIKE THESE ARE A DIVINE GIFT. (WEALSUN 16, 581)
6. DAY AFTER DAY YOU WATCHED OVER US; NOW MAY THE GODS WATCH OVER YOU. (REAPING 1, 581)
7. AND THOUGH YOU ARE GONE, YOU WILL ALWAYS LIVE ON IN OUR HEARTS. (REAPING 19, 581)
8. NIGHT HAS NO POWER OVER THE BRAVE. (REAPING 27, 581)
9. AN EXEMPLARY DISPLAY OF VALOR SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. (GOODMONTH 8, 581)
10. INSPIRING COURAGE UNTIL YOUR VERY LAST BREATH; BLESSED BY THE GODS IN LIFE AND IN DEATH.
(GOODMONTH 17, 581)
11. THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED, PURE AND NOBLE WERE THEY ALWAYS. (GOODMONTH 24, 581)
12. RARELY ARE WE BLESSED BY SUCH HEROES. (PATHWALL 6, 581)
13. REMEMBERED FOR THE WAY YOU LIVED; HONORED FOR THE WAY YOU DIED. (PATHWALL 20, 581)
14. ALWAYS VIGILANT. (READY’REAT 11, 581)
15. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN SAY TO EXPRESS THE EXTENT OF OUR GRATITUDE. (READY’REAT 23, 581)
16. TRUE HEROES WHO DIED IN THE DARKEST OF NIGHTS SO THAT WE MAY GREET THE BRIGHTEST OF
DAYS. (SUNSEBB 5, 581)
17. FRIEND, BROTHER, HUSBAND, FATHER… MANY THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE; HEROES TO ALL.
(READYING 26, 582)
18. FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. (COLDEVEN 12, 582)
19. LOST WITHOUT YOU BUT LIVING ON BECAUSE OF YOU. (COLDEVEN 28, 582)
20. HOPE WAS THE GREATEST GIFT YOU GAVE US. (FLOCKTIME 1, 582)
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
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PLAYER HANDOUT 6 – MARKER OF THE MOST REVERED
A marker found in the Hall of the Most Honored in the mausoleum of Truelight:
True heroes heed our words of wisdom
but fools haven’t the first clue
To reach the end you must start at the beginning.
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
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PLAYER HANDOUT 7 – THE MAUSOLEUM PUZZLE
The words encircling the strange iron bone:
BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom
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PLAYER HANDOUT 8 – DIARY OF TALASCUS BLANOCK
A page from an old diary written in the form of a letter:
Sunsebb 24, 581
Dearest Inselda,
It is unfortunate that the loves of your life are going to be directly responsible
for your death. But I cannot complete my plans with your husband standing
around like a lost puppy every day. Master Evard is counting on me to make
sure that his artifacts do not sleep long, for he will have need of them when he
returns to seize this land from the unworthy wretches that you so wish to
idolize. I have learned so much from you during the years I have worked with
you, and I must admit that in the end you were right. We must all reach out
to achieve that to which we most strongly aspire. So tomorrow you shall be
leaving your dreams to me. But do not worry; I shall be faithful to your
design. I will only be making a few needed additions.
Your apprentice,
Talascus Blanock
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/EXTRAS/Greyhawk/Living Greyhawk - RPGA/BIS (March of Bissel)/BIS5-IS3 Words of Wisdom (3E).pdf |
“Bridge Work”©1992,1997
by Michael C. LaBossiere
[email protected]
CyberPunk 2020
“Today’s traffic report is brought to you by New American Autoworks, makers of
the Ambernaught, which is what you want hauling you out of a bad firefight. Sector
five of Route Twelve should still be considered a red zone due to continued nomad
raiding and...This just in, the Bender Memorial Bridge is closed off, apparently due
to terrorist activity. Our traffic helicopter is taking small arms fire even as I speak, so
find an alternate route guys.”
Legal Information:
This adventure is copyright 1997 by Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere. It may be freely
distributed for personal use provided that it is not modified and no fee above the
normal cost of distribution is charged for it. Visit the Opifex Phoenix web site at
www.opifex.cnchost.com.
“Mekton, Cyberpunk 2020 are Copyright; CyberGeneration, Castle Falk are
Trademarks.”
Introduction:
This adventure is intended for a group of police PCs, but can be modified to
include other character types. The adventure begins with the seizure of a major
bridge during rush hour by a terrorist lead booster gang. The terrorists seized the
bridge by detonating charges on either end of the bridge. These charges destroyed
several vehicles and, more importantly,caused a massive pile up. The terrorists also
took over the bridge’s traffic tower and are using it as a command post. All in all, it
is a nasty situation and one the PCs get to untangle.
Getting the PCs Involved: If the PCs are police, they will be assigned the task of
dealing with the situation and will receive the following briefing:
Police Report
At (insert time) explosive charges were detonated on either end of the Bender
Memorial Bridge, resulting in a numerous accidents and preventing the people
trapped on the bridge from leaving. People with car and portable phones have
reported that a boostergang has moved in among them and they are heavily armed
and enhanced. Reports of murders, rapes, and robbery are constantly coming in.
Many motorists are severely injured and are in need of medical attention. The
motorists also report that the traffic tower has been seized, apparently by terrorists.
At (twenty minutes after the charges went off) a group calling itself “Defenders of
the Faith” broadcast a demand for $10 million and safe transport out of the country.
The group claimed that the bridge has been mined with explosives and will be
destroyed if the demands are not met. This terrorist group has never been heard of
previously.
Assignment
You are to
re-take the
bridge as
quickly as
possible with a
minimum of
civilian
casualties. You
are fully
authorized to
use deadly
force. Good
luck.
If the PCs are
not police,
they can be
brought into
the adventure
in a variety of ways. For example, media teams can be brought in to cover the event,
corporate solos can be brought in to rescue a trapped executive, and so on.
Bridge Map
This is a eight lane “super bridge”. At each end of the bridge is a crater from the
explosive charges and around the crater are twisted wrecks of blown up cars and
shattered bodies. The lanes of the bridge are filled with vehicles. Most of them have
crashed into one another and the area is a horrible, tangled mess. In several places
cars are burning and an occasional explosion will occur. If this were not bad enough,
the boostergang is roaming among the
vehicles and engaging in terrible behavior.
They are shooting up vehicles, setting them
on fire, and attacking people. People
occasionally try to escape from their vehicles,
but they are usually killed before they get far.
Most of the motorists are in their vehicles,
huddling in fear.
Some of the motorists are armed and some
of them will resist the booster gang members.
These people may be of help to the police, if
only in tying up the boostergang
members.Those motorists with car phones
and
Road
Barrier
Parking
Storage
Tower Map #1
portable phones will be calling the police and their calls will be handled by a
team which will convey important information to the police.
Tower Map #1
The tower is run by the city’s traffic police and is intended to provide the police
with an observation post as well as an emergency aid station. Most large bridges
have such towers on them as bridges have become a favored target of terrorists,
other criminals, and nutcases.
Road: the bridge surface.
Barrier: The concrete barrier that keeps motorists from ending up in the river. The
barrier here has a n entrance with an armored door. The door has been blasted open.
Parking: A BMW 600 Patrol cruiser and three Blue Knight police cycles are burning
in the lot. A dead officer lies sprawled on the ground. The body has been stripped of
weapons.
Tower Interior: The interior consists of a an elevator
which goes up to the top of the tower (which is on thirty
meter high support pylons. The elevator is up. There is
a ladder running the side of the elevator shaft which
permits access to the observation station. body of an
officer lies on the floor. The body has no equipment.
The storage room has been busted open and set on fire
(the work of the booster gang). It contained repair and
medical equipment.
Tower Map #2
Tower Map #2
Observation
Station
The observation station contains the elevator, a small bathroom, and the
monitoring stations. One station has been shot up and one officer’s body lies on the
floor, stripped of weapons. The terrorists are using this area as their command post
and they will be here unless they have an incentive to move. The portable
computer controlling the bombs is set up on one of the stations and is monitored at
all times. The bombs are linked by wires (radio would be too easy to jam). The
terrorists were able to kill a rookie who was just assigned to the tower and one of
them took her place. She then killed the other officer present and let her fellows in
prior to the detonation of the charges.
Action/Resolution:
The booster gang will spend its time wreaking havoc on the people stranded on
the bridge and shooting at anything that comes their way. The terrorists don’t care
what happens to them and see them merely as something to keep the cops busy.
They booster gang members are poorly organized and separated by the vehicles. The
terrorists are extremely well organized and will do their best to maintain control of
the situation until their demands are met.
The booster gang is on a real “burn” and they will keep going until they are wiped
out. The terrorists will keep going unless they believe they can’t win. If they think
they have lost, they will try to escape (by blending in with the motorists) and
detonate the bridge from a safe distance. If they cannot escape, most will surrender,
except Gerek, who is a bit mad. She will “lose it” and try to destroy the bridge if she
is not killed. Since she doesn’t know the detonation code, she will have to wire the
bombs to a manual detonator. This will take her about five minutes. She will also
have to fight off his former companions who don’t want to die.
The faster the PCs can take out the terrorists, the faster Max-tac teams can move in
to wipe out the boosters and bring in medics. If the PCs can do the job quickly, they
will be media heroes (for a while).Those saved will also be grateful. If they do
poorly, they will be media fools. If the bridge is destroyed, they might as well turn in
their badges and volunteer for dangerous experiments in the corporate sector
because the press will crucify them (if they survive). If any booster gang members or
terrorists survive, they may come looking for revenge later.
NPCs
Typical Booster
Int:
5
Ref:
8
TECH:
4
Cool: 6
EMP: 1
ATTR: 3
LUCK:4
MA:
7
BODY: 8/10
Skills: Combat Sense 3, Athletics 5, Dodge/Escape 6, Intimidate 6, Streetwise 4,
Brawling 8, Awareness 7, Pistol 5, Rifle 6, Stealth 4, Melee Weapons 7
Cyberwear: Neuralware Processor, Smartgun Link, Grafted Muscles, Wolvers,
Cyberoptics with Targeting Scope and Infrared, Subdermal Armor, Cyberarm.
Weapons: Dai Lung Cybermag, Smart chipped Kalishnikov Hvy. Assault Rifle,
Kendaichi Monoknife.
Description: These are psycho youth who live to cause pain and suffering, preferably
using the most recent cybergear. They have no redeeming characteristics. There are
twenty six of them on the bridge.
Janet Gerek (Solo)
Int:
8
Ref:
8/10
TECH: 5
Cool: 8
EMP: 2
ATTR: 7
LUCK:7
MA:
7
BODY: 7/9
Skills: Combat Sense 7, Interrogation 4, Intimidate 8, Awareness 6,Leadership 4,
Athletics 7, Karate 6, Pistol 5, Submachine gun 4, Rifle 7, demolitions 3.
Cyberware: Biomonitor, Neuralware Processor,Kerenzikov Boosterware (+2),
Interface Plugs, Muscle and Bone Lace, Skin Weave, Cybersnake, Cyberoptic (right)
with targeting scope, teleoptics, Low Lite, Cyberarm with reinforced joints.
Weapons: Smartchipped Constiution Arms Hurricane Assault Weapon (Protect and
Serve p. 33), smart chipped Armalite 44, Metal Gear body armor, headset radio.
Description: Gerek is a former corporate solo who went a bit nuts and had to be
relieved from duty. She discovered religion, of a kind, in the form of 20th century
TV evangelism. She became convinced that God wanted her to get Him lots of
money. She recovered from this (sort of), but decided that getting money was still a
good idea, but she wanted to get it for herself. She is still a bit over the edge and is
very violence prone. Her tinge of madness, combined with her powerful personality
enables her to scare the hell out of the boosters, so they obey her. She recruited them
because they used to work for her during her corporate days. She is actually much
crazier than she appears.
Melissa Spender(solo)
Int:
7
Ref:
7/8
TECH:
6
Cool: 8
EMP: 7
ATTR: 7
LUCK:6
MA:
7
BODY: 7/9
Skills: Combat Sense 6, Awareness 6, Athletics 8, Karate 8, Pistol 6, Rifle 5,
demolitions 2, Persuasion and Fast Talk 5, Demolitions 6.
Cyberware: Neuralware Processor, Interface Plugs, Kerenzikov Boosterware, Muscle
and Bone Lace, Rippers.
Weapons: Smartchipped Armalite 44, Smartchipped AKR-20 Medium Assault,
Armored Jacket (SP=18).
Description: A long time criminal who specialized in infiltrating groups in order to
steal, she took the place of the murdered office and her background in demolitions
(while she was in the military) resulted her being in charge of the charges. Her goal
in life is the acquisition of money, which she values more than anything except her
life and her drugs. She is addicted to a variety of designer drugs and commits crimes
primarily to support her habit. If the situation looks grim, she will put the police
uniform back on and try to convince the PCs she was taken hostage by the terrorists.
If this works, she will slip away at the first opportunity.
Other Terrorists (3)
Int:
5
Ref:
7
TECH:
6
Cool: 7
EMP: 5
ATTR: 5
LUCK:6
MA:
7
BODY: 8
Skills: Combat Sense 6, Awareness 5, Athletics 5, Karate 4, Pistol 5,
Submachine gun 5
Cyberwear: Neural Processor, Speedware (Sandevistan), Interface Plugs
Weapons: Smart chipped Miltech Arms Avenger, Smartchipped H&K MPK-11.
Description: Hired criminals. They are in it for the money.
| textdata/thevault/Cyberpunk/Cyberpunk 2020/Cyberpunk 2020 Bridge Work.pdf |
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
MARKS
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
NPC/Host:___________________
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
MARKS
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
NPC/Host:___________________
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
MARKS
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
NPC/Host:___________________
Icon:__________________
1
2
3
MATRIX DAMAGE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
8 + Device Rating/2 (round up)
(No Wound Modifiers)
Your Device is being Hacked!
Device:__________
MATRIX DAMAGE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
8 + Device Rating/2 (round up)
(No Wound Modifiers)
Your Device is being Hacked!
Device:__________
MATRIX DAMAGE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
8 + Device Rating/2 (round up)
(No Wound Modifiers)
Your Device is being Hacked!
Device:__________
MATRIX DAMAGE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
8 + Device Rating/2 (round up)
(No Wound Modifiers)
Your Device is being Hacked!
Device:__________
MATRIX DAMAGE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
8 + Device Rating/2 (round up)
(No Wound Modifiers)
Your Device is being Hacked!
Device:__________
MATRIX DAMAGE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
8 + Device Rating/2 (round up)
(No Wound Modifiers)
Your Device is being Hacked!
Device:__________
OVERWATCH SCORE
1
11
21
31
2
12
22
32
3
13
23
33
4
14
24
34
5
15
25
35
6
16
26
36
7
17
27
37
8
18
28
38
9
19
29
39
10
20
30
40
Persona:_______________
+Defender’s Hits from Attack/Sleaze Action
(Regardless of Success/Failure)
If Score > 0, +2d6 every 15 minutes
OVERWATCH SCORE
1
11
21
31
2
12
22
32
3
13
23
33
4
14
24
34
5
15
25
35
6
16
26
36
7
17
27
37
8
18
28
38
9
19
29
39
10
20
30
40
Persona:_______________
+Defender’s Hits from Attack/Sleaze Action
(Regardless of Success/Failure)
If Score > 0, +2d6 every 15 minutes
| textdata/thevault/Shadowrun [multi]/5th Edition/Shadowrun Hayek Sheets/Player Aid - GM Matrix.pdf |
1
Atomic HigHwAy
The homebrewer’s Guide
Creating your own material for a game is one of the
great joys of rpgs, so here are some useful guidelines
for anyone who wants to create new Rearings, Pursuits,
Mutations/Flaws, Vehicles, Beasts and Mutant Horrors,
Humanoid Animals, and Psychic Powers
Rearings
Skills: Each Pursuit has 6 skill points, with no
individual skill having a rating higher than 1 except
Lore, Notice, Tech, and Stealth, any of which can be
rated up to 2. You can provide choices using the “or”
designation.
Weapons/Gear: In most cases 1-2 basic weapons
can be assigned, the knife being the most common for
its all-round utility. Gear-wise, most provide a single
roll on any one of the Scavenging tables (pages 54-60)
except Military, if appropriate, and possible 1-2 knick-
knacks or minor items appropriate to the Rearing
concept.
Pursuits
Skills: Pursuits provide 10 skill points. Because of
Natural Skills and the skill levels provided by Rearings,
placing more than 1-2 points in any single skill in a
new Pursuit only results in wasted skill points.
Because of this, no more than 1 point can be placed
in a Pursuit for Notice or Stealth, but up to 2 points
can be placed in any of the others. As before you can
provide choices including offering a small selection of
skills from which to make limited picks.
Armor: Only provide this if it really fits the concept;
most Rearings do not possess armor, and what armor
there is tends to be light and incidental, to protect as
much from accident.
Weapons: Most Pursuits should provide 1-2 weapons,
typically choices of one ranged and/or one melee
depending on whether the Pursuit concept is likely to
really see much conflict. Heavy Weapons should not
be part of a Pursuit’s starting weaponry.
Clothing: Basic garments should be listed as
appropriate.
Gear: This should provide the Pursuit with the
basic tools and materials necessary to perform the
concept’s basic functions, and no more. Don’t overdo
it or be too generous. If a Pursuit is likely to have
multiple items of a single type, have the number be
rolled on a die.
Transport: No more than a single means of transport
should be offered, but a choice can be provided.
Be careful that you don’t give more vehicle points
to your new Pursuit than the existing vehicle-based
Pursuits (Airman, Hauler, Outrider, Raider, Road
Warrior) already possess, as you run the very real
risk of making your new Pursuit more attractive than
the others then. In each case, the basic vehicle type
the Rearing commonly used was taken as a base
cost, then enough points were added to make some
thematically-appropriate modifications.
Pets: If a Pursuit possesses a pet, it should be limited
to a single one.
2
Mutations/Flaws
All of the Mutations presented in Atomic Highway are
based squarely on natural abilities found in various
mammalian species. This is important, in part, to
keep the overall feel of the game more grounded than
in many post-apocalyptic roleplaying games, and give
things a slightly evolutionary bent. If a new Mutation
profoundly benefits a skill, it should instead provide
that skill at 6. If it only provides a small but significant
enhancement to a skill it should provide a bonus die
for the appropriate Attribute/Skill rolls. Try to keep
new Mutations and Flaws short and simple, and try
to avoid producing anything that renders an existing
Mutation or Flaw redundant.
Vehicles
Use the table on page 43 as guidance in assigning
a new vehicle it Attributes. Vehicles beyond those
boundaries of size, power, and speed are subjects
for later expansion. Any appropriate Customiza-
tions and Flaws should be assigned as suits the basic
vehicle. The total cost of the vehicle is the cost of its
Attributes, Customizations, and Flaws, plus an extra
cost based on its numbers of possible passengers
(beyond its operator):
0-1 passenger: 0 vehicle points.
2-3 passengers: 1 vehicle point
4-7 passengers: 2 vehicle points.
8-11 passengers: 3 vehicle points.
12-30 passengers: 4 vehicle points.
31-60 passengers: 5 vehicle points.
Beasts and Mutant Horrors
Nearly every animal has Understanding 0, Appeal 0,
and Senses 2 (modified for appropriate Mutations/
Abilities). Senses values are listed in the order they
appear in the Mutations/Abilities/Flaws so a creature
with Enhanced Sense (Smell), Dull Sense (Hearing),
would have Senses 2/6/1 (its general Senses, its Smell,
its Hearing). Other Attributes as well as Skills should
be assigned to fit the concept, using the existing
entries as guidelines. Mutations/Abilities/Flaws are
also assigned as is appropriate.
Humanoid Animals
Creating these is an involved step-by-step process:
1) Do your research. Heavily research the animal, its
natural abilities and weaknesses (especially senses),
and its diet.
2) Assign all appropriate Mutations and Flaws. All
Humanoid Animals have the Mutie Flaw. Those with
flippers, hooves, and most ungulates, have Crude
Hands. Most Humanoid Animals are Color-Blind. Many
have Selective Diet in some form or another. Only
assign Swift if the animal is known to routinely exceed
40mph. Assign Fragile to any animals with hollow
bones or an average natural weight of under 15lbs.
Assign Enduring to any animal with an average weight
of 400lbs. or higher.
3) Calculate the cost. Count the number of Mutations/
Abilities and Flaws the new entry has and compare
them.
4) Balance the costs:
4a) If the animal has more Mutations/Abilities than
Flaws, firstly reduce the number of Attribute Points
available by 1 down to 17; this negates one of the
excess Mutations/Abilities. If a balance has not been
reached, then reduce the number of customization
Skill points to 2; this negates another excess Mutation/
Ability. If the numbers are still not balanced, reduce
the customization Skill points to 0, negating a third
excess Mutation/Ability. If the two are still not
balanced, reduce the number of Attribute points
again on a one-for-one basis.
4b) If the animal has more Flaws than Mutations/
Abilities, increase the number of Attribute Points
available by 1 up to 19; this negates one of the excess
Flaws. If a balance has not been reached, then do the
same again, increasing the Attribute Points available
to 20, negating another excess Flaw. If there are still
excess Flaws, increase the number of customization
Skill points by 2 for each excess Flaw left.
Psychic Powers
The optional psychic powers in Atomic Highway are
pretty low-key and while useful are not anything like
as powerful as you might find in say, a comic book.
If you create new psychic powers, keep them also
relatively low-powered. Use the existing powers as
guidelines.
HomeBrewer’s Guide
| textdata/thevault/Atomic Highway/Atomic Highway The Homebrewers Guide.pdf |
Alister Konzegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Aquatic Terrors
Within the pages of this field guide are a handful of eerie and unusual water-dwelling or water-adjacent creatures inspired by
weird animals from our own plane... See through the illusions of the arcanelure anglerfish; recoil from the acidic backsplash of the
giant nudibranch; flee before the pharyngeal jaws of the moray dragon drag you down its gullet; and much more!
10 New Monsters for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.
by Zeke Gonzalez
cover art DMsGuild Creator Resources
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster
Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective
logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are
property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any
reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission
of Wizards of the Coast.
©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-
Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET,
UK.
1
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Contents
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
6
6
7
8
9
10
10
11
11
11
11
Introduction .......................................................................
Citations .............................................................................................
Tips for the DM .................................................................................
Aquatic Terrors ..................................................................
Arcanelure Anglerfish .....................................................................
Cookiecutter Shark ..........................................................................
Giant Fisher Spider .........................................................................
Giant Nudibranch .............................................................................
Kelp Blight .........................................................................................
Merfolk Prismbringer ......................................................................
Moray Dragon ...................................................................................
Rahab ..................................................................................................
Scorpionfish Devil .........................................................................
Winter Toad .....................................................................................
Acknowledgements .......................................................
Works Cited ..........................................................................
Looking For Liches? ....................................................
Monsters by CR .................................................................
2
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Introduction
“T
he calm placidity of the open ocean
is a lie. Beneath the surface of the
gently rolling waves and hiding
amongst the swaying kelp lies a
world of unspeakable terror and
violence. Vicious creatures race
through the water to rend the flesh
of their prey; stealthy monsters lie in wait within secret
places for an opportunity to strike; the living feast upon both
the living and the dead with reckless abandon. Despite
beautiful sunsets and the soothing salty air, the sea deceives
with every exhalation of water striking its sandy shores. Take
care never to underestimate the inhabitants of the sea, for
they will not hesitate to tear apart the unwary or the overly
confident..."
-A.Z.Z. Konezegel, The Traveler's Guide to Tal'tura, Fourth
Edition
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Volume II: Aquatic Terrors
is a supplement containing 10 monsters designed for D&D
5th Edition. These monsters use rules, spells, and concepts
from the Wizards of the Coast’s D&D 5th Edition and are
intended to supplement the Ghosts of Saltmarsh adventures.
This bestiary is a collection of new aquatic monsters
inspired by scientific literature. The stat blocks and citations
were were first released on my twitter account
@FantasyEcology, where you can find more monsters under
#ScienceDnD and in Volume I of Alister's Field Guide:
Monstrous Arthropods. And remember, if you seek the truly
bizarre and the deeply terrifying, look no further than
beneath the waves...
Citations
This field guild includes numerical references to the scientific
literature which inspired these monsters. These references
will look like this: (#). The number inside the parenthesis
refers to a specific title from the Works Cited. I recommend
the entries in this Works Cited section as further reading on
the science of aquatic animals and the strange world of the
open ocean. I hope you find these readings as fascinating as I
do!
Tips for the DM
As with any supplement, Alister Konezegel's Field Guide
Volume II: Aquatic Terrors should be adapted to work for
your group. If you don’t like the way a monster works, please
feel free to change it. Adjust the hit points, damage, abilities,
spells, and lore of these creatures to suit your games and
your players. For example, if you want to use a monster, but
think that its ability to impose certain conditions on the
characters won't be fun for your group, instead have it deal
extra damage or give it a new trait!
To deliver an optimum experience for your players, it is
best to read the stat blocks of the monsters you intend to use
in full before attempting to run them. There are spells,
attacks, and abilities that you need to understand in advance
to run a fun and effective encounter.
Have fun using these monsters! It was highly enjoyable to
create these creatures and set them loose on my own players,
and I hope that you can share in that experience!
3
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Aquatic Terrors
Arcanelure Anglerfish
Arcanelure anglerfish are abominably large and rotund fish.
Their gaping jaws are filled with several rows of needle-thin
and razor-sharp teeth. Emerging from their forehead is a
fleshy tendril bearing a glowing light (the arcane focus for
their illusory magic). Hanging from the enormous body of the
female are the tiny males, sexual parasites which bite and
fuse to the female's enormous form (7).
Astral Traveler. Ordinary anglerfish are transformed into
these creatures by a mindflayer lich who dwells in the Eternal
Spirals, a titan's corpse which is flooded by the Astral Sea.
This ancient being experiments with magic in the hopes of
creating a 10th level spell, creating a host of unusual beasts
like the arcanelure anglerfish in the process.
Cookiecutter Shark
The cookiecutter shark is a small but fearsome beast most
readily identified by its brown, wrinkled sharkskin and maw
of nearly transparent teeth. With a single bite, the
cookiecutter shark is capable of removing perfectly circular
plugs of flesh from its victims (6). Sometimes an unlucky
victim finds they have lost a finger or toe to a well-timed bite
by one of these fish, which swim quickly away after obtaining
their meal.
Gnomesbane. Sea-focused artificers and tinkerers often
curse these sharks and refer to them as "Gnomesbane" due
to the fact that cookiecutter sharks have been known to
assault apparatuses of kwalish and bring underwater
explorations in clockwork devices to a screeching halt.
4
Arcanelure Anglerfish
Huge monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 126 (11d12 + 55)
Speed swim 50 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
23 (+6) 20 (+5) 21 (+5) 1 (-5) 13 (+2) 5 (-3)
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +8
Senses darkvision 60 ft., blindsight 10 ft., passive
Perception 15
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Innate Spellcasting. The anglerfish's innate
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13).
She can innately cast the following spells, requiring
no components:
At will: minor image
3/day: silent image
Underwater Camoflage. The anglerfish has advantage
on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made while
underwater.
Water Breathing. The anglerfish can breathe only
underwater.
Attached Mates (1/Day). When a creature touches
the anglerfish or hits her with a melee attack, the
anglerfish may use her reaction to shake off her
parasitic mates, summoning a swarm of quippers.
The swarm appears in an unoccupied space within
5 feet of the summoner and act as an ally of the
summoner.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) piercing damage.
Cookiecutter Shark
Small beast, unaligned
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 60 (17d6)
Speed swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
13 (+1) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 10 (+0) 6 (-2)
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Blood Frenzy. The shark has advantage on melee
attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have
all its hit points.
Swimby. The shark doesn't provoke an opportunity
attack when it swims out of an enemy's reach.
Water Breathing. The shark can breathe only
underwater.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.
When the shark roll a 20 on this attack roll, roll
another d20. If the shark rolls another 20, it bites
off one of the target’s fingers or toes, with the
effect of such loss determined by the DM. If the
creature has no fingers or toes to sever, the shark
bites off a portion of its body instead.
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Giant Fisher Spider
These unnaturally large spiders can be easily identified from
other species of giant spider by their long legs and the
hydrophobic hairs distributed across their bodies. These
hairs repel water and allow the giant fisher spider to race
across the surface of water, making them adept hunters in
aquatic environments. Giant fisher spiders are capable of
consuming prey as large as small sharks.
Devoted Mothers. The females of this species carry their
brood on their backs. The offspring of the giant fisher spider
crawl across their bloated bodies, during which time the
mother takes additional defensive precautions in order to
protect her young.
Dinner Date. This species of spider engages in a behavior
commonly referred to as sexual cannibalism, whereby the
females consumes the male following copulation (1).
However, if the female witnesses her male counterpart fall in
combat, she will race to his side and consume him.
Sometimes this will grant the female just enough additional
nutrients to magically give birth to a fresh brood of spiders.
Unholy Origins. It is believed that this species arose from
a fearsome battle between a regiment of exiled drow elves
and a bloodthirsty troop of Demogorgon-worshippers. The
only survivor of the drow regiment was a drider who pledged
her allegiance to the Demogorgon, who blessed her with a
brood of fearsome giant fisher spiders. Since then, giant
fisher spiders have been found in the service of sahuagin
tribes, though an unlucky traveler may also encounter them
on rocky coastlines.
5
Giant Fisher Spider
Large monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 13 (15 with Spider Mother)
Hit Points 93 (16d8+16)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
13 (+1)
16 (+3)
12 (+1)
3 (-4)
10 (+0)
4 (-3)
Skills Stealth +7
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive
Perception 10
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Spider Climb. The spider can climb difficult surfaces,
including upside down on ceilings, without needing to
make an ability check.
Spider Mother. While a swarm of spiders occupies the
same space as the spider, its AC increases by 2.
Water Walker. The spider can walk across water.
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the spider
knows the exact location of any other creature in
contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The spider ignores movement restrictions
caused by webbing.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage, and the
target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw,
taking 9 (2d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half
as much damage on a successful one. If the poison
damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is
stable but poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit
points, and is paralyzed while poisoned in this way.
Web (Recharge 5-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: Ranged
Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one
creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an
action, the restrained target can make a DC 12
Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success.
The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC
10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to
bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).
Reactions
Sexual Cannibalism (1/Day). When another spider that
the giant fisher spider can see within 30 feet of it
drops to 0 hit points, the giant fisher spider moves to
it and rapidly consumes it, granting it the nutrition to
summon a swarm of spiders. The swarm appears in an
unoccupied space within 5 feet of the summoner and
act as an ally of the summoner.
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Giant Nudibranch
Nudibranchs are sea slugs who are easily identified by their
beautiful coloration and long fleshy appendages (papillae).
They glide through coral reefs and along the sandy bottom of
the sea searching for anenomes, barnacles, and sea sponges
to consume. The giant variant of these creatures can grow up
to 5 feet long.
Defense Secretions. Nudibranchs possess several
adaptations which help them to avoid predators and
attackers, many of which take the form of acidic secretions
that painfully deter those who would cause them harm (9).
This acid can be harvested from the corpse of a giant
nudibranch, but rogues beware: their slippery, mucous-
covered bodies makes extracting this acid a particularly
difficult affair.
Kelp Blight
While their land-bound cousins are created by the evil will of
a Gulthias tree, kelp blights are granted life by a Gulthias
anenome or a corrupted kelp forest. These creatures, when
moving, resemble humanoids but are created entirely by
twisting and writhing strands of giant kelp which teem with
poison to deter herbivores (8).
Light-Drinkers. Despite the circumstances of their birth,
kelp blights retain certain qualities of the plant from which
they are born. When struck with burning radiance, they are
able to transform that light into energy and restore their
wounds.
6
Giant Nudibranch
Medium beast, unaligned
Armor Class 14
Hit Points 127 (23d8 + 23)
Speed swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 3 (-4)
Damage Resistances acid
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive perception 10
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Acid Splash. When the giant nudibranch takes
damage of any type but psychic, each creature
within 5 feet of the giant nudibranch takes 9 (2d8)
acid damage.
Slippery. The giant nudibranch has advantage on
ability checks and saving throws made to escape a
grapple.
Water Breathing. The giant nudibranch can breathe
only underwater.
Actions
Papillae Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 13 (3d8) acid damage.
Kelp Blight
Medium plant, neutral evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 88 (16d8 + 16)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
13 (+1) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 5 (-3) 10 (+0) 4 (-3)
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened
Senses blindsight 60 ft.
Languages understands Common but can't speak
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
False Appearance. While the blight remains
motionless, it is indistinguishable from giant kelp.
Photosynthetic. Whenever the kelp blight is
subjected to radiant damage, it takes no damage
and regains a number of hit points equal to the
radiant damage dealt.
Actions
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 8 (2d6 + 1) slashing damage, and
the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution
saving throw or take 10 (3d6) poison damage. If
the poison damage reduces the target to 0 hit
points, the target is stable but poisoned for 1 hour,
even after regaining hit points.
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Merfolk Prismbringer
In the deepest, darkest ocean, merfolk are locked in constant
battle with sahuagin & other dark denizens of the sea. These
merfolk eke out a harsh existence and struggle to maintain
enough light to fend off their constant attackers. But once
every thousand years, a special merfolk is born. Instead of
the fish tail and scales of their fellows, these merfolk are born
with rubbery purple skin, a shock of white hair, and a fan of
cephalopod-like tentacles. The most immediately
recognizable trait of these special merfolk, called the
prismbringers, are the bright light that they emit from their
bodies, bringing hope and radiance to their dark homes.
Across the Spectrum. Merfolk prismbringers often
become powerful arcane casters, channeling their biological
ability to produce light (2) into magic that manipulates and
refracts white light into colors from the entire visible
spectrum. Merfolk prismbringers often learn to channel light
and electricity to powerful effect, especially against
waterbound foes.
7
Merfolk Prismbringer
Medium humanoid (merfolk), neutral
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 150 (20d8 + 60)
Speed 10 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
9 (-1) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 20 (+5) 12 (+1)
Saving Throws Con +6, Wis +9, Cha +5
Skills Arcana +7, History +7, Perception +9,
Persuasion +5, Survival +9
Senses darkvision 120 ft., truesight 30 ft., passive
Perception 19
Languages Aquan, Common
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Amphibious. The merfolk can breathe air and water.
Illumination. The merfolk sheds bright light in a 30-
foot radius and dim light in an additional 30 ft.
Innate Spellcasting. The merfolk's innate spellcasting
ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 17). The merfolk
can innately cast the following spells, requiring no
components:
At will: dancing lights, light, lightning lure
3/day: shatter, lightning bolt
2/day: cone of cold, wall of light
1/day: chain lightning, prismatic spray
Actions
Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach
10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning
damage. If the target is a creature, it is grappled
(escape DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the target
is restrained, and the merfolk can't use their
tentacles on another target.
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Moray Dragon
The moray dragon is a fearsome beast with a sinuous and
scaly body that propels itself through the water with large,
powerful fins. Its eyes and scales are often bright and vibrant
colors which help it blend into the coral reefs it calls home.
These dragons possess a second set of jaws within their
throat which aid the creature in swallowing large prey (4).
Reef Lairs. These evil creatures seek out and dig burrows
into coral reefs. The water-bound dragons are known for
attacking aquatic vessels and dashing them on reefs. Once
they have sunk a ship, a moray dragon will hunt down and
consume survivors. Then the monster will spend several days
carefully foraging through the shipwreck for treasure, which
they will then transport to their lair. Some moray dragons are
said to have accumulated a great deal of wealth and
treasure... An ample reward for heroes brave enough to face
such a beast.
8
Moray Dragon
Large dragon, chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 152 (16d10 + 64)
Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
18 (+4) 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 8 (-1) 11 (+0)
14 (+2)
Saving Throws Dex +3, Con +7, Wis +3
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +3
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive
Perception 16
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Aggressive. As a bonus action, the moray dragon can
move up to its speed toward a hostile creature it can
see.
Amphibious. The moray dragon can breathe air and
water.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Frightful Presence.
It then makes two attacks: one with its bite and two
with its fins.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon's choice
that is within 30 feet of the dragon and aware of it
must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or
become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving
throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the
creature is immune to the dragon's frightful presence
for the next 24 hours.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 20 (3d10 + 4) piercing damage, and the
target is grappled (escape DC 11). Until this grapple
ends, the target is restrained, and the dragon can't bite
another target.
Fins. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Pharyngeal Jaw. The dragon makes one bite attack
against a Medium or smaller target it is grappling. If the
attack hits, the target is swallowed, and the grapple
ends. The swallowed target is blinded and restrained, it
has total cover against attacks and other effects
outside the dragon, and it takes 21 (6d6) acid damage
at the start of each of the dragon's turns. The dragon
can have only one target swallowed at a time. If the
dragon takes 30 damage or more on a single turn from
a creature inside it, the dragon must succeed on a DC
20 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or
regurgitate the swallowed creature, which falls prone in
a space within 10 feet of the dragon. If the dragon dies,
a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by it and
can escape from the corpse using 5 ft. of movement,
exiting prone.
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Rahab
The rahab is a demon with a humanoid upper body attached
to a thick, slimy, and muscular lower body like that of a
hagfish. The upper body of the creature bears spiny, powerful
arms tipped with vicious claws and an unnaturally large head.
The visage of a rahab features two large and unseeing eyes as
well as a tentacled mouth bearing a long, toothed tongue that
possesses the dexterity of a tentacle. These fiendish
creatures hail from the briny waters of the 88th level of the
Abyss and are considered powerful servants of the
Demogorgon.
Mucousal Masters. These demons are particularly
nefarious due to their ability to generate a thick acidic slime
that coats their body, which makes it difficult to pin a rahab
down during a fight. In fact, when the rahab is attacked by a
melee combatant, it is capable of immersing its attacker in
slime, not only knocking them out of the fight but also leaving
their quarry suffocating beneath the disgusting coating of
ooze (10).
9
Rahab
Large fiend (demon), chaotic evil
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 255 (34d10+68)
Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., swim 60 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
16 (+3) 13 (+2) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +6
Skills Stealth +7, Survival +6, Perception +6
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning, poison;
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing From
nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities acid
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses blindsight 120 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Abyssal, Common, Sahuagin, telepathy 60 ft.
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)
Amphibious. The rahab can breathe air and water
Blood Frenzy. The rahab has advantage on melee attack
rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit
points.
Magic Resistance. The rahab has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Slippery. The rahab has advantage on ability checks and
saving throws made to escape a grapple.
Slime Discharge (3/day). When a creature touches the
rahab or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet
of it, the rahab may use its reaction to cover them with
a suffocating slime. The target must succeed on a DC
18 Dexterity saving throw or become engulfed by the
slime. While engulfed, the target is restrained and
unable to breathe, and takes 14 (4d6) acid damage at
the start of each of its turns. A creature, including the
target, can take its action to pull the target free by
succeeding on a DC 18 Strength check.
Actions
Multiattack. The rahab makes four attacks: two claw
attacks, one constrict attack, and one toothed tongue
attack.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one creature. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage
plus 7 (2d6) acid damage, and the target is grappled
(escape DC 18). Until this grapple ends, the creature is
restrained and takes 13 (3d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage
plus 7 (2d6) acid damage at the start of each of its
turns, and the rahab can't constrict another target.
Toothed Tongue. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
range 10/35 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 3) piercing
damage.
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Scorpionfish Devil
These infernal creatures have the appearance of an
emaciated, quadrapedal creatures with gray flesh and spine-
encrusted skin (as depicted on page 2). Their sallow eyes
glow with sulfurous light and they are known as some of the
most dangerous inhabitants of the River Styx in the Nine
Hells.
Infernal Poison. Scorpionfish devils possess a deadly
toxin within their blood that they are able to inject into others
via their vicious bite and their insidious spines. Once within
the victim's bloodstream, this venom causes incredible pain
and immediate swelling and inflammation of the affected
area (5). This swelling is known to make even the simplest of
movements more difficult and can bring even the most
dextrious individuals to their knees.
Winter Toad
The winter toad has skin with the color and texture of freshly
fallen snow, allowing it to hide well during the snowy months.
Frozen. The winter toad has taken the natural ability of
amphibians to survive through cold winters (3) to terrifying
heights. These toads can freeze their prey into solid ice.
Signs in arctic regions often warn travelers of winter toads.
10
Scorpionfish Devil
Medium fiend (devil), unaligned
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 110 (30d8 + 28)
Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
16 (+3) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 16 (+3)
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances fire, poison; bludgeoning, piercing,
and slashing from nonmagical weapons that aren't
silvered
Damage Immunities cold
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses blindsight 15 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive
Perception 15
Languages Infernal, telepathy 30 ft.
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)
Devil's Sight. Magical darkness doesn't impede the
devil's darkvision.
Limited Spines. The devil has twelve dorsal spines. Used
spines regrow by the time the devil finishes a long rest.
Magic Resistance. The devil has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Actions
Multiattack. The devil makes three attacks: one with its
bite and two with its claws or three with its dorsal
spine.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 14 (2d10 + 3) piercing damage, and the
target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving
throw or take 21 (6d6) poison damage and become
posioned, or half damage on a successful save. While
poisoned this way, a creature has disadvantage on
Dexterity checks and saving throws.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) slashing damage.
Dorsal Spine. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range
20/80 ft ., one target. Hit: 10 (3d4 + 3) piercing
damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.
Winter Toad
Medium monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 78 (17d8)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
12 (+1)
13 (+2)
11 (+0)
4 (-3)
11 (+0)
5 (-3)
Skills Stealth +4, Perception +2
Damage Immunities cold
Condition Immunities petrified
Senses tremorsense 30 ft., passive perception 10
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Snow Camouflage. The toad has advantage on Dexterity
(Stealth) checks made to hide in snowy terrain.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 8 (2d6 + 1) piercing damage. The target is
grappled (escape DC 11) Until this grapple ends, the
target is restrained, and the toad can't bite another
target.
Frostbite (Recharge 5-6). The toad makes one bite
attack against a Medium or smaller target it is
grappling. If the attack hits, the target takes an
additional 10 (3d6) cold damage and is injected with
freezing toxins, and the grapple ends. The target must
make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed
save, the creature magically begins to turn to ice and is
restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end
of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a
failure, the creature is petrified until freed by the
greater restoration spell or other magic.
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
Acknowledgements
I'd first like to thank my gaming group for tolerating the
bizarre, science-inspired monsters I've thrown at them for
almost two years. Aelin, Madrigal, Rhino, & Teia, thank you
for being my willing guinea pigs!
And another huge thanks to those artists whose work has
been used in this bestiary!
Cover Art, Page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 - DMsGuild Creator
Resources
Works Cited
Arnqvist, G. (1992). Courtship Behavior and Sexual
Cannibalism in the Semi-Aquatic Fishing Spider,
Dolomedes fimbriatus (Clerck) (Araneae: Pisauridae). The
Journal of Arachnology, 20(3), 222–226. Retrieved from
JSTOR.
Hastings, J. W. (1996). Chemistries and colors of
bioluminescent reactions: A review. Gene, 173(1), 5–11.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1119(95)00676-1
Larson, D. J., Middle, L., Vu, H., Zhang, W., Serianni, A. S.,
Duman, J., & Barnes, B. M. (2014). Wood frog adaptations
to overwintering in Alaska: New limits to freezing
tolerance. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217(12),
2193–2200. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.101931
Mehta, R. S., & Wainwright, P. C. (2007). Raptorial jaws in
the throat help moray eels swallow large prey. Nature,
449(7158), 79–82. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06062
Menezes, T. N., Carnielli, J. B. T., Gomes, H. L., Pereira, F.
E. L., Lemos, E. M., Bissoli, N. S., … Figueiredo, S. G.
(2012). Local inflammatory response induced by
scorpionfish Scorpaena plumieri venom in mice. Toxicon,
60(1), 4–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.03.008
Papastamatiou, Y. P., Wetherbee, B. M., O’Sullivan, J.,
Goodmanlowe, G. D., & Lowe, C. G. (2010). Foraging
ecology of Cookiecutter Sharks (Isistius brasiliensis) on
pelagic fishes in Hawaii, inferred from prey bite wounds.
Environmental Biology of Fishes, 88(4), 361–368.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-010-9649-2
Pietsch, T. W. (2005). Dimorphism, parasitism, and sex
revisited: Modes of reproduction among deep-sea
ceratioid anglerfishes (Teleostei: Lophiiformes).
Ichthyological Research, 52(3), 207–236.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-005-0286-2
Steinberg, P. D. (1984). Algal Chemical Defense Against
Herbivores: Allocation of Phenolic Compounds in the Kelp
Alaria marginata. Science, 223(4634), 405–407.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.223.4634.405
Thompson, T. E. (1960). Defensive adaptations in
opisthobranchs. Journal of the Marine Biological
Association of the United Kingdom, 39(1), 123–134.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400013163
Zintzen, V., Roberts, C. D., Anderson, M. J., Stewart, A. L.,
Struthers, C. D., & Harvey, E. S. (2011). Hagfish predatory
behaviour and slime defence mechanism. Scientific
Reports, 1, 131. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep00131
Looking for Liches?
Are you curious about the Green Hand, a mysterious trio of
liches who created and employ some of these aquatic terrors?
Do you wish to seek the mindflayer lich who within the
flooded Eternal Spirals? If you seek this information or more,
keep an eye out for Pretty Little Liches, coming out on the
DMs Guild in Fall 2019.
Pretty Little Liches contains the background information
and stat blocks for three unique liches as well as maps of
their respective lairs. Each lair will include traps, puzzles,
monsters, treasure, and NPCs appropriate for Tier 3 & 4
characters in 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons!
Monsters by CR
CR 2
Giant Fishing Spider
CR 3
Kelp Blight
Winter Toad
CR 4
Cookiecutter Shark
Giant Nudibranch
CR 5
Arcanelure Anglerfish
CR 8
Moray Dragon
CR 9
Merfolk Prismbringer
CR 10
Scorpionfish Devil
CR 15
Rahab
11
Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Vol. II
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/Monster books/Alister Konezegel's Field Guide Volume 2 - Aquatic Terrors.pdf |
SHADOW THIEF: JAILBREAK
BY
DAVID LOWRIE
TEXT COPYRIGHT © 2020 BY DAVID LOWRIE
ART COPYRIGHT © 2020 BY DAVID LOWRIE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS BOOK OR ANY PORTION THEREOF MAY NOT
BE REPRODUCED OR USED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER EXCEPT FOR THE
USE OF BRIEF QUOTATIONS IN A BOOK REVIEW.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
SECOND PRINTING, 2020
ISBN 9-798618004930
BLACK DOG GAMEBOOKS
[email protected]
Shadow Thief
Book one:
Jailbreak
Words and pictures
By
David Lowrie
BLACK DOG
GAMEBOOKS
Acknowledgements
Rob Hatton
James Spearing
Thanks to both of you for helping by play testing this book and
looking for any gremlins.
Thanks also to the members of the Facebook Gamebook Authors
Guild for their advice, generosity and support. Having an on-line
community for me as a first time writer has been a great experience.
Thanks in particular to:
Dane Barrett
Victoria Hancox
Sam Isaacson
Mark Lain
Dave Lewis
Adam Mitchell
Sean Danger Monaghan
Martin Noutch
Adam Pestridge
James Schannep
Troy Anthony Schermer
And, finally thanks to my family for supporting me, as I endlessly
doodle, draw, print, type, read, cross-out, swear and stick pieces of
A4 paper together (should’ve used A3)
Playing a gamebook
The chances are that if you have bought this book, then you will
probably know what a gamebook is. If so, then please feel free to
move on straight away to the next section.
If by some chance you haven’t played a gamebook before, then it’s
basically interactive fiction. Most books are sequential. You start at
page 1 and read page 2, 3 etc. until you get to the final page and
the end and each time you read it, the book is the same and the
story is the same.
In a gamebook, however, you make choices which indicate which
way the story goes. The book is divided up into numbered sections.
You start at section 1. You read the text, and you are given the
option of, for example, turning left, or turning right.
If you turn left you will be told to turn to a new section, let’s say 142.
If you decide to turn right, then you are told to go to section 34.
Therefore, the choices you make determine which route you take
through the book. I would say that you are the hero in your own
story, but let’s see, shall we?
As well as that, you also create a character, with different attributes.
In this book there are things like fighting skill, endurance and agility.
Your fighting skill helps you when you meet beings you may have to
fight. Your endurance is how healthy or close to death you are, as
you can easily die in this book - probably many times in many
different but equally gruesome ways. If your endurance gets to zero,
then unless told otherwise, you are dead and your adventure will
end. This means you will have to start the book again – and maybe
try a different route, or just be luckier.
Things like fights and tests are determined by rolling dice and
adding them to different attributes. For this book you will need 2 6
sided dice (called d6). So if you are told to roll 2d6 – you roll two six
sided dice and add the numbers together. If you are told to roll 1d6
– roll 1 6 sided die.
As well as dice, you will also need a pencil (not a pen!), a rubber
and paper. To keep track of your attributes, which will change over
time, there is an adventure sheet in this book which you can write
on, or ideally photocopy so you can use them again and again.
I would also recommend using blank paper to draw a map, or a
route through the book, as there may be times when the path is not
clear and mapping where you have already been will help you
immensely.
Of course, this being your gamebook now (as hopefully you have
bought it from me) then you can ignore the dice rolling etc., and just
read it and try to find your way through without worrying about
dying. It’s entirely up to you.
So, whichever way you choose, then I hope you enjoy your time
playing this book. This is my first published gamebook, and so there
may be errors, typos or mistakes. If you do find any then please let
me know by joining and commenting on my Facebook page:
THE HELLSCAPE GAMEBOOK SERIES
Or via:
Twitter:
Black_dog_gamesbooks @ BGamebooks
Instragram:
blackdoggamebooks
Email:
[email protected]
Any feedback would be much appreciated. If you get stuck, drop me
a line and I will give you a hand (if you deserve it!).
The Facebook page will also keep you informed of upcoming
gamebooks that I am in the process of writing.
Your character’s statistics
Throughout your adventure you have a series of stats that will
determine how good you are at fighting, how fortunate you are, how
long you can keep going for and how quick you are. Each of these
need to be generated by rolling dice and recording them on the
Adventure sheet in the book. These attributes will change over time
– normally for the worst!
Fighting Skill
Roll 1d6 and add 6. This is mainly used in combat. It is how
proficient you are with arms and in hand to hand combat. There may
be weapons or other items that will enhance (or decrease) your
FIGHTING SKILL (FS). Your FIGHTING SKILL, can go above its
original value with some additions.
Agility
Roll 1d6 and add 6. AGILITY is useful in lots of ways. In combat it
helps you defend against attacks. In pursuits, or other times, then it
can help you escape from enemies. It can also help you dodge traps
due to your speed of movement. It can never exceed its original
value, unless you are told otherwise.
Endurance
This is the ability of your human form to carry on and take wounds.
To find out your endurance, roll 2d6 and add 12. If your
ENDURANCE gets to 0 during a game, your physical form is dead,
and your adventure is (most likely) over. You will have to start the
book again.
Fitness
To find out your FITNESS, roll 1d6 and add 6 to the score. Fitness
is your ability to keep on running, moving or fighting despite your all
too human body getting tired. If you are in a fight, the longer it goes
on, then the more fitness has to do with it – as you get tired and so
are less able to attack and defence effectively. Fitness will go down
by a point after each round of a fight or pursuit. However, this is only
temporary, and it will return back to full levels by one point each
subsequent paragraph. So if you go into a second fight soon after a
first, you will be less able to fight.
Intelligence
This is the ability to think and reason. The higher your
INTELLIGENCE, the more likely that you may be able to escape
traps, outwit enemies and work out the logical puzzles. Roll 1d6 and
add 6.
Fortune
This is the most random of characteristics. Sometimes pure chance
will decide your fate. Some items you find may help (or hinder) your
fortune so be careful when deciding what you want to take with you.
Each time you test your fortune, subtract one from your FORTUNE
score – as luck is fickle, and good fortune does not last. To find out
your initial fortune, roll 1d6 and add 6.
Fighting
Skill
2d6 + 12
Endurance
1d6 + 6
Agility
1d6 + 6
1d6 + 6
Fitness
1d6 + 6
Intelligence
If you fail a FORTUNE roll, reduce your fortune by 1
Items
Skills (pick 5)
1d6 + 6
Fortune
Adventure Sheet
Notes
Shadow Thief : Jailbreak
Combat
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
Combat
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
OPPONENT
Name
END
FS
FS
END
Shadow
Making “Test your “rolls
There will be (possibly) many times when you are told to test an
attribute. Unless told otherwise, the normal thing to do is roll 2d6
and compare this to the attribute you are testing.
If you roll less than or equal to your current score in that attribute,
you pass. If you roll higher, you fail and have to face the
consequences. The act of rolling 2d6 may be the difference
between life and death!
For example, if you TEST YOUR FORTUNE, roll 2d6 and compare
that to your current FORTUNE score. If it is less than or equal to
your current score, then you pass.
Combat
Combat is often avoidable, but sometimes inevitable. To get through
this ordeal, there will be times when strength or arms or an iron fist
are the only way you can proceed.
This type of combat is aimed at those who either haven’t played
many game books, or just want to have a quick play through. This is
the same as a lot of game books, in that you and your enemy both
have a FIGHTING SKILL (FS).
You roll d26 for your character and add the result to your FIGHTING
SKILL. Now roll 2d6 and add the resulting number to your
opponents FIGHTING SKILL.
The one with the higher total has hurt the other, who loses 2
ENDURANCE points. You continue until you or your opponent has
0 ENDURANCE (END) – and so is dead or defeated.
Skills
It’s been three years since you were indoctrinated into the Guild of
Thieves. In that time your rise through the ranks has been nothing
short of remarkable. Still just out of your teens, you have a
reputation as being one of the best thieves in the illustrious 800-
year history of the Guild. You have pulled off some of the most
infamous heists and theft in recent guild history and are one of the
Guild Masters most trusted lieutenants.
Due to your promise and proven abilities, you have been given
additional training in the Skills of the Masters.
During this time, you have mastered 5 of the Skills of the Master
Thief.
You have done in 3 years what most do in 10 years. Please choose
5 of these skills and write them on your adventure sheet. They are
divided into physical and mental skills. You can choose as all
physical, all mental, or a combination of both
Some may help you in this adventure, some may not but will do in
further adventures. So choose wisely.
Physical Skills
Speed and Agility: All thieves are agile and quick, but you have
been given additional training to give you the agility of a trained
gymnast. It also means that your body is subtle and limber, and you
are able to often fall and land on your feet, or roll to reduce injury.
You are also able to move much faster than most people, both in
reflexes and physical speed. This means you can often outrun
opponents, or react quicker to allow you to get the first strike in.
Move silently and hide in shadows: Stealth is a vital part of a
thief’s skill set, and working predominantly at night you are at home
in the shadows. You are able to easily slip into the shadows and
seemingly disappear from view as if by magic.
Your training and clothing also allow you to move almost silently on
most surface and to pass without leaving a trace – except in the
most extreme conditions. Having lived mainly in the dark, you also
have exceptional night vision. However, due to your overly sensitive
vision, bright lights or environments can sometimes dazzle you.
Lock picking: One of the first things you were taught was to pick a
lock. You are able to open all but the most complicated locks in a
matter of moments, and also know how to jam a lock to make it un-
openable – even to someone with a key.
You are also trained in the use of corrosive potions that can help to
dissolve the largest and sturdiest locks or barricades. Your trusty
lock picks are sown into the soles of your soft leather boots. Do not
lose them, as your ability without them is limited.
Climbing: You are just at home on the roof tops as you are on the
streets. Having lived on these rooftops for several hours a day most
nights since you were a child, you have become an expert in
climbing onto roof tops and scaling almost vertical walls.
Sown into the sleeves of your clothes are also “cat’s claws” that you
can quickly put over your hands to give you extra grip. However,
given the majority of this experience was gained in the town, you
are less at home climbing in the wild – although you will still have an
advantage over most others.
Unarmed combat: Fighting is not the greatest attribute of a thief,
who would rather use stealth, guile and distraction. You also have
little love for blood, preferring not to kill, not for moral reasons so
much as the attention it draws.
However, at times you may be cornered and fighting is your only
option. You have been trained in various martial arts that give you
an advantage whilst fighting most unarmed foes. However, there are
limitations, and this skill will be of little use against an experienced
and armed opponent. So try to avoid fighting. Unless it’s the final
resort.
Mental Skills
Charm and guile: As a thief, you may find yourself in a situation
whereby the options are either to fight your way out, or talk your way
out. Against armed guards fighting is unadvisable. However due to
your promise, you have been given training in the manners and
ways of courtiers, and educated to a much higher level than a
common cut purse. This charm allows you to extricate you from
many a perilous situation, and also the ability to con and persuade
others to do what you want.
“Sixth Sense”: Your additional training in paying close attention to
your environment has given you the ability to sense or know when
something is not as it seems. This can be useful for a number of
reasons. You can often tell when a person is lying, or not who they
appear to be. Similarly, you can often sense when a situation is just
“wrong”, such as a potential trap – physical or mystical. This sixth
sense has alone saved your life on 7 occasions. However, this
ability is limited when moving fast or using your agility as the
environment moves to quickly for even your enhanced senses.
Chakra: You have almost complete control over your sympathetic
and sympathetic nervous system. You can slow your breathing and
pulse to appear almost dead, you can enter a trance to reduce your
need for oxygen, food and water, and you can use the natural
energies of your own body to speed up the healing of minor wounds
and sprains. However, when you are using this ability, it negates all
your other skills – and so make sure that you only use it when it’s
safe to do so – or you have no choice!
Forbearance: This may not seem like a skill, but many a thief has
ended up dancing at the end of a gibbet due to alacrity. There is a
well-known saying in the Guild that “A hasty thief is often a dead
thief”. Regular mental training has given you the strength of mind to
ignore potentially dangerous impulses, and you think nothing of
waiting for hour upon hour for the right moment to strike. You have
also trained yourself to keep your body subtle and responsive during
times of inactivity, to avoid stiffness and cramping. You can also,
despite being exhausted, often resist the temptation to sleep.
Divvy: As a thief you handle a lot of valuables – mostly stolen!
However, you must always be aware that there are a lot of fakes
around. A combination of experience, education and training has
given you the ability to spot a fake.
Equipment
You start your nights work in your normal thief’s outfit. You are
wearing plain and unremarkable clothing in black and grey. All black
looks suspicious whilst moving though the town. Your jerkin is off
the softest and subtlest leather, and adds protection of a light suite
of leather armour. A hood is hidden in the neck of the jerkin. Cat’s
claws are also sewn into the arms of the jerkin that can be used to
aide climbing.
Your boots are also the softest leather, with added grip to the very
soft souls to allow purchase when climbing whilst still allowing you
to move with great stealth. Sown into a false sole of your left boot is
your set of lock picks. In the top of the right boot, there are a couple
of small phials of corrosive potions.
You are armed only with a two long thin sharp stilettos, well-hidden
in scabbard along your back. They are perfectly balanced and can
also be thrown. You also have a small length or wire with a hook, a
20m coil of lightweight slim rope, a collapsible bag for your loot, and
20 gold pieces.
You are carrying no provisions as you are not expecting a journey,
but have some snacks to give you energy enough to give you a
boost of 2 endurance points.
Tonight started just as practically every other night has done for the
last three years – on the roof tops.
Eating food
If your endurance is getting low, you can get food to recover 2
ENDURANCE points. You cannot do this during a fight and you can
only eat one meal per section.
Your character
This is the first book in the Shadow Thief series. You are Shadow, a
young thief of exceptional promise and talent.
If you can survive to the end of this book, your character will be
used in future books in the series. Over time, you will learn new
skills, grow in ability, and become more adept at your profession.
Therefore, some objects you may find in this adventure, or skills you
may choose, may not have relevance in this book, but they may in
the future.
Now you are ready to start your adventure.
Turn to Section 1
1
The suns are just dropping down over the horizon of the Scarlet
Ocean and you know that in a few minutes it will be almost totally
dark in the port area in large, sprawling city of Laeveni. The city is
the largest in the empire of the One True God, and contains the holy
seat of power. Behind you, as dusk falls, the bells chime from the
tall elegant spires of Amaldi City. Amaldi is the central Holy City that
resides as an almost separate state inside its own walls in the
centre of Laeveni, high on the hillsides. This separate inner city is
surrounded by marble walls 50 feet high, and just as thick, and nigh
on impregnable. And it is guarded by 5000 warrior monks and priest
knights.
The bells chime to call the many priests, monks and acolytes to
service in the many hundreds of churches inside the Amaldi walls.
The light of the twin suns reflects from the tall marble walls, making
the inner city almost seem to gleam. But you are miles away from
such grandeur. You will never see inside the walls of the Amaldi
City, for to trespass uninvited on church property leads to a very
swift, and unpleasant, fate.
However, you ignore the bells and focus. This is your favourite time
of the day – when the whole night is in front of you. You carefully
suppress the excitement you feel for tonight’s job, as excitement
leads to haste. You are perched on top of the grain warehouse at
the edge of the docks, watching your current prey. You have been
watching for the last three nights, knowing that the merchant
finishes work at sundown, and then meets fellow merchants in a
wine shop for a couple of hours before returning home.
You see merchant Malombr as he leaves his office and warehouse
opposite your vantage point on Dockside Way. Malombrs
warehouse looks just like a ramshackle place on Harbour View near
the main wharf. He takes time and care to secure his premises.
Malombr is a precise man who is never careless. In his time in the
town, he has never been robbed despite his wealth being well
known. However, he is also a man of routine – which means he is
also predictable.
The wharf is getting increasingly lively and rowdy, with sailors in port
drinking alongside soldiers, brigands, dwarves and many other
creatures in the many dives along the docks. Greasy smoke from
the numerous fireplaces and torches lighting the roads drifts up to
your vantage point, and mixes with the other smells of a seaport:
salt, rotting fish, rubbish, excrement and the stench of unwashed
bodies. The docks on a winters evening are not for those with weak
stomachs – and that’s before you even try the swill the taverns pass
off as beer.
He then makes his way away up Harbour View across onto the
Street of Blues. He could easily afford to take a coach, but you know
he enjoys walking through the filth ridden streets of the wharf. This
is partly because he likes to see where he started off as a street
urchin, and secondly as he is always on the lookout for a business
opportunity and he finds walking gives him the best chance of
noting them. He’s not worried about run-ins with less desirables, as
he’s not alone.
As always he’s accompanied by his two bodyguards, who are as
always half a step behind him, flanking him. These man-mountains
look at least half orc. They are fearsomely muscle and heavily
armed with serrated bastard swords sheathed at their hips, along
with a number of smaller weapons. You know that a direct
confrontation with them would lead to a quick, painful and messy
death – for you. Brawn was not an option. As so often in the life of a
thief, brains are required.
You follow Malombr and his guards on cat feet, running effortlessly
across the rooftops and across streets. You are well-named as you
pass like a shadow in the night. Then Malombr turned left onto
Willow Street, and follows the road round into Pawnbrokers Avenue.
He crosses the square to The One Eyed Rat wine house, leaving
his bodyguards outside as the Rat is one of the few places that he
doesn’t need them. It’s also a tavern used by the Thieves Guild.
You wait on the rooftops opposite on the junction with Main Street.
You wait in the same position for two hours whilst the merchant
eats, drinks and brags with his friends and rivals.
Even the refined area of the more residential areas still carries the
stench of the port – although the wine in the Rat is infinitely better
than that from the harbour side dives. Then Malombr leaves the Rat,
walking quickly and with purpose back home. You get up to follow
across the rooftops. Turn to 73
2
Fortunately for you, the guards were not thorough in their search
and don’t find the Cats Claws hidden in the sleeves of your jerkin.
You slip them over your hands, and look up at the 20-foot wall. It is
made of roughly laid bricks, with plenty of cracks in the rough mortar
between the bricks. As you examine it closely, you shudder as you
see broken finger nails and claws embedded in the mortar,
obviously left behind by previous less fortunate residents as they
tried to escape.
You stare at the wall and plan your route. You listen intently to see if
there are guards at the top – but you can hear in the distance
laughing and the noise of knuckle bones being thrown on a wooden
table. Hopefully the guards are too busy wagering their meagre
salary’s to bother checking on you. You doubt they would bother to
feed you or even give you water, as in a few short hours you will be
a dead man walking.
You begin your climb. TEST YOUR FITNESS.
Throw 2d6 and if the number is less than or equal to your FITNESS,
turn to 77. If it’s more than your fitness, turn to 80
3
As you avoid almost certain death entering the tower, your escape
has been discovered far earlier than you had hoped. Another group
of the City Watch had entered the cell area to find you missing
Within moments, an investigation is underway. Soon on the scene
was a tall thin man, who appears to be made up purely of angles.
His face is hard, with high slanted cheekbones, a long hook nose
and thin lips – which are currently in a half snarl of contempt for the
guards – who he quickly orders to be publically flogged at dawn for
failing in their duty.
This is a man well known to the Guild, and feared by many - Kaptain
Tomas De-Villiers. De-Villiers hates thieves with an almost holy
passion, and has made it his life’s work to destroy the Guild – and
this has led to many of your comrades and friends dancing for the
hangman.
He has heard of an upcoming power in the Guild, a young male
known only as Shadow, who in 3 years has completed many daring
thefts. De-Villiers has been close to catching you before, but this
time you were locked up in his cells and have escaped. This has
made it personal for De-Villiers. He WILL hunt you down this very
night and he will not rest until you are strung up by your crooked
neck.
He calls for his men – and these are not just the simple strong-arm
thugs of the City Watch. These are members of the Black Guard –
the Watches elite group of trackers and hunters, and rumour has it,
sometime assassins. They are a force to be reckoned with.
They arrive mere moments later. De-Villiers gives them their orders,
and soon they split up, searching the city for any trace of you. You
have precious little time to escape the tower.
Did you have anyone else with you, if so, turn to 23. If not, turn to 72
4
The power of his voice has little effect. Seeing the dark majik in front
of you, you decide to take the thief’s option. You turn tail and run, as
fast as you can up the passageway near the altar. You hear De-
Villiers, or whoever it truly is, shriek in rage. You stop and turn and
see the ethereal form at the exit of the chamber, but seemingly
without his physical body he is trapped in the chamber and unable
to follow you. You sprint to the surface.
Turn to 150
5
Wasting no time and leaving the beggar to his own devices, you
both flee the guardroom. Behind you, you can hear a series of
thuds, as the beggar takes out his anger on the prone guardsmen.
The door closes behind you as you leave.
Gain one FORTUNE point for successfully escaping – so far.
Turn to 8
6
You hide in the shadows, doing everything you can to stay quiet.
The door opens and a pair of burly City Watch walk in. You hope
you can try to sneak out of the door, but one stays by the door
holding it slightly ajar. You have no chance. You must stay hidden
and hope for a better chance to escape later.
TEST YOUR FORTUNE. If you are fortunate, turn to 140. If you are
not, turn to 96
7
Finally, the last centipede drops to the floor, its mandibles still
chittering together and its segments thrashing from side to side, but
eventually it is still. Not wishing to wait to see if there are any more
of these behemoths in the nest, you leave quickly. You run to the
end of the corridor and then face a choice.
To go straight on, then turn to 67
Otherwise you must turn left and turn to 103
8
Jac and you are in a corridor. To the left, several yards away, there
is a doorway that is just ajar and you can hear the noise of several
men talking and laughing. You think it must be a common room for
the off duty City Watch. Knowing that you do not have the strength
or ability to take on this many foes, you discount this route. The
room is too bright for you to sneak through, even if you have an
arcane method of concealment.
To your right is another stout door. Just to the side of this is an
alcove. You half drag Jac to the alcove, and tell him that you are
going to scout ahead and that he must remain quiet. Before you
leave he presses something into your hand. You look down and see
it’s a ruby pendant. He looks at you and smiles, and closes your
fingers around the jewel.
“Look after this” he says “and keep it away from HIM. The fate
of the city, and the world, depends on this”
Then he closes his eyes.
You cover him with some rags in the alcove and hope this will
suffice.
You try the door, turn to 21
9
Cell 4 is a place of horror. Unlike the other cells you may have seen,
this room is packed with instruments of cruelty and torture, and the
metallic odour of blood assaults your senses. In the corner is a
Chaos Wheel, a cruel implement that slowly breaks every bone in its
victims. Opposite is a Devils Rack, used to slowly stretch a victim
until the sinews of their joints tear.
Cruel hooks are on the walls, each of them dirty with the blood and
the morsels of flesh of previous victims. Finally, in the centre you
recognise a Dead Man’s Coffin, a horizontal iron box with wickedly
sharp spikes on the inside walls and lid, and mounted on a pivot.
When occupied the coffin can be turned like a spit so that the
occupant is constantly falling onto different spikes. Small holes are
beneath each spike that allows the blood (and other fluids) to drain
away.
The Kaptain of the City Watch has long had a reputation for cruelty
and for ends justifying the means. He has been a thorn in the side
of the Guild for some time now, and it has always been a source of
much speculation how he managed to get such accurate
intelligence to combat the Guilds activities. Not many would dare to
speak against the Guild for retribution could be swift and deadly.
You stop and consider. Aside from the torturers equipment you can
see nothing of interest – except maybe the coffin. The coffin is
currently closed. Something it compelling you to open it.
If you decide to open it, turn to 84
If you decide against it you leave the cell straight away, and you can
try
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 5? Turn to 100
10
You move and roll, but too slowly. You hear a buzzing noise as
something flies through the air, and then a sting in your neck. You
reach up and pull out a small metal dart. Your blood covers its point,
but also you can detect another smell. Then the nerve poison takes
hold.
Your promising career as a thief ends here.
11
You hear footsteps along the corridor behind you. You stand there
frantically trying to open the door, your only route for escape. But
the door will not budge. Then you hear shouts behind you and then
rough hands grab you and you are clubbed over the head. You
awake back in the oubliette, in chains, with guards watching your
every move from above.
Turn to 13
12
You lock the grate and using your SKILL of LOCK PICKING, jam it
so that no one will be able to open it, even with a key. With luck the
guards will “sleep” until at least the change of the guard at dawn,
and no one will find out about your escape for many hours.
Turn to 60
13
There’s nothing you can now do. You can see overhead a small
barred window in the top of the blockhouse. You watch with
creeping horror as the pitch black slowly turns to grey, and then as
the dawn breaks through the smog of Laeveni. In your mind’s eye
you can see the gallows clearly, waiting for you. Your life is now
measured in a matter of minutes, not hours.
Shortly the guards open the grate. They put the ladder down and
climb into the oubliette. They uncuff you, and you try hopelessly to
overpower them but that just earns you a swift smack around the
head with a truncheon and you lapse into semi consciousness. You
are unceremoniously carried up the ladder by one of the guards,
and taken outside and thrown into a barred carriage with several
other miscreants.
You are driven up into Hangman’s Square and you are taken into a
holding cell. From the cell there is a window, overlooking the
gallows. Already in the cell are five other occupants. Before leaving
one of the guards paints a number 6 on your forehead in red paint.
You look round and see the other occupants all have the numbers
one to five on their heads, and realise what this means.
After only a few moments, but which seems like a lifetime, the
guards come and drag number one away. The poor wretch looks
terrified, and pleads with the guards. They laugh in his face, and tell
him to save his words for God – as he was going before his
judgement. He is dragged off, and you can hear the sounds of the
crowds cheering as he is brought to the gibbet. Despite the early
hour, a public execution was always a popular attraction in Laeveni.
Over the next minutes, numbers two to five each go to the same
fate. Each takes it differently. Two struggles violently and is
eventually clubbed unconscious. This gets jeers from the crowd
when they don’t see a good spectacle as he dies still unconscious.
Number three stays silent and impassive, having accepted his fate.
Number four prays to his pagan gods and is taken outside looking
like he is almost at peace. Number five tries bribery, which just
results in more laughs from the guards and a bloody nose.
Then you are by yourself, but not for long, as the guards soon come
and take you out into the blinding morning sun. You are half dazzled
as you are led up the rough wood steps to the gibbet, where they
are just cutting down number fives still twitching corpse. You are
quickly taken and the noose placed over your head. You are not
offered a blindfold (the crowd love to see the faces of the
condemned as they die), and not allowed anytime to speak.
The Magistrate says a few short words, saying you had been found
guilty of attempted larceny. You have been tried in your absence in
accordance with the norms of Laeveni. Then the crowd goes silent
in anticipation.
The Executioner reaches for the level to open the trap. You can only
hope the fall is clean and breaks your neck to kill you instantly. But
again fate is playing with you. Due to your sleight frame, the drop is
not enough and instead you suffer the pain and indignity of one final
dance. Ironically, the last face you see in this life is Malombr, as he
has stopped on his way to work to watch the show, shadowed as
ever by his guards.
When you finally stop kicking, you are cut down and thrown on a
cart with the others. The cart then takes your bodies to a pit outside
the city walls, and you are thrown in a mass grave and buried
without a marker.
Your promising career as a thief ends here.
14
You effortlessly unlock the large but very rudimentary lock. Its clicks
as it opens, and the noise seems to echo through the room above
you. You hear the sounds of chairs scraping, as they are pushed
back, and then the heavy tread of booted feet. You see two guards
emerge from a lit room. They walk past the oubliette grate, and you
hold your breath in case they look down to see you hanging there
like a spider. They don’t, and walk out of your line of vision. Then
you hear a noise, a sort of signal, and the sound of a door opening.
A bright shaft of light arrows into the room, and mirrored on the wall
near you, you see the shadows of the two guards walk through the
door. Then it closes and the light is gone. The room seems empty.
Now is your chance.
You brace your body you manage to heave the heavy grate up a
foot to allow you to scramble under. You notice some hay and dark
sacking in the corner, and quickly stuff some hay in a couple of
sacks, tied with a rope and throw it down the oubliette.
With luck, if the guards return and check they will mistake the hay in
dark sacks as your prone body and even if they try to unlock the
grate to investigate they will struggle. Hopefully they will not know
you have gone until dawn – and this will only add to your legend
when news gets out that a suspect thief simply disappeared from a
locked cell without a trace.
Turn to 60
15
Your trick works and both the guards fall forward and onto the floor,
their hands out in front of them to try to catch them. They both land
on caltrops, and the venom of the scarlet water snake causes
instant paralysis of both of the guards. You run to the door as it
starts to close, and managed to keep it open. Wasting no time and
leaving the beggar to his own devices, you both flee the guardroom.
Behind you, you can hear a series of thuds, as the beggar takes out
his anger on the prone guardsmen.
Turn to 8
16
TEST YOUR INTELLIGENCE but you can take 2 away from the roll
due to your LOCK PICK abilities.
If you roll less than or equal, turn to 89
If you fail, turn to 22
17
You remember as you hide in the corner that you found a dark cloak
in the cells and this may help you hide. You quickly find it in your
bag, and shroud yourself in it. Then you use all your training to
become almost preternaturally still. You try to slow your breathing
and are almost in a trance like state.
You can still hear the footsteps and the murmuring voices from the
other side of the door, which then opens. Two members of the city
watch come through. One of the guards stands holding the door
open, whilst the other walks across the room. You hope neither see
you.
Fortunately, you have found a Cloak of Night, a charmed garment
that works to throw light away from the wearer, and make them
imperceptible to the naked eye. Legend has it these Cloaks can
hide a man in daylight, unless the sun shines directly on the wearer,
or if they are in a brightly lit room.
It seems to work as the guard goes into another room and emerges
with some sheaves of paper. Then they both leave the way they
came, and the door locks behind them.
You decide you will have to see what’s beyond the iron gate.
Turn to 91
18
You see no option but try to sneak out via the main door, or wait
until the master returns to his home. You decide to try your fortune
with the door. Turn to 132
19
“Ah, we have a rabbit. A quick rabbit, but I am quicker. I am a
hawk” shouts Celdron as he darts his blade towards you. The thin
point pierces your side and you drop to the floor in agony. Then
Celdron is on you, and he binds you so you cannot move.
“Well done Celdron, you were quick, and I wanted him taken
alive, to question below. Take him below to Cell 4. I will
question him in detail. Heat up the coals and sharpen my tools.
It is going to be a long night”
A quick death would have been fortunate, but you are now going to
endure a night of pain and torment. Your promising career as a thief
ends here
20
You leave, locking the cell door as you exit. If you haven’t already,
will you?
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
Open Cell 5? Turn to 100
21
The door is locked! Do you have a set of iron keys, If you do, turn to
89
If you do not, if you have the ability of PICK LOCK, turn to 16
If you have neither, turn to 22
22
TEST YOUR FORTUNE, but add 1 to the roll. If you succeed, turn
to 89
If you fail, turn to 11
23
You hear the commotion below and realise the alarm has been
raised. You can do nothing more for Jac, you will just have to hope
he uses his skill to remain hidden whilst the guards search for you.
You offer a prayer to the pagan God of Thieves, hoping that you
and Jac will meet again. If for no other reason than the money he
now owes you.
Turn to 72
24
You kick the rat out of the way and it scurries out of the cell. You
uncover your arm, and see the twin fang marks in your bicep – like
small vampire bites. You calm your mind and place your other hand
over the bite and concentrate.
You can feel the disease already entering your bloodstream, but
you can focus your body’s natural defences against this area. As
you concentrate you feel the area warm, until it becomes almost too
hot to touch. You have successfully destroyed the disease inside
you, but at a cost.
Lose 1 ENDURANCE point as this treatment has sapped your body.
Will you now:
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
Open Cell 5? Turn to 100
25
Sadly, his period of confinement and lack of nutrition have left Jac
unable to defeat his foe. You stop briefly and say a quick prayer to
the ancient God of Thieves. Before you go you quickly search his
body and find a ruby pendant hidden in an inside pocket. You also
find a set of keys on one of the guards. You leave through the door
as quick as you can – before anyone else arrives.
Turn to 55
26
The Guard Room is a small, scruffy room, with a table and chairs, a
fire and couple of upright bureaus with papers strewn all over them
and some cluttered shelves. On the table are the remnants of the
guard’s supper and knucklebone games. There is enough food for 2
meals if you want to take it. You can also take the knucklebones
and the 3 gold pieces’ worth of small coin from the table.
On a hook by the door is a set of iron keys – probably for the
various cells.
Do you want to:
Search the bureau and shelves for anything useful. Turn to 61
Take the set of keys. Turn to 85
Leave and creep up to the large door and try to open it. Turn to 71
Leave and head down the corridor. Turn to 74
27
As you leap, your stiff calf muscles betray you. You lack the strength
in your legs to take off and your arms cartwheel as you try futilely to
propel yourself through the air toward the opposite roof. You brush
the edge of the gutter with your fingertips, but this is not enough.
You cannot stop yourself from falling and you end up crashing to the
cobbled streets, 15 feet below. If you have the SKILL of AGILITY,
you manage to break your fall and only suffer 2 ENDURANCE
damage. If you don’t have the SKILL of AGILITY, deduct 4 points
from your ENDURANCE.
The fates are definitely playing games with you as you quickly turn
over to find yourself looking up at a detachment of the City Watch,
all of whom are pointing their rusty but still lethal swords at your
throat. They haul you to your feet, and roughly search you and
quickly realise your profession. Without time to protest you are put
into manacles and marched off the nearest blockhouse – which is
ominously on Execution Hill, on the somewhat inappropriately
named Dead Man’s Row.
Unless you can find a way to escape, come morning you will be
dancing on the end of a rope. Justice in recent times has become
swift in Laeveni, and demands little proof.
Turn to 34
28
You are faced with a dead end but on the floor is an old backpack,
possibly dropped by a looter or adventurer from ages ago. You
rummage through the pack and find a small bottle. Its contents glow
red, the colour normally denotes a potion of FIGHTING SKILL. You
put this in your backpack. If you drink it, it will add 1 to your
FIGHTING SKILL for one fight only – even to exceed 12. Now you
must double back and take the other tunnel.
Turn to 135
29
"Welcome, young thief" says De Villiers in a voice that is rich and
commanding "you have been a difficult man to find. But now
you have come to me, yes? I can feel that you have something
for me. Would you like to hand it over?
Of course you will be richly rewarded - for he who delivers the
last key to free My Master from his unjust imprisonment will be
lauded above all else. You will live a long life and be rich
beyond your dreams. Come, hand it over".
Your will is crumbling. You feel your hand reaching into your
backpack.
Do you have a RUBY AMULET, if so then turn to 120
If you have a SIGIL OF DEATH, then turn to 106
If you have neither of these, turn to 46
30
The guards stop uncertainly. They are more used to dealing with
drunks and whores down the seafront, not being asked to
investigate a crime by such a powerful member of society. Even
more so, they are worried when you mention the name of De-Villiers
– as he is not a kindly boss.
“Calm down, good sir” says the foremost guard, who by the grey
streaks in his hair seems to be the most senior of the Watch
“My condolences, sir. Can you give me your name again sir,
and some brief details, but there’s nothing that can be done
about it tonight. We are short staffed enough as it is, with those
dwarves traveling to their annual moot in the hills and stopping
over in Laeveni, just as a group of goblins arrive in town. You
can imagine the fighting in the taverns. We’re hard pressed sir”
Realising you don’t have the time for a prolonged conversation you
need to get out quickly, as at any moment they may notice the
oubliette.
So thinking fast, you say “If you are too busy to help, then I will
find the Kaptain myself. Out of my way!”
You barge past the Watchman nearest you who looks flabbergasted
and you head towards the one holding the door open, intend you
flounce past him and out of the door. But he steps forward towards
you, hands up, trying to placate you. You see the door start to swing
shut. You only have moments. You dash towards the door, but too
late as the door swings into the frame, and there a click as it locks.
You turn around and smile at the guards rather sheepishly. Their
faces become hard as it dawns on them that you were trying to trick
them and that you are the thief.
You must fight them both, but for the first two rounds, you must
increase each guards FIGHTING SKILL by 1, as they are so
enraged by your attempted deception. You must also lose 1
FIGHTING SKILL, as you only have one dagger to fight with.
GUARD 1
FIGHTING SKILL 8 ENDURANCE 9
GUARD 1
FIGHTING SKILL 7 ENDURANCE 8
If your endurance gets down to 2 or less, turn to 44
If you kill them both, you find the door locked and decide to try the
iron gate.
Turn to 91
31
You grab Jac and half drag him through the door. He is hardly able
to stand and you realise he is exhausted. If you take him with you,
then you will lose all hope of escaping. You resolve you must find a
place to keep him safe, in the hope that you can sneak out and find
a way to help him later.
Turn to 8
32
Too slow, the door opens and you are still only halfway across the
room. The first watchman, who is standing keeping the door open,
sees you and shouts “Oi, you, stop”. You have nowhere to go, and
are outnumbered 2 to 1.
Do you have the SKILL of CHARM AND GUILE
If so, turn to 52
If you don’t, turn to 44
33
You crouch down to the floor and examine the man’s remains. He
was obviously a mighty warrior, as he must be at least 6 and a half
feet tall, with a massive ribcage that pokes through the rusted mail
coat. His amour is far too large and useless. You look closely and
see that there are what seems to be gnawing marks, made by sharp
teeth, or something else, on the visible bones. This man hasn’t just
rotted over a long time, he was eaten. You fight down a wave of
disgust.
Next to him is a backpack. You look inside and all that is
salvageable is a small green glass bottle. You decide to take it - it’s
a potion of FORTUNE that will increase your current FORTUNE by
one (even surpassing your initial value) for one roll only.
You stow it away in your bag and return to the junction. As you turn
to leave, your foot strikes against something solid just under the
surface. You bend down and poke around and your hand closes on
the hilt of a sword. You pull it free, and strike the blade against the
stone wall. It rings true, and the dirt and muck falls from it to reveal a
shining longsword. Despite its size it is beautifully balanced even for
one of your slender build and seems to have little weight. You have
found a sword made of Antium, the lightest and strongest steel ever
produced. Even master smiths and the dwarves have lost the
knowledge to produce this steel. It is a fine weapon indeed, and
worth a small fortune.
When using the Antium Sword you can add +2 to your FIGHTING
SKILL. To go straight on, turn to 145, or to turn left, turn to 111
34
You are marched to the gaol on near Hangman’s Square and
stripped of all your effects and thrown into an oubliette wearing only
your hose, jerkin and boots. The guards throw down the heavy
metal grate and secure it with a large lock. You are now in the dark,
20 feet below the grate, in a floor covered in straw and human
waste, sharing your new accommodation only with a number of
scurrying rats.
If you have the CLIMB skill, turn to 77. If you do not turn to 2
35
The ground seems to be softer in this passageway as you slowly
move down it, as it’s getting ever darker. Then all of a sudden your
feet slide from underneath you as they slip on the ground - but then
you realise it’s not you slipping, it’s the ground moving. A sink hold
has opened up and is dragging the soft sandy earth into it.
You scramble to try to escape the pull of this dreadful hole, but your
hands cannot get any purchase on any solid ground and you slip
and slide inexorably towards your doom. It feels like minutes you
fight the tide of the earth, but it’s only a few seconds and then you
are pulled into the sink hole and fall, to be buried in a tomb of earth
forever. Your promising career as a thief ends here
36
Malombr crosses the Market Square and moves down Market Street
and then turns right into Anvil Street. You wait at the junction, as his
house is just over the road and you don’t want to alert him – now
that the streets are quieter. You listen and hear as he unlocks the
door and it creeks open. A few moments later it shuts, and you can
hear a number of locks being engaged. You know from watching
that the front door is tough to crack – as it is now locked internally
when the master is in residence. But you have another route
planned.
You slip around the corner and almost collide with one of Malombrs
hulking bodyguards. They must have spotted you following and
Malombr must have left him behind to catch you. You have walked
right into their trap!
He towers above you, a good 18 inches taller than you, and has his
evil serrated sword ready in his hand. It gleams wickedly in the
moonlight. You have no time to react, as he slowly and with great
pleasure runs you through. He aims is not for the heart for a quick
death but for the stomach to make it last.
The blade is so sharp there is hardly any pain when it slides in.
However, then the man-beast slices downwards into your intestines
and pulls the blade out unhurriedly. The serrated edges catch on
your entrails and pull them out of the now gaping hole in your torso.
The pain is immense and you scream out once, and then go into
shock and fall to your knees in a puddle of your own blood and
innards. Then the huge creature quickly places a rough noose of
hemp rope around your desk and drags you do the nearest lamp
stand.
He flings the end of the rope over the crossbeam and pulls. You
scream once more as you are hoisted off the ground and left
dangling six foot above the ground with your innards trailing down to
the floor. He ties off the rope, and then dips his fingers into your
guts, and writes on the wall in your own blood “THIEF”. You gurgle
as the rope cuts into your neck and crushes your larynx. You pant,
trying to get breathe, but it is no good and eventually your face turns
first red then purple.
You eventually lose consciousness as the life slips from you. Your
corpse remains strung up on the post for some weeks – and
becomes a welcome meal for the scavengers that live in the city.
Soon there is little left of you but yellowing bone, but you remain
strung up there as a warning not to try to steal from Malombr. Your
adventure ends, rather messily, here. As does your promising
career as a thief.
37
If you have a set of iron keys, you can try to open the gate, then turn
to 91
If not, you will have to trust to luck and try to pick the lock. TEST
YOUR FORTUNE. If you are successful, turn to 91. If you are not,
turn to 64
38
Neither of you are strong enough to successfully get either of the
guards to fall onto the caltrops. They turn with surprising speed for
their bulk, and raise their cudgels. However, one of the caltrops rolls
over the floor to the door, which is starting to close. It gets lodged
under the bottom edge of the door, and keeps it wedged open. You
have a chance to escape, but first you must defeat the guards.
You must fight guard 1, whilst Jac must fight guard 2. You throw Jac
one of your stilettos as hand to hand in his weakened state he
wouldn’t stand a chance. You must reduce your FIGHTING SKILL
by 1 for fighting only with one knife.
You must fight both as Jac and yourself, each engaging a guard.
Roll 1d6. If it’s odd, you fight guard 1. If it’s even, you fight guard 2.
If one of you kills your guard first, then you can both attack the
remaining guard the next round. If Jac’s dies before killing his guard,
then you must fight them both.
JAC
FIGHTING SKILL 9 ENDURANCE 6
GUARD 1
FIGHTING SKILL 8 ENDURANCE 9
GUARD 2
FIGHTING SKILL 7 ENDURANCE 8
If you manage to defeat both guards, turn to 87
39
Years of thievery recognises that noise, the sound of a trip wire.
Without thinking you move in the way you think would be most
unpredictable, you throw yourself backwards.
This saves you as a giant spiked ball on the chain whistles past your
nose from one side to the other. If you had remained where you
were it would likely have taken your head off or broken your back.
You stop and wait whilst the ball slowly loses momentum and
comes to a halt, directly in front of you. You duck under, hook it out
of the way over a nearby lamp holder, and close the door and
continue into the tower.
Turn to 3
40
The grate lock gives, and you push it open and climb through. Then
with a start you realise you are standing in a vestibule atop a tall,
marble clad spire, in the centre of the Amaldi City itself. You look
down over the many marble buildings and their stained glass
windows. The early morning light reflects of the white stone and
coloured glass so that it almost blinds you.
You are staggered to realise that the exit from that evil chamber
ended up here. Then you remember the words of Inista, who you
found close to death in the cells.
“There….is a great,,,,,evil in Laeveni. The man in charge of this
blockhouse is one of …. Its chief lieutenants… but the true
head of the dragon has yet to be revealed. You must stop this
power, as it threatens not just the Guild, but the whole of
Laeveni itself….even Most Holy……Visit the Apothecary on
Singing Avenue, and ask for Livia. She can tell you more”
You know the chief lieutenant is De-Villiers, but he had become
something more in the catacombs under the Holy City. You shudder
when you realise the implications that high level members of the
One True Church may be involved, in a plan that threatens not just
your life, but possibly all life on Laeveni.
You look around and see a door from the tower, which you hope will
take you back down to street level. You resolve that you must find
Livia and find out more.
You open the door and walk through it. Your adventure has just
started.
To learn more, look out for
Shadow Thief Book 2:
Hunted
41
You are back in the corridor outside the cells but you have spent too
long searching. You hear the front door start to open. You swear
under your breath. Are you alone?
If you are, turn to 64. If you are not, turn to 62
42
There is no obvious exit from this tower apart from the door you
came in. You head back to the door and listen but you can still hear
activity outside. There must be another way out!
You search around. If you have the SKILL of SIXTH SENSE, turn
to 83
If you do not, TEST YOUR FORTUNE. If you are fortunate, turn to
83. If you are not, turn to 18
43
Malombr moves cautiously through the street. No one has the nerve
to get in the way of his hideous guards but he is clearly being a lot
more careful than on previous nights – probably due to your little
mishap on the roof. You follow him along the rooftops, as quiet as
your namesake, a shadow. As you cross into the merchant district,
you drop back to the ground and follow at street level. You don’t
need to follow too closely as you know exactly where he is heading
– his townhouse.
Turn to 36
44
You are caught by the guards. They struggle to open the oubliette
but manage, and cuff you, before throwing you back down. You land
in a heap on the floor, even your thieves reflexes are unable you to
effect a safe landing. Lose 2 ENDURANCE. This time, guards
remain at the top of the oubliette, watching you. There is no escape.
Turn to 13
45
You turn back, your heart racing with fear. In the coffin, the body is
moving. The head is rolling from side to side, the good eye is
flickering open and closed, and the red gash that is now what the
mouth was is opening and closing. Faint words can be heard
coming from these torn lips.
Instead of fear, you feel overwhelming pity for this poor girl, as she
must have suffered more than practically anyone you have ever
met. You take out your skin of small beer, and pour some onto her
parched lips. The liquid burns her lips but she is still thankful for the
liquid and you give her more.
You move closer to her mouth, bending over the coffin. She half
whispers, half croaks, and her eye flickers in recognition.
“You…..I ……know…….You are……….the one called. …..
Shadow”.
You nod your head.
“I am In….ista” she continues. You nod again – she is a lesser
magic user who has recently opened a shop in the Alley of Rumours
– close to one of the Guilds headquarters. She has become well
known in the Guild for providing potions and charms, as well as
information on her clients that were suitable targets for the Guild.
The Kaptain must have taken her and tortured her. She had not
been seen for three days.
“Yes I know you – I can help” you say. She shakes her head and
cuts you off.
“It’s….too late for……….. that now…..my mortal…body is
doomed……but my spirit will…………live on. Before you
go……know this……”
Then she coughs and splutters, blood foaming from her mouth.
Then she seems to rally and find a final desperate strength.
“There….is a great,,,,,evil in Laeveni. The man in charge of this
blockhouse is one of …. Its chief lieutenants… but the true
head of the dragon has yet to be revealed. You must stop this
power, as it threatens not just the Guild, but the whole of
Laeveni itself….even Most Holy……Visit the Apothecary on
Singing Avenue, and ask for Livia. She can tell you more”
And then she is gone. If you want to say a quick prayer to the
heathen God of Thieves and close her eyes before you go then turn
to 129
If you decide you need to make haste and leave this room, turn to
41
46
You reach into your backpack and then remove your fist. You
extend it towards De-Villiers and open it, palm up, to reveal …
Nothing
"You have it not? You fool! I have passed eons waiting for this
moment and will not be defeated. It is time for Him to rise
again. Where is it? I will cut its location from you flesh”
Then from inside his robe he draws a sable like blade and a short,
hooked knife made of volcanic glass. The knife is old with age but
still looks razor sharp.
DE-VILLIERS
FIGHTING SKILL 11
ENDURANCE
13
Each time De-Villiers hits you, throw 1d6. If it’s even, then his sword
hurts you and does the usual 2 ENDURANCE damage, but if it’s
odd, the knife hurts you. The knife is the sacrificial blade that has
been used for centuries and has an evil, but fickle, power, which
makes it unpredictable. With each attack from the knife, roll 1d6 and
this the damage is does in ENDURANCE.
If you win, turn to 114. If you lose, turn to 108
47
Cell 3 is empty, or at least you think it is. As you cross the doorway,
an extra-large rat jumps down from the ceiling beam and bites you
on the arm. Its extra-long teeth are able to piece your jerkin sleeves.
Lose 2 points of ENDURANCE. You curse. Like many things in
Laeveni, even the rats are dangerous, as they often carry the
Dropping Sickness. This disease can come on in moments or hours
later, and can cause a loss of balance and coordination, sickness,
weakness and even death.
Do you have the SKILL of CHAKRA? If so turn to 24. If not, lose 2
ENDURANCE and 1 FITNESS points now and you may need to find
an apothecary as soon as possible. You leave the cell cursing under
your breath.
Will you now:
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
Open Cell 5? Turn to 100
48
TEST YOUR FORTUNE, but your SKILL of AGILITY allows you to
only add 3 to your roll.
If you are successful, turn to 63. If you are not so fortunate, turn to
27
49
You open and enter Cell 4 and immediately your senses are
assailed by the stench of what can only be described as suffering.
If you decide to leave, turn back to 20 if you want to search another
cell
If you decide against your better judgement to enter, turn to 9
50
You slowly creep up the stair, staying to the side in case there is a
loose floorboard given to creaking in the centre. You get to the
landing, and there are three more doors off it. You quickly check
them but find nothing of interest in any of them. You have wasted
your time.
Lose 1 FORTUNE point.
You walk down the stairs back to the hallway. If you haven't already,
you can try the left hand door, then turn to 65, or the right hand
door, turn to 98
51
The lock is a simple one and soon gives way to your skill.
Turn to 91
52
You stop and smile at the guards, and bow graciously. Then,
effecting the best courtier’s manners you can, you speak to the
guards. “Thank The One True God, I was desperately looking
for you gentlemen. My names is Malombr and I am a Merchant
of some repute. You may have heard of me. I am in trouble; I
have been robbed! Some cad has broken into my house and
stolen all my gold! Is the Kaptain De-Villiers here? As I need to
report it as soon as possible and I know the good Kaptain as
he is a regular at my parties”
TEST your FORTUNE. Take 2 away from the result. If the result is
less than or equal to your current FORTUNE, then you have
convinced them – and turn to 30.
If the result is greater than your current FORTUNE, the Watch are
not fooled by your deception and realise you are a thief attempting
to escape. You have no choice but to fight them both.
Turn to 76
53
You approach the second cell, and peer through the dark. A shape
is slumped against the caged back wall, not moving. You carefully
unlock the cell, keeping your eyes on the shape all the time, and
then open the door and enter. Sitting in the corner is a man just a
few years older than you – and as he raises his matted head, you
get a jolt of recognition as you recognise the filthy face looking up at
you – despite the blood and bruises that are evidence of a good
beating.
You whisper “Lightning Jac – is that you?” The man smiles back
exhaustedly and nods. Jac is a member of the Guild who
disappeared on an important job for the Guild Master a few nights
ago. And now here he is, half naked and half-starved in a cell. You
throw him one of your provisions (remember to deduct that from
your adventure sheet) which Jac catches with astonishing reflexes –
despite his current condition. He wolfs down the food, whilst you
unlock his chains.
He gets up and stumbles with weakness, but soon the food starts to
take effect and he’s more stable. Then he goes to the back of the
cell and starts to dig around.
“There’s no time to talk now Jac, I have just escaped from this
place myself and the guards could come back at any time. Let’s
get out of here”.
“Wait, wait, it must be here, it must. I hid it here and would not
tell them” he mutters, and then in triumph he finds what he had
hidden. You see a glitter of gold and the gleam of a red jewel as he
places it inside his tunic.
“You wasted time for a bit of loot? Are you soft in the head?
You can always steal more. Time to go” you whisper urgently.
Jac nods and you make your way to the staircase.
For rescuing Jac, he is now in your debt. For the next 169 days, as
Guild tradition dictates, he must split half of his haul with you in
thanks for his liberation. As Jac is one of the best thief’s in the Guild,
this should earn you a tidy sum.
Add one FORTUNE point to your current FORTUNE score.
You can either leave Jac in his cell with some more food and small
beer to recover whilst you search the other cells.
If you haven’t already, you can:
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
Open Cell 5? Turn to 100
54
Your eyes happen upon an old black cloak that’s draped over an
empty barrel. It looks moth eaten and soiled, but you can sense
something about it. You pick it up, and examine it closely. It is of
unusually fine weave, and almost seems to manage to be darker
than its surrounding, so that it’s quite difficult to see.
Your eyes almost seem to slip off it and focus upon something else.
There’s definitely something arcane about it. If you decide to take it
to examine later, stow the black cloak into your bag
If not if you haven’t already done so you can check the other cells.
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
55
You are in a corridor. To the left, several yards away, there is a
doorway that is just ajar and you can hear the noise of several men
talking and laughing.
You think it must be a common room for the off duty City Watch.
Knowing that you do not have the strength or ability to take on this
many foes. The room looks brightly lit and you have no chance of
sneaking through, even with arcane means. You discount this route.
To your right is another stout door. You try the door, turn to 21
56
TEST YOUR INTELLIGENCE. If you have the SKILL of LOCK
PICKING you can subtract 1 from your roll. If you succeed turn to
88. Otherwise you fail and get bored of searching the room and
leave.
If you try the right hand other door, turn to 98, or if you would prefer
to go upstairs, turn to 50
If you have had enough of this place and want to try to find a way
out, turn to 42
57
You react a fraction of a second too late, and are smashed in the
chest by a huge spiked iron ball which swings down on a chain from
the ceiling. It has been released by the trip wire you unfortunately
triggered. It thuds into you with tremendous impact, shattering your
ribs as you half turn to meet it. You are thrown sideways against the
wall, hitting it with more bone splintering force and drop to the
ground unmoving.
Your promising career as a thief ends here
58
You are back in the hallway. If you haven't already, do you want to
try right hand door, turn to 65, or if you would prefer to go upstairs,
turn to 50.
If you want to try to leave the tower turn to 42
59
You quickly rummage through the contents of the make-do
storeroom.
Do you have the SKILL of DIVVY? If so turn to 54
If not, you find nothing of interest and you decide to leave the cell.
If not if you haven’t already done so you can check the other cells.
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
60
The rest of this level of the blockhouse seems empty and so you
have a bit of time. You look around the room, and find your effects
have just been thrown onto a table nearby. You grab them and
hastily stow them away around your personage. You hear the night
watch ring the time. Only an hour has passed since your capture!
Your plan could still work! Add 1 FORTUNE point.
You look at the layout of the blockhouse. Ahead of you up some
steps is a heavy door that looks like the exit from this room. About
10 foot above and to the left of this door is a window, and you can
see the night sky.
Your heart leaps as you never thought you would see that sight
again. You quickly push down all emotion. Now is a time for clear
thinking and logic.
To the right there is the guard room and you can see through the
open door a table containing with food, drink and knucklebones.
There are even a few coins on the table – from the guards
gambling. To the left is a corridor, but this is barred by an iron gate.
What do you want to do now? Do you?
Enter the guard room and search it? Turn to 26
Creep up to the large door and try to open it? Turn to 71
Head down the corridor? Turn to 74
61
You quickly look through the piles of parchment strewn about on the
bureaus and shelves. The guards are clearly not the best at
paperwork. However, one of the bureaus has a locked drawer –
which is child’s play for you to open. You slowly pull the drawer
open, in case there is a trap, and can see a sheaf of papers.
They are a combination of arrest warrants and free passage
warrants, already stamped in wax and affixed with the crest of
Kaptain De-Villiers. There are names on the warrants, but you know
a clever little trick to remove ink so that names can be rewritten.
These could be invaluable. You store them in your backpack –
make sure you note them on your Adventure Sheet.
If you haven’t already done so, you can now either:
Take the set of keys? Turn to 85
Leave the room the try the large wooden door, turn to 71
Leave the room and head down the corridor, turn to 74
62
Both yours and Jacs lightening reflexes save you and you are able
to move quickly and quietly to either side of the door before it open.
Jac and you communicate quickly in Thief’s-talk, a silent method of
communication known to all Guild member that uses only small
hand movements to convey a lot of information quickly. You both
know your roles. You reach into your bag and find a set of caltrops
and cast them quickly on the floor.
A pair of burly City Watch come into the room, half carrying, half
dragging a semi-conscious beggar. As soon as they are past the
door, you both step behind them and using an old wrestling trick,
you trip them up and push them forwards. TEST YOUR FORTUNE.
You use your current FORTUNE, Jac has a current FORTUNE
score of 7 (he’s had a bad week).
If you both are fortunate, turn to 15
If only one of you is fortunate, turn to 68
If you are both unlucky, turn to 38
63
You leap and are just able to catch the edge of the next building, but
your landing is far from silent. Your foot catches a roof tile, which
falls to the ground and smashes against the cobbled streets. You
managed to roll onto the rooftop quickly, as Malombr is stopped by
his guards, who both reach for their swords as they look for the
source of the unexpected sound. Tense moments that seem like
minutes pass by, until the guards are certain there is no threat to
their master. However, you swear silently – knowing that your
quarry has now been alerted. This could make things more
complicated.
Turn to 43
64
You hear a key grate into the lock of the large wooden door. Your
lightening reflexes save you and you are able to move quickly and
quietly into a corner before you hear movement on the other side of
the large door, and keys in a lock. The door inches open and
torchlight flickers through the gap, and you hide back in the
shadows, covering your face.
Do you have the SKILL of HIDING IN SHADOW? If so turn to 6
If you have a ragged old black cloak, turn to 17
If you don’t, TEST YOUR FORTUNE. If you are lucky, turn to 6. If
you are not, turn to 32
65
You move quietly to the left hand door and place your ear against it.
Again all is silent. Suspicious after the trip wire, you check the door
frame for any signs of traps but cannot see anything. You place your
hand on the door handle and slowly turn.
Turn to 78
66
You walk up to the first cell. The cell is all in shadow and even your
excellent night vision cannot determine if the cell is empty or
occupied. The corridor is eerily quiet, and the main things you can
hear are the rats scurrying around your feet and the occasional
crackling of the smoky torches. You try the first key, and it unlocks
the cell with a dull clunk. You open the door, and the rusted hinges
protest noisily. You creep into the cell and your vision adjusts and
you can see a shadow against the wall – a male figure hangs in a
cage from the wall. You watch for a few moments to determine if he
is still alive, and then can see his naked scarred and skinny chest
moving in and out almost imperceptivity.
You walk over and lift his head by the matted filthy hair. Almost
imperceptivity, he groans “help me” through dry, cracked lips as
you look into his face – a face that is more straggly beard than
anything else. His eyes flicker open, deep set in his almost
cadaverous face – a face with paper thin skin drawn tight over
bones due to sustained malnourishment.
Have you got the SKILL of SIXTH SENSE? If you do turn to 70
If not, do you:
Try to use one of the keys to and free the wretch? Turn to 90
Leave the cell, and the poor wretch to his suffering? Turn to 97
67
Another junction. Will this labyrinth never cease? If you escape this
journey you vow never to go underground again. Your choices are
turn left or go right. You peer down the left passage. It curves out of
sight after a few yards and so you cannot tell how long it goes on
for, but the air seems dead and stale. To the right, the passage is
high, with vaulted ceilings made out of old, dark, bricks. On the
sides of the walls there are deposits of a grey semi-liquid, semi-
solids, that streak down the walls. You poke at it with your finger,
and smell it. It’s got a musty, peppery smell to it. It reminds you of
the powder used in war canons. Clearly some creature lives down
this tunnel. If you want to take a sample, add it to your adventure
sheet as guano.
Having examined your options, you can now either go left and turn
to 28, or head right and turn to 135
68
One of the guards falls and lands on the venomous caltrops and is
paralysed almost instantly. The other just stumbles but stays
upright. You must fight him. Jac is unarmed and relatively useless in
this fight as he is so weak, but he is able to grab the door and stop it
from closing tight.
GUARD 1
FIGHTING SKILL 8 ENDURANCE 9
If you win two combat rounds in a row turn to 95
If you win turn to 5
69
You flee the cell as fast as your legs will carry you. Startled by what
you have seen; you decide to leave this unholy blockhouse straight
away. But you cannot find a way past the locked door. You must
have missed something in one of the cells. You go back to check.
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
70
Years of putting your life and freedom on the line each and every
night have given you this sense – that something is wrong. You step
back, and look more closely at the cell and its occupant. The bars of
the cage shine with a silvery light, even in this dark environment –
and you reach up and touch them. You gasp! They are silver – a
metal far too valuable to be used to hang a common thief or beggar.
Your education has included elements of the supernatural and you
remember that silver has power over some of the (many) types of
undead creatures – including vampires, were-creatures, wight’s and
ghouls.
You hastily leave the cell, locking the door. Back in the cell, the
Wight raises its head and stares at your departing figure with a
terrible hunger burning in its eyes. You have narrowly escaped a
nasty and painful death.
Turn to 97
71
The door is large, made of oak and bound with steel. You try your
best to open it, but it is too solid. There is also no locking
mechanism on this side, no key hole, and no way to pick the lock.
You realise that the door must have to be opened from the outside
only, maybe by a pre-arranged signal. You decide it’s not worthwhile
trying to find the signal, as there are bound to be guards on the
other side, even if the door is opened for you.
You can now either:
If you haven’t already, search the guard room, turn to 26
Head down the corridor to the metal gate, turn to 74
72
Despite knowing you are being chased, you realise that haste will
lead to an almost certain death – the tower has already proven to be
protected via traps. You stop and check your surroundings. The
hallway is quite simple, with a straight wooden staircase at the end
and a door off to the left and the right. You listen. Nothing. That
makes sense as the tripwire is unlikely to be activated if the owner
of the tower was in residence. Will you:
Go up the stairs, turn to 50
Open the door to the left, turn to 65; or
Open the door to the right, turn to 98
73
You have neglected to keep your body subtle and ready for action
whilst waiting. You curse yourself as you get up and find your calf
muscles are tense and stiff. You almost stumble as you set off
across the rooftop and then have to jump across an alley onto the
other side of the street.
If you have the SKILL of AGILITY, turn to 48. If you do not, TEST
YOUR FORTUNE but add 4 to the role. If you are lucky, turn to 63.
If you are unlucky, turn to 27
74
You reach the iron gate which blocks the way and try to open it. It’s
locked.
If you have the SKILL of LOCK PICKING, turn to 51. If you do not,
turn to 37
75
The descent continues, and once more you are faced with a
decision. There is a passageway to the left, or you can carry on
straight. The left passage has a kind of musty smell to it, whereas
the route straight on descends even steeper into darkness.
If you decide to turn left, turn to 135. If you carry straight on, turn to
139
76
Both guards circle on you. The one near the door moves forward
and the door swings shut with a click as the locking mechanism
sets. You are armed with both your stilettos against 2 guards armed
with cudgels. You must fight them both together, and can only injure
one guard per attack round, even if your FIGHTING SKILL is
higher.
GUARD 1
FIGHTING SKILL 8 ENDURANCE 9
GUARD 1
FIGHTING SKILL 7 ENDURANCE 8
If your endurance gets down to 2 or less, turn to 44. If you kill them
both, you search them quickly but find only a set of iron keys. If you
have no keys, you can keep them. You try the door, but its locked
firm. You decide to try to open the iron gate. Turn to 91
77
You climb the rough walls like a spider, soon getting to the top and
grabbing hold of the grate. The gaps between the bars are more
than big enough for you to get your arm through. You hook your arm
around the bars and hang from it, bracing yourself with your feet
against the sides of the wall. Fortunately, the walls have narrowed
and so you can put one foot each side and hold a lot of weight on
your feet. You know that you can easily hold this position for at least
6 minutes, but you still have to hurry. You manage to bring your left
leg towards you so that you can get your lock pick tools from the
false stitching in your boot heel.
If you have the SKILL of LOCK PICKING turn to 14. If you do not,
turn to 86
78
The door swings open effortlessly as you turn the handle. The room
is clearly a study. A large leather topped desk dominates the room,
with an ornate high back chair behind it. The curtains are drawn and
the room is dark, lit only by a small lamp on the desk. Adorning the
walls are various military pictures, banners and insignia. This is the
working office of a professional soldier. You head around the side of
the desk and look at the desk top.
It’s scrupulously neat and there's nothing of interest - only quills and
ink and a few documents - nothing of interest, but requests for
leave, uniform and acquisitions. You try the desk drawer, but it’s
locked.
Do you want to try to pick the lock?
If so, turn to 56, if you would rather leave and try the other door, turn
to 98, or if you would prefer to go upstairs, turn to 50
79
The chamber widens a bit and on both sides of the walls there are
alcoves that reach from floor to ceiling. As you approach the first,
you see that in the alcoves are standing skeletons of men long
dead. Each skeleton has a shield in one arm and a sword in the
other. You assume these were notable citizens of the city at some
stage, as the tattered remnants of their clothing is fine. In the centre
is one taller skeleton, in a fine robe that has stayed the effect of
time. He has no shield, but instead held loosely in both hands is a
large sword. The alcove around him is decorated with bleached
white skulls. He was obviously a man of some importance, possibly
a mighty warrior from an eon ago.
You reach up and touch the blade of the sword, but it is rusted
beyond use.
Their resting place has now been used to expand the sewage
system of the Holy City. You can almost feel their blank eyes
following you are you try to creep past. Then you are past them and
you breathe a sigh of relief. You are at another crossroads - and
need to decide which way you are going to go now. Turn to 102
80
Your hand reaches up when you are 10 foot off the ground and you
put your cat’s claws into the next brick, and move so that this hand
primarily holds your weight. But then the old mortar crumbles, and
without a chance to stop yourself, you fall to the floor, where you are
stunned. Lose 2 ENDURANCE points.
The noise alerts even the laxest guards, and two come over to
check. They can see the cat’s claws glistening in the torch light on
your hands and they curse. If you had escaped, it would have been
their heads. Before you know it, the grate is open, and a long steel
ladder lowered down. Two guards descend. If you have the SKILL
of UNARMED COMBAT, you can try to use this but you must fight
then together. As you have no weapons, reduce your FIGHTING
SKILL by 2.
GUARD 1
FIGHTING SKILL 6 ENDURANCE 5
GUARD 2
FIGHTING SKILL 7 ENDURANCE 6
If you win, turn to 82.
If your ENDURANCE gets to 2, they quickly overpower you,
blindfold you and chain you to the walls using metal cuffs that cover
the whole of the hands and don’t leave your fingers free. There is no
hope for escape now.
Turn to 13
81
On the way out, you grab Jac from where you left him in Cell 2
recovering and you both leave as fast as you can.
Turn to 41
82
You finally manage to knock the second guard unconscious with a
swift side kick to the temple. You give each an extra blow across the
head to ensure they sleep for many hours. You gasp for breath, but
don’t have any time to waste. Despite the pain and damage to your
body you climb the ladder and haul yourself over the side of the
oubliette. You pull up the ladder and close and lock the grate.
If you have the SKILL of LOCK PICKING, you can jam the lock so
that the guards cannot escape, even though they have the keys.
If you do, turn to 12
If not, turn to 60
83
You notice a war banner hanging on one of the ground floor walls. It
covers the wall completely from top to bottom. You initially missed is
as it’s such a dark area and not lit, but as you approach you can see
footprints that have walked up to this banner, and seemingly
through it. You approach carefully and pull the banner to one side.
TEST YOUR FORTUNE and AGILITY
Add both together and then roll 4d6. If you roll less than or equal to
your total, turn to 99. If you roll higher, turn to 10
84
You edge towards the coffin, doubting yourself as you are going
against all your better instincts. But it also feels like something you
must do.
You brace yourself, and ready a stiletto, as you slowly reach over
and unclip the hasp. You throw the lid back. Inside is a body.
It appears to be human – although initially it’s difficult to tell. It’s a
woman, naked except for a white linen shift – at least you think it
was probably once was white. The whole of the material is drenched
in blood. The bare arms, legs and head of the poor wretch are
covered in puncture wounds from the spikes, dark black angry
welts. As the spikes are barbed, this has the effect of ripping the
flesh when the coffin is turned.
Having lived in Laeveni all your live, you are accustomed to seeing
acts of violence and horror on an almost daily basis – but this is
something else. You feel sick to your stomach. You decide to leave
but just as you turn your back you hear a noise – a terrible empty
moan. You can either:
Run! Turn to 69
Or do you steel yourself and turn back. Turn to 45
85
You pick up the iron keys. Make sure you note them on your
adventure sheet. If you haven’t already done so, you can now:
Search the bureau and shelves for anything useful, turn to 61
Leave the room and try the large wood door, turn to 71
Leave the room and walk down the corridor, turn to 74
86
As a thief you still have the ability to try to pick a lock, but there is no
guarantee you will manage. However, this is a large, basic lock and
you should be able to open it. TEST YOUR INTELLIGENCE. If you
roll less than or equal to your INTELLIGENCE, turn to 14
If you roll more than your INTELLIGENCE, you struggle on trying to
pick the lock but to no avail. Time suspended below the grate in the
chimney of the oubliette saps your strength. Whilst you are trying
one more time to open the lock, your leg cramps, causing you to
slip. You fall to the ground of the oubliette with a thud.
Turn to 80
87
Is Jac still alive?
If he is, turn to 31
If he’s not, turn to 25
88
The lock gives way easily under your skilled touch. You hear a click
as the locking mechanism releases. Nervous of the trap at the door,
you stand to one side and slowly pull the draw open. Your care is
rewarded, as there's a "pfft" sound and a small dart thuds into the
leather back of the chair.
Using a pair of tweezers from your kit, you pluck the dart from the
chair back and look closely at it. The point still glistens with a pale
milky white liquid. You sniff the dart and smell nothing- as you
suspected, d’cane poison. Lethal even in such small amounts. You
look under the desk and find a hidden slot in the towards the rear.
You stick the point of one of your knives into it and you hear a
"clunk" as the mechanism is deactivated.
You open the drawer with more confidence, and inside is a sheaf of
papers. You rifle through them and stop suddenly, not believing
your luck.
One of the papers is folded up but has the crest of Most Holy on it.
You open it out and it is as you suspected, a map of the Holy City
itself, listing all the guard placements and duties. This map if worth a
fortune to a thief – if you can escape alive.
Smiling briefly, you stow the map in your tunic, replace all the other
papers and close the drawer. Finally, you retrieve your knife and
hear a "tek" as the mechanism resets. Record the map on your
adventure sheet and gain 2 FORTUNE points for such a good find.
You leave the room.
Turn to 58
89
The door creaks open. You slip through the door and swiftly and
silently close it and turn around, but as you do you hear a noise like
a taught wire snapping.
TEST YOUR FORTUNE.
If you have the SKILL OF SPEED AND AGILITY, you can reduce
the die roll by 2.
If you are lucky, turn to 39
If you are unlucky, turn to 57
90
You find a smaller key on the key-chain, and reach up and unlock
the cage and the man drops unceremoniously into a heap on the
floor. Instantly you sense something is wrong and then you realise -
the cage is made of silver – a valuable metal and known to have
power over the undead.
But too late, as with preternatural speed the wretch springs up from
the floor, a dreadful hunger in his eyes and he grabs you with talon
like fingers. Before you can react, his vice like grip forces you to
your knees and he bends his open mouth towards your neck.
The last thing you feel is the fetid breath from his mouth, which
stinks of the grave and worse, and you sense more than see the
glint of his unnaturally long, ragged teeth. Then you know no more
as razor sharp incisors rip your throat out, and the Wight feasts
noisily on you blood and flesh. Why a Wight is chained up in a
simple guardroom you will never know, bound by silver that has
power over its kind.
If you are fortunate, that‘ll be the end of you. If you are unlucky, then
you may rise again to become a lesser Wight, doomed to spend
eternity with only one thought in your mind – to feed on human
flesh. Either way, your promising career as a thief ends here. You
will be just another thief who never returns.
91
The gate creaks open. Beyond it is a short flight of stairs and as you
walk up them, the stench of the room behind hits you full in the face.
You live in a city by the sea, and are used to the smell of tanneries,
breweries, fisheries, but this is the stench of human misery.
A combination of sweat, effluence and ammonia fill your nose. You
fight down the reflex to retch. You calm your mind and try breathing
through your mouth, but this just coats the inside of your mouth with
a miasma so vile that you can almost taste the wretchedness in the
room.
You carry on into the room. It’s a long dark corridor, and on one side
are a couple of dim torches giving off a ruddy orange glow as well
as thick black smoke. On the other side are a number of cells, each
with an iron gate.
Will you?
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
Open Cell 5? Turn to 100
92
You cannot stand the feeling of having your arm in this hole for any
longer and so you pull it out as quickly as you can. However, as you
do, you disturb something and you feel a tiny nip on the back of
your hand. You pull your hand out and look down. There are two
small pin pricks in the back of your hand. Both are bleeding but
what's more alarming is that the skin around the wound is swelling
and turning green.
You watch in horror as this infection spreads up your arm, and you
can feel it in your chest cavity. Your heart starts to beat three times
its normal speed, and your breathing becomes fast and shallow, like
a mutt panting. You feel tears running from your eyes and you try to
rub them so they don't cloud your vision, but then everything takes
on a red hue. You look down and your hands are covered in blood -
your blood - which you realise is weeping freely from your eyes,
nose and ears and elsewhere. You lurch forwards against the wall
and wail once as your heart, overcome by the mysterious toxin,
mercifully puts the end to your torment and explodes in your chest.
You slump to the floor.
Your promising career as a thief ends here
93
Before you leave, you check the guard’s pockets and find a set of
iron keys. Then you go through the door and into a corridor. To the
left, several yards away, there is a doorway that is just ajar and you
can hear the noise of several men talking and laughing. You think it
must be a common room for the off duty City Watch. Knowing that
you do not have the strength or ability to take on this many foes, you
discount this route. The room appears too bright for you to try to
sneak through, even if you use arcane means.
To your right is another stout door. You try the keys. Turn to 89
94
You are armed with both your stilettos against 2 guards armed with
cudgels. You must fight them both together, and can only injure one
guard per attack round, even if your FIGHTING SKILL roll is higher.
GUARD 1
FIGHTING SKILL 8 ENDURANCE 9
GUARD 2
FIGHTING SKILL 7 ENDURANCE 8
If your ENDURANCE gets down to 2 or less, turn to 28. If you kill
them both, turn to 61
95
Jac and the beggar have not been idle whilst you fight the guard.
Jac has wedged the door open, and then retrieved the paralysed
guards cudgel and the beggar a length of chain. The beggar
manages to throw the chain around the guard’s cudgel and stop him
from striking you whilst Jac hails down blow upon blow with the
cudgel to the guard’s head and body. Despite Jac’s weakness, his
blows help to down the guard. He is soon unconscious on the
ground.
Turn to 5
96
Too slow. You are still only halfway across the room. The first
watchman, who is standing holding the door open, shouts “Oi, you,
stop”
You have nowhere to go, and are outnumbered 2 to 1.
Do you have the SKILL of CHARM AND GUILE. If so, turn to 52
If you don’t, turn to 44
97
You leave, locking the cell door as you exit. If you haven’t already,
will you?
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
Open Cell 5? Turn to 100
98
You warily approach the right hand door, and examine the door
frame and handle. Nothing appears out of the ordinary and so you
turn the handle and open it. The door creaks slightly, a noise that is
magnified in the quiet of the tower. In front of you is a kitchen area.
You look around and find enough provisions for 4 meals. Add them
to your adventure sheet. You also find a small potion bottle. It’s a
portion of FORTUNE that can increase your FORTUNE by one point
(even above initial levels) but for one FORTUNE test only - so use it
sparingly. Add this to your adventure sheet. You leave the room and
are back in the hallway.
Turn to 42
99
You hear a slight click as you pull the banner to one side. In a
movement made out of instinct and not thought, you dive and roll to
one side. Just in time as a something fizzes past where your head
was moments ago. You recover to your feet in one fluid move and
see something shiny stuck into the opposite wall. You sneak over
and check. It’s a small metal dart, no doubt tipped with poison.
You shrug, and walk back to the hanging and find the hidden
trigger. Having disabled the trap, you walk into a small alcove.
There are no doors from it, but on the floor is a metal grate.
Turn to 109
100
This cell has been converted into a temporary storeroom. The cell
door in unlocked, and you ease the door open. The room is littered
with junk. Barrels of ale for the guards, piles of clothes, bags and
other garments. There’s a chest in the corner that’s got a simple
hasp lock on it.
Do you want to search the room? If so, turn to 59
If not, you leave. If you haven’t already done so you can check the
other cells.
Open Cell 1? Turn to 66
Open Cell 2? Turn to 53
Open Cell 3? Turn to 47
Open Cell 4? Turn to 49
101
You choose left and continue along a short corridor that suddenly
takes a sudden right turn. The light continues to fade as you get
deeper into the oldest parts of the city. You feel like you are slowly
going downhill and the air is getting thicker and distinctly
unpleasant.
The whole area smells of a combination of damp, must and decay.
You think you half hear a sort of scuttling noise ahead but there’s
nothing visible. You arrive at another crossroads.
You have three choices – left, right or straight on. The corridor to the
left is dark and the air is still, but it doesn’t seem to go on for long.
The one in front of you just seems long and straight but you cannot
determine anything else. To the right, the corridor seems to become
more ornate, with stone columns and plinths. It seems to be an even
older part of the catacombs.
Do you want to go left, turn to 118, straight on, turn to 111, or right,
turn to 145
102
You stand there at the crossroads considering the best route to
take. Then all of a sudden you hear a clattering noise behind you,
and then the clank of metal on metal. You turn quickly and are
horrified to see that the skeletons are emerging from their alcoves,
their shields before them and their swords levelled and pointed
towards your heart. You are going to have to fight them. Throw 1d6,
this is how many skeletons you must face.
You draw your sword and prepare to face the reanimated creatures.
SKELETONS
FIGHTING SKILL 8 ENDURANCE 6
Luckily as the corridor has narrowed once more they can only
engage you one at a time. If you win, turn to 131
103
You arrive at yet another junction. It’s a crossroads but you think
that you have already been down the right tunnel, and so you can
ignore that way. The passage to the left seems to drop down even
further into the earth. It’s steep, and earthy. There is a slight breeze
from the tunnel, but it brings the smell of decadence and decay. The
route straight on is a tunnel constructed of stone bricks, aged with
time.
To go straight on, turn to 148. To go left, turn to 75
104
The rate of decent is making it difficult for you to keep on your feet,
and you half scramble down the passageway until you get to a point
where it levels out - and you realise that all your effort was a waste -
as in front of you is a dead end.
You have no choice but to try to scramble back up the incline, but in
doing so you cut yourself badly on a sharp of volcanic glass that is
sticking out from the passageway floor. Lose 2 ENDURANCE. You
get back to the top, and have no option but to go down the other
passage.
Turn to 146
105
This subterranean network is like a rabbit warren. Every few yards
you come to another junction - and once again you find yourself
having to choose. You are finding it increasingly difficult to keep
track of your whereabouts in this almost alien landscape. You look
at the next junction, and see again you can turn left or right, or carry
straight on.
The left passage is composed of large bricks that seem to be loose,
with little or no mortar to hold them in place. The right passage is
strewn with boulders on the floor, which will make it difficult to
negotiate. Straight on, the passage appears to have a warm breeze.
If you dare to go left, turn to 141. If you think right is the best way,
turn to 136. Or to go straight, turn to 122
106
You reach into your backpack and your hand finds the DEATH
SIGIL given to you by Inista in her last moments. It is a powerful
curse. You clench your fist around it, and then extend your arm. De-
Villiers is overly eager, and reaches out for your hand. You open
your fist, and drop the SIGIL into his hand.
Turn to 117
107
“Ah, we have a rabbit. A quick rabbit, but I am quicker. I am the
hawk, who catches the rabbit” shouts Celdron as he darts his
blade towards you. The thin point pierces your side and into your
heart. You drop to the floor. Before you die, you hear the sound of a
fist striking flesh, and a cry of pain from Celdron.
“Celdron, you fool, you were too quick, I wanted him taken
alive, to question in cells. Still, this is the one I was looking for,
and hopefully he still has the token I require. You had better
hope he has, or I will take you to the cell below, and you will
know torment”
Your death is fortunate in that it is quick. Your promising career as a
thief ends here.
108
De-Villiers is too strong and skillful and after a valiant effort, you
drop to your knees in exhaustion. You raise your blade weakly to try
to stop the next blow, but De-Villiers simply slaps it from your
weakening grip with the flat of his sword. He smiles, almost fatherly,
down at you.
"Brave, brave boy" he says "My Master can make use of a
servant like you" and he raises his hand and brings down the
black glass knife into your shoulder, but only gently.
The blade is so sharp you do not feel it enter, but then De-Villiers
twists the blade and removes it from you. You can see a tiny shard
of the blade has chipped off the point, and you can feel it’s coldness
in your body. Then you watch in amazement as the knife repairs
itself.
"Not long now my brave boy, and you will become a servant to
My Master. You kept the last key to his prison from him, and so
I doubt he will be a kindly master to you - but you will grow to
both fear and love him over the millennia. You will never die,
you will never grow old, never be sick - but you will also never
be alive again."
And he turns his back and walks off. Your body feels a dread cold
as the sliver of the glass blade works its way to your heart, and then
you don’t feel again as your life ebbs away and you start a new
existence undead forever, as a wraith in the service of De-Villiers
unnamed master.
Your promising career as a thief ends here.
109
You crouch down and check the grate. It’s made of wrought iron, but
badly rusted. You heave at it but it’s not shifting. But scuff marks
indicate that is has recently been opened. You are sure this is the
way to go and so don’t want to stop. Perhaps there is another way
to open it. You look around the alcove.
TEST YOUR FORTUNE.
If you have the SKILL of SIXTH SENSE, you can take 2 of the roll
and not lose a FORTUNE point if you win. If you don't have this skill,
roll as usual.
If you are FORTUNATE, turn to 119. If you are not, turn to 130
110
Another tunnel leads off downhill, leading into the dark. The walls of
the corridor are thick stone not earth, but there are cracks in the roof
of the tunnel. You hold your nerve and carry on down into the dark.
Then all of a sudden you hear a deep rumbling in the earth, and the
ground starts to shake. You cannot keep on your feet; such is the
violence of the upheaval. You are knocked onto your back, and with
horror you see that about you the roof and sides of the tunnel are
shaking and cracking.
You scramble back up, to run back up the tunnel, but stone dust
and earth streams down from the roof onto your head, making it
impossible to see where you are going. Disorientated, you try to feel
your way back up. But then the earth is replaced by rocks that
become dislodged and rubble starts to rain down on you, hitting
your head, shoulders and back. You double over to try to protect
yourself from this deluge.
But then the rock fall dislodges some larger boulders and one about
the size of a dwarf falls on top of you and crushes your slender
body. Soon your battered remains are completely buried under an
impromptu stone cairn, which will hold your broken form until the
end of time.
Your promising career as a thief ends here
111
You turn into a long vaulted tunnel that smells of damp, decay and
something almost alien. Then you hear a scuttling all around you
and you draw back when you see long forms scuttling towards you.
Each is about 3 yards long, and with hundreds of short legs on each
side of its long, low body.
These legs propel their long bodies’ forwards in a smooth scurrying
motion. Their bodies are segmented and covered in hard chitin, the
outer shell of insects. Their eyes are very small as they are almost
blind, but on the front to their heads are long antenna that
constantly feel and taste the air. They sense you, as their large
mandibles click together in anger. You have disturbed a nest of
giant centipedes and you have no choice but to fight them. Throw
1d6 to determine how many you have to fight.
GIANT CENTIPEDES
FIGHTING SKILL 8 ENDURANCE 7
If you win turn to 7
Otherwise your promising career as a thief ends here, as a meal for
the young in their nest.
112
You deliver a final blow to the ethereal form of De-Villiers, and he
screams out
"My Lord, why have you forsaken me. You promised me life
eternal."
Deep in those eyes you can see anger and contempt, but also fear
and a begrudging respect for you - as you, a mere gutter rat, have
defeated him. Then he says in a voice as quiet as death
“But you are too late. All the keys are near now. My master
stirs even now and others will do his bidding. You face
oblivion, fool”
His form explodes in a flash of light, but there is no noise, but there
is a terrific rush of air. You turn and run as fast, as you can sense a
malevolent presence in the chamber.
You run as fast as you can up the passageway near the altar. You
feel something gathering behind you but dare not look back. You
sprint to the surface.
Turn to 150
113
The climb down the ladder is no more than 10 feet. You drop down
and land lightly to the floor below, dropping into a crouch with your
hands on your dagger hilts. The ground is hard and smooth and part
of the extensive sewers. Somewhere under here you hope is an exit
back into the city. The passage is dark and so you look around and
find what you think is a long stick. You pick it up and realise that it is
in fact the thigh bone of a man. You shudder. You wrap some rags
around it and light it with your flint. It shows the path ahead,
dropping down deeper into the bowels of the sewers. You follow the
corridor straight on until you come to a crossroads.
The way right is blocked by a rock fall. There is a path to the left or
you can continue straight on. As you approach the left passage, you
torch starts to splutter. When you check the straight passageway,
you can feel a warmth from the entrance.
If you want to turn left, turn to 128. To continue on the straight path,
turn to 122
114
Despite his skill and double attack, you manage to finally cut De-
Villiers down with a deft backhand slice to his throat. The fighting
you have had to do so far tonight has sharpened your skills beyond
what they ones were. His eyes go wide in disbelief as his life’s blood
starts to flood out of the gaping hole in his neck.
He drops to his knees gasping and cursing you - although you can
hardly make out a word he is saying as he chokes on his own blood.
The knife and sword fall from his hands as he grasps his throat in a
desperate attempt to stem the blood flow. As the knife drops to the
hard stone floor, it shatters into a thousand pieces leaving only the
rune carved hilt behind. As it breaks there is a silent detonation as
the malevolent energy stored in the knife escapes.
Then De-Villiers topples to one side and his body starts to rapidly
decompose, as though the work of ages happens in seconds. Soon
there is nothing left but dust, which blows away in an unnatural gust
of a witch wind.
You rest a while and feel replenished – add 4 to your ENDURANCE
- and then start to look around the chamber. You find to the left of
the dark altar a passageway leading steeply up. Then just as you
are about to take it and leave this ungodly room, an unholy wind
whistles through the chamber, stirring up dust that forms into a
whirlwind in the centre of the room, buffeting you.
Then the whirlwind slowly turns into an ethereal human form of a
very old man, but it’s still a face that you know - the face of the man
you have just defeated! He is wearing a shimmering unearthly robe
and his long hair is intricately braided. The figures hovers’ unerringly
in front of you and it seems to carry the stench of decadence, decay
and evil. In his pale hand he holds a white sword seemingly made of
smoke.
He throws back his head and laughs, a dusty and cold sound that
echoes through the remnants of this great city.
“You fool; you think you could defeat me so easily. You just
destroyed the corporal form that my Master granted me for this
oh so important task. Now you see my true form. For too long, I
have waited in the cold ground for my Master to give me the
strength to bring him back to your world, his world.
He returns! Cannot you feel it? And the world will tremble as
He wakes. And you have brought the final tools I need to
resurrect Him. And I will be the most esteemed of all His
servants. Now give me what I want, or I shall take it”
Turn to 126
115
You are starting to get increasingly confused by the layout of these
corridors, and again you end up at a junction whereby you can turn
left or right. You check your bearings and consider your options.
The tunnel to the right heads downhill, and the walls are made from
stone bricks. You look up and the roof is cracked.
To go right, turn to 110. Otherwise, turn to 141
116
The corridor, if it can be called that, narrows as you walk through it
until your arms are brushing the walls, and then it comes to a dead
end. On the floor is some debris including a small glass bottle. If you
want to pick up the bottle, turn to 125.
Otherwise there is no way through here and you must turn around
and walk back up the corridor and take the other passage.
Turn to 105
117
The Sigil glows red in his De-Villiers hand. The star in the centre
radiates an ethereal light. He screams, and unearthly sound that
comes from no human throat. He tries to drop the Sigil, but his
muscles seem to have contracted and hold his fist closed around it.
You see smoke appear from his clenched fist, and smell the charnel
reek of burning flesh. A dark fire starts in his clasped hand, and
starts to travel up his arm.
He screams, sounding more like a terrified child, but the fire
continues to climb. Soon he is engulfed in it, and he burns with
black flames. His flesh starts to crumble from his bones, and soon
he is just a charred skeleton. He topples to the floor, and his bones
shatter on impact with the ground, leaving a heap of dust and bone
fragments.
You hear a female voice in your head “It is done, I have my
revenge” and then it’s gone.
The Sigil remains glowing in the dust but then the colour starts to
leave it, until it looks once more just like a harmless trinket. You
reach down and pick it up. It’s hot to the touch and you burn your
hand. Lose 1 ENDURANCE. But you wait for it to cool and put it
back into your pack.
Not wanting to waste any more time, you head for the passageway
behind the altar and head for the surface.
Turn to 143
118
The corridor is short and goes back on itself into a dead end. On the
floor, covered in dust is a skeleton of a man, still clad in a rusty mail
coat. If you want to examine the skeleton, turn to 33.
Otherwise you can return to the junction and go straight on, turn to
145, or turn left, turn to 111
119
Searching around you notice there is an unevenness about the wall
- one that does not appear to be from disrepair. You trace you hand
along the rough uneven stones, and then sense that one of them
feels slightly different. You place your knife into one of the edges.
You slowly twist and the stone pivots open on a hinge.
Behind the stone is a small hole that goes back into the wall. You
peer in and can see only blackness. You take a chance and place
you hand and forearm into the hole and reach back. You flinch as
something runs over the back of your hand. Then a second
something does as well.
Do you want to slowly consider probing the hole, then turn to 121, or
quickly remove your arm, turn to 92
120
Your hand closes on the amulet. As it touches your hand, you
remember all the horror you have seen tonight and feel rage that
this man has been the source of it. But you feel the resistance in
you failing, as De-Villiers almost hypnotic voice continues to
persuade you.
TEST YOUR FORTUNE. If you pass, turn to 142
If you fail, turn to 133
121
You decide not to startle whatever is in there and move slowly and
continue to probe with your hand. The scurrying of tiny feet across
your hand continues and you steel yourself so you don’t
inadvertently flinch and startle whatever's in there.
Eventually, after hours, in reality mere moments, of searching your
hand finds something sticking up. A lever! You slowly pull it and are
rewarded by a squeal of rust and iron as the hidden mechanism
releases the grate. It slowly creaks open. With all care, you slowly
inch your hand out of the opening and eventually pull it free.
On the back of your hand is a tiny red beetle, with over enlarged
mandibles. You place your hand back onto the wall near the hole
and it scuttles off your hand back into its home.
Turn to 138
122
The corridor continues to slope downward as you walk along it, and
the air gets a mustier smell about it and it’s oppressively warm. You
start to sweat profusely in the close atmospheres, exacerbated by
your need to carry a lit torch. You carry on without incident for about
200 yards and then come to a crossroads.
If you want to turn left, turn to 101. If you want to turn right, turn to
147, or if you would prefer to go straight on, turn to 127
123
You rest a while and feel replenished – add 4 to your ENDURANCE
- and then start to look around the chamber. You find to the left of
the dark altar a passageway leading steeply up. Then just as you
are about to take it and leave this ungodly room, an unholy wind
whistles through the chamber, bringing dust that forms a whirlwind
in the centre of the room, buffeting you with the wind.
Then the whirlwind slowly turns into an ethereal human form of a
very old man, but it’s still a face that you know - the face of the man
you have just defeated! He is wearing a shimmering unearthly robe
and his long hair is intricately braided. The figures hovers’ unerringly
in front of you and it seems to carry the stench of decadence, decay
and evil. In his pale hand he holds a white sword seemingly made of
smoke.
He throws back his head and laughs, a dusty and cold sound that
echoes through the remnants of this great city.
“You fool; you think you could defeat me so easily. You just
destroyed the corporal form that my Master granted me for this
oh so important task. Now you see my true form. For too long, I
have waited in the cold ground for my Master to give me the
strength to bring him back to your world, his world.
He returns! Cannot you feel it? And the world will tremble as
He wakes. And you have brought the final tools I need to
resurrect him. And I will be the most esteemed of all His
servants. Now give me what I want, or I shall take it”
TEST YOUR FORTUNE
If you are FORTUNATE, turn to 4
If you are not, turn to 126
124
De-Villiers walks into the room and surveys it. He notices the trap
has been tripped and he says to himself.
“Tripped, but no body. Someone is here. In this room”
He has not seen you but somehow he feels your presence and
remains in the centre of the room. His eyes search the room
intently. Then, without turning, he shouts. The door opens almost
immediately, and two men wearing the uniform of the Black Guard
appear.
One is small, slight and moves quickly. His hair is greasy and
seemingly plastered to his head and face, as well as a scraggly
beard covering most of his pock marked face. This is a face not to
trust. His dark eyes glitter cruelly under his brows. Celdron! One of
de Villiers most trusted Lieutenants. What he lacks in size he makes
up for in viciousness.
The other is the opposite. Tall and broad, but without enough bulk to
slow him down. He towers above Celdron, and a broad headed
battle axe is hooked into his belt. His hair is long, blonde and
braided, and his face clean-shaven. It would be a friendly, attractive
face if it wasn’t for his eyes, which shine like blue ice – but there is
no emotion in these eyes.
This is Elrad, Celdron normal accomplice when working for de
Villiers. He is the brawn to Celdrons brains – and he enjoys using
his brawn.
“Search the tower” instructs De-Villiers “someone has entered.
And still lives”
They fan out, with Celdron moving the closest to you. You realise
your poor hiding place will soon be found and you have no choice
but to make a run for it. You dart for the door, but as fast as you are,
Celdron is faster. His rapier whistles from his scabbard and he
strikes at you as you fly past.
TEST YOUR FORTUNE. If you are fortunate, turn to 107. If you are
not, turn to 19
125
The bottle is dusty and covered with dirt from the ground, but you
give it a quick clean and see a run on the side that identifies it as a
POTION of ENDURANCE. This potion will restore your endurance
to its original level, but use it wisely as there is only one dose. Write
this on your adventure sheet, and now you must go back up the
tunnel.
Turn to 105
126
You are held by his voice, which commands you to remain. But in a
show of defiance, you once more raise your weapons. You may not
be able to run, but you will fight.
“Heh heh heh. So you still wish to fight. You still think you can
beat me. You may have beaten my physical form, but you will
find me a lot harder to destroy now. It is inconceivable that you
will defeat me”
He moves towards you.
SPIRIT of DE-VILLIERS FIGHTING SKILL 13 ENDURANCE 23
He is not of this earth and cannot be easily harmed. If you hit him,
roll 1d6. If you roll a 5 or a 6, your attack fails. Each successful
attack from him is also magical as well as hurts you physically, and
you lose 1 point of FIGHTING SKILL as well as 2 ENDURANCE.
If you win, turn to 112
127
The tunnel continues to go downward and the air is stifling and
thick. It’s like trying to breathe through a wet blanket and the
moisture causes you to struggle to catch your breath. Lose 2
ENDURANCE.
Eventually, you come to a left turn, and the air seems even thicker
down that route. The tunnel to the right seems larger and more
open, with a higher, arched roof. The walls are made of tight fitting
bricks and you can see in the gloom a couple of carved stone
columns rising up to the roof.
Do you want to turn left, if so turn to 145. Otherwise you carry on
straight, turn to 79
128
You take the left turn and again the path starts to go steeply
downhill. It continues to be as dark as the pits of hell here, but your
torch gives you some light. Then your torch starts to splutter and the
flame slowly decreases in size almost like the fire is slowly
suffocating. Then all of a sudden the flame is extinguished and you
are plunged into almost total darkness. You try not to panic, as you
are used to operating in the dark, but not underground on the way to
an ancient city to fight a terrible foe. You rely on your other senses,
as you have done on many a time.
It’s then that you notice a thick acrid smell in the tunnel. It gets
stronger with every step and it when you inhale it, the acrid stench
bites the back of your throat making you cough uncontrollably. The
more you cough, the more you breathe in and the less you can
breathe. Soon you are half coughing and half panting, leaning
against the tunnel walls. Your head spins with lack of oxygen and
the build-up of toxic gas.
Too late you realise that you are in a pocket of marsh gas but by
then the gas has done its deadly work. You gasp once more, your
eyes now streaming from the toxin, and slump to the floor. Your last
few breathes in this life are shallow and rasping. Then you breathe
no more.
Your promising career as a thief ends here
129
You reach down and close her eyes, but as you do her head jerks to
one side, and you realise she’s only mostly dead. Some life still
remains in her.
But she starts to fade. But before she does she weakly raises her
hand and presses an item into your hand. Its round, with a star in
the centre and compelling symbols around the star. Around the
edge are letters, possibly spelling a name, but you cannot make it
out: A…R..O..T..H..A..S..T. The star glows with a feint light.
“This is my amulet. It contains my Sigil of power. It connects
me to…… the one from my eternal master…..from whom I…..
draw my power. I have placed upon it my …….death
curse…………. for the man who did this to me. This may aide
you in destroying him, for he is more than……. He seems, for
he is……..”
She coughs and struggles to speak. You lean in even closer as its
clear there is something important she needs to tell you.
“De….vil….” she whispers in a voice like dry parchment.
Then her head drops to one side, and you hear the rattle of the air
leaving her body for the last time. You close her eyes and pray that
she finds peace. Then you think you see an ethereal human shape
leaving her and floating above her body. The face then comes into
focus, and you see the face of an impossibly beautiful young
woman, with long silken hair, looking down at you and smiling.
Her smile fills you with joy and hope. Add 1 to your FORTUNE and
SKILL (even if either exceeds 12). You feel blessed and tears fill
your eyes. But then she is gone.
You stand and walk towards the cell door. Remember to put SIGIL
OF DEATH onto your adventure sheet.
Turn to 41
130
You cannot find a way to open the grate and despite heaving at it,
you cannot shift it. Lose 1 FORTUNE point. You have no choice but
to try to sneak back out the main door.
Turn to 132
131
Your blade chops the head clean from the last skeleton. It bounces
along the stone floor, and cracks into pieces. The body remains
standing for a moment, its arms still twitching for a few seconds.
Then it collapses to the ground into a pile of dust and bones. For
fighting well, gain 1 FORTUNE point.
Having sent the skeletons back to their graves, you can continue.
You come to another crossroads. You crouch down and examine
the various paths. You fancy you can see vague footprints in the
dust heading straight on, but you cannot tell how recent they are.
The floor of the right tunnel is covered with dust and does not seem
to have been disturbed for decades. You cannot determine anything
of use from the left passage.
At the crossroads are you going to turn left (turn to 103), turn right
(turn to 148) or go straight on (turn to 75)
132
As you head back to the door, you hear a click, and then you see it
start to open. In desperation, you hide back in the shadows. The
door opens and a tall, thin, sardonic man enters. He is wearing the
insignia of a Kaptain of the Guard. You recognise his face. It’s De-
Villiers himself.
You remain still, just backed against a wall, hoping the shadows and
your dark clothes hide you. You are crouched down to make your
profile as small as possible, and you lower your head so that your
dark hair covers your pale face. You stare up through your hair with
eyes like slits.
TEST YOUR FORTUNE. If you have the SKILL OF HIDING IN
SHADOWS, you can take 2 off your roll.
If you pass, turn to 144. If you fail, turn to 124
133
You feel your will crumbling under the onslaught of the mind of De-
Villiers. He seems to have power over your body and with horror
you see your hand going to your backpack and taking out the red
stone. You hold out your hand and he slowly walks forward, his face
a mask of triumph, and snatches the contents from your hand.
"At least" he shouts "I have them all. The keys to release the
greatest power this world has known. It has taken many
millennia, but I will now free Him and be His most favoured
right hand. And you, boy, will serve Him for eternity. But as you
tried to go against his wishes, I doubt you will find Him a kindly
master".
You have failed to stop the ancient power emerging, and soon it will
take over all of your world, and you will be there to see all the horror
and terror to come.
Your promising career as a thief ends here
134
You turn left and continue down a long tunnel, but you can see
some feint light at the end. You suppress the need to run towards
the light as the darkness - which you were born to - is repressive in
this underworld. Instead you hold your nerve and continue forward
on cat like feet. Light at the end of the tunnel may mean further
enemies.
The tunnel starts to broaden out a bit and you find yourselves at an
ornately carved archway. You walk through the archway into a large
chamber. Light cascades down from above from a hidden source far
above. There is a waterfall passing through it, and the walls are all
carved and painted - although the paint has blistered and peeled
from the walls over time, or faded into obscurity.
On the other side of the chamber is a raised platform and elegant
pillars rise up to the tall vaulted ceilings. At the rear of the chamber
is an altar made of black basalt. The surface is old and pitted, and
knife marks are clear on the surface. In the altar are channels which
are stained dark - with what you aren’t certain, until you smell a
metallic scent rising from the altar.
You shudder. The altar is stained with blood that has turned dark
over the ages. At the back of the altar is a statue of a creature made
from nightmares - and you realise that this is the power that you are
destined to fight. Then a figure emerges out from behind a pillar
and greets you. He is tall and sardonic and welcomes you with a
thin smile. You know this face all too well.
Turn to 29
135
As you walk into the passageway you sense more than see that the
roof of the passageway extends up like a chimney, the bricks old
with age from some long lost structure. At the top you can see the
vague hint of light as if there is a route out of this subterranean hell.
You look up and strain your eyes to see more.
Then all of a sudden you see some small black forms flying around
above you, circling high up in the chimney. Then all of a sudden as
one they dive and attack you. You shudder as one of them tries to
land on you and bite your neck with needle like fangs. They are
vampire bats, and are keen to taste your blood. You must fight
them. There are 4 bats,
VAMPIRE BATS
FIGHTING SKILL 5 ENDURANCE 5
You must fight them all at once. If you throw a double on the bats
winning attack round, then one of the bats manages to attach itself
to you and drains 3 ENDURANCE in blood.
If you succeed turn to 137
136
Another tunnel leads off downhill, leading into the dark. The walls of
the corridor are thick stone not earth, but there are cracks in the roof
of the tunnel. You hold your nerve and carry on down into the dark.
Then the corridor opens up into a large cavern. You enter between
two ancient pillars and look at the almost perfectly round chamber
which has a dome that reaches up for fully 50 yards.
Then all of a sudden you hear a deep rumbling in the earth, and the
ground starts to shake. You cannot keep on your feet; such is the
violence of the upheaval. You are knocked onto your back, and turn
towards the noise - the corridor you enter through. With horror you
see that about you the roof and sides of the tunnel are shaking and
cracking and then the two stone pillars crash to the ground. Stone
dust and earth streams down from the roof, which then changes to
rubble, and then to boulders. The air becomes black with dust and
you choke back breathes of air, taking in more dust than precious
air.
Then as quickly as it started, the rock falls stops. You struggle to
your feet, coughing up earth dust, and blindly feel around. Panic
gets hold of your heart and for a few moments you stand there still,
not knowing what to do. Then you compose yourself, with a
struggle, and assess where you are. Behind you, the way you came
in, 20 feet back the whole of the corridor has been filled with giant
boulders that will be impossible for a cave troll to move, let alone a
young thief.
You take time to examine the cavern. It looks like an old temple to
some ancient god. But it appears that the only way in was through
the carved pillars. Slowly, you realise that there is no way out and
that you only have the time left that your provisions will provide.
You have two options. You can ration your food and hope that
someone finds you, which seems unlikely as no one knows you are
here, until you finally die of starvation, or more likely, thirst. Or you
can take the easy way out. You draw your knife and look at its keen
edge. It is so sharp you will barely feel the cut.
You must decide what you must do, but either way, your promising
career as a thief ends here.
137
You stop and rest against the wall, breathing heavily, taking the time
to staunch any blood flow from the bats bites, as their fangs inject
an anticoagulant to keep you bleeding. If you have any guano, you
can spread this on your wound, as you have heard that the soil from
vampire bats will help against their bites.
If you do not have any guano, then you lose 2 ENDURANCE as you
cannot get the bleeding to stop.
Turn to 139
138
You look down at the grate and see it has opened halfway. You
stamp with the heel of your boot and it protests as you force it open.
The wail is almost like that of a human baby. Eventually you force it
open all the way. You crouch down and look into the darkness, once
more steadying your nerves. You sit on the edge and look down.
All is as quiet and as dark as a grave. You reach to the wall and find
a bit of crumbled mortar and drop it down, listening intently. You
hear it land scant seconds later and determine it must be more than
30 yards to the ground - or whatever is below.
You prepare yourself to climb down into the pit, but then half smile
as you see a glitter of metal against one of the walls. There is a
ladder bolted to the side of the tunnel. You gladly climb onto it and
silently descend into the darkness. The grate swings close with a
rusty crash. You have no way out, and you must now carry on down
into the unknown. Turn to 113
139
You continue along a corridor that descends quickly and now have
the choice of whether to continue straight on or turn left. The
passage straight on descends down steeply into the ground. You
peer into the tunnel and cannot feel a breath of moving air, and the
air smells stale.
The tunnel to the right also descends deeply, but you can feel a
slight flow of air, carrying the smell of decay, but also something
else. Something you are familiar with but cannot quite place.
Will you go straight on (turn to 104) or turn left (turn to 146)
140
You hide in the corner and you use all your training to become
almost preternaturally still. You try to slow your breathing and are
almost in a trance like state.
It seems to work as one of the guards goes into another room,
whilst the other remains at the door. The first guard emerges with
some sheaves of paper. Then they both leave the way they came,
and the door locks behind them.
You decide you will have to see what’s beyond the iron gate.
Turn to 91
141
You have a bad feeling about the right hand tunnel, and so instead
decide to go left. You soon end up at another junction. You feel like
you have been here before. You worry that you are getting lost and
turned around in this maze and you fight down the panic that’s rising
in your chest.
The tunnel to the left may be new, but you are struggling to tell. The
one to the right is made of stone brick, with cracked walls and
ceilings, and looks familiar. But you cannot wait any longer. You
must choose.
Either go left, and turn to 115, or choose right and turn to 110
142
Your will is strong and you refuse to yield, thinking of the evil you
have seen tonight. You shake your head and your hand moves
away from your backpack and towards your sword hilt. De-Villiers
mask of civility slips and his face clouds in rage.
"You disobey me? You dare! I have passed eons waiting for
this moment and will not be defeated. It is time for Him to rise
again. If you will not give it to me, then I will take it”
Then from inside his robe he draws a sable like blade and a short
hooked knife of black glass. The knife is old with age but still looks
razor sharp.
DE-VILLIERS
FIGHTING SKILL 11 ENDURANCE 9
Each time De-Villiers hits you, throw 1d6. If you throw even, then his
sword hurts you and does the usual 2 ENDURANCE damage, but if
it’s odd, the knife hurts you. The knife is the sacrificial blade that has
been used for centuries and has an evil power - and each cut from
the knife does 3 ENDURANCE damage. If you win, turn to 114. If
you lose, turn to 108
143
You have only started back up the tunnel when you hear a noise
from behind you. You stop and turn. You can see back in the
chamber, where a whirlwind is forming around De-Villiers remains,
and slowly turns into an ethereal human form of a very old man. He
is wearing a shimmering unearthly robe and his long hair is
intricately braided. Even from here, he seems to carry the stench of
decadence, decay and evil. In his pale hand he holds a white sword
seemingly made of smoke.
The figure floats across in the chamber and looks at the
passageway back up to the surface. It tests the air in front with its
sword, but some sort of invisible field stops it. He cannot leave
without a corporal body. He stares at you with glowing eyes.
However, the ghostly spectre of throws back his head and laughs, a
dusty and cold sound that echoes through the catacombs.
“You fool; you think you could defeat me so easily. You just
destroyed the corporal form that my Master granted me for this
oh so important task. For too long, I have waited in the cold
ground for my Master to give me the strength to bring him back
to your world, His world. He returns! And the world will tremble
as He wakes. I know you have the final tool I need to resurrect
Him. And I will be the most esteemed of all His servants.”
Turn to 150
144
De-Villiers walks into the room and surveys it. Then he says to
himself “The trap was tripped, but there is no body. Someone is
here”, closing the door behind him. You hear it click as he locks it.
“Maybe he is below in the catacombs” and he dashes towards a
dark corner, where there is a war banner hanging.
He reaches around and you hear a switch “click” and he disappears
behind the banner. You hear the sound of rusted metal protesting,
and then steps echoing down below. Then the metal groans shut
again.
Turn to 149
145
Once again you arrive at a junction. You feel like you have been
down the right corridor, although you could be mistaken. You bend
down and check the floor, and you can see vague footprints. The
imprint matches the soles of your boots, and so you are convinced
that you have already been this way
Therefore, you have no option but to turn left. Your torch is starting
to burn low and so you decide to hurry.
Turn to 79
146
You half scramble down another steeply slanted passageway and
when you get to the bottom there’s a choice of turning left or right.
You check both passages. The floor of the right passage is soft and
sandy, and you struggle with your footing. The left passage seems
much longer, but you think you can detect light at the end, but there
is something about this passage that is deeply unsettling.
Do you want to turn left, then turn to 134, or head right, and turn to
turn to 35
147
Shortly after turning right, you find yourself at another junction. The
left hand passage heads downhill, into the dark and there is dust in
the air that makes you cough. The right passage seems to get
smaller as it goes on, but appears shorter.
You can either choose to turn right, then turn to 116, otherwise turn
left and turn to 136
148
Another choice. You can either go straight on, or turn left. You
examine the tunnel walls and notice the passage straight on is
made of large, ill-fitting bricks and stones. The mortar has crumbled
from between them with age. The left passage descends down, and
has a musty smell to it, but a slight breeze that brings a whiff of
tallow.
If you go straight on, turn to 110, or to go left and turn to 75
149
You wait for half an hour, but De-Villiers does not re-appear. You
check the door, and behind it you hear the sound of many voices.
The only way out is to try to follow De-Villiers.
You walk over to the war banner, and pull it to one side and walk
back into the alcove.
You crouch down and check the grate again. It’s still locked. You
heave at it but it’s not shifting. But you can see fresh scuff marks
from when De-Villiers opened it. You are sure this is the way De-
Villiers went and so perhaps there is another way to open it. You
rack your brain. The noise you heard was not of a key being turned
in a lock, but more like a catch being released. There must be a
secret lever hidden in this alcove. With renewed belief, you check.
Searching around you notice there is an unevenness about the wall
- one that does not appear to be from disrepair. You trace you hand
along the rough uneven stones, and then sense that one of them
feels slightly different. You place your knife into one of the edges.
You slowly twist and the stone pivots open on a hinge.
Behind the stone is a small hole that goes back into the wall. You
peer in and can see only blackness, although you think you saw
something move. You take a chance and place you hand and
forearm into the hole and reach back. You flinched as something
runs over the back of your hand. Then a second something does as
well.
Do you want to slowly consider probing the hole, then turn to 121, or
risk quickly removing your arm, turn to 92
150
As if the devil is on your back, you run as fast as you can up the
steep tunnel, breathing heavily. It is large, fully 10 yards across, and
twists and turns as it heads for the surface. The climb seems to last
forever in the gloom of the tunnel. But eventually the gloom starts to
clear, and you fancy you can see light ahead. Sure enough, the
gradient of the tunnel starts to level out and the air gets clearer.
Then you are at the top. Above you is a long, tall ladder, bolted to a
short, round, stone clad tunnel rising upwards like a chimney, and
on top of this you can just see a metal grate. Light spills down
through the gaps in the grate. The night is giving way to dawn, and
you never have you been so glad to see the suns in the sky above.
You start the long climb up the ladder and reach the top, breathing
heavily, and try to open the grate. It is locked. Do you have the
SKILL OF LOCK PICKING. If you do turn to 40
If you do not, you will have to try to burn through the metal. You
remember you have some corrosives in glass vials. You take them
out and remove the glass stopper. Then you reach through and
pour the acid into the lock. TEST YOUR FORTUNE. If you pass,
turn to 40. If you fail, click here to read on……..
150 Continued
Despite your best efforts, the lock on the grate remains. The acid
seems to have little effect on the metal and just drops down and
burns your arms. Lose 2 ENDURANCE points. You try to shake the
grate free, but it’s useless.
You realise with no way out here, you will have to try to return to the
chamber and avoid De-Villiers spectral form. You climb back down
the ladder and start to descend back down to the chamber.
You are about halfway down when you feel a rumbling in the
ground, as if many footsteps were running up the tunnel. Something
is heading back up the tunnel as you walk down it. You are just
realising this when you turn a corner.
Ahead of you is an army of skeletons, each armed with short swords
and shields. They swarm up the tunnel, some seeming to run along
the sides of the walls and the ceilings. Then they are on you. You try
to fight, but there are too many, and they swarm over you, their
short swords stabbing and cutting. You are cut into bloody rags in
moments.
You were so close to escaping, but sadly your promising career as a
thief has been cut short.
Shadow Thief WILL Return
Other gamebooks coming soon from Black Dog Gamebooks:
The Hellscape Book 1:
Straight to Hell
Shadow Thief Book 2:
Hunted
Psycho Killer
| textdata/thevault/Shadow Thief Book 1 - Jailbreak [Solo].pdf |
1
2
The
INVISIBLE
FIST
Secret Ninja Techniques of
Vanishing Without A Trace
copyright © 1998 Ashida Kim
All rights reserved. No part of the book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever
without written permission of the Author and Publisher except by newspaper or magazine
reviews who wish to quote brief passages in connection for review. Books may be
purchased in bulk at wholesale discounts for sales promotion, fund-raising, or educational
purposes. Special editions can be created to specifications. Editorial, sales and
distribution, rights and permissions inquiries should be addressed to:
DOJO Press
P.O. Box 209 Lake Alfred, FL 33850 USA
AshidaKim.com DojoPress.com
ISBN 0-8065-2018-3
3
“I cannot describe to you the indescribable, but I can teach you several by no
means inconsiderable arts- invisibility, flying without wings, invulnerability to sword or
serpent’s fang- you know, that kind of thing.
“Here then is your syllabus of study. Seeking the mysterious portal, you must first
provide yourself with the wherewithal to bribe the guards and render yourself invisible
that you may slip through unnoticed. That sort of thing is not mastered in a day.
“Next you will have to learn to fly henceforth to the courts of Heaven, make your
way to the central chamber, surprise Lord Lao at breakfast, snatch up his flask of golden
elixir, slay those who will come running to rescue it, break down the walls of the sky-
castle and return to Earth an immortal! A man of your determination has but to follow my
course of instruction to be certain of success.”
From the Nei Pien of Ko Hung, an ancient treatise
on alchemy, medicine and religion 320.A.D.
4
Contents
Preface
5
Introduction: Invisibility as an Art
8
The BOOK OF EARTH
13
“Grain of Sand in Eye Can Hide Mountain…”
The BOOK OF WATER
31
“The Pool of the Subconscious…”
The BOOK OF FIRE
44
“Fire Breathing Dragon Technique…”
The BOOK OF AIR
61
“The Sword of the Mind…”
The BOOK OF WOOD
76
“Power to Cloud Men’s Minds…”
Collector’s History
94
DOJO Press
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Preface
Looked for, cannot be seen. Listened for, cannot be heard. Felt for, cannot be
touched. The Invisible Fist gives no warning, nor can it be stopped. You cannot hide from
it, nor can you escape it. Why is this so?
Any decent self-defense class can teach one to draw up his courage in the face of
danger, the better to execute one all-out, totally committed, do-or-die technique. This
usually results in the mutually assured destruction of both combatants.
To strike the opponent without being struck in return is the essence of Boxing.
Some martial arts teach that a punch must be so swift and return so quickly that it is faster
than the human eye can follow as a method of being considered “invisible”
If the body can move faster than the eye, however, it can also react faster. The old
magicians claim that the “hand is quicker than the eye” applies equally to defender and
attacker. So, no matter how fast you are, no matter how many hours or years you may
have spent training to react to an attack with an appropriate block, you still cannot block
or hit what you cannot see. Thus, the true Invisible Fist would also be one that strikes
from an unexpected angle. It gives no warning and cannot be deflected. One cannot hide
from it because those who have the secret do not go around showing it off. If it is
encountered, it is due to one’s own bad karma in looking for a fight with a master.
Nor can one escape the wrath of the Invisible Fist, since it is brought upon oneself
by bad conduct. In this way, those who would commit evil attract the very forces that will
mete out appropriate justice to them. The Invisible Fist is merely one such tool.
That is why, at certain periods in history, those who practiced this art were known
as the Black Dragon Tong of Retribution. Not because they went around like Robin
Hood, “righting wrongs and punishing evil doers,” But because they were simple humble
people who were often mistaken for victims. If they could not escape, they were, and are
today, quite capable of destroying any attacker in order to survive. Also being humble,
knowing that the taking of a life does no one honor, they would accept no credit for such
acts. They obeyed the ancient Samurai injunction to have the “power to kill and walk
away” without any explanation being required long before it was instituted for that social
class. This is because the followers of this Way are so inoffensive that at one time the
founders thought themselves in such harmony with nature that they would limit the
number of footsteps they made each day so as not to disturb the Earth with their presence.
The rule is: First, do no harm; Second, never make a challenge; Third, never turn down a
real challenge.
Bullies, muggers, rapists and the like often have a long history of crimes, violent
or otherwise. So, when a criminal is found dead, it is frequently taken for granted that
some old enemy must have caught up with him and extracted some measure of revenge.
For surely, only one as brutal, ruthless and deadly as the villain himself could have
overcome him.
This, however, is not necessarily so. What of the kind? The weak? The aged? Are
they to have no defense except Force, which they are often ill inclined or unable to
employ with enough skill or strength to be effective? Should they be armed, even with
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non-violent types of weaponry, which can be taken away and used by an attacker?
Making a weapon as dangerous to the user as for the victim? Or, should they simply
resign themselves to being sheep, preyed upon by the more aggressive and assertive
wolves, fleeced and butchered at the whim of those less worthy, who contribute nothing
to the welfare of the tribe and, in fact, greatly contribute to its downfall by their
inappropriate behavior? No, they need not.
“What a piece of work is man…” asked Shakespeare in his classic play Hamlet.
“In peace how noble and temperate, in war how terrifying…” All warfare is a matter of
will. It is not the technique, the style, nor even the philosophy of the defender that
determines the outcome. It is his Will that gives him the stamina to continue until the
opponent is exhausted and defeated.
When martial arts such as Karate, Kung Fu, and so on were first introduced to
America, two claims were made about them; that anyone could overcome any attacker
and could do so without physical contact.
Regardless of size, age, or infirmity, one need never again fear assault, because
these fighting systems made it possible to control a fight long before it began, and, if the
initiative was lost due to surprise attack, take it back from even a ferocious and
aggressive enemy. BUT, all required the user to stand and fight.
Ninjitsu, the Invisible Fist, is the ONLY martial art that is not about fighting. It is
about running away and hiding. It is about good health and longevity. It is about patience,
because all true masters know that living well is the best revenge. Thus, it is by
explaining the method whereby the promises made by those who would commercialize it
are fulfilled.
All martial arts and their philosophies agree that the greatest warrior is the one
who wins without fighting. In the classic martial arts film Enter the Dragon, the late
Bruce Lee illustrated this principle when he confronted a brutish bully’s challenge. He
told this lout that his own style was the “art of fighting without fighting.” But, he would
need more room than the small ship they were on to demonstrate it properly. He thus
enticed the bully to board a small boat so they could go to a nearby island. Once the bully
was in the lifeboat, Lee simply slipped the mooring line free and held him at his mercy by
threatening to set him adrift in the turbulent seas. He had won without throwing a single
punch. He had outwitted his opponent; fighting without fighting.
In the television series Hanto Yo, about the American Cheyenne Indian tribe. The
mystic-warrior, the only one who dared ride a white horse into battle, the “shirt-man” and
hero and beloved of the tribe, was the most adept at leading the enemy forces deep into
the forest and away from his fleeing people. He single-handedly defeated the enemy by
letting them wear themselves out chasing him. Once, when he fought on the plains, an
eclipse took place while he was charging alone toward an attacking tribe- an example of
synchronicity, harmony with the Universe. Just as playing hide-and-seek in the forest is
an example of invisibility. This “mystic” occurrence so upset and terrified the opposing
tribe that the battle was never fought and the war was called off. Yet, to be such a
fearsome warrior, Hanto Yo spoke always of peace and harmony among the “human
beings” as the Cheyenne tribe was known to call itself.
The Shaolin monks of ancient China were also known for their serenity and love
of peace, even though they were trained to “fight like ten tigers.” They saw it as their
duty to defend China from foreign invaders. To that end, they launched the Boxer
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Rebellion in 1900. The members of the White Lotus Sect practiced ritualistic magic as a
part of their traditional boxing art and placed such faith in their use of Iron Body Kung
Fu that many believed themselves impervious even to bullets. They have long been
recognized as masters of the martial arts and at the core of their study is breath control,
non-violence, and self-knowledge. In fact, part of their credo reads, “When faced with
imminent peril of life and limb, make no show of force. Rather, one should run away than
fight.”
Only when flight is no longer possible may one use Force to establish, maintain,
or restore order. Even then, it is taught to “avoid rather than check; check rather than
block; block rather than strike; strike rather than hurt; hurt rather than maim; maim rather
than kill; kill rather than be killed. For all life is precious, nor can any be replaced.”
The monks were each trained in a particular animal system of fighting depending
on their body type and disposition, but all were taught meditation and the art of acting
invisibly. These are the source of their great internal strength and the basis of their
amazing powers. Through a series of tests and trials that were ritualized into a rite of
passage into manhood they became mystic-warriors who could fight or disappear. The
technique, however, was ancient long before it was incorporated into the Japanese
Shinobi-ryu systems.
One of the earliest known tribes of ancient China was called the Jain. They were
the greatest hunters and warriors of their era and are even spoken of highly by the famous
anthropologist Joseph Campbell in his works on arcane religions. They were possessed of
one great secret: they knew enough to build a fire and walk through the smoke to remove
the scent of man from themselves before venturing into the woods for a hunt. Upon this
ritual they based an entire philosophy of invisibility. They were Brothers of the Smoke
and, like many later arts, ritualized the secrets of their clan into ceremonies. This
included walking on hot coals, fire eating, smoking the pipe, and such philosophical
concepts as being so in harmony with Nature that no force of man could harm them. They
may yet exist. As the Invisible People, who can say from whence they came of if they
have ever left or even if they are still among us.
What we do have of them is this system of fighting techniques divided into five
elemental categories. In olden days it might take half a lifetime to master a single Shaolin
system of fighting. The Invisible Fist is so simple it can be learned in a day. It is, without
doubt, the single most effective self-defense form known to man. Just one of these basic
techniques can make you the equal of any mugger, or even a well-trained martial artist.
Now you too can be one of the few, the proud, the Ninja, masters of the Invisible Fist.
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INTRODUCTION:
Invisibility as an Art
Ninjitsu, contrary to popular belief, is not a system of unarmed combat or mastery
of an array of martial arts weapons. It is not about fighting at all, it is about
INVISIBILITY…
Every other martial art teaches that, “It is better to run away from a fight than to
battle and have to injure someone.” Then they spend the next two years teaching the
student how to stand and fight. Ninjitsu teaches you how to prevail over even the most
ferocious foe without physical contact and simply escape, leaving him alone in
frustration.
When Book of the Ninja was published in 1980, it stated, “There is no magical
technique to render oneself unseeable to the human eye.” The basis for this being that all
the Ninja methods of vanishing in front of the enemy rely on simple principles of
ordinary stage magic, rather than mystic incantations.
Such techniques, however, do exist and can be learned through a series of specific
exercises and tests devised by the venerable masters of the Pole Star School, circa 6000
B.C. recognized in China as the most ancient school of martial arts known to man.
Furthermore, these methods are reserved only for those beyond the initiate or adept level
of training.
The nature of those who teach the Secret Doctrine is to deny that it exists until all
other methods have been studied, exhausted, and found lacking. Only then, when the
student persists in his belief that there is more magic than simple tricks and mumbo-
jumbo, only when he is ready to believe, only when he wonders what it all means instead
of how it is done, THEN the secret is revealed.
These techniques are the basis for the Japanese Art of Invisibility known as
Ninjitsu, the Silent Way. In them you will find many bits and pieces of others styles and
systems. After all, there are only so many kicks, punches, throws takedowns and so on.
What differentiates one style from another is little more than a matter of hard or soft
presentation and a focus on a particular sort of technique, a variety of combinations,
poetic or military nomenclature, and strategy. All teach essentially the same lessons and
all are part of the warrior quest. All possess some part of the Great Secret of Warriorship,
because there are only five elements in combat and the same principles apply to the art of
vanishing. Only the intent is different.
This set of techniques is but one of many. There is nothing new in magic, only
new presentations of the same basic physical and chemical properties that have amused,
entertained and amazed man for centuries.
There are nine methods of the Black Dragon School given here. Derived from the
Eight Mystic Trigrams that form the basis for the I Ching, the Chinese Book of Changes.
These are divided into Five Elements, which is the foundation of Chinese medicine from
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antiquity to the present. The dragon represents mystical power. The adjunctive black
indicates that it is a hidden, closed, or concealed system.
There are others who have pursued and employed the techniques of invisibility.
The Rosicrucians, the followers of Gnosticism, the Kahuna, wizards, witches, and
shamen throughout the ages have sought this mystical ability. Some vanish by
rearranging the physical structure of their corporeal being so that light may pass
unhindered through them. Thus, they become invisible. Some disassemble themselves in
an instant and reform elsewhere, safely out of harm’s way. Then there are those who
bend the very rays of light itself around themselves to form a shimmering cloud of
obscurity that hides them from view. Finally, there are those with the power to place the
idea of invisibility into the mind of the observer so that he refuses to see that which is
clearly before his eyes. This is the Dragon Method of “clouding men’s minds,’ and one
means whereby practical invisibility may be achieved.
To that end, here are assembled the various techniques used by the Black Dragon
Ninja for making an attacker blink, hesitate, flinch, turn away, or otherwise distract him
from he who wishes to become in invisible; including methods that temporarily or
permanently blind an opponent. Absent are the various tricks of remaining invisible, like
hiding, and the methods of striking from ambush, which is a way of winning any conflict
in a single devastating blow. These are considerations to be taken into account once
invisibility has been achieved and are dealt with in other publications.
The concern of this text is the ability to disappear. The Art of Invisibility is
divided into Five Elements: camouflage, concealment, cover, appearing, and vanishing.
These equate quite nicely with the traditional Five Elements of Chinese medicine and
philosophy, on which many martial arts are also based. It is a simple and effective
method of categorizing a variety of techniques into easily defined groups so they can be
remembered. This also allows for the inclusion of new techniques as they are developed
or discovered. Thus, the system remains consistent and traditional, yet still dynamic and
evolving.
This method also makes it possible to compare systems that may, at first, seem
widely disparate. The Five Elements can be mnemonically recalled at any time by using
the fingers.
Earth is the little or pinky finger
Water is the ring or third finger
Fire is the middle finger
Air is the index finger
Wood is represented by the thumb.
Each represents a state of matter- solid, liquid, gaseous; and a type of energy-
linear, circular, or spiral. Thus, even though such primitive systems are usually
discredited by modern scientists as being merely examples of allegorical reasoning, such
classification to illustrate the interaction of physical and chemical properties altogether
avoids the issue of whether matter and energy are two dissimilar states of being or are
interchangeable. A question that has plagued modern scientific minds for decades.
To the ancients, such a question was meaningless. It was not important whether
matter can be created or energy destroyed. What is important is how things interact. Nor
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were the ancients prone, as is so often the case in recorded history, to try to discover how
things worked by dissecting them. Instead, they merely observed and noted cause and
effect, and developed what today are called hypothetical constructs that could be tested
and validated like modern laboratory experiments. The old ones called these “patterns,”
and had no need for vast, complicated texts to explain them. They had only a few simple
“laws” that covered them all.
In keeping with the Five Element symbolism, this text is divided into five
sections. This is the traditional way of presenting such material, on a scroll or scrolls,
sometimes known as tori-maki, meaning “sacred writings.” Miyamoto Musashi used this
device in his famous text on feudal Japanese swordsmanship The Book of Five Rings. In
the Hai Lung Ryu (Black Dragon School) there are many such arcane manuscripts,
usually categorized by the element they are said to represent. Each of the Five Elements
interacts with the others, just as their symbolic names imply, and so represent the endless
cycle of growth, change, and rebirth. Each also represents what modern scientists would
call a state of matter.
For ages it was believed that matter existed in one of three states and that matter
and energy could not be created or destroyed. This may well be true, but, what does it tell
us about how these states interact? The old Ninja Five Element Formula explains it all
and includes even more than had been previously “discovered,” such as the plasma
energy level.
Earth is the most solid form of matter. It has weight and occupies space. Water is
the liquid state of matter. The particles are not so tightly packed nor bound together in a
shape. Air is the next most gaseous type of matter in which the particles are even more
widely dispersed. Fire represents the plasma state of matter, a level of transition between
what are called matter and energy only recently discovered by atomic science. Wood
describes the three types of motion, linear, circular and spiral, in which these particles
and their manifestations may engage; electromagnetic vibratory force acting in a circular
motion about a linear axis. This is the Force.
So, everything is covered. From matter to non-matter and all degrees of vibratory
existence and excitement in between, which determine the level of perception upon
which they exist.
We who have studied and practice these arts have no fear they will be learned by
anyone with criminal intent or deviant moral fiber. Such persons do not have the patience
to advance slowly, step by step, through the long process of study and may even attempt
advanced techniques without proper preparation or precaution, leading only to their
demise. One cannot learn how to be a “fire-breathing dragon” without first learning how
to breathe properly. And all war, indeed all life, is a matter of breath control.
This course of study is arranged in logical order for self-instruction. Each lesson
is a building block for the next. We have found that when one studies in this manner, one
advances at his own rate and level of interest and must actively participate in the course.
When one undertakes such an inner journey, one often returns “changed”- not in the
sense that he is possessed of some new magical power, but rather that his level of
spirituality and understanding have been raised and he has gained a new appreciation of
life; and others will perceive this in your new demeanor.
Invisibility is a power man has strived for throughout the ages. Like flying,
levitation, precognition, telepathy, healing and speaking with those who have passed on,
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it has fascinated and intrigued the great minds of sages, alchemists, and yogis as an
expression of the ability to become so still you can see the workings of the universe and
defend oneself through non-violence. After all, it takes two to make a fight. If only one is
present, then he must eventually see that all anger is directed at the Self alone, by the Self
alone. Frustration at the acts of others is a manifestation of ego, a projecting of one’s own
faults onto others. Likewise, all wounds are ultimately self-inflicted.
No one can see the future accurately. Only general trends, reflected by the
Heavens or the seasons, give any real semblance of precognition. So, to anticipate the
outcome of any future event is necessarily to build up an expectation that is unattainable.
Regardless of whether we expect doom or gloom or roses or rainbows, the actual
outcome of any event is never exactly as we had hoped or feared. Thus, humankind has
for eons set itself up for endless disappointment and frustration.
Expect nothing! Judge nothing! Each morning, like a scholar at his first class,
prepare a blank mind upon which the day may write. With this single act you can change
the world. Or, at least your perception of it.
Most psychologists would agree that the perception of reality, either as a glorious
world full of hope and opportunity or a dark and sinister place where virtue is often
crushed by greed, is largely a matter of perspective, and have devised some clever tests to
illustrate to their patients the fallacy of their thinking. One example being, “Is the glass
half full or half empty?” The pessimist sees the glass half empty, perceiving only what
has been lost or consumed. The optimist sees the glass half full, observing what remains.
The correct answer for a sage, or a Ninja, would be that the glass is too big for the
amount of water it is intended to contain. Not a “smart-aleck” answer at all, although it
might be seen as such by a researcher “expecting’ one of the two answers he provided.
Instead, what it illustrates is that the patient is capable of thinking, of reasoning, of seeing
more than just two outcomes. Such is the purpose of such Buddhist koans- to make the
student think! So, modern psychiatry has not invented anything new with this “test,” and,
in fact, as given in the above example, is not even aware of how to use the technique
properly.
How much easier must it be then, for a martial art to lose sight of its past, its
objectives, even its principles, if it remains only static, unchanging and limited. Ninjitsu
is translated from the Japanese to mean, “the Silent Way.” This is because those who
practice it do not go about bragging of it to others, or even trying to share it with them,
until such time as they themselves may ask. The Invisible Fist is not a “secret society.” It
is, however, a society with secrets.
Keep that thought before you as you study these techniques. Many of which are
revealed here for the first time. Some are used by stage magicians even today. Others
have strategic and tactical considerations. Some are pure fantasy. That is also part of what
must be learned- that the historical martial trilogy of mind, body and spirit, like so many
other things in the world, are merely symbols, code words for simple basic, ideas,
crammed and distorted by the classical mess of rigid “traditionalism” that restricts normal
growth and evolution.
Mind is memory, spirit is imagination, and body is touch; the test of Reality
created by mind and spirit. Hallucinations can be seen, but not touched. Voices can be
heard, but not touched. Tangible, repeatable, empirical experimental evidence is the only
test of Reality on this Plane of Existence.
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Remember that the human being is possessed of an automatic defense mechanism
known clinically as the “fight-or-flight” adrenalin response. This is also seen in Nature
and is a well documented fact. At this moment, we shall begin to associate this physio-
chemical phenomenon that endows the body with tremendous strength, heightened
awareness and lightning reflexes, toward the task of becoming invisible. In so doing, we
assume responsibility for our actions and conscious control of the defensive aspect of this
response and so we can program it with a type of behavior that has been proven through
the centuries to be highly effective.
The “adrenal pump” is activated by fear. And, when one experiments with fear
one must be prepared for the consequences. The “dark side” of the Self is always ready to
engulf those who would use such power for personal gain or self- aggrandizement. But, it
is only by making the inner journey, bathing in the pool of the subconscious and gazing
into the mirrored, reflected image of the “dark self” or shadow” that true understanding is
possible. Therefore, do not step lightly upon the Moonlit Path of the Silent Way, for it
will change your life. It is a road to self-knowledge and through that, knowledge of
others. It is an inner Vision Quest, a puzzle wrapped in a mystery, surrounded by an
enigma or our own creation. But, it can be done; and, is well worth the effort.
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The Book of
EARTH
“Grain of sand in eye can hide mountain…”
-Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, 1937
The first duty of any martial art worth its salt is to provide its students with an
adequate means of self-defense. Most schools spend years helping students develop the
skills and moral outlook necessary for real competence in fighting. We begin, however,
with a simple and effective technique that can be used by anyone, with no practice
whatsoever.
Probably the most ancient technique for disabling an enemy is blinding him,
temporarily or permanently. Perhaps the tactic that best serves to illustrate this point is
the art of throwing dirt in the eyes of an opponent. In motion pictures this is sometimes
done by the villain and is considered to be an unfair or dirty trick- but, what is more
unfair than being beaten to death?
In fact this method probably developed when a smaller combatant was thrown to
the ground by a larger one and found his hands full of earth as a natural course of events.
In his rage and frustration, hurling this virtually weightless substance at an on rushing foe
might well have been a reflex or an act of desperation, unlikely to have any effect. Still,
who can deflect a handful of sand? At the very least, the attacker will blink instinctively
and therefore provide an opportunity for the defender to escape.
This is where the Art of Invisibility begins.
Far from being futile, such a defense is the single most effective non-violent
method or disappearing ever devised. Depending on the composition of the powder or
dust used to blind an attacker, injury may range anywhere from momentary discomfort to
permanent blindness.
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BLACK EGGS
The ancient Ninja of the Black Dragon School carried their blinding powders in
specially constructed containers ready for instant use. These were called Hai Lan, or
“black eggs.” They were made by poking a small hole in both ends of an egg and then
blowing into the shell so that the contents are forced out the other end. In this way the
raw egg could be extracted without breaking the shell. The egg would then be very
fragile, so one had to be careful.
With a razor or sharp knife open one of the blowholes a bit more widely and plug
the hole at the other end with a small bit of wax. Let the shell dry completely. Fill the
eggshell with your secret blinding formula. Each ryu (school) had its own formula. This
may be the ash of a particular type of tree indigenous to the tribal area of the clan, finely
ground bone chips, salt, dry bleach, beach sand, or any similar material. Exotic
compounds included certain weeds and alkaloid plants that produce a sparkling effect
when reacting with the water from tears. Various peppers can produce blindness; even the
metal filings from a sharpened sword could be included to scratch the cornea and thereby
inflict more permanent damage.
Seal the eggshell with homemade glue or wax. The Ninja of old had several
formulae for this, but today commercially available adhesives are more than adequate.
Once dry, the eggshell becomes a perfect container for a handful of dust and is easily
hidden in the hand. It is too fragile to carry in a pocket, but, because of this fragility it
will easily spill its contents just when needed.
The Hai Lan can be hardened somewhat by painting it with several thick coats of
lacquer or black paint. A little bit of experimentation will determine how much is needed.
You are now armed with one of the most ancient and secret of all Ninja weapons- the
Black Egg.
SHADOW DUST
At this juncture a special word should be said about the practice of “hiding in the
shadows.” While this may seem to belong properly to the category of camouflage, it is
also part of the manufacture of Black Eggs or Ninja Dust Bombs.
The Ninja discovered that the lighter the material that composed the contents of
these eggs, the longer it was likely to hang in the air and be an effective barrier to vision.
Some experimentation proved that ashes and dust were the two best substances to make a
simple powder for this purpose. Being frugal and not wishing to waste anything, the
humble Ninja did not throw away the ashes from his fire, anymore than he discarded the
contents of the egg. He ate that egg to give him strength and turned the shell into a
weapon filled with those ashes. Likewise, in his housecleaning, scuttling about his
dwelling, or busily sweeping as a servant to some lord, the Ninja was also collecting
ammunition for his blinding powder devices. Since dust was often found in corners,
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under stairs, and above doorways, one engaged in cleaning would naturally become
familiar with those places and so be better able to conceal himself in their shadows,
should the need arise. Also, when watching an enemy in preparation for an ambush,
collecting sand, sifting dust or sand between the fingers serves to calm the mind by
giving the hands something to do.
Thus, hiding in the shadows is more than just a technique of Inpo (the art of
stealing in or hiding). It is also a meditation on stillness and silence and part of the
practice for later skills that involve collecting and cultivating Qi, the vital life-force of the
universe that surrounds and pervades all things.
THE CLOUD OF DUST
Two methods of delivering the Ninja Dust Bomb against an opponent present
themselves automatically. One is to crush the egg in the hand and throw the contents into
the enemy’s face using any one of a great variety of flinging techniques, many of which
are seen in Shuriken-Jitsu, named for the spikes and star shaped multi-pointed throwing
blades for which the Ninja are famous. Range is, of course, limited. Owing to the
lightness of the tiny particulate matter and missiles involved. The practice method for this
technique is to throw a dry washcloth at a head sized target or partner. This will fly about
as well and as far as a handful of dust, and so provides good training and evaluation for
the student without making a dusty or cloudy mess.
The third method is the basis for the myth that Ninja had grenades that exploded
on impact and created a cloud of smoke in which they could vanish. Given the crude
gunpowder of the era and the natural aversion to carrying something that might blow up
in your pocket should you fall on it, the Ninja practiced throwing the dust bombs against
the ceiling so that powder would rain down forming a curtain behind which they might
disappear. To the untrained eye this has the same effect of throwing something on the
floor and having it explode upward. Any ancient exploding devices to create smoke were
necessarily detonated by primitive fuses rather than impact.
Like many things that first seem amazing, when the explanation is known, they
are quite simple. That is what makes it “magic.”
The WITCH DOCTOR METHOD
This technique, Blowing Powder in the Enemy’s Face, was used with great
efficacy in the motion picture The Serpent and the Rainbow (1979). The subject dealt
with Haitian voodoo and was based on the true adventure of a modern scientist
researching the subject. The dust used by the Haitian witch doctors to subdue and
paralyze their victims was a hallucinogenic mixed with a small amount of puffer fish
poison that conducted the psychedelic directly through the skin of the victim.
Hold the powder filled eggshell concealed in the hollow of your hand. Move into
effective range, established by a little practice beforehand. Or, let the enemy come within
range as he advances aggressively. Crush the eggshell in your palm. The noise will attract
the enemy’s attention, it is one that is recognizable but unusual in combat. Thus, he
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hesitates to see where the sound came from. Watch his eyes. When he blinks or looks at
your hand, he has lost the battle.
Immediately turn the palm up in the manner of a magician showing you a treasure
he has just produced. In the voodoo method the “assassin” would walk right up to the
victim, smiling all the way- then “Poof!” After preparing for this moment by taking a
lungful of air and tightening your belly to charge, blow the dust off your open hand with
a single forceful blast of wind as when blowing out a stubborn candle. Aim for the eyes,
intending the particles to elicit the involuntary blinking response of the human eye. This
requires only two-hundredths of a second and cannot be stopped without years of practice
in staring. Thus, you temporarily blind the opponent and so become invisible. His
blindness will last from five to forty-five seconds, depending on the magic powder
formula used. In that amount of time, most people can pick up a weapon and beat the
enemy senseless, or run away and get help.
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SINGLE HAND TOSS
Magicians and illusionists enhance the effect of blinding powders and make them
less fearsome by using glitter dust. Symbolically it is the same thing. You “catch the eye”
of the audience or attacker and distract them from the real action, enabling the performer
to vanish some object or volunteer.
This is the same sparkling, shredded bits of aluminum foil that most children in
kindergarten learn to glue onto cardboard, paper and each other. It makes a dazzling
display. These require no preparation after being purchased. The tops of the little plastic
tubes come off easily, enabling the user to scatter the spray of metallic color and
reflection by simply tossing it upward. Being heavier than dust or ash, the particles will
fall more quickly. Therefore the hiding place to which you will flee, having been selected
before trying this ploy, must be close at hand.
The Single Hand Toss is the most basic way of delivering the Ninja Dust Bomb,
glitter dust, or any similar powder weapon, as well as coins, sand, or a bowl of hot soup.
Drop the leading hand, the one nearest the target, to waist level holding the broken
eggshell in a loose fist to conceal it from the enemy.
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Quickly toss the dust upward, opening your loose fist to spray the powder into the face of
the adversary. Again, a little practice goes a long way. You can also toss the dust between
you and the adversary to form a temporary screen that will hide you from view long
enough to duck away out of sight. Alternatively, toss the eggshell hard up against he
ceiling to make him look up at the noise and be showered with dust.
Some ancient wizards added to the confusion of such a display by leaving behind
a talisman, magic sign, mouse, frog or bird. The victim of this trick would then
unconsciously associate the living creature with the magician and mistakenly assume that
the sorcerer had turned himself into the animal. Furthermore, the familiar, pet or beast
attracts the attention of the victim, drawing him away from you. This is the basis for the
legend that vampires could turn into bats, that illusionists can transform into tigers, and
that Ninja could likewise “morph” into some other life form.
THE GLITTER MAGICAL WORK
Today the simplest way of applying the old sand-in-the-eye trick is to fill a small
plastic bag with flour and loosely seal it with a bit of tape. The bag can be opened by
lifting the flap and dumping the contents through the hole, by ripping it in half to create a
large display in a single motion, or by cutting into the plastic with a finger or thumbnail
and tearing a hole through which the powder may be dispersed.
Another method of throwing a handful of sand, dust, or rocks into the face of the
enemy is to toss the ruptured bag upward with both hands, as if scooping out water from
a bucket.
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SAND-IN-THE-EYES METHOD
In many emergency situations a handful of sand may be obtained by suddenly
crouching down, as if fearful of being struck, and grabbing a handful in each fist. After
very little practice, you can launch the tiny missiles toward the enemy as you regain a
vertical base, either by using both hands at once, one hand at a time, or by cupping the
hands together. All are equally effective in delivering the weapon and making the enemy
look away so you can escape.
20
21
THROWING TECHNIQUES
The method of practicing these techniques is to throw the powder forcefully onto
a wall or sheet so that the various splatter patterns can be seen and the most effective
throwing method chosen. With a minimal amount of effort even the meek and mild can
overcome the high and mighty.
It should be noted that a good deal of attention has been placed on the art of
Shuriken-Jitsu (throwing stars or darts) with much emphasis on the implements
themselves- how many points the have, how sharp they are, how much penetration they
achieve, and so on. The masters of the true art, however, will tell you that the real secret
of throwing is to be accurate. If the proper method of throwing is learned even a penny
can be as deadly as an arrow. One should use the Tonki (shuriken) starts, knives or spikes
to practice throwing accurately. Then anything can be a weapon.
Another method of projecting powder into the eyes of an enemy at slightly greater
distance is by means of the squeeze bottle. This can be constructed easily by emptying
any of the soft plastic containers available on the market today, drying out the inside and
refilling it with a finely ground powder, such as talc.
The aperture, or nozzle, must be of sufficient width to permit passage of the
particles when pressure is directed against eh sides of the container. Furthermore, some
sort of loose fitting or easily removed cap must be in place to prevent accidental spillage.
Something as simple as a small bit of wax placed over the end can be adequate. The wax
will be blown off when the bottle is squeezed.
The Squeeze Bottle, like the Poison Water Gun, increases the effective range of
the weapon. It is customary to paint such devices black so they blend into uniform, or
flesh tone so they are not easily visible in the hand before use.
THE SQUEEZE BOTTLE METHOD
Here the stream of powder is clearly seen and the effectiveness of this non-violent
weapon is clearly demonstrated. Virtually no movement is required to initiate this attack.
Multiple dispersals can be employed, each of lesser volume and pressure as the contents
are depleted.
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The best place to carry such a contraption is on the wrist or forearm for easy
access. One of the reasons who many of the Ninja wore gauntlets was to conceal such
devices. This permits ready access without the necessity of delving into pockets that
might alert an opponent.
Another alternative is to attach a short string or cord to the bottle so that it can
hang from the wrist or waist, ready to be captured by the palm for instant use as the
contents are expelled in a single motion. Of course, this requires slightly more practice
than some of the other methods.
BLACK NINJA METHOD
At the time of this writing there is a professional wrestler known as Kendo
Nagasaki, the “Black Ninja.” The author has often seen him perform. He uses a trick
known as the Earth Method Dragon Breath to propel a dry, blinding powder into his
opponent’s face. At the crucial moment in his bouts, he emits from his mouth a green
powdery mist. Opponents struck in the face with this weapon immediately clutch their
eyes and writhe on the mat in agony. While we have no way of knowing for certain if this
gentleman performs this feat as it is done in the Koga Ryu system, this is, nonetheless,
one such method of dispersing a dry powder from the mouth.
Since bamboo is plentiful in Japan anD China, it was only a matter of time before
someone got the idea of using a pipe stem to propel darts and powders at the enemy. A
small joint of bamboo, filled with powder and capped with wax on both ends, can easily
be hidden in the mouth and used as indicated.
The reason it is called Earth Method of the Dragon Breath technique is because
dry powder and sand are of the Earth. They are the natural weapons the Ninja is given by
the Earth. There are many methods of tossing, throwing, or propelling such missiles.
Blowing them out of a tube is properly a function of the Wind (Air), one of the Five
Elements. The Dragon Breath Technique is therefore classified as an Air Method. But,
one can also spit water, as will be seen in the next section, or dry powder if one but
knows how. Some Ninja ryu carried tiny blowguns like this with poisoned darts that
could be spewed at an enemy if he was foolish enough to try and pull down the Ninja’s
mask to see his face.
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KASUMI no JITSU
Suppose, however, that you are caught without your secret weapon? How will you
vanish then?
Not to worry- the Ninja have a technique for that unfortunate eventuation of
circumstance as well. It is called Kasumi, the mist or fog. Given here is the Earth Method
for using it.
Stand at Parade Rest or Ready Stance, squarely facing the aggressor with hands
clasped in back or front and the knees slightly bent. In Kuji Kiri, the finger-knitting
positions of Ninja meditation, the eighth position is one in which all the fingers are
extended wide to symbolize “control of the elements of Nature,” a signal to others in the
clan of awareness of the Five Elements. In a moment you will signal this, unarmed, to the
aggressor in such a way that he cannot mistake the message.
As he steps forward to grab you, deflect his arm by raising both of your arms
upward from the shoulder, bending the knees to lower the hips and head defensively and
aim the backs of your wrists at his face. Through depth perception, his eyes will see the
ends of your arms and judge the danger presented as they come into range. They will
seem quite far away, so most people will react slowly to the threat.
Flick the fingertips of both hands upward into his face to make him blink by
touching his eyelashes. Again, this elicits an involuntary blink response. Of course, that
would be an ideal application. Barring that, any proximity of the fingertips to within two
inches of his eyes is sufficient to cause the blink response. What he would see, if his eyes
were open, would be both palms and outstretched fingers in his face; and that would be
all. You would thus be hidden behind you open palms. Such that he cannot see you have
ducked down and bent your knees.
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With your right leg, Cross Step in front and step behind the opponent by pivoting
on the right heel, striking him in the chest or throat with your forearm while passing
beneath his outstretched arm. This jars his chest and phrenic nerve in the neck that
operates the diaphragm. This injury causes it to slow down so he cannot breathe.
Swing behind him with your left leg and wrap your left arm around his throat to
choke him. Hold his head while you press your fist against the base of his skull. Hold
your right bicep in your left hand to form a Figure-4 Lock around his neck. This is a
secure hold from Greco-Roman Wrestling. The pressure produces temporary blindness
through trauma to the primary cerebral cortex of the brain, which controls all vision. Cut
off the blood supply and darkness envelops the victim. After pressure is released,
impaired vision will last as long as the pressure was applied to produce the effect.
This is also the position for applying the Japanese Sleeperhold, performed by
using your right palm to push the enemy’s head forward so that his throat is pressed into
the “V” of your left elbow, cutting off the flow of blood to the head by constricting the
carotid arteries on both sides of his neck.
When the enemy passes out, you have become invisible.
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This vanishing technique is the first to be learned because Earth is the first of the
Five Elements. It may be used with any of the blinding methods or striking methods
given or yet to come. It is a Wood technique that employs spiral action.
There are three types of motion: linear, circular, and spiral. The last being a
combination of the first two. Among the Five Elements, Earth is a linear or Yang element
as is Fire. Water and Air are circular. The epitome of all techniques- for both linear and
circular have their applications- is a combination of the two.
The linear part of the technique is the Hand Flash in the face. Lift straight up,
arms and fingers straight. The circular part is the Cross Step behind the opponent. Wood
is used to symbolize spiral motion because it represents circular motion around a linear
axis, the very pattern of the Universe itself.
It is useful to combine this Kasumi trick from Judo with a loudly shouted
command to startle the opponent and make it easier to flick your fingers in his face. In
martial arts, this is called a Kiai, or spirit shout. It also tightens the belly to stir courage.
Development of this technique is a product of meditation and is the test at the end of each
book.
KINDLING THE INNER FIRE
Let’s say you have managed to “disappear.”
What will you do now?
Well, usually you must hide. That requires patience. So, the Ninja developed the
Exercise of Stillness, how to sit and breathe quietly while waiting for pursuit to end. To
pass the time, they practiced Kuji Kiri, the Japanese version of Qi Gong or breathing
exercises, to calm the mind and heal the body.
The Body is the vessel that holds the spirit. That is why it represents the Earth
Element.
The Breath is the spirit. Many cultures believe that an infant is not alive until it
takes its first breath. At that time, it is believed, the spirit enters the body, bringing with it
all the knowledge required to exist in an Air environment instead of a water filled one.
The Mind is the will, that binds them together.
Before one can learn to be a “fire-breathing dragon” one must first earn about Fire
and Breathing. To accomplish this, the ancients have provided a series of exercises that
act both on the conscious and the subconscious levels. They must be learned in the proper
sequence given on the fingers, each level building on the one below it. Do not leap ahead,
lest injury result.
The fist step is to draw air into the vessel, then to extract from it the essence
required to sustain the body. Just as the digestive system extracts nutrients from food, the
lungs extract oxygen from the air.
The Greeks called the vital life-force pneuma. The Hindus refer to it as prana.
The Chinese call it qi, the Japanese ki. By whatever name, it is not only the molecules of
nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen that make up our air, but also the electrical potential that
holds the atoms together.
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When gases change from oxygen to carbon dioxide, a finite amount of energy is
released, evident and observable. Accept for a moment the principle of modern physics
that energy cannot be destroyed. If so, then the energy released by oxygen being
extracted from the air had to “go” somewhere. It is found in the charkas or energy wheels
of the body, playing on the surface of the skin in the acupuncture meridians and the aura.
It is the force of Life. It is exactly this same type of chemical reaction that releases energy
to muscles to make fibers contract and the body move. On a molecular level, adenosine
diphosphate is transformed into adenosine triphosphate to power the muscles. This is a
medical phenomenon known as the Kreb’s Cycle.
So, the goal of this first exercise is to extract from the air both the gases needed to
maintain life and the Qi (“key” or “chee”) the Force that is everywhere, filling,
penetrating and surrounding all things. In the martial arts this energy is used to harden the
body and make it invulnerable to spear, sword, arrow, serpent’s fang or tiger’s claw.
Any cultivation of the life-force is called meditation.
KUJI KIRI
Sit in the Half Lotus Posture, or Adept’s Pose. The right leg is folded beneath the
body to sit on the heel. The left leg is folded with the left foot resting on the right thigh.
Touching the middle fingertips to the thumbs connects the psychic channels in the arms
and prevents energy leaking out of the palms. This is the first of the mudra, or finger-
knitting positions of Kuji Kiri.
Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose, filling the lungs from bottom to top,
like pouring water into a glass. This is the first breathing exercise of Kuji Kiri. It is called
Deep Breathing. Most people only use the upper third of their lungs for respiration.
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Draw the air deep into the Tan T’ien, the One Point two inches below the navel,
the center of gravity and balance of the physical body, the Golden Stove in Chinese
medicine and Ninja Alchemy. This is called “kindling the fire.” Note that the lower belly
expands as you breathe in and contracts as you breathe out. This is the same lower belly
we have said many times should be tightened just as one charges the enemy in combat.
Symbolically, the Golden Stove will “cook” the Juice of Jade, described in the
Book of Water, until the “steam’ rises to the Mysterious Chamber of the head to
enlighten the Mind.
Exhale slowly and completely through the mouth by gently compressing the
lower belly, expelling all impurities and negative emotions from the body. This is the first
relaxation exercise. It is called “sighing,” a natural stress-relieving technique instinctively
known to all.
The first form to be studied is called Natural Breathing. Most people breathe with
their lungs, usually with the upper chest alone. To do so is to limit the amount of lung
area available for oxygen exchange. The ancients have taught us to “breathe with the
belly.” Inhale slowly and deeply letting the lower abdomen, below the belt, expand as if
filling with air. This opens the lower lobes of the lungs so more oxygen can permeate the
blood. Then let the belly deflate as the exhalation is made. One should repeat this for at
least twenty minutes at the beginning and end of each meditation session. For the
beginner, however, three or four repetitions are enough to start with lest you
hyperventilate.
This exercise will calm the mind, heal the body and improve the digestion. It is
sometimes helpful to visualize clean, pure air coming into the body and impurities or
negative emotions being gently expelled. Listen to the sound of your respiration and
gradually make it slow, soft and silent so it cannot be heard, even by yourself. Then you
can hide effectively.
You might want to mentally or verbally repeat some positive affirmation. A short
phrase, such as “in comes the good air, out goes the bad air,” can be very effective. At the
conclusion of each session you will be relaxed and refreshed.
What has all this to do with becoming or staying invisible you may ask? Suppose
you are confronted by a bully who takes hold of your shirt to prevent your escape and
you haven’t had time to steal your Black Egg from its secret pocket. Not to worry- you
are now armed with Qi, what martial artists call inner strength.
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For them, and now for you, Qi is drawn into the Tan T’ien, below the belt,
compressed and directed to the fist, forging it into a deadly weapon. Or, it is channeled to
some other part of the body to make it impervious to injury or heal a wound. Or, in the
case of the Ninja Fire Breathing Dragon Technique, it is used to propel a fireball at a
target. This is the first step in developing that technique. It cannot be omitted.
THE USES OF FEAR
When one is frightened, the rate of respiration changes, contributing to and caused
by fear. Natural Breathing calms this anxiety and that alone is reason enough to practice
it. Now, however, we shall apply it to he art of self-defense.
As fear grows you feel the “bottom drop out of your stomach,” because your
adrenal glands have been activated by the “flight-or-fight” response; another involuntary
reflex common to all human beings. When this happens, take a deep breath. Draw air
deep into the belly, filling and expanding it in the same manner as meditating. This will
calm the adrenal effect and give you control over your reaction, enabling you to perceive
the situation clearly and react spontaneously. Exhale about ten percent and tighten the
belly. This helps prevent injury and screws up the courage. The Samurai had a saying,
“When afraid, tighten the belly and charge!”
Look the attacker “dead in the eyes” by focusing on his forehead. This is a very
subtle trick used by magicians and hypnotists. It makes the subject feel inferior and can
be used to intimidate those of lesser will. Fix his attention on your eyes as you inhale.
This is a psychological response to his challenge. By engaging his vision you accept and
signal to him with your body language that you are preparing to fight. This will make him
hesitate. It may even make him release you and give up the battle, preventing further
escalation of violence.
If this fails, as you finish inhaling and tightening the lower belly, blow out
forcefully into the face of the attacker. Don’t try to “blow out all the candles” in one
breath and empty yourself. Save some air with which to strike a blow or run away. Even
a short blast of air will make him blink and provide an opportunity to escape.
PRACTICING BREATH CONTROL
BLOWING OUT A CANDLE
Here is a practice method for developing this technique. Stand poised in a firm
Horse Stance at arm’s length from a lit candle. Concentrate on the flame as you breathe
in. Without moving closer, practice blowing out the candle by exhaling short puffs of air
from the belly. Correct your aim by blowing a steady stream of air and watching for the
flame to flicker.
29
This is a test of Qi Gong, breath control. When you can put out the candle with a
single puff at arm’s length you will have learned the technique. There is no way the
enemy can block it or prevent himself from blinking. At that instant, MOVE!
Decide whether to jerk away from his grasp or seize him in a painful wristlock
while inhaling, but don’t be indecisive-it can be fatal.
Advanced practice for this technique is to put the candle at eye level. Begin by
blowing gently until you can see the effects of your breath on the flame. You should be
able to make it move back and forth as you inhale and exhale from about three feet away.
When you can do that, bend it toward you and away by will alone. Do this for a while,
then blow it out in a single puff. Gradually move farther back until you can snuff it out
from about three feet away. Blowing out a candle at eye level is quite different from
blowing down onto a table.
Do not strain. Do not sputter. Do not try to go beyond arm’s length. The technique
can be done from greater distances, but then one tends to whistle or spit unintentionally.
STONE DRAGON TECHNIQUE
A Shaolin teaching declares, “The Earth Dragon is made of stone. Rooted to the
ground it cannot be moved.” Stone Dragon techniques include linear punches and kicks,
takedowns, breakdowns, and throws to get the enemy on the ground where he can be
finished with mat-work techniques. Anatomy, the understanding of the body, the earthy
manifestation of the spirit, is learned, just like the vital and fatal points, as demonstrated
by the fist-to-the-base-of-the-skull technique, which can also be used to heal. Stone
Dragon is only a small part or the Ninja Iron Body system that enables the user to endure
hardship and withstand pain.
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The classic Dragon’s Head Fist in some styles of Kung Fu is known in Ninjitsu as
the Shoulder Punch, in which the fingers are curled into the palm and the thumb folded
over to lock them into place. This hardens the fist and exposes the two foremost knuckles
of the index and middle fingers as the striking surface.
PUNCHING OUT A CANDLE
The fist is “loaded” palm uppermost on the hip. Place the candle at the level of the
solar plexus. Stand in a firm Horse Stance. Extend the other hand edge up as shown, or
palm forward to simulate an attempt to ward off an attacker. This is to establish the range
that enables the Ninja to find and strike his opponent even in total darkness by using the
sense of touch. The target is the Xyphoid Process at the tip of the Sternum. If this is
struck with as little as eight pounds of pressure, the diaphragm will cease pumping and
the victim will fall to the floor. No permanent injury will result unless he is struck harder.
You may never strike an attacker like this, but you do need to develop hand speed and
concentration for some of the later techniques.
Throw the punch from the hip, twisting the fist over at the last second to “snap”
the punch, stopping just short of the candle flame. The aim is to use air compressed in
front of the fist to snuff out the flame without it actually being struck. When you can
“punch out” a candle in this manner, you can knock out the average man with one punch.
The left arm is snapped back to the left hip as the fist strikes to counter-balance the
movement and add to its impact.
Note that this is a linear or straight punch. Compare it to the circular Hidden Fist
technique given in the Book of Water.
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The Book of
WATER
“The Water Dragon resides in the Pool of the Subconscious Mind.”
Old Shaolin Teaching
The weapons of the Water Dragon are poison spray like that used in the Ninja
Poison Water Gun. This is constructed of two interlocking tubes that, when compressed,
act like a large syringe to eject a stream of toxic liquid toward an attacker. There is also
the more modern liquid tear gas, as well as self-defense sprays like a water pistol filled
with ammonia to drive off dogs or muggers.
Another weapon of the Water category is Breath Control as demonstrated by the
ability to remain submerged for long periods of time underwater. Finally, there is the
understanding of the Five Emotions and Five Desires. This is the level of the
subconscious mind where a near dream-like state may be induced through auto-
suggestion to produce positive long lasting psychological results in a short period of time.
SPIT IN THE EYE
With all the previous discussion about the Tan T’ien and expelling puffs of air
from the lungs, one might wonder why not proceed with the next logical step of spitting
in the eye of the enemy as a method of temporarily blinding him so you can escape?
This has long been regarded as a heroic if somewhat futile gesture in the face of
certain doom. It would seem to be more of an insult or an act of defiance than an attack.
It may be that this was how the act was first intended. But, if performed at the right time
and followed by one of the Vanishing Steps, it is clearly useful as a means of attaining
invisibility.
Spitting, therefore, is an example of a vanishing technique representing the Water
Element. Like the previous element Earth, it is known as the Water Method Dragon
Breath. Once aware of this technique the wise martial artist is never unarmed. One Kung
Fu expert bragged in a recently published martial arts magazine article that he could spit
accurately up to ten feet. Accuracy is key.
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It is not called “in-the-eye” for nothing. The eye is the best target. In fact, it is the
only target sufficiently vulnerable to a drop of water to be worthy of mention.
There are various ways to learn this somewhat disgusting technique. Individual
experimentation is the best way of discovering the most suitable method. Bear in mind
that this is a weapon and not just random rudeness. Don’t aim at the ground. Spitting on
someone’s boots is an insult and almost certain to elicit a response. But, it is not a “self-
defense” move.
Don’t “overload” either. Due to the sensitive nature of the eye and the blink
reflex, which it will be recalled reacts even to wind, a small amount of water is more than
sufficient and easier to generate and propel with any degree of accuracy. When you can
project at eye level for about eighteen inches, return to the candle and practice spitting it
out. Over time, move the target farther and farther away until you find the natural limit of
your range. This should be about arm’s length, and represents the limits of one’s sphere
of influence or “personal space.”
As the aggressor prepares to attack, accumulate a mouthful of saliva. Or, if a
drink is handy, conceal a sip of the liquid by not swallowing it. Return the stare of the
adversary steadily. Being “armed” a defender has a psychological edge and so can act
with confidence in the face of danger. Not speaking back against his verbal assault will
also confuse him. (Of course, you can’t speak because you have a mouthful of liquid.)
Thus, the technique produces the body language signals that may, by themselves,
forestall his attack.
Before he can launch an assault, however, or at the moment he makes his verbal
challenge and demands an answer, spew the liquid into his face and eyes. This will blind
him for an instant with no permanent injury. Be sure to be out of sight by the time he
wipes his eyes and regains his vision, since this technique will almost certainly infuriate
him and his ego, which brought him to this challenge in the first place, will demand
revenge.
THE JUICE OF JADE
To demonstrate the degree of detail into which the Ninja delved in order to
augment their techniques, we present an exercise known in ancient times as Red Dragon
Washes the Waves. It can be done is a seated meditation position, therefore qualifying as
an internal exercise, one that circulates the life-force, Qi Gong. It is, or was, invented by
the Chinese as a method of brushing the teeth long before the creation of the toothbrush.
Since they recognized that good digestion was largely dependent on proper chewing or
mastication of food into nutrients, good dental hygiene became a hallmark of ancient
medical practice.
Sitting in a comfortable, cross legged pose with the eyes closed, back straight, and
head up, lightly run the tip of your tongue around the inside of your teeth from left to
right (clockwise) eighteen times; then from right to left (counter-clockwise) eighteen
times. Swish the saliva thus generated back and forth in the mouth thirty-six times and
divide it into three portions. Swallow each with a gulp into the lower belly. This exercise
stimulates and massages the teeth and gums, removes plaque, and prevents tooth decay. It
33
is also an excellent method of producing spittle with which to practice self-defense.
“Brush” twice a day.
The Chinese believe that the saliva is charged with positive and negative ions
through the manipulation of the Red Dragon (tongue), which is the reason for the equal
number of rotations in each direction. One should also observe that when the numbers are
totaled (18 + 18 + 36) the sum is seventy-two, whose digits add up to nine, the prime
number of Shugendo, the Yamabushi sect of Buddhism associated with Japanese Ninjitsu.
In Chinese medicine, nine is a Yang or positive number while six or multiples thereof is
considered Yin.
The Chinese call this charged saliva the Juice of Jade and believe it calms the
mind, heals the body, and improves the digestion. Certainly, the increase in digestive
enzymes alone must produce some beneficial effect. But, beyond this, the three portions
swallowed represent Heaven, Earth, and Man, the three levels of being. Thus, a certain
degree of philosophy is also included in the teaching. Martial artists know this method as
“uniting mind, body, and spirit.” Therefore, it is not wise to waste too much of this
precious fluid in mere candle extinguishing practice. Just so you will know how to
generate such a weapon if need be.
SPEWING WATER
Having accomplished the first exercise, let us turn now to the simplification
method. Instead of using personal body fluids to practice spitting, employ a small cup of
water and practice spewing small sips and later streams of liquid at the flame. Try to
eventually learn to spray the liquid to form the “mist” or “fog” alluded to in the Earth
Methods.
Do not sputter, but strive to have the water clear your lips completely using
pressure of the lungs and lower belly to expel the smaller amounts in a single jet of spray
and the big mouthfuls in a continuous stream. Do not run out of air before you run out of
liquid!
From this it can be seen that any liquid could be used in this manner. A cup of
coffee becomes a lethal weapon against more than one attacker by spraying a sip onto the
leader, throwing the rest at a second enemy so that a quick and unexpected strike can be
made to even a third party and an escape effected. Even Chinese tea or hot soup can be
thrown like a Ninja Dust Bomb with the same effect. All symbolize the Water Element.
TOBACCO JUICE
Obvious extensions of this technique include the use of tobacco juice. The
somewhat disreputable habit of chewing tobacco does have a self-defense function, if one
chooses to cultivate it. The reason for bringing it up is more to make one aware of the
possibility of such a defense rather than advocate its practice. One of the greatest
American cult heroes, Clint Eastwood, used this device in a film The Outlaw-Josie Wales
(1976) in a classic example of using a “bad” means to achieve a worthwhile goal.
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Nicotine poisoning of the eyes will induce great discomfort and temporary
blindness. A certain caustic effect should also be anticipated, but is usually not sufficient
to cause scarring. Furthermore, the pungent aroma assaults the nostrils of the victim in a
manner similar to the Dragon Breath Technique given in the fourth book, Air. It also
results in the mental discomfort of being spat upon, stained, and embarrassed.
ACID BREATH
Further discussion of techniques for projecting noxious liquids from the mouth
must include some mention of the odd one used by yet another Oriental wrestler of the
professional arena, Killer Khan. He claims to be from Mongolia and performs the salt
scattering ceremony of the Sumo ring before each of his matches. Salt can also be used to
blind an opponent or rubbed into open wounds to cause discomfort as an Earth technique.
Like the Black Ninja, Khan can, at the critical moment, spew into the face of his
hapless opponents a green liquid that stains the face and causes such excruciating pain
that they are compelled to clutch their fists to their eyes to relieve it. During this period of
incapacity they are invariably pinned by the almost three hundred pound Mongolian.
In Ninjitsu this is known as Acid Breath. It is performed as follows. Hold in the
hollow chambers of the mouth until ready for use a chalklike tablet covered in wax to
prevent it from dissolving prematurely. When ready, bite into the tablet, filling the mouth
with a substance that produces an abundance of saliva as in the Juice of Jade Exercise,
only quicker and with less concentration. Simultaneously adding the desired pigment to
the mixture. The formula should not be too caustic lest it burn the lining of the mouth and
do more harm to the user than the victim. Naturally, the danger of such a trick is
accidentally swallowing the mixture or liquid weapon and choking on it. Therefore, do
not produce or try to employ too large a quantity of fluid.
An example of this type of article is the frothing blood capsules sold around
Halloween to simulate blood from vampire fangs. When chewed or broken open they
produce a bright red tint and stimulate saliva production. Food coloring, however, works
just as well, as the degree of salivation depends precisely on the amount of saliva
required to digest the substance. A small cellophane pack of water based paint, hidden
under the tongue will work as well. When bitten open, the paint, not toxic enough to
cause lasting discomfort or poisoning, is distasteful enough to cause profuse salivation.
Likewise, if one’s bamboo self-contained blinding powder blowgun from the Earth Book
were to be accidentally opened it might produce the same effect.
The exact method used by the wrestler in question is unknown, but it must
necessarily be based on one or more of these same principles. It is most certainly of Far
Eastern origin and founded on the principles of Chinese medicine, which holds the breath
of the liver to be green. Interestingly, the gall bladder in the liver controls the bile, which
is green and yellow and bile is the symbol of anger. Bile is stimulated by that emotion.
So, without modern scientific methods or having taken the inner journey of meditation,
how could the ancients have known these things?
35
THE ART OF REGURGITATION
Of course, no discussion would be complete without raising the spectre of an even
more distasteful and revolting sort of halotoctic attack- projectile vomiting. This
technique is born of great mental distress and, without a doubt, life-and-death situations
are stressful. Everyone gets “butterflies in their stomach” when nervous; before stepping
on stage, for example. This is a manifestation of the reflex required to master the rather
obscure and relatively unknown art of voluntary regurgitation.
Harry Houdini is said to have learned this trick from an old Chinese man while
working in carnivals and dime museums. He used it to hide his tools and lockpicks from
even the most stringent search. The training method is to tie a small round piece of potato
to a string and endeavor to swallow it far enough down the esophagus to make it
invisible, then retrieve it by using retro-peristalsis, the reverse muscle contractions that
constitute swallowing. If lost, the potato and string will simply be digested. The purpose
of the string, of course, is to pull the potato back up the throat the first few times so it
won’t be swallowed, until you get the knack of regurgitating at will and not from too
deeply in the stomach. This technique enables one to overcome the gag reflex in the
throat.
The next step is to practice with an egg. When you are confident of being able to
conceal and retrieve a boiled or raw egg in practice. Begin using a Hai Lan, Black Egg,
that holds your secret tools. Again, there is no problem if the practice eggs are lost, they
are simply digested, but, don’t eat too many at once.
It is also possible to regurgitate spontaneously without prior training merely by
being sufficiently terrified. Recruits do it in basic training all the time as a fear reaction to
verbal intimidation.
Like many legends about Harry Houdini, this one may or may not be true. But,
the method certainly sounds as if it would work and does exist historically. It is yet
another example of a technique that trains the Ninja to have conscious control over many
autonomic reflexes. One must first control the body, then the mind, then the spirit will
soar. As before, one must consider these things in order to understand that there is always
a way to achieve a goal, no matter how strange or improbable it may be.
POISON WATER GUN
For the more conservative, other methods include the Ninja Poison Water Gun,
counterpart to the Squeeze Bottle in the Book of Earth. It is a device much like a modern
syringes. Probably first made of interlocking joints of bamboo with a hole or venturi at
the smaller end and closed or sealed at the larger. When filled with marsh water, oil, or
similar liquid and pushed together the increased pressure within the tubes propels a spray
or stream at or onto an enemy.
In the modern era a favorite weapon of Russian spies was a glass syringe filled
with Prussic Acid. When this is discharged into the enemy’s face it produces a gas that is
instantly fatal leaving virtually no trace other than symptoms of a heart attack. Of course,
the agent must dose himself shortly before or after with atropine so as not to succumb to
the vapor himself. The weapon is much more easily concealed than a gun.
36
The famous, or infamous bank robber Willie Sutton once broke out of prison due
in part to his ability to overcome the guards by spraying chlorine into their eyes. He did
this by raiding bleach from the laundry room and dispensing it from tennis balls with a
slit in one side. Just think what he might have accomplished with a water pistol. Even that
simple toy, when filled with ammonia or bleach, can drive off a vicious dog . So, why not
a mugger?
HIDDEN FIST
Water, it will be recalled, is a circular element, just as Earth is a linear one.
Therefore, it is only logical that a martial art based on these principles should have a
representative punch or fist as the others do. We therefore come to the first circular
technique of the Ninja Invisible Fist system. It is called the Mi Chuan, the “secret hand”
or “hidden fist.”
When one suffers from anoxia, as caused by the Sleeperhold previously given for
example, lack of oxygen to the brain produces disorientation, confusion, and often
sparkling spots before the eyes. Many Judoka (practitioners of Judo) report that the
Japanese Strangle Hold compels the victim to see a “purple haze” just before passing out.
This is due to the eye’s reaction to the brain shutting down and is one of the last
perceptions preceding loss of consciousness.
Earlier we spoke of throwing glitter dust in the face of an attacker to use as a
blinding powder. Now we mention the spots before an attacker’s eyes just before the
purple haze sets in. From martial arts we now present a method of producing this effect
with only one finger, in fact, with only one knuckle.
Fold the fingers into a firm fist but extend the knuckle of the middle finger.
Squeeze the other fingers together under it for support. Rap on a tabletop or other wooden
surface as if knocking on a door. This hand formation is called the Buffalo Knuckle Fist
and is used to “knock” on the enemy’s forehead to stun him.
Between and slightly above the eyes is a spot known as the Third Eye. It
represents a meeting point for many important nerves and lies directly in front of the
central sulci of the frontal lobes of the brain. A sharp blow to this point with the Phoenix
Eye Fist, as this technique is also known, will disrupt the flow of nerve impulses from the
eyes to the brain- not because great damage has been done, although it is possible for a
trained martial artist to fracture to bones of the skull or break them; nor because it injures
some psychic center of the brain, even though that is also true. Rather the eyes are
impaired because the brain will react to a pain in the forehead, albeit minor, before it will
answer signals from the eyes.
Such a blow will make the victim “see spots” before his eyes and may cause them
to turn upward or roll up into his head, indicating unconsciousness. A large red spot may
appear at the site of the injury and may swell into a lump that can be reduced by applying
ice. Almost every time the victim will bring his palm to his forehead, effectively blinding
himself by using his own hand to cover his eyes while you escape.
To produce the Purple Haze, strike straight against the Third Eye as opposed to
downward as if rapping on a doorway. By traumatizing the nerves, the muscles of the eye
relax, dilate, and roll out of focus for three to five minutes.
37
THE PURPLE HAZE PUNCH
Form the Buffalo Knuckle Fist by extending the middle joint of the middle finger
above your fist. Assume the Secret Fist Stance by covering your right isometrically
tensed hand weapon with your relaxed open left hand. This prevents the enemy from
seeing that you are prepared to strike.
Aim your left shoulder at the opponent to present a smaller target and hide your
fist from view. Bend your knees slightly in anticipation of having to duck out of sight
quickly and lower your Tan T’ien or center of balance. Look over your left shoulder and
fix your opponent’s gaze by looking at his Third Eye. In the knocking on the forehead
method, the fist makes a circle upward, across the chest, above the eyes and down onto
the forehead after the Hand Flash is executed. Both are circular motions representative of
the enveloping nature of Water.
This Mi Chuan technique is the first technique of the Invisible Fist Sea Dragon
(Water) Method. It can be learned quickly and easily by anyone and is almost instinctive
when trying to fend off an attacker. For this reason a large number of people can be
trained in its use in a short period of time. Making it possible for the Ninja to “raise an
army” virtually overnight.
38
As the opponent advances intending to seize your uniform or shoulder with his
leading hand, take a short step diagonally backward off the line of engagement. In the
Five Element Fist series, this is the direction of the Water Step. Lower your head and let
him close the distance between you. Sweep his arm aside by swinging your left palm up
and outward toward his face in a large circular arc from the previous On Guard Stance.
At the same time, swing your right fist out and back in a wide arc to gather momentum
for the punch. This is called a “haymaker” in Western boxing. If executing the
“knocking” technique let the fist swing up and over to strike down on his forehead. The
big trick here is the Hand Flash before his eyes to hide the action of your right fist until it
is too late to defend against it. This is in keeping with the Ninja tradition of “invisibility
first.”
Or, as shown, swing the Phoenix Eye Fist in a wide horizontal arc to strike the
opponent on the left temple. This is a stunning blow, much more likely to produce
unconsciousness or swelling, black eyes and even broken bones, since the bones of the
temporal region are much thinner than those of the forehead. It produces shocking pain in
the head and numbing blindness for many minutes. But, it is presented here because you
may someday need to knock out an attacker who cannot be stopped any other way. This
wild right hook punch is also seen in Boxing and is therefore a valid technique. It comes
over the leading shoulder of the opponent and has a lot of impact when the shoulders and
hips are turned into the swing to add momentum. Not only will the opponent “see spots,”
he will be knocked out with one punch.
39
A)
As
the
opponent
advances take a short step
diagonally backward off
the line of engagement,
lower your head and let
him close the distance
between you. Sweep his
arm aside by swinging
your left palm up and
outward toward his face in
a large circular and, swing
your right fist out and
back in a wide arc to
gather momentum for the
punch.
B) Swing the Phoenix Eye
Fist in a wide horizontal
arc to strike the opponent
on the left temple. This is
a stunning blow, likely to
produce unconsciousness,
black eyes or even broken
bones, since the bones of
the temporal region are
much thinner than those of
the forehead. It produces
shocking pain in the head
and numbing blindness for
many minutes.
C) This wild right hook
punch is also seen in
Boxing and is therefore a
valid technique. It comes
over the leading shoulder
of the opponent and has a
lot of impact when the
shoulders and hips are
turned into the swing to
add momentum. Not only
will the opponent “see
spots,” he will be knocked
out with one punch.
40
HARAKI
There is a branch of martial arts known and studied by only a few called Haraki.
It is a Japanese word, composed of the ideograms for Hara or Tan T’ien, the center of
gravity of the physical body and Ki, their term for Qi, previously discussed and defined.
Haraki involves training oneself to draw in air, collect it and cultivate it in the
center (inhaling breath), then transmit it with a shout, known in Karate as a Kiai or spirit-
shout (exhaling breath). The effect is to tighten the belly so you can charge. It is a cry, a
scream, a yell of total commitment. Not at all like the mere grunts of so many other
martial arts schools. The warrior puts all his strength and energy into one powerful
finishing or deciding blow. It is a strong exhalation from the belly just as a strike is
delivered. It is often seen and properly performed in Tamieshiwara, or breaking
demonstrations. Here the students shatter boards or bricks with their bare hands. As
indicated in the Book of Earth, such a shout can be included in the execution of various
vanishing or misdirection techniques.
In the martial arts, military training, and law enforcement, the value of a deep
commanding voice is well recognized and documented. Just as the hypnotic voice will be
important to the material covered in the Book of Air. Many a dispute has been settled by
a firm tone and a steady timbre, and verbal orders in the field that drive young men into
direct gunfire are the result of a programmed response initiated in basic training.
The relationship of this to water is that sound waves can be seen on water, making
an invisible phenomenon visible. Thus, the Water element is associated with sound and
sound waves.
The effectiveness in combat of the Kiai is well documented. It can “freeze” an
opponent in mid-step, startle him enough to make him jump out of his stance, or make
him blink. The Kiai is all that is required.
The range of the Kiai is somewhat more extended that the Blow-In-The-Face
technique, since the operating factor is sound rather than mere air. Some schools believe
that all things are merely vibrating at different speeds. Solids are the slowest, then
liquids, then air, fire, and finally wood. Within these are the vibrational planes of light
and sound, each of which has a range above and below that which is perceptible to
humans. Infrared rays are too long to be visible to the human eye. But, are so active that
they break down chemical bonds. There exists sounds that are too low of a wavelength to
be heard but that can be felt on the skin, and whistles of so high a pitch that only dogs can
hear them.
Thus, sound is also a force that can be used as a weapon to temporarily blind an
opponent.
41
REVERSE BREATHING
The meditation practice for Haraki is known as Reverse Breathing. To perform
this, let the belly contract as you inhale and expand as you exhale, the reverse of Natural
Breathing. This is the mechanism whereby Qi is refined in the lower belly. It is essential
that both of these methods of breath control be practiced and learned well.
Again perform about twenty minutes of this exercise in a relaxed and gentle
manner. If one considers that Natural Breathing is a way of drawing in positive energy or
Qi from the air then it must follow that this energy is eventually transported to other parts
of the body. This circulation occurs naturally without conscious direction, otherwise life
would cease to exist. With this practice, however, we begin to take conscious control of
such autonomic reflexes so that mental direction of energy is also possible.
In a purely hydraulic way, such manipulations of the mental state will produce
unconscious tension in certain parts of the body and this will pump or shunt blood to
other parts. In Yoga, sitting in the Full Lotus Pose soon puts the legs to sleep by
restricting circulation, at least in the early stages. In so doing, the blood is allowed to
collect at the base of the spine. By tensing the belly, this excess can be pumped to the
brain, symbolically “letting the steam rise” in Qi Gong. When coupled with the nervous
impulses that must necessarily accompany such an event, and mental imagery that
reinforces the process, one can stimulate the powers of the mind. Or, so it is said.
Even modern science admits that man uses only a small portion of his available
brain cells and that a method of stimulating brain activity would be of benefit to mankind.
By “charging up” the Qi from the air through hyperventilation in the first exercise one
has also oxygenated the bloodstream. In the Full Lotus Pose a certain amount of this
blood has accumulated at the base of the spine, ready for the Sacral Pump, pulling in on
the lower belly in rhythm with the heartbeat to push this oxygen rich blood to the brain.
In Reverse Breathing, this blood floods over the brain, enriching and stimulating
the entire organ. Unlike other parts of the body, the brain does not have an extensive
network of capillaries to supply blood. Instead, it is essentially bathed in cerebro-spinal
fluid while floating in the shallow brainpan of the skull. So, the effect for the user is often
like “lighting up the sky” or as in the Zen texts, “opening of the thousand petal lotus.” A
symbol for the cortical surface of the brain.
Of course, such transcendental experiences cannot be adequately described in
mere words, otherwise they would not be transcendental. Suffice to say, it is a unique
experience what will make you feel better, think clearer, and be more alert, although
completely and relaxed ready to meet whatever the day may bring.
42
THE HEAVENLY POOL
Now that the inner fire has been kindled with Natural Breathing and the Qi
refined by Reverse Breathing in the Golden Stove and the distillation of this raised to the
Mysterious Chamber by way of the Heavenly Pillar of the spine all that remains is to let it
condense and return to the Tan T’ien to complete the Small Heavenly Cycle of Qi and
begin the process of insuring peace of mind, good health, and longevity.
This is accomplished by touching the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth.
The palate, tongue, teeth and so on are known as the Heavenly Pool in Chinese medicine,
where the Juice of Jade originated that was boiled to make the distilled vapor above.
What is important, however, is that this chamber forms a gap in the energy channels of
the body only bridged by this exercise to let the Qi flow freely.
SHOUTING OUT A CANDLE
Practice “shouting out a candle” by assuming a Horse Stance at arm’s length from
the target. Inhale slowly and deeply, filling the lungs from bottom to top.
Exhale forcibly, from the belly shouting a one syllable command word, using the
diaphragm to direct the sound at the flame. Tighten the belly as you shout. Virtually any
explosive sound can be used for this Kiai. “Ha!” “Fish!” Even “KIAI!” itself. Or, a
recognizable word such as “Stop!” “No!” or “Wait!” can be employed. All of these words
or syllables are “plosive” in that they expel air from the lungs to produce the sound. The
sound used in meditation “Om…” on the other hand is made by closing the mouth and
humming, this has a calming effect, which is why it is used for meditation rather than
combat.
43
Practice Haraki by assuming a firm Horse Stance at arm’s length from the candle.
Clench the fists around the thumbs and set them on the hips. Concentrate the Qi and
focus on the candle.
Without moving, exhale forcefully from the belly making NO SOUND. Direct the
exhalation at the flame and extinguish it as before. This time using the “silent Kiai.
Compare the posture and facial expression in this technique and the previous exercise. It
will be seen that in the former, chest compression expels the air and sound, while the
second uses a forceful compression of the belly to direct silent sound waves toward the
target.
44
The Book of
FIRE
“Time is the fire in which we burn. The Fire Dragon lives in the flame...”
Surit Khan- Thuggee Grandmaster
Given here for the first time ever in print anywhere is the secret method of Eating
and Breathing Fire. Both must be learned, or neither, for they are the penultimate Yin and
Yang of Qi Gong Exercises of this Way. There is no better or more terrifying weapon.
Thusfar we have discussed two of the Five Elements, Earth and Water.
Represented symbolically by the pinky and ring fingers. The middle finger of the hand
represents the Fire Element. Within this digit flows the Heart Governor Meridian of
Acupuncture and the Yang Yu psychic channel of the arm terminates at the tip of this
finger. As well as many major nerves of the arm.
In this section we shall present the physical representation of the Fire Element as
taught to members of the DOJO-Academy of Martial Arts who train in Black Dragon
Ninjitsu. This Art has been described in many ways. As “savage and terrifying” as the
“dark side” of the martial arts, and other misnomers. All part of the Ninja technique of
Monami no Jitsu, translated to mean, “a head dress seen from four sides looks the same.”
In other words, a great deal of the world’s misery is caused by misperception.
Sometimes the Ninja deliberately confuse the issue. There are many methods of
presenting the oft seen Yin-Yang/Tai Chi Symbol for example. Usually it is given as a
circle, divided by an S-shaped line, black on one side white on the other each side
containing a spot or seed of the other. But, there is only one proper presentation of this
primordial symbol so that its meaning is clear. Naturally it is the most ancient and basic.
The original meaning of this symbol was that Yang energy came from above, the
Sun or Heaven, and descended to the magnetic center of the Earth where it reversed
polarity and rose as Yin energy back toward the Sun, and reversed its own polarity to
repeat the cycle. Thus the circle should be divided by a backwards “S” to symbolize the
clockwise direction of time, with the white (Yang) beginning at the top and being full at
the bottom holding a spot of Yin to represent the reversal of polarity and black on the left
(Yin) rising toward the spot of Yang above it. Any other representation is coded because
no others have an explanation like this.
45
There is no other book that teaches Fire Breathing Technique. It is a magician’s
secret hitherto transmitted verbally only from Sorcerer to Apprentice. IT IS REVEALED
HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN PRINT! It belongs with other “torture tricks”
like walking on burning coals or piercing the cheek with needles. All of which rely for
their efficacy on some subtle physical principle. Although they may seem fantastic and
incredible, most are relatively simple and require primarily the will to carry them out.
As the popular magician Penn Gillette once remarked when about to perform this
stunt, “One should ask not so much HOW this is done, but rather WHY anyone would
want to do it in the first place.” The reason is as complicated as the study of invisibility
itself; which is to say it is simple.
Basically though, such performances are a public display of Power, mystical or
otherwise, intended as much to impress the audience as it is to develop still greater
mental control of the autonomic nervous system. And this, is yet another form of self-
discipline. It takes steely nerves and a steady hand to do the Fire Eating Trick. Still, it is
but another small step on the path.
There is no trick to Eating Fire. It is a matter of concentration and understanding
the nature of the flame. Sideshows and sorcerers have demonstrated this ability through
the ages as a method of showing their skills. It is a question of passing one’s own test by
performing in public as well.
Symbolically, such a performance gives the impression that the wizard or Ninja
nourishes himself on elements beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. This then is
transmuted into magical powers, like making the user impervious to injury by fire. The
presentation may include other feats of strength or walking on broken glass, but the
rationale in the mind of the observer is always that the magician has the ability to ingest
and absorb the power of the ancient mystical Fire.
So, what is the performer saying with this demonstration?
Some say that he is simply demonstrating the Secret of Life; albeit in a dramatic
fashion. For whatsoever a man or mind may cultivate or imitate, so must he become. The
46
cycles of respiration, digestion and circulation shown by any of the ancient sciences is
not only essential for life to exist, but the same laws and principles apply on every level.
Must not a man breathe? Drawing in Air, cultivating it by the exchange of gases
in the lungs, circulating it to the body to sustain life and expelling with it all negative
thoughts and emotions. And if a man breathes fresh air or breathes in a particularly
efficient manner is it not better for the working of the body? And, if he stops breathing
will he not die in a few moments?
Is it not necessary for a man to drink? Swallowing water from which fluids are
produced. Have not even modern sciences told us that 90% of the body is water? The rest
being a small handful of chemicals. Isn’t it absorbed and changed into and through tissue
and expelled having ended its journey through the body by passing through the filtration
of the kidneys, carrying away impurities. If we stop drinking, don’t we die in a few days?
Isn’t Earth itself also represented? In the form and variety of food. And, isn’t the
pattern the same? As one anatomy professor described it, “The body is essentially a tube
within a tube; put something in one end, something comes out the other.” Digestion is
more complicated that water absorption in terms of the number of organs devoted to it.
Bear in mind that life can only exist within a certain acid-alkaline pH range of the blood.
This is determined by the rate of respiration and the quality of the air. Likewise, too much
fluid, congestion of the lungs for example, can be fatal; just as can dehydration. So, an
equilibrium must be established here as well.
That is why the ancients and now modern man placed such emphasis on proper
diet. If you eat “junk food” it is mostly sugar. The body loves this. All nutrients are
eventually converted to glucose, a type of simple sugar, for use by the muscles. Such
foods are easy to digest and take into the system. But, in time the lack of fiber causes the
intestines to suffer and one may develop a malabsorption syndrome so that essential
minerals and vitamins cannot be obtained. In this way an imbalance is created that leads
to illness and disease.
That is the nature of medicine, to relieve the suffering and restore the balance.
One must take great care in tampering with the balance. One method is by regulation of
diet. Do not diabetics monitor their blood sugar level and supplement or disperse as
needed? They also regulate this level by exercising or taking insulin.
That is the nature of this teaching.
Chinese medicine says that one must do nothing to excess. Observing moderation
in all things. And, that circulation is the key to good health and longevity. They have
devised many methods and techniques. The ones presented here are but one series.
Nonetheless, they lead to an understanding of the order of things.
So, we must have water and air, and if we stop eating to we not die in a few
weeks?
Why then should it not be the same with fire?
That is why the audience attributes magical power to the magician. Because they
recognize this pattern of the Five Elements on an intuitive and subconscious level. That is
WHY the magician learns to eat fire. Because he knows the pattern holds true for all
elements. Demonstrating this ability to others confers upon him the mystic power of
Charisma. First, by teaching him to do something that very few others would even
attempt. And, secondly by giving him confidence gained through knowledge and
practice.
47
DEVELOPING THE SUBTLE BREATH
In order to perform Fire Breathing Dragon one must develop sufficient breath
control to emit a steady stream of air for a long period. This air will form a column
around the flame to be manipulated and protect the tissues of the mouth and lips.
Stand facing the candle at arm’s length in a Horse Stance with your hands relaxed
and your mouth slightly open. Inhale deeply, filling the lungs from bottom to top. Tighten
the lower belly and project the Qi at the flame by steadily compressing the abdomen.
Send out a steady stream of air that can be directed at the flame.
Because of the slow and steady nature of this column of air rather than a forceful
or sharp movement this technique is sometimes considered to be a subtle use of the life-
force itself, the Qi (physio-electro-chemical energy) that activates and stimulates the
nerves of the body. Hence, it’s classification with the Fire Element.
The idea here is not so much to “snuff out the candle” as it is to make the flame
bend away from your breath until almost the end of the exhalation, then finish off with a
final sharp push. Remember always to retain 10% in the body so you don’t have to gasp
for air when done.
The abdomen should be taut and most of the air forced out of the lungs by
dynamic tension. In the same way, learning how to expel a ball of air from the abdomen
makes it possible to snuff out a candle from a much greater distance than by blowing on
it. And, prepares the user to expel his breath in such a way that it can be used to control
the flaming torch used for Fire Breathing and Eating. This Subtle Breath can also be
projected along tabletops to move small objects without physical contact.
48
FIRE EATING
The technique of eating fire is performed as follows:
First, construct three small torches by wiring cotton swabbing to a metal rod. It
should be about ten inches long and the tip should be about one and one-half inches long.
Second, place a small jar of gasoline in a bowl of sand to serve as fuel. Third, have a
damp washcloth or towel handy and a sheet of tinfoil in which to put out the torches by
smothering.
A lighter or match is used to ignite the torches, which should be seared and
packed several times to burn off any threads that might turn into embers. Also, it is best
to light one torch then extinguish the match. A candle on the table is a distraction and
another fire hazard to worry about.
NEVER BRING A LIT TORCH NEAR THE FUEL! In fact, once the torch has
been lit at the start of the performance, it is unlikely that it will need to be re-soaked or
saturated with any further gas during the entire demonstration. The impressiveness of
using real gasoline, taking torches out of the jar and always holding the padded end
downward so gas doesn’t “run up the arm,” throwing some of the excess on the ground
where it can be identified by the pungent smell, then lighting up, is a spectacular opening.
A word of caution should be said regarding the fuel. Only use WHITE GAS. Red
gas is treated with a dye to differentiate it and contains lead that will cause heavy metal
poisoning similar to ingesting mercury over a period of time. This can be fatal.
Also gas fumes can be inhaled and cause eye damage or attacks of sinusitis.
Swallowing gasoline, or holding it in your mouth is harmful to the teeth and gum, since
vapors and hydrocarbons are absorbed directly into the sensitive tissues.
There is also a good deal of soot to contend with. It smokes and dehydrates the
roof of the mouth and blackens the teeth. Not to mention a certain amount being breathed
in by the nostrils. It does, however, make an impressive flame. It is the fumes that
actually burn, not the liquid gas itself.
The heat from putting the torch, which may appear small when not lit but makes a
long trailing flame, is not intense or even uncomfortable. Although to the onlooker it
seems so. It is sufficient, however, to dry out the tissues of the mouth, the Heavenly Pool.
Alcohol and other fuels burn much hotter than gasoline. The reason gas is such a
powerful fuel in cars is because the burn rate is rapid and the mist of the fumes is
compressed by the cylinder before the spark ignites it. Some have found success with
lighter fluid, not the new Butane type, rather the older petroleum distillate that was
absorbed by the wick of the lighter. But, again, the effects of the compound on skin are
somewhat severe.
Ancient Ninjitsu texts speak of using strong wine as fuel. Certainly they were
aware of the process of fermentation and capable of distilling a potent alcohol brew
suitable for internal consumption for those so inclined. Yet, flammable enough to
perform the magic feat.
One trick, known as the Flaming Finger, consists of dipping a digit into strong
spirits and passing it through a flame to catch fire. So long as the finger is kept moving
the flame may dance on the skin without harm to the user.
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This is because the effect of the movement conducts heat away from the flame,
making it cool enough to endure without injury. This makes a good warm-up trick.
The secret of Fire Eating is blowing on the flame. Not in any way so an onlooker
can detect it. Nor, considering the biological effects, should it be considered “cheating.”
It is simply the further application of the same Flaming Finger Principle.
After all, is not heat what we want from the fire? And, isn’t it absorbed by the
proximity of the torch to the body?
Isn’t it so that the Chinese have used such treatments as Moxibustion, the placing
of small cones of mugwort over certain acupuncture points and slowly letting them burn
down to stimulate the flow of energy for centuries?
So let no one say that Eating Fire is a sham. If it is, let them come up and try it. It
takes practice and determination, but it can be done. The question is whether it is worth
the effort is left up to the individual. We believe that to know how is sufficient.
EATING FIRE
Practice first with an unlit torch to develop the confidence, skill and technique
required to perform this feat of derring do. Also, some students find that they try to go
“too deep” when practicing activating the Gag Reflex in the throat.
It is a god idea to put a bit of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly around the lips. This is to
prevent accidental injury and drying of the mouth. One need not be clean shaven for this
trick. If done carefully the flame will not singe moustache or beard.
Tilt the head well back so that you can look at the sky. Holding the unit torch in
the right hand, bring it overhead and slowly down into the mouth.
This slowness is for dramatic effect and so you can control the intensity of the
flame by breathing on it. Having learned the inhaling and exhaling breaths in the previous
sections, draw a large quantity of air into the Tan T’ien and compress it with the
diaphragm as the torch is lifted. Hold the torch at an angle such that if it were lit the
flame could rise vertically without burning the fingers. As the torch nears the face, open
the mouth wide and exhale slowly from the belly in a steady stream of air. It is sometimes
helpful to say the syllable “Haaaa…” when breathing out in this manner. In Chinese
medicine, this is the sound of the heart, an organ associated with the Fire Element.
The exhaled air, performed exactly as if doing the Kiai Exercise or Shouting Out
A Candle, only slower, must form a column of air around the flame and blow it back
toward the handle without extinguishing it. In so doing, it cools the flame and prevents
injury due to heat.
Do not “run out of air’ before withdrawing the torch. If you do, when it is lit, you
will suck the flame down your throat and be burned. That is why there is so much
emphasis on breath control.
Neither let the torch touch the sides of the mouth, since, even through moist
tissues, they can be burned. Touching the roof of the mouth or the tongue elicits a
response that closes the mouth. This instinctive reaction smothers the flame immediately.
But the lips may be burned by the hot metal handle of the torch. Also, one may gag if this
occurs. Other than that, the danger is very slight.
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One Snuffs the Torch by quickly closing the lips, not the teeth, around the handle
as if clapping the hands. This smothers the flame. Open the mouth and withdraw the
torch. Swallow dramatically and the illusion is complete.
After much practice with an unlit torch, visualize the flame on the tip and imagine
the heat. Pretend the fire is there. This adds to the positive mental imagery of the practice
since no injury can occur. But, the user will learn safety by imagining the torch to be lit.
Igniting the Torch
A) Hold the torch in the right hand and the lighter or match in the left so that the
audience can clearly see them.
B) Ignite the torch, making an impressive display of the flame and set the lighter
down.
C) Let the flame flare by holding the torch vertically for dramatic effect.
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Tasting the Flame
A) Slowly and dramatically lower the torch toward your lips. Open the mouth wide
and begin blowing a gentle column of air towards the flame, “pushing it” back
from the tip. Note the angle of the torch.
B) Continue to lower the torch, blowing the flame away from the lips.
C) Let the torch pass the lips while maintaining a steady stream of air pressure
around the flame.
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D) Continue the column of air as you lower the torch past the lips.
E) Continue blowing the column of air back as you withdraw the torch.
F) For dramatic effect, lick the lips and wipe them with the fingers as if “tasting” the
flame or as a simulation of heat and danger.
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Eating Fire
A) Pause dramatically, letting the flame flare again, creating the illusion that all of
the flame except the small part visible above the lips was inside the mouth.
B) Lower the torch again toward the lips, blowing on the flame as before.
C) Place the tip of the torch inside the mouth, holding the flames back with the
column of air. Then close your lips quickly to snuff out the torch. This only takes
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a second. Holding the mouth closed may cause burns to the lips from the heat of
the metal handle.
D) Open the mouth and withdraw the extinguished torch. Swallow dramatically,
creating the illusion ha the flame has been “eaten.”
When fully confident one may wish to attempt this stunt. Trusted companions
should be on hand to witness the experiment and render any First Aid that many be
needed.
Don’t overdo it. Once successful, many initiates practice incessantly. Like
anything else done to excess, this can be injurious. Re-read the section on the effects of
Fire in the mouth and use a little prudence.
A final note on the torches. When finished, smother them out by placing the tip on
a sheet of tin foil and twisting to diminish the flame, then folding the foil over the torch
to extinguish them and safely prepare them for storage. The torch, when in use, should
not be soaked with fuel. Barely damp is more than enough. As indicated, slinging off the
excess until no drops appear usually provides the proper saturation amount.
LAZY FIRE EATING
For the timid we offer the Lazy Fire Eating Trick. It is performed in exactly the
same manner as the former, except it is done with the lighted end of a chopstick or a long
fireplace match. Bear in mind that wood burns hotter than gasoline.
Perform as previously described, tilting the head, lowering the torch at an angle
that permits the flame to be controlled by the column of air. Once inside the Heavenly
Pool, quickly close and open the lips on the unlit “handle” above the flame to smother it
out. You must be quicker to put out the flame. Also, a certain amount of ash is inevitable.
In the case of the Fireplace Match, the tip, made of phosphorus, may glow and
become an ember that can fall off in the mouth and burn the tongue. But, even a wooden
chopstick is prone to burn rather quickly and drop a bit of charcoal on the tongue.
The same care must be exercised when doing this stunt as in legitimate Fire
Eating. There is no place in magic for carelessness. Not only does it make for a lack
luster show, but often is downright dangerous for the performer. Keep in mind that heat
rises. This is the reason for tilting the head back, so the throat is almost vertical. Do not
be surprised if you develop a sore throat or even if the tonsils swell up when beginning
this practice. This is the body’s reaction to greater than normal heat. Just like when you
have a fever.
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FIRE BRATHING DRAGON
We now present the technique known as Fire Breathing Dragon. Certainly the
most spectacular demonstration of the Fire Principle and the exclusive symbol of the
Black Dragon School.
We have shown how the system conforms to the myths, legends and realities of
dragon lore. From the gaseous attacks of the Air Element to the mist methods of Water
and the powders of Earth, the evolution of this magic has been explained in simple and
concrete terms. What better example of the mystic lore than the Fire Breathing Dragon?
This single technique is responsible for the fantastic reputation as fighters enjoyed by the
members of the Hai Lung Ryu (Black Dragon School).
For, what could be more terrifying than knowing that any second you could be
engulfed in a ball of fire at the command of the Ninja? This, and other techniques
contained herein, are the basis for the claims of “no physical contact” being necessary to
overcome an opponent made by some schools of Kung Fu in the early days.
It is not rare, even in this day and age, to see men performing the Human Flame
Thrower Technique. A few years ago the streets of Brazil and Haiti were filled with
them. They would dash along the vehicular traffic and perform for a dollar. So don’t get
the idea it is some ultra secret art that can never be told or understood or discovered by
others.
These individuals may have been using white gas or 100 proof alcohol known as
Everclear, used in the manufacture of wine coolers. Even the aforementioned lighter
fluid. But, the method is always the same.
Taking a swallow of fuel the performer would spew out the contents across the
top of an open flame like a small torch or lighter. Whereupon it would be ignited and
blown into a huge ball of fire. Naturally, this lasted only a moment, but it was impressive
nonetheless.
Some of the performers would squeeze their cheeks between thumb and middle
finger to gain extra distance and pressure and to make sure all the fuel cleared their lips
on the exhalation.
This is the danger.
Should the performer fail to expel all the fuel completely, he runs the risk of
having the flame “back-up” the stream of liquid and set himself on fire.
THIS IS NOT A GOME!
IT IS DANGEROUS IN THE EXTREME!
BE CAREFUL!
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Fire Breathing Dragon
A) Holding the lit torch in the left hand and a small glass of petrol in the right.
B) Keep an eye on the flame as you take a small sip of the white gas. DO NOT
SWALLOW!
C) Set the glass aside and put the thumb and middle fingers on the cheeks to help
expel the fluid and wipe the lips if need be.
D) Spray a strong, short burst of petrol over the top of the flame to create the fireball.
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SIDE VIEW
E) Holding the lit torch in the left hand and a small glass of petrol in the right.
F) Keep an eye on the flame as you take a small sip of the white gas. DO NOT
SWALLOW!
G) Holding the cheeks between the thumb and middle finger. The torch is held at
least 18 inches from the face. Aim your spray at the top of the flame.
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H) Blow a mist of flammable liquid across the top of the flame to ignite it and create
the fireball.
Damage to the enemy is usually restricted to singeing off his eyebrows or lashes.
Since the burst of the fireball is short-lived. But, in some cases a person’s hair, which if
dry or sprayed with hair spray is quite easily kindled, or can be ignited.
In that regard, the use of any oils or creams on the hair should be avoided since
they too are more flammable. Pop singer Michael Jackson’s hair was once set on fire
during a commercial shoot that included a lot of fireworks for this reason.
A FINAL NOTE OF CAUTION
As a final note of caution, we shall relate an incident that occurred when one too
eager to demonstrate a skill he had not perfected happened to learn how Fire Breathing
Dragon was done.
Remember that in earlier pages it was stressed that one must learn to spit water in
sips or streams? Now, we can see the reason for this training. It is a practice method for
Fire Breathing Dragon. It must be done. It must be perfected. Otherwise the unfortunate
may occur. In Karate it is said, “After a thousand punches a fist is more than a fist.”
That is because after that much practice it is an automatic action and the objective
mind has control over it. In magic, they say, “Practice one thousand times before showing
a trick,” for the same reason. That is why we have put such importance on the aspect of
breath control. Without it one may easily come to harm. Begin with a SMALL amount of
fuel and work your way up.
Without going into details, suffice to say that the individual in question fell victim
to over-confidence. Without sufficient practice he stepped boldly forward onto the stage
and spit a mouthful of lighter fluid over a lit match.
With not enough pressure behind the stream, the combustible fluid sputtered from
his lips and soaked his chin. He had held the flame too close to his face as well, and the
heat ignited the lighter fluid. Even though it was a small amount that remained, it was
more than enough to set fire to his face. The hair in his nostrils burned away, his
eyebrows were covered in flame, and his hair caught up almost immediately. Likewise
his shirt, which had been doused with the fuel when it was not projected far enough.
He tried to scream and in so doing sucked the fire down his throat. Eyewitnesses
reported that there appeared to be a whirling vortex of flames spiraling inward as he
gasped for breath. Bystanders and onlookers rushed to his aid and prevented him from
running, which would have fanned the flames and burned him much more severely. By
covering his head with a jacket they managed to put him out and get him to a hospital.
Hence the damp towel as a safety precaution for the Fire Eating Trick. He had second and
third degree burns; tubes up his nose so he could breathe; tubes down his throat so he
could eat; and extensive skin grafts.
Think about this before you attempt Fire Breathing Dragon.
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DRAGON INVISIBILITY
It is vitally important that anyone attempting to learn these methods do so in the
prescribed and progressive manner. One cannot possibly have enough control of
respiration to breathe fire if one has not practiced the simpler breath control methods
described previously herein.
Failure to consider the danger involved or disregard the safety considerations
inherent in such a dangerous undertaking is not only foolhardy, but also downright
stupid. Even saying this, it should be recalled that the Dragon Method is not for all. So,
there is no great need to master the more difficult skills such as Fire Breathing, in order to
achieve significant results.
It is not recommended that anyone learn this series of techniques. They are
presented merely as a study of an ancient and honorable martial art form and are not
intended as a course of instruction. They are a part of the history of Ninjitsu, Kung Fu
and Karate. And therefore of some interest to the true student, who seeks to probe the
depth and meaning of the origins of the myths and legends associated with the Ninja. The
author and publishers assume no responsibility for the use or misuse of this information.
Fire Breathing Dragon Technique may be the most impressive of the Elemental
Methods, but it is not the secret of true invisibility. That will be discussed now.
We have seen how man ingests various types of energy in the form of nutrients,
Air, Water, and so on, even Fire. But, there is a higher level that must still be explored
and considered- the spiritual plane.
Every major religion teaches the same message. Every style of Kara-te has as its
goal enlightenment. Even the wandering hermits of ancient China, who may have seemed
lost and alone, were following some Inner Path in the direction of Self-Actualization.
There is a need and a motivational drive inherent in the human being to understand the
universe and his role in it. Upon learning this, one strives toward perfection, which is
always just beyond reach. And, one recognizes the limitless potential of mankind.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “God could not have created so perfect a work as
Man to exist for only an instant. No, Man was meant for immortality.”
And, this is so.
Along the Path are other Seekers, each following his or her own course. Some are
at higher levels and act as Guides. Those who understand are teachers. And, there are
those who have no understanding, who serve as obstacles. In a philosophical sense,
however, they are merely students who have not yet grasped the importance of Lessons
and Tests. That is why Ninjitsu does not kill them, even if they are violent and dangerous.
Because, Change is inevitable. Neither do we seek to measure the differences between
these levels, but merely treat each according to its own level. For this reason, the Ninja
learns to control himself so that others can be controlled by following his example. But,
even to attempt such a course is not for the Many.
The wisest of ancient Chinese philosophers recognized that most people were too
concerned with survival to pursue the Silent Way of contemplation and meditation. So, it
fell to the Few to preserve the Art and practice it and share it with those who wish to
learn.
This is why the Ninja are so vicious and savage and terrifying in war and why
they are masters of invisibility. So that war does not occur. Understanding oneself makes
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it possible to understand others. When this happens, one is said to have compassion and
mercy. The only thing good about a war is when it is over. The sooner the better. But
there are those who think that violence is not only an answer, but indeed is the ONLY
answer. By attacking others they bring about their own downfall.
Is it not said, “He who lives by the sword dies by the sword.” And, do not the
concepts of Karma and the Eightfold Path teach that whatsoever we send into the lives of
others will come back into our own three times? Is it not obvious when all religious sects
have some interpretation of the phrase “Do unto others as you would have done unto
yourself,” that this is the Way of Peace Harmony, and Universal Brotherhood?
If we are harsh with ourselves are we not hard on others, expecting them to
conform to our idea of perfection? But, is we are gentle and have confidence in ourselves,
can we not trust others? And, discover that the “wonder of the Universe is in its infinite
diversity and the ways those differences combine to create meaning and beauty.”
The Quest for invisibility is only one road that leads to the top of this mountain of
knowledge. But, it is the same as all the others. With the same chants, guidelines and
particular symbols that serve as signposts and mile markers along the way in the gradual
process of perfecting the Self.
Dragon invisibility is the ability to “call upon your anger” to “unleash the demon”
within your warrior heart. In tactical combat this expresses itself as overwhelming force.
Strike hard, strike fast, no mercy. But, the true warrior wins without fighting. All that is
required is to let the enemy see the Dragon within and freeze him with a look. Practice
this by imagining that you are breathing fire at the enemy. Fix his gaze and focus on his
Third Eye. If your facial expression is sufficiently terrifying, he will “feel the heat” of
your Will and be overcome. With a little practice, one need only “narrow the eyes” and
project the thought to his mind, to halt him instantly. This is what the Kahuna (shamen)
of Hawaii mean when they say you can see a flash of red in the eye of a wizard.
When this is accomplished, one becomes a mystic-warrior. One who can fight or
disappear.
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The Book of
AIR
“He possessed the power to cloud men’s minds and become invisible…”
Maxwell Grant- The Living Shadow 1929
THE BREATH WEAPON
In his book Secret Fighting Arts of the World, author John Gibley tells the story of
a master of the martial arts who had the secret of knocking out his opponent with an
attack of Halitosis! This man, he claimed, had long ago decided that he was not one for
physical confrontation and so devised a method of creating and retaining in his bowels a
particularly putrid odor, guaranteed to bowl over the strongest man by overloading the
olfactory lobes of the brain. These are located directly above the nose, virtually
unprotected from this type of attack. Hence the profound effect of tear gas, mustard gas,
adamcite, and other airborne agents. The olfactory lobes actually extend out from the
underside of the brain and are almost like antennae whey seen in dissection.
Gilbey, not detecting any offensiveness on the part of this individual asked him to
demonstrate. Whereupon the master belched in the face of the author who promptly
passed out. In many ways this is similar to the Blow-In-The-Face technique, except that
relies on tactile stimulation of the eyelids. Whereas this one acts directly on the nervous
system.
For those individuals whose education was so limited in childhood that they did
not learn how to belch on command, we include the following technique known in
Chinese medicine as Swallowing Air, and is used to expel noxious gases from the
stomach that may result from contaminated food or poor digestion. Since the stomach is
inflatable, being a Yin or hollow organ, take a deep breath and swallow, or inhale while
swallowing, to fill it with air. The Hiatal Sphincter at the level of the solar plexus is the
constricting muscle that prevents the contents of the stomach from regurgitating during
digestion
It is also this stricture that traps gases in the stomach that are produced by the
chemical reaction of foodstuffs and digestive acids. Heartburn is a condition resulting
from an overproduction of such gases and pressure on the Hiattal area. As sufferers will
attest, a good belch will often relieve this pressure and the pain will subside. To practice
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burping, gulp down a carbonated soft drink and regulate the amount of gas expelled each
time by gently tensing the belly.
Dragon Breath is a technique not unknown is the wrestling arena. Furthermore, in
gladiatorial times, some contestants would purposely not bath for days prior to a match,
making it unsavory to grapple with them. Relying on this psychological advantage, some
lived on to win freedom, if not popularity. In the same way using distasteful oils and foul
smelling necklaces of garlic inhibit an enemy’s aggressiveness because he is
uncomfortable and unfamiliar with this type of an attack.
It is worthwhile to practice belching technique even if one has no wish to develop
the chemical formula that goes with it. Since it will be needed in the final stage. The
Book of Wood.
SILENT KIAI
In Karate at the conclusion of the Kiai, the abdomen is taut and most of the air has
been forced out of the lungs by dynamic tension. In the same way, learning how to expel
a ball of air from the abdomen makes it possible to snuff out a candle from a much
greater distance than by blowing on it. This is accomplished by holding the mouth open
in the same manner as used to “shout out” a candle rather than pursing the lips as in the
first method.
Stand facing the candle at arm’s length in a Horse Stance with your mouth open.
Inhale deeply, tighten the belly and project the Qi at the flame by sharply contracting the
abdomen. This will send out larger amounts of air than would puffing through the lips
with the diaphragm. In martial arts, this is called the Silent Kiai or Dragon Breath. It is
considered a “gas” attack, thus it’s classification with the Air Element.
A) Practice this form of Haraki standing in a Horse Stance with fists on hips. Inhale
deeply into the lower belly.
B) Open the mouth and expel a ball of gases from the Hara with a single sharp
tensing of the belly rather than a stream or column of air. Do this imagining the
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syllable “Haa….” As before, making no audible sound. This is a function of the
mind and the imagination. Both symbolized by the Air Element.
NINJA MIND CONTROL
The “power to cloud men’s minds” is the goal of the Dragon Style Invisible Fist.
To “put the idea of Fear into the mind of the enemy” and make him reconsider his acts
without resorting to physical force or restrain him to make him more reasonable.
To accomplish this the Ninja looked to the next element, Air. The Sky Dragon
techniques include jumping and flying kicks seen in other martial arts styles, as well as
circular fist techniques based on the wing-flap action of the flying dragon and the Poison
Gas Breath, described earlier in this section. The primary symbolism employed, however,
is that of Air representing the Mind. For that reason, the techniques of HsiMenJitsu
(“sigh-men-jit-su”) the Way of the Mind Gate, are classified and taught at this level. They
include psychology, hypnosis and illusion.
Bear in mind that the Chinese dragon is much different from the European
version. The latter was always guarding virgins or gold or both- items for which he had
no use whatsoever-usually at the behest of some evil wizard. While in Chinese
astronomy, the constellation known as Red Dragon, a sign of coming rains and rebirth
appears in the night sky every Spring. In Ninjitsu the term “riding the wind” refers to the
various exercises used to develop telephathic abilities of the Sky Dragon.
THE TRANCE
The best opportunity for using this technique is during a group discussion of
Ninjitsu or psychic power when the mood is already established. Select a volunteer from
the group. Sit quietly for a moment to create a relaxed state. Then simply tell the subject
that when you say the magic word, or cue, he will be in a relaxed, trance-like state for a
few seconds and will not see you move out of his line of vision. When the subject blinks
and comes out of this post-hypnotic suggestion, the Ninja seems to have vanished before
his very eyes!
Of course, onlookers are treated to the show and are amazed at the effectiveness
of the technique. Notice that no magic power is alluded to in the hypnotic state, only a
simple instruction, usually less than nine words and seldom more than three.
The subject, like many who participate in stage hypnotism acts, may later claim
that he was just “going along with the gag.” But, the technique was nonetheless effective
and is a crowd pleaser. After all, why should the subject go out of his way to make the
magician look good? Perhaps because he too believes on some level that the Ninja has
some secret power and that if he plays along he may gain same insight into this greater
mystery for himself. Thus, it becomes a matter of enlightened self-interest.
This is like another “mental” trick in which an unprepared spectator is asked
onstage and told to choose a card from a display. A prediction of which card will be
chosen has been previously written down and recorded. When the spectator goes behind
the display table to make his choice, he sees that one card is lying on top of a dollar bill.
Guess which one he will pick!
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Could it be that he is actually powerless for the moment to prevent the
“command” sent to him by the mentalist? If that is the case, then any later claim of denial
is actually a defense mechanism designed to “save face” and self-esteem. To be sure, it is
as plausible explanation as any other.
For the Ninja, it matters not one bit! Regardless of which explanation is true, as
long as it is an effective technique, it should be studied, evaluated, and experimented
with. Just the ability to mentally transmit the command Blink! would be enough to let the
Ninja escape. And, among the Wind techniques of the Ninja such tricks as the Mind
Whip and Blank Wall Meditation, based on the same principle of suggestibility, are
included.
HYPNOSIS
Like all physical techniques, mental ones require a certain amount of practice and
preparation. Hypnotism is only one such tool in the Ninja arsenal.
Inducing a Trance
The Subject and the Ninja sit facing each other in Seiza, the Kneeling Meditation
Pose. The Ninja fixes the gaze of the Subject and has him take a few deep breaths in
harmony with him to develop a feeling of rapport and relaxation The Ninja speaks in a
soft, hypnotic tone, speaking only to the Subject and ignoring any outside distractions.
This cues the Subject to do likewise.
The Ninja places suggestions of relaxation and sleep in the mind of the Subject.
He does this using alliteration, emphasizing certain sounds and syllables. In this case the
same one used to dispel fear, the sound of the Air Element, the “Shhh…” or Wind Breath
sound. He likewise harmonizes his breath to that of the Subject, then slowly changes the
pattern to one of slow, deep, relaxing respiration.
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With a simple hypnotic gesture, the Ninja has the Subject close his eyes. Note that
the downward action and the proximity of the fingertips to the subject’s fact, as well as
the rapport and avoidance of outside distractions, not only to induce but virtually compel
him to comply with the simple command. The subject is now, technically, in a light
trance. He has not yet psychologically demonstrated his trust in the Ninja not to injure or
embarrass him as long as he participates in the experiment. Having closed his eyes, he is
now dependent on the Ninja for direction. He closed his ears when he began ignoring
distractions. Now he must “feel” his way and depends on the Ninja to guide him.
The Ninja then performs a simple test to insure that he Subject is “hypnotized”
and to demonstrate to the onlookers that the Subject is “under his spell.” Psychologically,
this is when the Subject “proves his loyalty” by following orders without question.
Of course, he would not have volunteered in the first place unless he was willing
to participate. Or, as a trap to embarrass the magician.
The Ninja could be directing him to put his hand in a fire. He cannot see, so he
does not know what he is doing. Nevertheless, he trusts the Ninja achieved through the
suggestibility stage, and so will now obey simple commands. This is a powerful position
of trust and should NEVER be abused. To do so is to invite misfortune.
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The Arm Levitation test determines the degree of compliance of the Subject.
Specifically, he will be raising and lowering his arm on cue. But, the Ninja first makes
him aware of the coming command and builds up to it slowly with his suggestions of the
Subject’s arm (right or left) feeling light. This can be easily suggested if the relaxation
exercise also suggests that the body feels light. Then the Ninja gradually suggests that it
is so light that it is floating.
“In fact, you can almost feel it floating now…it is so light that it IS
floating…don’t resist it…let your arm lift upward…slowly…carefully…easily…” He
continues until the command is obeyed, or the Subject breaks off, no matter how long it
might take. All warfare, even mental, is a matter of stamina.
When everyone is satisfied that the Subject is hypnotized, give him praise for
relaxing and letting his arm float, which rewards the effort, and then suggest that his arm
is returning to normal now, that it is normal and let it settle back to his side.
After placing the post hypnotic suggestion in the mind of the Subject, that he will
return to the trance and not see anything for five seconds when he hears the cue-word, the
Ninja directs him to forget all memory of the hypnotic state until a specific cue is given.
He then awakens the Subject by counting up from one to three or by clapping the hands
softly.
One safety precaution usually inserted near the beginning of the hypnotic trance is
that the Subject will fall into a light sleep from which he can be awakened any time by
touching him on his left shoulder. If need be he can be roused by gently shaking his
shoulder.
Upon ending the trance the Ninja questions the Subject to insure that he will obey
the post-hypnotic suggestion by a) pretending that the entire experiment was merely a
relaxation exercise and eliciting a verbal response. That impresses the Subject into going
along with the lie. Again, “proving “ the psychic power of the Ninja/Hypnotist and
insuring that the subject will continue to “play along.” Or, b) by thanking him for his
participation and eliciting a verbal response that he feels better and more relaxed than
before. Either summation may be employed. The Key is for the Subject to agree with
what the Hypnotist says even after the “trance” has ended.
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The Ninja congratulates the Subject on his success and performance and tells him
the experiment is concluded. They may now stand up.
THE CUE
After being seated for even five minutes you may find that standing causes a
sudden feeling of light-headedness as the heart must accelerate to pump blood higher to
the head, and the blood that was “squeezed” out of the legs by kneeling must be replaced.
So, one should stand up slowly. This, however, is an excellent opportunity to take
advantage of this momentary mental confusion and cue the Subject because his vision
will already be somewhat dimmed and the blood rushing to his head will disorient him.
Also, the quicker the cue is used, the more likely it is to be effective. The longer you
wait, the greater the chance he will forget it or stop waiting for it. Furthermore, the
rapport that was established during the trance is still in effect to some degree, although
this too fades with time.
Stepping Our of Sight
The Ninja gives the subject the same visual cue used to have him close his eyes,
that of wiping the hand downward in front of his face. Unlike using this gesture to make
him blink so you can duck away as in a previous technique, the gesture to “close the
eyes” may be used at a great distance, since the intention is to confirm his compliance to
the verbal contract rather than physically compel him to blink by proximity of the hand to
his face.
Next he gives the verbal cue, which is stronger and for which the subject was
prepared through the hypnotic gesture, and returns him to the Trance. The verbal cue may
be a simple word suggestion like “Sleep…” Or, may be a “magical”/nonsense word like
“Afghanistan Banana Stand” or other gibberish that would not ever be heard in the “real’
world. Such a magical word would be suggested to the Subject during the trance state.
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The hypnotic trance-like state is indicated by the fixed gaze of the Subject.
Remember, the blood is rushing to his head, his vision is blurred and he may be slightly
off balance. He is given the preparatory command, then the command of execution for a
test he didn’t not expect so quickly. His eyes are still open, so they may “roll” out of
focus as he stares blankly ahead, unmoving, which gives him a chance to recover his
senses. He may or may not actually “see” the movement of the Ninja as he steps out of
sight behind him. But, he does not move or react because that would violate the verbal
contract entered into when he volunteered.
The Subject, acting on the post-hypnotic suggestion returns to full wakefulness in
accordance with the secret instruction given him by the Ninja and looks around in search
of the Ninja, who appears suddenly to have vanished.
The Subject will not see the Ninja again until he wishes to re-appear, gives the
next cue if there be one, or steps into view dramatically. Thus, concluding the
demonstration.
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Finish with a bow to the Subject which he may or may not return. Your way of
thanking him for his cooperation. “Also bow to the audience so they will know you are
finished and can applaud…” Old Magician Saying.
Thus you have taken another step in learning the “power to cloud men’s minds.”
The fifth level, the Book of Wood, will enable you, without the hypnotic ritual, to project
a mist or fog into the mind of any foe so that you will be invisible to the eyes of men and
genii. There is, however, still a bit more to learn about Air.
THE VOLUNTEERS
Magicians and Mesmerists are quite fond of making magical passes over the body
and directing its energy with their hands. Some of this is showmanship and misdirection.
Hypnotists use visual cues and directions, while faith healers maintain that a subtle
magnetic field surrounds the body and that this field may be manipulated by the
electrically charged palms or fingers of the physician.
In the case of actual stage hypnotism, the master of the mystic arts selects a group
of volunteers from the audience. Most of these people are extroverts who enjoy
participating in events for which they can receive applause. Shy people don’t volunteer
and are seldom even coaxed onstage. Nor should they be, because their own self-
consciousness will contribute to clumsiness and a half-hearted effort.
It should be recalled that the stage is the “home court” of the magicians. While the
average theatergoer is relatively uncomfortable there. This, together with the
preconceived notion that the performer is somehow endowed with mysterious powers,
combines to create the impression that the magician has control of the situation in the
minds of the viewers and participants. This is, of course, true. He is in command, partly
because he chooses to be, partly because he chooses the volunteers. And, it doesn’t take
but once to spot a smart-aleck looking to upstage you.
Upon this pool of volunteers he performs a series of simple tests to determine if
they will follow his directions and which obey the best. If they compete with him they are
“allowed” to go back to their seats and enjoy the rest of the show. From the remaining
group, he selects a few who will play the part of clowns and actors at his stage direction.
He then puts them through a set of simple commands designed to entertain the audience
and let the players have a bit of fun.
Almost always the hypnotist states at the outset, “I will not injure or embarrass
you in any way, as long as you assist me in this demonstration of the hypnotic art.” This
is a verbal contract to which both agree. The hypnotist then gives the person his
permission to act silly, dance, sing, react to imaginary heat or cold, withstand tests of
strength, pain, and leverage, or impersonate famous personalities. The hypnotist must be
able to deduce which of the volunteers are able to do this and which celebrities they can
imitate. The permission to do this is conveyed to the audience by the hypnotic pass,
waving the hands before his eyes, verbal suggestion, speaking in a low monotonous voice
or counting backwards. All may be used and all contribute to the rapport between the
hypnotist and his subject(s).
The audience is vicariously relaxed as well, since each person theoretically
empathizes with one of more of the players. This puts them in a receptive mood to
believe what is said onstage. It is what is known as “suspension of disbelief.” The
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audience agrees not to look too closely for flaws and allows itself to be amused by the
antics of those who have surrendered their will to the stage director or hypnotist.
Actually, when questioned later, almost everyone of the volunteers will claim the
he or se did feel a bit relaxed but never really felt under a spell of any sort. They were
just “going along with the gag. But, some of the others were really under.” Whether this
is true or not is always debatable, since the effect is the same either way. It really makes
no difference because the goal was to put on a good show and if everyone believed he
was “hypnotized” then so much the better.
The only real danger lies in using volunteers who try to steal the show by
upstaging the hypnotist. This can lead to a verbal, even physical, confrontation. But, the
usual result is that the smart-aleck makes faces and mocks the hypnotist behind his back.
At the very least it is disruptive, although it can be entertaining.
The magician or hypnotist usually awakens his volunteers with a snap of his
fingers. If their eyes are closed, this is an auditory signal to open them. Of course, he tells
them what to do verbally beforehand and may even count upward from one to three so
that they are not startled by the sound. If the eyes are open, this is the signal for them to
blink, giving the impression of waking up from a nap or light sleep. All this adds to the
illusion of having psychic control of the subject’s mind. When, in reality, it is a series of
simple stage directions and psychological leverage.
FINGER SNAPPING DEFENSE
To the Ninja, the self-defense application of this technique lies in snapping the
fingers in the face of an opponent or attacker to make him blink. The eyes have the most
sensitive nerve endings in the body. Much of the nervous system is devoted to responses
that protect the head and eyes. Blinking when a sharp sound is made near the face is only
one of them.
Finger Snapping
The aggressor makes a threatening or dominating gesture. From this range he
could easily use a Single or Needle Finger poke to your eye, which is as good a blinding
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technique as any given here. Boxers sometimes use the thumb of their glove to blur an
opponent’s vision by “thumbing him in the eye” from this distance.
Finger Snapping
Deflect the attacker’s hand. Do not slap it away, as this would be an escalation of
the confrontation. Simply swing your hand upward at moderate speed with your fingers
in a preparatory position to snap until they come into his line of vision at about nose
level. In Shotokan Karate, this is called a Shoulder or Middle Block. Snap the fingers as
close to his nose as possible. The idea is to get as close as possible to the target without
appearing to be a threat. Note that until this moment you were still out of effective
striking range.
Immediately turn your hand palm down and stab your index and middle fingers
into his eyes to blind him with the Two Dragons Seek the Pearl Technique, also known as
the Finger Jab. Do not stiffen your fingers. It is unnecessary and may cause injury to the
user as well as the aggressor.
A miss will make him blink if he did not do so when you snapped your fingers. A
light blow will cause eye watering and temporary pain. A poke will do the same, plus
cause shock and trauma to the eye. A stab accomplishes all of the above as well as
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lacerations from the fingernails. A thrust causes dislodgement or collapse of the eyeball.
Withdraw your hand immediately. For the technique to be effective, one must practice
ducking out of sight as soon as this reflex is elicited. Better to look back and see how
badly he is hurt when safely out of range-depending on the threat level.
THE EYE FLICK
A technique based on the same involuntary blink response is the Eye Flick. This
was first introduced to the American public on the TV show Longstreet, starring James
Fransiscus as the title character.
During several episodes, the famous martial artist Bruce Lee was a guest star. He
was introduced as a Kung Fu expert to whom Longsttreet turned to learn self defense
after he was badly beaten up by a dock worker. Mr. Longstreet, a New Orleans attorney,
had been blinded by a bomb but continued to right wrongs and punish evil-doers.
Lee showed him a variety of techniques, throws, takedowns, knees and elbow
strikes that could be used by one so handicapped. All honed and practiced as much as
possible in one sixty-minute drama, and all tailored for use by a blind man.
The one technique Longstreet refused to use was the Eye Flick. He would not
endanger the opponent’s sight since he had lost his own.
He did eventually settle the score with his adversary, returning to the harbor to
look him up for a rematch. After a few false starts he was “forced” to use the Eye Flick to
save himself and win. But he did win! The lesson is that at the time and place where you
make such a stand, if you ever have to, you must determine how much force is required
and be desperate enough to use it to survive. And realize that whatever you did must have
been the “right thing” to do because it is what you did at the time and cannot be undone.
Eye Flick
Stand with your shoulder toward the opponent in the Hidden Fist Stance given in
the second chapter so you present a smaller target, left palm covering right fist as though
the right will be the weapon. This is a follow-up to the alternative method of delivering
the Buffalo Knuckle or Phoenix Eye Fist.
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When the enemy punches, deflect his arm by shifting or stepping diagonally
forward and letting it strike your lead shoulder. This puts you in range for striking with
your lead hand. Note that this is the opposite of the Water Step (diagonally backward).
This is diagonally forward off the line of engagement. Thus Water and Air are both
“circular” in nature. Swing your left hand out and around as when using the Hand Flash.
Note that in that example the enemy threw a left punch while in this one he throws a
right. Observe that this is virtually the same technique against both punches. The only
difference being that this strike is “inside” his defense instead of “outside,” blocking his
attack downward. The wrist is bent as in the Kasumi Method with the fingers hidden
(curled back out of sight), forming the Chicken Neck Fist, which uses the back of the
wrist for blocking and striking.
Suddenly stop the arc of his left arm and flick the backs of your fingertips to
strike his eye from the side. This is much less likely to cause injury, but guarantees that
he will blink. This may be used as a probing attack jab or a vanishing technique, or
followed up with the stunning Phoenix Eye Fist, or used simple to make him blink so you
can duck out of sight.
Note also that both of these principles are circular in nature, in keeping with the
symbolism of the Five Element principles. As is customary, the practice method is
Snuffing Out A Candle with the Hand-Whip or Eye Flick.
The Eye Flick is difficult to deflect or block because of the sudden acceleration of
the fingers. Like cracking a whip, all the motion of the arm is transferred to its tip,
providing a sharp snapping motion. Since this is initiated at a range of about three inches,
it is much to fast to see. Hence the saying, “the hand is quicker than the eye.” One-fiftieh
of a second to blink is pretty fast.
Let the recoil of the finger whip bring the hand back even faster than it was
whipped out, safely out of range and prepared to lash out again if need be, or launch the
real attack. This motion is exactly like the Karate Backfist, in which the strike is
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delivered with the backs of the first two knuckles. The popping, snapping motion of the
punch is so deceptive that it is forbidden in the professional Boxing ring.
Although Muhammed Ali used it extensively as a sort of swatting, brushing jab.
Not only to confuse his opponents by making himself hard to see, but also infuriating
them by constantly rubbing his glove in their face. Even though these punches did not
score points or have a telling effect, they were, nonetheless, excellent examples of using
the Invisible Fist.
FLICKING OUT THE CANDLE
The practice method is flicking out the candle. By this time, having developed
this skill with several other fists, you will find this one much simpler. The force of the
wind generated by this fist is much larger and stronger than a closed fist. See how easy
invisibility can be?
Stand with your shoulder aimed at the candle in Mi Chuan or Hidden Fist Stance.
Relax your wrist and let your hand drop limply away from covering your right fist.
Tighten your belly.
Strike out on the exhalation, aiming the back of your wrist at the target. With your
fist closed, your hand is four to six inches shorter than with the fingers extended. With
the fingers extended and the wrist curled back, the hand is eight to ten inches shorter than
the full reach of the fingertips. The eye of the opponent, will see the back of your wrist
and act in response to its distance from his eye in terms of spatial distance and speed,
allowing your fist to penetrate his defenses deeply before he is aware of it.
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Whip your fingers toward the flame, snuffing it out with a quick snapping action
Punching out candles like this is known in Chinese medicine as the Scholar’s Exercise.
When your arm is extended but your elbow not locked straight out, flick the backs of
your fingertips to simulate striking your opponent on the temple or ear. By overshooting
in this manner, you virtually assure that you will at least strike the side of his nose, even
if he is skilled at slipping punches. Most people, even boxers, will react to a hand coming
at their face with a ducking or blocking motion as soon as the attack is perceived. Therein
lies the key to this technique. The fingertips are actually closer than the hand appears to
be.
BREATH WEAPONS
One final word should be said regarding the use of the breath to propel missiles
other than the green mist alluded to earlier. Notably, very short blowguns are used by
some Ninja Ryu to shoot tiny darts at the eyes of an opponent. The Ninja also practice the
technique of Spitting Needles by curling the tongue into a shallow trough or V shape and
placing the dart in the tunnel so formed for easy launching.
An easier method is Spewing Caltrops from the mouth, but again, these sharp
little three corner nails must be carried in the mouth most of the time and always a
present a danger of being swallowed accidentally. Plus, they interfere with respiration.
These are but a few of the methods used by the Ninja of feudal Japan to protect
their identities. If they were captured, any attempt to remove their masks would result in
the expulsion of any one of several projectiles into the eyes of the enemy. Not only
making identification difficult, but also providing an opportunity to escape by vanishing.
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The Book of
WOOD
Thusfar we have described four of the five primeval elements, Earth , Water, Fire,
and Air. They are taught in that order because this is the sequence in which they appear
naturally on the fingers of the hand. In Kuji Kiri, the finger-knitting exercises of Ninja
meditation, the initial exercise is to place the fingertips together to connect the psychic
channels and acupuncture meridians of the hands for health and longevity. The pinky or
little finger represents Earth; the ring or third finger represents Water; the middle finger is
Fire and the index finger is Air. They are joined in that order. The thumb symbolizes and
connects the channels and meridians that relate to the Wood element and is touched last.
The palms are then pressed together to connect the Dragon and Tiger Cavities in the
center of each to form the Praying Hands Mudra, found in every religion throughout time,
even today.
Of the Five Elements, two, Earth and Fire, are considered by Chinese scholars to
be linear in the direction and nature of their operation. Earth is solid, like a mountain and
cannot be moved or uprooted. While Fire is an advancing, consuming force, driven by
Wind, appetite, fuel, i.e. Wood. This is a fundamental concept in the Law of the Five
Elements, the basis for both military strategy and Chinese holistic medicine.
In accordance with the Chinese pattern of categorizing things in corresponding
pairs of opposites, it then follows that the other two, Water and Air are circular in nature
and this can be clearly seen by watching water flow in and around obstacles and Air
blowing through open spaces. Both follow the path of least resistance, whereas Earth and
Fire offer the most resistance. One by refusing to be moved or changed and the other by
moving and changing everything it its path.
Balance then, between and among these forces is represented as a spiral- circular
motion about a linear axis. To primitive man, who first codified these principles, the best
way to symbolize this type of motion was to refer to Wood, since the tree grow upward
with its leaves and branches and downward (linearly) with its roots. The point of
intersection between these two vortices is the ground. Just as it is with any whirlpool or
tornado, which are also spirals. The tree also grows in girth in a progressive ring pattern,
showing the circular action of the wood about its linear core. Together, linear and circular
motion represent spiral motion, a pattern of the universe that is only now being
recognized by modern science the electromagnetic forces of life itself such as DNA. The
ancients, however, new it all along.
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Those who follow the Silent Way recognize that it is only one way and that
becoming an inferno of rage is only one part of it- the Fire part. One must also have
Water, the empathy to understand why this person has become so unbalanced that he
must resort, usually in frustration, to physical violence. Also essential is the Mind Sword,
the power of the mind, the Air Element, to bridge the gap to him and prevent him from
injuring himself or others. Nor is Earth to be neglected. This is the physical bridge
between psychological and tactile.
Wood then represents the penultimate techniques of the Invisible Fist system. The
highest expression of the principles upon which any subject, medicine, philosophy, or
combat so classified can be presented. Because it is a combination of all the “lesser”
elements that interact to form the spiral pattern of the Universe.
Thus it can be seen that in the symbolic lexicon of the ancient Ninja masters,
Wood represented the ultimate expression of harmony with Nature and was used to
designate the highest level of technique. The expression of this is found both in the
martial arts applications and in the philosophical teachings that form the foundation of
Chinese medicine and meditation, the “other side” of the Ninja coin. For not only are
they the most fearsome shadow-warrior fighters, but also the most efficient healers.
To develop all these qualities in coordination, the Seeker must make the Inner
Journey. Only in this way can one come to “know thyself.” Only then can one know the
rage that all humans are capable of and the compensatory compassion to balance it. Only
then will one realize that the “enemy” is only pale reflection of the Self, as yet unaware
of its motivation or place in the Universe.
The one who has made this journey then has the duty to share this knowledge
with ten others. Not all need it, not all want it, not all seek it. Sometimes, however, you
meet another Seeker when he makes a challenge and you recognize yourself at his stage
of development. Be gentle. Hurting him is only a way of hurting yourself. In fact, some
people lose a fight because they would rather hurt themselves or let someone else hurt
them than harm anyone else. This is self-destructive; the opposite of being overly
aggressive. Moderation in all things.
HARNESSING THE WILL
These techniques of behavior modification used for the development of self-
confidence are not limited to the martial arts. Indeed, they are found in all self-help books
on every topic from losing weight to stopping smoking. All that is required is to tie the
desired outcome to the appropriate cue and wait for an opportunity to try it out. It is as
automatic as the eye blink response whereby invisibility on the physical level is achieved.
Ninja are taught that if the enemy is angry (Fire) one can fan the flames of that
anger and cause him to over-commit to his attack or even become so enraged that he is
unable to attack, by using taunts that play on his fears. This is considered an application
of the Wind Element (intellect) to Fire (anger). Conversely, one can extinguish the flames
by using Water (emotion) by appealing to the enemy’s self-interest, or through
expressions of sympathy and support with the counsel of patience. This gives the
aggressor a way out with dignity- the path of least resistance. This system is known as the
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Five Feelings and Five Desires of HsiMenJitsu and is, like everything else, based on the
Five Elements.
The information and techniques given here are no mystery. They are just usually
so covered with promises of success that they become diluted and lost. This is the way to
become the master of your fate, to have the power and responsibility for your own life
instead of being a puppet dancing on the strings of the few. That is why it has been kept
hidden- until now.
No matter what the goal, if one sets out for it and perseveres in a single-minded
manner, it can be achieved. Anything is possible if you have enough time and will power.
You have learned many new things and acquired many new skills. After those
accomplishments, few other challenges can stand in your way. For now you know that
the Dragon is within you, that when the need arises you are the Dragon. You have also
learned to harness your Will, to be patient, and to endure. These are not powers to be
taken lightly. Prisoners of war have told of how they saved their sanity by building a
“dream house” in their minds. Dwelling on every detail of construction kept the mind
occupied and prevented the prisoners form going “stir crazy” bemoaning their helpless
predicament. Now, you too, have this mental Fortress of Solitude.
Part of the process is the study and exploration of unfamiliar or seemingly strange
realms or arts such as Ninjitsu, so that no possibility, however remote, is overlooked in
the quest for understanding. Also part of this process is “creating a ritual’ a set of cues, a
pattern that will lead to the desired result, like the Cha-no-Yu (Tea Ceremony) or the
practice kata of a swordsman. It should be simple and elegant so that it can be easily
performed, allowing the mind to dwell on the history, etiquette and symbolism of the
artifacts.
The largest part of the process, however, is in its practice. The Old Ones knew
many ways of teaching and of thinking, but they were also aware of spontaneous insight
gained by hours of rote repetition, it is this sudden realization that is called
enlightenment.
The internal work of ancient Chinese alchemists is often mistaken for magic.
Indeed, the scrolls that describe the process of turning lead into gold were completely
misread by the medieval scientists who “discovered” distillation from the Chinese. They
were, in fact, texts on the collection, cultivation and circulation or the vital life-force.
Lead, gold, and mercury were symbols of the Qi and the extraction of its essence can be
used on many levels. They did not refer to the actual elements. In fact, it is said that the
First Emperor of China Huang Ti died of Mercury poisoning, taking “magic pills” that
contained mercuric compounds in an effort to achieve immortality. Likewise, constant
experimentation with the distillation process is probably why so many alchemists of old
were alcoholics.
MAGIC SPELLS
Spell casting or ritual magic is an important aspect of HsiMenJitsu, the Way of
the Mind Gate. One must take care not to program negative thoughts of emotions as these
are harmful not to the supposed victim of the spell, but rather to the spell-caster himself.
The person you wish to injure today may be friend next week. Then if he should come to
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harm, you will feel guilty. This is true even if one puts great store in the theory of
coincidence. Which would maintain that you wished for something to happen because it
was meant to happen anyway. It always comes back to haunt you, therefore, most magic
spells are for self-improvement by acting out the mania that causes it without harm to
others.
Many magic rituals begin with a Banishing Ritual. The scribing of a magic
pentagram (Five Elements Symbol) on the floor to “protect one from demons” for
example. It is not, however, any external force that threatens the user of magic, it is the
creatures of the Id, his own selfishness, greed, cruelty, and so on. These are the internal
dragons that must be harnessed if one is to know oneself.
Most spells have three or more components. A magic word (mantra, incantation
or verbal component); a talisman, (symbol, artifact, of visual component); and a gesture
(kinesthetic, mudra or posture). Some also require representations of the Five Elements.
Cups for Water, wand for Fire; sword for Air; coins for Earth and the lemniscate or Sign
of Infinity, a figure-8 lying on its side, to represent Wood.
Magic spells are not bestowed by supernatural powers. The only force capable of
doing so is the will. Beseeching malevolent of benevolent deities is merely a request to
let yourself please yourself.
Magic spells do confer magic powers however. But, these are the result of
patience, practice, and perseverance on the part of the Seeker. To learn and memorize the
components and materials needed, to select the symbols of greatest significance and to
assemble them for the ritual experience. Obviously consultation with other experts and a
certain amount of note-taking is required until one becomes familiar with the principles
of magic.
Spells work in direct proportion to the number of times they have been successful
in the past and the significance of their component symbols. The effective range of a spell
is determined by the level of skill of the operator. The more experience and power one
can generate and transmit, the greater the efficacy of the magic.
Most spells operate only within the sphere of influence- that is to say, inside the
imaginary shell of energy that surrounds the body, like an aura, at about arm’s length.
Some spells require physical contact -touch- to be effective. Some a personal item of the
object of the spell imprinted with its genetic code.
Duration is also affected by the ability of the spell caster. Generally speaking a
spell once cast lasts as long as the concentration on it is held. Likewise, the amount of
time required to launch such an effect, including the preparation and arrangement of the
components is reduced with practice. Some spells work immediately, others take a little
time.
Some spells don’t work on some people. Strong emotions such as anger or fear
can prevent a purely mental effort to bring about change. Love is the strongest force. A
spell motivated by love cannot fail, nor can any spell overcome true love.
All spells are reversible, whether by the spell caster himself or through reflection
by a stronger will.
Bear in mind that terms such as “magic spell” are only words. They are not the
sinister or evil techniques so often associated with magic, but merely another way of
describing a perfectly natural and logical ability possessed by all human beings to
program themselves in the hope of affecting a desired outcome.
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THE AURA
Just as the atmosphere of the Earth is held around the planet by electromagnetic
and gravitational forces, so too are the charged particles that are the products of
respiration. There is an “aura” of gaseous particles around the body. This is analogus to
the scent that surrounds humans and is perceptible primarily to dogs, with their more
highly developed sense of smell. In some cases a malodorous smell can even be detected
by the normal human nose as well.
If all this is true, then why not an electromagnetic field as well? Certainly the
minuscule particles possess some charge. Simply by being composed of atoms made of
electrons, protons, and neutrons. If we accept that nerve impulses, although produced by
chemical interaction, are essentially electrical in nature, then it logically follows that they
too must produce some inductive field that extends beyond the physical nerve itself.
Every other electrical current produces such a field.
Without a doubt then, there IS an aura, and it is perceptible to some gifted or
skilled people. It is alterable according to respiration and mood, as previously shown.
The purpose of the mental exercise that follows is to fill that aura with charged
particles released through normal respiration but more highly charged by breathing so
that the sphere of influence (aura) becomes opaque, like a clear glass filled with smoke.
The effect is to render the user invisible to himself, which generates the body language
and mental attitude to render himself invisible to others.
There is an inherent difficulty when employing this method. Namely, if one
cannot see one’s hands or feet, there is a tendency to bump into things and knock them
over. For this reason the Ninja train in blindfold techniques. Those that arise
spontaneously are very similar to those used by the blind. It may seem paradoxical that
moving as if you were blind would contribute to making you invisible to others. But, the
psychological effect of diminishing your ego to the point where you can’t even see your
own hand allows you to focus all your attention on those other people and remain out of
their line of sight. Also, because of this intense concentration, you (like a blind man)
would develop more highly sensitive applications of your other senses.
THE SPELL OF INVISIBILITY
The exercise (spell) that follows confers upon the spell caster the singular ability
to become invisible at will such that his presence will not be detected by normal sight or
even sophisticated sensing devices. It does not affect body mass or physical
manifestation. The user still has weight and occupies space. The user can still make
boards creak by walking on them. Thus, there is a need for Silence.
It does over come the problem of H.G. Wells Invisible Man who found that food
was visible in his stomach until it had been digested because, as indicated above, the
body is not transparent but rather enshrouded in the mist or cloud. As it is still solid,
however, it does cast a shadow and leaves footprints like Wells’ character.
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This spell remains extant for so long as the Will sustains it. The best practice is
Absolute Stillness, i.e. meditation. Even the breathing must be quieted to the point where
it cannot be heard by the Seeker. One measure of how long the Invisibility Spell will last
is to count your heartbeats while holding your breath.
Actually, the lungs are held empty, that is to say no inhalation is made after the
exhalation that begins this test. Most people can’t hold their breath for more than thirty
seconds, about forty heartbeats at the rate of seventy-two beats per minute for men and
eighty beats per minute for women on average. With practice, however, the time can be
extended to one hundred heartbeats. The ancient texts on Ninja medicine say that if one
can hold the breath for this long, one is halfway to immortality. Bear in mind that this is
not intended as a means to “stay invisible” for long periods. A few moments at the proper
time is the key to “clouding men’s minds.”
Remember that there is a price to be paid for every magical work. In black magic
schools this is often blood, which is usually one of the ingredients necessary to complete
an incantation. On the psychological level this is an indication of the magician’s
desperation and his willingness to sacrifice to achieve his goal. In Ninjitsu the price is the
promise to teach ten others these mysteries. Finding ten who are worthy and capable may
take a lifetime. Therefore, do not use these devices frivolously or for too long. As Well’s
protagonist in his Invisible Man and the antagonists in Tolkien’s Hobbit found, absolute
power corrupts absolutely.
Place the index finger of your right hand to your lips and whisper the syllable
“Shhh…” as if asking someone to be quiet. In Chinese medicine this sound is associated
with the lungs (Air). It is said that pronouncing this syllable helps to dispel fear- and, this
is so.
Have you ever seen accident victims who were calmed by a comforting hand and
someone whispering softly that everything was going to be all right? Human beings
instinctively make this sound when cooing at or quieting a baby. Whether the child
becomes programmed to the relaxation response elicited by this cue or recognizes it as
the sound of respiration, a certain sign of life despite pain or discomfort, is quite likely
irrelevant. That it calms the person is the important factor. Likewise, it has a calming
effect on the user.
The fingers-to-lips gesture is also universally recognized to mean a request for
silence. Some Mystery Schools teach that the thumb should be used. But, this places the
Vertical Fist directly in front of the face, making it more of a threat than a request. This
gesture can be seen over great distances and when coupled with a stern expression and
stern eye contact can actually serve as a non-verbal reprimand quite effectively. From a
psychological perspective it turns the onlooker to whom it is directed into a co-
conspirator of silence. All the moreso the longer he waits to disobey.
With the fingertip to the lips forming the Mudra of the Silent Way, inhale slowly,
deeply and silently three times. On the first exhalation imagine the three horizontal lines
one above the other. These represent Heaven, Earth, and Man, just as in the Juice of Jade
Exercise. On the second exhalation imagine only two lines remaining, and on the third
exhalation only one line.
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At the conclusion of the third exhalation, swallow. Touch the tip of our tongue to
the roof of your mouth and mentally recite a short, calming phrase or prayer using the
self-hypnosis technique to reinforce the desired result.
Phrases such as “I am now completely relaxed,” or I am at a deeper level of
consciousness,” are in this way associated mentally with the ritual of the relaxation
response. Likewise a similar phrase such as, “I am better,” or, “I am returning to full
waking consciousness,” should be used when coming out of the trance. This helps
separate the meditation experience from the stress of the day, making it a refuge and a
sanctuary against the pressures of daily life. The Japanese have used it for centuries to
restore balance to their lives and so can anyone who practices it. The effects are
cumulative and require diligent practice at first, but the benefits are well worth the effort.
Release the mudra and form instead the Eight Channels Mudra by placing the tips
of the middle fingers to the tips of the thumbs. This connects the channels of energy
within the body. They are like the meridians of acupuncture, lymph circulation, or blood
vessels- natural pathways of circulation.
This finger-knitting position, like all those of the Kuji Kiri system, is used to
connect the systems of the body in a specific arrangement so that healing or similar facets
of magic can be performed. Complete Kuji Kiri instructions can be found in Secrets of
the Ninja and Ninja Mind Control.
The Eight Psychic Channels run up the back, down the front of the body, around
the waist, down the insides of the arms, up the backs of the arms, down the outsides of
the legs, up the insides of the legs to the Tan T’ien and up the center of the torso to solar
plexus level. For this reason, all schools of meditation begin with focus on the Hara or
Tan T’ien.
When you are sitting with legs crossed the mudra to unite these channels in their
most efficient arrangement is to connect the middle finger to the thumb and place the
palms face up on the knees. You need not think of the circulation for it to occur, although
there are texts and schools that teach the conscious direction of the Force. If you merely
sit long enough, you will learn everything you need to know.
As before, the back should be straight, the shoulders square, and the eyes closed,
looking easily and gently at the tip of the nose. Inhale slowly and deeply filling the Tan
T’ien with Qi. Imagine the flame upon which you concentrated in the earlier chapters to
be a small, warm, friendly fire in the Golden Stove of the Hara, filling the body with
warmth, light, and life as a hearth fills a home.
Let the saliva you swallowed as you counted- three, two, one- be the Juice of
Jade. It fills the cauldron and is warmed and evaporated into a steamy mist by the heat of
the internal Fire. This is the mystical essence of the Cloud. Tighten the Hara and let it rise
up the spine to the skull, where it condenses as golden drops of dew, the Yod symbol of
the Egyptian Tarot Deck. This is the internal distillation process, exactly like the one used
to distill the essence of herbs into elixirs or corn into “moonshine” liquor. These drops of
dew are the refined essence of the Juice of Jade. Although they are spoken of here in the
allegorical symbolism, they also exist chemically and can be activated by mental
imagery, they are the elixir of life.
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THE MIST
Exhale slowly and without effort or sound. Imagine a blue-white vapor or mist
which is the “steam” of the internal distillation process, being emitted with the exhalation
as you whisper, “Shhh…” Let it descend and cover your legs, swirling softly to form a
haze or blanket. Feel the relaxation in every part of your body as it slowly envelops the
physical self. It feels good to be relaxed, it feels better than before.
Repeat this procedure nine times, letting the Cloud build until you are completely
engulfed and oblivious to the outside world, forming an impenetrable shield which is the
sphere of influence, the aura, by sheer force of will, like filling a glass with water.
Creating the Mist
Form the Silent Way Mudra by placing your index finger to your lips with your
little finger extended and the middle and ring fingers curled into the palm. Inhale and
draw air into the Golden Stove. Circulate it eighty-one times using the Nine Breaths.
Imagine a vapor being expelled on each exhalation, descending to form the mist
or fog that settles about the body and then begins to rise and evaporate, spreading itself
upon the wind. Imagine the cloud becoming more dense as it fills the auric egg- the
electromagnetic field of the body.
Imagine becoming part of the cloud as it surrounds the body completely,
obscuring the form from view. Imagine the body becoming lighter and lighter until it is
carried away with the dissipating mist. So that the form vanishes completely and cannot
be seen.
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Imagine the cloud itself dispersing until it too is lost to the sight and achieves
absolute invisibility becoming “one with the universe,” as the Old Ones would describe
it. Here time and space have no meaning. One is impervious to heat or cold, beyond the
tactile level of reality, were anything is possible.
The aborigines of Australia have a great lore regarding this dream-time when you
are sitting as still as a lizard on a rock and become invisible to the universe that is well
worth investigating. The essence, however, is to link memory to imagination. Then one
can visualize or imagine the outcome of any scenario or the solution to any puzzle. It will
be presented to you in terms and symbols completely understandable, some of which are
archetypal and some of which are personal.
You are your own best teacher because only you know what you need to learn,
and are therefore the only one worthy to be your own master. Let no one say otherwise.
INVISIBILITY
One can move about slowly when surrounded by the Mist or Cloud, and so
perform acts of the Will invisibly. Chinese sages say that the secret of invisibility is
sitting so still that you go unnoticed by the passage of nature. In meditation, the initial
stages of practice, this movement is known as the internal work, the healing and
detoxifying of the body by collecting, cultivating and circulating the life-force, Qi. In a
physical sense, moving about means to “ride the wind”-that is to say, let yourself move
so slowly and quietly and spontaneously in response to the actions or line of sight of
others that you become “one with nature,” part of the background that is overlooked-
invisible.
This enables the Ninja to not be seen and not attract attention until he is ready to
“step out of the mist” and suddenly appear to the enemy. Silence is the key. When you
can breathe so slowly and deeply that you cannot hear yourself, then you can move
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slowly and quietly enough to be invisible. You will also have developed the patience
needed to do so.
Slowness is of major importance. Think of how movement inside a real cloud
would disturb the gaseous mist and threaten to expose an arm or hand to view. Practice
moving in water or imagine that you are doing so to elicit the necessary visual imagery.
Any attack made while invisible has a fifty percent better chance of success and
does twice the damage since the opponent is unprepared and has no chance to defend
himself or steel himself against the impact. Naturally, any such aggressive behavior
negates the concentration required to remain invisible, thus breaking the “spell” and
making the magician visible.
This is why invisible actions are always more subtle and employ very little force.
In Tai Chi Chuan it is said that a “force of a thousand pounds can be deflected by four
ounces.” And, in Pa Kua Chang it is taught that “to affect the lives of men, one must be
outside the circle that presses them.” Both of these principles are part of the Invisible Fist
philosophy. The greatest warrior prevails without throwing a single punch.
It is, of course, not necessary to merely sit and enjoy the sensation of relaxation
and solitude. While in this state it is possible to effect the self healing of old wounds and
injuries merely by thinking them well.
There are many schools and methods used for this practice-too many to enumerate
here. Suffice to say that if one tries this method, one will develop a system and a suitable
set of mental techniques without the need of any further instruction whatsoever. It may
help, however, to consult with other wizards or healers to save time or confirm that the
methods are in fact in keeping with the principles of magic, meditation, or even prayer. If
they work, they are correct. It is as simple as that.
RETURN TO EARTH AN IMMORTAL
Dispel the mist gradually by “blowing it away.” Exhale gently whispering the
sound “Whooo…”
This is the sound of the Earth, represented in Chinese medicine by the stomach
and the spleen. It is only natural that one should use the sound symbolic of the Earth to
return to waking consciousness after this mental exercise.
As the breath and the sound move away, they will gradually carry the fog or mist
with them and visibility will return. One should not come out of this auto-hypnotic state
too suddenly. At first, it will be hard even to sit still. Then it will be difficult to imagine
the Cloud at all. But, with perseverance, patience and practice, it can be done.
It might be hard to dispel the vapor, making it necessary whisper the “who” (Hu)
mantra as many times as needed to produce the fog with the “Shhh…” sound- perhaps
nine.
After a while the Cloud will be more easily dispelled. That is to say, in only three
breaths or one, depending on the depth of concentration. These three then can be used to
count up from the relaxed state, just as counting backwards, three to one, was used to
induce it. Counting up to return to full wakefulness and alertness, feeling better than
before, is a positive awakening ritual that brings with it the feeling of warmth and
relaxation produced by the practice of invisibility.
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Just visualize three horizontal lines, one above the other. The Chinese ideogram
for three, taking them off from top to bottom as you go deeper and replacing them from
bottom to top when waking up. Swallow and release the tongue from connecting the Jen
Mo and Tu Mo channels of the body. Forgot about that mnemonic device, didn’t you?
That is one reason Ninjitsu is called the Silent Way. Because you can’t speak when your
tongue is on the roof of your mouth.
Then, relax by sighing or remain in a meditative sate for some other mental
exercise and later on return to full wakefulness by counting the lines upward or just
imagining the numbers in sequence as you rouse yourself.
As previously stated, some concluding phrase or benediction should be rendered
to separate the solitary cultivation of energy from mundane reality. Some schools use
“Ommm…” a sixty-cycle harmonic or its variations like “Amen.” Magicians seem to like
“So…” as a conclusionary remark, “So let it be written, so let it be done.”
HARAKI-THE SPIRIT SHOUT
When faced with an imminent confrontation, it is often advisable to “steal the
march” from the adversary and attempt to overcome him verbally or mentally before he
can become belligerent enough to make an attack. As the enemy is preparing to attack, so
is the Ninja. He draws air into the Tan T’ien and tenses his belly.
Using his Command Voice he shouts a single word order to halt or move,
bringing the shout up from the Center and directing the forceful blast of air directly at the
face and eyes of the aggressor, who should blink or flinch in response. Expand your
chest, a subtle “puffing up” gesture, and lean forward slightly as you follow with a long
“Haaaa…” sound, breathing the heat of the inner fire at the face of the enemy. “Show
your fangs” by baring the teeth somewhat and look at him as if the human torch was
setting his head on fire. This is the Fire Breathing Ninja Technique. He should feel the
heat of your breath and perceive that you are about to make a kill-or-be-killed response to
his challenge. That alone may give him pause to reconsider his challenge. If he breaks
stance or falls back, the battle is won. If not, jump on him or vanish while he is still trying
to decide if you are insane-or not!
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When using the most basic method, the Kiai, most schools hold that “Ha!” is the
best word to yell. It is the sound of the heart. When using Haraki, the word is not even
heard. It is the sound waves that produce the effect.
As seen in the Book of Fire, true Dragon Breath requires expelling gases and foul
odors by belching. Haraki does not. The effect, however, of making the enemy fall back
without physical contact is identical in these three methods. Punching Out or Shouting
Out a Candle silently is the test of this ability.
This is an example of using your Mist Attack as part of the “power to cloud men’s
minds” in combat. To become invisible for surreptitious entry apply the following. From
your place of concealment behind the enemy, imagine the Cloud in which you meditate
building in your Hara. Tighten the lower belly and blow a puff of air gently at the back of
his ear. By doing this, you can make him think an insect is annoying him and become
uncomfortable. While he is focused on himself, you can silently slip by.
Likewise, you can project this small ball of air to other spots and cause sounds
that will attract his attention and draw him off his post so you can pass. This is the basis
for the Ninja trick of Yoji no Jitsu or the Toothpick Trick, in which a small object was
thrown past a sentry to make him investigate and move away.
Another method is to “put him to sleep.” Just as the Empty Hand Breath Weapon
in the first chapter. This time the Qi, the vapor, is projected using a slow steady stream of
air, to form a cloud around the head of the enemy. He does not see it or feel it. But, once
you have seen evidence of relaxation from projecting the Cloud at him, you can mentally
send the subtle command to “sleep…” with each breath until he dozes off or becomes so
drowsy you can slip by. “Think” the cloud around his head, dimming and smothering the
candle flame of is will. The principle here is to mentally connect with the other mind
using the charged particles of the breath to form a bridge.
Some schools teach these methods like projecting the energy from solar plexus
through the palm toward the sentry’s back. Others use the finger-knitting position
Direction of Energy from Kuji Kiri to aim this stream of consciousness from the Will to
the desired effect. The test of this ability, of course, is mentally diminishing the flame of
a candle until it is extinguished
In a battle of wills the flame is imagined to be directly above and between his
eyebrows. This is the Third Eye Point used by hypnotists to fix the gaze of the subject.
INVISIBLE FISTS
As we have discussed, the Ninja magic techniques operate on all levels
simultaneously, visual, audible and tactile. The Ninja of old, often used subtle gestures to
identify themselves to each other when acting undercover. One of these, which indicated
that the agent was advanced to the level of skill that enabled him to perform this Spell of
Invisibility was the Dragon Palm Fist. In combat, this gesture may be used to intimidate
the enemy on a subconscious level or warn him that he is about to be struck by one
skilled in the Invisible Fist. In black magic schools this hand sign is called the Cornu, or
Devil’s Horns.
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It should be noted that the Dragon Palm Fist of Chinese martial arts is made by
bending the middle and ring fingers into the open palm so that the index and little fingers
form the “dragon horns.” Note this is the same hand position used in the Invisibility
Meditation and is one-half of the third finger-knitting position of Kuji Kiri. The thumb is
bent and locked to harden the fist. Strikes are made with the Needle Finger to Dim Mak
pressure points; by raking downward with the middle and ring fingers that form the
Dragon Claw; with the edge of the hand as in the Swordhand Strike; with the inner edge
of the Palm as in the Ridgehand Strike, by hooking the thumb into the enemy’s eye or
mouth to rip and tear the flesh, the Tiger Claw; or by poking both eyes with the two
extended fingertips, Twin Dragons Seek the {earl.
The Dragon Palm Fist was brought to China from the Himalayan Mountains of
Tibet, where it was known as the Lama Hand, the Way of the Monk. It the Black Dragon
School of Ninjitsu it is called Mi Chuan, the Invisible Fist.
Another application of this gesture is founding American Sign Language. When
the back of the thumb is pressed against the heart and the index and little fingers are
extended with the middle and ring fingers folded into the palm, it forms a combination of
three letters or words in Sign Language. I is formed by the little finger extended and the
thumb at the heart; you is indicated by the index finger which would ordinarily be
pointing at the listener; and the letter L for love is made by extending the index finger
with the thumb held at a right angle. It is the sign for “I love you” that is recognized
worldwide. It is also similar to the American Indian sign language gesture for friend, and
to the Shaolin Salute in which the Standing Palm is placed above the left upward turned
open palm as solar plexus level to indicate training in the temple. Thus, this hand sign
represents the Ninja philosophy of non-violence. No one wants to harm another human
being. Only in the most dire circumstances of self-defense is the use of Force permitted.
DRAGON PALM
STANDING PALM
LAMA HAND
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The hand-to-face gesture using this mudra in meditation is also a method of
blocking a chokehold in Judo and can be used psychologically in battle by placing the fist
on the chin and slapping oneself with the palm. While the opponent pauses to wonder
what is being evaluated, or why you struck yourself, he blinks, he hesitates, and you are
gone.
Lama Hand
The Lama Hand of Tibetan Kung Fu is the source of the lost forms of Ninjitsu and
the secret teachings of the Hidden Kingdom called Shangri-La by some. The Lama Hand
is literally the art of overcoming any opponent, no matter how large or small, instantly,
regardless of the size, age, or infirmity of the defender with no physical contact. The
principle is to project Qi from the forward edge of the hand as if performing an Edge
Block and strike the opponent in the heart charka to stun him BEFORE he comes in range
of the fist.
THE MIND GATE METHOD
If Ninja are the ultimate warriors, it is because the have the knowledge and will to
use the Way of the Invisible Fist.
There are many excellent fighting systems and it is left to the individual to find
for himself those techniques or styles that work best for him. To quote the late Bruce Lee,
“Absorb what is useful.” That does not mean that everyone will absorb the same things or
that what appears to be useless may not have some redeeming value. Nor it is our intent
to insult any other martial art by saying that one is better than another. Other Seekers
have other Paths and there are many ways of becoming “invisible.”
HsiMenJitsu, the Way of the Mind Gate is the name given to psychology in the
ancient texts and sacred scrolls of the Ninja. Unlike the Dragon Method which is
essentially kinesthetic, this system is almost entirely visual.
As in the Kuji Kiri mediation practice, Qi in the Small Heavenly Cycle, having
been raised through the Nine Gates of the Heavenly Pillar of the spine, is circulated in the
Mysterious Chamber of the skull and is directed with the Third Eye. Control is exerted
simply through mental imagery. One merely thinks of what he wants the enemy to do and
it is done. Whatever can be imagined can be accomplished. This is very similar to the
Tantric teachings and the use of the dream state in problem solving exercises.
Those who vanish by this method normally do so by turning the eyes upward in
their sockets to look at their own Third Eye between the brows. Those who have witness
such a demonstration report that the room lights begin to dim. Then darkness fills the
room so that only a spot of light can be seen on the forehead of the Yogi. When this is
gone all is blackness-practical invisibility. As amazing as this may seem, it, like the
Dragon Method is based on practical, physical laws and also operates on many levels.
Two of these should be explained. First, you can’t hit what you can’t see. While
the Dragon Technique affects the eyes and surrounds the user with a mist, the Mind Gate
Method functions by simply making it impossible to see. Masters of this art can place the
idea of the fist into the mind of the opponent and excel as the skills of both hypnotism
and illusion.
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Second, on the physical level, the application of this technique can be as simple as
turning out a light. The eye reacts to the change in available light by expanding or
contracting the pupil. This takes a finite amount of time. For those seconds when this
process is in effect, one cannot see clearly. In a desperate situation, knocking over a lamp
to produce such darkness is permissible.
By the same token, a sudden flash of light makes the iris constrict, producing
temporary blindness. Ordinary flashbulbs can be made to go off to make one see spots
before the eyes without the need of a camera or other large apparatus. Imagine! A
flashcube as a self-defense weapon! Yet, we all know how effective they are at making us
blink or squint.
Those who have been “struck” by followers of the Mind Gate have said they see a
flash of light so bright that it makes them recoil instinctively. Those who have
experienced the Dragon Method can actually feel its impact. Haraki victims speak of
pressure in the ears or a sound so high pitched as to cause pain.
THE DEMON MASK SCHOOL
BASIC MASK
DRAGON MASK
BONE MASK
The Demon Mask School of Ninjitsu holds that to present a terrifying image to
the enemy is often a useful psychological ploy that may even dissuade him from further
aggression. Much like the stern look of a parent when hushing a child or much like the
contorted scream of a martial artist as he hurls himself into battle. To this end, they
devised elaborate costumes and masks made of bone or used bright red colors or fangs to
frighten their enemies. Many of these were patterned after the symbolic costumes of the
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Japanese Noh Plays, which are specifically designed to elicit an emotional response from
the audience. This practice is analogus to the use of skulls and other alchemical symbols
by some Mystery Schools to discourage interest in their techniques. Part of the training is
to release all the bottled up fear and anger produced by daily stress into the Kiai.
Imagine it as a ball of fire being blasted from your belly, engulfing and destroying
the object of your hatred or fear. That is the Fire Breathing Dragon! It is also a primal
scream, a purging of the negative thoughts and emotions and it generates the courage to
stand up for yourself. If you “see” it, so will your opponent. He will feel the heat of your
anger and fear your wrath. And, you will prevail.
DISTRACTION
All of these things are what a magician would call distractions or misdirection. A
boxer would think of them as fakes or feints used to create an opening in an opponent’s
defense, some think of them as sucker punches. If this can be done by breaking his
concentration, the Ninja can safely launch his attack or disappear. Simple tricks like
tossing a coin behind a sentry will often make him turn to investigate the odd noise.
Looking over the shoulder of an opponent gives him the impression that there is someone
behind him.
In Kung Fu, many styles teach how to simultaneously attack two targets,
gambling that one will succeed if the other fails, making it all the more difficult for the
opponent to read the incoming attack and mount an adequate defense. In Ninjitsu, the
technique of attacking a heavily defended passageway to draw enemy troops away from
the surreptitious entry of a single agent or team at some more remote site has long been a
stratagem of battle. Just as has been the trick of throwing crude gunpowder into a
campfire to make a blinding flash of light and smoke.
Anything that can be used to make the enemy blink can and probably has been
employed at one time or another. It only takes a second to duck out of sight.
PATIENCE AND SILENCE
We have no fear that these techniques will be misused or perverted. Since those
who would do such things do not have the patience or perseverance to learn them. You
can know the secret of Fire Breathing Dragon and still not be able to perform it due to
lack of confidence resulting from inadequate preparation. You can lean the secret mudra
that confers the power of invisibility, but, unless you have done all that is explained here,
slowly, step-by-step, there is no way the technique will ever work properly for you.
There are things that can only be learned by doing them and lessons will also be
learned along the Way. No one can tell you all these things. They must be experienced
and discovered for one’s Self. Thus, they are presented in the manner of self-instruction.
We want or need no “followers” no devotees, no ardent admirers. We want each
person to be the best he or she can possibly be. There are no masters in the ranks of the
Ninja. We believe that one should have many teachers and try many styles, the better to
find the truth for oneself and to train oneself and be one’s own master. Part of that is
developing the self-confidence of knowing you can defend yourself-by becoming
invisible if necessary.
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POSTSCRIPT
We are not a club, team, or army. We are a fraternity of like-minded individuals-
friends who help each other and set a good example for all.
Now that you have learned the secret teaching- the Yin, or dark side of the Silent
Way- do you understand why it is called that? Because the entire system is based on the
physio-psychological response elicited by placing the fingertip to the lips and whispering
“Shhh…”
The secret of invisibility is silence and stillness.
Now you understand why it was kept secret? Because it is so easy! There are no
gymnastics, no tumbling, no deathblows or gore. No years of brutal training under stern
Sensei or paying for lessons.
Anyone having read this book can defend themselves with a handful of sand.
These are methods even the most extreme pacifist could endorse. They are as non-violent
as the fighting arts are savage and terrifying. Yet, each has its place and applications.
Even for the Invisible Tribe, the wheel of life continues to revolve. One will be
faced with problems, obstacles, opportunities or confrontations with those who believe
that violence is the answer to everything, and for them it is.
“Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself,” is more than just a
maxim. It is also an explanation of human psychology. If a man comes to you and wants
to beat you up, that means HE, for some reason, wishes to be beaten. There are many
motivations for this kind of behavior, but they are of little consequence If he wants a
whipping, the Ninja is usually capable of providing it. But, since the Ninja reveres all life
and values peace and harmony above all else, he will go to almost any lengths to avoid
having to fight. In attempting to live as a superior man, the goal of the I Ching, the Book
of Changes, and set a good example for all, he will run, hide, accept verbal abuse and
slander without striking back. Only when there is no escape, when trapped, when the
stakes are life and death does he permit himself to use the savage and terrifying arts of
which he is capable. And then, he shines.
Some schools of invisibility teach that one must become non-descript,
anonymous, lost in the crowd. It is essentially the principle of attracting no interest. They
instruct that one should practice by staring into a mirror until a field of shimmering
energy manifests itself between the observer and the observed. This curtain of non-
interest is faint and indescribable except to say it appears, as do the distortions produced
by heat rising from a road to create a mirage in the desert. A bending of light rays by an
area of heated air, which acts as a natural lens or prism. Not as fantastic as it sounded
earlier, eh?
The Koga Hai Lung Ryu (Black Dragon School) of Ninjitsu performs this feat by
filling the sphere of influence, the aura with a fog or mist- a vapor that conceals the Ninja
-as explained. What is seen within the Cloud, in the mind, is not seen clearly at first. The
Ninja must remain in quiet places that attract no attention, lest his presence be felt or
otherwise sensed. This is called Kobudera, the “masking of real intent.”
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Some say the substance from which the Cloud is formed is called Akasa and
collects in the corners with the dust that is harvested to fill the Hai Lan or Black Eggs
used to vanish as described in the Book of Earth. This magical dust is analogus to the
“pixie dust” magicians claim is found in the linty corners of almost every pocket and can
be sprinkled on objects to make them do extraordinary things. The real trick is that when
he dips into his pocket for the “pixie dust” he is also dropping off the object in question.
Like the dust harvesting process itself, the psychological effect is that of mentally
gathering the Qi to fill the aura, making it opaque, as opposed to transparent. Then there
are those who believe that the power to cloud men’s minds can be wholly generated from
within, These are the followers of the Fire Breathing Dragon School.
The first step, Kindling the Fire in the Belly is the first exercise in the
development of this power. Collecting the Qi in the Center, refining it with the imaginary
heat of the Golden Stove (cultivation) and letting the “steam” produced by boiling the
Juice of Jade rise to the brain is always the initial stage. How else could one hope to
breathe fire on an opponent and defeat him with the same energy that enables Hindu
Yogis to walk on burning coals or fast for weeks at a time?
This practice confers control of the “reptile brain.” The brain stem in every human
being concerned with survival and response to environmental stimuli. To the Yogis it is
Kundalini, the “serpent power” that represents sexual energy. To the Ninja it is Hou Lung
Qi, the Way of the Fire Breathing Dragon.
THE SWORD THAT DOES NOT KILL
The quest for invisibility is only one road that leads to the top of the mountain of
self-knowledge and understanding offered by many others. The same chants, guidelines
and symbols serve as signposts and mile markers along the gradual learning process of
perfecting the Self.
Those who seek out this knowledge do so because they think attaining it is
impossible and if the could do something impossible, it would provide some clue to
understanding all the other things that elude them-that are “invisible”-without adequate
explanation. When they find out how something is done they either don’t have the
patience to do it properly or are disappointed because it is so simple it is hard to believe it
would fool anyone, especially them-but it can, and does.
As promised, even the most meek and mild among you even the most passive and
non-violent can find a way to defend yourself and have self-esteem if not with these exact
techniques then by adapting them to your own needs.
It was said that Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous swordsman of feudal Japan
had engraved on one side of the hand guard of his sword, “The Sword that Kills.” And,
on the other side, “The Sword That Spares Life.” It would be interesting to know which
face was presented to the enemy and which to the swordsman himself.
For the Hai Lung Ryu, it is the Invisible Fist that does not kill.
94
Collector’s History
The Invisible Fist was originally written and submitted for publication to Paladin
Press in1989. It was declined because by that time relations between Kim-Sensei and
Paladin Press were strained. Kim having discovered several titles that had been re-named
and were being sold without royalties being paid, and overseas sales that were completely
unreported for many years.
In 1998 it was published by Citadel Press, after more than a year of “polishing”
and their insistence that the chapter entitled Book of Fire be replaced for fear some
moron would set himself on fire trying the Fire Breathing Dragon Technique.
Since then, Carol Publishing Group, the parent company of Citadel Press has
declared bankruptcy. Although they remain in business and continue to sell Kim-Sensei’s
books such as Secrets of the Ninja in paperback edition through front companies like
Berkeley Press without paying the author a nickel.
As part of the “liquidation” of Carol’s assets, Invisible Fist, Iron Body Ninja, and
the unfinished Ninjitsu For Women were sold, despite Kim’s objections and in violation
of his contract with Carol, to Kensington Publishing who have merely carried on under-
reporting and using “accounting devices” to rob the author.
Since DOJO Press is the ONLY AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR OF ASHIDA
KIM BOOKS AND TAPES, this edition has been retyped and reproduced from original
photographs in its original format with Fire Breathing Dragon included, instead of the
forced changes. Ashida Kim considers this book to be one of his best efforts to explain
Ninjitsu, the only non-violent martial art known to man, and deeply regrets the delay in
providing this information to the public.
-Editor 2001
| textdata/thevault/Invisible Fist of the Ninja - Ashida Kim/Invisible Fist of the Ninja - Ashida Kim.pdf |
- 1 -
Original texts and manuscript concept copyright © 2007 by Richard E. Mandel
STAR TREK, its on-screen derivatives, and all associated materials are the property
of Paramount Pictures Corporation. Multiple references in this document are given
under the terms of fair use with regard to international copyright and trademark law.
This is a scholarly reference work intended to explain the background and historical
aspects of STAR TREK and its spacecraft technology and is not sponsored, approved,
or authorized by Paramount Pictures and its affiliated licensees.
All visual materials included herein is protected by either implied or statutory copyright
and are reproduced either with the permission of the copyright holder or under the
terms of fair use as defined under current international copyright law.
All visual materials used in this work without clearance were obtained from public
sources through public means and were believed to be in the public domain or
available for inclusion via the fair use doctrine at the time of printing.
Cover art by Amaral
This work is dedicated to Geoffery Mandel, who started it for all of us.
Memory Alpha and SFHQ/Mastercom cataloging data:
UFP/SFD DTA HR:217622
- 2 -
PART TWELVE
2276-2295: TOWARDS THE FUTURE
0VERVIEW
CHRONOLOGY/TIMELINE
STARSHIPS
THE DREADNOUGHT PROGRAM (PART 2)
DARAN CLASS FRIGATE
ARIEL CLASS SHUTTLECARRIER
SYDNEY CLASS TRANSPORT
JENSHAHAN CLASS HEAVY CARRIER
RENNER CLASS CORVETTE
IANAR CLASS FAST FRIGATE
MITANNIC CLASS BATTLECRUISER
STARFLEET’S NEW PERIMETER ACTION
SHIP PROGRAM
EXCELSIOR CLASS SPACE CONTROL SHIP
TRANSPORT/TUGS OF THE LINEAR WARP ERA
MIDWAY CLASS SHUTTLECARRIER
RANGER CLASS LIGHT CRUISER
CONSTELLATION CLASS STAR CRUISER
TERRAN EXPLORATIONS
THE GENESIS PLANET
HISTORICAL ARTICLES
THE MIGHTY HOOD GOES DOWN
ENTERPRISE DESTROYED
LAUNCH OF THE GREAT EXPERIMENT
KLINGONS THREATEN WAR
KIRK SURVIVES COURT-MARTIAL
KLINGONS DOOMED TO EXTINCTION
STARFLEET CONSPIRACY UNMASKED
KIRK DIES SAVING NEW ENTERPRISE
STARSHIP DEVELOPMENT CHART
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A Constitution (II) class cruiser (c.2275)
Enterprise (NCC-1701) returns to SpaceDock after the Genesis
Incident of 2287. The space control ship prototype Excelsior
(NX-2000) is clearly visible in the background
Enterprise, Excelsior, and Miranda class cruisers in formation
The new Excelsior class starship Enterprise (2295)
- 3 -
2276-2295: Towards the Future
The Starfleet of the early 2270s lived through an
escalation boom in the aftermath of the intrusion by
the V’Ger entity, with nearly unlimited resources
provided for the prevention of any further invasions of
similar kind. The de facto source of these resources,
the Organian Peace Treaty, proved but a temporary
lull in Klingon-Federation political and military intrigue.
Only the stern leadership of Fleet Admiral Robert
Conrad and his legendary successor Heihachiro
Nogura had kept Starfleet from overreacting to the
Klingon threat in the preceding decades. When these
powerful figures retired from Starfleet command,
other forces began vying for power in the highest
echelons. The infamous coup attempt by Vice Admiral
Vaughan Rittenhouse, even though doomed to fail
from the outset, cast deep shadows over the public
image of Starfleet – shadows that even the brief
return of Fleet Admiral Nogura and the resurrection
of the exploration program were hard pressed to
disperse.
For the duration of the late 2270s, the militaristic
forces inside Starfleet were again technically
outnumbered by the more peaceful factions. Despite
its official peaceful doctrine, though, Starfleet
continued to prepare a huge fleet of modern cruisers
with significant military as well as exploration
capabilities. Also, the major programs for production
of modern dreadnoughts and the space control ship
program were finally providing results. These would
culminate in the Excelsior class, the next ‘backbone’
vessel of Starfleet and a worthy successor to the
famous Constitution heavy cruisers.
The Klingon Empire attempted to match the
Federation move for move, upgrade for upgrade, and
new class with new class. It also introduced cloaking
capability to many of its naval vessels, courtesy of its
treaty with the Romulans. The rigoriously structured
and exploitative Klingon economy was slowly
descending towards chaos, as it simply did not have
the base to cope with the conservation-minded free
market economy of the Federation. Some visionary
leaders foresaw the inevitable and strove for closer
diplomatic and ultimately economic ties with the
Federation. Others sought for the answer in
- 4 -
increased military spending and frantic conquest of
new worlds to exploit for new resources. No headway
could be made on the Federation front, though, not
even after it had become painfully evident that the
Organian peace treaty no longer was being enforced
at all. Neither side would back off, not even after a
series of provocations revolving around the Genesis
Incident that introduced a new potential superweapon
of immense power.
To offset this balance of terror, a far-flung conspiracy
was engineered by Starfleet hardliners who, under
the leadership of Fleet Admiral Lemuel Cartwright,
aimed for an offensive against the Klingon Empire.
Simultaneously and perhaps not coincidentally,
relations with the Romulan Star Empire grew
warmer. These two troubling developments came to a
peak in the Praxis incident, where a key Klingon
energy production facility exploded and left the whole
Empire badly damaged. The conspirators saw the
right moment had come, and seized it. A chain of
assassinations was begun to pave way for a
declaration of war against the weakened Empire.
Unfortunately, the plan of the hard-liners required
support of Klingon and Romulan factions to succeed,
and complex plots often end in a disaster, as was
luckily the case with their attempted coup of 2291.
The actions of one man, Captain James T. Kirk, saved
the life of President Ra-ghotarei and the integrity of
the Federation. Relationships between the UFP and
the Klingon Empire drastically improved, in the
aftermath of the aborted coup, and a thorough
cleansing of Starfleet would eventually result.
adapted from
Guide to the UFP Starfleet
by Timo Saloniemi
A Saladin class destroyer being upgraded (c.2280)
Captain James T. Kirk and his loyal bridge crew (2287)
At bottom right is Hikaru Sulu, Kirk’s helmsman for 15 years.
Sulu was promoted to captain a few years after this picture was
taken. Captain Sulu would soon become a legend in his own
right during his first assignment as commander of the space
control ship Excelsior (NCC-2000)
The Midway class shuttlecarrier Ark Royal (c.2295)
The mining complex on Praxis before it was destroyed (c.2290)
Image courtesy of the Klingon Empire
- 5 -
MAJOR EVENTS
2276
•
The Cardassians are encountered for the first time in a
conflict over a new Federation colony in the Europa
Nova system, located on the far side of the Badlands.
•
The uprated Federation class dreadnought enters
service.
•
Developent of the transwarp drive is authorized.
•
The Daran class frigate enters service.
•
The Ariel class shuttlecarrier enters service.
2277
•
The Federation flag and seal are updated to mark the
150th anniversary of the Federation Charter.
•
The heavy cruiser Excelsior (NCC-1718) is lost while
on a long-range reconnaissance mission outside of
Federation territory. The name will be given to the
lead ship in the new space control ship program, which
is already on the drawing boards.
•
The first problems with transwarp drive are noted
during simulation testing aboard the prototype
starship U.S.S. Ingram (NX-2001).
•
The first of the Jackill's Starfleet Reference Manuals is
published.
•
The Knox class frigates enter service.
•
The Sydney class transport enters service.
2278
•
The Klingon C-8/9K'herr class dreadnought enters
service, much to the dismay of Starfleet starship
spotters. It outclasses even the uprated Federation
class dreadnought, the most powerful ship in Starfleet
at the time. It serves as an incentive for kicking
development of the Excelsior class space control ship
program into high gear.
•
The Ares Incident marks the first time a Starfleet
vessel has been forced to engage Tholian vessels in
combat in years.
•
The Pleiades class survey cruisers are commissioned.
•
The Ascension class dreadnoughts are commissioned.
•
An incident between Klingon and Federation forces in
the Typhon Expanse exposes Klingon plans to invade
the Federation. The Klingon plot is made public and
condemned, resulting in the overthrow of the current
Klingon government. Starfleet loses a single starship
in the incident, the Soyuz class heavy frigate U.S.S.
Bozeman (NCC-1841).
•
The Enterprise (NCC-1701) returns from its final five-
year mission under Admral James T. Kirk. It is
assigned as flagship of the Terran Defense Group
under Commodore Gregory Westlake. It will spend
approximately the next year in drydock undergoing a
regularly scheduled routine service upgrade. In the
meantime, Admiral Kirk resumes staff duties within
Starfleet Command.
•
The Canopus class starships are retired.
2279
•
Federation surveillance drones spot the new Klingon
heavy destroyer K'teremny (D-9 class) while it is
temporarily disabled during a final test flight. This is
the first time that Starfleet is able to get the
proverbial goods on an new Klingon starship class just
as it is about to enter service.
•
Border incidents with the Klingons begin a marked rise
this year, indicating that the Klingons have resolved
their internal disputes and are once again arming for
war with the Federation.
•
The Tyson Encounter will go down in history as one of
the most unusual carrier duels ever fought between
Federation and Klingon forces.
•
The Klingons stage a surprise raid on Sherman's
Planet. The end result is a massacre.
•
The Klingons finally begin construction of their long-
rumored Kar’harmer B-10 class of battleships. These
will be the largest starships ever built by a current
spacefaring culture in known space to date.
•
Starfleet’s new battlecruiser program is placed on
temporary hold due to numerous flaws found in the
class prototype, the U.S.S. Menagha (NCC-3100)
- 6 -
•
A working transwarp drive core is approved and
delivered to the yards for fitting into the class
prototype U.S.S. Excelsior (NX-2000).
•
A highly infectious viral plague sweeps the Kzinti
Patriarchy. The death toll numbers in the millions.
The new Kzinti Patriarch grants permission for the
Federation to dispatch medical assistance teams in an
effort to combat the plague. The leader of this effort
is Commander Nyota Uhura and assisting her is
Lieutenant Shiboline M’ress, a Caitian. This
unexpected act of kindness despite decades of
aggression and piracy does much to change Kzinti
perceptions about the Federation.
2280
•
The crew of the Klingon D-6 battlecruiser Destruction,
all press-ganged prisoners, mutiny and manage (with
Starfleet support) to escape into Federation space.
All are granted asylum while the ship is interned at
Starbase 12 for extensive study. It will not be
returned to the angry Klingons for a year. Although
an old design that predates current starship
technologies, its seizure is considered important -- in
particular what its computer data banks hold
concerning current Klingon fleet strength and
deployment.
•
The Federation confirms the existence of the B-10
construction program from the data banks of the
captured D-6 Destruction. Release of this information
does much to win Federation Council support for
authorization of the Excelsior class space control ship.
•
The Organians are forced to intercede to prevent the
Klingons from going to war with the Federation. This
is the last time they will do so prior to events leading
up to the destruction of Praxis.
•
Admiral James T. Kirk becomes an instructor at the
Starfleet Academy Command School.
2281
•
Improved Starfleet fightercraft enter service and are
deployed as fast as possible to all operational carrier
battle groups. Anywhere from two to four will also be
deployed on all fleet units with standard shuttle bays,
with Miranda type starships operating at least one full
squadron. This too is a response to increased Klingon
activity on its border with the Federation.
•
The last operational Bering class tanker is removed
from service and sold for scrap.
2282
•
The first working holodeck is developed, based on
simulated reality technology developed some three
decades before.
•
The Kzinti Patriarchy formally petitions for associate
member status with the Federation. It is an act which
would have been unheard of only a decade before.
2283
•
The heavy cruiser Kongo
and the frigates Halk and
Rome are destroyed by
the Klingons in the
Kargon Incident.
•
The Tal Taan Offensive ends in victory for the
Federation; however, it is the closest it has yet come
to open war with the Klingons. The pacifists within
the Federation Council fall out of favor as more militant
factions take the reins of power. The result is
increased funding for more Starfleet starships.
•
Lars-Eric Valdemar becomes the new Starfleet
Commissioner. He will make many changes in order to
improve Starfleet operations and bring up its strength
in the face of Klingon aggression. Many new starship
classes that had been stalled in development will be
reactived and begin construction under Valdemar's
tenure.
•
The frigate Matkapan (NCC-1960) is lost along with
an entire TacFleet force on operations beyond
Federation borders.
•
The Jenshahan class heavy carrier enters service.
2284
•
The Renner class corvette enters service.
•
The Battle of Khatanga results in the loss of seven
Starfleet vessels.
•
Rumblings
begin
within
the
Admiralty about the need for
retiring the eldest starships in
the Class I fleet. The officer at
the forefront of this movement is
Admiral
Randolph
Morrow,
Starfleet Chief of Staff and heir
apparent
to
Fleet
Admiral
Heihachiro Nogura for the role of Starfleet
Commander-in-Chief (CinC). Admiral Nogura makes
clear for the need for all Class I starships to remain in
active duty service, with the eldest needing to serve
“a little while longer.”
•
The rebuilt heavy cruiser Enterprise (NCC-1701), the
second oldest operational Class I starship in Starfleet,
is reassigned to the Starfleet Academy Command
School as a training vessel at the request of guest
instructor Admiral James T. Kirk. Her commissioned
days as a Starfleet vessel are numbered, given all of
the new Class I linear warp equipped starships
- 7 -
entering service and current trends within the
Starfleet Admiralty. Transfer to training duty status is
Admiral Kirk’s way of ensuring that his beloved
Enterprise remains in service for as long as possible.
•
At this time Starfleet has only 69 starship classes and
a total of 1,265 active duty vessels in its Class I fleet.
Comparable numbers exist for its Class II fleet.
•
The first working experimental transwarp drive is
developed.
•
Starfleet Command decides to follow the inexpensive
LN-52 upgrade path for all remaining existing Class I
starships and starship classes that have not yet
received a linear warp refit. The LN-60 upgrade path
is officially abandoned save for those vessels that are
already scheduled for or undergoing the conversion
process. All Starfleet new builds will have LN-64
technology (or derivative, in the case of the new
perimeter action ship program) from this point
forward. The ACE (Advanced Circumferential Engine)
program is retained only for prototype testing
purposes. It will never see widespread fleet use
beyond a few isolated vessels.
•
Border incidents with the Klingons reach new heights
as the more militant of the Imperial Houses take over
border patrol duties, seeking the glory of battle with
their traditional Federation foes.
Several
protot
•
ypes
for Starfleet’s new
perimeter action ship
program enter service
for fleet testing prior
to implementation of the program. Three slightly
different classes (Alert, Akula, and Akyazi) will be built
in parallel, with each being modified as data from the
class prototypes comes in.
•
The Chosin class heavy carrier enters service.
2285
•
The Ranger class scout program is officially
discontinued in favor of the Oberth class. All Ranger
class scouts will be removed from Starfleet service by
2290.
•
Starfleet is forced to begin using non-sequential naval
construction contract (NCC) numbers due to rapid
changes in fleet construction authorizations and
cancellations. It is also around this time that Starfleet
Command begins to consider the possibility of reusing
previously assigned NCCs for new-build starships that
have the same name as older ones no longer in
service.
•
At this point in time Major General Roger Kensington
is Colonel of the Starfleet Marine Corps (i.e. Marine
Corps CinC). He holds the franked rank of general
(admiral) for official purposes, such as day-to-day
operational duties with Starfleet Command.
•
The escort carrier Sangamon (NCC-1927) is attacked
and damaged beyond reasonable repair by a Meerkan
pirate fleet. The Sangamon will be scrapped once it
returns to port.
•
The Excelsior class space control ship prototype (NX-
2000) begins construction.
•
The Ianar class fast frigate enters service.
•
The Klingons make their boldest move yet into the
Treaty Zone, capturing the planet Mrzicann without
Organian intervention.
•
The Loki class destroyer and Adams class scout are
authorized, with construction dependent upon the
success of the Excelsior program. They are single-
nacelled stablemates to the Excelsor, similar to the
role that the Saladin class destroyer and Hermes class
scout played in the original Class I Program.
•
The Joshua class command cruiser, a variant of the
Loki/Adams program, is also given provisional
authorization at this time.
•
The uprated heavy cruiser
Hood
(NCC-1707)
is
responsible for defeating
and capturing the Klingon
starhsip L’ktja. It is the
first D-8 K’t’inga class
battlecruiser to fall into
Federation hands. It will be
impounded at the nearest starbase, where Starfleet
Intelligence will thoroughly study it for the next five
months anticipating return demands. Oddly enough,
that demand never materializes, thus allowing
Starfleet Intelligence to continue studying the L’ktja
and its data at their leisure. The L’ktja will eventually
be repaired and join Starfleet’s infamous Adversary
Squadron, made up entirely of captured Klingon and
Romulan starships, for annual war games exercises.
•
The second and final generation of megaphaser cannon
enters Starfleet service.
•
Randolph Morrow is promoted to fleet admiral,
succeeding the retiring Heihachiro Nogura as Starfleet
CinC. One of his first orders is to begin the
decommissioning of Starfleet’s oldest Class I
starships, starting with such non-combat classes as
the Ptolemy class transport/tugs and working his way
up to other classes. All starships whose launch dates
fall within Morrow’s parameters are placed on the
decommissioning schedule even if they have not yet
reached the end of their expected service lives.
Morrow’s decommissioning program is set to take
place over the next five years. Included at the end of
Morrow’s list are the Constitution class heavy
cruisers, the eldest of which is now 63 years old (or
almost 20 years in terms of their linear warp
conversions, which is they way Admiral Morrow
usually describes them).
- 8 -
•
As a gesture of goodwill Kzinti warriors are allowed to
serve in Starfleet for the first time, albeit on a limited
basis. They quickly find a welcome home in the
Starfleet Marines, although it takes them and the
Corps a while to adapt to each other.
•
Work on the Genesis
Project has proceeded
to the point where
Stage II testing is
ready
to
begin;
however it cannot
proceed
unless
additional funding is
procured. Dr. Carol Marcus, project director, records
a special request for the required funding to be sent
to the Federation Bureau of Sciences. Her recording,
along the accompanying data, is classified for security
reasons. Her request will be granted and work will
resume shortly thereafter.
The heavy cr
•
uiser Enterprise (NCC-1701) undergoes a
•
rance class frigate enters service.
ce.
hip in
•
s
minor refit to better facilitate its new role as a
training starship. Included with the upgrade is a new
photon torpedo deck, complete with backup manual
operations capability (in the event that the automatic
system is out of commission) and a somewhat
retooled engineering deck better suited to midshipman
training.
The Endu
•
The Mitannic class battlecruiser enters servi
•
The keel of the Ingram (NX-2001), second s
Starfleet’s new space control ship program, is laid
down at the Proxima Shipyards. The major visual
difference between Ingram and Excelsior is the addition
of second-generation megaphaser cannon to Ingram’s
warp engine support pylons. These will be removed
once the Ingram program is terminated and all ships in
the class merged with the Excelsior program.
All Texas class light
crui ers still in service
are
decommissioned
on the direct orders
of Starfleet CinC Fleet
Admiral
Randolph
Morrow. The only fo
converted “commando” cruisers of the Starfleet
Marines, who had declined to decommission them back
in the 2270s due to “operational
needs.” This is despite protests
by the Starfleet Marines that
their new Miranda class cruisers
cannot
perform
the
surface
landing and support capabilities as
the Texas. General Kensington
resigns his commission in protest.
Lieutenant General Anthony West, who eventually finds
a way to use his Miranda class starships for ground
operations
via
old-fashioned
Terran
insertion-
extraction drop techniques. This and other
innovations will earn Anthony West, the new Colonel of
the Corps, eventual promotion to major general by
2290.
2286
•
The Akula and Akyazi class perimeter action ships
•
age II Genesis Device is built at the Regula One
•
ng with all senior
•
•
caught operating
tension between the two interstellar powers.
enter service around this time, thus permitting the
obsolete Kiaga and Agilis classes to take their final
bow.
The St
spacelab under the direction of Drs. Carol and David
Marcus. The starship Reliant (NCC-1864), under the
command of Captain Clark Terrell, is assigned to the
Genesis Project. It goal is to find a suitable nearby
uninhabited planet devoid of all lifeforms (intelligent or
not) for use in Stage III testing. The Starfleet Corps of
Engineers uses phaser bores in a 10-month continuous
effort to hollow out a cave within the asteroid around
which Regula One orbits. This will be the site for the
Stage II test of the Genesis Device.
Fleet Admiral Morrow holds a briefi
members of Starfleet Command over the continued
absence of the Organians. It is his belief that the
Klingons are seeking to take advantage of the situation
and that they are arming for war. He orders Starfleet
to do the same. Orders are dispatched deploying
additional forces to the Treaty Zone and informing all
Starfleet units to respond in kind if attacked.
It is probably about this time that a conspiracy is
ur still in service are the
formed within the ranks of Starfleet Command to
deliberately provoke a war with the Klingons. The
belief that the Federation will win in the end,
eliminating “the Klingon problem” once and for all.
This conspiracy will in time extend though all branches
and ranks of Starfleet, from lowly enlisted personnel all
the way up to the Admiralty itself.
A squadron of Klingon frigates is
within Federation border territory. A battle ensues
when they fail to heave to and surrender their vessels.
All of the Klingon frigates are destroyed by new
Starfleet perimeter action ships, which sustain only
minor damage in return. This incident increases
His replacement is
- 9 -
•
In a carefully coordinated response to “Federation
provocation” the Klingon D-9 heavy destroyer Qirsh is
sent over the border to provoke a fight. The uprated
heavy cruiser Hood (NCC-1707) responds to the
challenge, along with the newly uprated destroyer Ajax
(NCC-547) and the uprated Larson class destroyer
Moltke (NCC-4417). The Qirsh takes on all three at
once. In the battle that follows, the Qirsh succeeds in
destroying the Hood and the Ajax is so badly mauled
that it is forced to retreat from the field of battle.
The Moltke is left alone to face the Qirsh but its foe
suddenly withdraws, having accomplished its mission in
destroying the Hood. Only 3 members of the Hood’s
crew survive the battle. The Qirsh will become the
bane of the Federation border fleet for the next four
months, raising all kinds of havoc and leaving many
destroyed Starfleet vessels in its wake. Eventually,
the Qirsh is cornered and destroyed just short of the
Klingon border by a Federation fleet made up of two
uprated Loknar class frigates, three Siva class
destroyers, and a Belknap class strike cruiser.
•
The Cyane class heavy frigate enters service.
•
The Romulans launch their first dreadnought.
•
Fleet Admiral Morrow grudgingly gives his blessing for
the early conversion of seven Tikopai class heavy
cruisers to Enterprise specifications. This is to replace
converted Constitution class heavy cruisers that
Morrow intends to retire as soon as possible.
2287
•
Stage II testing of the Genesis Device is successfully
completed. Work begins on the Stage III Genesis
Device. Its use will be dependent on locating a
suitable planet for the test, something that Captain
Terrell and the Reliant have yet to accomplish.
•
The
Genesis
Incident
marks the gravest crisis
to
Federation-Klingon
relations in years, all due
to the mad thirst for
vengeance from former
Terran dictator Khan Noonien Singh. It will see the
formation and subsequent destruction of the unstable
Genesis Planet, the destruction of the starships
Reliant and Enterprise, the capture of a Klingon Bird-
of-Prey (the first successful capture of a starship of
this type), and the indictment of both Admiral James
T. Kirk and his former command staff on charges of
mutiny and sedition. The Klingon Empire will rejoice in
the destruction of the legendary Enterprise but will
threaten war unless Admiral Kirk is turned over to
them
for
trial
immediately
for
having
authorized
Project Genesis in
the
first
place
•
Former Starfleet commanders Montgomery Scott,
configuration and
behind
months
•
•
arships
due to heightened tensions with the Klingon Empire in
the wake of the Genesis Incident. Those that have
•
l
o
(during his time at
Starfleet Command). The only bright point in this
whole sordid affair is the apparent death and
subsequent resurrection of Captain Spock, former
commander of the Enterprise, for whom Admiral Kirk
and his command staff risked both their lives and their
careers. Kirk and his followers find asylum on Vulcan
under the protection of Ambassdor Sarek., Spock’s
father. The Vulcan government subsequently rebuffs
all attempts to bring Kirk and his followers to justice.
This added twist to the situation only serves to
exacerbate the growing hostility of the Klingon Empire
but plays right into the hands of the growing war hawk
conspiracy within Starfleet.
Hikaru Sulu, and Pavel Chekov help Admiral Kirk
convert their captured Bird-of-Prey into something
more suitable for human use. Along the way, though,
they record all data on their “acquisition” and forward
it to Starfleet Intelligence, who accepts it without
comment. In this manner Starfleet gains considerable
knowledge about the Bird-of-Prey’s
capabilities. Starfleet Intelligence will also be
the successful retrieval of the ship several
later from the bottom of San Francisco Bay after the
end of the Whalesong Crisis.
The Arbiter class perimeter action ship enters service.
Fleet Admiral Morrow reverses his own order calling
for the decommissioning of all older Class I st
already been decommissioned are reactivated and
returned to service as quickly as possible.
The completed Excelsior disappears during a test of its
transwarp drive and then just as mysteriously
reappears three weeks
abandoned as a result.
ater. Transwarp drive is
•
Klingon Ambassador Kiltarc
delivers an ultimatum t
the Council: turn over
Admiral Kirk for trial or
face the prospect of war.
The
Federation
Council
responds that they cannot
- 10 -
grant Kiltarc’s request because Kirk has sought
asylum on Vulcan; furthermore, if Kirk is to be tried at
all for his actions it will be done under Federation law.
The decision of Admiral Kirk and his followers to return
to Terra of their own free will to face court-martial is
interrupted by the Whalesong Crisis. True to form,
Admiral Kirk puts the good of the Federation above his
own life and moves to resolve the situation. His
actions result in several temporal violations (due to
the manner of his solution) but
•
ends the crisis.
•
upgrade in
elsior class space control ship.
ew perimeter action ships
a Fe Encounter.
•
ble ship” S.S. Mundy is
•
he population of the
uintupled over the past
ed activity on the part of
•
Starfleet a wealth of intelligence regarding the new
Romulan Space Navy.
•
The Scorpio class corvette enters service.
•
The Youngblood class heavy carrier enters service.
•
The Fredrikstad class fleet shuttlecarrier enters
service.
•
Starfleet’s F-type 18 fighter shuttle, A-type 20 attack
shuttle, and E-type 3 ELINT shuttle enter service on all
operational shuttlecarriers. Older F-type and A-type
craft are retired to bases, secondary vessels, and
reserve units.
The Kirov class battlecruiser enters service.
2288
•
•
•
•
•
design of its seal for the
in 2127. The new seal
•
•
•
enters
•
Because of this all charges against Kirk’s command
staff are dropped, as well as all but a single charge of
disobeying a superior officer (Fleet Admiral Morrow).
Admiral Kirk pleads guilty, is reduced three grades to
the rank of captain, and “sentenced” to spend the
rest of his useful service career in command of a
starship. The outraged Ambassador Kiltarc storms
out of the hearing in protest.
To honor of Captain
Kirk’s heroic actions and
that
of
his
former
command
staff
in
resolving the Whalesong
Crisis,
the
upgraded
Constitution class heavy
cruiser Yorktown (NCC-1704) is redesignated as the
new Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) to replace the original
destroyed over the Genesis Planet. The Yorktown had
been undergoing a computer systems
Spacedock just before the Whalesong Crisis and had
been disabled along with all other Starfleet units
during the emergency. The name of Yorktown is soon
reassigned to a new Exc
•
The abilities of Starfleet’s n
are further proven in the Kort
The mystery behind the “trib
finally solved.
Estimates indicate that t
“Triangle” region of space has q
two decades despite increas
the Romulans and the ever-present threat of war
between the Federation and Klingons.
The successful completion of Project Grey Ghost yields
•
The Miranda class cruiser Accommodator is scrapped
following a dockyard accident in which it is rammed
and damaged beyond repair by the out-of-control
civilian freighter John B. Goodings.
History repeats itself when a tragic accident during a
Starfleet wargames exercise results in the destruction
of the starship Arashi and the crippling of the Eiger,
with 74 crewmen from both ships dead and 32
wounded aboard the Eiger.
Klingon fleet strength across the Treaty Zone
increases in response to similar Federation moves.
The Tholians begin fielding
new and more powerful
starships of a previously
undocumented design. The
reasons behind this are
unknown at the time.
The Federation changes the
first time since its founding
features a wreath design that more closely resembles
the old Terran New United Nations logo than before.
The Nimbus Incident marks the first tenuous step
towards defusing the looming Federation-Klingon war,
much to the dismay of Starfleet conspirators.
A coup within the Klingon Empire and the death of the
Romulan Praetor results in a change of government of
both of the Federation’s traditional interstellar foes
within the same year.
The Excelsior class space control ship finally
service after years of developmental delays.
•
The starship Excelsior, under the command of newly
promoted Captain Hikaru Sulu, embarks on a three-
year mission to prove that space control ships are also
capable of filling the exploratory role previously
assigned to Class I heavy and survey cruisers.
Excelsior’s exceptional performance under Captain
Sulu’s command will lead to the authorization of a
second block of Excelsior class starships.
The Crippen class colonial transport enters service,
replaceing the aging Cochrane class.
•
Operation Distant Hammer takes place.
F
•
The ederation Reference Series is published.
- 11 -
228
•
capabilities of this new
uing
battle with all hands lost. At least two of her
attackers are also destroyed and others damaged, but
•
•
•
ime with some of its new
•
rst
in a joint operation with
•
ugh new
volume to once again be
Federation security.
•
er Design REFiT) is permanently
r
229
•
•
nters service
entually
by the
Ariel and Excelsior class starship programs. Yamato
will be the last new-build dreadnought class of this era
•
9
The Klingons stage an ambush on the Starfleet
perimter action ship Abreus with no less than seven
assault craft disguised as Romulan vessels to
determine the full combat
vessel type. The Abreus is destroyed in the ens
the full status of the surviving vessels remains
unknown.
The Midway class fleet
shuttlecarrier
enters
service.
The
F-type
22
“Peregrine” fighter shuttle enters service.
Starfleet begins using five-digit naval construction
contract numbers at this t
starship classes.
The strike cruiser Baikal (NCC-2513) is the fi
Starfleet vessel to take part
Kzinti forces.
By this time the Romulan Space Navy has eno
starship classes in service in
considered a serious threat to
Project ADREFT (Aveng
shelved. This would have upgraded an Avenger or
Miranda class starship to “pocket dreadnought”
status by adding a third warp engine and additional
weaponry (known at various times as the Comanche o
Rickover configurations). Along with it goes the Kirov
class battlecruiser (ADREFT on an Ariel-type primary
hull), with only five ships completed.
•
All remaining Soyuz class frigates are withdrawn from
service, having failed to live up to their original design.
0
•
The
Federation
Starship
h rt i u
Recognition C a s p blished.
•
The first volume in Mastercom’s
new Ships of the Starfleet
series is published. Additional volumes follow every
ten to twelve months until the series is complete.
The Cathedral Unit is formed as a permanent pool for
starship prototype testing crews.
At this point in time the United Federation of Planets
consists of a total of 1,560 member and affiliated star
systems.
•
The massive Yamato class dreadnought e
as a replacement for the long-delayed and ev
cancelled Komsomolsk. It is heavily influenced
in Federation spacecraft history.
The Nordenskjold class cruisers are removed from
service.
2291
e first build group. An additional 53
•
•
•
T
•
•
o
core support network
is wiped out by the
kwa
ays. Starfleet
homeworld has
of the Praxis
n of the assassination of Federaton President
Ra-ghoratrei by Colonel of the Starfleet Marine Corps
Anthony West (a conspirator), and the signing of the
Khitomer Accords with the Klingon Empire. This is
Kirk’s last mission aboard the Enterprise. The age of
Kirk and his former command crew is also catching up
•
The uprated Excelsior class space control ship is
authorized for construction. 19 vessels are eventually
authorized for th
are proposed as replacements for existing Class I
heavy cruisers once they reach the end of their
service lives.
•
The Decisive class frigate is approved for construction.
The Ranger class light cruiser enters service.
The Clemenceau class shuttlecarrier enters service.
•
The Anaxagoras class transport/tug is approved for
construction
he S’harien class battlecruiser enters service.
The Todega class transport/tug enters service.
The mineral-rich moon
f
Praxis
in
the
Klingon core systems
explodes
due
to
overmining. Much of
the Klingon Empire’s
shoc
ve, which also wreaks havoc w
internal infrastructure in other w
ith the Empire’s
Intelligence estimates that the Klingon
only 50 years before the effects
explosion render it incapable of supporting life. This
humbling event forces the Klingons to turn for help to
its traditional enemy, the Federation – an event
foreseen three decades before by the Organians.
•
Chancellor Gorkon of the Klingon
Empire is assassinated by the
Starfleet conspirators in their final
bid to provoke an all-out war
between the Klingons and the
Federation. Captain James T. Kirk
of the starship Enterprise makes
the perfect frame for the act, given
his past history with the Klingons (the Genesis
Incident in particular). Kirk is eventually able to clear
his name through a remarkable series of events that
end with the exposure of the conspiracy, the
preventio
- 12 -
with them, with all but the youngest on the verge of
retirement.
•
The first Kzinti officer ever to serve in Starfleet is
present at the signing of the Khitomer Accords. He
takes the time, on behalf of the Patriarch, to invite the
Klingons to send an ambassador to Kzin. This marks a
new and unexpected turn in the relationship between
•
ssigned to a
into the
and the extent to which the
go, including collusion with
Klingon Houses in favor of
•
ort/tugs enter service. These
ollond proposal for a Miranda-
•
2292
•
•
these millennia-old cultures.
The
heavy
cruiser
Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)
is decommissioned. Her
name and registry are
subsequently a
new
Excelsior
class
starship.
•
The Federation Council
initiates
a
two-year
investigation
Starfleet conspiracy to
provoke war with the
Klingons. What they
learn, coupled with the
depth of the conspiracy
conspirators were willing to
the Romulans and dissident
war, will shock them.
The Hensley class transp
are based on the old D
derived heavy transport/tug.
The Star League class dreadnought enters service.
The Klingon-Romulan alliance is formally dissolved.
The Malverne (NCC-2205) is the last of the
Ariel/Fredrikstad type shuttlecarriers to enter service.
2293
•
ever recovered.
•
•
h the
g Starfleet officers and
in the affair. The
Council begins debating measures to be
lone superpower of space,”
•
ttlecarriers are retired.
The uprated Excelsior class starship Enterprise (NCC-
1701-B) enters service under the command of Captain
John Harriman. Three special guests at the ceremony
include original Enterprise commander James T. Kirk,
original chief engineer Montogomery Scott, and
original weapons officer Pavel Chekov. The starship’s
shakedown cruise is cut short when it comes to the
rescue of two El-Aurian transports trapped inside the
energy ribbon of the Nexus. Kirk is apparently killed in
the line of duty saving the Enterprise from the Nexus.
His body is n
•
The Leavenworth class frigate is approved for
construction.
Captain
Montogomery
Scott
retires
from
Starfleet. He never gives
up hope that Kirk is still
alive somewhere inside the
Nexus.
The Federation Council concl
the Starfleet conspiracy to provoke war wit
Klingons. Many high-rankin
civilian officials are implicated
Federation
udes its investigation of
taken against what it see
trends”
within
Starfleet. Some
councilors openly
question
the
need
for
the
Federation to remain “the
what with the Klingons crippled by the Praxis explosion
and Romulan fleet strength still well below that of
Starfleet.
The Oriskany class shu
s as “alarming militaristic
2294
•
The transport Jenolan is lost, and along with it
legendary starship engineer Montgomery Scott
NOTE: It is reported that Captain Scott’s accident was
arranged by Section 31 as punishment for his
altering of the Prime One timeline (see Volume 01).
NOTE:
Two timelines.
The removal of Captain Scott from the course of
history will cause the Prime One and Prime Two
timelines to rapidly resync with each other. By the
turn of the century (2301) they will running on
parallel tracks. Differences between these two
realities will no longer be readily discernable save
by a trained observer or with special equipment.
The “disappearance” of Montgomery Scott is
generally referenced as the reconvergence point
of the Prime One and Prime
- 13 -
229
•
ated, warp-powered
rship designs.
•
enters service.
•
er service.
•
•
d, with
to begin
2295
•
it
e
sed by
a unanimous voice of its full membership. This forces a
complete revamping of Starfleet command structure,
starship classifications, and fleet mission profiles. The
net result is intended to be a wholesale
transformation of Starfleet from a military-oriented
peacekeeping force into a semi-military organization
“dedicated to peaceful galactic exploration.”
•
Severe restrictions are place on the number of
combat-oriented starships procured and operated by
Starfleet courtesy of the Starfleet Reorganization
Order. Many of the ones currently on duty are
promptly removed from service, scheduled for
the
"explorer," a new starship class inspired by the old
•
•
ization
Order. Prior to this
cruisers," predecessors of the
coming in just a few shor
As of this date Starfleet has 95 upgraded or new build
•
er Class I
r. This
-build Class I
•
•
scheduled for
sioning and transfer to the Starfleet
Reserve. Fully one-fourth of Starfleet will be going
4
The Romulans introduce upr
versions of their "classic" sta
The Arusha class superscout
The Kresta class frigates ent
Betazed
•
joins the Federation. Its inhabitants are
natural empaths, the first humanoid species
encountered of this type.
The Klingon Empire ceases all work on its B-10
battleship program, with only two in service and four
hulls in drydock in various stages of completion.
The Constellation class star
cruiser is authorize
construction slated
in 2299.
The Federation Council and Starfleet Command clash
over the future role of Starfleet. This is due largely to
the political fallout from the Camp Khitomer
conference. The Council has the last word when
pass s the Starfleet Reorganization Order is pas
conversion to peacetime-oriented roles, or destined
for premature retirement as soon as operational
requirements permit. Replacing them is
exploratory cruiser classification. An explorer class
starship is intended to be a large, long-range starship
designed for peaceful interstellar exploration, with
weapons fitted purely for defensive purposes.
•
All Excelsior-derived designs previously authorized up
to this point (Loki, Adams, Joshua, Decisive,
Leavenworth, Anaxagoras, et al) are placed on hold
pending program review under the Starfleet
Reorganization Order.
The Federation Council begins debating the issue of the
admission of Kzin as a full member of the Federation.
The Lng'we Chi class explorers enter service. These
are the first designated "explorer class" starships to
join Starfleet under the terms of the Reorgan
•
Class I heavy cruisers in service.
The linear warp upgrade program of all old
starships is terminated effective this yea
termination will not affect most new
starship programs.
•
The Ishtasse class heavy
cruisers are cancelled in
the
wake
of
the
Starfleet Reorganization
Order, leaving one ship
at 85% completion in
spacedock.
The Regate class heavy cruisers
Multiple Class I starships are
decommis
are also cancelled.
into Federation storage depots within the coming
decade. Two surprises on this list are the entire
rosters of both the Belknap class strike cruisers and
Ascension class dreadnoughts, which are among the
newest starships in the fleet.
NOTE:
the end o
Some starship historians are already calling 2295
f the Class I era.
Excelsior (NX-2000) during final space trials
they were classified as "star
new Constellation class
t years.
The recommissioned Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)
- 14 -
STARSHIPS
THE DREADNOUGHT PROGRAM (Pt. 2)
SERVICE ENTRY DATES (OLD CALENDAR):
AS
KO
ELLED
KIR
YA
CENSION CLASS: 2278
MSOMLSK CLASS: CANC
OV CLASS: 2287
MATO CLASS: 2290
Starfleet began conversion of its Federation class dreadnoughts
along with other ship classes during the fleetwide linear warp
upgrade programs of the 2270s. Federation had been made
obsolete overnight by this development, and the old design’s
limits had been dramatically illustrated by the vain attempt of
the dreadnought Entente (NCC-2120) to catch V’Ger before it
could reach Earthspace. It would not do for one of Starfleet’s
newest pre-linear Class I starships to be already obsolete, one
that was supposed to be the fastest and most powerful of that
same fleet. For this reason the Federation refit program began.
Unfortunately, Federation proved more costly and troublesome
to convert to linear warp technology than any other other Class
I starship. The specialized primary and secondary hulls were
largely to blame for
three-nacelle configuration in order to preserve its warp
geometry. Delays and cost overruns continued to compound
until, in the end, the Admiralty ordered that a simplified design
be employed similar to that of the Enterprise refit. The custom
primary and secondary hulls were discarded in favor of fleet-
standard, linear warp era ones (save for dual docking ports on
the bridge module) and a considerably simplified engine pylon
system was adopted. The new arrangement employed a routine-
detachable arrangement for the warp support pylons on the
primary hull inspired by the one used on
el mount could not be copied for conversion reasons, so a
modified version was used instead using parallel pylons at the
top of the secondary hull instead of the old angled arrangement.
All but three of the Federation class were successfully converted
to the new uprated Federation standard, with the first re-
entering service in 2276. These last three would eventually
received the Star League “total conversion” that had first been
proposed, but not until long after the Federation upgrade
program had ended and the days of the dreadnoughts
themselves were numbered.
this, as was the need to keep the unique
Belknap. The combined
ke
The high costs associated with the uprated Federation program
caused Starfleet to look elsewhere in modernizing its
dreadnought fleet. It found its answer in the Belknap class
strike cruiser. Its unique design invited rapid installation of the
conversions that the Starship Desgin Bureau had been forced to
take with the Federation upgrade program. Ten Belknaps were
quickly requisitoned for conversion, and they entered service as
the Ascension class dreadnoughts beginning in 2278. What had
limited the use of Belknap in fleet operations, namely lack of true
multi-mission capability, made Ascension an ideal rapid-response
dreadnought. She was faster than an uprated Federation and
had none of the quirks and design issues. All ten were soon
deployed in a wide dispersal pattern at starbases and other
major operations facilities across Federation border space, ready
to respond to trouble at a moment’s notice. The uprated
Federations were likewise deployed; however, most wound up
being fleet flagships instead. Ascension was the favorite by far
in the new era of linear warp dreadnoughts.
I’m using Eric’s Comanche as a temporary stand-in for the Kirov.
Remember, folks, the Kirov’s primary hull is a LOT bigger.
- 15 -
The competition to develop the
(Excelsior) in the 2280s also ha
development. The Komsomlsk and
f this effort, based on the Chioki
space control ship program
d its effect on dreadnought
Kirov classes were spun out
s-designed expanded primary
arfleet Command
the program and use the
instead. Kirov was
est the possibilities
readnought.” The program was
brup
r only five ships, once Starfleet
ommand decided in favor of Yamato.
o
hull for the Ariel class shuttlecarrier. Komsomlsk was
authorized in 2280 but never built. The Starship Desgin Bureau
econdary hull. By
could never agree on a configuration for its s
the time they made up their collective mind St
had already decided to cancel
appropriated funds for the Yamato program
gn intended to t
a one-shot battlecruiser desi
of building an upsized “Miranda d
a
tly terminated in 2289 afte
C
Yamato was designed as a direct challenge to the mighty Klingon
B-10 battleship. Some are already calling it a battleship or
uper dreadnought,” although technically it is classified as jus
“s
t
a dreadnought. Elements from the abandoned Komsomlsk found
their way into the design, although it cannot be said they are
the same ship (as some civilian publications have recently
asserted). Yamato is one of two starship classes that were the
last fitted with a Chiokis primary hull saucer (the main
contribution from Komsomlsk), with the other being the Midway
class shuttlecarrier. Yamato also has a quad LN-70 warp engine
arrangement, one each mounted to dual secondary hulls and the
other two mounted perpendicularly over the line of the primary
hull. Only the Yamato (NCC-1305-C) has entered service so far,
ith two more (Musashi and Shinano) under construction at the
w
Utopia Planitia Orbital Shipyards. No more are on order, with all
being converted to long-range “explorers.”
The enactment of the Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295
has had a marked effect on the dreadnought program. The
entire uprated Federation class is being removed from service,
with
Affiliation
(NCC-2108)
being
the
last
on
the
decommissioning schedule. The three Star League dreadnoughts
will stay on, however, as converted explorer class starships. All
but two of the Ascension class will be retired at the time their
next regular ESLP refit was supposed to take place along with all
five vessels of the Kirov class. Two Ascension class
dreadnoughts, Belisarius (NCC-2593) and Conquest (NCC-
2589), will be retained for prototype conversion by the
Cathedral Unit. This will leave Yamato as the only new-build
dreadnought class in active Starfleet service.
ASCENSION CLASS SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 289.8 m
rs (7 banks of 2, 4 single mounts)
2 photon torpedo tubes
Beam: ……………………………………… 141.7 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 77.8 m
Mass: ………………….……………... 245,000 DWT
Crew …………………………………………….. 485
Range: ……………………….……. 20 years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 11
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 15
Armament: …. 18 phase
YAMATO CLASS SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 854 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 238 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 82.6 m
Mass: ………………….…………… 1,870,000 DWT
Crew ………………………………………... 1,200
Range: ……………………….……. 25 years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 12
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 15
Armament: ... 26 phasers (10 banks of 2, 6 single mounts)
2 megaphasers (forward firing arcs)
6 photon torpedo tubes
SCHEMATICS:
Ascension class dreadnought
Kirov class battlecruiser
Yamato class dreadnought
ASCENSION AND KOMSOMLSK DESIGNS BY TODD GUENTHER
KIROV DESIGN BY ARIDAS SOFIA
YAMATO DESIGN FROM KLINGON ACADEMY BY ACTIVISION GAMES
ASCENSION VISUAL BY RICK KNO
AS
HNSON
CHEMATIC
DATABASE
X
E
KIROV (COMMANCHE) VISUAL BY MODELS PLE
JO
YAMATO COURTESY OF CHRIS
S BY NEALE DAVIDSON AND THE STARSHIP SCHEMATICS
S
- 16 -
DARAN CLASS FRIGATE
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2276
Inspired by the respected Surya design from the Four Years
War, Daran and its successors were all new builds intended to
replace the aging members of Starfleet’s frigate force. Daran
was first out the gate in 2276 but was quickly overshadowed by
Knox, its more capable stablemate, the following year. Knox
eliminated the sponsons from the dual hangar bays and
employed a modified form of the unified shuttle bay that had
roven such a success with Avenger. Two other sub-classes
s
ones scheduled
st. These were retired on a one-for-one basis as new ships of
ti
p
oon followed. Bragg was little more than a Daran with one of
its hangar bays and the unified flight deck removed and replaced
with science and research facilities. It was intended to replace
the retiring Shackleton class (a modified Larson class destroyer)
in the Starfleet survey cruiser role. Lancer was a Knox
reconfigured for the “heavy firepower forward” role. It had only
two megaphaser cannon, both forward mounted, but also had
dual photon torpedo tubes added to the bow in a classic
“Marklin notch.” A handful of later Lancers managed to mount
three tubes with full support systems and torpedo storage at
the expense of crew facilities.
Not all of Starfleet’s older frigates received linear warp refits.
In fact, Starfleet began retiring its entire force of older Class I
class frigates starting in the late 2270s. Non-upgraded vessels
were the first to go, with linear warp refitted
la
the Daran, Knox, Lancer, and Ianar classes entered service. In
this manner Daran and its derivatives helped ensure that
Starfleet’s frigate force remained at full strength during the
transi on from old classes to new builds. This changeover was
completed in early 2293. Starfleet Command is now currently
weighing the premature retirement of the Daran family of
frigates versus that of the Alert and Akyazi class perimeter
action ships. This is due to the reduced fleet strength
requirements of the Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295.
S
4 megaphase
Lancer variant:
3) photon torpedo tubes
PECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 243.3 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 141.7 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 52.8 m
Mass: ………………………………… 136,000 DWT
Crew ……………………………………………. 350
Range: ………………………... 19 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 7
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 11
Armament …………………. 12 phasers (6 banks of 2)
r cannon (2 banks of 2)
2 megaphaser cannon and 2 (
SCH
EMATIC:
Daran class frigate
(Bragg almost identical but missing port sponson)
Knox class frigate
Lancer class frigate
(Note shortened bow due to “Marklin notch”)
DARAN AND KNOX DESIGNS BY TODD GUENTHER AND ARIDAS SOFIA
BRAGG AND LANCER VARIANTS BY ERIC KRISTIANSEN (JACKILL’S)
VISUAL COURTESY OF STARFORCE PRODUCTIONS
SCHEMATICS BY NEALE DAVIDSON AND RICHARD E. MANDEL
- 17 -
ARIEL CLASS SHUTTLECARRIER
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2276
Ariel – McQuarrie concept proposal
Does anybody have a mesh of the version by Aridas Sofia?
The concept of the fleet shuttlecarrier had once been thought to
be a quaint but rather obsolete idea. The Romulan War (2158-
2162) had all but proven the futility of throwing armed
shuttlecraft up against a well-armed starship … and yet, the
notion of a space-going carrier and its squadron of starfighters
never really died. The need for starships that could field large
amounts of shuttles for a variety of missions, such as
colonization support and defense against space piracy, was ever
constant. Once the Klingons entered the picture, the need for
fleet shuttlecarriers returned. There were several Klingon
Houses that specialized in small craft operations, to which the
Federation had to respond in kind. Thus was born the Santee
class shuttlecarrier of the Four Years War and the Coronado
class, its post-war descendant. Combat small craft operations
were back and in a big way. This caused Starfleet Command to
start thinking about fielding shuttlecarriers that were capable of
ore than just convoy escort.
th features were necessary for the mass of the starship
involved. The Starship Design Bureau modernized the Titan
proposal for the linear warp generation, doubling its size in the
process. The single large shuttlebay was replaced by six smaller
ones, each with rear-hull exits. LN-64C linear warp engines
placed the original design, and a custom-built, enlarged Chiokis
added the final touch. Numerous point-
asers were incorporated into the design to
rov
shut
quic
dow
all-n
engi
From
desc
fleet c
with a full C3 operations
shuttl
perations
es to propose a design of their own (Normandy)
o be approved.
The massive costs of the craft combined with construction
delays caused the Ariel program to be reduced from ten hulls to
only six. The first four were built to the original Ariel
specification, while the last two were built to the modified
Fredrikstad design. The only visual differences between the two
are the landing bay sponsons added to th
greater flexibil
forced Starfleet to switch to the cheaper “heavy carrier”
programs (Jenshahan, Chosin, and Youngblood classes) soon
after. Ariel has since been replaced on the fleet shuttlecarrier
procurement schedule by the Midway class. The Ariel and
Fredrikstad classes are expected to remain operational well into
the 24th century.
m
The largest shuttlecarrier Starfleet had ever built to date was
the Illustrious. This was a 2 million metric ton, slow-flying
monster converted from an unfinished starbase during the Pax
Federationis (2263-2221). It was too old, too large, and too
slow to serve any use other than pilot training, and Starfleet
wanted a comparable ship suited for the modern starship era.
They found their answer in the Titan, one of the proposed but
abandoned designs from the Baton Rouge era. It had married an
early Chiokis-type primary hull saucer to a substantially modified
primary hull, patterend after a Terran lifting body and capable of
operating three squadrons of combat shuttlecraft within a single
massive hangar bay. The dual warp engines were mounted on
extended wing struts and were of a modified Pegasys design.
Bo
re
primary hull saucer
efense “gatling” ph
d
p
ide protection against attacks from enemy combat
tlecraft. The finished proposal, now named Ariel, was
d
kly approved and the hulls of the first three ships were lai
n beginning in January of 2271. The fact that Ariel was an
ew design, utilizing no existing Class I components save her
nes, delayed her completion by five years.
the start the Ariel class shuttlecarrier (and its
endant, the Fredrikstad class) was destined for the role of
ommand ship. It was one of only three starship classes
suite, required in its case for combat
ecraft operations. They could also support ground assault
on an unprecedented scale, which eventually lead the
o
Starfleet Marin
which has yet t
e Fredrikstad for
ity in hangar bay operations. Budget limitations
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 496 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 319.3 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 79.2 m
Mass: ………………………………
Crew ………
Range: ………………………... 20 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 6
Ma
Armament
1,200,000 DWT
……… approximately 700 (plus 70 pilots)
xim
s
um peed: ………………….………… warp 14
… 40 phasers (12 std, 28 point-defense banks)
SCHEMATIC:
ARIEL DESIGN BY RALPH McQUARRIE, ANDREW PROBERT, AND ARIDAS SOFIA
ARIEL (TITAN) VISUALS BY ATOLM
SCHEMATIC BY ARIDAS SOFIA
- 18 -
SYDNEY CLASS TRANSPORT
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2277
In late 2272 the Starship Design Bureau requested bids for a
linear warp powered medium transport with cargo-carrying
capabilities between that of the older Independence and
Sherman classes.
ting for a single
s II a
t of the
Starfleet Command was op
Clas
tr
uxiliary transport design this time around in ligh
emendous costs of the Class I linear warp program. Shintoi
Heavy Industries of Alpha III won the contract with the Sydney
class. Its interior was dominated by no less than six holds, one
of which was a dedicated cargo hold and the other five
reconfigurable to the buyer’s specifications. So far 79 Sydney
class transports have been purchased for Starfleet in seven
different base configurations: general transport, colony and
base supply, hospital ship, auxiliary command ship, repair ship,
diplomatic courier and Marine transport. Over 100 have been
purchased or are on order by the Merchant Marine and some
three dozen are destined for private ownership. Shintoi
marketing executives are confidently predicting that the Sydney
will become the most popular transport starship of its time.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 235.3 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 120.8 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 51.1 m
Mass: ………………………………… 170,500 DWT
Crew …… between 45 and 85, depending on configuration
Range: …………………………. 5 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 6
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 12
Armament … 2 phasers (2 banks of 1, fittings for 4 more)
SCHEMATIC:
SYDNEY DESIGN BY GREG JEIN
VISUAL COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES
SCHEMATIC BY ERIC KRISTIANSEN (JACKILL’S)
JENSHAHAN CLASS
HEAVY CARRIER
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2283
The Jenshahan and its spin-off classes (Chosin, Youngblood) are
the direct descendants of the Santee, the first dedicated Class I
shuttlecarrier in Starfleet service. They came about due to the
c
e Four Years War (2246-2250).
fact that the mighty Ariel lass was taking too long and costing
too much to build. Their design marks something of a return to
the Santee (as opposed to the Coronado/Oriskany lineage),
utilizing the same warp engine T-mount and dual-deck shuttle
bays. This time around, however, Jenshahan’s secondary hull
was purpose-built instead of converted, featuring a through-deck
design for both flight decks (courtesy of Coronado) to help
prevent the sort of kamikaze strikes that had badly crippled
Santee and Suwanee during th
These “second-tier” shuttlecarriers were quite popular despite
their obvious limitations and were in high demand for colony
support and convoy escort operations. Complaints about
certain inadequacies of the Jenshahan would lead to the Chosin,
with an improved sensor suite and superior fire control
capabilities. 25 each of the Jenshahan and Chosin classes along
with an additional 12 Youngbloods (Chosin sub-class) ensured
that there were enough “heavy carriers” in service for all who
demanded them. Their popularity with the scientific and civilian
sectors has practically guaranteed their survival from the class-
cutting axe of the Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295.
SPECIFICATIONS:
……………………………….. 496 m
……………………………… 319.3 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 79.2 m
.
Length: ……
Beam: ………
Mass: ……………………………… 1,200,000 DWT
Crew ……………… approximately 700 (plus 70 pilots)
Range: ………………………... 20 light-years at L.Y.V
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 11
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 14
Armament ………………..… 16 phasers (8 banks of 2)
up to 40 small craft (36 combat shuttles + 4 standard)
SCHEMATIC:
Jenshahan as built, with Tikopai style primary hull
(Chosin and Youngblood have Enterprise style primary hulls)
JENSHAHAN, CHOSIN, AND YOUNGBL
BY FEDERATION FRONTIERS
OOD DESIGNS AND SCHEMATIC
- 19 -
RENNER CLASS CORVETTE
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2284
Renner was originally proposed in the early 2270s as a catchall
replacement design for several different classes used for routine
space lane and internal patrol duties in the pursuit of interstellar
piracy. It was one of several programs delayed by the Cammel
IV revelations of 2274, in which Starfleet covert actions against
the Kzinti leading up to the Kzinti Incursion of 2272 were
exposed for all to see. Renner finally began construction in
2282 as part of the Starfleet ramp-up against the twin threats
of growing numbers of modern Klingon and Romulan starships
entering service.
This is one of the few Class I starships in service without a
Chiokis-style circular primary hull. Having an inherent stealth
capability is the reason behind its angular design. Stealth plays
a critical part in both military operations and space pirate
interdiction. This probably explains why a number of Renner
class starships have been regularly diverted from internal to
border patrol duties, often filling in for scout class starships in
“unusual circumstances.” So routine has this practice become
that TacFleet has requested that the Military Staff Committee
provide it with a full squadron of Renner class corvettes, either
new builds or appropriated from patrol duty, for its exclusive
use. To date its request is still pending.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 220.8 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 86.1 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 53.0 m
………………………… 111,000 DWT
………………………………….. 180
Mass: ………
Crew …………
Range: ………………………..., 8 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 7
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 11
Armament ………………….. 12 phasers (6 banks of 2)
2 photon torpedo tubes (both forward)
SCHEMATIC:
RENNER DESIGN BY J.C. AND RAFAEL GONZALEZ
SCHEMATIC BY ARIDAS SOFIA (FEDERATION REFERENCE SERIES)
TTLELCRUISER
MITANNIC CLASS BA
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD
CALENDAR): 2285
to being in
278 on the personal order of Fleet Admiral Heihachiro Nogura.
f
Starfleet’s modern battlecruiser program came in
2
The intent was to build Starfleet’s first dedicated Class I combat
starship since the Four Years War. Many within Starfleet
Command as well as the civilian sector questioned the wisdom of
such a program, what with so many other Class I construction
and conversion programs underway. That criticism received a
signi icant boost in 2280, when the military circular Starship
Design reported on numerous flaws found with the battlecruiser
prototype Menahga (NCC-3100) after delivery and initial
testing. The program might have died then and there had not
Admiral Lemuel Cartwright, Starfleet Chief of Staff, thrown his
support behind the program. Three more vessels were
eventually authorized with the understanding that all of the
Menagha’s operational deficiencies would be resolved in their
design. They entered service in 2285 as the Mitannic class,
with three more (the S’harien sub-class) built to an improved
design starting in 2291.
Both the Menahga and all three Mitannics were tentatively
scheduled for conversion to the S’harien configuration in 2305.
This upgrade is now in doubt pending review of the operational
future of the battlecruiser class in light of the Starfleet
Reorganization Order of 2295.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 307 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 141.7 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 78 m
Mass: ………………………………… 173,000 DWT
Crew ……………………………………………. 285
Range: ………………………... 10 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 10
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 13
Armament: …. 14 phasers (6 banks of 2, 2 single mounts)
2 photon torpedo tubes (both forward)
SCHEMATIC:
MENAGHA AND MITANNIC DESIGNS BY TODD GUENTHER
S’HARIEN VARIANT BY DAVID SCHMIDT
SCHEMATIC BY TODD GUENTHER
- 20 -
IANAR CLASS FAST FRIGATE
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2285
Conceived in the 2270s, the Ianar was Starfleet’s first attempt
at coming up with a modern frigate design to replace its aging
fleet of Surya, Coventry, and Loknar class starships. It was one
of many starship classes put on hold by the Cammell IV
revelations of 2274. Council authorization for construction was
not granted until 2283 because of this, allowing the Daran
family of new-build frigates to enter service first.
Ianar was designed to be a rapid-response, tactical-mission
starship capable of surgical strike missions deep into enemy
rritory. It shares with the larger dreadnoughts the ability to
er taking a direct
t on its phototorp deck, destroying both the portside tube and
trol systems for both tubes. Ianar would not
ue to its split phototorp design. A total of
olde
te
absorb as much punishment as it gives, and its unusual design
configuration is intended to maximize its intended combat
capabilities. Not only is it one of the few Class I starships
without a Chiokis-style primary hull, it is also currently the only
Class I starship in service with separated, single-tube photon
torpedo banks. The intent behind this was to allow the Ianar to
maintain a minimal heavy weapons capability in the event of
extreme damage, a point that was highlighted all too well by the
duel between the heavy cruiser Enterprise (NCC-1701) and the
hijacked cruiser Reliant (NCC-1864) during the Genesis Incident
of 2287. Enterprise had to resort to manual loading operations
of its sole remaining photon torpedo tube aft
hi
most of the fire con
ave this problem d
h
36 Ianar frigates were built between 2285 and 2290, replacing
r frigates on a one-for-one basis as they entered service.
SPE
Range: ………………………..., 8 light-years at L.Y.V.
peed: ………………….………….. warp 7
speed: ………………….………… warp 11
Armament ………………….. 12 phasers (6 banks of 2)
two photon torpedo tubes (both forward)
CIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 220.8 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 86.1 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 53.0 m
Mass: ………………………………… 111,000 DWT
Crew …………………………………………….. 180
Cruising s
Maximum
SCHEMATIC:
IANAR DESIGN AND SCHEMATIC BY RAFAEL AND J.C. GONZALEZ
STARFLEET’S NEW PERIMETER
ACTION SHIP PROGRAM
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2286
There is not enough space in this document to do justice to
Starfleet’s perimeter action ship program of the 2280s and the
long, arduous road it had to travel to see the light of day.
Midshipmen and civilian readers desiring to know the story in full
should consult Ships of the Starfleet Volume 2: Akyazi Class
, available for sale
Perimeter Action Ships
from civilian merchants
atastream format via the Academy Intranet.
e appearance of the Kiaga and Agilis class perimeter action
ship
of
the
their
jor
mod
clea
beco
warp
Fede
perim
new
estroyer of the Four Years War and the Hornet class escort
erimental design that had performed surprisingly
essed into fleet service to support Starfleet
operations during the Kzinti Incursion of 2272. From the Hornet
came the idea of the “fractional hull,” a Class I starship frame
with only the minimum necessity of hull components. From the
Marklin came the famed “Marklin notch” phototorp arrangement
that has graced the lines of so many modern starship designs
(or ruined, according to some). The political debate over
perimeter action ship funding began in earnest in 2276 and
remained heated f
in the new Akyazi class was not
nly grudgingly by a Federation Cou
creasing Starfleet militarism. Three years later that number
was upped to 105 with the addition of the Akula and Arbiter
or for download in d
Th
s had helped turn the tide of the Four Years War in favor
Federation. Elements of their design were far in advance of
time and helped them remain in service without ma
ifications for over two decades. Despite this, it had become
r by the end of the 2260s that Kiaga and Agilis were rapidly
ming obsolete. Their unusual design would have made linear
refits quite costly, so instead Starfleet petitioned the
ration Council for authorization to build an all-new class of
eter action ships. Inspiration for the final design for this
program came from two sources: the Marklin class heavy
d
carrier, an exp
ell when pr
w
or years. Final approval for the first 36 ships
granted until 2283, and then
o
in
ncil split on the issue of
- 21 -
su
the Genesis
In
action ship
a
and support
modern perimeter ship proposal, was never
ose was to demonstrate the feasibility of the
esign by us
style
the
.
Ther
curr
two
spec
botto
expe
boom
hip apa e
m
these two basic designs are two sub-classes
biter, Akula and Atami), differing primarily in the
type of ventral flux chillers used for their LN-90 warp engines.
The future of the modern perimeter action ship program is very
much in doubt. The Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295 has
placed severe restrictions on the availability of starship classe
that are designed exclusively for combat. Starfleet Command i
currently weighing the continued existence of the perimeter ship
program ve
es. The final decision is expected by early 2296.
b-classes, both quickly authorized in light of
cident and increasing Klingon aggression.
o the casual observer a modern perimeter
T
resembles the mere skeleton of a Class I starship. Entire
sections of its primary hull and engineering support frame are
missing, and its design-specific LN-90 linear warp engines add to
the ship’s decided “chop shop” look. Therein lies the design’s
success. Perimeter action ships are not built for long-duration
voyages, so they do not need large interior spaces devoted to
cargo, provisions, large-scale fabricators and replic tors,
cycling facilities, and all of the other spaces
re
systems essential to normal starship operations. They are
designed exclusively for combat patrols within contested regions
of space, operating either in conjunction with regular Starfleet
units or from a nearby base. It is from these that perimeter
action ships are maintained and provisioned, usually with only
enough stores and supplies for the mission at hand. The rest of
the ship, save for necessary crew and command spaces, is all
weapons, power, and control systems. Lightening the load by
eliminating non-critical systems and spaces also has the direct
effect of considerably reducing a perimeter action ship’s mass.
A typical modern-day Class I starship has an average mass in the
150,000 to 200,000 DWT range. A typical Class I perimeter
action ship, on the other hand, has on the average only one-
third the mass of a typical Class I starship. This directly
translates into increased speed and maneuverability, far more
than would a Class I starship of comparable size. In fact the
Arbiter class perimeter action ships currently hold the
Federation warp speed record, recording a sustained “burst”
velocity of warp 21.5 for one full hour before mounting frame
stresses mandated a reduction in speed.
Alert, the “original”
built. Its main purp
d
ing standard or modified Class I components (“old
” ones at the time it was created). Although it never left
drawing board, it won Council approval for the program
e are two basic modern perimeter action ship designs
ently in service, each having two distinct sub-classes. The
main designs, Akyazi and Akula, differ in that Akula has a
e
ial deflector spire mounded on two long booms from th
m of the ship. This increases durability in combat at the
nse of speed and acceleration. Akyazi does not have this
and as s ch
u
is the only modern Class I perimeter action
c
bl
of
aking a (emergency) planetary landing fully
s
intact. Within
(Akyazi and Ar
s
s
rsus that of the more versatile Daran family of
frigat
VISUAL:
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 216.1 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 120.2 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 27.5 m
Mass: ………………………………….. 68,000 DWT
Crew …………………………………………….. 84
8 h
Range: ………………………..., 2 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 8
Maximum speed: ………………….……... warp 14.5
(capable of warp 21.5 in “burst mode”)
Armament …… p asers (6 banks of 2, 2 single mounts)
3 photon torpedo tubes (2 fore, 1 aft)
SCHEMATICS:
Original Alert “working” proposal used to pitch the concept
(c.2270)
Akyazi/Arbiter configuration
Akula/Atami configuration
PERIMETER ACTION SHIP CONCEPT BY TODD GUENTHER AND ARIDAS SOFIA
AKYAZI, ARBITER, AKULA, AND ATAMI SCHEMATICS BY TODD GUENTHER
ALERT PROPOSAL SCHEMATIC BY NEALE DAVIDSON (PIXEL SAGAS)
- 22 -
EXCELSIOR CLASS
SPACE CONTROL SHIP
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2288
It was called “the Great Experiment.” It was meant to be the
herald of a new generation of starships, just as Baton Rouge and
Constitution had done in their day. The space control ship
program was to be the largest and most powerful Federation
starship of its time, fitted with the latest technological advances
and capable of speeds and deeds of daring previously thought
impossible. On most of these points, Excelsior and her
descendants largely succeeded.
Excelsior might not have ever come about had it not been for
two things. The first was the Klingons. Every time the
Federation produced a new starship class, the Klingons would do
their best to produce a more powerful one. When the
Federation surpassed that one they would try to leapfrog them
again. This went on from first contact until 2278, when the
Klingons introduced the K’herr class dreadnought. This monster
f a starship easily outclassed an upgraded Federation, and
S
ly
anning once current political issues (i.e. the constant threat of
o
tarfleet Intelligence was reporting that an even larger Klingon
starship class (Kar’harmmer) was on the way. This was reason
enough for Excelsior, but it was not the only one. The second
was the Galactic Barrier. Data from the visits by the Enterprise
to the Galactic Barrier, the first in 2259 and the second in
2262, indicated that starship engines of massive power were
required to safely penetrate it for extragalactic travel. Outside
observation of the Kelvan modifications to the Enterprise engines
in 2262 (which they afterwards removed without providing any
documentation of the efforts) indicated that a combination of
transwarp speed and high energy shielding would be necessary
in order to avoid the Barrier’s deadly psionic effects. Research
into duplicating the work of the Kelvans led to the development
of transwarp drive theory in the early 2270s. Transwarp would
be necessary for any starship attempting extragalactic
exploration, something for which Starfleet was definite
pl
war from the Klingons) were resolved. This development also
dovetailed nicely with the efforts to design a starship superior to
Klingon efforts. The massive power requirements necessary for
transwarp travel would also provide ample energy for weapons
and shielding systems.
In 2274 Starfleet began accepting bids for the space control
am. The specifications were straightforward: an
Jeffries/Josephs configuration with dreadnought
and room for 30 shuttlecraft, capable of self-sufficient
operations for up to 10 standard years and deriving both ship’s
power and main propulsion via transwarp engine technology. By
2283 there were only two designs still in the running, and a
single full-scale prototype was authorized for each. The first
was Excelsior (NX-2000), built by the Sol System’s famed
Utopia Planitia Orbital Shipyards. It was named for a recently
lost Class I heavy cruiser and utilized Cochrane/Leeding FTWA-1
transwarp engines. The second, Ingram (NX-2001), was named
for the late former Starfleet Commissioner Lars Ingram (2190-
2266) and built by the Proxima Shipyards of Alpha Centauri.
’s configuration was remarkably similar to Excelsi
wever, there were three important differences. First, it used
of the same Chiokis primary hull that was
Ariel class shuttlecarriers (an obvious cost-
savin
engi
it w
cann
supp
exte
save
s
this
Starfleet sponsorsh
ship progr
psized
u
firepower
Ingram
ho
or;
a custom variation
eing fitted to the
b
gs move). Second, it used Koeller UTI-27 transwarp
nes instead of Excelsior’s Cochrane/Leeding FTWA-1s. Third,
as the only one of the two designs fitted with megaphaser
on, having two standard fore-and-aft mounts on its engine
ort pylons. Both prototypes were finished by 2285 and
nsively tested for the next year. Both performed admirably
in one area, and in this area both failed. So blatant wa
failure that it would bring about the permanent end of
ip for transwarp drive research.
It has often been said that the initial failures of “the Great
Experiment” were due to its transwarp drive. This is not exactly
true. Both the Cochrane/Leeding and Koeller engines performed
exactly as designed. The problem was in transwarp theory itself
and the control systems designed to implement it. Starfleet
engineers had been unable to duplicate the Kelvan modifications,
so they did the next best thing: they sought a way to create a
controlled wormhole. The effects of wo
light travel, especially with regards to starship warp engine
imbalances, were well known. The idea behind transwarp was to
cr
subsp
hat would literally suck a starship inside and propel it forward
rmholes on faster-than-
eate a controlled wormhole in front of a starship, an artificial
ace channel as opposed to a normal subspace warp field,
t
- 23 -
a
arp 20. Crossing the Great
B
ranswarp starship because
hrough, flying though a
wouldn’t be time for the
. That was
e was that
ranswarp control systems proved virtually incapable of
managing the wormhole once it was generated. Both Excelsior
and Ingram repeatedly went out of control during transwarp
tests, and both had to resort to the old-fashioned method of
shutting down their warp drives in order to stop their
wormholes. The most dramatic of these failures occurred on 9
July 2287. Excelsior, having had its transwarp drive and control
systems rebuilt for the third time, simply disappeared on its
fourth and what would prove to be its final transwarp test flight
frantic search by every Starfleet and civilian vessel in and
hich the ship had fallen through.
elsior had become trapped in the limbo between universes
e of its early pre-service failures, that
any are already calling it “the new Constitution” of the fleet.
Starfleet Command also sees the Excelsior in this light, playing
a
t sustained speeds in excess of w
arrier would pose no problem to a t
it would literally punch its way t
controlled wormhole so fast that there
Barrier’s psionic variances to begin affecting its crew
he theory, anyway. What happened in practic
t
t
.
A
around the Local Group yielded nothing. Two weeks later, the
Excelsior suddenly reappeared just outside the Sol System in the
exact same spot where she had disappeared, completely drained
of all power and running off of emergency batteries. The
reconfigured transwarp control system combined with the
power of Excelsior’s engines had done more than create a
wormhole. It had apparently created a breach in the local
space-time continuum through w
Exc
until Captain Raymond Styles and his crew had regenerated
enough ship’s power to affect a safe return. None of them,
including Captian Styles, expressed a desire to stay on a
starship that the more existential among them were now
beginning to call cursed, and they were soon transferred to
other duty stations.
It was at that point that Starfleet Command stepped in and
terminated the transwarp program for good. Both Excelsior and
Ingram were quickly stripped of their transwarp control
systems, and ones used for standard linear warp drive were
adapted for use with their unique warp engines. There was
method behind Starfleet Command’s apparent madness. The
Excelsior program had already been chosen by the Military Staff
Committee as the winning design for the space control ship
despite the transwarp issue, and the keels for two additional
Excelsior class vessels (Columbia and Galacta) were already
being laid. Political and military realities had forced the rapid
acceptance of the space control ship program, problems or no.
Transwarp technology was not necessary in dealing with the
growing threat of war with the Klingon Empire. Starfleet needed
the Excelsior and needed it now, before the Klingons started
using their new K’herr class dreadnoughts for more than just
showing off. Ingram would remain as the lone example of its
type. It would also be the only Starfleet space control ship (as
of this date) ever to see service fitted with megaphaser cannon.
The overall excellence of the modified Excelsior design has quickly
proven itself in any task upon which it is called. So successful
has it become, in spit
m
the role of a new and larger heavy cruiser in a new fleet of
starships that are already being dubbed “the Excelsior
generation.” A number of spin-off designs have already
appeared, inspired by exiting Class I Program vessels, and some
have even won tentative approval for construction. It appears
that Excelsior may very well join join Baton Rouge and
Constitution as the defining starship design of its era.
There exists a third variation of the basic space control ship
platform. U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-B), named after her
Constitution class ancestor, entered service in 2293 as the first
of the so-called “modified Excelsiors.” This configuration
includes the addition of two extra hangar bays to the primary
hull saucer, upgraded Cochrane/Leeding FESW-2 warp engines,
nd a set of bulges for additional sensor systems on either side
of its secondary hull. Weaponry and shielding systems are also
improved, making this new Enterprise the most powerful
starship in all of Starfleet as of this date.
VISUALS:
Excelsior (NX-2000) in prototype configuration (2286)
Ingram (NX-2001) in service configuration (2290)
Enterprise (NCC-1701-B) as she appears today (2295)
- 24 -
SPECIFICATIONS (EXCELSIOR ):
Length: …………………………………….. 511.3 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 195.6 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 86.8 m
Mass: ………………………. 386,500 DWT (standard)
511,250 DWT (modified)
Crew .… 780 (including 50 Marines and 20 shuttle pilots)
Range: ………………………... 15 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 15
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 20
Armament …….… 24 phasers (12 banks of 2 - standard)
30 phasers (7 banks of 2, 16 single banks - modified)
4 photon torpedo tubes (2 each fore and aft)
NOTES:
Modified listings are for the Enterprise variant (NCC-1701-B).
The change in mass for the modified version represents the
addition of the secondary hull bulges as well as the dual
auxiliary hangars to the aft section of the primary hull.
The 780 listed for Excelsior class starships crews is an
average figure. Thus can range anywhere in size from 530 to
875 depending on mission parameters. This includes
deployment of Marine troops and support personnel as well as
combat shuttle pilots and maintenance crews.
SPECIFICATIONS (INGRAM ):
Length: …………………………………….. 590.6 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 237.7 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 88.6 m
Mass: …………………………………. 505,000 DWT
Crew ……..… 535 (+ 50 Marines and 20 shuttle pilots)
Range: ………………………... 10 light-years at L.Y.V.
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 12
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 17
Armament ….. 30 phasers (7 banks of 2, 16 single banks)
4 photon torpedo tubes (2 each fore and aft)
SCHEMATICS:
U.S.S. Excelsior (NCC-2000)
U.S.S. Ingram (NCC-2001)
U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-B
)
EXCELSIOR DESIGN BY NILOS RODIS AND BILL GEORGE
ENTERPRISE-B MODIFICATIONS BY JOHN EAVES
INGRAM DESIGN BY TODD GUENTHER, JASON GENSER, AND DON BOSCH
EXCELSIOR AND ENTERPRISE-B SCHEMATICS BY ERIC KRISTIANSEN (JACKILLS)
INGRAM SCHEMATICS BY TODD GUENTHER, JASON GENSER, AND DON BOSCH
VISUALS BY BRIAN MINOSH, JAY HURST, ANDREW J. HODGES,
AND OUTLANCE SHIPYARDS
- 25 -
CLASS I TRANSPORT/TUGS OF
THE LINEAR WARP ERA
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2276
The uilding an
mirrored that
only ajor diffe
isers
cam
rst, wi
troubled times
modernization
equal importa
rea during
. It was
etermined not to let that happen again.
The inclusion of the transport/tug Keppler (NCC-3816) in the
LN-40 linear warp test program of the 2260s was no accident.
e match allowed its test data
. More importantly, the aging
as in dire need of replacement.
e 15 transport/tugs of the Keppler class were in the process
of en
the l
prot
r
warp
refit
conv
era c
In 22
transport/tug
warp technology. It proved even more beneficial to them than
the effect that the Enterprise conversion did for Class I heavy
cruisers. A linear warp converted Class I transport/tug could
now tow three standard transport containers with relative ease
at warp 6, thereby helping to offset Klingon advances in
transport and container system design. A converted Ptolemy
was also heavier armed than before, carrying the “full” primary
hull complement of 12 phaser banks that graced most linear
warp Class I designs. This was a significant upgrade in armament
nd reflected a lesson hard-learned from the Klingons: heavily
sports had a better survival rate in combat and
substitute cruisers in a pinch. Only a dozen
Ptolemy class starships received this conversion due to their
extreme age; however, the competing Doppler and Moncrief
classes were quickly authorized to fill in the gaps. Doppler was
essentially a LN-60 Ptolemy new-build along the lines of the
Constituition (II) heavy cruiser conversion, whereas Moncrief
was a LN-64 Ptolemy new-build that added a cruiser-standard
dual phototorp deck to the hull dorsal. Some Moncriefs were
fitted with a small, two-craft shuttle bay instead of the
phototorp deck as an experiment, intended for use within
Federation space, but the phototorp-equipped version was fleet
standard. Both Al Rashid and Ptolemy entered service in 2270
seeing extensive use during the lat
nsions escalated with the Klingon Empire.
b
d upgrading of Starfleet’s Class I transport/tugs
of the various Class I heavy cruiser programs. The
rence between them was that the heavy cru
m
e fi
th their military nature giving them priority in the
of the 2270s and 2280s. Nevertheless, the
of the Class I transport/tug fleet was of almost
nce. Starfleet had come up short in this critical
the Four Years War (2246-2250)
a
d
True, its configuration was a clos
to
be applied to Class I frigates
and overworked Ptolemy class w
Th
tering service at the time, so it was simple enough to divert
ead ship of the class over for use as a LN-40 technology
otype. The rest of the Keppler class would receive linea
technology via improved LN-52s during their first ESLP
s in the late 2270s. Keppler itself would be the last so
erted, having operated with LN-40s ever since its 2260s-
onversion as proof of the concept.
66 the Ptolemy class tug Al-Rashid became the first Class I
to be scheduled for conversion to LN-64 linear
a
armed fleet tran
could serve as
,
e 2270s and the 2280s as
te
One thing that Klingon transport/tugs could still do that
Starfleet designs could not was tow up to four containers at a
time. Klingon designs had been able to do this with their G-type
containers ever since the N-6 Morast of the Four Years War.
The Dollond class of transport/tugs were originally developed
during the 2260s in response to the Morast. These were
derived from the Coventry class frigate, utilizing additional power
reactors within the hull (in spaces once reserved for hangar
decks) to achieve the four-container capacity. The program was
delayed due to the onset of linear warp technology, and by the
time it was finally authorized for construction in 2290 it had
been considerably modified. Officially the new “heavy” Class I
transport/tug that entered service in 2291 was
class; however, it was still
Starfleet Command and the name has more or less stuck with
continued, persisten
(hull hard points and all) r
Its L
f
It is fortuna
are coming into fleet service at this
onstruction of their planned successor, the Excelsior-derived
Anaxagoras class, is on hold pending program reassessment due
to the Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295. Had the
program been delayed any further then it might have suffered a
similar fate.
the Hensley
referenced as the Dollond by
t use. It is essentially an upgraded Miranda
econfigured for the transport/tug role.
N-64 linear warp engines provide ample power for towing
our transport containers with ease and up to six if necessary.
te that the Dollond (Hensley) heavy transport/tugs
point in time time.
C
- 26 -
SPECIFICATIONS (UPGRADED KEPPLER
Length: ……………………………
):
………
Beam: ………………………………………
.. 222.0 m
124.3 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 67.4 m
Mass: ………………………………… 133,500 DWT
Crew ………………………………………... 320
Range: ……………………….… 5 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 7
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 9
Armament: ……… 4 phasers (1 bank of 2, 2 single banks)
SPECIFICATIONS (AL-RASHID, MONCRIEF )
Length: …………………………………….. 247.1 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 141.7 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 64.0 m
Mass: ………………………………… 146,000 DWT
Crew …………………………………………….. 339
……….. 234.7 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 141.7 m
arine operations. These will
loan from
Range: ………………………… 16 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 7
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 12
Armament: ………………..… 12 phasers (6 banks of 2)
2 photon torpedo tubes (Moncrief only)
SPECIFICATIONS (DOLLOND/HENSLEY ):
Length: ……………………………
Draft: …………………….………………… 63.6 m
Mass: ………………………………… 205,750 DWT
Crew …………………………………………….. 490
Range: ………………………… 16 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 7
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 12
Armament: …… 14 phasers (6 banks of 2, 2 single banks)
2 photon torpedo tubes (modified roll bar option)
NOTE:
A special version of the Hensley (Dollond), known as the Brownwood
class “assault transport,” is being produced for the Starfleet
Marines. This is a Hensley fitted with the standard
Miranda/Avenger roll bar weapons package and interior spaces
reconfigured to better accommodate M
be replacing all Miranda class starships currently on
Starfleet on a one-for-one basis as they are built. Authorization for
additional Brownwood class starships is on hold pending program
review under the Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295.
SCHEMATICS:
U.S.S. Keppler (NCC-3816) with early LN-40 warp engines
(LN-52 configuration is almost identical)
U.S.S. Doppler (NCC-3831) - LN-60 new build program
U.S.S. Al-Rashid (NCC-3801) after LN-64 conversion
U.S.S. Moncrief (NCC-3800) – LN-64 new build program
(note the photon torpedo deck at the bottom of the dorsal)
U.S.S. Hensley (NCC-4300) – “Dollond” new build program
KEPPLER & DOPPLER DESIGNS BY FRANZ J. SCHNAULBELT AND ARIDAS SOFIA
DOLLOND DESIGN BY PATRICK LICHTY AND W.A. KRAUSE
MONCRIEF & HENSLEY DESIGNS BY ERIC KRISTIANSEN (JACKILL’S)
VISUALS COURTESY OF FILEFRONT
SCHEMATICS BY NEALE DAVIDSON AND RICHARD E. MANDEL
- 27 -
MIDWAY CLASS SHUTTLECARRIER
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2289
Mid
the 2
s
Class
fleet
tion
of th
cruis
e
comb
iel
or F
perm
ng it to operate as fleet flagships in the event a
Ariel-type
fleet
Mid
powe
This
mult
“wall
perfo
shut
weap
work for t
de grace. The additi
o tubes, also makes
erior) of its Klingon
nd
with
desi
split
Mid
Vald
desi
that
Mid
developed for
t
ion was
ype
Excelsior
warp eng
maneuver
give Mid
current a
Ten Midway class shuttlecarriers were initially authorized for
construction in 2286. Midway (NCC-2220) and Akagi (NCC-
2221) were the first to enter service in 2289 and 2291
respectively. As launched they were deployed with two fighter
squadrons of F-type 15, one attack squadron of A-type 20, and
a group of four E-type 3 combat shuttlecraft. Ark Royal (NCC-
2222), which entered service in 2293, was the first Starfleet
shuttlecarrier to deploy with the new F-type 22 “Peregrine”
fighter shuttle, which is quickly becoming the favorite of the
ghter shuttle pilot corps. Illustrious (NCC-2224) is named
very first shuttlecarrier (post Romulan War
uled to enter service next year. Completion of
Nchtari (NCC-2223) is on hold pending program review under
the Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295.
way is based on the unbuilt Napoleon class fleet carrier of
260s. It represents a marked departure from the variou
I based shuttlecarrier designs and the Ariel/Fredrikstad
shuttlecarriers. Midway was intended to be a combina
e two, offering the operational versatility of a Class I heavy
er yet at the same time capable of operating multipl
at shuttlecraft squadrons in the same manner as an Ar
redrikstad. It also sports the same C3 suite as the Ariel,
itti
dreadnought,
space
control
ship,
or
huttlecarrier is unavailable.
s
way’s armament is almost identical in both arrangement and
.
r to that of an Enterprise or Tikopai class heavy cruiser
represents a major departure from the deployment of
iple point-defense phasers per Ariel and Fredrikstad. The
of fire” concept behind this armament scheme has not
t
rmed in practice as well as in theory, with enemy comba
tles simply retreating beyond range. This allowed the heavy
ons of their carrier or fleet support ships to do their dirty
hem before they swooped in to deliver the final coup
on of self-contained heavy weapons
capability, in the form of dual photon torped
Midway the operational equivalent (or sup
a
Romulan contemporaries, thus allowing it to go toe-to-toe
any foe while their fighters battle among themselves. The
gn’s main drawback is its shuttle bay arrangement, with
launch and retrieval flight decks. Many critics of the
way, such as former Starfleet Commissioner Lars-Erik
emar, point out that the lack of a proper through-deck
gn sets Midway up for the same kind of combat catastrophe
befell the Santee and Sangamon during the Four Years war.
way’s unique LN-80 warp engines are a variant of the LN-70
Yamato. Four of them are mounted in stacked
pairs
wo. The configurat
inspired by the Cheetah
protot
fast cruiser. These make Midway almost as fast as
without having to resort to the use of costly FTWA-1
ines and provides superior warp performance and
ability to the layout employed on Yamato. These also
way both the speed and range to play a vital part in
nd future fleet battle group operations.
of
fi
after Starfleet’s
era) and is sched
VISUALS:
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 626 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 253.8 m
D
Mass: …………………………….…1,053,600 DWT
Crew ……………… approximately 700 (plus 70 pilots)
Cruising spee
Maxim
Armamen
2 photon torpedo tubes (both forward)
52 combat shuttlecraft (24 fighter, 24 attack, 4 ELINT)
raft: …………………….………………… 91.3 m
Range: ………………………. 20 light-years at L.Y.V.
d: ………………….………….. warp 8
um speed: ………………….………… warp 16
t: …….……... 26 phasers (13 banks of 2 each)
MIDWAY DESIGN FROM STARFLEET COMMAND II: EMPIRES AT WAR
BY ACTIVISION GAMES
VISUALS BY DEMON RENEGADE STUDIOS AND STARFORCE PRODUCTIONS
- 28 -
RANGER CLASS LIGHT CRUISER
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2290
Not to be confused with the Class II scout of the late 2260s,
the Class I Ranger was a hybrid design meant to combine the
best features of the Belknap class strike cruiser with the post-
modern Pompey class destroyer with the minimum secondary
hull possible in a linear warp starship. It was intended to
complement Enterprise, Tikopai, and Miranda class cruisers,
taking on missions within Federation borders in order to free up
their more versatile cruiser brethren for better tasks. Ranger
was fiercely opposed by Starfleet allies of Cosmadyne, primary
contractors for the Belknap, on the grounds that it was a
redundant design and additional Belknaps were more than
apable of filling this role. Only three Rangers were built before
t
R
c
he Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295 put an end to the
program (and to future Belknap new builds as well, much to
Cosmadyne’s dismay). The three Ranger class light cruisers are
currently scheduled to be reassigned to the Cathedral Unit for
use as technology testbeds.
A new Ranger class light cruiser has been proposed that
addresses the deficiencies of the original design. Approval has
been held up pending program review under the Starfleet
eorganization Order of 2295.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 260 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 141.7 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 64.0 m
Mass: ………………………………… 147,000 DWT
Crew …………………………………………….. 402
Range: ………………………..., 8 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 8
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 11
Armament: .….. 15 phasers (6 banks of 2, 3 single banks)
2 photon torpedo tubes (both forward)
SCHEMATIC:
RANGER DESIGN BY DAVID SCHMIDT
SCHEMATIC COURTESY OF THE STARSHIP SCHEMATIC DATABASE
CONSTELLATION CLASS
STAR CRUISER (EXPLORER)
SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2299 (est.)
tarfleet’s newest class of starship came about in the late
2280s as a natural outgrowth of the Cheetah fast cruiser
prototype program. The idea was to create a high speed
superscout starship capable of extended duration missions deep
into uncharted space. The Starship Design Bureau reworked
Cheetah into a long range survey cruiser, almost doubling the
ship’s internal volume by “pancaking” two extra decks into a
modern Class I primary hull and adding two extra outer “rings”
for additional support facilities, such as shuttle bays and extra
science labs. The new hull form factor was promptly dubbed the
“laminate hull” due to these extra layers. External hull blister
were added to help house the largest sensor and
scanner suite ever intended for fitting onto a Class I starship. A
full range of weaponry equivalent to that of a Class I command
cruiser was also provided, obstensibly for defensive purposes.
This would allow this new starship class to cope with any
unknown and potentially hostile situations that might arise when
deployed at extreme distances from any potential Starfleet
support.
Constellation after the famous Class I
heavy cruiser lost in 2262. The new
Co
ay
class
Mid
T si
dest
LN-7
l
impu
to t
Con
torp
each
arr
a specific range of science facilities for improved EVA mission
support.
Con
should have had the hull number NCC-1017-A in keeping with
S
s
and fairings
The new design is named
Program prototype
“
nnie” mounts four linear warp engines as does the Midw
shuttlecarrier. Its arrangement is different, eschewing the
-
way dual-stack design following the Cheetah inverted double
milar to that first used with the Pompey class heavy
h
royer. It will be only the second starship class fitted wit
0 linear warp engines, with Yamato being the first. Dua
e
lse decks are included both for mission redundancy and du
he design requirements of the laminate hull configuration.
stellation will also enter service fitted with dual photon
o d cks,
ed
e
one each nestled at both of the T-junctures for
warp engine pylon. Its multiple shuttle bays will allow it to
y up to 26 small craft of various types, each having access
c
to
stellation is expected to enter service in 2299. As proposed
it
- 29 -
n
gistry of
N
ved by
starship
t offered to
ewly authorized Starfleet naming conventions. A re
CC-1974 had already been requested and appro
ew
Starfleet Division’s Aiken Facility on Luna for the n
ng before a name was given to the vessel. Starflee
lo
change the registry as a favor to the Constellation chapter of
the Starfleet Association but the group declined, stating its
preference to keep unique the hull number of the original Connie.
Per its request Starfleet has permanently “retired” the registry
of NCC-1017 from use by any future starships named
Constellation.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: …………………………………….. 315 m
Beam: ……………………………………… 168.1 m
Draft: …………………….………………… 85.2 m
Mass: ………………………………… 208,750 DWT
Crew ………………………………………... 530
Range: ………………………. 25 light-years at L.Y.V.
Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 7
Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 11
Armament: …. 16 phasers (6 banks of 2, 4 single mounts)
4 photon torpedo tubes (2 forward banks of 2)
SCHEMATICS:
The Baton Rouge era Titan class shuttlecarrier concept. This
unbuilt design would serve as the basis for the Ariel and
Fredrikstad class shuttlecarriers
Ascension class dreadnought
The converted dreadnought Belsarius (NCC-2567) during
weapons tests at the Arcturus Test Range. Her conversions
included a Miranda-style modular primary hull, megaphaser
cannon, and additional photon torpedo mounts. The idea was to
see just how far a linear warp dreadnought could be overgunned.
CONSTELLATION DESIGN BY RICK STERNBACH,
ANDREW PROBERT, AND GREG JEIN
VISUALS COURTESY OF FILEFRONT
SCHEMATICS BY BRAD TORGERSON
The Napoleon fleet shuttlecarrier proposal from the 2260s
served as the basis for the modern day Midway program
- 30 -
TERRAN EXPLORATIONS
THE GENESIS PLANET
The Genesis Planet was created on 28 January 2287 (stardate
8130.3) from the entire mass of the Mutara Nebula by
tonation of the Stage III Genesis Device. The device was
Terran dictator Khan Noonien Singh at the
een the starship Enterprise (NCC-1701) and
the
a
few
Gene
o
capt
it in
r his
exile
new
and
his l
whe
En
ssembly, damaged during the battle, and go to warp seconds
is Device detonated.
Drs. Carol and David Marcus, the creators of Project Genesis,
had programmed the Genesis Device to create a small, Terran-
like planet. The Genesis Planet coalesced and formed according
to the matrix that been programmed into the Genesis Device;
however, it proved unstable from the beginning. It had been
intended for detonation on a small, lifeless world or barren
asteroid. The fact that its mass base was a nebula instead of a
pre-existing body meant that it took several days for the Genesis
Planet to coalesce and come into being. The new world’s
inherent instability was documented by the survey vessel
Grissom (NCC-638). The reason behind this was soon revealed
by the ship’s special guest, Genesis Project co-creator Dr. David
Marcus. He had obtained a small supply of the illegal substance
known as protomatter in order to prime the lifeform matrix for
the Genesis Device. It should have worked on a planetary scale
as it had during the smaller Stage I and Stage II tests. The fac
that Stage III had been activated inside a nebula as opposed to
the surface of a planetary body had caus
expand well beyond its desi
contracted and the Genesis Planet c
with an unstable matrix instead
programmed. This inherent instability eventually caused the
planet to revert to a lifeless, molten mass. A surprise attack by
a cloaked Klingon vessel searching for the secrets of the Genesis
Device resulted in the destruction of the Grissom, the death of
Dr. Marcus, and the destruction of the starship Enterprise,
which had returned for reasons of its own. Admiral Kirk and his
crew only escaped with their lives by capturing the Klingon Bird-
of-Prey that had attacked them and then using it to escape
before the Genesis Planet went into its final death throes.
de
triggered by former
nd of a duel betw
e
hijacked Reliant (NCC-1864). The Mutara Nebula was only
sectors away from the Regula One space station where the
sis Device had been developed.. Khan had managed t
ure the Reliant due to an incredible series of events and use
an attempt to kill Kirk, the man he held responsible fo
. Acquiring the Genesis Device was just a side benefit of his
freedom. However, after Enterprise successfully crippled
disabled the Reliant, the dying Khan triggered the device as
ast attempt to exact vengeance on Kirk. The attempt failed
n
terprise managed to repair its dilithium converter
a
before the Genes
t
ed the lifeform matrix to
gned parameters. Thus, once it
oalesced, it came into being
of the stable one originally
The Genesis Planet as it app
The Genesis Planet is still considered off-limits by the Federation
Council, with Starfleet’s original ban of stardate 8158.6 still in
effect. Starfleet now maintains a small fleet in the area while
Federation scientists continue to study the now-lifeless, lava-
covered world. They are also studying the small G-type star,
named Boojum per the Project Genesis control program, which
was created during the formation of the Genesis Planet. Star
creation had been an option of the Stage III control program but
was not supposed to have been activated as programmed.
Boojum’s existence despite this, along with its apparent stability
in light of the dramatic death of its only world, will continue to
be a so
ears today (2295)
urce of study and debate for years to come.
SPEC
Distance from system star ……………… 93 million km
Period of revolution (Terran measure) …… 54.6 hours
Period of orbit (Terran measure) ………… 198.9 days
Mass ………………………………….. 4.7 x1024 kg
Diameter ………………………………. 5915.5 km
Axial inclination ………………………… 28º
Average surface temperature …………… @1200º C
Satellites ……..……………………….. none
Planetary Richter Scale rating ………….. A (formely M)
Lifeforms ……………..………………… none
M
Pla
IFICATIONS:
System star: UFC 415246 (Boojum)
ajor surface features ………………….. none
ces of note …………………………... none
- 31 -
HISTORICAL ARTICLES
THE MIGHTY HOOD GOES
UFP INFONET – 13 OCTOBER 2286
DOWN
Starfleet is reporting that one of its starships, the heavy cruiser
Hood, was destroyed earlier today in an unprovoked attack by a
Klingon warship. The Hood and two other Starfleet vessels had
been dispatched to investigate reports of Klingon raids on
border colonies near the Treaty Zone. What they found,
according to a Starfleet spokesman, was one of the Klingon’s
new D-9 class heavy destroyers. When it was ordered to stand
down the Klingon captain turned and attacked, crippling the
ood with its first salvo. It then ignored
H
the fire from the other
two Starfleet vessels and destroyed the Hood with a second
salvo as it was attempting to flee the scene of battle. All but
three members of the Hood’s crew were killed. The Klingon
starship then engaged the other two Starfleet vessels, crippling
the destroyer Ajax before its own mounting damage forced its
withdrawal.
The only survivors from the Hood were three space-suited
maintenance personnel who had been affecting emergency
repairs on Hood’s shuttlecraft bay. They were blown out of the
bay when the ship was destroyed and later picked up by the
destroyer Moltke, the only member of the Hood’s battle group
to escape relatively unscathed. The other 493 members of the
Hood’s crew, including Captain Andlath Kontaris and his
command staff, went down with their ship. The present
whereabouts of the Klingon D-9 that destroyed the Hood are
unknown.
LAUNCH OF THE GREAT EXPERIMENT
“NEWS BITS” –CLASSIC STARSHIPS MAGAZINE– FEBRUARY 2288
The newest starship to join the fleet may very well be its
greatest yet. Excelsior, the winning design in Starfleet’s Space
rol Ship Program, was commissioned into service today in
official ceremony presided over by Fleet Admiral Randolph
Morrow,
Morrow
mitted
been a
r now part of Starfleet, the Klingon
help but take notice of the fact that
Starfleet will not be cowed by new Klingon designs and
h them size for
size, ship for ship, fleet for fleet, until they come to
Cont
an
Commander-in-Chief
Starfleet. Admiral
that Excelsior’s development history had
of
ad
troubled one but that those issues were behind it now.
The failure of transwarp drive doesn’t mar the fact
that Excelsior still represents the future of Starfleet.
It was one of many new systems that were tried, and
it was the only one to fail. That one failure was easily
fixed by resorting to tried and true standard warp
drive systems. With this problem resolved, Excelsior
has since gone on to excel at every one of her space
trials, breaking records across the board. She is the
newest, largest, and most powerful ship to join the
fleet.
With Excelsio
Empire cannot
even grander ambitions. We will matc
understand our resolve. The Federation has no
intention of becoming a Klingon vassal state.
Excelsior, and her offspring to come, will make sure of
that.
- 32 -
KLINGONS THREATEN WAR
UFP INFONET – 23 APRIL 2287
At a special meeting of the Military Staff Committee earlier
today, Klingon ambassador Kiltarc, of the House of Neygebh,
berated the Federation over the delicate subject of the recent
mutiny of Admiral James T. Kirk, former Starfleet Chief of
Operations.
Behold! The quintessential devil in these matters!
James T. Kirk, renegade and terrorist! Not only is he
responsible for the murder of a Klingon crew, the theft
of a Klingon vessel – see now the real plot and
intentions! Even as the Federation negotiated a peace
treaty with us, Kirk was secretly developing the
Genesis Torpedo! Conceived by Kirk’s son and test-
detonated by the admiral himself! … We demand the
extradition of Kirk! We demand justice! Remember,
there will be no peace as long as Kirk lives!
Federation President Hiram Roth was quick to respond to
Ambassador Kiltarc’s demands. He pointed out that Kirk and his
followers were currently enjoying asylum on Vulcan under the
protection of Ambassador Sarek, who was present at the
meeting and also exchanged words with Ambassador Kiltarc.
President Roth then went to on emphasize that as a Federation
citizen Kirk would be tried for his crimes under Federation law,
not Klingon. At that point Ambassador Kiltarc and his entourage
stormed out of the chamber.
KIRK SURVIVES COURT-MARTIAL
UFP INFONET – 29 APRIL 2287
For most of his career James T. Kirk has been making possible
the impossible. He did so again today by surviving the second
court-martial in his career, remaining an officer of command rank
in Starfleet, and assuming command of a new starship.
Kirk was first court-martialed in 2260 when he was framed for
the murder of a fellow officer. The deception was eventually
discovered and Kirk was cleared of all charges. This time,
however, Kirk’s guilt was obvious. He deliberately violated
orders, stole a starship (his former command, Enterprise),
accessed a restricted part of space, was responsible for the
destruction of the starship he had stolen, engaged in
unauthorized combat with a covert Klingon team, and so on.
Kirk and his followers were forced to seek asylum on Vulcan
under the protection of Ambassador Sarek, an old ally, rather
than face charges of mutiny and sedition. Kirk’s conscience
eventually got the better of him, though. It was fortunate for
him that his decision to return to Earth coincided with the
Whalesong Crisis.
Kirk used his legendary ingenuity to once again save Earth, after
which mitigating circumstances were at play in his case. All
charges were dropped by Starfleet on the orders of Federation
President Roth against the mutineers, save for a single charge
against Admiral Kirk for disobeying a superior officer. Kirk was
busted all the way back to captain, which guaranteed he would
never achieve flag rank again. Kirk’s punishment turned out to
be a blessing in disguise, however. As a captain he could once
again command a starship, which as President Roth quickly
pointed out was a job for which his talents were best suited.
According to reports Captain Kirk has been given command of
the Yorktown, a sister ship of the Enterprise and rebuilt in much
the same fashion. It has been rechristened as a new Enterprise
(with the registry of NCC-1701-A) in honor of Kirk’s original
command. Kirk and the new Enterprise left Spacedock today on
what will be the ship’s maiden voyage under its new name. We
can but hope that Captain Kirk and his new starship will continue
to protect and serve the Federation as has been the case for so
many years.
- 33 -
KLINGONS DOOMED TO EXTINCTION
FEDERATION NEWSFLASH – 18 JUNE 2291
Welcome to Federation Newsflash, I’m Sanjiin Ghobhattai. Our
story at the top of this hour concerns the powerful shockwave
that ripped across Federation space days ago from the Treaty
Zone. Collected reports from a number of independent ship
captains seem to indicate a powerful, planet-sized explosion
within the heart of the Klingon home systems. For the effects of
such an explosion we go to our Newsflash military expert,
retired Starfleet commodore Nash Grantham. Commodore
Grantham was a guest earlier today on Starfleet Matters and
had this to say on the explosion:
All of these independent reports say the same thing:
e Grantham had this to say about its cause:
The only thing I could think of that could cause this
kind of devastation on this scale would be a planet or
large moon blowing up. My guess is that it was
probably either Praxis or Nchut. Both are large
moons that have extensive subsurface mines, where
they tap molten magma straight out from beneath the
mantle. If something went wrong at enough of those
mines, it could have caused a chain reaction that
would have torn them apart in no time. Those poor
bastards probably didn’t even have time to evacuate
before the thing went off.
STARFLEET CONSPIRACY
UNMASKED
they had one hell of an explosion in the heart of the
Klingon Empire. Something on the order of a large
moon or small planet. The results of something that
big on the infrastructure of the Klingon home systems
would be catastrophic. You could wipe out the entire
population of several worlds, knock starships and
space stations out of the sky, disrupt the orbital paths
of moons and asteroids with something that big – and
that’s just for starters.
Commodor
UFP INFONET – 18 AUGUST 2291
Captain James T. Kirk has cleared his name in the murder of the
late Klingon Chancellor Gorkon. In the process, he has also
uncovered a Starfleet conspiracy to provoke an all-out war with
e Klingon Empire. The conspiracy reached into the highes
th
cer
Spoc
to ju
ed
back
of
Fede
er
the p
the
“Gen
to
prov
f a
polit
ce,
whe
e
cont
o stand aside, let the Federation and Klingons
annh
ick
up t
as
coun
h a
cloa
nks
to t
hip
Exc
ct
Chan
o
dete
n
Chan
mp
hito
onference just in time to prevent Colonel West from
ssassinating both the President and the new Klingon
Chancellor, Gorkon’s daughter Azetbur. West was killed while
trying to escape while Captain Sulu arrested Admiral Cartwright
on charges of high treason.
t
th
levels of the Starfleet Admiralty, with Chief of Staff Admiral
Lemuel Cartwright and Colonel of the Starfleet Marine Corps
Anthony West both implicated. Also included in the conspiracy
were General Chang, his counterpart in the Klingon Empire; and
Romulan Ambassador Nanclus.
Kirk, who had been framed for Gorkon’s murder, broke out of
e Klingon maximum security penal colony at Ruta Penthe wi
th
the help of his crew aboard the starship Enterprise. First Offi
k had uncovered enough of the conspiracy in Kirk’s absence
stify violating Klingon space to rescue him. They rush
to Khitomer in an attempt to prevent the assassination
ration President Ra-ghoratreii. This event, which was und
ersonal supervision of Colonel West, would have incited
eral War” that the conspirators so desperately sought
oke. General Chang and his allies wanted no part o
ical settlement that would have brought about pea
reas Ambassador Nanclus and the Romulans were quit
t t
en
iliate each other, then move in with their own fleet and p
he pieces. Kirk’s attempt to save the President’s life w
tered by Chang, who intercepted the Enterprise wit
ked Bird-of-Prey. Chang was ultimately unsuccessful tha
he timely arrival of Captain Hikaru Sulu and the stars
elsior. Sulu, Kirk’s former helmsman, managed to distra
g long enough for First Officer Spock to devise a means t
ct Chang’s ship. Both Kirk and Sulu then opened fire o
g, destroying him and his ship. They arrived at the Ca
mer c
K
a
- 34 -
KIRK DIES SAVING NEW EN
3
TERPRISE
UNS NEWS WIRE – 15 MAY 229
Flags are flying at half-mast today
on a thousand worlds as the United
Federation of Planets mourns the
death of its greatest living hero.
Captain James Tiberius Kirk, former
Chief of Starfleet Operations,
three-time commander of the
original starship Enterprise and the
first for her rebuilt successor
Enterprise-A, gave his life earlier
today to save the crew of the new
starship Enterprise-B from the energy vortices of the Nexus.
Captain Kirk, who had recently retired from Starfleet service,
had been a special guest aboard the Enterprise-B during its
voyage. Kirk was apparently killed when an energy bolt
om Nexus breached the hull where he was standing while
ra in the United Americas farming community of
iverside, Iowa, Kirk was encouraged in his dream of reaching
the
ty
spec
uty
prom
the
serv
co
cam
pril,
the
as
foun
only
mids
to
beat
ing
simu
uated early in
249 due to the needs of the Four Years War with the Klingon
er of the destroyer Alexander. He
received a promotion to captain and his first command posting
just in time for his 30th birthday. This made James T. Kirk the
youngest captain in Starfleet history. His new assignment was
the starship Enterprise, succeeding the recently promoted Fleet
Captain Christopher Pike. As legendary as Captain Pike’s back-
to-back five-year missions had been, they would pale in
comparison to the first tour of duty of his young successor.
Captain Kirk’s five-year mission would include some of the most
important events in Federation history of recent times: the re-
emergence of the Romulans, the unmasking of Kodos the
f the
erate
ave Planet, the solution to the neural parasite plague, the
admission of Coridan to the Federation, the first use of
Medusans as starship navigators, multiple visits to parallel and
alternate realities, the saving of the entire population of the
Pallas XIV star system, the end of Orion neutrality, hundreds of
new worlds and star systems charted, and hundreds more new
species and forms of life encountered. The events mentioned
only skim the surface of Kirk’s first five-year mission aboard the
Enterprise, and whole volumes have been dedicated to his
s and those of his loyal crew.
gret his
ecision, though, despite a rewarding job and marriage to fellow
ch he graduated in 2249. The following year
he additional task of special instructor in starship
ut
rovocation by the starship Reliant, which had been hijacked by
ince his first tour of duty aboard the Enterprise,
Kirk violated orders and returned to the scene of battle to
retrieve Spock’s body, stealing the Enterprise with the help of a
small group of loyal officers to enable his mission. The
maiden
fr
assisting the ship’s crew in their rescue efforts. His body was
never recovered.
The late Captain Kirk is a Starfleet legend. Born 26 March
2229 on Ter
R
stars by his father George Kirk, a Starfleet securi
ialist. His father’s subsequent death in the line of d
pted him to follow his father’s footsteps and also enter
ice. Ironically, Kirk’s appointment to the San Francis
pus of Starfleet Academy was sponsored by Robert A
first captain of the starship Enterprise. Kirk’s legend w
ded during his Academy days, when he became the
hipman of his generation (and of all prior generations)
the Academy’s infamous “no-win scenario” train
lation. Both Kirk and his classmates grad
2
Empire. He was present as a junior officer on special duty during
the signing of the Treaty of Axanar, which ended the war, and
for it he received the Palm Leaf of the Axanar Peace Mission. It
was but one of many awards and commendations Kirk would
receive during his long and storied carrier, being at his death the
most decorated officer in Starfleet history.
By 2259 Kirk had already risen to the rank of commander and
was serving as executive offic
Executioner, the Four Days War and the pacification o
Klingons by the Organian Peace Treaty, the first delib
arship, the discovery of the Shore
instance of time travel by a st
Le
exploit
Kirk accepted a promotion to rear admiral and posting as
Starfleet Chief of Operations in 2265 following the end of his
first five-year mission. His rapid rise to flag rank was also the
fastest in Starfleet history. Kirk would later come to re
d
officer Lori Ciana. Kirk’s marriage would end in failure within a
year. Just over two years later the Vejur Crisis occurred and
Kirk used it to regain command of the newly rebuilt Enterprise.
Once back on board a starship he quickly regained his status as
Starfleet’s greatest living starship commander since Garth of
Izar. His exploits during his second five-year mission were just
as impressive as had been the first, and he was rewarded with a
promotion to full admiral in 2272. That same year the Kzinti
Incursion broke out, and Admiral Kirk was placed in charge of the
Starfleet task force that ultimately brought the Kzinti to heel.
Kirk voluntarily stepped down a second time as commander of
the Enterprise in 2283 to accept the position of Director of
Personnel at the San Francisco campus of Starfleet Academy,
the same from whi
took on t
combat tactics at the prestigious Starfleet Academy Command
School, even convincing the Admiralty to “loan” him his former
command Enterprise as a training vessel.
Kirk was court-martialed twice in his career. The first time was
in 2260 when he was framed for the death of a fellow officer.
The officer in question turned out to be very much alive and the
one behind the affair, and all charges were subsequently
dropped. The second, however, was more serious. In 2287
while on a training cruise, the Enterprise was attacked witho
p
an old foe of Kirk’s seeking revenge. Kirk’s tactical wizardry
saved the day; however, the Enterprise was heavily damaged
during a series of running battles and Captain Spock, the ship’s
commander, was mortally wounded. Kirk authorized a full
funeral with honors for Captain Spock but was later shocked to
learn from Spock’s father Ambassador Sarek, upon returning to
Spacedock, that Spock might not be dead in the traditional
sense. Acting on behalf of his best friend, with whom he had
served ever s
- 35 -
Enterprise was subsequently destroyed by a Klingon sh
prowling the area. Kirk and his party survived only by trickin
t
nd then capturing th
ip
g
eir
ip. Having recovered Spock, who was in fact still alive, they
immediately sought asylum on Vulcan so Spock would have time
to recover from his ordeal. Kirk’s eventual decision to leave
Vulcan and face the certain court-martial that awaited him
happened to coincide with the Whalesong Crisis. As his ship was
in the area affected by the whale probe, Kirk again used his
ingenuity along with the resourcefulness of his followers to
successfully resolve the situation. In gratitude the Federation
President ordered all charges of mutiny and sedition against
Admiral Kirk and his followers dropped, save for a single charge
against Kirk for disobeying a superior officer. Kirk was demoted
all the way back to the rank of captain and given command of a
new Enterprise, where according the President he belonged.
Thus Kirk would forever be denied another chance at flag rank.
Captain Kirk served his fourth and final five-year mission aboard
e new Enterprise, which was in truth starship Yorktown
onor during the commissioning
eremony and shakedown cruise of the new Enterprise-B. It
was
in
the l
Capt
lso
serv
on
Terr
de,
Iowa
he Klingons into beaming them aboard a
sh
th
renamed in honor of Kirk’s former starship. His greatest
accomplishment during this period would be thwarting a secret
Starfleet conspiracy to prevent the Khitomer Accords in 2291,
thus bringing about the first true peace with the Klingon Empire
that the Federation has ever known. By this time Captain Kirk
was 68 years old and beginning to feel his age. He accepted
early retirement from Starfleet “in order to pursue new
horizons” with other retiring members of his former command
staff, as he told reporters. He was lured out of retirement two
years later as special guest of h
c
during this cruise that James Tiberius Kirk gave his life
ine of duty so that others could live.
ain Kirk is survived by a nephew, Peter Kirk, who a
es with Starfleet. A memorial service is being planned
a by friends of the family in Kirk’s birthplace of Riversi
, where a monument will be erected to his memory.
The Cheetah class fast frigate prototype. Although it never
entered service, data gleaned from the Cheetah program would
be instrumental in the development of the Constellation class
star cruiser, currently scheduled to enter service in 2297.
The Excelsior class Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)
in orbit above Earth.
U.S.S. Decatur (NCC-2500) heads for early retirement
U.S.S. Star League (NCC-2101) embarks on its first five-year
mission exploring beyond the edges of known space
- 36 -
of the starship Enterprise under my command.
of another crew. To them and their posterity
he voyages we have begun and journey
e no man, where no one, has gone before.”
- Captain James T. Kirk (2291)
“Captain's log, stardate 9529.1. This is the final cruise
e care
tinue t
g wher
This ship and her history will shortly become th
will we commit our future. They will con
to all the undiscovered countries, boldly goin
- 37 -
KEY HISTORICAL STARSHIPS
1957-2295 – TERRAN PERSPECTIVE
VISUAL
DATE
LENGTH
MASS (DWT)
CREW
PROPULSION
MAX
SPEED
KEY FACTS TO REMEMBER
3
chemical rocket
0.13c
First manned vehicle to leave Terran orbit
and deliver crew to an off-world location
Apollo
(with Saturn V launch vehicle)
1968
110.8 m
3,400
(Luna)
OV-100 Space Shuttle
1980
37.2 m
68
7
chemical rocket
335
km/hr
First reusable Terran spacecraft
DY-100 (production model)
1990
108 m
27,200
20
fusion drive
0.2c
First manned interplanetary commercial
Terran spacecraft
Marilee
(typical Bussard ramjet
colonization ship)
2010
760 m
162,500
20
(+200
in deep
cryo-
sleep)
Bussard ramjet
0.13c
(est)
Early Terran interplanetary colonizer; had
to be accelerated to 0.06c by fusion drive
before ramjet could be used; deliberately
crashed on Perry’s Planet after all crew
and colonists disembarked; wreckage
used to build colony
Aventeur class
2018
125 m
28,100
109
fusion drive
0.2c
First Terran long-range interplanetary
exploration spacecraft
Galileo class
2028
300 m
48,400
(full load)
98
fusion drive
0.3c
One of the most popular and long-lived
Terran transports of its era
Companion class
2033
156 m
65,000
20
fusion drive
0.5c
First UESF warship class
Declaration class
2038
300 m
52,700
100
impu
First successful, purpose-built
lse drive
0.4c
Terran starship
(manned interstellar spacecraft)
Columbus class
2040
120 m
8,600
40
spiked
antimatter
0.75c
First Terran starship class to reach
another inhabited planet; first with spiked
antimatter engines
DY-X
2057
167 m
23,000
94
CDP
“jump drive”
0.65c
(+12sec
warp
1.2
jumps)
Best all-around UESF starship of the
Earth-Kzin Wars; first Terran starship
designed for faster-than-light travel
UES Bonaventure
(Cochrane class, as built)
2060
206 m
19,400
45
first-generation
warp 2
First production Terran starship to
maintain a cruising velocity in excess of
warp drive
the speed of light; first starship fitted wi
Cochrane warp drive
th
- 38 -
VISUAL
DATE
LENGTH
MASS (DWT)
CREW
PROPULSION
MAX
SPEED
KEY FACTS TO REMEMBER
Verne class
2064
235.9 m
25,000
first-generation
warp drive
warp
2.5
First Terran starship to reach a non-
human inhabited world; first starship with
three warp engines
112
Keldysh class
2064
97 m
16,500
80
first-generation
warp drive
warp
2.1
First Terran explorer class starship; first
Terran vessel to encounter the Galactic
Barrier; first starship jointly designed by
cultures from different worlds
(Terra and Alpha Centauri IV)
Conestoga class
2069
197.2 m
23,800
25
(+200)
first-generation
warp drive
warp
2.0
First Terran colonizer equipped
with warp drive
Messier class
2078
258 m
27,700
183
first-generation
warp drive
warp
2.9
First Terran starship with non-human
crew members; oldest UESF warship
class to serve in the Romulan War
Roanoke class
2105
76.2
(unladen)
19,400
(unladen)
20
first-generation
warp drive
warp
2.2
First of the Class J cargo ships
Prometheus class ringship
2105
320 m
57,500
115
toridal
warp drive
warp
3.2
Last major Terran ringship class
produced prior to the Romulan War
Wright class
2139
168 m
48,500
125
first-generation
warp drive
warp
3.0
First warship class of the
Federation Star Fleet; design inspired by
Centaurean Djartanna class destroyer;
considered one of the influences on the
Jeffries/Joseph design lineage due to its
dual splayed warp engine arrangement
Cavalry class
2141
130 m
14,900
80
first-generation
warp drive
warp
3.1
Second warship class of the Federation
Star Fleet; direct ancestor of the Class I
destroyer and scout designs
Horizon class
2146
280 m
38,500
224
first-generation
warp drive
warp
3.25
First exploratory starship class of the
Federation Star Fleet
Armstrong class
2146
207 m
38,000
175
Cochrane PB-1
warp
3.6
First joint Terran-Centaurean-Andorian
starship; direct ancestor of the
Loknar class frigate
(NOTE: takes place of NX-Program
Enterprise in Prime One timeline)
Jeffries Project prototype
2155
50 m
8,750
14
first-generation
warp drive
warp
3.8
Direct ancestor of the Baton Rouge and
Constitution class starships
Marshall class
2157
225 m
22,700
157
Warp drive
3.8
screens; best known Federa
Fleet class from the Romul
warp
First starship class fitted with force field
tion Star
an war
alus class
Daed
using data
he Jeffries Project
2158
114.5 m
27,500
120
Cochrane PB-2
“Quantum”
warp
3.9
First starship cl
gleaned from t
ass built
Olympus class
2158
182.2 m
411,300
806
warp drive
wa
3
(aka “cylinder ship”)
tonnage produced during this era
Typical CS-series starship
rp
.5
from the Romulan War era; the largest
Federation starship in terms of mass
Bonaventure rebuild
2165
198 m
115,000
190
Cochrane PB-6
“Quantum II”
warp
3.9
First time an existing starship was broken
down and rewoven into a new type of
vessel; first full-blown Federation starship
to employ a disc-like primary hull
- 39 -
VISUAL
DATE
LENGTH
MASS (DWT)
CREW
PROPULSION
MAX
SPEED
KEY FACTS TO REMEMBER
112,000
140
Cochr
“Quantum
Texas class
2175
189.9 m
ane PB-8
III”
warp
3.6
Last production Federation starship fitted
with ablative armor; longest-serving
starship class as of this date (110 years)
Tritium class
2188
202 m
476,000
250
Cochrane PB-8
Most expensive failure in Federation
“Quantum III”
(modified)
warp
3.6
starship history
Mann class
2192
185 m
54,000
294
Vickers J27-A
4.5
matter/antimatter m
arp
engines; first fitted with dual purpose
deflector/sensor grid on hull
warp
First Federation starship to break the
Warp 4 barrier for sustained FTL
cruising speeds; first with 1:1
ix ratio for its w
Illustrious class
2198
1200 m
1,989,000
600
multiple
Cochrane
PB-10E
“Klepton”
warp
3.5
First (and still largest) shuttlecarrier in
Federation history
Baton Rouge class
2205
245 m
92,500
344
Kloratis VX-28
“Pegasys”
warp
5.2
First major Federation warship build
program since the end of the Romulan
War; first starship class with a true disc-
shaped primary hull; first starship class
built using modular component
construction techniques; first starship
class fitted with transporter technology
and duotronic computer systems; lead
starship class of its generation
Anton class
2210
185 m
146,500
290
Kloratis VX-28
“Pegasys”
warp
4.8
hull;” direct ancestor of the
Coventry, Miranda, and Avenger classes
First Federation starship with “modular
Surya,
Constitution class
2222
290 m
190,000
430
Cochrane
PB-18 “Perth”
warp 8
First starship class of the Class I
program; most famous and recognizable
starship class in Federation history
Santee class
2246
290 m
185,000
345
Cochrane PB-32
“Titiac”
warp 8
First purpose-built Federation
shuttlecarrier; direct ancestor of
Coventry, Oriskany, Jenshahan, Chosin,
and Youngblood classes
F
2255
320 m
500
Cochrane PB-47
“Titiac II”
warp 10
wa
emergency separation; most powerful
Federation warship of its time
ederation class
285,000
First stable tri-nacelled starship design in
Federation history; first starship with a
rp-capable primary hull after
Endeavour
175,000
430
LN-40
w
One of the first Federation linear warp
technology
Monoceros and the tug Keppler)
prototype
2260
279.5 m
Leeding
(Cochrane)
arp 10
testbeds (along with the scout
Gagarin class corvette
2266
120 m
22,500
24
Kloratis
(Cochrane)
FWB
warp
7.6
First multimission auxiliary starship class,
with many variations developed for a
variety of purposes from the base
Gagarin design
Enterprise class
2267
304.8 m
210,000
500
Leeding
(Cochrane)
LN-62
warp 12
Firs
the
line
he
linear warp upgrade and building
programs of the 2270s and 2280s
t in-service starship conversion of
ar warp generation; lead ship for t
Avenger
)
180,000
Leeding
(Cochrane)
w
Linear warp upgrade of earlier Miranda
rival Cons
terms of
mission capability and design flexibility
(uprated Miranda
2275
234.0
395
LN-62
arp 12
class (an Anton descendant); first
starship class fitted with megaphaser
cannon; only starship class in service to
titution/Enterprise in
Exc
ass
Leeding
starship class, lead ship of its generation
elsior cl
2288
511.3
386,500
780
(Cochrane)
FTWA-1
warp 20
Testbed for (unsuccessful) transwarp
program; first Federation “superheavy”
of starship designs
- 40 -
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
VOLUME 12: 2176-229
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS:
5
Here we
end of the line. It’s been a long time
coming, and there were times I thought I might not ever see it
through, but here we are. T an
han
r the
are, folks:
h
ks for
ging in fo
ride.
I came up
arfleet Reorganization Order of 2295 as
way of t
several divergent event in bot
and fanon works, all of which
w
“explore
hips of TNG/DS9/Voyager. How best to
explain this? History has a tendency to repeat itself. Just as
the Federation forced Starfleet to reduce its forces after the
Romulan War, so I see them doing afte
signing
Khitomer Accords and the end of hostilities with the Klingon
Empire. I don’t
wouldn’t have made them scale
back
o the resurgence of the new
Romulan Space Navy (and its first generation of original Hawk-
series designs, courtesy of SFB/SFC). I know I’m stepping out
on a limb
a mod st scaling-back was intended, with
new starships of the Excelsior generation gradually replacing
those of the Class I era. The monkey wrench that destroyed all
of these plans was Admir l C
ight
olonel
s
conspira
ke a
eneral War. That’s right, I’m
deliberately using the Starfleet Battles term. IMHO, the
SFB/SFC universe (and maybe th
FASA
thin
t
have end
at General War come about at whatever
point in the timeline you want to pick. That’s obviously what
Cartwright, West, General
(t
gon
,
Ambassador Nalcus (the Romulan faction), and everyone else
involved wanted. Once the various political investigations
exposed just how deep the conspiracy ran and to what extent
the conspirators were willing to
cause that General War,
then the Federation Council
uld have acted to make sure that
suc
d again. Hence the demilitarization of
Starfleet, something that i al
several times
.
Starfleet
ange
ary force back to an
exploration force, just as it was meant to be in the early days of
the Federation. This helps e
wh
-calle
t
Years” or “Los
ween The Undiscovered Country and The
Next Generation
t that. Starfleet is almost completely
transformed over the next si
well-armed
military force to a well-arm d
atio
Wh
difference? One of percepti
and operating philosophy, as I’m
sure any Federation Councillor will tell you.
The Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295
also th
I
could
e
st of my canon and fanon sources
could have their cake and eat it, too. The date was deliberately
chosen for two reasons. First, most of the “good” TREK
TOS/TAS era tech fanon works
events depicted in Th
isc
those
go beyond suggest
s
actually issued, although it is nowh
I
an
su
t time
vesti
to the assassination attemp
eration
President at Khitomer to run th
aral
im
Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295 as
example the failed effort of the Canadians to
armed
o a si
organiza
can think up of many more. The fallacy of the Starfleet
Reorganization Order of 2295 will eventually be proven wrong
decades
uring t
minion
“difficult days” of the late 22nd ce
Starfleet will always be looking for ways to return Starfleet to
its “real” military calling (TNG’s “The Pegasus,” for example).
Those events are beyond the sc
be c
The “Colonel of the Corps” busi
issue of Colonel West’s appearance (Rene Auberjonis
print
VI:
ndi
the tw
appro
used by
g
his situation. First, as the commander-in-chief of the Starfleet
Mar
ho
e ful
which
nt to
miral and explains why he wears an
admiral’s pin on his Starfleet uni
if he were wearing a Marine uniform, which we never see (and
gh
t p
fficial
their suggestion of using the Brit
expanded it to cover the whole of the Starfleet Marine Corps.
Inste
M
orp
centur
tates,
23rd century Starfleet has a “Colonel
of the Corps.” It’s a purely honorary title but one that would be
used on a regular basi
nce
est”
f “Ge
l We
general idea from the Napoleonic era (and earlier) would be
bett
ut
eems
folks
ywa
e talked to several current Marines
about this idea and they’re comfortable with it, so I’m going to
run with it for as long as my fellow fa
If you’ve ever seen Marines do a
from low-flying C-130 transport craft
impressive a sight it is. Now
scre
th
sp
shields and doing the same thing,
pallets of heavy equipment and other ground combat gear out of
its dual hangar bays for Marines “on the ground” while at the
with the St
ying together
s
h canon
ards the
point the way to
r” class stars
r the
of the
believe th
as much, though, due t
ey
, but I think
e
a
G
artwr
and C
West’
cy to provo
at of
) is how
gs migh
ed up had th
Chang
he Klin
faction)
go to
wo
h a thing never happene
s
s from a milit
luded to
in TNG
’s posture ch
xplain
y the so
d “Los
t Era” bet
is jus
x decades
explor
from a
n force.
e
on
at’s the
is
e best
come up with wher mo
end c.2290, shortly before the
overed Country. Material within
s that such an order wa
e Und
few that
ere documented. Second,
w
in
ted to allow
gations in
fficien
for the various political
t on the Fed
eir course. There are obvious
e and obvious parallels to the
well. Take for
p
lels to this in our own t
integrate their
tion. I’m sure you readers
forces int
ngle
later d
he Do
War. As they did during its
ntury, the more militant within
ope of
not
ness is my way of resolving the
this document and will
overed here.
) in the full
scovered Country. It is based on
Memory Alpha in describin
of Star Trek
o-pronged
The U
ach
ines, he would
is equivale
ld th
an ad
l (or franked) rank of general,
form. He would wear the same
mi
t not even exis
er “o
” sources). Second, I’ve taken
ish concept of “colonel” and
ad of having a
y United S
arine C
the
s Commandant as does the 21st
s; he
nera
his being addressed as “Colonel
st.” Maybe the old colonel-
a
W
instead o
er approach, b
t
n
that s
y, I’v
too archaic a route for most
o follow. A
ns let me.
n insertion-extraction operation
, then you know how
imagine a Miranda class starship
here of a planet with full forward
drop-kicking antigrav-equipped
a
h
ming throug
e atmo
- 41 -
same time
e with several phas
salvoes to
own any re
e. Yeah, I c
Starfleet Marine fans drooling at the thought. ^_^
I realize a
of th
her/Sofia school of TREK tech
(and poss
hemselves) are going to be mad at me for
discounting the Enterprise (II) class from
f the
t
and going with the Great Bi d’s
the ”Ent
me to be. I’ll be frank with you. I’m going
by what’s on screen. Ships of the Starfleet was published
before Star Trek VI: The Undisc
Cou
s relea
t
the end of that film, which is upposed to take place in 2293 per
the Graham/Mandel timeline, Captain Kirk receives orders for
the “new” Enterprise to be retired from service. This
presumably takes place despite Captain Kirk’s
t lit
around the block” per the end of t
This implies
nterprise cannot be a new starship;
otherwise she would have had a lot more life left in her. Now
you know part of the reason behind my rationale for Starfleet’s
Extended Service Life Program (ESLP). Yorktown, which was the
name of the “new” Enterprise
ginal
issioned (per
the Gr
se
e corrected), five
years after the original Enterprise in 2223. She retired as the
“new” Enterprise in 2293. This would have made her 65 years
old – just 10 years short of the projected maximum 75
lifespan for an original Class I Program stars
overhauls, which
had per fandom tech documents.
Such a long life for a starship
he lat
shows, both TNG and DS9 in particular, where we see century-
old M
ers still in active service. The renaming
of the older, refitted Yorktown as the “new”
thus
with what’s depicted on-screen in both TOS and all s
feature fi
k the Great Bird was right on this one,
making it one of the few times he was right in his later, more
scurrilous years.
With regards to the decommissioning of the Enterprise after
Star Trek IV, I flatly reject the su
ion
ain n
Kirk a
“bo rowed” the ship and subsequently
destroyed it in another battle with the Klingons. There is no on-
scree
an ve
r ta
ce. It
y
understanding when TNG first aired, as it was with many of my
fellow fans at the time, that the old “Constitution class
starship” Captain Picard menti
e’d
the En
lf, preserved as part of a museum fleet
due to her historic importance. I’ll admit that this was never
said on-screen, just something you felt
c
remarkable
heless, I know a lot of you won’t
agree
of you were quick to point out the
supposed “error” of my original statement back in Volume 10
(per ST II
T. Ki w
only
n eve
e Kobayas
aining simulation. That came directly from
-screen dialogue, by the way. So, for the sake of those of you
who must swear by your TREK novels, I’m only mentioning the
Enterprise-A was decommissioned and leave it at that. Now
you’ll be able to interpret her ultimate fate however you want.
ap and
ed
to
their
e
Dominon War of the 24th century (
mak
hat
w
operat
om
it on-screen. (Of course there isn’t, because both are fandom
desi
sus
like
scrap
after
5 to pacify th
where
did the Belknaps end up during
Maybe they got sent to less host
t
r t
dera
had already been scrapped by t
and let Todd and Aridas tackle it ins
er
release revised versions of their excellent fandom TREK tech
works
ith 24
tury
I deliberat
he hull numbers for the Midway class
shuttlecarriers, since the ones flo
presumably from SFC II:EW) du
Fredrikstad classes.
Nowhere in any of the various
given for the Camp Khitomer co
the stardates seems to indicate a
I
it
he
f th
Federa
ent a
Aug
of the TREK movie from which this event comes. The movie’s
-tit
Und
ed
birthday of Virginia Dare, t
the lost English colony of Roanoke.
The reason I list the
ax
Belkn
explain
Ascension classes as getting
telling absence during th
in 2295 is
DS9). I suppose one could
ere pulled from reserves and
ewhere, but there’s no record of
e the case t
they
ed on the periphery s
g
ns – ed.) I
ped shortly
pect,
229
Timo, that the Ascensions got
e Klingons. So
the Dominion War? I dunno.
ile areas in order to free up
bet er starships fo
he Fe
tion war fleet, or perhaps they
hen. I’ll pass on that question
tead -- provided they ev
updated w
th cen
info. -_^
ely upped t
ating around the Internet (and
plicated those of the Ariel and
TREK materials is a specific date
nference. Dixon’s research into
date of mid-August 2291.
arb rarily picked t
tion Presid
day o
s 14
e assassination attempt on the
ust. It’s a nod towards the title
sub
le is The
iscover
he firs
Country. 14 August was the
t child born in the New World at
letting loos
knock d
er and photon torpedo
an see you
sistanc
lot of fans
ibly they t
e Gunt
Ships o
Starflee
r
semi-official explanation of how
erprise-A” ca
overed
ntry wa
sed. A
s
las
tle “spin
ources.
he movie and official s
that the “new” E
as ori
ly comm
eat Bird), entered
rvice in 2228 (dat
-year life
wo ESLP
hip given t
Yorktown
is supported by t
er TREK
iranda class cruis
Enterprise
fits
ix TREK
lms. I thin
pposit
of a cert
ovel that
nd company later
r
n evidence for such
e
nt eve
king pla
was m
oned h
seen in “Relics” was
terprise-A herse
while wat hing this
episode. Neve
with me, just as some
rt
) that James
hi Maru tr
rk
as the
perso
r to beat
Well, as the saying goes, it’s b
I’ve
c
d.
Federat
eflig
olo
revised versions, with corrections a
t
likely. Is the long-delayed Romul
nly,
g
there be any additional FSC volumes to cover
Voyager
d their
ect
love i
they
adays
desire to
the FSC beyond the
he
“classic
eature films. T
Perhaps others of you might want
TNG-era
ip chronology in
trail that has been already blaz
prefer t
the FSC and elab
more detailed “classic TREK”
classes. Perhaps some o
u w
adapt i
cano
path that others have done in works
before
mine. Perhaps reading the FSC will inspire you to create your
own future cities, alien vistas, planetscapes, starships,
drawings, or 3D models like those of the many, many, MANY
artists with whose work has graced all volumes of the FSC.
een nice and it’s been grand but
It’s time for me to bring the
gy to its final end. Will there be
nd possible additions? Mos
had all that I
ion Spac
an stan
ht Chron
an supplement ever going to be
et the details worked out. Will
the TNG, DS9, and
released. Certai
once I
eras an
s with what
extend
resp
now
ive alien “powers?” No. My first
call “classic TREK.” I have no
sixth and last of t
TREK” f
hat I leave to you.
to take on the challenge of a
starsh
your own works, following the
ed for you. Perhaps you would
orate on it in specific areas, or
tech on your favorite starship
o take
f yo
n” TREK
ould like to rewrite the FSC and
timeline (Prime Two), seeking the
that came long
t to the “
th
on
- 42 -
There are so many possibilities. The one thing I’ve tried to do
above all else with the FSC, even above my effort to hammer the
old Graham/Mandel timeline back into shape, is to inspire you
ol “classic TREK” still has to
with the possibilities that old-scho
offer. Hopefully I’ve fanned that sp
way that hasn’t been done before.
ark of creativity within you in
What you do with it from
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
“Cluttered Mind”
Jason Boguess
Neale Davidson
Stan and Fred Goldstein
a
here on is up to you.
Be seeing you
- Richard E. Mandel
Jan Hendrik Kobarg
Aridas Sofia
Memory Alpha
VISUAL SOURCES:
3D Starships
Activision Games
Atolm
Atrahasis
Darius Architectus
Demon Renegade Studios
Federation Frontiers
Ted W. Giebel (SFB Nexus)
J. C. and Rafael Gonzalez
Todd Guenther
Industrial Light and Magic
Greg Jein
Hal Jordan
Rick Knox (aka Pneunomic81)
Eric “Jackill” Kristiansen
Jason “Vektor” Lee
Chris Johnson
The Light Works
Michael Newlyn
Models Please
OrbiterMods
David Schmidt
Outlance Shipyards
John Payne
Paramount Pictures
Martin Shaw
Slider17 (FileFront)
Starforce Productions
Starship Schematic Database
Aridas Sofia
Daniel Swift
Taldren
Brad Torgerson
Adam Turner
Yeaterk
CONTACT INFO:
Want to contribute to future revisions of the Federation
Spaceflight Chronology? You can reach me at:
[email protected]
- 43 -
- 44 -
| textdata/thevault/Star Trek RPG/novels/Trek Nonfiction & Reference/Reference Materials/Timelines & Chronologies/Federation Spaceflight Chronology/FSC_Vol12_revised.pdf |
textdata/thevault/Shadowrun [multi]/LANG/[DE]/5. Auflage/06 - Sonstiges/Seattle Box - Stadt der Schatten/SR5 Seattle - Karte Nordwesten und Downtown.pdf |
|
Three Suggestions for...
Interesting Mentors
When he says jump, you jump! Your mentor is the person who made you who you
are. They helped train you, they taught you the basic abilities of your class, or
perhaps they gave you the confidence to become who you are today, or are
destined to become.
There are various reasons for your character to have a mentor, and not all of them
are voluntary. You might have been handed over to the monks as a baby, and grew
up under Mother Kikamore’s spiritual guidance. Maybe your parents used to toss
you into the training yard of the town’s marshal every afternoon, to be taught how
to “be a man”. Perhaps you had a personal, secret friend – a fey-like being who
appeared before you every full moon, whispering things that opened your eyes to
unknown worlds.
Your mentor is or was the one responsible for making you the person you are today.
But the real question is about tomorrow. They taught you most or even everything
you need to become a 1st level adventurer. Do you still need their assistance,
perhaps for several more levels, until you’ve “mastered” your profession? Do they
consider your apprenticeship complete? Are they happy with your decision to leave
them? Your relationship with your mentor was a huge part of your upbringing; now
that you’re out in the world, it might become more complicated, not less.
They Have a Dark Secret
You’ve known your mentor for a long time, and even though she’s always been
mysterious, or tends to keep her personal affairs to herself, you never had any
reason to think she has an actual secret. But she does - something she wants to
keep from the world. Have you discovered her secret already? Is it still waiting to
be discovered? How does your relationship change after it’s revealed?
• I’m not who I say I am: Yarka the Fabulous Bard was your personal teacher and
mentor throughout your childhood, and through her you learned history,
acrobatics and manners - but you never actually got to see her perform. She
talked a lot about how to make friends and influence people, but not even once
has she picked up her famed flute to teach you how to play. That is because
she’s a tone-deaf rogue who managed to sleaze her way into a comfortable job
as a traveling teacher – and rich people simply prefer hiring someone who’s
known as a Fabulous Bard.
This is a relatively light case of deception; it can get a lot weirder. The head of
the magical college is actually a transformed dragon, or an air spirit in disguise.
The town’s marshal always wears full armour to cover the birthmark of the One
True King, the destiny he’s fleeing. The old granny who watched over the sheep
and from which you learned true resolve was in fact part of your own psyche,
manifested by your dormant powers.
• I have no idea what I’m doing: Master Zingama of the 3rd Wind knows many
ancient wisdoms. Only problem is, he invented them all; most while sitting in
the bathroom. They’re clever-sounding, but that’s about it – yet he’s still sure
he’s doing a good job mentoring you, because the important thing is to teach
you discipline. Or something, he’s not actually sure. Somehow, probably thanks
to being naturally gifted, you manage to become a monk despite the Master’s
“teachings” (or maybe you did find them useful, in your own way?). However,
you’re becoming wise and powerful enough to realise your amazing Master
isn’t all that amazing. What will you do about it?
For another example, consider the mentor who sits at home while sending his
ranger protégée out hunting, giving advice (that he thought “sounds
reasonable”, or simply read out from a book) on types of monsters and dangers
of the environment. In fact, he’s nothing more than an old aristocrat accountant
who retired to the swamp lands and just wanted to prove to himself he’s still
important, so he convinced one of the local kids to follow his directions.
• I have a dark side: Is the mentor just an arrogant, selfish bastard, who’s good
at putting on a show as a humble servant of justice, or are they related in some
way to the big bad of the campaign? Is she covering a horrible past, that she
now regrets (perhaps seeking redemption), or was she originally a lovely
person, but some things happened, and she’s turning more and more extreme?
At what point in this transition do you become aware of it? Do you still have
time to redeem your mentor, or was it too late before you even met? Perhaps
you’re the only one who’s always known what they did in their previous life,
and you’ve come to accept them and receive their teaching despite of it – but
now other people know as well, and demand retribution.
They Have a Strange Connection with You
Your relationship with your mentor might be a special connection the both of you
cherish, or you might be just one student out of a hundred. Perhaps you’ve been
living under your mentor as an apprentice or servant, or maybe you just used to
meet them once every month for a couple of hours. In any case, there’s something
else going on between you two, something that you might not be aware of.
• You’re my chosen one: You’re real special to your mentor. Out of the whole
class of warriors, he likes you best. The traveling wizard has a protégée in every
village, but she’s always looking forward to visiting you. Why? Perhaps they see
you as the star student, but perhaps they find you interesting for another
reason. Maybe the two of you are among the very few dragonborn in this land,
and it’s pleasant to have some time with someone of your race, who gets you.
Maybe they’re not actually interested in you, but in fact try to curry favour with
your parents or guardians. Or maybe, well, they’ve got a thing for you. Not very
professional, but not every mentor is a professional!
• You’re my kid: It might be that none of you know it (yet) – your mentor is not
hiding anything, they’re just as ignorant as you are on the matter. You were
brought together by destiny, circumstances, or the guiding hand of an unknown
agent. It might be that your parent simply was also a mentor to you: your grim
father might have taught you his fighting style throughout your childhood, with
brutal and merciless methods, perhaps treating you more as a soldier than as
his daughter.
• You’re me: Your mentor is actually you from the future; he/you came back to
fix the timeline, after the Time Devourer destroyed your childhood to prevent
you from becoming its slayer. You just had to become your own mentor, in
order to teach yourself everything you must know. Or maybe your mentor is a
manifestation of your powers: you can speak with your reflection, which
represent the hidden draconic lineage within you, teaching you how to utilize
it better. It might actually be a distant spirit of your past self, who now resides
within a house cat and gives you advice from hundreds of reincarnations ago.
They’re Planning Something
The main question about your mentor is the same one you should ask about any
other background detail: How will this affect my story? What is going to happen
with my mentor, what’s their future role in the campaign? The simple answer is
“They just taught me what I know when I start adventuring, and that’s it”, but it’s a
rather bland one. Here are some others.
• It’s related to your campaign: Your mentor is going to play an important part
in things to come. They have a crucial piece of knowledge, or a powerful item,
or the ear of someone in power, and one day you’ll have to ask them to use
their connections to advance your adventure. Perhaps you don’t yet know they
have this ability, but it’ll probably be more dramatically satisfying if it’s
something well-known about them (even if neither you nor the DM know yet
how it’ll come into action!).
• It IS your campaign: At some point further down the road, it becomes clear that
everything’s going on was initiated and/or accompanied by your mentor. That,
of course, includes your initiation under them as well. Is this good news? Are
you capable of performing the Song of Heavens to defeat the demon lord,
thanks to your mentor being well-prepared? Or is it a bad thing, and now you
find yourself facing a mentor who taught you everything you know, and
therefore has an intimate knowledge of your limitations and weaknesses?
• My time with you has not yet come: But I’ve got so many adventures seeds for
you, in the meantime! Perhaps the Master Wizard is preparing the Spell of
Storms, and it’s going to take most of the year; in the meantime, he needs you
to plant these four seeds at the four corners of the realm. Perhaps the general
is busy for a few months while preparing her army for the invasion, and has no
use for you now; but when she’s done, she’s going to need a small group of
excellent infiltrators to get into the palace and lower the defences.
One last thought
In a way, your mentor is part of your character’s legacy (or are you their legacy?..).
If, one day, your hero dies before his time, your new hero might be a new protégé
of the same mentor, keeping the flame alive. Or perhaps, one day your hero will
decide to retire, becoming the mentor for your naive new character.
New Background: Protégé
You have a mentor, in one of the ways described here, or a different way
altogether. This mentor was an important part of your life for the longest time, and
probably remains so. You probably learned your class abilities from them, and
might need to go back to learn new ones. In any case, a huge part of your
personality was shaped by your relationship with your mentor.
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Investigation
Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A set of artisan’s tools (of your choice), a personal gift from your
mentor, a proof of apprenticeship (a letter signed by your mentor, or the like), a
parcel you’ve been asked to hand to someone important, traveller’s clothes, and
a pouch containing 15 gp
Type of Mentor
You should let your choice of class, personality or skill proficiencies determine the
things your mentor taught you and the ways in which he or she influenced you.
Their demeanour, however, can be left to chance if you are so inclined:
d10
Personality Trait
d10 Personality Trait
1
Angry
6
Demanding
2
Aloof
7
Spiritual
3
Calculated
8
Pedantic
4
Jealous
9
Arrogant
5
Resentful
10
Parental
Feature: Call on Your Mentor
Your mentor is a person of some importance, who can pull a few strings and talk
to the right people. When you present your proof of apprenticeship, doors open
to you; people in office will agree to at least hear what you have to say. If you’re
using your mentor’s pull too frequently, or in ways that disrespect them, they
might politely ask you to stop. Or not so politely, and with a demand for
compensation.
If you’re dealing with someone who has heard of your mentor and respects them
(a highly religious person, and your mentor is a known priest; a tribal hunter, and
your mentor is a witch doctor), you can easily impress them, but at the same time
you set some expectations that might prove to be too high.
Additionally, if you present your proof of apprenticeship to a person of your
mentor’s profession (mage, when mentored under a spell-caster) or who looks
favourably upon them (presenting the luckstone your fairy godmother gave you
to a fey), you’re welcomed to a single night’s lodging at their home, including a
meal.
Suggested Characteristics
Growing up under a mentor shaped your outlook in a specific way. Even if you
don’t share your mentor’s worldview, you’re at least somewhat inclined to
consider it, always hearing in your head your mentor’s remarks.
d8
Personality Trait
1
I find myself using many of my mentor’s phrases. He was right
about a lot of things!
2
People who have no respect for their elders and betters deserve
no respect from me.
3
Many people are just ignorant – I’ll teach them, like I’ve been
taught myself.
4
Every person should learn to take care of themselves; beggars and
dilettantes annoy me to no end.
5
I’m eager to get better at my trade. Every challenge is a learning
opportunity!
6
I’ve got a well-practiced way of doing things – please don’t
interrupt me, I know what I’m doing.
7
I’ve got a story for every occasion, thanks to my somewhat…
colourful apprenticeship.
8
Despite years of effort by my mentor, I still do that one annoying
thing. It’s my way of putting a little bit of me into my mentor’s
teachings.
d6
Ideal
1
Mastery. I want to be the very best, like no one ever was.
(Lawful)
2
Education. The lessons I’ve learned should be available to
anyone who desires them. (Good)
3
Freedom. People should be able to choose their own path,
advance in their own pace. (Chaotic)
4
Respect. I want to make my mentor proud of me. (Any)
5
Revelation. By practicing the well-established methods and
traditions, one can achieve true enlightenment. (Lawful)
6
Curiously. I know so much about one specific subject, now I want
to learn completely new things! (Any)
d6
Bond
1
My mentor always speaks of the “lost teachings” of our order. I
must find them!
2
I have a close friend who was taught alongside me, although they
learned something a bit different.
3
The mysterious land of my mentor’s youth sounds magnificent; I
will discover it one day.
4
I owe my mentor everything, I should repay them somehow.
5
My mentor thinks nothing will ever come of me – I’ll show them!
6
This is the same shield my master’s master gave him, and he has
given it to me. One day I’ll pass it on to my apprentice.
d6
Flaw
1
I’m so used to doing things in a specific way, I usually don’t stop to
think of an alternative.
2
When I see someone doing something wrong, I can barely keep
myself from correcting them.
3
Asking for help is a sign of weakness.
4
Greater challenges lead to greater advancement; however,
sometime I bite off more than I can chew.
5
It’s better to lie than to admit failure.
6
I’m very good at keeping secrets. I keep everything to myself.
Three Suggestions for Interesting Mentors is by Eran Aviram. Eran is the writer for Up to Four Players; the Lead Hebrew Translator for D&D and other
games; Editor for City of Mist; produces the weekly podcast On the Shoulders of Dwarves, the main RPG podcast in Hebrew; and used to own a gaming store,
it was awesome.
Up to Four Players is a webcomic about tabletop gamers and games, by Aviv Or and Eran Aviram. Check it out: www.uptofourplayers.com
Art of a very unusual mentor: Aviv Or, [email protected]
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Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is
prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.
©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The
Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.
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by Stephen Dedman
Art by ArtToday
For this adventure, the GM will need the GURPS Basic Set, GURPS Compendium I and II, and
GURPS Old West 2nd Edition; GURPS Voodoo and GURPS Undead may also be useful. The
adventure is designed for 100-point Old West characters, but can easily be adapted for a cinematic
campaign or for GURPS Deadlands.
The adventure is set in the 1870s, when there was a thriving black market in nitroglycerine, and
can be part of an episodic or picaresque campaign. PCs may be any combination of character types
that can reasonably travel and work together and are motivated by a desire for wealth and/or
excitement. It is designed for a campaign where ritual magic works; GMs who prefer a realistic no-
magic campaign may ignore the effects of magic or explain them away with natural causes, and a
choice of supernatural or realistic endings is provided.
Fair Game
The adventure begins when the PCs encounter a small band of proud
but non-hostile Comanches with food and hides to trade. The PCs
may be townspeople, cowboys on a drive, hunters, 'rust-eaters,'
explorers, settlers en route to farmland or prospectors headed for a
boomtown, even soldiers at a fort . . . the important thing is that they
should have something the Comanches want, and be hungry for
fresh food and/or the money that can be made from furs.
Only one of the Comanches, Bigger Bear, speaks any English, and if
none of the PCs speak Comanche, Bigger Bear will act as
interpreter. After a little haggling over prices, Bigger Bear will
suggest gambling for some items instead.
The competitions proposed by the Comanches are:
1. A foot race, for up to four competitors from each side. After
some haggling, a distance of 400 yards is agreed upon.
(Broken Lance, the fastest runner in the Comanches, has a
running speed of 8.25 without a sprint bonus.) The start of the
race is a Contest of Running skill (+2 for characters with Combat Reflexes); each point by
which the winner wins gives him a 6" lead.
2. Rifle-shooting. The target is a piece of paper the size of a playing card, at 100 yards (-17 to
hit). Each competitor is permitted one shot after bets are placed; those who hit it can compete
in the next round, when the target is moved to 200 yards away (-19), and so on, as the target
is moved back 100 yards each time until only one competitor remains.
3. Horse-racing. This is as much a test of nerve and skill as of speed. The racers (two at a time)
hurtle towards a horizontal bar 100 yards away, high enough for the horse to pass underneath
it, but low enough to knock a rider from his seat. The winner is the first to touch the bar.
Competitors must first roll on Will not to stop too soon, then a contest of Riding skill to see
who stops nearest the bar; a competitor who fails to make his Riding roll by 3 or more will
crash into the bar and be knocked from his mount, taking 2d-8 cr. damage. The Comanches
will ride their ponies bareback and naked, to reduce their encumbrance, and will try to
persuade the whites to do the same. The Comanches' best rider, Bitten by Cats, has a pony
with Move-14. The start of the race is a Contest of Riding skill (+2 for characters with
Combat Reflexes); each point by which the winner wins gives him a 1' lead.
4. Archery. More a competition of Fast-Draw (Arrow) than of accuracy; archers must fire as
many arrows into the air as they can before the first one lands. Each competitor has ST turns
to shoot with a short bow; if the first shot 'missed', subtract 1 turn for every point by which
they missed. (The Comanches will not be expecting whites to compete at this, but will bet
heavily on their own archers if any PC comes forth.)
The PCs are free to suggest other forms of competition, such as contests of ST, knife or tomahawk
throwing, or even card games such as poker or monte (games which the Indians took to with
enthusiasm, even making their own cards and learning how to cheat. Indians rarely cheated when
playing against their own tribesmen -- but whites and unfriendly tribes were fair game.)
Let the contests and gambling continue as long as the players are interested, then . . .
Is this a dagger I see before me?
While the games are happening, one of the PCs or an NPC on their side will notice the Arkansas
toothpick tucked into Broken Lance's breechclout. Carved into the hilt is the inscription 'Mark VIII
24.' A moment later, the character will remember why this is familiar; one of the most vicious
killers to ever come west from New Orleans, Lucien Xavier Dimascio, had the trademark of
inscribing Biblical quotations onto his weapons and some of his victims. (Identifying Biblical
quotations requires either a Bible and the Literacy advantage, or a critical success on Theology.
Bible quotations are given at the end of the adventure.)
If Broken Lance can be persuaded to tell where he got the knife, he will say that the knife's owner
had killed and scalped a Comanche woman while she'd been gathering food and firewood. The
woman's daughter had escaped, and the warriors hunted the man down; Broken Lance had killed
and scalped him, then kept his weapons. He'd also taken two books the man had been carrying, and
used them for making a shield.
A successful roll against Criminology or Literature (Dime Novels) will enable the PCs to
remember more of Dimascio's story.
Roll
succeeds
by 0-4:
Dimascio came west from New Orleans about ten years ago, and is
thought to be guilty of at least twelve murders, all done with knives or
axes and adorned with his trademark Biblical quotation, plus an
unknown number of scalpings of anyone dark-haired and dark-skinned
enough to pass as Apache, and a few shootings in self-defense.
If it doesn't occur to the PCs that the papers in Broken Lance's shield might reveal the secret of
Dimascio's hidden loot, an NPC who overhears the story should be inspired to suggest this --
preferably one too lazy, honest or disabled to undertake such a quest himself.
With Your Shield, or On It
The games with the Comanches should finish without bloodshed, unless a PC is caught cheating or
accuses one of the Comanches. If the PCs want the knife, Broken Lance considers it worth a good
rifle, but any attempts to persuade him to part with his shield will be unsuccessful. The shield, he
says, is enchanted, and anyway, he doesn't have it with him. If Broken Lance has a good or better
reaction to a PC, he may (if asked the appropriate question) reveal that the shield has to be kept
half a mile from camp for fear that menstruating women will contaminate it, but neither he nor his
fellow braves will say any more.
If the PCs decide to search the area around the Comanches' camp for the shield, they will need to
do so by stealth. The search, though difficult, should be successful . . . but almost as soon as
they've taken the shield, Bigger Bear and Bitten by Cats ride past. If the PCs can't hide from them,
or fast-talk their way out of the situation, they'll need to fight -- preferably without gunshots
alerting the camp.
If the PCs decide against looking for Broken Lance's shield, then they will have a chance to take it
a few days later, when cholera breaks out in the Comanches' camp. The band's medicine man
convinces them that the whites have cursed them, and the braves attack the PCs' camp (fort, town,
wagon train, Hell on Wheels, etc.) in retaliation. Broken Lance will be killed in the raid, and his
damaged shield will be discovered by a PC. Other details of the attack and its aftermath, and the
course of the epidemic, are left up to the GM.
Books of Blood
Roll
succeeds
by 5-9:
Dimascio was a former altar boy and a gifted student of music,
languages and theology, whose taste for gambling and women led him
to New Orleans's vice districts. After he was accused of murdering two
gamblers -- one with a knife, the other with an axe -- he hid for a while,
then headed west about ten years ago. There were many sightings of
him in that time -- working as a logger, a carpenter, a trapper, a buffalo
skinner, a butcher, a saddler and bootmaker, a prospector, a gambler
and pianist on riverboats and in saloons, a school-teacher, an actor, even
an itinerant preacher. He usually worked alone, because even the West's
worst badmen were nervous around him, but is suspected of having
masterminded some elaborate confidence tricks and robberies, although
none of his loot has ever turned up. It's rumored that Dimascio was the
first to give the Apache the idea of making playing cards out of white
men's hides. The price on his head is $1,000, dead or alive.
Dimascio's last victim, a con man suspected of stealing a jewel worth
thousands, was found two years ago, an unfired derringer in his hand,
knife-wounds to his face, and a note pinned to his embroidered vest.
Critical
success:
The con man was named 'Doc' George Fletcher, and he was found dead
in a town called Rosary. He and Dimascio were suspected of stealing a
star sapphire worth $3000, but the stone was never found. If asked,
Broken Lance will say, truthfully, that no jewels were found on
Dimascio's body, which was stripped then left for the buzzards to eat.
The pages used to stuff Broken Lance's shield come from two sources -- a Catholic Bible, and a
diary, both written in Latin. If none of the PCs can read Latin, they should be able to find a
translator with a visit to any established town, army fort, or wagon train, and a good or better
Reaction Roll (most Catholic priests, lawyers, biologists and doctors will have at least half a point
in the language, as would most men taught in an English public school).
The Bible should be easy to identify as such; the incomplete diary is essentially a written
confession. If the PCs read the fragments (in the original or translation), they'll learn all of
Dimascio's story, above, plus a few details no-one else knows.
Dimascio claims to have killed Fletcher in self-defense, throwing his knife as the con man reached
for his pistol. He then gloats about hitting him in the eye, killing him instantly; the other
mutilations were post-mortem. Unfortunately, Fletcher was the only one who knew how to find a
buyer for the gem, so Dimascio writes, "I left it in his care, to enjoy until I return. Thought, too
late, that Luke IV 23 would have been as apt a quotation, but alas, I can hardly kill him twice."
Sleeping Rough
Every night after the PCs open Broken Lance's shield, make a Will roll for each PC. Those who
fail will suffer brief but intense nightmares of being attacked or tortured by Comanches (alive or
dead), or pursued and eaten by wolves. PCs who already have the Nightmares disadvantage will
automatically fail their Will rolls. The dreams require a Fright Check at -2, with a further -1 for
every consecutive night.
As well as the nightmares, PCs will also be plagued by unseasonably bad weather -- lightning will
hit nearby trees, rain will halve their travel speed (see sidebar, p. B187) -- and the faint but
unmistakable sound of wolves howling in the distance at night.
After a few nights of this, a raiding party of Comanches will attempt to steal the PCs horses and
weapons. At about 2 a.m., the shaman casts a Slumber spell over the PCs' camp and Obscurity over
the raiding party. The Comanches will creep towards the camp, on foot, until they are within 100
yards. If any sentries are awake, the Comanches will try to kill him silently with their short bows.
If the camp is alerted, they will retreat stealthily rather than attack.
If no-one is awake when the Comanches arrive, the raiders will steal every animal from the camp,
every weapon that is not concealed, all food, and anything else that seems worth taking, but leave
the sleeping PCs unharmed.
The PCs will then face the prospect of a 50-mile trek across average terrain to Morrow, or
attempting to track the Comanches to recover their gear. After the first day, heavy rain (natural or
summoned by the shaman) will slow travel and make the Comanches' tracks even harder to find.
Whichever way they go, the PCs will encounter the Comanches again at an opportune moment to
rescue Brother Lee and Lupita.
Fire Water
The PCs' introduction to Lee will be the sound of gunfire roughly 400 yards away (a Hearing roll
will identify the guns and the approximate distance). The Comanches are circling Lee's jump-seat
wagon, and have fired their muskets, wounding Lee in the right arm and torso. Lupita has emptied
her shotgun without effect, and is trying to reload. Lee is firing his revolver with his left (off) hand;
one Comanche lies dead on the ground. Just as things seem hopeless, Lupita throws a bottle from
the back of the wagon; the bottle explodes as it hits the ground, and the Comanches flee.
Brother Lee's wagon is loaded with pint bottles of 'Glastonbury Water,' as well as his and Lupita's
personal necessities. Most of the bottles have blue labels, and contain only water; 23 of the
remaining bottles, however, contain nitroglycerine, which Lee has smuggled into the U.S. from
Mexico and is taking to a mining site to sell.
Lee has a crippled arm and has taken 12 points of damage, plus any damage from bleeding, and
will pass out before he can speak to the PCs. Lupita will insist on taking him to Morrow to be
tended by the doctor there, and asks the PCs to accompany her, to protect her from any other
attack. If her Sex-Appeal skill doesn't persuade them, she'll offer them a share of the profits from
selling the nitroglycerine.
Transporting the nitroglycerine will require careful driving; the driver should roll on Teamster skill
every four hours of travel. On a critical failure, a bottle will be jarred (see p. OW81), potentially
setting off the other bottles. As each bottle does 7dx3 damage, PCs should be allowed some sort of
saving throw (such as a DX roll to catch a bottle before it falls) if this happens. The trip should be
nerve-racking but non-lethal . . . except for Brother Lee, who will hold out until the wagon reaches
Morrow, but die a day later; unless one of the PCs rolls a critical success on Physician, he will
never regain consciousness.
When Lee dies, Lupita will try to persuade the PCs to buy the wagon and its cargo or, if they can't
or won't reach her minimum price of $5 a bottle (about half the legal price), to accompany her on
the trip to Santa Dolores where Lee had arranged to sell it . . . and the shortest route from Salvation
to Santa Dolores passes through Rosary.
The Road to Salvation
Morrow is a small town near the Mexican
border, built to cater to the farmers and
ranchers in the area. Though small with
only one street (Front Street), it boasts a
newspaper, a well-stocked general store, a
doctor, a blacksmith, a livery stable, a
photographic studio, a telegraph office, a
one-cell jail, two churches (one Catholic,
one Baptist), three saloons, and a daily
stagecoach service to Salvation, the nearest
town to Rosary. A day's research at the
newspaper office will reveal that there is a
$500 reward offered for the return of the
gem that Dimascio stole, which has never been recovered. They will also learn the basic facts
about Rosary, 210 miles away.
Rosary was founded after silver was discovered in the surrounding hills five years ago, and the
population quickly grew to about 3,000. Because the surrounding land is so rough (bad terrain for
3d+20 miles in any direction, with a few very bad roads) and the town's population has been
declining since it failed in its bid to become the county seat, there is no railway or stage route to
Rosary; the nearest stagecoach stop is at Salvation, 33 miles south-south-west.
If the PCs travel from Morrow to Salvation by stagecoach (2 days), the coach will overturn on a
bad road a few hours out of Salvation. This requires a Fright Check at -2; damage is 1d-2 for
anyone inside the coach, but those seated outside will have to jump free to avoid being crushed
under the coach. A successful DX roll will reduce damage to 3d-9 (use Hit Location from a Fall, p.
B131); a success on Acrobatics (or default) will reduce damage to zero. A failed DX roll means the
character takes 9d crushing damage; a critical failure means that the character is also pinned under
the coach, and must be freed before he bleeds to death. The coach is too badly damaged to
continue; survivors will have to decide whether to wait 24 hours for the next, or to walk 3d miles
along a very bad road in the rain, with wolves howling in the distance. If they wait, Lupita's wagon
will pass them 2d+2 hours later.
If the PCs ride horses, walk, or accompany Lupita to Rosary, the main problem will be the slow
journey and the nightmares (see Sleeping Rough, above), but they may also be bothered by minor
mishaps -- flash floods, scorpions in their boots and snakes in their bedrolls, beaver traps and
leeches when they cross suddenly swollen rivers, etc.
Salvation
If the PCs pass through Salvation, they will be required to hand their guns over to the sheriff while
in town. They will also encounter Old Tom, a grizzled cantankerous ex-prospector.
Old Tom isn't the town drunk, but he's a contender. He will offer to carry the PCs' bags from the
stage stop or station to a hotel for the price of a whiskey, he will be mucking out the livery stables
if they try to rent some horses, and he will be cadging drinks in any saloon they walk into. When
he learns that they're going to Rosary, he'll cackle and mutter, "You'll have a long way to go,
stranger, less'n you can ride into last year." He won't say anything more on the subject unless plied
with whisky, and as he refuses to drink alone, at least one of the PCs will have to match him
whisky for whisky (or fake it somehow) until either Tom or the last PC passes out. Each shot has
an Alcohol Rating of 24 (see p. CII162). Don't try this at home.
A successful roll on Interrogation with any drink will get twice as much information out of Tom.
Drinks
Information
1
Most of Rosary was burnt down two winters (about eighteen months) ago.
2
Thirteen people died in the fire, the last to be buried in the cemetery on a hill
overlooking the town.
3
A few of the more permanent buildings at one end of town survived, but most
folks decided to leave anyway. Most of the silver was gone, and winter was
coming. Tom himself had almost given up working his claim by this time, and
was making a living as the town's gravedigger.
4
Things had been turning bad in the town since Doc Fletcher was murdered.
Tom remembers the incident well; shootings were common in town, and most
men there died with their boots on, but he'd never seen a man before who'd
been killed with a knife while reaching for his gun. Fletcher was the last
person killed in town before the fire, a few weeks later.
5
The locals wanted to string up the man who they thought had killed Fletcher,
a gambler named Luce, but he'd disappeared by the time they found the body.
6
Luce was an olive-skinned man with black curly hair, a moustache, and dark
deep-set eyes. About six feet tall, dressed in black like a preacher, carried a
silver-headed cane, didn't drink hardly at all. (This matches most descriptions
of Dimascio.)
7
The fire didn't reach the cemetery -- just as well, too, since all the gravestones
were just boards, carved and painted.
8
The last burials were buried near the north end of the graveyard.
9
The only undertaker in Rosary was a coffin-maker and cartwright named
Rogan. He told Tom that he couldn't disguise the wounds on Fletcher's face,
and gave him a closed casket funeral. The man who pronounced him dead was
a horse doctor and blacksmith named Boetsch.
10
Rogan and Boetsch came to Salvation after Rosary was burned down; Rogan
works as a carpenter, and has a house next to the Boetsch's smithy.
If Tom tells the PCs everything he knows before passing out, begin the obligatory bar brawl. A
cowboy playing poker at the next table turns the table over to reveal a holdout device underneath,
containing several cards and a stingy pistol. Being unarmed, the cowboy and his friends grab
brawling weapons, as do the townspeople. A billiard ball hurled at one cowboy by a soiled dove
hits Old Tom instead, instantly knocking him unconscious. PCs may hide, try to sneak out, or join
in.
If the PCs speak to Rogan or Boetsch, and they have a Neutral or better reaction to the PCs, they
will confirm what Old Tom has said. On a Good or better reaction, they will also add that apart
from the clothes he was buried in, Fletcher's belongings were divided between the saloonkeeper,
the town marshal, and Rogan and Boetsch. Rogan kept a few dollars; Boetsch kept his watch and
surgical tools; neither saw anything else of value, and neither knows where the marshal or the
saloonkeeper went after Rosary burnt down. Boetsch will sell the watch for $5, the black bag for
$25; neither contains the gem, nor any useful clues.
Rosary
What the PCs find in Rosary will depend on the nature of the campaign. Only four buildings
remain standing: two saloons, a general store (also the bank and post office), and a jail (two cells
and an office for the marshal). All have been looted of any valuables, but they may provide useful
hiding places for the PCs or their opponents. The cells have 6" stone walls, 1/2" iron bars, and a 2"
wooden slab roof; other buildings are of 1" wooden slab.
In a realistic campaign, the PCs will find Rosary's cemetery occupied by miners, engineers and
guards. A mining baron has learned that the hill beneath the cemetery contains enough copper ore
to be worth mining. He's hired 40 convict laborers to dig up the graves, dumping headstones and
bodies into a nearby abandoned mineshaft. The PCs can wait until the graveyard is cleared and
search for Fletcher's body in the dangerously unstable shaft, or try sneaking into the cemetery that
night before Fletcher's grave marker is removed. The convicts are too heavily chained to be a
menace to the PCs (unless an escape is organized), but there are at least ten guards (use 'Hired
Guns', below). To complicate matters, one of the guards may be an enemy of one of the PCs -- or
one of the convicts may be a friend, dependent or a member of an ally group. Alternatively, the
convicts may manage to overpower their guard and grab some weapons, forcing the PCs to choose
sides. The guards are billeted in the marshal's office and the saloon next door; the convicts sleep at
night, in chains and under guard, in the store.
In a weird campaign, Rosary is almost literally a ghost town; instead of convict labor, the digging
is being done by 40 zombis, and intruders are even less welcome. The houngan controlling the
zombis, Pierre Legrand, has taken over the marshal's office, and sleeps on the bare bunk in one of
the cells, on which he's performed a makeshift consecration. In a cinematic (high powered) weird
campaign, Legrand may be a skin-changer; he may also be Dimascio under another name, returned
to collect the sapphire.
If the PCs have come to Rosary without Brother Lee's nitroglycerine and need extra firepower,
have Lupita arrive with the wagon and an accomplice (use stats for Hired Gun) in time to rescue
them. Of course, her help won't come cheap . . .
Resurrection Men
If the PCs go looking for Fletcher's grave, they will find the marker badly weathered; Vision -5 to
read the inscription, "Dr George Fletcher, murdered 18--.". Fletcher is buried 4' down, in a thin
wooden coffin, fully dressed, with his boots under his head as a pillow and a red bandana covering
his mutilated face. The markers on the graves surrounding him read "Joe Wells, Died With His
Boots On 18--", and "Ella Garcia, 18--. Duerme bien." (Sleep well).
A search of Fletcher's clothes, however thorough, will not uncover the sapphire. Dissecting the
body won't help, either, but that's no reason to prevent the PCs from trying. The stone is actually
hidden in the hollow heel of Fletcher's left boot (the right is also hollow, but empty). If the players
don't think of searching the boots, it should occur to Lupita or any character who makes a roll on
Holdout at -5.
Faith to Faith
The PCs should continue to suffer nightmares intermittently until the first to touch Broken Lance's
shield has a vision, in which he sees a wolf telling him to destroy the papers taken from the shield.
The nightmares will continue until he does this; after that, Broken Lance will appear to the PC in a
dream, armed with Dimascio's knife. The PC's hit points will be equivalent to his Will, not HT or
ST. If the PC is 'killed' in the dream, he must make a HT roll (+/- Will bonuses) or die; if he
survives, the PCs' nightmares will stop. If he defeats Broken Lance in the dream, he will acquire
Wolf as a Guardian Spirit, though this will only be apparent to Herbalists, Dreamers or Shamans,
who will react to him at +1 after this, and the PCs' nightmares will stop. If he surrenders, he will
acquire -10 points of disadvantages that must be bought off (Nightmares and Post-Combat Shakes
would be appropriate, as would Unluckiness or Aichomophobia).
Cast
Bigger Bear, Comanche Warrior
Early 20s; bronzed skin, black hair, dark eyes; 5'9", 150 lbs.
ST 11; DX 11; IQ 11; HT 11.
Move 5.
Advantages: Appearance (Attractive); Charisma +1; Guardian Spirit (Thunder); High Pain
Threshold; Language Talent +1; Semi-Literate
Disadvantages: Compulsive Gambling; Curious; Overconfidence
Quirks: Tends to exaggerate.
Skills: Animal Handling (Horse)-11; Axe/Mace-12; Bard-14; Bow-13; Gambling-13; Guns (Rifle)-
13; Languages (Comanche)-12, (English)-10, (Spanish)-10; Merchant-11; Riding (Horse)-12; Sign
Language (Plains)-10; Stealth-13; Tracking-13; Wrestling-11.
Equipment: Indian Musket; Short Bow and 30 arrows; Coup Stick; Bowie Knife; Shield (PD 3;
DR 6; Damage 10/40); Pony.
Bigger Bear is named for a story he tells of a bear he encountered when a young man; when an
older warrior dryly commented that the bear grew larger every time the story was told, the young
brave became known as Bigger Bear.
Bitten by Cats, Comanche Warrior
Late teens; bronzed skin, scarred face, black hair, dark eyes; 5'8", 100 lbs.
ST 11; DX 12; IQ 10; HT 11.
Move 5.
Advantages: Animal Empathy; Combat Reflexes; Fit; Guardian Spirit (Thunder); High Pain
Threshold.
Disadvantages: Overconfidence; Skinny.
Skills: Animal Handling (Horse)-13; Axe/Mace-12; Bow-13; Fast-Draw (Arrow)-13, (Rifle)-13;
Gambling-12; Guns (Rifle)-13; Language (Comanche)-10; Riding (Horse)-16; Running-12;
Stealth-12; Tracking-14.
Equipment: Indian Musket; Short Bow and 30 arrows; Coup Stick; Metal Tomahawk; Shield (PD
3; DR 6; Damage 10/40); Pony (Move 14).
Broken Lance, Comanche Warrior
Early 20s; bronzed skin, black hair, dark eyes; 5'11", 160 lbs.
ST 13; DX 13; IQ 10; HT 13.
Move 6.
Advantages: Combat Reflexes; Fearlessness/3; Guardian Spirit (Wolf); High Pain Threshold;
Rapid Healing; Toughness (DR 1); Very Fit.
Disadvantages: Berserk; Great Vows (Never Retreat in Battle, -15; Wolf Dreamer vows, -11);
Overconfidence.
Skills: Animal Handling (Horse)-12; Axe/Mace-14; Axe Throwing-13; Bow-14; Fast-Draw
(Arrow)-14; Gambling-9; Guns (Rifle)-14; Knife-13; Knife Throwing-12; Lance-14; Riding
(Horse)-13; Running-14; Tracking-11; Stealth-13; Wrestling-13.
Equipment: Indian Musket; Compound Short Bow and 30 arrows; Coup Stick; Lance; Arkansas
Toothpick; Tomahawk; Shield (PD 4; DR 6; Damage 10/40); Pony.
Broken Lance is named for a battle he had with an Apache warrior; the Apache's lance penetrated
his shield before breaking, leaving the head stuck in Broken Lance's arm. Broken Lance grabbed
the shaft of the lance and dragged the Apache from his horse, returning to camp with the horse, the
broken lance, and the Apache's scalp. Wolf appeared to him that night, giving him a vision of a
tougher shield -- including the books that would be needed to construct it.
Brother Lee, Confidence Man and smuggler
Late 40s; 5'9, 160 lbs; tanned skin, blue eyes, mane of silver hair with full beard.
ST 11; DX 11; IQ 12; HT 8.
Move 4.
Advantages: Charisma +2; Voice.
Disadvantages: Greed; Overconfidence.
Skills: Acting-12; Animal Handling (Mule, Horse)-11; Bard-15; Boxing-12; Disguise-12; Fast-
Talk-14; Gambling-13; Guns/TL5 (Pistol)-14, (Shotgun)-13, (Rifle)-11; Fast-Draw (Pistol)-11;
Hold-out-12; Mechanic/TL5 (Wagon)-10; Merchant-13; Musical Instrument (Banjo)-11;
Occultism-10; Pickpocket-11; Psychology-11; Riding (Horse)-10; Running-9; Stealth-11;
Teamster-11; Theology-10; Whip-10.
Equipment: S&W Model 2; Bullwhip. Wears black suit, Stetson, and cowboy boots.
Comanche Warrior
ST 11; DX 11; IQ 10; HT 10.
Move 5.
Advantages: Fearlessness/2; Fit; High Pain Threshold.
Disadvantages: Warrior's Code of Honor.
Skills: Animal Handling (Horse)-11; Axe/Mace-12; Bow-13; Fast-Draw (Arrow)-11; Gambling-
11; Guns (Rifle)-13; Knife-11; Languages (Comanche)-10; Riding (Horse)-12; Running-10;
Stealth-13; Tracking-13.
Equipment: Indian Musket or Spencer Carbine; Short Bow and 30 arrows; Coup Stick; War Club,
Tomahawk or Large Knife; Shield (PD 3; DR 6; Damage 10/40); Pony.
Convict Laborer
ST 13; DX 10; IQ 9; HT 10.
Move 5.
Advantages: High Pain Threshold.
Disadvantages: At least one of the following: Bad Temper; Bully; Greed; Impulsiveness; Outlaw's
Code of Honor; Overconfidence.
Skills: Brawling-12; Guns/TL5 (Pistol)-14, (other)-10; Holdout-11; Intimidation-13; Knife-11;
Riding (Horse)-10; Stealth-10; other Thief skills-12.
Equipment: Pick or shovel.
Hired Gun
ST 12; DX 13; IQ 10; HT 11.
Move 6.
Advantages: Alertness +1; Combat Reflexes; Reputation (Fast Gun, +1)
Disadvantages: Bad Temper; Bloodlust; Enemies (Gunslinger's Enemies)
Skills: Animal Handling (Horse)-11; Brawling-13; Carousing-12; Fanning-12; Fast-Draw
(Revolver)-14; Gambling-12; Guns/TL5 (Pistol)-16, (Shotgun)-14, (Rifle)-13; Holdout-11;
Intimidation-13; Knife-11; Knife Throwing-11; Riding (Horse)-12; Sap-12; Speed-Load
(Revolver)-11; Stealth-11; Tactics-11.
Equipment: Colt Peacemaker; Double barrel Shotgun or Magazine Carbine; Arkansas Toothpick;
Cartridge belt; Suit, Overcoat, Stetson, Cowboy Boots; Saddle Horse; Bedroll.
Lupita
20 years old; 5'6", 115 lbs; olive skin, waist-length black hair, dark eyes. Quirks: Usually wears
black and red.
ST 9; DX 11; IQ 11; HT 12.
Move 5.
Advantages: Appearance (Attractive); Charisma +1; Language Talent +1.
Disadvantages: Greed; Overconfidence; Post-combat shakes.
Skills: Acting-12; Animal Handling (Mule)-9; Cooking-10; Dancing-13; Disguise-13; Fast-Talk-
13; First Aid/TL5-10; Gambling-12; Guns (Pistol)-11, (Shotgun)-11; Holdout-12; Knife-11;
Language (Spanish)-12, (Comanche, English, French)-10; Pickpocket-13; Psychology-10; Sex-
Appeal-14; Scrounging-12; Singing-11; Stealth-10; Streetwise-13; Teamster-10; Throwing-11.
Equipment: Double barrel 20g shotgun; small knife concealed in hair. Wears shirt, boots and
trousers while traveling, and a dress while in town. Spare clothes, rations, ammo, gun cleaning kit,
etc., in travel trunk in wagon.
Pierre Legrand, voodoo houngan
Early 40s; 5'11", 107 lbs; brown skin, bald, dark brown eyes. Wears a Confederate Officer's gray
coat, a battered top hat, and cavalry boots.
ST 10; DX 11; IQ 14; HT 10.
Move 5.
Advantages: Autotrance; Charm (Ghost Shirt); Initiation (Third Level); Mystic Symbol (necklace,
+2); Metabolism Control/1; Night Vision.
Disadvantages: Appearance (Unattractive); Bully; Sadist; Skinny; Social Stigma (Mulatto, -2 on
all reaction rolls).
Paths and Rituals: Path of the Spirit-14; Raise Zombi-14; Path of Protection-13; Ghost Shirt-13;
Obscurity-13; Path of Dreams-10; Path of Health-10; Path of Luck-10.
Skills: Brawling-11; Detect Lies-13; Fast-Talk-14; Fencing-12; Gambling-13; Guns/TL5 (Pistol)-
14; Language (Creole)-14, (English, French, Spanish)-12; Occultism-14; Riding (Horse)-10; Ritual
Magic-16; Scrounging-13; Stealth-10; Streetwise-13.
Equipment: S&W Model 2 in leather-lined pocket; Saber; pocket knife; bed roll; week's rations;
bottle of whiskey; saddle horse; $42 in gold coins.
Old Tom, Prospector
Late 60s; balding, with some gray hair and scraggly gray beard, hazel eyes; 5'6", 130 lbs. Wears
ragged buckskins, sombrero, and boots.
ST 10; DX 10; IQ 10; HT 9.
Move 4.
Advantages: Alcohol Tolerance.
Disadvantages: Age; Alcoholism; Appearance (Unattractive); Miserliness; Odious Personal
Habits (Rarely washes, -2 to reaction rolls); Poverty (Struggling).
Skills: Animal Handling (Donkey)-11; Brawling-10; Carousing-11; Gambling-11; Guns/TL5
(Shotgun)-12, (Rifle)-10; Packing-10; Prospecting-12; Scrounging-13; Survival (Mountains)-11.
Equipment: Shotgun, mining tools, and burro at shack.
Smells Water, Comanche Warrior
Late teens; bronzed skin, black hair, dark eyes; 5'8", 140 lbs.
ST 12; DX 13; IQ 10; HT 10.
Move 5.
Advantages: Alertness +3; Fit; Guardian Spirit (Eagle); High Pain Threshold.
Disadvantages: Bad Temper; Minor Vows (Eagle warrior).
Skills: Animal Handling (Horse)-10; Axe/Mace-13; Bow-14; Gambling-11; Guns (Rifle)-16;
Language (Comanche)-10; Riding (Horse)-13; Stealth-13; Tracking-11.
Equipment: Kentucky Rifle; Short Bow and 30 arrows; Coup Stick; War Club; Metal Tomahawk;
Shield (PD 3; DR 6; Damage 10/40); Pony.
Zombis
ST 13; DX 10; IQ 7; HT 10/15.
Move 4.
Advantages: Doesn't Breathe; Doesn't Eat or Drink; Doesn't Sleep; Extra Hit Points +5; High Pain
Threshold; Immunity to Disease; Immunity to Poison; Injury Tolerance (No Blood);
Invulnerability (Mind Control); Night Vision; Single-Minded; Temperature Tolerance; Unaging;
Unfazeable.
Disadvantages: Bad Smell; Cannot Learn; Monstrous Appearance; No Sense of Humor; No Sense
of Smell/Taste; Obdurate; Reduced Move; Reprogrammable Duty; Slave Mentality; Social Stigma
(Dead); Unhealing; Unliving; Vulnerability (4d from salt).
Skills: Brawling-12; Knife-11.
Equipment: Pick or shovel.
Should a zombi be crippled, or even lose a limb, it will continue to fight. A zombi with a missing
foot moves at 4. With a missing leg, it hops along at 2; legless but with at least one arm, it drags
itself along at 1.
Only a little salt is needed to kill a zombi, but it must be poured into the zombi's mouth to be
effective.
Biblical Quotations
Proverbs XXVII 17 reads "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his
friend."; Luke IV 23 is "Physician, heal thyself."; Mark VIII 24 is "I see men as trees, walking."
Article publication date: November 24, 2000
146 Pyramid subscribers rated this article 3.60 on a scale of 1 to 5. Visit the ratings page for more
info.
Copyright © 2000 by Steve Jackson Games. All rights reserved. Pyramid subscribers are permitted to read this article
online, or download it and print out a single hardcopy for personal use. Copying this text to any other online system or
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www.BATTLETECH-NEWSLETTER.de
1
Editorial – Ein Jahr CBT Newsletter
Unglaublich, oder? Jetzt arbeiten wir tatsächlich schon ein ganzes Jahr daran, Euch, unseren Leser,
über die neuesten Entwicklungen im CBT Universum aufzuklären. Vielleicht ein guter Zeitpunkt, mal
zurückzuschauen, was im letzten Jahr so alles passierte.
Ganz ehrlich, wenn ich gewusst hätte, was das für einen Stress mit sich bringen kann, dann hätte ich
es mir zweimal überlegt. Ich muss gestehen, die Arbeit am Newsletter hat mein Leben stark
verändert. Graue Haare, Nervenzusammenbrüche, nervöse Zuckungen… Nein, OK, das stimmt dann
doch nicht. Aber es zwingt mich dazu, mich regelmäßig mit der Community auseinander zusetzen, es
hat mich Teamarbeit gelehrt und mir gezeigt, wie wichtig es ist, auch mal Arbeit zu delegieren.
Ich denke, die erste Ausgabe war doch sehr einfach gehalten. Im Grunde haben wir dort noch recht
blauäugig gearbeitet und uns keine wirklichen Gedanken gemacht, wie wir ein wirklich gutes,
niveauvolles Produkt auf die Beine stellen können. Ich habe eine Menge Positives aus diesem Projekt
gewonnen, nicht zuletzt neue Freunde und einen sehr guten Draht zu den Verantwortlichen in den
USA und hier in Deutschland.
Beginnend mit Ausgabe 2 haben wir dann unser Team erweitert und uns auch von anderen Leuten
Rat und Berichte geholt. Richtig toll war das auch noch nicht, aber immerhin ein Schritt in die
richtige Richtung, denke ich. Wir haben mehr selbst getan, weniger zitiert, übersetzt und
abgeschrieben. Das sollte sich in den kommenden Ausgaben noch verstärken. Das Feedback aus der
Community war größtenteils positiv ausgefallen, der erwartete und befürchtete Scheiterhaufen, auf
den man uns stellen würde, ist nie gekommen. Auch wenn ich immer wieder einmal am liebsten
einen Schreikrampf bekommen will, wenn ich so manchen Kommentar in den diversen Foren lese.
Oder mir anhören muss, wie wir doch eh nur alles bejubeln (hallo, wir sind Fans, uns gefällt, was
produziert wird, warum sollen wir es dann niedermachen?), so sind es doch immer wieder die
Kommentare der Fans, die uns den Mut geben, weiterzumachen.
Ausgabe 3 war dann also beinahe Routine. Beinahe! Die Vorfreude und auch die Angst vor jeder
Ausgabe sind geblieben, und ich denke, sie werden uns auch weiterhin begleiten. Der Schritt in noch
mehr Selbstständigkeit wurde erneut gewagt und wir haben dort eine Menge Eigenständiges
realisieren können. Der GenCon Bericht vom Direx, der Bericht über die Mechworld, der Versuch,
noch mehr Variabilität in den Newsletter zu bringen, hat gut funktioniert, so hoffen wir. Nach
Ausgabe 3 stand dann fest, dass wir die Seite überarbeiten werden würden und dass wir noch weiter
expandieren wollten. So kam Ausgabe 4.
Licht und Schatten, denke ich. Was soll ich sonst dazu sagen. Es war ohne Frage die mit Abstand
erfolgreichste Ausgabe, die wir bis dahin produziert hatten. Und mit Abstand auch die mit den
meisten Fehlern. Wir hatten es am Ende sehr eilig, sie zu veröffentlichen. Eigentlich hatten wir
erwartet, nicht mehr rechtzeitig fertig zu werden und waren entsprechend froh, dass wir dann doch
soweit waren, sie zu veröffentlichen. Ein Fehler, aus dem wir gelernt haben. Die neue Seite ging mit
dem
neuen
Newsletter
online
und
auch
hier
waren
die
Reaktionen
durchaus
positiv.
Dementsprechend freuen wir uns auch auf Ausgabe 5 und die ganz neue Seite.
Ausgabe 4 war nun wirklich ein Meilenstein. Dank Herb Beas brachen wir alle Rekorde. Das Interview
mit ihm war nicht nur erhellend, es war genial. Ich fürchte, wir werden etwas ähnliches so schnell
nicht wieder auf die Beine stellen können, aber ihr könnt versichert sein, wir arbeiten schon an
neuen Ideen.
Am Ende des Tages, mit jeder neuen Ausgabe, ist es uns wichtig, dass wir uns selber in dem Produkt
erkennen; dass es unsere Fragen, unsere Ansichten, unsere Werte sind, die wir rüber bringen, dass
wir uns nicht verbiegen, nicht unsere Ideale verraten, auch wenn das sicher etwas gestelzt klingt.
Wir sind stolz auf die Arbeit, die wir tun und uns ist es und war es immer am wichtigsten, Euch,
2
unseren Lesern, über alle wichtigen Entwicklungen in der Battletech-Szene auf dem Laufenden zu
halten. Das haben wir in den vergangenen 12 Monaten, glaube ich, auch ganz gut hinbekommen. Ich
hoffe, wir schaffen es auch weiterhin, Euch nicht nur zu informieren, sondern auch zu unterhalten.
Wir begeistern uns für Battletech und wir hoffen, dass wir einen kleinen Beitrag leisten können, es
noch bekannter zu machen. Unsere Arbeit kann nicht jedem gefallen, das wissen wir und müssen das
akzeptieren. Wir werden auch weiterhin über die Dinge berichten, die wir für wichtig erachten, oder
neue Produkte vorstellen, ob sie uns nun gefallen oder nicht, sowie über Dinge schreiben, die wir toll
finden. Dementsprechend werden wir auch negative Rezensionen veröffentlichen, wenn es denn
einmal nötig sein sollte. Und sollte es irgendwann einmal der Fall sein, dass FanPro mit unserer
Arbeit nicht mehr zufrieden ist und man uns bittet, die Arbeit einzustellen, werden wir uns der Macht
beugen. Bis dahin ist es aber so, dass wir die Idee hatten, dass wir alle 3 Monate die Arbeit auf uns
nehmen und dass wir die Ersteller und Herausgeber des deutsche CBT Newsletters sind, mit dem
Segen von FanPro. Und ganz ehrlich, darauf sind wir verdammt stolz.
Somit stehen wir auch zu unserer Arbeit und freuen uns jedes Mal über Feedback, sei es nun
positiver oder negativer Art. Klar, positiv ist besser, wir freuen uns immer über Lob, aber auch Fehler
müssen angesprochen werden und nur durch Euer Feedback sind wir in der Lage, uns zu verbessern.
Dass wir nicht alles annehmen, was da auf den Tisch kommt, ergibt sich aus dem, was ich oben
geschrieben habe. Dennoch brauchen wir auch eure Kritik, um einer gewissen Betriebsblindheit
vorzubeugen.
Somit hoffe ich, dass es uns auch im kommenden Jahr gelingt, Euch zu unterhalten und mit allen
interessanten Neuigkeiten aus und über das CBT Universum zu versorgen. Ich danke Euch allen im
Namen unseres Teams für Euer Feedback, für die Treue, die Ihr uns schenkt und die Motivation, die
aus Eurem Feedback entsteht. Auf ein weiteres Jahr Battletech Newsletter und darauf, dass noch
viele weitere folgen mögen.
Björn Schmidt
3
Inhaltsverzeichnis
EXKLUSIV
Interview mit Klaus Scherwinski
5
Klaus Scherwinski, der für eine Vielzahl toller Cover und Grafiken verantwortlich ist,
gibt uns einen exklusiven Einblick in seine Arbeit und verrät uns wie eine CBT Grafik
entsteht.
Schatten des Krieges – Teil II von Lucas Cunningham
14
Der zweite Teil einer vierteiligen Serie, exklusiv nur im Battletech Newsletter.
Interview mit Ben Rome
24
Autor Ben Rome steht ins Rede und Antwort über seine Arbeit mit Classic Battletech
und sein Privatleben und liefert ein exklusives Preview zum Startbook Wolf & Blake.
Gewinnspiel
32
Anlässlich des 1. Geburtstag des Newsletters, präsentierten wir euch ein Gewinnspiel
mit tollen Classic Battletech Produkten als Preisen.
REZENSIONEN
Tech Manual Rezension
33
Der zweite Teil der neuen Corebook Serie, hält er was er verspricht?
ComStar Rezension
35
Das bekannte Sourcebook von 1992 genau beleuchtet.
Handbook House Davion Rezension
36
Die neuste Ausgabe der neuen Handbook Serie, wir liefern euch umfangreich alle
Details.
Clanwächter Rezension
40
Der zweite Teil des Bären Zyklus, lohnt er sich oder nicht?
Total Warfare Fremdrezension
42
Wir liefern euch eine weitere Total Warfare Rezension, diesmal von Ron McClung.
BERICHTE
Kevin Killiany – Das letzte Jahr
47
Vor einem knappen Jahr beantwortete Kevin Killiany unsere Fragen in der ersten
Ausgabe des CBT Newsletters, was treibt er heute?
Black Ghost, White Death
49
Nach Vengeance Gambit, liefern euch nun den Bericht des nächsten großen
Commando Event.
Das Anröchte Con Projekt
51
Die Community versucht Anröchte wiederzubeleben und wir brauchen euer Feedback.
Zehn Jahre Galatea
52
Die 10. Galatea Convention in Essen ein kurzer Erfahrungsbericht.
Hannover Spielt!
53
Kurzbericht des Spielecons in Hannover.
4
Interview mit Klaus Scherwinski
Und wieder haben wir etwas Besonders für Euch. Künstler Klaus Scherwinski, von dem
unter anderem das Dawn of the Jihad und Brush Wars Cover stammen, stellt sich unseren
Fragen und gibt uns allen einen exklusiven Einblick in das Entstehen eines CBT Covers.
1) Neuland für uns, einen der Künstler hatten wir bisher noch nicht in unserem Newsletter.
Also, fangen wir mal harmlos an. Wie kamen Sie zu BattleTech, wie wurden Sie Zeichner?
Ich hab 2000 auf der Essen Spielmesse meine ersten Kontakte zum Rollenspiel geknüpft. Ich kam ja
an sich aus dem Comicbereich und hatte grade mein drittes Heft aus der „Kopeck“-Serie bei
Karicartoon (Hannover) veröffentlicht.
Also ging ich auf Anraten eines Bekannten mal in die Rollenspielsektion der Messe. Portfolio vorzeigen,
Visitenkarten sammeln und abgeben, Emails schreiben und nachfragen, zack hat man den ersten
Auftrag, so weit so einfach. Meine ersten Jobs waren für Blue Planet (Hard Sci-fi RPG von Fantasy
Flight Games) und die Mephisto. Ich kannte Shadowrun und Battletech schon vorher, hatte das aber
während meiner Comiczeichenperiode wieder aus dem Auge verloren. Bei der Mephisto setzte ich mich
mit meinem Faible für düstere Illustrationen und dem guten Umsetzen von Hintergründen und
natürlich Technologie gut ins Bild.
Als man für Deutschland „In den Schatten II“ für Shadowrun Zeichner suchte konnte ich mir durch
mein gut ausgebautes Mephisto Portfolio einen Job sichern. Von da an wurde ich auch an Rob Boyle
weitergereicht der mich für Innenillustrationen für US Shadowrunpublikationen rekrutierte. Nach
einigen Aufträgen für SR kam ich dann auch an Battletech, die mich tatsächlich mit meinem ersten
Cover-Job beglückten. Ich war erfreut und geschockt gleichermaßen, denn meine Farbfähigkeiten
waren damals noch sehr beschränkt und selbst heute betrachte ich sie als…ausbaufähig.:)
Nun, Randall Bills setzte da ein ziemliches Vertrauen in mich und half mir so den Schritt von SW zu
Farbillustrationen zu machen. Am Anfang ließ ich meine Cover von Kai Spannuth kolorieren, aber nach
wenigen Zusammenarbeiten stürzte ich mich selber hinein und versuche seitdem jedes neue Cover
besser zu machen als das nächste. Die Farbillustrationen im Innenteil von Total Warfare waren bisher
mein Größter Auftrag und machten riesig Spaß da ich vorher die ganzen coolen Kurzgeschichten lesen
durfte. Randall hält mich stetig in Arbeit und benutzte z.B. das „Dawn of Jihad“ -Cover als Poster auf
der Gencon. Dies sehe ich als Auszeichnung und ich versuche ihm daher das Beste zu geben, was ich
kann, um seine Produkte so gut aussehen zu lassen, wie der Inhalt es verdient.
2) Wenn ein neues Projekt ansteht, wie gehen Sie da ran? Erzählen Sie uns doch vielleicht
anhand des BRUSHWARS Covers, wie so ein Bild entsteht.
Am
Anfang
gibt
es
meist
eine
kurze
Konzeptbeschreibung der abzubildenden Szene und eine
Auflistung der Fahrzeuge. Ich habe mal ein PDF fertig
gemacht
in
dem
man
sieht
dass
sehr
viele
Gedankengänge dazu gehören ein BT-Cover zu fertigen.
Neben dem korrekten Darstellen der Fahrzeuge oder
Mechs möchte man ein Maximum aus der Illustration
herausholen. Je mehr auf einem Cover zu sehen sein
soll, desto schwieriger wird es, einen Fokus zu erzeugen.
Unser Auge konzentriert sich beim Sehen immer auf
einen Bereich und in jedem Cover muss es so einen
Punkt geben. Bei sechs oder mehr gezeigten Subjects
wird die Komposition schwierig. Nicht jedes Cover ist so
leicht, wie der Berserker vom TRO: 3055 Upgrade. Aber
ich gehe schon zu weit, sonst gebe ich hier am Ende
5
noch einen Zeichenkurs, nach dem keiner gefragt hat.
Also in Kurzform, ich beginne immer mit einer groben Bleistiftskizze, von da zu einer sauberen
Bleistiftzeichnung in DinA3, welche eingescannt wird. Dann folgen noch mindestens 30 Stunden
digitales Painting in Photoshop und fertig ist das Ding :).
3) Was ist die größte Herausforderung, die man als Künstler für CBT bestehen muss? Sind
es die Mechs? Ist es, einen einmaligen Blickpunkt zu finden? Etwas ganz anderes?
Die perfekte Perspektive zu finden ist immer eines der
Hauptprobleme bei Illustrationen. Bei CBT kommt hinzu, dass
manche alten Mechvarianten eigentlich kaum 3-dimensional
funktionieren, weil ihre Darstellung in den TRO einfach zu flach
ist, bzw. nicht gut lesbar, oder, dass der Mech aus einer
Perspektive, zu der man aus bestimmten anderen Gründen
gezwungen
ist,
einfach
bekloppt
aussieht
(Achtung:
Geschmackssache!). Ganz toll auch, wenn man den Mech von
schräg unten zeigen muss, wie er ein Bein hebt aber im TRO
eine Abbildung von oben ist mit durch gestreckten Beinen bei
denen auf Gelenke völlig verzichtet wurde. Die neuen Preta und
Seraph Designs von Brent Evans, die ich für das neue JHS:3072
Cover benutze, waren zum Glück das genaue Gegenteil – sie
sahen
nicht
nur
saucool
aus
sondern
waren
auch
funktionstüchtig
und
ich
bin
froh
solche
Mech-Coolness
umsetzen zu dürfen!
4) Sie zeichnen ja auch für Shadowrun. Wie sehr unterscheidet sich die Arbeit für
verschiedene Systeme?
Das ist halt auch abhängig von den Vorgaben. Bei DEGENESIS sind Bleistiftzeichnungen gefragt, bei BT
meist Farbillustrationen. SR ist einfach düsterer. Bei CBT möchte man eher MEHR zeigen, mehr Tech,
mehr Details, mehr Laser und PPC-Feuer :). Ansonsten habe ich viele Freiheiten, ein besonderer
Vorteil der Arbeit in dieser Spielindustrie, in der Werbung ist man viel strikter.
5) Manche Künstler verstecken ja gerne kleine Eastereggs in ihren Werken. Haben Sie auch
schon mal so etwas getan, z.B. die Gesichtszüge bekannter Persönlichkeiten eingebaut
oder ähnliches?
Ich habe etwas, das schon mal jemand „signature Leaf“ genannt hat. Ein fliegendes Blatt irgendeines
Baumes, welches ich in vielen Illustrationen einbaue. Fallende Blätter geben Szenen etwas Lebendiges
und ich baue meist absichtlich irgendwo eins ein, selbst wenn nicht zwingend Bäume in der Nähe sind,
wie z.B. bei Stadtansichten. Bei Degenesis hab ich schon mal Referenz genommen und den Kopf aus
dem Justitianband muss man erstmal finden. ;-). Ansonsten bin ich ein Detailfreak. Die französischen
Aufschriften auf dem Stromkasten am Rand des „Shadows of Europe“-Covers oder die Aufschrift auf
dem Schal sind für mich nicht wirklich Eastereggs, das bildet eher die Welt ab, wie ich sie mir
vorstelle. Es gehört dazu.
6
6) Was wäre die Szene aus der großen Historie des CBT Universums, die Sie unbedingt
einmal würden zeichnen wollen?
Kann ich nicht sagen, aber es würde garantiert
mehrere Battlearmors involvieren (Gnome sind ganz
cool), die einen sehr coolen Mech zu Fall bringen.
Das ganze aus der Perspektive der „Fußtruppen“ mit
viel
Kreuzfeuer
und
Action,
Action,
Action.
Tatsächlich fragte mich Randall Bills bei dem
„Brushwars“-Cover, was ich denn gern mal zeichnen
wolle. Meine Antwort war klar, leider gab es zu
Zeiten von Brushwars noch keine Battle-armor. Aber
Stadtkämpfe
sind
ja
auch
immer
was
sehr
Intensives.
7) Mal weg von der Arbeit, wie ist der
Privatmann
Klaus
Scherwinski?
Was
können/mögen Sie uns über sich erzählen?
Wow, wer mich kennt, weiß, was für ein Laberkopf
ich bin. Also versuche ich die Antwort kurz zu halten.
Manche Menschen sagen mir wie erstaunt sie sind,
dass ich gar nicht so ein böser Mensch bin, wie die
schlimmen
Bilder,
die
ich
immer
male,
es
suggerieren.
Mittelaltergemetzel,
Warhammer
Chaosspacemarines, Monster, Dämonen, Waffen.
Herrgott meine Eltern freuten sich am meisten bisher
über ein Segelschiff, das ich malte – das feuerte nur
aus einer Kanone und es waren keine Toten oder
Monster drauf :-). Nun ja, ich bin froh, vieles in Bildern zu kanalisieren. Ich bin weder ein düsterer
Zeichnerrebell noch der Kunststudent auf der Suche nach DEM neuen Stil und künstlerischer
Ausdrucksweise. Ich will zeichnerisch nur besser werden, weil ich und die Leser so mehr Spaß bei
meinen Arbeiten haben, das war immer meine Herangehensweise. Ansonsten, mach ich in meiner
Freizeit Aikido und treffe ab und zu mal Freunde, da ist es aber heute schon so weit, dass ein guter
Teil meiner näheren Freunde und Bekannten aus derselben Branche ist und ich diese dann auf Cons
treffe. Das ist der Preis dieses Traumjobs, aber ich möchte mich nicht beschweren. Diese
Selbstverwirklichung lässt sich nicht mit Geld aufwiegen, das kann ich nicht verlangen. Tja, ansonsten,
ich bin oft hektisch (weil viel zu tun) und nehme mich meistens nicht wirklich für voll, weswegen man
viel mit mir und über mich lachen kann. Auf meiner Homepage kann man noch ausführlicher lesen, wie
ich zum Zeichnen kam und auf welcher Veranstaltung man mich mal in persona treffen kann, ich bin
da recht unkompliziert. Noch Fragen? Hab ja gesagt ich rede viel…
8) Ganz privat gefragt, für welches System zeichnen Sie am liebsten? Und vor allem,
warum?
Teufel! Das mag ich nicht beantworten. Die Abwechslung reizt mich: nach einem BT-Cover in Farbe ist
es einfach am entspannendsten, eine dreckige „Shadowrun“-Illustration raus zuhauen. Danach will
man eine Kombination und man macht lieber eine detaillierte aber lockere Degenesis-Skizze. Zu viel
von einer Kost ist auf die Dauer nix. Und Comics? Die kommen da auch noch rein. Storytelling ist eh
die höhere Kunst, das würde ich nicht missen wollen, daher mache ich ab und zu Kurzgeschichten für
Heavy Metal Magazine oder Horrorschocker hier in Deutschland (#13 ist grad zu bestellen übrigens
unter www.weissbleichcomics.com!)
7
9) Was ist ihr persönliches Lieblings-BT-Cover?
Das “Storms of Fate”-Cover von Fred Gambino. Hammer.
Aber ich denke, ich kenne nicht alles von BT, daher kann es
sein dass ich da noch was verpasst habe. Außerdem ändert
sich der Geschmack mit der Zeit. Aber das SoF-Cover bildet
eine Messlatte, die ich unbedingt noch erreichen möchte.
10)
Letzte Frage: Viele Leute haben ein Vorbild für
ihre Kunst. Wie sieht das bei ihnen aus?
Bezüglich Battletech? Franz Vohwinkel legt die Messlatte
sehr hoch und inspiriert mich immer wieder, NOCH mehr
Details in Bilder zu packen. War auch sehr cool, ihn auf der
letzten Gencon wieder treffen und zu plaudern. Ansonsten
gibt es da Leute aus meinem persönlichen Umfeld. Marko
Djurdjevics und Tobias Mannewitzs Arbeiten sind vorbildlich
für mich in Lockerheit und Expressivität. Eva Wiedermann ist
unglaublich sauber und gut, also auf andere Weise eine
Inspiration. Vatche Mavlian, ein kanadischer Künster, der
schon für Marvel arbeitete, und von dem grad ein Phantom-
Band erschienen ist, hat atemberaubendes Linework. Ich
versuche mir einfach das Beste von Vielen abzugucken.
Zeitgenössische Kollegen mehr als alte Meister, denn die
Kollegen kann ich selber um Rat fragen, dafür bin ich mir
nicht zu schade. Auch die Mephisto-Zeichner, die ich als Art Director betreue, geben mir viel Input, den
ich zu schätzen weiß. Einflüsse kann man nicht genug haben aber Inspiration ist da besser als
Imitation. Mal schauen was für Veränderungen meine Arbeit noch durchläuft.
Links:
www.klausscherwinski.de
8
COVERART „BRUSHWARS“ - MAKING OF
CBT and the official
CBT Newsletter
present:
Hallo!
Klaus Scherwinski hier, Illustrator für Classic Battletech (CBT) für
Fanpro Games und viele andere Rollenspiele, Bücher und Comics.
Die leute vom Classic Battltech Newsletter haben mich
gebeten einen kleinen Führer zusammens zu stellen wie man an
so ein Cover herangeht, hier am Beispiel vom BRUSHWaRS Quel-
lenbuch von CBT. Im Folgenden zeige ich also einige Schritte von
der ersten Skizze (unten links auf dieser Seite) bis zum fertigen
Produkt (unten rechts auf dieser Seite).
aus Platzgründen kann diese Einführung nicht all-umfas-
send sein, auch weil ich an dieser Stelle keinen Zeichenkurs ge-
ben kann der anfängern genau sagt wie alles funktioniert. In der
Produktion sind tausende kleiner künstlerischer Entscheidungen
zu treffen, manche bewusst, manche unbewusst. Ich versuche
heute ein paar ausschnitte aus der Produktion zu zeigen die für
alle Fans von CBT interessant sein können, auch jene welche
noch nie eine Zeichenstift zur Hand genommen haben.
Ein paar Infos vorweg: Ich arbeite mit Bleistift (Druck-
bleistift 0,5mm 2H) auf Papier (80g für Skizzen, 300g für Rein-
zeichnungen/Pencils) und adobe Photoshop CS2 unter Benutzung
eines Wacom Intuos Dina4 digitalen Graphic-tabletts. links
auf dem Foto sieht man mich über meinem leuchttisch zum
sauberen Durchzeichnen und Überarbeiten der Skizzen bis zur
Reinzeichnung. Der leuchttisch besteht aus einer Stableuchte
(ca. 7,- Euro) und einer schräg darüberliegenden 50x50cm Plexi-
glasplatte (ca. 5,- Euro), die gammelige Konstruktion ist 5 Jahre
alt und der Beweis dass Funktion und Qualität nicht immer durch
teure Tools erzielt wird. also, los geht’s.
Viel Spaß!
DIE ERSTE SKIZZE:
So geht‘s immer los. Noch
bevor ich wusste, welche
Einheiten überhaupt auf
dem Cover zum Zuge
kommen, versuche ich die
atmosphäre und grobe
Komposition des Bildes in
meinem Kopf einzufangen.
Deshalb noch die „falsche“
Farbe des Mechs.
>>
Foto: Klaus Scherwinski
www.classicbattletech.com www.battletech-newsletter.de www.klausscherwinski.de
9
2. SKIZZE.
Mit der Info, welcher Mech zu verwenden ist (hier ein
Haus Marik awesome), kann ich schon wichtige Ent-
scheidungen für die Komposition treffen. auch ist das
Posing der beiden Soldaten ist (hier) schon ausgearbei-
tet. Hierbei geht es darum, grob die Proportionen und
Volumina einzelner Bildgegenstände darzustellen und
sich Gedanken um das Design zu machen. Gewehr und
Raketenwerfer sind noch als einfache Quaderformen
zusammengefasst. Da diese Illustration eh nicht final ist,
hat es auch keinen Sinn, mehr in diese Illustration rein
zu zeichnen.
3. SKIZZE.
Die Positionierung passt genau. Keine linien die sich
unglücklich berühren und auch der leicht eingeschnei-
te Park ist schlüssiger gestaltet. Die im Vordergrund
umgefallene Büste oder besser gesagt der Sockel
entspricht jetzt der Säule im Hintergrund. Ein wieder-
kehrendes Gestaltungselement das ich in den Finalen
Pencils (Bleistiftzeichnung im Hintergrund) noch mal
in der schalenförmigen Bepflanzungsanlage im nahen
Vordergrund verwendete oder auch als Halterung der
Beschreibungsplatte am Fuß des Baumes vorne rechts.
Wir sind immerhin in etwas, das früher ein Park war wo
Menschen flanierten und Bürger etwas über die Flora der
Welt erfahren sollten. Design muss stimmig sein damit es
überzeugend wirkt, ansonsten verschenke ich atmosphä-
re und Qualität des Eindruckes, den das Cover machen
kann.
PENCIlS
.classicbattletech.com www.battletech-newsletter.de www.klausscherwinski.de ww
10
DESIGN.
Die verteidigenden Fußtruppen und ihre Uniformen sollten
in das Schema der andurien- und oriente-Infantrie passen.
Durch den Poncho, den sie im Einsatz tragen, nahm ich
mir die Chance, das eigentlich von mir designte outfit zu
zeigen. Fein, dass ich das hier nachholen kann.
Waffen.
Ich wollte den Fußtruppen wenigstens die Chance
geben, einen Mech im Nahkampf anzukratzen, deshalb
erhielten sie einen eine art Raketenwerfer (vielleicht
auch eine Partikelwaffe, ich überlasse dies der Phan-
tasie des Betachters). Die Beinschützer sind inspiriert von
der Schutzkleidung deutscher Polizisten bei Fußballspie-
len oder Demonstrationen. Interessant ist vielleicht auch
das andurien-logo auf der Gürtelschnalle.
.classicbattletech.com www.battletech-newsletter.de www.klausscherwinski.de ww
11
FlaTS (IM CoMPUTER/PHoToSHoP).
So nennt man im Fachjargon die simplen Farbflächen, die benutzt
werden, um Bildgegenstände grob von einander abzutrennnen. Die-
se werden teilweise als auswahlen gespeichert, um später schnel-
ler bestimmte Bereiche in Photoshop manipulieren zu können.
ES GEHT loS.
Wenn man anfängt zu malen, ist das oft
sehr intuitiv, ich male das, wovon ich
bereits eine genaue Vorstellung habe, wie
es aussehen wird. „Wie“ genau das vor sich
geht, kann ich hier leider nicht zeigen.
DER ENDSPURT.
oft nimmt ein Bild erst im letzten Moment
die Gestalt an, die man eigentlich haben
wollte. Das Hinzufügen des Schneege-
stöbers war hier ein wichtiger Punkt für
die atmosphäre des Bildes. Vom aufbau
her hat das Bild am Ende noch eine
entscheidende Korrektur erhalten. Der
schiefe Blickwinkel (rote Horizontlinie)
ist zwischen der Initalskizze mit dem
grünen Platzhalter-Mech und der Blei-
stiftskizze 2 verloren gegangen! In der
Work-in-progress Version links sieht man
auch, wie ich die leichte Schneedecke und
Puderung auf allen Bildgegenständen erst
am Ende hinzugefügt habe. Der Mech im
Hintergrund war ganz am anfang auch
ein awesome und wurde bei den Pencils
dann durch einen Hermes II ersetzt; dies
geschah auf anraten von Randall Bills,
der sehr richtig meinte, man sollte doch
die große Bandbreite, die das Battletech
Universum anbietet, ausnutzen. Diese
enge Zusammenarbeit mit dem BT Krea-
tiv-Team sichert, dass das Endergebnis
nicht nur visuell, sondern auch inhaltlich
funktioniert.
ssicbattletech.com www.battletech-newsletter.de www.klausscherwinski.de www.cl
12
DaS FINalE.
Eine letzte Kontrolle sichert, dass alle Details sitzen.
Von den Stingray-Flugzeugen in der luft, bis zu dem
extra andurienlogo auf der kleinen Steinsäule links
oder die Fußspuren im dünnen Schnee. Mit soviel Details
macht mir die arbeit Spaß, Ich hoffe, ich konnte etwas da-
von an die Fans von Classic Battletech weitergeben. KS
ssicbattletech.com www.battletech-newsletter.de www.klausscherwinski.de www.cl
13
Lucas Cunningham
Im Schatten des Krieges
Teil II
Landungsschiff General Jeffrey Marik
Im Anflug auf San Martin
Die Sprungschiffe der Flottille, welche die Söldnertruppe Freicorps Garibaldi transportierte, war kaum
im San Martin System angekommen, da hatten die Landungsschiffe abgedockt und in Richtung des
einzigen bewohnbaren Planeten beschleunigt. An Bord des Flaggschiffes, einem Mechtransporter der
Overlord-Klasse, stand Colonel Alessandro Garibaldi auf der beengten Brücke.
Neben ihm stand ein Offizier der Flotte der Liga Freier Welten, der Captain der General Jeffrey Marik.
“Vier Tage, vier lange Tage, die unsere Feinde Zeit haben sich vorzubereiten.” Garibaldi fuhr sich über
das glatt rasierte Gesicht. “Ich hasse diese Warterei. Schon seit meinen ersten Tagen als junger
Leftenant.”
Der Captain seufzte: “Immer die selbe Leier, die man von Euch Mechkriegern zu hören bekommt.
Wenn es nach Euch gehen würde, würden die Sprungschiffe nur noch von Piratensprungpunkt zu
Piratensprungpunkt unterwegs sein.”
Der Söldnercolonel nickte: “Ja, das wäre mir bei Angriffsmissionen tatsächlich lieber. Es macht für den
Verteidiger halt schon einen großen Unterschied, ob er sich vier oder einen Tag vorbereiten kann.”
“Das mag wohl sein Colonel, aber ich möchte gar nicht wissen, wie viele Überraschungsangriffe nicht
statt gefunden haben, weil die Sprungschiffe den Eintritt in den Normalraum nicht geschafft haben,
weil die Berechnungen für den Piratensprungpunkt nicht korrekt waren.”
Garibaldi nickte: “Da haben Sie wohl recht Captain. Wenn Ihr Signaloffizier mir die bald eingehenden
Statusmeldungen meiner Einheit, sowie die Nachrichten meiner Voraustruppe auf das Terminal in
meiner Kabine überspielen würde, sobald diese eintreffen.”
“Selbstverständlich Colonel.”
Es folgten vier anstrengende Tage. Vor allem die technische Abteilung des Regimentes war gut
beschäftigt. Die auf dem Flug zum Sprungpunkt von New Queens getroffenen Vorbereitungen für den
Kampfabwurf der Mechs wurden jetzt nochmals überprüft und wenn nötig korrigiert. Dazu kam noch
ein letztmaliger System- und Waffencheck der Kampfmaschinen. Dabei wurden die Techniker nach
Kräften durch die Mechkrieger unterstützt, welche sich damit hauptsächlich die Wartezeit verkürzen
wollten.
Hinzu kamen die Einsatzbesprechungen auf den einzelnen Schiffen.
Während bei vielen Soldaten wie Offizieren, erfahrenen wie unerfahrenen, die Spannung anstieg und
Nervosität aufkam, trat bei Felix Steuben das ein, was im zweiten Bataillon der Steuben-Effekt
genannt wurde. Der Major wurde um einiges umgänglicher und ihn umgab eine Aura gelassener
Ruhe. Selbst Captain Steele bekam in der Zeit den Einblick, warum seine Truppe geschlossen hinter
dem Bataillonschef stand und keiner der Captains, die unter Steuben dienten, ihn nicht schon vor
Jahren zum Positionstest herausgefordert hatten. In ihrer Kompanie ging der Witz um, man müsse
jemanden anheuern, der regelmäßig auf Steuben schießt, damit er auch zwischen den
Kampfhandlungen so pflegeleicht wäre.
Vor einigen Jahren hätte die Clanerin keinem Soldaten unter ihrem Kommando erlaubt, so über einen
Vorgesetzten zu sprechen. Doch die Zeit beim Freicorps und vor allem unter dem Kommando von
Felix Steuben hatte sie verändert. Und eigentlich fand sie, war das im Grunde eine sehr gute Idee.
Der Major wäre so stets kooperativ und auch immer im Training.
Diese geschäftige Monotonie wurde nur drei Mal für Einsatzbesprechungen unterbrochen, als die
14
Vorauscrew neue Einsatzdaten und nachrichtendienstliche Erkenntnisse übermittelte.
Landungsschiff Hamilton
Im Orbit von San Martin
“Alle Mann fertig zum Gefechtsabwurf! Alle Mann auf Stationen!”, bellte es aus den Lautsprechern, als
die meisten Mechkrieger des zweiten Bataillons schon in ihren Maschinen saßen.
“Hustler sechs an alle Hustler-Führer: Kommunikationscheck.” Steuben überprüfte gerade noch
einmal seine Sicherungsgurte.
“Hustler eins-sechs, Kommunikation klar.” Steels Stimme war ganz geschäftsmäßig.
“Zwo-sechs, alles im grünen bereich.”
Als letzter meldete sich der Kompanieführer Foxtrott: “Hustler drei-sechs, klar.”
“Alle Hustlereinheiten fertig.”, bestätigte George McKenzie, sein XO, die Meldungen und gab Steuben
zu verstehen, dass seine Befehlslanze ebenfalls bereit war.
“Tja, dann Herschaften, in fünfzehn Minuten ist es soweit.”
Eine klägliche viertel Stunde verwandelte sich in eine Ewigkeit, zog sich wie ein Kaugummi in die
Länge. Steuben atmete tief durch. Das erste und dritte Bataillon würden fünf Minuten vor Steubens
zweitem mit dem Absetzen beginnen. Und wie der Major würde Colonel Garibaldi als erster über Bord
gehen. Eine Tradition des Freicorps: Der Kommandant springt zuerst.
Der Lautsprecher im Cockpit des Mechs, von dem aus der Major sein Bataillon befehligte, erwachte
zum Leben: “Die General Marik beginnt mit dem Gefechtsabwurf.”
Steuben quittierte die Meldung des Captains der Hamilton mit einem Grunzen.
Wieder breitete sich Stille aus, bis der Countdown begann.
Dann wurde der achtzig Tonnen schwere Angriffsmech wie eine Kanonenkugel aus dem
Landungsschiff geschleudert.
Der Gefechtsabwurf ist eines der gefährlichsten Manöver, das man mit Battlemechs ausführen kann.
Dafür werden die Mechs in einen Kokon eingepackt und in der oberen Atmosphäre abgeworfen. In
Höhe von dreißigtausend Metern wird der Kokon dann abgesprengt. Daraufhin lässt man den Mech
einfach fallen, bis man zwischen fünf- und zehntausend Metern den Fallschirm öffnet. Diesen wirft
man auf dreihundert Meter ab und zündet die Sprungdüsen oder wenn der Mech über keine verfügt
einen speziell für den Gefechtsabwurf entwickelten Einwegtornister.
Federnd
landete
Steuben
seine
achtzig
Tonnen
schwere
Kriegsmaschine.
Über
hundert
Übungssprünge, davon die meisten simuliert und siebzehn reale Gefechtsabwürfe ließen die
Handlungen fast wie Routine ablaufen. Aufprall, anders konnte man die Landung eines Battlemechs
nicht nennen, auch wenn diese so sanft wie bei einem Vogel von statten ging, drei Schritte gehen,
Sprungtornister abwerfen und sich dann etwa fünfhundert Meter von der Landezone entfernen. Nach
Möglichkeit in ein Gebüsch parken.
Daraufhin folgt die Koordination der eigenen Truppe.
Schritt eins: Erfassung der eigenen Position. Der Major fand sich selbst relativ nahe am Landezentrum
wieder. Auf seinen Anzeigen spiegelte sich ein zufriedenes Zähne fletschen. Schritt zwei: Anpeilung
der eigenen Truppen. Das zweite Bataillon war über knapp drei Quadratkilometer verstreut. Ein paar
Angehörige der Foxtrott Kompanie hatte es etwas weit nach Süden abgetrieben, das stellte aber kein
grundlegendes Problem dar, weil Foxtrott die Reserve bildete.
Steuben öffnete den Bataillonskanal: “Hustler sechs an alle Hustler-Führer: Status!”
“Hustler Eins-sechs, alle Einheiten klar.”, meldete Steele in rekordverdächtiger Zeit.
“Hustler Drei-sechs, ebenfalls klar, zwei Mann nasse Füße.” Foxtrott meldete seine Leute, die
außerhalb der LZ runter gekommen waren, jedoch alle Einheiten unbeschädigt.
“Hustler Zwo-sechs, Hustler Zwo-zwo-drei hat schwere Schäden an den Sprungdüsen, ansonsten alles
klar.”
Der Bataillonsführer biss die Zähne zusammen: “Hustler Zwo-zwo-drei, noch operationsfähig?”
15
“Roger sechs, ist noch einsatzbereit.”
“In Ordnung, alle Hustler-Einheiten, Formation bilden, in zwei Minuten rücken wir aus.” Steuben
wechselte auf den Regimentskanal und meldete Colonel Garibaldi den Status seines Bataillons.
Der Kommandeur bestätigte knapp. Keine Befehle, keine Kommentare. Garibladi mischte sich nicht in
die Führung der einzelnen Bataillone ein, solange alles nach Plan verlief. Die Meldung war reiner
einstudierter Kommunikationsfluss, so dass der Colonel wusste, wie es um die Mission stand. Reine
Routine, Steuben grinste, das Regiment funktionierte wie eine gut geölte Maschine. Kurz nachdem
sich die Truppe in ihre geplante Dreiecksformation begeben hatte, rückte es aus. Das Dreieck mit drei
von einander getrennt marschierenden Schenkeln gab der vierzig Mech starken Truppe die nötige
Flexibilität.
Schnell konnte eine Rundum-definitiv-Stellung bezogen werden. In der Vorwärtsbewegung konnten
die einzelnen Kompanien schnell genug manövrieren, dass innerhalb von hundertsiebzig Grad in
weniger als einer Minute eine Gefechtslinie aus sechsunddreißig bis vierzig Maschinen entstehen
konnte. Je nachdem in welche Richtung wurde Delta, Echo oder Foxtrott zum Zentrum.
Im Marsch waren die beiden vorderen Kompanien auf gleicher Höhe und etwa dreihundertfünfzig
Meter von einander getrennt. Auf diesen dreihundertfünfzig Metern stand die Befehlslanze hundert
Meter nach hinten versetzt und exakt hinter der Befehlslanze weitere hundert Meter versetzt die dritte
Kompanie.
Eine Schwachstelle war der rückwärtige Raum. Sollte die Formation von hinten angegriffen werden,
war eine Linienbildung erschwert. In diesem Fall würden die beiden führenden Kompanien drehen,
während die folgenden Truppen so lange bei Höchstgeschwindigkeit weiter marschieren, bis sie
aufgeschlossen hätte und dann ebenfalls wenden.
“Hustler sechs, hier Hustler Eins-drei-sechs, noch zwanzig Klicks bis zum Zielgebiet. Over.”
New Montenegro
San Martin
Der Beginn des Gefechtsabwurfs war für die SOG des Freicorps das Zeichen zum Angriff. Die
Söldnertruppen, die San Martin im Namen der Konzerne verteidigten, hatten schon kurz nach der
Ankunft des Freicorps im System mit den Verteidigungsvorbereitungen begonnen. Doch kaum ein
Schritt
war
unbeobachtet
geblieben.
Artemis
Costas,
der
sich
bei
der
größten
der
Verteidigungstruppen
eingeschleust
hatte,
hatte
vom
ersten
Tag
seiner
Dienstzeit
mit
Sabotagevorbereitungen begonnen. Als Colonel Garibaldi und die restlichen Truppen absprangen,
explodierten auf dem Raumhafen, der gleichzeitig als Hauptquartier der Verteidiger diente, mehrere
Kommunikationsknotenpunkte. Kurz davor hatte Costas sich der Uniform von Harbin’s Ranger
entledigt und seine eigentliche angezogen.
Während zwei der Scharfschützen des Vorauskommandos allem und jedem das Leben vermiesten, die
sich auf dem Kasernengelände der Rangers zeigten, führte Costas ein drei Mann Team zum Tower des
Raumhafens.
Wie bei vielen Anlagen, die vor dem ersten Nachfolgekrieg erbaut worden waren, war der Tower des
Clearwater-Raumhafens ein Bunker und kein in der Landschaft stehender, leicht zu bombardierender
Turm. Gerrit Schweizer hielt eine Handgranate hoch und deutete auf die noch immer offen stehende
Tür zum Kontrollraum. Costas schüttelte den Kopf: “Möglichst wenig Schäden. Dies ist wie gesagt die
Ausweichzentrale für die Rangers. Wenn wir ihn übernehmen und uns verschanzen, wird uns Colonel
Harbin mit Sicherheit in die Hände laufen.”
Der jüngere Sergeant nickte und entsicherte seine Rorynex Maschinenpistole.
Ein kurzer Blickwechsel zwischen den beiden und dem dritten Mitglied des Angriffsteams und
Schweizer stürzte durch die Tür. Noch bevor Costas durch die Tür gesprungen war, bellte Schweizers
MP auf. Der dritte Söldner streckte mit einem präzisen Feuerstoß den letzten Sicherheitsposten im
Tower nieder. Die Techniker hatten sich hingeworfen und kapitulierten. Schnell wurden die
Gefangenen und die Toten durchsucht und in das kleine Büro des Schichtleiters gesperrt, nachdem
16
man dort sämtliche Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten über den Jordan gehen ließ. Nachdem Costas noch
eine Sprengfalle installiert hatte gingen die drei Special-Forces-Soldaten in Deckung.
Lange brauchten sie nicht zu warten. Amanda Harbin und ihr Stab hatten kurz nach dem
Zusammenbruch der Kommunikation einen unterirdischen Gang betreten, der sie von ihrer
Gefechtsleitzentrale zum Tower brachte. Als oben auf dem Landefeld das Gefecht Mech gegen Mech
begann, betrat Harbin den Tower. Die altgediente Söldnerin blieb stehen, als würde ein sechster Sinn
sie vor der Gefahr warnen.
“Falle!”, brüllte sie in dem Moment, in dem Costas mit seiner Selbstladeschrotflinte aus der Deckung
hochkam.
Der Donnerhall von Costas Waffe ließ die Monitore des Towers erzittern. Die beiden Schrotladungen
verwandelten Harbins’ Oberkörper und Gesicht in eine undefinierbare, blutige Fleischmasse. Die
Halsschlagader pumpte noch fast einen Liter Blut in die Luft, ehe die Leiche der Schwerkraft den
nötigen Respekt zollte.
Der Stab der Rangers reagierte, wie es Veteranen zustand und ging Waffen ziehend zu beiden Seiten
der Tür in Stellung. Gerrit Schweizer zündete die Sprengfalle. Die Rangers, welche den
Schrapnellregen überlebten, fielen gezielten Feuerstößen der Freicorpsler zum Opfer.
Die Rangers zogen sich kämpfend vom Raumhafen zurück. Sie standen der Big Red One unter
Oberstleutnant Katarina von Schaar gegenüber. Die, wenn auch umstrittene, Elite des Freicops. Hoch
motiviert, bestens gedrillt und aggressiv geführt hatte das erste Bataillon gegen die, nach Harbins
Ausfall, unkoordinierten Rangers keine Schwierigkeiten, schnelle Erfolge zu erzielen. Hinter dem
Schirm aus Mech koordinierte Colonel Garibaldi die gesamte Aktion vom Cockpit seines Battlemasters
aus. Seine Priorität lag bei der Landung der nichtabwurffähigen Panzer und der Infanterie. Von den
drei Kompanien Rangers, die zu Beginn auf dem Raumhafen kämpften, entkamen nur neun Mechs
und das auch nur, weil Major Steven McCool vom dritten Mechbataillon des Freicorps sich nicht
ernsthaft auf einen brutal geführten Stadtkampf einlassen wollte.
“Gambler sechs für Duce sechs, wir haben den Feindkontakt verloren. Acht bis elf überlebende
konnten sich in die Stadt absetzen.” Meldete McCool niedergeschlagen. Das Gefecht zwischen den
beiden Mechtruppen hatte keine zehn Minuten in Anspruch genommen.
“In Ordnung Gambler”, erwiderte Garibaldi. Der Colonel schaffte es spielend seinen Frust im Zaum zu
halten. Er hatte McCool extra diesen Teil der Mission übertragen, weil er wusste, dass dieser in Bezug
auf Städte etwas zimperlich war. Eine seiner größten Stärken war es, seine Untergebenen dort
einzusetzen wo sie die besten Ergebnisse brachten. McCool wollte geführt werden und würde nicht
ohne weiteres in die Stadt einrücken. Steuben oder von Schaar hätten die letzten Rangers zur Strecke
gebracht, aber dabei weniger Rücksicht auf die Stadt genommen.
“Rücken Sie langsam vor, Gambler, und versuchen Sie sich mit Hustler zu vereinigen, der Palast
dürfte recht energisch verteidigt werden. Das war gute Arbeit, Gambler.”
“Danke, Duce, Gambler rückt vor.”
Steuben traute seinen Augen kaum. Das zweite Bataillon war durch eine steinige Wüstenlandschaft
marschiert und New Montenegro erschien wie eine Fatamorgana. Einer Oase gleich von einem
Palmenwald umgeben.
“Hustler sechs, hier Hustler eins-sechs, meine Scouts zeichnen sechzig Signale plus. Hauptsächlich
Panzer und viel Infanterie, keine Mechs.” Einen Augenblick wartete Steele, das der Major nach einer
Bestätigung fragen würde, doch es kam nur eine knappe Bestätigung. Wo waren die ständigen
Erinnerungen an seinen Zweifeln zu ihr hin?
“Hustler sechs für Hustler drei, aufschließen. Alle Hustlereinheiten, Angriffsformation bilden.” Steuben
bewegte seinen eigenen Kampfkoloss in die erste Reihe. “Hustler sechs für Duce sechs, wir haben die
Stadt und den Palast erreicht. Panzer und Infanterie haben sich in großer Zahl eingebunkert.”
“Verstanden, Hustler sechs, Gambler ist auf dem Weg zu Ihnen, ETA fünfundvierzig Minuten.”
“Das ist zu lang, Duce sechs, in der Zeit könnten die ihre Verteidigungsmaßnahmen ausbauen oder
Verstärkungen heranführen. Ich werde angreifen.”
17
“Einen Augenblick mein Junge”, Garibaldi war zwar nicht viel älter als Steuben, gab sich aber sehr
gelassen und ließ derartige Betitelungen einfließen um seine Offiziere sanft zur Geduld oder Ordnung
zu mahnen, “wie ist die Lageeinschätzung?”
“Die Marties sind uns definitiv an Zahl überlegen, das Gelände ist ebenfalls eher zu ihren Gunsten,
wenn unsere Geier oder die Artillerie in der Lage währen, uns zu unterstützen, würde ich mich nicht
beklagen, Duce.”
“Einen Augenblick Hustler sechs.”
Steuben saugte an seiner Unterlippe und sah sich noch mal die feindliche Positionierung auf dem
Sekundärbildschirm an. Trotz der noch angenehmen Cockpittemperatur bekam er eine Gänsehaut. Er
zitterte wie ein nervöses Rennpferd kurz vor dem Startsignal.
Der Lautsprecher seines Neurohelms knackte: “Hustler sechs hier Hitman sechs, wir haben unsere
Geschütze eben in Stellung gebracht. Duce meinte Sie könnten etwas Wumms gebrauchen.”
Der Major atmete tief durch, Gänsehaut und Zittern waren sofort verschwunden: “Roger Hitman
sechs, ich lasse Ihnen gleich die Zieldaten übermitteln.”
Captain Darius König marschierte seine im Halbkreis aufgestellte Batterie ab. Die unterschiedlichen
Geschütze und Raketenwerfer waren um einen Kern aus vier Long-Tom-Artillerielafetten gebildet
worden. König selbst befehligte die Kompanie von seinem zum Raketenartilleriepanzer umgebauten
Behemoth aus.
“Sir, Zielkoordinaten sind eingegangen.” Rief sein Funker über die wartenden Geschützrohre hinweg.
Ein kurzer Sprint brachte den Captain zu seinem liebevoll Alexander genannten hundert Tonnen
Gefährt. Er nahm auf dem Kommandantenstuhl platz und setzte sich die Kopfhörer übers Barett
hinweg auf.
“Hitman sechs für alle Hitmaneinheiten: Richtschießen! Ausrichtung Oscar zwo-null-neun! Entfernung
einhundertzwanzig, Winkel fünfundsechzig. Feuer frei!”
Die zehn Artilleriefahrzeuge gaben je einen Schuss ab.
Hundertzwanzig Kilometer Östlich der Artilleriestellung auf dem Raumhafen stand Corporal Dwyne
Jenkins in seiner Valkyrie als Vorausbeobachter von Steubens Bataillon den Artillerieeinschlägen am
nächsten.
“Hier Hustler eins-drei-zwo für Hitman sechs, Sie sind etwa zehn Meter zu kurz. Mit weiteren zehn
Metern erwischen Sie die erste Verteidigungslinie. Hustler sechs bittet um eine wandernde
Granatenwand. Over.”
“Bestätigt Hustler eins-drei-zwo.” König wechselte wieder auf seinen Kompaniekanal. “Hitman sechs
an alle Hitmaneinheiten: Wirkungsschießen. Beschießungsmuster Bravo. Ausrichtung Oscar zwo-null-
neun! Entfernung einhundertdreißig. Winkel achtundsechzig. Zwei Grad ansteigend. Vier Schuss pro
Werfer und Geschütz! Feuer frei!”
Steuben wartete den ersten Artillerieschlag nach dem Richtschießen ab. “New Capetown Ulanen: Zum
Angriff!”
Unter dem Schutz der Artillerie gelang es den Ulanen auf eine für sie effektive Angriffsdistanz
vorzurücken, ohne dass einer der Verteidiger auf sie schoss. Erst als das zweite Bataillon aus allen
Rohren das Feuer eröffnete, schienen die Panzerbesatzungen der Garde des Marquis sich der
wirklichen Bedrohung bewusst zu werden und eröffneten ihrerseits konzentriert das Feuer. Da nach
Napoleons Leitsatz nur Blitze mächtiger sind als Kanonen hat die Artillerie nicht nur die Linien der
Verteidiger ausgedünnt, sondern denen auch einen Gutteil ihrer Moral genommen und diese
geradewegs auf die angreifende Streitmacht übertragen. Und auch hier hatte Napoleon eine
interessante Theorie: Moral zu Mannschaftsstärke gibt einen Faktor von 3 zu 1.
Die Bahnen von PPKs, Laser, Autokanonen und Raketen kreuzten sich in wildem Stakkato. Schnell
fingen die Palmen und Büsche, die den Verteidigern eben noch als Deckung und Versteck gedient
hatten, Feuer und brannten lichterloh. Steuben führte das Bataillon in der Mitte der Formation. Er zog
das Fadenkreuz über einen gegnerischen Patton, einen sechzig Tonnen schweren Kampfpanzer
18
lyranischer Fabrikation. Als das Fadenkreuz golden aufleuchtete drückte er den Feuerknopf durch. Die
volle Breitseite riss dem Panzer die Flanke auf. Der Gardepanzer erwiderte das Feuer mit seiner
Kaliber 10 Autokanone und LSR. Ein weiterer Panzer der Garde schloss sich dem Angriff auf Steubens
Zeus an. George McKenzie, Steubens Stellvertreter, kam seinem Kommandeur zur Hilfe und feuerte
Raketen und Autokanone auf den Patton.
In einer donnernden Explosion wurde der Turm des Panzers abgerissen.
Die beiden Söldner wandten sich wie ein Mann der nächsten Bedrohung zu.
“Vorwärts Herrschaften, drauf und dran!” Brüllte Steuben ins Mikrophon und feuerte eine weitere
Breitseite auf den nächstbesten Feindpanzer ab. Innerhalb von Sekunden kletterte die Hitzeskala in
den gelben Bereich. Die zehn doppelten Wärmetauscher reichten nicht aus, um die Masse an Waffen,
die der modifizierte Sturmmech trug, auszugleichen. Das sich auf dem Rasen und dem Palmenhain
weiter ausbreitende Feuer war zwar für die angreifenden Battlemechs des Freicorps nicht ideal, aber
für die Gardeinfanterie geradezu verheerend. Die meisten Gardisten welche die ersten Minuten des
Kampfes überlebten, warfen ihre Waffen weg und flüchteten. Ebenfalls durch das Feuer in Bedrängnis
und durch den Verlust der Infanterie weiter geschwächt zogen sich die Panzer in Richtung Haupthaus
und Stallungen zurück.
“Linie konsolidieren und geschlossen nachsetzen!” Befahl Steuben und feuerte seine Raketen auf
einen hinterherhinkenden, qualmenden Manticore. Der Panzer fuhr weiter rückwärts und rammte eine
Steinmauer, blieb in ihr stecken und rührte sich dann nicht mehr. Das Bataillon marschierte weiter
gegen das Hauptgebäude des Palastes vor.
“Ich empfange weitere Signale”, brüllte einer von Steubens Offiziere über die Komleitung.
Hinter den Stallungen zündeten mehrere Gardemechs ihre Sprungdüsen. Die Panzer hatten ebenfalls
wieder in den Vorwärtsgang geschaltet und gingen zum Gegenangriff über.
“Hustler sechs an alle: Gefechtslinie bilden und Stellung halten!” Links neben ihm bezog Steeles’
Pennetrator Position und eröffnete das Feuer auf einen feindlichen Hatchetman. Dieser eine Axt
tragende mittelschwere Mech überlebte den Sprung nicht, als weitere Angehörige der Ulanen das
Feuer auf ihn konzentrierten. Der Pilot hingegen zog es vor, nicht mit seiner Maschine in den Tod zu
gehen und zündete den Schleudersitz. Der gesamte Mechkopf erhob sich in den Himmel.
“Hustler sechs, hier Hustler zwo-sechs, das sind etwa zwei Kompanien, mit den dreißig Panzern, das
könnte für uns zu hart werden.”
“Linie halten!” Gab Captain McKenzie für den Bataillonsführer zurück.
Dieser feuerte seine beiden schweren Laser auf einen altersschwachen Shadowhawk ab und schaltete
auf die Regimentsfrequenz um: “Hustler sechs an Howler sechs, wir könnten jetzt etwas
Unterstützung gebrauchen.”
Prompt kam die entspannte Antwort: “Roger Hustler, wir sind gleich bei Ihnen.”
Die aus zwölf Luft-/Raumjägern bestehende Luftwaffe des Freicorps fiel förmlich aus dem Himmel und
ließ Tod und Vernichtung auf die San Martinesische Garde herunterregnen.
Stallungen und Wirtschaftsgebäude gingen in Flammen auf. Wie durch ein Wunder jedoch wurde das
eigentliche Palastgebäude nicht getroffen.
“Hustler sechs, hier Howler sechs, wir machen noch einen Überflug mit Bordwaffen!”
“Dann aber schnell Howler, in dreißig Sekunden sind wir im Infight.”
Erneut teilten die Jäger des Freicorps Zerstörung aus. Der einzige Luftabwehrmech der Garde, ein
altersschwacher Rifleman, war schon dem ersten Angriff der Jäger zum Opfer gefallen.
“Vorwärts Männer! Sturmangriff!” Steuben setzte seinen Zeus in Bewegung.
Nur Sekunden später folgten ihm seine Soldaten. Die erneut demoralisierten Gardisten versuchten
zuerst sich kämpfend und geordnet zurückzuziehen, doch schon bald verwandelte sich das
Rückzugsmanöver in eine unkoordinierte Flucht.
Die Ulanen jagten die Garde noch bis zur Palastgrenze.
“Alles HALT!” Brüllte Steuben.
“Aber wir haben sie”, erwiderte Steele.
“HALT! Zwo-sechs: Verteidigungsring erstellen. Eins-sechs und drei-sechs: Sie setzen den Gardisten
19
nach, lassen Sie sie nicht zur Ruhe kommen oder sich neu organisieren, erzwingen Sie aber keine
Entscheidung.”
“Ja Sir.”
“Aye Sir!”
“Hustler zwo-sechs, umstellen Sie den Palast und sehen Sie zu, dass keiner das Gebäude verlässt.”
“Roger, Hustler sechs.”
“Hustler sechs-eins”, sprach der Major seinen Stellvertreter an, “Setzen Sie sich mit Gambler in
Verbindung, und koordinieren Sie mit ihm das Abfangmanöver auf die Flüchtenden.”
“Zu Befehl, Sir.”, kamen die Antworten und Steuben brachte seinen Mech noch mal in Position um
den fliehenden Gardisten noch eine Salve hinterher zu schicken.
Diese war sogar von Erfolg gekrönt und ein feindlicher Stinger fiel einbeinig zu Boden.
“Hustler sechs für Duce sechs, zwei meiner Kompanien verfolgen die flüchtenden Martis, ich glaube
Gambler könnte sie abfangen.”
“Ich werde dafür sorgen, dass Gambler die Martis abfängt.”, antwortete Garibaldi. “Wie ist der Status
des Palastes?”
“Den habe ich umstellen lassen. Wir könnten jetzt etwas Infanterie gebrauchen. Ich möchte nicht
unbedingt meine Mechkrieger in den Häuserkampf schicken.”
“Auch da sehe ich was ich tun kann, Hustler, kann Ihnen da aber nichts versprechen, Duce sechs
over.”
Steuben lehnte sich in seiner Pilotenliege zurück und grinste glücklich. Hoffentlich versaut es McCool
nicht.
New Montenegro
San Martin
Alessandro Garibaldi betrat das Privatbüro des Marquis von New Montenegro. Ihm folgten Christian
von Schaar, sein Stabschef und Major Roy O’Mally der Chef der Infanterie.Die bereits anwesenden
Offiziere des Freicorps drehten sich zu ihrem Kommandeur um.
“So Herrschaften, dann berichten Sie doch mal.”
Der Colonel legte die Hände auf den Rücken und blickte in die Runde. Steuben, der sich gemütlich auf
dem Ledersessel hinter dem Schreibtisch flegelte, hob die Hand: “Wir konnten den Marquis
festsetzen, als er sich aus dem Staub machen wollte. Er befindet sich derzeit unter Stubenarrest in
seinen Gemächern.”
Garibaldi nickte: “Ausgezeichnet. Wir haben auch den Stellvertreter der Rangers festgesetzt, er
befindet sich schon in Gewahrsam des Nachrichtendienstes zur Befragung. Laut eines weiteren
Berichtes unserer SOG wurde Colonel Harbin im zweiten Kommandobunker erschossen. Was wissen
wir über den Kommandeur der Garde?”
“Dessen Verbleib ist bisher ungeklärt.”, antwortete Steven McCool. “Es sind einzelne Gardemechs
entkommen und die vielen Wracks konnten noch nicht durchsucht werden.”
“In Ordnung Ladies und Gentleman wollen wir uns doch mal mit dem Marquis unterhalten. Tja, wenn
Sie ihn dann bitte herholen wollen, Roy.”
“Aye Sir.”
O’Malley und zwei seiner Infanteristen führten einen schlaksigen Mann mittleren Alters in das
Büro.Marquis Ricardo Yu hatte das Haupt stolz erhoben und blieb vor Garibaldi stehen: “Colonel.”
Der Kommandant des Freicorps nickte höflich: “Mylord, ich bin Alessandro Garibaldi, Kommandeur
des Freicorps Garibaldi, ich erkläre San Martin im Namen seiner Exzellenz Marquis Ramon Yu für
erobert.”
“Das habe ich mir schon fast gedacht. Aber was passiert mit mir? Ich meine, Ihr Major mag ja ein
Kretin sein,” er deutete auf Steuben, der seine klobigen Militärstiefel auf den edlen, handgefertigten
Schreibtisch gelegt hatte, “aber er ist so schrecklich unbestechlich.”
Ein Grinsen antwortete ihm: “Tja, ich habe hinsichtlich Ihrer Person keine Anweisungen.”
20
“Bestünde die Möglichkeit eines … ah … Lösegeldes für meine Person.” Yu legte die rechte Hand ans
Kinn. “Ich meine, so ist es doch unter Söldnern üblich. Und ich persönlich möchte meinen Cousin
nicht so gerne gegenübertreten, wenn Sie verstehen, was ich meine.”
Der Söldnerkommandant nickte: “Natürlich, nur haben Sie überhaupt noch die Mittel um sich eine
Freikarte leisten zu können?”
“Es gibt da ein Guthaben bei einer lyranischen Bank, auf das ich zugreifen kann.” Der ehemalige
planetare Herrscher verschränkte die Arme. “Ich bin sicher, wir können uns da einigen.”
“Tja, ich werde mich gerne für Sie verwenden Mylord”, der Colonel ahmte Yu’s Pose nach, “aber vor
allem brauche ich dann einen Goodwill-Vorschuss.”
“Aber gern.” Dem Marquis war das Zähne knirschen anzusehen.
Garibaldi wandte sich um: “Christian, würden Sie sich bitte um seine Lordschaft kümmern?”
Captain von Schaar trat vor und schlug vor Yu die Färsen zusammen und neigte leicht den Kopf. Gute
alte lyranische Schule: “Sir, gehen wir doch nach nebenan.”
“Also, Ladies und Gentlemen,”, begann der Söldnerkommandant, “wir werden so schnell wie möglich
eine offizielle Kapitulation arrangieren. In etwa fünf Tagen, wenn wir uns eingerichtet haben.
Selbstverständlich werden wir einen Stützpunkt beim Raumhafen einrichten. Hauptquartier hier im
Palast. Auf jeden Fall nicht zu nah zusammen oder zu weit auseinander oder gar verzettelt. Die übrig
gebliebenen Söldnertruppen werden wir zur Kapitulation auffordern. Ich hoffe die überlebenden sind
genug demoralisiert.”
“Ein paar Idioten gibt es immer”, meldete sich Major O’Malley zu Wort, “aus den Berichten der SOG
geht hervor, dass Harbins Sohn unter den Kompaniechefs war. Und bei derartigen familiären
Bindungen könnten wir da einen starken Oppositionsführer haben.”
Garibaldi klatschte in die Hände: “Okay Roy, das heißt, Leichenidentifizierung hat absolute Priorität.
Ziehen Sie dafür auch die Sanitätstruppe zur Hilfe, soweit möglich.”
“Aye Sir.” Der Infanteriekommandant wusste, dass er damit entlassen war.
“Lieutenant Colonel von Schaar wird den Stützpunkt am Raumhafen leiten. Ich werde mit Ihnen
meine Herren”, er blickte Steuben und McCool an, “hier das Hauptquartier beziehen. Steven, Sie
arbeiten mir einen Angriffsplan auf die Bergwerke aus, falls sich unsere Söldnerkollegen dafür
entscheiden, ihren Herren etwas zu treu zu sein.”
Der Colonel legte die Hände wieder auf den Rücken: “Kommen wir zu den unangenehmen Dingen:
Wie ist der Zustand Ihrer Bataillone? Felix!”
“Die Ulanen haben sieben Mechs verloren. Drei Mann sind gefallen, zwei verletzt. Der Doc meint, dass
Heinrich Pleus nie wieder einen Mech besteigen wird.”
Garibaldi nickte: “Verdammt, wie steht es um die Maschinen?”
“Zwei Totalverluste, aus dreien können wir noch das ein oder andere Bergen, zwei sind noch recht
intakt und können sicherlich wieder in Stand gesetzt werden.”
“Ansonsten?”
“Alle Maschinen sind beschädigt, die meisten nur mittelschwere bis schwere Panzerschäden, bei
einigen sieht es auch ernster aus.”
“Und wie steht es um Ihre Truppe Steven?” Garibaldi tigerte durch das Büro.
“Meine Marauders haben vier Mechs verloren. Davon drei Maschinen Totalverlust, aus der vierten
können wir wohl noch recht viel bergen, aber eine Instandsetzung kommt wohl nicht in Frage. Zwei
Mann sind tot, acht Verletzte. Hauptsächlich leichte Verwundungen. Wie bei den Ulanen haben alle
Maschinen Panzerungsschäden. Bei neun Maschinen sieht es auch schlimmer aus, die Hälfte davon
wird für mehrere Wochen in der Inst. Landen .”
Steuben schnaubte abwertend.
“Haben Sie was zu sagen Felix?” Fuhr McCool ihn an.
Dieser zuckte nur die Schultern und funkelte wütend zurück.
“Ich weiß, Sie hätten Ihr Bataillon gnadenlos durch die Stadt gehetzt und erst beim Golfplatz
Beherrschung walten lassen.”
“Die haben hier einen Golfplatz?”, gab der andere Major sich kaltschnäuzig.
Jetzt war es an McCool zu schnauben.
“Also Jungs, wenn Ihr fertig seid, einander anzuknurren,”, mahnte Garibaldi, “können wir um unsere
21
Soldaten kümmern.”
“George”, sprach Steuben seinen Stellvertreter an, “sehen Sie sich bitte um, wo wir die beiden
Bataillone unterbringen können und die Infanterie soll ein paar Mann abstellen, um die Küchencrew
seiner Lordschaft zu bewachen, die sollen etwas für die Jungs und Mädels zu Essen machen.”
“Roger Boss.” McKenzie salutierte andeutungsweise und zog los.
“Also Steven, Felix, richten Sie Ihren Damen und Herren aus, dass sie gute Arbeit geleistet haben.
Das war wirklich exzellent.”
Die beiden Majore nickten kräftig und wirkten einen Moment wie kleine Jungs. Auch wenn Alessandro
Garibaldi keine fünf Jahre älter war als einer der beiden, fühlte er sich in solchen Momenten wie ein
stolzer Vater.
“Ach und Felix”, der Colonel stützte sich mit den Händen, “nehmen Sie Ihre verdammten Stiefel von
meinen neuen Schreibtisch!” Er nahm mit einem frechen Schmunzeln seinen Worten die Schärfe.
Steuben hingegen starrten ihn einen Augenblick verdutzt an: “Ihr Schreibtisch? Ich habe ihn zuerst
gefunden.”
“Mein lieber Major, über die Verteilung der Kriegsbeute bestimme immer noch ich.”
“Also Skipper, das ist jetzt nicht wirklich fair. Das sollten wir zumindest ganz ehrlich ausgolfen.”
“Ausgolfen, wir beide? Soll das ein Scherz sein?”
Der Kommandant des zweiten Mechbataillons setzte eine Unschuldsmine auf.
“Was Spielen Sie im Regelfall? Paar*?”, harkte Garibaldi nach.
“Naja, so in etwa, warum?”, antwortete Steuben.
“Also damit ich Sie richtig verstehe”, auch Garibaldi konnte nicht ganz ernst bleiben, “ich soll also in
einer Sportart um einen Schreibtisch, der eh schon mir gehört, gegen Sie spielen, in der Sie um ein
vielfaches besser sind als ich?”
“Also Colonel, so wie Sie das ausdrücken, klingt das in der Tat doch etwas unfair.”
“Na los, Felix, sehen Sie zu, dass Sie Land bekommen.”
Herrschaftspalast von San Martin
New Montenegro drei Tage nach dem Angriff des Freicorps
Die Mittagssonne brannte auf den Vorhof und hob die verbrannten Ruinen der Palastnebengebäude
hervor.
Hinter ihrem Kommandanten waren die Offiziere des Freicorps angetreten. Die Hell- und Dunkelgraue
Paradeuniform war schneidig geschnitten. Die hellere Hose steckte tief in blank gewichsten
Kavalleriestiefeln, die dunklere Husarenjacke war bis zum Stehkragen geschlossen. Jeder, der sich mit
den Rangabzeichen der Davionstreitkräfte auskannte, musste sofort erkennen, dass die Offiziere
hinter Garibaldi hauptsächlich Subalternoffiziere und somit nur Dekoration waren. Seine wichtigsten
Offiziere hatte der altgediente Söldner jetzt an Schlüsselpositionen sitzen, als Kommandanten der
Überwachungstruppen und der Reaktionseinheit.
Begleitet von zwei Infanteristen betrat Ricardo Yu den Vorplatz. Der ehemalige Marquis des Planeten
guckte sich unbehaglich um, als er neben Garibaldi stehen blieb.
“Wollen wir Mylord?” Der Söldnerführer streckte sich würdevoll.
“Tja, da wohl nicht in den nächsten Minuten noch von irgendwem Unbekannten die Situation gerettet
wird …” Yu zuckte die Schultern.
“Wir sind nicht im Holovid Mylord.”
Yu setzte sich in Bewegung und marschierte direkt zum Rednerpult. Er hielt kurz inne und ließ das
Blitzlichtgewitter über sich ergehen, ehe er begann: “Sehr verehrte Damen und Herren, wie Ihnen
allen bekannt ist, wurde unsere schöne Heimat vor drei Tagen in den Strudel der Gewalt einer
Invasion hineingerissen. Nach erbitterten Kämpfen wurden unseren heldenhaften Verteidiger
geschlagen und ich sehe mich gezwungen offizielle zu kapitulieren und zugunsten meines Cousins
Ramon Yu, den Auftraggeber des Freicorps Garibaldi zurückzutreten. Im Gegenzug hat sich Colonel
Garibaldi persönlich verpflichtet, sämtliche Repressalien durch seine Truppen oder irgendwelche
Briganten zu unterbinden und zu bekämpfen. Auf Grund der Kapitulation meiner Regierung fordere ich
22
alle Truppen, die noch in Freiheit sind, auf, die Waffen niederzulegen und sich zu ergeben. Colonel
Garibaldi hat mir versichert, dass die geltenden Kriegskonventionen ohne Ausnahme eingehalten
werden. Ich fordere alle auf, mit dem Freicorps Garibaldi, welches als offizielle Truppe seiner
Exzellenz Marquis Ramon Yu fungiert, zu kooperieren und den Anweisungen der Söldner Folge zu
leisten. Gott behüte Sie alle.”
Der ehemalige planetare Herrscher trat vom Rednerpult zurück und tauschte ein Nicken mit Garibaldi
aus.
“Sehr verehrte Bürger von San Martin”, begann Garibaldi als er ans Pult getreten war, “ich bin
Alessandro Garibaldi, Colonel und Kommandeur des Freicorps Garibaldi. Zutiefst bedaure ich, sollte
unsere Ankunft schwerwiegende Auswirkungen auf Ihr Leben auf diesen Planeten haben. Auch
bedauere ich das Blutvergießen, welches dem Machtwechsel vorangegangen ist. Ich versichere Ihnen,
dass wir so schnell wie möglich den normalen Alltag wieder herstellen. In den nächsten Tagen werden
die regulären Polizeikräfte wieder den Dienst aufnehmen. Auf die Verhängung des Kriegsrechts wollen
wir verzichten. Ich möchte Sie alle bitten, tagsüber die Rundfunk- oder Holovidgeräte eingeschaltet zu
lassen.”
Der Söldnerkommandeur blickte noch einmal fest in die Holocams.
“Hiermit fordere ich alle noch auf San Martin stehenden Söldnertruppen auf, sich uns zu ergeben.
Gemäß den geltenden Bestimmungen des Söldnergewerbes werden Sie samt Ihrer vollständigen
Ausrüstung nach Outreach repartiert.”
El Madre-Gebirge
San Martin
“… nach Outreach repartiert.”
Alex Harbin hätte den Holovid-Empfänger am liebsten durch die Gegend geworfen.
Der junge Captain hatte es geschafft sieben, ganze sieben Ranger-Mechs aus der Stadt
herauszuschaffen. Somit waren nur noch neunzehne Mechs der Rangers auf freien Fuß. Seine
gemischte Truppe aus den Kompanien A, C und D der Rangers und Hansons Baker Kompanie, die bei
der Klondyke-Mine Stationiert war. Dazu kamen noch ein Mech der San Martinesischen Garde sowie
eine Hand voll Panzer und ein paar requirierte LKWs, voll gestopft mit Infanteristen.
“Dieser verdammte Feigling! Was glaubt er eigentlich? Lässt erst seine Leute zum verrecken antreten
und schwenkt dann die weißen Fahne.” Alex spukte aus. Die um ihn herumstehenden Gardisten sahen
betrübt drein.
“Dann ist der Krieg jetzt zu Ende?”, wollte ein junger Panzerfahrer wissen. Hoffnung kehrte in die
anderen Soldaten zurück.
Harbin hätte sich am liebsten übergeben und Blickte zu Sergeant Homer Wilson, dem einzigen
Überlebenden neben Alex aus dessen Kompanie C. Der grobschlächtige Mann trat zwischen die
Panzerfahrer der Garde und rammten dem Jüngling die Fast in die Magengrube. Dieser klappte wie
ein Taschenmesser zusammen.
“Okay, ihr Wochenendsoldaten hört mal genau zu: Das bisschen Geballer, was Ihr Euch mit dem
Freicorps geliefert habt, kann man nur mit viel Wohlwollen als Gefecht, höchstens als Scharmützel
bezeichnen. Aber wir sind noch lange nicht aus dem Spiel.”
“Ihr habt Euch aber auch nicht besser geschlagen.”, nuschelte ein anderer Gardist.
“Ach meinst Du? Die sind mit zwei Bataillonen auf uns los und ihrem ersten haben wir ganz schön
eingeheizt.” Der Sarge schlug dem Nuschler eher freundschaftlich hinten auf den Helm. “Bei Klondyke
haben wir eine weitere Kompanie. Die Chevaliers de Vernier sind noch in voller Stärke vorhanden. Mit
Carters Comandos haben wir ein starkes Infanteriekommando und Nagumos Volunteers können auch
noch etwas Kampfkraft ins Feld führen.”
Alex Harbin brütete derweil. Die Angelegenheit war noch nicht beendet. Diese Schweine hatten seine
Freunde getötet und von seiner Mutter hatte er seit Beginn der Kampfhandlungen nichts mehr gehört.
Wenn ihr was passiert war …
23
Ben Rome, Gap of Dunloe, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Interview mit Ben Rome
1)
Hey Ben! Ok, WIR wissen, wer Sie sind, aber viele unserer Leser dürften Ihren Namen
nicht so ohne weiteres erkennen. Also… Warum erzählen Sie uns nicht, was Sie für CBT tun?
Ich bin einer der Autoren des Universums und anscheinend bin ich inzwischen einer der „Kern-
Autoren“, auch wenn ich keine Ahnung habe, wieso.
Ich bin verantwortlich für die meisten News-Artikel auf BattleCorps; Ich schreibe und konzipiere alle
weltweiten Commando-Events mit Ausnahme der Martial Olympiad – das Team dort macht einen
wunderbaren Job und es ist nicht nötig, dass ich da meine Nase reinstecke. Ich hatte einen
ordentlichen Anteil in allen aktuellen FanPro Publikationen (DotJ, JHS 70, MS:U, TRO 3058U, H:BW,
TRO:VA und ganz sicher hab ich ein oder zwei noch vergessen) und ich bin einer der Hauptautoren der
Tracks, die ihr in den verschiedenen Büchern seht. Zusätzlich habe ich Randall dabei helfen können,
die Storyline des Draconis Combine für die nächsten Jahrzehnte zu planen und dabei unter anderem
auch Ilsa Bick bei einem kleinen Stück im MWDA Universum geholfen und ich wurde kürzlich gefragt,
die War of Reaving Storyline in den Clan Heimatwelten zu planen.
Wow, ich glaube, ich mache eine ganze Menge.
2)
Wie kamen Sie zu BattleTech? Erzählen Sie uns von Ihren ersten Arbeiten für CBT,
wie Sie ein Autor wurden.
Ich war schon immer ein Autor; ich mache eine ganze Menge an selbstständiger Arbeit für
verschiedene Firmen und auch für meinen „richtigen“ Job in D.C. Außerdem habe ich einige
Radiowerbespots für den Radiomarkt in Pittsburg geschrieben und produziert und ich habe mehr als 10
Jahre im Einzelhandelsmanagement für zwei verschiedene Firmen gearbeitet. Mein Eintritt in das CBT
Universum – zumindest was das Schreiben
angeht – war mehr ein geplanter Unfall.
Naja, ich spiele, lese und atme BattleTech
seit 1989 oder so, als ich meine ersten
Schritte auf dem Schlachtfeld in einem
capellanischen Catapult machte. Damals las
der
Spielleiter
die
Regeln
nicht
sehr
gründlich und erzählte uns, dass Hitze im
Grunde der Wert war, den eine Waffe an
Runden brauchte um abzukühlen, bevor sie
wieder eingesetzt werden konnte. Ja, das
allererste Spiel? Ich starb ziemlich schnell –
ehrlich, LRM/20 brauchen ewig, bis sie
wieder heruntergekühlt sind (lol) – obwohl
das Spiel 84 Runden dauerte (man stelle
sich mal vor). Das waren gut 6 Stunden.
Ich habe bis Mitte der 90er nie irgendwelche
Bücher besessen, dann wurde ich aber
durch MW 2nd Edition vom Universum
eingefangen. Ich war stark an Shadowrun
und
Star
Wars
RPG
interessiert,
also
sprachen mich stark detaillierte Universen an. Ich habe damals um des Schreibens willen geschrieben,
wollte eigentlich nie wirklich was damit anfangen, aber ich ging immer sehr ins Detail in allen meinen
24
Ein Foto, das ich vor ein paar Jahren
von dem Ausstellungskasten der
örtlichen Bücherei gemacht habe.
Kampagnen, die ich so geleitet habe. Ich liebe es zu Meistern – das Erschaffen von Universen und die
Entwicklung von Storybögen faszinieren mich.
Also, wie auch immer… Ich war schon ein paar Jahre als Playtester beschäftigt, als FASA geschlossen
wurde. In diesem Jahr – 2000, glaube ich? – haben sich meine Spielgruppe und eine weitere aus
Columbus zusammengeschlossen, unser eigenes BattleTech Turnier auf der Origins zu veranstalten,
ähnliches haben wir schon die Jahre zuvor getan (die meisten Leute meiner Gruppe waren langjährige
Juroren und Spieletester). Im nächsten Jahr halfen wir Bones (Chris Trossen) und Chunga (Chris
Smith) dabei, FanPro Games aufzubauen und ich glaube, irgendjemand hatte dann die Idee, diese
riesigen canon-beeinflussenden Spiele während der GenCon anzubieten (und dann natürlich auch zu
Origins). Ich habe mich dann freiwillig gemeldet, sie zu entwerfen – Missionsziele, Befehle, Einheiten
TO&E, alles sowas.
Nun, zu der Zeit startete dieser ganze Wirbel um den „Jihad“ und als ich dann einen Abend mit meiner
wundervollen Frau essen war, habe ich wohl mal erwähnt, dass ich gerne was mit diesem Jihad
machen wollte. Vielleicht ein Sourcebook schreiben (FedCom Civil War war zu der Zeit in PlayTesting
und FactChecking, wenn ich mich recht erinnere und ich war beeindruckt). Also habe ich diesen
Entwurf erstellt, der nie von irgendjemandem gesehen wurde, und meinem Verstand erlaubt,
Überstunden zu schieben, da ich wirklich gar nichts darüber wusste.
Es gelang mir in diesem Jahr, Randall Bills während der
GenCon in die Enge zu treiben und wir haben uns sehr
lange über Convention-Events und BattleCorps unterhalten.
Gegen Ende des Gesprächs schaute er mich an und fragte,
ob ich nicht über die Jihad-Zeitlinie rüberschauen wollte
und ihm ein wenig Feedback zu geben. Was sollte ich
sagen? Nein???
Das habe ich natürlich nicht getan und so wurde ich
gebeten, ein Szenario zu einer Story zu schreiben, die
Loren Coleman schrieb – die auf dem MW3 PC Spiel
basierte. Ich bin heute fast überzeugt, dass man mich da
einem Schreibtest unterzog, ähnlich wie der, den ich
damals an Mike Nystul geschickt hatte, eine Woche bevor
FASA die Tore schloss.
Ich vermute mal, ich habe bestanden – „All Alone In The
Dust“ wurde gemeinsam mit Loren Colemans Story
veröffentlicht. Bevor ich wußte, was passierte, wurde ich
mit einer Gruppe anderer Leute gebeten, Material für Dawn
on the Jihad zu schreiben. Anfangs war ich nur für gut
8000 Worte vorgesehen. Aber am Ende gefiel Randall, was
ich tat und ich habe seine Combine Artikel übernommen.
Dann hatten Paul Sjardin und ich diese verrückte Idee
eines Kampagnensystems, das sich spielen ließ wie ein
Computerspiel… das ihr jetzt als die Chaos Serie in den
Jihad Büchern findet. Irgendwie durchbrach mein Beitrag zu
diesem Buch plötzlich die Decke. Ich glaube, ich habe die
zweitgrößte Wortzahl produziert, abgesehen von Herb.
Und es ähnelt einer Lawine seitdem. Ich bin sehr dankbar dafür.
25
Wo ich (vor allem) zu Hause schreibe. Ich bin mir sehr sicher, dass
ich der einzige Fan mit einem Kissen bin. *g*
Um ehrlich zu sein, meine Arbeit für FanPro hat mir einige neue Klienten für meine selbstständige
Arbeit eingebracht und ich habe genug Arbeit, um mich gut vierzig Stunden die Woche beschäftigt zu
halten, auch wenn die Bezahlung nicht mit meinem anderen „richtigen“ Job mithalten kann.
3)
Und wer ist Ben Rome in Wirklichkeit? Der Privatmensch, nicht der Autor. Erzählen
Sie uns von ihrem Leben neben CBT.
Hm… Also, ich bin nicht wirklich ein „Privatmensch“ – ich meine, ich hab einen eigenen Blog
(www.xanga.com/wordofghostbear), wo ich im Prinzip mein gesamtes Leben für jeden zum Mitlesen
ausbreite. Es gibt da Dinge über meine Vergangenheit und meine Familie, die ich für mich behalte, und
im Allgemeinen versuche ich, die Aufmerksamkeit von meiner Ehefrau abzulenken, die eine sehr
private Person ist, was ich vollkommen akzeptiere.
Meine Frau beansprucht gut 85% meiner Aufmerksamkeit. Es gibt eine Menge an Gebalge um die
restlichen 15%, aber diese 85% sind mir heilig.
Mein „richtiger“ Job besteht darin, im
International
Spy
Museum
in
Washington D.C. als Assistant Retail
Operations
Manager
zu
arbeiten
(man
beachte
die
Abkürzung:
Assiatant-ROM). Wir sind hier erst
vor gut zwei Jahren hingezogen –
vorher haben wir in Pittsburgh, PA,
gewohnt, der Heimat der Pittsburgh
Penguins…
Ich
bin
absoluter
Eishockey-Fan. Normalerweise stelle
ich eine Fantasy-Mannschaft auf die
Beine und spiel noch in ein oder zwei
anderen
jedes
Jahr.
Richtiges
Eishockey spiele ich leider nicht
mehr, da ich mir in einem Spiel
aufgrund eines schlechten Checks
eine
schlimme
Knieverletzung
zugezogen
habe.
Ich
habe
neuerdings
angefangen,
offizielle
Team-Pucks zu sammeln, also wenn
mich jemand bestechen will…
Neben Schreiben und CBT spiele und
teste ich hin und wieder noch MWDA. Ich war ein BattleMaster bis wir nach Virginia umgezogen sind.
Ich bin außerdem noch ein Amateur-Fotograf, meine Bilder könnt ihr auf meiner Blog-Seite
bewundern, obwohl das Hobby eher dadurch entstand, dass ich mit meiner Frau zu viel Zeit verbracht
habe. Sie ist sooo viel besser als ich.
Bevor ich geheiratet habe, habe ich eine MENGE Spiele geleitet. Inzwischen eher weniger – ich habe
nur ein begrenztes Kontingent an freier Zeit. Meine liebsten Erinnerungen kommen von der Zwanzig-
Spieler SW:RPG Runde, die wir im College hatten – sie lief vier Jahre. Wir spielten an drei oder vier
Nächten pro Woche und wir haben es geschafft, sie von Episode IV bis Episode VI zu spielen.
Ironischerweise gelang es den Rebellen in der letzten Nacht unseres Spiels nicht, den Reaktor (vom
Todesstern, A.d.Ü.) in die Luft zu jagen, da der angreifende X-Wing einen kritischen Wurf vergeigte
und stattdessen in die Reaktorabschirmung raste… Ach ja, das waren noch Zeiten…
26
Wo ich (vor allem) zu Hause schreibe.
Ich bin mir sehr sicher, dass ich der
einzige Fan mit einem Kissen bin. *g*
Außerdem bemale ich noch Miniaturen (CBT, B5, andere) und baue kleine Dioramen, aber nicht so oft,
wie ich gerne würde. Und wenn ich mal nicht schreibe, lese ich. Massig!
Wie auch bei allen anderen Kernautoren regieren bei mir daheim die Katzen. Es ist ehrlich eine
Verschwörung! Schade, dass keiner uns zuhören will.
4)
Ein Evergreen: Welches sind Ihre Lieblingsfraktion, Ihre Lieblingslinie und Ihr
Lieblingscharacter?
Fraktion? Das ist mein Namensgeber (Ghost Bear). Ich habe mich in die Bären verliebt, als ich einmal
in eine geborgte Ausgabe von Invading Clans geschaut habe, vor allem ihre Crusader-Einstellung. Zu
schade, dass sie solche Weicheier geworden sind. Was die Innere Sphäre angeht, fühle ich mich eher
dem Combine verbunden. Vor allem, weil ich so viel Zeit damit verbracht habe, ihre Geschichte zu
schreiben – es ist sehr faszinierend. Früher war ich ein
Cappie, aber das deswegen, weil ich zehn Minuten zu spät zu
einem Spiel kam, und als alle anderen die Seiten gewählt
hatten, blieb mir nur ein blöder Urbanmech.
Zeitlinie? Jihad. Einfach, weil das chaotische Umfeld so gut
ist für verschieden Geschichten, Storybögen und Konflikte.
Nun habe ich ja ein wenig Einfluss auf die Dinge, die
passieren und das ist cool, ja – aber ganz ehrlich, die
Tatsache, dass wir das gesamte Universum in diesen
umfassenden Konflikt haben stürzen können... Es erstaunt
mich immer wieder, wie gut es uns gelungen ist, wirklich
jede Fraktion zu involvieren.
Charakter? Na, alle die, die ich habe erschaffen dürfen. Ich
denke, ich muss wohl meinen Namensvetter nehmen,
Benjamin Emory. Er ist mein Favorit, denn er ist schließlich
„Ich“ im CBT Universum. Abgesehen von meinen eigenen
Charakteren mag ich die gesamte Kurita-Clique: ihre
Verbundenheit zu ihrer eigenen Auslegung des Bushido und
des Dictum Honorum ist phänomenal, und wie sie damit
zurande kommen und trotzdem eines der stärksten Häuser
bleiben...verdammt cool.
5)
Und wenn Sie die Macht hätten, welches Ereignis im CBT Universum würden Sie
ändern? Und warum?
Nun ja, es ist sicher nicht die Route, die ich eingeschlagen hätte und ich kann ganz sicher verstehen,
warum es so gemacht wurde und es wurde sehr gut gemacht und hat ein paar neue Sachen mit ins
Spiel gebracht. Aber die Wolverine Saga, die letztens erschien… um ehrlich zu sein, ich stehe dem
Projekt mit gemischten Gefühlen gegenüber und ich bin mir immer noch nicht sicher, auf welcher Seite
des Zauns ich sitze. Oh ja, wenn mich jemand auf einer Con darauf anspricht, bitte ich darum, es mir
nicht übel zu nehmen, wenn ich meine Hand hebe und gehe. Ich will es wirklich nicht ausdiskutieren.
27
Meine geliebte Frau. Aufgenommen im Gap of Dunloe,
County Kilkenny, Ireland während der Reise anlässlich
unseres 10. Hochzeittages.
Ansonsten - vor allem etwas weniger giftig - denke ich, würde ich diese Capellanische Siegesserie
ändern wollen. In meiner verschrobenen Vorstellung würden sie immer noch gewinnen, aber dafür
einen SEHR viel höheren Preis zahlen. Und mit mehr ... *ahem* ... „Flair“.
6)
Also, wagen wir einen Blick in die Zukunft. An welchen Produkten arbeiten Sie
derzeit? Welches davon wollen Sie am ehesten schnellstmöglich in Buchform sehen? Und
wieder, warum ist das so?
Ooooh, ich habe die Sorensen’s Sabers-Hälfte im Starterbook: Sword&Dragon geschrieben und die
über den Opacus Venatoris in Wolf&Blake. Die Kampagnen in beiden Büchern sind meine ureigenste
höllische Kreation.
Kürzlich habe ich einen großen Teil meiner Beiträge zu JHS 3072 abgeschlossen, inklusive der
kompletten Kampagne und ich bereite mich derzeit darauf vor, die nächsten drei großen Events dieses
Jahr zu strukturieren und zu schreiben: Return of the Wolves, Angel Requiem und Vengeance Gambit
2.
Ich habe dazu noch eine Sektion in Interstellar Players 2, sowie mehrere MilSpec Artikel und
Kurzgeschichten für BattleCorps am Start. Ich hoffe noch auf eine Chance, mich in Tactical Operations
zu verewigen, aber es ist wahrscheinlicher, dass ich knietief in den Arbeiten am Entwurf für den War of
Reaving stecke, von dem ich hoffe, dass er angenommen werden wird.
Was ich mir sehnlichst wünsche? Wolf and Blake, ganz klar. Der Opacus Venatori ist meine ganz
eigene Kreation – geboren durch meine Abscheu den Dragoons gegenüber (ich war sooo glücklich,
dass ich derjenige sein durfte, der Jamie Wolf „offiziell“ tötete) – und diese Chance, die Einheit zu
erschaffen ist einfach, bisher jedenfalls, ein Traum der wahr wird. Obwohl ich eigentlich nicht
sonderlich daran interessiert bin, ob den Fans meine Ideen gefallen oder nicht, so bin ich doch
gespannt, die Reaktionen auf meine Jungs und Mädels zu sehen.
Na ja, und als kleine Preview habe ich einen kleinen Teil der History Sektion des OV für Eure Leser
beigefügt. Bitte bedenkt dabei, dass dies nicht die endgültige Version ist – es mag etwas anders im
Buch auftauchen – aber auf jeden Fall ist es ziemlich nahe dran.
7)
Sie
arbeiten
vor
allem
an
Sourcebooks, haben aber auch schon
Kurzgeschichten für
BattleCorps.com
und CBT.com geschrieben. Was macht
mehr Spaß? Und denken Sie, dass Sie
gerne einen MWDA Roman schreiben
würden, wenn man Sie denn fragen
würde?
Sourcebooks, einfach, weil ich mich mit
ihnen wohler fühle. Die Chaos Kampagnen
zu erstellen und die jeweiligen Tracks zu
schreiben ist sicher der größte Spaß für
mich – es erinnert mich wieder an meine
alten GM Tage. Geschichten für BattleCorps
zu schreiben ist außerordentlich schwierig –
Loren ist ein sehr penibler Mensch, und
nicht einfach von meinem Schreibstil zu
überzeugen oder dadurch zu amüsieren. Ich
sehe ihn als eisernen Schleifstein, aber
ehrlich – er ist sehr streng. Noch schlimmer
28
als mein Professor in Kreativem Schreiben am College.
Ich würde sehr gerne einen MWDA Roman schreiben. Das ist, um genau zu sein, eins meiner Ziele
dieses Jahr, Sharon in die Ecke zu drängen und sie anzuflehen, mich einen produzieren zu lassen. <g>
Wie auch immer, ich habe einige Nicht-CBT Buchideen und Szenarien für fictionale Universen auf
meinen diversen Notebooks herumliegen. In absehbarer Zukunft gedenke ich, mich soweit zu
organisieren, dass ich eine andere Firma mit meinen Ideen belästigen kann. Zwischenzeitlich erweitere
ich meinen Horizont, mit zwei Entwürfen, die im Laufe des Monats noch zu Mongoose Publishing und
Crafty Games geschickt werden.
Ich habe die MechWarrior Szenarioen/Kampagnen-Bücher für Pinnacle Entertainment / Great White
Games geschrieben, allerdings wurde das Projekt kurzzeitig auf Eis gelegt. Ich weiß nicht, ob und
wann das wieder angewärmt wird. Ich hoffe sehr, dass es bald wieder los geht – es ist ein sehr gutes
System, das die Jungs bei PEG und meine Wenigkeit für das MechWarrior Spiel ausgearbeitet haben.
8)
Also, mein absolutes Highlight von Ihnen ist das Intro zu Jihad Hotspots 3070. Sie
wissen schon, A Sphere in Flames. Was hat sie geritten, das so zu schreiben? Warum gerade
so?
Ich wollte einfach, dass die Blakies auch mal von Ihrer menschlichen Seite gezeigt werden. Das Stück
war aus der Sicht eines Sympathisanten geschrieben. Im Krieg, vor allem heutzutage, bekommt jede
Seite Gelegenheit, ihre Sichtweise der Dinge darzulegen, wie sie es gerne haben will. Wir alle wissen,
dass die WoBbies hier die bösen Jungs sind – sogar ich weiß das – aber sie müssen wirklich etwas
detaillierter vorgestellt werden. Ohne Romane, die das erreichen... die einzig andere Möglichkeit ist
durch nicht-propagandistische Nachrichtenquellen und BC Kurzgeschichten. In jeder Armee gibt es
viele verschiedene Sichtweisen. Das gilt auch hier, in einem fiktionelen Universum. Ich denke, ich sehe
die Masse der WoB Soldaten als „tragische Helden“ und vieles, was ich über sie schreibe, scheint
diesem Blickpunkt zu entsprechen.
Dieser Trend, um ehrlich zu sein, wird sich in JHS:72 fortsetzen. Ich habe wieder das ‚war in review’
Kapitel für dieses Buch produziert und es ist diesmal aus dem Blickwinkel eines WoB Analysten.
9)
Ok, niemand ist perfekt, das ist uns allen klar. Also, was ist der lustigste Fehler, den
Sie je in einem Sourcebook produziert haben?
Oh, ich habe Wakazashi den Valiant produzieren lassen. Kaum, dass ich es losgeschickt hatte,
erkannte ich meinen Fehler, habe den Beitrag schnell umgeschrieben und habe Wakazashi
Anerkennung für ihren „scharfsinnigen Marketing-Schachzug“ gezollt. Um ehrlich zu sein, es stellte
sich heraus, dass es einen positiven Nebeneffekt hatte – ich brauchte eh einen Hersteller, nachdem
LAW zusammenbrach und so habe ich dadurch noch andere Ideen und Plots gewoben. Es stellte sich
also wirklich als sehr nützlicher Fehler heraus.
10)
Wie ist es eigentlich, mit einem so großen Team an Spieletestern und Fact-Checkern
zu arbeiten? Dass alles, was man tut, immer und immer wieder überprüft wird und es einem
sogar passieren kann, dass die Leute eine Idee, die man eigentlich für ziemlich gut hält,
völlig verreißen?
Ronin War (aus Brush Wars) war so ein Stück. Ein Factchecker/Playtester – Chris Wheeler – war ganz
besonders brutal zu mir. Das war auch sehr gut so – ich habe das zu der Zeit geschrieben, als meine
Frau und ich von PA nach VA zogen und es war eine sehr stressige Zeit. Ich habe seine Hilfe (und
ebenso seine Recherchen) so sehr zu schätzen gelernt, dass ich ihn als Class Instructor kanonisiert
habe. Ich bin mir sehr sicher, wenn er (und auch die anderen) nicht so ehrlich und ausführlich in ihren
Kommentaren gewesen wären, dann wäre das Endergebnis nicht so gut geworden.
29
Die Leute in beiden Gruppen sind wunderbar – sie finden eine MENGE Fehler und in einem so großen
Universum sind sie eigentlich unvermeidbar. Sie sind vor allem dafür verantwortlich, dass wir in 98%
der Zeit so akkurat arbeiten. Ich wage mal zu behaupten, dass Lucas dafür töten würde, um unsere
Leute für sich arbeiten zu lassen.
Ich neige dazu, die Qualität meiner Arbeit an der Menge an Kommentaren zu messen, die ich
zurückbekomme. Ich kann euch sagen, ich bin sehr zufrieden, wenn ich kaum Kommentare kriege. Es
bedeutet, dass ich meinen Job gut mache.
Abschließend möchte ich sagen, dass
ich das alles sehr begrüße. Ich fühle
mich
geehrt,
mit
solchen
Profis
zusammenzuarbeiten, die dies einzig
und allein aus Liebe zu diesem Spiel
tun.
Ich
habe
diverse
Angebote
abgelehnt,
die
mir
schnelle
Geld
gebracht hätten, einfach weil sie mich
von
meiner
Arbeit
für
FanPro
abgehalten hätten. So sehr liebe ich
es, ein Teil davon zu sein. Und die
Fans – zum ganz großen Teil sind sie
überragend.
Sogar
die
Kritiker.
Solange sie nicht auf den Conventions
unhöflich zu mir oder meinen Kollegen
sind, freue ich mich doch immer über
ihre Kommentare und Anregungen –
und ehrliche Kritik. Dank Euch habe
ich so viel Spaß daran, für dieses
Universum zu schreiben und ich bin
stolz darauf, damit weiterzumachen,
solange die Fans meine Arbeit gut
finden.
30
Preview of Starterbook: Wolf and Blake:
Opacus
The „Obscure“, or „Shadows“ – either definition works from High Dominus – was Precentor Manei
Domini Apollyon’s creation. From the beginning, Apollyon wanted this group to be his own personal
agents – representatives of his might and power. They trained as a standard Light of Mankind unit on
Terra; I remember them well, as they were the first Domini I had ever seen. They were remarkable –
incredible reflexes, superior senses, and their fluidity with BattleMechs made the ancient myths of
man merging with machine seem true.
I didn’t know they were the Opacus then. They functioned just like every other LoM team under my
care; the only difference was their selective seclusion. In fact, now that I think about those days, only
the leader of the group – a beautiful woman called Avitue – spoke for the unit as a whole. I actually
thought Lysander was a mute for years.
I’ve read about their time on Circinus after they’d left my tutelage. I, too, would’ve stood in fear
much as President MacIntyre did in the reception line. Cold, hard faces with the killer’s eye…and of
course, the subtle modifications. Glowing eyes, hard wires, steel hands. No wonder Cirion removed
himself from their presence at his earliest convenience.
Of course, I’ve also read the transcripts ROM took of the Warriors’ barracks. Their comments of the
Opacus are amusing. “Lazy”, “flash, no substance”, “automatons”, “brainwashed”. For being battle-
hardened criminals, they had remarkably poor observational skills.
They must have seen something, however, since Donner got Cirion to gather up the bulk of the
Warriors and bolt the Federation. Of course, Apollyon knew of Donner’s deceit and caught him pretty
much in the act of treason. Rather than mobilizing much of the Word’s army to pursue the escaping
Warriors, Apollyon decided to prove his point in a much more subtle – and deadlier – manner.
He unleashed the Shadows.
31
Gewinnspiel
Liebe Leser und Abonnenten.
Mit Ausgabe 5 unseres CBT Newsletters feiern wir also nun den 1. Geburtstag. Ein sehr erfolgreiches
Jahr liegt hinter uns und wir denken, das sollte gefeiert werden. Dementsprechend haben wir uns
überlegt, wie wir euch, unsere Leser, daran beteiligen könnten. Nach kurzer Rücksprache mit FanPro
sind wir zu dem Entschluss gekommen, ein kleines Gewinnspiel zu veranstalten. Wir haben in allen 5
Ausgaben Fragen versteckt, die es nun zu beantworten gilt.
Frage Nummer 1 findet ihr am Ende dieses Textes. Die richtige Antwort führt euch dann zu einer
anderen Ausgabe des Newsletters und so weiter. Insgesamt gibt es 13 Fragen. Ganz wichtig, die
Antworten müssen in der richtigen Reihenfolge eingesendet werden, nur so nehmt ihr an der
Verlosung der Preise teil. So, erstmal ein kleines Beispiel, um euch das System klarzumachen:
Welches war das erste Quellenbuch, das wir für den Newsletter rezensiert haben? Antwort: Dawn of
the Jihad! Somit fände sich die nächste Frage in Ausgabe 1, in der DotJ Rezension am Ende des
Artikels. Sagen wir, die 2. Frage wäre dann:
Wer ist der Autor von Trügerische Siege? Antwort: Loren Coleman. Die nächste Frage findet sich also
in dem Interview mit Loren Coleman.
Und so weiter. Am Ende sollten euch diese Fragen kreuz und quer durch die 5 Newsletter-Ausgaben
getrieben haben. Dafür winken auch nette Preise! Dafür sagen wir erstmal vielen Dank an FanPro für
die tolle Unterstützung. Also, unter ALLEN Einsendern verlosen wir 3mal die komplette Warrior-
Trilogie von Michael Stackpole. Damit sich das mitmachen auch für alle lohnt! Dabei ist es dann auch
egal, ob ihr alle 13 Fragen korrekt beantwortet habt, hier zählt nur das Mitmachen. Und unter den
richtigen Lösungen, also alle 13 Fragen richtig beantwortet, gibt es folgendes zu gewinnen:
1. Preis 1x Total Warfare
2. Preis 1x Historicals: Brush Wars
3. Preis 1x TRO 3058U
4. Preis 1x Jihad Hotspots 3070
5. Preis 1x Mercenaries Supplemental
6.-8. Preis 1x Katze unter Bären und Clanwächter
Der Rechtsweg ist natürlich ausgeschlossen, alle Gewinner werden in Ausgabe 6 genannt. Die
Mitglieder des CBT Newsletter Teams dürfen natürlich nicht an dem Gewinnspiel teilnehmen. Die
Preise werden von FanPro an die Gewinner versandt.
Die Antworten schickt ihr bitte an folgende Adresse: [email protected]
Der Einsendeschluss ist der 15.05.2007
Viel Erfolg und viel Glück! Euer CBT Newsletter Team!
Frage 1:
Wie lautet der bekannte Nickname des Autors des GenCon2006 Berichts?
32
Tech Manual Rezension
Endlich ist er da: der zweite Ableger der sechs neuen
Corebooks und er nennt sich schlicht TechManual. An
Stelle der Regeln zum Spiel soll der geneigte Leser in
TechManual
sämtliche
Regeln
finden,
um
alle
Einheitentypen bauen zu können, die im klassischen
Battletech Verwendung finden. Damit werden Einheiten
wie Landungs-, Sprung-, und Kriegsschiffe gleich
ausgeklammert.
TechManual präsentiert sich genauso wie Total Warfare,
und wie alle anderen Corebooks im Hardcover und
vollfarbig. TechManual ist zusätzlich noch einmal knapp
dreißig Seiten dicker als Total Warfare und kommt auf
stolze 354 Seiten. TechManual benutzt dasselbe Layout
wie Total Warfare präsentiert sich aber im neuen
Farbschema, diesmal sind es primär Rot und Grautöne,
damit gliedert es sich optisch sehr gut in die Reihe ein,
setzt durch die neuen Farben aber angenehme neue
Akzente.
Genauso wie Total Warfare hat TechManual das
praktische Inhaltsverzeichnis an der rechten Seite, das
zusätzlich in der PDF Version als Navigator funktioniert.
Hier ist auch zu erwähnen dass das PDF trotz seiner
Größe um seinen Detailgrad sehr benutzerfreundlich ist
und sich schnell laden lässt, das freut auch jene Leser
deren Rechner über weniger Arbeitsspeicher verfügt.
Nach der Einleitung führt TechManual den Leser in die Basis der Konstruktionsregeln ein, um dann in die
speziellen Regeln für die einzelnen Einheiten überzugehen (BattleMech, IndustrialMechs, ProtoMechs
usw.). Waren die Regeln von Total Warfare noch durch Kurzgeschichten aufgelockert, handelt es sich bei
TechManual dabei um technische Artikel zu den darauf folgenden Regeln. In diesen Artikeln wird
umfangreich die Technik und ihre Aspekte erläutert die der Spieler bereits von der Platte und natürlich
umfangreich aus den Büchern kennt.
Die einzelnen Konstruktionsregeln sind wie die Spielregeln in Total Warfare wieder äußerst umfangreich.
Jeder Schritt wird mit mindestens einem Beispiel erläutert. Aufgelockert wird wieder durch Bilder schick
bemalter Figuren und Dioramen. Zusätzlich erleichtert eine Vielzahl von Tabellen das Lesen.
Nach knapp 200 Seiten Konstruktionsregeln und technischen Artikel kommt der nächste richtig große
Abschnitt von Tech Manual. Auf knapp fünfzig Seiten wird hier sämtliche Ausrüstung (Waffen, Elektronik
und Sonstigen) umfangreich erklärt und sogar mit Bildern dargestellt. Darauf folgt derselbe Artikel noch
mal, nur das diesmal die Ausrüstung der BattleArmors dargestellt wird.
Der letzte Abschnitt widmet sich umfangreich der Berechnung der Kosten und des neuen BattleValue
2.0. Dieser Abschnitt wird natürlich von umfangreichen Rechenbeispielen und endlosen Tabellen
dominiert, so dass auch der absolute Neuling ohne Probleme seine frisch erstellten Einheiten berechnen
kann.
33
Die
letzten
dreißig
Seiten
bestehen
aus
sämtlichen
Datenbögen die der Spieler, oder
nun
Konstrukteur,
in
seiner
Laufbahn benötigen kann, dazu
kommen jede Menge Tabellen,
die sämtliche Ausrüstung und
alles Wesentliche noch einmal
auflisten. Die pure Masse und die
kleine Schriftart kann einen am
Anfang etwas überfordern, aber
wenn man sich erst einmal einen
Überblick verschafft hat, ist dies
kein Problem mehr.
Fazit:
TechManual hat alles was man zum Konstruieren braucht und noch viel mehr. Der totale Neuanfänger
wird sich vielleicht fragen, wozu er einen IndustrialMech oder ein Unterstützungsfahrzeug bauen muss,
aber der Battletech Veteran wird all seine Wünsche erfüllt sehen. Die Präsentation ist sehr ansprechend
und macht Lust auf noch mehr Corebooks. Insgesamt ist das Buch absolut zu empfehlen. Der Umstand
sämtliche Konstruktionsregeln und alles, was man dafür braucht, in einem Buch zu finden, ist ungemein
praktisch. Trotzdem hoffe ich, dass die neue Starterbox wenigstens die Konstruktionsregeln für
BattleMechs enthält, damit Neuanfänger, die sich nur die neue Grundbox kaufen können oder wollen,
wenigstens neue BattleMechs konstruieren können und so auf den Geschmack kommen.
Links:
Tech Manual als PDF bei BattleCorps.com kaufen
http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1874
34
Rezension zum ComStar Sourcebook
Zusätzlich zu den neuen Quellenbücher, besprechen wir auch alte
Quellenbücher. Heute wollen wir dem alten ComStar Quellenbuch von
1992 ein paar Zeilen widmen.
Auf knapp 110 Seiten soll das ComStar Sourcebook dem geneigten
Leser
sämtliche
wesentlichen
Informationen
zu
diesem
Geheimnisumwitterten Orden liefern. Der Schwerpunkt wird hier
primär auf die Geschichte von ComStar gelegt.
Auf 75 Seiten wird die komplette Geschichte ComStars beleuchtet.
Vom Untergang des Sternenbundes, zur Gründungs ComStars, bis zu
dem 4. Nachfolgekrieg, der Clan Invasion und dem Schisma wird alles
umfangreich dargestellt und auch die Verschwörungen und Konflikte
innerhalb ComStars werden nicht außen vorgelassen. Das alte
ComStar Sourcebook kann sich in dem historischen Bereich definitiv
mit den neuen House Handbooks messen.
Erwähnenswert ist hier vor allem die Perspektive des Buches. Beim
ComStar Sourcebooks handelt es sich nämlich im begrenzten Maße um ein In-Play Buch, eines der
wenigen der damaligen Quellenbücher. Sämtliche Ereignisse und Geschehnisse werden aus der Sicht
ComStars geschildert. Die Artikel werden dann aber von dem neuen Orden Word of Blake kommentiert
und meistens sehr scharf kritisiert, entsprechen die Ansichten ComStars doch selten den Word of
Blakes.
Der Abschnitt zur Organisation ComStars ist im Vergleich zum historischen Teil sehr kurz gehalten.
Hier finden sich nur wenige Informationen zu den einzelnen Institutionen ComStars, auch der
gefürchtete Geheimdienst ROM wird nicht sehr ausführlich dargestellt. Die meisten Informationen zieht
der Leser hier immer noch aus dem historischen Teil. Zu den ComGuards, die elementaren Anteil
hatten, die Clan Invasion 3052 zu beenden, finden sich sogar nur tabellarische Aufstellungen und ein
kurzer Umriss der momentanen Situation.
Sehr interessant sind wieder die Beschreibungen des Sol-Systems, ComStars Domäne im Jahr 3055 -
das In-Play Datum des Buches, hier finden sich viele neue Details, die vielleicht auch dem Battletech
Experten eher nicht geläufig waren. Dazu gehört eine Übersicht über das Verhältnis ComStars zu den
anderen Fraktionen der Freien Inneren Sphäre.
Der letzte In-Play Teil des Buches ist der ComStar Splitterorganisation Word of Blake gewidmet. Auch
hier gibt es einen, aber wesentlich kürzen, Abriss zur Geschichte, der Organisation und dem Militär.
Der wirklich letzte Abschnitt des Buches richtet sich an die Spieler neben „neuen“ Mechs wie Grand
Crusader, werden hier auch neue Archetypen für das Mechwarrior RPG zur Verfügung gestellt.
Fazit:
Der Umfang des historischen Teils ist mehr als ausreichend und der Informationsgehalt einfach nur
erstaunlich. Für Background-Experten eine großartige Quelle.
Bei der Organisation wären mehr Informationen wünschenswert gewesen, vor allem zum technischen
Aufbau Comstars (Clock of ComStar, Standorte der B- oder C- HPG Generatoren usw.) Solche
Informationen lassen sich auch heute schwer finden. Der Mangel an militärischen Informationen wird
heute locker vom FM: ComStar aufgegangen und der Geheimdienst ROM wird umfangreich in IntelOps
beleuchtet. Insgesamt lässt sich sagen dass das ComStar Sourcebook definitiv zu empfehlen ist,
besonders da man es inzwischen zu geringen Preisen erstehen kann.
35
Rezension zu Handbook House Davion
Der dritte Band der Housebook-Reihe ist nun also endlich
erschienen, wir haben ja auch lang genug darauf warten
dürfen. Wie auch seine Vorgänger ist es auf dem Stand von
3067 und wie zu erfahren war, sollen alle anderen
Housebooks ebenso im Jahre 3067 angesiedelt sein, was sie
in einem gewissen Maße zu "Historicals" der besonderen
Sorte macht. Als Bücher, welche die Staaten zeigen, kurz
bevor der Jihad nun sämtliche Strukturen, Grenzen und
Personen der Inneren Sphäre durcheinanderwirbelt, sind sie
zudem noch ein Quell an nützlichen und spannenden
Informationen.
Ursprünglich war es einmal geplant, alle Housebooks
innerhalb weniger Monate zu produzieren. In Realität sehen
wir ja nur ein Buch pro Jahr. Dies hat natürlich Gründe. Sie
sind ein wahrer Continuity-Alptraum und alle Daten müssen
doppelt und dreifach gegen gecheckt werden. Die Artwork
soll den hohen Ansprüchen der Leser und Entwickler
genügen, weswegen auch dies seine Zeit in Anspruch nimmt.
Am Ende kommt es auch des Öfteren vor, dass komplett
neue Regeln in ihnen auftauchen, deren Entwicklung nicht
immer vollständig abgeschlossen wurde. Alles in allem
braucht ein Housebook somit neun bis zehn Monate, bis es
druckreif ist.
Wie schon in den Vorgängern findet sich im Handbook House Davion eine Fülle an Informationen über
Geschichte, Regierung, Planeten, Gesellschaft und Kultur der Vereinigten Sonnen. Im Folgenden
möchte ich nun kurz vorstellen, was in den einzelnen Kapiteln alles zu finden ist, dann stelle ich einige
der Regeln und neuen Einheiten kurz vor und am Ende findet Ihr ein kleines Fazit.
Beginnen wir mit der Opening Fiction:
Chris Trossen hat sich hierfür Duke George Hasek ausgesucht und wir erfahren ein wenig über dessen
Charakter und sein Bild von Yvonne Steiner-Davion. Und anscheinend wird uns hier auch verraten, wer
George Hasek während des Jihad ermorden läßt. Ein Highlight dieses Buches, ganz eindeutig.
Das Kapitel "History of the Federated Suns" ist wieder etwas für Geschichts- und Hintergrundfans. In
aller epischen Breite wird hier auf beinahe achtzig Seiten alles erzählt, was seit der Entwicklung des
Kearny-Fuchida bis zum Ende des FedCom Civil passiert ist. Äußerst informativ und spannend zu lesen.
Der Atlas behandelt sage und schreibe 31 Welten aus den Federated Suns, 1zehn aus der Capellan
March, zehn aus der Crucis March und elf aus der Draconis March. Ob nun Kathil, New Avalon, Kittery
oder Robinson, Marlette, Cassias, Addicks oder Woodbine, zu allen diesen 31 Planeten (32 wenn man
Talon und Wernke einzeln zählt), finden sich ein paar Sätze sowie die üblichen Hintergrund-Daten.
Viele kleine Informationen verbergen sich in den Artikeln, wie z.B. dass Kittery (ja, genau die Welt, wo
Devlin Stone demnächst auftauchen wird) über die ganzen Jahre eine Art humanitäre Hilfsstation für
die angrenzenden Systeme war oder dass Mayetta einzig aufgrund eines K-F Antriebsschadens
kolonisiert wurde. Ozawa z.B., so erfährt der interessierte Leser, war einmal eine paradisisch schöne
Welt, bis das Draconis Combine die Welt während der Nachfolgekriege durch den massiven Einsatz von
Atombomben in eine sturmgeplagte Kraterlandschaft verwandelte. Anscheinend beginnt sich die Welt
aber inzwischen zu erholen.
36
Das Kapitel "Federated Suns Gouvernment" ist ebenfalls ein Quell von interessanten Informationen
über die FedSuns und die herrschenden Familien. Äußerst informativ sind die Seitentexte zu Service,
Succession und Regency. Man erfährt hier z.B., dass von allen Davions erwartet wird, dass sie sich in
den Streitkräften durch eigene Leistungen hochzudienen haben und nicht durch ihren Namen
begünstigt sein sollen. Dass ein Erster Prinz in den AFFS gedient haben sollte, dürfte jedem Fan
bekannt sein. Hier wird gemutmaßt (man bedenke, das Buch ist aus einer In-Play Perspektive
geschrieben!), dass die Probleme, die Yvonne und Katherine Steiner-Davion mit der Akzeptanz bei der
Bevölkerung daher rühren mögen, dass beide nie gedient haben. Succession ist ebenso informativ,
man erfährt hier, wie die Erbfolgestrukturen der Federated Suns sind und dass derzeit (3067) George
Hasek den Thron übernehmen würde, sollte Yvonne sterben. Regency erklärt, wieso Yvonne Steiner-
Davion nicht First Prince der Federated Suns werden kann - eine Person, die einmal als Regent
geherrscht hat, darf nie den Thron auf New Avalon besteigen! Es folgt eine Liste aller Herrscher der
FedSuns, beginnend mit President Lucien Davion bis hin zu Katherine und Yvonne Steiner-Davion.
Im Folgenden werden dann bekannte Persönlichkeiten aus den großen Herrscherfamilien der Federated
Suns vorgestellt, wie der z.B. Victor Steiner-Davion, George Michael Hasek (-Davion) oder Tancred
Aaron Sandoval, es werden mehere kleinere Herrscherfamilien vorgestellt, wie die DuValls, die Ziblers
und die Cunninghams und die verschiedenen Ministerien der FedSuns. Dem Leser dieser Rezension sei
versichert, dass es eine Fülle an weiteren Informationen gibt, die vorzustellen aber definitiv den
Rahmen dieses Textes sprengen würde.
Den AFFS ist das folgende Kapitel gewidmet, welches verhältnismäßig kurz ausfällt, wohl weil die
meisten Informationen auch im FM FedSuns zu finden sind. So findet sich die sogenannte Chain-of-
Command hier, also die Befehlskette, beginnend bei dem Ersten Prinzen über den Prince's Champion,
den Marshall of the Armies (die beiden letzteren Funktionen werden bis 3073, wie bekannt sein sollte,
von Jackson Davion ausgefüllt) hin zum High Command und dem General Staff. Es folgen Details zu
den verschiedenen Departments, zu den Regional Commands, den Military Units und den Non-Combat
Units. Das Kapitel Training stellt dann sämtliche Militärakademien der FedSuns vor, von der Albion
Military Academy über die Warrior's Hall zur Filtvelt Military Academy. Man erfährt, dass die Albion MA
die älteste aller Akademien ist und ihre Kurse als die anspruchvollsten gelten. Außerdem das NAIS
College of Military Science erst durch Ian und Hanse Davion zu dem wurde, was sie heute ist oder dass
die Kilbourne Academy eines der ganz wenigen Trainingscenter im Davion Outback ist und eher als
eine "Schule für einfache Leute" statt als wahre Eliteakademie angesehen wird. Uniformen und
Insignien werden im folgenden vorgestellt, zu sehen sind diese auch in den wundervollen Farbtafeln,
die sich in diesem Kapitel finden, ebenso die Orden, die man in den AFFS verliehen bekommen kann.
Kommen wir zum Kapitel Society&Culture, zu Deutsch Gesellschaft und Kultur. Es beginnt mit einer
Vorstellung der gesprochenen Sprachen, die sich in den verschiedenen Marken antreffen lassen. So
wird in der Crucis March vor allem französisch, deutsch und spanisch neben dem allgegenwärtigen
Englisch gesprochen, was in der Herkunft der Siedler dieses Teils der FedSuns aus Nord-Amerika und
Westeuropa begründet liegt. In der Mark Capella findet man viele chinesisch-sprechende Leute, aber
ebenso russisch und spanisch, sowie eine ganze Bandbreite an anderen Sprachen und Dialekten bzw.
Akzenten. In der Draconis March hingegen ist die Sprache der Nachbarn – der Draconier – verpönt,
was sich aus dem Kentares Massaker erklärt. In den anderen Teilen werden die Bürger eines neu
eroberten Planeten generell ohne große Schwierigkeiten anerkannt und sozusagen „in die Familie“
aufgenommen. In der Mark Draconis wird jedoch erwartet, dass ein Paradigmenwechsel stattfindet und
man der japanischen Kultur abschwört. Bleibt noch der Outback, sicher eines der interessantesten
Gebiete in den FedSuns, auch wenn der generell etwas kurz gekommen ist in diesem Buch. Die
Entwickler und Autoren äußerten sich dahingehend, dass das Buch leider in der Entwicklungsphase zu
lang geworden war und man sich gezwungen sah, einiges zu kürzen.
Es folgen Feiertage wie der Kentares Day – ein Gedenktag für alle Opfer feindlicher Invasionen - oder
der Rite of the Court – er läutet zum einen den Frühling auf Avalon ein und vor allem startet er den
drei-monatigen Zyklus, in dem der Royal Court geöffnet ist. Kleidung, Ausbildung und
37
Religion/Philosophy sind nun die nächsten Teilbereiche dieses Buches. Unter Education findet sich eine
Liste aller Universitäten in den FedSuns, vom NAIS bis hin zur University of Saso. Sehr nett gemacht
ist ein „Top 5 Federated Suns Universities“, in der die die New Avalon Post ein Ranking nach
verschiedenen Gesichtspunkten erstellt hat. Dieses datiert auf das Jahr 3059, also mag es sein, dass
sich inzwischen einiges geändert hat, nichtsdestotrotz eine sehr nette Idee. Wie hätte man sonst auch
erfahren sollen, dass das Federated Technical College of Kathil die Nummer 1 der Best Party
Universities ist, also wo man die besten Parties feiern kann oder dass das NAIS die höchste Zahl an
Selbstmorden aufzuweisen hat, was möglicherweise darin begründet liegt, dass sie auch die
anspruchvollsten Kurse aufzuweisen hat?
In Religion and Philosophy stellt man uns dann die verschiedenen Glaubensrichtungen vor, berichtet
etwas über die großen „Weltreligionen“, geht auch auf den Unterschied zwischen römisch-katholisch
und new avalon-katholisch ein, was auf die Warriors Trilogie von Mike Stackpole zurückgeht. Auch hier
sind wieder einige nette Dinge drin, wie z.B. das Unfinished Book Movement, deren Mitglieder auch auf
dem Cover von HBHD zu finden sind. Dies ist eine Glaubensgemeinschaft, die sich aus Mitgliedern aller
möglichen Religionen zusammensetzt und die es sich zum Ziel gesetzt haben, eines Tages die Werke
aller Heiligen Personen einer jeden Religion in einem großen Buch zu veröffentlichen. Die erste Auflage
dieses Buches erschien im Jahre 2959 und war nicht annähernd vollständig, deswegen der Name
„Unfinished Book Movement“. Eine etwas absonderlichere Gruppe sind die Prophets of the Third Dawn,
die davon überzeugt sind, dass Stefan Amaris und seine Leute die vier Reiter der Apokalypse waren,
dass die Auslese der Guten und Gläubigen mit Kerensky’s Exodus beendet war und der Erste
Nachfolgekrieg dementsprechend die Apokalypse war. Demzufolge wären alle noch lebenden Menschen
schlicht in der Hölle, aber es gibt noch Hoffnung, denn eines Tages soll jemand kommen, der die
Menschheit, oder zumindest diejenigen, die das Böse besiegt haben, im „3rd Dawn of Humanity“ in
den Himmel führen würde.
Anschließend finden sich Informationen zu Politics and Movements, wo z.B. auch die Gewerkschaften
und die verschiedenen Lobbies vorgestellt werden. Gewerkschaften haben zwar eine gewisse Macht,
aber im Gegensatz zu denen in der Lyranischen Allianz ist diese doch sehr begrenzter Natur. Während
der Nachfolgekriege wurde diese nämlich massiv beschnitten, als Paul Davion Streiks in essentiellen
Industrien schlicht für illegal erklärte und es den Gewerkschaften verbot, irgendeine Form von Einfluß
auf politische Entscheidungsfindung zu nehmen, was bis auf gewisse Einschränkungen noch bis ins
Jahre 3067 gilt. Es folgen Media und Arts, also Medien und Künste und abschließend dann noch
Wissenschaft& Technik und Crime&Punishment – also Verbrechen und Strafsystem. Eine kleine Tabelle
beschreibt hier die verschiedenen Strafen für verschiedene Verbrechen. So stehen auf Mord z.B. 15
Jahre bis lebenslänglich oder Exekution, ein Vergewaltiger bekommt 5-30 Jahre und wird öffentlich
kastriert, auf Verrat stehen 25 Jahre oder Exekution.
Kommen wir also zum letzten richtigen Kapitel, bevor wir uns dem Rules Annex widmen, der
Ökonomie. Neben den verschiedenen Informationen zur Währung, zu den Börsen des Reiches und dem
Außenhandel werden hier vor allem große Industrien vorgestellt. So findet man „write-ups“, also kurze
Texte mit Informationen, zu 18 zivilen Unternehmen, von Apple Computer Interstellar, deren
Heimatplanet Macintosh heißt. Über Kelvin-Drahne Diversified, die z.B. die Federated Broadcasting
Corporation aufgekauft haben, einen der 5 größten Medienkonzerne der FedSuns, bis hin zu
Wunderland Enterprises, einem Hersteller von Personal Computers, dessen Erfolgsgeschichte in einem
Joint Venture mit Valiant Systems auf Robinson begann, das zur Entwicklung des Styker Light Tanks
führte.
Es folgen zwölf Luft/Raumfahrt Unternehmen, von Cal-Boing of Dorwinion, die ihre militärische
Abteilung anscheinend aufgrund anhaltenden Misserfolgs auszugliedern gedenken, über Kathil
Shipworks, die durch den Bürgerkrieg größte Probleme hatten, auf Kathil wurde bekanntermaßen viel
gekämpft. Und wo die Produktion von neuen Schiffen (derzeit nur Landungsschiffe) gerade erst wieder
anläuft, bis hin zu Wangker Aerospace, die in letzter Zeit langsam wieder einen Fuß auf den
38
wirtschaftlichen Boden bekommen und zu diversifizieren gedenken und zudem hoffen, demnächst neue
Modelle zu entwickeln.
Mit Archernar BattleMechs beginnt dann der Teil über die Rüstungsindustrie. Über ABM erfährt man so
z.B., dass man als neueste Anschaffung Albion Advanced Technologies and Products verbuchen
konnte. Es folgen so bekannte Firmen wie Corean Enterprises, General Motors und Kallon Industries,
womit am Ende Texte zu 13 großen Rüstungskonzernen entstanden sind. Über Robinson Standard
Battleworks ist z.B. zu lesen, dass die Sandovals einen enormen Einfluß auf die Firma haben und so
auch steuern können, welche Einheiten tatsächlich Produkte von RSB erhalten – natürlich nur im
Austausch gegen entsprechende Gegenleistungen.
Zum Schluß werfen wir nun einen kurzen Blick auf den Rules Annex. Wie immer finden sich neue
Traits, Skills und Lifepaths für das RPG, komplett mit einer Übersicht über die verschiedenen Regionen
der FedSuns und deren Auswirkungen auf Attributes, Skills, Traits und Modifiers. So gibt es die Skills
Military Brat und Military Family, den neuen Skill Comm/FAX, wobei das FAX auch als Equipment
auftaucht und die Lifepaths Stage 3: Academic und Stage 4: Outback Teacher. An neuer Ausrüstung
tauchen neben der bereits angesprochenen FAX- Maschine eine Gefechtspanzerung für Infanterie, drei
neue Gewehre von Federated-Barret und eine neue Pistole von Serrek Arms auf. Besonders die
Thunderstroke II Gauss-Rifle verspricht einiges an Spielspaß, da hierzu ebenfalls Regeln für den
Einsatz von Gauss-Infanterie im TableTop mitgeliefert werden. Es gibt diverse Hinweise zum
Rollenspiel in den FedSuns, einiges an nützlichen Informationen zu Preise und Verfügbarkeiten von
Waffen und Ausrüstung und so weiter, halt alles, was das Rollenspielerherz begehrt. Die meisten
neuen Einheiten sind auch eher für Rollenspieler interessant, man bleibt hier weiter dem Grundsatz
treu, keine BattleMechs in den Housebooks einzuführen. Stattdessen findet sich auch hier, wie schon in
HBHS und HBHM eine „Blue Water“ Marine Einheit, in diesem Falle der Rapier-class Patrol Destroyer.
Er kann 3 VTOL beherbergen, massives Unterstützungsfeuer liefern, da er auch Arrow IV an Bord hat
oder als Erste-Hilfe Station dienen. Zwei dieser Monster passen in ein Mammoth Drop-Ship.
Fazit:
Handbook House Davion ist ein absolut geniales Buch, welches den Fans eine nahezu unglaubliche
Bandbreite an Informationen liefert und zudem noch sehr spannend geschrieben ist. Chris Trossen hat
sich hierbei selbst übertroffen und ich war und bin schlicht begeistert. Das Warten auf dieses Buch hat
sich aus meiner Sicht gelohnt, und auch wenn ich vor einiger Zeit die Seiten gewechselt habe und jetzt
das Licht Blakes gesehen habe, so spüre ich beim Lesen doch, dass ein Teil meines Herzens noch
immer für die Vereinigten Sonnen schlägt. Noch mehr als Handbook House Steiner schlug mich dieses
Buch in seinen Bann und ich freue mich schon auf meine gedruckte Ausgabe! Ich spreche hiermit eine
unbedingte Kaufempfehlung aus. Was mir noch positiv aufgefallen ist, auch wenn die FedSuns seit
jeher das Lieblingskind der Autoren und Entwickler gewesen sind, so findet man im Buch keinen
Hinweis darauf, dass man hier den Davion-Fans extra viel neues Spielzeug oder sonstige
Vorzugsbehandlung hat zukommen lassen. Auch dafür zolle ich den Machern meinen Respekt.
Zu guter letzt möchte ich unbedingt auf Seite 120 verweisen, direkt vor dem AFFS Kapitel findet sich
meine Lieblingszeichnung im ganzen Buch... Hanse Davion, der dem jungen James Kirk wie aus dem
Gesicht geschnitten wirkt. Zum Schreien! Sehr geil!
Was ist das Besondere an dem Beitrag von Jason Hardy?
39
Rezension zu Clanwächter
Mit Clanwächter ist nun auch endlich der zweite Teil des Bear-
Zyklus erschienen. Wieder dreht sich die Geschichte von Arous
Brocken um den, aus dem ersten Teil schon bekannten, George
Geisterbär.
Nachdem es George im ersten Teil als Leibeigenen in die
Geisterbären-Besatzungszone verschlagen hat, ist es auch nicht
verwunderlich, dass die Handlung wieder hier stattfindet. Zu
Beginn ist George immer noch ein einfacher MechKrieger, der aber
seinen Sternkameraden ein ums andere Mal durch taktische und
strategische Finessen aus der Patsche helfen kann. Doch das soll
sich schon bald ändern. Bei einer Mission auf Mannendorf stirbt
sein Sternenkommandeur im Kampf mit Söldnern aus der Inneren
Sphere. So findet sich George eher als es ihm lieb ist an dessen
Stelle
wieder.
Scheint
seine
Beförderung
zuerst
nur
vorübergehend zu sein, so kann er sie doch schon bald durch
einen Positionstest bestätigen. Damit werden ihm endgültig alle
Pflichten eines Sternkommandeurs übertragen. George sorgt für
eine
weitere
Umstrukturierung
seines
Sternes
zu
einem
Scoutstern. Neben neuen Kriegern, denen er erst klar machen
muss, was es bedeutet einen ScoutMech zu steuern, muss er sich
auch noch mit Vorgesetzten und Kollegen auseinandersetzen, die
ihm seinen Aufstieg nicht gönnen und ihm überall, wo es geht,
Steine in den Weg legen.
Dabei bemerkt George nicht, dass er sich eigentlich in viel größerer Gefahr befindet. Nachforschungen,
die er über seinen Auftrag auf Mannendorf anstellte, brachten die Clanwache auf seine Spuren. Und
niemand, der sich mit der Clanwache anlegt, kommt unbehelligt davon. So hetzen George und sein
Sternhaufen von Planet zu Planet, immer auf der Jagd nach den Söldnern, die in das
Geisterbärengebiet eingedrungen sind. Dass die wirkliche Gefahr in ihrer Mitte lauert, ahnt keiner von
ihnen.
Clanwächter ist, wie auch schon der erste Teil, äußerst unterhaltsam geschrieben. Wer die
MechWarrior-Computerspiele schon einmal gespielt hat, wird sich schnell in den Gefechten wieder
finden können. Gausskugeln, PPK-Blitze und Autokanonen scheinen direkt an einem vorbeizurasen.
Arous Brocken versteht es meisterhaft, dem Leser das Gefühl zu geben, er würde selber zusammen
mit George im Cockpit sitzen.
Jedoch gibt es auch ein paar Kritikpunkte: Wie schon bei Katze unter Bären wird der Tabletop-Spieler
und Universums-Kenner an einigen Stellen die Hände über dem Kopf zusammenschlagen. Zusätzlich
dazu tauchen ab und an Rechtschreib- und Grammatikfehler auf, die man eigentlich vermieden haben
könnte.
Persönliches Fazit:
Ich bin zwiegespalten. Zum einen mag ich dieses grellbunte MechWarrior-Gefühl, das ich beim Lesen
der Kämpfe bekomme. Wenn ich es hier hätte, würde ich glatt mein MW4: Mercs wieder auspacken
und losspielen. Ziemlich sauer stoßen mir jedoch die ganzen Fehler auf. Zum einen finde ich die Story
irgendwie ein bißchen lahm. Kann auch sein, dass ich zwischendurch einfach den Überblick verloren
habe wegen der ganzen Zeitsprünge, die Brocken durchführt.
Die Beschreibung der Verfolgung der Söldner war zwar spannend, aber für meinen Geschmack viel zu
schnell beschrieben. Ich hatte das Gefühl, als würde das Sprungschiff gerade einmal eine halbe Stunde
unter einer Sonne hängen müssen, bevor es wieder springen kann. Das kollidiert ein bisschen mit
meiner Vorstellung vom Universum. Auch dass der Todessprung anscheinend durchaus als Möglichkeit
40
angesehen wird, um einen Gegner auszuschalten, fand ich ziemlich merkwürdig. Die Clanner, die ich
kenne, machen so was nicht.
Clanner hingegen, die Sprungdüsen benutzen und ihre taktischen Möglichkeiten auszuspielen
versuchen, anstatt einfach darauf zu vertrauen, dass ihre Panzerung und ihre Waffen besser sind...
Respekt Herr Brocken, die haben sie wirklich überzeugend dargestellt. Wenn alle Clanner in der
Invasion so gehandelt hätten, wäre die Innere Sphere jetzt erobert.
Im Großen und Ganzen muss ich sagen, dass mir das Buch nicht so sehr gefallen hat. Ich werde wohl
auch noch den abschließenden Teil lesen, einfach, weil mir die Mechgefechte sehr gut gefallen, aber
die Fehler verderben mir ein klein wenig die Vorfreude darauf.
Wer gerne mal wieder richtig viel Schwermetall, Laser und Schrott sehen will, ist mit Clanwächter aber
durchaus gut bedient.
41
Rezension zu Total Warfare
Das Erscheinen von Total Warfare war und ist wahrscheinlich eines der größten Ereignisse und
Entwicklungen für Classic Battletech in den letzten Jahren. Um Euch einen umfassenden Eindruck des
neuen Regelwerks bieten zu können, präsentieren wir in dieser Ausgabe eine weitere Rezension.
Rezensiert von: Ron McClung
Battletech ist ein Langzeitklassiker und ich gebe zu, dass
ich ein wenig eingeschüchtert war, als ich es rezensieren
sollte. Ich wollte dem Spiel gerecht werden. Battletech
ist, trotz der Turbulenzen, die es in den letzten Jahren
durchmachen musste, seit langem eine feste Größe in
der Tabletop-Welt. Vom Brettspiel über Computerspiele,
Metalminis und MechWarrior: Dark Age hat Battletech
eine Menge verschiedener Inkarnationen hinter sich.
Trotzdem ist das Universum hinter dem Spiel im Hinblick
auf Story und Qualität sehr konsistent geblieben. Die
Fans des Spieles sind sehr engagiert und respektable
Spieler.
Bisher hatte ich mich nur peripher mit Battletech
beschäftigt. Damals in den 80ern hatte ich mir die erste
Box des Spieles gekauft, weil ich dachte, es wäre cool.
Aber ich fand keine Mitspieler und so landet die Box auf
dem Regal, bis ich sie an jemand anderen verkaufte. Ich
habe es nie wirklich gespielt. Allerdings habe ich die
MechWarrior Computerspiele gespielt, die den Kern
meines Wissens über Battletech bilden. Ich habe auch
das futuristische Panzer Spiel Centurion aus FASA`s
Renegade
Legion-Reihe
gespielt,
das
ähnliche
Spielmechaniken aufwies.
Da ich über Jahre hinweg Spiele-Conventions in Nord- und Süd-Carolina koordiniert habe, habe ich
eine Menge Battletechspiele gesehen. Für eine sehr lange Zeit war es für mich ein Eckpfeiler der
Convention. Ich rede hier über das echte, klassische BattleTech. Ich habe mit einigen Veteranen unter
den Spielern geredet und die meisten waren sehr zufrieden und angetan von der Arbeit von FanPro.
Dieses Buch scheint die Vereinigung harter Arbeit und Hingabe zum Spiel zu sein.
Da ich kein erfahrener Spieler bin, kann ich keinen Kommentar zu Total Warfare aus dieser Sicht
abgeben. Deshalb habe ich mit Dale Sission gesprochen, der seit 12 Jahren Battletech spielt und mir
einen kleinen Einblick in seine Meinung zu Total Warfare gewährt hat. Das Interview mit ihm findet ihr
im Anschluss an meine Rezension zum Buch.
Inhalt: Battletech: Total Warfare ist ein dicker Batzen, der die meisten Regeln des alten Systems
sowie viele der Erweiterungen und Errata bündelt. Es ist ein vollfarbiges Buch, das neben Massen an
Material über das Universum, für Anfänger sowie Veteranen alle Regeln enthält, die man zum Spielen
benötigt.
Die Introduction gibt dem Leser eine Übersicht darüber, was TW ist, was es sonst noch für Material für
Battletech gibt und wie das alles zusammenpasst. Dieser Teil ist besonders für Anfäger geeignet. Er
gewährt einen Einblick in die Größe und Vergangenheit des Systems und des Universums. Von den
verschiedenen Arten von Sourcebocks (wie die HardwareHandbücher) über die Record Sheets und
Maps bis hin zu den Minis, werden die meisten, wenn nicht sogar alle Produkte, die irgendwie mit
42
Battletech in Verbindung stehen, erklärt. Ebenso fehlt es nicht an Informationen, wie man an diese
Produkte herankommt. Nach der Introduction gibt es eine kurze, 3-seitige Zusammenfassung der
Großen Häuser und Clans, die das Universum beherrschen.
Eine der Sachen, die die Introduction betont, ist, dass Battletech als Tabletop startete. Alles, was man
zum spielen brauchte, waren eine Karte (Map) und ein paar Spielsteine (Counter). Das ist auch heute
noch so. Einige Leute trauen sich nicht zu spielen, weil sie von den komplexen Karten und Minis
abgeschreckt werden. In meinen Augen gibt es keinen Grund hierzu. Wie gesagt, alles was man
braucht sind eine Karte, die Datenbögen für die Einheiten und ein paar Spielsteine und schon kann
man loslegen.
Die Components-Sektion ist ein kurzer Abriss über die Einheiten, denen man auf dem Schlachtfeld
begegnen wird. Darunter sind natürlich die Mechs, aber auch andere Bodenfahrzeuge, Raumschiffe,
Landungsschiffe und normale Schiffe. Neben jeder Beschreibung findet man eine nette, farbige
Abbildung eines Beispiels für das Fahrzeug. Es handelt sich um einen Grundkurs in Battletech-
Technologie. Daran schließt sich die Erklärung der Record Sheets (die nicht im Buch enthalten sind,
aber über die Webseite verfügbar sind), der Karten (die auch separat erhältlich sind) und anderer
Spielkomponenten an. Abgeschlossen wird das Kapitel mit einer 2-seitigen Beschreibung der
Organisation militärischer Einheiten im Battletech-Universum.
Im Playing the game – Kapitel findet man die ersten Regeln, die zum Spielen nötig sind. Ich werde sie
genauer im System-Teil dieses Artikels betrachten. Man kann aber jetzt schon sagen, dass sich die
generellen Mechaniken des Spiels in den zwanzig Jahren, die es besteht nicht grundlegend verändert
haben.
In den nachfolgenden Kapiteln werden die Waffen und das Equipment, das verwendet wird, erklärt. Es
gibt hier nicht nur einige Waffen, sondern auch eine große Bandbreite an Systemen, die zur
Unterstützung im Kampf benötigt werden. Je nachdem, welchen Mech man steuert, variieren die
Möglichkeiten, die man hat. Von Rakentenabwehrsystemen über ECM-Anlagen bis hin zu exotischen
Nahkampfwaffen (einziehbares Schwert, Presslufthammer) und verschiedenen Computern zur
Koordinierung von Taktiken findet sich hier alles, was das Kriegerherz begehrt. Abschließend werden
verschiedene Manöver, die ein Mech durchführen kann (Rammen, Todessprung,...) erklärt und
durchweg ausführlich erläutert.
Verschiedene Kapitel über besondere Einheiten, wie zum Beispiel Protomechs, und deren besondere
Fähigkeiten sowie Gebäude bieten weitere Möglichkeiten, Leben in das Spiel zu bringen. Dabei wird
ebensowenig auf Regeln für Infantrie und Unterstützungsfahrzeuge wie auf Aerospace-Jäger
verzichtet. Nochmals, ich kann nicht genug betonen, wie umfassend alles dargestellt wird.
Creating Scenarios ist dazu da, es dem Leser zu ermöglichen selber Szenarios für sich und seine
Freunde zu entwerfen. Es wird in das BattleValue-System eingeführt, um Fairness und Balance
zwischen den Gegenern zu ermöglichen. Außerdem werden verschiedene Werkzeuge zum allgemeinen
sowie zufälligem Erstellen von Szenarios erklärt und anhand von Beispielen vorgeführt.
Die interessanteste Sektion ist in meinen Augen die Painting Miniatures-Sektion. So etwas habe ich mir
schon gewünscht, als ich anfing, Tabletops zu spielen. Es ist ein riesiger Schatz an Tipps und Tricks,
um Miniaturen zu bemalen. Zusammen mit den vielen, vollfarbigen Bildern von bemalten Minis im
ganzen Buch, gibt dem Anfänger etwas, womit er sich lange beschäftigen kann. Es ist eine der
bemerkenswertesten Hilfen in diesem Buch.
System: Als ich das Buch mit der Post bekam, beschloss ich, dass ich mit ihm lernen wollte, wie man
Battletech spielt. Ich konnte mich kaum an etwas von dem, was ich damals in der Box gelesen hatte,
erinnern. Von diesem Standpunkt aus beeindruckten mich die Aufmachung und das erste Kapitel vom
Fleck weg. Nachdem ich die Grundlagen über Mechs und das Universum verschlungen hatte, stürzte
ich mich kopfüber in die Regeln. Wie weiter oben schon erwähnt, sind die Regeln das Produkt aus
43
mehr als zwanzig Jahren Playtesting und Entwicklung. Aber das Buch sollte auch eine vernünftige
Einführung für neue Spieler sein, und das wollte ich jetzt testen.
Eine Phase (der Kern des Systems) besteht aus mehreren Sequenzen: Initiative, Boden-Bewegung,
Luft/Raumjäger-Bewegung, Angriff, Hitze und dem Ende der Phase. Jede Sequenz wird in einem
eigenen Kapitel erklärt, das tiefergehende Informationen bietet. Dabei ist das Hauptaugenmerk auf
Mechs gerichtet, aber die Regeln für Raumschiffe, Protomechs, Unterstützungseinheiten und andere
Einheiten werden danach auch noch erklärt.
Die Basiswürfe setzen sich aus 2 sechseitigen Würfeln zusammen. Schützenwürfe, Pilotenwürfe und
andere wichtige Würfe, wie Bewusstlosigkeit oder kritische Treffer, werden mit diesen Würfeln
bestimmt. Dabei hat jede Aufgabe einen Mindestwurf, den man entwerder erreichen oder überbieten
muss. Es ist ein nettes, offenes Würfelsystem.
Im Grunde genommen ist das System sehr einfach, aber der Teufel steckt im Detail. Besonders dann,
wenn man andere Einheiten neben den Mechs einsetzt, wie zum Beispiel Luft/Raumjäger, öffnet sich
ein komplettes, neues Kapitel an Möglichkeiten und Regeln. Am Boden basiert Bewegung
beispielsweise auf Bewegungspunkten. Für Luft/Raumjäger basiert die Bewegung auf den Ort, an dem
sie sich befinden: Im All, in der oberen Atmosphäre oder der unteren Atmosphäre. In jedem dieser
Fälle setzen Luft/Raum-Einheiten Schubpunkte ein. Das System versucht die Effekte von Schub, keiner
und geringer Gravitation mit möglichst simplen Spielmechaniken zu simulieren. Ich habe es bereits in
den Renegade-Legion Systemen gesehen und es ist ein einfaches, elegantes System, das nur so
kompliziert ist, wie man selbst es haben will.
Der Kampf wird über einen Wurf geregelt, der sich aus dem Können des Piloten, der Waffe und ihrerer
Reichweite, dem Terrain und verschiedenen anderen Komponenten zusammensetzt. Fliegende
Luft/Raum-Einheiten haben besondere Regeln für den Kampf. Weitere Regeln enthalten Informationen
zum Feuern auf fliegende Einheiten, genaues zielen und indirektes Feuer. Wie man für ein so altes
System erwarten kann, wird keine Frage ausgelassen. Alles ist explizit erklärt und lässt sich einfach
nachvollziehen. Die Tabellen sind übersichtlich und selbsterklärend. Schaden wird auf den Record
Sheets vermerkt, nachdem die Trefferzone bestimmt wurde. Jede Waffe hat einen speziellen
Schadenswert, der von ihrer Reichweite oder Feuerrate abhängt. Ein Record Sheet enthält ein
Panzerungsdiagramm und ein internes Diagramm, auf dem auch kritische Treffer vermerkt werden.
Kritische Treffer sind eines der wichtigsten Dinge in Battletech und werden auch dementsprechend
ausführlich im Kampf-Kapitel behandelt.
In der heutigen Spieleindustrie kann ein Spiel nicht für mehr als zwanzig Jahre überleben ohne einen
soliden und eleganten Kern zu besitzen. Ohne Zweifel hat Battletech dies erreicht und sogar noch
mehr.
Layout: Die Artworks sind beeindruckend, das Layout gut. Sehr nützlich ist der Index, auch wenn ich
der Meinung bin, ein zusätzlicher Glossar wäre eine weitere Verbesserung gewesen. Am Ende des
Buches findet man nochmal alle für das Spielen notwendigen Tabellen. Die Tabs an den Seiten helfen
beim Suchen eines bestimmten Kapitels. Zwischen den vielen Bildern von Mechs und Illustrationen von
Regeln gelingt es dem Buch, dem Leser alle Facetten des Spiels deutlich zu erklären.
Sehr nett sind auch die Kurzgeschichten zwischen den Kapiteln. Battletech ist schon immer ein riesiges
Universum mit unendlichen Möglichkeiten für Geschichten gewesen und es ist gut von den Publishern
gewesen, auch diesen Bereich mit zu integrieren. Jede der Geschichten behandelt eine spezielle
Fraktion und ist auch mit dementsprechenden Artwork gestaltet worden.
44
Nachdem ich meine Meinung kundgetan habe, hier die Ansichten eines Veterans:
Ron McClung (RM): Wie lange spielst Du schon Battletech?
Dale Sission (DS): Seit etwas zwölf Jahren bin ich Spieler und Fan von Battletech. Ich habe alles vom
„klassischen“ Battletech über MegaMek und die verschiedenen Simulationen des Systems gespielt. Ich
habe sogar MechWarrior: Dark Age ausprobiert.
RM: Was ist Total Warfare für Dich als Spieler?
DS: Total Warfare ist für mich als Spieler die Wiederbelebung eines Spieles mit einem tiefen und
reichen Hintergrund. Ich sehe es als Wiederbelebung an, weil es nicht wirklich eine Wiedergeburt oder
etwas vollkommen Neues ist. Es ist immer noch dasselbe Battletech, aber mit ein paar neuen
Entwicklungen. Erfahrene Spieler müssen nur die Tabellen aufschlagen und die Modifikatoren lernen
und können direkt losspielen. Nachdem ich einmal durch das Buch geblättert hatte, konnte ich meine
Mechs abstauben und wieder loslegen. Wenn man die erfahrenen Spieler fragt, enthält Total Warfare
alle Regeln aus dem alten MaxTech. Wer CBT und MaxTech kennt, wird feststellen, dass sich TW nur in
einigen Modifikatoren davon unterscheidet.
RM: Was ist Total Warfare NICHT für Dich als
Spieler?
DS: Es ist keine vereinfachte Version von
Battletech.
TW
ist
seinen
Wurzeln
treu
geblieben.
Mann
muss
immer
noch
die
gleichen taktischen Entscheidungen treffen.
Die Regeln haben sich wirklich nicht sehr
verändert. Anstatt zu versuchen, das Rad mit
einem anderen System neu zu erfinden, ist es
bei der Form geblieben, die die Spieler seit
Jahren kennen und lieben.
RM: Kannst Du uns etwas sagen, das Du am
Meisten an dem Buch TW magst?
DS: Es gibt viel Bonus-Material neben den
Regeln. Zuerst wären da die wunderschönen
Farbfotos von den Minis. Zweitens gibt es am
Ende des Buches ein nettes Bemalkapitel. Die
netten Kurzgeschichten geben dem Buch den
Rest zu einer gelungenen Investition.
RM: Gibt es etwas, das Du an dem Buch TW
nicht magst?
DS: Nicht wirklich. Es gibt nicht viel, was man
an dem Buch nicht mögen könnte.
RM: Warum sollte ein Neueinsteiger TW kaufen?
DS: Es hat alles, was man braucht. Alle Regeln, der Hintergrund, Hilfen zum Bemalen von Miniaturen
und Internetadressen für weitere Informationen. Wenn man vorher noch nie etwas von Battletech
gehört hat und liest dieses Buch, hat man einen umfassenden Einblick in das Universum sowie die
wichtigsten Regeln des Spiels gewonnen.
45
RM: Warum sollte ein erfahrener Spieler TW kaufen?
DS: Aus Bequemlichkeit, ganz einfach. TW bündelt alles, was man braucht in einem Band. Es enthält
die ehemals optionalen MaxTech-Regeln als Standard und deckt auch die Luft/Raum-Regeln aus dem
alten AeroTech ab.
RM: Was hältst Du vom Layout?
DS: Das Layout ist sehr gut. Der Index schwächelt in meinen Augen ein wenig, aber man findet
meistens das, wonach man gerade sucht.
RM: Dein endgültiges Urteil?
DS: Wie ich schon sagte, besitzt TW einen großen Wert für Battletech-Fans, seien es nun Veteranen
oder Neulinge. Es erlaubt neuen Spielern einen einfachen Einstieg und bietet auch für den erfahrenen
Spieler immer genug Erweiterungsplatz, um das Spiel auf Jahre spannend zu machen. Im Großen und
Ganzen ist es in meinen Augen eine gelungene Revitalisierung eines Systems, welches im Bezug auf
den Hintergrund auf dem Markt seinesgleichen sucht.
Zusammengefasst kann man sagen, wenn TW ein Zeichen für ein Revival von Battletech unter FanPro
ist, ist es ein gutes Zeichen. Das Buch ist beeindruckend und Dale hat Recht, alles was man braucht ist
darin enthalten. Nachdem ich es gelesen hatte, hatte ich das Gefühl, einfach loslegen zu können. Alles
ist erklärt und nirgendwo wird eine Frage offen gelassen. Ich sollte vielleicht anmerken, dass wir, wenn
wir sagen, es ist alles drin, was man braucht, die Regeln meinen. Karten und Record Sheets müssen
weiterhin extra gekauft werden.
46
Es ist ja nun ein Jahr her also haben wir uns entschieden, einmal nachzufragen, wie es unserem ersten
Interview-Partner in diesen Monaten so ergangen ist. Dementsprechend präsentieren wir Euch hier den
ersten von hoffentlich einigen solchen Texten, denn wir werden uns bemühen, in folgenden Ausgaben
wiederum einen kleinen Beitrag über „das letzte Jahr“ zu erhalten. Somit übergeben wir das Wort an
Kevin und wünschen euch viel Spaß beim Lesen:
Kevin Killiany – Das letzte Jahr
Vor einiger Zeit bat mich Björn etwas darüber zu schreiben, wie es mir in dem Jahr, seit mein Interview
im Newsletter erschienen war, erging. Ich schob dieses Update lange vor mir her, weil ich damit
beschäftigt war, andere Sachen zu schreiben.
Oder besser, sie umzuschreiben.
Wie diejenigen, die mein Live Journal kennen, wissen, musste ich 25% aus „Men of Earth“, meiner
Kurzgeschichte aus „Doctor Who Short Trips: Desination: Prague“ herauskürzen.
Obwohl der Chefredakteur und die BBC sehr zufrieden mit der Geschichte waren, wurde die Anthologie
als Gesamtes zu lang. Big Finish musste also entweder ein paar der Geschichten rauswerfen, oder
jeden Autor bitten, seine bereits akzeptierte
Geschichte zu kürzen. Sie machten das
Letztere. Einige Autoren mussten 500,
andere tausend Wörter kürzen. Nachdem
“Men of Earth” mit 12.000 Wörtern ziemlich
groß war, wurde ich gebeten, sie um 3000
Wörter zu kürzen.
Ich verwand viel Zeit darauf, Sätze neu zu
strukturieren und Adjektive zu löschen.
Dann realisierte ich, dass es keinen anderen
Weg gab, als einen der Subplots komplett
zu löschen. Mit 9000 Wörtern (im Moment,
es kann sein, dass ich da noch was dran
ändern muss) ist “Men of Earth” immer
noch die längste Geschichte, die jemals in
„Doctor Who: Short Trips“ erschienen ist.
Neben Doctor Who versuchte ich auch in
andere Märkte hineinzukommen. Ich glaube
nicht, dass es den Leuten etwas ausmachen würde, wenn ich Euch das Folgende erzähle. Ich habe
versucht sie davon zu überzeugen, dass ich englische Geschichten für DSA schreiben sollte. Sie waren
sehr freundlich zu mir, auch wenn ich bezweifle, dass sie mich ernst nahmen. Ehrlich gesagt glaube ich,
dass es einfach noch nicht genug englische Leser für so ein Projekt gibt. Noch!
Ich wandte meine Liebe für Schwerter und Magie also einem anderen etablierten Spieluniversum zu.
Ich habe schon verschieden E-Mails mit Chefredakteuren ausgetauscht, aber es gibt noch nichts
Handfestes, also werde ich auch noch nichts versprechen.
Wo wir gerade von Schwertern sprechen: meine “Star Trek Corps of Engineers” - Geschichte wird in
der bald erscheinenden Grand Designs Anthologie enthalten sein. Ich habe es geschafft verschiedene,
bekannte Elemente wie zum Beispiel Ritter, Aufseher und Adlige in einer Star Trek Geschichte
unterzubringen.
47
2006 verbrachte ich auch einige Monate mit einer Geschichte, die ich unfertig zur Seite gelegt hatte. In
den späten 50ern und 60ern ging meine Mutter mit “Voice of America” zuerst nach Angola und danach
nach Ghana. In Ghana lernte sie dann meinen Vater, einen Texaco Öl-Ingineur, kennen und heiratete
ihn schließlich. Sie bereiste die ganze Region und ich wuchs mit ihren Geschichten über das Land und
die Leute sowie Stücken von der Elfenbeinküste, Benin und Ghana auf.
Als ich mich dann entschied, einen romantischen Roman zu schreiben, erschien es mir nur natürlich,
ihn an der Südküste von Westafrika spielen zu lassen. Ich hatte beinahe ein Drittel des Buches bereits
zu Papier gebracht und den Hauptplot für das komplette Buch bereits in meinem Kopf. Dann begann ich
meine Quellen zu überprüfen, ob meine Erinnerungen aus zweiter Hand auch akkurat währen. Zu
diesem Zeitpunkt realisierte ich, dass man das Westafrika von vor sechzig Jahren nicht mit dem
Westafrika von heute vergleichen kann.
Ich stand vor einer schweren Entscheidung: Entweder würde ich bei meinen Erinnerungen bleiben und
es zu einem historischen Roman werden lassen oder meiner Idee treu bleiben und Afrika so kennen
zulernen, wie es heute ist. Natürlich entschied ich mich für Letzteres. Ich habe noch Monate an
Recherchen vor mir, bevor ich diesem Land gerecht werden kann. Monate, die so lang werden warten
müssen, bis ich meine momentanen Projekte beendet habe.
Zu den MechWarrior: Dark Age und Classic BattleTech Fronten: Mein Roman “Wolf Hunters wurde im
November veröffentlicht und von den Lesern begeistert aufgenommen. Meine letzte “Chaos Irregulars”
Geschichte (bis 2008) wurde im Januar auf BattleCorps veröffentlicht. In der letzten Phase vor der
Veröffentlichung auf BattleCorps sind “Djinn of Despair”, eine 39.000-Wörter-Fortsetzung die nach
“Dragons of Despair” einsetzt, und “A Different Hope”, eine 10.000-Wörter-Geschichte über das Ende
der Blue Star Irregulars. Ich habe keine Ahnung, wann sie veröffentlicht werden. Loren meint, er würde
im Moment mit guten Stories überschüttet werde und mich da mit hinein zu schieben wäre schwierig.
Gerade eben erwähnte ich meine momentanen Projekte. Ich bin etwa zu einem Drittel mit meinem
zweiten media tie-in Roman fertig. Es besteht eine Verbindung zum Spiel, aber da die Firma noch keine
offizielle Ankündigung gemacht hat, kann auch ich noch nichts verraten. Alles was ich sagen kann, ist,
dass es sich um ein Projekt handelt, das mich sehr begeistert.
Das wars soweit von mir.
Außer vielleicht, das meine Frau Valerie und ich in der ersten April Woche unseren fünfundzwanzigsten
Hochzeitstag feiern werden. Wir machen eine Kreuzfahrt in die westliche Karibik. Es wir unser erster
Urlaub seit vierundzwanzig Jahren ohne Kinder sein.
Das Newsletter-Team gratuliert zu diesem Ereignis und wünscht einen schönen und erholsamen Urlaub!
Links:
Kevins Live Journal
http://kvaadk.livejournal.com
Kurzgeschichte zu Docter Who: Short Trips
http://www.bigfinish.com/drwho_books/ST20_destinationprague.shtml
48
Black Ghost, White Death
---[Kommunikationsprotokoll
BW-03ZX-Alpha]--[Sicherheitsstufe
Omega-78TR-LoM]--
[Inhalt streng vertraulich]--
Von: Adept-II-Sigma Jan
An: Hauptkommando
Betreff: Subjekt LJ-3-Alpha
Auftrag ausgeführt. Subjekt wurde durch vereinte Anstrengungen ausgeschaltet. Sekundäres Ziel
trotz Verlust der Objekte, erfolgreich ausgeführt. Die Celestials übertreffen alle unsere Erwartungen.
Da wurde wirklich gute Arbeit geleistet.
Blakes Wille geschehe
Adept-II-Sigma
--(Abgefangene Botschaft unbekannter Herkunft aus dem Northwind-System)--
Nachdem ich in der letzten Ausgabe von meinen Erfahrungen mit dem Vengeance Gambit berichtet
habe, möchte ich an dieser Stelle das gleiche zu Black Ghosts, White Death, dem aktuellsten
Command-Event machen.
Auch diesmal hatte ich die Möglichkeit,
in Kiel an dem Event teilzunehmen.
Diesmal trat Word of Blake gegen die
Northwind Highlanders an. Ein erster
Blick auf die Aufstellungen, begeisterte
mich sofort. Die Blakisten führten eine
komplettes Lvl. II C3i-Mechs sowie
drei weitere Mechs ins Feld. Zwei
davon waren aus der neuen Celestial
OmniMech-Serie des WoB, die im Jihad
Hot Spots 3072 vorgestellt werden.
Die Highlander stellten ihnen eine
gemischte
Kompanie
Mechs
und
Panzer entgegen. Auch hier gab es
einige Besonderheiten, war doch Loren
Jeffreys in einem Rifleman persönlich
an der Schlacht beteiligt.
Das einzige Ziel, das ausgegeben
worden war, war den Gegner komplett
zu vernichten.
Wir konzentrierten uns darauf, unsere C3i Einheiten möglichst vorteilhaft zu platzieren. Das
bedeutete, dass wir unseren Viking, der mit MMLs ausgerüstet war, im Hintergrund in Deckung
brachten. Unsere sprungfähigen Mechs versuchten währenddessen, ihre erhöhte Mobilität zu ihrem
Vorteil zu nutzen. Ansonsten näherte sich alles, was nicht zum Fernkampf geeignet erschien langsam
den vorrückenden Highlandern.
Um das Netzwerk optimal nutzen zu können ließen wir unseren durch einen kurzen Schlagabtausch
leicht beschädigten Preta vorstürmen. Er sollte als Spotter für das C3i-Netzwerk dienen. Er erfüllte
seine Rolle ganz gut und leitete ein paar LRMs sicher ins Ziel. Im Gegenzug wurde er aber so schwer
beschädigt, dass sein MD-Pilot K.O. ging und die nächsten Runden erstmal nicht wieder aufwachte.
Das war der Zeitpunkt an dem wir beschlossen, dass es eine gute Idee wäre Loren Jeffreys aus
seinem Rifleman zu befördern. Also schossen sich unsere Mechs auf das Ziel ein und katapultierten
49
den generischen Kommandeur so auch schließlich aus seinem Mech. Die Highlander ließen sich davon
aber überhaupt nicht beeindrucken und beförderten unseren Greif mit ins Jenseits.
Unser nächstes Ziel war ein Thunderhawk der Highlanders, der unsere Truppen ernsthaft bedrohte.
Also begab ich mich mit meinem Seraph in den Nahkampf. Irgendjemand musste dem Söldnerpiloten
ja mal zeigen, was die neuen OmniMechs wirklich drauf haben. Mit vereinten Kräften gelang es uns,
den Thunderhawk niederzuringen. Leider ging dabei auch der Seraph drauf. Aber nicht durch interne
Schäden sondern durch den Tod des MD-Piloten, der einfach weggecrittet wurde. Die Schlacht wogte
unverändert weiter. Schließlich gelang den Highlandertruppen der Durchbruch durch unsere
Schlachtreihe. Wir zogen uns langsam zu unserem immer noch hinten stehenden Viking zurück, um
ihnen möglichst geballte Feuerkraft entgegensetzen zu können.
Dabei verloren wir noch unseren Orion.
Bei unserem Rückzug setzten uns die
vorderen Elemente der Highlander, ein
Hercules und ein Grand Titan dann doch
noch ganz schön zu. Unser Legacy
konnte
aber
doch
den
Hercules
ausschalten, so dass er keine weitere
Gefahr mehr darstellte. Auf der anderen
Seite, fiel unsere rechte Flanke aber
doch ein, nachdem ein gegnerischer
Kingfisher unseren Tempest vernichtete.
So stand unser Salamander ziemlich
alleine da. Die letzten Runden brachten
aber doch noch einige Überraschungen.
So erlangte der todgeglaubte Preta-Pilot
das Bewusstsein wieder. Aber nur, um
im gleichen Zug vom Blood Asp der
Highlander zu Altmetall verarbeitet zu werden. Im Gegenzug erwischte unser Salamander noch einen
War Dog.
Ich habe wieder sehr viel Spaß bei diesem Event gehabt, auch wenn wir wieder verloren haben. Aber
diesmal war es aus meiner Sicht sehr viel knapper als noch beim Vengeance Gambit. Ein weiterer
Punkt, der mir das ganze versüßt hat, war, dass ich gemerkt habe, wie viel Regeln und Taktik
innerhalb des letzten halben Jahres gelernt habe. Hatte ich damals beim Vengeance Gambit 1 in
Hamburg fast gar nichts im Kopf, konnte ich diesmal die Zielzahlen schon fast mühelos im Kopf
berechnen. Ich freue mich jetzt auf jeden Fall auch schon auf Vengeance Gambit 2, das im Oktober
stattfinden wird.
50
Das Anröchteconprojekt – mehr als eine Erinnerung
Galateaconvention 2006 – Wie so oft saßen Battletechspieler aus ganz Deutschland neben den Fights
an der Platte beisammen und schwelgten in Erinnerungen an die Zeiten in Anröchte. So wurde die Idee
geboren, diese Convention wieder aufleben zu lassen, aber diesmal vereinsübergreifend. In der Woche
nach der Convention wurde eine Seite online gestellt und ein Forum eingerichtet. Wenige Wochen
wurden Ideen eingestellt und dann schlief das Projekt wieder ein.
Galateaconvention 2007 – Wieder saßen diese Spieler zusammen und der Wunsch, Anröchte zu
reanimieren war wieder im Mittelpunkt. Dieses Jahr ging man jedoch ans Eingemachte: es wurde eine
Liste ausgelegt, in die sich jeder eintragen konnte, der bereit ist, für Anröchte in Vorkasse zu treten
um dieses Projekt voran zu treiben. Mit Erfolg: im Moment liegt der Betrag bei 870€ und wir alle
hoffen, dass sich im Forum der Seite noch mehr Willige finden, denen die deutsche Battletechszene am
Herzen liegt und die ihren Teil dazu beitragen wollen, eine Erinnerung wieder aufleben zu lassen und
neue Erinnerungen zu schaffen.
Abgesehen von den Erinnerungen an die früheren Conventions hat die Lokation den Vorteil, dass sie
relativ zentral liegt und eine gute Verkehrsanbindung hat. Es ist ruhig gelegen und neben den großen
Hallen, die alle ohne Verlassen des Gebäudes erreicht werden können, umfasst das Gelände noch
einen großen Vorplatz, der in der Vergangenheit immer zum Zelten genutzt wurde. Es ist dort möglich
zu grillen und ca. 2 Minuten Fußweg entfernt ist ein Supermarkt. Die Parkplatzsituation ist ebenfalls
optimal. Im Bürgerhaus in Anröchte finden auch sonst größere Veranstaltungen statt, wie LAN Partys
und Konzerte.
Der erste Kontakt zu Anröchte ist bereits hergestellt und das Wochenende vom 25. bis 26. August
2008 ist ins Auge gefasst. Viele Chapter der verschiedensten Vereinigungen (Team Trueborn,
Mechworld, Mechforce) sowie freie Chapter haben bereits Ihr Interesse bekundet oder unterstützen
uns bereits. Und nun kommst Du ins Spiel:
Wir brauchen Dein Feedback bezüglich Deines Interesses und Deine Beteiligung, wenn Du magst.
Diese Convention kann nur stattfinden, wenn vorher das Interesse groß ist (und auch nicht bis zum
Termin wieder abflaut)
Links:
www.battletech-convention.de
51
Zehn Jahre Galatea Convention
Dieses Jahr hieß es zum zehnten Mal Galatea Convention in Essen und ich war stellvertretend für den
BT-Newsletter und somit für Euch dabei.
Veranstaltet wurde das Ganze von den Kell Hounds, einem ca. 15 Jahre alten Chapter aus Essen und
Umgebung. Die Galatea ist eine vereinsunabhängige Convention, deren Ziel es ist, Spieler aller
Vereinigungen und Communitys an einen Tisch zu bringen.
Am Freitag den 02. März 2007 gingen im Jugendzentrum Papestraße in Essen die Tore auf und ein
tolles Wochenende mit Battletech und netten Leuten begann.
Da ca. zwanzig Chapter oder auch siebzig Leute anwesend waren, konnte keine Langeweile
aufkommen. Auch Spieler, die alleine angereist oder gar zum ersten Mal da waren, fanden schnell
Anschluss.
Während der Freitag ausschließlich für Chapterfights und nettes Beisammensein verplant war, fand
am Samstag das 120t-Turnier statt.
Gewonnen haben hierbei:
1. Platz:
Patrick Ulrich (Kell Hounds, Mechworld)
2. Platz:
Stephan >>Imp<< Riesener (Fighting Urakai, Mechworld)
3. Platz:
Thorsten Hürter (Fighting Urakai, Mechworld)
4. Platz:
Björn Dewenter (Kell Hounds, Mechworld)
Somit teilen sich die Kell Hounds die „Best of four“ mit den Fighting Urakai und die Pokale bleiben in
Nordrheinwestfalen.
Im Anschluss an die Siegerehrung wurde ein „heidnisches Mondfinsternisgrillen“ zelebriert. Während
noch einige kleinere und größere Fights bis in die späten Morgenstunden andauerten, saßen andere
in Gruppen zusammen und tauschten Erfahrungen und Erinnerungen aus. Auch über das
Anröchteprojekt (siehe www.battletech-convention.de) wurde viel gesprochen und gerade bei diesem
Thema kamen viele ins Schwelgen.
Am Sonntag wurden langsam die Zelte abgebrochen und letzte Gefechte geschlagen. Es hieß
Abschied nehmen und den Kurs wieder Richtung Heimatsystem setzen. Es war ein sehr schönes
Wochenende mit viel Lachen und Reden und vor allem Battletech in familiärer Atmosphäre.
Auch nächstes Jahr heißt es wieder „Galatea“; diesmal zum elften Mal! Der Termin ist im Forum der
Galateaconvention unter http://66949.rapidforum.com/ nachzulesen.
Ich hoffe mal, Euch dort nächstes Jahr auch über den Weg zu laufen.
So long
Eure Ela
52
Hannover Spielt!
31.03.2007 bis 01.04.2007
Auch dieses Jahr fand (logischerweise in Hannover)
die „Hannover Spielt!“ statt. Die Lokation war die
Bürgerschule
in
Hannovers
Nordstadt.
Neben
diversen
Rollenspielen
wie
zum
Beispiel
Das
schwarze Auge oder dem Kartenspiel Munchkin und
anderen Spielen hatte auch Battletech einen Raum,
in dem Spieler zusammenkamen, um ihr Hobby zu
präsentieren. Die Mechforce hatte ein Szenario um
den Jihad vorbereitet und auch die Mechworld war
mit
zwei
eigens
hergestellten
Geländebauten
augereist: eine Eislandschaft, die mit Maßband
bespielt wurde und eine Arena, in der ein Destruction
Derby stattfand. Der Raum war gut gefüllt und sogar
zwei aktive Damen saßen dort, um Gegner aus ihren
Mechs zu schießen!
Auf den Fluren waren diverse Verkaufstände aufgebaut, wo man Spiele und Zubehör sowie Met und
dazugehörige Tonbecher und –Kannen erwerben konnte. Hier sei vor allem „Pegasus Spiele“ genannt,
welche zudem auch Förderer der „Hannover Spielt!“ sind. Es fand eine Tombola statt, bei der man
kleinere Sachpreise gewinnen konnte, mit dem Hintergrund, sich auch mal andere Spielsysteme
anzuschauen.
Wer
am
Samstagabend
noch
in
Tanzstimmung
war,
erhielt
mit
der
Eintrittskarte freien Eintritt im Madclub in
Hannover Mitte.
In diesem Jahr fanden hier auch die
deutsche
und
die
europäische
Mechwarriormeisterschaft
statt.
Veranstaltet wurde diese von „Wizkids“
und „Pegasus Spiele“.
Es war im Großen und Ganzen eine
interessante Veranstaltung und wer nicht
mal überall geschnuppert hat ist selber
schuld ;) .
53
| textdata/thevault/BattleTech [multi]/LANG/[DE]/Offizieller deutscher Newsletter/Classic Battletech - Official German Newsletter #05.pdf |
1
The Social Distance Collective
This product is based on the Dungeon Crawl Classics Role
Playing Game, published by Goodman Games. This product
is published under license. Dungeon Crawl Classics and DCC
RPG are trademarks of Goodman Games. All rights reserved.
For additional information, visit www.goodman-games.com
or contact [email protected].
2
Quarantine continues and so does QuaranZine! Inspired by
Goodman Games’ release for free of the classic funnel “A Portal
Under The Stars” as part of the DCC Quick Start rules, we decided to
create our own brand new funnels for you to run for friends and
strangers alike. All the adventures are designed to fit in the usual 4-
hour convention slot, and we’ve tried to stay true to that fantastical,
genre-bending, DCC-style. Each of these adventures contains
everything you need to kick-start a new campaign or introduce a
group of new players to the magic of the DCC system.
Much of the RPG world is still stuck at home without much to do, but
since the last volume was released, some of us found we were able to
do more gaming than ever! With so many more people getting their
game time online, we had more opportunities to test out our
homebrew. Life always manages to get busy, but the DCC RPG
community once again banded together to make a homemade zine
celebrating the game that we've been prevented from playing in
person for now, and maybe raising a bit of money for a good cause
in the process.
The following content is pulled directly from our home games,
creative projects, and isolation-addled minds, and we hope it helps
entertain you through this insane timeline we're currently stuck in.
Any proceeds from sales of this product will go to GiveDirectly, a
highly-rated charity that sends the money directly to families in need
of assistance to pay basic living expenses through a special COVID-
19 fund (visit https://www.givedirectly.org/covid-19/ for details or
to donate). Our first issue raised over $450 for COVID relief, and we
look forward to adding to that number with this edition. Thanks for
reading, stay safe, and please STAY AT HOME until it's safe to
adventure once more!
-
Judge Stefan & Judge Yossarian
PS - We welcome feedback on the adventures, fun stories of how
you used our content, and interest in contributing to a future
volume; just email [email protected] !
Each article, art & associated material, is copyright 2020 by their respective artists &
authors. If you would like to include, copy or use a derivative of the work, please
contact the original creator.
Original release: October 2020
3
Contents
Insectoids from Outer Space… 4
Crypt of the Pickle Witch... 31
The Immortal Ooze Engine… 46
The Return of Mongumandu… 70
Prose: Boson Au, Mat Biscan, Judge Yossarian, Stefan Surratt
Editing: Stefan Surratt
Art: Boson Au, bygrinstow, Steven Gomez, Davin Kluttz,
Diogo Nogiuera, David Persinger, Stefan Poag
Layout: Stefan Surratt
4
5
INSECTOIDS FROM
OUTER SPACE!
A level 0-1 DCC RPG adventure
By Mat Biscan
Illustrations and Cartography by Stefan Poag and Steven
Gomez
Cover Art by Davin Kluttz
Playtesters: Morgan Lemel, Nick Polydoros, David Schnoll,
Kurt Lynette, Tom Colley, Matthew House, Davin Kluttz,
Erik Flom, Allen Schneidewent, Stanislav Ivanov, Timofey
Barakhovsky, Georgy Sokolov
INTRODUCTION
This is a DCC RPG module for 12-24 0-level or 4-6 1st level
characters. The PCs must escape an abduction by alien
insectoids who snatch them and their fellow villagers to suck
their brains for food. There are multiple endings and a possible
patron to serve.
BACKGROUND
An intelligent species of alien insectoids evolved millions of
years ago to reach the stars. Establishing their colonies inside
asteroids, they convert the interior into their hive and install
insectoid technology to transform the space rock into a
spacecraft. Their Queen pilots the ship with her incredible
brain as they search galaxies for sentient life to feed on. Due to
the size of each colony and the ease with which they multiply
an insectoid infestation can potentially wipe out life on an
entire planet.
6
Insectoids feed on the brains of intelligent life. Their vision is
bad, even worse in bright light, which will scramble their
antennae. The antennae is their most important organ, used for
scanning for brain waves, manipulating insectoid silk, and
communication through pheromone detection. Insectoids do
not fear death as their numbers are strong. They live and die
for the colony.
The Queen is large-sized. A sack hangs from the end of her
enormous physogastric abdomen where wet, sticky, fertilized
eggs drip from. She can sense brain waves on a planetary scale
from a lightyear away. She pilots the ship with her incredible
brain, connected by tentacles to an organic engine created from
advanced insectoid technology.
Drones are medium-sized. They are the defenders of the
colony, with thicker carapace and larger claws to grab and
crush victims and decapitate prey before sucking their brains
out. They are the only other insectoids that can fly besides the
Queen. Drones fertilize eggs, and when they are finished, the
Queen will eat them.
Workers are medium-sized and the most common. They have
larger mandibles used for carrying eggs and livestock and
constructing and maintaining the hive ship. They can spit a
silken webbing used for hive construction and wrapping and
storing prey for the long space journey. They’re job is to tend
livestock, keeping it sedated and fed with glutinous sugar
which they produce inside their proboscis. The sugar can keep
the brains of prey alive for long periods of time, allowing the
hive to survive in deep space where food sources are scarce,
but travel is necessary.
Nymphs are small-sized. They live in the burrow networks
connecting the deepest parts of the hive, feeding on leftover
brain material and flesh. They metamorphose into adults
within 30 days.
7
Grubs are small-sized. They feed on flesh and bone before
metamorphosing into nymphs. They are insatiable and in large
numbers are very dangerous. They metamorphose into a
nymph within 10 days.
Mutants are the prey of the Queen who have given her their
fealty in exchange for their lives. They’ve betrayed their kind
and now unquestionably serve and obey the Queen. Over time
the corruption of her influence slowly mutates their bodies to
look more like an insectoid.
PC Intelligence: Optionally, target characters with the highest
Intelligence rather than the lowest Luck. Insectoids can detect
brain waves and the more intelligent brain, the louder the
signal is. As the Judge, ask each player the Intelligence scores
of their PCs and mix it up with Luck scores for targeting them.
Brainwave Scan: Adult insectoids scan for brain waves with
their antennae up to 60’. When PCs attempt to sneak or do
something that would require not causing attention, the PCs
must make DC 12 Intelligence checks to avoid being detected.
Insectoids have poor vision but can find prey with their
antennae.
Bug Parts: Creative players may attempt to use insectoid body
parts. The shells and chitinous parts are durable and last a long
time but the fleshier pieces decompose. PCs who want to use
bug parts are only able to get one off each insectoid:
●
Insectoid Antenna (worker or drone, manipulate
insectoid silk)
●
Insectoid Mandible (worker, 1d4, melee)
●
Insectoid Sugar (worker, 1 hp when ingested, -1d for
one action)
●
Insectoid Shell (drone, +1 AC, shield or helmet)
●
Insectoid Claw (drone, 1d6, melee)
8
PLAYER START
Have players go around the room and share what their
characters do in the village. Ask them follow up questions.
Get them to build up the village and care about it. Once the
players have done this, give them a depiction of a normal,
unexciting day at it’s end, just before the invasion.
When you are ready, read the following:
A thunderous crack from the sky woke you up. It was just before
dawn. You looked outside to see mountainous rock had crushed into
the ground where the markets are. You left your hut to inspect the
damage, as did your neighbors. Panic settled in quickly, as terrifying
swarms of shadows poured from the craters of the monolith; the
townsfolk found themselves the targets of a chaotic raid. Something
hit you and knocked you out. The last thing you remember seeing was
an insect the size of a man.
9
10
AREAS OF THE MAP
Map Features: The asteroid hive ship interior is covered with
prismatic crystals, infused with colorful bioluminescence
providing enough light for the PCs to see as if in candlelight.
Insectoids use this bioluminescence as a communication
channel using the color of the light it emanates. The asteroid
stone is black and porous.
Each lair of the hive is connected by a main tunnel network,
big enough to carry prey through. However, there are smaller
burrows, some big enough for PCs to crawl there, inhabited by
nymphs.
Each square on the map is 20 ft, if it matters to you.
Inspecting Burrows Any PC attempting to crawl into a burrow
must make a Luck check. On failure, they are surprise-attacked
by a nymph currently in the burrow for 1d3 DMG, no combat
initiative is rolled and the nymph runs away unscathed. On
success, no nymph is present and the PC ends up temporarily
lost in the burrow system, even if they have only stuck their
heads in it. The amount of antennae activity in the borrows is
so intense that those who unwittingly venture in become
confused and time seems to pass much slower for them. Have
the player set that PC aside for now; they can emerge from the
burrows confused some point later in the adventure, at the
Judge’s discretion. Forgotten characters left in the burrows will
eventually be eaten by nymphs.
Insectoid Nymph: Init +3; mandibles +1 melee (1d3); AC 14
(shell); HD 1d3; hp 1; MV 30`; Act 1d16; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will
+0; AL C.
Another alien species has been snatched by the insectoids and
are among the captured villagers where characters find them.
We encourage creating your own alien species, but have
11
provided one below. Roll 3d6 for each stat if and when they are
needed. Otherwise, use the stat block for Gray-skinned Alien.
If a Gray-skinned alien becomes a level 1 character, treat them
as a small human and have them learn a new language.
Gray-skinned Alien Init 0; Atk Punch (1d3); AC 12; HD 1d4; MV
25`; Act 1d20; SV Fort -1, Ref +2, Will +2; Languages known: alien;
Area 1 - Holding Pens: The PCs themselves have been
snatched, tied up, and ready for processing. They have been
left unconscious in a holding pen. The room has many of these
holding pens, but this is the last group that needs to be
processed for livestock.
Before the PC awake, describe to the players one or two dream
sequences showing an insectoid raid on the alien species.
When the table has completed the visions read the following:
You wake to find yourself trapped in a pen with your neighbors. The
air is cold and lit by a red luminescence that looks alive on walls
around you. White cables or rope hold you securely inside. Everyone’s
hands are bound by the same thing. Looking further out into the
larger chamber, you see more of these pens. They are all empty, except
for a body slumped on the ground.
The insectoids have already moved villagers from the other
cells to storage in Area 7. PCs looking for hidden doors notice
a portal on the floor in the center of the lair. This opens up to
the village below. It can only be opened by killing the Queen
or from the Engine Room in Area 6.
If the body is inspected, it is a wise village elder named Yoin.
He looks like he struggled and has a large hole in his head with
his brains sucked out.
PCs can attempt to get out of their bindings with a DC 15
Strength check or the bindings can be cut by something sharp
12
without a check. Allow PCs to have anything from their list of
items on them if it’s no bigger than a dagger, but they need
help getting it out of their pocket or must make a Luck check if
they remembered to keep their lucky dagger in their boot.
Allow only a few PCs to get out of their bindings before they
are interrupted by 4 workers. The workers can open the pens
with their antennae. If all PCs are recaptured, move them to
Area 7 and put them in the honeycomb chambers.
Insectoid Worker: Init +1; Bit +1 melee (1d4) or Silk SP or +1
Sting melee (1d3) SP; AC 14 (shell); HD 1d5; hp 3; MV 30’; Act
1d20; SP Silk ranged 40’ DC 12 Ref save, on a fail target is entangled
in a silken net; entangled characters can spend an action to try to
escape with DC 15 Strength check; SP Sting victim must pass a DC
14 Fort save or -1d for 1d4 rounds; SV Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +2; AL
L.
Area 2 - Junk Piles: The lair is filled with heaps of junk raided
from countless alien planets by the insectoids. A lot of it is
unrecognizable, broken, or decomposed. Though, there are
things found by a PC looking for something useful. Have them
make a Luck check. On a success, roll 1d30 on the Random
Useful Junk Table.
13
Random Useful Junk Table: When a PC attempts to use
unknown alien technology and fails they must roll a Fumble
(d12) until they succeed with it. Describe alien technology to
the best of your ability without giving it away.
d30
Random Junk
1
Broken sword (1d5-1 melee)
2
Pogo stick
3
Metal box filled with 4d6 small bearings, nuts and
bolts
4
25’ worn rope
5
Rusty metal sheet with a handle (AC +1, shield)
6
Leather sack filled with rocks (1d4 melee)
7
Solar-powered flashlight (12 hour battery life)
8
Pipe wrench (1d6 melee)
9
Damaged space helmet (AC +1)
10
Double-headed shovel (2d3 melee)
11
A plastic storage box with 1d4 glass vials filled with a
a blue-color liquid acid (2d6 per vial)
12
60’ of nearly indestructible fibrous cable
13
Flak jacket (AC +2, Check Penalty -1, Fumble Die d8)
14
Holographic replicator (as Mirror Image p. 182 DCC
core book, 3d3 charges)
15
Exploding ball (3d5, throw, 10` explosion radius,
anything killed by the explosion is incinerated; ball
recombines itself after exploding; all fails are
fumbles d16)
16
Hydraulic arms (+2 Strength modifier bonus)
17
Enormous Bone (1d12 melee, -5 move)
18
Teleporter with a small pressure switch teleports the
user to a random location 50’ away when pressed
19
Grenades (1d10, 20’ explosion radius, 1d6 grenades)
20
Curved golden blade with a black leather hilt (two-
handed, 2d6 melee)
21
Laser gun (1d3, exploding 3s, ranged, 2d10 charges)
22
Resizer rifle with red switch on the side that changes
the charge between shrinking and growing a target by
half or twice their size; pointed outward shrink (+2
AC, HP and DMG halved), pointed inward grow (-2 AC,
14
HP and DMG doubled); duration 1d4 rounds, range
100’, 1d5 charges)
23
A futuristic metal sword hilt with a button that
activates a laser blade when pressed (3d4, melee)
24
Jetpack that flies briefly with 1 charge up to 1000’,
has 2d8 charges
25
Crystal prism that casts the following spells:
Chromacast p. 35, Devour p. 38, Plant Growth p. 40,
Quaranzine Vol. 1 or a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level spell from
the DCC Core Book
26
Heavy space battle armor (AC +3, Check Penalty -3,
Speed -5, Fumble Die d16)
27
Biometric helmet that forms to the wearers face and
appears in the shake of the wearer’s skull and shoots
lasers from the eye sockets, 2d5 ranged, +1 AC, SP
infravision
28
Portal gun that fires 2 shots, each the entrance and
exit of a portal; this effect lasts for 1 day, with 1 use
per day
29
Missile launcher (2d10 ranged 5000’, 1d4 missiles)
30
Sapphire ring that casts magic from the Return Magic
to Mystery spell table p. 32 Hobomicon #2, or a
random spell from the DCC Core book or any other
source material
Area 3 - Hive Crossways: A bridge made of knotted and thick white
webbing reaches out into the darkness, held on the other side by who
knows what. The rope-like bridge looks narrow, uneven and difficult
to walk along. The echoing sounds of squirming and chewing are
rising up from below the rope. Ahead, only the sounds of the group
moving and talking echo forward.
The bridge extends over 100` over a pit. Insectoids can crawl
across it with ease but humanoids who haven’t trained
themselves on a tightrope would have a very difficult time
traversing it, requiring a DC 10 Agility check to successfully
cross. On a fail, the unlucky PC will fall 30’ below into the Grub
Mass in Area 4. No falling damage is taken as they land on the
soft, squishy bodies of grubs, however they are immediately
attacked by the grub mass, and one per round for each round
in it (1d6-2).
15
Reward player creativity (such as allowing an antenna to
manipulate the bridge for a safe crossing or someone's
acrobatic), however crawling does not make the DC any easier.
Halfway over the bridge, PCs will notice that it leads to a
platform, where they will see 2 insectoid drones and the 3
tunnels that lead to Areas 5, 6, and 7. The drones won’t become
aware of the group until they reach the platform.
Insectoid Drone: Init +0; Atk Claw +2 melee (1d6) and Grab (SP);
HD 2d6; hp 7; AC 14; MV 20’; Fly 20’; Act 2d20; SP Grab on a
successful attack target must pass a DC 12 Strength check or be
incapacitated. Grabbed PCs can be crushed for 1d3-1 dmg as an
action without an attack roll; PCs must use an action to escape; SV
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will -1; AL L.
16
Area 4 - Grub Mass: Any PCs falling into the nursery are
eventually eaten by hundreds of hungry grubs, as the grub
mass attacks immediately and will always attack first in
combat rounds regardless of initiative rolls. The grub mass
automatically rolls for damage on each PC within it at the top
of each round (1d6-2). PCs can use their action to escape into
one of the many burrows in the walls (see Map Feature) or climb
the walls with a DC 12 Strength check, or stand and fight
(probably a bad idea!).
Insectoid Grub Mass: Init 0; Atk bite (auto 1d6-2); HD 2d50; hp
55; AC 8; MV 5’; Act 3d16 (per target caught in the mass); SV Fort
+5; Ref -5; Will +5; AL C
Area 5 - Insectoid Nest: This larger lair has dozens of burrows of
various sizes along the walls and ceilings. The ground is littered with
bones and debris. You see a large man with crazy eyes holding the
claw from one of those bugs. He's pressing his fingers up to his lips
to shush you as you enter this lair. Next to him is what appears to be
a little gray-skinned humanoid with huge black eyes on an oversized
head.
“They’re sleeping,” he says as he points upward. If the group
makes a ruckus while in this room, make a brain wave scan.
On a failed check 4d6 workers come out of the burrows to
chase the PCs out of the nest. They don't follow if the PCs flee
from the area.
The man is able to tell the PCs the following:
●
He’s from the village, he’s Clegan the big, burly baker!
●
He calls his gray humanoid friend “Moop” because that’s all
it says
●
He tried to escape in the burrows with some of the other
villagers, but only he and Moop survived
●
He hears voices in his head telling him to join the colony
●
He saw the insectoids bring you into the ship through the
entrance in Area 1, but doesn’t know how it opens
17
●
He says he thinks the fleshy thing in Area 6 powers the rock
somehow
●
He’s says there is a giant bug in a lair up ahead, it freaked
him out so he ran this way
Area 6 - Astroid Hive Engine: In the center of this small lair rests
a pulsating mound of pinkish flesh. One wall has five small, irregular
shaped knobs jutting out of it, and every once and awhile one of the
knobs pulsates with bioluminescence (magenta, blue, green, purple
and yellow). Four thick tentacles rise from the top of the pinkish flesh
mound and into small ports in the ceiling.
PCs searching for hidden doorways notice two on the
opposite sides of the lair. One is a secret door opening to Area
8. The other is a hidden sleeping lair with 2 Insectoid Mutants
inside, who will join the queen if combat is initiated with her,
so long as they are alive.
The pinkish flesh is the asteroid hive ship engine. It is organic
(3d20 HD; hp 36) and if damaged a green acid explodes from
it (1d6, 10’ range), melting flesh to the bone and damaging the
floors.
If the engine is destroyed the hive ship begins to rumble as the
systems become overloaded; steam shoots from burrows,
killing
nymphs
and
other
insectoids
inside;
the
bioluminescence in the ship’s surfaces shifts from red to
yellow; a loud, repetitive click is heard in each area. The ship
explodes in 1d50+10 minutes, killing everything inside and
destroying the village below. If any PCs are paying attention
the yellow knob is now bright orange.
Destroying the engine angers the Queen who detaches herself
from the connectors and her abdomen, allowing her to move
from her lair. She arrives in the Engine Room to inspect and
shut down the system; she tries to kill the PCs and won’t
converse with them; the two mutants in the elevator join the
fight when she is at half hp. Should she kill the party she
overrides the system and the workers make repairs.
18
Engine Controls
Magenta
Knob:
The PCs hear heavy sounds of rock and stone grinding
and feel vibrations below their feet; in Area 4 the floor
of the nursery opens up to the village below, dumping
the grub mass on top of it; the grubs eat everything
they land on. The floor will close back up, and raise
itself up to the platforms, replacing the bridge.
Blue
Knob:
Opens the entrance portal on the floor in Area 1
Green
Knob:
The hidden doorway on the other side of the room
slides open revealing a make-shift bedroom with 2
insectoid mutants inside. The bedroom is reminiscent
of bedrooms you see in the village huts.
Purple
Knob:
Opens up the hidden doorway to the queen in Area 8.
Yellow
Knob:
Safety button that shuts down the system if
overloaded. Otherwise when pressed it makes a click
sound and flashes orange.
Insectoid Mutant: Init +0; Atk claws +4 melee (1d8) or +2 to
cast a spell; AC 13; HD 4d8; hp 18; MV 30’; Act 2d20; SP:
spellcasting (see below). SV Fort +3; Ref +2; Will +5; AL L.
Spells known: Silk (+2 spell check, Level 1 spell Insect Queen
Patron); Sting (+2 spell check, level 2 spell Insect Queen Patron);
Mind Probe (+2 spell check, level 3 spell Insectoid Queen Patron)
Area 7 - Livestock Storage: The lair walls are lined with
honeycomb chambers. Most of them are sealed with a white wax. Few
are opened and empty. You notice a bug crawling back into one of the
empty honeycombs and disappear.
The bug crawls into a burrow. The surfaces of the room are
clean, as this is the storage area for their food. If PCs wish to
inspect honeycombs, roll 2d4 for how many honeycombs
appear to have something inside them. For each investigation
of a honeycomb, roll on the Honeycomb Chamber Table.
19
Honeycomb Chamber Table: Roll 1d4; Villagers and aliens are
unconscious when found but can be woken up without
needing to make a roll.
d4
Honey Chamber
1
Dead body - Nymph attack! (1d3 dmg immediately,
nymph runs away)
2-3
Villager
4
Alien
Area 8 - Insectoid Queen: This lair is huge, inhabited by a
gargantuan bug - thick legs, armored thorax, an enormous abdomen
dripping with wet eggs into a huge pile next to it. Four tentacles reach
from its head and disappear into the ceiling. It turns its attention to
the group.
The Queen can speak in any language telepathically, and can
understand any language, having absorbed knowledge of
intelligent life after feeding on their brains. PCs who try
to resist her will only amuse her, as she is incredibly intelligent,
fearless, and strong.
Before she attacks, she will offer the PCs an opportunity to join
the colony. Any PCs that accept her offer are immediately
stung by her and must roll on the Insectoid Mutation Table and
she becomes their patron (see Insectoid Queen Patron). If combat
is initiated, all mutants are compelled to protect the colony,
rather than their village and friends. She will repeat the offer
to join the colony if the PCs are losing or to try to spare her own
life.
Refusal to join the colony will amuse her and initiate combat.
At the start of combat, the queen uses 1 action to teleport in the
2 insectoid mutants from the secret elevator in Area 6 if the
mutants were not killed earlier. These minions will not attack
unless combat is initiated.
20
d6
Insectoid Mutation Table
1
Mandible nubs appear on the gums
2
Chitinous skin patches
3
Tiny, useless wings tear from skin on the back of the
shoulders
4
Antenna nodules sprout from the forehead
5
One hand hardens into a claw
6
Small proboscis forms in the throat
Insectoid Queen: Init +5; Atk Claw +2 melee (2d4) or SP
Telepathic Sting +4 (1d6) or Enfeebling Sting (1d4); HD 6d10; hp
33; AC 12; MV 10’; Act 3d20; SP Rage; SP Fly; SV Fort +6, Ref -2,
Will +10; AL C
Telepathic Sting: The queen pierces the mind of a victim,
causing searing pain in their brain; Victim’s use AC 10 +
Intelligence modifier to defend against this attack.
Enfeebling Sting: The queen’s stinger is inside her proboscis, it
extends out like a bullet up to 20` in front of her; On successful
hit, victim must make a DC 12 Fort save or become weakened
until the end of combat (-1d).
Rage: If all the Queen’s eggs are destroyed, she will
immediately go into a rage until combat is over; While
enraged, all non-magical damage to her is halved and she
cannot use her Telepathic Sting attack.
Fly: (MV 50’) If the queen becomes detached from her
abdomen, she will spread her wings and fly.
Insectoid Eggs: HD 1d100; hp 55; AC 6; SP Queen’s Rage
PCs damaging eggs angers and frustrates the Queen; she is
unable to use her Telepathic Sting in the same round the eggs
are damaged and turns her attention immediately to them. If
all the eggs are destroyed she, her Rage is initiated (see
Insectoid Queen SP rage).
21
Insectoid Queen Abdomen: HD 2d10; hp 11; AC 8; SP Explode
The Queen’s abdomen is squishy and easy to hit, but she
doesn’t need it to live and can use an action to detach from it
(and the cables), enabling her to Fly. If the abdomen is
destroyed, it explodes; all within a 20 ft range of the abdomen
must make a DC 14 Ref save or take 1d4 acid damage.
CONCLUSION
The Queen Is Dead! The PCs open and find the hatch to
escape in Area 1. The workers initiate the asteroid hive ship
auto-pilot. It slowly levitates up into the sky, disappearing
into the clouds and never to return.
The Engine Explodes! The asteroid hive ship explodes,
obliterating all inside and the entire village below.
Escaped! The asteroid hive ship flies off into the atmosphere in
a flash, with a loud crack just as it arrived, with all the villagers
inside. The PCs discover there is no one left except for them,
the village ransacked of all life and valuables.
22
23
INSECTOID QUEEN PATRON
The Queen demands loyalty; to form a bond with her one
must accept a part of her inside them and over time they
metamorphose into her vision. She demands minor acts of
fealty related to feeding her brains and enslaving intelligent
beings or she eats them instead.
Invoke Patron Check Results
12-15 The Queen probes the planet on behalf of the insectoid
mutant, alerting them of the current location of the target they
seek.
16-19 The Queen sends telepathic pheromones that
invigorates the insectoid mutant, healing their wounds for 1
HD per CL.
20-23 The Queen sends telepathic pheromones that invigorates
the insectoid mutant and the rest of their party, healing all
wounds for 1 HD per CL.
24-27 The Queen sends her drones in aid; 1d3+1 drones
teleport next to the insectoid mutant until combat ends. They
attack all enemies of the colony within their space. (See
Insectoid Drone stats from Insectoids from Outer Space!)
28-29 The Queen’s grubs are starving; she teleports a grub
mass to an area size of 40’ x 40’ that the insectoid mutant points
at for 1 round per CL. (See Insectoid Grub Mass stats from
Insectoids from Outer Space!)
30-31 The Queen teleports to the caster’s location, flying and
without her abdomen. She remains for 2d6 rounds during
which time she fights ferociously. (See Insectoid Queen Stats
from Insectoids from Outer Space!)
24
32+ The Queen teleports to the caster's location, flying and
without her abdomen. She remains for 2d6 rounds during
which time she fights ferociously. The caster gains +6 bonus to
Intelligence as long as the Queen is present. (See Insectoid
Queen Stats from Insectoids from Outer Space!)
PATRON TAINT: INSECTOID QUEEN
When patron taint is indicated for Insectoid Queen roll 1d6 on
the table below. When the caster has acquired all taints they
will have become a mature insectoid mutant and this will no
longer be required.
1. The caster grows wings; at first they are small and
useless but eventually grow into usable wings allowing
them to fly (MV 50’) in 30 days.
2. The caster grows small mandibles from their mouths;
at first they are useless but grow into full mandibles in
30 days, allowing a 1d20 bonus Act Bite (1d3).
3. The caster grows a small proboscis from their throat; at
first it is useless but it grows into a full proboscis within
30 days; the caster now has a taste for brains and can
only eat brains for sustenance once the proboscis is
matured. Eating a human-sized brain that has not been
dead for more than a few minutes will heal the Mutant
1d4 hp.
4. The caster’s hands turn into claws; at first their fingers
begin to fuse but morph into a full set of sharp claws
(1d8, Act 2d20) in 30 days.
5. The caster’s skin becomes chitinous; at first they have
small patches but these grow into fully armored chitin
in 30 days, granting a +2 AC bonus, a -2 Ref save
penalty and losing all their body hair in the process.
6. The caster grows antenna nodules on their head; they
eventually grow into fully formed antennae in 30 days
and provide light in the darkness; the caster can also
use them to mark things with their pheromones or do
Brain Wave scans.
25
PATRON SPELLS: INSECTOID QUEEN
The insectoid Queen grants three unique spells for colony
mutants.
Level 1: Silk
Level 2: Sting
Level 3: Mind Probe
SPELLBURN: INSECTOID QUEEN
1 The insectoid Queen needs brain synapses for energy,
extracting a small portion of energy from the mutant from afar
(expressed as Intelligence, Stamina, or Personality loss).
2 The insectoid Queen demands a special brain for sucking.
The mutant is granted the spellburn bonus, but must find a
victim with an intelligence of at least 9 to give to their queen.
This victim is picked up by the colony within a day after
processing. Until this sacrifice is made the insectoid cannot
regain burned stat points.
3 The Queen requires the ancient dance of a thousand swarms;
time slows and space pulls apart around the caster, who
instinctively knows how to perform the complex dance of its
insectoid ancestors, maneuvering sharply through the
patterns. Upon completing the invocation, the mutant appears
back in normal time and space. No time seems to have passed,
though it finds itself weakened by the exertion of the ancient
dance patterns, using whichever ability score points for
spellburn.
4 The mutant falls to its knees as it vomits out wet, slimy
insectoid eggs, leaving them exhausted from exertion
(expressed as Stamina, Agility, or Strength loss).
26
SILK
1 Lost, failure, and patron taint.
2-11 Lost. Failure.
12-13 The insectoid mutant produces a 50’ strand of silk that
can be used as a rope for climbing or binding. The silk can be
broken with a Strength test against the DC roll result. The silk
strand is temporary and deteriorates over a period of days.
14-17 The insectoid mutant produces mendable silk that can be
used for one small, non-permanent structure or object, such as
rope, a cage that could fit a small sized dog, or a face mask and
gloves.
18-19 The insectoid mutant produces sticky globules of silk
that they can spit or throw. One medium-sized target up to 50’
away must make a Ref save or be caught up in the globules.
Strength check DC roll result to break free as an action on their
turn.
20-23 The insectoid mutant produces sticky globules of silk.
Target one large or three medium-sized targets within 5` of
each other. Strength check DC roll result to break free as an
action on their turn.
24-27 The insectoid mutant produces thick globules of silk. It
can be shaped and hardened immediately into a bludgeoning
weapon or tool for 1 hour per CL before disintegrating.
(1d10+CL melee).
28-29 The insectoid mutant produces thick globules of silk. It
can be shaped and hardened into armor for +1 AC per CL for
1 hour per CL before disintegrating.
27
30-31 The insectoid mutant produces copious globules of
building-grade silk. It can be used to construct a simple
structure no bigger than 15’ x 15’ for up to 1 day per CL before
disintegration. The material is strong and would take a
Strength check against the result to break.
32+ The insectoid mutant produces copious globules of
building-grade silk. It can be used to construct a complex
structure no bigger than 50’ x 50’ up to 1 day per CL before
disintegrating. The material is strong and would take a
Strength check against the result to break.
STING
1 Lost, failure, and patron taint
2-11 Lost. Failure.
12-13 Failure but the spell is not lost.
14-15 The insectoid mutant produces a poison that could be
applied to any weapon or their claws (+1 DMG per CL) that
poisons a target for 1 turn.
16-19 The insectoid produces a single dose of poison in a
bubble from their mouth or proboscis. The poison can
incapacitate a target for 1d3 + CL rounds upon ingestion or
absorption through the skin with a DC 11 + CL Fort save. The
poison can be applied to an item or weapon, and can last in a
glass vial or equivalent for up to 3 days before expiring.
Insectoids are immune.
20-21 The insectoid mutant produces a single dose of serum in
a bubble from their proboscis. The serum can heal 1 HD upon
ingestion. The serum can last in a glass vial or equivalent for
up to 3 days before expiring
28
22-25 The insectoid mutant spits acid that can eat through one
inch of metal or stone and eats away at flesh (1d4 per CL) of
one target for 1d3 rounds.
26-29 The insectoid mutant vomits acid that can eat through
one inch of metal or stone and eats away at flesh (1d4 per CL)
up to 3 targets within 10’ of each other for 1d3 rounds.
30-31 The insectoid mutant’s body bursts with foul-smelling
acidic poison. All within 5’ range of the insectoid mutant take
1d4 per CL damage.
32-33 The insectoid mutant’s body secretes a foul-smelling
acidic poison for 1d3 + CL rounds. For every successful attack
on the insectoid mutant the attacker takes 1d4 + CL damage in
return.
34+ The insectoid mutant’s body secretes a foul-smelling acidic
poison for 1d3 + CL rounds. For every successful attack on the
insectoid mutant the attacker takes 1d4 + CL damage in return.
Additionally, the attacker must make a Luck check; on a failure
their weapon is destroyed by the acid in the poison.
29
MIND PROBE
1 Lost, failure, and patron taint.
2-11 Lost. Failure.
12-15 Failure but the spell is not lost.
16-17 The insectoid mutant penetrates one target’s mind; they
writhe in pain and make their next action with -1d.
18-21 The insectoid mutant penetrates one target’s mind; they
writhe in pain and make their next action with -1d.
Additionally, the target takes 1 damage per CL to one of the
following ability scores chosen by the insectoid mutant:
Intelligence, Stamina, Personality.
22-23 The insectoid can read the surface thoughts of one target.
If the target is about to attack the insectoid gains +1 AC per CL
as they know the target’s next move, or the insectoid gets +1
per CL towards their next attack against the target or the target
forgets their action for 1 round.
24-26 The insectoid can read the surface thoughts of multiple
targets (1 per CL). If the target is about to attack, the insectoid
gains +1 AC per CL as they know the target’s next move or the
insectoid gets +1 per CL towards their next attack against the
target.
27-31 The insectoid probes deeply into the mind of one target
and learns its deepest, darkest secrets or next moves. If the
target is about to attack the insectoid gains +1 AC per CL as
they know the target’s next move for the next 1d3 rounds or
the insectoid gets +1 AC per CL towards their next 1d3 attacks
against the target.
32-33 The insectoid probes deeply into the mind of all targets
in the area and learns their deepest, darkest secrets. If the
30
targets are about to attack the insectoid can relay this
information telepathically to the rest of the party; the party
gains +1 AC per CL as they know the target’s next move for
the next 1d3 turns or the insectoid mutant party gets +1 AC per
CL towards their next 1d3 attacks against the target.
34-35 The insectoid mutant invades the mind of a target,
controlling their brain and body while the target is conscious,
for 1d3 + CL minutes. DC Will save against the result.
36+ The insectoid mutant invades the mind of a target,
controlling every part of their brain and body while the target
is still conscious, for 1d3 + CL minutes. DC Will save against
the result. Additionally, once the insectoid leaves the target’s
mind, they take 1 permanent damage per CL to one of the
following ability scores chosen by the insectoid mutant:
Intelligence, Stamina, Personality.
31
THE IMMORTAL
OOZE ENGINE
32
A level 0-1 DCC RPG adventure
by Stefan Surratt
Cover Art: Diogo Nogueira
Illustrations: David Persinger
Cartographer: David Kluttz
Playtesters: Boson Au, Mat Biscan, Kalvin Buenting, Spenser
Dudgeon, Eric Flom, Alex Forchia, James Harlan, Matthew
House, David Persinger, Chris Rice, Dan S, Matt Robertson,
Chris Zank
INTRODUCTION
This adventure is a Dungeon Cradle Classics RPG adventure
intended for 12-24 0-level or 4-6 characters of 1st-level. The
adventure concerns a 300-foot-wide ooze that roams the land,
absorbing everything it touches. At the center of the ooze is a
lighthouse which rises out of the top of the ooze while on the
move. This slow-moving threat must be stopped. Will the
party find the riches of all those absorbed, or become another
collection of slimed bones?
BACKGROUND
The Immortal Ooze Engine was created as a means to an end
by the grand thaumaturge Irlyntuk. He sought to make right
his blighted homeland and made a foolish pact with a demon
known as Icandra, Pontiff of the Joyless. The pact made way
for Irlyntuk’s greatest arcane accomplishment, that is now both
his sanctum and his prison. His body has fully gelatinized,
leaving Irlyntuk only capable of keeping his humanoid form
by wearing a full-body leather suit that feeds him via tubes that
inject him with a paste made from the ooze’s victims.
Currently, Irlyntuk pilots the great ooze across the land,
absorbing all life that it touches. He uses the Immortal Ooze
Engine to process and extract both raw material and intellect
from its victims, though he is unable to fully comprehend the
33
many disparate minds. He still seeks to add to his collective
knowledge even though he no longer remembers why.
PLAYER START
Begin the adventure by reading the following:
A great, blinding beam of light affixed its gaze on you as you slept
last night. You did not know what it was but quickly rose from your
slumber and attempted to flee this strange hunter. After dawn broke,
you saw a massive, gelatinous predator. The beam originated from a
lighthouse that emerged from a great ooze that looked to have a girth
of two or three hundred feet.
After hours of running, the monstrous ooze finally stopped and the
great eye that gazed upon you began to slumber. The tower descended
deep into the ooze; it’s bulbous peak now resting just above the water,
seemingly the only hopeful means of entry. Now is your first, and
perhaps only chance, to end this before this strange creature awakens
and begins its chase once again.
THE ABYSSAL LAKE
Area 1-1 - A Placid Shore: The ooze seems to have stopped in the
middle of a small lake that you passed in the early morning hours. A
layer of water now rests above it, you can see many fish swimming
near the surface in between fallen trees and other detritus. The peak
of the tower is a hundred and fifty feet away from where you stand,
ankle deep in what was once the edge of the lake. A small fisherman’s
shack rests nearby, but it is now partially submerged in the risen
waters.
The ramshackle wooden shack is about 10’x 10’ and filled with
about 2 feet of water. There are two row boats outside that are
tied to a short pier that is now underwater, but the oars have
floated away. Each rowboat has an AC 12 and 15 hp. The row
boats can fit up to 12 people but will be incredibly cramped.
34
PCs searching the shack can make Luck checks to find useful
items in the disorganized shack or in the mucky water. The
cabin contains 2 fishing poles, a fisherman’s short bow and 5
arrows, a tackle box full of fishing lures, a leather pouch with
a serrated knife (1d5 dmg), a 15’ square weighted fishing net (-
2 melee, 0 damage, target is entangled requiring a DC 12 Reflex
save to escape or DC 16 Strength check to destroy), one coil of
rope 50’ long, a flask of whiskey, and two spare oars.
35
Area 1-2 – Lake of a Thousand Corpses: The tower’s domed peak
sits above the water. Thankfully, no light can be seen from inside it
so the great eye that was seeking you out must be at rest. As you row
closer to the spire, detritus begins to float closer to your boat. Bones,
sparsely covered in muscle and stinking like rancid jelly, rise from the
waters and swarm around you. The dissolved victims of the ooze
begin to rend your craft apart.
There is about 10’ of water over the top of the ooze. The ooze
contains a thousand corpses that envy the living and seek to
steal the life from any they encounter. When the PC’s craft is
about 50’ away from the tower’s dome peak then the Hands of
the Claimed attack, seeking to tear apart the craft and pull all
the PCs down to their deaths in the depths of the ooze. It will
take 4 more rounds of steady rowing to reach the tower unless
the PCs focus their efforts on gaining speed via Strength checks
to rowing or some other clever roleplay.
Anyone in a rowboat who fights using melee needs to make a
DC 8 Reflex save to avoid falling overboard. Any who fall in
the water will be pulled down into the ooze within 2 rounds
unless a DC 12 Strength check is made to pull themselves or be
pulled back into the boat.
Hands of the Claimed (1 per water vehicle): Init +3; Atk rend
+3 melee (1d5+1); AC 10; HD 3d8; hp 13; MV’ 20 or swim 30’;
Act 1d20 special; SP rends all targets within 20’ x 20’ x 20’
volume, half-damage from non-area attacks, un-dead traits; SV
Fort -2, Ref +5, Will +5; AL C.
Area 1-3 - The Gazer’s Prison: The bulbous dome of the tower
peaks out of the waters, with a narrow walkway encircling it. The
tower is constructed of frosted glass and wrought iron, but there is
no obvious doorway or entry portal.
A 3’ wide walkway encircles the 40’ wide dome peak. There is
no door to the inside of the tower, but glass panels can be
removed with a DC 6 Agility check or broken with a single
attack to create an entrance.
36
Inside this 40’ wide circular room is a pungent, bulging mass
of veiny muscle and eyes, far too numerous. The monstrosity
is bound in chains that lash it to the walls and ceiling. Thick
pipes rise up from far down the tower and are forcibly lodged
into the underside of this turgid horror and fetid yellow pus
dribbles down around the pipes and chains.
37
An iron cage elevator, eight feet in diameter, hangs by chain
over a wide hole. Within arm’s reach of the elevator is a lever
on the floor. A few feet away is a second identical hole. A
vertical chain disappears down the hole into darkness.
The monstrosity is an Elder Brain that has been completely
dominated and broken by Irlyntuk. Once PCs create an
entrance to the interior and begin peering into the room then
the creature will sense their presence and telepathically probe
all creatures present, requiring a DC 15 Will save from them.
All who fail take 1d4 temporary Int damage and feel like they
have been evaluated as one would livestock. The dominated
Elder Brain will only do this once to each individual unless
attacked. If attacked, it will continue to telepathically probe
any attackers until it is safe or dead. It has 31 hp, AC 14, +6
Fort, automatically fails Ref saves, and +8 Will.
Up to 12 humanoids can fit in the elevator at a time, but it
would be so cramped that movement would be impossible.
The gaps in the cage elevator allow PCs inside the elevator to
reach the activation lever. The lever activates the cage
elevator’s descent. However, the lever has a hidden button on
the grip that hides a poison needle. The needle will inject itself
into anyone not correctly gripping the lever. A DC 10
Intelligence or find traps check reveals the trap in the grip.
Anyone hit must make a DC 10 Fort save or take 2d6 poison
damage. If a PC dies then all of their flesh and muscles will
dissolve into a pinkish-yellow liquid, leaving behind bones
and the PCs inventory.
Area 1-4 - The Tower’s Throat: Your descent is accompanied only
by the clinking of the chains that hold the elevator. Another vertical
chain can be seen across the tower interior, also clinking as it ascends
up to the apex of the tower. The vertical pipes in the center of the
tower bulge with build-up from the pus that drips down around them.
From the lumpy growths, strands of muscle and flesh extend out to
38
the walls of the tower’s interior, growing thicker and more common
as your descent continues.
While the cage elevator descends, a second one will ascend.
The chains that hold the two elevators are connected and
constructed to that one elevator can always be at the top and
another at the bottom.
In this area and after, there is no natural lighting and a torch or
similar lighting will be needed to see. The fleshy “ropes” vary
in size, between 3” to 12” in width. They crisscross throughout
the tower’s interior. The lumpy build-up from dried ichor
dripping down from the subjugated Elder Brain. The strands
have become the homes of the parasitic Hateful maggots that
feed on the hatred the Elder Brain has for Irlyntuk and Icandra,
and its envy of those who are free.
Three of these ropes will catch the elevator mid-descent,
however, if the PCs are in the second elevator that was not
initially present in 1-3 then they bypass this encounter. Once
caught in the ropes, the chain will continue to crank. For every
round that the elevator remains stuck then it will cause it to fall
10’ once it is released from the flesh ropes, due to slack in the
chain. All those inside the elevator take 1d6 bludgeoning
damage unless they can make a DC 6 Reflex save. Those who
successfully save are able to brace themselves against the
elevator and take no damage. If any ropes are cut then hateful
maggots, lamprey-mouthed creatures approximately 2 feet in
length, will burst out and attempt to devour any nearby living
creature.
If more than 8 people occupy an elevator at once, then it will
be so cramped that two-handed weapons can only be used at -
2d and one-handed weapons at -1d.
Hateful Maggots (2 per cut rope): Init +2; Atk bite +1 melee
(1d3 + anticoagulant); AC 7; HD 1d6; hp 3; MV’ 15; Act 1d20;
SP anticoagulant (DC 10 Fort save or wound bleeds until
39
bound or healed. Each wound causes the loss of 1 hit point per
round); SV Fort -2, Ref +2, Will immune; AL C.
Area 1-5 - Reclamation Chamber: The cage elevator finishes its
descent and opens into a 50’ diameter circular room that looks to be
entirely made from black iron. At the center of the room is an
embossed metal machine in the shape of a half-sphere. The strange
machine is dotted with round bubble windows and large pipes that
seem to draw solid material from the ooze and transport them through
different pipes. Some of the more rusted pipes in the room are leaking
a yellowy-pink liquid onto the floor.
There are two circular doorways in this room. Both of these circular
doors are shaped like a mechanical iris and have a lever to the right.
A pipe near the door to the north has broken open and that door is
deeply crusted in filth and rust. The door to the east is much cleaner,
albeit mildly rusted. You can hear rumbling and hissing coming from
past this door.
The machine in the center of the room sucks different material
from the ooze and sends the materials through different pipes
for processing. The bubble windows on the machine allow one
to peer into the depths of the ooze and see countless creatures
and objects being slowly dissolved.
If PCs examine the embossing, paraphrase the following in the
way you believe the PC would interpret the pictographs:
The machine is embossed with pictographs that show a story of a man
who made a pact with a demon for great power, the demon taking
everything except power away from the man, the man binding the
Great Eye monstrosity, constructing this structure, growing the
ooze, the process of the Great Eye monstrosity evaluating targets, the
ooze absorbing a village, the processing and extracting of raw
materials from living bodies, and the piping of that material to a great
chair in which an imposing figure sits.
Characters with arcane or religious training may make a DC 12
Intelligence check to recognize the demon as Icandra, Pontiff
40
of the Joyless, who is known for having deserted from
Nimlurun’s templars of filth.
The door to the east leads to 1-6 and will open if the lever is
pulled. The door to the north leads to 1-7 but is in such a state
of disrepair that the nearby lever cannot open it. If using a
crowbar or similar tools, then a DC 23 Strength check may be
made to force open the door in its current state. If a strong acid
or similar agent is used to remove the crusty filth and rust, then
the lever will work.
Anyone who touches the yellowy-pink liquid dripping from
the pipes will need to make a DC 13 Fort save. Failure results
in 1 damage, but either way the appendage that came in
contact with the ooze has its bones mildly gelatinized to the
point of being more akin to cartilage than bone. The judge
should adjudicate this depending on the affected body part. A
single finger may suddenly feel like it is made of jelly, legs may
result in a movement speed reduction, or arms may result in
some
actions
being
performed
at
-1d.
However,
a
gelatinization may be as just beneficial as it is detrimental. An
individual may gain the bonus of fitting in spaces too tight for
a normal body, becoming resistant to acid damage, or other
bonuses as the Judge adjudicates.
Area 1-6 - Ancillary Arcanum: The room is crowded with more
dark and rusty pipes that make its size difficult to determine. The
pipes interconnect to many different pieces of machinery, such as
open vats, boilers, centrifuges, cooling tanks. The clamoring
machinery hisses and groans against its age. The organization of
machinery turns the room into a series of metal corridors.
The machinery in this chamber refines and extracts all material
absorbed by the ooze. All the pipes eventually lead to other
rooms except for a single disposal pipe that sends unwanted
material back into the ooze for further dissolution. Strong acids
can be found in many vats and boilers, which could be used to
unseal the door in the Reclamation Chamber that leads to 1-7.
41
If the PCs sabotage the machinery or cause extensive damage,
then a cautious Irlyntuk will emerge from his chamber and
arrive 1d3+1 rounds later to investigate and attempt to fix the
machinery. However, any PCs who try to sabotage
components might cause them to burst. Unless a DC 10 find
traps or Intelligence check is made to determine what the safest
course of sabotage is then the machinery violently explodes.
The saboteur must make a DC 10 Reflex check to avoid 1d4+1
damage from the bursting machinery.
Enterprising PCs can find various items stuck in pipes by
opening maintenance hatches or by fishing them out of open
vats. Have each PC roll a 1d10 + Luck modifier. Count
duplicate results as equivalent gp x5.
1d10 +
Luck mod
Result:
0 or less
Inheritor Parasite attacks before moving down
the pipe. DC 10 Ref save or take 1d3 dmg
1
Glass eye
2
Prosthetic hook hand (as dagger)
3
Hand manacles chained to leg irons
4
Mirror face mask
5
4 silver horseshoes (20 sp each)
6
2d14 gold teeth in half-melted dentures
7
Open iron flask filled with ooze acid
8
Mithril cutlass (as longsword)
9
Jade bee talisman (+1d Fort save once per day)
10
Iron warhammer with “DEAD” embossed on
the hammerhead’s face. +1d4 damage to the
living. -1d4 damage to un-dead.
11+
Magical Moustache (DCC Annual p. 186)
A hand-written note can be found on the floor near some boiler
control valves. It says, “Remember! Flush the machinery and clean
it with acid at least once a week! Too many things are getting stuck
in there and the impure paste isn’t as potent!”
42
After the third check to find an item, several Inheritor Parasites
crawl out of different pipes, vats, and other machinery to
attack. They are a “offspring” byproduct created by Irlyntuk’s
fusion with the Immortal Ooze Engine. They want to absorb
organic material to add to their own mass. These creatures
resemble puddles of flesh and ruined bones covered in a
multitude of horrific visages.
Inheritor Parasite (3): Init -2; Atk engulf +3 melee (1d3 acid +
slime) or spittle spray +2 missile fire(1d3 acid + slime, range
15’); AC 9; HD 2d8; hp 9; MV’ 20; Act 1d16+1d12; SP slime (DC
12 Fort save or retch for 1d3 turns. -2d to all rolls while
retching), darkvision 20’; SV Fort +4, Ref +0, Will -2; AL C.
The noise of a loud fight (or sabotage) will alert a victim of the
ooze that is stuck in the pipes. A maintenance hatch on the pipe
can be opened, allowing the PCs to see a man stuck against a
mesh grate inside the pipe. He was incorrectly processed by
the great engine, which has allowed him to survive while all
43
his bones have been melted and extracted. His name is Tomas
Fletcher. He was hunting a stag in the forest when the ooze
rolled over him. He can describe being pulled by a current into
the center of the ooze and then being sucked into a large pipe
before getting stuck here. While he was being “processed” he
briefly experienced the thoughts and memories from various
woodland animals that were also absorbed. While he is now
effectively a boneless blob, he thinks this change is quite
chipper about the whole situation and what possibilities it
brings to his life. If asked to help, he could squeeze into the
door to 1-7 and force it open.
Area 1-7 - The Wizard’s Cockpit: The 20’ x 50’ rectangular
chamber is dominated by a large reclined chair made entirely of pipes
that sits in the center of a raised platform. The walls of the room exude
rusty piping that flows down to the floor and form the chair in the
center of the room. A humanoid form rests in the pipe chair,
completely sealed in a full-body suit made of dark leather with golden
filigree. Fleshy ropes connect pipes from the chair to various points
throughout the figure’s body.
The figure rises from its chair; arcane sparks flare from the figure’s
body as tubes disconnect from his suit, hissing, popping, and
dripping ooze. A gust of wind ushers forth from behind you, forcing
you into the room and shuttering the door behind you. “Good. I
haven’t had any visitors in a long time. The great engine always
dissolves the bones before I can get to them, and I do need some
replacements.” He begins to lurch towards you.
Irlyntuk’s bones have dissolved over the course of his long
communion with the great ooze, but the Immortal Ooze Engine
dissolves all claimed bones during processing. He is
intravenously fed life-sustaining paste via the tubes connected
to his suit. In addition to sustenance, he is also fed the
knowledge and memories of those that the ooze absorbs,
which grants him extra actions. However, all the added
knowledge has made it difficult for him to focus and cannot act
with anything better than a d14. Irlyntuk will have already cast
gust of wind to force all the PCs into the room, which will also
44
cause the door to close unless it was propped open with a
sturdy object. In the second round of combat, an Inheritor
Parasite will emerge from some of the piping on the ground
and defend its progenitor.
Irlyntuk, Host of Many Forms: Init +0; Atk; AC 13; HD 4d8+4;
hp 22; MV 15’; Act 3d14; SP spellcasting (spell check +7, spells
known: (level 1) choking cloud, flaming hands (as spouting acid)
(level 2) levitate, Nythuul’s porcupine coat (level 3) gust of wind),
resistant to acid, darkvision 30’; SV Fort +3, Ref -6, Will +6; AL
C.
Inheritor Parasite: Init -2; Atk engulf +3 melee (1d3 acid +
slime) or spittle spray +2 missile fire (1d3 acid + slime, range
15’); AC 9; HD 2d8; hp 9; MV’ 20; Act 1d16+1d12; SP slime (DC
12 Fort save or retch for 1d3 turns. -2d to all rolls while
retching), darkvision 20’; SV Fort +4, Ref +0, Will -2; AL C.
CONCLUSION
If Irlyntuk has been slain and no one is controlling the engine
it will begin to catastrophically fail after 1 turn. Pipes will burst
and boilers will erupt, causing the interior to begin flooding
with the caustic ooze. The only way to prevent this is for
someone to don the communion suit and sit in the pilot’s seat,
which will automatically reattach the flesh tubes to the suit and
re-engage systematic control of the Immortal Ooze Engine. The
new pilot will also begin to receive knowledge concerning the
function of the machinery and some latent memories of
Irlyntuk’s life. Much of the machinery is still in dire need of
repair. Without further intervention, the engine will break
down in 3d7 months. However, if the PCs slay Irlyntuk and the
great engine is destroyed then the gods of Law will reward all
survivors with +1 Luck.
If the imprisoned Elder brain is freed then it will worm its way
away from civilization until it can find a deep, dark home for
itself. There is a cumulative 1% chance each day that Icandra,
45
Pontiff of the Joyless, discovers that her “gift” to Irlyntuk is
now free and will come to subjugate the Elder Brain. As a Type
III Demon, Incandra will be able to easily accomplish this and
will then learn of what the PCs have done in this adventure.
The communion suit’s golden filigree tube ports and golden
filigree could be worth up to 100 gp, but the ornamentation
also acts as a “spellbook” and can be studied to learn the spells
that the Irlyntuk knew. A DC 11+ spell level Intelligence check
and a full week’s study per spell level is required to learn each
spell. Learning the spells can be attempted more than once, but
additional attempts take an extra cumulative month of study
for each additional attempt to learn a spell.
46
47
CRYPT OF THE
PICKLE WITCH
A level 0-1 DCC RPG adventure
By Judge Yossarian
Cartography and Illustrations by David Kluttz
Cover Art by bygrinstow
Playtesters: The Geithnersberg Trading Company, DCC Days
2020: David Corrie, Tyler and Jess Manias, and Gwen the
Lawful Smuggler
INTRODUCTION
This adventure is designed for 15-20 0-level characters or 8-10
1st-level characters. For a more powerful party, consider
increasing the number of enemies, and for a weaker party (or
if the party fares poorly) consider letting the party rescue some
captured villagers in room 3-3. There are several ways the
adventure can conclude, and players should not be punished
for choosing to run rather than fight; the story hooks may
indeed be even more interesting if the party fails in their quest
and survives.
When a young girl goes missing in the deepest part of the
woods, a group of unsuspecting villagers are forced to
confront years of suspicion and rumor, and face off against the
undying horror fermenting deep below the forest. Terror,
danger, and briny death are near certainties... but those who
survive will have stories the town taverns will retell for
decades.
48
BACKGROUND
The woods known as the Green Span are home to a powerful
witch, at least ten centuries old. She draws her occult power
from Cisalv the Preserver, a mighty entity from another plane
(more details on him follow). She extends her life by drawing
it out of living things, leaving them in a state of permanent
stasis. At Cisalv’s direction she conducts experiments to find
new ways of preservation and mummification of living things.
She is functionally immortal, but her body does slowly age;
every 150 years or so, she kidnaps a girl-child, usually an
infant, and conducts a ritual to swap her conscious mind into
the child’s young body. The reeve’s daughter would normally
be too old for her purposes, but she has grown bored of her
solitude in the woods. If she succeeds, she will return to the
camp in 12 hours or so in the girl’s body and impersonate her
perfectly, then spend a few decades corrupting and eventually
drawing the life force from everyone in the village.
SCENE 1: THE DISAPPEARANCE
OF A GIRL-CHILD
You set off from your village imagining the delights of market day in
town and hoping for a quick and easy journey. Maybe a few wild
animal attacks, a restless night in the woods, or even a halfhearted
extortion attempt by some bandits, but then coin in your pocket and
several days of food and entertainment. The distance from your
village to town is long, however, and it is necessary to camp for the
night halfway through, in the heart of the thick woods known as The
Green Span. The campsite is a cleared area just off the road, well-used
by travelers and caravans like yours. The journey here was entirely
uneventful, as you had hoped.
Well, maybe not entirely...
49
RUMORS
Each player may roll a d10 to see what strange incident or
experience one of his characters had on the way to the
campsite. Some are true, some partially true, some complete
nonsense, but the ones in bold are those potentially useful to
the party.
d10
Result
1
Uncommonly dry weather for this time of year. Or is it
uncommonly wet? You never were one for almanacs…
2
You notice a flock of white storks flying overhead. Bad
luck, storks… some say they steal babies from their
cradles and replace them with changelings!
3
An odd, sour, cheesy smell seems to permeate from the
ground for a few hundred yards just before you reach the
campsite. You’re pretty sure it isn’t you… you had a bath
just a few weeks ago.
4
You hear a rumor that the reeve’s youngest is touched in
the head- hardly talks, and when she does, nonsense. He’s
taking her to see if he can find a cleric to pray over her.
5
One of the group, a hunter, saw a scrawny doe cross the
track and took a shot at her. Got her clean through the neck,
he did, but she just kept on running! No blood either…
6
Some of the oldsters were telling the youngsters tales about
the old woman of the woods… lives out here in a great big
hut, that walks around on chicken legs! What nonsense.
7
One of the hired caravan guards tried to fill his waterskin
at a spring along the way, and pretty much ruined it. The
water bubbling out of the spring was salty as the sea and
knocked him out like a light when he tried to drink it.
8
During a break in marching, an older guards tells you a
family story about his great-great-aunt, who as a child
wandered off into these woods and never returned. There
were sightings of her for decades- a disheveled woman
wandering amongst the trees- but she never came home.
9
The reeve’s little girl has been babbling away ever since
you made camp; chatting away to some imaginary friend.
You make out a few words: “...no, no, I don’t like them!
Salty and sour, eughhh…. But hey, why you got so many
legs?”
10
(Roll twice more, take both results)
50
At dawn, the village reeve, who is leading the caravan, frantically
awakes the group. His daughter is missing. She was last seen during
the second dog watch; one of the ox-drivers stepped out to do his
business, and the girl was staring out into the woods as if in a trance.
One of the hired caravan guards has found her trail, a set of small
footsteps leading off into the murky woods.
The guards must stay to watch the goods, and the reeve insists on
waiting at the camp, in case she should wander back. He orders you,
good townsfolk, to follow the trail and see what has become of his
daughter. You know he’s a fair man and loves his daughter much;
success will be rewarded, and failure could mean ostracization, exile,
or worse.
Gather your party and venture forth!
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SCENE 2: THE LIFELESS
CLEARING
Following the trail for the better part of an hour, you suddenly come
upon a broad clearing. A crooked path, framed by dead trees and
brambles, leads between a squalid, pot-bellied hut on one side of the
clearing and an old open well on the other side. A dozen paces from
the well, a pile of wood sits beside a well-used fire-pit, crowned with
a large wooden frame.
The clearing is the above-ground portion of the witch’s vile
domain. She does not visit the surface much, no longer needing
to sleep or eat herself, but Cisalv’s power keeps the clearing
preserved as if in constant use. No birds or other animals can
be heard here. The plant life is dried and withered as if in late
autumn, strangely without any leaves having fallen. There is
no evidence of rot or decay on the deadfall libs or stumps.
Area 2-1 - The Boucan: The fire-pit is cold, but coals remain from
past fires, and the rocks are black with charcoal soot. Above the pit is
a frame of thick branches, bent and lashed together over the fire, and
hung with scraps of cured, smoked, and dried meat.
This is where the witch experiments with smoking and heat-
curing creatures alive. Only scraps remain, fused to the frame
by the heat, but many a being has met its painful end here. A
DC 10 Intelligence check (occupations like butcher, cook, or
healer get a +5) to detect pieces of roasted human flesh
amongst the boar and venison scraps.
Inspecting the fire pit itself will reveal pieces of burnt bone and
cloth amongst the coals. Upon digging through the coals, a PC
will find a shriveled human ear, with a large earring on it,
made of a dull grey metal. Hanging from the earring is a two-
inch radius charm in the shape of a trine (⅓ of a circle). It
belonged to one of the three Temporal Assassins (see sidebar).
She was smoked alive by the witch, and later fed to one of her
captured comrades as a sick experiment. Leaning on the
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woodpile is her cuirass, charred black by the smoke and the
straps ruined, but the front and back plates can be separated
and used as small handheld bucklers (+1 AC, -1 Check
Penalty).
SIDEBAR: CISALV AND HIS
ENEMIES
The witch of the woods is pledged to a powerful patron named
Cisalv, an inhuman entity from another plane. Cisalv is called
“the Preserver” by occultists because of his obsession with
halting natural processes such as life, death, decay, and some
say the passage of time itself. He is not quite a god in terms of
power, but aspires to godhood, and grants power to mortals
who help him develop new techniques of preservation and
grow his power. In the rare cases he appears as an avatar on
this plane, he resembles a 15 - 20-foot-high ethereal humanoid
figure with the head and wings of a stork.
As often occurs with pretenders to godhood, Cisalv has made
enemies of many existing deities. His ideology is generally
neutral evil, but neutral nature gods abhor him, and his
greatest foe is the lawful god Choranus, the Seer Father1, who
has dominion over time. Choranus cannot reach Cisalv in his
home Plane of Stasis, so he sends Temporal Assassins after his
servants to frustrate their work and limit Cisalv’s power.
Not too long ago, three of these assassins were sent after the
witch, wielding an amulet blessed by Choranus called the Eye
of Hindsight which allowed them to see through the witch’s
glamours and resist her hexes. However, they underestimated
her power, were captured and made subject to her experiments
and torture. Two are now dead and their bodies can be found
in Areas 2-1 and 3-3; their leader is alive and lives in Area 3-4,
1 Feel free to replace Choranus with another deity of time from your
campaign’s particular pantheon.
53
though violently insane and rendered invisible by side effects
of experimentation. If the party can retrieve and assemble the
pieces of the Eye of Hindsight, the final battle with the witch
will be rendered much easier. Its wearer receives the ability to
see through some illusions (at the judge’s discretion) and it can
be used by a cleric as a holy symbol of Choranus, granting the
“Second Sight” spell at level 1.
Area 2-2 - The Brine Well: This old well is mostly unremarkable;
it is too deep and dark to see the bottom, but a faint sour smell wafts
up from it. There is an old wooden frame above, but no bucket or rope.
Observant PCs (DC 8 Intelligence check) inspecting the well
will notice that the wooden frame is cunningly and purposely
whittled so it will not bear weight. If the PCs use it to anchor a
rope to descend the well, the beam will break while the last PC
is descending, causing 1d3 fall damage (if no marching order
is given, choose the PC with lowest Luck).
Very observant PCs (DC 13 Int check) will notice two holes in
the stone rim, approximately 3 feet apart, lined with steel
grommets, and scratches on the stone showing that something
had often been anchored there before. The rope ladder from
the hut hooks in here and allows PCs to climb down with no
risk.
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Area 2-3 - The Squalid Cabin: A squat, pot-bellied hut, round and
roughly 12 feet in diameter, sits in a corner of the clearing, a faint
wisp of smoke ascending from the chimney. The roof is thatch and the
walls are a mix of stone, daubed clay, and wooden beams. As you
approach the shabby building you notice that the door is partially
ajar, and through it, you can see, partially, a jar. In fact, a whole shelf
filled with jars.
As the door creaks open, you see a surprisingly neat interior, although
there is a light coating of dust on everything, and a sharp, acidic smell
pervades. A shelf immediately across from the door is filled with dry
goods such as rice and flour, as well as preserved vegetables and fruit
in glass containers. A hearth in the center of the room is surmounted
by a wooden mantel, from which hangs strands of dried herbs, and on
top of which sits a well-made taxidermy squirrel.
A small table sits in the center of the room, cluttered with dried plants
and flowers. On one wall, a shabby straw bed lies unmade. Next to
the bed, mounted on the wall above an enormous mottled-brown
bearskin rug, another shelf holds several small, brass-bound kegs and
amphorae.
The fluid on the shelf is enchanted brine. If drunk, characters
must pass a DC 5 Fortitude save or fall unconscious for 1d4
days. While unconscious, they cannot be woken by mundane
means. If the check is passed, they gain +3 Stamina and cannot
take damage for 1d12 hours. However, keep track of damage
taken; it will be doubled and inflicted upon the PC at the end
of 12 hours, unless another dose is taken. If they die and are
somehow revived, they take the patron taint of Cisalv, or major
corruption, at the judge’s discretion. One amphora is already
open, and at the bottom of the brine is a copper key to the door
in Area 3-2 (on a roll-under luck check PCs see it shining at the
bottom).
Under the bed is a rope ladder, with metal hooks on the top. It
is designed to hook into the depressions in the rim of the well
outside.
55
The dried herbs, vegetables, and supplies here are mundane
and can be safely consumed. They have no magical or healing
properties but are worth about 50 cp if collected and brought
back to town. There is also a large cleaver on the table, still
sharp, and usable as a hand-axe.
The squirrel is not actually taxidermied, but in stasis. It can be
sold for as much as 50 gp if properly appraised, and if the
witch’s grimoire is deciphered or Cisalv is taken as a patron, it
can be activated with a spell check as a 1st-level guardian-type
familiar per the core rulebook. If unappraised, it will sell for 2
gp as a piece of folk art.
Looking under the bed or disturbing any of the casks or
amphorae will trigger the hut’s security, the bearskin rug,
which is actually a bear which was torturously deboned alive
by the witch for this purpose. It cannot chase the PCs from the
hut but will attack whoever is standing on it immediately.
Animated Bearskin: Init +6; Atk Maul +3 melee (1d8); AC 7;
HD 1d10+1; HP 7; MV 3’; Act 1d20; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will -2;
Al N.
Observant PCs may notice that the hearth is unlit, and appears
to not have been lit recently, despite the smoke coming from
the chimney. Below the bear is a trapdoor leading to Area 3-2,
the root cellar.
56
SCENE 3: THE BRINEY DEMESNE
Area 3-1 - The Well’s Bottom: As your eyes adjust to the darkness
at the well’s bottom, you notice it is mostly dry, with a small pool of
greenish liquid in the center. A strong sour, acidic odor burns your
lungs. A stone archway leads off to the east, while the south side of
the circular chamber is walled floor-to ceiling with iron bars. A gate
in the center is locked from the outside with a heavy iron latch.
The liquid here is the same as that in the casks and amphorae
in the cabin. Peering through the metal bars, characters will see
a murky room littered with rags, bones and refuse, and may
make out the outlines of shelves. They also have an odd feeling
of being watched.
The latch is easily openable from this side and leads into Area
3-4. The archway leads to a hall, on the opposite end of which
is the locked door to Area 3-2. Halfway down the hall, a double
door to the south leads to Area 3-3.
Area 3-2 - The Root Cellar: The trapdoor reveals an old but
uncorroded copper ladder, leading to a stone-flagged cellar. The room
is filled with rows of crates, shelves, and cabinets overflowing with
fruits, vegetables, plants, many of which are exotic and
unrecognizable to you, and even cheeses, cuts of meat and sausage.
They are all preserved in some way; smoked, dried, pickled or salted.
A copper pipe runs down from the ceiling in the center of the room,
and continues along the back wall, disappearing into a fitting on the
west wall beside a small wooden door.
The pipe in the room carries the exhaust from the witch’s steam
plant to the surface, to be expelled from the chimney of the hut.
The door is locked with a small copper padlock.
The door can be unlocked with the key found upstairs or
picked with tools and a DC 12 Agility check. It may also be
broken down with three DC 10 Strength checks (only one
person may attempt per round). However, this noisy process
57
will trigger the room’s security, the Cursed Animated
Preserved Foodstuffs, as will an attempt to ingest any of the
food in the room.
Cursed Animated Preserved Foodstuffs: Init +5; Atk Choke -
5 melee (1 plus choking); AC 7; HD 4d8; HP 18; MV 0’; Act
special; SP attempt to force-feed and choke all targets within
the room, SV Fort +0, Ref+0, Will +8; AL N.
If hit, a target takes 1 damage and begins to choke as the
animated food item rams itself down their throat; target cannot
move or act and takes 3 damage per round. Target receives a
Fort save against the original attack roll each round to clear
their gullet, and allies may make a Strength check against the
same to perform a Heimlich maneuver, with a +5 to trained
healers or food service professionals. Once the foodstuffs take
18 damage, they will lose enchantment, and crumble to dust.
Area 3-3 - The Pickling Floor: Coming through the double doors,
you discover the strangest room you have ever been in. A massive
copper vat of bubbling liquid sits to your right, expelling a sour-
smelling steam, and hooked up to a copper-piped apparatus on the
wall. An eerie fire burns beneath it with no visible fuel. One the
opposite wall, a series of long cylindrical glass tanks with large,
unfamiliar shapes silhouetted within. The floor and walls are
delicately shaped stone, the ground laid with large green and black
rugs covered in unidentifiable symbols and patterns. There is a
wooden door on the west wall, midway down the room, and another
metal door on the east wall at the end of the room.
The bubbling vat is enchanted formaldehyde. It is distilled here
for the witch’s experiments, and is also a part of her steam
plant, which is used to power the other machinery in the
complex. The secrets of this machinery were revealed to her by
her extraplanar patron. There is a wheel on the piping leading
up to the formaldehyde still. Tightening the valve shut with
this wheel will turn off the steam, disabling the other
machinery. It may be loosened again to let the steam resume,
so long as the piping is intact and the magical fire lit.
58
The glass tanks are actually not glass at all- they are cylindrical
volumes of formaldehyde contained in an antibiotic magical
force barrier. Any PC attempting to put a limb through this
barrier will find it shriveled and atrophied when they
withdraw it; the appendage will be uselessly crippled and will
drop off on its own accord within 1d4 hours, leaving a pale
gray stump.
Deactivating the steam also deactivates the barriers, causing
the formaldehyde to splash out onto the floor, and freeing the
contents of the tanks. One has a dead human body in it- the
other has the still living Pickled Wolf Zombie, which
immediately attacks.
Pickled Wolf Zombie: Init -2; Atk Bite +2 melee (1d4); AC 14;
HD 2d6+1; hp 10; MV 40’; Act 1d20, SV Fort +4, Ref+1, Will +0;
AL N.
59
The human corpse was one of the Three Temporal Assassins
(see sidebar). It is dressed in odd black robes with no clear
seams or fasteners, and its skin is shriveled and grey. It has
gaping wounds on its neck and torso. It is wearing a necklace
of dull grey metal, with a 2-inch radius charm in the shape of
a trine. If the party also recovered the trine earring from the
firepit on the surface, they will find the two charms interlock
to form ⅔ of a circle, after which the seam disappears, and they
cannot be separated. On its belt is a beautifully uncorroded,
curved, serrated dagger of an unknown metal (non-magical,
works as a +1 to-hit dagger).
The western door is not locked but wedged closed with a
heavy oak bar that is easily removed from this side. It leads to
Area 3-4. The eastern door is made of a coppery metal, and
swings open with a hiss when a wheel in the center of the door
is loosened. It leads to Area 3-5.
Area 3-4 - The Haunted Storeroom: This room, unlike the
previous rooms, is not neat but littered with detritus; small animal
bones, rags, what appears to be dried excrement. Something clearly
had its den here at some point, but no creatures are visible. A few
broad shelves hold pouches, bags, jars, crates, and barrels of all
manner of powders, dried plants, and shining crystals- reminds you
of the village herbalist’s shop, although she was never so well stocked.
A barred door leads out to the north, and a stout wooden door to the
east.
This is the curing supply room. In here is a stock of glass jars
of varying size worth 15 gp, and an organized shelf of
alchemical ingredients, with sacks of salts and reagents. These
are worth 300 gp if appraised at DC 16 Intelligence check;
someone with a suitable background gets +5 (if unappraised,
whoever buys them will certainly lowball and offer only 3d30
gp). They are also valuable as spell ingredients for patron bond
for Cisalv, granting +5 to that check.
60
A small black pouch in the corner contains unstable reagents;
if not appraised, the character who carries it will take 3d4
explosive damage next time they are hit and lose 1/3 of their
fragile items.
Once the PCs enter this room, the invisible lunatic who lives
there immediately begins to stalk them silently. After 10
minutes in the room, or when the PCs start to dally, he attacks
the character with the lowest luck or agility attribute. That
character gets a DC 15 Ref save to detect the pitter-patter of
steps behind them; otherwise they are subject to a backstab
from the madman before combat begins.
Invisible Lunatic: Init +3; Atk Claws +2 melee (1d4, or 1d10
backstab); AC 22; HD 1d12+2 HP 9; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SV Fort
+3, Ref+6, Will -2; AL C.
The Invisible Lunatic was the leader of the Temporal Assassins
sent to kill the witch. The witch kept him starved in this room
so that she could feed him the results of other experiments-
part of a commission from Cisalv to find ways to transfer life
force. The side effects of the experiments gave him unnaturally
long life, lengthened his nails into twisted claws, turned him
entirely invisible, and also drove him stark raving mad. He has
no shred of humanity remaining and will attempt to kill and
consume any living thing other than the witch herself, who
terrifies him. He retains his assassin’s reflexes but most of the
strength has been starved out of him.
The Lunatic attacks by sneaking around the room silently and
backstabbing a random target each round (+5 to backstab, 1d10
damage). While he is invisible, he can only be struck by a
critical hit, and can always backstab. After he has made a kill
(or two successful attacks), the blood on his claws makes him
partially visible, reducing his AC to 17. If the PCs somehow
render him fully visible, for example by scattering one of the
sacks of fine alchemical salts over him, his AC is reduced to 12
and he can no longer backstab, instead making a regular attack
61
at +2. If the PCs flee the room, there is a 25% chance he sneaks
out with them, stalking them and waiting for the opportune
moment to strike again. Otherwise he remains to feast on the
corpses of the fallen.
If the lunatic is killed, and his (still invisible) body is carefully
looted, a metallic bracelet can be found partially embedded in
his swollen, mutated wrist. On it is the third 2-inch radius trine
charm. When combined with another piece, or both, it becomes
visible again and joins with them seamlessly. Each of his claws
can also be removed and used as a dagger by PCs, which has
normal stats for a dagger but remains permanently invisible.
Both doors out of this room are barred from the opposite side
and can only be opened by extraordinary means (like the bag
of unstable reagents).
62
Area 3-5 - The Fermenting Reservoir: You peer into a long
rectangular room bathed in an eerie green glow. You see two narrow
metal catwalks in the shape of an “L”, raised about six feet above the
surface of a deep pool of dark green, bubbling, phosphorescent liquid.
At their corner is a metal platform, on top of which is a stained metal
table with chain restraints. Next to the table is a glass pedestal
connected to a copper pipe which disappears into the far wall. At the
other end of the L-shaped catwalk is a metal door, similar to the one
you entered by.
The metal table is the witch’s operating and dissection table.
Tangled in one of the straps is a red hair ribbon, which party
members recognize as belonging to the reeve’s daughter. A
close examination of the table finds none of the bloodstains are
fresh.
Next to the table is a crate full of sinister looking but well-made
medical tools, worth 12 gp to a twisted enough buyer. A few
pieces from the set will serve well enough as thieves’ tools.
The glass pedestal next to the table has two long metal levers
attached to it. One controls the brine level in the chamber, and
another opens the doors to the chamber. They only function if
the steam plant in Area 3-3 has not been disabled.
The catwalks are narrow and have no handrails. They must be
navigated single file, with each character making a DC 5
Agility check once to see if they can balance. On a failed check,
adjacent characters may make a DC 12 Reflex save to catch
them, but a result of 6 or less sends them in as well. Fallen
characters can be easily fished out, but entering the brine
awakens the Brine Elemental.
Brine Elemental: Init +3; Atk Engulf +10 (1 + stasis); AC 16;
HD 8d8; HP 33; MV 0’; Act 1d20; , SP half damage from
piercing weapons, stasis (target paralyzed for 1d12 rounds); SV
Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +8; AL N.
63
A towering, malevolent humanoid shape made of bubbling
brine, this creature was formed when the souls of the witch’s
victims were drawn out into the liquid, they were preserved
in. It attacks anything that breaks the surface tension of the
brine, attempting to engulf them and force itself into their open
orifices and wounds. If it succeeds, it paralyzes the victim, and
those in the brine will drown unless rescued within a number
of rounds equal to their Stamina bonus +1.
It is highly unlikely the PCs can kill the Brine Elemental, but if
the room’s machinery is still powered, they can easily banish it
by pulling the lever in the pedestal (see below) to drain the
brine from the chamber. The creature can attack anywhere in
the room, but cannot leave the room by any means. If all living
and unparalyzed PCs leave the room for three or more turns,
the elemental will resume its slumber until awakened again,
and Agility checks are not required again on the way back to
safely use the catwalk.
The metal door on the far side leads to Area 4-1, but has no
latch, knob, or other obvious means to open it. It can only be
opened with the lever on the glass pedestal, or via an
emergency lever above the door. The emergency lever will
cause the door to swing inward violently, flinging whoever is
within five feet of the door into the brine; the PC who pulled
the lever gets no save, but PCs behind him get a DC 10 Reflex
save to keep their balance.
64
65
66
SCENE 4: THE ZESTY CONCLUSION
Area 4-1 - The Salty Tombs: You step into a massive rectangular
chamber forty feet wide and hundreds of feet long, dimly lit by a
shimmering moat of phosphorescent brine ringing the walls. Ten
rectangular pedestals emerge from the moat, surrounding a large
stone platform. In the middle of the platform, on a huge throne of
woven wicker topped with black feathers and bird skulls, sits an
ancient crone, her damp and withered skin a deathly mottled grey. A
large red centipede is perched carefully on her shoulder. From under
a mass of matted white hair, she leers at a young girl seated quietly
on her lap- the reeve’s daughter at last!
Upon noticing your entry, she cackles, and in a raspy voice, calls out,
“Imbeciles! Primitive bumpkins! You think to stop me, and rescue
this child? You are too late! We are joined now, and if you harm me,
the girl shall die! If you value her life or yours, flee now!”
A halo of sickly green light rings the crone’s head, and a green ray
links it with a similar halo around the girl’s head. Suddenly, the
whole chamber seems to shake with the grinding of stone on stone, as
the tops of the pedestals open, and withered forms begin to climb out!
The Pickle Witch is here, with her giant centipede familiar on
her shoulder, and the missing girl in her clutches. She is
actually extremely concerned that the PCs have made it this far
and confronted her at her most vulnerable. She has just
spellburned significantly to complete the ritual to transfer her
consciousness into the girl’s body, leaving her very weak, and
she needs to stall for time for the ritual to finish. She is bluffing
about the link between her and the girl being dangerous- in
fact, the only way to save the girl is to kill the witch
immediately, before the ritual is complete.
To gain time and protect herself, she has released her previous
ten host bodies from where they rest in stasis in the brine. They
are perfectly preserved 150-200-year-old human bodies,
inhabited by the feral minds of the children she kidnapped.
67
The fully assembled Eye of Hindsight allows the wearer to see
through the magic, and in their mind, they receive a hard to
define but clear image of how the ritual is proceeding. They
know that the witch is bluffing and how much time remains
before the girl’s mind is lost.
Pickled Ancient Feral Child (10): Init -1; Atk thrash -1 (1d3
damage); AC 11; HD 1d8+1; hp 6; MV 35’; Act 1d20; SV Fort+3,
Ref +1, Will -2; AL N.
The withered hosts are entirely insane. Once released, they will
swim across the moat and rush towards the exit of the chamber
to try to escape, blindly thrashing at anything that gets in their
way. If the PCs all stand to one side (and clear the single-file
catwalk in the next room) the creatures will rush past them
without incident.
If the brine in the preceding room has been drained, there are
only a few inches remaining and the creatures cannot swim.
They will scream from their pedestals for one round, then on
the following round will attempt to jump the moat (1d20+1
against a DC 8 Agility check). Those who succeed rush towards
the exit as normal, but those who fail are dashed to pieces on
the stone 15 feet below.
To the wielder of the fully assembled Eye of Hindsight, the
creatures appear as bawling, feral children rather than old
crones.
The Pickle Witch: Init -2; Atk claw -2 melee (1d4-1) or Cisalv’s
Stasis +8 (special); AC 9; HD 3d6; hp 14; MV 20’; Act 1d20; SP
Cisalv’s Stasis (Will save against spell check or paralysis for
1d12 rounds, range 30’); SV Fort +2, Ref+0, Will +8; AL C.
The witch will clutch the girl and avoid close combat as long
as she can, casting her paralysis spell each round that she isn’t
in melee.
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After six rounds, the ritual will finish, and she will have
swapped bodies with the little girl. From the perspective of the
group, the girl will bite the crone’s arm and jump away, and
the crone will shriek and dash towards the exit. If this happens,
the most probable result is that the PCs kill the crone (with the
child’s mind inside her body dying with her) and rescue the
girl (with the witch’s mind inhabiting it). The witch will then
impersonate the girl almost flawlessly and return to the village
in her place (a possible story hook for a continuing campaign).
The witch's familiar will hide inside her clothes. If the witch is
killed without the familiar being killed, her soul will flee to the
familiar’s body and disappear into a crack in the floor (to the
true altar to Cisalv). The familiar will flee the same way if the
ritual is completed (it will rejoin its master later).
Centipede Familiar: Init +2; Atk bite +1 melee (1d3+poison);
AC 14; HD 1d4+2; hp 5; MV 20’; Act 1d20; SP Centipede poison
(DC 13 Fort save or permanent memory loss); SV Fort +2,
Ref+3, Will +8; AL C.
If the witch is killed before the ritual is completed, the girl will
happily tell her rescuers of her trials, and they may return her
to her father for a great reward!
There is a hidden lever behind the throne, findable with a DC
9 Intelligence or detect secret doors check. It opens a trapdoor
to Area 4-2.
Area 4-2 - The Altar to Cisalv: Proceeding down a small ladder,
you find yourself standing before a massive altar on a promontory
rising above an endless subterranean lake of glowing brine. A font of
the liquid wits at the feet of a 20-foot statue depicting a stork-headed
winged man in tattered robes, carved from what appears to be pure
salt. On the edge of the font lies a large black book, and on top of the
book is a miniature copy of the statue.
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If the witch and her familiar were killed, or the ritual was
completed, the altar is dormant. The black book is the witch's
grimoire; it appears to be blank, but when brine is applied to
the pages they reveal the spell knowledge for paralysis, and the
information needed to bond with Cisalv as a patron, adding +8
to a spell check for patron bond with it. It also reveals the
nature of the witch’s ritual and her reasons for kidnapping
girls.
If the witch's familiar was not slain, the characters will see it
standing on the altar, then leaping into the brine font, hissing
shrilly in the witch's voice as it dissolves into steam. The font
will begin to bubble, and two rounds later, the Avatar of Cisalv
will appear to take its revenge. The avatar, a greenish ghostly
effigy of the statue, will slowly chase the PCs from the complex
as it crumbles and collapses.
The PCs need to RUN at this point; the avatar cannot be
damaged by mundane weapons, moves at 25’ per round, and
everything it touches is paralyzed for 1d12 rounds. Rooms
collapse behind it as it passes through them, and it will pursue
the PCs all the way to the surface, but not beyond. In the event
of a TPK by the avatar, consider a creative result- perhaps they
awaken on the plane of Stasis, chosen by Cisalv to accomplish
some goal, or perhaps they awaken 20,000 years later in the
world of Mutant Crawl Classics!
70
71
THE RETURN OF
THE MONGUMANDU
A level 0-1 DCC RPG Adventure
By Boson Au
Cartography and Illustrations by Boson Au
Playtesters: Michael Byrne, Ben Glass-Siegel, Michael
Hichme, Jamal Rogers, Ibrahim Zohrob
INTRODUCTION
Chosen by the village elder as the next heroes/sacrifice, the
players find themselves exploring an underground temple that
is in fact, the body of a deactivated automaton who is designed
to be awakened in an appointed time to face an impending
threat. The players face traps and wards, insects warped by
magic, as well as a final confrontation against a gargantuan
monster hellbent on demolishing their village.
This adventure is designed for 10-15 level-0 characters or 4-6
1st-level characters with slight modifications.
BACKGROUND
Four hundred years ago, the archmage knight Ichohn Cote did
the unthinkable: They bested the great Mongumandu, a
terrifying monster that came from the Blackest Sea.
Unfortunately, the battle did not end in the death of
Mongumandu. Instead, the behemoth only sustained enough
injuries to retreat into the Blackest Sea, biding its time to return
to continue its path of mayhem.
Predicting that the eventual return of Mongumandu will occur
long after their death, Ichohn Cote set about constructing a
golem that will be able to defend the known world upon its
revival. They then buried the golem deep underground and
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armed the interiors of the golem with wards and traps to deter
thieves and stray animals. Next, they placed on it a spell that
will reveal the entrance of the golem when the time is right.
Finally, they settled near the Blackest Sea, where their
offspring remained guard against the eventual resurrection of
Mongumandu.
And wouldn’t you know it, Mongumandu is awake, and ready
to finish what it started.
PLAYER INTRODUCTION
Author’s note: I’ve made a conscious decision to omit actual “read
aloud” sections. I feel that the abrupt change in tone and language
(when reading verbatim) is usually jarring and breaks immersion.
Instead, I hope to provide enough details for the Judge to then use to
paint a mental picture in the style of their own choosing.
A fortnight ago, Uncle Eesop, the wise man of the village
summoned abled bodied villagers to the town square and
explained the return of Mongumandu (No one questions the
validity of Uncle Eesop’s declarations.) They all convene at a
particular
outcropping
in
the
jagged
mountainside
surrounding the village. When the moon reaches its peak, the
stone outcropping forms an ominous passageway inside the
mountains, floors covered in ruins. Insist that they are the
chosen ones, and that they ready themselves for their destiny.
THE TEMPLE OF COTES
General Features: The underground Temple of Cotes (aka the
Golem) is dark and dry, mostly made of stone. While it has
been sealed for four hundred years, gradual cracks appeared
and various wild creatures sought refuge here, only to be
warped by the spell casted by Ichohon Cotes to become
wandering guardians. The walls are adorned with pictographs
depicting Ichohn Cotes fighting Mongumandu, Ichohn
holding feasts, Ichohn creating a village, etc...
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The Red Cellmites: Pestilent insects have claimed the temple
as their home, and a particularly orderly colony of termites
have been warped by Ichohn’s powerful wizardry into rather
formidable guardians.
They patrol the temple and will encounter the PCs if they stay
in one place. If PCs linger too long, roll 1d6, a 1 indicates the
red cellmites have found the party and will attack if
threatened. The threshold for failure will increment by one on
every roll. (i.e., first, it's 1 then a 2, etc…) They travel in packs
of 3 or 4, usually with one soldier and the rest workers.
They stand uptight at around 4’ with 6” long pinchers. Their
abdomen, which stores toxic chemicals used for defense, gives
off a faint blue glow. Even though they have been magically
enlarged, they still have the ability to slip between cracks in
walls and floors.
Red Cellmite (Worker): Init +0; Atk bite +0 melee (1d4-1); AC
11; HD 1d8; hp 6; MV 20’; Act 1d20; SV Fort +0, Ref +1, Will -5;
AL L.
Red Cellmite (Soldier): Init +2; Atk bite +3 Melee (1d6) or
spear +2 melee (1d8); AC 13; HD 2d8; hp 10; MV 20’; Act 1d20;
SP 20% might have poisoned stinger: (+3 melee, dmg poison:
DC 16 Fort save or 2d4 Stamina); SV Fort +2, Ref +2, Will -3;
AL L.
The Red Soldiers have larger pinchers, as well as the ability to
carry and use weapons. They are usually armed with
sharpened wooden spears.
Self-destruct Explosion: When a termite reaches 1 HP, there is
a 50% chance they will choose to sacrifice themselves to protect
the colony. They will expel the excrement in their abdomen
with enough force to explode. Anyone within 5’ will need to
make DC 10 Ref save or take 1d4 acid damage.
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E - Entrance (Reception):
The passageway from the outcropping is about 10’ wide and
about 12’ high. It looks as if it has been completely carved from
the bedrock of the mountain. Arcane runes carved in an ancient
language glow faintly amongst the floor and walls. It
eventually leads about 50 feet further into a 30’x30’ room. In
the center of the room is a lever with an encrusted crystal ball
on top. Careful inspection shows a slight separation in the
rocks at the entrance of the room, as well as the floor all
alongside the wall.
While walking along the passageway, if asked about the runes,
at a DC 10 Int check summarize the story of Ichohn Cotes
subduing the terrible Mongumandu into the sea.
If the characters enter the room, the lever will change color. At
10 characters it will change to yellow, and at 12+ it will change
to green.
If the PCs pull the lever, two things happen: Either nothing (if
less than 10 characters are standing in the room) or the magic
that formed the entrance will begin to dispel. A noticeable
rumbling is felt and in one turn, the entrance to this waiting
room will be closed (rocks that were pushed out will be pushed
back in.) Those not standing in the waiting room will
effectively be buried, ending their adventure.
Characters can pry the crystal ball (worth 15 sp) off the lever.
Doing so however, will remove the visual cue of the
“minimum” participants needed.
Once the entrance is closed, a slight humming and groaning
sound is heard as the “waiting room” descends down a tightly
fitted chute that opens up gradually into the Body (B).
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B - Body:
As the players descend, the walls eventually open up to an
enormous open pentagonal room made of stone. The room is
illuminated by a faint glow from unseen sources. On each
corner of the room lies a colored door: red, blue, yellow, green
and black. The rest of the room is barren except for the center,
where a stone square pedestal, about 3’ by 3’, rises to some 4’
off the floor. The sides of the pedestal then come together into
a pyramid with a tip where a heart, carved out of the same
stone, sits. On each sloping side of the pyramid is a space to set
a stone.
The goal is for the players to best the challenges of each room
and place the reward (a gem) into each respective socket.
Doing so will make the black door more translucent, and
eventually disappear. Players can try all sorts of things to open
the obsidian door, but it will not budge. Of course, while
players are trying, remember the red cellmites are patrolling.
Ideally, the players will venture out to the other rooms.
LL - Left Leg (Yellow):
The door to the chamber is shut by mechanical means (DC 30
Strength check to lift it up, due to lack of purchase in the door
to grip it) The switch on its right (wooden, with leather grips
to insulate against electricity) will open the door, as well as fill
the interior of the room with a bright and pleasantly warm
yellow glow. Letting go of the switch will allow it to revert
downward, closing and shutting down the room.
The room itself is built entirely of stone. Its walls and floor are
covered with intricate silver and gold veins weaving across the
surface. Players can attempt to pry out some gold and silver. A
DC 15 Strength check may be made to gather 5 gp worth of
gold and silver. The veins all lead to a cylindrical pedestal
made of silver, brass, and copper.
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The pedestal rises up about 20’ high to the middle of the room,
with a matching column coming down from the ceiling,
meeting in the middle where a fist sized topaz suspends in
midair between the ends of the columns. It is the source of the
humming.
Climbing the pedestal to reach the topaz is relatively easy (DC
10 Agility check) as is retrieving the topaz. The difficulty lies
in escaping.
It is assumed that when the characters enter the chamber, the
lever outside is pointing up (aka ON). Initially, removing the
topaz from the pedestal while the room is ON will trip a
breaker, cause the door to slam shut, as well as leave the room
in the dark. Replacing the topaz will once again, power the
room.
Ideally, the players will wise up and send someone outside to
flip the switch after someone else retrieves the topaz. There is
a problem: If the switch is turned ON while the topaz is not
suspended, the room is electrified. Those touching the pedestal
(or the column in the ceiling) will take 2d6 electricity damage,
while others in the room, standing on the floor, need to make
a Luck check or take 1d4 electricity damage from the silver and
gold veins acting as weak conductors. Moving on the floor
while it is live will trigger the Luck check at every 10’ (or 1
square.)
Flipping the switch outside to OFF turns off the electricity but
closes the door almost instantly.
Allow players to come up with ingenious ways of NOT
touching the floor or propping the door open. Prying enough
inlays or coming back with items to prop the door open are
both options but remember that the cellmites are patrolling.
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RL - Right Leg (Red):
The players will find the door slightly ajar, and the lever
mechanism swings freely. Originally, the room was designed
to be an oil trap: various pressure plates sewn around the room
would activate oil repositories in the ceiling that would then
trigger flaming arrows. However, due to the passage of time,
the lighting and arrow mechanism has rotted, and the oil
repositories were accidentally triggered afterwards, releasing
a steady supply of oil, which renders the floor both extremely
slippery, and flammable. Additionally, age and the steady
erosion allowed a colony of termites to extend their nest from
outside to here. Parts of the walls were obviously dug out by
the termites. On the far end of the chamber a common spider,
warped by the magic of the temple into a larger, smarter
predator, has made the rear of the chamber her home. The area
is covered entirely in webbing, and she hides amongst the
cracks and debris.
On the web are the remains of termites that have been captured
by the spider, wrapped in webbing. Players can find 1d4 spears
if searching.
Unfortunately for the players, the key (a red ruby the size of a
fist) is on the web. The spider has fed on the termites that
attempted to breach this room. Getting the key will require
climbing on the web (reflex save vs DC 12 or become entangled,
prohibiting any movement as well as incurring -1d in attack
and giving attackers +1d). Even if resisted, the web is
considered extremely hard to maneuver in: movement is
halved. The spider is hidden in a nook near the web and will
use its spider sense to detect prey.
Attempting to cross the room to reach the web requires a DC
10 Agility check. Failure in checks should net the following
random events (1d6):
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1d6 Result
1
Player attempts to recover from losing control and
accidentally propel themselves towards the web. They are
entangled.
2-4
Player slips and falls prone.
5-6
Player flails wildly but remains standing. If in combat, they
will incur a -1 to hit or Agility checks.
Giant Spider: Init + 3; Atk bite +3 melee (1d6 plus poison); AC
14; HD 3d6; hp 12; MV 20/40 web; Act 2d20; SP poison (DC 14
Fort save or 1d4 Str damage), spider climb, spider sense; SV
Fort -1, Ref +2, Will -1; AL C.
Poison: when bit, roll a DC 14 Fort save, failure means -1d4
strength, returning in 1d6+2 days. Spider Climb: Can climb
sheer surfaces without difficulty, can move on the web without
triggering entanglement. Spider sense: uses spider web as
sensory input and cannot be blinded.
Note: a side entrance to the termite colony is hidden here.
When golem is active and rises from the burial site, the colony
will be exposed to the rest of the world. Resolve at the Judge’s
discretion.
Near the rear of the chamber the players can find the various
tunnels dug in by the termites. One of those will lead to the
green room (RA). The tunnels are small: only one can enter at
a time and they will be severely affected by the lack of space to
move (weapons larger than a short sword are useless, and
backpacks must be removed). See the green room description
for more information.
LA - Left Arm (Blue):
Approaching the blue door, you are surprised to find that
handle to the door is in the shape of a hand… extending to you
as if a gesture of good faith.
79
The door is opened by pulling on the hand. It is not trapped.
When the players enter the room, they will find themselves in
a stone chamber empty except for a chair and tables. Sitting in
one of the chairs is a gigantic (15’) stone statue, its hand
extended and placed on the table as if to arm-wrestle. In its
other hand it grips the sapphire keystone.
Only one character can sit in the other seat. Disturbing the
statue by attacking it or forcing the left hand open with a DC
25 Strength check will awaken it will fight the players (one
handed, holding the sapphire in the other). It will release the
key if the PCs win the arm-wrestling contest. (Str contested
check at +8) Losing the arm-wrestling contest will deal 1d4 to
the character as the arm slams down, potentially breaking their
arm.
80
The easiest way to solve this puzzle is to use multiple
characters (each additional character can add his Str modifier
or +1 to the roll, whichever is higher.) However, the statue does
not like cheating. If the golem can see that they are cheating,
golem fires a laser like beam at the person seated (1d8 fire
damage), but it’s eyes can be easily covered.
Arm Wrestler: Init -1; Atk punch +5 melee (2d4); AC 14; HD
4d6; hp 18; MV 40; Act 2d20; SV Fort +3, Ref -1, Will -1; AL L.
RA - Right Arm (Green):
The players will notice that the lever to the door is gnawed off.
Careful examination of the mechanisms will indicate that the
door is not locked. The door is shut but could be forced open
with a DC 10 Strength check. However, this will cause a
considerable amount of noise, and alert the termites inside
unless precautions are taken.
Alternatively, the players can enter this room from RL via dug
out termite tunnels. Allow players to hear the chittering of
termites so to plan their attack. The cellmites are somewhat
busy trying to open the case, and a DC 5 Agility check should
be sufficient to sneak into the room.
The chamber was a workshop of Ichon Cotes. Most of the
devices are non-functional, although careful searching would
yield potentially useful items such as ball bearings, an oil
barrel, cans of grease, a lantern, rope, nuts and bolts, tools, etc.
It is in complete disarray, with notes, gears, rods, wires, bolts
all strewn about.
In the center of the chamber is a pedestal with a fist sized
emerald locked in a glass box. Piles of discarded devices lie
around it. Six termite workers are being ordered around by a
more upright soldier, wearing a glass tiara on its head. They
are in the midst of smashing the cage housing the gem when
the players enter. The upright termite, pointing at the PCs,
81
shouts in the common tongue, “ICHONAUGHTS! THESE
INTERLOPERS ARE HERE TO PREVENT US FROM
AWAKENING THE COTE! ATTACK! FULFILL YOUR
DESTINY!” The termite workers stop their attack on the glass
cage and shamble towards the PCs.
Xythlythralli, The Queens Harbringer, The Upright Cellmite:
Init +2; Atk bite +3 Melee (1d4), spear +2 Melee (1d6); AC 13;
HD 3d6; hp 12; MV 20’; Act 2d20; SP spells (as below); SV Fort
+2, Ref +2, Will +3; AL L.
Spells: The glass tiara on its head gives its wearer the spells
Force Manipulation and Charm Person. (cast with -1)
Charmed Cellmites (6): Same statblock as Red Cellmites
(worker)
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Glass Tiara of the Ichohnaughts: Gives wearer Force
Manipulation as well as Charm Person, 1d4 charges total per day.
Rolling a fumble on the spell could shatter the tiara, roll an
additional 1d10, a natural 1 will shatter it. Created by Ichohn
Cote themself, it was one of the first proposed control
mechanisms of the warden. It didn’t make the cut and was
discarded in this room.
Glass Cage with key: can be unlocked easily with the tiara
acting as a key. Otherwise, it can be shattered. If PCs are using
brute strength, let them attempt a DC 12 Strength check. It will
break after 3 successful checks, but, for every attempt, roll to
see if Patrolling Cellmites show up.
H - Head:
Back in the main chamber, if the players insert all the
keystones, a voice rings out:
“Ichohnaughts! You are the chosen select few. Proceed past the ebony
door into your destined place of control. It is time to choose amongst
yourselves the five most worthy to receive the gift of Ichos.”
The players enter a round chamber, with five stone chairs, each
adorned with a gem: ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz, and
obsidian. The chairs are equidistant alongside the walls. In the
center of the room is a circular mat covered with arcane runes.
A voice beckons the party to choose amongst themselves the
most worthy to sit on said thrones. The rest of the group will
stand on the mat, at which point a field of force will form a
fence around the circle.
You have chosen! Those left behind will be worthy sacrifices to
empower the warden! Beware for the time to defend your life, and
those you love, is at hand! The terrible Mongumandu has awakened
once again, and once again the Ichohnaughts have been summoned to
drive the beast back!
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The chosen five (or less) will be telepathically linked and will
be able to see outside the warden, as the golem shakes,
detaches itself from the ground, to emerge to face
Mongumandu.
The remaining characters will be imprisoned within the mat,
to be used as a battery-like reserve.
Describe to the players the rising of Mongumandu from the
Blackest Sea, and the instant recognition of The Ichon Warden.
There is no escape. There is only battle.
Ichohn Warden: Init +2 (+Agi bonus*), Atk +10 (+Str bonus*)
melee (unarmed) (4d4 +Str bonus*), AC 20 (+Agi bonus*), HD
14d10 (+ extra d10 for each Sta bonus*), MV 60’, Act 3d20, Crit
on 19-20 (Crit table III), SP see below; SV Fort +6 +Sta bonus*,
Ref +3 +Agi bonus*, Will +Per bonus*
*Stat bonuses for Ichohn Warden: To determine the
Agil/Str/Sta/Per bonus, combine the relevant bonuses of five
“pilots”. Ignore the penalties if a pilot is woefully lacking in a
particular attribute. For example, if the 5 pilots Str modifier are
+1/-1/+2/0/0. Ignore the -1 and the final Str modifier is
+3. The Ichohn Warden is considered proficient with
unarmed and improvised weapons.
Optional HP rules. Divide the hp into 6 parts, representing the
head, 4 limbs, and body. Allow individual limbs and head to
be targetable by Mongumandu, and when a limb or head loses
its hit points, the limb (or head) will be unusable.
Losing one of the arms will deactivate either ICHOHN
PUNCH or ICHOHN MISSILE (losing the other arm will
deactivate the other power) Losing a leg will slow movement
(MV halved) as well as incur a -5 to AC and Agility checks;
losing both will basically make the warden prone with -8 AC.
Losing the Head will incur the blinded condition to the Warden,
as well as deactivate ICHOHN RAY.
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Special Attacks: To use a special attack, reference the table
associated with the special and roll as if to cast the spell,
assuming a caster level of 2, and has an automatic base +10 (+Int
bonus) to spellcheck. Once used, the special will need to
cooldown
and
remain
unavailable
for
1d4
turns.
Misfire/Corruption: There is no misfire/corruption for these
powers. If failed on a 1, the special will be unusable, as the attack
malfunctions and the relevant apparatus explodes, causing the
associated effect.
Special
Spell
Result
Fail on 1 Effect
ICHOHN PUNCH
(hands engulfed
in flames)
flaming
hands
Hands explode, doing 4d6 dmg to
self. Cannot grab.
ICHOHN CHEST
BLAST
(chest panel
opens up and
missiles fire)
magic
missile
Lose -5 AC as chest explodes, doing
5d6 dmg to self.
ICHOHN EYE
(laser beam
from eyes)
scorching
ray
Targeting functions suffer damage.
Incur the blinded condition with 3d8
damage to self.
The Warden is a towering golem (at around 100’ tall). It is
fabricated to look like an idealized version of the original
Ichohn Cote: a bearded warrior of old.
Battery of Ichos: The surviving characters who are not part of
the chosen 5 are enclosed in a rather ingenious device called
the Battery of Ichos. During a turn, the pilots of Ichos Warden
can spend an action die to use the life force of one or more
members to regain hp, cancel out the cool down of a power,
gain extra movement, etc. Add together the remaining hp of
these characters and consider the table below.
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Judges are encouraged to come up with more uses for the
Battery of Ichos.
Use
Details
Regain
Health
1 hp = 1d4
Reduce
Cooldown
1hp = 1 less turn per power
Repair
Power
5hp to repair an overheated power.
Speed Up
1hp = + 10 mv, lasts 4 turns
Add to
Resolve
1hp = +1 to all checks. This can be used outside of
the turn, for example, as a reaction to a save. Lasts 4
turns
Repair
Limb
5hp = repair broken limb (limb will be available on
next combat turn)
Mongumandu: Init +2; Atk claws+14 melee (2d8+12), bite +18
melee (4d8+10), hurled stone +10 missile fire (2d8+10, range
200’); Fire breath + 10 breath (5d6+5), Fort save vs 20 or take
1d10 dmg per round for 1d4 rounds, AC 20; HD 18d10; hp 135
MV 50’; Act 2d24; crit on 20-24 (Crit Table DR); SV Fort +15,
Reflex +5, Will + 5; AL C.
Some grandparents have described Mongumandu as a gigantic
dragon that was not able to fly due to its size. Others speak of
the greatest of apes whose surprising speed matches its
unparalleled strength. Then there are the elders who were
more blessed that would mutter about the fearsome floating
head that shot fire and ice. The stat block above represents the
dragon/lizard, but Judges could always come up with their
own alternative version.
86
SHOWDOWN
Describe to the players the nauseating warping of perspective
as their collective consciousness is combined with their
ancestor, Ichohn Cote. They will find themselves peering down
at their beloved home, while inhabiting the body of a colossal
10 story tall magical golem. Behind them and beyond in the
middle of the Blackest Sea, Mongumandu rises from the
waters, and the final fight is about to begin.
The battlefield will be between the village and the blackest sea.
There will be plenty of environmental weapons, as well as the
village itself to act as a casualty. The warden has 3 action dice.
It is recommended to rotate the action dice: one player to
determine the action and roll a die, then another player to
determine the action, and so on. Alternatively, a cohesive
group could determine the warden’s actions together.
EPILOGUE
If Mongumandu wins, the golem will shatter, every pilot that
passes their Luck check will find their seat transformed into a
functional escape pod that survives the destruction. The beast
will then descend upon their village and lay it to ruins, before
stumbling off into the wild, to be encountered again at a future
time.
If the players win, they may be able to discover that the beast’s
power still exists in portions of its carcass. If PCs search
Mongumandu’s corpse then they might find the following
items, all of which are chaotically aligned:
87
1d8
Item
1
Scale of Mongumandu (shield) +1. +2 to saving rolls to
resist fire, ignore up to 2 hp of fire damage each round.
2
Nail of Mongumandu (sword) +1. +1 Luck to its wielder.
Considered a magical weapon.
3
Quill of Mongumandu (spear) +1. +2 against larger
enemies. Considered a magical weapon.
4
Teeth of Mongumandu (dagger) + 1. Additional +1d4
poison damage (3 charges a day). Considered a magical
weapon.
5
Eye of Mongumandu (crystal ball) +1 spell checks. Gain the
spell enlarge. 1 charge per day. Failure on casting enlarge
will cause cracks to appear in orb, and potentially shatter it
(roll 1d20; at 1 it shatters, and every failure will increase
threshold by 1.) There is no obvious way to “fix” the orb.
6-8
+ roll twice. Can claim up to 5 items
The warden, having completed its task, will kneel down and
the players will find themselves able to exit and climb down
from its head. The warden will remain inoperable until the
next threat appears.
Possible campaign idea:
Mongumandu is just the first of the many behemoths that
Ichohn Cotes have defeated temporarily, and something is
reviving them. Uncle Eesop might have some ancient maps
and writings of Ichohn Cotes that can point to forgotten
temple/laboratories. Players can explore those for upgrades to
the Ichohn Warden in order to meet these increasingly more
dangerous foes while investigating the source of the
resurrection.
88
89
Art Contributor Links
bygrinstow has created over 100 DCC-compatible monsters on
the Appendix M blog and elsewhere; the rumor is that he has
a website at www.bygrinstow.com
Boston Au did all his own work for his adventure and did a
fantastic job at it. He is also the talented creator of this issue’s
cover. You’ll also have seen his work in the GFA. Follow him
at www.instagram.com/typicalbreakfast
Davin Kluttz has massively contributed to nearly every
adventure in QuaranZine #2. He’s a full-time illustrator and
designer, and he has contributed to Gong Farmer’s Almanac
2020 and other DCC projects. Follow or make contact at
www.instagram.com/escpod_designcraft
David Persinger is an artist with a killer style. You might have
seen his work for the past few years in the GFA where he’s
known as SGT Dave. Go check out his other work at
https://www.deviantart.com/skaldheim
Diogo Noguiera has contributed both art and words to the
Gong Farmer’s Almanac, as well as created his own games
(Solar Blades and Cosmic Spells, Lost in the Fantasy World,
and more!). Go commission a piece or just check out his
amazing artwork at http://oldskulling.blogspot.com
Stefan Poag has created loads of beautiful art for Dungeon
Crawl Classics and created comics based on some Appendix N
authors. Find him at https://stefanpoag.com
Steven Gomez has mastered a number of styles. If you look at
his work here and then also at his insta. Go look for yourself at
www.instagram.com/meztoons
90
Designation of Product Identity: All proper nouns, such as character names,
place names, names of organizations, and others in this publication are
product identity. All terms that do not describe distinct game functions are
product identity. But hey, if you want to use something in your publication,
just reach out to us. We’re easy to talk to…
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
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93
QuaranZine Volume 2
Remember the good old days, when roleplaying games
were in person, dice rolls were physical, and the finale of
every dungeon wasn’t a teleconference bug? Those days
aren’t back, but QuaranZine is here to help. This volume
is meant for those judges, scattered across the planes,
whose noble spirits have been tested by their social
distancing, and are ready to game for a great cause:
COVID-19 victim relief.
Produced by community volunteers and charged with a
fulsome amount of Dungeon Crawl Classics-compatible
content, this zine brings you four new funnels to use in
your DCC games. All proceeds from QuaranZine
volume 2 will be donated directly to a non-profit
COVID-19 relief fund.
That’s right – while you and your players repel insectoid
aliens, battle kaiju, save children from witches, or destroy
an infernal ooze machine, your money will be going to
help families impacted by COVID-19 across the United
States.
You’re no shut-in.
You’re an adventurer…
The Social Distance Collective
| textdata/thevault/Dungeon Crawl Classics/DCC Periodicals/Quaranzine/QuaranZine 2020 Volume 2 The Funnel (DCC).pdf |
Contest Particulars, Additional Berries, Addition Nature Rules
Berry Flavors
Berries are used to create pokeblocks, which enhance your contest performance. The flavors you use enhance
specific styles. Total flavor intensity affects final bonus. Neutral berries are so called because they have a balanced
mix of flavors, instead of a single flavor, or a flavor that overpowers the other flavors. The more flavor points a berry
contributes overall, the more valuable that berry is in contests, in pokeblocks, and to contest trainers.
Pokeblocks
Pokeblocks are a candy-like item which is make when two to four berries are blended and compressed by a block
blender. Coordinators are encouraged to create pokeblocks that cater to the contest style they are entering, or that
cater to their pokemon’s specific favored tastes if just making snacks. The highest flavor concentration decides what
color pokeblock is made. A balance of multiple flavors results in a neutral block that is half (or less) the total
strength, but applicable to multiple styles. A perfectly balanced flavor profile creates a rainbow block which applies
its bonus to all styles at full value.
Pokemon Natures and their effects on Contests
A Pokemon’s nature is what dictates which flavors of berry and pokeblock they enjoy. While this has no effect on the
direct usage of berries, this does influence the usefulness of pokeblocks. Any Pokemon given a flavor they love will
be quite happy indeed and gain a slight bonus to all appeals made of the concurrent style. This means each nature
is going to have a particular contest they excel in, and a particular contest they will do poorly in. Coordinators are
heavily encouraged to carefully consider the nature of their Pokemon when pursuing success. Feeding a Pokemon
a block of a flavor they will hate makes the block less effective (75%), while feeding it one it loves will be more
effective (125%).
Making Pokeblocks
A trainer can use 2-4 berries in a Block Blender to blend and compress berries into blocks. For every 4 berries
blended, gain one (1) Berry Juice healing item. Gain one pokeblock for every berry blended. Pokeblocks are to be
carried in a pokeblock case, which has space for 100 blocks and the Block Blender, a hand cranked device that
grinds berries into blocks and juice. A Pokeblock Case costs 5000. Be sure to track the value of your blocks.
Calculating a Pokeblock
Calculating the value of a pokeblock is simple. Add together the total flavor value of the berries used. That is the
total used to find your contest bonus. Then add up the individual flavors to find your neutrality rating. For each flavor
tied for top, increase your neutrality by one. All blocks will have a minimum of one. The worst rating is a 4. If you
manage a neutrality of 5, you have made a rainbow block. Neutral blocks have no love check and can be used for
any coinciding contest. Rainbow blocks have no love check and no neutrality check, and can be used in any contest
without limit.
Normal Block: [(total value)x(love/like/hate)]/10
Neutral Block: [(total value)/(neutrality)]/10
Rainbow Block: (total value)/10=Pokeblock Bonus
Example: an amateur contest trainer mixes 4 starf berries with a flavor value of 17 apiece, totalling 68 total flavor.
But the blocks in question have a neutrality rating of 3, reducing the total flavor score to 23. (Round away all
decimals while calculating neutrality debuff.) When divided by ten, those 4 very valuable starf berries only give a
block worth 2.3 points.
Note: I am unsure of how many possible combinations of berry actually produce rainbow pokeblocks, or if they are
even possible to make at all. I have not put in the work to test if it’s possible, or what the best combination is, or how
broken it might be. The rules on rainbow blocks are included just in case. How easily your players get the berries in
question is entirely up to you as DM.
Costumes
Costumes are scored by rolling (disguise kit(cha)+proficiency)/10. There are rare scarves in the world that add an
automatic +3 to your costume roll if it aligns with the contest style. With maximum expertise, a scarf, and a 20 in the
trainer’s charisma, the maximum possible costume roll is a 40. A negative score ( of -4, a rolled 1 and -5 in cha) is
possible, so make sure your bonuses are high enough that getting a minus isn’t possible.
Calculating Base Style Appeal
Contests are divided into 5 Styles, with 4 levels each. The styles are Tough, Cool, Beauty, Clever, and Cute. The
levels are Normal, Super, Hyper, and Master. To calculate any Pokemon’s base Style Attribute, add its charisma
score to the coinciding stat, then average the scores. Toughness is Strength, Coolness is Dexterity, Beauty is
Constitution, Cleverness is Intelligence or Wisdom (whichever is higher), and Cuteness is Charisma. Any moves
used during an Appeal that match the contest style grant a bonus. So, a 22 Charisma and a 20 Strength add
together to get 42, which averages to 21.
Contest Rules
Contests are engagements between trainers (usually 2-4), not to determine which trainer is strongest, but whose
pokemon is most appealing. Contests are divided into two rounds. The primary round judges a pokemon’s
appearance, condition, costume, etc. This round is judged by the audience (with a d20 roll), and can gain a
maximum of 20.0 points. This round is easier to win using pure mechanics and stat boosting than the second round.
You can also gain a fame bonus. The higher the level of contest you’ve won, the more the crowd will like you.
Winning a Normal level contest will grant your Pokemon 1 fame. Each higher level of contest victory will increment
that fame by 1. When calculating points, do not round away the first decimal point. That is part of your score. You
could win a 19.9, and that .9 matters if someone else has a 19.8.
Points are calculated as follows:1d20+(Style/2)+(pokeblock bonus)+(costume bonus)+(fame bonus). With maximum
scores in every slot before you calculate in berries, it is possible to have an 18.5.
[Variant: you can increase the maximum score for audience and judges alike each time your players promote to a
higher level of contest, so your players feel incentivized to keep chasing ever higher bonuses.]
The second round is the appeals round, and this is judged by a panel of professionals, which range in number from
1 to 3. Each judge has specific biases that contestants can appeal to in order to score bonus points, but judges can
also dock points for offending their secret sensibilities. Judge biases can be discovered before a contest begins with
investigation rolls, with judges having up to three biases that can be positive or negative. To discover biases, roll an
Investigation check. Bias 1 is discovered on a 15, bias 2 on a 20, and bias 3 on a 25. If a 20 or 25 is rolled while
attempting an easier roll, the player learns both or all three at once.
Pokemon in the appeal round engage in a specific performance and are judged for their skill. This is determined by
the player making 4d20 skill checks that are averaged together, with a fifth d20 rolled in secret by the DM to
represent how the judge in question feels about the performance overall. Judge biases are then added to that score.
Each move used during the Appeal that stylistically matches the contest earns an extra point. Your final score is the
average of your round 1 audience score and your round 2 appeal score. Apply this calculation for each judge
individually, who then display their final tally (out of 20.0 possible points), all of which is added together.
Points are calculated per judge as follows: [(4d20+)/5]+(biases)+(move bonus)
During the Appeals round, if your base roll is particularly good, the audience will love it and you will gain advantage
on your next roll. However, if your base roll is low twice in a row, you will gain disadvantage on the next roll as the
audience becomes displeased. So, a strong start can easily snowball into repeated success, but multiple flubs will
make things harder for you.
Ties are rare, but when they occur they are settled with a one v one battle where your goal is not to defeat the
opponent, but out perform the opponent. In order to do so, you must land more hits and take fewer hits than your
opponent. Bonus points are awarded for using attacks that synchronize with the contest style. For every attack you
land and save your opponent fails, you are awarded a point. For every attack that hits you and save you fail, you
lose a point. You gain 1 additional point for using an attack that aligns with the contest style (which is based in the
attribute used). Attacks that can attack from multiple attributes can be used in multiple contests.
Contests are divided into four ranks, and a Pokemon needs to compete at each level and win before proceeding to
the next level.
[Variant: You may instead chose to have the rank and fame applied to the trainer instead of the Pokemon, allowing
any Pokemon to compete at any level without needing to progress through ranks. Which you use could be
dependent on what sort of rise to fame you prefer to tell, one starring the Pokemon in question, or one starring the
trainer.]
TABLES
Pokemon Natures and Tastes
Nature
Effect
Loves
Hates
Reckless
+str -dex
Sour
Spicy
Rash
+str -con
Sour
Savory
Brave
+str -wis
Sour
Bitter
Arrogant
+str -cha
Sour
Sweet
Skittish
+dex -str
Spicy
Sour
Hasty
+dex -con
Spicy
Savory
Energetic
+dex -cha
Spicy
Sweet
Clumsy
+dex -wis
Spicy
Bitter
Apathetic
+con -dex
Savory
Spicy
Stubborn
+con -wis
Savory
Bitter
Grumpy
+con -cha
Savory
Sweet
Relaxed
+con -str
Savory
Sour
Careful
+wis -str
Bitter
Sour
Curious
+wis -con
Bitter
Savory
Naughty
+wis -cha
Bitter
Sweet
Cheerful
+cha -str
Sweet
Sour
Sassy
+cha -dex
Sweet
Spicy
Innocent
+cha -wis
Sweet
Bitter
Hardy
+AC -dex
N/A
Spicy
Nimble
+AC -str
N/A
Sour
Note: I have replaced ‘dry’ with ‘savory’, because it makes more sense that an excess of protein causes a flavor
than a ‘lack of sweetness’, as google tells me this is what ‘dry’ means as a flavor. The Japanese word for the dry
flavor, ‘astringent’, makes even less sense to me. Astringent is a vinegary taste, but vinegar is described as bitter or
sour! It was just circular logic at that point, so I swapped, and you can just assume berries that are both sour and
bitter taste vinegary.
Note: Hardy and Nimble Pokemon do not have an attribute boosting personality and so have no preferred flavors. I
like to think of them as tactile eaters that prefer the physical experience of a food over its taste. So Hardy Pokemon
like chewy things, while Nimble Pokemon like crunchy things. This is has no mechanical benefit and is purely for
roleplay purposes.
Pokeblock Table
Color
Flavor
Style
Red
Spicy
Coolness
Blue
Savory
Beauty
Pink
Sweet
Cuteness
Green
Bitter
Cleverness
Yellow
Sour
Toughness
Purple
Neutral
See rules
Rainbow
A perfect balance of flavors
See rules
Flavor Profiles
Note: where a berry has multiple flavors, the highest value determines category.
Table color coded for ease of use.
Berry
Total Value
Price
Flavor Intensity
Aguav
2
1000
Bitter 2
Apicot
11
350
Savory 5 Sour 5 Spicy 1
Aspear
1
200
Sour 1
Babiri
5
200
Spicy 4 Savory 1
Belue
4
200
Sour 3 Spicy 1
Bluk
2
100
Savory 1 Sweet 1
Charti
3
200
Savory 3
Cheri
1
200
Spicy 1
Chesto
1
200
Savory 1
Chilan
5
200
Savory 4 Sweet 1
Chople
3
200
Spicy 2 Bitter 1
Coba
3
200
Bitter 2 Savory 1
Colbur
4
200
Sour 3 Bitter 1
Cornn
3
150
Savory 2 Sweet 1
Custap
7
750
Spicy 6 Bitter 1
Durin
4
200
Bitter 3 Sour 1
Enigma
7
500
Spicy 6 Savory 1
Figy
2
1000
Spicy 2
Ganlon
11
350
Bitter 5 Savory 5 Sweet 1
Grepa
3
1000
Savory 1 Sour 1 Sweet 1
Haban
4
200
Bitter 3 Sweet 1
Hondew
3
1000
Bitter 1 Savory 1 Spicy 1
Iapapa
2
1000
Sour 2
Joboca
7
500
Bitter 6 Sour 1
Kasib
4
200
Sweet 3 Savory 1
Kebia
3
200
Savory 2 Sour 1
Kee
13
450
Savory 5 Spicy 5 Sweet 1 Bitter 1 Sour 1
Kelpsy
3
1000
Bitter 1 Savory 1 Sour 1
Lansat
17
400
Spicy 5 Sour 5 Sweet 5 Bitter 1 Savory 1
Leppa
4
500
Bitter 1 Spicy 1 Sweet 1 Sour 1
Liechi
11
350
Spicy 5 Sweet 5 Savory 1
Lum
4
400
Bitter 1 Savory 1 Spicy 1 Sweet 1
Mago
2
1000
Sweet 2
Magost
3
150
Sweet 2 Bitter 1
Maranga
13
450
Bitter 5 Sweet 5 Savory 1 Spicy 1 Sour 1
Micle
7
350
Savory 6 Spicy 1
Nanab
2
1000
Bitter 1 Sweet 1
Nomel
3
150
Sour 2 Spicy 1
Occa
3
200
Spicy 2 Sweet 1
Oran
4
200
Bitter 1 Savory 1 Spicy 1 Sour 1
Pamtre
4
200
Savory 3 Sweet 1
Passho
3
200
Savory 2 Bitter 1
Payapa
3
200
Sour 2 Sweet 1
Pecha
1
200
Sweet 1
Persim
4
200
Savory 1 Sour 1 Spicy 1 Sweet 1
Petaya
11
350
Bitter 5 Spicy 5 Sour 1
Pinap
2
1000
Sour 1 Spicy 1
Pomeg
3
1000
Bitter 1 Spicy 1 Sweet 1
Qualot
3
1000
Sour 1 Spicy 1 Sweet 1
Rabuta
3
150
Bitter 2 Sour 1
Rawst
1
200
Bitter 1
Razz
2
800
Savory 1 Spicy 1
Rindo
3
200
Bitter 2 Spicy 1
Roseli
5
200
Sweet 4 Bitter 1
Rowap
7
500
Sour 6 Spicy 1
Salac
11
350
Sweet 5 Sour 5 Bitter 1
Shuca
3
200
Sweet 2 Spicy 1
Sitrus
4
800
Bitter 1 Savory 1 Sour 1 Sweet 1
Spelon
4
200
Spicy 3 Savory 1
Starf
17
1500
Spicy 5 Sour 5 Sweet 5 Bitter 1 Savory 1
Tamato
4
1000
Spicy 3 Savory 1
Tanga
4
200
Spicy 3 Sour 1
Wacan
3
200
Sweet 2 Sour 1
Watmel
4
200
Sweet 3 Bitter 1
Wepear
2
100
Bitter 1 Sour 1
Wiki
2
1000
Savory 2
Yache
3
200
Sour 2 Savory 1
Effects of Berries added by this document
Note: HP threshholds for effect activation only apply to berries being held. Effects can be activated by using a berry
from the inventory as if a normal item, unless marked by #. Effects marked by # can only be activated while held.
Berry
Effect
Aguav
Restores 50 hp when below 25% HP. Confuses Pokemon who dislike bitter food
Figy
Restores 50 hp when below 25% HP. Confuses Pokemon who dislike spicy food
Iapapa
Restores 50 hp when below 25% HP. Confuses Pokemon who dislike sour food
Mago
Restores 50 hp when below 25% HP. Confuses Pokemon who dislike sweet food
Wiki
Restores 50 hp when below 25% HP. Confuses Pokemon who dislike savory food
Enigma
# Restores 50 HP when hit with supereffective move
Apicot
Gives the effect of X Special Defense when HP falls below 33%
Ganlon
Gives the effect of X Defense when HP falls below 33%
Lansat
Gives the effect of Dire Hit when HP falls below 33%
Liechi
Gives the effect of X Attack when HP falls below 33%
Micle
Gives the effect of X Accuracy when HP falls below 33%
Petaya
Gives the effect of X Special when HP falls below 33%
Salac
Gives the effect of X Speed when HP falls below 33%
Starf
# Grant a +1 bonus to all attributes and skills for one minute when HP falls below 25%
Custap
# Causes the user to move to top of initiative in battle when HP falls below 25%
Kee
# Gives the effect of X Defense when hit by attack roll (can cause activating attack to miss)
Maranga
# Gives the effect of X Defense when failing save (can cause activating save to be passed)
Joboca
# Reflect ½ of damage dealt by one enemy’s attack roll onto said enemy once
Rowap
# Reflect ½ of damage done by one enemy’s saving throw onto said enemy once
Nanab
# When held by an active Pokémon, trainer gains advantage to catching attempts. Consumed on
catch.
Pinap
# When held by an active Pokémon, trainer gains advantage to item searches. Consumed on search.
Belue
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Bluk
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Cornn
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Durin
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Magost
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Nomel
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Pamtre
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Rabuta
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Spelon
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Watmel
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
Wepear
No effect, used purely for food and pokeblocks. Price dictated by total flavor value.
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/Pokemon 5 Archive/Homebrew Rules for Contests Berries Natures.pdf |
GP
Starting GP
Lifestyle
�
None
�
Standard (12 gp x TU)
�
Rich (50 gp x TU)
�
Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
FINAL GP TOTAL
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp value
XP
Starting XP
- XP
XP lost or spent
XP
Subtotal
+ XP
XP Gained
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP
TU
Starting TU
1 or 2 TU
TU Cost
- TU
Added TU Costs
TU REMAINING
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
(Cross off all items NOT found)
APL 2:
� Adamantine Bolt (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
� Mithral Chain Shirt (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
� Oil of Align Weapon, Law (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
APL 4 (all of APL 2 plus the following):
� Brooch of Shielding (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
� Potion of Delay Potion, Extended (CL 5th; Adventure; DMG)
� Potion of Reduce Animal (CL 3rd; Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
APL 6 (all of APLs 2, 4 plus the following):
� Metamagic Rod, Enlarge, Lesser (Adventure; DMG; Limit 1)
� Wand of Mount (CL 1st; Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
� Wand of Protection from Law (CL 1st; Adventure; DMG)
APL 8 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6 plus the following):
� +1 Displacement Chain Shirt (Adventure; Magic Item Compendium)
� Gloves of Swimming and Climbing (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
� Wand of Lesser Spell Immunity (CL 3rd; Adventure; SpC; Limit 1)
APL 10 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8 plus the following):
� +1 Styptic Chain Shirt (Adventure; Magic Item Compendium)
� Metamagic Rod, Enlarge (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide; Limit 1)
� Tunic of Steady Spellcasting (Adventure; Magic Item Compendium)
APL 12 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 plus the following):
� +1 Distance Bane (Elemental) Light Crossbow (Adventure; DMG)
� Divine Scroll of Heroes’ Feast (CL 12th; Adventure; DMG)
� Ioun Stone, Iridescent Spindle (Adventure; DMG; Limit 1)
Adventure Record#
597 CY
A D V E N T U R E
L E V E L O F
P L A Y
(CIRCLE ONE)
APL 2
max 450 xp;
450 gp
APL 4
max 675 xp;
650 gp
APL 6
max 900 xp;
900 gp
APL 8
max 1,125 xp;
1,300 gp
APL 10
max 1,350 xp;
2,300 gp
APL 12
max 1,575 xp;
3,300 gp
Cross out any game effects this character does not gain.
� Sold Githyanki Silver Sword: You sold your Githyanki silver sword
purchased on AR ____ to the Chancellor’s Office for 75% of its cost
(instead of the normal 50%).
� Criminal for Country: You served _____ TUs and paid a fine of ______
gp. Knight Commodore Avanti put a note in your records that this was
done in defense of country and he recommends the crime be ignored.
He recommends military and veteran characters be promoted during
their next Promotion Review Board. If the offender was a Mariner,
Marine, Oarsmen in the River Guard, they are immediately promoted to
Senior Mariner, Marine Sergeant, Senior Oarsmen respectively waiving
all requirements, including time in grade.
� Captain Alcarta’s Favor: You have access to the Spirit of the Sea and
Well Read Greyhawk regional feats.
� Gracious Thank You: As a thank you for your assistance, you may
select one item at your APL or lower (circle the item); the access for that
item gains Frequency: Regional.
� Military Commendation: This Active Duty or veteran PC has
received a commendation.
� Gravedigger’s Favor: You gain access to the skill tricks (CS) Healing
Hands and Listen to This.
� River Guard Invitation: You are invited to join the river guard as a
marine or mariner or oarsman waiving any Profession (sailor)
requirements. You cannot be promoted until you meet requirements.
� Special Commendation: This is an additional commendation given
to this PC for especially key service. This commendation counts double
when counting commendations to promotion. This PC also gains access
(Freq.: Regional) to the blueshine armor special ability upgrade (MIC).
� Special Guild Invitation: You are invited to become a Journeyman in
the Gravedigger’s union. All requirements (including residency) except
TU costs and gold (gold is waived for first year) are waived on the
condition that you send reports of interesting things you see on your
travels quarterly. You get all benefits of a Journeyman Gravedigger.
� Axial’s Favor: This PC has promised to learn Aquan and speak to
water elementals before fighting.
� Friendly Contact: This PC has friendly contact with a water
elemental from the Plane of Water.
� Marked for Death: Show this AR to DMs at all Gran March events.
Any Brotherhood member who has the opportunity to coup de grace this
PC will do so, even if it costs him/her their life.
� Seeker: You are a member of “The Search” for the next Grandiose
Imperial Wyvern.
This Record Certifies that
____________________________________________
Played by______________________________________
Player
RPGA #
Has Completed
GRM7-05 Currents
A Regional Adventure
Set in Gran March
Event: __________________________________ Date: ______________
DM: ___________________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
Play Notes:
�
Gained a level
�
Lost a level
�
Ability Drained ____________
�
Died
�
Was raised/res’d
�
Was reincarnated
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Home Region________________________
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Gran March/597/Normal Scenarios/GRM7-05 - Currents (APL 2-12)/GRM7-05 - Currents AR.pdf |
ESA6-04/NMR6-05
Gift of the Tempest
A One-Round Dungeons & Dragons® Living
Greyhawk™
Meta-Regional Adventure set in the Splintered Suns
Version 1.4
by Pieter Sleijpen
Circle Reviewer: Pieter Sleijpen
Editors: Colleen Simpson, Pierre van Rooden
Playtesters: Pasi Riita, J-P Hartikainen, Jani Kekkonen, Jouni Kallio
Taking shelter from a storm in the village of Montesser, the PCs awake to find that more than seaweed is being washed
ashore by the tide... A one-round Meta-regional adventure set in Medegia (or Ratik) for characters level 1-13 (APLs 2-10),
Part 1 of Terrors of the Deep. [Not for those with a dislike for the ocean.]
Resources for this adventure [and the authors of those works] include Libris Mortis [Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell],
Secrets of Xen’drik [Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, Amber Scott], Stormwrack [Richard Baker, Joseph D. Carriker, Jenifer
Clarke Wilkes], The Marchland of Medegia [Creighton Broadhurst], and TSS3-07 Osson’s Lance [Andy Macphee, Jeny
Macphee, Stuart Kerrigan]
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed
by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of Wizards of the
Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20
This is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, Living Greyhawk, D&D Rewards, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s
Guide, and Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected
under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained
herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any
similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
RPGA® SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide,
ongoing D&D® campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—
you must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event
could be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
group of friends meeting at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL™ gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the table Dungeon
Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all
the time in the cases of home events) the senior
gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have to be a
HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not
the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game,
and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2007.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit
the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
Players Read No Farther
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than
this section, you’ll know too much about its challenges,
which kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this
point makes you ineligible to do so.
Preparing for Play
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of
the following D&D rule books: Player’s Handbook,
Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics
provides player information for you to paraphrase or read
aloud when appropriate. Sidebars contain important
information for you, including special instruction on
running the adventure. Information on nonplayer
characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated
form in the adventure text. Full information on NPCs
and monsters are given in Appendix 1. For your
convenience, that appendix is split by APL
Along with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA
Session Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn
in this sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll
also find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS OF
PLAY
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportionate to the modified average character level of
the PCs participating in the adventure. To determine this
modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps
below:
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely dogs trained for war), other than
those brought by virtue of a class ability (such as
animal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or
the warhorse of a character with the Mounted
Combat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine the
number of levels you add to the sum of step one. Add
each character’s animals separately. A single PC may
only bring four or fewer animals of this type, and
animals with different CRs are added separately.
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect on
APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
3.
Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the
number of characters playing in the adventure.
Round up to the nearest whole number.
4. If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of
challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-
numbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on
an odd number, ask them before the adventure begins
whether they would like to play a harder or easier
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 1
APL also affects the amount of experience and gold a
PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player
character is three character levels or more either higher
or lower than the APL at which this adventure is being
played, that character receives only one-half of the
experience points and gold for the adventure. This
simulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged
as much as normal or relied on help by higher-level
characters to reach the objectives.
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher
than the highest APL supported by the adventure may
not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL
2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may find
the challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the
following to these groups to help increase their chances
of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
2.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help
protect them and fight for them.
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard 1-round Meta-regional adventure, set in
Medegia in the Splintered Suns meta-region OR in Ratik
in the Nyrond meta-region. Characters native to the
Splintered Suns meta-region pay 1 Time Unit per round
if they play this adventure set in Medegia (ie. as ESA6-
04), but 2 Time Units if they play this adventure set in
Ratik (ie. as NMR6-05). Characters native to the Nyrond
meta-region pay 1 Time Unit if they play this adventure
set in Ratik (ie. as NMR6-05), but 2 Time Units if they
play this adventure set in Medegia (ie. as ESA6-04). All
other characters pay 2 Time Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp per Time
Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per Time Unit. Luxury
Upkeep costs 100 gp per Time Unit. Characters that fail
to pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain temporary
ability damage until the next adventure, must buy new
spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may
suffer other in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-game
benefits) as may be detailed in this adventure.
A character that does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties by
living off the wild. If the character possesses four or more
ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a DC 20
Survival check, the character will heal temporary ability
damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, may
refill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may
restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the character has at
least four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). The player is
allowed to Take 10 on this roll.
More information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can
be found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of
Chapter 3 of the Living Greyhawk Campaign Sourcebook.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
The sea gives, the sea takes. It gives by providing food
and trade. It takes through storm, pirates and monsters.
Sometimes it takes and gives at the same time when
richly-loaded merchant vessels run aground, offering the
cargo to those living nearby while taking the lives of
those aboard the doomed vessel.
Seeking shelter in a small fishing village, the PCs are
awakened in the middle of the night. A merchant vessel
has run aground nearby and it’s only a matter of time
before the sea claims its prize. The storm is still raging,
and the villagers have no idea under what flag the ship
sails; they fear there may be enemies aboard. At the same
time they feel obliged to offer help to the poor sailors
onboard. They beg the PCs to row into the raging sea and
try to help those on the ship. In return the PCs can claim
whatever cargo the ship is carrying.
What the PCs and villagers do not know is that all
but one aboard are dead – murdered by undead raiders.
These poor sailors are doomed to return from the grave to
haunt the living, making life difficult for the PCs, and,
potentially, the villagers if the PCs do not destroy them.
Once defeated, the PCs find one survivor hiding among
the cargo. The poor soul was driven insane by the ordeal,
but, with the proper incentive, he can tell the story of
what befell the Kalandra.
He tells them that the undead came from nowhere,
apparently unaffected by the storm. They were searching
for something. Not for living victims, but for knowledge.
Not all the sailors were killed at once, the undead captain
questioning the living before dispatching them. For now
it remains unknown what it was searching for since those
remaining have been made undead and are thus beyond
the use of speak with dead. All the survivor knows is that
the pirate ship sailed under a flag with the heraldry of a
black tower with a skull above it and two skeletal hands
wielding a scythe.
The sailor did not recognize the symbol, but others
might. It belongs to the dreaded Delglath the Undying –
a powerful animus cleric of Nerull and ruler of Rinloru in
the Northern Kingdom. House Torquann, supported by
Overking Grenell, has tried to destroy Delglath and his
army for years now, and his existence is a testimony of
his great power and military skill. Until now he has
shown no interest in naval matters, cooped up as he is in
the Northern Kingdom, constantly fighting Grenell’s
forces. What is so important for him to send his forces
out into the Solnor Ocean? Why did nobody note a ship
of his setting sail? Are there more?
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
ESA6-0X/NMR6-05 Gift of the Tempest is a 1-round meta-
regional set Medegia or Ratik, depending on the meta-
region in which it is run. It is a relatively straightforward,
linear adventure albeit set in a non-traditional
environment.
Introduction: While on a trip from either Dullstrand
City or Pontylver to the Sea Baron or Rel Astra (when set
in the Splintered Suns meta-region) on the cog Era Lemna
before the coast of Medegia, the PCs are surprised by a
storm (its power dependent on the APL). Seeking shelter
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 2
the PCs end up in a warm comfortable drinking-hall in
the town Montesser.
Encounter 1 [Warm Wine and Fishermen’s Tales]:
The PCs enjoy a “pleasant” evening in one of the local
drinking halls while sheltering from the raging storm.
Encounter 2 [Alarm Bells]: Late that night the alarm
bell being sounded disturbs the peace. Soon the PCs
learn that a ship has run aground, and the locals ask the
PCs to help those poor souls aboard. The villagers can
offer no reward, but, depending on the attitude of the
PCs, they can offer its cargo or suggest its owner might
pay a rich reward for its recovery.
Encounter 3 [Challenging the Storm]: Getting to the
sinking ship is easier said than done. Even in fine
weather the rocks on which the ship ran aground are
dangerous, let alone during a raging storm.
Encounter 4 [The Kalandra]: This section gives a
description of the rooms and inhabitants of the caravel
the Kalandra. Certain haste is required since the ship is
quickly falling apart.
Encounter 5 [Passage of Time]: The Kalandra is slowly
being destroyed by the elements. While the ship does not
sink while the PCs are aboard, its slow disintegration has
its effects aboard.
Encounter 6 [A Lone Survivor]: Hidden inside the
ship, a terrified merchant waits for rescue. If the PCs
enter his hiding spot he reacts in panic until he realize
the PCs are not undead, and even than all he can think of
is to get of the ship. The PCs need to calm him down in
order to get him to tell his story, and even then it is
difficult to keep him focused. The ordeal has shattered
his sanity, although powerful curative magic can restore
his sanity quickly.
Encounter 7 [Back At Montesser]: If the PCs rescue
the survivor, they have to decide what to do with him. If
they return to Montesser, they learn that the orcs want to
keep him as a hostage to get a big ransom. The PCs can
try to cut a deal with them, or flee together with the
survivor.
Conclusion: Once the storm quiets down, the Era Lemna
proceeds on his journey, either with due haste to escape
the wrath of the orcs of Montesser or calmly when the
PCs made a deal. The adventure is at an end, but who
were the undead that attacked the ship? And what
knowledge do they seek?
PREPARATION FOR PLAY
ESA6-04/NMR6-05 Gift of the Tempest is run both in the
Splintered Suns and Nyrond meta-region. While both
versions are slightly different, a player can only play one
of the two versions. Just to be safe check this beforehand.
The adventure is mainly set on board of a sinking
ship. DMs are advised to become familiar with the rules
on swimming, drowning and storms as discussed in the
Player’s Handbook and the Dungeon Master’s Guide.
Stormwrack provides additional useful information on
ship decks as an environment for battles and facing the
elements on board of a ship. It is also important the
players are aware about the environment since the
adventure is ill-suited for centaurs (especially when Large
sized) and to a lesser extend asherati.
The Splintered Suns version is set in the town of
Montesser in Medegia. More information on this
unusual town can be found in Appendix 2. DMs should
now check for the favor/disfavor with the orcs of
Montesser from TSS3-07 Osson’s Lance. It has an impact on
how the PCs are treated in the town. Despite wishes to
the contrary from the rulers of Ahlissa, Medegia is not
part of the United Kingdom of Ahlissa and as such any
wanted status or favors with organizations from that
country do not come into play unless specifically
mentioned otherwise.
INTRODUCTION
The adventure starts while the PCs are passengers aboard
the caravel “Era Lemna”, traveling along the coast of
Medegia. The captain is Azir Delrrii, an able, good-
natured man, who hails from the Sea Barons. The exact
reason for the trip is up to the PCs, but most likely they
are on a trip from Ahlissa or Dullstrand to harbors to the
north (for example the Northern Kingdom, Ratik, Rel
Astra or the Sea Barons) or vice versa.
Your life as an adventurer takes you on many
journeys, visiting different regions all over the
Flanaess and even beyond. It is on one of these
journeys that you find yourself on the cog “Era
Lemna” sailing along the coast of Medegia. “Era
Lemna” is Old Oeridian and translates either as
Mistress of the Coin or Mistress of the Blade – a
somewhat odd choice of name. The captain of the
vessel is a boisterous, good-humored, middle-aged
man from the Sea Barons named Azir Delrrii. He
came highly recommended and, until now, he and
his crew have proven to be able sailors, honest men
and good company. Several other adventurer types
joined the vessel and, until now, it has definitely
been a pleasant trip as far as sea journeys go.
This is a good moment to allow the PCs to introduce
themselves to each other, as well as to the captain and the
Era Lemna. If you are running the adventure in a time
sensitive environment you should keep it brief,
otherwise you should be able to spend some more time
exploring the ship and her crew. Now would also be the
time to let the spellcasters prepare their spells.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 3
� Azir Delrii: Male human (Suel) Exp4 (NG).
Appearance: Azir is a tall, broad-shouldered man with
long, blond hair and a beard that would make a dwarf
proud. He has bright, blue eyes, a broad nose and an
honest look. When he laughs, and he laughs a lot, it is
loud, showing his yellowed teeth that clearly have seen
better days.
Personality: Azir is a boisterous, out-going man with a
good sense of humor. He is a sailor first, and a merchant
second. He is an honest, honorable man, but he cares
about his ship and crew above anything and there is
much he will do to keep them safe.
The weather has been good up until now, but dark
clouds have been gathering since this morning and
the wind has increased steadily. There is a note of
concern in the faces of the crew, and it doesn’t
surprise you when captain Azir steps towards you
early in the afternoon.
“There is a storm coming, and while we could
probably ride it, I and my men prefer to wait it out at
a town nearby. The few days we might lose are just
not worth the risk of running aground. Before I sail
into the town’s harbor, I wanted to know whether
you have heard of Montesser?”
PCs that have been in Montesser before, obviously know
that it is an orc settlement, although an unusual one. Its
inhabitants are tired of war and are actually eking out a
living as farmers and fishers, their skills slowly
improving. They are still orcs though, and, as such, they
tend to be violent and hot-headed, especially towards
strangers. Most civilized people avoid the town. The orcs
do trade with a select few merchants that have earned
their trust. PCs that haven’t been to Montesser before
know this with a successful DC 15 Knowledge (the
Splintered Suns) or Knowledge (geography) check. If no
PC knows it, Azir gladly tells them the same. Once the
PCs are aware of the nature of Montesser, Azir proceeds:
“You are rightly concerned about sailing into an orc
town, but I am a cousin of a good friend of these orcs
and they will not hurt me or those under my
protection as long as you behave. My cousin owns a
compound at the harbor, and we will weather the
storm there. It is not a luxurious place, but it is dry,
warm and the food and drink is good.”
“Before we go into the town, I want a promise
from you that you will remain in my cousin’s
compound unless invited to do otherwise by the orc
leaders. If you do receive an invitation, please
behave. The orcs respect strength, and, if challenged,
you can kick some unconscious reasonably safely,
but please do not kill any, and show proper respect
to their leaders. I have no doubts you can fight your
way out, but I would like to keep using the harbor as
a safe haven, not to mention that my cousin will kill
me and my crew if my guests ruin his profitable
relation with these orcs.”
If the PCs promise to behave, Azir is visibly relieved,
otherwise he mumbles about being caught between a
rock and a hard place and warns the PCs that he and his
men will actively help the orcs if there is any violence
caused by the PCs’ actions. He does not like it, but he has
no choice but to seek shelter at Montesser’s harbor. If the
PCs point out that they have a quarrel with the orcs (they
earned a disfavor in TSS3-07 Osson’s Lance), he promises
them that, as long as they are his guests and remain at his
cousin’s compound, there should be no real problem. He
is quite certain he can keep this promise, although he
does suggest that the PCs are probably better off
disguising themselves and not drawing too much
attention.
If the PCs ask the name of his cousin, Azir
reluctantly tells them his name is Froznir Delrrii. PCs
recognize the name as belonging to a reasonably
honorable pirate (as far as those exist) from the Sea
Barons with a DC 20 Bardic Knowledge or Knowledge
(the Splintered Sun) or a DC 25 Knowledge (nobility and
royalty) or Profession (sailor) check. It should be clear
that Azir is not proud of what his cousin does for a living,
but there is very little Azir can do about it.
Development: What happens next depends on the PCs’
choice. Don’t spend too much time on this discussion
though, since it ultimately is not very important for the
adventure.
If the PCs simply refuse to enter Montesser, Azir
becomes angry. As the captain he is the absolute master
aboard, and he does not take kindly to such mutiny. As a
last compromise he offers to drop the PCs off on the coast
at some dry caves near Montesser, together with the
launch, and to pick them up once the storm has passed.
He warns them, though, that when an orc patrol finds
them, chances of avoiding a fight are slim. If the PCs
accept this offer, the adventure proceeds as described,
except that the PCs witness the Kalandra running
aground near their campsite. You need to adapt the boxed
text descriptions in Encounter 1 and deal with the
absence of Captain Azir.
If the PCs decide to remain on board the ‘Era Lemna’,
proceed with Encounter 1 as normal.
Troubleshooting: There is a small chance that, at higher
APLs, the PCs have access to weather-controlling spells.
If they intend to use these spells, Azir advises against it.
He fears it might anger Procan, and that it will come back
to haunt him at a later date. Smart PCs realize that using a
spell like control weather only removes the storm in a
limited area (2 or 3 mile radius), keeping the ship locked
in that region anyway. The storm is also likely to outlast
the duration of the spell. Aziir doesn’t know these
limitations though, and, if the PCs press their plans
through, he eventually relents and keeps sailing. In that
case the storm eventually catches up, and they are forced
to land anyway. Proceed with the adventure as described,
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 4
except that now they are not in a town, and they cannot
expect any help when the Kalandra runs aground.
ENCOUNTER 1: WARM WINE
AND FISHERMEN’S TALES
If you run this scenario in a time sensitive environment,
such as at a convention, or you simply prefer a quick start,
you should use the short version of this encounter. If you
have the time, and like to role-play the PCs’ stay at
Froznir’s compound you should use the extended version
of this encounter.
SHORT VERSION
Read out aloud or paraphrase the following once the PCs
are ready to enter Montesser.
By the time you arrive at the harbor of Montesser, it
has started to rain and the strength of the wind has
increased considerably. Nearby hills provide some
cover against the coming storm, but whether it will
be enough remains to be seen.
Montesser looks a bit like a shanty-town, and
most of the buildings look like they have been built
with driftwood and whatever the orcs could
scrounge from nearby ruins. Several long, large,
wooden buildings of obviously better construction
dominate the town. Unlike the smaller huts, these
are decorated with crude woodcarvings of what look
to be skulls and monsters, different-colored banners
and old trophies, suggesting that these are the halls
of the chieftains of different clans. The whole town
is enclosed by thick, earthen ramparts and steep
stake-lined ditches.
The harbor lies inside the ramparts and all you
see are small fishing boats. Once docked, you and all
aboard are questioned by a large orc before you gain
permission to remain in Montesser during the
storm. Soon after, you enter a separate compound on
top of a low hill close to the harbor. The compound
is guarded by human mariners and seems to be
separate from the rest of the town. The mariners
welcome you, and soon you are drying yourself at a
roaring fire in a drinking hall with several sailors
looking curiously at you.
The PCs are staying at the mess hall in Froznir’s
Compound. They, and the crew of the Era Lemna, have
been provided with beds, but they have to pay the normal
prices for food and drink. Froznir is not present, and,
hence, there are not many people present at the
compound. The orcs of Montesser do not come here and
the PCs can spend their time here undisturbed by orcs.
The mariners guarding the compound, though, are
curious, wanting to hear about the world outside.
Ask the players how the PCs are spending the
coming night, and whether or not they spend the better
part of the evening at the drinking hall with Froznir’s
mariners. The mariners’ initial attitude towards the PCs is
Indifferent, but allow the PCs to change this with a
Diplomacy check as detailed in the Player’s Handbook.
The PCs gain the following bits of information if
they stay among the sailors and succeed at a DC 10
Gather Information check:
•
There is good profit to be made in the slave-trade
around Dullstrand City. After all, the refugees from
the war with the bullywugs in Sunndi are easy
victims. Most sailors present at the compound
though are glad Froznir keeps his distance from this
trade, it is repugnant and much too risky.
•
The United Kingdom of Ahlissa is slowly building a
massive fleet in the remains of Ponylver, but the
sailors are not very worried about it. Their opinion
on Ahlissan naval capabilities is not very high. A few
even speculate about a war between Ahlissa and Rel
Astra, seeing it is a good way to earn some cash as
privateers or mercenaries for one of the two sides
(mostly preferring Rel Astra).
•
More ships than usual have disappeared in the last
few weeks and the sailors wonder what has caused
these disappearances. There is talk about a monster
that can conjure up tornados which was released
from the Jungle of Lost Ships during the Ahlissan
expedition to that place two years ago. Others think
it is nothing out of the ordinary – storms, pirates, sea
monsters… ships have always disappeared and never
at a constant rate.
Once the PCs have settled for the night proceed with
Encounter 2.
EXTENDED VERSION
Read out aloud or paraphrase the following once the PCs
are ready to enter Montesser.
By the time you arrive at the harbor of Montesser, it
has started to rain and the strength of the wind has
increased considerably. Nearby hills provide some
cover against the coming storm, but whether it will
be enough remains to be seen.
Montesser looks a bit like a shanty-town, and
most of the buildings look like they have been built
with driftwood and whatever the orcs could
scrounge from nearby ruins. Several long, large,
wooden buildings of obviously better construction
dominate the town. Unlike the smaller huts, these
are decorated with crude woodcarvings of what look
to be skulls and monsters, different-colored banners
and old trophies, suggesting these are the halls of
the chieftains of different clans. The whole town is
enclosed by thick earthen ramparts and steep stake-
lined ditches.
The harbor lies inside the ramparts. You see
several orcs frantically drawing several fishing boats
high up on the beach, but there is no large vessel in
the harbor. Before your ship has docked, several orc
soldiers, led by a large, shrewd-looking orc warrior,
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 5
jump aboard, weapons drawn and ready for trouble.
A quick glance at the crew shows you that those that
can, quickly gather on deck clearly showing their
hands. The captain motions you to do the same,
while he steps forward, open hands clearly visible.
The large orc is Hargal, and his fellow orcs are simple
warriors. Hargal is the harbor master, and he takes that
job very seriously. He and his men are ready for
treachery, but, as long as the PCs do not draw any
weapons, make any unexpected movements or start
casting spells, they should be safe. As long as the PCs are
not aggressive or rude towards the guards, they should
have no problems gaining entry to Montesser, which is
used to dealing with merchants and travellers.
The orcs speak Common, albeit with a
strong accent. The orcs of Montesser are used to
dealing with humans, and so the majority speak at
least some guttural Common.
� Hargal: Male orc Rgr4 (LE).
� Orc Guards (5): Male orc Ftr1 (NE).
Note: In case the PCs do come to blows with these orcs
use the stats as provided in the Dungeon Master’s Guide
modified for the orcs. This is regular patrol and remains
the same at all APLs.
Development: If the PCs are stupid enough to want a
fight, that is what they get. The orcs show no mercy, and
assume the crew of the Era Lemna is part of the treachery,
killing them as well. If the PCs surrender, or are caught
alive they are thrown into pits in the town to await trial
when the weather is better. The PCs are probably strong
enough to overcome the orcs, but even they cannot face a
whole town and all they can do is retreat. Azir is furious,
but he has no choice. He quickly retreats and seeks
shelter at a cove nearby. In this case the PCs earn Azir’s
Disfavor as well as Montesser’s Disfavor. The adventure
then proceeds as discussed in the Introduction when the
PCs avoid Montesser.
If the PCs do as they are told, the captain and the orc
have a quick conversation. The details are difficult to
understand due to the noise of the storm, but they are
discussing the usual harbor costs. It only takes a few
moments before he and the captain come to an
agreement. Hargal orders two of his orcs to search the
ship, while he scans the crew for signs of treachery. He
does warn the people aboard to stay out of trouble, and
that leaving the compound is at their own risk. The
people of Montesser have no quarrel with the humans,
but their culture is different and he does not want people
to get hurt over misunderstandings.
If the PCs have the Favor of the Orcs of Montesser,
Hargal recognizes them, giving them a warm greeting
and inviting them to the halls of Shauntru. Afterwards,
he orders two orcs to remain at the ship, while he and the
rest return to the town. If the PCs have the Disfavor, and
are not disguised, he recognizes them as well. For a
moment he seems to want to attack them, but then
grunts to them that they should remain at the human
compound or else the promise of protection becomes
void for them. In this case, he and his fellow orcs remain
with the PCs until they enter the compound and he posts
several watch-posts around the compound clearly visible
for all to see.
Otherwise, he himself leaves the ship with one orc.
Two guards remain at the ship and the other two guide
the PCs and some of the crew (Azir remains behind to
secure the ship) to the compound. Note that if the PCs
succeed at a DC 25 Diplomacy check, they can spend the
evening at Shauntru’s Hall even without the favor,
although the orcs are noticeably less friendly, in which
case you need to adjust some of texts below.
The Compound
One the PCs approach the compound read out aloud, or
paraphrase, the following:
A stone-walled compound dominates the orcish
huts clustered about it. Set on a prominent piece of
high ground that runs down to the very waters of
the Aerdi Sea, this collection of buildings is easily
the most fortified part of the whole community that
you have seen so far.
A single, heavily-barred gate pierces the
battlemented outer wall. Two surly-looking human
guards stand without the walls, seeking shelter
against the wooden gate. The wall surrounding the
buildings within is only about fifteen feet high and
a walkway obviously runs all the way along both
walls. Inside the compound a cluster of buildings
squat around the central tower, which commands
views over the whole settlement.
The guards seem to recognize captain Azir,
politely greeting him, although they look warily at
you. After a short exchange, they open the gate and
allow you to enter. Captain Azir quickly guides you
to one of the bigger buildings near the tower, which
appears to be an inn of some sort. A big, roaring fire
provides heat, and a few rough-looking men are
eating and drinking around the tables, curiously
looking at you for a few moments before proceeding
with their conversations.
The kitchen is run by Dannal Welspa, an old, grizzled
sailor with a wooden leg. He is a surprisingly good cook,
as well as the quartermaster of the compound. He is a
good-natured curious man who has seen a lot of the
world and is always willing to share his stories (as well as
to listen to others telling them). The sailors and mariners
stationed at the compound help him in the kitchen and
there are no maids or waiters.
The PCs can dry themselves in front of the fire while
enjoying a drink and a hearty meal. The fare is simple,
but of a reasonable quality. With watered-down ale and
wine being the only drinks freely available, the selection
of drinks is small. Rum, whiskey and higher quality wine
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 6
is kept under lock and key and is not brought out, even
for the PCs, although with a successful DC 15 Diplomacy
check they can get one cup of rum to help get warm
again.
Most of the people at the compound are suspicious
of strangers and rather curt and direct. They tend to keep
their distance, but a DC 15 Diplomacy check, or a bard
with the right skills, opens them up towards the PCs.
They love to play card and dice games as well as darts.
Usually the sailors go to bed early, but with the bad
weather they are open to a spontaneous celebration –
especially if the PCs offer entertainment. Throughout the
night the PCs can learn the same rumors as described
above in the short version of this encounter.
PCs more interested in a bed, get directed to a big
sleeping room with several bunks at the back of the
building. There are four private rooms, one of which is
reserved for captain Azir. The PCs can acquire the
remaining three with a successful DC 15 Diplomacy
check.
Shauntru’s Hall
Due to the weather, it is unlikely the PCs are going to
wander around Montesser. If they insist, they find all
doors closed, and that there is absolutely nothing to do. If
one or more of the PCs has a favor with the orcs of
Montesser though, they are invited eat dinner at
Shauntru’s Hall – an invitation they are expected to
accept.
Read out aloud or paraphrase the following once
they approach her halls:
The largest of the roundhouses appears to have been
built with more time and effort than others. The tall
walls are made of well-hewn stone. The huge doors
are closed, and are wide enough for an entire team of
oxen to be driven through. Two guards stand in
small niches on both sides of the door, looking
somewhat miserable. They bar your approach, but
once they learn who you are, they quickly allow you
to enter.
The roundhouse is packed with orcs. Many are
seated at trestles eating and drinking, set back in the
shadows. More orcs, mostly younger whelps, peer
down from upper balconies, leaning dangerously
over the edge or balancing on ladders. As you enter
all conversation stops and one figure stands,
throwing off an expensive fur cloak. You notice that
this orc is female. “Welcome friends. Eat, drink.”
The female orc is Shauntru, the leader of this community.
The PCs are her guests, together with a group of more
traditional orc chieftains (although they are less
aggressive and more controlled than traditional orcs). She
is curious about events in the world, sharing her
knowledge on events in Medegia in return. The food and
drink (only ale) is of surprisingly good quality, although
it does not compare to what would be served in the halls
of human rulers.
During the evening, the orc chieftains try to get the
PCs into accepting challenges of Strength even going so
far as to suggest a boxing match with their champion
Maggroz. Maggroz is an ogre Bbn1 – although they don’t
mention this until things have been set up. They are
disappointed if the PC wins, but show all the more
respect because of it. If the PCs refuse to be lured into
any of the challenges, they are treated with scorn by the
orcs. Elves and dwarves are the constant centre of jokes
and puns at their expense. The orcs, though, do not
initiate real violence, but they reply with equal force.
Note that any fight is greeted with cheers by the
audience and has no repercussions as long as no orc dies.
If an orc dies, the PCs must succeed at a DC 25
Diplomacy check to get out, otherwise they are arrested
and thrown in a pit (from which they are removed later
that night to get the cargo and sailors from the Kalandra –
see Encounter 2).
In addition to the rumors mentioned at the
Compound the PCs learn the following things during
their stay here:
•
Both Rel Astra and Ahlissa have sent envoys to
Montesser on several occasions, in the past couple of
years, each trying to form an alliance against the
other. The orcs do not understand all this talk, and
most assume there is going to be a fight between
these two sides soon. The orcs favor nobody,
preferring to be left alone, warning that anybody
that threatens their independence will face their
wrath.
•
The orcs are bored. They have not had a good fight in
ages. Even the undead that seem to plague most of
Medegia now-a-days avoid Montesser.
Development: Once things slow down, or time is
pressing, you should proceed with Encounter 2.
ENCOUNTER 2: ALARM BELLS
About one hour after midnight, the peace (as far as you
can speak of peace in the middle of a raging storm) of the
town is disturbed by the sounds of horns at the harbor,
quickly followed by horns in the village and a loud ship
bell at the compound. Within minutes all the people at
the compound know that a ship has been sighted on a
course towards the cliffs near Montesser.
If the PCs brave the wind (which at higher APLs
might be dangerous for Small-sized characters – see
Encounter 3) and climb on the earthen walls of the
compound, they can watch the tragedy unfold before
their eyes. Due to the darkness, rain and wind there is
little to see except for a few small dots of light coming
closer to the coast. During the occasional flash of
lightning, it can be seen that the main mast of the vessel
is broken, and that the sails at the two remains masts are
tattered. It is a caravel. The ship is too far away to see any
sailors on board and it is equally impossible to determine
under what flag the ship sails.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
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Pushed forward by the storm, the ship soon crashes
on the rocks at the mouth of the bay. To everybody’s
surprise the ship is not shattered, and soon an SOS signal
can been seen coming from the ship. The mariners at the
compound immediately start discussing whether to help
those poor sailors. Most consider going out in this
weather near suicide, and they are certain no orc would
risk his skin for strangers (although they certainly might
for the cargo), assuming they would even have the skill to
navigate the waters in this weather. At the same time a
similar discussion is held at Shauntru’s Hall, although the
orcs are much quicker to conclude that the risks are not
worth the effort. They can recover whatever loot survives
the storm after the wind has died down, and they don’t
care about the sailors.
If the PCs show an interest in helping out, but need
a reward of some kind, both the orcs and mariners point
out that whomever they rescue is certainly going to be
grateful, and considering the quality of the ship, some of
those are very likely to be rich. Froznir’s men and the
orcs are also willing to pay a reasonable amount of coin
for any cargo they retrieve. They are also planning to ask
a ‘rescue fee’ (the orcs simply call it by its true name:
ransom) for any sailor they rescue from the trading
company that owns the ship. And the PCs gain 50% of
those coins (the PCs can negotiate up to 75%). They
cannot provide a specific number though since they do
not know the cargo, its owner or the amount of survivors
aboard.
If the PCs show no interest, or immediately rush out,
captain Azir approaches them. He is willing to brave the
storm to help those poor souls, but he needs help and his
men understandably do not want to. When they enquire
about a reward, Azir gives them the same information as
above, although he does not know for sure how the orcs
or his cousin’s men react. He fears they are just likely to
sell/use them as slaves, let them go or ask a ransom from
the owner of the ship. That though is of later concern,
since that ship is not going to remain in one piece for
long and if it shatters there is no need to worry about the
fate of any survivors. If the PCs want to know the risks,
Azir does not hide the fact that the rescue mission is
going to be dangerous, but he certain that with the PCs
help they can pull it off.
Azir’s intention is to use one of the keelboats on the
beach and row to the ship. He never even considered
going by land, climbing down the cliffs and swim or
jump the last few meters. He considers that route even
more dangerous, and he doubts it would allow them to
take any survivors let alone any cargo from the ship. So if
the PCs insist upon that route, he refuses to come along.
He does accept splitting up with him taking the keelboat
as long as two strong PCs agree to help row and a third
one to bail water.
Note: If the PCs were arrested by the orcs and thrown in
the pits, they think it is a fun game to let them recover
the loot and sailors from the wreck. If successful they
forgive them their crimes and let them go (although they
do NOT forget them – so they still get the disfavor). If
they fail, they die, which certainly satisfies them as well.
The PCs can always choose to flee, albeit after much
protests from captain Azir. The adventure is over in that
case.
Development: If the PCs agree to help, proceed to
Encounter 3, regardless of the route they follow. Since a
rescue mission requires a specific set of skills, it is
certainly possible some of the PCs refuse to join the
others. If this happens, Azir points out that since they
have no clue who is on board of that ship, and however
unlikely, they might very well be hostile. Or some might
be critically injured, requiring a healer as quickly as
possible. If there are still people that refuse, don’t force
them to join. The fights on board the Kalandra might be
considerably more difficult, but that was the PC’s choice.
Once they realize that this is no ordinary rescue mission,
they can decide how to react. PCs that are not present
during any of the fights, obviously do not gain any
experience for that particular encounter.
If the PCs do not help at all, the adventure is more or
less over. The ship soon shatters. The undead wash ashore
a couple of hours later. They attack the compound,
providing the PCs the opportunity to earn at least earn a
bit of coin and xp and showing that something odd
happened to that ship. When the storm quietens down,
they also learn her name. Evidence washes ashore that
proves the ship came from Ahlissa and belonged to
House Torquann. Little of the cargo survives intact (the
apes certainly died), several corpses of sailors end up on
the beach, all showing signs of having died in a fight.
Offering even more proof something odd went on aboard
the ship. A ghost now haunts the cape, but it is unlikely
the PCs learn this while at Montesser. Proceed with the
Conclusion section.
Troubleshooting: The wreck is not protected against
divination spells, but every minute counts. Captain Azir
is against any spell that takes more time to cast than 1
minute. The PCs also do not have clear sight on the
wreck further limiting the effectiveness of some
divinations. Otherwise they should work as normal. Use
the details described in Encounter 4 to check what the
PCs might learn.
ENCOUNTER 3:
CHALLENGING THE STORM
There are basically two routes open for the PCs to get at
the Kalandra: by land and by boat. Both of these routes
are dangerous, although each offers its own unique set of
challenges. Captain Azir greatly favors using a boat since
he is a much better sailor than climber, and because
having a boat makes transporting survivors and cargo all
that easier. It is up to the PCs to decide which to take and
each are detailed below in their own section.
The hills surrounding the bay give some measure of
protection against the real force of the wind. At APL 2 the
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 8
force of the wind is severe, but at APL 4 and above has
reached windstorm levels. The Kalandra has run aground
in an area with even better cover and the power of the
storm is one category lower (strong at APL 2 and severe at
other APLs). More information on storms can be found
in the Dungeon Master’s Guide page 95.
Severe winds impose a –4 penalty on ranged attacks
and Listen checks, open flames are extinguished and
small creatures run the risk of being knocked down (DC
15 Fort Save). Using ranged weapons in a windstorm is
impossible, and Listen checks suffer a –8 penalty.
Medium creatures run the risk of being knocked down
and smaller creatures are blown away (DC 18 Fort save).
If a creature is blown away, they are knocked prone and
roll 1d4x10 feet, taking 1d4 nonlethal damage per 10 feet.
Flying creatures count as one size category smaller. If
checked, they are blown away 1d6x5 feet, if knocked
prone 1d6x10 feet and if blown away 2d6x10 feet (they
take 2d6 nonlethal damage instead of the 1d4 per 10 feet).
The storm is accompanied by severe rainfall,
imposing a –4 penalty on Spot and Search checks and
increasing Listen penalties by a similar amount (which
stacks with the effects of the wind). Visibility is halved,
although, due to the darkness that only affects creatures
with low-light vision.
Troubleshooting: At high APLs characters might be
able to reduce the power of the storm with control wind.
Doing so is not very effective when traveling towards the
ship by boat due to its small area of effect. If the PCs cast
it at the cliffs, though, getting down is much easier,
effectively disabling the trap (see below), and getting
aboard becomes somewhat easier as well. It has no impact
on the fights on the decks of the Kalandra since the area
is too small to affect the waves. Using the higher-level
spell control weather, on the other hand, is highly effective,
removing the threat of the storm. Traveling with
powerful spell casters can make life a lot easier
sometimes.
PCs might choose to increase the wind with control
wind with which they can certainly destroy the ship, and
all aboard, but that would mean the effective end of the
adventure and everything aboard is destroyed. Using this
effect while actually fighting the ghouls is not very wise
either. The caster might be able to keep his allies in the
calm of the wind, but it still destroys the ship, quickly
dumping the PCs in the raging water.
THE CLIFFS (EL 2)
Getting to the cliffs towering above the ship is not easy.
If the PCs cling to cover and are smart enough to tie the
smaller members of their group together, they should
reach the spot without serious incident. Once above the
ship, they have to get down to the wreck, which is where
the real challenge lies. Luckily the wind blows inland, so
there is no risk of being blown off the cliffs and into the
sea below while on top of the cliff. Climbing down,
though, is dangerous, since the wind direction becomes
unpredictable and the rocks are razor sharp – effectively
turning it into a trap.
The cliffs are 50 feet high, and without the storm a
simple DC 15 Climb check would suffice to get down at
one-quarter the character’s normal speed. The rain has,
however, made the surface slippery, increasing it to a DC
20 Climb check. The wind induces the same
circumstance penalty on Climb checks as on Listen
checks so at APL 2 the effective DC is 24 and at APL 4
and above: 28. Even creatures with a Climb speed would
think twice before climbing down without security in
the form of ropes.
Even climbing down with a rope is not easy. There
might not be the risk of falling down into the churning
ocean, but it can become extremely painful. A failed
Climb check results in being smashed against the sharp
rocks – 2d6 damage. If the check was 12 or higher, the
damage is halved. Those climbing down can try to
remove the sharper rocks by attacking that 5 foot section
(not particularly easy while dangling on a rope). Each
section worked this way deals only 1d6 nonlethal
damage. Each round the PC is climbing down he needs to
make this check.
PCs, who are simply lowered down, do not need a
Climb check to get down. They are lowered down in 1
round, and only need to make 1 check to see if they get
half or full damage (there is no chance of zero damage). A
similar result can be achieved with a feather fall or levitate
spell (although 2 rounds are required with a levitate spell).
Persons who can fly, and are tied to a rope, can make a
(APL 2) DC 15 or (APL 4+) DC 18 Fortitude save to get
down without damage. Failure results in being slammed
into the wall getting full damage.
ALL APLs
� Cliffside Climb: mechanical; automatic reset; DC
12 Climb* check half (2d6 slashing and bludgeoning
damage).
* Penalties due to the wind included.
� Sharp Rocks (5 feet section): natural stone; AC 12;
hardness 8; hp 5.
Development: The PCs end up in Area 1 (see DM’s Aid 1
and Encounter 4) of the Kalandra. Roll Listen and Spot
checks as normal for the undead in Area 5 to note the
arrival of the PCs – starting when the first character sets
foot aboard. Do not forget to apply the penalties for the
storm (which is also why the undead only note the PCs
once they are aboard the ship and not while still climbing
down). They were not expecting somebody to come from
this direction. The PCs can try to spot the undead as well
if they move to an area from where they can see Area 5.
More details can be found in Encounter 4.
Troubleshooting: It is assumed the PCs are smart
enough to use a rope while climbing or flying down.
Without such a rope a failed check would not only result
in damage, but also in falling down in the churning sea at
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 9
the foot of the cliffs. At lower APLs this is almost
guaranteed to be a death sentence. Besides the normal
damage for falling, it also requires a DC 20 Swim check
per round not to drown, and at the same time, failure also
results into being smashed into the rocks by the waves
dealing 1d6 damage. Two successful checks in a row are
required to get to the safety of the cliffs behind the
Kalandra (requiring the PCs to climb up the hull).
PCs can aid their companion with a rope, but getting
the rope at the victim is treated as securing a grappling
hook as described in the Use Rope skill (victim can try to
aid the thrower with a DC 10 Use Rope or Swim check).
Once secured, the victim can be pulled to the shore. A
failed Swim check does not result in drowning anymore,
but it still deals damage.
The distance between the cliff top and the wreck is
certainly within reach of spells like dimension door. Due to
the weather and darkness it is unlikely the PCs can
observe the deck of the wreck from the cliff top. Chances
are good that the PCs dimension door into a solid object.
Such an act would result in 1d6 damage and a shift to a
random location on a suitable surface somewhere within
100 feet of the original location. It means the PC(s) would
not end up in the middle of the bay (water is not a
suitable surface), but a spot somewhere on a ledge on the
cliff or a rock in the surf nearby (suitable just at that
moment) is certainly a possibility. If a PC is stupid
enough to dimension door without seeing where they are
going that is what they get. Do warn them before they
use the spell. If they actually have a clear view of the deck
(likely due to other magic), they should be able to safely
use the spell. Remember, though, that the decks are
cluttered with debris. Finding an open spot for two or
three people is doable, but more is impossible.
THE SEA (EL 2)
Captain Azir offers the PCs his launch, although if the
PCs are working for the orcs of Montesser the orcs offer
one of their fishing boats. The hills around the bay
provide cover against the brunt of the storm for the
bigger part of the trip – although the last few tens of feet
take the launch into the open. Even so, getting to the
stranded ship by sea requires seamanship, strength and a
good dose of luck. Captain Azir and one or two (depends
on how many PCs there are) of his sailors, who bravely
volunteer to come along, compensates any lack in
seamanship on the PCs’ side. If the PCs do have the skill,
they still need a full complement of 8 in this weather,
and, while the PCs are exploring the ship, at least two
people need to remain behind to prevent it being
shattered against the hull or cliffs.
� Launch:
Huge
vehicle;
Seaworthiness
+0;
Shiphandling +2; Speed oars 15 ft. (good); Overall AC 3;
Hull hp 50 (hardness 5); Ram 2d6; Space 15 ft. by 5 ft.;
Height 5 ft. (draft 1-1/2 ft.); Complement 8; Watch 1 plus
2 rowers; Cargo 4 tons.
Captain Azir has a +11 modifier on his Profession (sailor)
skill and, under his guidance, launching the ship and
steering it towards the stranded vessel is relatively easy,
even when completely in the open. Getting there in one
piece, though, requires full commitment from everybody
aboard (both rowing and bailing water) or the launch will
founder and sink.
Getting to the wreck takes roughly 20 minutes of
hard work. Once, during the trip, the captain needs to
make a DC 15 Profession (sailor) check. Those aboard can
assist as per the normal rules: those rowing assist by
making a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Strength check.
Assume that Azir automatically succeeds with the aid of
his sailors. PCs stupid enough to challenge the sea in a
raging storm without the captain’s help, especially those
who are not equally skilled, should suffer the full
consequences. If the check fails, the launch founders and
quickly sinks, dumping the PCs in the water. PCs survive
the ordeal, and wash ashore near Montesser, but the
adventure is effectively over. Just make sure the players
realize the risks before they set out without Captain Azir
and his men.
During the trip the boat is also hit by 3 big waves.
When this happens, the captain of the vessel must make a
DC 25 Profession (sailor) check, as before the rowers can
try to assist in this check. If successful they maneuver the
boat out of harm’s way. If the check fails, the wave
crashes right over the boat. Each character aboard must
make a DC 12 Balance or Strength check to remain at
their seat. Failure results in 1d6 nonlethal damage by
being smashed against the side of the boat. Characters
standing upright at the time (highly unlikely) who fail
the initial Balance or Strength check must make a DC 17
Reflex save or they are washed overboard. See The Cliff
for details on swimming in the water – although the
damage is only gained near the cliffs and the hull.
Getting back into the launch without aid requires a DC
15 Climb check, but it is fairly easy if one or two people
offer their assistance.
Development: Getting to the ship is only the first step.
Due to a fortunate rock formation northeast of the
Kalandra she is spared the brunt of the storm, lowering
the power by 1 step as described at the start of this
encounter. The rock island also prevented the ship from
being shattered immediately, although it only a matter of
time until even that protection is not enough to save it.
With each wave that pounds against her hull, the
Kalandra groans loudly.
The PCs approach the wreck from the south, the
portside of the vessel. On the starboard side, the cliffs
tower 50 feet above it. Details on the Kalandra can be
found in DM’s Aid 1 and Encounter 4. Roll 2d4 the
moment the PCs arrive. The number rolled is the amount
of rounds the PCs have before a wave high enough to
wash over the railing of the Kalandra rushes in. A similar
big wave rushes in every 2d4 rounds afterwards. Since
the Kalandra tilts towards the cliffs, the railing of the ship
rises roughly 15 feet above sea-level. There are several
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
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ropes dangling over the side of the hull – the remains of
the rigging after the mast broke. It remains eerily silent
on board. Prudent PCs might want to cast some spells
beforehand, but remember that doing so requires a DC 15
plus spell level Concentration check due to the violent
motion of the launch.
There are several things the PCs can do to get
aboard. Climbing the remains of the rigging requires a
DC 9 Climb check (base DC 5 modified for slipperiness).
As long as a climbing PC is not above the launch when a
wave rolls in there is no problem. If the PC is above the
launch, the PC must make a DC 12 Reflex save or take
1d6 points of damage. Regardless of the result the PC
ends up prone in the launch. PCs can also wait for such a
wave and try to step aboard. Doing so requires a DC 12
Balance check. If the check fails the character ends up
prone on board of the Kalandra. If the check fails by 5 or
more the character falls backwards into the launch,
taking 1d6 damage in the process. At higher APLs, spells
such as dimension door, fly and levitate should make it
relatively easy to get aboard, although casting them does
require a Concentration check as discussed above.
If the PCs wait for a wave or two they can get a clear
view of the main deck (area 5). The undead sailors are
hiding by now, and any such character should make a
Spot check opposed by the undeads’ Hide checks
(assume the undead have taken 10). The undead wait
until half of the group is aboard before attacking, afraid
that they will scare away their prey if they attack too
early. Proceed with Encounter 4 (area 5).
Captain Azir becomes agitated when the PCs discuss
retreating just because there are no apparent survivors.
He reminds the PCs that somebody signaled the SOS and
there might be survivors who are unconscious or
otherwise prevented from screaming for help. If that
does not help, he points out that there might be valuables
aboard (whether cargo or information on what happened)
and that if they return now they took all those risks for
nothing.
If the PCs still decide to retreat the undead become
desperate. Overcome by hunger they try to act as
desperate survivors, rushing towards the railing begging
for aid. Even if the PCs fail to spot that the sailors are not
quite human, it should not be too difficult to pierce their
Bluff since the sailors are terrible liars. If the PCs still
retreat, the undead try to jump into the launch, likely
requiring a DC 10 or 20 Jump check (depending on how
far away the launch is from the hull of the Kalandra), and
potentially making for a crowded combat. Undead that
miss the launch, try to swim towards the launch, and
than trying to Climb aboard (which requires a DC 15
Climb check) to get at their food. More information on
the undead can be found in at Encounter 4 in Area 5.
Troubleshooting: Flying from Montessor to the
Kalandra is not an option, since the PCs are going to be
blown inland quicker than they can move forward. If the
PCs choose this option, they should walk towards the
cliffs, and try flying from there. This is discussed above at
The Cliffs section. The churning water makes using
spells like water walk impractical as well (requiring DC 20
Balance checks to remain standing, not to mention the
constant battering of the waves) and while water breathing
would work reasonably well (although the swimmer does
face the risk of being smashed into the rocks or the hull)
it faces the big problem that carrying survivors and cargo
by that route is real difficult as well. A really effective
spell the PCs could use is standing wave from the Spell
Compendium, although the PC must have a caster level of
9 or higher to affect the launch (which is size Huge).
In the end you should use your judgment when
confronted with ingenious players. The idea of the
encounter is not to make it impossible to get to the
Kalandra, just to impress on them the difficulties such a
storm impose on the rescue mission. At higher APLs it
shouldn’t be too hard to overcome the challenges of the
weather with a few well-placed spells.
Finally, if the PCs have been hiding in some caves
near Montesser to avoid the orcs, they have no access to
captain Azir. The wreck on the other hand is much
closer. Even so, chances of the launch floundering are
equally high and PCs without a decent Profession (sailor)
skill are better off challenging the cliffs instead of the sea.
ENCOUNTER 4: THE
KALANDRA
The Kalandra is a typical caravel: a seaworthy, nimble
three master used for long sea journeys. The mid-mast is
broken and her rigging is heavily damaged due to both
the weather and the battle with the undead. The hull is in
surprisingly good condition, although it is taking a
heaving beating by the waves. The hull is unlikely to hold
for more than another hour at the most. The ship tilts,
and the starboard side (the cliff direction) is lower than
the portside. This list is not strong enough to effect
movement, but it does grant a +1 bonus on attack rolls to
those on higher ground.
The stairs on board of the ship are steep. Climbing
up the stairs costs double movement. Moving down
faster than at normal speed, requires a DC 10 Balance
check. Failure prevents a PC from running down, while
failing by 5 or more results in falling down the stairs take
1d6 non-lethal damage in the process.
After having searched the whole ship the PCs can
estimate that there used to be around 16 people aboard.
Including the various undead the PCs only have found, at
most, 8 corpses. Most of the corpses were taken by the
undead raiders to replenish their larder and soldiers. The
undead raiders left a few corpses behind, animating some
of them as a nasty surprise for anybody entering the ship.
The other corpses where left behind as food for their new
creations.
If the PCs examine the bow they find the name of
the ship in graceful golden letters: The Kalandra. PCs that
make a DC 25 Knowledge (the Splintered Suns)
recognize the ship as Ahlissan. It is owned by House
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 11
Torquann, and sails mostly between Ahlissa, Rel Astra
and the Sea Barons. Its captain has a good reputation.
Note: The Kalandra is wedged between the rocks
and is not rolling on the waves. Once aboard spellcasters
do NOT need to make Concentration checks due to
violent movement!
� Hull: 9 in. thick wood; hardness 5; hp 80; Break DC
35; Climb DC 21.
� Inner walls: 3 in. thick wood; hardness 5; hp 30;
Break DC 20.
� Typical door: 1 in. thick wood; hardness 5; hp 10;
Break DC 15.
1. QUARTERDECK
The quarterdeck is an open deck at the stern. The
ship’s wheel is here and is tied so that it cannot be
moved. There is a small davit for a ship’s boat, but
the boat is missing.
The deck is clean and there are no risks of slipping or
tripping, and, unlike the main deck (area 5), waves do not
wash over the deck here.
2. FORECASTLE DECK
This is a raised, open deck atop the forecastle. On
the starboard side is the hawsepipe and tackle for
the ship’s anchor. The ballista mounted here is too
damaged to be used. It is covered with scorch marks.
The scorch marks can be recognized as acid burns with a
DC 15 Craft (alchemy) check. A DC 23 Spellcraft check
identifies the damage as been done by a fireball energy
substituted with acid. If there had been any blood, it has
been washed off in the storm. There are no corpses, nor is
there anything of value.
The deck is cluttered with debris, but unlike the
main deck there are no waves here. Movement is halved
in most squares. Charging and running is possible, but
requires a DC 14 Balance check as per the normal rules.
3. MASTER’S CABIN
This lavishly decorated comfortable cabin is likely
the captain’s or for the use of important guests. The
furniture has been smashed and there is little that
remains of this once luxurious room. It is clear the
room has been ransacked and nothing of value
remains.
On the last trip it was used by the guest – see Area 8 and
Encounter 6. If the PCs succeed at a DC 15 Search check
they find the remains of heraldry which can be
recognized with a DC 15 Knowledge (nobility and
royalty) check as belonging to House Garesteth. House
Garesteth is one of the great noble houses of the Great
Kingdom, and it has a strong associating with arcane
magic and many of its scions are powerful wizards.
4. WARDROOM
The captain, officers, and passengers used to take their
meals here. It also served as a drawing room and parlor.
This room is dominated by a large table made out of
mahogany, and surrounded by the remains of once
comfortable-looking chairs. It is clear that the
furniture used to be luxurious, and the decoration
lav sh. Except for the table, everything has been
ripped from the walls and smashed to pieces. The
floor is covered with glass shards and wood
splinters. If there had been anything of value here, it
has either been destroyed or taken away. The
remains of two sailors lying on the table are difficult
to miss, although the corpses are heavily damaged,
almost as if something has been eating them. The
table is covered in blood.
i
There is not as much blood as would be expected if they
had been killed here. Due to the damage it is difficult to
find out what killed them, but a DC 15 Heal check
reveals they have been killed with weapons, execution
style, and they have been dead for less than a day.
5. MAIN DECK
Under normal circumstances this open deck
featured a catapult and two large companionways
that descend to the lower deck. The portside
stairway is for the use of personnel and consists of
5ft.-high, cabin-like structure. The one on the
starboard side is for cargo, and is closed by two big
wooden hatches. Chicken coops, and pens for goats,
lambs, or other small livestock probably used to take
up any available space left on the deck, but not much
is left of it. The catapult is heavily damaged, and the
remains of the riggings lie everywhere. While most
of the mid-mast is gone, part of it lies with one end
on this deck and the second on the forecastle deck.
The battle with the undead raiders and storm caused
much havoc. The catapult has been damaged by similar
scorch marks to the ballista in Area 2. The storm washed
away any animals that might have survived the battle,
and, when the main mast broke, parts of the rigging came
crashing down on the deck. A large part is gone, washed
into the ocean, but one big piece forms a slippery beam
from the main deck up on the forecastle deck (Area 2).
Terrain: The following terrain features can be found on
the main deck:
•
A light surge of green washes regularly over the
deck. Such a surge lasts for 1 round and repeats every
2d4 rounds. A light surge is about 1 foot in depth. It
costs 2 squares of movement to enter a square of
light green water, and the DC of Tumble checks in
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 12
such a square increases by 2. Any creature that
begins its turn in or enters a square of light green
water must succeed on a DC 6 Strength of Balance
check, or fall prone. Characters who fall prone are
washed 1d4 squares in the direction of the surge; if
this would wash them over the side, they are entitled
to a DC 11 Reflex save to catch themselves at the rail
before going over. The surge moves in a starboard
direction (towards the cliffs – see Encounter 3 for
what happens if washed away). This happens at the
same time that the launch is raised to railing level
(and with each such wave water comes streaming
down into the hull if the hatches are open).
•
The squares that depict the catapult are considered
cluttered. It provides cover.
•
Large parts of the deck are slippery – it costs 2
squares of movement to enter a square of slippery
deck and the Balance and Tumble checks increases
by 5. A DC 12 Balance check is required to run or
charge over slippery deck. There are ropes
everywhere, and PCs can replace Balance by a Climb
check when charging or running (using the ropes to
swing around) but doing so requires a free hand.
•
A creature standing in the same square as a mast
gains a +2 bonus to AC and a +1 bonus to Reflex
saves (these bonuses don’t stack with cover bonuses
from other sources). The presence of a mast doesn’t
otherwise affect a creature’s fighting space, because
it is assumed that the creature is using the mast to its
advantage. It requires a DC 16 Balance check to walk
over the big piece of mast to area 1.
•
Both the forecastle deck (area 2) and the quarterdeck
(area 1) are 10 ft. high and Jumping down requires a
successful DC 19 Jump or Tumble check (modified
for obstruction and slipperiness).
More information on fighting on a ship’s deck can be
found in Stormwrack (page 20).
Creatures: The strong emotions of being brutally
murdered by the undead that raided their vessel
combined with the strong presence of necromantic
energy caused some of the sailors to rise as undead. They
are consumed by a hunger for the living, giving them an
unnatural cunning and predatory instinct. When they
realized the ship stranded near a sizable town, they
decided to lure townsmen to the ship by signaling for
help and ambush them far away from any potential help.
At higher APLs the undead raiders also created a
couple of zombies out of the dead sailors purely out of
spite. These are all covered with wounds made by claws
and spells. One, the captain, looks like he has been
tortured to death.
APL 2 (EL 4)
� Undead Sailors (3): Gravetouched Ghoul Rog1; hp
12 each; see Appendix 1.
APL 4 (EL 6)
� Undead
Chaplain:
Gravetouched
Ghoul
Rog1/Clr1; hp 18; see Appendix 1.
� Undead
Sailors
(2):
Gravetouched
Ghoul
Rog1/Ftr1; hp 18 each; see Appendix 1.
APL 6 (EL 8)
� Undead
Chaplain:
Gravetouched
Ghoul
Rog1/Clr2; hp 31; see Appendix 1.
� Undead
Sailors
(3):
Gravetouched
Ghoul
Rog2/Ftr1; hp 31 each; see Appendix 1.
� Zombies, human (2): hp 16 each; see Monster
Manual page 266.
APL 8 (EL 10)
� Undead
Chaplain:
Gravetouched
Ghoul
Rog2/Clr3; hp 48; see Appendix 1.
� Undead
Sailors
(3):
Gravetouched
Ghoul
Rog3/Ftr2; hp 48 each; see Appendix 1.
� Zombies, human (4): hp 16 each; see Monster
Manual page 266.
APL 10 (EL 12)
� Undead
Chaplain:
Gravetouched
Ghoul
Rog2/Clr5; hp 65; see Appendix 1.
� Undead
Sailors
(3):
Gravetouched
Ghoul
Rog5/Ftr2; hp 72 each; see Appendix 1.
� Zombies, human (6): hp 16 each; see Monster
Manual page 266.
Tactics: The undead are planning to ambush the PCs,
and to make that possible at APL 6+ they have herded the
zombies into area 6 (out of sight) with orders to come
forward once the door is opened.
As soon as half of the PCs are aboard the undead
spring their ambush. One opens the door to area 6 as its
first action, realizing that the additional undead would
form some protection against turning. The ghouls are
ravenous, but shrewd and highly intelligent. At first they
try to outflank lone opponents to get maximum
efficiency out of their sneak attacks. If outnumbered they
resort
to
hit-and-run
tactics,
patiently
fighting
defensively in an attempt to raise their AC. Remember
that their Balance, Climb, and Tumble skills are high, and
they use these to their advantage by using the whole
deck. They also have little fear of the green water, while
this might worry the PCs.
They do *not* try to bullrush people off the ship
since they want the corpses for dinner. When the PCs try
to do so, do not forget to apply a +4 bonus to resist due to
the railing of the ship. At first they leave paralyzed
opponents alone, but if the combat lasts long enough and
people recover, they start trying to kill paralyzed
opponents.
They fight to the death.
Treasure:
Looting the remains of the sailors
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 13
APL 2: Loot (25 gp); Coin (0 gp); Magic (0 gp).
APL 4: Loot (90 gp); Coin (0 gp); Magic (0 gp).
APL 6: Loot (90 gp); Coin (0 gp); Magic cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp).
APL 8: Loot (90 gp); Coin (0 gp); Magic cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp).
APL 10: Loot (90 gp); Coin (0 gp); Magic cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp).
Detect magic results: Cloak of resistance +1 (Faint
Abjuration).
Development: Once the undead are defeated, the PCs
are free to explore the rest of the vessel. If they examine
the remains of the undead, they quickly realize all show
unhealed wounds, which in case of the zombies would
have been lethal. The ghouls where probably killed by
magic since none of their wounds would have been
lethal.
In the unlikely case the PCs manage to capture one
of the ghouls alive, you should remember that these are
driven by hunger and a hatred for the living. They are
willing to promise anything to get released, and they
might tell whatever they think the PCs want to hear. As
undead they are immune to being intimidated. The fact is
that they do not remember much of how they died or
even where they are. They vaguely remember their past
life as sailors in the service of House Torquann, but they
do not remember what the ship’s cargo is or who traveled
onboard. There is no corpse suitable for speak with dead
since they have either been animated or are too damaged
for the spell.
6. INSIDE THE FORECASTLE
The forecastle is clearly used as the sleeping
quarters for the majority of the ship’s crew. The
room holds a dozen cramped bunks as well as a
simple cabinet. The cabinet doors stand wide open
showing several sets of sailor’s clothing and some
personal items such as pipes, tobacco, partially
finished woodcarvings and the like.
There is nothing of intrinsic value to be found here.
7. GALLEY
This is clearly the ship’s galley. It has a small stove
and shelving for all kinds of foodstuffs. The shelves
have not been secured for the storm and the whole
room is covered in food, eating and cooking
utensils. There are two hammocks here. The door
has been bashed open, and there are signs of a
struggle in the form of several relatively fresh
bloodstains. There is no corpse.
There is nothing of intrinsic value to be found here.
8. CHAIN LOCKER
The door is closed and blocked by a heavy crate of the
cargo that fell down due to the storm.
The ship’s anchor chain is stored here. It passes
through the hawsepipe in the forecastle up to the
forecastle deck. It is a small, cramped, dark room
filled with the chain and its winding mechanism.
If the PCs open the door, they do not initially see the
hiding survivor, but if they give the place even a cursory
search they find him in catatonic state behind the chain
spool. More information on the survivor and his
reactions towards the PCs are detailed in Encounter 6.
The survivor has some equipment on him that might
be useful during the adventure, and he gladly hands it
over as a reward for his rescue to the PCs. He has a dagger
with him as well as a spell component pouch, writing
gear, 12 gold coins and a scroll case with the following
four spells: magic weapon (x2), comprehend languages and
wave blessing. There is no spell book.
All APLs: Loot (1 gp); Coin (12 gp); Magic scroll of
comprehend languages (2 gp), 2 scrolls of magic weapon (2 gp
each), scroll of wave blessing (2 gp).
Detect magic results: Scroll of comprehend languages
(Faint Divination), scroll of magic weapon (Faint
Transmutation),
scroll
of
wave
blessing
(Faint
Transmutation).
9. LOWER DECK
This space served as the first of the caravel’s cargo
holds, as well as the crew’s mess deck. The ship
apparently did not carry much cargo on its last trip,
or most was taken by whatever killed the crew, and,
as such, there is ample of space. There are signs that
the fight that took place on deck spilled down
below. Some of the cargo is damaged by sword
slashes and there are several bloodstains on the
floor and the crates. There are no v sible corpses
though.
i
If the PCs take time to examine the cargo, they realize it
consists of luxurious furniture, carpets, tapestries and
even a couple of marble statues (Oeridian warriors and
women).
While the cargo is clearly valuable, it is
too big and unwieldy to transport in this weather.
Some PCs might rightly wonder why raiders would
leave this cargo, but take the gold from the payment
chest (area 13) or the silver cutlery from the wardroom
(area 4). The fact is that the undead cannot really use the
furniture, and do not want to go through the trouble of
selling it. Gold and silver they can use, and is much easier
to take along. If the PCs want to select a few truly
valuable pieces, let them make an Appraise check – using
the highest roll (remember that check can be made
untrained and the PCs can take 10, taking 20 is
impossible due to time issues). Depending on the result
they acquire the following amount of loot:
Result
Check DC
APL 2/4/6
APL 8
APL 10
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 14
0
25
125
100
10
50
150
200
15
75
175
300
20
100
200
400
10. & 11. OFFICER’S CABINS
This tiny cabin was likely the private room of one of
the ship’s officers. It contains a bunk, a cabinet, a
tiny desk and a stool.
One of the cabins was in use by the captain (the Master’s
Cabin was being used by the survivor – see area 8 and
Encounter 6) and the other by the steersman. The rooms
have been ransacked, but if the PCs succeed at a DC 20
Search check they find a sextant and 18 gp in a secret
drawer.
Treasure:
Selling the sextant
All APLs: Loot (21 gp); Coin (3 gp); Magic (0 gp).
12. MERCHANT’S CABINS
While slightly bigger than the other cabins on this
deck, it is not much different. In addition to the
same furniture as in the other cabins it also contains
a small shrine apparently dedicated to Zilchus. The
smell of incense is still strong. Somebody smashed
the statuette of Zilchus in great anger.
At APL 4 and up a great quantity of blood has been
poured over it – courtesy of the now undead chaplain
trying to appease Nerull. A DC 20 Heal or DC 15 Craft
(alchemy) check reveals the blood to be human and not
older than a day. Almost everything of value has been
taken from this room, but PCs that succeed at a DC 20
Search check find a scroll between the desk and the wall.
The scroll contains the spell sink.
Treasure:
Finding the scroll
All APLs: Loot (0 gp); Coin (0 gp); Magic scroll of sink
(31 gp).
Detect magic results: Scroll of sink (Faint
Transmutation).
13. SHIP’S OFFICE
All the ship’s paperwork used to be kept here,
including cargo manifests, pay records, and the
ship’s paychest (a sturdy, locked chest). It is clear
that somebody ransacked the place. Ink jars have
been smashed on the floor and hundreds of papers
are strewn all over the place. The paychest’s lock is
smashed and the chest is empty.
If the PCs take 10 minutes to search the place they realize
that all maps are missing, as well as the captain’s logs. The
cargo manifests, pay records and the like are still here.
These papers prove that the ship was owned by House
Torquann and sailed under the Ahlissan flag. Finding the
cargo manifest of what the Kalandra is carrying on this
trip and deciphering it takes a lot of time – time the PCs
do not have.
If the PCs succeed at a DC 25 Search check they find
a hidden drawer. In it they find a ledger written in short
hand Old Oeridian. The ledger suggests the ship had a
few hidden compartments in the lower hold which were
used to smuggle valuable items. It was used during the
last trip, apparently carrying forbidden books of some
kind. The ledger does not contain enough information to
determine the nature of these books. In the past the ship
smuggled gems, weapons, drugs and magical items.
While the information in the ledger is certainly
embarrassing for House Torquann, it is unlikely to cause
any big trouble. Still, both the Ahlissan authorities and
House Torquann would be willing to pay a small amount
of gold for its recovery.
Treasure:
Selling the secret ledger
All APLs: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 25 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
14. SAIL LOCKER
The door to this room is closed, and locked with a simple
lock.
The room used to be some kind of storage room and
you see spare sails, canvas, sewing gear as well as
plenty of lines, hawsers, firewood, and heavy tools.
Creatures: Early during the attack, the beastmaster of
the apes hid under the spare sails in this room. Even
down here he could hear the screams of the sailors being
tortured so, when he heard the apes screaming out of
fear, he assumed the undead were coming for him. He
took his own life to prevent being tortured or turned into
an undead. The raiders were not very interested in the
mundane cargo, and having feasted on the sailors, they
were not interested in the live cargo either. After a quick
scan for anything worthwhile they quickly returned to
their own ship.
The beastmaster took his own life for no reason, and
this, combined with the strong necromantic energies
aboard the ship during his death and the intense fear he
felt, caused him to return as a ghost. While technically
able to speak, he is completely insane, thinking the PCs
are the undead coming to get him. He only finds rest
when people give his corpse a proper burial.
His corpse still lies hidden under the sails – a short
stocky Oeridian with curly, brown hair and tanned skin.
His clothes show that he wet his pants, and a DC 5 Heal
check reveals that he took his own life by slitting his
throat.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 15
APL 2 (EL 3)
� The Beastmaster: Allip; hp 26; see Monster Manual
page 10 and Appendix 1.
APL 4 (EL 5)
� The Beastmaster: Male ghost Rgr3; hp 25; see
Appendix 1.
APL 6 (EL 7)
� The Beastmaster: Male ghost Rgr5; hp 38; see
Appendix 1.
APL 8 (EL 9)
� The Beastmaster: Male ghost Rgr7; hp 51; see
Appendix 1.
APL 10 (EL 11)
� The Beastmaster: Male ghost Rgr9; hp 73; see
Appendix 1.
Tactics: One round after the Beast Master becomes
aware of the presence of the PCs on the lower deck
(likely due to the fight in Area 15) he rushes forward to
attack the PCs. He is utterly convinced the PCs are the
undead that raided the Kalandra, and he’d rather die than
being caught alive. He just hopes that he takes as many of
his attackers with him as possible.
He thinks he is alive, but on an instinctive level he
still uses his ghost abilities to their maximum potential.
He is incorporeal, and unaffected by any water or cargo.
He does NOT go outside the lower deck, which the PCs
could use to their advantage. At APL 2 he doesn’t use any
tactics at all, but at APL 4 and higher he directs “his” apes
(see Area 15 below) while trying to disable spellcasters.
He is used to dealing with animals, and, when confronted
with them, he drains their Intelligence, otherwise he
focuses on Charisma. He does NOT drain Constitution
since he thinks his opponents are undead, and undead do
not have any Constitution.
Throughout the fight, the Beastmaster constantly
screams that he will not be caught alive to be tortured to
death or turned in an undead. He will destroy as many
foul undead abominations (clearly referring to the PCs)
as possible. He is not open for Diplomacy of any kind,
and he simply ignores any remarks made by the PCs.
Either he never hears them (mainly when pointing out
he is a ghost) or they are just lies to make him surrender.
Note that his ability to deal damage and drain
attributes at the same time is a special ability.
Treasure:
Looting the corpse of Beastmaster
APL 2: Loot (48 gp); Coin (10 gp); Magic potion of cure
light wounds (4 gp), 2 scrolls of speak with animals (2 gp
each), wand of charm animal (63 gp).
APL 4: Loot (48 gp); Coin (14 gp); Magic potion of cure
light wounds (4 gp), 2 scrolls of speak with animals (2 gp
each), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), wand of charm animal (63
gp).
APL 6: Loot (48 gp); Coin (14 gp); Magic collar of
obedience (125 gp), potion of cure light wounds (4 gp), 2 scrolls
of speak with animals (2 gp each), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp),
wand of charm animal (63 gp).
APL 8: Loot (48 gp); Coin (14 gp); Magic brooch of
shielding (125 gp), collar of obedience (125 gp), 2 potions of
cure light wounds (4 gp), scroll of reduce animal (13 gp), 2
scrolls of speak with animals (2 gp each), vest of resistance +1
(83 gp), wand of charm animal (63 gp).
APL 10: Loot (27 gp); Coin (14 gp); Magic +1 chain
shirt (104 gp), brooch of shielding (125 gp), circlet of
persuasion (375 gp), collar of obedience (125 gp), 2 potions of
cure light wounds (4 gp), ring of sustenance (208 gp), scroll of
reduce animal (13 gp), 2 scrolls of speak with animals (2 gp
each), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), wand of charm animal (63
gp).
Detect magic results: +1 chain shirt (Faint
Abjuration), brooch of shielding (Faint Abjuration), circlet of
persuasion (Faint Transmutation), collar of obedience (Faint
Enchantment), potion of cure light wounds (Faint
Conjuration), ring of sustenance (Faint Conjuration), scroll
of reduce animal (Faint Transmutation), scroll of speak with
animals (Faint Divination), vest of resistance +1 (Faint
Abjuration), wand of charm animal (Faint Enchantment).
Development: To permanently destroy the ghost of the
Beastmaster the PCs have to give him a proper burial.
Otherwise he comes back to haunt the remains of the
wreck. Doing either has little impact on the conclusion of
the adventure, but might impact future adventures in the
region. With a DC 15 Knowledge (religion) check the
PCs might realize a burial is probably necessary to
permanently destroy the ghost.
15. LOWER HOLD
Most of the ships cargo is stowed here, as well as
provisions (including many casks of fresh water).
The cargo consists mainly of big crates tied together.
There are 4 big sturdy cages which have been
smashed open by whatever they once held. A
shallow layer of murky salt water covers the floor.
The cages contained a couple of cave apes. At APL 2, two
of the albino apes have been killed by the others (and on
APL 8 one is dead). Their corpses are sprawled between
the crates. Water is slowly flooding into the cargo hold
through the slowly-growing cracks in the hull. At APLs 2
and 4, the water is not deep enough to affect movement.
At APL 6 and above it is one foot deep, and it is
considered difficult terrain. Moving into an affected
square costs double, and Tumble checks suffer a -2
circumstance penalty. Creatures with Climb speed can
cling to the crates without any hindrance from the water.
The crates contain the same type of cargo as the
Lower Deck (area 9).
Beneath the lower hold lies a small crawlspace where
heavy ballast stones help to stabilize the ship. The area is
completely filled with water.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 16
Creatures: Part of the cargo consisted of the pets of the
rich passenger – a group of albino cave apes. These beasts
are in almost all regards similar to normal apes (or
girallons), except that they are all albino and trained to
fight in cramped spaces. The sturdy, hulking beasts are
trained as guard animals, and, even under ordinary
circumstances, they are highly aggressive towards
strangers. They all wear studded leather collars.
The presence of the undead, the storm and now the
sinking of the vessel has driven the beasts to madness. If
the PCs manage to remain undetected, the apes are
sulking in various corners, waiting for death to come. If
they are aware of the PCs, they are hiding, ready to
assault anybody entering the place. A DC 15 Sense
Motive check allows the PCs to realize these beasts are
overcome by panic, and might not be nearly as aggressive
under ordinary circumstances. It might be possible to
calm them down, although under the current
circumstances might be incredibly difficult. A DC 12
Knowledge (nature) check allows the PCs to realize that
apes cannot swim.
APL 2 (EL 3)
� Apes (2): hp 29 each; see Appendix 1.
APL 4 (EL 5)
� Apes (4): hp 29 each; see Appendix 1.
APL 6 (EL 7)
� Dire apes (4): hp 35 each; see Appendix 1.
APL 8 (EL 9)
� Girallons (3): hp 55 each; see Appendix 1.
APL 10 (EL 11)
� Fiendish girallons (4): hp 55 each; see Appendix 1.
Tactics: The apes operate much like a wolf pack, trying
to outflank their opponents, and working well together.
They are at their most effective when making full-round
attacks and, since they instinctively know this, it might
prevent them from manoeuvring into a position where
they can outflank their opponents. They are well trained,
and, unlike normal animals, they concentrate on one
opponent at a time, and they are not easily distracted.
They only switch targets if their chosen opponent proves
to be much less painful to them than others, or when the
target is nearly impossible to hit. They are still animals,
and do not easily recognize ranged threats.
The presence of the beastmaster (who appears 1
round after he becomes aware of the presence of the PCs
in area 15 – see Area 14) impacts on the apes’ tactics:
•
At APL 2, because they are just as much affected by
the babbling as the PCs. If they fail their saving
throw, they become hypnotized by it as well. If they
succeed, their first goal is to flee to the lower deck
and cower there. If approached, they defend
themselves wildly like any cornered wild animal.
The two apes try to stay together.
•
At APLs 4+, because the Beastmaster can actually
control them, the apes actually remain fighting the
PCs, recognizing their former master instinctively
despite his current condition. The beastmaster’s
former close connection with animals also prevents
any from fleeing from him if he chooses so. At these
levels the beastmaster tries to direct the apes to aid
him in defeating the PCs. Since, in the Beastmaster’s
mind, he and his apes are already doomed, he does
not think twice about sacrificing them if it means he
can take down an opponent by doing so. At these
levels, the apes have already been exposed to the
Beastmaster’s moans and they have become immune
to them.
At all APLs: Do not forget to apply the benefits of the
Tunnel Fighting feat. They are quite willing to squeeze,
unlike regular apes and they do not suffer nearly as much
from doing so.
Treasure: The apes have nothing of value, but some of
the cargo present is valuable. If the PCs want to find and
recognize the portable valuable pieces, they need to make
an Appraise check. Remember that the PCs can use this
skill untrained, and that they can take 10. Taking 20 is
impossible due to the time constraints. Depending on the
result they acquire the following amount of loot:
Result
Check DC
APL 2/4/6
APL 8
APL 10
0
25
125
100
10
50
150
200
15
75
175
300
20
100
200
400
Development: The apes are ordinary animals, and, if
the PCs retreat, and leave the hatch open, the apes flee up
and desperately try to leave the ship by climbing the
cliffs.
The PCs can also try to calm them with a DC 25 Wild
Empathy check (don’t forget to include the -4 penalty at
APLs 8 and 10 due to the apes being magical beasts).
Although the apes still attack any other creature beyond
the person making the check, if the check was DC 35 or
higher the beasts become friendly and they do not attack
others. Getting them into the launch without magic,
requires a DC 20 Handle Animal check. Otherwise their
only chance of survival is the cliffs since apes cannot
swim. Note that, at APLs 4+, the beastmaster (see Area 14)
needs to be defeated before the PCs can befriend the
apes. If the PCs manage to befriend the apes, whether by
magic or mundane methods, and actually take them into
Montessor, the orcs are suitably impressed. They offer to
buy the beasts – more details can be found in the
Conclusion. Of course, spells such as calm animals and
charm animals are extremely useful as well preventing the
need for any check at all (assuming the Beastmaster has
been destroyed).
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 17
If the PCs never faced the apes in combat, but simply
retreated, they should get only half the experience for
this encounter. If they befriend the apes, on the other
hand, or use their resources to help them get off the ship
alive, they should get the normal amount of experience.
ENCOUNTER 5: PASSAGE OF
TIME
Stuck between the rocks at the foot of cliffs the Kalandra
is continually battered by waves. Each wave pushes it
against the rocks, and, while the hull seems to hold for
the moment, it is eventually going to shatter. To make
sure the PCs get a sense of urgency, the DM should use
the following events in sequence. The exact timing of
these events is up to the individual DM, but it should be
used when there is a lull in the action to speed things
along. The goal is not to directly challenge the PCs and as
such it should not endanger them. Just after ALL the PCs
leave the ship, they hear a loud cracking noise. The hull
snaps in two and it disintegrates before their eyes.
First Event
Note: Do NOT use this event during the fight with the
ghoul sailors!
A large wave crashes into the Kalandra. The wave itself is
roughly 2 feet deep on the main deck, forcing PCs in that
area to make a DC 12 Balance of Strength check to
prevent themselves falling prone. A character that falls
prone washes 1d4x5 feet away towards starboard (the
cliffs). When this pushes the PCs over the railing, they
can make a DC 17 Reflex save to catch hold of the railing.
Characters that remain standing, can try to grab fellow
characters with a similar save if they are in the direct path
or within 5 feet of the sliding PC. A PC who is not
secured to the deck, and who washes overboard takes 1d6
points of damage by being slammed into the rocks. There
is not much water between the hull and the cliffs, and
climbing back aboard follows the same rules as discussed
in Encounter 3 – The Sea. Each wave, though, requires a
DC 20 Swim check to prevent 1d6 points of damage and
the wave cannot be used to get aboard.
At the same time the hull shifts with a grinding
noise. Each PC must make a DC 12 Balance check or fall
prone. The partial mast lying on the main deck and the
forecastle deck comes crushing down. It shatters part of
the wall between areas 5 and 6.
Event 2
As in Event 1, a big wave crashes over the ship and, as in
Event 1, everybody must make a DC 12 Balance check
when the ship shifts. The shift is accompanied by a loud
grinding noise and the sound of snapping wood.
Afterwards the tilt is gone and all waves on the main deck
are considered deep waves instead of the light surge they
were before. Deep waves require checks similar to those
described at the first part of The First Event.
On starboard side several cracks appear in the hull of
the lower hold, and water starts to visibly flow into the
ship. While it might be a disquieting sight, the increase
of water inflow has no impact on the amount of water on
the lower deck, yet… At the same time, all doors inside
the ship that were closed at the time get stuck and
require a DC 13 Strength check to open.
ENCOUNTER 6: A LONE
SURVIVOR
At the time the Kalandra was attacked by the undead, it
was on its way to the village of Barrish on the coast of
Medegia. She was carrying an important passenger, a
young scion of House Garesteth named Jarin, and his
rather extensive possessions.
Early during the current storm the ship was attacked
by what at first glance appeared to be pirates, who quickly
lowered the distance. The captain was not particularly
worried, his crew were veterans and he had avoided and
defeated many a pirate. Once at close range, the first acid
ball incinerated the ballista and its crew at the bow. The
sailors now also saw the flag depicting the black tower
with a skull above it and two skeletal hands wielding a
scythe as well as noticing that the pirates consisted of
undead. [A DC 25 Knowledge (core) or Knowledge
(nobility and royalty) recognizes the heraldry as
belonging to Delglath the Undying – an immensely
powerful undead cleric of Nerull, once a prince of House
Torquann who is at perpetual war with House Torquann
in the Northern Kingdom about who should rule his fief.
The ruler of the Northern Kingdom supports House
Torquann, which is not too surprising since Delglath
wants to turn everybody in an undead. Delglath though is
not known to have a fleet.] This greatly worried the
captain, who ordered Jarin to go below decks. The captain
did not dare risk angering a powerful noble house by
getting one of their scions killed. Something in the
captain’s voice convinced Jarin that the the Kalandra was
doomed so he hid in the chain locker (Area 8), rightly
concluding nobody would look there.
He had expected that, once victorious, the pirates
would either sink the ship, giving him the opportunity to
build a raft (while risky it certainly had a higher chance
of survival than being captured by undead), or use it for
the fleet, allowing him to try and escape later or even
help the crew of the Kalandra. Instead, the undead simply
killed the common sailors, and tortured the officers for
information. Jarin could not hear the exact words, but the
screaming lasted for what felt like hours, only broken by
short breaks when the leader of the undead enquired
about something. Eventually the screaming stopped. By
that time the young, untried Jarin was already on the
brink of a breakdown, and, when an undead pirate did
open the door to the locker for a cursory glance, unable
to scream in terror, something inside Jarin snapped. He
retreated into himself, ending up in a catatonic state that
on the one hand saved him (the undead did not find
him), but would mean his end unless the PCs rescue him.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 18
Creatures: The lone survivor is a scrawny young man
(early twenties) of average height with short white hair
and a sharp nose. He has a pale skin, and there are ink
stains on his fingers. He does not look like somebody
used to hard, physical labor. He has a beard of a couple of
days length and is wearing disheveled, expensive
clothing. He has a dark blue tunic, decorated with silver
embroidery, as well as dark trousers and heavy, leather
boots.
When the PCs first find him, he is catatonic, but
very much alive. He does not react to any stimuli, even
when touched or moved. A quick examination does not
reveal any visible wounds, but his green-brown eyes are
wide open, staring into the distance as if in perpetual fear.
They are bloodshot, and already damaged due to too little
blinking. His hair used to be brown, and appears to have
turned white overnight. Fear and horror have put him in
his current condition, and that should be overcome
before the PCs can learn anything.
� Lone survivor (Jarin Garesteth*): Male human
(Oeridian) Wiz3 (AL LN).
* Unless the PCs restore his sanity, they cannot learn his
name, but they can certainly conclude he is a member of
House Garesteth based on various clues aboard the vessel.
Development: PCs who are in a hurry, are likely to
simply drop Jarin in the launch before attempting to
revive him in a safer more comfortable area. They could
attempt to get some information from him at the wreck,
but doing so might have a contrary result to the one they
desire.
The origin of Jarin’s condition is non-magical, and
more like insanity than fear. Spells that suppress, or
remove, (magical) fear affects do not offer any aid. Spells
that remove insanity, such as heal and greater restoration,
instantly revive the man. In that case he proves to be a
matter-of-fact type of guy although the current ordeal has
left him scarred and lowered his self-esteem.
If on board when revived, he first tries to learn
where he is and who the PCs are. He does not tell them
that he is an actual scion of House Garesteth, saying he is
just a minor servant of its leaders. In a way is true, but if
the PCs succeed at a DC 12 Sense Motive check realize he
is withholding some information. He fears that if he does
give his name, the PCs might decide to ransom him to his
family, a fate he prefers to avoid if possible. His initial
attitude towards the PCs is unfriendly in this regard, but
if they manage to change it to Friendly he relents and
provides them with his real identity if they promise to
help him get home. They can also try to intimidate him as
per the standard rules, but in that case they do not earn
his favor once the adventure is over. The scions of Ahlissa
do not like to be forced to do something against their
will.
Regardless, he does quickly summarize events as
discussed above. If he realizes the ship is about to sink, he
wants to get off as quickly as possible. He is not a coward,
nor does he callously disregard life, but he assumes
everybody else is dead. He is willing to wait without
complaints if the PCs note that they have not searched
the whole ship and reassure him the hull is going to hold
for some time to come. On land, he is calmer, and he
gladly gives a detailed account of his ordeal (see above).
Without the aid of magic, the PCs have to resort to
talking. If attempted on the wreck, the PCs must make a
Diplomacy check to restore him to sanity, treating Jarin
as Hostile for the purpose of the checks. If the result is 20
or lower he certainly wakes out of his torpor, but he
panics. He tries to flee, jumping overboard when on the
ship, which is a death sentence for the already weakened
man. The only way to calm him is to knock him
unconscious and try it again in couple of hours. If the
result is 35 or higher he recovers somewhat and starts
sobbing uncontrollably, begging the PCs to make the
screaming stop, openly wondering why the captain
ordered him to go below decks, and if it would have
mattered if he had stayed and fought together with the
crew. After some more encouragement, he calms down
enough to be guided off the Kalandra, although at first he
is afraid to go outside, asking whether the monsters all
still there.
It is impossible to learn more from Jarin in such a
short time. On land, assuming they have free access to
him, they eventually manage to get the whole story. Full
mental recovery would take weeks though, and the scars
will be permanently there. More information on what
happens when the survivor is taken to land is discussed
in Encounter 6. If the PCs decide to return to land, use
the method with which they got here, but in reversed
order. If the PCs climb, they can tie Jarin to one of their
own, and prevent any damage to Jarin by keeping
themselves in between Jarin and the rock. Waiting until
the end of the storm is not an option since, by then, the
Kalandra is shattered on the rocks.
ENCOUNTER 7: BACK AT
MONTESSER
When confronted with a survivor from the wreck, the
orcs of Montesser see an opportunity for profit. They
hope to get a good ransom for him from his family or the
trading company he worked for. If not, they can always
sell him as a slave. Rescuing Jarin from the ship, and
returning safely to land is not the end of the adventure. If
the PCs intend to allow Jarin to return home without any
demands, they can either try to hide his existence from
the orcs or they can try to make a deal.
HIDING
If they take Jarin to Montesser, it is going to be very hard
to keep him hidden from the orcs. Even in this weather
there are guards at the various gates and walls, making it
very difficult to smuggle him into town unseen.
Furthermore, some of Froznir’s men gladly sell the PCs
out, making it important to keep Jarin’s presence hidden
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 19
from them as well. Allow the PCs to come up with a plan.
If it is a good plan they should succeed, otherwise they
are seen, and soon Shauntru’s soldiers are knocking on
their door demanding the prisoner be handed over,
forcing the PCs to make a deal (see below). Note that the
PCs also have to get Jarin *out* of Montessor undetected,
and that this is even more difficult. The weather is going
to be better, and the PCs and the ship are going to be
searched for contraband (cargo retrieved from the
Kalandra that the PCs did not report).
As an alternative, the PCs can bring Jarin to a nearby
cove, leaving one of their own behind as a guard and
return later with captain Azir when they proceed with
their trip. Azir has no objections to the plan. Shauntru,
the ruler of Montesser, does want a full report of the PCs
findings on board the Kalandra, so a successful Bluff
check opposed by Shauntru’s Sense Motive (+5 modifier)
is required for the ploy to be successful. Shauntru talks
with every PC. When suspicious she assumes the PCs did
rescue one or more people and tries to make a deal (see
below). The more the PCs deny it, the more she is
convinced she is right, and the richer she thinks the
survivor is (why else would the PCs risk the wrath of the
orcs of Montesser than for a large amount of coin?).
When convinced there were no survivors, she
dismisses the PCs and lets them go without much hassle.
If they return Jarin to his family they earn the family’s
gratitude as well as a small amount of gold. Proceed to the
Conclusion.
NEGOTIATIONS
As soon as the orcs of Montesser become aware of the
existence of a survivor, Shauntru demands a meeting
with the PCs. She politely requests to hand over the
survivor to her men, offering both her gratitude and a fair
share of the ransom (fair being open to negotiation – see
the Conclusion for the amount). If the PCs refuse, she
only allows them and Jarin to go if they pay the ransom.
The height of the ransom is dependent on two factors:
her attitude towards the PCs, and how wealthy and
influential she thinks the survivor is. The minimum
amount is noted below. She lets the PCs start with a bid,
and, if it is higher than she expected, she tries the PCs to
pay more, but quickly accepts. If it is lower, she asks a
price twice as high as her minimum and lets it go from
there.
Once she and the PCs have agreed on a price, she
wants to see the gold immediately. She accepts magical
items as payment at half their market value if they are
useful to her and the orcs of Montesser (especially items
such as armor and weapons). She is willing to give the
items back later on if the PCs do have the cash as long as
the PCs ask about it during the negotiations. If the PCs
don’t have that much gold at hand, the deal is off, and all
they can resort to is handing over the prisoner of fleeing
(see below).
If the PCs deliver Jarin to his family the grateful
relatives refund the ransom. If this is lower than the
reward the PCs would otherwise be granted (see the
Conclusion), they gain the difference. They also extend
their gratitude towards them.
Poor
Middleclass
Rich
Hostile
100
500
1000
Unfriendly
50
250
500
Indifferent
5
25
250
Friendly
0
5
25
Helpful
0
0
5
Notes on the table: Shauntru’s initial attitude is
considered Unfriendly. The PCs can try to change this as
per the normal rules for Diplomacy. Spending a favor
with her or Montesser provides a +5 circumstance
modifier. When one or more PCs have a favor with her or
Montesser her initial attitude is Indifferent. If even one
PC has a disfavor, her attitude becomes Hostile (although
she does not resort to violence, yet…).
Shauntru’s first assumption is that the survivor is
rich and powerful. Convincing her otherwise is very
difficult (+10 to the DC) unless the PCs actually show
him to her. If he is still insane, the PCs have an easier
time convincing her that he is not rich and they can
make their own checks. If sane, and present, Jarin has to
speak for himself (and he fails miserably). It requires a
DC 15 Bluff check to have Shauntru believe he is a
servant of a rich family or an employee of the trading
company (middleclass). A DC 25 Bluff check convinces
her he is poor, but she needs a plausible excuse for why
he wearing that expensive clothing. If the PCs replace his
clothing before anybody sees the expensive clothes, they
gain a +5 circumstance bonus on the Bluff check.
ESCAPING
At various points during the adventure, the PCs can come
into conflict with the orcs of Montesser. Depending on
the situation, they might even end up in the prison pits
(or need to free Jarin from one).
As long as they themselves are free to go as they
please, and it is only Jarin they want to get out, escaping
is relatively easy. If at least indifferent towards the PCs,
Captain Azir is willing to help. He suggests setting sail,
leaving the PCs and Jarin behind while the PCs buy time
in the negotiations. They can then flee sometime later to
one of the many nearby coves where he will pick them
up. He refuses to smuggle them out on his ship, since
then their escape is easier to pinpoint on him, and his
cousin would not like the results of that at all. He also
rightfully fears his ship is going to be searched
thoroughly before leaving. If the PCs accept his plan,
they should succeed – the inherently chaotic nature of
orcs makes it relatively easy to flee – although, if you
have the time, you can play it out. Any other plan that has
a reasonable chance of succeeding should work as well.
If the PCs themselves have been thrown into the pit,
escaping becomes much more problematic. If they acted
honorably enough towards Captain Azir, he helps them.
He sets sail, but he bribes one of Froznir’s men to free the
PCs (and, if necessary, Jarin) a couple of days later, with
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 20
instructions for them to go to a particular cove where he
will pick them up. This doesn’t cost additional TUs. If the
PCs have not made any friends (in which case they are
here because they attacked the orcs without a solid
reason, by orc standards), they can bribe their way out of
the pits by paying a price of 100 gp x APL at which this
adventure is played. This price is NOT deducted from the
treasure gained, and has to be removed from the gold
value owned by the PCs at the time, otherwise the PC is
assumed to escape after 16 TU, but without any of the
equipment they had with them. If this leaves them
without equipment, they can call upon the charity of
friends clause in the LGCS.
CONCLUSION
The adventure ends with the PCs setting sail from
Montesser to their destination. The remainder of the trip
is like any other uneventful sailing trip.
If the PCs have Jarin with them, and do not know
his identity, their best bet is to drop him at the nearest
Torquann compound. The people there quickly find out
who Jarin is, and they return him to his family with due
haste. House Torquann rewards them for their services,
and leaves it at that. The PCs do earn the Favor of House
Garesteth, but they do not get any additional money. If
the PCs know Jarin’s identity, they can drop him off at
his family directly, in which case they gain a monetary
reward just as high as House Torquann would have paid.
Of course, the PCs do still gain the favor of House
Garesteth. Remember that if the PCs paid the ransom
that gold is reimbursed in full, but the reward is lowered
by that same amount to a minimum amount of 0 gp.
Note that the heraldry of the pirates is not known by
the people they speak with, but even if it was, they would
not tell it.
Treasure:
Reward for returning Jarin alive, either to House
Torquann or House Garesteth:
APL 2: Loot (0 gp); Coin (100 gp); Magic (0 gp).
APL 4: Loot (0 gp); Coin (150 gp); Magic (0 gp).
APL 6: Loot (0 gp); Coin (200 gp); Magic (0 gp).
APL 8: Loot (0 gp); Coin (250 gp); Magic (0 gp).
APL 10: Loot (0 gp); Coin (300 gp); Magic (0 gp).
Favor of House Garesteth/Torquann: This favor
might have additional uses in future scenarios. You also
gain meta-regional access to 1 Adventure frequency item
that has previously expired. Note down the AR where it
came from and what item it is BEFORE the DM signs
this AR: _____________.
Finally you gain access to the items marked with **
as noted below in the Item Access section depending on
the APL at which you played this adventure.
If the PCs end up leaving Jarin in Montessor, they gain
the same amount of gold which they would have earned
otherwise. They also earn the favor of Montesser, but
they do NOT gain the favor of House Garesteth. If at any
time during the adventure they attacked orcs without
provocation (by orcish standards), greatly angered
Shauntru to any other method (like escaping with Jarin –
assuming she is aware of his existence) they gain the
Disfavor of Montesser. If they left Jarin in Montesser, in
addition to angering the two Houses and Shauntru, the
PCs gain a small reward in gold, but neither the Favor nor
the Disfavor of the Houses or the Orcs of Montessor.
Treasure:
Reward for returning Jarin alive to the orcs of Montesser:
APL 2: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 100 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 4: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 150 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 200 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 8: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 250 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 10: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 300 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
Favor of Montesser: The favor can be spent to remove
one disfavor with Montesser or Shauntru. It might have
additional effects in future scenarios. In addition, you can
change access of 1 of the items found in this adventure
into meta-regional access: _______________.
Disfavor of Montessor: You have made enemies in
Montesser. This may prove bad in future scenarios.
Finally, if the PCs risked their lives to get to the Kalandra
and rescue any survivor aboard, and kept captain Azir
alive, they earn his favor (and with it, the Favor of the
Delrii Family). On the other hand, if they are directly
responsible for his death (assuming there are witnesses)
or screwed up completely with the orcs of Montesser in a
way that he is blamed as well, they earn the Disfavor of
the Delrii Family.
Favor of Delrii Family: Besides possible uses in future
scenarios the above-mentioned PC gains access to the
Scarlet Corsair and Stormcaster prestige classes, as well as
the following feats: Expert Swimmer, Great Captain, Old
Salrt, Sailor’s Balance, Sea Legs and Ship’s Mage. All are
from Stormwrack. You gain meta-regional access to all
items marked with an * as well.
Disfavor of Delrii Family: The Delrii family has some
influence among the pirates of pirates along the east
coast. As long as you have this favor, the initial attitude of
any pirate in this region is one category worse, and in
case of capture they demand twice the amount of gold for
a ransom. It might have additional effects in future
scenarios.
CAMPAIGN
CONSEQUENCES
This scenario has "Campaign Consequences"; that is the
outcome of this module will directly affect future events
in the course of the campaign. The answers to some of
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 21
the questions below may seem trivial or pointless, but
because of the complex nature of the back story and
campaign all information requested is vital.
Please send your answers to [email protected] as soon as
possible. General comments about the module are also
welcomed at this address.
1.
What region where the characters from?
2.
What APL did you play?
3.
What happened to Jarin Garesteth?
4.
Did they give the Beastmaster a proper burial?
5.
How did they deal with the orcs of Montesser?
6.
How did they treat captain Azir? Did Azir
survive?
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 22
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
role-playing) to each character.
Encounter 3: Challenging the Storm
Getting aboard the Kalandra
APL 2
60 XP
APL 4
60 XP
APL 6
60 XP
APL 8
60 XP
APL 10
60 XP
Encounter 4 – Area 5
Defeating the undead sailors
APL 2
120 XP
APL 4
160 XP
APL 6
180 XP
APL 8
240 XP
APL 10
300 XP
Encounter 4 – Area 14
Defeating the Beastmaster
APL 2
90 XP
APL 4
150 XP
APL 6
210 XP
APL 8
270 XP
APL 10
330 XP
Encounter 4 – Area 15
Defeating the apes
APL 2
90 XP
APL 4
150 XP
APL 6
210 XP
APL 8
270 XP
APL 10
330 XP
Story Award
Rescue Survivor:
APL 2
30 XP
APL 4
45 XP
APL 6
60 XP
APL 8
75 XP
APL 10
90 XP
Giving the Beastmaster a decent burial (and hence
permanently destroying him):
APL 2
30 XP
APL 4
45 XP
APL 6
60 XP
APL 8
75 XP
APL 10
90 XP
Discretionary role-playing award
APL 2
30 XP
APL 4
45 XP
APL 6
60 XP
APL 8
75 XP
APL 10
90 XP
Total possible experience:
APL 2
450 XP
APL 4
675 XP
APL 6
900 XP
APL 8
1,125 XP
APL 10
1,350 XP
TREASURE SUMMARY
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their
earthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10
minutes per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot
take the time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this
gold. If you feel it is reasonable that characters can go
back to loot the bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e.,
not carted off by dungeon scavengers, removed from the
scene by the local watch, and so on), characters may
return to retrieve loot. If the characters do not loot the
body, the gold piece value for the loot is subtracted from
the encounter totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a
round or so. If for some reason, they pass up this
treasure, the coin total is subtracted from the encounter
totals given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item
treasure is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are
varied and because characters may want to use them
during the adventure. Many times characters must cast
identify, analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine
what the item does and how to activate it. Other times
they may attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic
item is consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and
the item is used before the end of the adventure, its total
is subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in
the GP Gained field of the adventure certificate.
Loot = Looted gear from enemy; Coin = Coin, Gems,
Jewelry, and other valuables; Magic = Magic Items.
Encounter 4: Main Deck
Looting the sailors
APL 2: Loot: 25 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 23
APL 4: Loot: 90 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic 0 gp.
APL 6: Loot: 90 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp).
APL 8: Loot: 90 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 90 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp).
Encounter 4: Chain Locker
Looting the survivor
All APLs: Loot: 1 gp; Coin: 12 gp; Magic scroll of
comprehend languages (2 gp), 2 scrolls of magic weapon (2 gp
each), scroll of wave blessing (2 gp).
Encounter 4: Lower Deck
Looting the cargo hold (exact amount depends on their
success, the table below assumes maximum success)
APL 2/4/6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 100 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 8: Loot 0 gp; Coin: 200 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 10: Loot 0 gp; Coin: 400 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
Encounter 4: Officer’s Cabins
Looting the captain’s cabin
All APLs: Loot: 21 gp; Coin: 3 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
Encounter 4: Merchant’s Cabin
Finding the scroll
All APLs: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: scroll of sink
(31 gp).
Encounter 4: Ship’s Office
Selling the ledger
All APLs: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 25 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
Encounter 4: Sails Locker
Looting the corpse of Beastmaster
APL 2: Loot: 48 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of cure
light wounds (4 gp), 2 scrolls of speak with animals (2 gp
each), wand of charm animal (63 gp).
APL 4: Loot: 48 gp; Coin: 14 gp; Magic: potion of cure
light wounds (4 gp), 2 scrolls of speak with animals (2 gp
each), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), wand of charm animal (63
gp).
APL 6: Loot: 48 gp; Coin: 14 gp; Magic: collar of
obedience (125 gp), potion of cure light wounds (4 gp), 2 scrolls
of speak with animals (2 gp each), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp),
wand of charm animal (63 gp).
APL 8: Loot: 48 gp; Coin: 14 gp; Magic: brooch of
shielding (125 gp), collar of obedience (125 gp), 2 potions of
cure light wounds (4 gp), scroll of reduce animal (13 gp), 2
scrolls of speak with animals (2 gp each), vest of resistance +1
(83 gp), wand of charm animal (63 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 27 gp; Coin: 14 gp; Magic: +1 chain
shirt (104 gp), brooch of shielding (125 gp), circlet of
persuasion (375 gp), collar of obedience (125 gp), 2 potions of
cure light wounds (4 gp), ring of sustenance (208 gp), scroll of
reduce animal (13 gp), 2 scrolls of speak with animals (2 gp
each), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), wand of charm animal (63
gp).
Encounter 4: Lower Hold
Looting the cargo hold (exact amount depends on their
success, the table below assumes maximum success)
APL 2/4/6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 100 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 8: Loot 0 gp; Coin: 200 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 10: Loot 0 gp; Coin: 400 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
Conclusion
Reward for Jarin’s rescue, either from the orcs of
Montesser, or House Torquann/House Garesteth
APL 2: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 100 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 4: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 150 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 200 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 8: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 250 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
APL 10: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 300 gp; Magic: 0 gp.
Total Possible Treasure
APL 2: Loot: 95 gp; Coin: 350 gp; Magic: 110 gp;
Total: 555 gp (max 450 gp)
APL 4: Loot: 160 gp; Coin: 404 gp; Magic: 193 gp;
Total: 757 gp (max 650 gp)
APL 6: Loot: 160 gp; Coin: 454 gp; Magic: 401 gp;
Total: 1,015 gp (max 900 gp)
APL 8: Loot: 160 gp; Coin: 718 gp; Magic: 530 gp;
Total: 1,408 gp (max 1,300 gp)
APL 10: Loot: 139 gp; Coin: 1,154 gp; Magic: 1,117
gp; Total: 2,410 gp (max 2,300 gp)
Special
Favor of Montesser: The favor can be spent to remove
one disfavor with Montesser or Shauntru. It might have
additional effects in future scenarios. In addition, you can
change access of 1 of the items found in this adventure
into meta-regional access: _______________.
Disfavor of Montessor: You have made enemies in
Montesser. This may prove bad in future scenarios.
Favor of Delrii Family: Besides possible uses in future
scenarios the above-mentioned PC gains access to the
Scarlet Corsair and Stormcaster prestige classes, as well as
the following feats: Expert Swimmer, Great Captain, Old
Salt, Sailor’s Balance, Sea Legs and Ship’s Mage. All are
from Stormwrack. You gain (meta-regional) access to all
items marked with an * as well.
Disfavor of Delrii Family: The Delrii family has some
influence among the pirates of pirates along the east
coast. As long as you have this favor, the initial attitude of
any pirate in this region is one category worse, and in
case of capture they demand twice the amount of gold for
a ransom. It might have additional effects in future
scenarios.
Favor of House Garesteth/Torquann: This favor
might have additional uses in future scenarios. You also
gain meta-regional access to 1 Adventure frequency item
that has previously expired. Note down the AR where it
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 24
came from and what item it is BEFORE the DM signs
this AR: _____________.
Finally you gain access to the items marked with **
as noted below in the Item Access section depending on
the APL at which you played this adventure.
ITEMS FOR THE ADVENTURE
RECORD
Item Access
APL 2
� Buoyant armor enhancement (Meta-region;
Stormwrack)**
� Cutlass (Adventure; Stormwrack)*
� Oilskin suit (Adventure; Stormwrack)*
� Scroll of sink (Adventure; Spell Compendium)
� Scroll of wave blessing (Adventure; Stormwrack)
� Sextant (Adventure; Stormwrack)*
� Sharkskin armor (Adventure; Stormwrack)*
� Wand of charm animal (Adventure; DMG)
APL 4 (All of APL 2 plus the following)
� Gilled
armor enhancement (Meta-regional;
Stormwrack)**
� Masterwork cutlass (Adventure; Stormwrack)*
� Masterwork
sharkskin
armor
(Adventure;
Stormwrack)*
� Vest of resistance +1 (Adventure; CA)
APL 6 (All of APL 2-4 plus the following)
� Boat, folding (Meta-regional; DMG)**
� Collar of obedience (Adventure; CV)
APL 8 (All of APL 2-6 plus the following)
� Brooch of shielding (Adventure; DMG)
� Cloak of the manta ray (Meta-regional; DMG)**
APL 10 (All of APL 2-8 plus the following)
� Circlet of persuasion (Adventure; DMG)
� Pearl of the sirines (Meta-regional; DMG)**
� Ring of sustenance (Adventure; DMG)
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 25
APPENDIX 1: APL 2
ENCOUNTER 4: THE KALANDRA
Main Deck
Undead Sailors (2): Gravetouched ghoul Rog1; CR 2;
Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD 1d12;
hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19 (touch 15, flat-footed
14) [+2 armor, +5 Dex, +2 natural]; Base Atk +0; Grp +3;
Atk +3 melee (1d6+3 plus paralysis, bite) or +5 ranged
(1d8/19-20, light crossbow); Full Atk +3 melee (1d6+3
plus paralysis, bite) and +1/+1 melee (1d4+1 plus
paralysis, claw) or +5 ranged (1d8/19-20, light
crossbow); SA Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack:
+1d6; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., turn resistance +6, undead
traits; AL CE; SV Fort +0, Ref +7, Will +2; Str 16, Dex
20, Con –, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Balance +11, Climb +7, Gather
Information +2, Hide +9, Jump +7, Knowledge (core)
+3, Knowledge (the Splintered Suns) +3, Listen +6,
Move Silently +9, Profession (sailor) +6, Spot +6, Swim
+7,
Tumble
+11;
Improved
Turn
Resistance,
MultiattackB, Sea Legs.
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 10 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
10 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Possessions: Cutlass, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts, sharkskin armor, oilskin suit.
Sail Locker
The Beastmaster: Male allip; CR 3; Medium Undead
(Incorporeal); HD 4d12; hp 26 hp; Init +5; Spd Fly 30
ft. (perfect); AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 14) [+1 Dex, +4
deflection]; Base Atk +2; Grp —; Atk +3 melee touch
(1d4 Wisdom drain); Full Atk +3 melee touch (1d4
Wisdom drain); SA
Babble, madness, Wisdom
drain; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., incorporeal traits, +2 turn
resistance, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +1, Ref +4,
Will +4; Str –, Dex 12, Con –, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Hide +8, Intimidate +7, Listen +7,
Search +4, Spot +7, Survival +0 (+2 following tracks);
Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes.
Babble (Su): An allip constantly mutters and
whines to itself, creating a hypnotic effect. All sane
creatures within 60 feet of the allip must succeed on a
DC 16 Will save or be affected as though by a
hypnotism spell for 2d4 rounds. This is a sonic mind-
affecting compulsion effect.
Creatures that successfully save cannot be affected
by the same allip’s babble for 24 hours. The save DC is
Charisma-based.
Madness (Su): Anyone targeting an allip with
thought detection, mind control, or telepathic ability
makes direct contact with its tortured mind and takes
1d4 points of Wisdom damage.
Wisdom Drain (Su): An allip causes 1d4 points
of Wisdom drain each time it hits with its incorporeal
touch attack. On each such successful attack, it gains 5
temporary hit points.
Possessions: Masterwork short sword, longsword,
whip, masterwork chain shirt, wand of charm animal, 2
scrolls of speak with animals, potion of cure light wounds, 60
gp in various coins and jewelry.
Lower Hold
Apes (2): CR 2; Large Animal; HD 4d8+11; hp 29; Init
+2; Spd 30 ft., climb 30 ft.; AC 14 (touch 11, flat-footed
12) [-1 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural]; Base Atk +3; Grp +12;
Atk +7 melee (1d6+5, claw); Full Atk +7/+7 melee
(1d6+5, claw) and +2 melee (1d6+2, bite); Space/Reach
10 ft./10 ft.; SQ Low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort
+6, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 21, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis
12, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Listen +4, Spot +4;
Toughness, Tunnel Fighting.
Possessions: None.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 26
APL 4
ENCOUNTER 4: THE KALANDRA
Main Deck
Undead chaplain: gravetouched ghoul Rog1/Clr1;
CR 3; Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD
2d12; hp 18; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20 (touch 13, flat-
footed 17) [+4 armor, +3 Dex, +2 natural, +1 shield];
Base Atk +0; Grp +2; Atk +2 melee (1d6+2 plus
paralysis, bite); Full Atk +2 melee (1d6+2 plus paralysis,
bite) and +0 melee (1d4+1 plus paralysis, claw); SA
Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack: +1d6; SQ
Darkvision 60 ft., rebuke undead, spontaneous inflict,
turn resistance +6, undead traits; AL CE; SV Fort +2,
Ref +5, Will +7; Str 15, Dex 16, Con –, Int 12, Wis 20,
Cha 16.
Skills
and
Feats:
Balance
+6,
Climb
+5,
Concentration +5, Diplomacy +7, Hide +4, Jump +5,
Knowledge (religion) +2, Listen +7, Move Silently +4,
Profession (sailor) +9, Spot +7, Swim +5, Tumble +6,
Use Rope +7; Improved Turn Resistance, MultiattackB,
Skill Focus (concentration).
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 14 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
14 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Rebuke Undead (Su): 6/day; 1d20+6; turning
damage 2d6+4.
Spells Prepared (4/3; base DC = 15 + spell level): 0—
detect magic, mending, resistance; 1st—cause fear*,
command (2), shield of faith.
*Domain spell. Nerull; Domains: Death (death
touch 1/day, roll 1d6 if equal or higher than current hit
points victim, the victim dies); Trickery (Bluff,
Disguise and Hide are class skills).
Possessions: Light mace, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts, masterwork chain shirt, masterwork buckler,
wooden holy symbol of Nerull, spell component
pouch, oilskin suit.
Undead Sailors (2): Gravetouched Ghoul Rog1/Ftr1;
CR 3; Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD
2d12; hp 18; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20 (touch 15, flat-
footed 15) [+3 armor, +5 Dex, +2 natural]; Base Atk +1;
Grp +4; Atk +4 melee (1d6+3 plus paralysis, bite) or +6
ranged (1d8/19-20, light crossbow); Full Atk +4 melee
(1d6+3 plus paralysis, bite) and +2/+2 melee (1d4+1
plus paralysis, claw) or +6 ranged (1d8/19-20, light
crossbow); SA Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack:
+1d6; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., turn resistance +6, undead
traits; AL CE; SV Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +2; Str 16, Dex
20, Con –, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Balance +14, Climb +7, Gather
Information +2, Hide +9, Jump +10, Knowledge (core)
+3, Knowledge (the Splintered Suns) +3, Listen +6,
Move Silently +9, Profession (sailor) +6, Spot +6, Swim
+7, Tumble +14; Combat Expertise, Improved Turn
Resistance, MultiattackB, Sea Legs.
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 12 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
12 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Possessions: Cutlass, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts, masterwork sharkskin armor, oilskin suit.
Sail Locker
The Beastmaster: Male Ghost Rgr3; CR 5; Medium
Undead (augmented humanoid, incorporeal); HD
3d12; hp 25; Init +3; Spd Fly 30 ft. (perfect); AC 16
(touch 16, flat-footed 13) [+3 deflection, +3 Dex]; Base
Atk +3; Grp –; Atk +6 melee touch (1d6 plus 1d4 ability
drain, touch); Full Atk +6 melee touch (1d6 plus 1d4
ability drain, touch); SA Favored enemy (humanoid –
human: +2); SA Corrupting touch, draining touch,
frightful moan, manifestation; SQ Darkvision 60 ft.,
rejuvenation, turn resistance +4, undead traits, wild
empathy; AL CN; SV Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +3; Str 14,
Dex 16, Con –, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +9, Hide +6,
Knowledge (nature) +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +6,
Ride +7, Spot +3, Search +4, Survival +9 (+11 when
Tracking); Animal Affinity, Dodge, EnduranceB,
Mobility, Two-Weapon FightingB, TrackB.
Corrupting Touch (Su): A ghost that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack deals 1d6
points of damage. Against ethereal opponents, it adds
its Strength modifier to attack and damage rolls.
Against nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity
modifier to attack rolls only.
Draining Touch (Su): A ghost that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack drains 1d4
points from any one ability score it selects. On each
such successful attack, the ghost heals 5 points of
damage to itself. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its
Strength modifier to attack rolls only. Against
nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier
to attack rolls only.
Frightful Moan (Su): A ghost can emit a frightful
moan as a standard action. All living creatures within a
30-foot spread must succeed on a DC 14 Will save or
become panicked for 2d4 rounds. This is a sonic
necromantic mind-affecting fear effect. A creature that
successfully saves against the moan cannot be affected
by the same ghost’s moan for 24 hours.
Manifestation (Su): Every ghost has this ability.
A ghost dwells on the Ethereal Plane and, as an
ethereal creature, it cannot affect or be affected by
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 27
anything in the material world. When a ghost
manifests, it partly enters the Material Plane and
becomes visible but incorporeal on the Material Plane.
A manifested ghost can be harmed only by other
incorporeal creatures, magic weapons, or spells, with a
50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal
source. A manifested ghost can pass through solid
objects at will, and its own attacks pass through armor.
A manifested ghost always moves silently. A
manifested ghost can strike with its touch attack or
with a ghost touch weapon (see Ghostly Equipment,
below). A manifested ghost remains partially on the
Ethereal Plane, where is it not incorporeal. A
manifested ghost can be attacked by opponents on
either the Material Plane or the Ethereal Plane. The
ghost’s incorporeality helps protect it from foes on the
Material Plane, but not from foes on the Ethereal
Plane.
Possessions: Masterwork short sword, longsword,
whip, masterwork chain shirt, vest of resistance +1, wand
of charm animal, 2 scrolls of speak with animals, potion of
cure light wounds, 82 gp in various coins and jewelry.
Lower Hold
Apes (4): CR 2; Large Animal; HD 4d8+11; hp 29; Init
+2; Spd 30 ft., climb 30 ft.; AC 14 (touch 11, flat-footed
12) [-1 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural]; Base Atk +3; Grp +12;
Atk +7 melee (1d6+5, claw); Full Atk +7/+7 melee
(1d6+5, claw) and +2 melee (1d6+2, bite); Space/Reach
10 ft./10 ft.; SQ Low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort
+6, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 21, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis
12, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Listen +4, Spot +4;
Toughness, Tunnel Fighting.
Possessions: None.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 28
APL 6
ENCOUNTER 4: THE KALANDRA
Main Deck
Undead chaplain: Gravetouched ghoul Rog1/Clr2;
CR 4; Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD
3d12+6*; hp 31; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20 (touch 13, flat-
footed 17) [+4 armor, +3 Dex, +2 natural, +1 shield];
Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +5 melee (1d6+4 plus
paralysis, bite); Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+4 plus paralysis,
bite) and +3 melee (1d4+2 plus paralysis, claw); SA
Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack: +1d6; SQ
Darkvision 60 ft., rebuke undead, spontaneous inflict,
turn resistance +6, undead traits; AL CE; SV Fort +6,
Ref +6, Will +9; Str 19*, Dex 16, Con –, Int 12, Wis 20,
Cha 16.
* Created by a caster with the Corpsecrafter feat.
Skills
and
Feats:
Balance
+6,
Climb
+7,
Concentration +7, Diplomacy +7, Hide +4, Jump +7,
Knowledge (religion) +2, Listen +7, Move Silently +4,
Profession (sailor) +9, Spot +7, Swim +5, Tumble +7,
Use Rope +7; Great Fortitude, Improved Turn
Resistance, MultiattackB, Skill Focus (concentration).
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 14 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
14 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Rebuke Undead (Su): 6/day; 1d20+4; turning
damage 2d6+5.
Spells Prepared (4/5; base DC = 15 + spell level): 0—
detect magic, mending (2), resistance; 1st—bane, cause fear*,
command (2), shield of faith.
*Domain spell. Nerull; Domains: Death (death
touch 1/day, roll 2d6 if equal or higher than current hit
points victim, the victim dies); Trickery (Bluff,
Disguise and Hide are class skills).
Possessions: Light mace, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts, masterwork chain shirt, masterwork buckler,
cloak of resistance +1, wooden holy symbol of Nerull,
spell component pouch, oilskin suit.
Undead Sailors (3): Gravetouched Ghoul Rog2/Ftr1;
CR 4; Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD
3d12+6; hp 31; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20 (touch 15, flat-
footed 15) [+3 armor, +5 Dex, +2 natural]; Base Atk +2;
Grp +5; Atk +7 melee (1d6+5 plus paralysis, bite) or +7
ranged (1d8/19-20, light crossbow); Full Atk +7 melee
(1d6+5 plus paralysis, bite) and +5/+5 melee (1d4+2
plus paralysis, claw) or +7 ranged (1d8/19-20, light
crossbow); SA Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack:
+1d6; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., evasion, turn resistance +6,
undead traits; AL CE; SV Fort +2, Ref +8, Will +2; Str
20*, Dex 20, Con –, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 12.
* Created by a caster with the Corpsecrafter
feat.
Skills and Feats: Balance +14, Climb +10, Gather
Information +2, Hide +11, Jump +12, Knowledge (core)
+3, Knowledge (the Splintered Suns) +3, Listen +8,
Move Silently +11, Profession (sailor) +7, Spot +8,
Swim +7, Tumble +15; Ability Focus (paralyses),
Combat
Expertise,
Improved
Turn
Resistance,
MultiattackB, Sea Legs.
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 12 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
14 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Possessions: Cutlass, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts, masterwork sharkskin armor, oilskin suit.
Sail Locker
The Beastmaster: Ghost Rgr5; CR 7; Medium Undead
(augmented humanoid, incorporeal); HD 5d12; hp 38;
Init +4; Spd Fly 30 ft. (perfect); AC 16 (touch 16, flat-
footed 13) [+3 deflection, +3 Dex]; Base Atk +5; Grp –;
Atk +8 melee touch (1d6 plus 1d4 ability drain, touch);
Full Atk +8 melee touch (1d6 plus 1d4 ability drain,
touch); SA Favored enemy (humanoid – human: +4;
animal: +2); SA Corrupting touch, draining touch,
frightful moan, manifestation; SQ Darkvision 60 ft.,
rejuvenation, turn resistance +4, undead traits, wild
empathy; AL CN; SV Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 14,
Dex 16, Con –, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +11, Hide +8,
Knowledge (nature) +4, Listen +6, Move Silently +8,
Ride +7, Spot +6, Search +4, Survival +12 (+14 when
Tracking); Animal Affinity, Dodge, EnduranceB,
Mobility, Two-Weapon FightingB, TrackB.
Corrupting Touch (Su): A ghost that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack deals 1d6 points
of damage. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its
Strength modifier to attack and damage rolls. Against
nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier
to attack rolls only.
Draining Touch (Su): A ghost that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack drains 1d4
points from any one ability score it selects. On each
such successful attack, the ghost heals 5 points of
damage to itself. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its
Strength modifier to attack rolls only. Against
nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier
to attack rolls only.
Frightful Moan (Su): A ghost can emit a frightful
moan as a standard action. All living creatures within a
30-foot spread must succeed on a DC 15 Will save or
become panicked for 2d4 rounds. This is a sonic
necromantic mind-affecting fear effect. A creature that
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 29
successfully saves against the moan cannot be affected
by the same ghost’s moan for 24 hours.
Manifestation (Su): Every ghost has this ability.
A ghost dwells on the Ethereal Plane and, as an
ethereal creature, it cannot affect or be affected by
anything in the material world. When a ghost
manifests, it partly enters the Material Plane and
becomes visible but incorporeal on the Material Plane.
A manifested ghost can be harmed only by other
incorporeal creatures, magic weapons, or spells, with a
50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal
source. A manifested ghost can pass through solid
objects at will, and its own attacks pass through armor.
A manifested ghost always moves silently. A
manifested ghost can strike with its touch attack or
with a ghost touch weapon (see Ghostly Equipment,
below). A manifested ghost remains partially on the
Ethereal Plane, where is it not incorporeal. A
manifested ghost can be attacked by opponents on
either the Material Plane or the Ethereal Plane. The
ghost’s incorporeality helps protect it from foes on the
Material Plane, but not from foes on the Ethereal
Plane.
Spells Prepared (1; Base DC = 12 + spell level): 1st–
charm animal.
Possessions: Masterwork short sword, longsword,
whip, masterwork chain shirt, collar of obedience, vest of
resistance +1, wand of charm animal, 2 scrolls of speak with
animals, potion of cure light wounds, 82 gp in various coins
and jewelry.
Lower Hold
Dire apes (4): CR 3; Large Animal; HD 5d8+13; hp 35;
Init +2; Spd 30 ft., climb 15 ft.; AC 15 (touch 11, flat-
footed 13) [-1 size, +2 Dex, +4 natural]; Base Atk +3; Grp
+13; Atk +8 melee (1d6+6, claw); Full Atk +8/+8 melee
(1d6+6, claw) and +3 melee (1d8+3, bite); Space/Reach
10 ft./10 ft.; SA Rend 2d6+9; SQ Low-light vision,
scent; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +5; Str 22, Dex 15,
Con 14, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Listen +3, Move
Silently +4, Spot +4; Toughness, Tunnel Fighting.
Rend (Ex): A dire ape that hits with both claw
attacks latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the
flesh. This attack automatically deals an extra 2d6+9
points of damage.
Possessions: None.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 30
APL 8
ENCOUNTER 4: THE KALANDRA
Main Deck
Undead chaplain: Gravetouched ghoul Rog2/Clr3;
CR 6; Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD
5d12+10*; hp 48; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22 (touch 14,
flat-footed 19) [+4 armor, +4 Dex, +4 natural*, +1
shield]; Base Atk +3; Grp +7; Atk +7 melee (1d6+4 plus
paralysis, bite); Full Atk +7 melee (1d6+4 plus paralysis,
bite) and +5 melee (1d4+2 plus paralysis, claw); SA
Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack: +1d6; SQ
Darkvision 60 ft., evasion, rebuke undead, spontaneous
inflict, turn resistance +6, undead traits; AL CE; SV
Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +9; Str 19*, Dex 18, Con –, Int 12,
Wis 20, Cha 18.
* Created by a caster with the Corpsecrafter and
Hardened Flesh feat.
Skills
and
Feats:
Balance
+11,
Climb
+7,
Concentration +9, Diplomacy +7, Hide +7, Jump +10,
Knowledge (religion) +4, Listen +7, Move Silently +7,
Profession (sailor) +10, Spot +7, Swim +7, Tumble +12,
Use Rope +8; Great Fortitude, Improved Turn
Resistance, MultiattackB, Skill Focus (concentration).
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 16 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
16 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Rebuke Undead (Su): 7/day; 1d20+4; turning
damage 2d6+7.
Spells Prepared (4/5/3; base DC = 15 + spell level):
0—detect magic, mending (2), resistance; 1st—bane, cause
fear*, command (2), shield of faith; 2nd–death knell*, hold
person, wave of grief.
*Domain spell. Nerull; Domains: Death (death
touch 1/day, roll 3d6 if equal or higher than current hit
points victim, the victim dies); Trickery (Bluff,
Disguise and Hide are class skills).
Possessions: Light mace, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts, masterwork chain shirt, masterwork buckler,
cloak of resistance +1, wooden holy symbol of Nerull,
spell component pouch, oilskin suit.
Undead Sailors (3): Gravetouched Ghoul Rog3/Ftr2;
CR 6; Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD
5d12+10*; hp 48; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22 (touch 15,
flat-footed 17) [+3 armor, +5 Dex, +4* natural]; Base Atk
+4; Grp +9; Atk +9 melee (1d6+5 plus paralysis, bite) or
+9 ranged (1d8/19-20, light crossbow); Full Atk +9
melee (1d6+5 plus paralysis, bite) and +7/+7 melee
(1d4+2 plus paralysis, claw) or +9 ranged (1d8/19-20,
light crossbow); SA Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack:
+2d6; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., evasion, turn resistance +6,
undead traits; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +5; Str
20, Dex 21, Con –, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 12.
* Created by a caster with the Corpsecrafter and
Hardened Flesh feat.
Skills and Feats: Balance +16, Climb +12, Gather
Information +4, Hide +12, Jump +14, Knowledge (core)
+4, Knowledge (the Splintered Suns) +4, Listen +9,
Move Silently +12, Profession (sailor) +7, Spot +9,
Swim +9, Tumble +17; Ability Focus (paralyses),
Combat Expertise, Improved Turn Resistance, Iron
Will, MultiattackB, Sea Legs.
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 13 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
15 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Possessions: Cutlass, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts,
masterwork
sharkskin
armor.
Sail Locker
The Beastmaster: Ghost Rgr7; CR 9; Medium Undead
(augmented humanoid, incorporeal); HD 7d12; hp 51;
Init +3; Spd Fly 30 ft. (perfect); AC 16 (touch 16, flat-
footed 13) [+3 deflection, +3 Dex]; Base Atk +7; Grp –;
Atk +10 melee touch (1d6 plus 1d4 ability drain, touch)
or +6 ranged touch (1d6 plus 1d4 ability drain, whip);
Full Atk +10 melee touch (1d6 plus 1d4 ability drain,
touch) or +6 ranged touch (1d6 plus 1d4 ability drain,
whip); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft. (15 ft. with whip); SA
Favored enemy (humanoid – human: +4; animal: +2);
SA Corrupting touch, draining touch, frightful moan,
manifestation; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., rejuvenation, turn
resistance +4, undead traits, wild empathy, woodland
stride; AL CN; SV Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +5; Str 14, Dex
16, Con –, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +13, Hide +10,
Knowledge (nature) +4, Listen +8, Move Silently +10,
Ride +7, Spot +8, Search +4, Survival +14 (+16 when
Tracking); Animal Affinity, Dodge, EnduranceB,
Improved Two-Weapon FightingB, Mobility, Spring
Attack, Two-Weapon FightingB, TrackB.
Corrupting Touch (Su): A ghost that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack deals 1d6 points
of damage. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its
Strength modifier to attack and damage rolls. Against
nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier
to attack rolls only.
Draining Touch (Su): A ghost that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack drains 1d4
points from any one ability score it selects. On each
such successful attack, the ghost heals 5 points of
damage to itself. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its
Strength modifier to attack rolls only. Against
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 31
nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier
to attack rolls only.
Frightful Moan (Su): A ghost can emit a frightful
moan as a standard action. All living creatures within a
30-foot spread must succeed on a DC 16 Will save or
become panicked for 2d4 rounds. This is a sonic
necromantic mind-affecting fear effect. A creature that
successfully saves against the moan cannot be affected
by the same ghost’s moan for 24 hours.
Manifestation (Su): Every ghost has this ability.
A ghost dwells on the Ethereal Plane and, as an
ethereal creature, it cannot affect or be affected by
anything in the material world. When a ghost
manifests, it partly enters the Material Plane and
becomes visible but incorporeal on the Material Plane.
A manifested ghost can be harmed only by other
incorporeal creatures, magic weapons, or spells, with a
50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal
source. A manifested ghost can pass through solid
objects at will, and its own attacks pass through armor.
A manifested ghost always moves silently. A
manifested ghost can strike with its touch attack or
with a ghost touch weapon (see Ghostly Equipment,
below). A manifested ghost remains partially on the
Ethereal Plane, where is it not incorporeal. A
manifested ghost can be attacked by opponents on
either the Material Plane or the Ethereal Plane. The
ghost’s incorporeality helps protect it from foes on the
Material Plane, but not from foes on the Ethereal
Plane.
Spells Prepared (2; Base DC = 12 + spell level): 1st–
charm animal, resist energy.
Possessions: Masterwork short sword, longsword,
whip*, masterwork chain shirt, brooch of shielding*, collar
of obedience, vest of resistance +1*, wand of charm animal,
scroll of reduce animal, 2 scrolls of speak with animals, 2
potions of cure light wounds, 86 gp in various coins and
jewelry.
* Due to a special connection with these items, he
can actually use them despite they are lying at his body.
Lower Hold
Girallons (3): CR 6; Large Magical Beast; HD 7d10+17;
hp 55; Init +3; Spd 40 ft., climb 40 ft.; AC 16 (touch 12,
flat-footed 15) [-1 size, +3 Dex, +4 natural]; Base Atk +7;
Grp +17; Atk +12 melee (1d4+6, claw); Full Atk
+12/+12/+12/+12 melee (1d4+6, claw) and +7 melee
(1d8+3, bite); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA Rend 2d4+9;
SQ Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV
Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +5; Str 22, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 2,
Wis 12, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Move Silently +8, Spot
+6; Iron Will, Toughness, Tunnel Fighting.
Rend (Ex): A girallon that hits with two or more
claw attacks latches onto the opponent’s body and tears
the flesh. This attack automatically deals an extra 2d4+9
points of damage.
Possessions: None.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 32
APL 10
ENCOUNTER 4: THE KALANDRA
Main Deck
Undead chaplain: gravetouched ghoul Rog2/Clr5; CR
8; Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD
7d12+14*; hp 65; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 23 (touch 14,
flat-footed 19) [+4 armor, +4 Dex, +4* natural, +1
shield]; Base Atk +4; Grp +8; Atk +8 melee (1d6+4 plus
paralysis, bite); Full Atk +8 melee (1d6+4 plus paralysis,
bite) and +6 melee (1d4+2 plus paralysis, claw); SA
Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack: +1d6; SQ
Darkvision 60 ft., evasion, rebuke undead, spontaneous
inflict, turn resistance +10*, undead traits; AL CE; SV
Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +10; Str 19*, Dex 18, Con –, Int 12,
Wis 20, Cha 18.
* Created by a caster with the Bolster Resistance,
Corpsecrafter and Hardened Flesh feat.
Skills
and
Feats:
Balance
+11,
Climb
+7,
Concentration +13, Diplomacy +9, Hide +7, Jump +10,
Knowledge (religion) +6, Listen +7, Move Silently +7,
Profession (sailor) +10, Spot +7, Swim +7, Tumble +12,
Use Rope +8; Great Fortitude, Improved Turn
Resistance, MultiattackB, Profane Vigor, Skill Focus
(concentration).
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 16 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
16 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Rebuke Undead (Su): 7/day; 1d20+4; turning
damage 2d6+9.
Spells Prepared (5/6/4/3; base DC = 15 + spell level):
0—detect magic, guidance, mending (2), resistance; 1st—
bane, cause fear*, command (2), divine favor, shield of faith;
2nd–death knell*, hold person, resist energy, wave of grief;
3rd–invisibility
purge,
magic
circle
against
good,
nondetection*.
*Domain spell. Nerull; Domains: Death (death
touch 1/day, roll 5d6 if equal or higher than current hit
points victim, the victim dies); Trickery (Bluff,
Disguise and Hide are class skills).
Possessions: Light mace, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts, masterwork chain shirt, masterwork buckler,
cloak of resistance +1, wooden holy symbol of Nerull,
spell component pouch, oilskin suit.
Undead Sailors (3): gravetouched ghoul Rog5/Ftr2;
CR 8; Medium Undead (augmented humanoid); HD
7d12+21; hp 72; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22 (touch 15,
flat-footed 17) [+3 armor, +5 Dex, +4* natural]; Base Atk
+5; Grp +12; Atk +10 melee (1d6+5 plus paralysis, bite)
or +11 ranged (1d8/19-20, light crossbow); Full Atk +10
melee (1d6+5 plus paralysis, bite) and +8/+8 melee
(1d4+2 plus paralysis, claw) or +11 ranged (1d8/19-20,
light crossbow); SA Ghoul fever, paralysis, sneak attack:
+3d6; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., evasion, turn resistance
+10*, uncanny dodge, undead traits; AL CE; SV Fort +4,
Ref +10, Will +5; Str 20*, Dex 22, Con –, Int 15, Wis 14,
Cha 12.
* Created by a caster with the Bolster Resistance,
Corpsecrafter and Hardened Flesh feat.
Skills and Feats: Balance +19, Climb +14, Gather
Information +6, Hide +15, Jump +16, Knowledge (core)
+5, Knowledge (the Splintered Suns) +5, Listen +11,
Move Silently +15, Profession (sailor) +7, Spot +11,
Swim +11, Tumble +20; Ability Focus (paralyses),
Combat Expertise, Improved Toughness, Improved
Turn Resistance, Iron Will, MultiattackB, Sea Legs.
Languages: Common, Old Oeridian.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, DC 14 Fortitude
save, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
Paralyses (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful DC
16 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.
Elves have immunity to this paralysis.
Possessions: Cutlass, dagger, light crossbow, 10
bolts, masterwork sharkskin armor, oilskin suit.
Sail Locker
The Beastmaster: Ghost Rgr9; CR 11; Medium
Undead (augmented humanoid, incorporeal); HD
9d12+9; hp 73; Init +4; Spd Fly 30 ft. (perfect); AC 17
(touch 17, flat-footed 13) [+3 deflection, +4 Dex]; Base
Atk +9; Grp –; Atk +12 melee touch (1d6 plus 1d4
ability drain, touch) or +8 ranged touch (1d6 plus 1d4
ability drain, whip); Full Atk +12 melee touch (1d6 plus
1d4 ability drain, touch) or +8 ranged touch (1d6 plus
1d4 ability drain, whip); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft. (15 ft.
with whip);; SA Favored enemy (humanoid – human:
+4; animal: +2); SA Corrupting touch, draining touch,
evasion, frightful moan, manifestation; SQ Darkvision
60 ft., rejuvenation, swift tracker, turn resistance +4,
undead traits, wild empathy, woodland stride; AL CN;
SV Fort +7, Ref +11, Will +6; Str 14, Dex 18, Con –, Int
8, Wis 14, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +18, Hide +13,
Knowledge (nature) +4, Listen +10, Move Silently +13,
Ride +8, Spot +10, Search +4, Survival +16 (+18 when
Tracking); Animal Affinity, Dodge, EnduranceB,
Improved
Toughness,
Improved
Two-Weapon
FightingB, Mobility, Spring Attack, Two-Weapon
FightingB, TrackB.
Corrupting Touch (Su): A ghost that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack deals 1d6 points
of damage. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its
Strength modifier to attack and damage rolls. Against
nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier
to attack rolls only.
Draining Touch (Su): A ghost that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack drains 1d4
points from any one ability score it selects. On each
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 33
such successful attack, the ghost heals 5 points of
damage to itself. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its
Strength modifier to attack rolls only. Against
nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier
to attack rolls only.
Frightful Moan (Su): A ghost can emit a frightful
moan as a standard action. All living creatures within a
30-foot spread must succeed on a DC 16 Will save or
become panicked for 2d4 rounds. This is a sonic
necromantic mind-affecting fear effect. A creature that
successfully saves against the moan cannot be affected
by the same ghost’s moan for 24 hours.
Manifestation (Su): Every ghost has this ability.
A ghost dwells on the Ethereal Plane and, as an
ethereal creature, it cannot affect or be affected by
anything in the material world. When a ghost
manifests, it partly enters the Material Plane and
becomes visible but incorporeal on the Material Plane.
A manifested ghost can be harmed only by other
incorporeal creatures, magic weapons, or spells, with a
50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal
source. A manifested ghost can pass through solid
objects at will, and its own attacks pass through armor.
A manifested ghost always moves silently. A
manifested ghost can strike with its touch attack or
with a ghost touch weapon (see Ghostly Equipment,
below). A manifested ghost remains partially on the
Ethereal Plane, where is it not incorporeal. A
manifested ghost can be attacked by opponents on
either the Material Plane or the Ethereal Plane. The
ghost’s incorporeality helps protect it from foes on the
Material Plane, but not from foes on the Ethereal
Plane.
Spells Prepared (2/1; Base DC = 12 + spell level): 1st–
charm animal, resist energy; 2nd–protection from energy.
Possessions: Masterwork short sword, longsword,
whip*, +1 chain shirt, brooch of shielding*, circlet of
persuasion, collar of obedience, ring of sustenance, vest of
resistance +1*, wand of charm animal, scroll of reduce
animal, 2 scrolls of speak with animals, 2 potions of cure light
wounds, 86 gp in various coins and jewelry.
* Due to a special connection with these items, he
can actually use them despite they are lying at his body.
Lower Hold
Fiendish girallons (4): CR 7; Large Magical Beast
(extraplanar); HD 7d10+17; hp 55; Init +3; Spd 40 ft.,
climb 40 ft.; AC 16 (touch 12, flat-footed 15) [-1 size, +3
Dex, +4 natural]; Base Atk +7; Grp +17; Atk +12 melee
(1d4+6, claw); Full Atk +12/+12/+12/+12 melee (1d4+6,
claw) and +7 melee (1d8+3, bite); Space/Reach 10 ft./10
ft.; SA Rend 2d4+9, smite good 1/day (+7 damage); SQ
Darkvision 60 ft., DR 5/magic, low-light vision,
resistance cold and fire 5, scent, SR 12; AL NE; SV Fort
+7, Ref +8, Will +5; Str 22, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 3, Wis
12, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Move Silently +8, Spot
+6; Iron Will, Toughness, Tunnel Fighting.
Rend (Ex): A girallon that hits with two or more
claw attacks latches onto the opponent’s body and tears
the flesh. This attack automatically deals an extra 2d4+9
points of damage.
Possessions: None.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 34
APPENDIX 2:
MONTESSER AT A GLANCE
[Written by Creighton Broadhurst]
� Montesser
(Large
Town):
Conventional
(Theocracy); AL LE (LN); 5,000 gp limit; Assets 617,500
gp; Population 2,469; Mixed (orc 1654, half-orc 324,
human [So] 243, orogs 247.
Authority Figures: Bhargeval (LE [LN] male half-orc
Rgr8/Clr3 - Bahgtru), commander of town’s defenses;
Shauntru (LE [LN] female orc Clr9- Luthic), matriarch
of Montesser.
Important Figures: Froznir Delrrii (LE male human
Rog7), Sea Baron merchant and pirate.
Ten years ago the settlement of Montessor didn’t exist.
Established and led by a charismatic priestess of Luthic
(lesser NE orcish goddess of fertility, medicine,
healing, servitude, caves and home) the orcs settling
here simply tired of war, instead electing to carve out a
home for themselves on the Solnor Coast. Despite
these decidedly unorcish ideals, life in Montesser is
brutal and disciplined. Wrongdoers are dealt with in
typical orcish fashion and society is organized along
martial lines.
The original settlers were deserters from the
imperial forces responsible for the sack of Mentrey but
since the settlement’s founding numbers of both orcs
and half-orcs have increased dramatically. A number of
orogs have also been reported to be amongst the
population. Roughly 1,600 orcs and 300 half-orcs now
dwell within the town. Small outlying settlements
(often of less than 20 individuals) dot the hills
surrounding Montesser, raising the total population to
around 3,500. Several different tribes are represented
within Montesser including the Bloodied Eye, Ragged
Banner and Red Bones.
The original settlement was little more than a
shantytown built of wood looted from other nearby
abandoned or destroyed villages. The inhabitants
planted crops haphazardly on the fertile banks of the
minor river that gives this place its name. Goats were
grazed in the surrounding hills and limited fishing was
even attempted in a couple of (stolen) battered but
serviceable fishing boats.
In the intervening years the settlement has
expanded several times and is now enclosed by thick
earthen ramparts and steep stake-lined ditches. Several
important buildings within the town are now of stone
construction and the orcs now operate a small fleet of
fishing vessels. Learning from their earlier mistakes,
the orc’s farming and fishing skills are steadily
improving.
One feature of note within the town is the walled
compound of Froznir Delrrii (LE male human Rog7), a
native of the Sea Barons. A consummate mariner and
trader, Froznir first discovered Montesser in early 586.
Although initial contact between the two groups was
violent, subsequent (cautious) negotiations resulted in
a mutually profitable exchange of trade and
information. Thanks to his efforts the orcs of
Montesser are much better equipped than they were a
decade ago. In exchange, the orcs allow Froznir safe
anchorage and his men are able to move freely about
the town. He is keenly interested in the power
struggles within old Medegia and the orcs share all
they learn with him.
Although not territorially ambitious the orcs of
Montesser have fought off several assaults by
determined bands of sellswords, mercenaries and
bandits intent on looting the settlement. Typically the
orcs have wrested much equipment from their
defeated foes, chief amongst which are several score of
warhorses, the riding of which they have long since
mastered. They are ever vigilant to further assaults;
approaching
this
settlement
surreptitiously
is
incredibly dangerous.
Montesser is a theocracy ruled by Shauntru (LE
[LN] female orc Clr9- Luthic) a now elderly but wise
matriarch. Single-minded in her desire to protect the
young of Montesser, Shauntru can nevertheless be an
implacable enemy to those earning her ire. Bhargeval
(LE [LN] male half-orc Rgr8/Clr3 - Bahgtru) a
monstrously strong warrior devotedly assists Shauntru
in the defense of the town. The closest thing the town
has to a general, Bhargeval directs the town’s defenders
in times of both peace and war.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 35
APPENDIX 3:
NEW RULE ITEMS
MONSTERS
Gravetouched ghoul
(Source: Libris Mortis, page 103)
“Gravetouched ghoul” is an acquired template that can
be added to any corporeal aberration, fey, giant,
humanoid, or monstrous humanoid with Intelligence
and Charisma scores of 3 or higher (referred to
hereafter as the base creature).
A gravetouched ghoul speaks all the languages it
spoke in life (usually Common). It has all the base
creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted
here.
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to
undead and it gains the augmented subtype. Do not
recalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skill points. Size
is unchanged.
Hit Dice: Increase to d12.
Armor Class: The base creature’s natural armor
bonus improved by 2.
Attack: A gravetouched ghoul retains all the
attacks of the base creature and also gains a bit and two
claw attacks if it didn’t already have them. If the base
creature uses weapons, the gravetouched ghoul retains
this ability. A creature with natural weapons retains
those natural weapons. A gravetouched ghoul fighting
without weapons uses its bite attack. A gravetouched
ghoul armed with a weapon uses its bit or weapon as it
desires.
Full Attack: A gravetouched ghoul fighting
without weapons uses its bit and two claws to attack, If
armed with a weapon, it chooses whether to use the
weapon or use its natural attacks.
Damage: Gravetouched ghouls have bite and claw
attacks. If the base creature does not have this attack
form, use the appropriate damage value from the table
below according to the gravetouched ghoul’s size.
Creatures that have other kinds of natural weapons
retain their old damage values or use the appropriate
value from the table below, whichever is better.
Size
Bite Damage
Claw Damage
Fine
1
–
Diminutive
1d2
1
Tiny
1d3
1d2
Small
1d4
1d3
Medium
1d6
1d4
Large
1d8
1d6
Huge
2d6
1d8
Gargantuan
2d8
2d6
Colossal
4d6
2d8
Special Attacks: A gravetouched ghoul retains all
the special attacks of the base creature and gains those
described below. Saves have a DC of 10 + 1/2 the
gravetouched ghoul’s HD + gravetouched ghoul’s Cha
modifier unless otherwise noted.
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease–bite, Fortitude save,
incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3 Dex.
An afflicted humanoid who dies of ghoul fever
rises as a ghoul at the next midnight. A humanoid who
becomes a ghoul in this way retains none of the
abilities it possessed in life. It is not under the control
of any other ghouls, but it hungers for the flesh of the
living and behaves like a normal ghoul in all respects.
A humanoid of 4 HD or higher rises as a ghast, rather
than a ghoul.
Paralysis (Ex): Victims hit by a gravetouched
ghoul’s bite or claw attack must make a successful
Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Elves
have immunity to this paralysis.
Special Qualities: A gravetouched ghoul retains
all the special qualities of the base creature and gains
those described below.
Turn Resistance (Ex): A gravetouched ghoul has +2
turn resistance.
Diet Dependent: Gravetouched ghouls are diet
dependent upon flesh.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as
follows: Str +2, Dex +4, Int +2, Wis +4, Cha +2. As an
undead creature, a gravetouched ghoul has no
Constitution score.
Feats: A gravetouched ghoul retains all its feats,
and it gains Multiattack as a bonus feat.
Environment: Any, usually same as base creature.
Organization: Solitary, gang (2–4 ghouls plus 1
gravetouched ghoul), or pack (7–12 ghouls plus 1–4
gravetouched ghouls).
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +1.
Alignment: Base creature’s alignment changes to
chaotic evil.
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +2.
FEATS
Bolster Resistance [General]
(Source: Libris Mortis, page 25)
Undead you raise or create are more resisting to
turning than normal.
Prerequisite: Corpsecrafter
Benefit: Each undead you raise or create with any
necromancy spell gains +4 turn resistance.
Corpsecrafter [General]
(Source: Libris Mortis, page 25)
Undead you raise or create are tougher than normal.
Benefit: Each undead you raise or create with any
necromancy spell gains a +4 enhancement bonus to
Strength and +2 hit points per Hit Dice.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 36
Hardened Flesh [General]
(Source: Libris Mortis, page 27)
Undead you raise or create are can better handle
themselves in a fight.
Prerequisite: Corpsecrafter
Benefit: Each undead you raise or create with any
necromancy spell gains a +2 natural armor bonus to
Armor Class.
Improved Toughness [General]
(Source: Complete Warrior, page 101)
You are significantly tougher than normal.
Prerequisites: Base Fortitude save bonus +2.
Benefits: You gain a number of hit points equal to
your current Hit Dice. Each time you gain a HD (such
as by gaining a level) you gain 1 additional hit point. If
you lose a HD (such as by losing a level), you lose 1 hit
point permanently.
Special:
A
fighter
may
select
Improved
Toughness as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Improved Turn Resistance
(Source: Libris Mortis, page 27)
You have a better than normal chance to resist turning.
Prerequisite: Undead type.
Benefits: You are less easily affected by clerics or
paladins than you normally would be (see Turn or
Rebuke Undead, page 159 of the Player’s Handbook).
When resolving a turn, rebuke, command, or bolster
attempt, add +4 to your character level (monster Hit
Dice plus class levels) to determine your Hit Dive for
turn, rebuke, command, and bolster attempts. For
example, a 4 HD wight with this feat is treated as an 8
HD undead for the purpose of turn, rebuke, command,
and bolster attempts, even though it is a 4 HD creature
for any other purpose. A vampire that already has +4
turn resistance adds an additional +4 with this feat, for
a total of +8.
Profane Vigor [Divine]
(Source: Libris Mortis, page 29)
You can channel negative energy to heal nearby
undead allies of physical damage.
Prerequisite: Cha 11, ability to rebuke undead.
Benefit: As a standard action, you can spend on of
your rebuke attempts to heal one undead ally within 60
feet 2 hit points of damage per cleric level. This healing
does not allow the affected undead to exceed their full
normal hit point totals.
Sea Legs
(Source: Stormwrack, page 93)
You are accustomed to the rolling motion on board a
ship and can use this motion to your advantage.
Benefit: As long as you are on board a ship, you
get a +2 bonus on Balance and Tumble checks, and a +1
bonus on initiative checks.
Tunnel Fighting
(Source: Races of Stone, page 145)
You are adept at maneuvering and fighting in tight
spaces and underground passages.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You do not take a penalty on your attack
rolls or to Armor Class when squeezing into or though
a tight space.
Normal: Each movement into or through a
narrow space counts as if it were 2 squares, and while
squeezed in a narrow space a character takes a –4
penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to AC. See page
148 of the Player’ Handbook for more information on
squeezing through tight spaces.
Special: A fighter may select Tunnel Fighting as
one his fighter bonus feats (see page 38 of the Player’s
Handbook).
SPELLS
Wave of Grief
(Source: Spell Compendium, page236)
Enchantment [Evil, Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 2, blackguard 2, cleric 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes.
All within the cone when the spell is cast take a –3
penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks,
and skill checks.
Material Component: Three tears.
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 37
DM’S AID 1: MAP KALANDRA (UPPER DECK)
(Source: Stormwrack, page98)
1 Sq = 5ft.
MAP ICONS
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 38
DM’S AID 2: MAP KALANDRA (LOWER DECK)
1 Sq = 5ft
ESA6-04 Gift of the Tempest
Page 39
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Carried?
Worn?
111
8-Bit Dress
Pixel Power • Two-Dimensional
Sprite Flicker: You gain +1 edge against anyone who's using Moxie or Focus.
Carried?
Worn?
112
Admiral's Coat
Covets Glory • Sea Lady
Duty Is the Great Business of a Fairy: You may suffer 1d6
to add the Temporary Quirk "The Enemy" to an NPC or Hazard. A fairy tagging
this Quirk in a contest inflicts +1
.
Carried?
Worn?
113
Alchemist's Frock
Master of Alchemy • Knows When to Duck
Synthesis: You may spend 1
to craft a potion that restores 1d6
and grants a beneficial Temporary Quirk (chosen when the potion is
created). A potion can be given away or saved for later. When a potion is consumed, roll 1d6; on a 1, the potion is flawed, and the GM chooses
the Temporary Quirk instead!
Carried?
Worn?
114
Angelic Dress
Good Intentions • The Power of Love!
Aura of Innocence: While wearing this Costume, you can't be blamed for anything. No NPC will believe that you're responsible for any
misfortune, and any roll to cast blame on you automatically fails.
Carried?
Worn?
115
Artist's Smock
Creative Genius • Temperamental
Life Drawing: You receive a 1
discount when using Wishful Thinking to conjure a Hazard or NPC. (No combination of discounts can reduce
the cost of Wishful Thinking below 1
.)
Carried?
Worn?
116
Aviator Jacket
Smirk & Swagger • Disrespecting Gravity
Devil's Own Luck: When doing something ridiculously dangerous, you may roll an extra die for free (i.e., without spending
). Add 1
to the
Trouble Pool after rolling.
Carried?
Worn?
121
Ball Gown
Refined Manners • Musical Talent
Musical Number: Contests that you take part in are never treated as scuffles.
Carried?
Worn?
122
Bandages
Sympathy Magnet • Delicate Condition
First Aid: When you Stress Out, you may instead Quick Change into this Costume at no cost and clear your
. You can only use this Power
while you're not wearing this Costume.
Convalescence: When you change out of this Costume, discard it.
Carried?
Worn?
123
Battle Kilt
Boisterous Brawler • Authority Issues
Caber Toss: Larger-than-fairy-size opponents do not gain edge against you in contests of strength. You do not suffer increased
or inflict
reduced
when scuffling with such opponents.
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Carried?
Worn?
124
Bee Suit
Hard Worker • Flower Addict
For the Swarm!: You may spend 1
to summon a swarm of duplicates of yourself for one roll. This allows you to accomplish things that
require a large group, or inflict +3
in a scuffle.
Carried?
Worn?
125
Black Sweater
Sneaky • Kleptomaniac
Bag of Holding: You can fit anything that's not nailed down into your sack of loot. You drop all of your stashed objects when you Stress Out or
change out of this Costume; otherwise, they can't be located or stolen by any effect. If you have many stashed objects, the GM may require a test
to pull out the correct one.
Carried?
Worn?
126
Bow Tie
Loveable Jerk • Weaponised Sarcasm
Right Back at You: When someone inflicts
on you, you may make a joke or pun to automatically inflict 2
on your attacker. You have to
come up with the joke yourself.
Carried?
Worn?
131
Bunny Hat
Adorable • Quick like a Bunny
Just a Harmless Little Rabbit: When you tag one of your Quirks in a contest, you may remove one die from your opponent's pool rather than
adding one to your own. This can reduce her to zero dice.
Carried?
Worn?
132
Camo Fatigues
In This Fairy's Army • Ground Pounder
March on Your Stomach: When you recover
from eating food, you also gain the Temporary Quirk "Superior Morale". While it remains, your
Stress Limit is increased by 3.
Esprit de Corps: When a friend in the same Location as you suffers
, you may suffer one point of that
in her place.
Carried?
Worn?
133
Cape & Tights
Faster than a Speeding Bullet • More Powerful than aLocomotive
The Strongest!: You can lift 100 times your weight. You inflict +2
in a scuffle, suffer −2
from physical threats, and gain +2 edge in
contests of strength.
Disaster Magnet: The GM receives a 2
discount to Unleash Disaster, to a minimum cost of 1
.
Carried?
Worn?
134
Cardboard Robot
Precise • Glitchy
Filled with Useful Devices: When you spend
on a roll, you may add two dice (rather than one) if you describe how the strange devices built
into your body help out. You have to describe a new device each time.
Carried?
Worn?
135
Cat Hoodie
Agile • Lazy
I Meant to Do That: You may spend 1
on a roll after you've seen the Result. If you do, roll one additional die, and count it as though it was
part of the original roll. You can't use this Power if you've already spent
on that roll.
Carried?
Worn?
136
Chef's Smock
Genius of Cookery • Handy with a Frying Pan
Comfort Food: You may spend 1
to instantly prepare a serving of food, even if you have no tools or ingredients. Eating this food recovers
normally.
Gourmand: You recover +2
from eating food.
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Carried?
Worn?
141
Clockwork Couture
Dapper • Stick a Gear on It!
Like Clockwork: You gain two dice (rather than one) when you tag a Temporary Quirk you created yourself.
Carried?
Worn?
142
Clown Suit
Acrobatic • Comical
Pratfall: You suffer −1
from all sources.
Can't Keep down the Clown: If any effect would cause you to discard this Costume, you may discard a different Costume instead.
Carried?
Worn?
143
Cowgirl Outfit
Rough and Tumble • Quick on the Draw
Showdown: You may declare that any one-on-one contest you participate in is a showdown. The loser of a showdown Stresses Out regardless of
her current
. On a tie, you both Stress Out!
Carried?
Worn?
144
Crinoline Dress
Genteel • Wicked Wit
The Kindness of Strangers: Whenever you inflict
on someone in a contest using wit or charm, recover the same amount of
. This Power
does not function in scuffles.
Carried?
Worn?
145
Cunning Disguise
Trustworthy • Vaguely Familiar
Incognito: No-one can connect your identity while you're wearing this Costume with your identity when you're not wearing it, not even if you
change into it right in front of them!
Carried?
Worn?
146
Dancer's Shawl
Awesome Moves • Drama Queen
Entrancing Elegance: When you use this Costume's Quirks to assist a friend's roll in a contest, you may subtract one die from her opponent's
roll instead of adding one to hers. This can reduce her opponent to zero dice. You must roleplay your performance.
Carried?
Worn?
151
Death Metal Regalia
A Fighter, Not a Lover • Anthem of Destruction
Musical Brutality: When you assist a friend with "Anthem of Destruction" in a contest, she inflicts +2
.
Carried?
Worn?
152
Deely-Boppers
Technobabble Solves Everything • Not from Around Here
It's Not Stupid, It's Advanced!: When wielding your amazing alien technology, you may roll an extra die for free (i.e., without spending
).
Add 1
to the Trouble Pool after rolling.
Carried?
Worn?
153
Deerstalker Cap
Low Boredom Threshold • Elementary!
No Such Thing as Coincidence: You may roll Focus in place of Shine, or vice versa, whichever is higher.
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Carried?
Worn?
154
Devil Corset
Troublemaker • Silver Tongue
Devil's Deal: You may spend 1
to offer someone a deal. If she accepts, she gains a helpful Temporary Quirk of your choice.
Ironic Twist: Whenever someone uses a Quirk granted by "Devil's Deal", you may set her Result to 0 after rolling.
Carried?
Worn?
155
Doctor's Coat
Impressive Credentials • Do No Harm
Treatment: You may spend a Break providing medical care. When you do so, your patient recovers 2d6
and may remove one unwanted
Temporary Quirk of her choice. You can't Scrounge during the same Break that you use this Power.
Carried?
Worn?
156
Equestrian Outfit
Refined Manners • The Sport of Queens
Tally Ho!: When you're riding something, your mount gains the benefit of your Kind Powers.
And They're Off!: You gain two dice (rather than one) when tagging one of your mount's Quirks.
Carried?
Worn?
161
Evil Overlord Armour
Ruthless • Insane
Rise, My Servants!: The first time you change into this Costume, you get three Minions. They're NPCs with Moxie 3, Stress Limit 0, and no
Quirks. You may recruit new Minions for 1
apiece, to a maximum of three total Minions.
Delegation: On any roll, you may have a Minion act in your place.
Carried?
Worn?
162
Feather Robe
Cryptic Wisdom • Survival Skills
Geomancy: You gain two dice (rather than one) when you tag a Location Quirk.
Carried?
Worn?
163
Figure Skates
Superb Balance • At Home on the Ice
A 1 from the Gnomish Judge: You may spend 1
to put the Temporary Quirk "Biased" on an NPC. While it remains, all other NPCs ignore
anything she says about you.
Perfect 6: After rolling, if you rolled at least one 6, you may spend 1
to increase your Result by 1, to a maximum Result equal to your Grace.
Carried?
Worn?
164
Firefighter's Uniform
Rescue Specialist • Grace under Pressure
Fireproof Coat: You suffer −3
from Hazards that represent dangerous objects or environments, and never suffer Temporary Quirks from
losing a contest with such a Hazard.
Carried?
Worn?
165
Flower Suit
Sunny Disposition • Down to Earth
Speak for the Trees: You may communicate with plants. There's no guarantee they have anything interesting to say, though!
Photosynthesis: Whenever an effect would allow you to recover
, you may choose to gain 1
instead.
Carried?
Worn?
166
Fool's Motley
Madcap • Disquieting
Vicious Mockery: When you inflict
on someone, you may spend 1
to add 1d6 to the total
inflicted. This must be roleplayed with a
rhyme, a pun or an insult based on one of the target's Quirks.
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Carried?
Worn?
211
Football Uniform
Protective Padding • Sophisticated Strategy
End Run: You have +1 edge in contests involving moving an object from one place to another.
Touchdown: When you cause a Hazard or NPC to Stress Out, you may perform a short dance to recover 2
.
Carried?
Worn?
212
Fur Loincloth
Ugh! • Gruh?
Brute Force and Ignorance: You gain +1 edge against anyone who's using Craft or Grace.
Carried?
Worn?
213
Gambler's Duds
Con Artist • Better Lucky than Good
Double or Nothing: Whenever you suffer or inflict
, you may flip a coin (or, if you don't have one, roll a die). Heads (odd): you suffer or
inflict no
. Tails (even): you suffer or inflict double
!
Carried?
Worn?
214
Ghost Sheet
Intangible • Spooky Voice
Rise Again: When you Stress Out, you may instead Quick Change into this Costume at no cost and clear your Stress. You can only use this
Power while you're not wearing this Costume.
Pass On: When you change out of this Costume, discard it.
Carried?
Worn?
215
Gothic Dress
Elegant • Creepy
Dry Wit: When someone you can see suffers
, you may make a cutting remark to increase the
suffered by +1. You have to come up with the
remark yourself.
Carried?
Worn?
216
Greasy Coveralls
Grease Monkey • Perpetually Grubby
Just Bang It with a Wrench: You may spend 1
to remove 1d6
from an inanimate object or machine.
Scrap It!: You inflict +2
on inanimate objects and machines.
Carried?
Worn?
221
Green Tunic
Courageous • Push Blocks, Smash Pots
Inventory Screen: You may spend 1
to grant yourself a Temporary Quirk representing an enchanted weapon or tool you've picked up in one
of your many adventures. If you use this Power again, the new Quirk replaces the old one.
Carried?
Worn?
222
Grim Reaper Robe
Creepy Smile • Looks Good in Black
Reap the Fallen: Gain 1
whenever a living creature in the same Location as you Stresses Out.
Carried?
Worn?
223
Hockey Mask
Taciturn • Unstoppable
Damage Sponge: Increase your Stress Limit by 5. If changing out of this Costume drops your Stress Limit below your current Stress, you
immediately Stress Out!
Back for the Sequel: If any effect would cause you to discard this Costume, you may discard a different Costume instead.
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Carried?
Worn?
224
Holy Robes
Resolute • Naïve
Healing Touch: You may spend 1
to remove 1d6
from one living creature.
Divine Favour: You get a 1
discount on Wishful Thinking when you phrase your wish as a prayer. The GM describes the effect no matter the
test's outcome! (She has to be nice if you succeed.)
Carried?
Worn?
225
Horned Cowl
Terror and Vengeance • The Hero You Deserve
A Cowardly and Superstitious Lot: You gain two dice (rather than one) when you tag an opponent's Quirk in a contest.
Carried?
Worn?
226
Judge's Robes
Voice of the Law • Gavel-Pounder
One Million Years Dungeon: If you cause someone to Stress Out, you may sentence them to a punishment of your choice rather than allowing
them to leave play. PCs automatically escape or receive parole after the span of a normal Break has elapsed; NPCs get out at the GM's discretion.
Carried?
Worn?
231
Karate Gi
Black Belt • Hero Without a Cause
Dragon Punch!: You inflict +2
when scuffling with flying opponents.
Continue?: When you Stress Out, you may spend 1
to recover half your
. If this puts you below your Stress Limit, you do not Stress Out.
Carried?
Worn?
232
Kung Fu Jacket
Master of Martial Arts • Badly Dubbed
Mantis Style: Larger-than-fairy-size opponents do not gain edge against you in contests of strength. You do not suffer increased
or inflict
reduced
when scuffling with such opponents.
Carried?
Worn?
233
Lab Coat
Scientific Genius • Dubious Ethics
Jekyll & Hyde: You may spend 1
to deploy a transforming elixir, mutation ray, etc. The target (which can be yourself) draws a random
Costume and Quick Changes into it at no cost. You have to win a contest to use this Power on an unwilling target. Targets who can't normally
wear Costumes (e.g., humans) tend to take on the personality of their new role.
Carried?
Worn?
234
Leather Jerkin
Vicious • Low Cunning
Backstab: When you make a successful Surprise Attack, you may cause your target to instantly Stress Out, regardless of the amount of
inflicted. This Power doesn't just apply in scuffles – it works with emotional backstabbery, too.
Carried?
Worn?
235
Magical Girl Dress
Fabulous • For Great Justice!
Transformation Sequence: Any time you're not wearing this Costume, you may Quick Change into it at no cost. You may spend 1
while
doing so in order to recover 1d6
.
Final Strike: When you win a scuffle, you may spend 1
to inflict double
. You must roleplay calling your special attack.
Carried?
Worn?
236
Maid's Uniform
Unflappable • Neat Freak
Quick Clean-Up: You may spend 1
to instantly clean your current Location. This Power can remove messiness-related Quirks or add
cleanliness-related ones to that Location.
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Carried?
Worn?
241
Marching Band Uniform
Jaunty • Louder Is Better
Band of Bothers: You may spend 1
to summon your bandmates for one roll. This allows you to accomplish things that require a large group,
or inflict +3
in a scuffle.
Carried?
Worn?
242
Mascot Suit
Energetic • Distracting
Go Team!: When you use this Costume's Quirks to assist a friend's roll in a contest, you may subtract one die from her opponent's roll instead of
adding one to hers. This can reduce her opponent to zero dice. You must roleplay your cheer or routine.
Carried?
Worn?
243
MIB Suit
Authority Figure • Knows the Score
Flashy Thing: If you cause someone to Stress Out, you may make her forget the last ten minutes of play (or an equivalent number of posts in
forum or email games).
Carried?
Worn?
244
Mushroom Hat
Trufflemaker • People's Champignon
Spore Corps: The first time you change into this Costume, you get three Minions. They're NPCs with Shine 3, Stress Limit 0, and no Quirks.
You may spawn new Minions for 1
apiece, to a maximum of three total Minions.
Mycellium, Yourcellium: On any roll, you may have a Minion act in your place.
Carried?
Worn?
245
Mysterious Cloak
Dark and Brooding • Terribly Mysterious
Dramatic Reveal: While you're wearing this Costume, you may discard it at any time. When you do so, Quick Change into any other Costume in
your possession at no cost and clear your
. You receive +1 edge on your next contest.
Carried?
Worn?
246
Nun's Habit
Serene • Mysterious Ways
Holier than Thou: You gain +1 edge against anyone who's using Grace or Shine.
Carried?
Worn?
251
Old Fedora
Hard Boiled • Narration-Prone
Gut Feeling: You always know when you're being lied to. If used on another player, she must admit whether she lied, but doesn't have to reveal
the truth.
Carried?
Worn?
252
Pajamas
Sleepy • Adorable
Power Nap: You may spend 1
to recover 1d6
.
Carried?
Worn?
253
Pirate Costume
Dashing Rogue • Bad Influence
Swagger: When you tag an opponent's Quirk in a contest, you may remove one die from her pool rather than adding one to your own. This can
reduce her to zero dice.
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Carried?
Worn?
254
Plate Mail
Weapon Master • Scary Scowl
Meat Shield: You and all of your friends who are in the same Location as you suffer −1
from physical threats.
Carried?
Worn?
255
Platypus Suit
Cute • Perplexing
Evolutionary Enigma: You may spend 1
to grant yourself a Temporary Quirk representing some trait or talent of the platypus. (This doesn't
need to be a real trait or talent of the platypus – you just have to be willing to claim with a straight face that it is.) If you use this Power again, the
new Quirk replaces the old one.
Carried?
Worn?
256
Polyester Suit
Smooth Moves • Questionable Fashion Choices
Greasy Sweet: You may roll Moxie in place of Grace, or vice versa, whichever is higher.
Carried?
Worn?
261
Pop Idol Outfit
Manufactured • Incredible Work Ethic
Handshake Event: You may spend 1
to add the Temporary Quirk "Idol Show!" to your current Location. While it remains, NPCs in that
Location can't leave or initiate scuffles. The Quirk lasts until you leave, you Stress Out, or the GM pays
equal to your Shine.
Carried?
Worn?
262
Pot Lid Armour
Impervious • Clumsy
Heavy Metal: You suffer −1
from physical threats.
Ablation: If a physical threat would cause you to Stress Out while wearing this Costume, you may instead discard it and negate all
and other
effects from that threat.
Carried?
Worn?
263
Princess Dress
Glamorous • Bossy
Self-Rescuing: You gain two dice (rather than one) when you tag a Temporary Quirk that's been inflicted upon you.
Carried?
Worn?
264
Protagonist's Garb
Hero • Complicated Backstory
Over-Leveled: You inflict +2
in all contests.
High Random Encounter Rate: The GM receives a 1
discount to Summon Opposition, to a minimum cost of 1
.
Carried?
Worn?
265
Reporter's Outfit
Stop the Presses • Intrepid
Muckraking: Your opponent in any contest takes 1
for each 6 she rolls, even if she wins. Increase the total by +1
if you tagged one of her
Quirks. (She still has to roll at least one 6 to trigger this Power.)
Carried?
Worn?
266
Robe & Wizard Hat
Subtle • Quick to Anger
Fireball!: You may spend 1
to blow everything up. Every fairy, NPC and Hazard in your current Location – including you! – must test Grace
or Shine (whichever is higher) or suffer 1d6
.
Linear Fairy, Quadratic Wizard: You may discard any Costume in your possession to use its Powers for one roll without changing into it.
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Carried?
Worn?
311
Ruffled Tunic
Inspiring Songs • A Lover, Not a Fighter
Bardic Music: When you assist a friend's roll with "Inspiring Songs", she gains two dice (rather than one). You must roleplay your performance.
Carried?
Worn?
312
School Uniform
Studious • School Spirit
Book Learning: You may roll Craft in place of Focus, or vice versa, whichever is higher.
Carried?
Worn?
313
Seamstress Outfit
Fashion Sense • Handy with a Needle
Fashion Montage: When you help someone Scrounge for a new Costume, she draws two cards (rather than one). She may Quick Change into
one of the newly drawn Costumes at no cost.
Carried?
Worn?
314
Shinobi Shozoku
Stealthy • Honourable
Art of Invisibility: When you suffer
, you may spend 1
to become invisible. While you're hidden, you count as being on Break, and no-one
can target you with any rolls or effects until you reveal yourself by making a roll.
Carried?
Worn?
315
Shopkeeper's Apron
Capitalism, Yay! • Gotta Make Quota
Medium of Exchange: You may convert
into coins and use them to buy stuff. This can include other fairies' Costumes, as well as things that
aren't normally tradeable, like Temporary Quirks. You may also accept payment from other fairies in this way, but you can't swap
between
fairies at will – it has to be part of a sale. If an NPC ends up with a
coin, the GM gets 1
.
Carried?
Worn?
316
Silk Topper
Stage Presence • The Art of Misdirection
Hat Magic: You may conjure any object or NPC you've seen during this session, as long as the target is human-size or smaller. Spend 1
and
test Craft or Shine (whichever is higher). On a success, you get the intended target. On a failure, you get something dangerous(a wild animal, a
bomb, etc.) and suffer 1d6
instead!
Carried?
Worn?
321
Skateboard
Radical • In Your Face
Sick Tricks: You may roll Grace in place of Shine, or vice versa, whichever is higher.
Carried?
Worn?
322
Sorceress' Gown
Enchantress • Stark Raving Bonkers
Bad Magic: You may use Wishful Thinking to apply Temporary Quirks to unwilling targets. Living targets can test Moxie or Shine (whichever is
higher) to resist.
Carried?
Worn?
323
Space-Age Armour
Trigger-Happy • Patriotic
Ray Gun: You inflict +1
in a scuffle.
Personal Force Shield: You suffer −1
from physical threats.
© 2015 Penguin King Games Inc. Costume Fairy Adventures Costume Reference Booklet (Rev. 1.01); permission granted to reproduce for personal use
Carried?
Worn?
324
Space Suit
Enviro-Sealed • The Space Race
One Giant Leap: You may spend 1
to add the Temporary Quirk "Low Gravity" to your current Location. You may tag this Quirk in physical
contests against anyone who isn't wearing a space-related Costume, and it can't be tagged against you as long as you're wearing this Costume.
Carried?
Worn?
325
Spirit of Fall Dress
Festively Frightful • Autumn Enchantment
Harvest Season: You receive a 1
discount when using Wishful Thinking to conjure food or create seasonally appropriate Location Quirks.
(No combination of discounts can reduce the cost of Wishful Thinking below 1
.)
Carried?
Worn?
326
Spirit of Spring Dress
Full of Life • Spring Sorcery
New Beginnings: You receive a 1
discount when using Wishful Thinking to summon animal NPCs or create seasonally appropriate Location
Quirks. (No combination of discounts can reduce the cost of Wishful Thinking below 1
.)
Carried?
Worn?
331
Spirit of Summer Dress
Carefree • Summer Sorcery
Fun in the Sun: You receive a 1
discount when using Wishful Thinking to grant beneficial Temporary Quirks to willing recipients or create
seasonally appropriate Location Quirks. (No combination of discounts can reduce the cost of Wishful Thinking below 1
.)
Carried?
Worn?
332
Spirit of Winter Dress
Cold-Hearted • Winter Wizardry
Let It Snow: You receive a 1
discount when using Wishful Thinking to create seasonally appropriate Hazards or Location Quirks. (No
combination of discounts can reduce the cost of Wishful Thinking below 1
.)
Carried?
Worn?
333
Squid Hat
Multi-Armed Menace • Compulsive Fish Puns
You Gotta Be Squiddin' Me!: When you suffer
, you may spend 1
to deploy a concealing ink cloud! While you're hidden, you count as
being on Break, and no-one can target you with any rolls or effects until you reveal yourself by making a roll.
Carried?
Worn?
334
Star Captain's Uniform
To Boldly Go • Two-Fisted Diplomacy
No Such Thing as a No-Win Scenario: You may roll Moxie in place of Craft, or vice versa, whichever is higher.
Carried?
Worn?
335
Star Soldier's Suit
Enhanced Agility • Armed & Dangerous
Low-G Physics: You gain +1 edge versus Hazards.
Charged Shot: You may inflict +2
in a scuffle. If you miss, a random friend or bystander (chosen by the GM) suffers 1d6
. You must
choose whether to use this Power before rolling.
Carried?
Worn?
336
Straw Hat & Overalls
Rough & Tumble • Folksy Wisdom
Work Ethic: When another character assists you on a roll, you gain two dice (rather than one). You can only use this Power once per roll. (e.g.,
two assistants grant three dice, not four.)
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Carried?
Worn?
341
Stripey Scarf
Indomitable • Perfect Timing
Stellar Screwdriver: You gain two dice (rather than one) when you tag a Location Quirk.
Regeneration: When you Stress Out, you may return to play without taking a Break. You still have to discard this Costume.
Carried?
Worn?
342
Stylish Tux
Espionage Specialist • Licence to Prank
Sleeper Agent: You may tag this Costume's Quirks even when you're not wearing it. If you do, you must Quick Change into this Costume at no
cost immediately after rolling.
Special Training: While you're wearing this Costume, you may tag the Quirks of other Costumes in your possession. This doesn't give you
access to an unworn Costume's Powers.
Carried?
Worn?
343
Survival Gear
Spirit of Exploration • Dressed for Anything
Because It's There: You inflict +2
in contests against anyone or anything that has at least +1 edge against you.
Carried?
Worn?
344
Swashbuckler's Coat
Flamboyant Charm • Thrust! Parry! Ha!
Derring-Do: You gain +1 edge versus Hazards.
Rapier Wit: When you scuffle, Powers that reduce
from physical threats don't work against you.
Carried?
Worn?
345
Tacky Business Suit
Winning Smile • Let's Make a Deal
Flim-Flam: You gain +1 edge against anyone who's using Focus or Craft.
Carried?
Worn?
346
Tattered Cloak
Dark Power • Tortured Past
Vendetta: You may spend 1
to place the Temporary Quirk "Creature of Darkness" on any target you can see. You may claim a die from this
Quirk whenever you're working to fight or oppose the target. Inanimate objects are valid targets for this Power.
Carried?
Worn?
351
Teacher's Outfit
Highly Educated • Has Her Eye on You
Disciplinarian: You gain +1 edge against anyone who's using Moxie or Shine.
Carried?
Worn?
352
Tie-Dyed Shirt
Laid Back • Arts-and-Craftsy
Pacifism: Contests that you take part in are never treated as scuffles.
Carried?
Worn?
353
Tin Soldier Outfit
Fae Imperialism • Her Majesty's Service
Queen and Country: If you tag one of this Costume's Quirks in a contest and win, you inflict +2
. However, if you lose, you suffer +2
.
© 2015 Penguin King Games Inc. Costume Fairy Adventures Costume Reference Booklet (Rev. 1.01); permission granted to reproduce for personal use
Carried?
Worn?
354
Tramp's Rags
Shabby Dignity • Street Smarts
Good Eatin': Whenever you Scrounge, recover 1d6
.
Gladly Pay You on Tuesday: When you have 0
, you may take 1
from the fairy with the most
. The next time you earn
while wearing
this Costume, she gains 1
instead. You may not use this Power while you still "owe"
.
Carried?
Worn?
355
Trenchcoat & Katana
Behold the Awesomeness • No, Seriously, Behold It
Cut Through Anything: A katana can cut through anything. ANYTHING. You inflict double
to inanimate objects.
Carried?
Worn?
356
Valkyrie Armour
Battle Goddess • Seen It All
Divine Aegis: You suffer −1
from all sources.
Gather the Fallen: When you Scrounge for a Costume, you may search the discard pile and take a Costume of your choice rather than drawing.
Carried?
Worn?
361
Vampire Makeup
Creature of the Night • Thirst for Blood
Bluh!: Whenever you inflict
on a living creature in a scuffle, recover the same amount of
.
Carried?
Worn?
362
Viking Hat
Life of the Party • Breathtaking Anger Issues
AAAAAAAA: You may gain +1 edge on any roll. After resolving the roll, you suffer 1d6
. This
cannot be reduced or prevented by any
other Power.
Carried?
Worn?
363
Wedding Dress
Bridezilla • Most Important Day
In Sickness and in Health: When you change into this Costume, choose another fairy. While you are in the same Location, you both take −1
from all sources.
Throw the Bouquet: When you discard this Costume, you may choose another player. She immediately gains this Costume.
Carried?
Worn?
364
White Greasepaint
Expressive • Kinda Creepy
Mime: You may spend 1
to mimic another character. Until you change out of this Costume or use this Power again, you may tag her Quirks as
though they were your own. If you use this Power on another fairy, you copy both her Personal Quirks and Costume Quirks.
Carried?
Worn?
365
Witch's Hat
Forbidden Lore • Friend to All Things Creepy-Crawly
Polymorph: You may spend 1
to turn something into a frog. Living targets can test Focus or Shine (whichever is higher) to resist. If you frog
another fairy, her Costume is replaced with "Frog (Slippery, Jumpy)", and she can't change Costumes until she Stresses Out or gets someone to
kiss her.
Carried?
Worn?
366
Zombie Rags
Mindless • Hungry
Om Nom Nom: You recover double
from eating food. You can also eat things that aren't normally classified as food, subject to the GM's veto.
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| textdata/thevault/Deduped Shit/Costume Fairy Adventures/Costume Reference Booklet(1).pdf |
37mm M-6
This is a cannon originally conceived after World War I as an antitank gun. It is now mainly found in the Twilight 2000 world on the
M-8 Greyhound armored car in Third World nations.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
37mm M-6
1
395
AP
8
6/5/4/2
Nil
1
100
APERS
B25
Nil
Nil
1
295
HE
C2 B9
-6C
Nil
57mm 6-Pounder
This large caliber gun was designed as an antitank gun during the Second World War, and was the first to use discarding sabot
ammunition. It was also known to the US and US allies as the 57mm M-1, and copied by the Russians.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
57mm 6-Pounder
1
390
AP
13
16/14/12/6
Nil
1
390
APDS
13
27/24/20/19
Nil
1
290
HE
C6 B8
-2C
Nil
1
390
HVAP
13
21/18/15/8
Nil
Statistics by Aaron Woods.
73mm Russian
This is a large-caliber gun mounted on the BMP-1, BMD-1, BVP-1, Type 85, and WZ-551 infantry fighting vehicles. It ammunition
is a modified version of the ammunition for the SPG-9 recoilless rifle.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
73mm Russian
1
250
HE
C4 B12
6C
Nil
1
250
HEAT
C1 B4
48C
Nil
75mm French
This is an older French gun derived from World War 2 tanks such as the Sherman, Grant, and Lee. It is mounted on some older
French vehicles such as early versions of the AMX-13.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
75mm French
1
250
APDS
20
64/56/48/32
Nil
1
250
APERS
C8 B16
3C
Nil
1
250
HE
C4 B12
5C
Nil
1
250
HEAT
C2 B6
51C
Nil
1
250
WP
C1 B16
2C
Nil
76.2mm 17-Pounder
This weapon was designed as an antitank weapon during the Second World War. It is still found on some field pieces and some
old Sherman tanks and other vehicles still in use by Third World countries.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
76.2mm 17-
Pounder
1
430
AP
17
28/24/20/11
Nil
1
430
APDS
17
48/41/34/19
Nil
1
320
HE
C7 B20
0C
Nil
1
430
HVAP
17
36/31/26/14
Nil
Statistics by Aaron Woods.
76.2mm D56TM
This is a Russian gun found on older tanks like the T-34 and light tanks like the PT-76. It is outmoded and outgunned by newer
weapons, but is still used on these vehicles and on field pieces.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
D56TM
1
300
APFSDS
12
40/35/30/20
Nil
1
250
HE
C4 B12
6C
Nil
1
250
HEAT
C2 B8
50C
Nil
76mm Cockerill
This large-caliber gun is found on vehicles such as the Scorpion, Rooikat, and other light vehicles. It is useful against light armor,
but cannot stand up against heavier vehicles, and is primarily useful as a support weapon.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
76mm Cockerill
1
300
AP
12
40/35/30/20
Nil
1
50
APERS
C8 B12
4/3/2/-1
Nil
1
300
CHEM
C3 (B20)
Nil
Nil
1
300
HE
C4 B12
6C
Nil
1
300
HESH
C10 B16
42C
Nil
85mm Chinese
This is a large-caliber gun used on field guns and vehicles such as the Type 63 and T-34/85. It is an improvement over the
D56TM, but still no match for more modern weapons.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
85mm Chinese
1
275
APHE
C2 B4
50C
Nil
1
275
HE
C8 B12
7C
Nil
1
275
HEAT
C4 B8
40C
Nil
1
300
HVAP
22
50/40/30
Nil
90mm French
A large-caliber gun found on several French-made armored vehicles and some vehicles of other countries, such as Switzerland and
Austria. The ammunition range is not as wide as that for the NATO 90mm gun.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
90mm French
1
300
APFSDS
22
72/63/54/35
Nil
1
300
HE
C4 B12
6C
Nil
1
300
HEAT
C4 B8
65C
Nil
90mm NATO
This gun is fitted to a wide variety of NATO vehicles and vehicles of many other countries worldwide. It has reasonable
effectiveness except against tanks and can use a wide variety of ammunition types. This is a catch-all category including 90mm US
and European-designed guns, including the British Cockerill 90mm guns.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
90mm NATO
1
300
APC
15
45/37/32/21
Nil
1
300
APDS
22
58/50/43/28
Nil
1
50
APERS
C8 B25
3C
Nil
1
300
APFSDS
22
72/63/54/35
Nil
1
250
HE
C4 B12
6C
Nil
1
250
HEAT
C4 B8
65C
Nil
1
225
HEAT-Heavy
C4 B8
70C
Nil
1
225
HESH
C10 B16
60C
Nil
1
250
HVAP
20
63/52/46/30
Nil
1
250
WP
C1 B12
3C
Nil
100mm D-10
This is an older Russian large caliber gun found on such tanks as the T-55 and Type 69, as well as field pieces, and a modified
form is found on newer vehicles such as the BMP-3 and newer Pact T-55s. (This newer version can fire AT-10 ATGM through the
gun barrel.) This gun has been much modified over the years in attempt to increase its effectiveness, and a wide variety of
ammunition is available for it. Unlike most large-caliber tank guns, the D-10 may be used as an artillery piece, and has an indirect
fire range.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
D-10
1
250
AP
16
45/40/35/20
21000
1
300
APC
13
38/30/25/17
21000
1
300
APFSDS
20
60/50/35/30
21000
1
250
APHE
C2 B4
69C
21000
1
250
FRAG-HE
C12 B16
4C
21000
1
250
HE
C8 B16
9C
21000
1
250
HEAT
C4 B8
55C
21000
1
275
HVAPDS
19
57/50/42/28
21000
105mm NATO
This was the standard US and Western tank main gun for almost 30 years before its replacement by the 120mm Rheinmetall. It is
installed on a wide variety of tanks and armored vehicles, from the AMX-10RC to the M-1 tank. It has a large amount of different
ammunition types available, in an attempt to keep it current.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
105mm NATO
1
500
APFSDS
26
80/70/60/40
Nil
1
500
APFSDSDU
26
100/90/80/60
Nil
1
500
APFSDSDU M-900
28
110/100/90/70
Nil
1
150
Flechette
B50
1-Nil
Nil
1
400
HE
C4 B18
8C
Nil
1
400
HEAT
C6 B12
80C
Nil
1
400
HEAT M-815
C10 B20
110C
Nil
1
875
Israeli LAHAT
C4 B8
75C
Nil
1
400
WP
C3 B20
Nil
Nil
105mm L-7
This is the British counterpart to the 105mm NATO gun. It is rifled, unlike the smoothbore barrel of the NATO gun, and offers
superior range for the same sort of ammunition. Less variety is available, however.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
L-7
1
600
APDS
28
65/55/50/30
Nil
1
600
APFSDS
28
80/70/60/40
Nil
1
500
HE
C4 B18
8C
Nil
1
450
HESH
C10 B24
57C
Nil
115mm U5TS
This is the standard armament on the Russian T-62 tank, and some early models of the T-64. Its fin-stabilized rounds have a flat
trajectory and reasonable accuracy. It's two-part rounds take longer to load than comparable NATO rounds.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
U5TS
2
400
APFSDS
22
70/60/50/35
Nil
2
400
HE
C12 B20
9C
Nil
2
300
HEAT
C4 B8
65C
Nil
120mm Rheinmetall
This German-designed gun is standard on most new US, NATO, and Western-aligned nations' tanks, as well as the Chinese Type
89 antitank gun. Though its performance is superior to most tank guns, new ammunition has been devised over the years to keep
up with current threats.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
120mm Rheinmetall
1
150
APERS
B75
1-Nil
Nil
1
500
APFSDS
28
110/100/90/70
Nil
1
500
APFSDSDU
28
150/140/130/110
Nil
1
550
APFSDSDU M-829A3
28
170/160/150/110
Nil
1
400
HE
C20 B40
11C
Nil
1
400
HEAT
C10 B20
110C
Nil
1
375
HESH
C14 B28
100C
Nil
1
750
Israeli LAHAT
C8 B16
100C
Nil
1
450
MPAT
C8 B16
100C
Nil
1
400
STAFF
C8 B16
60C (T-A)
Nil
1
875
TERM-CE
C8 B16
100C (T-A)
Nil
1
1000
TERM-KE
28
130/120/110/100 (T-A)
Nil
1
875
TERM-TA STAFF FF
C8 B16
60C (T-A)
Nil
1
400
WP
C3 B36
Nil
Nil
120mm Rheinmetall L/55
This is a longer barrel-length version of the standard 120mm Rheinmetall gun, found on the M-1A2P31, M-1A2 Giraffe, Leopard
2A5, and some models of the Merkava 3. It has better range than its standard (L/44) counterpart.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
120mm L/55
1
175
APERS
B75
1-Nil
Nil
1
550
APFSDS
28
110/100/90/70
Nil
1
550
APFSDSDU
28
150/140/130/110
Nil
1
625
APFSDSDU M-829A3
28
170/160/150/110
Nil
1
450
HE
C20 B40
11C
Nil
1
450
HEAT
C10 B20
110C
Nil
1
425
HESH
C14 B28
100C
Nil
1
850
Israeli LAHAT
C8 B16
100C
Nil
1
500
MPAT
C8 B16
100C
Nil
1
450
STAFF
C8 B16
60C (T-A)
Nil
1
975
TERM-CE
C8 B16
100C (T-A)
Nil
1
1125
TERM-KE
28
130/120/110/100 (T-A)
Nil
1
975
TERM-TA STAFF FF
C8 B16
60C (T-A)
Nil
1
450
WP
C3 B36
Nil
Nil
120mm L-11
This is the British rifled gun counterpart to the 120mm Rheinmetall, in the same manner that the L-7 is the British counterpart to
the 105mm NATO gun. The L-11 arms most British-made tanks; however, just before the Twilight War, these guns were being
replaced by Rheinmetall guns to take advantage of the wider ammunition choices.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
L-11
1
600
APDS
28
90/75/65/50
Nil
1
600
APFSDS
28
110/100/90/70
Nil
1
600
APFSDSDU
28
150/140/130/110
Nil
1
450
HESH
C14 B28
100C
Nil
125mm Russian
This gun arms most modern Russian tanks, since its introduction on the T-64. Updates have made it able to fire various ATGM
through its gun barrel (such as the AT-8 and AT-11). This weapon is also mounted on a field carriage, known as the Rapira-3. The
ATGM-firing versions were introduced because the 125mm Russian gun's long-range performance is not good. The autoloader for
this gun on Russian tanks tends to grab the gunner's arm and attempt to load it into the gun barrel; on a catastrophic failure, the
GM may rule that this has happened (causing 2d6 damage to the gunner's right arm, and requiring 6 phases to clear). This does
not happen on the Rapira-3, since it does not have an autoloader.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
125mm Russian
1
450
APFSDS
28
100/90/80/60
Nil
1
450
APFSDSDU
28
110/100/90/70
Nil
1
400
HE
C14 B28
11C
Nil
1
400
HEAT
C10 B20
110C
Nil
125mm Low-Pressure
This is a gun found on the Russian 2S25 light airborne tank. It fires the same round as the 125mm Russian gun, but with a
reduced powder charge to compensate for the lighter carriage on the vehicle. This affects range and hitting power.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
125mm Low-
Pressure
1
350
APFSDS
25
90/80/70/60
Nil
1
350
APFSDSDU
25
100/90/80/70
Nil
1
350
HE
C14 B28
11C
Nil
1
350
HEAT
C10 B20
110C
Nil
135mm Russian
This Russian cannon is so far found only on the newest Russian tank, the T-95. It is a hard-hitting gun with better performance
than the Russian 125mm, and it introduces a new fuel-air explosive round to the Russian arsenal, normally used against light
vehicle columns.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
135mm Russian
1
500
APFSDS
30
120/110/100/80
Nil
1
500
APFSDSDU
30
130/120/110/90
Nil
1
500
FAE
C20 B36
110/100/90/70
Nil
1
400
HE
C16 B28
12C
Nil
1
400
HEAT
C12 B20
120C
Nil
140mm NATO
This is the next generation of Western tank guns, installed on such vehicles as the Leopard 2-140 and Merkava 4. Ammunition for
this weapon was always scarce during the Twilight War, as so few vehicles used it, and little was made. However, its performance
was rewarding.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
140mm NATO
1
700
APFSDS
31
130/120/110/90
Nil
1
700
APFSDSDU
31
175/155/130/110
Nil
1
550
HE
C26 B45
13C
Nil
1
550
HEAT
C13 B24
130C
Nil
1
550
WP
C4 B40
Nil
Nil
142mm Demolition Gun
This is a gun fitted to the French AMX-30 EBG combat engineer vehicle, used to destroy fortifications and obstacles. It has a
secondary use of blowing mines in place. It fires only one type of round.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
142mm Demo Gun
2
125
HESH
C12 B20
121C
Nil
152mm Gun/Missile Launcher
This unusual weapon is found only on the Sheridan airborne combat vehicle (though in the 1960s and 1970s is was also found on
the M-60A2 tank). It recoil is so violent for such a light tank that the firing of any conventional gun round (but not the Shillelagh
missile) that there is a 2 in 10 chance on each firing that the rangefinder takes minor damage. This gun can also fire the Shillelagh
ATGM through its gun tube (see US ATGMs).
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
152mm Gun/Missile
1
150
APERS
B75
6C
Nil
1
350
HE
C8 B32
13C
Nil
1
350
HEAT
C4 B16
130C
Nil
1
350
WP
C3 B36
Nil
Nil
165mm Demolition Gun
This is a gun mounted on the US M-728 and British Centurion AVRE combat engineer vehicles. It is the same concept as the
French 142mm Demolition Gun listed above, but in a larger form.
Weapon
Reload
Range
Round
Damage
Penetration
IFR
165mm Demo Gun
2
125
HESH
C30 B36
130C
Nil
| textdata/thevault/Twilight 2000/Unofficial/pmulcahy.com Archives/Large Caliber Guns/Twilight 2000 - Large-Caliber Guns.pdf |
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Credits
Adventure Design
Development and
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D&D R&D Player
D&D Adventurers
D&D Adventurers
Debut: August 29
Release: October
DUNGEONS & DR
Master’s Guide, D&
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property of Wizard
unauthorized use
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The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
2
Introduction
Welcome to The Scroll Thief, a D&D ExpeditionsTM
adventure, part of the official D&D Adventurers
LeagueTM organized play system and the Tyranny of
DragonsTM storyline season.
This adventure is designed for three to seven 1st-
4th level characters, and is optimized for five 2nd
level characters. Characters outside this level range
cannot participate in this adventure. Players with
ineligble characters can create a new 1st-level character
or use a pregenerated character.
The adventure is set in the city of Phlan in the
Cracked Crown inn, but turns explores a number of
different locations in Scholar's Square before plumbing
the depths of the ruins beneath Mantor's Library and the
sewers beneath Phlan.
The D&D Adventurers
League
This adventure is official for D&D Adventurers League
play. The D&D Adventurers League is the official
organized play system for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®.
Players can create characters and participate in any
adventure allowed as a part of the D&D Adventurers
League. As they adventure, players track their
characters’ experience, treasure, and other rewards, and
can take those characters through other adventures that
will continue their story.
D&D Adventurers League play is broken up into
storyline seasons. When players create characters, they
attach those characters to a storyline season, which
determines what rules they’re allowed to use to create
and advance their characters. Players can continue to
play their characters after the storyline season has
finished, possibly participating in a second or third
storyline with those same characters. A character’s level
is the only limitation for adventure play. A player cannot
use a character of a level higher or lower than the level
range of a D&D Adventurers League adventure.
If you’re running this adventure as a part of a store
event or at certain conventions, you’ll need a DCI
number. This number is your official Wizards of the
Coast organized play identifier. If you don’t have a
number, you can obtain one at a store event. Check with
your organizer for details.
For more information on playing, running games as a
Dungeon Master, and organizing games for the D&D
Adventurers League, please visit the D&D Adventurers
League home.
Preparing the Adventure
Before you show up to Dungeon Master this adventure
for a group of players, you should do the following to
prepare.
•
Make sure to have a copy of the most current
version of the D&D basic rules or the Player’s
HandbookTM.
•
Read through the adventure, taking notes of
anything you’d like to highlight or remind yourself
while running the adventure, such as a way you’d
like to portray an NPC or a tactic you’d like to use in
a combat.
•
Get familiar with the monster statistics in the
Appendix.
•
Gather together any resources you’d like to use to
aid you in Dungeon Mastering, such as notecards, a
DM screen, miniatures, battlemaps, etc.
•
If you know the composition of the group
beforehand, you can make adjustments as noted
throughout the adventure.
Before Play at the Table
Ask the players to provide you with relevant character
information. This includes:
•
Character name and level
•
Character race and class
•
Passive Wisdom (Perception)—the most common
passive ability check
•
Anything notable as specified by the adventure
(such as backgrounds, traits, flaws, and so on)
Players that have characters outside the adventure’s
level range cannot participate in the adventure with
those characters. Players with ineligible characters can
make a new 1st-level character or use a pregenerated
character. Players can play an adventure they previously
played or ran as a Dungeon Master, but not with the
same character (if applicable).
Ensure that each player has an official adventure
logsheet for his or her character (if not, get one from the
organizer). The player will fill out the adventure name,
session number, date, and your name and DCI number.
In addition, the player also fills in the starting values for
XP, gold, downtime, renown, and number of permanent
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
3
magic items. He or she will fill in the other values and
write notes at the conclusion of the session. Each player
is responsible for maintaining an accurate logsheet.
If you have time, you can do a quick scan of a player’s
character sheet to ensure that nothing looks out of
order. If you see magic items of very high rarities or
strange arrays of ability scores, you can ask players to
provide documentation for the irregularities. If they
cannot, feel free to restrict item use or ask them to use a
standard ability score array. Point players to the D&D
Adventurers League Player’s Guide for reference.
If players wish to spend downtime days and it’s the
beginning of an adventure or episode, they can declare
their activity and spend the days now, or they can do so
at the end of the adventure or episode.
Players should select their characters’ spells and
other daily options prior to the start of the adventure,
unless the adventure specifies otherwise. Feel free to
reread the adventure description to help give players
hints about what they might face.
Adjusting the Adventure
Throughout this adventure, you may see sidebars to help
you make adjustments to this adventure for
smaller/larger groups and characters, of higher/lower
levels that the optimized group size. Most of the time,
this is used for combat encounters.
You may adjust the adventure beyond the guidelines
given in the adventure, or for other reasons. For
example, if you’re playing with a group of inexperienced
players, you might want to make the adventure a little
easier; for very experienced players, you might want to
make it a little harder. Therefore, five categories of party
strength have been created for you to use as a guide.
Use these as a guide, and feel free to use a different
adjustment during the adventure if the recommended
party strength feels off for the group.
This adventure is optimized for a party of five 2nd-
level characters. To figure out whether you need to
adjust the adventure, do the following:
•
Add up the total levels of all the characters
•
Divide the total by the number of characters
•
Round fractions of .5 or greater up; round frations
of less than .5 down
You’ve now determined the average party level (APL)
for the adventure. To figure out the party strength for
the adventure, consult the following table.
Determining Party Strength
Party Composition
Party Strength
3-4 characters, APL less than
Very weak
3-4 characters, APL equivalent
Weak
3-4 characters, APL greater than
Average
5 characters, APL less than
Weak
5 characters, APL equivalent
Average
5 characters, APL greater than
Strong
6-7 characters, APL less than
Average
6-7 characters, APL equivalent
Strong
6-7 characters, APL greater than
Very strong
Average party strength indicates no recommended
adjustments to the adventure. Each sidebar may or may
not offer suggestions for certain party strengths. If a
particular recommendation is not offered for your group,
you don’t have to make adjustments.
Dungeon Mastering the
Adventure
As the DM of the session, you have the most important
role in facilitating the enjoyment of the game for the
players. You help guide the narrative and bring the
words on these pages to life. The outcome of a fun game
session often creates stories that live well beyond the
play at the table. Always follow this golden rule when
you DM for a group:
Make decisions and adjudications that enhance the fun
of the adventure when possible.
To reinforce this golden rule, keep in mind the following:
•
You are empowered to make adjustments to the
adventure and make decisions about how the group
interacts with the world of this adventure. This is
especially important and applicable outside of
combat, but feel free to adjust the adventure for
groups that are having too easy or too hard of a
time.
•
Don’t make the adventure too easy or too difficult
for a group. Never being challenged makes for a
boring game, and being overwhelmed makes for a
frustrating game. Gauge the experience of the
players (not the characters) with the game, try to
feel out (or ask) what they like in a game, and
attempt to give each of them the experience they’re
after when they play D&D. Give everyone a chance
to shine.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
4
•
Be mindful of pacing, and keep the game session
moving along appropriately. Watch for stalling,
since play loses momentum when this happens. At
the same time, make sure that the players don’t
finish too early; provide them with a full play
experience. Try to be aware of running long or
short. Adjust the pacing accordingly.
•
Read-aloud text is just a suggestion; feel free to
modify the text as you see fit, especially when
dialogue is present.
•
Give the players appropriate hints so they can make
informed choices about how to proceed. Players
should be given clues and hints when appropriate
so they can tackle puzzles, combat, and interactions
without getting frustrated over lack of information.
This helps to encourage immersion in the
adventure and gives players “little victories” for
figuring out good choices from clues.
In short, being the DM isn’t about following the
adventure’s text word-for-word; it’s about facilitating a
fun, challenging game environment for the players. The
Dungeon Master’s Guide TM has more information on
the art of running a D&D game.
Downtime and Lifestyle
At the beginning of each play session, players must
declare whether or not they are spending any days of
downtime. The player records the downtime spent on
the adventure logsheet. The following options are
available to players during downtime (see the D&D
basic rules or the D&D Adventurers League Player’s
Guide for more information):
•
Catching up
•
Crafting (exception: multiple characters cannot
commit to crafting a single item)
•
Practicing a profession
•
Recuperating
•
Spellcasting services (end of the adventure only)
•
Training
Other downtime options might be available during
adventures or unlocked through play, including faction-
specific activities.
In addition, whenever a character spends downtime
days, that character also spends the requisite expense
for his or her lifestyle. Costs are per day, so a character
that spends ten days of downtime also spends ten days
of expenses maintaining his or her lifestyle. Some
downtime activities help with lifestyle expenses or add
lifestyle expenses.
Spellcasting Services
Any settlement the size of a town or larger can provide
some spellcasting services. Characters need to be able
to travel to the settlement to obtain these services.
Alternatively, if the party finishes an adventure, they can
be assumed to return to the settlement closest to the
adventure location.
Spell services generally available include healing and
recovery spells, as well as information-gathering spells.
Other spell services might be available as specified in
the adventure. The number of spells available to be cast
as a service is limited to a maximum of three per day
total, unless otherwise noted.
Spellcasting Services
Spell
Cost
Cure wounds (1st level)
10 gp
Identify
20 gp
Lesser restoration
40 gp
Prayer of healing (2nd level)
40 gp
Remove curse
90 gp
Speak with dead
90 gp
Divination
210 gp
Greater restoration
450 gp
Raise dead
1,250 gp
Acolyte Background
A character possessing the acolyte background requesting
spellcasting services at a temple of his or her faith may request
one spell per day from the Spellcasting Services table for free.
The only cost paid for the spell is the base price for the
consumed material component, if any.
Character Disease,
Death, and Recovery
Sometimes bad things happen, and characters get
poisoned, diseased, or die. Since you might not have the
same characters return from session to session, here
are the rules when bad things happen to characters.
Disease, Poison, and Other Debilitating
Effects
A character still affected by diseases, poisons, and other
similar effects at the conclusion of an adventure can
spend downtime days recuperating until such time as he
or she resolves the effect to its conclusion (see the
recuperating activity in the D&D basic rules). If a
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
5
character doesn’t resolve the effect between sessions,
that character begins the next session still affected by
the debilitating effect.
Death
A character who dies during the course of the adventure
has a few options at the end of the session (or whenever
arriving back in civilization) if no one in the adventuring
party has immediate access to a raise dead or revivify
spell, or similar magic. A character subject to a raise
dead spell is affected negatively until all long rests have
been completed during an adventure. Alternatively, each
downtime day spent after raise dead reduces the penalty
to attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks by 1, in
addition to any other benefits the downtime activity
might provide.
Create a New 1st-Level Character. If the dead
character is unwilling or unable to exercise any of the
other options, the player creates a new character. The
new character does not have any items or rewards
possessed by the dead character.
Dead Character Pays for Raise Dead. If the
character’s body is recoverable (it’s not missing any vital
organs and is mostly whole) and the player would like
the character to be returned to life, the party can take
the body back to civilization and use the dead
character’s funds to pay for a raise dead spell. A raise
dead spell cast in this manner costs the character 1,250
gp.
Character’s Party Pays for Raise Dead. As above,
except that some or all of the 1,250 gp for the raise dead
spell is paid for by the party at the end of the session.
Other characters are under no obligation to spend their
funds to bring back a dead party member.
Faction Charity. If the character is of level 1 to 4 and
a member of a faction, the dead character’s body can be
returned to civilization and a patron from the faction
ensures that he or she receives a raise dead spell.
However, any character invoking this charity forfeits all
XP and rewards from that session (even those earned
prior to death during that session), and cannot replay
that episode or adventure with that character again.
Once a character reaches 5th level, this option is no
longer available.
Adventure Background
Shortly after the Zhentarim assumed control over Phlan
in 1380 DR, the Lord Protector began a campaign of
book-burning. Documents that portrayed the Zhentarim
or Bane in a derogatory manner were secreted away in a
subbasement beneath Mantor’s Library, and put to the
torch. Rumor has it that the fanatical Zhentarim also
locked various political prisoners within the burning
archive, conveniently killing two birds with one stone.
Ellison Berenger, a member of the Cult of the Dragon,
has come to Phlan for two purposes: to gather evidence
to support his claim as a descendent of a noble house,
and, more importantly, to recover information on the
workings of the Pool of Radiance for his masters within
the Cult. After months working covertly within Mantor’s
Library, he finally found the location of the three books,
and subsequently the archives deep beneath Mantor’s
Library and the secrets buried within.
Timeline of Events
•
Four Months Ago. Ellison arrives in Phlan along with two
other agents of the Cult of the Dragon--Spernik and
TIbeem (also appearing in DDEX1-2 Secrets of Sokol Keep
and DDEX1-5 The Courting of Fire.)
•
Six Nights Ago. Ellison steals a book titled The Weave: A
Collection of Impractical Observations from Aya Glenmiir.
•
Four Nights Ago. Ellison breaks into Marten Foss's house
and steals a single book; one from of a larger collection of
personal memoires of Ren o' The Blade, a ranger of legend
who once resided in Phlan.
•
Two Nights Ago. Ellison steals a book titled Lords and
Lineages of Phlan from Agin Lamarck, a local noble and
heraldrist.
•
One Night Ago. Ellison, disguised as a scribe, breaks into
Mantor's Library to locate the remainder of the collection
of Ren o' the Blade’s memoirs. During his search, he
murders Garda Greenleaf.
Overview
The Scroll Thief is divided into three parts.
Part 1: Mysteries in Method. The adventurers have
been hired by a representative of the Black Fist to look
into several worrying thefts in Phlan--thefts that the
Black Fist has thus far been unable to stem. During
their investigation, the adventurers gather clues that
lead them to Mantor’s Library. They also attract the
attention of Soares, a cultist sent to waylay the group,
and Fulta, a halfling in his employ.
Part 2: Truth in Text. The adventurers zero in on
Mantor’s Library and discover that Ellison, a scribe
recently taken into the Library’s employ, has not shown
up for his scheduled shift. Further investigation reveals
the corpse of a library employee in the sub-basement.
Upon the discovery of and entry into the sub-basement,
the adventurers find danger in the form of undead
creatures, the spirits of those slain in the depths of the
archives along with what remains of Denlor’s legacy.
Ellison's escape route is also revealed; a tunnel blasted
th
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The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
8
Mantor’s Library
It is likely that the characters begin their search at
Mantor’s Library; specifically with the Scribe Master,
Cassra Brandywine.
Sun-bleached colonnades frame the austere façade of
Mantor’s Library. A solitary bench sits next to a tranquil pond
at the fore of this property in the center of Scholar’s Square.
The grounds are well manicured and festooned with blooming
flowers and other local flora.
Mantor’s Library is the most prominent institution in the
Scholar’s Square. The Library's staff has a seemingly
inexhaustible reserve of energy which he devotes to
curating and expanding the library’s vast collection of
encyclopediae, treatises, and compendiums. Mantor’s
Library is funded by donations and the modest fees
collected for performing research, transcribing,
translating; as well as donations from the city’s
wealthier citizenry.
The Scribe Master
Provided the adventurers display an interest in the note
and the promise of a reward, they are likely to head to
Mantor’s Library first; specifically to see Scribe Master
Cassra Brandywine.
The Scribe Master’s office is small and very cramped – a
problem made worse by the sheer number of books that are
stacked haphazardly on every piece of furniture within. A sign
on the door reads:
Cassra Brandywine
Scribe Master
Beneath that, a small piece of wood hangs on a nail with the
word “IN” written on it in chalk.
As you knock on the door, a voice from an unseen source
calls out “Just a moment!” There is the creaking of a wooden
chair, a muttered curse and then a loud crashing noise as a
few stacks of books are knocked to the floor, revealing a
young-looking halfling with short blonde hair; her hands and
shirt stained with smudges of blue ink.
Roleplaying Cassra
Cassra Brandywine is surprisingly young given her occupation
and status. She is, however, wickedly smart. Unfortunately, her
work keeps her quite busy, so her social skills have atrophied.
She is clumsy and socially awkward, often stammering when
speaking in the company of more than a couple people.
The Scribe Master is a female halfling with short,
blonde hair that looks like she cuts it herself. Her hands
are heavily stained with smudges and smears of bright
blue ink.
Her clothes are well made, but are smudged in places
with the same blue ink that stains her hands. In fact,
adventurers who look around her offices notice the
same blue marks on furniture and decorations in the
office, as well.
Upon noticing the adventurers, she brushes herself off
and introduces herself. She asks for the adventurer’s
names; closing her eyes and repeating each one in turn--
as if committing them to memory. Upon mentioning
their referral by Knight Burral, Cassra smiles and
relates the following information.
•
Three exceptionally rare tomes were stolen from
various people residing in Scholar's Square--each
two days apart.
•
The first book was stolen six days ago from the
office of Aya Glenmiir; a wizard who maintains a
small shop in Scholar's Square. The book was a
treatise on the Weave titled: The Weave: A
Collection of Impractical Observations.
•
The second book that was stolen belonged to
Marten Foss; a retired adventurer and resident of
Phlan who kept it in his private collection in his
home in the Nobles’ Quarter. The book was
personal memoire of Ren, a long-dead ranger of
repute and once one of Phlan’s most famous
citizens.
•
The third and final theft occurred last night and was
that of a book titled: The Lords and Lineages of
Phlan. It was in the possession of Agin Lamarck,
local noble who specializes in the history of Phlan,
specifically genealogy and heraldry.
•
Cassra offers a reward of 100 gp for the successful
retrieval of the stolen books. She doesn’t care if the
thief is caught or not.
•
Cassra is involved in the investigations because one
of the stolen books (the book stolen from Aya
Glenmiir) is the property of the Library; something
that has caused her no end of trouble.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
9
•
If asked about the blue ink on her hands or around
the office, she spreads her hands out, chuckles and
explains that all of the official ledgers in the Library
use this particular type of ink. "It's the scribe's
curse!" she chuckles.
Aya Glenmiir
Aya Glenmiir resides in one of the buildings on the nicer
side of Podol Plaza. She is a wizard of modest skill, but
her true talent lay in her practical understanding of the
Weave. Study, however, doesn't pay particularly well, so
she plies a minor trade in tutoring the spoiled offspring
of nobles in the basics of arcane spellcasting.
As the resident expert on the Weave, she was
entrusted with a rare book titled: The Weave: A
Practical Observation of Impractical Occurrences.
This book was the first of the three tomes to be stolen.
The door to this rather unassuming building opens, and a
female half-elf wearing robes stands in the doorway. The smell
of flowers and incense flow from within.
Perched on the elf's shoulder is a small, grey-furred monkey.
“I take you are here to interrogate me about the missing
book?" She smiles, "Master Opanrael is certainly distrustful.”
General Features
The general features of Aya's shop are:
Light. Night or day, the interior of the shop is dimly lit
by candles. Heavy curtains prevent most of the sun's
light from entering via the windows.
Smells. Incense. Flowers. Paper and ink.
Sounds. Chittering. Scratching of quill on paper.
Whispered incantations.
Roleplaying Aya Glenmiir
Aya has a bit of an ego. She’s well aware of the allure and
mystery that her racial heritage evokes, and has no reservations
against capitalizing on it. She is quick with a coy smile and a
twist of the hair if it gets her what she wants. But despite this,
she is quite brilliant, especially when the Weave is discussed.
Aya is a female elf, nearly 300 years old. She has long,
black hair and radiant green eyes.
Aya wishes to see the book returned safely and
answers whatever questions the adventurers might
have. She is, however, hesitant to reveal and discuss her
displeasure at someone besting her magical safeguards.
•
Master Opanrael is the Head Curator at Mantor's
Library.
•
The book belonged to the library and had been in
her study for two years before it was taken six days
ago.
•
The book is a rare treatise detailing the Weave; its
history and hypotheses about its nature.
•
Because the book was so valuable, only a handful
people knew that Aya had it stored in her room.
Whoever took the book more than likely had access
to the Library’s records.
•
The book was the only thing stolen.
•
The book was stored in a glass display case of
breathtaking quality. An adventurer succeeding at a
DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check notices
cunningly etched runes around the edges of each
pane of glass. If the check succeeds by 5 or more,
the character notices that one of the runes has been
subtly marred. Succeeding at a subsequent DC 10
Intelligence (Arcana) check reveals that the
imperfection was deliberately made and completely
defeated the case's protective enchantments. It was
the work of a professional.
•
The book was about a foot and a half wide and just
as long. It was bound in fine, white leather with
golden lettering along the spin and a ribbon of white
silk as a placeholder. The front of the book was
emblazoned with the symbol of Mystra, the goddess
of the Magic.
Developments
Any adventurer succeeding at a DC 10 Wisdom (Insight)
check notices that Aya is hiding something. Should an
adventurer press the matter and succeed at a DC 15
Charisma (Persuasion) check, she relates the following.
•
Aya had invested a significant amount of time
warding her apartments to appease the Lord Sage;
earning his trust by ensuring that anything kept
within her apartments were safe.
•
Aya believes that the Lord Sage will likely use it as
an excuse to ask her to return all of the Library's
books in her possession.
•
Aya’s reveals that she had lied about the book being
the only thing stolen. The thief also took some of
her personal possessions as well; namely a horn of
blasting and three spell scrolls. The scrolls
contained detect magic, fireball, and hold person.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
10
If the adventurers succeed at this check and suggest that
they speak to the Lord Sage on her behalf, she is
pleased and offers the adventurers her assistance. Aya
pens a quick note on a nearby scrap of paper and passes
it to the monkey on her shoulder that then scampers out
the window with the note clutched tightly in its hand.
XP Award
If the adventurers convince Aya to confide in her and
assure her that they will speak to Opanrael on her
behalf, award each character 25 XP.
Marten Foss
A former adventurer himself, Marten shares a special
kinship with Ren o’ the Blade and collects items that
once belonged to the famous ranger. Amongst his
belongings is a collection of the ranger's memoirs.
Though most of the collection is in Mantor's Library, he
keeps one particular volume in his office, and four nights
ago, Ellison stole it.
Although he is retired, Marten runs a small practice
yard. For a gold piece, someone with a desire to learn
how to swing a sword can come to bang away on chunks
of wood for an hour or two under the watchful eye of
someone who knows what they're doing. For two, he'll
tell you what you're doing wrong.
Shouts and the clamor of steel on steel are clearly audible even
before the stout doors to the practice yard open. A middle-
aged dwarf props one of the double doors open with the
stump of an arm that has been amputated just above the
elbow.
Inside, a wide practice yard is surrounded by covered
walkways set with chairs and tables. A number of people in
various stages of exhaustion rest in the shade.
The dwarf frowns as he bids you enter, “Come 'bout the book,
I suppose?"
General Features
The general features of Marten's place of business are:
Light. The open practice yard is well-lit night or day.
Smells. The sharp smell of unwashed bodies, oiled
metal, dust.
Sounds. Clanging steel. Grunts. Excited shouting.
In the yard, a handful of men square off against a single
dwarven woman wielding a pair of handaxes. From the
looks on the faces of her opponents, she seems to be
holding her own quite well.
Roleplaying Marten Foss
Marten Foss is a man of means, but as a retired adventurer,
understands what it’s like to want something you cannot have.
He is not pleased with the amount of attention that the theft
has attracted. He has little patience for "soft" people or those
without a solid appreciation for a blade.
Marten Foss is a dwarven male of middling age with
short black hair and a well-trimmed black beard, well
streaked with gray. He lost his arm decades ago to an
owlbear. He is also a member of the Order of the
Gauntlet, a faction devoted to striking down evil
wherever it rears its head. He does not make this fact
well-known to new acquiantences, but any character that
has a passive Perception (Wisdom) score of 12 or better
can see a small pendant with the symbol of a mailed
hand clutching a sword hanging from a peg near a
weapon rack.
Marten freely discusses the circumstances
surrounding the theft of the book with the adventurers.
He’s probably more interested in seeing its safe return
than the Lord Sage is. During the course of discussion,
provide the following information as the adventurers
discuss the book’s theft.
•
The book contained the personal memoirs of Ren o’
the Blade—a personal hero to Marten Foss—during
his time in Phlan.
•
He has owned the book for nearly a decade.
•
The book was the only thing stolen from his home.
•
Most of the collection is archived in Mantor's
Library, but the stolen volume has special personal
meaning to the retired adventurer. He wants
nothing more than it to be found safely, though he
won't get his hopes up.
•
The book was simply stored on a bookshelf. No
locks and no traps.
•
The book was rather small--perhaps a foot long and
half as wide--and was bound in red leather with
black lettering on the spine.
Should any adventurer ask who Ren o’ the Blade was,
Marten gives them an admonishing look, but gladly
educated them. Read or paraphrase the following.
•
Ren o’ the Blade was instrumental in defeating
Tyranthraxus; an entity who had possessed a
bronze dragon and ruled Phlan.
•
He participated in the defeat of Tyranthraxus; who
subsequently fled into a Pool of Radiance located
beneath Valjevo Keep.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
11
Developments
Throughout the party's interaction with him, Marten has
been watching the young woman in the practice yard
intently. Any adventurer succeeding at a DC 10 Wisdom
(Insight) check easily notices an intense jealous pride in
his stare. If they ask about her, Marten relates the
following information to the adventurers.
•
The woman is Marten's daughter and best student,
Vera; he hasn't seen anyone fight like her in years.
•
Her mother died when she was young, and this was
the only way he knew how to raise her.
•
If any of the adventurers want to challenge her, he
chuckles and suggests they grab a practice blade
and try their luck.
If any adventurer decides to spar with Vera Marten, she
directs them to a rack of practice weapons from the
practice yard and whistles loudly to get Vera's attention.
On the racks in the practice yard, there are a number of
practice weapons; one or two of each type of simple or
martial melee weapon. They are heavily padded and
deal no damage on a successful hit, but the wrapping is
saturated with chalk dust so any strikes are easily visible
on sufficiently dark clothing.
Before the fight begins, Vera circles the challenging
adventurer and lays a couple of ground rules; "No
armor, no magic, no hitting in the face." Vera (+2
Initiative, AC 12) is just as skilled as Marten described
her, and attacks with graceful ferocity (+4 to hit).
The fight continues until a participant scores three
successful attacks. If a challenger uses magic or is aided
by another member of the group, Vera shouts in disgust
and Marten asks the adventurers to leave; obviously
infuriated.
Should the party fight fairly, Marten is impressed--win
or lose--and his attitude improves considerably. He goes
to his office and returns with a book that he describes as
being bound identically to the description of the book
that was stolen. He requests that the adventurers check
on the rest of his collection and make sure that it is still
safe in the Library. Chuckling to himself, he suggests
that having a book from the same collection will likely
make it down a bit easier.
Order of the Gauntlet
If a member of the Order of the Gauntlet challenges and
defeats Vera in a sparring match, that character earns
one renown point.
XP Award
If any of the adventurers impress Marten Foss with their
fighting prowess (win or lose), award each character in
the party 25 XP.
Agin Lamarck
Agin Lamarck is a historian and a noble who dabbles in
heraldry and genealogy. Although he resides in the
noble's quarter of Phlan, he works in a small, dusty shop
in Podol's Plaza during the day. He deals primarily in
the history of Phlan itself as well as that of its noble
houses. But for a small commission, he helps folks write
letters and even draft occasional legal documents.
As expected, he has many books within his study to
aid him in his research, among them a rather old copy of
Lords and Lineages of Phlan. The book was the most
recent book stolen.
The small building's front door opens into a small, cramped
office. Looking within, you can see a number of different
heraldic banners from the walls; each hanging above what
looks like a gaudily-decorated family tree set into a frame.
“Oh, hello there,” Lamarck deadpans; a sarcastic look on his
face, “I’m very excited to be a part of this.”
General Features
The general features of Agin's shop are as follows:
Light. The small, cramped shop is well-lit by windows
during the day and candles during the night.
Smells. Paper, ink, and glue.
Sounds. Pages turning. Scratching of quill on paper.
Roleplaying Agin Lamarck
Lamarck is anything but excited to be a part of this. Lamarck is
a cynical man, and wields sarcasm like a master warrior does a
blade; with precision and intent. He isn’t a bad person, but the
whole ordeal has him at unease. Agin has a secret—one that
the theft may bring to light if he’s not careful. As such, he
chooses his words carefully.
Lamarck is a true noble; pampered and demanding. He
is a handsome human male, with long black hair
framing a narrow face. He has piercing green eyes that
seem to be made especially for looking at people with
contempt. He dresses in fine clothes of silk and linen
and wears no less than half a dozen gaudy rings on his
fingers. One of these rings bears the sigil of the Lords’
Alliance on the palm side of the band; if a member of the
Lords’ Alliance subtly reveals himself or herself as part
of that faction, Agin surreptitiously shows his sigil.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
12
The adventurers have the opportunity to learn the
following while speaking with Lamarck.
•
The book, Lords and Lineages of Phlan, is a
catalogue of every noble house that has resided
within Phlan. The first entry dates back over seven-
hundred years ago.
•
The book has been in the Lamarck’s family for two
centuries.
•
The book was secured within a drawer in his desk
that was “locked and protected by powerful
spellcraft.” Despite his claims, however, it does not
radiate magic.
•
Any adventurer investigating the lock who succeeds
at a DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check notices the
remnants of a laughably simple trap that did
nothing more than ring a tiny bell concealed inside
of the desk.
•
He cannot guess why anyone would want to steal
the book. While rare and old, the book is little more
than a collection of lineages and notes made by
scribes of past and current noble houses. It is a
rather ugly book discussing dull subject matter and
cannot likely bring much in the way of a profit.
•
The book is a full foot thick and is two feet wide and
just as long. It was bound in the tanned hide of a
manticore. It is anyone’s guess how the thief
managed to carry it around Phlan without raising
suspicion.
•
The Lamarck family has long been considered to be
well-respected scholars in the field of documenting
familial lineages.
Developments
It is difficult to notice, but Agin Lamarck is hiding
something. Lamarck has spent years at court, and is
adept at concealing his feelings. However, any
adventurer with a passive Wisdom (Insight) score of 12
or higher gets the impression that he is hiding
something. But as good as he may be at lying, he is at
his core, rather cowardly. Should an adventurer
confront Lamarck on his deception, a successful DC 15
Charisma (Persuasion or Intimidation) check Agin
reluctantly discloses the following.
•
Despite the family’s long-standing claim to nobility,
they are of no actual relation to House Lamarck. In
truth, the last surviving members of the Lamarck
line died nearly two hundred years ago.
•
Agin’s great, great grandfather made a couple
clever forgeries in Lords and Lineages of Phlan,
which allowed his family to claim descent from the
then-dead Lamarck line. With no one to contest the
claim, there was no doubt as to its legitimacy.
•
Agin is terrified of the prospects of the truth coming
out; he would lose a lifestyle he has grown quite
accustomed to.
•
Stealing or even destroying the book would
definitely safeguard his secret, but he is dedicated
to the duties of his position, and states that doing
such a thing would be simply unconscionable (as a
successful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check
confirms).
•
If the adventurers agree to return the book to
Lamarck without revealing his secret, he agrees to
double Scribe Master Cassra’s reward for the
return of Lords and Lineages of Phlan upon its
return.
Lords’ Alliance
Agin’s claim to nobility is false, and bringing this to the
attention of the Lords’ Alliance would be greatly
appreciated by the faction, which does not brook
imposters.
Members of the Lords’ Alliance who inform their
faction of Agin’s deception earn one renown point.
XP Award
If the adventurers wheedle Agin Lamarck’s true
intentions from him, award the party 25 XP.
Treasure
If the adventurers learn the truth about House Lamarck,
Agin offers the group 50 gp keep his family's secret safe.
Ambush Alley
Unbeknownst to the adventurers, they are being
followed. The Cult of the Dragon’s has eyes everywhere,
and they have learned that the adventurers are looking
into the thefts. To that end, the Cult has been following
the adventurers with plans on discouraging them from
investigating any further.
Once the characters have investigated the locations of
the three thefts, read the following as they leave the
third location.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
13
As usual, Podol Plaza is a hive of activity, with hundreds of
people milling about.
As you round a corner, an elf steps from the mouth of a
nearby alley and stops in the street in front of you.
“The Welcomers send their regards and have information
that you may find useful. Follow me,” the elf says with a
worried look before ducking back into the alley.
The “elf” is named Soares, a human thug, and is not
who he insinuates that he is. He is a mercenary in the
employ of the Cult of the Dragon who is doing his level
best to pose as a member of the Welcomers—Phlan’s
guild of thieves-turned-freedom-fighters.
Roleplaying Soares
Soares is a very recent member to the Cult of the Dragon. Like
any new recruit, he is abjectly terrified of failing this mission.
That said, he is charming and sure of himself. He is quick to
throw a compliment if it will give him the upper hand.
Looking down the alley, the adventurers can see that it
goes for about 100 feet or so before turning sharply to
the right. Though it cannot be seen from the street, the
alley ends immediately after turning in a sort of cul-de-
sac approximately 40-feet across.
Soares does not wait for the adventurers to react
before slipping back into the alley. He is waiting about
20 feet into the alley and begins walking further if the
adventurers seem like they are going to follow.
He is attempting to lure the adventurers to an ambush
point in a nearby alley where a Fulta, a halfling spy, is
waiting along with her two halfling guards. Soares
leads them through winding, narrow side streets and
corridors before he and his colleagues ambush them.
If asked, Soares simply says that the Welcomers know
about the thefts and have information as to why the
books are being stolen. He claims not to know anything
beyond that, but is leading them to someone with the
answers.
Any adventurer who succeeds at a DC 15 Wisdom
(Insight) check notices something a little off about
Soares. He scoffs at any mention of deceit on his part.
If the adventurers refuse to follow Soares, he tries to
convince them to follow, but if his requests are refused,
he and his colleagues simply attack them a few blocks
down the road.
Adjusting the Encounter
Here are recommendations for adjusting this combat
encounter. These are not cumulative.
•
Very weak or weak party: remove the spy
•
Strong party: change Soares from a thug to a bandit captain
•
Very strong party: change Soares from a thug to a bandit
captain; change guards to thugs
General Features
The general features of both ambush spots are the
same.
Light. The streets of Phlan are well-lit during the day
and dimly lit during the evening.
Smells. The sharp smell of unwashed bodies, animal
manure, and fresh and rotting food.
Sounds. Bartering, laughter, horses whinnying
The Ambush
Regardless of whether or not the adventurers follow
Soares, they are ambushed by the cult agents; the only
difference is the location of the ambush.
•
The Adventurers Follow Soares. They are at-
tacked in the alleyway cul-de-sac as they turn the
corner.
As you turn the corner in the alley, it opens into a cul-de-sac
about 40 feet across. Soares stops in front of you and turns
around, a wide grin on his face. Almost as if on cue, two other
people step out from behind piles of rubbish and crates,
cutting off an easy escape.
“You’ve had your nose where it doesn’t belong,” the elf says
coolly, “time for us to bloody it.”
•
The Adventurers Do Not Follow Soares. They are
attacked a few blocks down the road.
You feel a sense of unease, and it is a few moments before you
realize what it is; the hustle and bustle of the busy street
seems to be gone.
People are hurriedly ducking into doors and rushing down the
street; leading their children by the hand. As the last of the
crowd thins, you see a familiar face standing in the street.
“We don’t take kindly to being ignored,” the elf says, drawing
a dagger from his belt. As he does, a pair of armed halflings
step out from the remaining bystanders; armed with short
swords
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
14
On his first turn, Soares will rush the least-armored
opponent, while the guards try to keep the others busy.
Fulta is hiding inside a large crate at the end of an alley
(or simply a bit further down the street), and waits until
the end of the round before attacking with her shortbow.
She targets obvious spellcasters before other targets.
Soares fights to the death out of nothing but fear of
the cult’s punishment for failure. If either Fulta or the
guards are reduced to less than 5 hit points, however,
they attempt to flee; if escape is impossible, they
surrender.
Halfling Racial Traits
Fulta and the guards are halflings, so the following racial traits
may be added:
•
Brave. The halfling has advantage on saving throws against
being frightened.
•
Halfling Nimbleness. The halfling can move through the
space of any creature that is of a size larger than it.
Developments
Outside of the use of magic, Soares does not divulge his
secrets if he is not slain. If charmed, however, Soares
confirms that he is a member of the Cult of the Dragon;
supporting his claim by removing a glove and revealing a
series of green tattoos on the last three fingers of his
right hand. He discloses that he attacked the party at the
order of a cult member who he knows nothing about,
except that his hands were stained with smudges of
bright, blue ink.
If Fulta or the guards are captured, they freely admit
to being hired by a man in a black half-mask who had
smudges of blue ink on their hands. They know nothing
beyond this.
If none of the mercenaries are captured or are all
slain, the adventurers find a letter after the melee. This
letter has been written in bright blue ink. It reads:
"Just get it done, Soares. If they find me, then the last four
months have been a total waste. Ensure that the Whisper-
er's faith in us was not ill-placed."
--B
The note was sent by Ellison Berenger, but it could
easily be construed that Cassra Brandywine is behind
the thefts; given the unique blue ink that the letter is
written in and the "B" it has been signed with.
Assuming that the adventurers report back to Knight
Burral after the confrontation in the alley, she appears
dismayed. Much of these concerns wash away if the
adventurers turn Soares, Fulta, or the guards in
however and she is very appreciative.
In looking at whatever evidence the adventurers
found, she suggests something larger at play. If they
haven't made the connection already, she points out the
similarity between the blue ink the note is written in and
the blue ink that Cassra had all over her hands. She
returns the note to the adventurers.
Treasure
Soares carries a total of 25 gp on his person. Should
Fulta be killed or captured, she carries 15 gp as well as
the letter described above. The guards have 5 gp each.
Additionally, Fulta has a potion of healing on her
person.
XP Award
Once the adventurers fully investigate each of the three
thefts, award each character 50 XP.
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The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
16
"Ah, yes. I trust you are the…" he pauses as he looks you each
over, "…people that Madam Glenmiir mentioned in her note.
What precisely can I do for you?"
•
No Appointment. Persuasion Successful.
Opanrael mistakes the adventurers as nothing other
than loud annoyances and asks them to come back
when he's not quite so busy. Any character
succeeding at a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion)
check suitably impresses Opanrael who feels that
they may actually be able to help him.
"Well, you don't have an appointment," the Curator says
steepling his fingers, "but I may be able to spare a moment."
•
No Appointment. Persuasion Unsuccessful. If the
adventurers are unsuccessful in their attempts to
sway Opanrael, he dismisses them with a gesture
and bids them wait in a small waiting room near his
offices. After about an hour, he shuffles out.
"Despite your complete and utter lack of etiquette and more
importantly, an appointment, I thank you for your patience.
What can I do for you?"
During the course of discussion with the adventurers,
Opanrael provides the following information.
•
He knows very little regarding the circumstances of
the theft of the three books, but is aware of their
disappearance.
•
He has other things to worry about, however, as two
of his staff members--Garda Greenleaf and Ellison
Berenger--are missing.
•
Their absence has thrown the day’s shifts into
disarray and as the adventurers arrive, he is busy
trying to rearrange schedules to ensure that the
Library continues to run smoothly.
•
Garda Greenleaf is a senior librarian with a flawless
record of attendance.
•
Ellison, however, is a scribe who has only been
employed at the library for four months, but has
otherwise proven to be a reliable hire.
When presented with the note found in Soares's
possession, Opanrael identifies the ink used as that
typically used by the scribes of the library. He considers
the notion of a tenured scribe being a thief for a moment
but quickly dismisses the idea that any of his staff
members would do such a thing. He does, however,
suggest that his disappearance may not be coincidental,
and that finding Ellison may be the key to finding out
what precisely has happened. If the adventurers do not
give Opanrael the note, Cassra mentions it.
Opanrael knows only a small bit about Ellison. After a
quick glance at ledger, Opanrael mentions that Ellison
was scheduled to be working in the Archives today and
that may be a good place to start looking. With a smirk,
Cassra mentions that the Archives is a vast place, so
anyway of narrowing down where Ellison might be
would be quite helpful.
If the adventurers suitably impressed Marten Foss,
and have his book in their possession, he smiles and
agrees that it will definitely help. He thumbs through a
few pages and makes quick note on a piece of paper and
hands it to Cassra, who looks at it and nods before
leading the adventurers from the room.
Blood and Books
With the books belonging to Aya and Agin already in his
possession, Ellison had come here to find memoir that
detailed Ren o' the Blade's encounter with the Pool of
Radiance. The Scroll Thief used Garda's familiarity with
the Archives and the book stolen from Marten Foss to
find this room.
Ellison eventually found what he was searching for
and killed Garda. He was still in this room reading when
the adventurers enter the Archives. But upon seeing
Cassra's light, Ellison has fled deeper into the Archive's
subbasement, below.
As Cassra leads them to the Archives, read:
Down hallways and staircases, and through passageways and
storage rooms, Cassra moves with definite purpose; descends
staircase after staircase with a lamp held over her head.
Finally, the scribe stops at a door and pushes it open; the
smell of stagnant air and ancient dust filling the stairwell.
“Inside,” she says.
General Features
The general features of the archives are as follows:
Light. This section of the library is deep beneath the
ground and in complete darkness. The only light is that
which the adventurers and Opanrael have brought with
them.
Smells. Dust, old paper, glue.
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Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
17
The Search
If the adventurers have Marten's book, the note specifies
what section of the Archives to begin their search in.
Otherwise, they must find it the old-fashioned way.
The ease in which the adventurers find the
appropriate part of the Archives is determined by two
things.
•
With Master Opanrael's Note. If the adventurers
were given Marten Foss's book, Opanrael gave
Cassra a note with the section where the other
books of the set are filed. Cassra knows precisely
where this is, and can take the characters directly to
it.
•
Without Master Opanrael's Note. If the
adventurers had no way to narrow down their
search, it will take some work to find the correct
section of the Archives. Finding it requires one hour
of searching and a successful DC 15 Intelligence
(Investigation) check.
The Body
Once they have found the correct section, read the
following.
Your search has led you to a small room tucked away in a
distant corner of the vast Archives. Despite the room's size, it
is no less cramped than the rest of the Archives, packed tightly
with shelves that are packed near to bursting with books,
scrolls and other works.
Rounding a shelf on the far side of the room, you see a small
reading table; the dark shape of a body slumped over it.
"Gods save us!" Cassra gasps as she runs into a corner and
retches violently.
The body is that of Garda Greenleaf; the missing
librarian. He is lying face down in a small pool of
alarmingly fresh blood.
The body is that of a middle-aged male human wearing a plain
set of grey, homespun robes. His left hand loosely holds a
quill; the tip stained with bright blue ink. Thin rivulets of dark
blood run from his ears; standing in stark contrast to the pale
flesh of his lifeless face.
Books are scattered everywhere.
As the adventurers search the scene, they learn the
following.
•
A successful DC 5 Wisdom (Medicine) check
reveals that Garda died from a single blow to his
head. If the check succeeds by more than 10, it
reveals he was killed approximately less than two
hours ago.
•
A leather thong on his belt has been cut. Cassra has
a similar device on her belt that carries a ring of
keys.
•
Three books are still on the desk, however; two
small books bound in red leather and a larger white
book. The white tome and one of the two red books
lays open on the table beside the body.
•
A large, gilded scroll of parchment is on the floor. A
successful DC 10 Intelligence (Arcana) check
reveals this to be a used scroll which formerly
contained a detect magic spell.
•
If Cassra is asked about the key ring, a concerned
look crosses her face.
“Garda had keys to the archives," Cassra says, wiping her
mouth with her sleeve, "It looks like our killer now has access
to things within the Library that he shouldn't.”
Examining the Books
There are a number of books around Garda's body.
Some are notable.
•
Two Small, Red Leather Books. These books
comprise the collected memoirs of Ren o' the
Blade. Most of them are on the ground at the foot of
the table while a few still remain on the shelves.
Two of the books are on the table beside Garda's
body. One is the book stolen from Marten Foss. It is
currently closed. The other, however, is open. An
adventurer who actively searches the open book
and succeeds at a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation)
check notices that a few pages have been excised
from the book using what must have been a very
sharp knife. This check is made with advantage if
they found the pages removed from the other book.
•
One Large, White Leather Book. This book is The
Weave: A Practical Observation of Impractical
Occurrences that was stolen from Aya Glenmiir. It,
too, is open on the table beside Garda's body. An
adventurer who actively searches and succeeds at a
DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check notices
that a few pages have been excised from the book
using what must have been a very sharp knife. This
check is made with advantage if they found the
pages removed from the other book.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
18
Both of these books have something in common; the
missing pages both appear to detail the subject. Any
character who has first noticed the missing pages or had
them pointed out to him notices this common subject
with a successful DC 10 Intelligence (Investigation)
check.
Based on the entries before and after the missing
pages, it seems that the removed pages themselves
referenced a Pool of Radiance—a rare magical
phenomena caused by a small breach in the Weave, the
source of all magic in Faerûn. Specifically, it seems that
they referred specifically to the Pool of Radiance that
was once active beneath Valjevo Keep here in Phlan.
At the adventurer's mention of this, Cassra gasps
audibly. However, before she can say anything:
An ear-splitting and ground shaking noise shatters the silence
of the archives and the sound of collapsing brick, mortar, and
bookshelves fills the wake as it fades away.
All around you, shelves and books begin to fall.
The noise was the sound of Ellison using (and
subsequently destroying) the horn of blasting that he
stole from Aya Glenmiir. The noise and vibration has
caused some of the more precariously balanced
bookshelves to collapse and fall. Each adventurer must
succeed at a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw or take 4
(1d8) points of bludgeoning damage from falling books
and shelving. Those who succeed take only half damage.
Any adventurer who fails by more than 5 is trapped
underneath an immense pile of books and must be dug
out, a process that requires an hour's worth of digging
and moving large, heavy bookshelves.
Leaving the small room, they find that a majority of
the bookshelves in the archives have toppled over.
Opanrael is not going to be pleased with the prospect of
cleaning up this mess.
Development
If the adventurers don’t figure it out on their own,
Ellison has gone deeper into the archives. While Cassra
knows where to take them, she states that she has
broken her arm in the chaos following the loud noise.
She motions the adventurers in the direction of the sub-
basement but says that she must turn back.
The door to the sub-basement is not difficult to find, in
fact because the bookshelves in the main room of the
archives collapsed. It is clearly visible about 40 feet
away to anyone with darkvision or who happens to be
carrying a light source. Climbing over the bookshelves to
the door takes a little time, but requires no check.
Archives
The adventurer's investigations lead them down into the
library’s sub-basement.
General Features
Area. The ceiling in the archive is 15 feet high at the
outer edges and slopes up to 30 feet high in the center of
the room. A large vent has been cut into the ceiling at its
highest point. The archive itself is an enormous square,
100 feet to a side.
Light. There are no light sources in the archives. The
only light is that which the adventurers have brought
with them.
Sound. Distant moans, scuttling, scratching
Character Movement. The toppled shelves extend
only 40 or so feet out from the walls, but are considered
difficult terrain.
1. Main Archive
The main room of the archive once held thousands upon
thousands of volumes of the written word; fact and
fiction alike. When the Zhentarim took control of Phlan,
however, much of it was burned.
This huge room is littered with the ruined remains of
bookshelves, desks and other furniture. The middle of the
room is barren, but is blackened with the soot of century-old
flames, and charred bones are strewn about.
A huge hole appears to have been blasted into the far wall;
the ground littered with bricks and debris.
There is little of value here. However, three shadows
awoke when Ellison disturbed the chest in The Secret
Cache, and remain in this room. They attack the
adventurers when they reach the center of the room.
Adjusting the Encounter
Here are recommendations for adjusting this combat
encounter. These are not cumulative.
•
Weak party: remove one shadow
•
Strong party: change shadows to specters
•
Very strong party: five specters instead of three shadows
2. The Secret Cache
Shortly before Phlan was destroyed in 1356 DR,
Denlor—along with the scribes and librarians of
Mantor’s Library—hid some of their most valuable
treasures away in this room. It was sealed and remained
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
19
so until Ellison used Aya’s horn of blasting to open it. He
quickly scoured the cache took what was most readily
available. In his haste, he accidently sprung a trap on the
chest and was poisoned. Having done his research, he
knew that he was close to the sewers. And so, Ellison
used the horn of blasting once more to break through to
the tunnels below Phlan. In so doing, however, the horn
exploded; destroying it and seriously wounding Ellison.
This room is approximately 30 feet deep and half as wide. Its
walls are lined with shelves laden with books, and
miscellaneous objects. At the far end of the room, a silver
chest rests on a wooden table.
A second, similar hole has been blasted into the right wall,
beyond which the sound of running water can be heard. On
the blackened and charred floor around this second hole are
the remains of a horn; shattered nearly beyond recognition.
The horn on the ground is the destroyed horn of
blasting; broken beyond repair.
Any adventurer that inspects the chest and succeeds
at a DC 15 Intelligence (History or Arcana) check
recognizes the sigil embossed on the chest as that of
Denlor; a wizard who once resided within Phlan. The
chest’s lid is currently open.
The chest is of remarkable construction with a
fascinatingly complex lock. Any adventurer who actively
searches the lock and succeeds at a DC 10 Wisdom
(Perception) check notices a tiny needle jutting from the
keyhole, the point of which smudged with barely
perceptible blood.
Inside the chest, a series of racks and boxes on clever,
articulated hinges unfold and spread out; allowing
access to multiple different storage spaces
simultaneously. The chest is currently open in this
fashion.
An adventurer who is actively searching the chest and
also succeeds at a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check
notices that the chest has a hidden compartment.
The hidden compartment of the chest is lined in red
satin. Resting at the bottom is a headband made of
polished bone, bearing the same sigil as was found on
the front of the chest. This headband is a headband of
intellect. A small vial of liquid also sits next to the
headband—a potion of healing.
Developments
Any adventurer examining the hole in the right wall sees
a rope anchored to one of the nearby shelves, leading
downward into darkness. The sound of running water
can be heard within. Characters with a light source see a
pair of walkways running along a channel of moving
water--a sewer, by the smell of it.
This hole has also been created by Ellison using a
horn of blasting. Poisoned and now wounded, Ellison
leapt into the darkness to escape.
Treasure
The chest and the contents of the shelves are all quite
valuable and the Library will pay handsomely for their
safe return. Should the adventurers inform Opanrael or
Cassra about the contents of the room or otherwise
return them to the Library, they are awarded 50 gp.
Within the chest is a headband of intellect owned by
Denlor, as well as a potion of greater healing.
Sewers of Phlan
The hole leads down into the sewers and ruins beneath
Phlan. Unknown to Ellison, the sewers are infested with
carrion crawlers. His own expedition led him directly
into the clutches of three of the fearsome monsters; an
encounter he barely survived by using a scroll of fireball
stolen from Aya Glenmiir.
The newer portions of the sewers were dug in a
simple grid, so it is quite easy to navigate towards the
spillway leading to the Stojanow River by sound. The
sound of running water is easily heard, but echoes off of
the many walls and intersecting tunnels. Eventually, the
adventurers come to the spillway that feeds the sewers
from the Stojanow River.
General Features
Area. The sewers are 15 feet wide and 10 feet tall. 5-
foot-wide footpaths are on either side of a 5-foot-deep
channel running down the middle. This channel is filled
with foul, quickly-moving water.
Channel. Any adventurer who falls or jumps into the
channel is covered in filth and offal, and must succeed at
a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until
they are able to wash themselves off in a large body of
fresh water (such as the Stojanow River) or complete a
short rest. Additionally, the water moves fairly quickly.
Anyone in the channel must succeed at a DC 10
Strength (Athletics) check or be pushed 15 feet down
the channel.
Light. There are no light sources in the sewers. The
only source of light is that which the adventurers bring
with them.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
20
Poisoned
A poisoned creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability
checks.
The Spillway
Water from the Stojanow River above flows from the
west into a steep, 10-foot-wide spillway which empties
into a 30-foot-wide, 5-foot-deep pool in the middle of a
circular chamber. A 15-foot-wide walkway rings the 60-
foot-wide chamber. The pool flows into the channel that
the adventurers have been following up to this point.
The roar of water fills the air as the tunnel you were in opens
into a large, 60-foot-wide circular chamber. Water cascades
down a steep spill way on the far side of the chamber into a
pool in the middle of the room. A stairway runs alongside the
spillway to the daylight above.
Two large, undulating shapes move on the opposite side of
the chamber near a section of the floor that is blackened and
charred—as if by an intense flame.
Two carrion crawlers are here, feeding on the remains
of a third, slain by Ellison. When he encountered the
carrion crawlers, Ellison used the scroll of fireball that
he stole from Aya Glenmiir; slaying one of the beasts,
but wounding the others. He managed to escape, but not
before further injuring himself and losing his backpack
in the process.
The carrion crawlers attack the adventurers on sight.
Due to injuries suffered in the fight with Ellison, each of
them has only 35 hit points remaining.
Adjusting the Encounter
Here are recommendations for adjusting this combat
encounter. These are not cumulative.
•
Weak or very weak party: remove one carrion crawler
•
Strong party: the carrion crawlers are at full (51) hit points
•
Very strong party: add one carrion crawler; all carrion
crawlers are at full (51) hit points
Developments
Near the dead carrion crawler (now three-quarters
eaten) and the blackened portion of the floor lay a
mangled backpack; its contents spilled out onto the
floor. Beside the backpack is a length of parchment. A
successful DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check reveals
that it was once a scroll of fireball.
The backpack contained a set of common clothes 35
gp in silver and gold coins. Among the other items in the
backpack is a collection of documents.
•
A piece of paper with what appears to be a list of
book titles. Most of them have been stricken
through, but three have check marks next to them;
Lords and Lineages, The Weave: A Practical Obser-
vation of Impractical Occurrences, and Ren o' the
Blade Memoirs.
•
A rough map showing Phlan and its surroundings.
The map details a location about half a day’s ride
east along the Phlan Path and is labeled with the
word "Rythnax" which has been circled. No check is
required to deduce that the area indicated on the
map is the Twilight Marsh—a large swamp east of
Phlan.
•
An unsigned note that reads:
"Ellison
Once you have secured what you can to aid us in our
search, meet with Rythnax in the marsh east of the city,
along the Phlan Path. Slay any that discover your work. Do
not fail us again."
In addition to the spilled contents of the backpack, any
adventurers succeeding at a DC 10 Wisdom
(Perception) check see a smattering of fresh blood near
the backpack that leads away towards the steps. A
successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check determines
that this blood belonged to some sort of a humanoid.
The spillway emerges into the open air at the base of
Phlan’s exterior wall on the banks of the Stojanow
River.
Treasure
While the carrion crawlers keep no treasure, any
adventurer who is brave enough to search the pool and
succeeds at a DC 10 Intelligence (Investigation) check is
able to retrieve 15 gp in various coins.
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21
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The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
22
answer a handful of questions, but eventually Rythnax
gets bored and attacks. Ellison and Rythnax combined
have the following information, but Ellison only provides
it if asked. Ellison acts as an interpreter for Rythnax if
no one in the party speaks Draconic.
Ellison divulges the following information in the
course of discussion with the characters.
•
He was sent to find information about the Pool of
Radiance from the Library.
•
The books stolen from Marten Foss contained first-
hand accounts of Pools of Radiance; something no
other book in the Library’s possession did.
•
The book stolen from Aya Glenmiir was more
practical observation and, more importantly, theory
on the properties and functions of Pools of
Radiance.
•
He stole Lords and Lineages for purely personal
reasons; Ellison believed that it would contain proof
that he belonged to a noble house of Phlan.
•
While there was a House Berenger in Phlan, it
turns out that he was of no relation.
•
A successful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check reveals
that Ellison does not wish to fight the adventurers.
•
If asked, he confirms this; stating that he is here to
deliver the pages to Rythnax and upon so doing, is
going to leave Phlan and the Cult behind, and never
look back.
Rythnax, however, is quite the chatterbox. He engages
in polite conversation that smacks of sarcasm and
derision. He freely divulges the following.
•
Rythnax has the pages missing from the stolen
books in a pack and taunts the adventurers—
insisting that he's taking them to his masters and
that the adventurers are powerless to stop him. Any
adventurer succeeding at a DC 10 Wisdom
(Perception) check sees that the dragon is wearing
a sort of harness with a steel-banded pack on his
belly.
•
The dragon claims to be well paid to serve as a
courier and enforcer for the Cult obviously because
they are terrified of him.
•
He is the genius behind the whole theft; Ellison is
simply a mindless lackey.
•
Rythnax puffs out his chest in an obvious attempt to
draw attention to a gaudy bronze amulet hanging
around his neck. The symbol engraved into the
amulet can be identified by anyone succeeding at a
DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana or History) check as a
sigil in use by the Cult of the Dragon.
It is possible to talk Ellison into surrendering. An
adventurer who succeeds on a DC 15 Charisma
(Intimidation or Persuasion) check convinces the Scroll
Thief to surrender. He assures the characters that he
has no intention of returning to the service of the cult.
Ellison is not lying in this statement. If successful,
Ellison does not join Rythnax in fighting the
adventurers.
Should Ellison surrender, or should the adventurers
have asked two questions of Rythnax, the dragon shouts
(in Draconic) “You're boring me!” and attacks.
If the adventurers successfully convince him to
surrender, Ellison flees into the safety of Rythnax's cave.
Otherwise, the Scroll Thief joins Rythnax in attacking
the characters. He has one scroll remaining from those
that he stole from Aya Glenmiir. In the first round of
combat, he uses a scroll of hold person on the person
who looks like a warrior, especially if they’ve acted dull-
witted. Absent that, he targets obvious spellcasters.
As Ellison fights, it is obvious that he is not doing so to
kill the adventurers. He chooses to knock out any
character he drops to 0 hit points.
Rythnax, however, attacks ferociously with tooth and
claw and uses his breath weapon on his first turn.
Should it recharge as the fight proceeds, he does not use
it again unless he is forced to flee. Despite his bravado,
Rythnax has no intention of dying; he has a mission to
accomplish. If reduced below 10 hit points, he uses his
breath weapon and flies away.
Adjusting the Encounter
Here are recommendations for adjusting this combat
encounter. These are not cumulative.
•
Very weak party: Rythnax cannot use lair actions
•
Weak party: Rythnax cannot use the swarming insects lair
action
•
Strong party: Change Ellison from a spy to a bandit captain;
Rythnax has 44 hit points
•
Very strong party: Change Ellison from a spy to a bandit
captain; add four lizardfolk as Rythnax has swayed some
local lizardfolk to join him; Rythnax has 54 hit points
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
23
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Rythnax takes a lair
action to cause one of the following effects. Rythnax can't use
the same effect two rounds in a row.
•
Pools of water that the dragon can see within 120 feet of it
surge outward in a grasping tide. Any creature on the
ground within 20 feet of such a pool must succeed on a
DC 15 Strength check or be pulled up to 20 feet into the
water and knocked prone.
•
A cloud of swarming insects fills a 20-foot-radius sphere
centered on a point Rythnax chooses within 120 feet of it.
The cloud spreads around corners and remains until the
dragon dismisses it as an action, uses this lair action, or
dies. The cloud is lightly obscured. Any creature in the
cloud when it appears must make a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) piercing damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A
creature that ends its turn in the cloud takes 10 (3d6)
piercing damage.
•
Magical darkness spreads from a point Rythnax chooses
within 60 feet of it, filling a 15-foot-radius sphere until
Rythnax dismisses it as an action, uses this lair action
again, or dies. The darkness spreads around corners. A
creature with darkvision can't see through this darkness,
and nonmagical light can't illuminate it. If any of the
effect's area overlaps with an area of light created by a
spall of 2nd level or lower, the spell that created the light is
dispelled.
Developments
Ellison doesn't put up a fight if subdued and
subsequently captured. Upon awakening, he is genuinely
thankful for the adventurers's mercy and divulges
everything he knows without hesitation. He has little
concern for what the Cult may wish to do to him.
•
The Cult wishes to find the Pool of Radiance and
somehow "wake it up." He was sent to Phlan to find
out the "where and how."
•
Two other cultists are named Tibeem and Spernik,
joined him in Phlan, but he is not in communication
with them anymore. They were sent to learn about a
lost temple somewhere in the Dragonspine
Mountains.
•
He is unsure as to whether or not the others have
met with success; they were ordered not to speak to
one another about their mission.
•
He stole the book from Aya Glenmiir after
apprenticing with the wizard. He stole it because it
is the only book he was able to locate that had
practical studies of Pools of Radiance.
•
He stole the book from Marten Foss because Ren o’
the Blade wrote about his personal experiences
with the Pool of Radiance beneath Valjevo Keep.
He believed that it had information on the Pool's
location.
•
He stole the book from Agin Lamarck for personal
reasons; he was raised believing that he belonged to
House Berenger—a noble house that once resided
in Phlan—and he wanted to know the truth.
If the adventurers let him go, he is thankful, but remains
in the swamp. He rests for a few days before leaving.
Treasure
All of Ellison's possessions were lost in the fight with
the carrion crawlers. The only thing he managed to get
away with was Aya's scroll of hold person and Agin's
copy of Lords and Lineages of Phlan. If he hasn’t used
the scroll, it’s on his person; the book is on the ground
beside where he was sitting, wrapped carefully in a
blood-stained shirt.
Rythnax, on the other hand, has a small collection of
coins and other items in his lair. A total of 300 gp in
coins and gems are nestled amongst the rotting
vegetation and bones lining the floor of his lair, as well
as a suit of splint armor, a magnifying glass, and a scroll
of dispel magic.
If Rythnax is slain, the pages that were removed from
the stolen books are stowed tightly in his pack. They are
wrapped in waxen paper and bound tightly with string.
There is no indication to who the pages are to be
delivered. The amulet he wears is finely crafted and
worth 50 gp as an art object. Despite this, however, it
serves as definitive proof that the Cult is active in Phlan.
A shirt is folded carefully around the copy of Lords
and Lineages that was stolen from Agin.
Harpers
Harper characters that copy down the information from
the stolen pages on the Pool of Radiance and return that
information to the faction (or abscond with the original
pages) earn one renown point.
The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
24
Conclusion
Both Cassra Brandywine and Aleyd Burral are pleased
upon hearing of the adventurers’s success in tracking
down and confronting the Scroll Thief. If they brought
Ellison in to stand trial for his crimes, he is convicted of
the theft and the murder of Garda Greenleaf. However,
he escapes Stojanow Gate before the Black Fist is able
to mete out his punishment.
If Rythnax escapes from the adventurers, Opanrael,
Cassra, and the adventurers can only guess as to what
was contained in the pages that he escaped with.
If the package is intercepted and the wyrmling slain,
the adventurers and leadership of the library now have a
very real—and more terrifying—idea of why the Cult is in
Phlan.
Rewards
Make sure note their rewards on their adventure
logsheets. Give your name and DCI number (if
applicable) so players can record who ran the session.
Experience
Total up all combat experience earned for defeated
foes, and divide by the number of characters present in
the combat. For non-combat experience, the rewards
are listed per character. Give all characters in the party
non-combat experience awards unless otherwise noted.
Combat Awards
Name of Foe
XP per Foe
Rythnax
450
Carrion crawler
450
Bandit captain
450
Spy
200
Specter
200
Lizardfolk
100
Shadow
100
Thug
100
Halfling guard
25
Non-Combat Awards
Task or Accomplishment
XP per Character
Thoroughly investigating the thefts
50
Returning the stolen works to Cassra
50
Suitably impress Marten Foss
25
Gain Aya's confidence
25
Detect Agin's falsehood
25
The minimum total award for each character
participating in this adventure is 450 experience
points.
The maximum total award for each character
participating in this adventure is 600 experience
points.
Treasure
The characters receive the following treasure, divided
up amongst the party. Characters should attempt to
divide treasure evenly whenever possible. Gold piece
values listed for sellable gear are calculated at their
selling price, not their purchase price.
Consumable magic items should be divided up
however the group sees fit. If more than one character is
interested in a specific consumable magic item, the DM
can determine who gets it randomly should the group be
unable to decide.
Permanent magic items are divided according to a
system. See the sidebar if the adventure awards
permanent magic items.
Treasure Awards
Item Name
GP Value
Rythnax’s hoard of coins and gems
300
Splint armor
100
Payment from Knight Burral
75
Magnifying glass found in Rynthax's hoard
50
Keeping Agin's secret
50
Rythnax's amulet
50
Treasures in the secret cache
50
Ellison's ruined backpack
35
Aya's reward
25
Marten's reward
25
Payment from Cassra
25
Carrion crawler's treasure
15
Headband of Intellect
Wondrous item, uncommon, requires attunement
This headband made of bone bears the sigil of the
wizard Denlor, whose tower still stands in the city. A
description of this item can be found in the Dungeon
Master’s Guide.
Potion of Healing
Potion, common
A description of this item can be found in the Player’s
Handbook.
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Medium humanoid
Armor Class 15 (s
Hit Points 65 (10
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
15 (+2)
16 (+
Saving Throws St
Skills Athletics +4
Senses passive Pe
Languages any tw
Challenge 2 (450
Actions
Multiattack. The
ts scimitar and o
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Reactions
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Medium dragon, ch
Armor Class 17 (n
Hit Points 33 (6d
Speed 30 ft., fly 60
STR
DEX
15 (+2)
14 (+
Saving Throws D
Skills Perception
Damage Immunit
Senses blindsight
Languages Draco
Challenge 2 (450
Amphibious. The
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Attack: +5 to hit,
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The Scroll Thief
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
27
Guard
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield)
Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
13 (+1)
12 (+1)
12 (+1)
10 (+0)
11 (+0)
10 (+0)
Skills Perception +2
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages any one language (usually Common)
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Actions
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage.
Lizardfolk
Medium humanoid (lizardfolk), neutral
Armor Class 15 (natural armor, shield)
Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
15 (+2)
10 (+0)
13 (+1)
7 (−2)
12 (+1)
7 (−2)
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4, Survival +5
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Draconic
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Hold Breath. The lizardfolk can hold its breath for 15 minutes.
Actions
Multiattack. The lizardfolk makes two melee attacks, each one
with a different weapon.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Heavy Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Spiked Shield. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Shadow
Medium undead, chaotic evil
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 16 (3d8 + 3)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
6 (−2)
14 (+2)
13 (+1)
6 (−2)
10 (+0)
8 (−1)
Skills Stealth +4 (+6 in dim light or darkness)
Damage Vulnerabilities radiant
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder;
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical
weapons
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, grappled,
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Amorphous. The shadow can move through a space as narrow
as 1 inch wide without squeezing.
Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the shadow can
take the Hide action as a bonus action.
Sunlight Weakness. While in sunlight, the shadow has
disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.
Actions
Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) necrotic damage, and the target’s
Strength score is reduced by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces
its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target
finishes a short or long rest.
If a non-evil humanoid dies from this attack, a new shadow
rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.
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Hit Points 22 (5d
Speed 0 ft., fly 50
STR
DEX
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14 (+
Damage Resistan
bludgeoning, p
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Damage Immunit
Condition Immun
paralyzed, petri
Senses darkvision
Languages under
speak
Challenge 1 (200
ncorporeal Move
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disadvantage on
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Actions
Life Drain. Melee
Hit: 10 (3d6) nec
DC 10 Constitutio
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dies if this effect
Spy
Medium humanoid
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 27 (6d
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
10 (+0)
15 (+
Skills Deception +
Persuasion +5,
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ft. (hover)
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extra 7 (2d6) dam
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Thief
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bonus
mage
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one
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CHA
(+0)
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to print or photo
x: Map
copy this docume
p of th
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29
Ap
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n’s Sw
he Scroll T
wamp
Thief
30
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/Adventure League/S01 - Tyranny of Dragons/DDEX1-06 - The Scroll Thief.pdf |
Légendes Tahitiennes
Livret de Règles
1
SOMMAIRE
SOMMAIRE
1
INTRODUCTION
6
LEGENDE DE HONO’URA
7
CHAPITRE 1: QU’EST-CE QU’UN JEU DE ROLES?
11
LE PRINCIPE
11
LE BUT DU JEU
11
LE DEROULEMENT D’UNE PARTIE
12
LES REGLES DU JEU
12
LES ACCESSOIRES
13
LE CADRE DU JEU
13
LES PERSONNAGES DES JOUEURS
13
LES SCENARIOS
14
CHAPITRE 2 : LA CREATION D’ UN PERSONNAGE
15
LES ETAPES DE CREATION DU PERSONNAGE TAHITIEN
15
L'ORIGINE SOCIALE DU PERSONNAGE
16
DETERMINER LE RANG DANS LA FAMILLE
17
TABLE DE SITUATION FAMILIALE
19
LES PERSONNAGES FEMININS
19
DETERMINER SES MANAS
20
DETERMINER SES CARACTERISTIQUES
20
2
CHOISIR SON ADOLESCENCE
21
CHOISIR SON OCCUPATION
26
LE CHOIX DE L'AGE
26
POINTS DE PERSONNALISATION
27
LES COMPETENCES
28
LA DIFFICULTE DES COMPETENCES
30
LE CHOIX DES SORTILEGES
30
LE CALCUL DES CHANCES DE REUSSIR LE SORT
30
CALCUL DU MANA ET DE LA FATIGUE
31
LE BACKGROUND
32
LISTE DES OCCUPATIONS
36
CHAPITRE 3: LES COMPETENCES
46
LA DIFFICULTE
46
LE NIVEAU DE MAITRISE
46
LE MANA ET LA CARACTERISTIQUE LIES A UNE COMPETENCE
46
LE CALCUL DU SCORE TOTAL
47
L’ACQUISITION ET LE PERFECTIONNEMENT
47
UTILISATION D’UNE COMPETENCE
47
LES COMPETENCES DE SOUTIEN
48
REUSSITES ET ECHECS TOTAUX
49
ACTIONS EN OPPOSITION
49
LES TACHES
50
DESCRIPTION DES COMPETENCES
50
3
CHAPITRE 4: MANA, TAPU ET CARACTERISTIQUES
59
LES JETS DE CARACTERISTIQUES
59
MANA
59
TAPU
61
POINTS DE MAHURUHURU
63
CHAPITRE 5: LA CHARTE ANGOUMOISE
64
DETERMINATION DES CHANCES DE SUCCES D’UNE ACTION
64
ESTIMATION D’UN BONUS OU D’UN MALUS
65
INTERPRETATION D’UN RESULTAT
65
LA CHARTE ANGOUMOISE
66
CHAPITRE 6: LA SANTE
67
MALUS A L’ACTIVITE
67
DEGRADATION ET AMELIORATION DE L’ETAT DE SANTE
67
LES HASARDS “NATURELS”
68
TABLE GENERALE DE RECOUVREMENT DE BLESSURE
69
DEGATS DES HASARDS NATURELS
69
CHAPITRE 7: LE COMBAT
70
LE DEROULEMENT DU COMBAT
70
LES ACTIONS EN COMBAT
70
DETERMINATION DE L’ORDRE DES ACTIONS
71
RESOLUTION DES ACTIONS
72
LE CALCUL DES DOMMAGES
75
4
LES MODIFICATEURS DUS A LA SITUATION
76
LES DEGATS
77
TABLEAUX DES ETATS DE SANTE
77
ARMURES
78
TABLEAU DES BLESSURES LOCALISEES
79
TABLEAU DES ARMES
81
CHAPITRE 8: LA MAGIE
82
L’ACQUISITION DES SORTILEGES ET LEUR APPROFONDISSEMENT
82
LES INCANTATIONS: LA PUISSANCE DES MOTS
83
LE POUVOIR DES ATUA: LA MAGIE DIVINE
94
LA PUISSANCE NEFASTE DES ESPRITS: LA MAGIE DES ESPRITS 103
CHAPITRE 9: EXPERIENCE
107
GAGNER DES POINTS D’EXPERIENCE
107
DEPENSER LES POINTS D’EXPERIENCE
108
CHAPITRE 10: LES REFERENCES
109
LES HUMAINS
109
ANIMAUX
109
CREATURES MONSTRUEUSES
111
LES ESPRITS
114
LES ATUA
120
CHAPITRE 11 : LA MAITRISE DE LEGENDES TAHITIENNES
121
LE TON DE LA CAMPAGNE
121
5
L’AMBIANCE PROPRE AUX ÎLES
123
LES SOURCES DE CONFLITS
124
IMPRECISIONS DE L’HISTOIRE ET THEORIES FARFELUES
127
6
INTRODUCTION
Ce livret commence par une explication des principes de bases du jeu de rôles, au cas vous
n’ayez jamais joué à ce type de jeu. Vous pourrez ensuite découvrir les étapes de la création
d’un personnage tahitien. Enfin vous trouverez les règles qui vous permettront de résoudre
toutes les actions des personnages durant le jeu. Vous serez ainsi parés pour partir à
l’aventure.
Il est conseillé de lire en premier lieu les cinq premiers chapitres du livret de civilisation qui
vous feront entrer dans l’univers de Légendes Tahitiennes.
7
LEGENDE DE HONO’URA
Hono’ura est un géant tahitien dont la légende dépassa de loin les limites de
son île. La voici d’ailleurs telle qu’elle est racontée dans les Paumotu.
Ta’ihia était roi du mataiena’a (district) de Tautira dans la presqu’île de Tahiti-Iti. Il avait
un frère appelé Ta’aroa qui dirigeait le district montagneux de Ta’aroa. Ce dernier avait un
fils nommé Aua-Toa qui était marié avec Te-More-Ari’i-Vahine, la fille du roi du
mataiena’a de Pu-na-au-ia.
De cette union naquit un premier fils appelé Hono’ura. Celui-ci était caché dans une
enveloppe appelée “Pu-maruea”. Aua-Toa voyant cela dit: “C’est une masse informe, cela n’a
rien d’humain, il faut l’enterrer”. C’est alors qu’intervint l’esprit nommé Vero-Huti-i-te-
Ra’i (en tahitien: “orage créé dans le ciel”). Il exigea que l’enveloppe soit portée dans la
caverne Po-Fatu-Ra’a situé au flanc du mont Tahu’a-reva.
De l’enveloppe dans la caverne surgit alors Hono’ura qui avait le pouvoir de grandir et de
rétrécir à volonté. Il se nourrissait de pierre de la caverne et avait pour seul compagnon
Vero-Huti-i-te-Ra’i. N’ayant pas de vêtements, il restait toujours dans la caverne. Pendant
ce temps, ses parents eurent trois beaux garçons nommés Tai-ea, Tai-ranu et Tuma.
Un jour, alors que Hono’ura était déjà adulte, Tautu, un ami du roi Ta’ihia se rendit à la
caverne afin de prier le dieu Ra’a pour qu’il sanctifie une cérémonie religieuse. Il découvrit
Hono’ura qui n’osait bouger, honteux de sa nudité. Tautu l’interrogea et Hono’ura déclina
son identité.
Tautu rentra en informer le roi Ta’ihia. La famille fut stupéfaite. La mère de Hono’ura se
dépêcha de battre un grand pagne de tapa. N’osant s’y rendre eux-mêmes, les parents
envoyèrent leurs trois fils accompagnés de guides du roi Ta’ihia amener le pagne et inviter
Hono’ura à venir chez eux.
Les visiteurs saluèrent Hono’ura et ils lui offrirent le pagne et de la nourriture. Il accepta la
nourriture toute nouvelle pour lui mais refusa de les rejoindre. Conseillé par l’esprit, il leur
dit qu’il sortirait le lendemain à l’aube. Les visiteurs quittèrent Hono’ura et répandirent
partout la nouvelle.
Le lendemain, une foule était assemblée dans la plaine qui faisait face au mont Tahu’a-
reva. Hono’ura sortit vêtu de son pagne et se mit à grandir, grandir jusqu’à ce que sa tête
dépasse les nuages couvrant la montagne. Les gens étaient émerveillés et des messagers de
8
Ta’ihia l’invitèrent à venir chez le roi. Hono’ura ne répondit pas et chanta jusqu’au
crépuscule. A ce moment, il réduisit sa taille et disparut.
Pendant que Ta’ihia se préparait à recevoir Hono’ura, des guerriers des Paumotu du district
de Hiva dans l’île de Paua-Tea attaquèrent son royaume et tuèrent le jeune chef guerrier
Tui-Ha’a Ils emportèrent son corps comme trophée. Leur attaque réalisée, ils se replièrent à
Ta-Kume dans les Paumotu, sauf leur chef, A’u-Roa qui se rendit en compagnie de
quelques guerriers à Havai’i.
Quand il apprit ce forfait, Hono’ura fut furieux. Il décida de sortir de sa retraite et de
venger la communauté. Mais auparavant, il désirait mesurer sa force et voir de quoi il était
capable. Il se rendit à Puna-au-ia, le district de sa mère et il y vit deux vieilles femmes qui
arrachaient des taro près de leur fare qui surplombait la rivière.
Il leur dit: “Vieilles Femmes, ronfleuses dans la rivière Punaru’u, votre maison est au
niveau de la berge de la rivière ! Quittez ce lieu que les grandes eaux de Punaru’u puissent
le submerger.”
Une des vieilles répondit: “Nous avons eu ici le champion Manu-te-A’a. Nous avons eu
également Manu-te-Tape-Ari’i et Hi-ti-Mai-te-Ra’i qui nous ont menacées de destruction.
Nous ne leur avons pas prêté attention et notre demeure n’a pas été enlevé de cette pente.”
Hono’ura fit une énorme boule avec des fougères et la projeta violemment dans la rivière.
Ceci ne fit qu’éclabousser la maison. Les vieilles se moquèrent de Hono’ura, ce qui le mit
dans une rage folle. Il sauta dans l’eau. L’inondation ainsi provoquée emporta le terrain
sur lequel se trouvait la case et qui devint une île dérivante au milieu de la Punaru’u.
Alors que le courant emportait leur fare, les vieilles, terrifiées, lancèrent leur taro sur la
montagne. Celui-ci se pétrifia et est toujours visible aujourd’hui, commémorant cet
événement qui fit alors sensation.
Hono’ura se retira alors dans sa caverne jusque la fin de la période de deuil. Il partit alors
pour les Paumotu avec ses frères et quelques guerriers. Il leur dit de mettre à l’eau la
pirogue Aere. Mais ceux-ci ne parvinrent pas à la déplacer. Hono’ura chanta puis tira seul le
bateau dans le lagon. Hono’ura trouva ensuite un arbre aito grand et mince et il s’en fit
une énorme lance qu’il nomma Rua-i-Paoo (Tahitien: fissure qui consume).
Ils s’embarquèrent d’abord pour Havai’i où se trouvait le chef A’u-roa et quelques uns des
guerriers qui avaient effectué le raid sur Tautira. Avec l’aide de gens de Havai’i, ils les
défirent, mais A’u-Roa parvint à s’enfuir vers Hiva dans l’île de Papa-tea aux Paumotu.
Hono’ura et sa troupe les poursuivirent et arrivèrent à Hiva. Le roi de Hiva, Tu-tapu, leur
demanda ce qu’ils venaient faire. Hono’ura répondit qu’il était à la recherche de A’u-Roa
qui avait tué le brave Tui-ha’a. Le roi répondit que A’u-Roa n’était pas là et qu’ils ne
9
pourraient l’atteindre car ils seraient tués par le monstre Tu-ma-tahi qui vit dans le lagon
de Papa-tea.
Hono’ura demanda où était le monstre. Le roi répondit qu’il était en mer pour se nourrir de
purupuru (holothuries) et qu’il allait bientôt rentrer. Hono’ura et ses guerriers se dirigèrent
alors vers la passe et s’installèrent sur le récif pour attendre le monstre Tu-ma-tahi. Le
monstre arriva et voyant Hono’ura, il chercha à attraper sa tête. Il n’y parvint pas et
essaya de couper Hono’ura en deux. Pour ce faire, il se mit de flanc et lorsqu’il ouvrit la
gueule, Hono’ura lui planta sa lance, le transperçant de part en part. Le monstre était mort
et le Tahu’a Pure du groupe chassa l’esprit de Tu-ma-tahi dans le Po.
Récupérant sa lance, il constata qu’elle était ternie par le sang du monstre. Il la rebaptisa
Rua-i-Havahava (Fissure souillée). Le roi Tu-tapu et son peuple étaient furieux de la mort
du monstre qui les protégeait. Ils attaquèrent les tahitiens sur la plage. Ces derniers
prirent le dessus et les Hiva se réfugièrent dans un Pa (fortin) fait de sable et de rondin.
Les tahitiens assaillirent le pa avec succès, tuèrent le roi Tu-tapu et prirent sa lance comme
forfait. Mais au lieu de ramener le corps du roi à Tahiti comme le voulait la coutume, ils
eurent la bonté de le laisser aux Hiva. Ils détruisirent cependant le marae royal des Hiva et
s’emparèrent du to’o (statuette) de leur dieu protecteur, Tu, et de celle de son messager,
Ro’o. Ils emmenèrent la femme du roi pour en faire une épouse de Ta’ihia afin d’éteindre le
conflit entre les deux peuples.
Hono’ura et ses gens prirent la mer et arrivèrent dans l’île de Fakaau et s’installèrent dans
une grotte non loin de la plage dans le district de Fare-marama dont les gens étaient
favorables aux tahitiens. Hono’ura fit un trou dans une gourde et ordonna à son frère
Tuma d’aller chercher de l’eau avec. Celui-ci y alla et essayant de remplir la gourde,
s’aperçut de la supercherie. Trois princesses du district de Tupuna, appelées Te-’ura-tau-ia-
po, Tu-tapu-hoa-toa et Ra’i-e-ho’o-ata-nua, vinrent à passer. Elles faisaient l’admiration
des frères pour leur beauté. Elles virent Tuma et improvisèrent une chanson moqueuse à
son égard du fait de la gourde percée. Celui-ci revint furieux au camp et se disputa avec son
frère. Les princesses passèrent près de la caverne et Te-’ura-tau-ia-po, que Tuma appréciait
particulièrement, dit en voyant Hono’ura: “Je ne m’éprendrai jamais de ce vilain monstre !”.
A son grand malheur, Hono’ura l’entendit.
Peu de temps après, les frères organisèrent des réjouissances. Parmi les festivités, il y eut
de nombreuses danses et Hono’ura et ses frères furent les meilleurs danseurs. Les femmes
s’approchèrent pour les féliciter, celles de haut rang en premier lieu. Quand Te-’ura-tau-ia-
po tendit la main à Hono’ura, celui-ci la reconnut et lui frappa la main avec une telle force
qu’elle fut arrachée. La princesse meurtrie et humiliée rentra chez elle et mourut.
Apprenant sa mort, Tuma partit à la recherche de l’esprit de la jeune fille pour le ramener
dans son corps. Hono’ura l’apprit et devança Tuma. Apercevant l’esprit de la jeune femme,
il le transperça de sa lance et l’esprit perdit toute sa force vitale. Ne voyant pas l’esprit
10
arriver, Tuma alla voir s’il n’avait pas réintégré son corps et il rencontra Hono’ura. Malgré
les dénégations de celui-ci, il comprit ce qui s’était passé.
Hono’ura épousa Ra’i-e-ho’o-ata-nua et les guerriers tahitiens reprirent la mer pour se
rendre à Ta-Kume. Ils passèrent à un endroit où deux courants marins se rencontraient.
La pirogue Aere fut tellement secouée que la femme du roi Tu-tapu en mourut. Ils
arrivèrent ensuite à Ta-Kume demeure du guerrier A’u-Roa et du dieu marin Te-A’u-Roa.
Ils y trouvèrent le corps de Tuiha’a, ce qui augmenta leur fureur. Ils rencontrèrent la reine
Maru-i’a qui leur dit que A’u-Roa n’était pas là et que leur dieu protecteur Te-A’u-Roa ne
reviendrait qu’avec la saison des vents froids.
Hono’ura sortit alors de sa gourde magique Te-Pori un brouillard froid appelé Hume-no-
Ta’aroa (rosée de Ta’aroa) et chargea son esprit protecteur, Vero-huti-i-te-ra’i, de le répandre
sur la région.
Le dieu Te-A’u-Roa, qui avait la forme d’un immense poisson, pensant la saison des vents
froids venue, se dirigea vers Ta-Kume. Voyant Hono’ura, il enfonça sa tête dans le sable.
Les frères de Hono’ura voulurent le mettre en pièce, mais Hono’ura leur dit que le siège de
l’esprit de Te-A’u-Roa se trouvait dans la tête. Il fit une prière chantée, lança son casque de
plume dans le sable dégageant la mâchoire supérieure de Te-A’u-Roa et l’occit de sa lance.
L’esprit de Te-A’u-Roa fut renvoyé dans le Po et la chair du poisson cuite et partagée entre
tous pour être mangée, empêchant ainsi l’esprit de se venger. Hono’ura prit alors la reine et
nombreux de ses gens comme prise de guerre, reprit le corps de Tui-ha’a et partit s’installer
sur Na-Puka, une île déserte non loin de Ta-Kume.
Hono’ura rêva que les dieux des Paumotu, l’esprit de la femme de Tu-tapu et l’esprit de Te-
A’u-Roa convoquaient le chef A’u-Roa et de nombreux autres chefs de l’ouest des Paumotu
pour venger les méfaits des tahitiens. Le lendemain, une grande flotte se présentait devant
Na-Puka. Les tahitiens, prévenus par le rêve de Hono’ura, étaient cachés. Seules étaient
visibles la pirogue Aere et la lance de Hono’ura. Hono’ura lança en l’air des coquillages se
tenant à un arbre nono. Les coquillages retombèrent sur la face rouge, indiquant que les
tahitiens seraient vainqueurs.
Hono’ura alla au devant de ses adversaires et leur proposa de venir boire du ‘ava qu’il avait
préparé à l’intérieur des terres et de voir la jolie femme Te-’ura-tau-ia-po. Ceux-ci pensèrent
que Hono’ura ne savait pas ce qu’il faisait et décidèrent d’accepter l’invitation. Ils
pourraient ainsi massacrer les tahitiens quand ceux-ci seraient ivres.
Les guerriers débarquèrent et demandèrent ce qu’était cet énorme bout de bois sur la plage
(c’était la lance de Hono’ura). Hono’ura répondit qu’il s’agissait d’une pagaie. Il leur fit
ensuite emprunter un chemin très étroit qui les obligea à se mettre en file indienne. Le
chemin traversait des fourrés puis des clairières de sables, ce qui dispersa les Paumotu. Les
11
tahitiens cachés dans les fourrés les tuèrent petit groupe par petit groupe. Hono’ura fermant
la marche s’empara de sa lance et tua les derniers de la file indienne.
C’est ainsi que fut vengé le brave Tui-ha’a par Hono’ura.
12
CHAPITRE 1 : QU’EST-CE QU’UN JEU DE
ROLES ?
Ecoute jeune tahitien, le grand sage Oto’e va te conter la façon de jouer au
‘ieterore (jeu de rôles), un jeu qu’il a appris sur une terre lointaine !
Ce chapitre a pour but de vous expliquer comment les jeux de rôles fonctionnent. Vieux
routards des jeux de rôles, ce chapitre ne vous apprendra rien à ce sujet mais pourra vous
éclairer sur les originalités de Légendes Tahitiennes.
LE PRINCIPE
Le principe du jeu de rôles est d’interpréter un personnage. Vous définissez au début du jeu
la personnalité et les compétences de votre personnage. Ensuite, chaque joueur choisit
quelles actions effectue son personnage et joue son rôle. Contrairement au théâtre
cependant, les joueurs ne jouent pas leur personnage par des mouvements et ne réalisent
pas eux-mêmes les actions de leur personnage. Tout se passe uniquement par la parole (et
quelques lancers de dés) autour d’une table. Une autre différence avec le théâtre est que
l’intrigue n’est pas entièrement prédéterminée, vous êtes libres des paroles et des actes de
votre personnage.
Un des joueurs doit tenir le rôle de meneur de jeu, appelé à Légendes Tahitiennes maître des
légendes. Le maître des légendes ne joue pas un personnage particulier. Plus qu’un arbitre,
il interprète tous les personnages qui ne sont pas joués par les autres joueurs et plus
généralement, il décrit tout ce qui se déroule en dehors des personnages des autres joueurs.
Il prépare avant le jeu un scénario qui pose les bases de l’intrigue d’une partie. Il tient le rôle
d’un conteur où certains des personnages du conte (ceux des autres joueurs) échappent au
contrôle du conteur et agissent par leur propre volonté.
LE BUT DU JEU
Le but du jeu n’est pas comme dans bien d’autres jeux de battre les autres joueurs. Le
premier but du jeu de rôles est de vivre des moments passionnants en interprétant un
personnage, en lui faisant réaliser des aventures périlleuses et le faisant évoluer dans un
monde étrange et fantastique. Généralement, les personnages forment un groupe qui tente
de surmonter côte-à-côte les difficultés et les dangers que le maître des légendes fait
survenir durant la partie.
13
Selon sa personnalité et ses intérêts, chaque personnage pourra avoir des motivations
différentes. Le but du jeu pourra donc être différent pour chacun des joueurs. Un jeune
homme transis d’amour pour sa belle voudra peut-être réaliser des exploits pour la séduire
alors qu’un autre personnage du groupe se lancera dans l’aventure dans l’espoir d’une
forte récompense. Généralement, le but commun est de réussir les tâches prévues dans le
scénario.
LE DEROULEMENT D’UNE PARTIE
La première phase dans un jeu de rôles consiste en la création des personnages. Les
personnages seront définis par leur personnalité, leur histoire personnelle et leurs
compétences. Celles-ci sont chiffrées et serviront durant le jeu à savoir si le personnage
arrive à réaliser telle ou telle action ou s'il connaît telle ou telle chose. Le chapitre 2 de ce
présent livret est consacré à cette phase du jeu.
Ensuite commence le jeu à proprement parler. La plupart du temps, le maître des légendes
fait une petite introduction où les personnages se trouvent en face d’une situation qu’ils
doivent résoudre ou de personnages non-joueurs qui leur demandent de réaliser quelque
chose pour eux. Les joueurs sont alors totalement libres de faire agir et parler leur
personnage à leur gré. Les jets de dés et les règles sont présents pour savoir si un
personnage réussit ce qu’il entreprend.
La partie se termine quand les personnages ont réussi à surmonter les problèmes qu’ils
avaient à résoudre dans le scénario (ou quand ils ont échoué). Il est possible que le temps
vienne à manquer pour finir le scénario qui peut alors s’étendre sur plusieurs séances de
jeu. Une séance de jeu dure généralement de 3 à 6 heures. Une partie s’étendant sur de
nombreuses séances de jeu s’appelle une campagne.
LES REGLES DU JEU
Le livret de Règles que voici établit l’ensemble des règles qui devraient être utiles au jeu.
Le chapitre 2: La Création d’un Personnage permet de créer un personnage et de chiffrer ses
aptitudes.
Le Chapitre 3: Les Compétences permet de décrire comment on utilise les compétences des
personnages en jeu. Il s’agit des mécanismes principaux du jeu.
Le Chapitre 4: Tapu, Mana et Caractéristiques vous permettra de résoudre toutes les actions
qui n’entrent pas dans le cadre des compétences.
14
Le Chapitre 5 présente la Charte Angoumoise un mécanisme universel de jeu servant en
particulier à définir la difficulté d’une action et la qualité de réussite d’une action.
Le Chapitre 6: Santé permet de connaître les effets de l’état de santé d’un personnage et de
la médecine.
Le Chapitre 7: Le Combat permet de simuler les combats qui ne manqueront pas d’advenir
durant le jeu.
Le Chapitre 8: La Magie vous permettra de connaître les mécanismes qui régissent
l’utilisation de la magie par les personnages.
Le Chapitre 9 décrit le système d’expérience qui permettra aux personnages de s’améliorer
au fil des parties.
Le Chapitre 10: les Références donne des caractéristiques de jeu pour les personnages non-
joueurs typiques et les esprits que rencontreront les personnages.
Le Chapittre 11 donne des conseils au maître des légendes pour préparer ses scénarii.
LES ACCESSOIRES
Plusieurs accessoires sont inhérents aux jeux de rôles. Nous les décrirons des plus
indispensables ou plus superflus.
Du papier et des Crayons:
pour noter les aptitudes des joueurs sur la feuille de personnage et prendre des notes en
cours de partie.
Les Dés:
Les dés servent à tester les différentes aptitudes des personnages quand elles interviennent
durant le jeu. Plusieurs types de dés sont nécessaires: les dés à 20 faces (notés D20), les
dés à 12 faces (D12), les dés à 10 faces (D10), les dés à huit faces (D8), les dés à quatre
faces (D4) et les traditionnels dés à six faces (D6). D100 signifie qu’on lance deux dés à
dix faces dont l’un préalablement fixé désigne les dizaines alors que l’autre désigne les
unités. Un chiffre devant le sigle D4 (ou tout autre type de dés) indique qu’il faut lancer
plusieurs dés et faire la somme de leur résultat. Ainsi 5D4 indique qu’il faut lancer 5 dés
à 4 faces et calculer la somme des nombres obtenus sur les dés.
L’Ecran du Maître:
15
L’écran du maître sert à cacher les notes du maître et son scénario. Il permet de réaliser des
jets de dé hors de la vue des joueurs. Généralement à l’intérieur de l’écran se trouvent des
rappels des règles qui permettent au maître de résoudre rapidement les actions.
Les Figurines:
Les figurines représentant les personnages permettent de visualiser la position des joueurs
par rapport aux autres quand cela est nécessaire. Les combats par exemple peuvent être
l’occasion d’utiliser les figurines. Cependant, elles ne sont pas absolument nécessaires et
des pions peuvent aisément les remplacer.
LE CADRE DU JEU
Légendes Tahitiennes vous proposent d’interpréter des personnages vivant dans le Tahiti
ancien. Ils évolueront donc dans un monde de lagons bleus et de cocotiers où les chefs des
différentes vallées rivalisent entre eux et où des esprits peuplent la surface de la terre. Vous
découvrirez par le jeu les différentes facettes de cette civilisation méconnue en interprétant
le rôle d’un tahitien.
LES PERSONNAGES DES JOUEURS
Votre personnage tahitien appartiendra à l’un des trois castes
de Tahiti: Manahune (plébéien), Ra’atira (petit noble) ou Ari’i
(chef). Il pourra être un navigateur intrépide, le réciteur de
généalogie d’un chef, un vil sorcier, un guerrier redouté, un
sculpteur réputé, ou encore bien d’autres choses. Il sera plus ou
moins doué pour une série d’activités et sera bientôt prêt pour
partir à l’aventure. Toutes les étapes de la création de
personnage se trouvent dans le chapitre 2 du présent livret.
La lecture du livret de civilisation vous permettra de bien le situer dans le contexte assez
exotique et étrange de la société tahitienne.
LES SCENARIOS
Les aventures de Légendes Tahitiennes auront de nombreux sujets qui serviront de base
d’intrigue aux scénarios du maître: la quête de mana, les interactions avec les chefs,
l’ascension sociale, les conflits entre royaumes, les haines entre familles, la recherche de
belles vahine, les expéditions vers d’autres archipels, éviter le courroux des dieux, etc... Le
livret de campagne (Livret III) fournit un exemple de scénario qui pourra être utilisé par le
maître des légendes.
16
CHAPITRE 2 : LA CREATION D’ UN
PERSONNAGE
Rata-nui est né dans une famille ra’atira de l’intérieur des terres. Son père,
Fe’e-tara, exploite un domaine où poussent taro et arbres à pain en abondance.
Durant son adolescence, Rata-nui aimait à parcourir la montagne jusqu’au
jour il rencontra, Tete-pere, l’esprit du pic des vents. Il eut une telle peur qu’il
retourne rarement dans les gorges et les pics. Il a consacré le reste de son
adolescence à se vanter et à raconter les exploits des maha’eniens illustres. Il
fut choisi par un jeune ari’i de sa vallée pour devenir son orateur - généalogue
(‘orero) et il en a acquis rapidemment les compétences. Il accompagne
désormais son ari’ i dans tous ses déplacements “ officiels ”
Ce chapitre apporte tous les éléments qui vous permettront de créer un personnage tahitien.
Des sujets comme sa caste d’origine, ses dons, ses capacités physiques et ses connaissances
seront les bases de cette création. Suivez-donc les étapes de la création afin de donner vie à
votre personnage.
LES
ETAPES
DE
CREATION
DU
PERSONNAGE
TAHITIEN
Votre personnage tahitien va se modeler petit à petit en poursuivant l'ordre suivant:
1. Déterminer son origine sociale
2. Déterminer son rang dans la famille
3. Déterminer ses manas
4. Déterminer ses caractéristiques
5. Choisir son adolescence
6. Choisir une occupation
7. La phase de personnalisation
8. Calculer la Fatigue, le Pouvoir, le Mana et le bonus aux dégâts
9. Choisir un nom et déterminer le background avec le maître des légendes
17
L'ORIGINE SOCIALE DU PERSONNAGE
Dans une société hiérarchisée comme la société tahitienne, l'origine sociale est primordiale :
elle déterminera la position et les relations de votre personnage avec les autres joueurs et les
personnages non-joueurs. L'origine déterminera également l'énergie intérieure du
personnage: son mana et ses possibilités de “ carrières ”.
Pour déterminer l’origine sociale du personnage, tirez sur la table des origines sociales. Elle
vous indiquera la caste et l’occupation du père du personnage.
DETERMINER LE RANG DANS LA FAMILLE
La détermination du rang dans la famille se fait par un tirage sur la table de situation
familiale.
18
TABLE DES ORIGINES SOCIALES
O1
Titi
02 à 50
Manahune
01 à 35
Pêcheur
36 à 75
Paysan
76 à 80
Valet
81 à 85
Opu-Nui
86 à 90
Navigateur
91 à 00
Guerrier
51 à 60
Tahu'a
01 à 15
Tahu'a Parau Tomu Fenua
16 à 30
Tahu'a ra'au
01 à 30
Manahune
31 à 45
Tahu'a Marae
31 à 95
Ra'atira
46 à 60
Tahu'a Fare
96 à 00
Ari'i
61 à 75
Tahu'a Va'a
76 à 90
Tahu'a Tau Tai
91 à 97
Sculpteur
98 à 99
Orneur de Tapa
OO
Tatoueur
61 à 65
Orou
même table que Tahu'a
01 à 70
Indépendant
71 à 00
Attaché à un Marae
66 à 70
Arioi
01 à 20
Fanau-Nau
21 à 70
Papatea
71 à 90
7ème rang
91 à 00
8ème rang
71 à 90
Ra'atira
01 à 30
Paysan
31 à 80
Guerrier
81 à 86
Valet
86 à 90
'orero
91 à 96
Navigateur
97 à 98
Fa’atere
99 à 00
Rau-Ti
91 à 99
Ari'i
01 à 60
Guerrier
61 à 90
Tahu'a Pure
91 à 92
Tahu'a Rahi
93 à 95
Navigateur
96 à 00
Fa’atere
OO
Ari'i
Maro'ura
01 à 70
Guerrier
71 à 00
Tahu'a Rahi
19
TABLE DE SITUATION FAMILIALE
1D100
Situation p/r
au chef de
fam.
Classe
Sociale
Manahune
Ra'atira
Ari'i
Ari'i
Maro'ura
01-02
Chef de
Famille
RS:+1
RS:+2
RS:+3
MANA:+1
RS:+4
MANA:+1
03-04
Fils Aîné
RS:+1
RS:+2
MANA:+1
RS:+3
MANA:+1
05-22
Autre Fils
RS:+1
MANA:+1
RS:+2
MANA:+1
23-30
Frère
RS:+1
MANA:+1
RS:+2
MANA:+1
31-40
Cousin
RS:+1
RS:+1
41-55
Neveu
RS:+1
RS:+1
56-65
Petit-Fils
RS:+1
MANA:+1
RS:+1
MANA:+1
66-120
° de parenté
plus éloigné
Les joueurs voulant être Tahu'a Pure ajoutent 20 à leur jet.
LES PERSONNAGES FEMININS
Les personnages féminins exercent rarement une occupation, le travail des femmes est
souvent défini et les femmes qui sortent de ce rôle sont rares. Les occupations que peuvent
choisir les femmes sont donc: femme (évidemment), paysan, ‘arioi, ‘orou indépendant et,
avec l’accord du maître, guerrier, artisan ou navigatrice. Elles sont considérées comme noa
et toutes les fonctions religieuses leur sont impossibles.
20
DETERMINER SES MANAS
Les Manas (à ne pas confondre avec le Mana) sont les dons innés dont sera doté votre
personnage dans chaque domaine: l'aptitude naturelle au combat, les dons pour la magie,
les facultés de perception, la prédisposition à la foi, les relations avec la nature, la
mécanique, les dons artistiques et la facilité de communication.
A part la foi, ces manas ne varient jamais durant le jeu.
Pour chaque mana, tirer 1D4:
- si le dé fait 1, le score initial du mana est de 0
- si le dé fait 2 ou 3, le score initial du mana est de 2
- si le dé fait 4, le score initial du mana est de 4
Vous disposez ensuite de 1D6 points à répartir comme bon vous semble dans les différents
Manas. La liste des compétences correspondant à chaque Mana pourra vous aider dans vos
choix de répartition.
Le score maximum dans un mana est de 5 pour les manahune, de 6 pour les ra'atira et les
ari'i. Les ra’atira ne peuvent avoir qu’un seul mana à 6 alors que les ari’i peuvent en avoir
deux.
Méthode alternative: le personnage choisit deux manas forts (score: 4), 2 manas faibles
(score: 0) et le reste des manas a un score de 2. Le joueur répartit 4 points comme il
l'entend.
DETERMINER SES CARACTERISTIQUES
Il y a trois grandes caractéristiques:
- le physique: les capacités du corps
- le psychique: les capacités de l'esprit
- l'apparence: l'apparence physique du personnage
Pour déterminer le score de physique, le score de psychique et le score d’apparence, lancez
2D6+2 et répartissez les points obtenus entre les trois caractéristiques. Le maximum est 5
dans une caractéristique.
21
Méthode alternative: répartir 10 points dans 3 caractéristiques
Chaque caractéristique est divisée en 3 aspects qui décrivent plus précisément le
personnage. Les aspects liés au physique sont: la force, la rapidité et la coordination. Les
aspects liés au psychique sont l'intelligence, la volonté et la décision (rapidité de décision).
Ceux liés à l'apparence sont la beauté, l'honnêteté (l'apparence d'honnêteté) et l'aura.
La moyenne des trois aspects d'une caractéristique doit être égale à la caractéristique. La
différence entre une caractéristique et un des aspects qui lui sont liés ne peut dépasser 1.
Les scores des aspects pourront être augmentés ultérieurement avec les points de
personnalisation. Les scores maximum des aspects après l'étape de personnalisation sont
les mêmes que pour les manas: 5 pour les manahune, 6 pour les ra'atira et pour les ari'i.
Les ra’atira ne peuvent avoir qu’un seul aspect à 6 alors que les ari’i peuvent en avoir deux.
Ex.: Rata-Nui a 4 en apparence. Il choisit de privilégier l'aura à la beauté et à l'honnêteté. Il
peut au maximum mettre 5 en Aura et ne peut descendre en dessous de 3 en beauté ou
honnêteté. Il choisit d'avoir 5 en Aura, 4 en Beauté et 3 en Honnêteté. La moyenne de ces
trois sous-caractéristiques est bien égale à l'Apparence.
CHOISIR SON ADOLESCENCE
La manière dont on vit son adolescence peut façonner toute une vie. Le joueur va donc
choisir ce qui a le plus caractérisé l'adolescence de son personnage. Il lui est proposé 21
types d'adolescence parmi lesquels il pourra en choisir deux. Ils correspondent à ce que le
personnage a fait pendant cette période de sa vie.
Chacun de ces types d'adolescence a permis au personnage d'acquérir des abilités diverses.
En terme de jeu, chacun des deux types choisis apporte 5 compétences au niveau 2. Si les
deux types choisis font obtenir des compétences identiques, les avantages s'additionnent
pour généralement obtenir un niveau de 4.
L'histoire personnelle du personnage a également une incidence sur sa vie actuelle.
Amitiés, inimitiés, engagements divers peuvent avoir été contractés pendant la jeunesse
du personnage et leurs conséquences s'en ressentent encore dans le présent. Un peu
d'imagination permettra de donner un peu de profondeur au personnage et nourrira
certaines des futures aventures de votre personnage.
LES TYPES D'ADOLESCENCE:
Coureur de vahine:
22
Le personnage passait une grande partie de son temps à tenter de charmer des personnes
du sexe opposé, une habitude qui lui est peut-être restée.
Les compétences acquises par cette adolescence agitée sont: séduction, comique, corps à
corps, danse et maquiller.
Au niveau des relations du personnage, une ancienne conquête éconduite ou un rival
malheureux pourrait nourrir une haine tenace à son encontre. Il peut être désormais marié
ou avoir un ou plusieurs enfants.
Montagnard:
Durant sa jeunesse, le personnage a contracté le virus de la montagne et des lieux éloignés.
Il adorait parcourir les vallées de l'intérieur et escalader les pics volcaniques de Tahiti.
Chasser les oiseaux et les cochons est une des activités favorites du personnages.
Les compétences acquises durant ces escapades sont les suivantes: connaissance de la
montagne, escalade, surprendre, javelot, course.
De cette adolescence montagnarde, le personnage peut avoir gardé, outre son amour du
domaine de To'a-hiti, des trophées de ses aventures: plumes, défenses de cochons, cicatrices,
animal apprivoisé, relations (bonnes ou mauvaises) avec des esprits de la montagne ...
Maritime:
Le personnage a durant son adolescence accompagné les pêcheurs et usé son maro sur les
planches des voiliers. L'air marin est son élément et l'appel du large fait tressaillir son
coeur.
Cette jeunesse en mer lui a permis d'acquérir les compétences suivantes: connaissance de la
mer, bateau, nager, ficeler, prières de pêcheur
23
Les relations sur un bateau sont généralement exacerbées et les amitiés et les haines
résultant de voyages en mer particulièrement vivaces. Le personnage peut également avoir
gardé de ses aventures maritimes des objets tirés de ses prises: dard de raie, harpon en dent
de requin, hameçon de bonne qualité, voire même un petit voilier.
Ecolier studieux:
Le personnage a fréquenté assidûment le fare du tahu'a parau tomu fenau. S'il est ari'i, il
a même peut-être été envoyé dans une école prestigieuse. Il appris avec application les
leçons, les généalogies et les différents mythes.
Il a ainsi pu acquérir les compétences suivantes: généalogie, traditions, connaissances
mythiques, histoire, géographie.
Il a pu conserver de cette époque des relations avec un sage et a pu rencontrer des jeunes
venant d'autres vallées ou d'autres îles.
Sous l'influence d'un orou:
Pour des raisons à déterminer (famille, chantage, rencontre fortuite), un orou a pris le
personnage comme assistant. Il a vécu cette période dans la terreur des esprits et des
sortilèges.
Il a pu ainsi acquérir deux sorts de magie populaire de niveau 1 à 3 et les compétences
suivantes: prière contre les esprits malins, sculpture, conjurer les esprits.
Il a également gardé de cette époque un ti'i et des contacts (bon ou mauvais) avec des
esprits. Ses rapports avec l'orou peuvent s'être modifiés: rivalité, haine, amitié... Peut-être
celui-ci est-il mort dans des circonstances étranges ! Les congénères du personnage ont
également certainement developpé une certaine méfiance à l'égard de celui-ci.
Dans les basques des anciens:
Le personnage aimait à fréquenter les anciens de sa famille. Il appréciait les entendre
parler des temps anciens, des mythes et des affrontements entre les différentes vallées.
Il a pu retirer de ces fréquentations assidues l'apprentissage d'un sort de magie populaire
de niveau 1, 2, ou 3 et l'acquisition des compétences suivantes: légendes, généalogie,
traditions, prières aux ancêtres (ari'i) ou prières populaires (autres castes).
Même si beaucoup d'anciens mentors du personnage sont morts, certains vivent encore
dans la vallée et dieu sait quels pouvoirs ils ont acquis durant leur longue vie.
Dilettante:
24
L'activité favorite du personnage dans son adolescence, c'est la glande et la frime. Le
personnage a baguenaudé, allant d'une occupation futile à une autre. Le heiva (le mois des
fêtes) est sa période préférée de l'année. Beaucoup de tahitiens affectionnent ce type
d’adolescence.
Il a pu ainsi acquérir des compétences telles que: surf, danse, jeux, agilité, éloquence.
Il a pu conserver des contacts avec la bande de jeunes qu'il formait et peut avoir une
réputation de bon à rien qui lui colle à la peau.
Artiste:
Le personnage a toujours apprécié ce qui est esthétique et beau. Sa jeunesse a été une quête
de cette beauté et un apprentissage des différents arts. Il a fréquenté des artistes reconnus
et des 'arioi.
Les compétences acquises durant cette recherche sont les suivantes: danse, chant, musique,
poésie et éloquence.
Outre une certaine grâce qui le caractérise, le personnage a pu garder de cette époque de
bons contacts avec des 'arioi et des objets liés à l'art: vivo (flûte à nez), pahu (tambour),
costume de danse...
Reclus et penseur:
Le personnage était durant sa jeunesse le vilain petit canard. Il préférait la solitude aux
jeux des jeunes de son âge. Il se considérait (et se considère peut-être toujours) comme
supérieur ou différent des autres. Il a developpé tout un imaginaire personnel qui le fait
paraître étrange aux autres.
Il a appris les compétences suivantes: mémoriser, sens, traditions, philosophie et 1 sort de
magie populaire de niveau 1 à 3.
25
Sa réputation a pu se maintenir de cette époque et il a pu garder son côté tête en l'air ou
renfrogné.
Viril et bagarreur:
Le personnage a eu une adolescence agitée. Il a participé à de nombreuses bagarres et il a
beaucoup fréquenté les guerriers de la vallée. Les défis virils faisaient partie de son
quotidien. Il a même pu participer à de vrais batailles.
Les compétences acquises par ce tempérament bagarreur sont les suivantes: corps-à-corps,
lancer de pierre (massue pour les ari'i), escalade, nager. Il peut choisir une des compétences
suivantes: surf, esquive, agilité ou surprendre.
Il a conservé de cette époque des relations vives avec d'autres bagarreurs et une arme de
bonne qualité.
Joueur:
Le personnage aime le jeu et a consacré une bonne partie de sa jeunesse à s'y adonner. Tout
est pour lui matière à jouer, à parier. La vie ne serait-elle qu'un grand jeu ?
Les compétences acquises par cette adolescence ludique sont les suivantes: jeux, agilité,
surf, énigmes, marchander
Farceur:
Le personnage était un poison. Il aimait monter les farces les plus méchantes et les plus
absurdes. Cette attitude lui a valu de nombreuses inimitiés mais également l'admiration
de ceux qui n'ont pas été des victimes. Les farceurs, les coquins et les rusés sont très bien
considérés par les tahitiens.
Il a pu acquérir les compétences suivantes: jeux, comique, ficeler, agilité, pièges.
Flambeur:
Le paraître et l'insouciance ont marqué fortement la jeunesse du personnage. Briller auprès
de ses semblables a toujours constitué un but en soi pour le personnage.
Cette attitude lui a permis d'acquérir les compétences suivantes: corps-à-corps, éloquence,
maquiller, surf, arc (ari'i) et danse (autres castes).
Dans le pareu de sa môman:
26
L'adolescence du personnage a été tardive. Il est longtemps resté dans les jambes de sa mère
qui a eu du mal a le considérer comme un homme. La timidité du personnage en est peut-
être la raison.
Les compétences ainsi acquises sont les suivantes: cuisine, tapa, esquive, prières
populaires, prières contre les esprits malins.
Coureur de récif:
Dans son adolescence, le lieu favori du personnage était le lagon et son récif. Il en connaît
les recoins, les poissons, les meilleurs endroits pour surfer et les esprits qui peuvent le
hanter.
Les compétences acquises par cette jeunesse sont les suivantes: nager, surf, navigation,
connaissance du lagon, course.
Il lui reste certainement de cette adolescence un beau surf, des rivalités avec d'autres
surfeurs ou une amitié avec un esprit du lagon.
A l'étranger:
Le personnage a été placé chez des cousins, dans une école ou en signe d'amitié dans une
vallée lointaine ou une autre île. Il a vécu sa jeunesse loin de sa famille d'origine et en a
retiré des connaissances et des relations qui dépassent le cadre de sa vallée.
Il a pu ainsi acquérir les compétences suivantes: traditions, géographie, étiquette,
généalogie et héraldique
Paria, rejeté:
Le personnage était différent des autres jeunes de son âge (à vous de décider de quelle
façon). Pour cette raison, il était rejeté par les autres qui lui jouaient des tours ou le
battaient. Habitué à être un solitaire, il a appris à savoir éviter les agressions des autres.
Les compétences ainsi apprises sont les suivantes: premiers soins, se libérer de ses liens,
sens, esquive, prières contre les esprits malins.
Romantique:
27
Le personnage a une adolescence marquée par une (ou plusieurs) histoire(s)
romantique(s). Cette attraction pour des personnes du sexe opposée peut avoir été couronnée
de succès , mais elle peut également avoir été un amour impossible ou une quête sans
aboutissement.
Les compétences acquises par ces préoccupations sont les suivantes: poésie, musique,
séduction, chant, éloquence
Travailleur:
Le personnage a consacré une grande partie de sa jeunesse a apprendre son métier, à tel
point qu'il n'a fait que cela. Il gagne un bonus de +1 à toutes ses compétences
professionnelles.
Voyageur:
Durant son adolescence, le personnage a suivi toutes les expéditions qui allaient vers des
mataiena'a et des îles lointaines. Il a pu voir beaucoup de pays et apprendre les rudiments
de la navigation. Les compétences apprises durant ces itinérances sont les suivantes:
bateau, navigation, astronomie, géographie, Choix entre: Connaissance de la montagne,
connaissance du lagon, connaissance de la mer et connaissance de la vallée.
Valet:
De nombreux adolescents, en particulier des ra'atira, passent leur adolescence au service
d'ari'i ou de ra'atira d'autres familles. Ils portent leurs couleurs dans les rassemblements et
rendent tout un tas de petits services. Les compétences apprises sont les suivantes:
héraldique, traditions, généalogie, maquiller, manipuler.
CHOISIR SON OCCUPATION
Les tahitiens sont en général assez polyvalents, mais ils possèdent une occupation
principale pour laquelle ils sont reconnus.
Les occupations qui vous sont accessibles dépendent de votre classe sociale et de vos
différentes aptitudes. Pour chaque occupation, vous trouverez les caractéristiques ou dons
minimum qui sont requis pour pouvoir effectuer cette profession. Ils peuvent être lus dans
la description des différentes occupations.
Les Manahune ont accès aux occupations suivantes: Pêcheur, Paysan, Guerrier, Opu-Nui,
Navigateur, Artisan, Arioi, Orou, Valet et Femme (homosexuel).
28
Les Ra’atira ont accès aux occupations suivantes: Paysan, Guerrier, Rau-Ti, ‘orero,
Navigateur, Orou, Artisans, Arioi, Fa’atere, Valet, Femme (homosexuel)
Les Ari’i ont accès aux occupations suivantes: Guerrier, Tahu’a Pure, Apprenti Tahu’a
(Muhu), Artisan, Arioi, Fa’atere, Orou (rare) ou Femme (homosexuel).
Pour les personnages féminins, un encart leur est spécialement consacrée.
Si l'occupation est différente de celle du père, il faut modifier le rang social du personnage:
-1 si le rang social de l'occupation choisie est inférieur à celle du père, +1 si c'est le
contraire.
LE CHOIX DE L'AGE
Les tahitiens ne tenaient pas rigoureusement le compte des années qui passent. On
devenait adolescent à la puberté et adulte quand on était autonome. Le personnage peut
avoir trois âges différents: jeune adulte, adulte ou vieux.
L’âge détermine l’avancement des compétences professionnelles. Le niveau des compétences
professionnelles du personnage augmentent de:
- + 2 si il est jeune adulte
- + 3 si il est adulte
- + 4 si il est vieux
Les personnages Vieux, du fait de leur décrépitude naturelle, ont -1 en physique.
POINTS DE PERSONNALISATION
La phase finale de la création de personnage consiste en l'allocation de points de
personnalisation. Elle représente ce que le personnage a pu acquérir en-dehors des stades de
son existence décrite précédemment (son adolescence ou sa vie "professionnelle").
Le nombre de points dont dispose le personnage dépend de son âge. Un jeune adulte dispose
de 4 points, un adulte de 5 points et un ancien de 6 points.
Ces points permettent d'augmenter des caractéristiques, des dons, des compétences ou
d'acquérir des sortilèges.
ASPECTS D’UNE CARACTERISTIQUE
29
Pour augmenter l'aspect d'une caractéristique de 1 point, le joueur doit dépenser 1 1/2 point
de personnalisation.
COMPETENCES
Pour augmenter une compétence d'un niveau, le joueur doit dépenser 1/2 point de
personnalisation.
Si le niveau de la compétence est de 0, il dépense 1 point de personnalisation et commence
la compétence avec un niveau de +1.
SORTS
- pour acquérir un sort de niveau 1 à 3 de difficulté d'apprentissage de II ou un sort de
niveau 1 à 5 d'une difficulté d'apprentissage III, le joueur doit dépenser 1/2 point de
personnalisation.
- pour acquérir un sort de niveau 1 à 3 d'une difficulté d'apprentissage I, d'un sort de
niveau 4 à 5 d'une difficulté d'apprentissage II ou d'un sort de niveau 6 à 9 d'une
difficulté d'apprentissage III, le personnage dépense 1 point de personnalisation
- pour acquérir un sort de niveau 4 à 5 d'une difficulté d'apprentissage I, un sort de niveau
6 à 9 de difficulté d'apprentissage II ou un sort de niveau 10 de difficulté d'apprentissage
III, le joueur dépense 2 points d'apprentissage.
Les tableaux suivants permettent de déterminer la difficulté d'apprentissage des sorts qui
dépend de l'occupation du personnage et les coûts d'achat des différents sorts.
Type de Magie
Peuple
Arioi
Artisan
Orou
Tahu'a Ra'atira
Ari'i
Magie Populaire
I
I
I
II
III
I
I
Magie des Esprits
I
I
I
III
II
I
I
magie des
ancêtres(a)
-
-
-
III
II
I
II
Magie Divine
-
I
-
I
III
-
I
magie de Oro (o)
-
III
-
I
III
-
I
Magie de Pêcheur
(p)
I (si
pêch.)
I
III
(Tautai)
II
II
I
I
Magie de Médecin
(m)
I
I
III
(Ra'au)
II
II
I
I
Magie des
Artisans (')
I
I
III
II
II
I
I
30
Fertilité bénéfique
(*)
I
III
I
II
II
I
I
maléfique(*)
I
II
I
III
II
I
I
Difficulté du sort
Coût en
I
points de
II
compétences
III
1-3
1
1/2
1/2
4-5
2
1
1/2
6-9
-
2
1
10
-
-
2
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LES COMPETENCES
Il existe quatre types de compétences:
1. LES COMPETENCES LIEES A LA FAMILLE
Elles ne coûtent aucun point de compétences. Chaque origine sociale donne 4 compétences
liées à la famille. On les trouve dans la rubrique "milieu d'origine" de la description des
occupations. Leur niveau de départ est de 2.
2. LES COMPETENCES ACQUISES PENDANT L'ADOLESCENCE
Comme nous l'avons vu précédemment, le joueur choisit deux qualificatifs qui décrivent
l'adolescence de son personnage parmi la liste des types d'adolescence. Chaque type
d'adolescence lui augmente cinq compétences de deux niveaux.
3. LES COMPETENCES "PROFESSIONNELLES"
L'occupation qu'a choisie le joueur pour son personnage détermine 10 compétences. Ces
compétences représentent ce que le personnage a appris dans l'apprentissage et la pratique
de son métier.
Le niveau des compétences professionnelles du personnage augmentent de:
- + 2 si il est jeune adulte
- + 3 si il est adulte
- + 4 si il est vieux
Une augmentation supplémentaire de +1 est attribuée à deux compétences au choix parmi
les compétences professionnelles.
4. LES COMPETENCES DE PERSONNALISATION
Le personnage peut augmenter le niveau d'une ou plusieurs compétences. Un point de
personnalisation permet d'augmenter le score d'une compétence de +1. Si le score de cette
compétence est de 0, le personnage commence avec cette compétence à + 2.
32
5. LES COMPETENCES INNEES
Ces compétences sont celles qui, même si elles n'ont pas été apprises formellement, sont
partiellement connues du fait de leur utilisation régulière. Elles ne subissent pas de malus
dû à un niveau de maîtrise égal à 0.
Vous en trouverez la liste ci-dessous:
MANAHUNE
Agriculture, Nager, Connaissance de la Vallée, Bateau
RA'ATIRA
Agriculture, Evaluer, Nager, Connaissance de la Vallée
ARI'I
Généalogie, Héraldique, Eloquence, Evaluer, Traditions, Histoire, Massue Lancée, Javelot,
Bateau
LA DIFFICULTE DES COMPETENCES
La difficulté d'une compétence est le malus qui s'applique au calcul de la compétence
quand le niveau de maîtrise dans la compétence est de zéro. Il est indiqué dans la
description de la compétence.
LE CHOIX DES SORTILEGES
La magie est très présente à Tahiti et n'importe qui peut avoir accès aux différentes formes
de magie. Les points de personnalisation, certains types d'adolescence et certaines
occupations permettent d'apprendre des sortilèges.
LE CALCUL DES CHANCES DE REUSSIR LE SORT
1. CALCUL DES POUVOIRS
Il y a 3 pouvoirs magiques différents:
- le pouvoir d’incantation qui est égal à la somme du mana de Magie multiplié par 2, du
mana de Communication et du score de Psychique.
33
- le pouvoir des esprits qui est égal à la somme du mana de Magie, du mana de
Communication, du mana de Foi auxquels s'ajoute le score de psychique.
- le pouvoir divin qui est égal à la somme de Foi multiplié par 2, de Psychique et de
Communication
2.CALCUL DE LA CONNAISSANCE DE LA MAGIE
La connaissance de la magie est égale à la somme divisée par 10 des difficultés des sorts
connus par le personnage, en comptant deux fois la difficulté du sort le plus complexe.
3.CALCUL DES CHANCES DE REUSSITES DE CHAQUE SORTILEGE
Pour un sort, les chances de réussite sont égales à la somme du pouvoir correspondant au
sort et de la connaissance de la magie du personnage. On retire à ce chiffre deux fois la
difficulté du sort.
Ex: Rata-nui connaît le sort de Peur (difficulté du sort:1). Il a 14 en pouvoir d'incantation
et 2 en connaissance de la magie. Son score sera donc de: 14+2-2x1=14.
4. CALCUL DU NIVEAU DE MAITRISE DU SORT
Le niveau de maîtrise (NM) du sort permet de connaître la puissance du sort que va
pouvoir lancer le personnage. Le tableau suivant permet de connaître à partir des chances
de réussite du sort le NM du personnage dans ce sort.
Score
NM
1-3
1
4-6
2
7-9
3
10-12
4
13-15
5
16-18
6
19+
7
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CALCUL DU MANA ET DE LA FATIGUE
1. LE MANA
Le Mana représente la force surnaturelle du personnage, son énergie intérieure, sa
puissance d'esprit; c'est la parcelle de divin que possède chacun de nous. En terme de jeu, le
mana permet de réaliser des actions extraordinaires ou surnaturelles.
Le Mana est égal à la somme des 8 manas divisée par dix. On ajoute à ce score les
modificateurs dus au rang familial et à la classe sociale du personnage. Le Mana est la
force magique, divine, le souffle de vie qui habite le personnage et qui permet de réaliser
des actes extraordinaires.
Le Mana peut varier au cours du jeu grâce aux exploits (et aux échecs) du personnage et au
cannibalisme.
2. LA FATIGUE
La Fatigue est un capital de points qui s’amenuise lorsque le personnage est blessé. Ce
chiffre intervient aussi pour connaître la résistance d’une personne aux dégâts causés par
une arme ou tout autre action. Pour calculer le chiffre de fatigue, on ajoute le double du
score de physique au score de psychique.
3. LE BONUS AUX DEGATS
Le bonus aux dégâts entre dans le calcul des dégâts d’un coup porté contre un adversaire. Il
dépend de la force.
Force
Bonus aux Dégâts
1
-1
2-4
0
5
+1
6
+2
4. LE POUVOIR
Le pouvoir est égal au score de Psychique. Il équivaut au nombre de sorts qu’un maohi est
capable de lancer sans se reposer.
35
LE BACKGROUND
Le background est la partie la plus importante de la création de personnage, elle peut être
faite avant la phase “technique” afin d’orienter les choix du joueur ou après. Le background
sera alors en partie dépendant des attributs du personnage.
Le background désigne l’histoire personnelle du personnage et son environnement direct
(famille, amis, problèmes, etc...). Ce background sera réalisé en collaboration avec le maître
des légendes qui dira ce qui est possible et ce qui ne l’est pas. Il en profitera également pour
définir les relations des personnages avec les principaux personnages non-joueurs de sa
campagne. Les îles sont de petits mondes et tout le monde connaît presque tout le monde!
Quelqu’un n’est rien sans un nom. Voici donc une liste de prénoms dans lesquels vous
pourrez piocher. Les noms signifient toujours quelque chose et les tahitiens en changent
souvent durant leur vie. Pour simplifier, seuls les maîtres des légendes et les joueurs
perfectionnistes se préoccuperont de la signification de leur nom (voir lexique).
Vous pouvez également créer vous-même un nom à consonnance tahitienne. Pour cela,
quelques rappels sur la langue tahitienne:
- la langue tahitienne est la plus pauvre en consonne de notre planète. Les consonnes
existantes sont: v, f, m, n, p, t, h, r et ‘ (marque l’arrêt du son)
- on ne trouve jamais deux consonnes qui se suivent
- les mots se terminent toujours par une voyelle
- les voyelles sont: a, e (prononcez é), u (prononcez ou), i (se prononce i ou y) et o.
Quelques noms masculins: Vini, Mua-va’a, Ma’iruru, Aua-tea, Hema, Tafa’i, Fa-auta,
Pu-mata-hevaheva, Rehia, Pere-i-tai, Mahu-tu-rua, Manua, Rua-ta’ata, Utu-roa, Taruia,
Te-hinu, Pani, Tati, O’o, Terii, Upaparu, Ra’a-mauriri
Quelques noms feminins: Ru-marei-hau, Huauri, Rohi-vahine, Toe-hau, Ma-tu-tere
Le background du personnage doit bien sûr plonger ses racines dans les choix de création:
sa classe sociale, son adolescence, son occupation, les sorts appris... A vous de faire preuve
d'imagination en utilisant ces éléments.
36
LISTES DES COMPETENCES
COMBAT
Physique
Corps-à Corps (-1)
Lance (-1)
Rapidité
Esquive (-1)
Force
Massue (-3)
Coordination
Massue Lancée (-5)
Herminette (-1)
Javelot (-1)
Fronde (-3)
Combat Naval (-3)
Serpe (-1)
Lancer de Pierre (-1)
Dard de Raie (-3)
Poignard (-1)
Psychique
Art de la Guerre (-5)
MAGIE
Intelligence
Présages (-5)
Sens des Tatouages (-1)
Volonté
Prières / Esprits Malins (-3)
ARTISTIQUE
Coordination
Sculpture (-5)
Tatouage (-5)
Dessin (-3)
Psychique
Poésie (-5)
Musique (-3)
Apparence
Danse (-1)
Aura
Chant (-3)
COMMUNICATION
Psychique
Comique (-1)
Convaincre (-1)
Légendes (-3)
Intelligence
Généalogie (-5)
Rhétorique (-5)
Aura
Eloquence (-1)
Apparence
Séduction (-1)
Honnêteté
Marchandage (-3)
PERCEPTION
Coordination
Agilité (-1)
Manipuler (-3)
Surf (-5)
Se libérer de ses liens (-3)
Psychique
Evaluer (-1)
Etiquette (-3)
Rapidité
Jeux (-3)
Surprendre (-3)
Décision
Sens (-1)
Intelligence
Astronomie (-5)
Mémoriser (-3)
Orientation (-3)
Philosophie (-5)
Héraldique (-1)
Histoire (-5)
Enigmes (-5)
Traditions (-3)
Aura
Maquiller (-3)
MECANIQUE
Intelligence
Constr. de cases (-3)
Constr. de Bateaux (-5)
Constr. de Marae (-3)
Coordination
Fabriquer Armes (-1)
Pièges (-5)
Ficeler (-3)
Volonté
Fabriquer Tapa (-3)
NATURE
Physique
Escalade (-3)
Nager (-1)
Agriculture (-3)
Conn. de la montagne (-3)
Conn. de la mer (-3)
Course (-1)
Psychique
Navigation (-5)
Embaumer (-5)
Médecine (-5)
Conn. de la vallée (-1)
Conn. du Lagon (-1)
Cuisine (-3)
Décision
Premiers Soins (-1)
Intelligence
Poisons (-5)
Géographie (-3)
FOI
Intelligence
Conn. Mythiques (-5)
Conn. des Tabous (-1)
Théologie (-5)
Prières Populaires (-3)
Prières de Fertilité (-3)
Prières Sacrées (-5)
Prières aux Ancêtres (-3)
Prières de Métier (-3)
Volonté
Conjurer Esprit (-3)
Conjurer Atua (-5)
37
LISTE DES SORTILEGES
INCANTATIONS
BENEFIQUES
Peur (1)a
Ecarter Les Animaux (1)
Résister au Sommeil (1)
Prot. Noix de Coco (1)*
Protéger les Récoltes (2)*
Virilité (2)*
Trouver de l’eau (2)
Faire Parler Pierres (2)m
Faire Parler Bois (2) m
Faire Parler Corail (2)m
Bénir un Hameçon (3)p
Rendre Amoureux (3)*
Guérison des Fièvres (4)m
Exorcisme d'Esprit du Bois
(4)m
Fureur Guerrière (4)
Suggérer (4)o
Apaiser (4)o
contrepoison I (4)m
Protéger Pirogue (5)p
Bénédiction Magique (5)
Guérir la Stérilité (5)
Objet Exceptionnel (5)'
Hypnotisme (6)o
Poisson Magique (6)p
Exorcisme d'Esprit de la
Pierre (6)m
contrepoison II (6)m
Dissipation de Maléfice (6)
Exorcisme d'Esprit du Corail
(8)m
Contre-Maléfice (9)
Exorcisme de 'oromatua
(10)m
INCANTATIONS
MALEFIQUES
Perte des Cheveux (2)
Perte de Dents (3)
Pourrir un Four (3)
Pourrir Noix de Coco (3)*
Provoquer Stérilité (4)*
Grossesse Nerveuse (4)*
Pluie de Cailloux (4)
Vision du Voleur (4)
Maladie (5)
Pourrir les Récoltes (5)*
Rendre Suicidaire (6)
Tempête (6)
Malédiction Magique (6)
Amulette de Malédiction (7)
Typhon (10)
MAGIE DIVINE
Tous les Dieux
Bénédiction (4)
Purification (4)
Départ des Morts (4)
Maladie (6)
Mort (10)
Tû
Fureur Guerrière (2)
Coup Puissant (3)
Tête Froide (4)
Intimidation (4)
Ficeler 'Aha-tu (4)
Folie Guerrière (6)
Ro'o
Paix (3)
Eloquence (5)
Connaissance (5)
Message (6)
Généalogie (8)
Tane
Apaiser les Esprits du Bois
(2)
Beauté (2)
Se protéger des Lutins (3)
Escalade (3)
Chute d'Arbres (4)
Chute de Pierres (5)
Ta'aroa
Tous les sorts des dieux
précédents avec une difficulté
à +1
'Oro
Les sorts de Tû (Diff.+1)
jusqu’à la Diff. 5
Les sorts de Ro'o (Diff.+1)
jusqu’à Diff. 5
Eclair (5)
Foudre (6)
Se transformer en cochon
sauvage (8)
Mort (9)
Dieux Mineurs
Détection de ... (2)
Bénédiction de... (4)
Vision Nocturne (Hine) (5)
Connaissance de Plantes
(dieu guérisseur) (5)
Bonne Navigation (Dieu
Maritime) (5)
Protection Contre ... (6)
MAGIE DES ESPRITS
se concilier:
esprits du bois (4)
esprit de pierre (6)
esprit du corail (8)
'oromatua (10)
Faire Agir:
esprits du bois (2)
esprit de pierre (3)
esprit du corail (4)
'oromatua (5)
Ancêtres a
Communiquer avec les morts
(1)
Bénédiction de l'Ancêtre (3)
Questionner les Morts (4)
Mana de l'Ancêtre (7)
38
LISTE DES OCCUPATIONS
Les occupations sont ici classées par ordre alphabétique (français).
BALADIN ERRANT (‘ARIOI)
Les ‘arioi appartiennent à une confrérie de baladins qui se déplacent de vallées en vallées et
d’îles en îles pour présenter des spectacles. Il s’y succèdent chants, danses, moqueries et
orgies. Pour entrer dans la secte, il faut être doté de talents artistiques et faire montre d’un
état de possession (nevaneva). La secte véhicule également le culte de ‘oro, le dieu de la
guerre. Leur liberté sexuelle est totale mais ils ne peuvent garder leurs enfants qui sont
tués à la naissance.
- Compétences données: Corps à Corps, Esquive, Chant, Musique
- Compétences Obligatoires des ‘arioi:
La société 'arioi comprend plusieurs rangs. Le personnage choisit le rang qu'il désire
atteindre. Il existe cependant des limitations: un jeune adulte ne peut-être que po'o
(apprenti), un adulte peut atteindre le rang de Tara-tatu (1er rang) et un ancien pourra
automatiquement choisir d'être de deuxième rang ( ohe mara). Pour augmenter de un rang
au-dessus du rang qui lui est normalement permis, le joueur doit dépenser 2 points de
personnalisation. Chaque rang donne droit à des compétences dont le niveau sera de +2
quelque soit l'âge du personnage.
GRADE
Apprenti
1°
2°
3°
4°
NOM
Poo
Tara-Tatu
Ohe-Mara
Atoro
Hua
Chant
Danse
Musique
Eloquence
Maquiller
Histoire
Légendes
Conn. de la
mer
Géographie
Imiter
Comique
Prières
Fertilité
Conn. Myth.
Navigation
Traditions
Chant
Danse
Eloquence
Imiter
1 sort de
fertilité de
niv. 1-3
Musique
Maquiller
Légendes
Rhétorique
Combat
naval
Enigmes
Etiquette
Agilité
2 sorts de
niv. 1 -3
(fertilité ou
'oro)
Agilité
Javelot
Rhétorique
Maquiller
Sens des
tatouages
Comique
1 sort de
niv.1-5 de
fertilité ou de
'oro
Généalogie
Géographie
Conn. des
lagons
Généalogie
Convaincre
Eloquence
Imiter
Comique
39
Les compétences des annonceurs (papa-tea) sont les suivantes: Marchandages,
Convaincre, Traditions, Sens des tatouages, Conn. des vallées, Géographie, Etiquette,
Course, Eloquence, Maquiller
CHEF DE PÊCHE (TAHU'A TAUTAI)
Les tahu’a tautai dirigent l’organisation de la pêche. Ils en fixent le calendrier, façonnent
des hameçons et vouent un culte aux esprits et aux dieux de l’océan afin de protéger les
pêcheurs et leur assurer de bonnes prises.
- Compétences données: Corps à Corps, Esquive, Nager, Prières de Pêche
- Compétences Obligatoires : Géographie, Prières de Pêches, Connaissances Mythiques,
Traditions, Conn. du lagon, Conn. de la mer, Connaissance des Tabous, Nager,
Navigation,
Choix entre: Poisons, Théologie et Astronomie
- Compétences Interdites : Tatouer
CONSTRUCTEUR DE CASES (TAHU'A FARE)
Les tahu’a fare dirigent et organisent la fabrications des maisons et des grands bâtiments
tels les fare ‘arioi et les hangars à bateaux.
- Compétences données: Corps à Corps, Esquive, Nager, Prières Populaires (Manahune),
Prières aux Ancêtres (Ra'atira et Ari'i)
- Compétences Obligatoires : Construction de cases, Conn. de la Vallée, Traditions,
Connaissances des Tabous, Manipuler, Prières des Tahu'a Fare, Conn. de la montagne,
Herminette, Agriculture (Manahune, Ra'atira), Massue Lancée (Ari'i)
1 Choix entre: Légendes, Généalogie, Sculpture, Géographie
- Compétences interdites: Conjurer Atua, Tatouer
CONSTRUCTEUR DE PIROGUE (TAHU'A VA'A)
Les tahu’a va’a sont les artisans les plus respectés car ils président à la fabrication des
bateaux de toute sorte. Ils savent fabriquer les voiles, les cordes, nouer les planches de la
coque et rendre les bateaux rapides et sûrs. Ils sont également capables de choisir les arbres
les plus adéquats pour la construction et parcourent pour cela Tahiti en tout sens. Certains
lorgnent avec envie sur les arbres de lieux tapu...
40
- Compétences données: Corps à Corps, Esquive, Navigation, Nager
- Compétences Obligatoires : Nager, Prières des Tahu'a Va'a, Construction de Bateaux,
Conn. de la montagne, Navigation, Ficeler, Conn. de la vallée, Conn. de la mer, Traditions,
Connaissance des Tabous
- Compétences Interdites : Aucune
CONSTRUCTEUR DE TEMPLES (TAHU'A MARAE)
Les tahu’a marae dirigent la construction des marae et sont donc experts dans
l’assemblage de pierres.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Nager, Prières Populaires (Manahune),
Prières aux Ancêtres (Ra'atira et Ari'i)
- Compétences Obligatoires : Construction de Marae, Construction de Cases, Prières de
Tahu'a Marae, Traditions, Connaissances Mythiques, Connaissance des Tabous, Présages,
Généalogie, Enigmes, Agriculture (Manahune, Ra'atira), Massue Lancée (Ari'i)
FEMME (VAHINE)
Cette occupation regroupe les travaux généralement dévolus aux femmes: tâches ménagères
et agriculture. Certains hommes pensent être nés du mauvais sexe, des homosexuels, et ils
peuvent choisir cette occupation.
- Compétences données aux personnages féminins : deux des compétences du milieu sociale
du père, cuisine, tapa
- Compétences obligatoires : Cuisine, Fabriquer le tapa, Agriculture, Dessin, Conn. du
Lagon, Prières Populaires ou aux ancêtres, une compétence de communication, une
compétence artistique (hors tatouage), Traditions, une compétence de combat ou de nature
pour les ari’i (en sus):
Héraldique ou Connaissance des Tabous
FERMIER
Les fermiers cultivent la terre et s’occupent de ramasser noix de coco et uru. Ils fournissent
à la communauté une grande part de ses ressources alimentaires. La propriété de la terre est
familiale. Les fermiers ra’atira peuvent posséder des étendues de terre importantes (à
l’échelle de Tahiti).
41
- Compétences données:
Corps à Corps, Esquive, Agriculture, Prières Populaires (Manahune)
Corps à Corps, Esquive, Agriculture, Prières de Fertilité (Ra'atira)
- Compétences Obligatoires : Agriculture, Conn. de la vallée, Prières de Fertilité, Nager,
Lancer de Pierre (Manahune), Javelot (Ra'atira), une Compétence de Communication,
2 Choix entre: Escalade, Cuisine, Fronde et Conn. de la montagne
1 Choix entre: Traditions, Conn. des Tabous et Prières aux Ancêtres
1 Choix entre: Evaluer, Agilité, Sens et Jeux
- Compétences Interdites :
Manahune: Sens des Tatouages, Tatouer, Prières Sacrées, Conjurer Atua
Ra'atira: Sens des Tatouages, Conjurer Atua, Prières Sacrées
GUERRIER (Toa)
Les guerriers constituent les troupes d’élites en temps de guerre. En temps de paix, ils sont
utilisés comme garde personnel, patrouille des frontières, porteur ou ils vaquent à d’autres
occupations. Les fau sont des guerriers renommés qui portent à la bataille le fau, un
énorme casque.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive,
Lancer de Pierres et Prières Populaires (Manahune),
Javelot, Fronde (Ra'atira)
42
Généalogie, Héraldique (Ari'i)
- Compétences Obligatoires des guerriers
Manahune
Massue
Massue Lancée
Javelot
Fronde ou Lance
Agriculture
Nager
Prières de Guerre
1 choix entre: Ficeler,
Navigation, Eloquence
1 Choix entre: Prières de
Fertilité, Traditions et
Connaissances des Tabous
Ra'atira
Massue
Massue Lancée
Javelot
Fronde ou Lance
Agriculture
Nager
Prières de Guerre
1 choix entre: Ficeler,
Héraldique, Généalogie,
Navigation, Eloquence
1 choix entre: Prières de
Fertilité, Conn. Mythiques,
Traditions et Connaissances
des Tabous
Ari'i
Massue
Massue Lancée
Javelot
Fronde ou Lance
Agriculture
Nager
Prières de Guerre
1 choix entre: Eloquence,
Rhétorique, Art de la Guerre,
Combat Naval, Surf,
Histoire, Géographie
1 choix entre: Prières de
Fertilité, Conn. Mythiques,
Traditions, Théologie, Prières
contre les Esprits Malins,
Présages, Sens des
Tatouages et Connaissances
des Tabous
+ 1 choix entre: Combat Naval, Serpe, Dard de Raie, Danse, Eloquence, Sens,
Maquiller/Intimider, Fabriquer Armes, Conn. de la Vallée, Conn. de la Montagne, Conn.
de la Mer
- Compétences Interdites :
Manahune: Sens des Tatouages, Tatouer, Conjurer Atua, Prières Sacrées
Ra'atira: Tatouer, Prières Sacrées, Conjurer Atua
Ari'i: Aucune
HERAULT, GENEALOGUE ('ORERO ou HAERE TE PO)
Les ‘orero sont des orateurs spécialisés dans les généalogies. Ils sont généralement attachés
à un ari’i et sont chargés de déclamer son identité et de prouver généalogiquement sa
supériorité. On les appelle parfois Haere te po (comme certains apprentis prêtres) car ils
marchent la nuit pour apprendre les généalogies des ari’i.
43
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Traditions, Généalogie
-
Compétences
Obligatoires
:
Généalogie,
Traditions,
Eloquence,
Rhétorique,
Connaissances Mythiques, Héraldique, Prières aux Ancêtres, Mémoriser, Convaincre,
Etiquette
- Compétences interdites : Tatouer, Prières Sacrées, Conjurer Atua
MEDECIN (Tahu'a Ra'au)
Les tahu’a ra’au sont des médecins. Ils savent soigner les blessures et nombre d’entre eux
apprennent à réaliser des exorcismes, car la maladie est généralement causée par des esprits
malveillants. Les tahu’a ra’au disposent de marae dédiés aux différents dieux guérisseurs
où certains d’entre eux officient comme de quasi-prêtres.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Plantes, Premiers Soins
- Compétences obligatoires : Premiers Soins, Conn. de la Vallée, Prières contre les esprits
malins, Médecine, Convaincre, Sens, Traditions, Connaissances Mythiques
1 choix entre Poisons, Embaumer et Théologie
1 sort “ faire parler les esprits de ” (pierre, corail ou bois)
- Compétences Interdites : Aucune
NAVIGATEUR
Les navigateurs sont les hommes de bord des grands bateaux d’expédition ou dirigent des
embarcations côtières. L’appel du large les tenaille et ils aiment le grand océan.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Nager, Prières de Pêche
- Compétences Obligatoires : Conn. de la Mer, Navigation, Ficeler, Sens, Nager,
Géographie, Prières de Pêche, Conn. du Lagon, Javelot
1 Choix entre: Astronomie, Massue, Chant
ORATEUR (RAU-TI)
Les rau-ti sont des orateurs professionnels qui servent des ari’i ou des ra’atira importants.
Ils sont chargés de faire passer des message dans la population et de convaincre certaines
personnes. A la guerre, ils sont chargés d’exciter les guerriers. Leur habillement de
cérémonie est un pagne de feuille de ti et une arme insidieuse, le dard de raie.
44
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Chant, Plantes
- Compétences Obligatoires : Chant, Courir, Dard de Raie, Eloquence, Rhétorique, Poésie,
Généalogie, Maquiller, Héraldique, Prières de Guerre
- Compétences Interdites : Conjurer Atua, Tatouer, Prières Sacrées
ORNEUR DE TAPA
Les orneurs de tapas sont chargés d’habiller les to’o, les statues recevant les dieux. Ils sont
les rares hommes à travailler le tapa. Ils exercent leur talent à proximité des grands marae
dans des fare destinés à cet usage.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Dessin, Conn. de la Vallée
- Compétences Obligatoires : Fabriquer Tapa, Dessin, Conn. de la Vallée, Traditions,
Généalogie, Héraldique, Agriculture, Conn. de la Montagne
Sens des Tatouages ou Connaissances Mythiques
Prières Populaires (Manahune), Prières de Fertilité (Ra'atira)
- Compétences Interdites :
Manahune: Tatouer, Conjurer Atua, Prières Sacrées
Ra'atira: Conjurer Atua, Prières Sacrées
PÊCHEUR
Les pêcheurs constituent un groupe social qui dispose de ses propres marae et de son propre
chef, le tahu’a tautai. Ils amènent à la collectivité une part importante de sa nourriture et
ils sont respectés pour cela.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Nager, Prières de Pêche
- Compétences obligatoires : Conn. du Lagon, Conn. de la Mer, Navigation, Nager, Prières
de Pêche, Javelot, Fabriquer des Bateaux, Ficeler, Prières contre les esprits malins
Choix d'1 compétence de Communication
- Compétences interdites : Art de la guerre, Sens des Tatouages, Tatouer, Prières Sacrées,
Conjurer Atua
45
PILOTE (Fa’atere)
Les pilotes dirigent les bateaux de haute mer lors d’expéditions maritimes. Leur science est
primordiale à l’orientation des bateaux.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Nager, Géographie
- Compétences Obligatoires : Traditions, Connaissances Mythiques, Géographie,
Navigation, Conn. de la Mer, Conn. de la Montagne, Nager, Connaissances des Tabous,
Ficeler, Prière de Navigation, Astronomie
1 Choix entre: Prières de Pêche, Présages et Construction de Bateaux
- Compétences Interdites
Aucune
PRETRE
Les prêtres dirigent le culte, édictent les tabous et exercent leurs talents de divination. Ce
sont eux qui établissent et font respecter les tabous qui constituent les seuls lois inviolables
des maohis. Ils sont également soumis à de nombreux tabous du fait de leur ra’a
important. Devenir prêtre demande un long apprentissage.
Les assistants des prêtres ne sont pas appelés à devenir prêtre et sont soumis à moins de
tabous.
Apprenti, Assistant (MUHU)
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Connaissance des Tabous, Traditions
- Compétences Obligatoires : Traditions, Connaissance des Tabous, Connaissances
Mythiques, Mémoriser, Prières Populaires, Prières Fertilité, Prières contre les Esprits
Malins, Prières aux Ancêtres, Sens des Tatouages, Conn. de la montagne
+ selon spécialisation du Marae
46
Tû: 2 compétences de Combat
Ta'aroa: Conn. du lagon , Prières de Pêches
Tane: Astronomie, Prières des Constructeurs de Pirogue
Ro'o: Rhétorique, Poésie
Oro: Eloquence, 1 compétence de combat
Prêtre (TAHU'A PURE)
Ne peuvent devenir prêtre que des adultes ou des anciens. Si un jeune adulte se lance dans
la prêtrise, il ne peut pour l’instant qu’être Muhu. Les prêtres disposent des compétences de
prêtres à +1 (adultes) ou à +2 (anciens) ainsi que celle de muhu à +2.
- Compétences Obligatoires : Conjurer Atua, Présages, Prières Sacrées, Astronomie,
Mémoriser, Généalogie, Prières des Constructeurs de Marae, Philosophie, Héraldique,
Embaumer, Géographie, Histoire
SAGE (TAHU'A PARAU TOMU FENUA)
Les tahu’a parau tomu fenua sont les gardiens des traditions et des connaissances des
maohis. Nombre d’entre eux enseignent dans des écoles que suivent les jeunes ari’i et
quelques ra’atira. Les ari’i maro’ura les consultent parfois avant de prendre des décisions
importantes.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Plantes, Animaux
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- Compétences Obligatoires : Héraldique, Rhétorique, Histoire ou Généalogie, Enigmes,
Philosophie, Conn. de la vallée, Conn. de la montagne, Astronomie, Géographie
1 choix entre: Conn. de la mer, Navigation, Premiers Soins, Prières de Fertilité, Présages,
Sens des Tatouages, Mémoriser, Histoire, Généalogie
- Compétences interdites : Prières Sacrées
SCULPTEUR
Les sculpteurs sont des artisans chargés de produire des objets courants et de leur donner
un aspect esthétique. Ces objets peuvent être des ‘umete, des armes, des to’o, des ti’i, des
appui-nuque... Ils travaillent principalement le bois, mais aussi l’os et la pierre.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Herminette, Manipuler
- Compétences Obligatoires : Sculpture, Traditions, Connaissances Mythiques, Prières des
Sculpteurs, Herminette, Serpe, Connaissance de la vallée, Conn. de la Montagne, Une
Compétence de Communication
Choix entre: Dessin, Ficeler, Théologie, Connaissance des Tabous, Sens des Tatouages,
Fabriquer Tapa, Fabriquer Armes et Prières de Fertilité
- Compétences Interdites
Manahune: Conjurer Atua, Prières Sacrées, Tatouer
Ra'atira: Conjurer Atua, Prières Sacrées, Tatouer
Ari'i: Conjurer Atua, Prières Sacrées
SERVITEUR DU MARAE (OPU-NUI)
Les opu-nui sont des serviteurs attachés à un marae. Ils sont chargés de le nettoyer, de
s’occuper des animaux et des plantes sacrés qui y vivent, de porter les offrandes et de biens
d’autres services encore. Ils sont soumis à des tabous quand ils sont en service: ils ne
peuvent partager leur repas avec d’autres gens, ils ne peuvent avoir de relations sexuelles
avec quelqu’un de noa... Cependant, ces tabous disparaissent hors de l’enceinte du marae
après une petite cérémonie de purification. Les opu-nui sont des manahune choisis par les
prêtres pour la noirceur de leur peau. Ils deviennent alors protégés par la déesse Hine et ne
peuvent être sacrifiés.
- Compétences données : Corps à Corps, Esquive, Prières de Fertilité, Prières Populaires
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Compétences Obligatoires : Conn. de la vallée, Prières Populaires, Prières contre les Esprits
Malins, Présages, Traditions, Connaissances Mythiques, Fabriquer Tapa, Connaissance
des Tabous
2 choix entre: Légendes, Prières de Fertilité, Musique, Lancer de Pierre, Généalogie
- MAGIE : Les Opu-Nui ont accès à la magie populaire à une difficulté d’apprentissage de
I, à la magie de fertilité à II, et à la magie divine de Hine à III
SORCIER, CHAMANE (OROU ou FEIA TAHU TAHU)
Les orou sont en contact avec les esprits (varua et ‘oromatua). Ils savent les invoquer dans
des ti’i et les forcer à agir . Certains orou sont très craints car ils peuvent faire posséder une
personne par un esprit ; d’autres sont appréciés car ils savent exorciser ces esprits. De
nombreux orou sont attachés à un marae, ils s’occupent de rendre un culte à tous les esprits
et les dieux mineurs dont les tahu’a pure ne peuvent s’occuper. Les autre sont indépendants
des marae et la plupart d’entre eux sont néfastes. Ils sont avides de vêtements,
d’excrèments, de cheveux ou d’ongles de leurs futures victimes, car ces tupu permettent aux
esprits contrôlés par l’orou de s’introduire dans ces personnes.
- Compétences données: Corps à Corps, Esquive, Sculpture, Prières contre les Esprits Malins
- Compétences Obligatoires : Poisons, Conn. de la Montagne, Premiers Soins, Traditions,
Connaissances Mythiques, Sculpture, Prières contre les Esprits Malins, Conjurer Esprits
1 Choix entre Fabriquer Case et Fabriquer Tapa
1 Choix entr: Médecine, Conn. de la vallée, Conn. du Lagon, Présages et Connaissance des
Tabous
TATOUEUR (TA TATAI)
Les tatoueurs sont des artisans dont les compétences sont très respectés. Les tatoueurs
ayant un bon sens artistique dans la composition de leurs tatouages sont très recherchés.
Certains ari’i pourront acheter leurs services à grand coup de rouleaux de tapa et de
cochons. Les tatouages ont également un sens mystique car ils contiennent une part du
mana de la personne.
- Compétences données: Corps à Corps, Esquive, Sens des Tatouages, Traditions
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- Compétences Obligatoires : Dessin, Tatouer, Sens des Tatouages, Premiers Soins, Conn.
de la montagne, Prières des Tatoueurs, Généalogie, Traditions, Connaissances Mythiques
Agriculture (Manahune), Agriculture ou Théologie (Ra'atira), Théologie (Ari’i)
- Compétences Interdites
Manahune: Prières Sacrées
Ra'atira: Prières Sacrées
VALET (Teuteu)
Les valets sont des personnes de confiance qui servent un ari’i.
- Compétences données: Corps à Corps, Esquive, Traditions, Héraldique
- Compétences Obligatoires : Traditions, Prières de Fertilité, Cuisine (manahune) ou
Rhétorique (ra’atira), Sens, Surprendre, Héraldique, Connaissance des Tabous, 1
compétence de Communication, Prières contre les Esprits Malins, Maquiller
- Compétences Interdites : Prières Sacrées
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CHAPITRE 3: LES COMPETENCES
Rata-nui a soif ! Levant la tête, il aperçoit dans le cocotier le plus proche des
noix qui doivent être gorgées d’eau. Il prend un morceau de tapa, récite une
petite prière aux esprits de la cocoteraie et commence à escalader l’arbre. Etant
doué en escalade, il devrait s’en tirer facilement, d’autant plus que son
enfance à la ferme lui a permis de connaître de nombreuses techniques de
ramassage de fruit. Le temps de dire “ parara ”, Rata-nui se trouve en haut de
l’arbre et fait tomber les noix. La soif sera bientôt un mauvais souvenir !
Les compétences correspondent aux connaissances des personnages dans les techniques et
les savoirs. Plusieurs facteurs permettent de savoir ce qu’un personnage peut faire et de
connaître ses chances de réussite dans une compétence.
LA DIFFICULTE
La difficulté des compétences déterminent la difficulté pour quelqu’un n’ayant pas eu
d’entraînement spécifique de réaliser une action relative à cette compétence.
LE NIVEAU DE MAITRISE
Le niveau de maîtrise (NM) de la compétence est le dégrès d’habileté d’un personnage dans
une compétence. Le tableau suivant indique à quoi correspondent les niveaux de maîtrise.
Niveau de Maîtrise Statut
0
débutant
1-2
initié
3-5
expérimenté
6-7
professionnel
8 +
spécialiste (tahu’a)
Le niveau de maîtrise participe au calcul des chances de réussite d’une compétence et
indique également quelles actions les personnages sont en mesure d’effectuer. Pour chaque
compétence, vous trouverez la description de ces actions dans la liste de compétences
clôturant ce chapitre.
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LE MANA ET LA CARACTERISTIQUE LIES A UNE
COMPETENCE
A chaque compétence correspond un mana et une caractéristique qui servent au calcul de
la compétence. Pour certaines actions, le maître des légendes peut décider à titre
exceptionnel de changer la caractéristique liée à la compétence.
LE CALCUL DU SCORE TOTAL
Le score total qui définit les chances de réussite sur un D20 se calcule très simplement.
Si le personnage est débutant dans la compétence,
Score Total = Mana lié + Caractéristique liée + Difficulté
Si le personnage n’est pas débutant dans la compétence,
Score Total = Niveau de Maîtrise + Mana lié + Caractéristique liée
L’ACQUISITION ET LE PERFECTIONNEMENT
L’acquisition des compétences lors de la création du personnage est expliquée dans le
chapitre 2. Cependant, il est possible lors de la vie du personnage d’acquérir de nouvelles
compétences et de perfectionner celles qu’il connaît déjà.
Les points d’expérience gagnés à l’issue d’une partie permettent l’achat de nouvelles
compétences ou l’amélioration d’anciennes. Cependant, il ne s’agit pas d’acquérir de
l’expérience ex nihilo, le personnage doit justifier ses gains soit par de l’expérience acquise
en jeu, soit par des démarches qui se concrétisent “entre les parties”. Cet apprentissage peut
se faire avec un maître ou par entraînement personnel (le personnage y consacre alors son
temps libre).
Le tableau suivant rappelle brièvement les points d’expérience nécessaires à l’acquisition de
niveau de maîtrise.
Situation
Coût en Pts d’Exp.
acquisition du NM
1
3
pour un NM>1
NM actuel
pour unNM> 6
10
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UTILISATION D’UNE COMPETENCE
Lorsqu’un personnage tente une action qui est du ressort d’une compétence, il teste cette
compétence sur un D20. Pour réussir l’action, le joueur doit effectuer un jet inférieur ou
égal au score total dans la compétence. Le maître des légendes peut imposer un
modificateur dépendant de la difficulté de la situation (voir charte angoumoise) ou de ce
qui est prévu pour une action spécifique (voir description de la compétence).
La marge de réussite et la marge d’échec correspondent à la différence entre le jet et les
chances de réussite de l’action. Elles indiquent la qualité de la réussite ou l’ampleur de
l’échec. La charte angoumoise permet d’interpréter à partir de la marge de réussite ou la
marge d’échec la qualité du résultat.
Exemple: Rata-nui, l’ orero de l’ari’i Ta’arei, décide de montrer à Peai, l’orero de Nateu-Ro’o
la supériorité de son maître sur celui de Peai. Rata-nui a un score de 14 dans la compétence
Généalogie. Le maître des légendes décide que la situation n’est ni favorable, ni
défavorable et n’octroie ni bonus ni malus à Rata-nui. Le dé est jeté, Rata-nui obtient “5”.
C’est un succès. La marge de réussite est donc de 8, un résultat jugé “parfait” par la charte
angoumoise. Peai n’a qu’à ravaler sa salive.
LES COMPETENCES DE SOUTIEN
Parfois, une action est si complexe qu’elle peut requérir l’utilisation de plusieurs
compétences. Il est également possible que pour réaliser une action régie par une
compétence, des connaissances venant d’autres compétences se revèlent utiles. Dans
l’exemple précédent, Tarara pourrait pour illustrer sa démonstration faire appel à une
légende impliquant un ancêtre de Ta’arei et un autre de Nateu-Ro’o. La compétence
Légendes viendrait ainsi en soutien de son jet de généalogie. Pour une action, un
personnage peut faire appel jusqu’à deux compétences de soutien.
Il existe deux possibilités de soutien: le soutien mineur et le soutien majeur. Si Tarara
choisit le soutien mineur, il ne fera qu’une brève allusion à la légende. Si il choisit le
soutien majeur, il axera une partie de sa démonstration sur la légende qui décrira avec
force détails.
Dans les deux cas, un personnage jette un dé sous sa compétence de soutien. En cas de
réussite, il obtient un bonus à son action principal.
En cas de soutien mineur, le bonus est égal à un quart de la marge de réussite (arrondi
au-dessus). Un échec n’influencera en rien l’action principale. Un échec total apportera un
malus de 2 à l’action principal.
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En cas de soutien majeur, le bonus est égal à la moitié de la marge de réussite (arrondi au
dessus). Un échec signifiera un malus de -1 à l’action principale, un échec total un malus
de -4 (ou l’échec automatique de l’action, à la discrétion du maître des légendes).
Exemple: Rata-nui choisit le soutien majeur. Il a 15 en Légendes. Le maître des légendes
considère qu’il existe bien une légende impliquant des ancêtres des deux ari’i en question,
mais qu’elle est peu connue et peu démonstrative. Il juge la situation pour que Rata-nui
puisse utiliser cette légende dans sa démonstration généalogique comme “très difficile”. Il
inflige donc un malus de -7 au jet de légendes de Tarara. Ses chances sont donc réduites à
8. Le dé est jeté, le résultat est “3”. La marge de réussite est de 5, le bonus au jet de
généalogie de Rata-nui est donc de +3. La légende telle qu’elle est racontée par Rata-nui
montre que le comportement de l’ancêtre de Nateu-Ro’o était peu glorieux et peu malin par
rapport à celui de l’ancêtre de Ta’arei. Si on considère que pour l’action principale, Rata-nui
réalise le même jet que précédemment, la marge de réussite du jet de généalogie est de
8+3=11.
REUSSITES ET ECHECS TOTAUX
Nous avons déjà évoqué ces notions précédemment. Une réussite totale indique que la
performance du personnage dépasse toute espérance; d’un échec total résulte une effroyable
catastrophe. Le tableau suivant permet de définir sur quel jet de dé, une action devient une
réussite ou un échec total.
Chance
de
Succès
de
l’Action
Réussite
Totale
Echec Total
1-5
6-10
11-15
16+
double 1
1
1-2
1-2-3
18,19,20
19,20
20
double 20
Double 1 et double 20 indique qu’un deuxième jet est fait. Si un 1 ou un 20 tombe de
nouveau, l’action est une réussite ou un échec total.
Si la nécessité se fait sentir de calculer la marge de réussite ou d’échec, on lance une
deuxième fois le jet.
En cas d’échec total au premier jet, si le deuxième jet est encore un échec, on ajoute sa marge
d’échec à la marge d’échec du premier jet. Si c’est une réussite, on n’en tient pas compte.
En cas de réussite totale, si le deuxième jet est encore une réussite, on ajoute la marge de
réussite du second jet à celle du premier. Si le second jet est un échec, on n’en tient pas
compte.
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ACTIONS EN OPPOSITION
Il arrive que les actions de deux personnages se confrontent. On dit alors que les jet de
compétences s’opposent. Cette opposition peut se faire sur une même compétences (exemple:
duel oratoire) ou sur deux compétences différentes (exemple: jet de sens contre jet de
surprendre).
Les deux opposants jettent alors les dés:
- si les deux opposants réussissent leurs jet, celui qui a la plus grande marge de réussite
prend le dessus.
- si un réussit et l’autre manque, celui qui réussit prend le dessus
- si les deux échouent, celui qui la marge d’échec la plus faible prend le dessus. Cependant,
le maître des légendes pourra estimer qu’il n’y a alors pas de vainqueurs. C’est à voir selon
la situation.
Par exemple, dans un duel de chant, si les deux opposants manquent leur jet tous les deux,
le maître des légendes peut considérer qu’ils se sont tous les deux couverts de ridicule.
Exemple: Peai ne se laisse pas impressionner par la généalogie de Ta’arei merveilleusement
récitée par Rata-nui, il décide de répliquer. Peai est un bon ‘orero, il a 13 en Généalogies. Le
maître des légendes inflige à Peai un malus de -6 car l’ascendance de Ta’arei est
effectivement supérieure à celle de Nateu-Ro’o. En soutien majeur, Peai utilise une
comparaison entre le dieu protecteur de Nateu-Ro’o et celui de Ta’arei. Son score de
Connaissances Mythiques est de 13, le maître des légendes ne donne pas de modificateur.
Le jet de dé est un 3. La marge de réussite de la comparaison est de 10. La comparaison
montre bien la supériorité du dieu de Nateu-Ro’o dans l’ordre de création et le jet de
généalogie gagne un bonus de +5. Les chances de succès de Peai sont donc maintenant de
12. Il jette les dés: “2”, une réussite totale. Il réalise un deuxième jet: 10. La marge de
réussite est donc de 10+2=12. La prestation de Peai est époustouflante et la majorité de
l’auditoire pense que Nateu-Ro’o est supérieure à Ta’arei.
LES TACHES
Les tâches sont des actions qui se déroulent sur une période de temps étendue, elles
impliquent en général la réalisation d’une action dont le temps est un facteur essentiel.
Quelques Exemples: battre des pièces de tapa, réaliser une maison, un marae, faire une
corde, ...
Une tâche se caractérise par sa difficulté et sa longueur. A la fin de chaque tour de tâche
dont la durée est déterminée par la longueur de l’action, un jet sous la compétence adéquate
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est réalisé. Le personnage s’il réussit son action gagne un nombre de point de tâche égal à
la moitié de la marge de réussite. Quand il atteint le nombre de points de tâche défini par
la difficulté de l’action, il a achevé sa tâche.
Difficulté
Facile
Moy.
difficile
Très difficile
Nbre de Points de
Tâche requis
2à5
6à10
11à20
+ de 20
Long. de la Tâche
Courte
Moy.
Longue
Très Longue
Durée du Tour de
Tâche
10 min
1 heure
1 jour
1 sem.
DESCRIPTION DES COMPETENCES
Dans la description de chacune des compétence figurera leur champ d’action, leur
difficulté, le mana et la caractéristique liés.
- Agilité (Coordination, Perception, Difficulté:-1) : toute manoeuvre requérant agilité et
équilibre comme les acrobaties, les sauts, se déplacer en silence, chuter
- Agriculture (Nature, Physique, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence permet à un personnage
de cultiver, de savoir à quelle période planter, dans quel terrain telle plante pousse le mieux
et de récolter les légumes et les fruits. Le lancer de noix de coco fait partie de cette
compétence.
- Arc (Combat, Force, Difficulté: - 3) : Cette compétence couvre l'utilisation de l'arc dans
des concours (plus souvent de distance que de précisions) qui se déroulent sur des
plateformes de tir. Parfois y ont également lieu des défis rituels. L'arc est sacré et ne sert
jamais à la guerre. S' en servir sans faire les prières adéquates (Prières de Guerre)
occasionne le viol d'un tabou mineur. L'arc tahitien est droit et ne se courbe qu'à la force du
bras.
- Art de la Guerre (Combat, Psychique, Difficulté: -6) : Cette compétence permet de diriger
les troupes sur le champ de bataille, de discuter des différentes tactiques de bataille et de
reconnaître celles de l’adversaire
- Astronomie (Perception, Intelligence, Difficulté: - 5 ) : Cette compétence permet de
connaître le ciel et ses divinités et surtout de se repérer en mer. En combinaison avec la
compétence Navigation, elle permet de parvenir à l'île recherchée.
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- Chant (Aura, Artistique, Difficulté: -5 ) : Cette compétence évalue la beauté du chant du
personnage et ses capacités à reconnaître et créer des chants.
- Combat Naval (Combat, Coordination, Difficulté: - 3) : La guerre se déroule aussi bien
sur mer que sur terre et cette compétence permet de se battre sur un bateau et de diriger un
bateau de guerre (professionnels).
- Comique (Communication, Psychique, Difficulté: - 1) : Les 'arioi sont spécialistes des
bouffonneries et les tahitiens en général sont friands de blagues et sourtout de moqueries.
Rendre ridicule est une arme plus perçante que le dard de raie.
- Conjurer Atua (Foi, Volonté, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence est une des plus
dangereuses à maîtriser, il s'agit d'ordonner à un dieu (atua) d'investir un to'o (figurine
sacrée souvent emplumée). Un échec signifie que le dieu n'a pas entendu la requête et que
l'officiant s'est trompé, il prend deux points de mahuruhuru. Un échec total signifie que le
dieu vient bien, mais qu'une erreur a été commise qui le courrouce grandement. La mort
est au tournant pour le conjureur, il faudra qu'il parvienne à apaiser le dieu par de
nombreux sacrifices. Il prendra au moins cinq points de mahuruhuru.
- Conjurer un Esprit (Foi, Volonté, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet
d'invoquer un esprit ('oromatua, varua ou ancêtre) dans un ti'i. Un échec
est un tapu moyen. Un échec total fait venir un autre esprit ou le même
esprit, mais dans les deux cas il est très, très courroucé contre le lanceur,
c'est un tapu majeur et l’esprit peut décider de posséder le lanceur. Il est plus
aisé d’invoquer un esprit fils que d’invoquer pour la première fois un esprit.
- Connaissance d’un milieu (milieux: mer, lagon, montagne, vallée) (Nature, Physique
pour montagne et mer, Psychique pour lagon et vallée, Difficulté: -3 pour montagne, mer, -
1 pour lagon, vallée) : Ces compétences mesurent la connaissance d’un milieu particulier.
Cela comprend la connaissance de la flore, de la faune, les esprits, les créatures
fantastiques et les dangers de ces milieux. Ces compétences peuvent servir de soutien à des
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actions réalisées dans ces milieux: navigation, pêcher, chasser, escalade, nager,
agriculture...
- Connaissance des Tabous (Foi, Intelligence, Difficulté: -1) : Il existe de nombreux tabous:
des lieux, des actes, des personnes, des aliments, des périodes, etc... Cette compétence permet
de les connaître et de savoir ce qui est tabou et ce qu'il ne l'est pas.
- Connaissances Mythiques (Foi, Intelligence, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet de
connaître les grands mythes, les noms des esprits et des dieux.
- Construction de Bateaux (Mécanique, Intelligence, Difficulté:-5) : cette compétence
permet de diriger la fabrication des grands va’a ou de fabriquer soi-même de petites
embarcations.
- Construction de Cases (Mécanique, Intelligence, Difficulté: -1) : Les Fare, les maisons
tahitiennes, n'ont qu'une seule pièce. Elles sont en bois et le toit est en feuille de cocotier et
de pandanus (fara). Avec un bon Tahu'a Fare, ces constructions peuvent tenir 7 à 10 ans.
- Construction de Marae (Mécanique, Intelligence, Difficulté: -3) : Les marae sont les
temples des tahitiens. Leur construction demande des travaux d'équarissement et
d'ajustage des pierres. Les maohis ne connaissant pas les liants, il faut que les pierres
s'ajustent.
- Convaincre (Communication, Psychique, Difficulté: -1) : Les maohis adorent les joutes
orales et cette compétence sert, en dehors de la qualité de la langue (compétence
Rhétorique), à évaluer le pouvoir de conviction du personnage. L'utilisation de cette
compétence ne doit pas se résumer au lancer d'un simple jet! Le "role-playing" du
personnage doit être le principal. Le joueur n'est pas convaincant ou utilise des arguments
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stupides: pas la peine de faire de jet, sa tentative est un échec. Un bon "role-playing" en
contre-partie peut amener des bonus importants.
- Corps-à-Corps (Combat, Physique, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet de faire toute
sorte d'attaques et de défenses avec les différentes parties du corps. La lutte et la boxe sont
parfois pratiquées comme des sports. Vous trouverez plus de détails sur l'utilisation de ses
compétences dans le chapitre sur le combat.
- Course (Nature, Physique, difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence est très utile lorsqu’un
groupe de guerriers désirant s’emparer de votre oeil vous poursuit.
- Cuisine (Nature, Volonté, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence permet de maîtriser les
différentes formes de cuisson (dont celle dans un four enterré) et de préparation des
aliments. La marge de réussite indique l'excellence du plat. Cette compétence prend en
compte pour les hommes la préparation du 'ava.
- Danse (Apparence, Artistique, Difficulté: -3) : savoir danser et connaître les danses. Cette
compétence est particulièrement utile pour séduire les vahine.
- Dard de Raie (Combat, Coordination, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence évalue la capacité
à utiliser l’aero-fai (le dard de raie) en combat. L' aero-fai est l'arme des rau-ti.
- Dessin (Artistique, Coordination, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence permet de préparer les
tatouages et les sculptures, d'orner les tapa et de réaliser des peintures rupestres. Cette
compétence permet également de connaître les différentes teintures et de les fabriquer.
- Eloquence (Communication, Aura, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence est très proche de la
compétence convaincre, mais elle se fonde plus sur le style que sur le fond. Les maohis
adorent les prouesses d'éloquence et un bon orateur sera apprécié. Le pouvoir de l'éloquence
est malheureusement bien supérieur au pouvoir de la conviction.
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- Embaumer (Nature, Psychique, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet de savoir
embaumer une personne (séchage, nettoyage, huilage) et de conserver les os des ancêtres en
bon état. Ce sont des actes au tapu moyen, une purification est nécessaire ensuite pour ne
pas garder les points de mahuruhuru.
- Enigmes (Perception, Intelligence, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet de jouer aux
énigmes. Connaissances mythiques et traditions peuvent venir en soutien à cette
compétence. Les métaphores et les allégories sont nombreuses dans ce jeu et ces compétences
de soutien permettent de les connaître.
- Escalade (Nature, Physique, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence permet d'escalader les
arbres (+3 si on est muni d'une étoffe prévue à cet effet), les montagnes et les falaises.
S’aider de cordes de purau apportent un bonus (soutien de la compétence ficeler).
- Esquive (Combat, Rapidité, Difficulté: -1) : permet de feinter, d’esquiver ou d’éviter (voir
le chapitre sur le combat)
- Etiquette (Perception, Psychique, Difficulté: -3) : L’étiquette est la connaissance des
bonnes manières. Elle permet de savoir comment se comporter avec les membres de castes
différentes, en particulier avec des ari’i. Pour faire bonne impression, il s’agit d’une
compétence indispensable. Un échec critique peut entraîner leourroux de la personne
offensée par l’irrespectueux.
- Evaluer (Perception, Psychique, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet d'évaluer la
valeur relative des choses. Elle permet de réaliser des cadeaux à leur juste valeur ou ayant
une signification particulière (mépris, haine, ...). Cette compétence peut venir en soutien de
la compétence "marchandage".
- Fabrication d'Armes (Mécanique, Coordination, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet
la fabrication de différentes armes et outils: herminettes, massues, durcissement de
pointes de lance, arc,... La fabrication d'armes est une tâche généralement de courte durée
et de difficulté simple.
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- Fabrication de Tapa (Mécanique, Volonté, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence permet de
fabriquer du tapa à partir d'écorce d'aute, de fara ou d'aoa.
- Ficeler (Mécanique, Coordination, Difficulté: -3) : Permet de faire des noeuds, d’attacher
et d’utiliser la corde dans toutes ses utilisations possibles. Les spécialistes peuvent réaliser
les ficelages nécessaires à la malédiction ‘aha-tu. Ce rite permet en liant la première victime
d'une bataille de le maudire lui et toute sa famille.
- Fronde (Combat, Coordination, Difficulté: -3) : Utilisation du ma, la fronde tahitienne,
en combat.
- Généalogie (Communication, Intelligence, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet de
réciter avec éclat et fracas une généalogie et de connaître des généalogies.
- Géographie (Nature, Intelligence, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence permet de connnaître
la géographie de son île, la position des différentes îles et le sens des courants et des vents.
Elle est donc très utile pour se rendre d'un point à un autre, pour naviguer et pour
reconnaître un lieu quand on s'est perdu.
- Héraldique (Perception, Intelligence, Difficulté: -1) : Les grands ari'i de Tahiti et des
autres îles ont des fanions faits de bandes de tapa rouge et blanc dont l'ordonnancement
était propre à chacun d'entre eux. Ces fanions se portaient surtout sur le mât ou la proue des
bâteaux. L' 'orero pouvait également les accrocher à son toa. Cette compétence permet de
reconnaître les fanions des différents ari'i.
- Herminette (Combat, Coordination, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet de se servir
de l'outil des artisans, l'herminette, comme d'une arme.
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- Histoire (Perception, Intelligence, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet de connaître les
événements récents (de 1 à 100 ans en arrière): les guerres, les alliances, les constructions
de marae, etc...
- Javelot (Combat, Coordination, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet de lancer tous les
types de toa.
- Jeux (Perception, Rapidité, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet de savoir jouer aux
différents jeux d'adultes et d'enfants: toupies, ficelles, maquette de bateaux, etc... Les jeux
physiques (boxe, lutte), l'arc, le surf et le jeu des énigmes sont régis par d'autres
compétences.
- Lance (Combat, Physique, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence régit l'utilisation des
différtentes formes de toa et d’omore au corps à corps.
- Légendes (Communication, Psychique, Difficulté: -3) : Légendes évalue le talent pour
conter et recomposer des légendes. Elle permet également de connaître les légendes.
- Manipuler (Perception, Coordination, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence évalue les
capacités de la main à se mouvoir rapidement. Ce formidable talent est surtout utilisé par
les tahitiens pour subtiliser discrètement les objets qu’ils convoitent.
- Maquiller (Perception, Aura, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence permet de se maquiller ou
de s'habiller de façon à imiter quelqu'un, à faire rire ou à intimider.
- Marchandages (Communication, Honnêteté, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence est un art
oratoire qui permet d'obtenir dans une négociation ce qu'on le désire en cédant le moins
possible. Cette compétence peut venir en soutien ou soutenir d'autres actions de
communication. La compétence "évaluer" est également d'un bon soutien.
- Massue (Combat, Force, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence régit l'utilisation de la massue,
le tiera, au corps à corps.
- Massue Lancée (Combat, Coordination, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet d'utiliser
la massue (avec ou sans ficelle de rattrapage) comme une arme de lancer.
- Médecine (Nature, Psychique, Difficulté: -5) : La médecine tahitienne se fait surtout à
base d'exorcisme des esprits responsables des maladies. Cependant, les tahu'a ra'au
utilisent également les plantes et ont des connaissances en chirurgie. Vous trouverez dans
la chapitre consacré à la santé les temps de guérison des différentes blessures et les niveau
requis en Médecine selon le type de blessures. Pour les maladies et les poisons, un jet de
médecine est requis avec un malus dépendant de la gravité et de la rareté de la maladie. Le
Niveau de Maîtrise en médecine ne peut être supérieur à celui de premiers soins.
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- Mémoriser (Perception, Intelligence, Difficulté: - 3) : Cette compétence permet la
mémorisation d'un lieu, d'un itinéraire, d'un long message, d'un conte ou d'une
généalogie. La mémorisation de généalogie peut être une tâche.
- Musique (Artistique, Psychique, Difficulté: -3) : utilisation du vivo, du pahu et du ohe
qui sont les instruments les plus courants, un air de vivo peut venir en soutien d'une
tentative de séduction ou pour certains sorts d'incantation, le pahu ou l'ohe peuvent venir
en soutien d'une intimidation ou d'une danse.
- Nager (Nature, Physique, Difficulté: -1) : La plupart des tahitiens nagent comme des
poissons dans l'eau. Ne requérez un jet de nager que pour des personnages ayant un
Niveau de Maîtrise de 0 dans cette compétence ou dans des situations particulières:
plongeon, longue distance, fort courant, grosse mer...
- Navigation (Nature, Psychique, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet de manoeuvrer
un bateau et de savoir orienter sa course d’après les courants, le vent et d’autres signes.
- Orientation (Perception, Intelligence, Difficulté: - 1) : Cette compétence permet de savoir
s’orienter et de retrouver son chemin. Elle est particulièrement utile en montagne ou dans
un lacis de petites îles.
- Poésie (Artistique, Psychique, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence peut venir en soutien
dans une conversation ou pour tenter de séduire une jeune fille ou un auditoire. Elle permet
de réciter, de composer voire d’improviser des poèmes.
- Poignard (Combat, Coordination, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet d’utiliser les
couteaux en pierre ou en dent de requin en combat.
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- Poisons (Nature, Intelligence, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence régit la connaissance des
poisons et leur fabrication.
- Premiers Soins (Nature, Décision, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence permet de réaliser les
premiers soins lorsque quelqu’un est blessé. Les effets de l’utilisation des premiers soins
sont plus détaillés dans le chapitre sur la santé.
- Présages (Magie, Intelligence, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet de prévoir si une
action va réussir ou non (si elle a la bénédiction des dieux ou pas). Ces présages se
déduisent des différents signes que l’on voit ou entend dans la nature: chant des oiseaux
et des grillons, forme des nuages, etc...
- Prières aux Ancêtres (Foi, Intelligence, Difficulté: -1) : Les prières aux ancêtres sont récité
avant tout acte sur le marae familial et permettent de solliciter la bénédiction d’un ancêtre
pour toute action dans l’intérêt familial. Il est cependant nécessaire de ne pas être fâcher
avec ses ancêtres.
- Prières contre les Esprits Malins (Magie, Volonté, Difficulté: -3) : Ces prières permet de se
prémunir contre la malignité des esprits de toute sorte: varua, ancêtres ou ‘oromatua.
Les Compétences de Prières
Les prières ou ‘upu sont de courtes incantations qui permettent d’assurer qu’une action ait
la bienveillance des dieux. Il existe des ‘upu pour tout acte de la vie. Dans le jeu, nous avons
regroupé la connaissance des ‘upu en plusieurs compétences. Bien que les tahitiens
pensaient qu’un ‘upu était nécessaire avant toute réalisation, le joueur n’aura pas à jeter
un jet de prières avant chaque action. Il le fait s’il le désire. Une prière peut lui amener la
bienveillance des dieux sur son action. Mais attention, une erreur ou un lapsus linguae
dans la prière et les résultats peuvent être catastrophiques. Pour certaines actions
particulièrement sacrées, les ‘upu sont obligatoires et le résultat d’un échec peut être la
mort. Nous laisserons la détermination des effets d’un échec ou d’un échec critique pour
chaque type de prière à la discrétion du Maître des Légendes. En tout cas, ces échecs
amènent des points de mahuruhuru.
Il y a plusieurs types de prières qui sont accessibles selon le Niveau de Maîtrise du récitant
du ‘upu. L’efficacité des prières va bien sûr croissante et les risques également.
initié:
- prières générales classiques (0): le récitant connaît des ‘upu très généraux qui recouvrent
l’ensemble du champ de la compétence. Les effets sont minimes. L’effet habituel est un
bonus de +1. Les effets d’une erreur sont pratiquement nul.
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expérimenté:
- prières par type d’action (0): le récitant connaît des ‘upu pour chaque type d’action que
recrouvre la compétence. Un récitant expérimenté en prières de fertilité connaîtra des ‘upu
pour les fruits, d’autres pour le bon enfantement, d’autres pour les cultures, etc... Les effets
d’un échec ou d’une réussite sont ceux d’un soutien mineur.
professionnel:
- prières spécifiques (-3): le récitant connaît des ‘upu pour chaque action précise. Les effets
sont ceux d’un soutien majeur.
- Prières de Métier: de pêcheurs, de guerre, de tahu’a ra’au, de tahu’a marae, de tahu’a fare,
de tahu’a marae, de tahu’a va’a, de sculpteurs et de tatoueurs (Foi, Intelligence, Difficulté: -
3) : Ces prières permettent d’obtenir l’assentiment des divinités protectrices d’une
profession pour accomplir un acte relatif à cette profession. L’acte de créer est
particulièrement sacré chez les maoris.
- Prières de Fertilité (Foi, Intelligence, Difficulté: -3) : Les prières de fertilité se récitent pour
protéger la croissance des plantes et des êtres ou pour la susciter. Par extension, ces ‘upu
s’appliquent au domaine sexuel.
- Prières Populaires (Foi, Intelligence, Difficulté: -3) : Les prières populaires concernent
tous les actes courants de la vie: bénir un repas, un mariage, une escalade difficile, etc...
- Prières Sacrées (Foi, Intelligence, Difficulté: -3) : Les prières sacrées concernent tous les
actes s’effectuant sur le marae. Elles sont obligatoires.
- Rhétorique (Communication, Intelligence, Difficulté: - 5) : La rhétorique est la
connaissance de l’art oratoire et de ses formules. C’est également l’art de bien parler. Cette
compétence vient généralement en soutien d’autres actions de communication. Cependant
des duels de rhétorique entre deux orateurs sont du domaine du possible.
- Sculpture (Artistique, Coordination, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence correspond à l’art
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de sculpter des objets : ti’i surtout mais également armes, mobilier, ono,….
- Se Libérer de ses Liens (Perception, Coordination, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence
permet de se libérer lorsqu’on est attaché et de libérer quelqu’un (+5). Cette compétence
permet également de défaire n’importe quel noeud. Le jet se fait souvent en opposition du jet
de ficeler du ficeleur.
- Sens (Perception, Décision, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence régit l’utilisation des cinq
sens. Un modificateur peut être apporté au jet de dé selon l’attention du personnage:
- attentif, sur ses gardes: + 3
- en éveil (type garde): 0
- plongé dans une autre action, attentif dans une autre direction: -3
- dormant:-6
Un professionnel des sens peut apercevoir un esprit proche grâce à son sixième sens. Le
malus est alors de -9.
- Sens des Tatouages (Magie, Intelligence, Difficulté: - 1) : Cette compétence permet de
connaître le sens des tatouages que quelqu’un porte, en particulier la signification
magique quant au passé, à la personnalité et au destin.
- Serpe (Combat, Coordination, Difficulté: -1) : Cette compétence régit l’utilisation des deux
formes de paeho (serpe et fourche en dents de requin) lors d’un combat.
- Surf (Perception, Coordination, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence est l’art prestigieux du
Horuera’a. Dès que la mer est bonne, de nombreux jeunes gens se précipitent de l’autre côté
du lagon pour s’exercer au surf. Attention, à Tahiti les récifs de corail rendent cet art
particulièrement dangereux !
- Surprendre (Perception, Rapidité, Difficulté: -3) : Cette compétence permet de marcher
furtivement, de secacher, de tendre une embuscade ... de réaliser toute action destinée à
surprendre un adversaire.
- Théologie (Foi, Intelligence, Difficulté: -5 ) : Cette compétence se différencie des
connaissances mythiques par le fait qu’elle correspond à la capacité à discuter de la nature
des dieux, de leur ordre respective ou de l’essence du monde. Si vous utilisez dans votre
campagne le dieu ‘io, cette compétence permettra d’en connaître l’existence et d’en discuter
avec d’autres Tahu’a Pure de confiance.
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- Traditions (Perception, Intelligence, Difficulté: -5) : Cette compétence permet de connaître
les nombreux rites, coutumes ou fêtes d’un endroit. Un malus sera accorder selon
l’éloignement et l’étrangeté des coutumes par rapport à son mataiena’a d’origine. La
connaissance des traditions de son propre mataiena’a (ou île pour un habitant d’une petite
île) se fait avec un bonus de +6.
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CHAPITRE 4 : MANA, TAPU ET
CARACTERISTIQUES
Rata-nui s’est perdu dans la montagne. Il aperçoit derrière un dense bosquet
de Toa une source. Il s’approche et trempe sa main dans l’eau. Il aperçoit
bientôt un pétroglyphe représentant un lézard. “ La source de Mo’o-hui-toa ! ”
s’exclame-t-il. Il vient de reconnaître la source sacrée dont il est tapu de
toucher l’eau. Rata-nui est maintenant souillé. Il fuit en espérant ne pas
aggraver ce mahuruhuru tout en pensant aux affreuses maladies que
pourrait engendrer son méfait.
Durant le jeu, les jets de compétences et les sorts ne couvrent pas toutes les actions que
peuvent accomplir un tahitien. Parfois, seules une ou plusieurs caractéristiques permettent
de déterminer la réussite d'une action (ex: retenir quelqu’un pour ne pas qu’il tombe du
haut de la falaise : jet de Force). Le mana, d’autre part, sert à accomplir des actions
extraordinaires en dehors du système habituel de compétences. De même, la fatigue ne
représente pas à elle seule l'état de santé du personnage. Les points de mahuruhuru
représentent la pollution sacrée du personnage : trop de tabous brisés et les dieux
interviennent.
LES JETS DE CARACTERISTIQUES
Certains jets ne dépendent pas d'une compétence. Ils concernent seulement une ou plusieurs
caractéristiques. Si, par exemple, Rata-Nui tente de soulever une grosse pierre, seule sa
force s'applique. Il réalisera un jet de force. De même, si il arrive dans un endroit sans
parler, la première impression des gens se fera sur son apparence ou son honnêteté. Le
problème se pose de savoir avec quel dé les tester, les caractéristiques étant évaluées sur 7.
Le tableau suivant permettra de vous y aider.
Difficulté de l'action
Aisée
Moyenne
Difficile
1 Carac.
1D5
1D6
1D8
2 Carac.
1D10
1D12
1D20
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MANA
Le mana quantifie l'énergie divine d'une personne, sa capacité à réaliser des choses sortant
de l'ordinaire et à imprimer l'histoire de sa marque. Sur la feuille de personnage, il est noté
les unités de mana, les dixièmes de mana et si vous le désirez les centièmes.
1. LES JETS DE MANA
A certaines occasions, le maître des légendes demandera un jet de mana pour résister à une
"pollution" venant du viol d'un tabou ou d'une personne trop ra'a (voir plus loin ce qui
concerne les tabous). Mais généralement, les jets de mana sont à l'initiative du joueur. Les
pouvoirs que le mana permet sont listés ci-dessous:
- Réussir une action incroyable:
Quand une action est désignée comme impossible par le maître des légendes, un
personnage peut utiliser ce pouvoir pour la réussir tout de même. Cependant, le maître des
légendes peut imposer certaines restrictions.
Perte en cas d’échec : 20% de son mana
Gain en cas de Réussite de l’action : 10% de son mana
- Mettre tout son mana dans une action
En utilisant son mana de cette façon, un personnage - s’il réussit son jet de mana- ajoute
tout son mana en bonus à l’action qu’il désire influencer.
Perte en cas d’échec : 10% de son mana
Gain en cas de Réussite de l’action : 1 dixième de mana
- Influencer le cours des événements
En utilisant son mana de cette façon, le personnage utilise son mana en soutien majeur de
l’action principale qu’il effectue. S’il réussit, il obtiendra la moitié de sa marge de réussite
en bonus pour l’action qu’il soutient.
Perte en cas d’échec : 1% de son mana
Gain en cas de Réussite de l’action : 1 centième de mana
- Fureur guerrière
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Ce pouvoir de mana permet de se mettre en fureur guerrière contre ses ennemis. Pendant un
nombre de minutes égales à son mana, le personnage ne ressent pas les effets des coups, il
ne peut réaliser d’actions défensives (mais il peut réaliser toutes les attaques qu’il veut
sauf celles impliquant une attente ou une visée) et effectuent ses actions avec un bonus de
2.
Perte en cas d’échec : 10% de son mana
Gain en cas de Réussite de l’action : 1 dixième de mana
- Objet Exceptionnel
Ce pouvoir permet à un artisan de donner un pouvoir spécial à son objet. Il aura en général
un bonus égal au mana de l’artisan.
Perte en cas d’échec: 20 % du mana de l’artisan
Gain en cas de Réussite de l’action: 10% du mana de l’artisan
- Frapper les Esprits
Ce pouvoir de mana permet de toucher avec une arme normale ou avec ses membres un
esprit.
Perte en cas d’échec: 1 dixième de mana
Gain en cas de Réussite de l’action: 1 dixième de mana
2. EVOLUTION DU MANA
Le Mana évolue de trois manières:
- cannibalisme :
En mangeant une victime ou en mettant à la bouche l'oeil d'un ennemi, on peut
s'approprier 1/10 du mana du vaincu. Cet acte est tapu et est normalement réservé aux
ari’i. C’est un tapu important.
- faire des actions prouvant qu’on est empli de mana :
A la fin d’une aventure, si les activités des personnages ont amélioré leur prestige ou s’ils
ont accompli des actes extraordinaires sans l’aide du mana, cela prouve que leur score de
mana est sous-évalué. Ils se voient donc attribués par le maître des légendes des points de
mana.
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Par contre, si la baraka n’est pas de leur côté et qu’ils échouent dans leurs projets, c’est que
leur score est surévalué !
- utiliser ses pouvoirs de mana :
Comme on l’a vu dans la description des pouvoirs de mana, leur utilisation fait varier les
points de mana.
TAPU
Les tapu, ou tabous, sont des interdits qui touchent des actions, des lieux, des personnes,
etc... Il est par exemple tapu pour une femme de venir sur un marae, il est tapu de manger
pour un ra’atira ou un manahune de la tortue ou de l’anguille.
En général, le tapu tente d’empêcher les êtres noa (profanes) de réaliser des actes ra’a
(sacrés) ou de s’approcher de lieux et de personnes ra’a. La pollution qui toucherait alors
l’être noa est dangereuse pour celui-ci.
En terme de jeu, ce danger se concrétise par l’accumulation de points de Mahuruhuru
(pollution, souillure). Ces points se “gagnent” au contact de lieux ou de personnes ra’a et en
brisant des tapu.
Les conséquences d’une pollution trop importante peuvent être de plusieurs ordres:
- une maladie ou la mort provoquées par la pollution
- courroux d’une divinité ou d’un esprit. Cet être ra’a pourra provoquer la malchance du
personnage, le posséder pour le rendre malade ou même le tuer.
-mesure prise par les tahu’a pure ou les ari’i pour expier la faute (sacrifice ou meurtre)
A la fin d’une aventure, le maître des légendes tire un D20 sous le nombre de points de
Mahuruhuru de chaque personnage. Si le jet est réussi, des conséquences de cette pollution
vont se produire. Au maître des légendes de choisir ce qui se passe en fonction de
l’importance et de la nature des tapu brisés. Les personnages apprendront à craindre le son
du tambour qui annonce une cérémonie sur le marae.
Si les points de Mahuruhuru accumulés lors d’une aventure dépassent 10, des
conséquences peuvent se produire lors de l’aventure même.
Il existe plusieurs moyens de se purifier de ses points de Mahuhuru. Une tentative peut être
effectuée lors d’une aventure et une autre entre deux aventures. Ces moyens sont:
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- de se purifier soi-même avec de l’eau de mer sur la plage, on perd alors 1 point de
mahuruhuru.
- de se purifier soi même accompagné de prières populaires ou de prières aux ancêtres. En
cas d’échec de la prière, aucun Mahuruhuru n’est perdu. Dans le cas contraire, on regagne 1
point auxquels s’ajoutent le quart de la marge de réussite du jet de prières.
- il existe une prière sacrée de purification. En cas d’échec, c’est un tapu important qui a été
brisé. Si c’est une réussite, le récitant perd la moitié de sa marge de réussite en point de
Mahuruhuru.
- de subir un sort de purification
POINTS DE MAHURUHURU
(entre parenthèse le nombre de points octroyés si un jet de mana est réussi)
Importance du
tapu brisé
Caste
Faible
Moyenne
Forte
Très Forte
Manahune
2 (1)
4(2)
8
14
Ra’atira ( ou
Opu-Nui )
1(0)
2(1)
6(4)
10
Ari’i
0
2 (0)
4 (2)
10 (5)
Ari’i Maro ’ura
ou Tahu’a Pure
en état
nevaneva
0
1 (0)
4 (0)
10 (0)
Exemples de
Tapu
toucher une
personne au fort
ra’a, participer à
un rite, violer un
lieu au faible
ra’a
manger avec une
femme, faire un
échec critique
lors d’une prière,
rentrer dans un
lieu au ra’a
moyen
manger une
nourriture
interdite à sa
caste, violer un
tapu édicté par le
tahu’a rahi
verser le sang
sur un marae,
tuer un homme
nevaneva
72
PURIFICATIONS
Type de purification
Réussite
Echec
Eau de mer
1 point
-
Prière
populaire
ou
aux
ancêtres
1 point + ¼ marge de
réussite
-
Prière Sacrée
marge de réussite
tapu important brisé
Sort de purification
Foi (marae) ou 2 points (hors
marae)
-
73
CHAPITRE 5: LA CHARTE ANGOUMOISE
Rata-nui poursuit dans la montagne ce voleur et briseur de tabou de Rerefe
qui a été désigné pour le prochain sacrifice humain à ‘oro. Celui-ci vient de
franchir un gouffre et fait tomber le tronc de mape qui reliait les deux bords
du gouffre. Rata-nui ne reculant devant rien pour s’attirer la bonne grâce
des ari’i et des vahine tente de sauter au-dessus de l’abîme. La tentative est
“ assez difficile ” ... Le résultat est à peine favorble, Rata-nui parvient à
franchir l’obstacle de justesse en se rattrapant à la force des bras. Rerefe
risque de reprendre de l’avance.
La charte angoumoise est un outil de simulation que nous utilisons dans Légendes à
plusieurs fins. La première utilisation de la charte angoumoise est de règler des situations
dans laquelle n’intervient aucune compétence ni aucune caractéristique. La deuxième
utilisation de la charte angoumoise est d’attibuer à une action un bonus ou un malus
dépendant de la difficulté de la tâche. La dernière utilisation de cette charte angoumoise
est de tirer une appréciation d’après le résultat d’un jet de det.
DETERMINATION DES CHANCES DE SUCCES D’UNE
ACTION
Parfois, une action que veut réaliser un personnage ne rentre dans le cadre d’aucune
compétence, d’aucune caractéristique ou d’aucun mana. Le maître des légendes s’inspire
alors de la colonne 2 pour déterminer la difficulté de l’action. Il doit prendre en compte la
difficulté intrinsèque de l’action et les précédents du personnage. Si celui-ci a les qualités
ou une expérience qui permettre d’influencer l’action, le maître des légendes devra réviser à
la clémence la difficulté qu’il évalue pour l’action. En face de la difficulté qu’il a choisi, le
maître des légendes lira dans la colonne 1, les chances de réussite (sur 1d20) qui lui sont
associée.
Exemple: Hiri-te-’aoa tente de faire croire qu’il dort afin de tenter une fuite surprise. Des
guerriers Mehiti ont été spécialement chargés de veiller sur lui. Le maître des légendes,
prenant en compte que Hiri-te-’aoa est un farceur juge que feindre le sommeil sera pour lui
“plutôt difficile”, ses chances de réussir à tromper les guerriers sont donc de 6.
La charte angoumoise peut également déterminer le résultat d’action dépendant surtout de
la chance. Il tire ou fait tirer un D20, repère le résultat dans la colonne 1 et voit
l’appréciation correspondante dans la colonne 3.
74
Certaine situation échappe au contrôle particulier des personnages joueurs. En particulier
quand il y trop de figurants, le maître des légendes pourra en utilisant la charte
angoumoise déterminer l’évolution de la situation. Il regarde dans la colonne 3 l’adjectif
qui correspond à la situation de l’un des camps et obtient dans la colonne 1 les chance de
succès correspondantes de ce camp.
ESTIMATION D’UN BONUS OU D’UN MALUS
Le maître du jeu pense que la facilité ou la difficulté de l’action qu’entreprend un
personnage nécessite l’application d’un bonus ou d’un malus au score total de la
compétence. Il apprécie dans la colonne 2 la difficulté de l’action et lit en colonne 4 le
modifcateur qu’il imposera au personnage pour cette action.
Exemple: Arue a sorti sa planche de surf car de beaux rouleaux s’écrasent sur le récif. Dans
l’eau, il aperçoit bientôt une magnifique vague qui semble bien dure à négocier. Arue tente
de glisser dessus. Le maître des légendes pense que cette vague “assez difficile” à
chevaucher et applique donc un malus de - 5 au jet de surf de Arue.
INTERPRETATION D’UN RESULTAT
Pour interpréter le résultat d’une action, le maître des légendes peut utiliser la Charte
angoumoise. Il lit dans la colonne 4 la marge de réussite ou la marge d’échec et en conclue
dans la colonne 3 l’appréciation correspondante.
Exemple: Arue fait son jet de surf. Il réussit, sa marge de réussite est de 4. Le maître des
légendes regarde l’appréciation correspondant à +4, il interprête la performance de Arue
comme “assez bonne”.
75
LA CHARTE ANGOUMOISE
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
IMPOSSIBLE
PRESQUE IMPOSSIBLE
EXTREMEMENT DIFFICILE
TRES DIFFICILE
DIFFICILE
ASSEZ DIFFICILE
PLUTOT DIFFICILE
A PEINE DIFFICILE
UN PEU MOINS QUE MOYEN
MOYEN
MOYEN
UN PEU MIEUX QUE MOYEN
A PEINE FACILE
PLUTOT FACILE
ASSEZ FACILE
FACILE
TRES FACILE
EXTREMEMENT FACILE
PRESQUE IMMANQUABLE
IMMANQUABLE
CAUCHEMARDESQUE
CATASTROPHIQUE
EXTREMEMENT MAUVAIS
TRES MAUVAIS
MAUVAIS
ASSEZ MAUVAIS
DEFAVORABLE
PLUTOT DEFAVORABLE
A PEINE DEFAVORABLE
NEUTRE
NEUTRE
A PEINE FAVORABLE
PLUTOT FAVORABLE
FAVORABLE
ASSEZ BON
BON
TRES BON
EXCELLENT
PARFAIT
FANTASTISQUE
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
0
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
+6
+7
+8
+9
76
CHAPITRE 6: LA SANTE
Rata-nui a été pris à partie par un lourd guerrier du district voisin - et
néanmoins ennemi - de Tiarei. Il s’est pris un bon coup de massue sur la tête.
Il est blessé, mais parvient tout de même a regagné difficilement son fare. Sa
constitution naturelle et les soins de son oncle, Hama-fei le tahu’a ra’au, lui
permettent de récupérer prestement.
Vivre n’est pas toujours évident pour un tahitien, esprits et guerriers ennemis ont de
grandes chances de le mettre souvent à terre. L’état de santé définit dans quel état de
forme se trouve le personnage. S’il agit presque normalement quand il est légèrement
blessé ou légèrement malade, cela devient plus dur quand son état s’aggrave. On ne
parlera que rarement ici des maladies et des poisons. L’échelle des états de santé est la
même pour ces deux cas que pour des blessures.
MALUS A L’ACTIVITE
Le fait d’être blessé ou malade handicape le personnage dans ses activités. Il subit donc un
malus qui dépend de son état de santé.
Etat
Légèrement
Blessé
Blessé
Gravement
Blessé
Mortellement
Blessé
Malus
-1
-3
-5
-10
DEGRADATION ET AMELIORATION DE L’ETAT DE
SANTE
La dégradation de l’état de santé peut avoir plusieurs origines: une blessure, un poison,
une possession, une maladie ou une la dégradation d’une situation antérieure. Quand un
personnage est blessé, il réalise à la fin de la scène de jeu, un jet sous son score de physique
pour savoir si sa blessure empire. Le dé de ce lancer est le d20, les chances de le réussir
dépendent de la gravité de la blessure et sont un multiple du physique.
Etat
LB
Blessé
GB
MB
Phys.
4 x
3 x
2 x
1 x
77
Un jet réussi de premiers soins ou de médecine juste après que la blessure ait été infligée
permet également de stabiliser la situation.
Par contre, si la situation n’est pas stabilisée, le personnage passe à l’état de santé suivant
pendant la journée qui succède à la blessure.
Ensuite, à la fin de la période de recouvrement, il effectue un jet sous D20 dépendant de son
état de santé. Une réussite permet alors de passer à l’état de santé précédent. Un échec n’a
pas d’influence. Un échec total aggrave la situation.
Pour une possession, on utilise plutôt la volonté que le score de Physique dans les jets
précédents.
La table générale de recouvrement de blessure indique de quelle façon la médecine ou les
premiers soins peuvent permettre de guérir les blessures ou du moins de les stabiliser. Les
Premiers Soins ou le premier jet de médecine doivent être accomplis dans la scène de jeu où
a eu lieu la blessure. Après cela, les soins donnés sont une tâche de médecine (voir règle de
tâches, Chapitre : Les Compétences).
Le passage d’un état à un autre permet de récupérer deux points de fatigue. Il est impossible
de dépasser son score permanent de fatigue.
Un personnage qui n’est plus blessé mais qui n’a pas encore récupéré ses points de fatigue
les récupère au rythme de 2 par jour.
LES HASARDS “NATURELS”
Certaines dégradations de l’état de santé proviennent d’autres hasards que les armes
(Chapitre 7: Combat) ou les possessions (Chapitre 10, Référence: Les Esprits); les chutes,
les poisons ou les maladies en sont des exemples. Le principe est le même que pour les
dégâts par armes ou par possession. Les dégâts de l’attaque sont tirés sur la table des
hasards naturels. La virulence du poison, de la maladie ou la hauteur de chute
correspondent au facteur de dégâts de l’arme. On croise le résultat de ces dégâts avec le
chiffre de fatigue de la victime et on obtient ainsi l’état de santé.
Après la première attaque du poison ou de la maladie, le recouvrement se fait comme pour
les blessures. Mais au cas où le malade rate son jet de Physique et n’est pas soigné par un
médecin, la maladie réalise une nouvelle attaque avec une virulence inférieure de 1.
78
TABLE
GENERALE
DE
RECOUVREMENT
DE
BLESSURE
Etat du
Patient
Compétence
Légèrement
Blessé
initié
Blessé
initié
Gravt Blessé
expérimenté
Mortellt
Blessé
professionnel
Mort
spécialiste
Premiers
Soins
(Réussite
Critique:
passage à
l’état
précédent)
évite la
dégradation
1 point de
fatigue
récupéré
évite la
dégradation
1 point de
fatigue
récupéré
évite la
dégradation
1 point de
fatigue
récupéré
évite la
dégradation
1 point de
fatigue
récupéré
passage à
mortellement
blessé
1 point de
fatigue
récupéré
1er Jet de
Médecine
évite la
dégradation
+ passage à
l’état
précédent
2 points de
fatigue
récupérés
évite la
dégradation
+ passage à
l’état
précédent
2 points de
fatigue
récupérés
évite la
dégradation
+ passage à
l’état
précédent
2 points de
fatigue
récupérés
évite la
dégradation
+ passage à
l’état
précédent
2 points de
fatigue
récupérés
passage à
mortellement
blessé
2 points de
fatigue
récupéré
Tâche de
Médecine
Tour: 1/2 jour
Points: 5
Tour: 1 jour
Point: 15
Tour: 1 sem.
Point: 8
Tour: 1 mois
Point: 15
Recouvremt
Naturel
1 jour
Jet: 4x Phys.
1 semaine
Jet: 3* Phys.
1 semaine
Jet: 2*Phys.
15 jours
Jet: 1*phys.
Eternité
DEGATS DES HASARDS NATURELS
Virulence
Hauteur
Dégâts
Faible
1-3 m
1
Moyenne
4-10m
2
Importante
10-20 m
3
Très Imp.
20+
4
79
RESOLUTION DE L’ATTAQUE
Jet de D20
Ligne de la table
d’Attaque
0-3
aucun dégât
4-6
1ère ligne
7-13
2ème ligne
14-18
3ème ligne
19, 20
4ème ligne
80
CHAPITRE 7: LE COMBAT
Rata-nui fait face à Riri-popoi, un guerrier n’ayant pas apprécié la dernière
raillerie de Rata-nui sur son compte. Avant que Rata-nui n’ait pu ouvrir la
bouche, Riri-popoi, lève sa massue puis l’abat sur Rata-nui. Celui-ci a juste le
temps d’éviter le coup. Riri-popoi plus rapide et plus fort enchaîne une
deuxième attaque en insultant les ancêtres de Rata-nui. Rata-nui pense que
sa seule chance est de réussir un coup bien placé. Il parvient à arrêter la
massue de son adversaire avec sa canne de combat et décide de tenter de
toucher la tête de Riri-popoi. O chance inouïe, le tranchant de la canne percute
le mastodonte qui n’était pas sur ses gardes et le voilà par terre, assommé.
“ Tes descendants pourront dire que leur ancêtre a mangé la fiente de mes
poulets ! ” s’exclame Rata-nui.
Les combats sont un des points d’orgue d’une partie de jeu de rôles. De leur issue dépend
souvent toute la poursuite d’un scénario. Ils sont également des moments dangereux et
intenses pour les joueurs. Pour arriver à ce but, ils doivent être épiques, variés et imagés. Le
risque pour le maître des légendes est de se retrancher derrière des mécaniques de jeu et de
rendre les combats stériles. Ils ne doivent pas devenir des batailles de chiffres. Si les règles
sont complètes et détaillées, elles ne doivent pas pour autant couper le souffle épique de
l’engagement. Le maître des légendes devra insister plus sur la description des actions
effectuées par les personnages que la description des détails des mécaniques de jeu. Les
règles sont nombreuses afin de pourvoir à toutes les situations et permettre d’éviter la
routine. Cependant, le maître des légendes est libre de garder celles qui lui plaisent et de
rejeter celles qui à son goût déséquilibrent le jeu ou celles qu’ils jugent trop compliquées.
LE DEROULEMENT DU COMBAT
A Légendes Tahitiennes, le combat est divisé en périodes de trois secondes appelées bases.
Chaque participant au combat peut réaliser un certain nombre d’actions durant une base:
des attaques, des défenses ou des mouvements. Les règles de combat servent à déterminer
les effets de chacune de ces actions et à les ordonner dans le temps. Les combats se
déroulent pour chaque base en trois phases:
- détermination de l’ordre des actions
- résolution des actions
- calcul des dommages et des autres effets
81
LES ACTIONS EN COMBAT
Les opposants d’un combat peuvent durant chaque base réaliser un certain nombre
d’actions qui dépend de la durée de leur(s) action(s). Les différentes actions sont
catégorisées en actions longues, actions normales et actions rapides. Un combattant peut
donc réaliser:
- une action longue
ou
- une action normale et une action courte
ou
- trois actions courtes
Une limitation existe cependant aux combinaisons d’actions qu’il est ainsi possible de
faire. Seuls les personnages étant au moins professionnel dans leur arme peuvent réaliser
deux attaques dans une base. Seuls ceux étant spécialiste dans leur arme peuvent réaliser
trois attaques rapides dans une base.
Pour les défenses, il n’est possible de réaliser qu’une seule parade rapide et qu’une seule
feinte de corps par round à moins d’être professionnel ou spécialiste dans les compétences
requises. Il est par contre possible de réaliser une parade et une feinte de corps.
Le tableau suivant vous indiquera quelles actions sont longues, normales ou rapides. Il
indique également le bonus ou le malus de l’action par rapport au score normal de la
compétence correspondante.
Actions Longues
Actions Normales
Actions Rapides
Attaques Spéciales
Sorts
Actions Inattendues
Tirs et Lancers Normaux
Esquives
Charges
Attaques Normales
Parades Normales
Eviter (Esquive-5)
Ramasser une arme
Se relever
Tirs et Lancers Rapide (-5)
Se retourner
Attaques Rapides (-5)
Rattraper la massue de jet
Recharger son Arc
Parade Rapide (-5)
Feinte de Corps (Esquive -7)
Faire un quart de Tour
82
DETERMINATION DE L’ORDRE DES ACTIONS
Durant chaque base, les attaques se font par ordre de rapidité. Le personnage avec le plus
haut score de rapidité réalisera donc son attaque en premier. Les opposants ayant la même
rapidité frappe simultanément. Les attaques à distance (armes lancées, arcs, sorts) sont
accomplies simultanément et se résolvent après les attaques au corps à corps. Il est à noter
que la massue de jet quand elle est attachée à la main du lanceur par une corde est
considérée comme une arme de corps à corps.
Si un opposant est surpris, il ne peut agir durant la première base du combat et devra
réussir un jet de rapidité (D8) durant la deuxième base. Si ce jet est manqué, il ne pourra
réaliser qu’une action rapide.
Les actions longues cependant arrivent toujours en dernier, même si celui qui les accomplit
est le plus rapide. Si plusieurs opposants réalisent des actions longues, c’est celui qui la
plus haute rapidité qui commence.
Une attaque à la massue lancée ou avec un lance longue (+ de 2 mètre) se font avec un
bonus de 2 à la rapidité.
Les déclarations d’intention se font du combattant le moins rapide au plus rapide. Ainsi,
les plus rapides connaissent les actions des moins rapides avant de se décider. Un opposant
plus rapide peut alors s’il le désire retarder son action et frapper après des adversaires moins
rapides.
Si un personnage réalise plusieurs attaques, la première attaque se fait dans l’ordre
normal des rapidités, mais les autres attaques se font en dernier.
option: si vous voulez éviter la monotonie, il possible de faire tirer avant chaque base un jet
de rapidité+décision sur un D10. Les personnages accomplissant une attaque rapide
bénéficie d’un bonus de +2. Les actions se font alors dans l’ordre des marges de réussite.
RESOLUTION DES ACTIONS
1. LES ATTAQUES
- Attaques Rapides
Les attaques rapides se font précipitemment et presqu’instinctivement. Elles subissent un
malus de -5. Il est impossible de viser lors d’une attaque rapide.
83
- Attaques Normales
Les chances de toucher sont égales au score de la compétence avec d’éventuels bonus/malus
de situation.
- Attaques Spéciales
Faire Tomber: Les dégâts de cette action sont divisées par deux et ne peuvent que blessé
légèrement l’adversaire. Pour réussir une telle action, il faut réussir un jet de compétence à
-5, modifié de la différence de force des personnages.
Attaque Acrobatique: Une attaque acrobatique est une attaque soutenue par une acrobatie
(Agilité-3) que le personnage devra décrire. Si l’acrobatie est ratée, elle peut se soldée par
une chute. Elle peut également surprendre l’adversaire (jet de Rapidité + Décision sur
1d12).
Coup Dévastateur: Un coup dévastateur est une attaque portée avec toute la force de
l’attaquant qui ne fait alors pas attention à sa défense. Il porte le coup avec toute la
violence possible qu’il peut y mettre. Le coup se fait à - 5, mais les dégâts de l’attaque se
lisent automatiquement sur la quatrième ligne du tableau des dégâts (comme avec une
marge de réussite de 10+). Un personnage parvenant à feinter ou à éviter une telle attaque
se retrouve sur le flanc de son adversaire pour la base suivante. Si l’attaquant a réalisé une
charge avant de tenter ce coup, le défenseur l’ayant feinté ou évité se retrouve même derrière
pour la base suivante.
Attendre l’ouverture: Durant la base précédant ce coup, le combattant ne doit avoir réaliser
que des actions défensives et personne ne devra l’avoir atteint. Il attend en effet une
ouverture pour frapper au bon moment. L’attaque bénéficiera alors d’un bonus de +6. Cette
attaque peut se combiner avec l’option viser.
Passage en Force: En réalisant cette attaque , le combattant cherche à se frayer un chemin
en percutant ses adversaires. L’action se résolue normalement. Les dégâts sont divisés par
deux, mais si le coup porte, le ou les adversaires doivent réaliser un jet de force sur 1d12
pour ne pas céder le passage à l’attaquant. Si l’attaquant avait chargé lors de la base
précédente, ce jet de force se fait avec un malus de -2.
Désarmer: Cette attaque se fait à -10. Si elle touche, l’adversaire est désarmé.
- les options d’attaque:
Les options d’attaque peuvent se réaliser sur pratiquement tout type d’attaque. Il s’agit
d’attitude de combat qui modifie les chances de toucher et les résultats des actions
viser: l’attaquant vise une zone particulière du corps, il écope d’un malus de -8.
84
assomer: l’attaquant doit viser la tête du défenseur et réussir un jet de force sur 1d8. Les
dégâts seront diminués de moitié mais l’opposant tombera dans les pommes.
attitude offensive: l’attaquant se fixe un malus pour sa défense allant de - 1 à -4 qui se
transforme en bonus correspondant pour son attaque.
attitude défensive: l’attaquant priviligie sa défense et s’inflige un malus de -1 à -4 en
attaque, il subit le bonus inverse en défense.
ajuster: si un tireur à l’arc ou la fronde passe une base à ajuster son tir, il bénéficiera d’un
bonus de +3 à la base suivante.
charger: L’attaquant court pendant une base vers son adversaire. Il ne pourra pas faire de
défense lors de la base suivante mais bénéficiera d’un bonus de +2 à l’attaque.
2. LES DEFENSES
On résoud les défenses juste après les attaques que ces défenses tentent d’éviter. Si le coup
est manqué, il est bien sûr inutile de faire un jet pour la défense.
- les feintes de corps
La feinte de corps est un pas de côté ou une esquisse de mouvement visant à éviter une
attaque en trompant l’adversaire. Cette défense nécessite une rapidité minimum de 3. Les
chances de réussir une feinte de corps sont égales au score d’Esquive moins 7. Si la feinte
de corps réussit, l’attaque ne fait que fendre l’air.
- les parades rapides
Une parade rapide est une parade réflexe que le combattant ne prémédite pas. C’est un acte
de survie pour tenter de freiner la massue qui se précipite sur le défenseur. Les chances de
réussite d’une parade rapide sont égales au score dans la compétence de l’arme (modifié par
le malus de parade de l’arme) moins 5. Une réussite indique que le coup est totalement ou
partiellement paré.
Le coup est totalement paré quand la marge de réussite de la parade est supérieure ou égale
à la marge de réussite de l’attaque.Le coup porté est alors arrêté par l’arme du défenseur.
Le coup est partiellement paré si la marge de réussite de la parade est inférieure à la marge
de réussite de l’attaque. Le coup est alors dévié et ne fait qu’érafler le défenseur. Les dégâts
se lisent automatiquement sur la première ligne du tableau des dégâts et le bonus aux
dommages de l’attaquant ne s’applique pas, le coup ayant perdu de sa force.
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ex: Rata-nui subit une attaque du guerrier mehiti Turutu. Celui-ci a réussi son attaque de
5. Les dégâts normaux devraient donc être de 4 (lu sur le tableau des dégâts) + 2 (bonus
aux dégâts du mehiti) = 6. Rata-nui tente une parade rapide avec sa massue, compétence
où il est spécialiste (score final:15, modificateur de parade:-2, chance de parer: 13). Ses
chances de succès sont de 8. Il fait 4 avec son dé. Sa marge de réussite est de 4. Il a donc
partiellement paré son adversaire. Les dommages sont réduits à 2.
- éviter
L’action d’éviter demande plus d’attention qu’une feinte de corps. Le défenseur prend le
temps d’observer les mouvements de son adversaire est d’agir en conséquence. Les chances
de réussite sont égales au score d’esquive moins cinq. Les résultats de cette action sont
identiques à la feinte de corps.
- parade normale
Une parade normale est une parade mieux préparée qu’une parade rapide. Ses chances de
succès ne sont pas modifiées. Les résultats de la parade normales sont les mêmes que ceux
de la parade rapide.
- l’esquive
L’esquive est un bond pour éviter une attaque. Le défenseur se jette littéralement hors
d’atteinte. Un jet réussi indique que le défenseur est parvenu à se soustraire à l’attaque. Le
défenseur qu’il ait réussi ou non son esquive devra réussir un jet d’agilité pour ne pas se
retrouver à terre. L’esquive est la seule défense face à un arc ou une arme lancée (mise à
part la massue de jet).
3. LES AUTRES ACTIONS
- sortir ou ramasser une arme
Cette action est une action normale. Elle peut s’enchaîner d’une feinte de corps ou d’une
attaque rapide qui s’effectuera en dernier. La parade rapide n’est possible que si
l’attaquant est plus lent.
- se déplacer
Des déplacements de 1 mètre par base quand le combattant est engagé et de 6 mètres
quand il se déplace au milieu du combat sont possibles.
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- quitter le combat
Après une esquive, un éviter ou un passage en force réussi, le combattant peut tenter de
fuire le combat. Si son adversaire le poursuit, une course poursuite s’engage. Tant que le
poursuvant reste à longueur d’arme, il peut frapper le fuyard.
- action inattendue
Une action inattendue est une action apte à surprendre totalement l’adversaire. Elle
comprend une action défensive rapide et un geste, une action pouvant surprendre
l’adversaire: un pas de danse, un projectile inopiné ou toute autre action que le maître des
légendes trouvera réellement inattendue. Un jet de surprendre réussi montrera que l’action
a déroutée l’adversaire. N’hésitez pas à accorder des modificateurs au jet du personnage
selon l’action entreprise.
L’opposant aura droit alors à effectuer un jet de Rapidité+Décision sur 1D12. En cas
d’échec, il sera surpris lors de la base suivante. En terme de jeu, il ne pourra réaliser aucune
action. Le maître des Légendes peut permettre à l’adversaire de réaliser une défense rapide
s’il trouve cette règle trop avantageuse. Par contre si l’adversaire dérouté réussit ce jet, il ne
perdra qu’une action rapide durant la base suivante.
Une action inattendue ne peut en général se faire qu’une fois par combat. Une même
manoeuvre ne peut tromper qu’une seule fois un même adversaire, à moins qu’il soit
stupide (1 ou 2 en intelligence).
LE CALCUL DES DOMMAGES
Le calcul des dégâts dépend de la marge de réussite de l’attaque, du bonus de force de
l’attaquant et de la fatigue du défenseur. Les dégâts d’une attaque se soustrait au nombre
de points de fatigue actuel du personnage affecté. A partir de 0 point de fatigue, le
personnage blessé sombre dans l’inconscience. Il est définitivement mort lorsque son état
de santé indique qu’il est mort.
Ces dégâts se déterminent en regardant la table des dégâts. Ils dépendent de la marge de
réussite de l’attaque et du facteur de dégâts de l’arme. Au nombre indiqué dans le tableau
s’ajoute le bonus aux dommages de l’attaquant et se soustrait les protections que portent le
défenseur sur la zone de son corps touchée par l’attaque.
La localisation d’un coup qui n’a pas été visé se détermine par un jet sur la table de
localisation. Les seules protections disponibles chez les maoris sont faites de fibre de coco,
de tapa mouillée ou rêche qui couvre le torse ou qui se porte en pagne (maro) ou en pancho
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(pareu). Reportez vous à la table des armures pour plus d’information. Le tapa normal
n’est déjà pas d’une grande souplesse et offre une protection de 1.
Le nombre de points de fatigue perdu implique la dégradation de l’état de santé qui se lit
dans les tableaux de blessures et d’état de santé. Ils permettent de déterminer la gravité des
blessures, qui dépendent de la fatigue de départ du blessé.
Ce calcul des dommages connaît quelques exceptions: parade partiellement réussie,
certaines attaques spéciales comme le coup dévastateur, etc... Certaines attaques ont
également des effets autres que les dégâts: désarmer, assomer, etc...
Les conséquences des blessures ne se limitent pas à des pertes de points de fatigue. Le
tableau des blessures et le tableau des blessures localisées permet de déterminer les autres
conséquences de ces blessures. Ces effets sont de plusieurs ordres: perte de connaissance,
malus aux actions, lâcher d’arme, etc... Les différents états de santé et leurs conséquences
en terme de jeu sont décrits dans le chapitre consacré à la santé.
L’état “sonné” signifie que le personnage est groggy. Il ne peut effectuer qu’une action
courte lors de la base suivante.
LES MODIFICATEURS DUS A LA SITUATION
La situation de combat peut influer sur le combat. Le tableau des modificateurs dus à la
situation en fait une énumération que vous pouvez agrémenter à votre gré.
TABLEAU DES MODIFICATEURS DUS A LA SITUATION
Mêlée:
Adversaire de Flanc
+2
Adversaire de Dos
+5
Adversaire Surpris
+5
Adversaire au Sol
+5
Adversaire en Contrebas
+2
Attaquant au Sol
-5
Distance:
Longue Portée
-5
Cible à couvert
de -1 à -10
Cible se déplaçant rapidemt -4
Cible Minuscule (3 cm)
-15
Cible Petite (25cm)
-10
Cible Naine (1 m)
-5
88
Cible Moyenne (2m)
0
Cible Géante (5m)
+5
Cible Enorme
+10
LES DEGATS
TABLEAU DES DEGATS
Marge de
Réussite de
l’attaque
0
Chiffre de
Selon le
1
Dégâts
Facteur de
2
dégâts de
3
l’arme
4
0,1
1
1
2
3
4
2,4,6,8
1
2
4
6
8
3,5,7,9
2
3
6
9
12
10+
3
4
8
12
14
Réussite
Critique
+1 au
facteur de
dégâts de
l’arme
+1 au
facteur de
dégâts de
l’arme
+1 au
facteur de
dégâts de
l’arme
14
16
Dégâts= Chiffre de Dégâts de l’attaque + le Bonus de Force de l’attaquant - Armure du
Défenseur
TABLEAUX DES ETATS DE SANTE
Fatigue
Permanente du
Défenseur
Dégâts
1-5
6-10
11-15
16+
1
Légert Blessé
Sonné
Sonné
Sonné
2
Légert Blessé
Légert Blessé
Sonné
Sonné
3
Blessé
Légert Blessé
Légert Blessé
Légert Blessé
4
Blessé
Blessé
Légert Blessé
Légert Blessé
5
Gravt Blessé
Blessé
Blessé
Légert Blessé
6
Gravt Blessé
Gravt Blessé
Blessé
Blessé
7
Gravt Blessé
Gravt Blessé
Gravt Blessé
Blessé
8
Mortelt Blessé
Gravt Blessé
Gravt Blessé
Gravt Blessé
9
Mortelt Blessé
Mortelt Blessé
Gravt Blessé
Gravt Blessé
10 et +
Mort
Mortelt Blessé
Mortelt Blessé
Mortelt Blessé
89
CUMUL DES
BLESSURES
Légert Blessé
Blessé
Gravt Blessé
Mortelt Blessé
Légert Blessé
Blessé
Blessé+Sonné
Gravt
Blessé+Sonné
Mort
Blessé
Blessé+Sonné
Gravt Blessé
Mortelt Blessé
Mort
Gravt Blessé
Gravt
Blessé+Sonné
Mortelt Blessé
Mort
Mort
Mortelt Blessé
Mort
Mort
Mort
Mort
ARMURES
Armures
Zones
Protection
Malus à la Rapidité
Turban en tapa léger
1
1
0
Turban lourd
1
2
-1
Fau
1,3
3
-3
Tapa Mouillé
partout ou presque
2
-2
Tapa Epais
partout ou presque
1
0
Fibre de Coco
partout ou presque
2
-1
90
TABLEAU DES BLESSURES LOCALISEES
Zones
Légert Blessé
Blessé
Gravt Blessé
Mortelt
Blessé
Mort
Malus aux
actions
quelque soit
la zone
-1
-3
-5
-10
1
Crâne
Le cuir chevelu
est ouvert, ça
pisse le sang
Inconscience
sauf si jet de
Physique réussi
sur 1d8
Inconscience
Fracture du
crâne,
Inconscience
Jet de
Recouvrement à
-5
Le crâne explose
2
Visage
Mauvais coup
dans le nez qui
se met à saigner
Le coup “dans la
gueule” met à
terre le blessé
Inconscience
sauf si jet de
Phys. réussi au
d8, Perte d’un
œil
Inconscience,
perte d’un œil,
nez éclaté,
visage défiguré
Jet de
Recouvrement à
-5
Le beau visage
du Toa est
maintenant un
margouillis
infâme
3
Cou
Le coup sonne la
victime et lui
fait lâcher ses
armes
Inconscience
sauf si jet de
Physique réussi
au d8
Inconscience
Mort au bout de
6 bases
d’intense agonie
la tête est
arrachée sous la
violence du coup
4
Avant-Bras
Droit
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
droite, à moins
d’un jet de Force
réussi sur D8
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
droite
Fracture
Membre en
bouillie,
inutilisable par
la suite,
inconscience,
amputation
peut-être utile
Le membre est
littéralement
arraché, l’agonie
dure 12 bases
5
Poitrine
Droite
La victime a
mal au téton
droit
Sonné, 1 côte
cassée
Plusieurs côtes
cassées, Sonné 2
bases
Inconscience
( jet de Phys.
sur d12) ou
sonné 3 bases
Cage Thoracique
perforée, courte
agonie
6
Poitrine
Gauche
La victime a
mal au téton
gauche
Sonné, 1 côte
cassée
Plusieurs côtes
cassées, Sonné 2
bases
Inconscience
Le cœur est
touché, courte
agonie
7
Avant-Bras
Gauche
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
gauche, à moins
d’un jet de Force
réussi sur D8
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
gauche
Fracture
Membre en
bouillie,
inutilisable,
inconscience,
amputation
peut-être utile
Le membre est
littéralement
arraché, l’agonie
dure 12 bases
91
8
Bras Droit
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
droite, à moins
d’un jet de Force
réussi sur D8
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
droite
Un craquement
sinistre, c’est la
Fracture!
Membre en
bouillie,
inutilisable,
inconscience,
amputation
peut-être utile
Le membre est
littéralement
arraché, l’agonie
dure 12 bases
9, 10
Abdomen
Les tripes sont
secouées, sonnée
La victime
vomit et ne peut
rien faire pdt 1
base
La victime
s’affaisse, vomit
pdt 2 bases
Inconscience a
moins d’un jet
de Physique sur
1d12
La victime
connaît de
douloureux
spasme avant de
s’éteindre
11
Bras Gauche
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
gauche, à moins
d’un jet de Force
réussi sur D8
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
gauche
Fracture
Membre en
bouillie,
inutilisable,
inconscience,
amputation
peut-être utile
Le membre est
littéralement
arraché, l’agonie
dure 12 bases
12
Main Droite
Les doigts sont
écorchés
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
droite
Lâcher + Sonné
Fracture des
Doigts
Main
quasiment
arrachée,
Inconscience
13
Bas-Ventre
Coup à la hanche Coup aux parties
génitales,
Sonné
Inconscience a
moins d’un jet
de Physique sur
1d8, risque de
stérilité
Inconscience,
Stérile
Mort dans
d’atroces
souffrances
14
Main Gauche
Les doigts sont
écorchés
Lâche ce qu’il a
dans sa main
gauche
Lâcher + Sonné
Fracture des
Doigts
Main
quasiment
arrachée,
Inconscience
15 Cuisse D
16 Cuisse G
17 Jambe D
18 Jambe G
Bel Hématome
en Perspective, -1
au jet
impliquant la
Rapidité
Cela Saigne !
-3 au jet
impliquant la
rapidité
Fracture
Membre en
bouillie,
inutilisable,
inconscience,
amputation
peut-être utile
Le membre est
littéralement
arraché, l’agonie
dure 12 bases
19
Pied Droit
20
Pied Gauche
Les pieds sont
écorchés
plusieurs orteils
éclatés,
difficulté à
marcher, -2 aux
jets impliquant
la rapidité
Chute, fractures
multiples
Chute, pied
inutilisable par
la suite
Pied quasiment
arraché,
Inconscience
92
TABLEAU DES ARMES
Armes
Comp.
Fact.
de
Dégâts
Parade
Rechargem
t
Bout
Portant
Portée Max
Toa
Lance, Javelot
(Taille: 5m)
2
-4
-
8m
15m
To’oto’o
Lance, Javelot
(Taille: 1m)
1
0
-
3 m
20 m
‘omore
Lance, Javelot
(Taille:3,5)m
2
-3
-
5m
20m
Hoto Ihe
Lance, Javelot
(Taille: 1,5m)
2
0
-
3m
20m
Tiera
Massue, Massue
Lancée
2
-1
-
3m ( 1 m
avec
ficelle)
12 m (1 m
avec
ficelle)
Petit Paeho
Serpe
2
-4
-
-
-
Grand
Paeho
Serpe (Fourche)
2
-2
-
-
-
Aero-Fai
Dard de Raie
2
-10
-
-
-
Hache
Herminette
2
- 2
-
3 m
10m
Herminette
Herminette
1
- 2
-
-
-
Parau
Poignard
1
- 6
-
3m
10m
Ofai
Lancer de Pierre
1
-
1 action
courte
10m
40m
Ma
Fronde
2
-
1 action
myenne
25m
150m
A
Arc
1
-
1 action
longue
20m
200m
Poing,Pied
Corps à Corps
1
0 *
-
-
-
* mais blessure de dégâts 0 en cas de réussite de la parade face à une arme
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CHAPITRE 8: LA MAGIE
Le fort ‘iore-pau n’arrête pas d’importuner l’une des conquêtes les plus
récentes de Rata-nui. Celui-ci décide de mettre fin à ce début de flirt. Il offre à
‘iore-pau un poisson un peu faisandé et s’embusque près du fare de son rival,
la nuit venue. Ce dernier se précipite dehors, pris d’une irrésistible envie... Une
fois ‘iore-pau soulagé, Rata-nui prélève un peu de ses excréments et incante
un petit sort de “ rendre impuissant ”. Les tentatives de ‘iore-pau sont
désormais vouées à l’échec.
A Tahiti, l’ombre des esprits et des dieux est omniprésente. Chaque signe de la nature peut
signifier leur présence et leur humeur. La magie est, dans ce monde peuplé d’esprits,
utilisée de manière courante. La plupart des tahitiens en sont des utilisateurs. Certaines
formes de magie sont tellement courantes que, dans le jeu, elles sont des compétences
plutôt que des sorts: les prières et les conjurations en sont des exemples. En dehors de ces
types de magie, il existe trois grandes catégories de magie: la magie incantatoire, la magie
des esprits et la magie divine. La magie incantatoire se base sur la puissance de la parole
qui permet de déclencher des effets variés. La magie des esprits met en relation des esprits -
généralement à des fins néfastes - avec le monde mortel. La magie divine est réservée aux
tahu’a, elle permet d’obtenir des faveurs et des pouvoirs des dieux, qui en sont d’ailleurs
assez avares. Les sorts et la manière de les lancer varient beaucoup pour chacune de ces
magies. Nous les étudierons donc séparément. Nous nous arrêterons précedemment sur la
manière d’apprendre les différents sorts.
L’ACQUISITION DES SORTILEGES ET LEUR
APPROFONDISSEMENT
1. ACQUISITION AVANT LE DEBUT DU JEU
L’acquisition des sortilèges avant le début du jeu est décrite dans le chapitre 2: La Création
de Personnages. Elle se base sur les activités effectuées pendant l’adolescence et les facilités
de telle ou telle occupation pour apprendre un sortilège et sur la dépense de points de
personnalisation. Le maître des légendes peut interdire l’accès à certains sorts qui feraient
perdre de l’intérêt au jeu.
2. ACQUISITION PENDANT LE JEU
Le personnage doit trouver un homme ou un esprit qui consent à lui apprendre un sort que
ce dernier connaît. L’apprentissage du sort prend une période durant le carré de la
94
difficulté du sort (en jours). Trouver ce genre de personnes ou d’esprit n’est pas évident et
doit faire l’objet de role-playing. Un sorcier trouvera surement aupré de son maître un
formateur de ce type. Cependant, celui-ci risque de devenir très méfiant à mesure que l’orou
devient puissant. Cette acquisition coûte un nombre de points d’expérience équivalent à la
difficulté du sort multipliée par deux.
3. DEVELOPPEMENT DES SORTS CONNUS
Les chances de réussite et le niveau de maîtrise des sorts qu’un personnage connaît peut
augmenter durant le jeu de deux manières. Tout d’abord par l’acquisition de nouveaux
sorts qui amélioreront sa connaissance de la magie. Ensuite, par l’expérience, l’étude et la
répétition de parties de l’incantation. Le coût en point d’expérience est égal au niveau de
maîtrise actuel pour chaque point d’amélioration des chances de réussites.
LES INCANTATIONS: LA PUISSANCE DES MOTS
Pour les maohis, les mots ont une puissance qui leur est propre. Il suffit de voir quel effet
un beau parleur peut avoir sur un auditoire. Les prières sont également une expression de ce
pouvoir donné aux mots. Les mots comme les choses peuvent être chargés de ra’a. Ainsi le
nom d’un ari’i maro’ura est banni de la langue commune. Si un roi prend le nom de Fare,
le mot fare (maison) sera remplacé par un autre mot dans la langue courante.
Les incantations sont donc des sorts dont la “formule” incantée suffit à déclencher l’effet.
Il est particulièrement important de ne pas se tromper dans la diction de l’incantation qui
peut parfois être assez longue.
1. RECITATION DE L’INCANTATION
Incanter un sort se fait en récitant le texte de manière convaincante. Cela implique un
certain gestuel et l’utilisation de composantes matérielles que le lanceur porte sur lui ou
qu’il place à portée de sort. Omettre certains de ces éléments ou les améliorer modifie les
chances de réussite de l’incantation. Le tableau suivant indique les bonus/malus qui sont
cumulatifs pour les différents éléments de l’incantation.
95
Bonus / Malus
Eléments
-3
0
+2
Incantation
Murmurée
Normale
Clamée
Incantation
1 base
= Difficulté
1 heure
Gestuel
Aucun
Normal
Enflammé
Composantes
0
1
2
2. LES EFFETS DE L’INCANTATION
Si le personnage réussit son incantation (jet de dé inférieur à ses chances de réussites), les
effets de l’incantation apparaissent généralement à la fin du dernier mot de l’incantation.
Le lanceur peut éventuellement suspendre les effets de l’incantations pendant 1 heure. Seul
un contre-magie ou une dissipation de la magie permettra alors d’empêcher le sort
d’accomplir ses effets.
La récitation d’une incantation amène une certaine fatigue mentale qui a pour corollaire
la perte d’un point temporaire de pouvoir (score de base équivalent au psychique). A 0 point
de pouvoir, il est impossible de lancer un sort. Les points de pouvoirs se récupèrent au
rythme de 1 par heure de sommeil.
Une réussite totale dans le lancer indique que le lanceur ne perd pas de point de pouvoir.
Un échec peut amener des conséquences imprévues. Aucun effet n’est perceptible, à part le
ridicule du lanceur. Le joueur choisit alors entre la prise d’un point de Mahuruhuru ou la
perte d’un point de pouvoir.
Un échec total amène un retournement des effets du sort (si cela est possible) et la prise de
deux points de Mahuruhuru.
3. LES TYPES DE SORT
Les différents sorts n’ont pas les mêmes durées, ni les mêmes portées, ni les mêmes aires
d’effet. Ils sont divisés en 7 catégories, catégorie qui est donnée dans la description de
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chaque sort. Le tableau des types de sort décrit les durées, portées et aires d’effet des
différents sorts.
La durée est le temps que durent les effets d’un sort. La portée est la distance maximum
qui doit séparer le lanceur des cibles. L’aire d’effet correspond généralement au nombre de
cibles. Quand cela est indiqué dans la description du sort, il s’agit d’une aire d’effet
géographique.
4. MAITRISE DE L’INCANTATION
La maîtrise de l’incantation peut permettre de réaliser des effets de voix qui changeront le
pouvoir de l’incantantion. Le tableau des types de sorts donnent les portées, durées et aires
d’effet de base de chaque type d’incantation. Si le joueur désire augmenter la puissance de
son sort, il a sa disposition un nombre de points de sort égal à son niveau de maîtrise. Il
peut alors doubler, tripler voire quadrupler l’un de ces élémentsts : durée, portée, aire d’effet,
en dépensant un nombre de point égal à la multiplication qu’il désire faire. Certains sorts
prévoient également des effets qui varient selon le “nombre d’effets”. Ces nombres d’effets
s’obtiennent en dépensant des points de sort en effet plutôt que dans la portée, la durée ou
l’aire d’effet.
Exemple: Puhi-Ta’i a un niveau de maîtrise de 5 en peur, un sort de type D. Il désire faire
fuire ses adversaires (nombre d’effets nécessaire: 3). Il dépense donc trois points de sorts en
effet. Il lui reste deux points de sorts qu’il place en durée, l’effet du sort durera donc 2
minutes, deux fois la durée normale du sort (1 min).
5. DESCRIPTION DES SORTS
Les incantations sont divisées en incantations bénéfiques et maléfiques d’une part - vous
verrez que les notions de bien et de mal ne sont pas toujours les mêmes chez les tahitiens
que chez nous - et en différentes catégories qui indiquent la facilité d’accès que certaines
classes ont sur ces sorts.
AMULETTE DE MALEDICTION
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 7
Composantes Matérielles: un ti'i activé et
à l'esprit lié, un tupu de la victime
Type A (la portée n'est que la distance
entre le lanceur et le ti'i)
Effet: L'esprit présent dans le ti'i est
garant de la malédiction qui dure tant
que l'esprit n'est pas expulsé du ti'i. Pour
les types de malédictions, voir le sortilège
"Malédiction".
APAISER
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie 'arioi
Difficulté: 4
97
Composantes Matérielles: fleur de tiare,
jeune plantain (meia)
Type D
Effet: La victime ne tentera plus
d'actions agressives contre le lanceur et
ses amis. Il discutera plus calmement ou
se retirera d'un combat. Avec deux
nombres d'effets, la victime sera prête à
négocier et avec trois, elle commencera à
trouver le lanceur sympathique.
BENEDICTION MAGIQUE
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 5
Composantes Matérielles: huile de monoi,
plume rouge
Type A
Effet: Offre un soutien majeur (comme
pour les compétences) à toute action, le
nombre d'effets s’ajoute au bonus de
soutien.
BENIR UN HAMEÇON
Incantation Bénéfique, Pêcheurs
Difficulté: 3
Composantes Matérielles: une dent de
requin, un poisson magique
Type B
Effet: L'hameçon reçoit le "soutien"
(comme
pour
une
compétence)
du
sortilège pendant toute une pêche. Ce sort
est moins risqué qu'un 'upu. Si ce sort
est effectué à la création de l'hameçon,
l'effet peut être permanent. Le soutien
sera alors mineur et il faut mettre 2
points en effet.
CONTRE-MALEFICE
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 9
Composantes Matérielles: un ti'i inactivé,
une feuille d'aito
Type A
Effet: Ce sort permet de retourner les
effets d'une incantation maléfique contre
son lanceur. Ce sort doit être effectuer
dans l'heure suivant l'incantation du
sorcier. Chaque nombre d'effets mis dans
le sort permet d'étendre cette période de
une heure.
CONTRE-POISON I
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: Perle, Plume
Jaune
Type A
Effet: Neutralise les effets d'un poison
jusqu'à une intensité de trois. Chaque
nombre d'effets permet d'augmenter de
un l'intensité des poisons contrés.
CONTRE-POISON II
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
98
Difficulté: 6
Composantes Matérielles: Perle, Plume
Jaune
Type A
Effet: Neutralise les effets d'un poison
quelqu'en soit l'intensité. Ce sortilège
agit d'effet en prévention pour 1 jour si on
y met deux nombres.
DISSIPATION DU MALEFICE
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 6
Composantes Matérielles: une feuille de ti,
un ti'i inactivé
Type A
Effet: dissipe les effets d'une incantation
maléfique
ECARTER LES ANIMAUX
Difficulté: 1
Composantes Matérielles: trois poils de
cochon sauvage, une noix de tutui
Type F
Effet: fait fuire les animaux des
alentours du lanceur, les animaux
possédés par un esprit peuvent faire un jet
de mana pour ne pas s'enfuire
EXORCISME
D'ESPRIT
DE
LA
PIERRE
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 6
Composantes Matérielles: une pousse de
bananier, des racines de ‘ava
Type A
Effet: oblige un esprit de la pierre dont le
nom est connu à quitter une personne ou
un animal, l'esprit de la pierre en se
retirant occasionne quelques dégâts (voir
chapitre sur les esprits). Il n’est possible
d’exorciser un esprit que si la puissance
de celui-ci est égale ou inférieure à la
maîtrise de ce sortilège.
EXORCISME D'ESPRIT DU BOIS
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: des racines de
‘ava, une pousse de bananier
Type A
Effet: oblige un esprit du bois dont le
nom est connu à quitter une personne ou
un animal, l'esprit du bois en se retirant
occasionne quelques dégâts (voir chapitre
sur les esprits). Il n’est possible d’exorciser
un esprit que si la puissance de celui-ci
est égale ou inférieure à la maîtrise de ce
sortilège.
Ce sortilège permet également de renvoyer
dans le po, l’esprit d’un animal ou d’un
monstre des bois venant de mourir.
99
EXORCISME
D'ESPRIT
DU
CORAIL
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 8
Composantes Matérielles: un morceau de
corail, une pousse de bananier
Type A
Effet: oblige un esprit du corail dont le
nom est connu à quitter une personne ou
un animal, l'esprit du corail en se
retirant occasionne quelques dégâts (voir
chapitre sur les esprits). Il n’est possible
d’exorciser un esprit que si la puissance
de celui-ci est égale ou inférieure à la
maîtrise de ce sortilège. Ce sortilège
permet également de renvoyer dans le po,
l’esprit d’un monstre marin venant de
mourir.
EXORCISME D' 'OROMATUA
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 10
Composantes Matérielles: un os d'un
ancêtre, des racines de ‘ava
Type A
Effet: oblige un 'oromatua dont le nom
est connu à quitter une personne. Il n’est
possible d’exorciser un esprit que si la
puissance de celui-ci est égale ou
inférieure à la maîtrise de ce sortilège.
FAIRE PARLER LE BOIS
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 2
Composantes Matérielles: un coquillage
(murex de préférence), un morceau de
miro ou de ti
Type D
Effet: Oblige un esprit du bois à parler et
à dire son nom. Ce sort doit être
pratiquement toujours lancé avant de
réaliser un exorcisme d'un esprit du bois.
Un Niveau de Maîtrise du sortilège au
moins égal à 3 permet de converser avec
l'esprit.
FAIRE PARLER LE CORAIL
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 2
Composantes Matérielles: un coquillage
(murex de préférence), un morceau de
corail
Type D
Effet: Oblige un esprit du corail à parler
et à dire son nom. Ce sort doit être
pratiquement toujours lancé avant de
réaliser un exorcisme d'un esprit du
corail. Un Niveau de Maîtrise du sortilège
au moins égal à 3 permet de converser
avec l'esprit.
100
FAIRE PARLER LES PIERRES
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 2
Composantes Matérielles: un coquillage
(murex de préférence), une pierre
Type D
Effet: Oblige un esprit de la pierre à parler
et à dire son nom. Ce sort doit être
pratiquement toujours lancé avant de
réaliser un exorcisme d'un esprit de la
pierre. Un Niveau de Maîtrise du sortilège
au moins égal à 3 permet de converser
avec l'esprit.
FUREUR GUERRIERE
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: un morceau
d'aito, une plume rouge
Type D
Effet: La victime se trouve dans un
grand état d'excitation guerrière. Elle
réalise trois attaques rapides par base
avec un bonus de + 2 et ne fait aucune
défense. Si le combat se termine avant
l'expiration de la durée du sort, elle
pourrait se retourner contre ses alliés (à
moins de réussir un jet de volonté sur
1D10).
GROSSESSE NERVEUSE
Incantation Maléfique, Magie de la
Stérilité
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: un tupu de la
victime, une ficelle sans noeud
Type G
Effet: provoque une grossesse rapide et ne
débouchant que sur une fausse couche.
Avec deux points d'effet, ce maléfice
prend l'apparence d'une vrai grossesse
(dure neuf mois).
GUERISON DE LA STERILITE
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 5
Composantes Matérielles: ficelle sans
noeud, bout inférieur d'une uhi (igname)
Type A
Effet: permet de guérir la stérilité, avec
trois nombres d'effets, le sort peut guérir
une stérilité magique
GUERISON DES FIEVRES
Incantation Bénéfique, Médecine
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: feuille de ti,
jeune plantain (meia)
Type A
Effet: permet de guérir les fièvres d'une
personne; les fièvres dues au viol de tapu
101
ou à la possession d'un esprit sont
éliminées mais par leur cause et la mort
peut survenir tout de même.
HYPNOTISME
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie 'arioi
Difficulté: 6
Composantes Matérielles: une écaille de
lézard, un vivo
Type D
Effet: Le lanceur doit soit regarder sa
victime dans les yeux, soit réaliser une
action artistique envoûtante (danser ou
jouer du vivo) en incantant les paroles.
La victime dit alors la vérité quand on la
questionne et peut agir selon la volonté
du lanceur. Cependant, le lanceur doit
faire croire à sa victime que c'est dans
son intérêt (bon role-playing: effet
assuré).
MALADIE
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 5
Composantes Matérielles: un tupu de la
victime, un ti'i inactivé
Type G
Effet: La victime se trouve prise de graves
fièvres qui réduisent sa fatigue de moitié.
Le sort prend quelques heures pour
prendre effet.
MALEDICTION MAGIQUE
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 6
Composantes Matérielles: un tupu de la
victime, un os d'un de ses ancêtres
Type G
Effet: La victime subit une malédiction
qui lui attire la malchance. Voici le type
de
malédiction
qu'il
est
possible
d'effectuer selon le nombres d'effet:
1 nombre d'effet: Chaque fois qu'un
personnage fait un certain type d'action
bénigne fixé, il a de grandes chances de
la rater (le NM du sort sur 1D8).
Exemple: faire l'amour, lancer un javelot,
parer avec son 'omore, pêcher un certain
type de poisson.
2 nombres d'effet: comme précédemment
mais le champs d'action de la malchance
du personnage est plus grand: les
femmes, la sculpture, la guerre, etc...
3 nombres d'effet: le personnage a le don
de s'attirer l'ire des dieux et des esprits, il
gagne le double de points de tapu et en
gagne à chaque viol de tapu ou de contact
avec le ra'a. Si il fait commerce avec les
esprits, il aura une grande chance que
ceux-ci s'irrite à toute conjuration ou
demande (une chance égale au NM du
lanceur sur 1D8).
4 nombres d'effet: Comme pour 1 nombre
d'effet, mais l'échec est systématique
5 nombres d'effet: Comme pour 2
nombres
d'effet,
mais
l'échec
est
systématique
102
6+ nombre d'effets: Comme pour 1
nombre d'effet, mais ce n'est pas certains
types d'action qui sont touchés mais
toutes
les
actions
qu'effectuent
le
personnage.
OBJETS EXCEPTIONNELS
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie d'Artisan
Difficulté: 5
Composantes Matérielles: une herminette
rituelle, un 'umete de 'ava
Type A
Effet: ce sort permet lors de la fabrication
d'un objet de le rendre exceptionnel, soit
par sa beauté ou par son efficacité.
Nbre d'Effets
1-2: bonus de +1
3-4: soutien mineur
5+: soutien majeur
PERTE DES CHEVEUX
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 2
Composantes Matérielles: un tupu, un ti'i
inactivé
Type G
Effet: la victime pert ses cheveux. Il perd
ainsi une grande partie de sa capacité de
séduction et devient ridicule. Avec deux
points d'effets, ce sort prend une durée
permanente.
103
PERTE DE DENTS
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 3
Composantes Matérielles: un tupu, un ti'i
inactivé
Type G
Effet: la victime pert un nombre de dents
égal à la marge de réussite du sortilège. Il
perd ainsi une grande partie de sa
capacité de séduction, devient ridicule et
peut croire à une attaque divine. Avec
deux points d'effets, ce sort prend une
durée permanente. Il est également
possible de dépenser des points d'effet pour
faire perdre plus de dents: un point d'effet
fait perdre trois dents supplémentaires.
PEUR
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 1
Composantes Matérielles: un ti'i inactivé,
une branche d'aito (bois de fer)
Type D
Effet: Après avoir incanter ce sort, le ou
les victimes se mettent à craindre le
lanceur. L'effet cependant varie selon le
nombre de points dépensés dans l'effet.
Dans tous les cas, si la volonté de la cible
est supérieure à l'aura du lanceur, elle a
droit pour ne pas répondre à cette
suggestion à un jet sur 1D8 où il faut
faire moins que la différence entre ces
deux chiffres. Le nombre d'effets dépensés
dans ce sort viennent s'ajouter à l'aura
du lanceur.
nombre d'effets
1-2: crainte, les victimes subissent un
malus (la moitié de la marge de réussite
du sort + le nombre d'effets) et hésitent à
attaquer le lanceur
3-4: les victimes restent prostrées, elles
sont surprises (seule une action défensive
rapide) pendant la durée du sort jusqu'à
ce qu'elles réussissent un jet de volonté
sur un D20 (un jet à chaque base si elles
sont attaquées).
5+: les victimes sont prises de panique,
seul un jet de volonté+décision sur 1D20
avec une marge de réussite supérieure aux
nombres d'effet + la marge de réussite
permettra à la victime de ne pas s'enfuire
PLUIE DE CAILLOUX
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: un ti'i inactivé,
un caillou
Type E
Effet: Ce sort fait tomber une pluie de
cailloux sur la zône d'effet. Le nombre
d'effets fait varier les effets de ce sort.
Sans points d'effet, le sort ne donne
qu'une grosse frousse à ses victimes et
fait peu de dégâts matériels. A partir de
un point d'effet, les dégâts sur les
personnes sont égaux à la moitié de la
marge de réussite plus le nombre d'effets.
104
Les dégâts matériels sont à la discrétion
du maître des légendes.
POURRIR LES NOIX DE COCO
Incantation Maléfique, Magie de la
Stérilité
Difficulté: 3
Composantes Matérielles: une noix de coco
bouchon pourrie, un poison mineur
Type B
Effet: fait pourrir les noix de coco dans
une plantation et rend stérile les arbres
pendant un an. Si le sort "protéger les
noix de coco" a été effectué sur la
plantation, le maléfice ne fait qu'annuler
la protection magique.
POURRIR LES RECOLTES
Incantation Maléfique, Magie de la
Stérilité
Difficulté: 5
Composantes Matérielles: une noix de coco
bouchon pourri, un poison mineur
Type B
Effet: fait pourrir les récoltes dans une
plantation et rend stérile la terree
pendant un an. Si le sort "protéger les
récoltes" a été effectué sur la plantation, le
maléfice ne fait qu'annuler la protection
magique.
POURRIR UN FOUR
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 3
Composantes Matérielles: un dard de raie,
une dose d'un poison bénin
Type A
Effet: Rend non-comestible toutes les
denrées cuites dans un four enterré. Le
lanceur
doit
placer
les
éventuelles
composantes matérielles dans l'endroit où
généralement une famille creuse son four
et réciter l'incantation. La ménagère se
couvrira alors de ridicule et se fera peut-
être
battre
pour
son
manque
de
connaissance
culinaire.
Le
nombre
d'effets rend la nourriture vénéneuse.
L'intensité du poison qu'elle représente
correspond à ce nombre d'effets.
PROTEGER LES NOIX DE COCO
Incantation Bénéfique, Fertilité
Difficulté: 1
Composante Matérielle: un jeune plantain
(meia), une noix de coco bouchon
Type: B
Effet: Protège une plantation de cocotiers
des aléa naturels et en assurent la
fertilité
PROTEGER LES PIROGUES
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie de Tahu'a
Va'a et de Pêcheurs
105
Difficulté: 5
Composantes Matérielles: une dent de
requin, une tresse en feuilles de fara
Type B
Effet: protège une pirogue des aléas
naturels et des problèmes "techniques"
pour la durée d'une pêche ou d'une
traversée
PROTEGER LES RECOLTES
Incantation bénéfique, magie de Fertilité
Difficulté: 2
Composantes
Matérielles:
un
jeune
plantain (meia), queue de taro
Type: B
Effet:
Protège
un
champ
ou
une
plantation des aléas naturels
PROVOQUER LA STERILITE
Incantation Maléfique, Magie de Stérilité
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: un tupu de la
victime, un ficelle avec un noeud
Type G
Effet: provoque la stérilité d'une personne.
Avec deux points d’effets, ce sort permet
de rendre un homme impuissant. Ce sort
devient permanent si le lanceur y
consacre quatre points points d'effets.
RENDRE AMOUREUX
Incantation Bénéfique, Fertilité
Difficulté: 3
Composantes Matérielles: une fleur de
Tiare, du Monoi
Type A
Effet: rend amoureux une personne,
ajouter des points d'effets enflamme cet
amour, à cinq points d'effet, la personne
devient
folle
furieuse.
Seule
une
dissipation de la magie ou un autre
rendre amoureux peut rompre le sortilège
RENDRE SUICIDAIRE
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 6
Composantes Matérielles: un tupu, trois
poils de cochons sauvages
Type E
Effet: Ce sort a pour effet de rendre le
comportement de la victime suicidaire. Il
est prêt à prendre des risques incensés.
En attaque par exemple, le suicidaire
gagne +3 sur ces attaques, mais il ne
défend pas. En mettent quatre points en
effet, la victime fait réellement une
tentative de suicide.
RESISTER AU SOMMEIL
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 1
Composantes Matérielles: une ficelle, un
petit coquillage
106
Type F
Effet:
permet
de
résister
à
l'endormissement;
avec
deux
points
d'effet, ce sortilège permet de résister à un
sommeil magique
SUGGERER
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie 'arioi
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: conque, feuille
de ti
Type D
Effet: Le lanceur fait une suggestion
simple dont la victime pense être l'auteur,
il
répond
généralement
à
cette
suggestion. Si la volonté de la cible est
supérieure à l'aura du lanceur, elle a droit
pour ne pas répondre à cette suggestion à
un jet sur 1D6 où il faut faire moins que
la différence entre ces deux chiffres. Le
nombre d'effets dépensés dans ce sort
viennent s'ajouter à l'aura du lanceur.
TEMPETE
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 6
Composantes Matérielles: une dent de
requin, un ti'i activé avec un esprit du
vent
Type F
Effet: Ce sort déclenche dans l'air d'effet
une tempête. L'intensité de la tempête
dépend du nombre d'effets. Avec un
nombre d'effets de un, la tempête peut
retourner des pirogues. A partir de quatre,
la tempête peut arracher des arbres. Les
effets sont à la discrétion du maître des
légendes.
TROUVER DE L'EAU
Incantation Bénéfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 2
Composantes Matérielles: ficelle avec une
pierre au bout, une gourde (le fruit)
Type F
Effet: une fois l'incantation réalisée, la
pierre indique la direction du point d'eau
le plus proche
TYPHON
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 10
Composantes Matérielles: un ti'i activé
part un esprit du vent, du sang de lutin
Type G
Effet: crée dans l'air d'effet un typhon
qui emporte tout sur son passage: fare,
va'a, arbre, etc... Les personnes prises
dans l'air d'effet doivent fuire ou risquer
de trouver la mort (jet selon la situation
et à la discrétion du maître des légendes).
VIRILITE
Incantation Bénéfique, Fertilité
107
Difficulté: 2
Composantes Matérielles: une ficelle sans
noeuds, un ti'i inactivé
Type F
Effet: permet à un homme de ne pas
faillir, il gagne +1 à toutes ses actions
physiques; sur une femme ce sortilège à
des effets étranges (à la discrétion du
maître des légendes).
VISION DU VOLEUR
Incantation Maléfique, Magie Populaire
Difficulté: 4
Composantes Matérielles: une noix de coco
coupée en deux remplie d'eau, un to'o
inactivé du dieu Hiro
Type C
Effet: Dans l'eau de la noix de coco
apparaît le visage de l'auteur d'un vol cité
dans l'incantation. La précision du
visage dépend de la marge de réussite.
108
TABLEAU DES TYPES DE SORT D’INCANTATION
Type
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Durée
Permane
nt
1 saison
1 base
1 minute 15 min
1 heure
1 jour
Portée
1 mètre
10 mètres 3 mètres
10 mètres 100 m
100 m
1 km
Aire
d’Effet
1 cible
( ou
rayon de
3m)
10 cibles
( ou
rayon de
100m)
1 cible
( ou
rayon de
3m)
1 cible
( ou
rayon de
5m)
1 cible
( ou
rayon de
10m)
1 cible
( ou
rayon de
30m)
1 cible
( ou
rayon de
1 km)
LE POUVOIR DES ATUA: LA MAGIE DIVINE
La magie divine correspond à des faveurs que les dieux font à leurs adorateurs, pour la
plupart du temps les tahu’a pure. Il existe une multitude d’Atua et
certains d’entre eux parrainent des professions ou des familles et les
membres de ces communautés peuvent parfois les invoquer pour
réaliser de la magie divine. Comme les ari’i, et à un point plus élevé
encore, les dieux sont très sourcilleux sur la façon dont on leur parle ;
les mots ont là encore une très grande importance. Les lapsus peuvent
amener des effets néfastes.
1. LES DIEUX TUTELAIRES
Bien que les prêtres soient rarement dédiés à un seul dieu, il n’a en
général la faveur que d’un seul grand dieu. Le marae où il officie a un
ou plusieurs dieux de tutelle. Le Tahu’a choisit donc un de ces dieux
dont il pourra bénéficier des faveurs et donc apprendre les sorts qui lui
sont liés (et uniquement ceux-ci). Ro’o étant le messager de Tu, les
tahu’a choississant d’apprendre les sorts de Tu peuvent également
apprendre les sorts de Ro’o jusqu’à la difficulté 5. Tous les tahu’a pure
peuvent bénéficier des sorts des petits dieux. Certaines professions peuvent bénéficier des
sorts de petits dieux. Ainsi les tahu’a tautai pourront apprendre les sorts des dieux de
l’océan et de Hiro.
2. LES CIRCONSTANCES DE LA DEMANDE
Ces sorts étant des faveurs des dieux, la demande qui leur est faite peut être formulé dans
diverses circonstances. De ces circonstances dépendent l’effet du sort.
Il existe trois grands modes de lancer des sorts de magie divine:
109
- sur le marae, en présence du dieu dans un to’o: les effets peuvent alors être dévastateurs
et les conséquence d’un échec très grave.
- sur le marae, sans invocation des dieux: les effets du sort sont alors moins important
mais reste très conséquents
- en-dehors du marae: les effets de la faveur sont alors plus limité
Le tableau des circonstances des demandes permet de connaître la portée, la durée et l’aire
d’effet des sorts de magie divine.
TABLEAU DES CIRCONSTANCES DES SORTS DE MAGIE DIVINE
Portée
Durée des
Effets
Aire d’Effet
Durée de la
demande
Effet d’un
Echec
Marae, Atua
conjuré
+3 au lancer
10 km
Permanent
ou une saison
(1 an, 1
pêche, 1
expédition...)
10 Cibles
ou
1 mataiena’a
15 minutes
Viol d’un
tapu très
important.
Si possible,
effet inverse
Marae, Atua
non-conjuré
0 au lancer
1 km
Permanent
ou
1 jour
4 cibles ou
100m aut. du
tahu’a
2 minutes
Viol d’un
tapu
important +
Perte d’1
point de
Pouvoir
Hors du
Marae
-5 au lancer
100m
Permanent
ou 1 heure
1 cible ou 20
m autour
1 base
1 point de
mahuruhuru
ou perte d’un
point de
pouvoir
3. LA FORMULATION DE LA DEMANDE
La demande se fait sur la forme d’une prière ou si celui-ci est présent dans un to’o, d’une
discussion avec le dieu. Les paroles que doivent prononcées le prêtre sont codifiées et à la
moindre erreur, le dieu pourrait s’irriter. La durée de la demande et les conséquences d’une
erreur dans la formulation de la prière sont indiquées dans le tableau des sorts de magie
divine.
La demande, si elle est effectuée sur le marae, doit être précédée d’un sacrifice. Le type de
sacrifice attendu pour chaque sort est indiqué dans la description du sort. Quand elle est
110
effectuée en-dehors du marae, il suffit de donner la première part de son repas au dieu
tutellaire lors du repas qui précède ou qui suit le lancement du sort.
4. LES EFFETS DU SORT
Les effets du sort dépendent également des circonstances de la demande. Les effets sont
indiqués dans la description du sort. Le moment où prend effet le sort se fait au moment
où l’a demandé le tahu’a. S’il n’a précisé ce moment, les effets du sort se font sentir au bon
vouloir du dieu.
5. LA MAITRISE DE L’INCANTATION
Les durées, portées et aires d’effet des sorts de magie divine peuvent être améliorées grâce à
des points de sorts qui découlent du niveau de maîtrise du sortilège. Cela fonctionne de la
même manière que les incantations. Cependant, le nombre de points de sort dépensés dans
un sort ne peut être supérieur à la foi du Tahu’a.
6. DESCRIPTION DES SORTS DE MAGIE DIVINE
Les sorts sont dans l’ordre alphabétique. Pour chacun d’entre eux est indiqué le dieu qui
permet de les lancer et les effets pour chacun des modes de lancement.
APAISER LES ESPRITS DU BOIS
Tane, To’a Hiti
Difficulté: 2
Sacrifice: un régime de plantain
Effets:
Ce sort permet d’empêcher des esprit du
bois de réaliser des actions hostiles aux
humains. L’aire d’effet de ce sort est
géographique.
BEAUTE
Tane
Difficulté: 2
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
Ce sort permet d’améliorer l’apparence
d’une cible pendant la durée du sort.
Toutes actions impliquant l’apparence ou
ses aspects gagnent un bonus de +3. Ce
sort ne s’effectue qu’en dehors du marae.
BENEDICTION
Commun à tous les grands Atua
Difficulté: 4
Sacrifice: nourriture
Effets:
Ce sort permet de favoriser la réussite
d’une action.
Marae+Conjuration:
111
Une action réussit automatiquement, si
elle est jugée au mieux assez difficile par
le maître des légendes (se référer à la
charte angoumoise) ou si l’atua y a
intérêt. Si elle est plus difficile, l’action
reçoit un bonus égale à la foi du tahu’a
pure.
Marae:
Une action reçoit le soutien majeure du
sort. Si l’action est facile, on peut y
ajouter la foi du tahu’a pure.
Hors Marae:
L’action bénie reçoit le soutien mineur du
sort. Si l’action est facile, il peut s’agir
du soutien majeur.
BENEDICTION DE ...
Dieux mineurs
Difficulté: 4
Sacrifice: nourriture
Effets:
Ce sort permet de favoriser la réussite
d’une action entrant dans le champ de
compétence du dieu. Exemple: une pêche
pour
un
dieu
de
la
pêche,
un
accouchement pour Hine, un vol pour
Hiro, etc...
Marae+Conjuration:
Une action réussit automatiquement, si
elle est jugée au mieux assez difficile par
le maître des légendes (se référer à la
charte angoumoise) ou si l’atua y a
intérêt. Si elle est plus difficile, l’action
reçoit un bonus égale à la foi du tahu’a
pure.
Marae:
Une action reçoit le soutien majeure du
sort. Si l’action est facile, on peut y
ajouter la foi du tahu’a pure.
Hors Marae:
L’action bénie reçoit le soutien mineure
du sort. Si l’action est facile, il peut
s’agir du soutien majeur.
BONNE NAVIGATION
Dieu Maritime
Difficulté: 5
Sacrifice: des poissons argentés
Effets:
Ce sort permet de protéger des pirogues
cibles des alea naturels et bénit (soutien
mineur) les jets de navigation du pilote.
CHUTE D’ ARBRES
Tane
Difficulté: 4
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
Ce sort s’effectue en dehors du marae. Il
permet de faire tomber un arbre cible.
CHUTE DE PIERRES
112
Tane, To’a Hiti
Difficulté: 5
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
Ce sort s’effectue hors d’un marae. Il
permet de faire décrocher des pierres du
flanc de la montagne et de les faire
dévaler. Si le sort est destiné à frapper, le
facteur de dégâts de l’attaque est égal au
niveau de maitrise du lanceur divisé par
deux (arrondi au-dessus). La marge de
réussite est celle du sort. Les cibles
peuvent esquive, si elle ne sont pas
surprises.
CONNAISSANCE
Ro’o, Tu, ’oro
Difficulté: 5 (6 pour les adorateurs de ‘oro
et de Tu)
Sacrifice: des plumes rouges et blanches
Effets:
Ce
sort
permet
de
connaître
une
information sur un sujet “académique”:
histoire, géographie, connaissance des
plantes et des animaux, etc... Ce ne peut
être ni une question de généalogie, ni une
question d’événements actuels. Exemple
de question: Quel est la couleur des rupe
(pigeons) de ‘uporu ?
Marae+Conjuration:
L’information peut avoir la longueur
d’une généalogie.
Marae:
L’information peut être complexe.
Hors Marae:
L’information se réduit à quelques mots.
CONNAISSANCE DE PLANTES
Dieu Guérisseur
Difficulté: 5
Sacrifice: nourriture
Effets:
Ce
sort
permet
de
connaître
les
utilisations médicinales possibles de
plantes cibles. Si ce sort s’effectue sur le
marae, les plantes cibles se trouvent sur le
marae.
COUP PUISSANT
Tu, ‘oro
Difficulté: 2 (3 pour les adorateurs de
‘oro)
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
La cible réussit automatiquement un
coup puissant durant la durée du sort. Ce
sort ne s’effectue que sur le champ de
bataille.
DEPART DES MORTS
Tous les atua majeurs
113
Difficulté: 4
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
Ce sort ne s’effectue qu’en dehors du
marae. Il oblige l’esprit d’un homme (ou
d’un animal) venant de mourir à gagner
le Po (ou le Rohutu-noanoa).
DETECTION DE ...
Dieux mineurs
Difficulté: 2
Sacrifice: Nourriture
Effets:
Ce sort permet de détecter une chose
entrant dans le champs de compétence du
dieu. Exemple: Femme pour Hine, Endroit
Poissonneux pour un dieu de la pêche, une
tempête pour Hiro, etc...
ECLAIR
’oro
Difficulté: 5
Sacrifice: trois chiens
Effets:
Ce sort permet de créer des éclairs,
permettant d’effrayer ceux qui ont le
coeur fragile.
Marae+Conjuration:
Le sort crée un temps orageux puis un
effroyable orage. L’aire d’effets est le
mataiena’a. Tous ceux qui ratent un jet
de volonté sur 1d10 s’enfuit dans leur
fare.
Marae:
Le sort ne peut se réaliser que si le temps
est orageux. Si le temps n’est pas
orageux, il est nécessaire de le lancer deux
fois. Les éclairs semblent poursuivre les
cibles qui doivent réussir un jet de volonté
sur 1d10 ou s’enfuire vers leur fare.
Hors-Marae:
Comme pour sur le marae, mais il est
impossible de le lancer deux fois. Le jet de
volonté se fait sur un D8.
ELOQUENCE
Ro’o, Tu, ’oro
Difficulté: 5 (6 pour les adorateurs de ‘oro
et de Tu)
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
Ce sort ne s’effectue que sur la personne
du prêtre. Il devient alors très éloquent et
gagne un bonus égal à sa foi dans toute
ses compétences de communication.
ESCALADE
Tane, To’a Hiti
Difficulté: 3
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
114
Ce sort permet à la cible de réussir
automatiquement une escalade. Ce sort
ne se lance qu’en dehors du marae.
FICELAGE ‘AHA-TU
Tu, ‘oro
Difficulté: 4 (5 pour les adorateurs de
‘oro)
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
Ce sort ne s’effectue que sur le champ de
bataille. Il permet de maudire la famille
du “premier poisson” (le premier homme
tombé au combat). La victime doit avoir
été ficelée de manière correcte (compétence
ficeler) et ne pas avoir été touché par une
femme depuis sa chute. Si le sort réussit,
le corps se met à pleurer et tous les
membres de la famille de la victime
deviennent stériles, éteignant ainsi sa
lignée.
FOLIE GUERRIERE
Tu, ‘oro
Difficulté: 6 (7 pour les adorateurs d’oro)
Sacrifice: un homme par cible
Effets:
Les cibles entrent en fureur guerrière. Elle
gagne +2 à toutes leurs attaques. Elles
effectuent trois attaques rapides par base.
Elles ne se calment qu’à la fin de la durée
du sort (la bataille pour Marae+Atua
Conjuré) et poursuivent leurs adversaires
jusque dans leur pa, n’hésitant pas à tuer
femmes et enfants au passage. L’aire
d’effet est en nombre de cibles.
FOUDRE
’oro
Difficulté: 6
Sacrifice: un homme
Effets:
Lors d’un temps orageux, les victimes
sont touchées par la foudre. L’attaque est
une arme au facteur de dégâts égal au
nombre d’effets (maximum 4). La marge
de réussite est celle du sort.
FUREUR GUERRIERE
Tu, ‘oro
Difficulté: 3 (4 pour les adorateurs de
‘oro)
Sacrifice: -
Effets:
Les
cibles
entrent
dans
un
état
d’excitation
guerrière
qui
les
rend
furieux.
Ce sort ne s’effectue que sur le champ de
bataille (hors marae).
Les
cibles
sont
dans
en état de
surexcitation qui leur permet d’effectuer
trois attaques rapides par bases à +2.
Elles n’effectuent aucune défense. Elles
combattent
jusqu’à
la
mort
ou
pourchassent
leurs
ennemis
jusqu’à
l’extinction du sort.
115
GENEALOGIE
Ro’o
Difficulté: 8
Sacrifice: trois plumes rouges
Effets:
Quelque soient les circonstances de la
demande, ce sort ne peut avoir qu’une
cible. Il permet de connaître la généalogie
d’une personne se trouvant dans la portée
du sort. Après la durée du sort, le tahu’a
oublie une grande partie de la généalogie,
à moins qu’il passe du temps à la
mémoriser.
Marae+Conjuration:
Le tahu’a apprend les zones d’ombres et
les points de faiblesse de la généalogie de
la personne.
Marae:
Le tahu’a apprend la généalogie complète
de sa cible.
Hors Marae:
Le tahu’a apprend la généalogie partielle
de la cible.
INTIMIDATION
Tu, ‘oro
Difficulté: 4 (5 pour les adorateurs d’oro)
Sacrifice: un homme
Effets:
Les cibles intimident dans les premières
bases de combat leurs adversaire (voire
Intimidation dans les règles de combat)
Marae+Conjuration:
La zone d’effet est géographique. Toute
l’armée d’un mataiena’a est concernée.
Marae:
La zône d’effet est géographique.
Hors Marae:
La zone d’effet est une cible.
MALADIE
Commun à tous les grands Atua
Difficulté: 6
Sacrifice: un cochon
Effets:
La cible tombe malade.
Marae+Conjuration:
La maladie est de virulence égale à la foi
du tahu’a pure.
Marae:
La maladie est de virulence égale au
niveau de maîtrise du sortilège du tahu’a
pure.
Cette
virulence
ne
peut
être
supérieure à la foi du tahu’a pure.
Hors Marae:
116
La cible est victime d’une simple fièvre
qui incapacite le personnage pendant la
durée du sort.
MESSAGE
Ro’o
Difficulté: 6
Sacrifice: des plumes jaunes
Effets:
Ce sort permet de parler par télépathie à
des cibles situées à portée.
MORT
Commun à tous les grands Atua
Difficulté: 10 (9 pour les adorateurs d’oro)
sacrifice: un homme (ou un plantain
pour Ro’o)
Effets:
Ce sortilège tue la cible. L’atua ne tuera
pas un de ses protégés.
Marae+Conjuration:
La cible peut effectuer un jet de mana
pour ne pas mourir. Ce jet a pour malus le
score de la cible en Mahuruhuru.
Marae:
La cible peut effectuer un jet de mana
pour ne pas mourir.
Hors Marae:
La cible ne peut mourir que si elle a
offensé d’une façon ou d’une autre le dieu
tutélaire du tahu’a. Elle réalise alors un
jet de mana pour échapper à son sort.
PAIX
Ro’o, Tu, ‘oro
Difficulté: 3 (4 pour les adorateurs de ‘oro
et de Tu)
Sacrifice: une pousse de plantain ou un
morceau de tortue
Effets:
Ce sortilège scelle la paix entre deux
parties.
Marae+Conjuration:
Ce sortilège permet d’assurer la paix
pendant 1 an. Les deux parties doivent
être d’accord. Briser l’accord revient pour
l’ari’i régnant à s’attirer la colère de Ro’o
et à violer un tapu très important.
Marae:
Ce sort permet d’empêcher deux parties
(visant un maximum de 10 cibles sauf si
investissement de points de sort) de se
battre. Ils sont contraints par une force
divine à ne pas se battre. L’hostilité peut
cependant rester vive.
Hors Marae:
Empêche la cible d’effectuer une action
agressive contre le tahu’a et ses amis.
117
PROTECTION CONTRE...
Dieux Mineurs
Difficulté:6
Sacrifice: un cochon
Effets:
Ce sort permet de protéger les cibles contre
des alea ou des êtres entrant dans le
champ de compétence du dieu.
PURIFICATION
Commun à tous les grands Atua
Difficulté: 4
sacrifice: nourriture
Effets:
Ce sortilège permet de purifier une
personne de son Mahuruhuru. Ce sortilège
ne fonctionne qu’une fois sur une même
cible avant une nouvelle pollution.
Marae+Conjuration:
Ce sort ne s’effectue pas en présence du
dieu
Marae:
La cible perd un nombre de points de
Mahuhuru égal à sa foi. Cependant, ce
nombre de points ne peut dépasser les
points pris lors de la dernière pollution.
Hors Marae:
La
cible
récupère
deux
points
de
Mahuruhuru.
SE PROTEGER DES LUTINS
Tane, To’a Hiti
Difficulté: 3
Sacrifice: un cochon
Effets:
Ce sort empêche les lutins d’importuner
les
humains
dans
la
montagne.
Cependant, ce sort ne fonctionne pas
dans les zones tapu aux humains. Ce sort
a une aire d’effet géographique.
SE TRANSFORMER EN COCHON
’oro
Difficulté: 8
Sacrifice: un homme
Effets:
Ce sort ne s’effectue que sur le marae en
présence de ’oro. Il permet au tahu’a de se
transformer en cochon sauvage pour une
durée d’une heure par niveau de maîtrise.
Il garde ses caractéristiques psychiques
mais prend les caractéristiques mentales
d’un cochon possédé par ‘oro.
TETE FROIDE
Tu
Difficulté: 4
Sacrifice: nourriture
Effets:
118
Ce sort permet aux cibles de garder leur
lucidité pendant la durée du sort (la
bataille pour Marae+Conjuration). Ceci
offre un bonus de +2 au combat à ceux
qui en bénéficie et un bonus de +4 à la
compétence “art de la guerre”.
VISION NOCTURNE
Hine
Difficulté: 5
Sacrifice: un poulet blanc
Effets:
Ce sort permet aux cibles de voir la nuit.
La durée sur le marae (avec ou sans
conjuration) est la nuit entière. Ce sort ne
fonctionne pas quand Hine est absente
(les nuit de nouvelle lune).
119
LA PUISSANCE NEFASTE DES ESPRITS: LA MAGIE
DES ESPRITS
La magie des esprits prend sa source dans les contacts avec les nombreux esprits qui
peuplent la Terre et l’Océan. Le but de la magie des esprits est de mettre en contact ces
esprits avec le monde des vivants afin de polluer ceux-ci. Le sorcier est souvent un
personnage très craint dans les villages tahitiens.
Les esprits, souvent trop vifs pour être vus, se regroupent en deux grandes catégories:
- les varua: les varua sont les esprits les plus communs. Pour les besoins du jeu, ils sont
groupés en trois familles, les esprits du bois (et de tous les végétaux et des animaux de la
forêt), les esprits de la pierre (et de tous les minéraux et des lieux géographiques) et enfin
les esprits du corail ( et de la mer en général).
- les ‘oromatua: les ‘oromatua sont des fantômes de défunts qui errent à des fins néfastes
sur la terre. Sont également classés dans cette famille, les aiea (appelé également fantôme
consumant) qui vivent en mer (et seraient selon certains tahu’a les esprits des disparus en
mer) et les ancêtres, aux vues moins destructrices que les ‘oromatua.
La magie des esprits, c’est aussi le contact avec les ancêtres qui peuvent apporter aide et
assistance. Ce type de magie a un déroulement un peu différent de ceux des autres sorts de
magie de l’esprit. Les ancêtres n’ont pas besoin d’être concilié (ils ne sont pas hostiles). La
convocation de l’ancêtre dans le ti’i n’est pas obligatoire. Le sort se lance alors à -5. Le
lanceur doit apporter un culte à son ancêtre (prières sur le marae familial et onctions
régulières des os de l’ancêtre) ou celui-ci refusera de l’aider.
1. SE CONCILIER DES ESPRITS
Pour lancer un sort de magie des esprits, il est nécessaire de se concilier un ou plusieurs
esprits. A cet effet, il faut sculpter un ti’i servant de receptacle à l’esprit. Le sorcier doit
ensuite repérer un esprit et connaître son nom. Il est possible de se concilier un esprit sans
connaître son nom, mais le sort se fait alors avec un malus de -5. Le sorcier doit ensuite
entrer en communication avec l’esprit par l’intermédiaire d’un coquillage et le conjurer
(compétence conjurer un esprit), puis se le concilier (lancement du sort “se concilier ...”).
Le sort ne peut réussir que si le niveau de maîtrise du sort est supérieur ou égal à la
puissance de l’esprit.
Si le sort est manqué, l’esprit selon son caractère pourra se retourner contre le sorcier, le
“polluer” ou simplement ne pas lui répondre.
120
Si le sort est réussi, l’esprit deviendra fetii du sorcier, c’est à dire qu’il lui sera affilié. Le
sorcier n’aura qu’à faire appel à lui et le faire agir. Cependant, le sorcier devra entretenir
cette amitié en bichonnant les ti’i (parfois en leur construisant un fare), en leur offrant la
première part de ses repas et en les conjurant régulièrement.
2. FAIRE AGIR UN ESPRIT
Pour faire agir un esprit, il faut le conjurer dans le ti’i, lui présenter un tupu (partie du
corps, vêtements ou future nourriture) de la victime et lui dire ce qu’il doit faire (lancer du
sort “faire agir...”). Un échec signifie que l’esprit a mal compris la demande du sorcier ou
que celui-ci a commis une irrévérence. Il refuse alors de
s’exécuter, fait autre chose que ce qu’on lui a demandé, pollue
le sorcier ou même s’attaque à lui.
La magie des esprits n’est donc pas de tout repos. Le sorcier
est en danger constant et il est maintenu dans une peur
continuellee de ses esprits affiliés. Mais elle est terriblement
efficace. Voici les différentes actions que peut accomplir un
esprit.
- la possession: l’esprit pénètre à l’intérieur de la victime, la
rend ainsi malade et peut finir par tuer une personne (voire
dans le chapitre: références, les pouvoirs des esprits). Le score
de possession de l’esprit s’utilise pour toutes les attaques.
- la pollution: l’esprit traverse sa victime et la pollue, elle gagne des points de mahuruhuru
- l’attaque physique: un esprit qui a le pouvoir d’attaquer physiquement est très
dangereux, car très difficile à vaincre.
- attaquer un autre esprit: cette action permet de contrer un autre esprit. Cette action ne
demande pas de tupu, mais nécessite le nom de l’esprit attaquant, dans le cas contraire un
malus de -5 est appliqué.
- protéger un lieu: l’esprit se prêtera de bonne grâce à cette action, si les chances que le lieu
soit violé sont importantes.
3. DESCRIPTION DES SORTS DE MAGIE DES ESPRITS
Les sorts “se concilier...” et “faire agir...” ont été décrit plus haut. Les effets des possessions
par tel ou tel type d’esprits sont expliqués dans la description de ces esprits. Nous
n’établirons donc ici que la liste des sorts de Magie des Ancêtres.
121
BENEDICTION DE L’ANCETRE
Magie des Ancêtres
Difficulté: 3
Type E
Effets:
Ce sort permet agit comme un soutien
majeur à une action bénéficiant à la
famille.
COMMUNIQUER
AVEC
LES
MORTS
Magie des Ancêtres
Difficulté: 1
Type D
Effet:
Ce sort permet de discuter pendant avec
un défunt de sa famille.
QUESTIONNER LES MORTS
Magie des Ancêtres
Difficulté: 4
Type D
Effet:
Ce sort permet de discuter pendant 3
minutes par niveau de maîtrise du sort
avec un défunt de sa famille. Le défunt
est obligé de dire la vérité
MANA DE L’ ANCETRE
Magie des Ancêtres
Difficulté: 7
Type C
Effet:
Ce sort permet de s’approprier pendant la
durée du sort le mana d’un ancêtre ou un
de ses mana (combat par exemple). Ce
mana se substitue à celui du lanceur.
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CHAPITRE 9: EXPERIENCE
Rata-nui se rappelle avec émoi ses débuts d’ ‘orero. Il ne savait alors
qu’ânonner la généalogie de son ari’i et pouvait même être défait par un
manahune cul-de-jatte. Mais ses aventures dans tout Tahiti l’ont endurci et
tout le monde sait qu’il est aujourd’hui un redoutable orateur et un
combattant émérite.
Les personnages que vous avez créés vont au fil des aventures gagner une expérience qui
leur permettra de mieux accomplir les actions qu’ils ont déjà faites. Ils vont également
vivre entre deux aventures et apprendre de nouvelles choses. Le système d’expérience a pour
but de simuler cette évolution du personnage.
Les joueurs gagneront à la fin de chaque aventure un certain nombre de points, les points
d’expérience. Ces points pourront être dépensés pour acheter des niveaux de maîtrise dans
des compétences ou améliorer sa connaissance des sortilèges. Attention! Les allocations de
points d’expérience devront se justifier par les actions effectuées en jeu ou les démarches
réalisées entre deux aventures. Par exemple, un personnage qui ne sait pas construire une
case ne pourra pas décider de mettre ses points d’expérience en construction de case si il n’a
pas assisté un tahu’a fare pendant le jeu ou s’il ne demande pas à un tahu’a fare de lui
apprendre son art (jet de convaincre...).
GAGNER DES POINTS D’EXPERIENCE
Le maître des légendes attribue à la fin d’une session de jeu ou d’une aventure un nombre
de points d’expérience à chaque personnage qui dépend de plusieurs facteurs comme la
difficulté de l’aventure et le degré de réussite des personnages. Ce nombre peut aller de trois
pour un petit scénario à dix pour la conclusion d’une campagne. Si le maître des légendes
veut une ambiance “Tahiti Mythique” (voir livret de campagne), il peut attribuer beaucoup
plus de points d’expérience.
Le maître des légendes peut ensuite donner des points d’expérience supplémentaires (de 1 à
3) à un joueur si son interprétation du rôle lui a particulièrement plu ou si son rôle a été
déterminant dans la réussite de l’aventure.
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DEPENSER LES POINTS D’EXPERIENCE
Voici les coûts des différentes augmentation des scores des compétences et des sorts.
1. COMPETENCES
Situation
Coût en Pts d’Exp.
acquisition du NM
1
3
pour un NM>1
NM actuel
pour unNM> 6
10
2. SORTS
- apprentissage d’un nouveau sort
durée: (difficulté du sort) ²
coût: difficulté du sort x 2
- amélioration d’un sort connu
durée: une heure par jour entre deux aventures
coût: 1 point de score = Niveau de Maîtrise Actuelle du Sort
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CHAPITRE 10: LES REFERENCES
Rata-nui ne compte plus les personnes et les créatures qu’il a défaites par le
combat ou la parole: guerriers (peu), ‘orero, artisans, requins, esprits du bois,
anguille géante... Que d’années passées pour un tel tableau de chasse !
Ce chapitre est destiné à donner des statistiques de jeu aux habitants naturels et
supernaturels du monde maohi. Ils vous permettront de peupler votre campagne et de créer
de nombreuses intéractions avec les personnages des joueurs. Nous nous intéresserons aux
créatures, aux esprits et aux atua (les dieux).
ANIMAUX
Les animaux sont peu nombreux à Tahiti et ils présentent rarement un grand danger pour
l’homme. Cependant, les animaux peuvent être possédés par un esprit malin ou par un
atua. Dans ce cas, ils peuvent se révéler agressif et dangereux pour l’homme. Des esprits
s’incarnent parfois sous une forme animale. Pour chaque animal sera décrit les pouvoirs
d’un esprit y étant incarné. Les créatures monstrueuses de leur côté ont souvent des esprits
qui à la mort du monstre peuvent devenir des ‘oromatua très puissants si on ne les force
pas à rejoindre le po.
La plupart des animaux réalisent des attaques normales et ne peuvent accomplir d’actions
défensives. Ils peuvent faire une esquive (score: 3 x Rapidité) si ils fuient. Le score de
fatigue indiqué entre parenthèse est celui de l’animal quand il est possédé et s’il incarne
un esprit.
Chien
Rapidité: 4
Attaques: Morsure (13, dégâts:2)
Fatigue: 13 (16)
Compétences:
Sentir les ‘oromatua: 10
Sens: 14
Possession: Les chiens ne peuvent être
possédés que par des esprits favorables à
l’homme. L’atua To’a Hiti est le protecteur
des chiens.
Esprit Incarné: rare (parfois To’a Hiti lui-
même possède un chien)
Sentir ‘oromatua: 15
Morsure (15, dégâts: 3)
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Oiseaux
Rapidité: de 3 à 6, souvent 5
Attaques: Coup de Bec (10, dégâts:1)
Compétences:
Sens: 8
Fatigue: 8 (14)
Possession: les oiseaux peuvent être
possédés par des varua du bois (espèces
terrestres) et des varua du corail (espèce
marine) et par tous les atua
Esprit Incarné:
Coup de Bec (10+Puissance, Dégâts: 2)
Requin
Rapidité: 5
Attaques: Morsure (12, dégâts: 3), Coup
de Queue (12, dégâts: 1)
Compétences:
Sentir le sang: 16
Sentir les surfeurs et les naufragés: 10
Fatigue: 12 (20)
Possession: Les requins peuvent être
possédés par des varua du corail, des
ancêtres, des dieux de la mer, par Tane et
par Ta’aroa.
Esprit Incarné:
Attaques à +4
Faire Chavirer: 5+Puissance (Atua:14)
Peur: 10, effet: paralysie
Lézard
Rapidité: 5
Attaques: Morsure (10, dégâts: 0), les
lézards peuvent effectuer des actions
défensives
Compétences:
Sens: 12
Surprendre: 14
Esquive: 18
Fatigue: 4 (20)
Possession: Les lézards peuvent être
possédés par les ‘oromatua, les ancêtres,
les varua de la pierre. Leur morsure
inflige une pollution moyenne.
Esprit Incarné:
Morsure (15, dégâts: 1 + pollution
importante)
Hypnotisme: 5 + Puissance, 15 pour un
atua
Peur: 10, effet: fuite
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Porc Sauvage
Rapidité: 4
Attaques: Défenses (12, dégâts:2),
Piétiner (15, dégâts:2)
Fatigue: 16 (22)
Compétences:
Sens: 13
Possession: les cochons sauvages peuvent
être possédés par des varua des bois
puissants, par ‘oro lui-même ou l’un des
dieux affiliés à ‘oro
Esprit Incarné:
Attaques à +4
Dégâts: 3
Possibilité de réaliser deux attaques
rapides
La peau a une protection de 1
Peur: 8, effet: fuite ou stupeur
Les cochons où un esprit est incarné
s’appelle un cochon Mo’iri. Certains
auraient le pouvoir de se transformer en
homme. Ils sont en général énormes et
féroces. Ils ont parfois le don de paroles.
Selon les tahitiens, il existe un lieu de
rassemblement pour les porcs défunts
comme pour les hommes. Ils donnent
d’ailleurs des noms à leurs cochons.
Rat
Rapidité: 4
Attaques: Morsure (14, Dégâts: 0)
Compétences:
Sens: 12
Fatigue: 7 (10)
Possession: les rats peuvent être possédés
par des ancêtres ou des ‘oromatua
Esprit Incarné:
Peur: 15, effet: fuite
Poissons
Rapidité: de 2 à 6
Attaques: Morsure (de 6 à 12, dégâts: 0 à
2)
Compétences:
Sens: 6
Fatigue: de 2 à 12 (14)
Possession: la mer et les lagons regorgent
de poissons de toute sorte, ils peuvent être
possédés par n’importe quel type d’esprits
et d’atua à l’exception des varua du bois
Esprit Incarné:
+1 au dégâts
+ puissance aux chances de toucher
Peur: 8, effet: fuite
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CREATURES
MONSTRUEUSES
Tridacne Géante (Pahua-nui)
Psychique: 1
Rapidité: 0
Compétences:
Aspirer une proie: 20
Broyer la Proie: 18, dégâts: 2
Peur: 8, effet: paralysie
Surprendre (de nuit): 12
Protection: 6
Mana: 5
Fatigue: 30
Puissance de l’esprit après la mort: 6
Les Pahua-nui sont d’immenses
coquillages qui attendent sur des récifs
en haute mer. Ils aspirent leur proie, des
bateaux en particulier, avant de les
broyer. Ces monstres sont très rares.
Lézard Géant (Mo’o-nui)
Psychique: 4
Rapidité: 5
Compétences:
Morsure: 14, dégâts: 2
Sens: 14
Hypnotisme: 13
Effacer les Souvenirs: 16
Protection: 2
Mana: 4
Fatigue: 18
Puissance de l’esprit après la mort: 3
Il existe de grand mo’o dans certaines
vallées intérieures de Tahiti. Il reste le
plus souvent dans des endroits tabous ou
inaccessibles à l’homme. Les mo’o-nui
peuvent se reproduire avec l’homme.
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Lutins
Psychique: 5
Rapidité: 7
Compétences:
Eloquence: 13
Sorts de To’a Hiti à 10
Danser: 15
Surprendre: 17
Savoir Tout: 10
Se rendre invisible:7
Se transformer en canard sauvage: 14
Protection: 0
Mana: 3
Fatigue: 13
Puissance de l’esprit après la mort: -
Les lutins vivent dans le premier ciel et
en haute montagne dans le domaine de
To’a Hiti. Les lutins sont capables de
voler.
Ils peuvent également chevaucher les arc-
en-ciel pour se rendre dans les basses-
terres. Ils n’aiment pas qu’on viole leur
territoire et jouent de nombreux tours à
ceux qui s’y aventurent. Ils sont à la fois
matériels et à la fois esprits. Ils sont
sensibles aux exorcismes d’esprit du bois
mais pas aux prières contre les esprits
malins. Cette sensibilité ne se révèle qu’en
dehors des domaines de To’a Hiti.
Anguille Géante
Psychique: de 1 à 5
Rapidité: 5 (3 hors de l’eau)
Compétences:
Morsure: 13, dégâts: 2
Avaler: 10, dégâts: 1, tâche après première
morsure, jet de force sur 1d20 pour s’en
dégager
Coup de Queue: 17, dégâts: 1
Ecraser: 14, dégâts: 2
Sens: 10
Eloquence: 8
Peur: 10, effet: paralysie
Protection: 1
Mana: 4
Fatigue: 18
Puissance de l’esprit après la mort: 3
Les anguilles géantes se trouvent dans
certains lacs et trous d’eau. Leur
intelligences varient grandement.
Certaines entretiennent des rapports avec
les humains et parfois règnent sur eux.
Les légendes parlent du terrible roi
anguille Tuna et du désespoir de sa
femme.
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Hommes Sauvages
Psychique: 2
Rapidité: 6
Compétences:
Morsure: 10, dégâts: 1
Ongles: 13, dégâts: 1
Sens: 15
Protection: 0
Mana: 1
Fatigue: 16
Puissance de l’esprit après la mort: -
Les Hommes Sauvages vivent dans les
montagnes les plus reculées de Tahiti. Ils
ne parlent pas et fuient au premier
contact avec les hommes. Ils semblent
avoir une peur insensée des tahitiens. On
ne sait pas s’ils forment une société, s’ils
ont des villages ou s’ils sont nomades.
En tout cas, ils vivent nues et ne se
lavent pas.
Plusieurs rumeurs courent à leurs sujets:
- ils seraient des réfugiés de guerre qui
sont devenus fous à cause de la peur
causée par leur fuite
- ils seraient les habitants originels de
Tahiti
- ils seraient les bâtards d’un esprit
incarné et d’humains
Oiseaux Démons
(Manu-Varua-’ino)
Psychique: 4
Rapidité: 6
Compétences:
Coup de Bec: 12, dégâts: 2
Surprendre: 8
Sens: 18
Peur: 7, effet: coupe la parole
Protection: 1
Mana: 4
Fatigue: 16
Puissance de l’esprit après la mort: 5
Les Manu-Varua-’ino sont sensibles aux
exorcismes d’esprit du bois et aux prières
contre les esprits malins. On trouve les
Manu-Varua-’ino dans certaines îles
basses ou en mer. Ils sont dotés de parole.
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LES ESPRITS
Les esprits sont des êtres plus ou moins immatériels, vivant dans les cieux, le po et sur
terre. Ils sont ra’a. Leurs pouvoirs sont variés et il en existe plusieurs catégories. Avec le
système de légendes tahitiennes que vous trouverez ici, vous disposerez d’outils pour créer
vos propres esprits.
1. LES DIFFERENTS TYPES D’ESPRIT
Il existe quatre catégories d’esprits. Les voici des moins meurtriers au plus destructeurs:
- les esprits du bois: les esprits du bois sont des varua des éléments végétaux et des
animaux des bois.
Les esprits du bois quand ils possèdent une personne la rendent malade et finalement
peuvent la tuer. Les premiers symptômes sont des ballonements, de vives douleurs aux
intestins puis des fièvres. Le possédé a la bouche qui écume de salive. La possession est une
maladie de virulence moyenne (2). Les jets sur l’évolution de la maladie sont à faire toutes
les 4 heures. En se retirant, l’esprit occasionne une douleur dans les intestins du possédé
qui équivaut à une attaque de virulence 1.
- les esprits de la pierre: les esprits de la pierre sont des varua des éléments minéraux et de
lieux à l’intérieur des terres.
Leur possession se traduit par des lourdeurs dans les intestins qui s’intensifient. La
possession est une maladie de virulence moyenne. L’esprit en se retirant n’occasionne pas
d’attaque. Cependant, ces esprits sont plus forts que les esprits du bois (voir action de
contre). Les jets d’évolution de la maladie se font tous les 2 heures.
- les esprits du corail: les esprits du corail sont des varua du corail, des animaux marins,
des récifs et de la mer.
Les esprits du corail lacèrent les intestins. Cette lacération est particulièrement violente
quand ils se retirent. La maladie est de virulence forte et les dégâts de retrait de virulence
très forte. Les jets d’évolution de la maladie se font tous les heures.
Les esprits du corail sont plus forts en contre que les esprits de la pierre.
- les ‘oromatua: dans cette catégorie viennent les ‘oromatua à proprement parler qui sont
des esprits de défunts n’étant pas allé dans le po et les aiea, les fantômes maritimes.
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Les ‘oromatua identifiés (ancêtres) ne se conjurent pas dans des ti’i mais dans le crâne ou
les os de la personne qu’ils étaient. Les aiea ne peuvent se conjurer qu’en mer ou sur le récif.
Les ‘oromatua amène chez les possédés une maladie foudroyante (de virulence très forte).
Leur retrait n’occasionne qu’une attaque de virulence 1.
Les ‘oromatua sont plus forts dans une action de contre que les varua.
2. LE TABLEAU DES ESPRITS
Esprits, par
ordre croissant
de puiss. en
contre
Varua du bois
Varua de la
pierre
Varua du Corail
‘oromatua
Virulence de la
Possession
Moyenne
(dégâts:2)
Moyenne
(dégâts:2)
Forte (dégâts: 3)
Très Forte
(dégâts: 4)
Effet du Retrait
Attaque de
dégâts 1
-
Attaque de
dégâts 3
Attaque de
dégâts 1
Ra’a
Moyen
Moyen
Moyen
Important
Puissance de
Contre
= Puissance
= Puissance +2 = Puissance +
4
= Puissance +
6
3. LES CARACTERISTIQUES DES ESPRITS
Les esprits ont une caractéristique principale, la puissance, qui s’échelonne de 1 à 7. Cette
puissance permet d’échelonner les esprits entre eux (quoique les esprits de différents types
ne se trouvent pas sur la même échelle) et de déterminer leur pouvoir.
Le mana d’un esprit est égal à trois fois sa puissance. Ce mana sert de score de base pour
effectuer toutes les actions qui sortent du champ de ses pouvoirs.
Pour créer soi-même les pouvoirs d’un esprit, on dispose d’un capital de points servant à
acheter des pouvoirs. Ce capital de point est égal à 10 fois la puissance de l’esprit.
Voici une liste des pouvoirs des esprits et leur coût en point de création. Certaines
restrictions peuvent apparaître dans la description des différents pouvoirs:
- possession, coût: 10 points
Ce pouvoir permet de posséder un humain à l’incitation d’un sorcier et à travers un tupu.
L’esprit obtient un score de 10 en possession. Il peut augmenter ce score par l’achat de
points de posssession.
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- point de possession, coût: 5 points
Ce pouvoir permet d’augmenter le score de possession de l’esprit de 1. Il est possible
d’augmenter le score de possession d’autant que désiré.
- motoe, coût: 10 points
Ce pouvoir permet de rendre l’esprit motoe (tahitien: qui se faufile comme un ver). C’est à
dire qu’il est très difficile de l’apercevoir car il se dirige vers ses victimes sous terre. Si
l’esprit n’est pas motoe, il est haere ta’ata (qui marche comme un homme) et il est alors
possible pour la victime de l’apercevoir et de se sauver.
- attaque physique, coût: 20 points
Ce pouvoir permet à l’esprit d’effectuer des attaques sur le plan physique. Il griffe, lacère ou
cogne selon sa nature. Il est très difficile pour son opposant de le toucher. L’esprit acquière
un score de base de 10 en attaque physique.
- point d’attaque physique, coût: 10 points
Ce pouvoir permet d’ajouter 1 point au score d’attaque physique de l’esprit.
- contrôle, coût: 20 points
Un esprit disposant du pouvoir de contrôle prend contrôle de sa victime quand celle-ci est
possédé (un jet au moins de possession doit avoir été réussi). Si l’esprit est dirigé par un
sorcier, la victime obéit en tout point aux injonctions du sorcier.
- possession sans tupu, coût: 40 points
L’esprit disposant de ce pouvoir peut posséder une personne sans qu’on lui ait présenté un
tupu. Il lui faut cependant le nom de la personne.
- voix audible, coût: 10 points
L’esprit a une voix complètement audible à l’oreille humaine. Nul n’est besoin de
coquillages et d’interprétation pour s’entretenir avec lui. Cela pemet à l’orou de charger
l’esprit de transmettre un message à quelqu’un, l’esprit s’y pliera de bonne grâce si il
s’agit de menace de mort.
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- possession d’animal, coût: 10 points
L’esprit peut posséder et contrôler un animal. Il garde les carctéristiques physiques de
l’animal. Cependant, les attaques physiques de l’animal causent du mahuruhuru.
Les esprits ne peuvent pas s’incarner dans n’importe quel animal. Les esprits d’animaux
s’incarnent exclusivement dans l’espèce dont ils sont l’esprit.
Les varua des bois peuvent s’incarner dans des lézards, des oiseaux des bois (perroquets,
pigeons, canards terrestres, etc...) ou des cochons sauvages.
Les varua des pierres peuvent s’incarner dans des lézards et des anguilles.
Les varua du corail et les aiea peuvent s’incarner dans des poissons marins (requin y
compris) ou des oiseaux marins.
Les ‘oromatua s’incarnent dans des rats, des requins ou des lézards.
- incarnation, 30 points
L’esprit peut prendre la forme d’un animal. Les restrictions quant à l’accès à la forme
animale sont les mêmes que pour le pouvoir possession d’un animal. L’esprit prend alors
les caractéristiques de l’animal-esprit (voir plus loin). L’esprit n’est libéré de sa forme
animale que lorsque l’animal est tué.
- changement de forme, 20 points
Ce pouvoir n’est accesible qu’à des esprits pouvant s’incarner. Ce pouvoir leur permet de
changer de forme à volonté.
- possession nevaneva, 10 points
Ce type de possession fonctionne automatiquement (à moins que la victime y résiste et
réussisse un jet de mana). L’esprit s’empare du corps d’une personne qui est prise de
spasmes et peut ainsi parler par sa bouche. Les dégâts pour la victime ne sont dûs qu’au
mahuruhuru.
- contre puissant, 10 points
Ce pouvoir permet à un esprit d’attaquer un autre esprit comme si il était d’une puissance
de 1 supérieure à la sienne.
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- pistage, 20 points
Ce pouvoir permet à un esprit venant de battre un autre esprit en défendant son orou fetii
de pister la trace de l’esprit et ainsi de repérer l’auteur du pifao (du sort). Si l’esprit a
également le pouvoir de possession, il peut s’attaquer au sorcier sans tupu.
- enchantement d’objet, 40 points
L’esprit s’installe dans un objet. L’objet a un ra’a inférieur d’une catégorie à celui de
l’esprit. L’objet doit être d’une facture excellente pour que l’esprit s’y investisse. L’objet
sublimera alors sa fonction. Une arme par exemple disposera d’un facteur de dégâts trois.
Une herminette de sculpteur ne fera jamais d’échec critique, etc...
- sorts de magie incantatoire, 10 points x la difficulté du sort
Les esprits peuvent disposer de sorts. Les sorts des varua doivent être liés à leur nature. De
manière générale, les sorts doivent être maléfiques. Les chances de réussite du sort sont
égale au mana de l’esprit moins la difficulté du sort.
- sorts de magie divine, 20 points x la difficulté du sort
Les esprits liés à des atua peuvent disposer de sorts de magie divine. Les chances de
réussite du sort sont égale au mana de l’esprit moins la difficulté du sort.
4. LA POSSESSION
Un esprit tentant de posséder quelqu’un rentre à l’intérieur de la victime et s’efforce de la
rendre malade. L’attaque se fait avec le score de Possession de l’esprit auquel on soustrait
le mana de la victime. L’esprit s’il a raté son jet peut refaire un jet après chaque période
d’évolution. Cependant si il est exorcisé avant d’avoir réussi un jet de possession, il
n’occasionne aucun dégât de retrait.
Si la personne attaquée par l’esprit sait qu’elle est victime d’un pifao, l’esprit dispose d’un
bonus de +4 à ses tentatives de possession. En effet, la peur favorise l’immiscion de
l’esprit.
Cependant, une personne sachant qu’elle est victime d’un pifao pourra tenter de fuire
devant l’esprit (jusque vers un marae d’un atua protecteur ou à un endroit inaccessible à
l’esprit) ou se faire protéger par un autre esprit.
Le premier jet réussi de possession amène une attaque. On regarde le tableau d’attaque, la
marge de réussite est celle du jet de possession et le facteur de dégâts, la virulence de la
maladie. Le possédé dans la période suivante arrive graduellement à l’état de maladie
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correspondant à l’attaque subie. Il réalise ensuite après chaque période d’évolution, un jet de
recouvrement (qui est un multiple du physique: voir table de recouvrement naturel,
chapitre: Santé) avec pour malus la puissance de l’esprit. Une réussite indique que la
situation est stationnaire. Un échec signifie que l’état s’aggrave auutomatiquement. Un
échec critique indique que l’état s’aggrave de deux états. Une réussite critique indique que
l’état s’améliore.
La possession ne cesse que si l’esprit est exorcisé ou si le sorcier ordonne à l’esprit de se
retirer (ce qui mécontentera fortement l’esprit). L’esprit fait alors une nouvelle attaque due
aux dégâts qu’il occasionne en se retirant de la personne. Cette attaque se fait sur le mana
de l’esprit (1d20).
5. VOIR UN ESPRIT
Pour voir ou entendre un esprit, il faut soit le surprendre alors qu’il est immobile ou réussir
un jet de sens à -8. Si l’observateur ne cherche pas à apercevoir un esprit, ce malus passe à -
12. La présence de l’esprit se manifeste par son apparence physique (esprits haere ta’ata),
par des bruissements dans les feuillages ou des bruits dans le sol (esprits moete). Les
esprits se déplaçant de façon moete sont pratiquement imperceptibles pour l’homme (malus:
-15).
Il est également possible de ressentir la présence d’un esprit. Le mana de la personne alerte
alors le personnage.
6. TOUCHER UN ESPRIT
Pour pouvoir toucher un esprit, il faut réussir un jet de mana au préalable ou disposer d’un
objet enchanté ou magique.
7. COMBAT ENTRE ESPRITS
Lorsqu’un pifao est contré, il y a combat entre deux esprits. Pour qu’il y ait contre, il faut
que le pifao n’ait pas encore fait effet. Il faut donc que la victime sache qu’elle va être l’objet
d’un pifao ou qu’elle voit l’esprit. Dans ce dernier cas, elle peut réussir à semer
temporairement l’esprit ou à se rendre dans un lieu où l’esprit n’osera l’atteindre (marae du
dieu tutellaire de la victime).
En cas de contre, il y a combat entre les esprits. La règle est simple, l’esprit qui a la plus
grande puissance de contre (voir tableau des esprits) l’emportent et envoie l’autre dans le po
(de manière temporaire si la différence de puissance ne dépasse pas 4). Si plusieurs esprits
combattent, l’esprit le plus puissant de chaque camp s’affronte et détermine le camp
vainqueur.
136
Si l’esprit de la victime l’emporte, elle peut à son tour repérer le sorcier et si il a le pouvoir
“pister” posséder le sorcier.
Si l’esprit de l’ensorcelleur l’emporte, il a libre champ pour posséder ou polluer la victime du
pifao.
8. LA PERSONNALITE DES ESPRITS
Les esprits sont des êtres acariâtres qui demandent la plus grande déférence. Ils sont dans
95% des cas mauvais et n’ont pas de plus grand plaisir que de perpétrer des actes
malveillants à l’égard des humains.
Certains sont très bêtes, d’autres très rusés. Leur objectif primordial peut être en-dehors du
mal de protéger l’espèce ou la famille dont ils sont le protecteur. Ils se repaissent des
sacrifices qui leur sont faits et avoir un sorcier fetii est pour eux une bonne affaire.
Cependant tous ne vivent pas l’affiliation de la même façon. Certains exècrent l’orou fetii,
d’autres adorent être appelés.
Dans la nature, un esprit est en général lié à un territoire qui peut être des plus réduits. Ils
ne peuvent perpétrer des actions mauvaises que si leur territoire est violé par le bris d’un
tabou, si ils sont appelés (par un orou, par exemple) ou si ils sont affiliés à un orou. Les
esprits incarnés répandent le mal où bon leur semble.
Au maître des légendes de donner une personnalité aux esprits est de ne pas en faire de
simple démon à la Stormbringer.
9. LES ESPRITS INCARNES
Les esprits incarnés disposent de pouvoirs spéciaux qui sont indiqués dans la description
des animaux. Sentez-vous libre de les modifier selon la nature de l’esprit ou pour des
animaux particuliers. Les oiseaux et poissons sont vue dans leur ensemble, certains de
ceux-ci peuvent avoir des pouvoirs spéciaux.
LES ATUA
Les atua peuvent se manifester sur terre par de nombreux pouvoirs. Ils peuvent faire mourir
des gens, les rendre malade et créer des concours de circonstances. Ils peuvent de leur propre
chef accomplir les effets d’un des sorts qu’ils donnent à leur tahu’a pure. Cependant, les
atua sont parcimonieux de leur pouvoir et exige le plus grand respect et de nombreux
sacrifices.
137
Ils visitent parfois eux-mêmes le monde des humains en possédant ou en s’incarnant dans
leurs animaux de prédilection. Ils disposent également de nombreux messagers dans la
gent animal. Qu’il possède ou incarne un animal, il bénéficie des caractéristiques de
l’animal possédé. Ils peuvent très bien être tués et sont ainsi renvoyés dans leurs cieux.
Dans leur monde ou dans le Po (domaine de Ta’aroa), les dieux apparaissent dans leur
forme naturelle (faite de plume) ou sous forme humaine. Seule la ruse peut permettre de
vaincre un atua, nous ne vous donnerons donc pas leur caractéristiques de jeu. Le rang et
la puissance des dieux l’un par rapport à l’autre se détermine avant tout par leur
généalogie, mais également dans une moindre mesure par le culte qui leur est rendu, les
marae qui sont élevés en leur honneur et les sacrifices qui leur sont faits.
Un dieu dont la statue a été déplumée, par exemple, perd momentanément son pouvoir dans
la zone où a eu lieu cette ridiculisation du dieu. Cet événement peut avoir lieu quand les
ari’i d’un endroit sont fâchés contre un dieu (ils veulent alors changer de dieu protecteur)
et quand le territoire d’un ennemi est pris (les vainqueurs ridiculisent alors les dieux des
vaincus).
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CHAPITRE 11 : LA MAITRISE DE
LEGENDES TAHITIENNES
Rata-nui se remémore toutes ses aventures. Il lui apparaît que cet
enchaînement d’événement ne doit pas être dû au hasard. Un atua doit
présider à sa destinée.
Le but de ce chapitre est de vous fournir une liste de conseils et d’orientations qui vous
permettront d’avoir des repères et des idées pour vos parties de Légendes Tahitiennes. La
difficulté d’un jeu de rôles historique est souvent de plusieurs ordres:
- trouver le juste ton entre historique et fantastique
- faire ressentir l’ambiance particulière de la société maohie aux joueurs sans les
“coincer”
- trouver des idées de scénario
Nous vous proposons de résoudre au moins partiellement ces problèmes dans ce livret.
LE TON DE LA CAMPAGNE
Légendes Tahitiennes est un jeu se déroulant dans un contexte historique d’une
civilisation ancienne dont beaucoup de traces ont disparu. La “vérité historique” est donc
parfois difficile à déterminer: tant mieux, nous ne sommes ni historiens, ni archéologues et
le contexte de Légendes Tahitiennes est là pour apporter un parfum particulier et
extraordinaire et non à rendre le jeu aussi ennuyeux que des conférences sur le petit pois
berrichon. L’univers ne doit pas freiner l’imagination du Maître des Légendes et des
joueurs, mais en être un ferment.
Cependant, la difficulté pour le maître des légendes est de faire vivre un monde cohérent.
Le plus grand plaisir des joueurs est de “s’y croire”. Il faut donc que le monde dans lequel
ils évoluent ait certaines règles fixes et qu’il tienne debout. Pour obtenir cette cohérence, il
est nécessaire que le maître donne un ton similaire à ses différents scénarios. Si ils vont
chercher l’âme d’un mort dans le po lors d’un scénario et que dans le suivant, ils sont pris
dans une intrigue politique où les pouvoirs surnaturels ne s’appliquent pas du tout, ils
risquent d’être déroutés. Une unité d’ambiance permet de mettre en place une vraie
139
campagne durant laquelle les joueurs vont pouvoir se familiariser avec leur
environnement.
Il existe trois unités d’ambiance possibles qui donneront le ton de votre campagne et
assureront une certaine cohérence à l’univers où évoluent les personnages.
- L’AMBIANCE ROMAN HISTORIQUE
Si le maître des légendes décide d’adopter une ambiance roman historique, il portera toute
son attention sur les détails historiques, la politique et le rôle social des personnages. Le
fantastique et les dieux auront un rôle “secondaire”. Le maître des légendes peut même
décider que les dieux et les esprits n’existent pas. Le pouvoir des tahu’a et des ari’i sera
avant tout d’ordre social et militaire. La réussite des enchantements des sorciers sera due à
des empoisonnements ou à des effets psychologiques.
La plupart des scénarii tourneront autour de la guerre, la politique, les denrées précieuses
(plumes, objets magiques), les exactions de personnes mal-intentionnées, les conflits de
personnes et les romances. L’implication des personnages ira crescendo et le cadre de départ
sera pour la plupart des aventures leur mataiena’a d’origine.
Ce type d’ambiance requerra du maître des légendes une bonne connaissance du monde
maohi et une description assez précise des différents acteurs, des différents décideurs et
des jeux politiques dans le mataiena’a ou l’île des personnages.
- L’AMBIANCE “MAOHI FANTASTIQUE”
Dans une telle ambiance, les dieux et les esprits existent évidemment et les sorciers et les
tahu’a utilisent couramment leurs pouvoirs. Les ari’i descendent bien des dieux et le ra’a
est réellement dangereux pour le noa. Les croyances et les légendes pourront même
constituer une source pour les scénarii. Cependant, il ne s’agit pas de se balader dans le Po
ou dans le dixième ciel à chaque scénario.
Le monde devient en fait tel qu’il était vu par les maohis, rempli d’esprits et dirigé par la
volonté des dieux. Les personnages ont intérêt à respecter les tabous, non parce que les
tahu’a risquent de les réclamer pour les sacrifier (ambiance roman historique) mais parce
que les dieux vont faire tomber sur eux des malheurs et des maladies.
Le monde profane et politique n’en est cependant pas absent. Les pouvoirs surnaturels sont
des outils aux mains des humains pour accomplir leur volonté. La plupart des aventures
des personnages auront des aboutissements essentiellement dans le monde des mortels.
Politique et conflits de personnes resteront les maître-mots, mais les pouvoirs surnaturels
s’en mêleront. Les personnages pourront disposer de sorts et se servir de leur mana.
140
Les anachronismes et les à peu près ne sont pas à bannir du moment qu’ils servent
l’intrigue et ajoutent à l’exotisme. Des navigations dans des archipels lointains sont
réalisées de temps à autres. Le cadre de départ des personnages pourra être un mataiena’a
ou une île connue, mais il pourrait également être imaginaire.
Cette ambiance maohi fantastique servira de cadre à la plupart de nos scénarios, bien
qu’ils soient adaptables à une ambiance roman historique avec un minimum d’effort.
- L’AMBIANCE “MYTHIQUE”
Dans ce type d’ambiance, le destin des personnages des joueurs est de grande envergure.
Les dieux y sont omniprésents et il correspond au temps des grands exploits et des grandes
navigations. Les personnages pourront par exemple retrouver des objets mythiques (la
mâchoire magique de Maui), être les fondateurs de nouvelles colonies, sauver le monde ou
défier certains dieux dans le po. Certains d’entre eux pourraient être des demi-dieux, en tout
cas la plupart d’entre eux seront des ari’i, ou des êtres surnaturels (lutins). Ils seront dotés
de grands pouvoirs ou de très bonnes caractéristiques.
Il est mieux pour le maître de ne pas mélanger les genres et de se tenir à un type
d’ambiance au fil d’une campagne. A la rigueur, une ambiance maohi-fantastique peut
devenir mythique à mesure que les personnages prennent de l’importance et du mana. Les
joueurs auront plus de plaisir à évoluer dans un univers ne fluctuant pas au gré des désirs
du maître.
Il est également important de garder une certaine part de mystère et de faire intervenir les
dieux de façon graduelle au cours d’une campagne. Si les personnages rencontrent le
cochon Mo’iri ou une incarnation de ‘oro révélant des mystères dès la première aventure,
rien ne pourra ensuite plus les étonner.
L’AMBIANCE PROPRE AUX ÎLES
Un des objectifs d’un jeu historique est de faire sentir l’ambiance particulière de la
civilisation et de l’époque dans laquelle évoluent les personnages. Or, le monde maohi est
un monde très particulier, très “exotique”. Mais il n’est pas toujours évident pour le maître
des légendes de faire ressentir cette altérité. Cette section vous propose quelques conseils
afin d’y réussir et d’obtenir une partie digne de légende.
UNE PETITE SOCIETE
Les îles ou les mataiena’a constituent des petites sociétés. Tahiti devait compter environ
100 000 habitants à l’arrivée des européens. Les mataiena’a ont donc environ 4000
141
habitants. Tout le monde ne connaît pas tout le monde, mais les grandes figures sont
connues de tous, non seulement de nom, mais aussi de visage.
En tant que maître des légendes, il est donc nécessaire de bien décrire et connaître
l’environnement dans lequel vont évoluer à leurs débuts les personnages. Il s’agira de leur
village, de leur île ou de leur mataiena’a. Nous vous fournissons dans ce livret la
description d’un mataiena’a de Tahiti que vous pourrez utiliser à cet effet. Le fait de vivre
dans une petite société devrait rendre aux personnages leur univers immédiat très familier
au bout de quelques parties. Les mêmes têtes doivent revenir au fil des scénarios.
Quand cet univers de départ vous semblera trop exigu ou lorsque la situation des
personnages deviendra explosive, le reste du monde maohi voire maori s’ouvre aux va’a
(pirogues) des personnages, ce sera alors le temps du voyage, indispensable à une
campagne de Légendes Tahitiennes.
INSISTER SUR LES POINTS EXOTIQUES
Certains éléments de la société maohie peuvent être ressentis comme déroutants durant le
jeu, n’hésitez pas alors à en faire usage. Magie des esprits, sexe, peur du sorcier, absence de
métal, de monnaie, utilisation des végétaux ou cannibalisme font partie de ces points
exotiques. N’abusez tout de même pas, il faut qu’ils apparaissent comme venant
naturellement dans les explications et
les descriptions que vous ferez.
Un autre élément d’ambiance est la
langue. Les langues polynésiennes et
en particulier le tahitien ont peu de
consonnes, elles contribuent à créer la
couleur locale. Utilisez le plus possible
les
termes
maohis
dans
vos
descriptions. Cependant, allez - y
graduellement, il ne s’agit de sortir
durant la première partie: “L’orou sort de son fare, se dirige vers son marae familial avec
un ti’i et incante un pifao contre un ra’atira du mataiena’a de Tiarei appelé Riti-Tui.”! Vos
joueurs devront être fiers au bout de quelques parties de maîtriser quelques mots clés. Au
départ, donnez les significations des mots maohis que vous utilisez et encouragez les
joueurs à lire le chapitre 3 du livret de civilisation ou la description de leur île.
LA HIERARCHIE DANS LE GROUPE
Si le groupe de personnage est divers, il existera une forte hiérarchie au niveau de ses
membres. Un manahune aura peur de toucher un ari’i et lui vouera une grande déférence.
142
De son côté, l’ari’i devra souvent prendre les initiatives et écoper en cas de problème. La
hiérarchie dans le groupe devra donc être une source de divertissement et de role-playing.
143
LES SOURCES DE CONFLITS
La plupart des scénarios ou au moins des campagnes reposent sur l’existence de conflits ou
de quêtes. Cette section vous apporte quelques sources de conflit majeures dans le monde
des mers du sud. Elles vous permettront de construire des scénarios et de les appliquer à
votre monde.
- CONFLITS ENTRE DEUX ENTITES POLITIQUES
Le royaume des joueurs pourra être en conflit plus au moins vif avec l’un de ses voisins.
Les raisons peuvent être des revendications territoriales, des revendications de supériorité
d’ari’i, recherche de victimes humaines constante, vendettas, etc...
Raids guerriers, recherche de l’humiliation, sauvetage de prisonnier, prise d’un pa peuvent
être des exemples de scénarios qui peuvent s’axer autour de ce thème. Dans le royaume de
Maha’ena, l’ennemi est le royaume voisin de Tiarei.
- CONFLIT ENTRE ARI’I D’UNE MEME ENTITE POLITIQUE
Les conflits entre ari’i d’un même royaume peuvent arriver à la formation de clans opposés
qui amènent parfois à la guerre civile. Les sources de ces conflits peuvent être une course
au titre lorsque le roi est vieux ou mourant, la conquête d’un poste important (chef de
guerre ou de district), les pacifistes contre les va t’en guerre, etc...
Ce conflit devra alors impliquer les personnages. Ils pourront faire des actions contre
l’autre camp, déjouer ses machinations ou représenter le camp de l’ordre qui remettrait les
deux ari’i au pas. Les moyens d’action contre les personnages sont multiples: meurtre,
désignation pour un sacrifice humain, éloignement, ensorcellement ...
- CONFLIT ENTRE FAMILLES RA’ATIRA OU MANAHUNE
Des vieilles querelles qui durent depuis des générations peuvent être présentes entre
familles de nobles ou du peuple. Les ari’i n’y voient souvent que des inimitiés et ne s’y
intéressent pas. Seulement ces haines peuvent amener à de graves conséquences et les
personnages vont s’y trouver mêlés.
- CONFLIT ENTRE UN DIEU ET LES PERSONNAGES
Par leurs actions, les personnages peuvent s’attirer l’inimitié d’un dieu qui déchaînera des
coïncidences contre les personnages ou pourra même se manifester lui-même: le requin de
Tane, le cochon sauvage de ‘oro ou la baleine de Ta’aroa par exemple. Il vaut tout de même
mieux qu’il s’agisse de l’ire d’un dieu mineur.
144
Les personnages devront donc trouver des appuis divins ou tenter d’apaiser ce dieu. La
tâche ne sera pas aisée !
- CONFLIT DIEU TRADITIONNEL CONTRE NOUVEAU DIEU
La seule “guerre de religion” relatée dans les légendes polynésiennes est celle qui opposa les
partisans de Tane à ceux de Tangaroa dans l’île de Mangaia (archipel austral). Mais plus
tard, l’introduction du christianisme ne se fera pas sans effusion de sang et des cas de
massacres entre catholiques et protestants eurent lieu.
On peut cependant imaginer que l’apparition et l’instauration de nouveaux dieux ne se fit
pas sans mal. Certaines théories affirment que c’est l’apparition de ‘oro qui coupa les liens
entre les différents archipels. Il est donc possible que certaines parties d’un royaume ou
certaines entités politiques renâclent à accepter la préséance de ‘oro ou précédemment celle
de Ta’aroa.
Les partisans de la tradition pourront donc faire face à ceux du nouveau dieu. Les
antagonismes peuvent être passifs, ils peuvent donner lieu à de nombreuses intrigues ou
même à une guerre ouverte.
- CONFLIT ARI’I TYRANNIQUE CONTRE LE PEUPLE
Les ari’i ne sont pas tenus à avoir un comportement moral. Certains peuvent être des brutes
sans nom, l’avidité (en mana ou en richesse) de certains autres peut saigner le peuple. Les
révoltes de manahune sont très rares, mais elles existent. La personne de l’ari’i régnant est
tellement sacrée qu’il faut vraiment qu’il ait abusé. Aux Samoa par exemple, un chef fut
enterré vivant à cause de sa méchanceté envers le peuple et sa tyrannie. La montée du
mécontentement peut être particulièrement vive dans une période de sécheresse et de disette.
La montée de la révolte pourrait être la trame d’une campagne qui pourrait se terminer par
la mort ou l’exil d’une des parties et les personnages se retrouvant à la tête de la rébellion.
- CONFLIT SORCIER CONTRE PERSONNAGE(S)
Un sorcier pour une raison connue ou inconnue des personnages peut avoir décider leur
mort. Empoisonnement et pifao seront ses principales armes. Les personnages devraient
devenir paranoïaques et avoir beaucoup de mal à déterminer l’origine de leur malédiction.
145
- CONFLIT ENTRE PRETENDANTS A UNE BELLE
Pour conquérir le coeur d’une belle, rien ne ferait reculer un amoureux. Les intrigues de
deux prétendants pourrait impliquer des forces colossales, surtout lorsqu’il s’agit de deux
ari’i. Un des prétendants pourraient être également un des personnages et ainsi l’impliquer
directement. Son adversaire pourrait tenter de l’éloigner, de le discréditer voire de
l’éliminer.
Une variante de ce conflit entre prétendants est l’amour impossible entre un manahune et
une ari’i (ou l’inverse). Destin tragique à coup sûr !
- QUETE D’UNE NOUVELLE TERRE
A la suite d’un des conflits précédents ou par cause de surpopulation voire par simple esprit
d’aventure, une migration dans laquelle participeraient les personnages pourrait être
tentée.
Le voyage et la colonisation d’une nouvelle terre (peut-être habitée) constituerait les clés
d’aventures sur ce thème.
- QUETE DE MANA
L’avidité de mana des personnages poussée par telle ou telle motivation (être divinisé, se
venger d’un ari’i, etc...) pourrait les pousser à de nombreux massacres et à des quêtes
insensées...
- QUETE D’OBJET FAMILIAUX
Certains objets familiaux du chef des personnages peuvent avoir été égarés lors des
générations précédentes et les personnages seraient chargés de les retrouver. Il peut s’agir
d’ossements d’ancêtres, d’hameçons ou d’armes magiques. Ils ont pu être perdus en mer,
volés ou emportés par un membre de la famille disparu depuis.
- QUETE D’UNE FEMME
Les mariages peuvent être hautement politiques et trouver une femme de son rang n’est
pas toujours évident. Une fois la personne de son choix trouvée, encore faut-il la séduire et
la convaincre de se marier. La quête de femmes très belles dans des archipels éloignés est le
sujet de nombreuses légendes maohies. La famille voudra souvent s’assurer que le mari est
un bon mari et qu’il a un grand mana.
146
IMPRECISIONS
DE
L’HISTOIRE
ET
THEORIES
FARFELUES
Bien des théories farfelues ou invérifiables et invérifiées, bien des légendes à la véracité
douteuse ont été racontées à propos de l’histoire des maohis. Vous pouvez en intégrer
certaines d’entre elles dans votre campagne afin d’ajouter une part de mystère ou par goût
pour ces théories. Vous pouvez également les utiliser comme le fondement d’une de vos
campagnes. Piochez comme bon vous semblera ou n’en prenez aucune, elles sont là pour
augmenter le côté fantastique ou mythique.
- ‘IO
‘io serait un dieu unique connu des seuls tahu’a dont les autres dieux seraient les aspects.
Il serait un dieu dont le nom se dit à voix basse parmi les prêtres et dont la révélation serait
le degré ultime de l’initiation des tahu’a. Il serait en fait une des nombreuses tentatives de
donner une apparence de monothéisme à l’ancienne religion après la christianisation.
- PRESENCE D’UN PEUPLE PRECEDENT
Les îles de la Polynésie aurait connu une population antérieure aux maohis. D’une peau
noire et de petite taille, des légendes en ferait état à Tahiti où ils continueraient à vivre
dans la montagne, à Fatu Hiva (tribu des Tiu) ou dans l’archipel du dieu Au où le dieu de
la sorcellerie serait à l’image de cet ancien peuple.
- DOUBLE VAGUE MIGRATOIRE
La présence des ari’i et des tahu’a ne serait due qu’à une seconde vague migratoire venue -
pourquoi pas d’Amérique- sur le fond Polynésien précédent.
Cette théorie se base sur l’évolution probable de la société vers une stratification en même
temps que l’apparition de dieux supérieurs dont les prêtres auraient supplanté les chamanes
traditionnels (les orou) vénérant les esprits. Elle se base également sur les différences
physiques entre ari’i et manahune. Les ari’i sont plus forts, plus grands, plus clairs et
certains auraient eu des cheveux roux ou blonds (les descendants des colons vikings ou
phéniciens de l’Amérique pour les plus farfelus). D’autres éléments semblent étayer cette
thèse improbable, la kumara importée d’Amérique, des ressemblances troublantes
d’habillement (le pancho) ou de certaines statues avec les indiens d’Amérique du Sud.
147
- LE CONTINENT MU
Les îles seraient les sommets d’un continent disparu doté d’une grande civilisation. Les
autoroutes de l’île de Pâques (???) ou les statues gigantesques en serait les témoins. Le
mythe du déluge présent dans les mythes maohis en sont également une preuve certaine
(!).
| textdata/thevault/Légendes [FR]/Légendes Tahitiennes/OLD/REGLE4.pdf |
The
Grad Student
a tremulus playbook
Who Are You?
You have devoted yourself fully to your
studies, continuing past your undergraduate
degree to delve even more intimately into the
world of academia. While you have much left
to learn, you’re certain a change of venue
shall shake things up a bit, and perhaps a
few new life experiences wouldn’t hurt either.
Certainly not.
Name
Robin Mitchell, Terrence Woodward, Andrew
Adams, Patrick Grossman, Alicia Hannon,
Ruth Montgomery, Jeanette Scott, or Sara
Hall
Look
Choose one from eaCh Category.
gender: Man, woman, or
androgynous.
Clothes: Rumpled travel, fine travel,
exotic casual, and formal fine.
faCe: Weathered, pasty, tanned,
round, refined, or angular.
eyes: Analytical, distant, piercing,
serious, or clever.
build: Slender, energetic, athletic,
skinny, or chubby.
Who Do You Trust?
Basic Moves
aCt under pressure (roll+reason)
When you are doing something quickly and precisely,
hurriedly flee, or are trying to resist something frightening,
roll+reason.
On a 10+, you do it.
On a 7–9, you flinch, hesitate, cave, or stall: the GM can
offer you a worse outcome, a hard bargain, or an ugly
choice.
ConvinCe (roll+affinity)
When you have something someone wants, you can use
your charm, wit, or wiles to get them to do something for
you, roll+affinity.
For NPCs:
On a 10+, they ask you to promise something first, and do
it if you promise.
On a 7–9, they need some concrete assurance right now.
For PCs: on a 10+, both of the following:
»if they do it, they gain a point of Lore.
» if they refuse, it’s acting under pressure
On a 7–9:
»if they refuse, it’s acting under pressure
»On a miss, they lose a point of trust with you.
What they do then is up to them.
help/hinder (roll+trust)
When you help or hinder with someone who’s making a
roll, roll+trust.
On a 10+, they take +2 (help) or -2 (hinder) now.
On a 7–9, they take a +1 (help) or -1 (hinder) now, and
you expose yourself to trouble.
On a 6 or less: they lose a point of trust with you or the
Keeper holds one to use as a hard move (your choice).
poke around (roll+luCk)
When you poke around a place physically looking for
things, roll+luck. Additional attempts to search the same
area are made at a cumulative -1 unless the Keeper informs
you something substantial has changed.
On a 10+, select 1 of the following:
»Find 1 good item (Keeper’s choice)
»1 minor item (your choice)
»1 clue (+1 forward when acted upon)
»Pick one from the table below
On a 7–9, you may:
»Find hidden area/threshold (in/out) (Keeper’s Choice)
»Find minor item (Keeper’s choice)
»Determine the presence of one physical hazard (if none
present, you learn that)
On a miss, there is either nothing more in the area or the
Keeper may hold 1 to use as a hard move at any time.
puzzle things out (roll+reason)
When you face an intellectual dilemma, learn a
new piece of information, or discover a clue, you
may attempt to puzzle things out, roll+reason.
On a hit, you get to ask one or more questions.
Whenever you act on one of the Keeper’s answers,
take +1.
On a 10+, Ask 3 or gain 1 Lore.
On a 7–9, Ask 1:
»What is this?
»What does this mean?
»How can I get in/out/pass?
»Who’s in control here?
»Which enemy before me is the most dangerous?
»What is its weakness?
»What should I keep an eye out for?
»How does X fit into Y?
read a person (roll+passion)
When you read a person in a charged interaction,
roll+passion.
On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7–9, hold 1. While you’re
interacting with them, spend your hold to ask the
character questions, 1 for 1:
»Is your character telling the truth?
»What’s your character really feeling?
»What does your character intend to do?
»What does your character wish I’d do?
»How could I get your character to X?
resort to violenCe (roll+might)
When you cast aside all pretense of civility and
wish to harm your enemy, regardless of personal
safety, roll+might. You may wrest control of an
item or situation from another in this manner,
whether it be with fists or feet, or a more proper
weapon, but you do so with malice in your heart.
On a 10+, choose 3.
On a 7–9, choose 2:
»You take definite hold of it
»You suffer little harm (-1 harm)
»You inflict terrible harm (+1 harm)
»You impress, dismay or frighten your enemy
For PCs, pressing the attack when they’re
impressed, dismayed or frightened counts as
ACtiNg uNder Pressure.
threaten (roll+might)
When you threaten someone or something,
roll+might. You are physically engaging with the
deadly promise of violence.
On a 10+, they have to choose 1:
»Force your hand and take whatever damage you
dish out,
»Back down and do what you want.
On a 7–9, they can instead choose 1:
»Hurriedly get out of your way
»Barricade themselves securely in
»Give you something they think you want
»Back off calmly, hands where you can see
»Tell you what you want to know (or hear)
your lore move is
if i reCall CorreCtly: You may
spend a point of Lore to roll+reason
on any topic.
on a 10+, you have read about it and
get a +1ongoing for the duration of the
story regarding it.
on a 7+, you gain a clue.
on a miss, you may gain a clue, but the
Keeper gets 1 hold if you do.
Gear
you start with:
» d3 wealth.
» Small reference library.
» A pet (loyal), you choose what kind.
» d3 lore.
and Choose two of the
following:
Attributes
lore
wealth
Health
Sanity
reason
passion
might
luCk
affinity
Choose one set
» Reason +1 Passion +1
Might 0 Luck 0 Affinity +1
» Reason +1 Passion +2
Might 0 Luck +1 Affinity -1
» Reason +2 Passion +1
Might -1 Luck +1 Affinity 0
» Reason +2 Passion +2
Might +1 Luck 0 Affinity -2
sCuffed
bruised
battered
broken
grievous
dying
dead
1
5
4
3
2
6
+
startled
shoCked
disturbed
traumatized
hysteriC
deranged
insane
1
5
4
3
2
6
+
Moves
You begin with all the basic moves.
Choose two speCial moves.
a niCe kid: People can’t help but
like you despite themselves. Any time
you help another character (7+), their
Trust in you increases by 1. If you
helped them succeed (e.g. your help
pushed them over 10+), you gain a
point of Lore. When someone’s Trust
in you would exceed +3, it resets to
+1 and instead of telling them a secret
about yourself, they tell you one about
themselves instead, and you gain a
point of Lore.
Career student: You’ve been
dragging your feet on completing your
thesis and getting your master’s degree
for years. You may roll+reason
whenever you try to ConvinCe someone
of something.
experienCe is the best teaCher:
You are independent and rebellious,
preferring to figure things out for
yourself. Whenever you do something
against the wishes of someone you
Trust, they lose a point of Trust in you,
but you gain a point of Lore.
helpful: You are always willing and
ready to lend a helping hand. You gain a
+1 on all help rolls and a -1 on all hinder
rolls. If you roll a modified twelve or
more, choose one: gain 1 Lore, discover
1 clue, increase your Trust in who you’re
helping by +1, or increase their Trust in
you by +1.
QuiCk study: You gain a +1 bonus
from clues, and may treat clues shared with
you by others as though you found them
yourself.
»
regarding damage
1-2 Recovers naturally, over time.
3
Needs treatment to improve.
4-5 Gets worse if untreated.
6
Requires immediate treatment.
reason
passion
might
luCk
affinity
» Hiking boots and walking stick.
» Tobacco, rolling paper, and matches
(smoking calms you like alcohol).
» You have a beat up, leatherbound
journal where you keep your
thoughts. You may spend a d3 hours
a day writing in it to restore 1 Sanity.
You may reference it to gain +1
puzzle things out. Should
you lose it, the Keeper gains a d3
hold to use against you.
» Glasses. Gain +1 reason when
worn, -1 reason when not.
| textdata/thevault/Dungeon World (PbtA) [multi]/Tremulus/Set 4 - Expedition Team/The Grad Student.pdf |
СокровКщнКца ИскателеЛ™
Оружие и Экипировка для Всех Классов
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Эйтан Бернштейн, Крис Симс
Дополнительный Дизайн
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Разработчики
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Редакторы
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Верстка и перевод: Len
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ВведенКе
Экипировка и магические предметы необходимы для
выживания любого D&D® персонажа. Сокровища жизненно
важны для каждого приключенца. Требуется ли игроку
экипировать своего персонажа или ДМ’у нужно заполнить
кладесь с блестящими шарами, чем шире ваш выбор, тем
лучше.
Здесь приходит на помощь Сокровищница Искателей.
Это расширенные правила использования снаряжения,
которое вы можете найти в Книге Игрока®. На этих
страницах множество опций для ИП с золотом или
ресидуумом, протирающим дыру в его кошельке, и для ДМ,
который
ищет
какую-нибудь
заманчивую
награду.
Сокровищница Искателя также расширяет игру D&D®
новыми хитростями для обычных ситуаций.
Откройте Сокровищницу Искателя и узнайте…
Что Внутри
Эта книга состоит из двух глав – Снаряжения и Магических
Предметов – затем следуют приложения, предназначенные
помочь в использовании остального содержания. С их
помощью можно экипировать своего ИП, вашего NPC или
запастись в своем приключении интересными вещами.
✦ Глава
1:
Снаряжение:
Эта
глава
посвящена
немагическим предметам – редкой броне, новому оружию,
алхимическим
веществам,
скакунам
и
транспортным
средствам – и предоставляет правила их использования в
вашей
игре.
Транспорт
может
несколько
оживить
действиями сцену и путешествия на большие расстояния.
Алхимическая система позволяет добавить некоторые
атаки в вашу игру, при помощи которых нет необходимости
полагаться на волшебника или магические предметы.
✦ Глава
2:
Магические
Предметы:
Эта
глава
значительно расширяет предметы, которые можно найти в
Книге Игрока, и разделена на слоты для предметов. Вы
найдете великое множество новых предметов для каждого
слота, а также расширенные чудесные предметы и
расходные материалы. Теперь даже звери-компаньоны и
скакуны имеют свои предметы, позволяя вам использовать
вашего питомца в более широком диапазоне.
✦ Приложение 1: Этот раздел дает вам, ДМ’у или игроку,
идеи
и
инструменты
для
изготовления
магических
предметов, которые будут уникальны в вашей компании и
мире. Дайте вашему предмету историю. Узнайте, как дать
ему уровень как сокровищу или как переместить магию с
одного предмета на другой.
✦ Приложение 2: Для удобства все магические предметы
в этой книге перечислены в алфавитном порядке по
уровню.
СОДЕРЖАНИЕ
1: СНАРЯЖЕНИЕ ..................................................................... 4
Редкая Броня ...................................................................... 6
Оружие ................................................................................. 8
Скакуны .............................................................................. 11
Транспорты ........................................................................ 14
Алхимия ............................................................................. 20
2: МАГИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕДМЕТЫ .................................. 32
Броня ................................................................................. 34
Оружие ............................................................................... 56
Символы Веры .................................................................. 83
Сферы ................................................................................ 91
Жезлы ................................................................................ 97
Посохи .............................................................................. 102
Волшебные Палочки ....................................................... 107
Слот Предмета Вооружения .......................................... 112
Слот Предмета Компаньона .......................................... 122
Слот Предмета Скакуна ................................................. 123
Слот Предмета Ног ......................................................... 124
Слот Предмета Рук ......................................................... 131
Слот Предмета Головы .................................................. 137
Слот Предмета Шеи ........................................................ 145
Кольца .............................................................................. 155
Слот Предмета Пояса..................................................... 163
Чудесные Предметы ....................................................... 168
Расходные Материалы ................................................... 185
ПРИЛОЖЕНИЕ 1 ................................................................... 195
Уникальные Предметы ................................................... 195
Уровень Предмета .......................................................... 197
Зачарованные Предметы ............................................... 198
ПРИЛОЖЕНИЕ 2: МАГИЧЕСКИЕ
ПРЕДМЕТЫ ............................................................................... 199
СНАРЯЖЕНИЕ
Приготовьте средства, которые могут вам
пригодиться в любой жизненной ситуации. Жизнь искателя
приключений ничего не стоит, если она не наполнена
непредсказуемостью, поэтому здравомыслящий искатель
находит необычные пути, даже когда речь заходит о поиске
или создании снаряжения. Гуляя по рынкам необычных
районов, вы можете найти все виды экзотических и
полезных механизмов. Правильно обучаясь, вы можете
получить доступ к такому снаряжению, и вы получите то
преимущество, которое может спасти вам жизнь.
В этой главе вы найдете:
✦ Редкая Броня: Технологии и магия позволяют
ремесленникам всех миров создавать странную и
удивительную броню. Выбор правильного вида брони –
это вопрос необходимости и вкуса. Укрепите свои
слабые места предметами из этого раздела.
✦ Оружие: Оружие столь же разнообразно, как и причины
сражаться в погруженном во тьму мире. Нечеловеческие
культуры тоже несколько изменили типичные формы
оружия. Здесь вы найдете небольшое количество
простого, воинского и превосходного оружия, сравнимо
отличающегося
от
представленного
оружия
Книги
Игрока®.
✦ Скакуны: Скакуны могут доставить вас туда, куда вам
надо быстрее попасть, а многих способных существ
можно дрессировать и использовать их качества в бою.
В
этом
разделе
вы
найдете
скакунов,
которые
расширяют представленных скакунов в Бестиарии®.
Также
вы найдете снаряжение,
которое поможет
сделать из вашего скакуна наилучшего союзника.
✦ Транспорт: Иногда, для выполнения заданий и для
перехода через местность, требуются больше, чем
скакуны. Если это правда, то пора научиться водить. В
этом
разделе
приведены
примеры
транспортных
средств и правила, необходимые для их использования.
✦ Алхимия: Немного подготовившись, вы можете
соединить магические реактивы в соответствии с
мистическими формулами для создания сильного яда,
причудливого порошка, и чудесных зелий. Те, кто не
силен в алхимии, могут приобрести такие предметы у
торговца за небольшую плату.
РЕДКАЯ МРОНЯ
В этом разделе описывается несколько новых видов редкой
брони. Эти комплекты редкой брони иногда используются в
создании магической брони. К тому же, приключенцы
наверняка будут иметь дело с различной валютой по мере
достижения высоких уровней, а также, скорее всего, им
будут встречаться новые виды брони.
Редкая броня всегда имеет бонус зачарования, и цена
за материалы редкой брони также включены в общую
стоимость магического доспеха. Например, сталеплачущий
кольчужный доспех +4 стоит 45,000 зм – такой же не редкий
кольчужный
доспех
+4.
Таким
образом,
искатель
приключений высшего уровня, как правило, купит лучшую
редкую броню, чем будет ходить в низкоуровневой броне.
Бонус улучшения волшебной брони все равно будет
добавляться к бонусу брони для определения общего
бонуса
доспеха
персонажа.
Например,
штормочешуйчатая броня +4 дает бонус +13 к КД
владельца – бонус брони +9 и бонус улучшения +4.
Запись в таблице Редкой Брони содержит следующую
информацию.
Бонус доспеха: Доспех предоставляет этот бонус к КД.
Минимальный
бонус
улучшения:
Редкая
броня
требует минимального бонуса зачарования, как показано в
этой строке.
Проверка: Вы получаете этот штраф для всех навыков,
основанных на Силе, Телосложении и Ловкости, когда
носите эту броню. Вы не получаете штраф к проверкам
способностей (например, проверка Силой, чтобы сломать
дверь или проверка Ловкости, чтобы определи инициативу
в бою).
Скорость: Вы получаете штраф к скорости (в клетках),
когда носите броню.
Цена:
Цена
предмета
в
золотых
монетах
(зм).
Стоимость редкой брони входит в стоимость магической
брони.
Вес: Вес брони приведен в килограммах.
Особенность:
Некоторые
редкие
доспехи
имеют
дополнительные свойства, такие как увеличенная защита
или дополнительное сопротивление. Бонус, полученный от
особого свойства редкой брони, является бонусом брони.
Типы Брони
Тканевая: Ткачи гитзераев изначально учили другие
народы методам плетения гитоткани. Ясное дело, что
гитзераи заимствовали эти методы у своих бывших хозяев
иллитидов. Образцы одежды, взятые у захваченных
иллитидов, были использованы для создания разумоткани
и разумоузорного доспеха. Ткань всех этих доспехов,
отстоявшись, принимают форму, похожую на кристалл,
направляющий энергию разума на укрепление тела.
Эфритоткань похожа на гитоткань, но для ее создания
используются редкие реактивы и металлические нити из
Стихийного Хаоса.
Кожаная: Для дроуплетенного доспеха используются
нити
из
кожи,
которые
плетутся
с
тонкой
сеткой,
обеспечивающей доспеху максимальную гибкость. Янь-ти
плетут
невероятно
гибкий
доспех
змеиной
кожи,
накладывая "чешуйки" друг на друга. Иногда они ткут тем
же методом на стойках с теневой магией, получая доспех
анафема. Метод создания кожаной мечекрылой брони
очень похож на метод, с помощью которого мечекрылы
делают свои "бумажные шпили", от чего броня получается
легкой, гибкой и жесткой.
Из шкур: Дварфы используют энергию земли для
укрепления
землешкурого
доспеха,
после
чего
она
странным образом напоминает живую кожу таких существ
как галеб дур или земляной титан. Феешкурый доспех
обрабатывают
эльфийским
способом,
который
дает
эластичность сродни жестким шкурам фейских зверей.
Астральные преследователи имеют технологии, по которым
изготавливается ловчешкурый доспех. Пустошкурый доспех
создается
аналогичным
методом,
и
используется
скорбителями, чтобы хранить свои ужасные трофеи.
Кольчужные: Волнокольцый доспех – это изысканная
броня, сделанная в соответствии с передовой технологией,
усовершенствованный при королевском дворе Страны Фей.
Этот доспех сделан из колец, связанных настолько тесно,
что вражеская атака не может пройти сквозь них. Метод
создания тонкокольцего доспеха более распространенный
среди эладринов, но в то же время плетенокольцый доспех,
создаваемый по аналогичной технологии, плетется в
соответствии
с
эльфийскими
традициями.
Дженази
смешивают сталь с волшебным вулканическим стеклом для
создания прочного сталеплачущего доспеха. Ямокольцый
доспех создается по адским технологиям. Ею пользовались
великие полководцы империи тифлингов Бейл Турат.
РЕДКАЯ БРОНЯ
Тканевые доспехи (легкие)
Бонус
Доспеха
Минимальный Бонус
Улучшения
Проверка
Скорость
Цена
Вес
Особенность
Гитоткань
+0
+3
-
-
Особая
0,9 кг
+1 к Воле
Разумоткань
+0
+4
-
-
Особая
0,9 кг
+2 к Воле
Эфритоткань
+1
+5
-
-
Особая
0,9 кг
+1 к Воле
Разумоузорный доспех
+1
+6
-
-
Особая
0,9 кг
+2 к Воле
Кожаные доспехи (легкие)
Бонус
Доспеха
Минимальный Бонус
Улучшения
Проверка
Скорость
Цена
Вес
Особенность
Дроуплетенный доспех
+2
+3
-
-
Особая
4,5 кг
+1 к Реакции
Доспех Змеиной Кожи
+2
+4
-
-
Особая
4,5 кг
+2 к Реакции
Доспех Анафема
+3
+5
-
-
Особая
4,5 кг
+1 к Реакции
Мечекрылый доспех
+3
+6
-
-
Особая
4,5 кг
+2 к Реакции
Доспехи из шкур (легкие)
Бонус
Доспеха
Минимальный Бонус
Улучшения
Проверка
Скорость
Цена
Вес
Особенность
Землешкурый доспех
+3
+3
-1
-
Особая
11,3 кг
+1 к Стойкости
Феешкурый доспех
+3
+4
-1
-
Особая
11,3 кг
+2 к Стойкости
Ловчешкурый доспех
+4
+5
-1
-
Особая
11,3 кг
+1 к Стойкости
Пустошкурый доспех
+4
+6
-1
-
Особая
11,3 кг
+2 к Стойкости
Кольчужные доспехи
(тяжелые)
Бонус
Доспеха
Минимальный Бонус
Улучшения
Проверка
Скорость
Цена
Вес
Особенность
Тонкокольцый доспех
+7
+2
-1
-1
Особая
18,1 кг
-
Плетенокольцый доспех
+8
+3
-1
-1
Особая
18,1 кг
-
Сталеплачущий доспех
+8
+4
-1
-1
Особая
18,1 кг
+2 к Воле
Волнокольцый доспех
+10
+5
-1
-1
Особая
18,1 кг
+1 к Воле
Ямокольцый доспех
+11
+6
-1
-1
Особая
18,1 кг
+2 к Воле
Чешуйчатые доспехи
(тяжелые)
Бонус
Доспеха
Минимальный Бонус
Улучшения
Проверка
Скорость
Цена
Вес
Особенность
Доспех из чешуи дрейка
+8
+2
-
-1
Особая
20,4 кг
-
Доспех из чешуи виверны
+9
+3
-
-1
Особая
20,4 кг
-
Штормочешуйчатая броня
+9
+4
-
-1
Особая
20,4 кг
+2 к Стойкости
Доспех из чешуи наги
+11
+5
-
-1
Особая
20,4 кг
+1 к Стойкости
Титаночешуйчатая броня
+12
+6
-
-1
Особая
20,4 кг
+2 к Стойкости
Латные доспехи
(тяжелые)
Бонус
Доспеха
Минимальный Бонус
Улучшения
Проверка
Скорость
Цена
Вес
Особенность
Иниево-огненные латы
+8
+2
-2
-1
Особая
22,7 кг
Сопр. 1 всему
Многослойные латы
+9
+2
-2
-1
Особая
22,7 кг
-
Латы гитов
+10
+3
-2
-1
Особая
22,7 кг
-
Призрачные латы
+10
+4
-2
-1
Особая
22,7 кг
Сопр. 2 всему
Легионерские латы
+12
+5
-2
-1
Особая
22,7 кг
-
Латы Тараска
+12
+6
-2
-1
Особая
22,7 кг
Сопр. 5 всему
Чешуйчатая: Доспех из чешуи дрейка представляет
собой
маленькие,
вплотную
вставленные
чешуйки
яростного дрейка для более надежной защиты. По
аналогичной схеме делается доспех из чешуи виверны, но
только из больших чешуек. Штормочешуйчатая броня
напоминает своим закаленным покрытием и объединением
со стихийной магией шторм горгоны. Метод создания брони
древних янь-ти заключается в литье металлических
пластин с воздействием на них стихийной энергии, получая
таким образом доспех из чешуи наги. Гномы используют
первородные способы изготовления титаночешуйчатой
брони, полученные от титанов и великанов.
Латные:
Иньево-огненные
латы
отстаиваются
в
стихийном холоде и огне, и через некоторое время
становятся
твердыми.
Люди
разработали
процесс
наслоения стали в несколько десятков раз, чтобы создать
многослойные латы. Латы гитов закалены псионическими
методами, берущих свое начало от иллитидов или первого
поколения беглых рабов гитиянок. Призрачные латы
отстаивается в энергии Царства Теней. Легионерские латы
куются методом, используемый в Девяти Адах, для
создания брони легиону дьяволов. Латы Тараска имитирует
непробиваемую шкуру Тараска. Сотни стежков скрыты
между очень тонкими металлическими слоями, каждый из
которых обрабатывается различным процессом.
ОРУЖИЕ
Книга Игрока охватывает широкий круг наиболее часто
используемого оружия. В этом разделе описывается
различное
необычное
оружие,
которое
обеспечит
множество новых комбинаций и преимуществ.
Запись оружия в таблице Рукопашного оружия или
Дальнобойного оружия содержит следующую информацию.
Оружие: Название оружия.
Проф.: Профессиональное владение оружием дает вам
профессиональный бонус к броскам атаки, который описан
в соответствующей колонке, если он применим. Если вы не
опытны во владении данного оружия, вы не получаете этот
бонус.
Урон: Кость урона оружия.
Дальность: Оружие, которое можно метнуть, имеет
боеприпасы или из которого можно выстрелить, имеет
дальность. Число перед чертой означает нормальную
дистанцию (в клетках) для атаки. Число после косой черты
означает максимальную дальность для атаки. Запись, в
которой стоит прочерк «-», означает, что оружие не может
использоваться как дальнобойное.
Цена: Стоимость оружия, указанная в золотых монетах
за штуку.
Вес: Вес оружия приведен в килограммах.
Категория, Группа и Свойства: Категории оружия,
группы и свойства представлены в 7 главе Книги Игрока. В
дополнение три новых типа оружия описаны ниже.
Большой: Оружие, имеющее свойство "большой" можно
рассматривать как двуручное оружие.
Жестокий: Минимальный урон жестокого оружия выше,
чем у нормального оружия. Совершая бросок урона,
перебросьте любой кубик, который отображает значение
равное или меньше значения жестокости данного оружия.
Перебрасывайте кубик до тех пор, пока его значение не
превысит
значение
жестокости
оружия,
а
затем
используйте новый результат.
Например, топор палача имеет свойство «жестокий 2».
Если владеющий этим оружием боец попадает своим
ударом стальной змеи (талант 2 [Ор]), игрок бросает урон
оружия 2к12, и перебрасывает кубик, если результат броска
равен 1 или 2, до тех пор, пока не выпадет 3 или больше.
Оборонительное: Оборонительное оружие дает вам
бонус +1 к КД, если вы держите это оружие одной рукой и
другое рукопашное оружие второй рукой. Вооружение
более чем одним оборонительным оружием не увеличивает
этот бонус. Чтобы получить эту выгоду, вам нельзя
атаковать оборонительным оружием, но должны быть
опытны во владении им.
ТИПЫ ОРУЖИЯ
Широкий Меч: Этому толстому, с широким лезвием
оружию не хватает точности длинного меча, но свою
неточность он окупает своей смертоносностью.
Скальный
Молот: Этот дварфский молот имеет
тяжелое и широкое навершие, что делает его похожим на
одноручную кувалду, с прикрепленным сзади смертельным
шипом.
Двойной Топор: Оснащение навершием топора с обоих
концов
древка
увеличивает
наступательные
и
оборонительные возможности этого оружия.
1. Большой лук; 2. Широкий меч; 3. Кхопéш; 4. Большой клинок; 5. Двойной топор; 6. Самозарядный арбалет; 7. Шипованный щит;
8. Трезубец; 9. Шипастые рукавицы; 10. Трехглавый цеп; 11. Парирующий кинжал; 12. Двойной меч; 13. Двойной цеп.
Рукопашное Оружие (изображено на странице 8 и странице 63)
ПРОСТОЕ РУКОПАШНОЕ ОРУЖИЕ
Одноручное
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Шипастые рукавицы1
+2
к6
-
5 зм
0,5 кг.
Безоружное
Дополнительное
ВОИНСКОЕ РУКОПАШНОЕ ОРУЖИЕ
Одноручное
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Широкий меч
+2
к10
-
20 зм
2,2 кг.
Тяжелый клинок
Универсальный
Кхопéш
+2
к8
-
20 зм
3,6 кг.
Топор, Тяжелый клинок
Жестокий 1,
Универсальный
Легкая боевая кирка
+2
к6
-
10 зм
1,8 кг.
Кирка
Дополнительное,
Высококритичное
Плеть
+2
к8
-
3 зм
0,9 кг.
Цеп
Дополнительное
Трезубец
+2
к8
3\6
10 зм
1,8 кг.
Копье
Дополнительное,
Тяжелое
метательное
Двуручное
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Тяжелая боевая кирка
+2
к12
-
20 зм
3,6 кг.
Кирка
Высококритичное
ПРЕВОСХОДНОЕ РУКОПАШНОЕ ОРУЖИЕ
Одноручное
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Скальный молот
+2
к10
-
20 зм
2,7 кг.
Молот
Жестокий 2,
Универсальный
Кукри2
+2
к6
-
10 зм
0,9 кг.
Легкий клинок
Дополнительное,
Жестокий 1
Парирующий кинжал2
+2
к4
-
5 зм
0,5 кг.
Легкий клинок
Дополнительное,
Оборонительное
Шипованный щит3
+2
к6
-
10 зм
3,1 кг.
Легкий клинок
Дополнительное
Тратнир
+2
к8
10\20
10 зм
2,2 кг.
Копье
Тяжелое
метательное,
Универсальное
Трехглавый цеп
+3
к10
-
15 зм
2,7 кг.
Цеп
Универсальное
Боевой топор
+2
к12
-
30 зм
4,5 кг.
Топор
Универсальное
Двуручное
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Топор палача
+2
к12
-
30 зм
6,3 кг.
Топор
Жестокий 2,
Высококритичное
Большой клинок
+3
к12
-
30 зм
4,5 кг.
Тяжелый клинок
Высококритичное
Большое копье
+3
к10
-
25 зм
3,6 кг.
Древковое, Копье
Досягаемость
Морденкрад
+2
2к6
-
30 зм
5,4 кг.
Молот
Жестокий 1
Двойное
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Двойной топор4
+2
1к10
-
40 зм
6,7 кг.
Топор
Большой
- Второй конец
+2
1к10
Топор
Дополнительное
Двойной цеп4
+2
1к8
-
30 зм
5 кг.
Цеп
Оборонительное,
Большой
- Второй конец
+2
1к8
Цеп
Дополнительное
Двойной меч4
+3
1к6
-
40 зм
4 кг.
Легкий клинок
Дополнительное,
Оборонительное
- Второй конец
+3
1к6
Легкий клинок
Дополнительное
Ургрош4
+2
1к12
-
10 зм
3,6 кг.
Топор
Оборонительное,
Большой
- Второй конец
+2
1к6
Копье
Дополнительное
1 Это оружие также занимает ячейку рук магического оружия (см.описание).
2Плут, владеющий этим оружием, может использовать его как кинжал, получая выгоду от классовой особенности
Оружейного Дарования Плута.
3Это оружие объединено с легким щитом (см. описание).
4Двойное оружие (см. стр. 10).
Двойной
Цеп:
Это
оружие
имеет
шипованные
наболдажники
с
цепью
на
каждом
конце,
чтобы
максимально увеличить атаки и урон.
.Двойной Меч: Это хорошо сбалансированное оружие
сочетает в себе смертоносность и обороноспособность
двух длинных мечей.
Топор Палача: Этот топор с широким лезвием сильно
утяжелен, чтобы наносить рубящие
удары
большой
мощности.
Большой Клинок: Этот огромный двуручный меч
пользуется популярностью у воинов и паладинов.
Дальнобойное Оружие (изображено на странице 8 и странице 63)
ПРОСТОЕ ДАЛЬНОБОЙНОЕ ОРУЖИЕ
Двуручное
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Самозарядный арбалет
+2
к8
10\20
35 зм
2,7 кг.
Арбалет
Перезарядка
свободным*
Амуниция
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Обойма
-
-
-
1 зм
0,5 кг.
-
-
ПРЕВОСХОДНОЕ ДАЛЬНОБОЙНОЕ ОРУЖИЕ
Двуручное
Оружие
Проф.
Урон
Дальность
Цена
Вес
Группа
Свойства
Большой лук
+2
к12
25\50
30 зм
2,2 кг.
Лук
Перезарядка
свободным
Превосходный арбалет
+3
к10
20\40
30 зм
2,7 кг.
Арбалет
Перезарядка
малым
*См. описание оружия.
Большой Лук: Этот массивный, загнутый лук очень
длинный, размером с человека когда натянут, и он выпускает
стрелы с бόльшей силой, чем традиционный длинный лук.
Большое Копье: Это длинное оружие напоминает длинное
копье, но его широкое навершие и крепкая рукоятка позволяет
наносить более сильные удары.
Тяжелая Боевая Кирка: Эта увеличенная версия легкой
боевой кирки способна наносить разрушительные удары.
Кхопéш: Это крепкое оружие можно определить по кривой
форме лезвия в виде месяца.
Кукри: Лезвие этого тяжелого ножа искривлено вперед для
большей
мощности.
Плут,
владеющий
кукри,
может
использовать его как кинжал, получая выгоду от классовой
особенности Оружейного Дарования Плута.
Легкая Боевая Кирка: Это уменьшенная версия боевой
кирки, которая подходит в качестве дополнительного оружия.
Морденкрад:
Огромный
двуручный
молот,
имеющий
большое шипованное навершие, впервые использовался
ударными войсками дварфов в битве против гигантов.
Парирующий Кинжал: Этот небольшой кинжал имеет
специально разработанную гарду, которая помогает отражать
атаки. Плут, владеющий парирующим кинжалом, может
использовать его как кинжал, получая выгоду от классовой
особенности Оружейного Дарования Плута.
Самозарядный
Арбалет:
Прямоугольная
обойма
прикрепляется к верхней части этого арбалета. Рукоять
двойного
действия
подает
болт
на
место
свободным
действием, а затем выстреливает стандартным действием.
Самозарядный арбалет не нуждается в перезарядке, если в
его обойме имеются боеприпасы. Обойма стоит 1 зм и
содержит 10 болтов. Чтобы удалить пустую обойму и
поставить новую, требуется стандартное действие.
Шипастые
Рукавицы:
Эти
рукавицы
оснащены
специальными металлическими шипами. В отличие от других
видов оружия, шипастые рукавицы занимают вашу ячейку
магического предмета в руках, если он зачарован.
Плеть:
Этот
легкий
цеп
имеет
кожаные
ремни
с
закрепленными на них кусочками металла или кости.
Шипованный Щит: Этот легкий щит сделан с заостренным
шипом в центре. Шипованный щит может быть зачарован в
качестве магического щита или магического оружия, но не
обоих
сразу.
Зачарованный
как
магическое
оружие,
шипованный щит не занимает ячейку магического оружия
персонажа. Хоть персонаж и не может использовать два
щита одновременно, персонаж, владеющий шипованным
щитом в качестве оружия, может использовать ячейки
вооружения предметов в качестве браслетов.
Превосходный Арбалет: Этот арбалет, кажется, похож на
традиционный арбалет, но у него есть ручки и циферблаты,
позволяющие настроить оружие на более точную стрельбу.
Тратнир: Известное также как крылатое копье, это оружие
было впервые создано драконорождеными для максимальной
эффективности в ближнем и дальнем бою.
Трезубец: Это трезубое копье утяжелено для метания на
короткие расстояния.
Треглавый Цеп: Этот большой цеп имеет три навершия
для более мощных атак.
Ургрош: Изначально созданное дварфами, это оружие
имеет навершие утяжеленного топора с одной стороны
(наносит к12 урона) и острое копье у основания рукояти
(наносит к6 урона).
Боевой Топор: Превосходный баланс этого оружия
позволяет пользоваться им одной рукой.
ДВОЙНОЕ ОРУЖИЕ
Двойное оружие имеет следующие особенности:
✦ Вы должны держать двойное оружие в обеих руках, чтобы
использовать его.
✦ Маленькие существа не могут владеть двойным оружием,
только если оно не имеет свойства "маленькое".
✦ Вы владеете двойным оружием, как если бы держали
оружие в каждой руке. Первая линия двойного оружия в таблице
описывает конец оружия, находящегося в вашей главной руке.
Строка с отступом описывает другой конец, который вы держите в
второстепенной руке. Каждый конец двойного оружия может иметь
отличный от другого бонус владения, урон, свойства и группу
оружия. Вес и цена представлены для всего оружия целиком, а не
только для одного конца.
✦
Если
зачарование,
которое
вы
наносите,
требует
определенного типа оружия, то этому требованию, по меньшей
мере, должен соответствовать один из концов этого оружия.
Например, на ургрош можно наложить зачарование «вострый»,
несмотря на то, что только один конец отвечает требованию
«тяжелый клинок или топор».
✦Зачарованное двойное оружие получает все преимущества
зачарования на каждом его конце (даже если один из его концов
обычно не позволяет это зачарование). Это не увеличивает
частоту использования каких-либо талантов этого оружия. Если вы
вооружены двойным оружием, имеющим талант на день, то вы в
любом случае можете использовать этот талант только один раз в
день.
СКАКУНЫ
В какой-то момент своей карьеры, искатели приключений
могут продать свои посохи для путешествий в обмен на
скакуна.
Скакуны
позволяют
персонажам
быстро
перемещаться из одного места в другое, пересекая дикую
местность, чтобы достичь следующего подземелья или
некого отдаленного города.
Обычно в городе или небольшом поселении имеется
один или несколько видов существ, используемых в
качестве скакунов, которых можно приобрести. Необычные
условия
требуют
необычных
скакунов.
ИП
может
путешествовать через пустыню, и в этом случае езда на
верблюде или ящерице будет вполне уместной. Или же
персонажи исследуют глубины подводной разрушенной
империи, что позволяет им использовать акул или морских
коньков
в
качестве
скакунов.
Независимо
от
местонахождения
ИП,
большинство
скакунов
имеют
скорость
превышающую
скорость
персонажей,
что
позволяет ускорить переходы между локациями.
Многие скакуны также полезны в бою. На страницах 46-
47
Руководства
Мастера
описывается,
как
можно
использовать
скакунов
в
бою
и
как
скакун
может
пользоваться своими атаками.
В таблице ниже перечислены скакуны из Сокровищницы
Авантюристов и Бестиария (Б).
Цена: Стоимость скакуна, указанная в золотых монетах
за штуку.
Скорость: Наивысшая скорость существа в клетках.
За час\За день: Сколько километров существо может
пройти за час или 10-часовой день путешествия.
Нормально\Тяжело\Толкание\Тяга:
Нормальная
нагрузка, тяжелая нагрузка и нагрузка толкания\тяги этого
существа (в килограммах). Как и персонажи, получившие
перегрузку, скакуны становятся замедленными.
Верблюд
Уровень 1 Громила
Большой природный зверь
100 Опыта
Хиты 38; Ранен 19
Инициатива +1
КД 13; Стойкость 13; Реакция 10; Воля 9
Внимательность +0
Скорость 9
Стандартные Действия
е Пинок ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +4 против КД;
Попадание: 1к10 + 4 урона.
Навыки: Выносливость +9
Сил 19 (+4)
Лов 13 (+1)
Мдр 11 (+0)
Тел 18 (+4)
Инт 2 (-4)
Хар 8 (-1)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
СКАКУНЫ
Скакун
Цена (зм)
Скорость1
За час1
За день1
Нормальный (кг)
Тяжелый (кг)
Толкание\Тяга (кг)
Акула ездовая
3 400
плавая 11
8,9 км
88,5 км
86,2
172,4
431
Боевой коньБ
680
8
6,4 км
64,3 км
118,4
236,8
594,2
Верблюд
75
9
7,25 км
72,5 км
107,5
215,5
538,5
ВивернаБ
21 000
летая 8
6,4 км
64,3 км
136,1
272,2
680,5
Гигантский муравей
1 800
9
7,25 км
72,5 км
107,5
215,5
538,5
Гигантская ящерица в упряжи
200
7
5,6 км
56,3 км
107,5
215,5
538,5
Гигантская ящерица ездовая
1 800
9
7,25 км
72,5 км
113,4
226,8
567
ГиппогрифБ
4 200
летая 10
8 км
80,5 км
107,5
215,5
538,5
Гиппориф грозный скакунБ
4 200
летая 10
8 км
80,5 км
118,4
236,8
594,2
ГрифонБ
9 000
летая 10
8 км
80,5 км
113,4
226,8
567
Грифон хладоогненныйБ
525 000
летая 10
8 км
80,5 км
136,1
272,2
680,5
Жуткий кабанБ
1 800
8
6,4 км
64,3 км
107,5
215,5
538,5
Клинковый паукБ
13 000
6
4,8 км
48,3 км
113,4
226,8
567
Лошадь ездовая
75
10
6,4 км
64,3 км
107,5
215,5
538,5
Лошадь небесный скакунБ
13 000
8
6,4 км
64,3 км
130,2
260,4
651
МантикораБ
45 000
летая 8
6,4 км
64,3 км
118,4
236,8
504,2
Морской конь
1 800
плавая 10
8 км
80,5 км
102,1
204,2
510,3
Носорог
2 600
6
4,8 км
48,3 км
118,4
236,8
594,2
Ночной кошмарБ
25 000
летая 10
8 км
80,5 км
130,2
260,4
651
Скелетный конь
17 000
10
8 км
80,5 км
113,4
226,8
567
Слон
3 400
8
6,4 км
64,3 км
141,5
283
707,6
Трехрогое чудище
21 000
6
4,8 км
48,3 км
147,4
292,8
737,1
Ужасная акула
21 000
плавая 11
8,9 км
88,5 км
95,2
190,4
476,3
Ужасный волкБ
1 000
8
6,4 км
64,3 км
107,5
215,5
538,5
Яростный дрейкБ
2 600
8
6,4 км
64,3 км
107,5
215,5
538,5
БЭтих монстров вы можете найти в Бестиарии.
1Летающий скакун игнорирует снижение скорости из-за труднопроходимой местности. Расстояние для водных существ предполагает, что
существо путешествует в воде.
Слон
Уровень 8 Громила
Большой природный зверь (скакун)
350 Опыта
Хиты 111; Ранен 55
Инициатива +4
КД 20; Стойкость 22; Реакция 15; Воля 18
Внимательность +7
Скорость 8
Особенности
Растаптывающий Бросок (скакун)
Во время броска, слон, оседланный дружественным наездником 8-
го или выше уровны, может пройти через пространство Среднего или
меньше существа и совершить атаку растаптыванием против этого
существа. Слон должен завершить движение в незанятой клетке.
Всадник все еще может атаковать по окончании движения слона.
Стандартные Действия
е Удар Бивнем ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 2 (одно существо); +11 против КД;
Попадание: 2к6 + 7 урона.
У Растаптывание ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +11 против КД;
Попадание: 1к10 + 7 урона, и цель падает с ног.
Сил 25 (+11)
Лов 11 (+4)
Мдр 16 (+7)
Тел 21 (+9)
Инт 2 (+0)
Хар 9 (+3)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Гигантский Муравей
Уровень 4 Соглядатая
Большой природный зверь (скакун)
175 Опыта
Хиты 54; Ранен 27
Инициатива +8
КД 18; Стойкость 17; Реакция 17; Воля 14
Внимательность +8
Скорость 9
Особенности
Быстронесущийся (скакун)
Когда гигантский муравей оседлан дружественным наездником 4-го
или выше уровня, он может совершить шаг на 2 клетки вместо 1.
Стандартные Действия
е Укус ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +9 против КД;
Попадание: 1к10 + 4 урона, и цель падает с ног.
Сил 19 (+6)
Лов 19 (+6)
Мдр 12 (+3)
Тел 14 (+4)
Инт 1 (-3)
Хар 7 (+0)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Гигантская Ящерица в Упряжи
Уровень 4 Громила
Большой природный зверь
175 Опыта
Хиты 69; Ранен 34
Инициатива +4
КД 16; Стойкость 18; Реакция 16; Воля 13
Внимательность +1
Скорость 7 (болотный шаг), лазая 2
Стандартные Действия
е Укус ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +7 против КД;
Попадание: 2к6 + 4 урона.
Сил 19 (+6)
Лов 14 (+4)
Мдр 9 (+1)
Тел 19 (+6)
Инт 2 (-2)
Хар 7 (+0)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Гигантская Ящерица Ездовая
Уровень 6 Громила
Большой природный зверь (скакун)
250 Опыта
Хиты 90; Ранен 45
Инициатива +6
КД 18; Стойкость 20; Реакция 18; Воля 14
Внимательность +2
Скорость 9 (болотный шаг), лазая 4
Особенности
Совместная Атака (скакун) ♦ На сцену
Если гигантская ездовая ящерица оседлана дружественным
наездником 6-го и выше уровня, и наездник совершает рукопашную
атаку против выбранной им цели, ящерица может совершить атаку
когтем против той же самой цели.
Стандартные Действия
е Укус ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +9 против КД;
Попадание: 2к8 + 5 урона.
у Коготь ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +10 против КД;
Попадание: 2к6 + 5 урона.
Сил 20 (+8)
Лов 17 (+6)
Мдр 9 (+2)
Тел 20 (+8)
Инт 2 (-1)
Хар 7 (+1)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Морской Конь
Уровень 5 Громила
Большой природный зверь (водный, скакун)
200 Опыта
Хиты 80; Ранен 40
Инициатива +4
КД 17; Стойкость 19; Реакция 17; Воля 15
Внимательность +2
Скорость плавая 10
Особенность
Водный
Морской конь может дышать под водой. Сражаясь в воде он
получает бонус +2 к атакам против не водных существ.
Водный Натиск (скакун)
Когда морской конь оседлан дружественным наездником 5-го или
выше уровня, этот наездник наносит дополнительно 1к10 урона, когда
он или она атакует после броска морского коня. Наездник также
получает бонус +2 к броскам атаки против существ, не имеющих
водной скорости, пока сам находится в воде.
Стандартные Действия
е Хлопок Хвостом ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 2 (одно существо); +8 против КД;
Попадание: 2к8 + 4урона; см. также водный.
Сил 18 (+6)
Лов 15 (+4)
Мдр 10 (+2)
Тел 20 (+7)
Инт 2 (-2)
Хар 9 (+1)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Скелетный Конь
Уровень 11 Громила
Большой природный оживленный (скакун, нежить)
600 Опыта
Хиты 143; Ранен 71
Инициатива +9
КД 23; Стойкость 24; Реакция 23; Воля 20
Внимательность +6
Сопротивление: 20 некротическая энергия
Иммунитет: яд
Скорость 10
Особенности
Теневой Симбиоз (скакун)
Когда скелетный конь оседлан дружественным наездником 11-го
или выше уровня, наездник получает сопротивление некротической
энергии 20.
Стандартные Действия
е Удар Ногой ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +14 против КД;
Попадание: 3к6 + 5 урона.
Сил 20 (+10)
Лов 18 (+9)
Мдр 13 (+6)
Тел 23 (+11)
Инт 2 (+1)
Хар 7 (+3)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Носорог
Уровень 7 Солдат
Большой природный зверь (скакун)
300 Опыта
Хиты 83; Ранен 41
Инициатива +8
КД 23; Стойкость 23; Реакция 21; Воля 18
Внимательность +3
Скорость 6
Особенности
Крушащий Бросок (скакун)
Когда носорог оседлан дружественным наездником 7-го или
больше уровня, носорог может совершить атаку боданием в броске в
дополнение к атаке наездника в броске.
Стандартные Действия
е Бодание ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +13 против КД;
Попадание: 2к6 + 5 урона.
Сил 21 (+8)
Лов 16 (+6)
Мдр 11 (+3)
Тел 19 (+7)
Инт 2 (-1)
Хар 8 (+2)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Ужасная Акула
Уровень 14 Соглядатай
Огромный природный зверь (водный, скакун)
1000 Опыта
Хиты 139; Ранен 69
Инициатива +16
КД 28; Стойкость 26; Реакция 28; Воля 23
Внимательность +9
Скорость плавая 11
Особенность
Водный
Ужасная акула может дышать под водой. Сражаясь в воде она
получает бонус +2 к атакам против не водных существ.
Ловкий Пловец (скакун)
Когда ужасная акула оседлана дружественным наездником 14-го
или
выше
уровня,
акула
получает
бонус
+2
к
КД
против
провоцированных атак. Наездник также получает бонус +2 к броскам
атаки против существ, не имеющих водной скорости, пока сам
находится в воде.
Стандартные Действия
е Укус ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +17 против КД;
Попадание: 3к6 + 5 урона; см. также водный.
Сил 21 (+12)
Лов 24 (+14)
Мдр 14 (+9)
Тел 19 (+11)
Инт 2 (+3)
Хар 9 (+6)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Акула Ездовая
Уровень 8 Соглядатай
Большой природный зверь (водный, скакун)
350 Опыта
Хиты 88; Ранен 44
Инициатива +11
КД 22; Стойкость 21; Реакция 22; Воля 17
Внимательность +4
Скорость плавая 11
Особенность
Водный
Ездовая акула может дышать под водой. Сражаясь в воде она
получает бонус +2 к атакам против не водных существ.
Ловкий Пловец (скакун)
Когда ездовая акула оседлана дружественным наездником 8-го или
выше уровня, акула получает бонус +2 к КД против провоцированных
атак. Наездник также получает бонус +2 к броскам атаки против
существ, не имеющих водной скорости, пока сам находится в воде.
Стандартные Действия
е Укус ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +13 против КД;
Попадание: 2к6 + 4 урона; см. также водный.
Сил 19 (+8)
Лов 21 (+9)
Мдр 11 (+4)
Тел 16 (+7)
Инт 2 (+0)
Хар 7 (+2)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
Трехрогое Чудище
Уровень 12 Солдат
Огромный природный зверь (скакун)
700 Опыта
Хиты 127; Ранен 63
Инициатива +12
КД 28; Стойкость 30; Реакция 26; Воля 23
Внимательность +7
Скорость 6
Особенности
Защищающий Герб (скакун)
Когда трехрогое чудище оседлано дружественным наездником 12-
го или больше уровня, наездник получает бонус щита +1 к КД и
Реакции.
Стандартные Действия
е Бодание ♦ Неограниченный
Атака: Рукопашная атака 1 (одно существо); +17 против КД;
Попадание: 2к8 + 8 урона.
Сил 26 (+14)
Лов 18 (+10)
Мдр 13 (+7)
Тел 23 (+12)
Инт 2 (+2)
Хар 10 (+6)
Без мировоззрения
Языки: ---
ОСНАЩЕНИЕ
Тип
Бонус доспеха*
Проверки
Скорость
Стоимость (зм)
Вес
Легкое оснащение
+1
-
-
75
18,1 кг
Большое животное
+1
-
-
75
27,2 кг
Тяжелое оснащение
+2
-2
-1
150
36,3 кг
Большое животное
+2
-2
-1
150
54,4 кг
*Уменьшите бонус доспеха на 1 для существ с ролью «солдата».
Снаряжение Скакунов
Предполагается, что приобретенные ИП скакуны имеют
базовое снаряжение, такое как седло, подпруга, уздечка и
поводья.
Хоть
скакуны
и
используются
в
качестве
основного
транспортного
средства,
другие
(особенно
боевые кони и подобные дрессированные боевые скакуны)
могут получать выгоды от использования специальных
приспособлений, таких как оснащение (описание ниже) и от
магических предметов (описание во 2 главе). Эти предметы
повышают способности скакуна в бою, как правило, путем
повышения его скорости, его обороны или позволяя скакуну
обходить некоторые особенности местности.
Оснащение
Оснащение – это броня для вашего скакуна. Она
увеличивает Класс Доспеха скакуна также как броня для
персонажа. Оснащение также имеет аналогичные штрафы к
проверкам и к скорости. Бонус доспеха прибавляется к уже
существующему КД существа. В отличие от тяжелых
доспехов, тяжелое оснащение не отвергает бонус Ловкости
или Интеллекта для определения КД. У существ, которые
выполняют роль солдата, уже есть дополнительная броня
(природная или иная), которая учтена в их КД. Таким
образом, оснащение менее полезно для таких существ (как
показано в приведенной выше таблице).
Магическое оснащение может быть создано со своими
уникальными свойствами. Однако, магическое оснащение
не может быть зачаровано на улучшение бонуса защиты
как обычная броня. Большинство существ уже используют
природные защиты, которые превышают защиты, типичные
для ИП.
ТРАНСПОРТ
Волшебник стоит на палубе бросающего из стороны в
сторону корабля, его
заклинания
взрываются среди
наступающих отрядов сахуагинов, перелезающих через
перила. Плут карабкается на дерево, чтобы спрыгнуть на
карету короля гоблинов, громыхающую под ним. Колдун
направляет дирижабль на замок лича, бросая массивный
корабль на столкновение с верхушкой башни.
Игра Dungeon & Dragons® строится вокруг быстро
движущихся динамических поединков, но с добавлением
транспортных средств эта смесь может поднять боевую
сцену на новый уровень. Управляют ли ИП колесницами,
отбиваясь от волчьих всадников гоблинов, напавших на
продовольственный фургон, проезжающий через
предательский перевал, или прыгают на борт ладьи,
захватывая его у гноллов-пиратов, транспортные средства
могут служить основой для большого множества памятных
противостояний.
В этом разделе приведены правила для управления
транспортными средствами в вашей игре. Транспорты
функционируют так же, как и скакуны, поэтому персонаж
берет контроль над транспортом, использует его для
движения и может воспользоваться его особенностями.
Большинство транспортов перевозит пассажиров и грузы в
бόльшем количестве, нежели скакуны, но у них отсутствует
маневренность, что создает единственные в своем роде
проблемы на поле боя.
Основы
Транспорты имеют параметры, одни из которых похожи на
параметры существ, а другие нет. Транспорты считаются
объектами, так что правила 4-й главы Руководства
Мастера к ним применимы, если не указано иное.
Размер: Транспорты имеют такой же размер, как и
существа.
Хиты: Хиты транспорта показывают, какое количество
урона оно может выдержать. При снижении хитов до 0 или
ниже, транспорт считается уничтоженным, а все существа
на борту разрушенного транспорта падают ничком в своих
текущих клетках. Обломки транспорта также занимают
место и считаются труднопроходимой местностью.
Пространство: В отличие от существ, которые могут
передвигаться и втискиваться в маленькие пространства,
транспортные средства занимают все пространство в
пределах своих размеров. В результате, транспортные
средства
не
могут
уменьшаться.
Например,
фургон
занимает 2 на 3 целых клетки, то есть он не может пройти
через пропасть по небольшой тропинке шириной в 1 клетку.
Транспорты с запряженным существами занимают
только
свое
пространство.
Существа,
тянущие
его,
занимают свое нормальное пространство на сетке боя.
Защиты: Как и все объекты, транспорты имеют Класс
Доспеха, показатель Стойкости и показатель Реакции. Они
не имеют показателя Воли.
Скорость: Скорость транспорта (приведена в клетках)
определяет, как далеко он пройдет во время использования
действия движения водителем или пилотом. Водитель или
пилот, использующий два действия движения, может
передвинуть транспорт дважды с его скоростью.
Скорость
транспорта,
движимого
существом(ами),
определяется скоростью этих существ.
При
больших
расстояниях
большинство
повозок,
движимых существами, не могут путешествовать более 10
часов в день. Однако, парусные суда и волшебные
самоходные механизмы не ограничиваются временем и
могут путешествовать весь день и ночь, если ими
правильно управляет экипаж.
Нагрузка:
Нагрузка
транспорта
выражается
в
количестве Средних существ (и экипажа, и пассажиров
вместе взятых), которые могут ехать в нем, плюс
количество груза, которое он несет (в килограммах или
тоннах). Общепринято, что одно Большое существо равно
четырем Средним, одно Огромное равно девяти Средним
существам, а Гигантское существо равно шестнадцати
Средним существам. Эти сравнения предполагают, что
транспортное средство имеет в основном горизонтальную
поверхность, на которой эти существа могут стоять. Для
крытых транспортов или транспортов с несколькими
палубами или уровнями количество и размеры существ,
которые могут поместиться внутри, могут различаться.
Независимо
от
этого,
размер
существа
не
может
превышать доступное пространство в транспорте.
Водитель или Пилот: Эта часть описывает, какое
положение в транспорте занимает пилот или водитель, и
какие требования он должен выполнять. Для управления
транспортным
средством,
размер
которого
больше
среднего, как правило, требуются водители или пилоты,
чтобы направлять транспорт сзади или спереди. Таким
образом, вы должны решить, какая часть транспорта
считается передней, а какая задней.
Экипаж: Эта часть описывает какой-либо экипаж,
который
требуется
для
управления
транспортом,
и
описывает эффект движения транспорта, если экипажа нет.
Без Контроля: Если водитель или пилот теряет
контроль
над
транспортом,
эта
запись
описывает
происходящее.
Специальные Особенности: Если транспорт имеет
какие-либо атаки или особенности, они отмечены в нижней
части его статистической таблицы.
Инициатива: У транспортного средства никогда не
бывает
инициативы,
оно
действует
по
инициативе
существа, контролирующего его.
Если вам нужно знать, когда действует транспортное
средство без контроля (например, чтобы определить, когда
неуправляемый
фургон
движется
по
боевой
сетке),
транспорт имеет проверку инициативы, результат которой
ниже на 1 последнего существа в инициативном порядке.
Если сцена включает в себя несколько вышедших из-под
контроля транспортов, то первым действует транспорт,
который вышел из-под контроля раньше, а неуправляемый
транспорт, вышедший из-под контроля недавно – позже.
СКОРОСТЬ ТРАНСПОРТА И СКАКУНОВ
Скорость
За час
За 10 часов в
день
За 24 часа в
день
2 клетки
1,6 км
16 км
38,4 км
3 клетки
2,4 км
24 км
57,6 км
4 клетки
3,2 км
32 км
76,8 км
5 клеток
4 км
40 км
96 км
6 клеток
4,8 км
48 км
115,2 км
7 клеток
5,6 км
56 км
134,4 км
8 клеток
6,4 км
64 км
153,6 км
9 клеток
7,2 км
72 км
172,8 км
10 клеток
8 км
80 км
192 км
20 клеток
16 км
160 км
384 км
Транспорт в Бою
Бόльшую часть времени вы используете скорость транспорта
за день и за час. Если персонажи путешествуют из одного
города в другой в фургоне, скорость фургона определяет
длительность вашего пути. Однако, если кобольты-бандиты
нападают на фургон из засады во время его движения,
становится важным отслеживание движения фургона во время
боя и что могут сделать ИП и МП, чтобы контролировать его.
Транспорту требуется водитель или пилот – персонаж или
существо, которое использует действия для управления
транспортом.
Этот
персонаж
должен
соответствовать
условиям, описанным в таблице транспорта о пилоте или
водителе. Транспортное средство без водителя движется без
контроля, как правило, по заданному курсу и врезается в
первое, что встанет у нее на пути или остановится.
Только один персонаж может управлять транспортом во
время своего хода, но, несмотря на это, взять его под контроль
может любое количество персонажей, пока один из них не
будет успешен в своих попытках. Персонаж может передать
управление
транспортом
другому
персонажу
свободным
действием,
предполагая,
что
персонаж
может
его
контролировать
(свободным
действием),
и
не
может
предпринимать никаких других действий с транспортом во
время нынешнего хода. Если персонаж не движется к позиции
пилота или водителя во время передачи ему контроля над
транспортом, то транспорт может выйти из-под контроля. Если
ни один персонаж не взял контроль над транспортом до конца
следующего
раунда,
то
транспорт
действует
в
конце
инициативного порядка в соответствии с правилами выхода из-
под контроля.
Движение транспортного средства не провоцирует атаки по
нему или по существам, находящимся в нем. Существа,
движущиеся внутри транспорта, провоцируют атаку при
движении только от тех существ, которые находятся в том же
транспорте, по обычным правилам.
Состояния
Транспортные средства могут быть атакованы так же, как и
другие объекты. Некоторые состояния (например, падение
ничком) имеют особые правила, применяющиеся к транспорту.
Какие-либо состояния из Книги Игрока, исключенные из этого
раздела, не имеют никакого эффекта на транспортное
средство. Если эффект позволяет спасбросок для окончания
состояния, транспорт совершает его один раз в конце хода
водителя (или в конце хода транспорта, если оно вышло из-
под контроля). Водитель или пилот может использовать
действие движения, чтобы позволить транспорту совершить
дополнительный спасбросок во время своего хода.
Обездвиженный: Обездвиженный транспорт не может
двигаться, только если его не тянут, сдвигают или толкают.
Падение ничком: Если на транспорт накладывается
эффект падения ничком, то он получает 1к10 урона и замедлен
(см. ниже) до конца следующего хода.
Замедление:
Замедление
транспорта
происходит
по
стандартным правилам для этого состояния (КИ 277).
Удерживаемый: Удерживаемый транспорт обездвижен и
не может совершать вынужденного перемещения толкающим,
тянущим или сдвигающим эффектом. Транспорт использует
соответствующий модификатор навыка пилота или водителя,
чтобы закончить сдерживающий эффект и высвободиться.
Выход из-под Контроля
Существа
могут
двигаться,
менять
направление,
и
остановиться когда захотят. Транспорты не имеют такой
роскоши. Чтобы транспорт начал движение и двигался в
нужном направлении, требуются усилия. В противном
случае, он выходит из-под контроля.
Водитель
или
пилот
должен
использовать
определенные действия,
чтобы рулить, двигать или
останавливать транспортное средство, если он или она не
хочет, чтобы транспорт вышел из-под контроля. Если в
течение какого-либо раунда никто не использует действий,
чтобы
управлять
транспортом,
то
он
действует
в
соответствии с разделом статистической таблицы "Без
Контроля".
Некоторые
вышедшие
из-под
контроля
транспорты – чаще всего они запряжены существами –
останавливаются автоматически. Некоторые транспорты,
такие как корабли, продолжают двигаться вперед, пока не
столкнутся с чем-либо. Другие транспорты – особенно
летающие – могут быстро разрушиться.
Таран и Столкновение
Несмотря
на
то,
что
большинство
транспортов
предназначено для перевозки на дальние расстояния,
некоторые
предназначены
для
боя.
Если
транспорт
пытается двигаться в пространстве, занимаемом объектом,
существом
или
другим
транспортом,
он
врезается.
Транспортные средства, любые существа, тянущие его, и
все, во что транспорт попадает, получает 1к10 урона за
каждую клетку, которую он проехал в предыдущий ход.
Существа на борту транспортного средства (и те, кто в
транспорте или объекте, который протаранили) получают
половину урона.
Если цель тарана меньше вышедшего из-под контроля
транспорта более чем на одну категорию, транспорт
продолжает двигаться независимо от того, какой ущерб он
нанес во время тарана. Пространство, которое занимает
цель, рассматривается для движения транспорта как
труднопроходимая местность.
Транспорт, врезаясь в цель такого же или большего
размера,
продолжает
двигаться
только
если
цель
уничтожена. Если цель не уничтожена, перемещение
транспорта тут же заканчивается.
Повороты и Направление
Существа на сетке боя могут изменить направление в
любой
точке
своего
движения.
Правила
не
предусматривают различий между фронтальной части
существа, задней и боковой, так как предполагается, что
существо может развернуться в своем пространстве. Но,
несмотря на это, вы не можете просто взять и повернуть
мчащийся транспорт в противоположную сторону, и в этом
заключается сложность боевого транспорта.
Каждый транспорт имеет курс – направление, в котором
он в настоящее время движется. Для отслеживания курса
транспорта поместите монету или подобный маркер вдоль
переднего края транспорта на сетке боя. Когда транспорт
движется, используйте малый маркер, чтобы посчитать
количество клеток в направлении движения транспорта.
Затем передвиньте фишку или миниатюру транспорта.
Управление
Транспорты предназначены для перемещения только в
одном
направлении.
Вы
ведете
транспорт
вперед,
направляя его. Однако, существам, везущим транспортное
средство, как правило, не хватает маневренности, и
поворот может быть медленным и сложным.
УПРАВЛЕНИЕ
✦ Действие: Движение.
✦ Перемещение:
Передвиньте
транспорт
на
расстояние, равное его скорости.
✦ Направление: Когда вы передвигаете транспорт, он
должен
направляться
в
сторону
маркера
направления. Перемещение транспорта может быть
направлено вперед или вдоль любой диагонали,
смежной с маркером направления (45 градусов). Он
не может двигаться в других направлениях, не
совершив поворота.
✦ Провоцированные Атаки: Движение транспорта не
провоцирует
атак
от
других
транспортов
или
существ, находящихся в нем.
✦ Местность: Влияние местности на транспорт в пути
действует на существ. Если элементы местности
требуют
проверок
особенных
знаний
или
способностей, водитель или пилот должен сделать
эту проверку для любого транспорта, который не
запряжен существом. В случае с запряженным в
транспорт существом, которое тянет или толкает его,
существо совершает соответствующую проверку(и).
Для
транспорта,
запряженного
несколькими
существами,
выберите
одно
из
них,
которое
совершит проверку, а остальные могут оказать ему
помощь. Если транспорт не имеет подходящего
метода движения для обхода местности, то он не
может двигаться по ней.
Поворот
Вы поворачиваете транспорт, чтобы объехать углы,
избежать препятствия или резко изменить текущий курс.
ПОВОРОТ
✦ Действие: Движение.
✦ Перемещение:
Передвиньте
транспорт
на
расстояние, равное половине его скорости.
✦ Направление: Когда вы передвигаете транспорт, он
должен
направляться
в
сторону
маркера
направления. Перемещение транспорта может быть
направлено вперед или он может двигаться вдоль
любой диагонали, смежной с маркером направления
(45 градусов).
✦ Маркер Направления: В любой момент движения
транспорта переместите маркер направления из
текущего
положения
с
какой-либо
стороны
от
транспорта (поворот 90 градусов). Передвиньте
фишку или миниатюрку соответственно в конце
движения.
✦ Провоцированные атаки: Движение автомобиля
или существа в нем не провоцируют атак.
✦ Местность: Особенности местности, влияющие на
транспорт в пути, действует и на существ. Если
элементы
местности
требуют
проверок
особых
знаний или способностей, водитель или пилот
должен сделать эту проверку для любого транспорта,
который не запряжен существом. В случае с
запряженным в транспорт существом, которое тянет
или
толкает
его,
существо
совершает
соответствующую
проверку(и).
Для
транспорта,
запряженного несколькими существами, выберите
одно
из
них,
которое
совершит
проверку,
а
остальные
могут
оказать
ему
помощь.
Если
транспорт не имеет подходящего метода движения
для обхода местности, то он не может двигаться по
ней.
Остановка
Чтобы остановить движущийся транспорт, требуются силы.
ОСТАНОВКА
✦ Действие: Движение.
✦ Перемещение:
Транспорт
останавливается
и
остается в текущем положении.
✦ Направление: Маркер направления остается на
месте. Если и когда транспорт начинает снова
двигаться, он должен двигаться в этом направлении
на начальном этапе.
Простые Транспорты
Аппарат Квалиша
Большой транспорт
Хиты 200
Пространство 2 на 2 клетки Стоимость 5,000 зм
КД 22; Стойкость 20; Реакция 4;
Скорость 6, плавая 6
Без Контроля
При выходе из-под контроля аппарат Квалиша останавливается в
начале своего хода. По усмотрению ДМ он может двигаться по
направлению быстрого течения с половиной своей скорости.
Герметичный
Существа внутри аппарата Квалиша не имеют линии эффекта
извне (и наоборот), но у них есть прямая видимость со всеми
существами снаружи через иллюминаторы.
Нагрузка
Два Средних существа; 90,7 кг. груза.
Пилот
Пилот должен занимать переднее сиденье в аппарате и у него
должны быть свободны обе руки, чтобы управлять всеми десятью
рычагами.
Погружаемый
Аппарата Квалиша может путешествовать под водой. Он
содержит достаточно воздуха, чтобы поддерживать жизнь двух
существ на протяжении пяти часов или одного существа на
протяжении десяти часов.
У Рвущие Когти (стандартное; неограниченный)
Эффект: Пилот может использовать когти аппарата, чтобы
атаковать одно существо.
Атака: Рукопашная атака 2 (одно существо); +5 против КД;
Попадание: 2к6 + 5 урона. Пилот добавляет половину его или ее
уровня к броску атаки в качестве бонуса.
ДВИЖЕНИЕ ТРАНСПОРТА
Существо, тянущее
телегу, всегда находится
в соседней с ней клетке.
Существо движется,
потому оно не смежно.
Колесница движется
вместе с существом,
оставаясь смежной.
Повторяйте это после
каждой 1 клетки движения
существа.
Существо остается
рядом. Колесница не
двигается.
Существо может «сократить угол»
колесницы, но не может пройти
сквозь нее.
Дирижабль
Гигантский транспорт
Хиты 400
Пространство 4 на 8 клеток Стоимость 85,000 зм
КД 4; Стойкость 20; Реакция 2;
Скорость 0, летая 12 (парение), длительный перелет 15
Без Контроля
Вышедший из-под контроля дирижабль движется с половиной
своей скорости. Каждый раунд он имеет 50% шанс на снижение. Он
снижается на 5 клеток за раунд в течении 10 раундов. После 10
раундов он спускается на 10 клеток за раунд. Вышедший из-под
контроля дирижабль, упавший с высоты более чем 20 клеток, тут же
уничтожается.
Нагрузка
Тридцать Средних существ; 20 тонн груза.
Палубы
Кабина дирижабля имеет четыре палубы: внешняя смотровая
площадка,
верхняя
экипажная
палуба,
средняя
палуба
для
пассажиров, и нижний грузовой отсек.
Пилот
Пилот должен встать за колесо управления, которое, как правило,
находится в передней части верхней палубы – кабине дирижабля.
Хрупкий Механизм
За каждые 50 урона, которые получает дирижабль, его скорость
уменьшается на 2. При скорости летая 0, корабль не в состоянии
путешествовать, и летит без контроля.
Экипаж
В дополнение к пилоту, дирижаблю требуется экипаж из пяти
человек, каждый из который в свой ход использует стандартное
действие, чтобы помочь управлять дирижаблем. Уменьшите скорость
судна на 4 за каждого отсутствующего члена экипажа. При скорости
летая 0, дирижабль не в состоянии путешествовать, и летит без
контроля.
Колесница, Тяжелая
Большой транспорт
Хиты 60
Пространство 2 на 2 клетки Стоимость 840 зм
КД 4; Стойкость 12; Реакция 4;
Скорость существа -2
Без Контроля
Вышедшая из-под контроля колесница останавливается в начале
своего хода. По усмотрению ДМ, колесница может двигаться в
случайном направлении, если существа, запряженные в колесницу,
будут в панике или под атакой.
Водитель
Кучер тяжелой колесницы стоит в передней ее части. Он или она
должна держать поводья по крайней мере одной рукой, иначе
колесница выходит из-под контроля.
Запрягаемая Существами
В тяжелую колесницу можно запрячь два Больших существа или
одно Огромное. Тяжелая колесница получает штраф -2 к скорости,
если в нее запряжено только одно Большое существо.
Нагрузка
Четыре Средних существа; 181,4 кг. груза.
Укрытие
Тяжелая колесница обеспечивает покров для кучера и пассажиров.
Колесница, Легкая
Средний транспорт
Хиты 30
Пространство 1 клетка
Стоимость 520 зм
КД 5; Стойкость 10; Реакция 5;
Скорость существа -2
Без Контроля
Вышедшая из-под контроля колесница останавливается в начале
своего хода. По усмотрению ДМ колесница может двигаться в
случайном направлении, если существа, запряженные в колесницу,
будут в панике или под атакой.
Водитель
Кучер легкой колесницы должен держать поводья по крайней мере
одной рукой, иначе она выходит из-под контроля.
Запрягаемая Существами
В легкую колесницу можно запрячь одно Большое существо.
Нагрузка
Одно Среднее существо; 45,3 кг. груза.
Укрытие
Легкая колесница обеспечивает покров для кучера и пассажиров.
Большой Корабль
Гигантский транспорт
Хиты 400
Пространство 8 на 20 клеток Стоимость 13,000 зм
КД 4; Стойкость 20; Реакция 2;
Скорость плавая 6
Без Контроля
Вышедший из-под контроля большой корабль движется вперед с
половиной своей скорости. По усмотрению ДМ, корабль может
двигаться в направлении сильного ветра со скоростью вплоть до
максимальной.
Нагрузка
Двести Средних существ; 500 тонн груза.
Палубы
Большой корабль имеет четыре палубы: верхняя открытая палуба
(которая включает в себя верхнюю палубу и кормовую палубу), две
средних палубы для экипажа и пассажиров, и грузовой отсек.
Паруса
По усмотрению ДМ, большой корабль может получить штраф или
бонус к скорости от -4 до +4 в зависимости от силы и направления
ветра.
Пилот
Рулевой должен стоять на колесе корабля, как правило, в задней
части верхней палубы, на кормé.
Экипаж
В дополнение к рулевому, кораблю требуется экипаж из двадцати
человек, каждый из которых использует стандартное действие каждый
раунд, чтобы помочь управлять кораблем. Уменьшите скорость
корабля на 2 за каждые 5 недостающих членов экипажа. При скорости
плавая 0, корабль дрейфует без контроля.
Галера
Гигантский транспорт
Хиты 300
Пространство 4 на 14 клеток Стоимость 5,000 зм
КД 3; Стойкость 20; Реакция 2;
Скорость плавая 5
Без Контроля
Вышедшая из-под контроля галера движется вперед с половиной
своей скорости. По усмотрению ДМ, корабль может двигаться в
направлении сильного ветра со скоростью вплоть до максимальной.
Нагрузка
Пятьдесят Средних существ; 3 тонны груза.
Паруса
По усмотрению ДМ, галера может получить штраф или бонус к
скорости от -4 до +4 в зависимости от силы и направления ветра.
Пилот
Рулевой должен стоять в задней части верхней палубе галеры, и
рулить с помощью колеса.
Экипаж
В дополнение к рулевому, галере требуется экипаж из трех
человек, каждый из которых использует стандартное действие каждый
раунд, чтобы контролировать корабль. Уменьшите скорость корабля на
2 за каждого недостающего члена экипажа. При скорости плавая 0,
корабль дрейфует без контроля.
Махокрыл
Большой транспорт
Хиты 40
Пространство 2 на 2 клетки Стоимость 3,400 зм
КД 4; Стойкость 12; Реакция 4;
Скорость летая 5
Без Контроля
Вышедший из-под контроля махокрыл останавливается в начале
своего хода. На этом заканчивается его горизонтальное движение, но
его крылья изначально предотвращают падение до конца его
следующего хода. Пилот может попытаться совершить проверку Силой
со Сл 20 действием движения, чтобы восстановить контроль. Если
пилот проваливает проверку, махокрыл падает на землю.
Махокрыл, падающий с высоты более 100 клеток и не коснувшийся
земли до конца своего второго хода, дает пилоту возможность вернуть
контроль.
Нагрузка
Одно Среднее существо; 45,3 кг. груза.
Пилот
Пилот должен работать управляющей рукоятью махокрыла обеими
руками.
Пинас
Гигантский транспорт
Хиты 250
Пространство 2 на 6 клеток Стоимость 1,800 зм
КД 2; Стойкость 20; Реакция 2;
Скорость плавая 8
Без Контроля
Вышедший из-под контроля пинас движется вперед с половиной
своей скорости. По усмотрению ДМ, корабль может двигаться в
направлении сильного ветра со скоростью вплоть до максимальной.
Нагрузка
Двадцать Средних существ; 30 тонн груза.
Палубы
Пинас имеет три палубы: верхняя открытая палуба, среднюю
палубу для экипажа и пассажиров, и грузовой отсек.
Паруса
По усмотрению ДМ, пинас может получить штраф или бонус к
скорости от -4 до +4 в зависимости от силы и направления ветра.
Пилот
Рулевой должен стоять на колесе корабля, как правило, в задней
части верхней палубы.
Экипаж
В дополнение к рулевому, пинасу требуется экипаж из четырех
человек, каждый из которых использует стандартное действие каждый
раунд, чтобы помочь управлять кораблем. Уменьшите скорость
корабля на 2 за каждого недостающего члена экипажа. При скорости
плавая 0, корабль дрейфует без контроля.
Фургон
Большой транспорт
Хиты 100
Пространство 2 на 2 клетки Стоимость 20 зм
КД 3; Стойкость 10; Реакция 3;
Скорость существа -4
Без Контроля
Вышедший из-под контроля фургон останавливается в начале
своего хода. По усмотрению ДМ, фургон может двигаться в случайном
направлении, если существа, запряженные в повозку, будут в панике
или под атакой.
Водитель
Кучер сидит в передней части. Он должен держать поводья по
крайней мере одной рукой, иначе фургон выходит из-под контроля.
Запрягаемый Существами
Фургон, как правило, запрягается двумя Большими существами или
одним Огромным. Фургон получает дополнительный штраф -2 к
скорости, если в него запряжено только одно Большое существо.
Фургон предназначен для размещения четырех Больших существ, и
если все четыре запряжены в фургон, то он получает дополнительно 2
клетки движения.
Нагрузка
Четыре Средних существа; 4 тонны груза.
Укрытие
Некрытый фургон обеспечивает покров для пассажиров и
водителя. Крытый фургон или карета обеспечивает превосходный
покров пассажирам, сидящим в нем.
Описание Транспорта
Статистические блоки для этих транспортных средств
представлены выше.
Аппарат
Квалиша:
Этот
транспорт
напоминает
огромного металлического омара. Волшебник Квалиш
искусен в архитектуре и магической инженерии, и построил
оригинальный
аппарат,
чтобы
исследовать
морские
глубины и установить контакт с разумными подводными
расами.
Люк, расположенный ниже хвоста аппарата, ведет в
полое центральное туловище. В этом месте располагаются
два стула для пилота и пассажира. Аппарат движется
посредством магии и может опуститься на любую глубину и
пройти сквозь любой поток. Он может пересечь самые
быстрые реки и спуститься на дно морских глубин.
Дирижабль:
Это
судно
плавает
над
землей,
и
поднимается
вверх
с
помощью
воздушного
шара,
наполненного магическим газом. Воздушный шар держится
на деревянном или металлическом каркасе, под которым
находится кабина, где пребывает команда, пассажиры и
груз.
Несмотря на то, что большинство дирижаблей оснащено
магическими
пропеллерами,
некоторые
похожи
на
парусные корабли и управляются магическими ветрами.
Дирижаблю
требуется
команда
из
пяти
человек
(в
дополнение к пилоту), чтобы полет был удачен. Включая
воздушный шар с газом, это судно 8 клеток в длину, 4
клетки в ширину и 6 клеток в высоту.
Колесница: Эта двухколесная повозка предназначена
для битвы и обычно запрягается лошадьми. Легкая
колесница везет одного только кучера и тянется одним
существом. Тяжелая колесница может перевозить до трех
пассажиров плюс кучера, и она запрягается двумя
существами.
ПОДГОТОВКА ЭТОГО ВСЕГО ЛИШЬ
ЧАСТЬ УДОВОЛЬСТВИЯ
Основная задача большинства транспортов и скакунов, это
позволить группе передвигаться с места на место. Тем не
менее, планы путешествующих ИП могут привнести в игру
больше жизни. В своем путешествии к древней горной
крепости персонажи могли бы нанять или купить лошадей у
соседствующего клана эльфов. Вместо этого эльфы могли бы
предложить им использовать несколько махокрылов, помогая
персонажам подняться по крутым склонам. Если ИП должны
достигнуть подводных руин, появляется необходимость купить
ездовых акул или аппарат Квалиша, что делает мини-квест
более красочным и дает надежду на динамичные подводные
сражения.
Большие транспорты могут служить базой для работы или
их можно использовать как локацию для приключений. С
находящимся под атакой парусником или дирижаблем сцена
становится более захватывающей. Возможно, ИП придется
отразить атаку захватчиков, в то время, как другие удерживают
судно под контролем. Битва на большом корабле может быть
на нескольких палубах, что перерастает в массу различных
сцен.
Большой корабль: Это огромное судно имеет четыре
мачты и может перевозить до двухсот Средних существ.
Большие суда часто используются во время войны, чтобы
переправлять солдат. В дополнение к пилоту ему требуется
команда
из
двадцати
человек,
чтобы
корабль
мог
полноценно идти. Судно длинной в 20 клеток, шириной в 8
клеток, а также у него есть палубы, которые возвышаются
над линией воды на 4 клетки.
Галера: У этого одномачтового корабля малая осадка,
что позволяет ему путешествовать по рекам и отмелям. В
дополнение к пилоту судну требуется экипаж из трех
человек, чтобы корабль полноценно шел. В длину галера
14 клеток, в ширину 4 клетки, и она имеет одну палубу,
которая выше уровня воды на 1 клетку.
Махокрыл: Этот волшебный магический агрегат был
разработан гномами, и он используется для разведки и
одиночного
путешествия.
Его
хлопающие
крылья
обеспечивают как подъем, так и рулевое управление.
Пинас: Этот двухмачтовый корабль одинаково хорош
вблизи берега и в открытом море. В дополнение к пилоту
ему требуется экипаж из четырех человек, чтобы корабль
мог полноценно идти. Длина судна 6 клеток, его ширина 2
клетки, и он имеет три палубы, которые выше уровня воды
на 2 клетки.
Фургон: Наиболее распространенное транспортное
средство, используемое для перевозки грузов на суше.
Фургон, как правило, запрягается двумя лошадьми. Он
может быть как с открытым, так и с закрытым верхом. В
фургоне находится отдельная кабина для пассажиров.
АЛХИМИЯ
Создание магических предметов – дорогое дело. Для тех,
кто экономит или не хочет тратить ресурсы на создание
магических предметов, алхимия обеспечивает неплохую
альтернативу. Следопыт может использовать алхимию для
изготовления
припарки,
которая
поможет
излечению
союзника. Плут может сделать алхимическую известь,
которая уничтожит замок, в рамках его навыка Воровства.
Жрец может использовать алхимию, чтобы сделать его или
ее оружие более мощным против неосязаемых существ.
Для создания алхимических
предметов магия не
требуется, но магические ингредиенты необходимы. Эти
предметы редкие и дорогие, поэтому у алхимиков есть
познания в приключениях.
На
применение
алхимического
вещества
или
управление
алхимическим
предметом
требуется
стандартное действие. На принятие внутрь алхимического
вещества или чтобы достать алхимический предмет из
сумки, требуется малое действие.
Использование Алхимии
Процесс создания алхимического предмета похож на
процесс совершения ритуала (см. главу 10 Книги Игрока).
Как и для совершения ритуала, использующий алхимию
персонаж сначала должен получить специальную черту,
которая
позволяет
ему
понимать
и
использовать
алхимические формулы.
Алхимик
Героический Этап
Выгода: Вы можете создавать алхимические элементы
вашего
или
ниже
уровня.
У
вас
должна
быть
соответствующая формула и необходимый навык.
Особенность: Если вы получили черту Ритуальный
Заклинатель в качестве классовой особенности, то вы
можете взять вместо нее черту Алхимик.
Получение и Использование
Алхимических Формул
Алхимические формулы как и ритуалы, как правило,
записаны в книге или на свитке. В отличие от ритуалов
формулы
не
магические
и
записаны
нормальными
материалами. В результате, алхимические формулы
дешевле, чем ритуалы. Также их нельзя выполнить со
свитка, как в случае с ритуалом. Персонаж, желающий
использовать формулу, должен купить ее и выучить, либо
заплатить кому-то, чтобы он научил этой формуле (по той
же рыночной цене).
Алхимические формулы имеют стоимость и время
создания, которое персонаж должен потратить на создание
предмета. Компоненты, используемые в алхимических
формулах, такие же, как и для ритуалов (КИ 300).
АЛХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ФОРМУЛЫ
Название
Рыночная Цена (зм)
Ключевой Навык
Алхимическое
серебро
200
Воровство, Природа,
Религия
Кислота алхимика
70
Воровство, Магия
Огонь алхимика
70
Воровство, Магия
Холод алхимика
70
Воровство, Магия
Противоядие
70
Исцеление, Природа
Звериная отрава
160
Исцеление, Природа
Взрывающаяся
накладка
120
Воровство, Магия
Ослепляющая бомба
120
Воровство, Магия
Яд кровавого жала
120
Воровство, Природа
Порошок
чистых чувств
80
Исцеление, Природа
Раствор
чистой воды
100
Магия, Природа,
Религия
Смола
огненного дракона
120
Воровство, Природа
Масло
призрачного удара
500
Воровство, Природа,
Религия
Настойка «спокойной
ночи»
150
Воровство, Природа
Травяной компресс
90
Природа
Встряхнутая колба
800
Воровство, Магия
Взрывающая замки
известь
160
Воровство, Магия
Скользкая мазь
375
Воровство, Природа
Замедляющее масло
120
Воровство, Природа,
Магия
Дымовая палка
450
Воровство, Магия
Превосходный клей
375
Воровство, Магия
Липкая сумка
100
Воровство, Магия
Громовой камень
200
Воровство, Природа,
Магия
Следящая пыль
160
Воровство, Природа
Универсальный
растворитель
600
Воровство, Магия
Категория
Каждая алхимическая формула имеет категорию, которая
определяет тип предмета, который будет создан.
Летучий:
Предмет
этого
типа
взрывается
или
распространяется, если он сломан или разбит, зачастую
нанося существу урон определенным типом энергии, таким
как кислота, огонь, холод или электричество.
Масло: Масла применяются к предметам (в основном к
оружию), предоставляя им временные свойства или
таланты.
Целебный: Эти предметы помогают в исцелении или в
преодолении отрицательных и ослабляющих эффектов.
Яд: Яд – это токсин, который мешает или вредит
существу.
Другое: Некоторые предметы имеют разнообразные
эффекты, которые не попадают под другие алхимические
категории.
Модификации
Некоторые
алхимические
предметы
можно
изменить,
модифицируя
некоторые
аспекты
функций
предмета,
например таких, как изменение предмета из метательного в
боеприпасы.
Изменение
функций
предмета,
соответственно, увеличивает его уровень и стоимость.
Расходный
Алхимические предметы – это расходный материал, также
как зелья и эликсиры. Они обладают одноразовыми
талантами, которые расходуются при их использовании
либо разрушаются, что делает эти предметы менее
эффективными.
Алхимические Предметы
Приведенные ниже предметы представляют собой лишь
несколько примеров из тех типов вещей, которые алхимики
могут создать, прикладывая к этому свой ум.
АЛХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕДМЕТЫ
Ур
Название
Цена Компонентов (зм)
1
Кислота алхимика
20
1
Огонь алхимика
20
1
Холод алхимика
20
1
Противоядие
20
1
Порошок чистых чувств
20
1
Раствор чистой воды
20
2
Кислота алхимика (боеприпасы)
25
2
Огонь алхимика (боеприпасы)
25
2
Холод алхимика (боеприпасы)
25
2
Липкая сумка
25
3
Ослепляющая бомба
30
3
Яд кровавого жала
30
3
Смола огненного дракона
30
3
Масло призрачного удара
30
3
Травяной компресс
30
3
Замедляющее масло
30
4
Звериная отрава
160
4
Взрывающаяся накладка
40
4
Взрывающая замки известь
40
4
Следящая пыль
40
АЛХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕДМЕТЫ (продолжение)
Ур
Название
Цена Компонентов (зм)
5
Алхимическое серебро
50
5
Громовой камень
50
6
Кислота алхимика
75
6
Огонь алхимика
75
6
Холод алхимика
75
6
Порошок чистых чувств
75
6
Настойка «спокойной ночи»
150
6
Дымовая палка
150
7
Кислота алхимика (боеприпасы)
100
7
Огонь алхимика (боеприпасы)
100
7
Холод алхимика (боеприпасы)
100
7
Липкая сумка
100
8
Ослепляющая бомба
125
8
Яд кровавого жала
125
8
Смола огненного дракона
125
8
Масло призрачного удара
125
8
Травяной компресс
125
8
Скользкая мазь
125
8
Замедляющее масло
125
8
Превосходный клей
125
9
Звериная отрава
320
9
Взрывающаяся накладка
160
9
Взрывающая замки известь
160
9
Следящая пыль
160
10
Встряхнутая колба
200
10
Громовые камни
200
10
Универсальный растворитель
200
11
Кислота алхимика
350
11
Огонь алхимика
350
11
Холод алхимика
350
11
Противоядие
350
11
Порошок чистых чувств
350
11
Настойка «спокойной ночи»
700
12
Кислота алхимика (боеприпасы)
500
12
Огонь алхимика (боеприпасы)
500
12
Холод алхимика (боеприпасы)
500
12
Липкая сумка
500
13
Ослепляющая бомба
650
13
Яд кровавого жала
650
13
Смола огненного дракона
650
13
Масло призрачного удара
650
13
Травяной компресс
650
13
Скользкая мазь
650
13
Замедляющее масло
650
14
Звериная отрава
1,600
14
Взрывающаяся накладка
800
14
Взрывающая замки известь
800
14
Следящая пыль
800
15
Алхимическое серебро
1,000
15
Встряхнутая колба
1,000
15
Громовой камень
1,000
16
Кислота алхимика
1,800
16
Кислота алхимика
1,800
16
Кислота алхимика
1,800
АЛХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕДМЕТЫ (продолжение)
Ур
Название
Цена Компонентов (зм)
16
Порошок чистых чувств
1,800
16
Настойка «спокойной ночи»
3,600
17
Кислота алхимика (боеприпасы)
2,600
17
Огонь алхимика (боеприпасы)
2,600
17
Холод алхимика (боеприпасы)
2,600
17
Липкая сумка
2,600
18
Ослепляющая бомба
3,400
18
Яд кровавого жала
3,400
18
Смола огненного дракона
3,400
18
Масло призрачного удара
3,400
18
Травяной компресс
3,400
18
Скользкая мазь
3,400
18
Замедляющее масло
3,400
18
Превосходный клей
3,400
19
Звериная отрава
9,400
19
Взрывающаяся накладка
4,200
19
Взрывающая замки известь
4,200
19
Следящая пыль
4,200
20
Встряхнутая колба
5,000
20
Громовой камень
5,000
21
Кислота алхимика
9,000
21
Огонь алхимика
9,000
21
Холод алхимика
9,000
21
Противоядие
9,000
21
Порошок чистых чувств
9,000
21
Настойка «спокойной ночи»
18,000
22
Кислота алхимика (боеприпасы)
13,000
22
Огонь алхимика (боеприпасы)
13,000
22
Холод алхимика (боеприпасы)
13,000
22
Липкая сумка
13,000
23
Ослепляющая бомба
17,000
23
Яд кровавого жала
17,000
23
Смола огненного дракона
17,000
23
Масло призрачного удара
17,000
23
Травяной компресс
17,000
23
Скользкая мазь
17,000
23
Замедляющее масло
17,000
24
Звериная отрава
42,000
24
Взрывающаяся накладка
21,000
24
Взрывающая замки известь
21,000
24
Следящая пыль
21,000
25
Алхимическое серебро
25,000
25
Встряхнутая колба
25,000
25
Громовой камень
25,000
26
Кислота алхимика
45,000
26
Огонь алхимика
45,000
26
Холод алхимика
45,000
26
Порошок чистых чувств
45,000
26
Настойка «спокойной ночи»
90,000
27
Кислота алхимика (боеприпасы)
65,000
27
Огонь алхимика (боеприпасы)
65,000
27
Холод алхимика (боеприпасы)
65,000
27
Липкая сумка
65,000
28
Ослепляющая бомба
85,000
АЛХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕДМЕТЫ (продолжение)
Ур
Название
Цена Компонентов (зм)
28
Яд кровавого жала
85,000
28
Смола огненного дракона
85,000
28
Масло призрачного удара
85,000
28
Травяной компресс
85,000
28
Скользкая мазь
85,000
28
Замедляющее масло
85,000
28
Превосходный клей
85,000
29
Звериная отрава
210,000
29
Взрывающаяся накладка
105,000
29
Взрывающая замки известь
105,000
29
Следящая пыль
105,000
30
Встряхнутая колба
125,000
30
Громовой камень
125,000
Алхимическое Серебро
Уровень: 5
Категория: Масло
Время: 15 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 200 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство, Природа или Религия (без
проверки)
Вы можете полить этой серебряной жидкостью свое
оружие, затем дать серебру застыть. Это позволит вам
воспользоваться слабостями некоторых существ.
Алхимическое Серебро Уровень 5+
Эта мерцающая жидкость прилипает к оружию, придавая ему вид
зеркально отполированного серебра.
Ур 5
Ур 15
50 зм
1,000 зм
Ур 25
25,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие. Ваше оружие или одна
группа вашей амуниции (30 стрел, 10 арбалетных болтов, 20 ядер
пращи или 5 сюрикенов) атакует как посеребренное оружие до конца
сцены или на следующие 5 минут. Алхимическое серебро можно
наложить на немагическое оружие или на магическое оружие 14-го и
ниже уровня.
Уровень 15: Оружие наносит дополнительно 1к6 урона существам,
которые имеют уязвимость к серебряному оружию или существам,
которые
страдают
другими
вредящими
эффектами
от
посеребренного оружия, Например, на способность оборотней
использовать регенерацию. Алхимическое серебро можно наложить
на немагическое оружие или на магическое оружие 24-го и ниже
уровня.
Уровень 25: Оружие наносит дополнительно 2к6 урона существам,
которые имеют уязвимость к серебряному оружию или существам,
которые
страдают
другими
вредящими
эффектами
от
посеребренного оружия, Например, на способность оборотней
использовать регенерацию. Алхимическое серебро можно наложить
на немагическое оружие или на магическое оружие 34-го и ниже
уровня.
1.ККслота алхКмКка; 2.Холод алхКмКка; 3.Огонь алхКмКка
Кислота Алхимика
Уровень: 1
Категория: Летучий
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 70 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Стеклянный
флакон,
содержащий
кислоту
алхимика,
способен выдержать гремучие смеси, но легко разбивается
от
удара.
Когда
это
происходит,
летучие
кислоты
взрываются, разъедая все на своем пути.
Кислота Алхимика Уровень 1+
Когда флакон разбивается, во все стороны летят кислотные
брызги.
Ур 1
Ур 6
Ур 11
20 зм
75 зм
350 зм
Ур 16
Ур 21
Ур 26
1,800 зм
9,000 зм
45,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ♦ Кислота): Стандартное действие.
Атака: Дальнобойный 5\10 (одно существо); +4 против Реакции;
Попадание: Урон 1к10 урона кислотой и продолжительный урон
кислотой 5 (спасение оканчивает).
Промах: Половина урона и нет продолжительного урона.
Уровень
6:
+9
против
Реакции;
1к10
урона
кислотой
и
продолжительный урон кислотой 5 (спасение оканчивает).
Уровень
11:
+14
против
Реакции;
2к10
урона
кислотой
и
продолжительный урон кислотой 5 (спасение оканчивает).
Уровень
16:
+19
против
Реакции;
2к10
урона
кислотой
и
продолжительный урон кислотой 10 (спасение оканчивает).
Уровень
21:
+24
против
Реакции;
3к10
урона
кислотой
и
продолжительный урон кислотой 10 (спасение оканчивает).
Уровень
26:
+29
против
Реакции;
3к10
урона
кислотой
и
продолжительный урон кислотой 15 (спасение оканчивает).
Модификации: Боеприпасы (уровень + 1). Вы создаете
предмет для использования его вместе с дальнобойным
оружием,
таким
как
лук,
арбалет,
или
праща.
Дальнобойность
предмета
руководствуется
дальнобойностью
оружия,
но
использует
указанный
модификатор атаки. Вы не прибавляете бонус владения
или бонус улучшения при атаке. Стоимость компонентов
для предмета приведена в таблице ниже.
Уровень
Цена Компонентов (зм)
2
25
7
100
12
500
17
2,600
22
13,000
27
65,000
Огонь Алхимика
Уровень: 1
Категория: Летучий
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 70 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Это взрывчатое вещество плотно закрывают в герметичной
колбе из глины. Брошенная колба разбивается, попадая на
твердый объект, а жидкость внутри зажигается.
Огонь Алхимика Уровень 1+
Когда колба разбивается, область заполняется алхимическим
огнем.
Ур 1
Ур 6
Ур 11
20 зм
75 зм
350 зм
Ур 16
Ур 21
Ур 26
1,800 зм
9,000 зм
45,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ♦ Огонь): Стандартное действие.
Атака: Зональная вспышка 1 в пределах 10 (все во вспышке); +4
против Реакции;
Попадание: Урон 1к6 урона огнем.
Промах: Половина урона.
Уровень 6: +9 против Реакции; 2к6 урона огнем.
Уровень 11: +14 против Реакции; 3к6 урона огнем.
Уровень 16: +19 против Реакции; 3к6 урона огнем.
Уровень 21: +24 против Реакции; 4к6 урона огнем.
Уровень 26: +29 против Реакции; 4к6 урона огнем.
Модификации: Боеприпасы (уровень + 1). Вы создаете
предмет для использования его вместе с дальнобойным
оружием,
таким
как
лук,
арбалет,
или
праща.
Дальнобойность
предмета
руководствуется
дальнобойностью
оружия,
но
использует
указанный
модификатор
атаки.
Область
вспышки
остается
неизменной. Вы не прибавляете бонус владения или бонус
улучшения
при
атаке.
Стоимость
компонентов
для
предмета приведена в таблице ниже.
Уровень
Цена Компонентов (зм)
2
25
7
100
12
500
17
2,600
22
13,000
27
65,000
Холод Алхимика
Уровень: 1
Категория: Летучий
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 70 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Холод
алхимика
плотно
закрывают
в
герметичном
керамическом флаконе. Когда он разбивается, внезапное
воздействие воздуха вызывает мороз алхимика, который
расширяется и замораживает.
Холод Алхимика Уровень 1+
Взрываясь, эта керамическая колба выпускает ледяной туман,
который при попадании в цель вызывает ледяное онемение.
Ур 1
Ур 6
Ур 11
20 зм
75 зм
350 зм
Ур 16
Ур 21
Ур 26
1,800 зм
9,000 зм
45,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ♦ Холод): Стандартное действие.
Атака: Дальнобойный 5\10 (одно существо); +4 против Реакции;
Попадание: Урон 1к10 урона холодом, и цель замедлена до конца
вашего следующего хода.
Промах: Половина урона и цель не замедлена.
Уровень 6: +9 против Реакции; 1к10 урона холодом.
Уровень 11: +14 против Реакции; 2к10 урона холодом.
Уровень 16: +19 против Реакции; 2к10 урона холодом.
Уровень 21: +24 против Реакции; 3к10 урона холодом.
Уровень 26: +29 против Реакции; 3к10 урона холодом.
Модификации: Боеприпасы (уровень + 1). Вы создаете
предмет для использования его вместе с дальнобойным
оружием,
таким
как
лук,
арбалет,
или
праща.
Дальнобойность
предмета
руководствуется
дальнобойностью
оружия,
но
использует
указанный
модификатор атаки. Вы не прибавляете бонус владения
или бонус улучшения при атаке. Стоимость компонентов
для предмета приведена в таблице ниже.
Уровень
Цена Компонентов (зм)
2
25
7
100
12
500
17
2,600
22
13,000
27
65,000
Противоядие
Уровень: 1
Категория: Целебный
Время: 15 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 70 зм
Ключевой
навык:
Природа
или
Целительство
(без
проверки)
Противоядие содержится в маленьком флаконе. Принятие
препарата обеспечивает дополнительную устойчивость к
яду.
Противоядие Уровень 1+
Это густое тонизирующее средство может помочь в борьбе с
последствиями большинства ядов.
Ур 1
Ур 11
20 зм
350 зм
Ур 21
9,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Малое действие.
Эффект: Вы получаете бонус +2 к спасброску от ядов 10-го уровня и
ниже. Эффект длится до конца сцены или на следующие 5 минут.
Уровень 11: От ядов 20-го и ниже уровней.
Уровень 21: От ядов 30-го и ниже уровней.
Звериная Отрава
Уровень: 4
Категория: Другое
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 160 зм
Ключевой
навык:
Природа
или
Целительство
(без
проверки)
Вы можете зажечь этот предмет, сломав его. После этого
создается зона отпугивающего животных аромата.
Звериная Отрава Уровень 4+
Эта палочка быстрогорящего ладана создает дымный туман,
который сдерживает животных.
Ур 4
Ур 9
Ур 14
160 зм
320 зм
1,600 зм
Ур 19
Ур 24
Ур 29
9,400 зм
42,000 зм
210,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ♦ Зона): Стандартное действие.
Атака: Ближняя вспышка 1 (только животные); +10 против
Стойкости;
Эффект: Вспышка создает зону, и цель, по которой есть попадание,
сдвигается за пределы зоны в ближайшую с этой зоной клетку. Зона
длится до конца сцены, и животные, которые входят в клетку с этим
эффектом или начинают в ней ход, подвергаются той же атаке
животного яда.
Уровень 9: +15 против Стойкости.
Уровень 14: +20 против Стойкости.
Уровень 19: +25 против Стойкости.
Уровень 24: +30 против Стойкости.
Уровень 29: +30 против Стойкости.
Взрывающаяся Накладка
Уровень: 4
Категория: Летучий
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 120 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Взрывающаяся накладка собирается из набора маленьких
кристаллов. Тщательно скрытые в земле они могут стать
опасной ловушкой, которая взрывается, если на нее
наступить. Взрывающаяся накладка бывает трех видов. Ее
тип определяется при создании накладки.
Взрывающаяся Накладка Уровень 4+
Эти зернистые кристаллы взрываются, если на них наступить.
Ур 4
Ур 9
Ур 14
40 зм
160 зм
800 зм
Ур 19
Ур 24
Ур 29
4,200 зм
21,000 зм
105,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант
(Расходный
♦
Огонь,
Холод
или
Электричество):
Стандартное действие.
Эффект: Вы устанавливаете взрывающуюся накладку в смежной
незанятой клетке. Когда существо проходит через эту клетку,
взрывающаяся
накладка
совершает
атаку
против
существа
немедленным прерыванием; +7 против Реакции; при попадании цель
получает урон и страдает эффектом в зависимости от вида
взрывающейся накладки.
Огненная накладка – урон огнем 2к8.
Ледяная накладка – урон холодом 1к8, и цель обездвижена до конца
своего следующего хода.
Шоковая накладка – урон электричеством 1к8, и цель предоставляет
боевое превосходство до конца своего следующего хода.
Взрывающаяся накладка может быть обнаружена при проверке
Внимательности
Сл
20.
Существо,
которое
пролетает
или
перепрыгивает клетку с взрывающейся накладкой, не провоцирует
триггера.
Уровень 9: +12 против Реакции.
Уровень 14: +17 против Реакции; +1к8 урона; Внимательность Сл 25.
Уровень 19: +22 против Реакции; +1к8 урона; Внимательность Сл 25.
Уровень 24: +27 против Реакции; +2к8 урона; Внимательность Сл 30.
Уровень 29: +32 против Реакции; +2к8 урона; Внимательность Сл 30.
Ослепляющая Бомба
Уровень: 3
Категория: Летучий
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 120 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
В этой керамической сфере содержатся реактивы, которые
перемешиваются и загораются ослепляющей вспышкой,
если сферу разбить.
Ослепляющая Бомба Уровень 3+
Эта размером с кулак сфера взрывается ослепляющей вспышкой,
когда брошена.
Ур 3
Ур 8
Ур 13
30 зм
125 зм
650 зм
Ур 18
Ур 23
Ур 28
3,400 зм
17,000 зм
85,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Атака: Зональная вспышка 1 в пределах 10 (все во вспышке); +6
против Стойкости;
Попадание: Цель рассматривает всех не смежных существ как
имеющих покров до конца вашего следующего хода. Существа,
которые не полагаются на зрение, чтобы видеть других существ,
неуязвимы к применению этого таланта.
Уровень 8: +11 против Стойкости.
Уровень 13: +16 против Стойкости.
Уровень 18: +21 против Стойкости.
Уровень 23: +26 против Стойкости.
Уровень 28: +31 против Стойкости.
Яд Кровавого Жала
Уровень: 3
Категория: Яд
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 120 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Природа (без проверки)
Этот черный яд сделан из химически усиленных ядов
пауков, многоножек и скорпионов.
Яд Кровавого Жала Уровень 1+
Этот чернильного цвета токсин наносит раны, которые долго
горят после первого нанесенного удара.
Ур 3
Ур 8
Ур 13
30 зм
125 зм
650 зм
Ур 18
Ур 23
Ур 28
3,400 зм
17,000 зм
85,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ♦ Яд): Стандартное действие.
Нанесите яд на свое оружие или одну единицу боеприпасов.
Совершите вторичную атаку против следующей цели, по которой вы
попали покрытым ядом оружием или боеприпасами; +6 против
Стойкости.
Попадание: Цель получает продолжительный урон ядом 5 (спасение
оканчивает).
Уровень 8: +11 против Стойкости.
Уровень 13: +16 против Стойкости.
Уровень 18: +21 против Стойкости.
Уровень 23: +26 против Стойкости.
Уровень 28: +31 против Стойкости.
Порошок Чистых Чувств
Уровень: 1
Категория: Целебный
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 80 зм
Ключевой
навык:
Природа
или
Целительство
(без
проверки)
Как правило, этот белый порошок хранится в небольшом
пузырьке, который можно поместить под нос субъекта. При
вдыхании порошок может избавить от эффекта ослепления
или оглушения.
Порошок Чистых Чувств Уровень 1+
Этот сухой серебристый порошок может восстановить ваши
утраченные чувства.
Ур 1
Ур 6
Ур 11
20 зм
75 зм
350 зм
Ур 16
Ур 21
Ур 26
1,800 зм
9,000 зм
45,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Малое действие.
Эффект: Вы или смежный с вами союзник можете совершить
спасбросок от эффекта ослепления или оглушенного состояния,
которое может закончиться спасением. Источник состояния должен
быть 5-го или ниже уровня.
Уровень 6: 10-го уровня или ниже.
Уровень 11: 15-го уровня или ниже.
Уровень 16: 20-го уровня или ниже.
Уровень 21: 25-го уровня или ниже.
Уровень 26: 30-го уровня или ниже.
Раствор Чистой Воды
Уровень: 1
Категория: Другое
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 100 зм
Ключевой навык: Магия, Природа или Религия (без
проверки)
Раствор чистой воды делает застоявшуюся воду питьевой и
очищает даже самые смертельные жидкости.
Рствор Чистой Воды Уровень 1
Этот небольшой шар белого желе очищает даже самые токсичные
жидкости от ядов дварфскими духами.
Алхимический предмет 20 зм
Талант (Расходный): Малое действие.
Примените раствор чистой воды к объему жидкости, заполняющей
куб 1 клетки (1,5 метра на 1,5 метра на 1,5 метра, примерно 935
галлонов). Раствор удаляет любой яд или болезнь из жидкости в
течение 1 минуты.
Раствор чистой воды не может удалить яд или болезнь из воды,
которая уже в существе, и он не оказывает влияния на водных
существ или существ с ключевым словом вода. Если применить его к
большему объему жидкости, чем указано выше, то раствор не имеет
никакого эффекта.
Смола Огненного Дракона
Уровень: 3
Категория: Летучее
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 120 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Природа (без проверки)
Эта зеленая смола обернута защитным покрытием, которое
разрывается при ударе о твердый предмет. Смола
огненного дракона прилипает к цели и горит алхимическим
пламенем.
Смола Огненного Дракона Уровень 3+
Это липкое вещество поджигает врага длительным пламенем.
Ур 3
Ур 8
Ур 13
30 зм
125 зм
650 зм
Ур 18
Ур 23
Ур 28
3,400 зм
17,000 зм
85,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Атака: Дальнобойный 5\10 (одно существо); +6 против Реакции;
Попадание: Цель получает продолжительный урон огнем 5 (спасение
оканчивает).
Уровень 8: +11 против Реакции и продолжительный урон огнем 5
(спасение оканчивает).
Уровень 13: +16 против Реакции и продолжительный урон огнем 10
(спасение оканчивает).
Уровень 18: +21 против Реакции и продолжительный урон огнем 10
(спасение оканчивает).
Уровень 23: +26 против Реакции и продолжительный урон огнем 15
(спасение оканчивает).
Уровень 28: +31 против Реакции и продолжительный урон огнем 15
(спасение оканчивает).
Масло Призрачного Удара
Уровень: 3
Категория: Масло
Время: 15 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 500 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство, Природа или Религия (без
проверки)
Это прозрачное масло наносится на оружие и несет
проклятие привидениям, призракам и другим неосязаемым
существам.
Масло Призрачного Удара Уровень 3+
Оружие, покрытое этим мутным маслом, источает призрачный
желтый туман.
Ур 3
Ур 8
Ур 13
30 зм
125 зм
650 зм
Ур 18
Ур 23
Ур 28
3,400 зм
17,000 зм
85,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Нанесите масло на свое оружие или одну единицу боеприпасов.
Совершите вторичную атаку против следующей цели-нежити с
сопротивлением «неосязаемый», по которой вы попали покрытым
маслом оружием или боеприпасами; +6 против Стойкости.
Попадание:
Вы
игнорируете
сопротивление
существа
«неосязаемый», когда определяете урон, нанесенный этой атакой.
Уровень 8: +11 против Стойкости.
Уровень 13: +16 против Стойкости.
Уровень 18: +21 против Стойкости.
Уровень 23: +26 против Стойкости.
Уровень 28: +31 против Стойкости.
Настойка «Спокойной Ночи»
Уровень: 6
Категория: Яд
Время: 1 час
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 750 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Природа (без проверки)
Эта жидкость растворяется в пище или напитке ничего
неподозревающей жертвы, после чего субъект падает в
беспамятстве.
1.Настойка «спокоЛноЛ ночК»; 2.Встряхнутая колба;
3.ТравяноЛ компресс
Настойка «Спокойной Ночи» Уровень 6+
Это миленькое средство может вывести противника из строя,
даже не навредив ему.
Ур 6
Ур 11
Ур 16
150 зм
700 зм
3,600 зм
Ур 21
Ур 26
18,000 зм
90,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ♦ Сон): Малое действие.
Вы добавляете настойку «спокойной ночи» в смежную с вами еду
или напиток. Существо, которое принимает еду или напиток,
подвергается атаке через 1 минуту: +12 против Стойкости.
Попадание: Это существо становится без сознания в течение 1 часа
или до тех пор, пока оно не станет целью атаки или резких движений.
Уровень 11: +17 против Стойкости.
Уровень 16: +22 против Стойкости.
Уровень 21: +27 против Стойкости.
Уровень 26: +32 против Стойкости.
Травяной Компресс
Уровень: 3
Категория: Целебный
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 90 зм
Ключевой навык: Природа (без проверки)
Эти
собранные
лекарственные
травы
предоставляют
субъекту дополнительные хиты, если он использует
исцеление после короткого отдыха.
Травяной Компресс Уровень 3+
Этот мешочек специально подготовленных для лечебных трав
увеличивает естественную способность к восстановлению сил.
Ур 3
Ур 8
Ур 13
30 зм
125 зм
650 зм
Ур 18
Ур 23
Ур 28
3,400 зм
17,000 зм
85,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ♦ Исцеление): Стандартное действие.
Используйте перед вашим или вашего союзника коротким отдыхом.
Цель восстанавливает дополнительно 2 хита, когда он или она
использует исцеление в конце своего короткого отдыха.
Уровень 8: Восстанавливает дополнительно 4 хита.
Уровень 13: Восстанавливает дополнительно 6 хита.
Уровень 18: Восстанавливает дополнительно 8 хита.
Уровень 23: Восстанавливает дополнительно 10 хита.
Уровень 28: Восстанавливает дополнительно 12 хита.
Встряхнутая Колба
Уровень: 10
Категория: Летучий
Время: 1 час
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 800 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Специально
приготовленные
реактивы
создают
ошеломляющий взрыв, когда эта запечатанная емкость
разбивается.
Встряхнутая Колба Уровень 10+
Когда колба разбивается, она создает отталкивающую волну,
которая изумляет ваших врагов.
Ур 10
Ур 15
Ур 20
200 зм
1,000 зм
5,000 зм
Ур 25
Ур 30
25,000 зм
125,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Атака: Зональная вспышка 1 в пределах 10 (все во вспышке); +13
против Стойкости;
Попадание: Цель изумлена до конца вашего следующего хода.
Уровень 15: +18 против Стойкости.
Уровень 20: +23 против Стойкости.
Уровень 25: +28 против Стойкости.
Уровень 30: +33 против Стойкости.
Взрывающая Замки Известь
Уровень: 4
Категория: Другое
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 160 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Этот небольшой стержень известняка изготовлен из
специальных реактивов, которые расширяются, если его
часть отломана.
Взрывающая Замки Известь Уровень 4+
Этой тонкой палочкой из извести можно взломать даже самые
сложные замки, если вставить его в замочную скважину.
Ур 4
Ур 9
Ур 14
40 зм
160 зм
800 зм
Ур 19
Ур 24
Ур 29
4,200 зм
21,000 зм
105,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ): Стандартное действие.
Совершите проверку Воровства против соседнего закрытого объекта
или объекта, который вы держите в руках. Получите бонус к проверке
+7 вместо ваших обычнох модификаторов проверки. Успешная
проверка разрушает замок, неудачная не повреждает его.
Уровень 9: Бонус +9.
Уровень 14: Бонус +12.
Уровень 19: Бонус +14.
Уровень 24: Бонус +17.
Уровень 29: Бонус +19.
Скользкая Мазь
Уровень: 8
Категория: Другое
Время: 1 час
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 375 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Природа (без проверки)
Это зеленовато-черное масло позволяет существу уйти от
захвата или выскользнуть из ловушки.
Скользкая Мазь Уровень 8+
Этот маслянистый гель позволяет легко избежать удерживания.
Ур 8
Ур 13
Ур 18
125 зм
650 зм
3,400 зм
Ур 23
Ур 28
17,000 зм
85,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Вы или союзник смежный с вами, получаете бонус к проверкам
Акробатики +14против сложности Сл удерживающего или Рефлексов
схватившего существа на 5 минут или до конца сцены. Используйте
этот модификатор вместо вашего обычного модификатора проверки.
Уровень 13: Бонус +16..
Уровень 18: Бонус + 19.
Уровень 23: Бонус +21.
Уровень 28: Бонус +24.
Замедляющее Масло
Уровень: 3
Категория: Масло
Время: 1 час
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 120 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство, Магия или Природа (без
проверки)
Это парализующее масло наносится на оружие, чтобы
ваши атаки замедлили наступление врагов.
Замедляющее Масло Уровень 3+
Оружие, покрытое этим белым маслом, может замедлить ваших
врагов.
Ур 3
Ур 8
Ур 13
30 зм
125 зм
650 зм
Ур 18
Ур 23
Ур 28
3,400 зм
17,000 зм
85,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Нанесите масло на свое оружие или одну единицу боеприпасов.
Совершите вторичную атаку против следующей цели, по которой вы
попали покрытым маслом оружием или боеприпасами; +6 против
Стойкости.
Попадание: Цель замедлена (спасение оканчивает).
Уровень 8: +11 против Стойкости.
Уровень 13: +16 против Стойкости.
Уровень 18: +21 против Стойкости.
Уровень 23: +26 против Стойкости.
Уровень 28: +31 против Стойкости.
Дымовая Палка
Уровень: 6
Категория: Летучее
Время: 1 час
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 450 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Дымовая палка содержит реактивы, которые смешиваются
и
воспламеняются,
если
она
надтреснута,
создавая
область с дымом.
Дымовая Палка Уровень 6
Этот
жезл
из
алхимической
глины
зажигается,
выпуская
заслоняющий дым.
Алхимический предмет 150 зм
Талант (Расходный ♦ Зона): Стандартное действие.
Дымовая палка создает дым в пределах зональной вспышки 1 в
пределах 5 клеток. Вспышка создает зону, и все клетки в ее
пределах считаются слегка затемненными. Зона длится до конца
вашего следующего хода.
Превосходный Клей
Уровень: 8
Категория: Другое
Время: 2 часа
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 375 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Превосходный клей хранится в специальном флаконе,
который держит его в вязком состоянии, пока он не
подвергнется воздействию воздуха. В этот момент он
создает прочное соединение между двумя объектами.
Превосходный Клей Уровень 8+
Этот серого цвета клей создает практически неразрываемое
соединение между объектами, которые он склеивает.
Ур 8
Ур 18
125 зм
3,400 зм
Ур 28
85,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Нанесите этот клей на объект и прикрепите его к другому объекту в
пределах
досягаемости.
Два
объекта
должны
оставаться
прикрепленными друг к другу до конца вашего следующего хода. В
конце вашего следующего хода клей застывает, и чтобы разделить
предметы, требуется проверка Силы Сл 29. Успешная проверка
Силы наносит 2к10 урона каждому склеенному объекту.
Уровень 18: Проверка Силы Сл 35.
Уровень 28: Проверка Силы Сл 42.
Липкая Сумка
Уровень: 2
Категория: Другое
Время: 1 часа
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 100 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Липкая сумка содержит липкий гель, который расширяется
и
затвердевает
при
контакте
с
воздухом.
Мешок,
содержащий гель, специально запечатывается, чтобы он
взорвался при ударе.
Липкая Сумка Уровень 2+
Это небольшой кожаный мешок или сумка, содержащая липкий гель и
способный обездвижить врагов.
Ур 2
Ур 7
Ур 12
25 зм
100 зм
500 зм
Ур 17
Ур 22
Ур 27
2,600 зм
13,000 зм
65,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Атака :Дальнобойный 5\10 (одно существо); +5 против Реакции;
Попадание: Цель обездвижена до конца вашего следующего хода,
после чего цель замедлена до конца ее следующего хода
Уровень 7: +10 против Реакции.
Уровень 12: +15 против Реакции.
Уровень 17: +20 против Реакции.
Уровень 22: +25 против Реакции.
Уровень 27: +30 против Реакции.
Громовой Камень
Уровень: 5
Категория: Летучий
Время: 1 часа
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 200 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство, Магия или Природа (без
проверки)
Громовой камень распадается при столкновении с твердой
поверхностью.
Мощные
реактивы
смешиваются,
и
получается оглушающий взрыв.
Громовой Камень Уровень 5+
Эта глиняная сфера вызывает удар грома, который может
оглушить существ и сбить их с ног, если ее разбить.
Ур 5
Ур 10
Ур 15
50 зм
200 зм
1,000 зм
Ур 20
Ур 25
Ур 30
5,000 зм
25,000 зм
125,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Атака: Зональная вспышка 1 в пределах 10 (все существа); +8
против Стойкости.
Попадание: Урон звуком 1к4, и цель толкается на 1 клетку от центра
вспышки, и становится оглохшей (спасение оканчивает).
Уровень 10: +13 против Стойкости.
Уровень 15: +18 против Стойкости; урон звуком 2к4.
Уровень 20: +23 против Стойкости; урон звуком 2к4.
Уровень 25: +28 против Стойкости; урон звуком 3к4.
Уровень 30: +33 против Стойкости; урон звуком 3к4.
Следящая Пыль
Уровень: 4
Категория: Другое
Время: 1 час
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 160 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Природа (без проверки)
Эта мелкая пыль, как правило, используется в таких
областях, как поиск уже существующих следов или если вы
хотите обнаружить существо, проходившее здесь много
раньше.
Следящая Пыль Уровень 4+
Мелкие зерна этого серебристого порошка могут выявить едва
различимый след.
Ур 4
Ур 9
Ур 14
40 зм
160 зм
800 зм
Ур 19
Ур 24
Ур 29
4,200 зм
21,000 зм
105,000 зм
Алхимический предмет
Талант (Расходный ♦ Зона): Стандартное действие.
Следящая пыль создает зону в 5 последовательных клеток. В
районе, где лежит пыль, проверку Внимательности можно сделать с
общим бонусом +7. Используйте этот модификатор вместо вашего
обычного
модификатора
проверки.
Следящую
пыль
можно
обнаружить при проверки Внимательности Сл 20, и ее эффект
длится 1 час.
Уровень 9: Бонус +9.
Уровень 14: Бонус +12.
Уровень 19: Бонус +14.
Уровень 24: Бонус +17.
Уровень 29: Бонус +19.
Универсальный Растворитель
Уровень: 10
Категория: Другое
Время: 30 минут
Цена компонентов: См.ниже
Рыночная цена: 600 зм
Ключевой навык: Воровство или Магия (без проверки)
Эта прозрачная жидкость имеет запах аналогичный цветку
ириски.
Он
часто
хранится
рядом
со
склянкой
превосходного клея (см. выше).
Универсальный Растворитель Уровень 10
Этот прозрачный раствор может растворить практически любой
клей.
Алхимический предмет 200 зм
Талант (Расходный): Стандартное действие.
Примените это вещество на существо или объект. Уничтожает любой
тип земного клея (в том числе превосходный клей), действующего на
вас, ваш предмет или в площади, смежной с вами.
Универсальный растворитель позволяет существу, обездвиженному
земным клеем, таким как горшок клея кобольда пращника или слизь
мага аболета – талант взрыв слизи – немедленно защитит вас от
эффекта. Это не влияет на последствия от этих веществ (таких как
эффект замедления взрыва слизи), и не имеет никакого влияния на
существ, обездвиженных другими эффектами (например, атака
упыря когтем).
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For D&D 3rd Edition, presented by ADnD Downloads
Authors
Feats presented in this document were written by various authors: Kain the Lich, David Prophet,
The Monster, and some others.
Hit or Miss [General]
You rely on strange tactics and chance to penetrate your enemy's defenses.
Prerequisites: Point Blank Shot, Expertise, Weapon Focus, Dex 13+, Wis 13+, Int 13+.
Benefit: You may choose to roll a d100 to make your attack roll. Every day you have a 100%
chance total for this feat. For every use you decide the amount in percentage you want to use
on the attack. This amount is subtracted from your daily 100% total and you have the subtracted
amount in percent chance to strike your enemy.
Imbue Missile [General]
You have the ability to imbue your missiles with magical spells.
Prerequisites: Point Blank Shot, Expertise, Weapon Focus, Spellcaster 5+.
Benefit: You may imbue one of your spells into a missile and use the missile's range instead of
the regular range.
You may also add the missile's damage to the attack.
Special: Arcane Archers receive this feat at first level.
Imbue Weapon [General]
You have the ability to imbue magical spells into your weapon of choice.
Prerequisites: Expertise, Weapon Focus, Power Attack or Weapon Finesse, Spellcaster 5+.
Benefit: You may imbue one of your weapons with a spell and add its damage to your attack.
Advanced Technical Fighting [General]
You rely entirely on impressive skill and technique rather than physical ability in battle.
Prerequisites: Combat Reflexes, Expertise, Weapon Focus, Int 13+, Wis 13+, Base Attack 10+,
Melee Weapon.
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Benefit: You may add your Intelligence or Wisdom modifier when making attack and damage
rolls.
Arial Attack [General]
You use the power of your jumping to deal additional damage to your attacks.
Prerequisites: 5 Ranks in Jump skill, Mobility, Dex 13+ or Str 13+.
Benefit: Once a day per level you may make an Arial Attack. You add 1/3 of your Jump skill
modifier to your damage roll.
Dynamic Attack [General]
You use your acrobatic prowess to strike your enemy.
Prerequisites: 5 ranks in tumbling, 5 ranks in jump, 5 ranks in balance, Combat Reflexes,
Weapon Focus.
Benefit: Once a day per level you may make a Dynamic Attack. You add 1/3 of your Tumbling
skill modifier to your attack roll.
Power Charge Attack [General]
You use the additional power of your running velocity to deal extra damage.
Prerequisites: Mobility, Running, Str 13+.
Benefit: Whenever you use your full movement action, you may 1/10 of your base movement to
your damage roll.
Run Through Attack [General]
You can strike multiple enemies with great speed and across great distances.
Prerequisites: Mobility, Running, Charge Attack, Supreme Cleave, Dex 16+, Weapon Finesse,
Weapon Focus, Expertise, Improved Initiative.
Benefit: When you take the full movement option you may use your full number of attacks and
use them at any time throughout your movement. You also may move through enemies upon
successful hits, and may bypass attacks of opportunity against you upon a successful Tumble
check.
Advanced Faking [General]
Fakes, feints, pulls… They are all a regular part of melee combat, but now you have become an
expert at doing this to provide great opportunities in combat.
Prerequisites: 6 ranks in Bluff, 6 ranks in Sense Motive, Dex 13+, Cha 13+.
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Benefit: Upon a successful Bluff check plus your attack bonus versus your opponent’s Sense
Motive check plus his attack bonus, your opponent makes an immediate extra attack of
opportunity against you at -X attack. X is the result of the Bluff versus Sense Motive checks with
the attack bonuses included. If your opponent misses, you may make an immediate extra attack
of opportunity against your opponent at +X attack. Advanced Faking may be used once a round
as a free action, and in subsequent rounds at -your opponent’s Intelligence bonus but never as
a benefit to, your Bluff check. This stacks each round. So if your opponent had +3 as his
Intelligence bonus you would receive -3 to your Bluff check and -6 the next round, but if his
Intelligence bonus is -1, you would receive no bonus or penalty. Penalties disappear if this feat is
used 3 rounds apart in subsequent melee rounds with your opponent. It is up to the DM to
decide when the enemy has caught on to the fakes and when your faking has improved to throw
the same opponent off.
Language Affinity
The character is extremely adept at picking up languages. By merely being in an environment
with another language, the character can learn it. The character must stay at least one week in
an environment where the language is spoken predominately (complete immersion), though
more time ensures a greater chance of comprehension. In game terms, the character begins
with a base Learning Rate Modifier equal to his/her Intelligence modifier. Add 5 points for the
first week and 1 point every day thereafter. Also add 1 point per language known after the
“mother language” (or first language spoken). For most PC’s this “mother language” would be
“common”. The DC to learn a new language is as below:
Same race
15
Different race
18
Animal/Environment
21
Monster/Creature
25
Plane-based
29
Alignment-based:
same exact alignment
19
one alignment category
22
radically-different alignment
26
It is possible to learn a new language more quickly with this feat without complete immersion,
though more time is needed for learning. This is considered low- (one person teaching) to
moderate-immersion (at least three people teaching), and includes speaking in the new
language as much as possible (at least four hours per day). Learning in low-level immersion
results in one point every three days, while mid-level immersion results in one point every two
days. Any day not spent in intensive language development (speaking 4 hours per day, learning
new grammar or words) results in no positive Learning Rate Modifier to effectively learn the
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new language. Speaking, reading, and writing a language are all handled as separate languages
for the purpose of knowledge and fluency.
Prerequisites: Knowledge – Languages: 4 ranks, two languages (mother language excluded),
Intelligence 13+
Advanced Language Affinity
The character is extremely adept at picking up languages. By merely listening to another
language, the character can learn it. The DC to learn a new language is as below:
Same race
12
Different race
15
Animal language
17
Monster language
21
Plane-based language
25
Alignment-based:
Same exact alignment
14
one alignment category
19
Radically-different alignment
22
Low-level (one person who speaks the language) immersion is sufficient to learn the language.
Every time the language is heard by the linguist (person who possesses Language Affinity), one
point is added to the Learning Rate Modifier. For every day the linguist hears the new language
exclusively, add three points to the LRM. Intensive practice is not necessary, since the linguist
learns how to think in the new language, and passively meditates on the new language
frequently. Speaking, reading, and writing a language are all handled as separate languages for
the purpose of knowledge and fluency.
Linguists are known to inadvertently substitute words in one language for another known
language, especially when learning a new language. While learning a new language, the linguist
begins to think in the new language, and the new language thus becomes the “mother tongue”
for the purpose of word-substitution if they cannot think of a particular word.
Prerequisites: Knowledge – Languages: 7 ranks, four languages (mother language excluded),
Language Affinity
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Language Tracking Sheet
Keeping track of languages that one is learning is fairly simple: merely note the Learning Rate
Modifier next to the language until the DC is passed, and then the LRM can be erased, since that
language is added to your character’s repertoire.
FOR LINGUISTS ONLY: Either list all languages on a separate sheet of paper, or use the Complex
Character Sheet by Bradley here. It contains a section for languages, but would recommend this
character sheet at any rate. Every time someone speaks a language, add a point to that
language.
When trying to rudimentarily communicate in a language your character barely knows, use the
language DC chart and subtract 5 points. This will give the listener a basic idea of what you’re
talking about, and amounts to little more than a person who has a high-level skill in charades.
NOTE TO DM: as a true and bona fide linguist, I can tell you that linguists learn languages only a
little slower than these two feats allow. I, personally, could be fully fluent in a language in less
than a month, and I known other linguists who could learn faster! The linguist mind is a highly-
analytical thing, and linguists are not necessarily geniuses. One thing always remains true: the
more languages one masters, the easier it is to learn subsequent languages.
Improved Point Blank Shot
Prerequisites: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Dex 13+, Base Attack +6
Benefit: You are an uncommonly good shot with a bow or crossbow in its first range increment.
You must choose a single bow or crossbow for this feat. Then instead of the normal limit of 30
feet for point blank shot you can consider your bow or crossbows first range increment the limit
for point blank shot.
Improved Rapid Shot
Prerequisites: Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Dex 13+, Base Attack +8
Benefit: This feat work like the Rapid Shot feat but you do not incur the normal -2 to hit.
Greater Critical
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus, Proficient with weapon, Base Attack +6
Benefit: With your chosen weapon you hit much harder than average. Find you weapons
current critical damage multiplier and add one to it. For example a longsword’s Critical is 19-20
X2. In this case it would be 19-20 X3 (2+1=3 for a total critical damage modifier of X3). This feat
may be taken multiple times each for a separate weapon that you have weapon focus with.
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Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
Prerequisites: Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (with chosen weapon), Dex 14+, Base
Attack +6
Benefit: With your chosen weapon for the purposes of the Two-Weapon Fighting style you may
consider it light. Weapons of up to large size qualify. So it could conceivably be possible to use a
greataxe in both hands. For example say you use a long sword in either hand, the normal best
you could get would be a -4 -4 to hit. Since you have taken this feat for the longsword, you can
consider it light so the penalty would be -2 -2. This feat may be taken multiple times, each for a
separate weapon that you have weapon focus with.
Two-Weapon Specialization
Prerequisites: Two-Weapon Fighting, Ambidexterity, Weapon Focus (with chosen weapon),
Weapon Specialization, Base Attack +8
Benefit: With your chosen weapon you are so good at fighting with two-weapons that you may
subtract 2 from the two-weapon fighting penalties. This bonus applies with all other bonuses.
Tree Topper [General]
You are adept at climbing and feel comfortable in combat while doing so.
Prerequisites: Dex 14+.
Benefit: You get a +2 bonus to all Climb checks and you may apply your Dex modifier to your AC
while climbing
Special: Normally, while climbing, a character may not apply his Dex modifier to his AC while
climbing.
Twin-Parry [General]
Your skill in wielding two weapons has shown you how to use your off-hand to defend yourself
better when you are concentrating on defense.
Prerequisites: Two-Weapon Fighting, Expertise.
Benefit: If acting defensively while wielding two weapons or a double weapon, the character’s
dodge bonus increases by two. If a character is fighting on the defensive then his bonus
increases from +2 to +4. If he is taking the total defense action, his dodge bonus increases from
+4 to +6. If a character is using his expertise feat his AC increases by 2 more than it normally
would have if he did not have this feat.
Special: These bonuses do not stack with bonuses received for the Tumble skill (see Player’s
Handbook p. 75).
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Improved Blind-Fight [General]
Prerequisites: Blind-Fight, Wis 13+
Benefit: In melee, your miss chance because of concealment is reduced by 10% (see Player’s
Handbook Table 8-10: Concealment, p. 133).
Defensive Refocus [General]
You are good at thinking on your feet in combat and reassessing tactics on the fly.
Prerequisites: Mobility, Wis 13+
Benefit: You may refocus on the defensive, granting you a +2 dodge bonus to AC on the round
in which you refocus. On the following round your initiative is set to 20 plus any modifiers you
may have (see Refocus in the Player’s Handbook, p. 134).
Soft Strike [General]
Your great knowledge in the use of a weapon has allowed you to learn to fight non-lethally with
it. The skill is in gauging your blows and pulling your punches.
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus with weapon.
Benefit: The usual –4 penalty applied to attackers who wish to deal subdual damage is ignored.
Improved Soft Strike [General]
You are skilled at striking the parts of your foes that will knock them unconscious, but cause
little lasting harm.
Prerequisites: Soft Strike, base attack bonus of +5 or higher.
Benefit: You receive a +3 bonus to damage when dealing subdual damage.
Heroic Riposte [General]
The heart of a hero beats strong in your chest and you are unwilling to let go of life without a
fight.
Prerequisites: Cha 13+, Wis 13+
Benefit: Whenever the character is struck down (0 or lower hit points) he is allowed to take a
single attack of opportunity against the foe that delivered the blow.
Quick Swap [General]
You are skilled at throwing your opponent off by quickly changing your attack handiness mid-
melee.
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Prerequisites: Ambidexterity, base attack bonus +7 or more.
Benefit: In melee and while using a single weapon, you may swap your weapon to your empty
hand as a free action and then make a partial-action attack with a +2 circumstance bonus to hit.
You may not receive this bonus on any two consecutive rounds against the same foe (though
you may still swap handiness on consecutive rounds).
Battle Cry [General]
Your intense and powerful words can grant you strength in combat.
Prerequisites: Cha 14+
Benefit: When making a charge action you receive a +1 morale bonus to hit and damage for that
round only.
Special: It is best if the player creates a battle cry for his character if he chooses to take this feat.
Snap Attack [General]
You are capable of making quick, accurate, but relatively weak strikes with melee weapons.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+
Benefit: On your action, before making attack rolls for a round, you may choose to subtract
from all melee damage rolls and add the same number to all melee attack rolls. This number
may not reduce your damage to less than 1. The bonus to attack and penalty to damage apply
until your next action.
Intuitive Learning [General]
You can treat a skill as a class skill.
Prerequisites: 12+ in key ability.
Benefit: This feat allows a character to treat any cross-class skill as though it were a class skill.
Special: This feat may be taken more than once.
Deadly Strike [General]
Your prowess at striking vital areas is uncanny.
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus with chosen weapon, Improved Critical, base attack bonus of +8 or
higher.
Benefit: When a threat is rolled with a specific weapon, a critical is automatically scored. The
character need not make a secondary attack roll.
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Special: This can be taken multiple times. Each time it is taken, it applies to a different melee
weapon of the player’s choosing. This feat may only apply to melee weapons.
Arcane Blood [General]
Your blood carries strong magic in it. Perhaps an ancestor was a great spellcaster, or perhaps
there is dragon blood in your family. Whatever the cause, you are capable of using a bit of
magic, which comes naturally to you.
Prerequisites: Cha 10+
Benefit: You are capable of learning one 0th level spell and casting it once per day as though
you were a 1st level sorcerer.
Special: A character with levels of the sorcerer class may not take this feat. This feat may be
taken multiple times in which case the player may select another 0th level spell. This feat can
never grant anything beyond 0th level spells. (Note: the spells are cast exactly as though by a
1st level sorcerer, with armor checks made normally.)
Transcend Armor [General]
Through training and practice, you have learned how to move more adeptly in a certain type of
armor.
Prerequisites: Proficient with chosen armor. Str 10+
Benefit: This feat reduces the penalties associated with the type of armor chosen. The
maximum Dexterity bonus is increased by one and the armor check penalty is reduced by 1. The
arcane spell failure is reduced by 5%.
Special: This feat is applied to the armor chosen (leather, chain shirt, banded, etc.). The
character may select the feat multiple times to gain the benefit with different types of armor.
Riposte [General]
You skill is in waiting for your opponent to become clumsy and make a mistake.
Prerequisites: Wis 13+, Combat Reflexes, Expertise, Base attack bonus of +5 or better.
Benefit: When you choose to fight defensively or use the full defense action in melee combat,
you may immediately counter a missed attack. Treat your counter attack exactly as an attack of
opportunity. You may make only a single counter-attack each round, though you may still take
advantage of other attacks of opportunity.
Iron Skin [General]
You are a hard, hard man (or woman).
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Prerequisites: Con 15+
Benefit: You have a natural armor class of +1. This is cumulative with any natural armor you
may already have. This feat can only be taken once.
Weapon Mastery [General]
You have gone beyond normal skill with the selected weapon, and have gained intimate
knowledge of the intricacies of its use.
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus (selected weapon), Weapon Specialization (selected weapon),
Expertise, Wis 13+, base attack bonus of 13+.
Bonus: While wielding the selected weapon, you receive a +1 to hit and damage. You also
receive a +1 deflection bonus to your armor class against melee attacks.
True Weapon Mastery [General]
There are few, if any others who can claim they have your skill the selected weapon.
Prerequisites: Weapon Mastery (selected weapon), bas attack bonus of 18+
Bonus: While wielding the selected weapon, you receive a +1 to hit and damage. You also
receive a +1 deflection bonus to your armor class against melee attacks. Furthermore, you gain
an additional +2 deflection bonus to your armor class when facing an opponent who wields the
same weapon as you have mastery so long regardless if you are currently wielding your
mastered weapon.
Kick-Up [General]
You have learned how to get up from being prone very quickly.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+
Bonus: Standing up from a prone position is a free action.
Normal: Standing is normally a move-equivalent action.
Chi Strike [General]
Your fists become the vessel of your chi, allowing you to deliver deadly blows not only to an
opponent’s body, but their very life energy.
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Power Attack, Cha 13+, base attack bonus of 5+
Bonus: Your fists strike as though they were of +1 enchantment. This allows you to harm
creatures that normally would not be affected by non-magical weapons. It also allows you to
break magical weapons of +1 enchantment. Treat your fists in every way as though they were
enchanted as a +1 weapon but do not add the bonus to hit or damage.
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Improved Chi Strike [General]
Your focused chi has become very strong indeed, young grasshopper.
Prerequisites: Chi Strike, base attack bonus of 10+
Bonus: Your fists now strike as though they had a +2 enchantment.
Prodigy [Special]
One school of magic comes very naturally to you. Its concepts and intricacies are as common as
simple math to you.
Prerequisites: Wizard, Spell Focus (selected school of magic)
Bonus: Select a school of magic. For each level of wizard you advance, you can automatically
learn 1 spell of any level normally allowed to you of that school in addition to any other spells
you may learn that level.
Uncanny Reaction [General]
You think so quickly on your feet, it almost seems supernatural. Often, you are moving before
anyone else knows what is happening.
Prerequisites: Alertness, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Dex 13+
Bonus: Instead of the standard 1d20, you roll 2d20 for initiative and take the highest result.
Your initiative modifiers are then added to the rolled number normally.
Striking Scorpion [General]
You are able to catch your opponents off guard by striking “from the hip.”
Prerequisites: Proficient with selected weapon, Quick Draw, Dex 13+
Bonus: Select a medium sized slashing weapon. If you attack with that weapon the same round
you draw it (as a free action), you receive a +2 situational bonus to hit. This may be used while
charging, but not while mounted.
Shield Focus [General]
You are very adept at fighting with a shield in your off hand.
Prerequisites: Shield proficiency
Bonus: You gain an additional +1 shield bonus to your armor class against a single opponent.
You may change which opponent you are defending against on any of your turns as a free
action.
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Stubborn Heart [General]
You just refuse to die. Your reserves of willpower keep you alive long after others would have
died.
Prerequisites: Con 13+, Iron Will
Bonus: You don’t die until you reach –15 hit points.
Tactician [General]
You replace brute strength with cunning and intuition.
Prerequisites: Wis 13+
Bonus: You may select Feats as though you had a Strength score of 13. You must meet all other
prerequisites.
Veteran [Special]
Through years of experience you have developed instincts and gained wisdom.
Prerequisites: 15th level
Bonus: When selecting (but not using) new feats, consider your wisdom score to be of 13.
Follow-Up [General]
You are adept at pushing through enemy lines to create a breach.
Prerequisites: Mobility, Cleave
Bonus: While using the full attack option, each time you drop an opponent you may take an
immediate 5-foot step straight forward or on a diagonal forward. You may not exceed your
normal Speed in any one round.
Special: You make your five-foot follow up move before making any additional melee attacks
that round if you are using the full attack option. If you elect not to take your step it is lost, and
cannot be made later in the round unless you have dropped another opponent. You may not
make cleave attacks after taking your five-foot step.
True Spell Mastery [Special]
You know a selected spell so innately that you can cast it on the fly without memorizing it.
Prerequisites: Wizard, Spell Mastery (selected spell), Spell Focus (selected spell’s school), Int 16+
Bonus: A selected spell can be cast without preparation if a Concentration check (DC 10+spell’s
level) is successfully made. Casting the spell uses a slot of its level up (one spell from that level,
chosen by the player, is removed) and if no slots are left then the mastered spell cannot be cast.
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The wizard still requires all of the appropriate components to cast the spell. Metamagic feats
increase the level of the slot taken up just as though he’d prepared the spell normally (i.e. a
wizard who has True Mastery of fireball can cast it using the Maximize feat, but it would use up
a 6th level spell slot and require him to make a Concentration check DC 16).
Special: This feat can be taken multiple times to attain true mastery over different spells.
Hardiness [General]
Even when most others would be unconscious, your will drives you on and keeps you standing.
Prerequisites: Iron Will, Con 13+
Bonus: When staggered or dying you may continue to take actions and function somewhat
normally. Each round that you are at 0 or fewer hit points you must succeed at a Fort save (DC
10 + number of hit points below zero) or fall unconscious. If you succeed at your saving throw
you may act normally except you move only at half speed and receive a –3 circumstance bonus
to all attack, damage, skill check, and saving throw rolls. You still lose a hit point every round
that you are below zero unless you make your stabilization roll. A character who has stabilized
must still make For saves every round he is below 0 hit points.
Studied Weakness [Special]
You have dedicated a great deal of time studying the physical biology and structure of a selected
type of opponent. Through knowledge you will attain victory.
Prerequisites: Favored enemy (selected creature), Int 13+, base attack bonus +5 or better.
Bonus: You may add your Intelligence modifier to damage rolls when fighting the selected
creature in melee combat.
Sacrificial Riposte [General]
You know that sometimes the only way to find an opening is to create one.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+
Bonus: You may take a penalty to your armor class (up to your Dex bonus) and apply the same
number as an attack bonus against a single melee target. The penalty to your armor class and
your attack bonus last until your next action.
Career Campaigner [General]
You know marching. It comes as second nature to you.
Prerequisites: Con 13+
Bonus: You may re-roll any failed Fort save for forced marching once.
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/D&D 3.5/Other Products/Another Feat Collection.pdf |
1
Brian Jolly
Chi Warrior
2
Chi Warrior
Credits
Author: Brian Jolly
Development: Carl Cramér, Perry Fehr
Editing: Perry Fehr, Mark Gedak
Artist: Gary Dupuis
Porphyra Logo: Rick Hershey
Layout: Mark Gedak
Publisher: Purple Duck Games
Compatibility with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game requires the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game from
Paizo Publishing, LLC. See http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder
Roleplaying Game. Paizo Publishing, Inc does not guarantee compatibility, and does not endorse this
product.
3
Chi Warrior
“I don’t know even know how you call what you do ‘fight-
ing’, it’s so slow and boring. Now me, when I fight, I make
it a dance, I make it interesting so my opponent at least
can die entertained. But seriously, why am I explaining
this to you when I could just show you?”.
—Rosa Espada, of the Black Roses
The focus of stories and fables alike, all history remem-
bers the acts of a true hero. Adventurers at heart, a chi
warrior is rarely found idle, instead going out to leave
their mark on the world in whatever way they can.
There are those who love challenging the impossible,
slaying dragons and demons alike while bringing back
exotic trophies of their slaughtered foes. Others work
to overthrow oppression, rarely abiding a tyrant in their
lands.
Most chi warriors feel right at home with barbarians
and rogues, finding a great deal in common through
their travels. A bard and a chi warrior can have a friend-
ship that is as legendary as their accomplishments, each
complimenting the other. Chi warriors are often at odds
with monks and lawful divine characters, their rigid
codes rub the more free spirited chi warrior the wrong
way.
Chi warriors generally pay little attention to the gods,
seeing them more as inspiring idols than objects of ven-
eration. Terrestrial affairs concern them far more, chi
warriors sometimes keep a journal to chronicle honor-
able opponents and glory won in battle.
Vain and prideful, chi warriors can be reckless in
battle, proving a touch too wild for allies. But rarely will
they go as far as to put their comrades in danger, prefer-
ring to face the most dangerous challenges themselves.
Drawn to trouble like moths to a flame, chi warriors
are rarely wanting for combat, finding the experience
invigorating as they use their opponent as a canvas for
their artistic expression. As long as chi warriors can
walk, they can fight, often pushing the body to the
breaking point and beyond.
Role: A chi warrior’s role is never clear to anyone but
themselves, often taking a variety of combat roles even
in a single battle. From summoning up immense spiri-
tual energy to destroying foes with impossibly powerful
strikes, a chi warrior often finds her way around the
battlefield in the blink of an eye, managing to put down
foes before they have a chance to trouble her allies.
Attacking in unorthodox ways, a chi warrior’s greatest
asset in combat is her unpredictable nature.
Alignment: Any. The mantle of the chi warrior is open
to all who would dedicate themselves, allowing chi war-
riors to come from all walks of life. While the great ma-
jority of them are chaotic in nature, chi warriors only
need a strong belief in themselves and their abilities to
maintain their skills. Good and neutral chi warriors
often find themselves wanderers, righting wrongs and
fighting for the greater good, while evil chi warriors use
their power to carve out their own fief.
Hit Die: d10.
Starting Wealth: 4d6 × 10 gp (average 140 gp.) In ad-
dition, each character begins play with an outfit worth
10 gp or less.
Class Skills: The chi warrior’s class skills are Acrobatics
(Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha) Es-
cape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (local)
(Int), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Perception (Cha),
Perform (Cha), Profession (Cha), Ride (Dex), Sense
Motive (Cha), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Stealth (Dex),
Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
These are all the class features of the chi warrior.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Chi warriors are
proficient with all simple weapons as well as unarmed
strikes. Chi warriors are also proficient with light and
medium armor but not with shields. Chi warriors gain
additional weapon proficiencies depending on their
Chi Versus Ki.
Chi and ki are both manifestations of
spiritual energy, but expressed differ-
ently. While ki is based on discipline and
Wisdom, chi is based on joy of life and
Charisma. Ki is explosive but finite, chi
is rhythmic and everlasting. Ki is col-
lected in a pool and released in bursts, chi
streams constantly and is useable as long
as the character can remain in tune with
it’s ebb and flow.
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Table: Chi Warrior
Level
Base Attack
Bonus
Fort
Save
Ref
Save
Will
Save
Special
Unarmed
Damage
AC Bonus
Fast
Movement
1st
+1
+2
+2
+2
Discipline path, special
moves, way of life
1d6
+0
+0 ft.
2nd
+2
+3
+3
+3
Signature weapon, style
feat
1d6
+0
+0 ft.
3rd
+3
+3
+3
+3
Special moves
1d6
+0
+10 ft.
4th
+4
+4
+4
+4
Style ability
1d8
+1
+10 ft.
5th
+5
+4
+4
+4
Style feat, uncanny dodge 1d8
+1
+10 ft.
6th
+6/+1
+5
+5
+5
Special moves
1d8
+1
+20 ft.
7th
+7/+2
+5
+5
+5
Buff specialist, chi feats
1d8
+1
+20 ft.
8th
+8/+3
+6
+6
+6
Style feat
1d10
+2
+20 ft.
9th
+9/+4
+6
+6
+6
Chi waves, evasion
1d10
+2
+30 ft.
10th
+10/+5
+7
+7
+7
Style ability
1d10
+2
+30 ft.
11th
+11/+6/+1
+7
+7
+7
Stance fusion, style feat
1d10
+2
+30 ft.
12th
+12/+7/+2
+8
+8
+8
Special moves
2d6
+3
+40 ft.
13th
+13/+8/+3
+8
+8
+8
Improved uncanny dodge 2d6
+3
+40 ft.
14th
+14/+9/+4
+9
+9
+9
Style feat
2d6
+3
+40 ft.
15th
+15/+10/+5
+9
+9
+9
Improved evasion
2d6
+3
+50 ft.
16th
+16/+11/+6/+1
+10
+10
+10
Special moves
2d8
+4
+50 ft.
17th
+17/+12/+7/+2
+10
+10
+10
Style feat
2d8
+4
+50 ft.
18th
+18/+13/+8/+3
+11
+11
+11
Style ability
2d8
+4
+60 ft.
19th
+19/+14/+9/+4
+11
+11
+11
Lightning buff
2d8
+4
+60 ft.
20th
+20/+15/+10/+5 +12
+12
+12
Chi avatar, style feat
2d10
+5
+60 ft.
choice of fighting style. Note that chi warriors with high
Charisma scores do not need to rely on armor, they can
use their way of life as an armor bonus (below) instead.
Unarmed Strike: At 1st level, a chi warrior gains Im-
proved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat. A chi warrior’s
attacks may be with fist, elbows, knees, and feet. This
means that a chi warrior may make unarmed strikes with
her hands full. There is no such thing as an off-hand
attack for a chi warrior striking unarmed. A chi warrior
may thus apply her full Strength bonus on damage rolls
for all her unarmed strikes.
Usually a chi warrior’s unarmed strikes deal lethal
damage, but she can choose to deal nonlethal damage
instead with no penalty on her attack roll. She has the
same choice to deal lethal or nonlethal damage while
grappling.
A chi warrior’s unarmed strike is treated as both a
manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the pur-
pose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either
manufactured weapons or natural weapons.
A chi warrior also deals more damage with her un-
armed strikes than a normal person would, as shown
above on Table: Chi Warrior. The unarmed damage
values listed on Table: Chi Warrior is for Medium chi
warriors. A Small chi warrior deals less damage than the
amount given there with her unarmed attacks, while a
Large chi warrior deals more damage; see Table: Small or
Large Chi Warrior Unarmed Damage.
Way of Life Armor Bonus (Ex): When unarmored
and unencumbered, the chi warrior adds her Charisma
bonus (if any) as a dodge bonus to her Armor Class and
Combat Maneuver Defense.
She loses this bonus when she loses her Dexterity bo-
nus to Armor Class, when she is immobilized or helpless,
when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or
when she carries a medium or heavy load.
5
Small or Large Chi Warrior Unarmed Damage
Level
Damage
(Small)
Damage
(Large)
1st–3rd
1d4
1d8
4th–7th
1d6
2d6
8th–11th
1d8
2d8
12th–15th
1d10
3d6
16th–19th
2d6
3d8
20th
2d8
4d8
Fighting style (Ex): Chi warriors are defined by their
choice of style, the abilities that they focus on beyond all
others. At 1st level, a chi warrior must select one fight-
ing style to focus upon and two secondary styles. Any
style(s) not selected becomes a prohibited style.
At first level, the chi warrior gains proficiency with the
weapons of her primary fighting style.
At 4th level, 10th level, and 18th level, the chi warrior
gains a special ability from their fighting style.
A chi warrior selects special moves from her primary
and secondary styles, see special moves, below. The chi
warrior’s fighting style also decides which style feats she
learns at level 2, 5, and 8. After that, the chi warrior can
pick any style feat. See style feats, below.
Special Moves: Unlike other martial characters, the chi
warrior brings a whole new flair to combat, their fight-
ing style uniquely tailored to whatever battle they’re in,
able to change special moves at a moment’s notice. At 1st
level, 3rd level, 6th level, and every six levels thereafter,
the chi warrior learns two special moves.
Whenever the chi warrior selects special moves at a
new level, she may pick any number of special moves
from her primary fighting style, but her selection from
other paths is limited. A chi warrior must select half or
more of her special moves from her primary fighting
style, no more half from her secondary fighting styles
together, and none from a forbidden fighting style.
All saves for techniques are determined by the chi war-
rior using them. Unless otherwise noted, the save DC for
each technique are 10 + ½ the chi warrior’s class level +
her Charisma modifier. All spell-like effects have a caster
level equal to the chi warrior’s class level.
Chi warriors may treat every two levels as non-chi war-
rior level for the purposes of their effective chi warrior
level to qualify for advancement in each special move,
for caster level with spell-like special moves, and to cal-
culate the save DCs of their techniques.
Special move come in three basic types, tsuki, kata,
and uke. A chi warrior cannot use the same tsuki or uke
two rounds in a row. This may force a chi warrior to
make ordinary attacks in between special moves, espe-
cially at low level.
•
Tsuki: A tsuki requires a standard action to use,
targeting an opponent with either an attack roll or
other effect.
•
Kata: A kata requires either a move or a swift action
to use, somehow increasing the abilities of the user.
A chi warrior can only have one kata special move
running at any time.
•
Uke: A uke requires an immediate action to use, and
is done in response to a triggering event specified for
each ability.
Fast Movement: At 3rd level, a chi warrior gains an en-
hancement bonus to her land speed, as shown on Table:
Chi Warrior. A chi warrior carrying a medium or heavy
load loses this extra speed.
Signature Weapon: At third level, the chi warrior gains
Weapon Focus with unarmed strikes and with one of
the weapons of her primary fighting style as bonus feats.
If she already has Weapon Focus in one or another of
these, she may instead take any combat feat she fulfills
the prerequisites for as a bonus feat. She can gain ad-
ditional signature weapons; any weapon the chi warrior
has the Weapon Focus feat for is considered a signature
weapon. A signature weapon always adds the chi war-
rior’s Strength bonus to damage, the damage bonus is
Tsuki, Kata, Uke:
In keeping with the exotic source of the
chi warrior’s power, an internal discipline
with mysterious, possibly otherworldly
origins, the powers that flow from “Chi”
have specific categories and names:
•
Tsuki (zoo-key) – “to strike”, an ap-
plication of directed power of
attack
•
Kata – “form”, an exercise that
prepares the user to apply an act, to
improve the user’s abilities
•
Uke (oo-kay) – “ block”, a response
to an opponent’s action, to
counter their attack
6
not changed when the signature weapon is used in two
hands or in the off hand.
Whenever the chi warrior hits with a signature weap-
on, the weapon deals damage as if it was an unarmed
strike, see the unarmed strike class feature, above. The
chi warrior can decide to use the weapon’s base damage
instead of the signature weapon damage—this must be
declared before the attack roll is made. This increase in
damage does not affect any other aspect of the weapon,
and doesn’t apply to alchemical items, bombs, or other
weapons that only deal energy damage.
Style Feats: Chi warriors receive style feats as bonus
feats at level 2 and every 3 levels thereafter.
The first 3 bonus feats gained at level 2, 5, and 8 de-
pend on the chi warrior’s primary fighting style. The chi
warrior ignores all prerequisites of these feats. If the chi
warrior already knows one of these feats, she can select
any combat feat as a replacement. Remaining bonus style
feats can be selected freely, but she must fulfill prerequi-
sites (as modified below) for these feats.
When fulfilling the prerequisites of style feats (bonus
feats or otherwise), chi warrior levels count as monk
levels, and any Wisdom requirement is replaced by Cha-
risma. Style feats can always be used with any weapon
the chi warrior has Weapon Focus with, even if they can
normally only be used unarmed or with a limited set of
weapons. Any style feat that uses Wisdom instead relies
on Charisma when used by a chi warrior. Elemental Fist
and Stunning Fist are considered style feats when used
by a chi warrior, all special rules apply to them.
AC Bonus (Ex): At 4th level, the chi warrior gains a +1
dodge bonus to AC and CMD. This bonus increases
by 1 for every four chi warrior levels thereafter, up to a
maximum of +5 at 20th level.
She loses these bonuses when she loses her Dexterity
bonus to Armor Class, when she is immobilized or help-
less, when she wears heavy armor, when she uses a shield,
or when she carries a medium or heavy load.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 5th level, the chi war-
rior can react to danger before her senses would normally
allow her to do so. She cannot be caught flat-footed,
nor does she lose her Dex bonus to AC if the attacker
is invisible. She still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if
immobilized. A chi warrior with this ability can still lose
her Dexterity bonus to AC if an opponent successfully
uses the feint action (see Combat) against her.
If the chi warrior already has uncanny dodge from a
different class, she automatically gains improved uncan-
ny dodge (see below) instead.
Kata Specialist (Ex): At 7th level, the chi warrior may
activate both a kata special move and a style feat stance
at once as a swift or move action.
Chi Feats (Ex): At 7th level, the chi warrior learns how
to use chi with combat feats. She can substitute Charis-
ma for any combat feat prerequisite that uses Intelligence
or Wisdom.
Chi Waves (Ex): At 9th level, the chi warrior connects to
the everlasting flow of chi. She can use any combat feat
with a limited number of uses per day any number of
times per day, but may not use any individual feat that
normally has limited uses more than once per round or
two rounds in a row. The chi warrior must learn appro-
priate feats to use this ability.
Evasion (Ex): At 9th level or higher, the chi warrior can
avoid damage from many area-effect attacks. If a chi
warrior makes a successful Reflex saving throw against
an attack that normally deals half damage on a success-
ful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion cannot be
used if the chi warrior is wearing heavy armor. A helpless
chi warrior does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Stance Fusion (Ex): At 11th level, the chi warrior learns
how to fuse multiple stances. The chi warrior can have
two style feat stances active at once. Starting a stance
provided by a style feat is still a swift action, but when
the chi warrior switches to another style feat, she can
choose one style whose stance is already active to persist.
She may have no more than two style feat stances active
at any time.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A chi warrior of 13th
level or higher can no longer be flanked.
This defense negates the ability to sneak attack the
character by flanking her, unless the attacker has at least
four more levels in classes that grant sneak attack than
the target has levels in classes that grant uncanny dodge.
If a character already has uncanny dodge (see above)
from another class, the levels from the classes that grant
uncanny dodge stack to determine the minimum rogue
level required to flank the character.
Improved Evasion (Ex): At 15th level, the chi warrior
takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw
against attacks, she henceforth takes only half damage
7
on a failed save. A helpless chi warrior does not gain the
benefit of improved evasion.
Lightning Kata (Ex): At 19th level, chi warriors have
become entirely synced with their way of fighting. They
may activate one special move kata or style feat stance
per round as a free action. The chi warrior does not
gain the ability to maintain multiple kata special moves
simultaneously.
Chi Avatar (Ex): At 20th level, a chi warrior becomes
a magical creature. She is forevermore treated as a fey
rather than a humanoid (or whatever her original crea-
ture type was) for the purpose of spells and magical
effects. Additionally, the chi warrior gains damage reduc-
tion 10/lawful, which allows her to ignore the first 10
points of damage from any attack made by a nonlawful
weapon. She is restored to her starting age and ceases to
age—some would say she never grew up at all. Finally,
she gains resistance 5 against every type of energy dam-
age: acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic.
Fighting Styles and Special Moves
These are the fighting styles available to the chi warrior,
and the special moves of each style.
Adamant Champion
Leaders among others, the heroes and villains who define
bard’s tales and stand alone on the field of battle in shin-
ing glory or disdain. Adamant champions are capable of
taking impossible punishment while leading their fellows
to victory, the sight of them often turning the tide of
battle.
Signature Weapons: Battleaxe, longsword, morningstar,
shortsword, warhammer.
Style Feats Snapping: Turtle Style (2nd), Snapping
Turtle Clutch (5th), Snapping Turtle Shell (8th).
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior may draw their weapon
as a free action in response to an initiative check.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior may make an Intimi-
date check against one opponent within 30 ft. as a
free action in response to an initiative check.
•
At 18th level, the chi warrior may make an intimi-
date check against each opponent within 30 ft. as
free action in response to an initiative check.
Absorbing Armor (Uke, Ex): As an immediate action
whenever the chi warrior takes physical damage, she
receives DR/— equal to one-fourth the damage she took
from the triggering effect. This DR last until the end of
her next round.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior may apply the DR from
this special move to the triggering effect.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior instead receives DR/-
equal to half of the triggering effect.
•
At 16th level, the DR lasts for five minutes.
Champion’s Rally (Uke, Ex): As an immediate action
when the chi warrior is within 30 ft. of an ally who is
about to make a Fortitude or Will saving throw, the chi
warrior may also make a saving throw of the same type
and difficulty. If either saving throw is successful, the
ally succeeds at the saving throw. If both saving throws
fail, the chi warrior and her ally both suffer the effects of
the failed saving throw. If the effect also affects the chi
warrior directly, she does not suffer both effects, she only
takes the worst of the results she would have taken, that
from this ability or the effect she suffers directly.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior can apply this to Reflex
saving throws. The ally also gains the benefits of the
chi warrior’s evasion ability, regardless of armor or
encumbrance.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior can use this to help
all allies within 30 ft. who are affected by the effect
saved against.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can use this ability on
herself, gaining two saving throws and using the best
result.
Devastating Assault (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action,
the chi warrior may make a melee attack roll against one
target. If this attack roll is successful, the target takes
twice as much damage as normal (additional damage,
like that from a flaming weapon or sneak attack, is not
multiplied).
•
At 4th level, in addition to damage, the target must
make a Fortitude save or be dazed for 1 round.
•
At 10th level, the target may instead be stunned.
•
At 16th level, the target may instead be dazed for
a number of rounds equal to the chi warrior’s Cha
modifier.
The target receives a new saving throw to break the effect
8
on the chi warrior’s turn each round.
Inspiring Blow (Tsuki, Ex/Sp): As a standard action, the
chi warrior may make a melee attack roll against one tar-
get. If it is successful, the chi warrior may select one ally
within 30 ft. to receive a number of temporary hit points
equal to the chi warrior’s level + the chi warrior’s Cha
modifier. These temporary hit points last for 5 minutes
and do not stack with other temporary hit points.
•
At 4th level, any ally who has temporary hit points
from this special move receives a +1 to attack and
damage rolls.
•
At 10th level, the number of temporary hit points
given doubles.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior may instead choose to
heal their ally by an equal amount. The chi warrior
may only choose to use this special move this way a
number of times per day equal to her Cha modifier.
This is a spell-like effect.
Invigorating Spirit (Kata, Ex/Sp): As a move or swift
action, the chi warrior may give herself a number of
temporary hit points equal to twice her hit dice.
These temporary hit points do not stack with any oth-
ers, and last 5 minutes. Once the duration is up or the
chi warrior has lost all of these temporary hit points, this
special move ends and cannot be reactivated until the
original 5 minute duration has passed.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior may instead bestow
these hit points onto an adjacent ally. If she does, the
chi warrior may not use this special move again until
the duration has expired.
•
At 10th level, invigorating spirit can be used again
right after it ends.
•
At 16th level, instead of granting temporary hit
points the chi warrior can heal an equal amount of
hit point damage. The chi warrior may only use this
special move this way a number of times per day
equal to their Cha modifier (minimum 1.) This is a
spell-like effect.
Metal Idol (Kata, Ex): As a move or swift action, the chi
warriors unarmed and signature weapon attacks count as
magical weapons for the next 5 minutes. As she advances
in level, her attacks gain additional properties.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior’s unarmed attacks count
as silver and cold iron.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior’s unarmed attacks
count as chaotic.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior’s unarmed attacks are
treated as adamantine weapons for the purpose of
overcoming damage reduction and bypassing hard-
ness.
Power of Perfection (Kata, Ex): As a move or swift
action, the chi warrior receives a bonus on either Bluff,
Intimidate, or Sense Motive equal to her Constitution
modifier (minimum +1) for one round. Out of combat,
she can maintain this power indefinitely.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior may choose two skills to
receive the bonus with.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior instead receives the
bonus on all three skills.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can add any one class
skill to the list, and receives the bonus to all four
skills.
Shrug It Off (Uke, Ex): As an immediate action when-
ever the chi warrior takes damage, she can treat it as
nonlethal damage. The chi warrior cannot use this ability
if she has previously taken any nonlethal damage. A chi
warrior immune to nonlethal damage cannot use this
ability at any level.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior recovers nonlethal dam-
age equal to the sum of her Charisma and Constitu-
tion modifiers each round. This can be nonlethal
damage from any source.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior only takes nonlethal
damage equal to ½ the amount of lethal damage she
converted.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can shrug off damage
even when she already suffers nonlethal damage, but
cannot halve the converted damage when doing so.
Steel Guardian (Uke, Ex): As an immediate action
whenever the chi warrior is adjacent to an ally who has
been hit by a melee or ranged attack, the chi warrior can
instead receive the damage that their ally would have
taken.
•
At 4th level, when the chi warrior uses steel guard-
ian, the chi warrior’s ally receives a bonus to their AC
equal to the chi warrior’s Cha modifier (minimum
+1) until the beginning of their next round.
•
At 10th level, the damage the chi warrior takes is
9
nonlethal damage. A chi warrior immune to nonle-
thal damage cannot use this ability.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior reduces the damage of
the triggering attack by ½.
Quicksilver Duelist
For those who care to stand toe to toe with opponents,
challenging them in honorable combat with unmatched
skill and grace.
Quicksilver duelist are known for their incredible
speed and skill of their attacks, answering blows with
deadly uke attacks.
Signature Weapons: Bladed scarf, shortsword, unarmed
strike, rapier, scimitar, katana.
Style Feats: Snake Style (2nd), Snake Sidewind (5th),
Snake Fang (8th).
•
At 6th Level The chi warrior receives a +2 to CMD.
•
At 10th Level The chi warrior may make both a
move action as well as a standard action in any sur-
prise round that she can act in.
•
At 18th Level The chi warrior may make attacks of
opportunity against all targets who draw weapons in
her threatened range.
Charmed Luck (Kata, Ex): As a move or swift action,
the chi warrior allows herself to make a reroll on any one
saving throw in the next 5 minutes. Once this reroll is
made, this special move ends.
•
At 4th level, if the chi warrior fails a saving throw
after re-rolling, this special move does not end, al-
lowing her to reroll another saving throw before this
special move ends.
•
At 10th level, when this special move ends, the chi
warrior can restart it as an immediate action.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior may reroll twice, taking
the better result.
Duelist’s Challenge (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action,
the chi warrior may force one creature within 60 ft. to
make a Will save. If they fail, the target suffers a penalty
on attack and damage rolls equal to the chi warrior’s Cha
modifier. Also, the save DC of all the creature’s abilities
is reduced by the same amount. These penalties do not
apply against the chi warrior. If the chi warrior is de-
feated (moves more than 100 ft. away, becomes helpless,
or surrenders) this special move ends. This is a mind-
affecting compulsion effect and lasts for five minutes.
•
At 4th level, the target suffers concealment against all
creatures aside from the chi warrior.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior ignores any conceal-
ment or cover the target may have. She cannot
ignore total cover or total concealment.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior ignores any DR and
resistances the target may have.
Impeccable Tempo (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action,
the chi warrior may make two melee attacks at a -5 at-
tack penalty.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior only takes a -2 penalty
when attacking with impeccable tempo.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior takes no attack penalty.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can make three attacks.
Insightful Leverage (Kata, Ex)
As a move or swift action, the chi warrior gains a bonus
on CMB against one opponent within 30 ft. for five
minutes. The modifier depends on the targets size; Large
+1, Huge +2, Gargantuan +4, Colossal +8.
•
At 4th level, the bonus also applies as a dodge bonus
to AC on any attack of opportunity the target makes
against the chi warrior.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior may initiate a combat
maneuver against the opponent, regardless of their
size.
•
At 16th level, insightful leverage is a normal kata and
not specifically against one opponent. It still counts
as the one kata special move the chi warrior can
maintain when it is active.
Perfect Parry (Uke, Ex): As an immediate action when
the chi warrior is targeted by a melee attack, the chi war-
rior may make an opposed attack roll against one melee
attack being made against them. If the chi warrior’s at-
tack roll is higher than the triggering attack, the trigger-
ing attack is deflected harmlessly.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior may also use this against
physical ranged attacks.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior may also use this
against ranged magical attacks, such as rays.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can make an attack of
opportunity against the attacker after a successful
perfect parry, as long as the attacker is in her reach.
10
Quicksilver Tongue (Kata, Ex/Sp): As a move or swift
action, the chi warrior receives a bonus on either Dis-
guise, Diplomacy, or Sense Motive equal to her Dex-
terity modifier (minimum +1) for one round. Out of
combat, she can maintain this power indefinitely.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior may choose two skills to
receive the bonus with.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior instead receives the
bonus on all three skills.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can speak to any crea-
ture, as tongues. This is a spell-like effect.
Razor Riposte (Uke, Ex): As an immediate action when
the chi warrior is targeted by a melee attack, she may
make an opposed attack roll against the attack being
made against her. If the chi warrior’s attack roll is higher
than the triggering attack, the triggering attack is de-
flected harmlessly.
•
At 4th level, the target of a successful razor riposte
takes damage as though the chi warrior hit them
with the attack whose attack bonus she used for the
razor riposte.
•
At 10th level, after a successful razor riposte, instead
of inflicting damage, the chi warrior may attempt a
combat maneuver against the target without provok-
ing an attack of opportunity. If the combat maneu-
ver allows movement, the chi warrior can move up
to 5 ft.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can both inflict damage
and make a combat maneuver.
Strike Challenge (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action, the
chi warrior may challenge one adjacent target to a duel
of strikes, making two opposed melee attack rolls against
the target. Both the chi warrior and the target uses their
full base attack bonus for these strikes, choosing any
melee attack they can use. For each successful opposed
attack roll the chi warrior makes, the target takes dam-
age as though the chi warrior had landed a successful
attack. For each successful opposed attack roll the target
makes, the chi warrior takes damage equal to the target’s
strength bonus (minimum 1). Neither wins on a tied
roll.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior wins all tied opposed
rolls.
•
At 10th level, she may force 3 opposed attack rolls
instead of two.
•
At 16th level, she may force 5 opposed attack rolls
instead of three.
Shade Phantom
Stalkers of the night, figures of deep mystery whose
deeds are known only by word of mouth, often rumored
to not even exist. Shade phantom are the sound in the
night, the darkness that hungers, working best when no
one can see them, and hunt those who would dare stand
against them.
Signature Weapons: Dagger, kukri, rapier, shuriken,
starknife, war razor.
Style Feats: Panther Style (2nd), Panther Claw (5th),
Panther Parry (8th).
•
At 4th level the chi warrior gains darkvision 60 ft. or
increases their current darkvision by 30 ft.
•
At 10th level the chi warrior is treated as having full
concealment whenever she has concealment. This
does not make the chi warrior invisible, but it does
provide an automatic distraction to use Stealth and a
50% miss chance.
•
At 18th level the chi warrior may not be detected
through scent, blindsense, tremorsense, or blind-
sight.
Crippling Onslaught (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action,
the chi warrior may make a melee attack roll against one
target. If this attack roll is successful, the target takes
twice as much damage as normal. Additional damage,
like that from a flaming weapon or sneak attack, is not
multiplied.
•
At 4th level, the target must also make a Fortitude,
Will, or Reflex save, as decided by the chi warrior
when she uses this ability. If it fails the Fortitude
save, it is exhausted. If it fails the Reflex save, it is
staggered. If it fails the Will save, it is confused. All
effects from this special move last one round.
•
At 10th level, all effects from this special move last
a number of rounds equal to the chi warrior’s Cha
modifier (minimum 1).
•
At 16th level, the target must make all three saving
throws.
Shadow Duplicate (Kata, Sp): As a move or swift ac-
tion, the chi warrior can create an shadow copy of herself
in an adjacent square. Creating a shadow duplicate
11
counts as a successful distraction to use Stealth for the
chi warrior, and the duplicate serves the chi warrior to
the best of its abilities.
The copy has the exact same statistics as the chi warrior,
although it only has ½ of her hit points. The shadow du-
plicate last for a number of rounds equal to the chi war-
rior’s Cha modifier (minimum 1). The shadow duplicate
(and all gear) disappears when reduced to zero hit points,
when rendered helpless, or when the duration runs out.
Any one-use or charged magic item the shadow dupli-
cate uses affects the original item the chi warrior is wear-
ing, destroying the original item or consuming charges
as appropriate. Any item taken from or dropped by the
shadow duplicate disappears. This is a spell-like illusion
(shadow) effect. Any condition the shadow duplicate is
summoned with cannot be removed.
•
At 1st level, the shadow duplicate is constantly dazed
and works best as a decoy.
•
At 4th level, the copy cannot take any action but can
make attacks of opportunity. It cannot use special
moves.
•
At 10th level, the copy is staggered instead of dazed
and may take one standard or move action per
round, but cannot use special moves.
•
At 16th level, the copy is no longer staggered and
can use special moves.
Shadow Grace (Kata, Ex/Sp): As a move or swift ac-
tion, the chi warrior may increase their base land speed
by 20 ft. for one round.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior does not lose her Dex-
terity bonus to Armor Class when using the Acrobat-
ics or Climb skills.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior’s movement does not
provoke attack of opportunity during the duration of
this special move.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior may use dimension door
as a spell-like ability when activating this kata.
Shadow Tsuki (Tsuki, Sp): As a standard action, the chi
warrior may make an attack and then move her speed
and gain concealment until the beginning of her next
turn.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior also gains an automatic
distraction to hide when using this ability. She does
not suffer any Stealth penalties for attacking or mov-
ing when using Shadow Tsuki.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior can use shadow stepUM
as a spell-like ability instead of the movement nor-
mally allowed by shadow tsuki.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can make two attacks
as a part of this special move.
Soul Carver (Tsuki, Su): As a standard action, the chi
warrior may make a melee attack roll against one target.
If this attack roll is successful, the target takes no dam-
age, but must make a Fortitude save or receive 1 negative
level that last 5 minutes.
•
At 4th level, the target also takes normal damage
from the attack.
•
At 10th level, the negative levels last 24 hours, which
means they can become permanent unless the target
can pass another Fortitude saving throw as above.
•
At 16th level, the target gains 2 negative levels, and
gains one negative level even on a successful save.
Tendon Slice (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action, the chi
warrior may make a melee attack roll against the target.
If it is successful, the target takes no damage but has all
its movement speeds halved until it receives a success-
ful Heal check (DC 15, as removing caltrops) or until
it heals a hit point. A target that has taken no damage
recovers from tendon strike in 5 minutes.
•
At 4th level, the target also takes normal damage
from the attack.
•
At 10th level, tendon slice is only negated when the
target is fully healed.
•
At 16th level, all the target’s speeds are reduced to 5
ft. A flier cannot fly in this condition.
Umbral Dweller (Kata, Ex/Sp): As a move or swift
action, the chi warrior may grant themselves a bonus to
Stealth checks equal to their Cha modifier (minimum
+1) for 5 minutes.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior has no scent while using
this effect. The makes the scent ability useless against
the chi warrior.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior is affected by invis-
ibility for the duration of this special move. This is a
spell-like effect.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior is affected greater invisi-
bility as per the spell in addition to the normal effect.
This is a spell-like effect.
12
Umbral Fade (Uke, Sp): As an immediate action in
response to taking damage the chi warrior may create an
illusory copy of herself that immediately does a realistic
death sequence. The chi warrior takes damage normally
from the attack, but gains concealment until the end of
her next round and has an automatic distraction to use
Stealth. This is a spell-like illusion (shadow) effect.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior and can make a Stealth
roll to hide as a part of the immediate action.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior can teleport up to her
land speed and then make a Stealth roll to hide as a
part of the immediate action.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior takes only half damage
from the triggering attack.
Vitality Drain (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action, the chi
warrior may make a melee attack roll against the target.
If it is successful, the target takes no damage but must
make a Fortitude save or be fatigued for a number of
rounds equal to the chi warrior’s Cha modifier (mini-
mum 1).
•
At 4th level, the target also takes normal damage
from the attack.
•
At 10th level, the duration of the fatigue is increased
to 5 minutes.
•
At 16th level, the target is instead exhausted.
Storm Fist
Strong of body and mind, those rare few who care more
about victory than their own well being, willing to risk
everything to win. Storm fists are known for hitting
harder than anyone else, taking risks that normal war-
riors would consider suicidal in order to come out on
top, regardless of the situation.
Signature Weapons: Brass knuckles, cestus, gauntlet,
natural attacks, rope gauntlet.
Style Feats: Dragon Style (2nd), Stunning Fist (5th),
Dragon Roar (8th).
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior’s critical threat range
with unarmed strike increases by 1. This effect stacks
with other critical enhancing effects.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior’s critical threat range
with all signature weapons (including unarmed
strikes) increases by 1, to a maximum of 18-20. This
effect stacks with other critical enhancing effects.
•
At 18th level, the chi warrior may make an addition-
al attack as a swift action in any round in which they
use a tsuki special move.
Cloud Walk (Kata, Ex/Sp): As a swift or move action,
the chi warrior gains a bonus on Acrobatics checks to
jump equal to her class level. She no longer loses her
Dexterity bonus to Armor Class when using Acrobatics.
This kata lasts 5 minutes.
•
At 4th level, all her jumps count as running jumps.
She also adds the bonus on Acrobatics checks to slow
a fall, and for every 10 points on the roll she reduces
the effective length of the fall by 10 ft.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior ignores difficult terrain
and no longer triggers pressure-plate traps. In ad-
dition, while active, she can cross any solid surface,
even if it would normally not support her weight.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can fly and water walk.
These are spell-like abilities.
Gale Force Blow (Tsuki, Su): As a standard action, the
chi warrior may make a melee attack roll against one tar-
get. If this attack is successful, the target takes no dam-
age but is pushed back 20 ft. and must make a Fortitude
save or be staggered for one round. The target benefits
from a feather fall effect for one round.
•
At 4th level, the target also takes normal damage
from the attack.
•
At 10th level, the target is staggered a number of
rounds equal to the chi warrior’s Cha modifier
(minimum 1). A new saving throw is allowed each
round on the chi warrior’s turn to negate the effect.
•
At 16th level, the target is stunned instead of stag-
gered.
Hurricane Haymaker (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard ac-
tion, the chi warrior may make a melee attack against
one target, dealing two times as much damage as normal
(Additional damage, like that from a flaming weapon or
sneak attack, is not multiplied). This attack provokes an
attack of opportunity from the target, resolved before the
chi warrior’s attack.
•
At 4th level, the target’s attack of opportunity is
resolved after the chi warrior’s attack.
•
At 10th level, the damage is tripled instead of
doubled.
•
At 15th level, this does not trigger an attack of op-
13
portunity.
Indomitable Soul (Uke, Ex): As an immediate action
whenever the chi warrior would fail a Fortitude save that
would bestow a negative condition (such as dead, fa-
tigued, exhausted, cursed, petrified, etc), the chi warrior
may suppress this condition for one round.
•
At 4th level, this applies to all kinds of saving
throws.
•
At 10th level, the effect is suppressed for a number
of rounds equal to her Cha modifier (minimum 1).
•
At 16th level, when a suppressed effect would nor-
mally resume, the chi warrior may make another
saving throw, being treated as though she passed the
initial saving throw if she passes.
Iron Fist (Kata, Ex): As a move or swift action, the chi
warrior’s attacks may ignore up to 5 hardness for the
next 5 minutes. Hardness (and later damage reduction)
in excess of this limit is not reduced.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior may instead ignore up to
10 hardness and up to 5 points of damage reduction.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior may instead ignore up
to 10 points of hardness and damage reduction.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior may instead ignore up
to 20 points of hardness and damage reduction.
Overpowering Ukepunch (Uke, Ex): As an immediate
action when the chi warrior is targeted by a melee attack,
she may make an opposed attack roll against the attack
being made against her. If the chi warrior’s attack roll is
higher than the triggering attack, the target takes damage
as though the chi warrior had landed a successful attack.
•
At 4th level, if the overpowering ukepunch hits,
the target must make a Fortitude save or her attack
misses.
•
At 10th level, if the attacker fails her save against
overpowering ukeattack, it is dazed until the end of
its current round, losing any remaining actions or
attacks this turn.
•
At 16th level, the daze lasts for one round, costing
the attacker her next round of actions.
Reckless Defense (Uke, Ex): As an immediate action
when the chi warrior is targeted by a melee attack, she
may give the attack a bonus on attack and damage rolls
equal to her Cha modifier (minimum +1) on one attack.
If she does, the chi warrior receives the same bonus on
attack and damage rolls on her next attack against the
original attacker.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior’s bonus to attack and
damage applies to all attacks against the attacker
made for one round.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior can let the opponent
keep the bonus for as long as she remains within 30
ft. As long as the enemy retains the bonus, the chi
warrior also does. The chi warrior can end the effect
as a free action on her turn.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior can apply the effect
to any number of targets within 30 ft., not only the
attacker.
Rolling Thunder (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action, the
chi warrior may make a charge attack. Once this attack
resolves, the chi warrior provokes an attack of oppor-
tunity from the target. The chi warrior’s round ends as
soon as this special move is complete.
•
At 4th level, On a successful attack, the target takes
damage as normal and must make a Reflex save or
fall prone.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior only provokes an attack
of opportunity on a missed attack.
•
At 16th level, this attack deals two times as much
damage as normal. Additional damage, like that
from a flaming weapon or sneak attack, is not multi-
plied.
Typhoon Assault (Tsuki, Ex): As a standard action, the
chi warrior may make a standard attack, and can make
one additional attack at her highest attack bonus. All
attack rolls the chi warrior makes with this special move
are made with a -2 penalty, and the chi warrior takes a
-2 penalty to their AC until the beginning of their next
round.
•
At 4th level, the chi warrior takes no penalty on
Armor Class with this special move.
•
At 10th level, the chi warrior takes no penalty on
attacks made with this special move.
•
At 16th level, the chi warrior may make a second ad-
ditional attack with this special move.
14
Favored Class Bonuses
Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point,
whenever a chi warrior gains an additional class level, the
following races have the option of choosing an alterna-
tive bonus depending on their race.
Dhosari: +1/2 CMD to the reposition combat ma-
neauver.
Dragonblood: +1/2 CMB to the sunder combat ma-
neauver.
Dwarf: +1/4 to the dwarf’s Hardy racial trait bonus,
against spells and spell-like abilities.
Elf: +1 ft. to base land speed.
Erkunae: Add +1 hit point or skill point to the erku-
nae’s pact creature.
Gnome: +1/2 to one combat maneuver used against an
opponent larger than themselves.
Half-Elf: +1/6 of the Extra Style feat.
Half-Orc: +1/5 to the number of rounds that orc
ferocity lasts.
Halfling: +1/2 to CMD against opponents larger than
themselves.
Human: +1/6 of the Extra Special Move feat.
Ith’n Ya’roo: Add +1/4 to damage done by the ith’n
ya’roo’s natural weapons.
Polkan: +1/6 to the polkan chi warrior’s Way of Life
bonus.
Qit’ar: +1/6 to the qit’ar chi warrior’s Way of Life
bonus.
Xesa: +1 to the xesa’s Perception skill checks.
Zendiqi: +1/6 of a style feat.
Archetypes
The following archetype modifies the abilities of the chi
warrior.
Dual Specialist
Sometimes a chi warrior finds the need to go beyond
their own specialty, instead immersing themselves in the
lore of combat to an unheard of degree. Such specializa-
tion often leaves little time to focus on things that they
consider ‘lesser’ arts.
Dual Focus: At 1st level, the dual specialist may select
two primary fighting styles to focus on instead of one,
gaining the weapon proficiencies and other benefits of
both fighting styles. They do not select any secondary
fighting styles; all other fighting styles are prohibited. At
6th, 12th, and 18th level, the dual specialist gains the
benefit of both of their fighting styles. This ability alters
fighting style and counts as fighting style for the purpose
of meeting the prerequisites of feats.
Style Feats: The dual specialist does not gain any bonus
style feats, but all the special rules for style feats apply.
This ability alters style feats.
Special Moves: The dual specialist must pick half of her
special moves from each of her primary fighting styles.
Chi Fighter (Fighter Archetype)
There are those in war that seem to smolder on the
battlefield, which have an innate knack for the art of
combat, though they might appear the same as other
soldiers. Those soldiers have unlocked the power of chi,
and it flows through them and makes them powerful
avatars of war.
Fighting Style Choice: At 1st level, the chi fighter selects
a chi warror fighting style. The chi fighter does not gain
any abilities from his style, the only effect is to determine
what special moves the chi fighter can learn. This replac-
es proficiency in shields (including tower shields).
Fighting Style Choice: At third level and every four
levels thereafter, the chi fighter learns one special move
from his fighting style. Treat chi fighter levels as chi
warrior levels when using special moves. This replaces
bravery.
Feats
The following feats are beneficial to chi warriors.
Allied Assault (Combat)
Just because you are a paragon of combat doesn’t mean you
don’t need help.
Prerequisites: Fighting style class feature, Quicksilver
Duelist fighting style.
Benefit: Whenever you and an ally adjacent to you
makes an initiative check, you can both act on the better
of your two initiative check results. You must decide to
do this before rolling initiative.
Extra Special Move (Combat)
The forms of chi combat are easy for you to learn in quan-
tity.
Prerequisites: Fighting style class feature.
Benefit: You learn one additional special move. You
must abide by the normal rules of what styles to learn
15
special moves from.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times, each time
selecting a new special move.
Extra Style (Combat)
The styles of chi combat are easily ingrained into your move-
ments.
Prerequisites: Fighting style class feature.
Benefit: You learn an additional secondary fighting style.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times, each time
selecting a new secondary fighting style.
Generous Soul (Combat)
You can see the light that burns in others, and know how to
kindle it.
Prerequisites: Fighting style class feature, Adamant
Champion fighting style.
Benefit: Whenever you grant yourself or an ally tem-
porary hit points, they gain an additional amount of
temporary hit points equal to their Cha modifier (mini-
mum 1).
Shadow Hunter (Combat)
Darkness hides many things, and some of them are deadly,
like you.
Prerequisites: Fighting style class feature, Shade Phan-
tom fighting style.
Benefit: In dim or darker lighting, you again the abil-
ity to deal +1d6 damage to targets that are flat footed or
that you are flanking.
Wind Fist (Combat)
The damaging power of air is always a surprise, often the
last surprise.
Prerequisites: Fighting style class feature, Storm Fist
fighting style.
Benefit: You are treated as though you are using a manu-
factured weapon for effects that would cause damage to
you for making an unarmed strike, such as a fire elemen-
tal’s burn special ability.
Sample Chi Warrior
Mother always said to dress for the occasion, and I have
taken that to heart…
Martilena Deeth (CR 1/2; XP 200)
Female human chi warrior 1
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +1; Senses Perception +3
Defense
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14
(+4 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 12 (1d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bladed scarf +4 (1d6+2 trip, disarm) or unarmed
strike +3 (1d6+2).
Ranged light crossbow +2 (1d8/19–20)
Special Moves perfect parry, rolling thunder
Statistics
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 14
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 4
Feats Combat Reflexes, Weapon Focus (bladed scarf).
Skills Acrobatics +5, Escape Artist +5, Intimidate +6,
Perception +3, Sense Motive +3
SQ fighting style (quicksilver duelist), secondary fighting
style (adamant champion, storm fist)
Languages Common.
Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds; Gear bladed
scarf, chain shirt, light crossbow
Demographics
Faith Nise
Homeland The Haunted Sea
On the ship that Martilena grew up on, the word of
Mother was law. In the parlance of some of the Fleets of
Nise that ply the treacherous waters around The Haunt-
ed Sea, “Mother” is the title of the ship’s captain, dedi-
cated to the Sister of Battle and a life of piracy, combat
and adventure. You must fight, or you must serve, and
such an environment forces the adoption of many cre-
ative methods of survival. Those who think Martilena’s
silken scarf is merely a pirate’s affectation learn to rue
their mistake.
Martilena was an actual daughter of the Mother of
Blood’s Fancy, a four-masted blockade runner. Much was
expected of her, and she rose to the challenge, drawing
inspiration from the current of power in the air, land and
sea. An inspired combatant, Martilena also showed great
skills in dealing with land and port issues, something
Nise’s Daughters often have trouble with. Her fighting
moves were almost supernatural in nature, and laid awe
amongst her shipmates; there is a strong suspicion that
Martilena Deeth will soon challenge the current Mother
and take the title in good time, if she can find challenges
on sea and land to help her grow in power.
16
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mancer Games, Inc.; Author: Scott Greene.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Combat. ©
2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Dennis Baker,
Jesse Benner, Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Brian J.
Cortijo, Jim Groves, Tim Hitchcock, Richard A. Hunt,
Colin McComb, Jason Nelson, Tom Phillips, Patrick
Renie, Sean K Reynolds, and Russ Taylor.
Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide. © 2010,
Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn.
Chi Warrior © 2015, Purple Duck Games; Author Brian
Jolly.
Pathfinder and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo
Inc., and are used under license. See paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for
more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
Pathfinder is a registered trademark of Paizo Inc., and the Pathfinder
Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compat-
ibility Logo are trademarks of Paizo Inc., and are used under the
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License. See http://
paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/compatibility for more information on
the compatibility license.
Open Game Content: All text.
| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/3rd Party/Purple Duck Games/Porphyra Campaign Setting/Chi Warrior.pdf |
A Playset
for Fiasco
by Nick
Wedig
Science
Comics!
The cover image taken and modified from samlavi’s Flickr pool of super-
villain images, under the Creative Commons License:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samlavi/sets/72157622151078044/detail/
Science Comics
Credits
Written by Nick Wedig
Boilerplate
This playset is an accessory for the Fiasco role-playing game by Bully
Pulpit Games.
The content of this playset is released into the public domain by Nick
Wedig, 2010. Fiasco is copyright 2009 by Jason Morningstar. All rights
to Fiasco are reserved.
For more information about Fiasco or to download other playsets and
materials, visit www.bullypulpitgames.com.
If you’d like to create your own playset or Fiasco-related content, they
would like to help. Write them at [email protected]. I didn’t,
but I’m sure they’d have been very helpful.
The Score
Second String at Best
“For every successful superhero who was belted by gamma rays, inject-
ed with magic ginseng or... for instance... bit by a radioactive spider like
Spiderman, there are many, many more who are not so spectacular.”
--Flaming Carrot Comics, by Bob Burden
Somewhere out there, Solarman is saving the world from an invasive al-
ternate reality full of insect-men. Somewhere else, the Wonder League
fights for truth and justice against big name villains like Baron von Vio-
lence. And somewhere else, the superscientist Professor Chrysalis is
discovering a cure for all known diseases.
That’s not here, though. Sure, you work in the same “costumed aggres-
sion” industry as those guys. But you aren’t the big name heroes or vil-
lains. You aren’t even the henchmen of the top tier villains. You’re
down with the dregs. Third rate heroes, has-been villains and minions
who couldn’t even get hired as cannon fodder. These are a bunch of
people with poor social skills, terrible impulse control, giant ambitions
and access to deadly superscientific doomsday devices. When their
personal lives get all muddled up into their professional hero and vil-
lain routine, it’s sure to be a fiasco.
“It’s about the beauty of failure. It’s about that failure happens to all of
us... Every character is not only flawed, but sucks at what they do, and
is beautiful at it and Jackson and I suck at what we do, and we try to
be beautiful at it, and failure is how you get by... It shows that failure’s
funny, and it’s beautiful and it’s life, and it’s okay, and it’s all we can
write because we are big... failures. (Laughter).”
--Doc Hammer, describing The Venture Brothers
Movie night
The Venture Brothers, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog,
The Tick (the live action show more than the cartoon)
Relationships...
1 Family
1 Brother and sister
2 You think you aren’t related, but you are
3 Parent and illegitimate child
4 Took in and adopted an orphan child
5 Close enough that you might as well be related
6 Clones
2 Social
1 Neighbors
2 Old college pals
3 Bowling rivals
4 Small time drug peddler and client
5 “He’s renting out my spare room for a while”
6 Journalist and inside source
3 Romance
1 Ex-husband and ex-wife
2 She wants him, he doesn’t want her.
3 She left him for another man
4 Kicked out of the military on a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell beef
5 Had a one night stand, long ago
6 Both are after the same woman
4 Heroes
1 Smart sidekick to a dumb hero
2 Old has-been and his number one fan
3 Hunted vampires together back in the seventies
4 Hero and his arch-enemy
5 Rival superscientists
6 Bodyguard and the guy you’re guarding
5 Villains
1 Similarly themed villains both fighting for use of the same name
2 Villain and the innocent caught in my evil plan
1 Supervillain and bureaucrat from the Global League of Villainous
Enterprises
4 Supervillain team-up!
5 “Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!”
6 Both trying to kill the same hero
6 Minions
1 Villain and number two henchman
2 Two henchmen assigned to the same task
3 “He’s covering for me while I’m busy”
4 New recruit and old hand
5 Just assigned here by the henchmen temp agency
6 Taskmaster and cowardly minion
...in Science Comics!
Needs...
1 To get even...
1 Before your debt comes due
2 With the lousy Captain Victory for what he did to you
3 With Undercover Girl for exposing your secret
4 With the whole damn world
5 With the Global League of Villainous Enterprises, for kicking you
out
6 With your old college roommate
2 To get laid...
1 By an honest to goodness superhero
2 To prove that you still got it
3 By a sexy green skinned extraterrestrial
4 And finally prove your love
5 To prove that you’re better than him
6 To get at what you really want
3 To get rich...
1 By robbing banks, taking hostages and the usual villain stuff
2 By holding the entire United Nations hostage
3 By passing off someone else’s work as your own
4 So you can finally retire
5 By working as a gunman for hire
6 Because you desperately need the money for the operation
4 To get the truth...
1 About who your parents really are
2 By impersonating a major name villain
3 About the true goals of the Global League of Villainous Enter-
prises
4 About The Ladybug’s true identity
5 About what happens at midnight mass at the Cathedral of St.
Drogo
6 About who has been embezzling from the henchmen’s weekly lot-
tery pool
5 To get respect...
1 By killing the indestructible Captain Victory
2 From your mother, who said that you’d never amount to anything
3 From the kids that laughed at you back at Don Winslow High
School
4 From the bureaucrats at the Global League of Villainous Enter-
prises who classified you as a ‘D’ class villain
5 By stealing what was said to be unstealable
6 From the Mole People that live under New York City
6 To get out...
1 Of a legally binding merchandising contract
2 Of this disastrous blind date
3 Of this maximum security supervillain prison
4 Before the Global League of Villainous Enterprises discovers your
unsanctioned use of a Class 11 Doomsday Device
5 Of an uncomfortable social obligation
6 Before your carefully constructed lies fall apart
...in Science Comics!
Objects...
1 Doomsday devices
1 The Zero Time detonator
2 A nuclear device bought on the black market from some Serbians
3 A Saturninan Planetary-scale Gravitic Negater
4 Dr. Thunder’s weather control device
5 Suleiman’s Iron Sphere, wherein are trapped hundreds of deadly
djinn
6 A single vial labelled “extremely deadly nerve toxin”
2 Tawdry
1 A baggie of cocaine stuffed inside a child’s teddy bear
2 The photographs from Dr. Plasma’s bachelor party
3 Both sets of financial records for the Wonder League’s merchan-
dising company
4 Lightning Girl’s sex tape
5 A forged license to operate as a costumed hero
6 The severed hand of The Purple Claw
3 Sentimental
1 Your massive Captain Victory comic book collection
2 Your old bass guitar from your high school band
3 The only photo of your real mother
4 The phone number of the last woman you slept with
5 The Congressional Medal of Honor
6 Your old outfit from when you were a big shot
4 Valuable
1 Blueprints to a secret project
2 Two ounces of Unobtanium, the rarest chemical compound in the
universe
3 The alchemical formula for turning lead into gold
4 A mysterious mechanical device, built by ancient scholars, of
unknown purpose
5 The deed to the Daedalus 2 geosynchronous space station
6 The stolen contents of a bank safety deposit box
5 Superscience
1 A malfunctioning shrink ray
2 A really stupid artificial intelligence
3 A prototype laser melee weapon that the military rejected (“They
said they don’t do much hand to hand fighting any more.”)
4 A tabletop cold fusion reactor
5 Truth serum with unknown, potentially dangerous side effects
6 The Memory Erasing Tank
6 Vehicles
1 A broken down hoverbike
2 An experimental supersonic jet
3 A jet propelled submersible
4 The Amazing Rocket Hat
5 The family minivan
6 An old muscle car, retrofitted with all the superspy gadgets
...in Science Comics!
Locations
1 In the Arizona Desert
1 The Air Force testing facility at Groom Lake
2 A rundown trailer park
3 The vast private estates of a deceased superscientist
4 The edge of a smoking crater
5 A long forgotten fallout shelter deep beneath the earth
6 A seedy strip club (is there any other kind?)
2 Downtown New York City
1 Offices in a towering skyscraper
2 The United Nations
3 Times Square
4 Atop the Statue of Liberty
5 In an abandoned subway station
6 A dingy, cockroach ridden hotel room
3 The suburbs
1 A planned community for supervillains
2 Laundrytown, your one stop for 24 hour self serve cleanliness
3 Your friendly neighborhood strip mall
4 A pep rally at Don Winslow High School (Go Crocs!)
5 Teapot Dome Regional Hospital
6 An estate auction for a deceased superscientist
4 Foreign parts
1 Tijuana, baby
2 The deepest, darkest parts of the Amazon rainforest
3 A scientific research station on Antarctica
4 An ancient castle in Bavaria
5 An Asian nation mysteriously not on any map
6 At a rave in Stockholm
5 Exotic locales
1 Onboard a pirate ship, out at sea
2 Onboard Daedalus 2, a geosynchronous space station
3 A volcanic island shaped like your head
4 On the astral plane
5 A gateway that opens on an alternate reality
6 Ten thousand years in the future, accessible via time portal
6 Intimate
1 In a 15 year old girl’s bedroom
2 Inside my own subconscious
3 Trapped in an elevator together
4 Inside Dr. Plasma’s back pocket
5 The confessional booth at the Cathedral of St. Drogo
6 The Honeymoon Suite at the Hotel of Love
...in Science Comics!
| textdata/thevault/Fiasco [multi]/Playsets/Fiasco - Science Comics.pdf |
HALF-GOBLINS OF THE TANGLED WOOD
A Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatible TRIBES supplement by Creighton Broadhurst
HALF-GOBLINS OF THE TANGLED WOOD
A Pathfinder Roleplaying Game TRIBES supplement by Creighton Broadhurst
Debased, mongrel descendants of humans enslaved by goblins centuries ago, half‐goblins lurk in the deepest unknowable reaches of the
Tangled Wood. Hateful and spiteful creatures, they worship fell powers and sacrifice those falling into their clutches to venerate their
dark protector. Stealthy and cunning, they skulk about civilisation’s fringe weaving terrible plots to destroy those threatening their
precarious existence.
C R E D I T S
C R E D I T S
Design: Creighton Broadhurst
Development: Steven “Taz” Cansdale,
Product Identity: All trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names (characters, deities, artefacts, places and so on), dialogue,
plots, storylines, language, incidents, locations, characters, artwork and trade dress are product identity as defined in the Open
Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e) and are not Open Content.
Open Content: Except material designated as Product Identity, the contents of Half‐Goblins of the Tangled Wood are Open Game
Content as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the material designated
as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission. The moral right of Creighton Broadhurst to be
identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. ©Raging
Swan Press 2011.
Pathfinder is a registered trademark of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder Roleplaying
Game Compatibility Logo are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
Compatibility License. See http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/compatibility for more information on the compatibility license.
Compatibility with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game requires the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game from Paizo Publishing, LLC. See
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Paizo Publishing, LLC does not
guarantee compatibility, and does not endorse this product.
To learn more about Raging Swan Press, visit ragingswan.com. To learn more about the Open Game License, visit wizards.com/d20.
Published by Raging Swan Press
1st printing, March 2011
Editing: Steven “Taz” Cansdale, Aaron T. Huss and Martin
Tideswell
Layout: Creighton Broadhurst
Interior Artists: Paul Daly, Brittany Michel, Dave Peterson, V
Shane. Some artwork copyright Paul Daly, used with
permission
Cartography: Philippa Broadhurst
B O N U S M A T E R I A L
Thank you for purchasing Half‐Goblins of the Tangled Wood; we
hope you enjoy it and that you check out our other fine print and
PDF products. We at Raging Swan are committed to providing
first class web enhancements for our products. Visit
ragingswan.com to download bonus materials including maps,
reorganised stat block listings, additional encounters and more!
E R R A T A
We like to think Half‐Goblins of the Tangled Wood is error free
and that absolutely no mistakes have crept in during design or
editing. However, we are realists. So in that spirit, we shall post
errata three months after first release on ragingswan.com. We
aren’t going to be correcting typos and spelling errors, but we
will correct any game mechanic or balance issues that come to
light.
C O N T A C T U S
Email us at [email protected].
A B O U T T H E D E S I G N E R
Creighton is a keen gamer who passionately believes in the Open
Gaming License and is dedicated to making his games as fun and
easy to enjoy as possible for all participants. Reducing or
removing entry barriers, simplifying pre‐game prep and easing
the GM's workload are the key underpinning principles of the
products he releases through Raging Swan Press.
Over the last 11 years, Creighton has worked with
Expeditious Press, Paizo and Wizards of the Coast. He now
releases his own products through Raging Swan Press. You can
read
his
thoughts
on
game
design
at
raging‐
swan.livejournal.com.
Creighton lives in Torquay, England where, apparently, the
palm trees are plastic and the weather is warm. He shares a
ramshackle old mansion with his two children (“Genghis” and
“Khan”) and his patient wife. Famed for his unending love affair
with booze and pizza he is an enduring GREYHAWK fan.
2
C O N T E N T S
Credits .......................................................................................... 2
Bonus Material ............................................................................ 2
Errata ........................................................................................... 2
Contact Us ................................................................................... 2
About the Designer ...................................................................... 2
Contents ...................................................................................... 3
Reading Stat Blocks ...................................................................... 4
H A L F - G O B L I N S O F T H E T A N G L E D W O O D
Half‐Goblins of the Tangled Wood .............................................. 6
Goblin Bloodline ........................................................................ 10
New Spells ................................................................................. 12
New Magic Items ....................................................................... 13
Minor Encounters with Half‐Goblins ......................................... 14
Major Encounters with Half‐Goblins .......................................... 16
Persona: Anarl ........................................................................... 18
Persona: Carlix ........................................................................... 19
Persona: Severa ......................................................................... 20
Persona: Xerl .............................................................................. 21
Half‐breed savages in tight‐knit clans,
Bitter and twisted, shaping evil plans,
No friends have they among other races,
Fear and loathing etched in their faces,
The mongrel spawn of monsters and men,
Civilisation’s light is lost to them,
Neither man nor beast, there’s no trace of good,
In these half‐goblins of the Tangled Wood…
S T A T B L O C K S B Y C R
CR
PAGE
1/2
Half‐Goblin Archer (fighter 1)
14
1/2
Half‐Goblin Sneak Thief (rogue 1)
14
1/2
Half‐Goblin Ranger (ranger 1)
14
1/2
Half‐Goblin Warrior (fighter 1)
14
1
Half‐Goblin Sorcerer (sorcerer 2)
15
1
Half‐Goblin Adept (adept 3)
15
2
Half‐Goblin Elite Archer (fighter 3)
16
2
Half‐Goblin Elite Sneak Thief (rogue 3)
16
2
Half‐Goblin Elite Ranger (ranger 2/rogue 1)
16
2
Half‐Goblin Elite Warrior (fighter 3)
16
3
Half‐Goblin Sorcerer (sorcerer 4)
17
3
Half‐Goblin Greater Adept (adept 5)
17
7
Anarl (half‐goblin druid 5/ranger 3)
18
7
Carlix (half‐goblin fighter 5/ranger 3)
18
8
Xerl (half‐goblin rogue 5/sorcerer 4)
19
9
Severa (half‐goblin sorcerer 10)
19
N E W S P E L L S
2 N D-L E V E L A D E P T A N D C L E R I C S P E L L S
Miasma of Hatred: Drives targets into a wild frenzy of anger.
3 R D-L E V E L A D E P T A N D C L E R I C S P E L L S
Miasma of Enervation: Fatigues creatures in area of affect.
N E W M A G I C I T E M S B Y C O S T
GP
150
Oil of entangle
250
Oil of plant growth
2,100
Archer’s buckler
3,000
Cloak of the woodlands
N E W F E A T S
FEAT
PREREQUISITES
BENEFIT
Forest Stride
Dex 13
Ignore 10 ft. of difficult terrain in forest terrain
Forest Warrior
Tribal membership
Gain additional cover and concealment bonuses in forest terrain
Greater Forest Stride
Dex 15, Forest Stride
Ignore 30 ft. of difficult terrain in forest terrain
Greater Skirmisher
Tribal membership, Skirmisher
Move 20 ft. to gain +1 on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus
Skirmisher
Tribal membership, Dodge
Move 20 ft. to gain +1 on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus
3
R E A D I N G S T A T B L O C K S
Half‐Goblins of the Tangled Wood includes all necessary stat
blocks; these notes explain how to read them. Unless otherwise
noted, all listed scores include all the creature’s normal
modifiers. Stat blocks appear in four sections: basic, defensive,
offensive and supplemental.
BASIC
Name, CR and XP: The monster’s name appears first followed by
its CR and how many experience points it is worth. If more
than one creature is encountered, a bracketed number lists
how many appear.
Appearance: The GM can read aloud or paraphrase this section.
If a picture depicts the creature, this section may be omitted.
Sex, Race, Class and Level: If the monster has class levels these
appear here along with its race and sex. The first noted class
is the creature’s favoured class.
Alignment and Type: The creature’s abbreviated alignment and
its type (including applicable subtypes).
Init and Senses: This creature’s initiative modifier appears
before any special senses (such as scent or darkvision) and
the creature’s Perception and Sense Motive scores. If the
creature has special Perception‐based abilities, such as
trapfinding or stonecunning, these appear here.
Speed: The creature’s modified land speed appears first along
with any other relevant speeds (such as climb or fly). If the
creature’s base land speed is different to its modified speed
this is also listed.
ACP and Movement Skills: ACP presents the creature’s normal
armour check penalty modifier. If the creature’s Acrobatics,
Climb, Escape Artist, Fly, Ride, Stealth or Swim modifier
differs from the relevant ability modifier minus its armour
check penalty, these skills appear here.
DEFENSIVE
AC: The creature’s normal, touch and flat‐footed AC along with
its CMD; additionally this section lists any defensive powers
or abilities that affects the creature’s AC.
Immune, Resist and Weaknesses: If the creature has immunity,
resistance or a vulnerability to an effect or condition it
appears here.
Fort, Ref and Will: The creature’s saving throw modifiers along
with any conditional modifiers and defensive powers (such
as evasion) and spell resistance appear here.
HP: The creature’s full, normal hit points along with the number
of hit dice it possesses. A bracketed hit point total indicates
that the creature is injured. If the creature has damage
reduction or hardness it appears here.
OFFENSIVE
Space, Base Atk and CMB: The creature’s space, base attack
bonus and CMB.
Melee: This section lists a creature’s melee attacks. If the attack
has a reach that is not 5 ft. it is listed here. Each attack
includes attack bonus and damage information. If the attack
has the default critical hit characteristics (20/x2) this
information is omitted.
Ranged: This section lists the creature’s ranged attacks. It always
includes the attack’s range. Each attack includes attack
bonus and damage information. If the attack has the default
critical hit characteristics (20/x2) this information is omitted.
Atk Options: This section lists any abilities or feats that can
affect the creature’s attacks. Subsequent listings describe all
but the most basic abilities in more depth.
Special Actions: This section lists any useful abilities that a
creature could use in battle. Subsequent listings describe all
but the most basic abilities in more depth.
Spells and Spell‐Like Abilities: The creature’s caster level, along
with its concentration modifier and domains appears in
brackets before the main spell listing. If one or more of the
creature’s spells require a touch attack, the relevant attack
bonus is included. Spells available appear in reverse order
from highest to lowest level. Spells denoted D are domain
spells. If applicable, a spell’s DC is also provided.
Combat Gear: This section lists any combat‐related equipment
the creature possesses.
S UPPLEMENTAL
Abilities and Special Qualities: These sections list the creature’s
ability scores and any special qualities that do not appear
anywhere else in its stat block.
Feats: An alphabetical listing of all the creature’s feats.
Skills and Languages: These sections list any skills the creature
possesses that have not already appeared in the stat block
and all languages spoken or understood. Any language‐based
special abilities also appear here.
Gear: This section lists any gear not already listed in the
creature’s stat block. This section hardly ever contains
weapons or armour as they usually appear in the relevant
sections above.
Spellbook: The contents of the creature’s spellbook and its
barred schools.
S P E C I A L A B I L I T I E S
Special abilities appear in the section to which they are best
suited. Thus, offensive abilities appear with a creature’s attacks
while defensive ones appear with its other defences. Full write‐
ups of irrelevant powers (such as those that could not affect
combat) are omitted. The effects of abilities that factor into a
creature’s normal attacks or defences have already been
included in the relevant calculations.
4
HALF-GOBLINS OF THE TANGLED WOOD
5
H A L F - G O B L I N S O F T H E T A N G L E D W O O D
Men whisper that ghosts of an elder age stalk the deepest,
unknowable reaches of the Lonely Coast’s ancient woodlands.
Along with the forsaken holy places and forts of a long‐fallen
elder civilisation, a debased and twisted race of half‐goblins
haunts the forest’s deepest thickets. The mongrel descendants
of a tribe of humans subjugated by goblins centuries ago half‐
goblins are a bitter, evil folk. Never numerous, and dedicated to
dark powers, they skulk about civilisation’s fringe weaving
terrible plots to destroy their neighbours.
E C O L O G Y & S O C I E T Y
Although thoroughly evil and despicable, half‐goblins have
nevertheless developed a tight‐knit, hierarchical society.
Assailed by innumerable external threats, half‐goblins have
learnt that personal survival and advancement depends on that
of the clan.
Half‐goblins dwell in small clans – little more than extended
family groups ‐ of no more than forty individuals. Although the
clans compete among themselves for glory and wealth, contact
and trade between groups is brisk and relatively peaceful. An
elder, assisted by the learned folk of the clan, rules each clan.
Groups of clans, in turn make up a tribe. No one individual rules
the tribe except in times of great crisis or law. Normally, clan
elders form a council which loosely directs the tribe’s activities.
Relations: Half‐goblins hate all other races, viewing them as
potential aggressors. In particular, they hate goblins (who hunt
them) and humans (who treat them as normal goblins to be
killed on sight).
Alignment and Religion: Half‐goblins are sadistic, hate‐filled
creatures concerned only with the survival and advancement of
their clan at the expense of others. In the main, they worship
Braal (NE god of hate, malice and revenge [page 18]) a few
worship fell demonic powers or the ancient, atavistic spirits of
the woodland in which they dwell. Others stray toward lawful
evil. Most such individuals dream of uniting the disparate clans
under a strong leader (normally themselves) and scourging the
Tangled Wood clear of both the human and goblin infestation.
Adventurers: Most half‐goblins do not stray far from their
clan home. A few venture farther abroad on specific missions
while others, fleeing some terrible punishment, are forced to
endure civilisation’s perils.
H A L F - G O B L I N T R A I T S
Taller than their goblin antecedents but shorter than humans,
half‐goblins are scrawny creatures. Like their goblin kin, their
heads seem oversized for their bodies. Their eyes are black or
dark brown and hair is similarly of a dark hue while their ears
are slightly pointed. Roughly one in ten can pass for a human
(albeit a freakishly short and ugly one).
Half‐goblin advance by class level and have the following
racial traits:
�
+2 to One Ability Score: Half‐goblins get a +2 bonus to one
ability score to represent their varied nature.
�
Medium: Half‐goblins are Medium creatures and have no
bonuses or penalties due to their size.
�
Normal Speed: Half‐goblins have a base speed of 30 ft.
�
Darkvision: Half‐goblins can see in darkness for 60 ft.
�
Goblin Blood: Half‐goblins count as both human and goblin
for any effect related to race.
�
Swift: At 1st‐level, half‐goblins receive Fleet as a bonus feat.
�
Rider: Half‐goblins receive a +2 racial bonus on Ride checks.
�
Stealthy: Half‐goblins receive a +2 racial bonus on Stealth
checks.
�
Languages: Half‐goblins begin play speaking Common and
Goblin. Those with high Intelligence scores can also choose
from Abyssal, Dwarven, Gnoll, Gnome, Infernal and Orc.
I N Y O U R C A M P A I G N
Half‐Goblins of the Tangled Wood’s design enables a GM to
easily insert half‐goblins into a home campaign. While they
mostly worship a specific god, Braal (NE god of hate, malice and
revenge), his portfolio is generic enough to be easily replaced
by an extant deity from a GM’s personal campaign.
Alternatively, the half‐goblins could exclusively worship a
demon or similar otherworldly, sinister power.
The information herein builds upon that presented in The
Lonely Coast (a free mini‐campaign available as an extensively
bookmarked PDF from ragingswan.com) and Retribution.
Neither is necessary to use half‐goblins. If the GM is not using
the Lonely Coast setting, it is simple to change half‐goblins’
home to any remote woodland area.
HALF‐GOBLIN RANDOM HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
TITLE
BASE
HEIGHT
BASE
WEIGHT
MODIFIER
WEIGHT
MODIFIER
Male
4 ft. 10 in.
90 lbs.
2d4
x3 lbs.
Female
4 ft. 4 in.
75 lbs.
2d4
x3 lbs.
HALF‐GOBLIN STARTING AGE
ADULTHOOD
MARTIAL
ARCANE
DIVINE
13
13
17
15
HALF‐GOBLIN AGING EFFECTS
MIDDLE AGE
OLD
VENERABLE
MAX. AGE
26
38
50
50 + 2d10
6
NPC half‐goblins usually have levels in warrior, adept or
expert (scout). Some have levels in cleric, fighter, ranger or
rogue. A rare few embrace sorcery or worship the atavistic
spirits of their ancient woodland home. Unsurprisingly, paladins,
monks and wizards are unknown among them.
Male Names: Anarl, Bartrel, Carlai, Cerlal, Destrel, Earlal,
Estrel, Ferel, Krel, Marl, Steril, Terlal, Terl, Vartel, Werlal, Xerl.
Female Names: Arala, Barsala, Carlix, Eratla, Harastra, Jerix,
Larsala, Narlix, Oparlix, Severa, Varla.
Clan Names: Black Arrow, Blood Knife, Broken Spear, Cloven
Shield, Crimson Blade, Dark Shadows, Dripping Blade, Ebon Axe,
Gouged Eyes, Sneaking Death, Splintered Knees, Twisted Neck.
L A I R S
Half‐goblin clans dwell deep in the Tangled Wood (page 8), in
places well hidden from the prying eyes of their enemies. They
often choose defensible caverns, but the elder places of the
world – places where ancient peoples raised mighty temples or
high fortresses – also attract them.
C O M B A T & T A C T I C S
Keenly aware of their low numbers, half‐goblins avoid stand‐
up fights wherever possible. Rather, they prefer striking from
ambush unleashing missile weapons and spells upon their
hapless foe.
Alternatively, they love to manipulate their foes
into fighting each other. For example, half‐goblin
scouts could lead a goblin raiding party to a
human settlement or (disguised as goblins)
attack wandering adventurers.
P L A Y E R C H A R A C T E R S
Most player character half‐goblins are
outcasts from their tribe for some reason.
Perhaps their outlook on life is different to their
brethren, or maybe the same burning hatred for
human kind does not surge through their veins.
Few half‐goblins wander the world without a
compelling reason. A few of the more learned folk –
sorcerers and druids mainly – search for ancient
knowledge and power and the life of an
adventurer suits them very well.
Alternatively, raiding goblins could have
destroyed the character’s clan and he could
now be seeking revenge or he could have
fled his home to escape death at the
hands of his enemies.
Most wandering half‐goblins fall
into the small portion of the race that
can pass for human.
H A L F - G O B L I N L O R E
Character with ranks in Knowledge (local) can learn more about
half‐goblins with a successful skill check. A successful check
reveals all information revealed by a lesser check.
DC 11: This creature is a half‐goblin. A debased and twisted
mongrel race they dwell in secluded, wild places. They hate
humans and goblins with equal vigour.
DC 16: Half‐goblins are stealthy and fleet of foot. They can
see in pitch darkness and are skilled riders.
DC 21: Half‐goblins normally worship Braal.
7
T H E T A N G L E D W O O D
The Tangled Wood is an ancient place; many of its trees are
hundreds of years old. Sprawling for miles on end over a range
of steep‐sided, craggy hills some parts of the forests have never
known the tread of human feet.
F L O R A & F A U N A
Great thickets of brambles hinder exploration of the interior;
these completely untouched portions of wilderness boast trees
of great age and size. Mighty oaks, hornbeams and grey‐brown‐
barked elms all grow here in profusion, interspersed with box
elder and holly and occasional stands of birches, pines and
willows. Many small streams and brooks wind their way through
the murk.
The forest floor is a perpetually gloomy, twilight world. An
almost impenetrable canopy of thickly woven branches and
boughs allows but a little light to filter through to the forest
floor. Wild pigs, boars and deer as well as bears, packs of wolves
and the feared shadow wolves all haunt the wood. Smaller
creatures – foxes, rabbits, badgers, squirrels and so on – live
here in profusion.
A deep, springy layer of leaf litter carpets the floor, enriching
the soil and providing perfect growing conditions for a vast array
of lichens, moss, mushrooms and berry bushes, which (at the
forest fringes) villagers harvest along with wild fruits
(raspberries, blackberries and whortleberries) and nuts.
S I T E S O F I N T E R E S T
The ruins of the Old People – hidden beneath ten centuries of
slow, inexorable growth, choked with bushes and ringed with
near‐impenetrable walls of thorn bushes – lie scattered
throughout the forest. Tree‐shrouded burial mounds, stone
circles dominated by ancient oaks, and time‐worn hill forts all
slumber beneath the Tangled Wood’s gnarled boughs. The
humanoids of the forest always vigorously contest such places,
seemingly drawn to them as a moth drawn to flame.
Of particular note are Arius’ Watchtower (the shattered ruin
of a powerful conjurer laid low by a powerful wyrm), certain
strange and unsettling timeworn structures upon the Orestone
and the remnants of an ancient hill fortress sprawling across
Talan’s Bluff. Although no half‐goblins dwell in the caves and
passageways honeycombing the cliffs of the Twisted Gorge, the
clans often despatch spies and hunters to the area to fight the
goblins infesting the gorge and to cause trouble for them among
the other tribes of that fell place.
S A M P L E C L A N : C L A N B L A C K A R R O W
This sample half‐goblin clan is typical of those dwelling in the
forest.
Clan Elder: Arala (NE female half‐goblin ranger 4/fighter 2)
Members: 7 warriors (half‐goblin fighter 1), 4 scouts (half‐
goblin ranger 1), 2 adepts (half‐goblin adept 2), 28 non‐
combatants (females, the old and the very young)
Device: A barbed, ebon arrow dripping blood from its tip.
Lair: Clan Black Arrow lives in a dry series of caves hidden at
the head of a narrow valley. The cave mouth is obscured by
scrub and accessible from a narrow pathway leading up from
the valley floor. Warriors keep watch over the passageway;
several deadfall traps are rigged to drop rubble upon intruders.
The clan has dwelled here for years (although constant
skirmishes with goblins keeps their numbers low).
C L A N S O F T H E T A N G L E D W O O D
The following half‐goblin clans are examples of those known to
dwell in the Tangled Wood.
Broken Spear: The Broken Spear dwell near a small human
village in an extensive burrow tunnelled into a high hill. From
their vantage point, the clan keep watch on their hated enemies
and sometimes creep forth to steal cattle, destroy property and
generally cause mischief. Other half‐goblins view the clan’s
warriors as craven for they rarely join in battle and kill few
humans. The truth of the matter, however, is that the clan
elder, Carlai (NE male half‐goblin rogue 4) has secretly forged a
precarious truce with certain ill‐favoured humans of the nearby
village. In return for being left alone, the humans deliver
travellers into the half‐goblins’ clutches. Such travellers
disappear completely – most assume they fall victim to the
ferocious denizens of the forest (which is true after a fashion).
Gouged Eyes: One of the largest clans in the Tangled Wood,
the Gouged Eyes is particularly aggressive in its hunt of goblins.
Its trackers and scouts are among the most skilled in the
Tangled Wood. Once they have slain their foes, the clan’s
warriors gouge the eyes from their enemies’ skulls and
consume them to ritually assert dominance over their
vanquished foes.
Splintered Knees: The Splintered Knees dwell in a network
of interconnected tombs hewn from the rock by the ancient folk
who once dwelled in the Tangled Wood. The half‐goblins have
enlarged and improved the tombs, creating a confusing network
of secret passages linking them together. Led by Varla (NE
female cleric [Braal] 7) the Splintered Knees take perverse
pleasure in carrying off the bloodied corpses of vanquished foes
to be later animated for the clan’s defence. The clan hideously
mutilates all such guardians before setting them to their eternal
vigil.
8
9
9
G O B L I N B L O O D L I N E
Most half‐goblin sorcerers have the goblin bloodline, although a
few gain their powers from the taint of aberrations. While half‐
goblins hate their goblin ancestors, their sorcerers embrace the
power flowing through their veins. Half‐goblin sorcerers are
endlessly deceitful, always striving to out‐wit their enemies.
G O B L I N B L O O D L I N E
The blood of your goblin forefathers courses through your veins.
Class Skill: Stealth.
Bonus Spells: charm person (3rd), hideous laughter (5th),
heroism (7th), confusion (9th), dominate person (11th), greater
heroism (13th), mass hold person (15th), mass charm person
(17th), mass hold monster (19th).
Bonus Feats: Alertness, Deceitful, Heighten Spell, Improved
Initiative, Skill Focus (Ride), Skill Focus (Stealth), Spell Focus,
Stealthy.
Bloodline Arcana: Whenever you cast a spell of the charm
subschool, increase the DC by +2.
Bloodline Power: You delight in confusing and controlling
your enemies.
Confusing
Bolt (Sp): At 1st‐
level,
you
can
cause a creature
within 30 ft. to
become
confused
(as
the
confusion
spell) with a successful ranged touch attack. This effect persists
for a number of rounds equal to half your sorcerer level
(minimum 1). Once a creature has been affected by confusing
bolt, it is immune to its effects for 24 hours. You can use this
ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma
modifier.
Woodland Stride (Ex): At 3rd‐level, you can move through
any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars,
overgrown areas and similar terrain) at your normal speed
without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.
Thorns, briars and overgrown areas magically manipulated to
impede motion, however, still affect you.
Deepening Shadows (Sp): At 9th‐level you can summon a
zone of deep shadows equal to deeper darkness in a 10‐foot‐
radius centred on yourself. You can see through this effect
normally, but otherwise the shadows provide concealment (50%
miss chance) to any creature within. The shadows remain in
existence for a number of rounds equal to your sorcerer level. At
9th‐level, you can use this ability once per day. At 17th‐level, you
can use this ability twice per day. At 20th‐level, you can use this
ability three times per day.
Aspect of the Goblin (Sp): At 15th‐level, the range of your
darkvision increases by 30 ft. Additionally, you gain a worg
(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary) as a familiar.
Unbreakable Will (Ex): At 20th‐level, you become immune to
all spells and effects from the charm or compulsion subschools.
WORG FAMILIAR
CR 0 (XP 0)
N Medium magical beast
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low‐light vision; Perception
+11, Sense Motive +2
Speed 30 ft.; Run
ACP 0; Acrobatics +2 (+6 running jump), Stealth +9
AC 14, touch 12, flat‐footed 12; CMD 19 (+23 vs. trip)
(+2 Dex, +2 natural)
Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +3
hp 26 (4 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +4; CMB +7
Melee bite +7 (1d6+4 plus trip)
Trip (Ex) If the worg hits with its bite attack it can attempt to
trip its opponent as a free action without provoking an
attack of opportunity. If its attempt fails, it is not tripped in
return.
Abilities Str 17, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 10
Feats Run, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills as above plus Survival +5
Languages Common, Goblin
10
N E W F E A T S
Half‐Goblins of the Tangled Wood introduces five new feats.
Each feat is presented in the following manner:
Prerequisites: This entry is absent if the feat has no
prerequisites. Otherwise, it lists the qualifying features a
character must have to select the feat.
Benefit: This section details what the feat enables the
character to do or lists the bonuses it provides.
Special: If the feat has additional benefits (or synergistic
qualities with another feat), they are listed here.
Normal: This listing is absent if not having the feat causes no
particular drawback or penalty. Otherwise, it presents the
limitations or drawbacks faced by a character without this feat.
B A T T L E F E A T S
Battle feats are a new kind of combat‐focused feat designed to
add flavour to combats featuring warriors of a given tribe. Such
feats represent the warriors’ battle training and tribal fighting
style. Most require a base attack bonus of at least +1. Fighters
can use their bonus feats to choose Battle feats.
F O R E S T S T R I D E
You are adept at moving through forest terrain.
Prerequisites: Dex 13.
Benefit: When in forest terrain, you can move through 10
feet of difficult terrain each round as if it were normal terrain.
Forest Stride enables you to take a 5‐foot step into difficult
terrain while in a forest.
F O R E S T W A R R I O R [B A T T L E ]
You are adept at fighting in woodland.
Prerequisites: Tribal membership (half‐goblin).
Benefit: You are skilled at fighting in woodlands and forests
and are able to gain extra protection from the environment.
When adjacent or in a square containing a tree, the cover bonus
bestowed by the tree increases by 1. Similarly, if you are
adjacent or in a square containing undergrowth providing
concealment the miss chance bestowed by that concealment
increases by 5%.
G R E A T E R F O R E S T S T R I D E
You are adept at moving through forest terrain.
Prerequisites: Dex 15, Forest Stride
Benefit: When in forest terrain, you can move through 30
feet of difficult terrain each round as if it were normal terrain.
G R E A T E R S K I R M I S H E R [B A T T L E ]
Moving swiftly, you dodge your opponent’s attacks.
Prerequisites: Tribal membership (half‐goblin), Skirmisher.
Benefit: If you move 20 ft. or more before attacking you gain
a +1 circumstance bonus to attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to
AC until the start of your next turn. These bonuses stack with
those granted by Skirmisher.
S K I R M I S H E R [B A T T L E ]
Moving swiftly, you dodge your opponent’s attacks.
Prerequisites: Tribal membership (half‐goblin), Dodge.
Benefit: If you move 20 ft. or more before attacking you gain
a +1 circumstance bonus
to attack rolls and a +1
dodge bonus to AC
until the start of
your next turn.
11
N E W S P E L L S
Half‐goblin adepts have developed two new spells with which to
defeat their hated enemies. They appear below, alphabetically.
M I A S M A O F E N E R V A T I O N
Level Adept 3, cleric 3 (conjuration [creation])
Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S, DF
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level); Area 20‐ft. radius spread;
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance yes
This spell enervates creatures within its area of affect.
Characters in the area are fatigued (character can neither run
nor charge and takes a ‐2 penalty on Strength and Dexterity)
unless they succeed on a Fortitude saving throw.
M I A S M A O F H A T R E D
Level Adept 2, cleric 2 (enchantment [compulsion, mind‐
affecting])
Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S, DF
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level); Area creatures in a 20‐ft.‐
radiusa spread; Duration concentration, up to 1 round/level
(D)
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
This spell drives the targets into a wild frenzy of anger. You have
no control over the affected creatures, who simply try to slay
any visible enemies. Affected creatures make every effort to
melee their enemies as quickly as possible, but such creatures
gain an additional immediate saving throw if they must cross
some obvious hazard (such as a chasm) to do so. Finally, miasma
of hatred inflicts a ‐2 penalty to AC as the affected creatures hurl
themselves at their enemies.
This spell automatically suppresses (but does not dispel)
calm emotions. It also suppresses any fear effects and removes
the confused condition. While miasma of hatred is in effect,
suppressed spells, conditions and effects have no effect. When
the miasma of hatred ends, the original spells or effects take
hold of the creature again, providing their duration has not
expired in the meantime.
B R A A L
NE god of Hate, Malice and Revenge
Epithets: The Hated, the Wreaker, Dweller in Shadows
Symbol: A cloven skull
Domains: Destruction, Evil and Trickery
Favoured Weapon: Morningstar
Raiment: Braal’s faithful wear cowled black cloaks smeared
with the blood of their sacrifices. Adherents also shave their
heads.
Teachings: Strike from the shadows; punish those who have
wronged you and show no mercy. Take what you want and
destroy that which you cannot take.
Holy Texts: The worship of Braal is not as prescriptive as
other religions. No universally agreed upon text exists, but
several dark tomes are preferred by various sects.
Adept Spell List: Half‐goblin adepts worshipping Braal enjoy
access to a different spell list to that of normal adepts.
0—create water, detect magic, ghost sound, guidance,
know direction, mending, purify food and drink, read magic,
stabilise, touch of fatigue.
1st—bless, burning hands, cause fear, command, cure light
wounds, detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law,
faerie fire, magic fang, obscuring wind, protection from chaos,
protection from evil, protection from good, protection from law,
sleep.
2nd—aid, bear’s endurance, bull’s strength, cat’s grace,
cure moderate wounds, darkness, delay poison, miasma of
hatred, owl’s wisdom, resist energy, scorching ray, see
invisibility, tree shape, undetectable alignment.
3rd—animate dead, bestow curse, contagion, cure serious
wounds, deeper darkness, miasma of enervation, neutralize
poison, poison, remove curse, remove disease, tongues, wind
wall.
4th—cure critical wounds, freedom of movement, ice storm,
stoneskin, unholy blight, wall of fire.
5th—cloudkill, commune, greater command, harm, heal,
true seeing, unhallow, waves of fatigue.
12
N E W M A G I C I T E M S
The half‐goblins of the Tangled Wood have created several magi
items unique to themselves and have scavenged others from the
tumbled ruins of an elder civilisation hidden beneath the boughs
of their forest home.
C L O A K O F T H E W O O D L A N D S
This mottled green and brown leather cloak has a deep cowl.
Aura faint (abjuration and transmutation; DC 16 Knowledge
[arcana]) Identify DC 18 Spellcraft
Lore (DC 10 Perception) The cloak is exceptionally well‐oiled and
free of burrs, rips and tears.
Lore (DC 16 Knowledge [nature]) As if moved by a gentle wind,
vegetation seems to sway away from the cloak when it is
brought near.
Abilities The cloak of the woodlands affects its owner with a
pass without trace spell as long as it is worn. Additionally,
once per day the wearer can cast hide from animals.
Activation use‐activated and command word; CL 3rd
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, hide from animals, pass
without trace; Cost 1,500 gp; Price 3,000 gp
O I L O F E N T A N G L E
Thick green oil fills this flask.
Aura faint (transmutation; DC 16
Knowledge [arcana]) Identify DC 18
Spellcraft
Lore (DC 15 Knowledge [nature])
The o l contains mashed up berries
and twigs that seemingly move of
their own volition.
i
e
s
Abilities When this oil is pour d
on the ground, the vegetation
within a 40 ft. radiu spread is
affected as if by an entangle
spell.
Activation use‐activated; CL
3rd
Requirements Brew Potion,
entangle; Cost 75 gp; Price 150
gp
O I L O F P L A N T G R O W T H
Viscous and lumpy green oil fills this flask.
Aura faint (transmutation; DC 18 Knowledge [arcana]) Identify
DC 20 Spellcraft
Lore (DC 16 Knowledge [nature]) The smell of this potion is
reminiscent of deep woodland in the depths of summer.
Abilities When this oil is poured on the ground, the vegetation
within a 100 ft. radius circle is affected by the overgrowth
option of the plant growth spell.
Activation use‐activated; CL 5th
Requirements Brew Potion, plant growth; Cost 150 gp; Price 250
gp
A R C H E R ’ S B U C K L E R
This buckler is composed of dark wood banded by dull, chipped
metal rim. Its boss is similarly dented.
Aura moderate (conjuration; DC 20 Knowledge [arcana]) Identify
DC 24 Spellcraft
Lore (DC 5 Knowledge [nature]) This buckler is crafted from
darkwood.
Lore (DC 10 Craft [armour] or Profession [armourer]) Despite its
appearance, this buckler is in exceptional condition.
Abilities This +1 darkwood buckler has a small extradimensional
space capable of holding 60 arrows. When the buckler is
strapped to his arm, the owner can see and access the
extradimensional space. The wearer can draw forth arrows
from the buckler as if using a normal quiver, but drawing
anything else requires a move action. The archer’s buckler
weighs the same (3 lbs.) no matter what is stored within. The
extradimensional space can hold no single item longer than
an arrow.
Activation use‐activated; CL 9th
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armour, secret chest; Cost
1,050 gp; Price 2,100 gp
13
M I N O R E N C O U N T E R S W I T H H A L F - G O B L I N S
HALF‐GOBLIN ARCHER
CR 1/2 (XP 200)
This bald, scrawny humanoid wears studded leather armour and
carries a shortbow.
Male half‐goblin fighter 1
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1, Sense Motive +1
Speed 35 ft.
ACP ‐1; Climb +5, Ride +5, Stealth +4
AC 18, touch 14, flat‐footed 14; CMD 17; Dodge, Mobility
(+3 Dex, +3 armour [studded leather], +1 shield [mwk buckler],
+1 dodge)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1
hp 12 (1 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +1; CMB +3
Melee hand axe +3 (1d6+2/x3)
Ranged shortbow (range 60 ft.) +4 (1d6/x3)
Combat Gear 20 arrows, potion of cure light wounds
Abilities Str 15, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
Feats Dodge, FleetB, Mobility
Skills as above
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus 1d6 sp
HALF‐GOBLIN SNEAK THIEF
CR 1/2 (XP 200)
Clad in leather armour this skinny, bald humanoid carries a light
crossbow. Its head seems oversized for its body and its eyes
burn with malevolence.
Male half‐goblin rogue 1
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4 (+5 vs. traps),
Sense Motive +0
Speed 35 ft.
ACP 0; Acrobatics +7, Climb +5, Escape Artist +7, Ride +5, Stealth
+9, Swim +5
AC 16, touch 13, flat‐footed 13; CMD 14
(+3 Dex, +2 armour [leather], +1 shield [mwk buckler])
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +0
hp 11 (1 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +0; CMB +1
Ranged light crossbow (range 60 ft.) +3 (1d8/19‐20)
Melee short sword +1 (1d6/19‐20)
Atk Options sneak attack +1d6
Combat Gear 20 bolts, potion of cure light wounds, tanglefoot
bag
Abilities Str 13, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
SQ trapfinding
Feats FleetB, Improved Initiative
Skills as above plus Appraise +5, Disable Device +8, Intimidate +3
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus belt pouch, 12 sp
HALF‐GOBLIN RANGER
CR 1/2 (XP 200)
This short, scrawny and bald female has beady hate‐filled eyes. A
sneer mars her already ugly countenance. She wears dirty
studded leather armour and carries a longbow.
Female half‐goblin ranger 1
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5 (+7 vs. humans),
Sense Motive +1 (+3 vs. humans)
Speed 35 ft.
ACP ‐1; Climb +5, Ride +5, Stealth +8
AC 17, touch 13, flat‐footed 14; CMD 16
(+3 Dex, +3 armour [mwk studded leather], +1 shield [buckler])
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
hp 12 (1 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +1; CMB +3
Ranged longbow (range 100 ft.) +5 (1d8/x3)
Melee longsword +3 (1d8+2/19‐20)
Atk Options favoured enemy (human +2)
Combat Gear 20 arrows, potion of cure light wounds, tanglefoot
bag
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
SQ track +1, wild empathy +0 (4 vs. magical beasts)
Feats FleetB, Weapon Focus (longbow)
Skills as above plus Bluff ‐1 (+1 vs. humans), Knowledge
(dungeoneering) +4, Knowledge (nature) +4, Survival +5 (+6
tracking or +8 tracking humans)
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus belt pouch, 3 sp
HALF‐GOBLIN WARRIOR
CR 1/2 (XP 200)
This bald, scrawny humanoid wears studded leather armour and
carries a battleaxe
Male half‐goblin fighter 1
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1, Sense Motive +1
Speed 35 ft.
ACP ‐3; Climb +3, Ride +3, Stealth +2
AC 19, touch 14, flat‐footed 15; CMD 17; Dodge
(+3 Dex, +3 armour [studded leather], +2 shield [heavy
wooden], +1 dodge)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1
hp 12 (1 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +1; CMB +3
Melee battleaxe +4 (1d8+2/x3)
Ranged throwing axe (range 10 ft.) +4 (1d6+2)
Combat Gear throwing axe (2), potion of cure light wounds
Abilities Str 15, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
Feats Dodge, FleetB, Weapon Focus (battleaxe)
Skills as above
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus 1d6 sp
14
HALF‐GOBLIN S ORCERER
CR 1 (XP 400)
This scrawny creature stands about 5 ft. tall. Slightly pointed ears
frame the man’s freakishly oversized, bald head. His scarred
face is twisted into a cruel grimace.
Male half‐goblin sorcerer (goblin) 2
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception ‐1, Sense Motive ‐1
Speed 35 ft.
ACP 0; Ride +4, Stealth +4
AC 16, touch 12, flat‐footed 14; CMD 15
(+2 Dex, +4 armour [mage armour])
Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +2
hp 14 (2 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +1; CMB +3
Melee mwk morningstar +4 (1d8+2)
Special Actions confusing bolt (5/day)
Confusing Bolt (Sp) With a successful ranged touch attack, the
sorcerer causes a creature within 30 ft. to act as if affected
by a confusion spell for 1 round. A creature affected by
confusing bolt is immune to its effects for 24 hours.
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 2nd; concentration +4)
1st (5/day [4 remaining])—colour spray (DC 13), mage armour
0—acid splash, dancing lights, daze (DC 12), detect magic, mage
hand
Combat Gear scroll of expeditious retreat, scroll of identify, scroll
of sleep
Abilities Str 15, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 15
SQ bloodline arcana (goblin)
Feats Eschew MaterialsB, FleetB, Toughness
Skills as above plus Knowledge (arcana) +4, Knowledge
(dungeoneering) +4, Spellcraft +5
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus 23, sp, 46 gp
ALTERNATIVE SPELL LISTS
1st (5/day [4 remaining])—mage armour, sleep (DC 13)
0—dancing lights, daze (DC 12), mage hand, prestidigitation, ray
of frost
HALF‐GOBLIN ADEPT
CR 1 (XP 400)
Clad in filthy furs, this scrawny woman has slightly pointed ears
and an oversized head.
Female half‐goblin adept 3
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +2 (+4 if familiar in
arm’s reach), Sense Motive +2(+4 if familiar in arm’s reach)
Speed 35 ft.
ACP 0; Ride +3, Stealth +3
AC 12, touch 11, flat‐footed 11; CMD 11
(+1 Dex, +1 armour [padded])
Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +6
hp 16 (3 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +1; CMB +0
Melee mwk sickle +1 (1d6‐1)
Ranged dart (range 20 ft.) +2 (1d4‐1)
Adept Spells Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +5, share spells)
1st—bless, burning hands (DC 13), sleep (DC 13)
0—detect magic, mending, stabilize
Combat Gear darts (5), potion of invisibility, scroll of cure light
wounds (2), tanglefoot bag (2)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 15, Cha 1
SQ summon familiar (toad [hp 6])
Feats AlertnessB, FleetB, Improved Initiative, Toughness
Skills as above plus Heal +6, Knowledge (religion) +3, Survival +6
Languages Common, Goblin, empathic link
Gear as above plus
ALTERNATIVE SPELL LISTS
1st—bless, cure light wounds (2)
0—detect magic, ghost sound (DC 12), touch of fatigue
1st—obscuring mist, protection from good, sleep (DC 13)
0—detect magic, mending, stabilize
P L A C E O F P O W E R ( E L 3 ; X P 8 0 0 )
Opponents (EL 3) sorcerer (1), sneak thief (1), warrior (2)
EL 2 (600 XP) Remove the sneak thief; EL 4 (1,200 XP) Add one
adept.
Morale The half‐goblins retreat if half their number is slain or
incapacitated.
Terrain ruined temple surrounded by dense forest; Encounter
Distance 3d6 x 10 ft.
A half‐goblin sorcerer and a few guards are investigating a
ruined temple hidden deep in the wood. The temple is nothing
but a ruined shell, but the half‐goblins are poking about around
the altar in search of hidden treasures. None are on watch and
so the PCs may enter the ruins before becoming aware of the
intruders.
By the time the PCs have arrived, the half‐goblins have dug
several holes throughout the ruin in search of treasure.
H U N T E R S ( E L 2 ; X P 6 0 0 )
Opponents (EL 2) ranger (2), sneak thief (1)
EL 1 (400 XP): Remove one ranger; EL 3 (800 XP): Add one sneak
thief.
Morale If injured or spotted during their attempted theft, the
half‐goblins retreat firing their bows to discourage pursuit.
Terrain medium forest; Encounter Distance 2d8 x 10 ft.
The half‐goblins sneak through the wood, in search of prey.
Although they are not expecting trouble, they are wary. Each
carries a bloody sack containing slain rabbits, squirrels and so
on. If the hunters spot the PCs, they hide and once the PCs have
past follow their tracks. They sneak into camp in the dead of
night, deal with any sentries and then steal any easily portable
wealth lying around.
15
M A J O R E N C O U N T E R S W I T H H A L F - G O B L I N S
HALF‐GOBLIN ELITE ARCHER
CR 2 (XP 600)
This bald, scrawny humanoid wears studded leather armour and
carries a shortbow.
Male half‐goblin fighter 3
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1, Sense Motive +1
Speed 35 ft.
ACP 0; Acrobatics +5, Climb +6, Ride +6, Stealth +6
AC 18, touch 14, flat‐footed 14; CMD 19; Dodge, Mobility
(+3 Dex, +3 armour [mwk studded leather], +1 shield [mwk
buckler], +1 dodge)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +2; +1 vs. fear
hp 27 (3 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +3; CMB +5
Melee mwk hand axe +6 (1d6+2/x3)
Ranged mwk composite shortbow (range 60 ft.) +7 (1d6+2/x3)
Atk Options Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Combat Gear 20 arrows, potion of cure moderate wounds
Abilities Str 15, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
SQ armour training (1), bravery
Feats Dodge, FleetB, Mobility, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Skills as above plus Handle Animal +3
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus 2d10 gp sp
HALF‐GOBLIN ELITE SNEAK THIEF
CR 2 (XP 600)
Clad in chain armour this skinny, bald humanoid carries a light
crossbow. Its head seems oversized for its body and its eyes
burn with malevolence.
Male half‐goblin rogue 3
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +6 (+7 vs. traps),
Sense Motive +0
Speed 35 ft.
ACP 0; Acrobatics +9, Climb +7, Escape Artist +9, Ride +5, Stealth
+11 (fast stealth), Swim +7
AC 18, touch 13, flat‐footed 15; CMD 16; +1 vs. traps
(+3 Dex, +4 armour [mw chain shirt], +1 shield [mwk buckler])
Fort +3, Ref +6 (+7 vs. traps; evasion), Will +1
hp 26 (3 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +2 CMB +3
Ranged mwk light crossbow (range 60 ft.) +6 (1d8/19‐20)
Melee mwk short sword +6 (1d6/19‐20)
Atk Options sneak attack +2d6
Combat Gear 20 bolts, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion
of invisibility, tanglefoot bag
Abilities Str 13, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
SQ rogue talent (fast stealth), trapfinding, trap sense +1
Feats FleetB, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse
Skills as above plus Appraise +7, Disable Device +12, Intimidate
+5
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus belt pouch, mwk thieves’ tools, 2d10 gp
HALF‐GOBLIN ELITE RANGER
CR 2 (XP 600)
This short, scrawny and bald female has beady hate‐filled eyes.
Female half‐goblin ranger 2/rogue 1
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +7 (+8 vs. traps, +9
vs. humans), Sense Motive +1 (+3 vs. humans)
Speed 35 ft.
ACP ‐1; Acrobatics +9, Climb +7, Ride +5, Stealth +10
AC 18, touch 13, flat‐footed 15; CMD 17
(+3 Dex, +4 armour [mwk chain shirt], +1 shield [mwk buckler])
Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +1
hp 23 (3 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +2; CMB +4
Ranged mwk composite longbow (range 100 ft.) +7 (1d8+2/x3)
Melee mwk longsword +5 (1d8+2/19‐20)
Atk Options Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, favoured enemy
(human +2), sneak attack +1d6
Combat Gear 20 arrows, potion of cure moderate wounds,
tanglefoot bag
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
SQ combat style (archery), track +1, wild empathy +1 (‐3 vs.
magical beasts)
Feats FleetB, Point Blank Shot, Precise ShotB, Weapon Focus
(longbow)
Skills as above plus Bluff ‐1 (+1 vs. humans), Disable Device +12,
Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (nature) +5,
Survival +7 (+8 tracking or +10 tracking humans)
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus belt pouch, 2d10 gp
HALF‐GOBLIN ELITE WARRIOR
CR 2 (XP 600)
This scrawny warrior wears chainmail and carries a battleaxe.
Male half‐goblin fighter 3
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1, Sense Motive +1
Speed 35 ft.
ACP ‐1; Climb +7, Ride +7, Stealth +4
AC 21, touch 14, flat‐footed 17; CMD 19; Dodge
(+3 Dex, +4 armour [mwk chain shirt], +3 shield [mwk heavy
wooden], +1 dodge)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +2; +1 vs fear
hp 27 (3 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +3; CMB +5
Melee mwk battleaxe +7 (1d8+2/x3)
Ranged mwk shortspear (range 20 ft.) +6 (1d6+2)
Atk Options Power Attack (‐1 attack, +2 damage)
Combat Gear potion of cure moderate wounds
Abilities Str 15, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
SQ armour training (1), bravery
Feats Dodge, FleetB, Power Attack, Shield Focus, Weapon Focus
(battleaxe)
Skills as above
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus 2d10 gp
16
HALF‐GOBLIN S ORCERER
CR 3 (XP 800)
This scrawny creature stands about 5 ft. tall. Slightly pointed ears
frame the man’s freakishly oversized, bald head. His scarred
face is twisted into a cruel grimace.
Male half‐goblin sorcerer (goblin) 4
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception ‐1, Sense Motive ‐1
Speed 35 ft.; woodland stride
Woodland Stride (Ex) The sorcerer can more through any sort of
undergrowth at normal speed without taking damage or
suffering any other impairment. Thorns, briars and
overgrown areas magically manipulated to impede motion,
however, still affect him.
ACP 0; Ride +4, Stealth +9
AC 16, touch 12, flat‐footed 14; CMD 16
(+2 Dex, +4 armour [mage armour])
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +4
hp 29 (4 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +2; CMB +4
Melee mwk morningstar +5 (1d8+2)
Special Actions confusing bolt (6/day)
Confusing Bolt (Sp) With a successful ranged touch attack, the
sorcerer causes a creature within 30 ft. to act as if affected
by a confusion spell for 2 rounds. A creature affected by
confusing bolt is immune to its effects for 24 hours.
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 4th; concentration +7 [+11 casting
defensively or while grappled)
2nd (4/day)—blindness/deafness (DC 15)
1st (7/day [6 remaining])—charm person (DC 16), colour spray
(DC 14), expeditious retreat, mage armour
0—acid splash, dancing lights, daze (DC 13), detect magic, mage
hand, read magic
Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds (2), scroll of invisibility,
web
Abilities Str 15, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 16
SQ bloodline arcana (goblin)
Feats Combat Casting, Eschew MaterialsB, FleetB, Toughness
Skills as above plus Knowledge (arcana) +4, Knowledge
(dungeoneering) +4, Spellcraft +7
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus cloak of resistance +1, 23, sp, 46 gp
HALF‐GOBLIN GREATER ADEPT
CR 3 (XP 800)
This tall, scrawny and bald woman’s eyes burn with malevolence.
Female half‐goblin adept (Braal) 5
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init ‐1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +3 (+5 if familiar in
arm’s reach), Sense Motive +3 (+5 if familiar in arm’s reach)
Speed 35 ft.
ACP 0; Ride +1, Stealth +1
AC 10, touch 9, flat‐footed 10; CMD 10
(‐1 Dex, +1 armour [bracers of armour +1])
Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +7
hp 30 (5 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +2; CMB +1
Melee sickle +1 (1d6‐1)
Ranged light crossbow (range 80 ft.) +1 (1d8/19‐20)
Adept Spells Prepared (CL 5th, concentration +8, share spells)
2nd—miasma of hatred (DC 15), web (DC 15)
1st—bless, burning hands (DC 14), obscuring mist
0—detect magic, ghost sound (DC 13), stabilise
Combat Gear 10 bolts, potion of cure moderate wounds, 3
screaming bolts, scroll of protection from good
Abilities Str 8, Dex 9, Con 10, Int 11, Wis 16, Cha 12
SQ summon familiar (toad)
Feats FleetB, Lightning Reflexes, Scribe Scroll, Toughness
Skills as above plus Heal +8, Knowledge (nature) +5, Knowledge
(religion) +5, Spellcraft +5, Survival +8,
Languages Common, Goblin, empathic link, speak with familiar
Gear as above plus spell component pouch, 12 gp
ALTERNATIVE SPELL LISTS
2nd—cure moderate wounds, mirror image
1st—bless, cure light wounds, obscuring mist
0—detect magic, ghost sound (DC 13), touch of fatigue (DC 13)
2nd—aid, cure moderate wounds
1st—burning hands (DC 14), cure light wounds, obscuring mist
0—detect magic, stabilize, touch of fatigue (DC 13)
E L I T E R A I D E R S ( E L 7 ; X P 3 , 2 0 0 )
Opponents (EL 7) greater sorcerer (1), elite archer (2), elite
warrior (2)
EL 6 (2,400 XP): Remove the greater sorcerer; EL 8 (4,800 XP):
Add one greater sorcerer and one greater adept.
Morale A half‐goblin reduced to below half hit points retreats.
Terrain medium forest; Encounter Distance 2d8 x 10 ft.
Planning to raid a nearby settlement these elite half‐goblins are
not averse to attacking targets of opportunity. If the PCs attack
the half‐goblins, they flee. If the half‐goblins spot the PCs, they
arrange a hasty ambush. Alternatively, the PCs could encounter
the raiders returning to their clanhold after a successful raid.
The half‐goblins could even have recently captured slaves (who
would be very grateful to be rescued) with them.
A M B U S H ( E L 6 ; X P 2 , 4 0 0 )
Opponents (EL 6) half‐goblin ranger (1), elite sneak thief (1),
elite archer (2)
EL 5 (1,600 XP): Apply the young template to all the half‐
goblins; EL 7 (3,200 XP): Add the advanced template to all
the half‐goblins.
Morale If reduced to half hit points, a half‐goblin flees.
Terrain medium forest; Encounter Distance 2d8 x 10 ft.
The half‐goblins lurk by a well‐used trail waiting for a tempting
target to pass by. They swamp their target with arrows,
concentrating on archers and spellcasters. If their targets close
to melee, the half‐goblins slowly retreat while shooting.
17
P E R S O N A : A N A R L
A loner, Anarl stalks the Tangled Wood in search of prey and
ancient wellsprings of the atavistic spirits in which he believes.
A devotee of the ancient woodland spirits, Anarl is at odds with
his fellows’ reverence of Braal. Valued for his woodland
knowledge and hunting skill the clan elders respect his opinions
and often give him leave to range in the deepest reaches of his
woodland home.
Background: Anarl hails from a small clan all but wiped out
by adventurers years ago. For several years, he dwelled in the
forest, learning its secret ways and communing with its spirits.
Marauding goblins forced him to return to his kin; few half‐
goblins know the deep reaches of the forest as does Anarl.
Personality: Much happier alone than in a group, Anarl
rarely speaks. He hates humans, goblins and wolves passionately
and enjoys hunting such. Anarl possesses great confidence in his
own skills and is arrogant and difficult to befriend.
Mannerisms: Anarl incessantly chews his nails and picks his
nose.
Distinguishing Features: Once savaged by a starving wolf,
the scars of that encounter still cover his face and shoulders. He
is missing several teeth and his breath stinks. Anarl only bathes
when forced to swim and is thus often covered in mud and
grime.
Hooks: A skilled hunter and tracker, Anarl often stalks the
deep woodlands keeping watch for encroaching human or goblin
intruders. He remains in the wilderness for weeks at a time,
emerging tired, dishevelled, but happy. If he encounters
wanderers, he surreptitiously follows them attacking when they
are engaged with other enemies.
Tactics: Anarl prefers ranged combat to melee, and uses
woodland stride to keep away from his enemies. He uses his
longbow and spells (particularly call lightning) to injure his foes
from range, honing in on injured or isolated targets. In battle, he
prefers to strike at obvious spellcasters – particularly clerics –
first. Enemies employing fire mark themselves for his special
wrath. He uses wild shape to flee any truly dangerous
encounter.
He offers no mercy to his foes, with the exception of druids,
whom he on occasion spares if they venerate the woodlands as
he does.
Special Actions spontaneous casting (summon nature’s ally),
storm burst (5/day), wild shape (beast shape I, Natural
Spell, 5 hours)
Storm Burst (Sp) As a ranged touch attack, Anarl creates a
storm that targets one foe within 30 ft. The storm deals
1d6+2 damage and inflicts a ‐2 penalty on attack rolls for 1
round.
Druid Spells Prepared (CL 5th; concentration +7 [+11 casting
defensively or grappling]; Weather domain)
3rd—call lightningD (DC 15), wind wall
2nd—barkskin, cat’s grace, fog cloudD, warp wood (DC 14)
1st—cure light wounds (2), faerie fire, longstrider, obscuring
mistD
0—detect magic, detect poison, resistance, stabilize
Combat Gear oil of plant growth, potion of cure serious wounds,
scroll of wind wall, wand of call lightning (15 charges)
Abilities Str 13, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 10
SQ combat style (archery), nature’s bond (weather domain),
nature sense, track +1, resist nature’s lure, wild empathy +5
(+1 vs. magical beasts)
Feats Combat Casting, EnduranceB, FleetB, Forest Warrior,
Natural Spell, Point Blank ShotB, Precise Shot
Skills as above plus Bluff +0 (+2 vs. humans), Handle Animal +5,
(geography) +3 (+5 in forest), Knowledge (local) ‐1 (+1 vs.
humans), Knowledge (nature) +6, Knowledge (religion) +3,
Survival +12 (+13 tracking, +14 in forest, +15 tracking
humans or tracking in forest, +17 tracking humans in forest)
Languages Common, Druidic, Goblin
Gear as above plus
ANARL
CR 7 (XP 3,200)
This filthy, scrawny humanoid wears filthy studded leather
armour, but move with silent grace.
Male half‐goblin druid 5/ranger 3
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +3 (+5 in forest); Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +9
(+11 vs. humans or in forest, +13 vs. humans in forest),
Sense Motive +2 (+4 vs. humans)
Speed 35 ft.; trackless step, woodland stride
Trackless Step (Ex) Anarl leaves no trail in natural surroundings
and cannot be tracked.
Woodland Stride (Ex) Anarl can move through any sort of
undergrowth at his normal speed and without taking
damage
or
suffering
impairment.
Areas
magically
manipulated to impede motion, however still affect him.
ACP 0; Climb +6, Ride +7, Stealth +14 (+16 in forest), Swim +5
AC 19, touch 13, flat‐footed 16; CMD 20; Forest Warrior
(+3 Dex, +4 armour [+1 studded leather], +2 shield [+1
buckler])
Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +7; +4 vs. fey’s spell‐like and supernatural
abilities and any spells or effects that utilize or target plants.
hp 63 (8 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +6; CMB +7
Ranged mwk composite longbow (range 110 ft.) +10/+5
(1d8+1/x3)
Melee mwk scimitar +8/+3 (1d6+1/18‐20)
Atk Options Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, favoured enemy
(human +2), favoured terrain (forest +2)
18
P E R S O N A : C A R L I X
A mighty half‐goblin warrior, Carlix is a particularly sadistic and
depraved individual. He enjoys slaying foes in single combat and
likes to torture and murder captives in front of their fellows.
A brute and a bully, Carlix has risen to his current position by
killing or intimidating those angering him. Consequently, he is
universally loathed (and feared) by his companions.
Few dare cross Carlix.
Background: Born into a poverty‐stricken clan with few
prospects, Carlix has improved his station through his ferocity in
battle and reputation for unrelenting cruelty. Carlix joined his
clan’s warband in a desperate attempt to escape the poverty
into which he was born. With his mother now dead – slain by an
unknown rival – Carlix lives for battle.
Personality: A violent brute with no friends and few living
enemies, Carlix maintains his position in the clan by being
angrier and more vicious than his fellows. He enjoys discovering
how much pain a captive can endure and often keeps such
unfortunates alive for days in excruciating pain.
At some point in the past, Carlix developed a taste for
human flesh and often hacks choice cuts from his fallen enemies
to consume later. Sometimes he consumes the flesh of yet living
captives, slicing choice cuts from their bodies and roasting it on a
fire in front of them.
A proud warrior, he has an overwhelming desire to be in
charge of any given situation and becomes angry if his advice
goes unheeded. He rarely backs down from a confrontation and
never apologises.
Hard spirits are his one true weakness; he often carries such
flasks with him and has previously initiated raids on human
settlements solely to capture their supplies of drink. Ironically,
he suffers from terrible hangovers.
Mannerisms: When angry or otherwise agitated, Carlix pulls
and tugs at the stump of his left ear, causing it to bleed.
Distinguishing Features: A raggedly‐healed stump is all that
remains of Carlix’s left ear. Bitten off in a vicious fight with a
childhood rival, the wound has never fully healed and
occasionally weeps blood.
The dried blood of slain enemies often covers his armour
and equipment.
Hooks: Carlix – aided by several of his fellows – is busy
torturing several hapless goblins when the PCs encounter his
small band. Enraged, by the interruption he orders his men to
attack while he slaughters his helpless captives.
Alternatively, Carlix could lead a raid on a human settlement
where he perpetrates several unspeakable acts on prisoners. A
peasant survives the massacre and is able to give a good
description of the raid’s leader. The local lord offers a bounty for
the half‐goblin’s death or capture.
Tactics: Atypically for a half‐goblin, Carlix relishes single
combat. Although he first strikes from range, he often charges
into battle to finish off injured foes – particularly warriors. He is
wary of wizards and the like, avoiding them unless he has no
option. He particularly likes killing humans and seeks them out
above all other foes. He is surprisingly nimble on his feet for
(such a brute), and uses his mobility to his advantage.
Atk Options Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, favoured enemy
(human +2), favoured terrain (forest +2)
Combat Gear arrows (60), elixir of hiding, feather token (tree),
oil of entangle, potion of cat’s grace, potion of cure serious
wounds, potion of resist energy
Abilities Str 16, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
SQ armour training (1), bravery, combat style (archery), track
+1, wild empathy +2 (‐2 vs. magical beasts), weapon training
(bows +1)
Feats Dodge, EnduranceB, FleetB, Forest Stride, Forest Warrior,
Improved Initiative, Point Blank ShotB, Precise Shot,
Weapon Focus (longbow), Weapon Specialisation (longbow)
Skills as above plus Bluff ‐1 (+1 vs. humans), Knowledge
(geography) +4 (+6 in forest), Knowledge (local) +0 (+2 vs.
humans), Knowledge (nature) +4, Survival +12 (+13 tracking,
+14 in forest, +15 tracking humans or tracking in forest, +17
tracking humans in forest)
Languages Common, Goblin
Gear as above plus 25 gp
CARLIX
CR 7 (XP 3,200)
Carrying a huge longbow this scrawny humanoid wears a chain
shirt and has a battered buckler strapped to one arm.
Female half‐goblin fighter 5/ranger 3
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +12 (+14 vs.
humans or in forest, +16 vs. humans in forest), Sense
Motive +1 (+3 vs. humans)
Speed 35 ft.; Forest Stride
ACP 0; Climb +7, Ride +9, Stealth +16 (+18 in forest)
AC 21, touch 14, flat‐footed 17; CMD 25; Dodge, Forest Warrior
(+3 Dex, +5 armour [+1 chain shirt], +2 shield [+1 darkwood
buckler {archer’s buckler}], +1 dodge)
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +3 (+4 vs. fear)
hp 69 (8 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +8; CMB +11
Ranged +1 composite longbow (range 110 ft.) +14/+9
(1d8+7/x3)
Melee mwk battleaxe +12/+7 (1d8+3/x3)
19
P E R S O N A : S E V E R A
Obsessed with places of the ancients, Severa stalks the Tangled
Wood searching for power to enable her to forge the disparate
clans of her people into a powerful force able to eradicate the
hated human and goblin infestations.
Always marked for greatness (at least in her own mind), Severa
has dedicated her life to exploring the crumbling ruins of elder
civilization. Drawn both by a lust for power and the tug of her
goblin heritage she often wanders the forest with a few elite
bodyguards.
Background: Daughter of a clan elder, Severa was born into
a life of relative privilege. From an early age, she grew
accustomed to being listened to and obeyed.
Personality: Convinced that it is her destiny to forge the
clans together, lust for power consumes Severa. She
manipulates any who can aid her in her quest. She is utterly
without conscience and freely uses her considerable wiles to get
what she wants.
Mannerisms: Severa tolerates no arguments against her
plans and rarely heeds advice. She is extremely persuasive in her
speech, being an excellent orator and often uses expansive hand
gestures to make her point.
Distinguishing Features: Strangely alluring for a half‐goblin,
Severa wears her long, unkempt hair down to her waist.
Hopelessly tangled, it gives her a wild, sultry look. Severa is one
of the few half‐goblins able to pass for a human.
Hooks: Exploring the forest, the PCs discover an overgrown
ruin. Unfortunately, Severa has already discovered the place
(and an obviously trapped staircase leading downwards).
Surprised, she uses dominate person to control one of the party
and threatens to slay her new minion unless his friends bypass
the magical traps and bring forth any treasure hidden below.
Alternatively, the PCs could encounter her in disguise as she
infiltrates a human settlement to steal a certain map or treatise
dealing with the ancient folk of the Tangled Wood.
Tactics: Severa never willingly places herself in a position
where foes can injure her. She hangs back from combat, hurling
spells to crush opponents. She enjoys crushing an opponent’s
will and forcing it to attack its companions. This amuses her
greatly; cackling often accompanies such attacks.
SEVERA
CR 9 (XP 6,400)
Clad in robes of woodland hues, this scrawny woman radiates
raw magnetism and strength of will.
Female half‐goblin sorcerer (goblin) 10
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0, Sense Motive +0
Speed 35 ft.; woodland stride
Woodland Stride (Ex) Severa can more through any sort of
undergrowth at normal speed without taking damage or
suffering any other impairment. Thorns, briars and
overgrown areas magically manipulated to impede motion,
however, still affect her.
ACP 0; Fly +10, Ride +4, Stealth +17
AC 19, touch 14, flat‐footed 16; CMD 18
(+2 Dex, +4 armour [mage armour], +1 deflection [ring of
protection +1], +1 dodge, +1 natural [amulet of natural
armour +1])
Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +8
hp 67 (10 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +5; CMB +4
Melee mwk sickle +5 (1d6‐1)
Special Actions confusing bolt (8/day), deepening shadows
(1/day)
Confusing Bolt (Sp) With a successful ranged touch attack,
Severa causes a creature within 30 ft. to act as if affected by
a confusion spell for 5 rounds. A creature affected by
confusing bolt is immune to its effects for 24 hours.
Deepening Shadows (Sp) Severa can summon a zone of deep
shadows equal to deeper darkness in a 10‐foot‐radius
centred on herself. She can see through this effect normally,
but otherwise the shadows provide concealment (50% miss
chance) to any creature within. The shadows remain in
existence for 10 rounds.
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 10th; concentration +15 [+19 casting
defensively or grappling]; Heighten Spell)
5th (4/day)—dominate person (DC 20)
4th (6/day)—charm monster (DC 21), confusion (DC 19),
dimension door
3rd (7/day)—deep slumber (DC 18), fireball (DC 18), fly, heroism
2nd (7/day)—hideous laughter (DC 17), false life, invisibility,
resist energy, web (DC 17)
1st (7/day [6 remaining])—charm person (DC 18), disguise self,
expeditious retreat, mage armour, magic missile, shield
0—acid splash, bleed (DC 15), detect magic, dancing lights,
ghost sound (DC 15), mage hand, mending, message,
prestidigitation
Combat Gear dust of illusion (2), horn of fog, potion of cure
serious wounds, scroll of black tentacles
Abilities Str 8, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 21
SQ bloodline arcana (goblin)
Feats Combat Casting, Dodge, Eschew MaterialsB, FleetB,
Heighten SpellB, Improved Initiative, Magical Aptitude,
Toughness
Skills as above plus Knowledge (arcana) +9, Spellcraft +11, Use
Magic Device +15
Languages Common, Giant, Goblin
Gear as above plus cloak of resistance +1, headband of alluring
charisma +2, 15 gp
20
P E R S O N A : X E R L
Devious, sneaky and utterly without morals, Xerl often sneaks
into human and goblin settlements to cause mischief and
suffering.
Skinny and weak even for a half‐goblin Xerl has embraced his
goblin heritage. Xerl prefers to operate alone as he trusts no
other to match his stealth and cunning.
Background: A small and weak child, Xerl quickly came to
discover the power of perception and the relativity of truth.
Quickly gaining a reputation as a skilled scout, Xerl manifested
his goblin bloodline when he killed his first goblin.
Personality: Xerl loves to learn secrets and spends much
time skulking about his clan’s lair. Clothes fascinate him and he
steals fine clothing from his marks whenever possible. He
passionately hates goblins – for both his brother and sister have
fallen before their blades. He trusts no one and is a
kleptomaniac. Patience is unknown to Xerl; ruled by his base
instincts, he acts quickly without thought or consequence.
At heart a coward, Xerl hates battle preferring guile to brawn
to achieve his goals. The sight of his own blood terrifies him and
he flees battle after even the most trivial wound.
He is an enthusiastic worshipper of Braal and takes every
opportunity to live his patron’s ideals of revenge and malice.
Mannerisms: The devious rogue rarely makes eye contact
with anyone and is very shy. He has a slight stammer that makes
him appear nervous and a facial tic that manifests itself when he
is excited.
Distinguishing Features: Xerl’s arms are particularly weak
and puny‐looking.
Hooks: Xerl attacks the party’s campsite at night. Ignoring
any guards, he strikes a slumbering foe. He returns repeatedly
during the night, disrupting the PCs’ rest. The next night, a large
band of half‐goblins attack the tired, weakened PCs.
Alternatively, the PCs are called to investigate a spate of
thefts and gruesome murders in a nearby village. Several folk
have been eviscerated in their own homes. No signs of forced
entry or foul play have convinced several villagers that devils or
demons are abroad in the community.
Tactics: A creature of stealth and subterfuge, Xerl rarely
attacks any foe unless it is distracted or helpless. A prodigious,
scout he uses his superior movement in forests to outflank and
confound his foes. He uses sneak attack in conjunction with
invisibility and Spring Attack to strike and move.
He particularly enjoys slaying sleeping foes – the look of
realisation and horror on their faces as they awake in their death
throes excite him – and thus often strikes intruder’s camps in the
dead of night.
XERL
CR 8 (XP 4,800)
Slender and emaciated, this humanoid has an over‐sized head
and wears tight‐fitting robes.
Male half‐goblin rogue 5/sorcerer (goblin) 4
NE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, human)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17 (+19 vs. traps),
Sense Motive +1
Speed 35 ft.; Spring Attack, woodland stride
Woodland Stride (Ex) Xerl can more through any sort of
undergrowth at normal speed without taking damage or
suffering any other impairment. Thorns, briars and
overgrown areas magically manipulated to impede motion,
however, still affect him.
ACP 0; Acrobatics +16, Climb +7, Escape Artist +11, Ride +5,
Stealth +18 (fast stealth)
AC 18, touch 14, flat‐footed 18; CMD 18; Dodge, Mobility,
Skirmisher, +1 vs. traps, uncanny dodge
(+3 Dex, +4 armour [mage armour], +1 dodge)
Fort +4, Ref +9 (+10 vs. traps; evasion), Will +9
hp 54 (9 HD)
Space 5 ft.; Base Atk +5; CMB +4
Melee +1 rapier +9 (1d6/18‐20)
Ranged +1 light crossbow (range 80 ft.) +9 (1d8+1/19‐20)
Atk Options Skirmisher, Spring Attack, sneak attack +3d6
Special Actions confusing bolt (5/day)
Confusing Bolt (Sp) With a successful ranged touch attack, Xerl
causes a creature within 30 ft. to act as if affected by a
confusion spell for 2 rounds. A creature affected by
confusing bolt is immune to its effects for 24 hours.
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 4th; concentration +6)
2nd (4/day)—invisibility
1st (7/day [6 remaining])—charm person (DC 15), colour spray
(DC 13), mage hand, unseen servant
0—detect magic, detect poison, mage hand, message,
open/close, prestidigitation
Abilities Str 8, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 15
SQ bloodline arcana (goblin), rogue talents (fast stealth, finesse
rogue), trapfinding
Feats Dodge, Eschew MaterialsB, FleetB, Mobility, Skirmisher,
Skill Focus (Stealth), Spring Attack, Weapon FinesseB
Skills as above plus Bluff +10, Disable Device +15, Knowledge
(arcana) +8, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +8, Knowledge
(local) +8, Spellcraft +8
Languages Abyssal, Common, Goblin,
Gear as above plus cloak of resistance +1, boots of elvenkind,
eyes of the eagle, masterwork thieves’ tools, 12 gp
21
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t
at st
old.
April and May 2011
Implacable
enemies,
the
ferocious Minotaurs of the
Black H ls and he nomadic
Centaurs of the Bleak Moor
wreak
bloody
slaughter
upon
each
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for
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O P E N G A M E L I C E N S E V E R S I O N 1 . 0 A
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TITLE
Debased, mongrel descendants of humans enslaved by goblins centuries ago, half‐goblins lurk in the deepest
unknowable reaches of the Tangled Wood. Hateful and spiteful creatures, they worship fell powers and sacrifice
those falling into their clutches to venerate their dark protector. Stealthy and cunning, they skulk about
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| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/3rd Party/Rite Publishing/Races and Classes/Half-Goblins of the Tangled Wood.pdf |
By Jenny Jarzabski
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO #8-05
TIER 1–5
Pathfinder Society Scenario #8–05: Ungrounded
But Unbroken is a Pathfinder Society Scenario
designed for 1st- through 5th-level characters
(Tier 1–5; Subtiers 1–2 and 4–5). This scenario
is designed for play in the Pathfinder Society
Organized Play campaign, but can easily be
adapted for use with any world. For more
information on the Roleplaying Guild, how to
read the attached Chronicle sheets, and how to
find games in your area, check out the campaign’s
home page at paizo.com/pathfinderSociety.
HOW TO PLAY
Author • Jenny Jarzabski
Development Lead • Linda Zayas-Palmer
Contributing Artists • Helge C. Balzer, Dion Harris,
Marko Horvatin, Roberto Pitturru
Cartographer • Jason Engle, Robert Lazzaretti,
Corey Macourek
Editor-in-Chief • F. Wesley Schneider
Creative Director • James Jacobs
Creative Design Director • Sarah E. Robinson
Executive Editor • James L. Sutter
Senior Developer • Rob McCreary
Pathfinder Society Lead Developer • John Compton
Developers • Adam Daigle, Crystal Frasier,
Amanda Hamon Kunz, Mark Moreland,
Owen K.C. Stephens, and Linda Zayas-Palmer
Senior Editors • Judy Bauer and Christopher Carey
Editors • Jason Keeley, Lyz Liddell, Joe Pasini, and
Josh Vogt
Lead Designer • Jason Bulmahn
Designers • Logan Bonner, Stephen Radney-MacFarland,
and Mark Seifter
Art Director • Sonja Morris
Senior Graphic Designers • Emily Crowell and Adam Vick
Publisher • Erik Mona
Paizo CEO • Lisa Stevens
Chief Operations Officer • Jeffrey Alvarez
Director of Sales • Pierce Watters
Sales Associate • Cosmo Eisele
Marketing Director • Jenny Bendel
Chief Financial Officer • John Parrish
Staff Accountant • Ashley Kaprielian
Data Entry Clerk • B. Scott Keim
Chief Technical Officer • Vic Wertz
Senior Software Developer • Gary Teter
Project Manager • Jessica Price
Organized Play Coordinator • Tonya Woldridge
Community & Digital Content Director • Chris Lambertz
Customer Service Team • Sharaya Copas, Katina Davis,
Sara Marie Teter, and Diego Valdez
Warehouse Team • Laura Wilkes Carey, Will Chase,
Mika Hawkins, Heather Payne, Jeff Strand, and
Kevin Underwood
Website Team • Christopher Anthony, William Ellis,
Lissa Guillet, Don Hayes, Julie Iaccarino, and Erik Keith
Paizo Inc.
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Redmond, WA 98052-0577
paizo.com
This product is compliant with the Open Game License (OGL) and is suitable for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying
Game or the 3.5 edition of the world’s oldest fantasy roleplaying game.
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License
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Inc., the Paizo golem logo, Pathfinder, the Pathfinder logo, and Pathfinder Society are registered trademarks of Paizo
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GM ResouRces
Ungrounded but Unbroken makes use of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook, Pathfinder RPG Bestiary,
Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Equipment (UE), Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Intrigue (UI), Pathfinder RPG
GameMastery Guide, and Pathfinder RPG NPC Codex. This adventure assumes the GM has access to
these sourcebooks. All rules referenced in this adventure are available in the free online Pathfinder
Roleplaying Game Reference Document at paizo.com/prd. The statistics from the Bestiary,
GameMastery Guide, and NPC Codex are reprinted in an appendix at the back of this scenario for the
GM’s convenience.
Table of Contents
Ungrounded but Unbroken . . . . .3
Player Handouts . . . . . . . . . 24
Appendix: Stat Blocks . . . . . . 26
Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Chronicle Sheet . . . . . . . . . . 30
• Absalom
Isle of Kortos
3
Consortium began carving out a small niche in the Opaline
Vault several decades ago, and they now control one of
the hundreds of enclaves maintained by various Material
Plane conglomerates. The mysterious silver agent Krayler
Cauchemar, an accomplished assassin and spy rumored
to be descended from a night hag, heads the operation.
Cauchemar pounced on the Ungrounded as an opportunity
to build Aspis clout and connections. One of his trusted
associates, the veteran mercenary and bronze agent Marlene
Othis, currently supervises the training of new recruits.
Krayler Cauchemar’s vast network of plane-shifting
spies recently informed him of the Pathfinders’ bid for
allies on the Plane of Earth. Cauchemar contacted Captain
Marlene Othis and instructed her to use her position and
resources to orchestrate the Pathfinders’ failure.
F
or untold ages, the shaitans of the Peerless Empire
have controlled vast swaths of the Plane of Earth,
using the rich mineral wealth found there to fill
their virtually boundless coffers. About 500 years ago,
the empire’s sultan perished in a clash against the City
of Brass, and his daughter and heir Sultana Ashadieeyah
bint Khalid took the throne. She has furiously dedicated
resources to avenging her father’s death, straining the
Peerless Empire’s treasuries and populace over the
centuries. In recent years, the mounting costs of her
burgeoning military have grown so large that they cannot
be ignored, and the sultana’s advisors have explored ways
to economize. Among these is an initiative to recruit, train,
and direct a unit of sellswords from the Material Plane,
who are not nearly as expensive to maintain as shaitan
troops—a unit known backhandedly as the Ungrounded.
The Ungrounded’s hierarchy accommodates non-native
leaders as captains, but a small group of shaitan generals
ultimately oversees the entire operation and ensures that
it meets the high standards that the empire demands.
The Pathfinder Society recently assisted a shaitan
named Reyshal ik Jalman, whose entire family had been
exiled or imprisoned after a debacle in which a famous trio
of the sultana’s diamonds known as Sairazul’s Tears went
missing while in their possession. With the Society’s help,
Reyshal recovered enough information to prove that his
family was not at fault. Reyshal was allowed to return to
the Plane of Earth, although by the time he returned, the
empire had already absorbed most of his family’s wealth
and lands. Despite his relative destitution, he has sincerely
worked to gain the Society a toehold on his home plane.
When he learned of the Ungrounded, he recommended
it as a way for Pathfinders to build their local reputation
in service to the empire—no doubt opening up countless
other opportunities. Following Reyshal’s advice, the
Society’s Master of Spells Sorrina Westyr plans to send a
team of Pathfinders to the Peerless Empire’s capital, the
Opaline Vault, to train with the Ungrounded.
The Pathfinder Society is not the only organization
with an interest in the Plane of Earth, however. The Aspis
UNGROUNDED
BUT UNBROKEN
By Jenny Jarzabski
Ungrounded but Unbroken begins in Absalom but quickly
shifts to the Opaline Vault, the capital of the shaitan
empire on the Plane of Earth. This metropolis occupies
the edge of a 30-mile-wide geode and is known for its
stunning architecture and colorful lake of acid-melted
gemstones. For more information about the Opaline Vault
and the Plane of Earth, see Pathfinder Campaign Setting:
Planes of Power, available in bookstores and games
stores everywhere and online at paizo.com.
Where on Golarion?
Sorrina Westyr
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
4
SUMMARY
Master of Spells Sorrina Westyr sends the PCs to the
Opaline Vault with Reyshal ik Jalman, who vouches
for the PCs’ character and potential as members of the
Ungrounded mercenary company. The PCs undergo
basic training under the watchful eye of Captain Marlene
Othis, an officer charged with training new recruits who
has secret ties to the Aspis Consortium. The PCs
must participate in a series of grueling trials to
impress their superiors.
First, the PCs must survive an obstacle
course designed to test their physical
strength and endurance. Unfortunately,
the obstacles set before the PCs are
rigged—a greased log and a dangerous
trap hidden in the climbing wall may
hamper their performance. They must
also prove their knowledge of the
challenges that soldiers on the Plane of
Earth may face.
Second, the PCs prove their mettle
by sparring with a team of rival
recruits. Captain Othis secretly
persuades the other recruits to fight
with poisoned weapons, once again
stacking the odds against the PCs.
If the PCs manage to survive their
initiation, they graduate to a set of
on-the-job training tasks. Captain
Othis first sends the PCs to act as
hired security at the new Glitterfang
Halls. Resourceful PCs may discover
that Othis provided bad intelligence about
the job, triggering a potentially embarrassing situation
involving the Ungrounded’s shaitan overseer. The PCs
attempt to avoid this debacle while apprehending a
crafty con woman determined to swindle the casino on
its opening night.
Next, Captain Othis assigns the PCs to guard a
caravan transporting jewels to a pasha’s estate outside
the Opaline Vault. Unfortunately, the captain has also
arranged for an elemental crime cartel to ambush the
shipment during the journey. The PCs must defend the
caravan’s contents and safely deliver the goods to their
rightful recipient.
Finally, shaitan overseer General Faiza bint Hanif
demands an audience with the mercenary recruits who
have been at the heart of so many problems in the past
weeks. The PCs have the opportunity to present evidence
against Captain Othis and defend their own reputation,
thereby gaining General Hanif’s trust in further
dealings with the Pathfinder Society and exposing the
Aspis Consortium’s machinations.
GETTING STARTED
The PCs begin the adventure in the Pathfinder Society
Grand Lodge in Absalom. Read or paraphrase the
following to get the adventure underway.
The courtyard outside of Sorrina Westyr’s office is a tribute to
the element of earth. Large, dark boulders jut from a carpet of
smooth pebbles. Wildflowers and moss spring from the
cracks between the stones. The Master of Spells’ slate-
gray skin seems to blend into the rock she lounges
on in the sun-dappled courtyard, her face upturned
to the cloudless sky. Sorrina stretches luxuriously
before turning to smile.
“Enjoy the open air while you can, Pathfinders,”
she says. “You are to be among the first agents
sponsored to explore the planes—the Plane
of Earth, to be exact. Reyshal ik Jalman, the
Society’s contact on the Plane of Earth,
recently alerted us to a rare opportunity.
The Sultana’s constant war with the City
of Brass means the shaitan empire needs
more soldiers, and they have begun
recruiting off-world mercenaries to train
alongside their military. That’s where you
come in.” Westyr leaps to her feet in a
fluid motion, pulling an amethyst crystal
wrapped in copper wire from her pocket.
“Please travel with Reyshal to the
Opaline Vault. He can pull some strings
to get you in with the mercenary
company known as the Ungrounded.
Complete the basic training and prove to your superiors that the
Pathfinders are useful allies. Reyshal and I believe that working
with the Ungrounded will lay the foundation for an alliance with
the Peerless Empire. What’s more, this is an excellent means
for you to establish your own professional credentials and
connections.” Westyr pauses to brush a fallen leaf from her hair.
“I’ll contact Reyshal as soon as you’re ready.”
The Master of Spells often sets aside time from her
busy schedule to meditate and relax in this courtyard,
which is visible from her office window. The long years
she spent trapped in the Crystal Womb have left her
starved for sunlight and fresh air, yet tied to the touch
of stone and soil. She called the PCs to meet with her in
this special place, where she has access to both. Sorrina
Westyr does her best to answer the PCs’ questions before
contacting Reyshal.
Tell me about Reyshal ik Jalman. “Reyshal is, for the
lack of a better term, an old friend of mine. He is a shaitan
noble whose family was framed for the theft of the Sultana’s
diamonds. I first met him when he was in exile in Orv, deep
in the Darklands. The Society helped him put to rest the
Reyshal ik Jalman
5
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
serious accusations against his family, and he used this
reprieve to return home to the Opaline Vault. Now, he’s
agreed to help us gain a foothold in the city. He’s a proud
man, and he enjoys driving a hard bargain, but he’s reliable.”
What is the Peerless Empire?/What is the Opaline Vault?
“The Peerless Empire is a magnificent and expansive
shaitan civilization. Its capital is the Opaline Vault, a
metropolis home to over six million. Words do not do its
splendor justice, but you will soon see it for yourselves.”
Who are the Ungrounded? “The Ungrounded is an
eclectic mercenary company run by newcomers to the
Plane of Earth, but ultimately managed by shaitan generals.
I think the name is a bit of an insult, honestly, but the
company is invaluable to the empire.”
How do we get back to the Material Plane? “Reyshal
has agreed to transport you back to Absalom
a f t e r
you complete your basic training with the
Ungrounded.”
How long must we stay? “Completing
your basic training should be enough to
attract the interest of powerful allies in the
Opaline Vault, not to mention ingratiating
the Society with the Ungrounded.
You need not make a long-term
commitment to the company
after that—unless, of course,
that’s what you desire.”
KNOWLEDGE (PLANES)
Based on the result of a
Knowledge (planes) check,
the PCs might know more
about the Plane of Earth and
the Opaline Vault specifically.
Each
PC
knows
all
of
the
information with a DC less than or
equal to the result of her check. If the
PCs express the desire to research
the location, Sorrina Westyr allows
them to spend the remainder of the day in
the Grand Lodge library before contacting
Reyshal. Spending 4 hours researching the
Plane of Earth grants a PC a +2 bonus on
her Knowledge (planes) check.
10+: The Plane of Earth is fixed in
location and comprised of a vast network
of tunnels and caverns. Though the
plane itself is generally suitable for
humanoid life, common hazards
include cave-ins, poisonous gasses,
and pockets of molten rock near its
border with the Plane of Fire.
15+: Creatures indigenous to the Plane of Earth include
crystal dragons, earth elementals, mephits, oreads,
shaitans, xiomorns, and xorns.
20+: The Opaline Vault, also known as the Rainbow
Metropolis, is the breathtaking capital of the shaitan’s
Peerless Empire, and a planar hub for entertainment and
trade. Sultana Ashadieeyah bint Khalid rules from a gem-
studded palace that towers over the city’s skyline. The
Vault’s diverse population includes a small percentage
of noble shaitans known as pashas, as well as dwarves,
elementals, elves, and oreads.
25+: Sultana Ashadieeyah bint Khalid is driven by the
desire to avenge her father, causing her to pour ever-
increasing resources into her war with the efreet. In
recent decades, the gorgeous and prosperous capital has
declined, and corruption is at an all-time high. Efreet
and ifrits are treated with contempt or open hostility in
the Opaline Vault.
30+: In addition to being the seat of the Peerless Empire’s
power, the Opaline Vault is a hub for extraplanar visitors.
Many organizations hoping to forge alliances within
shaitan society establish headquarters there. The
Aspis Consortium set up a small outpost on the
outskirts of the city in recent years and has
already infiltrated the empire’s military.
JOURNEY TO THE PLANE OF
EARTH
Once the PCs are ready, Sorrina Westyr
uses the amethyst and copper wire to cast
sending, telling Reyshal, “Preparations are
complete. We are ready.” A few moments later,
Reyshal ik Jalman (LN male noble shaitan) arrives.
Read or paraphrase the following.
The boulder opposite Sorrina Westyr’s seat ripples
like water. What appears to be a towering
stone statue of a muscular man clad in
gold-lacquered armor emerges from
the stone. He bows dramatically to
the Master of Spells.
“Well met, Trail Seekers,”
he grins wryly as Sorrina
frowns
in
irritation.
“Of course, I mean
Pathfinders.
Just
a
jest
between
friends.” The shaitan steps
forward and inclines his head
in a shallow version of the bow he just
performed for Sorrina.
“I am Reyshal ik Jalman, humble
servant of Her Radiance, Ashadieeyah
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
6
bint Khalid, and sworn ally to the steadfast Master of Spells.
Today I am honored to escort you to the Opaline Vault, the
glorious home of my ancestors. I hope that together we can
cement the bonds between our peoples, dear Pathfinders. But
first, please, introduce yourselves!”
Reyshal ik Jalman listens courteously to each PC’s
introduction, asking questions about their families and
homelands. Reyshal is noticeably curt with dwarven and
ifrit PCs, but maintains a polite veneer. He is especially
interested in the tales of oread and suli PCs.
Immediately following the pleasantries, Reyshal invites
the PCs to stand in a circle and join hands as he casts plane
shift. The PCs experience a distinct feeling of vertigo and
an unpleasant but not-quite-painful tugging sensation
within their stomachs. Read or paraphrase the following.
A spinning tunnel of shimmering crystals gives way to the inside
of an immense geode, a cavern so vast that the walls and ceiling
appear as a distant night sky. Multicolored twinkling lights hang in
the air like stars, painting shifting auroras across the geode’s walls.
At the heart of the city, radiant spires of gold and platinum emerge
from a churning lake of liquefied gemstones, connected by soaring
bridges. “Welcome to the Rainbow Metropolis,” Reyshal whispers.
The PCs materialize several miles outside the city. The
walk takes about 2 hours, and the PCs are in no danger of
becoming lost with Reyshal as their guide. As they approach
the metropolis, Reyshal excitedly points out locations
of interest, including the Peerless Embassy, which hosts
diplomats from all over the multiverse, and the Slab, a mile-
long barracks that hosts the largest portion of the Sultana’s
shaitan army. Ifrit PCs who walk the streets of the Vault
without attempting to disguise or conceal their appearance
are met with reactions ranging from rude stares to thrown
stones and yelled insults, but are not openly attacked.
Finally, the group arrives in the Outer District, a
bustling area characterized by crowded streets, shabby
domiciles, and buildings sporting the flags of various
nations and organizations, some recognizable of which
the PCs recognize as indigenous to the Material Plane.
The permanent residents of this district are merchants
and slaves, as well as their families. Reyshal explains
that many off-world organizations conduct business
and diplomatic missions here, all seeking the pashas’
favor. A PC who succeeds a DC 15 Knowledge (local) check
recognizes a banner with a serpent emblem associated
with the Aspis Consortium. If the PCs identify this
banner, Reyshal truthfully states that he knows nothing of
the Aspis Consortium.
THE UNGROUNDED BARRACKS
Founded 4 decades ago in an effort to funnel soldiers
into the empire’s constant war against the efreet, the
Ungrounded mercenary company maintains a facility
resembling an interconnected network of squat stone
warehouses. The windowless buildings rise to a uniform
height of 20 feet. Banners bearing the company’s sigil, a
crossed scimitar and spear on a field of yellow, mark the
main entrance to the company’s headquarters.
The Ungrounded headquarters receives prospective
recruits and houses the offices of the company’s higher-
ranking members. The building’s interior is drab and
sparsely furnished. A few engraved plaques and portraits
of famous Ungrounded soldiers adorn the walls.
Covered passageways connect the headquarters to the
adjoining buildings: the mess hall and the bunks. At
least a dozen Ungrounded mercenaries of varying rank
mill about the barracks at any given time, full members
designated by a cloak pin bearing the Ungrounded sigil.
Reyshal and the PCs wait for a few minutes before a
young mercenary greets them and leads them down a
short hallway to the training captain’s office. Read or
paraphrase the following.
A heavy wooden door opens to reveal an
immaculate office barely large enough to house
the writing desk and bookshelf within. The
unpainted stone walls are devoid of windows or
decoration. A stern, middle-aged human
woman with darkly tanned skin and
close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair sits
in a rigid pose behind the desk as she
studies an open ledger. She lifts her chin
and glares at the open door.
Captain Othis
7
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
Reyshal produces a paper-thin, intricately chiseled stone
tablet and hands it to the woman, Captain Marlene Othis
(LE female human fighter 6; if necessary, use the statistics
for the cavalry from page 287 of the GameMastery Guide),
introducing it as a letter of recommendation describing
the Pathfinders’ distinguished character and potential.
Captain Othis studies it for several minutes,
pausing occasionally to frown at the PCs.
Captain Othis stands and thanks
Reyshal with a servile bow, promising
to take the Pathfinders under her wing
and begin their accelerated training
program. Once Reyshal exits the office,
Captain Othis crushes the tablet with
her bare hands, shattering it into
dozens of pieces.
“So, you think you have what it takes
to be Ungrounded?” the captain bellows,
circling the PCs combatively.
“I’ll be the judge of that. You
look softer than night soil to
me. Your friends in high places
won’t help you when you’re
down in the trenches, or when
there’s an efreeti scimitar at your
throat. Now, get out of my sight.
Your trials start tomorrow. Dinner
is at six o’clock sharp. If you’re late,
you can starve.”
A nervous recruit named Dell Darkblade (LN male
oread warrior) waits at the office door, flinching as Captain
Othis barks orders at him to take the “fresh meat” to the
“meatlocker.” See the Sequence of Events section on page 8.
BARRACKS LOCATIONS
The following sections describe the key locations of the
barracks the PCs visit during their basic training.
BUNKS
The building that houses new recruits has space for up to
300 occupants, but most of the rooms are currently empty.
These rooms are set up like dormitories, each with three
stone bunks topped with thin mattresses and sharing a
bathroom with one adjoining room. Several communal
showers are located at regular intervals throughout the
hallway. PCs seeking a place to hold private conversations
can easily find an empty room far from the other recruits.
CAPTAIN’S OFFICE
Captain Othis summons the PCs to her office several times
throughout the course of the scenario. As the adventure
progresses, the PCs may wish to secretly return to her
office to collect evidence of her duplicity.
When she is not busy conducting drills
or supervising the PCs’ training, Othis
spends most of her day in the office,
leaving only to take dinner and rest in her
private chambers in the evening.
During these periods the office
is locked (Disable Device
DC 20).
Inventive
PCs
may
devise a distraction to
lure Othis out of her office
during normal hours, or
attempt a Bluff check to trick
another
Ungrounded
officer
into loaning them the spare key.
Regardless of which strategy the PCs use, it should
require them to succeed at a relevant DC 15 skill check
(DC 19 in Subtier 4–5). If the PCs attempt to search the
office before dinner, they have 1d8 rounds to search
before Othis discovers them and gives the PCs a demerit
(see the sidebar above) and extra cleaning duty for poking
around her personal belongings.
The office is cramped and contains a walnut desk, a
hard-backed chair, and a bookshelf. PCs who succeed a
DC 16 Perception check while searching the desk (DC 20
in Subtier 4–5) find a letter addressed to Othis thanking
her for the tip about the caravan (Player Handout #2). The
letter bears an etching of three stony hands grasping a
roughly spherical faceted gemstone. Each of the hands has
three fingers.
If the PCs search the room carefully and succeed at a
DC 18 Perception check (DC 22 in Subtier 4–5), they find
a hidden compartment in the stone wall of the office
containing a vial of dusk agate extract (see the sidebar
on page 12). If the PCs search the bookcase and succeed
at a DC 18 Perception check (DC 22 in Subtier 4–5), they
discover a hollowed-out copy of Tactical Engagement that
contains a bronze Aspis Consortium badge and a missive
from Krayler Cauchemar (see Player Handout #1).
Throughout the scenario, the PCs’ actions may result in a
formal reprimand from Captain Othis. If the PCs fail one of
their trials or shirk the duties outlined in the basic training
schedule, for instance, the group receives one demerit.
Each section details the circumstances in which Captain
Othis assigns a demerit to the PCs. Take note of how many
demerits the group receives. If they earn four or more
demerits, they take penalties in the final encounter
(see page 18).
Demerits
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
8
Treasure: The PCs find several calligraphy pens, a pot
of invisible ink, and two scrolls of lesser restoration scattered
among the papers on the captain’s desk. A gray fur cloak
worth 50 gp hangs from a hook on the wall. In Subtier
4–5, the cloak is a cloak of resistance +1, and the hidden wall
compartment contains bracers of armor +1.
Rewards: If the PCs do not search the office, reduce
each PC’s gold earned by the following amount.
Subtier 1–2: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 35 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 137 gp.
Subtier 4–5: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 239 gp.
MESS HALL
New recruits and veteran members alike take their meals
in this institutional cafeteria-style dining hall. Several
dozen stone tables surrounded by stools occupy the
spotless room. A partial wall separates the kitchens from
the dining area, providing space for two separate serving
lines, though only one line is currently in use. Many of
the Ungrounded are deployed, so while a hundred or so
mercenaries attend each mealtime, several tables always
stand empty.
TRAINING YARD
This training yard is designed to accommodate a variety
of drills, demonstrations, and gatherings. It consists of
stone viewing stands encircling a large, oval-shaped area
of flat ground, from which rise four stone pillars. More
information about the training yard appears in the Trial
by Combat section on page 10.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
The following sections outline the basic sequence of events
the PCs experience during their time at the barracks.
A WARM WELCOME
Dell Darkblade leads the PCs to their room in the
bunks. The chamber is in shambles from the previous
occupants, and there are only enough bedrolls and sheets
for five PCs. Dell seems startled by the state of the room,
and warns the PCs that Captain Othis hates a mess. If
asked, Dell gives the PCs a brief tour of the facility, but is
eager to get back to his duties.
At 6 o’clock, an enticing dinner of roast meat and potatoes
is served in the mess hall. A group of seasoned mercenaries
accost the PCs as they attempt to join the serving line.
Lieutenant Larssok (N male half-orc fighter 3) explains
that the Ungrounded have a tradition: new recruits have to
entertain the rest of the company on the first night: “If you
won’t party with us, you won’t fight with us.” The nature of
the entertainment is up to the PCs. Song, dance, jokes, or
an acrobatic performance all suffice—encourage players to
be creative and play to their characters’ strengths. If a PC
succeeds at a DC 15 Perform or other applicable skill check
(DC 19 at Subtier 4–5), the mess hall erupts in wild cheers
and applause, and the performer receives an extra ration
of ale. The crowd heckles a failed performer, but Larssok
resolutely claps the PC on the back and welcomes him to
the Ungrounded regardless. PCs who refuse to perform
are served gruel.
At midnight, Captain Othis barges into the PCs’ room
banging a soup ladle against a metal pot. She continues
the noise until all the PCs wake and stand at attention.
She then inspects their bunks. A PC who succeeds at a
DC 10 Profession (soldier) check realizes that the captain
likely expects them to make their beds, even though she
has not directly instructed them to do so. The captain
harangues any PC who failed to make her bed, saying,
“You can’t even make a bed. How can I trust you to oil a
sword or maintain armor, let alone fight for the empire?”
Captain Othis then confiscates the bedding in question.
A PC who sleeps without bedding on the hard bunk is
fatigued the next day.
BASIC TRAINING SCHEDULE
New recruits of the Ungrounded Company adhere to the
following schedule. The GM should play out this routine
for the first day, to give the PCs a sense of daily life as a
new recruit, but after that the details can be hand-waved.
PCs caught shirking their duties face a demerit from
Captain Othis. See the Demerits sidebar on page 7 for
more information.
6:00 a.m. Wake up call. Captain Othis wakes the PCs
with a makeshift drum (the pot and ladle from the night
before) and loudly comments on their laziness until they
stand at attention. Once the PCs make their beds and
dress, they are allowed a bowl of gruel from the kitchens.
6:30 a.m. Labor. This task usually involves unloading
deliveries for the armory and kitchen as well as weapon
and armor maintenance.
9:30 a.m. Cleaning. New recruits use small brushes and
harsh soap to clean their living quarters, the mess hall, and
other common areas. This is tiresome labor and PCs must
succeed at a DC 10 Fortitude save (DC 13 in Subtier 4–5) or
become fatigued. Two hours into the process, Captain Othis
stomps through the area the PCs are cleaning wearing
muddy boots. If the PCs yell at her for doing so or otherwise
behave disrespectfully, they receive one demerit.
12:00 p.m. Lunch. Lunch consists of bread, salt pork,
and lentil stew.
12:30 p.m. Marching Drills. The PCs are led to the yard
to practice forming ranks, marching, responding to
various commands, and learning chants and cadences.
The PCs must prove their mastery of these tasks with a
successful DC 12 Perform (oratory) or DC 10 Profession
(soldier) check. In Subtier 4–5, increase the DC of the
9
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
skill check by 4. If none of the PCs succeed the check, the
group receives one demerit.
3:00 p.m. Training. On the first day, the PCs complete
the Obstacle Course event and the Trial of Knowledge
event (see page 10). For the following week, the PCs spend
this time slot practicing additional marching and combat
drills until they complete their Trial by Combat and are
promoted to practical training.
6:00 p.m. Dinner. This is usually roasted or stewed
meat, bread, and a cup of ale.
9:30 p.m. Evening Inspection. Captain Othis checks the
PCs’ room for cleanliness and lectures them soundly for
any demerits incurred during the day’s events. If the PCs
are caught leaving their bunks after evening inspection,
the group receives one demerit.
OBSTACLE COURSE (CR 2 OR CR 5)
Captain Othis escorts the PCs to a rocky field just outside
the city, where the Ungrounded have set up an obstacle
course. Established members often use this course for
training, but the captain recently sabotaged it with the
help of the recruit Dell Darkblade. She demands that
every PC attempt the course, even those who are not
suited to its challenges. She requires PCs to attempt two
skill checks against an obstacle before allowing them to
give up on that obstacle, though she mocks them for their
weakness and failure if they do so. After five failures, she
orders the PC to cease attempting that obstacle.
Balancing Act: A 10-inch-wide log spans a 10-foot-deep
pit gouged into the rock. Crossing the log requires a PC
to succeed at two consecutive DC 12 Acrobatics checks.
In Subtier 4–5, the log is only 4 inches wide, increasing
the DC of these checks to 17. A PC who fails an Acrobatics
check must succeed at a DC 12 Reflex save (DC 15 in Subtier
4–5) or fall into the pit, taking 1d6 points of damage. If
the PCs succeed at a DC 15 Perception check, they realize
that the log is covered in a greasy substance. The PCs may
remove the grease to decrease the DC of the Acrobatics
check by 2.
Bear Crawl: The area beyond the pit is covered in a
tangle of metal wire scattered with glass, sharp rocks,
and broken bricks. A crawlspace 2 feet in height is the
only passage through the detritus. A PC must succeed
at a DC 12 Escape Artist check (DC 16 in Subtier 4–5) to
wriggle through the opening, and a second check at the
same DC to traverse the obstacle completely.
Climbing Wall: A 15-foot-tall stone wall faces the PCs once
they emerge from the second obstacle. In Subtier 4–5, this
wall is 30 feet high. The sheer rock wall has few handholds
(Climb DC 20). If the PCs use a rope or magic to bypass the
wall, Othis berates them for being too weak to scale the
wall unassisted, pointing out that such cheap tactics do not
count as successfully conquering the obstacle.
As the PCs face Captain Othis’s challenges, they have
opportunities to prove themselves, earning Success Points.
Keep track of how many Success Points the PCs earn over
the course of the scenario. The eight opportunities to earn
Success Points are summarized below.
• A PC completes the obstacle course (see this page).
• The PCs correctly answer enough questions in the Trial
of Knowledge (page 10).
• The PCs defeat the Ungrounded recruits in the Trial by
Combat (see page 10).
• The PCs stop Inysha at the door before she enters the
Glitterfang Halls members’ lounge (see page 16).
• The PCs convince Inysha not to return to the Glitterfang
Halls (see page 13).
• The PCs defeat Slagcrusher’s minions (see page 18).
• The PCs stop the agrawgh from fleeing the caravan
without killing it (see page 20).
• The PCs present additional evidence against Captain
Othis beyond what is necessary to clear their names
(see page 22).
Success Points
Sink or Swim: The climbing wall overlooks an
abandoned quarry filled with muddy water that is 15 feet
deep. Swimming to the other side of the quarry requires
two successful DC 10 Swim checks (DC 14 in Subtier
4–5). A PC who fails a swim check by 5 or more begins to
drown. If any PC is at risk of death from this obstacle, she
sends an NPC recruit to drag the PC back to the shore,
saving the PC’s life.
Traps: Captain Othis placed a trap 10 feet up the
climbing wall, designed to let loose a barrage of rocks and
pebbles when triggered. In Subtier 4–5, she has placed the
trap 20 feet up. PCs with stonecunning receive a +2 bonus
on their Perception checks to spot this trap.
SUBTIER 1–2 (CR 2)
ROCKFALL TRAP
CR 2
Type mechanical; Perception DC 20; Disable Device DC 20
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset manual
Effect Atk +12 (2d6); multiple targets (all targets in a 10-ft.-
square area); creatures who are hit must succeed at a DC 15
Acrobatics or Climb check or fall off the rock wall, taking an
additional 1d6 falling damage.
SUBTIER 4–5 (CR 5)
ROCKFALL TRAP
CR 5
Type mechanical; Perception DC 25; Disable Device DC 25
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
10
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset manual
Effect Atk +15 (4d6); multiple targets (all targets in a 10-ft.-
square area); creatures who are hit must succeed at a DC 20
Acrobatics or Climb check or fall off the rock wall, taking an
additional 2d6 falling damage.
Development: As long as at least one of the PCs completes
the entire obstacle course, the PCs earn 1 Success Point for
the encounter. If none of the PCs completes the obstacle
course, the PCs receive one demerit.
TRIAL OF KNOWLEDGE
After the PCs complete the obstacle course, Captain
Othis orders them to stand in a line, and yells, “Listen
up, roaches. You need more than strength and agility to
succeed in battle. You need to know what you’re up against
and how to fight it. Let’s see how stupid and unprepared
you really are.”
Captain Othis peppers the PCs with questions about
creatures native to the elemental planes, as well as
military tactics. The captain’s questions center around
information that is relevant to the armies of the shaitan,
such as anti-efreeti tactics, effective ways to handle being
set on fire, the immunities of fire elementals, and how to
counter the typical fighting style of salamanders. If you
wish to create detailed questions for the PCs, consider
using the entries for the referenced monsters in the
Pathfinder RPG Bestiary.
She first asks each PC a question that requires the PC
to succeed at DC 15 Knowledge (planes) or Profession
(soldier) check to answer correctly (DC 18 in Subtier 4–5).
Each PC who answers correctly receives a more difficult
question, which requires a successful DC 18 Knowledge
(planes) or Profession (soldier) check (DC 22 in Subtier
4–5). Each PC may choose which skill she wants to use for
these checks, as either skill provides enough information
to craft a satisfactory answer. The captain is furious at
the PCs who also answer this harder question, and she
reminds those PCs of any failures they had in the obstacle
course before dismissing them back to the barracks to
peel potatoes.
PCs who answer the first question incorrectly receive
a stern mocking from the captain, as well as an easier
question (DC 10 Knowledge [planes] or Profession
[soldier]). If a PC also fails this skill check, she asks him a
question designed to be insultingly easy, such as “Which
elemental plane do earth elementals come from: the
Plane of Earth or the Plane of Fire?” or “What is the name
of the unit you are unsuccessfully trying to join?”
Development: If every PC correctly answers at least one
of Captain Othis’s first three questions, the PCs earn 1
Success Point. The PCs can still earn the success point
even if a PC failed to answer all three of these questions:
for every PC who correctly answered Othis’s second, more
difficult question, one PC may fail all three skill checks.
A. TRIAL BY COMBAT (CR 3 OR CR 6)
Just outside the mess hall, an oval of hard-packed dirt surrounds
four columns made of black stone. Gray stone benches encircle the
training ground, providing a clear view for nonexistent spectators.
A raised balcony made of blue and purple crystal emerges from
the stands. Dummies made of stuffed burlap sacks affixed to posts
are scattered throughout the field, some wearing crudely painted
smiles and posed in offensive gestures. Captain Othis stands in
the crystal balcony, a mischievous grin on her usually stern face.
After a week of basic training, Captain Othis orders
the PCs to fight another group of recent recruits in
controlled combat. She explains that the use of spells
or combat-enhancing items, such as potions or flasks, is
forbidden, and both groups should refrain from using
lethal force or “face the consequences.” Othis allows PCs
to select a blunted weapon of choice from the armory. The
collection includes all martial and simple weapons. PCs
using these weapons do not take a penalty on attack rolls
for dealing nonlethal damage. Captain Othis instructs
the combatants to fight until their foes surrender or are
knocked unconscious. Breaking Othis’s rules results in a
demerit. If a PC kills another recruit, Captain Othis calls
an immediate end to the exercise and has the offending
PC jailed (see Development below).
Throughout the brawl, Captain Othis criticizes the PCs’
tactics. When a PC or one of the rival recruits falls in battle,
Othis pronounces them “unworthy” or “disappointing.”
Creatures: The recruits waiting to spar against the PCs
are the Ungrounded’s newest members, a group of friends
who dreamed of becoming accomplished soldiers. Their
shared vision of a promising and exciting mercenary
career crumbled under the captain’s iron fist. For weeks,
the constant verbal abuse has whittled away at their
resolve, leaving most of them almost completely broken.
When the captain ordered them to help test potential
recruits, they didn’t ask questions. Dell Darkblade, the
unofficial leader of the group, is secretly thrilled that
the captain’s attention shifted to the PCs. He’s afraid his
friends can’t take much more before they break. When
the captain ordered him to cheat, Dell refused, only to
watch one of his friends get dragged into the captain’s
office and severely beaten. Dell quickly recanted to spare
his friends from further harm. He stoically carries the
secrets of the rigged obstacle course and the poisoned
weapons, but the burden weighs heavily on his heart.
Dell and his friends do not wish the PCs to share their
downtrodden fate, but don’t feel as though they have a
choice in the matter.
A. Trial by Combat
R : Ungrounded Recruit
R
R
R
R
1 square = 5 feet
Path�nder Flip-Mat: Arena
11
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
12
SUBTIER 1–2 (CR 3)
UNGROUNDED RECRUITS (4)
CR 1/2
Oread warrior 2
LN Medium humanoid
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +2
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 16 each (2d10)
Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +0
Resist acid 5
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee scimitar +4 (1d6+2 nonlethal)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 2nd; concentration +1)
1/day—magic stone
TACTICS
Before Combat The recruits apply a dose of dusk agate
extract to their weapons (see the sidebar above).
During Combat The recruits frequently change position in
battle, attempting to flank PCs whenever possible. They
deal nonlethal damage as instructed.
Morale The recruits fight until knocked unconscious, but
if PCs deal lethal damage to the recruits, they yield when
reduced to 10 hit points or fewer. They also accept the
PCs’ surrender.
STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 9
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 15
Feats Improved Initiative
Skills Perception +2
Languages Common, Terran
Combat Gear potions of cure light wounds (2), antitoxin; Other
Gear chain shirt, dagger, practice scimitar
SUBTIER 4–5 (CR 6)
UNGROUNDED RECRUITS (4)
CR 2
Oread warrior 4
LN Medium humanoid
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+4 armor, +1 Dex, +1 shield)
hp 25 each (4d10)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +2
Resist acid 5
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee scimitar +6 (1d6+2 nonlethal)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +3)
1/day—magic stone
TACTICS
Before Combat The recruits apply a dose of dusk agate extract
to their weapons (see the sidebar on this page).
During Combat The recruits frequently change position in
battle, attempting to flank PCs whenever possible. They deal
nonlethal damage as instructed.
Morale The recruits fight until knocked unconscious, but if PCs
deal lethal damage to the recruits, they yield when reduced
to 10 hit points or fewer. They also accept the PCs’ surrender.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 9
Base Atk +4; CMB +6; CMD 17
Feats Improved Initiative, Power Attack
Skills Climb +3, Intimidate +3, Perception +4
Languages Common, Terran
Combat Gear potion of cure moderate wounds, antitoxin;
Other Gear chain shirt, buckler, dagger, practice scimitar,
cloak of resistance +1
Development: The captain bristles with poorly disguised
anger if the PCs manage to defeat her team of recruits.
If Dell’s team wins, Othis gloats as if she won the brawl
herself. If the PCs resorted to lethal force and any of the
opposing team were slain, the captain immediately has
the PC responsible escorted to a holding cell by a squad of
four Ungrounded soldiers and detained for the remainder
of the scenario. Use the statistics for the grizzled mercenary
(Pathfinder RPG NPC Codex 268) for these soldiers if necessary.
If the PCs question Dell’s team about the poisoned
weapons, Dell attempts to deflect all the blame for the
incident onto himself. The PCs can attempt a Sense Motive
check to realize that he’s lying. Dell refuses to talk to the PCs
about the issue in front of the captain, but may be convinced
to speak to them elsewhere.
Make the following adjustments to accommodate a group
of four PCs.
Both Subtiers: One of the recruits is too exhausted from
the day’s chores and drills to fight.
Scaling Encounter A
This poison coats the Ungrounded recruits’ blades.
Dusk Agate Extract
DUSK AGATE EXTRACT
PRICE
75 GP
SAVE Fortitude DC 13
TYPE poison (contact)
EFFECT unconsciousness for 1 minute
SECONDARY EFFECT 1 Wisdom damage
CURE 1 save
13
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
The PCs can convince Dell to reveal the truth about
the poisoned weapons and the sabotaged obstacle
course with a successful DC 12 Diplomacy check (DC 16
in Subtier 4–5) or a DC 20 Intimidate check (DC 24 in
Subtier 4–5). Obtaining a signed statement from Dell or
securing his promise to act as an official witness against
Othis requires the PCs to succeed at a second check at the
same DC.
If the PCs defeat their rival recruits, they earn 1 Success
Point, and Captain Othis grudgingly announces their
promotion to practical training beginning the following
day. If the PCs lose the fight, Othis sentences them to
another week of drudgery before assigning them to
guard the casino.
Evidence: The PCs can convince Dell to testify against
Othis. In addition, a careful search of Othis’s office
(page 7) reveals vials of the same poison Dell’s team used.
Treasure: Dell’s team offers the PCs two of their potions
of cure light wounds (or one potion of cure moderate wounds in
Subtier 4–5) as a gesture of goodwill after the fight.
Rewards: If the PCs do not defeat the rival recruits,
reduce each PC’s gold earned by the following amount.
Subtier 1–2: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 114 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 289 gp.
Subtier 4–5: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 465 gp.
PROMOTION
The morning after the PCs fight the recruits (or 1 week
later, if they lost the fight), Dell Darkblade interrupts the
PCs’ breakfast to bring them to the captain’s office for
an assignment. Captain Othis explains that while the
Ungrounded’s primary source of income is a perennial
contract with the Peerless Empire, the company often
provides hired security for the various business and
guilds of the Opaline Vault. The Glitterfang Halls, an
upscale establishment owned and operated by the adult
crystal dragon Cestranell, hired the Ungrounded to
provide extra security for tonight’s grand opening. Othis
warns the PCs to be on the lookout for a notorious cheater
known as Inysha, a master of disguise who’s been kicked
out of other casinos in the past. Othis gives the PCs a
crude sketch and written physical description of the con
artist. In truth, this image is a sketch of General Faiza
bint Hanif, commander of the Ungrounded. Captain
Othis instructs the PCs to report to the casino a few
hours before its 7 o’clock opening.
B. GLITTERFANG HALLS (CR 2 OR 5)
An impressive structure even among the many wondrous
sights in the Opaline Vault, the Glitterfang Halls is built
into an excavated series of stalactites suspended 400
feet above the city’s sprawling Inner District. Deposits
of multi-colored crystals peek out from the stalactite’s
black-and-cream marble exterior. Most of the city’s native
inhabitants can easily access the casino using earth glide,
but a towering stone shaft houses a glass elevator to assist
extraplanar visitors. The elevator ascends lazily to a marble
platform connected to the group of stalactites, its glacial
pace allowing for a breathtaking view of the city below.
All the rooms in the casino are circular and showcase
the natural marble and crystal that composes the
stalactites. Tunnels carved into the rock allow non-
elementals passage between these rooms. Magically
suspended, iridescent crystals provide dim, ambient
light throughout the casino. The rooms of the casino
are presented below, followed by sections describing the
actions of both General Hanif and the real Inysha in the
casino. Both of these NPCs arrive about an hour after the
casino opens.
Creatures: The PCs are likely to interact with Inysha
during their time at the casino.
SUBTIER 1–2 (CR 2)
INYSHA
CR 2
Female human rogue (sharper) 3 (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate
Intrigue 47)
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +7; Senses Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 23 (3d8+6)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +1
Defensive Abilities evasion
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk dagger +6 (1d4+1/19–20)
Ranged dagger +5 (1d4+1/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +2d6
TACTICS
During Combat Inysha does her best to flee to the elevator. If
the PCs corner her, or if any PCs follow her onto the falling
elevator, she attacks.
Morale If cornered and reduced to 5 or fewer hit points,
Inysha surrenders.
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 14
Base Atk +2; CMB +3 (+5 steal); CMD 16 (18 vs. steal)
Feats Improved Initiative, Improved StealB, Quick Draw, Weapon
Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +8, Bluff +9, Craft (traps) +10, Diplomacy +8,
Disable Device +10, Disguise +10, Perception +5, Profession
(gambler) +7, Sleight of Hand +9
Languages Common
SQ lucky save +1, scam artist +1
Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds, potion of pass
B. Glitterfang Halls
1 square = 5 feet
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
B7
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
14
without trace; Other Gear mwk chain shirt, daggers (4),
mwk dagger, ioun torchUE, traveler’s any-toolUE, concealable
thieves’ toolsUI, courtier’s outfit, disguise kit, mwk tool (Craft
[traps]), mirror, perfume, superior loaded diceUE, 100 gp
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Concealable Thieves’ Tools These set of tools functions as a
standard set of thieves’ tools, except that Inysha gains a +4
circumstance bonus on her Sleight of Hand check to conceal
these tools on her body.
Lucky Save (Su) Inysha gains a +1 luck bonus on saving throws.
Scam Artist (Ex) Inysha gains a +1 bonus on her Bluff and
Sleight of Hand checks.
Sticky Fingers (Ex) Inysha receives Improved Steal as a
bonus feat.
SUBTIER 4–5 (CR 5)
INYSHA
CR 5
Female human rogue (sharper) 6 (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate
Intrigue 47)
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +8; Senses Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +4 Dex)
hp 42 (6d8+12)
Fort +4, Ref +10, Will +4
Defensive Abilities evasion, uncanny dodge
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk dagger +9 (1d4+1/19–20)
Ranged dagger +8 (1d4+1/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +3d6
TACTICS
During Combat Inysha does her best to flee to the elevator. If
the PCs corner her, or if any PCs follow her onto the falling
elevator, she attacks.
Morale If cornered and reduced to 9 or fewer hit points,
Inysha surrenders.
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 14
Base Atk +4; CMB +5 (+9 steal); CMD 19 (21 vs. steal)
Feats Greater StealB, Improved Initiative, Improved StealB, Iron
Will, Quick Draw, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +12, Bluff +14, Craft (traps) +13, Diplomacy +11,
Disable Device +14, Disguise +13, Perception +8, Profession
(gambler) +10, Sleight of Hand +15
Languages Common
SQ audacious overconfidence, lucky save +1, scam artist +2
15
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
Combat Gear potions of cure moderate wounds (2), potion of
pass without trace; Other Gear +1 chain shirt, daggers (4),
mwk dagger, concealing pocketUE, ioun torchUE, traveler’s
any-toolUE, concealable thieves’ toolsUI, courtier’s outfit,
disguise kit, mwk tool (Craft [traps]), mirror, perfume,
superior loaded diceUE, 202 gp
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Audacious Overconfidence (Ex) After failing an attack roll,
skill check, or saving throw, Inysha can remove her saving
throw bonus from lucky save for 24 hour in order to reroll
the failed roll.
Concealable Thieves’ Tools These set of tools functions as a
standard set of thieves’ tools, except that Inysha gains a +4
circumstance bonus on her sleight of hand check to conceal
these tools on her body.
Lucky Save (Su) Inysha gains a +1 luck bonus on all
saving throws.
Scam Artist (Ex) Inysha gains a +3 bonus on her Bluff and
Sleight of Hand checks.
Sticky Fingers (Ex) Inysha receives Improved Steal and Greater
Steal as bonus feats.
B1. Elevator Room (CR 1/2 or CR 2)
This room houses the casino’s elevator, an elegantly
designed marble-floored contraption whose glass walls are
surrounded in a decorative silver cage. When the elevator
leaves this room, a glass panel automatically emerges to
cover the circular opening in its center, preventing patrons
from tumbling to the city below.
Trap: Inysha has secretly rigged a trap into this elevator,
which can only be triggered if a creature presses a narrow
object, such as a stick or the heel of a high-heeled shoe,
into a small gap in the floor.
SUBTIER 1–2 (CR 1/2)
FALLING ELEVATOR
Type mechanical; Perception DC 20; Disable Device DC 20
EFFECTS
Trigger pressure plate (tiny button); Reset automatic
(whenever the elevator enters area B1)
Effect One round after the trigger button is pressed, the
elevator falls at an accelerated pace of 120 feet. It falls at this
speed for 3 rounds, after which point it reaches the ground
below. Creatures on the falling elevator are flat-footed unless
they possess the uncanny dodge ability. While the elevator’s
pace is unpleasant, it is not dangerous; creatures do not take
any falling damage from riding the elevator.
SUBTIER 4–5 (CR 2)
FALLING ELEVATOR
Type mechanical; Perception DC 25; Disable Device DC 25
EFFECTS
Trigger pressure plate (tiny button); Reset automatic
(whenever the elevator enters area B1)
Effect See Subtier 1–2.
B2. Foyer
On the western wall, a 20-foot-high archway flanked by
platinum and gold pillars leads from the elevator room
into the casino’s foyer. This room serves as the entrance
for visitors who can glide through dirt and stone. A desk
constructed from the same mixture of precious metals
stands in front of the southern wall.
Creatures: An oread attendant bedecked in fleshgems
greets the PCs and escorts them through the casino to
meet the manager in area B7 (see area B7 for details).
B3. Lounge
Brilliantly colored formations of natural crystal grow from the
floors, walls, and ceiling of this room. Teardrop-shaped lights
hang from the ceiling 100 feet above, shimmering and reflecting
from a majestic statue of a crystal dragon emerging from a pool
of melted gemstones. Jewel-encrusted metal chairs and sofas
strewn with velvet cushions surround the pool at a safe distance,
providing cozy seating for the casino’s patrons.
This lavishly furnished anteroom leads to the casino
proper. The gemstone pool is a miniature replica of
the lake at the Opaline Vault’s center, and the dragon is
an idealized, larger-than-life depiction of the casino’s
owner Cestranell.
Creatures: Shaitans, oreads, and other humanoids of all
types lounge in the chairs in small groups, talking and
laughing in hushed voices. A few mephits and elemental
patrons frolic in the molten pool.
B4. Gaming Room
A pillar of amethyst crystals juts from floor to ceiling in this
expansive room flanked by bars carved from the black-and-cream
marble found throughout the casino. Enormous sheets of polished
crystal cover the walls, dancing with refracted, moving images
of creatures and scenery. Pleasant music played upon unfamiliar
instruments fills the chamber. Rectangular slabs of marble rise
from the floor to provide surfaces for gambling, each table
supporting a small crystalline structure in its center.
The most popular game in this casino involves rolling
a polished crystal shard that scintillates between different
colors and patterns. Players win a round when the shard
matches the color and pattern of the crystals at the center
of their table. The game is simple enough to play, but
participants only have a 15% chance of winning a given
round. In another popular game, players attempt to form
specific patterns by stacking partially transparent tiles.
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
16
A hidden tunnel on the south side of the room leads to
the office (area B7).
Creatures: Earth mephits flit back and forth behind the
bar from shelves of colorful bottles to waiting customers,
preparing and serving drinks. More mephit employees
tend stacks of gemstone and metal chips used for betting,
and several xorns lumber around the round carrying
trays laden with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Customers
“tip” the xorn waitstaff by dropping gems directly into
their mouths.
B5. Main Stage
The ceiling in this cavernous room varies in height,
ranging from 50 to 300 feet. Stalactites and stalagmites
flattened and ground to a smooth surface serve as dining
tables. A stone platform built into the southeastern wall
acts as a stage.
Creatures: The crystal dragon Cestranell perches on
a ledge 150 feet up the northern wall, where he has a
perfect view of the stage and V.I.P. area. In spite of this
spectacular vantage point, Cestranell spends most of his
time preening in the reflective crystals that surround his
booth or obsessively counting a pile of coins and gems.
The manager and casino employees strongly caution the
PCs against bothering Cestranell. If the PCs still wish to
speak to the dragon, they must first find a way to scale the
sheer rock wall to his perch. If engaged in conversation,
Cestranell is dismissive and rude toward the PCs, saying
he hired mercenaries for security, not entertainment.
B6. Members’ Lounge
Marble stairs blocked off by red velvet ropes lead to a
20-foot-high stone booth containing tables and chairs
for the casino’s preferred customers. Typically, those who
wish to enter this area must present a token inlaid with
an image of a crystal dragon. However, the casino staff
knows that the PCs are here to provide security, so they
allow the PCs to enter and exit this area freely.
Creatures: If the PCs fail to apprehend Inysha at the door,
she cons her way into the members’ lounge and begins
ordering food and drinks she has no intention of paying for.
B7. Office
A desk, bookcases, and wooden cabinets occupy this
unglamorous room.
Creatures: A hassled-looking oread man, referred to
simply as Boss (N male oread expert 3) by his employees,
discusses final preparations for the grand opening with
a group of mephits when the PCs enter the office. Boss
fully expects the mercenaries he hired to be capable of
completing the job on their own. If the PCs ask him to
confirm the description of Inysha, he bursts out laughing.
“You don’t recognize your own general? You must be new
on the job. That’s the spitting image of General Faiza
bint Hanif.” Boss then provides the PCs with an accurate
description of Inysha, but warns that she’s known for
crafting convincing disguises. If the PC ask what they
should do with Inysha, he shrugs, and says, “I don’t need
to know the details. Just make sure she doesn’t come back.”
THE FALSE INYSHA
An hour after the casino opens, a woman matching the
description Captain Othis provided enters the casino,
passing through the foyer into the gaming room before
sitting down for a night of drinks and modest-stakes
gambling. The woman is actually General Faiza bint
Hanif (LN female noble shaitan; if necessary, use the
statistics from Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 143) dressed in
civilian clothes, hoping to enjoy an off-duty evening. The
general is annoyed if the PCs attempt to detain her or
accuse her of being Inysha, and they must succeed at a
DC 20 Diplomacy check (DC 25 in Subtier 4–5) to explain
themselves or be penalized in their encounter with
General Hanif later in the scenario. If the PCs mention
being Ungrounded recruits, she lets out a startled laugh
and demands to know the name of their superior officer.
Regardless, she stalwartly refuses to leave the casino. One
of the casino staff eventually overhears the exchange,
and pales when she sees Hanif. She confirms that Hanif
is an expected guest of honor tonight, and apologizes
profusely to the general.
THE TRUE INYSHA (CR 2 OR 5)
The real Inysha (see page 16); arrives while the PCs are
talking to Hanif, or shortly after they have seen Hanif
and decided not to talk to her. Inysha is disguised as
an oread and is using the false name Ladahlia. She is
wearing an ornate courtier’s outfit with long sleeves and
several voluminous skirts. Unless the PCs stop her, she
strides confidently into the members’ lounge (area B6)
and begins scouting the area for people who seem easy
to con.
If the PCs succeed at a DC 18 Perception check while
searching for suspicious patrons (DC 21 in Subtier 4–5),
they notice that she is wearing a disguise. While wearing
a disguise is not illegal, Inysha does not want anyone
drawing attention to the fact that she is wearing one. If
the PCs confront her, she spins a false story about being
burned badly as a child when her family came under
attack from efreeti forces. She claims that she wears the
disguise to conceal her injuries, so that she can forget
about them for a while. A PC who succeeds at a DC 19
Sense Motive check (DC 24 in Subtier 4–5) discerns that
this story is a complete fabrication intended to garner
sympathy. If that lie fails and the PCs mention her
name, she tries another tactic—admitting that she is
17
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
Inysha, but swearing that she has reformed her ways and
deserves a second chance. While the PCs may disbelieve
this second story regardless, a PC who succeeds at a DC 15
Sense Motive check (DC 19 in Subtier 4–5) is certain that
her claim of being reformed is false.
Even if the PCs do not see through Inysha’s disguise,
they have a chance to notice her cheating. Inysha is
methodical about fleecing her targets, but as the evening
wears on, she becomes less and less careful about hiding
her suspicious behavior. A PC who succeeds at a DC 12
Profession (gambler) check, a DC 15 Perception check, or
a DC 15 Sense Motive check while surveying the casino
notices her unusual stroke of luck, particularly on high-
stakes bets. A PC who succeeds at this check by 5 or more
actively catches her cheating by sneakily replacing some
of her tiles with others hidden in the sleeves of her dress.
In Subtier 4–5, increase the DCs of all of these skill checks
by 3. Inysha is furious if the PCs accuse her of cheating.
Regardless of the circumstances that lead to a verbal
confrontation between the PCs and Inysha, nearby
patrons notice the heated conversation. Within a minute,
pieces of paper start circling around the room, each of
which says “Fight or no Fight? Place your bets now! Odds
are 2:1 in favor of a purely verbal argument over a physical
confrontation!” A PC who can read Terran can read the
papers without a skill check, and a PC who succeeds at a
DC 15 Linguistics check catches the gist of the message.
The PCs have several options for convincing Inysha not
to return to the casino. They can attempt to persuade her
with a DC 18 Diplomacy check (DC 22 in Subtier 4–5) and
an argument for why returning to this casino is a poor
decision. The PCs gain a +4 circumstance bonus on this
skill check if they either succeeded at both Sense Motive
checks against her lies or actively caught her cheating.
Either of these methods secures her promise that she will
not return. If the PCs fail this check, she still promises
not to return, but the promise is a lie (Sense Motive DC 18
to detect, or DC 22 in Subtier 4–5).
The PCs may decide to arrest Inysha, or attack her
outright without explanation. Some casino patrons cheer
and others curse as casino employees begin dealing
payments to those who bet in favor of a fight. Inysha,
however, would much rather flee if she can. She attempts
to run back to the elevator and use the heel of one of her
shoes to trigger the trap there so she can make a quick
getaway. Along the way, patrons of the casino may attempt
to hinder Inysha or the PCs. If the PCs attempt to arrest
or attack Inysha but did not succeed at the skill check to
convince her to leave the casino for good, all squares with
tables in them are difficult terrain for the PCs but not for
Inysha. These squares also serve as threatening for the
purpose of allowing Inysha to flank PCs if she chooses to
attack. Conversely, if the PCs succeeded at a skill check to
To accommodate groups of four PCs, reduce the DCs of all
skill checks against Inysha by 2. Additionally, if the PCs
decide to arrest or attack her, she is taken aback, and
takes a –4 penalty on her initiative check.
Scaling The True Inysha
convince Inysha not to come back, squares with tables in
them are difficult terrain for Inysha and not the PCs, and
they provide the PCs with the flanking benefit.
Development: If the PCs convince Inysha not to return
to the casino, they earn 1 Success Point. If they noticed
Inysha’s disguise and confronted her before she entered
area B6, they earn 1 additional Success Point.
Treasure: If the PCs stop Inysha from returning to
the casino, Boss rewards them for their trouble, handing
each PC a sack of gems. The PCs gain access to all of the
items in Inysha’s stat block on their Chronicle sheets.
Rewards: If the PCs do not prevent Inysha from returning,
reduce each PC’s gold earned by the following amount.
Subtier 1–2: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 119 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 269 gp.
Subtier 4–5: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 360 gp.
RETURN TO THE BARRACKS
The day after the PCs return to the barracks from the
casino, Captain Othis summons them to her office once
again. Read or paraphrase the following.
“You’re still here?” Captain Othis growls, without looking up from
the pile of missives on her desk. “I thought you’d find a path out
of here by now. Well, maggots, it’s your lucky day. I have another
easy job for you to screw up.” Othis rifles through her stack of
papers and holds up a scroll bearing a bronze seal.
“Zuhair Issawa needs someone to babysit a shipment of gems.
Our real troops have more important things to do, so I’m sending
you. All you have to do is get the caravan to his estate a few miles
outside the city. Any questions?”
If questioned, Captain Othis provides little in the way of
useful information other than where to find the caravan.
If the PCs stick around to ask questions, she becomes
increasingly frustrated, finally ordering them to get out of
her sight. Captain Othis claims that the guard duty will be
little more than a formality, as the caravan’s route is a well-
used thoroughfare and generally known to be safe.
The PCs can easily locate the caravan outside a
warehouse in the outskirts of the city. Four stocky rock
beetles carry the heaviest goods, and an agrawgh—a
25-foot-long bronze-ringed serpent with horns, silvery
skin, and deadly fangs—carries the bulky material. Nef
and Annie (N dwarf experts 2) are in charge of the caravan.
Agrawgh
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
18
The journey to the Issawa estate is slow going, as
the overworked beetles frequently stop to rest and
must be coaxed to continue. The PCs can attempt to
assist Nef with a DC 12 Handle Animal check (DC 16
in Subtier 4–5) to encourage the beetles. If they succeed
at this check, one of the beetles provides assistance
against the ambush that occurs along the road (see the
Creatures section of encounter C).
C. QUARTZ PATH
After 4 hours of stop-and-go travel through a forest of
stalactites and stalagmites, the caravan reaches a narrow
bridge made of magically-shaped quartz spanning the vast
geode walls surrounding the Opaline Vault. A waterfall
tumbles from the ceiling nearby,
an influence from the Plane of Water that fills the air
with a perpetual mist, though the mist has no effect on
Perception checks against creatures within 200 feet.
Stalactites grow down from the low ceiling, the longest
of them reaching all the way down to the bridge itself.
Beneath the bridge, the “floor” of the geode is made up of
jagged crystals that sprout from the ground 10 feet below.
A creature that falls off the bridge takes 1d6 points of
damage from landing on the crystals (2d6 in Subtier 4–5).
The crystals are relatively easy to climb—ascending back
to the bridge requires only a successful DC 15 Climb check.
Creatures: Two Small earth elementals (two Medium
earth elements and an earth mephit in Subtier 4–5)
hide in the low ceiling above the pass. The elementals
belong to a notorious elemental cartel led by the xorn
bandit king Slagcrusher. Slagcrusher commands a gang
of elementals and mephits who steal gems and ore from
mining operations and caravans around the Vault. His
agents bring him the pilfered goods, and he provides
them with a share of the profit, as well as protection from
other gangs and refuge from the shaitans. A day before the
mission, Captain Othis contacted Slagcrusher, informing
him of the opportunity to steal choice gems from a
poorly guarded caravan. Far too greedy to ignore the
opportunity, Slagcrusher sent a few thieves to investigate.
The elementals bear Slagcrusher’s mark, an inlay of
precious metals similar to a tattoo. The mark depicts
three hands grasping at a single faceted gemstone. They
begin the encounter by dropping out of the ceiling on to
the agrawgh’s head, injuring and enraging the creature
(see the Hazard below). At initiative rank 10, Nef and
Annie flee along with the four rock beetles. However,
if the PCs succeeded at a Handle Animal check to
encourage the beetles along the road, one of
the beetles overruns an earth elemental in its
path, knocking it prone.
SUBTIER 1–2 (CR 3)
EARTH ELEMENTALS, SMALL (2) CR 1
hp 13 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary
122, see page 26)
TACTICS
Before Combat On the surprise
round, the earth elementals drop
out of the ceiling onto the caravan’s
agrawgh, injuring it. The stalactites
that reach down to the bridge allow
them to sense the caravan’s
approach with their tremorsense,
so they begin the ambush on the
other side of 5 feet of stone, making
them effectively impossible to detect
Make the following adjustments to accommodate a group
of four PCs.
Subtier 1–2: Falling onto the agrawgh injures the earth
elementals, who begin the encounter with 9 hit points
remaining. Lower the DC of the Diplomacy check to calm
the agrawgh by 2 and lower its starting hit points to 8.
Subtier 4–5: Remove one Medium earth elemental from
the encounter. Lower the DC of the Diplomacy check to calm
the agrawgh by 2 and lower its starting hit points to 30.
Scaling Encounter C
C. Quartz Path
M : Mephit
E : Earth Elemental
E
E
M
A : Agrawgh
A
1 square = 5 feet
Path�nder Map Pack: Ice Cavern
19
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
20
(Perception DC 60), though PCs with an ability to act in the
surprise round may still do so.
During Combat The earth elementals are organized, and prefer
to flank targets whenever possible. They attempt to bull
rush the PCs into a more advantageous position, or off the
edge of the bridge if possible. The earth elementals take
advantage of their earth glide ability to reposition on the
field of battle and confuse the PCs.
Morale The earth elementals fight until reduced to 4 hit points
or fewer before retreating into the ceiling or floor.
SUBTIER 4–5 (CR 6)
EARTH ELEMENTALS, MEDIUM (2)
CR 3
hp 34 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 122, see page 26)
TACTICS
Before Combat On the surprise round, the earth elementals
drop out of the ceiling onto the caravan’s agrawgh, injuring
it. The stalactites that reach down to the bridge allow them
to sense the caravan’s approach with their tremorsense, so
they begin the ambush on the other side of 5 feet of stone,
making them effectively impossible to detect (Perception DC
60), though PCs with an ability to act in the surprise round
may still do so.
During Combat The earth elementals are organized, and prefer
to flank targets whenever possible. They attempt to bull
rush the PCs into a better position to use Cleave, or off the
edge of the bridge if possible. The earth elementals take
advantage of their earth glide ability to reposition on the
field of battle and confuse the PCs.
Morale The earth elementals fight until reduced to 8 hit points
or fewer before retreating into the ceiling or floor.
EARTH MEPHIT
CR 3
hp 19 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 202, see page 27)
TACTICS
Before Combat The earth mephit drops down from the ceiling
and casts soften earth and stone on the area directly under
the PCs, creating an area of thick mud.
During Combat The mephit uses its breath weapon,
attempting to catch PCs stuck in the mud. It uses its change
size ability to become Medium and enters combat, attacking
with its teeth and claws. If the mephit is reduced to half its
hit points, it burrows into the ground to heal and emerge at
a different location. It also burrows or flies away to gain a
better vantage point whenever its breath weapon is usable.
Morale If the elementals are destroyed or flee, the mephit
burrows into the ground and flees.
Hazard: The injured agrawgh flails around in pain,
exhaling drops of acid that fall to the ground as acid rain.
This acid deals 1d4 points of damage each round to all
creatures within 20 feet of the Large creature (Reflex DC 13
half). In Subtier 4–5, the damage increases to 2d4 and the
DC of the Reflex save increases to 16. This acid is a diluted
form of the acid it uses for its breath weapon, and does not
harm creatures with the earth subtype. Assume that the
agrawgh rolled a 10 on initiative, but that it acts after Nef,
Annie, and the rock beetles.
The PCs can neutralize the hazard by calming the
agrawgh. The agrawgh stops flailing if the PCs heal any
of the damage it has taken or if they succeed at a DC 18
Diplomacy check to soothe it (DC 22 in Subtier 4–5).
Attempting this Diplomacy check is a standard action.
Any number of PCs may assist as long as they also spend a
standard action.
If the PCs attack the agrawgh, Nef and Annie frantically
entreat the PCs not to kill it. As soon as the PCs deal
damage to it, the serpent turns its attention toward
the attackers, targeting them with its bite. While it is
attacking the PCs, the acid rain stops. Use the standard
statistics for an agrawgh (see page 26), except that it cannot
use its breath weapon. In Subtier 1–2, it has the sickened
condition and it has sustained serious injuries from the
falling elementals, causing it to begin the encounter at
12 hit points. Additionally, its bite deals 1d6 acid damage
instead of 2d6. In Subtier 4–5, the agrawgh’s injuries are
less severe, and it begins the encounter at 40 hit points.
If the PCs do not calm the agrawgh or knock it
unconscious within 1 minute of the start of combat with
Slagcrusher’s minions, it drops the merchant’s goods and
burrows away.
Development: Nef thanks the PCs profusely, explaining
that while marauding elemental gangs are fairly common
outside the Vault, they normally work further afield and are
too cautious to attack so openly. The PCs can attempt a DC
16 Knowledge (local) check to identify the precious metal
inlays on the elementals’ bodies as Slagcrusher’s mark.
The remainder of the journey is uneventful and takes
about an hour. When the PCs arrive at the Issawa estate,
Nef and Annie begin unloading their cargo. The bronze-
skinned and businesslike Zuhair Issawa (LN male noble
shaitan) introduces himself and inspects the contents of
the wagon. After the inspection, Zuhair dismisses the PCs.
If the PCs mention the elementals’ strange markings to
Zuhair, he tells them that the members of elemental gem
cartels often bear such symbols.
As long as the PCs defeat Slagcrusher’s minions, they
earn 1 Success Point. If they also stop the agrawgh from
fleeing without killing the creature, they earn 1 additional
Success Point.
Evidence: The PCs may identify the elementals’ inlays or
take an etching of the marks to compare with the symbol
found on the note in Othis’s office.
Treasure: The elementals carry a small cache of stolen
gems worth 500 gp. Zuhair Issawa thanks the PCs for safely
General Faiza
bint Hanif
21
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
transporting his gems by gifting them a silver signet ring
bearing the Issawa family crest that is worth 100 gp. In
Subtier 4–5, this ring functions as a ring of protection +1.
Rewards: If the PCs do not defeat the ambushers, reduce
each PC’s gold earned by the following amount.
Subtier 1–2: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 100 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 183 gp.
Subtier 4–5: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 266 gp.
HONORABLE OR DISHONORABLE
DISCHARGE
The PCs return to the Ungrounded barracks to an official
summons from General Faiza bint Hanif, the shaitan
officer who oversees the Ungrounded and acts as liaison
between the mercenaries and the Sultana’s armed forces. A
veteran of both the mercenary company and the Empire’s
military, she is a hard but fair woman, and has little
patience for nonsense. Give the PCs Player Handout #3.
THE HEARING
When the PCs arrive, General Faiza bint Hanif
and Captain Othis are seated on opposite
sides of a mahogany desk in a spacious,
immaculate office. Glass cases along the
walls display medals, ceremonial
armor and weapons, and framed
commendations
granted
to
former and current members
of the Ungrounded, including
General Hanif herself. The
general begins by greeting the
PCs politely but wastes no time on
idle chatter before delving into the list of
complaints against their unit.
General Hanif compliments the
PCs for moving quickly through
basic training, but then notes
how many demerits the group
incurred. She then orders the
PCs to describe their version of
the scenario’s events, beginning
with the brawl between recruits.
For each event, General Hanif
knows only the official version
provided by Captain Othis, which
highlights the PCs’ failings. Captain
Othis wove a tale of herself as a harsh
but
reasonable
drill
sergeant
testing recruits that she had reason
to
believe
would
be
deficient
because of their connections to the
Pathfinder Society. She referred to
the Pathfinder Society as “a nest of
roaches,” and then suggested that given the number of
incidents surrounding these new recruits, they should be
dismissed as a liability.
During the hearing, the PCs can present evidence
against Captain Othis as they explain their actions.
General Hanif wants to hear from all of the PCs, not just
the most charismatic. Before the PCs present their case,
she informs them that she has no interest in hearing the
tale from a “truth-spinning silver tongue,” and as
such, each of the PCs must speak in their group’s
defense. She does not allow a PC to present a second
piece of evidence until every PC has attempted to
present one piece, and PCs cannot use aid another
to assist each other.
This encounter relies on a series of
Diplomacy checks, one for each piece
of evidence the PCs present against
Othis. If the PC succeeds at a DC
20 Diplomacy check (DC 25 in
Subtier 4–5) while presenting a
piece of evidence, the general
accepts the argument; otherwise,
she sides with Captain Othis. If
the PCs accrued 4 or more demerits,
the DCs of all Diplomacy checks
in this encounter increase by 2.
Additionally, if the PCs accused
the general of being Inysha in
the casino and did not explain
themselves
sufficiently,
the
DCs of all Diplomacy checks
increase by 2. These two DC
increases stack.
Each piece of evidence grants
the PCs a circumstance bonus
on their Diplomacy check; the
specific bonuses are listed below
in parentheses. Whenever a PC successfully
presents a piece of evidence, they all gain a
cumulative +2 bonus on all future
Diplomacy
checks
to
present
evidence. For example, if the PCs
have already successfully presented
Dell Darkblade’s testimony and the
false description of Inysha, the total
To accommodate groups of four PCs, make the following
adjustment to The Hearing: General Hanif allows each PC
to present two pieces of evidence before insisting upon
hearing from the next PC.
Scaling the Hearing
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
22
circumstance bonus they receive on the Diplomacy check
to present the poison samples is +7. If the players appear at
a loss of who should speak first, consider reminding them
that while their opening arguments might be difficult,
the stronger their case becomes, the easier convincing the
general should be.
The six pieces of evidence that the PCs are most likely
to present are listed below. The PCs may come up with
additional evidence beyond these examples; feel free to
reward a bonus up to +4 for other legitimate evidence.
Additionally, if you feel the players do a particularly good
job roleplaying their argument, feel free to grant up to a +4
bonus on one Diplomacy check per PC to reward them for
getting into the story.
After the PCs successfully present three pieces of
evidence, the general is sufficiently convinced of the
evidence against Captain Othis to suspend her from office
pending an official investigation (see Development below).
Aspis Badge/Cauchemar’s Note (+4): The PCs may attempt
this Diplomacy check if they present Cauchemar’s
note and Othis’s Aspis Consortium badge as evidence.
Captain Othis counters that her membership in the Aspis
Consortium in no way interferes with her fulfillment of
her duties to the Ungrounded, but that it has taught her
the valuable lesson that Pathfinders are not to be trusted.
Dell Darkblade’s Testimony (+6): The PCs may attempt
this Diplomacy check if they bring forth Dell Darkblade
or his signed statement to testify against Captain Othis.
Dell confirms that his team used poison provided by Othis
to gain an unfair advantage in the second trial, and that
the PCs followed the rules. He also recounts assisting
Captain Othis in sabotaging the obstacle course. Captain
Othis counters that Dell’s recruits were not up to the task
of providing an adequate challenge to the PCs without
assistance. Because Pathfinders are notorious for lacking
humility and respect for their superiors, she needed to
provide them with challenges that would “wipe the smug
grins off their faces.”
Poison Samples (+3): The PCs may attempt this Diplomacy
check if they present the vial of poison found in Othis’s
office. Captain Othis counters this piece of evidence by
downplaying the poison’s danger provides, calling to
attention that it is as harmless as salt to superior beings
with a connection to earth, such as the general herself, and
that it merely renders humans temporarily unconscious.
False Description of Inysha (+3): The PCs may attempt this
Diplomacy check if they present the sketch and written
description of Inysha that Captain Othis gave them before
sending them to the casino. Captain Othis counters that
the false description should have been obvious. She insists
that soldiers must always be wary for false information the
treacherous efreet slip into legitimate channels, and that
providing a description of the esteemed general was a way
of teaching that lesson which should humiliate only the
most incompetent of recruits.
Slagcrusher’s Note (+5): The PCs may attempt this
Diplomacy check if they present Slagcrusher’s note
to Othis as evidence. Captain Othis alleges that the
Pathfinders, who obviously speak fluent Common, could
have easily forged the note.
Elemental Tattoos (+3): The PCs may attempt this
Diplomacy check if they present the bodies of Slagcrusher’s
elemental minions or an etching of their tattoos. If the
PCs present this piece of evidence before Slagcrusher’s
note, Captain Othis counters, “I don’t see what bandits
attacking a caravan has to do with me. Attacks on that
route may be rare, but they still happen often enough for
caravans to hire guards.” If the PCs provide this evidence
after Slagcrusher’s note, Othis accuses them of fabricating
evidence to fit a convenient narrative.
Development: After the PCs successfully present three
pieces of evidence, General Faiza bint Hanif crisply
thanks them for their honesty and aims an icy glare
at Captain Othis. Othis begins her rebuttal, but Hanif
raises a hand to cut her off, then replies flatly, “Silence,
Othis. You will waste no more of my time.” A pair of
shaitan officers moves in to escort Othis out of the office,
and the general orders them to secure Othis while she
launches a formal investigation. Once the captain is out
of the room, the general instructs the PCs to present any
other evidence they have collected. If the PCs successfully
present at least one more piece of evidence, they earn 1
Success Point.
If the PCs cannot convince the general of Othis’s
intentional sabotage, she dismisses Othis and speaks to the
PCs alone. She admits that their argument, while insufficient
to prove wrongdoing, has raised questions in her mind
about Othis’s position as a training officer. She assures the
PCs that she will keep an eye on Othis going forward.
As long as the PCs earned at least 4 Success Points
during the scenario, General Hanif grants them honorable
discharge from their obligations to the Ungrounded and
expresses interest in working with the Pathfinder Society
in the future. If the PCs failed to earn at least 4 Success
Points, General Hanif dismisses them from service,
remarking that an alliance with the Pathfinder Society
may not be in her organization’s best interest.
Treasure: If the PCs earn an honorable discharge, the
shaitan rewards each PC with a jeweled cloak pin bearing
the Ungrounded sigil (worth 120 gp each). She also presents
them with three masterwork scimitars. In Subtier 4–5, she
instead gives the PCs only a single +1 glamered scimitar.
Rewards: If the PCs do not earn an honorable discharge,
reduce each PC’s gold earned by the following amount.
Subtier 1–2: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 138 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 362 gp.
23
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
Subtier 4–5: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 586 gp.
CONCLUSION
True to her word, General Faiza bint Hanif launches
a formal investigation into Captain Othis’s activities,
ultimately removing Othis from her position as
training officer. If the PCs successfully presented four
or more pieces of incriminating evidence to the general,
Othis is stripped of her rank and sentenced to a period
of imprisonment for her crimes. If the PCs did not
present enough evidence to condemn Othis, the captain
retains her rank but is transferred to a more suitable
post. Dell Darkblade stands trial for his part in the
training incidents, but receives a lightened sentence due
to Captain Othis’s influence. As long as the PCs received
an honorable discharge, all PCs earn the Ungrounded
boon on their Chronicle sheets. All PCs who successfully
complete enough encounters to earn experience for this
scenario earn the Earth Affinity boon.
After the hearing, the PCs may return to Reyshal’s estate.
He offers the PCs congratulations if the mission was
successful and does little to conceal his disappointment
if the PCs failed. Reyshal magically transports the PCs
back to Absalom, where Master of Spells Sorrina Westyr
listens with interest to the PCs’ full report. Regardless of
the scenario’s outcome, the Pathfinders leave their mark
on the Opaline Vault.
REPORTING NOTES
If the PCs convince General Hanif to strip Captain Othis
of her rank, check box A. If they do not, check box B.
PRIMARY SUCCESS CONDITIONS
The PCs fulfill their primary goal if they earn at least 4
of the 8 possible Success Points. Doing so earns each PC 1
Prestige Point.
SECONDARY SUCCESS CONDITIONS
The PCs fulfill their secondary goal if they present enough
evidence to convince the general that Captain Othis set
them up for failure throughout the scenario. Fulfilling the
secondary success condition earns each PC 1 additional
Prestige Point.
FACTION NOTES
Sovereign Court PCs complete a faction goal by earning
an honorable discharge from General Faiza bint Hanif.
If they achieve this goal, give them Player Handout #4;
additionally, all Sovereign Court PCs earn the Wish
Exposure boon on their Chronicle sheets.
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
24
Player Handout #1: Cauchemar’s Missive
Player Handout #2: Slagcrusher’s Thank you note
Trusted Agent,
As always, the Pathfinders are sticking their meddlesome noses into our
business. I received word that the damned Society’s interest in the Plane of
Earth is more than just idle talk among the Decemvirate. Somehow one of their
venture-captains forged an alliance on this plane and conned a shaitan into
transporting some grunt agents to the Opaline Vault. Hilariously, these agents
intend to join the Ungrounded. The Pathfinders cannot be allowed to gain a
foothold here. I’m sure you can handle it.
Cauchemar
Othis,
Thanks for tasty gem location. Friends picking up gems at pass.
Stupid mercs won’t see it coming. Will help serpents sometime
if gems good like you say. Question: why help Slagcrusher?
25
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
Player Handout #3: General’s Summons
Player Handout #4: Morilla’s Missive
Recruits,
Captain Othis and I have been in communication about several incidents that
occurred surrounding your unit in the past weeks. Due to this operation’s ties to
Her Imminence’s military and our nation’s sensitive political climate, I take these
allegations very seriously. Report to my office at dawn for a formal hearing. Be
prepared to present a case defending your actions in training.
Sincerely,
General Faiza bint Hanif
Trusted Agents,
Word of your success in gaining the trust of a shaitan general
has reached my ears. Congratulations and thank you, on behalf of
our common cause. As allies, genies promise power and influence
in ways few mortals could ever offer. The next steps of our plans
are considerably ambitious, but with the world-shaping power of
wishcraft on our side, as well as steady and experienced hands to
wield it, doors that seemed inexorably sealed may open to us at last.
Sincerely,
Lady Gloriana Morilla
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
26
STAT BLOCKS
The following statistics appear in this scenario.
AGRAWGH
This bronze-ringed serpent has silvery skin and razor-sharp teeth
that barely conceal the acid bubbling at the back of its mouth.
AGRAWGH
CR 5
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Planes of Power 52
N Large outsider (earth, extraplanar)
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 100 ft.;
Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 9, flat-footed 18 (+9 natural, –1 size)
hp 59 (7d10+21)
Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +1
Immune acid
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow 60 ft.
Melee bite +11 (2d6+6 plus 2d6 acid)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attack breath weapon (30-ft. line, 6d4 acid damage,
Reflex DC 16 half, usable every 1d4 rounds)
STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 11, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 9, Cha 7
Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+14 bull rush); CMD 22 (24 vs. bull rush,
can’t be tripped)
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Lunge, Power Attack, Weapon
Focus (bite)
Skills Intimidate +8, Perception +9, Stealth +6, Survival +9
Languages Common, Terran
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Burrow (Ex) An agrawgh can burrow through solid stone at
half its normal burrow rate. When traveling using its burrow
speed, as a free action an agrawgh can choose to leave a
10-foot-by-10-foot tunnel in its wake. As long as the agrawgh
does not encounter any non-dirt or non-stone substances
along its way, it digests dirt and stone with its stomach acid
at a rate equal to its burrow movement speed. An agrawgh
cannot run or perform combat maneuvers while burrowing. If
an agrawgh encounters any creature while burrowing (such as
one using meld with stone), it can’t enter that square.
EARTH ELEMENTAL
This hulking, roughly humanoid creature of dirt and stone is
faceless, save for two glowing gemstone eyes.
SMALL EARTH ELEMENTAL
Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 122
N Small outsider (earth, elemental, extraplanar)
Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (–1 Dex, +7 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref –1, Will +3
Immune elemental traits
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., earth glide
Melee slam +6 (1d6+4)
Special Attacks earth mastery
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 13
Feats Improved Bull RushB, Power Attack
Skills Appraise +1, Climb +7, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1,
Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +7
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Earth Glide (Ex) A burrowing earth elemental can pass
through stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth
except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. If
protected against fire damage, it can even glide through
lava. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor
does it create any ripple or other sign of its presence. A
move earth spell cast on an area containing a burrowing
earth elemental flings the elemental back 30 feet,
stunning the creature for 1 round unless it succeeds on a
DC 15 Fortitude save.
Earth Mastery (Ex) An earth elemental gains a +1 bonus
on attack and damage rolls if both it and its foe are
touching the ground. If an opponent is airborne or
waterborne, the elemental takes a –4 penalty on attack
and damage rolls. These modifiers apply to bull rush and
overrun maneuvers, whether the elemental is initiating or
resisting these kinds of attacks. (These modifiers are not
included in its statistics).
MEDIUM EARTH ELEMENTAL
Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 122
N Medium outsider (earth, elemental, extraplanar)
Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.;
Perception +7
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 9, flat-footed 18 (–1 Dex, +9 natural)
hp 34 (4d10+12)
Fort +7, Ref +0, Will +4
Immune elemental traits
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., earth glide
Melee slam +9 (1d8+7)
Special Attacks earth mastery
STATISTICS
Str 20, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +4; CMB +9; CMD 18
Feats Cleave, Improved Bull RushB, Power Attack
Skills Appraise +1, Climb +10, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +2,
Knowledge (planes) +2, Perception +7, Stealth +3
27
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Earth Glide (Ex) A burrowing earth elemental can pass through
stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as
easily as a fish swims through water. If protected against fire
damage, it can even glide through lava. Its burrowing leaves
behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or
other sign of its presence. A move earth spell cast on an area
containing a burrowing earth elemental flings the elemental
back 30 feet, stunning the creature for 1 round unless it
succeeds on a DC 15 Fortitude save.
Earth Mastery (Ex) An earth elemental gains a +1 bonus on
attack and damage rolls if both it and its foe are touching
the ground. If an opponent is airborne or waterborne, the
elemental takes a –4 penalty on attack and damage rolls.
These modifiers apply to bull rush and overrun maneuvers,
whether the elemental is initiating or resisting these kinds of
attacks. (These modifiers are not included in its statistics).
MEPHIT, EARTH
This small humanoid creature has thin, leathery wings, small
horns, and a mischievous smile.
EARTH MEPHIT
Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 202
N Small outsider (earth)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +6
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +3 natural, +1 size)
hp 19 (3d10+3); fast healing 2 (while underground)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +3
DR 5/magic
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (average)
Melee 2 claws +5 (1d3+1)
Special Attacks breath weapon (15-foot cone, 1d8 bludgeoning
damage, Reflex DC 13 half)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)
1/day—soften earth and stone, summon (level 2, 1 earth
mephit 25%)
STATISTICS
Str 13, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 14
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative
Skills Bluff +8, Fly +10, Perception +6, Stealth +12
Languages Common, Terran
SQ change size
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Breath Weapon (Su) An earth mephit can unleash a cone of
rocks that deals 1d8 points of bludgeoning damage every
4 rounds as a standard action. The DC is Constitution-based
and includes a +1 racial bonus.
Change Size (Sp) Once per day, an earth mephit can enlarge its
body by 1 size category, as enlarge person. This power acts
as a 2nd-level spell.
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO
28
29
UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN
Event
GM #
GM Character #
GM Prestige Earned
GM Name
Date
B
The Exchange
Silver Crusade
A
Dark Archive
Scarab Sages
D
Liberty’s Edge
C
Grand Lodge
Sovereign Court
The Exchange
Silver Crusade
Dark Archive
Scarab Sages
Liberty’s Edge
Grand Lodge
Sovereign Court
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
The Exchange
Silver Crusade
Dark Archive
Scarab Sages
Liberty’s Edge
Grand Lodge
Sovereign Court
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
The Exchange
Silver Crusade
Dark Archive
Scarab Sages
Liberty’s Edge
Grand Lodge
Sovereign Court
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
The Exchange
Silver Crusade
Dark Archive
Scarab Sages
Liberty’s Edge
Grand Lodge
Sovereign Court
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
The Exchange
Silver Crusade
Dark Archive
Scarab Sages
Liberty’s Edge
Grand Lodge
Sovereign Court
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
The Exchange
Silver Crusade
Dark Archive
Scarab Sages
Liberty’s Edge
Grand Lodge
Sovereign Court
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
The Exchange
Silver Crusade
Dark Archive
Scarab Sages
Liberty’s Edge
Grand Lodge
Sovereign Court
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-05:
Ungrounded but Unbroken
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright
2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a) “Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark
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publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d) “Open Game Content”
means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes
and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product
Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content
clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any
work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works
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which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) “Trademark” means
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to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the
Open Game License by the Contributor (g) “Use”, “Used” or “Using” means
to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create
Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) “You” or “Your” means the
licensee in terms of this agreement.
2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that
contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used
under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open
Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from
this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or
conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this
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Your acceptance of the terms of this License.
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5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original
material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are
Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights
conveyed by this License.
6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE
portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of
any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You
must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder’s name to
the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.
7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity,
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with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work
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8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly
indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game
Content.
9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish
updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this
License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally
distributed under any version of this License.
10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with
every copy of the Open Game Content You distribute.
11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open
Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written
permission from the Contributor to do so.
12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the
terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content
due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not
Use any Open Game Material so affected.
13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to
comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of
becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination
of this License.
14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable,
such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it
enforceable.
15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors:
Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary
Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Pathfinder Society Scenario #8–05: Ungrounded but Unbroken © 2016,
Paizo Inc.; Author: Jenny Jarzabski.
Normal
Slow
SUBTIER
Player Name
A.K.A.
Character Name
Pathfinder Society #
Faction
–
EVENT
EVENT CODE
DATE
Game Master’s Signature
GM Pathfinder Society #
For GM Only
Normal
Slow
SUBTIER
Normal
Slow
SUBTIER
Normal
Slow
SUBTIER
This Chronicle sheet grants access to the following:
Starting XP
EXPERIENCE
GM’s
Initials
GM’s
Initials
GM’s
Initials
GM’s
Initials
XP Gained (GM ONLY)
Final XP Total
+
+
+
+
=
=
FAME
Initial Prestige
Initial Fame
Prestige Gained (GM ONLY)
–
–
Prestige Spent
Current
Prestige
Final
Fame
Starting GP
GP Gained (GM ONLY)
Day Job (GM ONLY)
Gold Spent
Total
GOLD
MAX GOLD
Character Chronicle #
1–2
4–5
—
253
958
—
606
506
1,916
—
1,211
Out of
Subtier
Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-05:
Ungrounded but Unbroken
Earth Affinity: Your connection to elemental earth has grown stronger over the course of your recent
adventures. This boon has no mechanical effect on its own, but it may interact with other boons or play
a role in future adventures—especially those set on the elemental planes.
Ungrounded Veteran: While your time in the Ungrounded was not easy, you rose to face the
challenges that Captain Othis threw in your way. You may check a box before this boon to call upon
the skills you reinforced through your training, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on one of the
following skill checks: an Acrobatics check to balance on a narrow or slippery surface, any Climb check,
a Knowledge (planes) check to identify creatures or their weaknesses, or any Profession (soldier) check. If
you are not trained in the skill, you may instead check a box to treat yourself as if you were trained in the
skill. You must choose to apply this bonus before rolling. When you check the last box, cross this boon
off your Chronicle sheet.
Wish Exposure (Sovereign Court): The Sovereign Court is setting plans in motion to call upon the
wishcraft of their genie allies. The first of these wishes has already impacted your life in subtle ways. If
you gain the benefits of a wish spell again, it provides greater benefits that it normally would. Cross this
boon off your Chronicle sheet when you would benefit from a wish whose details appear in an adventure
(e.g., increasing the amount of gold you earn on a Chronicle sheet). When you do so, increase the benefits
earned by 50%.
Core Campaign
All Subtiers
Subtier 4–5
concealable thieves’ tools (190 gp; Pathfinder RPG
Ultimate Intrigue 233)
dusk agate extract (75 gp; limit 4)
invisible ink (simple, 2 gp; Pathfinder RPG Ultimate
Equipment 103)
ioun torch (75 gp; Ultimate Equipment 305)
scroll of lesser restoration (150 gp)
superior loaded dice (50 gp; Ultimate Equipment 92)
traveler’s any-tool (250 gp; Ultimate Equipment 323)
+1 glamered scimitar (6,315 gp; Pathfinder RPG
Ultimate Equipment 142)
bracers of armor +1 (1,000 gp)
cloak of resistance +1 (1,000 gp)
concealing pocket (1,000 gp; Ultimate Equipment 289)
potion of cure moderate wounds (300 gp)
ring of protection +1 (2,000 gp)
DUSK AGATE EXTRACT
PRICE
75 GP
SAVE Fortitude DC 13
TYPE poison (contact)
EFFECT unconsciousness for 1 minute
SECONDARY EFFECT 1 Wisdom damage
CURE 1 save
| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/Society/Season 8/S08-05 - Ungrounded But Unbroken.pdf |
KEO7-07
The Stalkyard
A One-Round D&D® LIVING GREYHAWKTM
Keoland Regional Adventure
Version 4.4.1
by Charles Skidmore
Reviewer: Keoland Triad
Circle Reviewer: Steven Conforti
As an unusually hot Keoish summer fades into autumn, events on the western border of the Empire
continue to smolder. The truth is now filtering to the ears of Keoish citizens: war has come to the western
marches and with every passing day marches eastward to Niole Dra. As the Keoish Empire reels from
this sudden onslaught, a bold counterattack is planned on the heart of the assaulting forces: Godakin
Keep. But is the assault a diversion, a suicide mission, or a stroke of genius? Only time will tell, because
only the survivors author the histories.
A Keoland regional adventure for APLs 8-12, and Part Four of the To the Last Man Standing series. This
is a direct sequel to KEO6-04 Old Sins Cast Long Shadows, KEO7-04 Castlefall and KEO7-06 Bright
Scaled Horror. It is recommended that those adventures be played first if possible.
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of
Wizards of the Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit
www.wizards.com/d20.
This is an official RPGA
® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon
Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is
protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork
contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction.
Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc and the
adventure author or authors.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
For questions specific to this document and your region please e-mail your triad point of contact (POC) at
[email protected]. For LIVING GREYHAWK campaign questions email [email protected].
RPGA SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of
an RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you
received it from your senior gamemaster. To play
this adventure as part of the LIVING GREYHAWK
campaign—a worldwide, ongoing D&D campaign
set in the GREYHAWK setting—you must sanction it
as part of an RPGA event. This event could be as
elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
group of friends meeting at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at
least a HERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person
who sanctions the event is called the senior
gamemaster, and is in charge of making sure the
event is sanctioned before play, runs smoothly on
the date sanctioned, and then reported back to the
RPGA in a timely manner. The person who runs
the game is called the table Dungeon Master (or
usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all the
time in the cases of home events) the senior
gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have
to be a HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if
you are not the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure
you accomplish a couple of things. First it is an
official game, and you can use the AR to advance
your LIVING GREYHAWK character. Second player
and DMs gain rewards for sanctioned RPGA play
if they are members of the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
REWARDS program. Playing this adventure is worth
two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned
play on December 31, 2007.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS,
visit the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
PLAYERS READ NO
FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther
than this section, you’ll know too much about its
challenges, which kills the fun. Also, if you’re
playing this adventure as part of an RPGA-
sanctioned event, reading beyond this point
makes you ineligible to do so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need
copies of the following D&D books: Player’s
Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the
Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics
provides player information for you to paraphrase
or read aloud when appropriate. Sidebars contain
important information for you, including special
instruction on running the adventure. Information
on nonplayer characters (NPCs) and monsters
appear in abbreviated form in the adventure text.
Full information on NPCs and monsters are given
in the Appendices.
Along with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA Table
Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as
part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and
turn in this sheet to your senior GM directly after
play. You’ll also find a LIVING GREYHAWK
Adventure Record (AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because players bring their own characters to
LIVING
GREYHAWK
games,
this
adventure’s
challenges are proportionate to the modified
average character level of the PCs participating in
the adventure. To determine this modified Average
Party Level (APL) follow the steps below:
1. Determine the character level for each of the
PCs participating in the adventure.
2. If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely dogs trained for war),
other than those brought by virtue of a class
ability (such as animal companions, familiars
paladin’s mounts) or the warhorse of a
character with the Mounted Combat feat, use
the sidebar chart to determine the number of
levels you add to the sum of step one. Add
each character’s animals separately. A single
PC may only bring four or fewer animals of
this type, and animals with different CRs are
added separately.
3. Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by
the number of characters playing in the
adventure. Round to the nearest whole
number.
4. If you are running a table of six PCs, add one
to that average.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 1
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the
level of challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in
even-numbered increments. If the APL of your
group falls on an odd number, ask them before the
adventure begins whether they would like to play a
harder or easier adventure. Based on their choice,
use either the higher or the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience
and gold a PC can gain at the end of the
adventure. If a player character is three character
levels or more either higher or lower than the APL
at which this adventure is being played, that
character receives only one-half of the experience
points and gold for the adventure. This simulates
the fact that either the PC was not challenged as
much as normal or relied on help by higher-level
characters to reach the objectives.
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels
higher than the highest APL supported by the
adventure may not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for
APL 2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters
may find the challenge of an APL 2 adventure
difficult. Suggest the following to these groups to
help increase their chances of success:
1. Enlist a sixth player.
2. Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help
protect them, and fight for them.
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard one-round Regional adventure,
set in Keoland. Characters native to Keoland pay
one Time Unit per round, all others pay two Time
Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp
per Time Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per Time
Unit. Luxury Upkeep costs 100 gp per Time Unit.
Characters that fail to pay at least Standard
Upkeep will retain temporary ability damage until
the
next
adventure,
must
buy
new
spell
component pouches and healer’s kits, and may
suffer other in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-
game benefits) as may be detailed in this
adventure.
A character who does not pay for at least
Standard Upkeep may also avoid the above-
described penalties by living off the wild. If the
character possesses four or more ranks in the
Survival skill and succeeds at a Survival check
(DC 20), the character will heal temporary ability
damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep,
may refill spell component pouches and healer’s
kits, and may restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if
the character has at least four ranks in Craft
(bowmaking). The player is allowed to Take 10 on
this roll.
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect
on APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
More information about Lifestyle and Upkeep
can be found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section
of Chapter 3 of the LIVING GREYHAWK Campaign
Sourcebook.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
The Empire of Keoland has begun to face its
darkest hours. Without warning an unknown force
of creatures assaulted and sacked Godakin Keep
on the western border. These creatures have
begun a systematic move eastward, and the
Empire is desperate for time while it sends out
recall orders and requests for assistance to its
neighbors in the Sheldomar Valley.
In KEO7-04 Castlefall a group of enterprising
heroes rescued an important artifact from a secret
vault constructed beneath Godakin Keep, thereby
thwarting some of the invader’s plans. In KEO7-06
Bright Scaled Horror another group of heroes
rescued the kin of the vault’s guardian, a Brass
Dragon who made its home in the Good Hills.
The invading forces have now begun to spread
their advance, marching on Cryllor and sacking
several small outlying towns in the Good Hills. The
Keoish Royal Standards have begun to fortify the
town of Black Top in the Good Hills in order to
make a strong bastion in the region to operate
from.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 2
In Niole Dra, Field Marshal Vandon Neheli has
decided to put the troops under his command to
better use. After consulting with his distant
relative, Count Orloc Neheli, the two brought a
plan to the attention of the master of the Silent
Tower; the Wyrd. This plan is simple; Field
Marshal Neheli will use a magical portal created
and owned by the Neheli family to lead his Royal
Standards on a direct assault of Godakin Keep. In
order to assure the maximum confusion the Field
Marshal will have a diversionary assault on one of
the towns overrun by the Horde; the town of Kilm.
The town of Kilm was once a small farming
satellite of Godakin Keep. In the months since
Godakin Keep fell, it suffered no calamity until a
sudden message was delivered to Niole Dra
claiming that the town was being assaulted in the
night. No further communications from Kilm
ensued and magical scrying has revealed a
horrible tableau; the town of Kilm has been turned
into some sort of grand magical experiment, with
captive Keoish citizens being tortured and
experimented upon. The town is now under the
direct command of a small force of Marru, led by
the fallen Hound Archon Gustavren.
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
In the Introduction, the heroes are brought up to
speed on the latest goings on in the Empire and
are approached by Field Marshal Vandon Neheli,
who is in charge of the forces detailed in Niole Dra
proper. The Field Marshal thanks the heroes for
their service to the Empire and then asks the
heroes to accompany him for a meeting of special
importance. The heroes are reintroduced to the
Wyrd and to Count Orloc Neheli, who have
requested the heroes’ aid in creating a secondary
target for the assault. This target is actually the
town of Kilm, which has been sacked and turned
into an enemy bastion. The Wyrd and Orloc
believe that Kilm is being used as a crèche, or a
breeding ground for the Marru. They will ask the
heroes to lead an assault on the crèche to kill an
old nemesis, a fallen hound archon, and to attempt
to destroy the crèche.
In Encounter One the heroes prepare for battle
and use a teleport circle owned by house Neheli to
gain entrance to the town of Kilm. As they arrive
they watch a sizeable force of Marru teleport out,
presumably to rush to Godakin Keep’s aid.
In Encounter Two the heroes will be able to
reconnoiter the current town of Kilm and either
bypass or overwhelm a small group of defenders
who are processing a prominent Keoish citizen for
a transformation into a Marru within the crèche.
In Encounter Three the heroes will enter the
Stalkyard, an interior maze that protects the Kilm
crèche.
In Encounter Four the heroes will have the
opportunity to loot the Kilm school of magic for
information and determine some more of what the
Marru intend to do.
In Encounter Five the heroes will meet the figure
who controls the forces of the Marru, a being who
will call himself The Returned. They will see for
themselves that the forces he controls are far
more than a few simple creatures and he will offer
the heroes a choice: they may join his forces and
help lead his armies to victory in exchange for
overwhelming power.
In Encounter Six the heroes return to Niole Dra to
find that The Returned’s forces have crushed the
Keoish counterattack at Godakin Keep.
PREPARATION FOR PLAY
Determine if any hero is a Knight of the Watch. If
they are, prepare Player Handout One. They will
have an additional set of instructions.
Determine if any hero is a Knight of the Malagari
(Darkwatch). If they are, prepare Player Handout
Two. They will have an additional set of
instructions.
Determine if any hero is a Silent One. (All heroes
who are Woestaves are considered Silent Ones
for the purpose of this determination). If they are,
prepare Player Handout Three. They will have an
additional set of instructions.
Have any PC who can make a Knowledge
(Monstrous Humanoid) check and record this
result. This indicates the PC’s knowledge of Marru
physiology. This is particularly necessary to know
in Encounter Two, where the PCs may be
surprised by the Marru. Any PC who has the AR
item Desert Dissection from KEO7-04 Castlefall
knows all general details of Marrutacts and
Marrusaults, as listed. Refresh the players’
knowledge before Encounter One.
Finally, the introduction contains a large amount of
read-aloud text. This is necessary in order to
convey a lot of the newest changes in Keoland to
the heroes. After the introduction the adventure
becomes
much
more
adaptable,
so
it
is
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 3
recommended that you prepare to adjust events
on the fly for your table.
INTRODUCTION
As the sun makes its way down the western
path towards the Jotuns, the heat from an
unusually intense Keoish summer begins to
fade with it. Everywhere you look, the common
folk of the city are preparing to end another
day. They are closing up shops, they are
mucking out stables, they are headed to their
homes and families.
A precious few understand how fragile their
existence is. Keoland, the Lion Throne,
mightiest of the nations of the Sheldomar
Valley, has been invaded. At this very moment,
the western border is embroiled in fighting
such as has not been seen on a scale since
Keoland’s imperialistic phase hundreds of
years ago.
Every
day
the
number
of
people
who
understands grows larger. Every day another
son is conscripted into the Royal Standards,
every
day
another
shop’s
products
are
purchased by the newly formed Ministry of
Keoish Security.
The rumors have finally reached an inevitable
chorus: Godakin Keep is gone, Black Top is a
staging ground, and no word has come from
Cryllor in weeks. It is even rumored that the
long-disused Dragon Rock has had a nocturnal
visitor within the last few nights. Few in Niole
Dra sleep well these days.
You and your companions have escaped the
growing sense of dread in the common folk by
deciding to take dinner at the Beaten Black, a
recently
constructed
tavern
that
caters
specifically to those who label themselves with
the dangerous title of adventurer. The tavern
itself is unremarkable save for its namesake.
Hanging over the bar is a massive tooth carved
with runes and topped in a gold cap. It is easily
over seven feet long and the proprietors claim
that it is an actual incisor pulled from the
mouth of a Black Dragon slain in the
Dreadwood.
The tavern is full to overflowing and you find
yourself at a mixed table of people like
yourself.
At this point have the heroes introduce themselves
and make any decisions about how they came to
be in this place. Prepare any applicable player
handouts. When the heroes are settled in they will
each be approached by a serving girl with a
message for them.
As the steaming plates of your food begin to
arrive, a pretty young serving girl crouches
down to eye level. Smiling at you, she talks
just loud enough to be heard over the din of
the tavern.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m to ask you to
follow me to one of our private suites. There’s
someone who wishes a moment of your time.”
The girl knows nothing of who sent her to the
heroes, only that she was specifically told by her
boss the tavern keeper who to talk to. The tavern
keeper is nowhere to be found at this point (he is
upstairs tending to his guests).
If the heroes are reticent to go, the serving girl will
offer to bring their meal with them. Further
hesitation will resort to the serving girl almost
pleading with the heroes to go, as she does not
wish to get in trouble. If a hero refuses to go to the
private rooms, they are at risk of missing the
adventure.
The heroes are taken to a well appointed private
suite which the tavern keeper is just leaving as
they arrive. In the front room is a figure of the
Keoish military, Field Marshal Vandon Neheli.
Dressed in a stylish parade uniform, the Field
Marshal cuts an impressive figure. Standing well
over six feet tall, he is obviously Suel but appears
to have traces of some other bloodline from a
distant relative which gives him a slightly exotic
and appealing look. The Field Marshal is friendly
and smiles at the heroes before ushering them in
and offering them refreshments while apologizing
for having their meal disturbed.
A Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) DC: 15 will
tell the heroes that the title of Field Marshal is one
recently created by the Royal Standards, with only
a handful of postings. The two most well known
Field Marshals are Perrinac Rhola and Vandon
Neheli, whom are both intensely loyal to King
Kimbertos.
A Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) DC: 20 will
tell the heroes that Vandon Neheli is rumored to
be a distant relation of Holphin Neheli, from a
branch of the family that was recently elevated in
order to help restore the prestige of the family
name.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 4
A Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) DC: 25 will
tell the heroes that the Field Marshal is rumored to
be in command of the Royal Standards stationed
in Niole Dra proper, and that the established Royal
Standard hierarchy was none too pleased with the
recent creation of the posting.
Allow the heroes to introduce themselves to Field
Marshal Vandon. When they are all in the room he
will make a great show out of locking the door and
closing the curtains from prying eyes before
speaking. Read or paraphrase the following.
“Thank you gentlefolk for interrupting your day
to hear me out. I am Field Marshal Vandon
Neheli, and it is my duty to charge you with a
task in the name of the Lion Throne. First,
some background.
As you may have heard, Godakin Keep on our
western border has fallen. Keoland herself has
been invaded and faces dire peril. Despite
what you may have heard about the prowess
of the Royal Standards the harsh reality is that
we are currently fighting a holding action while
we attempt to buy time to organize our
defenses. The Good Hills are becoming a
battleground and all communication from
Cryllor has ceased.
I
have
received
approval
for
a
daring
counterattack, which is where you come in.
Before I can explain any more, I must have
your agreement. If you cannot give it, I
understand; but I will have to ask you to leave
and say nothing of what has transpired here.
Can you agree to lead a force of Royal
Standards in this counterattack?
The heroes may agree, decline, or ask for more
details. Some potential questions are listed here.
“How large of a force will we be leading?”
“You will be responsible for the leading and
protection of twenty Royal Standards while
they accomplish their mission.”
“What mission will they be performing?”
“I cannot answer that until you agree to lead
them, unfortunately. Now you see why I
needed people of a certain moral fiber.”
If the heroes repeat this question after reciting the
oath, Vandon will tell the heroes that the Royal
Standards are tasked with the destruction of
valuable enemy supplies within Kilm. If the heroes
press, tell them whatever is necessary to move
them along. The Royal Standards won’t be making
the fulltrip with the heroes.
“Where will we be going? Niole Dra is a bit far
from the fighting.”
“Magical transportation will be provided for
you. In fact, it will be necessary for the
success of your goals. Other than that, I
cannot tell you exactly where you will be going
until you agree.”
If the heroes ask for more general information:
“The only other piece of information that I can
give you is that your task will be very
dangerous. Should you require it, you can be
compensated accordingly. The Lion Throne is
not without gratitude.”
Answer any other questions the heroes may have.
If they agree, proceed to the following introduction.
If they cannot age to these terms, Field Marshal
Vandon will voice his regret, attempt to persuade
the heroes one last time, and then finally show any
who wish to leave out.
Once the heroes agree:
Field Marshal Vandon nods briskly and smiles.
He clears his throat meaningfully and speaks,
taking the time to look each of you in the eyes
while the syllables roll from his tongue like
honeyed water.
“Please repeat after me: I swear an oath by my
blood to never reveal the proceedings here, in
the name of the Lion Throne. Let Dalt lock my
tongue should I fail.”
If the heroes are suddenly antsy about swearing
an oath by their blood, they have good reason.
Vandon will explain that it is something he is
required to ask for this situation “by his superiors.”
Any hero who balks at this will be given another
chance to recite the oath. Refusal will mean that
the hero will be shown the door while Vandon tells
them that he understands their reluctance.
Finally, once the heroes are done swearing
ominous oaths, Vandon will introduce them to two
more important pieces to this puzzle.
As you repeat the oath, the slight sound of
bells tolling rings through the building. Seven
bells, then silence. Field Marshal Vandon
smiles at you warmly, a twinkle reaching his
eyes. It is easy to see why he has quickly built
a reputation as a man others would die to
follow. He moves to the suites’ other door,
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 5
opening it soundlessly, and then dropping to
one knee.
Soundlessly, two men enter the room, each
touching
Field
Marshal
Vandon
on
the
shoulder as they pass. The first is tall and
appears of moderate build, wearing floor
length white robes. His face is covered with a
black iron mask. Piercing blue eyes show
through the eyeslits, decorated to appear as
though trails of tears run down his cheeks.
The second is short and hunched, skin
emaciated and as dry as sun-kissed desert.
Dirty, dull black robes puddle around his feet
as he lurches alongside his companion. His
fingers are long and filthy, nails crusted with
unknown detritus. He is completely bald,
making his piercing blue eyes stand out all the
more on his pale face.
These two men are a pair of Keoland’s most
powerful magical practitioners. The first is the
Wyrd, master of the Silent Tower and leader of
those known as the Silent Ones. Heroes may have
met him in several recent adventures, including
KEO6-04 Old Sins Cast Long Shadows and
KEO7-04 Castlefall.
The second is Count Orloc Neheli, famous and
secretive wizard of House Neheli. The heroes may
have met him through several Keoland regionals
and interactives, including KEO4-03 Lasting
Deeds and KEO5-05 Burning Brightly.
Both of these men can be identified with a
Knowledge (Metaregion 1/Sheldomar Valley)
DC: 15.
The Wyrd will greet the heroes. Read or
paraphrase the following.
“Peace to you, travelers. We do not have much
time, so I shall endeavor to make this short. As
the Field Marshal can tell you, Keoland is in
dire straits. The western border as we know it
no longer exists, and magic more powerful
than any I have seen in many years prevents
accurate scrying attempts.
Within the last day, however, we have made a
breakthrough.
Count
Orloc
here
has
discovered that a certain kind of ritual scrying
of his own devising is capable of breaking
through the mists that prevent our normal
attempts.
In
exchange
for
sharing
his
knowledge on the matter with us, the Silent
Tower has agreed to assist with a task the
Neheli ask of us.
Normally the Silent Tower would refuse any
task that might make us seem partisan in the
politics of the Empire, but the seriousness of
the situation requires immediate action.”
With a wave of his hand and a mumbled
syllable, the Wyrd creates a frozen tableau on
the table of the suite. A walled city teems with
violent activity. Armed men fight on the walls
against a besieging force. Siege towers in the
process of disembarking inhuman foes are
nestled against the wall. Above a central keep,
the Keoish lion flies proudly from a flagpole.
Black smoke pours up from several portions of
the city.
With a second and third wave of the Wyrd’s
hand, the view changes, becoming such that it
might be seen through a hawk’s eye. The city
is surrounded by a besieging force on three
sides, and a huge flowing river on the fourth.
From this vantage point you can see the
besieging force carries seven large banners.
Field Marshal Vandon’s words echo faintly off
the walls of the suite as he speaks.
“Now you might understand why we need your
silence. Word of this cannot reach the ears of
the populace, for they would panic. Cryllor is
under siege.”
Allow the heroes a chance to digest this
information. Answer any questions the heroes
might pose within reason. Below are some
possible questions they might have, along with
who answers them.
“How recent is this view?”
(The Wyrd)
“This was seen less than an hour ago, by
Count Orloc and myself.”
“What are those things attacking the city?”
(The Wyrd)
“There are more than a few men and
demihumans in the attacking force, but the
bulk of the attackers seem to be made up of an
ancient race known as the Marru. Additionally,
we have seen more than a few true giants
among the attackers. Here, on the north side of
Cryllor, you can clearly see at least a half-
dozen stone giants in charge of pushing these
siege towers.”
“The Marru? What are they?”
(Count Orloc)
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 6
The hunched form of Count Orloc bobs as he
abruptly cuts off the Wyrd. His voice is raspy
and weak; you have to strain a bit to hear it.
“The Marru are thought to be magically created
in ages past, although they now breed true
without magic. What is very odd is that the few
pieces of lore we have about them indicate that
they prefer much harsher climes than Keoland
has to offer. They have been known to keep
their enclaves in the harshest of deserts
environments.”
“How large is the attacking force/how many
defend the city?”
(Field Marshal Vandon)
“If the attackers use a fairly traditional military
division, each large banner is a separate army,
composed
of
roughly
a
thousand
men…marru…giants…what
have
you.
It
appears that Cryllor faces an attacking force of
over seven thousand foes. Count Manz
regularly holds a swordfighting competition at
this time of year called the Tocsin of Kelanen,
which
attracts
quite
a
large
temporary
population of capable swordsmen from around
the region.
The Royal Standard detachment in Cryllor
numbers less than four hundred, as the Count
prefers to hire mercenaries for the city’s
safekeeping. We have no accurate numbers for
his forces at this time. Either the siege was
timed in order to coincide with the Tocsin in
order to sap the strength of any militia we
might draw from the area, or the attacking
force was unknowledgeable of the event. In
either case, we estimate the number of truly
capable defenders in Cryllor at less than two
thousand.
If it comes to it, I’m sure that the cityfolk will
fight bravely, but they are not skilled in the art
of war.”
“Can Cryllor hold out/How long can Cryllor hold
out?”
(Field Marshal Vandon)
“Cryllor
is
exceedingly
well
situated
defensively, however as you can see the
attackers have already topped the walls. Once
a siege breaks the walls, it quickly becomes
mass butchery.
For all purposes, Cryllor no longer exists.”
When the heroes ask what their part to play in this
affair is, or the conversation lags, move onward to
the following:
Field Marshal Vandon clears his throat.
“King Kimbertos has been made aware of the
situation.
He
has
authorized
a
counteroffensive with the Royal Standards
based in Niole Dra. Cryllor is lost to us, but
there are a pair of targets that he feels will
cause the invaders to slow their advance if we
attack.
The first of these is Godakin Keep itself. We
have reliable knowledge that the Keep is the
nexus for their leadership. We are still unable
to break the scrying covering Godakin, but we
feel that with so large a force at Cryllor that
Godakin must be nearly empty. The Royal
Standards will use a Neheli teleport circle to
assault Godakin Keep. We know that Marshal
Praal of the Royal Standards turned traitor and
we believe he is still in charge of the Keep. It
will be the duty of the Royal Standards to
cleanse the stain on their honor.
The second of these is a small town southeast
of Godakin Keep called Kilm. Here we have
been able to break the scrying wards. Count
Orloc, can you please show them?”
The Count mumbles some arcane phrases and
the tableau on the table changes. A small
farming community is now the scene. Farmers
work their plots while armed guards oversee
them. The center of the small town itself has
been razed and a diamond shaped edifice
stands in its place. It appears to be fairly large,
standing three to four stories.
The Count whispers;
“In the lore we have, it is indicated that the
Marru build such structures when they create a
new home for themselves. They are called
crèches, and their purpose is believed to be a
spawning ground and school for accelerated
magical training.”
Suddenly the tableau zooms in, and a trio of
figures is caught frozen while walking towards
the
crèche.
One
is
a
hulking
marru
abomination, clad in vicious looking plate mail.
The marru drags an unconscious oerdian man
in its massive arms. The unconscious man’s
head hangs down, a long ornate braid of hair
falling past a visibly scarred neck.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 7
The final member of the trio is similar to the
marru in that he bears canine traits, but even
though he walks next to undeniable evil he
carries himself with poise and presence. His
head is that of a powerful hunting hound’s, its
features set for the chase. Strapped to its back
is a pair of greatswords, one bent nearly in
half.
The Count continues his sibilant whispering;
“That one is known to us. He is a Hound
Archon whose name is legend among magical
circles. His name is Gustavren, and he and his
pack were cast out of Acheron when he failed
in his duties.
It will be your task to enter the crèche, stalk
and kill Gustavren, and destroy anything of
that you find.”
The heroes undoubtedly have some questions, do
your best to answer them, although the rest of the
information the NPCs have is quite sparse. They
have no reliable information on the interior of the
crèche, no idea how large a force lies within, and
no idea of Gustavren’s capabilities. The heroes
will be using a Neheli teleport circle in the same
manner that the Royal Standards will.
If the heroes ask for general information on Kilm,
the NPCs will tell them the information contained
in the beginning of Encounter Two.
The Field Marshal will ask the heroes to be ready
for an assault to begin shortly after sunrise. As the
heroes are in Niole Dra they may use this
opportunity to purchase items per the LGCS
before the assault. Heroes who are in need of a
full night’s sleep in order to change spell
selections will be able to do so.
Eventually the heroes will be escorted out of the
suite, and thanked by all three NPCs.
ENCOUNTER 1: HALFWAY
THERE
In this encounter the heroes use a Neheli teleport
circle to travel to Kilm, where they witness what
the town has become and watch as a large force
of Marru teleports out, presumably to go to
Godakin Keep’s aid. The town appears ripe for the
picking.
If any hero has the AR item Desert Dissection
from KEO7-04 Castlefall, refresh that player’s
knowledge of the Marrusaults and Marrutacts now.
Note that Marrulurks are excluded from that
knowledge.
Additionally, heroes who belong to several
organizations will receive additional orders from
that organization.
Hand out Player Handouts One, Two and Three
to applicable heroes.
The heroes arrive at the assigned staging area:
It is shortly after daybreak when you arrive at
the assigned staging area, a series of
warehouses owned by house Neheli. Huge
stone circles have been erected in each room,
ringed with arcane runes. As you arrive, a
group of robed men finish a chant and a
tensquad of heavy cavalry sitting in the middle
of a circle winks out of existence.
Feel free to describe the area in more detail to the
heroes if necessary. A force of nearly a thousand
Royal
Standards
has
assembled
for
this
counterattack, representing a major investment of
forces on the part of the Empire. Everywhere the
heroes look there are armed men and battle
clerics readying themselves for battle.
The heroes will quickly be met by a harried looking
junior officer who will convey them directly to the
Wyrd, who is awaiting their arrival. The Wyrd will
ensure that the heroes are ready for transport by
giving them each a small polished piece of quartz
and telling them the following;
“When you wish to return, take this stone and
hurl it to the ground while thinking of where
you wish to travel to. I recommend thinking of
someplace exceedingly familiar to you, such
as right here. I cannot stress this enough, if
you lose the stone, or break it, we have no way
to return you reliably. We will simply be too
busy with everything today to watch you
closely.”
The squad of Royal Standards that the heroes are
supposed to lead is assembled and ready. They
await transport with the heroes.
When the heroes are ready for transport, Count
Orloc and the Wyrd will usher them into the circle
and begin to chant.
The Wyrd utters some arcane phrases and the
warehouse simply disappears from your sight.
Suddenly your world is filled with searing pain
and your vision is filled with two tunnels. At
the end of one tunnel is a fanged maw
reaching out to destroy you, at the end of the
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 8
other is the town of Kilm as you saw it in the
tableau. With a sense of horror, you feel
yourself
being
pulled
in
two
separate
directions!
Ask each hero for their Will save modifier, and
then roll a d20 for them out of sight, to simulate a
Will save they would not know the result of. After
you have done that, read the following.
With a wrenching gasp of mental effort, your
body tumbles down the tunnel towards the
town. The fanged maw grazes you as it
attempts to reach you. With an audible pop,
you find yourself seated in the middle of a corn
field on a small hill overseeing Kilm.
Each hero takes damage based off the following
chart.
APL 8: 10 damage
APL 10: 15 damage
APL 12: 20 damage
There is no save against this damage, and each
hero is marked and scratched as though they had
been bitten.
When the heroes gather themselves and move
into line of sight of the crèche, read or paraphrase
the following.
From your vantage you see two things
occurring simultaneously. A small handful of
Marru is herding a shuffling line of peasants
through a set of rapidly closing doors in one
side of the crèche. On another side of the
crèche a sizeable force of Marru is standing in
orderly ranks, clasping wrists. A smaller Marru
standing among them raises an oddly shaped
staff and the entire group winks out of
existence. The stone doors of the crèche
swing shut behind the last of the peasants and
the sounds of nature slowly resume as you
look down upon the town of Kilm.
ENCOUNTER 2: ALL THAT
REMAINS
Use DM AID 1 for the map of Kilm.
In this encounter the heroes have the option of
exploring Kilm for clues as to what is going on in
the town and may encounter a small group of
Marru who are preparing a prominent, long-lost
Keoish citizen for transformation into a Marru. The
heroes may then choose to attempt to free the
detainee or bypass the Marru.
Kilm
Any hero who succeeds at a Knowledge
(Metaregion One/Sheldomar Valley) DC 15 will
know the following basic information. Additionally,
any hero who asks one of the NPCs from an
earlier encounter about Kilm will receive this
information.
The town of Kilm is a fairly typical farming
community. Before the insurrection began, Kilm
served as a small farming satellite where
merchants would gather to arrange for the
purchase of food, which would then be shipped
elsewhere for a profit. The town boasts little that
would attract people more accustomed to city life,
but it was quite successful in serving as a goods
relay station.
In the year CY 588 the town was razed by
unknown forces. This prompted a surge in patrols
into the Jotuns in order to ward off these raids.
The town was rebuilt in CY 591 and until CY 595
was garrisoned with a small force of Royal
Standards.
The town has the following areas:
Area 1: Farms/Fields
This area appears to be a typical farmstead. A
diverse mixture of crops takes firm root in the
healthy Keoish soil. Cows and pigs appear
healthy behind well constructed pens.
These areas have little of value or note. The
houses on these areas are one room affairs
suitable for peasant life only.
Area 2: Councilman’s House
This house has no farmland attached in its
fenced in area. It is larger than the other
houses in the area and appears well appointed.
A small signpost outside the house reads
“Councilman Herbrook: all traveling merchants
please register within.”
The front door swings wide on a broken hinge.
This house was the home of Councilman
Herbrook, apparently an official in charge of
keeping track of merchants traveling through Kilm.
The interior of the house is a shambles and
appears to have been recently ransacked.
A Search DC 25 will turn up a ledger from
underneath a rotted out floorboard. The ledger has
names and dates of merchants who arrived in
Kilm, whether they were buying or selling, and
what goods they moved. Every entry with the
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 9
exception of the following two is in regards to
livestock or crops.
“Arrived; Gillen of Mill Creek. Delivered two
crates with the Keoish crest to the Happy
Hooligan.”
“Arrived; Adrienne of Mill Creek. Delivered four
crates with the Keoish crest to the Happy
Hooligan.”
A Knowledge (Metaregion 1/Sheldomar Valley)
DC 15 will tell the heroes that the Mill Creek
Barony of Keoland is largely a hunting reserve but
that there have been rumors through the past year
of political strife in the region. Several powerful
Neheli families take sport there yearly and the
Baron is a strong supporter of King Kimbertos.
Area 3: The Happy Hooligan
Use DM AID 2 for the cellar of this area.
The squares numbered 1 2 and 3 are the three
Marrusaults, the square numbered 4 is the
Marrutact.
The burned-out remains of a large tavern
reside on what passes for the main road
through
Kilm.
A
well-preserved
signpost
declaring this to be The Happy Hooligan
stands within sight of a pried open set of
doors leading underground into what appears
to be a cellar.
If the heroes enter the cellar:
This cellar is very large, appearing to take up
the entire footprint of the space the tavern
used to occupy above it. In contrast to the
above ruins, the cellar is well preserved, with
high ceilings. Closed casks and sealed boxes
create a series of dim passages through the
cellar.
Have the heroes make Listen DC 15 checks.
Success indicates that they hear the following.
A muffled groan echoes from somewhere in
the cellar. A rattle of chains accompanies it,
followed by a burst of maniacal laughter.
Once the heroes reach the indicated area of the
map, they must make opposed Hide and Move
Silently checks against the occupants of the
cellar. In this manner the heroes may move to
within thirty feet of the Marru. Once the heroes are
within thirty feet, the Marru’s Discriminating
Hearing comes into effect, and the heroes will be
detected unless they use magical means to
silence themselves.
If the heroes are detected by the Marru, the Marru
will let them come a bit further in an attempt to
draw them into a trap. Read the following.
Against the cellar wall you see the source of
the noise. A pair of men are suspended from a
roof beam by long chains. Each man shows
signs of being beaten and both are slumped
down as far as their chains permit. Standing
near the men are several of the Marru.
If the heroes manage to somehow completely
catch the Marru unawares, read the following.
Against the cellar wall you see the source of
the noise. A pair of men are suspended from a
roof beam by long chains. Each man shows
signs of being beaten and both are slumped
down as far as their chains permit. A group of
Marru are standing with their backs to you,
periodically delivering punches and kicks to
the men and laughing lightly to themselves.
APL 8 (EL 11)
Marrusaults (3), Hexar, Nekkef, Suile, hp 62,
See Appendix 1
Marrutact, Lorien, hp 58, see Appendix 1
APL 10 (EL 13)
Marrusaults (3), Hexar, Nekkef, Suile,
Fighter 2, hp 85, See Appendix 2
Marrutact, Lorien, hp 80, see Appendix 2.
APL 12 (EL 15)
Marrusaults (3), Hexar, Nekkef, Suile,
Fighter 4, hp 103, See Appendix 3
Marrutact, Lorien, hp 90, see Appendix 3..
Tactics:
If
the
heroes
are
detected,
the
Marrusaults will attempt to spread out and shield
the Marrutact behind them so that he can cast
spells offensively.
If the heroes are undetected, the Marru will simply
attempt to focus their attention on any hero that
they might be able to kill with combined attacks
and creative flanking.
After the encounter, the heroes will have a chance
to interact with the captives and search the cellar if
they so desire.
One of the two men is dead, victim to dehydration
and torture. The other man is on the verge of
breaking under the stress his captors have placed
upon him. Wild eyed and dirty, he appears to be of
the mixed Oerdian stock common to the region. A
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 10
Spot DC 15 will reveal that the man’s skin is a
horrible tapestry of burns, scars and bruises of
varying ages. This prisoner has been being
tortured for a very long period of time.
The man rants and raves whenever someone
comes close, straining weakly against the chains
that bind him. The keys to the locks on the chains
are nowhere to be found, but the lock may be
picked with an Open Lock DC 20.
If a hero performs a Heal DC 20 or any level of
magical (hp) healing, the man will come to his
senses and thank the heroes profusely for their
assistance. He will then straighten himself up and
introduce himself as Lord Garson Elgarin, son of
Countess Allita Elgarin of Flen.
Lord Garsin Elgarin
In the year CY588, after the razing of Kilm, Lord
Garsin led an expedition into the Jotuns with the
goal of determining the source of the recent (at the
time) raids on the county of Flen. Unfortunately for
Lord Garsin, he found exactly what he was looking
for. Literally stumbling across an uncharted series
of valleys, he and his expedition were the first
Keoish to encounter the Marru.
The expedition was rapidly attacked and mostly
destroyed. Lord Elgarin and several of his
surviving men attempted to flee but were captured
after several days of dogged pursuit. Not wanting
to call attention to his noble rank, Lord Garsin
divested himself of all his accoutrements that
spoke of him as the scion of a powerful house.
One of his loyal men-at-arms, who was soon to die
with a festering wound, agreed to don Lord
Garsin’s clothes, so that should the group be
captured they would not realize the real Garsin’s
importance.
As they feared, the group was eventually captured
and most of the men were killed, including the fake
Lord Garsin.
Back in Keoland, the Countess Elgarin was
distraught over the loss of her son. In her grief,
she turned to magical augury in an attempt to
determine the fate of the expedition. Seeking only
the best aid available, she sent a missive to the
Silent Tower in an attempt to enlist the aid of the
Silent
Ones.
When
her
message
went
unanswered the Countess Elgarin turned to other
nobility, and eventually found herself requesting
the assistance of one of Keoland’s most powerful
practitioners of magic Count Orloc.
Count Orloc’s divination was easily able to locate
the focus of his search, the enchanted blade that
Lord Garsin took great personal pride in. This
greatsword, known as Irid Iriun (“Foul Temper” in
Oerdian), was located by Orloc near the fallen
body of Garsin’s man-at-arms. When informed of
her
son’s
fate
the
Countess
Elgarin was
inconsolable and refused to believe the evidence
presented. Despite her efforts to the contrary,
rumors of Lord Garsin’s demise filtered through
the realm’s nobility.
Lord Garsin’s life in the intervening years has
been anything but pleasant. The Marru who lived
in the valleys of the Jotuns used captive humans
as slaves, and such was Garsin’s fate. Lord
Garsin spent the next nine years being slowly
worked to death in the Marru’s iron mines.
The Marru, being the product of magical
experimentation and breeding themselves, quickly
saw the way the captive humans in the iron mines
were drawn to Lord Garsin’s demeanor and
bearing. Despite his hardships, he managed to
keep a good many people alive through his simple
refusal to let his hope die. Using magical
divinations of their own, the Marru determined the
truth of Lord Garsin’s heritage and earmarked him
and several others for their grand design.
Secretly, Lord Garsin was attempting to organize a
great breakout from the Marru’s Iron Mines. The
slave population was growing, and most of the
slaves looked to Lord Garsin as a leader. After
several years of careful planning, the slaves
revolted and attempted to escape. Unfortunately,
the slave plans were well known by the Marru, and
the revolt was squashed mercilessly. After that,
Lord Garsin was brought to Kilm, where he now
crosses paths with the heroes.
Interacting with Lord Garsin Elgarin
If Lord Garsin is brought to a sensate state, he will
quickly plead for the heroes to release him, seeing
that they have defeated his captors. He knows that
he is in Kilm, and that means his family’s holdings
are in great danger. Some basic interactions are
listed below. In some cases, a DC is listed after
Garsin’s text. This is the DC for a Knowledge
(Sheldomar/Metaregion One) check to confirm
that it is truth. Entries without a listed DC cannot
be verified as true or false through this manner.
“Who are you?”
“Although I know I don’t look it, I am Lord
Garsin Elgarin. I am the son of Countess Allita
Elgarin of Flen.”
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
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(DC15: The Countess of Flen did have a son
named Garsin who went missing almost ten years
ago.)
“How did you come to be here?”
“In CY588 this town, the town of Kilm, was a
successful hobniz village. The town was razed
by creatures that we tracked to the Jotens. I
led an expedition to attempt to find and enact
revenge
against
these
attackers.
Unfortunately, I found them.”
(DC10: Several failed expeditions to the Jotuns
attempted to curtail humanoid raiding. The
stabilization of Sterich has helped this cause but
not eradicated the problem entirely)
“You have been captive for almost ten years?”
“Yes, much to my hatred. My men and I were
ambushed after we discovered several valleys
in the Jotens that these creatures called home.
We fought and tried to escape but we were
caught or killed. They imprisoned the rest of
us, forcing us to work in the iron mines the
creatures used. I tried to lead an escape
attempt, but we were brought low by a traitor
in the slave pens. After the revolt was put
down, I was brought here. I have been here for
about a month or so now I would wager.”
“Who is this man?”
“This is Gregor, the last survivor of my original
expedition. He attempted to escape with me.
“Do you know where the Marru make their home
in the Jotens?”
“I know exactly where their valleys are.
Assuming you gave me a map; I could lead
you there or give directions to another.”
“Did the Marru know who you are?”
“No, the Marru do not know who I am, other
than the leader of the revolt. When we were
about to be captured a man of mine who was
mortally wounded offered to switch clothes
with me so that I could not be identified as
nobleborn.”
“Why are you here? How do you know where you
are?”
“After the Marru crushed our revolt, they
brought some of us here. I know this area of
Flen well, and though it has changed through
the years it is unmistakable to me. I have
longed to see it nearly every day for the last
ten years.”
“Is there anything you can tell us about the Marru
of this town? Do you know anything about the
(crèche)?”
“I know that some important Marru come and
go from the…crèche, did you call it? I also
know that recently the Marru have begun
consorting with other folk from the Jotens,
giants and the like. A few days ago some giant
procession came through, all dressed in the
finest of fancy jewels. Their footsteps shook
the ground like thunder. Gregor and I were
brought before them for some reason, though I
don’t understand a word of what was being
said. The giants seemed to be on good terms
with the Marru. I didn’t see any unease in
either group.
As for that building…I don’t know anything
about it other than that they put some other
strange Marru in charge of it. In ten years he’s
the only one I’ve met who could speak with
me.”
“Can you describe that Marru?”
“Well he is shorter than the real big ones, but
bigger than these or the ones who wear the
fancy regalia. Wears a suit of Full Plate like he
was born to it and his face looks a bit different.
Most of these look like jackals or hyenas. He
seemed more like one of my uncle’s hunting
hounds.
(Tell the heroes that this fits the description of
Gustavren, should they ask)
Garsin is polite and humble to the heroes,
thanking them profusely for ending his suffering.
Once talk turns to what to do with him, Garsin will
speak again.
“Give me a few minutes to scrounge some of
these weapons and I’ll fight with you if you
desire. Unless you have the means to get me
out of here magically and back to Flen, I’m
coming with you. These Marru are going to
find out what it feels like to have a true son of
Keoland owe them something.”
The heroes are free to do with Garsin what they
please, and they have several options. If they
wish, he will accompany them. Garsin will be
window dressing for any fights that occur,
providing no useful help.
Alternately the heroes can send Garsin away. If
they have some from of magical transportation he
will gladly accept it. If a hero gives Garsin the
stone that was given to them by the Wyrd, he will
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
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use that to teleport to Flen. Unless that hero has
another way to magically leave Kilm at the end of
this adventure they will earn the AR item Behind
the Front.
The Garsin Dilemma – Is he an impostor?
Heroes
who
have
adventured
in
Keoland
frequently will know that several years ago Lord
Garsin was freed from captivity by several
prominent adventurers – some of the adventurers
may even be directly present. These heroes will
undoubtedly know that this scenario has played
out in a similar fashion in the past and will want to
determine who exactly Lord Garsin is.
Any hero, who asks or tells Garsin about this
previous encounter, including meeting him in the
past, will be met with an incredulous stare and
disbelief. Lord Garsin will claim to have been
captive for this entire duration and never to have
met the heroes before. Any magic used to
determine truth will yield that Garsin is telling the
truth,
leaving
some
potentially
interesting
questions for Keoland’s future. Is Garsin insane?
Is there someone or something out there
masquerading as Lord Garsin? If so, what
damage has it done to the Kingdom? These are
questions with answers for another day. Right now
the heroes have only the immediate options of
how to deal with Lord Garsin in front of them.
If, after all this, the heroes search the basement
they will find several broken crates. With a Search
DC 25 they will find that one of the broken crates
has what appears to be a family crest on it. The
crest is the Keoish lion set on a red and green
diagonal field.
A Knowledge (Sheldomar/Metaregion One) DC
15 will tell the hero that this is the family crest of
the Syn’Andolyn family, rulers of the Earldom of
Gand.
A second Search DC 35 will turn up a simple
wooden spoon half buried in the dirt floor under
the broken crates. This spoon is a myrlund’s
spoon, and will also be found if any hero casts
detect magic while in the cellar.
Area 4: The Crèche
The area around the crèche itself is a swept-clean
remnant of the town of Kilm. It is obvious that
several
structures
were
torn
down
to
accommodate the creation of the crèche.
The crèche itself is a very large structure which
occupies a disproportionate amount of what used
to be the center of Kilm. The crèche has four
gently sloping sides that come to a point some
sixty feet above the ground. The walls are made of
what appears to be a single sheet of stone, and
the edges are the only parts that show any sign of
being worked with tools.
A Knowledge: (Architecture and Engineering)
DC 30 will find only the tiniest of imperfections in
the three sides without doors, these likely made
from exposure to the elements.
Any dwarven heroes can make a stonecunning
check against DC 10. Success indicates that the
hero knows that this architecture matches against
several dwarven styles, all of which have fallen out
of favor as being inherently unstable. The stone
itself is a type of bedrock found only in mountain
ranges that abut deserts. It is very resistant to
heat, reflecting the sun’s warmth and leaving the
interior cooled.
When the heroes look for an entrance:
Three sides of the building bear no visible
means of entry. The fourth has a pair of very
tall double doors. The doors extend at least
thirty feet up the crèche’s height.
The doors themselves are unlocked, untrapped,
and unguarded. There are many tracks going into
and out of the doors, too many to make any real
sense of.
Magical
transportation
into
the
crèche
is
impossible because the crèche is not strictly part
of the prime material plane. The Marru crèche
located in Kilm was created in such a manner that
it is coterminus with the Elemental Plane of Earth.
The door itself radiates conjuration (teleportation)
magic.
A hero who casts detect magic may make a
Knowledge (Planes) DC 35. Success indicates
that the hero knows the following information.
1. The crèche itself is not entirely part of the Prime
Material
Plane.
It
appears
to
be
partially
coterminus with the Elemental Plane of Earth. The
most likely reason for creating something in this
manner is to prevent magical transport or
divination into.
2.
The
door
itself
may
be
destroyed or
permanently barred. If that occurs, it should be
impossible to ever enter or leave the crèche again,
barring divine intervention.
3. The doors cannot be destroyed by simple brute
force. The assistance of some form of powerful
extraplanar creature will be necessary.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 13
The heroes would have to use extraordinary
measures in order to permanently destroy the
doors. Any such attempt must include an
extraplanar being with either the earth or air
subtypes and that being must have at least 14 HD.
If the heroes are capable of controlling such a
being and wish to destroy the doors, award them
full
XP
for
the
adventure
and
move
to
Conclusion: Destroying the Creche Doors.
If the heroes attempt to open the doors, or search
it, read the following.
As you close to within a few feet of the doors,
you feel the earth beneath your feet shudder
slightly, almost as if it were your skin crawling
in disgust. When the shuddering is finished
after a few seconds, you can see that the
crèche has grown in height by about a foot. A
fine layer of grey dust floats away from the
base of the crèche.
The heroes should now realize that unless they
find a way to do some serious damage to the
crèche, that it will continue to get larger.
Eventually the heroes will need to open the door.
Without sound, the tall doors swing wide,
revealing a cool stone passage covered with a
fine layer of sand. The passage quickly
descends into total darkness.
From here on, the crèche is considered to be dark.
Heroes must provide their own light sources.
Since is it important for the heroes to not
necessarily know what is going on outside of their
sight range inside the crèche, you should make
sure to keep track of the light each character
carries or can see in.
ENCOUNTER 3: THE
STALKYARD
The interior of the crèche is comprised of two
portions. The first is the Stalkyard, which is where
young marru are tested for their abilities and the
flawed are destroyed. The second is a school at
the far end of the Stalkyard where the marru
practice their foul magics and create more of their
kind.
The Stalkyard is a series of linked encounters that
shows the heroes what marru society is as well as
providing them with some challenges.
The interior of the crèche is large, easily the size
of a small town in itself, simply submerged
beneath kilm. It would be an incredibly tedious
affair to have the heroes attempt to search every
room and corridor, so there is a means to have the
heroes traverse the Stalkyard.
There is a pair of mandatory encounters in the
Stalkyard, followed by a series of optional
encounters. The number of optional encounters
each party faces will be determined off of the
highest wisdom modifier in the party.
Each party will face a number of optional
encounters equal to 4 minus the highest wisdom
modifier in the party. So a party where the highest
wisdom score is 14 would face 2 optional
encounters while a party where the highest
wisdom score is 18 would face 0 optional
encounters.
The optional encounters are designed to wear
away at the party’s resources a tiny bit, in order to
simulate the wear they suffer as they cross the
Stalkyard.
The Stalkyard itself resembles a worn down and
ancient city, abandoned to the ages. This is
primarily because the vast majority of the marru
are out attempting to conquer Keoland or
responding to the Keoish counterattack.
In describing the Stalkyard, attempt to give the
heroes the feeling that they are in the house of
someone who has just stepped away. Many areas
will have the signs of hastily abandoned work daily
activities.
Encounter 3A: The Welcoming Committee
(Mandatory)
Proceeding down the passageway, you hear
the sound of running water. The passage
opens up into a large room with several wells
spaced around it.
Trotting towards the entrance is a group of
heavily armed Marru. Seeing you, they appear
surprised, momentarily unsure of what to do.
APL 8 (EL 10)
Marrusaults (3), Hexar, Nekkef, Suile, hp 62,
See Appendix 1
Marrutact, Lorien, hp 58, see Appendix 1
APL 10 (EL 12)
Marrusaults (3), Hexar, Nekkef, Suile,
Fighter 2, hp 85, See Appendix 2
Marrutact, Lorien, hp 80, see Appendix 2.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 14
APL 12 (EL 14)
Marrusaults (3), Hexar, Nekkef, Suile,
Fighter 4, hp 103, See Appendix 3
Marrutact, Lorien, hp 90, see Appendix 3.
The heroes gain a surprise round in this combat.
The EL of this encounter has been adjusted by -1
to account for this.
There is no included map for this room as it is an
unremarkable area. Start the heroes and Marru
60’ apart form each other and let the fight begin.
The marru attack single-mindedly, attempting to
focus on heroes who look weak or easily defeated.
The marru will use their size advantage when
possible to threaten and kill spellcasters in the
rear ranks.
When the heroes are finished with the marru and
they prepare to look around:
Looking out from the well room, you see
several paths leading down into a stonework
maze. The maze spreads throughout a giant
bowl-shaped depression at least a mile across.
On the far side of the bowl you see a pale
green light emanating from a squat stone
building. Immediately ahead of you is a small
plaza.
Encounter
3B:
The
Marru
Oracle
(Mandatory)
Ahead of you the maze opens into a small
plaza. In the center of the plaza is a small
raised platform such as the ones street
performers beg for coins from in Niole Dra.
Seated on the platform is a Marru wearing long
white robes and cradling an ornate staff. From
your vantage you can see that the Marru’s face
and hands are wrapped entirely in white linen
bandages. The Marru turns towards you,
perhaps hearing your footsteps or picking up
your scent. He raises his hand and points at
you.
The Marru seated in the plaza is named Hralen,
and he is a curious sort of test for young Marru.
Hralen is a leper, which is commonly known
among the crèche. If a Marru contracts a disease
such as leprosy, they are considered an unfit
bloodline and killed. When the crèche went to
carry out this justice on Hralen, he started
spouting out prophesies of a great war and
cleansing, espousing the victory of the Marru.
Being a superstitious people, the Marru decided to
let Hralen live and support him. Exceptionally
daring Marru whisper their name in his ear, and he
is sometimes possessed with visions about their
life.
Hralen is a noncombatant and (except for the
danger of leprosy) completely non-threatening. If
Hralen suffers any damage at all, subdual or
lethal, he collapses and dies. “Heroes” should be
made to feel especially valiant about their defeat
of a sick and dying old Marru.
If the heroes attempt to talk to him, Hralen will
speak in common.
“A pleasure it truly is to listen to sounds other
than the Marrutongue and the sounds of the
Stalkyard. Who are you and why do you test
yourself here?”
Hralen is a crazy old Marru with a touch of
prophecy in him. He is an opportunity for the
heroes to interact a bit and get an insight or two
about Marru culture but other than that he is
largely unimportant. If this encounter drags on,
Hralen will simply roll over and fall asleep.
Below are some possible questions and answers
for Hralen.
“Who are you?”
“I am called Hralen, Jarleye of the Halfsun
bloodline. Last of my line I am.”
“What are you doing here?”
“The Marru of the Sunstrong crèche keep me. I
am a prophet, a curiousity.”
“How did you get here? Why can you speak
Common?”
“It is uncommon for Marru to have what
humans
describe
as
wanderlust.
As
a
youngling, I had it in quantites to spare. Marru
who leave their crèche are branded outsiders
and should they ever return they are killed.”
“Why aren’t you dead then?”
“I was to be executed when I returned, and
indeed was on the path to the tablet when I
was seized with a fit of visions. The Returned
saw fit to grant me my life and now I sit in the
Stalkyard as a test for the young. They whisper
in my ear to see if I see anything about them,
and run before my sickness consumes them.”
“What sickness?”
“I am a leper.”
“The tablet?”
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 15
“That is where Marru go to die. I gather you are
here to breach the tower, the tablet is inside.”
“The Returned? Who is that?”
“He is the master of the tower. For untold
years we Marru have lived in hidden valleys in
the Jotens, away from prying eyes. Several
years ago a powerful figure found us and
began to cultivate my people’s hatred of the
outside world. Today they march under his
banner.”
Eventually the heroes should be done with Hralen.
If any hero is daring or foolish enough to come into
physical contact with Hralen, have them make a
Fortitude save DC 20. Failure yields the AR item
Leprosy!
Encounter 3C: Living Quarters (Optional)
The maze of passages eventually leads you to
a well traveled corridor. A door in one wall of
the passages lies broken off its hinges.
If the heroes choose not to investigate, they may
skip this encounter. If they enter, they are walking
into a typical marru dwelling.
The area behind the door is a chaos of life
gone awry. The area is obviously a living
quarter, with several beds along one wall and
the trappings of everyday life evident. A table
near the center of the room is broken into large
chunks, which then appear to have been
partially burned in a firepit. Broken pieces of
crockery and small bits of refuse lie strewn
about the room. It appears as though the
occupants left in a great hurry.
This living area was emptied when the marru were
forced to respond to the keoish counterattack.
Searching the area yields nothing of value.
Encounter 3D: Sandworm Pit (Optional)
As the heroes move through the crèche, they
come across a pit of juvenile sandworms.
The floor just ahead of you widens out,
resembling the top half of an hourglass. A
circular
pit
descends
into
darkness.
A
dilapidated rope bridge spans the pit, swaying
gently in a barely felt breeze. On the far side of
the pit you see a small unmoving form lying on
the ground. From the bottom of the pit you can
hear a gentle echoed hissing.
Crossing the pit is an exercise in skill checks,
magic, or ingenuity. A Balance DC 20 + APL will
get a traveling hero across. Flight or teleportation
will suffice as well, as will many other means of
transport. Heroes may attempt to help each other
across by steadying each end of the bridge,
adding a +2 circumstance bonus to the roll of the
person crossing (+4 maximum).
Failure to succeed on this balance check while
crossing the bridge means the hero starts to fall in.
a Reflex save DC 18 will allow the hero to catch
on to the bridge without falling. Failure on the
reflex save means the hero falls in, suffering 2d6
falling damage and landing among several hungry
juvenile sandworms.
A hero in the pit may then climb out of the pit
without needing any rolls, but suffers 10 damage
as the juvenile sandworms bite them mercilessly.
If any form of area damage more than 20 points is
thrown into the pit, the sandworms will die.
The form on the far side of the bridge is a dead
marru. The cause of death is obvious, as it is
missing both its legs, with a bloody smear trailing
down into the sandworm pit.
Any hero with the Desert Dissection AR item will
note that this marru appears to be rather immature
and oddly formed. Its arms appear to be too long
for its body, and its face is misshapen.
Encounter 3E: The “University” (optional)
This corridor opens into a large amphitheatre.
The bowl shaped structure is empty but for
tiered rings of seats looking down on a central
podium. Among the seats you can see stacks
of parchment and bound books.
The amphitheatre appears capable of seating 100
or more comfortably, and upon entering it
becomes apparent that the acoustics are perfect
for hearing whoever stands at the podium.
The books are all written in marru, and can only be
truly translated with the use of magic. Other
means of transcription will simply require too much
time. A Spot DC 20 (or specifically asking) will
note that the glyphs on the books appear to be the
same, indicating some advanced form of copying
them.
There is nothing else of value in the area.
Encounter 3F: The Corridor Trap (optional)
This corridor demonstrates the ingenuity of the
Marru in setting a trap.
The corridor widens in front of you as it
approaches a set of iron doors in the distance.
The floor becomes cut marble of the highest
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 16
quality. Ten feet in front of you the marble is
stained a horrid shade of brown that very
much resembles dried blood.
A pair of marrulurks are watching the heroes from
covered alcoves high in the wall. As the heroes
make the obvious choice of searching the area for
traps, the marru begin studying whatever hero
searches the area. Any search checks the hero
make, make them for the hero and tell them that
they find no evidence of a trap.
If the hero searches for three rounds, the
marrulurks will fire a single volley from hiding and
then retreat through the back of their alcoves and
disappear.
The marrulurks are NOT using their death attack
as listed in their appendix entry, they are simply
attempting to inflict damage and then flee.
The targeted hero will receive ranged attacks at
the listed values per APL. Mechanically, this is
listed as a trap for ease of bookkeeping.
APL 8 (EL 5)
(2) Atk +12 ranged (1d8 plus poison, arrow);
poison (Large monstrous scorpion venom, DC
14 Fortitude save resists, 1d4 Con/1d4 Con);
APL 10 (EL 7)
(2) Atk +15 ranged (1d8 plus poison, arrow);
poison (Large monstrous scorpion venom, DC
15 Fortitude save resists, 1d4 Con/1d4 Con).
APL 12 (EL 9)
(2) Atk +18 ranged (1d8 plus poison, arrow);
poison (Large monstrous scorpion venom, DC
16 Fortitude save resists, 1d4 Con/1d4 Con).
ENCOUNTER 4: THE
ARCANICA
The Arcanica is detailed in DM AID 4.
After the heroes have moved through the
Stalkyard and gained some insight into marru
ecology, they eventually will reach the Arcanica,
which is where the magically inclined marru are
taught.
All doors in the Arcanica swing closed
automatically unless propped open.
Area 1: Entry Hall
Finally, the strange maze ends as you
approach a large pair of iron doors set into a
squat structure built into the wall. The doors
are decorated with images of robed marru with
twisted staves, each performing acts of magic.
The doors themselves radiate a sickly green
glow.
The doors are untrapped and unlocked. When a
hero opens the door:
Inside the doors you see a large entry hall.
Small doors sit in the east and west walls, an
ornate set of double doors seals the north wall.
Area 2: Materials Storage
This room is a jumble of tables and shelves.
The former are piled high with boxes and
crates, the latter with jars and vials. A fine
layer of dust covers most of the materials,
indicating that these rooms do not see
frequent use.
Area 3: Library and Alchemy Laboratory
This room is filled wall to ceiling with
bookshelves. Set throughout the room are
long marble tables, each covered with beakers
and vials. A complex arrangement of tubes
runs from the beakers to copper pipes which
in turn run to the ceiling. A foul odor lingers in
the air near the tables.
At a central lectern in the room sits an open
book. In the north wall a single black iron door
sits sealed.
Any hero with an alchemy related skill will
recognize this setup as a complicated distillery of
unknown liquids. The pipes run into the ceiling,
then into the beakers, and then back into the
ceiling.
Any hero who reads the book may read Player
Handout 4.
The filled vials in the room are examples of the
Marru zymes. Any hero foolish enough to attempt
to drink one is wracked with nausea for a minute
as their body fights the concoction. Until they are
analyzed and examined they cannot be properly
used.
Finally, among the materials are six potion vials
each marked with a common rune for “healing”.
They are each a potion of cure serious wounds.
Area 4: Milo and the Machine
This room is entirely given over to two eye
catching sights. The first is a large machine
crafted of burnished brass. Chained to the
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 17
machine are nearly a dozen men, each in
various stages of decrepitude. The second is a
large basalt slab set before the machine. On
the slab lies an unconscious man.
Complex tubes and wires fill the room. Each
man chained to the machine has several tubes
running into their arms which then feed into
copper piping overhead. Hanging from the
ceiling over the unconscious man on the slab
is a dizzying array of syringes, each filled with
a different colored fluid. A large tome sits open
on a small end table.
A simple wooden door sits closed on the
eastern wall.
Anyone reading the tome may read Player
Handout 5.
The machine in the room is, again, clearly
recognizable
as
a
sophisticated
alchemy
apparatus. The men strapped to the machine are
all of mixed oerdian stock and wear simple
clothes, appearing to be natives to the area.
A Search DC 25 will reveal that several of the
men have painful looking deformities, all similar in
that they resemble pieces of a marru attached to a
normal man. One has sharp incisors; one has
knees that are bent backwards, et cetera.
Several of the men are dead, and the survivors
are on death’s door. No amount of healing,
magical or otherwise, can save them.
The man on the basalt slab is a different case.
When a hero examines him:
The man on the slab appears healthy except
for some fading bruises. If it were not for his
location, he might be taken as being asleep. As
you watch, a deep inhalation shakes his body.
His features are primarily oerdian and he has
long dark hair that has been bound into a
braid. Examining more closely, you see a
horrifying sight.
Starting on the sides of his neck, running
down over his chest and then continuing down
the sides of his legs the man has a series of
holes that have been punched in his skin. The
horrifying aspect is that threaded through each
hole is a fine golden thread coated in just the
barest hint of the man’s blood. Having seen
your share of wounds, you quickly recognize
what has happened to the pour soul on the
slab.
He’s been stitched back together.
Most Contrite Ironclad Mauler Milo Astra,
Knight of the Watch
Heroes who have been adventuring in Keoland for
many years may recognize the man on the slab as
Milo Astra. Any hero who participated in KEO3-03
Will of the People will immediately recognize him.
Milo perpetrated an attempt on the Earl of Linth’s
life in an effort to cause a civil war which would
topple the Linth house and prevent an ancient
prophecy from coming true. He was slain by the
Earl’s guards, a group of hired adventurers.
Afterwards, his body was secretly taken away to
the Linth manor house, where it was stuffed and
mounted as a personal trophy. After the events of
KEO4-05 A Last Dance at Midnight, Milo’s body
was recovered and he was resurrected by the
Knights of the Watch and returned to duty.
Milo served as a bridge in the gap between the
largely suel order and the oerdian people it
protects. When the troubles began on the western
border, Milo asked for and received permission to
travel and offer assistance. Unfortunately for Milo,
he was overwhelmed by a Marru patrol and
brought to the crèche.
Milo radiates a strong aura of conjuration (healing)
at all times.
If any hero touches Milo (making a heal check is
considered automatically touching him), he will
awaken and speak.
Suddenly roused, the man on the slab pulls
away from your hands, rolling to a fighting
crouch. His eyes cast about for a weapon. In
the light of the chamber you can see the blood
that runs on the thread that binds him begin to
move faster.
“Who are you? Where am I?”
If any hero wants to kill Milo he may be struck
down without a fight. He is unarmed, unarmored,
and the victim of countless experiments.
If
the
heroes
talk
to
Milo,
the
following
conversations are possible.
“Who are you?”
“I am Most Contrite Ironclad Mauler Milo Astra,
Knight of the Watch.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I am a captive, I came west to aid with the
upheaval in the Good Hills, but these creatures
ambushed
me
and
I
was
knocked
unconscious.”
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 18
“What happened here?”
“I
don’t
know,
really.
I
remember…..a
little….just ah, no. Hmm, I don’t want to talk
about it.”
At this point Milo isn’t of much use to the heroes.
He is unarmed and armored, but he will ask the
heroes to allow him to accompany them. If they
offer the use of the Wyrd’s magic he will decline,
just asking for an escort out of the crèche.
Other than Milo and the Machine, there is nothing
else of value in the room. When the heroes move
through the eastern door, proceed to encounter
five.
ENCOUNTER 5: THE SEED
OF THE NEW FLESH
Opening the eastern door, you are greeted with
an odd sight considering the room it adjoins. A
simple study complete with a writing desk and
moderately sized table awaits you. A pair of
statues depicting fierce marru warriors are the
only notable décor.
Seated at the table are a pair of forms. One you
recognize as a particular man with a hound’s
head, the other is much stranger. Wearing
robes the color of a magnificent sunset, the
second figure’s face is completely obscured
behind a shifting riot of colors.
Seeing you enter, the two turn to you. The
voice that comes from the robed figure sounds
as though it is a combination of a dozen
people.
“I’ve been awaiting your arrival eagerly,
extarasi. Won’t you sit?”
The heroes may choose to launch themselves into
immediate action. If they do so and attack,
proceed to the combat below.
If the heroes choose to sit, or at least to speak to
the figure without attacking, he will continue.
“I’ve brought you here today to show you my
might. I am known by many names, but the one
that suits me best at this juncture is The
Returned. For lack of a more discerning title, I
am Keoland’s new Emperor.
You see, the empire as you know it has
become weak and toothless, subject to the
whims of its vassal states. Quite simply, this
angers me and this angers my deity, whom has
charged me with correcting this injustice.
Your king is a reluctant one, barely above a
commoner’s blood, and he has proven himself
to be a remarkable statement on the proof that
virtue is not hereditary but that madness runs
in families.
It is my hand on the rudder that moves the
marru and many others, and it took much
doing to bring you here. Even now the Royal
Standards who assaulted Godakin Keep are
being hunted down in the hills. Today shall be
remembered as a dark day for such a noble
fighting force, squandered by those who do
not know any better. I, however, know how to
use my resources.
Resources like the stitched man with you. In a
fortnight he will be my creature in soul as he is
in body, and he will become a fine general for
my armies.
This is the same offer I extend to you.”
Milo yells out, “I shall never be your creature,
servant of a bad master!”
The figure reaches out its hand, gesturing at
you.
“I have searched you out because you are
some of Keoland’s most valuable weapons.
The Lion Throne will simply misuse you as
they have misused so many others. I will not
underestimate you as they will.
Become the generals of my army as the
stitched one will. Keoland deserves to be a
realm of tolerance between its inhabitants, a
realm where those who have different blood
are not simply shucked off to work in labor
camps near a pitiless swamp.
There will be shed blood, and not all of it will
be the guilty’s, but at the end of this
insurrection, Keoland will no longer be the
laughingstock of the world.
Sadly, I must press you for an answer.”
The heroes are being offered a terrible bargain. If
any hero accepts, make sure they understand that
this will mean the removal of their character form
the campaign. They receive the AR item Extarasi.
Once the heroes dither, refuse, or attack the
following occurs.
“A waste. Reconsider your choice as you await
my returning you to this world. Death, you will
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 19
see, is no bar to entering my service.” With
that the robed man simply disappears.
Gustavren shudders uncontrollably, his eyes
changing colors from flat black to a fiery red
and then back again. He whispers in a horrible
voice as he draws a greatsword coated in ice
from a sheathe.
“You are too late! I must obey!”
APL 8 (EL 11)
Gustavren the Packmaster, Male Outsider
Ftr7: hp 130; see Appendix 1
APL 10 (EL 13)
Gustavren the Packmaster, Male Outsider
Ftr9: hp 150; see Appendix 2
APL 12 (EL 15)
Gustavren the Packmaster, Male Outsider
Ftr11: hp 170; see Appendix 3
There are three primary ways of dealing with
Gustavren. The heroes can kill him, they can run
from him, or they can attempt to break through
whatever control The Returned obviously has over
him.
Killing Gustavren:
Simple as it is to say, it is not so simple to do.
Gustavren fights to the death, unlike his previous
run-ins with the heroes. This fight is the ultimate
test of the heroes’ resources, because any time
Gustavren is wounded below 50% total hit points
he will use the next opportunity to separate from
the heroes via teleport to a hidden cache of
potions in order to heal himself and return. For
every 20 hp of damage he must heal, Gustavren
will be gone for one round. Gustavren has enough
potions stocked to heal himself a total of hit points
equal to his maximum, depending on the APL.
Gustavren’s teleport is a supernatural ability, so it
does not provoke an attack of opportunity and
does not require concentration checks.
When he returns, Gustavren will teleport to a point
that he can see when he left that will not allow any
of the heroes to get him in an unduly unfavorable
situation. He will then resume crushing heroes one
by one while muttering various things.
Fleeing from Gustavren:
This combat has a high probability to send the
heroes fleeing. If it does, use normal movement
speed until the heroes reach the Stalkyard. Once
they reach the Stalkyard it will take them a number
of minutes equal to double the amount of
encounters they had to cross it in reverse.
(minimum four minutes) If the heroes have some
way to avoid getting lost (find the path, etc) the
time required to cross is halved.
For every minute required to cross the Stalkyard,
Gustavren will attack them once by teleporting in.
Draw a map to your liking but always ensure that
the area is cramped (no wider than 10’).
Gustavren will pick the terrain carefully for his
return.
Breaking The Returned’s Control
Fighting Gustavren is an important piece of a
future puzzle because it hints to the heroes that
The Returned has some form of powerful mind
control as a tool. Why this is important, what this
mind control is, and where The Returned obtained
it will become a plot point in a future adventure.
Since this is the first hint that the Hound Archon is
potentially controlled against his will, it is important
that you make it visible to the players that
Gustavren is fighting for control and that he is
conflicted.
In
the
round-by-round
encounter
scenario detailed below, there are some things
that Gustavren will say in order to make this
apparent.
The primary means of breaking the mind control
must be through roleplaying, assisted with a
diplomacy mechanic. Perceptive heroes may try to
break Gustavren’s state with the use of dispel
magic or greater dispel. Unfortunately for the hero,
the
source
of
the
magic
is
of
nearly
incomprehensible power, and such efforts will be
unsuccessful. Any hero who casts a dispel-type
spell will immediately know that the magic is
beyond their ability to simply lift.
Any hero may attempt to make a Diplomacy DC
18 + APL. Success indicates that Gustavren
openly hesitates, his sword wavering while he
fights for control.
In order for this effect to last however, the heroes
must roleplay their attempt to reach through to
Gustavren. Several themes are good ways for the
heroes to resonate empathy from Gustavren.
•
Chivalry. As an Archon, Gustavren used
to be a paragon of chivalric thought.
Appealing to his desire to return to that
path is a good way into his psyche.
•
Duty. Hound Archons in particular are
creatures that are duty bound. Appealing
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 20
to Gustavren’s ingrained sense of duty is
also a good path into his head.
•
Mercy. This is particularly useful if the
heroes are still wounded or obviously
outmatched. Hounds love sport, and there
is no sport in killing weaker enemies.
After the heroes make the initial successful
diplomacy check, they must then follow it up with
two more of increasing difficulty while also
continuing to roleplay their attempt.
The second Diplomacy check is DC 23 + APL.
The third is DC 28 + APL. During this period,
Gustavren will not attack unless he is directly
attacked or a diplomacy check is failed.
If the heroes complete all three diplomacy checks,
read the following.
As quickly as the rage sets upon Gustavren, it
passes. His eyes become clear blue, and then
they roll up into his head as he slumps to the
ground, unconscious.”
Award full XP for the encounter.
Round 1: Full Attack a weak looking hero if
possible. If not, teleport to area 3 and ready an
action to attack anyone opening the door.
Gustavren yells the following:
“Impure thoughts lead to profane actions! I am
unclean!”
Round 2: If still in an advantageous position
(getting a full attack on one hero while not facing
the full brunt of the heroes’ attacks) or if a hero is
potentially killable, press the attack. If wounded,
teleport to the cache and begin healing.
Yell the following:
“I am not some simple jester! I am Gustavren
the packmaster!”
Round 3: If not in need of healing but positioning
is becoming bad, teleport to area 5 or area 1 in
order to flank and attack a weak looking hero.
Gustavren yells the following:
“I want this nightmare to be over!”
Killing a Hero:
Gustavren will yell the following when he kills a
hero, one at a time.
“Back to the cold dark with you!”
“Your reach exceeds your grasp!”
“You will show the proper respect!”
“Torment me no more!”
“I shall split your thoughts open!”
“I feel the hand of the unseen upon me!”
The goal when playing as Gustavren is to use hit-
and run tactics to wear the heroes down. It should
be almost impossible for the heroes to prevent you
from teleporting away, so you should take
advantage of your powers to whittle down a
superior force.
Whenever Gustavren teleports away to heal, you
should do your best to prevent metagaming by
falling out of initiative rotations and allowing the
heroes to act until they have taken enough actions
for Gustavren to return.
Every time Gustavren teleports out to heal, he will
yell one of the following when he returns.
“I’ll show you this beaten dog still has some
teeth!”
“I am reinvigorated. Are you?”
“How much more can you withstand?”
If the heroes get involved in a hit-and-run fight,
have Gustavren yell as he attacks. Use the
following as a guideline to instill some fear into the
heroes.
“I smell your fear!”
“There is no place to hide from one who tracks
across the cosmos!”
“Even if you get outside, where shall you run
to?”
In the event any heroes are killed or captured,
they are not permanently lost. They gain the AR
item A Mysterious Return.
ENCOUNTER 6: RETURN TO
NIOLE DRA
After defeating Gustavren the heroes will find that
the crèche is empty and they will need to return to
Niole Dra. Whatever manner they accomplish this
in is immaterial. When they return:
Upon your arrival in Niole Dra you are
immediately met by Count Orloc and the Wyrd.
Orloc looks even more haggard than usual
even the wyrd’s shoulders are stooped from
fatigue. All around the city has taken on the air
of
a
funeral
as
badly
wounded
Royal
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 21
Standards moan and thrash by the hundreds
on the cobblestones.
Orloc speaks.
“It was an ambush. Somehow they knew what
was planned and our teleport circles were
compromised. Many of our troops just never
arrived, and those that did and survived say
that something attacked them as they crossed
over. Until we know otherwise we have to
assume that our foe can somehow assault us
while we use teleportation magic. It is an
incalculable advantage.
What did you find? Were you successful?”
Allow the heroes to report whatever they wish, and
those heroes who have an additional objective to
report their success or failure. After all is said and
done, the day was a loss for Keoland.
CONCLUSION: SUCCESS
Your mission complete, you count yourselves
fortunate to have survived one of the worst
days in Keoish history. The news of the
counteroffensive is not good; less than one in
ten returned from Godakin Keep, and the use
of
teleportation
magics
appears
to
be
compromised.
Through this dark day, the light of hope
shines. Returned to the ranks of Keoland’s
finest warriors are one missing for ten years
and one renowned for his martial prowess.
Additionally, a wealth of knowledge about the
specifics of the Marru army has been brought
back.
The one who calls himself The Returned
accused the Lion Throne of hubris, but
perhaps today he has sealed his own fate by
failing to kill Keoland’s most powerful allies.
CONCLUSION: DESTROYING
THE CRECHE DOORS
It takes the enlistment of some powerful
extraplanar muscle, but the work goes quickly
enough once they arrive. The crèche doors
seem to attempt to resist the efforts to destroy
them but against your minions thereis no
respite.
It starts with a single squeal of tortured metal
and suddenly the top half of the doors fold and
bend over on each other. In an eyeblink the
doors are bent and mutilated. In a second
eyeblink the doors are reduced to the size of a
Keoish Sparrow and fall into the dust, leaving
a smooth blank slate of wall behind them.
Whatever is in the crèche is no longer within
Keoland.
The End
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up
the values for the objectives accomplished. Then
assign the experience award. Award the total
value (objectives plus roleplaying) to each
character.
Encounter 2
Rescue Elgarin.
APL 8: 330 xp.
APL 10: 390 xp.
APL 12: 450 xp.
Encounter 3
Defeat the Marru.
APL 8: 300 xp.
APL 10: 360 xp.
APL 12: 420 xp.
Encounter 5
Kill/Escape From/Redeem Gustavren.
APL 8: 330 xp.
APL 10: 390 xp.
APL 12: 450 xp.
Story Award
APL 8: 300 xp.
APL 10: 360 xp.
APL 12: 420 xp
Total possible experience
APL 8: 1,125 xp.
APL 10: 1,350 xp.
APL 12: 1,575 xp.
TREASURE SUMMARY
During
an
adventure,
characters
encounter
treasure, usually finding it in the possession of their
foes. Every encounter that features treasure has a
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 22
“treasure” section within the encounter description,
giving information about the loot, coins, and magic
items that make up the encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their
earthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at
least 10 minutes per every 5 enemies, and if the
characters cannot take the time to loot the bodies,
they do not gain this gold. If you feel it is
reasonable that characters can go back to loot the
bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e., not carted
off by dungeon scavengers, removed from the
scene by the local watch, and so on), characters
may return to retrieve loot. If the characters do not
loot the body, the gold piece value for the loot is
subtracted from the encounter totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A
normal adventuring party can usually gather this
wealth in a round or so. If for some reason, they
pass up this treasure, the coin total is subtracted
from the encounter totals given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item
treasure is the hardest to adjudicate, because they
are varied and because characters may want to use
them during the adventure. Many times characters
must cast identify, analyze dweomer or similar spell
to determine what the item does and how to
activate it. Other times they may attempt to use the
item blindly. If the magic item is consumable (a
potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the item is used
before the end of the adventure, its total is
subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for
unclaimed treasure from each encounter add it up
and that is the number of gold pieces a characters
total and coin value increase at the end of the
adventure. Write the total in the GP Gained field of
the adventure certificate. Because this is a
Regional
adventure,
characters
may
spend
additional Time Units to practice professions or
create items immediately after the adventure so this
total may be modified by other circumstances.
L = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems,
Jewelry, and other valuables; M = Magic Items.
Encounter 2:
APL 8: L: 4,900 gp, C: 2,500 gp, M: 3 +1
Great Falchions (3,450 ea), Headband of
Intellect +2 (4,000), Gloves of Arrow Snaring
(4,000) Cloak of Resistance +2 (4,000)
APL 10: L: 5,500 gp, C: 5,200 gp, M: 3 +1
Great Falchions (3,450 ea),Headband of
Intellect +2 (4,000), Gloves of Arrow Snaring
(4,000) Gauntlets of Ogre Power (4,000),
Cape of the Mountebank (10,080).
APL 12: L: 8,600 gp, C: 8,800 gp, M: 3 +1
Great Falchions (3,450 ea), Headband of
Intellect +2 (4,000), Gloves of Arrow Snaring
(4,000) gp), Gauntlets of Ogre Power (4,000),
Cape of the Mountebank (10,080) Stone Salve
(4,000), Staff of Fire (17,750).
Encounter 3:
APL 8: L: 4,900 gp, C: 2,500 gp, M: 3 +1
Great Falchions (3,450 ea),
APL 10: L: 5,500 gp, C: 5,200 gp, M: 3 +1
Great Falchions (3,450 ea),
APL 12: L: 8,600 gp, C: 8,800 gp, M: 3 +1
Great Falchions (3,450 ea), Gauntlets of Ogre
Power (4,000),
Encounter 5:
APL 8: L: 0 gp, C: 1 gp, M: Mithral Full Plate
+1, +1 Frost Greatsword
APL 10: L: 0 gp, C: 1 gp, M: Mithral Full Plate
+1, +1 Frost Greatsword
APL 12: L: 0 gp, C: 1 gp, M: Mithral Full Plate
+1, +1 Frost Greatsword, Belt of Giant
Strength +6
Total Possible Treasure (Maximum Reward
Allowed)
APL 8: L: 9,800 gp, C: 5,001 gp, M: X gp –
Total: (1,300 gp).
APL 10: L: 11,000 gp, C: 10,401 gp, M: X gp –
Total: (2,300 gp).
APL 12: L: 17,400 gp, C: 17,601 gp, M: X gp –
Total: (3,300 gp).
ITEMS FOR THE
ADVENTURE RECORD
Special
Leprosy!: Didn’t your mother teach you not to play
with rotting people wearing linen bandages? You
should have listened, because now you’re a leper.
If this remains uncured (cure disease at 7th lvl will
suffice) at the end of a scenario, you lose a small
but memorable piece of yourself. Each piece lost
gives you a cumulative -1 penalty to your
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 23
charisma. If cured, all lost charisma is restored
without further magic. Luckily for those around
you, you’re not further contagious.
Dark Knowledge: You have discovered the secret
behind the recent explosion of the numbers of
Marru. Don’t allow anyone to be captured by them.
Zyme Machine: You know what’s in that Zyme.
You can drink any Zyme you come across in your
future travels and they will have the listed effects.
Extarasi: Evil beckons! You have answered the
call of The Returned and accepted your place as
his destroying fist. Your character is removed from
the campaign and becomes property of the
Keoland Triad. Please send all pertinent character
information to [email protected]. Don’t
worry about telling your friends farewell, you will
be seeing them again when they bow at your feet.
A Mysterious Return: You were defeated by
Gustavren
the
Packmaster
in
a
stunning
showcase of the powers granted to him by The
Returned. However, when you next open your
eyes you are no longer in the crèche and that
horrible sword is no longer chopping you to
pieces. You have no explanation for this. Report
this AR item to every Keoland Regional adventure
you play until KEO8-06.
Item Access
APL 8 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6 plus the following):
•
Staff of Fire (Adventure; DMG)
•
Cape of the Mountebank (Adventure, DMG)
•
Mithral Full Plate +1 (Adventure, DMG)
•
Crystal
of
Adamant
Weaponry
(Lesser)
(Adventure; Magic Item Compendium)
•
Crystal of Energy Assault (Lesser, Cold)
(Adventure; Magic Item Compendium)
•
Crystal Echoblade (Adventure, Magic Item
Compendium)
•
Belt
of
Priestly
Might
(Kord/Hextor/Heironeous) (Adventure; Magic
Item Compendium)
APL 10 (all of APLS, 6, 8 plus the following):
•
Holy Surge Weapon Upgrade (Adventure;
Magic Item Compendium)
•
Fleshgrinding Weapon Upgrade (Adventure;
Magic Item Compendium)
•
Foxhide
Armor
(Adventure;
Magic
Item
Compendium)
•
Shield of Mercy (Adventure; Magic Item
Compendium)
•
Shattermantle Weapon Upgrade (Adventure;
Magic Item Compendium)
•
Rod of Surprises (Adventure; Magic Item
Compendium)
APL 12 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 plus the
following):
•
Amulet of Retributive Healing (Adventure;
Magic Item Compendium)
•
Angelhelm
(Adventure;
Magic
Item
Compendium)
•
Belt
of
Battle
(Adventure;
Magic
Item
Compendium)
•
Goggles of Foefinding (Adventure; Magic Item
Compendium)
•
Robe of Retaliation (Adventure; Magic Item
Compendium)
•
Rearguard’s Cape (Adventure; Magic Item
Compendium)
•
Spellmight Bracers (Adventure; Magic Item
Compendium)
•
Skirmisher Boots (Adventure; Magic Item
Compendium)
•
Transposer Cloak (Adventure; Magic Item
Compendium)
•
Vest of the Master Evoker (Adventure; Magic
Item Compendium)
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 24
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 25
APPENDIX 1 – APL 8
ENCOUNTER 2 AND ENCOUNTER 3
M AR R U S AUL T, F TR2
CR 7
NE Large monstrous humanoid
Init +1; Senses Listen +7, Spot +3
Languages Common, Marru
AC 23, touch 10, flat-footed 22
(+1 dex, +8 armor, +5 natural, -1 size)
hp 62 (8 HD)
Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5
Speed 20 ft. Full Plate (4 squares)
Melee Great Falchion +15/+10melee (1d12+10/15-20)
and bite +5 melee (1d8+5);
Ranged none
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +8; Grp +18
Atk Options Pounce, Howl of Defiance
Combat Gear Full Plate, Great Falchion +1, Gauntlets
of Ogre Power. SS Great Falchion – Sandstorm page
96-97
Abilities Str 20, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 14
SQ none
Feats Cleave, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Great
Falchion), Great Fortitude, Power Attack, Weapon
Focus (Great Falchion) Improved Critical (Great
Falchion).
Skills Listen + 7, Search +1, Spot +3
Possessions combat gear.
Howl of Defiance (Su): Once per day, a marrsault
can loose a terrifying howl as a free action. All
creatures except other marrusaults within 30 feet
must succeed on a DC15 Will save or become
fatigued. Those within 10 feet who fail their save
become exhausted. The save DC is Charisma-
based
Pounce (Ex): If a marrusault charges, it can make
a full attack, including its bite attack
Ferocity (Ex): A marrusault is such a tenacious
combatant that it continues to fight without penalty
even while disabled or dying
Marruspawn Traits
Discriminating Hearing (Ex): A marruspawn can
hear across great distances with ease, gaining a +4
racial bonus on Listen checks. A marruspawn’s
hearing is so sensitive that it can sense the presence
of most creatures merely by the sound of their
breathing, their heartbeat, or their movement if they
are within 30 feet.
When a marruspawn detects a noise, the exact
location of the source is not revealed – only it’s
presence
somewhere
within
that
range.
A
marruspawn can take a move action to note the
direction of the sound. Whenever a marruspawn
comes within 5 feet of the source, it can pinpoint the
sound’s location. Undead, constructs and other
creatures that have no metabolism are not subject to
being detected by discriminating hearing unless they
move – in any round when they move, they are
detected by the sound they make while moving
through the air or shuffling along the ground. Only
incorporeal creatures are completely undetectable,
unless they wish to be detected.
Resistance to Dessication (Ex): Centuries of life
in the waste afford marruspawn the ability to cope
with thirst and reduced fluid intake. A marruspawn
thus gains resistance to dessication damage 10.
Whenever a marruspawn is subject to magical
dessication damage, that damage is reduced by 10
before being applied to the marruspawn’s hit points
A marruspawn also takes no nonlethal or lethal
damage from failing Constitiution checks to avoid
becoming dehydrated, although it still might become
fatigued if it fails a check. If a marruspawn ever
becomes dehydrated, whether due to natural causes
or another effect (such as a spell), it needs to drink
only a mouthful of water to lose that condition. A
marruspawn also requires only half as much water in
a day as is normally required for a creature of its size.
Resistance to Fire (Ex): Bred to withstand magic
artillery, a marruspawn enjoys an inborn resistance to
fire 5
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A marruspawn can see
twice as far as humans in conditions of poor
illumination
Languages: Marru.
M ARRUTACT, W I Z2
CR 7
NE medium monstrous humanoid
Init +5; Senses Listen +10, Spot +0
Languages Common, Marru
AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 18
(+1 dex, +4 natural, +4 mage armor)
hp 58 (9 HD)
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +12
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee staff +8 melee (1d6)
Ranged none
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +6; Grp +15
Atk Options Pounce, Howl of Healing
Combat Gear Staff, Robes, headband of intellect +2
Abilities Str 11, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 16
SQ Spell Resistance 16
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative,
Scribe Scroll, Improved Toughness
Skills Concentration +13, Hide +13, Knowledge
(arcana) +16, Knowledge (history) +16, Knowledge
(geography) +16, Listen +10, Spellcraft +118,
Survival +6(+8 to avoid getting lost or avoid hazards)
Possessions combat gear.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 26
Howl of Healing (Su): Once per day, a marrutact
can loose a regenerative howl as a free action. All
marruspawn pledged to the howling marrutact within
30 feet heal 3d8+5 points of damage. Those within
10 feet heal an extra 1d8+1 points of damage.
Spells: A marrutact casts spells as a 5th level wizard
Marruspawn Traits
Discriminating Hearing (Ex): A marruspawn can
hear across great distances with ease, gaining a +4
racial bonus on Listen checks. A marruspawn’s
hearing is so sensitive that it can sense the presence
of most creatures merely by the sound of their
breathing, their heartbeat, or their movement if they
are within 30 feet.
When a marruspawn detects a noise, the exact
location of the source is not revealed – only it’s
presence
somewhere
within
that
range.
A
marruspawn can take a move action to note the
direction of the sound. Whenever a marruspawn
comes within 5 feet of the source, it can pinpoint the
sound’s location. Undead, constructs and other
creatures that have no metabolism are not subject to
being detected by discriminating hearing unless they
move – in any round when they move, they are
detected by the sound they make while moving
through the air or shuffling along the ground. Only
incorporeal creatures are completely undetectable,
unless they wish to be detected.
Resistance to Dessication (Ex): Centuries of life
in the waste afford marruspawn the ability to cope
with thirst and reduced fluid intake. A marruspawn
thus gains resistance to dessication damage 10.
Whenever a marruspawn is subject to magical
dessication damage, that damage is reduced by 10
before being applied to the marruspawn’s hit points
A marruspawn also takes no nonlethal or lethal
damage from failing Constitiution checks to avoid
becoming dehydrated, although it still might become
fatigued if it fails a check. If a marruspawn ever
becomes dehydrated, whether due to natural causes
or another effect (such as a spell), it needs to drink
only a mouthful of water to lose that condition. A
marruspawn also requires only half as much water in
a day as is normally required for a creature of its size.
Resistance to Fire (Ex): Bred to withstand magic
artillery, a marruspawn enjoys an inborn resistance to
fire 5
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A marruspawn can see
twice as far as humans in conditions of poor
illumination.
Languages: Marru, Common.
Spells Prepared (Caster level 7th) (4/6/4/3/2, save
DC = 15 + spell level): 0 – Daze, Disrupt Undead,
Mage Hand, Resistance; 1st – Mage Armor, Magic
Missile x4, True Strike; 2nd – See Invisibility, Mirror
Image, Scorching Ray x2; 3rd – Fireball x2, Dispel
Magic. 4th – Wall of Ice, Enervation
Spellbook: 0 – Daze, Disrupt Undead, Mage Hand,
Resistance; 1st – Mage Armor, Magic Missile x2, True
Strike; 2nd – See Invisibility, Mirror Image Scorching
Ray; 3rd – Fireball, Dispel Magic, Lightning Bolt.
Major Image 4th – Wall of Ice, Enervation
ENCOUNTER 5
G U S T AV R E N, P AC K M AS T E R
F AL L E N H O U N D AR C H O N
CR 11
Male outsider Ftr7
LN Medium outsider (Archon, Extraplanar, Lawful)
Init +4; Senses Listen +11, Spot +11
Languages All
AC 29, touch 11, flat-footed 19
(+9 armor, +9 natural, +1 dex)
hp 130 (13 HD)
Fort +10 (+14 vs. poison), Ref +7, Will +8
Speed 30 ft. mithral full plate +1 (6 squares)
Melee +1 greatsword +22/+17/+12 (2d6+12+1d6 frost /
17-20, x2) and bite +15 (1d8+5) or Bite +19(1d8 + 5)
and 2 Slam +14 (1d4+4)
Ranged none
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +13; Grp +19
Atk Options Spell-like abilities
Combat Gear mithral full plate +1, +1 frost greatsword,
belt of giant strength +6
Abilities Str 23, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 12
SQ Aura of Menace, change shape, damage reduction
10/magic and silver, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to
electricity and petrification, scent, spell resistance 23,
teleport, tongues
Feats Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Track, Weapon
Focus (greatsword), Improved Critical (greatsword),
Weapon
Specialization
(greatsword),
Greater
Weapon Focus (greatsword), Quicken Spell-Like
Ability (teleport)
Skills Concentration +10, Diplomacy +4, Hide +9*,
Jump +18, Listen +11, Move Silently +9, Sense
Motive +10, Spot +11, Survival +10* (+12 following
tracks)
Possessions combat gear
Spell-like abilities: at will—aid, continual flame,
message (caster level 6th)
Aura of Menace (Su): A righteous aura surrounds
archons that fight or get angry. Any hostile creature
within a 20-foot radius of an archon must succeed on
a Will save to resist its effects. The save DC varies
with the type of archon, is Charisma-based, and
includes a +2 racial bonus. Those who fail take a -2
penalty on attacks, AC, and saves for 24 hours or
until they successfully hit the archon that generated
the aura. A creature that has resisted or broken the
effect cannot be affected again by the same archon’s
aura for 24 hours. Will DC 16 negates.
Change Shape (Su): A hound archon can assume any
canine form of Small to Large size. While in canine
form, the hound archon loses its bite, slam, and
greatsword attacks, but gains the bite attack of the
form it chooses. For the purposes of this ability,
canines include any doglike or wolflike animal of the
animal type.
Fallen from Grace: As a celestial who has been cast
out, the Fallen Hound Archon has lost all alignment-
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 27
dependent special abilities that depend on a good/evil
axis. The Fallen Hound Archon has had its DR
changed to 10/magic and silver and has lost the
ability to detect evil and the ability to project an aura
of protection from evil.
Teleport (Su): Archons can use greater teleport at will,
as the spell (caster level 14th), except that the
creature can transport only itself and up to 50 pounds
of objects.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 28
APPENDIX 2 – APL 10
ENCOUNTER 2 AND ENCOUNTER 3
M AR R U S AUL T, F TR4
CR 9
NE Large monstrous humanoid
Init +1; Senses Listen +7, Spot +3
Languages Common, Marru
AC 24, touch 10, flat-footed 22
(+1 dex, +9 armor, +5 natural, -1 size)
hp 85 (10 HD)
Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5
Speed 20 ft. Full Plate (4 squares)
Melee Great Falchion +18/+13 melee (1d12+13/15-20)
and bite +11 melee (1d8+6)
Ranged none
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +10; Grp +21
Atk Options Pounce, Howl of Defiance
Combat Gear Full Plate +1, Great Falchion +1,
Gauntlets of Ogre Power. SS Great Falchion –
Sandstorm page 96-97
Abilities Str 24, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 14
SQ none
Feats Cleave, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Great
Falchion), Great Fortitude, Power Attack, Weapon
Focus (Great Falchion) Improved Critical (Great
Falchion) Weapon Specialization (Great Falchion).
Skills Listen + 7, Search +1, Spot +3, Climb +3
Possessions combat gear.
Howl of Defiance (Su): Once per day, a marrsault
can loose a terrifying howl as a free action. All
creatures except other marrusaults within 30 feet
must succeed on a DC15 Will save or become
fatigued. Those within 10 feet who fail their save
become exhausted. The save DC is Charisma-
based
Pounce (Ex): If a marrusault charges, it can make
a full attack, including its bite attack
Ferocity (Ex): A marrusault is such a tenacious
combatant that it continues to fight without penalty
even while disabled or dying
Marruspawn Traits
Discriminating Hearing (Ex): A marruspawn can
hear across great distances with ease, gaining a +4
racial bonus on Listen checks. A marruspawn’s
hearing is so sensitive that it can sense the presence
of most creatures merely by the sound of their
breathing, their heartbeat, or their movement if they
are within 30 feet.
When a marruspawn detects a noise, the exact
location of the source is not revealed – only it’s
presence
somewhere
within
that
range.
A
marruspawn can take a move action to note the
direction of the sound. Whenever a marruspawn
comes within 5 feet of the source, it can pinpoint the
sound’s location. Undead, constructs and other
creatures that have no metabolism are not subject to
being detected by discriminating hearing unless they
move – in any round when they move, they are
detected by the sound they make while moving
through the air or shuffling along the ground. Only
incorporeal creatures are completely undetectable,
unless they wish to be detected.
Resistance to Dessication (Ex): Centuries of life
in the waste afford marruspawn the ability to cope
with thirst and reduced fluid intake. A marruspawn
thus gains resistance to dessication damage 10.
Whenever a marruspawn is subject to magical
dessication damage, that damage is reduced by 10
before being applied to the marruspawn’s hit points
A marruspawn also takes no nonlethal or lethal
damage from failing Constitiution checks to avoid
becoming dehydrated, although it still might become
fatigued if it fails a check. If a marruspawn ever
becomes dehydrated, whether due to natural causes
or another effect (such as a spell), it needs to drink
only a mouthful of water to lose that condition. A
marruspawn also requires only half as much water in
a day as is normally required for a creature of its size.
Resistance to Fire (Ex): Bred to withstand magic
artillery, a marruspawn enjoys an inborn resistance to
fire 5
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A marruspawn can see
twice as far as humans in conditions of poor
illumination
Languages: Marru.
Description: Jacketed in coal-black full plate and
clutching a prodigious scimitar, this jackal-headed
humanoid looks like a juggernaut of death.
M ARRUTACT, W I Z4
CR 9
NE medium monstrous humanoid
Init +5; Senses Listen +10, Spot +0
Languages Common, Marru
AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 18
(+1 dex, +4 natural, +4 mage armor)
hp 80 (11 HD)
Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +13
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee staff +9/+4 melee (1d6)
Ranged none
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +9; Grp +15
Atk Options Pounce, Howl of Healing
Combat Gear Staff, Robes, headband of intellect +2
Abilities Str 11, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 16
SQ Spell Resistance 16
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative,
Scribe Scroll, Improved Toughness.
Skills Concentration +15, Hide +15, Knowledge
(arcana) +18, Knowledge (history) +18, Knowledge
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 29
(geography) +18, Listen +10, Spellcraft +20, Survival
+8(+10 to avoid getting lost or avoid hazards);
Possessions combat gear.
Howl of Healing (Su): Once per day, a marrutact
can loose a regenerative howl as a free action. All
marruspawn pledged to the howling marrutact within
30 feet heal 3d8+5 points of damage. Those within
10 feet heal an extra 1d8+1 points of damage.
Spells: A marrutact casts spells as a 5th level wizard
Marruspawn Traits
Discriminating Hearing (Ex): A marruspawn can
hear across great distances with ease, gaining a +4
racial bonus on Listen checks. A marruspawn’s
hearing is so sensitive that it can sense the presence
of most creatures merely by the sound of their
breathing, their heartbeat, or their movement if they
are within 30 feet.
When a marruspawn detects a noise, the exact
location of the source is not revealed – only it’s
presence
somewhere
within
that
range.
A
marruspawn can take a move action to note the
direction of the sound. Whenever a marruspawn
comes within 5 feet of the source, it can pinpoint the
sound’s location. Undead, constructs and other
creatures that have no metabolism are not subject to
being detected by discriminating hearing unless they
move – in any round when they move, they are
detected by the sound they make while moving
through the air or shuffling along the ground. Only
incorporeal creatures are completely undetectable,
unless they wish to be detected.
Resistance to Dessication (Ex): Centuries of life
in the waste afford marruspawn the ability to cope
with thirst and reduced fluid intake. A marruspawn
thus gains resistance to dessication damage 10.
Whenever a marruspawn is subject to magical
dessication damage, that damage is reduced by 10
before being applied to the marruspawn’s hit points
A marruspawn also takes no nonlethal or lethal
damage from failing Constitiution checks to avoid
becoming dehydrated, although it still might become
fatigued if it fails a check. If a marruspawn ever
becomes dehydrated, whether due to natural causes
or another effect (such as a spell), it needs to drink
only a mouthful of water to lose that condition. A
marruspawn also requires only half as much water in
a day as is normally required for a creature of its size.
Resistance to Fire (Ex): Bred to withstand magic
artillery, a marruspawn enjoys an inborn resistance to
fire 5
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A marruspawn can see
twice as far as humans in conditions of poor
illumination.
Languages: Marru, Common.
Spells Prepared (Caster level 9th) (4/6/4/4/3/2, save
DC = 15 + spell level): 0 – Daze, Disrupt Undead,
Mage Hand, Resistance; 1st – Mage Armor, Magic
Missile x4, True Strike; 2nd – See Invisibility, Mirror
Image, Scorching Ray x2; 3rd – Fireball x2, Dispel
Magic. 4th – Wall of Ice, Enervation, Ice Storm 5th –
Transmute Rock to Mud, Cone of Cold
Spellbook: 0 – Daze, Disrupt Undead, Mage
Hand, Resistance; 1st – Mage Armor, Magic
Missile x2, True Strike; 2nd – See Invisibility,
Mirror Image Scorching Ray; 3rd – Fireball,
Dispel Magic, Lightning Bolt. Major Image 4th –
Wall of Ice, Enervation, Ice Storm; 5th –
Transmute Rock to Mud, Cone of Cold.
ENCOUNTER 5
G U S T AV R E N, P AC K M AS T E R
F AL L E N H O U N D AR C H O N
CR 13
Male outsider Ftr9
LN Medium outsider (Archon, Extraplanar, Lawful)
Init +4; Senses Listen +11, Spot +11
Languages All
AC 29, touch 11, flat-footed 19
(+9 armor, +9 natural, +1 dex)
hp 150 (15 HD)
Fort +11 (+15 vs. poison), Ref +8, Will +9
Speed 30 ft. mithral full plate +1 (6 squares)
Melee +1 greatsword +24/+19/+14 (2d6+14+1d6 frost /
17-20, x2) and bite +17 (1d8+5) or Bite +21(1d8 + 5)
and 2 Slam +16 (1d4+4)
Ranged none
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +15; Grp +21
Atk Options Spell-like abilities
Combat Gear mithral full plate +1, +1 frost greatsword,
belt of giant strength +6
Abilities Str 23, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 12
SQ Aura of Menace, change shape, damage reduction
10/magic and silver, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to
electricity and petrification, scent, spell resistance 25,
teleport, tongues
Feats Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Track, Weapon
Focus (greatsword), Improved Critical (greatsword),
Weapon
Specialization
(greatsword),
Greater
Weapon Focus (greatsword), Quicken Spell-Like
Ability (teleport), Greater Weapon Specialization
(greatsword), Cleave
Skills Concentration 11, Diplomacy +4, Hide +9*, Jump
19, Listen +11, Move Silently +9, Sense Motive +10,
Spot +12, Survival +10* (+12 following tracks)
Possessions combat gear
Spell-like abilities: at will—aid, continual flame,
message (caster level 6th)
Aura of Menace (Su): A righteous aura surrounds
archons that fight or get angry. Any hostile creature
within a 20-foot radius of an archon must succeed on
a Will save to resist its effects. The save DC varies
with the type of archon, is Charisma-based, and
includes a +2 racial bonus. Those who fail take a -2
penalty on attacks, AC, and saves for 24 hours or
until they successfully hit the archon that generated
the aura. A creature that has resisted or broken the
effect cannot be affected again by the same archon’s
aura for 24 hours. Will DC 16 negates.
Change Shape (Su): A hound archon can assume any
canine form of Small to Large size. While in canine
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 30
form, the hound archon loses its bite, slam, and
greatsword attacks, but gains the bite attack of the
form it chooses. For the purposes of this ability,
canines include any doglike or wolflike animal of the
animal type.
Fallen from Grace: As a celestial who has been cast
out, the Fallen Hound Archon has lost all alignment-
dependent special abilities that depend on a good/evil
axis. The Fallen Hound Archon has had its DR
changed to 10/magic and silver and has lost the
ability to detect evil and the ability to project an aura
of protection from evil.
Teleport (Su): Archons can use greater teleport at will,
as the spell (caster level 14th), except that the
creature can transport only itself and up to 50 pounds
of objects
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 31
APPENDIX 3 – APL 12
ENCOUNTER 2 AND ENCOUNTER 3
M AR R U S AUL T, F TR6
CR 11
NE Large monstrous humanoid
Init +5; Senses Listen +7, Spot +3
Languages Common, Marru
AC 24, touch 10, flat-footed 22
(+1 dex, +9 armor, +5 natural, -1 size)
hp 103 (12 HD)
Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6
Speed 20 ft. Full Plate (4 squares)
Melee Great Falchion +20/+15/+10 melee (1d12+13/15-
20) and bite +13 melee (1d8+6)
Ranged none
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +12; Grp +23
Atk Options Pounce, Howl of Defiance
Combat Gear Full Plate +1, Great Falchion +1,
Gauntlets of Ogre Power. SS Great Falchion –
Sandstorm page 96-97
Abilities Str 25, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 14
SQ none
Feats Cleave, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Great
Falchion), Great Fortitude, Power Attack, Weapon
Focus (Great Falchion), Improved Initiative, Improved
Critical (Great Falchion) Weapon Specialization
(Great Falchion).
Skills Listen + 7, Search +1, Spot +3, Climb +5
Possessions combat gear.
Howl of Defiance (Su): Once per day, a marrsault
can loose a terrifying howl as a free action. All
creatures except other marrusaults within 30 feet
must succeed on a DC15 Will save or become
fatigued. Those within 10 feet who fail their save
become exhausted. The save DC is Charisma-
based
Pounce (Ex): If a marrusault charges, it can make
a full attack, including its bite attack
Ferocity (Ex): A marrusault is such a tenacious
combatant that it continues to fight without penalty
even while disabled or dying
Marruspawn Traits
Discriminating Hearing (Ex): A marruspawn can
hear across great distances with ease, gaining a +4
racial bonus on Listen checks. A marruspawn’s
hearing is so sensitive that it can sense the presence
of most creatures merely by the sound of their
breathing, their heartbeat, or their movement if they
are within 30 feet.
When a marruspawn detects a noise, the exact
location of the source is not revealed – only it’s
presence
somewhere
within
that
range.
A
marruspawn can take a move action to note the
direction of the sound. Whenever a marruspawn
comes within 5 feet of the source, it can pinpoint the
sound’s location. Undead, constructs and other
creatures that have no metabolism are not subject to
being detected by discriminating hearing unless they
move – in any round when they move, they are
detected by the sound they make while moving
through the air or shuffling along the ground. Only
incorporeal creatures are completely undetectable,
unless they wish to be detected.
Resistance to Dessication (Ex): Centuries of life
in the waste afford marruspawn the ability to cope
with thirst and reduced fluid intake. A marruspawn
thus gains resistance to dessication damage 10.
Whenever a marruspawn is subject to magical
dessication damage, that damage is reduced by 10
before being applied to the marruspawn’s hit points
A marruspawn also takes no nonlethal or lethal
damage from failing Constitiution checks to avoid
becoming dehydrated, although it still might become
fatigued if it fails a check. If a marruspawn ever
becomes dehydrated, whether due to natural causes
or another effect (such as a spell), it needs to drink
only a mouthful of water to lose that condition. A
marruspawn also requires only half as much water in
a day as is normally required for a creature of its size.
Resistance to Fire (Ex): Bred to withstand magic
artillery, a marruspawn enjoys an inborn resistance to
fire 5
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A marruspawn can see
twice as far as humans in conditions of poor
illumination
Languages: Marru.
Description: Jacketed in coal-black full plate and
clutching a prodigious scimitar, this jackal-headed
humanoid looks like a juggernaut of death.
M ARRUTACT, W I Z6
CR 11
NE medium monstrous humanoid
Init +5; Senses Listen +12, Spot +0
Languages Common, Marru
AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 18
(+1 dex, +4 natural, +4 mage armor)
hp 90 (13 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +14
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee staff +10/+5 melee (1d6)
Ranged none
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +10; Grp +15
Atk Options Howl of Healing
Combat Gear Staff, Robes, headband of intellect +2
Abilities Str 11, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 21, Wis 18, Cha 16
SQ Spell Resistance 16
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative,
Scribe Scroll, Improved Toughness.
Skills Concentration +17, Hide +17, Knowledge
(arcana) +20, Knowledge (history) +18, Knowledge
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 32
(geography) +18, Listen +10, Spellcraft +22, Survival
+8(+10 to avoid getting lost or avoid hazards);
Possessions combat gear.
Howl of Healing (Su): Once per day, a marrutact
can loose a regenerative howl as a free action. All
marruspawn pledged to the howling marrutact within
30 feet heal 3d8+5 points of damage. Those within
10 feet heal an extra 1d8+1 points of damage.
Spells: A marrutact casts spells as a 5th level wizard
Marruspawn Traits
Discriminating Hearing (Ex): A marruspawn can
hear across great distances with ease, gaining a +4
racial bonus on Listen checks. A marruspawn’s
hearing is so sensitive that it can sense the presence
of most creatures merely by the sound of their
breathing, their heartbeat, or their movement if they
are within 30 feet.
When a marruspawn detects a noise, the exact
location of the source is not revealed – only it’s
presence
somewhere
within
that
range.
A
marruspawn can take a move action to note the
direction of the sound. Whenever a marruspawn
comes within 5 feet of the source, it can pinpoint the
sound’s location. Undead, constructs and other
creatures that have no metabolism are not subject to
being detected by discriminating hearing unless they
move – in any round when they move, they are
detected by the sound they make while moving
through the air or shuffling along the ground. Only
incorporeal creatures are completely undetectable,
unless they wish to be detected.
Resistance to Dessication (Ex): Centuries of life
in the waste afford marruspawn the ability to cope
with thirst and reduced fluid intake. A marruspawn
thus gains resistance to dessication damage 10.
Whenever a marruspawn is subject to magical
dessication damage, that damage is reduced by 10
before being applied to the marruspawn’s hit points
A marruspawn also takes no nonlethal or lethal
damage from failing Constitiution checks to avoid
becoming dehydrated, although it still might become
fatigued if it fails a check. If a marruspawn ever
becomes dehydrated, whether due to natural causes
or another effect (such as a spell), it needs to drink
only a mouthful of water to lose that condition. A
marruspawn also requires only half as much water in
a day as is normally required for a creature of its size.
Resistance to Fire (Ex): Bred to withstand magic
artillery, a marruspawn enjoys an inborn resistance to
fire 5
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A marruspawn can see
twice as far as humans in conditions of poor
illumination.
Languages: Marru, Common.
Spells Prepared (Caster level 11th) (4/6/5/5/4/3/1,
save DC = 15 + spell level): 0 – Daze, Disrupt
Undead, Mage Hand, Resistance; 1st – Mage Armor,
Magic Missile x4, True Strike; 2nd – See Invisibility,
Mirror Image, Scorching Ray x2; 3rd – Fireball x2,
Dispel Magic. 4th – Wall of Ice, Enervation, Ice Storm
5th – Transmute Rock to Mud, Cone of Cold x2. 6th –
Chain Lightning
Spellbook: 0 – Daze, Disrupt Undead, Mage
Hand, Resistance; 1st – Mage Armor, Magic
Missile x2, True Strike; 2nd – See Invisibility,
Mirror Image Scorching Ray; 3rd – Fireball,
Dispel Magic, Lightning Bolt. Major Image 4th –
Wall of Ice, Enervation, Ice Storm; 5th –
Transmute Rock to Mud, Cone of Cold. 6th –
Chain Lightning
ENCOUNTER 5
G U S T AV R E N, P AC K M AS T E R
F AL L E N H O U N D AR C H O N
CR 15
Male outsider Ftr11
LN Medium outsider (Archon, Extraplanar, Lawful)
Init +4; Senses Listen +11, Spot +11
Languages All
AC 29, touch 11, flat-footed 19
(+9 armor, +9 natural, +1 dex)
hp 170 (17 HD)
Fort +12 (+16 vs. poison), Ref +9, Will +10
Speed 30 ft. mithral full plate +1 (6 squares)
Melee +1 greatsword +27/+22/+17 (2d6+17+1d6 frost /
17-20, x2) and bite +20 (1d8+5) or Bite +24(1d8 + 5)
and 2 Slam +19 (1d4+4)
Ranged none
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +18; Grp +24
Atk Options Spell-like abilities
Combat Gear mithral full plate +1, +1 frost greatsword,
belt of giant strength +6
Abilities Str 24, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 12
SQ Aura of Menace, change shape, damage reduction
10/magic and silver, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to
electricity and petrification, scent, spell resistance 27,
teleport, tongues
Feats Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Track, Weapon
Focus (greatsword), Improved Critical (greatsword),
Weapon
Specialization
(greatsword),
Greater
Weapon Focus (greatsword), Quicken Spell-Like
Ability (teleport), Greater Weapon Specialization
(greatsword), Cleave, Improved Sunder
Skills Concentration 12, Diplomacy +4, Hide +9*, Jump
19, Listen +11, Move Silently +9, Sense Motive +10,
Spot +12, Survival +10* (+12 following tracks)
Possessions combat gear
Spell-like abilities: at will—aid, continual flame,
message (caster level 6th)
Aura of Menace (Su): A righteous aura surrounds
archons that fight or get angry. Any hostile creature
within a 20-foot radius of an archon must succeed on
a Will save to resist its effects. The save DC varies
with the type of archon, is Charisma-based, and
includes a +2 racial bonus. Those who fail take a -2
penalty on attacks, AC, and saves for 24 hours or
until they successfully hit the archon that generated
the aura. A creature that has resisted or broken the
effect cannot be affected again by the same archon’s
aura for 24 hours. Will DC 16 negates.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 33
Change Shape (Su): A hound archon can assume any
canine form of Small to Large size. While in canine
form, the hound archon loses its bite, slam, and
greatsword attacks, but gains the bite attack of the
form it chooses. For the purposes of this ability,
canines include any doglike or wolflike animal of the
animal type.
Fallen from Grace: As a celestial who has been cast
out, the Fallen Hound Archon has lost all alignment-
dependent special abilities that depend on a good/evil
axis. The Fallen Hound Archon has had its DR
changed to 10/magic and silver and has lost the
ability to detect evil and the ability to project an aura
of protection from evil.
Teleport (Su): Archons can use greater teleport at will,
as the spell (caster level 14th), except that the
creature can transport only itself and up to 50 pounds
of objects
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
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DM AID: MAP #1 – KILM EXTERIOR
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 35
DM AID: MAP #2 – KILM BASEMENT
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 36
DM AID: MAP #3 – THE ARCANICUM
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
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DM AID #4 – A PICTURE OF MY CAT IN A BUCKET
“Can I cast fireball from in here?”
No felines were harmed in the making of this adventure.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
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DM AID: NEW RULES
NEW MONSTERS
Marrusault (Sandstorm, page 171)
Large Monstrous Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d8+18; hp 45
Speed: 20 ft (Full Plate) 30 ft base.
Armor Class 23, touch 10, flat-footed 22 (+5 natural, +8 armor, +1 dex, -1 size)
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+15
Attack: Great Falchion +11 melee (1d12+7/18-20) or Bite +10 melee (1d8+5)
Full Attack: Great Falchion +11/+6 melee (1d12+7/18-20) and bite +5 melee (1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10ft./10ft.
Special Attacks: Howl of Defiance, pounce
Special Qualities: Ferocity, Marruspawn traits
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 14
Skills: Listen +7, Search +1, Spot +3
Feats: Cleave, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (great falchion), Great Fortitude, Power Attack, Weapon Focus
(great falchion)
Environment: Warm Deserts
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually Neutral
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +2
In ancient days, armies of marrusaults darkened the once-green plains, fighting for the will of the marru.
Bred for fighting, each marrusault knows its worth in any conflict. Hardy survivors, marrusaults eked out
existence where many of the weaker or more specialized spawncrafted creations of the marru perished
with heir masters. Still, a marrusault depends on the equipment and other resources it gains from
swearing service to a marrutact. Sometimes a marrusault goes rogue – these creatures often find death
in the waste, their bones posing a mystery to travelers who come upon them.
Individually, marrusaults are known for the ability to withstand wounds that would drop a lesser creature.
Of course, such fortitude is another gift of spawncraft.
Like all marruspawn, a marrusault relies on its discriminating hearing to pinpoint hidden enemies. Once
identified, a marrusault uses its howl as it pounces on its target, bringing its mighty blade to bear
Howl of Defiance (Su): Once per day, a marrsault can loose a terrifying howl as a free action. All
creatures except other marrusaults within 30 feet must succeed on a DC15 Will save or become fatigued.
Those within 10 feet who fail their save become exhausted. The save DC is Charisma-based
Pounce (Ex): If a marrusault charges, it can make a full attack, including its bite attack.
Ferocity (Ex): A marrusault is such a tenacious combatant that it continues to fight without penalty
even while disabled or dying.
Marruspawn Traits
Discriminating Hearing (Ex): A marruspawn can hear across great distances with ease, gaining a
+4 racial bonus on Listen checks. A marruspawn’s hearing is so sensitive that it can sense the presence
of most creatures merely by the sound of their breathing, their heartbeat, or their movement if they are
within 30 feet.
When a marruspawn detects a noise, the exact location of the source is not revealed – only it’s
presence somewhere within that range. A marruspawn can take a move action to note the direction of the
sound. Whenever a marruspawn comes within 5 feet of the source, it can pinpoint the sound’s location.
Undead, constructs and other creatures that have no metabolism are not subject to being detected by
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 39
discriminating hearing unless they move – in any round when they move, they are detected by the sound
they make while moving through the air or shuffling along the ground. Only incorporeal creatures are
completely undetectable, unless they wish to be detected.
Resistance to Dessication (Ex): Centuries of life in the waste afford marruspawn the ability to cope
with thirst and reduced fluid intake. A marruspawn thus gains resistance to dessication damage 10.
Whenever a marruspawn is subject to magical dessication damage, that damage is reduced by 10 before
being applied to the marruspawn’s hit points
A marruspawn also takes no nonlethal or lethal damage from failing Constitiution checks to avoid
becoming dehydrated, although it still might become fatigued if it fails a check. If a marruspawn ever
becomes dehydrated, whether due to natural causes or another effect (such as a spell), it needs to drink
only a mouthful of water to lose that condition. A marruspawn also requires only half as much water in a
day as is normally required for a creature of its size.
Resistance to Fire (Ex): Bred to withstand magic artillery, a marruspawn enjoys an inborn resistance
to fire 5
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A marruspawn can see twice as far as humans in conditions of poor
illumination
Marrutact (Sandstorm, page 171)
Medium Monstrous Humanoid
Hit Dice: 7d8+7; hp 38
Speed: 30 ft.
Armor Class 19, touch 11, flat-footed 18 (+4 natural, +4 mage armor, +1 dex, -1 size)
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+7
Attack: Masterwork Staff +8 melee (1d6)
Full Attack: Masterwork Staff +8/+3 melee (1d6)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Special Attacks: Howl of Healing, spells
Special Qualities: Marruspawn traits, spell resistance 16
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +9
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 16
Skills: Concentration +11, Hide +11, Knowledge (arcana) +14, Knowledge (history) +14, Knowledge
(geography) +14, Listen +8, Spellcraft +16, Survival +4(+6 to avoid getting lost or avoid hazards)
Feats: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative.
Environment: Warm Deserts
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually Neutral
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +3
Howl of Healing (Su): Once per day, a marrutact can loose a regenerative howl as a free action. All
marruspawn pledged to the howling marrutact within 30 feet heal 3d8+5 points of damage. Those within
10 feet heal and extra 1d8+1 points of damage.
Spells: A marrutact casts spells as a 5th level wizard
Marruspawn Traits
Discriminating Hearing (Ex): A marruspawn can hear across great distances with ease, gaining a
+4 racial bonus on Listen checks. A marruspawn’s hearing is so sensitive that it can sense the presence
of most creatures merely by the sound of their breathing, their heartbeat, or their movement if they are
within 30 feet.
When a marruspawn detects a noise, the exact location of the source is not revealed – only it’s
presence somewhere within that range. A marruspawn can take a move action to note the direction of the
sound. Whenever a marruspawn comes within 5 feet of the source, it can pinpoint the sound’s location.
Undead, constructs and other creatures that have no metabolism are not subject to being detected by
discriminating hearing unless they move – in any round when they move, they are detected by the sound
they make while moving through the air or shuffling along the ground. Only incorporeal creatures are
completely undetectable, unless they wish to be detected.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 40
Resistance to Dessication (Ex): Centuries of life in the waste afford marruspawn the ability to cope
with thirst and reduced fluid intake. A marruspawn thus gains resistance to dessication damage 10.
Whenever a marruspawn is subject to magical dessication damage, that damage is reduced by 10 before
being applied to the marruspawn’s hit points
A marruspawn also takes no nonlethal or lethal damage from failing Constitiution checks to avoid
becoming dehydrated, although it still might become fatigued if it fails a check. If a marruspawn ever
becomes dehydrated, whether due to natural causes or another effect (such as a spell), it needs to drink
only a mouthful of water to lose that condition. A marruspawn also requires only half as much water in a
day as is normally required for a creature of its size.
Resistance to Fire (Ex): Bred to withstand magic artillery, a marruspawn enjoys an inborn resistance
to fire 5
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A marruspawn can see twice as far as humans in conditions of poor
illumination.
Languages: Marru, Common.
Typical Spells Prepared (Caster level 5th) (X/X/X, save DC = 14 + spell level): 0 – Daze, Disrupt
Undead, Mage Hand, Resistance; 1st – Mage Armor, Magic Missile x2, True Strike; 2nd – See Invisibility,
Mirror Image Scorching Ray; 3rd – Fireball, Dispel Magic
Spellbook: 0 – Daze, Disrupt Undead, Mage Hand, Resistance; 1st – Mage Armor, Magic Missile x2,
True Strike; 2nd – See Invisibility, Mirror Image Scorching Ray; 3rd – Fireball, Dispel Magic.
NEW WEAPON
Great Falchion (Sandstorm, page 97)
Exotic Weapons
Cost
Dmg (S)
Dmg (M)
Critical
Range
Weight
Type
Great Falchion
100g
p
1d8
1d12
18-20/x2
--
12
Slashing
This heavy executioner’s sword has the same basic profile as a falchion, albeit with a much greater blade
surface. Because it is an executioner’s weapon, it is often crafted as a masterwork weapon, marked with
a royal seal, and created with one or more gems in the hilt.
.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
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PLAYER HANDOUT #1 – KNIGHTS OF THE WATCH
The following message is delivered to you overnight.
Loyal One-
Our agents within the Royal Standards have alerted us to the mission the arcane ones have set before you. Above all, use
caution, for we believe the schools of magic to have a traitor amongst them. When in the area of Kilm, be on the lookout
for a member of our order who was in the area at the time of the attacks. Most Contrite Ironclad Mauler Milo Astra can
be easily identified by unusual markings on his neck that you shall recognize if you see. Treat him as your lost brother
and ensure that he is returned safely at all costs.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 42
PLAYER HANDOUT #2 – KNIGHTS OF THE MALAGARI
(DARKWATCH)
The following message is delivered to you overnight.
Loyal One-
Our agents within the Royal Standards have alerted us to the mission the arcane ones have set before you. Above all, use
caution, for we believe the schools of magic to have a traitor amongst them. When in the area of Kilm, be on the lookout
for anything that could be considered banned materials. In particular we have heard reports of the Marru using some sort
of elixirs brewed from mysterious substances. Obtain a sample if you can.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
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PLAYER HANDOUT #3 – SILENT ONES
This message is delivered to you overnight.
Loyal One-
We know where the Wyrd sends you, and we fear for his expanding powers. Remember that your loyalty is to the order,
not to a single man. When in the area of Kilm, be on the lookout for any esoteric lore regarding the Marru and return it
to us. Such secrets are not meant for the commoners.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 44
PLAYER HANDOUT #4 – ZYME NOTES
The pages of this tome are yellowed with age and brittle to the touch. The following
page is open.
4 Sunsebb
…when combined in the proper doses and heated alchemically, a variety
of effects are possible. The keystone to these efforts is always a strong
sample. Failure rates increased as the quality of the original sample was
reduced or replicated. For this end I judge that the best base possible is a
captive human of pure bloodtype who is kept healthy with magic and
repeatedly siphoned…
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 45
PLAYER HANDOUT #5 – NOTES ON THE CREATION OF
MARRU
The following text is new, its pages are crisp and white.
…lost secrets of the creation of this powerful race are now open to me like the doors of Niole Dra.
Originally when the Marru were created they were self-reproducing like any race. This is a curious trait to add to a
creation since most slave races tend to desire freedom and an uncontrolled population is a dangerous population.
Indeed, the earliest legends I could pry from these Marru indicate a great leader of theirs creating a revolt and freeing the
Marru from some shadowy master race.
Their histories are mundane until a point several hundred years ago where a great tragedy apparently took place. From
what I can deduce, several powerful Marru attempted to add their blood to that of a divine being, and were met with
rather disastrous results. The created creature broke free of all bonds and single-handedly destroyed the Marru
civilization.
As unlikely as that is to believe, I have spoken to several Marru here who claim to have seen the creature with their own
eyes. Great Marru cities were laid to waste and their people were scattered.
After a time, Marru started to re-gather, only to find a horrible problem: they could no longer procreate naturally. Every
child was born stillborn and the secrets of their original creation were lost. The Marru as a people were doomed to a
withering death.
Indeed, when I first found the crèche in the mountains, they were numbering less than a hundred, every one a survivor
from the days of the great Marru civilization. Apparently their lifespan rivals that of the elves!
I saw in the Marru an opportunity. Who else has access to the most powerful and forbidden of lore other than me? With
the aid of my students it was almost trivial to unlock the secrets to reinvigorating the Marru race.
Since then there have been many trials. Many races simply lack the fortitude necessary to survive the transformation
into a Marru, or survive only for a period of months afterwards. Kobolds and goblins were particularly unsuccessful,
Orcs were fairly successful and humans…well…can I say I am surprised that humans meld so easily into this new
mask?
Now that I have created a bond with some of the giants of the region I have been given leave to attempt the transformation
on some of their outcasts.
I eagerly await the trolls. Their regenerative capabilities will be amazing if I can harvest them properly. Until then, there
is more than enough fodder in Flen and Cryllor.
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
Page 46
CRITICAL EVENT SUMMARY: KEO7-07 THE STALKYARD
.
1. Were any of the heroes part of an organization that had additional instructions? If so, did they
complete the instructions and what did they do with the information/goods/person they found?
Yes
No
2. How many optional encounters did the heroes face in the Stalkyard?
3. How did the heroes deal with Gustavren?
4. Did any heroes accept The Returned’s offer and receive the AR item Extarasi? If so, Who?
Yes
No
5. How did the heroes deal with Lord Garsin Elgarin?
6. Isn’t that a cute cat?
Yes
No
Notes: (Add anything that happened that might be considered out of the ordinary – Strange occurrences,
results that may not fit the above, etc):
KEO7-07 The Stalkyard
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| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/EXTRAS/Greyhawk/Living Greyhawk - RPGA/KEO (Keoland)/KEO7-07 - The Stalkyard (3E).pdf |
ONW3-06
For Want of a Nail
A One-Round D&D LIVING GREYHAWK Onnwal
Adventure
Version 1
By Paul Looby
Circle Reviewer: Creighton Broadhurst
The Orcs of the Pomarj ravage the land. Onnwal is in flames and a key agent of the Free State has gone
missing behind enemy lines. Her salvation, and that of Onnwal, lies in your hands.
An Onnwal regional module for APLs 2-12.
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any
form without permission of the author. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20
system license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK and RPGA are registered trademarks of Wizards of the
Coast, Inc. LIVING GREYHAWK is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This scenario is intended for tournament use only and may not be reproduced without approval of the
RPGA Network.
For Want of a Nail
Page 2
Introduction
This is an RPGA® Network scenario for the Dungeons &
Dragons® game. A five-hour time block has been allocated
for each round of this scenario, but the actual playing time
will be closer to three and a half hours. The rest of the time
is spent in preparation before game play, and scoring after
the game. The following guidelines are here to help you
with both the preparation and voting segment of the game.
Read this page carefully so that you know and can
communicate to your players the special aspects of playing
an RPGA scenario.
Preparation
First you should print this scenario. This scenario was
created to support double-sided printing, but printing it
single sided will work as well. There is enough room along
the inside margin to bind the adventure, if you desire.
Read this entire adventure at least once before you run
your game. Be sure to familiarize yourself with any special
rules, spells, or equipment presented in the adventure. It
may help to highlight particularly important passages.
When you run an RPGA D&D adventure we assume
that you have access to the following books: the Player’s
Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster
Manual. We also assume that you have a set of dice (at least
one d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20), some scrap paper, a
pencil, an RPGA scoring packet, and your sense of fun. It is
also a good idea to have a way to track movement during
combat. This can be as simple as a pad of graph paper and a
pencil, as handy as a vinyl grid map and chits, or as
elaborate as resin dungeon walls and miniatures.
Instruct the players either to prepare their characters
now, or wait until you read the introduction, depending on
the requirements of the scenario as described in the
introduction.
Keep in mind that you must have at least three players
(not counting the DM), for the game session to be a
sanctioned RPGA event. As well, you cannot have more
than six players participating in the game.
Once you are ready to play, it is handy to instruct each
player to place a nametag in front of him or her. The tag
should have the player’s name at the bottom, and the
character’s name, race, and gender at the top. This makes it
easier for the players (and the DM) to keep track of who is
playing which character.
The players are free to use the game rules to learn
about equipment and weapons their characters are
carrying. That said, you as the DM can bar the use of even
core rulebooks during certain times of play. For example,
the players are not free to consult the Dungeon Master’s
Guide when confronted with a trap or hazard, or the
Monster Manual when confronted with a monster.
Some of the text in this scenario is written so that you
may present it as written to the players, while other text is
for your eyes only. Text for the players will be in gray
boxes. It’s strongly recommended that you paraphrase the
player text instead of reading it aloud. Some of this text is
general and must be adapted to the specific situation or to
actions of the player characters.
Scoring
After the players have completed the scenario or the time
allotted to run the scenario has run out, the players and DM
score the game. The RPGA has three ways to score its
games. Consult your convention coordinator to determine
which method to use for this scenario:
•
No-vote scoring: The players write their names and
RPGA numbers on the scoring packet grid. You fill
in the top of the grid. That is all. No one is rated.
This method is used for people who are just playing
for fun.
•
Partial scoring: The players rate the game master
and the scenario on their player voting sheet, and
provide personal information, but don’t vote for
other players. The game master rates the scenario
and completes personal and event information, but
does not rate the players as a team or vote for
players. This method is used when there is no
competition, but the event coordinator wants
information on how the game masters are
performing, or the game master wants feedback on
his or her own performance.
•
Voting: Players and game masters complete the
entire packet, including voting for best player. If
this method is used, be sure to allow about 15-20
minutes for the players to briefly describe their
characters to the other players, and about 5-10
minutes for voting. This method is used when the
players want to know who played the “best”
amongst the group, or when the adventure is run in
tournament format with winners and prizes.
When using voting, rank the players in order of your
voting choice while they are completing their forms, so
that you are not influenced by their comments on your
abilities. It’s a good idea to have the players vote while you
determine treasure and experience awards for the scenario.
After voting, give the Scoring Packet to your event
coordinator.
This is a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure. As a
LIVING adventure it is expected that players bring their
own characters with them. If players do not have a
LIVING GREYHAWK character generated, get a copy of
the current LIVING GREYHAWK character generation
guidelines, and a character sheet from your convention
coordinator or the RPGA Web site, ant then have any
For Want of a Nail
Page 3
players without a character create on. Once all players
have a LIVING GREYHAWK character, play can begin.
Along with the other materials that you are assumed
to have in order to run a D&D game, it is also
recommended that you have a copy of the LIVING
GREYHAWK Gazetteer.
LIVING GREYHAWK Levels of Play
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportioned to the average character level of the PCs
participating in the adventure. To determine the Average
Party Level (APL):
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely being war horses, dogs trained
for war), other than those brought by virtue of a class
ability (i.e. animal companions, familiars paladin’s
mounts, etc) use the sidebar chart to determine the
number of levels you add to the sum above. Add each
character’s animals separately. A single PC may only
bring four or fewer animals of this type, and animals
with different CRs are added separately.
CR
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
5
6
7
3.
Sum the results of 1 and 2, and divide by the number
of characters playing in the adventure. Round to the
nearest whole number.
4.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
By following these four steps, you will have determined
the APL. Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the
level of challenge the PCs will face. APLS are given in
even-numbered increments. If the APL of your group
falls on an odd number, ask them before the adventure
begins whether they would like to play a harder or easier
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience you may
gain at the end of the adventure. If your character is three
character levels or more either higher or lower than the
APL this adventure is being played at, that character will
receive only half of the experience points awarded for the
adventure. This simulates the face that either your
character was not as challenged as normal, or relied on
help by higher-level characters to reach the objectives.
Note:
LIVING
GREYHAWK
adventures
are
designed for APL 2 and higher. Three or four, or
sometimes even five 1
st-level characters may find
difficulty with the challenges in a LIVING GREYHAWK
adventure. If your group is APL 1 there are three things
that you can do to help even the score.
1.
Attempt to create a table of six 1
st-level characters, or
try to enlist higher-level characters to play at that
table.
2.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them. All riding dogs are
considered trained to attack. PCs who want their
dogs to attack must succeed at a Handle Animal or
Charisma check (DC 10). Failure indicates that the
animal will not attack that round. This is a free action
(spoken command) that may be attempted each
round. If an animal loses half or more hp in a single
round it flees, unless another check is successful.
Time Units and Upkeep
This is a standard one-round Regional adventure, set in
the Free State of Onnwal. All characters with Onnwal as
their hime region pay 1 Time Unit to participate in the
adventure. All other characters pay 2 Time Units.
Adventurer's Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp per Time Unit
spent; Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per Time Unit and
Luxury Upkeep costs 100 gp per Time Unit.
Campaign Consequences
This adventure has campaign consequences. That is the
outcome of this module will directly affect future events
in the course of the campaign. The answers to some of the
questions below may seem trivial or pointless, but
because of the complex nature of the back-story and
campaign all information requested is vital.
Please send your answers to the Living Onnwal
Team at [email protected] as soon as possible.
General comments about the module are also welcomed
at this address.
1.
Did Jillana deliver her message to the Braetern in
time?
2.
Did Gavran survive?
3.
Did the PCs escort Olava and her people back to
Free State Lines?
4.
Did Markessa the White survive?
For Want of a Nail
Page 4
Adventure Synopsis and
Background
This module centres around Jillana Waterfoot, a
Magsman of the Wreckers. A trusted agent of Rakehell
Chert, the Wrecker and Lord Marshal of the Army of
Rebellion,
she
was
dispatched
behind
Scarlet
Brotherhood lines. Her mission was to learn what she
could about the Brotherhood and their new Pomarji
allies.
Jillana fulfilled her mission, uncovering parts of the
Brotherhood's warplans. However, before she could slip
back across the lines, she was betrayed into the hands of
the enemy by one of her own - one Gavran. Gavran had
been the Boss of a Wrecker Cell in Gearnwal (cf ONW3-
01 The Prophet). Though he hated the Brotherhood, he
also used to exploit the people under his protection,
looting their houses and mistreating those Onnwalons of
Suel ancestry. His reign as a robber baron was brought to
an end by a War Company of freeswords, who slew his
men and brought him for execution at the hands of Baron
Kiernal Maldrenn of Gearnwal.
However, this was not the end of Gavran. Agents of
the Scarlet Brotherhood spirited Gavran's body away and
raised him from the dead. They then tortured the newly
revived Wrecker, extracting all that he knew, including
Jillana's cover identity and her mission.
Jillana was captured and tortured. However, for all
the torments the Scarlet Sign visited on her, Jillana kept
the full extent of her knowledge from them, knowing
that if she admitted to it, the Brotherhood would change
their plans. In disgust the Scarlet Brotherhood sold
Jillana to the infamous Slavelords, who have come to
Onnwal in the wake of the orcs of Turrosh Mak. The
Yellow Sails now harvest the fields of Onnwal for a crop
of "live cargo".
Rakehell Chert is aware of Jillana's fate, and that she
knows something vital to the fortunes of the Free State.
Therefore, he is looking for a resourceful group of heroes
who can go behind the battle lines and recover his lost
Magsman.
Encounter Summary
Introduction
The PCs are summoned by an officer of the Army of
Rebellion to meet with his commander.
Encounter 1: A Test of Loyalty
The PCs are shown into the office of the Braetern Farland
Marshevel, where their loyalty will be tested by a
disguised Rakehell Chert. If they pass, then Chert will
inform them of their mission.
Encounter 2: Between the Lines
The PCs set out and have to sneak through orcish
picketlines. Detection may mean combat and the
possibility of runners warning more of the orcs. If the
PCs manage to slip pass undetected go to Encounter 3.
Otherwise go to Encounter 4.
Encounter 3: Choices and Chains
If the PCs managed to make it past the pickets
undetected or have not engaged them in combat, they
will come across a group of orcs rounding up a group of
villagers. The PCs will have to decide whether to
intervene and risk alertling orcish forces in the area to
their presence or whether to turn a blind eye and proceed
with the mission at hand. Whatever the outcome they
should then proceed to Encounter 4.
Encounter 4: A Familiar Face
The PCs arrive at the orc camp where Chert believes
Jillana was being held. The readiness and strength of the
camp depends on the PCs' actions in the previous
encounters. The PCs can either try to sneak into the cells
or storm the camp. Either way they will discover a
familiar face in the cells -that of Boss Gavran. Gavran
knows where the orcs have taken Jillana, but will refuse
to tell the PCs anything unless they swear an oath to
spare and protect his life.
Encounter 5: Chasing Jillana
With Gavran leading or directing them, the PCs can track
down Jillana. Several agents of the Slavelords, led by
Markessa the White, are taking her and the rest of the
slaves to a rendezvous with a Slavelord ship at the isolated
Esham's Cove. The PCs will have to devise some way of
extricating their quarry from the clutches of the Slavers,
having to defeat a group of the Slaverlords servants to get
at her.
Encounter 6: The Yellow Sails
Having dealt with one group of Slavers, Jillana her self is
in the clutches of Markessa the White, aboard a longboat
being rowed out to meet a waiting ship of the Yellow
Sails. The PCs must defeat Markessa before they can get
Jillana. If recovered, Jillana can reveal that it was Gavran
who betrayed her and will try to kill him if he is present.
Conclusion
If the PCs make it back to Chert, Jillana can divulge her
earthshattering information and the PCs can receive their
rewards.
If Jillana is not recovered or dies - then, though the
PCs receive their reward, the consequences for the Free
State are dire.
For Want of a Nail
Page 5
Past Modules
Players who have played ONW3-01 The Prophet will
have already met Boss Gavran and are probably
responsible for his death. The PCs may have found
Rakehell Chert's old short sword, The Silver Left in
ONW2-06 Memento. In ONW2-07, Marooned, the PCs
may have discovered news that Rakehell Chert has a son,
Griff, who in the hands of the Scarlet Brotherhood. In
ONW1-08 Rashta's Brother, some PCs may have gained
the blue mark of the Ventonii.
Player's Introduction
Once the Players are settled and the Player Characters
have been introduced, proceed with the Introduction.
Berendenn, a Sertern of the Gilderond Braetad, will
summon the PCs to meet his superior officer, Farland
Mashevel.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
"Dem's the orders I waz given, surs," Berendenn,
Sertern of the Golden Heart says apologetically. "Ye're
to come with me quick smart like and attend my
commandin' officer."
The burly sertern holds out at scroll sealed with
wax bearing the signet of Farland Marshevel, Braetern
of Gilderond, one of Onnwal's four field generals.
Give out Player's Handout 1.
�Sertern Berendenn, Sertern of the Gilderond Braetad,
the Golden Heart.
Appearance: Berendenn is a burly, barrel chested
man in his late 30's. His olive skin is deeply tanned and
lined - evidence of an outdoor life. He speaks with a rustic
accent and is clad in the green and gold uniform of a
sertern of the Army of Rebellion Regulars.
Character: Berendrenn is a salt-of-the-earth man,
with a sharp wit and a none-too-wholesome turn of
phrase.
Berendenn pretends that he knows nothing about
why the PCs are being summoned, just that they must go
and he's the one that's going to bring them. He actually
knows more than this, but has been ordered not to
mention anything.
Encounter 1:
A Test of Loyalty
Berendrenn escorts the PCs to the headqurters of the 2
nd
Braetad. They are about to have their loyalty tested in a
typically elaborate manner by Rakehell Chert.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
The encampment of the 2
nd Braetad bustles with
activity. Units of Regulars drill, their mail glittering
in the bright sunshine. Serterns are barking orders at
ranks of peasant Militia, who seem to outnumber the
depleted ranks of the Regulars nearly two to one.
There is much talk of the fighting in the west and you
can see a fierce tension in the faces of the soldiers.
Many expect another major battle in the next few
days.
Berendenn leads you into a large stone building
in the heart of the camp. A faded and cracked
hogshead swings above the door, the only evidence of
the building's former life as an inn. The old common
room is busy with officers poring over maps and
dispatching orders to runners. You pass through the
organised chaos and up the stairs to what must have
been one of the larger bedrooms.
Stepping into the room you are confronted by a
shocking sight. The body of Farland Marshevel
dangles from a rafter, a rope knotted tightly around
his neck. The braetern's face is purple and contorted
and his eyes stare glassily into space. The body spins
in a slow circle, the rope creaking as it does.
A blonde haired man in a soldier's uniform sits
behind a desk in the corner of the room, cleaning his
nails with the point of a dagger. As you enter, he
pauses, regards you with pale blue eyes and smirks.
"Glad you could join us," he says. "Now shall we
discuss terms?
The situation the PCs find themselves in an elaborate
loyalty test set by the justifiably paranoid Rakehell Chert.
The man before them is a Wrecker disguised by a change
self spell. It is probable that the PCs will not even bother
with any further parlaying, but immediately attack the
apparent Scarlet Brotherhood agent. If so, they have
passed (see below).
Some PCs may, however, want to interact with the
"kesh". Answers to some of their likely questions are
shown below:
Who are you?
“Maranafel Toktot, Kesh of Scant
What terms?
"You have proven worthy adversaries in the past.
We want you to work for the greater good of
mankind. We want you to work with us. So we want
to discuss what your price is. How much it will take to
abandon your lost cause and join the side of right."
How did you get in here?
For Want of a Nail
Page 6
"Our agents are everywhere. The Free State is
only free because we allow you to think it is. We hold
all the strings. We always have and we always will.
While you mewl and exercise yourself about your
freedom, we control the real power in Onnwal. Oh
and don't bother calling for help. The officers below
are all my men. How else could you explain the inept
excuse for a war that your Army of Rebellion has
fought this past eight years?"
Failing the Test: If the PCs agree to go along with the
"kesh", then they have failed. The "kesh" will reveal
himself as an agent of the Wreckers and the PCs will be
blacklisted as possible traitors to the Free State. Chert will
not reveal himself under these circumstances. The
adventure is over for them.
Even discussing terms will earn the PCs the
suspicion of Chert and the Wreckers, though they will be
given a chance to prove themselves on the mission.
However, if the mission fails - the PCs will be blacklisted
as potential traitors.
Suspicion of the Wreckers: The PCs have earned Disliked
Status with Rakehell Chert and the Wreckers. Wrecker
PCs will be mistrusted by their peers and barred from
promotion within the Wreckers until they clear their
name. The Wreckers in future modules will mistrust non-
Wreckers.
Passing the Test: As soon as the PCs move to attack the
"kesh", they have passed the test.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
Before you can strike down the kesh, a commanding
voice bellows: "HOLD! In the name of the Free State,
hold!"
To your amazement, you turn to see the voice is
apparently that of the hanged braetern. However,
instead of strangled features of Farland Marshevel,
you look up into the grinning face of an Oeridian
man of indeterminate years.
"I never did like these things," the man says,
removing the noose from his neck, seemingly
oblivious to the fact he is floating three feet above the
floorboards. He bows deeply in mid air.
"I am at your service, patriots of Onnwal."
Though he will NOT directly introduce himself as such,
the floating man is Rakehell Chert. The kesh and
Berendenn remain where they are, nodding their head
respectfully at Chert and giving the PCs broad grins.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
"I must apologise for this little pantomime," the
Oeridan man says, floating gently to the ground.
"However,
the
Strawhairs
have
their
agents
everywhere. I had to be sure of where your loyalties
lay. You passed, needless to say or we wouldn't be
having this pleasant chat now. Berendenn, some wine
if you would."
Chert will bid the PCs sit, while wine is brought to them.
The other two men then leave the PCs alone with Chert.
If any of the PCs have at any time earned the
Disfavour of the Wreckers cert from ONW3-01 The
Prophet or ONW3-02 Pyrtura, even if they have now had
it removed, read aloud or paraphrase the following:
The Oeridian man regards you coldly.
"You've crossed my people in the past. Perhaps
with good reason, perhaps without. Know you this,
cross me in this matter and it shall be the last crossing
you shall ever do - bar crossing to meet your ancestors
in the afterlife.
"On the other hand, I'm a fair man. Serve me well
and I might be inclined to forgive past offences.
Forgiveness is a worthy virtue. So much better than
any…unpleasantness," he says with a clear edge of
menace.
Otherwise, read aloud or paraphrase the following:
The Oeridan man regards you intently with his deep-
set black eyes.
"I have need of the services of resourceful
individuals - people such as yourselves, who are loyal
to the Free State.
"A most able servant of Onnwal has been
captured by the Scarlet Sign. She was on her way back
across the front line with what she said was
information vital to the survival of the Free State. I
need to know what that information was. I want you
to find and rescue her. As far as I know, she is still
alive - and that's how I want her returned to the Free
State. Dead spies tell no tales.
"Any questions?"
Below are answers to some of the most likely questions:
Who are you?
The man smiles enigmatically.
"Merely a Patriot of Onnwal, like yourselves. My
name is unimportant. Loyalty to the Free State is all
that matters here."
Why don't you get someone else to rescue her?
For Want of a Nail
Page 7
"I have reason to suspect that she was betrayed
from within. Therefore, I have to ask for outsiders to
perform this task for me."
Where is the agent being held?
"The last report I had, she was in a small orc
encampment in the southern Volanots. I can give you
directions to it."
What's in it for us?
The man grins.
"Ah a man/woman after my own heart! How it
must boil the blood of the nobles to deal with such
fine entrepreneurs as yourselves. Never trust a man
who wants no gold, or wants too much.
"You will be recompensed fairly for your efforts
on behalf of me and of the Free State. The oaths of
nobles aren't worth the paper they're written on. So
you'll be paid in honest coin. If you trust me, of
course," he says with a smile.
What aid can you give us?
"Our resources are stretched as it is. You will have
to manage on your own means and wits."
What does your agent look like?
"Her name is Jillana Waterfoot. She is about 30
summers, stands about 5 feet and a half a foot, with
golden-brown hair and eyes of sea-grey."
If there are no further questions, Chert will give the PCs
directions to the camp.
If there are any members of the Wreckers among the
PCs, Chert will take them aside and, still not revealling
who he is, will whisper to them in the Thieves' Cant:
“Hold a light and you’ll be on the pig’s back when it
comes to a leg up – you’ve my song bird on it.”
Translation:
"Do right by me in this matter and it will not be
forgotten when it comes to promotion. You have my
word on that."
The PCs may have Rakehell Chert's old short sword The
Silver Left from ONW2-06 Memento. If they do, and
Chert spots it read aloud or paraphrase the following:
The Oeridian man smiles ruefully:
"That is a fine blade you bear. Ward it carefully
and it will serve you well."
If any of the PCs, guessing to whom they are speaking,
offer it to him, he will refuse it saying cryptically:
"What's past is past and what's done is done, for good
or for ill".
Of the PCs mention anything about his son, Griff, read
aloud or paraphrase the following:
"I think you may have mistaken me for someone else.
However, if we succeed here, then we will free all the
sons and daughters of Onnwal that are in thrall to the
Strawhairs."
If there is nothing else, Berendrenn will usher the PCs
out.
Encounter 2:
Between the Lines
The directions that the PCs receive will direct them to a
point in the Volanots on the southern edge of the
Cantred of Gearnwal. Have the PCs set their marching
order before the set out.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
Leaving the tense bustle of the camp behind, you set
off across the fields of the Gildenlea, green and gold
with the ripening grain harvest. At first there is a
semblance of normality, farmers tending their fields,
animals grazing in the shade of scattered copses.
However, as the hills loom closer, the
peasants grew scarcer and the Militia patrols more
frequent. Burnt out ruins, still smouldering under the
summer sun replace peaceful hamlets. In the shadow
of the hills, a deathly silence extends over the land,
like ink seeping from an overturned pot.
As you move up the first slopes of the Volanots,
you realise, almost without noticing that you have
passed into enemy territory.
Have the PCs make an opposed Spot check against the
Hide check of the orc patrol that is lurking at the top of
the slope (add a +2 circumstance bonus to the Orc's Hide
for their concealment of the vines). Equally, if the PCs are
actively trying to move inconspicuously an opposed Spot
check against the worst PC Hide check, to see if they spot
the PCs. Otherwise the orcs will automatically spot the
PCs from their vantage point. If they do, depending on
whether the PCs spot them, they will either withdraw to
warn the orc camp in Encounter Four, or if spotted, they
will try to engage the PCs.
If the PCs succeed, read aloud or paraphrase the
following:
For Want of a Nail
Page 8
Suddenly you spot a glint of sun on metal in the
overgrown grapevines that line the top of the hill.
You spot the figure of an orc, darting between the
vine rows.
If they've avoided being spotted, the PCs can either try to
engage the orc pickets or continue to try to slip past them
with little further difficulty by moving around the base of
the hill under the cover of the ridge line.
If the PCs fail their Spot checks, but the orcs Spot
them, then the orcs will not attempt to engage them, but
rather will slink off to report the presence of the PCs to
their superiors at the camp in Encounter Four.
APL 2 (EL 1)
�Orc scouts (2): hp 5; see Monster Manual p146
APL 4 (EL 2)
�Orc axeman (1): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
�Orc crossbowmen (2): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
APL 6 (EL 3)
�Orc axeman (2): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
�Orc crossbowmen (2): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
APL 8 (EL 4)
�Orc shaman (1): Clr1-Gruumsh; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Orc axeman (2): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
�Orc crossbowmen (3): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
APL 10 (EL 5)
�Orc shaman (1): Clr1-Gruumsh; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Orc axeman (2): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
�Orc crossbowmen (3): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
APL 12 (EL 6)
�Orc shaman (1): Clr1-Gruumsh; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Orc axeman (4): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
�Orc crossbowmen (4): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
Tactics: If the orcs are ambushed, one of their number
will immediately flee to report to the camp, while the
remainder give covering fire. They will then try to
withdraw themselves in no particular order, fleeing
headlong if more than half their number is slain. The
shaman will cast enlarge person on one of his axemen if
possible, (+2 Str, -2 Dex, -1 to attacks, -1 AC, gains 10 ft.;
reach).
In either case, the vines afford both the orcs and the
PCs concealment (20% miss chance) from ranged attacks.
Terrain: The vine-rows are 100 feet long, a foot thick
and six feet high. They are spaced about five feet apart.
Treasure: The following treasure is available
dependant on the APL of the party.
APL 2: Loot: 12 gp;
APL 4: Loot: 58 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (3) (3 x 4 gp).
APL 6: Loot: 116 gp; Magic: potion of cure moderate
wounds (4) (4 x 25 gp).
APL 8: Loot: 275 gp; Coin: 1 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of heroism
(5) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 189 gp; Coin: 1 gp; Magic: +1 battleaxe
(2) (167 gp each), + 1 light crossbow (2) (169 gp each), +1
shortspear (167 gp), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62
gp each), potion of heroism (2) (62 gp each), potion of
owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (4) (62 gp each).
APL 12: Loot: 189 gp; Coin: 1 gp; Magic: +1 battleaxe
(2) (167 gp each), + 1 light crossbow (2) (169 gp each), +1
shortspear (167 gp), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62
gp each), potion of heroism (2) (62 gp each), potion of
owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (4) (62 gp each).
Development: If the orc runner gets away, he will
inform the camp that there are enemies in the area. The
guards in the camp in Encounter Four are therefore alert
and actively awaiting an attack.
If the PCs slip past the patrol without any combat go
to Encounter 3.
Otherwise go to Encounter 4.
Encounter 3:
Choices and Chains
Note: Only play this encounter if the PCs have not
engaged the orcs in combat in Encounter 2.
As the PCs press onwards into the hills, they will
encounter a band of orcs pillaging a captured village and
carrying the populace off in chains. The peasants are
bound for the camp, where they will be handed over to
the Slavers.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
Leaving the orcs behind, you press on into the hills
towards your target. The trail winds north into the
crags of the Volanots. The long scrub-clothed ridges
rise up on either side of you.
Cresting a ridge you look down upon a
settlement in the valley below, no more than huddle
of six humble cottages. Cries of distress float up on
the breeze and tiny figures dash about between the
cottages. Armed orcs are chasing women and
children, beating them to the ground and clapping
manacles onto their arms and legs.
For Want of a Nail
Page 9
What the PCs do next is up to them. As the orcs are
intent on their task, the PCs will be easily able to slip on
past towards their destination without being noticed.
However, if they want to intervene, make a DC 15
Spot check for the orcs or a opposed check against the
worst PC Hide check, if the PCs are trying to be stealthy,
applying a -2 circumstance penelty due to the orcs’
absorption in the task at hand.
APL 2 (EL 1)
�Orc slavers (2): hp 5; see Monster Manual p146
APL 4 (EL 2)
�Orc axeman (3): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
APL 6 (EL 3)
�Orc axeman (4): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
APL 8 (EL 4)
�Orc shaman (1): Clr1-Gruumsh; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Orc axeman (5): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
APL 10 (EL 5)
�Orc shaman (1): Clr1-Gruumsh; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Orc axeman (5): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
APL 12 (EL 6)
�Orc shaman (1): Clr1-Gruumsh; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Orc axeman (8): Ftr1; hp 12; see Appendix 1
Tactics: The orcs will try to use the houses as cover and
their prisoners as human shields. The villagers will give
them soft cover (+4 AC bonus), while the houses give
them (+4 AC, +2 Reflex save bonus) or total cover
depending on the circumstances The orcs will attempt to
flee the village if they can in the direction of the camp.
Any attack that would have hit the orcs using human
shields but for the cover AC bonus, hits a human shield.
The peasants have AC 10 and 2 hit points each. The
shaman will cast enlarge person on one of his axemen if
possible, (+2 Str, -2 Dex, -1 to attacks, -1 AC, gains 10 ft
reach). The enlarged orc will try to fight a delaying action,
while the rest withdraw.
Treasure: The following treasure is available dependant
on the APL of the party:
APL 2: Loot: 12 gp.
APL 4: Loot: 108 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (3) (4 gp each).
APL 6: Loot: 144 gp; Magic: potion of cure moderate
wounds (4) (25 gp each).
APL 8: Loot: 362 gp; Coin: 1 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of heroism
(5) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 162 gp; Magic: +1 battleaxe (5) (167 gp
each), +1 shortspear (167 gp), potion of cure serious
wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of heroism (5) (62 gp
each), potion of bull's strength (5) (25 gp each, potion of
owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp).
APL 12: Loot: 162 gp; Magic: +1 battleaxe (5) (167 gp
each), +1 shortspear (167 gp), potion of cure serious
wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of heroism (5) (62 gp
each), potion of bull's strength (5) (25 gp each), potion of
owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp).
Development: If any orcs get away, they will inform the
camp that there are enemies in the area. The guards in the
camp in Encounter Four are therefore alert and actively
awaiting an attack.
The surviving dozen or so villagers (all women and
children) will thank the PCs profusely and ask them
which way safety lies. Their spokespeson, is a woman
called Olava
�Olava, peasant woman
Appearance: Olava is a mantronly woman in the late
thirties, with sandy blonde hair and broad, plain, freckled
face.
Character: Olava's husband was killed in the war. She
is desperate to get herself, her family and neighbours to
safety. She will plead with the PCs for aid.
They will then attempt to flee their homes in the
direction of the Free State forces, carrying what meagre
possessions they can carry with them. They will beg the
PCs to escort them. Returning will mean a round trip of a
day.
However, if the PCs do so, by the time they can
return, Jillana will have been taken aboard a Slaver
ship bound for the Pomarj and the PCs will have
failed their mission.
In this case run them through the rest of the module
as written, except for the fact that they will find only the
tracks of the slavers at Esham's Cove in Encounter 5, at
which point the adventure is over for them.
Encounter 4:
A Familiar Face
Whether the PCs have encountered the orc slaver taking
party in Encounter 3 or not, they will be able to press on
to the camp where Chert believes that Jillana is being
held.
For Want of a Nail
Page 10
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
You press on, following the directions given you. Late
in the day, as the sun is nodding low in the west, you
crest yet another hill. Across a broad valley stands a
long ridge crowned with a ring of tumbled dry stone
walls - the ruins of an ancient Flan hillfort. The sun's
rays glint from the armour of orc guards patrolling
the walls of the fort. A ragged banner bearing the
leering red medusa head device of the Pomarj flutters
from a listing makeshift flagpole.
From the description of the orc camp given to
you, you have little doubt that this is your destination
and your target.
The Ridge
The hill fort stands on a 300-foot high ridgeline. The
lower slopes of the hill are covered in loose scrub and a
smattering
of
stunted
Storm
Pines
(providing
concealment from ranged attacks). The orcs have cleared
the hilltop within 150 feet of the walls, using the scrub
for shelter and fuel. This open ground affords no
concealment what so ever.
Moreover, within 50 feet of the walls, there is a field
of sharpened, pointed stones angled outwards from the
fort. The stones stand about 3 feet high and provide
concealment and cover for small creatures or PCs lying
prone. PCs attempting to move through this field at
greater than one half of their normal movement in any
round must make a DC 15 Reflex check to avoid being
cut on the razor sharp rocks. If a PC roll attacks and
damage if applicable for the rock spikes below.
PCs trying to ride through the stones must make a
DC 20 Ride check to manage it without injuring their
mount. If the mount is injured, the rider must make a DC
15 Ride check to keep the animal on its feet, otherwise it
will stumble among the close packed stones and fall,
taking attacks and damage shown below.
�Rock Spikes: +10 melee (1d4 spiked rocks for
1d4+2/x3 per successful hit).
The only clear path through the stones is the winding
one that leads to the main entrance of the hillfort (see
Map 1).
The Hillfort
The camp is based in the ruins of an ancient Flan ring fort
(see Map 1). The fort is composed of a single circular dry
stone wall 7 feet high, 6 feet thick and 50 feet in diamater.
A low stone step on the inside of the wall allows the
defenders to peer ouver the top of the all and fire
missiles. Characters doing this have cover (+4 AC bonus,
+2 cover Reflex save bonus). Characters bheind the wall
have total cover.
A 5-foot wide breach on the southern side provides
access to the inside. It is routinely blocked after dark or in
times of high alert (see below) by a number of small
daggerthorn trees that have been hewn down to form a
makeshift thorn fence 10 feet thick and 5 feet high
(damage and movement rules as per the wall of thorns
spell [Player’s Handbook, p271]). The orcs bed down in
make shift lean-tos comprising cut logs and scrub-brush
laid at an angle against the walls on the northern side of
the fort. The prisoners are held in a series of 8 feet deep
pits covered by wooden bars, which are located in the
centre of the fort.
NOTE: PCs that have the blue mark of the Ventonii from
ONW1-08 Rashta's Brother feel strangely energised
while fighting inside the walls of the hill fort and gain +1
morale bonus to attack and damage rolls for the duration
of this combat only.
The Garrison
The readiness and strength of the garrison depends on
the PCs actions so far. If they have engaged any orc
troops in battle on the way to the fort, then the garrison
will be depleted somewhat. Otherwise it will be at full
strength.
The alertness of the garrison depends on whether it
has had any warning of the PCs presence in the hills,
from the orcs in either Encounter 2 or Encounter 3.
Garrison Alerted: If the garrison has been alerted,
then the orcs will be all roused, armed and watching in all
directions for signs of any foes. The orcs will be evenly
distributed around the perimeter wall. All guards have a
+2 circumstance bonus to their Spot and Listen checks
due to their high state of readiness.
Garrison Not Alerted: If the garrison has not been
forewarned, then there will only be four sentries posted,
one at each of the cardinal points of the ring fort (North,
South, East and West). The rest of the orcs (if any) are
eating in their lean-tos. The sentries are not particularly
vigilant - apply a -2 circumstance penalty to their Spot
and Listen checks, until the PCs make their presence
known in some fashion.
PCs attempting to approach the fort without being
seen will need to make an opposed Hide and Move
silently checks against the sentries' Spot and Listen
(worst PC result against the best Orc result).
The numbers of orcs in the garrison will depend on
the APL and whether the PCs have fought any orcs in
Encounter 2 or 3.
Garrison at Full Strength (PCs have not fought any orcs
in Encounter 2 or 3):
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APL 2 (EL 4)
�Orc berserkers (5): Bbn1; hp 14; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr1-Gruumsh; hp 9; see Appendix 1
APL 4 (EL 6)
�Orc berserkers (7): Bbn1; hp 14; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr1-Gruumsh; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor1; hp 5; see Appendix 1
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Orc berserkers (7): Bbn2; hp 23; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr2-Gruumsh, hp 15, see Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor2, hp 9, see Appendix 1
APL 8 (EL 10)
�Orc berserkers (4): Bbn5; hp 50; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr4/Bbn1-Gruumsh; hp 37; see
Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor5; hp 21; see Appendix 1
APL 10 (EL 12)
�Orc berserkers (4): Bbn7; hp 68; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr6/Bbn1-Gruumsh; hp 49; see
Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor7; hp 31; see Appendix 1
APL 12 (EL 14)
�Orc berserkers (4): Bbn9; hp 86; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr9-Gruumsh; hp 57; see Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor9; hp 37; see Appendix 1
Treasure: The following treasure is available defendant
on the APL on the party:
APL 2: Loot: 213 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (6) (6 x 4 gp).
APL 4: Loot: 298 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (9) (4 gp each), potion of bull's strength (4) (25 gp
each), potion of mage armour (4 gp).
APL 6: Loot: 298 gp; Magic: potion of cure moderate
wounds (9) (25 gp each), potion of bull's strength (7) (25
gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of mage
armour (25 gp).
APL 8: Loot: 295 gp; Magic: potion of cure serious
wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp
each, potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each,) potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (2) (62 gp each), +1
shortspear (166 gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 451 gp; Magic: +1 falchion (4) (172 gp
each), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each),
potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp each), potion of heroism
(4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of
haste (2) (62 gp each), +1 chainmail (91 gp); +1 shortspear
(166 gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp), potion of
resistance to fire 20 (58 gp).
APL 12: Loot: 451 gp; Magic: +1 falchion (4) (172 gp
each), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each),
potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp each), potion of heroism
(4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of
haste (2) (62 gp), +1 chainmail (95 gp), +1 shortspear (166
gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp), potion of resistance to
fire 20 (58 gp).
Garrison Depleted (PCs fought orcs in either Encounter
2 or Encounter 3):
APL 2 (EL 3)
�Orc berserkers (3): Bbn1; hp 14; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr1; hp 9; see Appendix 1
APL 4 (EL 4)
�Orc berserkers (4): Bbn1; hp 14; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr1; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor1; hp 5; see Appendix 1
APL 6 (EL 5)
�Orc berserkers (4): Bbn1; hp 14; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr1; hp 9; see Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor1; hp 5; see Appendix 1
APL 8 (EL 6)
�Orc berserkers (4): Bbn2; hp 23; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr2; hp 15; see Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor2; hp 9; see Appendix 1
APL 10 (EL 7)
�Orc berserkers (4): Bbn2; hp 23; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr2; hp 15; see Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor2; hp 9; see Appendix 1
APL 12 (EL 8)
�Orc berserkers (4): Bbn3; hp 30; see Appendix 1
�Orc shaman: Clr3; hp 19; see Appendix 1
�Half-orc sorcerer: Sor3; hp 11; see Appendix 1
Treasure: The following treasure is available dependant
on the APL of the party:
APL 2: Loot: 131 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (4) (4 gp each).
APL 4: Loot: 175 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (6) (4 gp each), potion of bull's strength (4) (25 gp
each), potion of mage armour (4 gp).
For Want of a Nail
Page 12
APL 6: Loot: 175 gp; Coin: gp; Magic: potion of cure
moderate wounds (6) (25 gp), potion of bull's strength (4)
(25 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of
mage armour (25 gp),
APL 8: Loot: 177 gp; Magic: potion of cure serious
wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp
each), potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp); potion of haste (2) (62 gp each), +1
shortspear (166 gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 103 gp; Coin: gp; Magic: +1 falchion
(4) (172 gp each), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp
each), potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp), potion of
heroism (4) (62 gp), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp),
potion of haste (2) (62 gp), +1 chain shirt (5) (91 gp each);
+1 shortspear (166 gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp),
potion of resistance to fire 20 (58 gp).
APL 12: Loot: 103 gp; Coin: gp; Magic: +1 falchion
(4) (172 gp each), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp
each), potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp each), potion of
heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp),
potion of haste (2) (62 gp each), +1 chain shirt (5) (91 gp
each), +1 shortspear (166 gp), potion of invisibility (25
gp), potion of resistance to fire 20 (58 gp).
Tactics: If the orcs are alert, then the shaman will cast
any warding spells he can on the path, entrance, and
surroundings of the hill fort. He will also be ready to
provide enhancing spells to the soldiers of the garrison.
Whether alert or not, once the PCs make their
presence known, the scattered guards will concentrate on
the point where the greatest threat appears to be. They
will try to keep the PCs out of the fort with missile fire
(and spells, if applicable) and repulse any break-in by the
PCs with melee combat. The garrison will fight to the
death.
Development: Assume the PCs manage to defeat the
garrison; they are now free to explore the fort and
discover the fate of the prisoners.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
The hilltop falls silent, except for the suddenly loud
keening of the breeze though the dry stone walls. The
bodies of your foes lie scattered around you.
Looking around the interior of the fort, you see a
group of very crude lean to's made from logs and
scrub set at an angle against the north wall of the fort.
In the centre of the fort, a number of evil smelling
pits, covered by wooden bars weighted down with
stones, have been dug into the ground,
Looking down into them you see they are all
empty except for one, which contains a half-starved
man, whose pinched face and hollowed cheeks stare
up at you. Of Jillana or anyone matching her
description, there is no sign.
If any of the PCs have played ONW3-01 The Prophet,
then read aloud or paraphrase the following:
The prisoner is strangely familiar. A slight and slim
man of about 30 years, he wears a scraggly beard that
does not quite hide a livid purple weal around his
throat. With a shock you realise where you have met
this man before - the village of Jeresan.
"Youze looks as if yez have seen a ghost, lads.
Wha's wron? Y'd swear ye'd never seen a hanged man
before," says Boss Gavran.
What has gone before: Gavran was a boss of Wrecker
cell in Gearnwal, until he was found guilty of looting and
mistreating the very people he was supposed to liberate
and was hanged by Baron Kiernal Maldrenn of Gearnwal.
If the PCs have played ONW3-01 The Prophet, then they
may have had a hand in this (though they may remember
events differently, depending on the outcome of the
scenario for them).
After his execution, Gavran's body was spirited away
by agents of the Scarlet Sign in Tessak's Cove. The Scarlet
Brotherhood raised Gavran from the dead and then
tortured him for all that he knew. It was through Gavran,
that the Brotherhood was able to capture Jillana
Waterfoot. Once they got what they wanted from Gavran
they abandoned him here, ultimately to provide
provisions for the garrison.
�Boss Gavran, former Wrecker Boss
Appearance: Gavran is a slight and slim man of 30
years. He wears a scraggly matted beard and is prone to
grinning broadly to reveal a gaping hole where several of
his teeth are missing (the Brotherhood agents pulled out
his gold teeth). He is dressed in filthy rags.
Character: Gavran is a cunning and wily thief and
former Wrecker. He speaks with a rough uncultured
accent and is prone to making bawdy comments,
especially to women.
Gavran was a loyal member of the Wreckers before
his death and resurrection. Now however, he is loyal only
to himself. He feels betrayed by the Free State and the
Wreckers for what happened to him and his men. He also
hates the Scarlet Brotherhood - not only for the torture
they inflicted on him, but because of what they have
done to Onnwal.
Gavran's resurrection has slightly unhinged his
mind, turning him into a psychopath. He now seeks the
violent death of all those responsible both for his death
and revival. Gavran's main motivation at the moment is to
keep on the PCs' good side, long enough to allow him to
escape at any rate. He will guess that the PCs are here to
find Jillana.
For Want of a Nail
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Any PCs that were involved in his death in ONW3-
01 The Prophet, now receive the Wrath of Boss Gavran
cert, if they do not already have it. However, the Boss is a
cunning man and will hide his hatred for the PCs until he
has the power and resources to wreak his revenge on
them.
Wrath of Boss Gavran: The bearer has crossed Gavran, a
Wrecker Boss. Gavran now considers the bearer a mortal
enemy and will work towards their downfall at all costs.
If the PCs immediately try to kill Gavran, he will say:
"Now hold on lads! Yez are makin' a big mistake there
now! Kill me and yez'll never find the woman"
If they do run him through, then they will have track
Jillana without his aid (see Encounter 5).
If they do not kill him, or do not know who he is,
Garan will promise to tell them where Jillana is, if they
swear not to kill or harm him in any way, and to release
him to go upon his way. The first condition is not
negotiable; the second is, as Gavran plans to try to slip
away at the first opportunity.
Only once the PCs have sworn on whatever gods
they hold true - and Gavran will be sure to make any
paladins or priests swear such an oath on their holy
symbols - will he tell them what he knows.
If none of the PCs know him, he will not seek these
assurances, but rather volunteer the information below
and strike off on his own as soon as possible, pretending
to be just another prisoner of war.
What Gavran Knows:
-
Gavran knows whom Jillana is and that she's a
Magsman in the Wreckers, a trusted servant of
Rakehell Chert.
-
She was captured by the Scarlet Brotherhood about a
sennight (three weeks) ago.
-
Jillana turned up at this camp a week ago. She told
Gavran she had been tortured.
-
She was taken away in chains by a group of
foreigners two days ago, along with the rest of the
prisoners that were being held at the fort.
-
The foreigners were not Strawhairs (Scarlet
Brotherhood). They were led by a white-haired olven
woman named Markessa and appeared to be a mix of
humans, orcs and half-orcs. Many spoke with a
strong Pomarji accent. They seemed to be slavers of
some sort.
-
Markessa mentioned meeting a ship at a place called
Esham's Cove. Gavran knows that it's about a day
north of there, on the shores of the Gearnat Sea.
Other Likely Questions:
How did you survive?
"Well - Istus works in strange ways they sez, lads.
They're not wrong. I died the day I did the rope
dance, but those bastard Strawhairs saw fit to dig me
up and raise me up from the dead. The bastards
tortured the hell out of me. Jus' fer giggles. Well,
mark my words, lads - the Strawhaired bastards will
pay for that. As the Gods are my witness, they'll pay,"
Gavran says, a manic gleam in his eye.
Why did you let them raise you?
"Well, lads, given the choice of death or having
another chance at livin', no matter how rough - what
would youze have done?"
How did you get that mark on your neck:
"The Strawhairs used to threaten to hang me to
get information out of me. Used to take me to a tree,
swing a rope over a bough and strech me a little. (true)
Gavran can direct the PCs in the direction of Esham's
Cove and unless the PCs take him with them by force, he
will loot what equipment he can from the orcs and strike
off south on his own.
If the PCs double cross Gavran and kill him having
sworn an oath not to - then this is an evil act and is
grounds for the disqualification of the Player Character.
If they kill him without having sworn an oath, this is
not so severe an act to warrant the disqualification of the
PC, although it is enough for a paladin to lose his
paladinhood, if he participates in the act. Lawful good
priests may also suffer some consequences for breaching
the tenets of their faith.
Encounter 5:
Chasing Jillana
If the PCs have killed Gavran without discovering what
happened to Jillana, they will have to track her down.
An extensive search of the hilltop and its surrounds
(which will take at least 2 hours to complete), will allow
PCs with the Track feat to make a DC 7 Survival check to
try to find the tracks of the Slavers who have taken
Jillana.
Higher Survival checks will reveal the following:
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Page 14
DC 7: About a score and ten (30) humanoids moved
north two days ago. The trail is heading in the direction
of the coast.
DC 10: There are two types of footprints - about a
half-dozen (6) booted prints and then about a score of
shuffling lighter prints.
DC 15: The heavy prints are those of armoured
warriors, some orc, some human. The lighter prints are
those of people trying to walk in shackles.
DC 20: There are the very light prints of a olve (elf)
travelling with the group. It did not appear to be
shackled. There are also signs of blood - where the
prisoners have been beaten or scourge perhaps.
If Gavran has informed the PCs of Jillana’s fate, then they
can proceed directly to Esham's Cove. Use the above
tracking results, if they insist on tracking the Slaver band.
About 6 hours into the journey, the PCs will come
across a grisly discovery.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
As you continue your pursuit of Jillana, you follow
streams that cut north through the ridges and valleys
of the Volanots. About six hours since setting off, you
turn a corner to find a pair of bare and bloodied feet
and legs sticking out of a patch of scrub by the side of
the trail.
Allow the PCs to react. If any of them investigates the
body, read aloud or paraphrase the following:
The legs belong to a young, red-haired woman, who is
lying face down in the scrub. Her body is stiff and
cold to the touch, barely clothed in the remains of a
tattered and blood stained dress. Her back is a whelter
of scourge marks.
The woman does not match the description of Jillana, and
if Gavran is present, he will confirm this. A DC 15 Heal
check will determine that she died about a day ago, most
likely from exhaustion and starvation. She bears the
marks of shackles on her wrists and ankles.
If the PCs have access to speak with dead, then they
may question the corpse:
Who are you?
"I was Anava."
What happened to you?
"I died."
How did you die?
"I died."
Who killed you?
"The Yellow Sails."
Who are the Yellow Sails?
"Those who killed me."
How many of them are there?
"Seven."
Are they humans?
"Yes."
Are they orcs?
"Yes."
Was there an elf with them?
"Yes."
Did you see/know anyone called Jillana Waterfoot?
"No."
Other than that Anava knows little else that is useful.
Esham's Cove
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
You follow a gushing Volanots stream down out of the
high ridges towards the sea. Distantly you can hear
the low rumbling of waves crashing against cliffs and
the cries of gulls and sea birds. The trail and the
stream follow a winding valley clothed in copses of
storm pines and the remnants of rough pastures, now
overgrown and wild and being reclaimed by the
scrub.
The Lay of the Land (see Map 2): Esham's Cove is a small
inlet from the Sea of Gearnat. A steep cliff backs its small
shingle beach. A precarious switchback path, no more
than five feet wide, winds down across the face of the
slope to the beach. A fast running Volanot stream plunges
over the cliff top in a waterfall. The steam cuts a narrow
hanging valley back into the hills, clothed with stands of
storm pines and scrub.
The Slavers: Markessa the White chose this out-of-
the-way place precisely because of its isolation. The
Slavelords do not want to openly advertise their
allegiance to either the orcs of the Pomarj or the Scarlet
Sign. Nor do they want it known that they are operating
once again in Onnwal.
Markessa the White came ashore here a week ago,
heading inland to meet with Jedurek, the half-orc general
commanding the Pomarji forces in Onnwal. She left
behind a detachment of Slaver agents to guard the cove,
under the command of Kervel Tarn, a priest of the Earth
For Want of a Nail
Page 15
Dragon, and Markessa the White's second in command.
Tarn and his men have set up a carefully concealed camp
in a copse of storm pines in the hanging valley
overlooking the cove itself.
Markessa, her guard and the slaves from the hill fort
returned to the cove a day ago and have been patiently
awaiting the arrival of their ship. As fate would have it,
the ship arrives just before the PCs do (unless the PCs
escorted the villagers back to Free State territory in
Encounter Three, in which case Markessa, Tarn, Jillana
and the ship are long gone).
Leaving Tarn and his men to watch the approaches
to the cove, Markessa is overseeing the transport of the
slaves out to the waiting caravel via rowboats. However,
to get to Markessa, the PCs will first have to go through
Tarn and his men in the valley above.
Tarn has dispersed his men in a loose line (15 feet
apart) just inside the tree line of the copse, on guard
against anyone coming down the valley. They will easily
spot the PCs' approach, unless the PCs are taking
precautions not to be seen, in which case make opposed
Spot/Listen checks against the PC's Hide and Move
Silently (use the worst PC's result).
Equally the PCs will need to make an opposed Spot
check against the Slaver's Hide (apply a +4 circumstance
bonus the Slaver's Hide due to the cover of the trees and
scrub).
Once they spot the PCs, Tarn's men will use their
potions of invisibility to remain unseen and then allow
the PCs to make their way through the copse and down
onto the switch back path. There the PCs are vulnerable
and will be unable to manoeuvre well. At this point the
Slavers will attempt to ambush them with their ranged
weapons if possible, sounding a horn to warn Markessa of
the danger as they do.
APL 2 (EL 2)
Note: at this APL, Tarn is not personally present
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers (4): War1; hp 9; see
Appendix 1
APL 4 (EL 4)
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers (4): Ftr1; hp 11; see
Appendix 1
�Halfling Slavelord scout (1): Rog1; hp 8; see Appendix
1
�Kervel Tarn: Clr1 - Earth Dragon; hp 10; see Appendix
1
APL 6 (EL 6)
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers (4): Ftr2; hp 20; see
Appendix 1
�Halfling Slavelord scout (1): Rog2; hp 12; see
Appendix 1
�Kervel Tarn: Clr2 - Earth Dragon; hp 17; see Appendix
1
APL 8 (EL 8)
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers (4): Ftr3; hp 28; see
Appendix 1
�Half-orc Slavelord scout (1): Rog3; hp 17; see
Appendix 1
�Kervel Tarn: Clr3 - Earth Dragon; hp 24; see Appendix
1
APL 10 (EL 10)
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers (4): Ftr5; hp 39; see
Appendix 1
�Halfling Slavelord scout (1): Rog5; hp 37; see
Appendix 1
�Kervel Tarn: Clr5 - Earth Dragon; hp 38; see Appendix
1
APL 12 (EL 12)
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers (4): Ftr7; hp 53; see
Appendix 1
�Half-orc Slavelord scout (1): Rog7; hp 51; see
Appendix 1
�Kervel Tarn: Clr7 - Earth Dragon; hp 52; see Appendix
1
Tactics: If the Slavers strike first, they will try to do as
much damage as possible in the surprise round, targeting
vulnerable looking PCs and spell casters. Tarn will use his
enhancing spells on himself and his men and cast silence
on a stone to throw into the ranks of the PCs in the
surprise round to disrupt spell casters. He will use his
spells (especially soften earth and stone to cause a
landslide under the most dangerous looking PC) to try
and knock the PCs from the cliff to their deaths on the
beach below (the falling damage depends on position on
switchback - see Map 2).
At APL 12 he will have cast a glyph of warding on
the switchback, about 30 feet from the top of the cliff.
The glyph is primed to cast inflict serious wounds (3d8+7
points of damage) on anyone passing it without speaking
the password, known only to Tarn and his men.
Meanwhile the rest of his men shower the PCs with
missile fire. The fighters will try to engage any PC
rushing back up the path, attempting to keep them from
reaching the top and spreading out. The scout will use his
sneak attack to the best of his ability, keeping a readied
action to fire on PCs attempting to cast a spell or trying to
make a run for the beach. The scout has poisoned his first
For Want of a Nail
Page 16
two bolts. If the PCs refuse to fight and run for the beach,
Tarn and his men will continue to pepper them with
missile fire. They will not move down the path to engage
the PCs, but rather hold their positions and attack the
PCs if they try to climb back up the path.
If the Slavers are spotted, then they will try to
withdraw towards the cliff top, using the cover (+4 AC
bonus, +2 cover Reflex save bonus), their potions of
invisibility and the concealment (20% miss chance) of the
trees. Tarn and the scout will try to conceal themselves at
a point overlooking the path and will stay out of the fight.
Their hope is that the PCs will assume that they have fled
and then make their way down the switchback path. If
the PCs do so, the two slavers will ambush them, using
the tactics above.
If/when the PCs gain the top of the cliff, read aloud
or paraphrase the following:
You come to the edge of a cliff over looking a small
cove. The stream tumbles over the edge and down on
to a shingle beach below, its water tattered and frayed
by the sea winds. As you look downwards, you see a
pair of long boats pushing out from the strand. Each
is packed with people, most of them women and
children. There are about a half dozen armed men
among them, split between the boats and a woman
with snow-white tresses falling to her shoulders in
the lead boat.
Looking out between the cliffs that form the
mouth of the cove, you see framed between them, a
caravel riding at anchor in the open sea beyond, its
yellow sails being unfurled, as if to depart.
As you look on, two armed men are struggling to
heave a third longboat down the strand to the
crashing waves.
Treasure: The following treasure is available dependant
on the APL of the encounter:
APL 2: Loot: 48 gp; Coin: 4 gp; Magic: potion of cure
light wounds (4) (4 gp each).
APL 4: Loot: 362 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure moderate wounds (6) (25 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (25 gp each).
APL 6: Loot: 404 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (6 x 25 gp), potion of cat's grace (25 gp),
potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), +1 heavy pick (168 gp), +1
chainmail (96 gp).
APL 8: Loot: 94 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (25 gp each), potion of cat's grace (25 gp),
potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp), +1 small light
crossbow (170 gp), +1 small studded leather armour (87
gp), +1 heavy pick (168 gp), +1 banded mail (104 gp), +1
bastard sword (4) (170 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 378 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (25 gp each), potion of cat's grace (25 gp),
potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp), +1 small flaming
composite shortbow (672 gp), +1 small shadow studded
leather armour (191 gp), +1 heavy pick (168 gp), +1
banded mail (104 gp), +1 scimitar (4) (167 gp each), +1
chainmail (4) ( 95 gp).
APL 12: Loot: 378 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (25 gp each), potion of cat's grace (25 gp),
potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp), +1 small flaming
composite shortbow (672 gp), +1 small shadow studded
leather armour (191 gp), +1 heavy pick (168 gp), +1
banded mail (104 gp), +1 keen scimitar (4) (667 gp each);
+1 chainmail (4) (95 gp each).
Development: If the PCs manage to either defeat or at
least get past Tarn and his men, go to Encounter Six. It is
likely that the PCs will try to engage Markessa and her
men before they have fully dealt with Tarn and his
troops.
If Gavran is present - he will attempt to slip away
during the fight, if this is possible, grappling an
overpowering any PC left to watch over him if needs be
and then running for his life.
Encounter 6:
The Yellow Sails
Having dealt with Tarn, the PCs now have to recover
Jillana from the clutches of Markessa the White.
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
Reaching the base of the cliff, you see the soldiers
heave the stubborn longboat free of the shingle and
into the sea. They splash into the shallows and then
leap aboard, reaching for the oars. By now the other
two boats are in the middle of the inlet, making for
the waiting ship beyond the cliffs.
Jillana is in the lead boat, along with five other women,
guarded by two soliders and Markessa the White (except
at APL 2, in which case, Markessa will fly out to the ship
and leave her minions to deal with the insolent PCs)
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APL 2 (EL 6)
Note: at this APL, Markessa the White will fly off
onto the caravel, leaving her minions to deal with the
PCs.
Human Slavelord soldiers (6): Ftr2, hp 19, see Appendix
1
APL 4 (EL 8)
�Markessa the White: Sor8; hp 25; see Appendix 1
�Human Slavelord soldiers (6): Ftr1; hp 11; see
Appendix 1
APL 6 (EL 10)
�Markessa the White: Sor10; hp 34; see Appendix 1
�Human Slavelord soldiers (6): Ftr2; hp 18; see
Appendix 1
APL 8 (EL 12)
�Markessa the White: Sor12; hp 43; see Appendix 1
�Human Slavelord soldiers (6): Ftr4; hp 32; see
Appendix 1
APL 10 (EL 14)
�Markessa the White: Sor14; hp 49; see Appendix 1
�Human Slavelord soldiers (6): Ftr6; hp 46; see
Appendix 1
APL 12 (EL 16)
�Markessa the White: Sor14; hp 49; see Appendix 1
�Human Slavelord soldiers (6): Ftr8; hp 60; see
Appendix 1
Tactics: The slaver soldiers on the beach will try to get
their boat out into the water and then fight off any PCs
trying to capture their vessel.
The soldiers in the middle boat (not the one with
Markessa) will fire on the PCs and use the prisoners as
human shields against PC missile fire and spells (soft
cover: + 4 AC; attacks that would have hit the soldiers but
for the soft cover, hit the slaves: AC 10, 2 hp). If the PCs
take control of one longboat, the soldiers in the middle
boat will move to try to intercept it, thus aiding Markessa
to make her escape. The soldiers in Markessa's boat will
keep rowing unless engaged in melee.
If present, Markessa will cast her protective spells as
soon as she hears the Tarn's warning or as she sees
evidence of trouble (smoke from fireballs, anyone other
than Tarn moving on the clifftop or switchback path).
Markess will then try to engage the PCs with spells at
long range. Flying or water walking/breathing PCs will
be subject to dispel magic (or greater dispelling if
applicable). If applicable, she will use summon monster V
to summon a chaos beast onto the most threatening
looking PC within range. If directly pressed, and in
danger of her life, she will order one of her men to coup
de grace Jillana (or kill the Wrecker herself by blade or
magic, if she has the opportunity). Markessa will then
cast water breathing (or use her potion of water
breathing) and jump overboard into the sea and try to
swim underwater for the slaver ship. If she can she will
try to kill Jillana from afar, knowing that her allies will
not be pleased if the Wrecker returns to the Free State. If
in dire straits, Markessa will teleport out, back to her lair
in the port of Blue in the Pomarj.
Movement: The rowboats can move 15 feet per
round per person rowing. When the PCs arrive at the top
of the cliff, Markessa's boat is 350 feet from the shore and
400 feet from the cliff top in (straight-line distance). The
middle boat is 200 feet from the shore and 250 feet from
the cliff top in (straight-line distance), and the boat on the
beach is on the shore and 50 feet from the cliff top in
(straight-line distance). The slaver vessel is about 1,000
feet from the shore, so if unhindered, Markessa will reach
the ship in 20 rounds and will be within the firing range
of the ship's crossbows (see below) in 10 rounds.
The Slaver Ship: The slaver ship is fully crewed and
armed with 24 heavy crossbows (12 firing in alternate
rounds) and 3 ballistae (one firing every round). Any PCs
getting within 360 feet of the ship will receive a
broadside of missiles from the crew (-6 to the attack roll at
this range). The crew will not fire on Markessa's boat if
the PCs are engaged in melee with her (though they are
not bothered about the soldiers) for fear of hitting the
olve. None of the crew wants to accept the consequences
that would follow from that, if the sorcerer survived to
wreak her vengeance.
As soon as there is the first sign of trouble, the
captain will order for her to make ready to set sail, so that
as soon as Markessa makes it along side, he will weigh
anchor, and using a scroll of control winds to propel the
ship rapidly away from shore.
Treasure: Dependant on the APL of the event the
following treasure is available:
APL 2: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 12 gp; Magic: potion of
cure light wounds (6) (4 gp each).
APL 4: Loot: 40 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure moderate wounds (7) (25 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp).
APL 6: Loot: 190 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (7) (62 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp), +1 bracers of armour (83 gp), potion of protection
For Want of a Nail
Page 18
from energy (fire) (62 gp); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp),
potion of bull strength (6) (25 gp each).
APL 8: Loot: 21 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (7) (62 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp), bracers of armour +2 (333 gp), potion of
protection from energy (fire) (62 gp), cloak of resistance
+2 (333 gp), +1 scimitar (6) (168 gp each), +1 studded
leather armour (6) (87 gp), potion of bull strength (6) (25
gp each), potion of heroism (6) (62 gp each).
APL 10: Loot: 21 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (7) (62 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp), bracers of armour +3 (750 gp), potion of
protection from energy (fire) (62 gp), cloak of resistance
+2 (333 gp), scimitar +1 (6) (168 gp each), studded leather
armour +1 (6) (87 gp each), potion of bull strength (6) (25
gp), potion of heroism (6) (62 gp each).
APL 12: Loot: 21 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (7) (62 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp), bracers of armour +3 (750 gp), potion of
protection from energy (fire) (62 gp), cloak of resistance
+2 (333 gp), +1 scimitar (6) (168 gp each), +1 studded
leather armour (6) (87 gp each), potion of bull strength (6)
(25 gp each), potion of heroism (6) (62 gp each), ring of
force shield (708 gp).
Development: If the PCs manage to recover Jillana alive,
they will find that she is unconcious and must be carried
to safety. A DC 15 Heal check will revive her sufficiently
to speak and walk. Otherwise she will have to be carried
until she wakens herself the following morning.
Initially upon waking, Jillana will be disorientated
and distrustful of the PCs. It will take a DC 20 Diplomacy
check to convince her that the PCs are not agents of the
Scarlet Brotherhood and that she is not somehow being
duped (allow modifiers for the quality of the PCs'
roleplaying).
�Jillana Waterfoot, Wrecker Magsman
Appearance: Jillana is an attractive woman in her late
twenties or early thirties. She has a freckled complexion,
grey-green eyes and golden-brown hair. She is currently
dressed in a filthy blouse and pantaloons.
Character: Jillana is one of Rakehell Chert's most
trusted agents. As such she is very shrewd and
resourceful, and does not trust people easily. She has
suffered a terrible ordeal and is somewhat withdrawn and
paranoid. Only the importance of the information she
carries is keeping her from total emotional collapse.
If Gavran is Present: Read aloud or paraphrase the
following:
Jillana's eyes fall on Gavran and widen. Suddenly she
leaps up and grapping a weapon, lurches towards the
wrecker, her frace contorted with rage, screaming:
"Traitor!"
What the PCs do next is up to them - though they may be
under an oath to protect the Wrecker. Unless he is
prevented, she will attack Gavran, who will defend
himself, if he has any weapons. Given her weakened state,
he is will easily be able to either dodge her blow if
unarmed or seriously wound her, if he is armed and is she
is not restrained by the PCs. He will try to use the
confusion to escape, if this is possible leaping into the
cover and concealment of the undergrowth and running
for his life. He has already been executed once and does
not want to find himself at the wrong end of a rope again.
If Gavran is Not Present: If the PCs gain her trust,
Jillana will reveal, if asked, that she was betrayed by a
renegade Wrecker called Gavran. However, she will not
speak of her ordeal, not will she tell the PCs what
important tidings she has discovered. She still does not
trust the PCs fully. Jillana will insist that the PCs take her
to safety immediately, as time is of the essence.
If Jillana is killed in the battle, unless the PCs have
the power to raise her from the dead themselves, then
they have failed their mission. Speak with dead will not
produce the required results, merely that the Army of
Rebellion is danger. The Scarlet Brotherhood battle plan
is too complex to be related by the short cryptic answers
that the spell elicits. See Conclusion A below
If Markessa the White survives the PCs attack, then
she will report their meddling to her superiors in the
Pomarj, earning the PCs the enmity of the Slaverlords.
Wrath of the Slavelords: For your part in twarting the
operations of the Slavelords in Onnwal, you have earned
the enmity of the Slaverlords of the Pomarj and in
particular of Markessa the White. This may have far
reaching conseqeunces in future modules.
Conclusion
The conclusion of the module depends on whether the
PCs recovered Jillana alive or not.
Jillana Killed or Not Recovered
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
You sorrowfully make your way back through the
Volanots and across the front line without incident.
It is with profound relief that you are challenged by a
For Want of a Nail
Page 19
patrol of Free State Regulars; their green cloaks the
most welcome sight you have seen in days. After
explaining your mission, you are conveyed to the
Golden Heart's headquarters at Arbend.
The camp is even busier than when you left, with
units forming up and marching out westwards
towards the leaguer lines around Scant. Everywhere
there is talk of heavy fighting there and an attempt by
the Strawhairs to break though the siege lines.
You are ushered into the headquarters and
admitted into the upper room as before. Awaiting you
are Farland Marshevel and the Oeridian man who set
you your task. Both look tense as you enter.
"What is your report?" Marshevel asks. "Where is
the Magsman?"
Allow the PCs to respond.
As you relate the grim news, a pall falls across the face
of the Oeridian man. Without a word he walks,
stonefaced, from the room, leaving you alone with the
Braetern.
Marshevel will deal with the matter of the PCs reward,
paying them the amount that the now departed Oeridian
man agreed.
If the PCs negotiated with the “kesh” in Encounter 1,
even if they did not agree to any terms, they have earned
the Suspicion of the Wreckers.
Suspicion of the Wreckers: The PCs have earned Disliked
Status with Rakehell Chert and the Wreckers. Wrecker
PCs will be mistrusted by their peers and barred from
promotion within the Wreckers until they clear their
name. The Wreckers in future modules will mistrust non-
Wreckers.
Treasure: Chert will now pay out the agreed sum to the
PCs as their reward.
APL 2: Coin: 50 gp
APL 4: Coin: 75 gp
APL 6: Coin: 100 gp
APL 8: Coin: 125 gp
APL 10: Coin: 150 gp
APL 12: Coin: 200 gp
The PCs' mission has ended in failure, but their failure is
only the herald for a greater disaster for the Free State...
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
You emerge despondently from the headquarters.
Serried columns of green cloaked Regulars of the
Golden Heart are marching past, led by proud officers
astride white horses. Behind the Regulars come
squares of Militia - spears and bows shouldered. As
they pass the Militia break into song.
"Onward Onnwallon Soliders!" they sing their
voices swelling with pride as they march out
eastwards to meet the Brotherhood before Myrhill,
marching to their doom.
The End
Jillana Recovered Alive
Read aloud or paraphrase the following:
You make all haste in your journey south, dodging
patrols of orcs and pressing on even through the
night at Jillana's instance to reach safety. Jillana,
though clearly teetering on mental and physical
collapse never once falters. You come to realise there
is a core of steel inside this seemingly frail woman.
It is with profound relief that you are challenged
by a patrol of Free State Regulars, their green cloaks
the most welcome sight you have seen in days. After
explaining your mission, you are conveyed with all
speed to the Golden Heart's headquarters at Arbend.
The camp is even busier than when you left, with
units forming up and marching out westwards
towards the leaguer lines around Scant. Everywhere
there is talk of heavy fighting there and an attempt by
the Strawhairs to break though the siege lines.
Jillana is ushered into the headquarters, with you
in her wake. An altern makes to prevent you from
carrying on any further, but Jillana overrules him and
you are admitted into the upper room as before.
Awaiting you are Farland Marshevel and the
Oeridian man who set you your task. Both look tense
as you enter, but on seeing Jillana, the Oeridan man
smiles broadly and gives her a nod. As she crosses the
floor, Jillana falters and stumbles.
If the PCs don't move to catch her, the Oeridan man
(Chert) will, moving with remarkable speed and agility.
Allow the PCs to interact with the NPCs in the following
scene - but be sure to deliver the information contained
herein.
A chair is brought for the exhausted Magman, but she
refuses it, standing unsteadily to make her report.
"Recall your men, Braetern" she croaks. "Recall
them now."
Marshevel frowns. "They are needed to support
the altads holding the leaguer line around Myrhill
and Scant. The Brotherhood have launched a heavy
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Page 20
assault against it yestereve and our lines cannot hold
much long -…"
"Pull them ALL back - the leaguer line, the
reinforcements, everyone," Jillana says. "The attack in
the west is a feint, a distraction. The real assault on
the Gildenlea will come from the north."
If the PCs do not, then Marshevel, will ask the next and
most obvious question:
"How do you know this?" Marshevel asks doubtfully,
glancing at the Oeridian man, who looks on
impassively.
"I was in Jedurek's camp when the order to attack
came from Brother Kerav, the new commander of the
Brotherhood army in Onnwal. His adjutant Jorala
bore the orders to Jedurek personally.
"Kerav plans to draw you into committing your
reserves to bolster the leaguer line. This done,
Jedurek will give Halwyr the slip in the Volanots and,
leaving a masking force to hide his departure, turn his
main column south onto the plains of the Gildenlea,
striking at Bergardbridge and cutting off the 2
nd
Braetad and its militias. You'll be crushed between
Jedurek's hammer and Kerav's anvil."
"You're sure of this, Jillana?" the Oeridian man
asks softly.
"More sure than I have been about anything,
Wrecker," she replies grimly.
Marshevel leaps from his desk and rushes from
the room, calling for his officers he goes. Within
seconds, a cacophany of signal horns breaks out in the
camp.
Treasure: Chert will now pay out the agreed sum to the
PCs as their reward.
APL 2: Coin: 50 gp
APL 4: Coin: 75 gp
APL 6: Coin: 100 gp
APL 8: Coin: 125 gp
APL 10: Coin: 150 gp
APL 12: Coin: 200 gp
Favour of the Wreckers: The PC has been granted Well-
Liked status with the Wreckers and 3 RIPs with the
Wreckers and Rakehell Chert. In addition, any PC that
still has the Disfavour of the Wreckers is not no longer
affected by it.
Finally, read aloud or paraphrase the following:
You emerge from the headquarters into a frenzy of
activity. The columns forming up to march west are
now
wheeling
about
and
heading
east
for
Bergardbridge. Dispatch riders are galloping towards
the front as though all the devils of the Hells were on
their heels. Around you the camp is being dismantled
before your eyes. Everything is being uprooted and
laoded onto wains heading east. The banner of the
green and gold is lowered from roof of the
headquarters.
The Army of Rebellion is in retreat.
The End
For Want of a Nail
Page 21
Experience Point Summary
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished and assign the experience
award accordingly. Then assign the discretionary role-
playing experience award. The role-playing award should
be given for consistent character portrayal and
contribution to the fun of the game. You can award
different role-playing amounts to different characters.
Award the total value (objectives + roleplaying) to each
character.
Encounter One: A Test of Loyalty
Pass the loyalty test:
APL2:
30 XP
APL4:
45 XP
APL6:
60 XP
APL8:
75 XP
APL10:
90 XP
APL12:
105 XP
Encounter Two: Between the Lines
Slay the orc scouts or put them to flight:
APL2:
30 XP
APL4:
60 XP
APL6:
90 XP
APL8:
120 XP
APL10:
150 XP
APL12:
180 XP
OR
Encounter Three: Choices and Chains
Defeat the orc slavers:
APL2:
30 XP
APL4:
60 XP
APL6:
90 XP
APL8:
120 XP
APL10:
150 XP
APL12:
180 XP
Encounter Four: A Familiar Face
Defeat the FULL STRENGTH orc garrison
APL2:
120 XP
APL4:
180 XP
APL6:
240 XP
APL8:
300 XP
APL10:
360 XP
APL12:
420 XP
OR
Defeat the DEPLETED orc garrison
APL2:
90 XP
APL4:
120 XP
APL6:
150 XP
APL8:
180 XP
APL10:
210 XP
APL12:
240 XP
Discover Jillana's plight from Gavran:
APL2:
30 XP
APL4:
45 XP
APL6:
60 XP
APL8:
75 XP
APL10:
90XP
APL12:
105 XP
Encounter Five: Chasing Jillana
Defeat Tarn and the Slavelord soldiers
APL2:
60 XP
APL4:
120 XP
APL6:
180 XP
APL8:
240 XP
APL10:
300 XP
APL12:
360 XP
Encounter Six: The Yellow Sails
Defeat Markessa the White and the Slavelord soldiers:
APL2:
180 XP
APL4:
240 XP
APL6:
300 XP
APL8:
360 XP
APL10:
420 XP
APL12:
480 XP
Recover Jillana Waterfoot alive:
APL2:
30 XP
APL4:
45 XP
APL6:
60 XP
APL8:
75 XP
APL10:
90 XP
APL12:
105 XP
Total possible experience
APL2:
450 XP
APL4:
675 XP
APL6:
800 XP
APL8:
1,125 XP
APL10:
1,350 XP
APL12:
1,575 XP
For Want of a Nail
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Treasure Summary
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their
earthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10
minutes per every 5 bodies, and if the characters cannot
take the time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this
gold. If you feel it is reasonable that the characters can go
back to loot the bodies, and those bodies are there (that is
not carted off by dungeon scavengers, removed from the
scene by the local watch, and so on), characters may
return to retrieve the loot. If characters do not loot the
body, the gold piece value for the loot is subtracted from
the encounter totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a
round or so. If for some reason they pass up this treasure,
the coin total is subtracted from the encounter totals
given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure
is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because characters may want to use them during the
adventure. Many times characters must cast identify,
analyse dweomer, or similar spell to determine what the
item does and how to activate it. Other times they may
attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic item is
consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts etc) and the
item is used before the end of the adventure. Its total is
subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasures from each encounter, add it up and that it’s the
number of gold pieces a character’s total and coin values
increase by at the end of the adventure. Write the total in
the GP Gained field of the Adventure Certificate.
Total Possible Treasure
APL 2: 400 gp
APL 4: 600 gp
APL 6: 800 gp
APL 8: 1,250 gp
APL 10: 2,100 gp
APL 12: 3,000 gp
Treasure Key
Encounter 1: A Test of Loyalty
All APLs: If the PCs fail the loyalty test:
Suspicion of the Wreckers: The PCs have earned Disliked
Status with Rakehell Chert and the Wreckers. Wrecker
PCs will be mistrusted by their peers and barred from
promotion within the Wreckers until they clear their
name. Non-Wreckers will be mistrusted by the Wreckers
in future modules.
Encounter 2: Between the Lines
APL 2: Loot: 12 gp;
APL 4: Loot: 58 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (3) (3 x 4 gp).
APL 6: Loot: 116 gp; Magic: potion of cure moderate
wounds (4) (4 x 25 gp).
APL 8: Loot: 275 gp; Coin: 1 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of heroism
(5) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 189 gp; Coin: 1 gp; Magic: +1 battleaxe
(2) (167 gp each), + 1 light crossbow (2) (169 gp each), +1
shortspear (167 gp), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62
gp each), potion of heroism (2) (62 gp each), potion of
owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (4) (62 gp each).
APL 12: Loot: 189 gp; Coin: 1 gp; Magic: +1 battleaxe
(2) (167 gp each), + 1 light crossbow (2) (169 gp each), +1
shortspear (167 gp), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62
gp each), potion of heroism (2) (62 gp each), potion of
owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (4) (62 gp each).
OR
Encounter Three: Choices and Chains
APL 2: Loot: 12 gp.
APL 4: Loot: 108 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (3) (4 gp each).
APL 6: Loot: 144 gp; Magic: potion of cure moderate
wounds (4) (25 gp each).
APL 8: Loot: 362 gp; Coin: 1 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of heroism
(5) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 162 gp; Magic: +1 battleaxe (5) (167 gp
each), +1 shortspear (167 gp), potion of cure serious
wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of heroism (5) (62 gp
each), potion of bull's strength (5) (25 gp each, potion of
owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp).
APL 12: Loot: 162 gp; Magic: +1 battleaxe (5) (167 gp
each), +1 shortspear (167 gp), potion of cure serious
wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of heroism (5) (62 gp
each), potion of bull's strength (5) (25 gp each), potion of
owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp).
Encounter 4: A Familiar Face
Garrison At Full Strength
For Want of a Nail
Page 23
APL 2: Loot: 213 gp; Magic: potion of cure light wounds
(6) (6 x 4 gp).
APL 4: Loot: 298 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (9) (4 gp each), potion of bull's strength (4) (25 gp
each), potion of mage armour (4 gp).
APL 6: Loot: 298 gp; Magic: potion of cure moderate
wounds (9) (25 gp each), potion of bull's strength (7) (25
gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of mage
armour (25 gp).
APL 8: Loot: 295 gp; Magic: potion of cure serious
wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp
each, potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each,) potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (2) (62 gp each), +1
shortspear (166 gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 451 gp; Magic: +1 falchion (4) (172 gp
each), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each),
potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp each), potion of heroism
(4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of
haste (2) (62 gp each), +1 chainmail (91 gp); +1 shortspear
(166 gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp), potion of
resistance to fire 20 (58 gp).
APL 12: Loot: 451 gp; Magic: +1 falchion (4) (172 gp
each), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each),
potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp each), potion of heroism
(4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of
haste (2) (62 gp), +1 chainmail (95 gp), +1 shortspear (166
gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp), potion of resistance to
fire 20 (58 gp).
All APLs: If Gavran Survives:
Wrath of Boss Gavran Cert: The bearer has crossed
Gavran, a Wrecker Boss. Gavran now considers the bearer
a mortal enemy and will work towards their downfall at
all costs.
OR
Garrison Depleted
APL 2: Loot: 131 gp; Magic: potion of cure light wounds
(4) (4 gp each).
APL 4: Loot: 175 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (6) (4 gp each), potion of bull's strength (4) (25 gp
each), potion of mage armour (4 gp).
APL 6: Loot: 175 gp; Coin: gp; Magic: potion of cure
moderate wounds (6) (25 gp), potion of bull's strength (4)
(25 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), potion of
mage armour (25 gp),
APL 8: Loot: 177 gp; Magic: potion of cure serious
wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp
each), potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp); potion of haste (2) (62 gp each), +1
shortspear (166 gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 103 gp; Coin: gp; Magic: +1 falchion
(4) (172 gp each), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp
each), potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp), potion of
heroism (4) (62 gp), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp),
potion of haste (2) (62 gp), +1 chain shirt (5) (91 gp each);
+1 shortspear (166 gp), potion of invisibility (25 gp),
potion of resistance to fire 20 (58 gp).
APL 12: Loot: 103 gp; Coin: gp; Magic: +1 falchion
(4) (172 gp each), potion of cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp
each), potion of bull strength (4) (25 gp each), potion of
heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp),
potion of haste (2) (62 gp each), +1 chain shirt (5) (91 gp
each), +1 shortspear (166 gp), potion of invisibility (25
gp), potion of resistance to fire 20 (58 gp).
All APLs: If Gavran Survives:
Wrath of Boss Gavran Cert: The bearer has crossed
Gavran, a Wrecker Boss. Gavran now considers the bearer
a mortal enemy and will work towards their downfall at
all costs.
Encounter 5: Chasing Jillana
APL 2: Loot: 48 gp; Coin: 4 gp; Magic: potion of cure light
wounds (4) (4 gp each).
APL 4: Loot: 362 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure moderate wounds (6) (25 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (25 gp each).
APL 6: Loot: 404 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (6 x 25 gp), potion of cat's grace (25 gp),
potion of owl's wisdom (25 gp), +1 heavy pick (168 gp), +1
chainmail (96 gp).
APL 8: Loot: 94 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (25 gp each), potion of cat's grace (25 gp),
potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp), +1 small light
crossbow (170 gp), +1 small studded leather armour (87
gp), +1 heavy pick (168 gp), +1 banded mail (104 gp), +1
bastard sword (4) (170 gp).
APL 10: Loot: 378 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (25 gp each), potion of cat's grace (25 gp),
potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp), +1 small flaming
composite shortbow (672 gp), +1 small shadow studded
leather armour (191 gp), +1 heavy pick (168 gp), +1
banded mail (104 gp), +1 scimitar (4) (167 gp each), +1
chainmail (4) ( 95 gp).
APL 12: Loot: 378 gp; Coin: 11 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (6) (62 gp each), potion of
invisibility (6) (25 gp each), potion of cat's grace (25 gp),
potion of heroism (4) (62 gp each), potion of owl's
wisdom (25 gp), potion of haste (62 gp), +1 small flaming
For Want of a Nail
Page 24
composite shortbow (672 gp), +1 small shadow studded
leather armour (191 gp), +1 heavy pick (168 gp), +1
banded mail (104 gp), +1 keen scimitar (4) (667 gp each);
+1 chainmail (4) (95 gp each).
Encounter 6: The Yellow Sails
APL 2: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 12 gp; Magic: potion of cure
light wounds (6) (4 gp each).
APL 4: Loot: 40 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure moderate wounds (7) (25 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp).
APL 6: Loot: 190 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (7) (62 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp), +1 bracers of armour (83 gp), potion of protection
from energy (fire) (62 gp); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp),
potion of bull strength (6) (25 gp each).
APL 8: Loot: 21 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (7) (62 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp), bracers of armour +2 (333 gp), potion of
protection from energy (fire) (62 gp), cloak of resistance
+2 (333 gp), +1 scimitar (6) (168 gp each), +1 studded
leather armour (6) (87 gp), potion of bull strength (6) (25
gp each), potion of heroism (6) (62 gp each).
APL 10: Loot: 21 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (7) (62 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp), bracers of armour +3 (750 gp), potion of
protection from energy (fire) (62 gp), cloak of resistance
+2 (333 gp), scimitar +1 (6) (168 gp each), studded leather
armour +1 (6) (87 gp each), potion of bull strength (6) (25
gp), potion of heroism (6) (62 gp each).
APL 12: Loot: 21 gp; Coin: 10 gp; Magic: potion of
cure serious wounds (7) (62 gp each), potion of water
breathing (62 gp), potion of remove blindness/deafness
(62 gp), bracers of armour +3 (750 gp), potion of
protection from energy (fire) (62 gp), cloak of resistance
+2 (333 gp), +1 scimitar (6) (168 gp each), +1 studded
leather armour (6) (87 gp each), potion of bull strength (6)
(25 gp each), potion of heroism (6) (62 gp each), ring of
force shield (708 gp).
All APLs: If Markessa the White survives:
Wrath of the Slavelords: For your part in twarting the
operations of the Slavelords in Onnwal, you have earned
the enmity of the Slaverlords of the Pomarj and in
particular of Markessa the White. This may have far
reaching conseqeunces in future modules.
Conclusion
APL 2: Coin: 50 gp
APL 4: Coin: 75 gp
APL 6: Coin: 100 gp
APL 8: Coin: 125 gp
APL 10: Coin: 150 gp
APL 12: Coin: 200 gp
All APLs: If Jillana Was Not Recovered
If the PCs negotiated with the “kesh” in Encounter 1,
even if they did not agree to any terms, they have earned
the Suspicion of the Wreckers.
Suspicion of the Wreckers: The PCs have earned Disliked
Status with Rakehell Chert and the Wreckers. Wrecker
PCs will be mistrusted by their peers and barred from
promotion within the Wreckers until they clear their
name. Non-Wreckers will be mistrusted by the Wreckers
in future modules.
If Jillana was Recovered
Favour of the Wreckers: The PC has been granted Well-
Liked status with the Wreckers and 3 RIPs with the
Wreckers and Rakehell Chert. In addition, any PC that
still has the Disfavour of the Wreckers is not no longer
affected by it.
Items for the Adventure Record
Wrath of Boss Gavran Cert: The bearer has crossed
Gavran, a Wrecker Boss. Gavran now considers the bearer
a mortal enemy and will work towards their downfall at
all costs.
Wrath of the Slavelords: For your part in thwarting the
operations of the Slavelords in Onnwal, you have earned
the enmity of the Slaverlords of the Pomarj and in
particular of Markessa the White. This may have far
reaching conseqeunces in future modules.
Suspicion of the Wreckers: The PCs have earned Disliked
Status with Rakehell Chert and the Wreckers. Wrecker
PCs will be mistrusted by their peers and barred from
promotion within the Wreckers until they clear their
name. Non-Wreckers will be mistrusted by the Wreckers
in future modules.
Favour of the Wreckers: The PC has been granted Well-
Liked status with the Wreckers and 3 RIPs with the
Wreckers and Rakehell Chert. In addition, any PC that
still has the Disfavour of the Wreckers is not no longer
affected by it.
For Want of a Nail
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Item Access
Note: PCs only get access to items they encounter. As
this module involves random encounters, the PCs will
not encounter all of the items listed below for each APL.
APL 6: bracers of armour +1, cloak of resistance +1.
APL 8: bracers of armour +2, cloak of resistance +2.
APL 10: +1 small flaming composite shortbow, +1
small shadow studded leather armour, bracers of armour
+3, cloak of resistance +2.
APL 12: +1 small flaming composite shortbow, +1
small shadow studded leather armour, +1 keen scimitar,
bracers of armour +3; cloak of resistance +2, ring of force
shield.
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Appendix I:
NPC Statistics
APL 2
Encounter Two: Between the Lines
�Orc scouts: hp 5 see Monster Manual, p146
Encounter Three: Choices and Chains
�Orc scouts: hp 5 see Monster Manual, p146
Encounter Four: A Familiar Face
�Orc Berserker, orc Bbn1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d12+2; hp 14; Init +3; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17,
flat-footed 14, touch 13; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +6
melee (2d4+6/18-20, falchion) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3,
hand axe) or +5 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk 6
melee (2d4+6/18-20, falchion) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3,
hand axe) or +5 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe,);
Space/Reach 5 ft./5ft.; SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision,
rage 1/day, fast movement; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +3,
Will +0; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Hide +5, Jump +8;
Weapon Focus (falchion).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Falchion, hand axe, throwing axe, chain
shirt, potion of cure light wounds.
�Orc Shaman, Clr1 - Gruumsh: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15,
touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +0; Grp +2; Atk +2
melee (1d8+1, shortspear); Full Atk +2 melee (1d8+1,
shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +5; Str 12,
Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells Prepared (3/2; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0 -
guidance, resistance, virtue; 1 - cause fear, enthropic
shield, magic weapon *
* Domain Spell. Domains: War: free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: Shortspear, chain shirt, potion of cure
light wounds.
�Gavran, male human Rog1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d6; hp 6; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12 flat-
footed 10; touch 12; Base Atk +0; Grp +1; Atk +1 melee
(1d6+1, shortspear); Full Atk Atk +1 melee (1d6+1,
shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack +
1d6; AL N; SV Fort +0; Ref +4; Will +0; Str 12, Dex 15,
Con 11, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Hide +6, Move Silently +6, Tumble
+6, Open Locks +6, Search +6, Appraise +6, Disable
Device +6, Listen +4, Spot +4, Use Magic Device +3;
Alertness, Improved Initiative.
Encounter Five: Chasing Jillana
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers, War1: CR 1/2; Medium-
sized humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC
17 touch 13, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +4; Atk +4
melee (1d6+3/18-20, scimitar) or +4 ranged (1d8/, light
crossbow); Full Atk +4 melee (1d6+3/18-20, scimitar) or
+4 ranged (1d8/, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Darkvision; AL LE; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1; Str 16,
Dex 16, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Jump +5, Hide +3;
Improved Initiative.
Possessions: Scimitar, light crossbow, crossbow bolts
(20), chain shirt, potion of cure light wounds, 6 gp.
Encounter Six: The Yellow Sails
�Human Slavelord soldiers, Ftr2: CR 2; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 2d10+4; hp 19; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16,
touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +2; Grp +4; Atk +4
melee (1d6+2/18-20, scimitar) or +6 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow) or +4 melee (1d4+2/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +4
melee (1d6+2/18-20, scimitar) or +6 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow)
or
+4
melee
(1d4+2/19-20,
dagger);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +3, Will
+1; Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +3, Jump +6, Spot +2, Swim
+7; Diehard, Endurance, Improved Initiative, Weapon
Focus (light crossbow).
Possessions: Scimitar, dagger, light crossbow,
crossbow bolts (20), studded leather, potion of cure light
wounds, 12 gp.
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APL 4
Encounter Two: Between the Lines
�Orc Axeman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized humanoid;
HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 12,
flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +6 melee
(1d8+6/x3, battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or
+3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk +6 melee
(1d8+6/x3, battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or
+3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref
+2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Battleaxe, throwing axe, handaxe, chain
shirt, potion of cure light wounds, 1 gp.
�Orc Crossbowman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +7 (+3 Dex; +4 Imp.
Init.); Spd 30 ft.; AC 17 (touch 13, flat-footed 14); Base Atk
+1; Grp +4; Atk +5 ranged (1d8/19-20, light crossbow) or
+4 melee (1d6+3/x3, handaxe); Full Atk +5 ranged
(1d8/19-20, light crossbow) or +4 melee (1d6+3/x3,
handaxe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 16,
Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +3, Spot +2; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (light crossbow).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Light crossbow, crossbow bolts (20),
handaxe, chain shirt, potion of cure light wounds, 1 gp.
Encounter Three: Choices and Chains
�Orc Axeman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized humanoid;
HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 12,
flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +6 melee
(1d8+6/x3, battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or
+3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk +6 melee
(1d8+6/x3, battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or
+3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref
+2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Battleaxe, throwing axe, handaxe, chain
shirt, potion of cure light wounds, 1 gp.
Encounter Four: A Familiar Face
�Orc Berserker, orc Bbn1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d12+2; hp 14; Init +3; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17,
flat-footed 14, touch 13; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +6
melee (2d4+6/18-20, falchion) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3,
hand axe) or +5 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk 6
melee (2d4+6/18-20, falchion) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3,
hand axe) or +5 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe,);
Space/Reach 5 ft./5ft.; SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision,
rage 1/day, fast movement; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +3,
Will +0; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Hide +5, Jump +8;
Weapon Focus (falchion).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Falchion, hand axe, throwing axe, chain
shirt, potion of cure light wounds.
�Orc Shaman, Clr1 - Gruumsh: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15,
touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +0; Grp +2; Atk +2
melee (1d8+1, shortspear); Full Atk +2 melee (1d8+1,
shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +5; Str 12,
Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells Prepared (3/2; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0 -
guidance, resistance, virtue; 1 - cause fear, enthropic
shield, magic weapon *
* Domain Spell. Domains: War: free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: Shortspear, chain shirt, potion of cure
light wounds.
�Half-Orc Sorcerer, Sor1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d4+1; hp 5; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12,
touch 12, flatfooted 10; Base Atk +0; Grp +0; Atk +0 melee
(1d8, shortspear) or +2 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full
Atk +0 melee (1d8, shortspear) or +2 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); SQ Darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +2,
Will +3; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting.
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells: (known 4/2; per day 5/4; base DC = 12 + spell
level): 0 – acid splash, flare, ghost sound, touch of fatigue;
1
st – magic missile, shield.
For Want of a Nail
Page 28
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow plus
crossbow bolts (20), potion of cure light wounds, potion
of mage armour.
�Gavran, male human Rog2: CR 2; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 2d6+2; hp 11; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12,
flat-footed 10; touch 12; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atks +2
melee (1d6+1, shortspear); Full Atk +2 melee (1d6+1,
shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack +
1d6; SQ Evasion; AL NE; SV Fort +1; Ref +5; Will +0; Str
12, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Hide +7, Move Silently +7, Tumble +
7, Open Locks + 9, Search +7, Appraise +7, Disable Device
+9, Listen +7, Spot +7, Use Magic Device +4; Alertness,
Improved Initiative.
Encounter Five: Chasing Jillana
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-
sized humanoid; HD 1d10+1; hp 11; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC
16, touch 12, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +5
melee (1d6+4/19-20, scimitar) or +4 ranged (1d8+4/x3,
mighty composite longbow +4); Full Atk +5 melee
(1d6+4/19-20, scimitar) or +4 ranged (1d8+4/x3, mighty
composite longbow +4); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ
Darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +1;
Str 18, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (composite longbow).
Possessions: Scimitar, mighty composite longbow +4,
arrows (20), chain shirt, potion of cure moderate wounds,
potion of invisibility.
�Halfling Slavelord scout, Rog1: Small humanoid; HD
1d6+2; hp 8; Init +8; Spd 20 ft.; AC 18, touch 14, flatfooted
14; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk +3 melee (1d4+1/19-20, short
sword) or +6 ranged (1d4, composite shortbow); Full Atk
+3 melee (1d4+1/19-20, short sword) or +6 ranged (1d4,
composite shortbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak
attack +1d6; SQ Halfling traits, evasion, trapfinding; AL
NE; SV Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +3; Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14,
Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +7, Climb +6, Escape Artist
+7, Hide +11, Jump +2, Listen +7, Move Silently +9, Spot
+5, Tumble +7; Improved Initiative.
Possessions: Studded leather armour, small short
sword, small composite shortbow + 20 arrows, potion of
cure moderate wounds, potion of invisibility, 2 vials of
large spider venom (Injury; DC 18; Initial and secondary
damage 1d6 Str), 10 gp.
�Kervel Tarn, Clr1 - Earth Dragon: CR 1; Medium-
sized Humanoid; HD 1d8+2; hp 10; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC
17, touch 11, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +0; Grp +1; Atk +1
melee (1d6+1/x4, heavy pick) or +1 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow,); Full Atk 1 melee (1d6+1/x4, heavy pick) or +1
ranged (1d8, light crossbow,); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL
LE; SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +5; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 14, Int
10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Heal +7, Hide -2;
Combat Casting, Martial Weapon Proficiency (heavy
pick).
Spells Prepared (3/2+1; Base DC = 13 + spell level): 0
– detect magic, guidance, resistance; 1
st – cause fear,
protection from good*, shield of faith.
* Domain Spell.Domains: Earth: turn or destroy air
creatures. Rebuke, command, or bolster earth creatures,
3/day. Evil: cast evil spells at +1 caster level;
Possessions: heavy pick, light crossbow, crossbow
bolts (20), light steel shield, chainmail, potion of cure
moderate wounds, potion of invisibility.
Encounter Six: The Yellow Sails
�Markessa the White: Sor8, CR 8; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 8d4; hp 25; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 11,
touch 11, flatfooted 10; Base Atk +4; Grp +4; Atk +5
ranged (1d8, light crossbow,) or +4 melee (1d4, dagger);
Full Atk +5 ranged (1d8, light crossbow,) or +4 melee
(1d4, dagger); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Elven traits,
sleep immunity, low-light vision; AL LE; SV Fort +2, Ref
+3, Will +6; Str 10, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 19.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Listen +2,
Search +2, Spot +2; Combat Casting, Silent Spell, Spell
Focus (Evocation).
Spells (known: 8/5/3/2/1; per day: 6/7/7/6/4; Base
DC = 14 + spell level; Evocation = 16 + spell level): 0 –
acid splash, daze, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, ray of
frost, resistance, touch of fatigue; 1
st – mage armour,
magic missile, protection from good, ray of enfeeblement,
shield; 2
nd – bear’s endurance, eagle’s spendour, scorching
ray; 3
rd – haste, fireball; 4
th - silent dispell magic
Possessions: Dagger, light crossbow, crossbow bolts
(20), potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of water
breathing, potion of remove blindness/deafness.
�Human Slavelord soldiers, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d10+1; hp 11; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16,
touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +1; Grp +4; Atk +4
melee (1d6+3/18-20, scimitar) or +4 melee (1d4+3/19-20,
dagger) or +5 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full Atk +4
melee (1d6+3/18-20, scimitar) or +4 melee (1d4+3/19-20,
dagger) or +5 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach
5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 16, Dex
16, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +6, Jump +6, Swim +7;
Endurance, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus: (light
crossbow).
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Possessions: Scimitar, dagger, light crossbow,
crossbow bolts, studded leather, potion of cure moderate
wounds.
For Want of a Nail
Page 30
APL 6
Encounter Two
�Orc Axeman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized humanoid;
HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 12,
flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +6 melee
(1d8+6/x3, battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or
+3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk +6 melee
(1d8+6/x3, battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or
+3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref
+2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Battleaxe, throwing axe, handaxe, chain
shirt, potion of cure moderate wounds, 1 gp.
�Orc Crossbowman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +7 (+3 Dex; +4 Imp.
Init.); Spd 30 ft.; AC 17 (touch 13, flat-footed 14); Base Atk
+1; Grp +4; Atk +5 ranged (1d8/19-20, light crossbow) or
+4 melee (1d6+3/x3, handaxe); Full Atk +5 ranged
(1d8/19-20, light crossbow) or +4 melee (1d6+3/x3,
handaxe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 16,
Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +3, Spot +2; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (light crossbow).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Light crossbow, crossbow bolts (20),
handaxe, chain shirt, potion of cure moderate wounds, 1
gp.
Encounter Three
�Orc Axeman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized humanoid;
HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 12,
flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +6 melee
(1d8+6/x3, battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or
+3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk +6 melee
(1d8+6/x3, battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or
+3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref
+2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Battleaxe, throwing axe, handaxe, chain
shirt, potion of cure moderate wounds, 1 gp.
Encounter Four
Garrison at Full Strength:
�Orc Berserker, Bbn2: CR 2; Medium-sized humanoid;
HD 2d12+4; hp 23; Init +3; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, flat-footed
14, touch 13; Base Atk +2; Grp +6; Atk +7 melee
(2d4+6/18-20, falchion) or +6 melee (1d6+4/x3, hand axe)
or +6 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk +7 melee
(2d4+6/18-20, falchion) or +6 melee (1d6+4/x3, hand axe)
or +6 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5
ft.; SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision, rage 1/day, fast
movement, uncanny dodge; AL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +3,
Will +0; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Hide +3, Jump +7, Swim
+5; Weapon Focus (falchion).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Falchion, hand axe, throwing axe, chain
shirt, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of bull's
strength.
�Orc Shaman, Clr2 - Gruumsh: CR 2; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 2d8+2; hp 15; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15,
touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk +3
melee (1d8+1, shortspear); Full Atk +3 melee (1d8+1,
shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ: Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +6; Str 12,
Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Spellcraft +5;
Combat
Casting,
Martial
Weapon
Proficiency
(longspear), Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells Prepared (4/3); base DC = 13 + spell level): 0 –
detect magic, guidance, resistance, virtue; 1st - bless,
enthropic shield, protection from good, magic weapon *
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +2 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: Shortspear, chain shirt, potion of cure
moderate wounds, potion of owl's wisdom.
�Half-orc Sorcerer, Sor2: CR 2; Medium-sized
Humanoid; HD 2d4+2; hp 9; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12,
touch 12, flatfooted 10; Base Atk +1; Grp +1; Atk +1 melee
(1d8, shortspear) or +3 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full
Atk +1 melee (1d8, shortspear) or +3 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Darkvision; AL
CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12,
Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Spellcraft +5;
Combat Casting.
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Spells (known 5/2; per day 6/5; Base DC = 12 + spell
level): 0 – acid splash, flare, daze, ghost sound, touch of
fatigue; 1
st – magic missile, shield.
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow,
potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of mage armour.
Garrison depleted:
�Orc Berserker, orc Bbn1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d12+2; hp 14; Init +3; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17,
flat-footed 14, touch 13; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +6
melee (2d4+6/18-20, falchion) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3,
hand axe) or +5 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk 6
melee (2d4+6/18-20, falchion) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3,
hand axe) or +5 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe,);
Space/Reach 5 ft./5ft.; SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision,
rage 1/day, fast movement; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +3,
Will +0; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Hide +5, Jump +8;
Weapon Focus (falchion).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Falchion, hand axe, throwing axe, chain
shirt, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of bull's
strength.
�Orc Shaman, Clr1 - Gruumsh: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15,
touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +0; Grp +2; Atk +2
melee (1d8+1, shortspear); Full Atk +2 melee (1d8+1,
shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +5;
Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells Prepared (3/2; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0 -
guidance, resistance, virtue; 1 - cause fear, enthropic
shield, magic weapon *
* Domain Spell. Domains: War: free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: Shortspear, chain shirt, potion of cure
moderate wounds, potion of owl's wisdom.
�Half-Orc Sorcerer, Sor1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d4+1; hp 5; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12,
touch 12, flatfooted 10; Base Atk +0; Grp +0; Atk +0 melee
(1d8, shortspear) or +2 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full
Atk +0 melee (1d8, shortspear) or +2 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); SQ Darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +2,
Will +3; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting.
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells: (known 4/2; per day 5/4; base DC = 12 + spell
level): 0 – acid splash, flare, ghost sound, touch of fatigue;
1
st – magic missile, shield.
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow plus
crossbow bolts (20), potion of cure moderate wounds,
potion of mage armour.
�Gavran,
Human
Rog3:
CR
3;
Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 3d6+3; hp 17; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12,
flat-footed 10; touch 12; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atks +4
melee (1d6+1, shortspear); Full Atk +4 melee (1d6+1,
shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack +
2d6; SQ Evasion; uncanny dodge; AL LE; SV Fort +2; Ref
+5; Will +1; Str 12, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Hide +8, Move Silently +8, Tumble
+8, Open Locks +10, Search +8, Appraise +8, Disable
Device +10, Listen +8, Spot +8, Use Magic Device +5;
Improved Initiative; Alertness; Shield Proficiency
Encounter Five
�Half-Euroz Slavelord soldiers, Ftr2: CR 2; Medium-
sized humanoid; HD 2d10+4; hp 20; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC
16, flat-footed 15, touch 11; Base Atk +2; Grp +5; Atks +7
melee (1d10+3/19-20, masterwork bastard sword) or +3
ranged (1d8/x3, composite longbow); Full Atk +7 melee
(1d10+3/19-20, masterwork bastard sword) or +3 ranged
(1d8/x3, composite longbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL
CN; SV Fort +5; Ref +1; Will +3; Str 17, Dex 13, Con 14,
Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +3, Spot +3; Exotic Weapon
Proficiency (bastard sword); Improved Initiative; Point
Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (bastard sword).
Possessions: Chain mail, masterwork bastard sword,
mighty [Str14] composite longbow + 20 arrows, potion of
cure serious wounds, potion of invisibility, 10 gp.
�Halfling Slavelord Scout, Rog2; CR 2; Small
humanoid; HD 2d6+1; hp 12; Init +7; Spd 20 ft.; AC 17,
flat-footed 14, touch 14; Base Atk +2; Grp +2; Atks +3
melee (1d4+1/19-20, short sword) or +5 ranged (1d6/19-
20, light crossbow); Full Atk +3 melee (1d4+1/19-20, short
sword) or +5 ranged (1d6/19-20, light crossbow);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack +1d6; SQ
Evasion, uncanny dodge, trapfinding; AL N; SV Fort +2;
Ref +6; Will +1; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10,
Cha 8.
Skills and feats: Appraise +8, Climb +2, Disable
Device +10, Hide +12, Jump +2; Listen +8, Move Silently
+8, Open Locks +5, Search +4, Spot +4, Tumble +4;
Improved Initiative.
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Possessions: Studded leather armour, small short
sword, small light crossbow + 20 arrows, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of invisibility, potion of cat's
grace, 2 vials of large spider venom (Injury; DC 18; Initial
and secondary damage 1d6 Str), 10 gp.
�Kervel Tarn, Clr2 - Earth Dragon: CR 2; Medium-
sized humanoid; HD 2d8+4; hp 17; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC
18, touch 11, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk +3
melee (1d6+2/x4, +1 heavy pick,) or +2 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Full Atk +3 melee (1d6+2/x4, +1 heavy pick)
or +2 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5
ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +6; Str 12, Dex 12, Con
14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +7, Heal +7, Hide -1;
Combat Casting, Martial Weapon Proficiency (heavy
pick).
Spells Prepared (4/3+1; Base DC = 13 + spell level): 0
– detect magic, guidance, resistance virtue; 1
st – bless,
cause fear, protection from good*, shield of faith.
* Domain Spell.Domains: Earth: turn or destroy air
creatures. Rebuke, command, or bolster earth creatures,
3/day. Evil: cast evil spells at +1 caster level;
Possessions: +1 heavy pick, light crossbow, crossbow
bolts (20), light steel shield, +1 chainmail, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of invisibility, potion of owl's
wisdom.
Encounter Six
�Markessa the White, Sor10: CR 10; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 10d4; hp 31; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12,
touch 11, flatfooted 11; Base Atk +5; Grp +5; Atk +6
ranged (1d8, light crossbow) or +5 melee (1d4, dagger);
Full Atk +6 ranged (1d8, light crossbow) or +5 melee (1d4,
dagger); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Elven traits, sleep
immunity, low-light vision; AL LE; SV Fort +4, Ref +5,
Will +8; Str 10, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 20.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +13, Listen +2,
Search +2, Spot +2; Combat Casting, Improved Initiative,
Silent Spell, Spell Focus (Evocation).
Spells (known: 9/5/4/3/2/1; per day: 6/8/7/7/6/4;
base DC = 15 + spell level; Evocation = 17 + spell level): 0
– acid splash, daze, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, light,
ray of frost, resistance, touch of fatigue; 1
st – mage
armour, magic missile, protection from good, ray of
enfeeblement, shield; 2
nd – bear’s endurance, eagle’s
spendour, protection from arrows, scorching ray; 3
rd –
haste, lightning bolt, fireball; 4
th - silent dispel magic,
lesser globe of invulnerability; 5
th - cloudkill
Possessions: Dagger, light crossbow, crossbow bolts,
(20), potion of water breathing, potion of cure serious
wounds, potion of remove blindness/deafness, potion of
protection from energy (fire), bracers of armour +1, cloak
of resistance +1.
�Human Slavelord soldiers, Ftr2: CR 2; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 2d10+4; hp 19; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16,
touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +2; Grp +4; Atk +5
melee (1d6+2/18-20, masterwork scimitar) or +6 ranged
(1d8, light crossbow) or +4 melee (1d4+2/19-20, dagger);
Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+2/18-20, masterwork scimitar) or
+6 ranged (1d8, light crossbow) or +4 melee (1d4+2/19-20,
dagger); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref
+3, Will +1; Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +3, Jump +6, Spot +2, Swim
+7; Diehard, Endurance, Improved Initiative, Weapon
Focus (light crossbow).
Possessions: Masterwork scimitar, dagger, light
crossbow, crossbow bolts (20), studded leather, potion of
cure serious wounds, potion of bull's strength, 12 gp.
For Want of a Nail
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APL 8
For Want of a Nail
Page 34
Encounter Two
�Orc Axeman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized humanoid;
HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12,
flat-footed 15; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +7 melee
(1d8+6/x3, masterwork battleaxe) or +5 melee
(1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or +3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing
axe); Full Atk +7 melee (1d8+6/x3, masteowrk
battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or +3
ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4,
Ref +2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Masterwork battleaxe, throwing axe,
handaxe, chain shirt, potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of heroism, 1 gp.
�Orc Crossbowman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +7 (+3 Dex; +4 Imp.
Init.); Spd 30 ft.; AC 17 (touch 13, flat-footed 14); Base
Atk +1; Grp +4; Atk +6 ranged (1d8/19-20, masterwork
light crossbow) or +4 melee (1d6+3/x3, handaxe); Full
Atk +6 ranged (1d8/19-20, masterwork light crossbow)
or +4 melee (1d6+3/x3, handaxe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5
ft.; SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4,
Ref +3, Will +0; Str 16, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +3, Spot +2; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (light crossbow).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Light crossbow, crossbow bolts (20),
handaxe, chain shirt, potion of cure moderate wounds,
1 gp.
�Orc Shaman, Clr1 - Gruumsh: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16,
touch 11, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +0; Grp +2; Atk +3
melee (1d8+1, masterwork shortspear); Full Atk +3
melee (1d8+1, masterwork shortspear); Space/Reach 5
ft./5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV
Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +5; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10,
Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells Prepared (3/2; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0 -
guidance, resistance, virtue; 1 - cause fear, enthropic
shield, magic weapon *
* Domain Spell. Domains: War: free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: Shortspear, chain shirt, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of owl's wisdom.
Encounter Three
�Orc Axeman, Ftr1: CR 1; Medium-sized humanoid;
HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12,
flat-footed 15; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +7 melee
(1d8+6/x3, masterwork battleaxe) or +5 melee
(1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or +3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing
axe); Full Atk +7 melee (1d8+6/x3, masteowrk
battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or +3
ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4,
Ref +2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Masterwork battleaxe, throwing axe,
handaxe, chain shirt, potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of heroism, 1 gp.
�Orc Shaman, Clr1 - Gruumsh: CR 1; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16,
touch 11, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +0; Grp +2; Atk +3
melee (1d8+1, masterwork shortspear); Full Atk +3
melee (1d8+1, masterwork shortspear); Space/Reach 5
ft./5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV
Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +5; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10,
Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells Prepared (3/2; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0 -
guidance, resistance, virtue; 1 - cause fear, enthropic
shield, magic weapon *
* Domain Spell. Domains: War: free Weapon
Focus; Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as
a free action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: Shortspear, chain shirt, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of owl's wisdom.
Encounter Four
Garrison at Full Strength
�Orc berserker, Bbn5: CR 5; Medium Humanoid;
HD 5d12+10; hp 50; Init +6; Spd 40 ft.; AC 16, touch 12,
flatfooted 14; Base Atk +5; Grp +10; Atk +12 melee
(2d4+7/18-20, masterwork falchion) or +7 ranged
For Want of a Nail
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(1d8+4/x3, mighty composite longbow +4); Full Atk
Atk +12 melee (2d4+7/18-20, masterwork falchion) or
+7 ranged (1d8+4/x3, mighty composite longbow +4);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ rage 2/day, fast movement,
improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +1, light
sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +3, Will
+2; Str 21, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +9, Spot +5; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (falchion)
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions:
Masterwork
falchion,
mighty
composite longbow +4, chain shirt, potion of bull's
strength, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of
heroism.
�Orc Shaman, Clr4/Bbn1: CR 5; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 4d8+4 plus 1d12+1; hp 37; Init +5; Spd
40 ft.; AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +4; Grp
+5; Atk +7 melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Full Atk +7
melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ: Light sensitivity, darkvision, rage 1/day, fast
movement; AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +2, Will +7;
Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +9, Spellcraft +6;
Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus
(shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells Prepared (5/4/3; Base DC = 13 + spell
level): 0 - detect magic, guidance x 2, resistance, virtue;
1st - bless, entropic shield magic weapon*, protection
from good; 2nd - bear's endurance, bull's strength,
silence, spiritual weapon*
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon
Focus; Strength: +4 enhancement bonus to Strength as
a free action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, chain mail, potion of
cure serious wounds, potion of owl's wisdom, potion of
haste.
�Half-Orc Sorceror, Sor5: Medium-sized humanoid;
HD 5d4+5; hp 21; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12, touch 12,
flat-footed 10; Base Atk +2; Grp +2; Atk +2 melee (1d8,
shortspear) or +4 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full Atk
+2 melee (1d8, shortspear) or +4 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Darkvision; AL
CE; SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +5; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12,
Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 15.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +9, Spellcraft +8;
Combat Casting, Improved Familiar.
Spells (known: 6/4/2 per day: 6/7/5; Base DC = 12
+ spell level): 0 – acid splash, daze, flare, ghost sound,
resisitance, touch of fatigue; 1
st – magic missile, mage
armour, ray of enfeeblement, shield; 2
nd – eagle’s
splendor, scorching ray.
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of invisibility,
potion of haste.
�Stirge; CR 1/2; Tiny magical beast; HD 1d10; hp 5;
Init +4; Spd 10 ft., fly, average 40 ft.; AC 19, touch 16,
flatfooted 15; Base Atk +3; Grp -1; Atk, +7 melee (1d3-4,
touch); Full Atk +7 melee (1d3-4, touch); Space/Reach
5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Attach, blood drain; SQ Darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision, share spells, empathy, deliver touch
spells, speak with master; AL N; SV Fort +2, Ref +6,
Will +1; Str 3, Dex 19, Con 10, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +14, Listen +4, Spot +4;
Alertness, Improved Evasion Weapon Finesse (bite).
Attach (Ex): If a stirge hits with a touch attack, it
uses its eight pincers to latch onto the opponent’s
body. An attached stirge is effectively grappling its
prey. The stirge loses its Dexterity bonus to AC and has
an AC of 12, but holds on with great tenacity. Stirges
have a +12 racial bonus on grapple checks.
An attached stirge can be struck with a weapon or
grappled itself. To remove an attached stirge through
grappling, the opponent must achieve a pin against the
stirge.
Blood Drain (Ex): A stirge drains blood, dealing
1d4 points of Constitution damage in any round when
it begins its turn attached to a victim. Once it has dealt
4 points of Constitution damage, it detaches and flies
off to digest the meal. If its victim dies before the
stirge’s appetite has been sated, the stirge detaches and
seeks a new target.
Garrison Depleted:
�Orc Berserker, Bbn2: CR 2; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 2d12+4; hp 23; Init +3; Spd 40 ft.; AC
18, flat-footed 15, touch 13; Base Atk +2; Grp +6; Atk +8
melee (2d4+6/18-20, masterwork falchion) or +6 melee
(1d6+4/x3, hand axe) or +6 ranged (1d6+4, throwing
axe); Full Atk +8 melee (2d4+6/18-20, mastwerwork
falchion) or +6 melee (1d6+4/x3, hand axe) or +6
ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Light sensitivity, darkvision, rage 1/day, fast
movement, uncanny dodge; AL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +3,
Will +0; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Hide +3, Jump +7,
Swim +5; Weapon Focus (falchion).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: Masterwork falchion, hand axe,
throwing axe, chain shirt +1, potion of cure serious
wounds, potion of bull's strength, potion of heroism.
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�Orc Shaman, Clr2 - Gruumsh: CR 2; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 2d8+2; hp 15; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16,
touch 11, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk +4
melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Full Atk +4 melee
(1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ:
Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +1,
Will +6; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Spellcraft +5;
Combat
Casting,
Martial
Weapon
Proficiency
(longspear), Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Spells Prepared (4/3); base DC = 13 + spell level): 0
– detect magic, guidance, resistance, virtue; 1st - bless,
enthropic shield, protection from good, magic weapon
*
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon
Focus; Strength: +2 enhancement bonus to Strength as
a free action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, chainmail, potion of
cure serious wounds, potion of owl's wisdom, potion of
haste.
�Half-orc Sorcerer, Sor2: CR 2; Medium-sized
Humanoid; HD 2d4+2; hp 9; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12,
touch 12, flatfooted 10; Base Atk +1; Grp +1; Atk +1
melee (1d8, shortspear) or +3 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Full Atk +1 melee (1d8, shortspear) or +3
ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ Darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Str
10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Spellcraft +5;
Combat Casting.
Spells (known 5/2; per day 6/5; Base DC = 12 +
spell level): 0 – acid splash, flare, daze, ghost sound,
touch of fatigue; 1
st – magic missile, shield.
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of mage armour,
potion of invisibility, potion of haste.
�Gavran, Human Rog4: CR 4; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 4d6+3; hp 20; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12,
flat-footed 10, touch 12; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atks +4
melee (1d6+1, short spear); Full Atk+4 melee (1d6+1,
short spear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack +
2d6; SQ Evasion, uncanny dodge; AL LE; SV Fort +3;
Ref +8; Will +2; Str 12, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10,
Cha 8.
Skill and Feats: Hide +10, Move Silently +10,
Tumble +10, Open Locks +12, Search +9, Appraise +9,
Disable Device +11, Listen +7, Spot +7, Use Magic
Device +6; Improved Initiative; Alertness; Shield
Proficiency.
Encounter Five
�Half-Euroz Slavelord Soldiers, Ftr3: CR 3;
Medium-sized humanoid; HD 3d10+6; hp 28, Init +5;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +3;
Grp +6; Atks +9 melee (1d10+4/19-20, +1 bastard
sword) or +4 ranged (1d10/x3, heavy crossbow); Full
Atk +9 melee (1d10+4/19-20, +1 bastard sword) or +4
ranged (1d10/x3, heavy crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5
ft.; AL CN; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +2;
Str
17,
Dex 13, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Jump -4; Listen +2; Spot +2; Exotic
Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), Improved
Initiative, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bastard
sword).
Possessions: Splint mail, heavy steel shield, bastard
sword +1, heavy crossbow, 20 bolts, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of heroism, potion of
invisibility, 5 gp each.
�Halfling Slavelord Scout, Rog3: CR 3; Medium-
sized humanoid; HD 3d6+3; hp 17; Init +7; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 18, flat-footed 15; touch 14; Base Atk +2; Grp +2;
Atks +3 melee (1d4+1/19-20, small short sword) or +8
ranged (1d6+1/19-20, +1 small light crossbow); Full
Atk +3 melee (1d4+1/19-20, small short sword) or +7
ranged (1d6/19-20, small light crossbow); Space/Reach
5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack +2d6; SQ Evasion, uncanny
dodge, trap sense +1; AL LE; SV Fort +3; Ref +6; Will
+2; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skill and Feats: Appraise +8, Climb +2, Disable
Device +10, Hide +12, Jump +2, Listen +8, Move
Silently +10, Open Locks +7, Search +4, Spot +4,
Tumble +3; Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (light
crossbow).
Possessions: +1 studded leather armour, small
short sword, small light crossbow, 20 bolts; potion of
cure serious wounds, potionnof cat's grace, potion of
haste, potion of invisibility, 2 vials of wyvern poison
(Injury; DC 17; Initial and secondary damage 2d6 Con),
10 gp.
�Kervel Tarn, Clr3 - Earth Dragon: CR 3; Medium-
sized humanoid; HD 3d8+6; hp 24; Init +5; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 18, touch 11, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +2; Grp +3; Atk
+3 melee (1d6+1/x4, heavy pick) or +3 ranged (1d8,
light crossbow,); Full Atk +4 melee (1d6+2/x4, +1
heavy pick) or +3 ranged (1d8, light crossbow,);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will
+6; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +8, Heal +7, Hide
+0; Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Martial
Weapon Proficiency (heavy pick).
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Spells Prepared (Clr 4/3+1/2+1; Base DC = 13 +
spell level): 0 – detect magic, guidance, resistance,
virtue; 1
st – bless, cause fear, protection from good*,
shield of faith; 2
nd – bull’s strength, silence, soften earth
and stone*.
* Domain Spell.Domains: Earth: turn or destroy air
creatures. Rebuke, command, or bolster earth
creatures, 3/day. Evil: cast evil spells at +1 caster level;
Possessions: +1 heavy pick, light crossbow,
crossbow bolts (20), +1 banded mail, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of invisibility, forin of owl's
wisdom.
Encounter Six
�Markessa the White: Sor12, CR 12; Medium-sized
humanoid; HD 12d4; hp 40; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13
(touch 11, flatfooted 12); Base Atk +6; Grp +6; Atk +6
melee (1d4/19-20, dagger) or +7 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Full Atk +6/+1 melee (1d4/19-20, dagger) or
+7/+2 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./
5 ft.; SQ Elven traits, sleep immunity, low-light vision;
AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +10; Str 10, Dex 12,
Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 21.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +15, Listen +2,
Search +2, Spot +2; Combat Casting, Improved
Initiative, Silent Spell, Spell Focus (Evocation),
Toughness.
Spells
(known:
9/5/5/4/3/2/1;
per
day:
6/8/7/7/7/6/3; Base DC = 15 + spell level; Evocation =
17 + spell level): 0 – acid splash, daze, detect magic,
flare, ghost sound, light, ray of frost, resistance, touch
of fatigue; 1
st – mage armour, magic missile, protection
from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield; 2
nd – bear’s
endurance, eagle’s spendour, mirror image, protection
from arrows, scorching ray; 3
rd – fly, haste, fireball;
lightning bolt; 4
th - silent dispel magic, lesser globe of
invulnerability, stone skin; 5
th – cloudkill, teleport; 6
th –
chain lightning
Possessions: Dagger, light crossbow, crossbow
bolts, (20), potion of cure serious wounds, potion of
water breathing, potion of remove blindness/deafness,
bracers of armour +2, cloak of resistance +2
�Human Slavelord soldiers, Ftr4: CR 4; Medium-
sized humanoid; HD 4d10+4; hp 32; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +4; Grp +7;
Atk +8 melee (1d6+4/18-20, +1 scimitar); or +7 melee
(1d4+3/19-20, dagger) or +8 ranged (1d8+2, light
crossbow); Full Atk +8 melee (1d6+4/18-20, +1
scimitar); or +7 melee (1d4+3/19-20, dagger) or +8
ranged (1d8+2, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +1; Str 17, Dex 16, Con
12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +9, Jump +9, Swim +10;
Endurance, Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot,
Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (light crossbow), Wepaon
specialization (light crossbow).
Possessions: +1 scimitar, dagger, light crossbow,
crossbow bolts, +1 studded leather, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of bull's strength, potion of
heroism.
For Want of a Nail
Page 38
APL 10
Encounter 2
�Orc Axeman: Ftr1; CR 1; Medium humanoid; HD
1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12, flat-
footed 16; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +7 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3,
handaxe) or +3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk
+7 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +5 melee
(1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or +3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing
axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 18,
Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: +1 battleaxe, throwing axe, handaxe,
masterwork chainmail, potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of heroism, potion of bull’s strength, 1 gp.
Orc Crossbowman: Ftr1; CR 1; Medium humanoid;
HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 13,
flat-footed 15; Base Atk +1; Grp +4; Atk; +6 ranged
(1d8+1/19-20, +1 light crossbow) or +4 melee
(1d6+3/x3, handaxe); Full Atk +6 ranged (1d8+1/19-20,
+1 light crossbow) or +4 melee (1d6+3/x3, handaxe);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 16,
Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +3, Spot +2; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (light crossbow)
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: +1 light crossbow, crossbow bolts
(20), handaxe, masterwork chain shirt, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of haste, 1 gp.
�Orc Shaman: Clr1 - Gruumsh; CR 1; Medium
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +0; Grp +1; Atk +3
melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Full Atk +3 melee
(1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ
Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1,
Will +5; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Cleric Spells Prepared (Clr 3/2; Save DC13 + spell
level): 0 - guidance, resistance, virtue; 1st - bless,
enthropic shield, enlarge person *
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, masterwork chain
shirt, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of owl’s
wisdom, potion of haste.
Encounter 3
�Orc Axeman: Ftr1; CR 1; Medium humanoid; HD
1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12, flat-
footed 16; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +7 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3,
handaxe) or +3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk
+7 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +5 melee
(1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or +3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing
axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 18,
Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: +1 battleaxe, throwing axe, handaxe,
masterwork chainmail, potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of heroism, potion of bull’s strength, 1 gp.
�Orc Shaman: Clr1 - Gruumsh; CR 1; Medium
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +0; Grp +1; Atk +3
melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Full Atk +3 melee
(1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ
Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1,
Will +5; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Cleric Spells Prepared (Clr 3/2; Save DC13 + spell
level): 0 - guidance, resistance, virtue; 1st - bless,
enthropic shield, enlarge person *
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, masterwork chain
shirt, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of owl’s
wisdom, potion of haste.
Encounter 4
Garrison at Full Strength
�Orc berserkers: Bbn7; CR 7; Medium Humanoid;
HD 7d12+14; hp 68; Init +6; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, touch 12,
flatfooted 15; Base Atk +7; Grp +11; Atk +14 (2d4+8/18-
For Want of a Nail
Page 39
20, +1 falchion) or +9 ranged (1d8+4/x3, mighty
composite longbow +4); Full Atk 14/+9 (2d4+8/18-20,
+1 falchion) or +9/+4 ranged (1d8+4/x3, mighty
composite longbow +4); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ:
Rage 2/day, damage reduction 1/-; improved uncanny
dodge, trapsense +2, fast movement, light sensitivity,
darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +3; Str 21,
Dex 14, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +11, Spot +6; Improved
Initiative, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (falchion).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 2nd level, a barbarian
retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is
caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker.
However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if
immobilized.
Trap Sense (Ex): A barbarian gains a +2 bonus on
Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus
to AC against attacks made by traps.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 5th level and
higher, a barbarian can no longer be flanked. This
defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the
barbarian by flanking him, unless the attacker has at
least four more rogue levels than the target has
barbarian levels.
Damage Reduction (Ex): At 7th level, a barbarian
gains Damage Reduction. Subtract 1 from the damage
the barbarian takes each time he is dealt damage from a
weapon or a natural attack.
Possessions: +1 falchion, mighty composite
longbow +4; masterwork chain shirt, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of bull’s strength, potion of
heroism.
�Orc Shaman: Clr6/Bbn1 - Gruumsh; CR 7' Medium
humanoid; HD 6d8+6 plus 1d12+1; hp 49; Init +5; Spd
40 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +5; Grp
+6; Atk +8 melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Full Atk +8
melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SQ: Light sensitivity, darkvision, rage 1/day, fast
movement; AL CE; SV Fort +8, Ref +3, Will +8; Str 12,
Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Spellcraft +8.
Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus:
(shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Cleric Spells Prepared (Clr 5/4/4/3; Save DC13 +
spell level): 0 - detect magic, guidance x2, resistance x2,
virtue; 1st - bless, enthropic shield, magic weapon*,
protection from good; 2nd - bull's strength, owl's
wisdom, silence, spiritual weapon*, summon monster
II; 3rd - bestow curse, dispel magic, glyph or warding,
magic vestment*.
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +6 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, +1 chain shirt, potion
of bull’s strength, potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of haste.
�Half-Orc sorceror: Sor7; CR 7; Medium humanoid;
HD 7d4+7; hp 31; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12, touch 12,
flat-footed 10; Base Atk + 3; Grp +3; Atk +3 melee (1d8,
shortspear) or +5 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full Atk
+3 melee (1d8, shortspear) or +5 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Darkvision,
alertness, improved evasion, share spells, empathic
link, deliver touch spells, speak with master; AL CE;
SV Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +6; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int
10, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Spellcraft +10;
Combat
Casting,
Improved Familiar, Improved
Initiative.
Alertness (Ex): While a familiar is within arm’s
reach, the master gains the Alertness feat.
Improved Evasion (Ex): When subjected to an
attack that normally allows a Reflex saving throw for
half damage, a familiar takes no damage if it makes a
successful saving throw and half damage even if the
saving throw fails.
Share Spells: At the master’s option, he may have
any spell (but not any spell-like ability) he casts on
himself also affect his familiar. The familiar must be
within 5 feet at the time of casting to receive the
benefit.
If the spell or effect has a duration other than
instantaneous, it stops affecting the familiar if it moves
farther than 5 feet away and will not affect the familiar
again even if it returns to the master before the
duration expires. Additionally, the master may cast a
spell with a target of “You” on his familiar (as a touch
range spell) instead of on himself.
A master and his familiar can share spells even if
the spells normally do not affect creatures of the
familiar’s type (magical beast).
Empathic Link (Su): The master has an empathic
link with his familiar out to a distance of up to 1 mile.
The master cannot see through the familiar’s eyes, but
they can communicate empathically. Because of the
limited nature of the link, only general emotional
content can be communicated.
Because of this empathic link, the master has the
same connection to an item or place that his familiar
does.
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Deliver Touch Spells (Su): If the master is 3rd
level or higher, a familiar can deliver touch spells for
him. If the master and the familiar are in contact at the
time the master casts a touch spell, he can designate his
familiar as the “toucher.” The familiar can then deliver
the touch spell just as the master could. As usual, if the
master casts another spell before the touch is delivered,
the touch spell dissipates.
Speak with Master (Ex): If the master is 5th level
or higher, a familiar and the master can communicate
verbally as if they were using a common language.
Other creatures do not understand the communication
without magical help.
Quasit: CR 2 Tiny outsider (chaotic, evil); HD 3d8; hp
13; Init +7; Spd 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (perfect); AC 22, touch
13, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +8; Grp +8; Atk +8 melee
(1d3-1 plus poison, 2 claws) or +3 melee (1d4-1, bite);
Full Atk +8 melee (1d3-1 plus poison, 2 claws) or +3
melee (1d4-1, bite); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Poison,
spell-like abilities; SQ Alternate form, damage
reduction 5/cold iron or good, darkvision 60 ft., fast
healing 2, immunity to poison, resistance to fire 10,
alertness, improved evasion, share spells, empathic
link, deliver touch spells, speak with master; AL CE;
SV Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +4; Str 8, Dex 17, Con 10, Int
10, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +6, Diplomacy +2, Disguise
+0 (+2 acting), Hide +17, Intimidate +2, Knowledge
(The Planes) +6, Listen +7, Move Silently +9, Search +6,
Spellcraft +6, Spot +6 Improved Initiative, Weapon
Finesse (bite).
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 13, initial
damage 1d4 Dex, secondary damage 2d4 Dex.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will—detect good, detect
magic, and invisibility (self only); 1/day—cause fear (as
the spell, except that its area is a 30-foot radius from the
quasit, save DC 11). Caster level 6th. Once per week a
quasit can use commune to ask six questions. The
ability otherwise works as the spell (caster level 12th).
Alternate Form (Su): A quasit can assume other
forms at will as a standard action. This ability functions
as a polymorph spell cast on itself (caster level 12th),
except that a quasit does not regain hit points for
changing form, and any individual quasit can assume
only one or two forms no larger than Medium.
Common forms include bat, monstrous centipede,
toad, and wolf. A quasit in alternate form loses its
poison attack.
Sorceror Spells Known: (7/5/3/2; save DC 12 +
spell level): 0 – acid splash, daze, flare, ghost sound, ray
of frost, resistance, touch of fatigue; 1
st – magic missile,
mage armour, ray of enfeeblement, shield, true strike;
2
nd – blur, eagle’s splendour, scorching ray; 3
rd – dispel
magic, lightning bolt.
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of invisibility,
potion of haste, potion of resist fire 20.
Garrison Depleted:
�Orc Berserker, Bbn2: CR 2; Medium humanoid;
HD 2d12+4; hp 23; Init +3; Spd 40 ft.; AC 18, flat-footed
15, touch 13; Base Atk +2; Grp +6; Atk +8 melee
(2d4+7/18-20, +1 falchion) or +6 melee (1d6+4/x3,
hand axe) or +6 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk
+8 melee (2d4+7/18-20, +1 falchion) or +6 melee
(1d6+4/x3, hand axe) or +6 ranged (1d6+4, throwing
axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Light sensitivity,
darkvision, rage 1/day, fast movement, uncanny dodge;
AL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 18, Dex 16, Con
14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Hide +3, Jump +7,
Swim +5; Weapon Focus (falchion).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 2nd level, a barbarian
retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is
caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker.
However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if
immobilized.
Possessions: +1 falchion, hand axe, throwing axe,
chain shirt +1, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of
bull's strength, potion of heroism.
�Orc Shaman, Clr2 - Gruumsh: CR 2; Medium
humanoid; HD 2d8+2; hp 15; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk +4
melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Full Atk +4 melee
(1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ:
Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +1,
Will +6; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Spellcraft +5;
Combat
Casting,
Martial
Weapon
Proficiency
(longspear), Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Cleric Spells Prepared (4/3); save DC 13 + spell
level): 0 – detect magic, guidance, resistance, virtue; 1st
- bless, enthropic shield, protection from good, magic
weapon *
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +2 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, +1 chainmail, potion of
cure serious wounds, potion of owl's wisdom, potion of
haste.
�Half-orc Sorcerer, Sor2: CR 2; Medium Humanoid;
HD 2d4+2; hp 9; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12, touch 12,
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flatfooted 10; Base Atk +1; Grp +1; Atk +1 melee (1d8,
shortspear) or +3 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full Atk
+1 melee (1d8, shortspear) or +3 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Darkvision; AL
CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12,
Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Spellcraft +5;
Combat Casting.
Sorceror Spells Known: (5/2; save DC 12 + spell
level): 0 – acid splash, flare, daze, ghost sound, touch of
fatigue; 1
st – magic missile, shield.
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of mage armour,
potion of invisibility, potion of haste, potion of resist
fire 20.
�Gavran: Human Rog8; CR 8; Medium humanoid;
HD 8d6+3; hp 42; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13, flat-footed
10; touch 13; Base Atk +7; Grp +8; Atks +8 melee
(1d6+1, shortspear); Full Atk +8/+3 melee (1d6+1,
shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack
+4d6; SQ Evasion, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny
dodge; AL LE; SV Fort +4; Ref +10; Will +3; Str 12, Dex
17, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Hide +14, Move Silently +14,
Tumble +14, Open Locks +16, Search +13, Appraise
+13, Disable Device +15, Listen +13, Spot +13, Use
Magic Device +10; Improved Initiative; Alertness;
Shield Proficiency, Combat Reflexes.
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a rogue can
avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great
agility. If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw
against an attack that normally deals half damage on a
successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion
can be used only if the rogue is wearing light armor or
no armor. A helpless rogue does not gain the benefit of
evasion.
Trap Sense (Ex): A rogue gains an intuitive sense
that alerts her to danger from traps, giving her a +2
bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +2
dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 4th level, a
rogue can react to danger before her senses would
normally allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity
bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or
struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses
her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A rogue of 8th
level or higher can no longer be flanked. This defense
denies another rogue the ability to sneak attack the
character by flanking her, unless the attacker has at
least four more rogue levels than the target does.
Encounter 5
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers: Ftr5; CR 5; Medium
humanoid; HD 5d10+5; hp 39; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC
18, touch 12, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +5; Grp +9; Atk +11
melee (1d6+7/18-20, +1 scimitar) or +8 ranged
(1d8+6/x3, Mighty composite longbow +4); Full Atk
+11 melee (1d6+7/18-20, +1 scimitar) or +8 ranged
(1d8+6/x3,
Mighty
composite
longbow
+4);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort
+5, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 19, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis
12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Spot +5; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (composite longbow),
Weapon Focus (scimitar), Weapon Specialization
(composite
longbow),
Weapon
Specialization
(scimitar).
Possessions: +1 scimitar, mighty composite
longbow +4, arrows (20), +1 chainmail, potion of
invisibility, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of
bull’s strength, potion of heroism, 12 gp
�Halfling Slavelord scout: Rog5; CR 5; Small
humanoid; HD 5d6+10; hp 37; Init +8; Spd 20 ft.; AC
18, touch 14, flat footed 14; Base Atk +5; Grp +6; Atk +6
melee (1d4+1, short sword) or +11 ranged (1d4+1, +1
composite shortbow); Full Atk +6 melee (1d4+1, short
sword) or +11 ranged (1d4+1, +1 composite shortbow);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack +3d6; SQ
Halfling traits, evasion, trapfinding, uncanny dodge,
trap sense +1; AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +4; Str
12, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +11, Climb +10, Escape
Artist +11, Hide +20, Jump +2, Listen +11, Move
Silently +13, Spot +9, Tumble +11; Improved Initiative,
Weapon Focus (composite shortbow).
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a rogue can
avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great
agility. If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw
against an attack that normally deals half damage on a
successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion
can be used only if the rogue is wearing light armor or
no armor. A helpless rogue does not gain the benefit of
evasion.
Trap Sense (Ex): At 3rd level, a rogue gains an
intuitive sense that alerts her to danger from traps,
giving her a +1 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid
traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks made
by traps.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 4th level, a
rogue can react to danger before her senses would
normally allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity
bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or
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Page 42
struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses
her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
Possessions: shadow +1 studded leather armour,
small short sword, +1 flaming small composite
shortbow, 20 bolts; potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of invisibility, potion of cat’s grace, potion of
haste, 2 vials of wyvern poison (Injury; DC 17; Initial
and secondary damage 2d6 Con), 10 gp.
�Kervel Tarn: Clr5 - Earth Dragon; CR 5; Medium
humanoid; HD 5d8+10; hp 38; Init +5; Spd 20 ft.; AC
18, touch 11, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk +5
melee (1d6+2/x4, +1 heavy pick) or +4 ranged (1d8,
light crossbow); Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+2/x4, +1 heavy
pick) or +4 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach
5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +7; Str 12,
Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +10, Heal +9, Hide
+1; Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Martial
Weapon Proficiency (heavy pick).
Cleric Spells Prepared (Clr 5/4+1/3+1/2+1; Save
DC13 + spell level): 0 – detect magic, guidance x 2,
resistance, virtue; 1
st – bless, divine favour, magic
weapon, protection from good*, shield of faith; 2
nd –
bull’s strength, silence, soften earth and stone*,
spiritual weapon; 3
rd – dispel magic, glyph of warding,
stone shape*.
* Domain Spell.Domains: Earth: turn or destroy air
creatures. Rebuke, command, or bolster earth
creatures, 3/day. Evil: cast evil spells at +1 caster level;
Possessions: +1 heavy pick, light crossbow,
crossbow bolts (20), +1 banded mail, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of invisibility, potion of owl’s
wisdom.
Encounter 6
�Markessa the White: Sor14; CR 14; Medium
Humanoid; HD 14d4; hp 46; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14,
touch 11, flatfooted 13; Base Atk +7; Grp +7; Atk +7
melee (1d4/19-20, dagger) or +8 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Full Atk +7/+2 melee (1d4/19-20, dagger) or
+8/+3 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./
5 ft.; SQ Elven traits, sleep immunity, low-light vision;
AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +11; Str 10, Dex 12,
Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 21.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +17, Listen +2,
Search +2, Spot +2; Combat Casting, Improved
Initiative, Silent Spell, Spell Focus (Evocation)
Toughness.
Sorcerer Spells Known: (9/5/5/4/4/3/2/1; save
DC 15 + spell level; Evocation save DC 17 + spell level):
0 – acid splash, daze, detect magic, flare, ghost sound,
light, ray of frost, resistance, touch of fatigue; 1
st – mage
armour, magic missile, protection from good, ray of
enfeeblement, shield; 2
nd – bear’s endurance, eagle’s
spendour, mirror image, protection from arrows,
scorching ray; 3
rd – fly, haste, fireball; lightning bolt;
4
th - ice storm, lesser globe of invulnerability, silent
dispel magic, stone skin; 5
th – cloudkill, cone of cold,
teleport; 6
th – chain lightning, disintegrate; 7
th – spell
turning
Possessions: Dagger, light crossbow, crossbow
bolts, (20) potion of cure serious wounds, potion of
water breathing, potion of remove blindness/deafness,
bracers of armour +3, cloak of resistance +2
�Human Slavelord soldiers: Ftr6; CR 6; Medium
humanoid; HD 6d10+6; hp 46; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC
17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +6; Grp +9; Atk
+10 melee (1d6+4/18-20, scimitar) or +9 melee
(1d4+3/19-20, dagger) or +10 ranged (1d8+2, light
crossbow); Full Atk +10/+5 melee (1d6+4/18-20,
scimitar) or +9/+4 melee (1d4+3/19-20, dagger) or
+10/+5 ranged (1d8+2, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5
ft./ 5 ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +2; Str 17, Dex
16, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +11, Jump +11, Swim +12;
Diehard, Endurance, Far Shot, Improved Initiative,
Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (light
crossbow), Weapon Specialisation (light crossbow).
Possessions: +1 scimitar, dagger, light crossbow,
crossbow bolts, +1 studded leather, potion of cure
serious wounds, potion of bull's strength, potion of
heroism.
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APL 12
Encounter 2
�Orc Axeman: Ftr1; CR 1; Medium humanoid; HD
1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12, flat-
footed 16; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +7 melee (1d8+7/x3,
+1 battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or +3
ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk +7 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe)
or +3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5
ft.; SQ: Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4,
Ref +2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: +1 battleaxe, throwing axe, handaxe,
masterwork chainmail, potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of heroism, potion of bull’s strength, 1 gp.
Orc Crossbowman: Ftr1; CR 1; Medium humanoid; HD
1d10+2; hp 12; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 13, flat-
footed 15; Base Atk +1; Grp +4; Atk; +6 ranged (1d8+1/19-
20, +1 light crossbow) or +4 melee (1d6+3/x3, handaxe);
Full Atk +6 ranged (1d8+1/19-20, +1 light crossbow) or +4
melee (1d6+3/x3, handaxe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ:
Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +3,
Will +0; Str 16, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +3, Spot +2; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (light crossbow)
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: +1 light crossbow, crossbow bolts (20),
handaxe, masterwork chain shirt, potion of cure serious
wounds, potion of haste, 1 gp.
�Orc Shaman: Clr1 - Gruumsh; CR 1; Medium
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +0; Grp +1; Atk +3
melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Full Atk +3 melee (1d8+2,
+1 shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ: Light
sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +5;
Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Cleric Spells Prepared (3/2; save DC 13 + spell level):
0 - guidance, resistance, virtue; 1st - bless, enthropic
shield, enlarge person *
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, masterwork chain shirt,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of owl’s wisdom,
potion of haste.
Encounter 3
�Orc Axeman: Ftr1; CR 1; Medium humanoid; HD
1d10+2; hp 12; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12, flat-
footed 16; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk +7 melee (1d8+7/x3,
+1 battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe) or +3
ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Full Atk +7 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +5 melee (1d6+4/x3, handaxe)
or +3 ranged (1d6+4, throwing axe); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5
ft.; SQ: Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4,
Ref +2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +3; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Possessions: +1 battleaxe, throwing axe, handaxe,
masterwork chainmail, potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of heroism, potion of bull’s strength, 1 gp.
�Orc Shaman: Clr1 - Gruumsh; CR 1; Medium
humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +0; Grp +1; Atk +3
melee (1d8+2, +1 shortspear); Full Atk +3 melee (1d8+2,
+1 shortspear); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ: Light
sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +5;
Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Spellcraft +4;
Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Cleric Spells Prepared (3/2; save DC 13 + spell level):
0 - guidance, resistance, virtue; 1st - bless, enthropic
shield, enlarge person *
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +1 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, masterwork chain shirt,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of owl’s wisdom,
potion of haste.
Encounter 4
Garrison at Full Strength
�Orc berserkers: Bbn9; CR 9; Medium humanoid; HD
9d12+18; hp 86; Init +6; Spd 40 ft.; AC 16, touch 12,
flatfooted 14; Base Atk +9; Grp +15; Atk +17 (2d4+10/15-
20, +1 falchion) or +11 (1d8+4/x3, mighty composite
longbow +4); Full Atk +17/+12 (2d4+10/15-20, +1
falchion) or +11/+6 (1d8+4/x3, mighty composite
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longbow +4); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Rage 3/day, fast
movement, improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +3,
damage reduction 1/-, light sensitivity, darkvision; AL
CE; SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +4; tr 22, Dex 14, Con 14, Int
6, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +13, Spot +7; Improved
Critical (falchion), Improved Initiative, Power Attack,
Weapon Focus (falchion).
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 2nd level, a barbarian
retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is
caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker.
However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if
immobilized.
Trap Sense (Ex): A barbarian gains a +3 bonus on
Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +3 dodge bonus to
AC against attacks made by traps.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 5th level and
higher, a barbarian can no longer be flanked. This defense
denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the barbarian by
flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more
rogue levels than the target has barbarian levels.
Damage Reduction (Ex): At 7th level, a barbarian
gains Damage Reduction. Subtract 1 from the damage the
barbarian takes each time he is dealt damage from a
weapon or a natural attack. Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs
are dazzled in bright sunlight or within the radius of a
daylight spell.
Possessions: +1 falchion, mighty composite longbow
+4; master work chain shirt, potion of cure serious
wounds, potion of bull’s strength, potion of heroism.
�Orc
shaman:
Clr9-Gruumsh;
CR
9;
Medium
humanoid; HD 9d8+9; hp 51; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 11, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +6; Grp +8; Atk +10
melee (1d8+4, +1 shortspear) or +7 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Full Atk +10/+5 melee (1d8+4, +1 shortspear)
or +7/+2 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./
5 ft.; SQ: Light sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +7,
Ref +4, Will +10; Str 14, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 18,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +13; Combat Casting,
Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus
(Shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Cleric Spells Prepared: (6/5+1/5+1/4+1/3+1 /1+1;
save DC 14 + spell level): 0 - detect magic, guidance x2,
resistance x2, virtue; 1st - bless, enlarge person, enthropic
shield, magic weapon*, obscuring mist, protection from
good; 2nd - bull's strength, hold person, owl's wisdom,
silence, spiritual weapon*, summon monster II; 3rd -
bestow curse, blindness, dispel magic, glyph of warding,
magic vestment*; 4
th – divine power*, freedom of
movement, greater magic weapon, poison; 5
th – flame
strike*; righteous might.
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +9 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day.
Possessions: +1 shortspear, +1 chainmail, potion of
bull’s strength, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of
owl’s wisdom, potion of haste.
�Half-orc Sorcerer: Sor9; CR 9; Medium humanoid;
HD 9d4+9; hp 37; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12, touch 12, flat-
footed 10; Base Atk +4; Grp +4; Atk +4 melee (1d8,
shortspear) or +6 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full Atk
+4 melee (1d8, shortspear) or +6 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ: Darkvision,
alertness, improved evasion, share spells, empathic link,
deliver touch spells, speak with master; AL CE; SV Fort
+4, Ref +5, Will +7; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12,
Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +13, Spellcraft +12;
Combat Casting, Improved Familiar, Improved Initiative,
Spell Focus (evocation).
Alertness (Ex): While a familiar is within arm’s reach,
the master gains the Alertness feat.
Improved Evasion (Ex): When subjected to an attack
that normally allows a Reflex saving throw for half
damage, a familiar takes no damage if it makes a
successful saving throw and half damage even if the
saving throw fails.
Share Spells: At the master’s option, he may have any
spell (but not any spell-like ability) he casts on himself
also affect his familiar. The familiar must be within 5 feet
at the time of casting to receive the benefit.
If the spell or effect has a duration other than
instantaneous, it stops affecting the familiar if it moves
farther than 5 feet away and will not affect the familiar
again even if it returns to the master before the duration
expires. Additionally, the master may cast a spell with a
target of “You” on his familiar (as a touch range spell)
instead of on himself. A master and his familiar can share
spells even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of
the familiar’s type (magical beast).
Empathic Link (Su): The master has an empathic
link with his familiar out to a distance of up to 1 mile. The
master cannot see through the familiar’s eyes, but they
can communicate empathically. Because of the limited
nature of the link, only general emotional content can be
communicated.
Because of this empathic link, the master has the
same connection to an item or place that his familiar
does.
Deliver Touch Spells (Su): If the master is 3rd level
or higher, a familiar can deliver touch spells for him. If
the master and the familiar are in contact at the time the
For Want of a Nail
Page 45
master casts a touch spell, he can designate his familiar as
the “toucher.” The familiar can then deliver the touch
spell just as the master could. As usual, if the master casts
another spell before the touch is delivered, the touch
spell dissipates.
Speak with Master (Ex): If the master is 5th level or
higher, a familiar and the master can communicate
verbally as if they were using a common language. Other
creatures do not understand the communication without
magical help.
�Quasit; CR 2 Tiny outsider (chaotic, evil); HD 3d8;
hp 13; Init +7 (+3 Dex, +4 Imp. Init.); Spd 20 ft., fly 50 ft.
(perfect); AC 23 (touch 13, flat-footed 19); Base Atk + ;
Grp + ; Atk +8 melee (1d3-1 plus poison, 2 claws); +3
melee (1d4-1, bite); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Poison,
spell-like abilities; SQ Alternate form, damage reduction
5/cold iron or good, darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 2,
immunity to poison, resistance to fire 10, alertness,
improved evasion, share spells, empathic link, deliver
touch spells, speak with master; AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref
+6, Will +4; Str 8, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +6, Diplomacy +2, Disguise +0
(+2 acting), Hide +17, Intimidate +2, Knowledge (The
Planes) +6, Listen +7, Move Silently +9, Search +6,
Spellcraft +6, Spot +6 Improved Initiative, Weapon
Finesse (bite).
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 13, initial damage
1d4 Dex, secondary damage 2d4 Dex.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will—detect good, detect
magic, and invisibility (self only); 1/day—cause fear (as
the spell, except that its area is a 30-foot radius from the
quasit, save DC 11). Caster level 6th. Once per week a
quasit can use commune to ask six questions. The ability
otherwise works as the spell (caster level 12th).
Alternate Form (Su): A quasit can assume other
forms at will as a standard action. This ability functions as
a polymorph spell cast on itself (caster level 12th), except
that a quasit does not regain hit points for changing form,
and any individual quasit can assume only one or two
forms no larger than Medium. Common forms include
bat, monstrous centipede, toad, and wolf. A quasit in
alternate form loses its poison attack.
Sorceror Spells Known: (8/5/4/3/2; save DC 13 +
spell level; evocation save DC 15 + spell level): 0 – acid
splash, daze, flare, ghost sound, light, ray of frost,
resisitance, touch of fatigue; 1
st – magic missile, mage
armour, ray of enfeeblement, shield, true strike; 2
nd – blur,
eagle’s splendor, scorching ray, touch of idiocy; 3
rd –
dispel magic, haste, lightning bolt; 4
th – lesser globe of
invulnerability, ice storm.
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of invisibility,
potion of haste, potion of resist fire 20.
Garrison Depleted
�Orc berserkers: Bbn3; CR 3; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d12+6; hp 32; Init +6; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, touch 12,
flatfooted 15; Base Atk +3; Grp +8; Atk +10 melee
(2d4+8/18-20, +1 falchion) or +5 ranged (1d8+4/x3,
mighty composite longbow +4); Full Atk +10 melee
(2d4+8/18-20, +1 falchion) or +5 ranged (1d8+4/x3,
mighty composite longbow +4); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.;
SA: rage 1/day; SQ Light sensitivity; fast movement,
illiteracy; uncanny doge trap sense; darkvision; AL CE;
SV Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 20, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 6,
Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +7, Spot +4; Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (falchion).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 2nd level, a barbarian
retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is
caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker.
However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if
immobilized.
Trap Sense (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, a barbarian
gains a +1 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a
+1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps.
Possessions: +1 falchion, hand axe, throwing axe,
chain shirt +1, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of
bull's strength, potion of heroism.
�Orc shaman: Clr3 - Gruumsh; CR 3; Medium
humanoid; HD 3d8+3; hp 21; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 11, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +2; Grp +4; Atk +6 melee
(1d8+3, +1 shortspear) or +3 ranged (1d8, light crossbow);
Full Atk +6 melee (1d8+3, +1 shortspear) or +3 ranged
(1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Light
sensitivity, darkvision; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +6;
Str 14, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +7; Combat Casting,
Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Shortspear).
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Orcs are dazzled in bright
sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Cleric Spells Prepared (4/3+1/2+1; save DC 13 + spell
level): 0 – detect magic, guidance, resistance, virtue; 1st -
bless, divine favour, enthropic shield, enlarge person*; 2
nd
- bull’s strength*, silence; spiritual weapon;
* Domain Spell.Domains: War – free Weapon Focus;
Strength: +3 enhancement bonus to Strength as a free
action, for 1 round, 1/day
Possessions: +1 shortspear, +1 chainmail, potion of
cure serious wounds, potion of owl's wisdom, potion of
haste.
�Half-orc sorceror: Sor3; CR 3; Medium humanoid;
HD 3d4+3; hp 13; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12, touch 12, flat-
footed 10; Base Atk +1; Grp +1; Atk +1 melee (1d8,
For Want of a Nail
Page 46
shortspear) or +3 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Full Atk 1
melee (1d8, shortspear) or +3 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ: Darkvision (Ex);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL CE; SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will
+4; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +7, Spellcraft +6;
Combat Casting, Improved Initiative.
Sorceror Spells Known: (5/3; save DC 12 + spell
level): 0 – acid splash, flare, daze, ghost sound, touch of
fatigue; 1
st – magic missile, ray of enfeeblement, shield.
Possessions: Shortspear, dagger, light crossbow,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of mage armour,
potion of invisibility, potion of haste, potion of resist fire
20.
�Gavran: Human Rog8; CR 8; Medium humanoid; HD
8d6+3; hp 42; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13, flat-footed 10;
touch 13; Base Atk +7; Grp +8; Atks +8 melee (1d6+1,
shortspear); Full Atk +8/+3 melee (1d6+1, shortspear);
Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SA Sneak attack +4d6; SQ
Evasion, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge; AL
LE; SV Fort +4; Ref +10; Will +3; Str 12, Dex 17, Con 13,
Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Hide +14, Move Silently +14,
Tumble +14, Open Locks +16, Search +13, Appraise +13,
Disable Device +15, Listen +13, Spot +13, Use Magic
Device +10; Improved Initiative; Alertness; Shield
Proficiency, Combat Reflexes.
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a rogue can
avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility.
If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an
attack that normally deals half damage on a successful
save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used
only if the rogue is wearing light armor or no armor. A
helpless rogue does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Trap Sense (Ex): A rogue gains an intuitive sense
that alerts her to danger from traps, giving her a +2 bonus
on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +2 dodge bonus
to AC against attacks made by traps.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 4th level, a rogue
can react to danger before her senses would normally
allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity bonus to AC
(if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an
invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity
bonus to AC if immobilized.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A rogue of 8th
level or higher can no longer be flanked. This defense
denies another rogue the ability to sneak attack the
character by flanking her, unless the attacker has at least
four more rogue levels than the target does.
Encounter 5
�Half-orc Slavelord soldiers: Ftr7; CR 7; Medium
humanoid; HD 7d10+7; hp 53; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18,
touch 12, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +7; Grp +11; Atk +13
(1d6+7/18-20, +1 scimitar) or +10 melee (1d8+6, mighty
composite longbow +4); Full Atk +13/+8 (1d6+&/18-20,
+1 scimitar) or +10/+5 melee (1d8+6, mighty composite
longbow +4); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Darkvision; AL
CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +3; Str 19, Dex 14, Con 12,
Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +5, Spot +6; Improved
Initiative, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus
(composite longbow), Weapon Focus: (scimitar), Weapon
Specialization
(composite
longbow),
Weapon
Specialization (scimitar).
Possessions: +1 scimitar, mighty composite longbow
+4, arrows (20), +1 chainmail, potion of invisibility,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of bull’s strength,
potion of heroism, 12 gp
�Halfling Slavelord scout: Rog7; CR 7; Small
humanoid; HD 7d6+14; hp 51; Init +8; Spd 20 ft.; AC 19,
touch 14, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +6; Grp +7; Atk +7 melee
(1d4+1, small short sword) or +12 ranged (1d4+1, small +1
flaming composite shortbow); Full Atk +7 melee (1d4+1,
small short sword) or +12 ranged (1d4+1, small +1
flaming composite shortbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA
Sneak attack +4d6; SQ Halfling traits, evasion,
trapfinding, uncanny dodge, trap sense +2; AL N; SV Fort
+5, Ref +10, Will +4; Str 12, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 10, Wis
12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +13, Climb +12, Escape
Artist +13, Hide +22, Jump +2, Listen +13, Move Silently
+15, Spot +11, Tumble +13; Improved Initiative, Point
Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (composite shortbow).
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a rogue can
avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility.
If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an
attack that normally deals half damage on a successful
save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used
only if the rogue is wearing light armor or no armor. A
helpless rogue does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Trap Sense (Ex): A rogue gains an intuitive sense
that alerts her to danger from traps, giving her a +2 bonus
on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +2 dodge bonus
to AC against attacks made by traps.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 4th level, a rogue
can react to danger before her senses would normally
allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity bonus to AC
(if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an
invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity
bonus to AC if immobilized.
Possessions: shadow +1 studded leather armour,
small short sword, +1 flaming small composite shortbow,
20 bolts; potion of cure serious wounds, potion of
For Want of a Nail
Page 47
invisibility, potion of cat’s grace, potion of haste, 2 vials of
wyvern poison (Injury; DC 17; Initial and secondary
damage 2d6 Con), 10 gp.
�Kervel Tarn: Clr7 - Earth Dragon; CR 7; Medium
humanoid; HD 7d8+14; hp 52; Init +5.; Spd 20 ft.; AC 18,
touch 11, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +5; Grp +7; Atk +8 melee
(1d6+2/x4, +1 heavy pick) or +6 ranged (1d8, light
crossbow); Full Atk +8 melee (1d6+2/x4, +1 heavy pick)
or +6 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5
ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +8; Str 12, Dex 12, Con
14, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +12, Heal +11, Hide
+2; Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Martial
Weapon Proficiency (heavy pick), Weapon Focus (heavy
pick).
Cleric Spells Prepared (6/5+1/4+1/3+1/1+1; save DC 13 +
spell level): 0 – detect magic, guidance x 2, resistance,
virtue x 2; 1
st – bane, bless, divine favour, magic weapon,
protection from good*, shield of faith; 2
nd – bull’s
strength, owl’s wisdom, silence, soften earth and stone*,
spiritual weapon; 3
rd – dispel magic, glyph of warding,
stone shape*, windwall; 4
th – poison, unholy blight.
* Domain Spell.Domains: Earth: turn or destroy air
creatures. Rebuke, command, or bolster earth creatures,
3/day. Evil: cast evil spells at +1 caster level;
Possessions: +1 heavy pick, light crossbow, crossbow
bolts (20), +1 banded mail, potion of cure serious wounds,
potion of invisibility, potion of owl’s wisdom.
Encounter 6
�Markessa the White: Sor14; CR 14; Medium
Humanoid; HD 14d4; hp 46; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14,
touch 11, flatfooted 13; Base Atk +7; Grp +7; Atk +7 melee
(1d4/19-20, dagger) or +8 ranged (1d8, light crossbow);
Full Atk +7/+2 melee (1d4/19-20, dagger) or +8/+3 ranged
(1d8, light crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; SQ Elven
traits, sleep immunity, low-light vision; AL LE; SV Fort
+6, Ref +7, Will +11; Str 10, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 10, Wis
10, Cha 21.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +17, Listen +2,
Search +2, Spot +2; Combat Casting, Improved Initiative,
Silent Spell, Spell Focus (Evocation) Toughness.
Sorceror Spells Known: (9/5/5/4/4/3/2/1; save DC
15 + spell level; Evocation save DC 17 + spell level): 0 –
acid splash, daze, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, light,
ray of frost, resistance, touch of fatigue; 1
st – mage
armour, magic missile, protection from good, ray of
enfeeblement, shield; 2
nd – bear’s endurance, eagle’s
spendour, mirror image, protection from arrows,
scorching ray; 3
rd – fly, haste, fireball; lightning bolt; 4
th -
ice storm, lesser globe of invulnerability, silent dispel
magic, stone skin; 5
th – cloudkill, cone of cold, teleport; 6
th
– chain lightning, disintegrate; 7
th – spell turning
Possessions: Dagger, light crossbow, crossbow bolts,
(20) potion of cure serious wounds, potion of water
breathing, potion of remove blindness/deafness, bracers
of armour +3, cloak of resistance +2, ring of force shield.
�Human Slavelord soldiers: Ftr8; CR 8; Medium
humanoid; HD 8d10+8; hp 51; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 13, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +8; Grp +12; Atk +13
(1d6+5/15-20, +1 scimitar) or +12 melee (1d4+4/19-20,
dagger) or +12/+7 ranged (1d8+2, light crossbow); Full
Atk +13/+8 (1d6+5/15-20, +1 scimitar) or +12/+7 melee
(1d4+4/19-20, dagger) or +12/+7 ranged (1d8+2, light
crossbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; AL LE; SV Fort +7, Ref
+5, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Jump +14, Swim +15;
Diehard, Endurance, Far Shot, Improved Critical
(scimitar), Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot, Rapid
Shot,
Weapon
Focus
(light
crossbow),
Wepaon
Specialisation (light crossbow).
Possessions: +1 scimitar, dagger, light crossbow,
crossbow bolts, +1 studded leather, potion of cure serious
wounds, potion of bull's strength, potion of heroism.
For Want of a Nail
Page 48
Appendix II – Maps
For Want Of A Nail
Page 49
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/Greyhawk/Living Greyhawk - RPGA/ONW (Onnwal)/ONW3-06a For Want of a Nail (3E).pdf |
Einige inoffizielle vorgefertigte Helden für das Spiel in Meridiana
M
Meerriiddiiaanniisscchhee AArrcchheettyyppeenn
EEiinniiggee iinnooffffiizziieellllee vvoorrggeeffeerrttiiggttee H
Heellddeenn ffüürr ddaass SSppiieell iinn M
Meerriiddiiaannaa
Autoren
Miriam Connely
Alex Spohr
Layout & Lektorat
Daniel Bruxmeier
Coverbild
Torben Bierwirth, Daniel Bruxmeier,
Diana Rahfoth, Verena Schneider
Innenillustrationen
Diana Rahfoth, Verena Schneider
Die verwendeten Bilder und Illustrationen sind Copyright © der jeweiligen Zeichner.
DAS SCHWARZE AUGE, AVENTURIEN und DERE sind eingetragene Marken in Schrift und Bild der Ulisses Medien
& Spiel Distribution GmbH oder deren Partner. Ohne Vorherige schriftliche Genehmigung der Ulisses Medien & Spiel Dis-
tribution GmbH ist eine Verwendung der Ulisses-Spiele-Markenzeichen nicht gestattet. Nutzung der Inhalte des offiziellen
DSA-Fanpakets mit freundlicher Genehmigung der Ulisses Medien & Spiel Distribution GmbH.
Dieses Dokument stellt lediglich eine inoffizielle Hilfe dar und dient keinerlei kommerziellen Zwecken. Es handelt sich
hierbei weder um ein offizielles Produkt der Ulisses Spiele GmbH, noch soll es den Erwerb entsprechender Produkte über-
flüssig machen. Es enthält inoffizielle Informationen zum Rollenspiel DAS SCHWARZE AUGE und zur Welt AVENTU-
RIEN. Diese Informationen können im Widerspruch zu offiziell publiziertem Material stehen.
3
D
Deerr aallaannffaanniisscchhee BBoorroonn--G
Geew
weeiihhttee
Noch nie hatte Valerian einen solchen Gegenstand in den Händen
gehalten. Die Skulptur zeigte eine menschenähnliche Gestalt, aller-
dings mit dem Kopf eines Jaguars. Dennoch war die Statuette aus
Onyx kein Abbild des Moha-Götzen Kamaluq, denn es waren ganz
deutlich Symbole auf dem Sockel zu erkennen, die man dem Herrn
Boron zuordnen konnte. Es waren sehr alte Zeichen, vermutlich
stammten sie noch aus den Dunklen Zeiten, aber Valerian war sich
sehr sicher, sie schon einmal in den Archiven in der Stadt des
Schweigens gesehen zu haben.
Woher kam das Artefakt? Stammte es aus der Zeit der Wudu?
Oder war es gar aus dem fernen und legendären Südkontinent
Uthuria? Valerian musste es herausfinden.
Der Händler, bei dem er die Statuette gekauft hatte,
konnte ihm nicht wirklich weiterhelfen, aber zumin-
dest hatte er ihm berichtet, dass die Statuette sich in
den Händen eines Anoiha-Stammes befunden
hatte. Valerian hatte wohl keine andere Wahl, als es selbst heraus-
zufinden und sich auf eine Expedition zu begeben.
In den letzten Wochen hatte er seltsame Träume. Sie waren schwer
zu deuten, doch glaubte Valerian, dass Bishdariel ihm diese visionä-
ren Bilder zugesandt hatte, um sich auf die Suche nach der Wahr-
heit zu machen. Er konnte das aufregende Gefühl kaum unterdrü-
cken und lächelte bei dem Gedanken nach Abenteuern ein wenig
vor sich hin, während er immer noch die Skulptur in den Hän-
den hielt und musterte. Seine Familie würde ihn wohl kaum
unterstützen und sein Tempel würde nur ungern auf seine
Dienste verzichten. Es würde ihn wohl all seine Überre-
dungskunst kosten dennoch gehen zu dürfen und er würde
wohl selbst nach Questadores suchen müssen, die mit
ihm zu den Anoihas reisen würden. Doch das Ge-
heimnis erschien es ihm wert zu sein.
H
Hiinntteerrggrruunndd
Valerian Bonareth entstammt einer unbedeuten-
den Seitenlinie des Grandenhauses Bonareth. Im
Vergleich zu seinen Verwandten war er schon
immer ein eher zurückhaltender Mensch, der sich
nur selten den ausschweifenden Vergnügen der
Granden hingab. Sicherlich hätte er das angenehme
Leben eines Grandensprösslings führen können,
doch war ihm dies zu wenig und seinem Intellekt
nicht angemessen. Vielmehr war er schon immer
von tiefer Frömmigkeit gegenüber den Göttern
und insbesondere Boron erfüllt. So wurde Valerian
von seinem Vater zur Ausbildung in die Stadt des
Schweigens gebracht, da die Bonareths so erhoff-
ten, stärkeren Einfluss auf die Kirche nehmen zu
können. Während seiner Ausbildung zeigten sich
vor allem sein wacher Verstand und seine intui-
tive Kenntnis von Traumdeutungen. Aber auch
sein Wille, in der Kirchenhierarchie aufzu-
steigen und die Geheimnisse anderer To-
tengötter zu ergründen, steht im Mittelpunkt
seines Interesses. Valerians Neugier und sein
Streben nach der Ergründung alter Geheimnisse
hat ihn zu einem Geweihten gemacht, der nicht
nur hinter den Mauern der Tempelstadt leben
will, sondern auch reisen möchte und so seinem
Gott dienen möchte (auch wenn er nur wenig
Ahnung davon besitzt).
Zwar lassen ihn seine Verpflichtungen immer
wieder nach Al'Anfa zurückkehren, doch wann
immer es ihm möglich ist, wird er seinen persön-
lichen Zielen folgen. Politische Verstrickungen
versucht er aus dem Weg zu gehen, auch wenn
er durchaus Erfahrungen mit dem Intrigenspiel
der Mächtigen der Stadt hat und ihm seine
Ausstrahlung und sein Charisma von Vorteil
sind.
ZZiittaattee
»Boron verbietet uns nicht das Sprechen. Aber er verlangt, dass wir unsere Worte mit Bedacht wählen.«
»Das ist ein sehr seltsames Fundstück. Lasst mich in den Archiven der Stadt des Schweigens nachschauen, ob es jemals einen ähnlichen Fund
gegeben hat.«
»Ketzerei? Wie können wir Ketzer sein, wenn Boron auch uns gewährt hat, den Stab des Vergessens zu rufen?«
KKlleeiidduunngg,, W
Waaffffeenn uunndd AAuussrrüüssttuunngg
Valerian kleidet sich in das übliche Kirchenornat der Boron-
Geweihtenschaft: Eine schwarze Kapuzenrobe, verziert mit
goldenen Stickereien, dazu ein paar Sandalen. Als Mann des
Geistes hat Valerian keinen großen Bedarf an Waffen und trägt
nur einen Dolch. Dafür hat er meistens Schreibzeug dabei, um
seine Traumvisionen nach dem Erwachen festzuhalten, sich
Notizen zu machen oder Briefe zu schreiben. Für liturgische
Handlungen hat er zudem auch noch Salbungsöl dabei. An-
sonsten verzichtet er darauf, zu viel mit sich herumzutragen,
sieht man von dem Geldbeutel ab, der wie bei Granden üblich
gut gefüllt ist.
D
Deerr aallaannffaanniisscchhee BBoorroonn--G
Geew
weeiihhttee bbeeii SSppiieellbbeeggiinnnn
R/K/P: Mittelländer / Südaventurien (Al'Anfa) / Boron-Geweihter (Deuter Bishdariels)
Eigenschaften: MU 14, KL 14, IN 14, CH 14, FF 11, GE 11, KO 11, KK 11, SO 9
LeP 27, AuP 28, KaP 24, MR 8
INI 11, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Geweiht [zwölfgöttliche Kirche], Gutaussehend, Hohe Magieresistenz (3), Prophezeien (5), Soziale An-
passungsfähigkeit, Wohlklang / Arroganz: 7, Eitelkeit 7, Moralkodex [Boron-Kirche], Neugier 6, Unfähigkeit für Naturtalente,
Verpflichtungen (gegenüber Boron-Kirche)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Karmalqueste, Kulturkunde (Südaventurien); Liturgiekenntnis (Boron) +7
Talente: Armbrust +2, Dolche +4, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +1, Ringen +3, Säbel +1, Wurfmesser +1, Athletik 0, Klettern 0,
Körperbeherrschung 0, Schleichen +3, Schwimmen +2, Selbstbeherrschung +7, Sich verstecken +1, Singen +2, Sinnenschär-
fe +6, Tanzen 0, Zechen 0, Etikette +6, Gassenwissen +4, Lehren +4, Menschenkenntnis +10, Sich verkleiden +2, Überre-
den +3, Überzeugen +3, Fährtensuchen 0, Orientierung 0, Wildnisleben 0, Geschichtswissen +4, Götter/Kulte +9, Magie-
kunde +4, Pflanzenkunde +4, Rechnen +6, Rechtskunde +5, Sagen/Legenden +5, Schätzen +2, Staatskunst +4, Sternkunde
+5, Muttersprache: Garethi 12, Sprachen kennen: Bosparano 6, Sprachen kennen: Mohisch +4, Sprachen kennen: Rabenspra-
che +6, Sprachen kennen: Tulamidya +4, Sprachen kennen: Zelemja +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +6, Le-
sen/Schreiben: Chrmk +4, Boote fahren +1, Heilkunde Gift +3, Heilkunde Seele +6, Heilkunde Wunden 0, Holzbearbei-
tung +1, Kochen +4, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +2, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt +1
Liturgien: 12 SEGNUNGEN, BISHDARIELS AUGE, HAUCH BORONS, INITIATION, KRÄUTERSEGEN DES HEILIGEN NEMEKATH,
OBJEKTSEGEN, SCHLAF DES GESEGNETEN, SEGEN DER HEILIGEN VELVENYA
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 9, Dolche 9/9, Hiebwaffen 7/7, Raufen 8/7, Ringen 9/8, Säbel 8/7, Wurfmesser 8
Ausrüstung: Schwarze Robe mit Kapuze, Sandalen, Dolch, Salböl, Gänsekiel, mehrere Blatt Pergament und Tinte, Pergament-
hülle, Lederranzen, Boron-Amulett
D
Deerr eerrffaahhrreennee AAllaannffaanniisscchhee BBoorroonn--G
Geew
weeiihhttee ((mmiitt 55000000 AAPP))
R/K/P: Mittelländer / Südaventurien (Al'Anfa) / Boron-Geweihter (Deuter Bishdariels)
Eigenschaften: MU 15, KL 16, IN 15, CH 15, FF 11, GE 11, KO 11, KK 11, SO 11
LeP 27, AuP 29, KaP 29, MR 8
INI 11, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Geweiht [zwölfgöttliche Kirche], Gutaussehend, Hohe Magieresistenz (3), Prophezeien (7), Soziale An-
passungsfähigkeit, Wohlklang / Arroganz: 7, Eitelkeit 7, Moralkodex [Boron-Kirche], Neugier 6, Unfähigkeit für Naturtalente,
Verpflichtungen (gegenüber Boron-Kirche)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Karmalqueste, Kulturkunde (Südaventurien); Liturgiekenntnis (Boron) +12
Talente: Armbrust +2, Dolche +4, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +1, Ringen +3, Säbel +1, Wurfmesser +1, Athletik 0, Klettern 0,
Körperbeherrschung 0, Schleichen +3, Schwimmen +2, Selbstbeherrschung +10, Sich Verstecken +1, Singen +2, Sinnen-
schärfe +8, Tanzen 0, Zechen 0, Etikette +6, Gassenwissen +4, Lehren +4, Menschenkenntnis +15, Sich Verkleiden +2,
Überreden +5, Überzeugen +5, Fährtensuchen 0, Orientierung 0, Wildnisleben +2, Geschichtswissen +6, Götter/Kulte +14,
Magiekunde +4, Pflanzenkunde +4, Rechnen +6, Rechtskunde +5, Sagen/Legenden +5, Schätzen +2, Staatskunst +6,
Sternkunde +8, Muttersprache: Garethi +12, Sprachen Kennen: Bosparano +6, Mohisch +4, Rabensprache +6, Tulamidya
+4, Zelemja +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +6, Chrmk +4, Boote Fahren +1, Heilkunde Gift +3, Heilkunde Seele
+8, Heilkunde Wunden 0, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen +4, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +2, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt
+1
Liturgien: 12 SEGNUNGEN, BANNFLUCH DES HEILIGEN KHALID. BISHDARIELS ANGESICHT (KLEINE LITURGIE DES HL.
NEMEKATH), BISHDARIELS AUGE, BORONS SÜßE GNADE, EXKOMMUNIKATION, GÖTTLICHE VERSTÄNDIGUNG, HAUCH
BORONS, HEILIGER BEFEHL, INITIATION, KRÄUTERSEGEN DES HEILIGEN NEMEKATH (RAHJAS RAUSCHSEGEN), OBJEKTSE-
GEN, OBJEKTWEIHE, SCHLAF DES GESEGNETEN, SEGEN DER HEILIGEN NOIONA, SEGEN DER HEILIGEN VELVENYA, TIERGE-
STALT, WEIHE DER LETZTEN RUHESTATT
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 9, Dolche 9/9, Hiebwaffen 7/7, Raufen 8/7, Ringen 9/8, Säbel 8/7, Wurfmesser 8
Ausrüstung: Schwarze Robe mit Kapuze, Sandalen, Dolch, Salbungsöl, Gänsekiel, mehrere Blatt Pergament und Tinte, Perga-
menthülle, Lederranzen, Boron-Amulett, Geldbeutel (24 Dukaten), Schlaftrunk (C)
5
D
Diiee bbrraabbaakkiisscchhee SScchhllaannggeennhheexxee
Alrico Komparo war trotz seiner erst zehn Jahre der Mutigste der
Komparo-Bande. Er hatte schon so manchen reichen Fana um
seine Geldkatze erleichtert, war der Stadtgarde mehrfach in den
dunklen Gassen der Brabaker Baracken entkommen und hätte es
sogar gewagt, dem Silberberg einen Besuch abzustatten, um damit
die wunderhübsche Grandessa Shantalla Karinor zu beeindrucken.
Doch selbst er schreckte vor der Hütte der unheimlichen Morisca
zurück. Man erzählte sich in den Baracken, dass sie eine kinderfres-
sende Hexe sei, mit Dämonen im Bunde stehe oder gar zum Na-
menlosen bete.
Und doch musste er etwas tun. Seine Freundin Nirvina
Sereles, genannt Moosäffchen, war gestern unvorsichtig
gewesen und wurde von ihrem vermeintlichen Opfer,
einem dicken Händler, der sich zugleich auch
als Magier herausgestellt hatte, erwischt.
Erst hatte die Komparo-Bande be-
fürchtet, dass der Zauberer die Stadt-
garde rufen würde, doch viel schlimmer:
Er verwandelte Nirvina voller grausamer
Freude in ein Selemferkel. Hilfesuchend
flüchtete sie zu Alrico und sie rannten vor dem
Magier davon.
Niemand wollte der armen Nirvina helfen, egal wen Alrico fragte,
nicht einmal die Geweihten. Und so blieb Alrico nur noch die
Wahl, der Hexe Morisca einen Besuch abzustatten.
Als er die unheimliche Hütte durch einen Vorhang betrat, begann
Nirvina zu quieken, denn sie hatte sofort die zischelnde Schlange
bemerkt, die sie gierig von einem Wandregal aus musterte. Alrico
jedoch machte nur große Augen: Überall fand er seltsame Talisma-
ne, Totenköpfe und Behälter mit den merkwürdigsten Sonderbar-
keiten. Er erschrak, als er plötzlich eine Hand auf seiner Schulter
spürte. Ruckartig drehte er sich um und sah in das Gesicht einer
Frau. Es war Morisca.
»Habe keine Furcht, kleiner Alrico. Komm, setz dich
dort hin und ich werde versuchen, dir zu helfen. Das
Schweinchen ist doch deine Freundin, nicht wahr?«
Er war verwundert, woher sie dies alles wusste, aber
als sie ihn angrinste, da war seine Furcht auch ein
wenig kleiner geworden und er folgte ihr. Vielleicht
half sie ihm und Nirvina ja wirklich und sie war
gar nicht so schlecht, wie alle sagten.
H
Hiinntteerrggrruunndd
Morisca Carasa wuchs in Brabak auf, doch wie
viele andere Familien auch, zogen ihre Eltern
nach Al'Anfa, um dort der Armut zu entgehen.
Besser wurde es in der Pestbeule des Südens
jedoch nicht und so blieb Moriscas Familie
nichts anderes übrig, als in den Brabaker Bara-
cken zu leben, dem Armenviertel der Stadt.
Doch das Schicksal hatte einen anderen Plan
mit der kleinen Morisca vor, als sie in den
Baracken verrotten zu lassen. Während eines
Hausbrandes in den Baracken, in welchem
Morisca fast umgekommen wäre, entdeckte
eine alte Hexe die magischen Fähigkeiten des
Mädchens. Sie bezahlte ihre Eltern und nahm
sie zu sich, bildete sie in den nächsten Jahren aus
und so erlernte Morisca die Zauberei.
Nach dem Tod ihrer Lehrmeisterin übernahm
sie deren Aufgabe, half gelegentlich den Men-
schen in den Brabaker Baracken mit ihrem Wis-
sen und verschrieb sich ganz ihren Forschun-
gen. Sie interessiert sich vor allem für die
echsische Magie und glaubt, dass die hexische
Zauberei und die der Echsenmenschen
enger miteinander verwandt sind, als die
meisten Menschen erahnen.
Wenn sie nicht als Heilerin schädlicher
Verzauberungen, Kräuterfrau, Ratgebe-
rin oder Geisterbeschwörerin arbeitet, dann
ist sie unterwegs, angetrieben von ihrer
Neugier und ihrem Wissensdurst.
ZZiittaattee
»Komm näher, Fremder. Vielleicht kann ich dir bei deinen Problemen helfen.«
»Ja, meinen kleinen Liebling solltest du fürchten. Für sie bist du nicht mehr als ein leckerer Otan-Otan.«
»Die Granden horten ihr Geld und die Menschen hier werden hungern. Die Geweihten beten und lassen uns sterben. Das wird sich nie
ändern.«
KKlleeiidduunngg,, W
Waaffffeenn uunndd AAuussrrüüssttuunngg
Morisca besitzt kein sonderlich großes Vermögen, dementspre-
chend kleidet sie sich mit dem, was sie sich leisten kann: ein
einfaches Mieder, ein alter Rock, dazu ein Paar Stiefel.
Wohin immer Morisca geht, folgt ihr Shantalla, eine große
Würgeschlange. Das Tier ist ausgesprochen gefräßig, aber
grundsätzlich
gutmütig.
Shantalla
ist
ein
machtvolles
Vertrautentier, das sich der Hexe freiwillig angeschlossen hat
und über eine besonders große Intelligenz verfügt.
D
Diiee bbrraabbaakkiisscchhee SScchhllaannggeennhheexxee bbeeii SSppiieellbbeeggiinnnn
R/K/P: Mittelländerin (mit einem Schuss Waldmenschenblut) / Südaventurien (Brabak) / Schwester des Wissens
Eigenschaften: MU 13, KL 14, IN 14, CH 14, FF 11, GE 11, KO 12, KK 11, SO 6
LeP 28, AuP 28, AsP 34, MR 6
INI 10, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Astrale Regeneration (2), Machtvoller Vertrauter, Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit, Vollzauberer, Wesen der Nacht (3) /
Angst vor Feuer 10, Eitelkeit 7, Gewohnheit (Erdgebunden), Neugier 7, Rachsucht 10, Schlechter Ruf (3), Stigma Hexensträhne (2)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Große Meditation, Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Merkmalskenntnis (Antimagie), Ritualkenntnis (Hexen) +3
Talente: Bogen +1, Dolche +4, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +1, Ringen +1, Säbel +1, Wurfmesser +1, Athletik 0, Fliegen +7, Klettern +1, Kör-
perbeherrschung 0, Schleichen +2, Schwimmen +3, Selbstbeherrschung 0, Sich verstecken +5, Singen 0, Sinnenschärfe +2, Tanzen +3,
Zechen 0, Betören +4, Etikette +2, Gassenwissen +4, Lehren +4, Menschenkenntnis +5, Sich verkleiden +4, Überreden +6, Überzeugen
+2, Fährtensuchen 0, Orientierung +2, Wildnisleben +2, Geografie +3, Geschichtswissen +4, Götter/Kulte +3, Magiekunde +8, Pflan-
zenkunde +5, Rechnen +5, Sagen/Legenden +3, Schätzen +1, Sternkunde +4, Tierkunde +6, Muttersprache: Garethi +12, Sprachen
kennen: Mohisch +4, Sprachen kennen: Rssahh +5, Sprachen kennen: Thorwalsch +2, Sprachen kennen: Tulamidya +4, Sprachen ken-
nen: Zelemja +3, Lesen/Schreiben: Chrmk +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +6, Abrichten +4, Boote fahren +1, Heilkunde Wun-
den +0, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen +3, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +4, Schneidern +2, Seefahrt +2
Zauber: ÄNGSTE LINDERN +2 , BLICK AUFS WESEN +3, BLICK IN DIE GEDANKEN +3, EIGENSCHAFT WIEDERHER-
STELLEN +5, EINFLUSS BANNEN +8, GEISTERRUF +4, GROßE GIER +2, HARMLOSE GESTALT +2, HEXENBLICK +2,
HEXENKNOTEN +2, HEXENSPEICHEL +2, INVOCATIO MINOR +2, KRABBELNDER SCHRECKEN +2, KRÄHENRUF +7,
KRÖTENSPRUNG +2, LEVTHANS FEUER +2, NUNTIOVOLO +5, ODEM +3, PANDAEMONIUM +2, PENTAGRAMMA +9,
RADAU +2, SATUARIAS HERRLICHKEIT +2, SCHLEIER DER UNWISSENHEIT +5, SPINNENLAUF +4, TIERE BESPRE-
CHEN +2, TIERGEDANKEN +2, TRAUMGESTALT +2, UNITATIO +2, VERWANDLUNG BEENDEN +8, VIPERNBLICK +6
Kampfwerte: Bogen 8, Dolche 9/9, Hiebwaffen 7/7, Raufen 8/7, Ringen 8/7, Säbel 8/7, Wurfmesser 8
Ausrüstung: Städtische Kleidung, ein Fluggerät (Besen, Stab, Korb), Feldflasche, Tuchbeutel, Nähzeug, Holzlöffel, Holzbecher, kleiner Kup-
ferkessel, Dolch, Kerzen (3), Papierbögen in einem Wachstuch (4), Kohlestift, Geldbeutel (36 Silbertaler)
D
Diiee eerrffaahhrreennee bbrraabbaakkiisscchhee SScchhllaannggeennhheexxee ((mmiitt 55000000 AAPP))
R/K/P: Mittelländerin (mit einem Schuss Waldmenschenblut) / Südaventurien (Brabak) / Schwester des Wissens
Eigenschaften: MU 13, KL 15, IN 16, CH 15, FF 11, GE 11, KO 12, KK 11, SO 6
LeP 30 (2 dazugekauft), AuP 28, AsP 48 (6 dazugekauft), MR 6
INI 11, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 8, FK-Basis 8
Vor- und Nachteile: Astrale Regeneration (2), Machtvoller Vertrauter, Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit, Vollzauberer, Wesen der Nacht (3) /
Angst vor Feuer 10, Eitelkeit 7, Gewohnheit (Erdgebunden), Neugier 7, Rachsucht 10, Schlechter Ruf (3), Stigma Hexensträhne (2)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Fluch (Beute, Hexenschuss, Krötenkuss, Mit Blindheit schlagen, Zunge lähmen), Große Meditation, Kulturkunde (Süd-
aventurien), Merkmalskenntnis (Antimagie), Ritualkenntnis (Hexen) +7
Talente: Bogen +1, Dolche +4, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +1, Ringen +1, Säbel +1, Wurfmesser +1, Athletik 0, Fliegen +7, Klettern +1, Kör-
perbeherrschung 0, Schleichen +4, Schwimmen +3, Selbstbeherrschung +2, Sich Verstecken +5, Singen 0, Sinnenschärfe +4, Tanzen +5,
Zechen 0, Betören +5, Etikette +2, Gassenwissen +8, Lehren +4, Menschenkenntnis +10, Sich Verkleiden +6, Überreden +8, Überzeugen
+2, Fährtensuchen 0, Orientierung +5, Wildnisleben +4, Geografie +5, Geschichtswissen +6, Götter/Kulte +5, Magiekunde +10, Pflan-
zenkunde +7, Rechnen +5, Sagen/Legenden +7, Schätzen +1, Sternkunde +4, Tierkunde +6, Muttersprache: Garethi +12, Sprachen
Kennen: Mohisch +4, Rssahh +7, Thorwalsch +3, Tulamidya +4, Zelemja +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Chrmk +8, Kusliker Zeichen +6, Ab-
richten +6, Boote Fahren +1, Heilkunde Wunden +1, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen +7, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +4, Schnei-
dern +2, Seefahrt +2
Zauber: ÄNGSTE LINDERN +5, BEHERRSCHUNG BRECHEN +6, BLICK AUFS WESEN +5, BLICK IN DIE GEDANKEN +5,
EIGENSCHAFT WIEDERHERSTELLEN +7, EINFLUSS BANNEN +11, GEISTERBANN +4, GEISTERRUF +6, GROßE GIER
+7 , HARMLOSE GESTALT +4, HEXENBLICK +2, HEXENKNOTEN +4, HEXENSPEICHEL +6, INVOCATIO MINOR +6,
KRABBELNDER SCHRECKEN +5, KRÄHENRUF +11, KRÖTENSPRUNG +7, LEVTHANS FEUER +4, LUNGE DES LEVIA-
THAN (ACH) +5, NUNTIOVOLO +5, ODEM +6, PANDAEMONIUM +4, PENTAGRAMMA +13, PSYCHOSTABILIS +6, RA-
DAU +5, SATUARIAS HERRLICHKEIT +4, SCHLEIER DER UNWISSENHEIT +5, SPINNENLAUF +6, TIERE BESPRECHEN
+2, TIERGEDANKEN +2, TRAUMGESTALT +2, UNITATIO +2, VERWANDLUNG BEENDEN +11, VIPERNBLICK +8
Kampfwerte: Bogen 9, Dolche 9/10, Hiebwaffen 7/8, Raufen 8/8, Ringen 8/8, Säbel 8/8, Wurfmesser 9
Ausrüstung: Städtische Kleidung, ein Fluggerät (Besen, Stab, Korb), Feldflasche, Tuchbeutel, Nähzeug, Holzlöffel, Holzbecher, kleiner Kup-
ferkessel, Dolch, Stundenkerzen (5), halb beschriebenes Quarto-Notizbuch, Schreibutensilien, Geldbeutel (10 Dukaten, 20 Silbertaler)
7
D
Deerr kkeemmiisscchhee AAllcchhiimmiisstt
Es war ein wirklich seltsamer Auftrag. Die schwarzhaarige Frau,
die Nebibs Laden aufgesucht hatte, war wunderschön gewesen.
Vermutlich hätte sie alles von ihm verlangen können und er hätte ja
gesagt. Sie wollte, dass er ein Verwandlungselixier herstellte und
dies ihrem treulosen Ehemann gab. Das stellte ihn vor zwei
Probleme: Zum einen beherrschte er nicht den Zauber, um
tatsächlich der Verwandlungstrunk herzustellen, zum ande-
ren musste er vermutlich die Rache des Ehemanns befürchten
und so bald wie möglich die Stadt verlassen. Er willigte
jedoch aus dreierlei Gründen ein:
Die Frau bot ihm eine hübsche
Summe. Er wollte seinen Kolle-
gen Arusha sowieso die Formel des
Verwandlungselixiers abkaufen und
lernen, wie man es braut. Und er wollte
dem Treulosen selbst eine Lektion erteilen. Dass er eine so schöne
Frau betrog, war geradezu verwerflich und gehörte bestraft!
So machte er
sich auf den Weg und überlegte, wie er
am einfachs-
ten dem Ehemann den Sud zuführen
konnte. Vermutlich musste er ihm
gar auf phexgefällige Art und Weise
den Trunk unterschieben. Aber
was tat er nicht alles für den Dank
der Schwarzhaarigen? Wäre sie
nicht verheiratet, würde er um sie
werben. Aber die Chancen standen gut.
Bald würde der Ehebrecher eine Maus und sie
ihn los sein, frei für einen neuen Mann.
H
Hiinntteerrggrruunndd
Nebib al‘Faruset ist der Sohn einer Händlerdynastie aus
Khefu. Sicherlich wäre auch er in die Fußstapfen seiner
Eltern getreten, wenn man nicht durch Zufall herausge-
funden hätte, dass in dem Jungen ein Funke von Madas
Gabe stecken würde. Durch den Wohlstand seiner Eltern
war es ihm vergönnt, an einer großen Ausbildungsstätte
in die Lehre zu gehen. Da jedoch weder die
alanfanische Universität, noch die Dunkle Halle der
Geister zu Brabak in Frage kamen (die eine war der
erklärte Feind aller Kemi, die andere eine höchst dubi-
ose Stätte, die nicht mit dem Glauben an Boron zu-
sammen passte), entschied man sich, den aufgeweck-
ten Nebib beim Bund des Roten Salamanders ausbil-
den zu lassen.
Nebib konnte dank seiner angeborenen magischen
Gabe manches Elixier herstellen, das seinen Kolle-
gen verschlossen blieb. So hatte er auch Neider
im Bund und machte sich nach seiner Aus-
bildung selbstständig, zog von einem Ort
zum anderen, immer auf der Suche nach
neuen Ingredienzien für seine alchimisti-
schen Experimente.
Auch wenn man es dem Kemi nicht anse-
hen würde, so ist er doch hinter jedem Rock
her und trinkt mehr, als für ihn gut ist. Bei
seinen Zechgelagen ist ihm seine Kunst
ebenfalls behilflich, denn er experimentiert
auch mit verschiedenen Alkoholika und
erschafft nebenbei einige ganz besondere
Liköre und Schnäpse, die sich ebenso gut
wie seine alchimistischen Tinkturen ver-
kaufen lassen (sofern er sie nicht selbst
trinkt).
ZZiittaattee
»Ein
Unsichtbarkeitselixier
herzustellen ist keine
leichte Sache. Aber ja,
ich vermag es.«
»Wir müssen ihm nur das hier zu
trinken geben, dann haben sich unsere
Probleme gelöst. Nein, es ist kein Gift.«
»Du unterschätzt mich doch sicherlich nur,
weil ich ein Kemi bin, nicht wahr?«
KKlleeiidduunngg,, W
Waaffffeenn uunndd AAuussrrüüssttuunngg
Als Kemi ist Nebib stolz auf seine Herkunft und verdeutlicht
dies durch das Tragen traditioneller Kleidung. Dennoch ist er
auch durch und durch Alchimist, so dass man ihn nur selten
ohne seine Arbeitskleidung, eine dicke Lederschürze, anfindet.
Aus Streitigkeiten hält er sich meistens heraus und kann sich
höchstens mit seinen Fäusten oder einem Dolch wehren. Seine
bevorzugten Waffen sind eher seine Intelligenz und seine Tink-
turen. Mit diesen kann er sich nicht nur unsichtbar machen,
sondern auch Gift herstellen. Da er sich oft dazu entschließt,
auf Reisen zu gehen, nimmt er meist nur tragbare Ausrüstung
mit, die er ohne große Probleme aufstellen und benutzen kann.
Was er jedoch immer dabei hat, ist sein Formelbuch, denn ohne
dies würde er sich gar nicht an all die Rezepte erinnern, die er
jemals kreiert hat.
D
Deerr kkeemmiisscchhee AAllcchhiimmiisstt bbeeii SSppiieellbbeeggiinnnn
R/K/P: Tulamide / Südaventurien (Khefu) / Magischer Alchimist (Bund des Roten Salamanders
Eigenschaften: MU 13, KL 14, IN 14, CH 10, FF 14, GE 10, KO 10, KK 10, SO 7
LeP 25, AuP 26, AsP 12, MR 4
INI 10, AT-Basis 6, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 8
Vor- und Nachteile: Akademische Ausbildung (Gelehrter), Gebildet (3), Immunität gegen alchimistische Gifte, Meisterhandwerk (Al-
chimie, Brauer, Heilkunde: Gift), Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit, Viertelzauberer, Übernatürliche Begabung (Abvenenum reine Speise,
Analys Arkanstruktur, Odem Arcanum, Sumus Elixiere, Visibili Vanitar) / Arroganz 7, Goldgier 8, Sucht Alkohol (6), Verpflichtungen
(gegenüber Bund des Roten Salamanders)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Nandusgefälliges Wissen, Ritualkenntnis (Alchimist) +7, Schale (Weihe der Scha-
le), Talentspezialisierung (Alchimie: Wandlungselixiere)
Talente: Anderthalbhänder +1, Armbrust +1, Dolche +6, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +3, Ringen +1, Säbel +1, Wurfmesser 0, Athletik 0,
Klettern 0, Körperbeherrschung +1, Schleichen 0, Schwimmen +1, Selbstbeherrschung +5, Sich Verstecken +2, Singen 0, Sinnen-
schärfe +3, Tanzen 0, Zechen +2, Etikette +1, Gassenwissen +4, Lehren +3, Menschenkenntnis +6, Sich Verkleiden +1, Überre-
den +3, Fährtensuchen 0, Orientierung 0, Wildnisleben +2, Geschichtswissen +6, Gesteinskunde +5, Götter/Kulte +6, Hüttenkun-
de +4, Magiekunde +8, Mechanik +1, Pflanzenkunde +8, Philosophie +5, Rechnen +10, Rechtskunde +4, Sagen/Legenden +2,
Schätzen +4, Sternkunde +4, Tierkunde +5, Muttersprache: Garethi +13, Sprachen Kennen: Altes Kemi +6, Mohisch +4,
Tulamidya +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +6, Nanduria +5, Alchimie (Meisterhandwerk, Wandlungselixiere) +12 (+14),
Boote Fahren +1, Brauer (Meisterhandwerk) +2, Drucker +1, Handel +3, Heilkunde Gift (Meiterhandwerk) +8, Heilkunde Wunden
+1, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen +6, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +4, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt +1, Stoffe Färben +2
Zauber: ABVENENUM 5, ANALYS 4, ODEM 4, SUMUS ELIXIERE 4, VISIBILI 3
Kampfwerte: Anderthalbhänder 7/7, Armbrust 9, Dolche 9/10, Hiebwaffen 6/7, Raufen 8/8, Ringen 6/8, Säbel 7/7, Wurfmesser 8
Ausrüstung: Kemische Kleidung, Schürze aus gehärtetem Leder, Lederhandschuhe, Lederkappe, Umhängetasche, Feinwaage,
Schreibutensilien, Büchlein mit Notizen, Fläschchen mit einfachen alchimistischen Mittelchen, Salbengrundlagen, zwei einfache
Tränke, weitere Ausrüstung im Wert von 7 Dukaten, Geldbeutel (49 Silbertaler)
D
Deerr eerrffaahhrreennee kkeemmiisscchhee AAllcchhiimmiisstt ((mmiitt 55000000 AAPP))
R/K/P: Tulamide / Südaventurien (Khefu) / Magischer Alchimist (Bund des Roten Salamanders
Eigenschaften: MU 13, KL 16, IN 15, CH 10, FF 15, GE 10, KO 10, KK 10, SO 8
LeP 25, AuP 27, AsP 13, MR 5
INI 10, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 8
Vor- und Nachteile: Akademische Ausbildung (Gelehrter), Gebildet (3), Immunität gegen alchimistische Gifte, Meisterhandwerk (Al-
chimie, Brauer, Heilkunde: Gift), Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit, Viertelzauberer, Übernatürliche Begabung (Abvenenum reine Speise,
Analys Arkanstruktur, Odem Arcanum, Sumus Elixiere, Visibili Vanitar) / Arroganz 7, Goldgier 8, Sucht Alkohol (6), Verpflichtungen
(gegenüber Bund des Roten Salamanders)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Nandusgefälliges Wissen, Ritualkenntnis (Alchimist) +10, Schale (Weihe der
Schale, Allegorische Analyse, Feuer und Eis, Chymische Hochzeit)
Talente: Anderthalbhänder +1, Armbrust +3, Dolche +8, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +3, Ringen +1, Säbel +1, Wurfmesser 0, Athletik 0,
Klettern 0, Körperbeherrschung +1, Schleichen 0, Schwimmen +1, Selbstbeherrschung +7, Sich Verstecken +2, Singen 0, Sinnen-
schärfe +6, Tanzen 0, Zechen +4, Etikette +1, Gassenwissen +4, Lehren +3, Menschenkenntnis +6, Sich Verkleiden +1, Überre-
den +4, Fährtensuchen 0, Orientierung 0, Wildnisleben +2, Geschichtswissen +9, Gesteinskunde +8, Götter/Kulte +6, Hüttenkun-
de +4, Magiekunde +11, Mechanik +1, Pflanzenkunde +11, Philosophie +5, Rechnen +10, Rechtskunde +4, Sagen/Legenden +2,
Schätzen +4, Sternkunde +7, Tierkunde +5, Muttersprache: Garethi +13, Sprachen Kennen: Altes Kemi +8, Mohisch +4,
Tulamidya +9, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +9, Nanduria +8, Alchimie (Meisterhandwerk, Wandlungselixiere) +15 (+17),
Boote Fahren +1, Brauer (Meisterhandwerk) +6, Drucker +1, Handel +3, Heilkunde Gift (Meisterhandwerk) +12, Heilkunde Wun-
den +1, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen +6, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +4, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt +1, Stoffe Färben +2
Zauber: ABVENENUM 9, ANALYS 9, ODEM 8, SUMUS ELIXIERE 12, VISIBILI 7
Kampfwerte: Anderthalbhänder 8/7, Armbrust 11, Dolche 12/10, Hiebwaffen 7/7, Raufen 9/8, Ringen 7/8, Säbel 8/7, Wurfmesser 8
Ausrüstung: Kemische Kleidung, Mengbilar mit Halbgift (D), Schürze aus gehärtetem Leder, Lederhandschuhe, Lederkappe, Um-
hängetasche, Feinwaage, Schreibutensilien, Büchlein mit Notizen, Fläschchen mit einfachen alchimistischen Mittelchen, Salben-
grundlagen, fünf einfache Tränke, zwei schwierigere Tränke, Buch Der kleine Paramanthus, Wagen mit transportabler Hexenküche,
weitere Ausrüstung im Wert von 49 Dukaten, Unsichtbarkeitstrank (D), Verwandlungselixier (D), Geldbeutel (34 Dukaten)
9
D
Diiee ssyyllllaanniisscchhee PPiirraattiinn
Es musste zum Plan des Herrn Phex gehören, als Dolorita sich für
die hässliche alte Schnapsflasche entschied. Eigentlich wollte sie sich
von dem Anteil ihrer Beute ein paar neue Kleidungsstücke gönnen,
doch war auch ihre sie schon lange Jahre treu begleitende Flasche
verloren gegangen, so dass sie Ersatz dafür suchte. Und so kaufte sie
sich beim greisen Einaugen-Alrik ein neues Fläschchen.
Darin fand sie ein kleines, halb zerfetztes Stück Papier, auf dem
eine Nachricht stand: Sie war von dem legendären Kapitän
Rodorico Vascono aus Drôl. Dieser hatte vor mehr als zweihundert
Jahren
ein
Schiff
des
berüchtigten
alanfanischen
Adamantenkonvois geentert und den Schatz angeblich auf
einer charyptischen Insel versteckt. Und durch einen
Zufall, eine Fügung des Schicksals hatte sie die
Schatzkarte in den Händen!
Dolorita war so aufgeregt, dass sie Einaugen-Alrik den vollen Sil-
bertaler überließ, obwohl die Flasche nur 6 Heller gekostet hätte,
und stürmte dann so schnell es ging nach draußen. So viele Gedan-
ken gingen Dolorita im Kopf herum.
Sie würde diesen Schatz finden, doch dafür würde sie erst eine
Mannschaft zusammenstellen müssen. Keine Seeräuber, sondern
mutige Questadores, denn Kapitän Vascono hatte den
Schatz angeblich mit magischen Fallen und Ungeheu-
ern abgesichert. Doch sie würde bestimmt Gefährten
finden, die bereit waren, sich auf das Abenteuer
einzulassen.
H
Hiinntteerrggrruunndd
Dolorita Santana ist eine aus Sylla stam-
mende Piratin, die schon ihr ganzes Leben
zur See fährt. In ihrer Heimatstadt sind
Kaperfahrten Tradition und bereits als
Kind träumte sie von aufregenden Aben-
teuern, Piratenschätzen und hübschen
Gouverneurssöhnen.
Zwar musste sie schnell feststellen, dass das
Piratendasein auch Schattenseiten hatte, aber sie
hat ihre Träume immer noch nicht aufgegeben.
Dolorita arbeitet daran, dereinst selbst ein gro-
ßes Schiff unter ihrem Kommando zu haben.
Doch ihr größtes Ziel ist wesentlich profaner:
Sie will die reichste Frau Aventuriens werden,
reicher noch als die Granden Al'Anfas oder
Stoerrebrandt.
Dolorita ist bei ihren Überfällen keineswegs
skrupellos, sondern glaubt sehr wohl an
einige Prinzipien, schließlich ist sie
Syllanerin: Sklavenhan-del ist ihr
zuwider, sie verzichtet auf unnötige Grausamkeit
und ist efferdgläubig, verstößt also ungern
gegen die Gebote des Meeresgottes. Sie be-
trachtet sich selbst auch viel eher als eine
Abenteurerin, als wie ein Seeräuber. Für sie
sind die Überfälle auf alanfanische Schiffe
auch eher Sklavenbefreiung und die Entfüh-
rung eines Granden dient der gerechten Sache.
ZZiittaattee
»Ihr könnt mich Kapitänin Dolorita
Santana nennen. Wo mein Schiff ist?
Nun ja, noch verfüge ich über keines.
Aber das wird sich bald ändern.«
»Land voraus! Das muss Nikkali sein! Der
Schatz Brabaccianos ist näher als jemals
zuvor!«
»Klar machen zum entern! Ja, wir sind nur
zu viert, aber wir schaffen es trotzdem, so Efferd
will! Ein wahres Korsarenstück!«
KKlleeiidduunngg,, W
Waaffffeenn uunndd AAuussrrüüssttuunngg
Als waschechte Piratin ist Dolorita nicht sonderlich wählerisch,
was ihre Kleidung betrifft. Sie bevorzugt leichte Hemden und
Hosen und kann mit Schuhen nicht sonderlich viel anfangen.
Dafür sammelt sie gerne Trophäen in Form von Schmuck, die
sie reichen Adelsdamen oder wohlhabenden Grandensöhnen
abgenommen hat.
Als Waffe trägt sie ein Entermesser, einen Dolch und vermag
auch mit Wurfmessern oder -beilen umzugehen. Ansonsten hat
sie kaum größeren Besitz und hortet auch meist nichts an,
sondern gibt großzügig schnell auch wieder alles aus, was sie
sich verdient.
Das Einzige, was sie immer bei sich behält, ist ihr Glücksbrin-
ger in Form eines hölzernen Delphins, denn sie glaubt daran,
dass ein Geweihter des Efferd diesen einst weihte und er ver-
hindert, dass sie auf See untergehen wird.
D
Diiee ssyyllllaanniisscchhee PPiirraattiinn bbeeii SSppiieellbbeeggiinnnn
R/K/P: Tulamidin / Südaventurien (Sylla) / Seefahrerin (Piratin)
Eigenschaften: MU 14, KL 10, IN 14, CH 10, FF 13, GE 14, KO 12, KK 13, SO 2
LeP 29, AuP 30, MR 3, WS 8
INI 11, AT-Basis 8, PA-Basis 8, FK-Basis 8
Vor- und Nachteile: Eisern, Glück, Innerer Kompass, Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit / Aberglaube 8, Gesucht (1), Goldgier 8,
Neugier 7
Sonderfertigkeiten: Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Geländekunde (Meereskundig), Standfest
Verbilligte Sonderfertigkeit: Kampf im Wasser
Talente: Armbrust +1, Dolche +4. Hiebwaffen +2, Raufen +4, Ringen +1. Säbel +10, Wurfbeile +2, Wurfmesser +5, Akro-
batik +2, Athletik +2, Klettern +6, Körperbeherrschung +5, Schleichen +4, Schwimmen +6, Selbstbeherrschung +2, Sich
verstecken +2, Singen 0, Sinnenschärfe +2, Tanzen 0, Zechen +4, Gassenwissen +4, Menschenkenntnis +4, Sich verkleiden
+3, Überreden +2, Fährtensuchen 0, Fesseln/Entfesseln +3, Fischen/Angeln +3, Orientierung +2, Wettervorhersage +3,
Wildnisleben +4, Geografie +2, Geschichtswissen +1, Götter/Kulte +1, Kriegskunst +2, Rechnen +1, Sagen/Legenden +4,
Schätzen +3. Muttersprachen: Garethi +8, Sprachen kennen: Mohisch +4, Sprachen kennen: Thorwalsch +4, Sprachen ken-
nen: Tulamidya +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen 0, Boote fahren +6, Heilkunde Wunden +1, Holzbearbeitung +3,
Kochen 0, Lederarbeiten +3, Malen/Zeichnen 0, Schneidern +2, Seefahrt +6
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 9, Dolche 10/10, Hiebwaffen 9/9, Raufen 10/10, Ringen 9/8, Säbel 15/11, Wurfbeile 10, Wurfmesser 13
Ausrüstung: Zweckmäßige Kleidung, Dolch, Entermesser, Bootshaken, Hängematte, Wolldecke, Schnapsflasche, Delphin-
Amulett, Geldbeutel (4 Silbertaler)
D
Diiee eerrffaahhrreennee ssyyllllaanniisscchhee PPiirraattiinn ((mmiitt 55000000 AAPP))
R/K/P: Tulamidin / Südaventurien (Sylla) / Seefahrerin (Piratin)
Eigenschaften: MU 15, KL 10, IN 15, CH 10, FF 13, GE 15, KO 13, KK 14, SO 2
LeP 33 (3 dazugekauft), AuP 32, MR 4, WS 9
INI 12, AT-Basis 9, PA-Basis 9, FK-Basis 8
Vor- und Nachteile: Eisern, Glück, Innerer Kompass, Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit / Aberglaube 8, Gesucht (1), Goldgier 8,
Neugier 7
Sonderfertigkeiten: Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Geländekunde (Dschungelkundig, Meereskundig), Standfest; Aufmerksam-
keit, Ausweichen I, Schnellziehen, Wuchtschlag
Verbilligte Sonderfertigkeit: Kampf im Wasser
Talente: Armbrust +3, Dolche +5, Hiebwaffen +2, Raufen +4, Ringen +1, Säbel +15, Wurfbeile +2, Wurfmesser +12, Ak-
robatik +3, Athletik +5, Klettern +10, Körperbeherrschung +10, Schleichen +6, Schwimmen +11, Selbstbeherrschung +4,
Sich verstecken +6, Singen 0, Sinnenschärfe +7, Tanzen 0, Zechen +6, Gassenwissen +6, Menschenkenntnis +6, Sich ver-
kleiden +6, Überreden +4, Fährtensuchen +1, Fesseln/Entfesseln +3, Fischen/Angeln +3, Orientierung +6, Wettervorhersa-
ge +6, Wildnisleben +6, Geografie +5, Geschichtswissen +1, Götter/Kulte +1, Kriegskunst +3, Rechnen +1, Sa-
gen/Legenden +4, Schätzen +3, Muttersprache: Garethi +8, Sprachen Kennen: Mohisch +4, Thorwalsch +4, Tulamidya
+4, Kusliker Zeichen 0, Boote Fahren +9, Heilkunde Wunden +1, Holzbearbeitung +3, Kochen 0, Lederarbeiten +3, Ma-
len/Zeichnen 0, Schneidern +2, Seefahrt +9
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 11, Dolche 12/11, Hiebwaffen 10/10, Raufen 11/11, Ringen 10/9, Säbel 18/15, Wurfbeile 10, Wurfmesser
20, Ausweichen 12
Ausrüstung: Zweckmäßige Kleidung, Dolch, erbeuteter Säbel (TP +2, BF -3), diverser Schmuck im Wert von zehn Dukaten,
Bootshaken, Hängematte, Wolldecke, Schnapsflasche, Delphin-Amulett, Schatzkarte, Geldbeutel (14 Silbertaler)
11
D
Deerr aallaannffaanniisscchhee M
Maaggiieerr
Eine Einladung zu einer der Orgien auf dem Silberberg war für
jeden ein Grund zur Freude. Nur für Gaiamo nicht. Denn er war
nicht zu seinem Vergnügen hier, sondern weil er seiner Familie
beistehen sollte. Er war als magische Wache abkommandiert wor-
den und musste deshalb sogar seine Studien unterbrechen. Aus
diesem Grund war seine Stimmung auch nicht die beste. Doch
er hatte sich angewöhnt, während seiner Leibwache die
Umgebung zu studieren und so seinen Zorn herunterge-
schluckt. Das war für sein Familienoberhaupt auch die
Rettung gewesen, denn nur deshalb hatte Gaiamo den
Attentäter rechtzeitig bemerkt. Wie aus dem Nichts
war dieser mit einem gezückten Dolch auf dem
Fest erschienen und hatte sich bis zum Kopfende des Tisches durch-
gekämpft, bis Gaiamo ihn mit einem Flammenstrahl niederstrecken
konnte.
Leider war der Attentäter ums Leben gekommen, sodass man ihn
nicht mehr befragen konnte. Doch Gaiamo entdeckte eine kleine
Phiole mit Unsichtbarkeitselixier bei ihm.
Die Granden glaubten sofort, dass es Rebellen waren, doch
Gaiamo war sich nicht so sicher, sondern vermutete eher eine
Intrige der Familien des Silberbergs dahinter.
»Ich werde mich der Sache annehmen und
herausfinden, wer hinter diesem feigen Angriff
steckt.«
H
Hiinntteerrggrruunndd
Gaiamo
Darmatian
K`Jestaro-
Wilmaan ist der Sohn einer Grandin
und eines reichen Fana, allerdings
spielte er in den Familienplanungen des
Hauses Wilmaan keine Rolle. Selbst seine
magische Begabung hat ihm keine gute Positi-
on auf dem Silberberg beschert und hat er sich
entschlossen, künftig seiner eigenen Bestim-
mung
zu
folgen.
Er
wurde
in
der
alanfanischen Universität ausgebildet und ist
dort auch mit vielen Fana zusammengekom-
men, sodass sich seine Vorurteile ihnen ge-
genüber schnell abgebaut haben. Zwar hält er
sich selbst für den fähigsten Magier der Stadt,
doch weiß er auch um den Nutzen der Fana
und ist bereit, mit ihnen zusammenzuarbeiten.
Auch wenn er meist so tut, als habe er alles
unter Kontrolle und auf jede Frage eine Ant-
wort, so ist er sich oftmals nicht sicher, ob
er das Richtige tut. Er ist sich seiner eige-
nen Ziele manchmal unsicher, würde es
aber gegenüber niemandem eingestehen.
Sein Interesse gilt der Steigerung seiner
eigenen Fähigkeiten und der Mehrung
seines eigenen Einflusses auf den Silber-
berg und auf die Politik der Stadt. Dabei geht
er meistens besonnener vor als andere Gran-
den. Er hält nichts von unnötiger Grausam-
keit, sondern setzt eher darauf, sich das Wis-
sen um die Schwächen seiner Gegner zu
Nutze zu machen.
Wenn er sich nicht seinen Forschungen und
Plänen widmet, wird er von seiner Familie als
persönlicher Leibwächter benutzt. Eine Ar-
beit, die er nicht gerne verrichtet, aber die sein
Auskommen absichert.
ZZiittaattee
»Unsere Familien beherrschen den Silberberg.
Ohne sie wäre unsere Stadt nie so weit gekom-
men.«
»Ich glaube, dir ist nicht bewusst, in welch
auswegloser Lage du dich befindest. An
deiner Stelle würde ich tun, was immer
meine Gefährten und ich von dir verlangen.«
»Ja, ich bin ein Grande. Das heißt aber nicht,
dass ich nicht weiß, wie wertvoll das Leben eines
Fana sein kann. Vor allem wenn er mich be-
schützt.
Und
jetzt
sei
still
...
Balsamsalabunde.«
KKlleeiidduunngg,, W
Waaffffeenn uunndd AAuussrrüüssttuunngg
Als echter Magier sind Waffen und Rüstungen Gaiamo eigent-
lich zuwider. Wenn er sich wehren muss, so greift er auf seinen
langen Zauberstab zurück, mit dem er es vortrefflich versteht,
sich Schurken vom Hals zu halten. Ansonsten bevorzugt er
seine magischen Kräfte als Waffe einzusetzen und wird nicht in
einen Nahkampf gehen. Auf Rüstungen verzichtet er vollstän-
dig, da diese ihm eher als hinderlich bei dem Einsatz seiner
Magie erscheinen. Er bevorzugt stattdessen eine prachtvolle
Robe, die er mit arkanen Symbolen verziert hat. Ansonsten hat
er meist nicht viel dabei, verzichtet aber selten auf sein Diarium
und Unterlagen für seine Forschungen.
D
Deerr aallaannffaanniisscchhee M
Maaggiieerr bbeeii SSppiieellbbeeggiinnnn
R/K/P: Tulamide / Südaventurien (Al'Anfa) / Magier (Al'Anfa, Leibwächter)
Eigenschaften: MU 14, KL 14, IN 14, CH 14, FF 11, GE 11, KO 12, KK 10, SO 10
LeP 27, AuP 29, AsP 39, MR 6
INI 11, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Akademische Ausbildung (Magier), Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit, Vollzauberer / Arroganz 8, Eitelkeit 8, Goldgier 8,
Kurzatmig (4), Neugier 8, Schulden (1000 Dukaten), Verpflichtungen (gegenüber Akademie und Familienoberhaupt)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Astrale Meditation, Große Meditation, Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Ritualkenntnis (Gildenmagie) +5, Merkmals-
kenntnis (Hellsicht), Stab (Bindung), Verbotene Pforten
Talente: Armbrust +1, Dolche +2, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +2, Ringen +3, Säbel +1, Stäbe +2, Wurfmesser 0, Athletik 0, Klettern 0, Körper-
beherrschung +1, Schleichen 0, Schwimmen +1, Selbstbeherrschung +4, Sich Verstecken +1, Singen 0, Sinnenschärfe +3, Tanzen +2, Ze-
chen 0, Betören +2, Etikette +4, Gassenwissen +3, Lehren +2, Menschenkenntnis +6, Schriftlicher Ausdruck +2, Sich Verkleiden +4,
Überreden +3, Überzeugen +1, Fährtensuchen 0, Orientierung 0, Wildnisleben 0, Brett-/Kartenspiel +1, Geografie +3, Geschichtswissen
+5, Götter/Kulte +6, Magiekunde +10, Pflanzenkunde +4, Philosophie +2, Rechnen +5, Rechtskunde +4, Sagen/Legenden +4, Schätzen
+1, Sternkunde +2, Tierkunde +3, Muttersprache: Garethi +16, Sprachen Kennen: Bosparano +5,, Mohisch +9, Tulamidya +9,
Urtulamidya +3, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +8, Tulamidya +4, Alchimie +5, Boote Fahren +1, Heilkunde Wunden +2, Holzbe-
arbeitung +1, Kochen 0, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +4, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt +1
Zauber: ABVENENUM +5, ACCURATUM +2, ANALYS +2, ARMATRUTZ +4, ATTRIBUTO +4, AUREOLUS +5, BALSAM +8,
BANNBALADIN +3, BLICK AUFS WESEN +6, BLICK IN DIE GEDANKEN +8, BLITZ +4, CRYPTOGRAPHO +4,
CUSTODOSIGIL +3, DESINTEGRATUS +3, FLIM FLAM +4, FORAMEN +4, FORTIFEX +3, FULMINICTUS +7,
GARDIANUM +7, HARTES SCHMELZE! +3, HORRIPHOBUS +2, IGNIFAXIUS +3, IGNISPHAERO +3, IMPERAVI +3,
KLARUM +10, OBJECTOFIXO +3, ODEM +6, PARALYSIS +4, PENETRIZZEL +3, PSYCHOSTABILIS +3, SENSIBAR +5,
WEIHRAUCHWOLKE +3
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 8, Dolche 9/7, Hiebwaffen 7/7, Raufen 9/7, Ringen 9/8, Säbel 8/7, Stäbe 7/9, Wurfmesser 7
Ausrüstung: Robe mit arkanen Symbolen, Pantoffeln, verzierter Zauberstab aus Blutulme, Dolch, Schmuck im Wert von fünf Dukaten,
Konventsgewand, Reisekleidung, Umhängetasche mit Schreibfeder, Tinte, 10 Blatt Pergament, Diarium und Schminkutensilien, stabiler Gür-
tel mit Gürteltaschen (100 Silbertaler)
D
Deerr eerrffaahhrreennee aallaannffaanniisscchhee M
Maaggiieerr ((mmiitt 55000000 AAPP))
R/K/P: Tulamide / Südaventurien (Al'Anfa) / Magier (Al'Anfa, Leibwächter)
Eigenschaften: MU 15, KL 16, IN 14, CH 15, FF 11, GE 11, KO 12, KK 10, SO 11
LeP 27, AuP 29, AsP 45 (5 dazugekauft), MR 9 (2 dazugekauft)
INI 11, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Akademische Ausbildung (Magier), Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit, Vollzauberer / Arroganz 8, Eitelkeit 8, Goldgier 8,
Kurzatmig (4), Neugier 8, Verpflichtungen (gegenüber Akademie und Familienoberhaupt)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Astrale Meditation, Große Meditation, Konzentrationsstärke, Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Regeneration I, Ritualkennt-
nis (Gildenmagie) +11, Merkmalskenntnis (Hellsicht), Stab (Bindung, Doppeltes Maß, Kraftfokus, Modifikationsfokus, Zauberspeicher),
Verbotene Pforten, Zauberkontrolle, Zauberroutine
Talente: Armbrust +1, Dolche +2, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +2, Ringen +3, Säbel +1, Stäbe +2, Wurfmesser 0, Athletik 0, Klettern 0, Körper-
beherrschung +1, Schleichen 0, Schwimmen +1, Selbstbeherrschung +7, Sich Verstecken +1, Singen 0, Sinnenschärfe +5, Tanzen +2, Ze-
chen 0, Betören +2, Etikette +4, Gassenwissen +3, Lehren +2, Menschenkenntnis +6, Schriftlicher Ausdruck +2, Sich Verkleiden +4,
Überreden +3, Überzeugen +2, Fährtensuchen 0, Orientierung 0, Wildnisleben 0, Brett-/Kartenspiel +1, Geografie +3, Geschichtswissen
+10, Götter/Kulte +6, Magiekunde +13, Pflanzenkunde +7, Philosophie +6, Rechnen +6, Rechtskunde +5, Sagen/Legenden +5, Schät-
zen +2, Staatskunst +5, Sternkunde +6, Tierkunde +3, Muttersprache: Garethi +16, Sprachen Kennen: Bosparano +5, Mohisch +9,
Tulamidya +9, Urtulamidya +3, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +8, Tulamidya +4, Alchimie +5, Boote Fahren +1, Heilkunde Wun-
den +2, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen 0, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +4, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt +1
Zauber: ABVENENUM +10, ACCURATUM +4, ANALYS +6, ARMATRUTZ +10, ATTRIBUTO +4, AUREOLUS +5, BALSAM
+10, BANNBALADIN +6, BLICK AUFS WESEN +8, BLICK IN DIE GEDANKEN +11, BLITZ +9, CRYPTOGRAPHO +5,
CUSTODOSIGIL +3, DESINTEGRATUS +7, FLIM FLAM +4, FORAMEN +5, FORTIFEX +7, FULMINICTUS +11,
GARDIANUM +12, HARTES SCHMELZE! +7, HORRIPHOBUS +7, IGNIFAXIUS +6, IGNISPHAERO +6, IMPERAVI +3,
KLARUM +10, OBJECTOFIXO +3, ODEM +8, PARALYSIS +7, PENETRIZZEL +4, PSYCHOSTABILIS +5, SENSIBAR +6,
WEIHRAUCHWOLKE +5
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 8, Dolche 9/7, Hiebwaffen 7/7, Raufen 9/7, Ringen 9/8, Säbel 8/7, Stäbe 7/9, Wurfmesser 7
Ausrüstung: Robe mit arkanen Symbolen, Pantoffeln, verzierter Zauberstab aus Blutulme, Dolch, Schmuck im Wert von 50 Dukaten, prunk-
volles Konventsgewand, Reisekleidung, Umhängetasche mit Schreibfeder, Tinte, 10 Blatt Pergament, Diarium und Schminkutensilien, stabi-
ler Gürtel mit Gürteltaschen (25 Dukaten), zwei Zaubertränke (Qualität C)
13
D
Diiee bbrraabbaakkiisscchhee RRaahhjjaa--G
Geew
weeiihhttee
Der dicke Abgesandte des Horasreiches lag neben ihr, völlig ausge-
laugt durch das Liebesspiel.
»Ihr wurdet von der Göttin persönlich auserwählt. Und sie
muss es auch gewesen sein, die Euch zu mir geschickt hat. Am
liebsten würde ich Euch mit nach Kuslik nehmen.«
»Ich befürchte leider, meine Pflichten gegenüber dem Tempel
erlauben es mir nicht, so gerne ich Euch auch begleiten
würde. Aber ich hoffe, Ihr werdet bald Brabak
wieder einen Besuch abstatten. Sagtet Ihr nicht,
Ihr würdet irgendwann wieder mit einer Gesandt-
schaft in Brabak Zwischenhalt machen?«
»Ja, die geheime Flotille nach Ghurenia. Mein
Herr will dort mit den örtlichen Machthabern
über Uthuria-Handel sprechen.«
»Dann könnten wir uns doch treffen, wenn Ihr
einen Zwischenhalt macht. Ihr müsst mir nur
sagen wann, damit ich auch sichergehen kann, auch hier zu
sein und Euch empfangen zu können.«
Der Dicke schwieg. Der Auftrag, der ihn nach Ghurenia führte war
geheim, niemand sollte von den Absichten der Horasier erfahren.
Phelicitas streichelte noch einmal seine Brust, lächelte ihn süßer an
als jemals zuvor und gab ihm einen leidenschaftlichen Kuss.
»Im Efferd, vermutlich am 12. oder 13., kommt auf die Winde
an.«
Das war es, was Phelicitas wissen wollte. Diese
Information war ihrer Herrin DuBerilis wichtig,
denn so konnte sie sich auf die Pläne der Horasier
vorbereiten.
Sie dankte ihrer Herrin, dieses Mal der göttlichen, und
lächelte still in sich hinein, drehte sich dann zur Bettkante
hin und kleidete sich wieder an.
H
Hiinntteerrggrruunndd
Einst war Phelicitas Beratas ein dreckiges, klei-
nes Gossenmädchen, das tagtäglich ums Überle-
ben kämpfen musste. Als sie eine reiche Frau aus
der Familie DuBerilis bestehlen wollte, wurde sie
erwischt und gefangengenommen. Zwar musste sie
zunächst fürchten, dass man sie einkerkerte, doch
hatte sie Glück im Unglück. Die Dame DuBerilis
entschied sich, das Mädchen dem Tempel der Rahja
zu übergeben, sah sie in Phelicitas doch große,
verborgene Schönheit.
In den nächsten Jahren wurde Phelicitas in
die Geheimnisse der Göttlichkeit und der
körperlichen Liebe eingeführt. Zwar ge-
nießt der Tempel in Brabak nur den Ruf
eines besseren Bordells, doch auch hier
lernen die Geweihten etwas über das Wirken der
Göttin. Dennoch merkt man Phelicitas an, dass ihre
Ausbildung weniger feinfühliger verlaufen ist, als es
anderswo der Fall gewesen wäre. Sie nutzt ihre
Talente, um sich als Diebin und Informantin für
das Haus DuBerilis zu betätigen, fühlt sich auch in
Gassen und Tavernen heimisch und kann so derbe
Sprüche reißen, wie es ansonsten nur Straßenhuren
vermögen.
Sie ist zudem recht umtriebig und liebt das Aben-
teuer, auch wenn es sie in eine fremde Stadt, in
eine Villa eines Granden oder sogar in den
Dschungel führen würde. Phelicitas ist sich ei-
gentlich für nichts zu schade – und hinterher
kann man sich ja auch wieder schick machen.
ZZiittaattee
»Gib dich ganz mir, der Lust und dem Rausch der Göttin hin
und vergiss deine Sorgen.«
»Der Sklavenaufseher hat also den Schlüssel den wir
brauchen? Und er trägt diesen immer bei
sich? Nun gut, ich werde es schon hinbe-
kommen, dass er mir den Schlüssel freiwillig geben wird ...«
»Ob ich einen einwöchigen Marsch durch den Dschungel über-
stehe? Keine Sorge, im Tempel haben wir schon ganz
andere Torturen überstanden. Kleinigkeit!«
KKlleeiidduunngg,, W
Waaffffeenn uunndd AAuussrrüüssttuunngg
Als Geweihte der Rahja trägt Phelicitas ein leichtes Seidenge-
wand, das nur aus einem Mieder und einem einzelnen Tuch
besteht.
Falls sie sich auf Reisen begibt, dann hat sie auch noch einen
leichten Reisemantel dabei, um sich vor dem Regen zu schüt-
zen. Die einzige andere „Bekleidung“ ist ihr zahlreicher
Schmuck, der aus Armreifen, Ketten und Ohrringen besteht.
Als Waffe zählt in erster Linie ihr eigener Körper. Phelicitas
wird Kämpfe vermeiden, ist aber geschickt darin, sich im waf-
fenlosen Handgemenge ihrem Gegner zu entziehen – eine
Kunst, die sie als Kind in den Gossen der Stadt gelernt hat.
Wenn sie sich wirklich verteidigen muss, hat sie ansonsten
lediglich einen Zierdolch bei sich.
Ihre weitere Ausrüstung besteht aus Gegenständen, die jede
Geweihte der Göttin mit sich führen sollte: ein kleines Fläsch-
chen heiligen Tharfs, Rosenöl für Salbungen sowie ein paar
Silbertaler.
D
Diiee bbrraabbaakkiisscchhee RRaahhjjaa--G
Geew
weeiihhttee bbeeii SSppiieellbbeeggiinnnn
R/K/P: Mittelländerin / Südaventurien (Brabak) / Rahja-Geweihte
Eigenschaften: MU 14, KL 12, IN 14, CH 14, FF 11, GE 14, KO 12, KK 9, SO 7
LeP 27, AuP 30, KaP 24, MR 5
INI 11, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Herausragendes Aussehen, Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit, Wohlklang / Eitelkeit 7, Höhenangst 6, Neugier 6, Un-
fähigkeit für Naturtalente, Verpflichtungen (gegenüber der Rahja-Kirche)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Geweiht (zwölfgöttliche Kirche), Karmalqueste, Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Liturgiekenntnis (Rahja) +6, Mo-
ralkodex (Rahja-Kirche)
Talente: Armbrust +1, Dolche +4, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +1, Ringen +6, Säbel +1, Wurfmesser 0, Athletik 0, Klettern 0, Körperbe-
herrschung +4, Reiten +4, Schleichen +4, Schwimmen +3, Selbstbeherrschung +4, Sich Verstecken +1, Singen +5, Sinnenschärfe
+2, Tanzen +7, Zechen +4, Betören +10, Etikette +5, Gassenwissen +7, Lehren +2, Menschenkenntnis +10, Sich Verkleiden +6,
Überreden +7, Überzeugen +7, Fährtensuchen 0, Fesseln/Entfesseln +1, Orientierung 0, Wildnisleben 0, Brett-/Kartenspiel +2, Ge-
schichtswissen +3, Götter/Kulte +6, Pflanzenkunde +4, Rechnen +4, Rechtskunde +3, Sagen/Legenden +6, Schätzen +1, Staats-
kunst +3, Tierkunde +2, Muttersprache: Garethi +10, Sprachen kennen: Altes Kemi +6, Sprachen kennen: Mohisch +5, Sprachen
Kennen: Thorwalsch +2, Sprachen kennen: Tulamidya +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +6, Boote fahren +1, Hauswirt-
schaft +5, Heilkunde Gift +3, Heilkunde Seele +3, Heilkunde Wunden 0, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen 0, Lederarbeiten +1, Ma-
len/Zeichnen +4, Musizieren +4, Schlösser Knacken +2, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt +2, Tätowieren +2, Winzer +2
Liturgien: 12 KLEINE SEGNUNGEN, GÖTTLICHES ZEICHEN, HEILIGES LIEBESSPIEL, INITIATION, OBJEKTSEGEN, RAHJAS RAUSCHSE-
GEN
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 8, Dolche 8/10, Hiebwaffen 7/7, Raufen 8/7, Ringen 9/11, Säbel 7/8, Wurfmesser 7
Ausrüstung: Gewand, Reisemantel, silberner Armreif in Form eines Weinblatts, Ring mit Weintraube, Flasche Wein, kleines Fläsch-
chen mit Tharf, Phiole Rosenöl, ein Beutel Rosenblüten, Seidenschleier, Schminke, Dolch, Geldbeutel (49 Silbertaler)
D
Diiee eerrffaahhrreennee bbrraabbaakkiisscchhee RRaahhjjaa--G
Geew
weeiihhttee ((mmiitt 55000000 AAPP))
R/K/P: Mittelländerin / Südaventurien (Brabak) / Rahja-Geweihte
Eigenschaften: MU 15, KL 12, IN 14, CH 17, FF 11, GE 15, KO 12, KK 9, SO 9
LeP 27, AuP 31, KaP 24, MR 5
INI 12, AT-Basis 8, PA-Basis 8, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Herausragendes Aussehen, Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit, Verbindungen (im Wert von 20 GP), Wohlklang / Eitel-
keit 7, Höhenangst 6, Neugier 6, Unfähigkeit für Naturtalente, Verpflichtungen (gegenüber der Rahja-Kirche)
Sonderfertigkeiten: Geweiht (zwölfgöttliche Kirche), Karmalqueste, Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Liturgiekenntnis (Rahja) +12,
Moralkodex (Rahja-Kirche)
Talente: Armbrust +1, Dolche +6, Hiebwaffen 0, Raufen +1, Ringen +9, Säbel +1, Wurfmesser 0, Athletik 0, Klettern 0, Körperbe-
herrschung +6, Reiten +6, Schleichen +4, Schwimmen +4, Selbstbeherrschung +6, Sich Verstecken +1, Singen +5, Sinnenschärfe
+4, Tanzen +7, Zechen +7, Betören +15, Etikette +5, Gassenwissen +10, Lehren +4, Menschenkenntnis +14, Sich Verkleiden
+6, Überreden +11, Überzeugen +10, Fährtensuchen 0, Fesseln/Entfesseln +4, Orientierung 0, Wildnisleben 0, Brett-/Kartenspiel
+4, Geschichtswissen +4, Götter/Kulte +8, Pflanzenkunde +4, Rechnen +5, Rechtskunde +3, Sagen/Legenden +6, Schätzen +1,
Staatskunst +3, Tierkunde +2, Muttersprache: Garethi +10, Sprachen Kennen: Altes Kemi +6, Mohisch +5, Thorwalsch +2,
Tulamidya +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +6, Boote Fahren +1, Hauswirtschaft +5, Heilkunde Gift +3, Heilkunde Seele
+3, Heilkunde Wunden +1, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen +3, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen +4, Musizieren +4, Schlösser
Knacken +7, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt +2, Tätowieren +6, Winzer +3
Liturgien: 12 KLEINE SEGNUNGEN, ASCANDEARS HINGABE, GÖTTLICHES ZEICHEN, GÖTTLICHE VERSTÄNDIGUNG, HAUCH DER
LEIDENSCHAFT (HANDWERKSSEGEN), HEILIGES LIEBESSPIEL, INITIATION, LEVTHANS FESSELN, OBJEKTSEGEN (II), OBJEKTWEIHE,
RAHJALINAS KUSS, RAHJALINAS WEINRANKE (PARINORS VERMÄCHTNIS), RAHJAS ERQUICKUNG (SCHLAF DES GESEGNETEN), RAHJAS
FEST DER FREUDE, RAHJAS RAUSCHSEGEN. REICHUNG DES AMETHYST (II)
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 8, Dolche 10/12, Hiebwaffen 8/8, Raufen 9/8, Ringen 12/13, Säbel 8/9, Wurfmesser 7
Ausrüstung: Gewand, Reisemantel, silberner Armreif in Form eines Weinblatts, Ring mit Weintraube, Flasche Wein, kleines Fläsch-
chen mit Tharf, Phiole Rosenöl, ein Beutel Rosenblüten, Seidenschleier, Schminke, Dolch, Geldbeutel (25 Dukaten)
15
D
Deerr mmeennggbbiillllaanniisscchhee KKrriieeggeerr
Ghorrio hatte schon gegen syllanische Piraten, Wickelköpfe aus der
Khôm und horasische Edelleute gekämpft. Und er konnte mensch-
liche Gegner auch sehr gut einschätzen. Doch mit einem echten
Tiger hatte er es noch nie zu tun gehabt, dementsprechend vorsich-
tig und nervös war er auch.
Als er den Auftrag der Gilde der Alchimisten angenommen hatte
und die Expedition in das Regengebirge begleitete,
hatte er schon damit gerechnet, dass er auf wilde
Tiere treffen würde. Mit Angst konnte Ghorrio umge-
hen und der Tod schreckte ihn nicht, wusste er doch,
dass Boron ihm einen ehrenvollen Platz zuweisen
würde. Doch er war dennoch angespannt, so wie
immer vor einem unbekannten Gegner.
Gestern wurde er bei einem Angriff der
Yakosh-Dey von der übrigen Expedition
getrennt. Die Dschungelmenschen befürchte-
ten wohl, dass die Expedition einen ihrer heiligen Plätze entweihen
würde. Zwei von den Waldmenschen konnte Ghorrio zu ihren
finsteren Totengötzen schicken, doch der dritte stürzte sich auf ihn
und sie fielen einen Abhang hinunter, direkt in einen großen Fluss.
Zwar gelang es Ghorrio ans Ufer zu schwimmen, doch fand er
nicht mehr zu den anderen zurück. Den ganzen letzten Tag war er
im Regenwald unterwegs, ohne auch nur auf eine Spur
seiner Reisegefährten zu stoßen.
Das einzige was er fand, war der gereizte Tiger, den er
bei seiner Mahlzeit – einem toten Affen – überrascht
hatte. Die Raubkatze kam bedrohlich näher und gab ein
grollendes Fauchen von sich.
»Du willst also spielen, hmmm? Gut, dann
schauen wir mal, wer heute Abend
die Mahlzeit sein wird ...«
H
Hiinntteerrggrruunndd
In der Kriegerakademie von Mengbilla
wurde Ghorrio Nirrano nicht nur der
Umgang mit dem Waffenhandwerk
gelehrt, sondern auch welchen Prin-
zipien er zu folgen hat: Loyalität und
Ehre. Und auch wenn er diese Prinzipien
verinnerlicht hat, so war Ghorrio eigentlich ein
anderes Schicksal bestimmt gewesen: Ghorrio war
zum Leidwesen seiner Eltern – beides Schmiede
aus Mengbilla – wenig begabt in der Handwerks-
kunst. Dafür umso mehr, sich mit anderen Kin-
dern zu prügeln oder gar die geschmiedeten
Krummschwerter seiner Familie zu schwin-
gen. Und so wurde er von seinem Vater und
seiner Mutter in die Obhut der Kriegeraka-
demie gegeben – einerseits, damit er Diszip-
lin lernen würde, andererseits auch, um seine
Fähigkeiten zu fördern.
Die Jahre der Ausbildung haben Ghorrio gestählt
und zu einem borongläubigen Kämpfer werden
lassen, der ein paar Jahre im Dienst der Boron-
Kirche stand, bevor er sich selbst auf Abenteuerreise
begab.
Ghorrio ist zwar in seinem Herzen kein Söldner,
doch hat er wegen seiner Spielsucht ständig Geld-
sorgen. So reist er durch ganz Südaventurien und
stellt seine Dienste demjenigen zur Verfügung, der
ihn entlohnen kann, nicht mehr nur einzig der
Kirche. Dabei achtet er jedoch immer darauf,
nicht gegen seine anerzogenen Prinzipien zu
verstoßen. Manchmal ist er sogar wegen diesen
Lehren bereit, sich auch ohne Lohn für eine Sache
einzusetzen.
Vor dem Tod hat Ghorrio keine Angst. Jeden seiner
Kämpfe bestreitet er so, als wäre es sein letzter. Er
kostet das Leben aus und weiß, dass ihn im Jenseits
Boron erwartet, den er mit Stolz erfüllen will.
ZZiittaattee
»Ein Krieger lebt für Ruhm und Ehre. Aber um zu überleben braucht er auch Gold. Also was zahlt ihr für meine Dienste?«
»Wenn du im Einklang mit Boron bist, gibt es nichts, wovor du dich fürchten musst.«
»Na, Hübsche. Soll ich dir ein wenig hilfreich gegen die beiden Schurken zur Seite stehen?«
KKlleeiidduunngg W
Waaffffeenn uunndd AAuussrrüüssttuunngg
Ghorrio trägt als borongefälliger Kämpfer stets einen Raben-
schnabel mit sich herum. Die wuchtige Waffe ist sicherlich für
einen Krieger eine ungewöhnliche Waffe, dennoch ist sie im
Süden und unter den Anhängern des Totengottes weit verbrei-
tet. Zwar ist sie nicht geweiht, doch schon öfters hat er einen
Geweihten des Boron gefunden, der ihm den Gefallen tat und
die Waffe segnete.
Zusätzlich hat er einen sogenannten Sklaventod bei sich.
Als Rüstung bevorzugt er einen Lederharnisch, da bei den
Temperaturen des Südens Metallrüstungen noch unerträglicher
sind.
Ansonsten besitzt er nicht viel, was er stets mit sich führt, sieht
man von seinem Kriegerbrief ab, der ihm besondere Rechte
verleiht und den er mit Stolz trägt.
D
Deerr mmeennggbbiillllaanniisscchhee KKrriieeggeerr bbeeii SSppiieellbbeeggiinnnn
R/K/P: Mittelländer / Südaventurien (Mengbilla) / Krieger
Eigenschaften: MU 14, KL 10, IN 14, CH 10, FF 10, GE 14, KO 14, KK 14, SO 9
LeP 34, AuP 34, MR 4, WS 9
INI 11, AT-Basis 8, PA-Basis 8, FK-Basis 8
Vor- und Nachteile: Akademische Ausbildung (Krieger), Begabung für Hiebwaffen, Eisern, Gefahreninstinkt (4), Hohe Le-
benskraft (1), Schnelle Heilung (1), Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit / Aberglaube 6, Arroganz 6, Eitelkeit 5, Goldgier 6, Prinzi-
pientreue (10, Loyalität, Schutz der Schwachen, Ehrenhaftes Verhalten), Schulden (700 Dukaten, Mengbiller Boron-Kirche),
Spielsucht 7, Unfähigkeit für Handwerkstalente
Sonderfertigkeiten: Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Linkhand, Rüstungsgewöhnung I (Lederharnisch)
Talente: Armbrust +10, Dolche +6, Hiebwaffen +10, Kettenwaffen +3, Peitsche +3, Raufen +5, Ringen +7, Säbel +8,
Wurfmesser +1, Zweihandhiebwaffen +3, Athletik +5, Klettern +3, Körperbeherrschung +3, Reiten +2, Schleichen +1,
Schwimmen +3, Selbstbeherrschung +5, Sich verstecken +1, Singen 0, Sinnenschärfe +4, Tanzen 0, Zechen +5, Etikette +3,
Gassenwissen +4, Menschenkenntnis +4, Sich verkleiden +3, Überreden +4, Überzeugen 0, Fährtensuchen +1, Fes-
seln/Entfesseln +1, Orientierung +1, Wildnisleben +1, Anatomie +1, Brett-/Kartenspiel +3, Geschichtswissen +3, Göt-
ter/Kulte +5, Heraldik +2, Kriegskunst +5, Rechnen +3, Rechtskunde +2, Sagen/Legenden +2, Schätzen +3, Mutterspra-
che: Garethi +9, Sprachen kennen: Mohisch +4, Sprachen kennen: Tulamidya +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +4,
Boote fahren +1, Heilkunde Gift +4, Heilkunde Wunden +3, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen 0, Lederarbeiten +1, Ma-
len/Zeichnen 0, Schneidern 0, Seefahrt +1
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 18, Dolche 12/10, Hiebwaffen 15/11, Kettenwaffen 11/8, Peitsche 11, Raufen 12/9 , Ringen 10/13, Säbel
10/10 oder (abgeleitet von Hiebwaffen) 13/8, Wurfmesser 9, Zweihandhiebwaffen (von Hiebwaffen) 13/8
Ausrüstung: Rabenschnabel, Sklaventod, Lederharnisch und Lederzeug, Waffenpflegeset, Kriegerbrief, Geldbeutel (6 Dukaten,
21 Silbertaler)
D
Deerr eerrffaahhrreennee mmeennggbbiillllaanniisscchhee KKrriieeggeerr ((mmiitt 55000000 AAPP))
R/K/P: Mittelländer / Südaventurien (Mengbilla) / Krieger
Eigenschaften: MU 15, KL 10, IN 14, CH 10, FF 10, GE 15, KO 15, KK 15, SO 9
LeP 39 (3 dazugekauft), AuP 35, MR 4
INI 12, AT-Basis 9, PA-Basis 9, FK-Basis 8
Vor- und Nachteile: Akademische Ausbildung (Krieger), Begabung für Hiebwaffen, Eisern, Gefahreninstinkt (7), Hohe Le-
benskraft (1), Schnelle Heilung (1), Soziale Anpassungsfähigkeit / Aberglaube 6, Arroganz 6, Eitelkeit 5, Goldgier 6, Prinzi-
pientreue (10, Loyalität, Schutz der Schwachen, Ehrenhaftes Verhalten), Schulden (700 Dukaten, Mengbiller Boron-Kirche),
Spielsucht 7, Unfähigkeit für Handwerkstalente
Sonderfertigkeiten: Kulturkunde (Südaventurien), Aufmerksamkeit, Hammerschlag, Finte, Linkhand, Meisterparade, Nieder-
werfen, Rüstungsgewöhnung I (Lederharnisch), Scharfschütze, Schnellziehen, Waffenloser Kampfstil: Gladiatorenstil (Aus-
pendeln, Beinarbeit, Block, Doppelschlag, Eisenarm, Fußfeger, Gerade, Griff, Halten, Hoher Tritt, Klammer, Kopfstoß,
Kreuzblock, Schwinger, Niederringen, Schwitzkasten, Sprung, Sprungtritt, Tritt, Wurf), Wuchtschlag
Talente: Armbrust +13, Dolche +6, Hiebwaffen (Rabenschnabel) +15 (+17), Kettenwaffen +3, Peitsche +3, Raufen +8,
Ringen +11, Säbel +8, Wurfmesser +1, Zweihandhiebwaffen +3, Athletik +10, Klettern +3, Körperbeherrschung +7, Reiten
+3, Schleichen +2, Schwimmen +3, Selbstbeherrschung +11, Sich Verstecken +1, Singen 0, Sinnenschärfe +8, Tanzen 0,
Zechen +5, Etikette +4, Gassenwissen +7, Menschenkenntnis +7, Sich verkleiden +3, Überreden +3, Fährtensuchen +3,
Fesseln/Entfesseln +1, Orientierung +3, Wildnisleben +4, Anatomie +1, Brett-/Kartenspiel +4, Geschichtswissen +4, Göt-
ter/Kulte +5, Heraldik +2, Kriegskunst +5, Rechnen +3, Rechtskunde +2, Sagen/Legenden +2, Schätzen +1, Mutterspra-
che: Garethi +9, Sprachen Kennen: Mohisch +4, Tulamidya +4, Lesen/Schreiben: Kusliker Zeichen +4, Boote Fahren +1,
Heilkunde Gift +6, Heilkunde Wunden +3, Holzbearbeitung +1, Kochen 0, Lederarbeiten +1, Malen/Zeichnen 0, Schnei-
dern 0, Seefahrt +1
Kampfwerte: Armbrust 21, Dolche 13/11, Hiebwaffen (Rabenschnabel) 19/14 (20/15), Kettenwaffen 12/9, Peitsche 12, Raufen
15/11 , Ringen 13/16, Säbel 13/13 oder (von Hiebwaffen) 17/11, Wurfmesser 9, Zweihandhiebwaffen (von Hiebwaffen) 17/11
Ausrüstung: persönlicher Rabenschnabel (TP +1, BF -2, AT-WM +1), Sklaventod, leichte Armbrust, Lederharnisch und Le-
derzeug, Waffenpflegeset, Kriegerbrief, Geldbeutel (10 Dukaten, 15 Silbertaler), Heiltrank (D), Waffenbalsam (D)
17
D
Diiee AAnnooiihhaa--SScchhaammaanniinn
Die meisten Blasshäute kamen in den Wald, um Bäume zu fällen,
Anoiha anzugreifen und in ihre steinernen Dörfer zu verschleppen,
oder drangen sogar in die Tabuzonen ein und verärger-
ten die Geister. Nicht alle hellen Menschen waren so,
aber viele.
Sampa beobachtete nun die Fremden, die eher zufällig
ihren Weg gekreuzt hatten, schon eine ganze Weile. Sie
waren nicht gekommen um Bäume zu fällen, sie sahen
auch nicht wie Menschenfänger aus, aber sie waren
bewaffnet. Deshalb blieb sie verborgen, um sie weiter
zu beobachten. Merkwürdig waren sie. Einige von ihnen
waren sehr groß, andere hingegen, wie die verletzte
Frau, hatten die Gestalt wie die Menschen aus den
steinernen Dörfern. Doch der kleine Mann, der
einen gewaltigen roten Bart hatte und mit
einem lauten, klappernden Hemd be-
hangen war, wirkte auf Sampa besonders
fremdartig. Sie schienen verloren zu sein und muss-
ten wegen der Verletzten eine Rast einlegen.
Sampa überwand sich und trat aus ihrem Versteck hervor, was
sofort eine Reaktion der Fremden hervorrief. Sie zückten ihre Waf-
fen und beobachteten sie argwöhnisch.
Sampa sprach ein paar Worte in ihrer Sprache
und so sagte sie: »Habt keine Angst, ich will
ihr helfen.« , und deutete auf die verletz-
te Frau, die sich vor Schmerzen bereits
auf den Boden fallen gelassen hatte. Ein
Schlangenbiss, wie Sampa vermutete. Ei-
gentlich gar nicht gefährlich, aber sehr schmerz-
haft.
Die Blasshäute tuschelten miteinander und nach einer
Weile antwortete der Hüne mit dem Haar, das wie
Sonne war, auf Sampas Sprache: »Wer immer du
bist, wenn du helfen kannst, gebührt dir der
Dank von Askir Leifgarson!«
H
Hiinntteerrggrruunndd
Sampa ist die Schülerin des alten
Medizinmanns Kuaca vom Stamm der Anoiha. Doch
bevor sie eines Tages dessen Nachfolge antreten
wird, muss sie sich erst in der Fremde bewei-
sen. Zu diesem Zweck wurde sie von ihrem
Lehrer ausgesandt, um durch den Dschungel
zu wandern, fremde Stämme aufzusuchen und
mehr über die Mysterien der Welt zu lernen. Die
Welt jenseits ihrer vertrauten Umgebung löst bei ihr zugleich
eine prickelnde Neugier, wie auch Verunsicherung aus.
Dabei ist Sampa auch auf die steinernen Städte der blasshäuti-
gen Menschen gestoßen und hat diese interessiert erkundet.
Zwar sind ihr immer noch viele ihrer Traditionen und Bräu-
che fremd und sie wird sie wohl nie end-
gültig begreifen, aber sie ist bereit zu akzep-
tieren, dass nicht alle Blasshäute ihr oder den
Anoiha schaden wollen.
Ihre Reise soll ihr Erkenntnis bringen und so scheut
sie weder den Regenwald mit all seinen Mysterien und
Geheimnissen, noch die Städte des Südens, auch wenn
sie dort von all den neuen Empfindungen immer noch
manchmal überwältigt wird. Doch in der Wildnis mag
sie jeder Blasshaut eine große Hilfe sein und auch
ihre Kenntnisse der Geisterwelt können sich als
sehr nützlich erweisen.
ZZiittaattee
»Ich spüre deinen Tapam. Er klagt mir sein Leid, aber ich kann ihm helfen. Du musst mir vertrauen, ich werde die Geister rufen, die dir
helfen werden.«
»Die Geister sind erzürnt! Ich werde versuchen, sie zu besänftigen. Doch vielleicht verlangen sie auch einen Preis.«
»Moha? Nein, ich bin eine Anoiha!«
KKlleeiidduunngg,, W
Waaffffeenn uunndd AAuussrrüüssttuunngg
Als eine wilde Anoiha trägt Sampa nicht mehr als einen Len-
denschurz aus dem Fell eines Schneeleoparden, ansonsten ist
sie nackt. Besonderen Wert legt sie aber auf ihre Haartracht,
zwei geflochtene Zöpfe, wie es bei ihrem Stamm Tradition ist.
Als Schamanin muss sie öfters Kontakt mit der Welt der Geister
aufnehmen. Dazu bemalt sie ihren Körper mit Zeichen der
Geister, meist in Form von Tatzen, die sie aber oft nur auf einer
Seite ihres Körper trägt (dies soll die Welt der Geister symboli-
sieren, während die unbemalte Seite die wirkliche Welt darstellt
– und sie als Schamanin ist der Schnittpunkt beider Welten).
Als Waffe dient ihr ein Blasrohr, zur Not auch ihre Knochen-
keule, die sie aber ansonsten vor allem für ihre Rituale benutzt.
Auch ihre übrige Ausrüstung besteht aus Materialien, die sie für
ihre Magie verwendet: Handtrommeln, Gesichtsmasken, Kräu-
ter und Harze.
Die meisten Dinge, die sie braucht, kann sie unterwegs sam-
meln oder herstellen, sodass sie mit wenig Gepäck unterwegs
ist.
D
Diiee AAnnooiihhaa--SScchhaammaanniinn bbeeii SSppiieellbbeeggiinnnn
R/K/P: Waldmensch / Dschungelstämme (Bergstämme; Anoiha) / Medizinfrau
Eigenschaften: MU 14, KL 13, IN 14, CH 15, FF 12, GE 12, KO 12, KK 10, SO 3
LeP 25, AuP 33, AsP 35, MR 4
INI 11, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Affinität zu Geistern, Gefahreninstinkt (3), Halbzauberer, Innerer Kompass, Zauberhaar / Artefaktgebunden
(Knochenkeule), Eingeschränkte Elementarnähe (Erde, Wasser, Wind), Lästige Mindergeister, Wahrer Name, Aberglaube 5, Eitelkeit
5, Meeresangst 7, Neugier 7, Raumangst 8, Weltfremd 7
Sonderfertigkeiten: Geländekunde (Dschungelkundig), Keule (Weihe der Keule), Kulturkunde (Dschungelstämme), Ritual (Blick ins
Geisterreich, Exorzismus, Geisterkerker, Geistheilung, Geleit des Nipakau, Macht der Elemente, Rat der Ahnen, Schlangengeist,
Stimme des Nipakau, Tabuzone)
Talente: Blasrohr +4, Dolche +2, Hiebwaffen +3, Raufen +2, Ringen +2, Säbel 0, Speere +3, Wurfmesser 0, Athletik 0, Klettern
+6, Körperbeherrschung +7, Schleichen +5, Schwimmen +2, Selbstbeherrschung +3, Sich verstecken +3, Singen +3, Sinnenschär-
fe +8, Stimmen imitieren +2, Tanzen +6, Zechen -2, Lehren +3, Menschenkenntnis +4, Sich verkleiden +3, Überreden +2, Über-
zeugen +3, Fährtensuchen +6, Fallen stellen +1, Fischen/Angeln +1, Orientierung +6, Wettervorhersage +5, Wildnisleben +10,
Geografie +1, Götter/Kulte +3, Magiekunde +4, Pflanzenkunde +10, Rechnen 0, Sagen/Legenden +3, Tierkunde +8, Mutterspra-
che: Mohisch +11, Sprachen kennen: Garethi +3, Feuersteinbearbeitung +3, Heilkunde Gift +5, Heilkunde Krankheiten +3, Heil-
kunde Seele +3, Heilkunde Wunden +5, Holzbearbeitung +4, Kochen +4, Lederarbeiten +3, Malen/Zeichnen +5, Musizieren +2,
Schneidern 0
Zauber: GEISTER AUFNEHMEN +5, GEISTER BANNEN +7, GEISTER BINDEN +7, GEISTER RUFEN +6
Kampfwerte: Blasrohr 11, Dolche 8/8, Hiebwaffen 9/8, Raufen 8/8, Ringen 8/8, Säbel 7/7, Speere 9/8, Wurfmesser 7
Ausrüstung: Asymetrische Kleidung, reichhaltiger Körperschmuck, Talismane, Knochenkeule, Hackmesser, Messer, halbes Dutzend
Kräuter (z.B. auch für Farbmischungen, Fiebersenkung, Wundsalbe), zwei Tiergewänder, hölzerne Maske, verziertes Gefäß für Geis-
terkerker, Handtrommel, Geldbeutel oder Naturalien für Tauschhandel (9 Silbertaler)
D
Diiee eerrffaahhrreennee AAnnooiihhaa--SScchhaammaanniinn ((mmiitt 55000000 AAPP))
R/K/P: Waldmensch / Dschungelstämme (Bergstämme; Anoiha) / Medizinfrau
Eigenschaften: MU 15, KL 13, IN 16, CH 17, FF 12, GE 12, KO 12, KK 10, SO 3
LeP 25, AuP 33, AsP 40 (3 dazugekauft), MR 4
INI 11, AT-Basis 7, PA-Basis 7, FK-Basis 7
Vor- und Nachteile: Affinität zu Geistern, Gefahreninstinkt (3), Halbzauberer, Innerer Kompass, Zauberhaar / Artefaktgebunden
(Knochenkeule), Eingeschränkte Elementarnähe (Erde, Wasser, Wind), Lästige Mindergeister, Wahrer Name, Aberglaube 5, Eitelkeit
5, Meeresangst 7, Neugier 7, Raumangst 8, Weltfremd 7
Sonderfertigkeiten: Geländekunde (Dschungelkundig), Keule (Gespür der Keule, Hilfe der Keule, Härte der Keule, Kraft der Keule,
Nähe zur Natur, Weihe der Keule, Zauber der Keule), Kulturkunde (Dschungelstämme), Ritual (Aufmerksamer Wächter, Blick ins
Geisterreich, Blick ins Geisterreich (II), Exorzismus, Geisterbote, Geisterkerker, Geistheilung, Geleit des Nipakau, Großer Geister-
bann, Hauch des Elements, Kraft der Tayas, Macht der Elemente, Rat der Ahnen, Regentanz, Schlangengeist, Stimme des Nipakau,
Tabuzone)
Talente: Blasrohr +6, Dolche +2, Hiebwaffen +5, Raufen +2, Ringen +2, Säbel 0, Speere +3, Wurfmesser +1, Athletik 0, Klettern
+6, Körperbeherrschung +9, Schleichen +5, Schwimmen +2, Selbstbeherrschung +3, Sich verstecken +3, Singen +3, Sinnenschär-
fe +8, Stimmen Imitieren +2, Tanzen +6, Zechen -2, Lehren +3, Menschenkenntnis +4, Sich verkleiden +3, Überreden +2, Über-
zeugen +3, Fährtensuchen +7, Fallen Stellen +1, Fischen/Angeln +1, Orientierung +8, Wettervorhersage +5, Wildnisleben +15,
Geografie +1, Götter/Kulte +4, Magiekunde +4, Pflanzenkunde +13, Rechnen 0, Sagen/Legenden +3, Tierkunde +8, Mutterspra-
che: Mohisch +11, Sprachen Kennen: Garethi +3, Feuersteinbearbeitung +3, Heilkunde Gift +5, Heilkunde Krankheiten +3,
Heilkunde Seele +3, Heilkunde Wunden +5, Holzbearbeitung +4, Kochen +5, Lederarbeiten +3, Malen/Zeichnen +7, Musizieren
+2, Schneidern 0
Zauber: GEISTER AUFNEHMEN +9, GEISTER BANNEN +13, GEISTER BINDEN +11, GEISTER RUFEN +11
Kampfwerte: Blasrohr 14, Dolche 8/9, Hiebwaffen 10/10, Raufen 8/9, Ringen 8/9, Säbel 7/8, Speere 9/9, Wurfmesser 9
Ausrüstung: Asymetrische Kleidung, reichhaltiger Körperschmuck, Talismane, Knochenkeule, Hackmesser, Messer, halbes Dutzend
Kräuter (z.B. auch für Farbmischungen, Fiebersenkung, Wundsalbe), zwei Tiergewänder, hölzerne Maske, verziertes Gefäß für Geis-
terkerker, Handtrommel, Geldbeutel oder Naturalien für Tauschhandel (12 Silbertaler)
| textdata/thevault/Dark Eye, The [multi]/LANG/[DE]/Das Schwarze Auge/013. Inoffizielles Material/001. Spielhilfen/NSC, Archetypen, Namen/Meridianische-Archetypen-2011.12.18.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed
by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of Wizards of the
Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20
This is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, Living Greyhawk, D&D Rewards, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster
Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United
States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written
permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely
coincidental. © 2007 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
CORS7-03
Into White Plume
High-Level Version
A One-Round Dungeons & Dragons® Living Greyhawk™
Core Special Adventure
Version 1
by Britt Frey and Robert Little
Circle Reviewer: Creighton Broadhurst
Special Thanks: Eric Anondson, Creighton Broadhurst, Joe Selby and Michael Tran
Playtesters: Konrad Brandemuhl, Dan Boals, Stefania Fiorentino, Dan Hass, Clay Jenkins, David ‘Keyoke’ Polansky,
Marcia Schoonover, Keith Symcox, Susan Threadgill, Jeff Whitecotton, Jeff Withey, and Dave Woodfin
Long a place of legend, tales of White Plume Mountain are well known. Once the lair of the infamous wizard, Keraptis,
the threat from this mountain was thought laid low decades ago. Now, though, adventurers have uncovered clues that
Keraptis remains within the volcano and that another, terrible creature of Evil is seeking a potent artifact that blurs the
boundaries between life and death. Divinations reveal that the item rests deep within Keraptis’s lair. You have been
asked to find the resting place of the crystal skull of Keraptis, hopefully before anyone else can get there. A one-round Core
Special adventure set in White Plume Mountain for characters of level 9-15 (APLs 10-14).
Resources for this adventure include Complete Adventurer [Jesse Decker], Complete Divine [David Noonan], Complete Mage
[Skip Williams, Penny Williams, Ari Marmell, Kolja Raven Liquette], Complete Scoundrel [Mike McArtor and F. Wesley
Schneider], Complete Warrior [Andy Collins, David Noonan, and Ed Stark], Draconomicon, [Andy Collins, Skip Williams,
James Wyatt], Lords of Madness [Richard Baker, James Jacobs, Steve Winter], Dungeon Tiles Mapper [Randal Meyer], Libris
Mortis [Andy Collins and Bruce R. Cordell], Magic Item Compendium [Andy Collins, Eytan Bernstein, Frank Brunner, Owen
K.C. Stephens, John Snead], Monster Manual V [Creighton Broadhurst, Jason Bulmahn, David Chart, B. Matthew
Conklin III, Jesse Decker, James “Grim” Desborough, Rob Heinsoo, Sterling Hershey, Tim Hitchcock, Luke Johnson,
Nicolas Logue, Mike McArtor, David Noonan, Aaron Rosenberg, Robert J. Schwalb, Rodney Thompson, Wil
Upchurch], Player’s Handbook II [David Noonan], Races of Stone [David Noonan, Jesse Decker, Michelle Lyons], Savage
Species [David Eckelberry, Rich Redman, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes], Spell Compendium [Matthew Sernett, Jeff Grubb, Mike
McArtor], S2 White Plume Mountain [Lawrence Schick], and White Plume Mountain [Andy Collins, Gwendolyn F.M.
Kestrel, and James Wyatt].
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 2
RPGA® SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA event from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide,
ongoing D&D® campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—
you must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event
could be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
group of friends meeting at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL™ gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the session Dungeon
Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all
the time in the cases of home events) the senior
gamemaster is also the session DM. You don’t have to be a
HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not
the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First, it is an official game,
and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second, players and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2008.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit
the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
PLAYERS READ NO FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than this
section, you’ll know too much about its challenges, which
kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure as part
of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this point
makes you ineligible to do so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of
the following D&D rule books: Player’s Handbook,
Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics
provides player information for you to paraphrase or read
aloud when appropriate. Information on nonplayer
characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated
form in the adventure text. Refer to Appendix 1 for full
information on
NPCs
and
monsters.
For
your
convenience, Appendix 1 is split by APL
Along with this adventure, you’ll find a RPGA
session tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as
part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in
this sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll also
find a LIVING GREYHAWK adventure record (AR). You
need one copy of this for each participating player.
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportionate to the modified average character level of
the PCs participating in the adventure. To calculate the
Average Party Level (APL), follow the process below:
1. Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure. Each PC may bring
one animal, plus any creatures gained from class
abilities to help in combat. (PCs can bring more
creatures but they cannot help in combat). If you
deem that the animal bestows a significant benefit in
combat add the animal’s CR to the level of the PC it is
accompanying for calculating APL. (Animals gained
from class abilities and one standard horse, warhorse,
or riding dog for a PC with Mounted Combat do not
affect APL).
2. Sum the results of step 1 and divide by the number of
characters playing in the adventure. Round to the
nearest whole number.
3. If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of
challenge the PCs face. APLs are given in even-numbered
increments. If the APL of your group falls on an odd
number, ask them before the adventure begins whether
they would like to play a harder or easier adventure.
Based on their choice, use either the higher or the lower
adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience and gold a
PC can gain at the end of the adventure. A player
character more than three levels higher than the APL at
which the adventure is played cannot participate. If a
player character is more than two levels away from the
APL at which the adventure is played, he suffers a 50%
penalty to the amount of gold and XP gained in the
adventure. This simulates the fact that either the PC was
not challenged as much as normal or relied on help by
higher-level characters to reach the objectives.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL
2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may find
the challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the
following to these groups to help increase their chances
of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
2.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them and fight for them.
These APL calculation rules reference version 7.0 of the
Living Greyhawk Campaign Sourcebook. If you are playing
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 3
this adventure in 2008, check the current version of the
LGCS and follow any updated rules presented within.
AUGMENTED APL 14
This adventure features two different challenge levels at
APL 14. Players qualifying for APL 14 can instead elect to
play the augmented version of that APL. Make clear to
the players that doing so bestows no extra gold, XP, or
other rewards; the combats and encounters are simply
more challenging.
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard one-round Core Special adventure, set
in White Plume Mountain. All characters pay 2 Time
Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp per time
unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per time unit. Luxury
Upkeep costs 100 gp per time unit. Characters that fail to
pay at least Standard Upkeep retain temporary ability
damage until the next adventure, must buy new spell
component pouches and healer’s kits, and may suffer
other in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-game
benefits) as may be detailed in this adventure.
A character that does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may avoid the above-described penalties by
living off the wild. If the character possesses four or more
ranks in Survival and succeeds on a DC 20 Survival
check, he heals temporary ability damage as if he had
Standard Upkeep, may refill spell component pouches
and healer’s kits, and may restock up to 20 arrows or bolts
if the character has at least four ranks in Craft
(bowmaking). PCs may Take 10 on this roll.
Chapters 1 and 5 of the LGCS present more
information about lifestyle and upkeep.
PREPARATION FOR PLAY
This core special adventure complements Return to White
Plume Mountain [Bruce R. Cordell], S2 White Plume
Mountain [Lawrence Schick], and White Plume Mountain
[Andy Collins, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, and James
Wyatt] updating this infamous locale to the current
timeline. Knowledge of these adventures is not necessary
to run this event, although a familiarity with the original
material may assist a DM in portraying the encounters
herein.
This adventure’s design assumes that at least some of
the players are familiar with the original material. (Such
knowledge of the dungeon is easily explained away by
bards’ stories of successful explorations of the interior).
CHALLENGES
The encounters in this adventure are intended to
challenge the players’ tactics as much as their character
builds or dice rolls; most of the encounters require clever
thinking to overcome without serious losses. If the
players are able to think quickly and adapt to new
information and situations, they will be able to save time
and resources, hopefully enough to succeed in their
mission.
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
Before the adventure begins, be sure to clarify standard
operating procedures such as marching order and
distances, search procedures when traveling corridors or
approaching doors, when the PCs wish to be Hiding or
Moving Silently, or other constant or repetitive actions
that may come up during the adventure. Inform the
players that, unless they inform you otherwise, these
standard operating procedures will be assumed at all
times.
ENCOUNTER START DISTANCES
Most of the encounters in this adventure have variable
start distances between the PCs and NPCs based on
Listen, Spot, Hide, and Move Silently checks. Review
these rules before running this adventure, paying
attention to distance, distraction, armor check, and other
modifiers. The echoes of the cavern impose a -2
circumstance
penalty
to
Move
Silently
checks.
Remember, it is usually the lowest check in the party that
matters. Casting spells with verbal components must be
done in a strong voice, making the base DC to hear such
spellcasting -5 (PH 174).
LIGHTING AND VISION
All the creatures in this adventure have darkvision; some
have even better abilities, such as scent or blindsight. As
such, they do not need lights of any kind. If the PCs do
not have such abilities and must use light sources, they
will likely be noticed long before the PCs notice the
NPCs.
HEAT DANGERS
Before running this adventure, review the rules for heat
dangers (DMG 303). The rules contain an ambiguity for
resistances and immunities; for the purposes of this
adventure, having resistance to fire does not grant full
immunity to all lava damage; to avoid all lava damage, the
character must either have immunity to fire or resistance
in excess of the damage dealt. If the players mention fire
damage, lava, resistance, immunity, protection, or
anything else during preparations that would indicate
they are considering the possible threat of fire damage
and attempting to prepare for it, be sure to clarify this
point so they can prepare accordingly.
Only Encounters 6 and 7 involve heat dangers.
Ambient temperatures in this area are in the “extreme
heat” category. The nonlethal damage per 5 minutes will
likely not matter, but the damage per 1 minute and heat
metal effects may be required. It is likely, however, that
the PCs will have enough fire resistance to avoid the
ambient heat effects.
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Page 4
A PC that takes damage from contact with lava or the
ambient extreme heat risks catching on fire. Characters
with fire resistance greater than 6 would take no damage
from being on fire; thus, you can ignore catching on fire
effects for such characters.
NEW RULE ITEMS
Core adventures often utilize new rules items –including
new classes, prestige classes, races, feats, spells, and
equipment (including magic items) – that do not appear
in the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, or Monster
Manual). The full write-up of any featured feats, spells, or
equipment appears in Appendix 2. Information on
featured classes, prestige classes, and races appears in the
relevant creature’s stat block. This adventure includes all
the information required to run these characters. The DM
should double-check that he fully understands any new
rule items presented in this adventure before play begins.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
Throughout this adventure, the crazy whisper gnome that
has assumed the title ‘Keraptis’ will be referred to as
‘Ceraptis’ to avoid confusion with the real Keraptis. This
is purely for the GM’s benefit, as the gnome would surely
use the same spelling as the archmage.
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS…
…Gildor Arcanix has been hunting the root cause of a
dramatic increase in evil dragon activity throughout the
central Flanaess. Gildor is a gold dragon and the leader of
the Oathsworn Slayers, a group dedicated to hunting evil
dragons and their spawn. He has noticed an increase in
the number and power of cults dedicated to the worship
of various chromatic dragons and in the number of active
dragonspawn and, in response, has enlisted the aid of
adventurers in uncovering the source. The group has
recently come to discover that an ancient draconic
menace has returned to Oerth. Dragotha, a dracolich of
unspeakable power and evil, has been manipulating
events behind the scenes for unknowable years, actions
fueling a plot that is just now coming to its culmination.
Dragotha has been the secret mastermind behind the
various draconic cults, masquerading as different
chromatic dragons in different areas. He has enlisted the
aid of old allies in the court of Tiamat to help him achieve
his goals. The only other information Gildor has
uncovered about Dragotha’s goals is that he is seeking
knowledge and artifacts related to life and death.
FOUR DAYS AGO…
…expendable adventurers, lacking the experience for
more interesting and important adventures, plunged into
the dungeons of White Plume Mountain. They were
attempting to find the cause of recent disturbances at the
volcano and stop them before an eruption could destroy
the nearby villages and disrupt the environment for
hundreds of miles. While they were there, the
adventurers
first
found
several
dead
chromatic
dragonspawn, apparently killed by the mountains crazed
whisper gnome inhabitants.
Further into the dungeons, the adventurers
discovered evidence that the gnomes, under the direction
of Ceraptis, had been working to cause the volcano to
erupt. Apparently, Ceraptis thought this was the perfect
solution to the problems of frequent adventurer and,
more recently, dragonspawn incursions and had
convinced the other gnomes of his brilliance – a classic
case of too much Charisma and not enough Wisdom. The
adventurers also discovered that the dragonspawn were
seeking something within the bowels of the mountain,
but could not uncover what it was or why they wanted it.
The disruptions of the volcano caused several cave-
ins, blocking the adventurers’ further progress into the
dungeons. Stymied, but with evidence in hand and
further disruptions hopefully prevented, the adventurers
returned to civilization, turning over their findings
before heading off to further adventures. The details
passed between various powers within the “Forces of
Good” before ending up in the hands of Gildor Arcanix.
THE LAST FEW DAYS…
…have seen Gildor enlisting the aid of many allies and
followers that possess divinatory magic and esoteric
knowledge. Much of the desired information was cloaked
by Keraptis’s penchant for secrecy and mystery and the
enchantments on his former demesne blocking
divinations. However, powerful divinations and dusty
tomes were able to reveal that Dragotha had some sort of
connection to Keraptis and White Plume Mountain in
the past and that he was likely seeking an ancient and
powerful artifact in the form of a crystal skull.
Not much is known of the artifact that scholars have
dubbed the crystal skull of Keraptis, but Dragotha would
likely have known of it from his previous dealings with
Keraptis and it would fit his recent activities and goals.
No matter what its powers, if Dragotha wants it, Gildor
wants it first.
LATE LAST NIGHT…
…one of Gildor’s aides was able to magically view an area
within White Plume Mountain. Apparently, the
disruptions had opened a small rift near the dungeon. As
the area was not in existence when the original wards
were placed, this new area was vulnerable, and that
vulnerability has been found. Gildor quickly hired a
wayfarer and arranged for the visual image to be shared
with him.
AT DAWN TODAY…
…several adventurers in the area of Critwall received a
missive from Gildor requesting their aid. The letter asked
them to meet at a small shrine of Bahamut in one hour.
There, he explains the situation and asks them to accept
teleportation into the viewed room, explore the dungeon,
recover the crystal skull of Keraptis, and return it to him.
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Page 5
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
Introduction
The PCs have five hours to prepare spells, purchase items,
Gather Information, perform research, or do anything
else they wish.
1: Transdimensional Insertion
The PCs are teleported into White Plume Mountain.
2: Why Won’t You Die
The PCs encounter Ceraptis and his personal guards in
the midst of torturing two prisoners. Upon the first
death, the room’s trap activates, forcing the PCs to alter
tactics.
3: Please Hold
If the PCs are not careful, they trigger the transfix trap and
may be trapped long enough that Xonxin from
Encounter 4 finds them.
4: My Good Buddy, Imix
Xonxin and his ember guards are interrupted while
repairing damage to the tunnels or, if the PCs are not
careful, the PCs are surprised by Xonxin and his ember
guards.
5: That’s No Rust Monster
In the magical experimentation centre, the PCs
encounter what they think are rust monsters, but are
really overgrown worgs in disguise. As the PCs discover
this, the real rust monster joins the fray.
6: Liquid Hot Magma
As the PCs cross a magma chamber, a cave-in traps them
amidst falling rocks and exploding magma.
7: Giant Metal Thing
The PCs finally find the crystal skull of Keraptis…fused to
the body of a giant metal guardian standing in the middle
of a pool of lava.
Conclusion
The PCs leave White Plume Mountain and decide what
to do with the skull.
WARNING
Remember that this game, in general, and this adventure,
in particular, is about having fun. While the adventure
may be challenging, the author is not “out to get you.”
Thinking in terms of author or GM against player is a
guaranteed way to decrease the fun of the adventure for
both you and the other participants. Trust the author to
take care of you and make sure you have fun, no matter
what the initial appearances.
INTRODUCTION
Arriving at the shrine, you see a human male with
golden hair and eyes; his regal aura is almost
palpable. He wastes no time in introducing himself
as Gildor Arcanix and asking if you have any
questions about the missive or the mission.
If anyone has true seeing or an equivalent ability, they see
that Gildor is really an ancient gold dragon in human
form. Gildor can provide the following information. He is
slightly more open with PCs that have worked with him
in the past.
• Who is Dragotha? He is a dracolich and the former
lover of The Chromatic Dragon.
• Will we encounter him? For your sake, I hope not.
He is a creature of immeasurable evil and power.
Luckily, he seems to prefer manipulating other
creatures to do his bidding. Perhaps he cannot act
openly or personally.
• What does he want with this artifact? I do not know. I
only know that recent investigations into his
actions have shown a desire for ancient Ur-Flan
secrets and items. The Ur-Flan were known for
their mastery over life and death. Given his state
as a dracolich and his past connections to
Keraptis, he is likely interested in that facet of
their history.
• Who is Keraptis? Not much is known of Keraptis,
nor has anyone heard from him in decades. He
was an archmage obsessed with immortality. Long
ago, he made White Plume Mountain into his base
of operations, bringing with him his odd, gnome
slaves. There was an incident decades ago
involving some missing magical weapons and a
note supposedly from Keraptis, but that is the
only alleged activity from him in recent memory.
• Odd gnomes? Keraptis had his own breed of
gnomes that he used as a sort of slave race. They
are known as whisper gnomes and, based on
recent incursions into the mountain, still dwell
there. Their constant inbreeding, the magical
dabbling of Keraptis, and their long isolation have
driven them mad, though.
• What can we expect within White Plume Mountain?
Well, it is a volcano, so heat is to be expected. As I
said, the whisper gnomes still dwell there. There
might also be some deformed spawn of the
Chromatic Dragon. Other than that, I have no
idea, thanks to Keraptis’s wardings.
• Spawn of Tiamat? Do not say her name, if you
please. Yes, some of her spawn were found within
the mountain by previous adventurers. Other
information discovered there indicates that they
have been attacking the mountain repeatedly
recently, looking for something, which is what
prompted my research.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 6
• Keraptis’s wardings? He apparently blocked the
mountain from divinations. We were unable to
directly divine any information about the
mountain, other than one small area.
• One small area? The recent tremors apparently
opened up a small area within the mountain, next
to the cavern complex. As this area did not
previously exist, it was not as well shielded from
divinatory magic. This allowed one of my aides to
scry the area, after much effort. That is how we
will be teleporting you in.
• Teleporting us in? I have hired a Wayfarer and we
have used illusory magic to share the target
destination with him. He will teleport your group
to the cavern and then return here.
• How do we get out? I would prefer it if you could
provide your own way out, but I do have a talisman
you can take for emergency use. If you break this
talisman, you and all your allies that are touching
you will be transported to this shrine.
• What is it you want us to do there? Locate and
recover the crystal skull of Keraptis. Of course, any
other opportunities to thwart evil should not be
avoided.
• Recover, not destroy? I would like to be able to
study the artifact in the hopes of gleaning some
clue as to Dragotha’s motives. Besides, it is
unlikely you will be able to destroy the artifact;
items of such power require special processes to
destroy.
• When do you want us to leave? Now, but I
understand the need to prepare. I would like you
to leave within the next five hours; the Wayfarer I
hired must leave by that time. You may have the
time until then to prepare, though the earlier you
leave, the better I will feel.
The PCs are given as much as five hours to prepare for the
mission. Spellcasters that prepare spells are assumed to
have left their spell slots open and can prepare spells as
they wish. PCs may go shopping for last minute items if
they wish, being able to purchase any item of less than
10,000 gp market value and to which the PC has Core or
Open access.
LORE
The following pieces of information can be discovered
with either a Gather Information check or the
appropriate Knowledge check. PCs only have time to
make one Gather Information check each. PCs that need
to prepare spells, want to make additional purchases, or
spend time on other preparations do not have time to
Gather Information.
Keraptis
PCs with Knowledge (history) or bardic knowledge can
learn more about Keraptis. When a PC makes a successful
skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including
the information from lower DCs.
• DC 15: The powerful and evil wizard, Kerpatis, dwelt
below White Plume Mountain. Several decades ago,
he stole several powerful weapons from Greyhawk
City but adventurers retrieved them all.
• DC 20: Keraptis was served by strange gnomes that
were fanatically loyal to him.
• DC 25: Keraptis is unknowably old. Ancient Flan
records, recovered from Tostenhca - a mountain-city
hidden deep within the Griff Mountains record a
wizard of that name who controlled incredible power.
• DC 30: Keraptis is thought to have disappeared some
time ago to travel the planes in search of ways to
extend his already prodigious lifespan.
White Plume Mountain
PCs with Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (history),
or bardic knowledge can learn more about White Plume
Mountain. When a PC makes a successful skill check,
read or paraphrase the following, including the
information from lower DCs.
• DC 10: The mountain stands in the center of a
desolate moor. It is the highest point for miles
around.
• DC 15: White Plume Mountain is not really a
mountain but in reality is a high conical hill probably
formed by the upwelling of lava from below.
• DC 20: A geyser at its summit provides the
characteristic white plume for which the mountain is
famed.
Whisper Gnomes
The descendants of Keraptis’s mad gnome bodyguards yet
dwell in White Plume Mountains.
PCs with ranks in Knowledge (local: any) may know
more about whisper gnomes. When a PC makes a
successful skill check, read or paraphrase the following,
including the information from lower DCs.
DC 11: Identifies the creature as a whisper gnome, a
rare type of gnome. They are creatures of stealth and
suspicion.
DC 16: Whisper gnomes have excellent senses. They
are able to see in the dark and have exceptional hearing.
DC 21: Whisper gnomes have a range of spell-like
abilities. They can produce magical sounds, move small
objects without touching them, and send silent messages
to one another.
DC 26: Whisper gnomes can cloak themselves in
magical silence.
1: TRANSDIMENSIONAL
INSERTION
When you indicate that you are ready, the hired
Wayfarer directs you to gather together as he begins
casting his spell. As you dematerialize, the familiar,
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 7
brief nausea passes over you quickly. As you
rematerialize, you see first nervousness, and then
relief on the face of the Wayfarer, as he realizes he
was on target. He gives your group a curt nod before
breaking his talisman and disappearing, his contract
fulfilled.
Down the unworked passage, you can hear clear
sounds of what is likely torture: intermittent lashes
and strikes, sobbing, and forceful questioning.
The PCs have teleported into the only area that Gildor’s
people were able to scry. Their guide breaks his refuge
talisman as soon as they arrive, wanting nothing to do
with combat. The PCs may prepare as they wish, but are
only 80 ft. from the Indoctrination Centre (Encounter 2).
The PCs can immediately hear activity and Gnomish
chatter down the hall.
DEVELOPMENT
If the PCs make much noise at all, Ceraptis and his
minions likely hear them and begin preparing for
intruders. With all modifiers already included, assuming
the NPCs are constantly taking 10 on passive Listen
checks, they succeed on any Listen check of base DC 9 or
lower, such as talking, spellcasting, and some movement;
the PCs may be able to get away with whispering and
moving slowly and quietly, as long as they are not too
heavily armored or clumsy.
2: WHY WON’T YOU DIE?!
As you turn the corner to exit the freshly rent
fissure, your eyes fall upon a morbid sight. To one
side of the room is a table with a dissected green
dragonspawn, while chained to the walls are two
humanoids, one a male dwarf and the other a type of
female gnome, likely a whisper gnome of which you
have heard. The gnome is unconscious, whilst the
dwarf is being beaten by a gigantic, monstrously
deformed gnome with long braids of fire-red hair
and shiny, red scales. The activities are being
overseen by a pale gnome of wild yet regal
appearance. Standing to the side are two other
gnomes, seeming to take great glee in the dwarf’s
pain.
As soon as the revenance trap detects a dead creature of
size Small or larger within the room, it activates on its
next initiative, firing a Reach revenance on the target
(Note: this targets a Small or larger PC if he dies within
range and is the closest target). Read the following text
when the turret first activates.
Suddenly, the center of the stone ceiling begins to
morph. A silvery liquid flows down and quickly
forms into a reflective dome that fires a mystical ray.
All APLs
� Revenance Trap: Appendix 1.
APL 10 (EL 13)
� Ceraptis: male half-vampire whisper gnome bard
8; hp 44; Appendix 1.
� Banaar: half-red dragon spriggan barbarian 4/war
hulk 2; hp 160; Appendix 1.
� Lobo and Bolo: male whisper gnome rogue 6; hp
33; Appendix 1.
APL 12 (EL 15)
� Ceraptis: male half-vampire whisper gnome bard
8/lyric thaumaturge 2; hp 55; Appendix 1.
� Banaar: half-red dragon spriggan barbarian 4/war
hulk 5; hp 208; Appendix 1.
� Lobo and Bolo: male whisper gnome rogue 6; hp
33; Appendix 1.
APL 14 (EL 18)
� Ceraptis: male half-vampire whisper gnome bard
9/lyric thaumaturge 4; hp 71; Appendix 1.
� Banaar: half-red dragon spriggan barbarian 4/war
hulk 5; hp 208; Appendix 1.
� Lobo and Bolo: male whisper gnome rogue
8/blade bravo; hp 77; Appendix 1.
Augmented APL 14 (EL 20)
� Ceraptis: male half-vampire whisper gnome bard
9/lyric thaumaturge 4; hp 71; Appendix 1.
� Banaar: half-red dragon spriggan barbarian 4/war
hulk 5; hp 208; Appendix 1.
� Lobo and Bolo (6 total): male whisper gnome
rogue 8/blade bravo; hp 77; Appendix 1.
The EL of this encounter has been increased by 1 to
account for the effects of the revenance trap.
Tactics
Ceraptis: Ceraptis first starts singing to inspire
courage, using inspirational boost to increase the bonus to
+3. His Melodic Casting feat allows him to maintain his
bardic music abilities while taking other vocal actions. If
he has inspire greatness at the current APL, he uses that
as his next action on Banaar; otherwise, he begins casting
opportunity spells. In the first round that he has a free
immediate action, he activates his badge of valor to boost
the Inspire Courage bonus to +4 to hit and damage.
Remember to use Captivating Melody when casting
offensive spells if Ceraptis has that feat at the current
APL.
Banaar: At APL 10, Banaar uses his belt of battle
primarily for move actions to position himself while still
gaining full attacks or a Great Swing in one round. If he
does not need to do so, he use all three charges to gain a
full attack action. At APLs 12 and 14, he use the belt of
battle to gain either a move action for positioning for a full
attack against one opponent, or to gain a standard action
to gain a free Mighty Swing.
Lobo and Bolo: Lobo and Bolo attempt to flank with
each other and/or with Banaar. At APL14, they use their
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Page 8
first action to drink potions of shield of faith +3; if they have
additional time to prepare, they drink potions of haste.
They then target a Medium or larger creature using their
Mobile Fighting (+1 dodge), Titan Fighting (+4 dodge),
Combat Expertise (+5 dodge), and Size Advantage (+2 or
more dodge) to boost their AC by 12 or more, giving a
total AC of 37 or more, and then use Goad to force big,
dumb fighters to attack them. Using their impaling
weapon ability, they should still be able to hit the
opponent while taking the -5 penalty to hit from Combat
Expertise.
Treasure: Refer to the Treasure Summary to determine
what the PCs find here.
CAPTIVES
Neither captive is in any condition to adventure, nor do
they want to. They ask to be taken out of the mountain as
soon as possible. If this cannot be done immediately, they
will follow the party from several hundred feet away. To
count as “rescued”, the PCs must get the prisoners out of
the complex, likely by taking the NPCs with them when
they teleport out.
Mithraldo Deepunder
If the PCs rescue the dwarf, Mithraldo Deepunder, he
will be extremely grateful and promises to make it up to
the PCs. If asked, he explains that he was a member of a
party of dwarves that were exploring the mountain when
they came upon the whisper gnomes and their traps. His
companions were killed, but he was captured alive; the
whisper gnomes have been trying to ‘indoctrinate’ him
for the past three weeks.
Yalla Thergan
If the PCs rescue the whisper gnome, be sure to watch
how the individual PCs treat her. PCs that treat her well,
such as healing her or asking her if she needs anything,
earn an entry on the AR that others do not.
Yalla, like all of the whisper gnomes in White Plume
Mountain, is a bit insane, though she has a better handle
on reality than most of the others. If asked, Yalla explains
that she has always lived in White Plume Mountain. She
was being tortured because she thought Ceraptis’s idea
was idiotic and dangerous; he was trying to ‘convince’ her
otherwise.
DEVELOPMENT
After defeating Ceraptis and his minions, the PCs may
rescue the two prisoners, search the room and the bodies,
and proceed out the only exit. On Ceraptis’s body, the
PCs find a crystal skull of Ceraptis. This is a minor magic
item Ceraptis had crafted to help him incite fear in the
other gnomes. It is really nothing more than a glorified
everburning torch. Ceraptis knew of the crystal skull of
Keraptis and fashioned this skull to mimic it. Hopefully,
the PCs quickly realize that the skull is too small to fit the
description and too weak to be an artifact. If they want to
waste time deciding what to do, though, let them.
3: PLEASE HOLD
Ahead of you, the corridor opens into a wide rift
within the mountain. Your party stands at ground
level of the interior chasm, which appears to end to
your left and stretch off into the darkness on your
right. You notice no movement, but the heat has
increased and the sound of shifting rocks is audible
in the distance, echoing through the caverns.
The PCs exit a 15 ft. wide passage and enter a chasm that
runs perpendicular to the passage they just exited; the
PCs are at the bottom of the chasm. The chasm is 40 ft.
across, an average of 25 ft. high, and stretches off into the
darkness beyond sight.
Ten feet from the middle of the exit point of the
passage, in the chasm, is a transfix trap intended to freeze
interlopers as they advance towards the Indoctrination
Centre. The trap can be bypassed by uttering the phrase
“Praise to Keraptis!”, but it is unlikely the PCs have this
information. The trap is triggered when a creature moves
to within 5 ft. of the trap without uttering the trigger
phrase. This means that any Search check to find the trap
without first triggering it must be made from 10 ft. away.
If the PC is only searching adjacent squares, they trigger
the trap before finding it.
This trap has two possible effects. First, it could cause
shorter duration buff spells to expire. Second, it could
cause Encounter 4 to start while one or more PCs are
transfixed.
All APLs (EL 11)
� Transfix Trap: Appendix 1.
The EL of this encounter has been increased by 1 to
account for the possibility of Encounter 4 occurring here
while some PCs are transfixed.
DEVELOPMENT
If the PCs spend more than 30 minutes in this location,
Xonxin and his ember guards stumble across them,
beginning Encounter 4. Begin such a combat with the
NPCs placed 60 ft. from the closest PC, or further out if
the PCs are making a good deal of noise or if the PCs have
more than 60 ft. of perception available.
Tactics: If Encounter 4 begins here, the NPCs avoid
giving away the trigger phrase, if possible. The ember
guards have enough reach to stand outside the area and
still attack anyone transfixed or standing at the mouth of
the passage. They do not proceed down the hall to attack
the PCs unless there is only one ember guard remaining
or Xonxin is dead; the ember guards are not smart
enough by themselves to avoid being bottled up. Consult
Encounter 4 for further tactics.
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4: MY GOOD BUDDY, IMIX
Adjust the following text to account for multiple ember
guards.
The chasm slowly drifts downwards, the heat rising
at the same time. As you turn a corner, you see a
hulking mass of stone and brass, puffs of acrid
smoke leaking from its maw; intense heat radiates
from its surface, and smoke rises where it treads.
Standing behind the monster is a giant with red skin
and fiery eyes.
Xonxin has been dispatched by Ceraptis to shore up the
caverns in various places, using his ember guards as
manual labor. Xonxin and his ember guards are currently
working at the passageway the low-level adventurers
found at the end of their portion of this adventure.
The PCs have a slight advantage here, as they can
clearly hear the sounds of construction from 120 ft. away.
Beyond that distance, the PCs can only make out the
sounds of shifting rocks, not what is causing it. As soon as
Xonxin or the ember guards notice the PCs, they attack.
APL 10 (EL 13)
� Xonxin: male efreeti; hp 65; MM 115.
� Ember Guard: hp 162; Appendix 1.
APL 12 (EL 15)
� Xonxin: male efreeti; hp 65; MM 115.
� Ember Guard (2): hp 162; Appendix 1.
APL 14 (EL 18*)
� Xonxin: male efreeti; hp 65; MM 115.
� Greater Ember Guard (2): hp 225; Appendix 1.
Augmented APL 14 (EL 20*)
� Xonxin (2): male efreeti; hp 65; MM 115.
� Greater Ember Guard (4): hp 225; Appendix 1.
*The EL of this encounter at these APLs has been
decreased by 1 due to the likelihood of PCs having
resistance to fire, reducing the effectiveness of the NPCs.
Tactics: If Xonxin and the ember guards are aware of the
PCs before the PCs are aware of them, Xonxin uses his
spell-like abilities to make all the NPCs invisible.
Xonxin: Xonxin’s first actions, either in combat or
preparing for surprise combat, are to use one of his 3/day
non-genie wishes on each ember guard to make its next
attack an automatic critical hit (he instructs the ember
guards to full Power Attack on their next attack, if they
have that feat at the APL). He then uses wall of fire to split
up the party and/or block enemy spellcaster’s line of
effect spells or use his remaining wish(es) to revive
defeated ember guards, as appropriate. If Xonxin sees that
things are going poorly, he uses plane shift to escape.
Ember Guards: Xonxin instructs the ember guards
to spread out during combat to help avoid area of affect
attacks and to maximize the impact of their Death Throes
ability. His instructions place the ember guards in such a
way that they can all breath on the party while avoiding
each other’s breath attacks, which should be easy with
their 15 ft. reach. Even if the PCs seem immune to fire,
the ember guards continue to breathe on the party in an
attempt to keep them slowed; however, the ember guards
are not intelligent enough to notice if a previous breath
slowed the PCs, so some breath attacks may be wasted.
Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (the planes) can
learn more about ember guards. When a character makes
a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed,
including the information from lower DCs.
• DC 23: This is an ember guard, a creature from the
Elemental Plane of Fire. An ember guard can breathe a
cone of flame that magically slows those it burns. Cold
is this creature’s major weakness.
• DC 28: Ember guards are spawned by Imix, Prince of
Evil Fire Elementals. Their essential nature—fire—lies
trapped within a skin of brass and stone that is resilient
against all but good weapons. Despite amazing healing
abilities, ember guards lose their ability to contain their
inner fire as they suffer injuries, causing those nearby
to burn as heat and flame escape.
• DC 33: If an ember guard is slain, it explodes in a
tremendous burst, showering the area with fiery
cinders.
Treasure: Refer to the Treasure Summary to determine
what the PCs find here.
DEVELOPMENT
After defeating Xonxin and his ember guards, the PCs
may either continue clearing the passage, which only
leads to the already cleared area of the mountain (see low-
level section of the adventure), or continue down the
chasm, which leads to Encounter 5. Any time spent
investigating the cave-in discovers crushed, decayed
dragonspawn of various types, killed during the cave-in
while invading the mountain.
5: THAT’S NO RUST
MONSTER
You appear to have entered a laboratory of some
type, likely a magical experimentation centre. You
see tables covered in beakers, tomes, staves, and
other typically magical items.
You are not alone in the room, as you see
gigantic creatures with insect-like legs, an armored
carapace, several antennae and tentacles, and an odd-
looking tail. On the back of each creature is a
whisper gnome holding a set of reins.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 10
The guulvorgs are disguised as half-farspawn rust
monsters. Give the PCs Spot checks, as described below.
If the disguises fool them, give the PCs Knowledge
(dungeoneering) checks to identify the “rust monsters.”
APL 10 (EL 13)
� Immature Guulvorg (2): hp 126; Appendix 1.
� Half-Farspawn Rust Monster: hp 188;
Appendix 1.
APL 12 (EL 15)
� Immature Guulvorg (3): hp 126; Appendix 1.
� Rust Monster of Legacy: hp 188; Appendix 1.
APL 14 (EL 18)
� Greater Guulvorg (3): hp 212; Appendix 1.
� Rust Monster of Legacy: hp 188; Appendix 1.
Augmented APL 14 (EL 20)
� Guulvorg (6): hp 212; Appendix 1.
� Rust Monster of Legacy (2): hp 188; Appendix 1.
At Augmented APL 14 have half the guulvorgs arrive in
round 3 and begin attacking on round 4. Have the rust
monsters arrive in round 6 and begin attacking in round
7. Adjust the round numbers as necessary if the PCs
finish off the previous set of NPCs quickly.
Tactics: The guulvorgs in this encounter are disguised as
rust monsters (everyday by Ceraptis). Their general tactic
is to engage any enemies early, giving them time to
realize that the guulvorgs are not really rust monsters,
just in time for the actual rust monster to move in and
attack. This tactic is meant to keep the enemy confused
and off-balance.
As soon as the guulvorgs or rust monster are aware of
the PCs’ approach, the gnomes mount their disguised
guulvorgs and prepare to meet the PCs at the entrance to
the Experimentation Centre.
Gnomes: The guulvorg-rider gnomes are here
merely for story purposes and a bit of roleplay flavor.
They do not take any actions in combat and do not affect
the EL of the combat. If you need their statistics for some
reason, use a gnome out of the Monster Manual.
Guulvorgs: The guulvorgs spread out to avoid area
attacks and to give the rust monster space to operate,
when he arrives. As soon as the PCs see the guulvorgs,
they can roll a Spot check to see through the rust monster
disguises. It requires a DC (25+APL) Spot check to see
through the disguises (this already includes modifiers for
combat distraction and average distance). At the
beginning of each PC’s turn, give them another Spot
check with a cumulative +4/round circumstance bonus,
representing the guulvorgs not acting appropriately for
their ‘physiology’ and the disguises taking damage during
combat.
The guulvorgs take advantage of their quick tail
ability and/or clever 5-ft. steps to gain full attacks every
round while ending every other round 15 ft. away from
the enemy, if possible. This allows them to still threaten
with their tail, and forces enemies to provoke an attack of
opportunity when approaching. The guulvorgs also flank
whenever possible and, if space is an issue, use their quick
tail ability to cycle through spaces and let each guulvorg
full attack every round.
Rust Monster: The real rust monster moves into
attack position in round three; it begins attacking in
round four. The rust monster spends the first few rounds
buffing, in the following order: round 1 – blur, round 2 –
greater invisibility and move to within one movement of
attack position, round 3 – blink and move into attack
position.
Before running this combat, be sure to review the
rules for the interactions between blur, blink, greater
invisibility, see invisibility, and true seeing. Remember to
apply the miss chances against the rust monster for both
blink and either blur or greater invisibility, as appropriate,
and the miss chance for the rust monster from blink.
If the rust monster gains an attack of opportunity
from Spectral Skirmisher at APLs 12 and 14, it uses its
antenna attack against the weapon being used to attack it,
if metal, or against armor, giving the guulvorgs a better
chance of damaging the enemy; the APLs 12 and 14 rust
monster is highly intelligent. At APL 10, it uses such an
attack of opportunity to attack the largest metal object on
the provoking creature.
The APL 10 rust monster does not use amorphous
form unless there are no significant metal objects left in
the room. The APLs 12 and 14 rust monster only uses
amorphous form if it needs to gain immunity to critical
hits and flanking or if there are no significant metal
objects left in the room. The rust monster’s other spell-
like abilities should be used as appropriate, remembering
that the APL 10 rust monster has only a 3 Intelligence
and is strongly compelled to use its rust ability if it can.
Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn
more about guulvorgs, once they see through the
disguises. When a character makes a successful skill
check, the following lore is revealed, including the
information from lower DCs.
• DC 23: Guulvorgs are magical beasts that are related to
and as smart as worgs. These creatures are among the
largest wolf-like monsters in existence. Their fangs are
oversized even for their huge mouths.
• DC 28: A guulvorg’s tail ends in a huge bulb of
hardened bone, and the beast can use this tail
extremely quickly in battle.
• DC 33: Protecting it from fire and making it immune
to cold, a guulvorg’s blood runs boiling hot. If the
creature is wounded, which is hard to do without
magic weapons, its blood scalds its attacker.
Treasure: Refer to the Treasure Summary to determine
what the PCs find here.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 11
DEVELOPMENT
After defeating the rust monster and guulvorgs, the PCs
may search the room, discovering a few magic items. Of
note are body parts of various dragonspawn that have
been subjected to magical experiments. After examining
the room, the party may proceed down the stairs leading
to the magma chamber in Encounter 6.
6: LIQUID HOT MAGMA
The PCs exit a narrow passage and emerge in a large,
active magma chamber with a small path leading across it.
The path is 10 ft. wide and travels 80 ft. before leading
into another passage out of the magma chamber. The
chamber stretches 100 ft. to either side of the path, but
you should not need more than 30 ft. to either side of the
path for this encounter.
Ahead of you is a magma chamber with a narrow
path stretching from one side of the room to the
other. To either side of the 10-foot wide path is
liquid magma; frequent, slowly bursting bubbles
indicate the instability of the mountain. The heat
here, mere feet from the molten lava, surpasses the
physical limitations of mortals. Almost 100 feet
ahead of you, the path leaves the chamber to enter
another passage.
As the first PCs reach the halfway point on the path (the
square 45 ft. from the entrance), a tremor shakes the
mountain, causing large sections of the ceiling to
collapse.
As you move carefully across the magma chamber, a
tremor shakes the volcano, dislodging portions of
the ceiling. Bits of rock begin to fall around you.
Roll initiative. On the trap’s first initiative turn, the rock
fall occurs, blocking the exits, disrupting the magma, and
probably injuring the party; follow the instructions in the
Appendix and place the lava vortex tile in a random
location 10 ft. away from the path.
Large sections of the ceiling of the room rain down
upon you and your allies. Both exits of the room are
blocked by piles of large rocks, and the magma has
begun to shift in unsettling ways.
Each round after the first, magma explodes out of the lava
vortex area, covering the entire area.
One area of the magma appears to have been
disrupted more than the rest, as it violently erupts,
spraying you and your allies with molten stone and
metal.
On each character’s initiative, ask them what they want to
do. Remember that one of the challenges of an encounter
trap is for the players to think of a way out; do not tell
them how to escape or what to do. If a player wants to
make a Disable Device check, ask them what they are
trying to accomplish; encounter traps are not a measure
of bonuses or d20 rolls. The encounter trap in the
Appendices lists two ways of escaping, but other
particularly clever ideas that seem like good ideas should
be allowed.
ENVIRONMENT
Off the path, the magma is 5 or more feet deep
throughout the chamber; leaving the path results in full
submersion damage. See the ‘Heat Dangers’ section at the
beginning of this adventure for more details.
TRAPS
APL 10 (EL 12)
� Lesser Magma Explosion Trap: Appendix 1.
APL 12 (EL 14)
� Magma Explosion Trap: Appendix 1.
APL 14 (EL 17)
� Greater Magma Explosion Trap: Appendix 1.
Augmented APL 14 (EL 19)
� Greater Magma Explosion Trap (2*): Appendix
1.
* At Augmented APL 14, have two rock collapse events
on round 1, two magma disruption areas, increase the
Disable Device check at each exit by 2, and add 30 hp to
each exit.
DEVELOPMENT
Leaving the magma chamber, the PCs proceed through a
winding passage for 100 ft. before emerging in the area
described in Encounter 7.
7: GIANT METAL THING
Exiting the passage leading from the unstable
magma chamber, you stand at the end of a magma
pool that begins just ahead of you and stretches
away, farther into the mountain. The pool is roughly
20 feet wide and is flanked by paths roughly 5 feet
wide.
The pool/stream travels approximately 100 feet in a
winding pattern before opening into larger pool. Adjust
the following text to account for more than one
merchurion.
After traveling about 200 feet along the twisting
magma flow, the area opens into a larger magma
pool. A metal colossus stands amidst the magma, its
form shifting and flowing like liquid. The creature
moves with a grace that belies its powerful,
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 12
humanlike form, and you see that its metallic sheen
is no suit of armor. Where its head would be is a
crystal skull, the silver liquid flowing from the eyes,
nose, and mouth, joining the rest of the liquid form,
flowing down the creature’s arms, and taking the
shape of a vicious, over-large axe.
ENVIRONMENT
The PCs exit a narrow passage and emerge on a 5 ft. ledge
along the edge of a 20 ft. wide magma flow. They travel
along this passage for 200 ft. before encountering the
merchurion(s), 50 ft. ahead, in the middle of the magma
flow.
The crystal skull of Keraptis has been fused into the
guardian as its head, giving the odd appearance of a
silvery being with a crystal skull, with silver liquid
flowing from the eyes, nose, and mouth. If there are two
guardians at the given APL, the other merchurion is of
average appearance for its type.
Off the ledge, the magma (DMG 304) is 6 ft. deep
throughout the pool. Leaving the ledge has the following
effects:
Medium or Smaller Creatures: The magma deals
20d6 fire damage per round of exposure, plus 10d6 fire
damage each of the next 1d3 rounds after exposure
ceases. DC 10 Swim checks are required for movement.
Large or Larger creatures: The magma deals 2d6
fire damage per round of exposure, plus 1d6 fire damage
each of the next 1d3 rounds after exposure ceases. Each
square counts as difficult terrain.
APL 10 (EL 14*)
� Decayed Merchurion: hp 202; Appendix 1.
APL 12 (EL 16*)
� Decayed Merchurion (2): hp 202; Appendix 1.
APL 14 (EL 19*)
� Merchurion: hp 319; Appendix 1.
Augmented APL 14 (EL 21*)
� Merchurion (2): hp 319; Appendix 1.
* The EL of this encounter has been increased by 2 to
account for the number of sequential combats, the
possibility of losing equipment to the rust monster, and
the environment.
At APLs with one merchurion, when it reaches half
health, the skull is dislodged from the being and rests on
top of the lava in the middle of the merchurion’s current
squares. At APLs with two merchurions, the death of the
main guardian leaves a pool of liquid silver and the skull
resting on top of the lava in that merchurion’s current
squares. Neither the skull nor the liquid take damage
from the lava, but this gives the PCs a chance to alter
tactics and attempt to recover the skull without finishing
off the (other) merchurion, though they must still deal
with the (other) merchurion attempting to stop the PCs
from taking the skull. When a PC picks up the skull, even
if not touching it or if placing it in an extradimensional
space, read the following, modifying as appropriate to the
situation:
As you touch the crystal skull, you immediately hear
whispers of unspeakable acts. The skull seems to be
compelling you to do the most heinous acts
imaginable. When you do not immediately comply,
either through inability or lack of desire, you feel
yourself weaken substantially. It may be just your
imagination, but the skull seems to be laughing at
you.
Possessing the skull in any way bestows two negative
levels on any non-evil creature. This ability crosses
dimensional boundaries and cannot be overcome in any
way short of giving away, discarding, or destroying the
skull.
Tactics: The merchurion remains 15 ft into the lava,
forcing anyone with less than 15 ft. reach to enter the lava
to attack him. If the PCs find a way to avoid his reach at
that distance or are using Spring Attack, Dervish Dance,
or a similar ability, he begins using Spring Attack and/or
Power Attack for 3 points, making his longaxe function as
a reach weapon (Appendix 2).
If the merchurion’s attacks are not having significant
effects, or if he feels that he is substantially losing a battle
of attrition, he either disarm attackers (which could be
disastrous for the PCs’ weapons if above lava) or attempts
to grapple PCs and submerge them in the lava, inflicting
both lava damage and causing risk of drowning. If
attempting to grapple, he shifts his weapon to a size Large
(size Medium if grappling Small creatures, imposing an
additional -2 penalty to the attack roll) mancatcher (see
Appendix 2) and use its abilities to grapple the enemy and
move them where desired. The merchurion has 15 ft.
reach and a +5 bonus when grappling with the
mancatcher, due to enhancement bonus, Weapon Focus,
and Greater Weapon Focus.
Remember that the absorption of enchantments is
automatic until the merchurion absorbs +5 worth of
enchantments. The merchurion, of course, chooses to use
his immediate action to give up enchantments that do
little or no damage, such as flaming, and wants to absorb
any sonic enchantments above others. If one PC is doing
more weapon damage than others, the merchurion
attempts to absorb their enchantments above others. This
ability applies to both melee and ranged weapons.
However, to apply the enchantment to its own attacks,
the enchantment must be valid on the melee weapon he
is currently manifesting. The merchurion(s) neither ask
for nor grant quarter, but will not pursue fleeing enemies.
Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (arcana) can learn
more about merchurions. When a character makes a
successful skill check, the following lore is revealed,
including the information from lower DCs.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 13
• DC 27: This rare and reclusive creature is no giant, but
a merchurion—a powerful hulking menace of living
metal. This result reveals all living construct traits.
• DC 32: Merchurions have the ability to shape magic
weapons from their own bodies, but foes who engage
these creatures in melee do so at their peril. Magic
weapons that strike a merchurion have their properties
absorbed and utilized in the creature’s own attacks.
• DC 37: A slain merchurion immediately collapses to a
pool of silvery liquid that retains some of the creature’s
magical essence. Weapons dipped in this liquid
become silvered and strike as magic weapons against
the toughest creatures.
DEVELOPMENT
After defeating the merchurion guardian, the PCs may
recover the crystal skull of Keraptis and the other remains of
the merchurion; do not hesitate to hint to the players that
the pool of liquid silver is odd and may be of some value.
The PCs must now decide what to do with the skull.
If the PCs decide to return the skull to Gildor, use
Conclusion A. If the PCs decide that one of the PCs
should keep the skull, proceed to Conclusion B. If the
PCs did not recover the skull, proceed to Conclusion C.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION A
Gildor is ecstatic and profusely grateful that you
have succeeded in your mission and returned the
artifact to him. “Hopefully,” he says, “studying this
object will allow us to uncover exactly what
Dragotha is hoping to accomplish and get one step
ahead of him, rather than always being one step
behind, as we have been. I must thank you once
again for your outstanding service, and I hope we are
able to work together in the future.”
CONCLUSION B
Every 24 hours in possession of the skull bestows an
additional negative level, bestowing three negative levels
on the second day, four negative levels on the third day,
and so on.
The skull continually attempts to corrupt the
possessor; after every 24 hours in possession of the skull,
the PC must make a DC 34 Will save or become evil. A
PC that becomes evil immediately and permanently
becomes an NPC.
As these effects originate from an artifact, mortal
magic, non-Epic class abilities, Use Magic Device, and
similar abilities or effects are of no use. All effects of the
skull cross any distance and planar boundaries; the PC
must truly intend to discard or give away the item to rid
himself of the effects.
The effects continue until the skull is given away,
discarded, destroyed, or the character possessing the skull
becomes evil or dies. The PCs do not have the means or
knowledge to destroy the skull. If a character rids himself
of the skull, then regains the skull later, the negative
levels continue from where they left off. For example, if a
good character kept the skull for five days, gave the skull
away, then regained possession of the skull, he would
immediately suffer six negative levels. Read the following
after the first 24 hours in possession of the skull:
For the past day, the skull’s whispers have grown
louder and more forceful. Nothing you have done
has stopped or even mitigated the sounds. You have
also felt yourself weaken further. You are quite sure
now that the laughing is not imagined.
If the PC continues to keep the skull, embellish the
effects each day, require another Will save to avoid
becoming evil, and increment the negative level by one.
Continue this process until the PC dies from negative
levels, becomes evil, or rids himself of the skull.
If the PC dies from negative levels, he immediately
rises as a skull lord (MM V 154) with the crystal skull of
Keraptis as the central skull. The Skull Lord attempts to
flee any immediate combat, desiring to fulfill its mission
of returning Keraptis to the Prime Material Plane.
CONCLUSION C
Gildor is disappointed that you were unable to
recover the crystal skull of Keraptis, but appreciates
your efforts. “I hope that Dragotha’s minions will
have no more luck than you did. We can only pray
that the artifact remains hidden within White
Plume Mountain for many more years. Thank you
once again for your efforts, fruitless though they
were.”
The End.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 14
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
roleplaying) to each character.
2: Why Won’t You Die?!
Defeat the NPCs.
APL 10
390 XP
APL 12
450 XP
APL 14
540 XP
Story: Rescue Captives (per captive rescued)
APL 10
90 XP
APL 12
105 XP
APL 14
120 XP
3: Please Hold
Encounter the transfix trap.
All APLs
330 XP
Story: Knowingly avoid triggering the trap.
APL 10
90 XP
APL 12
105 XP
APL 14
120 XP
4: My Good Buddy, Imix
Defeat Xonxin and the Ember Guard(s)
APL 10
390 XP
APL 12
450 XP
APL 14
540 XP
5: That’s No Rust Monster
Defeat the “rust monster(s)” and the rust monster.
APL 10
390 XP
APL 12
450 XP
APL 14
540 XP
6: Liquid Hot Magma
Encounter the magma explosion.
APL 10
360 XP
APL 12
420 XP
APL 14
510 XP
Story: Using either cold damage or Disable Device to
bypass the trap (as listed in the Appendix) or a different,
particularly clever way of escaping or bypassing the trap.
APL 10
90 XP
APL 12
105 XP
APL 14
120 XP
7: Giant Metal Thing
Defeat the Merchurion(s)
APL 10
420 XP
APL 12
480 XP
APL 14
570 XP
Story: Recover the crystal skull of Keraptis
APL 10
180 XP
APL 12
210 XP
APL 14
240 XP
Discretionary Roleplaying Award
APL 10
90 XP
APL 12
105 XP
APL 14
120 XP
Total Possible Experience
APL 10
2,700 XP
APL 12
3,150 XP
APL 14
3,600 XP
TREASURE SUMMARY
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their
earthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10
minutes per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot
take the time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this
gold. If you feel it is reasonable that characters can go
back to loot the bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e.,
not carted off by dungeon scavengers, removed from the
scene by the local watch, and so on), characters may
return to retrieve loot. If the characters do not loot the
body, the gold piece value for the loot is subtracted from
the encounter totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a
round or so. If for some reason, they pass up this treasure,
the coin total is subtracted from the encounter totals
given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure
is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because characters may want to use them during the
adventure. Many times characters must cast identify,
analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine what the
item does and how to activate it. Other times they may
attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic item is
consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the
item is used before the end of the adventure, its total is
subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in
the GP Gained field of the adventure certificate.
Loot = Looted gear from enemy; Coin = Coin, Gems,
Jewelry, and other valuables; Magic = Magic Items.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 15
2: Why Won’t You Die?!
APL 10: Loot 5 gp; Coin 0 gp; Magic 5097 gp – Badge of
valor (116 gp), cloak of charisma +2 (167 gp), +1 blueshine
commander starmetal chain shirt (800 gp), +1 heavy mithral
shield (168 gp), +1 rapier (3 @ 194 gp), +1 chain shirt (2 @
104 gp), cloak of resistance +1 (2 @ 83 gp), belt of battle (1000
gp), third eye clarity (250 gp), +1 keen everbright sizing dire
pick (1278 gp), +2 breastplate (362 gp); Total 5102 gp.
APL 12: Loot 5 gp; Coin 0 gp; Magic 7910 gp – Badge
of valor (116 gp), cloak of charisma +4 (1333 gp), +1 blueshine
commander starmetal chain shirt (800 gp), +1 heavy mithral
shield (168 gp), +1 rapier (3 @ 194 gp), 1 chain shirt (2 @ 104
gp), cloak of resistance +1 (2 @ 83 gp), belt of battle (1000 gp),
potion of cure serious wounds (63 gp), third eye clarity (250 gp),
+1 keen everbright sizing dire pick (1278 gp), +3 breastplate
(779 gp), cloak of resistance +2 (334 gp), greater augment
crystal of mind cloaking (833 gp); Total 7915 gp.
APL 14: Loot 5 gp; Coin 0 gp; Magic 15362 gp –
Badge of valor (116 gp), cloak of charisma +6 (3000 gp), +1
blueshine commander starmetal chain shirt (800 gp), +1 heavy
mithral shield (168 gp), +1 rapier (194 gp), runestaff of forced
happiness (1500 gp), helm of tactics (167 gp), horn of resilience
(416 gp), +2 mithral shirt (2 @ 425 gp), +2 impaling rapier (2
@ 1527 gp), cloak of charisma +2 (2 @ 167 gp), potion of haste
(2 @ 63 gp), potion of cure moderate wounds (2 @ 25 gp),
potion of shield of faith (+3) (2 @ 25 gp), belt of battle (1000
gp), potion of cure serious wounds (63 gp), third eye clarity
(250 gp), +1 keen everbright sizing dire pick (1278 gp), +3
breastplate (779 gp), cloak of resistance +2 (334 gp), greater
augment crystal of mind cloaking (833 gp); Total 15367 gp.
4: My Good Buddy, Imix
All APLs: Loot 0 gp; Coin 0 gp; Magic 833 gp – third eye
aware (833 gp); Total 833 gp.
5: That’s No Rust Monster
APL 10: Loot 0 gp; Coin 0 gp; Magic 2408 gp – fireflower
pendant (1083 gp), lore gem (625 gp), runestaff of fire (700
gp); Total 2408 gp.
APLs 12 & 14: Loot 0 gp; Coin 0 gp; Magic 3241 gp –
crystal mask of discernment (833 gp), fireflower pendant (1083
gp), lore gem (625 gp), runestaff of fire (700 gp); Total 3421
gp.
Total Possible Treasure
APL 10:
4,600 gp
APL 12:
6,600 gp
APL 14:
13,600 gp
ADVENTURE RECORD
If the PCs rescued Mithraldo Deepunder from the
Indoctrination Centre (Encounter 2), they gain “Forges of
Morakduum”.
If
they
rescued
Yalla
Thergan
from
the
Indoctrination Centre (Encounter 2), any PC that treated
her well gains “I Still Don’t Trust You”.
If the PCs recovered the starmetal chain shirt and/or
the crystal skull of Ceraptis from Ceraptis, they gain
“Salvaged Starmetal” and “Crystal Skull of Ceraptis”.
If the PCs defeated the merchurion guardian, they
gain “Quicksilver Remains” and “Quicksilver Weapon”.
If the PCs both rescued Mithraldo Deepunder and
defeated the merchurion guardian, they gain “Quicksilver
Repairs” and “Reforged of Quicksilver”.
If the PCs did not recover the crystal skull of Keraptis,
but did attempt the mission, they gain “(Lesser) Gratitude
of Gildor”.
If the PCs recovered the crystal skull of Keraptis, they
may either return it to Gilder, choose one PC at the table
to keep it, or do something else with it. If they return it to
Gildor, they gain “Lesser Gratitude of Gildor” and
“Greater Gratitude of Gildor”.
If they choose one PC to keep it, that PC gains
“Crystal Skull of Keraptis” and all PCs gain “Enmity of
Gildor”. (Only one PC at each table may keep the skull.) No
PCs receive “Lesser Gratitude of Gildor” or “Greater
Gratitude of Gildor”.
If they do anything else with the skull, they receive
none of the Gildor-related entries.
Attempts to fool Gildor do not work in the long run,
as repeated divinations and mundane gathering of
information will eventually reveal the true location of the
skull.
� I Still Don’t Trust You: Your friendly treatment of
Yalla has earned you her respect, if not her trust. You may
take Yalla Thergan, a female whisper gnome (Races of
Stone 94), as a cohort. Yalla is extremely suspicious, a bit
lacking in sanity, and will not voluntarily have an
alignment other than neutral good. Create Yalla using the
cohort rules found in the Living Greyhawk Sourcebook.
� Forges of Morakduum: As thanks for rescuing
Mithraldo
Deepunder,
the
nearby
dwarves
of
Morakduum offer to reforge any damaged metal items at
a cost of 10% of the item’s market value. This use of the
favor may also be used after future events by spending 4
TUs.
� Salvaged Starmetal: If you purchase and destroy the
starmetal chain shirt, you may salvage 12 lbs. of starmetal
for greenstar adept use or to forge into a new weapon or
suit of armor to which you have Open access, paying only
the cost for a steel version; the new item must weigh 12
or fewer lbs.
� (Lesser) or [Greater] Gratitude of Gildor: Choose
(1) or [2] Items Found to change to Core access. You may
join the Oathsworn Slayers from outside the IUZ
metaregion and gain (5) or [10] Affiliation Points with
them.
� Crystal Skull of Ceraptis: Recovered from the mad
whisper gnome, Ceraptis, this clear crystal, shaped like a
Small-sized skull, functions as a glowing orb, per the spell
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 16
(SpC p106). The eerie, turquoise light emanates from the
eye sockets. The skull has 8 hardness and 30 hit points.
� Enmity of Gildor: You lose all benefits of favors from
good-aligned dragons and do not gain future benefits of
favors from good-aligned dragons. You may not join the
Oathsworn Slayers and, if already a member, are banned
from the organization. Good-aligned dragons’ attitudes
towards you worsen by one category, while evil-aligned
dragons’ attitudes improve by one category (PH p72).
� Crystal Skull of Keraptis: Your prolonged contact
with the crystal skull of Keraptis has granted you a +4
Profane bonus to saving throws against necromancy and
death effects. If you are g00d-aligned, you must make a
DC 34 Will save at the beginning of each adventure;
failure means that your alignment shifts to neutral and
cannot voluntarily be changed for the duration of that
adventure. Both effects expire one year from the date on
this AR.
SPECIAL AR
� Quicksilver Remains: You have recovered the
quicksilver remains of the merchurion guardian. The
remains evaporate after 24 hours; all related entries or
uses expire after this AR.
� Quicksilver Weapon: Any weapon dipped in the
remains of a merchurion instantly and permanently
transforms. It looks to be made of liquid, flowing silver,
becomes silvered, and strikes as a magical weapon for the
purposes of overcoming DR. This works on all weapons,
standard or non-standard, no matter their base material
composition, but replaces that material as the base
composition. A cold iron weapon would forever count as
silver and magic, suffer a -1 penalty to damage rolls, and
would no longer count as cold iron. Note dipped weapons
in the Play Notes section of this AR.
� Quicksilver Repairs: Using the quicksilver liquid,
the dwarves of Morakduum are able to repair your items
more easily. All repairs made on this AR with the use of
the ‘Forges of Morakduum’ favor are free, but the items
have a permanent, silvery appearance.
�
Reforged
of
Quicksilver:
The
dwarves
of
Morakduum can infuse your metal items with the
recovered quicksilver, making the item appear to be made
of liquid, flowing silver and allowing these enchantments
from Magic Item Compendium to be purchased: blueshine,
commander,
mobility,
nimbleness,
quickness,
variable,
changeling, everbright, hideaway, morphing, and sizing. All
enchantments must be purchased on this AR.
ITEMS FOUND
APL 10:
• +1 blueshine commander starmetal chain shirt (Adventure;
MIC; 9,600 gp)
• +1 keen everbright sizing dire pick (Adventure; MIC/CW;
15,330 gp)
• +1 heavy mithral shield (Adventure; DMG; 2020 gp)
• Badge of valor (Adventure; MIC)
• Belt of battle (Adventure; MIC)
• Crystal skull of Ceraptis (Adventure; see above; 250 gp)
• Fireflower pendant (Adventure; MIC)
• Lore gem (empty) (Adventure; MIC)
• Runestaff of fire (Adventure; MIC)
• Third eye clarity (Adventure; MIC)
APL 12 (all of APL 10 plus the following):
• Crystal mask of discernment (Adventure; MIC)
• Greater augment crystal of mind cloaking (Adventure;
MIC)
• Third eye aware (Adventure; MIC)
APL 14 (all of APLs 10-12 plus the following):
• +2 impaling rapier (Adventure; MIC, 18,320 gp)
• +2 mithral chain shirt (Adventure; DMG, 5,100 gp)
• Horn of resilience (Adventure; MIC)
• Runestaff of forced happiness (Adventure; MIC)
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 17
APPENDIX 1: ALL APLS
2: WHY WON’T YOU DIE?!
Revenance Trap: CR 6; Diminutive magic device;
visual trigger (true seeing); automatic reset; Atk +5
ranged touch; spell effect (Reach revenance; 7th-
level cleric ); Search DC 29; Disable Device DC 29;
AC 7; hardness 8; hp 200.
The revenance trap begins in a deactivated state,
requiring a Search check to locate. It is located on
the ceiling in the middle of the room, mounted on
stone blocks.
As soon as the trap detects a dead creature of size
Small or larger within the room, it activates firing a
Reach revenance at the target.
3: PLEASE HOLD
Heightened Transfix Trap: CR 10; magic device;
proximity trigger (alarm); automatic reset (1 day);
spell effect (transfix, subjects are paralyzed until
the phrase ‘Praise to Keraptis!’ is uttered within 60
ft. of the trigger point, DC 25 Will save negates);
Search DC 34; Disable Device DC 34.
Note: Nystul’s magic aura has been used in this
trap’s construction, preventing detect magic and
similar spells from noticing the trap’s location.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 18
APPENDIX 1: APL 10
2: WHY WON’T YOU DIE?!
CERAPTIS
CR 9
Male half-vampire* whisper gnome** bard 8
*Libris Mortis 106
** Races of Stone 94
CE Small humanoid (gnome)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; low-light vision; Listen
+10, Spot +4
Languages Common, Gnome, Ignan, Terran, Gnoll,
Orc
AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed 21; +4 Dodge against giants
(+1 size, +4 Dex, +5 armor, +3 shield, +2 natural)
hp 44 (8 HD); fast healing 5*; DR 5/silver or magic; 1/-
Resist cold 5, electricity 5
Fort +4, Ref +10, Will +5
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee rapier +7 (1d4+1 piercing) and
slam +1 (1d4 bludgeoning)
Base Atk +6; Grp +2
Atk Options +1 on attacks against goblins and kobolds
Special Actions Lyric Spell, bardic music 8/day
(countersong, fascinate, inspire courage +2, inspire
competence), charm gaze
Combat Gear badge of valor
Bard Spells Known (CL 8):
3rd (2/day)—love’s lament (DC 18), ray of dizziness,
see invisibility
2nd (4/day)—curse of impending blades, entice gift
(DC 17), glitterdust (DC 16), wave of grief (DC 17)
1st (5/day)—inspirational boost, ironthunder horn (DC
15), joyful noise, phantom threat (DC 15)
0 (3/day)—detect magic, mending, open/close,
prestidigitation, read magic, summon instrument
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8):
1/day—ghost sound (DC 14), mage hand, message,
silence (centered on self only)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 19
SQ barding knowledge +9
Feats Improved Initiative B, Lyric Spell, Melodic Casting,
Spell Focus (enchantment)
Skills Bluff +17, Disguise +15, Diplomacy +19, Hide
+11, Intimidate +17, Knowledge (arcana) +6, Listen
+10, Move Silently +10, Perform +15, Speak
Language 3, Spellcraft +7, Spot +4
Possessions combat gear plus cloak of charisma +2,
+1 blueshine commander starmetal chain shirt, +1
heavy mithral shield, +1 rapier, 2 spell component
pouches
Charm Gaze (Su) Ceraptis can charm humanoid or
monstrous humanoid opponents just by looking into
their eyes. This is similar to a gaze attack, except that
he must use a standard action, and those merely
looking at him are not affected. Anyone he targets
must make a successful Will save (DC 18) or fall
under his influence as though affected by a charm
monster spell (CL 8). Any creature that successfully
saves against his charm gaze cannot be affected by
it for 24 hours. The ability has a range of 30 feet.
Fast Healing (Ex): Ceraptis heals 1 point of damage
each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point but
less than half its full normal hit points. As long as he
has more than half its full normal hit points, its fast
healing does not function (but other forms of healing
function normally).
BOLO AND LOBO
CR 6
Male whisper gnome* rogue 6
*Races of Stone 94
CE Small humanoid (gnome)
Init +4; Senses Listen +10, Spot +10; darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision
Languages Common, Gnome
AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15; +2 against traps,
uncanny dodge
(+1 size, +4 Dex, +4 armor)
hp 33 (6 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +5, Ref +10 (+12 against traps), Will +2
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee +1 rapier +11 (1d4+2/18-20)
Ranged light crossbow +9 (1d6)
Base Atk +4; Grp +1
Atk Options sneak attack +3d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st):
1/day— silence (must be centered on gnome)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 8
SQ trapfinding
Feats Combat Expertise, Weapon Finesse, Weapon
Focus (rapier)
Skills Bluff+8, Disable Device +6,Escape Artist +9,Hide
+20, Jump +7, Listen +10, Move Silently +16, Search
+6, Sense Motive +0, Sleight of Hand +10, Spot +10,
Tumble +14,
Possessions +1 chain shirt, +1 rapier, cloak of
resistance +1, light crossbow with 20 bolts
BANAAR (ENLARGED AND RAGING)
CR 11
Half-red dragon spriggan* barbarian 4/war hulk** 2
*Fiend Folio 182
**Miniature’s Handbook 23
CE Large dragon (augmented fey)
Init +8; Senses Listen +0, Spot +0; darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision
Languages Common, Gnome
AC 20, touch 9, flat-footed 18; +1 against traps,
uncanny dodge
(-1 size, +2 Dex, -2 class, +7 armor, +4 natural)
hp 160 (11 HD)
Immune fire, paralysis, sleep
Fort +17, Ref +7 (+8 against traps), Will +9
Speed 30 ft. in breastplate (6 squares), base sped 40 ft.
Melee +1 keen dire pick +23/+18 (2d6+23/19-20/x4) or
Melee 2 claws +22 (1d6+15) and
bite +17 (1d8+7)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 19
Base Atk +8; Grp +27
Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack; breath weapon
1/day (6d8 fire, DC 21 half, 30 ft. cone), great swing,
rage 2/day (12 rounds)
Combat Gear belt of battle, third eye clarity
Abilities Str 40, Dex 14, Con 28, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 14
SQ ability boost, no time to think
Feats Cleave, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Power
Attack
Skills Climb +25, Disable Device +5, Hide +3, Intimidate
+16, Jump +21, Move Silently +11, Open Lock +14,
Sleight of Hand +11
Possessions combat gear plus +1 keen everbright
sizing dire pick, +2 breastplate
Ability Boost (Ex) Banaar gains a bonus to his
Strength from the war hulk prestige class.
Great Swing (Ex) As a full-round action, Banaar can
make a single melee attack roll against three squares
adjacent to one another that he threatens and apply
that roll as an attack against each defender in those
squares. If he uses a special attack (such as trip,
disarm, or sunder), this special attack affects only the
first target; the other creatures are attacked normally.
Walls and similar obstacles can block a great swing.
Starting with one square, each successive square
chosen must be adjacent to the previous square and
have line of effect from that square. Banaar may skip
creatures, attacking only those he wants to. If he
drops a foe with a great swing, he may cleave
normally. However, he may do so only once for every
time he swings, even if he drops more than one foe.
No Time to Think (Ex) A war hulk is considered to have
0 ranks in all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-
based skills (Whether or not they bought ranks in
them previously). The only exception is the Intimidate
skill, which works normally.
Size Change (Su) At will, Banaar can change his size in
a fashion similar to the enlarge person spell. The size
change from Small to Large gains +8 Strength, -4
Dexterity, +6 Constitution, and -2 to attack bonus and
Armor class. An enlarged spriggan is unable to make
a sneak attack or use its spell-like abilities.
Note While in his non-enlarged form, Banaar loses the
benefit of the class features of the war hulk class as
he does not meet the prerequisites (Large size). He
retains Hit Dice, saving throws, and base attack
bonuses gained from the class.
Physical Description Long, wild braids of flame red
hair tumble from the skull of a monstrous gnome.
Standing over a dozen feet tall, the creature tightens
its grip on a wicked looking pick with its grotesquely
proportioned arms, its veins bulging against scale-
flecked skin.
Should Banaar be forced to his natural size (Small), he
gains -12 Strength, +4 Dexterity, -6 Constitution, +2
to attack bonus and Armor Class, and the following:
Atk Options breath weapon (DC 18), sneak attack
+3d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th):
At Will— produce flame, scare (DC 14), shatter (DC
14)
Skills Disable Device +13, Listen +10
4: MY GOOD BUDDY, IMIX
EMBER GUARD*
CR 13
*Monster Manual V 52
LE Huge outsider (evil, extraplanar, fire, lawful)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +20, Spot +20
(+10 for one ember guard)
Aura fire (30 ft.); see text
Languages Infernal, Ignan
AC 33, touch 10, flat-footed 31
(–2 size, +2 Dex, +23 natural)
hp 162 (13 HD); fast healing 5; DR 15/good; death
throes
Immune fire, poison
Resist acid 10, cold 10 critical hit or sneak attack 25%;
SR 23
Weakness vulnerability to cold
Fort +18, Ref +12, Will +12
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee 2 slams each +22 (1d8+10 plus 1d6 fire)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Base Atk +13; Grp +31
Atk Options aligned strike (evil, lawful)
Special Actions death throes, fire breath
Abilities Str 30, Dex 15, Con 26, Int 3, Wis 18, Cha 9
SA aligned strike, death throes, fire aura, fire breath
Feats Ability Focus (fire breath), Great Fortitude,
Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Weapon
Focus (slam)
Skills Balance +18, Climb +26, Listen +20, Spot +20
Possessions third eye aware (1 ember guard)
Fire Aura (Su) If an ember guard is reduced to half of
its full normal hit points or fewer, it emits a fire aura
as flames start leaking from its body. Creatures take
1d6 points of fire damage at the end of each of the
ember guard’s turns if they are within 30 feet of it.
Creatures within range can attempt DC 24 Fortitude
saves for half damage. The save DC is Constitution-
based.
Fortification (Ex) 25% chance to ignore the extra
damage dealt by a critical hit or sneak attack.
Death Throes (Su) When killed, an ember guard
explodes in a 60-foot-radius burst that deals 3d6
points of bludgeoning damage and 3d6 points of fire
damage to everything in the area (Reflex DC 24 half).
The save DC is Constitution-based.
Fire Breath (Su) 30-foot cone, once every 4 rounds,
damage 6d6 fire plus slow, as the spell, for 4 rounds,
Reflex DC 26 half damage and negates slow. The
save DC is Constitution-based.
Physical Description A hulking mass of stone and
brass surges forward, puffs of acrid smoke leaking
from its maw. Intense heat radiates from its surface,
and smoke rises where it treads.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 20
5: THAT’S NO RUST MONSTER
IMMATURE GUULVORG* CR 8
*Monster Manual V 76
CE Large magical beast
Init +4; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision,
scent; Listen +10, Spot +9
Languages Gnome, Worg
AC 24, touch 13, flat-footed 20
(–2 size, +3 Dex, +10 natural)
Immune cold
Resist fire 15
hp 126 (12 HD); boiling blood; DR 10/magic
Fort +12, Ref +12, Will +9
Speed 60 ft. (12 squares)
Melee bite +16 (1d8+6/19-20 x4 plus trip) and
tail +14 (2d10+9)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15 ft. with tail)
Base Atk +12; Grp +22
Atk Options magic strike, quick tail, trip
Abilities Str 22, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 6, Wis 16, Cha 12
Feats Alertness, Iron Will, Multiattack, Track
Skills Jump +19, Listen +10, Spot +109, Survival +9
Boiling Blood (Ex) A guulvorg’s blood runs steaming
hot. If an opponent adjacent to a guulvorg damages
the creature with a melee weapon that deals piercing
or slashing damage, that foe takes 1d10 points of fire
damage (Reflex DC 10 half) from a spray of hot
blood. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Quick Tail (Ex) A guulvorg needs only a standard
action to make a bite attack and a tail attack. The tail
deals the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times the
guulvorg’s Strength bonus despite it being a
secondary attack.
Trip (Ex) A guulvorg that hits with a bite can attempt to
trip the opponent (+10 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking
attacks of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the
opponent cannot react to trip the guulvorg.
Physical Description The mouth of this gigantic black
wolf can’t contain the scythe-like fangs that emerge
from the top and bottom. Bony protrusions jut from its
spine, skull, and ribs, running down its serpentine tail,
which ends in a bulb of bone. The creature’s eyes
burn with a malevolent red glow.
HALF-FARSPAWN RUST MONSTERCR 12
Advanced half-farspawn* rust monster
*Lords of Madness 151
CE Large outsider (native, augmented aberration)
Init +5; Senses Listen +11, Spot +11; blindsight 60 ft.,
darkvision, scent
AC 24, touch 14, flat-footed 19
(-1 size, +5 Dex, +10 natural)
hp 188 (15 HD); DR 10/magic
Immune poison
Resist acid 10, electricity 10, fire 10; SR 25
Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +13
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee 2 tentacles +16 (1d6+6) and
antenna +14 touch (rust) and
bite +14 (1d3+3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft., 15 ft. tentacles
Base Atk +11; Grp +21
Atk Options Combat Reflexes, Spectral Skirmisher,
true strike 1/day
Special Actions change shape
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15)
1/day – greater invisibility, scintillating pattern (DC 19),
stinking cloud (DC 14), telekinesis, touch of idiocy
(DC 13)
3/day – blink, blur, ethereal jaunt
Abilities Str 22, Dex 21, Con 26, Int 3, Wis 18, Cha 11
Feats Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Extended Reach,
Multiattack, Spectral Skirmisher, Track
Skills Hide +10, Listen +24, Move Silently +14, Spot
+24
Possessions fireflower pendant
Rust (Ex) A rust monster that makes a successful touch
attack with its antenna causes the target metal to
corrode, falling to pieces and becoming useless
immediately. The touch can destroy up to a 10-foot
cube of metal instantly. Magic armor and weapons,
and other magic items made of metal, must succeed
on a DC 29 Reflex save or be dissolved. The save
DC is Constitution-based and includes a +4 racial
bonus.
A metal weapon that deals damage to a rust monster
corrodes immediately. Wooden, stone, and other
nonmetallic weapons are unaffected.
Change Shape (Su) As a standard action, a half-
farspawn can take the form of a grotesque, tentacled
mass. The rust monster retains all of its attributes
and abilities except as noted below.
Amorphous Form
Melee 4 tentacles +16 (1d6+6)
SQ Amorphous (not subject to critical hits, cannot be
flanked), creatures from the Material Plane take a -1
penalty on attack rolls against the farspawn in
amorphous form
Note While in amorphous form, the rust monster loses
its rust ability.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 21
6: LIQUID HOT MAGMA
LESSER MAGMA EXPLOSION TRAP CR 12
Description As the PCs cross the magma chamber, the
persistent rumbling causes some of the ceiling to
collapse, blocking the exit on either end of the path
and possibly damaging the PCs. The cave-in also
causes the magma to become unstable, spewing
forth magma eruptions every round. To bypass the
trap, the PCs may destroy the rocks blocking either
exit, allowing escape, or deal enough cold damage to
the magma disruption area to solidify it. Disable
Device checks may be made to cause the rocks
blocking an exit to collapse further, allowing passage.
Search DC N/A; Type Mechanical
Trigger Location; Init +6
Effect Round 1: falling rocks (10d6 bludgeoning
damage, Reflex DC 20 half); targets who fail their
save are also knocked prone by the rocks. Each
round after the first: magma eruption (10d6 fire
damage plus 5d6 fire damage each of the next two
rounds, Reflex DC 20 half).
Duration 15 rounds
Destruction hp 180, hardness 8 (acid and sonic
damage ignore hardness and deal 1-1/2 x damage)
(each blocked exit)
Destruction AC 28; hp 54 (only cold or water damage
applies; fire damage ‘heals’ the disruption) (magma
disruption)
Disarm Disable Device DC 27 (each exit or ceiling area
above disruption)
7: GIANT METAL THING
DECAYED MERCHURION*
CR 12
*Monster Manual V 102
CE Huge construct (living construct)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen
+10,Spot +10
Languages Common, Giant, Terran
AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed 18; Dodge, Mobility
(–2 size, +7 Dex, +10 natural)
hp 202 (15 HD); DR 5/magic and silver
Immune fire, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, disease,
nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, energy drain
Weakness vulnerability to sonic
Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +7
Speed 60 ft. (12 squares); Spring Attack
Melee +3 silvered longaxe +24/+19/+14 (4d6+14/x3) or
Melee +3 silvered mancatcher +22/+17/+12 (1d6+14
nonlethal plus grapple)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft., 30 ft. with reach weapon
Base Atk +11; Grp +27
Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack (longaxe), absorb
properties, magic strike
Special Actions generate weapon
Abilities Str 27, Dex 25, Con 27, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 17
SQ living construct traits
Feats
Cleave,
Dodge,
Greater
Weapon
Focus
(generated weapon)B, Iron Will, Mobility, Power
Attack, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus (generated
weapon)B
Skills Climb +12, Intimidate +10, Jump +24, Listen +10,
Spot +10, Survival +9
Absorb Properties (Ex) If a merchurion is successfully
struck by a magic weapon, all that weapon’s
properties are absorbed by the merchurion for 1 hour.
The weapon loses its properties during that time (or
until the merchurion is slain). A merchurion can
manifest any of these absorbed properties in its
generated weapon.
A merchurion can absorb and manifest weapon
properties totaling a +5 enhancement bonus (DMG
223) or a market value of up to 50,000 gp. Properties
beyond these limits are not absorbed. If a weapon
has properties in excess of these limits, the weakest
properties are absorbed first.
As an immediate action, a merchurion can choose
to give up absorbed properties to absorb new
properties. If it does so, the properties the merchurion
gives up are restored to the weapon they were
absorbed from.
Manifested weapon properties must be suitable for
the type of weapon a merchurion generates.
Unsuitable properties can be absorbed and count
toward the total limit of properties even if they cannot
be manifested. For example, a merchurion could
absorb the disruption property from a mace of
disruption, but could not manifest that property in a
battleaxe.
A merchurion does not absorb the enhancement
bonus from a weapon whose properties it absorbs.
So, weapons that lose properties continue to function
with their magical enhancement bonus as normal.
Generate
Weapon
(Su)
A
merchurion
can
spontaneously create a single weapon from its
flowing metal form. Such weapons have a +3
enhancement bonus and are treated as silvered
weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage
reduction. If a generated weapon ever leaves the
merchurion’s hand, that weapon immediately melts
into a pool of harmless silver liquid.
A merchurion is proficient with any weapon it
generates using this ability, even an exotic one.
Physical Description A metal colossus stands amidst
the magma, its form shifting and flowing like liquid.
The creature moves with a grace that belies its
powerful, humanlike form, and you see that its
metallic sheen is no suit of armor. Its eyes bear the
same gleam as the rivers of silver running down its
arms, which flow together to take the shape of a
vicious, over-large axe.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 22
APPENDIX 1: APL 12
2: WHY WON’T YOU DIE?!
CERAPTIS
CR 11
Male half-vampire* whisper gnome** bard 8/lyric
thaumaturge*** 2
*Libris Mortis 106
**Races of Stone 94
***Complete Mage 67
CE Small humanoid (gnome)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; low-light vision; Listen
+11, Spot +4
Languages Common, Gnome, Ignan, Terran, Gnoll,
Orc
AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed 21; +4 Dodge vs. Giants
(+1 size, +4 Dex, +5 armor, +3 shield, +2 natural)
hp 55 (10 HD); fast healing 5*; DR 5/silver or magic; 1/-
Resist cold 5, electricity 5
Fort +4, Ref +13, Will +8
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee rapier +8 (1d4+1 piercing) and
slam +2 (1d4 bludgeoning)
Base Atk +7; Grp +3
Atk Options +1 on attacks against goblins and kobolds
Special Actions Captivating Melody, Lyric Spell, bardic
music
10/day
(countersong,
fascinate,
inspire
courage +2, inspire competence), charm gaze
Combat Gear badge of valor
Bard Spells Known (CL 10):
4th (1/day)—spell theft, suggestion (DC 20)
3rd (3/day)—dirge of discord (DC 19), love’s lament
(DC 19), ray of dizziness, see invisibility
2nd (5/day)—curse of impending blades, entice gift
(DC 18), glitterdust (DC 17), wave of grief (DC 18)
1st (6/day)—inspirational boost, ironthunder horn (DC
16), joyful noise, phantom threat (DC 16)
0 (3/day)—detect magic, mending, open/close,
prestidigitation, read magic, summon instrument
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10):
1/day—ghost sound (DC 15), mage hand, message,
silence (centered on self only)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 21
SA barding knowledge +9,
Feats
Improved
InitiativeB,
Captivating
MelodyB,
Lingering Song, Lyric Spell, Melodic Casting, Spell
Focus (enchantment)
Skills Bluff +20, Disguise +18, Diplomacy +22, Hide
+11, Intimidate +20, Knowledge (arcana) +7, Listen
+11, Move Silently +10, Perform +18, Speak
Language 3, Spellcraft +7, Spot +4
Possessions combat gear plus cloak of charisma +4,
+1 blueshine commander starmetal chain shirt, +1
heavy mithral shield, +1 rapier, 2 spell component
pouches
Charm Gaze (Su) Ceraptis can charm humanoid or
monstrous humanoid opponents just by looking into
their eyes. This is similar to a gaze attack, except that
he must use a standard action, and those merely
looking at him are not affected. Anyone he targets
must make a successful Will save (DC 20) or fall
under his influence as though affected by a charm
monster spell (CL 10). Any creature that successfully
saves against his charm gaze cannot be affected by
it for 24 hours. The ability has a range of 30 feet.
Fast Healing (Ex) Ceraptis heals 1 point of damage
each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point but
less than half its full normal hit points. As long as he
has more than half its full normal hit points, its fast
healing does not function (but other forms of healing
still function normally).
BOLO AND LOBO
CR 6
Male whisper gnome* rogue 6
*Races of Stone 94
CE Small humanoid (gnome)
Init +4; Senses Listen +10, Spot +10; darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision
Languages Common, Gnome
AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15; +2 against traps,
uncanny dodge
(+1 size, +4 Dex, +4 armor)
hp 33 (6 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +5, Ref +10 (+12 against traps), Will +2
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee +1 rapier +11 (1d4+2/18-20)
Ranged light crossbow +9 (1d6)
Base Atk +4; Grp +1
Atk Options sneak attack +3d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st):
1/day— silence (must be centered on gnome)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 8
SQ trapfinding
Feats Combat Expertise, Weapon Finesse, Weapon
Focus (rapier)
Skills Bluff+8, Disable Device +6,Escape Artist +9, Hide
+20, Jump +7, Listen +10, Move Silently +16, Search
+6, Sense Motive +0, Sleight of Hand +10, Spot +10,
Tumble +14,
Possessions +1 chain shirt, +1 rapier, cloak of
resistance +1, light crossbow with 20 bolts
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BANAAR (ENLARGED AND RAGING)
CR 14
Half-red dragon spriggan* barbarian 4/war hulk** 5
*Fiend Folio 162
**Miniatures Handbook 23
CE Large dragon (augmented fey)
Init +8; Senses Listen +0, Spot +0; darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision
Languages Common, Gnome
AC 21, touch 10, flat-footed 19; +1 against traps,
uncanny dodge
(-1 size, +2 Dex, -2 class, +8 armor, +4 natural)
hp 208 (14 HD)
Immune fire, paralysis, sleep
Fort +20, Ref +10 (+1 against traps), Will +13 (+18 and
1/day immediate action reroll against mind-affecting
effect); Mad Foam Rager
Speed 30 ft. in breastplate (6 squares), base speed 40
ft.
Melee +1 keen everbright dire pick +29/+24/+19
(2d6+28/19-20/x4) or
Melee 2 claws +28 (1d6+18) and
bite +23 (1d8+9)
Ranged rock (2d8+18)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +11; Grp +33
Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack; breath weapon
1/day (6d8 fire, DC 21 half, 30 ft. cone), great swing,
mighty rock throwing, mighty swing, rage 2/day (12
rounds)
Combat Gear belt of battle, potion of cure serious
wounds, third eye clarity
Abilities Str 46, Dex 14, Con 28, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 14
SQ ability boost +10, no time to think
Feats Cleave, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Mad Foam
Rager, Power Attack
Skills Climb +31, Disable Device +5, Hide +3, Intimidate
+19, Jump +27, Move Silently +11, Open Lock +14,
Sleight of Hand +11
Possessions combat gear plus +1 keen everbright
sizing dire pick, +3 breastplate, cloak of resistance
+2, greater augment crystal of mind cloaking
Ability Boost (Ex) Banaar gains a bonus to his
Strength from the War Hulk prestige class.
Great Swing (Ex) As a full-round action, Banaar can
make a single melee attack roll against three squares
adjacent to one another that he threatens and apply
that roll as an attack against each defender in those
squares. If he uses a special attack (such as trip,
disarm, or sunder), this special attack affects only the
first target; the other creatures are attacked normally.
Walls and similar obstacles can block a great swing.
Starting with one square, each successive square
chosen must be adjacent to the previous square and
have line of effect from that square. Banaar may skip
creatures, attacking only those he wants to. If he
drops a foe with a great swing, he may cleave
normally. However, he may do so only once for every
time he swings, even if he drops more than one foe.
No Time to Think (Ex) A war hulk is considered to have
0 ranks in all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-
based skills (Whether or not they bought ranks in
them previously). The only exception is the Intimidate
skill, which works normally.
Mighty Rock Throwing (Ex) Banaar can throw rocks
that deal 2d8 points of damage with a range
increment of 50 feet. (Like all thrown weapons, they
have a maximum range of five range increments).
The war hulk uses his Strength modifier instead of his
Dexterity modifier on the attack roll. The rock must
weigh approximately 50 pounds.
Mighty Swing (Ex) A mighty swing is like a great swing,
except that it is a standard action rather than a full-
round action.
Size Change (Su) At will, Banaae can change his size
in a fashion similar to the enlarge person spell. The
size change from Small to Large gains +8 Strength, -
4 Dexterity, +6 Constitution, and -2 to attack bonus
and Armor class. An enlarged spriggan is unable to
make a sneak attack or use its spell-like abilities.
Note While in his non-enlarged form, Banaar loses the
benefit of the class features of the war hulk class as
he does not meet the prerequisites (Large size). He
retains Hit Dice, saving throws, and base attack
bonuses gained from the class.
Physical Description Long, wild braids of flame red
hair tumble from the skull of a monstrous gnome.
Standing over a dozen feet tall, the creature tightens
its grip on a wicked looking pick with its grotesquely
proportioned arms, its veins bulging against scale-
flecked skin.
Should Banaar be forced to his natural size (Small), he
gains -18 Strength, +4 Dexterity, -6 Constitution, +2
to attack bonus and Armor Class, and the following:
Atk Options sneak attack +3d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th):
At Will— produce flame, scare (DC 14), shatter (DC
14)
Skills Disable Device +13, Listen +11
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Page 24
4: MY GOOD BUDDY, IMIX
EMBER GUARD*
CR 13
*Monster Manual V 52
LE Huge outsider (evil, extraplanar, fire, lawful)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +20, Spot +20
(+10 for one ember guard)
Aura fire (30 ft.); see text
Languages Infernal, Ignan
AC 33, touch 10, flat-footed 31
(–2 size, +2 Dex, +23 natural)
hp 162 (13 HD); fast healing 5; DR 15/good; death
throes
Immune fire, poison
Resist acid 10, cold 10, critical hit or sneak attack 25%;
SR 23
Weakness vulnerability to cold
Fort +18, Ref +12, Will +12
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee 2 slams +22 each (1d8+10 plus 1d6 fire)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Base Atk +13; Grp +31
Atk Options aligned strike (evil, lawful)
Special Actions death throes, fire breath
Abilities Str 30, Dex 15, Con 26, Int 3, Wis 18, Cha 9
SA aligned strike, death throes, fire aura, fire breath
Feats Ability Focus (fire breath), Great Fortitude,
Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Weapon
Focus (slam)
Skills Balance +18, Climb +26, Listen +20, Spot +20
Possessions third eye aware (1 ember guard)
Fire Aura (Su) If an ember guard is reduced to half of
its full normal hit points or fewer, it emits a fire aura
as flames start leaking from its body. Creatures take
1d6 points of fire damage at the end of each of the
ember guard’s turns if they are within 30 feet of it.
Creatures within range can attempt DC 24 Fortitude
saves for half damage. The save DC is Constitution-
based.
Fortification (Ex) 25% chance to ignore the extra
damage dealt by a critical hit or sneak attack.
Death Throes (Su) When killed, an ember guard
explodes in a 60-foot-radius burst that deals 3d6
points of bludgeoning damage and 3d6 points of fire
damage to everything in the area (Reflex DC 24 half).
The save DC is Constitution-based.
Fire Breath (Su) 30-foot cone, once every 4 rounds,
damage 6d6 fire plus slow, as the spell, for 4 rounds,
Reflex DC 26 half damage and negates slow. The
save DC is Constitution-based.
Physical Description A hulking mass of stone and
brass surges forward, puffs of acrid smoke leaking
from its maw. Intense heat radiates from its surface,
and smoke rises where it treads.
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5: THAT’S NO RUST MONSTER
IMMATURE GUULVORG* CR 8
*Monster Manual V 76
CE Large magical beast
Init +4; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision,
scent; Listen +10, Spot +9
Languages Gnome, Worg
AC 24, touch 13, flat-footed 20
(–1 size, +4 Dex, +11 natural)
Immune cold
Resist fire 15
hp 126 (12 HD); boiling blood; DR 10/magic
Fort +12, Ref +12, Will +9
Speed 60 ft. (12 squares)
Melee bite +16 (1d8+6/19-20x4 plus trip) and
tail +14 (2d10+9)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with tail)
Base Atk +12; Grp +22
Atk Options magic strike, quick tail, trip
Abilities Str 22, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 6, Wis 16, Cha 12
Feats Alertness, Iron Will, Multiattack, Track
Skills Jump +19, Listen +10, Spot +10, Survival +9
Boiling Blood (Ex) A guulvorg’s blood runs steaming
hot. If an opponent adjacent to a guulvorg damages
the creature with a melee weapon that deals piercing
or slashing damage, that foe takes 1d10 points of fire
damage (Reflex DC 21 half) from a spray of hot
blood. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Quick Tail (Ex) A guulvorg needs only a standard
action to make a bite attack and a tail attack. The tail
deals the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times the
guulvorg’s Strength bonus despite it being a
secondary attack.
Trip (Ex) A guulvorg that hits with a bite can attempt to
trip the opponent (+10 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking
attacks of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the
opponent cannot react to trip the guulvorg.
Physical Description The mouth of this gigantic black
wolf can’t contain the scythe-like fangs that emerge
from the top and bottom. Bony protrusions jut from its
spine, skull, and ribs, running down its serpentine tail,
which ends in a bulb of bone. The creature’s eyes
burn with a malevolent red glow.
RUST MONSTER OF LEGACY
CR 14
Advanced half-farspawn* rust monster of legacy**
*Lords of Madness 151
**Weapons of Legacy 215
CE Large outsider (native, augmented aberration)
Init +5; Senses Listen +11, Spot +11; blindsense 120
ft., blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., scent
AC 28, touch 14, flat-footed 23
(-1 size, +5 Dex, +4 armor, +10 natural)
hp 188 (15 HD); DR 10/magic
Immune poison
Resist acid 10, electricity 10, fire 10; SR 25
Fort +16, Ref +13, Will +16
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee 2 tentacles +16 (1d6+6) and
antenna +14 touch (rust) and
bite +14 (1d3+3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft., 15 ft. tentacles
Base Atk +11; Grp +21
Atk Options Combat Reflexes, Spectral Skirmisher,
true strike 1/day
Special Actions change shape
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15)
1/day – greater invisibility, scintillating pattern (DC 23),
stinking cloud (DC 18), telekinesis, touch of idiocy
(DC 17)
3/day – blink, blur, ethereal jaunt
Abilities Str 22, Dex 21, Con 26, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 18
SQ legacy abilities, omen
Feats Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Extended Reach,
Multiattack, Spectral Skirmisher, Track
Skills Hide +10, Listen +24, Move Silently +14, Spot
+24
Possessions fireflower pendant
Rust (Ex) A rust monster that makes a successful touch
attack with its antenna causes the target metal to
corrode, falling to pieces and becoming useless
immediately. The touch can destroy up to a 10-foot
cube of metal instantly. Magic armor and weapons,
and other magic items made of metal, must succeed
on a DC 29 Reflex save or be dissolved. The save
DC is Constitution-based and includes a +4 racial
bonus. A metal weapon that deals damage to a rust
monster corrodes immediately. Wooden, stone, and
other nonmetallic weapons are unaffected.
Legacy Abilities (Su) The rust monster enjoys a +3
resistance bonus to saves (1 List A, 2 List B choices),
is treated as a major intelligent item (1 List D choice),
and has a +4 enhancement bonus to armor (1 List F
choice).
Omen The monster’s carapace has mirrored fragments
that show unfathomable images of the Far Realms.
Change Shape (Su) As a standard action, a half-
farspawn can take the form of a grotesque, tentacled
mass. The rust monster retains all of its attributes
and abilities except as noted below.
Amorphous Form
Melee 4 tentacles +16 (1d6+6)
SQ Amorphous (not subject to critical hits, cannot be
flanked), creatures from the Material Plane take a -1
penalty on attack rolls against the farspawn in
amorphous form; loses its rust ability.
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6: LIQUID HOT MAGMA
MAGMA EXPLOSION TRAP
CR 14
Description As the PCs cross the magma chamber, the
persistent rumbling causes some of the ceiling to
collapse, blocking the exit on either end of the path
and possibly damaging the PCs. The cave-in also
causes the magma to become unstable, spewing
forth magma eruptions every round. To bypass the
trap, the PCs may destroy the rocks blocking either
exit, allowing escape, or deal enough cold damage to
the magma disruption area to solidify it. Disable
Device checks may be made to cause the rocks
blocking an exit to collapse further, allowing passage.
Search DC N/A; Type Mechanical
Trigger Location; Init +7
Effect Round 1: falling rocks (12d6 bludgeoning
damage, Reflex DC 22 half); targets who fail their
save are also knocked prone by the rocks. Each
round after the first: magma eruption (12d6 fire
damage plus 6d6 fire damage each of the next two
rounds, Reflex DC 22 half).
Duration 17 rounds
Destruction hp 210, hardness 8 (acid and sonic
damage ignore hardness and deal 1-1/2 x damage)
(each blocked exit)
Destruction AC 30; hp 63 (only cold or water damage
applies; fire damage ‘heals’ the disruption) (magma
disruption)
Disarm Disable Device DC 29 (each exit or ceiling area
above disruption)
7: GIANT METAL THING
DECAYED MERCHURION*
CR 12
*Monster Manual V 102
CE Huge construct (living construct)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen
+10,Spot +10
Languages Common, Giant, Terran
AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed 18; Dodge, Mobility
(–2 size, +7 Dex, +10 natural)
hp 202 (15 HD); DR 5/magic and silver
Immune fire, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, disease,
nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, energy drain
Weakness vulnerability to sonic
Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +7
Speed 60 ft. (12 squares); Spring Attack
Melee +3 silvered longaxe +24/+19/+14 (4d6+14/x3) or
Melee +3 silvered mancatcher +22/+17/+12 (1d6+14
nonlethal plus grapple)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft., 30 ft. with reach
Base Atk +11; Grp +27
Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack (longaxe), absorb
properties, magic strike
Special Actions generate weapon
Abilities Str 27, Dex 25, Con 27, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 17
SQ living construct traits
Feats
Cleave,
Dodge,
Greater
Weapon
Focus
(generated weapon)B, Iron Will, Mobility, Power
Attack, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus (generated
weapon)B
Skills Climb +12, Intimidate +10, Jump +24, Listen +10,
Spot +10, Survival +9
Absorb Properties (Ex) If a merchurion is successfully
struck by a magic weapon, all that weapon’s
properties are absorbed by the merchurion for 1 hour.
The weapon loses its properties during that time (or
until the merchurion is slain). A merchurion can
manifest any of these absorbed properties in its
generated weapon.
A merchurion can absorb and manifest weapon
properties totaling a +5 enhancement bonus (DMG
223) or a market value of up to 50,000 gp. Properties
beyond these limits are not absorbed. If a weapon
has properties in excess of these limits, the weakest
properties are absorbed first.
As an immediate action, a merchurion can choose
to give up absorbed properties to absorb new
properties. If it does so, the properties the merchurion
gives up are restored to the weapon they were
absorbed from.
Manifested weapon properties must be suitable for
the type of weapon a merchurion generates.
Unsuitable properties can be absorbed and count
toward the total limit of properties even if they cannot
be manifested. For example, a merchurion could
absorb the disruption property from a mace of
disruption, but could not manifest that property in a
battleaxe.
A merchurion does not absorb the enhancement
bonus from a weapon whose properties it absorbs.
So, weapons that lose properties continue to function
with their magical enhancement bonus as normal.
Generate
Weapon
(Su)
A
merchurion
can
spontaneously create a single weapon from its
flowing metal form. Such weapons have a +3
enhancement bonus and are treated as silvered
weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage
reduction. If a generated weapon ever leaves the
merchurion’s hand, that weapon immediately melts
into a pool of harmless silver liquid.
A merchurion is proficient with any weapon it
generates using this ability, even an exotic one.
Physical Description A metal colossus stands amidst
the magma, its form shifting and flowing like liquid.
The creature moves with a grace that belies its
powerful, humanlike form, and you see that its
metallic sheen is no suit of armor. Its eyes bear the
same gleam as the rivers of silver running down its
arms, which flow together to take the shape of a
vicious, over-large axe.
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APPENDIX 1: APL 14
2: WHY WON’T YOU DIE?!
CERAPTIS
CR 14
Male half-vampire* whisper gnome** bard 9/lyric
thaumaturge*** 4
*Libris Mortis 106
**Races of Stone 94
***Complete Mage 67
CE Small humanoid (gnome)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; low-light vision; Listen
+13, Spot +4
Languages Common, Gnome, Ignan, Terran, Gnoll,
Orc
AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed 21; +4 Dodge vs. Giants
(+1 size, +4 Dex, +5 armor, +3 shield, +2 natural)
hp 71 (13 HD); fast healing 5*; DR 5/silver or magic; 1/-
Resist cold 5, electricity 5
Fort +6, Ref +14, Will +9
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee rapier +10 (1d4+1 piercing) and
slam +4 (1d4 bludgeoning)
Base Atk +9; Grp +5
Atk Options +1 on attacks against goblins and kobolds
Special Actions Captivating Melody, Lyric Spell, bardic
music
13/day
(countersong,
fascinate,
inspire
courage +2, inspire competence, inspire greatness),
charm gaze,
Combat Gear badge of valor, helm of tactics, horn of
resilience, regalia of the hero runestaff of forced
happiness
Bard Spells Known (CL 13):
5th (1/day)—bolts of bedevilment (DC 24), endless
slumber (DC 24)
4th (4/day)—greater invisibility, greater mirror image,
spell theft, suggestion (DC 23)
3rd (5/day)—dirge of discord (DC 22), love’s lament
(DC 22), ray of dizziness, see invisibility
2nd (6/day)—curse of impending blades, entice gift
(DC 21), glitterdust (DC 19), wave of grief (DC 21),
shadow spray (DC 19)
1st (6/day)—inspirational boost, ironthunder horn (DC
18), joyful noise, phantom threat (DC 18), ray of
enfeeblement
0 (3/day)—detect magic, mending, open/close,
prestidigitation, read magic, summon instrument
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 13):
1/day—ghost sound (DC 17), mage hand, message,
silence (centered on self only)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 24
SA barding knowledge +10,
Feats
Improved
InitiativeB,
Captivating
MelodyB,
Lingering Song, Lyric Spell, Melodic Casting, Spell
Focus
(enchantment),
Greater
Spell
Focus
(enchantment)
Skills Bluff +25, Disguise +19, Diplomacy +27, Hide
+11, Intimidate +21, Knowledge (arcana) +7, Listen
+13, Move Silently +10, Perform +23, Speak
Language 3, Spellcraft +15, Spot +4
Possessions combat gear plus cloak of charisma +6,
+1 blueshine commander starmetal chain shirt, +1
heavy mithral shield, +1 rapier, 2 spell component
pouches
Charm Gaze (Su): Ceraptis can charm humanoid or
monstrous humanoid opponents just by looking into
their eyes. This is similar to a gaze attack, except that
he must use a standard action, and those merely
looking at him are not affected. Anyone he targets
must make a successful Will save (DC 23) or fall
under his influence as though affected by a charm
monster spell (CL 13). Any creature that successfully
saves against his charm gaze cannot be affected by
it for 24 hours. The ability has a range of 30 feet.
Fast Healing (Ex): Ceraptis heals 1 point of damage
each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point but
less than half its full normal hit points. As long as the
half-vampire has more than half its full normal hit
points, its fast healing does not function (but other
forms of healing still function normally).
BOLO AND LOBO
CR 14
Male whisper gnome* rogue 8 / blade bravo** 6
*Races of Stone 94
** Races of Stone 99
CE Small humanoid (gnome)
Init +5; Senses Listen +10, Spot +10; darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision
Languages Common, Gnome
AC 22, touch 16, flat-footed 17; Combat Expertise,
Dodge, Titan Fighting, +2 against traps, improved
uncanny dodge, mobile fighting, size advantage
(+1 size, +5 Dex, +6 armor)
hp 77 (14 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +6, Ref +16 (+18 against traps), Will +3
Speed 30 ft. in chain shirt (6 squares), base speed 30 ft.
Melee +2 impaling rapier +21/+16/+11 (1d4+3/15-20) or
Ranged light crossbow +9 (1d6)
Base Atk +12; Grp +9
Atk Options flourish, melee sneak attack +1d6, sneak
attack +4d6
Special Abilities Goad (DC 19 Will), Combat Expertise,
Mobile Fighting
Combat Gear potion of haste, potion of cure moderate
wounds, potion of shield of faith (+3)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1):
1/day— silence (must be centered on gnome)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 10
SQ trapfinding
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Goad, Improved
Critical (rapier), Telling Blow, Weapon Finesse, Titan
Fighting, Weapon Focus (rapier)
Skills Balance +10, Bluff +17, Climb +4, Disable Device
+6, Escape Artist +15,Hide +25, Jump +14, Listen
+10, Move Silenty +20, Search +6, Sense Motive +5,
Sleight of Hand +11, Spot +10, Tumble +23,
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Page 28
Possessions combat gear plus +2 mithral shirt, +2
impaling rapier, cloak of charisma +2, light crossbow
with 20 bolts
Flourish (Ex) A blade bravo adds his class level to his
Bluff checks when feinting in combat.
Melee Sneak Attack (Ex) As normal sneak attack, but
may only be applied against a melee target. If the
blade bravo gets a sneak attack bonus from another
source, the bonuses on damage stack as long as the
target is in melee with the blade bravo.
Mobile Fighting (Ex) If the blade bravo moves at least
5 feet, he gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC until his
next turn.
Size Advantage (Ex) The blade bravo gains a +2
dodge bonus to AC per size category of difference
between him and his foe.
BANAAR (ENLARGED AND RAGING)
CR 14
Half-red dragon spriggan* barbarian 4/war hulk** 5
*Fiend Folio 162
**Miniatures Handbook 23
CE Large dragon (augmented fey)
Init +8; Senses Listen +0, Spot +0; darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision
Languages Common, Gnome
AC 21, touch 10, flat-footed 19; +1 against traps,
uncanny dodge
(-1 size, +2 Dex, -2 class, +8 armor, +4 natural)
hp 208 (14 HD)
Immune fire, paralysis, sleep
Fort +20, Ref +10 +11 against traps), Will +13 (+18 and
1/day immediate action reroll against mind-affecting
effect); Mad Foam Rager
Speed 30 ft. in breastplate (6 squares), base speed 40
ft.
Melee +1 keen everbright dire pick +29/+24/+19
(2d6+28/19-20/x4) or
Melee 2 claws +28 (1d6+18) and Bite +23 (1d8+9)
Ranged rock (2d8+18)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +11; Grp +33
Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack; breath weapon
1/day (6d8 fire, DC 21 half, 30 ft. cone), great swing,
mighty rock throwing, mighty swing, rage 2/day (12
rounds)
Combat Gear belt of battle, potion of cure serious
wounds, third eye clarity
Abilities Str 46, Dex 14, Con 28, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 14
SQ ability boost +10, no time to think
Feats Cleave, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Mad Foam
Rager, Power Attack
Skills Climb +31, Disable Device +5, Hide +3, Intimidate
+19, Jump +27, Move Silently +11, Open Lock +14,
Sleight of Hand +11
Possessions combat gear plus +1 keen everbright
sizing dire pick, +3 breastplate, cloak of resistance
+2, greater augment crystal of mind cloaking
Ability Boost (Ex) Banaar gains a bonus to his
Strength from the War Hulk prestige class.
Great Swing (Ex) As a full-round action, Banaar can
make a single melee attack roll against three squares
adjacent to one another that he threatens and apply
that roll as an attack against each defender in those
squares. If he uses a special attack (such as trip,
disarm, or sunder), this special attack affects only the
first target; the other creatures are attacked normally.
Walls and similar obstacles can block a great swing.
Starting with one square, each successive square
chosen must be adjacent to the previous square and
have line of effect from that square. Banaar may skip
creatures, attacking only those he wants to. If he
drops a foe with a great swing, he may cleave
normally. However, he may do so only once for every
time he swings, even if he drops more than one foe.
No Time to Think (Ex) Banaar is considered to have 0
ranks in all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-
based skills (Whether or not they bought ranks in
them previously). The only exception is the Intimidate
skill, which works normally.
Mighty Rock Throwing (Ex) Banaar can throw rocks
that deal 2d8 points of damage with a range
increment of 50 feet. (Like all thrown weapons, they
have a maximum range of five range increments).
The war hulk uses his Strength modifier instead of his
Dexterity modifier on the attack roll. The rock must
weigh approximately 50 pounds.
Mighty Swing (Ex) A mighty swing is like a great swing,
except that it is a standard action rather than a full-
round action.
Size Change (Su) At will, Banaar can change his size in
a fashion similar to the enlarge spell. The size
change from Small to Large gains +8 Strength, -4
Dexterity, +6 Constitution, and -2 to attack bonus and
Armor class. An enlarged spriggan is unable to make
a sneak attack or use its spell-like abilities.
Note While in his non-enlarged form, Banaar loses the
benefit of the class features of the War Hulk class as
he does not meet the prerequisites (Large size). He
retains Hit Dice, saving throws, and base attack
bonuses gained from the class.
Physical Description Long, wild braids of flame red
hair tumble from the skull of a monstrous gnome.
Standing over a dozen feet tall, the creature tightens
its grip on a wicked looking pick with its grotesquely
proportioned arms, its veins bulging against scale-
flecked skin.
Should Banaar be forced to his natural size (Small), he
gains -18 Strength, +4 Dexterity, -6 Constitution, +2
to attack bonus and Armor Class, and the following:
Atk Options sneak attack +3d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th):
At Will— produce flame, scare (DC 14), shatter (DC
14)
Skills Disable Device +13, Listen +11
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4: MY GOOD BUDDY, IMIX
GREATER EMBER GUARD*
CR 17
*Monster Manual V 52
LE Huge outsider (evil, extraplanar, fire, lawful)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +30, Spot +30
(+10 for one ember guard)
Aura fire (30 ft.); see text
Languages Infernal, Ignan
AC 33, touch 10, flat-footed 31
(–2 size, +2 Dex, +23 natural)
hp 225 (22 HD); fast healing 5; DR 15/good; death
throes
Immune fire, poison
Resist acid 10, cold 10 critical hit or sneak attack 25%;
SR 32
Weakness vulnerability to cold
Fort +23, Ref +17, Will +17
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee 2 slams +32 each (1d8+11/19-20 plus 1d6 fire)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Base Atk +22; Grp +41
Atk Options Large and in Charge, aligned strike (evil,
lawful)
Special Actions death throes, fire breath
Abilities Str 32, Dex 15, Con 26, Int 3, Wis 18, Cha 9
Feats Ability Focus (fire breath), Great Fortitude,
Improved Critical (slam), Improved Initiative, Large
and in Charge, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack,
Weapon Focus (slam)
Skills Balance +21, Climb +31, Listen +30, Spot +30
Possessions third eye aware (1 ember guard)
Fire Aura (Su) If an ember guard is reduced to half of
its full normal hit points or fewer, it emits a fire aura
as flames start leaking from its body. Creatures take
2d6 points of fire damage at the end of each of the
ember guard’s turns if they are within 30 feet of it.
Creatures within range can attempt DC 29 Fortitude
saves for half damage. The save DC is Constitution-
based.
Fortification (Ex) 25% chance to ignore the extra
damage dealt by a critical hit or sneak attack.
Death Throes (Su) When killed, an ember guard
explodes in a 60-foot-radius burst that deals 6d6
points of bludgeoning damage and 6d6 points of fire
damage to everything in the area (Reflex DC 29 half).
The save DC is Constitution-based.
Fire Breath (Su) 30-foot cone, once every 4 rounds,
damage 11d6 fire plus slow, as the spell, for 4
rounds, Reflex DC 31 half damage and negates slow.
The save DC is Constitution-based.
Physical Description A hulking mass of stone and
brass surges forward, puffs of acrid smoke leaking
from its maw. Intense heat radiates from its surface,
and smoke rises where it treads.
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5: THAT’S NO RUST MONSTER
GREATER GUULVORG* CR 14
*Monster Manual V 76
CE Huge magical beast
Init +4; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision,
scent; Listen +11, Spot +10
Languages Gnome, Worg
AC 26, touch 12, flat-footed 22
(–2 size, +4 Dex, +14 natural)
Immune cold
Resist fire 15
hp 212 (17 HD); boiling blood; DR 10/magic
Fort +17, Ref +14, Will +10
Speed 60 ft. (12 squares)
Melee bite +21 (2d6+9/19–20/x4 plus trip)
and tail +19 (4d8+13)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15 ft. with tail)
Base Atk +17; Grp +34
Atk Options magic strike, quick tail, trip
Abilities Str 29, Dex 18, Con 24, Int 6, Wis 16, Cha 12
Feats Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Improved Critical
(bite), Iron Will, Multiattack, Track
Skills Jump +21, Listen +11, Spot +10, Survival +10
Boiling Blood (Ex) A guulvorg’s blood runs steaming
hot. If an opponent adjacent to a guulvorg damages
the creature with a melee weapon that deals piercing
or slashing damage, that foe takes 1d10 points of fire
damage (Reflex DC 25 half) from a spray of hot
blood. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Quick Tail (Ex) A guulvorg needs only a standard
action to make a bite attack and a tail attack. The tail
deals the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times the
guulvorg’s Strength bonus despite it being a
secondary attack.
Trip (Ex) A guulvorg that hits with a bite can attempt to
trip the opponent (+17 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking
attacks of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the
opponent cannot react to trip the guulvorg.
Physical Description The mouth of this gigantic black
wolf can’t contain the scythe-like fangs that emerge
from the top and bottom. Bony protrusions jut from its
spine, skull, and ribs, running down its serpentine tail,
which ends in a bulb of bone. The creature’s eyes
burn with a malevolent red glow.
RUST MONSTER OF LEGACY
CR 14
Advanced half-farspawn* rust monster of legacy**
*Lords of Madness 151
**Weapons of Legacy 215
CE Large outsider (native, augmented aberration)
Init +5; Senses Listen +11, Spot +11; blindsense 120
ft., blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., scent
AC 28, touch 14, flat-footed 23
(-1 size, +5 Dex, +4 armor, +10 natural)
hp 188 (15 HD); DR 10/magic
Immune poison
Resist acid 10, electricity 10, fire 10; SR 25
Fort +16, Ref +13, Will +16
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee 2 tentacles +16 (1d6+6) and
antenna +14 touch (rust) and
bite +14 (1d3+3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft., 15 ft. tentacles
Base Atk +11; Grp +21
Atk Options Combat Reflexes, Spectral Skirmisher,
true strike 1/day
Special Actions change shape
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15)
1/day – greater invisibility, scintillating pattern (DC 23),
stinking cloud (DC 18), telekinesis, touch of idiocy
(DC 17)
3/day – blink, blur, ethereal jaunt
Abilities Str 22, Dex 21, Con 26, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 18
SQ legacy abilities, omen
Feats Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Extended Reach,
Multiattack, Spectral Skirmisher, Track
Skills Hide +10, Listen +24, Move Silently +14, Spot
+24
Possessions fireflower pendant
Rust (Ex) A rust monster that makes a successful touch
attack with its antenna causes the target metal to
corrode, falling to pieces and becoming useless
immediately. The touch can destroy up to a 10-foot
cube of metal instantly. Magic armor and weapons,
and other magic items made of metal, must succeed
on a DC 29 Reflex save or be dissolved. The save
DC is Constitution-based and includes a +4 racial
bonus. A metal weapon that deals damage to a rust
monster corrodes immediately. Wooden, stone, and
other nonmetallic weapons are unaffected.
Legacy Abilities (Su) The rust monster enjoys a +3
resistance bonus to saves (1 List A, 2 List B choices),
is treated as a major intelligent item (1 List D choice),
and has a +4 Enhancement bonus to armor (1 List F
choice).
Omen The monster’s carapace has mirrored fragments
that show unfathomable images of the Far Realms.
Change Shape (Su) As a standard action, a half-
farspawn can take the form of a grotesque, tentacled
mass. The rust monster retains all of its attributes
and abilities except as noted below.
Amorphous Form
Melee 4 tentacles +16 (1d6+6)
SQ Amorphous (not subject to critical hits, cannot be
flanked), creatures from the Material Plane take a -1
penalty on attack rolls against the farspawn in
amorphous form; loses its rust ability.
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6: LIQUID HOT MAGMA
GREATER MAGMA EXPLOSION TRAP
CR 17
Description As the PCs cross the magma chamber, the
persistent rumbling causes some of the ceiling to
collapse, blocking the exit on either end of the path
and possibly damaging the PCs. The cave-in also
causes the magma to become unstable, spewing
forth magma eruptions every round. To bypass the
trap, the PCs may destroy the rocks blocking either
exit, allowing escape, or deal enough cold damage to
the magma disruption area to solidify it. Disable
Device checks may be made to cause the rocks
blocking an exit to collapse further, allowing passage.
Search DC N/A; Type Mechanical
Trigger Location; Init +8
Effect Round 1: falling rocks (15d6 bludgeoning
damage, Reflex DC 25 half); targets who fail their
save are also knocked prone by the rocks. Each
round after the first: magma eruption (15d6 fire
damage plus 7d6 fire damage each of the next two
rounds, Reflex DC 25 half).
Duration 20 rounds
Destruction hp 255, hardness 8 (acid and sonic
damage ignore hardness and deal 1-1/2 x damage)
(each blocked exit)
Destruction AC 33; hp 76 (only cold or water damage
applies; fire damage ‘heals’ the disruption) (magma
disruption)
Disarm Disable Device DC 32 (each exit or ceiling area
above disruption)
7: GIANT METAL THING
MERCHURION*
CR 17
*Monster Manual V 102
CE Huge construct (living construct)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen
+10,Spot +10
Languages Common, Giant, Terran
AC 31, touch 15, flat-footed 24; Dodge, Mobility
(–2 size, +7 Dex, +16 natural)
hp 319 (22 HD); DR 10/magic and silver
Immune fire, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, disease,
nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, energy drain
Weakness vulnerability to sonic
Fort +16, Ref +14, Will +11
Speed 60 ft. (12 squares); Spring Attack
Melee
+3
silvered
longaxe
+30/+25/+20/+15
(4d6+15/x3) or
Melee
+3
silvered
mancatcher
+28/+23/+18/+13
(1d6+15 nonlethal plus grapple)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft., 30 ft. with reach
Base Atk +16; Grp +33
Atk Options Awesome Blow, Cleave, Improved Bull
Rush, Power Attack (longaxe), absorb properties,
magic strike
Special Actions generate weapon
Abilities Str 28, Dex 25, Con 28, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 17
SQ living construct traits
Feats Awesome Blow, Cleave, Dodge, Greater Weapon
Focus (generated weapon)B, Improved Bull Rush,
Iron Will, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack,
Weapon Focus (generated weapon)B
Skills Climb +17, Intimidate +12, Jump +29, Listen +10,
Spot +10, Survival +11
Absorb Properties (Ex) If a merchurion is successfully
struck by a magic weapon, all that weapon’s
properties are absorbed by the merchurion for 1 hour.
The weapon loses its properties during that time (or
until the merchurion is slain). A merchurion can
manifest any of these absorbed properties in its
generated weapon.
A merchurion can absorb and manifest weapon
properties totaling a +5 enhancement bonus (DMG
223) or a market value of up to 50,000 gp. Properties
beyond these limits are not absorbed. If a weapon
has properties in excess of these limits, the weakest
properties are absorbed first.
As an immediate action, a merchurion can choose
to give up absorbed properties to absorb new
properties. If it does so, the properties the merchurion
gives up are restored to the weapon they were
absorbed from.
Manifested weapon properties must be suitable for
the type of weapon a merchurion generates.
Unsuitable properties can be absorbed and count
toward the total limit of properties even if they cannot
be manifested. For example, a merchurion could
absorb the disruption property from a mace of
disruption, but could not manifest that property in a
battleaxe.
A merchurion does not absorb the enhancement
bonus from a weapon whose properties it absorbs.
So, weapons that lose properties continue to function
with their magical enhancement bonus as normal.
Generate
Weapon
(Su)
A
merchurion
can
spontaneously create a single weapon from its
flowing metal form. Such weapons have a +3
enhancement bonus and are treated as silvered
weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage
reduction. If a generated weapon ever leaves the
merchurion’s hand, that weapon immediately melts
into a pool of harmless silver liquid.
A merchurion is proficient with any weapon it
generates using this ability, even an exotic one.
Physical Description A metal colossus stands amidst
the magma, its form shifting and flowing like liquid.
The creature moves with a grace that belies its
powerful, humanlike form, and you see that its
metallic sheen is no suit of armor. Its eyes bear the
same gleam as the rivers of silver running down its
arms, which flow together to take the shape of an
over-large axe.
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APPENDIX 2: NEW RULES OPTIONS
FEATS
Captivating Melody
Prerequisite: Bardic music, ability to cast arcane
spells.
Benefit: As a swift action before casting a spell,
you can attempt a Perform check (DC 15 + the level of
the spell you intend to cast). If you succeed, you can
sacrifice one of your daily uses of bardic music to
increase the save DC of the next enchantment or
illusion spell you cast in the same round by 2. If the
Perform check fails, you still lose one daily use of
bardic music but gain no benefit.
You can apply Captivating Melody only to spells
cast by the same class that grants you your bardic music
ability. For instance if you are a multiclass bard/wizard,
you can apply this feat to bard spells, but not to spells
you cast as a wizard.
Source: Complete Mage 40.
Extended Reach [Monstrous]
Prerequisite: Small or larger size, nonrigid body or a
nonrigid attack form such as a tentacle, feeler, or
pseudopod.
Benefit: Your body or a part of your body with
which you can deliver a melee attack is boneless and
flexible, allowing you to threaten a larger than normal
area with melee attacks. Add +5 feet to your normal
reach.
Source: Savage Species 34.
Goad
Prerequisites: Cha 13, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: As a move action, you can goad an
opponent that threatens you, has line of sight to you,
can hear you, and has an Intelligence of 3 or higher.
(The goad is a mind-affecting ability.) When the
goaded opponent starts its next turn, if it threatens you
and has line of sight to you, it must make a Will saving
throw (DC 10 + 1/2 your character level + your Cha
modifier). If the opponent fails its save, you are the
only creature it can make melee attacks against during
this turn. (If it kills you, knocks you unconscious, loses
sight of you, or otherwise is unable to make melee
attacks against you, it may make any remaining melee
attacks against other foes, as normal.) A goaded
creature can still cast spells, make ranged attacks,
move, or perform other actions normally. The use of
this feat restricts only melee attacks.
Special: A fighter may select Goad as one of his
fighter bonus feats.
Source: Complete Adventurer 109.
Large and in Charge [General]
Prerequisites: Natural reach of 10 feet or more, size
Large or larger.
Benefit: When you make a successful attack of
opportunity against an opponent that is moving inside
your threatened area, you can force the opponent back
to the 5-foot space it was in before it provoked the
attack of opportunity. After you hit with your attack of
opportunity, make an opposed Strength check against
your opponent. You gain a +4 bonus for each size
category larger than your opponent you are, and an
additional +1 bonus for every 5 points of damage you
dealt with your attack of opportunity. If you win the
opposed check, your opponent is pushed back 5 feet
into the space it just left. An opponent you push cannot
move any farther in this round.
Source: Draconomicon 71.
Lingering Song
Prerequisite: Bardic music.
Benefit: If you use bardic music to inspire
courage, inspire greatness, or inspire heroics, the effect
lasts for 1 minute after an inspired ally stops hearing
you play.
Normal: Inspire courage, inspire greatness, and
inspire heroics last as long as an ally hears the bard sing
plus an additional 5 rounds thereafter.
Source: Complete Adventurer 111.
Lyric Spell [Bardic Music]
Prerequisites: Bardic music, Perform 9 ranks, ability
to spontaneously cast 2nd-level arcane spells.
Benefit: You can expend daily uses of your bardic
music to cast any arcane spell that you know and can
cast spontaneously. You must still use an action to cast
the spell (following the normal rules for casting time),
but using the Lyric Spell feat counts as part of the
spellcasting action. Casting a spell requires one use of
your bardic music ability, plus one additional use per
level of the spell. For example, casting a 3rd-level spell
requires four daily uses of your bardic music ability.
Special: Any spell that you cast using the Lyric
Spell feat gains your instrument as an additional arcane
focus, if you use one. You cannot use Lyric Spell to cast
a spell improved by the Silent Spell metamagic feat.
Source: Complete Adventurer 113.
Mad Foam Rager
Prerequisite: Rage or frenzy ability.
Benefit: When fighting, you can endure
tremendous blows with little visible effect. As an
immediate action, you can choose to delay the effect of
a single attack, spell, or ability used against you. The
damage or effect does not take hold until the end of
your next turn. You can only use this ability while
under the effect of your rage or frenzy ability. You can
activate it once every time you use your rage or frenzy
ability.
Source: Player’s Handbook II 80.
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Page 33
Melodic Casting
Prerequisite: Perform 4 ranks, Spellcraft 4 ranks,
bardic music class feature.
Benefit: Whenever a Concentration check would
be required to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability
(such as when you cast defensively or are distracted or
injured while casting), you can make a Perform check
instead.
In addition, you can cast spells and activate magic
items by command word or spell completion while
using a bardic music ability. Bardic music abilities that
require concentration still take a standard action to
perform.
Normal: A bard can’t cast spells or activate magic
items by command word or spell completion while
using bardic music.
Source: Complete Mage 44.
Reach Spell [Metamagic]
Benefit: You may cast a spell that normally has a range
of touch at any distance up to 30 feet. The spell
effectively becomes a ray, so you must succeed on a
ranged touch attack to bestow the spell upon the
recipient. A reach spell uses up a spell slot two levels
higher than the spell’s actual level.
Source: Complete Divine 84.
Spectral Skirmisher
Prerequisite: Base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: While you are invisible, you gain
additional benefits. Creatures unable to see you due to
invisibility take a -5 penalty to Listen checks to detect
you. A creature using a melee attack against the square
you occupy provokes an attack of opportunity from
you. You must choose to make this attack before
checking to see if the creature finds you. If you attack
and hit, the creature automatically finds you in your
square. See page 152 of the Player’s Handbook and page
295 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for the effects of
invisibility on combat.
Special: A fighter can select Spectral Skirmisher
as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Source: Player’s Handbook II 83.
Telling Blow
Prerequisite: Skirmish or sneak attack ability.
Benefit: When you score a critical hit against a
target, you deal your skirmish or sneak attack damage
in addition to the damage from your critical hit. Your
critical multiplier applies only to your normal damage,
not your skirmish or sneak attack damage. This benefit
affects both melee and ranged attacks.
Source: Player’s Handbook II 83.
Titan Fighting [Racial]
Prerequisites: Dodge, racial dodge bonus to Armor
Class against monsters of the giant type.
Benefit: When you designate a creature at least
one size category larger than you as the target of your
Dodge feat, you apply your racial dodge bonus to
Armor Class against monsters of the giant type against
attacks from that opponent (regardless of its creature
type) instead of the +1 bonus granted by the Dodge
feat.
Special: A fighter may select Titan Fighting as one
of his fighter bonus feats.
Source: Races of Stone 115.
ITEMS
Belt of Battle
Price (Item Level): 12,000 gp (13th)
Body Slot: Waist
Caster Level: 9th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 19) transmutation
Activation: — and swift (mental)
Weight: —
This leather belt bears a platinum buckle set with three small
black pearls.
A belt of battle helps you avoid being caught off guard in
combat and allows occasional bursts of extra activity.
While worn, it grants you a +2 competence bonus on
initiative checks. This is a continuous effect and
requires no activation.
In addition, a belt of battle has 3 charges, which are
renewed each day at dawn. Each time you activate the
belt, one of the black pearls set into its buckle turns
white. The pearls return to normal when the ring’s
charges renew. Spending 1 or more charges grants you
an extra action, which must be taken immediately
(before you take any other action).
1 charge: 1 move action.
2 charges: 1 standard action.
3 charges: 1 full-round action.
Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, haste.
Cost to Create: 6,000 gp, 480 XP, 12 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 73.
Blueshine
Price: +1,500 gp
Property: Metal armor
Caster Level: 12th
Aura: Strong; (DC 21) abjuration
Activation: —
This armor glistens with a blue-black sheen, as if it were
covered in oily liquid sapphire.
A suit of armor imbued with this property never
tarnishes and is immune to acid damage and rusting
effects. While wearing blueshine armor, you gain a +2
competence bonus on Hide checks.
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft
(alchemy) 5 ranks.
Cost to Create: 750 gp, 60 XP, 2 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 9.
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Page 34
Commander
Price: +2,000 gp
Property: Armor or shield
Caster Level: 5th
Aura: Faint; (DC 17) transmutation
Activation: —
This item looks particularly clean and bright—in fact, it
almost seems to shine with its own light.
A suit of armor or shield that has this property always
appears brilliant and gleaming, even in filthy or squalid
conditions, though it doesn’t shed any useful light.
Attempts to paint over or obscure its finish do not
diminish its brightness.
While wearing commander armor or carrying a
commander shield, you gain a +2 competence bonus on
Diplomacy checks, and each ally within 30 feet of you
(not including yourself) gains a +1 morale bonus on
Will saves. However, the shiny finish makes you so
noticeable that you also take a –5 penalty on Hide
checks (in addition to the normal armor check
penalty).
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, eagle’s
splendor.
Cost to Create: 1,000 gp, 80 XP, 2 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 10.
Crystal of Mind Cloaking
Price (Item Level): 500 gp (3rd) (least), 4,000 gp (8th)
(lesser), or 10,000 gp (12th) (greater)
Body Slot: — (armor crystal)
Caster Level: 5th
Aura: Faint; (DC 17) abjuration
Activation: —; see text
Weight: —
This crystal is black as a clouded night sky.
A crystal of mind cloaking protects you against mental
infiltration.
Least: This augment crystal grants you a +1
competence bonus on saving throws against mind-
affecting spells and abilities.
Lesser: As above, except the crystal grants a +3
competence bonus.
Greater: As above, except the crystal grants a +5
competence bonus. In addition, if you fail a save
against a mind-affecting spell or ability, you can choose
to reroll the save as an immediate (mental) action. This
ability functions once per day.
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor,
resistance.
Cost to Create: 250 gp, 20 XP, 1 day (least); 2,000 gp,
160 XP, 4 days (lesser); 5,000 gp, 400 XP, 10 days
(greater).
Source: Magic Item Compendium 25.
Everbright
Price: +2,000 gp
Property: Weapon
Caster Level: 12th
Aura: Strong; (DC 21) evocation
Activation: Standard (command)
Flecks of marble and pearl shimmer across this weapon, set
within images of bursting stars and beaming suns.
An everbright weapon can flash with a brilliant light
twice per day at your command. When it is activated,
all creatures within 20 feet of you are blinded for 1
round (Reflex DC 14 negates).
An everbright weapon is also immune to acid
damage and rusting effects.
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, searing
light.
Cost to Create: Varies.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 34.
Fireflower Pendant
Price (Item Level): 13,000 gp (13th)
Body Slot: Throat
Caster Level: 13th
Aura: Strong; (DC 21) abjuration
Activation: — or immediate (command)
Weight: —
This fragile pendant is constructed from rose gold and shaped
into the form of a flower. It is set with many tiny fire opals.
A fireflower pendant provides you with resistance—or
even brief immunity—to fiery attacks. While it is
worn, you gain resistance to fire 10. This is a
continuous effect and requires no activation.
When you activate the pendant, you gain
immunity to fire until the start of your next turn.
However, doing this renders the pendant powerless for
1 hour thereafter.
Prerequisites:
Craft
Wondrous
Item,
energy
immunity, resist energy.
Cost to Create: 6,500 gp, 520 XP, 13 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 100.
Impaling
Price: +1 bonus
Property: Piercing melee weapon
Caster Level: 9th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 19) transmutation
Activation: Swift (command)
This weapon has a particularly sharp and slim point.
Three times per day, you can activate this weapon to
treat its next attack (if made before the end of your
turn) as a touch attack. You must declare that you are
using this property before making your attack roll. If
the attack misses, the use is wasted.
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Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor,
find the gap (SpC 91).
Cost to Create: Varies.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 37.
Longaxe
A longaxe looks like a greataxe with an elongated haft.
This feature makes the weapon awkward to wield by
those unfamiliar with its use, but those proficient with
the weapon can use the haft’s extra length to attack foes
more than 5 feet away as long as they are willing to
forgo precision in favor of dealing extra damage.
If you are proficient with the longaxe, you can
treat it as a reach weapon any time you use the Power
Attack feat to shift 3 or more points of your attack
bonus from attack to damage. When you use a longaxe
in this manner, you can strike opponents 10 feet away
with it, but you cannot use it against an adjacent foe.
Because you determine the use of the Power Attack feat
for an entire turn, you must wield the longaxe as either
a reach weapon or a normal weapon until the
beginning of your next turn once you make the
decision. You cannot wield it as both a reach weapon
and a normal weapon in the same turn.
Characters proficient with the longaxe can treat it
as a greataxe for the purpose of any of the following
feats: Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon
Specialization, Improved Critical, Weapon Focus, and
Weapon Specialization.
Cost: 35 gp; Dmg (H): 4d6; Critical: x3; Range
Increment: - ; Weight: 15 lb.; Type: Slashing
Source: Complete Adventurer 116.
Mancatcher
City guards and others who prefer to capture their
opponents unharmed use the mancatcher. A wielder
who hits a target of its size or one size category smaller
than it with a mancatcher can immediately attempt to
grapple (as a free action) without provoking an attack
of opportunity. Any grapple check you make using a
mancatcher includes the mancatcher’s enhancement
bonus (if any) and any other bonuses you might have
on attack rolls with the weapon (such as from the
Weapon Focus feat). If you grapple a target with a
mancatcher, you are considered grappling, but unless
your target can reach you, he can’t attempt to attack
you, damage you, or pin you. You can escape the
grapple automatically by releasing the target as a
standard action.
In addition to the normal options available to a
grappler, the wielder of a mancatcher can attempt to
force his target to the ground (the equivalent of a trip
attack, though no attack roll is necessary). The
mancatcher is a reach weapon and cannot be used
against adjacent opponents.
Cost: 20 gp; Dmg (H): 1d8 nonlethal; Critical: x2;
Range Increment: - ; Weight: 8 lb.; Type:
Bludgeoning; Reach Weapon
Source: Complete Warrior 157.
Pick, Dire
A dire pick resembles a heavy pick, but with a longer
shaft and a more massive head. A dire pick is too large
to use in one hand without special training (the
appropriate Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat). A
character can use a dire pick two-handed as a martial
weapon.
Cost: 30 gp; Dmg (L): 2d6; Critical: x4; Range
Increment: - ; Weight: 12 lb.; Type: Piercing
Source: Complete Warrior 157.
Regalia of the Hero [Magic Item Set]
Collection Benefits
2 Pieces: You can grant a single ally within 30 feet
(other than yourself) a +5 insight bonus on a single
attack, save, or skill check as an immediate (command)
action. This ability functions once per day.
3 Pieces: You use a standard (command) action to
grant a single ally within 30 feet (other than you) an
extra move action, taken immediately. (If you have the
marshal’s grant move action class feature, this benefit
instead affects all allies within 30 feet of you.) This
ability functions once per day.
Badge of Valor
Price (Item Level): 1,400 gp (5th)
Body Slot: Throat
Caster Level: 5th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 17) abjuration
Activation: Immediate (mental)
Weight: —
This badge is stamped with the image of an impenetrable
fortress over which shines a golden sun.
When you activate a badge of valor, you and all allies
within 60 feet gain a +2 bonus on the next save you or
they make against a charm or fear effect before the start
of your next turn.
If you have the bardic music ability to inspire
courage, you can activate a badge of valor to increase the
bonus granted by that ability by 1 for the duration of its
effect.
A badge of valor functions three times per day.
Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, remove fear,
possession of a piece of the set.
Cost to Create: 700 gp, 56 XP, 2 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 208.
Helm of Tactics
Price (Item Level): 2,000 gp (6th)
Body Slot: Head
Caster Level: 7th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 18) transmutation
Activation: Swift (mental)
Weight: 1 lb.
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This metallic helm is forged of a gray, strangely swirled iron
alloy.
When you activate a helm of tactics, you and all allies
within 60 feet gain a +2 bonus on melee weapon
damage rolls against enemies that you or they are
flanking. This benefit lasts for 10 rounds, but allies who
move more than 60 feet from you lose the benefit until
they return within the area.
If you are a marshal, you can activate a helm of
tactics to increase the effect of your minor aura by 1.
This effect lasts for 10 rounds.
A helm of tactics functions three times per day.
Prerequisites:
Craft
Wondrous
Item,
fox’s
cunning, possession of a piece of the set.
Cost to Create: 1,000 gp, 80 XP, 2 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 208.
Horn of Resilience
Price (Item Level): 5,000 gp (9th)
Body Slot: — (held)
Caster Level: 8th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 19) enchantment
Activation: Standard (manipulated)
Weight: —
This bone horn is banded with a golden-hued iron alloy. The
image of an idealized fortress is scribed deeply in the horn’s
side.
When you activate a horn of resilience, you and all allies
within 30 feet gain damage reduction 5/—. This
benefit lasts for 5 rounds, but allies who move more
than 30 feet from you lose the benefit until they return
within the area.
If you are a marshal, you can activate a horn of
resilience to increase the effect of your major aura by 1.
This effect lasts for 5 rounds.
If you have the bardic music ability to inspire
greatness, you can activate a horn of resilience to grant
the target of that ability an extra 50 temporary hit
points. These hit points last until depleted or the
duration of your inspire greatness ability ends, and
they don’t stack with any other source of temporary hit
points.
A horn of resilience functions two times per day.
Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, heroism,
possession of a piece of the set.
Cost to Create: 2,500 gp, 200 XP, 5 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 208.
Runestaff of Forced Happiness
Price (Item Level): 18,000 gp (14th)
Body Slot: — (held)
Caster Level: 16th
Aura: Strong; (DC 23) enchantment
Activation: As spell used
Weight: 3 lb.
This smooth alabaster staff feels hollow, but doesn’t seem
fragile or easily chipped.
A runestaff of forced happiness allows you to cast any
of the following spells (each two times per day) by
expending a prepared arcane spell or arcane spell slot
of the same level or higher.
• celebration (SC 44)
• Otto’s irresistible dance
• Tasha’s hideous laughter
Prerequisites: Craft Staff, celebration, Otto’s
irresistible dance, Tasha’s hideous laughter.
Cost to Create: 9,000 gp, 720 XP, 18 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 180.
Sizing
Price: +5,000 gp
Property: Weapon
Caster Level: 9th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 19) transmutation
Activation: Swift (command)
This weapon features a series of decorative nubs on the hilt or
haft.
Activating a sizing weapon changes its size category to
any other that you desire.
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, shrink
item.
Cost to Create: 2,500 gp, 200 XP, 5 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 36.
Third Eye Aware
Price (Item Level): 10,000 gp (12th)
Body Slot: Face
Caster Level: 7th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 18) divination
Activation: —
Weight: —
This crystal glows with a pale, faint blue light.
This crystal continually grants you a +10 competence
bonus on Spot checks.
Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, Spot 10 ranks.
Cost to Create: 5,000 gp, 400 XP, 10 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 140.
Third Eye Clarity
Price (Item Level): 3,000 gp (7th)
Body Slot: Face
Caster Level: 7th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 18) conjuration
Activation: Immediate (mental)
Weight: —
This crystal is so clear that it is difficult to see.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
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You can activate this crystal to negate any one of the
following conditions affecting you: confused, dazed,
fascinated, or stunned.
You can activate the eye in response to an effect
that would impose one of these conditions (for
instance, after failing your save against a monk’s
Stunning Fist attack but before the stun takes effect).
This ability functions once per day.
Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, panacea (SC
152).
Cost to Create: 1,500 gp, 120 XP, 3 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 141.
SPELLS
Bolts of Bedevilment
Enchantment [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 5, Madness 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: Ray
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
With a strangled peal of laughter to complete the spell, you
point your hand at your enemy and fire a black beam from
your finger.
This spell grants you the ability to make one ray attack
per round. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack
with the ray to strike a target. A living creature struck
by the ray is dazed for 1d3 rounds if it fails its save.
Source: Spell Compendium 37.
Celebration
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting, Sonic]
Level: Bard 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets: All creatures in a 15-ft.-radius burst
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
With a few slurred words and fumbling motions, you
complete the spell and prepare to perform.
You cause any creatures in the area to feel increasingly
more intoxicated the longer you perform a drinking
song. In the round this spell is cast, all creatures that
fail their saving throws take a –2 penalty to Dexterity,
Intelligence, and Wisdom.
If you use a standard action to continue
performing in a second consecutive round, each
affected creature must succeed on a second Will saving
throw or become nauseated. Succeeding on this saving
throw prevents the nausea, and the creature is immune
to further effects of this spell.
If you use a standard action to continue
performing in a third consecutive round, any affected
creatures must succeed on a Will save or pass out,
becoming unconscious and helpless.
Source: Spell Compendium 44.
Curse of Impending Blades
Necromancy
Level: Bard 2, ranger 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
You grip the nail-pierced hunk of leather and cast the spell. A
small black dagger jets from the tip of the nail and strikes
your opponent squarely in the chest.
The target of the spell has a hard time avoiding attacks,
sometimes even seeming to stumble into harm’s way.
The subject takes a –2 penalty to AC.
The curse cannot be dispelled, but it can be
removed with a break enchantment, limited wish, miracle,
remove curse, or wish spell.
Arcane Material Component: A nail through a piece
of leather.
Source: Spell Compendium 56.
Dirge of Discord
Enchantment (Compulsion, Evil) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area: 20 ft.-radius spread
Duration: Concentration + 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
You create an unholy, cacophonous dirge that fills the
subjects’ minds with the screams of the dying, the
wailing of the damned, and the howling of the mad.
Affected creatures take a -4 penalty to attack rolls and
Concentration checks, a -4 penalty to Dexterity, and a
50% reduction in their speed (to a minimum of 5 feet).
Material Component: A pinch of ashes from a
destrachan.
Source: Complete Adventurer 145.
Endless Slumber
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 5, sorcerer/wizard 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 full round
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Page 38
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One living creature
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
As you utter the final syllable, your foe’s eye roll up in her
head. She falls, snoring softly even as she hits the ground.
You put a single subject into a magically induced
slumber that lasts indefinitely. Normal stimuli, such as
shouting or prodding, are insufficient to wake the
subject, but any damage dealt to the subject causes her
to rouse immediately. The subject can attempt a new
save every 24 hours to awaken early. The subject does
not need to eat or drink during this time.
Material Component: A pinch of black sand.
Source: Complete Mage 103.
Entice Gift
Enchantment [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 2, Greed 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
You cast the spell and a purple glow appears in your mark’s
eyes. You hold out your hand and demand the object it holds
in a compelling voice.
You enchant a creature so that it feels suddenly
compelled to give you what it is holding when you cast
this spell. On the creature’s next action, it moves as
close to you as it can get in a single round and offers
you the object as a standard action. This spell allows
you to act out of turn and accept the “gift” if the
creature reaches you to hand you the object (assuming
you have a free hand and can accept it). The subject
defends itself normally and acts as it wishes on
subsequent rounds, including attempting to get the
object back if desired. If the subject is prevented from
doing as the spell compels, the spell has no effect. For
example, if the subject is paralyzed and cannot move or
drop the item, nothing happens.
Source: Spell Compendium 83.
Inspirational Boost
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting, Sonic]
Level: Bard 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round or special; see text
You concentrate on assisting your friends as you begin the
short chant and simple hand chopping motion necessary to
cast the spell. As you finish, the spell’s chant allows you to
segue easily into bolstering your allies.
While this spell is in effect, the morale bonus granted
by your inspire courage bardic music increases by 1.
The effect lasts until your inspire courage effect ends.
If you don’t begin to use your inspire courage ability
before the beginning of your next turn, the spell’s
effect ends.
Source: Spell Compendium 124.
Ironthunder Horn
Transmutation [Sonic]
Level: Bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
The last words of your spell boom out with a thundering roar,
knocking the foes in your path off their feet.
You create a deep resonant vibration that can shake
creatures off their feet. Creatures in the area must
succeed on a Reflex saving throw or fall prone.
Source: Spell Compendium 126.
Joyful Noise
Abjuration
Level: Bard 1
Components: S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 10 ft.
Area: 10-ft.-radius emanation centered on you
Duration: Concentration; see text
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You stomp your foot on the ground, creating a ripple of noise
that unleashes suppressed sounds behind it.
You create sonic vibrations that negate any magical
silence effect in the area. This zone of negation moves
with you and lasts as long as you continue to
concentrate. The silence effect is not dispelled but
simply held in abeyance; it remains in effect outside
the area of the joyful noise effect.
Source: Spell Compendium 127.
Love’s Lament
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 3
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 standard action
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 39
Range: 60 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Dirge-like music fills the area, reminding those in range of
lost loves and life’s disappointments.
Creatures within the area of this spell that fail their
saves take 1d6 points of Wisdom damage and are
nauseated for 1d4 rounds.
Source: Spell Compendium 134.
Mirror Image, Greater
Illusion (figment)
Level: Bard 4, beguiler 4, sorcerer/wizard 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal, see text for mirror image (PH 254)
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/level (D)
Several illusory duplicates of you pop into being.
This spell functions like mirror image, except that an
additional image is created in each round after the first,
up to a maximum of eight concurrent images. If all
images are destroyed, the spell ends.
This spell also differs from mirror image in that you
can cast this spell even when it’s not your turn.
Source: Player’s Handbook II 120.
Phantom Threat
Illusion (Phantasm) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Reaching out to your foe’s mind, you cause him to feel as
though a threat looms close behind no matter which way he
turns.
You create the sensation in the subject’s mind that it is
threatened by more foes than it actually faces. Though
the subject doesn’t actually perceive any additional
enemies (and thus doesn’t waste any attacks on the
phantasm), a creature affected by this spell is
considered flanked, even if not threatened by other
creatures. No amount of convincing by others can help
the subject of this spell avoid its effect—only a
successful saving throw against the spell when initially
cast can help the target. A creature that can’t be flanked
is immune to this spell.
Source: Spell Compendium p157
Ray of Dizziness
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 3, sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: Ray
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
You release a drab violet ray from your palm. The ray shoots
toward your target in a spiraling corkscrew.
You strike out at your enemy with a ray that causes
intense feelings of vertigo. You must succeed on a
ranged touch attack with the ray to strike a target. A
struck subject experiences strong feelings of vertigo
and can take only a move action or a standard action
each round (but not both, and it cannot take a full-
round action).
Focus: A small top.
Source: Spell Compendium 166.
Revenance
Conjuration (Healing)
Level: Bard 6, blackguard 4, cleric 4, paladin 4
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Dead ally touched
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: None; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
You rush to your fallen companion amid the chaos of the
battle and cry out the words that will bring her back for one
last fight.
This spell brings a dead ally temporarily back to life.
The subject can have been dead for up to 1 round per
level. Your target functions as if a raise dead spell (PH
268) had been cast upon her, except that she does not
lose a level and has half of her full normal hit points.
She is alive (not undead) for the duration of the spell
and can be healed normally, but dies as soon as the
spell ends. While under the effect of this spell, the
subject is not affected by spells that raise the dead.
The subject gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls,
damage rolls, saves, and checks against the creature
that killed her.
Source: Spell Compendium 175.
Shadow Spray
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 2
Components: V, S, M
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 40
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: 5-ft.-radius burst
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
As you finish casting this spell, ribbonlike shadows burst
outward from the midst of your foes.
You cause a multitude of ribbonlike shadows to
instantaneously explode outward from the point of
origin. Creatures in the area take 4 points of Strength
damage and are dazed for 1 round.
Material Component: A handful of black ribbons.
Source: Spell Compendium 186.
Spell Theft
Abjuration
Level: Bard 4, hexblade 4, sorcerer/wizard 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft.+ 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
Winding your magical grip around the dweomers that
augment your opponent, you rip them away and feel
their energy rise around you.
You attempt to steal an opponent’s beneficial spell
effects for yourself.Upon casting this spell, you in-
stantly discern all spells currently affecting the target
(including their effects).For each spell so discerned,
you can make a dispel check (1d20 + your caster level,
maximum +15) against a DC of 11 + the spell’s caster
level.If the check succeeds, you gain the effect of the
spell for the remainder of its duration, as if it had been
cast on you instead of the original target, and the
opponent loses that effect.
Only spells capable of being dispelled can be
affected by spell theft.In addition, if you are not a legal
target of the spell to be stolen, your dispel check
automatically fails.For example, if you cast spell theft
on a dire bear affected by bull’s strength and animal
growth, you could steal only the effect of the first spell
unless you were also of the animal type.
Source: CS p104
Transfix
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: 10-ft.-radius emanation centered on a point in
space
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: Will negates; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
With a declaration, you finish your casting. Immediately,
beings in the affected area cease moving, standing as still as
statues.
This spell causes any Medium or smaller humanoids
within the area of the spell to become paralyzed. When
casting the spell, you must specify a condition that will
end it (“Wait here until the dragon arrives”), even if
that condition can never feasibly be met (“Stay here
until the sun shines at night”). Subjects in the area that
fail their saves immediately become aware of the
condition, but they cannot communicate it due to their
paralyzed state (although someone could use a spell
such as detect thoughts to ascertain the condition). For
every hour the creatures are transfixed before the
condition is met, they are allowed another saving
throw to break free of the spell’s effect.
As long as the spell operates, any Medium or
smaller humanoid that enters its area must make a
successful saving throw or become transfixed with the
same exit conditions (they too become aware of the exit
conditions on becoming transfixed). Likewise, any
creatures removed from the area are freed from the
spell’s effect.
An affected creature that is attacked gains a new
saving throw to break free of the enchantment.
Material Component: A drop of pine resin.
Source: Spell Compendium 222.
Wave of Grief
Enchantment [Evil, Mind-Affecting]
Level: Bard 2, blackguard 2, cleric 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Emitting a mournful wail, you send out a pulse of magic
imbued with sorrow and sadness.
All within the cone when the spell is cast take a –3
penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks,
and skill checks.
Material Component: Three tears.
Source: Spell Compendium 236.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 41
DM MAPS
ENCOUNTER 2
ENCOUNTER 3
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 42
ENCOUNTER 4
ENCOUTNER 5
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 43
ENCOUNTER 6
ENCOUNTER 7
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 44
APPENDIX 3: CAMPAIGN CONCEQUENCES
1.
List all NPCs that lived, escaped, and/or were captured.
2.
Did the PCs free the captives from White Plume Mountain?
3.
Did the PCs recover the crystal skull of Keraptis?
a.
What did the PCs do with the skull?
b.
If a PC kept the skull, what happened to him?
4.
Did the PCs defeat the merchurions?
5.
How many PCs died?
a.
How and where did they die?
6.
Please list any other notable events, actions, or results.
CORS7-03 Into White Plume (High Level)
Page 45
PLAYER HANDOUT 1
Dawn of the 21st of Goodmonth finds you in the city of Critwall, just south of
the Empire of Iuz and north of the Nyr Dyv. As you go about your routines,
preparing yourself for the day, you hear a knock at your door. After taking the
standard adventurer precautions against assassins and old enemies, you
discover a messenger boy in the hall. He wears a simple tabard displaying a
single star above a milky nebula. (Knowledge (religion) DC 15 or Knowledge
(arcana) DC 20 to recognize the holy symbol of Bahamut) The boy looks you up and
down, perhaps satisfying himself that you fit the description he was given,
then hands you a note and then leaves, without even asking for a tip.
Upon opening the note, your standard adventurer precautions against
trapped notes revealing no sinister indications, you find the following request
for aid:
Friend,
My name is Gildor Arcanix, and I have great and urgent
need of your assistance. If we have not previously met, I
hope that one of your colleagues or companions has heard
of me and can vouch for my Good cause. I am the leader
of a group dedicated to hunting the spawn of The
Chromatic Dragon and thwarting Her vile plans whenever
possible. Following clues recently discovered within White
Plume Mountain and based on the divinations of my most
trusted allies, I have come to the conclusion that Her
former consort, Dragotha, is seeking an artifact of potent
Evil with powers over life and death. This artifact, a large
crystal skull, was likely left by Keraptis within the bowels of
White Plume Mountain, the former demesne of Keraptis the
archmage. I need your help in recovering the crystal skull
of Keraptis before Dragotha’s minions can; I would like
you to leave this morning. Please meet me within the hour
at the local shrine to the Platinum Dragon to discuss
further details.
Gildor Arcanix
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Core Specials/597/CORS7-03 Into White Plume Mountain/CORS7-03 Into White Plume HL.pdf |
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Kielan Yarrow
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Cover design:
Andy Hopp
Hexicon RPG © Kielan Yarrow & Danny Fitt 2004
Hexicon (cover illustration) © Kielan Yarrow
& Danny Fitt (2004).
More details available at: http://www.hexicon.co.uk
Published by Hexicon Press LLP, 70 Saint Phillips Rd.,
Norwich NR2 3BW, Norfolk, UK.
ISBN: 0-9548222-0-X
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any
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sion of the copyright holders.
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Contents
Wizard Spells .............................................................................................................. 4
1000 EPs ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
2000 EPs ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
4000 EPs ............................................................................................................................................................................. 8
8000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 10
16000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12
32000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15
64000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
128000 EPs ....................................................................................................................................................................... 18
256000 EPs ....................................................................................................................................................................... 20
512000 EPs ....................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Psionic Spells ............................................................................................................. 23
1000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 23
2000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 24
4000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 25
8000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 26
16000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 28
32000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29
64000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29
128000 EPs ....................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Priest Spells ............................................................................................................... 32
1000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 32
2000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 34
4000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 36
8000 EPs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 38
16000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 40
32000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 42
64000 EPs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 43
128000 EPs ....................................................................................................................................................................... 44
Druid Powers............................................................................................................. 46
Shaman Spells ........................................................................................................... 47
Summoner Spells ...................................................................................................... 50
Alchemist Spells ........................................................................................................ 53
Illusionist Spells ........................................................................................................ 56
Warrior Monk Powers ............................................................................................. 60
Elven Bard Powers ................................................................................................... 61
Sverian Magi Powers................................................................................................ 62
Pixi Chief Trickster Spells ....................................................................................... 63
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Description: The caster creates a stunning flash of light
in the air above them. All within 10 feet who see the flash
must make a standard save vs. magic or be stunned for 1
count per SS (SS 9 would mean a target was stunned for 9
tenths of a second). Stunned characters are vulnerable to
free attacks. If attacking themselves, their attack drive is
considered over. If spell casting, the currently attempted
spell is lost. If aiming a missile weapon, any accumulated
aim time is lost. If the caster shouts a warning then all
those who understand the warning may add their initiative
mod to their saving throw. This spell can be cast using a
free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence causes a blinding glare that
causes a -(SSx2) to all in range on all physical actions.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 10' radius about caster
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
Binding components: Wormwood Leaf, Flint
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Description: The caster creates a cloud of thick black
smoke centred on a specific point determined by the caster
within a range of 100 feet. The cloud is created instantly
and covers the dimensions specified below in ‘area of ef-
fect.’ The caster does not control the movement of the cloud
after it is created; it will drift with the wind according to
local conditions. Any caught in the cloud suffer asphyxia-
tion damage as per ‘thick smoke’ (see the rulebook sec-
tion 4.1.7) and are at a -(SSx2) to all actions.
Effect in runes: Permanence creates an eternal cloud of
smoke around the target item in accordance with the spell
description.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 30' by 30' by10'
Duration: 100 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Mugwort, Coal
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Description: Using this spell the caster is able to decipher
magical languages, wards and runes of any type, no matter
their origin (although the GM may rule differently). The
caster can deduce the name of the spell contained within
the rune if it is a wizard spell (i.e. brown magic). Other-
wise an idea of the nature of the spell can be ascertained.
The power of the spell is also deduced in terms of its SS.
Effect in runes: Permanence (in a lens for example) has a
constant effect while the item is in use.
Range: 5'
Area of effect: 4' by 4'
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: None.
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Description: A small fiery dart launches from the caster’s
finger toward a specified target within 100 feet. The caster
must roll to hit and do damage with a + 2 to hit per SS and
a 0.1 damage modifier per SS (e.g. +20 and damage of 1
for a SS 10 spell). The range mod for the spell is 0.5; it
attacks as a bow and does thrust damage.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the caster’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
Binding components: Pin, Sulphur
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Description: The spell causes the mass of a target item to
be increased. Any material may be targeted providing that
it initially weighs less than the spell’s SS in pounds. If the
item is worn or carried by an individual then the carrier/
wearer’s save vs. brown magic is used to protect against
the spell. If the item is not carried then it does not receive
a save unless enchanted or made of a magical material.
Magical items receive a save equal to the maximum number
of spell points that their material can absorb (e.g. +18 for
gold); see the magical materials table, alchemy section of
the rulebook, section 5.7. If the target object is affected
then its mass is temporarily increased by a factor of 2 for
every 5 points of SS (e.g. a SS 10 casting would multiply
an object’s weight by 4). GMs should determine appropri-
ate penalties if the object is to be manipulated/wielded.
Effect in runes: Permanence increases the mass of the
item in accordance with the spell description.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: SS lbs or less
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Lead
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Description: For the duration of the spell the caster gains
heat sensitive vision; warm locations and living creatures
give off a warm glow against a black background. Objects
at room temperature (e.g. furniture) cannot be seen and
therefore the caster is at at -15 to all physical actions when
using infravision.
Effect in runes: Permanence (in a lens for example) has a
constant effect while the item is in use.
Range: S
Area of effect: Sight
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Laurel, Candle
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Description: The caster becomes attuned to the forces of
magic and is able to sense their effects on items. Magical
items within range will seem to glow to the caster, the
brighter the radiance the more potent the enchantment (this
is expressed in terms of SS). As a rough guideline, a SS10
enchantment will give off the same amount of radiance as
a standard lantern (to the caster’s eyes only).
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 25' radius about caster
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: None
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Description: The spell will force a target to speak only
the truth (i.e. tell no lies) if they fail a save against magic.
The target may choose not to speak at all if they are aware
that a spell has been cast. If a target reveals something that
they would usually keep hidden or lie about then they re-
ceive an additional save; if passed they realise they are
under the effects of a spell and may choose not to speak.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple). This is something of a curse; the bearer must make a
save every time he/she tries to lie or else accidentally speak
the truth.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: St. Johns Wort, Silver
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Description: When the spell is cast the mage chooses the
language to be comprehended. This language can then be
written, read, spoken and understood for the duration of
the spell. This spell does not function with languages con-
sidered magical, for example demonic languages and
Dragontongue.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects to the bearer of the enchanted item and they will al-
ways understand the specified form of non-magical com-
munication.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Valerian, St. Johns Wort
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Description: This spell gives the caster the ability to walk
on any liquid surface as if it was solid ground. The open
sea can be hazardous because of waves. Waves should be
given a strength value of 1-100 to represent the severity of
the swell. Each 50' traversed requires a balance roll of
(wave strength -(SSx2)) or greater to remain standing.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Yarrow, Salt Water
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Description: This spell allows the wizard to breathe nor-
mally and function without penalty in any atmosphere, e.g.
smoke, gas, water. The usual environment penalties apply
with regard to visibility and movement.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Dried Fish
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Description: The caster of this spell will suddenly begin
to assume a personable and agreeable character. All those
who come into contact with the wizard will react posi-
tively towards them providing the caster does nothing to
dissuade their audience that they are the likeable, loveable
person that they seem to be. The wizard has no controlling
effect over others, however, and while a target is more open
to logical persuasion they will not perform actions that
they would not normally undertake.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 10' radius about caster
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: St. John’s Wort, Gold
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Description: Once cast the spell stays in effect around the
caster until a blow or missile attack is aimed at them. The
spell then activates, reducing the strike roll of the incom-
ing attack by 4 points per SS. Multiple deflect blow spells
may be in effect, but they will all activate at the first in-
coming attack, not against sequential ones. In addition,
they will yield decreasing advantages. The first spell is at
full effect, the second at half power, the third at a third
power, the fourth at a quarter power and so on. Hence a SS
10 spell yields a –40 against the first attack launched against
a wizard. If recast before such an attack occurs, it will yield
an additional –20 for a total of –60. A third casting yields
a further –13 for a total of –73 and so forth. This spell can
be cast using a free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: See description
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
Binding components: None
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Description: The spell allows the wizard and/or those he
is within ten feet of to float gently down a fall of any dis-
tance, its magical effect lasting until the ground is safely
reached. If the total mass being supported is more than 40
lbs per SS then the spell will not function at all until the
amount of weight is reduced below this limit. This spell
can be cast using a free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence in an item confers one of
two effects (chosen when the item is created). The first is a
SS x 4% chance of activation whenever a fall happens,
e.g. when the bearer falls off a cliff. The second is to allow
casting at will using the bearer’s spell points with a ran-
dom SS up to the original.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 40 lbs per SS
Duration: Until landing
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
Binding components: Elder, Feather
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Description: The caster summons a small white bird from
the ether and whispers a spoken message of any length to
it. The bird then delivers the message to a person the caster
knows the ‘true name’ of no matter where they are. The
bird flies at 10 km per hour per SS.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: N/A
Duration: Until delivered
Casting time: 100-(SS/2)
Binding components: Mugwort, Arrow
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Description: This useful spell allows the mage to multi-
ply a given amount of food by a number of times equal to
the SS. The item of food to be multiplied must be touched
by the caster and cannot have an initial mass of greater
than 1 lb per 5 SS or, for liquids, a volume of greater than
one pint per 5 SS. In the case of solids the item will be
‘replicated’ rather than increased in size, e.g. when multi-
plying a loaf of bread the caster will be left with several
loaves of bread rather than one huge one. Liquids must be
multiplied within a suitable container, i.e. there must be
room within the liquid’s present container to hold the new
liquid.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: See description
Duration: P
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: None
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Description: The caster generates a yellowish bolt of en-
ergy that he/she directs toward a chosen target. The bolt
strikes at +5 per SS (attacking as a crossbow) and does no
damage, therefore ignoring any armour worn by the tar-
get. If the target fails a save vs. magic then they may not
perform any physical actions for the spell’s duration.
Effect in runes: Permanence on weapons means that the
spell will affect anyone the weapon inflicts damage upon
at a random SS up to the spell’s original one. For other
items, it allows casting with a random SS up to the spell’s
original using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: I T
Duration: 1 SEC per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Spider
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Description: While the duration of the spell lasts the caster
is able to see invisible objects or people. Invisible objects
and people are defined as those people or objects enchanted
with the wizard spell ‘invisibility’.
Effect in runes: Permanence (in a lens for example) has a
constant effect while the item is in use.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: Sight
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Frankincense, Ink
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Description: The spell imbues its targets with increased
speed of movement, increasing the target’s movement rate
to (SS/3) x normal rate. For example a warrior who nor-
mally sprints at 2 feet per count would, when enchanted
with a SS 15 spell, run at 10 feet per count. The spell does
not affect attack time but adds +(SSx2) to dodge.
Effect in runes: Allows casting with a random SS up to
the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 10 SEC per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Muscle
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Description: The spell creates a floating sphere of light
above the head of the caster that will move with him or
her. The light given off at SS 8 is the equivalent of a nor-
mal lantern.
Effect in runes: Permanence creates a permanent sphere
of daylight around the enchanted item, its brightness re-
flecting the spell’s original SS.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1' radius per SS (clearly)
Duration: 10 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Laurel, Flint, Ash
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Description: The caster stops all wind within a 2000' by
2000' area with a point designated by the wizard as its
centre no matter the strength of the wind. The affected
area becomes entirely windless, even the fiercest of gales
or magical winds stopping at the spell’s perimeter.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 2000' by 2000' (by 2000')
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Elder, Stone
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Description: The spell creates a blast of wind beginning
at the caster and spreading out in a cone stretching 10' per
SS. The width of the cone at the furthest point is 10' per
SS. The wind has a strength of 1 per SS. All affected must
make an initial knockdown roll of 1d6 per 3 SS. If this
value exceeds their STR statistic they are knocked down
(considered to be prone; see the rulebook section 3.7.6)
and pinned for the duration. If it exceeds double their STR,
they are pushed over and will roll backwards at a rate of
10’ (about 3 metres) per second until the wind ceases. Those
not knocked over have 10% normal movement per point
of STR over the wind strength; if their STR is lower they
can only stand, and make no significant movements. Spell
casting is possible as usual unless prone, but physical ac-
tions like parrying are at –5 for each point the wind’s
(strength x 2) exceeds the victim’s STR. Anyone entering
the rush is affected by it. Similarly, missiles fired into the
rush are strongly affected, giving a –5 per wind strength to
strike. Any unbalancing action (such as dodging) necessi-
tates a new knockdown roll. Targets can choose to give in
and let the wind blow them backwards should they wish.
Blown targets will suffer damage as per section 4.1.1 of
the rulebook if they strike a solid object, can make no de-
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fence, but are tough to hit if blown past a potential strik-
er’s path (-30 special mod). The spell will cease immedi-
ately if the caster stops concentrating upon it. As an exam-
ple, a target with a STR of 15 is struck by a SS 10 wind
rush spell. Having succeeded against the initial 3d6 STR
check to stay upright he then only has 10% physical mo-
bility for each point of STR above the spells’ SS, i.e. 5.
Therefore movement is reduced to 50%. He will be at –25
to physical actions (wind’s strength of 10 x 2 = 20, -15 =
5, x 5 = 25) until the spell ceases.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 10' per SS
Area of effect: 10’ wide per SS at furthest point
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Elder, Feather
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Description: The caster draws his or her hand through a
30 degree arc and affects all creatures within the arc and
within the spell’s range. All those failing a save vs. magic
are instantly put into a deep sleep. The affected creatures
can be woken up normally and should be allowed hearing
rolls to hear and be woken by loud noise around them every
SSx4 counts. The GM needs to assign a value for the level
of noise and this should be subtracted from a 2d20 roll. If
the result is below the sleeping target’s HEA then they
wake. The sounds of a nearby battle would allow a -10
modifier to the HEA check for example.
Effect in runes: Allows casting with a random SS up to
the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 30 degree arc
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Valerian, Alcohol
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Description: The spell generates either a bolt of fire or a
bolt of ice, decided by the mage when learning the spell.
The bolt is aimed at a potential target and has a +4 to strike
per SS, striking as a crossbow attack and doing impact
damage at 0.2 per SS. The Range Mod is 0.4. The spell
can be cast slightly in advance, with firing delayed for up
to SSx4 counts as required.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a weapon causes extra
damage (either cold or heat damage - see description) ran-
domly up to the original SS, e.g. a sword with a SS 10 bolt
of heat enchantment will cause an additional d10 points of
base damage when a blow is struck (so 3d10 are rolled
instead of 2d10). Permanence on non-weapon items al-
lows casting with a random SS up to the spell’s original.
Range: 200'
Area of effect: 1T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Woodruff, Clay
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Description: The charm spell allows the caster to put a
glamour over a victim. If the target fails a save vs. magic
then they will perform the caster’s wishes for the duration.
An extra save is allowed if the act is contrary to alignment
or particularly dangerous. The victim will not perform any
act that they believe will end in their certain death.
Effect in runes: Allows casting with a random SS up to
the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1T
Duration: 3 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: St. Johns Wort, Gold
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Description: The caster rots the target wood to an ex-
tremely fragile state so that a single blow would easily
break it. Crafted items (e.g. weapons) receive a save at -10
and will break when used for parrying or attacking. En-
chanted items receive a save at the level of the alchemist
who enchanted them.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 lb per SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Water
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Description: Affected metal becomes very fragile allow-
ing it to be broken easily. Crafted items (e.g. weapons)
save at -10 and those affected have their break increased
by (SSx2). The spell does not affect adamantine or mythryl.
Enchanted items receive a save at the level of the alche-
mist who enchanted them.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
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Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 lb per SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Water
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Description: The affected stone crumbles to small peb-
bles. Crafted stone (e.g. structures) saves at -10.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 5 lbs per SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Sage, Plant Root
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Description: The caster summons an invisible globe at a
desired point. No sound leaves the area at all although
sound from outside the globe can be heard within it. The
globe of silence moves at the caster’s will as long as it is
concentrated upon.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 5' radius
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Tongue
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Description: The caster creates a semi-transparent, shim-
mering golden bridge. The bridge is 10 feet wide, stretches
for a distance of 5 feet per SS and will support 100 lbs per
SS. The bridge does not have to be horizontal; it will stretch
between any two points (e.g. the ground and a roof).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 10' wide by 5' per SS long
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Iron, Stone
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Description: The spell allows the spell’s target and all of
his or her personal belongings (including objects carried
in the hands and about the person) up to 2 lbs per SS to
become completely invisible for the spell’s duration. Any
aggressive action against another individual or creature
dispels the invisibility.
Effect in runes: The bearer of the item is rendered perma-
nently invisible, blinking into existence for 10 seconds then
slowly fading again when an aggressive act is undertaken.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Wormwood, Glass
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Description: This spell allows the caster to float effort-
lessly above the ground. The spell allows free vertical
movement but horizontal movement can only be achieved
by the wizard dragging himself along a surface or taking
some similar action. The speed of ascent or descent is 10'
per second and the spell will allow each target to carry
SSx5 lbs of equipment. If they bear more than this limit
then the spell will not function.
Effect in runes: Allows casting with a random SS up to
the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1T per 5 SS
Duration: 50 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Elder, Feather
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Description: Once this spell is cast the magician and their
equipment blends into the surrounding scenery with a cha-
meleon-like ability. This spell will not necessarily allow
the caster to avoid a close-up inspection but will confer a
+100 to hide and a +50 to stealth for the duration.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows the spell to function
continuously, but at half power (i.e. + 50 to hide, + 25 to
stealth) and only in a particular environment (e.g. wood-
land, urban etc.).
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Laurel, Earth
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Description: This spell creates a cluster of mesmerising
lights with hypnotic qualities. Any person viewing the
lights must make a save vs. magic or become mesmerised
by them for the duration of the spell. If a mesmerised vic-
tim is aroused (by being attacked or shaken for example)
they receive another save against the spell with a cumula-
tive +10 for each such ‘distraction’.
Effect in runes: Permanence creates a permanent array of
lights around the enchanted object acting as per the spell
description.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: All viewers
Duration: 10 SEC per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Valerian, Eyes
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Description: This spell distorts the caster’s visual image
to such a degree that they become hard to follow and, es-
pecially, to hit. The spell confers a bonus to the caster’s
strike level of +4 per SS, up to a maximum of 119. This
spell does not affect those viewing the caster by other means
than by normal sight (e.g. infravision).
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Crystal
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Description: A thin beam of off-yellow light darts from
the caster’s finger to a specified target, automatically hit-
ting and ignoring armour. If the victim fails a save vs. magic
then they lose 1d10 exhaustion points per SS (see the op-
tional rules on exhaustion, section 3.7.8 of the rulebook).
Effect in runes: Permanence in a weapon causes the spell
to take effect when the weapon draws blood (or otherwise
causes damage). Permanence on any other type of item
causes a permanent exhausting effect upon the item’s bearer
as per the spell description (they role for losses when
putting the item on, and cannot regain those exhaustion
points, even through rest, until the item is removed).
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1T
Duration: Until target is rested
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Spider
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Description: When this spell is cast an area of 50 feet
cubed centring on a point specified by the caster is flooded
with magical darkness; no light will enter this region, nor
can any within it see out. Normal darkness modifiers ap-
ply to those within (see the rulebook, section 3.7.18).
Effect in runes: Permanence creates a durationless area
of darkness centred on the enchanted object.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 50' by 50' by 50'
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Wormwood, Oil
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Description: This spell allows the caster to obscure his
tracks to a high degree even in conditions such as snow or
mud. Any person attempting a track roll to follow the caster
suffers a minus to their track roll equal to -7 per SS of the
spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an item (a pair of boots
for example) confers the benefits at all times to the item’s
bearer.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1T per 5 SS
Duration: 3 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Celandine, Glass
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Description: This spell allows the caster to hurl a ball of
fire at his or her enemies, affecting all those within a 10’
radius. The fireball automatically explodes in the vicinity
of its targets who receive a dodge against the fireball’s
attack. If a target’s dodge roll is greater than the fireball’s
SSx5 then the target only takes half damage, if the dodge
roll is greater than SSx8 then the target avoids all damage.
A dodge of 120 is always a success. Damage is 0.2 x SS
and ignores armour, being non-locational.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 200'
Area of effect: 10' radius
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Binding components: Wormwood, Sulphur
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Description: The caster creates a writhing mass of foul
smelling, cold, clammy fog. Any caught in or entering the
fog must make a save vs. brown magic or suffer the effects
of magical fear (see the rulebook section 4.1.5 for details).
The fog’s dimensions are 20' x 20' x 10' and it will drift
with the wind. Note that wherever the fog is, it is the caster
who will be the object of his victim’s fear.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an item will create a per-
manent Fog around the item as per the spell description.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 20' by 20' by 10'
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Frankincense, Blood (any)
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Description: This powerful spell may be cast on an item,
usually a weapon or projectile. The enchanted item has
the ability to ignore inorganic armour and materials.
Wooden shields would still be effective for example but a
sword parry or metal armour would not be.
Effect in runes: Permanence is most suitable on weap-
ons. The enchanted item will ignore inorganic materials
any time the bearer rolls under the original spell’s (SS x
3).
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 item
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Sage, Iron
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Description: When this spell is cast 1 identical image of
the caster per 3 SS appears. These images may be posi-
tioned as the caster wishes within a radius of 30' and will
follow the caster’s movements and actions exactly. It will
be unclear, even to those watching the wizard closely, which
one of the images is really him. The images are essentially
complex illusions and may be individually ‘disbelieved’
in the normal way; they will also disappear when struck.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 30'
Area of effect: 1 image per 3 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Wormwood, Hair (own)
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Description: The mage conjures a glimmering web of un-
earthly origin that launches itself at a spot designated by
the caster within a range of 100 feet. All living creatures
within 20' of the target point must make a dodge against
the SSx8; for every 3 feet the target is distant from the
centre point the difficulty of the dodge roll is reduced by 5
points. If the dodge is failed the target suffers from dou-
bled effects of full ‘entanglement’ (see the rulebook sec-
tion 3.7.11) until they are free. The net cannot be cut by
non-magical weapons.
Effect in runes: Allows casting with a random SS up to
the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 20' radius
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Silk Thread
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Description: With this spell the wizard conjures an invis-
ible bar of energy to parry all incoming attacks, whether
from behind, in front or to the side of the mage. The bar
defends as a quarterstaff at +5 per SS and with a defensive
AT of 4. All parries are conducted automatically and the
weapon is subject to all normal combat rules e.g. AT modi-
fiers for multiple opponents etc.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 50 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Pennyroyal, Iron
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Description: The mage uses this spell to affect the joints
and muscles of all creatures in a 30-degree arc in front of
the caster and up to 50 feet away. Those targets failing to
save find it difficult to move, having their movement rate
halved, and suffer a -40 to all physical actions for the spell’s
duration.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 30' arc
Duration: 10 counts per SS
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Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Celandine, Hashish
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Description: The spell store allows the mage to delay the
casting of another spell in his repertoire until required. The
mage would firstly cast spell store and then must success-
fully cast the spell to be stored. The stored spell may then
be activated as and when the mage requires and has a cast-
ing time of the mage’s AT / 2 (it can also be activated
using a free action). There is no limit to how long the spell
may be stored for but only 1 spell may be stored at a time.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows the enchanted object
to act as a temporary store for spells. Any single spell can
be cast into the object, then released later using a single
action.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: Until cast
Casting time: 50-S
Binding components: Frankincense, Silver
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Description: The wizard creates a searing beam of intense,
burning heat that bursts from their hand to a designated
target and locks at that point. The beam may be maintained
for the spell’s duration and is therefore useful both as an
offensive weapon and for melting through solid materials.
The initial strike is at +4 per SS (as a crossbow attack) and
does thrusting damage with a damage modifier of 0.25 per
SS (range mod 0.4). If the beam is concentrated on a sur-
face it will burn through wood at half an inch per SS per
second and metal at 1/10th of an inch per SS per second,
creating a hole 2 inches in diameter. If the beam is to be
kept focused on a living target that is still capable of move-
ment they receive a further dodge (or parry if using a shield)
against the spell’s original attack every 10 counts. Success
indicates that they have lost the beam; failure means they
will take further damage (as per the original) against the
same bodily location. The beam immediately dissipates if
it looses its target (i.e. is dodged or parried) regardless of
remaining duration.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 2 inch diameter
Duration: 5 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Woodruff, Ash, Oil
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Description: The wizard may turn the solid matter of 1
person per 5 points of SS to a chill mist-form. The person/
persons and all of their possessions are affected (a per-
son’s belongings being termed as all objects carried or
worn, but not horses etc.). While in mist form the affected
creatures cannot cast spells or interact with physical ob-
jects (e.g. attack them) but in turn cannot be harmed by
normal means - although some spells may still affect them
at the GM’s discretion. The person’s mist form can be con-
trolled accurately in order to allow them to seep through
the keyhole of a door or a crack in a window pane etc.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows the bearer of the item
to maintain permanent mist form until willingly dispelled
(by re-uttering the power word). Mist form can then be
reassumed at any time.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Coal, Water
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Description: The age spell affects a target’s physical make-
up, decaying the matter that forms them and thereby ac-
celerating the aging process dramatically. If the target fails
a save vs. magic they are aged instantly by 2 years per SS.
Consult the rulebook section 4.1.11 for information on
aging and stat deterioration.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Blood (human)
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Description: The conjuror forms a sphere centred on them-
selves and stretching out in a radius of 100' per SS in which
all water surfaces are calm and peaceful. The circle of calm
moves with the caster. Wind and weather conditions are
not affected - strong wind and rain will still be present
within the circle but the waters will be calm and still.
Effect in runes: The item radiates the calm waters en-
chantment and affects all water within a radius of 50 feet
per SS. Useful on a ship’s figurehead for example.
Range: 100'
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Area of effect: 100' radius per SS
Duration: 5 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Yarrow, Crystal
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Description: This clever spell has a double effect, both
rendering the caster truly invisible and also projecting a
likeness of the caster nearby (the distance determined by
the power of the spell) which mimics the caster’s actions
perfectly. The result is such that the caster appears to be
where he is not, meaning that all incoming attacks have a
SS x 4% chance of missing entirely (maximum 90%) and
the caster’s strike level is increased by 3 points per SS (up
to a maximum of 119).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T per 10 SS
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Celandine, Glass
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Description: This is a more rare and powerful version of
the slow others spell in that the targets receive no save vs.
magic (the magic avoids affecting the targets directly, in-
stead “thickening” the air around them to resist their move-
ments). For every point of STR a target has above the SS
of the holding spell they receive 10% of their movement
and physical skill abilities. For example, say a target has a
+44 to strike and a STR of 14. When affected by a SS 10
holding spell they only receive 40% of their normal strike
roll, i.e. +18. If the SS exceeds a target’s STR, they are
immobilised but able to talk and make small gestures.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Celandine, 1 ring (any type)
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Description: A more powerful version of the common
flamedart spell which conjures multiple, wickedly hot darts
which stream from the palm of the caster’s hands to strike
one or more targets. One dart is created per 2 points of SS
and these may be distributed among targets within range
(also in line-of-sight) as the caster sees fit. The darts strike
as bow attacks at +2 per SS and do thrust damage with a
damage modifier of 0.1 per SS. The darts’ range modifier
is 0.5. If more than one dart targets a single opponent, only
a single dodge roll need be made and compared to each
attack. A large shield can be used to parry any number of
darts with a single roll; other weapons can parry only a
single dart.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T per 2 SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Pin, Sulphur
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Description: The caster affects the air around the target’s
body so that if forms a hard, protective and invisible cov-
ering around them. The magical armour protects all loca-
tions and all four aspects (cut, chop, thrust, and impact) at
2 per SS. Hence a SS 10 spell offers protection at 20 (15),
20 (15), 20 (15), 20 (15). It is effectively weightless and
compliments any armour already worn by the target.
Effect in runes: Grants permanent mystic armour to the
item’s bearer at a SS rolled randomly up to the original,
affecting a single body region (e.g. the head for a tiara).
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T per 10 SS
Duration: 50 counts per SS
Casting time: 40-(SS/2)
Binding components: Hawthorn, Iron
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Description: The caster creates a protective magical field
around themselves that attempts to reach out and block the
magical force of the next spell directed at the caster
(whether directly or indirectly). The spell can be of any
type and class. The attacking spell is assigned a strike
modifier of +3 per SS and the parry spell is assigned a
parry modifier of +5 per SS. Strike and parry rolls are made
as per a normal attack with no further modifiers to deter-
mine whether the incoming spell gets through. The parry
spell will affect the next incoming spell selected by the
caster. It cannot be cast cumulatively (only one parry spell
may be active at a time).
Effect in runes: Permanence offers the bearer of the en-
chanted object constant protection against all incoming
spells, with SS rolled randomly up to the original value
each time the rune is activated.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
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Duration: Until activated
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
Binding components: Glass (mirrored)
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Description: The designated target is struck blind perma-
nently. The target receives NO save vs. magic. Power word
spells are extremely rare and can only be found in the
grimoires of the most powerful mages or in the most well
guarded locations. There are great risks involved in the
learning of a power word - see the rules section 5.1. A
starting player character may not choose a power word for
their repertoire unless the GM allows it.
Effect in runes: Permanence is only applicable for en-
chanted weapons; the effect is activated when the weapon
draws blood rendering the victim instantly blind (no save
vs. magic). When used in this way the effect is temporary
and the victim will have their sight returned after 1 day
per SS of the original enchantment.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1T
Duration: P
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
Binding components: None
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Description: The caster refines the practices of the slow
other and holding spells to affect the air surrounding indi-
vidual weapons, making them difficult to wield. The af-
fected weapon will inflict less damage, - 1 per SS to the
initial 2d10 Damage Roll. Magical weapons receive a save
equal to that of the alchemist who enchanted them.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 weapon per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Celandine, Elder
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Description: The spell allows the caster to teleport them-
selves and others (depending on the SS) great distances
instantaneously. All other teleportees must be touching the
caster; the caster need not be teleported himself. If the in-
tended targets are unaware of the teleportation or do not
wish to be teleported then they must make a save vs. magic
to prevent the spell having an effect. The caster’s cast
chance may be lessened by 1 - 100% at the GM’s discre-
tion depending on how familiar the caster is with the in-
tended destination. If it is the caster’s bedchamber then
there should be no modifier while a place they have vis-
ited only once may incur a 30% negative modifier.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 5 KM per SS
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Celandine, Crystal, Blood (any)
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Description: The mage creates a powerful, flaming wall
that appears at a point within 100 feet and in the caster’s
line of sight. The wall has dimensions of up to 5 feet in
width by 3 feet in depth by 5 feet in height per SS. The
wall will automatically take on its maximum dimensions
unless deliberately controlled by the caster and is not con-
strained by physical boundaries such as walls or doors.
For example, if a wall is created inside a small dwelling
which has a width smaller than the wall of flame then the
wall will extend outside of the house, igniting the walls of
the house if possible and anything outside of it. The wall
does not create smoke and the magical flames cause a x1
damage modifier, non-locational injury to anyone attempt-
ing to pass through it or caught in it. Injuries are rolled /
caused per foot of wall traversed. It cannot be cast on top
of living creatures.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 5' by 3' by 5' per SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Laurel, Flint, Oil
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Description: The spell creates a wall of thick granite that
springs instantly from a point specified by the mage within
100 feet and in view. The wall of stone has dimensions of
5' in length, 1' in depth and 3' in height per SS. The wall of
stone differs from the wall of flame in that it ‘grows’ from
the point of the ground the caster specifies until it either
reaches its maximum dimensions or comes into contact
with solid matter, thereby making it possible to block cor-
ridors etc. The wall of stone is permanent and may be
treated as a normal stone wall thereafter. Those wishing
to destroy it using the rules presented in the rulebook sec-
tion 4.1.9 will face a resistance value of 50 per SS.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
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Range: 100'
Area of effect: 5' by 1' by 3' per SS
Duration: P
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Laurel, Stone
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Description: The caster conjures a pebble sized, floating
bubble of powerful acid that is sent off in a set direction at
the rate of 30 feet per second. The bubble can be com-
manded to explode as the caster desires or will automati-
cally explode when it reaches a point 100 feet distant from
the wizard. The compacted acid then explodes to hit all
targets within 25 feet of the explosion. All of those in range
must make a dodge roll. If the dodge beats the SS x 5 then
the target takes half damage, if the dodge beats SS x 8 then
the target avoids all damage. A 120 dodge is always a suc-
cess. It is possible that the target is not aware of the bubble
(it is very small and moves quickly); if this is the case then
they are at a -25 to their dodge roll. The damage is non-
locational and ignores armour, doing damage at 0.35 per
SS. The damage modifier is reduced by 0.1 per foot dis-
tant from the epicentre.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spells original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 25' radius
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Acid
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Description: When this spell is cast a circle of fierce flame
is created in a 15 foot radius circle centred on the caster.
The circle of flames moves with the caster for the spell’s
duration and all those caught in the flames suffer a non-
locational injury with a damage modifier of 0.4 per SS
upon being contacted. If they remain in contact, they will
suffer the same amount of damage every subsequent 10
counts.
Effect in runes: Permanence either creates a permanent
circle of flames around an object that cannot be dispelled
or allows casting using bearer’s spell points with a ran-
dom SS up to the original.
Range: S
Area of effect: 15' radius about caster
Duration: 50 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Laurel, Oil, Onyx
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Description: The mage casting this cruel spell emits a
sickly green bar of light from his or her index finger, which
automatically strikes a designated target within the spell’s
range. If the target fails a save vs. magic then they lose 1
point of a randomly determined physical statistic per SS.
The loss is permanent. Physical statistics are STR, DEX,
CON, AGI and APP. Use a d6 to determine which of the
five is affected and re-roll on a 6. If a stat is reduced to
zero, the victim dies instantly.
Effect in runes: For permanence, if on a weapon, when
the weapon draws blood (or otherwise causes damage) the
spell is activated except that the effect is temporary. Lost
stats are recovered at the rate of 1 per day. On other items,
the bearer may cast the spell at will with a random SS up
to the original using his or her spell points.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Blood (human), Snake
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Description: This well crafted spell affects both the physi-
cal agility of its targets and the air around them, making it
slightly thinner, thereby enabling the targets to move much
more quickly than normal. In game terms, each target has
a -3 modifier to their attack time and gains a +40 to all
initiative rolls for the duration of the spell. If a target is not
aware of the spell being cast or does not wish to be af-
fected by it then they will have to make a save vs. magic.
Effect in runes: For permanence, the bearer of the en-
chanted item permanently receives a +25 to initiative rolls
and -2 modifier to attack time
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Celandine, Feather (Hummingbird)
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Description: This spell is used to undo the effects of pre-
vious enchantments. Simply, if the SS of the negate magic
spell is greater than the SS of the previous spell then the
negation is successful. Currently active spells are appro-
priate targets for the negate magic spell (e.g. darkness, fog
of fear). Permanent physical changes caused by magic (such
as erode stats, rot wood or wall of stone for example) can-
not be negated as these are no longer part of an active en-
chantment. Runes and the like can be unmade providing
the negate magic spell is of sufficient strength.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
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dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: One enchantment
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: St. Johns Wort, Emerald
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Description: The designated target is paralysed from the
neck down and receives NO save vs. magic. Power word
spells are extremely rare and can only be found in the
grimoires of the most powerful mages or in the most well
guarded locations. There are great risks involved in the
learning of a power word - see the rulebook section 5.1. A
starting player character may not choose a power word for
their repertoire unless the GM allows it.
Effect in runes: Permanence is only applicable for en-
chanted weapons; the effect is activated when the weapon
draws blood (no save vs. magic), rendering the victim in-
stantly paralysed.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 40 counts per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
Binding components: None
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Description: This enchantment renders the target/s im-
pervious to normal extremes of temperature enabling them
to walk naked through a blizzard or over hot coals. Dam-
age caused by magically induced temperature extremes
(e.g. circle of flames) is halved.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an item allows the item’s
bearer to permanently resist heat and cold as per the spell
description.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Laurel, Ash, Water, Coal
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Description: This spell forever closes a target door (or
other portal) by rendering its form within reality unchange-
able and thereby allowing no alteration to its state. No bat-
tering ram or fire will open it or destroy it leaving no choice
but to go around it or through the wall by its side. The
sorcerous seal can be removed by a sufficiently powerful
negate magic spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 portal
Duration: P
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Hawthorn, Beeswax
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Description: This is a curious enchantment affecting spe-
cifically swords/knives and no other weapons. If the wielder
of the target sword fails a save vs. magic, his or her blade
will instantly turn into a ferocious cobra that turns on the
unfortunate swordsman. Both the wielder and the snake
must make an initiative roll (the snakes have an initiative
modifier of +40). If the wielder wins the snake can be
dropped, otherwise the snake will attack the victim (see
the bestiary for poisonous snake stats, except that these
snakes cannot be killed!) Once dropped and/or retreated
from, the snakes will only attack anyone trying to pick
them up. The snakes revert back to swords once the spell’s
duration has ended. This also affects magical swords al-
though they are entitled to a further save vs. magic equal
to the save of the alchemist who enchanted them.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 sword per SS
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: 2 Snakes, Amethyst
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Description: This spell allows the mage to store some of
the power used in this incantation and utilise it in the next.
Boost spell has no effect other than adding the boost spell’s
SS / 2 to the SS of the spell cast next by the mage. Only
one boost spell can be active at any given time.
Effect in runes: With permanence, boosts every spell cast
by the item’s bearer by the SS of the original spell / 3
Range: S
Area of effect: N/A
Duration: Until next spell
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: St. Johns Wort, Crystal, Lapis
Lazuli
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Description: This spell makes real the dream of flight al-
lowing the mage to soar into the air and cover vast dis-
tances quickly and relatively safely. The mage and those
flying with him travel at 6 km per hour per SS, e.g. at SS
10 the rate of flight is 60 km per hour. Note that 1 km per
hour is approximately equal to 1 foot per second (actually
closer to 0.9 feet per sec), or 0.1 feet per count. Hence 60
km per hour equals approximately 6 feet per count (in pace
terms). Once this spell is cast for the first time the caster
(and anyone else affected) should add the fly skill to their
character sheet and calculate the modifiers (without the
usual -25 penalty for novices). For flight in combat, see
section 3.7.12 of the rulebook.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 5 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Celandine, Feather (Eagle), Crys-
tal
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Description: Using this spell the wizard draws down light-
ning from the sky above and channels it through them-
selves and then out with shuddering force to the unfortu-
nate target. Needless to say this spell must be cast out of
doors and there must be some cloud cover (very light cover
will suffice). The lightning bolt strikes at +6 per SS (as a
crossbow), ignores armour and causes non-locational dam-
age at 0.5 per SS. The bolt’s range modifier is 0.6.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 300'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 100-(SS/2)
Binding components: Elder, Mugwort, Amber, Sunstone,
Gold
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Description: The caster chooses a point in sight and within
the range of the spell to become the spell’s focus. The cho-
sen point begins to emit a magnetically attractive force
affecting all metallic items within a 50 foot radius circle
centring on the chosen point. The strength of the attrac-
tion is 3 per SS; this value is compared to the weight in
pounds of any metallic object within range. Metallic items
are drawn toward the designated point at the rate of 1 me-
tre per second per 2 points of magnetic strength over the
weight in pounds of the object. For example a SS 10 spell
will attract a 5 pound sword towards its centre at the rate
of 12.5 metres per second (SS10 = magnetic strength of
30, which is 25 points above the sword’s mass of 5 lbs).
When dealing with armour the total mass of armour worn
needs to be added to the mass of the wearer when calculat-
ing how fast (and if at all) a person may be dragged to-
ward the point. Although this makes it unlikely that they
will be attracted, they will be hampered by the pulling force;
significant amounts of metal armour will cause a –2 per
SS to all physical actions and a –2% per SS to pace values.
Weapons may be dragged from hands if the magnetic
strength is greater than the STR of the weapon’s bearer. If
the target point is designated as a person or living creature
then they are entitled to a save vs. magic to avoid the ef-
fects of the spell. Any weapons or objects will strike them
using their own damage mod (use 0.2 for miscellaneous
objects) multiplied by the magnetic strength/10. Hence a
longsword (damage 1) would strike a random location with
a damage of 1 x 30/10 = 3 (for a SS 10 spell).
Effect in runes: With permanence, the magnetism is per-
manent operating according to the spell description.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 50' radius
Duration: 5 SEC per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Ash, Lodestone
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Description: Using this enchantment the wizard bends his
physical form to take on the shape of an animal of his or
her choice. Once in the new form the mage takes on the
physical attributes of the creature but retains his or her
own mental characteristics. In game terms the wizard takes
on all of the attributes listed for the particular animal in
the bestiary section but retains INT, SST, WIL and all their
saves. Casting spells or speech are both impossible once
in beast form. This spell must be learnt for each animal
type that the caster wishes to transform into, e.g. meta-
morphosis bear or metamorphosis hawk. The spell will not
transform the caster into any magical creatures.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a wearable item will mean
that the wearer takes on the shape of the animal when the
item is put on, and remains in this form until willingly
dispelled (the item must be removed immediately upon
returning to humanoid form or the transformation will be-
gin again). On a non-wearable item it allows casting at
will using the caster’s own spell points with a random SS
up to the original.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T per 10 SS
Duration: 2 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Sage, Bones (Changeling)
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Description: This spell allows the caster to draw on
otherworldly powers to create a thick, clammy, writhing
mass of evil smoke that attacks the spirit of any coming
into contact with it. The caster chooses a point within the
spell’s range and in sight at which the mists begins to form.
It rapidly begins to spread out from this point at the rate of
3 feet per second until it fills an area equivalent to a circle
with a 150' radius. If the point chosen is at ground level
then the mist forms a dome, while a point 150 feet up in
the air will form a full globe. Once the mist has spread to
its full size (50 seconds) the caster may direct it as he or
she wishes, its entire cloud moving at 3 feet per second.
Any living creature that comes into contact with the mist
must make a save vs. magic or face a 1d6 per SS death
roll. Hence a SS 12 spell would cause a 12d6 death roll. If
successful (in either saving or for the death roll) the victim
is immune to the mist for its duration. The mist will vanish
instantly at the end of the spell’s duration. The caster is
not immune to the effects of the mist.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 500'
Area of effect: 150' radius circle within sight
Duration: 20 SEC per SS
Casting time: 100-(SS/2)
Binding components: Nightshade, Blood (Human), Heart
(Demon)
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Description: The designated target suffers a 1d6 per SS
death roll and receives NO save vs. magic. Power word
spells are extremely rare and can only be found in the
grimoires of the most powerful mages or in the most well
guarded locations. There are great risks involved in the
learning of a power word - see the rulebook section 5.1. A
starting player character may not choose a power word for
their repertoire unless the GM allows it.
Effect in runes: Permanence is only applicable for en-
chanted weapons; the effect is activated when the weapon
draws blood (no save vs. magic). The victim receives a
1d6 per 2 SS death roll.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
Binding components: None
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Description: A yellowish mist extends at great speed from
the mage’s lips and touches the forehead of the spell’s un-
fortunate victim. If the target fails a save vs. magic they
are permanently relieved of 1 point of a random primary
statistic for every point of SS. Determine which of the tar-
get’s primary statistics is reduced by rolling a d10 and re-
rolling on a result of 8, 9 or 10. The stolen points are added
to the caster’s own equivalent statistic (thereby altering
their skill modifiers temporarily) and lost at the rate of 1
point per minute.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Eyes (Cat), Blood (Human), Snake,
Garnet
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Description: This spell removes the target/s body matter
from the physical plane and replaces it with a ghostly,
wraith-like form. While in wraith-form the individuals
cannot interact in any way with the physical plane and
cannot speak or cast further spells, nor may they be at-
tacked except by magical weapons and certain spells.
Those in wraith-form are not inhibited by any physical
barrier and can effortlessly glide through any wall or ob-
stacle. The caster does not need to wait until the duration
of the spell ends but may return to solid form at any given
moment; others enchanted by the spell do not have the
same option and return to normal when the caster dispels
the magic or the duration ends. Unwilling or unknowing
targets of the spell must make a save vs. magic.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T per 3 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Celandine, Frankincense, Moon-
stone
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Description: With this spell the caster enhances a chosen
attribute of the chosen target. Any primary or secondary
statistic except SIZ may be chosen; the affected statistic is
increased by 1 point per 2 points of SS. The increases van-
ish at the end of the spell’s duration.
Effect in runes: Permanence in a wearable item confers a
permanent boosted stat as per the spell description. On a
non-wearable item the spell is castable at will using the
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caster’s own spell points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1T
Duration: 5 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Muscle (caster’s own race), Blood
(caster’s own race), Bones (caster’s own race), Heart (cast-
er’s own race), Bloodstone
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Description: This spell is a much more powerful version
of the standard teleport spell requiring a much greater de-
gree of control and level of power from the caster. Instead
of moving location within the physical plane the caster
and other targets actually shift dimensions to an alternate
plane of the mage’s choice. The position arrived at within
the new dimension cannot be chosen and in effect the
travelers do not actually ‘move,’ emerging into the same
point in physical terms.
Effect in runes: Permanence creates a portkey, an object
that when touched will instantly transport the toucher to a
specific alternate dimension. The object itself is left be-
hind, so another portkey is required to return.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1T per 10 SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 200-(SS/4)
Binding components: Frankincense, Eyes (Demon)
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Description: The caster causes a small, magical eruption
in the very bones of the earth, which reverberate rapidly
and cause massive disruptions in the land and sea around.
The caster picks a spot in sight and within the spell’s range
to form the epicentre of the earthquake, which affects a
circle with a radius of up to 300 feet per SS. The affected
ground heaves violently and great chasms are ripped in
the earth. Buildings within the area of effect have a per-
centage chance of being destroyed equal to 5% per SS (the
GM may modify this percentage based on the quality of
the structure). All buildings within range will sustain dam-
age however. The GM is free to exercise considerable
dramatic and narrative license regarding the exact effects
of this spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 6000'
Area of effect: 300' radius per SS
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 100-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Earth, Diamond, Muscle (El-
emental)
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Description: This spell allows a mage to draw magical
energy (in the form of spell points) from willing donors
and use them as their own for a limited time. There is no
limit to the amount of spell points that a mage may draw
upon except the number available to him from his or her
donors. Physical contact is required but this can be achieved
by the donors actually touching the caster. Spell points are
drawn at the rate of 1 per minute from each donor, e.g. if
there are three donors then three spell points are drawn per
minute. If the spell points are not used within 1 hour per
SS then the held points vanish.
Effect in runes: Permanence creates a permanent spell
point store within the enchanted item. Donated spell points
remain in the item until used and do not dissipate with
time. A number of spell points equal to the original en-
chantment’s SS can be held in the item. These are usable
by any mage of any type.
Range: T
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 100-(SS/2)
Binding components: None
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Description: The designated target is instantly turned to
stone and receives NO save vs. magic. Power word spells
are extremely rare and can only be found in the grimoires
of the most powerful mages or in the most well guarded
locations. This is the most powerful of all, and consequently
the most rare. There are great risks involved in the learn-
ing of a power word - see the rulebook section 5.1. A start-
ing player character may not choose a power word for their
repertoire unless the GM allows it.
Effect in runes: Permanence is only applicable for en-
chanted weapons; the effect is activated when the weapon
draws blood (no save vs. magic). The victim is instantly
turned to stone.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: P
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
Binding components: None
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Description: This spell works in a more powerful way
than the parry spell spell in that it is possible to reflect the
spell back at its caster. Once the spell is cast it lies dor-
mant until a spell is aimed at the mage (either directly or
indirectly) at which point a shimmering shield appears and
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attempts to intercept the attacking magic. The attacking
spell is assigned a strike modifier equal to its SS x 3 and
the reflect spell is assigned a parry modifier of SS x 4.
Attack and parry rolls are made using these modifiers. If
the parry roll is lower the attacking spell gets past the de-
fence and affects the defending mage. If the parry roll is
higher the attacking spell is reflected directly back at its
caster or point of origin having its usual effects. Only one
reflect spell can be active at any given time. Note that un-
like parry spell, the spell activates against the first incom-
ing spell no matter its nature; a healing spell will also trig-
ger the defence. The caster can willingly discharge it at
any time without effect.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an item affords the bearer
an automatic defence against all incoming spells at a
slightly lessened effect, the reflect spell being activated at
a random SS (up to its original).
Range: S
Area of effect: Next incoming spell
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
Binding components: Ash, Diamond, Glass (mirrored)
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Description: The mage who casts this spell may create a
magical scroll just like an alchemist but without a risk of
permanent spell point loss (see section 5.7 or the rule-
book).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 Scroll
Duration: P
Casting time: 1-6 hours
Binding components: Valerian, Mythryl
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Description: The magus uses the power of this incanta-
tion to control and influence the weather for miles around
a given point. The centre point of the weather effect must
be within the spell’s range but does not need to be in line
of sight. The caster may specify the nature of the weather
conditions within the spell’s area (e.g. clear, cloudy, stormy
etc.). Note however that the impossible cannot be achieved
- bright sunshine cannot be conjured at night for example.
The spell primarily deals with air and water, affecting wind,
cloud and rain. Lightning cannot be controlled but may
be caused by chance if the caster summons a storm. The
GM is entitled to exercise dramatic and narrative control
when this spell is used.
Effect in runes: Permanence either causes a constant mani-
festation of a specific weather type around the enchanted
object or allows the bearer to cast the spell at will using
his or her own spell points.
Range: 5 KM per SS
Area of effect: 1KM radius per SS
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 200-(SS/4)
Binding components: Angelica, Ash, Sage, Yarrow, Dia-
mond, Ruby, Sapphire, Onyx
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Description: This spell allows the caster to create a sin-
gle, very powerful spell consisting of a number of other
spells equal to the batch spell’s SS divided by 5. The caster
must declare in advance which spells will form the batch;
this declaration cannot be changed during the batch’s crea-
tion. A roll to cast must be made at the time of the batch’s
creation for the batch spell and the other spells that form
the batch. If all are successful the batch is created as de-
sired. If the batch roll is failed (it is made first) then the
caster does not need to make rolls for the other spells (what
would be the point?) and would begin again with the batch
spell. If a roll for a spell that would form part of the batch
is failed then that spell is not included in the batch. All
spell points are expended at the time of the batch’s crea-
tion rather than at the time of use. The batch remains in
existence for the batch spell’s duration (1 hour per SS) and
may be used at any time. Casting takes as long as the long-
est casting time of all the spells within the batch.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 100-(SS/2)
Binding components: None
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Description: The archmage casting this spell temporarily
grants himself the ability to change the outcome and result
of their own and other’s actions for a limited amount of
time. For example a sword blow aimed at the mage can be
made to miss or cause less damage, the mage’s attempt to
leap a chasm or dodge a blow can be made to succeed
where normally it would fail. In game terms this ability is
expressed in terms of luck points. The caster temporarily
gains 5 luck points per SS. Unless these are used they are
lost at the rate of 1 per second.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an item provides the item’s
bearer with a permanent store of luck. In game terms the
bearer receives 3d10 luck points every 24 hours. These
luck points must be used within that same period or they
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are lost at its end to be replaced with a fresh 3d10.
Range: T
Area of effect: S
Duration: See description
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
Binding components: Heart (Faery)
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Description: This enchantment allows the mage and com-
panions to travel the streams of time to visit the future or
past as desired. The mage may travel 100 years per SS into
the past or 1 year per SS into the future (it is possible to
cast the spell again from the new temporal location and
move further in either direction however). The caster ex-
presses his or her destination in terms of years and moves
backwards or forwards in time by that amount. The physi-
cal location of the caster and companions does not change
however and they will emerge (safely) at that time in their
current location. Because the distance travelled is expressed
in terms of years and not days (or any smaller increment)
it is important to note that time spent in the future or past
is also time elapsed in the ‘present’. If a mage travels 10
years into the past and spends 8 days there before return-
ing to the ‘present’, i.e. 10 years into the future, the ‘present’
has moved 8 days forward as well. Tampering with time is
potentially incredibly dangerous; a seemingly inconsequen-
tial action in the past can have far reaching effects years
into the future. The GM is advised to refer to contempo-
rary tomes such as Terminator 2.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100 or 1 year per SS
Area of effect: 1 T per 10 SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 200-(SS/4)
Binding components: Diamond (powdered)
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Description: Chain lightning is the most devastating spell
in the wizard’s repertoire. The archmage capable of cast-
ing and indeed controlling this spell deserves the highest
levels of respect and should inspire awe in lesser mages.
Only one mortal mage in the history of Korin-Thar,
Dakireth Deathsire, has been capable of conjurations of
this magnitude. Other than that particular individual the
spell is the property of the most powerful dragon and de-
mon lords. While uttering the lengthy incantation for this
spell the skies above the point chosen by the caster (within
1 km per SS and in line of sight) begin to churn with dark
thunderous clouds that form out of even the clearest skies
(this spell cannot be cast indoors!) When the spell’s cast-
ing is complete lightning begins to arc from the black
clouds, striking the ground with enormous destructive
power around the point chosen by the mage. 1 bolt is called
per SS and each strikes 1 second after the previous until
all bolts have been called. The lightning strikes around a
circle with a radius of 10 feet per SS. The GM should di-
vide the circle into 12 segments and randomly determine
with a d12 where in this circle the lightning strikes. If the
circle is sufficiently large (60 feet or greater) then the cir-
cle should be split into 2 circles, inner and outer. The ran-
dom bolt’s strike location can then be determined by roll-
ing a d2 (or percentile dice) to determine if it lands in the
inner or outer circle and a d12 to determine which seg-
ment it strikes. At the point hit (10' in radius) the bolt strikes
at +1 per SS and has a damage modifier of 1 per SS. The
damage modifier decreases by 0.03 per SS for every foot
distant a target is from the epicentre of the strike. Dodge
rolls can be attempted against the bolt’s strike roll, the
dodge roll receiving a +2 modifier for every foot distant
from the 10' radius epicentre. Successful dodges within 20
feet of the strike receive 0.75 damage, those within 20 to
40 feet receive 0.5 damage and those beyond that receive
0.25 damage (up to the limit of the bolt’s area of effect).
Note that these bolts regularly have the power to level cas-
tles and hiding in a tower is in no way a sure method of
avoiding the spell. Once all the bolts have been emitted
from the clouds the sky once again returns to its original
state.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 1 KM per SS
Area of effect: 1 bolt per SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 200-(SS/4)
Binding components: Bone (Dragon), Muscle (Air El-
emental)
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Description: The archmage uses this perverse enchant-
ment to create a doppelganger mirror that creates exact
copies of all creatures reflected in it, which have extremely
hostile intents towards their originals. The caster creates a
mirror of dimensions 10 feet wide by 10 feet high per SS
in front of him or her self. All creatures reflected and within
50 feet of the mirror are affected and an exact replica im-
mediately steps from the mirror and attacks their other self.
The replica is identical in every way from statistics to equip-
ment (magical weapons are even recreated). The replica
exists only to destroy its original and once this is achieved
will vanish from the current plane. If the original destroys
the replica the slain creature crumbles to dust, itself and
all equipment carried being permanently destroyed.
Effect in runes: Permanence in a mirror has the effects of
the spell. Anyone stepping within 25' of the mirror is af-
fected. The limitation here is that the mirror will not repli-
cate runes, therefore the replicas will not carry magical
weapons even if the original does. On any other item the
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rune enables the item’s bearer to cast the spell at will using
their own spell points with a random SS up to the original.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 10' by 10' per SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
Binding components: Heart (Demon Lord)
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Description: This simple spell reveals other psionics (and
magical items possessing a personality) to the caster. Char-
acters with psionic powers will appear to glow with a gen-
tle inner light, their radiance being proportional to their
degree of psionic power (hence a psionic archmage will
appear to glow extremely brightly in response to this spell).
This spell can be cast in place of a free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence (in a lens for example) has a
constant effect while the item is in use.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 60 degree arc
Duration: 1 SEC per SS
Casting time: 10 - (SS/3)
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Description: All living creatures within 25' of the caster
and within his/her line of sight appear swathed in an aura
of white light. This spell will reveal invisible creatures,
for example, and overcome problems with bad lighting. It
also penetrates physical barriers, allowing the psionic to
sense presences through up to 1'' per SS of stone or metal
or 2'' per ss of wood (e.g. in an adjacent room). This spell
can be cast in place of a free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence (in a lens for example) has a
constant effect while the item is in use.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: line of sight
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 10 - (SS/3)
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Description: This spell causes any items that are magical
(carved with runes by an alchemist) to appear to glow with
a gentle inner light, their radiance reflecting their degree
of potency (e.g. a wand with only a few remaining charges
will glow dimly, a powerful ancient runesword will glow
brightly). This spell can be cast in place of a free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence (in a lens for example) has a
constant effect while the item is in use.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 60 degree arc
Duration: 1 SEC per SS
Casting time: 10 - (SS/3)
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Description: The caster gains information about a selected
intelligent living target, becoming immediately aware of
their approximate alignment (good, neutral or evil) and
their degree of attainment within their profession (their
experience level). The experience value given is only ap-
proximate; GMs should roll 1d100, add 50, divide this
value by 100 and multiply by the target’s actual E.P. level
when giving this value (e.g. a roll of 70 would yield a
multiplier of (70+50)/100 = 1.2, so an NPC who actually
had 20 000 E.P.s would be reported to have 24 000 E.P.s).
This spell can be cast in place of a free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 10 - (SS/3)
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Description: The caster or this enchantment will feel no
discomfort as a result of extremes of cold. In addition to
their mental resilience, their body is imbued with a degree
of protection. Direct damage from cold-based attacks is
reduced by SS x 2.5 % (e.g. by 25% for a SS 10 spell,
implying an additional damage mod of 0.75) while the
caster receives a +2 per SS to saves against cold-related
effects (e.g. frostbite, sudden death by hypothermia etc.).
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple) at a random SS up to the spell’s original (roll for each
attack).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The psionic under the influence of this spell
suffers no discomfort from extremes of heat, although some
physical damage is still likely to result from exposure to
red hot metal etc. Direct damage from heat-based attacks
is reduced by SS x 2.5 % (e.g. by 25% for a SS 10 spell,
implying an additional damage mod of 0.75); flames and
fire still inflict full damage however.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple) at a random SS up to the spell’s original (roll for each
attack).
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Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Whilst protected by this enchantment, the
psionic suffers none of the debilitating effects of dehydra-
tion (see the Hexicon rulebook section 4.1.12). However,
they will still drop dead following extreme water depriva-
tion; they simply suffer no penalties or discomfort until
this time.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 3 hours per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: This spell protects the caster from feelings
of fatigue or physical exhaustion. In game terms, for those
using the optional exhaustion point rules (section 3.7.8)
the caster suffers no negative modifiers when their exhaus-
tion points fall below zero, and will not collapse until they
drop to their (CON x -5) or -25, whichever is the more
negative.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Through an effort of concentration the cast-
er’s body is instantly physically rejuvenated. This spell
reduces their heaviest wound by SS injury points, with an
equivalent proportional recovery in index. For example, a
psionic with a single wound of 20 injury points and index
4 who new this spell at strength 10 would, after success-
fully casting, have a wound with an index of 20 - 10 = 10.
Their wound would therefore have healed to 10/20 = 0.5
times its original extent, so its index would fall propor-
tionally to 0.5 x 4 = 2.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a worn object means that
the spell will fire with a random SS up to the spell’s origi-
nal each time the wearer is injured.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: This unusual incantation is cast upon any
deliberately manufactured object (e.g. chair, crown, sword)
upon which the caster has laid his hands. The psionic will
become instantly aware of that object’s history and func-
tion. In particular, key events such as where/when it was
made, who has owned it, what magical powers it possesses
and where it has been kept will become known. Note that
this knowledge is from the object’s perspective; if it has
been kept in a chest, it will not know if that chest has
traveled the four seas!
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 object
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Description: The caster of this spell is able both to re-
ceive and transmit feelings and emotions. When receiv-
ing, the caster becomes aware of any strong emotional re-
actions a target may be having (e.g. fear, hunger, lust).
When transmitting, the chosen target receives a save, which
if failed will leave them actually experiencing an emotion
of the caster’s choice. Note that these emotions are experi-
enced as normal, not magical, so the spell cannot be used
to produce magical fear for example. If the strength of the
spell exceeds the target’s WIL stat, it is likely that they
will act upon the emotion (and/or visibly display it) inter-
preting it in light of the current situation (e.g. if made to
feel angry, the target might assume he was angry at the
person in the vicinity he/she most resented or disliked).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 5 SEC per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Having uttered the words of this spell the
caster at once falls into a deep trance, appearing utterly
dead to even the most thorough investigation (no pulse,
breathing, body heat etc.). They will remain in this state
until a prespecified time within the spell’s duration, at
which point they will awaken. Alternatively, a single trig-
ger event can be specified (e.g. the utterance of their name
within earshot) to free them from the trance. Whilst in the
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trance, the caster is completely unaware of the things go-
ing on around him and can perform no action whatsoever.
Additionally, his body will cease to age. This spell can be
cast in place of a free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an object causes the spell
to take effect on the object’s user when it is put on/used
etc. A trigger event may be specified in advance (e.g. a
runed needle that affects any who prick their fingers and
can be undone with a kiss…)
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 year per SS
Casting time: 10 - (SS/3)
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Description: Once cast, this spell protects the psionic from
all manner of mental probes and attacks. If the strength of
the mind block exceeds the strength of an attacking or prob-
ing spell, the caster is utterly protected from it. The pre-
cise spells against which mind block will be effective are
left to the GM’s discretion, but the following are suggested:
detect psionics, see aura, empathy, telepathy, hypnotise,
cause despair, mind strike, cause pain, cause insanity, re-
move memory, insert memory, shock system, mental pos-
session, induce nightmares, personal illusion, mind wipe,
induce coma, speak the truth (wizard), charm (wizard).
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a tiara for exam-
ple) at a random SS up to the spell’s original (roll for each
attack).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 10 SEC per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The caster wil suffer no ill effects or dis-
comfort as a result of food deprivation (see the Hexicon
rulebook section 4.1.12). They will still die of malnutri-
tion, however, if no food is obtained for very long periods;
they simply suffer no penalty until this time.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 day per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The psionic under the influence of this spell
suffers no discomfort from flames and the like, although
some physical damage is still likely to result. Direct dam-
age from fire and/or explosions is reduced by SS x 2.5 %
(e.g. by 25% for a SS 10 spell, implying an additional dam-
age mod of 0.75)
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple) at a random SS up to the spell’s original (roll for each
attack).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Having cast this spell, the psionic is utterly
immune to pain, although they will still take damage in
the standard manner. They will suffer no knockout rolls
for the duration of this spell even if severely injured, but
can be killed outright by death rolls in the standard man-
ner. This spell can be cast in place of a free action.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 10 - (SS/3)
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Description: This spell causes a tiny point of intense heat
to develop over a specified target, igniting any flammable
material (e.g. straw, tinder, dry wool, oil etc.) in a natural
seeming manner. Note that while the spell’s effects are in-
stant, the fire will still begin as a small smoldering flame
and only develop with its typical timecourse. The spell
cannot be used as a direct physical attack.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 target point
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: When cast upon a fire within the spell’s area
of effect, that fire will suddenly leap and expand to grow
by a factor of SS/3. Any combustibles within its new area
will immediately catch light; if there are no such flamma-
ble items, the fire will rapidly recede to its original size.
Being caught in the flames of a typical fire causes a x 1
non-locational damage attack, plus an additional attack for
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each 10 counts the victim is in/on fire. Clothes can be put
out following 1d6 actions of rolling on the floor or being
smothered (or immediately with immersion in water). Note
that the fire expands equally in all directions, not at the
caster’s behest.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 3' by 3' area of flaming ground per SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The caster’s iron will confuses and deflects
the intentions of those seeking to do them harm. Any physi-
cal attack (including spells with physical effects like power
bolt) aimed at the caster by a sentient being is at - 3 per SS
on its attack roll.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: This powerful magic allows the caster to com-
municate through thought with others, and to receive those
thoughts that are deliberately directed back at them. In
addition, the psionic can actively read the minds of those
targets who fail to save, gleaning their intentions before
they act upon them.
Effect in runes: Permanence upon two items produced at
the same time allows the bearer of each to communicate
with the other telepathically at all times the items are borne.
Range: 5' per SS
Area of effect: 1T per 5 SS
Duration: 5 SEC per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Should the target of this manipulative spell
fail to save, they will find themselves utterly under the
control of the psionic for its duration. They will believe
whatever they are told and do whatever is requested of
them, however out of character or dangerous. Note that
they must hear the incantation to become hypnotised, so
the caster may have to shout their spell under noisy condi-
tions. When the spell wears off, the victim will be fully
aware of what has happened, and will no longer respond
to suggestions made or beliefs instilled (for this, insert
memory or the like must be used). Creatures without minds
cannot be hypnotised.
Effect in runes: With permanence on an item with intelli-
gence, that item will attempt to gain control of its bearer
each time its other powers are used, maintaining control
for the duration of the hypnotism spell (random SS up to
the spell’s original).
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 5 SEC per SS
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Description: The target of this cruel enchantment will,
should they fail to save, collapse immediately into the deep-
est despair, not recovering until the spell’s duration has
past. During this time they will perform no useful action,
simply lying or sitting on the floor, weeping, wringing their
hands and so forth, although they will defend themselves
if attacked. They must have originally been capable of
experiencing despair to be affected by this spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 10 SEC per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The caster sends out a targeted assault of psy-
chic energy, impacting upon the mind of another sentient
being to sap their capacity for directed action. The target
of the enchantment must roll to save, with failure resulting
in a loss of 1d10 x (SS/5) points of WIL (e.g. 1d10 x 1.2
for a strength 6 spell). If WIL falls to zero, the target dies.
Otherwise, their WIL will recover at a rate of one point
per minute.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The victim of this unpleasant spell must save
against magic or begin at once to experience burning pain
throughout their bodies. The pain will then increase in in-
tensity over time, for as long as the caster maintains con-
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centration. Initially, the target is at -20 to all actions. This
penalty will increase by 5 points per second thereafter (e.g.
-25 after a second, -30 after 2 seconds etc.), with complete
incapacitation at -100. Additionally, the target is likely to
pass out with the pain; after 5 seconds, a 3d6 knockout roll
must be made; after 10 seconds, a 6d6 roll; after 15 sec-
onds, a 9d6 roll and so forth. The psionic can choose to
stop increasing the pain and maintain it at its current level
(minus to actions and d6 knockout) at any point (should
they wish to keep their victim conscious, for example).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: As long as the caster concentrates
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: A powerful and versatile spell, telekinesis
allows the caster to control physical (solid) objects using
only the power of his mind. The caster can control any
number of objects up to SS pounds in total weight (e.g. a
psionic with the spell at strength 10 could simultaneously
control a longsword (3.5 pounds) and 6.5 pounds of gravel
in a floating cloud). Objects can be hurled at opponents,
acting like thrown missile attacks. In this case, the attack
is treated as a throwing knife, with a strike mod of + ((cast-
er’s WIL - 5) x 4). The damage mod will equal (SS/10) x
the damage mod of the thrown item. Weapons have their
own damage mod (see the equipment booklet); for other
items, use a mod of 0.1 per pound in weight, doing impact
damage. Hence a SS 10 spell cast by a psionic with a WIL
of 12 would attack at + ((12-5)x4) = + 28, doing damage
of 10/10 = 1 x 0.5 = 0.5 for a 5 pound chair. The caster can
also use items to parry attacks against him (parry at + ((cast-
er’s WIL-5) x 6), e.g. +30 for WIL stat of 10, replace
strength with SS when calculating weapon strength). Fur-
thermore, the caster can drag items out of the grip of oth-
ers if their SS exceeds the target’s STR stat. However, tar-
gets get a save to protect the items they are touching from
being affected in this way. Should they fail, even if their
STR exceeds the spell’s and they are able to hold onto an
item they may be at a minus when attempting to use it
(they are struggling against the psionic’s efforts to control
it). If their STR exceeds the spell’s strength by 10 points,
they suffer no negative mod. Otherwise, the difference be-
tween their STR and the SS should be calculated. This
value should be subtracted from 10, with the result multi-
plied by 5 and applied as a negative mod (e.g. for a charac-
ter with a STR of 12 against a SS 8 spell, the difference (4)
is subtracted from 10 (10 - 4 = 6) and multiplied by 5 to
yield a - 30 mod).
Effect in runes: Objects can be animated using perma-
nence, causing them to float in space forever, staying in
whatever position they are moved to. When combined with
independent intelligence, they become sentient, making
effective guardians. Golems are made by animating their
various body segments and combining them together.
Range: 10' per SS
Area of effect: 1 lb per SS
Duration: 3 SEC per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The unfortunate target of this spell must make
a save or gain an insanity. The caster specifies a point on
the random insanity table (rulebook section 4.1.6) at which
he is “aiming.” 4d10 are then rolled, 22 points subtracted,
and the total added to this aimed at value to determine the
insanity that is actually inflicted. For example, the psionic
might choose to aim at the value 23 (the middle of the
range yielding manic depression). 4d10 are rolled, for a
total of 13. 13-22 = -9, so the resultant value is 23 (aimed)
-9 = 14. Reading from the random insanity section, the
target gains the insanity “psychopathy.”
Effect in runes: Permanence will cause the bearer of the
item to slowly develop the specified insanity over a period
of days, weeks or years (GM’s discretion); there is no save,
but the rapidity of onset may be determined by the bear-
er’s WIL statistic (e.g. slow onset for high WIL).
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P (until cured)
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The benevolent partner of “cause insanity”,
this spell cures the target of a single insanity. Roll ran-
domly if more than one insanity is being suffered.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Description: The caster specifies a single memory epi-
sode (e.g. a particular event, or memories about a particu-
lar person or object) and, if a save is failed, the target looses
those memories completely.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Description: The caster specifies a single memory epi-
sode (e.g. a particular event, or memories about a particu-
lar person or object) and, if a save is failed, the target gains
those memories. While they will feel completely natural,
any massive discontinuities or departures from other memo-
ries will be apparent to the target.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Description: The target’s entire nervous system is lashed
with a powerful, focussed attack of psychic energy. A fail-
ure to save results in a SS d6 death roll (e.g. 10d6 for a SS
10 attack). Should the target survive, they are entirely un-
harmed.
Effect in runes: On a bladed weapon, permanence will
cause the spell to take effect any time the weapon draws
blood.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: This dark magic allows the caster to transfer
their own mind into the body of a target, suppressing their
will and taking control. Should the target fail to save, the
psionic is in complete control of them, gaining all the tar-
get’s skills and physical abilities but retaining their own
INT and WIL. The psionic cannot use their own skills and
magic, only those of the creature they have possessed. The
caster’s own body will slump, becoming limp and lifeless
until the psionic returns to it, handing back control to their
target. The target will remember the whole experience as a
hazy, dream-like memory. Should the caster’s own body
be killed while they are away, they will have no host to
return to and will die when the spell’s duration is up. Simi-
larly, should the body they have possessed be killed while
they are controlling it, their mind will die with that host
and their own body will waste away.
Effect in runes: With permanence on both of a pair of
items (e.g. rings), the bearer of one (the master item) will
be able to possess the bearer of the other at will.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Description: This fiendish spell causes the victim to ex-
perience horrific recurring nightmares on a theme speci-
fied by the caster. Their quality of sleep will be much re-
duced (-10 to all actions due to fatigue) and they will regu-
larly wake up sweating and fearful.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an object will affect all
those sleeping within the spell’s range.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 night per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: If a save is failed, the target of this magic
will experience an intense hallucination affecting all their
senses and controlled by the caster. While powerful stimuli
which impinge upon the target in real life are still likely to
be felt and experienced (e.g. the sudden appearance of a
threatening creature or the smell of thick smoke) the ma-
jority of the target’s sensation is under the direct con-
trol of the psionic, appearing vivid but slightly surreal.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: As long as the caster concentrates
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The caster of this prognostication will re-
ceive a series of visions relating to likely events in the
near future (all from within the next SS weeks). The vi-
sions are likely to be confused but suggestive, and will not
necessarily actually occur, merely reflecting future
likelihoods. They will typically relate to the caster and their
goals, but may not actually involve him/her.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: Variable
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Another psychic attack spell, mind wipe sim-
ply snuffs out the victim’s mind. Those who fail to save
are left brain dead automatons, maintaining their other
bodily functions only as long as they are fed and watered.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: If the caster knows the true name of another
person or creature (the name they were given by their par-
ents in their own language) then, upon casting this spell
and closing their own eyes, they are able to see through
their target’s eyes no matter how far away they might be.
Usually, the target will attempt to resist (make a save);
there is a telltale sensation, like a throbbing at the back of
the brain, that will alert someone that they are being used
in this way. A target who is aware of what is happening
may, however, choose to allow the psionic to share their
vision, making no save. Other senses are not available to
the caster.
Effect in runes: For permanence to be effective, the true
name of an individual must be carved on the item. The
bearer can then see through that person’s eyes at will, with-
out spell point expenditure.
Range: Unlimited
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Description: The target who fails to save against this spell
will fall at once into a coma, waking up after the duration
of the spell. However, each day they are in the coma they
may have to make a save vs. coma/sudden death or die (as
per section 3.3.7.9 of the rulebook); these attacks are made
at the caster’s discretion. The caster can release them from
the coma at an earlier time should they wish to do so.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 day per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: When protected by this spell, the caster will
be completely invulnerable to fire and fire-based attacks,
feeling no discomfort and taking no damage from extremes
of heat and/or flames (e.g. climbing over a bonfire).
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a shield for ex-
ample).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: When protected by this spell, the caster will
be entirely unaffected by cold and cold-based attacks, tak-
ing no damage and feeling no physical ill-effects (e.g.
swimming in the arctic ocean).
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a shield for ex-
ample).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Under the protection of this enchantment,
the caster will suffer no pain or damage as a result of elec-
tricity and electricity-based attacks (e.g. standing atop a
tree in a thunderstorm and cursing the Gods).
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a shield for ex-
ample).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: This spell is similar to telekinesis, except that
the psionic is able to manipulate fluids rather than solid
objects. Up to 50 litres per SS can be controlled to create
spouts etc. or surround an opponent’s head to drown them
(see section 4.1.7 of the rulebook; requires around 150 li-
tres for an average humanoid head, given that some slack
is required to prevent them escaping the water bubble with
sudden movements). High-pressure torrents attack as a
javelin, but can only be dodged or blocked with a shield,
not parried using other weapons. They are treated as a stand-
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ard attack in melee combat, but cause only non-locational
damage to the victim (ignoring armour), at 0.2 per SS (for
a spout containing all the water the psionic can muster, ie
50 litres per SS). They are also likely to knock their tar-
gets from their feet; consider base damage to be multi-
plied by 5 for the purposes of calculating knock back (see
the chapter on combat and movement, section 3.7.6). The
spell cannot be used to affect fluid within another creature
or plant.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 50 litres per SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The caster is able to control the flow of gases
within the spell’s range (excluding those gases contained
within other living things). Wind can be stopped or ma-
nipulated (see the wizard spell “wind rush” for maximum
potential effects), smoke directed, sections of one gas forced
through unlikely mediums (e.g. bubbles of air through wa-
ter to provide breathable areas) and so forth. While a
vacuum cannot be created, air can be thinned to a point
where breathing is extremely laboured. Also, the makeup
of air can be redistributed, for example to create a high
oxygen zone for burning (with a complementary oxygen
depleted area nearby).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 10' by 10' by 10' per SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Through an effort of intense mental concen-
tration the caster is able to magnify their own senses, add-
ing 1 point per SS to each of them for the duration of the
spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item. SS is rolled ini-
tially, random up to the spell’s original / 2.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: The caster targets up to 1 pound of metal per
SS, causing it to rapidly increase in temperature for as long
as he/she continues to concentrate. The metal will increase
in temperature by 100 degrees C every second, melting
when the appropriate temperature is reached. Magical metal
items receive a save to resist the spell’s effects. Very hot
metal will cause damage to any bare skin against which it
is exposed, causing a x1 damage roll each second to the
location it is in contact with (note that leather and padding
will protect armour wearers from this type of damage if
worn underneath metal plates etc.).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 lb per SS
Duration: As long as the caster concentrates
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Another spell allowing the psionic to exert
influence over the physical world using the power of their
will, this powerful magic allows flames to be manipulated
within range. Burning fires can be precisely directed so as
to move at a rate of up to 1' per second per SS (note that
they will continue to burn for only a matter of a few sec-
onds if removed from a source of fuel; see the 4000 E.P.
spell fuel flame for details of damage from contact with
fire). Fire can be formed into whips for the purpose of
reaching out to nearby combustibles very rapidly (move at
5' per count per SS), or into balls to hurl at opponents (one
ball can be formed and hurled every other second, attack-
ing at + ((caster’s WIL - 5) x 5) and doing non-locational
damage of 0.2 per SS, with a (SS x 2)% chance of igniting
clothing and hair). Even magical fire can be made to part
or die, allowing access to burning buildings and the like.
Control fire can be used to deflect but not capture the fire
based attacks of monsters and other magic users; an attack
“deflected” by the psionic wielding this spell will suffer a
- ((caster’s WIL - 5) x 6) to strike (or the targets of the
fiery attack will gain this modifier as a plus to dodge, de-
pending on which is appropriate).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 3' by 3' by 3' per SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: This powerful spell allows the caster to ma-
nipulate electrical or related (e.g. magnetic) energy within
range. Its most obvious use is to redirect lightning, which
if controlled in this manner will strike at + ((caster’s WIL-
5) x 10) and inflict damage of 1d10 (ie. 2d10 x 1d10 base
damage). The spell can also be used to redirect electrical
based attacks launched by other magic users; in this case
the psionic simply declares a new target and the spell is
resolved against the new victim.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: Whole area within range
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Description: Given some fragment of a person or object
(e.g. a hair, a chip from a blade, a vial of blood) the caster
of this spell at once becomes aware of that object or per-
son’s location relative to themselves. They will have a
rough idea of the object or person’s immediate surround-
ings (e.g. in an inn or being carried by a thief), physical
location (e.g. in a village in the northern half of Karivda
named Blown Vale) and dimension (e.g. Korin-Thar) wher-
ever that object or person may be. This awareness will be
maintained for the duration of the spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: Infinite
Area of effect: 1 person or object
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Description: This strange magic causes the target to re-
experience their entire life in a kind of rapid dreamlike
image show taking around an hour. Any memory, how-
ever long ago or well suppressed, can be obtained in this
way, even minute details (such as the design on an indi-
vidual’s bracelet) as long as those details were initially
perceived. Whilst in this trance, the target is unaware of
their actual surroundings and cannot be awakened by any
means.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 hour
Casting time: 50 - SS
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Priest colour: Base
Description: When a priest touches an injured person and
casts this healing magic their patient experiences a feeling
of intense heat around the region of the affected wound,
which will magically heal up before their eyes. This spell
affects a single injury of up to 20 injury points, healing it
completely (including any associated bleeding damage).
It is effective against melee damage, cuts, bruises, broken
bones and the like, but will not work for extensive skin
damage caused by burns or frostbite, nor regenerate lost
limbs or organs. Wounds of a value greater than 20 injury
points cannot be healed with this spell; they are left en-
tirely unaffected by it.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: T
Area of effect: One wound on one person
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Base
Description: Uttering this potent protective magic makes
a priest unusually difficult to strike, with attacks seeming
to bend away from their target under some unseen influ-
ence. In game terms, all incoming attacks are at -2 per SS
for the spell’s duration.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a shield for ex-
ample). SS should be rolled randomly (up to the spell’s
original) at the time of the rune’s creation.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: Should the target of this spell fail to save,
any utterance they make which contains a lie will sound to
the caster as if it has a clear echo. Hence the priest will be
aware of any such untruths. The priest cannot be certain,
however, that the affected person has not saved against the
spell (if they hear no echoes they will not know if their
target is speaking truthfully or has simply resisted the
magic).
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (an earpiece for
example), with random SS (up to the spell’s original) rolled
at the time of the rune’s creation. Anyone talking to the
bearer must save once every (duration of spell) or have
their lies revealed.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: This spell can be cast upon any isolated body
of water, causing it to become fresh, clean and above all
safe to drink regardless of its previous state. Should the
body of water’s volume exceed the spell’s area of effect
the spell will have no effect.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a drinking vessel or simi-
lar item will cause the spell to take effect on any water
placed therein.
Range: T
Area of effect: 20 pints per SS
Duration: P
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Black
Description: Upon uttering this protective magic the caster
will have their magical aura enhanced such that they are
better able to resist magical attacks. In game terms, they
will gain a +2 per SS to saves against magic or magical
fear for the duration of the spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple). SS should be rolled randomly (up to the spell’s origi-
nal) at the time of the rune’s creation.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Black
Description: To use this spell a dark priest pushes his hands
together in a gesture of prayer but points them at a target,
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unleashing a whiplash of invisible negative energy. The
victim of the spell must make a save, with failure meaning
that they are paralysed and unable to take any action for
the duration of the spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a weapon causes the spell
to take effect whenever the weapon damages a foe.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: White
Description: This is a subtle magic which causes its tar-
get (should they fail a save) to experience a feeling of trust
towards the caster. While they are likely to believe what
the caster says, and that the caster has their best interests
at heart, the spell does not offer any direct control over the
target. Similarly, it is quite possible for the caster to un-
dermine this sense of trust by acting in a manner which is
obviously untrustworthy.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: White
Description: Upon uttering this protective magic the caster
will have their magical aura enhanced such that they are
better able to resist magical attacks. In game terms, they
will gain a +2 per SS to saves against magic or magical
fear for the duration of the spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple). SS should be rolled randomly (up to the spell’s origi-
nal) at the time of the rune’s creation.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: When this spell is cast cruel black razor-sharp
claws will suddenly sprout forth from the priest’s fingers.
They can be used to inflict blows with the unarmed com-
bat skill, offering a damage mod of 0.75 and having an AT
mod of 0.
Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: This spell causes a tiny point of intense heat
to develop over a specified target, igniting any flammable
material (e.g. straw, tinder, dry wool, oil) in a natural-seem-
ing manner. Note that while the spell’s effects are instant,
the fire will still begin as a small smouldering flame and
only develop with its typical timecourse. The spell cannot
be used as a direct physical attack.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 target point
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: Using this unusual enchantment, the caster
can create a large volume of clean fresh air. Once sum-
moned forth, the air is not under the caster’s control and
will behave normally (e.g. slowly dissipating in an open
space, or rising as a bubble underwater).
Effect in runes: Permanence in a helmet or similar item
will allow the bearer to breath from a special unending air
supply regardless of their environment.
Range: S
Area of effect: 2' by 2' by 2' per SS
Duration: P
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: Upon uttering this protective magic the caster
will have their magical aura enhanced such that they are
better able to resist magical attacks. In game terms, they
will gain a +2 per SS to saves against magic or magical
fear for the duration of the spell.
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Effect in runes: Permanence confers constant spell ef-
fects on the bearer of the enchanted item (a ring for exam-
ple). SS should be rolled randomly (up to the spell’s origi-
nal) at the time of the rune’s creation.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Base
Description: When this spell is cast the recipient will feel
as though their lungs were filling with fresh air, lifting
them upwards. However physically tired they may have
been they will feel utterly refreshed; in game terms they
will recover 3 exhaustion points per SS. This spell is not a
sleep substitute, but rather a cure for physical exhaustion.
Effect in runes: Permanence in an item means that the
bearer will never suffer physical fatigue, being able to carry
on indefinitely with exercise.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Base
Description: Another subtle priestly magic, the caster of
this spell offers a prayer for guidance to their deity, and
receives an intuitive feeling about their situation. For ex-
ample, the spell might be cast at a crossroads to see which
way is better to take (less dangerous or more appropriate
for the priest’s immediate aims). Alternatively, some feel-
ing might be gained regarding the wisdom of a particular
plan of action. The intuitive feeling is vague (e.g. a posi-
tive feeling about a person’s suggestion) and doesn’t re-
veal anything specific about the future.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: This curative magic allows the caster to at-
tempt to purge their patient’s system of a poison in a dra-
matic fever-inducing process. Twice the spell’s SS should
be compared to the poison’s strength, and a statistical bat-
tle conducted using these values (see the Hexicon rule-
book section 4.1.8). Each round of this battle will take 5
seconds. Any losses to the poison’s strength are perma-
nent, and if it is reduced to zero it is completely purged.
Otherwise, the standard poison effect rules should con-
tinue to be applied using the poison’s adjusted strength.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: Any undead creatures affected by this spell
must save against it or be “turned,” retreating away from
the caster until they are out of sight and at a distance that
they cannot affect the caster in any way (e.g. with magical
fear). They must continue to retreat before the caster in
this way for the duration of the spell (should the caster
follow on, for example) but will most likely return after
this time is up. Turned undead are not permitted to make
any ranged attacks against the caster or their companions.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T per 3 SS
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Black
Description: When this dark magic is cast, up to one hu-
manoid corpse per SS within the spell’s range will instantly
rise up as a zombie (stats in Hexicon rulebook section 6.2.1)
and perform the caster’s bidding. Animated dead are slow
but relentless, following simple instructions without ques-
tion until they are killed a second time or their task is com-
plete.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 25' radius about caster
Area of effect: 1 T per SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Black
Description: When this spell is cast a sphere 10' in radius
centering on a point specified by the caster is flooded with
magical darkness; no light will enter this region, nor can
any within it see out. Normal darkness modifiers apply to
those within (see the Hexicon rulebook, section 3.7.18).
Effect in runes: Permanence creates a durationless area
of darkness centered on the enchanted object.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 10' radius
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: White
Description: This healing spell allows the caster to at-
tempt to drive out a disease from their patient’s body, in-
ducing a convulsive fit. Twice the spell’s SS should be
compared to the disease’s strength, and a statistical battle
conducted using these values (see the Hexicon rulebook
section 4.1.8). Each round of this battle will take 5 sec-
onds. Any losses to the disease’s strength are permanent,
and if it is reduced to zero it is completely cured. Other-
wise, the standard disease effect rules should continue to
be applied using the disease’s adjusted strength.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an item takes effect im-
mediately that a disease save is initially failed by the bearer
(once per disease attack). The spell has a random SS up to
the spell’s original.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: White
Description: Any undead creatures affected by this spell
must save against it or be “turned,” retreating away from
the caster until they are out of sight and at a distance that
they cannot affect the caster in any way (e.g. with magical
fear). They must continue to retreat before the caster in
this way for the duration of the spell (should the caster
follow on, for example) but will most likely return after
this time is up. Turned undead are not permitted to make
any ranged attacks against the caster or their companions.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T per 3 SS
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: This dangerous magic sends the priest into
an insane berserk rage, offering powerful combat advan-
tages (x1.5 damage, +20 to strike, +10 initiative, ignore
knockout rolls) but numerous potential risks (-10 to parry/
dodge, difficulty telling friend from foe). The berserk spell
brings on a rage that is identical to that described in the
Hexicon rulebook section 3.7.14, which should be con-
sulted for details of ending a rage and the chances of at-
tacking friends.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a weapon means that
whenever it is drawn the bearer must save against the spell
(random SS up to original) or become berserk.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: Max 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 20-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: A potent weapon against the undead, this
spell will affect up to one undead creature per 5 points of
SS. Should the undead targets fail to save they are instantly
destroyed, incinerated from the inside out to leave nothing
but ashes.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a weapon will cause the
spell to take effect whenever a wound is inflicted upon an
undead creature.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: This healing spell allows the caster to at-
tempt to drive out a disease from their patient’s body, in-
ducing a convulsive fit. Twice the spell’s SS should be
compared to the disease’s strength, and a statistical battle
conducted using these values (see the Hexicon rulebook
section 4.1.8). Each round of this battle will take 5 sec-
onds. Any losses to the disease’s strength are permanent,
and if it is reduced to zero it is completely cured. Other-
wise, the standard disease effect rules should continue to
be applied using the disease’s adjusted strength.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an item takes effect im-
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mediately that a disease save is initially failed by the bearer
(once per disease attack). The spell has a random SS up to
the spell’s original.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: Any animal (GM’s discretion, but not intelli-
gent humanoids or magical creatures) affected by this spell
must save against it or be repelled, retreating away from
the caster until they are out of sight and at a distance that
they cannot affect the caster in any way. They must con-
tinue to retreat before the caster in this way for the dura-
tion of the spell (should the caster follow on, for example)
but may return after this time is up. Repelled animals are
not permitted to make any ranged attacks against the caster
or their companions.
Effect in runes: Permanence is effective at all times, such
that no animal that fails may approach the object.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T per 3 SS
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Base
Description: The spell generates a bolt of coloured en-
ergy, its colour dependent on the affiliation of the priest.
The bolt is aimed at a potential target and has a +4 to strike
per SS, striking as a crossbow attack and doing impact
damage at 0.2 per SS. The range mod is 0.4. The spell can
be cast but firing delayed for up to SSx4 counts as required.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a weapon causes extra
damage (of a nature appropriate for the spell’s colour) ran-
domly up to the original SS, e.g. a sword with a SS 10 bolt
of power enchantment will cause an additional d10 points
of base damage when a blow is struck (so 3d10 are rolled
instead of 2d10). Permanence on non-weapon items al-
lows casting with a random SS up to the spell’s original.
Range: 200'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Base
Description: When a priest touches an injured person and
casts this healing magic their patient experiences a feeling
of intense heat around the region of the affected wound,
which will magically heal up before their eyes. This spell
affects a single injury of up to 50 injury points, healing it
completely (including any associated bleeding damage).
It is effective against melee damage, cuts, bruises, broken
bones and the like, but will not work for extensive skin
damage caused by burns or frostbite, nor regenerate lost
limbs or organs. Wounds of a value greater than 50 injury
points cannot be healed with this spell; they are left en-
tirely unaffected by it.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 wound
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: This defensive spell affects a circular region
of space within range. The circle can be moved around by
the caster (pace 3) but this requires concentration; if ig-
nored, it will simply remain stationary for the duration of
the spell. Those within the circle who the caster considers
friendly will be touched by the hand of the priest’s deity,
feeling strong and gaining a +1 per SS to any physical
defensive action (e.g. parrying, dodging).
Effect in runes: Permanence on an object means that the
effects are constant for the region surrounding it; the cir-
cle will move with the object. SS is rolled randomly (up to
original) upon creation.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 2' radius per SS
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: This useful healing spell allows the casting
priest to heal any wound caused by burns (including acid)
or fire-based attacks (those that do not have as their major
effect concussive impact, such as explosions). Regardless
of the wound’s injury points, it will be healed completely,
giving an experience of soothing cooling. Additionally,
any scarring or other skin damage resulting from the wound
will be healed, although permanent nerve damage (e.g.
blindness) cannot be cured.
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Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Black
Description: Undead creatures who fail to save against
this spell will fall under the control of the priest for its
duration, obeying any command that does not entail cer-
tain destruction (e.g. committing suicide; attacking a su-
perior foe does not entail certain destruction so is accept-
able). When the spell’s duration expires the undead are
likely to return to their previous tasks or lifestyles, and
will have full memory of their subjugation.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Black
Description: The dark priest who utters a curse condemns
their victim (should they fail to save) to a lifetime with
some cruel affliction. The curses available depend upon
the SS of the spell, with the following becoming available
one after another: SS 1, insect attraction - the target is con-
stantly swarmed by flies or some other irritating but not
painful insect; SS 3, ill luck - a subtle curse, which will
have its effects when GM random rolls (e.g. who will get
attacked) are made; SS 4, sterility - the target cannot fa-
ther or mother children, with men being impotent as well;
SS 6, glowing eyes - target’s pupils glow red, making them
likely candidates for witch hunts; SS 8, nightvision - the
target sees as if it where daylight during the night, but as if
it were a moonless night during the day; SS 10, mumbling
- the target’s attempts at speech come out as meaningless
mumbles; SS 11, ulcers - the target can only eat dairy pro-
duce and the like, with rich or acidic food leading to inca-
pacitating stomach cramps (-30 to all actions) for 3d6 hours;
SS 12, ugliness - the target becomes ugly to the point where
those gazing on them must make a save against the curse’s
SS or wretch (equivalent to APP of 0); SS 14, friendslayer
- in combat, there is only a 0.7 probability that the target
will succeed in attacking a foe, with a 0.3 probability of
going for a friend for the entire attack drive; SS 18, run-
ning death - the target will continue to run until they die of
exhaustion unless they are physically restrained.
Effect in runes: Permanence causes the curse to affect the
owner of the item until such time as it passes to another.
Range: 3' per SS
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: White
Description: Using this protective magic a priest can cast
out a field of beneficial energy that will help protect those
within a 20’ radius who are aligned to the caster (share the
same current motivations or are sympathetic to the cast-
er’s goals). Dim white mist-like light will emanate from
all those affected, giving an odd ghostly blurring effect
that will make them difficult to strike. In game terms, all
incoming attacks are at –1 per SS to strike affected indi-
viduals.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: S
Area of effect: 20' radius
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: White
Description: By casting this spell a priest gains a subtle
insight into the personality of their target (should a save
be failed). The spell does not provide a detailed analysis,
but rather gives a general feeling of the target’s alignment
(good, neutral, evil) and primary immediate motivations
(greed, reciprocation, vengeance, hatred, altruism, friend-
liness etc.).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: This incantation affects the next physical at-
tack made by the caster, however long it may be before
such a blow is made and regardless of whether it is suc-
cessfully parried. The blow becomes far more solid; in
game terms, it is multiplied by an additional damage mod
of x (1 + (SS/8)). Hence a SS 12 great blow would offer a
x (1 + (12/8)) = x (1 + 1.5) = x2.5. It is recommended that
GMs use the advanced combat rules for penetrating dam-
age (section 3.7.2) in conjunction with this spell.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
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dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: Next physical attack
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: The targets of this chilling spell will suffer
the effects of magical fear (described in the Hexicon rule-
book section 4.1.5) at the spell’s SS. The caster themselves
will be the focus of the magical fear; note that the range is
as specified for the spell, not that suggested in section 4.1.5.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 3' per SS
Area of effect: 1 T per SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: This defensive spell affects a circular region
of space within range. The circle can be moved around by
the caster (pace 3) but this requires concentration; if ig-
nored, it will simply remain stationary for the duration of
the spell. Those within the circle who the caster considers
friendly will be touched by the hand of the priest’s deity,
feeling strong and gaining a +1 per SS to any physical
defensive action (e.g. parrying, dodging).
Effect in runes: Permanence on an object means that the
effects are constant for the region surrounding it; the cir-
cle will move with the object. SS is rolled randomly (up to
original) upon creation.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 2' radius per SS
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: Undead creatures who fail to save against
this spell will fall under the control of the priest for its
duration, obeying any command that does not entail cer-
tain destruction (e.g. committing suicide; attacking a su-
perior foe does not entail certain destruction so is accept-
able). When the spell’s duration expires the undead are
likely to return to their previous tasks or lifestyles, and
will have full memory of their subjugation.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Base
Description: Having cast this spell, the priest will fall into
a deep trance, experiencing a dream-like vision from their
God. While the spell may be cast with a particular ques-
tion in mind, the information relayed by the resultant vi-
sion will not necessarily answer it; it is what the god deems
important that is communicated. The vision is rarely di-
rect, usually involving symbolism rather than language,
but will often contain useful hints about events, dangers
and challenges that are to come. The GM may consider it
appropriate to offer clear hints if this spell is cast whilst
the priest faces a difficult and significant problem. How-
ever, it should be remembered that the immediate goals of
a priest’s God may not be those of the priest himself or the
party he travels with. Gods are wont to use communions
as an opportunity to remind their servants of their real du-
ties.
Effect in runes: Permanence on an object (a mirror for
example) means that whenever someone looks upon /
touches that object they receive communion.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Base
Description: When a priest touches an injured person and
casts this healing magic their patient experiences a feeling
of intense heat around the region of the affected wound,
which will magically heal up before their eyes. This spell
affects a single injury of any degree, healing it completely
(including any associated bleeding damage). It is effective
against melee damage, cuts, bruises, broken bones and the
like, but will not work for extensive skin damage caused
by burns or frostbite, nor regenerate lost limbs or organs.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 wound
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: The charm spell allows the caster to put a
glamour over a victim. If the target fails a save vs. magic
then they will perform the caster’s wishes for the duration.
An extra save is allowed if the act is contrary to alignment
or particularly dangerous. The victim will not perform any
act that they believe will end in their certain death.
Effect in runes: Allows casting with a random SS up to
the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: Before casting this spell the priest must se-
lect a particular culture. It can be general (e.g. Elven) or
specific (e.g. a particular city or region), with a more spe-
cific choice giving more specific insight to match. The
priest will then gain complete fluency within that culture
for the duration of the spell. They will be able to talk in the
appropriate language (even the appropriate dialect/accent)
and will understand all the niceties of social conduct. While
they will not gain any deep historical or local geographi-
cal knowledge, they will have a good understanding of
power relations, which will make it unlikely that they make
any conversational blunders.
Effect in runes: Permanence will offer the spell’s benefit
as long as the item is touched. The culture is chosen at the
time of creation.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 10 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Black
Description: The target of this cruel magic must save or
be inflicted with an infectious disease. The time course
and effects of disease are described in the Hexicon rule-
book section 4.1.3; diseases usually involve saving throws
made over the course of a few days, with the disease wors-
ening or being slowly defeated. The disease has an onset
time of 1 day and is highly contagious; anyone who inter-
acts with the infected target to any significant extent has a
SS % chance of being exposed, prompting them to make a
save at the spell’s SS or become infected too.
Effect in runes: Permanence means that anyone touching
the object must save or become infected.
Range: 3' per SS
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Black
Description: Upon casting this spell a thick swarm of black
locusts will pour from the caster’s mouth. From here, the
swarm will move as directed by the caster within the spell’s
range, attempting to eat whatever they come into contact
with. They can move at a pace of up to 2.5, and will effort-
lessly destroy crops and food. They are also a real menace
to the flesh of many animals and humanoids; every 5 sec-
onds they spend in contact with a victim will cause 2d10 x
1 non-locational damage. This value should be multiplied
by the proportion of skin that is exposed (not covered up
by leather or similarly thick armour or garments). Hence a
warrior who is armoured except for his thighs, knees, hands
and face (total 25% from the armour rules section) would
have a x 0.25 modifier to this damage roll. Cloth bags and
similar items, even of canvas, will be destroyed by the lo-
custs, who will leave their victims covered in bloody welts
that are prone to infection (GM’s discretion). The swarm
cannot be separated but must be moved as a unit.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 10'x10'x10' area
Duration: 50 seconds per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: White
Description: This helpful spell allows the caster to attempt
to overcome a curse that is affecting their target. The spell’s
SS should be compared to the curse’s original SS; if it
exceeds it, the curse is removed. Otherwise, the curse will
remain in place until a more powerful remove curse spell
can be cast.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: White
Description: This spell is unusual in that it is ritualistic,
not instant, taking a number of hours of chanting, bless-
ing, dousing with holy water and related activities to com-
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plete. The enchantment is cast upon an area of ground such
as a temple, offering potent protection against those who
are not aligned to the faith. Anyone who enters that area
and attempts to take actions that are harmful to the caster
or those who share the caster’s motivations or outlook must
make a save, with failure meaning that they are at –3 per
SS to all physical and spell-casting actions. Upon leaving
the blessed ground they will once again be at full strength.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: N/A
Area of effect: 10' radius per SS
Duration: 1 day per SS
Casting time: 1-6 hours
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Priest colour: Red
Description: When this spell is cast the priest’s skin will
become extremely tough, providing powerful resistance
against physical attacks. In game terms, the caster gains 1
point of armour (AV) against all attack types per SS (e.g.
SS 12 gives 12/9, 12/9, 12/9, 12/9 armour).
Effect in runes: Permanence, on a bracelet for example,
gives constant spell effects on the area of skin near to the
object (e.g. hand and forearm), with SS random up to origi-
nal (rolled at the time of creation).
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 50 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: The target of this spell is affected as if they
had just been poisoned (see the Hexicon rulebook section
4.1.3) with the exception that their saves should be against
red magic, not poison/disease. The poison attacks initially
at the spell’s SS, and has an onset time of 50 - SS seconds.
The “antidote” can be provided by the priest at any time,
instantly stopping the magical venom’s spread (curing the
target).
Effect in runes: Permanence on a weapon will cause the
spell to take effect whenever a wound is inflicted.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: This spell makes real the dream of flight al-
lowing the caster to soar into the air and cover vast dis-
tances quickly and relatively safely. The priest travels at 3
km per hour per SS, e.g. at SS 10 the rate of flight is 30 km
per hour. Note that 1 km per hour is approximately equal
to 1 foot per second (actually closer to 0.9 feet per sec), or
0.1 feet per count. Hence 30 km per hour equals approxi-
mately 3 feet per count (in pace terms). Once this spell is
cast for the first time the caster (and anyone else affected)
should add the Fly skill to their Character Sheet and calcu-
late the modifiers (without the usual -25 penalty for nov-
ices). For flight in combat, see section 3.7.12 of the rule-
book.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: Should the targets of this spell fail to make a
save, their wrists will suddenly draw together and become
tightly bonded. The GM should determine exactly what
actions may be undertaken in this state, but in general any
action involving fine manipulation or gesturing (e.g. spell
casting) should be at a hefty minus (e.g. –50). Dodging is
unaffected, but attacking using the hands or a weapon,
blocking, parrying and related activities will be at –20 to –
40 (GM’s discretion).
Effect in runes: Permanence (on a set of bracelets, for
example) will bond the wearer’s wrists together as per the
spell, making them rather difficult to remove…
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 T per 3 SS
Duration: 10 SEC per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Base
Description: Using this potent illusory magic, a priest is
able to take on the appearance of a being of great power, a
suitable servant of their deity. While no actual additional
powers are gained, a striking show of apparent power is
likely to awe and cower onlookers. The appearance that is
taken on is in part under the control of the priest, but should
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be consonant with the God they serve. Hence a priest of
Backnar, the Iron Ring Empire’s God of honour and war
might take on the appearance of a giant knight in shining
armour bearing a flaming sword. Observers gain no save
against this magic, but their actions may not be influenced
by mere appearances.
Effect in runes: Permanence means that the spell will take
effect whenever the item is worn/touched. The appearance
of the illusion is determined upon creation, not each time
used.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 40-SS
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: Any creatures of fire affected by this spell
must save against it or be repelled, retreating away from
the caster until they are out of sight and at a distance that
they cannot affect the caster in any way (e.g. with magical
fear or attacks). Creatures of fire are determined at the GM’s
discretion but might include dragons, balrogs, fenry, fire
elementals etc. They must continue to retreat before the
caster in this way for the duration of the spell (should the
caster follow on, for example) but will most likely return
after this time is up. Banished creatures are not permitted
to make any ranged attacks against the caster or their com-
panions.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 15'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Black
Description: Having cast this spell, a priest’s touch will
suddenly become deadly. Should the priest touch a tar-
get’s exposed flesh, the target must save or face a 1d6 death
roll per 2 points of SS (e.g. 6d6 death roll for a SS 12
spell). A save protects the target for the entire duration of
the spell. The spell’s effects also partially extend to any
weapon used by the priest, with the proviso that the weapon
must actually draw blood for the spell to take effect.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: N/A
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: White
Description: Any demons affected by this spell must save
against it or be repelled, retreating away from the caster
until they are out of sight and at a distance that they cannot
affect the caster in any way (e.g. with magical fear or at-
tacks). They must continue to retreat before the caster in
this way for the duration of the spell (should the caster
follow on, for example) but will most likely return after
this time is up. Banished demons are not permitted to make
any ranged attacks against the caster or their companions.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 15'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: When this spell is cast a circle of fierce flame
is created centred on the caster in a 15 foot radius circle.
The circle of flames moves with the caster for the spell’s
duration and all those caught in the flames suffer a non-
locational injury with a damage modifier of 0.2 per SS
upon being contacted. If they remain in contact, they will
suffer the same amount of damage every subsequent 10
counts.
Effect in runes: Permanence either creates a permanent
circle of flames around an object that cannot be dispelled
or allows casting using the bearer’s spell points with a ran-
dom SS up to the original.
Range: S
Area of effect: 15' radius
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: Should the target of this manipulative spell
fail to save, they will find themselves utterly under the
control of the priest for its duration. They will believe
whatever they are told and do whatever is requested of
them, however out of character or dangerous. When the
spell wears off, the victim will be fully aware of what has
happened, and will no longer respond to suggestions made
or beliefs instilled.
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Effect in runes: With permanence on an item with intelli-
gence, that item will attempt to gain control of its bearer
each time its other powers are used, maintaining control
for the duration of the spell (random SS up to the spell’s
original).
Range: 10'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Base
Description: Enhance combat. Casting this spell will in-
fuse the priest with the power of their God, filling their
body with other-worldly strength and speed. In game terms,
the priest gains a +2 to strike, parry and dodge per SS, and
a +0.1 to damage for every 2 points of SS.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 15 counts per SS
Casting time: 10-(SS/3)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: This helpful spell allows the caster to attempt
to overcome a curse that is affecting their target. The spell’s
SS should be compared to the curse’s original SS; if it
exceeds it, the curse is removed. Otherwise, the curse will
remain in place until a more powerful remove curse spell
can be cast.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Black
Description: Locking their arm and aiming their clenched
fist at a target, the priest using this dark spell attempts to
banish a spirit from its body forever. Should the target fail
to save, their soul will perish utterly; they will die instantly,
and no resurrection can restore them.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: White
Description: This potent magic will inspire all those within
range who share the priest’s motivations or outlook, lift-
ing their spirits and filling them with a feeling of divine
purpose and self-belief. For the duration of the spell they
will be immune to the effects of normal and magical fear
(recovering at once if afflicted) and will be at +1 per SS to
all physical actions and saves.
Effect in runes: Permanence gives constant spell effects
in the region of the item. SS random up to original, rolled
at time of creation.
Range: S
Area of effect: 50' radius
Duration: 100 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Red
Description: The target of this spell must save or become
infected with rabies (initially at the spell’s SS). The spell
has an onset time of 1 day and will affect the target ac-
cording to the rules on infection (section 4.1.3), poten-
tially killing them. In addition to the standard effects de-
scribed, however, when the disease’s strength exceeds the
target’s CON it will cause them to foam at the mouth and
become paranoid and extremely aggressive, regularly strik-
ing out at anyone around them. Should they inflict a wound
(even via a weapon) their target must save against the origi-
nal spell’s SS or become infected too.
Effect in runes: Permanence on a weapon will cause the
spell to take effect whenever blood is drawn.
Range: 25'
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: This subtle manipulative magic allows the
priest to indirectly influence a large number of targets. If
the words he utters after casting the spell are eloquently
phrased (so as to sound reasonable) then any who hear
them and fail to save will be utterly convinced of the truth
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of them. While this spell does not offer instant control, it
does give a powerful way to influence the actions of oth-
ers in the medium to long term.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T per SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Base
Description: The most potent of the miraculous healing
magics available to a true priest, the resurrection spell will
return life to the dead. A corpse need simply be touched
and it will return to life with little or no memory of the
experience of death and what lies beyond. There are, how-
ever, a number of provisos. Firstly, the corpse must be in a
condition that will allow it to survive once resurrected.
Resurrection will not restore missing limbs or organs, so
the absence of a body part that is required (e.g. a head)
prevents it. Secondly, the decomposition process sets lim-
its on the effectiveness of the spell. Every day following
resurrection the Use% value of the spell drops by 10%, so
that even the most powerful spell (SS 30) is ineffective by
thirty days after death. Thirdly, resurrection has a number
of serious physical and psychological effects upon the in-
dividual who has returned from the dead. Full details are
given in section 4.1.4 of the Hexicon rulebook.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 30-(SS/2)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: This powerful manipulative magic allows the
priest to influence a whole group of targets. A simple com-
mand of a few words must be uttered in a loud voice (“run
that way” or “kill him” for example). All those targets who
fail to save will then obey that command until such time as
it has been fulfilled or the duration of the spell is up. If a
command is directly contrary to the values and beliefs of a
target they receive a further save. If it entails certain death
(e.g. jumping off a cliff) they will not obey the command,
but will take no other actions apart from defending them-
selves for the duration of the spell (note that attacking a
superior opponent does not entail certain death). Affected
individuals will remember responding to the priest’s com-
mands and the actions they took but may be uncertain as
to why they did so (they may mistake the magical com-
mand for their own desire if the two are easily reconcil-
able).
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T per SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Black
Description: Using this black art the priest is able to cre-
ate an undead creature from a corpse. The magic is cer-
emonial, taking a number of hours to complete; the undead
will rise up at midnight the following evening, and will
not be under the command of its creator, rather having its
own desires and motives. The power of the undead de-
pends upon the SS of the spell and the nature of the corpse
according to the following guidelines: SS1 - any corpse
can be used to create a zombie/animated dead (bestiary
section 6.2.1); SS 8 - the corpse of a warrior can be used to
create a minor skeleton (section 6.2.4); SS 10 - the corpse
of a woman can be used to create a banshee (section 6.2.2);
SS 15 - the corpse of a champion (a great warrior) can be
used to create a major skeleton; SS 20 - the corpse of a
true sinner (one who has sinned without guilt or repent-
ance) can be used to create a major vampire; SS 25 - the
corpse of a powerful evil mage or king can be used to cre-
ate a wraith lord.
Effect in runes: Permanence creates an object which, when
placed and left upon a corpse, has a SS% chance of creat-
ing an appropriate undead creature.
Range: T
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: Ritual (4-8 hours)
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Priest colour: White
Description: This stunning healing enchantment will af-
fect numerous targets, instantly healing any wounds of a
standard nature (e.g. weapon damage, bruising, cuts, bro-
ken bones etc.) whatever their level of severity (injury
points). Those restored will feel warmed from within and
touched by the hand of the relevant God.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: S
Area of effect: 50' radius
Duration: N/A
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Casting time: 100-(2 x SS)
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Priest colour: Red
Description: When this spell is cast, any target who fails
to save (or chooses not to) will fall into an enraged berserk
state, attacking their enemies (and sometimes their com-
rades) with enormous violence. While berserk, they will
gain a + 2 to initiative and strike per SS, a + 0.1 to damage
per 2 SS, and will ignore knockout rolls, although they are
at -10 to parry and dodge. Once attacks are launched against
a foe, they will be unable to stop attacking until their tar-
get is unconscious or dead. They may also fail to recog-
nise comrades as friends and attack them; actions should
be guided according to the rules presented in section 3.7.14
of the Hexicon rulebook.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T per SS
Duration: N/A
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: The spell creates a mighty wind over a large
area. The wind has a strength of 2 per SS. All affected
must make an initial knockdown roll of 1d6 per 3 SS. If
this value exceeds their STR statistic they are knocked
down (considered to be prone; see the rulebook section
3.7.6) and pinned for the duration. If it exceeds double
their STR, they are pushed over and will roll backwards at
a rate of 10’ (about 3 metres) per second until the wind
ceases. Those not knocked over have 10% normal move-
ment per point of STR over the wind strength; if their STR
is lower they can only stand, and make no significant move-
ments. Spell casting is possible as usual unless prone, but
physical actions like parrying are at –5 for each point the
wind’s (strength x 2) exceeds the victim’s STR. Anyone
entering the gale is affected by it. Similarly, missiles fired
into the area are strongly affected, giving a –5 per wind
strength to strike. Any unbalancing action (such as dodg-
ing) necessitates a new knockdown roll. Targets can choose
to give in and let the wind blow them backwards should
they wish. Blown targets will suffer damage as per section
4.1.1 of the rulebook if they strike a solid object, can make
no defense, but are tough to hit if blown past a potential
striker’s path (-30 special mod). The spell will cease im-
mediately if the caster stops concentrating upon it.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting at any time
using the bearer’s spell points.
Range: 1000'
Area of effect: 100' by 100' per SS
Duration: 20 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Base
Description: The most dangerous and powerful spell a
priest can cast, this enchantment allows a deity to act di-
rectly through the body of their servant. The caster will be
filled with pure Godly energy, which will spill forth from
their eyes and mouth, appearing as bright light of the ap-
propriate colour. Any creature that is bathed in this light
(looked at) and is not a servant of the priest’s God will
suffer the intense and searing pain of revelation. Physi-
cally, they will suffer a 0.3 x SS non-locational damage
roll every 5 counts that the priest focuses on them. There
is no way to avoid this damage. Mentally, a failure to save
will cost them a point of WIL (permanent loss) every 5
counts; they will also gain one random insanity every 10
counts. For the duration of the spell the priest will be vir-
tually invulnerable; any physical attacks will flounder
against the halo of light that surrounds them, equivalent to
4 points of armour per SS on each location against all at-
tack types. They will also gain a +5 per SS on all saves.
However, there is a considerable risk in using this magic.
A mortal body is not designed to contain these sorts of
energies, and there is a chance that their skin will rip around
their eyes and mouth (rolled initially: 15 – SS %, mini-
mum 3%). In this case the breaks will spread rapidly until
their body is ripped asunder. The energies within will cause
an explosion, causing non-locational damage of 1 per SS
to everyone within 30’, - 0.1 per SS for each additional 10'
(such that the explosion will extend out to 130’). The
priest’s own body will be utterly consumed.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: S
Area of effect: S
Duration: 10 counts per SS
Casting time: 100-(2 x SS)
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Priest colour: Blue
Description: Using this powerful spell the caster is able
to instantly summon forth one water elemental (Hexicon
rulebook section 6.4.4) per five points of SS. The
elementals will do the caster’s bidding, following their
mental commands until they or the caster are killed or the
duration of the spell is up. At this point they will vanish
back to their own dimension, leaving no trace.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
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Range: N/A
Area of effect: N/A
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Black
Description: Using this powerful spell the caster is able
to instantly summon forth one commander demonic min-
ion (Hexicon rulebook section 6.3.4) per five points of SS.
The demons will do the caster’s bidding, following their
mental commands until they or the caster are killed or the
duration of the spell is up. At this point they will vanish
back to their own dimension, leaving no trace.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: N/A
Area of effect: N/A
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: White
Description: Using this powerful spell the caster is able
to instantly summon forth one angel (Hexicon rulebook
section 6.4.5) per five points of SS. The angels will do the
caster’s bidding, following their mental commands until
they or the caster are killed or the duration of the spell is
up. At this point they will vanish back to their own dimen-
sion, leaving no trace.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: N/A
Area of effect: N/A
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Red
Description: Using this powerful spell the caster is able
to instantly summon forth one fire elemental (Hexicon
rulebook section 6.4.3) per five points of SS. The
elementals will do the caster’s bidding, following their
mental commands until they or the caster are killed or the
duration of the spell is up. At this point they will vanish
back to their own dimension, leaving no trace.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: N/A
Area of effect: N/A
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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Priest colour: Grey
Description: Using this powerful spell the caster is able
to instantly summon forth one air elemental (Hexicon rule-
book section 6.4.1) per five points of SS. The elementals
will do the caster’s bidding, following their mental com-
mands until they or the caster are killed or the duration of
the spell is up. At this point they will vanish back to their
own dimension, leaving no trace.
Effect in runes: Permanence allows casting with a ran-
dom SS up to the spell’s original using the bearer’s spell
points.
Range: N/A
Area of effect: N/A
Duration: 30 counts per SS
Casting time: 50-SS
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For more details, see section 5.4 of the Hexicon rule-
book.
Druids begin with a single affinity. Additional affinities
cost 10,000 E.P.s. For each affinity, the druid gains the
following powers:
Familiar. Begins level 1, costs 1000 E.P.s per level to in-
crease. Totemic stat mods (see above) are reversed with
the death of a familiar to become a –1.
Level 1: familiar obeys verbal commands (as long as it can
hear them).
Level 2: familiar obeys mental commands, which can be
heard up to 1 km away. NB. This is not the same as a tel-
epathic link; the communication is one way.
Level 3: the druid gains the familiar’s senses at will, up to
a range of 1 km. Their own senses are lost at this time.
Level 4: above powers now have a range of 10 km.
Level 5: above powers now have a range of 100 km.
Talk to animals. Can communicate with affiliated ani-
mals. Baseline value as Learn% for spell learning (INT
primary, WIL secondary). For every 200 E.P.s spent, gain
a +3, or increases the skill by this baseline value divided
by three (whichever is greater). Costs 2 spell points to
use. This power cannot be raised above 100%.
Summon animals. Can attempt to summon affiliated ani-
mals (called from the surrounding area). Baseline value as
Learn% for spell learning (INT primary, WIL secondary).
For every 300 E.P.s spent, gain a +3, or increases the skill
by this baseline value divided by three (whichever is
greater). Costs 3 spell points to use. This power cannot be
raised above 100%. Summoned animals will disperse af-
ter 2d6 minutes.
Metamorphosis. Can take on the form/abilities of an af-
filiated animal. Get to retain own “E.P. mod” for skills.
Takes 2 actions. Baseline value as Learn% for spell learn-
ing (INT primary, WIL secondary). For every 400 E.P.s
spent, gain a +3, or increases the skill by this baseline value
divided by three (whichever is greater). Costs 4 spell points
to use. Failure, plus a roll of 6 on 1d6 leads to temporary
reversion to animal intelligence. This power cannot be
raised above 100%. Duration up to 6 hours.
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Description: An organic host describes any object origi-
nally made from material that was once alive (classic ex-
amples being wood and leather). The shaman must pre-
pare such items before a spirit can be summoned into them,
making a separate preparation for each spirit the object is
to host. The object will remain capable of receiving a spirit
for the duration of the spell; after this time the spell must
be recast. When a spirit is summoned into the object, it
will be locked there until the spell’s duration expires, at
which point it will be released, attempting to possess the
nearest living creature (for animal, rage and disease spir-
its) or manifesting in physical form (for elemental spirits).
However, if the shaman also imbues the object with a
RELEASE word or condition, the spirit can be released at
an earlier point (when the condition is met or the word
uttered).
Duration: 2 hours per SS
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Description: This elemental spirit must be summoned into
a prepared organic or inorganic host (a living host is not
suitable). When released (upon expiry of the PREPARE
spell’s duration, or according to a RELEASE spell’s speci-
fication) the object will begin to weep fresh clean water,
producing a total of 2 litres per SS before running dry.
Duration: Releases at a rate of 1 litre per 10 seconds
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Description: The shaman can specify a particular word
which, when uttered by someone who is touching an or-
ganic or inorganic host object that contains a spirit, will
cause that spirit to be released. It takes one action to re-
lease a spirit in this manner. Elemental spirits will imme-
diately manifest upon release (see individual spell descrip-
tions) while animal, rage and disease spirits will attempt
to possess the nearest living creature.
Duration: N/A
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Description: This elemental spirit must be summoned into
a prepared organic or inorganic host (a living host is not
suitable). When released (upon expiry of the PREPARE
spell’s duration, or according to a RELEASE spell’s speci-
fication) a typical object will release the spirit as a power-
ful rush of wind (in the direction in which the object is
“pointed”). This has an effect identical to the wizard spell
WIND RUSH (2000 E.P.s). Alternatively, in missile weap-
ons, air spirits can be released by an appropriate condition
(e.g. “when thrown”) and, rather than releasing a rush of
wind, will act to better direct the missile, giving a +3 to
strike per SS. This use must be specified in advance.
Duration: For the wind rush, 10 counts per SS
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Description: An inorganic host describes any object origi-
nally made from material that never lived (classic exam-
ples being stone and metal). The shaman must prepare such
items before a spirit can be summoned into them, making
a separate preparation for each spirit the object is to host.
The object will remain capable of receiving a spirit for the
duration of the spell; after this time the spell must be re-
cast. When a spirit is summoned into the object, it will be
locked there until the spell’s duration expires, at which
point it will be released, attempting to possess the nearest
living creature (for animal, rage and disease spirits) or
manifesting in physical form (for elemental spirits). How-
ever, if the shaman also imbues the object with a RELEASE
word or condition, the spirit can be released at an earlier
point (when the condition is met or the word uttered).
Duration: 2 hours per SS
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Description: Using this spell, the shaman is able to con-
tact human spirits for the purposes of asking them specific
questions. In some cases, spirits will have access to wider
ranging information than mortals (by virtue of ranging far-
ther afield), although this is not necessarily the case. If a
corpse is used, then the spirit will belong to that person
(and therefore reflect their knowledge and interests, albeit
somewhat magnified); if no corpse is used, a random wan-
dering spirit is contacted (at the GM’s discretion). Spirits
are not all knowing by any means, but should usually be
able to offer some useful advice. However, they are in no
sense bound to answer questions, and can refuse to do so.
A single quite specific question can be asked per SS for
this spell; GMs may judge that broader questions use up
two or three specific questions.
Duration: Until 1 question per SS has been asked.
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Description: A living host describes any living creature
(most typically a colleague of the shaman). The shaman
usually prepares people before summoning a spirit into
them, or before summoning spirits into an organic or inor-
ganic host for the purposes of letting someone release it
into themselves at a later time. A separate preparation must
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be carried out for each spirit the person is to host. The
subject will remain capable of receiving a spirit for the
duration of the spell; after this time the spell must be re-
cast. Only animal spirits and rage spirits are suitable for
summoning into prepared living hosts. When these spirits
are released near the living host (from an object) or sum-
moned directly into that person (by the shaman) a battle of
wills commences. A prepared host gets to add half the SS
of the PREPARE INORGANIC HOST spell to their WIL
for this contest. If they are successful, they will master the
spirit, gaining benefits described in the appropriate SUM-
MON spell that last until the duration of this spell expires,
at which point the spirit harmlessly returns to the spirit
world. If the spirit wins, it will possess the living host for
the shorter duration of its own SUMMON spell (usually
one minute per point of WIL). The GM should make the
host act in an appropriate manner. Living hosts cannot be
prepared to accept elemental spirits (which cannot be con-
tained within a still-living form) or disease spirits (which
cannot be mastered; they simply cause disease if someone
fails to defeat them).
Duration: 2 hours per SS
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Description: An animal spirit can be summoned directly
into a prepared living host, or can be placed into an or-
ganic or inorganic host for release at a later date. In the
latter case, it will attempt to enter the nearest living being
when it is released. The animal’s spirit can have a WIL up
to the SS of the SUMMON spell, at the shaman’s discre-
tion (they may select a lower WIL if they feel the hosts
they have prepared cannot master a powerful spirit). When
the spirit enters a living host, a battle of wills is conducted.
If the host wins, they gain special benefits for the duration
of the PREPARE spell, dependent upon the WIL of the
spirit. If the spirit wins, it will take control of the living
host (possess them) for one minute per point of WIL. The
types of animal spirits a shaman can summon depend upon
their proficiency with this spell (and having access to the
animal in question to sacrifice in the casting ceremony).
Rodents can be summoned at any SS; birds of prey require
SS 5; pack dogs/big cats require SS 10; finally, bears re-
quire SS 15 or above. For rodents, mastery provides the
following benefits: + 1 AGI and +1 TOU for every three
points of spirit WIL. With embodiment (see the EMBODY
SPIRIT spell later), the benefit is +2 AGI and TOU for
every point of spirit WIL. For birds of prey, mastery pro-
vides + 1 to DEX and +1 to SIG for every three points of
WIL (+2 DEX and SIG for every point of WIL with em-
bodiment, plus the ability to glide). For pack dogs or
big cats, hosts gain +1 to STR and SML for every 3 points
of WIL (+2 per point of WIL with embodiment, plus a
special +40 to the track skill). Finally, for bears, every 3
points of spirit WIL gain the host a +1 to CON and HEA,
with a +2 per point of WIL when embodied.
Duration: 1 minute per point of WIL
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Description: The shaman can specify a particular condi-
tion which, when met for a host object that contains a spirit,
will cause that spirit to be released instantly (for example
when a weapon makes contact with a foe or when a door is
opened). Elemental spirits will immediately manifest upon
release (see individual spell descriptions) while animal,
rage and disease spirits will attempt to possess the nearest
living creature.
Duration: N/A
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Description: This elemental spirit must be summoned into
a prepared organic or inorganic host (a living host is not
suitable). When released (upon expiry of the PREPARE
spell’s duration, or according to a RELEASE spell’s speci-
fication) a typical object will release the spirit as a burst of
fire (in the direction the object is “pointing”). The fiery
tongue attacks at +3 per SS (as a bow) but cannot be par-
ried except with a large shield. It has a maximum range of
3 feet per SS (range mod 0.5) and does non locational dam-
age of 0.2 per SS. Alternatively, the spirit can be placed in
a weapon with a release condition such as “when a foe is
struck.” At this point, the fire spirit will erupt in a local-
ised fireflash, adding 0.2 per SS to the weapon’s damage
mod.
Duration: Instant release
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Description: This powerful magic allows the shaman to
temporarily separate his spirit from his body, taking flight
in the spirit world. The shaman’s body is left limp and
lifeless, vulnerable to being killed in his absence. Whilst
in flight, the shaman cannot interact with mortals in any
way. He is invisible and capable of traversing most physi-
cal barriers, moving at speeds of up to 100 km per hour.
He can see and hear, but has no other senses available.
Duration: 20 minutes per SS
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Description: A disease spirit must be summoned from a
diseased person or animal (it will be a specific disease,
such as cholera). If the SS of the spell exceeds the dis-
ease’s strength, the spirit is successfully summoned and
can be placed into a prepared organic or inorganic host,
with a WIL equal to its strength. The formerly diseased
creature is cured. If the SS of the spell does not exceed the
disease’s strength, the disease’s strength is reduced by SS
points, but summoning is not successful. Another attempt
can be made the following evening at the new strength.
When a disease spirit is released, it will immediately at-
tempt to enter the nearest living creature, initiating a bat-
tle of wills. If beaten, it dissipates to the spirit world. If it
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wins, it will have infected a new victim (see the Hexicon
rulebook section 4.1.3 for rules on resolving disease at-
tacks).
Duration: Instant release; following infection, typical on-
set time of 1 day per SS
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Description: A rage spirit can only be summoned on the
night of a full moon. It can be summoned into an organic
or inorganic host for later release (attempting to enter the
closest living creature at that point) or can be summoned
directly into a prepared living host. Its WIL can be up to
the SS of the SUMMON spell, at the shaman’s discretion.
Following a battle of wills, either the spirit will control the
living host for a duration equal to 1 minute per point of
spirit WIL, or the host will control the spirit for the dura-
tion of the PREPARE spell. Whatever the case, during the
time affected the host ignores knockout rolls, gains a +2 to
strike and initiative per SS, and a plus 0.1 to their damage
mod per 2 points of SS. They will be at -10 to parry and
dodge. If the spirit is in control, the host will mindlessly
attack every creature it comes into contact with until that
creature is unconscious or dead, at which point they will
actively seek another target. If the host is in control, they
will be edgy and extremely quick to anger, and having
initiated an attack will be unable to stop until their target
is dead or unconscious, but can decide what to attack in
the first place (i.e. not their comrades).
Duration: 1 MIN per point of SS
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Description: Using this dark magic, a shaman is able to
allow an animal spirit to physically alter its host to create
a powerful hybrid creature, a kind of were-beast. Once a
prepared living host has mastered an animal spirit, the sha-
man may go on to cast this spell. The host then undergoes
a painful metamorphosis, wracked with convulsions, as
their body transforms, taking on many of the physical char-
acteristics the animal spirit once possessed but maintain-
ing its current size. They will now gain impressive statis-
tical benefits, detailed is the SUMMON ANIMAL SPIRIT
spell for mastering with embodiment. However, there is a
great potential cost for this procedure. At the end of the
PREPARE LIVING HOST spell’s duration, the transfor-
mation reverses, returning the host to their usual form in
another damaging convulsive fit. At this point they must
make a save against red magic, using a spell strength equal
to the WIL of the summoned animal spirit that they mas-
tered, for each of their primary statistics (i.e. seven saves
in total). Failure results in a permanent loss of 1d10 from
that statistic, with death if any statistic falls to zero. Alter-
natively, the transformed individual may decide not to
transform back, remaining in their altered form. In this
case, they will remain a hybrid, but lose 1 point of CON
per day until their CON falls to zero and they die.
Duration: As the PREPARE LIVING HOST spell
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Description: This elemental spirit must be summoned into
a prepared organic or inorganic host (not a living host)
that already contains another spirit (hence it must be pre-
pared twice, once for each spirit). Rather than being re-
leased on some condition itself, an earth spirit acts to bind
other spirits to hosts in a far more permanent manner. In
this way, spirits can be bound into hosts and left for days,
years, or even centuries, making them effective for long
trips, or as traps against would-be invaders of tribal terri-
tories. In the unlikely event that the duration of the SUM-
MON EARTH SPIRIT spell does expire before a suitable
RELEASE condition has been met, all spirits contained in
the object are released, with the earth spirit making no
physical manifestation.
Duration: One century per SS
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Description: Using this powerful incantation, a shaman is
able to summon a particularly strong spirit from far afield.
In game terms, they may add the SS of this spell to the SS
of any other SUMMON spell when determining the WIL
of the spirit they are summoning. Hence very powerful
elemental spirits can be bound within objects, or mighty
animal spirits can be bound to living hosts (although their
must still be overcome if the host is to master them). The
spell is particularly useful for capturing virulent disease
spirits from dying creatures.
Duration: N/A
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Description: This summoning circle allows relatively
small animals (up to the size of a small dog, SIZ 5 in game
terms) to be summoned and engaged in a battle of wills.
The circle must be learned for each animal individually,
and includes the following entries from the bestiary: bat;
bird, small; cat, domesticated; fish, medium; fox; hawk;
mouse, field; rat, brown; snake, poisonous.
Components: Chalk, 1 pint of blood from the animal to
be summoned, 7 candles of black wax.
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Description: If a non-magical animal species has had its
blood used in the preparation of this circle, any animal of
that species will be at -4 per SS when making an aggres-
sive physical action (e.g. attacking) within it. Animals are
not affected when making non-aggressive actions (e.g.
dodging).
Components: Half a pint of blood from each animal spe-
cies the circle protects against.
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Description: When activated, this useful circle takes on
the appearance of a slightly misty window or screen. Look-
ing through this window conveys the sight of the circle’s
target (the person whose true name was carved during the
circle’s creation); it is as if those looking at the circle were
seeing through that person’s eyes, wherever they might
be. The target receives a save (each time the circle is acti-
vated) but is unaware that they are being used in this way.
Components: Chalk, 1 crystal, 7 eyeballs (same race as
target), true name of the target.
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Description: This summoning circle permits less potent
undead creatures to be summoned and engaged in a battle
of wills. The circle must be learned for each type of undead
creature separately, and covers the following entries from
the bestiary: animated dead (zombie), banshee, minor skel-
eton.
Components: Ground human bone (2 lbs), 1 recently de-
ceased human corpse, 7 candles of black wax.
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Description: Any undead creature within the area of this
circle will suffer a -4 per SS when making any aggressive
physical action (e.g. attacking) within it. Non aggressive
actions are unaffected.
Components: 7 silver candlesticks and candles of white
wax, 7 cloves of garlic, chalk, 7 wooden stakes.
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Description: This potent circle will cause any living crea-
ture that enters it and fails a save to fall immediately into a
deep sleep. They will not awaken until removed from the
circle, but will age at a much reduced rate while asleep (1
year every 10 years). Only the person who activated the
circle is immune to its effects.
Components: 7 crystal vials of alcohol, chalk, 1 lb of sil-
ver dust.
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Description: This summoning circle allows large animals
(up to the size of a horse, SIZ 22 in game terms) to be
summoned and engaged in a battle of wills. The circle must
be learned for each animal individually, and includes the
following entries from the bestiary (in addition to those
covered by summon small animal): bear, brown; boar, wild;
bull, domesticated; crocodile; dog, hunting; eagle; horse,
riding; horse, war; leopard; lion; mule; shark, medium;
snake, constricting; stag; wolf, common.
Components: Chalk, 1 pint of blood from the animal to
be summoned, 7 candles of black wax.
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Description: Any elemental (except demons, technically
death elementals) within the area of this circle will suffer a
-4 per SS when making any aggressive physical action (e.g.
attacking) within it. Non aggressive actions are unaffected.
Components: 1 lb crushed volcanic rock, 1 lb crushed
crystalline rock, 7 iron rods, 4 oz sulfur.
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Description: This circle enchants anything placed within
its area, whatever substance it is made of, causing it to
become invisible. As soon as a person or item leaves the
circle, they/it will become visible again. There is no save
against the effect of this circle.
Components: Chalk, 7 glass bottles containing mist cap-
tured upon the ocean, 1 large (4 carat or greater) diamond.
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Description: This summoning circle allows less powerful
denizens of hell to be summoned and engaged in a battle
of wills. The circle must be learned for each type of de-
mon individually, and covers the following entries from
the bestiary: demonic minion, lesser; demonic minion,
higher; gargoyle; hellhound (fenry).
Components: Red paint, 7 candles of red wax, 1 live hu-
manoid sacrifice.
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Description: Any demon within the area of this circle will
suffer a -4 per SS when making any aggressive physical
action (e.g. attacking) within it. Non aggressive actions
are unaffected.
Components: Chalk, 7 candles of white wax, 1 pint of
demon’s blood.
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Description: This is a dark and powerful circle often em-
ployed over old battlefields or graveyards. When activated,
all the corpses within the circle’s area will rise up as ani-
mated dead (zombies; see the bestiary). The circle activa-
tor will be able to command up to one zombie per SS of
the circle up until such time as the circle is deactivated.
The zombies can be commanded to leave the circle’s pe-
rimeter, but will lose 1 point of resistance value for each
mile they travel from it.
Components: Chalk, 7 fingers from the hands of one or
more true priests.
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Description: This summoning circle allows most types of
intelligent humanoids to be summoned and engaged in a
battle of wills. The circle must be learned for each human-
oid species (e.g. Dwarfs) individually, and includes the
following races: Human, Elf (High, Wood, Dark, Half),
Orc (all), Dwarf, Hobbit, Gnome, Ogre, Wolfen. The true
name of the individual that is to be summoned must be
uttered when activating the circle.
Components: Chalk, 7 oz quicksilver, 7 lanterns burning
fat from the species to be summoned, true name of target.
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Description: Any evil creature (GM’s discretion) within
the area of this circle will suffer a -2 per SS when making
any aggressive physical action (e.g. attacking) within it.
This effect is cumulative with that of other protection cir-
cles. Non aggressive actions are unaffected.
Components: Chalk, 7 candles of white wax, 1/2 lb of
gold dust.
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Description: This cruel circle affects any being within its
radius, causing them to lose 1 point per second from each
physical stat should they fail to save. These losses are per-
manent; only the circle’s activator is immune from its ef-
fects.
Components: Chalk, 7 smashed hourglasses, the blood of
seven murdered (violently killed, not is self defense) hu-
manoids.
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Description: This summoning circle allows elementals
(fire, earth, water, air, life (angel)) to be summoned and
engaged in a battle of wills. The circle must be learned for
each type of elemental individually.
Components: Chalk, 1 oz sulfur, 3 carat diamond, 1 vial
of hydrogen, 1 vial of pure water, 7 gold dishes.
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Description: Any good creature (GM’s discretion) within
the area of this circle will suffer a -2 per SS when making
any aggressive physical action (e.g. attacking) within it.
This effect is cumulative with that of other protection cir-
cles. Non aggressive actions are unaffected.
Components: Chalk, 7 candles of black wax, 1 pint of
water blessed by a true priest (black, grey or red).
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Description: A subtle but powerful magic, this circle af-
fects anyone within its radius apart from the activator, in-
stantly draining a number of magic points equal to the cir-
cles SS multiplied by 2 unless a save is made. However,
those affected will be unaware of the enchantment until
they attempt to take some magical action, at which point
their loss of energy will become apparent. Spell points
cannot be reduced below zero by this circle.
Components: Chalk, 1 large gold pot emptied of air and
stopped with the hearts of seven men.
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Description: This summoning circle permits greater
undead creatures to be summoned and engaged in a battle
of wills. The circle must be learned for each type of undead
creature separately, and covers the following entries from
the bestiary (in addition to those covered by summon lesser
undead): major skeleton; minor vampire; major vampire;
wraith minion; wraith lord.
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Components: Chalk, 1 lb of ground human bone, the
corpse of a true priest, 7 golden candlesticks and black
wax candles.
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Description: Anyone within the area of this circle receives
a +3 per SS to all saves against magic.
Components: A quarter ounce (about 40 carat) of ground
ruby, chalk, 7 candles of different shaded wax.
�����������������������������
Description: Unlike most circles, this circle cannot be
maintained once activated; its effect is instant, costing the
requisite spell points, and then it is inactive once more
(ready to be used again). Upon activation, any person/s or
object/s within the circle are instantly teleported to a loca-
tion specified at the time the circle was drawn (must be
within 200 km per SS).
Components: 7 pixi corpses, 7 small platinum candlesticks
and bees’ wax candles.
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Description: This summoning circle allows powerful de-
mons to be summoned and engaged in a battle of wills.
The circle must be learned for each type of demon indi-
vidually, and covers the following entries from the bestiary
(in addition to those covered by summon lesser undead):
demonic minion, commander; balrog; demon lord;
shapeshifter; succubus/incubus.
Components: Red paint mixed with a crushed ruby (at
least 10 carat), 7 red candles, 1 humanoid sacrifice.
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Description: The activator of this circle gains +2 per SS
to any defensive action (e.g. dodge, parry, save etc.) taken
whilst within its perimeter.
Components: A quarter ounce (about 40 carat) of ground
diamond, chalk, 7 candles of white wax.
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Description: A powerful tool for striking down enemies,
this circle is not maintained, but rather acts instantly upon
activation at the requisite spell point cost, being at once
ready for reuse. It will affect any creature for whom the
true name is known within a range of 50 km per SS, caus-
ing them to suffer a 1d6 per SS death roll unless they save.
A given circle can only make a single attack against a given
individual; if they save, a new circle must be drawn to
attack them again.
Components: Target’s true name, chalk, one personal item
(e.g. piece of clothing the target has worn), 7 lbs of gold
dust.
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Description: This spell readies an item so that the first
rune can subsequently be written upon it (using one of the
spell rune spells). Further runes written upon the same item
require the higher forge rune spells.
Ingredients: No ingredients are consumed, but the alche-
mist requires a set of mythryl cutting tools.
Permanent spell point cost: 1 spell point.
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Description: An item that has been prepared (using an
appropriate forge rune spell) can be written with a rune
that will receive a spell of up to the 2000 E.P. level. An
appropriate mage must still be found to actually cast the
spell into the rune, where it will instantly bind.
Ingredients: 1 oz of silver
Permanent spell point cost: Roll 1d6. On a roll of 5 or 6
one spell point is lost.
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Description: A spell rune can be charged, such that the
enchantment it holds can be cast upon utterance of a speci-
fied command word. Each time the enchantment is used,
one charge is lost, until it has no remaining charges and
cannot be used. However, even with no charges the rune
remains, and can be recharged using this spell. Each time
this spell is cast the item gains SS charges.
Ingredients: 1 oz of gold
Permanent spell point cost: 1 spell point.
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Description: This spell readies an item that has already
received one rune so that a second rune can subsequently
be written upon it (using one of the spell rune spells). Fur-
ther runes written upon the same item require the higher
forge rune spells.
Ingredients: No ingredients are consumed, but the alche-
mist requires a set of mythryl cutting tools.
Permanent spell point cost: 1d2 spell points.
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Description: An item that has been prepared (using an
appropriate forge rune spell) can be written with a rune
that will receive a spell of up to the 8000 E.P. level. An
appropriate mage must still be found to actually cast the
spell into the rune, where it will instantly bind.
Ingredients: 1 oz of silver
Permanent spell point cost: Roll 1d6. On a roll of 3, 4, 5
or 6 one spell point is lost.
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Description: This spell imbues a runed item with a mind
of its own, although only through the use of appropriate
runes (e.g. telekinesis, telepathy) will the item actually be
able to communicate or act independently. The item will
have effective INT and WIL stats equal to the SS of this
spell. Its personality will reflect that planned by its crea-
tor, but it is likely to absorb energies in the general area
too such that it may not turn out exacly as desired.
Ingredients: 1 oz of humanoid brain, fresh
Permanent spell point cost: 1 spell point.
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Description: This spell readies an item that has already
received two runes so that a third rune can subsequently
be written upon it (using one of the spell rune spells). Fur-
ther runes written upon the same item require the higher
forge rune spells.
Ingredients: No ingredients are consumed, but the alche-
mist requires a set of mythryl cutting tools.
Permanent spell point cost: 1d3 spell points.
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Description: This spell charges a spell rune such that it
can be cast once per week (upon utterance of the specified
power word). The rune cannot be used again within a given
week, but can be used every week thereafter without ever
running out of charge. Repeated castings allow a spell to
be cast more than once per week (i.e. two castings = twice
per week).
Ingredients: 1 oz of platinum
Permanent spell point cost: 1 spell point.
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Description: Unlike most alchemy, this spell does not re-
quire the creation of runes prior to being cast, only a sealed
bottle of water mixed with powdered silver. The spell pre-
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pares the solution to receive a suitable spell (defined at the
GM’s discretion), becoming a potion which will affect its
drinker with the magic it contains. The potion can be used
only a single time, requiring a single action to consume.
Ingredients: 1 oz of silver dust, one small glass bottle
filled with water.
Permanent spell point cost: Roll 1d6. On a roll of 6 one
spell point is lost.
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Description: This spell readies an item that has already
received three runes so that a fourth rune can subsequently
be written upon it (using one of the spell rune spells). Fur-
ther runes written upon the same item require the higher
forge rune spells.
Ingredients: No ingredients are consumed, but the alche-
mist requires a set of mythryl cutting tools.
Permanent spell point cost: 1d4 spell points.
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Description: An item that has been prepared (using an
appropriate forge rune spell) can be written with a rune
that will receive a spell of up to the 32000 E.P. level. An
appropriate mage must still be found to actually cast the
spell into the rune, where it will instantly bind.
Ingredients: 1 oz of silver
Permanent spell point cost: 1d2 spell points.
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Description: Using this spell a single use ward is created,
a kind of temporary rune that can receive one spell of any
level. The ward can be painted on to any solid surface and
is created with a release condition, such that when that
condition is achieved (e.g. the ward is stepped upon, or a
given word is uttered) the spell will go off. Having been
triggered, the ward will fade away.
Ingredients: 1 oz gold dust, 1 oz glue.
Permanent spell point cost: Roll 1d6. On a roll of 6 one
spell point is lost.
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Description: This spell charges a spell rune such that it
can be cast once per day (upon utterance of the specified
power word). The rune cannot be used again within a given
day, but can be used every day thereafter without ever run-
ning out of charge. Repeated castings allow a spell to be
cast more than once per day (i.e. two castings = twice per
day).
Ingredients: Six 10 carat rubies.
Permanent spell point cost: 1d2 spell points.
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Description: Like ward creation, this spell creates a sin-
gle use rune, this time one that is effectively portable, hav-
ing been written upon a piece of parchment. A spell of any
level is cast onto a scroll prepared in this way, and can
then be recast by reading the scroll out loud (2 actions).
The scroll will then fade to become a harmless piece of
parchment once more.
Ingredients: Parchment, ink.
Permanent spell point cost: Roll 1d6. On a roll of 6 one
spell point is lost.
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Description: This spell readies an item that has already
received four runes so that a fifth rune can subsequently
be written upon it (using one of the spell rune spells). Fur-
ther runes written upon the same item require the higher
forge rune spells.
Ingredients: No ingredients are consumed, but the alche-
mist requires a set of mythryl cutting tools.
Permanent spell point cost: 1d4 + 1 spell points.
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Description: Certain materials are impossible to work
(shape and carve runes upon) without the prior use of this
spell. This magic makes them temporarilly maleable and
prepares them to accept magical energies. In the case of
gem stones, it also allows them to be combined into larger
masses. Each material requires this spell at a particular SS
to become workable (see section 5.7 of the Hexicon rule-
book). Additionally, for eog, this spell is required at SS 10
or above to work that material into a spell point multiplier
(x SS/10 to spell points); again, see section 5.7 for more
details.
Ingredients: 1 oz of sulphur.
Permanent spell point cost: 1 spell point.
�������������������������
Description: An item that has been prepared (using an
appropriate forge rune spell) can be written with a rune
that will receive a spell of up to the 128000 E.P. level. An
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appropriate mage must still be found to actually cast the
spell into the rune, where it will instantly bind.
Ingredients: 1 oz of silver
Permanent spell point cost: 1d3 spell points.
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Description: This spell readies an item that has already
received five runes so that a sixth rune can subsequently
be written upon it (using one of the spell rune spells). Fur-
ther runes written upon the same item require the higher
forge rune spells.
Ingredients: No ingredients are consumed, but the alche-
mist requires a set of mythryl cutting tools.
Permanent spell point cost: 1d4 + 2 spell points.
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Description: This spell is used to charge a spell rune such
that its effects are constant. The precise effects of charg-
ing a rune in this way vary; the section “effects in runes”
of the relevant spell description should be consulted as a
guideline. Generally, the spell will operate all the time (of-
ten at a slightly reduced level) or be usable at any time, but
drawing on the user’s spell points. It is also often the case
that the SS of the spell will be random up to the original
SS of the spell when cast into the rune (e.g. for a SS 13
spell made permanent, 1d10 + 1d3 might be rolled to gen-
erate its actual SS). GMs should exercise their discretion
in determining outcomes with this spell.
Ingredients: 1 oz dragon bone
Permanent spell point cost: 1d4 + 2 spell points.
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Description: An item that has been prepared (using an
appropriate forge rune spell) can be written with a rune
that will receive a spell of up to the 512000 E.P. level. An
appropriate mage must still be found to actually cast the
spell into the rune, where it will instantly bind.
Ingredients: 1 oz of silver
Permanent spell point cost: 1d4 spell points.
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Description: An illusory template can be created using
this spell for an illusion that will occupy a single place. At
this point the illusion has no sensory qualities, being in-
substantial and invisible. It can, however, be given such
qualities using the create (sense) illusion spells. The illu-
sion will remain in existence for as long as the illusionist
concentrates upon it (requiring a line of sight); this dura-
tion can be extended using the durational illusion and per-
manent illusion spells.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: One ounce of glue.
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Description: This spell cannot be cast until an illusory
template has been created using the create immobile illu-
sion or create mobile illusion spells. Once such a template
is ready, this spell operates on a small model or represen-
tation of an object or creature, distilling its essence into
the illusory template such that it possesses exactly the visual
qualities envisioned by the caster. Hence a model of a lion
can be used to turn a mobile illusory template into a small
copy of a real lion that can be seen, but not smelt, tasted,
heard or felt (e.g. feels insubstantial like a ghost) unless
the other relevant create (sense) illusion spells are also cast.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: A small clay model of the object or creature
(only needs to be rough).
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Description: Before this spell can be cast, the illusionist
must have created an illusory template and bestowed it
with at least one sensory quality. At this point the illusion
will be very tiny (the size of the model or representation
used to create it). This spell increases the illusion’s size,
up to a maximum of 1 cubic metre per 3 points of spell
strength. Hence a tiny illusory lion could be expanded to
become a lifelike size (occupying a space roughly 3 me-
tres long by 1 metre wide by 1 metre high) if this spell
were known at at least SS 8 (8/3 = 2.66 = 3 cubic metres to
play with).
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: A single seed.
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Description: This spell cannot be cast until an illusory
template has been created using the create immobile illu-
sion or create mobile illusion spells. Once such a template
is ready, this spell operates on a small model or represen-
tation of a sound, object or creature, distilling its essence
into the illusory template such that it possesses exactly the
auditory qualities imagined by the caster. Hence a repre-
sentation of a sound (e.g. words or symbols scrawled on a
plank) can be used to turn an immobile illusory template
into a small area that repetitively plays back the desired
noises (e.g. the whispered words “leave this place”), but
has no smell, taste, appearance or substance unless the other
relevant create (sense) illusion spells are also cast. The
illusion could then be expanded (using the increase illu-
sion size or giant illusion spells) to fill a room or similar.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: A small wooden model or representation of
the noise, object or creature (only needs to be rough).
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Description: An illusory template can be created using
this spell for an illusion that can be moved around by the
caster in a realistic manner. At this point the illusion has
no sensory qualities, being insubstantial and invisible. It
can, however, be given such qualities using the create
(sense) illusion spells. The illusion will remain in exist-
ence for as long as the illusionist concentrates upon it (re-
quiring a line of sight); this duration can be extended us-
ing the durational illusion and permanent illusion spells. It
will only move when the caster wills it to do so, unless it is
controlled using the program illusion spell. An illusionist
can only move a single illusion at a time unless they are
created using the multiple illusion control spell.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: One ounce of animal flesh.
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Description: An illusion created using this spell will re-
main in existence for one day per SS regardless of whether
the illusionist concentrates on it. However, for mobile il-
lusions the caster must still concentrate on the illusion if
they wish it to move; otherwise, it will simply remain static
in the final posture it was left in.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: One hourglass.
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Description: This spell cannot be cast until an illusory
template has been created using the create immobile illu-
sion or create mobile illusion spells. Once such a template
is ready, this spell operates on a small model or represen-
tation of a smell, object or creature, distilling its essence
into the illusory template such that it possesses exactly the
scent qualities imagined by the caster. Hence a representa-
tion of a scent (e.g. a lead model of a rose) can be used to
turn an immobile illusory template into a small area that
smells strongly of the desired scent (e.g. the perfume of a
rose), but has no noise, taste, appearance or substance un-
less the other relevant create (sense) illusion spells are also
cast. The illusion could then be expanded (using the in-
crease illusion size or giant illusion spells) to fill a room
or similar.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: A small lead model or representation of the
smell, object or creature (only needs to be rough).
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Description: If an illusionist has created a number of mo-
bile illusions (a group of guardsmen for example) casting
this spell allows him/her to control their movements si-
multaneously, rather than having to concentrate on and
move them one at a time. This method of control is imper-
fect however, as all the illusions controlled in this manner
will tend to respond to the same commands, such that their
movements appear regimented (linked) rather than indi-
vidual.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: Five 1 oz iron balls.
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Description: With this spell the illusionist can take an il-
lusion that was made previously and combine it with a
new illusion, perhaps adding a new sensory quality that
was originally missing. This can be particularly useful when
the number of spell points that the caster has available
means that they cannot complete an illusion in a single
day. In this case, a durational illusion is created, then re-
turned to at some later date to be supplemented.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: Two chain links.
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Description: This spell is not directly related to the crea-
tion or control of illusions, but reflects the illusionist’s af-
finity with the ethereal world of spirit. Using this enchant-
ment an illusionist is able to contact a human spirit in the
area for the purposes of asking a single question. The spirit
will then speak an answer via the illusionist’s mouth. The
GM should determine the type of spirit found and its de-
gree of knowledge; it will attempt to answer the question
truthfully (unless particularly malicious) but may not have
the required information.
Casting time: 100 - SS
Ingredients: None
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Description: This spell is a more powerful version of the
increase illusion size spell. Before it can be cast, the illu-
sionist must have created an illusory template and bestowed
it with at least one sensory quality. At this point the illu-
sion will be very tiny (the size of the model or representa-
tion used to create it). This spell increases the illusion’s
size, up to a maximum of 3 cubic metres per point of spell
strength. Hence a tiny illusory hut could be expanded to
become a lifelike size (occupying a space roughly 2.5
metres high by 4 metres wide by 4 metres deep = 40 cubic
metres) if this spell were known at at least SS 14 (14 x 3 =
42 cubic metres to play with).
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: The seed of a large tree.
����������������������������
Description: This spell cannot be cast until an illusory
template has been created using the create immobile illu-
sion or create mobile illusion spells. Once such a template
is ready, this spell operates on a small model or represen-
tation of a taste, object or creature, distilling its essence
into the illusory template such that it possesses exactly the
taste qualities envisioned by the caster. Hence a model of
an apple can be used to turn a mobile illusory template
into a small area containing the taste of a real apple. If
combined with other create (sense) illusion spells, an ap-
ple that could be seen, touched and tasted might be cre-
ated; without them, the taste of apples simply inhabits an
apple-shaped region of space.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: A small bread model or representation of the
taste, object or creature (only needs to be rough).
�����������������������������
Description: This spell cannot be cast until an illusory
template has been created using the create immobile illu-
sion or create mobile illusion spells. Once such a template
is ready, this spell operates on a small model or represen-
tation of a skin sensation, object or creature, distilling its
essence into the illusory template such that it possesses
exactly the tactile qualities envisioned by the caster. Hence
��
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�����������������
a model of a lion can be used to turn a mobile illusory
template into a small area with the ability to interact with
skin as a real lion would. In this example, the lion would
only be useful if combined with other create (sense) illu-
sion spells, such that it could at least be both seen and
touched. Under these circumstances the illusion is capable
of interacting with the physical world as a real creature or
object would, such that the resultant lion could actually
inflict wounds (which remain even following successful
disbelieving of the illusion). Other examples might be use-
ful with just the tactile sensory quality, however (e.g. the
feeling of a gentle draft).
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: A small iron model or representation of the
tactile sensation, object or creature (only needs to be rough).
����������������������
Description: Another spell that reflects the illusionist’s
affinity with the world of spirit, this enchantment allows
the caster to use a mirror or pool to view the surrounding
area as a spirit in flight (rather like a bird’s eye view of the
ground beneath). The viewer has a range of 10 km per SS,
and lasts for 10 seconds per SS.
Casting time: 100 - SS
Ingredients: None
�������������������������
Description: Having created an illusion, this powerful spell
can be used to create a large number of identical illusions
(one per SS) without the spell point expenditure associ-
ated with creating each one individually. This spell can
only be cast once upon a given illusion. It does not in itself
allow the illusionist to control all the illusions created; for
this, the multiple illusion control spell is required.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: A small clay model or representation of the
illusion (must be finely crafted) and an iron hammer.
��������������������������
Description: An illusion created using this spell will re-
main in existence indefinitely regardless of whether the
illusionist concentrates on it (although it will still act ap-
propriately for the expectations of those perceiving it, e.g.
dying if slain). However, for mobile illusions the caster
must still concentrate on the illusion if they wish it to move;
otherwise, it will simply remain static in the final posture
it was left in.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: An hourglass that has been blocked with a 2
carat diamond.
�������������������������������
Description: Using this spell the illusionist can imbue the
illusion of a suitable creature (e.g. a demon or undead)
with magical fear of a strength equal to that of the spell.
The fear will affect those perceiving the illusion as per
section 4.1.5 of the Hexicon rulebook.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: One ounce of demon bone.
�����������������������
Description: When cast upon an illusion this spell allows
the illusionist to specify who will or will not experience
the illusion. The description can be as vague or specific as
desired (e.g. “only Elves can see it”, “only those of goodly
intent can hear it”, “only those with the true name Gerond
can touch it” etc.). However, the illusionist requires some
item linked to those who can experience the illusions (e.g.
some Elven hair, the tooth of a just knight etc.) as a spell
ingredient.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: An object related to the group that are able
to perceive the illusion.
��������������������������
Description: With this useful spell an illusionist is able to
perceive things (see them, touch them etc.) as if he were
one of his illusions; it is as if his mind were travelling
within the illusion. His own body will remain in the posi-
tion he left it until returned to, unable to communicate and
with a glazed expression; it is consequently rather vulner-
able. Should the illusion be “killed”, the caster’s mind at
once returns to his own body, but the experience is stress-
ful, giving rise to a SS 2d10 insanity attack (see the Hexicon
rulebook, section 4.1.6). The illusion through which the
caster is perceiving things is obviously considered to be
concentrated upon, and no direct line of sight from the
caster’s actual body is required for him to continue to con-
trol the illusion. The caster can return to his own body at
any time.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: The head of a humanoid.
������������������������
Description: This spell allows the illusionist to give a
mobile illusion a set of instructions which (assuming it
has a duration beyond the caster’s period of concentra-
tion) it will continue to carry out for as long as it is in
existence. Hence an illusory monster might be instructed
��
������������������
�����������������
to prowl about a given area, attacking trespassers; an illu-
sory soldier might be instructed to question those passing
about their business and so forth. The instructions given
can be quite detailed, but the illusion is likely to give itself
away (appear stupid) in circumstances for which the caster
has not made proper provision (given the right sort of in-
structions).
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: One ounce of brain from a creature with an
INT stat of 15 or greater.
��������������������������
Description: Using this spell in combination with the view
as astral enchantment the illusionist is able to maintain
direct control of one or more illusions without having them
in his line of sight, simply by viewing them through the
medium of a mirror or pool. This allows the caster to have
illusions act in a realistic manner without putting them-
selves in potential danger. The spell lasts as long as the
corresponding view as astral spell.
Casting time: 50 - SS
Ingredients: One finely made puppet on solid gold threads.
������������������������������
Description: Used in combination with the multiple illu-
sion control spell, this magic allows the illusionist to con-
trol a large number of illusions as if they were autono-
mous and individual. In effect, it overcomes the limitation
of the multiple illusion control spell (in which the actions
of the illusions are regimented), allowing them to follow
the caster’s commands but in such a way that each appears
to be acting in a realistic and individual manner.
Casting time: 100 - SS
Ingredients: One ounce of brain from a creature with an
INT stat of 18 or greater.
��
�������������������
�����������������
�������������������
For more details, see section 5.9 of the Hexicon rule-
book.
Warrior Monks have access to the following six powers.
They must declare that they will use a specific power, then
make a ki skill role with a success level of 25 + (5 times
the number of spell points used). Failure results in the loss
of half the spell points invested (round down).
Focussed strike. The ki roll must be made after a bare-
fisted/bare-footed unarmed attack roll has been made (be-
fore the parry roll). The blow’s damage is multiplied by
three times the number of spell points invested.
Skin of iron. The ki roll must be made after a blow has
landed but before damage is rolled. Armour equivalent to
AV (spell points invested x 5) is momentarily gained at
the location struck, with a (spell points invested x 4 x weap-
on’s break value) percent chance of a weapon break.
Still mind. The ki roll must be made before a skill roll is
made. Success yields a +15 per spell point invested to the
subsequent skill roll.
World awareness. The warrior monk gains a +3 per SS to
a specific sense statistic for a period of one hour.
Rest of the wakeful. Following the expenditure of a single
spell point, the warrior monk enters a sleep that is fully
recuperative (as normal sleep) but is able to hear as if awake
and alert.
Healing blood. A healing trance can be entered in which
the monk’s healing rate is multiplied by twice the number
of spell points invested. Being in the trance is equivalent
to being unconscious; healing rate returns to normal when
the trance is abandoned.
��
�����������������
�����������������
�����������������
For more details, see section 5.10 of the Hexicon rule-
book.
Bards have access to the following four powers. They must
declare that they will use a specific power, then make a
sing skill role with a success level of 25 + (5 times the
number of spell points used). Failure results in the loss of
half the spell points invested (round down).
Mesmerising tale. An audience will become fascinated by
the bard’s song. All of their sense stats are considered low-
ered by three points for every two spell points the bard
invests, making them less likely to notice other events going
on around them. Allow a save against white magic (SS =
two per spell point invested) if external events are likely
to physically endanger them.
Dance of inspiration. All who listen are magically en-
thused. Their next skill roll will be at +5 for each spell
point invested, assuming it is made within one hour of the
bard’s performance.
Emotional yarn. An emotional state can be elicited in those
who listen, depending on how the number of spell points
invested relate to their INT stat:
Less than listener’s INT/5: slight shifting of emotional
mood, but no major impact.
Listener’s INT/5 – listener’s INT/2: mood noticeably af-
fected, shown in mannerisms, speech etc.
Listener’s INT/2 –listener’s INT: powerful mood effect,
likely to act upon their induced mood in some manner.
Listener’s INT or greater: completely caught up in emo-
tion to the point of losing normal self-restraint etc.
Ballad of suggestion. Subtle suggestions can be placed
into the minds of those who are listening to the bard’s song.
These are not commands, and must be to some extent con-
sistent with currently held beliefs. Their effects will de-
pend upon how the number of spell points invested relate
to the listeners’ WIL stats:
Listener’s WIL/5 – listener’s WIL/2: suggestion feels like
it was expressed by a friend.
Listener’s WIL/2 –listener’s WIL: suggestion feels like it
was confided by a wise, trusted source.
Listener’s WIL or greater: suggestion feels like it was for-
mulated by the listener themselves.
��
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�����������������
�������������������
For more details, see section 5.11 of the Hexicon rule-
book.
The Sverian Magi gains the following powers:
Flamelance. A flaming spear can be conjured into the hand
and cast at opponents (2 actions). Baseline value as Learn%
for spell learning (INT primary, WIL secondary). For every
300 E.P.s spent, gain a +3, or increases the skill by this
baseline value divided by three (whichever is greater). This
power cannot be raised above 180%. The spear attacks
with the caster’s throwing spear mod, and an additional
+1 to strike for every percentage point above 100%. It has
a max range of 200 feet, a range mod of 0.4 and a damage
mod of 0.75 x the number of spell points used in the cast-
ing. A failed casting results in the loss of all spell points
invested.
Transmutation. The power to change one material into
another in a single action. Baseline value as Learn% for
spell learning (INT primary, WIL secondary). For every
300 E.P.s spent, gain a +3, or increases the skill by this
baseline value divided by three (whichever is greater). The
power has a range of 20 feet and cannot be raised above
100%. Up to one pound of material can be affected per
spell point invested (doubled for a significant change of
state, e.g. liquid to solid). Insufficient investment means
that there is no effect at all. A roll of 99 or 100 always fails
and causes an equal amount of the magi’s body to turn to
the desired material.
Rejuvination. Allows healing of wounds (own or others)
in a single action. Baseline value as Learn% for spell learn-
ing (INT primary, WIL secondary). For every 300 E.P.s
spent, gain a +3, or increases the skill by this baseline value
divided by three (whichever is greater). Up to 10 I.P.s can
be healed for each spell point invested (double cost for
healing others); the wound is either entirely healed (if its
I.P.s are exceeded) or totally unaffected.
��
���������������������������
�����������������
���������������������������
������������
Description: Anyone who consumes this tasty gravy will
begin to feel eroticised, as if they had consumed an aphro-
disiac. In addition, their behaviour will change, becoming
lewd and risqué, flirting openly and cracking double
entendres at every opportunity.
Range: Food must be eaten
Area of effect: Enough sauce to supplement four meals
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: NA
Herbalist roll required: 60
�������������������
Description: Having cast this spell, the trickster will make
absolutely no noise for its duration, regardless of what
actions they undertake. For out-of-sight stealth rolls, they
gain a + 50.
Range: T
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
Herbalist roll required: NA
������������
Description: Those unfortunate enough to eat this tasty
looking sea food will develop an irritating and itchy rash
anywhere they have body hair, beginning around 20 min-
utes after they have finished eating. They will be at -5 to
all activities that require concentration. The irritation will
be particularly noticeable in the presence of attractive mem-
bers of the opposite sex, when it will be almost impossible
not to scratch incessantly (not doing so requires a success-
ful statistical battle, using the victim’s WIL against the
attractive person’s APP stat; see the rulebook, section
4.1.8). The irritation will last until the victim successfully
beds someone.
Range: Food must be eaten
Area of effect: 1 large crab (part of a meal for around four)
Duration: See description
Casting time: NA
Herbalist roll required: 70
��������������������
Description: Using this mischievous magic the trickster
is able to throw their voice such that it appears to originate
from any point of their choosing within range. They can
also alter it to some extent, deepening it for example; al-
though the spell does not allow for precise mimicry, it can
be used in combination with the acting skill to better pro-
duce such an effect.
Range: 3' per SS
Area of effect: S
Duration: 5 Seconds per SS
Casting time: 20 - (SS/3)
Herbalist roll required: NA
����������������
Description: Eating this tempting looking fruit spells dis-
aster for the victim. Within a couple of minutes they will
begin to produce the most disgusting smelling farts, the
stench of which will hang around them even out in the
open. Worse perhaps, the farts are extremely noisy, emerg-
ing every couple of minutes for the duration of the spell
and alerting all those in the vicinity to the cause of the
obnoxious stink.
Range: Food must be eaten
Area of effect: 1 lb of fruit is created, enough for four peo-
ple
Duration: 1 day per SS
Casting time: NA
Herbalist roll required: 90
�������������������
Description: The trickster and all of his or her personal
belongings (including objects carried in hands and about
the person up to 2 lbs per SS) become completely invis-
ible for the spell’s duration. Any aggressive action against
another individual or creature dispels the Invisibility.
Range: T
Area of effect: S
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
Herbalist roll required: NA
�����������
Description: Any who drink this tasty alcoholic beverage
will, shortly afterwards, begin to find everything around
them annoying, as if all the world were there purely to
irritate and confound them. Worse perhaps, they will feel
moved to express how awful things are in a near continu-
ous tirade of moaning and whinging, a display that is likely
��
���������������������������
�����������������
to further aggravate any companions also suffering the ef-
fects of this pixi potion. Violence is a likely outcome.
Range: Wine must be consumed
Area of effect: 1 bottle of wine, enough for four people
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: NA
Herbalist roll required: 100
�������������������������
Description: This subtle magic allows the trickster to whis-
per a suggestion into a victim’s ear, which the victim will
then experience as a thought they had all on their own.
The spell will not work if the victim is aware of the trick-
ster’s presence, or if the thought that is suggested is too
bizarre or against their usual mode of thinking. It can how-
ever be extremely silly as long as it plays up to people’s
natural egotism (e.g. “that princess has been flirting with
me all night...”)
Range: 3 inches
Area of effect: 1 T
Duration: P
Casting time: 10 - (SS/3)
Herbalist roll required: NA
�������������
Description: Having consumed this dish, the victim will
at once find themselves unable to say anything that is not
ridiculous to the point of farce. Any opinion they offer
will be totally uninformed and demonstrably wrong. To
add to the frustration, they will be thinking as normal, but
somewhere between thinking and speaking (or writing,
drawing, miming or any other form of communication)
their utterances will become complete nonsense.
Range: Food must be eaten
Area of effect: 1 lb of intestines, enough for 4 people
Duration: 1 day per SS
Casting time: NA
Herbalist roll required: 80
����������������������
Description: The trickster is able to affect a variety of
naturally occurring noises within the spell’s area of effect,
causing them to seem somehow more scary, intimidating
or supernatural. Creaking floorboards, for example, will
be interpreted as creatures outside, and the howl of the
wind will become a banshee’s wail, such that those hear-
ing them are unlikely to be able to sleep and may become
very paranoid.
Range: 10' per SS
Area of effect: 5' radius per SS
Duration: 1 hour per SS
Casting time: 30 - (SS/2)
Herbalist roll required: NA
���������������
Description: Eating these vegetables will instill the vic-
tims with an overpowering lust for all things shiny and
pretty. Like the magpie they will be drawn to baubles of
all kinds, desiring to own and hoard them and being will-
ing to cheat, lie and steal to obtain them. Most worryingly,
their good sense is likely to be affected, causing them to
act rashly when the opportunity for a new prize offers it-
self.
Range: Food must be eaten
Area of effect: 4 carrots are produced.
Duration: 1 day per SS
Casting time: NA
Herbalist roll required: 85
��������������������������
Description: The targets of this powerful enchantment will
suddenly be filled with an urge to dance, so much so that
they will forget all other matters however pressing and
simply dance in circles for the lesser of the spell’s dura-
tion of the period of time that the trickster continues to
concentrate on them. The dance is very vigorous, costing
three exhaustion points per minute; victims will fall un-
conscious (and therefore stop dancing) as per the optional
exhaustion rules, section 3.7.8 of the Hexicon rulebook.
Dancers are at -2 per SS to strike, parry, and any other
activities the GM deems to be affected by their vigorous
rhythmic activity.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 3 MIN per SS
Casting time: 50 - SS
Herbalist roll required: NA
������������
Description: Those who fall for these tempting nibbles
will regret it. A failure to save results in them gaining one
random insanity (see the Hexicon rulebook section 4.1.6)
per 5 points of spell strength.
Range: Food must be eaten
Area of effect: 1 lb of nuts are created, enough for 4 people
Duration: P
Casting time: NA
Herbalist roll required: 105
��
���������������������������
�����������������
�������������
Description: The victims of this spell will find themselves
laughing at the slightest provocation (anything even slightly
amusing that occurs within the duration of the spell). Once
started, they will find it very difficult to stop, suffering an
intense giggling fit that will increase in intensity. Every
10 seconds they must make an additional save, with fail-
ure resulting in progression to the next laughter level and
success reducing their discomfort by one level. At level
one they will laugh raucously but suffer no other negative
mods. At level two they will be hugging themselves, rock-
ing back and forth, at -20 to all actions. At level three they
will be rolling on the floor, laughing and crying hysteri-
cally, at -40 to all actions. At level four they will be as-
phyxiating with potentially fatal results (see the Hexicon
rulebook section 4.1.7). Recovering to level zero will stem
the laughter, but it might be triggered again at any time.
Range: 50'
Area of effect: 1 T per 5 SS
Duration: 1 day per SS
Casting time: 50 - SS
Herbalist roll required: NA
��������������
Description: The powerful magic laid upon these simple
fruit will yield a strange result indeed. The following night,
a double of the victim will “grow” out of them, a fully-
formed identical twin with the exception that they will be
of opposite alignment and personality. The double will
make off at once, taking what equipment they can with
them, and will proceed to impersonate the victim at every
opportunity whilst acting in a totally contrary manner. They
will try to avoid meeting the victim again, but should a
confrontation be forced will fight with the victim’s skills
and abilities.
Range: Food must be eaten
Area of effect: 1 pear, enough for a single victim
Duration: 1 day per SS
Casting time: NA
Herbalist roll required: 115
�������������������������
Description: All those who fail to save against this pow-
erful enchantment will suffer a convincing auditory illu-
sion for the spell’s duration. When engaged in conversa-
tion, they will hear the opposite of what is actually said.
The illusion affects each utterance’s basic intent, rather
than necessarily producing exactly the opposite meaning.
Hence “good morning” might be misheard as “I’m sorry
to see you’re still living here.” The GM should decide upon
an approximate opposite interpretation to cause maximum
offence and/or comedy effect. The spell is particularly en-
tertaining when both parties in a conversation are hearing
the opposite of what is being said...
Range: 100'
Area of effect: 1 T per SS
Duration: 1 MIN per SS
Casting time: 100 - (SSx2)
Herbalist roll required: NA
| textdata/thevault/Hexicon/Hexicon Magic Booklet.pdf |
By Richard Pett
Into the
Nightmare Rift
Bring Me A Better Head!
Madam Seeshaw Raccas runs the Shucked Oyster, one of Magnimar's more infamous
brothels. She's long competed with one of the city's other well-known brothels, the
House of Welcome, over who can boast of the most outlandish decorations. The
House of Welcome recently added a wyvern's head to the barroom. When
Seeshaw contacts the PCs, she scoffs, "Anyone can kill a wyvern—I want
something better for the Oyster!"
Reward: Any non-undead corporeal monster that's CR 14
or higher works as a trophy. Do not count
increases to a monster's CR from
class levels for the purposes of this
requirement. Upon delivering the
trophy to Seeshaw, the PCs earn XP
equal to the monster's XP award
(provided the trophy is already preserved—Seeshaw has no interest
in rotten trophies), along with a rod of splendor—or, if the party
prefers, free services from the Oyster for life!
A Strange SOurce of Power
Magnimar's most esteemed school of wizardry is the Stone of the Seers, an academy that
focuses primarily on abjuration and divination magic. The Stone of the Seers is small, for its
master Leis Nivlandis maintains that the larger a school grows, the
less its students learn—a thinly veiled jab at Korvosa's
Acadamae. Unfortunately for Master Nivlandis, the small
size of his school also means he has little free time to
do field research, a sacrifice he feels is, in the end,
a necessary one for the good of his students'
educations. So when he learns that Magnimar's
newest heroes are planning an expedition to
Guiltspur, a site he's always wanted to visit, he
quickly makes contact. His research suggests that powerful
abjurations ward parts of Guiltspur, and he would like to know more
about how these wards function—particularly, what source of energy powers the protection.
Reward: For determining that the wards are powered by an abysium reactor and reporting that to
Master Nivlandis, the PCs earn 51,200 XP and a wand of stoneskin (12 charges) as Nivlandis's thanks.
KEYSTONE
DOCKWAY
®
™
®
™
®
™
®
™
®
™
ADVENTURE PATH PART 5 OF 6
Into the
Nightmare Rift
®
™
®
™
®
™
®
™
®
™
CREDITS
Creative Director • James Jacobs
Editor-in-Chief • F. Wesley Schneider
Senior Editor • James L. Sutter
Development Leads • Adam Daigle and James Jacobs
Editing • Judy Bauer, Logan Bonner, Christopher Carey, Ryan Macklin, and Patrick Renie
Editorial Assistance • Jason Bulmahn, Rob McCreary, Mark Moreland, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, and Sean K Reynolds
Senior Art Director • Sarah E. Robinson
Graphic Designer • Andrew Vallas
Production Specialist • Crystal Frasier
Cover Artist
Wayne Reynolds
Cartographers
99 Lives Design and Robert Lazzaretti
Contributing Artists
Milivoj C´eran, Miguel Regodón Harkness, Roberto Pitturru, Dmitry Prosvirnin, Scott Purdy,
Mike Sass, Doug Stambaugh, Tyler Walpole, and Kieran Yanner
Contributing Authors
James Jacobs, Richard Pett, Sean K Reynolds, Greg A. Vaughan, and Bill Ward
Publisher • Erik Mona
Paizo CEO • Lisa Stevens
Chief Operations Officer • Jeffrey Alvarez
Director of Sales • Pierce Watters
Sales Representative • Adam Lovell
Finance Manager • Christopher Self
Staff Accountant • Kunji Sedo
Chief Technical Officer • Vic Wertz
Senior Software Developer • Gary Teter
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Project Manager • Jessica Price
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Warehouse Team • Will Chase, Michael Kenway, Matt Renton, Jeff Strand, and Kevin Underwood
Website Team • Ross Byers, Liz Courts, Lissa Guillet, and Chris Lambertz
This product makes use of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide, Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2,
Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3, Pathfinder RPG GameMastery Guide, Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat, Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Equipment, and Pathfinder RPG
Ultimate Magic. These rules can be found online for free as part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document at paizo.com/prd.
This product is compliant with the Open Game License (OGL) and is suitable for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game or the 3.5 edition of the world’s
oldest fantasy roleplaying game.
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not
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Pathfinder Adventure Path #65: Into the Nightmare Rift © 2012, Paizo Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword
4
Into the Nightmare Rift
6
by Richard Pett
NPC Gallery
58
by Richard Pett
Shattered Star Treasures
62
by Richard Pett
Leng: The Terror Beyond Dreams
64
by Greg A. Vaughan
Lissala
70
by Sean K Reynolds
Pathfinder’s Journal: Light of a Distant Star 5 of 6
76
by Bill Ward
Bestiary
82
by James Jacobs and Sean K Reynolds
Preview
92
I’ve made no secret of my admiration of Lovecraft’s
writing, but strangely enough, this adventure marks the
first time that I have personally hard-coded Lovecraftian
elements into an adventure during its outline stages. In
the early days of Pathfinder, in adventures like Pathfinder
Module: Crucible of Chaos and Adventure Paths like Rise of
the Runelords and Curse of the Crimson Throne, it was
Wolfgang Baur and Greg Vaughan who approached me
with the idea to include things like shoggoths, Azathoth,
hounds of Tindalos, and Leng in their adventures—
suggestions I immediately green-lit, of course. Richard
Pett’s Pathfinder Module: Carrion Hill was likewise an idea
he’d had years and years ago for creating a fantasy RPG
version of Lovecraft’s “The Dunwich Horror,” and the
Lovecraft-heavy “Wake of the Watcher” mentioned above
was, if I recall correctly, as much Wes Schneider’s idea as
anyone else’s.
H
. P. Lovecraft is no stranger to the pages of Pathfinder
Adventure Path, and in this volume, his influence
returns once again to Golarion, courtesy of Richard
Pett’s “Into the Nightmare Rift” and Greg A. Vaughan’s
“Leng: The Terror Beyond Dreams.” There are three
monsters drawn from Lovecraft’s tales in this month’s
bestiary as well—which I converted to the Pathfinder RPG
and originally intended to include in the bestiary of
Pathfinder Adventure Path #46: Wake of the Watcher. At the
time, when I found out from Wes that these three monsters
had to be cut from that bestiary for space reasons, I was the
typical cranky author railing against the cruelties of the
editorial process. And as with most cranky authors railing
against cruel editors, it turns out I should have instead
been humbly thanking said editors, because as it happens,
the bhole, the flying polyp, and especially the nightgaunt
work SO much better as new monsters in this volume.
4
James Jacobs
Creative Director
[email protected]
The thing is, I’m quite aware of the fact that not everyone
likes Lovecraft in their fantasy games, and as such, I’ve
kind of been a bit too hesitant to suggest things like,
“Let’s put Cthulhu in this adventure too!” Fortunately,
my co-workers and freelance authors know what I like, I
guess, and judging from feedback from readers, a lot of
you out there like Lovecraft stuff in your games as well.
And so, when it came time to outline Shattered Star and
I was looking at themes from our first three Pathfinder
Adventure Paths to build upon, one of the things I kept
coming back to was Leng.
We’ve been talking about Leng since Pathfinder Adventure
Path #6: Spires of Xin-Shalast, and in Pathfinder Campaign
Setting: The Great Beyond we officially made it one of the
planes, cementing its presence in Golarion’s cosmology.
But we’d never done much more than hint at it. This
adventure, as a result, was always “the one where we’d
finally go to Leng,” even before I settled on Cadrilkasta as
the villain and Guiltspur as the location. In fact, those two
choices were made, in large part, because it was easy to use
established lore and hints to make Guiltspur into a sort
of Leng embassy, where Karzoug first started talking with
that realm’s denizens to help him accomplish his goals in
the climax of Rise of the Runelords.
As always when we do an adventure that draws so much
inspiration from Lovecraft, I’d like to give the fine folks
at Chaosium a shout-out for being one of the primary
influences on a young James Jacobs back in junior high.
Call of Cthulhu remains one of my favorite games, and in
a lot of ways, Golarion would be a very different place if
not for it. If the information on Leng we give you here isn’t
enough, by all means check out Chaosium’s H. P. Lovecraft’s
Dreamlands supplement for Call of Cthulhu.
Because I’m assuming all of you have already read
Lovecraft’s novella The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath.
Right? RIGHT?
HigH-LeveL Dungeons
One of my goals for the Shattered Star Adventure Path was
to build a campaign that was nostalgic and old school in a
lot of ways, primarily by having significant parts of each
adventure take place in a dungeon. Unfortunately, dungeon
adventures tend to be more and more difficult to finesse the
higher in level your PCs get because those pesky spellcasters
start getting access to spells like scrying, teleport, passwall,
and the like—spells that some GMs might think of as
having been invented specifically to destroy dungeons.
I generally try to avoid including elements in dungeons
that simply and categorically shut down entire types of
spells. Teleport and scrying effects, in particular, are hit
with this limitation a lot. It’s frustrating to finally gain
access to spells like teleport and then be told that they don’t
work in any of the dungeons. I’ve avoided doing too many
anti-teleportation effects in previous high-level dungeons,
but here in the Guiltspur Depths, you’ll find two and a
half dungeon levels that do precisely that. One of the big
reasons I decided to go with this was not because I was
trying to rob spells from the players, but because I needed
a reason why a powerful dragon like Cadrilkasta would be
forced to dig out a buried dungeon using enslaved giants
rather than just teleporting into it. And it’s important to note
that even despite that, the effects of this anti-teleportation,
anti-scrying field don’t cover every room—and even better,
the PCs can eventually get to the cause of this effect and
break it. Not only does this give the GM a chance to enjoy a
dungeon the PCs can’t scry and teleport into and out of, but
it also gives the PCs a satisfying and perhaps therapeutic
opportunity to get revenge on it as well!
A lot of the encounters in this adventure are difficult.
There are two reasons for this. First, high-level characters are
pretty good at escaping, resting, preparing, and returning
to hit adventures hard when they’re well prepared. Making
key encounters particularly difficult helps to play to this
truth. Second, we want to actually reward groups that bother
exploring dungeons rather than skipping straight to the
end. A group that painstakingly explores Guiltspur is going
to find a lot more treasure, build up a lot more experience,
recruit more allies, and perhaps most importantly, find out
a lot more about what lies ahead. So when the group that
carefully explores reaches these hard encounters, those PCs
will be better prepared than the group that simply skips to
the end.
Have any advice of your own for high-level dungeon
crawling? Want to let us know what did and didn’t work
well for your group in this dungeon? Curious to find out
how other groups fared in this or other adventures? Head
on over to the paizo.com messageboards and find out—I’ll
be there to answer questions, give advice, and commiserate
with GMs whose players ruined their favorite dungeons!
On tHe COver
It’s hard to believe that it took us 65 volumes of Pathfinder
Adventure Path to feature a dragon as the iconic cover
character, but Wayne Reynolds’ elegantly menacing depiction
of the blue dragon Cadrilkasta is well worth the wait!
5
The PCs should be close to 16th
level by the end of the adventure.
13
The PCs should be 13th
level when they begin this
adventure.
14
The PCs should reach 14th
level soon after they start
Part Two of the adventure.
15
The PCs should reach 15th
level at some point in the
Embassy of Leng—they should
certainly be 15th level before
progressing to Part Three.
“Into the Nightmare Rift” is
designed for four characters and
uses the medium XP track.
ADVANCEMENT TRACK
PART ONE: GIANTS OF WRATH
The PCs journey into the heart of the Storval Plateau to the ruins
of Guiltspur, only to find it under the control of a group of giants
in the process of excavating the ruin. The Shard of Wrath must be
liberated from the giants’ sadistic chieftain!
PART TWO: GUILTSPUR DEPTHS
After the Shard of Wrath grants a vision of the path to the final
shard, the PCs delve deeper into the ruins of Guiltspur to face
ancient magical traps, mad ghosts, immense lake monsters, a drow
hunting party, horrors from beyond dreams, and a demilich.
PART THREE: TEMPLE OF THE CRAWLING CHAOS
After activating a portal to Leng, the PCs face one final
challenge—a not-so-abandoned temple devoted to the Crawling
Chaos recently invaded by a blue dragon who now claims the final
shard of the Shattered Star as her own!
PAGE 8
PAGE 22
PAGE 49
INTO THE NIGHTMARE RIFT
6
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
During Runelord Karzoug’s reign in the final centuries
of Thassilon, the monolith of Guiltspur served a singular
purpose—to act as a bridge between the Material Plane
and the dread realm of Leng. Part embassy, part vile
laboratory, part portal, Guiltspur was built by Karzoug so
that he would have a place where he could always contact
his strange allies from that nightmarish dimension.
When Earthfall struck Golarion, the Kodar volcanoes
awoke and spewed ash and lava across the northern
Storval Plateau. Guiltspur lay in the path of one of the
largest of these lava flows, and while the strange building
had been constructed to withstand such devastation,
the lava engulfed and buried it nonetheless, trapping
its lesser denizens within while its rulers—denizens of
Leng, moon-beasts, and the Lissalan priest Mesmalatu—
plane shifted to Leng for safety.
The lava flow had another unanticipated effect on
Guiltspur—while it didn’t damage the structure’s upper
floors or underground levels, it did sever the planar
link to Leng. For many centuries, Mesmalatu stayed
among her strange allies in Leng and learned many of
their secrets. It was during this time that she became
a lich. Eventually, she and her allies rebuilt the portal
that linked the depths of Guiltspur to a temple devoted
to Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos, on Leng, only to
find Guiltspur had fallen into complete ruin over the
course of the Age of Darkness. This suited Mesmalatu
well, for without a runelord to bother her, she could use
Guiltspur’s remaining resources as she wished.
For many thousands of years, Mesmalatu and her
Leng-spawned allies used Guiltspur as their own
private Material Plane laboratory, and it was during
this time that she abandoned her faith in Lissala for a
far more sinister patron—the Faceless Sphinx aspect of
Nyarlathotep. In time, even a lich’s attentions wander,
and as Mesmalatu’s final experiments wound down,
her allies were forced to abandon their holdings on
the portal’s far side after a disastrous war against the
spiders of Leng. The lich, in response, closed down the
portal once more and soon after fell into a centuries-
long torpor. In that time, she became a powerful entity
known as a demilich, and the upper ruins of Guiltspur
became the haunt of all manner of strange creatures
from the Darklands.
So Guiltspur lay, until relatively recently. Far to the
east in the Hold of Belkzen, a powerful blue dragon
named Cadrilkasta made a shocking discovery in a
Thassilonian ruin—in an ancient vault, she found the
Shard of Wrath. In her case, the shard’s curse of violence
had very little impact on her existing, quite sadistic
personality. Intrigued by the shard’s power and driven
by a vision of the next shard, Cadrilkasta came to a
barren field of ancient lava, only to realize she stood
atop what could be a treasure trove of ancient magical
power. After discovering that access to the underground
chambers was blocked via powerful magic, she swiftly
“recruited” (using mind control magic and intimidation)
a small army of fire and hill giants and set them to work
excavating the site, going as far as to move her own lair
into the area.
But even a blue dragon can get in over her head. When
her giants managed to open the way into the deeper
levels, her growing obsession with finding the Shard of
Sloth became too much to ignore—so much so that she
abandoned the previous shard (which now lies in the
possession of one of her more powerful giant minions)
and any pretense of looting Guiltspur’s upper levels
entirely. Her flight through the lower levels, one assisted
by stealth and magic, eventually led her through the deep
portal to Leng, and not long thereafter she managed to
recover the Shard of Sloth only to fall victim to a much
more insidious curse. Cadrilkasta hasn’t been seen by her
minions in Guiltspur for weeks now, but the giants still
fear her and, believing she might return at any moment,
continue to toil at excavating the upper, lava-buried
chambers of the structure. What these giants don’t realize
is that Cadrilkasta’s headlong flight through the depths
of Guiltspur has awakened powers far more ancient and,
perhaps, deadly than a dragon alone, and it is now only
a matter of time before the ancient legacy of Guiltspur
awakens once again!
Adventure SummAry
After recovering the Shard of Envy from Ardathanatus, the
next vision sends the PCs back to the Storval Plateau—
this time to its northern extremes, to Guiltspur. They
find the ruins to be an increasingly anarchic giant-
held stronghold. Greed and fear are all that keep the
giants here. The Shard of Wrath is now the property of
the current leader of the giant tribes, a lumbering thug
named Jubbek, who has lashed the shard onto a club in
order to form a crude but effective pick. In order to gain
this shard, the PCs must defeat Jubbek.
Once the PCs secure the Shard of Wrath, the final vision
reveals that the route to the Shard of Sloth is very close
nearby—somewhere within Guiltspur itself. Yet this
vision seems strange and shadowy, as if a sinister shadow
obscures the vision. The PCs journey into the lava-
entombed chambers of Guiltspur, and then into caverns
below where they encounter a band of drow from House
Rasivrein who also seek the Shard of Sloth. These drow,
cultists of the demon lord Zura, are eager to track down
the powerful necromantic artifact they believe is located
in the dungeon—the Shard of Sloth. Do the PCs oppose or
ally with these sinister elves?
7
Delving deeper, the PCs enter the underground
laboratories once used by the lich Mesmalatu, who now
exists as an awakened demilich along with her alien allies.
Beyond her and her twisted experiments lies a portal to
Leng, and a temple to the Crawling Chaos Nyarlathotep
that has fallen back into degenerate anarchy.
Finally, in the howling storms on the very edge of the
Plateau of Leng, the PCs face Cadrilkasta. Lost in the
clutches of the shard’s curse, the blue wyrm wakens to a
righteous fury when confronted in her new lair perched
atop a spur of rock overlooking the dread plateau of Leng
itself. In order to claim the final shard of the Shattered Star,
the PCs must find a way to defeat one of Varisia’s most
dangerous and powerful dragons!
PART ONE: GIANTS OF WRATH
If the PCs wish, they can stop by Heidmarch Manor in
Magnimar to let Sheila Heidmarch know their plans. As
at the start of previous adventures, she can supply the
PCs with an ioun stone (in this case, a deep red sphere) for
when they recover the next shard, but by now the PCs
should be well into 13th level and as a result are among
Varisia’s more powerful adventurers. There’s little that
Sheila can supply the PCs with that they don’t already
have. Other NPCs the PCs have allied with along the way,
such as Koriah Azmereen, may accompany them on their
adventures to come as you see fit. As the PCs prepare to
leave, Sheila tells them that she’s learned a bit more—
that the ritual for rebuilding the Sihedron from the seven
shards requires a special stone as a sort of “mold” to hold
the fragments in alignment. Fortunately, the PCs have
already discovered one of these stones—the Sihedron
Shrine in the lowest chamber of the Crow. Sheila’s got
several lower-level Pathfinders on the task of hauling
this shrine up to the surface, and she tells the PCs that
when the time comes, she hopes to host a grand ceremony
atop the Irespan during which they will reforge the
ancient artifact. Pathfinders and other luminaries from
throughout the Inner Sea have taken note of the PCs’
quest now, and many famous faces will no doubt be in
attendance at the ceremony. But now, she notes, with two
shards remaining to be found, the PCs still have a bit of
work ahead of them.
This adventure doesn’t cover the journey from
Magnimar (or wherever the PCs are at the start of this
adventure) to Guiltspur, as it assumes the PCs can make
such an overland journey with ease using magic. Spells
like shadow walk and wind walk can make the journey pass
quickly, as can teleporting to a familiar site like Kaer
Maga and then traveling north. If you wish the PCs to
have some encounters along the way, feel free to have them
meet bands of giants, wyverns, rocs, or enormous crimson
worms (purple worms advanced to Colossal size), but the
sheer size of Guiltspur requires this adventure to focus
on the locations therein (and in the neighboring realm of
Leng, of course!).
But before the PCs leave, they might wish to do some
research about their destination. If no PC succeeds
at the DC 25 Knowledge (geography) check required
to identify Guiltspur as their next destination while
focusing on the Shard of Envy, a few hours spent sifting
through Heidmarch Manor’s maps, almanacs, and tomes
is enough to secure this knowledge. Once the PCs know
they’re headed to Guiltspur, a Knowledge (history or
geography) check reveals the following information.
GuiltSpur lore
Knowledge
Lore
Check
Gained
DC 15
Guiltspur is said to be cursed—a site
avoided even by the giants that call the
Storval Plateau home. The site is little more
than a strange green pinnacle of stone
protruding from the ground, but even this
is enough to send chills down the spines of
those who believe in the area’s curse.
DC 20
Guiltspur is in fact a Thassilonian ruin, a
building buried under a massive lava flow
that blanketed much of the northeastern
Storval Plateau during the fall of Thassilon.
The building itself is said to have been a
combination laboratory and embassy for
strange, otherworldly allies of Karzoug,
the Runelord of Greed.
DC 30
The place was little more than rumor
until recent years, when stories began
to emerge of an immense excavation led
by the blue dragon Cadrilkasta. These
stories tell of entire tribes of hill and fire
giants, enslaved by the dragon and forced
to painstakingly dig out the chambers of
buildings buried in the ground below the
great green spur.
DC 40
The ancient, nearly forgotten church of
Lissala, the goddess of runes, supposedly
ran the laboratories of Guiltspur, and were
instrumental in aiding Karzoug in forging
an alliance with the otherworldly realm
of Leng to which Guiltspur served as a
sort of embassy. Rumors of portals to this
nightmare realm deep under Guiltspur were
common during Thassilon’s height.
If the PCs learn of Cadrilkasta’s association with
Guiltspur, a Knowledge (arcana) check is enough to learn the
following rumors about the relatively infamous blue dragon.
8
CAdrilkAStA lore
Knowledge
Lore
Check
Gained
DC 20
The blue dragon Cadrilkasta is a powerful
creature—a blue wyrm, by all counts, who
once terrorized the Hold of Belkzen. That
she was viewed by the orcs of Belkzen as
a blight and a monster goes a long way
toward establishing her notoriety—she is a
monster’s monster.
DC 30
Cadrilkasta had a large lair in Belkzen, but
abandoned it a few years ago and moved west
into the Cinderlands. She’s been sighted in
the vicinity of Guiltspur, and has recruited
hill giants and fire giants to aid in excavating
the ruin. Her reasons for this excavation
are unknown, although the fact that she
left Belkzen not long after exploring and
destroying a Thassilonian ruin there has led
some to believe she learned of a great treasure
supposedly hidden in the ruins of Guiltspur.
These same rumors speak of how after the
destruction of that ruin, the dragon seemed
to grow even more violent, to the extent that
the orc tribes of Belkzen still fear her return.
ApproAChinG GuiltSpur
Guiltspur is located about 530 miles northwest of
Magnimar. The site itself is located in a particularly rugged
range of badlands that comprise the foothills to the Kodar
Mountains. Much of this land was born of ancient lava
flows carved by centuries of wind into eerie shapes. This
same wind creates mournful and haunting sounds as it
blows through the landscape’s myriad hollows. The vision
granted by the Shard of Envy dulls as the PCs approach a
valley in the badlands that has been walled off by a wooden
stockade, beyond which a ramp switchbacks up to a higher
plateau surrounded by rocky bluffs. Here, a two-story
wooden building squats in the shadow of a towering green
spire of strange stone—Guiltspur.
The region around Guiltspur has long been in the
hands of its giant excavators. While their draconic
overlord Cadrilkasta hasn’t been around lately, the giants
remain fearful of her punishment should she return and
find them lacking, and as such they continue to toil (albeit
much more slowly) at excavating the region and the upper
levels of the ruins. Still, morale is running low, with several
giants now languishing in impromptu prisons while their
leaders grow more and more decadent and bold in their
roles. The arrival of humans to torment and fight is a
welcome change for the giants, and at least initially they
rise to the defense of Guiltspur with frightening energy.
Keep track of the number of giants the PCs defeat during
this part of the adventure. In all, there are 68 hill giants
and 24 fire giants associated with Guiltspur’s uppermost
levels, although only 34 hill giants and 12 fire giants are
present at the time the PCs first come to the region. If they
launch an attack on Guiltspur and then retreat, other giants
who were out in the surrounding badlands hunting or
scouting return to reinforce those giants who were defeated,
effectively replenishing exhausted encounter areas as long
as the numbers hold out (there are enough giants to fully
repopulate Guiltspur once in this manner). Once the PCs
have killed at least 30 hill giants and eight fire giants, all
remaining giants panic and flee the site not long after the
PCs leave these areas (either to regroup, or to explore deeper
levels below). Giants in the Punishment Pits (area B6) do
not count for any of these totals. Only Chief Jubbek and his
minions in area B8 stubbornly remain behind in this case.
While the following encounter areas place giants in
specific parts of Jubbek’s fortress, you should strive to present
battles here in a dynamic fashion. Just as powerful PCs aren’t
required to tackle the encounter areas in numerical order,
the giants don’t have to stay in their assigned locations if
flying or teleporting PCs bypass one location to strike
another. Giants are noisy combatants, so feel free to have
those in neighboring areas come to aid in fights as soon
as a previous combat seems to be winding down. You can
string multiple battles together in this manner, having epic
clashes that can move through numerous locations until
the PCs are either victorious or forced to flee and regroup.
Stealth and trickery are powerful allies in this part of the
adventure, for a frontal assault against the giants is a sure
way to rouse the entire fort to arms.
A1. StoCkAde (Cr 14)
The ragged badlands split here, forming a wide valley that
rises up to a higher plateau nestled amid the peaks. A wide
ledge switchbacks up to this plateau, atop which a fifty-foot-
tall wooden structure sits. Beyond this structure, deeper in
the valley, a green spur rises out of the cleft to tower over the
landscape. The entire valley entrance has been blocked off by
a twenty-foot-tall stockade built of tree trunks. A pair of forty-
five-foot-tall watchtowers flank an immense wooden gate at
the eastern end of the stockade.
This stockade and the ledge leading up to the actual
excavation above were among the first things constructed
by the giants—they don’t expect this defense to hold back
determined heroes or other powerful monsters, but as long
as it holds back lesser predators and creatures while giving a
chance for an early alarm, the stockade’s doing its job.
A successful DC 15 Climb check is enough to scale
the stockade wall or climb one of the watchtowers. Each
9
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6a
A6b
A7
A8
A10
A9
A11
Jubbek’s SteadINg
Guiltspur EnvirONs
1 square = 10 feet
1 square = 20 feet
watchtower consists of a wooden framework with a single
floor 35 feet off the ground accessible by a sturdy ladder on
the northern side, inside the stockade’s bounds.
Creatures: This area is watched over by four hill
giants—one stationed atop each watchtower and two
stationed behind the wall along with trained mastodon
mounts. Each watchtower is equipped with a handy stack
of a dozen boulders for throwing, along with a large horn
carved from a mastodon tusk. While these giants are more
worried about Cadrilkasta’s return, they quickly mobilize
as soon as they spot PCs approaching by blowing loud,
mournful alarms on their mastodon tusk horns.
Guiltspur Hill Giants (4)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
Advanced hill giant fighter 1 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 150, 294)
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +16
DEFENSE
AC 26, touch 10, flat-footed 25 (+5 armor, +1 Dex, +11 natural,
–1 size)
hp 117 each (11 HD; 10d8+1d10+67)
Fort +15, Ref +4, Will +7
Defensive Abilities rock catching
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk greatclub +18/+13 (2d8+13) or
mwk lance +17/+12 (2d6+13/�3)
Ranged rock +9 (1d8+13) or
light ballista +8 (4d8/19–20)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rock throwing (120 ft.)
TACTICS
During Combat The two giants on mastodons below
immediately prepare to attack intruders, waiting for the
giants stationed in the towers to pull open the gate—
during this round, these two giants drink their potions of
haste. On the second round, the mastodon-mounted giants
charge out while the giants in the towers drop the ropes
used to open the gates (causing the gates to swing back
shut), then join the others in throwing boulders.
Morale The giants fight to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 29, Dex 12, Con 23, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 11
Base Atk +8; CMB +18; CMD 29
Feats Exotic Weapon Proficiency (light ballista), Improved Iron
Will, Iron Will, Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Vital Strike,
Weapon Focus (greatclub)
Skills Handle Animal +7, Perception +16, Ride +9
Languages Giant
Combat Gear potions of cure serious wounds, potion of haste;
Other Gear +1 hide armor, giant bag
10
Mastodons (2)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
hp 133 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 128)
Treasure: Each of these giants carries a bag filled with
all sorts of strange objects he’s collected over the years. You
can randomly generate the contents of each bag by using
the table on page 32 of Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Giants
Revisited, or you can simply assume that each giant’s bag
contains miscellaneous valuables worth 3d6+60 gp.
Development: Note that once the giants raise the alarm
with their mastodon tusk horns, the giants stationed atop
the hill at area A3 mobilize at the ballistae and begin firing
them at the PCs.
A2. the lAvA riSe (Cr 12)
This sloped ledge switchbacks up at a relatively gentle
angle to area A3; climbing one of the ledges up to the next
ledge (rather than simply walking the easy route up the
back-and-forth slope itself) requires a successful DC 20
Climb check. This ledge is 30 feet high at each highest
point, diminishing down to only a foot or so at each corner.
Creatures: The giants keep three mastodons tethered
to the top of the ledge—and slather these mastodons with
thick sheets of tar to serve as armor. The mastodons are
used to the tar, but not quite used to the plans the hill
giants have for them. If PCs start up this ramp, the fire
giant at area A3 lights the tar-daubed mastodons and then
quickly gets out of way. The burning, panicked mastodons
then flee down the ramps, trampling and attacking PCs
all the way down. Once they reach the bottom of the ramp,
if the gates are closed, the frightened creatures reverse
course and race back up the ramp. The hill giants didn’t
quite plan for this contingency, and if the mastodons
live long enough to return to area A3, they attack any hill
giants that remain up there in preference to any other foes.
Tar-Daubed Mastodons (3)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
hp 133 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 128)
Tar Daubed (Ex) Each of these mastodons has been smeared
with thick layers of tar. The sticky stuff functions as padded
armor, granting the mastodons a +1 armor bonus, but its
primary use is as a horrific attack. If the tar is lit on fire, the
mastodon take 1d6 points of fire damage per round, but
also deals +1d6 points of fire damage on each successful hit,
or +2d6 points of fire damage with its trample attack.
A3. GuiltSpur hollow (Cr 13)
This wide valley nestled between ragged badlands features a
fifty-foot-tall wooden fortress built on a scale twice what one
might expect for humans. This building, built from enormous
timbers, features no windows and only a single hefty door. A
flag depicting a giant atop a mound of dead elves and owlbears
hangs above the door. Braziers containing smoldering coals
burn near the entrance to the structure, while three large
ballistae sit on a ledge south of the fortress, looking out over
the valley’s entrance. Beyond, a large mound of rubble slumps
before a towering green spire that extends nearly two hundred
feet into the sky.
The flag hanging above the door can be recognized with
a successful DC 30 Knowledge (local) check as the banner
of a relatively notorious tribe of Storval hill giants called
the Elfstompers. This check also confirms that the tribe’s
leader is an infamously vile and lecherous brute named
Chief Jubbek. The interior of the fortress is detailed in
areas A6–A11.
Creatures: A group of three hill giants led by a fire giant
keep a watch on this area—if they hear the alarm raised
from the giants down in area A1, the hill giants quickly
man the light ballistae and begin firing them down at the
PCs. The fire giant moves to stand near the tar-daubed
mastodons kept corralled at the top of area A2 and uses
hurled rocks to support the ballistae—once he sees the
PCs moving up the ramp, he lights the mastodons on
fire with a thrown handful of hot coals scooped from one
of the braziers near the entrance to area A6a. As soon as
any of the PCs near A3, these four giants make a fighting
retreat toward the structure, hoping to join their brethren
in area A6a.
Light ballistae are detailed on pages 160–161 of Pathfinder
RPG Ultimate Combat. They have a range increment of 120
feet, which puts all targets in area A2 in the first range
increment. It takes a giant 2 rounds to load a light ballista.
Guiltspur Hill Giants (3)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
hp 117 each (see page 10)
Fire Giant
CR 10
XP 9,600
hp 142 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 148)
A4. rubble mound
A sizable mound of rubble lies heaped against a cliff side
here—a slope of boulders, ranging in size from small rocks to
masses larger than a human, that rises to a height of thirty feet.
This mound of rubble marks the site of one of the
initial attempts made by the giants to dig down into
the underground chambers of Guiltspur, but in their
exuberance, they dug too quickly and a large chamber
below (once connected to area B7) collapsed. The
11
Guiltspur
giants have since grown much more careful with their
excavations, with the majority of the rock cleared away
from the northwest around area A5, being heaped in this
slowly growing mound.
A5. GuiltSpur (Cr 12)
A spur-shaped tower of blue-green metal protrudes from
the ground here, rising to a height of a few hundred feet.
The spur’s height seems even greater for the fact that the
ground around it has been meticulously chiseled away.
Ramps wind down along the spire’s sides to a point thirty
feet below, where an opening in its side reveals that the
structure is at least partially hollow.
The excavation around this metallic protrusion extends
upward to the surrounding walls—an examination of
the walls of this entire section of the valley reveals that
the hollow was created artificially. The spur of blue-
green is in fact the top of the tallest of Guiltspur’s lava-
buried towers, extending
down to area B8
below. The spur-shaped tower itself is made of magically
treated stone, but a closer examination reveals that the
entire spur has been coated in a seamless layer of blue-
green metal. This metal is in fact an unusual abysium
alloy that was “painted” onto the tower to give it the
strange coloration. The alloy itself has bonded with the
outer layer of the stone, making it impossible to extract.
The entire tower glows softly (this glow is generally not
noticeable during the day, and casts 60 feet of dim light
at night), but perhaps of greater importance, the abysium
emits debilitating radiation to this extent as well. All
creatures within 60 feet of the exterior of this pinnacle
must succeed at a DC 14 Fortitude save each hour to resist
becoming sickened for 1 hour. This effect does not extend
into area B8 or its adjoining underground areas.
Creatures: A group of three hill giants toils down in the
excavation, working as gently as possible to widen the dig
and expose more and more of the tower. These giants are all
sickened from the tower’s proximity, and the sound of their
mining picks and groans of distress impose a –6 penalty
on their Perception checks. If they notice a fight going on
in area A2, they abandon their picks, grab their greatclubs,
and shamble out to join that fight—if confronted here, they
fight until one of them drops, whereupon the remaining
giants shamble down the excavation ramp into area B8 to
seek aid from Chief Jubbek himself.
Guiltspur Hill Giants (3)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
hp 117 each (see page 10)
A6. GreAt hAll (Cr 15)
The wooden walls of this wide timber room are adorned
with dozens of trophies, some of which seem to be still alive
judging by their feeble twitchings and cries. The majority of
the trophies are animals—bears, aurochs, giant lizards, and a
few monsters—but here and there hang the mutilated bodies
of orcs or humans. A great fire pit lies in the room’s center,
forming a layer of smoke near the ceiling some fifty feet above,
while additional torches guttering on the walls only add to the
room’s foul scents. Slabs of dubious meat roast slowly over
the central fire, while a balcony twenty-five feet above the
eastern half of the room looks out over the hall.
The air inside this great hall is musty, hot,
and smoky—upon first entering the room, a
creature must succeed at a DC 12 Fortitude
save or be sickened for 1d4 minutes before
becoming accustomed to the air. All of the
giants encountered here have had plenty of
time to become so adjusted. The meat cooking
on the fire is mostly aurochs or wyvern flesh.
12
Of the trophies on the walls, two aurochs and one bulette
are still barely alive but stable at 2d6 negative hit points. If
any of these creatures are cut down from the walls (this
requires 1d4 rounds of work with a slashing weapon) and
healed to positive hit points, they attack any giants in
the room out of anger before turning their attention to
smaller targets.
The walls of the steading are constructed of wood, but
they’ve also all been treated with thick layers of resin to
somewhat fireproof them. The walls have fire resistance
20 as a result, and cannot catch on fire at all.
Creatures: The main chamber of the steading was used
by Jubbek as a feast hall and throne room, with the balcony
above (area A6b) serving him as his personal quarters. After
the lower levels expanded enough and Jubbek fell further
under the curse of the Shard of Wrath, he moved downstairs
and ceded control of this level to a fire giant woman
named Stom. As Jubbek grows less and less interested in
commanding the giants, Stom has grown more and more
into the role of commander, and now prefers to be called
General Stom. Unlike most of the giants, Stom suspects that
Cadrilkasta met an ignominious end in the dungeons below
and won’t be returning. She hopes to gather the remaining
giants under her command (although she treats the hill
giants as little more than slaves), but isn’t comfortable
launching her coup so long as Jubbek still lives.
Area A6a contains four regular hill giants and two
fire giants (plus any giants who fled here from outside).
General Stom lounges in area A6b above, and there’s a 50%
chance that 1d2 of the fire giants from below have been
called up to serve as Stom’s consorts.
Hill Giants (4)
CR 7
XP 3,200 each
hp 85 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 150)
Fire Giants (2)
CR 10
XP 9,600 each
hp 142 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 148)
General Stom
CR 13
XP 25,600
Female fire giant fighter 3 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 148)
CE Large humanoid (fire, giant)
Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +14
DEFENSE
AC 26, touch 10, flat-footed 25 (+8 armor, +1 Dex, +8 natural,
–1 size)
hp 212 (18 HD; 15d8+3d10+129)
Fort +18, Ref +7, Will +10; +1 vs. fear
Defensive Abilities bravery +1, rock catching; DR 2/—;
Immune fire
Weaknesses vulnerable to cold
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee +2 thundering earth breaker +27/+22/+17 (2d8+18/19–20/×3)
Ranged rock +15 (1d8+11 plus 1d6 fire)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks heated rock, rock throwing (120 ft.)
TACTICS
During Combat General Stom has a dozen rocks stacked
along the edge of the balcony, and as combat begins,
she supports the giants below by hurling these into the
fray. She makes the PCs come to her before engaging
in melee—if the PCs use ranged weapons or attacks,
though, she rushes down the stairs to attack them once at
least four of the giants below have been killed.
Morale If reduced to fewer than 80 hit points, General Stom
makes a fighting retreat toward the exit, hoping to flee
the region entirely once she gets out of the building. If
no escape is possible, she surrenders if brought below
20 hit points, and offers to aid the PCs in killing Jubbek.
She knows the layout of Jubbek’s Halls quite well, and can
at the very least provide the PCs with a map and lists of
guards. She doesn’t know about area B11.
STATISTICS
Str 33, Dex 13, Con 23, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 14
Side Quest: A Favor for Stom
When the PCs first enter area A6a, regardless of how
many giants they’ve killed outside, the giants therein
don’t immediately attack. They stand up and call for
their general, who then steps to the edge of the balcony
and calls down to the PCs, complimenting them on their
battle prowess. Stom has an offer for the PCs—if they
can storm the chambers below and take out Chief Jubbek
and all the giants down there who are loyal to him, she’ll
take the remaining giants here and leave without a
fight. Which, she points out, incidentally leaves any of
the treasure found in the other rooms (areas A7–A11)
for the PCs as well. If the PCs agree, she has one of the
fire giants escort them to area A7, but none of them are
willing to aid the PCs in the fights below.
Story Award: As soon as the PCs return with Jubbek’s
head or otherwise prove to Stom that the hill giant
has been defeated, she thanks the PCs, gathers the
remaining giants under her command, and makes ready
to leave the region within the hour. The PCs earn XP as
if they had defeated all the remaining foes in areas A6–
A11, and an additional 19,200 XP for allying with Stom.
She also points out that there’s a fair amount of treasure
she’s leaving behind in the complex (as indicated in the
area descriptions).
13
GEneral Stom
Base Atk +14; CMB +26 (+28 bull rush); CMD 37 (39 vs. bull rush)
Feats Dazzling Display, Improved Bull Rush, Improved
Critical (earth breaker), Improved Iron Will, Intimidating
Prowess, Iron Will, Power Attack, Shatter Defenses,
Toughness, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (earth breaker)
Skills Climb +16, Intimidate +21, Perception +14; Racial
Modifiers +4 Acrobatics (when jumping)
Languages Common, Giant
SQ armor training 1
Gear +2 adamantine breastplate,
+2 thundering earth breaker, bag
(see Treasure, below)
Treasure: General Stom’s bag
contains the following objects of
interest: a heavy fur-and-wool cloak
with deep pockets within which
are a bloody ogre hand, a
corkscrew, and three knives
(one of which is a +2
dagger); a gnawed gnome
skull; two bags of coins
(one with 453 sp, and the
other with 309 gp and
99 pp); a meat cleaver;
a large meat saw; a vice;
two dozen meat hooks
(three of which still
have orc heads attached
to them); and a strange
jade icon of a faceless sphinx
worth 200 gp. Stom found this
symbol while exploring one of the
chambers in Jubbek’s Halls below—a successful
DC 35 Knowledge (religion) check correctly
identifies it as one of the countless symbols
of the Outer God Nyarlathotep.
Other treasure lies strewn about areas
A6b as well—this treasure belonged to
Jubbek, and if the PCs make a deal with
Stom, she leaves all of this treasure behind
for them as thanks. Amid the countless
heads, limbs, and tusks hanging from
the roof or lashed to the walls are an
incredibly dirty but very fine rug
worth 600 gp, a masterwork pike,
three +3 crossbow bolts jammed
into a doorframe, a pair of
sable gloves worth 150 gp, a
tapestry depicting humans
vanquishing giants that is
covered with foul graffiti
in charcoal worth 200
gp if cleaned, a Medium +1 breastplate, and a scroll of
spell resistance unfurled and used as a knife target (this
damaged scroll has a 25% chance when used of, in addition
to its intended effect, affecting the user with a random
drawback from the table on page 538 of the Pathfinder RPG
Core Rulebook for 2d6 hours).
A7. empty GuArdroom
An enormous table sits in the northeast corner of this room,
while a flight of stairs leads down to the south.
This room was originally used by the giants to guard
the entrance to the tunnels below, but as the giants have
become increasingly disorganized, the guards normally
posted here are now generally found in area A6a. The
stairs lead down to area B1.
A8. pAntry
Several large crates and oversized barrels lie
stacked about here, leaving very little room to
move around.
The barrels here contain the steading’s
dwindling supply of water. In two days,
the hill giants in area A6a will be sent on
a trip a mile or so south to resupply the
water from a small, nameless river. If the
PCs spend time watching and waiting, this
could give the group a chance to attack the
giants when they’re split up.
A9. GAme room (Cr 11)
A large, stout table squats in the
center of this room, surrounded by
three equally stout and somewhat
scorched chairs. Several dripping
kegs lie on the table, with more
strewn about the floor, while to
the north, a freestanding shelf
sags under the weight of stacks of
weapons and bits of armor.
Creatures: Three fire giants
have converted what was once
an armory into a game room
of sorts. The three giants are
seated at the table, howling in
delight at the game itself, which
involves drinking from the
various kegs of cheap
14
ale they “liberated” from a band of orcs while building an
increasingly rickety tower made of human and orc skulls
and femurs. Each time a giant knocks the tower down, he
drains a keg—currently, the three giants are quite drunk
and both sickened and staggered. They ignore the sounds
of battle in area A6a in favor of playing one more round of
“drunk bones.”
Upon noticing the PCs, the giants roar and leap to
action, although their drunken condition makes them
less dangerous than normal (reducing their CR score by 2).
One of the giants stumbles over to the door of area A10 and
calls the creatures inside to help them fight as the combat
begins, but since the door to area A10 is kept barred, the
giant needs to take a standard action to open it.
Fire Giants (3)
CR 8
XP 4,800 each
hp 142 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 148)
Treasure: The fire giants keep their treasure in a large
iron trunk, within which are two bags containing 1,000 sp
each, a smaller leather bag containing 500 gp, a black iron
weather vane depicting three pigs chasing a troll (the eyes of
each creature are made of jasper and the whole item is worth
275 gp), a dented church bell worth 40 gp, and an uncut
piece of violet garnet worth 400 gp. Heaped on the shelves
are Large lances and clubs, pieces of Large hide armor, and
various Medium weapons looted from orcs and Shoanti.
Most of the weapons here are mundane, but a +2 thundering
klar (The Inner Sea World Guide) sits on the bottom shelf.
A10. kennel (Cr 12)
The floor of this room is strewn with mounds of earth and
tangles of broken and scorched bones. The air feels particularly
hot and the walls are scorched.
Creatures: A pair of nessian warhounds is kept here, all
that remains of a larger pack that, as the giant tribes have
grown more violent and uncontrolled, has been dwindling in
number. These last two warhounds are particularly vicious
and violent—each is an advanced specimen of its kind, and
they attack any non-giant creatures on sight.
Advanced Nessian Warhounds (2)
CR 10
XP 9,600 each
hp 150 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 173, 294)
A11. tool room
This chamber is piled high with pit props, torches, spades,
miner’s picks, buckets, endless coils of rope, and other mining
and excavation gear.
Treasure: The tools kept here are relatively mundane,
save for their size—they’re all built for Large workers.
A fair number of the tools look to be well used or even
broken. A search of the various containers and mounds
of tools (taking 2d6 minutes) and a successful DC 30
Perception check uncovers the one object of any real value
in the room—a rod of metal and mineral detection the giants
intended to use to assay for new excavation sites but
quickly forgot about due to organizational inefficiencies.
Jubbek’S hAllS
The upper section of ground below the valley is riddled
with lava tubes that connect to a few buried structures that
were once part of Guiltspur. The giants have stopped their
expansion work here. After Jubbek reported the discovery
of area B11 to Cadrilkasta, the dragon swiftly moved down
into the dungeon and hasn’t been seen again, and as such,
further excavation proceeds slowly.
The giants found on this level are all loyal to Chief
Jubbek (save for those imprisoned in area B6), and as
long as the chieftain lives, they do not f lee combat.
Presented with proof of Jubbek’s death (either his head
or his weapon), a giant in this area must succeed at a DC
15 Will save or be shaken. Giants shaken in this manner
f lee the region and do not return if reduced to fewer
than half their hit points. This loyalty to Jubbek exists
in spite of (or, perhaps, because of) the chieftain’s
increasingly violent personality. Already a temperamental
creature, Jubbek has been made into a horrific sadist by
the Shard of Wrath. Driven by the shard’s curse, Jubbek
has mutilated many of his loyal giants, and all of the
giants encountered in this area are missing fingers,
toes, or bear hideous scars. These mutilations generally
do not significantly impact a giant’s effectiveness in
combat, but each giant the PCs encounter has a 20%
chance of being mutilated enough that it has 2 points of
Constitution or Dexterity drain (50% chance of either).
Recently, Jubbek’s taken to working his violence out on
captured trolls, granting his other minions a welcome
respite from his attentions.
This upper level of the dungeons does contain a few
areas that once composed the higher reaches of Guiltspur
itself (areas B8 and B11), but they are not considered to be
properly part of the complex below and are not warded in
the same way as described at the start of Part Two.
b1. GuArd poSt (Cr 13)
This thirty-foot-wide chamber appears to have been widened
with picks and chisels. More natural-looking tunnels—
ten-foot-wide circular lava tubes—extend from this larger
chamber to the north, south, and east, while to the west, a
roughly caved flight of stairs sized for giants leads upward.
15
B1
B2a
B2b
B3
B11
B10
B4
B5
B8a
B8b
B8c
B8d
B9
B6
B7
Jubbek’s HaLls
1 square = 10 feet
Large chunks of stone and debris lie scattered haphazardly
about the room.
The stairs lead up 30 feet to area A7, but are sized for
giants. Medium and smaller creatures treat them as
difficult terrain.
Creatures: A group of three fire giants stands on guard
here at all times, but these sentries are generally lax in
their duties, sitting in the middle of the room sharing
stories or bragging about past conquests. Distracted, they
take a –4 penalty on Perception checks, but once they
notice the PCs, they roar and rise up to attack. The giants
use the leftover boulders and chunks of stone as missiles
against the PCs while they holler for help down the tunnel
to area B2a—the giants there move to aid their allies here
as quickly as they can.
As soon as one fire giant is defeated, the remaining
giants begin a fighting retreat to the east, hoping to lure
the PCs to the Butcher’s Highway (area B5) where they have
reinforcements and traps to use against the PCs.
Fire Giants (3)
CR 10
XP 9,600 each
hp 142 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 148)
b2. the lAvA tubeS (Cr 10)
These natural lava tubes are roughly circular in cross-
section. Fire giants have to crouch slightly to move
through here, and take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while
fighting in this area. The tubes to the south (area B2a)
have been extended recently by giants seeking new
Guiltspur ruins, while those to the north (area B2b) are
feared by the giants since they lead to area B11 and the
source of strange monsters that the giants would rather
not tangle with. The tunnel has been mostly blocked
by mounds of rubble, but gaps large enough for a Small
creature to wriggle through with a successful DC 30
Escape Artist check exist. It takes 2d6 hours of work
to clear enough room for Medium creatures to move
through to area B3 beyond.
Creatures: At the end of each of the tubes in area B2a
toils a single hill giant with a mining pick. If they hear the
giants in area B1 call for help, they drop their picks, grab
their clubs, and rush into battle. If they are confronted in
these tunnels, the giants fight to the death.
Hill Giants (3)
CR 7
XP 3,200 each
hp 85 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 150)
16
b3. An unuSuAl wAll
The lava tube takes a sudden turn here, with the northern wall
taking on a strange greenish sheen in places.
This lava tube came up against one of the fully buried
spires of Guiltspur here. Originally, only tiny fragments
of the wall remained visible, but Jubbek’s giants worked
diligently to clear more area, including the tunnel to the
northwest that eventually breaks through the wall into
area B11. The wall is plated with the same abysium alloy
as the pillar outside. All creatures within 60 feet of the
exterior of this wall must succeed at a DC 14 Fortitude save
each hour to resist becoming sickened for 1 hour—this
effect does not extend into area B11 itself.
b4. the wArninG pillAr
Half emerging from the rough stone floor is a curious pillar
of granite. The block has seven sides and rises up through
the roof above at an angle. The faces of the pillar still bear the
faint markings of runes that have all but worn away with the
passage of time.
This menhir was erected in the early days of the Age of
Darkness by surviving giants who had escaped the yoke of
Thassilonian rule. Memories of the atrocities and horrors
of Guiltspur remained fresh in their minds, and so they
placed this stone as a warning to all who would come in
the ages after. Subsequent eruptions from the Kodars later
in that age, unfortunately, saw to this menhir’s eventual
obscurement under fresh lava flows.
The menhir now functions more as a pillar in this room,
its top extending 20 feet into the ceiling above. Only a
small portion of the original warning remains visible,
and a successful DC 30 Perception or Linguistics check
by someone who can read Giant is required to decipher
it. Although written in Giant, ironically, Jubbek’s giants
haven’t deciphered the runes due to lack of skill and interest.
The surviving runes read as follows:
“...who sleep in Guiltspur’s shadow shall know this fear,
and what waits beyond shall...”
b5. the butCher’S hiGhwAy (Cr 14)
This long, thirty-foot-wide hallway is lit by periodic torches
guttering along the walls. Some of the torches have smoldered
out, leaving areas of the hallway in dimmer light, but the entire
length is lit enough to show off the grisly decor—limbs and
entrails and heads hewn from bodies both human-sized and
gargantuan litter the southern section of this hallway and hang
from the walls by spikes or chains. As a result, the air here is
rancid and foul.
The hideous decorations in this hall are a manifestation
of Jubbek’s growing wrath—the limbs adorning this hall
are trophies put on display here by the chieftain. At first,
he decorated walls by hammering up limbs with spikes,
but as his sadism grew, he simply started tossing the
appendages into the southern section of the hall. The
cast-off limbs here are so numerous that for Medium and
smaller creatures, the ground south of the southernmost
door to area B6 is difficult terrain. The vast majority of
these severed arms and legs have been cut from trolls, and
a few of the fresher limbs still wriggle and twitch.
Creatures: A trio of well-trained and relatively well-
mutilated hill giants stand guard in the northern part
of this room. Each carries a stash of a half-dozen rocks
for throwing in addition to their bags of miscellaneous
treasure, and they use these rocks against foes to the
south. The giants know where the traps are located in this
hall, and while they move to avoid them with ease, they
often position themselves nearby, hoping that intruders
stumble onto one of the trapped areas. As soon as one of
these giants is slain, the remaining two make a fighting
retreat north into area B8a.
Guiltspur Hill Giants (3)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
hp 95 each (see page 10)
Melee club +17/+12 (1d8+9)
Mutilations (Ex) Each of these giants currently suffers from 4
points of Constitution damage and only has one arm. They
fight with regular clubs instead of greatclubs as a result.
Trap: A total of five pit traps are hidden in the floor of
the hall’s northern half. Each of these pit traps drops into a
greased chute that descends to the west—creatures who fall
into one of these traps are deposited into a corresponding
punishment pit in area B6.
Chute Traps (5)
CR 7
XP 3,200 each
Type mechanical; Perception DC 30; Disable Device DC 30
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset automatic
Effect 20-ft.-deep pit (1d6 falling damage) and chute to area
B6; Reflex DC 20 avoids; multiple targets (all targets in a
10-ft.-square area)
b6. the puniShment pitS (Cr 12)
This chamber’s floor has been divided into three long forty-
foot-deep pits, each separated by a ten-foot-wide wall. The
tops of these walls double as walkways between the three pits.
Openings ten feet off the ground in the east walls of the pits
connect to what appear to be greased chutes leading up. Each
17
TOgbad
of the pits is filled with a hideous, foul-smelling slurry of gravel,
water, splintered bones, and decayed globs of flesh.
Three large buildings once stood next to each other
during the time of Thassilon; Jubbek had his giants dig holes
through roofs of each to create three large pits out of the
previously lava-encased structures. Into each of these pits,
Jubbek casts those who survive his mutilations or
anyone who displeases him. The walls of each
of the pits can be scaled with a successful
DC 30 Climb check, while the chutes
in the east walls that lead to area B5
can be climbed with successful
DC 35 checks (after the first 10
feet of wall is scaled to reach a
chute’s entrance, of course). The
foul mix that coats each pit floor
is a foot deep, making each pit floor
difficult terrain.
Creatures: Normally, the Climb
checks required to clamber out
of the pits would be difficult
but not impossible for some
of the giants imprisoned in
the dungeons—which is why
Jubbek prefers to cut off the
hands of any giants thrown into these
pits. This not only prevents the giants from
climbing at all, but forces them to use their slam attacks in
combat. Jubbek is fond of coming into this room to watch
giants fight in the pits. Often, he’ll lower a giant into a pit
with the promise that if he kills all the current creatures
inside, Jubbek will let him out. Jubbek doesn’t always keep
these promises. The giants currently imprisoned in the pit
are, for the most part, nearly feral with rage, frustration,
and fear, and anyone foolish enough to come within reach
is attacked mercilessly.
The room itself is guarded by a group of three wyvern-like
purple dragon-kin with large orange wings—rift drakes.
The drakes are relatively intelligent, and are not only smart
enough to tell free giants apart from the imprisoned ones,
but to know that humans and other “little” races don’t
belong here. The drakes are well fed by the giants, and are
quite loyal as a result. They fight intruders to the death, and
aren’t afraid of chasing foes into the pits themselves or even
out of the room into other parts of the dungeon.
The current occupants of the pits are as follows
(since each pit’s occupants are stuck in there, they’re
all associated with their own CR and are not part of the
room’s overall CR above).
Area B6a (CR 11): This pit currently contains two hill giants
and one fire giant, all of whom have had their hands lopped
off (and thus suffer from 4 points of Dexterity drain each).
Area B6b (CR 11): This pit currently contains seven trolls.
Area B6c (CR 7): The only current occupant of
this pit is a desperate hill giant named Togbad (see
Development, below).
Rift Drakes (3)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
hp 126 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 106)
Handless Hill Giants (2) CR 7
XP 3,200 each
hp 85 each (Pathfinder RPG
Bestiary 150)
Handless Fire Giant
CR 10
XP 9,600 each
hp 142 each (Pathfinder RPG
Bestiary 148)
Trolls (7)
CR 5
XP 1,600 each
hp 63 each (Pathfinder RPG
Bestiary 268)
Togbad
CR 7
XP 3,200
CN hill giant (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 150)
hp 85
Development: The lone occupant of area B6c is an
almost insanely terrified hill giant named Togbad. He
doesn’t attack the PCs—indeed, if the PCs approach him,
he prostrates himself at their feet and swears on the name
of all the giant clans to serve them faithfully to the end of
his days. Unlike the giants in area B6a, Togbad hasn’t had
his hands cut off, but he has been hobbled—both his feet
have been broken and his tendons are severed. As a result,
the giant suffers 6 points of Dexterity drain and can only
crawl until the drain is removed.
Togbad can describe all of this level to the PCs, including
area B11 (he calls this place the “monster pit” and is
almost as afraid of it as he is of Chief Jubbek). If the PCs
heal his damage and help him out of the pit, he becomes
a loyal servant to whoever cured his damage, serving as a
bodyguard and minion. Togbad isn’t evil (indeed, Jubbek
mutilated him and threw him in this pit when Togbad
attempted to help a group of Shoanti prisoners escape but
got caught), but neither is he particularly strong-willed.
He fears Jubbek, but also hates him, and if the PCs help
him kill the chieftain, Togbad pledges his life to the PCs.
Despite his good intentions, though, Togbad remains
relatively unpredictable and doesn’t fully appreciate his
own strength—he may accidentally use a slam attack on
18
an ally by clapping her on the back or might try to grapple
someone in a damaging hug if he’s particularly excited.
Whenever the giant is reduced to fewer than 30 hit points,
he runs away to hide, only to slink back in tears once he
thinks combat is over. As the PCs progress deeper and
deeper into Guiltspur, Togbad’s loyalties are put to the
test—each time the PCs enter a new dungeon level, Togbad
must make a successful DC 15 Will save to avoid panicking
and fleeing the party forever.
Story Award: The giants in areas B6a and B6b cannot
escape their pits—only award full XP for defeating them if
the PCs are threatened by them (such as would be the case
if a PC falls into one of the pits). Otherwise, defeating these
giants earns only half the normal XP. If the PCs befriend
Togbad and gain his aid, they earn twice the XP they would
normally earn for defeating him (6,400 XP).
b7. the burrow (Cr 13)
This is a vast chamber torn into the volcanic stone. The room
arches up to a vaulted ceiling some sixty feet above, while a
natural ramp rises up to the east where mounds of ratty old
furs have been heaped in several nestlike mounds. To the
northwest, a large sinkhole slumps into the ground.
This is where Jubbek’s rapidly dwindling tribe sleeps.
Jubbek’s increasing sadism has seen to the steady atrophy
of the total number of giants dwelling in the region,
and what were once relatively cramped quarters are now
almost spacious. The sinkhole to the northwest is used to
dispose of rubbish. A search of the hole reveals a foul mix
of human and orc bones, broken tools and gear, and a fair
amount of bodily waste.
Creatures: The first time the PCs enter this room,
several hill giants are sleeping in the mounds of furs. If a
fight breaks out in area B5, these giants can attempt DC –5
Perception checks (but at a –20 penalty due to distance and
the fact that they’re sleeping) to wake up, at which point they
put on their armor and lumber out to investigate as soon
as possible. Caught unawares, the giants are unarmed and
unarmored, but still fight to the death.
Guiltspur Hill Giants (2)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
hp 95 each (see page 10)
Hill Giants (4)
CR 7
XP 3,200 each
hp 85 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 150)
Treasure: This cavern is disgusting, even if the PCs avoid
the filthy sinkhole. Rotting piles of refuse and infestations of
ticks and fleas are mixed in with the furs, making a search
of the place an unpleasant task. Nothing of value is in the
sinkhole, but a successful DC 25 Perception check reveals
a few doubtful treasures among the furs—a poorly cured
dire bear pelt worth 50 gp, an enormous hat made of sewn
mice and set with three fractured garnets worth 110 gp,
and a Medium suit of masterwork hide armor that’s been
stuffed with feathers for use as a pillow.
b8. Jubbek’S throne room (Cr 16)
This vast circular chamber rises to a height of sixty feet, the
smooth stone walls tapering upward to form a conical ceiling.
The floor of the chamber is made of a layer of wooden planks,
but periodic gaps between the floorboards reveal that a dark
hollow space extends below. Stone double doors sit to the
south, while to the east and west large sections of wall have
crumbled away to allow access to caverns. A lava tube to the
west winds deeper into the rock, although a side ramp seems to
lead up and out to the surface. To the east looms a large cavern
dominated by an immense throne made of wooden timbers
and mastodon bones. Beyond this huge throne rise two
ledges—the higher one is littered with a prodigious mound of
animal pelts and furs, while a large battered chest sits against
the eastern wall of the lower ledge.
The central room of this complex chamber (area B8a) is
the interior of the single spire of Guiltspur that protrudes
above the lava today. Originally, all of the interior floors of
the spire had crumbled away, but the giants built a floor
of timbers at this level so they could move through the
area. These timbers are quite sturdy, but if destroyed or
removed, reveal a 30-foot-deep hollow that leads nowhere
below (the chambers below this level filled with lava that
has long since cooled to solid stone).
Area B8b to the east is dominated by Jubbek’s throne—a
home-made thing made of furs and hides stretched
haphazardly over a frame of wood and mastodon bones.
Area B8c beyond the throne is a 10-foot-high ledge on which
Jubbek stores his wealth (see Treasure, below), while area B8d
is a 20-foot-high ledge occupied by Jubbek’s “bedroom.”
Creatures: Even if the PCs don’t allow the giants from
other parts of the dungeon a chance to retreat to this
location, the number of foes in here makes for a dangerous
combat indeed. If combat breaks out in this area and the
giants in area B5 haven’t already been dealt with, they come
to join the fight immediately. While the toiling giants at
area A5, if they still live, can certainly hear the sound of
battle down here, they fear Jubbek enough that they instead
flee to area A6a, seeking help before returning to this
room. Reinforcements from the steading above should take
2d6+10 rounds to arrive after a battle begins here—or if the
PCs have already secured an alliance with General Stom,
such reinforcements never arrive at all.
19
Chief Jubbek
Reinforcements aside, this set of rooms houses more
than just the surly hill giant chieftain Jubbek. He often
has giants dress up as the tribe’s enemies to enact mock
battles in area B8a. Currently, four hill giants dressed as
Shoanti barbarians fight in area B8a. Jubbek demands
realism, and as such, these four giants have each taken
damage from the fight. Jubbek is also attended by a fire
giant bodyguard who stands to the right of his throne, and
one of his hill giant concubines, who lounges to the left.
His other three concubines—obese giants who smell of
a sickly combination of sweat and honey—are located in
area B8d. His much adored pet, Skullcracker, an advanced
smilodon (the only thing Jubbek never vents his wrath
upon), sits atop the ledge to area B8c.
This battle has the potential to be quite deadly for the
PCs, but fortunately, not all the combatants attack at once.
Chief Jubbek is somewhat arrogant and slow to fight his
own battles—watching violence is almost as satisfying to
him as perpetrating it, and he knows that, of late, once he
starts attacking, it’s difficult for him to stop. As a result,
Jubbek prefers to let his minions fight for him.
Upon noticing the PCs, the giants take up a defensive
position. The three concubines in area B8d remain
where they are for the moment, but Skullcracker leaps
down from area B8c and moves to a position near the
throne. Jubbek’s fire giant bodyguard and his fourth
concubine remain at his side while Jubbek gleefully
orders the four hill giants in area B8a to kill the PCs.
When the first giant falls, he orders his concubine into
the fray—when a second giant falls, Jubbek orders his
bodyguard to attack and joins the battle himself as
detailed in his tactics. Any attack against Skullcracker
compels Jubbek to attack at once. The three concubines
in area B8d shriek and lumber down to join the fight as
soon as Jubbek takes damage.
As long as Jubbek lives, the rest of the creatures here fight
to the death. If Jubbek is defeated or killed, his concubines
and Skullcracker continue to fight to the death, but any
remaining giants immediately make a fighting retreat
to area B9 and then flee up to area A5 before fleeing the
region entirely.
Chief Jubbek
CR 14
XP 38,400
Male hill giant barbarian 7
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +4; Senses low-light vision; Perception +13
DEFENSE
AC 29, touch 7, flat-footed 29 (+9 armor, +9 natural,
–2 rage, +4 shield, –1 size)
hp 216 (17 HD; 10d8+7d12+126)
Fort +19, Ref +5, Will +11; +2 vs. evocation
Defensive Abilities improved uncanny dodge,
rock catching, trap sense +2; DR 1/—
Weaknesses curse of wrath
OFFENSE
Speed 35 ft.
Melee +1 morningstar +28/+23/+18 (2d6+17 plus 1 fire/
19–20)
Ranged rock +14 (1d8+16)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rock throwing (120 ft.), rage
(21 rounds/day), rage powers (intimidating glare,
knockback, renewed vigor [1d8+9 hp])
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 17th; concentration +14)
1/day—fireball (DC 10)
TACTICS
During Combat Once Jubbek joins the fight, he focuses his
anger on the creature that damaged him the most before
he got to act. He rages as he fights, and works his way into
20
area B8a. Once there, he takes a standard action to smash his
morningstar against the floor, attempting a DC 20 Strength
check to knock a 5-foot-diameter hole into the floor. Once he
makes a hole, he and the other giants try to move or bull rush
PCs into the hole—it’s a 30-foot drop onto rubble below, and
the only exit from the area is the hole itself. Jubbek uses the
fireball spell-like ability granted him if faced by a group of
PCs clustering together for their own defense.
Morale Chief Jubbek fights to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 38, Dex 10, Con 25, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 5
Base Atk +14; CMB +29 (+31 bull rush); CMD 37 (39 vs. bull rush)
Feats Critical Focus, Improved Bull Rush, Improved
Critical (morningstar), Improved Initiative, Improved
Iron Will, Intimidating Prowess, Iron Will, Power Attack,
Staggering Critical
Skills Climb +21, Intimidate +22, Perception +13
Languages Giant
SQ fast movement
Gear +3 breastplate, +2 heavy wooden shield, +1 morningstar,
belt of giant strength +4, Shard of Wrath
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Curse of Wrath Jubbek is consumed by the Shard of Wrath’s
curse. He starts the battle sickened, but this condition
vanishes for 1 hour as soon as he reduces a creature to
negative hit points. Once he attacks a creature, Jubbek
must succeed at a DC 20 Will save or be unable to cease
attacking that creature until it is killed.
Shard of Wrath Jubbek has lashed the Shard of Wrath to the
head of his morningstar—he deals +1 point of fire damage
or +1 point of cold damage (the energy type switches each
day) on a hit with his morningstar as a result of the shard’s
siccatite qualities.
Hill Giants (4)
CR 7
XP 3,200 each
hp 85 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 150)
Hill Giant Concubines (4)
CR 7
XP 3,200 each
hp 85 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 150)
Fire Giant
CR 10
XP 9,600
hp 142 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 148)
Skullcracker
CR 9
XP 6,400
Advanced smilodon (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 265, 294)
hp 133
Treasure: Chief Jubbek has collected an astonishing
amount of clutter over the years, some of which is actually
rather valuable. The giant’s treasure is spread out over
areas B8b and B8c as detailed below.
The walls of area B8b are festooned with objects, some
of which still twitch now and then, such as his staggering
collection of severed troll limbs. A long alphorn leans against
the northern wall. Beneath several layers of filth and dirt,
this instrument features fine gold filigree work depicting
rocs in flight, and is worth 450 gp. A scrimshaw mastodon
tusk of very high quality depicting mountain scenes hangs
on the southern wall—this item is worth 750 gp.
Jubbek’s throne is a relatively foul piece of furniture—
the entire thing reeks of sweat and filth, and several bits
of leather and fur used to create it were only partially
preserved. A poorly hidden pouch on the side of the throne
(Perception DC 15) contains 4 potions of cure serious wounds
as well as 200 gp.
Jubbek’s sleeping cavern (area B8d) is a mess as well, but
several minutes of searching the area are enough to uncover
the following unusual or valuable objects: a Small mithral
dagger, a Medium +1 handaxe, a selection of long iron
bars all bent into knots, a massive silver tankard etched
with rams attacking stirges worth 300 gp, an iron bottle
containing an elixir of love, a mummified horse’s head with
a silver tooth worth 25 gp, a masterwork manacle attached
to a wooden beam covered with 54 tiny notches, two huge
kegs of cider that taste eye-wateringly bitter (successful DC
14 Fortitude save upon drinking to avoid being sickened
for 1 hour), and a suit of half-plate horse barding scattered
around the place in pieces. No fewer than 21 pots of honey
(a favorite snack) lie amid 43 empty and shattered pots.
One of pots of honey contains an undiscovered “prize”—a
mummified dwarf’s finger that still wears a ring of minor
spell storing (currently containing web and shocking grasp).
The bulk of what Jubbek considered his real valuables
is kept in the large dented chest in area B8c. The chest
isn’t locked, but a 900 pound rock sits atop it—requiring a
Strength score of 15 to merely push it off the top. Inside the
chest is a trio of exceptionally high quality furs worth 400
gp each, an average-locked iron box welded to a long chain
(break DC 28) that contains three bags of 1,000 sp and a
bag of 1,002 gp, a stout iron bound chest with a rod of enemy
detection thrust through the latch where the lock once was
(this chest contains seven gold-plated dwarf skulls worth
200 gp each), a huge jug with a silver handle worth 200 gp,
a cider keg brimming with copper coins (4,319 cp in all), a
+3 arrow of ooze slaying, and a small cork box containing a
rolled-up scroll of heal tucked into a ring of protection +4 that
simply doesn’t work for evil creatures (in fact, when worn,
it turns an evil creature’s finger a nasty shade of green).
Development: The Shard of Wrath can be untied from
Jubbek’s Large morningstar with 2d6 rounds of work (or as
a standard action if fire or acid damage is focused on the
leather strips). Once the shard is free, the PCs can awaken it
21
with a deep red sphere ioun stone and use it to gain a vision of
where the next and final shard is located. Unfortunately,
the Shard of Sloth is not currently located on the Material
Plane, so the best this vision can do is to urge the PCs
deeper, giving the somewhat inaccurate perception that
the final shard is located somewhere deep below Guiltspur.
Characters who sleep within the confines of the deeper
levels of Guiltspur may have more accurate visions of
where the final shard can be found, as detailed on page 23.
Story Award: Recovering the Shard of Wrath, activating
it with a deep red sphere ioun stone, and using it to learn the
location of the next shard earns the PCs 25,600 XP.
b9. outer rAmp
The northern slope here leads up and out of Jubbek’s
Halls, exiting at area A5 above.
b10. the wAtChpoSt (Cr 12)
A solid-looking iron door sits in the center of the western wall
of this cave. An immense boulder has been pushed up against
the door.
Not long after the giants uncovered area B11 from
area B3, Cadrilkasta abandoned them to investigate the
chambers below. Jubbek ordered a second entrance to
connect to area B10 for easier access, and within 24 hours
regretted the choice as monsters began clambering up
from the chambers below to attack the giants. The first
of these was a pair of unusually large cloakers the giants
managed to defeat, but what followed caused quite a
bit more damage. This second wave consisted of several
scorpion-shaped constructs made of bone—skull rippers.
Once these were pushed back into the depths, Jubbek
ordered the southern entrance sealed with rubble (see
area B2), and fitted an iron door and large boulder over
this room’s entrance. He didn’t want to completely seal
off the room, since if Cadrilkasta returned Jubbek wanted
a measure of plausible deniability on his side and didn’t
want her to think they’d tried to seal the dragon into the
dungeons below. But ever since the skull ripper incident,
the giants have been afraid of what lay beyond this door.
The door itself isn’t locked, but it swings outward, so
before it can be opened the boulder in front of it must first
be moved. The 5-foot-tall boulder (hardness 8, hp 900,
break DC 65) weighs 9,000 pounds, and can be pushed
aside by a Medium creature with a Strength score of at
least 31 (or by a Large creature with a Strength of at least
26, such as a fire giant but not a typical hill giant).
Creatures: Two nervous fire giants stand guard at this
door. They fight to the death to prevent anyone from
opening the door, but won’t pursue foes from this room.
Characters who manage to gain entrance to area B11 and
try to open the door from that side automatically frighten
the fire giants into fleeing their post—rather than report
their cowardice to Jubbek, they flee up the ramp at area B9
and do not return.
Fire Giants (2)
CR 10
XP 9,600 each
hp 142 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 148)
b11. dArkened ShAft
A circular chamber with no floor fills this area. Above, the
smooth conical walls extend upward twenty-five feet before
tapering to a point, while below, a churning cloud of blue-green
fog obscures the shaft-like interior after a drop of twenty feet.
This area is the interior of another of Guiltspur’s
spires, only one that’s been completely covered by lava.
The shaft drops 60 feet down into area C1—the fog being
a physical manifestation of the mage’s private sanctum that
wards the chambers below. The walls of this shaft can be
scaled with a successful DC 20 Climb check.
PART TWO: GUILTSPUR dePTHS
Although hints of Guiltspur’s architecture exist in Jubbek’s
Halls and in the green spire at area A5, it’s not until the
PCs descend from area B11 into area C1 that they truly
enter the preserved halls of Guiltspur itself. The change
in architectural style from caverns partially expanded by
giants to chambers of Thassilonian construction should
be a stark one indeed. With the exception of a few areas
where the ancient lava flow managed to destroy all in its
path, the chambers here are nearly perfectly preserved.
As with the other Thassilonian dungeons the PCs have
explored, Guiltspur itself is protected by ancient magics
that ward it against erosion and decay. This same magic
is what protected the complex from destruction when the
lava flow hit it so long ago, but time has been a bit rougher
with Guiltspur than most Thassilonian dungeons. In
many places the dungeons have collapsed into ruin, as
indicated on the map—here, the preservative effects have
faltered, and nothing remains of Guiltspur’s chambers
beyond what is mapped.
The Guiltspur Depths consist of three levels—the
Silent Halls (areas C1–C14), the Core (areas D1–D9), and
the Embassy of Leng (areas E1–E9). All worked-stone
walls, floors, and ceilings on this level and below are of
magically treated stone (Core Rulebook 411), and doors are
made of magically treated iron unless otherwise indicated.
All three levels of the Guiltspur Depths are protected
in more significant ways by several magical auras that
have persisted for centuries without fail. Powered by an
immense mass of abysium in area E5, these magical effects
22
all function at caster level 20th. A dispel magic renders
an effect dormant for 1d4 rounds in a 60-foot-radius
spread before the effect reactivates. The architecture
of the Guiltspur Depths radiates strong abjuration and
divination magic. These effects are listed below.
• Construct Repair: The energies in the Guiltspur Depths
repair any construct within its walls, healing damage
dealt at a rate equal to 2 points per Hit Die possessed by
the construct each hour. A construct that is destroyed
remains destroyed.
• Dimensional Lock: The Guiltspur Depths are warded by a
dimensional lock effect, a condition that Karzoug demanded
to prevent too much of Leng or its occupants from invading
should his alliance with the denizens deteriorate.
• Mage’s Private Sanctum: Creatures in the Guiltspur Depths
are immune to detect thoughts, and divination (scrying)
spells cannot perceive anything within these three levels.
• Nightmares and Visions: See below.
• Tongues: All creatures with an Intelligence score of 3 or
higher gain the effects of a tongues spell while in the
Guiltspur Depths.
niGhtmAreS And viSionS of lenG
The Guiltspur Depths are infused with the influence
of Leng. Originating in area E9 and amplified by the
abysium reactor in area E5, these eldritch forces assault any
slumbering minds within the realm. Each time a creature
sleeps in the Guiltspur Depths, it dreams of Leng—these
dreams can be short and obscure, with nothing more than
feelings of being lost in a vast frozen tundra, or they can be
frightfully specific, such as being attacked by Leng spiders
while trapped within a cavern of glowing fungus.
Nightmares of Leng: When a PC falls asleep, have her
attempt a DC 15 Will save. If the save is successful, she
merely has unpleasant dreams and wakes with a vague
feeling of unease but suffers no game effects. If a the PC
fails this save, her dreams are nightmarish and horrifying
ordeals. You can consult the gazetteer of Leng that starts
on page 64 of this book for inspiration—simply have the
victim endure a nightmare fight against a creature from
Leng in a location described in the gazetteer. You can even
run a few rounds of combat against the monster if you
wish—if multiple PCs fail their saving throws, they can
even share the same dream and take part in these fights.
The results of these fights are not entirely real—resources
expended, wounds suffered, and deaths endured vanish
as the dreamer awakens—but neither are they entirely
imaginary. Anyone who fails the Will save takes 1d10 points
of damage upon awakening and is fatigued (or exhausted if
already fatigued). A character who dies in a dream takes
an additional 1d10 points of damage and must succeed at a
second DC 15 Will save or be afflicted by a random insanity
(GameMastery Guide 250).
A Helpful Vision: A character who has received a vision of
the location of the Shard of Sloth from the Shard of Wrath has
a specific dream the first time she sleeps in the Guiltspur
Depths. In this dream, she follows a compulsion through
Guiltspur, and knows she is being drawn forward to a portal
to another world. The dreamer enters a vast underground
chamber, the floor of which is almost entirely taken up
by a pit filled with silver smoke. Seven doors provide exits
from the chamber, but the dreamer knows the Shard of Sloth
lies beyond an eighth exit that itself lies beyond a circular
fountain of glowing water. Yet when the dreamer attempts
to use this portal, she realizes she must perform a ritual she
learned beyond one of those seven doors surrounding the
chamber. At this point, the silver mists in the pit part and a
nightmarishly immense worm rears up to level a bleached
end filled with hooked jaws at the dreamer, who must then
attempt the DC 15 Will save as detailed above. On a failed
save, the giant worm darts down and swallows the dreamer
whole (resulting in the increased damage and possible
insanity, as detailed above), but if the save is successful, the
dreamer recalls the ritual in time, opens the portal in the
fountain, and jumps through before the worm strikes (and
avoids taking any damage at all upon waking). This dream
is a vision of area E3 in the Embassy of Leng, manipulated
by the dreams of the stranded ghoul in area E4.
Waking Nightmares: In certain parts of the Guiltspur
Depths, the presence of Leng is powerful enough that
horrific effects manifest to conscious characters. In several
of the following encounter areas, you’ll see the heading
Waking Nightmare similar to the call-out denoting
a Creature or a Trap. Waking Nightmares function
similarly to a trap or a haunt, and provide specific visions
or challenges for the PCs to experience or overcome.
Specific rules for waking nightmares vary, and are listed
each time one occurs. Some of these nightmares affect an
individual, whereas others affect entire parties. In each
case, a waking nightmare’s effects occur in seconds—no
matter how long the perceived nightmare takes, less than a
round passes in game time. Waking nightmares that occur
in areas with creatures can occur in the instant before the
battle commences. After a waking nightmare manifests, it
becomes inert for 24 hours. Waking nightmares are magical
mind-affecting effects. They cannot be disarmed as traps.
Rooms or objects infused with a waking nightmare radiate
an additional strong illusion (phantasm) aura in addition
to any other magic auras they may possess. Successfully
casting dispel magic or dispel chaos against one of these CL
20th effects renders a waking nightmare inert for 24 hours.
Each waking nightmare is listed with an XP value—this
XP award should be awarded to the party if they manage
to bypass the nightmare or if one of the PCs endure the
effects (successfully or not), but not if the PCs never run
the risk of triggering the nightmare at all.
23
THE CurATor
the CurAtor (Cr 14)
After the lava came and sealed Guiltspur away, some of its
inhabitants were trapped within the ruins. Of these, the
most powerful was a man named Kaiventlu, the curator
of the Silent Halls. While he lived, Kaiventlu served as the
caretaker of this upper level of Guiltspur, subservient to but
not the slave of Priestess Mesmalatu. Kaiventlu survived
Earthfall, but he was trapped within the building, unable
to flee via magic due to the abysium reactor’s effects
on the chambers. Attempts to call for help from
outside went unanswered as the world fell apart
above. Kaiventlu had ready sources of food
and water, but in time, madness took
over. He spent the last several years of
his life as the only free-willed creature
in the Silent Halls. As he died, he
hoped his spirit would find rest.
Alas, it did not.
Kaiventlu has forgotten his name
and history, and thinks of himself
now only as the Curator of the
Silent Halls. His remains lie
where they fell in area C10,
but the ghost continues to wander
the Silent Halls, tending to the knowledge
stored here and seeing to it that none attempt
to deface or steal any of the exhibits or
objects in the halls. The Curator ignores any
visitors to the Silent Halls as long as they don’t attempt
to steal anything or damage objects within areas C1–
C14. As soon as a PC does either of these things, there’s
a flat 20% chance that the Curator manifests within 2d6
rounds to confront the PCs (as detailed in his tactics).
If the Curator doesn’t confront the PCs immediately,
he certainly will in 1d8 hours, if the PCs remain in the
Silent Halls that long. Each time the PCs steal an object
of knowledge or damage anything in the Silent Halls, the
chance of the Curator manifesting and attacking within
2d6 rounds increases by 20%—once this chance reaches
100%, the Curator automatically appears as soon as an
object is stolen or damaged.
The Curator appears as a handsome, elderly Azlanti
man wearing a heavy cloak and fine blue robes. He may
appear out of the corner of a PC’s eye even when no objects
he guards have been molested (feel free to have this
happen whenever someone makes a Perception check for
any other purpose and exceeds a DC 35 result). When he
appears and attacks, his form alternates between that of
an old man and a hideous rotted horror of leathery skin
and cracked bone.
The Curator
CR 14
XP 38,400
Male old human ghost transmuter 13 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 144)
LE Medium undead (augmented humanoid, incorporeal)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +19
DEFENSE
AC 26, touch 18, flat-footed 26 (+4 armor, +8 deflection, +4 shield)
hp 178 (13d6+130)
Fort +17, Ref +9, Will +16
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4, incorporeal,
rejuvenation; Immune undead traits
OFFENSE
Speed fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Melee corrupting touch +5 (14d6/�3)
Special Attacks corrupting touch (DC 24),
intense spells (+6 damage), malevolence
(DC 24), telekinesis (DC 24), spell stealing
(DC 24)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 13th;
concentration +20)
At will—change shape (beast shape III/
elemental body II, 13 rounds/day)
10/day—telekinetic fist (1d4+6
bludgeoning)
Spells Prepared (CL 13th;
concentration +20)
7th—quickened dispel magic, prismatic
spray, reverse gravity (2)
6th—chain lightning (DC 23), disintegrate
(DC 24), flesh to stone (2, DC 24), quickened
glitterdust (DC 19)
5th—baleful polymorph (3, DC 23), hungry pitAPG (DC 22),
extended mass reduce person (DC 23), quickened shield
4th—black tentacles, extended haste, ice storm, mnemonic
enhancer (2), shout (DC 21), wall of fire
3rd—dispel magic, fireball (DC 20), lightning bolt (DC 20),
pain strikeAPG (DC 20), slow (2, DC 21), twilight knifeAPG,
wind wall
2nd—blindness/deafness (DC 19), flaming sphere (DC 19),
extended mage armor, pyrotechnics (DC 20), scorching ray,
shatter, whispering wind (2)
1st—burning hands (DC 18), erase, grease (DC 19), magic
missile (2), ray of enfeeblement (DC 18), reduce person (2,
DC 19)
0 (at will)—detect magic, light, mage hand, mending
Thassilonian Specialization transmutation; Opposition
Schools enchantment, illusion
TACTICS
Before Combat The Curator casts quickened shield and
extended mage armor before attacking.
During Combat The Curator casts extended haste and
quickened glitterdust on the first round of combat,
then follows up by favoring spells that cause lengthy or
permanent problems to the PCs rather than attempting
to simply hurt them—he wants to stop the PCs in their
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tracks with flesh to stone, baleful polymorph, or blindness/
deafness if possible. If a lower-level spell is particularly
effective, he uses mnemonic enhancer to recall it. He’s also
fond of splitting up the party by using spells like hungry
pit or wall of fire to control the battlefield, and of forcing
the PCs to stumble into new rooms before they might be
ready. The Curator knows how all of the dangers in the
Silent Halls work, and does his best to try to lure the PCs
into those dangers.
Morale The Curator knows that if he dies, he merely returns
in 2d4 days. He fights until destroyed without remorse,
but if reduced to fewer than 75 hit points, he knows that
he’s running out of time in the short term, and at this point
does his best to lure the PCs into peril to distract them,
preferring to use malevolence in the attempt to possess
a PC and then force that PC to go find an untriggered
encounter or unsprung trap.
STATISTICS
Str —, Dex 11, Con —, Int 24, Wis 17, Cha 26
Base Atk +6; CMB +6; CMD 24 (cannot be tripped)
Feats Extend Spell, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative,
Improved Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes,
Quicken Spell, Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (transmutation),
Spell Penetration, Toughness
Skills Fly +24, Knowledge (arcana) +23, Knowledge (nobility) +23,
Knowledge (planes) +23, Linguistics +23, Perception +19,
Profession (librarian) +19, Sense Motive +19, Spellcraft +23,
Use Magic Device +21
Languages Abyssal, Aboleth, Aklo, Aquan, Auran, Celestial,
Cyclops, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Gnome, Goblin,
Ignan, Infernal, Necril, Orc, Orvian, Sylvan, Terran, Thassilonian
SQ Thassilonian specialist (transmutation), arcane bond (ring),
physical enhancement +3
Gear cloak of resistance +3, headband of mental prowess +2 (Int,
Cha; grants ranks in Perception)—both ghostly objects can
be found in their physical form in area C10
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Rejuvenation (Su) The Curator’s remains are located in area
C10. In order to lay him to rest, these remains must be
brought to the surface and set before the one remaining
spire of Guiltspur that protrudes aboveground. This causes
the Curator’s ghost to manifest amid a swirling vortex of
dust over his remains—he glances around in anguish and
despair as he realizes that the time of Thassilon has truly
moved on. Within a few seconds, the vortex of air grinds
his remains away to dust and his spirit is released to seek
its reward or punishment in the afterlife. (Divination or
other magical investigation is likely required to discover this
method of putting the ghost to rest.)
Spell Stealing (Su) Once per round as a free action whenever
any of the Curator’s spell effects affect a spellcaster, he can
attempt to steal one of that spellcaster’s prepared spells
or unused spell slots. The target can resist this attack with
a successful DC 24 Will save. If the save fails, one random
prepared spell or unused spell slot of the highest spell level
available to the caster is expended for the day as if it had
been used, but without any other effect save for healing the
Curator damage equal to twice the spell level stolen. The
save DC is Charisma-based.
Thassilonian Specialization The Curator is a Thassilonian
specialist, which allows him to prepare the bonus
transmutation spell granted by his school specialization
twice rather than once. He treats enchantment and
illusion spells as if they were not on the wizard spell list.
Further details on this form of school specialization can
be found on page 17 of Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner
Sea Magic.
C1. GuiltSpur librAry (Cr 13)
This vast circular chamber rises up to a height of sixty feet, a
dome-like room with walls that may have once been smooth
but are now riddled with cracks and fissures. Twenty-foot-high
curving stone shelves fill the room, leaving a circular area open
in the center. Iron double doors lead out of the room in the
four cardinal directions. Splashes and splatters of blood mar
the floor here and there, and two huge leathery mounds lie
heaped in the middle of the room.
While the walls of this chamber are riddled with cracks
(Climb DC 20 to scale), they still remain strong and
protected by the magic powered by the abysium reactor in
area E5. The passageways beyond the north, east, and west
doors are long collapsed and filled with lava, but all four
double doors open easily even after all this time.
The contents of this vast library have mostly turned
to dust over the countless centuries, but some objects
still remain on the shelves. These objects are all the
more obvious for their prominence among the dust—see
Treasure, below. The ancients used levitation or flight to
reach the higher shelves, but a successful DC 10 Climb
check works as well.
The blood splatters are evidence of the initial clashes the
giants had with the monsters in this area. The two leathery
mounds in the room are the bodies of two Huge cloakers
that once dwelled in the upper reaches of the library and
were held in stasis until the giants broke through—the
giants defeated the cloakers but weren’t able to do the same
to the room’s guardians below.
Waking Nightmare (XP 2,400): The first PC to enter
this room after passing through the layer of fog visible
from area B11 (but not from within the room) has a
startling vision. He sees the library as it was during
Thassilon’s height—a vast repository of knowledge
stretching from floor to ceiling, its shelves holding
thousands of books, scrolls, maps, and grimoires. Eager
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Thassilonian students and wizards mill about the floor
below or float up to replace or retrieve books, when
suddenly, the dozens of men and women stop and turn
to stare hatefully at the PC—and the closest face is the
PC’s own! The books in the room suddenly writhe and
fly off the shelves, opening up and spilling forth foul
black mists and coils of corrupt secrets that should never
be known. The mist and coils engulf the wizards and
students and crush them to pulp. An instant later, the
vision passes and the room appears as it actually does.
The PC must succeed at a DC 15 Will save or be shaken for
1d12 minutes (this is a fear effect).
Creatures: Once a pair of Huge cloakers guarded the
upper reaches of this room, held in stasis by magic.
Today, the only guardians are a pair of skull rippers,
ancient Thassilonian constructs built of magically
hardened bones built to look like immense scorpions.
Skull rippers are imbued with intelligence, and while
they excel at their guardian tasks, they are equally skilled
at plucking off the heads of their victims and mounting
the gathered skulls on their own bodies as decorations.
Advanced Skull Rippers (2)
CR 11
XP 12,800
CN Large construct (Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition 415)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +3
Aura dread visage (30 ft., DC 22)
DEFENSE
AC 28, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (+5 Dex, +14 natural, –1 size)
hp 147 (18d10+48)
Fort +6, Ref +13, Will +9
DR 5/adamantine; Immune construct traits; Resist cold 10;
SR 22
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
Melee 2 claws +25 (2d6+8/19–20 plus grab), sting +25 (1d10+8
plus poison)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks behead
TACTICS
During Combat The two skull rippers lurk in the shadows
near the north and west doors, attacking as soon as anyone
comes within reach. Each focuses on the same foe if
possible, moving to flank if there’s room. They pursue foes
until heavily wounded (see Morale), even up into Jubbek’s
Halls above.
Morale A skull ripper retreats to area C1 if reduced to fewer
than 50 hit points. Confronted there, a skull ripper fights
until destroyed.
STATISTICS
Str 26, Dex 20, Con —, Int 9, Wis 17, Cha 16
Base Atk +18; CMB +27 (+31 grapple); CMD 42 (54 vs. trip)
Feats Bleeding Critical, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus,
Improved Critical (claws), Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack,
Skill Focus (Stealth), Toughness, Vital Strike
Skills Climb +21, Stealth +20
Languages Thassilonian (cannot speak)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Behead (Ex) A skull ripper is an expert at collecting its
favorite trophies: skulls. Once it has pinned a foe, it
can attempt to behead the victim with its claws. This
attempt is made as part of the grapple check to maintain
an existing pin, and if successful, deals 4d6+18 points of
damage to the victim. If this damage is enough to bring
the foe to fewer than 0 hit points, the victim must succeed
at a DC 27 Fortitude save to resist having his head torn
from his body; failure results in instant death for most
creatures. The save DC is Strength-based.
Dread Visage (Su) A skull ripper’s fearsome appearance is
such that all creatures within 30 feet that can see the skull
ripper must succeed at a DC 22 Will save at the start of their
turn or be frightened for 1 round. If the victim recognizes
any of the heads affixed to the skull ripper’s body as having
once belonged to friends or allies, that victim takes a –4
penalty on the save. A character that succeeds at the save is
immune to the dread visage of that particular skull ripper
for 24 hours. This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save
DC is Charisma-based.
Poison (Su) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 18; frequency 1/round
for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex; cure 2 consecutive saves. The
save DC is Constitution-based.
Treasure: A few objects of value remain on the shelves
of this room—they aren’t hidden, but some sit on higher
shelves than can be easily reached from the ground.
These include four thin silvery metal plates that contain
magical writings—these are sturdy cold siccatite plates
that function as spell scrolls—a scroll of ice storm, a scroll
of wall of ice, a scroll of cone of cold, and a scroll of polar ray.
Once used, the “scrolls” become nonmagical but are still
worth 25 gp apiece. Another shelf holds a series of metal
tablets edged with silver clasps that contain etchings
of the internal organs of a whale of prodigious size
(measuring nearly 500 feet from head to tail); the tablets
are worth 250 gp in all. Three round jars sealed with
silver contain baby aboleths preserved in embalming
f luid (each jar is worth 50 gp), while fragments of a
chuul’s shell sit on another shelf. A successful DC 25
Perception check made while examining this skeleton
reveals a pearl of power (5th level) embedded in one of
the shell’s claws; the pearl can be pried out with ease.
Finally, one shelf near the center of the room contains
29 enormous bone scroll rollers, some of which are 6
feet long. The contents of these scroll rollers have long
since turned to dust, but five of the smaller ones are
bound in silver and gold and worth 400 gp each.
26
C1
C2
C4
C6
C3
C5
C7
a
b
c
d
C8
C10
C11
C12
C13
C14
C9
THE SileNT HaLls
1 square = 5 feet
C2. eChoeS of A welCominG hAll
In each of the six corners of this hexagonal room, a statue
stands atop a dais—each is of a six-foot-tall woman dressed in
a short robe and wielding a silvery sword. The statues have four
wings (the lower pair of each being small and atrophied), and
have no faces whatsoever.
This was once the welcoming chamber to a complex of
hexagonal display chambers meant to exhibit strange and
unusual magical phenomena gathered by the Curator and
his minions. Only a few of these chambers survive with
their exhibits intact today.
The six statues in this room are nothing more than
statues—on a metagame level, their presence here is to
help make the animate faceless angels (see area C14) more
surprising. They also serve an in-game purpose, though—
as soon as anyone steps more than 10 feet into the room,
permanent magic mouths activate on all six statue faces to
utter the following greeting in Thassilonian.
“Welcome to the Hall of Arcane Wonder. Please treat all exhibits
with care and respect, and do not attempt unsanctioned
interactions within. Enjoy your visit!”
A PC who succeeds at a DC 35 Knowledge (religion) check
realizes the true blasphemy these statues represent—
angels in the service of Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos.
(In fact, Nyarlathotep is not served by angels, although he
and his cultists often adopt such guises to deceive.)
Treasure: Each of the six statues wields a masterwork
cold siccatite longsword—a weapon made of cold siccatite
deals +1 point of cold damage on a hit. Each sword is worth
1,315 gp, but breaking a sword out of a statue’s grip requires
a successful DC 20 Strength check.
C3. the fACeleSS Sphinx
Half of this hexagonal room is buried under a wall of hardened
lava, including the hindquarters of a gray stone statue of
a faceless sphinx. The sphinx sits atop a two-foot-tall dais.
Shallow shelves have been carved into the side of the dais,
in which sit various objects that appear to be of an oracular
nature—crystal balls, censers, and the like, many of which have
fallen from their alcoves to crack or shatter on the stone floor.
A PC who succeeds at a DC 35 Knowledge (religion)
check identifies the faceless sphinx as one of the many
forms of the Outer God Nyarlathotep (god of conspiracies,
27
dangerous secrets, and forbidden magic). This chamber is
exempt from the mage’s private sanctum effect that cloaks
the rest of the Guiltspur Depths (allowing scrying effects to
function normally here), but all other magical effects from
the abysium reactor still function.
Waking Nightmare (XP 4,800): The first person to
approach within 5 feet of the faceless sphinx statue
suddenly feels as if the room were spinning around him
while the sphinx statue grinds to life and turns to faces
him. He feels the faceless gaze hold him motionless while
the world crumbles away to be replaced by the vastness of
space. The certainty of a singular malevolence looming
behind the stars themselves, a darker dark amid the
blackness, fills the character’s mind, along with a myriad
of strange and horrific secrets. An instant later, the room
returns to normal, and the character who received the
vision remembers only that he stood before an entity
known as the Crawling Chaos. That character must also
succeed at a DC 15 Will save or be confused for 1d6 rounds.
Treasure: The divination tools once on display around
the edge of the dais include long-spoiled or ruined spell
components for various divination spells, along with
several other objects that retain some value even today.
Among these are a dented mithral font worth 900 gp,
a handful of strange dice carved from a titan’s bones
(worth 500 gp as a set), a silver diviner’s rod (worth 200
gp), a curious metal orb set with tiny jet stones (worth 180
gp), and a cracked crystal ball (this item has the broken
condition and until it is repaired, it causes 1d4 points of
Intelligence damage each time it is used).
C4. the hAnGinG firebAll (Cr 13)
This chamber hums with an unsettling noise, for at its center
churns a great ball of fire. The sphere measures ten feet across
and hangs in the center of the chamber, periodically sending
short tendrils of fire out as if tasting the air around it.
With a successful DC 27 Knowledge (arcana) check, a PC
can identify the sphere of flames as a delayed blast fireball
spell that has somehow been “paused” at the instant of
detonation. The fire is very real, and anyone standing
within 5 feet can feel the heat radiating from it as if from
a bonfire. The fact that the fire still roils and flickers
despite being frozen in time is very curious. A successful
DC 30 Spellcraft check reveals that this hanging fireball is
a boon to studying evocation magic—any spellcaster who
prepares an evocation spell in this room while studying
the fireball can prepare that evocation spell as if it were
enhanced by Empower Spell but without increasing the
spell’s actual level. Up to three spells may be prepared
in this manner, but doing so requires a successful DC
30 Spellcraft check—failure indicates that the spell is
prepared as normal and the spellcaster takes 2 points of
Intelligence damage from magical feedback. Spellcasters
who cast spells spontaneously cannot benefit from the
hanging fireball.
Trap: The fireball is somewhat unstable, and if
any physical object touches it, the delayed blast fireball
immediately explodes into its full 20-foot radius. It then
collapses down to its hanging state again, ready to detonate
again automatically. If the hanging fireball is disabled, it
vanishes harmlessly forever.
Hanging Fireball
CR 13
XP 25,600
Type magic; Perception DC automatic; Disable Device DC 32
EFFECTS
Trigger touch; Reset automatic
Effect spell effect (empowered delayed blast fireball, 15d6 fire
damage plus 50%, Reflex DC 20 for half)
C5. the Serpentfolk JuGGernAut
A hulking object lies upon a fifteen-foot-wide circular dais at
the center of this room. The object is made of stone and seems
to be a fragment of a much larger colossal stone carriage or
conveyance with immense stone rollers for wheels. Snake
motifs cover every corner of the object, while its front has
been carved to resemble an immense serpent’s skull. Smaller
shelves built into the edge of the dais contain numerous other
objects ranging from weapons to pieces of armor to more
mysterious objects.
The serpentfolk empire was long an enemy of Azlant,
and by extension an enemy of the nation of Thassilon. By
the time Thassilon was growing, though, the serpentfolk
deity Ydersius had been defeated and the race was in
decline. Isolated pockets of serpentfolk control remained
in Thassilon (particularly near Viperwall and the Mobhad
Leigh) or in the Darklands below. The objects on display
in this room are all trophies collected from Thassilonian
conflicts with these serpentfolk.
The large stone carriage can be identified with a
successful DC 30 Knowledge (arcana) as a sizable fragment
from a destroyed juggernaut of unknown qualities. This
check also reveals that juggernauts are powerful constructs
enhanced and powered by faith, and were used by ancient
religions as machines of war. This juggernaut is no longer
functional, but given the surviving portions, it must have
been a truly colossal monster when it lived.
Treasure: While the juggernaut fragment is relatively
worthless save as an ancient curiosity, a few of the surviving
items around the dais’s rim are of note. One alcove contains
a serpent mask of beaten gold with amethyst eyes (worth
1,400 gp in all), while a second alcove contains a mummified
28
snake that crumbles to dust if disturbed, revealing an
incandescent blue sphere ioun stone the thing had swallowed
(this ioun stone can be used to activate the Shard of Sloth).
A third alcove contains an iron wand of sepia snake sigil (8
charges), while a fourth contains a rod of the viper.
C6. the dreAminG tower
This sixty-foot-high room is almost completely filled by a
twisted metal pillar that rises up from the floor to apparently
pierce the ceiling above. A narrow flight of stone steps, only
two feet in width, winds up the side of the pillar to the ceiling. A
strange, butterfly-shaped rune with what appears to be closed
eyes on its wings is carved onto the middle of each step’s riser.
With a successful DC 30 Knowledge (religion) check, a PC
identifies the rune on each step as an ancient Thassilonian
symbol for Desna, one associated particularly with her
power over dreams. The entire pillar and stairwell radiate
overwhelming conjuration magic. In fact, the metal pillar
is a powerful and curious artifact called the Dreaming
Tower that only partially exists on the Material Plane—it
extends below and above into the Dimension of Dreams.
The tower itself exists in a remote glen inside of a vast
enchanted forest in that dimension, extending well above
the surrounding canopy to a height of 1,200 feet. A 60-foot
section from the center of the tower also happens to exist
here in this room. While the pillar might seem to extend
below and above the limits of this room, it does not—if the
PCs manage to scrape away bits of the floor or ceiling, they
discover the curious fact that the tower simply ceases to
exist below the floor or above the ceiling.
A character who attempts to scale the stairs must succeed
at a DC 12 Acrobatics check, for the narrow stairs slope
outward slightly, making it a vertiginous climb. The point
at which the stairs reach the ceiling is a dead end, but a PC
who succeeds at a DC 15 Will save while climbing the stairs
won’t actually reach the ceiling in this room, but instead
suddenly finds herself standing atop a 20-foot diameter
space high above the enchanted forest in the Dimension
of Dreams. A character who fails this save simply does not
make this transition (and may try again by starting from
the bottom stair and walking up the stairs again), while
those who succeed at the save simply vanish from view as
they step upon the 33rd step.
The abysium reactor’s limitation on dimensional travel
is lifted in this specific case.
Anyone standing atop the tower in the Dimension of
Dreams feels a chill breeze whip across the structure (this
wind isn’t enough to blow a character over the edge). A
peek over the side reveals the entire 1,200 foot drop into
the forest below, and that the winding staircase is the only
route down other than a horrific fall. A character who
falls from the tower top experiences that entire fall, but as
she lands, she does so in area C6 at the base of the tower,
taking 20d6 points of falling damage in the process.
At the very center of the tower’s top stands a miniature
(10-foot-tall) version of the Dreaming Tower, held aloft by
three delicate metal statues of butterflies who cradle the
tower’s foundation in their wings. PCs who succeed at a
DC 15 Perception check get the impression the idea that
the three butterfly statues are in fact breathing and subtly
shifting their weight as if they were alive. An alcove at
the tower’s base contains a faintly smoking censer (see
Treasure, below).
This tower top is a safe place to rest and recover
resources—the nightmares of the Guiltspur Depths do
not reach here. Further, any worshiper of Desna who rests
here overnight gains the benefit of aid (lasting 8 hours), cure
critical wounds, and restoration upon waking. A worshiper of
Desna who casts divine spells can prepare one additional
spell of each level she can cast. The healing and restorative
effects of resting atop the Dreaming Tower can occur once
per day, whereas the additional effects for worshipers of
Desna can occur up to once per month.
A character who attempts to climb back down the tower
stairs finds herself returning to area C6 automatically
after reaching the 33rd step. A character who falls from the
tower likewise finds herself in area C6 upon landing (see
above), but a character who instead leaves the top of the
tower via flight feels herself swiftly caught up in powerful
winds. The flying character must attempt a DC 25 Fly
check—success means that she’s suddenly driven to the
ground in area C6 but takes no damage, whereas a failure
indicates the character is driven to the ground in area C6
and takes 6d6 points of falling damage.
The magic that brought this section of the tower into
Guiltspur was made possible by the aid of strange advisors
from Leng—their exact purpose in aiding the Curator and
his assistants in bringing the fragment of the Dreaming
Tower into this complex is unknown, for the tower itself is
obviously sacred to Desna.
Treasure: The incense burner at the base of the
miniature Dreaming Tower is a censer of dreams (see page 62).
The censer doesn’t exist here for evil or lawful creatures,
but a neutral good, chaotic neutral, chaotic good, or
neutral creature can see it, pick it up, and even carry it back
to area C6—once the censer of dreams is removed from the
Dimension of Dreams and is brought back to Guiltspur, it
can be seen and used by any creature. If the censer is taken,
the miniature Dreaming Tower creates a new one in a year.
C7. exAminAtion ChAmber (Cr 14)
The ceiling of this vaulted, cathedral-like chamber rises to a
height of sixty feet above. The northeastern corner of the room
29
is somewhat collapsed, but the rest of the chamber seems to be
in good condition. Double doors open in the walls to the east
and west, while four alcoves to the north and four to the south
are occupied by statues of winged women with no faces and
silvery swords gripped in their right hands. Four ten-foot-wide,
fifteen-foot-tall glass jars capped with huge metal lids and filled
with cloudy green liquid sit in the middle of the room—large
shadowy shapes float inside of each jar.
The statues along the north and south walls depict
angelic figures similar to those in area C2, but none of
them are the subject of a magic mouth spell.
This room once featured a number of examination
tables and alchemy labs, but this equipment wasn’t
protected from the ravages of time and has long since
crumbled away. In those ancient times, the scholars
of Guiltspur used this room as a place to examine and
study the anatomies of a large number of creatures. The
scholars would typically spend weeks or even months
on a subject, and in order to combat decay or to preserve
specimens for study, they built the four huge glass
containers in this room.
Creatures: Each of these containers is filled with a
cloudy magical embalming fluid that functions almost
like a temporal stasis spell when a specially prepared
and willing (or helpless) living creature is completely
immersed in the fluid. The Thassilonians used this fluid
to store captured creatures they wanted to examine later.
Originally, the fluid kept the embalmed creature alive but
apart from the passage of time, and maintained that stasis
for several hours after the creature was removed from
the fluid. Today, the fluid has spoiled somewhat—it still
preserves the bodies of the creatures contained within, but
the creatures have slowly grown more aware of the passage
of time and have gone mad as a result.
An examination of each of the containers requires a
successful DC 25 Perception check to make out the shape
of the creature within (the creature itself can then be
identified using the appropriate Knowledge skill). Tank A
contains a small badger-like creature called an aurumvorax.
Tank B contains the partially dissected (and dead) body of
a phase spider. Tank C contains a roper. Tank D contains a
young silver dragon that also happens to be the host to an
intellect devourer.
Each jar is relatively fragile (hardness 2, hp 10, break
DC 15). A jar reduced to 0 hit points immediately shatters,
releasing a wave of spoiled and foul embalming fluid (all
creatures standing within 10 feet must succeed at a DC
15 Reflex save or be knocked prone). This immediately
revives the tank’s occupant (with the exception of the
body in tank B, which remains dead). The aurumvorax
and the roper are both insane from their long stay, and
function as if confused. The intellect devourer occupying
the silver dragon has weathered the years well, and is not
insane—but it pretends to be. After spending so many
centuries in one body in a jar, it’s eager to find something
new, and plays at being confused in the hope that its
dragon body will be slain (as with all intellect devourers,
this creature is starved for sensation, including the
sensation of being killed).
As these creatures are slain, their bodies swiftly decay
into foul-smelling ooze. Once the dragon is killed, the
intellect devourer emerges from the dragon’s swiftly
dissolving head and is dazed for a round, but after that
it immediately tries to flee into the Silent Halls to seek
a hiding place. If it manages to elude pursuit, it follows
along behind the PCs quietly. The creature hopes to use its
body thief ability on a powerful foe the PCs leave dead in
their wake, at which point it seeks to ambush the PCs to try
to kill them using its new host body—or even better, find
them while they sleep so it can inhabit one of them!
Aurumvorax
CR 9
XP 6,400
hp 114 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 35)
Intellect Devourer
CR 8
XP 4,800
hp 84 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 180)
Roper
CR 12
XP 19,200
hp 162 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 237)
Young Silver Dragon
CR 10
XP 9,600
hp 104 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 110)
Trap: The western doors bear a dangerous trap, laid
here ages ago by the Curator’s allies. Cadrilkasta bypassed
the trap by using gaseous form to seep through the door’s
cracks (just as she bypassed every door in the complex),
but anyone who opens the unlocked doors immediately
triggers the trap, which causes a thunderous peal of sound
to flood the room. This peal not only deals sonic damage
to all creatures in the chamber, but also automatically
shatters all four of the jars in the room, releasing their
contents simultaneously.
Sonic Detonation Trap
CR 10
XP 9,600
Type magic; Perception DC 30; Disable Device DC 30
EFFECTS
Trigger touch; Reset none
Effect blast of sound (12d6 sonic damage, Reflex DC 16 for half
damage); multiple targets (all creatures and jars in area C7)
30
Treasure: Unfortunately, since the weird embalming fluid
must resonate with the abysium reactor’s energies in order to
function, the stuff becomes inert if taken from the Guiltspur
depths—as such, it is relatively worthless as treasure.
Each of the eight statues wields a siccatite longsword
(8 in all) identical to those in area C2.
C8. the endleSS wAterfAll (Cr 13)
A roar of water echoes from this chamber, and the air is damp
with cool mist. A dark pool fills much of the western end of the
chamber, while to the south a set of stairs leads up to another
room. Tumbling into this pool from a bronze-ringed gap in the
ceiling above is a column of frothy water, while a small ledge
sits just above the water level on the westernmost edge of the
pool itself.
This chamber not only served as a source of water
and a place for meditation, but also still houses a pair of
guardians. The pool itself never overflows—the water
drains from a bronze-ringed drain and immediately
cascades back down through the drain above in an effect
similar to an immobile set of ring gates (this teleportation
effect is exempt from the abysium reactor’s effects). Other
minor magical effects ensure that new water is created in
the pool to offset evaporation.
The 10-foot-wide ledge on the western lip of the waterfall
is infused with potent magic similar to the effect in area C4.
A successful DC 30 Spellcraft check made while studying
the strong aura of conjuration reveals its use—a spellcaster
may prepare up to three conjuration spells while meditating
on this ledge, enhancing them as if he had the Extend Spell
feat without increasing the spell’s actual level. Doing so
requires a successful DC 20 Spellcraft check; failure results
in 2 points of Intelligence damage from magical feedback.
Creatures: The pool’s magic allows it to summon a pair
of elder water elementals once per day—and it does so as
soon as it sees any intruders (Cadrilkasta triggered this
effect but easily slew the two elementals before carrying
on to the north via a freshly cast gaseous form spell). The
two elder water elementals pursue foes throughout the
complex, although they prefer to fight from the comfort of
the pool. They fight to the death.
Elder Water Elementals (2)
CR 11
XP 12,800 each
hp 152 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 127)
C9. Shrine to the veiled mASterS
(Cr vAriAble)
Four deep blue pillars support this chamber’s forty-foot-
high ceiling. To the south, a detailed bas-relief depicts a city
of graceful towers and pyramids inhabited by humans, but
below the city lies a vast underground sea filled with tentacled
monsters. Many of their tentacles writhe up through the stone
above to manipulate and infest the city. Below the carving are
several shelves, most of which are empty save for two—one of
these holds a delicate-looking coral helm, and the other holds
a strange-looking horn. To either side, a churning fifteen-
foot-diameter sphere of water floats in the air; a dark coiling
shape writhes within each sphere.
This chamber is a monument to the veiled masters—
the aboleths and their strange lords who manipulated
the empire of Azlant. Knowledge of this manipulation
became increasingly common in the final decades before
Earthfall, and Thassilon’s runelords often sought to ally
with the aboleths. These attempted alliances failed more
often than not, and in the end, the aboleths destroyed
Thassilon as surely as they destroyed Azlant. The mural
to the south shows an idealized image of an Azlanti
city under the influence of the veiled masters, and was
intended as a reminder to Thassilonian visitors of their
own free will.
The floating globes of water each contain the body
of a long-dead and well-preserved aboleth. These two
creatures were kept here as much as trophies and as a
symbol over Thassilon’s mastery over elements that
Azlant could not control.
Waking Nightmare (XP 6,400): As soon as anyone
approaches within 5 feet of one of the spheres of water,
that person suddenly feels a cold, unnerving pressure, as
if she were deep underwater. The victim must attempt a
DC 15 Will save—if she fails, her mind is overwhelmed
by a potent phantasm, making her believe that she has
appeared deep underwater before a living aboleth. Conduct
a combat between that character and the aboleth at once—
in addition to fighting the aboleth alone, the character
must also contend with the possibility of drowning and
the fact that she feels like she’s deep underwater, subjected
to darkness and pressure damage as if she were 500 feet
underwater (see Core Rulebook 445). No matter how long the
battle takes, to others observing the event, the victim only
grows suddenly rigid for a brief moment before recovering.
If the victim defeats the aboleth, she emerges from the
waking nightmare safe and sound. If the victim is defeated
(by being killed, being dominated, or even by drowning
or succumbing to pressure damage), she collapses to the
ground, is reduced to –1 hit points, and takes 2d4 points
of Charisma damage as her personality is shattered by the
nightmare’s results.
Phantasmal Aboleth
CR 7
XP —
hp 84 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 8)
31
Treasure: The coral helm is a helm of underwater action.
The horn is a finely made masterwork musical instrument
carved from a length of ivory (a PC who succeeds at a
DC 25 Knowledge [arcana] check correctly identifies this
ivory as a tusk from the walrus head of a strange variant
of chimera from the Crown of the World) and decorated
with scrimshaw carvings of coiling tentacles and bulging
eyes. While the horn itself is not magical, the largest of the
bulging eyes (one located at the upper end of the horn) is
in fact a pearl of the sirines. The pearl functions normally as
long as the horn is carried. It can be pried out of the horn
without damaging the horn, at which point the horn itself
is worth 800 gp.
C10. ChApel of the CrAwlinG ChAoS
This large room seems to be some sort of chapel, yet no
pews or other concessions toward comfort are apparent.
The ceiling is low, just over ten feet in height, giving the
place a claustrophobic feeling compared to the high ceilings
in nearby chambers. The walls are of polished black stone,
while an upraised pulpit to the north supports a pale yellow
altar on which two fat candles flicker. A tall column stands to
either side of the altar; the length of each column is carved to
resemble an emaciated gargoyle-like figure that lacks all facial
features on its horned black head.
This chamber was used by visitors from Leng as a
minor temple to carry out the more obscene acts of their
blasphemous cult. The temple itself can be identified as
one dedicated to the awful glory of the Outer Gods and
the Great Old Ones with a successful DC 30 Knowledge
(religion) check, although it doesn’t seem to be devoted
to any one entity in particular. The two candles on the
altar are lit with continual flame—a person who places his
hands over the top of each candle could communicate with
a person in the Temple of the Crawling Chaos in Leng,
but the far end of this communication network has been
destroyed for ages.
Waking Nightmare (XP 9,600): The first player to
step up onto the raised pulpit area suddenly feels dizzy.
An instant later, the two faceless gargoyles (actually
depictions of nightgaunts—see page 90) suddenly
animate and lurch forward. A low, rumbling chanting in
an unknown language fills the room as the nightgaunts
move up to snatch the PC into the air between them. As
they do, the room itself crumbles away, revealing that the
PC is held aloft by the two monsters at a height of several
miles over a strange frozen mountain plateau below. As
the nightgaunts drop their captive, the character snaps
out of the vision and must succeed at a DC 17 Will save to
avoid becoming afflicted by a random form of madness
(Pathfinder RPG GameMastery Guide 250).
C11. the CurAtor’S tomb
A human skeleton lies slumped against the northern wall here,
draped in a fine cloak and clutching a haversack to its chest.
Treasure: The skeletal figure here belongs to Kaiventlu
the Curator, slumped against the wall where he finally
succumbed to madness-induced self-inflicted wounds.
The wizard’s remains should have crumbled to dust long
ago, but tied as they are to his undead state as a ghost,
they’ve remained in relatively good (if dry and a bit dusty)
condition. If the PCs haven’t already encountered the
Curator, he manifests here immediately and attacks if his
remains are disturbed. The skeleton still wears its cloak of
resistance +3 and its headband of mental prowess +2. In addition,
a handy haversack contains the Curator’s spellbooks—these
books contain all his prepared spells, plus 2d4 additional
spells of each level (except for enchantment and illusion
spells) of your choice up to 7th level.
C12. GueSt mAnSion
The western wall of this octagonal chamber features a detailed
mural of a mansion’s facade. The front doors are painted life-
sized, but the rest of the mural grows increasingly distorted in
size as it nears the edges of the room.
The mansion mural radiates strong conjuration magic, for
its doors are the entrance to a permanent mage’s magnificent
mansion (CL 20th). Although the doors appear to be painted
on, they can be opened with ease, providing access to the extra
dimensional space beyond. This effect was placed here to
give visitors to the Silent Halls a place to stay—originally, the
northern doors led to one of the complex’s several entrances,
but this route is now blocked by hardened lava.
This mansion is bedecked with Thassilonian objects
and imagery—none of which can be taken from the
mansion. Those sleeping in the mansion are not protected
from the influence of Leng, but one of the chambers in the
mansion is a sizable library that contains a fair amount of
lore about ancient Thassilon and Guiltspur. This library
grants a +2 bonus on all Knowledge (history) checks made
about Thassilon, and you can use the tomes here to reveal
some of the original uses of the Silent Halls and the nature
of some of its stranger exhibits.
The mansion has a dozen rooms, including a dining hall
with stained glass windows that depict Runelord Karzoug,
a study, a fully functioning masterwork alchemist’s lab,
and 10 bedrooms. No fewer than 40 unseen servants tend
the magical mansion. The meals served are exotic: flaked
dragon turtle cooked in mead, potted wyvern flank in garlic,
selections of curious fungi, and lots of mead and very heady
wine. The servants, of course, only understand Thassilonian.
32
Faceless ANgel
C13. the terrible window
A short, curved flight of stairs leads down to double doors to the
south of this somewhat elongated octagonal chamber. To the
west, what appears to be a ten-foot-wide open window looks out
over an idyllic field of grass with a snow-capped mountain rage on
the horizon. A cool breeze wafts through the open window.
The window is in fact a permanent image of a scene of what
the Storval Plateau looked like long before Earthfall—an
image placed here by a long-forgotten wizard.
Waking Nightmare (XP 12,800): The first time anyone
approaches within 10 feet of the illusory window, the
scene depicted suddenly shifts from an idyllic noon-time
hillside to a nightmare vista of frozen Leng
aglow under the gibbous light of a bloated
moon. The landscape appears cracked and
desolate, and in the medium distance a troop
of pallid froglike monsters (moon beasts) leads
a line of chained denizens of Leng. A jagged
mountain range cuts the horizon, while beyond this
range the head of an immense jackal-like leviathan slowly
turns, as if to peer back through the window. All creatures
in area C12 or on the stairs leading down to area C11 who
continue to gaze upon the scene must succeed at a DC 17
Will save or be affected by feeblemind, essentially struck
dumb by the horror and scope of what they are looking
upon. A PC who immediately looks away instead must still
attempt a DC 17 Will save to avoid taking 1d6 points of
Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma damage.
C14. the GrAnd Choir (Cr 14)
A short flight of curving steps leads down to a staggering
sight—a twenty-five-foot-wide hallway that slopes downward
to the south as far as the eye can see. The hall is supported by
hundreds of stone columns spaced every five feet that rise up to
the curving ceiling forty feet above. The lower six feet of each
column has been carved to resemble a faceless winged angelic
woman carrying a longsword.
This architectural wonder descends at a relatively steep
slope for half a mile until it reaches area D1.
Creatures: Two of the columns in this hallway (the
two marked in red four rows in) are in fact powerful
constructs—advanced caryatid columns known as faceless
angels. As the PCs approach, any PCs who succeed at a DC
20 Perception checks notice that unlike the other columns
in the hall, these two angels seem to be armed with real
swords rather than carved stone swords.
Faceless Angel
CR 12
XP 19,200
Advanced quickling caryatid column (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 46,
Advanced Bestiary 209)
N Medium construct
Init +13; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 27, touch 20, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +5 dodge, +7 natural)
hp 150 (20d10+40); fast healing 1
Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +8
Defensive Abilities shatter weapons; DR 5/—; Immune construct
traits, magic
OFFENSE
Speed 80 ft.
Melee +2 siccatite longsword +28/+23/+18/+13 (1d8+8 plus 1 cold/
19–20)
33
Special Attacks rapid attacks
TACTICS
During Combat The faceless angels wait until the PCs pass
them before stepping out to attack the characters at the
back of the party.
Morale Once a faceless angel is activated, it fights until it
is destroyed. It does not pursue foes once they are out of
sight, nor will it pursue foes into area C13 or D1.
STATISTICS
Str 22, Dex 21, Con —, Int —, Wis 15, Cha 5
Base Atk +20; CMB +26; CMD 46
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Quick Draw,
Spring Attack, Toughness
Skills Acrobatics +15 (+35 when jumping), Perception +4
SQ statue
Gear +2 siccatite longsword
the Core
Located a half mile south of the Silent Halls and
approximately 300 feet underground, the second dungeon
level of Guiltspur was known as the Core, for its primary
cavern is an immense area that the complex’s architects
believed was cored out of the stone by some unknown force.
The Core is technically a part of Nar-Voth, the uppermost
layer of the Darklands, for an immense shaft drops down
into Sekamina just west of the central cavern. While the
caverns of the Core aren’t particularly numerous, their
scale is massive indeed—as are many of the monsters that
dwell within them.
Cadrilkasta ignored much of the Core as she passed
through the cave; she avoided conflict with the mother of
oblivion in the waters of area D2 and used gaseous form to
seep through the rocks at area D5, following her obsessive
instincts ever toward the Shard of Sloth.
d1. entrAnCe to the Core
The vast hallway comes to a sudden end, looking out into a vast
underground lake. The dark waters ripple thirty feet below the
jagged edge of the hall’s end. A series of intermittently-spaced
stone pilings extends south, indicating that at one point the hall
transformed into a bridge that extended south over the lake,
but the bridge itself must have collapsed long ago.
The passageway to the north leads back to area C14.
d2. the nAmeleSS lAke (Cr 15)
This vast cavern’s limits recede off into darkness, as do the
inky black waters of the lake that takes up the chamber’s
extent. The ceiling rises to form a cathedral-like space above.
Stalactites hang here and there, some of prodigious size, while
two irregular rows of stone pilings lead south, out across the
waters. The sound of gently cascading water echoes through
the cavern.
Originally, a stone bridge led over the waters of this
nameless lake, connecting area D1 to a rocky island (area
D5) on which stood a small keep. This chamber, as well as
areas D4–D6, are all warded by the effects of the abysium
reactor, but these protections do not extend into areas D7–
D9. When the end came to Thassilon, this cavern didn’t
withstand the earthquakes nearly as well as the more
solidly built areas of the Guiltspur Depths, and both the
bridge over the lake and the keep collapsed, killing all who
dwelled within.
The lake itself is 70 feet deep at its deepest point, with
very little in the way of shallows along beaches. The
surviving pilings protrude anywhere from 5 to 30 feet
from the waters below; each is 5 feet across and can be
climbed with a successful DC 15 Climb check. The water
itself stays at a relatively constant level thanks to several
small waterfalls that trickle down the cavern’s southeastern
walls (groundwater runoff from the nameless river above
that also supplies the giants with their drinking water); a
survey of the lake’s bottom reveals several areas where the
water runs through submerged cracks in the northwest
that empty into area D8.
Creature: Different creatures have dwelled in this lake
over the eons, but for the past several hundreds of years,
only one has ruled the nameless lake—a monstrous aquatic
outsider known as a Mother of Oblivion. Part sea serpent,
part octopus, part interdimensional monstrosity, this
monster was conjured into these waters by a cabal of derro
priests of Lamashtu who were eager to learn the creature’s
secrets. Unfortunately for the derro, their ritual was faulty,
and the enraged creature killed and ate them all—only to
learn that she’d eaten the only creatures who were capable of
sending her back from where she’d been conjured.
The Mother of Oblivion is named Ognathooga. She
has long since eaten every creature that lived in the lake,
and now subsists on the spoils of raids into the purple
worm breeding ground in area D7—foul fare, even for a
creature as nightmarish as one of Lamashtu’s spawn. Over
the years, she’s grown in power and size and now rivals
Varisia’s most famous Mother of Oblivion: legendary
Black Magga of the Storval Deep. She suffers the presence
of the dark nagas at area D4, since she appreciates the idea
of being worshiped as a god, and hopes that they’ll some
day be able to devise a way to help her escape from the lake.
The arrival of the drow has given the Mother of Oblivion
a much needed distraction (she wisely let Cadrilkasta pass
through to area D5 uncontested). She’s already killed and
eaten two of the drow and all of their riding lizards, but
she hopes to eat more, and the PCs could certainly give her
a welcome change to her diet.
34
D1
D2
D3
D5
D6
D7
D8
D9
D4
THE Core
1 square = 25 feet
Ognathooga
CR 15
XP 51,200
Mother of Oblivion (Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition 406)
CE Gargantuan outsider (aquatic, native)
Init +4; Senses all-around vision, darkvision 60 ft.;
Perception +22
DEFENSE
AC 30, touch 6, flat-footed 30 (+24 natural, –4 size)
hp 232 (15d10+150)
Fort +19, Ref +11, Will +9
DR 15/cold iron and magic; Immune death effects, mind
affecting effects, petrification, polymorph; Resist acid 20,
cold 20; SR 26
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., swim 60 ft.
Melee bite +24 (2d8+13/19–20 plus energy drain), 4 tentacles
+19 (2d6+6 plus grab)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft.
Special Attacks breath of madness, constrict (2d6+11), energy
drain (2 levels, DC 22)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +20)
Constant—invisibility purge
At will—death knell (DC 17), prayer
3/day—demand (DC 23), dimensional anchor, divination,
dominate person (DC 20), greater command (DC 20)
1/day—commune, dream, unhallow
TACTICS
During Combat Ognathooga starts combat by attempting to
dominate one of the PCs while herself remaining hidden
mostly underwater. If she manages to dominate the PC,
she uses her control to lure the rest of the party any way
she can into the waters of the lake, where she then risks
losing control of her dominated minion by ordering it
to attack its allies. She uses demand and other spell-like
abilities to try to scatter the PCs, so that she can then
swim in and attack them one at a time. Note that while
in the area of effect of the abysium reactor, two of her
abilities (transdimensional tentacles and warp dimensions)
do not work—Ognathooga is unlikely to pursue the PCs
beyond area D6, but if she does, these abilities (detailed
in full on page 406 of Rise of the Runelords Anniversary
Edition) function normally.
Morale If brought below 75 hit points, Ognathooga retreats to
area D3. If encountered there, she fights to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 37, Dex 10, Con 31, Int 25, Wis 18, Cha 20
Base Atk +15; CMB +32 (+36 grapple); CMD 42 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical
(bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Vital Strike, Lightning
Reflexes, Power Attack, Vital Strike
35
Skills Acrobatics +18 (+14 when jumping), Intimidate +23,
Knowledge (arcana) +25, Knowledge (history) +22, Knowledge
(nature) +22, Knowledge (planes) +25, Knowledge (religion) +22,
Perception +22, Sense Motive +22, Spellcraft +25, Stealth +6,
Survival +19, Swim +36
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic, Infernal,
Thassilonian, Undercommon
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Breath of Madness (Su) Ognathooga can exhale a cloud of
foul-smelling, narcotic breath as a standard action once
every minute. This black smoke fills a 60-foot cone. All
creatures in the area take 1d6 points of Wisdom damage
and become confused for 1d6 rounds (a successful DC
27 Will save halves the Wisdom damage and negates the
confusion effect). This is a mind-affecting poison effect.
The save DC is Constitution-based.
d3. oGnAthooGA’S den
The entrance to this flooded cavern is near the lake bed’s
bottom, 50 feet underwater. The chamber beyond serves
as Ognathooga’s den—a place for the Mother of Oblivion
to retreat to when wounded or tired, and a place for her to
store the various items of treasure she’s accumulated over
the ages from unfortunate victims who’ve wandered up
from the Darklands. The entire cavern is warded by several
unhallow spells placed by Ognathooga; invisibility purge is
linked to this area via the unhallow spells. The monster
has used several stalactites to carve a crude representation
of Lamashtu in the northern wall (identifiable with a
successful DC 20 Knowledge [religion] check).
Treasure: Ognathooga keeps her treasures stacked in a
neat pile at the base of her primitive shrine to Lamashtu,
hoping that if she eventually places enough here, her
mistress will notice and rescue her. Currently, these
treasures consist of 2,800 gp, 108 pp, a small diamond
worth 1,200 gp, a set of ivory dice worth 30 gp and a
matching set of silver dice worth 75 gp, a copper scepter
carved with images of spiders worth 50 gp, an ornate silver
comb worth 75 gp, a polished coral chalice worth 50 gp, a
gold statuette of a red dragon worth 110 gp, a silver chalice
with carvings of a marilith on the sides worth 150 gp, a
potion of haste, a potion of resist electricity, a potion of water
36
breathing, a mithral scroll tube worth 200 gp (containing
a scroll of charm monster, a scroll of summon monster V, and
a scroll of greater spell immunity), a wand of magic missile
(44 charges), a wand of call lightning (38 charges), a staff
of understandingUE, a +1 expeditious breastplateUE, and a
seducer’s baneUE. In addition, the crushed and ruined
body of a drow hunt mistress lies atop the treasure. She
still wears all of her gear (see area D6), and the relative
freshness of the remains should tell the PCs that more
drow may be nearby.
d4. rituAl iSle (Cr 14)
A barren, rocky isle rises barely above the level of the water here.
Something has cleared the island of all rocks and other bits of
debris—every stalagmite has been broken off at the root, and
the remaining rubble has been placed deliberately across the
isle in strangely complex and unsettling coiling patterns.
Creatures: A cult of Lamashtu-worshiping dark nagas
led by a naga cleric came to the nameless lake several
months ago, drawn by visions of a powerful entity sacred
to their god that was trapped here. After a laborious
ascent of area D8 that took several days and numerous
magical spells, the naga cult came to area D6 whereupon
Ognathooga, quite hungry at that point, devoured the
clerical leader (who offered no resistance to “becoming
one with a child of the Mother of Monsters”), ironically
robbing the cult of its most powerful spellcaster and the
creature who would be most able to design the ritual
Ognathooga desired to flee this realm. Since then, the
nagas (who are an aquatic Darklands variant that possess
a swim speed and the advanced template) have done their
best to transform this island, their new home, into what
they hope some day will become a portal to the Abyss.
Unfortunately, their magical skill isn’t up to their
ambitions. With a successful DC 25 Knowledge (arcana,
religion, or planes) check, a PC can confirm that the
pattern of rocks on this island is the perfect arrangement
for the creation of a temporary portal to the Abyss, but
only if a powerful spellcaster spends several weeks
infusing the area with potent magic—magic beyond the
capability of these Guiltspur nagas.
The nagas fill their days with prayer on the island’s
shores, and quickly attempt to capture the PCs alive if they
spot them. The nagas hope that by sacrificing the PCs
over the course of several days, they’ll gain insight or even
Lamashtu’s aid in building the portal—whether or not
such a gambit could even work is left to you. The nagas will
not abandon their rituals to come to Ognathooga’s aid;
they assume the Mother of Oblivion is capable of handling
herself in any battle. If the PCs defeat Ognathooga and
present proof of this deed to the Guiltspur nagas, the nagas
must each succeed at a DC 20 Will save to avoid becoming
frightened for 2d6 rounds.
Guiltspur Naga (6)
CR 9
XP 6,400 each
CE advanced variant dark naga (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 211, 294)
hp 105 each
Speed 40 ft., swim 40 ft.
Skills as standard naga but replace Knowledge (arcana) with
Knowledge (religion) +13, and replace Spellcraft with Swim +19
Languages Abyssal, Undercommon
d5. ruined tower
A barren, rocky isle rises from the lake waters. Atop the island’s
thirty-foot-high peak lie the cracked foundations of a long-
crumbled structure of some sort.
Very little remains today of the ancient keep that once
sat atop this isle. Once home to a cabal of Lissalan priests
who stood sentinel over the Guiltspur side of the Embassy
of Leng below, the keep is now nothing more than a few
foundations and piles of rubble.
A 20-foot square area in the center of the island is in
fact an open shaft hidden by four adjacent illusory walls
(DC 16 to disbelieve, CL 15th). Once, a much more complex
ward prevented entrance into this shaft, but today only the
illusions remain. Below, the shaft drops 300 feet down to
area E1. A successful DC 20 Climb check is needed to scale
the shaft’s walls. A creature that simply walks out onto the
open pit must succeed at a DC 20 Reflex save to stagger
back from the edge before falling; otherwise, the quick
trip to area E1 deals 20d6 points of falling damage.
d6. StAlAGmite beACh (Cr 12)
A wide beach of damp stone rises up from the lake’s edge
here. Numerous stalagmites and stalactites decorate the
region, which narrows down to a pair of twenty-five-foot-wide
passageways leading to the west. A twenty-foot-wide pathway
has been smashed through the stalagmites from the lake to the
southernmost entrance—this path is smeared with slime and
bits of strange, violet meat.
The stalagmites here are thick enough that they make
passage through the area difficult terrain, save for a path
worn by Ognathooga’s periodic trips to area D7 to feed. A
PC who succeeds at a DC 27 Knowledge (arcana) check can
identify the chunks of meat as purple worm fragments.
Once the PCs step across the dotted lines shown
on the map, they’re stepping out of the area that is
warded by the abysium reactor. This border is protected
against observation from the west as a mage’s private
37
HuNT MistREss
sanctum—viewed from the west, the dotted lines are
opaque walls of fog. Any character who has experienced a
vision of the Shard of Sloth is struck by a nagging feeling
of leaving something behind as she passes out of the
influence of the abysium reactor.
Creature: Not long after the blue dragon Cadrilkasta
passed through the caverns, new arrivals came to the
Core—a band of drow who call themselves the Deep
Hunt. Led by a powerful cleric of Zura named Xaivanshee
Rasivrein, this small group of drow and monsters has
come to the Guiltspur Depths in search of the same thing
the PCs seek: the Shard of Wrath. The Deep Hunt arrived
in the Core approximately 1 day before the PCs reached
this level of the Guiltspur Depths, and as such they’ve
not yet had much of a chance to look around. The group’s
current base of operations is in area D9, but after a
first, somewhat disastrous attempt to explore the
nameless lake, the drow are taking a few days to
rest, recover, and plan.
In the meantime, one of the group’s hunters
has taken up position here, levitating amid the
stalactites hanging over the northern
section of the beach. This lone drow is
under orders to watch and, if anyone of
interest passes through the area, she is
to follow quietly and attack only if she’s
attacked. The drow doesn’t expect to see
anyone, but is alert nonetheless.
If the PCs attempt to speak to her, she tells
them that they are entering the domain of
the Deep Hunt, and that they should come
with her to speak to her mistress. She
won’t bother to ask the PCs to give up their
weapons, but tells them that if they are
foolish enough to attack that she and her
many sisters who wait in the shadows
will slay them without pause. This last
bit is a bluff, of course... until the PCs
have reached area D9.
Hunt Mistress
CR 12
XP 19,200
Female drow noble ranger 12
(Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 115)
CE Medium humanoid (elf)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 120 ft.;
Perception +23
DEFENSE
AC 27, touch 15, flat-footed 22
(+5 armor, +4 Dex,
+1 dodge, +4 natural,
+3 shield)
hp 142 (12d10+72)
Fort +12, Ref +12, Will +6; +2 vs. enchantments
Defensive Abilities evasion; Immune sleep; SR 23
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk rapier +15/+10/+5 (1d6+2/18–20)
Ranged +2 shock hand crossbow +18 (1d4+2/17–20 plus 1d6
electricity and poison)
Special Attacks favored enemy (elves +6, gnomes +2, humans +2)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th; concentration +12)
Constant—detect magic
At will—dancing lights, deeper darkness, faerie fire, feather
fall, levitate
1/day—divine favor, dispel magic, suggestion (DC 13)
Ranger Spells Prepared (CL 9th;
concentration +11)
3rd—cure moderate wounds
2nd—barkskin, bear’s endurance, cure
light wounds
1st—alarm, gravity bowAPG, resist energy
TACTICS
Before Combat The hunt mistress uses
levitate to hide amid the stalactites, 20 feet
above the ground. She casts barkskin and
bear’s endurance once she notices the PCs
coming toward the beach. She watches
the PCs move through the area, and if
she’s not spotted, she drops down to the
ground via feather fall once the PCs move
on, then follows them. She only attacks if
they attack first.
During Combat The hunt mistress casts
gravity bow on the first round of combat,
then levitates back down to the ground if
necessary. Once on stable ground, she uses
her crossbow, Deadly Aim, and Shot on the
Run to make a fighting retreat to area D9 to
rejoin her kin. When fighting with others,
the hunt mistress instead makes full
attacks, taking 5-foot steps as necessary to
avoid attacks of opportunity.
Morale The slave collar worn by the
hunt mistress ensure that she fights to
the death as long as Xaivanshee lives.
If Xaivanshee dies, the hunt mistress
immediately flees back toward area D8,
leaps in, and feather falls back down to
Sekamina to return home.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 14,
Cha 10
Base Atk +12; CMB +14; CMD 29
Feats Deadly Aim, Dodge, Endurance,
Improved Critical (hand crossbow), Point-
38
Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Reload, Shield Focus, Shot
on the Run, Toughness
Skills Acrobatics +15, Climb +16, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +16,
Perception +23, Stealth +22, Survival +21, Swim +16
Languages Aklo, Elven, Undercommon
SQ camouflage, combat style (crossbow), elven magic, evasion,
favored terrain (underground +4, water +2), hunter’s bond
(companions), poison use, quarry, swift tracker, track +6, wild
empathy +12, weapon familiarity, woodland stride
Gear +1 chain shirt, +1 buckler, +2 shock hand crossbow with 10
drow sleep poisoned bolts, mwk rapier, slave collar (attuned
to Xaivanshee Rasivrein)
d7. worm-infeSted CAvern (Cr 15)
The ground falls away here into an immense sinkhole, the floor
of which is littered with a carpet of rubble and bones. Three
large, deeper holes drop away in the middle of the room, while
dozens of smaller holes that look almost like partially collapsed
burrows pock the depths.
The edges of this large sinkhole drop 30 feet onto
broken stone; the ground below is difficult terrain. A
successful DC 15 Climb check is needed to navigate the
sides of the sinkhole. While the smaller holes don’t go far
before ending in collapses, the three larger rifts in the
center drop down 80 feet into a large and tangled warren of
tunnels—an immense nesting ground for purple worms.
Creatures: This cavern is a nesting pit for purple worms.
The massive creatures burrow and hunt in deeper, far larger
caverns that extend for miles under the area (the extent
of these caverns is beyond the scope of this adventure),
but come here to lay their eggs. At this time, two purple
worms are in the process of laying a new mound of eggs,
but if they notice PCs, they immediately abandon their egg
laying and dig down into the ground, burrowing through
the rubble and up to wherever the PCs are to attack them. A
purple worm fights until reduced to 30 or fewer hit points,
at which time it flees to the warrens deep below.
Characters who climb (or fall) into the sinkhole have
more than just a few adult purple worms to contend with.
Only 1d4 rounds after someone enters the pit, a writhing
swarm of larval purple worms burrows up from the rubble
to attack anyone walking on the ground.
Purple Worms (2)
CR 12
XP 19,200 each
hp 200 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 230)
Larval Purple Worm Swarm
CR 12
XP 19,200
Purple worm swarm (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 230, Advanced
Bestiary 45)
N Tiny magical beast (swarm)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.;
Perception +18
DEFENSE
AC 28, touch 15, flat-footed 25 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +13 natural,
+2 size)
hp 152 (16d10+64)
Fort +13, Ref +14, Will +6
Defensive Abilities swarm traits
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee swarm +14 (6d6 plus poison)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks distraction (DC 21)
TACTICS
During Combat The swarm attacks the closest foe within
reach, but does not pursue foes out of the sinkhole. Once
no foes are within reach on the ground, the swarm burrows
back into the rubble.
Morale The swarm fights to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 3, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 8, Cha 8
Base Atk +16; CMB +16; CMD 23 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack
(swarm), Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Skill Focus
(Perception), Toughness
Skills Climb +4, Perception +18, Swim +5
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison (Ex) Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 21; frequency 1/round
for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Strength damage; cure 3 consecutive
saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
d8. the dArk Gulf
A vast, cold maw opens in the ground here, a bottomless pit
hundreds of feet, if not more, in diameter. Here and there,
ledges varying from five to ten feet in width cling precariously to
the shaft’s sides, offering a treacherous route around the edge.
This immense cavern drops 600 feet down into the
darkness, where it opens into an immense cavern nearly
a mile in diameter in Nar-Voth, the upper realm of the
Darklands. The chambers below are wildlands inhabited
by all manner of monster— dangerous fungi, giant bats,
oozes, purple worms, ropers, and worse. It was through
this route that the drow of the Deep Hunt came to the
Guiltspur Depths, levitating up the shaft to establish their
base camp at area D9.
The walls of the gulf can be scaled with a successful
DC 20 Climb check; a fall deals 20d6 points of falling
damage. Ledges run around the eastern rim, but in places
they’ve collapsed, so that an approach to area D9 requires
climbing, jumping, or some form of flight at times.
39
XaivANshee
The vast caverns below are beyond the scope of this
adventure—if you wish to extend the PCs’ explorations
in Nar-Voth, Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Into the Darklands
provides details on running adventures set in this hostile
realm. If the PCs get too distracted by this direction,
however, feel free to have any PCs who used the Shard of
Wrath to divine the location of the Shard of Sloth feel
increasingly convinced that they’re drifting
astray from their goal, as a new vision
from the Shard of Wrath can confirm
at any time.
d9. the deep hunt
(Cr 17)
A large cavern extends north from the
edge of the vast pit. The cavern itself
seems mostly empty, save for a thirty-foot-
tall square iron tower that sits in the middle
of the cavern.
The twenty-five-foot-wide entrance to
this cavern is warded by an alarm spell
that alerts the current hunt mistress
atop the tower (see Creatures, below)
with a mental warning.
Creatures: The iron tower is in
fact an instant fortress owned by the
leader of the Deep Hunt, a drow cleric
named Xaivanshee Rasivrein. She leads a group of three
drow rangers (known as hunt mistresses), all three of
whom are bound to her will via slave collars. One of these
hunt mistresses watches in area D6, but the other two
remain here, one atop the instant fortress and one off duty
inside the fortress. The three switch duties every 8 hours.
The drow once had several riding lizards as well, but the
occupant of the nameless lake managed to gobble them
all down.
The interior of the instant fortress consists of 2 floors.
The bottom one is a combination barracks and common
room, and the upper floor serves as both a temple and
boudoir for Xaivanshee. The hunt mistresses typically
move to and from the watchpost on the roof by levitating
outside rather than moving through their mistress’s
personal chambers.
Xaivanshee’s slave collars inform her as soon as any of
her hunt mistresses are wounded or otherwise harmed.
In addition, the collars allow Xaivanshee to communicate
with her servants via telepathy as long as they are within
100 feet of her. The drow priestess of Zura herself remains
inside her fortress as the PCs approach—her second
hunt mistress exits out the front door to greet the PCs
and inform them that they stand in the presence of “the
most glorious mistress, Lady Xaivanshee of Zura, third
daughter of House Rasivrein.”
Xaivanshee then speaks through this slave via their
telepathic link—the drow has no initial interest in
fighting the PCs, and would rather secure an alliance with
them once she finds out that their goals are similar to her
own. Xaivanshee is also not interested in downplaying
her perceived sense of self-importance—she’s
arrogant and secure in her position, and her
method of using slaves to essentially talk
down to the PCs may be more than some
parties can stomach.
If the PCs choose to attack, Xaivanshee
orders the two hunt mistresses to attack
at once (or all three, if the hunt mistress
from area D6 has followed)—the
one on the ground levitates up to
the watchpost to join her sister.
Their mistress Xaivanshee takes
the time to cast her preparatory
spells as detailed on page 60
before emerging onto the upper
watchpost to join the fight,
which might gibe the PCs a few
precious seconds to establish
a foothold in the battle. She
does not pursue defeated PCs
from this area immediately, but
eventually tracks them down with her
remaining hunt mistresses as detailed below.
If the PCs choose instead to parley with the drow,
Xaivanshee interrogates them on their purpose in the
area. If she learns the PCs seek a treasure (she doesn’t
necessarily need to be told the PCs seek the Shard of
Sloth—she assumes that’s why they’re here), she proposes
an alliance of sorts. If the PCs agree to let her use the Shard
of Sloth to finish her transformation into a vampire, she
and her minions will follow along behind them to provide
aid and support in the battles to come. The drow are true
to their word if the PCs agree to this arrangement; you can
use them to aid the PCs as you wish in battles, but the
drow won’t turn against them. At least, they won’t until
Xaivanshee becomes a vampire, at which case her attitude
toward the PCs changes drastically—see her NPC entry on
page 60.
If the PCs can’t come to an agreement with her, or if they
are forced to flee, Xaivanshee waits about half an hour,
preparing for the PCs to return for a second attack. If this
doesn’t occur, she gathers her hunt mistresses to follow
and stalk the PCs. In this case, the drow follow the PCs’
tracks but do not interfere, hoping that the PCs manage
to secure the Shard of Sloth at a point when their resources
prove low enough that Xaivanshee can simply demand
40
the shard from them. At your discretion, if the PCs are
defeated in combat at a later point during this adventure,
the drow can step in at the last moment to save them, only
to require their servitude in helping recover the Shard of
Sloth in payment. Even if the PCs never reach this section
of the caverns, you can have the drow learn of their passage
through the eastern caves of this level, and ambush the
PCs at the end of the adventure.
Xaivanshee Rasivrein
CR 15
XP 51,200
hp 172 (see page 60)
Hunt Mistresses (2)
CR 12
XP 19,200 each
hp 142 each (see page 38)
Story Award: If the PCs manage to secure an alliance
with the drow (even if that alliance later falls apart), award
them 25,600 XP.
the embASSy of lenG
The deepest portion of the Guiltspur Depths is a small
complex that combined the functions of a temple, a
neutral meeting ground, and a portal to the nightmare
realm of Leng. The embassy was overseen by a priestess
of Lissala named Mesmalatu back in Thassilon’s day, but
with the empire’s fall, Mesmalatu has become something
more than a mere ambassador—she is now an awakened
demilich and a worshiper of Nyarlathotep.
For many centuries, the Embassy of Leng has remained
silent, but with the disruptive passage of a blue dragon
through these chambers, the rooms have activated. The
guardians are now eager to prevent further intrusions,
and Mesmalatu herself has risen from her torpor to aid in
the level’s defense.
This is also the location of the abysium reactor (see
area E5). The proximity of the magical engine causes
this entire level to vibrate and hum slightly in a way that
can be unnerving. After an hour spent in the embassy, a
creature must succeed at a DC 20 Fortitude save to avoid
becoming shaken for as long as it remains in the embassy.
Shutting down the abysium reactor also ends this effect.
The denizens of these chambers have long since grown
used to the reactor’s presence.
e1. the forbidden portAl (Cr 14)
A ten-foot-wide, fifteen-foot-long hallway extends from the
bottom of a deep pit, ending at a massive pair of black metal
double doors. The faces of these doors bear a detailed carving
of a vast mountain range under a night sky—an eerie castle of
immense size crowning the tallest of the mountains.
These doors are immense adamantine portals, sealed
against all entry. With a successful DC 30 Knowledge
(planes) check, a PC recognizes the carving on the doors as
depicting Kadath in the cold waste of Leng, and a successful
DC 30 Knowledge (religion) check then confirms that
Kadath is one of the palaces of Nyarlathotep, the Crawling
Chaos. The adamantine doors are locked and the key to
open them is long gone—a PC who succeeds at a DC 40
Disable Device check can pick the lock, or the doors can
be destroyed in order to grant passage. While the doors
are closed and locked, their seals are not airtight—gaseous
form, wind walk, and similar effects can be used to bypass
the doors without setting off the trap that guards them.
The shaft above area E1 leads 300 feet up to area D5.
Trap: If the doors are damaged or forced, or the locks
are picked, a sudden wave of bone-chilling wind washes
out from them, filling all of area E1 with the sound of a
shrieking windstorm. All creatures in this area are blasted
by cold damage and may be driven temporarily insane by
the sound.
Winds of Madness
CR 14
XP 38,400
Type magic; Perception DC 32; Disable Device DC 32
EFFECTS
Trigger touch; Reset automatic
THE Faceless SphINx
Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos, is an ancient Outer
God associated with conspiracies, dangerous secrets,
and forbidden magic. Said to possess a thousand
different forms, he is unusual among the alien Outer
Gods in that he actively seeks to sow discord among
the various mortal races. Scholars of the Dark Tapestry
believe that Nyarlathotep himself is the prime mover in
preparing countless worlds for the devastating return
of the Great Old Ones. Thassilon was no stranger to his
influence, although his manipulations were vague. He was
worshiped in Thassilon in the guise of the Faceless Sphinx,
an incarnation also worshiped in ancient times in parts of
Osirion and to this day in parts of Leng itself.
Worshipers of the Faceless Sphinx have access to the
domains of Air, Chaos, Evil, Knowledge, and Magic, and
to the subdomains of Arcane, Cloud, Divine, Memory,
Thought, and Wind. The cult’s unholy symbol is an
image of a featureless face, and its favored weapon is a
punching dagger.
Additional information about Nyarlathotep and the
other Outer Gods and Great Old Ones can be found in
Pathfinder Adventure Path #46.
41
E1
E2
E3
E4
E8
E5
E7
E6
E9
Embassy OF leng
1 square = 5 feet
Effect freezing wind (6d6 cold damage, Reflex DC 20 half);
shrieking wind (confusion for 1 round, Will DC 20 negates,
this is a sonic mind-affecting effect); multiple targets (all
creatures in area E1, to a height of 40 feet)
e2. Shrine of the fACeleSS (Cr 14)
A vast cathedral towers here, lit by flickering blue lights that
dance in the upper reaches of the yawning space. The floor is
of a sickly blue stone so polished and reflective that it almost
serves as a cerulean mirror. To the west, the ceiling is a mere
fifty feet high, but as the cathedral widens to the east, the
ceiling rises to twice that height. Stone pillars support the
space above, while to the west, six alcoves containing statues
of winged women with empty faces stand guard. A twenty-
foot-tall stone double door sits in the cathedral’s northern
wall, its face carved with a depiction of a vast mountain range
capped by a towering castle. Far to the east, a series of steps
rises up to a wide pulpit on which crouches an elephantine
faceless sphinx carved from black stone.
In Thassilon’s time, this vast cathedral was devoted to
the goddess Lissala, but after Mesmalatu’s return from
Leng many centuries after the onset of the Age of Darkness,
she transformed this cathedral to the worship of her new
patron, the Faceless Sphinx of Leng. Yet as this change
took place long after the fall of Thassilon, Mesmalatu was
destined to be the only one to offer prayer to the Crawling
Chaos in this chamber. In time, as she fell into torpor as
a demilich, even those prayers ceased. For centuries, this
vast chamber has lain empty.
The faceless statues that stand in the alcoves are
similar to those found in the Silent Halls—faceless
angels blasphemously associated with the Crawling
Chaos. However, a PC who succeeds at a DC 35 Knowledge
(religion) check also confirms that these statues were once
depictions of the goddess Lissala, and that they have been
magically altered to depict their new subjects.
The northern doors feature the same image as the
doors from area E1, save that unlike those doors, these are
neither locked nor trapped. The secret door to area E4 can
be found with a successful DC 30 Perception check.
Creature: The cathedral itself is ominous in its silence,
but it is far from unguarded. A single alien entity, pulled
in from a distant world via a ritual even Mesmalatu has
forgotten, stands guard here and has done so for ages,
sustained without the need for food or drink for nearly
9,000 years. This creature is a flying polyp, a half-invisible
S
S
42
malevolent aberration that views its long imprisonment
here as little more than an idle curiosity.
The flying polyp lurks invisibly just before the statue
of the faceless sphinx, waiting patient and potent for
intruders to enter the cathedral. It activates its sucking
wind as soon as it notices intruders, targeting as many PCs
as it can in an attempt to first slow them and then hold
them in place so that it can slither forth and blast them
with wind and crush them with its tentacles. The flying
polyp fights to the death.
Flying Polyp
CR 14
XP 38,400
hp 207 (see page 86)
e3. the pit of Silver miSt (Cr 17)
Over fifty feet across and nearly a hundred feet wide, the ceiling
of this immense chamber stretches up into the darkness like a
silo. The walls glitter with sparkling blue and purple crystals,
with those higher up giving the illusion of colored stars above.
A stone door sits at the end of a wide hall to the south, while
to either side of this entrance, three large black metal doors
loom in the walls (although one set of doors to the northwest
has been smashed to rubble). The far side of the room features
a wide alcove in which a fountain of glowing blue liquid ripples,
but the most significant feature of the massive hall is the vast
pit that takes up the majority of the floor, leaving a ten-foot-
wide ledge around its edges. Silver light shines up from a
roiling bank of fog thirty feet down in this immense pit, and
now and then, immense rumblings and sloshing sounds, like a
whale floundering amid the waves of a distant beach, echo up
from the silver-limned depths.
The vast pit in this room is the anchoring link between
the Material Plane and the nightmare realm of Leng—a
tether built by Karzoug with significant aid from minions
like Mesmalatu and allies on the far side of reality in Leng
itself. A successful DC 25 Knowledge (arcana or planes)
check allows a character to recognize the pit for what it
is, as does a successful DC 35 Spellcraft check made while
studying the pit’s strong conjuration aura. This Spellcraft
check also reveals the magical link between the pit and
the fountain, and that the fountain requires some sort of
ritual in order to activate the pit as a portal.
The pit is a two-way conduit that periodically allows
nightmarish monsters from Leng to stumble into the
Material Plane, but before any creature other than a native
of Leng can use the pit to enter Leng, a specific ritual
must be performed and the creature must be anointed
with the waters of the fountain (see Development below). A
character who enters the mist before these conditions are
met (by falling, flying, climbing down into the pit with
a successful DC 20 Climb check, or so on) can continue
downward forever, as if the pit were bottomless. Each
round a creature ends its turn within the silver mist, it
must succeed at a Will save (DC = 15 + 1 per previous save) or
take 1d4 points of Wisdom drain. If the save is successful,
the creature suddenly appears in the fountain to the north
of the pit with a great splash and takes 20d6 points of
falling damage.
The doors to areas E4–E9 are all made of adamantine
and carved with depictions of Kadath, similar to the door in
area E1 but with no trap. Each door bears a placard above it
written in Thassilonian that lists the name of the chamber
beyond as given on the following pages. Any character
who approaches within 30 feet of the entrance to area E5
automatically notices an increase in the ambient humming
sound that fills the complex. The doors to area E8 have
been smashed down—with a successful DC 25 Knowledge
(arcana) check, a PC can confirm that the damage caused
to the doors seems to have been caused by a combination of
draconic claws and powerful electrical discharges.
Creature: Creatures from across Leng periodically get
pulled through the transdimensional portal here, but
most of those, as with anyone who enters the mist without
first being attuned, are devoured by the legendary creature
that was used to create the deep portal in the first place.
This monstrous entity is an unimaginably vast worm
from the deep caverns below attacked—a creature called
a bhole. The conduit between Leng and the Material Plane
was, in fact, created by this monster’s burrowing after
Karzoug and his allies from Leng ensorcelled the creature,
using it to essentially dig a hole through reality. The bhole
remains trapped between worlds now, coiling eternally in
the pit. It emerges from the pit 1d4 rounds after any living
creature enters the mist, rising a bleached, monstrous
head up to attack those in the room. The smashed crystals
are the results of prior attacks—PCs could use the bhole’s
attacks to help destroy the abysium reactor in area E5 if
they open the doors and trick the creature into attacking
them. When it attacks, the bhole can essentially move
its space anywhere in the pit but cannot leave it—this
means that it can physically attack any creature within its
reach from the pit’s edge. Once its anger is aroused, the
monster remains active in the room for 1d4 rounds after
no creatures remain obvious targets, after which it retreats
back into the mist until awakened again. If the bhole’s hit
points are reduced below 0, it is not slain, but it retreats
into the mist and does not emerge again for 24 hours.
Activating the fountain with the ritual does not cause
the bhole to appear, but if the fountain is forced to
malfunction, the bhole writhes in pain, emerges, and
immediately starts to attack any creatures in the room,
attempting to slay them before they can enter the mist and
travel to Leng.
43
Bhole
CR 17
XP 102,400
hp 290 (see page 84)
Development: When Cadrilkasta came to this level,
she recognized the nature of the pit and fountain, then
explored several of the surrounding rooms until she
successfully communicated with the whisperstone in area
E6 to learn how to activate the portal. Since that point,
Mesmalatu (who was awakened from her torpor when the
dragon activated the portal) has claimed the resonance
crystal from the whisperstone—the PCs can use the stone to
learn how to use the portal as well but must first recover
the crystal from the demilich.
In order to activate the portal, a character must expend
a nightmare or plane shift spell (either from spells known or
prepared, or by using a magic item that allows one of these
spells, like the nightmare rod in area E9) while pouring a
handful of abysium powder (obtainable at area E5) into the
fountain. This method of activation can be determined
from the whisperstone, or at your discretion, via spells like
divination, vision, or legend lore. Alternatively, destroying
or deactivating the abysium reactor and destroying the
demilich Mesmalatu causes the fountain to malfunction.
In either situation, a creature that then partially or wholly
immerses itself in the water and leaps into the silver mist
in the pit is transported to area F1.
Once the portal is activated, the surge of magic causes
Mesmalatu to rise from her torpor in area E9—she arrives
in area E3 in 1d4+2 rounds if she still lives to investigate
and attack any intruders she finds here.
Story Award: If the PCs manage to activate the portal
and step through into Leng without defeating the bhole,
award them full experience points as if they had defeated
the creature in combat.
e4. the dreAminG Crypt (Cr 10)
The walls of this room arch up like massive ribs to form
a corrugated ceiling. Between each rib stands an upright
sarcophagus—all of them have been pried open to allow the
contents to spill out onto the dusty floor. The bones appear to
have been gnawed and cracked open.
The secret door to area E2 can be found with a successful
DC 30 Perception check.
Creature: This room served as a crypt for previous
ambassadors to Leng where their bodies were buried
in a place of honor. The sarcophagi preserved each of
the bodies within, but a relatively recent visitor to the
embassy has been working his way through the contents
one by one. This visitor is a strange, otherworldly ghoul
from Leng named Morcruft. Leng ghouls are far more
powerful than standard ghouls, and their features are
more bestial, with canine snouts and hoofed feet. A
creature that succumbs to ghoul fever contracted from a
Leng ghoul becomes a normal ghoul unless in life it had
12 or more Hit Dice, in which case it rises from death as
a Leng ghoul.
Morcruft stumbled into the embassy accidentally,
appearing in the fountain at area E3 after falling from the
ledge in area F1. He survived his fall, but didn’t initially
know how to return. He peeked into several of the rooms
surrounding area E3 but it was the contents of this room
he was the most intrigued by—and upon discovering the
dead of each sarcophagus were relatively fresh, he’s spent
the last several days enjoying the room’s contents as a
connoisseur of fine food might enjoy an exotic buffet.
If the PCs fight the bhole in area E3, Morcruft hears the
battle and peeks out the door. He may even open the door
and call the PCs over, perhaps even promising them safety
in the tomb. Otherwise, the PCs find Morcruft leaning
against the last sarcophagus—he’s eaten all of the bodies
here, and while busily finishing off the last skull, he has
finally started to worry about how he might be able to
return home.
While chaotic evil, Morcruft is also quite intelligent.
His primary desire is to return to the Temple of
the Crawling Chaos, and he realizes that powerful
adventurers might be able to help him if he helps them
in turn—further, he knows that he’s outnumbered and
likely outclassed by adventurers who are powerful enough
to reach this complex. When the PCs meet Morcruft, he
adopts a submissive pose and in a simpering voice begs
them to stay their hands. He offers them his aid if they
help him get back home, and if he learns that the PCs
seek to reach Leng as well, he capers in delight. He
watched Cadrilkasta come to area E3 and knows that she
performed some sort of ritual to activate the portal, and
that she used some sort of dust from area E5 as part of
that ritual after she spent about an hour in area E6. He
also knows that a short time after the dragon used the
ritual to activate the portal to return to Leng, a “sparkly
skull floating on a dust ghost” moved through the
central room, went into area E6, then returned with a
large crystal clutched in its jaws before it returned to area
E9, but he isn’t quite sure what this signifies.
Beyond these observations, Morcruft promises the PCs
that if they accompany him back to the Temple of the
Crawling Chaos in Leng that he’ll make sure his brothers
and sisters who patrol the temple halls treat them well.
He can provide the PCs with a rough sketch of the temple
as well, although he only knows about areas F1–F6, since
he and his kin aren’t allowed deeper into the complex
(the Leng ghouls even avoid F6 because of the monstrous
guardian there).
44
Morcruft
If Morcruft joins the party, play him as a simpering
coward in fights who, after a battle, is only too eager to feed
on the remains. If he ever realizes that he doesn’t need the
PCs to return home (he’s not aware of the fact that, being
from Leng, he only needs to jump into the mist in area E3
to return), he won’t hesitate to abandon the PCs... perhaps
after taking a few bites from a sleeping PC before he goes!
Morcruft (Leng Ghoul)
CR 10
XP 9,600
Advanced ghoul (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 146)
CE Medium undead
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +20
DEFENSE
AC 26, touch 18, flat-footed 18 (+7 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural)
hp 126 (12d8+72)
Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +13
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4; Immune cold,
undead traits
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., burrow 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +15 (1d8+6 plus disease and paralysis), 2 claws +15
(1d6+6 plus paralysis)
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d6+9), sneak attack +2d6
TACTICS
During Combat Morcruft giggles and capers as he attacks,
preferring to lash out at unarmored foes since he dislikes
chipping teeth and claws on metal armor.
Morale If reduced to fewer than 40 hp, Morcruft shrieks and
flees, seeking somewhere to hide. If flight isn’t an option,
he begs for mercy.
STATISTICS
Str 22, Dex 24, Con —, Int 17, Wis 20, Cha 20
Base Atk +9; CMB +15 (+17 trip); CMD 35 (37 vs. trip)
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Natural
Attack (bite), Improved Trip, Toughness, Vital Strike
Skills Acrobatics +19, Climb +29, Diplomacy +17,
Knowledge (planes) +9, Knowledge (religion) +12,
Perception +20, Sense Motive +20, Stealth +22
Languages Aklo, Common
Story Award: If the PCs secure an alliance with
Morcruft and learn what he knows, award them
25,600 XP.
e5. the AbySium Core
A column of blue-green crystal rises out of the floor to nearly
reach the room’s ceiling thirty feet above. To the left and right,
additional blue-green crystals protrude from the walls, and
flickering bolts of lightning arc back and forth from these to
the central crystal. The entire room vibrates with a thunderous
humming sound.
The crystals in this chamber are refined abysium. In
this form, the rare skymetal looks more like a crystalline
material, and the radioactive energies emitted are much
more potent. These energies are what powers many of the
magical effects of the Guiltspur Depths. Any character
within area E5, or in E3 within the 60-foot spread from the
doors to area E5 once they are opened, must succeed at a DC
15 Fortitude save each round to avoid being staggered by
the potent radiation and taking 1d4 points of Constitution
drain. A successful save indicates the character is only
sickened for that round.
Every round creatures are within area E5, there’s a 25%
chance a bolt of lightning arcs over to strike a random
target, dealing 10d6 points of electricity damage (Reflex
DC 15 half).
The abysium reactor can be destroyed by dealing enough
damage to the central pillar (hardness 10, hp 3,600, break
DC 65–1 per 100 points of damage currently accumulated).
Each time the pillar is damaged by any effect, a bolt of
electricity arcs back to strike the source of that effect (see
above). As long as the pillar is functional, it repairs damage
to itself at a rate of 40 hp per hour. Note that canny PCs can
45
use the bhole from area E3 to aid in destroying the pillar.
If the bhole attacks and misses a character that’s adjacent
to the pillar, the bhole’s momentum carries the attack into
the pillar, smashing against it. This causes the bhole to
take 10d6 points of electricity damage (no save), but allows
it to make a special Strength check modified by its size
modifier to break the pillar—this is a +33 Strength check.
The bhole gains a cumulative +5 bonus on this check
each successive strike it lands against the pillar, but after
striking the pillar 5 times it learns from its mistake and
no longer attacks foes physically if they’re within 5 feet of
the pillar.
When the pillar is destroyed, it explodes in a 60-foot
radius burst that deals 10d6 points of electricity damage
and 10d6 points of sonic damage to all creatures in the
area (Reflex DC 20 half).
Treasure: Over the centuries the abysium reactor has
hummed away, tiny motes of expended abysium have
flaked down to gather in small piles on the floor. Even a
cursory examination of the powder reveals a section to the
northeast of the central pillar where a massive draconic
claw seems to have raked through the stuff to gather
some up. Abysium powder is a deadly ingested poison in
addition to being a useful component to activate the Leng
portal. Rules for abysium powder appear on page 70 of
Pathfinder Adventure Path #61. A single dose of abysium
is worth 900 gp, and there are effectively 20 doses of the
stuff here.
Development: If the reactor is destroyed, the effects
detailed on page 23 immediately cease. It’s now safe to
sleep in the Guiltspur Depths, and dimensional travel
and scrying now function normally. The Leng portal’s
energies fluctuate—if Mesmalatu is slain, the two forces
of power that kept the portal stable and mostly closed
(Mesmalatu’s faith and the reactor’s energy) vanish, and
the silver mist in area E3 now transports any creature that
enters the mist (with the exception of the bhole trapped
within) to area F1. Mesmalatu immediately notices the
reactor’s destruction, rises from her torpor, and comes to
investigate, attacking any foes she encounters.
Story Award: If the PCs manage to deactivate the
abysium reactor, award them 51,200 XP.
e6. whiSperStone SAnCtum
This relatively plain room has but one feature—an ovoid, six-
foot-long tan stone that floats two feet in the air above a three-
foot-high riser. The side of the strange tan stone features a
faceted gap, as if some sort of key could nestle within.
The large block of stone is an unusual artifact from
Thassilon’s era known as a whisperstone. Whisperstones are
infused with potent divination magic, and Thassilonian
wizards often used them to record information and
memories, treating them as a sort of telepathic mental
library of lore. Each whisperstone is keyed to a specific
crystal—in order to store information or access it, a user
had to insert the crystal into the stone and maintain
physical contact with the crystal for the duration of the
information transfer. This particular whisperstone key is
currently located in area E9, taken by Mesmalatu after the
dragon Cadrilkasta woke her from her torpor by activating
the Leng portal. Without the key, a user can still activate
the whisperstone, but he must succeed at a DC 35 Use Magic
Device check to do so.
With the key crystal, a user can access the stored
memories within the whisperstone (this stone can no
longer accept new memories). Using the stone in this
manner requires the user to focus his thoughts on a
particular topic. If that topic is not one stored in the
stone, or if the user doesn’t focus his thoughts, the stone
merely infuses the user with the knowledge of how to use
the stone. If a user concentrates on a topic associated with
Guiltspur, Leng, or Thassilon, he must attempt a DC 20
Knowledge (arcana, history, or planes) check—this check
can be made untrained. Success indicates that the user
finds the information requested, while failure means the
user doesn’t find the information and must succeed at a
DC 12 Will save to avoid taking 1d4 points of Intelligence
damage from information overload. You can use this
stone to grant the PCs any information you wish them to
know about Guiltspur, Leng, and the like, but very little
information about the Temple of the Crawling Chaos can
be found here apart from how to use the Leng portal in
area E3 to reach it.
Of special note—if the PCs search the whisperstone
for information about the Shard of Sloth, they learn
that Mesmalatu relocated the shard to the far side of
the Leng portal for safekeeping in the Temple of the
Crawling Chaos.
e7. bindinG ChAmber (Cr 14)
A set of three statues of a woman with no mouth stand in
three different alcoves in this room—the central statue is
twice as large, while the statues to the left and right hold out
coppery platters on which sit golden braziers that emit dark
gray smoke. A ten-foot-diameter blue-green metal grill is set
into the floor in the center of the room.
The metal grill on the floor radiates strong conjuration
magic. A DC 30 Spellcraft check identifies this abysium
grill as a magical conjuration circle that increases the
save DC of all planar binding spells by 2. In addition, the
grill itself can be used once per week to target a creature
conjured onto the grill with a binding spell (CL 20th),
46
AevaENThial
provided opals, the necessary material components, are
scattered into the shallow hollow below the grill.
The statues are of Lissala—Mesmalatu never bothered
defacing them since they weren’t part of an actual temple.
Creature: Mesmalatu made great use of this chamber
many centuries ago before she became a demilich,
using the chamber to conjure up all manner
of outsiders to torment for secrets and
information via the binding effects.
Although she hasn’t used the room
in many years, the last two
of her subjects remain in a
metamorphosis binding, one
each in the fumes that waft up
from the censers held by the north
and east statues of Lissala.
As soon as a living creature
enters the room, both bound
outsiders manifest their faces
in the fumes rising from the
censers. To the north appears the
foul, leering face of a nalfeshnee,
while to the east appears the
androgynous but beautiful face of an
astral deva. Both faces immediately
start howling for the party’s attention,
begging for release and attempting to yell
over the other.
An antimagic field or a mage’s disjunction
can release one of the bound outsiders,
but otherwise there’s only one way to release
them, and this method requires destroying
one. By picking up one of the censers below a disembodied
visage and dumping the smoldering embers within
out, the life of the outsider associated with that censer
is snuffed out. Doing so immediately frees the other
outsider. Both outsiders know how this works and are
quick to impart this information to the PCs.
Of course, there’s a catch. Neither outsider is what
it appears to be, for they’re the final result of one of
Mesmalatu’s crueler experiments. The minds of the two
outsiders have been switched, so that the angel must
endure the foulness of the demon’s body, while the demon
must endure the terrible purity of the angel’s body. The
astral deva imprisoned in the nalfeshnee’s body speaks
the truth in a raspy, bellowing pig-demon voice, warning
the PCs that a lich swapped their minds between the two
bodies, and that the supposed angel is in fact a demon.
The demon trapped in the angel’s body uses its melodic
voice to warn the PCs that the desperate nalfeshnee is
trying to trick the PCs into releasing it, and promises
to aid the PCs in their quest if they upend the “demon’s”
censer and kill it.
Since both outsiders currently consist of strongly
aligned minds trapped in strongly aligned bodies, any
attempt to detect alignments on the two disembodied
faces detects good and evil in equal amounts. Both
also radiate chaos as well, and this
provides a significant clue—if
the “angel” is telling the truth,
it would be unlikely to radiate
chaos at all, since most angels are
neutral good (a successful DC 25
Knowledge [planes] check can
confirm this). The fact that the
“angel” radiates chaos indicates
the influence of chaos, such as
would result from such a creature
housing the mind of a demon.
The fact that the nalfeshnee is
more skilled at Bluff could well
spell disaster if the PCs merely
take both beings at their word.
If the PCs release the “angel” by
killing the “demon,” the demon-
possessed angel appears in the flesh
and immediately cackles in glee before
attacking the PCs, mocking them for
their gullibility and foolishness. The “angel”
fights to the death unless the abysium
reactor has been destroyed, in which case
it plane shifts to the Abyss to seek a way to
restore its former body once reduced to fewer
than 60 hit points.
If the PCs release the “demon,” it
congratulates them on their wisdom and trust, then
apologies for its stomach-churning appearance. The
angel bears its condition bravely, and vows to aid the PCs
for the remainder of the adventure until it can find a
way back home. It refuses to use the unholy aura, demon
summoning, or unholy nimbus powers that its new body
grants it on principle, but otherwise seeks to aid the PCs
as best it can, going so far as to sacrifice itself for them
if necessary.
In combat, the abilities of the mind-swapped angel
and demon are determined by their bodies, but their
actions in combat are governed by their minds. In time,
the angel in a demon’s body attempts to return to heaven
to submit itself to a painful but necessary “cleansing” to
restore its true body, whereas the demon in an angel’s
body seeks to capitalize on its new, seemingly innocent
form for its own nefarious purposes.
Beruvexus, Possessed Astral Deva
CR 14
XP 38,400
hp 172 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 10)
47
Aevaenthial, Possessed Nalfeshnee (Greed Demon)
CR 14
XP 38,400
hp 203 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 65)
Story Award: If the PCs choose correctly and release the
possessed demon and gain its aid, grant them XP as if they
had defeated it in combat.
e8. GuiltSpur treASury
Two stone pillars support the low ceiling of this vault. There are
no other furnishings in the chamber, and the room’s walls are
lined with empty niches. An immense and broken scorpion-
shaped statue made of bones lies in the middle of the room.
This room served Guiltspur as a treasury, but after the
end of Thassilon, many of the treasures kept here were
plundered by Mesmalatu. When she returned from Leng,
she slowly started to rebuild the stores here with items of
her own creation or discovery. When Cadrilkasta arrived,
she couldn’t resist the lure of treasure—she smashed
down the doors and killed the oversized skull ripper that
guarded the room, then loaded the chamber’s treasures
into her portable hole before moving on. The treasure she
looted can now be found in area F10.
e9. GuiltSpur GrAnd hAll (Cr 17)
A wide flight of stairs leads up to a large hall. Four black stone
pillars support the thirty-foot-high arched ceiling above, while
a pale green curtain hangs to the west. Two large faces are
carved into the walls to the north and south—the north face
grins and the south face scowls. Each face’s mouth is agape,
allowing access to a small alcove beyond.
This room was once used by Mesmalatu and ambassadors
from Shalast who came to hold audiences with visitors
from Leng. Today, though, it serves as the demilich’s tomb.
Although only two of the unusual mouth-shaped alcove
archways are visible when the PCs first enter the room, a
third one gapes far to the west behind the throne itself.
This third visage’s expression is one of abject fear. Upon
close inspection, a shimmering but mostly transparent
field of energy ripples in each of the mouths—the mouths
also radiate strong conjuration magic. A successful DC
28 Spellcraft check reveals that these mouths are portals,
and that anyone stepping into one of the mouths would
normally be transported to some unknown location. If the
Spellcraft check exceeds its DC by 10 or more, though, the
observer also notes that the energy field seems unstable,
as if the teleportation effect were malfunctioning. (A
character who observed and experienced first-hand the
problems with the damaged teleporter in the previous
adventure under Windsong Abbey automatically notes this
if her DC 28 Spellcraft check succeeds). The teleporters
once led to other areas in Guiltspur, but now merely cause
excruciating pain to anyone who steps through them,
dealing 10d6 points of damage (Fortitude DC 15 half).
Creature: Mesmalatu’s days of research are long behind
her now. As an awakened demilich, she spends the majority
of her time in a physical torpor, her mind spiraling
through philosophical landscapes and boundless mental
explorations of the further realms of probability. While in
this state of torpor, she appears as nothing more than a
gem-studded skull siting atop a pile of dust on the seat of
the throne beyond the emerald curtain.
The awakened demilich rises from this torpor to attack
if any of the treasures in the room are touched or if her
remains are disturbed. Mesmalatu also rises from her
torpor if the abysium reactor in area E5 is destroyed or
the portal to Leng in area E3 is activated—in such cases,
she moves to those locations to investigate. If she finds no
intruders to attack, she returns to her throne here and falls
back into her torpor.
Mesmalatu
CR 17
XP 102,400
Female awakened demilich cleric of Nyarlathotep 13
(Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 66)
NE Tiny undead
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., true seeing; Perception +19
DEFENSE
AC 25, touch 21, flat-footed 21 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural,
+5 profane, +2 size)
hp 153 (13d8+91)
Fort +18, Ref +12, Will +19
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +5, rejuvenation,
unholy grace; DR 20/—; Immune acid, cold, electricity,
magic, polymorph, undead traits; Resist electricity 20
Weaknesses priestly shame, torpor, vorpal susceptibility
OFFENSE
Speed fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Space 2.5 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks channel negative energy 8/day (DC 21, 7d6),
devour soul (DC 21), hand of the acolyte (9/day), telekinetic
storm (DC 21)
Demilich Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th; concentration +25)
Constant—true seeing
At will—greater bestow curse (DC 21), telekinesis (DC 20),
wail of the banshee (DC 24) (20-ft.-radius spread centered
on the demilich)
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 13th; concentration +19)
9/day—lightning arc (1d6+6 electricity)
2/day—dispelling touch
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 13th; concentration +19)
7th—blasphemy (DC 23), still chain lightningD (DC 22)
48
MesMAlATu
6th—still control windsD (DC 21), still flame strike (2, DC 21),
quickened still inflict light wounds
5th—greater command (3, DC 21), still imbue with spell
abilityD, still spell immunity
4th—still dispel magic (2), still dispel magicD, still contagion,
still inflict serious wounds (2)
3rd—blindness/deafness (3, DC 19), still hold person, still
inflict moderate wounds, still wind wallD
2nd—still inflict light wounds (3), still obscuring mist, still
sanctuary, still shield of faith
1st—command (3, DC 17), forbid actionUM (3, DC 17),
obscuring mistD
0 (at will)—bleed (DC 16), detect magic, flare (DC 16), light
D Domain spell; Domains Air, Magic
TACTICS
During Combat Mesmalatu’s first action in combat is
to attempt to devour the soul of the most dangerous
looking target—if the possessed nalfeshnee from
area E6 is with the party, she targets it with
this ability in preference to the PCs. On the
second round, she uses wail of the banshee.
On the third round, she casts her most
devastating spell. She repeats this pattern,
periodically augmenting it with inflict
wounds spells to heal herself. If she’s
targeted by holy smite or shatter,
Mesmalatu’s next action is to cast
spell immunity to make herself
immune to these spells.
Morale Mesmalatu fights until
destroyed.
STATISTICS
Str 6, Dex 17, Con —, Int 21, Wis 22,
Cha 21
Base Atk +9; CMB +10; CMD 24
Feats Craft Construct, Craft Magic Arms and
Armor, Craft Wondrous Item, Defensive
Combat Training, Dodge, Eschew
Materials, Flyby Attack, Quicken
Spell, Still Spell, Toughness
Skills Fly +31, Knowledge (arcana) +21,
Knowledge (planes) +21, Knowledge
(religion) +21, Perception +19, Sleight of
Hand +16, Spellcraft +21
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Draconic, Giant,
Infernal, Necril, Thassilonian, Undercommon
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Priestly Shame Even though she abandoned her
faith thousands of years ago, Mesmalatu still
harbors a hidden reserve of shame. Forcefully
presenting any object sacred to Lissala
(including anything bearing the image
of the Sihedron, but not one of the
shards of the Shattered Star) as a standard action causes the
demilich to become staggered for 1d4 rounds. She can be
staggered in this manner no more than once per day.
Hazard: The long green curtain that separates the
throne and western portion of this chamber from view
seems to be made of a flexible but strangely damp cloth.
It can be manipulated normally, but if subjected to any
amount of force (such as an attempt to pull it down, slash
it with a sword, or catch it in the area of effect of a damage-
dealing spell), the entire curtain suddenly detaches from
the wall and reverts to its actual composition of green
slime. The stuff splatters all targets within 5 feet of either
side of the curtain—a successful DC 15 Reflex save enables
a PC to avoid being splattered with the slime.
Green Slime
CR 4
XP 1,200 (Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook 416)
Treasure: Mesmalatu’s throne contains
more than her remains. A black horned
mask sits on the left armrest—this
is a nightgaunt mask. A deep purple
nightmare rod leans against the chair
back. Last but not least, sitting
under Mesmalatu’s skull when
she’s at rest is a large glittering
sapphire. This gem is worth
15,000 gp, but also serves as the key
to the whisperstone in area E6.
PART THREE: TEMPle OF
THE CRAWLING CHaOS
The Leng portal is a frightening and
nerve-racking method of transportation,
especially if someone simply leaps into
the pit in area E3 once the portal has
been activated. A leap into the mist isn’t
required—simply allowing the mist to envelop
a creature is enough, so a PC can climb or fly
down to the mist if she wishes. At the end of the
first round of being enveloped in the mist, the
PC suddenly feels the surrounding reality wash
away (climbing creatures feel the wall they’re on
simply vanish). There are a few moments of
vertigo when the PC floats in a silver void
without gravity, during which she glimpses
a coiling, writhing shape measuring
thousands of feet in length through the
thin mist—this is the writhing body of
the bhole trapped between worlds.
After a few moments of this
unpleasant sensation and scene,
49
the PC feels solidity reform around her. The mists part,
and the PC finds herself standing on a 40-foot-diameter
platform extending from a ragged mountainside—this is
area F1a.
temple feAtureS
This Temple of the Crawling Chaos is hardly the only one
in the realm of Leng, but it is one of the more remote.
Karzoug chose this temple as his point of contact for that
specific reason—he wisely wanted to limit the number
of Leng natives with which he would be dealing, and by
choosing a remote site in the far Windswept Range to begin
wearing thin the boundaries between Shalast and Leng, he
ensured a bit more privacy than had he established a link
to the cold wastes themselves.
The temple itself is built into the side of a wind-blasted,
icy mountainside. A small ledge provides a sort of stoop for
the temple, but no trail leads up from the lowlands below.
A long tunnel connects the temple’s far side to a higher
ledge on the other side of the mountain. The rooms inside
are lined with porphyry tiles polished to a near reflective
sheen. The doors are made of obsidian, and ceiling heights
average at 40 feet in halls and 60 feet or more in rooms,
giving the interior of the temple an overwhelming and
intimating sense of scale, as if it had been built for giants.
In fact, the temple itself rarely saw much use, and for
most of its time has been relatively abandoned save for
small numbers of caretakers and monstrous guardians.
The place was viewed by Karzoug’s Leng allies as a sort
of gathering place before visiting Shalast more than as
a temple. The temple is located at an elevation of about
20,000 feet. While Leng is not Golarion, the unfortunate
side effects from high altitude zones are in full force—
none of the natives of Leng are affected by these conditions,
but the PCs must eventually make Fortitude saves to
avoid ability damage, as detailed on page 430 of the Core
Rulebook. In addition, the entire temple complex is below
freezing (severe cold) in temperature—see page 442 of the
Core Rulebook for rules on severe cold.
f1. temple entrAnCe (Cr 12)
An ice- and snow-crusted shelf of land over a hundred feet
across clings to the side of a mountain cliff. Above and below,
dark storm clouds roil and obscure sight of the sky and ground,
while to the left and right, the sheer black side of the cliff extends
as far as the eye can see. A freezing wind whips through the air,
carrying with it a strangely mournful howl. A forty-foot-diameter
pagoda-like structure, its domed roof supported by two thick
pillars, is attached to the ledge via a short flight of stone steps,
leading to a column-lined avenue flanked to each side by three
immense stone sphinxes. The avenue leads up to the cliff face, in
which wait two immense thirty-foot-tall black stone doors.
The circular pagoda (area F1a) is the point at which
travelers to Leng appear when they use the Leng Portal. The
air between the two pillars maintains a swirling ripple,
similar to a vertically aligned but mostly transparent
vortex—any creature that steps into this vortex from the
west side is immediately transported back to the fountain
in area E3. The stone pagoda floats in the air, but is as solid
as if it were built atop the ground.
The mountainside is sheer—the cliffs extend for over 1
mile up and 2 miles down. A character who steps or falls
off the ledge drops several hundred feet and passes into
the clouds—visitors to Leng who arrived here via the
portal vanish upon entering the clouds only to slam at
full falling speed into the fountain in area E3, taking 20d6
points of damage.
The obsidian doors that open into the temple are
unlocked and swing open silently at a touch.
Creatures: A flock of nightgaunts lurk in the nearby
crags. While they are forbidden from entering the temple
itself, they swiftly react to the arrival of anyone through the
portal. Cadrilkasta’s recent use of the portal has particularly
intrigued the nightgaunts, who have been waiting ever since
for new visitors to torment—hopefully, visitors not as large
and dangerous-looking as a blue wyrm. The arrival of the
PCs is precisely what they’ve been hoping for.
Upon noticing the PCs, the 16 nightgaunts swoop down
to attack, seeking to torment, tickle, and tackle the PCs.
The nightgaunts hope to eventually grab up a PC and then
drop him over the edge into the clouds below, but once at
least half of their number have been slain, the remaining
nightgaunts lose interest and fly away, no longer eager to
interact with the obviously too-dangerous PCs.
Nightgaunts (16)
CR 4
XP 1,200 each
hp 37 each (see page 90)
f2. the hAllS of lenG
The walls, floor, and vaulted ceiling of these twenty-foot-wide
halls are tiled with reflective slabs of polished purple stone,
scarred here and there with cracks and discolorations. Darker,
almost black, striations run through these tiles, and when
viewed from the corner of the eye, these veins seem to pulse
with deeper darkness. Towering statues of regal-appearing
men loom at the ends of side passages to either side of the
main hall.
The walls of this temple are eerie and unsettling to
look at, and feel strangely clammy to the touch, but are
otherwise harmless and treated as normal stone. The
statues are images of Nyarlathotep in his guise as the
Black Pharaoh. These statues seem to shift and move
50
F1a
F1
F2
F3
F8
F8a
F8b
F9
F10
F4
F5
F6
F7
Temple OF THE CrawlINg CHaos
1 square = 10 feet
slightly when one looks away and glances back—again,
this is an eerie side effect of the realm of Leng and not
something more sinister. The cracked discolorations
on the walls are remains from Cadrilkasta’s lightning
breath. When she arrived here, she slew several Leng
ghouls who once guarded this area—the ghouls have
cannibalized those remains but didn’t bother repairing
the lightning damage to the walls.
Creatures: The guardians of the outer chambers of the
temple were once powerful moon-beasts in the service
of Nyarlathotep, but today these areas are warded only
by a small band of Leng ghouls who agreed to serve as
caretakers of the tomb. When the PCs arrive, two of these
ghouls stand guard in the shadows near the doors to area
F3—if the ghouls notice the PCs first, they squeal in shock
and quickly move into area F3. If the PCs confront them
and destroy them before they can do so, reduce the number
of ghouls encountered in area F3 by 2.
Leng Ghouls (2)
CR 10
XP 9,600 each
hp 126 each (see page 45)
f3. ChArnel bAnquet (Cr 16)
This forty-foot square room may have once been a fine
entry hall, but today it is strewn with heaps of half-gnawed
dismembered corpses from humans, animals, and things
strangely in-between. Only the freezing temperature keeps
the smell of this charnel chamber from being overwhelmingly
foul. Large black stone double doors stand in the center of the
room’s four walls, with those to the north hanging ajar.
Creatures: The remaining eight Leng ghoul guardians
of the temple’s outer halls dwell here—the body parts
strewn about the room are the scattered remains of these
messy eaters’ last meal. The number of body parts on the
ground makes the room difficult terrain, although not for
the ghouls, who take a perverse glee in moving gracefully
through the frozen carrion.
Although evil, these ghouls don’t immediately stop to
attack the PCs when they enter. Instead, the ghouls crouch
and cower and hiss and growl. One of the ghouls stands
up and addresses the PCs, demanding they take their
still-too-warm bodies back the way they came if they don’t
S
S
51
want to become dinner. A successful DC 20 Sense motive
is enough for the PCs to get the feeling that this is mostly
bluster, and that the ghouls aren’t all that interested in
fighting. If the PCs attack, the ghouls flee south to area
F6, where they cajole the gugs there to help them fight the
PCs, but otherwise they fight until destroyed.
If the PCs are accompanied by Morcruft, their ghoul
companion goes a long way toward calming the other
ghouls down by explaining how the PCs helped him
return to Leng. If Morcruft is not with the PCs, they
need to convince the ghouls of their sincerity by making
a successful DC 35 Diplomacy check to put them feel at
ease enough to talk. Providing the ghouls with a large
fresh carcass to eat (such as that of a moon-beast or no
fewer than four nightgaunts) grants a +10 bonus on this
Diplomacy check.
If the PCs befriend the ghouls, they’ll allow the PCs
to delve deeper into the temple without opposition. The
ghouls can explain the purpose of the automatic abattoir
in area F4, and can warn them of the gugs in area F6.
Of the dragon Cadrilkasta the ghouls know little, save
that she killed a dozen of them before the survivors fled
and let her continue her rampage through the complex.
The dragon paused long enough before her attack to
demand the location of a “Shard of Sloth,” but when the
ghouls couldn’t answer (they do not know the shard has
rested within area F9 for the last 10,000 years or so), she
attacked and they fled or died. They know the dragon is
still somewhere deeper in the temple, and that the moon-
beasts who now toil in the Grand Temple are preparing
a weapon to use against the dragon, but beyond this they
cannot help the PCs.
Morcruft takes his leave of the PCs at this point,
and neither he nor the other ghouls are interested in
accompanying the PCs further—although they do
note that, if they should happen to kill anything or die
themselves, it would be ever so appreciated if the survivors
could take it upon themselves to return the delicious
remains of such a mortal failure back here for supper.
Leng Ghouls (8)
CR 10
XP 9,600 each
hp 126 each (see page 45)
Story Award: If the PCs manage to avoid fighting the
ghouls and learn what the creatures know, award them
XP as if they’d defeated the ghouls in combat (76,800 XP
for all eight ghouls).
f4. AutomAtiC AbAttoir
This awful chamber contains hundreds of hooks hanging from
chains dangling from the ceiling. Many of these chains contain
the partially butchered bodies of dead humans, animals, and
monsters. A bank of ten-foot-tall upright sarcophagi stand
along the north wall. Carved into the front of each is a highly
detailed image of a human being eaten from all sides by
ghoulish figures.
After Thassilon fell and Mesmalatu returned to
Guiltspur, the guardianship of the temple’s outer halls
grew half-hearted. Rather than stay here themselves, the
moon-beasts who formerly tended the temple conscripted
a tribe of Leng ghouls to stand guard. As part of the deal,
they outfitted this chamber with six eldritch sarcophagi
that would reach out across Leng and even into the
Dimension of Dreams or the Material Plane and pluck
bodies of the recently slain from across these worlds,
placing them inside the sarcophagi at the rate of one body
per day. In so doing, the moon-beasts earned the loyalty of
the ghouls, who knew a good deal when they saw it.
Today, five of the six sarcophagi here are empty, but
one random sarcophagus contains a fresh body harvested
from somewhere else. Feel free to have a little fun with
your players here if you want—the body could be someone
they recently slew, for example, or could be a body from an
entirely different campaign. It could even be a body from a
distant planet called Earth.
f5. CroSSroAdS
The hallway branches here into a crossroads. To the south
the hall ends at a pair of vaguely humanoid statues standing
next to each other and holding a purple sphere of crystal
between them, while to the west the hall ends at a wall
bearing a spiral of glowing runes. To the north the hall
extends back into the dark, while to the east the hall falls
away into an immense cavern.
The dead end to the west bears a permanent phase door
that allows access to area F7. The spiral of runes is written
in Aklo and contain a long invocation to Nyarlathotep,
the Crawling Chaos—anyone who reads them aloud
activates the phase door and can use it to enter area F7,
but unless the speaker is a worshiper of Nyarlathotep,
speaking the blasphemous phrases aloud forces the
character to attempt a DC 15 Will save to avoid being
confused for 1d6 rounds.
Treasure: The statues to the south hold a crystal ball
of the dark void between them, which the ghouls can use
to contact and communicate with the moon-beasts who
left them here as guards. The ghouls never had to use the
crystal ball until recently, when Cadrilkasta tore through
the temple. The surviving ghouls used it to report to the
moon-beasts, who swiftly traveled to the temple from
their lair in Sarkomand via the statue at area F8a.
52
Gug SavANt
f6. bone pit (Cr 15)
The floor of this huge cavern is adrift in dunes of bones. Skulls,
femurs, rib cages, and countless more from countless dead
stretch from wall to wall, while from stalactites above hang
thick cords of sinew on which dangle complex and disturbingly
artistic bone chimes.
When the ghouls finish with their meals, the bones are
brought here for disposal—over the ages, they’ve resulted
in the massive heaps seen here. These bones (which are
stacked 10 feet deep) count as difficult terrain.
Creatures: The occupants of this massive chamber
are a small group of gugs captured in the dark tunnels
under Leng and transported here by the temple’s old
masters ages ago. The gugs are long-lived, and their
inbreeding over the ages has bred into them increased
vigor. Only four of them dwell here now, but one of
those four has developed into a powerful gug savant.
As with most gugs, all four are strangely afraid of Leng
ghouls, and follow their commands without question.
The ghouls periodically ensure the gugs have food,
and have recently thrown them the remains of their
kin slain by the dragon—food the savant is eager
to eat in order to show his bravery to the others. The
bone chimes that hang from the ceiling are the gugs’
creations—an eerie insight into the monsters’ hidden
artistic natures. This nature is nowhere in evidence
as soon as they see the PCs—they attack on sight and
fight to the death, pursuing them throughout the
temple unless confronted by a ghoul, in which
case they immediately cower and f lee. Canny
PCs who learn of this unusual fear can,
perhaps, capitalize on it if they can trick
the gugs into thinking they’re Leng ghouls
themselves, but unfortunately gugs are
quite perceptive.
Gug Savant
CR 15
XP 51,200
Advanced gug savant (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2
151, 292)
CE Large aberration
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +28
DEFENSE
AC 29, touch 13, flat-footed 25 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge,
+16 natural, –1 size)
hp 230 (20d8+140)
Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +19
Immune poison, disease
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee bite +24 (1d8+10), 4 claws +24 (1d6+10)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d6+15)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th; concentration +16)
1/day—invisibility, spike stones (DC 20), transmute rock to
mud (DC 21), unholy blight (DC 20)
TACTICS
During Combat The gug savant hangs back, using its spell-
like abilities on the PCs for a few rounds while its kin
engage in melee before it lumbers up to attack as well.
Morale The gug savant fights to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 30, Dex 16, Con 22, Int 15, Wis 20, Cha 22
Base Atk +15; CMB +26 (+28 bull rush); CMD 40 (42 vs. bull rush)
Feats Awesome Blow, Dodge, Improved Bull Rush, Improved
Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Lunge, Mobility,
Power Attack, Toughness
53
Skills Climb +41, Disguise +10, Escape Artist +30, Knowledge
(dungeoneering) +25, Perception +28, Stealth +22, Survival +28
Languages Undercommon
Advanced Gugs (4)
CR 11
XP 12,800 each
hp 157 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 151, 292)
f7. meSmAlAtu’S phylACtery (Cr 15)
This chamber has no obvious exits. The wall to one side features
a spiraling pattern of runes, with a statue of a regal-looking
pharaoh to the right and a twenty-foot-long basalt sarcophagus
to the left in a curved alcove. Numerous empty shelves line the
walls, while the ceiling overhead is obscured by a thick tangle
of cobwebs.
The spiral of runes is another permanent phase door
that functions identically to the door at area F5.
This chamber is where Mesmalatu made her
transformation into a lich. The enormous sarcophagus
radiates faint necromancy—a successful DC 30 Spellcraft
check made while examining it reveals that the thing is
a single-use magical creation intended to aid a specific
individual’s transformation into a lich, and that it was
originally infused with potent necromantic energies
but was already used long ago. Mesmalatu underwent a
lengthy ritual to achieve lichdom using this sarcophagus.
The ritual ended with her teleportation into the hollow
within the sarcophagus, which she then filled with
necromantically infused incense smoke so that her body,
soon to be dead of dehydration, could steep in the vapors
for a year and a day.
Creatures: A particularly powerful Leng spider
captured long ago by Mesmalatu has been placed in stasis
in this crypt as a guardian. Although her phylactery is
no longer stored here (in fact, she lost this item long ago
after she became a demilich), the Leng spider remains
in stasis among the webs above. It emerges from stasis
as soon as any other living creature enters the chamber
and immediately moves to attack. It doesn’t know that
Mesmalatu has forgotten about it, and hopes she’s nearby
and will keep her promise of releasing it once it kills the
next group of intruders.
Advanced Leng Spider
CR 15
XP 51,200
hp 232 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 176, 292)
Treasure: The spacious coffin-sized hollow within
the sarcophagus contains a few items of value—old
bits of jewelry and magical leftovers from Mesmalatu’s
transformation that she had little interest in keeping as
a lich. The sarcophagus must be smashed open to get to
these items (hardness 8, hp 900, break DC 65) if no one
wants to risk teleporting into its interior.
Within the hollow lies a gold bejeweled brazier worth
5,000 gp, an iridescent spindle ioun stone, a belt of mighty
constitution +6, and a fine Thassilonian funeral robe made
of solidified shadows that shifts and flickers (this is a
minor magical effect) worth 7,500 gp.
f8. bACk doorS
The two secret doors here can be found with a successful
DC 40 Perception check. Behind each door lies a short
hallway ending at a statue of the Black Pharaoh with his
hands at his side, palms out. A native of Leng who touches
both of the statue’s palms is instantaneously whisked
away to another temple devoted to the Crawling Chaos—
the statue in area F8a leads to a temple in the Leng city of
Sarkomand, while the statue in area F8b leads instead to
a temple on the moon looming high over Leng. A PC who
succeeds at a DC 30 Spellcraft check while examining either
statue’s strong conjuration aura identifies the use for the
statues and the fact that only natives of Leng can safely use
them—any other creature that attempts to travel via these
statues receives a brief mental image of the destination
before being blown backward from the statue by a powerful
blast of wind (treat as a tornado-force wind [Pathfinder Core
Rulebook 439] that affects only that creature).
f9. the GreAt temple to the
CrAwlinG ChAoS (Cr 17)
This vast temple rises to a looming height of just over a
hundred feet above. The ceiling is supported by pillars
of purple porphyry that match the polished sheen of the
chambers’ floor, walls, and ceiling. To the south, a flight of
stairs descends into the cathedral, while a pair of enormous
basalt statues of faceless sphinxes squat to the west. An
immense stone bowl, its mouth forty feet across, sits on a
huge stone altar to the east, beyond which a twenty-foot-
wide rent in the east wall provides access to a natural tunnel
leading deeper into the mountain. The mangled and burnt
corpses of a half-dozen pallid froglike monsters with faces
made of tentacles lie haphazardly about the chamber
This huge temple hasn’t been used for the worship of
Nyarlathotep in over 10,000 years. For much of that time,
it instead served as the vault for the Shard of Sloth, left
by Mesmalatu in the care of a group of undead moon-
beasts. Those undead monsters still guarded the shard
when Cadrilkasta arrived not long ago—the dragon
made short work of the creatures and claimed the Shard
of Sloth for her own, only to immediately succumb to its
curse. Mistaking the lethargy brought on by the shard for
54
Cadrilkasta
exhaustion, the dragon retreated up the tunnel to area
F10 and decided to rest for a bit, and has remained there
ever since.
The immense bowl was used at one
point in the ancient past to hold the
vast sacrifices Nyarlathotep often
demanded, but today it is being used
for something even more sinister.
Creatures: After Cadrilkasta’s
attack on the temple, the Leng
ghouls contacted their moon-
beast masters to report it.
These monsters quickly came
to the temple to investigate,
but when they first attempted to
confront the torpid dragon,
she slew three of them with
ease, forcing the others to
retreat and regroup. Their current
plan simmers and bubbles hideously
in the enormous sacrificial bowl.
The moon-beasts are performing
a blasphemous ritual to draw upon
the dreaming nightmares of countless
insane minds who have been touched
by Leng over the years, focusing those
nightmares on the dead cleric in the
bowl and infusing it with horror. The
ritual nears its completion—bubbling in
the bowl is an almost completely formed
shoggoth, a formless night-black monstrosity
born of myriad lunatic nightmares.
The moon-beasts have been taking shifts
so they can constantly maintain the complex
ritual to grow the shoggoth to full size, and they are
only 7 days away from success at the time the PCs first
enter this room. Of the four moon-beasts, one of them
carries on the ritual while the others watch and rest
and guard—the arrival of the PCs gives them a rare
opportunity to speed the ritual to its conclusion. If the
moon-beasts can get the PCs close enough to the still-
immobile but otherwise fully functional shoggoth, it
can lash out from the bowl and engulf them, drawing
enough life energy from their bodies to hasten the end
of the ritual. If the moon-beasts can’t magically compel
or otherwise grab the PCs and pull them within range of
the shoggoth’s location, they’ll do their best to render the
PCs unconscious and simply carry the bodies over to feed
it. The moon-beast currently performing the ritual can
afford to pause long enough to join in the battle as well.
The shoggoth cannot move from within the confines
of the bowl or use its maddening cacophony attack until
the ritual is finished. The rim of the bowl is 25 feet off
the ground, which means that the shoggoth can reach
any creature standing on the ground in a square adjacent
to the bowl’s rim. Each living creature the shoggoth
manages to kill and engulf shortens the length of its
remaining 7 days by 3 days—if it kills and engulfs
three creatures (who must have at least 11 Hit Dice—
PCs and moon-beasts alike count!), it
can slither up and out of its bowl. If
no one remains to lure the shoggoth
up to area F10, the creature begins
exploring the temple at random,
eventually confronting Cadrilkasta
as
the
moon-beasts
themselves
originally hoped.
Note that while the shoggoth in
this encounter is normally a CR 19
foe, the fact that it is immobile and
cannot use all of its special attacks means
that the CR of the encounter CR itself is
only 17 in total, even including the moon-beasts.
Advanced Moon-Beasts (4)
CR 12
XP 19,200 each
hp 161 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 195)
Shoggoth
CR 19
XP 204,800
hp 333 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 249)
Development: If the PCs kill
all of the moon-beasts, the ritual
to finish conjuring the shoggoth is
disrupted. The shoggoth begins to waste
away, taking 1 negative level per round, and
finally melting away once these negative levels equal its
total Hit Dice. A successful DC 30 Knowledge (arcana
or religion) check made while studying the strong
conjuration aura emitted by the bowl and its almost-
conjured shoggoth reveals what the moon-beasts were up
to, and while it doesn’t impart to the PCs knowledge of
how to complete the ritual traditionally, they do know
that sacrificing enough creatures with 10 HD or more will
finish the summoning, perhaps allowing unscrupulous
or foolhardy PCs a particularly devastating tool to use
against the dragon. If they still survive, the Leng ghouls
can provide the PCs a somewhat guilt-free option for
fueling the ritual.
Story Award: If the PCs prevent the shoggoth from
being freed by killing the moon-beasts and then kill the
creature (either by attacking it or just letting it accumulate
enough negative levels), award them an additional 25,600
XP. If instead they finish the ritual themselves and lure
the shoggoth onward to attack Cadrilkasta (or simply kill
55
the shoggoth after it gets loose), award them experience
as if they had defeated the shoggoth in battle.
f10. the CurSed drAGon (Cr 19)
A twenty-foot-wide cavern opens onto a high mountain ledge
here. The air is unnaturally still and cool, and a mound of
rubble into which an immense nest of sorts has been built sits
against the cliff side to the south. But the view to the north
is far more overwhelming, for here, a ragged black mountain
range extends to the horizon. In the distance, brooding upon
the range’s highest peak, is an unsettling and impossibly tall
castle, its towers rising up as if a hand were reaching skyward
toward the gibbous moon.
The castle in the distance is Kadath, the crown of Leng
and one of the Crawling Chaos’s many lairs. As detailed in
the gazetteer of Leng starting on page 64, gazing for too long
upon Kadath can have dangerous effects on mortal minds.
The mountain ledge drops away into a vast emptiness filled
with clouds—a character who flies down (or falls) into these
clouds returns to area E3, as detailed in area F1.
Creature: The blue wyrm Cadrilkasta has been
slumbering here for weeks, her draconic metabolism not
yet having driven her to action to fight against the Shard
of Sloth’s curse. As a result, she’s acclimated to the high
altitude—she also protects herself from the cold with
endure elements. In time, she’ll rouse herself and make her
way back to Guiltspur, but without the PCs’ interference,
that day is still weeks, perhaps months, in the future.
When she notices the PCs, she raises a sleepy head off the
ground to regard them as she clutches the Shard of Sloth
possessively in one talon (she won’t make attacks with
this claw once combat begins). Unless the PCs attack her
on sight, the dragon rumbles an arrogant but somewhat
listless greeting to them.
“And you would be those I have dreamed about. I can smell the
other shards on you. Thank you for bringing them to me, apes.
Leave them here with me, and I will not contest your immediate
and silent departure.”
Cadrilkasta is willing to entertain other forms of
discussion and conversation for a short time as well—
you can use this opportunity to answer questions that
curious players may have about the events that occurred
behind the scenes of this adventure. Eventually, though,
the dragon grows impatient with the delay and lashes out
with a breath weapon—allow PCs in a discussion with
her to make Sense Motive checks against her Bluff to
determine if this occurs during a surprise round or not.
Of course, if the PCs lure a released shoggoth up to this
ledge to attack the dragon, there’s not going to be time for
discussion—the shoggoth’s maddening cacophony attack
prevents it from surprising the dragon, for its cries of
“Tekeli-li!” as it hurtles up the tunnel are impossible for
even a cursed dragon to ignore.
Cadrilkasta
CR 19
XP 204,800
hp 351 (see page 58)
Treasure: Beyond the significant amount of valuables
that Cadrilkasta wears in the form of jewelry and magic
(this treasure is listed in her stat block), the dragon has
much of treasure she looted on her way through Guiltspur
(mostly taken from Mesmalatu’s treasury in area E8) to
establish a hoard here in her temporary lair. A fair amount
of this treasure consists of loose coins and art objects—
gathering it all up and sifting it out from the rubble and
snow in the dragon’s nest takes at least an hour, although
using detect magic can significantly speed up the process of
gathering the magic items. Cadrilkasta transported most
of the treasure here via a portable hole, but spread the wealth
out when she established her lair here.
There’s a total of 120,300 cp, 65,750 sp, 22,075 gp, and
1,937 pp scattered around Cadrilkasta’s nest. In addition,
the collection of treasures includes a masterwork
longsword with a filigreed platinum handle worth 557
gp, four large darkwood and mother-of-pearl keys shaped
like demons that do not open any lock in this adventure
but are each worth 500 gp, a shrew statuette wearing
a pointed cap carved from smoky quartz worth 75 gp, a
magnificent mithral tray depicting a murder of crows
around a dead tree featuring tiny little flakes of jet for the
crows’ eyes and worth 2,500 gp, a Small +2 flaming spear,
a huge jug containing sand and 50 pearls worth 100 gp
each, a lens of detection in a silk pouch embroidered with an
image of a snake eating a hound (the pouch itself is worth
50 gp), a huge gilt-edged tureen depicting a dragon turtle
and set with a trio of diamonds (worth 5,300 gp in total),
an eversmoking bottle carved to resemble a fat man with an
open upturned mouth, a leather case containing a manual
of gainful exercise +3, a poorly taxidermied gnome with a
frozen elixir of firebreath in his mouth, the fully articulated
skeleton of a dog-man (the wire used to articulate the
skeleton is silver and worth a total of 250 gp), a glass jar
containing a two-headed owlbear fetus that clutches a
stone of good luck in one beak and a stone of weight in the
other, and a complicated adamantine puzzlebox scroll
tube worth 4,000 gp and containing a scroll of miracle
(opening the scroll tube requires a successful DC 35
Disable Device check) .
Story Award: Recovering the Shard of Sloth and activating
it with an incandescent blue sphere ioun stone (such as the one
found in area C5) earns the PCs 38,400 XP.
56
CONCLUDING THE ADVENTURE
With the defeat of Cadrilkasta and the recovery of
the Shard of Sloth, the PCs’ quest for the Shattered Star
essentially comes to a close. The Adventure Path assumes
the PCs face no more significant threats before they
return to Magnimar with their prize (although should
the PCs wish to explore Leng further, there is certainly
no shortage of high-level adventure to be had there!). As
with the end of the previous adventures in this campaign,
once the PCs return to Magnimar and document their
experiences, the Fame scores of PCs who are members of
the Pathfinder Society increase by 16, and they earn 16
Prestige Points for their accomplishments.
While the recovery of the seven shards is certainly an
accomplishment worthy of legend, actually rebuilding
the Sihedron itself is an even greater task. Once the PCs
return to Magnimar, Sheila Heidmarch informs them
that many famous individuals have come to or are en
route to Magnimar not only to witness the rebuilding of
the Sihedron, but also to meet the adventurers who braved
five Thassilonian ruins to recover the shards. She asks
them to take part in the reforging ritual, pointing out
that this is an opportunity for them to revel in their glory
and enjoy their fame—leaving unsaid but implied the
increased prestige that this accomplishment will bring
the Pathfinder Society.
Unfortunately, the ritual is fated to have one significant
and unintended consequence: the contingent activation of
powerful ancient magic that has slumbered at the bottom
of the ocean for a hundred centuries. The ancient sunken
city of Xin rises, unleashing a series of monster-infested
tsunamis—a sign of a new danger on the horizon. The
quest for the Shattered Star was intended to arm Varisia’s
newest heroes with a potent artifact that could be used
to defend the land from future dangers rising from the
region’s ancient past. That its creation would trigger one
such danger is revealed in the final adventure: “The Dead
Heart of Xin.”
57
A native of the Hold of Belkzen, Cadrilkasta has abandoned her homeland and the orcs who have
come to fear her for a new venture: an expedition to the Storval Plateau in search of an ancient
treasure—the Shard of Greed.
Cadrilkasta
CR 19
XP 204,800
Female wyrm blue dragon (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 94)
LE Gargantuan dragon (earth)
Init +2; Senses blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., dragon
senses; Perception +34
Aura electricity (10 ft., 2d6 electricity), frightful presence (330 ft.,
DC 28)
DEFENSE
AC 39, touch 4, flat-footed 39 (–2 Dex, +35 natural, –4 size)
hp 351 (26d12+182)
Fort +22, Ref +15, Will +20; +2 vs. conjuration spells
Defensive Abilities evasion, freedom of movement; DR 20/
magic; Immune electricity, paralysis, sleep; SR 30
Weaknesses curse of sloth
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow 10 ft., fly 125 ft. (clumsy)
Melee bite +38 (4d6+16/19–20), claw +38 (2d8+16), tail slap +33
(2d8+19), 2 wings +36 (2d6+9)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft.
Special Attacks breath weapon (120-ft. line, 22d8 electricity,
Reflex DC 30 half, usable every 1d4 rounds), crush (4d6+19,
DC 30), desert thirst (DC 28), mirage, storm breath (DC 30),
tail sweep (2d6+19, DC 30)
Dragon Spell-Like Abilities (CL 26th; concentration +35)
At will—create water, ghost sound (DC 15), hallucinatory
terrain (DC 19), minor image (DC 16), veil (DC 21),
ventriloquism (DC 16)
Shard of Sloth Spell-Like Abilities (CL 26th; concentration +35)
1/day—summon monster III
Spells Known (CL 15th; concentration +25)
7th (4)—greater scrying (DC 22), prismatic spray (DC 22)
6th (6)—chain lightning (DC 21), contingency, geas/quest
5th (7)—dominate person (DC 20), nightmare (DC 20),
sending, teleport
4th (7)—charm monster (DC 19), greater invisibility,
phantasmal killer (DC 19), wall of ice
3rd (7)—dispel magic, displacement, gaseous form, slow (DC 18)
2nd (7)—alter self, command undead (DC 17), detect thoughts
(DC 17), glitterdust (DC 17), scorching ray
1st (8)—charm person (DC 16), endure elements, grease (DC 16),
magic missile, reduce person (DC 16)
0 (at will)—bleed (DC 15), detect magic, light, mage hand,
message, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic, touch of
fatigue (DC 15)
TACTICS
Before Combat Cadrilkasta casts endure elements every day.
During Combat Although Cadrilkasta is a dangerous foe, the
curse that afflicts her helps to soften that danger somewhat.
She doesn’t bother casting many preparatory spells before
combat, and for the first few rounds of battle she doesn’t
bother taking more than a move action, and stays in her
nest. She clutches the Shard of Sloth tightly in one claw at all
times, which prevents her from making a second claw attack
even when she does start making full attacks. At the start of
combat, Cadrilkasta activates her storm breath ability, calling
down a bolt of lightning on the closest foe. She continues
calling down bolts each round until she’s reduced to fewer
than 250 hit points. At this point, she realizes she’s up against
significant foes. She then leaps into the air and starts taking
her full complement of actions (at which point her curse
makes her sickened). She prefers not to make full attacks,
and instead swoops back and forth while casting spells or
breathing lightning on the PCs. She also starts using Quicken
Spell to cast additional spells each round—displacement on
the first round, followed by glitterdust, scorching ray, magic
missile, grease, and reduce person. She saves a 7th-level spell
slot for summon monster VII, three 5th-level spell slots for
her teleport spells, and at least two 4th-level slots for charm
monster spells to be used as detailed in her Morale section
if she flees. Once she’s reduced to fewer than 150 hit points,
her contingency spell activates, turning her invisible. She then
casts teleport to retreat to area F3, where she casts summon
monster VII to summon 1d3 lillend azatas, then orders them
to heal her with cure serious wounds and cure light wounds.
Once they exhaust their healing, she uses her mirage ability
to create a duplicate image of herself farther up the tunnel,
making it appear that she’s come back to cast more spells and
breathe more lightning at foes while her lillends move up to
attack the PCs as well. As soon as her mirage ends or the PCs
confront her in F3, she lands in their midst and starts making
full attacks (still minus one claw attack).
Morale Cadrilkasta tries to escape if reduced to
60 hit points or fewer, taking with her only the
58
treasures she carries or wears and leaving the rest behind
in area F10. She casts teleport to return to area F1, then
flees through the portal back to area E3 in the Embassy of
Leng (she doesn’t realize she can do the same by fleeing
into the clouds below). The dragon makes her way back
through the dungeons—pausing to breathe a bolt of
lightning into the pit at area E3 to wake up and anger the
bhole so that pursuing PCs need to deal with it (unless
they’ve already damaged the bhole enough to make it
retreat for an extended time). As she works her way back
up through the dungeon, Cadrilkasta uses charm monster
to recruit additional creatures to slow down her pursuers.
Once she exits the dungeon (or immediately upon returning
to the Material Plane if the abysium reactor is no longer
functioning), she uses teleport to escape into an old lair in
the Kodar Mountains.
STATISTICS
Str 37, Dex 6, Con 25, Int 20, Wis 21, Cha 20
Base Atk +26; CMB +43; CMD 51 (55 vs. trip)
Feats Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus,
Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Vital
Strike, Lightning Reflexes, Maximize Spell, Multiattack,
Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Staggering Critical, Vital Strike
Skills Bluff +34, Diplomacy +34, Fly +13, Intimidate +34,
Knowledge (arcana) +34, Knowledge (geography) +34,
Knowledge (history) +34, Knowledge (nature) +34,
Perception +34, Sense Motive +34, Stealth +15
Languages Aquan, Common, Draconic, Giant, Thassilonian,
Varisian
SQ contingency, sound imitation
Gear amulet of mighty fists +3, portable hole, ring of
evasion, ring of freedom of movement, Shard of
Sloth, contingency statuette worth 4,500 gp
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Contingency If Cadrilkasta is
reduced to 150 hit points or
fewer, greater invisibility
activates on her.
Curse of Sloth Cadrilkasta is under the curse of sloth from the
Shard of Sloth she carries (Pathfinder #61 69).
Cadrilkasta’s mother was slain by a party of adventurers not
long before Cadrilkasta’s egg hatched, but the miscreants
failed to locate the dragon’s lair. Having hatched with
no parents or siblings but inheriting a sizable treasure,
Cadrilkasta spent her early years making raids against
the orcs to the south and barbarians to the north. By the
time she was an adult, she was frustrated by her lack of
learning and relocated her lair to the Hungry Mountains.
There she spent many decades abducting scholars to force
them to broaden her education, particularly with stories
of ancient Thassilon. Once she felt she’d learned all she
could, she returned to Belkzen to build her legend among
the orc tribes—although killing orcs was generally only a
method for her to gain access to more Thassilonian ruins
to explore and loot.
Campaign Role
If Cadrilkasta makes it back to her old lair, she hides out
long enough to heal, during which time she uses greater
scrying to spy on the PCs and nightmare to show them she
will come after them someday. The dragon could track the
PCs all the way to Magnimar or even the city of Xin in an
attempt to kill them and get back her treasure!
59
Xaivanshee leads a small group of highly trained specialists far beyond the walls of the drow
city of Zirnakaynin in search of an artifact that she needs to complete her personal quest to
become a vampire.
Xaivanshee Rasivrein
CR 15
XP 51,200
Female drow noble cleric of Zura 15 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 115)
CE Medium humanoid (elf)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Perception +17
Aura cloak of chaos (DC 23)
DEFENSE
AC 28, touch 20, flat-footed 22 (+7 armor, +4 deflection, +5 Dex,
+1 dodge, +1 shield)
hp 172 (15d8+101); fast healing 10
Fort +17, Ref +14, Will +18; +2 vs. enchantments, +4 vs. fear
and poison
Defensive Abilities Zura’s favor; Immune sleep; SR 26
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +3 horacalcum rapier +18/+13/+8 (1d6+3/18–20), +3 keen
mithral rapier +17 (1d6+3/15–20)
Special Attacks aura of madness (DC 22, 15 rounds/day),
channel negative energy 5/day (DC 19, 8d6), chaos blade
(7 rounds, 2/day)
Demonic Obedience Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th;
concentration +20)
1/day—vampiric touch
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +20)
8/day—touch of chaos, vision of madness (+/–7)
Drow Noble Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +17)
Constant—detect magic
At will—dancing lights, deeper darkness, faerie fire, feather
fall, levitate
1/day—dispel magic, divine favor, suggestion (DC 15)
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 15th; concentration +20)
8th— cloak of chaosD (DC 23), rift of ruinBOTD2 (DC 23)
7th—destruction (DC 22), insanityD (DC 22), mass cure serious
wounds (DC 22)
6th—blade barrier (DC 21), heal, heroes’ feast, phantasmal
killerD (DC 21)
5th—breath of life (2), dispel lawD, greater command (2, DC 20),
mass cure light wounds (DC 20)
4th—air walk, confusionD (DC 19), cure critical wounds,
freedom of movement, greater magic weapon (2)
3rd—bestow curse (DC 18), blindness/deafness (DC 18), cure
serious wounds (2), magic circle against lawD, magic vestment
2nd—cure moderate wounds (2), hold person (DC 17), resist
energy, silence (DC 17), touch of idiocyD
1st—command (DC 16), cure light wounds (3), lesser
confusionD (DC 16), obscuring mist, shield of faith
0 (at will)—bleed (DC 15), detect magic, read magic, stabilize
D Domain spell; Domains Chaos, Madness
TACTICS
Before Combat Xaivanshee uses her extend metamagic rod to
cast an extended heroes’ feast for herself and her allies every
day. She also casts magic vestment on her armor and greater
magic weapon on both rapiers, then casts cloak of chaos
on herself (this lasts for 24 hours due to her favor with her
deity). If she knows she’s about to enter combat, she casts
air walk and freedom of movement.
During Combat Xaivanshee hangs back in combat, letting her
allies occupy foes in melee as long as possible. Her first act in
the battle is to cast rift of ruin to open a chasm under the feet
of any enemies standing on the ground. On the second round,
she causes the rift to close by summoning a bebilith through
it to fight alongside her. (If you don’t have access to rift of ruin,
replace this spell with summon monster VIII.) Xaivanshee uses
her ranged attack spells in following rounds. If she sees her
allies have become wounded, she moves in to aid them with
healing spells. She’s well aware that the longer they live, the
longer they can protect her. She enters melee combat if she
has to, but tries to cast divine favor beforehand. She saves heal
to cast on herself once she’s reduced to 50 hit points or fewer.
Morale Xaivanshee goes to any lengths to remain alive if faced
with certain defeat, taking hostages to bargain for escape,
fleeing in outright cowardice, offering bribes, or begging for
mercy (in that order of preference).
STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 20, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 15
Base Atk +11; CMB +11; CMD 31
Feats Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Wondrous Item,
Demonic ObedienceBOTD2, Dodge, Toughness, Two-Weapon
Defense, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse
Skills Diplomacy +13, Knowledge (religion) +12, Linguistics +6,
Perception +17
Languages Abyssal, Common, Elven, Necril, Undercommon
SQ elven magic, poison use, weapon familiarity
Combat Gear extend metamagic rod; Other Gear +1 elven chain
60
shirt, +1 horacalcum rapier, +1 keen mithral rapier, belt of physical
might +4 (Dex, Con), gloves of arrow snaring, instant fortress,
slave collar keys (3, each attuned to her hunt mistress’s slave
collars), spell component pouch, unholy symbol of Zura, fine
spidersilk robes worth 2,500 gp
BOTD2 See Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Lords of Chaos, Book of the
Damned, Vol. 2
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Demonic Obedience This feat grants Xaivanshee vampiric
touch as a spell-like ability and a +4 profane bonus on saving
throws against the supernatural abilities of undead. In order to
maintain Zura’s Favor and the other effects of the feat, every
day while she prepares her spells Xaivanshee must drink the
blood of a willing creature while allowing that creature to
drink some of her own blood.
Profane Gift (Su) Xaivanshee has a +2 profane bonus to
her Constitution—a profane gift from the succubus
Liluresha, who serves the
demon lord Zura.
Zura’s Favor (Su)
Xaivanshee currently
enjoys the favor of her
patron demon lord,
Zura. As a result, her
cloak of chaos spell lasts for 24
hours when cast, and she gains
fast healing 10. If she ever loses
Zura’s favor or fails to perform her
Demonic Obedience, she loses these
benefits forever, takes 2d6 points
of Wisdom drain, and gains 2d4
permanent negative levels.
Xaivanshee Rasivrein has sworn her
life to the demon lord Zura. Instead
of playing the political game and
building relationships (healthy or
otherwise), Xaivanshee devoted
herself completely to Zura,
and in time became one of
her house’s most powerful
clerics—a fact she took great
pains to keep to herself.
Xaivanshee’s greatest desire is to
become a vampire, and she hopes
that the newfound power such a
transformation would bring her
will allow her to seize control of
her House. Yet she rankles at the
thought of serving another—to the
domineering drow, submitting to a
vampire’s bite is akin to slavery. However,
with Zura’s favor and her own painstaking
research into a vile ritual, Xaivanshee has developed her
own method to achieve vampirism.
But as she has worked on her necromantic goals, the
city of Zirnakaynin grew increasingly unstable. When
one of the city’s most powerful groups, House Azrinae,
attempted a devastating attack on the surface elves only to
be defeated by heroes from the surface world, Zirnakaynin
was thrown into chaos. House Rasivrein, like the city’s
other noble houses, grew increasingly desperate to fill the
vacancy in power left by Azrinae’s fall. Xaivanshee watched
in amusement from the shadows as her kin struggled to
increase their house’s standing in the growing violence and
discord, enjoying the fact that the growing turmoil gave
her greater freedom to pursue her own goals. A final
series of visions from Zura recently showed her the
last step in her vampiric transformation ritual—she
must seek out a specific
powerful and ancient
necromantic artifact with
which to take her own life.
She must recover the
Shard of Sloth and use
it to slit her own throat.
Campaign Role
Xaivanshee can either compete
with the PCs or temporarily ally
with them. Leading a small group
of enslaved half-sisters, she’s come
to the Guiltspur Depths to seek
out the Shard of Sloth, but has not
yet begun her investigation of the
dungeons beyond the region known
as the Core. Wise in her ways, she
sees the PCs as tools first and enemies
second—she wants to recruit their aid
in recovering the shard, and is quick
to point out that she needs it only
for as long as it would take her to
commit suicide with the sharp-
edged artifact. Once she’s done
with it, the PCs are free to keep
it for themselves.
Assuming the PCs decide to work
with her instead of fighting her, she
proves to be a trustworthy ally—
up until the point when she uses
the shard to become a vampire.
By then, she’s come to value the
PCs’ utility, and if the PCs allow
her to finish her ritual, she attempts
to dominate them all and, eventually,
transform them into her vampiric thralls.
61
The following unique treasures can be found in “Into the Nightmare Rift.” Player-appropriate
handouts appear in the GameMastery Shattered Star item card set.
Censer of Dreams
Aura moderate abjuration; CL 11th
Slot none; Price 8,000 gp; Weight 5 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
Typically crafted of bronze, brass, or copper with an upper
section of silver or mithral, a censer of dreams protects sleeping
minds from the fell influence of magical nightmares. A censer
of dreams can burn any type of incense as per a normal censer,
but can also be commanded to emit lavender-scented fumes
that fill a 30-foot-radius spread for up to 8 continuous hours
per day, as long as the censer remains immobile. Strong winds
disperse this effect, and moving the censer causes the effect to
end immediately, but otherwise, any creature that sleeps in this
area gains a +4 bonus on all saving throws made against dream-
or nightmare-related effects, such as the nightmare spell or the
effects of the nightmares caused by the abysium reactor in this
adventure. A night hag cannot use her dream haunting ability in
an area under this effect, and at the GM’s discretion, the effect
can block other strange effects that target sleeping or dreaming
minds. All creatures who sleep for the full 8 hours in this area
awaken particularly refreshed, having had pleasant dreams in
which they explored idyllic landscapes and spoke with charming
and eccentric creatures. Upon awakening, these subjects heal
as if they’d taken complete bed rest for an entire day and night
(recovering twice their character level in hit points).
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, dream; Cost 4,000 gp
Crystal Ball of the Dark Void
Aura moderate divination; CL 10th
Slot none; Price 60,000 gp; Weight 7 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
Crystal balls of the dark void look like dark-colored crystal balls.
Upon inspection, most appear to be filled with roiling clouds
of midnight blue smoke, but some seem to contain motes of
light that evoke the night sky. This item functions as a standard
crystal ball, but can be used to cast sending once per day
targeting any creature observed in the crystal ball.
Once per month, the user can attempt to use a crystal ball
of the dark void to contact a flying creature from the depths
of space called a shantak (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 244).
The user must attempt at a DC 25 Spellcraft check. If the
attempt to contact a shantak is successful, the monster flies
to the location where the user was when contact was made.
It arrives there in 3d20 hours, at which point the user must
use Diplomacy or magic to compel the shantak to serve him.
Failure to do so (or failure to meet the shantak) causes the
angry shantak to remain in the area for 2d6 hours, attacking
anything that comes near.
Every time a crystal ball of the dark void is used, there’s a
5% chance that the item doesn’t work as intended and instead
reveals glimpses of alien horrors from the depths of the Dark
Tapestry to the user, who must immediately attempt a DC 20
Will save to avoid taking 1d4 points of Wisdom drain.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, scrying, sending; Cost
30,000 gp
Nightgaunt Mask
Aura moderate divination; CL 11th
Slot head; Price 30,000 gp; Weight 1 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
A black, horned nightgaunt mask has two eyeholes but no other
facial features. When the mask is worn, even the eyeholes
vanish, leaving the wearer with no visible face at all. The wearer
gains the advantages shared by the faceless nightgaunts on
which the mask is based. The entire face of the mask functions
as a sort of “eye,” allowing the wearer to see normally. The
wearer also gains a +4 bonus on all saving throws against gaze
attacks, and does not breathe (and is thus immune to inhaled
toxins and scent-based effects). However, the wearer can’t
speak, and therefore can’t cast spells or use items that require
verbal components or command words.
Once per day, but only after wearing the mask for at
least 1 hour, the wearer can summon 1d4+1 nightgaunts to
do her bidding, as if by casting summon monster VI. These
nightgaunts remain for 11 rounds. Alternatively, the wearer
can summon a single nightgaunt that remains for 24 hours.
She can communicate with and thus give orders to these
nightgaunts via telepathy to a range of 100 feet. If the wearer
removes the nightgaunt mask, any summoned nightgaunts
immediately turn on her and attempt to carry her off and drop
her from a great height before vanishing.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, alter self, blindness/
deafness, summon monster VI; Cost 15,000 gp
62
Nightmare Rod
Aura strong illusion; CL 13th
Slot none; Price 80,000 gp; Weight 5 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
A nightmare rod is a wooden rod with a smooth, purple,
crystalline octopus clutching one end, its tentacles wrapped
around the length of the rod and its bulbous body serving as
a sort of mace head. Indeed, a nightmare rod can be wielded
as a +2 heavy mace. On a critical hit, a nightmare rod floods the
target’s mind with horrific visions of nightmarish dooms that
stagger the victim for 1 round if it fails a DC 15 Will save. This is
a mind-affecting fear effect.
In addition, a nightmare rod has the following powers.
• Once per day as a free action when the rod hits a living
creature, the user can affect the creature struck with a
phantasmal killer spell (Will/Fort DC 16).
• Once per day, the user can cast nightmare. If the recipient
is awake when the spell begins, the wielder need not
enter a trance (as he would if he had cast the spell)—
the nightmare rod maintains its own sort of trance on
the spell and automatically finishes casting the spell as
soon as the recipient falls asleep. If the recipient does
not fall asleep within 24 hours, the nightmare rod ceases
attempting to cast the spell automatically.
• As long as the wielder carries the nightmare rod in his
hand, he is immune to fear effects.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Rod, fear, nightmare, phantasmal killer,
remove fear; Cost 40,000 gp
Slave Collar
Aura moderate divination; CL 9th
Slot neck; Price 25,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
Slave collars are popular items among drow, duergar, and
other Darklands societies that require obedience and
servitude from slave castes. As these collars are relatively
costly, they are typically reserved for use on particularly
powerful or desirable slaves. A slave collar consists of a
simple ring of metal (typically brass or bronze) that latches in
place with a lock. Many feature additional adornments like
short lengths of chain. Each slave collar’s lock is attuned to
a unique key. The person who carries a collar’s key is aware
of that collar’s wearer as if it were the target of a constant
status spell. In addition, the key carrier can communicate
telepathically with the wearer of the collar as long as the
wearer is within 100 feet of her. As long as a slave collar is
worn, that collar’s key carrier automatically penetrates the
collar wearer’s spell resistance (if any), and the collared
creature takes a –5 penalty on all saving throws against the
key carrier’s spells. A slave collar’s lock can be picked with
a successful DC 40 Disable Device check, or broken open
with a successful DC 30 Strength check—either method
immediately destroys the slave collar. The wearer of a slave
collar takes a –10 penalty on Disable Device or Strength
checks made to disable the slave collar it wears.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, status, telepathic bond;
Cost 12,500 gp
Censer of Dreams
Crystal Ball of the
Dark Void
Nightgaunt
Mask
Nightmare
Rod
Slave Collar
63
T
he Shantak now flew lower, revealing beneath the canopy of cloud
a grey barren plain whereon at great distances shone little
feeble fires. As they descended there appeared at intervals lone
huts of granite and bleak stone villages whose tiny windows glowed
with pallid light. And there came from those huts and villages a shrill
droning of pipes and a nauseous rattle of crotala which proved at
once that Inganok’s people are right in their geographic rumours. For
travellers have heard such sounds before, and know that they float
only from the cold desert plateau which healthy folk never visit; that
haunted place of evil and mystery which is Leng.
—H. P. Lovecraft, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
64
meet. However, no two sojourners seem to describe the
lay of the land quite the same way, as if the topography
changes from the perspective of the viewer depending
on from whence his journey began. In fact, some of the
few Leng scholars speculate that it is a direct extension of
countless worlds at once, and therefore has a unique lay
of the land related specifically to each of its constituent
waking-world connections. It may be that Leng is truly
limitless, and that it is the Material Plane that is hedged
in by its impossibilities, or that each time a new dreamer
falls into a nightmare, those unconscious terrors work to
extend Leng’s borders just a little more.
The easiest method of approach is by sea, but a daring
few who have managed to obtain local guides from
some of the dreaming lands have been shown hidden
pathways and passes that lead through the mountain
wall. In addition, on nights when the mysterious moon
sinks low and full over the plateau, black-hulled ships ply
the skyways and can provide another means of entry for
those with the bravado or ill-luck to try it.
The plateau rises ever upward as it travels away from
the coastline, eventually encountering more barren
mountain peaks (though not as tall as those that hedge the
entire tableland) that must be somehow surmounted for
a traveler to continue. And beyond these warding peaks
stands the true horror of the demiplane—a mountain of
impossible height spanning countless miles, dwarfing
those found elsewhere within Leng, and upon whose
summit rests the terrible unknown city of Kadath where
dark gods are whispered to cavort and devour any who
dare intrude upon their solitude.
T
he Dimension of Dreams lies somewhere beyond the
conventional planes of the Great Beyond, a realm
both created and fueled by the collective dreams of
sentient beings from across the cosmos. And beyond its
distant shore lies Leng. This windswept plateau between
the arms of embracing mountain chains descends in an
inexorable slope to the Dreaming Shore. Upon the blasted
tableland sit scattered villages of stone huts, seemingly the
remnant of some immeasurably ancient civilization that
once held sway here. Usually long-abandoned, these dark
ruins occasionally teem with foul semi-human denizens
of Leng going about their own barbaric and unknowable
purposes. The few inhabited villages can be recognized
from afar at night by the evil fires that burn bright within
them, though even villages known to be abandoned often
show those same evil flames in the inky darkness of a
Leng midnight.
None travel the wastes of Leng lightly, and its cursed
villages are universally avoided. The tales that come out
of Leng are usually the ravings of dream walkers struck
mad by what they saw or the mumbling of vacant-eyed
indigents upon the streets of dreaming lands’ cities.
These luckless souls talk of the cold and crumbling ruins,
of horrific creatures that lurk among the stones, and of
terrifying hunts ending in violent debauches perpetrated
by the degenerate denizens. They speak of gruesome
acts and rituals conducted to propitiate a yellow-robed
monster known as the High-Priest Not To Be Described,
and hint darkly at even worse rituals conducted by that
same figure to propitiate who knows what horrors.
Leng exists at a crossroads of sorts, a realm all its own
yet accessible from virtually anywhere via the Dimension
of Dreams. These dream travelers can spend a lifetime
learning the skill to walk lucidly among the streets of
dreams or find that they simply have the knack as young,
impressionable children, only to lose it as they age and
mature beyond the fantasies of youth. Many seek strange
drugs and unguents to enable them to achieve this dream-
state, and some forfeit their waking lives altogether,
choosing to instead inhabit a half-remembered fantasy
realm of wonders. Yet when these dream travelers sink
into the realm of nightmares or venture too far into
the dreaming lands, they can find themselves upon the
bleak shores of Leng, looking up into a seemingly endless
plateau of ruin, and would be wise to find the means to
awaken or seek egress back to safer lands before night
falls and the inland fires light.
The geography of Leng is one of extremes. Interminable
plains of desolate bleakness rise from a rocky coast
of black boulders and cold sea spray, then climb to a
cordon of impossibly tall mountain peaks hedging it in
on both sides and acting as a funnel, guiding the unwary
traveler to an unutterable fate in the valleys where they
Leng PLanar TraiTs
Leng exists beyond the Dimension of Dreams where
nightmares overlap into a strange reality spawned by no
dreamer, except perhaps for the dreams of outer beings
of primordial madness. It has the following traits.
Normal Gravity and Time
Finite Size: Leng is bounded by mountains on three
sides and by a mysterious coastline on the fourth, giving
it a finite size, but its appearance tends to change based
on the point of origin of each traveler so estimates of
its size can vary widely. In addition, Leng overlaps with
various worlds on the Material Plane, and its size and
other qualities extend farther in the regions where these
convergences occur.
Divinely Morphic: Who or what powers can transform
this realm to their whims is beyond the knowledge of
even the most erudite sages.
Strongly Chaotic-Aligned, Mildly Evil-Aligned
65
Denizen of Leng
DeNIZenS AND DANGERS
Despite its cold and arid desolation, Leng hosts a
surprising number of different creatures.
Bholes: These immense burrowing horrors are found
only in the underworld deep below, and no reliable report
of the appearance or habits of a bhole has ever been
received. It is rumored that they are used as part of some
great breeding project by powerful inhuman arcanists, but
even that is only the barest conjecture. (See page 84.)
Denizens of Leng: The eponymous inhabitants of this
nightmare land, these creatures have a largely humanoid
shape that is kept firmly shrouded beneath voluminous robes,
turbans, and veils. They ply the waters of Leng, the Dimension
of Dreams, and the waking world alike in black ships, trading
strangely flawless rubies for slaves and seemingly random
goods of unknown purpose. But even these denizens have
masters, and many are actually held in thrall to the hideous
moon-beasts and serve them as diplomats, slave labor, and
provender. (See Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 82.)
Ghouls and Ghasts: The ghouls and ghasts of Leng are
different creatures than the relatively weak undead of the
waking world. In Leng, the typical ghoul is a more bestial
undead with a canine snout and hoofed feet—Leng ghouls
are more powerful than their waking world kin (see page
45 for a typical Leng ghoul’s stats), and often take levels in
alchemist, oracle, witch, or wizard. A Leng ghast is little
more than a Leng ghoul with a few more racial Hit Dice
and a stench aura, but deep under Leng, these two “races”
are often at odds. Leng ghouls are known to sometimes
be helpful to visitors in return for gifts of carrion, but the
ghasts are more feral and violent.
Gugs: The four-armed giants of Leng’s underworld
maintain a hidden walled city somewhere within its dark
reaches. Gugs often war with and feed on Leng’s ghasts, but
many have an unusual fear of the region’s ghouls. A gug
can easily destroy a handful of ghasts and guarantee itself
a good meal, but for that reason
the ghasts tend to travel in
packs and attack gugs en
masse, so the battles are rarely
a sure thing for either side. Even
though ghouls are physically weaker
than their ghast cousins, gugs bear an
irrational fear of them and almost
always retreat when confronted by such creatures,
regardless of numbers. (See Bestiary 2 151.)
Leng Spiders: These creatures were once the predominant
inhabitants of the Plateau of Leng, until a genocidal war
with the denizens of Leng untold ages ago pushed them
to the brink of extinction. Now these gigantic arachnids
lurk upon the fringes of Leng in shadow-haunted valleys.
They are always on the lookout for humanoids who come
too close to their lairs, snaring careless wanderers and
torturing them in order to momentarily relive the feeling
of dominance they once enjoyed. (See Bestiary 2 176.)
Moon-Beasts: The true masters of the denizens of Leng,
the moon-beasts are bloated monstrosities with rolls of
pale flesh culminating in faces composed of pink tentacles.
They hail from the moon that hangs over Leng, and ply the
many waterways of the moon, hidden within black galleys
captained by their slave-thralls. The moon-beasts are
consummate slavers, seeing all other races as lesser beings
awaiting exploitation as laborers or victims bound for
other, darker purposes. (See Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 195.)
Nightgaunts: Nightgaunts haunt Leng’s mountains and
Underworld, and have been known to kidnap lone travelers,
carrying them upon night flights of great distances to
unpredictable destinations. This is often done at the behest
of some master, for nightgaunts are somewhat like dogs
in their intelligence and can be trained to be intensely
loyal. For some reason, shantaks have an intense fear of
nightgaunts and flee from their presence. (See page 90.)
66
Prehistoric
Monastery
Onyx
Quarry
Lelag-Leng
Storval
Thinning
Windswept
Ridge
Kadath
Mhar’s
Fossa
Spider Vales
The Moon
Sarkomand
Nameless
Rock
Leng
W
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tc
he
rs
in
t
he
W
a
s
t
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C
ol
d
W
as
te
Th
e
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a
te
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T
he D
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a
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ng Sho
re
Scarlet Walkers: Not all arachnid inhabitants of the Spider
Vales are the purple Leng spiders. In some of the more
remote valleys, high upon canyon walls, hang immense sacs
made from coagulated blood and tissue. These are hives for
the scarlet walkers. Unlike Leng spiders, these creatures
hold no grudge against the humanoid races, but rather see
them as food, for the scarlet walkers subsist on living blood.
Equally at ease walking on earth or air, scarlet walkers have
been known to make the lengthy trek from Leng to the moon
by foot. (See Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition 414.)
Shantaks: Shantaks dwell in great numbers upon the
Plateau of Leng, principally in the mountainous regions.
They can also be found dwelling in the shadows of the Great
Quarry, where they hunt unwary travelers. The shantaks of
Leng appear to be allied with the dwellers of Kadath and have
been known to serve the High-Priest Not To Be Described.
(See Bestiary 2 244.)
Other Denizens: In addition to these primary
inhabitants, many other types of creatures also call the
nooks and crannies of Leng home. Examples of these
include ant lions, basilisks, and cockatrices upon the stony
plains; belkers, manticores, and wendigos in the frozen
heights; and shining children and winged urhags in the
Cold Wastes and shadowed quarries.
GAZETTEER
Though Leng appears desolate and monotonous,
enterprising explorers can find a surprising number of
unique features and locations if they know where to look—
and can survive long enough to reach them!
Cold Waste: Beyond the Watchers in the Waste, where the
mountain walls of Leng converge toward Kadath, lies the
Cold Waste, a stony desert forever shrouded by night. The
sun never rises over the Cold Waste and Kadath beyond,
and distances are tricky here, sometimes seeming only a
short journey of a day or 2 to the northernmost point at
Kadath’s foothills and sometimes requiring a journey of
many months or even years through the night-dark lands.
Dreaming Shore: A gray sea laps here at the edge of Leng,
where the plateau descends from its mountain-bound
heights, extending beyond the horizon and allowing one
to travel directly into the dreaming lands beyond. Here the
boldest ship captains from those same dreaming lands—
realms with names like Celephais, Inganok, and Lomar—
may come to test their luck or taste for adventure, but few
return twice. The risks of landing upon Leng’s shore are
great enough to make such a trip rarely profitable, and the
predatory black galleys of the moon-beasts that frequently
ply these waters render the shore doubly hazardous.
67
Kadath: Kadath, the impossible castle-city, is a vast
fortified citadel that sits atop the highest mountain at the
farthest extremity of Leng. The mountain of black stone
itself is dozens of miles high, far taller and steeper than
any natural geological formation should be. No known
paths lead to its heights, so only flyers or those with
formidable magic have any hope of making the ascent.
Occupying the entire summit of this colossal massif is a
fortress beyond imagining, built entirely of black onyx
and seemingly grown from the precipices around it. This
city is in itself several miles in height, brooding atop
the mountain peak below with countless chambers and
many miles of passages ranging in size from the most
squalid goblin warren to cyclopean thoroughfares fit for
the gods—for that is what resides within. Strange gods of
unknown pantheons are said to cavort within Kadath. What
they represent and what cultures worship them are great
enigmas, though some purport to venerate them in their
mystery. Whether their worship is noticed and rewarded is
anyone’s guess, for no one dares approach this impossible
height to bring obeisance directly to these unknown
deities. Those that have dared unfailingly run afoul of
their guardian and alleged caretaker—Nyarlathotep, the
Crawling Chaos, who it is rumored stands as door ward to
the will of the primal chaos at the center of the universe.
Few who have dared the Crawling Chaos’s abominable
presence have returned to tell of it.
One interesting note regarding Unknown Kadath is
that the few who have braved some portion of its heights
and avoided confrontations with elder gods or outer
powers report that behind it the Plateau of Leng continues
to extend down between hedging mountain walls to a
gray coastline in no fewer than two different directions. It
seems that Kadath looks down not only upon the dreaming
lands of Golarion, but also upon those of other worlds as
well. Whether the Plateau of Leng that extends towards
these dreaming lands is a sort of mirror of that which is
known to Golarion or whether it is entirely different in
its inhabitants and locales remains a great mystery, for
these far reaches have only been seen from the vast heights
of Kadath’s upper slopes, and no one has yet been able to
journey down to them to see firsthand.
Those who come too near to Kadath and look upon its
shape are often granted visions of the horrors that wait
within. The first time a sane mind gains a good view of
Unknown Kadath, it must succeed at a DC 15 Will save to
avoid taking 1d4 points of Wisdom damage at the ominous
sight—fully 25% of those who take Wisdom damage in this
way also go insane (the type of insanity developed should
be determined randomly from the list on page 250 of the
GameMastery Guide).
Lelag-Leng: This crude village of huts of stone and wood
houses a singular and primitive race of short, bald-headed
humanoids with narrow eyes and brown, weathered skin.
Many consider them to be a degenerate tribe of humans,
but something about them seems otherworldly. They are
known for the exotic silks they trade with the denizens of
Leng and for the powerful sorcerer said to rule over and
protect their isolated settlement.
Mhar’s Fossa: This tunnel of gargantuan proportions
opens at the end of a furrow descending from Kadath high
above. It marks the route taken by the Great Old One Mhar
when he attempted to bore directly into the Material Plane
near the Storval Thinning before becoming trapped in a
stony gestation. Numerous side passages branch off from
this central tunnel, leading to various pocket dimensions
and vaults. No one has dared plumb the farthest depths
of this excavation for fear that Mhar still restlessly waits
somewhere within.
The Moon: This ghostly white planetoid hangs placidly
over the collective dreaming lands of the Dimension of
Dreams—for some a romantic orb of soft silver light, for
others a horrifying death’s head or a trigger of lycanthropic
madness. However, above the Plateau of Leng it gains its
most sinister aspect as the destination for the slave-driven
black galleys of the moon-beasts. Only by these strange
craft or other more fantastical means can the vast gulfs
separating this satellite from the lands below be traversed
and the true horror of its darkened far side be revealed—
cities of cyclopean gray-white stone built upon the shores
of an oily sea.
Nameless Rock: This bleak rock rises from the sea
several miles off the Dreaming Shore and serves as a
citadel of the moon-beasts. When a passing ship dares to
come close enough, the sides of the tapering rock reveal
strangely proportioned architecture like that found in the
moon-beasts’ city upon the moon. At the summit of the
island’s lone peak stands a great temple to unnameable
gods in which a bottomless pit is said to reach all the way
to the underworld. The entire island swarms with moon-
beasts and their slaves.
VisiTing Leng
While Leng can be reached through the Dimension of
Dreams, you don’t need to physically travel there in order
to experience the place, as GMs can provide glimpses into
Leng through PCs’ dreams. These vignettes allow the
players to see the strange horrors that await them without
becoming stranded in an alien dimension or preyed upon
by the threats therein. These fleeting visions of Leng can
also be used to foreshadow a trip to the terrible realm so
that PCs have some sense of where they have arrived once
they step foot on the cold plateau that is Leng.
68
High-Priest Not To Be Described
Onyx Quarry: Cut into the base of the mountains that
encircle Leng, this vast quarried pit is 5 miles wide, 10
miles long, and over 2 miles deep. It is said that the onyx
stones from which the great citadel of Unknown Kadath
was constructed were quarried here. Numerous smaller
quarries surround this great quarry and are still used by
the people living in the lands beyond Leng, who reach
them with yak caravans over the low mountain passes.
Prehistoric Monastery: Atop the wind-swept tableland
stands this squat, windowless stone building in a circle of
stone monoliths. Below presides the High-Priest Not To Be
Described, a nightmarish figure venerated by the denizens
of Leng and many other inhabitants of the plateau, who
always keeps his bloated, lumpish form swathed head to
foot in a robe of yellow silk and his face covered by a blood-
spattered veil of the same material. There he stands before
a shadow-filled well and plays strange melodies upon his
pipes as he waits for new victims to be delivered to him.
Sarkomand: A crumbling ruin of cracked stone and
broken columns standing at the base of a tall basalt cliff,
Sarkomand formerly served as the capital of Leng. At its
center stand two oddly pristine sphinx statues guarding
a pair of stairways that descend into the unknown and
darkened depths of the plateau. Though the ruins are
haunted by an air of abandonment, those foolish enough
to camp here for the night find that when darkness falls,
black galleys dock upon the ruined quays and the city fills
with hordes of denizens of Leng in a ruthless carnival
of trade, debauchery, and violence visited upon any
trespassers they find within the ruins.
Spider Vales: These shadowed vales are the last refuge
for the Leng spiders. Vast constructions of web and stone
create villages for these arachnid horrors where they
congregate in small groups and plot their vengeance
upon the humanoid races and the eventual conquest of
all planes.
Storval Thinning: Rugged foothills mark where the
substance of Leng overlaps and comes very near to
northeastern Varisia. Whether this condition existed
before or because of Runelord Karzoug’s alliances with
Leng’s denizens, no living soul can say.
Watchers in the Waste: Massive sculptures of two-
headed wolflike guardians as tall as mountains
crouch before the approach to the Cold Wastes.
Shantaks are known to nest upon the watchers,
but the true horror lies in the fact that these
sculptures are themselves alive and possess
a malign intelligence and the capacity to
move to destroy any who dare to
cross the benighted threshold that
they guard.
Windswept Ridge: This
ridge of bleak, knife-edged
stone stands at the farthest extremity of Leng, where its
hedging mountains converge below Unknown Kadath.
However, here the encompassing mountain ridge dips
slightly to create a shallow saddle over which arctic winds
blow in great storms and blizzards, making this the coldest
portion of Leng. Anyone gazing upon this saddle notices
strangely regular rock formations that seem almost cubic
in their proportions and are stacked one atop another,
as if some sort of intelligence placed them there. When
the wind blows strongest over this ridge, its song seems to
bear a mournful note, and one can almost hear an eerie
piping that sounds something like “Tekeli-li... Tekeli-li...”
in its dirge-like tones. Only two explorers have sought
this ridge and lived to tell of it, and neither dared to pass
beyond its leeward slopes. Strangely, their accounts of what
they glimpsed upon the far side do not match, with one
describing a seemingly endless range of mountains rife
with ancient temples barely visible through the crystalline
mist, and the other describing a vast frozen city spreading
out in a valley, reflected in the sky above and thus made
visible thanks to that same crystalline mist. Which of these
vistas actually awaits an intrepid explorer—or whether
both of them do, with the windswept ridge perhaps leading
to different places at different times on different worlds—
remains to be discovered.
69
L
issala (lis-SALL-uh) is an arcane goddess once worshiped by the
Azlanti and Thassilonians. She is precise, rigid, diligent, and
intolerant of disobedience, and her magic and philosophy were
critical to the success of Thassilon’s rise as an empire. Likewise, the
Thassilonians’ slow rejection of her faith over their empire’s last
centuries greatly contributed to its downfall. It appears that she has
withdrawn from Golarion and has no known presence in the Great Beyond.
Most modern scholars assume she has died, been subsumed by another
deity, or traveled beyond the known planes in search of infinite wisdom.
Common folk in Varisia who discover her runes attribute them to rune
giants or demon cults. However, it appears that some of the magical
runes of Thassilon retain some link to her, and rumors of new clerics
devoted to this absent and nearly forgotten goddess are spreading.
70
fulfilling prophecy, whereas Lissala’s fate aspect is more
about accepting necessary burdens, persevering despite
hardships, and planning for the long term. She considers
divination magic unworthy of study. Not only does she not
deem it a true school of magic (it is not, in fact, associated
with any of the seven types of rune magic), but she
believes using it bypasses the proper methods of learning.
Divination is not forbidden, but the faithful disdain it as
the mark of an amateur. Worshipers are encouraged to
plan their lives and magical research years in advance.
For example, those planning to become liches
usually have time allotted every year
for advancing that goal, even from
apprenticeship.
As the goddess of runes, her touch
is in every spellbook, every graven
glyph, and every sigil and symbol
spell, as well as on the flesh of every
rune giant, whose race owes its
existence to Lissalan rune magic.
She teaches that writing is power,
whether magical writing or letter-runes
used to preserve or convey knowledge. Her
followers would sooner burn their own flesh
than burn a book, and in her
church it is considered a high
honor for the dead to have their
skin tanned into vellum for
use in spellbooks and religious
texts, forever associating the
person’s remains with magic.
The living worshipers prize these books, and a mentor
may award such a tome to a journeyman priest or wizard
who worked hard or who showed great talent. Tattoos and
branding are common among the faithful, and some
worshipers even have the text of their favorite books or spells
etched upon their flesh while still alive, in anticipation of
becoming books once they are dead.
Lissala manifests as a stern-looking, fair-skinned woman,
likely of Azlanti descent, but there is something strange and
alien about her eyes, and she has no mouth—the lower part of
her face is smooth flesh, though she is able to speak and cast
spells as if she had a mouth. She normally appears wearing
severe robes of green and gold, usually with a snakeskin
pattern and a Sihedron rune, and faintly visible on her
back are six ghostly, transparent bird wings. Alternatively
(especially when she expects battle), she sometimes takes the
form of a lillend-like creature with a snake body, wings, and
a Sihedron in place of her head. In her presence, time feels
slightly stretched, and spoken words and spells often briefly
manifest as illusory writing around the speaker. In art she is
usually depicted in her humanoid form, though her “battle
form” is favored in murals commissioned by evokers and
L
issala’s origin is unknown, as there are no records
from Azlant that explain how she became a goddess
or when she first intervened in the mortal world.
She could have been a creation of the Vault Builders, an
ascended serpentfolk or Azlanti mage, an early attempt
by the aboleths to establish control over the dry lands, or
one of the first mortals to learn and perfect dragon magic.
Regardless of how she came to be, she was a well-established
deity during the empire of Azlant, and (unlike several other
Azlanti gods) her power survived after Azlant’s fall
thanks to Thassilon’s founder Xin making her
religion a key part of the new country.
At the height of her worship, she
was generally aloof, but responded to
questions from those with a desire
to learn and the willingness to
work for knowledge. Most scholars
believe that her eventual withdrawal
from Thassilon was probably
deliberate, but so slow that most
of her worshipers never realized
it was happening.
As the goddess of harsh duty and
obedience, she represents the power gained
from practice, study, and
deference to one’s masters. As
such, she is favored more by
wizards than by other arcane
spellcasters
(in
particular
bards and sorcerers, who
develop magic on their own
or are encouraged to challenge authority). She is intolerant
of insolence and disobedience, and supports the use of
corporal punishment or magical forms of discipline
(including temporary curses and transformations) for
would-be wizards who do not appreciate their mentors.
Apprentices pray to her so they may stoically perform
their chores without their masters punishing them
unreasonably for errors; wizards pray to her so their
apprentices are efficient, talented, and worth the master’s
time—for a foolish or incompetent apprentice is useless at
best and dangerous at worst.
As the deity of rewards of service, she teaches that the
only worthwhile rewards are those which come from great
effort. Anything given as a gift is of dubious value, and the
receiver should be suspicious of the source’s motivation.
Apprentices ask that their minds be open to all that their
masters can teach them; wizards ask that their students be
appreciative of the knowledge they are given, and that they
become useful allies once they strike out on their own.
As a goddess of fate, she has a complicated relationship
with Pharasma (who was also worshiped in Thassilon).
Pharasma’s fate aspect is intertwined with discerning and
“No worthwhile reward comes
without work, service, or sacrifice.”
—Devotion to the Seven Forms
71
wrath-priests. She is often accompanied by snakes—either
actual snakes, snakes of pure energy, or elements of her
clothing animating in the shape of serpents.
Lissala shows she is pleased through the momentary
appearance of her strange eyes, snakeskin patterns or subtle
runes materializing on paper or stone surfaces, and single
peals of deep-toned bells. She may cause a spellcaster to
retain a prepared spell after casting it or prevent a scroll
from fading when used. When she is angry, work slows,
writing becomes incomprehensible, plans are delayed, and
minions disobey their masters or mishear commands.
Lissala is lawful evil and her portfolio is runes, fate, duty,
obedience, and the reward of service. Her favored weapon
is the whip. Her holy symbol is a variant of the Sihedron
rune, though practitioners of rune magic sometimes use
a symbol of a whip twisted into the shape of their keyed
rune. Her domains are Evil, Knowledge, Law, Nobility,
and Rune. During Thassilon’s heyday, she was revered by
most of the population as the goddess of magic, but now
her faith is all but forgotten by humans and only persists
among rune giants, as her faith led the Thassilonians
to create their race. Rumors of scattered cults of Lissala
appear in some parts of Varisia, but there is no organized,
public institution of her religion. Historically, most of her
priests were clerics, with some especially devout wizards
taking roles in the church hierarchy. Among the scattered
modern cults devoted to her, the proportion is closer to
half and half, with a few oracles (usually with the bones,
flame, or lore mysteries) making an appearance. All have
ranks in Knowledge (arcana) or Knowledge (history);
otherwise, others in the cult would not respect them.
Snakes, nagas, and magical ophidians (including couatls
and lillends) are sacred to Lissala’s church. The faithful avoid
conflicts with such creatures, even if there are alignment
issues (such as an evil priest with a lawful good guardian
naga). Her followers dislike magic-destroying creatures and
things that consume books and other writings, including
mundane creatures such as silverfish and moths. This
opposition to moths (and butterflies, due to overzealous
precautions) often starts feuds with Urgathoa’s and Desna’s
followers. Some Lissalans take this aversion to moths to
such an extreme that they refuse to wear garments made of
silk, though this is not required by the goddess.
A typical worshiper of Lissala is a wizard, cleric, scholar,
historian, or taskmaster. The faithful perform magical
research, train others to use spells, use their knowledge
to fortify their communities, or magically control
creatures for that purpose. They are hard-working, driven,
fastidious, and used to slow progress toward goals.
Worship services involve reading aloud and transcribing
scrolls, spellbooks, or Lissala’s holy text. Priests create or
reinforce the magical wards in and around the temple
and report progress on magical research. Apprentices and
acolytes have almost no role in temple ceremonies, as they
have not yet proven themselves. During services these
minor members of the church busy themselves fashioning
quills for writing; grinding styluses for scribing stone or
clay; preparing parchment, vellum, and paper; polishing
stone plates for scribing; or firing marked clay tablets.
Lissala teaches that marriage is an excellent cultural
tradition and a long-term commitment between two (or
more) people. Whether a marriage is for love or arranged
for political or familial purposes, she expects spouses to
fulfill their marital oaths, and is intolerant of adultery or
other violations of the expected contract. She expects that
one person in the marriage is dominant and the other(s)
should defer to that one. She does not require this pattern
of dominance to be defined in the marriage oaths, though
if the spouses wish to do so, it suits her. Members of the
church are not required to have children (whether they are
conceived naturally, adopted, or magically created), but
children are expected to obey their parents or guardians.
Parents may raise their own children or rely on employees
or an external institution to do so for them.
TEMPLES AND SHRINES
Temples are traditionally built or carved from dense stone,
and constructed to last for hundreds of years. Wood is too
combustible and brick is too fragile (especially against
earthquakes) for a sacred space devoted to the goddess.
Many holy sites are made of magically conjured stone or
by creating chambers in natural rock with acid, disintegrate
spells, or the work of enslaved giants. The entry and ritual
chambers are usually septagonal and decorated with a
large Sihedron mosaic. During the era of Thassilon, most
of the temples adopted one of the seven vices as a theme
(usually associated with the runelord who controlled that
territory), but this was not a requirement, and there are a
few temples that are not dedicated in this fashion.
The few people living today who have explored Lissalan
temples may assume they are hidden, convoluted affairs
with traps, but those were only nominally temples and
primarily served as secret places to perform obscure
rituals in service to the runelords. During the time of
Thassilon, Lissala’s worship was public and common,
and her temples had a very different structure. A typical
public temple was a large, sprawling building or complex
with spaces for many priests, servants, and slaves to live
and work, with kitchens and food stores to support all
of the temple’s inhabitants. Most activity related to the
crafting and maintenance of spells and items to protect
and expand the reach of Emperor Xin or the runelords;
this required creating parchment and vellum, inscribing
scrolls or glyphs, carving blocks into runestones,
inscribing weapons and armor with protective runes,
practicing means of magical tattooing and branding, and
72
so on. Amid all of this activity, priests whose labors had
earned them time to study established lore or to engage in
magical research, usually in secluded rooms that muffled
the noise of the temple’s other activities. Most temples
also contained a small cemetery or crypt for important
members of the faith who had passed on. These features
made the Lissalan temples much like self-contained cities
or fortresses and allowed the priests to survive the many
food riots that happened as Thassilon declined.
Shrines to Lissala were common, typically human-sized
blocks of hard stone graven with the Sihedron rune and
traced with dozens of smaller runes, often added long after
the original stone was consecrated. Green marble and gray
stone with flecks of gold were the most common types of
stone used for the shrines. Often these shrines were used
to store, direct, or reinforce wards or other magical effects,
such as magic that prevented slaves from rebelling. Many of
these shrines have a lingering magical power, long dormant
but still waiting for a priest to awaken them.
A PRIEST’S ROLE
Priests are taught that obedience to one’s superiors is
absolutely necessary, that following orders is a minor form
of prayer, and that the goddess awards knowledge to those
who serve faithfully. Every priest knows exactly whom
she reports to in the church hierarchy and exactly which
underlings she can command, as well as whose instructions
are merely suggestions and whose minions are to be left
alone. Each day is a regimented list of activities, with work,
worship, meals, leisure, celebration, and sleep all given
specific time periods so the temple as a whole functions
smoothly. To deviate from these plans causes disruptions;
for example, being late to a meal means the kitchen is
overtaxed feeding extra people at a certain hour, loud
worship or celebration at inappropriate times may awaken
others scheduled to sleep at that time, and so on. Priests
quickly learn the value of this kind of scheduling and tend
to anger quickly when dealing with others who are more
relaxed about schedules and deadlines.
In an adventuring party or even a common travel
situation, a priest likes to create a schedule for the group
and expects everyone to comply with it, including brief
rests during the day and assigning who is on watch at
night. If the priest’s companions fail to comply, the priest
may retaliate by exaggerating her activities to bother
others, such as praying loudly to herself when others are
trying to sleep.
Priests appreciate others who are knowledgeable and
willing to teach about an area of expertise. For example,
if a priest has no interest in or talent for battle tactics
but travels with an experienced mercenary or military
officer, the priest looks to that person for advice in combat
about which foe is the most dangerous, which allies are
73
expendable, and when to retreat. A smart priest is able to
compartmentalize when he is directing others (such as
by setting a schedule for a caravan) from when he should
follow another’s orders (such as obeying an officer’s battle
commands). Others may find the transition from bossy
schedule-maker to taciturn battle healer jarring and
uncharacteristic, but to the priest it is a well-developed
coping mechanism learned in a temple of complex
overlapping hierarchies.
As Thassilon grew more decadent, so did Lissala’s
priesthood, though this was a reflection of the country’s
culture and not a directive of the goddess. In earlier
centuries, the church encouraged lazy acolytes to seek
careers outside the priesthood and sold weak-willed slaves
to other temples; over time the priesthood hardened and
flagellation became a common practice among underlings
and slaves, either as punishments for minor errors or
for the gratification of the superior clergy. Lissala’s whip
became an active threat rather than a subtle reminder of
encouragement. Each temple adopted one of the seven
vices and focused its magic on that vice. Self-mortification
became common practice; priests branded runes into their
flesh to show their devotion, impress colleagues, and purge
weak impulses and rival vices from their bodies. Senior
priests often had dozens or hundreds of runes decorating
their bodies, and learned how to invest these runes with
power, much as was done with the creation of rune giants.
The factions within the churches delved deep into magical
research and unlocked great and terrible powers: gluttony
priests created rituals to turn themselves into vampires,
sloth priests slowed their metabolisms and lived in a
dream-like meditative state for weeks at a time, and so on.
Over time, these practices became more important to the
priests than actual worship of Lissala, and their divine
powers weakened even as their arcane mastery improved.
These acts did not conflict with Lissala’s teachings (and
were practiced for decades by priests in good standing),
but when secular ceremony becomes a replacement for
true devotion and worship in any religion, a cleric risks
losing the connection to her deity that powers divine
magic. Eventually, Lissala was only granting spells to a few
members of the priesthood, with the rest having long since
become arcane spellcasters or magical beings (including
Runelord Krune, her high priest).
With the fall of Thassilon, her few remaining priests
went into hiding or suspended animation (or became
undead). They instructed their followers to practice the
goddess’s teachings in secret and persevere until the time
came to awaken the leaders. Most of these hidden cults also
revere the seven sins rather than being purely devoted to
Lissala, but this may change if she returns in full force and
unites her scattered followers.
A priest usually has a mental list or schedule of things
to accomplish each day. These efforts are coordinated
with others in the cult, working together toward
a distant but achievable goal. In civilized lands,
her priests may pretend to be followers of Nethys
or Pharasma, speaking words of wisdom about
magic and fate. In evil lands they may pretend to
serve Asmodeus, encouraging obedience and diabolical
conjuration. Her priests are patient and methodical,
enduring hardships, indignity, and the inner outrage of
speaking false prayers to another god instead of true
ones to Lissala. If a priest follows a mortification cult,
a hidden space on her body may be the site of many
overlapping cuts—a secret ritual of faith and obedience to
honor the priest’s true beliefs.
74
Formal dress for the clergy is a tan or yellow robe
with a billowing green cloak. Snakeskin and Sihedron
decorations are common but are not required except for
higher-ranking clergy. Ceremonial garb may include
a snake-patterned skullcap and a metal frame worn on
the shoulders that supports several majestic but fragile
wings crafted of wire and bird feathers. Scars, brands, and
tattoos in the shape of runes are common (especially in
mortification cults) but not necessary.
Traditionally, the church of Lissala was heavily involved in
the local community, contributing magic to build defenses
and providing slaves and charmed minions to assist in tasks
throughout the city. For a secret cultist, interaction with
the community follows a similar role to whatever faith the
priest is emulating, though usually emphasizing service.
HOLY TEXT
The official holy book of the church is Devotion to the
Seven Forms, consisting of eight chapters. The first chapter
explains the tenets of the faith, with the others each
explaining one of the seven worthy schools of magic
(abjuration, conjuration, enchantment, evocation, illusion,
necromancy, and transmutation), and emphasizing the
relationship between runes and magical power. In the
most valuable copies, the opening page of a chapter is
made of human skin donated by one of the faithful, and
the introductory text was tattooed or branded on it while
the person was still alive. Most copies of her book were
lost or destroyed in the fall of Thassilon, and those in the
hands of sin cultists may have been revised to inflate the
importance of their chosen sin.
APHORISMS
Because her faith changed much over the last few hundred
years of Thassilon and the surviving cults are hidden and
may be practicing corruptions of her original teachings, it
is unclear which phrases date back to the original faith, as
none are direct quotations from her holy text.
HOLIDAYS
The holy text describes various holidays associated with
stellar conjunctions and their specific relationships to
the seven schools of true magic. The decadent church has
added its own holiday and ritual tied to rune magic.
Feast of Sigils: In its original form, the priests held
this ritual on 3 holy days during the year. The feast links
the souls of the participants—drawing their power into
runes drawn in wine, wax, blood, perfume, and food—
amplifies this energy, then returns it to the feasters, who
gain more than what they put in. In decadent Thassilon
(and in modern practice), nonspellcasters joined the feast,
inadvertently losing their life energy to the feast, which
increased the power of the priests.
RELATIONS WITH OTHER RELIGIONS
Lissala is an evil goddess but had amiable relationships
with all the deities of Thassilon, even Desna (though
modern Desnans would have little love for her church).
She had a fierce rivalry with Amaznen, the Azlanti god
of magic, but he may have been killed during Earthfall
and his worship was outlawed in Thassilon, leaving her
supreme in magic. In modern Golarion, she has had no
interaction with any known deities for thousands of years.
NEW SPELLS
Clerics of Lissala may prepare sepia snake sigil as a 3rd-level
spell and explosive runes as a 3rd-level spell. In addition, her
priests have access to the following spell.
Lissalan Snake Sigil
School see text; Level cleric 3, sorcerer/wizard 3 (Lissala)
Duration permanent until discharged; 1 day/level; see text
There are seven variants of this spell, one for each of the
Thassilonian schools of magic. Each functions like sepia snake
sigil (and counts as that spell for the purpose of combining
other spells that hide or garble text), except instead of
trapping the subject, the triggered sigil’s effect depends on
this spell’s school. This effect lasts for 1 day/level. This is a
curse effect that can be removed via remove curse.
Abjuration: All beneficial magical effects on the target last
half as long as normal.
Conjuration: The target is nauseated. This is a poison effect.
Enchantment: The target takes a 1d6 penalty to Intelligence,
Wisdom, and Charisma. This is a compulsion effect.
Evocation: The target gains vulnerability to an energy type,
chosen randomly from the following: acid, cold, electricity, or
fire. This is an acid, cold, electricity, or fire effect.
Illusion: The target’s vision is blurred, giving it a –4
penalty on Perception checks relating to vision, and the target
treats all other creatures as having displacement. This is a
glamer effect.
Necromancy: The target is exhausted. This condition cannot
be removed with rest.
Transmutation: Target is affected by slow.
CustomizEd summon List
Lissala’s priests can use summon monster spells to summon
the following creatures in addition to the normal creatures
listed in the spells.
Summon Monster VI
Advanced kyton evangelist (lawful, evil)
Dark naga* (lawful, evil)
* This creature has the extraplanar subtype but otherwise
has the normal statistics for a creature of its kind.
75
PATHFINDER’S JOURNAL: LIGHT OF A DISTANT STAR 5 OF 6
Y
ou,” was all he said, stomping toward me with
bloody hands.
The wererats had seized me before I even knew
what had happened. One to either side, they dragged me
from the foul-smelling straw that had broken my fall.
My left hand and wrist throbbed painfully where I had
landed on my hand, having extended my arms in a foolish
attempt to arrest my descent. Fortunately, the trapdoor
was only some ten feet above the moldering straw pile.
Whoever had set the trap obviously wanted those who fell
into it alive and in good condition.
Looking into the Gundsric’s wild eyes, I had to wonder
how long that would last.
He lumbered over to me, the heavy pewter flask he
wore around his neck swaying like a pendulum, his
hunchback giving him a strangely lopsided appearance.
The basement was lit by a few sputtering candles, but
even in such low light I could see nearly the entirety of
the room with uncommon clarity, no doubt the continued
effects of the gleam in my system. Beyond the small
alcove into which I had fallen—which could be locked up
like a prison cell with the closing of a barred gate at one
76
end—the basement was long and rectangular, its dirty
plaster walls flaking away in patches to reveal ill-fitting
stone blocks. The scribblings of gleam addicts filled
every section of plaster that had not yet crumbled to the
ground, stretching from floor to ceiling like a detailed
map of an insane mind.
But it was the bodies that were the core of the place—
dozens of men and women, nearly all of them human,
stacked in piles or lying in the few cots scattered around
the room. The thick smell of blood and rot in the air
seemed only magnified by the underlying mustiness of the
basement, and I choked back the rising bile in my throat.
The dingy cots gave the impression of long use, like those
in the common room of some cheap flophouse. But there
were far more bodies than beds, and many of the oldest
corpses were stacked against the wall opposite the alcove,
heaped up like swollen sandbags bracing a levee.
I screamed then, shouting for Shess or Mordimor or
some other deliverance. The rats to either side of me
hauled me farther into that gallery of death, and I could
see that there were more hunched shape-shifters in the
basement all around me.
Riding on instinct, not caring at all about the futility
of my struggle, I drove my heel into the bare foot of the
one on my right, then tried to pull him off balance. He
staggered, but his center of balance was lower than mine,
and his tail kept him from tipping. Snarling, he slammed
a blow into my stomach, and I dropped to my knees. He
clamped a hand over my throat and jerked my head close,
chittered threats or promises in my ear. His garbage-foul
breath washed over me, and I retched.
The rat to my left was running his paws over my body,
taking his time. Upon finding the long knife under my
jacket, he snatched the weapon from its sheath and threw
it into the corner. There was another such blade in my
boot that he didn’t find, and I hoped I’d have a chance
to use it.
Gundsric loomed over me, a misshapen, palpable
malignance. He smiled, teeth filmed with fresh blood,
his beardless face wrinkling up like crumpled paper.
“I don’t remember making an appointment with you
today, elf.” His laughter bubbled thickly up from blood-
filled lungs. The harsh chemical reek he exuded was
almost a welcome respite from the sickly sweet stench of
decay that filled my nostrils.
I didn’t reply, doubting the claw-tipped hand around
my neck would allow any speech.
“Check upstairs,” Gundsric barked. “This spy has
friends.” Dark shapes in the corner moved out of my line of
sight, and I heard the faint sounds of feet scraping up stairs.
It was then, while trying to follow the movement of the
second group of wererats, that I noticed the final detail
about the corpses that lined the basement.
They were gleamers, of course—that much was
obvious from the markings on the wall. But these bodies
told a further tale. Shess hadn’t seemed to know how or
why gleam users disappeared eventually, but they always
turned up dead, if they turned up at all. Dead and blind.
And here they were: each face devoid of eyes, the sockets
yawning a deeper black in the dark.
“Go with them, my sweet.” Gundsric’s murmur had
taken on an oddly affectionate tone. “See all.”
I turned back to him, wondering whom he was speaking
to, only to find him shrugging as if in a seizure. Beneath
his clothing, his malformed shoulder twitched and jerked,
the hunch shuddering as if it had a life of its own.
And it did. Emerging from beneath his jerkin was a
lopsided mass of flesh like a lesion, a cancerous growth
made animate. It chirped once through a pore-like
orifice, unfurled membranous wings the color of burned
skin, and took flight after the departing wererats. Riding
above a sudden heaving nausea, my thoughts tracked
back to the persistently circling bat I had seen the night
before, the one that had hunted the skies as the wererats
arrived at the Clippers’ hideout.
Gundsric chuckled. “So, you’ve seen dear Carchima
around, perhaps? He gave a most specific report about
you. Though neither of us has yet deduced who it is you
work for.”
I started to speak, gurgling out a response as the
wererat tightened his grip on my throat. Gundsric
stepped forward and backhanded me across the face.
“One or the other of them,” he growled. “I don’t care!
Cromarcky would be most likely, yes? Croat and his boys
would have a better use for the likes of you. Right now the
both of them are at a stalemate, pacing around outside my
home like gulls waiting for the tide to bring in the trash.
After tonight it won’t matter. I’ll tread on their charred
corpses and watch this whole damn town burn.”
The hand that had slapped me came back around to
cup my chin. “And it’s because of you,” he crooned. “I
had been complacent. Me, complacent! But you made
me step things up, made me round up as many of these
insects”—he waved a bloody hand in the direction of a pile
of corpses—“as I could get hold of last night. Made me
come out here and do it myself, take the rest of them all
in one go.”
Gundsric scooped a gnarled hand into the sealskin bag
he wore at his side and produced a palmful of glistening
eyeballs, each glowing with its own light.
“No one upstairs, not even that vicious little badger of
hers,” hissed a voice I faintly recognized. I tore my eyes
away from Gundsric’s palm, his handful of luminous orbs
like bloody organic pearls. Carchima fluttered clumsily
back to Gundsric’s shoulder and landed with a wet smack.
The wererats had returned from their exploration, and
77
in their lead was the scarred, black-furred female I had
fought at the Clippers’ wharfside hideout. She fixed
beady eyes upon me and licked her lips. “I’ll take that elf’s
eyes now.”
“No,” Gundsric said flatly. Carchima squirmed its
way back under his clothing with nauseating intimacy.
“I can better use her, I think. She wasn’t given that
street garbage, she’s as pure as I am. And... she showed
me the way.” He leaned in close to me, and it was then
that I noticed for the first time that his own black eyes
shone as intensely as Idrek’s had. Gundsric nodded at the
recognition, and I wondered if my own eyes were filled
with such light.
“Is the fire behind your eyes, elf?” Gundsric was nearly
whispering now. The stink of sulfur and dizzying reek
of carbauxine poured out of him as if he were some
poisonous fissure in the earth. “Do you hear the radiant
choir, as I first did all those years ago? The others said I
was mad, wanted no part of my search, but I kept digging.
Digging toward the voice—the burning voice like a pyre
for all the world!” He smiled his bloody smile at me, his
eyes luminous and searching.
“Ziphras didn’t send us out to be dog-slaves to a mad
dwarf,” the female wererat interrupted. She spat on a
corpse, and hissed something at the wererats to either
side of her. There were half a dozen of them in the
basement, all wearing their in-between forms, standing
on their hind legs as hideous, man-sized rats. “I owe this
elf a debt of blood. Her gang killed my kin, ruined our
trade. Ziphras will mark me for this failure.” The livid
scar beneath her eye twitched. “You owe me her life,
blood-debt to be paid.”
Gundsric only growled, then began to cough. The other
rats in the basement chattered among themselves, and I
could sense the anxiety of the two that flanked me, their
uncertainty as to which way this challenge to Gundsric
would go. It seemed all was not well in the dwarf’s employ.
The black-furred female was padding closer to
Gundsric’s back, and I saw the glint of a hooked blade
in her hand. “No trade now, and no Clippers. No more
buyers—all dead or fled. I wonder... how much longer
will Ziphras make deals with you for a drug he can’t sell?”
The alchemist’s coughing had subsided to a rhythmic
hitch, like a second heartbeat. Gundsric didn’t speak,
didn’t turn, but I saw his hand stray to the belt he wore
beneath his stained and scarred leather apron.
“Take your hand off the potion, dwarf,” the wererat
hissed, creeping yet closer to the alchemist’s back.
Gundsric spat a gob of black mucous onto the floor.
Keeping his eyes on me, he pulled his hand away in a
flash, withdrawing a coin pouch from beneath his apron.
The nervous rats next to me tensed as if an electric jolt
had pulsed through them, then relaxed just as quickly
when they saw what the dwarf had been reaching for.
Gundsric raised the coin pouch high, tipped it, and
spilled out a small fortune in gold sails that rang upon
the stones of the floor. Every rat in the room watched
them fall, the gold reflected in their beady eyes.
Then he spun and threw something with his other
hand, straight at the black-furred wererat. With uncanny
accuracy it struck her face, exploding in a blast of white
and blue fire.
I flinched, feeling the blast even from half a room away.
The wererat shrieked as alchemical flame engulfed first
her face, then the entirety of her body. Rats darted away
from her, a few suffering minor burns themselves. But
the female blazed like a torch, stumbling blind before
toppling over one of the corpse-filled cots and crashing
to the ground. The other rats stood stunned for a moment
as the female writhed on the ground, her body roiling in
sulfurous white flame that clung to her like tar.
Gundsric raved then, shouting threats at the rats,
telling them their choice was between the gold on the
floor and the burning body on the ground. The stink of
scorched fur and flesh filled the room, and smoke stung
my eyes and brought tears. But even through my blurred
vision I noticed the silent figure that had just entered the
room from the far corner, where I knew the stairs to be.
It was Gyrd, but not as I had ever before seen him.
His mail glistened silver, polished and well maintained
in contrast to the dirty and rent hauberk the fighter
routinely slept in. He stood taller, straighter, like a noble
warrior out of some Ulfen saga. His beard was trimmed
close and clean, and his long hair was gathered neatly
into thick plaits. There was no gray in the fiery red mane,
no flush of drunkenness on his fair skin, and no shadows
under the clear, proud eyes.
He drew a mirror-bright sword and opened his mouth
in a silent roar.
The wererats saw him. They crashed around the
room in surprise, some heading for the shadows, one
even managing to fall over the smoldering form of the
dead female on the floor. Some let fly a few knives and
darts, which sliced through the dark with no effect.
Gyrd advanced, rolling his wrist so that his blade danced
deadly circles in the air.
I could hear Gundsric’s shouts over the din and squeal
of the panicking rats. He had noticed the same thing I
had: That this bright image of Gyrd, standing tall like a
hero of legend, wasn’t real. It was an illusion.
But the blade that ripped through the wererat next to
me was real enough.
The image of Gyrd vanished. The rat let out a piercing
wail and crumpled to the floor, limbs twitching in his
78
death throes, and then Shess was next to
me, sword in hand.
I spared no time marveling
at the gnome’s skill in sneaking
undetected into and around
a basement full of wererats.
Whipping my newly freed right arm
around in an arc, I drove my palm into the face of my
remaining captor, smashing the soft nose at the end his
snout. He chattered in anger, jerking me forward and
raking his claws against my shoulder and chest. Warm
blood flowed from the stinging wound.
Ignore it, Taldara. Push it aside. My father’s words rang
in my mind. Everything is won or lost in the head, not the
body. Without focus, you’re no better than your human blood.
I had always challenged him when he said such things
about humanity, but he would laugh and make a joke of
it, claiming he only said them to rile me, to challenge
and push me. He was right about focus, though, and a
great deal more, even when he was so infuriatingly
wrong. I sometimes suspect my rebellion against him
was his object all along—my final graduation from his
academy of life.
I kept my focus. The pain, the panic, the fear—these
were like old memories. Ducking the wererat’s next
strike, I turned my momentum into a forward roll,
drawing my boot knife in the same motion. I came up
in a crouch next to my attacker, well inside his guard,
and drove my blade into his guts. Black blood spurted
from the wound as he f lailed at me, and I struck again.
He jerked back, collapsing in a twitching heap, his rat-
screams mingling with the chaotic din of the basement.
I sprang to my feet in time to see Gundsric raise the
pewter flask he wore around his neck to his lips.
More rats converged on Shess and me, blocking my
view of the alchemist. The gnome spun and darted
among them, a maddeningly nimble and unpredictable
opponent. I fought defensively, with knife and fist, my
back to the wall. The rats were enraged now and, in their
half-human forms, they seemed disinclined to draw
their weapons, fighting instead with claws and teeth.
“Keep them off me!” Shess yelled. I turned my head in
time to see her repel her attacker with a quick chop to
the thigh. In almost the same movement she tossed her
sword to me. I barely caught it in my off-hand, then threw
my own dagger over her head, at the wererat nearest her.
Taking her short sword in my newly freed right hand, I
stepped forward to cover the gnome.
Shess’s sword was as light as my boot knife, and keen as
a razor. I slashed, backing the rats off, ignoring a glancing
blow to my arm. There were three wererats left, though
the one Shess had wounded was keeping his distance,
hobbling along the edge of the combat and looking for an
opening to throw a knife. I kept slashing, more to create
space around us than to do damage. And in that moment,
I noticed the change that had come over Gundsric.
He was broader and taller, the muscles bulging beneath
his dirty clothes like those of some Shoanti barbarian
fresh down from the Storval Plateau. The remnants of a
potion stained his lips, mingling with the bloody sputum
of his black lung that ran down his chin. The insane light
of his eyes was as bright as a lamp now. As bright as a
bonfire. As bright as—
The basement exploded in multicolored light, a
rainbow of blinding force. I had been ready for it, but
even still I found myself temporarily blind. Shess’s child
hand closed over my wrist and dragged me to the right,
while the snarls and shouts of our enemies reverberated
in our ears.
“Come on!” Shess shouted as I tripped over the first of
the stairs. “Straight up this way.”
I ran blindly up the stairs, the world black as night after
the blast of blinding color from Shess’s spell. We came
to a landing, and then a small room whose walls I could
see as faint blotches of gray in the dark. Shess guided
me to the door, taking her sword out of my hand as she
did so, and I squinted to bring the world back into focus.
“That’s no
ordinary
familiar.”
79
The afterimage of the spell was wearing off quickly, but
even still it was as if I had been staring at the sun before
plunging into a dark cave.
There was light in the short hall we entered, and I
realized it was from the lantern in the common room
of the Forty Fathoms. We darted down the hall quickly,
arriving in the alehouse’s dusty front room, and I vaguely
recognized the furnishings through my blurred vision.
Behind us someone was clambering up the stair.
“Stick to the left wall,” Shess told me.
We were almost at the door when it burst open,
slamming against the wall and rattling the thick glass in
the alehouse windows.
“Hrushgak!” Shess said cheerily. “And I see you
brought Idrek.”
The half-orc wasn’t the first thing I would have
wanted to see with my restored vision. Almost as big
as Gyrd, he was leaner, sharper-featured, but no less
muscled than the Ulfen warrior. He wore a scarred black
leather vest with rings sown on to it, but his thick arms
were bare save for vambraces of silver-chased steel and
pale scars like worms tracking over his greenish skin.
Protruding from his piggish face was an asymmetric
jumble of dirty fangs.
He clutched a dripping axe in his right hand. In his
left, held up by his black hair, was the head of the gleam
addict Idrek.
“He said you would be here, little thief.” Hrushgak
flung Idrek’s head contemptuously into the room, where
it struck the floorboards with a sound like dropped sack
of meal. More thugs were pushing into the room behind
him, all tough-looking half-orcs—Boss Croat’s drug-
trade enforcers. “I never liked you, gnome.”
Shess began to protest, her feelings clearly—and
strangely—hurt. And then Gundsric stomped into the
room behind us.
He looked more a monster than a dwarf. Grotesquely
muscled, his body now sprouted mottled thorns like
the spikes of some shelled sea creature. At his shoulder
Carchima spread his wings of skin and shrieked. The
alchemist’s eyes burned like Riddleport’s beacon tower.
“I will kill every one of you,” Gundsric said, his voice
flat and emotionless.
Hrushgak smiled, baring his jumble of
wicked yellow teeth. “I was just about to say
the same thing.”
Both sides moved at once, with Shess
and me caught in the middle. Hrushgak
feigned a strike at me and I leapt back as
he barreled past, intent on Gundsric. One
of the half-orcs went after Shess with a
spiked club, but she deftly maneuvered
him over to the trapdoor. He dropped
through with a yelp, smacking his head
on the lip of the f loor as he did so.
An explosion tore through the
room, knocking me forward in a
wave of heat and force. Another
alchemical bomb. I caught myself
on the wall, one of Hrushgak’s
thugs inches away. He thrust a
knife at me and I slipped to the
side, but he caught me across the
forearm with a wild backswing.
I was unarmed now, and the knife-
wielding half-orc probably weighed
twice what I did. Shess had her own
“Gundsric’s potions don’t
make him any prettier.”
80
problems in the shape of a nearly naked maniac with a
short-hafted axe in each hand.
I kept my arms out, hoping to catch my attacker’s
wrist or else turn aside his thrust. I was close to the
door—a well-timed roll could take me past him and out
into the street.
The half-orc chuckled, noting the direction of my
gaze. Weaving the serrated blade in an intricate pattern
between us, he licked his lips. “Ain’t no one gonna save
you now, sweet meat.”
A streak of black and white burst through the open
door and proved him wrong. Mordimor, snarling and
yipping, launched himself at the half-orc’s legs. Blood
flew and the half-orc screamed and staggered. I lunged
forward, catching his knife hand in both of mine, and
drove the weapon through his eye. He collapsed heavily
to the floor, the bone-handled weapon lodged in his face
to the hilt.
“I was worried about you, Mord,” I said. Mordimor
looked at me in the way he does, adorable despite the
bloody froth that ringed his muzzle.
Shess had finished with her own attacker and the
way was clear, the rest of the thugs having converged on
Gundsric and one of his remaining henchrats. We darted
out of there—Shess handing me one of the axes she had
taken from the berserker—just as another explosion
shook the place. The windows of the Forty Fathoms blew
out into the street.
“Let me go in first next time, Tal,” Shess said
breathlessly next to me as we turned back to watch
the alehouse from the cover of a nearby alleyway. The
muddy street was littered with glass, glistening in
the afternoon light like ice. Inside the Forty Fathoms,
f lames blossomed.
Mordimor looked up from his cleaning and chuffed
agreement, wiping his bloody face with a moistened paw.
“I’ll insist on it, Shess. In fact, I think you’ll get the
chance within the hour.” She looked at me in surprise,
one green eyebrow quirked upward.
Was I really thinking about doing this? With Gundsric
busy fighting Croat’s thugs—or, even better, dead at their
hands—now seemed like the opportunity I had been
waiting for. I was exhausted, wounded, frayed to my last
nerve. All this sneaking and fighting, the gangs and their
squabbles, Gundsric’s own hideous plot in supplying
drugs to the city for whatever strange destructive revenge
this would grant him—it was all secondary to my
purpose. To the story as it had to be told. I could almost
see Master Shaine shaking his head; in amusement or
disappointment, who could say?
“We’re going to break into that crazy dwarf’s house
and finish this for good.” It felt good to say it—more,
it felt right somehow. Shess added her own enthusiastic
agreement. We spent some time tending our wounds,
my own minor healing magic knitting the slash on my
shoulder closed and hopefully rendering it free of the
bad humors associated with wererats. I told Shess of my
real purpose in finding employment with Gundsric,
finally telling her the whole truth. She relished every
detail, excited not only at the prospect of stealing
treasure, but at rediscovering the lost adventures of a
famous Pathfinder.
Gundsric’s house was close, only a few squalid blocks
from the tavern, but Shess and I made the journey with
deliberate caution, wary of encountering another group
of half-orcs, or surviving Clippers, or Desna knows what
else. We made a brief detour when Shess spied an odd
jobs man pushing his tool cart through the street. For
a ridiculous sum I bought a length of rope from him,
frayed and tarred, and Shess picked up a few stout nails
she said would help her climb. With a wink he unrolled
a square of oilcloth to expose a worn set of thieves’ picks,
but Shess declined. Clearly the man catered to all sorts
of clientele.
Part of our caution was also due to Gundsric’s ravings
about his home being surrounded by the forces of Croat
and Cromarcky. I didn’t want to be seen approaching by
any suspicious guards. How Shess and I would manage to
get around a patrol and somehow climb to a third floor
window—a window that was hopefully still unlocked—
was something I was not prepared to worry about just yet.
If the last few days had taught me anything, it was to take
things one step at a time.
The place was indeed surrounded, and more thoroughly
than I had imagined. Black-clad half-orcs with an array
of brutal weapons shared the space around the heavy
stone walls of the house with Cromarcky’s uniformed
gendarmes. Together they shouted off bystanders and
smacked around the occasional too-curious passerby.
They glared uneasily at one another, hands always
upon their weapons. Their truce was an uneasy one,
and no doubt whoever was to eventually win the right
to Gundsric’s home would be something decided at the
highest levels. So until the bosses made their decision,
the guards would continue to pace belligerently back
and forth outside, spoiling for a fight. Shess was
already proposing we distract them before climbing
up—either with an illusion, or a fire, or a barrage of
fish. Her suggestions grew steadily more absurd, but
I wasn’t paying attention. Instead, I stared in disbelief
at the figure moving easily among the guards. I could
only shake my head, not even daring to guess what his
presence meant.
Kostin Dalackz strutted and joked with gendarmes and
half-orcs alike, a ready smile on his face and the scepter
bundled in an old cloak at his side.
81
T
his bizarre world, capped endlessly in the tenebrous veil of
night, teems with dangerous creatures ripped straight from
a madman’s nightmare. Silhouetted against a pallid moon,
hundreds of strange humanoid creatures flit through the sky far
above the windswept cliffs and mountains, at times chased by larger,
more unfathomable horrors. Every so often, they lift a squirming
creature from the ground below, wrestling with it for a few
moments like a kitten pawing at a lizard, before dropping it to the
cold ground once again.
—Atilia Spirliu, A Sight into Dreams and Nightmares
82
T
his month’s Pathfinder Bestiary brings you to the
heights of the Storval Plateau, where you can discover
the threats that lurk just below the surface, as well
as those that have leaked over from another dimension.
Here we explore otherworldly horrors from the mind
of H. P. Lovecraft—the bhole, the flying polyp, and the
nightgaunt—as well as a herald of a forgotten deity.
ChanCe Meetings, MalContents,
and Monsters
As the PCs search for another shard of the Sihedron, this
adventure takes them to Guiltspur. Once used by Karzoug
as a bridge to the dread realm of Leng, Guiltspur frequently
leaks threats from that plane into Golarion. Here you’ll
find a random encounter table suitable for Guiltspur and
its environs—including Leng—as well as three encounter
hooks to add to your Shattered Star campaign.
Some of the creatures on the table can be encountered on
the way to Guiltspur or in its immediate vicinity, while others
can be encountered in the dungeons below—or the realm
of Leng itself. If the result is a creature not suitable for a
random encounter in the PCs’ current environment, roll on
the table again or simply choose an appropriate encounter.
Dreaming Dangers (CR 13): Those sleeping in the
proximity of Guiltspur frequently find themselves plagued
by unsettling dreams. Some of these nightmares are
simply the result of mundane dreaming, but sometimes
nightmares are the direct result of Siebetha, a night hag
(Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 215) who preys on mortals while they
sleep in hopes of collecting some savory souls to add to her
collection. With the aid of four particularly nightmarish
animate dreams (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 29), Siebetha
seeks out those sleeping in the area, then uses her dream
haunting ability to slowly wither her victims to nothing.
In recent days, this group of nightmare peddlers has been
seeking out giants that have been laboring at Guiltspur, but
the group is always looking for more intelligent and thus
tastier victims for its phantasmagoric predations.
Raiders (CR 14): Sometimes members of the Shoanti
clans violate the codes of their clans and find themselves
exiled to the harsh badlands of the Storval Plateau. These
exiles either perish in the harsh climate or persevere, using
their strength and brutality to eke out an existence raiding
other clans or preying on those who travel this land.
Benkor and his fellow exiles fit into this latter category.
Benkor (use the stats for a bandit lord on page 259 of the
Pathfinder RPG GameMastery Guide) leads a group of eight
bandits and raiders (use the stats for a viking on page
281 of the GameMastery Guide) in a campaign of theft and
murder across the plateau. Here they fought some of their
previous enemies in other clans, and then took on tribes
of giants, which led them to the area around Guiltspur. As
they have gained power and confidence, they have begun
threatening any creatures they come across that have
something they want—including powerful adventurers.
They prefer setting up ambushes and traps, using their
knowledge of the environment to their advantage.
Sinister Fiendcallers (CR 15): When the lost city of Xin-
Shalast was rediscovered high in the Kodar Mountains, it
drew those interested in history, power, and riches from
all across Avistan. Not all of these visitors’ however, had
benevolence in their hearts. Knowing the lost city to be a
dangerous place, Kistad, a demon-worshiping cleric with
roguish skills (use the stats for a cult leader on page 279 of
the GameMastery Guide), prepared herself and her group of
adventurers by stealing powerful magic items before setting
out across the Storval Plateau. Enlisting the aid of a ranger
named Frantoc (use the stats for a bounty hunter on page
283 of the GameMastery Guide) and an adventuring scholar
named Thanli (use the stats for a sage on page 297 of the
GameMastery Guide), the group set off to uncover ancient
Thassilonian riches. Kistad and Thanli successfully made
use of a stolen cache of scrolls to bind two vrocks (Bestiary
69) to their service. Now they visit lost Thassilonian sites
collecting more power and wealth in order to pay off the
other fiends they manage to bind to their service. Defeating
this group not only rids the world of the members’ foul
presence, but also gives adventurers access to a large
collection of stolen scrolls and other potent magic items.
Guiltspur Environs EncountErs
d%
Result
Avg. CR Source
01–09
1 fire giant
10
Bestiary 148
10–15
2d8 nightgaunts
10
See page 90
16–20
1d8 wyverns
10
Bestiary 282
21–23
1d6 destrachans
11
Bestiary 2 83
24–28
1d4 night hags
11
Bestiary 215
29–32
1d4 rift drakes
11
Bestiary 3 106
33–35
1d4 rocs
11
Bestiary 236
36–42
1d8 denizens of Leng
12
Bestiary 2 82
43–49
1d4 gugs
12
Bestiary 2 151
50–54
1d6 mastodons
12
Bestiary 128
55–58
1 roper
12
Bestiary 237
59–62
1d8 shantaks
12
Bestiary 2 244
63–66
1 shining child
12
Bestiary 2 245
67–71
1d8 stone giants
12
Bestiary 151
72–75
1d4 carnivorous crystals 13
Bestiary 3 45
76–81
1d4 moon-beasts
13
Bestiary 3 195
82–87
1 Leng spider
14
Bestiary 2 176
88–92
1d4 scarlet walkers
14
Rise of the Runelords
Anniversary Edition 414
93–99
1d6 stone golems
14
Bestiary 163
100
1 shemhazian demon 16
Bestiary 2 80
83
BHOLE
This titanic worm heaves its endless bulk into the air, raising a
bleached end as if ready to strike with a massive set of hooked jaws.
Bhole
CR 17
XP 102,400
CN Colossal magical beast
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense
120 ft.; Perception +28
Aura frightful presence (300 ft., DC 26)
DEFENSE
AC 33, touch 1, flat-footed 33 (–1 Dex, +32 natural, –8 size)
hp 290 (20d10+180)
Fort +21, Ref +13, Will +11
DR 10/—; Immune acid, disease, fire, magical control,
paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning effects; SR 28
OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft., burrow 50 ft.
Melee bite +29 (6d6+25/19–20 plus grab), slam +29 (3d8+25/19–20)
Space 30 ft.; Reach 60 ft.
Special Attacks breath weapon, overwhelming strength,
swallow whole (20d6 acid damage, AC 26, hp 29), trample
(2d8+25, DC 37)
STATISTICS
Str 44, Dex 8, Con 28, Int 3, Wis 21, Cha 23
Base Atk +20; CMB +45 (+49 grapple); CMD 54 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Awesome Blow, Critical Focus, Improved Bull Rush,
Improved Critical (bite), Improved Critical (slam), Improved
Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Staggering
Critical, Vital Strike
Skills Perception +28
Languages Aklo (rarely speaks)
ECOLOGY
Environment any underground
Organization solitary
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Breath Weapon (Su) Once every minute, a bhole can expel
a prodigious amount of thick slime from its gullet. This
breath weapon has a range of 900 feet, and creates a
40-foot-diameter spread of slime in its targeted area.
Any creature within this area must succeed at a DC 29
Fortitude save to avoid being stunned for 1d4 rounds.
The slime transforms the area it coats into difficult
terrain. Furthermore, any creature that is in the area
(or that attempts to enter the area) must succeed at a
DC 29 Reflex save to avoid becoming entangled by the
slime. Bhole slime persists for 2d6 hours—bhole lairs
are typically pre-caked with the stuff. A bhole can move
through bhole slime without penalty. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Immune to Magical Control (Ex) A bhole is immune to
nearly all forms of mind control, including all charm
spells, suggestion spells, and dominate spells. It is similarly
immune to magic jar and possession attempts. Confusion
and other mind-affecting effects that don’t allow another
creature to directly control a bhole work normally. Rare
effects that allow a creature to manipulate the exact
effects of confusion on a creature provide one of the
few ways to magically control a bhole. Other methods,
particularly those tied to strange and powerful artifacts,
may work as well.
Overwhelming Strength (Ex) A bhole always applies 1-1/2
times its Strength modifier on all natural weapon attacks.
Known on some worlds as dholes, bholes are among the
largest of living creatures, wormlike leviathans of such
size that few can claim to have seen one wholly from
head to tail, and those who do tend toward madness and
other afflictions that carry with them a heavy burden of
doubt. The coloration of these creatures’ coiling bodies
ranges widely—from darker blues and purples to paler
grays, yellows, or bleached white—with a cavernous mouth
consisting of long, bony jaws that extend and unfold from
the creature’s head when it feeds.
eCology
By all accounts, bholes are incredibly long-lived—those
that exist in remote worlds or on other dimensions have
done so for countless eons. The bholes themselves seem
to have no interest in their history, perhaps as a result
of their limited intellect, but by all accounts a bhole can
live forever, barring death by violence. For a creature
as immense and dangerous as a bhole, such conditions
essentially amount to immortality.
Regions inhabited by bholes are always barren
wastelands. What creatures survive there do so with a
combination of stealth and speed, and even then they
quickly learn to make themselves scarce when the telltale
rumbling of an approaching bhole begins to shake the
ground. Bholes themselves seem able to eat and digest
anything and everything, and in time can reduce a
huge area to a honeycombed network of immense
tunnels. These regions swiftly collapse, leaving behind
crumpled, rubble-filled pits of vast and terrifying size.
Legends speak of entire worlds being reduced to rubble
by bholes—they also tell of the danger of allowing these
monsters into inhabited worlds, for their hunger is
eternal, and a relatively small number of bholes can do
incredible damage on a continental scale.
habitat & soCiety
Legends state that even larger bholes exist in distant
realms below the Dimension of Dreams or deep under
Leng. These legends state that no one has actually seen
one of these truly enormous bholes; while someone
84
must have witnessed one for the legend to spread, the
number of those who have survived an encounter with
a bhole with body and mind intact is so small that the
hyperbole is for all intents and purposes the truth.
Certainly the immense burrows in certain regions of
the underworld below Leng or the Dimension of Dream
speak of massive creatures indeed—holes into which
typical bholes might fall and vanish forever. If these
monsters do indeed exist, they do so on a scale that may
make them impossible denizens of such constraining
habitats as mere planets.
Bholes are more intelligent than animals, but only just.
They rarely speak, and their vocabularies are generally
limited to only a handful of words in ancient, mostly
forgotten languages—those words they do know and
speak in more widespread tongues are generally limited
to a few phrases in Aklo. Yet bholes rarely have cause to
speak, for little seems to interest them apart from eating
and slithering.
No active bholes currently exist on Golarion, although
dormant ones may certainly dwell in the deepest reaches
of the Darklands, or may well be trapped between this
world and other dimensions. Explorers are most
likely to encounter these creatures on
other planes, other planets, or in other
dimensions. Certain members of the cult
of Groetus have long sought a way to bring bholes
to Golarion, or if they already exist in its depths,
methods of locating and awakening them, for what
swifter doom could one bring to a planet than to infest
it with creatures capable of coring it out as a worm
might devour an apple from within?
enCounters with bholes
A typical bhole is only 30 feet wide, yet is hundreds of feet
long and weighs thousands of tons. Combat with such
immense monsters might present some challenges
for games based around miniatures and play mats.
When you include an encounter with a bhole in
such a game, it might be best to describe the
immense worm as extruding itself out of the
earth to attack those nearby—if the bhole needs
to move, it simply burrows to a new location,
sticks out its head, and starts attacking new
targets. Alternatively, you can treat the bhole’s
head as its only actively dangerous portion. In
this case, attacks directed at its immense body
are irrelevant, with only those directed at its
head (which consists of a 30-foot space) actually
reducing its hit points. You might even run an
encounter with a bhole using a truly enormous
space on your Flip-Mat—a space of 100 feet or more,
perhaps. This solution presents its own challenges,
obviously, particularly if your gaming area lacks for
space. Of course, if these options for handling immense
monsters don’t sit well with you, the best solution is
to simply downsize bholes in your game; assume they
coil up on themselves and fit entirely into their 30-foot
space, with their length accounting for their unusually
enormous reach. Finally, you might consider not using
miniatures at all for a fight against a bhole, with the
assumption that once combat begins, the immense
monster poses a significant threat to all in the area and
that even several rounds of flight might not put a victim
outside the monster’s reach. Pick the solution that works
best for your style of game play; in the end, the point is
that a fight with a bhole should be one that your players
remember for a long time.
85
FLYING POLYP
This nauseating tapered tower of flesh, eyes, and tendrils coils
through the air, surrounded by a strange vortex of sucking wind.
Flying Polyp
CR 14
XP 38,400
CE Huge aberration (air)
Init +6; Senses all-around vision, darkvision 60 ft.;
Perception +26
Aura frightful presence (90 ft., DC 24)
DEFENSE
AC 29, touch 16, flat-footed 26 (+5 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge,
+13 natural, –2 size)
hp 207 (18d8+126)
Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +16
Defensive Abilities amorphous, deflecting winds, partial
invisibility; DR 10/magic and slashing; Immune acid, cold,
sonic; SR 25
Weaknesses vulnerable to lightning
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee 4 tentacle +21 (1d8+9/19–20 plus grab)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (1d8+9), sucking wind, wind blast
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 14th; concentration +19)
At will—alter windsAPG, gust of wind (DC 17), whispering wind,
wind walk
3/day—control winds (DC 20), river of windAPG (DC 19),
wind wall
1/day—control weather, whirlwind (DC 23)
STATISTICS
Str 28, Dex 15, Con 24, Int 19, Wis 20, Cha 21
Base Atk +13; CMB +24 (+28 grapple); CMD 42
(can’t be tripped)
Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack,
Improved Critical (tentacle), Improved
Initiative, Mobility, Power Attack, Vital Strike,
Weapon Focus (tentacle)
Skills Fly +27, Knowledge (engineering) +22,
Knowledge (history) +22, Knowledge (nature)
+25, Perception +26, Spellcraft +25, Stealth +15,
Use Magic Device +23
Languages Aklo
SQ amphibious
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or storm (3–10)
Treasure standard
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Deflecting Winds (Su) A flying polyp’s control over wind
allows it to surround itself with blasts of precisely aimed
gusts, effectively granting the creature a +5 deflection
bonus to its Armor Class and a +4 resistance bonus on
Reflex saving throws.
Partial Invisibility (Su) A flying polyp’s body constantly
flickers and shifts, passing from visibility to invisibility
in a seemingly random pattern and often not wholly
at once, leaving the creature’s body in what appears to
be multiple sections. This ability, combined with the
flying polyp’s amorphous, elastic form, makes it difficult
to target a flying polyp, granting it a 20% miss chance
against all attacks. By concentrating, a flying polyp can
become fully invisible.
Sucking Wind (Su) This attack allows the flying polyp to
send an eerie “sucking” wind out to slow and eventually
stop a creature’s escape. The wind itself isn’t particularly
strong, but it creates a peculiar sucking sensation as
86
if it were attempting to pull things back toward the
flying polyp. Activating this ability is a full-round action
for a flying polyp, and it must concentrate each round
to maintain the sucking wind’s effect, as if it were
concentrating to maintain a spell duration. The sucking
wind manifests as a 100-foot-radius spread, with the
flying polyp at the center. Each round the polyp maintains
concentration, the sucking wind’s radius increases by
100 feet, to a maximum radius of a mile. A flying polyp
can detect creatures within this area via tremorsense. As
a free action, it can increase the effects of the sucking
wind on up to five different creatures within the area at
one time. Each targeted creature must succeed at a DC
26 Fortitude save each round it remains in the area of
the sucking wind or be slowed until it leaves the area. A
creature already under the effects of any slowing effect
(such as from this sucking wind or a slow spell) that fails
this save is held in place for 1 round—it is not helpless,
but cannot move via any means. Freedom of movement
protects against the effects of the sucking wind, and
control winds negates its effects in the area of effect of the
control winds spell. Natural windstorms or other powerful
winds have no effect on a sucking wind. A flying polyp can
activate a sucking wind once per day, and can maintain
concentration on the effect for up to an hour. The save
DC is Constitution-based.
Wind Blast (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds as a standard
action, a flying polyp can create a powerful blast of wind
at a range of up to 120 feet. This blast of wind creates a
sudden explosion of flesh-scouring wind in a 30-foot-
radius burst. All creatures within this area take 14d6 points
of bludgeoning damage, with a successful DC 26 Reflex
save halving the damage. In addition, these winds can
check or blow away creatures as if they were tornado-
strength winds (see page 439 of the Pathfinder RPG Core
Rulebook). The save DC is Constitution-based.
A flying polyp is a hideous mass of flesh, eyes, tentacles,
and mouths suggestive of a particularly nauseating
evolutionary path. A typical flying polyp measures 30 feet
in length but is unusually light for its size, weighing no
more than 2,000 pounds. These creatures seem to have
no maximum lifespan, but their violent, warlike nature
ensures that death eventually occurs—even if it takes
eons for the polyp to encounter something capable of
defeating it.
eCology
A f lying polyp is a physical being, but one composed of
material strangely unlike the flesh that garbs most living
creatures. While the stuff that makes up the exterior of
a f lying polyp’s body might seem similar to ordinary
f lesh, it often behaves in ways that should be impossible.
The material seems to fade in and out of visibility, almost
at random, at points becoming transparent enough that
the nauseating inner workings of the thing’s body are laid
bare to view. Although the polyp feels moist and damp to
the touch, what might serve as blood in other creatures
behaves more like strange vortices of wind within a
flying polyp’s body. When wounded, its damaged flesh
does not bleed so much as whistle and gust.
A f lying polyp’s association with wind is particularly
noteworthy, and goes far beyond the strange storms
that surge through what passes as veins and arteries
in its massive body. These creatures have a remarkable
ability to control the air around them, both via a wide
array of spell-like abilities and through the use of
potent supernatural powers. They do not wield tools
or weapons as a rule, instead using their mastery of
the winds themselves to wage war and build their grim
cities, scouring towers and chambers out of basalt with
precise blasts of sand-laden wind.
habitat & soCiety
Although flying polyps certainly display some of the
features of other sentient races, particularly in their
habit of building cities (although these towering cities
incorporate architectural features that most other races
find awkward and unsettling), in other areas they seem
strangely primitive or disinterested. They are as aberrant
in mind and philosophy as they are in physical form. For
example, they seem to have neither a name for their own
race, nor a language to call their own. Their cities, while
unnerving in their vast scale, seem to serve little other
purpose than to unnerve, for flying polyps do not engage
in trade or politics or other social constructs.
The primary exception to this, to the detriment of
other creatures unfortunate enough to dwell in regions
claimed by f lying polyps, is war. Flying polyps excel
at genocide, using their mastery over wind to scour
clean entire cities and civilizations when they come
upon them. Some among their kind can even travel to
other planets by bringing with them a sizable sphere of
purloined wind and air to carry them aloft and sustain
them, and with this power they lead armies from
planet to planet as necessary, relentlessly tracking their
chosen enemies across worlds. Every so often, f lying
polyps encounter a race that is their equal in war, and
on some worlds, including Golarion, they still endure
the humiliation of these ancient defeats after being
imprisoned in extensive underground chambers where
they are cut off from the outside world. Yet flying polyps
are long-lived, and when an unforeseen tectonic event
creates new exits to their prison chambers in forgotten
corners of the Darklands, they emerge with unabated
fury to seek revenge.
87
KURSHU THE UNDYING
This large creature has the upper body of a winged woman and the
lower body of a snake. She looks withered, like a preserved corpse.
Kurshu the Undying
CR 15
XP 51,200
LE Large outsider (evil, extraplanar, lawful)
Init +10; Senses blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., low-light
vision, scent; Perception +25
DEFENSE
AC 30, touch 17, flat-footed 24 (+2 deflection, +6 Dex, +13 natural,
–1 size)
hp 229 (17d10+136); regeneration 5 (acid)
Fort +20, Ref +11, Will +17
DR 10/cold iron and magic; Resist cold 30, electricity 30, fire 30,
sonic 30; SR 26
Weaknesses divine separation
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 slams +21 (1d6+5 plus 1d4 Intelligence drain), tail slap
+16 (1d8+2 plus grab)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (1d8+5), power surge
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +22)
At will—detect magic, floating disk, mage hand, read magic, tongues
3/day—cure serious wounds, dispel magic, displacement,
fireball (DC 20), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects
only), hold person (DC 20), lightning bolt (DC 20), limited
wish, magic missile, plane shift (DC 24), slow (DC 20),
stinking cloud (DC 20), vampiric touch
STATISTICS
Str 20, Dex 23, Con 26, Int 31, Wis 20, Cha 25
Base Atk +17; CMB +23 (+27 grapple); CMD 41 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Craft Wondrous
Item, Great Fortitude, Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved
Iron Will, Iron Will, Scribe Scroll
Skills Diplomacy +24, Escape Artist +23, Fly +21, Heal +22,
Intimidate +24, Knowledge (arcana) +30, Knowledge
(dungeoneering) +27, Knowledge (history) +27, Knowledge
(planes) +30, Knowledge (religion) +27, Perception +25,
Sense Motive +25, Spellcraft +30, Stealth +22, Swim +22, Use
Magic Device +27
Languages Aklo, Azlanti, Draconic, Infernal, Terran,
Thassilonian; telepathy 100 ft.
SQ change shape (human; alter self ), feed, spell-like crafting
ECOLOGY
Environment any land (extraplanar)
Organization solitary or cabal (herald and 1d4 charmed
outsiders of CR 5 to CR 10)
Treasure standard
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Divine Separation (Su) The herald has been separated from
Lissala for thousands of years and does not know where
her master is. The loss of her connection to the goddess
severely weakens the herald, and she gains 1 negative
level per day, up to a maximum of 16 negative levels.
These negative levels cannot be suppressed or removed
in any way (including restoration spells), except by using
her feed ability. If Lissala returns and the herald regains
her connection to her master, she permanently loses this
weakness and its associated negative levels.
Feed (Su) Once per day, the herald can devour an outsider’s
corpse as a full-round action. For each Hit Die of the
devoured outsider, the herald automatically removes 1
negative level gained from her divine separation ability. The
consumed outsider must have at least 8 Hit Dice.
Intelligence Drain (Su) The herald drains 1d4 points of
Intelligence each time she hits with her slam attack. (The
herald does not heal any damage when she uses her
Intelligence drain.)
Power Surge (Su) Three times per day as a swift action, the
herald can increase the DC of her next spell-like ability (if it
is cast that round) by +2.
Spell-Like Crafting (Su) The herald may use any of her spell-
like abilities when crafting magic items as if they were
actual spells.
Lissala’s herald is Kurshu the Undying, a powerful and
dutiful agent of magic who has been suffering in her
master’s long absence. Known as “Kurshu the Divine
Serpent” during the time of Thassilon, she possesses
a powerful serpentine lower body, a female humanoid
upper body, and three pairs of feathered wings. Her
humanoid half is more serpentine than that of a
lillend; she has tiny scales on her arms and a scaly cobra
hood that blends into her hair. She looks haggard, as
if aff licted with a chronic wasting disease, and her
movements betray an ancient and resigned weariness.
Her voice is thin and susurrant, and she tends to hiss
when she speaks, especially when angry. She tends to
verbalize in Thassilonian even when communicating
telepathically. She is a lost being without a purpose,
devoted to Lissala but unable to find her.
Records of the herald’s origin are lost to passing
centuries, but she claims she was created in her current
form by the goddess, who used parts from several different
creatures and then granted her true life. The goddess’s
withdrawal has taxed the herald’s ability to maintain her
own life, and eventually she may fragment back into her
component pieces (which may or may not be alive after
this transformation). Bound to Lissala by magic and
an unshakable sense of duty, she resents her master for
leaving her behind to wither away, and despises herself
for knowing that if Lissala returns, she will crawl back to
the goddess like a sheltered, neglected child who has no
alternative but to love her creator and jailor.
88
eCology
Kurshu’s degenerative condition means that (unlike most
outsiders) she must eat to survive; otherwise, she wastes
away into a skeletal, nearly helpless version of herself.
She reached that lowest point only once, but was lucky
enough to catch suitable prey unawares and work her way
back to an exhausted but functional level. Consequently,
Kurshu makes sure to feed at least every few days.
As there are few creatures in Lissala’s service who have
the power to conjure her, Kurshu is mainly left to her own
devices, but (unlike heralds of active deities) may choose to
respond to a summons from any spellcaster. In exchange
for her services, she demands that she be given outsiders
she can enslave for later feeding, Thassilonian magic
items, or items that bear some lingering piece of Lissala’s
power. She is knowledgeable about Thassilonian magic,
rune magic, and Azlanti practices, though she is hesitant
to speak of the latter when on Golarion lest it attract
unwanted attention from slaves of the aboleths;
having witnessed Earthfall at a distance, she has
no desire to subject herself to a direct attack by
entities who control that kind of magic.
Kurshu has no compunction about killing
something that defies her or appears to be
withholding information or objects she wants
(if she has to, she can compel answers from its
corpse using limited wish to duplicate speak with
dead). She feels her pseudo-mortality at all
times and fears death, and is likely to flee any
encounter in which she feels outmatched.
habitat & soCiety
Kurshu is alone in the multiverse. Her
goddess is gone, Lissala’s other divine
servants have perished or converted to other
faiths, mortals who knew her at the height of
Thassilon are long dead or in suspended
animation, and her existence has no
purpose. Her hunger for outsider souls
repulses her (as she never had to eat
while Lissala was present) but she accepts it as a
necessary embarrassment because she is unwilling
to accept death—or an eternity spent as an invalid.
She normally keeps a “stable” of charmed outsiders
near her (using her limited wish spell-like ability to
duplicate charm monster) so she can slay and consume one
if necessary. Her devotion to law and hatred
of chaos means her minions are usually
daemons, demons, or proteans; though she
finds their flesh repugnant, she would rather
destroy a minion of disorder than a devil or
similar lawful evil outsider. She is stern but
courteous to these minions, who obey and
respect her power even beyond the enforced friendliness
of the magic that binds them to her.
Because of her chaotic associates, she has survived many
hostile encounters in which opponents attacked her with
lawful magic (such as order’s wrath)—such attacks do not
harm her, giving her a few vital seconds to decide whether
she wants to retaliate or abandon her minions and flee.
The herald spends her infinite hours wandering the
planes in search of Lissala or visiting Golarion to bask
in places sacred to her missing goddess, trying to detect
echoes of her master’s presence like an old widower
smelling his dead wife’s clothes for a hint of perfume to
spark a long-forgotten memory.
89
NIGHTGAUNT
This lanky ebon humanoid has batlike wings and a long
prehensile tail, yet its most unsettling feature is its lack of a face.
Nightgaunt
CR 4
XP 1,200
CN Medium monstrous humanoid
Init +6; Senses all-around vision, blindsight 60 ft.; Perception +6
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural)
hp 37 (5d10+10)
Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +6
Defensive Abilities faceless; Immune cold, gaze weapons,
inhaled toxins, scent-based attacks
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (average)
Melee 2 claws +9 (1d6+4 plus grab)
Special Attacks clutches, tickle
STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 5, Wis 14, Cha 11
Base Atk +5; CMB +9 (+13 grapple); CMD 22
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes
Skills Fly +7, Perception +6, Stealth +11; Racial Modifiers
+4 Stealth
Languages Aklo (cannot speak)
ECOLOGY
Environment any mountains
Organization single, pair, flight (3–12), or colony (13–50 plus
1–4 nightgaunt elders)
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Clutches (Ex) Although a typical nightgaunt stands only half a
foot taller than most humans, it is a remarkably tenacious
grappler. A nightgaunt gains a +8 racial bonus on all combat
maneuver checks made to grapple (rather than the typical
+4 bonus most creatures with the grab ability gain). If a
nightgaunt uses its fly speed to move itself and a grappled
target, it can fly at full speed.
Faceless (Ex) A nightgaunt has no face, yet it can still see
with remarkable clarity in all directions as if its entire
body were a single strange eye. This unusual form of
vision renders it immune to gaze attacks, but not to
illusions that rely upon vision to function. A nightgaunt
feeds on the despair and horror of its victims, which
replaces the creature’s need to eat and drink. It has no
need to breathe at all, and is immune to all inhaled or
scent-based effects.
Tickle (Ex) A nightgaunt’s long, sinuous tail is covered with
razor-sharp barbs. While this appendage looks dangerous
and is exceptionally agile, a nightgaunt’s tail doesn’t have
much strength, and thus cannot be used as a natural
weapon. Yet when a nightgaunt grapples a foe, its tail
can slither along the target’s flesh to tickle and tease with
nauseating efficiency. Tickling a foe is a swift action, and the
foe must either be helpless or grappled by the nightgaunt
in order for it to use this ability. When a creature is tickled
by a nightgaunt, the victim must succeed at a DC 14
Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is
Dexterity-based.
Nightgaunts haunt the deepest and darkest chasms of
dream. They lurk in the shadows that loom at the edges
of sane slumber, but are ready at any moment to snatch a
blithe dreamer away, carrying it off into realms of endless
nightmare and tickling it terribly all the way. They appear
as stooped, emaciated humanoids, yet possess a strength in
their sinewy limbs that far surpasses that of most humans.
With inky black skin, batlike wings, long spiny tails, and
demonic horns protruding from their skulls, nightgaunts
are fearsome foes—yet it’s their lack of any facial features
makes the creatures truly nightmarish.
A typical nightgaunt is 7 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds.
eCology
Nightgaunts’ most singular feature—their uncanny lack
of features—is perhaps their most intriguing biological
facet. That the creatures can see is manifestly obvious,
for they react to purely visual stimulus with speed and
precise action, as if their whole bodies can see in all
directions. Scholars have yet to determine how the
bizarre creatures accomplish this eerie stunt, but the
fact that they were spawned originally in the depths of
ancient nightmares might indicate that no sane or logical
explanation for their sight exists.
Nightgaunts feed on emotions; while fear and
horror are the usual staples of nightgaunts’ diet, the
creatures actually prefer a meal of varied emotions. A
mix of laughter and terror provides a succulent meal
for nightgaunts. Little else can provoke as delectable
a bouquet for a nightgaunt as lifting victims high into
the air while tickling them with its long, whip-like tail,
a situation that those who have survived relate as one
that can never be forgotten. During this frightening
feeding, a nightgaunt often carries its victims aloft for
miles as it continually tickles and torments the poor
souls, finally dropping its prey into a remote area where
monsters and worse lie in wait once it has gorged itself.
Although nightgaunts won’t hesitate to drop particularly
troublesome or dangerous creatures from a great height,
they prefer to release those they carry off from heights of
only a few feet, as if to ensure their survival in whatever
eldritch wilderness the nightgaunts have brought their
victims to. Nightgaunts rarely return to feed on creatures
they’ve dropped off in a dangerous region (although the
same cannot be said of victims who escape to safety),
provoking theories that the creatures have some sort
90
of ancient pact with the monstrous denizens of these
remote locales.
habitat & soCiety
Nightgaunts dwell in the parts of the world that inspire
nightmares, where dreamers pray for dawn. They can be
found amid the creaking boughs of haunted forests, lurking
in the caves of desolate mountain gorges, or perched atop
crumbling gravestones in forgotten boneyards. Yet when
they grow hungry, they take wing from their eerie lairs
to seek out victims, scouring cities and towns for open
windows from which to snatch their meals.
Although nightgaunts can be found throughout
Golarion, this is not their original home. The first
nightgaunts were spawned deep in the Dimension of Dream
from the nightmares of a forgotten poet whose fears were
so consuming that every night he dreamt, his nightmares
grew more and more powerful and overwhelming.
Dreams of being carried over horrific landscapes and
mind-numbing vistas of eldritch blight drove the poet
deeper and deeper into madness, and in desperation he
sought out the aid of a strange alchemist who supplied
him with an elixir that would rid him of his fears forever.
The poet took the draught and immediately fell into a
deep slumber, and in that slumber, his nightmares
fled his mind, transforming into the first and most
powerful of the nightgaunt race. Unfortunately
for the poet, the nightgaunts also took his muse,
and when he woke the next morning, he found
his ability to write had vanished forever—he had
traded his soul for a life of gentle sleep. When he found
he could not go on without his poetry, he sought out that
strange alchemist in hopes of reversing what he’d done.
The stories do not reveal
what fate eventually met
this strange and forlorn
poet, but the nightgaunts
have certainly prospered.
Most nightgaunts have little drive
to be anything more than predators of slumbering
societies. They often gather in large colonies, entertaining
each other by sharing emotions they’ve fed upon via
strange touches and lingering caresses. Powerful
warlords, wizards, priests, and the like often enjoin
nightgaunts to serve them as guardians or even
forms of travel, promising them slaves or other
captured prey in return for their services,
but those who traffic with nightgaunts must
take care to stay in their faceless friends’ good
graces, for a nightgaunt can turn upon its allies at the
smallest slight.
Nightgaunts often war with the other
creatures found in their desolate realms,
led into battle by elder nightgaunts who carry strange
magical tridents and command considerable magical
powers. These elder nightgaunts typically have levels
as magi or oracles—a nightgaunt colony led by such a
powerful creature is a much more dangerous threat than
most, for these colonies often have agendas that go beyond
mere predation upon kinder societies. Nightgaunt elders
are typically chaotic evil, and many use their followers
to keep humanoids as cattle in horrific pens or cages in
lightless caverns.
The most powerful nightgaunts, though, are those
original creations pulled from the mad poet’s nightmares.
These creatures are all-powerful spellcasters of prodigious
size, and dwell in the deep underground realms below the
Dimension of Dream, or else rule vast rookeries on the
ragged borderlands that surround the dread Plateau of
Leng. What their goals might be is not for sane minds
to know.
91
92
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15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc; Authors: Jonathan Tweet,
Monte Cook, and Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
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Aurumvorax from the Tome of Horrors Complete © 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc.,
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Pathfinder Adventure Path #65: Into the Nightmare Rift © 2012, Paizo Publishing, LLC;
Author: Richard Pett.
The DeaD hearT Of Xin
by Brandon Hodge
The seven shards of the Shattered Star have been
recovered, and the Pathfinders prepare a grand festival
on Magnimar’s Irespan to celebrate this incredible
achievement. The culmination of this celebration is to
be the reassembly of the seven shards into the legendary
Sihedron itself, rebuilt for the first time in more than
10,000 years. But a great deal can change in that amount
of time, and as the ritual to reforge the artifact finishes,
ancient contingencies rumble to life. As the dead heart of
Thassilon begins to beat again, all of Magnimar is put in
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will even the aid of an ancient artifact be enough to save
them all?
cOnTinuinG The campaiGn
The end comes to the Shattered Star Adventure Path, but
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runeLOrDs Of ThassiLOn
Discover more about the ancient Thassilonian wizards
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anD mOre!
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and the Pathfi nder Roleplaying Game is a trademark of Paizo Publishing, LLC. © 2012 Paizo Publishing, LLC.
The Runelords
Rise Again!
The Runelords
The Runelords
Rise Again!
Rise Again!
The Runelords
Rise Again!
A NNIVE RSARY EDIT ION
The very fi rst Pathfi nder Adventure Path returns with a vengeance in the
Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition, a hardcover collection of the
legendary original campaign that launched Pathfi nder 5 years ago! Newly
updated to the Pathfi nder RPG rules with expanded encounters, new
monsters, and tons of new art, this amazing book sets the scene for one
of the most beloved fantasy campaigns ever published!
AVAILABLE NOW!
PZO1002 • $59.99 • 978-1-60125-436-8
Our Lady of Blessed Waters
Seerspring Garden, a park boasting a spring of crisp, clear water, marks the
northeastern corner of Keystone. The park itself is a fine place to relax, but its most
striking feature is the bronze, strangely verdigris-free statue of a lithe woman that
stands at the center of the water. The statue is said to be an
image of the spirit believed to linger within the Seerspring, but
none in Magnimar know who built the mysterious monument.
The oddly soothing statue is said to have simply appeared in
Seerspring Garden overnight not long after the park itself was
established—its source remains unknown to this day.
Monument Boon: Spend 10 minutes in prayer to
the spirit of the Seerspring, then attempt a DC 15
Knowledge (religion) check. Success grants a +1
morale bonus on all caster level and concentration checks
for divine spells for 24 hours. This bonus increases
by 1 for every 5 points by which your check exceeds
the DC.
the Guardians
Just within Twins’ Gate stand the Guardians, one of the city’s larger monuments.
These 200-foot-tall colossi depicting the young heroes Cailyn and Romre Vanderale
face each other with burning staves held high, forming a giant arch. The Guardians
stand at the southernmost end of the broad Avenue of Hours, which runs from
the city wall all the way north to Indros cul Vydrarch Plaza and
the Pediment Building, and as such they serve as one
of the most notable landmarks for both Naos and the
Capital District. The brothers Vanderale themselves are
well regarded in the town's history, and many young
Magnimarians strive to "be like the brothers" when they
grow up.
Monument Boon: Meditate for 10 minutes below the
arch and make a successful DC 15 Knowledge (arcana)
check to gain a +1 morale
bonus on all concentration checks for 24 hours. This bonus increases
by 1 for every 10 points by which your check exceeds the DC.
NAOS
KEYSTONE
paizo.com/pathfinder
Giants in the EArth
With five shards of the Shattered Star secure, visions point the PCs toward one of Varisia’s most
remote corners as the site protecting the sixth fragment of the powerful artifact. Yet the heroes
are not the first to search for this shard—upon arriving at the ancient ruin known as Guiltspur,
they find a small army of giants excavating the site on the order of a blue dragon. Even this
is not the entirety of the danger, however, for as the heroes soon learn, there are other forces
searching for the final shards as well—some hailing from the Darklands below, and some from
beyond reality in the nightmare realm of Leng!
This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path continues the Shattered Star Adventure Path
and includes:
• “Into the Nightmare Rift,” a Pathfinder RPG adventure for 13th-level characters, by
Richard Pett.
• Previously unknown secrets about H. P. Lovecraft’s famous Plateau of Leng in a
special gazetteer of this strange realm of dreams and horrors, by Greg A. Vaughan.
• The lost and ancient secrets behind the forgotten faith of Lissala, goddess of runes,
fate, duty, and obedience, by Sean K Reynolds.
• Alchemists and wererats in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Bill Ward.
• Four new monsters, including Lovecraftian horrors and Lissala’s herald,
by James Jacobs and Sean K Reynolds.
Printed in China. PZO9065
| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/Adventure Paths/PF061-066 - Shattered Star/Shattered Star - 05 - Into the Nightmare Rift.pdf |
“An epic supplement for the
world’s greatest roleplaying game!”
-The unabashed self-promoting author
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
FORWARD
3
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
Most of your focus as an adventurer in a Dungeons &
Dragons setting is reaching the destination, slaying the
dragon (in the dungeon), and collecting the loot. You
then sell the loot to buy better gear and lather, rinse,
repeat. And this is all good. It provides balance to the
D&D multiverse, and is great sport if you don’t get
eaten or burned to a crisp.
But what if the dragon is on a mysterious island out in
a distant sea? Unless you have magical travel abilities,
you would likely have to travel overland first, and then
take a ship, to reach this dungeon. Let’s say half the
way to the docks is open plains, and half the way is
broken up by a forested coastal range. The Player’s
Handbook suggests you would travel 48 miles per day
for half the overland journey and 24 miles per day the
second half, since both forests and mountains are
considered “difficult terrain” which is defined as
halving your normal pace. Then, assuming a galley is taken to reach the island, you would travel
at 96 miles per day the rest of the way. Queue the DM: “OK, so it took you seven days to get
there. I’ll assume you’ve rested each night and eaten from your bag of endless rations. Now that
we have THAT boring protocol out of the way…you stand in front of an ancient keep rumored to
hold the Dungeons of Doom. A dragon howls from within. What do you do?”
What if there was something…more…to that journey? A famous philosopher and poet, Ralph
Waldo Emerson, once suggested that life is a journey, not a destination. That can hold true in an
RPG universe as well. Terrain should be much more variable than “normal” or “difficult.” Roads
and trails should allow much faster travel than you could muster by picking your way through a
forest or traversing along a narrow mountain pass. There are some places where horses cannot
even go, and others (MANY others) where you’ll be glad you have that mount.
And what of the weather? Conventional mechanics assumes each day is as sunny as the last. What
if a cold front hits, followed by heavy rain and a powerful storm? This might slow your journey,
and perhaps even pose risk to your person. Do you press on, or find shelter? Say you find a cave
along that narrow ridge where an ancient gnomish hermit lives…perhaps that chance meet
produces its own mini-adventure, possibly even netting you an NPC to join you on your way.
And once you reach the coast, do you dare board a ship in a hurricane? Maybe best to partake of
some dragon’s breath ale at the dockside tavern while you wait for the storm to die down…during
which time perhaps another mini-adventure might unfold. And once the seas calm and you pay
for passage on a galley heading toward that island with the dragon’s lair, there may be yet another
mini-adventure. Giant sea serpent doing battle with a school of mermen, you say? Your galley
stuck in the middle? It could happen…
FOREWARD
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
4
But let’s get back to the focus of this guide, which is to help define the travel and weather aspects
of your journey. Herein you will find tables to randomly
generate terrain detail and the elements, and mechanics to
help determine daily travel distance over both land and
sea. Weather can play a factor in travel time, and may
even result in injury or death. After all, who hasn’t heard
of the great paladin, afraid of no living thing, proudly
galloping his destrier through a thunderstorm clad in full
plate with a lance held high? Well, maybe nobody…but
you can guess at his potential fate.
Above all else, this guide is an effort to add an element of
realism into the fantastic universe. But it also tries to fill
some gaps left by the Player’s Handbook. For example,
there is very little that explains the mechanics of ship
travel, and nothing that helps define what happens to a
ship – and its crew and hapless passengers – in a violent
storm. If you think a seastorm is terrifying for modern-
day ships, imagine being hit by a squall standing on the
deck of a tall ship with wooden masts and rickety rigging.
With the tools in this guide, the journey becomes less of an afterthought. The path you take can
affect the time it takes to reach your destination, can lead to adventures along the way, and may
require you to make difficult decisions. Say you encounter an impassable chasm requiring you to
double back to find a way around. It could take days! But wait, there’s a footbridge spanning the
chasm…now what to do with that wagon filled with the dragon’s treasure hoard?
TRAVEL AND WEATHER: DM’S GUIDE
Supplement
Utility
I’m the DM here, what do I do?
Overland Travel
Guide
Identifies distance
traveled based upon
terrain
When traveling on dry land, consult these
charts and tables to determine terrain features
and amount of time to travel on roads, trails,
and in the wilderness - on foot or mounted.
Waterborne Travel
Guide
Identifies distance
traveled over bodies
of water
When traveling by boat, consult these charts
and tables to determine amount of time to travel
on seas, lakes, and rivers; also profiles the
attributes of seafaring ships, which is nice.
Weather Tables
Tables to determine
the current climate,
temperature, and
weather – roll daily
Consult these tables to determine climate and
weather, including chance of storm. Weather
patterns often hold for several days, but wind
speed and direction can independently change
on a daily basis, or even intraday if the DM
wishes.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
OVERLAND TRAVEL
5
OVERLAND TRAVEL
Most of your travel from adventure to
adventure will be over land, and hopefully a
majority of the time you will not be traveling
on foot. That would take forever, unless
you’re heroes of some fellowship of a
particular ring (which, if that be the case, you
can apparently run nonstop for days). Travel
by some form of mount, most commonly
horse, is generally preferred in most forms of
terrain. However, some terrain may not be
well suited for hooved ones. Mountainous
regions are a prime example, where you can
often cover more ground offroad if you
dismount and hoof it (yes, pun intended).
Some regions may even force you to make
hard decisions about your travel, as there are
places that horses – especially horse-drawn
wagons – simply cannot go.
Unless you have the assistance of a high-level
wizard who can transport you by magical
means, you will need to come up with ways to
get around using more traditional methods.
But this doesn’t need to be boring! There isn’t always a road leading from your starting village to
the dungeon with the dragon. Or least ways there shouldn’t be. What if you could only go so far
along a beaten path before needing to pick your way through unsettled woods, find your footing
over an ominous mountain range, and trudge through a monster-infested swamp where lay the
dragon’s lair? Wouldn’t that be a potential adventure by itself?
OVERLAND TRAVEL: STEP-BY-STEP AID
Step
The Question
The Answer
1
Where are we
going?
This guide can’t help you with that. Hopefully your DM knows! If it is somewhere on
land, read on.
2
How will we
get there?
Any PC can hoof it, but it would be far quicker if you can find actual hooves. The DM
will provide options, but it normally boils down to buying a horse (or other mount – see
the Overland Travel Pace Chart), or paying for passage on one (check out Other
Travel Considerations: Cost of Passage).
3
How long will
it take?
Rate of travel depends on mode of transportation, the terrain traveling through, and
presence of established roads to reach your destination. The Overland Travel Pace
Chart gives you the baseline based upon those three principle variables. Best case
scenario is the presence of a road that will take you where you need to go.
4
What if a
road won’t
take us
where we
need to go?
If your’e going where no road leads, trails are the next best thing. Consult the
Trailfinder Chart (hint: it’s VERY helpful to have a nature lover in the party!). If no trail
is found, you will have to blaze your own way through the wilderness. Either way,
offroad travel will require a daily check on the Offroad Terrain table specific to the type
of terrain you are passing through, to find out exactly what you are traveling through.
OVERLAND TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
6
5
What if we’re
in a hurry?
If you need to push mount and man, there are rules defined in the Overland Travel
Pace Chart explaining the benefits and risks. No nonmagical creature can run forever,
and the longer you push the pace the greater the risk to you and/or your mount.
6
What if we
need to be
sneaky, or
are seeking
something or
somebody?
Go slow. There are rules defined in the Overland Travel Pace Chart explaining this
too. Benefits include the ability to be stealthy and better perception skills, but you’ll
take longer to reach your destination – and every additional day of travel can introduce
additional levels of risk based upon where you are traveling. A well-traveled road
through kingdom-controlled plains is likely a low-risk affair, but moving along at a
snail’s pace in a forest controlled by a necromancer is…riskier.
7
What if there
is trouble on
the road?
And there’s the risk for going slow: increased chance of random encounters! Bandits
like slow travelers. There are a number of random monster encounter tables available
on the internet (including potentially a future Halfmoon supplement).
8
It is a good
day to
travel?
Not if you’re a paladin in plate mail during a thunderstorm. Consult the Weather
Tables section of this supplement. Besides the risk of being a lightning rod, heavy
winds and stormy weather can impact a party’s rate of travel.
9
How much
can we carry
unencum-
bered?
Consult the section entitled Other Travel Considerations: Encumbrance. Then
consult somebody who cares. In all seriousness, the DM will adjudicate any concerns
with carrying too much gear and loot, but hopefully will only truly worry about that
player who insists his character haul away that chest of 100,000 copper pieces.
TRAVEL PACE
The pace of overland travel depends upon your mode of transportation, the terrain you are going
through, and frequency of roads and trails leading to your destination. Combined, this gives you
the base distance you can travel in one day. This base amount can then be modified by other
variables including how fast you want to go, difficulty of offroad terrain, and even inclement
weather.
Find the terrain on the Overland Travel Pace Chart, cross-reference to the mode of transport,
and determine if travel will be by road, trail, or through the wild for that day. The resulting number
is the base miles traveled. Note that if the terrain changes over the course of the day, the DM
should generally assume the distance covered is based upon the terrain started in – but this is totally
at his/her discretion and based upon circumstance. For instance, if the party is traveling by wagon
and they run into a swamp in the middle of the day, adjustments may be in order.
Travel by road will generally be the fastest, and one passing through plainslands is defined as the
best-case travel scenario that most closely matches the 5e SRD guidelines. Roads in general are
the fastest, but not always available. If traveling offroad, whether a trail was found by virtue of
consulting the Trailfinder Chart for that terrain or not, the appropriate Offroad Terrain table
should be consulted to randomly determine the difficulty of the terrain encountered that day. This
can modify the base miles.
Also according to 5e SRD rules, a normal day of travel assumes 8 hours of travel at normal pace.
Generally that would be interpreted as 8 actual hours of movement, an hour or two mixed in for
various pit stops, and stopping somewhere at the end of the day to make camp. A long rest is
needed to recover, and then you can break camp and start up again in the morning. Options are
available to push your pace and extend your travel day to get somewhere quicker, or conversely to
take your time for stealth or searching reasons, and are explained a bit later in this guide.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
OVERLAND TRAVEL
7
OVERLAND TRAVEL PACE CHART
Mode of
Transport
CON
(non
-PC)
Fast
Pace
Multi-
plier
DAILY TRAVEL PACE (divide by 8 for hourly travel)
DESERT
FOREST
HILLS
MOUNTAINS
PLAINS
SWAMP
TUNDRAc
Road/
Trail
Wild
(base)
Road/
Trail
Wilda
(base)
Road/
Trail
Wild
(base)
Road/
Trail
Wilda
(base)
Road/
Trail
Wild
(base)
Road/
Trail
Wilda
(base)
Road/
Trail
Wilda
(base)
Foot
(30 ft. speed)
10
(+0)
x1.33
20
16
18
14
22
18
14
11
24
18
16
12
20
16
Camelb
(50 ft. speed)
12
(+1)
x1.5
40
30
30
23
36
30
23
—
40
30
26
20
28
20
Donkey/
mule/pony
(40 ft. speed)
13
(+1)
x1.5
26
21
24
19
29
24
19
15
32
24
21
16
24
18
Elephant
(40 ft. speed)
17
(+3)
x1.5
26
21
24
—
29
24
19
—
32
24
21
16
24
20
Horse, draft
(40 ft. speed)
12
(+1)
x2
26
21
24
18
29
24
19
15
32
24
21
16
26
20
Horse, riding
(60 ft. speed)
12
(+1)
x2
40
32
36
24
44
36
28
22
48
36
32
24
34
28
Horse, war
(60 ft. speed)
13
(+1)
x2
40
32
36
24
44
36
28
22
48
36
32
24
34
28
Mastiff/Lg.
Wolf or Dog
(40 ft. speed)
12
(+1)
x1.66
26
21
24
19
29
24
19
15
32
24
21
16
32
24
EXPLANATION OF COLUMNS AND RELATED RULES
Mode of Transport
Different means of travel. Speed in movement per round, as used in combat, is listed here for reference in parentheses.
CON (non-PC)
Standard Constitutions (CON) of beasts of burden – for use in exhaustion checks based upon travel pace (see below)
Fast Pace Multiple
Used to determine how much further the mode of transport can go per day in fast pace mode (see next section)
Daily Travel Pace:
Fast, Normal, Slow
Fast
Travel Pace: Multiply daily travel pace number in table by the mode of transport’s Fast Pace Multiple
Pace:
Exhaustion: Initial hour is exhaustion-free. Exhaustion roll vs. DC 10 after hour 2, +1 to DC (cumulative) for
hours 3+ (so hour 3 = DC 11, hour 4 = DC 12, etc.); resets after a long rest
Perception: -5 to your passive perception and disadvantage on active perception checks; +5 to passive
perception and advantage with active perception checks of others in range to see/hear/smell you
Normal
Travel Pace: As listed on table
Pace:
Exhaustion: Initial 8 hours is exhaustion-free. Exhaustion save vs. DC 10 after hour 9, +1 to DC (cumulative)
for hours 10+ (so hour 10 = DC 11, hour 11 = DC 12, etc.); resets after a long rest
Slow
Travel Pace: Multiply daily travel pace number in table by 0.66 (e.g. reduce by 1/3) for all modes of transport
Pace:
Exhaustion: Initial 8 hours are exhaustion-free. Exhaustion save vs. DC 10 per hour thereafter without a long
rest (static DC)
Stealth: Able to use stealth (only pace of travel which allows this)
Perception: +2 to your passive perception and advantage on active perception checks
Daily Travel Pace:
Terrain Factors
Terrain:
Different terrains provide different movement rates, with Plains travel by Road being best-case and most
closely associated with D&D 5e SRD movement rules
Road:
Fastest way to travel through any terrain from a speed perspective, but disadvantage on stealth checks due
to being in an open space with no cover options (treat travel alongside a road as wild)
Trail:
Wilderness travel with help from a trail, no disadvantage on stealth checks; roll daily on the terrain-specific
Offroad Terrain table (below) to determine terrain features and any resulting speed modifiers
Wild:
Wilderness travel without a trail – the slowest form of overland travel; roll daily on the terrain-specific Offroad
Terrain table (below) to determine terrain features and any resulting speed modifiers
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Wagon/Cart: Beasts of burden pulling wheeled transports subtract 5 miles per day
Night Travel: All distances on trails or through the wild are halved unless rider or mount has some form of night
vision (such as darkvision)
Weather Modifiers: Consult the Weather Tables for any impact weather has on miles traveled per day
Encumbrance Modifiers: See Other Travel Considerations: Encumbrance to assess impact of weightto travel speed.
aPulling a wagon (or other wheeled vehicle) not possible in this terrain (exception: sleds in tundra terrain)
bCamels do not need to roll for Exhaustion at Normal or Slow Pace until hour 12 of continuous travel
cTundra terrain is considered to be “arctic tundra” and travel paces are based upon mostly frozen and snow-covered plains
OPTIONAL RULE: SPEED UP FAST PACE: To speed up gameplay, the DM may opt to roll an exhaustion save every 4 hours of fast pace, with
DC 12 for the first 4 hours and +4 for each additional 4-hour stretch (i.e. DC 16 for hours 5-8, DC 20 for hours 9-12, etc.). If there is a failure, roll
1d10: (1-7) = +1 level of exhaustion, (8-9) = +2 levels of exhaustion, and 10 = +3 levels of exhaustion.
OPTIONAL RULE: “SADDLE-SORENESS”: On all exhaustion saves, a mounted rider must also roll a constitution check vs. half the DC to
simulate “saddle-soreness” (and potentially sleep deprivation when extending the travel day beyond 8 hours) or also gain one level of exhaustion.
OPTIONAL RULE: NIGHT TRAVEL: Traveling by night (after 8pm) reduces distance by half on all trails and wilderness travel (not roads) unless
either the rider or the mount has some form of night vision.
OVERLAND TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
8
PUSHING YOUR PACE
Consulting the Overland Travel Pace Chart, you will note an option for “fast” pace of travel
which allows for more distance to be covered in a shorter period of time. This is a multiple of the
normal pace based upon terrain, road/trail vs. wilderness travel, and mode of transport. Most
creatures (humanoids included) can only increase their base speed in this manner by 33%. In
contrast, horses have the unreferenced special trait of galloping which allows them to push
themselves to 100% of normal speed for extended periods. Most other beasts of burden, such as
camels, donkeys, and elephants, are somewhere in-between. This extra speed is noted in the chart
as a multiple of the “normal pace” miles per day.
There is a risk of exhaustion when keeping up a fast pace for more than a short sprint. This is
detailed in the bottom section of the chart. Keep in mind your steed will be the one doing the work
that needs to make this saving throw, so you as the mounted character would make this roll on
behalf of your steed using that creature’s constitution value as noted in the “CON (Non-PC)”
column on the chart. Failing this save adds a point of exhaustion per Appendix A of the PHB.
Additional travel at normal speed can be interspersed with fast pace, up to a total of 8 hours. Past
8 hours, consult the next section, Extending Your Travel Day.
EXTENDING YOUR TRAVEL DAY
As stated above, normal/slow pace can be performed for up to 8 hours without risk of exhaustion.
Additional hours of travel beyond that, without a long rest in-between, runs the risk of gaining
levels of exhaustion as detailed in the bottom part of the Overland Travel Pace Chart.
TYPES OF TRAVEL
Road Travel: Road travel is, of course, the fastest and most
common nonmagical means to get from point A to point B. Road
travel speed can also vary based upon terrain, with travel through
open plains being the fastest and over mountains the slowest. This
travel pace is identified under the heading “Road/Trail.” Generally
road travel will not be impacted by changes within the terrain or
the time of day, so the travel time in the above chart is not affected
by changes within the terrain being traveled through.
Wilderness Travel: If a road doesn’t take the party to where they want to go – which is likely to
be frequent for a party of adventurers seeking treasure or glory (or both) – the party will need to
go offroad. The best-case travel distance for wilderness travel is identified under the heading
“Wild (base)” and is dependent upon terrain and mode of transport. There are notations in the
chart identifying places where wagon travel is simply not possible without finding a trail.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
OVERLAND TRAVEL
9
As with road travel, this base travel
time is defined as distance traveled, in
miles, in a single day comprised of
roughly 8 hours of actual travel.
Unlike
road
travel,
the
terrain
encountered can be variable, with
different
environments
posing
different travel challenges. Every day
in the wild, the DM rolls on the
appropriate Offroad Terrain table
below.
A special note about tundra: Tundra as defined here is arctic tundra, a frozen, mostly-flat terrain
with minimal vegetation. Roads, beyond established ones, are rare and tend to disappear in the
winter, and trails are even more rare and unsustainable. Travel through the tundra is difficult at
best, and some mounts (such as camels and elephants) would not survive here for long. Certain
animals (principally, wolves and dogs) are able to live here without issue, and certain forms of
transportation (principally, sleds pulled by dogs), are built for the deep snow.
Trails Through The Wilderness: Travel time on a trail is the same as on a road, but the Offroad
Terrain tables are still consulted to determine if the terrain becomes more difficult to traverse.
Based upon locale and campaign, the DM can decide whether such a trail exists, or he/she can
allow player characters to make a perception (wisdom) roll to actively search for a trail to ease the
party’s passage. Use the element of chance and consult the Trailfinder Chart below. Having a
ranger or a character with the Outlander background helps immensely. The presence or absence of
paths are also, of course, at the discretion of the DM. Finding a path to an ancient, undiscovered
tomb, for instance, may not be possible.
TRAILFINDER CHART
Instructions: Any PC can make one perception check per hour
in the daytime to try and find a trail based upon terrain, during
which time there is no movement. A decision for Pace of Travel
must be made before the very first attempt and is applied for that
day’s travel regardless whether a trail is found or not.
Terrain Traveled
Perception Difficulty Class (DC)
from Road
from Existing
Trail
from
Wilderness
Desert
15
20
25
Forest
25
30
35
Hills
20
25
30
Mountains
30
35
40
Plains
15
20
25
Swamp
30
35
40
Tundra
25
30
40
MODIFIERS TO PERCEPTION ROLL
Pace of Travel (Note: pace applied for the day, if trail is found or not)
Slow: +5
Normal: 0
Fast: -5
Special Character Abilities (effects stack)
Outlander: +5
Ranger: +5
Ranger with terrain as favored: +5
Character is familiar with area: +5
Searching at Night: -10
OVERLAND TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
10
Once a trail is found and the travelers continue on, there is also a recurring chance the path ends,
it heads off in the wrong direction, is wiped out by some kind of natural event (such as a landslide),
or is simply lost (if no ranger or outlander in the party). These chances are terrain-specific and
defined in the Offroad Terrain tables. In this event, continuing on toward the party’s destination
is automatically converted to wilderness travel and the “Wild” distance applies from that point
forward.
OFFROAD TERRAIN TABLES
When the party ventures into the wilderness, whether using a trail or not, consult the appropriate
table below each day, applying any distance modifiers to the miles/day from the Overland Travel
Pace Chart. Each subsequent day, there is a percentage chance that terrain type stays the same.
Pay special attention to any special instruction provided at the bottom of each table. Also check
daily for the passive chance a trail is found or, if on a trail, it suddenly ends.
OFFROAD TERRAIN: DESERT
Distance Modifier in miles/day
Passive
% trail
is found
per day
If on a
trail: %
trail
ends
per day
Roll once on first day of travel for Terrain Feature; each subsequent
day first consult Chance of Repeat to see if the terrain remains static
Trail
Wilderness
Die Roll
Terrain Features
Chance of
Repeat
Foot
Mount
Foot
Mount
01-40
Dry, cracked earth
70%
—
—
—
—
10%
5%
41-70
Flat sands a
70%
-2
—
-4
-3
10%
5%
71-90
Sand dunes a
70%
-4
-5
-5
-6
10%
10%
91-95
Rocky plateau
50%
—
—
—
—
10%
15%
96-98
Rocky canyon (party at base)
20%
—
—
-4
-4
10%
10%
99-00
Rocky canyon (party at top) b
20%
-5
-8
-10
-20
15%
50%
aCamels suffer no penalties in sand
bNot passable by mount
OFFROAD TERRAIN: FOREST
Distance Modifier in miles/day
Passive
% trail
is found
per day
If on a
trail: %
trail
ends
per day
Roll once on first day of travel for Terrain Feature; each subsequent
day first consult Chance of Repeat to see if the terrain remains static
Trail
Wilderness
Die Roll
Terrain Features
Chance of
Repeat
Foot
Mount
Foot
Mount
01-20
Lightly forested
80%
—
—
—
—
10%
5%
21-40
Lightly forested with rocky patches
70%
—
—
—
—
10%
5%
41-60
Lightly forested and hilly
60%
-1
—
-2
-1
10%
5%
61-70
Moderately forested
60%
—
—
—
-2
5%
10%
71-80
Moderately forested with rocky patches
60%
—
—
-2
-6
5%
10%
81-90
Moderately forested and hilly
60%
-2
-2
-4
-8
5%
10%
91-94
Densely forested
50%
—
-3
-5
-8
—
15%
95-97
Densely forested and hilly
40%
-3
-4
-6
-10
—
15%
98-99
Densely forested, rocky and hilly
30%
-4
-5
-8
-12
—
15%
00
Very dense, thicketed forest
20%
-5
-10
-10
-20
0%
20%
Elephants experience double pace penalties in forest wilderness
OFFROAD TERRAIN: HILLS
Distance Modifier in miles/day
Passive
% trail
is found
per day
If on a
trail: %
trail
ends
per day
Roll once on first day of travel for Terrain Feature; each subsequent
day first consult Chance of Repeat to see if the terrain remains static
Trail
Wilderness
Die Roll
Terrain Features
Chance of
Repeat
Foot
Mount
Foot
Mount
01-25
Soft, rolling hills
80%
—
—
—
—
10%
5%
26-75
Standard hills, lightly forested
70%
—
—
—
—
10%
5%
76-85
Sharp, steep hillocks
50%
-1
-1
-3
-5
5%
10%
86-95
Flat plateau
30%
—
—
—
—
5%
10%
96-99
Canyon
20%
-1
-2
-4
-8
10%
10%
00
Crater (not passable, must go around)
0%
N/A
N/A
-20
-30
15%
60%
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
OVERLAND TRAVEL
11
OFFROAD TERRAIN: MOUNTAINS
Distance Modifier in miles/day
Passive
% trail
is found
per day
If on a
trail: %
trail
ends
per day
Roll once on first day of travel for Terrain Feature; each subsequent
day first consult Chance of Repeat to see if the terrain remains static
Trail
Wilderness
Die Roll
Terrain Features
Chance of
Repeat
Foot
Mount
Foot
Mount
01-30
Sloping, forested valley with gentle ridges
70%
—
—
—
—
5%
10%
31-45
Semi-steep dirt ascent/descent
60%
—
—
—
—
5%
10%
46-55
Semi-steep rocky ascent/descent
60%
-1
-2
-2
-4
5%
10%
56-65
Steep ascent/descent w/alternating ground
60%
-2
-3
-3
-6
5%
10%
66-72
Flat, rocky plateau
60%
—
—
-1
-2
10%
10%
73-77
Boulder quarry on long, gently sloping grassy
mountainside
50%
—
—
—
-2
10%
10%
78-80
River cuts deep V-shaped valley through
mountains
60%
-2
-4
-2
-4
5%
15%
81-83
Maze of shallow crevasses and scattered
boulders in semi-flat valley
30%
—
-2
-2
-4
10%
10%
84-87
Narrow, treacherous path along cliffside
50%
-2
-5
-3
-7
0%
20%
88-89
Narrow pass along mountain ridge
50%
—
—
-2
-4
0%
5%
90-92
Narrow, twisting/winding gorge
40%
—
-3
-2
-4
0%
—
93-95
Valley with lake surrounded by cliffs
50%
N/A
N/A
-4
-6
0%
0%
96-97
Steep, impassable cliffs demand wide detour
(if trail: rockslide impedes progress)
20%
N/A
N/A
-6
-10
5%
20%
98
Natural rock bridge spans crevasse
0%
-2
-5
-3
-5
0%
10%
99
Manmade rope & plank bridge spans deep
gulleya
0%
N/A
N/A
—
-10
100%
—
00
Path ends at cliff with knotted rope (50/50
rising/falling) a
0%
N/A
N/A
-5
-15
100%
—
aNot passable by mount, must find a way around; re-roll, ignoring this roll range, and add the two pace modifiers together
OFFROAD TERRAIN: PLAINS
Distance Modifier in miles/day
Passive
% trail
is found
per day
If on a
trail: %
trail
ends
per day
Roll once on first day of travel for Terrain Feature; each subsequent
day first consult Chance of Repeat to see if the terrain remains static
Trail
Wilderness
Die Roll
Terrain Features
Chance of
Repeat
Foot
Mount
Foot
Mount
01-30
Flat, open grasslands
80%
—
—
—
—
25%
5%
31-60
Dry, flat, barren plains
80%
—
—
—
—
25%
5%
61-70
Rock-spotted plains
70%
—
—
—
—
25%
5%
71-80
Tree-spotted plains
70%
—
—
—
—
20%
5%
81-90
Lightly rolling, tree-spotted plains
70%
-1
—
-2
-1
20%
10%
91-93
Wide valley
60%
—
—
—
—
25%
10%
94-95
Rocky plateau
50%
—
—
—
-5
20%
15%
96-97
Narrow river valley
40%
—
—
-4
-6
5%
10%
98
Canyon
30%
—
—
-2
-2
5%
10%
99
Chasm spanned by foot bridgea
0%
-4
-10
-4
-20
100%
0%
00
Chasm/crater (impassible, must go around)
0%
-10
-10
-20
-30
15%
60%
aNot passable by mount, must find a way around; re-roll, ignoring this roll range, and add the two pace modifiers together
OFFROAD TERRAIN: SWAMP
Distance Modifier in miles/day
Passive
% trail
is found
per day
If on a
trail: %
trail
ends
per day
Roll once on first day of travel for Terrain Feature; each subsequent
day first consult Chance of Repeat to see if the terrain remains static
Trail
Wilderness
Die Roll
Terrain Features
Chance of
Repeat
Foot
Mount
Foot
Mount
01-10
Solid ground/dry clearing
60%
—
—
—
—
10%
5%
11-20
Moist and mossy but solid covering
50%
—
—
—
—
10%
5%
21-50
Muddy with patches of water
50%
-1
-2
-2
-4
5%
10%
51-65
Watery layer, 1-4 feet deep
50%
-2
-3
-4
-6
—
15%
66-80
Watery layer, 3-6 feet deep
40%
-3
-4
-6
-8
—
20%
81-95
Watery layer, 5-8 feet deep
30%
-4
-5
-8
-10
—
25%
96-00
Quicksand (impassable) a
0%
-10
-20
-10
-20
—
100%
aNot passable, must find a way around; re-roll, ignoring this roll range, and add the two pace modifiers together
If the party has a small boat, consult Halfmoon’s Waterborne Travel Guide and treat the swamp like a small lake.
OVERLAND TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
12
OFFROAD TERRAIN: TUNDRA
Distance Modifier in miles/day
Passive
% trail
is found
per day
If on a
trail: %
trail
ends
per day
Roll once on first day of travel for Terrain Feature; each subsequent
day first consult Chance of Repeat to see if the terrain remains static
Trail
Wilderness
Die Roll
Terrain Features
Chance of
Repeat
Foot
Mount
Foot
Mount
01-15
Hard ground scattered with hardy shrubs
80%
—
—
—
—
20%
20%
16-25
Hard ground interspersed with boulders
70%
—
—
—
—
20%
20%
26-35
Cold plains dotted with icy patches
60%
—
—
—
—
20%
30%
36-50
Frozen plains with solid, hard-packed snow
60%
—
—
—
—
10%
40%
51-70
Frozen plains with deep, powdery snow
50%
-1
—
-2
-1
5%
50%
71-80
Snowy plains with ice-cold bogs and ponds
40%
-1
—
-2
-1
5%
60%
81-85
Snow-covered plateau with icy ridges
30%
-2
—
-3
-2
5%
86-90
Frozen lake
20%
N/A
N/A
-4
-8
N/A
N/A
91-95
Frozen lake with cracks and earthen islands
20%
N/A
N/A
-4
-8
N/A
N/A
96-98
Icy canyon with an active glacier-fed river
30%
N/A
N/A
-4
-8
N/A
N/A
99-00
Large lake with thin ice (impassible) a
20%
N/A
N/A
-20
-30
N/A
N/A
aNot passable, must find a way around; re-roll, ignoring this roll range, and add the two pace modifiers together
OTHER TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS
Cost Of Passage: In cities, one can often find carriage-based travel that moves along main roads
from place to place. The commoner version of these are basically elongated carts with a double-
bench in the center and, in the harsher climes, hopefully includes a wooden canopy. This kind of
transportation can run a traveler 1 gold piece per 100 miles. For fancier coaches, the adventurers
can travel a bit more in style for 2-4 gp per 100 miles, with amenities and luxuries ranging from
featherbed seats and closeable shutters to skins of wine and casks of ale.
This is the normal extent of purchasable overland travel. It is not unheard of, however, for
enterprising entrepreneurs to offer one-way “hoofaway” options between cities – horses for one-
way rental. These are not cheap, however, and normally are priced at half the cost of purchase for
the actual horse. Such vendors can be picky and reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, for
obvious fear that their rental horses never make it to their dropoff destination.
Player characters can always opt to buy mounts – cost for these is listed in the PHB (pg. 157).
They are not cheap, however, with a riding horse costing 75 gp on average.
Mounted Combat: Although this is designed as a travel guide, some clarity may be helpful for
scenarios where you might take your steed into combat – something that has limited explanation
in the SRD. Your steed’s per-turn move rate, as used in combat, is technically the foundation for
this guide’s daily travel calculations.
In brief, here are the guidelines specific to a trained steed:
You control your mount so long as you are mounted.
It takes half your move to mount or dismount.
The steed has its own move and action independent of yours.
o Actions are limited to Dash, Disengage, and Dodge.
o Note however some monsters have specific special abilities, such as a warhorse
which has a “trampling charge” option as part of its move that serves as an attack.
You act independently of your mount, but while mounted the mount serves as your agent
of movement.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
OVERLAND TRAVEL
13
You can perform an Action, such as:
o An attack, either melee or ranged.
o A spell (that can be cast in a sitting position).
o Any other act that can reasonably be done in the saddle.
There are no inherent advantage or disadvantage to attack rolls between a mounted
combatant and a combatant on foot, unless gained by a feat such as Mounted Combatant
or other skill/ability/spell.
You must have at least one hand free to control a mount during the mount’s move (an initial
animal handling ability check vs. DC 10 can offset this for hands-free action; if this fails
the rider can still elect to drop whatever is in one hand to grab the reins).
Example of dismount and attack: You could instruct your riding horse to Dash to cover 120 feet
(double normal move, which is equivalent of galloping in the travel rule guidelines). Then you
can dismount, move the other half of your move on foot, and perform an Action such as attack.
Encumbrance: Page 176 of the PHB has details on encumbrance and how it impacts travel.
These guidelines were not incorporated or expanded upon here because, well, it’s just too
encumbering! While it may make sense to factor in the weight of the dragon hoard in the party’s
horse-drawn wagon (which may come under attack by thieves and brigands more than once), it is
recommended that – unless excessive – equipment weight not be factored into determination of
daily travel distance.
Flying: Flight can be accomplished by winged creatures, and of course by magic. All standard
5e rules apply for determining distance traveled, as noted in the DMG on page 119. To
summarize: The speed of travel is the same as per foot travel, i.e. 1 mph per 10’ move, but
winged creatures must rest 1 hour for every 3 hours in flight. This equates to 9 hours per day
maximum. So a hawk with a 60-feet move can fly a total of 54 miles per day.
OVERLAND TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
14
Author’s Reflection: Follow Your Own Path
There is credence to the old expression “The journey is more
important than the destination.” Sometimes getting there is
truly half the fun! Now, I understand determining distance
traveled is not exactly the most exciting thing to do, but it sets
a realistic expectation of travel for the players, and makes
them perhaps think twice before deciding on a shortcut over
the mountains or through a swamp. Plus there are the
occasional unusual discoveries when applying the results of
these tables, some of which force hard decisions – such as
finding that rope footbridge across a chasm, where the players
must decide what to do with their wagon full of plunder.
The DM can build upon that foundation and add his or her
own results. He or she could also elect to add the daily rolls
from the optional supplement Halfmoon’s Outdoor
Adventure Tables – which would be more frequently applied
if the party is forced to slash through dense foliage or slosh
through a murky swamp. This can add an element of adventure all its own…
A few notes on rule adherence: These tables were defined with the Dungeons & Dragons 5e
rules as a baseline, where a creature’s speed, or “move per turn,” is used and extrapolated to hourly
and daily values. This was then translated to a best-case scenario of traveling on a road across the
plains at a normal pace. Therefore a riding horse, which has a 60-foot speed, travels at 6 miles per
hour (speed multiplied by 10, per page 242 of the DMG) and 48 miles per day (hourly rate
multiplied by 8, per page 243 of the DMG). A human (30’ speed) similarly could cover 24 miles
in a day.
Fast pace, according to page 243 of the DMG, should be defined as 133% of normal pace. This
guide applies that guideline as an axiom for foot-based travel. Horses have a special trait called
galloping – which is referenced in page 181 of the PHB but is not detailed in the horse profiles in
the MM – which allows them to move at double their normal pace. All other four-legged creatures
have similar advantage over bipeds but are not quite as speedy as horses.
Therefore, these rules are viewed by this author as following the guidelines set forth in the base
ruleset, but with enhancements in the spirit of those guidelines.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
15
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
“And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.”
-John Masefield, Sea Fever
It is an oft-quoted line from an old poem in John
Masefield’s book entitled “Salt Water Ballads,”
but this one quote, to me, epitomizes the
romance of sea travel. Throw in a ballad about
a hundred rowers laboring to push a longship
forward and we’re in business. The thought of
tall ships, sails fully unfurled and racing with
the wind, elicit visions of swashbucklers and
pirates and remembrance of an enchanting era
of ship travel from Earth’s own past.
But not enchanted, whereas your adventure very
well may be.
Although there is always the prospect of
magical elements, kraken-like sea creatures
rising up from the depths, and ship-to-ship
battle, ships are also needed for more mundane
pursuits. The stalwart party of adventurers may
need to traverse one or more bodies of wter to
reach their quest. The quest itself could be one
set on the open seas, or perhaps on a mysterious island rumored to have untold mysteries and
bountiful treasures.
This guide is meant to serve as a supplement to the Dungeons & Dragons seafaring rules as
outlined in Ghosts of Saltmarsh under Appendix A: Of Ships and the Sea. It provides some charts
of the ships in that appendix that may be useful, and adds on additional ships and optional rules
that are largely associated with weather. Therefore, this guide is expected to be used hand-in-hand
with the Weather Tables section of this overall supplement.
WATERBORNE TRAVEL: STEP-BY-STEP AID
Step
The Question
The Answer
1
Where are we
going?
This guide can’t help you with that. Hopefully your DM knows! If it is somewhere
where at least part of the journey is over water, read on.
2
How will we get
there?
By boat, most likely. There are other, nonconventional means of traveling over
water, but this guide focuses on ship-based travel, either sailing or rowing or both.
3
How long will it
take?
Rate of travel depends on type of vessel and water body (lake, river, or sea), and to a
large degree the weather. Ships most commonly use sails to move, which relies
upon the strength and direction of the wind. Consult the Weather Tables for this
piece.
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
16
4
What if we are
in a hurry?
You can push a ship’s crew to outperform for short periods, and pushing too hard for
too long can lead to negative consequences over time. But for longer voyages you
are generally at the mercy of the wind and the sea. Consult the Waterborne Vessels
Chart One: Primary Attributes and Speed for more information.
5
How the heck
do you sail?
Trust your sailing crew! Also, check out Ship Navigation, Sailing in this guide to find
guidelines on ship direction vs. wind direction and their joint impact to sailing speed.
Hint: You’re gonna need some wind.
6
What’s the deal
with rowing?
Many ships have banks of oars to propel them through waters when the winds are
not favorable or when going against a current, such as upriver. Some boats, such as
rowboats, rely solely upon the manpower (person-power) of oarsmen (oarspeople). It
is normally slower and definitely not as efficient as catching a strong wind in your sail,
but sometimes it’s the only way to propel a vessel along.
7
What’s this
about a
current?
Although seas have currents that follow general oceanic patterns, this guide
generally only assumes a ship will need to contend with river currents. River currents
are generally assumed to move water downstream at a rate of 2 mph, which is
directly added to downstream ship speed and deducted from it when going upstream.
8
So how far did
we travel
today?
Consult the Waterborne Vessels Chart One: Primary Attributes and Speed in this
guide for your ship’s Travel Pace attributes. Add or subtract wind and any river
current variables.
9
What if we sail
into a storm?
The Weather Tables will determine whether a storm hits during waterborne travel.
Storms can sometimes aid a ship’s travel, but most often it impedes it and can even
cause damage to the vessel and death to its crew. Try to avoid storms, if you can.
10
What if we run
into trouble on
the high seas?
The Ghosts of Saltmarsh compendium is an excellent resource that details out
hazards, different ocean environs, and random encounters. There are also several
resources available on the internet (including maybe a future Halfmoon supplement).
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
17
SHIP NAVIGATION
Non-magical travel over water is accomplished either by sail or oar – or both. In either case it is
critical to understand nautical terminology for the different directions of a ship. Please consult the
following diagram (wind direction compass added for convenience):
SHIP DIRECTION DIAGRAM
FORE/BOW
WIND DIRECTION COMPASS
PORT
STARBOARD
AFT/STERN
Note that the front of the ship is actually called the
bow (or the fore if referring to the inside front of the
ship from a sailor’s standpoint), while the rear is the
stern (or the aft when referring to the inside of the
ship). The Wind Tables and travel rules all use the
above terminology to determine impact of wind to
a ship. For instance, say the above ship is headed
north. A wind blowing northeast would be hitting
the ship “off the port quarter” (which provides it the
wind speed bonus, by the way – any of the three rear
positions do).
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
18
SAILING
Most ships with sails use the winds to get around as frequently as possible. Even if the winds are
not particularly favorable, unless you’re bearing right into the wind it is normally faster (and less
exhausting, so say the oarsmen) than rowing.
Determining the impact of wind to sailing is actually a relatively straightforward matter: If the
wind is at your back, your sails will fill and you will move faster. If the winds are in your face,
you will not sail so fast…and sometimes not at all. Consult the Waterborne Vessels Table One:
Primary Attributes for a ship’s daily Travel Pace and, if a sailing ship, modify that amount based
upon the below graphic (noting that the wind modifier is ±1 per 10 mph with/against the sails):
LEEWARD
Definition: Wind blows
at the Foreward, Off the
Port Bow, or Off the
Starboard Bow
Nautical Phrase: “The
wind is in your face”
Impact: Subtract any
Sailing speed Modifier
from the vessel’s sail
speed
WINDWARD
Definition: Wind blows
at the Aft, Off the Port
Quarter, or Off the
Starboard Quarter
Nautical Phrase: “The
wind is at your back”
Impact: Add any Sailing
speed Modifier from the
vessel’s sail speed
TO PORT/TO STARBOARD
Definition: Wind blows
Abeam to Port or Abeam
to Starboard
Nautical Phrase: “The
wind is striking your
side”
Impact: None (ignore
Sailing Speed Modifier)
A ship must have at least its minimum crew (also indicated in that same chart) in order to sail the
ship, though half that amount can still sail the ship at half normal travel pace.
ROWING
Many waterborne vessels have oars and oarsmen to pull them. For ships with both sails and
oars, the determination to deploy them boils down simply to which mode of travel is faster given
the current conditions. Traveling upstream or against the wind, for instance, are prime examples
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
19
of when a ship will turn to rowing. A ship must have at least its minimum crew (see
Waterborne Vessels Table One: Standard Attributes) in order to have sufficient oarsmen to
effectively move the ship.
WATERBORNE VESSELS TABLE ONE: STANDARD ATTRIBUTES
Primary Attributes
Characteristics
Capacity
Travel Pace
Vessel
Type
Size
STR
DEX
CON
Sea-
worthi-
ness
# of
Masts
# of
Oars
# of
Row-
boats
Open
Market
Cost (gp)
Crew (min)/
Passenger
Cargo
(tons)
Normal
Speed
Full Speed
Ahead
Barge
Gargantuan
(80’x40’)
18
(+4)
1
(-5)
8
(-1)
20%
0
10
0
500
10(5)/40
100
24 mpd
(1 mph)
24 mpd
(1 mph)
Frigate
Gargantuan
(140’x30’)
25
(+7)
8
(-1)
22
(+6)
100%
3
60
10
30,000
100(50)/120
100
144 mpd
(6 mph)
192 mpd
(8 mph)
Galleon
Gargantuan
(180’40’)
26
(+8)
6
(-2)
24
(+7)
100%
3
80
12
20,000
120(60)/200
300
96 mpd
(4 mph)
120 mpd
(5 mph)
Galley
Gargantuan
(130’x20’)
24
(+7)
4
(-3)
20
(+5)
95%
1
40
8
10,000
80(40)/40
150
96 mpd
(4 mph)
120 mpd
(5 mph)
Keelboat
Gargantuan
(60’x20’)
16
(+3)
7
(-2)
13
(+1)
60%
1
8
0
500
3(3)/4
0.5
72 mpd
(3 mph)
84 mpd
(3.5 mph)
Longship
Gargantuan
(70’x20’)
20
(+5)
6
(-2)
17
(+3)
80%
1
20
6
5,000
40(20)/100
10
120 mpd
(5 mph)
144 mpd
(6 mph)
Rowboat
Large
(10’x5’)
11
(+0)
8
(-1)
11
(+0)
40%
0
2
0
50
2(1)/2
0.25
24 mpd
(3 mph)
30 mpd
(3 mph)
Sailboat
Huge
(15’x5’)
12
(+1)
10
(+0)
12
(+1)
60%
1
0
0
100
2(1)/3
0.25
72 mpd
(3 mph)
84 mpd
(3.5 mph)
Sailing
Ship
Gargantuan
(100’x20’)
20
(+5)
7
(-2)
17
(+3)
80%
3
0
4
10,000
30(15)/20
100
120 mpd
(5 mph)
168 mpd
(7 mph)
Sloop
Gargantuan
(80’x15’)
18
(+4)
12
(+1)
18
(+4)
90%
1
0
4
15,000
20(10)/20
50
168 mpd
(7 mph)
216 mpd
(9 mph)
Warship
Gargantuan
(100’x20’)
20
(+5)
4
(-3)
20
(+5)
100%
3
0
4
15,000
30(15)/20
100
96 mpd
(4 mph)
120 mpd
(5 mph)
All waterborne vessels possess the following attributes:
INT, WIS, and CHA are all 0
COLUMN DETAILS
Vessel Type & Size
This is the name of the type of vessel and its size. Vessel Types in italics are featured in Ghosts of Saltmarsh.
STR/DEX/CON
STR (Strength) expresses the ship’s size and weight, DEX (Dexterity) is its ease of handling, and CON (Constitution) is
its durability and the quality of its construction.
Seaworthiness
This is the vessel’s ability to sail the high seas, and reflects its durability in rough waters and difficult conditions. A d100
roll is made every day of travel in calm seas and must be made with disadvantage if in a storm that day, as determined
by the Weather Tables. If any roll is greater than the Seaworthiness score, there are two results:
1.
The crew has disadvantage on all Hazard checks, including any for an existing storm, until a subsequent
Seaworthiness roll indicates a success.
2.
The DM rolls on the Seaworthiness Failure table in this supplement, with any result being an independent
effect from any Hazards currently impacting the ship.
# of Masts/Oars/Rowboats
Masts indicate how many sets of sails are on the ship, oars will be divided into banks on each side of the ship, and
rowboats are the “lifeboats” for larger ships in case they founder (and have the same stats as Rowboat in this table).
Open Market Cost (gp)
This is the average, or “retail,” cost to purchase the ship in the open market, and may be adjusted based upon a number
of variables – including quality of location, seller’s personality attitude, and the buyer’s ability to haggle (see Social
Interaction in the DMG pp. 244-245 for more details on this).
Capacity, Crew
Maximum crew and passenger complement for the ship, with the minimum crew required for normal travel pace noted in
parentheses (half that amount will allow for half normal travel pace when sailing but not for rowing). If the crew drops
below this amount, the ship founders and will go the speed and direction of the current.
Capacity, Cargo
Total cargo capacity in tons.
Travel Pace
Modifiers (daily only)
±5 mpd per 10 mph when sailing with/against the wind
±Crew Quality Score (see the section in this supplement labeled Ship Crew Quality)
Normal Speed
Normal daily (and hourly) ship travel speed, provided there is at least a minimum crew.
Full Speed Ahead
If at least the minimum crew complement, the captain can elect to push the limits of ship and
man, increasing the distance traveled at the risk of crew fatigue and ship damage. Every day of
such travel:
The ship’s crew has disadvantage on all Hazard checks.
Every day of Full Speed Ahead, the crew’s Quality score is reduced by 1. Unless a mutiny
occurs, any penatlies are removed after 24 hours of shore leave (or a positive event occurs
at the discretion of the DM, such as finding buried treasure on a deserted isle).
A Seaworthiness fail reduces crew Quality by an additional point and permanently reduces
the ship’s Seaworthiness score by 10%. Drydocking repairs 10% Seaworthiness per day.
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
20
WATERBORNE VESSELS TABLE TWO: COMBAT ATTRIBUTES
Vessel Type
Hull
Helm
Oars
Sails
Naval Weapons
AC
HP
DT
AC
HP
AC
HP
Combat
Speed
AC
HP
Combat Speed
Baseline/Into
Wind/With Wind
Ballista
Mangonel
Naval
Ram
Barge
14
100
—
—
—
12
50
10ft
12
75
20ft/10ft/25ft
(-10ft per 25hp)
—
—
—
Frigate
16
600
25
17
75
12
150
35ft
(-10ft per 50hp)
12
125
50ft/20ft/65ft
(-5ft per 25hp)
6
2
1
Galleon
16
800
30
16
100
12
200
30ft
(-10ft per 50hp)
12
150
35ft/15ft/50ft
(-5ft per 20hp)
8
2
—
Galley
15
500
20
16
50
12
100
30ft
(-5ft per 25hp)
12
100
35ft/15ft/50ft
(-10ft per 25hp)
4
2
1
Keelboat
15
100
10
12
50
12
100
20ft
(-5ft per 25hp)
12
100
25ft/15ft/35ft
(-5ft per 20hp)
1
—
—
Longship
15
300
15
16
50
12
100
20ft
(-5ft per 25hp)
12
100
45ft/15ft/60ft
(-10ft per 25hp)
—
—
—
Rowboat
11
50
—
—
—
12
25
15ft
—
—
—
—
—
—
Sailboat
12
50
—
—
—
—
—
—
12
50
25ft/15ft/40ft
(-10ft per 25hp)
—
—
—
Sailing Ship
15
300
15
18
50
—
—
—
12
100
45ft/15ft/60ft
(-5ft per 25hp)
1
1
—
Sloop
13
200
5
18
50
12
100
25ft
(-5ft per 20hp)
12
100
55ft/20ft/70ft
(-10ft per 25hp)
2
—
—
Warship
15
500
20
18
50
12
100
20ft
(-5ft per 25hp)
12
100
35ft/15ft/50ft
(-10ft per 25hp)
2
2
1
All waterborne vessels possess the following combat-related attributes:
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
Condition Immunities: blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, incapacitated, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, stunned,
unconscious
COLUMN DETAILS
Vessel Type
This is the name of the type of vessel. Vessel Types in italics are featured in Ghosts of Saltmarsh.
Hull attributes
AC:
HP:
DT:
Armor Class to hit the hull with an attack
Hit Points of the hull; if the hull is reduced to 0 hit points, the ship sinks
Damage Threshold; an attack must exceed this amount of damage in order to cause damage, in
which case it does the full amount of the damage
Helm attributes
AC:
HP:
Armor Class to hit the helm with an attack
Hit Points of the helm; if the helm is reduced to 0 hit points, the ship cannot turn
Oar attributes
AC:
HP:
Combat Speed:
Armor Class to hit a bank of oars with an attack
Hit Points of the full array of oars; see the table above for speed reduction based upon damage taken
Speed in feet per turns to be used in initiative mode; if there is a second entry, it indicates how
damage to the oars reduces this speed
Sail attributes
AC:
HP:
Combat Speed:
Armor Class to hit some portion of the sails an attack
Hit Points of all sail rigging (sheets, masts, cross-beams, ropes, etc.); see the table above for speed
reduction based upon damage taken
Speed in feet per turns to be used in initiative mode; if there is a second entry, it indicates how
damage to the sails reduces this speed
Naval Weapons
Ballista:
(AC 15, HP 50
each)
A massive crossbow firing heavy bolts; if multiple on a ship normally an equal amount are installed
on the fore and the aft; takes one action to load it, one action to aim it, and one action to fire it;
ranged weapon attack: +6 to hit, range 120/480 ft, one target, 16 (3d10) piercing damage.
Mangonel:
(AC 15, HP 100
each)
A catapult that hurls heavy projectiles in a high arc even over cover; normally only installed at the aft
on a sterncastle; takes two actions to load it, two actions to aim it, and one action to fire it; ranged
weapon attack with a stone: +5 to hit, range 200/800 ft (60 ft minimum), one target, 27 (5d10)
bludgeoning damage (other types of projectiles may be used which may vary in damage and effect)
Naval Ram:
(AC 20, HP
100, DT 10)
A fortified protrusion on the ship’s bow used to batter other ships; melee weapon attack: +8 to hit,
advantage on all saving throws related to crashing, any damage taken is applied to the naval ram
rather than the ship until the ram is destroyed; crashing damage is based upon ship size which for
gargantuan ships (all ships on this list with a naval ram) inflicting 16d10 bludgeoning damage
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
21
SHIP DESCRIPTIONS
This section provides a brief description of the added ships in this supplement. All the statistics
are provided in the tables above. For all italicized ships listed in the tables, please consult the
Ghosts of Saltmarsh compendium for descriptions.
Barges are slow, rectangular ships generally used for hauling
people and cargo across or down rivers (river barges) and along
lakeshores (lake barges). They are not seaworthy. They are not
manuverable. River barges either are suspended across a river by
strong ropes which are used to pull them from bank to bank, or
get pushed along by long poles thrust down to the bottom of the
river with oars for both motion and maneuverability. Lake barges
rely on 2 banks of 20 oars to slowly move it along the smooth waters.
Frigates are the most advanced of the big ships, boasting three tall
masts with a large array of sails, which along with its cutting-edge
rigging design and streamlined hull make them one of the fastest
ships available (second only to the sloop). They are prized by
admirals as the flagships of naval fleets. They have four forward
ballista and two at its aft, all able to swivel up to 30 degrees, along
with twin catapults on its sterncastle and a battery ram at their bow.
Galleons are massive vessels, with three tall masts with extremely
wide square sails. In spite of their size they move quite well in the
wind, with dual banks of 75 oars on each side to propel them forward
admirably when there are no winds. For armament, the ships bristle
with four fore and four aft ballista and two large catapults on the
sterncastle, with sufficient swiveling capabilities to strike anything
along their perimeter.
Sailboats are essentially rowboats with a single mast and square sail instead of oars. They rely
entirely on the wind for travel, and are mostly owned by fishermen and sailing enthusiasts – though
they are good at speeding down rivers and generally versatile on small lakes.
Sloops are sleek, fast and maneuverable sailboats, but also durable
and seaworthy ships. They do have two banks of oars which propel
them along at a good clip, but their mainstay is their mainsail off a
very tall single mast, with a sleek decision which makes them the
fastest of the mass-produced vessels. They are commonly armed with
one ballista at the fore and one at the aft.
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
22
NAVIGATING THE DIFFERENT BODIES OF WATER
SEAS
Travel over seas can be a risky affair, with strong winds and storms always posing a threat to
smaller vessels. Therefore the party should generally look to book passage on the larger, more
seafaring vessels. Barges cannot travel on seas, and rowboats and sailboats can be found but stay
close to the coastline.
A significant consideration when deciding which route to take overseas is the prevailing current.
Sea currents are strong, averaging 2 mph. The DM will determine this, but trade routes almost
always sail along with the current.
The DM will also define the ports and trading routes where passage may most easily be sought.
Ports can be found at any city adjacent to the body of water. Finding passage on a boat without
settlements nearby, however, is generally a tricky affair and largely dependent upon how close you
are to a road or other main throughfare.
If you have no coin or are reluctant to part with it, one can sign on with a vessel as part of the crew,
particularly one who carries weapons and knows how to use them should the ship be beset by
pirates or other maritime threats. Of course, should players need to reach a location not normally
visited by trading vessels or official vessels, you might end up signing up with a band of pirates,
or pirate hunters, or swashbucklers of a different color. The party may even seek commision from
a city or empire to complete the mission across the seas.
LAKES
For all intents and purposes, travel over lakes is the same as sea travel. The principal differences
are lack of a prevailing current and storms that aren’t quite so fierce. Large lakes could
conceivably have any kind of ship, while smaller lakes will only have rowboats, sailboats, large
barges, and keelboats. Very large lakes can have a 1 mph current, but small lakes will be calm
and have no noticeable current.
As with seas, boats are generally easy to find at ports adjacent to towns or cities. Beyond that you
have fishing villages and personal vessels, which will not be immune to the charms of a little gold.
RIVERS
When viable, travel by river can often be faster and safer than by land…but you can not guide the
river, the river guides you, and you are at the mercy of the path it takes and the direction the water
flows. If it works in your favor, river travel deserves consideration.
Travel speed on a river is determined in the same way as travel over seas or lakes, so follow those
guides for sail vs. oar travel. Rivers will have a downstream current, which by default is 1 mph.
Keelboats are the principal river transports when it comes to traveling upstream or downstream.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
23
First order of business is to find a boat. Riverboats tend to come in four flavors: rowboat, sailboat,
barge, and sloop. Other, larger ships are built primarily for the sea, though of course it is not
unheard of for trading galleys to make their way up or down a river to reach certain city ports –
though it is rare to find any oarless sailing ship sailing upstream.
Unless the party owns a boat, they will need to either purchase a boat at some port, or find passage
on a passenger boat (or any boat, for that matter…everyone has his price). It is at the discretion
of the DM, as always, but boats can be purchased, rented, or passage purchased in riverside towns.
Along rivers in key locations, there are often boatmen with river barges who charge travelers a
simple fare to cross the river. Most of the time these barges are connected to both river banks by
two very thick ropes which can be used to pull the barge across, or to ensure it does not float
downstream as the crew paddles from bank to bank.
OTHER SHIP CONSIDERATIONS
Cost For Ship Passage
More than likely you and your hearty band of adventurers will not be plunking down serious coin
to purchase your own ship – except perhaps for a rowboat or sailboat. Cost for passage on a ship
can vary wildly from locale to locale, but the primary considerations are distance, availability, and
willingness. The following set of suggestions is offered, for which the DM can of course modify
based upon preference and situation:
Downstream (river) or with predominant current
(sea/lake): 1 gp per 100 miles of travel
Upstream (river) or against predominant current
(sea/lake): 2 gp per 100 miles of travel
River crossing: 5 sp (a river barge is normally found
at strategic river crossing locations)
Suggested modifiers:
o Speed of vessel: +1 gp per 2 mph ship base
speed (sail or oar) over 4
o Horses: Double normal rate (vessel must be a
barge or large ship (at least 100’ long); each
horse takes up 3 of the ship’s complement
o Horse w/wagon: Triple normal rate, only
available on barges, takes up 5 of the ship’s
complement
Note that proximity to major cities doesn’t factor into cost so much as it factors into availability
of passenger ships. Also captains of merchant vessels or warships are much less likely to be willing
to take on passengers, and may be expected to charge up to double the suggested rates. Persuasion
obviously can play a part in such exchanges.
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
24
Ship Crew Quality
A big component of seafaring success is the competency and attitude of the crew. Since individual
crewmember competency would be too difficult to figure out, D&D focuses on attitude to
determine overall crew quality. This is explained in the Ghosts of Saltmarsh.
In most campaigns, the player characters will come across a ship with an existing crew. For those
situations, it is handy for the DM to have a means to randomly determine the quality of its crew
and the officers commanding it.
Quality of Ship’s Crew and Commanding Officers
Quality and Nickname of the Ship’s Crew
Quality of the Ship’s Officers (roll individually for each officer)
D100
Starting
Quality
Crew Nickname
Officer Title
D20
NPC Attributes
Officer
Quality
01
-10
Mutinous dogs
Captain
01-05
INT +3, CHA +3, +6 proficiency with
intimidation, persuasion, and water vehicles
Good
02-03
-9
Lily-livered landlubbers
06-15
INT +1, CHA +1, +3 proficiency with
intimidation, persuasion, and water vehicles
Average
04-05
-8
Sour scuppertongues
16-20
INT -1, CHA -1, +1 proficiency with
intimidation, persuasion, and water vehicles
Poor
06-07
-7
Sack of sorry
seamonkeys
First Mate
01-05
INT +3, CHA +3, +6 proficiency with
intimidation, persuasion, and water vehicles
Good
08-10
-6
Pack of bilge rats
06-15
INT +1, CHA +1, +3 proficiency with
intimidation, persuasion, and water vehicles
Average
11-13
-5
Scurvy-laden curs
16-20
INT -1, CHA -1, +1 proficiency with
intimidation, persuasion, and water vehicles
Poor
14-16
-4
Yellow-bellied
hornswagglers
Bosun
01-05
STR +3, +4 proficiency with athletics and
carpenter’s tools
Good
17-20
-3
Sad ol’ swabbies
06-15
STR +1, +2 proficiency with athletics and
carpenter’s tools
Average
21-25
-2
Lazy laggards
16-20
STR -1
Poor
26-30
-1
Crusty barnacle-backs
Quartermaster
01-05
WIS +3, +6 proficiency with navigator’s
tools and nature skill
Good
31-70
0
Salty sailors
06-15
WIS +1, +3 proficiency with navigator’s
tools and nature skill
Average
71-75
+1
Stalwart shellbacks
16-20
WIS -1, +1 proficiency with navigator’s tools
and nature skill
Poor
76-80
+2
Willful waterdogs
Surgeon
01-05
INT +3, +6 proficiency with herbalism kits
and the medicine skill
Good
81-84
+3
Trusty mariners
06-15
INT +1, +3 proficiency with herbalism kits
and the medicine skill
Average
85-87
+4
Lively scallywags
16-20
INT -1, +1 proficiency with herbalism kits
and the medicine skill
Poor
88-90
+5
Shameless lick-spittlers
Cook
01-05
CON +3, +6 proficiency with brewer’s
supplies and cook’s utensils
Good
91-93
+6
Jolly jack-tars
06-15
CON +1, +3 proficiency with brewer’s
supplies and cook’s utensils
Average
94-95
+7
Hearty seafarers
16-20
CON -1, +1 proficiency with brewer’s
supplies and cook’s utensils
Poor
96-97
+8
Loyal sea dogs
Cabin Boy
01-15
Just a cabin boy
N/A
98-99
+9
Master mariners
16-18
Can replace a random poor officer (roll 1d6
with captain as 1 and cook as 6)
Poor
00
+10
Feverish fanatics
19-20
Can replace a random average officer (roll
1d6 with captain as 1 and cook as 6)
Average
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
25
SHIP COMBAT: Although this supplement, particularly, Table Two, does cover most of the
attributes around naval warfare, everything else you need can be found in the Ghosts of Saltmarsh
compendium. These tables are in fact meant to aid such an endeavor by providing a quick
reference to said attributes in a convenient table format.
REPAIRING YOUR SHIP: Incremental repairs can be
performed while at sea, but full repairs will require a
drydock at port. A crew can repair hit points of ship
components equal to 20 hp per day at sea (provided
normal travel without incident) or 40 hp at port, plus or
minus their quality score multiplied by their bosun’s
carpentry bonus. The repair job can focus on one or more
damaged components during this time.
MAKING FOR PORT OR COMING ASHORE: Of
all the ships in the chart, only rowboats (and canoes which
share the same attributes), sailboats, barges, and keelboats
can be beached. All the larger ships have too deep a draft
and must find a port or a dock of some sort, or weigh
anchor and use their own rowboats.
CARRYING A BOAT OVER LAND: Only the
smallest vessels are light enough to be carried across land,
which can be done for short distances by several men, or
placed on large wagons and carted, from one waterway to
another. Rowboats generally weigh 100 pounds while
sailboats come in at 125 pounds. Note that keelboats and
river barges can also be relocated, but would require a
large engineering contingent of several dozen workers
with ropes and pulleys, and either custom-built wagons or
logs to roll the ship along. The player characters would need to pay for this service so we will not
fill these pages with that detail. All other ships are far too large, heavy, and unbalanced to ever
fully leave the water.
UNDERWATER TRAVEL: This manual generally does not deal with underwater travel as this
is not considered a normal form of routine travel. Please consult the Players Handbook and
Dungeon Master’s Guide for additional guidance on managing travel underwater.
WATERBORNE TRAVEL
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
26
Author’s Reflection: Navigating The High Seas
In a truly realistic environment, the same ship
could sail in a solid morning breeze, pick up
the oars when the wind has died in the
afternoon, and unfurl the sails again for a
sunset breeze later that day. But this
supplement is for Dungeons & Dragons, not
“Sailing & Rowing,” and it is assumed the
adventurers want to, well…adventure. So we
introduce a daily system – still quite a few
rolls, granted, but the weather often keeps for
several days and don’t need to be re-rolled
(except the wind, which can be the life or
death of any sailor on a daily basis).
This is still a lot to keep track of, but the
intrepid DM will maximize use of these charts
and tables to hopefully provide the players
better game immersion with real-world
environmental challenges and realistic travel
expectations. But if this is too much to absorb,
manage, and maintain, I included the
“Common Distance per Day” column of the
Waterborne Vessels chart. This value makes
travel much easier for those Dungeon Masters just dying for the party to reach that dungeon with
the treasure horde protected by the fire-breathing dragon.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WEATHER TABLES
27
WEATHER TABLES
Weather can play a part in an adventuring
party’s travel plans. In its most basic form the
climate adds color, like “It is a sweltering ninety
degrees and your knight feels like he is encased
in an oven,” or “The rain pelts down and soaks
your elf ranger, drenching her cloak as the
whipping wind entangles it in her long, silky
hair.” Then the players can espouse creative
prose to relay what their characters may be
experiencing in the moment. Maybe they do,
maybe they don’t, but if they do it can make the
moment that much more immersive and evolve
from a “point A to point B” interlude to a point
of character and party development. Does the
knight clench his teeth and bear it with true grit,
or does he whine like a chamber-pot boy? Does
the elf revel in the wild power of the elements,
or does she complain that her cloak is getting
ruined or her recent perm is now a shambles?
And how do the rest of the player characters
react to these responses? Does it change how
they feel about the sweltering knight or wet,
wind-whipped ranger?
Such situations can allow the players to role-play the moment, belting out some creative prose to
make for a potentially more immersive moment. But weather can have other impacts. It can slow
progress and can actually cause damage if severe enough. On the open seas, it can be truly deadly.
But it also can be helpful. A tall ship can fly like a bird with a strong wind in its sail. A dense fog
can help conceal the party’s approach. And a downpour’s muddy results can actually help a party
when they are being hounded by a pack of goblin wolfriders.
How will you play this?
WEATHER TABLES
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
28
CLIMATE ZONES
The type of weather encountered depends primarily upon the climate of the region. Many other
factors can play a part, such as unusual land masses (like, say, an enchanted desert), but for
simplicity’s sake the weather tables are broken up into six different climate zones:
Zone
Region Type
Description
Example Terrain
A
Tropical/
Subtropical
Hot and humid region, normally
equatorial
Rainforests, swamps, lush
grasslands
B
Arid/Semiarid
Hot and dry, limited greenery
Deserts, dry plains
C
Temperate-
Warm
Generally mild winters and hot,
dry summers
Grasslands, deciduous
forests
D
Temperate-Cold
Generally mild year-round with
warm summers and cool winters
Grasslands, deciduous
forests
E
Cold
Generally cool year-round with
even colder winters
Dry plains, snow-covered
mountains, evergreen forests
F
Arctic/Polar
Very cold year-round, difficult for
humanoids to live
Frozen tundra, glacial
mountains, lakes of ice
Here is the author’s concept of how these climate zones might be broken out in the super-continent
which includes the Forgotten Realms settings of Faerûn, Kara-Tur, and Zakhara on the world of
Toril. Keep in mind this is just provided for consideration, and there are many exceptions based
upon specific locations and terrain types (such as deserts within the temperate regions, forests in
the arid/semiarid region, and of course mountains have their own climates based upon elevation).
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WEATHER TABLES
29
Determining the various components of the elements, and their impact to travelers, roll on the
Climate Table below based upon the climate zone the party is currently in, and follow the
instructions. Then, separately, roll on the Wind Table that follows to determine how hard that
rain is hitting you in the face.
There are also sub-rolls in both tables that indicate the chance a storm hits (consult the Storm
Table), and the chance the current patterns repeat. All is explained in each section.
WEATHER TABLES: STEP-BY-STEP AID
Step
The Question
The Answer
1
What’s the
weather like
outside?
Determine what climate zone the party is in and then roll d100 daily on the Climate
Table. This will give you the current temperature, any current precipitation,
adjustments to traveling by land, a chance of storm (roll a separate d100) and a next-
day chance the current weather pattern continues (yet another d100 – what is this, is
D&D now a d100 game??).
2
OK but is
there any
wind?
It can still be gusty even on a sunny day. Separately, roll on the Wind Table, which
takes into consideration wind direction, proximity to large bodies of water, impact to
travel speed (both land and sea – but the main impact is to sailing ships), and similar to
the Climate Table a next-day chance of the current wind continuing.
3
How long will
this weather
pattern last?
From the two main tables come a chance the same patterns repeat the next day: the
general weather (defined as temperature + precipitation) and the wind. This may seem
needlessly complicated, but it helps safeguard this system against having wildly
variable, nonsensical weather patterns from one day to the next. It makes sense for a
nonmagical storm to quickly abate, but sunny or cloudy weather often persists longer.
4
OK there’s a
storm
outside, how
bad is it?
If the Climate Table sub-roll indicates a storm kicks up that day, consult the Storm
Table. Note that this supercedes the current wind pattern, which resets and should be
consulted again after the storm subsides (which will happen if the Climate Table
indicated the pattern will NOT repeat the next day, though in that case there will
sometimes be a new storm chance based upon the next-day d100 rolls!).
WEATHER TABLES
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
30
CLIMATE TABLE
Roll initially based on Climate Zone, and again for every day the prior day’s weather does NOT repeat
CLIMATE ZONE
Temp
era-
ture
Weather Type
Land
Speed
Modifier
Storm
Chance
Chance
Weather
Pattern
Repeats
WARMER
COLDER
A
B
C
D
E
F
01-05
01-08
01-02
—
—
—
110°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
06-08
09-10
03-05
—
—
—
100°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
09-15
06
—
—
—
90°
Precipitation, Light
—
10%
50%
16-30
07
—
—
—
80°
Precipitation, Steady
-2 mpd
15%
30%
31-40
08
—
—
—
70°
Precipitation, Heavy
-4 mpd
20%
15%
41-50
11-20
09-15
01
—
—
90°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
51-60
21-25
16-20
02-03
—
—
80°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
61-70
26-28
21-23
04-05
—
—
70°
Precipitation, Light
—
10%
50%
71-80
29
24-26
06
—
—
60°
Precipitation, Steady
-2 mpd
15%
30%
81-91
30
27-28
07
—
—
50°
Precipitation, Heavy
-4 mpd
20%
15%
92-93
31-45
29-35
08-12
01
—
80°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
94-95
46-50
36-50
13-16
02-03
—
70°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
96-97
51-53
51-55
17-20
04
—
60°
Precipitation, Light
—
10%
50%
98-99
54
56-58
21-23
05
—
50°
Precipitation, Steady
-2 mpd
15%
30%
00
55
59-60
24-26
06
—
40°
Precipitation, Heavy
-4 mpd
20%
15%
—
56-75
29-35
06-10
07-08
—
70°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
—
76-85
36-50
11-15
09-12
—
60°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
—
86-88
51-55
16-20
13-15
—
50°
Precipitation, Light
—
10%
50%
—
89
56-58
21-23
16-17
—
40°
Precipitation, Steady
-2 mpd
15%
30%
—
90
59-60
24-26
18
—
30°
Precipitation, Heavy
-4 mpd
20%
15%
—
91-94
61-70
27-36
19-22
—
60°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
—
95-96
71-78
37-45
23-28
—
50°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
—
97-98
79-83
46-54
29-31
—
40°
Precipitation, Light
—
10%
50%
—
99
84-97
55-58
32-33
—
30°
Precipitation, Steady
-2 mpd
15%
30%
—
00
88-90
59-60
34
—
20°
Precipitation, Heavy
-4 mpd
20%
15%
—
—
91-93
61-68
35-38
01-04
50°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
—
—
94-96
79-75
39-47
05-08
40°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
—
—
97-98
76-80
48-50
09-12
30°
Precipitation, Light
—
10%
50%
—
—
99
81-84
51-52
13-15
20°
Precipitation, Steady
-2 mpd
15%
30%
—
—
00
85-87
53
16-17
10°
Precipitation, Heavy
-4 mpd
20%
15%
—
—
—
88-92
54-56
18-22
40°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
—
—
—
93-95
57-68
23-28
30°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
—
—
—
96-97
69-72
29-33
20°
Precipitation, Light
—
10%
50%
—
—
—
98-99
73-75
34-36
10°
Precipitation, Steady
-2 mpd
15%
30%
—
—
—
00
76-77
37-38
0°
Precipitation, Heavy
-4 mpd
20%
15%
—
—
—
—
78-80
39-48
20°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
—
—
—
—
81-90
49-55
10°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
—
—
—
—
91-93
56-60
0°
Precipitation, Light
-2 mpd
10%
50%
—
—
—
—
94-95
61-64
-10°
Precipitation, Steady
-4 mpd
15%
30%
—
—
—
—
96-00
65-68
-20°
Precipitation, Heavy
-5 mpd
20%
15%
—
—
—
—
—
69-75
0°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
—
—
—
—
—
76-80
-10°
Overcast
—
5%
60%
—
—
—
—
—
81-83
-20°
Precipitation, Light
-2 mpd
10%
50%
—
—
—
—
—
84-86
-30°
Precipitation, Steady
-5 mpd
15%
30%
—
—
—
—
—
87-88
-40°
Precipitation, Heavy
-7 mpd
20%
15%
—
—
—
—
—
89-93
-20°
Sunny
—
0%
70%
—
—
—
—
—
94-96
-30°
Overcast
-2 mpd
5%
60%
—
—
—
—
—
97-98
-40°
Precipitation, Light
-4 mpd
10%
50%
—
—
—
—
—
99
-50°
Precipitation, Steady
-6 mpd
15%
30%
—
—
—
—
—
00
-60°
Precipitation, Heavy
-8 mpd
20%
15%
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WEATHER TABLES
31
EXPLANATION OF COLUMNS AND RELATED RULES
Climate Zone
Optional season modifiers:
Roll on this initially based upon climate zone, and again the next day if the pattern does not repeat
A= Tropical/Subtropical (hot and humid region, normally equatorial)
B = Arid/Semiarid (hot and dry, limited greenery)
C = Mediterranean (generally mild winters and hot, dry summers)
D = Temperate-Warm (generally mild year-round with warm summers and cool winters)
E = Temperate-Cold (generally cool year-round with even colder winters)
F = Arctic/Polar (very cold year-round, difficult for humanoids to live)
Spring = -10%, Summer = -20%, Fall = +10%, Winter = +20% (highest roll = 01, lowest roll = 100)
Temperature
Optional temperature modifiers:
+5° per 2000 ft elevation
-10° for nights
±15* for deserts (day/night)
-10* if at sea or coastal (<2 miles from sea)
Weather Type
If precipitation, type determined by temperature:
>40°
= rain
30°-40°
= hail
<30°
= snow
Storm Chance
Roll every time the weather pattern changes (see Chance Pattern Repeats below).
Land Speed Modifier
Append any Wind Table modifier, but replace with any Storm Table modifier.
Chance Pattern Repeats
After a weather pattern has been rolled, roll on this column instead each subsequent day until it fails;
once it fails, re-roll for a new weather pattern based on climate zone
WIND
Wind determination is purposely a separate table and a separate daily roll. After all, you can
have a strong wind on a sunny day or a rainy day. Plus we need to know which direction the
wind is blowing which will dictate potential impact to travel speed – particularly for sailing
vessels which of course depend upon wind to move.
WEATHER TABLES
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
32
WIND TABLE
WIND SPEED (roll daily & independently of Climate Table roll)
WIND DIRECTION
(roll daily along with Wind Speed)
General Terrain Type
Wind
Speed
Wind-Based Modifiers
Chance
Wind
Repeats
Over-
land
Coastal/
Lake
On the
Sea
Ship Crew
Success
Modifier
Waterborne
Sailing Speed
Overland
Travel Speed
01-20
01-15
01-10
0 mph
No mvmt
20%
21-60
16-50
11-40
10 mph
±5 mpd
60%
61-80
51-75
41-60
20 mph
±10 mpd
70%
81-88
76-85
61-80
30 mph
±15 mpd
50%
89-92
86-91
81-88
40 mph
-1
±20 mpd
40%
93-95
92-95
89-92
50 mph
-2
±25 mpd
30%
Die Roll Chance of Direction Change
01-80
Wind blows in predominant
direction (as determined by the
DM; for sea travel it should
follow established trade routes)
96-97
96-97
93-97
60 mph
-3
±30 mpd
±1 mpd
20%
98-00
98-00
98-00
70 mph
-4
±35 mpd
±2 mpd
10%
81-00
Direction changes (d8 on compass)
EXPLANATION OF COLUMNS AND RELATED RULES
Wind Speed by
General Terrain Type
Overland: Includes river travel
Coastal/Lake: Coastal lands include lands within 2 miles from the seashore in both direction (land and sea).
On the Sea: Must be >2 miles from the seashore.
OPTIONAL MODIFIERS BY CLIMATE ZONE
Climate Zone A: -20 to wind speed roll
Climate Zone B: -10 to wind speed roll
Climate Zone C: no modifier
Climate Zone D: no modifier
Climate Zone E: +10 to wind speed roll
Climate Zone F: +20 to wind speed roll
OPTIONAL “DAILY PRESSURE ZONE” RULE:
ROLL FOUR TIMES DAILY INSTEAD OF ONCE
1.
Morning (6-10am): +20 to wind speed roll
2.
Day (10am-4pm): no modifier
3.
Afternoon (4-8pm): +20 to wind speed roll
4.
Night (8pm-6am): -20 to wind speed roll
Wind repeat and direction tables should still be rolled.
Ship Crew Success Modifier
Modifier to the success of a ship’s crew when checks are required to overcome various hazards (as detailed in the
D&D core book Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Appendix A, starting at page 200).
Waterborne Sailing Speed
Add to ship speed if wind is at your back (aft, off the port quarter, or off the starboard quarter); subtract if wind is
in your face (foreward, off the port bow, or off the starboard bow – see Halfmoon’s Waterborne Travel Guide for
additional information). Superseded by Storm Table. In a dead calm (0 mph), not even the ship’s base sailing
speed will be applicable, and the ship will only move with the water’s current (or by rowing).
Overland Travel Speed
Apply a similar approach to land speed as ship speed, i.e. if wind is at the traveler’s back, add this modifier and the
reverse if in his/her face. Stacks with the Land Speed Modifier from the Climate Table, but superseded by the
Storm Table.
Chance of Wind Repeat
Roll this first on subsequent wind rolls to determine if the same wind strength holds for another day.
Wind Direction
Roll initial wind direction, then roll Chance of Direction Change along with each new wind speed roll.
STORMS
If a roll from the Climate Table indicates a storm has struck, the below table supercedes any land
speed modifier from that table as well as the values in the Wind Table. Whatever storm is rolled
remains until the weather pattern changes. Also, unlike the +/- travel pace variables noted in those
tables, traveling in a storm can only hinder travel owing to the ferocity and variability of its winds.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WEATHER TABLES
33
STORM TABLE
STORM ATTRIBUTES (roll every day the Climate Table indicates a storm)
Die
Roll
Storm Type
Wind
Speed
Travel Pace Modifiers
Damage Per Day of Exposure to Precipitation
Obs-
curity
Storm
DC
Waterborne
(Ship)
Overland
Lt Rain/
Any Snow
Steady/
Hvy Rain
Hail
Sand
Dust
01-50
Gale/Light Storm
80 mph
Special
75% pace
1 hp
10
51-80
Strong Storm
90 mph
Special
50% pace
2 hp
1 hp
15
81-88
Hurricane Category 1
100 mph
Special
40% pace
1 hp
3 hp
2 hp
18
89-92
Hurricane Category 2
110 mph
Special
30% pace
1 hp
4 hp
3 hp
1 hp
Light
20
93-95
Hurricane Category 3
120 mph
Special
20% pace
1 hp
2 hp
5 hp
4 hp
1 hp
Light
22
96-98
Hurricane Category 4
140 mph
Special
10% pace
1 hp
2 hp
6 hp
5 hp
2 hp
Heavy
26
99-00
Hurricane Category 5
160 mph
Special
5% pace
2 hp
3 hp
7 hp
6 hp
2 hp
Heavy
30
EXPLANATION OF COLUMNS AND RELATED RULES
Travel Pace Modifiers
Waterborne (Ship):
Impact to a ship’s speed by a storm is dictated by the Storm Hazard rules as defined in
Appendix A of the Ghosts of Sartmarsh core D&D book (page 202). In short, there is no
impact to a ship’s speed if all officers and the crew succeed on their Storm Check rolls.
Overland:
This is the % of travel pace listed by mode of transport, type of terrain, and other variables
in the Overland Travel Pace Chart of Halfmoon’s Overland Travel Guide.
Damage Per Day of
Exposure to Precipitation
Any individuals caught in a storm for at least 4 hours over the course of the day will take the indicated damage,
with snow/rain causing bludgeoning damage and hail, sand, and dust causing piercing damage. The damage
assumes normal clothing worn. This damage is adjusted as follows (shield effect is cumulative):
No clothing: +1 to damage
Light armor: -1 to damage
Medium armor: -2 to damage
Heavy armor (including stoneskin): -3 to damage
Shield (including the spell): -2 to damage
OPTIONAL RULE – THUNDERSTORMS: Wearing or wielding metallic items will result in a chance of being
struck by lightning for 3d6 hp lightning damage each day (effects are cumulative):
Metal weapon exposed: 2%
Metal helm worn: 3%
Metal shield exposed: 5%
Medium metal armor: 8%
Heavy metal armor: 10%
Obscurity
The stronger storms create vision impairment as indicated (for details on obscurity, consult the PHB page 183).
Storm DC
This column indicates the Difficulty Class by storm type as an expanded version of the DCs suggested in page 202
of the Ghosts of Saltmarsh core D&D book, and is principally oriented toward ship-based travel.
WEATHER TABLES
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
34
CATCHING A COLD (OPTIONAL)
Normally one assumes adventurers are very hardy and don’t have to worry about such mundane
concerns as catching a cold, but it does add a level of realism to the game. This is an optional
component so is not included in the storm subtables, and assumes only characters who are exposed
to the elements would have to worry about catching a cold. Technically the adventurer who fails
his or her save would have already contracted a cold and the weather simply makes it manifest into
an impactful condition. If the DM decides to add this element of flavor, follow these rules:
CONTRACTING AN AIRBORNE VIRUS
CON save vs. DC equal to 1/10 windspeed every day player is exposed or contract a cold, with these modifiers:
±1 to DC per 10° below/above temperature of 50° (after wind chill factor calculated)
If precipitation: DC = +2 for light, +3 for steady, and +4 for heavy rain, hail, or snow
If cold is contracted, CON save again as above every day exposed or cold becomes flu
If flu is contracted, CON save again as above every day exposed to storm or flu turns into pneumonia
If pneumonia is contracted, CON save again as above every day exposed or suffer pneumonia sympoms again
COLD:
Character suffers 1 point of Exhaustion
FLU:
Character suffers 1-2 points of Exhaustion (cumulative with cold)
PNEUMONIA:
Character suffers 1-3 points of Exhaustion (cumulative with cold and flu)
For example, a character in 50-mph winds (5 DC base) in 0° weather (+5 DC=10) in a heavy
snowfall (+4 DC=14) rolls a 10 CON save and starts coughing and sneezing, having contracted a
cold and suffering 1 level of exhaustion (disadvantage on all ability checks). He finds shelter
and does a long rest, recovering from exhaustion.
The next day he still trudges through the same blizzard (same DC of 14) and rolls a 5, failing
again and contracting the flu. The DM rolls a 2 (4-6 on d6) and the character is now at the 2nd
level of Exhaustion, meaning he’s back to ability disadvantage plus his speed is halved.
Let’s say he doesn’t get a chance to long-rest, and continues through the freak storm the next
day. He rolls a 13, failing yet again and catching pneumonia, and the DM rolls a 3 (5-6 on d6),
which is added to his flu exhaustion for level 5 exhaustion. On top of his flu sympoms, he now
has disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws, his hit point max is halved, and he has a
move of zero. Unless rescued, one more failed save exposed to the elements will result in death.
HALFMOON’S TRAVEL AND WEATHER GUIDE
WEATHER TABLES
35
Author’s Reflection: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night…according to my dice
Weather plays an important part in anybody’s travel, whether you’re living in a mundane,
nonmagical place like Earth or living in the exciting multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons. While
it is true that meteorology, the science of weather forecasting, has not yet made it to the fantasy
universe (though perhaps the party can find some high-level wizard who can predict future weather
patterns),
nevertheless
the band of adventurers
can consult a map or
discuss plans with city
travel advisors (or the
town bartender) before
venturing out. Climate
zones can potentially be
marked on a map of the
land in which the DM is
running the adventure,
which
would
provide
travelers with a general
knowledge of what kind
of climate and weather
they might expect.
As with all things in this book, random weather determination is simply an option for the DM. It
provides additional flavor by introducing the natural unpredictability of weather, projecting a
physical feel to the players (e.g. “It is sweltering hot and you are very uncomfortable in your full
plate”), and giving the DM a practical tool for determining actual, physical impact (e.g. “The winds
are blowing strongly against you, slowing your progress for that day” or “A violent storm pelts
you with hail that cuts you like shards of glass, dealing 1 hit point damage”).
But should the DM already have similar tools in his back pocket, or already has a plan for weather
tied to his campaign (as in “You near Mount Thunder and suddenly the air around you turns to a
biting cold”), or simply doesn’t want to juggle yet another variable in his campaign, I won’t feel
slighted.
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/Halfmoons Travel and Weather Guide.pdf |
Vikings & Valkyries
Vikings & Valkyries
Vikings & Valkyries
Vikings & Valkyries
Character Classes
BERSERKERS
Primary Attributes: Might and Will
Gender: All Berserkers are male
Basic Hits = 12
Battle Might: Berserkers add their Might mod
to their damage when using their barbarian
melee weapons (see chapter II, M&M Players
Manual for more details).
Battle Fury: Berserkers add their Will modifier
to their EDC against melee attacks
Battle Madness: Berserkers in Battle Madness
add their Might bonus to his Initiative and Melee
score, but suffer severe restrictions and must
keep fighting. (see chapter II, Vikings &
Valkyries for further details)
Weapon of Choice: Sword, axe or great axe.
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Berserker +4 Hits, +1 to Luck and +2 to
Might, Will or Skill (player’s choice)
Possessions: Berserkers start with their melee
weapon of choice. If their melee weapon of
choice is a sword or an axe they also start with
a shield. Starting wealth is 3d6 x 5 silver
pieces
Background Talents: Choose two talents
among
Armorer,
Beastmaster,
Drinker*,
Equestrian,
Mountaineer,
Woodsman
and
Wrestler (* see p 16, Vikings & Valkyries).
Patron Deity: Odin, Thor or Thyr
ELEMENTALISTS
Primary Attributes: Wits and Will.
Gender: Elementalists may be male or female.
Basic Hits = 8
Elemental Magic: At first level, an Elementalist
must select one of the three elements Fire, Ice
and Air as his primary element.
Elemental Mastery = Wits mod + Will mod
Mystic Strength = 12 + Elemental Mastery
Starting Power = 4 + Will mod
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives an Elementalist +2 Hits, +4 Power points,
+1 to Luck and +2 to Wits or Will.
Possessions: Elementalists start the game
with a dagger, a staff and 3D6 x 5 silver pieces.
Background Talents: Choose two talents
among Orator, Sage (Scholar), Armorer (Fire),
Sailor (Air) or Mountaineer (Ice)
Restrictions: Elementalists cannot wear mail
corselets or helms, since such huge amounts of
metal in direct contact with their person would
disrupt their command of elemental forces
Patron Deity: Odin or, if one of the character’s
two elements is Fire, Loki.
ELVES
Primary Attributes: Grace and Luck
Gender: Male or Female
Basic Hits = 8 (10 for male)
Natures Gift: Elves have the same Nature’s
Favor (Magnitude 4) power as Dryads. Their
Nature’s Curse (Magnitude 5) and Nature’s
Command (Magnitude 6) powers, which are
only possessed by female Elves, are the same
as those of Napaea (Affliction and Kiss of Life).
Male Elves can only reach magnitude 4 of
Nature’s Gift but receive a +2 bonus to Skill and
a weapon of choice (bow or sword).
Elven Enchantment = Grace mod + Luck mod
Mystic Strength = 12 + Elven Enchantment
Starting Power = 4 + Grace mod
Level Benefits – Female: Each level beyond
the first gives a Female Elf +2 Hits, +4 Power
points, +1 to Luck and +2 to Grace, Wits or Will
(player’s choice)Possessions.
Level Benefits – Male: Each level beyond the
first gives a male Elf the following benefits: +3
Hits, +3 Power points, +1 to Luck and +2 to any
other attribute (Might, Skill, Wits, Will or
Grace), chosen by the player.
Possessions: None.
Background Talents: Musician only.
Patron Deity: All female elves have Freya as
their deity. Male Elves may select either Freya
or her brother Freyr as their patron deity.
HALF-GIANTS
Primary Attributes: Might and Luck
Gender: All Half-Giant adventurers are male.
Basic Hits: 18
Amazing Strength: Half-Giants stand 7 or 8
feet tall and are extraordinarily strong. In game
terms, their heritage gives them 18 Basic Hits
(instead of 12) and also adds +6 to their Might,
up to a truly superhuman score of 24. Those
with a Might score of 19-20 will be able to wield
enormous clubs or axes in combat (see Players
Manual, p 22). Those with a Might of 21-22
have a Might mod of +5 and can wield
enormous weapons with both hands but without
reducing their Initiative by half. Finally, Half
Giants with a Might of 23-24 have a mod of +6
and can wield these enormous weapons single-
handed, allowing them to combine their use
with shields. Lastly, their great size gives Half-
Giants a basic Movement of 90’ (as opposed to
60’ for humans).
Magic Resistance: Half Giants are highly
resistant to magic. They replace Grace by
Might when calculating Mystic Fortitude.
Big & Dumb: There is, however, a downside to
Giant heritage. Half-Giants are, well, often quite
dumb and their heavy set frames, coarse
features, ill-proportioned limbs and uncouth
appearance do not make them very attractive:
in game terms, their Wits and Grace are
reduced by 6 points, once the rolled scores
have been distributed.
Weapon of Choice: Enormous club.
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Half-Giant +4 Hits, +1 to Luck and +2 to
either Might (max 24) or Will (max 20).
Possessions: Half-Giants start the game with
an enormous weapon (club) and that’s about it.
Background Talents: All Half-Giants have the
Wrestler and Mountaineer talents.
Patron Deity: Ymir
HUNTERS
Primary Attributes: Skill and Wits
Gender: Either male or female.
Basic Hits = 10
Deadly Aim: Hunters know how to target the
weak spots of animals and similar creatures:
they add their Skill mod to damage when using
missile weapons against Beasts or Monsters.
Hunting: Hunters excel at stealth and
woodcraft. This talent is reflected by a special
Hunting bonus equal to the sum of their Skill
mod and Wits mod.
Weapon of Choice: Any missile weapon.
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Hunter +2 Hits, +1 to Luck and +2 to
Skill, Wits or Will (player’s choice).
Background Talents: Choose two among
Bowyer, Beastmaster, Healer, Mountaineer and
Woodsman.
Possessions: Hunters start with a dagger, a
spear and their missile weapon of choice (bow
+ 12 arrows OR three javelins OR sling + 12
stones). Their starting wealth is 3D6 x 5 sp.
Restrictions: Hunters may wear any type of
armor but usually choose not to do so, since
encumbrance directly affects their stealth
abilities.
Patron Deity: Uller (or shamanism for Kvenir).
PRIESTS
Primary Attributes: Luck and Will
Gender: Priests may be male or female,
depending on which deity they serve. Male
priests serve male gods, while priestesses
serve goddesses
Basic Hits = 8
Divine Prodigies: Priests are able to call on
the power of their deity.
Spiritual Aura = Will mod + Luck mod
Mystic Strength = 12 + Spiritual Aura
Starting Power = 4 + Will mod
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Priest +2 Hits, +4 Power points, +1 to
Luck and +2 to Will or another attribute tied to
the deity: Might (Odin, Thor, Thyr, Freyr), Skill
(Frigg, Freya, Uller), Wits (Heimdall, Loki,
Bragi, Njord), Grace (Baldur, any Goddess).
Possessions: Staff (or similar symbol of
office), dagger, ceremony robes and 3D6 x 10
silver pieces.
Background Talents: A Priest’s choice of
talents varies according to his deity. Choose
two talents among Armorer (Tyr, Thor),
Beastmaster (Freyr), Bowyer (Uller, Heimdall),
Healer (Baldur, Freya, Frigg), Musician (Bragi,
Freya), Navigator (Njord, Odin, Heimdall),
Orator (Odin, Bragi), Sage (Scholar) (Odin,
Frigg) and Warlord (Tactician) (Tyr, Odin).
Restrictions: Priests do not usually wear
armor or use shields, not because it interferes
with their powers but because they feel their
deity’s favor is the only protection they need
Major Aesir Deities
Odin (god of power and wisdom)
Thor (god of thunder and lightning)
Tyr (god of war)
Frigg (goddess of wives and mothers)
Heimdall (god of vigilance)
Bragi (god of poetry)
Baldur (god of beauty)
Loki (god of strife and fire)
Uller (god of the hunt)
Major Vanir Deities
Njord (god of the seas)
Freyr (god of nature and virility)
Freya (goddess of nature and beauty)
PRINCES
Primary Attributes: Luck and another attribute
reflecting the character’s privileged heritage.
This favored attribute is chosen by the player.
Gender: Princes may be either male or female
(Ladies)
Basic Hits = 12
Battle Fortune: Princes add their Luck modifier
to their Initiative score in all circumstances.
Noble Heritage: All Princes add 2 points to
their two primary attributes. This may reflect
the friendship of the gods, a gifted lineage,
exceptional training or a superior heroic
potential.
Weapon of Choice: Sword, axe or spear
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Prince character +4 Hits, +1 to Luck
and +2 to any other attribute score (player’s
choice).
Possessions: Sword, dagger, shield, helmet,
mail corselet, and 3D6 x 100 silver pieces.
A Note on Favored Attributes: A Prince’s
favored attribute will define his line’s most
notable trait: a divine or heroic ancestry
(Might), a strong martial tradition (Skill), a talent
for combat ruse (Wits), a tradition of strong
leadership (Will), a goddess or elf lady
somewhere in the family tree (Grace) etc
Background Talents: Choose two among
Drinker*, Equestrian, Musician, Orator, Sailor,
Sage
(Scholar),
Warlord
(Tactician)
and
Wrestler (* see p 16, Vikings & Valkyries).
Patron Deity: Odin
SKALDS
Primary Attributes: Grace and Luck.
Gender: Skalds are most often male, but may
be female.
Basic Hits = 8
Poetic Magic: Skalds can wield magic by
reciting the sagas, singing and rhyming
Songs of Power: Skalds have the same
powers as M&M Lyrists (see Players Manual).
Skaldic Gift = Grace mod + Luck mod
Mystic Strength = 12 + Skaldic Gift
Starting Power = 4 + Grace mod
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Skald +2 Hits, +4 Power points, +1 to
Luck and +2 to Grace, Wits or Will (player’s
choice).
Possessions: Skalds start the game with a
harp, a dagger and 3D6 x 5 silver pieces.
Restrictions: Their role as sacred poets
forbids
Skalds
to
wear
any
protective
equipment as well as to use any weapon other
than a staff or dagger, and only if they have
been attacked first.
Background Talents: All Skalds automatically
have the Musician and Orator talents.
Patron Deity: All Skalds have Bragi as their
patron deity.
SORCERERS
Primary Attributes: Wits and Will.
Gender: Sorceresses are more frequent than
male Sorcerers, women being more gifted for
sorcery than men. To reflect this, Sorceresses
roll their starting age on 2D6+15 and Sorcerers
on 2D6+25.
Basic Hits = 8
Sorcery: Sorcerers study and practice the
arcane arts of psychic Sorcery. See chapter III
of the Players Manual for more details on this
realm of magic.
Psychic Gift = Will mod + Wits mod
Mystic Strength = 12 + Psychic Gift
Starting Power = 4 + Will mod
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Sorcerer +2 Hits, +4 Power points, +1
to Luck and +2 to Wits or Will (player’s choice).
Possessions: Dagger, staff or wand. Their
starting wealth is 3D6 x 10 silver pieces.
Restrictions:
For
some
mysterious
metaphysical reasons, sorcerers may not use
their Sorcerous powers while wearing a mail
corselet or a helmet.
Background
Talents:
All
Sorcerers
automatically have the Sage (Scholar) talent,
plus a second talent chosen among Actor,
Healer, Musician and Orator.
Patron Deity: A Sorcerer’s patron deity is
either Odin, Freya or Loki.
THIEVES
Primary Attributes: Wits and Luck
Gender: Either male or female.
Basic Hits = 10
Thievery: Thieves excel at hiding, sneaking,
finding traps and, well, thieving. In game terms,
these skills are reflected by a special Thievery
bonus equal to the sum of their Luck mod and
Wits mod.
Evasion: Thieves are also very good at
dodging blows and add their Wits mod to their
melee EDC (unless taken by surprise or
wearing a breastplate).
Weapon of Choice: Dagger, thrown knife or
sling.
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Thief +2 Hits, +1 to Luck and +2 to
Wits, Will or Skill (player’s choice).
Background Talents: Choose two talents
among Acrobat, Actor, Healer, Musician and
Orator.
Possessions: Dagger and 3D6 x 5 silver
pieces.
Restrictions: Thieves may wear any type of
armor but usually choose not to do so, since
this directly affects their stealth and agility.
Patron Deity: Loki, or Odin
DWARVES
The Dwarf option can be taken by Sorcerers
and Elementalists (as well as Thieves). Some
Maze Masters may make this a mandatory
condition for male Sorcerers and Elementalists.
Dwarf characters are subject to the following
attribute score adjustments: Might -2, Wits +2,
Grace -2. Starting age (and approximate life
expectancy) should be multiplied by 5.
VALKYRIES
Primary Attributes: Skill and Will
Gender: Female only
Basic Hits = 12
Defensive Fighting: When fighting with spear
and shield, a Valkyrie add her Skill mod to her
EDC against melee attacks. This bonus does
not apply against surprise or missile attacks.
Martial Discipline: Valkyries add their Will mod
to their Initiative when fighting with a spear.
Weapon of Choice: All Valkyries must select
the spear as their melee weapon of choice.
Level Benefits:: Each level beyond the first
gives a Valkyrie +4 Hits, +1 to Luck and +2 to
Might, Will, Wits or Skill (player’s choice).
Possessions: Spear, sword, dagger, shield,
helmet and mail corselet, plus 3D6 x 10 sp.
Background Talents: Choose two talents
among Armorer, Drinker*, Equestrian, Healer,
Musician, Orator, Sailor, Warlord (Tactician)
and Wrestler (* see p 16, Vikings & Valkyries).
Patron Deity: Odin
VIKINGS
Primary Attributes: Might and Skill
Gender: All Vikings are male.
Basic Hits = 12
Battle Prowess: A Viking add his Might mod to
his Initiative when fighting with his melee
weapon of choice.
Shield Combat: When fighting with a shield
and their weapon of choice, Vikings add their
Skill mod to their EDC against melee attacks.
Weapon of Choice: Sword, axe, great axe or
spear (melee).
Level Benefits: Each level beyond the first
gives a Viking +4 Hits, +1 to Luck and +2 to
another attribute (Might, Skill, Wits or Will).
Possessions: Vikings start the game with their
weapon of choice, a shield, a helmet, a dagger
and 3D6 x 10 sp worth of wealth. Vikings who
want a mail corselet will have to buy it (150 sp)
Background Talents: All Vikings have the
Sailor talent plus a second talent from the
following list: Armorer, Beastmaster, Drinker*,
Equestrian,
Healer,
Mountaineer,
Orator,
Warlord (Tactician), Woodsman, Wrestler.
Patron Deity: Most Vikings have Odin, Thor,
Tyr, Heimdall or Njord as their patron deity.
| textdata/thevault/Mazes & Minotaurs (osr) [multi]/Vikings & Valkyries/Vikings & Valkyries Character Classes.pdf |
InquIsItor
spell Cards
Ultimate
Spell DeckS
LPJ9504
Compatibility with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game requires
the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game from Paizo Publishing, LLC.
See http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on
the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Paizo Publishing, LLC does
not guarantee compatibility, and does not endorse this product.
3.5 SYSTEM COMPATIBLE
Banish seeming
School abjuration; Level inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M (a cold iron nail); Range touch;
Targets one creature or object; Duration instantaneous and 1
round/level; see text; Saving Throw none; SR no
With a melee touch attack you can dispel an illusion or return a
creature to its natural form. This functions as dispel magic directed
at the effect in question, except you receive a +2 enhancement
bonus on your dispel check and you can only dispel illusions
or changes in form created by supernatural effects or spells. If
multiple effects are changing the creature’s appearance, you can
dispel one such effect for every four caster levels you possess,
starting with the highest caster level spells and proceeding to spells
with lower caster levels.
The caster level for supernatural abilities such as change shape is
equal to the target creature’s Hit Dice. A creature returned to its
natural form by banish seeming is prevented from changing its
form again for a number of rounds equal to your caster level.
Banish seeming has no effect on nonmagical means of changing
appearance, such as that provided by a disguise or extraordinary
ability.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Blood Biography
School divination;Level inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1 minute;
Components V, S, M/DF (a scrap of parchment); Range touch;
Targets one creature’s blood or one bloodstain; Duration instanta-
neous; Saving Throw Will negates (see text); SR no
You learn the answers to a specific set of questions about a creature
so long as you have access to at least one drop of its blood. You
can cast this spell on the blood of the living or the dead, but living
or undead creatures are entitled to a saving throw to resist the spell.
You can cast the spell on dried or fresh blood. Once you cast the
spell the answers to the following four questions appear on any flat
surface you designate (a wall, a piece of paper, and so on).
Who are you? (The name by which the creature is most commonly
known) What are you? (Gender, race, profession/role) How was
your blood shed? (Brief outline of the events that caused its
wound, to the best of the victim’s knowledge) When was your
blood shed? These answers always appear in a language you can
read even if the creature cannot speak that or any language.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Bloodhound
School transmutation;Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M (a drop of blood and a pinch of
cinnamon); Range personal; Targets you; Duration 1 hour/level
You gain the scent special quality, including the ability to track by
scent. You receive a +8 competence bonus on Perception checks
involving smell and a +4 competence bonus on Survival checks to
track using scent. You take a -4 penalty on saving throws against
odor-related effects such as the stench ability and stinking cloud. A
creature under the effects of bloodhound can detect poison by scent
with a DC 20 Perception check.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Brand
School transmutation; Level inquisitor 0; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, DF; Range touch; Targets creature
touched; Duration 1 day/level; Saving Throw Fortitude negates;
SR yes
Brand etches an indelible rune or mark of no more than 6 charac-
ters onto a creature, inflicting 1 point of damage. The mark may
be placed on any exposed portion of the creature, typically the
head or forearm. A brand can be hidden by clothing or removed by
scraping it away (causing 1d6 points of damage), though the brand
returns if the damage is healed.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Brand, greater
School transmutation; Level inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1 round;
Components V, S, DF; Range touch; Targets creature touched;
Duration permanent; Saving Throw Fortitude negates; SR yes
This spell functions like brand, except that it inflicts 1d6 points of
damage when applied and cannot be removed, even temporarily. In
addition, a greater brand blazes as bright as a torch when brought
within 30 feet of a visible symbol of your faith. While the symbol
is blazing, the recipient is sickened.
Like the effects of bestow curse, a greater brand cannot be
dispelled, but it can be removed by any means that removes a mark
of justice.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Burst Bonds
School evocation; Level inquisitor 1; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V; Range touch; Targets one object or
creature restraining you; Duration instantaneous; Saving Throw
Fortitude half (object); SR yes
You blast your restraints with divine wrath, dealing 1d6 points
of damage per caster level to the target object (maximum 5d6),
ignoring hardness of 10 or less. A Fortitude save halves the
damage, although only magical restraints receive a saving throw.
You can also target a creature that is grappling or otherwise
restraining you (such as by adhesive or the swallow whole ability)
with the spell. You don’t need to make a touch attack to use burst
bonds against a creature, and you can cast this spell without
making a concentration check while grappled or pinned. The crea-
ture does not take damage as above. If you are grappled and your
target fails its save, you may make an immediate attempt to break
the grapple (but not reverse it) as a free action, with a +1 luck
bonus to your CMB per caster level (maximum +5). If the target
creature fails its save and you are restrained by an ability that
originally allowed a saving throw, burst bonds allows a new saving
throw with a +1 luck bonus per two caster levels (maximum +5).
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Cast out
School abjuration; Level inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, DF; Range touch; Targets creature
touched; Duration instantaneous; Saving Throw Will partial;
SR yes
With a melee touch attack you blast a single creature and disrupt
any magic controlling it. The target takes 2d8 points of damage
+ 1 point per caster level (maximum +15). In addition, you make
a dispel check against any magic jar effect (including a ghost’s
malevolence ability) or enchantment (compulsion) spells on the
target creature, starting with the highest level spells and proceeding
to lower level spells. Treat this as a targeted dispel magic spell,
except cast out can dispel one such spell for every four caster
levels you possess. A successful Will save halves the damage and
limits the dispelling to a single spell or effect.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Castigate
School enchantment (compulsion) [fear, language-dependent,
mind-affecting]; Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, DF; Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels);
Targets one living creature; Duration 1 round/level or 1 round;
see text; Saving Throw Will partial; SR yes
You compel the target to beg for forgiveness. On a failed save, the
target cowers with fear. On a successful save, it is shaken for 1
round. Each round on its turn, a cowering subject may attempt a
new save to end the effect. A creature who worships the same god
as you takes a -2 penalty on its saving throw.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Castigate, mass
School enchantment (compulsion) [fear, language-dependent,
mind-affecting]; Level inquisitor 5; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, DF; Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./
level); Targets one creature/level, no two of which can be more
than 30 ft. apart; Duration 1 round/level or 1 round; see text;
Saving Throw Will partial; SR yes
This spell functions as castigate, except it affects many creatures.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Cleanse
School evocation; Level inquisitor 6; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components S, DF; Range personal; Targets you; Dura-
tion instantaneous
Positive energy infuses and cleanses your body. This spell cures
4d8 points of damage + 1 point per caster level (maximum +25)
and ends any and all of the following adverse conditions affecting
you: ability damage, blinded, confused, dazzled, deafened,
diseased, exhausted, fatigued, nauseated, poisoned, and sickened.
In addition, cleanse functions as break enchantment upon a single
additional effect of your choice that is affecting you and that can be
legally affected by this effect.
If used by undead or other creatures healed by negative energy, the
spell cleanses with negative energy rather than positive.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Confess
School enchantment (compulsion)[language-dependent, mind-
affecting]; Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time 1 standard action;
Components V, S, DF; Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels);
Targets one creature; Duration 1 round; Saving Throw Will
partial; see text; SR yes
You ask the target creature a single question. On the subject’s next
action, it must answer truthfully in the same language as the ques-
tion or take 1d6 points of damage per two caster levels (maximum
5d6) and be sickened for 2d4 rounds. A successful Will save
negates the sickening effect and halves the damage. A creature that
is unable to answer still takes damage.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Coordinated effort
School divination; Level inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S; Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels);
Targets you plus one willing creature per 3 levels, no two of which
can be more than 30 ft. part; Duration 1 minute/level; Saving
Throw none; SR no
Choose a single teamwork feat that you possess. You forge a link
with your allies, allowing them to gain the benefits of the chosen
feat even if they do not have it themselves. You must be a part of
the group qualifying for a given bonus for your allies to gain the
benefits. For example, two of your allies flanking an orc would
gain no benefit from your Outflank feat, but an ally flanking the orc
with you would. Your allies’ positioning and actions must still meet
the prerequisites listed in the teamwork feat for either of you to
receive the listed bonus.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Corruption resistanCe
School abjuration [chaotic, evil, good, or lawful]; Level inquisitor
2; Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S, DF; Range
touch; Targets creature touched; Duration 10 minutes/level;
Saving Throw Fortitude negates (harmless); SR yes (harmless)
You grant the touched creature limited protection from magical
effects that inflict damage based on the target creature’s alignment,
such as holy smite, order’s wrath, a paladin’s smite evil attack, or
an unholy weapon. Choose one alignment type: chaos, evil, good,
or law. The subject takes 5 less points of damage from effects that
specifically harm creatures of that alignment. The value of the
protection increases to 10 points at 7th level and 15 points at 11th
level. The spell protects the recipient’s equipment as well.
Corruption resistance protects against spells, spell-like abilities,
and special abilities, not physical attacks. Corruption resistance
only protects against damage. The subject can still suffer side
effects from such attacks. When you use this spell to protect an
alignment, it gains the descriptor of that alignment.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Coward’s lament
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level
inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V,
S, DF; Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels); Targets one living
creature; Duration 1 round/level (D)(D); Saving Throw Will
partial; SR yes
You compel an opponent to face you in combat, or suffer for its
cowardice. Each round that the target fails to attack you in melee,
it receives a cumulative -1 penalty to its Armor Class, attack rolls,
and saving throws (maximum penalty -5). Each round at the end
of its turn, the target may attempt a Will saving throw to prevent
the penalties from increasing for that round. All penalties reset to
zero when the target attacks you in melee, but increase again if it
stops attacking. If the target is prevented from attacking you by
physical restraint, magic, or impassable terrain, the penalties do not
increase. If you move away from the target, the spell ends.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
defile armor
School abjuration [evil]; Level inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1
standard action; Components V, S; Range touch; Targets armor
touched; Duration 1 minute/level; Saving Throw Will negates
(harmless, object); SR yes (harmless, object)
As sanctify armor, except you gain DR 5/good when using your
judgment or smite ability.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
denounCe
School enchantment (compulsion) [language-dependent, mind-
affecting]; Level inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1 standard action;
Components V; Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels); Effect
30-ft.-radius burst; Duration 1 hour/level; Saving Throw Will
negates; SR yes
You speak out against a single creature within line of sight and turn
possible allies against it by drawing upon the power of your voice
and conviction. Creatures in the area who can see the denounced
creature must make a Will saving throw or have their starting atti-
tude toward the denounced creature worsened by two levels (see
page 94 of the Core Rulebook). For example, creatures previously
indifferent to the subject turn unfriendly.
Diplomacy checks made to reverse the effects of denounce are
made at a -10 penalty.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
fester
School necromancy; Level inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M (rotted meat); Range close (25 ft. +
5 ft./2 levels); Targets one living creature; Duration 1 round/level
or 1 round; see text; Saving Throw Fortitude partial; SR yes
Necrotic energy permeates the target, blocking healing abilities.
The subject gains spell resistance equal to 12 + your caster level
against effects that restore hit points or grant temporary hit points.
In addition, any healing provided by effects that ignore spell
resistance (such as fast healing, regeneration, and some spells) are
halved. If the target succeeds on a Fortitude saving throw, fester
lasts only a single round.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
fester, mass
School necromancy; Level inquisitor 6; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M (rotted meat); Range close (25 ft. +
5 ft./2 levels); Targets one creature/level, no two of which can be
more than 30 ft. apart; Duration 1 round/level or 1 round; see text;
Saving Throw Fortitude partial; SR yes
This spell functions as fester, except that it affects multiple foes.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
flames of the faithful
School transmutation [fire]; Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time 1
standard action; Components V; Range touch; Targets weapon
touched; Duration 1 round/level; Saving Throw Fortitude negates
(object, harmless); SR yes (object, harmless)
With a touch, you cause a glowing rune to appear on a single
weapon, granting that weapon the flaming property (and allowing
it to cause an extra 1d6 points of fire damage on a successful hit).
If you are using the judgment class feature, your weapon gains
the flaming burst property instead. The spell functions only for
weapons that you wield. If the weapon leaves your hand for any
reason, the spell effect ends. The effects of this spell do not stack
with any existing flaming or flaming burst weapon property that
the target weapon may already possess.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
follow aura
School divination [chaotic, evil, good, or lawful]; Level inquisitor
2; Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S, DF; Range
personal; Targets you; Duration 10 minutes/level (D)(D)
Choose one alignment type: chaotic, evil, good, or lawful. You gain
the ability to follow the trail of a strong or overwhelming aura of
that alignment (see detect evil, Core Rulebook 266). This is treated
as tracking using the scent special quality, except you are following
the traces of their aura upon the ground rather than their scent, and
you receive no bonus on Perception checks. At 10th level, you can
track the trail of creatures with a moderate alignment aura as well.
When you use this spell to track a given alignment, it gains the
descriptor of the opposite alignment. For example, when follow
aura is used to track evil, it gains the good descriptor.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
forCed repentanCe
School enchantment (compulsion)[mind-affecting]; Level
inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S,
DF; Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels); Targets one evil creature
without the evil subtype; Duration 1 round/level; Saving Throw
Will negates; SR yes
You force an evil creature that does not have the evil subtype to
momentarily reflect on its past actions and be overcome by grief
and conscience. The target immediately drops prone and begins to
loudly confess all of its sins and transgressions to the caster for the
duration of the spell. The spell immediately ends if you move out
of line of sight or if the target is attacked.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
ghostBane dirge
School transmutation; Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M/DF (an old reed from a wind
instrument); Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels); Targets one
incorporeal creature; Duration 1 round/level; Saving Throw Will
negates; SR yes
The target coalesces into a semi-physical form for a short period
of time. While subject to the spell, the incorporeal creature takes
half damage (50%) from nonmagical attack forms, and full damage
from magic weapons, spells, spell-like effects, and supernatural
effects.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
ghostBane dirge, mass
School transmutation; Level inquisitor 5; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M/DF (an old reed from a wind instru-
ment); Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels); Targets one incorpo-
real creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart;
Duration 1 round/level; Saving Throw Will negates; SR yes
This spell functions as ghostbane dirge, except that it affects
multiple targets.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
hidden speeCh
School transmutation [language-dependent]; Level inquisitor 3;
Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S, M/DF (a
cipher written on a piece of parchment); Range close (25 ft. + 5
ft./2 levels); Targets you plus one creature/level, no two of which
can be more than 30 ft. apart; Duration 10 minutes/level (D)(D);
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); SR yes
You greatly enhance the ability of the subjects to communicate
hidden messages to each other. Each target gains a +10 competence
bonus on Bluff checks to send secret message to other recipients.
Others using opposed Sense Motive checks to decipher these
messages receive a -5 penalty. All subjects affected by the spell
must share a language to be able to pass messages.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
honeyed tongue
School transmutation; Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time 1 standard
action;
Components V, M/DF (a drop of honey); Range personal; Targets
you; Duration 10 minutes/level
This spell augments your diplomacies. While under the effects of
spell, you roll two dice each time you make a Diplomacy check to
change a creature’s attitude, taking the highest roll.
If this results in a roll low enough to reduce the creature’s attitude
by a step, that creature gets some clue that you are manipulating it
with a spell. Alternatively you can cast this spell before making a
Diplomacy check to gather information, gaining a +5 competence
bonus on the check.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
hunter’s eye
School divination; Level inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, DF; Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./
level); Targets one creature; Duration 1 minute/level; Saving
Throw none; SR yes
Sharpening your perceptive abilities and tuning them against
obfuscating effects, hunter’s eye greatly enhances your senses
against the target creature. You gain the ability to perceive the
target when it is invisible or ethereal as though using the see invis-
ibility spell, and receive a +20 competence bonus on Perception
checks to locate the target. You ignore concealment provided by
fog or mist, blur, displacement, invisibility, and similar effects
affecting the target, but not concealment provided by darkness.
This spell provides no benefits to your allies, and no benefits
against creatures other than the target.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
perCeive Cues
School transmutation; Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M (a drop of water); Range personal;
Targets you; Duration 10 minutes/level
Your senses become preternaturally keen, and you gain insight into
subtle behavioral cues. For the duration of the spell, you receive a
+5 competence bonus on Perception and Sense Motive checks.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
reBuke
School evocation [sonic]; Level inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1
standard action; Components V, S, DF; Range 20 ft.; Effect
20-ft.-radius burst centered on you; Duration instantaneous;
Saving Throw Fortitude partial; SR yes
Your wrathful words cause physical harm to your enemies.
Your enemies take 1d8 points of damage per two caster levels
(maximum 5d8) and are staggered for 1 round. Half of this damage
is sonic damage, but the other half results directly from divine
power and is therefore not subject to being reduced by resistance
to sonic-based attacks. is especially devastating to foes who
worship your god, inflicting 1d6 points of damage per caster level
(maximum 10d6) and stunning them for 1d4 rounds. A successful
Fortitude save halves the damage and negates the staggering or
stunning effect.
Enemies do not need to hear a rebuke to be harmed by it, but it is
negated by magical silence.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
resounding Blow
School evocation [sonic]; Level inquisitor 5 ; Casting Time
1 swift action; Components V; Range personal; Targets you;
Duration 1 round/level; Saving Throw Fortitude partial; see text;
SR no
You must have a melee weapon in hand to cast this spell.
On a successful melee attack, your weapon resounds with a thun-
derous clash. The target takes 1d6 points of sonic damage. Your
weapon is not harmed by this attack.
If you are using your judgment ability or smite ability against
the target, it is staggered for 1 round on a successful attack. A
successful Fortitude save negates the staggering effect.
On a successful critical hit, the target is stunned for 1 round and
deafened for 1d6 rounds. A successful Fortitude save negates the
stunning and deafening effects. If you are also using judgment or
smite, your foe makes only a single save against all effects.
This spell immediately ends if your weapon leaves your hand.
Resounding blow stacks with the thundering weapon property.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
retriBution
School necromancy [evil]; Level inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1
standard action; Components V; Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2
levels); Targets one creature who has just struck you with an
attack; Duration 1 round/level; Saving Throw Fortitude partial;
SR yes
Retribution blasts those who have the temerity to assault your
person. You may target anyone who has just struck you with an
attack within the previous round, whether with a melee, ranged, or
natural weapon, or a spell that requires an attack roll. The target
is wracked with shooting pains that impose a -4 penalty on attack
rolls, skills checks, and ability checks. On a successful Fortitude
save, the penalty only lasts for 1 round.
A target who worships the same god as you takes a -2 penalty on
its saving throw.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
righteous vigor
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level
inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S,
DF; Range touch; Targets creature touched; Duration 1 round/
level; Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); SR yes (harmless)
Infusing the target with a surge of furious divine energy, you
enhance a creature’s ability to hit an opponent based on the
number of times it has already hit that opponent with a successful
attack. Each time the subject successfully strikes an opponent
with a successful melee attack, the subject gains a cumulative +1
morale bonus on attack rolls (maximum +4 bonus) and gains 1d8
temporary hit points (to a maximum of 20 temporary hit points). If
an attack misses, the attack bonus resets to +0 but any accumulated
temporary hit points remain. The temporary hit points disappear at
the end of the spell’s duration.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
saCred Bond
School conjuration (healing); Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time
1 round; Components V, S, F (a pair of golden bracelets worth
100 gp each worn by both you and the target); Range touch; see
text; Targets creature touched; Duration 10 minutes/level (D)(D);
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); SR yes (harmless)
To use this spell, you first touch the intended recipient, creating a
sympathetic field of healing energies between you.
Once the spell has been cast, you and the target may cast conjura-
tion (healing) spells with a range of touch upon each other so long
as you are within close range (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels). Should either
you or the target remove your bracelet, the spell immediately ends.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
sanCtify armor
School abjuration [good]; Level inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1
standard action; Components V, S; Range touch; Targets armor
touched; Duration 1 minute/level; Saving Throw Will negates
(harmless, object); SR yes (harmless, object)
You imbue your armor with a righteous aura. It gains a +1
enhancement bonus per four caster levels (maximum +5 at 20th
level). When using your judgment or smite ability, you gain DR
5/evil.
An outfit of regular clothing counts as armor that grants no AC
bonus for the purpose of this spell.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
seek thoughts
School divination [mind-affecting]; Level inquisitor 3; Casting
Time 1 standard action; Components V, S, M (a handful of copper
coins); Range 40 ft.; Effect 40-ft.-radius emanation centered on
you; Duration concentration, up to 1 minute/level; Saving Throw
Will negates; SR no
Similar to detect thoughts, seek thoughts allows you to sift through
the surface thoughts of those around you. You may scan for either
the answer to a simple question (such as “Where is the hidden lair
of the wererats?”) or for information on a general topic (such as the
beliefs of an evil cult). You detect the number of creatures who are
thinking about this question or topic within range, as well as their
location if they are visible to you. Seek thoughts does not let you
read actual surface thoughts, only if a given creature is thinking
about the topic you are concentrating on. A successful Will save
prevents you from sensing a creature’s thoughts for the duration
of the spell.
You can maintain concentration on seek thoughts while you engage
in normal conversation, allowing you to ask leading questions
about topics of interest. A creature conversing with you while you
concentrate can notice that you are distracted with a successful DC
25 Sense Motive check.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
shared wrath
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level
inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S,
M (a thorny vine); Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels); Targets
up to one creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft.
apart; Duration 1 minute; Saving Throw Will negates (harmless);
SR yes (harmless)
This spell functions as wrath, except that you grant multiple
creatures the bonuses against your designated foe. All subjects of
shared wrath receive their bonuses against the same creature.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
sift
School divination; Level inquisitor 0; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S; Range 30 ft.; Effect one 10-ft. cube;
Duration instantaneous; Saving Throw none; SR no
You examine an area at range as if you were searching for fine
details with the Perception skill. Make a Perception check with a -5
penalty, modified as normal for conditions. No penalty is applied
for distance. Apply the result against the DC for any hidden
features, such as secret doors, traps, or hidden treasure. You must
be able to see the area you are attempting to search, and you only
find details that can be perceived with sight or touch. Sift detects
only objects and features, not actual creatures.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
sleepwalk
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level
inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1 round; Components V, S, M (a sprig
of belladonna worth 100 gp); Range touch; Targets unconscious
creature touched; Duration 1 hour/level (D)(D); Saving Throw
Will negates; see text; SR yes
You compel an unconscious or sleeping creature to rise and move
in a half-awake state. The target creature staggers about if led or
guided, but remains helpless for all other purposes.
The subject moves at half speed and is limited to a single move
action each round. It is not capable of moving at a higher rate of
speed or taking actions other than movement except by magical
assistance, and automatically fails any Dexterity- or Strength-based
skill checks. If the creature takes any damage while sleepwalking
it must make a new saving throw or the spell ends and the creature
awakes (if it has more than 0 hit points). When the spell ends or
is dismissed, the target remains unconscious and must be awoken
normally. While sleepwalk allows an unconscious creature to
move, it does not awaken the creature, nor does it stabilize or
otherwise heal them. A disabled creature that moves about while
under the effects of this spell does not start dying again as a result
of this movement.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
tireless pursuers
School transmutation; Level inquisitor 4; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M (a hard biscuit broken into pieces);
Range touch; Targets you plus one touched creature/3 levels;
Duration 1 hour/level (D)(D); Saving Throw Fortitude negates
(harmless); SR yes (harmless)
This spell functions as tireless pursuit, except as noted above.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
tireless pursuit
School transmutation; Level inquisitor 1; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M (a hard biscuit); Range personal;
Targets you; Duration 1 hour/level (D)(D)
You harden your body against the stresses of long travel. You
halve the damage caused by hustling and forced marching (see
Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook 171). In addition, for the duration
of the spell you ignore any fatigue caused by such travel. Once the
spell ends, if you still have any nonlethal damage caused by the
hustling or forced march, you become fatigued, or exhausted if
already fatigued.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
unwilling shield
School necromancy; Level inquisitor 5; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, M (ruby dust worth 250 gp); Range
close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels); Targets one creature; Duration 1
round/level (D)(D); Saving Throw Will negates; SR yes
Like shield other, unwilling shield creates a mystic connection
between you and the target, but unlike shield other, the target
shares the wounds that you receive. In addition, the link draws
upon the target’s life force to supplement your own defenses. You
gain a +1 luck bonus to AC and on saving throws. You take only
half damage from all wounds and attacks (including those dealt by
special abilities) that deal hit point damage. The amount of damage
not taken by you is taken by the target. Forms of harm that do not
involve hit points, such as charm effects, ability damage, level
draining, and death effects are not affected. If you take a reduction
in hit points from a lowered Constitution score, the reduction is not
split with the target because it is not hit point damage.
When the spell ends, subsequent damage is no longer divided
between you and the subject, but damage already split is not
assigned to you.
If you and the target of the spell move out of range of each other,
the spell remains active, but damage is no longer shared until you
are once again within range of each other.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
ward the faithful
School abjuration; Level inquisitor 3; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, DF; Range touch; Effect 10-ft.-radius
emanation from touched creature; Duration 10 minutes/level;
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); SR no
All creatures within the area who worship the same god as you
gain a +2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on all
saves. At 12th level, these bonuses increase to +3. At 18th level,
the bonuses increase to +4.
If you do not worship a specific deity, the bonuses apply to those
who share your faith. If you do not have a specific faith or religion,
the spell provides benefits only to yourself. Enemies gain the
benefits of this spell if they worship the same god or share the
same faith as you, even if you view them as heretical.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
weapon of awe
School transmutation;Level inquisitor 2; Casting Time 1 standard
action; Components V, S, DF; Range touch; Targets weapon
touched; Duration 1 minute/level; Saving Throw Will negates
(harmless, object); SR yes (harmless, object)
You transform a single weapon into an awe-inspiring instrument.
The weapon gains a +2 sacred bonus on damage rolls, and if the
weapon scores a critical hit, the target of that critical hit becomes
shaken for 1 round with no saving throw.
This is a mind-affecting fear effect. A ranged weapon affected by
this spell applies these effects to its ammunition.
You can’t cast this spell on a natural weapon, but you can cast it on
an unarmed strike.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
wrath
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level inquis-
itor 1; Casting Time 1 standard action; Components V, S, M (a
thorny vine); Range personal; Targets you; Duration 1 minute
You focus your anger against an enemy. Choose one enemy
creature that you can see. You gain a +1 morale bonus on attack
rolls and weapon damage rolls against that designated creature for
every three caster levels you have (at least +1, maximum +3). You
also receive this bonus on caster level checks made to overcome
the creature’s spell resistance, if any. At 12th level, you gain the
benefits of the Improved Critical feat on attack rolls made against
the designated creature. This effect doesn’t stack with any other
effect that expands the threat range of a weapon.
Uses Per Day: _______
Uses:o o o o o o o o o
Credits
Spellcard data obtained from Perram’s Spellbook © 2011 Jefferson
Jay Thacker (http://www.thegm.org/) Spell data created by Mike
Chopswil, (http://d20pfsrd.com/magic/spells-db)
Designation of Open Game Content: All Text
open game liCense
version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and
is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights
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System Reference Document. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast,
Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on
material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. Copyright 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC;
Author: Jason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte
Cook, and Skip Williams.
The Book of Experimental Might. Copyright 2008, Monte J. Cook. All
rights reserved.
Tome of Horrors. Copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors:
Scott Greene, with Clark Peterson, Erica Balsley, Kevin Baase, Casey
Christofferson, Lance Hawvermale, Travis Hawvermale, Patrick
Lawinger, and Bill Webb; Based on original content from TSR.
Ultimate Spell Decks: Inquisitor Spell Cards, Copyright 2011,
Louis Porter Jr. Design, Inc.
| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/3rd Party/Louis Porter Jr. Design/LPJ9504 - Ultimate Spell Decks - Inquisitor.pdf |
GP
Starting GP
Lifestyle
�
None
�
Standard (12 gp x TU)
�
Rich (50 gp x TU)
�
Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
FINAL GP TOTAL
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp value
XP
Starting XP
-
XP
XP lost or spent
XP
Subtotal
+
XP
XP Gained
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP
TU
Starting TU
0 TU
TU Cost
-
TU
Added TU Costs
TU REMAINING
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
Cross off all items NOT found
APL 2
�
Elixir of hiding (Adventure; 250 gp).
�
Robe of bones (Adventure; 2,400 gp).
�
Scroll of death armor (Adventure; 200 gp).
APL 4 (all of APL 2 plus the following)
�
Necklace of fireballs (cold substituted) Type I (Adventure;
1,650 gp).
�
Scroll of death armor (CL 5th) (Adventure; 300 gp).
�
Scroll of resist energy (CL 5th) (Adventure; 250 gp).
APL 6 (all of APLs 2-4 plus the following)
�
Necklace of fireballs (cold substituted) Type II (Adventure;
2,700 gp).
�
Scroll of death armor (CL 7th) (Adventure; 400 gp).
�
Scroll of resist energy (CL 7th) (Adventure; 350 gp).
APL 8 (all of APLs 2-6 plus the following)
�
Aroma of curdled death (Adventure; Complete Arcane; 4,500
gp).
�
Bracers of armor +2 (Adventure; 4,000 gp).
�
Necklace of fireballs (cold substituted) Type III (Adventure;
4,350 gp).
�
Scroll of death armor (CL 9th) (Adventure; 500 gp).
�
Scroll of heal (Adventure; 1,650 gp).
�
Scroll of resist energy (CL 9th) (Adventure; 450 gp).
�
Wand of searing light (Adventure; 2,475 gp).
Adventure Record#
598 CY
A D V E N T U R E
L E V E L O F
P L A Y
(CIRCLE ONE)
APL 2
max 450 XP; 450 gp
APL 4
max 675 XP; 650 gp
APL 6
max 900 XP; 900 gp
APL 8
max 1,125 XP; 1,300 gp
�Affiliation Score Gained/Lost: by this PC with the _______________
Greyhawk affiliation was # ___ points. If multiple allegiance, add
extra in notes section.
�Star Metal Find: You have found enough starmetal to gain one
level in the green star adept prestige class (Complete Arcana 41).
Alternatively, you can use the ore to make one weapon or suit of
armor.
�Raw Ores: You have found enough mithral to make one suit of
armor and enough adamantine to make one weapon or suit of
armor. You must still pay all relevant costs finding a skilled
armorer or weaponsmith.
�Cleansing of the Sun – You have cleansing an ancient temple
of the sun god, Pelor, and consequently gain access to the limited
prestige classes master of radiance (page 44) and sacred purifier
(page 49) from Libris Mortis.
�Favor of High Matriarch Sarana: Blessings are showered
upon you. Sarana is very happy with you and blesses you with
Pelor’s bounty. Consequently you may once, as a standard action,
cast daylight (CL = your level).
She will also waive any costs (except material component
costs) casting a single cleric conjuration (healing) spell from the
PH.
This Record Certifies that
__________________________________________________
Character Name
Classes and Levels
__________________________________________________
Player Name
RPGA #
Has Completed
CGR8-02:4 The Tomb of Pelor
A Core Adventure
Set in the Domain of Greyhawk
Event: _________________________________ Date: ________
DM:___________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
Play Notes:
�
Gained a level
�
Lost a level
�
Ability Drained ______________
�
Died
�
Was raised/res’d
�
Was reincarnated
___________________________________________________
_______________________________
Home Region______________________
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/EXTRAS/Greyhawk/Living Greyhawk - RPGA/CGR (Greyhawk Ruins)/ARs/CGR8-02 Part 4 The Tomb of Pelor AR.pdf |
Page
World_Quest of the
Winter
Calendar
By Steve Bean
& Julian Bernick
Additional Development by
Roy Snyder and Brendan LaSalle
Page
World Quest of the Winter Calendar
A “World -Shaping” 0 -Level Funnel
By: Steve Bean and Julian Bernick
Development by: Roy Snyder and Brendan LaSalle
Patron Development Assistance: Terry Olson
Cover Artist: Nathan Campos
Interior Artists: Nathan Campos, Thomas Denmark, Lyle Lynde, Danny Huynh and Steve Bean
Image Usage Acknowledgments: ©Torky Dreamstime.com – Wooden Church Sketch Photo, Fadley Ndowo and John D. Batten
Cartography: Thomas Denmark and Steve Bean
Art Direction: Steve Bean
Layout: Marcus Cisneros
Editors: Steve Bean and Julian Bernick
Playtesters: John Brosnahan, Gilbert Burton, Jon Carnes, Brian Courtemanche,
Theodin B. Feldman, Ivy Fowler, Charlie Gilb, Jen Gubicza. Juan Lopez, Reid Luhn,
Gerardo Martinez, Ian MacMillen, Tim Mulry, “Eggsavior” Rodriguez, Evan Rossi,
CraigSpellman, Katrina “Kat” Torres, Jack Walls, Lisa Walls
This product was created, in part, using the skills and labor of young
adults from the Digital NEST, a technology education studio that
trains rural, predominantly Latino youth in Watsonville, California, for
careers in the tech industry. A portion of every sale of this product will
be donated to the Digital NEST. Please consider making an additional
donation at www.digitalnest.org.
Page
INTRODUCTION
World-Quest of the Winter Calendar is a quintessential
0-level funnel: it starts the player-characters down the road
of adventuring destinies, determining who lives and who
dies and potentially affecting the Luck and other ability
scores of those who survive. As with any funnel, after it’s
over, the survivors will graduate to full-fledged adventurers
as they level up to first level in an adventuring class.
But World-Quest is also a 0-level funnel unlike any you’ve
ever seen. By undertaking the quest contained within these
pages, the PCs take part in a mystical event with such
cosmic significance that the PCs’ actions shape the very
nature of the world into which they emerge after the adven-
ture! Many aspects of their world - politics, the economy,
Patrons, even the current state of Balance in the Eternal
Struggle between Law and Chaos - will be determined by
what happens in their 0-level adventure. These determi-
nations, in turn, change in-game mechanics in the Judge’s
campaign. World-Quest is a great funnel for players who
are new to the DCC game, but its world-shaping feature
makes it an excellent way to start a campaign for veteran
DCC players who’ve “been there, done that” with regards to
0-level funnels.
World-Quest of the Winter Calendar is particularly
appropriate for running during the holiday season. The
Winter Calendar was conceived of as mystical Advent
Calendar, menora or marker of the turn of the New Year
and the quest of a holiday-inspired adventure. A holiday-in-
spired adventure is different from a “Christmas module.”
World-Quest draws on ancient myths that are the original
sources of our holiday themes to present recognizable
holiday season elements while avoiding cheesy adaptations
of Christmas tropes. But World-Quest can also be run with
no reference to the holiday season whatsoever - the week
tracked by the Winter Calendar marks the high holy days of
the god Lamushea and can be transposed on to any season
in any climate.
THE LAND OF VARJOMA
Varjoma is a majestic, sub-arctic region of rugged steppes,
dense pine forests and icy lakes. The Varjoma setting for
World-Quest (also found in the Steve Bean Games-penned
module Trial of the Toymakers) was inspired by Finnish
mythology, a mythos which gave Western-European, Chris-
tian culture many of the things that are part-and-parcel of
its winter holiday mythology: Santa’s flying conveyance, his
outfit, his reindeer and his toy-making “elves.”
Varjoma shares its northern border with the Lands of the
Dead. This proximity makes Varjoma’s boundaries with all
of the “Other Worlds” very thin. This proximity also makes
Varjoma a locus of powerful mystic energy. Many beings
have crossed the boundaries from the Other Worlds to take
up residence in Varjoma, or have sought out this land as a
source of power for magical works.
The land’s best known being is its ruler: The Witch-Queen
of Varjoma. Other powerful figures associated with Varjoma
include: Tuwonatar, God of the Dead; Tkurrso, a lake-mon-
ster demi-god, the divine hero Vaniminen and the wicked
progeny of Tkurrso and the Witch-Queen, the demonic
demi-gods collectively called the Nine Mortal Afflictions.
Several races of demi-humans with strong associations with
all things mystical are also known to call Varjoma their
home, including the semi-nomadic, wild elves called the
Makarhu, the secretive Konhengen gnomes, and new to this
adventure, a race of elf-kin called the Zvarts.
We’ve packed World-Quest of the Winter Calendar full
to bursting with supplementary material about fantastic
aspects of Varjoma to enrich your game. You’ll find a new
DCC class and two new patrons complete with Invoke Pa-
tron tables and new Patron Spells.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
Centuries ago, the Witch-Queen coupled with the
lake-monster Tkurrso. In so doing, these two demi-gods
completed one of the most powerful, unholy rituals of an
entire age. Their coupling produced nontuplets - nine fra-
ternal twins -”The Nine” – who all emerged as fully-formed
arch-fiends. Each of the Nine is the embodiment of a pair
of afflictions –a life-threatening disease and a related flaw
or vulnerability in the mortal psyche. The Nine are primal
forces of Chaos and their sole purpose is to innundate the
world with their afflictions and bring low all civilization -
human, demi-human and humanoid.
One of the Nine Afflictions was Grim Inchyron, an artifi-
cer and the bringer of colic, a disease the fiend invented-
to inflict anguish on mortal babes. Day upon day, Grim
Inchyron would sit in his Undercroft and create new ways
to bring anguish to all beings who honor Law. On one such
day, he hatched a diabolical plot to undermine the position
of Law in the Eternal Struggle.
Grim Inchyron murdered Lamushea, beheaded him and
took possession of the legendary scrying device and divine
symbol called the Krytz. But, unbeknowst to the Artificer of
Anguish, the Krytz had absorbed the Law-Shaper’s essence.
1
Page
Then Grim Inchyron returned to his Undercroft Found-
ry Hall. He worked his minions near to death forging the
Hell-Forged Ferro-Zeffir - a magical flying conveyance that
would aide him in impersonating Lamushea. At the same
time, the Artificer of Anguish used Lamushea’s severed
head to fashion a mask and he worked a great gloaming
glamour to complete his impersonation.
Grim Inchyron ventured forth during the Law-Shaper’s
High Holy Week to visit merciless, false justice on the
mortal world. While posing as Lamushea, Grim Inchy-
ron passed judgment upon judgment. He pronounced
entire races and kingdoms guilty of heinous charges and
sentenced them to insanely severe penalties; widespread
executions and mass torture; cities were razed and farm-
lands were salted and made infertile for years to come. The
plot was so successful that the very Balance of the Eternal
Struggle tipped significantly in Chaos’ favor.
Grim Inchyron returned to his sanctum to celebrate his
great success. He took up watch at the Krytz to view,
firsthand, the misery produced by his efforts. But instead
of being cowed by the chaos Grim Inchyron had wrought,
the mortal world rose to the occasion. In a rare, morally
transcendent moment, people chose to forgive Lamushea
in spite of their belief that the Law-Shaper had sown false
justice.
This supreme act of moral transcendence funneled through
the Krytz like a lightning bolt and struck down Grim Inchy-
ron. The Artificer of Anguish decorporealized into a mere
shade of himself, a “devil-wraith.” During this interaction,
Grim Inchyron’s corporeality and Lamushea’s essence with-
in the Krytz intersected in a manner beyond mortal com-
prehension and trans-substantiated a third, new, Neutral
god: Laylokan, the God of Weighing the Cost of Balance.
The “coming” of Laylokan had several significant meta-
physical side effects. The transubstantiation sucked away all
mortal memory of the world-shaking events of the previous
week. These memories coalesced into a “mystical morality
tale,” a living, metaphysical narrative that magically en-
veloped both the Devil-Wraith and the Krytz artifact. The
safe-keeping of this metaphysical narrative became the
responsibility of the newly-created god, Laylokan - every
birth comes with a price, one even the gods must pay.
Laylokan fashioned the Winter Calendar - an artifact to
contain the lost tale - and has borne both every day since.
The tale has served as source of guidance in his work of
weighing the cost of balancing Law and Chaos. It has also
been a massive distraction from that divine work, as he is
constantly pursued by allies and servants of Grim Inchy-
ron who seek to free the Devil-Wraith from the bonds of
the tale and restore him to full demonic form. In an effort
to keep the calendar out of evil hands, Laylokan keeps to
the “spaces-between-the-worlds.” But in certain places, at
specific times of the year, the boundaries between worlds
is thin. At those times, mortals might very well find them-
selves in a chance encounter with Laylokan…
ENCOUNTER TABLE
Area
Type
Encounter
1-1
C, T
Barbed Imps and Trapped in the Penumbra
1-1a
P
Laylokan
2-1
T
Escaping Grim Inchyron’s Undercroft
2-1a
P
The Chronicle 1 “Moral-Making”
2-2
C, T
Slag Hellion assault on Lamushea’s Tower
2-3
T
Hellish Environment of the Foundry Hall
2-3a
P
The “Moral-Making” for Chronicles 2 & 3
2-4
C, T
Fuliginous Wing-Fiends
C, T
2-5
2-5a
P
Dire-Rat and a Dangerous Climb
2-6
C, T
Angry, Aggrieved Mob
2-6a
P
The Final “Moral-Making”
PLAYER START
The adventure begins in a Zvart village in Varjoma, north-
west of the Lake of God’s Blood. Zvarts are a race of elf-kin
native to the Penumbra who crossed the border-between-
the-worlds millennia ago and have all but lost this history
to their long immersion in a mortal existence. The players
may make Zvart PCs using the information on this class
provided in Appendix C of this module. Any PCs whose
0-level characters are not Zvarts are travelers who have been
welcomed into the Zvart village as “hearth-friends” during
the festival of the High Holy Week.
The PCs have formed a foraging party to gather fodder for
thefestival feast. They are foraging in the forest when they
come upon Laylokan in a glen. The boundary of the glen is
also a portal into the Penumbra.
2
The “Moral-Making” for Chronicles 4 & 5
Page 3
1-1 THE PENUMBRIC GLEN
Your group has gone gathering for the Grand Festival-Feast
of the High Holy Week. Trekking through a crisp, snow-clad,
evergreen forest, you hear a commotion up ahead. You come
upon a perfectly round clearing in the forest, bordered by a
circle of amber-leaved birch trees. Within the clearing is a
bearded man who has been dragging a heavy, eight-runner
sledge. On the sledge is a 5’ tall sculpture wrought in pure,
sterling silver - a wheel-like calendar with the symbols for
the festival week’s days engraved on 2’ tall, hinged doors. The
old man is beset by a swarm of hostile flying creatures – 6”
tall, fiendish, winged simulacra with vaguely humanoid
bodies fashioned from metal barbs welded together in wicked
tangles.
If any PCs step into the clearing on the other side of the
amber-leaved birches they will be attacked by Barbed Imps.
Barbed Imp Swarm (2): Init +0; Atk swarming scourge +1
melee (1d3); AC 13; HD 1d8; hp 5 each; MV fly 40’; Act
3d16; SP must successfully re-roll to-hit roll to score a crit-
ical hit, reduced combate effectiveness at lower than 4 hp,
immune to fire attacks, darkness, demonic vision; SV Fort
+3, Ref -1, Will +0; AL C.
Barbed Imps served Grim Inchyron in his lair, the Under-
croft. Grim Inchyron fashioned them to fetch, carry, run
errands and perform basic manual labor - not for combat.
But what they lack in martial skill they make up for in num-
bers. A swarm consists of hundreds of imps. The swarm can
form itself into a cloud around a target and create a magi-
cal darkness with the same properties as if they had rolled
an 18-19 on a spell check for the Cleric spell of the same
name on page 258 of the DCC rule book. The Barbed Imps
themselves have demonic vision that cannot be hampered
by any form of darkness or non-solid obscurant such as fog,
smoke, etc.
With no higher intelligence to direct them, a swarm of
these weak-minded imps is slow to react and has difficulty
coordinating actions and executing decisions. Within the
swarm, individual imps can often be seen bickering with
each other or taking actions that interfere with other imps.
As a result, the swarm lacks the coordination necessary for
well-targeted strikes and therefore has difficulty scoring
critical hits. Any roll of a natural 16 that would normally
trigger a critical hit requires a re-roll of the action die. If
the second roll hits against the opponent’s armor class the
critical hit occurs; if the re-roll doesn’t equal or exceed the
target’s armor class, then the original roll of 16 is treated as
a normal, non-critical hit. When the swarm starts to lose its
numbers, its combat effectiveness is further reduced. At less
than four hit points, the swarm’s attack bonus is reduced to
zero and it loses an action die.
The Barbed Imps will NOT attack anyone within 8’ of the
Winter Calendar for fear of damaging the artifact that hous-
es their master’s wraith form. Laylokan will quickly move
into this safe proximity to the Winter Calendar.
Any PCs who step inside the ring of amber-leaved Birch
trees enter the Penumbra, a space between dimensions.
Time moves with almost infinite slowness in the Penumbra,
so while they are in the Glen or in the Chronicles of the
Winter Calendar, PCs cannot heal naturally, cannot earn XP
or gain levels.
Page
Laylokan will Volunteer:
• That he is bound by the terms of his divinity to bear
the calendar and its contents.
• That the PCs entered a space-between-the-worlds
called “The Penumbra” the moment they stepped
into the clearing inside the ring of birch trees.
• That time does not work the same in the Penumbra
as it does in the mortal world. (Though Laylokan
may or may not choose to reveal this, time moves
much more slowly in the Penumbra. As a result,
when the PCs return to the mortal world, decades,
centuries or even millennia will have passed.)
• That having passed into the Penumbra, they cannot
leave – if they try to go back the way they came
they will wander through an endless, fairy version
of the same forest.
• To return to their world they must enter the
Chronicles of the Winter Calendar, in order, from
1-7, and bear witness to the story told in the
Chronicles, a lost tale called the Sacred Krytz
Mystery. By exploring the story and bearing witness
to it, they will call forth the magic of the calendar.
This will create an opening in the Veil of the
Penumbra through which they can return to the
mortal world.
• If the PCs ask Laylokan what they’ll find in the
Chronicles, he responds cryptically, in verse:
The Winter Calendar
Contains the tale
Of murder and miracle
That upended the scales
Hubris for both:
Devil and wisdom impearled;
The morals you glean
Will reshape the world!
• That inside the Chronicles they will become
involved in the story of the Sacred Krytz Mystery.
Their mission is to bear witness to what they see.
They may intervene as they see fit, and are likely
to be drawn into events. However, they should
understand that while they can affect the “local”
events within a Chronicle and can, in turn be
affected by the events (eg wounded or killed!) they
cannot change the ultimate course of the story.
• That they must relate to him what they see within
the Chronicles. At four intervals, upon returning
from exploring one or more Chronicles, they will
determine what the “moral” is of the portion of the
story they just witnessed. One or more of their
party must present what they think that moral is
from the perspective of Law and one or more
must present a moral that they believe represents
the perspective of Chaos.
•
The PCs not involved in formulating and
presenting the morals from the perspectives of Law
and Chaos will decide, from a neutral perspective,
which of the two morals presented is the better one.
•
By interpreting the significance of the story, they
are enacting a great, magical ritual that restores the
story of the Sacred Krytz Mystery to the mortal
world. This ritual is so powerful that it will also
change the very shape and nature of their world on
a profound and fundamental level!
4
1-2 MEETING LAYLOKAN
When the battle is over, you get a good look at the man with
the sledge. Despite a bone-white beard, his age is difficult to
discern; he could be 35 or 75. He is wrapped in a great-kilt
made from yards and yards of thick angora felt dyed a deep
green and enhanced with silver-embroidered, spiked leaves.
On his bald head he wears a silver half-skullcap covering
his pate with two silver-sculpted ram’s horns that curve back
behind his ears. Despite the snowy clime, he goes barefoot and
wears no gloves. Other than the harness for pulling the sledge,
the man carries only a counting-tablet fashioned of well-
waxed beech wood. The counters for working the tablet hang
from cords attached to the burnished leather girdle he wears
overtop his kilt.
The man wipes the sweat from his brow and then addresses
you. “Forsooth, I thank you for your assistance. I am Laylo-
kan, God of Weighing the Cost of the Balance and this load I
pull is The Winter Calendar.”
The Judge should use the information below to guide the
interaction between Laylokan and the PCs.
Page
Laylokan will explain two more aspects of exploring
the Chronicles:
• That when they open a door of the Calendar they
can enter that Chronicle, but once they enter, there
are specific conditions they have to fulfill in order
to be able to leave it.
• That by exploring the Chronicles they may also
recover artifacts lost to the world, or set free
powerful forces of the Eternal Struggle that have
long been contained within the Chronicles.
Laylokan will NOT:
• Identify the Devil-Wraith, invoke the name “Grim
Inchyron” or explain that the Calendar contains
Grim Inchyron’s spirit, in the form of the
Devil-Wraith.
• Name “Lamushea the Law-Shaper” or inform them
that his essence went into the Krytz.
• Describe the Krytz itself or identify its powers.
• Foreshadow, explain or interpret anything the PCs
will see in any of the Chronicles.
Moral Making: The Chronicles
The quest to restore this lost morality tale to the mortal
world requires that the PCs interpret to Laylokan what they
witness in the Chronicles.
These interpretations happen at four points: after Chronicle
1, after Chronicle 3 (covering the events of Chronicles 2
and 3), after Chronicle 5 (covering Chronicle 4 and 5) and
after the final Chronicle, number 6, has been explored.
Before the PCs enter the first Chronicle, each player must
choose an “alignment lens” - Law, Neutrality or Chaos -
from which ALL of his or her PCs will interpret the events
of the story. To repeat: ONE “lens” will apply to ALL of the
PCs a player controls (typically 3-4 in a 0-level funnel). This
adopted lens bears no relation to those PCs’ actual align-
ments; it doesn’t matter if the alignments of the PCs a player
controls are different from the “alignment lens” which the
player uses to guide his or her participations in the mor-
al-makings.
5
When both the Law and Chaos player groups have com-
posed their morals, the Neutral alignment lens players re-
turn and the two morals are presented to them. The Neutral
lens players have the task of deciding which of the morals is
better. This decision can be based on whatever criteria they
decide is appropriate to the goals of Neutrality (If after a
couple of minutes of deliberation the Neutral group cannot
agree, the Judge should put the decision to a majority-rule
vote of those players).
The Neutral PCs will bestow a rating on the winning side
which determines what die on the Die Chain is rolled to
determine the world-shaping effects:
Rating
Difficulty Class and Die
Marginally better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d20
Significantly better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d24
Vastly better =
Roll against a DC 12 using a d30
SIDEBAR: Explaining the
"Alignment lens"
Having all of a players’ three or four PCs view the
Chronicles from a single “alignment perspective” is
necessary to avoid confusion and streamline play. If
your players need an in-game justification, tell
them that entering the Chronicles is like mounting
an anthropological expedition and that adopting an
“alignment lens” is part of such an
“investigative” approach to viewing the narrative; it
is acknowledging bias and constantly choosing a
singular perspective through which to view and
interpret events. It has no bearing on their PCs’
personal ethics or beliefs as reflected in their actual
alignments.
After viewing one or more Chronicles, the PCs prepare
and conduct a “meaning making.” First, the players break
off into alignment lens-alike groups. The Neutral group
should leave the room while the other two player groups
– Law and Chaos – spend three minutes or less composing
a “moral of the story” guided by the alignment lens
perspective through which they were viewing the story. The
moral should be a pithy (12 words or less) statement that
captures the “lesson” or “learning” that they believe should
be understood from the portion of the story they just
witnessed, according to their adopted alignment lens.
Page
SIDEBAR: Examples of
Morals from Aesop’s
Fables
Perhaps the best-known source of stories with morals ‘
is “Aesop’s Fables.” These are good models for the
player’s morals:
• Appearances often are deceiving. - From “The Wolf
in Sheep’s Clothing”
• Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease.
- From “The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons”
• Pride goes before destruction - From “The Fighting
Cocks and the Eagle”
• The hero is brave in deeds as well as words - From
“The Hunter and the Woodman”
• No one believes a liar, even when he speaks the
truth. - From “The Boy Who Cried Wolf"
A worksheet is included in Appendix A for the Judge to use
to document these changes.
If at any point in the adventure, because of PC death, an
“alignment lens”, is no longer represented, a player may
change his PCs’ adopted lens to cover the gap. If there is
ever only two players left with surviving PCs, one player
should adopt the Law lens and another the Chaos lens and
the players with no surviving PCs can continue to judge the
retelling as Neutral “spirit-advisors” to Laylokan, who will
announce their decision.
SIDEBAR: Moral-Making
during Play Testing
Our playtest Judges experimented with different
ways of handling the moral-making. You may find
that some of these variants match well with your
group of players:
• One Judge had players rotate roles, so over the
course of the adventure each player had the
experience of inventing a moral from the
perspective of Law, inventing one from the
perspective of Chaos and judging others’
moral-making from the Neutral perspective.
• Some Judges instructed their players to invent
morals focused on the events they witnessed in the
Chronicles while others allowed players to derive
their morals from their characters’ and/or the entire
party’s own experiences of the encounters in the
Chronicle. Both of these approaches are good ones
– you can choose what works best for you or
mix-and-match and see what happens!
6
2 -1 Chronicle 1 Encounter
Laylokan gestures to the door at the top of the sculpture,
engraved with an ancient rune representing the numeral one.
“The Chronicle behind this door recounts the first day in a
week-long set of events. Remember, you will be a part of the
story, making any dangers real to you. You can affect local
events within the Chronicle but you cannot change the ulti-
mate outcome. Your primary mission is to survive so you can
bear witness, for, upon your return, you must tell me what
meaning you derive from what you see.”
As soon as any one PC opens the door, the entire party is
transported instantaneously into the first encounter.
You materialize in a small round underground chamber with
a low, vaulted ceiling. A tar pit burbles in the center of the
chamber floor. Smudges and spills indicate that someone has
been harvesting from this pit. There are several passages lead-
ing out of the chamber. As your eyes adjust to the dim light
you see that the excavation of the chamber and its egresses
Page 7
have exposed scores of small skeletons. You realize that this
complex has been carved out of some kind of huge barrow
mound that serves as a burial ground for dead children.
As you survey your surroundings, you see a troop of strange
figures pass by a tunnel mouths. Two feet tall, the figures are
composed of tar similar to what’s in the pit, giving them a
melted, amorphous, humanoid form. When they flex their
limbs, their joints part at seams, revealing an orange, faintly
glowing, molten substrate. There is nothing faint about the
glow of their eyes, however – it is an unearthly purple hue like
the sheen on an oil slick and much more luminescent than it
should be, betraying the creatures’ Infernal origin.
You hold your breath then exhale both silently and gratefully
when the last of the troop of figures passes you by without no-
tice. But your relief is short lived, replaced by a single thought
that leaps to the forefront of your mind: Escape!
The party’ objective in the Chronicle is to escape this por-
tion of the Undercroft. They’ll fare much better if they do
this by stealth – fighting the denizens of the Undercroft can
be hazardous to their health!
The PCs will make their way through and out of the Un-
dercroft by making a series of paired navigation and stealth
checks. (A map of this level of the Undercroft is provided,
but is a rough illustration of the environs rather than a true
map.)
In between these paired Navigation + Stealth checks, they
SIDEBAR: Player Strategies
in the Undercroft
In keeping with the ethos of Dungeon Crawl Classics,
the Judge should encourage players to use creative
problem-solving to improve their chances of
navigating out of the Undercroft. You can award
bonuses or reduce the number of successful navigation
checks required by the party for stratagems like
capturing one of Grim Inchyron’s minions and
compelling it to lead the party out, or looking for
telltale signs that they are getting closer to the
outdoors. In playtesting, one player with a Halfling
Mariner kept testing the air in the Undercroft, looking
for a draft that she could follow to an exit.
will hear portions of a ranting speech by Grim Inchyron
echoing through the halls of the Undercroft (see below).
Navigation Checks
The party must make four (4) successful DC 12 checks. One
PC must decide the direction for the entire party and the
player controlling that PC makes the roll. The roll is:
Roll = d20 ± Int modifier +1 for related occupation
(if applicable) +1 per successfull PC assist vs DC 12
Page
• Other PC’s may attempt to aid the PC who is
deciding direction by making a DC 13 Personality
check. Every PC who contributes to making
navigation decisions adds a cumulative -1 penalty to
the party’s stealth (see below).
Natural 4
Tunnel to The
Pulpit
A tunnel 20’-50’ long leads to The Pulpit – the grand, cavernous area where Grim Inchyron
strokes his own ego by relating the details of his grand scheme out loud to whatever min-
ions are around. Entering a tunnel leading to The Pulpit or entering The Pulpit itself forces
an extra stealth roll to avoid discovery by a troop of Bituminous Quasits.
Natural
2-3
Bituminous
Quasit troop
The troop is passing by in an adjacent tunnel – the PCs remain unnoticed with a successful
extra stealth check (see below).
Roll
Feature
Notes
Natural 20
Hint of an exit
This result counts as two successful navigation checks. The Judge should describe some-
thing that suggests that the party is on the right path to an exit such as a broken piece of
foliage or smudge of dirt tracked in from the outdoors.
Modified
19+
Small chamber
with tar pit
Chambers are 15’-40’ across and varied in shape. This result means the party finds one with
a bubbling tar pit.
Modified
13-18
2-way fork in
tunnel
The PC deciding direction should choose left or right (though the choice has no actual
bearing on finding the exit).
Modified
9-12
3-way fork in
tunnel
The PC deciding direction should choose left, center or right (though the choice has no
actual bearing on finding the exit).
Modified
4-8
4-way fork in
tunnel
The PC deciding direction should choose left, center-left, center-right or right (the choice
has no actual bearing on finding an exit).
Natural 5
Small chamber
Same as above but with no tar pit. The Judge can add “flavor” such as random tools, dead
vermin, etc.
8
• Occupations with knowledge of navigation or
underground complexes: any Dwarf occupation, Elven
Navigator, Grave Digger, Smuggler, etc.
.
Each successful navigation check brings the PCs closer to
an exit. In addition, the result of the check roll determines
what features the PCs come across as they move through
the Undercroft:
After each Navigation check roll, tell the party:
“You walk/sneak down a short stretch of left-curving/straight/
right-curving tunnel (Judge’s choice) then Insert Undercroft
Feature.
Stealth Checks
Along with each navigation check, the party must roll a DC
13 Stealth check. The roll is:
Roll = d20 -3 if party doesn’t declare stealth +1 per
PC with a stealthy occupation +2 if party uses tar -1
per PC assisting with navigation decisions vs DC 13
Stealthy occupations: any Halfling occupation, Outlaw,
Smuggler, Hunter, etc.
In a manner similar to Deity Disapproval, each failed
Stealth check increases by 2 the chances that the party will
be “Discovered!” by a troop of Bituminous Quasits on sub-
sequent Navigation check rolls. For example, after the first
failed Stealth check, a roll of a natural 1-3 on a Navigation
Check produces the “Discovered!” result. After two failed
Natural 1
Discovered!
A troop of Bituminous quasits stumbles directly upon the party, giving them no chance to
hide - the PC’s must run or fight. If the party is not suprised and win initiative, they can au-
tomaticly evade the imps but they lose two of their succesful navigation checks to a maxi-
mum of once again needing 4 succesful checks.
Stealth checks, a roll of a natural 1-5 produces a “Discov-
ered!” result, etc. This resets back to a natural 1 after the
resolution of any “Discovered!” result.
Stealth Checks
Page
Bituminous Quasit (1d3+4): Init +0; Atk spit acrid brim-
stone -1 missile (1d3) or sling tar +0 missile (no dmg) or tar
slap +1 melee (1d2); AC 9; HD 1d6; hp 4 each; MV 20’; Act
1d16; SP flaming missile, immobilize, suffocating critical
hit, demonic vision; SV Fort +2, Ref -1, Will +0; AL C.
Bituminous Quasits are minor demons that Grim Inchyron
animated from his tar pits using pure anguish in place of
a spirit or soul. Fanatically loyal and obedient servants of
Grim Inchyron, the anguish at their core drives them to
treat all other creatures with extreme malice. In combat
they can use either of two ranged attacks: their acrid brim-
stone spittle (10/20/30 range bands) ignites flammables that
it contacts; or tar slung from their bodies (20/30/40 range
bands) immobilizes an appendage unless the target makes
a DC 12 Ref save. In melee, Bituminous Quasits lash out
with their arms to slap hot tar on their opponents. A roll of
9
a natural 20 means that the Imp has covered a humanoid
target’s mouth and nose with tar. Until the tar is removed,
the victim must make a DC 12 Fort save each round or fall
unconscious from lack of air, dying from suffocation in four
more rounds. These imps have demonic vision that cannot
be hampered by any form of darkness or non-solid obscu-
rant such as fog, smoke, etc.
Grim Inchyron’s Rantt
In between each set of paired checks, the PCs will hear
Grim Inchyron ranting. The tunnels act as a natural echo
chamber, so Grim Inchyron is easily heard in any part of
the Undercroft. But the PCs cannot (and wouldn’t benefit
from) following the sound to its source.
Page
SIDEBAR: Grim Inchyron’s
Appearances in the Chronicles
From a metaphysical perspective, the Chronicles
comprise a “living morality tale.” The tale is “living” in
the sense that the narrative can be physically
experienced and how it is experienced is influenced by
what the PCs do while they’re a part of it. It is a
magical vessel with the power to give the PCs benefits
or hurt, maim or kill them. But it is still a story and
each Chronicle resets after a party of adventures
experiences it. Grim Inchyron’s role in the Chronicles
is, almost exclusively, as an expositor of the narrative
the PCs are witnessing. Thus, with the exception of
Chronicle 5, he will take no notice of the PCs, nor will
he take any action against them or be affected by any
action they take. He’s like a hologram (and if you want,
you can literally treat him as holographic!).
Alternately, Judges may choose to have Grim Inchyron
affected by PC actions. But if you do, remember that he
is a demi-god! If you allow the PCs to affect Grim
Inchyron, these effects only apply to him in the current
Chronicle the PCs are exploring. Such effects do not
carry over into subsequent Chronicles – each new
Chronicle hits the proverbial “reset button” and Grim
Inchyron will not retain any effects the PCs have had on
him in previous Chronicles. In fact, he will not even
remember the PCs from chronicle to chronicle.
The PCs hear the monologue, below. Because it is
possible to exit the Undercroft in as few as two rolls, the
PCs should get the whole monologue in three parts. Pieces
of it should then be modified and repeated to give players
the sense that the speaker is engaged in an endless loop of
ranting and raving.
“Lamushea. God of Law. The Law-Shaper. Hah! So proud of
his many righteous adjudications. Bah, that hubris will be his
downfall!
So accustomed are mortals to Lamushea’s legal pronounce-
ments, they will not stop to question the harsh justice I mete
out in his name! And I will dare to do so during his very own
High Holy Week!
How? How will I hold court in Lamushea’s stead? Why, theo-
cide, of course! Murder!... In a manner befitting my moniker
as the Artificer of Anguish!
I, Grim Inchyron, will consider the 'motions' and 'arguments'
that flow from Lamushea’s life’s blood. And I… will… laugh.
‘Ha, ha, haaa!’ Then I’ll make a bench-worthy robe from flesh
flensed from his form. I will weave a barrister’s wig from the
tangle of tendrils that will be his torn ligaments.
Then I will go forth and mete out false, merciless justice across
the mortal world, appearing to all eyes to be the Law-Shaper
himself! (Followed by an evil laugh.)”
In the unlikely event that the PCs make it all the way to the
top of The Pulpit, use the second block of read-aloud text in
2-2 Chronicle 2 Encounter to provide a description of Grim
Inchyron.
2-1a The Chronicle 1 “Moral-Making”
Back in the Glen, Laylokan invites you to sit. “When you have
stanched your wounds, quenched your thirst and caught your
breath, you must describe what you believe to be the higher
meaning behind what you saw. Those viewing the events
through the lens of Law must present what they believe is the
“moral” of this portion of the story, and those contextualized
in Chaos must also present their moral. I am not interested in
the myriad details of the Chronicle but rather in what mean-
ing and significance you draw from those details. Those who
seek the Balance will decide which moral represents better the
meaning behind the events you all witnessed.”
The players prepare and present the two “morals” in the
manner described in the “Interpreting the Chronicles”
10
Moral-Making” section.
As the two sides prepare and present their morals, Laylokan
explains:
"Your moral-making will determine the very nature of gov-
ernance in your world, affecting the shape ruler-ship takes in
directing the course of mortal societies."
The Neutral-lensed PCs will decide - using whatever criteria
they like - which moral is “better.’ They bestow one of the
three ratings, below, on the winning side. This, in turn
determines what die on the Die Chain is rolled to determine
the world-shaping effects:
Rating
Difficulty Class and Die
Marginally better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d20
Significantly better= Roll against a DC 12 using a d24
Vastly better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d30
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Broad Effects on
Campaign World
C
H
A
O
S
Anarchy is widespread. Any centralized
power is short lived; revolutions are fre-
quent and violent. Most governments are
quickly corrupted and no lineages rule for
long without their claim being disputed.
N
E
U
T
R
A
L
Individual liberty combined with a belief
in using the least amount of control to
create the collective good trumps any oth-
er concepts of legitimate political power.
Harmony in Nature is held up as the best
guide for good governance.
L
A
W
Governments achieve control easily. The
people depend on government and have
great faith in it. They support long reigns
but corrupt rulers are quickly replaced
through regime change. However, indi-
vidual rights and freedoms are subsumed
to the needs of the polis.
Roll
Effects on Game Mechanics
12-14
Widespread black marketeering makes any Thief’s share of treasure
worth +10% of its stated value; Thieves get an additional +1 added to
their bonus to forge documents and backstab.
15-17
A Thief’s share of treasure is worth +20% of its stated value; Thieves
get an additional +1 added to their bonus to forge documents and
backstab. Both Thieves and Halflings get an additional +1 to their
bonus to sneak/hide. Chaos-aligned PCs receive a +1 to any Person-
ality check rolls.
18+
All of the effects of a 15-17 roll, plus: both Thieves and Halflings
receive a bonus +1 to any addition to a die roll due to Luck Burn.
Chaos-aligned PCs receive a +2 to any Personality check rolls.
Fail
Neutral-aligned PCs receive a +2 to any Personality Check Rolls.
Because ideologies and loyalties are highly varied in a Neutral-dom-
inated world, non-Neutral PCs must roll a Personality check in any
new social situation (DC determined by a judge). If a PC fails this
Personality check, any subsequent checks in that same social situa-
tion are made rolling one die lower on the die chain. If any PC fails
this check, ALL of the party’s PCs that have the same alignment as
the PC who failed the check will be charged 20% higher prices when
purchasing goods and services. Seeking metaphysical balance, the
Neutral powers grant all Neutral-aligned PCs the ability to learn and
cast Cleric spells, albeit with a d12 action die.
12-14
Extensive taxation means that ALL treasure is worth -5% of its stated
value. Thieves suffer a -1 penalty to attempts to forge documents.
Ubiquitous law-supporting institutions provide training to lawful
characters, reducing the XP that lawful characters need to achieve the
next level by a number of XP equal to that next level.
15-17
Extensive taxation means that ALL treasure is worth -10% of its stat-
ed value. Thieves suffer a -2 penalty to attempts to forge documents.
The XP that lawful characters need to achieve the next level is re-
duced by a number of XP equal to that next level minus an additional
XP. Law-aligned PCs receive a +1 to any Personality check rolls.
18+
Extensive taxation means that ALL treasure is worth -10% of its
stated value. Thieves suffer a -3 penalty to attempts to forge docu-
ments. The XP that lawful characters need to achieve the next level is
reduced by the number equal to that next level minus two additional
XP. Law-aligned PCs receive a +2 to any Personality check rolls.
GOVERNMENT & INFLUENCE
11
Use the Judge’s Worksheet included in this module to record
these results.
Using the “Narrative Effects on the Campaign World” col-
umn have Laylokan relate to the players how the world they
return to will be different as a result of the roll.
2-2 Chronicle 2 Encounter
Laylokan turns the calendar so the second door is at the apex
of the wheel. “You go now,” he intones “to one of Law’s funda-
mental places of power. You will be there for Grim Inchyron’s
assault on Lamushea. In order to return here, you must some-
how withstand the assault.”
You will yourself through the doorway and suddenly you’re
on a tower platform that doubles as a work area. The thinness
of the air and the cloud formations below you suggest that
Page
the tower is impossibly high. In fact, you’re not sure how it is
that this tower hasn’t reached the heavens yet - and for all you
know, it has. The tower itself is a proverbial “house of cards,”
constructed of 12’ tall clay tablets inscribed with engraved
writing - cuneiform. Somehow you know that these are re-
cords of Lamushea the Law-Shaper’s legal work, spanning the
ages.
The dominant feature of the tower’s architecture is its im-
probability: overhangs are just barely counterbalanced, huge
platforms teeter-totter on thin, fin-like ridges and there are
jumbled piles of tablets that shouldn’t stay in place themselves,
much less support other parts of the structure.
Looking around, you spot platforms just like yours in ev-
ery direction. On them you see workers call down massive
creatures that are crosses between a bison and a turkey. These
creatures use lifting harnesses to hoist finished tablets in the
air. They fly off these tablets to the tower’s peak and place
them atop the structure, growing the tower ever higher.
The platform has all the tools and equipment necessary for
making tablets: vats of wet clay, sacks of dry clay powder
ready for reconstitution, tools, work tables, every manner of
wooden stylus, (all of them spear-length) and a giant cow
dung-fired kiln. There is no one else besides the PC's on the
platform but every few minutes one of the aerial bovines
flies by their platform just a few score yards away.
If the PCs wish to investigate, give them a few actions to do
so, then the excitement begins.
A powerfully built humanoid with lustrous, pale skin appears,
levitating in the air beside the tower. His form is physical
perfection, from his toned musculature to the ebony sheen of
his long, lustrous, raven-black hair. His face is hidden by a
multi-flanged mask carved from the pelvic bone of some alien
creature. The figure’s voice gives away his identity – it is Grim
Inchyron. With two gore-covered hands he presents a huge,
severed, human head bearing an expression both wise and
anguished.
Grim Inchyron screams out: “Come my Slag Hellions, lay
waste to this tower of folly just as I have destroyed its build-
er!” He gestures downward and you see a thousands-strong
horde of figures clambering up the tower like devil-spawned
ants.
Grim Inchyron’s assault force contains thousands of Slag
Hellions. They are not especially fast climbers but none-
theless make steady progress up the tower. As the horde
ascends, smaller swarms break off to kill Lamushea’s faithful
and then rejoin the mass.
Slag Hellion Horde (1): Init +2; Atk bludgeon +4 melee
(4d3); AC 13; HD 24d4; hp 50; MV 20’; Act 6d20; SP en
masse overrun, reduced damage from normal weapons; SV
Fort +4, Ref -2, Will +0; AL C.
Slag Hellion Swarm (Special): Init +0; Atk bludgeon +2
melee (2d3); AC 15; HD 8d4; hp 18; MV 20’; Act 2d16; SP
en masse overrun, reduced damage from normal weapons;
SV Fort +2, Ref -1, Will +0; AL C.
Slag Hellions are 1½ foot tall minor demons that are as
broad and thick as they are tall. Grim Inchyron fashions
Slag Hellions from the tailings of stone and metal that are
the byproducts of his foundry work. The Hellions emerge
from this process as tough, ugly, lumpy, malevolent little
humanoids. Their incredibly hard skin is highly resistant
to normal weapons. Piercing and slashing weapons, and
bludgeoning weapons made entirely of wood (eg, staves
and clubs) do half-damage. PCs wielding steel bludgeon-
ing weapons subtract 1 point from their damage roll. Slag
Hellions can attack “en masse” in the first round of combat
that a horde or swarm makes contact with a foe. This mass
overrun attack works like a charge, but grants the horde or
swarm the +2 bonus to its attack without any penalty to ar-
mor class. The to-hit roll for this attack affects all opponents
in a 20’ radius and does 1d4 damage to any target hit by the
attack.
The PC’s have three minutes to prepare themselves.
It should be apparent that the horde is too large to fight
using conventional skirmish tactics. But the PCs can utilize
their surroundings to their advantage against swarm-sized
forces of Hellions. The sticky clay in the vats can slow or
immobilize. The bags of powdered clay can be used as an
obscurant. If the PCs can figure out a way to herd the imps
into the kilns, the heat will melt them.
12
There’s nowhere to escape to on the tower that the horde
won’t eventually reach and Lamushea’s flying bovines will
not willingly transport people – they haven’t been trained
for it. However, the bovines will follow the PC’s commands
if instructed to do what they know how to do – pick up
and drop off tablets. This is key to what may be the PCs’
best chance, albeit a risky one: commanding the bovines to
drop tablets on swarms or direct them to remove “keystone”
tablets to cause sections of the tower to collapse, dropping
groups of Hellions into the ether and cut off their avenues of
attack. While this tactic matches the scope and scale of the
opposing horde, it also risks collapsing the section of the
tower on which the PCs are standing!
Page
SIDEBAR: Player Characters
Inscribing New Laws on Tablets
The players in all the playtests came up with the
same strategy: they tried to inscribe a law on a fresh
tablet that would counter the Hellion horde, hoping
that their law would be enforced by some divine or
mystical magic. Our playtest Judges thought this was
very clever and rewarded this creativity – you should
too! Your players may try to enact a law prohibiting
Hellions from occupying the tower, or they may write a
law that punishes all Hellions with execution – who
knows what they’ll come up with! The thing to
remember when adjudicating these attempts is that the
Hellions’ assault is being commanded by Grim
Inchyron, a demi-god. So, while enacting a law in
Lamushea’s place of power can and should have an
effect, Grim Inchyron’s own power should blunt that
effect, limiting it to reducing the size and power of the
Horde and preventing any scribed law from legislating
it out of existence. Use Luck or Intelligence checks to
determine how powerful an effect the players can
derive from manipulating the mystical power of Law
through their writ. Determine an appropriate DC for
this check and award a bonus to the PCs if their law is
cleverly written.
>51% = 2 swarms
51%-74% = 1 swarm
75%+ = 0 swarms
If the PCs choose this strategy, for simplicity is sake state
that each player’s collection of 0-level PCs are working
together as a team. Each round, a team can direct a flying
bovine to move one tablet. At the point at which the party
implements this strategy they have four rounds before the
horde arrives at their platform.
Successfully executing the tactic requires that the PCs have
three things: situational awareness, an understanding of
engineering and the “animal magnetism” to direct a bovine.
These challenges combine into a single DC 13 skill check.
Each team determines its own modifier to the check by
adding the highest Intelligence modifier in the team with
the highest Personality modifier and then adding a +1 if any
member of the team is a Dwarf or has an occupation that
would involve knowledge of engineering. The sum of these
three modifiers is the group’s net modifier.
Each team rolls once per round and reports success or
failure. The Judge should write the results as they happen on
a piece of paper visible to all players. A roll of a natural 1 – a
13
fumble – makes that team’s next check an automatic failure.
If at any point in the process, more than half the teams have
failed more times than they’ve succeeded, they’ve made
a critical error and the part of the tower on which they’re
standing collapses. (See below for the effects of falling from
the tower.)
If the platform has not collapsed at the end of four rounds,
all teams determine their rate of success as a percentage and
then all teams average their collective percentages to deter-
mine the party’s overall rate of success. This determines how
many Slag hellion Swarms they have to face in skirmish
combat:
If the PCs collapse the tower, then in game terms it means
the wrong tablet was removed or a tablet was dropped in
the absolutely wrong place and the platform they’re on falls
away, sending them all plummeting to the ground.
Any PC falling from the tower – either knocked from the
tower during combat or because a section of the tower
s/he is standing on collapses - must make a DC 13 Fort save.
If the save is failed, s/he dies instantly from the fall. If s/he
makes the save, s/he awakens in the Penumbric Glen but
has suffered a disabling injury and must subtract -1 point
each from Strength, Agility and Stamina.
Once the party fights the Hellion Swarms they are forced to
face, they are teleported back to the Penumbric Glen.
Note: After their Chronicle 2 encounters, the PCs do not
do a moral-making with Laylokan. Instead, when they are
ready, he sends them into Chronicle 3. When they return
from their Chronicle 3 encounters they will do a mor-
al-making that covers both Chronicles.
2-3 Chronicle 3 Encounter
Once your party has readied itself, Laylokan rotates the wheel
of the calendar so that the door inscribed with the “3” rune is
oriented vertically. Then he addresses you: “In this Chronicle,
you have the chance to learn how Grim Inchhyron was able to
impersonate another god. But you must infiltrate his Foundry
and observe him in a great act of making. When you have
seen what was made, you will be returned here to the Penum-
bric Glen.”
Page
Laylokan continues: “In this Chronicle you will be closer to
the Architect of Anguish than ever before. You may be tempt-
ed to confront Grim Inchyron directly. I caution you: you may
be able to affect the demon or you may not – existing only
as part of a story he may be insubstantial. Remember, your
main task is to survive so you can bear witness. Even if you
14
can affect him, think twice on your actions – this is a demonic
demi-god and you cross him at extreme peril! Extreme!”
Nodding an acknowledgment of Laylokan’s words, you take a
step towards the door, then find yourselves kneeling in canoes
made from carved frames of pumice stone covered with the
single, intact skin of some giant snake or lizard. You’re pad-
dling across a huge swamp, winding your way through tufts
of marsh grass and the bone-grey trunks of dead trees sticking
up from brown-green water. Off in the distance you see that
the swamp gives way to a set of rolling lowlands. One feature
stands out from the land’s gentle hills and swales: a Great
Barrow, mounded up against a tilted rock formation, jutting
up three score yards tall.
Then you see another watercraft coming your way: a flat, nar-
row barge carrying a fully-enclosed, two-wheeled cart hung
with all manner of peddler’s wares. The barge is harnessed to
two giant frogs who tow it behind them as they leap from tuft
to tuft. The frogs’ deft dance is directed via a set of long reins
expertly handled by a slender, foppish demi-human with pale-
green skin.
The reins-holder is Nedanax, an elf, hedge-wizard and
self-proclaimed “Purveyor of Precious Products.”
SIDEBAR: Using a Stacked-Block
Tower Game as a
Prop for Encounter 2-2
If your players direct the flying bovines to remove
and drop tablets and you’re a Judge who likes
physical props in your game you can use a
Jenga™-style stacked-block tower game to
determine the outcome of their use of that tactic.
The outcome of the stacked-block tower game will
determine how many Slag Hellion Swarms the PCs
have to face in skirmish combat on their platform.
Set up the stocked-block tower game. It should
have 18 levels. To speed up the process and prevent
the players from removing all the easy, center row
blocks,remove alternating side blocks from rows 3,
8, 13 and 18. Stacked-block tower games are
played in “moves.” A move requires the player to
remove one block from anywhere on the tower and
position it back on top of the tower. In World-
Quest of the Winter Calendar, these moves represent
the PCs directing flying bovines to remove tablets and
drop them on swarms of Hellions or let them fall away
with imps aboard. Use your best improvised exposition
skills to describe to the players what happens to the
Slag Hellions’ assault as players use the tactic against
them.
Your players must take turns making moves in the
stacked-block tower game – players cannot opt out
or execute more moves than any other player.
Keep a tally of the number of moves the players
complete without collapsing the tower. The players
may choose to stop at any time short of collapsing
the tower. The number of moves they’ve completed
when they choose to stop determines the number
of Slag Hellion Swarms that attack the platform
they’re on: >21 = 2 swarms, 21-25 = 1 swarm,
26+ = 0 swarms. If the PCs fight off the swarms in
skirmish combat, the rest of the assault passes
them by and they are teleported back to the
Penumbric Glen.
Page
Nedanax is coming from Grim Inchyron’s Undercroft where
he filled an exceedingly large order for cast iron pots and
other implements. Nedanax just completed the transac-
tion and is celebrating – bottle in hand - two facts: that he
profited handsomely and left the Undercroft alive. Unless
attacked, Nedanax will volunteer information about his visit
to the Undercroft:
• There’s a “big making” being undertaken in the
Undercroft - the Foundry Hall was tooling up as he
was making his delivery.
• He can give the location of the delivery dock where
he offloaded the iron. A short access tunnel leads
from the dock straight into the Foundry Hall. He
believes the tunnel is only used for accepting
deliveries and thinks it will be empty.
• The Foundry Hall in full work mode is a hellish
place full of smoke and heat and sparks and fire and
acrid gases and molten metal and massive,
hazardous machinery.
• He’s a little remorseful about trading with demons and
very fearful about the purpose to which Grim Inchyron
is going to put the raw materials he delivered. Between
draws on his bottle, he rationalizes his action with
statements like “an elf’s gotta make a living” and “if I
hadn’t sold him the iron, someone else woulda…”
• He thinks that “Someone REALLY oughta go learn
what that ole devil is up to…” Just talking about it
he starts to shake with fear and apprehension. He
gets the trembling under control and says “Yep,
somebody really, REALLY oughta find out what’s
goin’ on. I’d do it myself if I was one of them
hero-types instead of a simple peddler.”
Nedanax is happy to sell or barter supplies or equipment.
He doesn’t have much in the way of armor and only a few
weapons, but he can supply any common piece of gear from
Table 3-4 on page 72 of the DCC rule book. If the PCs state
their intention to investigate the Foundry Hall, Nedanax
will give them very favorable trade terms and will also
recommend some items: glassware to fashion into goggles,
oilcloth garments to protect their skin, wool scarves and
mint tonic to soak the scarves in and wrap around their
nose and mouth to protect their lungs. He’ll offer the PCs a
stiff drink – for free – to bolster their courage.
Following Nedanax’s directions, the party can easily find the
loading dock. The low silhouettes of their canoes combined
with their approach by water guarantees stealth. There is
a door by the dock positioned where the barrow mound
meets the rock outcrop. It is unlocked and opens into a 30’
15
long tunnel that leads directly to the Undercroft’s Foundry
Hall.
The Foundry Hall is a voluminous workshop, just under
half a furlong (300’) across. It contains a foundry for smelt-
ing ore into metal, complete with a blast furnace and a large
crucible. It also contains a smithy, a dye shop and a general
workshop. The Foundry Hall is currently operating at peak
capacity, with scores of every variety of imp, quasit and less-
er fiend hard at work. Grim Inchyron is supervising from an
elevated platform where he is also crafting something all his
own.
With the Hall in full swing, the environs are just as hellish
as Nedanax described: intensely hot, smoky, acrid and
deafeningly loud. Molten metal boils in the furnace, cru-
cible and molds, smoke billows everywhere, sparks fly and
there is an industrial accident practically every time an imp
or fiend turns around. In this chaos, it will require long and
careful observation to determine what is being constructed.
But all the minions in the Hall are intent on their work and
there are plenty of places to hide, inviting little to no chance
of being noticed.
Page
If the PCs survey their immediate surroundings, they will
have the opportunity to line their pockets with some valu-
able salvage. Piled in bins and scattered about the floor are:
• Five metal ingots of meteoric iron that have gone
through the smelting process. Each ingot weighs 5
pounds and is worth 50 gp.
• A pile of dust and ash covered slag tailings. These
tailings contain multiple metals, including small
streaks of the extremely rare form of Mithril called
Paladinium. This metal is a purely Lawful element
and can be forged into armor and weapons
anathema to Chaos. Many minions died disposing of
these tailings and they steer well clear of the pile.
Individual tailings weigh between ½ and 5 pounds
and tailings have 10 gp worth of trace Paladinium
per pound.
Upon examination, any Dwarf PC or PC with an occu-
pation possessing knowledge of metals will immediately
recognize the value of these materials.
Grim Inchyron’s minions are crafting an artifact called the
Hell-Forged Ferro-Zeffir – meteoric iron cast into the shape
of a large, hollow bull without a head. By attaching wings,
imbuing it with enchantments and fashioning a full-headed
mask constructed from Lamushea’s own severed head, Grim
Inchyron will be able to appear in multiple locations all over
the world at the same time. He will appear as Lamushea and
only powerful Wizards, Elves and Clerics will be able to see
through the illusion.
But learning this through hidden observation of the Found-
ry is a test of endurance. The party must withstand the
conditions of the Foundry Hall for five rounds to learn what
Grim Inchyron is up to. Each round they endure, including
the first, free (no check) round, yields an observation. (See
table on next page.)
To endure the conditions of the Foundry, PCs must make
DC 10 Fort Saves. (If the party still has more than 8 sur-
viving members, for the sake of time you may want to have
your players roll one d20 for all the PCs they control and
then apply each PCs modifiers to that one roll).
16
Roll = d20 ± Fort Save modifier +1 to +4 for impro-
vised techniques for mitigating Foundry conditions
-1 (cumulative) for each consecutive round with-
standing conditions after the 1st vs DC 10.
• Award a bonus for each strategy or piece of equipment a
PC utilizes to mitigate the Foundry Hall’s conditions.
After his great invocation of “maker magic,” Grim Inchyron
– exhibiting his usual megalomania – turns to his minions
to make a speech
“My tremendous toil and selfless sacrifices have not been in
vain – tomorrow I will launch this Hell-Forged Ferro-Zeffir,
and with it, the greatest act of Diabolism ever conceived…”
(etc., etc.)
Truly bold PCs can seize the initiative and attempt to steal
the Hell-Forged Ferro-Zeffir while Grim Inchyron is busy
making his speech.
The PCs make Stealth checks using the rules for encounter
2-1. If the first check is successful, they sneak up to the Fer-
ro-Zeffir. If the second check is successful, they to slip inside
the Zeffir’s “cockpit.” Any failed check alerts Grim Inchy-
ron’s minions to the PCs’ activity – the PCs get a surprise
round before swarms of Barbed Imps and Slag Hellions and
troops of Bituminous Quasits charge to attack. (Use stats
from encounters 1-1, 2-2 and 2-1 respectively.)
Once they have climbed inside the hollow metal bull (max-
imum occupancy is two human- or dwarf-sized individuals
or three individuals if two of them are elves or halflings),
one occupant must act as pilot and operate the device using
willpower. The inside of the cockpit is inscribed with runes
and sigils of awesome and universal magics – understand-
ing and manipulating the runes requires a DC 18 Intelli-
gence test.
Typically this bonus should be +1, though a larger bonus
should be awarded for particularly clever inventions.
• As time in the Foundry takes its toll, PCs roll their saves
at a cumulative -1 each subsequent round after the first.
Any PC who fails her Fort Save falls unconscious. For each
full round a PC spends unconscious in the Foundry, s/he
must make a DC 10 Fort Save to avoid death from toxic
fumes and heat stroke. (Improvised gear does NOT modify
this roll).
Canny groups may decide to send just a couple of PCs into
the Foundry at a time to avoid prolonged exposure. This is a
good strategy, but if it is used, the Judge can choose to write
those PC’s observations on notes and prohibit the sharing of
the written notes. This will force the party to piece together
these individual bits of information into the full story of the
crafting.
Page
Round
Step in the Crafting Also Describe to Players
1
(Free)
Casting of torso, leg and
tail pieces
Minions are still prepping molds when others pour the molten metal in, destroying their comrades.
2
Tempering of pieces
As the hot castings are dunked in water to cool them, steam shoots out of the tempering tubs, melting
nearby Bituminous Quasits.
3
Joining of the pieces
Slag Hellions pound Barbed Imps into pilot holes, using them as rivets while the Slag Hellions, in turn, are
sacrificed as solder for welds.
4
Assembly of wings
Scores of Barbed Imps are stapled together then bleached with acid to form great, white animated wings.
As the acid is sprayed about, Bituminous Quasits are dissolved by careless overspray.
5
Completing the illusion
When the bull is complete, Grim Inchyron comes down from his platform bearing a rigid, full-head mask
he has fashioned from Lamushea’s own severed head. He attaches it to the bull and with a powerful ges-
ture, he scribes a great, demonic Rune of Making in the air. There’s a strobe of demonic light and a burst of
brimstone. When the flash fades, standing on the foundry floor is a perfect mechano-magical illusion of
Lamushea – the Hell-Forged Ferro-Zeffir.
Observation
Roll = d20 ± Int modifier +4 for PC with magic-re-
lated occupation +2 (cumulative) per additional
PC with magic-related occupation vs DC 18
• Magic/mysticism-related occupations: any Elf
occupation, Sage, Astronomer, etc. convey a +4
bonus to this test, and an additional +2 for each PC
beyond the first that has a similar background to
lend knowledge to the test.
On a roll of a Natural 1, the characters have raised the ar-
tifact high into the air only to experience a critical control
failure. This sends it crashing to the Foundry’s floor, de-
stroying the Ferro-Zeffir - and the PCs piloting it - forev-
er. Not a trace remains of them, and only a few rivets and
hull fragments remain of the artifact.
Should they steal the device, it has the following statistics:
Can carry 1000 lbs; +7 AC when flying in it, MV 40’, fly
60’; melee +4, dmg 2d6; magical weapon; demons will not
attack occupants unless said occupants take hostile action
or act in a way that is obviously inimical to the demons’
interests; imp wings wear out in 13 days and must be
replaced.
Any of the following three conditions will teleport the
party back to the Penumbric Glen: 1) If the entire party
falls unconscious they will be teleported at the end of
the round following (necessitating one poison save), 2)
17
The entire party spends three full rounds back outside
the Foundry, or 3) Observing the entire crafting. If, after
observing the completed crafting, one or more PCs make
a “play” to steal the Hell-Forged, any PC can choose to run
out of the Foundry and return to the Penumbra, either
with or without the Hell-Forged Ferro Zeffir.
Rating
Difficulty Class and Die
Marginally better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d20
Significantly better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d24
Vastly better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d30
2-3a “Moral-Making” for
Chronicles 2 and 3
The format of the second moral-making is the same as the
first. The morals the PCs compose should cover the com-
bined events of Chronicles 2 and 3. Before the two sides
prepare and present their morals, Laylokan explains:
“This time, the moral that better captures the meaning of the
events you witnessed will re-write the very roster of gods and
patrons who populate the pantheons of your world!”
Once again, the Neutral-acting PCs decide - using whatev-
er criteria they like - which moral Lawful or Chaotic was
better. They bestow one of the three ratings, below, on the
winning side:
Have a player from the winning group compare the result
to the “Gods and Patrons” table (see next page). Record any
significant results from this re-telling on he Judges work-
sheet referring to the “Narrative Effects on the Campaign
World” column, have the Laylokan NPC relate to the players
how the world they return to will be different as a result of
the roll.
Page
Broad Effects on Campaign World
C
H
A
O
S
The Devil-Wraith of Grim Inchyron is introduced
into the world. One god of Law (Judge’s choice)
vanishes from the pantheon. PCs who level-up to
become Wizards or Elves automatically receive
Invoke Patron and the Patron Bond Spell tied to the
Devil-Wraith of Grim Inchyron. The head of one
of the world’s prominent Lawful orders is secretly a
worshipper of dark Chaotic forces.
N
E
U
T
R
A
L
Neutrality possesses the greatest influence. Both the
Logos of Lamushea AND the Devil-Wraith of Grim
Inchyron are introduced to the mortal world. The
head of one of the world’s prominent Lawful orders
AND the head of one of the world’s prominent Cha-
otic orders are both secretly worshippers of Neutral
forces.
Roll
Effects on Game Mechanics
12-14
Casters receive a +1 bonus to spell checks when casting
Invoke Patron in connection to Chaotic Patrons
15-17
Chaotic Clerics receive a +1 bonus to all spell checks.
Chaotic Clerics who incur deity disapproval subtract 1
from their roll on DCC Table 5-7. Casters receive a +1
bonus to spells checks when casting Patron Bond and
Invoke Patron spells in connection with a Chaotic Patron.
18+
Chaotic Clerics receive a +2 bonus to all spell checks.
Chaotic Clerics who incur deity disapproval subtract 1d3
from their roll on Table 5-7. Casters receive a +2 bonus
to spells checks when casting Patron Bond and Invoke
Patron spells in connection with a Chaotic Patron.
Fail
Neutral Clerics receive a +1 bonus to all spell checks.
Neutral Clerics who incur deity disapproval subtract
from their roll on Table 5-7. Casters receive a +2 bonus
to spells checks when casting Patron Bond and Invoke
Patron spells in connection with a Neutral Patron.
Halflings and those with agrarian- or nature-related
occupations add 1d3 points to their Luck. Animals, both
normal and giant, are especially hale and hardy, receiving
a +1 AC bonus and +1 hp per hit die.
GODS AND PATRONS
L
A
W
The Logos of Lamushea is introduced to the mortal
world and one god of Chaos (Judge’s choice) vanish-
es from the pantheon. PCs who level-up to become
Wizards or Elves automatically receive Invoke Pa-
tron and the Patron Bond Spell tied to the Logos of
Lamushea. The head of one of the world’s prominent
Chaotic orders is a secret follower of Law.
12-14
Casters receive a +1 bonus to spell checks when cast-
ing Invoke Patron in connection to Neutral and Lawful
Patrons
15-17
Lawful Clerics receive a +1 bonus to all spell checks.
Lawful Clerics who incur deity disapproval subtract 1
from their roll Table 5-7. Casters receive a +1 bonus to
spells checks when casting Patron Bond and Invoke Pa-
tron spells in connection with a Lawful Patron.
18+
Lawful Clerics receive a +2 bonus to all spell checks.
Chaotic Clerics who incur deity disapproval subtract 1d3
from their roll on Table 5-7. Casters receive a +2 bonus
to spells checks when casting Patron Bond and Invoke
Patron spells in connection with a Lawful Patron.
18
2-4 Chronicle 4 Encounter
By the time your group has assembled itself, Laylokan has
already oriented the calendar to the fourth door. “In this
Chronicle you must again bear witness to the world suffering
at the hands of Chaos, but I can also tell you this: you have
the opportunity to lessen that harm by taking action.”
Then you find yourselves in Akaa, a village not unlike your
own. But this village has been plunged into chaos – terri-
fied screams can be heard from all corners and the smell of
burning thatch wafts in every direction. You quickly learn the
source of the chaos: in the village square stands Lamushea
the Law-Shaper directing his followers to destroy Akaa! Many
of the villagers, conflicted but faithful, run to and fro with
axes and brands, striking down any who attempt to contest
Lamushea’s judgment.
As you take in the scene, a stately, grey-haired woman creeps
out of the shadows. She wears the insignia of Lamushea’s
priesthood. She identifies herself as A’arni, the Truth-Teller.
“Please help us!” she croaks, the sound of her voice betraying
the abuse she has suffered at the hands of villagers who once
revered her as a god’s spokesperson. “Something is amiss here!
That is not the true Law-Shaper and this imposter has or-
dered his winged fiends to burn the Chapel of Akaa. Even the
Page
The Fuliginous Wing-Fiends’ preferred mode of attack is
the snatch-and-drop: on a successful attack, the fiend grabs
its opponent and then flies up 10’ or more and drops the
Fuliginous Wing-Fiends (special: ½ the number of PCs,
rounded down): Init +1; Atk claws +1 melee (1d4); AC
13; HD 1d6; hp 6; MV 20’(on the ground), 20’ (horizontal
flight and diving) and 10’ (climbing flight); Act 1d20; SP
snatch-and-drop. SV Fort +2, Ref 0, Will +0; AL C.
19
villagers who execute the imposter’s orders will not commit
this heresy, but devils suffer no such inhibitions! If we don’t
stop them, we’re all doomed – the Chapel is built around a
seal that contains a great force of Chaos!”
If the PCs agree to go with A’arni, she leads them through
the chaos-ridden village to the chapel. It’s a one-and-a-half
story building of wood and plaster sitting on a stone foun-
dation. Built into the chapel’s tallest wall is a stained-glass
window depicting the rune of power that holds a force of
Chaos in check.
A flock of Fuliginous Wing-Fiends are hard at work using
brands to set the chapel on fire. If the chapel burns, the win-
dow will shatter and the rune’s containment magic will fail.
The Fuliginous Wing-Fiends are three feet tall with thick
grey hide and fiery red eyes. Though naked and weaponless,
the fiends’ bat-wings give them clumsy but rudimentary
powers of flight.
grabbed individual, inflicting 1d6 of falling damage per 10’
of altitude.
To confront the fiends, the PCs will have to find ways of
neutralizing their flight advantage. They can scale the build-
ing’s walls with a DC 13 Agility check, though climbing
characters will be fighting the Wing-Fiends at a -4 penalty
and any natural 1 attack roll will cause a character to fall
from the walls, taking 1d6 hp damage for every 10’.
A nearby hut - with a sign reading “The Brink-Man’s Bait
Shop”- contains some items that could be of use in fighting
flying foes: 2 fishing nets, 10 fishing lines and 4 harpoons
(treat as javelins). A successful hit with a net forces a fiend
to make a DC 13 Fortitude save or lose his flight ability;
he will either be grounded (if already on land) or fall to
the ground and take appropriate falling damage.) Netted
creatures must make a DC 13 Fort save each round to
escape the net. PCs receive a +4 bonus to hit netted targets.
The nets can be used to trap creatures up to ten feet away.
Fishing lines may be used to lasso or bind targets or as aides
in climbing the chapel walls.
The chapel also contains useful items. The chapel font
contains enough holy water for five uses. Holy Water does
1d6 points of damage to the Fuliginous Wing-Fiends and
causes them to leave the encounter, flying off in agony and
rage. The proximity of the stained glass window’s protective
rune of power allows a 0-level PC to use the holy symbols to
Page
Turn Unholy as if s/he were a 1st-level Cleric, modifying the
roll by his or her Personality modifier.
As an aside, the chapel regalia is valuable. Holy symbols
are worth 50 gp apiece and on the altar there are also two
censers inlaid with electrum worth 10gp each, a silver sacra-
mental cup worth 7 gp, a fine candelabra worth 5 gp and an
embroidered silk altar cloth worth 3 gp.
The Fuliginous Wing-Fiends apply themselves obsessive-
ly to the task of setting fire to the chapel. Only if netted
or damaged will they engage in combat; any fiend that is
forced to fight turns its full focus on the PCs. However, at
least three will always stay focused on setting and stoking
the chapel fire.
The chapel has 10 structural “hit points” left when the PCs
arrive- for each round that the Fuliginous Wing-Fiends,
work at torching it, it loses points. The PCs get one free
round to get their bearings and observe the Fuliginous
Wing-Fiends start their work. During this first round no
structural points are lost. The number of structural points
lost in subsequent rounds depends on the number of Wing-
Fiends focused on destroying the chapel.
# of Wing-Fiends En-
gaged in Burning the
Chapel
Structural Points Lost
That Round
6+
3
4-5
2
1-3
1
0
None
If the PCs save the chapel from destruction by destroying
or driving off the Fuliginous Wing-Fiends Aarni rewards
any who wish to receive it with her blessing (Aarni will not
bless any PCs who openly display – and refuse to return -
items looted from the chapel- besides the holy symbols).
The blessing heals 1d3 hit points and envelopes the party in
a glowing halo of light. They emerge from this halo back in
the Penumbric Glen.
If the Chapel sustains more than 10 structural hit points
of damage, the fires have raged out of control. The stained
glass Rune of Power shatters, freeing a force of Chaos that
was contained generations ago. The power of Chaos un-
leashed causes everyone in the vicinity of the chapel to roll
a DC 10 Fort Save. Those who fail must then make a Luck
check - a successful luck check indicates the character has
survived with a minor corruption (see DCC RPG core
rulebook p. 116); failure indicates the character is utterly
corrupted and his/her body devolves into a squirming mass
of Chaos-flesh. Those who make their save black out only to
awaken back in the Penumbric Glen.
Note: The next moral-making occurs after the Chronicle 5
encounter and combines Chronicles 4 and 5.
2-5 Chronicle 5 Encounter
You’re in a dark dwelling that reeks of foul workings and black
energy. You are shrunk so small that the world towers above
you and the view momentarily threatens to overwhelm your
senses. Then this passes and you realize that you’re in some
kind of a sanctum. A giant divan looming as large as a Levi-
athan indicates that you are roughly the size of a mouse. You
hear a familiar, vile laugh and see Grim Inchyron reclining
on the divan and staring intently into a crystalline mirror. He
adjusts several of the various gems set into the sides of this ar-
tifact, bringing into focus a view of first this village and then
that city. He cackles with malicious glee as agents of Law fol-
low through on the commands he gave them while posing as
Lamushea. They burn, defile and destroy the institutions that
they once held dear – institutions that made them “civilized.”
He reaches over to a coffee table, drawing your attention to a
classic, bell-shaped, wire bird cage – as large as a gazebo to
you. Imprisoned in the cage are many winged, elfin Sprites.
20
Page 21
As you watch in horror, the Artificer of Anguish opens the
door of the cage and reaches in. He snatches out a Sprite
then thrusts it into his maw, crunching down once and then
swallowing it, bones and all. He shuts the cage door and stag-
gers away to refill his goblet of wine. As you follow his path,
your eyes track across a vast field of thick, soft purple fronds.
Beyond this field is a 20-story doorway through which Grim
Inchyron exits. You cannot see beyond it, for the entire door-
way is filled with the same aura of light that has accompanied
each of your previous teleportations back to the Penumbra!
The PCs start in the corner of the room that’s furthest away
from the portal. The purple fronds are actually the strands
of a plush carpet on the floor. These slow movement by
half, so that moving through the carpet in a direct line to
the portal exit is roughly the same distance as taking a right
angled route around the carpet. The time needed to traverse
the room at an all-out run is 10 rounds, assuming the
characters can travel 60 feet a round if they take no other
actions besides a double-move.
As the PCs advance across the room, the Sprites will call
to them from the cage – positioned 120’ (4 feet in human
scale) on a lefthand perpendicular off the straight-line
path to the doorway. The Sprites implore the PCs in shrill
voices to come and free them.
While Grim Inchyron will be out of the room for a good
while selecting a vintage, there is another malicious
creature in the vicinity: Sloucher, Grim Inchyron’s Dire
Rat minion. He is lingering nearby, hoping to score some
cast-off Sprite bones.
The round after the PCs begin their trek across the room,
Page
the PCs. But if the cage is open, he will fly into a rage and
seek out the PCs, stomping them flat, one-by-one, shouting:
"Damn, pesky Brownies! I’ll take cockroaches over ‘em any
day!"
Grim Inchyron makes no roll for this attack. Instead, the
target must succeed at a DC 12 Reflex save or be instantly
squashed flat like a bug.
Note: Any PC staring at the Krytz can see the images of
Grim Inchyron ravaging the mortal world in the guise
of Lamushea, and glean some sense of the function and
operation of the Krytz artifact. This will afford that PC a +4
bonus to the Intelligence check required to use the Krytz
as a scrying device (see Encounter 2-6, below). The PCs are
currently too small to adjust the gems or handle the Krytz
in any meaningful way.
2-5a “Moral-Making” for
Chronicles 4 & 5
Conduct this re-telling in exactly the same manner as the
previous two. Before the two sides prepare and present their
morals, Laylokan explains:
“The lessons you learned this time around will determine
the influence that war and conflict have on the mortal world
when you return to it. Whether violence is a force for order in
your land or a daily source of fear and chaos will be decided
by what you say!”
Sloucher slinks out of a crack in the wall and begins to stalk
the PCs. He will take 2-3 rounds to carefully consult all five
of his senses, making sure the PCs will be a good source of
food and fun.
Sloucher the Dire Rat: Init +2; Atk bite +4 melee (1d8);
AC 12; HD 5d8; hp 25; MV scamper 60’; Act 1d20; SP
stealthy movement, gnawing; SV Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +0;
AL C.
Relative to their reduced size, Sloucher is a gargantuan,
terrifying death machine. His gnawing ability means that
after a successful strike he gets +2 on the next attack
against the same target.
To add to the PCs’ difficulties, any melee attacks, agility
checks and Reflex saves in the purple carpet field incur a -2
penalty.
Saving the Sprites
If the PCs decide to try to help the Sprites, they will face a
dangerous climb up the coffee table on which the cage sits.
Ascending the table to the cage requires three DC 12 climb
checks, modified by a character’s Strength or Agility,
which-ever is better. The three stages of the climb are: 1)
floor to a horizontal brace spanning the legs of the table
(the equiv-alent of 10’ off the floor), 2) horizontal bracing
to a set of decorative cross braces joining the legs of the
table (equiva-lent of 20’ off the floor), and 3) decorative
cross-bracing to the tabletop (equivalent of 30’ off the
floor). Because of the overhanging lip on the table top, the
last check is made at a -2 penalty.
If the PCs make it to the cage atop the desk, opening the
cage door is a matter of working a simple latch mechanism.
But it is stout and stiff, requiring a DC 15 Strength check to
open. Up to 3 PCs may try to open it at once. Each addi-
tional PC after the first adds a +1 to the check, in addition
to any strength modifier the PC has.
If freed, the Sprites will bestow 1d3 Luck to each of the PCs
who climbed to the tabletop to save them and will gladly fly
those PCs to the portal across the room. If the PCs wish to
persuade the Sprites to try to save other comrades who
didn’t ascend the table, one of the PCs who was directly
involved in their rescue must succeed at a DC 10 Personal-
ity check.
After ten rounds, Grim Inchyron returns with his goblet of
wine and resumes his vigil at the mirror – the legendary
Krytz. If the Sprites have not been freed, he will not notice
Rating
Difficulty Class and Die
Marginally better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d20
Significantly better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d24
Vastly better =
Roll against a DC 12 using a d30
Compare the result of this roll on the War & Racial
Conflict Table
22
2-6 Chronicle 6
You find yourselves in a dank basement. Painted on the walls
are the holy symbols of Lamushea the Law-Shaper. A crude-
ly-crafted altar sits at one end and the rest of the damp space
is filled with rickety, makeshift pews. A young priest in the
vestments of Lamushea is imploring a group of commoners to
join him in a prayer – a prayer that forgives the Law-Shaper
for dealing in false justice. Lamushea’s priests, disgraced and
persecuted, have figuratively and literally taken their worship
“underground.”
Page
Broad Effects on Campaign World
C
H
A
O
S
Peace is impossible to maintain. Bar-
barian tribes invade civilized nations
at any opportunity. Feudal lords attack
each other at the slightest provocation.
Diasporas range across populated
lands ravaged by war.
N
E
U
T
R
A
L
Warfare is eschewed because of its
potential to destabilize the balance and
its destructive effect on Nature. All
beings are acknowledged as having a
niche and no creature is held another.
WAR & RACIAL CONFLICT
Roll
Effects on Game Mechanics
12-14
Combat is savage and deadly. All rolls for critical hits are made
with a +1 bonus to the roll.
15-17
Combat is savage and deadly. All rolls for critical hits are made
with a +1 bonus to the roll. All threat ranges are increased by
one. Elves receive a +1 to Personality.
18+
Combat is savage and deadly All critical hits are rolled one
die higher on the die chain. All threat ranges are increased by
one. Elves receive a +2 to Personality; Dwarves receive at -1 to
Personality.
Fail
PCs receive a +2 to their die roll for all non-lethal combat:
grappling, unarmed combat and subduing strikes. Casters
using non-lethal attack spells such as Sleep or Paralysis receive
a +2 to bonus to their spell check. Anyone inflicting harm or
administering a coup de grace on a helpless foe must roll a DC
12 Fortitude Save. A failed save results in a Greater Corruption
and a successful save still results in a Minor Corruption.
L
A
W
Warfare is a prime instrument of order
but the best offense is a good defense.
The most strongtly governed nations
have the best-trained armies and use
them to expand their empires and
maintain order. Military Orders have
great prestige and influence.
12-14
Shields improve armor class by 2 instead of 1.
15-17
Shields improve armor class by 2 instead of 1. All Mighty Deed
attempts in the categories of Defense, Disarming and Rallying
are rolled one die higher on the die chain. Dwarves receive a +1
to Personality.
18+
All of the effects from the 15-17 die roll category, plus: War-
riors, Elves and Dwarves receive a +1 to die rolls for HP
increases. Dwarves receive a +2 to Personality; Elves receive a
-1 to Personality.
23
Page
That is, the PCs receive a cumulative +1 bonus for every
PC with a strength over 12 and also a modifier equal to the
net sum of the Strength modifiers of the PCs’ standing in
defense of the priest. In addition, the size of the PC group
is compared to the mob’s 10 members and the difference is
applied as a bonus or penalty to the roll. (For example, if
12 PCs stand in defense, the party adds a +2 bonus to their
check. If only 8 stand in defense, they incur a -2 penalty.)
To attempt pacification, one PC must take the lead:
Roll = d20 ± Pers modifier + sum of positive Pers
modifiers of PCs standing in defense +1 per holy
item displayed from Chapel of Akaa +2 if lead PC
has a “persuasive occupation” +1 to +4 role-playing
modifier (as applicable) vs DC 12
That is, the lead PC’s Personality check receives a bonus
equal to the sum of positive Personality modifiers of the
PCs standing in defense of the priest. If PCs display the holy
symbols or holy water from Encounter 2-4, they gain an
additional +1 bonus for each item so displayed. In addition,
if the lead PC has an occupations that deals in persuasion,
s/he receives a +2 bonus to their checks. In addition, the
GM should have the PC roleplay what s/he does to pacify
the mob. The Judge should award bonuses as appropriate,
particularly for entreaties to Lamushea’s dogma of peace
and order through lawful strictures.
If the PCs fail to calm the mob or defeat it in combat, it will
beat the priest to death- he is sworn to do no violence to a
mortal and will not defend himself. Any surviving PCs will
each lose a Luck point and be returned to the Penumbra.
24
The stripling priest wipes sweat from his brow and says in a
shaky voice: “Who amongst us is capable of the ultimate act
of forgiveness? Who can show the Mercy that our god for-
sook? Who will embody selflessness and sacrifice himself for
Lamushea? Who among us will give his very life in order to
prove that our faith does not yield, that our trust cannot be
destroyed, that we are greater than the woes that may beset us
- no matter what - even if those woes come from the very god
who promised us deliverance?”
Completing this holy rite invoked by the priest requires a
volunteer to willingly forfeit his or her life.
If one or more PCs volunteer, read the following, then con-
If the crowd is subdued or calmed, the priest continues his
sermon:
The service begins with the crowd kneeling while the boy-
ish-faced priest chants his prayer. But quickly shouts of “Liar!”
and “Where is the false god Lamushea?” and “Why has he
betrayed us?” ring out from different corners of the assembled
worshippers. The priest tries to calm the crowd but pockets
of attendees abruptly stand and start to push aggressively
toward him, seething with violence. The young priest lifts his
hands and shouts for order:
“Friends, even if we have been betrayed by our god, should we
put away the principles we hold in our hearts? No! We must
hold fast - transcend rage and bitterness and forgive, forgive
even our own god! When Law fails us, Mercy must prevail!
And what is Mercy except self-sacrifice? The path forward is
clear: a willing sacrifice must be made! Will one of you sacri-
fice him- or herself to redeem Lamushea?”
For a moment, the priest’s words give the crowd startled
pause. Then the moment passes and the crowd yells in rage
and frustration and surges forward, no longer just a crowd,
but a mob.
The priest has presented a transcendent path through the
injury Grim Inchyron has done to the mortal world. By
invoking forgiveness he has initiated a divine rite. But he
is now in mortal danger. Left unchecked, the angry mob
will dismember him. If they do, the holy rite of self-sacri-
fice will not be completed and the world will continue the
plunge into darkness that Grim Inchyron has set in motion.
Pressing forward violently against the priest in clumps of
2-4 and armed with clubs and knives are 10 commoners and
peasants:
Engraged Commoners (10): Init +0; Atk +0 melee (1d3);
AC 10; HD 1d4; hp 3; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP: none; SV Fort
+0, Ref +0, Will +0; AL L.
The PCs must find a way to defuse the situation and protect
the priest by force of arms or by dint of Personality and, at
the same time, complete the rite. If five or more PCs stand
in defense of the priest by forming some kind of defensive
line or redoubt, it enables one of the PCs to try defuse the
situation with a DC 12 Personality check. The Personality
check can be done using one of two approaches: intimida-
tion or pacification.
If they use intimidation:
Roll = d20 ± Pers modifier +1 / PC with 12+ Str +
net sum of Str modifiers of PCs standing in defense
± modifier equal to net difference in # of PCs stand-
ing in defense (compared to 10) vs DC 12
Page
tinuing seamlessly with the next section of read-aloud text
after this one:
As soon as you give yourself up to forgiveness of Lamushea,
you feel your body flash with searing - but somehow painless -
heat and you are illuminated by an unearthly radiance. Your
senses are consumed in a lightning flash and the stunning
sense of a tremendous impact!
The PC who makes the sacrifice is dead, consumed in a
nimbus of white flame. If more than one PC volunteers at
the same time, all are consumed in the flame, but only the
PC with the highest Personality dies. The other PCs who
sacrifice themselves receive a permanent +1 to their Person-
ality and Luck ability scores.
Someone may ask: “Why doesn’t the priest sacrifice him-
self?” The young priest, (named Gerhan), is willing to do so
but once the crowd turns into a mob he doesn’t believe that
anyone will help him to conduct the ritual properly. But if
a PC agrees to assist, Gerhan will give them his ceremonial
dagger and take off his vestment, placing himself on the
altar and letting his life feed forgiveness for Lamushea. The
Judge should have the PC make a DC 12 Personality check
25
to complete the sacrifice with skill, awarding a bonus for the
PC’s Occupation if that Occupation relates to understand-
ing the divine nature of things (eg Alchemist, Astrologer,
Grave Digger, Mendicant, Shaman, etc.). If the check is
failed, the PC is included in the sacrifice and disappears
along with Gerhan in a blaze of mystical light.
If no PC volunteers, one innocent little girl named Pan-
nihoo steps forward and volunteers. She does it so quietly,
and with such humility, that it takes several moments for
the assembled crowd to even realize what is happening.
Then, she disappears in the nimbus of white flame while her
parents weep. Even the young priest will shed a tear, though
he is bound by duty to the sacrifice.
Even if both Pannihoo and Gerhan are somehow prevented
from making the sacrifice, the PCs will move to the next
part of this encounter; after all, across the wide world, other
congregants are sacrificing themselves for the redemption of
Lamushea.
Regardless of who makes the necessary sacrifice, the com-
pleted rite means:
You appear back in Grim Inchyron’s sanctum, almost the
same as you had left it before, but this time you are full-
sized. The demon lies on his back, moaning and twitching.
He’s clearly been struck by some magisterial force-- and you
realize that (name of sacrifice)’s profound act of selflessness
has stunned and defeated the Architect of Agonies. On the
table before you, you see the Kryzt, still shimmering with the
after-effects of the lightning-essence that it channeled – the
force that struck down Grim Inchyron.
Whoever sacrificed him- or herself was literally transformed
into pure redemptive force. Lamushea’s essence, contained
within the Krytz, was able to guide that force through the
artifact and direct it at Grim Inchyron. The power of this
force struck down Grim Inchyron and now, before the PCs’
very eyes, it decorporealizes him. Turing to smoke, his spirit
peels out of his body and dissipates into the air.
The blinding shimmer emanating from the Krytz slowly
fades. As the PC’s eyes adjust they realize that a figure has
appeared in the chamber who wasn’t present before; it is
Laylokan, the same as he appears in the Penumbric Glen.
Laylokan does not notice the PCs and nothing they do can
gain his attention. He looks around and makes a single,
self-reflective remark:
“And thus do I take up the duty of weighing the cost required
to bring Balance to the Eternal Struggle. I shall fashion an
Advent to commemorate these events and contain the powers
Page
SIDEBAR: What the @#$%&^
Just Happened!?!
If you wish, as Judge, you can explain to the PCs what
they’ve seen: the mystical interaction of a
metaphysical trinity of Law (the Krytz, containing
Lamushea’s essence) Chaos (Grim Inchyron) and
self-sacrifice as a force for Balance has given form and
“licensure” to a new, Neutral God of “Weighing the
Cost of Balance.”
If the PCs Try to Take Possession of the Krytz
The Krytz is a mirrored sheet of crystal enclosed in a thick
frame of a silver-hued metal that is harder than steel and
not of this world. Circumscribing the frame are 13 round
gem settings, inset with 13 precious stones carved into let-
ter-like shapes. The pane of the mirror shifts from one scene
to another, scanning the mortal world. The device is still
crackling with menacing sparks.
The Krytz’s thirteen gems are each carved into the shape of
a rune. The runes are readable in the Common language as
the letters T, D, O, P, U, J, C, E, W, I, R, G and L. The back
of the Krytz has an engraved inscription written in Ordi-
nal - a primal language of Law that can be understood by
all creatures – that gives a clue to how to safely operate this
powerful Artifact of Law:
Understanding comes through an ordering of the senses. Only
then can the universe itself be ordered. Signify order and you
will see with crystal clarity.
Anyone picking up the Krytz must first touch gem-letters
in an order that spells out a concept of Law such as EDICT,
WRIT, CODE, RULE, etc. A gem can only be touched once,
so spelling out “ORDER” or “PRECEPT” does NOT work.
Handling the Krytz for more than a round without first
touching a correct sequence of gems will result in the char-
acter being exposed to a metaphysical force composed of
divine wisdom. Since no mortal mind can comprehend or
contain an infusion of divine awareness, a PC subjected to
this metaphysical force must make a Will save at DC 12. If
successful, the PC loses 1d3+1 points of Stamina and falls
unconscious. If the save is failed, the PC’s brain will literally
be melted in his or her head. His or her drooling, rudderless
body will fall vegetatively to the floor with no possibility for
restoration.
Once able to handle the Krytz, a PC acquainted with arcane
arts (such those with the Astrologer or Shaman occupa-
tions) may roll an Intelligence check to attempt to use as the
Krytz a scrying device. The result of this check is substitut-
ed for the Spell Check for the 1st level Cleric Spell Second
Sight.
of both Law and Chaos that have brought such destruction to
the worlds through their constant warring. Bearing this Ad-
vent is the cost of my creation - every birth comes with a price
that even the gods must pay.”
The PCs have two rounds before they are transported back
to the Penumbric Glen. If anyone handles the Krytz during
these two rounds, their return is delayed until their interac-
tion with the Krytz is completed. In addition to the Krytz,
there are valuable luxury items that the PCs could loot from
the sanctum: a goblet with inset gems worth 100 gp, a rare
earthen jug of mead brewed by a monkish order dedicated
to the god Sakanta worth 60 gp, a tea service carved from
obsidian and inlaid with silver worth 50 gp and a set of
silver serving utensils worth 20 gp.
26
Page
Roll
Effects on Game Mechanics
12-14
Chaotic Clerics incur a -1 penalty to spell check rolls to use Lay
on Hands on a Lawful subject.
15-17
Chaotic Clerics incur a -2 penalty to spell check rolls to use Lay
on Hands on a Lawful subject. Once per day, Chaotic Clerics
may re-roll one spell check to try to avoid deity disapproval (the
spell still fails regardless).
18+
Chaotic Clerics incur a 2 penalty to spell check rolls to use Lay
on Hands on a Lawful subject and a +1 bonus to Lay on Hands
checks on a Chaotic subject. Once per day, Chaotic Clerics may
re-roll one spell check to try to avoid deity disapproval (the
spell still fails regardless). Lawful clerics who incur deity disap-
proval also suffer a minor corruption
Broad Effects on Campaign
World
C
H
A
O
S
The social order is characterized by
instability and rampant debauchery.
No respect or deference is paid to vir-
tue, in fact the very concept is subject
to constant challenge. Individuals
constantly question what is moral and
acceptable and explore where these
lines are drawn through all manner of
depravities. Religion is pure politics
and has no moral authority.
N
E
U
T
R
A
L
Neutrality is the overriding philoso-
phy and notions of good and evil are
nuanced and often unclear.
L
A
W
The social order is characterized by
narrow, prim mores and a strict class
system. Individuals know exactly how
they are expected to behave and there
is no tolerance for deviation from the
norm or aspirations beyond one’s sta-
tion. The moral authority of religion
is absolute, making theocracy the
dominant form of government and
the forces of Law dominant in these
religious oligarchies.
Fail
Clerics roll to Turn Unholy one die lower on the die chain (a
d16 instead of a d20). Detect Evil and Protection from Evil spell
checks are made at a -1 penalty to the die roll. Neutral casters
roll one die higher on the die chain when casting all other De-
tect spells, divination spells (eg Read Magic and Second Sight)
and illusion spells (eg Mirror Image).
12-14
Lawful Clerics incur a -1 penalty to spell check rolls to use Lay
on Hands on a Chaotic subject.
15-17
Lawful Clerics incur a -2 penalty to spell check rolls to use Lay
on Hands on a Chaotic subject. Once per day, Lawful Clerics
may re-roll one spell check to try to avoid deity disapproval (the
spell still fails regardless).
18+
Lawful Clerics incur a 2 penalty to spell check rolls to use Lay
on Hands on a Chaotic subject and a +1 bonus to Lay on Hands
checks on a Lawful subject. Once per day, Lawful Clerics may
re-roll one spell check to try to avoid deity disapproval (the
spell still fails regardless). Chaotic clerics who incur deity dis-
approval add an extra 1d3+1 to the dice they roll on the disap-
proval table.
MORALITY AND ETHICS
27
2-6a The Final “Moral-Making”
After the PCs exit the sixth Chronicle, they come before
Laylokan for one final moral-making. He says:
“What understanding have you gleaned from this
story in its entirety? What lessons do you draw from the mira-
cle you beheld, whether viewed through the eyes of Lamushea
– whose divine essence lives on within the crystalline mirror –
or through the eyes of Grim
Inchyron, whose wraith-like spirit still inhabits the calendar?
It is time for you to determine the ultimate meaning of this
Sacred Mystery. That meaning will
define the very nature of morality and ethics in the world you
return to.”
Conduct this re-telling in exactly the same manner as
the previous three.
Using the “Narrative Effects on the Campaign World”
colum, have Laylokan relate to the PC’s how the world they
return to will be different as a result of the roll.
Rating
Difficulty Class and Die
Marginally better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d20
Significantly better = Roll against a DC 12 using ad 24
Vastly better = Roll against a DC 12 using a d30
Page
Concluding the Adventure
With the Chronicles finished, Laylokan will gesture toward
the seventh and last door on the calendar, explaining that it
is now unlocked. Passing through it will take the PCs back
to their world.
Before the surviving PCs leave the Penumbra, Laylokan will
bestow upon each one a parting gift. He will pluck a single
leaf from the amber birches and whisper an enchantment,
attuning that leaf to the PC who receives it. The leaf now
has the power to turn back time for the PC. When dropped
to the ground in the mortal world, the leaf allows the PC to
re-roll a single die roll and take the higher of the two results.
Each leaf only works for the PC to whom it was given.
Through their experience exploring the Chronicles, the PCs
have also unknowingly forged mystical conections with the
two most powerful inhabitants of the calendar: The Logos
of Lamushea and the Devil-Wraith of Grim Inchyron. Both
28
of these divinely-powered beings desire to regain their
influence over the mortal world. This makes both of them
eager to bestow their Patronage on one or more of the PCs.
(Patron write-ups for both can be found in Appendix D.)
The PCs have also restored the memory of the story behind
the Sacred Krytz Mystery to the mortal world. However,
this restored memory is reflective of the PCs’ interpretation
of the story. The PCs’ meaning-making acted as a ritual in-
cantation that activated the power inherent in the calendar
and its divinely-powered denizens, producing a powerful
magical effect. This magic re-shaped the mortal world on a
fundamental level, turning it into a representation of all the
varied meanings that the PCs derived from the Chronicles.
As Judge, you can decide that returning to the mortal world
from the Penumbra imparts to them an instantaneous, full
understanding of how they have re-shaped their world from
the one they left. Alternately, you can choose to reveal these
differences to them over time, as they embark on their new
careers as full-fledged, first-level adventurers.
Page
Appendix A: Judge Worksheet – Recording Effects of the Moral-Making on the Campaign World
Theme,
Chronicle(s) and Mor-
al-Making Encounter #
GOVERNMENT AND
INFLUENCE
Moral-Making
Encounter 2-1a
about Chronicle 1
Effect on In-
Game Me-
chanics (From
Moral-Making
Encounters)
Moral-Making
Alignment
CHAOS
NEUTRALITY
LAW
Broad Effects on the Campaign
World
Anarchy is widespread. Any centralized
poser is sort-lived; revolutions are fre-
quent and violent. Most governments
are quickly corrupted and no lineages
rule for long without their claim being
disputed.
Individual liberty combined with a
belief in using the least amount of
control to create the collective good
trumps any other concepts of legit-
imate political power. Harmony in
Nature is held up as the best guide for
good governance.
Governments acheive control easily.
The people depend on government
and have great faith in it. They
support long reigns but corrupt
rulers are quickly replaced through
regime change. However, individual
rights and freedoms are subsumed
to the needs of the polis.
Judges Notes: What Your
Campaign World Looks
Like with This Effect
(Refer to ideas in
Appendix B)
CHAOS
NEUTRALITY
LAW
GODS & PATRONS
Motal-Making
Encounter 2-3a about
Chronicles 2 & 3
The Devil Wraith of Grim Inchyron
is introduced into the world. One god
of Law (Judge’s choice) vanishes from
the pantheon. PCs who level-up to
becomeWizards or Elves automatically
recieve Invoke Patron and the Patron
Bond spell tied to Devil Wrai. The head
of one of the world’s prominent Lawful
orders is secretly a worshipper of dark
Chaotic forces.
Neutrality possesses the greatest
influence. Both the Logos of Lamue-
sha AND the Devil-Wraith of Grim
Inchron are introduced to the mortal
world. The head of one of the world’s
prominent Lawful orders AND the
head of one of the world’s prominent
Chaotic orders are each secretly a
worshipper of Neutral forces.
The Logos of Lamuesha is introduced to
the mortal world and one god of Chaos
(Judges Choice) vanishes from the
pantheon. PCs who level-up to become
Wizards or Elves automaticly receive
Invoke Patron and the Patron Bond spell
tied to the Logos of Lamuesha. The head
of one of the world’s prominent Chaotic
orders is a secret follower of Law.
29
Page
Judge Worksheet – Recording Effects of the Moral-Making on the Campaign World, Page 2
Theme,
Chronicle(s) and Mor-
al-Making Encounter #
WAR & RACIAL
CONFLICT
Moral-Making
Encounter 2-5a
about Chronicles 4 & 5
Effect on
In-Game
Mechanics
(From
Moral-Making
Encounters)
Alignment that
Wins Moral-Mak-
ing Contest
CHAOS
NEUTRALITY
LAW
Broad Effects on the Campaign
World
Peace is impossible to maintain. Bar-
barian tribes invade civilized nations
at any opportunity. Feudal lords attack
each other at the slightest provocation.
Diasporas range across populated lands
ravaged by war.
Warfare is eschewed because of its po-
tential to destabilize the Balance and its
destructive effect on Nature. All beings
are acknowledged as having a niche and
no creature is held above another.
Warfare is a prime instrument of order
but the best offense is a good deffense.
The most strongly governed nations
have the best-trained armies and use
them to expand their empires and
maintain order. Military Orders have
great prestige and influence.
Judges Notes: What Your
Campaign World Looks
Like with This Effect
(Refer to ideas in Appen-
dix B)
CHAOS
NEUTRALITY
LAW
MORALITY & ETHICS
Making
Encounter 2-6a
about Chronicle 6
The social order is characterized by in-
stability and rampant debauchery. No
respect or deference is paid to virtue, in
fact the very concept is subject to con-
stant challenge. Individuals constantly
question what is moral and acceptable
and explore where these lines are drawn
through all manner of depravities. Reli-
gion is pure politics and has no moral
authority.
Neutrality is the overriding philoso-
phy and notions of good and evil are
nueanced and often unclear.
The social order is characterized by
narrow, prim mores and a strict class
system. Individuals know exactly
how they are expected to behave and
there is no tolerance for deviation
from the norm or aspirations beyond
one’s station. The moral authority of
religion is absolute, making theocracy
the dominant form of government and
the forces of Law dominant in these
religious oligarchies.
30
Page
Appendix B: Tables of the Narrative Effects of Moral Making on Campaign Worlds
d11
Category
Effect
1
Government
All governments evidence layer upon layer of corruption. Secret political orders vie
with each other for the real political power. Assassination, character assassination
and political sabotage are the primary tools of statecraft.
2
Governments operate under the patronage of evil gods and demons. Populations are
ruled through terror and random cruelty; a “blood tax” is levied on all subjects.
3
Gods & Patrons
Total, open war has broken out among the gods; this war has shattered the boundar-
ies between the mortal and divine spheres and made the world into the gods’ battle-
field.
4
A god’s power is directly determined by how many followers s/he has, creating a
vast marketplace of worship. Temple Districts dominate all settlements and in these
districts the gods themselves make “sales pitches” in an effort to sign up more wor-
shippers.
5
Warfare
There are no large civilizations; small, fortified keeps dot the landscape. Warlords
maintain their military forces through oppressive feudal systems. These warlords
sometimes band together for mutual defense but more often prey on each other.
6
Morality and Ethics
Public events are wild, violent Bachanals marked by mob violence, property destruc-
tion, narcotic use and other debaucheries
7
Land & Weather
Violent storms and other extreme weather, such as droughts, appear frequently,
quickly and without warning; earthquakes shake the continents.
9
The Races
An over-abundance of Chaotic patrons has hybridized the Elvish races into
omni-corrupted ½ demons that are reproducing so rapidly that the world is on the
verge of being overrun
10
Metaphysics
A magical corruption-plague sweeps across the land, defying any attempts to cure it.
11
All creatures are subject to rapid, magical mutation triggered by any physical change:
the blood flow from a wounds morphs into snake heads, the gap created by a tooth
being knocked out fills with a functional eye, an individual defecates a tail, etc.
8
There is no order or reason to nature: some continents float in the air, some seas boil,
time moves faster or slower in some locales, lakes are filled with blood or wine and
the world is rent open in random places, oozing raw magic
31
CHAOS
Page
d11 Category
Effect
1
Government
Fairness is an immutable principle of governance. Each settlement has a Market
Square of Balance as its highest authority. There, any and all choices or actions can
be approved on the condition that those affected by that choice or action receive
fair compensation.
2
The Law of Nature is an immutable principle of governance. Human and demi-hu-
man lands must answer to a governing body of animals called the Council of
Beasts.
3
Gods & Patrons
The gods are forbidden by divine law to interfere in the affairs of mortals. Lawful
and Chaotic Clerics still act as liaisons between mortals and the gods but receive no
spells.
4
A secret order of wizard-assassins punishes gods who interfere in mortal affairs.
They possess wondrous technology that negates divine power.
5
Warfare
The only organized armies are ancient coteries of mercenaries who fight on
contract; these contracts are known for having many loopholes and termination
clauses.
6
Morality & Ethics
Taverns and inns have satirical names and signs that lampoon symbols of Law and
Chaos: the aristocracy, the clergy, lawful gods, major demons, etc.
8
Land & Weather
There is a ubiquitous, gentle wind in every corner of the land. The smell and feel of
this continual breeze makes one feel relaxed and content.
7
Art is seen as the purest expression of individuality and is revered. Settlements
abound with sculpture, murals and mosaics. Every city claims an “artistic wonder of
the world.” Punishment for major offenses can be avoided by invoking the
“performance art defense” and proving the artistic merit of an act.
9
The Races
Races of humanoids formerly considered “evil” – orcs, goblins, etc. – co-inhabit
the civilized lands with humans and demi-humans. They have organized their own
petitioner groups and guilds.
10
Halfling culture is considered the most evolved and the race has produced an
abundance of evangelists who spread a gospel of “live and let live” mixed with mild
hedonism.
11
Divine magic” (cleric spells) is wielded by shamanistic wizards called “witches” and
“warlocks” and involvs spell burn, misfire and corruption.
NEUTRALITY
32
Page
d11
Category
Effect
1
Government
A gridwork of tall, ancient, sturdy, ivory walls demarcate the borders of every
civilized land and are staffed by efficiently bureaucratic guards who carefully record
and tax all border crossings.
2
All civilized lands are ruled by Priest-Kings whose every utterance is written into
law and who pass down guidance and mores directly from the Pantheon of Law
3
Wizardry is outlawed, its unpredictability considered anathema by society. Wizards
are hunted and Elves are regarded with great prejudice and must carry registration
papers.
4
Gods & Patrons
The Pantheon of Law resides in the mortal world in a great temple atop the highest
mount or in a city under the sea or a citadel floating in the sky; all know the loca-
tion of their domicile.
5
The gods of Law have mated freely with mortals, spawning a sizeable race of demi-
god heroes who walk upon the lands, equaling the highest kings in power, influ-
ence and might.
LAW
6
Warfare
Open warfare is extinct, replaced by a huge, live gladiatorial game resembling
Chess or Go. This game is used by all factions to settle disputes.
Land & Weather
The land is a continuous series well-kept agrarian steadings, each bordering the
next with healthy hedgerows, husbanded forests and canals and connected by ex-
ceptional roads.
7
Morality & Ethics
Social interactions are defined by formal greetings, titles and gestures; large gath-
erings involve complex introductions involving caste and ancestry, intricate dances
and orchestrated music.
8
9
An administrative order of priests control and regulate the weather, maintaining a
fair distribution of rain, sun, wind and snow, facilitating travel and trade.
10
Cloud formations are always uniform, symmetrical and well ordered. The color of
the sky is always medium blue and clouds are always white, even when there is rain
or snow.
11
The Races
Dwarves are considered the apex of civilization, and Dwarvish culture has evolved
to evidence moderation in drink and speech and it frowns upon garish displays of
wealth. Dwarvish Major Domos are highly prized among the rulers and nobles of
other races.
33
Page
Appendix C: New Class – Zvart
You are a short, lithe, olive-skinned demi-human with a
subtle animal cast to your features and an untamed cu-
riosity and zest for life. In fact, the name “Zvart” in your
native tongue means “high-spirited people”. You are a fae
race - distant relatives of the Elves. While you claim no
bonds of kinship with your elf “cousins,” like them you have
an inherently magical nature and a toxic reaction to iron.
You are at home in the wintry, twilit forests and steppes of
Varjoma, but living in the wilds has not made you reclusive.
Your small, 4 1/2 foot stature makes you cautious and canny
about potential danger, but an insatiable sense of wonder
drives you to explore new places and meet new people. You
are warm company, quick-witted and always eager to make
a fair trade of bits of lore or goods and services.
Zvart society has been equally shaped by the demands of life
in the hinterlands and the quest to create civilization. Zvarts
aspire to high-minded pursuits of art and invention. They
are a good-humored people, quick to jest or play pranks
on one another and quick to break into song or proffer a
drink. Zvarts are even-tempered and slow to anger. Even as
they cultivate a civilized society, the Zvarts maintain a close
relationship with the natural world. Their society’s success
is bolstered by their skill as traders. They are aided in efforts
to ensure the safety of their settlements by a magical nature
that can influence the fortune of others, imparting an ill
luck that thwarts enemy endeavors.
If you ask a Zvart, most will tell you that theirs is the perfect
life, combining the advantages of civilized society and close-
knit community with haleness and a comprehension of the
Great Mysteries that comes with living close to nature. Yet
their ingrained curiosity and yearning for congress with
other peoples sends many a Zvart out adventuring in the
great, wide world.
Hit points: A Zvart gains 1d6 hit points each level.
Weapon training: A Zvart is trained in the use of the sin-
gle-edged dagger, dart, sling, javelin, short spear, club and
short sword. Sensitive to iron just like elves, Zvarts employ
mithril weapons. At 1st level, a Zvart character may pur-
chase one piece of armor and one weapon made of mithril
at no additional cost.
Alignment: Zvarts value discovery, life experience, sponta-
neity and exchange, whether of knowledge, goods, services
or friendship. As a result Zvarts embrace all the alignments:
Neutrals who live for any and all trades, Lawfuls who insist
on fairness and Chaotics who are eager to experience what-
ever life hands them. However, Chaotic Zvarts tend to es-
chew evil unless converted to it by some demonic influence.
Infravision: Zvarts live in the dim, twilit forests of Varjoma
and so can see in the dark up to 30’ distant.
Immunities: As fae creatures, Zvarts are highly resistant to
mind-affecting enchantments and thus are immune to mag-
ical sleep and charms. Their close ties to the material world
gives them normal vulnerability to paralysis.
Vulnerabilities: Exposure to iron in the form of ore or met-
al is toxic to Zvarts. Direct contact over extended periods
causes a heat rash and even close proximity makes them
uneasy. A Zvart may not wear armor or handle weapons
forged of iron or steel. Prolonged contact with iron causes 1
hp of damage per day of direct contact.
Ill-Crossed: Zvarts have a magical nature that protects them
from the depradations of others by bestowing ill fortune on
their enemies. A Zvart can burn Luck to lower the results
of die rolls that determine whether an opponent harms
them and the extent of that harm. Every point of Luck that
a Zvart burns reduces the result of an opponent’s roll by one
for to-hit rolls, damage rolls and spell- or skill checks that
would produce an effect that would cause direct harm to the
Zvart. This last point is key: to affect an opponent’s die rolls,
the outcome of the targeted roll must be something that
would cause direct harm to the Zvart. Opponent’s actions
that will harm a Zvart’s allies or compatriots, or may exert
control over the Zvart without necessarily causing harm (eg
Charm Person) are not affected by the Zvart’s imparting of
ill-fortune. The amount of Luck a Zvart may burn to impart
ill-fortune as a single action is equal in points to the Zvart’s
34
Page 35
1
+1
d6/II
d20
+0
+1
+1
2
+1
d8/III
d20
+0
+2
+1
3
+2
d8/III
d20
+1
+2
+1
4
+3
d10/III
d20
+1
+2
+2
5
+3
d10/III
d20
+2
+2
+2
6
+4
d12/III
d20+d14
+2
+3
+2
7
+4
d12/III
d20+d16
+2
+4
+3
8
+5
d14/III
d20+d20
+3
+5
+4
Level
Title (all alignments)
1
Shee
2
Teeg
3
Clurich
4
Uruisg
5
Tylwyth Teeg
Level Attack Crit Die/Table Action Dice Ref
Fort
Will
that of the Zvart. The result of the roll, in terms of number
of dice healed, works the same as for a cleric’s lay on hands
ability. Just like a cleric, a Zvart may elect to heal a specific
condition instead of hit points, using the guidelines for cler-
ics (DCC rules, page 30).
Languages: At 1st level, a Zvart automatically knows his or
her native racial language and Elvish. If a Zvart has a pos-
itive Intelligence modifier, s/he may make a DC 13 Intelli-
gence check when s/he first encounters the Common tongue
to determine whether or not s/he can understand it. If the
check is successful, the Zvart can add Common to the list
of languages s/he knows subject to Intelligence limits (See
DCC rules, Appendix L.)
Action Dice: A Zvart’s action dice can be used for attacks,
exercising his or her restorative nature and skill checks.
Unique Society: Zvarts hail from isolated settlements in the
borderlands between the mortal world and the netherworld.
As a result, they have their own collection of occupations
with their own associated weapons and trade goods. Because
of a mystical connection between a Zvart’s vocation and his
level. (ie, a 1st level Zvart can only burn one point per ac-
tion, a second level Zvart can burn two points, etc.)
A Zvart’s ability to impart ill fortune at others perpetually
restores itself. A Zvart recovers Luck expended using this
ability at the rate of one point per day. Luck "burnt" by a
Zvart to add to his or her own dice rolls is lost.
Restorative Nature: The inherently magical nature of a
Zvart is partly rooted in nature. Nature is an expression of
pure life energy and Zvart’s can connect to and channel this
energy to perform magical healing. By making an action
die roll, a Zvart may heal in a manner similar to a cleric’s lay
on hands ability. A Zvart may not heal un-dead, animated
objects, extraplanar creatures or constructs. The Zvart must
physically touch the wounds s/he seeks to heal and concen-
trate for one action. The Zvart adds his or her Stamina mod-
ifier and level to the action die roll and checks the modified
result against the cleric spell check table for lay on hands
(DCC rules, page 31). A Zvart always treats the target of
restoration as being of adjacent alignment for the purposes
of determining the result of a restoration action, regardless
of the actual relationship between the target’s alignment and
Zvart
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Page
Zvart Occupations (Roll d24)
1. Match-Maker, +1 Stamina; Charm Person spell, flagon of wine and two fine chalices
2. Oliphalump Charmer, +1 Personality; wooden stool (as staff), large sack of peanuts
3. Day-Dreamer, +1 Luck; Second Sight spell, velvet cushion
4. Jig-Dancer, +1 Agility; steel-toed boots (as club), fiddle and bow
5. Piebald Piper, +1 Agility; flute (blowgun, as darts), piebald cape and comic masque
6. Brass Shaper, +1 Stamina; ball peen hammer, three ½’x2’ sheets of brass and 24 rivets
7. Sonnet Stylist, +1 Intelligence; six quill pens (as darts), leather bound book and full inkwell
8. Herb Gatherer, +1 Intelligence; sickle (1d4), poultice (heals 1d3 hp)
9. Garland Weaver, +1 Luck; sickle (1d4); Sanctuary spell
10. Wacky Inventor, +1 Luck; giant compass scribe (as dagger); “odd device” and jeweler’s loupe
11. Stickling Tinker, +1 Intelligence; screw driver (as dagger), clockworks and grease
12. Merry-Maker, +1 Personality; pewter ale mug (1d3), jug of honey mead
13. Haunch Pickler, +1 Strength; meat hook (1d4); pickled boar haunch, jug of vinegar
14. Carriage Upholsterer, +1 Strength; woodcarver’s chisel and awl (as daggers), 6’x8’ sheet of fine black
upholstery leather and 50’ of catgut
15. Team Handler, +1 Agility; hoof pick (as dagger); leather harness and 50’ of spider-silk rope
16. Scaffold Stager, +1 Strength; mallet (as club) stout prop (10’ pole) and 50’ of spider-silk rope
17. Rumor Monger, +1 Intelligence; Ventriloquism spell, ear trumpet
18. Hired Celebrant, +1 Personality; pennant (as club), six small firecrackers
19. Dirge Carrier, +1 Luck; drum mallet (as club), drum, death masque and mourner’s shroud
20. Pot Watcher, +1 Stamina; large metal ladle (as club), cast iron soup pot
21. Canny Lure, +1 Agility; caltrops, camouflaged cloak
22. Mushroom Milker, +1 Strength; yoke (as staff), two buckets
23. Worry Wart, +1 Stamina; Detect Evil spell, string of worry beads and an amulet on a leather cord
24. Raucous Prankster, +1 Personality; Cantrip spell, air bladder and stink bombs
36
or her being, by the time a Zvart has learned an occupa-
tion well enough to be known by its title, it has shaped the
Zvart’s physical or mental capabilities. So a 0-level Zvart
adds +1 to the ability score associated with his or her occu-
pation.
Because of their inherently magical nature, some 0-level
Zvarts know how to cast one spell. Zero-level Zvart spells
are always cast as Wizard spells, even if the spell comes
from the Cleric list. This follows all the normal rules for
casting. However, 0-level Zvarts are not sufficiently ad-
vanced in the arts to Spell Duel or Spell Burn.
Page
THE DEVIL-WRAITH OF GRIM
INCHYRON
Centuries ago, the Witch-Queen of Varjoma coupled with
the lake-monster Tkurrso and gave birth to the Nine Mortal
Afflictions. Born as fully-formed arch-fiends, each of the
Nine is the embodiment of both a life-threatening disease
and a flaw in the mortal psyche. They are primal forces of
Chaos who seek the downfall of civilization.
Grim Inchyron was one of the Nine, an artificer and the
bringer of colic. Grim Inchyron hatched a plot so evil that
it brought about the murder of a god of Law and briefly
upended the Eternal Balance in Chaos’ favor. But in the end,
his plot backfired - the mortal world made a rare choice
to embrace virtue and this supreme act of moral transcen-
dence struck down Grim Inchyron with its metaphysical
power. He dis-integrated into a mere shadow of himself, be-
coming a “devil-wraith.” The Devil-Wraith of Grim Inchy-
ron inhabits the magical artifact called the Winter Calendar,
seeking to return to his full form.
The Devil-Wraith’s powerful psyche enables him to reach
beyond the confines of the Calendar to traffic with the
mortal world. The Devil-Wraith yearns to return to corpo-
reality and regain his full demonic power. He is generous in
granting patronage to mortals and readily answers calls for
aid, because each time he does, he inches closer to achieving
37
Appendix D: New Patrons
Page
28-29
Str 17, Agility 15, +6 AC, +4 melee, immune to non-magical weapons, fire, cold, electricity, gas, poison and
disease, ½ damage from acid and to magical weapons of less than +2 enchantment, immune from natural
attacks from creatures of less than 5 HD, infravision, +4 to Fort saves, +4 to Reflex saves, +3d8 hp, cast
Darkness with a +6 to spell check, Fly with a +4 to spell check and Shatter with a +2 to spell check, subject
to Turn Unholy. (Treat as 7-8 HD).
30-31
Str 18, Agility 15, +6 AC, +6 melee, immune to non-magical weapons, fire, cold, electricity, acid, gas,
poison, disease, magical weapons of less than +3 enchantment and to natural attacks from creatures of less
than 7 HD, ½ damage from magical weapons with +3 or +4 enchantment, infravision, +4 to Fort saves,
+4 to Reflex saves, +2 to Will saves, +4d6 hp, cast Darkness with a +8 to spell check, Fly with a +6 to spell
check, Shatter with a +4 to spell check and Planar Step with a +2 to spell check, subject to Turn Unholy.
(Treat as 9-10 HD).
32+
Str 18, Agility18, +8 AC, +8 melee, immune to non-magical weapons, fire, cold, electricity, acid, gas, poi-
son, disease, magical weapons of less than +4 enchantment and to natural attacks from creatures of less
than 7 HD, ½ damage from magical weapons with +4 enchantment, infravision, +6 to Fort saves, +6 to
Reflex saves, +4 to Will saves, +4d8 hp, cast Darkness with a +8 to spell check, Fly with a +8 to spell check,
Shatter with a +6 to spell check and Planar Step with a +4 to spell check, subject to Turn Unholy. (Treat as
11-12 HD).
1-9
Lost, failure and Patron Taint
10-12
+1 AC, +1 melee, -1 point of damage per die from non-magical weapons, poison and fire, immune to dis-
ease, infravision, +2 to Fort saves, +2d4 hp, subject to Turn Unholy. (Treat as 3-4 HD). Patron Taint.
13-16
Str 13, +2 AC, +1 melee, ½ damage from non-magical weapons, poison and fire, immune to disease, in-
fravision, +2 to Fort saves, +1 to Reflex saves, +3d3 hp, cast Darkness with a +2 to spell check, subject to
Turn Unholy. (As 3-4 HD).
17-19
Str 13, +4 AC, +2 melee, ½ damage from non-magical weapons, poison, fire, cold and electricity, immune
to disease, immune from natural attacks from creatures of less than 2 HD, infravision, +2 to Fort saves, +2
to Reflex saves, +3d4 hp, cast Darkness with a +2 to spell check, subject to Turn Unholy. (Treat as 5-6 HD).
20-22
Str 15, Agility 13, +4 AC, +4 melee, ½ damage from non-magical weapons, fire, cold, electricity, acid and
gas, immune to poison and disease, immune to natural attacks from creatures of less than 2 HD, infravi-
sion, +4 to Fort saves, +4 to Reflex saves, +3d6 hp, cast Darkness with a +4 to spell check, subject to Turn
Unholy. (Treat as 5-6 HD).
23-27
Str 15, Agility 13, +4 AC, +4 melee, immune to non-magical weapons, fire, cold, electricity, gas, poison and
disease, ½ damage from acid, immune from natural attacks from creatures of less than 3 HD, infravision,
+4 to Fort saves, +4 to Reflex saves, +3d6 hp, cast Darkness with a +4 to spell check and Fly with a +2 to
spell check, subject to Turn Unholy. (Treat as 7-8 HD).
38
full possession of a supplicant. Someday, one supplicant will
evidence exactly the right characteristics to withstand a full
and permanent transfer of Grim Inchyron’s spirit. The right
candidate will possess the fortitude and will necessary to
contain the evil spirit of Grim Inchyron without going mad,
but that same individual will not be so strong that he or she
can resist the possession. The day the Devil-Wraith finds
– and possesses - that supplicant, is the day that he will be
restored to the world as Grim Inchyron, one of The Nine.
Invoke Patron check results:
Special - The casting table for Invoke Patron for The Dev-
il-Wraith of Grim Inchyron is modified as follows. The
caster is imbued with demonic powers and traits:
Page
When patron taint is indicated for the Devil-Wraith of
Grim-Inchyron, roll 1d6 on the table below. A caster does
not get a second or third “level” of the same taint until s/he
has acquired all six taints at the previous level. Any repeat
result on the table is re-rolled until a caster has all six taints
at one “level.” When a caster has acquired all six taints at all
levels of effect, there is no need to continue rolling – s/he
has become a physical vessel for Grim Inchyron’s spirit and
has been fully possessed. This returns the arch-demon to the
mortal world.
Roll
Result
1
During periods of sleep when the caster is not adventuring, the Devil-Wraith takes possession of the caster
for half the night. During this time, the demon’s spirit sends the caster’s body out into the world, seeking
ways to accelerate his return to physical form. The caster will not have any knowledge of what s/he did while
possessed by the Devil-Wraith. The caster may have to deal with the consequences of whatever actions the
Devil-Wraith took while in possession of the caster: s/he awakens soaked in the blood of a murder victim,
lawful clerics are leading mobs of witch-hunters in a search for the caster, etc. The second time this result is
rolled, the caster is possessed for the entire night. The third time this result is rolled, the caster even blacks out
during parts of the day and is possessed by the Devil-Wraith.
2
Anytime the caster is harmed, s/he must make a DC 12 Will save. If the caster fails the save, his or her next
round of actions must be based on what the Devil-Wraith would do in the situation. The second time this
result is rolled, the Will save increases to DC 15 and, if a save is failed, the caster must act as the Devil-Wraith
would in that situation for the next minute (10 rounds). The third time this result is rolled, the Will save in-
creases to DC 18 and, if a save is failed, the caster must act as the Devil-Wraith would in that situation for the
next 10 minutes (100 rounds).
3
The caster begins to resemble Grim Inchyron: his or her hair lengthens and blackens, skin turns paler, his or
her form becomes slender and toned, the caster becomes more androgynous, and his or her nose becomes
thin and Roman-esque. The second time this result is rolled, the similarities become more pronounced and
after the third time this result is rolled, the caster becomes the spitting image of the Artificer of Anguish.
4
The caster’s essence becomes increasingly demonic. S/he develops an aversion to empowered symbols of Law
and locations sanctified by Law. If the caster’s alignment is not already Chaotic, it shifts one degree in that
direction (ie if it is Lawful it becomes Neutral and if Neutral it becomes Chaotic). The second time this result
is rolled, if the caster’s alignment is not already Chaotic, it shifts another degree towards Chaotic. The caster
becomes subject to clerics’ Turn Unholy power as if s/he were a 7-8 HD creature and is hurt by holy water.
The third time the result is rolled, the caster becomes subject to clerics’ Turn Unholy power as if s/he were a
5-6 HD creature and continues to be hurt by holy water.
5
The caster experiences occasional dreams that are actually Grim Inchyron’s memories, knowledge and
thoughts. The second time this result is rolled, these dreams become a nightly occurrence. The third time this
result is rolled, the caster experiences both sleeping and waking dreams of this nature, making it increasingly
difficult for the caster to distinguish between his or her memories/experiences and those of Grim Inchyron.
6
The caster spreads colic to infants in his or her vicinity. All babies within 60’ of the caster begin crying uncon-
trollably until the caster departs. The second time this result is rolled, all babies within 120’ of the caster begin
crying uncontrollably until the caster departs and evidence colic for 4d4 weeks afterwards. The third time this
result is rolled, all babies within one mile of the caster begin crying uncontrollably until the caster departs;
then they evidence colic the 6d4 weeks afterwards.
39
PATRON TAINT: THE DEVIL-WRAITH OF GRIM INCHYRON
Page
Roll
Spellburn Result
1
The caster receives a Patron Taint as if s/he had rolled it on a casting table.
2
The caster receives a Patron Taint as if s/he had rolled it on a casting table.
3
The caster must perform a ritual killing of a human or demi-human infant within a fortnight. If the caster does
not make this sacrifice s/he receives a permanent Patron Taint and cannot cast the spell for which s/he spell-
burned until the sacrifice is made.
4
One of the caster’s allies within 60’ who is not of Chaotic alignment must make a DC 18 Will save. If the save is
failed, the ally’s alignment changes to Chaotic. If none of the caster’s allies are within 60’ when the spellburn is
performed, then the next time an ally comes within 60’ of the caster that individual must make the Will Save and
change his or alignment to Chaotic if the save fails.
PATRON SPELLS: THE DEVIL-WRAITH
OF GRIM INCHYRON
Level 1: Minion Manifestation
Level 2: Nefarious Plot
Level 3: Infernal Artifact Magic
SPELLBURN: THE DEVIL-WRAITH
OF GRIM INCHYRON
Sacrifices to the Devil-Wraith support the eventual return of
a fully-restored Grim Inchyron to the mortal world! When
the caster utilizes spell burn, roll 1d4 on the table below.
40
MINION MANIFESTATION
Level: 1
Range: 20’
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 turn or less
Save: None
General
The Devil-Wraith licenses the caster to summon and command Grim Inchyron’s Infernal minions. Because the
minions are constructs, they require no food, drink or rest and will serve the caster until destroyed. They are
fanatically loyal, so their service extends to suicidal commands or commands seemingly against their nature.
Manifestation
Roll 1d3: (1) a trap door magically appears in the floor or ground, disgorging the summoned creatures, then
seals back up, leaving no sign that it ever existed; (2) a dark, shimmering aurora appears in the air and the sum-
moned creatures emerge from it; (3) a loud steam whistle with a thunder-like tone blows and then a hail of min-
ion body parts rain down from above; after these parts hit the ground they join together into complete creatures.
1
Lost, failure and patron taint
2-9
Failure, but spell is not lost. Patron taint.
10-12
Patron Taint. The caster summons his or her choice of: two Fuliginous Wing-Fiends, two Bituminous Quasits or
a Barbed Imp Swarm.
13-17
The caster summons his or her choice of: three Fuliginous Wing-Fiends, three Bituminous Quasits or two Barbed
Imp Swarms.
18-19
The caster summons his or her choice of: five Fuliginous Wing-Fiends, five Bituminous Quasits or three Barbed
Imp Swarms.
20-23
The caster summons his or her choice of: one Slag Hellion Swarm, six Fuliginous Wing-Fiends, six Bituminous
Quasits or four Barbed Imp Swarms.
24-27
The caster summons his or her choice of: Sloucher the Dire Rat (in giant form), a Slag Hellion Swarm accompa-
nied by two Barbed Imp Swarms, seven Fuliginous Wing-Fiends or seven Bituminous Quasits.
28-29
The caster summons Sloucher the Dire Rat (in giant form) accompanied by his or choice of: a Slag Hellion
Swarm or six Fuliginous Wing-Fiends or six Bituminous Quasits.
30-31
The caster summons a Slag Hellion Horde.
PATRON SPELLS
Page
NEFARIOUS PLOT
Level: 2
Range: Varies
Duration: Varies
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Save: None
General
In classic serial villain fashion, the caster devises a nefarious plot and then shapes the raw stuff of Chaos into a
mystical set of probabilities that increase the likelihood that the plot will succeed. The caster must describe three
aspects of a “plot:” 1) a rough outline of the series of steps or actions that s/he will enact, 2) the desired effect
achieved by these actions and 3) the timeframe over which the plot will unfold, (The timeframe can be as short
as one round.) The desired effect must further the cause of Chaos and the caster must also be able to explain how
the series of steps or actions in his or her plot could conceivably lead to the desired outcome. If the caster’s spell is
successful, s/he will receive temporary Luck points. These Luck points may be burned to increase the success of an
action linked to carrying out the plot. The higher the spell check result, the more temporary Luck points the caster
receives and the longer points may be held in reserve to burn in the future.
Manifestation
Roll 1d3: (1) the caster instantly grows a long, curled, waxed mustache and must twirl the ends of it to cast the
spell (2) the musical strains of Mysterioso Pizzicato can be heard floating faintly on the breeze (or light draft if
indoors/underground); (3) a longhaired, white cat appears in the caster’s arms and must be stroked continuously
while the spell is being cast
1-9
Lost, failure and patron taint.
10-13
Failure, but the spell is not lost. Patron taint.
14-15
Patron Taint. The caster receives 1d3+1 temporary Luck points to burn per the guidelines, above. These points do
not increase the caster’s Luck ability score (and therefore do not affect his or her Luck modifier). The caster may
hold these temporary Luck points in reserve for 1d3 turns, after which any unburned points are lost.
16-1-9
The caster receives 1d4+1 temporary Luck points to burn per the guidelines, above. These points do not increase
the caster’s Luck ability score (and therefore do not affect his or her Luck modifier). The caster may hold these
temporary Luck points in reserve for 1d4+1 turns, after which any unburned points are lost.
20-21
The caster receives 2d3+1 temporary Luck points to burn per the guidelines, above. These points do not increase
the caster’s Luck ability score (and therefore do not affect his or her Luck modifier). The caster may hold these
temporary Luck points in reserve for 2d3 turns, after which any unburned points are lost.
22-25
The caster receives 2d4+1 temporary Luck points to burn per the guidelines, above. These points do not increase
the caster’s Luck ability score (and therefore do not affect his or her Luck modifier). The caster may hold these
temporary Luck points in reserve for 3d4+1 turns, after which any unburned points are lost.
26-31
The caster receives 3d4 temporary Luck points to burn per the guidelines, above. These points DO increase the
caster’s Luck ability score (to a maximum of 18), affecting his or her Luck modifier. The caster may hold these
temporary Luck points in reserve for 2d3 hours, after which any unburned points are lost.
32-33
The caster receives 3d4 temporary Luck points to burn per the guidelines, above. These points DO increase the
caster’s Luck ability score (to a maximum of 18), affecting his or her Luck modifier. The caster may hold these
temporary Luck points in reserve for 3d6+1 hours, after which any unburned points are lost. The caster may burn
these temporary Luck points to the benefit of his or her allies, in the manner of a Halfling Luck Charm, so long as
the actions of his or her allies advance the caster’s nefarious plot.
34-35
The caster receives 3d4+2 temporary Luck points to burn per the guidelines, above. These points DO increase
the caster’s Luck ability score (to a maximum of 18), affecting his or her Luck modifier. The caster may hold these
temporary Luck points in reserve for 6d6hours, after which any unburned points are lost. The caster may burn
these temporary Luck points to the benefit of his or her allies, in the manner of a Halfling Luck Charm, so long as
the actions of his or her allies advance the caster’s nefarious plot.
36+
The caster receives 4d4 temporary Luck points to burn per the guidelines, above. These points DO increase the
caster’s Luck ability score (to a maximum of 18), affecting his or her Luck modifier. The caster may hold these
temporary Luck points in reserve for 6d12+2 hours, after which any unburned points are lost. The caster may
burn these temporary Luck points to the benefit of his or her allies, in the manner of a Halfling Luck Charm, so
long as the actions of his or her allies advance the caster’s nefarious plot.
41
Page
General
Grim Inchyron was a master maker and was often referred to as the “Artificer of Anguish” and the “Architect of Agonies.” The Dev-
il-Wraith can psychically transfer this talent to a supplicant, thus enabling a caster to create magical artifacts using this spell descrip-
tion in combination with Tables 8-4 through 8-9 in the 3rd-level wizard spell Sword Magic. Any artifact produced through the casting
of this spell is Infernal in nature: it is automatically Chaotic in alignment and if it acts as a bane, it is always the bane of Law and order,
as well as the Balance of the Eternal Struggle. The sacrifice of lives/souls is more critical to the manufacture of an Infernal artifact than
the cost of its materials in gold pieces.
Level: 3
Range: Self
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: A week or more Save: None
A spell check determines the possible abilities and properties of the artifact to be created. The specifics are determined by the form
and function of the artifact, the design and intentions of the caster and the influence of the primal forces of Chaos that have mar-
shalled behind the artifact’s creation. Spellburn utilized in the casting is lost for the duration of the casting and only heals when the
spell is complete. All costs are expended before the spell check is made and failure means all costs are lost.
This spell is geared towards the creation of magical artifacts rather than weapons. Thus, when using Table 8-4: Magic Sword Charac-
teristics to create an artifact, some of the guidelines, below, will bump the spell check result up one or more rows in the table while
other guidelines will bump the spell check result down one or more rows.
Generally speaking, follow this process to create an Infernal, magic artifact:
Manufacture the artifact: The spell is cast as an on-going ritual through the artifact manufacturing process and the caster may need
a partner to manufacture the artifact if s/he is not a crafter. Any object can be enchanted and casters receive a +2 bonus to their spell
check roll for this spell in addition to any other modifiers. The design, form and function of the artifact should influence what powers
and banes a successfully enchanted artifact possesses. (For example, a chariot made into an Infernal magical artifact might have the
powers of obscuring its surroundings, flight or plane shifting.) Construction of the physical object itself costs a minimum of 100x the
cost of a normal version of the object.
INFERNAL ARTIFACT MAGIC
42
The basic enchantment: The spell check determines the basic enchantment. The “plus” of an artifact works as a bonus to any roll
made by the user of the artifact for any action that the function and design of the artifact suggests it should benefit. The caster’s level
has no effect on the “plus” of the artifact. The cost of plus, in addition to the artifact itself, is 2000 gp and 10 HD in live sacrifices per
plus.
The artifact’s intelligence: This spell is geared towards the creation of magical artifacts rather than weapons and for reasons hidden
in the deepest recesses of thaumaturgical lore, artifacts are less suited for intelligence and communication than weapons (perhaps the
taking of life imbues weapons with an inherent understanding of it). When referring to Table 8-4, the Infernal artifact created with
this spell always has an Intelligence from the row two levels lower than the spell check roll would indicate. Thus, while artifacts, like
weapons, will always possess intelligence and the ability to communicate, this ability is almost always rudimentary compared to an
enchanted weapon.
Alignment: An Infernal magical artifact always has a chaotic alignment – ignore Table 8-3. In campaign worlds where Good and Evil
exist in an ethos separate from Law and Chaos, an Infernal magical artifact is always Evil.
Banes: An Infernal magical artifact may act as a bane by virtue of its design, form, function and the intentions of its creator, all heavi-
ly influenced by the primal forces of Chaos that marshal behind its creation. When referring to Table 8-4, the Infernal artifact created
with this spell always determines its number of banes from the row two levels lower than the spell check roll would indicate. The
caster must declare what kind of banes s/he believes fit with the artifact’s form, function and purpose. Depending on the spell check,
s/he may be successful in none, some or all of those. However, non-weapon artifacts are rarely constructed for the purpose of slaying
particular creatures and many bane effects will not make sense for a non-weapon artifact. Such effects, if indicated, are re-rolled (Un-
reasoning Hatred, Beacon of Fury, and Festering Wound are examples of bane effects that might not make sense for a non-weapon
artifact.) Each bane with which an Infernal magical artifact is imbued costs from 5,000 to 10,000 gp plus 20-50 HD in live sacrifices.
The required number of HD of live sacrifices is reduced if the creator sacrifices the type of creature that is subject to the bane. The
exact cost is dependent on the level of effect sought and the discretion of the Judge.
Special purpose: An Infernal magical artifact always has a special purpose and this purpose is largely determined by the intentions
of the caster, heavily influenced by the primal forces of Chaos that marshal behind its creation. Thus, when referring to Table 8-4, the
Infernal artifact created with this spell always has Dice Rolled for Special Purpose(s) from the row two levels higher than the spell
check roll would indicate. The caster then rolls on Table 8-6 and may choose any purpose on the table equal to or lower than his or
her roll. The caster may also invent a special purpose not listed on the table. The Judge should determine a DC for this invented pur-
pose based on how well the Judge feels the purpose fits with the concept of the artifact. If the roll on Table 8-6 equals or exceeds this
DC, then this invented purpose becomes the special purpose of the artifact. Under certain circumstances the Judge may dictate the
special purpose of the artifact or s/he may add one or more additional purposes. (The Judge may also hide additional purposes to the
Page 43
caster/creator.) Any purpose must be aligned with the interests of the forces of Chaos marshalled behind the creation of the artifact.
There is no gp cost for the special purpose.
Powers: Because “powers” are the mainstay of artifacts, Infernal magical artifacts created through the use of this spell use the row
on Table 8-4 two levels higher than what is normally indicated by the spell check roll. Infernal magical artifact powers are primarily
Type I (Table 8-7) and Type III (Table 8-9) - because artifacts are not primarily weapons many Type II: Combat Sword Powers (Table
8-8) may not make sense for a non-weapon artifact. (Crippler, Cleave, Vorpal Blade and Throwing Blade are examples of powers that
might not make sense for a non-weapon artifact). Type II powers that are rolled but do not make sense for the artifact are replaced.
There is a 65% chance that the Type II power is replaced by a Type I power and a 35% chance that it is replaced by a Type III power.
The caster pays a cost to imbue an artifact with powers: 1000 gp and 6 HD in live sacrifices for a Type I power, 3500 gp and 10 HD in
live sacrifices for a Type II power and 5000 gp and 30 HD in live sacrifices for a Type III power. Depending on the result of the spell
check, the artifact will have some number of those powers evident at the completion of the casting. It is possible that the caster will
spend the money and make the sacrifices to imbue the powers but his or her spell check will not be sufficient to complete them.
It bears repeating: spell-like powers are the hallmark of magic artifacts. Because of this, neither the creator of an Infernal magical
artifact using this spell, nor the Judge adjudicating its creation should feel limited to Tables 8-7 and 8-9 when considering powers
appropriate to the artifact’s design and purpose. This is especially true since these tables are primarily intended for swords and other
weapons. In fact, some of the powers on these tables (Un-dead touch comes to mind) are unlikely to fit with a non-weapon artifact.
Thus, creators and judges should borrow liberally from the wizard and cleric spell lists for powers to imbue into the design of an arti-
fact, classifying the spell as a Type I, Type II or Type III power, as appropriate. These spell-like powers should have the same predict-
ability as a wand, ring or other magic item as described on page 374 of the DCC rules.
Creation properties: Several of the entries above note specialized circumstances that can influence an artifact’s final traits. Further-
more, the Sword Magic spell offers examples of circumstances that can influence the final result of an act of creating a magical sword.
For this spell there is one circumstance that is always present but can profoundly affect the creation of an artifact in a myriad of ways:
primal forces of Chaos have marshalled behind the creation of the artifact and the end result is Infernal in nature and ultimately
serves the goals of the forces that enabled its creation!
Manifes-
tation
Creation of a magical, Infernal artifact.
1-15
Lost, failure and patron taint.
16-17
Per above and Table 8-4 on page 367 of the DCC rules.
18-21
Per above and Table 8-4
22-23
Per above and Table 8-4
24-26
Per above and Table 8-4
27-31
Per above and Table 8-4
32-33
Per above and Table 8-4
36+
Per above and Table 8-4
34-35
Per above and Table 8-4
Page 44
THE LOGOS OF LAMUSHEA
Lamushea the Law-Shaper was a god entrusted with helping
mortals administer fair, just and enduring laws. Lamushea
appeared as a muscular bull with glossy black hide, giant
eagle wings and a majestic, human head. Lamushea was
often seen in the mortal world advising kings and pontiffs
and bearing the Krytz - a bejeweled, crystalline mirror
which is both an Artifact of Law and the repository of all of
Lamushea’s legal lore.
Ages ago, Lamushea was murdered by Grim Inchyron, a
demonic demi-god and one of the Nine Mortal Afflictions.
Since divine essence cannot be truly destroyed, at the mo-
ment of his “death” Lamushea’s essential godhood - com-
prised of his philosophies and principles - joined his store
of legal knowledge in the Krytz and became eternally bound
to that artifact. It was thus that the “Law-Shaper” became
“The Logos.” Whereas Lamushea was concerned with adju-
dication, The Logos is dedicated to the path of retribution.
A divine revenant, The Logos no longer deals in mercy. In
its place The Logos espouses the Right of Retribution: harm
is always to be answered in kind - an eye for an eye. If, in its
zeal, the hand of retribution should take both the offender’s
eyes, so be it: better that than an act of harm go unan-
swered. The Logos’ will gladly grant generous Patronage to
any who will work uncompromisingly to deliver retribution
by whatever means are necessary.
Page
12-13
The Logos licenses the caster with the Iron Boot, one of the Seven Castigations. Boots formed from brilliant light encase the feet of a target
of any one biped in sight. That individual takes 1d3 damage per round and cannot walk unless s/he makes a DC 15 Fort save. If the save is
successful, the target may walk at ½ speed but the damage-per-round increases to 1d4+1. This Castigation is not a physical construct and
so cannot be broken by acts of strength or damage from weapons or tools.
Invoke Patron check results:
14-17
The Logos warrants the caster to impose the Malefactor’s Fork, also one of the Seven Castigations. A razor-sharp, twin-tined fork of
glowing light appears, lashed to the neck of any one biped in sight with bindings composed of that self-same light. The fork wedges itself
between the breast bone and jaw such that an individual takes 1d3 damage if s/he speaks or moves. If the individual speaks, the piercing
of the fork distorts that speech unless s/he succeeds at a DC 15 Ref save. Distorted speech negatively impacts the individual’s ability to
communicate, give commands or correctly form any incantations necessary to cast spells as determined by the Judge. This Castigation is
not a physical construct and so cannot be broken by acts of strength or damage from weapons or tools The caster may choose to replace
this effect with any effect lower on this Invoke Patron check results table.
18-19
The Logos sanctions the caster to sentence one creature to the Pillori Digitus. Manacles of searing light encase the hands and feet of any
one biped within 120’, regardless of whether the caster can see that individual or not. The individual takes 2d3 damage per round and can-
not walk unless s/he succeeds makes a DC 15 Fort save. If the save is successful, s/he may move at half speed but takes an additional 1d3
damage. Similarly, the individual may not use his or her hands or fingers unless s/he makes a DC 15 Reflex save (eg to wield a weapon).
If the save is successful, the individual takes an additional 1d3 damage and rolls for actions requiring skilled use of the hands are made at
one die lower on the die chain. This Castigation is not a physical construct and so cannot be broken by acts of strength or damage from
weapons or tools. The caster may choose to replace this effect with any effect lower on this Invoke Patron check results table.
20-23
The Logos invests the caster with the authority to incarcerate one creature within the Castigation called the Binding Gibbet. A tight cage
of brilliant light encloses any one creature within 120’, regardless of whether the caster can see that creature or not. The imprisoned cannot
move. The imprisoned also cannot use his or her arms. The imprisoned may attempt a DC 18 Reflex save; if successful, the imprisoned
can make fine movements with his or her hands which may allow the passing of objects or the casting of spells. Any rolls for attempting
such actions are made using a die two steps lower on the die chain. This Castigation is not a physical construct and so cannot be broken by
acts of strength or damage from weapons or tools. The caster may choose to replace this effect with any effect lower on this Invoke Patron
check results table.
24-27
The Logos warrants the caster to imprison one creature within the Iron Maiden, one of the Seven Castigations. A fully enclosed sarcoph-
agus of searing light encases any one creature within 120’, regardless of whether the caster can see that creature or not. The imprisoned
takes 1d4 damage per round and cannot move or use his or her arms. The imprisoned by attempt a DC 18 Reflex save; if successful, the
imprisoned can make fine movements with his or her hands which may allow the casting of spells but also inflicts an additional 1d4 dam-
age on the imprisoned that round. Any rolls for such actions are made using a die two steps lower on the die chain. This Castigation is not
a physical construct and so cannot be broken by acts of strength or damage from weapons or tools. The caster may choose to replace this
effect with any effect lower on this Invoke Patron check results table.
28-29
The caster brings can call forth the Bastard Brazen Bull, the most terrible of the Seven Castigations and a “myth-made-real.” Borrowing
from the Logos’ own history, the caster causes a great crucible of molten metal (like those used to make the bull-shaped cast iron artifact
called the Hell-Forged Ferro-Zeffir) materialize out of thin air and pour overtop the wizards’ enemies. The metal covers an area 10’ wide
by 5’ deep by 10’ tall. Creatures fully covered in the metal take 5d8+2 points of damage (No save). Enemies within 10’ of the coverage area
are splashed for 5d4+1 points of damage. A successful DC 15 Ref save reduces this damage by half. The caster may choose to replace this
effect with any effect lower on this Invoke Patron check results table.
45
30-31
The Logos sanctions the summoning of an agent of retribution: an Avenging Aura. The Aura must be assigned to exact retribution on a
wrong-doer. If, in the Judge’s estimation, the caster attempts to use an Avenging Aura to further his or her personal ends rather than to en-
act legitimate retribution, the spell rebounds on the caster and the Aura is assigned to him or her until or unless the Logos is placated. An
Avenging Aura is a lawful undead creature identical to a Shadow (DCC rules, page 425) except for the following: 1) the aura appears as a
subtle glow, nimbus or halo that is visible under certain lighting conditions such as dawn and sunset and 2) the Aura attacks its target with
whispered accusations of the wrongs the target has committed. This attack drains Personality instead of Strength and a creature reduced to
0 Personality goes stark, raving mad. This creature’s sanity can only be restored by magical healing and that healing will only be efficacious
once an act of restitution has been made on behalf of the creature driven insane by the Aura. An Avenging Aura will plague its target until
destroyed.
32+
The Logos lends the caster a tiny, dilute portion of Its divine essence called the force majeure. In order to use the force majeure without
destroying him- or herself, the wizard must channel it through a written, legal edict prepared on the spot. (The player has 60 seconds to
compose the edict and no other players are permitted to give input on the composition). The wizard writes down exactly what s/he wishes
to have happen in 13 words or less (13 being one of the numbers of Chaos - the Chaotic powers are able to place this limit on the force
majeure). When the caster reads the edict aloud, the force majeure enacts it, making manifest whatever the author proscribed. The force
majeure enacts whatever the edict decrees and enacts it in accordance with the proverbial “letter of the law” and applies it as broadly as
possible. The force majeure will enact the provisos of the edict to any future situations in which the caster finds him- or herself to which
the force majeure deems the edict applicable. The edict’s enactment exists in perpetuity and follows the caster to other worlds and dimen-
sions. It can be only be altered, mitigated, suspended or revoked by a power greater than the Logos, or by a new force majeure-powered
edict. The Logos does not lend the force majeure lightly and only so it canbe used to forward the cause of retribution. Any caster who uses
the force majeure in a way that goes against the divine purpose of the Logos will find him- or herself targeted for retribution by the Patron.
Page
PATRON TAINT: THE LOGOS OF LAMUSHEA
When patron taint is indicated for The Logos of Lamushea, roll 1d6 on the table below. When a caster has ac-
quired all six taints at all levels of effect, there is no need to continue rolling.
Roll
Result
1
The Logos knows better than most that the path of retribution is a lonely one. When this result is rolled, the caster loses
a friendship (at his or her discretion the Judge may choose the friendship). Forevermore this individual regards the
caster with mild enmity. If this result is rolled a second time, the caster loses all of his or her friendships. If this result is
rolled a third time, the caster will never again form a genuine friendship. Personality checks involving interactions with
any individuals with whom the caster has lost friendship are made with a die two steps down on the dice chain.
2
The caster has the constant feeling of being imprisoned. Every hour that the caster spends underground, s/he must
make a DC 8 Will Save or be unable to engage in combat or cast spells until s/he succeeds at the save. If this result is
rolled a second time, the difficulty of the Will Save increases to DC 10. If this result is rolled a third time, the caster
must make a DC 10 Will Save when indoors as well as underground.
3
The caster begins to speak only Injunction, a rare dialect of the Lawful Alignment language. At first, the caster speaks in
pidgin, and listeners must succeed at a DC 10 Intelligence check to understand it. If this result is rolled a second time,
the caster’s speech progresses towards a purer form of the language and listeners must succeed at DC 15 Intelligence
check to understand the caster’s speech. If this result is rolled a third time, only those fluent in Injunction can under-
stand the caster’s speech.
4
The Logos’ code of justice sits on the razor-thin line between retribution and revenge. This line is so fine that the pro-
verbial “double-edged sword” crosses it, cutting any who follow the same path as The Logos. After this result is rolled
the caster takes one hit point of damage every time s/he inflicts damage on another. If this result is rolled a second time,
this effect increases to one hit point of damage per die of damage inflicted. The third time this result is rolled, the effect
increases to two hit points per die of damage inflicted.
5
The caster is compelled to tell the truth unless s/he succeeds at a DC 15 Will save. However, the caster can also tell that
someone else is lying if s/he succeeds at a DC 18 Personality check (though s/he cannot tell what the truth is). If this
result is rolled a second time, the caster must succeed at a DC 18 Will save to speak a lie but can detect lying with a DC
15 Personality check. If the result is rolled a third time, the caster must succeed at a DC 20 Will Save to be able to lie but
s/he can tell that someone else is lying with a DC 13 Personality check.
6
The caster acquires the aura of an agent of retribution. Wherever the caster goes, s/he is petitioned by victims of wrong-
doing who beseech him or her to set things to right; the caster is duty-bound to help. After the first time this result is
rolled, the caster will find him- or herself petitioned for redress once each month. The second time this result is rolled
the frequency of petitions increases to once each fortnight. The third time this result is rolled, the frequency of petitions
increases to once a week.
46
PATRON SPELLS: THE LOGOS OF LA-
MUSHEA
The Logos exists among the nigh-limitless library of
lore stored within the Krytz. It commonly dispenses
the following three spells out of these annals:
Level 1:
Stay of Execution
Level 2:
Warrant of Warding
Level 3:
Writ of Retribution
SPELLBURN: LOGOS OF
LAMUSHEA
The Logos of Lamushea requires all who receive its pa-
tronage to swear to subsume their own interests to the
higher goal of punishing the wicked. When The Logos
sanctions spellburn, the solicitor-Wizard must honor
this judicial oath and accept its burdens. When a caster
utilizes spellburn, roll 1d4 and consult the table below.
Page
Roll
Spellburn Result
1
The caster is required to join The Logos in recording legal judgments for posterity by inscribing legal records on to
his or her own body using ritual scarification. The process is so painful and makes concentration so difficult that in
addition to the reduction of ability scores, a -1 penalty is imposed on all spell checks made by the caster for an hour
afterwards.
2
The Logos demands that the solicitor-Wizard re-establish his or her judicial impartiality through a purification ritual.
After casting the spell utilizing spell burn, the caster must self-inflict temporary blindness by grinding sand into his or
her own eyes, rubbing in a mildly caustic substance such as lemon juice or applying an irritant such as hot peppers. The
temporary blindness lasts 4d3 turns.
3
Some laws are too controversial to be displayed publicly, and yet they must also be recorded. In exchange for amplifying
the effects of a spell the Logos requires that a supplicant-Wizard give over a portion of his or her own memory to keep
record of such a law. The supplicant-Wizard must sacrifice a memory or knowledge of a skill, language, piece of lore,
spell, etc. and put the legal record in its place. The greater the amount of spellburn, the larger the amount of memory
the Logos will demand and the more significant the loss must be. The Judge should determine what memory or knowl-
edge that the spellburn will cost the wizard up front (eg losing knowledge of a spell, forgetting an ally, etc.) and then
give the player the choice of whether to go through with the spellburn at that price or not.
4
The Logos demands that the solicitor-Wizard prove that his or her judgment cannot be corrupted through bribery. The
caster must destroy valuables – coins, gems, jewelry, luxury items, magic items, etc. – proportional to the amount of
spellburn being utilized in the spell as determined by the Judge.
47
Page
STAY OF EXECUTION
Level: 3
Range: Touch or greater Duration: 2 rounds or longer
Casting Time: 1 round
Save: None
General
The wizard issues a sorcerous, life-affirming subpoena that the Logos sanctions through Stay of Execution. If,
during the period of protection provided by the spell, the target of the spell is reduced to zero hit points, instead
of dying, that individual may continue to act normally for the duration of the spell. When the spell expires the
stay is lifted and the individual begins “bleeding out.” Each time the individual takes damage after the stay is
invoked, it reduces by one the number of rounds the he or she bleeds out (down to a minimum of one) and
imposes a cumulative +1 on the Luck check roll for Recovering the Body.
Manifestation
Roll 1d3: (1) a tattooed sigil in the shape of an hourglass appears on the target’s forehead – the “sand” flows
from top to bottom marking the duration of the spell;(2) a spectral version of the target appears 13 hand spans
behind and to his or her left, mirroring his or her every move; (3) if the target is reduced to zero hit points while
under the protection of the spell the sound of a gavel being struck echoes forth as loud as a thunderclap
immediately after the target loses his or her last hit point.
1
Lost, failure and patron taint
2-11
Lost, failure.
12-13
The caster targets one creature with 4 HD or fewer by touching it. That creature is under the spell’s protection
for 1d4+CL rounds. If, during that period of protection, the target is reduced to zero hit points, s/he can
continue to act normally for a number of rounds equal to CL +1.
14-17
The caster targets one creature with 5 HD or fewer by touching it. That creature is under the spell’s protection
for 2d3+CL rounds. If, during that period of protection the target is reduced to zero hit points, s/he can
continue to act normally for a number of rounds equal to 1d4 + CL.
18-19
The caster can target any one creature with 6 HD or fewer within 30’. That individual is under the spell’s protec-
tion for 2d4+CL rounds. If, during that period of protection, the target is reduced to zero hit points, s/he can
continue to act normally for a number of rounds equal to 2d6 + CL.
20-23
The caster can target any one creature with 6 HD or fewer within 60’. That individual is under the spell’s
protection for 3d4+CL rounds. If, during that period of protection, the target is reduced to zero hit points, s/he
can continue to act normally for a number of minutes equal to CL +1.
24-27
The caster can target any one creature with 6 HD or fewer within 120’. That individual is under the spell’s
protection for 2d3+CL minutes. If, during that period of protection, the target is reduced to zero hit points, s/he
can continue to act normally for a number of minutes equal to 1d4 + CL.
28-29
The caster can target any one creature with 8 HD or fewer within 120’. That individual is under the spell’s
protection for 2d3+CL minutes. If, during that period of protection, the target is reduced to zero hit points, s/he
can continue to act normally for a number of minutes equal to 2d3 + CL.
30-31
The caster can target any one creature with 8 HD or fewer within sight or a number of creatures equal to CL
within 30’. Targets are under the spell’s protection for 2d4+CL minutes. If, during that period of protection, any
target is reduced to zero hit points, s/he can continue to act normally for a number of minutes equal to 3d4 +
CL.
32+
The caster can target any one creature with 12 HD or fewer within sight or a number of creatures equal to CL+1
within 60’. Targets are under the spell’s protection for 2d4+CL turns. If, during that period of protection, any
target of the spell is reduced to zero hit points, s/he can continue to act normally for a number of turns equal to
3d3 + CL.
48
PATRON SPELLS
Page
WARRANT OF WARDING
Level: 2
Range: Varies
Duration: 1 minute per CL
Casting Time: 1 round
Save: None
14-15
The disruptive forces cause all spell checks made against the caster to suffer a -1 penalty. The caster receives a +1
on his or her save against spell-like powers directed against him or her. If a spell-like power does not normally
grant a save, the caster receives a DC 18 save.
1
Lost, failure and patron taint
Manifestation
Roll 1d3: (1) iron manacles spring up from the ground and shackle incoming spells and spell-like powers; (2)
miniature griffins, shining with bright white light, circle about the caster and snatch away incoming spells and
spell-like powers; (3) incoming spells and spell-like powers are flung away from the caster by fierce,
micro-localized earth tremors.
2-11
Lost, failure
12-13
Failure, but spell is not lost.
General
The caster convenes a “tribunal” of magical forces that disrupts magic from divine and demonic origins (not wiz-
ardry). This includes spells and spell-like abilities from all clerics, priests, demons and creatures of Chaos. When
necessary, the Judge’s discretion determines the degree to which a save against spell-like powers that would
not normally grant a save mitigates or cancels the effects of such powers. At the highest levels of effectiveness,
the caster can dismiss low-level spells and spell-like powers. On a successful casting, the wizard may choose to
invoke any effect equal to or less than his or her spell check roll. Protection provided by the spell remain in effect
for its duration.
16-19
The disruptive forces cause all spell checks made against the caster and any of the caster’s allies within a 10’
radius to suffer a -1 penalty. The caster and his or her allies receive a +1 on their saves against spell-like powers
directed against them. If a spell-like power does not normally grant a save, the caster receives a DC 18 save.
20-21
The disruptive forces cause all spell checks made against the caster to suffer a -2 penalty. The caster receives a +2
on his or her save against spell-like powers directed against him or her. If a spell-like power does not normally
grant a save, the caster receives a DC 16 save.
22-23
The disruptive forces cause all spell checks made against the caster and any of the caster’s allies within a 10’
radius to suffer a -2 penalty. The caster and his or her allies receive a +2 on their saves against spell-like powers
directed against him or her. If a spell-like power does not normally grant a save, the caster receives a DC 16 save.
24-25
The disruptive forces cause all spell checks made against the caster to suffer a -3 penalty. The caster receives a +3
on his or her save against spell-like powers directed against him or her. If a spell-like power does not normally
grant a save, the caster receives a DC 16 save.
26-29
The disruptive forces cause all spell checks made against the caster and any of the caster’s allies within a 10’
radius to suffer a -3 penalty. The caster and his or her allies receive a +3 on their saves against spell-like powers
directed against him or her. If a spell-like power does not normally grant a save, the caster receives a DC 14 save.
30-31
The disruptive forces cause all spell checks made against the caster to suffer a -4 penalty. The caster receives a +4
on his or her save against spell-like powers directed against him or her. If a spell-like power does not normally
grant a save, the caster receives a DC 12 save.
32-33
The disruptive forces grant the caster immunity to all level 1 spells and the spell-like abilities of all clerics, priests,
demons and creatures of Chaos that possess less than 2HD. The disruptive forces cause all spell checks made
against the caster to suffer a -4 penalty. If a spell-like power does not normally grant a save, the caster receives a
DC 12 save.
34+
The disruptive forces grant the caster and any allies within 10’ immunity to all level 1 spells and the spell-like
abilities of all clerics and priests and demons and creatures of Chaos that possess less than 2 HD. The magic field
causes all spell checks made against the caster to suffer a -5 penalty. The caster and his or her allies receive a +5
on their saves against spell-like powers directed against him or her. If a spell-like power does not normally grant
a save, the caster receives a DC 10 save.
49
Page
WRIT OF RETRIBUTION
Level: 3 Range: Varies
Duration: 1 round or more
Casting Time: 1 action
Save: None
General
Through the use of this spell, the caster names one creature (or more depending on spell check results) and place
it under the aegis of divinely-promised retribution against a second named creature who seeks to harm those
under the aegis. A “named” creature can be anywhere in the world or, subject to the Judge’s discretion, on other
worlds or in other dimensions. Anything the second-named creature does to the protected individual(s) it also
does to itself. For example, if the second-named creature attacks the protected creature with a sword, then the
second-named creature must roll a duplicate attack against itself at the same time that it makes the attack against
the creature(s) under the aegis. The creature targeted by the retributive effect of the writ always apples the higher
of the two die rolls for the duplicate actions to itself and the lower roll to the protected creature(s). With higher
spell check results, the caster can have the writ apply to the allies and minions of the second-named creature. On
a successful casting, the wizard may choose to invoke any effect equal to or less than his or her spell check roll.
Manifestation
Roll 1d3: (1) a malleable feature of the local environment (clouds, smoke from a brazier, flames from a fireplace,
etc.) takes the recognizable shape of a sword of retribution and positions itself so as to hang over the writ’s sec-
ond-named creature; (2) a glowing picto-glyph in the shape of an eye appears on the forehead of all the crea-
tures named by the caster for protection under the writ – when harm is done to any of the creatures bearing the
picto-glyph, the glyph bleeds glowing light ; (3) fine cords of silver light stretch between the creatures protected
by the writ and the second-named creature, identifying that their destinies are intertwined
1
Lost, failure and patron taint
2-11
Lost, failure
12-13
Failure, but spell is not lost.
16-17
The writ’s protection applies to the caster and its retributive effect affects a single, second-named creature with up
to 8 HD. The spell lasts for 10 rounds + CL.
18-21
The writ’s protection applies to a single creature named by the caster and its retributive effect affects a single,
second-named creature with up to 8 HD and any of that creature’s allies with fewer than 2 HD. The spell lasts for
2d3 + CL turns.
22-23
The writ’s protection applies to creature named by the caster and its retributive effect affects a single, sec-
ond-named creature with up to 10 HD. The spell lasts for 2d3 + CL turns
24-26
The writ’s protection applies to a single creature named by the caster and its retributive effect affects a single,
second-named creature with up to 10 HD and any of that creature’s allies with less than 3 HD. The spell lasts for
1d4 + CL hours.
27-31
The writ’s protection applies to two creatures named by the caster and its retributive effect affects a single, sec-
ond-named creature with up to 12 HD. The spell lasts for 1d4 + CL hours.
32-33
The writ’s protection applies to two creatures named by the caster and its retributive effect affects a single, sec-
ond-named creature with up to 12 HD and any of that creature’s allies with less than 4 HD. The spell lasts for 1d3
+ CL days.
34-35
The writ’s protection applies to up to three creatures named by the caster and its retributive effect affects a single,
second-named creature with any number of HD. The spell lasts for 1d3 + CL weeks.
36+
The writ’s protection applies to three creatures named by the caster, plus any additional creatures the caster wish-
es to include who are within a 15’ radius of the caster when the spell is cast. Its retributive effect affects a single,
second-named creature with any number of hit dice and any of that creature’s allies with less than 5 HD The spell
lasts 1d3 + CL weeks. If, at any time during the duration of the spell, any creature protected by the writ who was
not one of the named three moves more than 15’ from the caster, that creature loses the protection of the writ
and that protection is not restored by restoring proximity to the caster.
50
Page
Designation of Product Identify
All place names, character names, names of organizations and similar proper nouns introduced in this publication are product identity, including but not limited to
World-Quest, the Winter Calendar, Grim Inchyron, the Architect of Anguish, the Artificer of Agonies, Lamushea the Law Shaper, the Devil-Wraith of Grim Inchyron,
the Logos of Lamushea, Sacred Krytz Mystery, the Krytz, Laylokan, God of Weighing the Cost of Balance, the Undercroft, the Hell-Forged Ferro-Zeffir, Barbed Imps,
Bituminous Quasits, Slag Hellions, Fuliginous Wing-Fiend, A’arni, Akaa, Varjoma, Konhengen, Makarhu, Tuwonatar, Tkurrso, Nedanax, Penumbric Glen, Sloucher the
Dire Rat, Pannihoo and Gerhan . All text that does not describe a discret game element is product identity.
Designation of Open Game Content
All game statistics for any game elements included in this publication are designated open game content. This includes but is not limited to monster statistics.
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a) “Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b) “Derivative Material” means copyright-
ed material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade,
improvement, compilation, abridgement or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Distribute” means to reproduce, license,
rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d) “Open Game Content” means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures,
processes, and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly
identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but
specifically excludes Product Identity; (e) “Product Identity” means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; crea-
tures, characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts,
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likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities and effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and
any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product Identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game
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contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) “Use,” “Used,” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate, and otherwise
create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms of this agreement.
2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of
this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this license except as described by the
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4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with
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7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent
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12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute,
judicial order or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.
13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all the terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of
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14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathon Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and
Dave Arneson.
Dungeon Crawl Classics, Copyright 2012 Goodman Games, all rights reserved, visit www.goodman-games.com or contact [email protected].
World-Quest of the Winter Calendar, Copyright 2015 Steve Bean Games
This product is based on the Dungeon Crawl Classics Role Playing Game, published by Goodman Games. This product is published under license. Dungeon Crawl
Classics and DCC RPG are trademarks of Goodman Games. All rights reserved. For additional information, visit http://www.goodman-games.com or contact info@
goodman-games.com.
60
WorldQuest of the
Winter Calendar
Your party encounters an old man under attack by a swarm of fiendish creatures. He is the
god Laylokan. He bears the Winter Calendar, a vessel containing the Sacred Krytz Mystery.
Unfortunately, in making Laylokan’s acquaintance, the party has become trapped in the
Penumbra, a “space-between-the-worlds.”
There is only one way back - the adventurers must explore the Seven Chronicles of the Mys-
tery - a “living morality tale” that was lost to the world eons ago. They must bear witness to
the tale and divine its meaning, thus completing a magical ritual that will restore the
memory of the tale to the mortal world.
But to witness the entire tale, the party must survive. By entering the Sacred Krytz Mystery,
the party is jumping headlong into the Eternal Struggle between Law and Chaos – they’ll be
caught up in epic events like the making of a Infernal artifact and the murder of a god!
World-Quest of the Winter Calendar is a unique 0-level Funnel: in it, PCs take part in a
great, cosmic game of “telephone” that transforms the Judge’s campaign world – both
narrative and game mechanics. This is the module for veteran DCC players and Judges
who’ve “been there and done that” when it comes to funnels!
A “World-Shaping” 0-Level Funnel with
Two Complete Patrons and a New DCC Class!
By Steve Bean and Julian Bernick
with Roy Snyder & Brendan LaSalle
This module is partly the product of the skills and labor of youth at the Digital NEST, a
technology education studio that trains rural, Latino youth in Watsonville, CA. A portion of the
sales of this product will be donated to the Digital NEST. Please consider making an additional
donation at www.digitalnest.org
SBG0001
| textdata/thevault/Dungeon Crawl Classics/DCC Adventures & Settings/World Quest of The Winter Calendar (DCC)/World Quest of The Winter Calendar [v10.1] (DCC).pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed
by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without
permission of the author. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 system license, please visit
www.wizards.com/d20
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK and RPGA are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
LIVING GREYHAWK is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This scenario is
intended for tournament use only and may not be reproduced without approval of the RPGA Network.
PER5-01
I Dream of Janni
A One-Round D&D LIVING GREYHAWK
®
Perrenland Regional Adventure
Version 1.0
by Mark Somers
Reviewed by Chris Tulach
In the town of Rikkendál it’s a time of celebration. A wedding is about to be held and all is well. Or is it? Where is the
groom’s best man? Or should that be best ogre? Little Janni is usually such a punctual fellow. What could be holding
him up? And why is that travelling merchant so keen to sell those funny looking pots? This single session regional
scenario for APLs 2-12 rediscovers the early days of Perrenland’s adventures by continuing plots elements started in Pig
Tales and Pots of Knowledge.
Introduction
This is an RPGA® Network scenario for the Dungeons &
Dragons® game. A four-hour time block has been
allocated for each round of this scenario. The rest of the
time is spent in preparation before game play, and
scoring after the game. The following guidelines are here
to help you with both the preparation and voting
segment of the game. Read this page carefully so that you
know and can communicate to your players the special
aspects of playing an RPGA scenario.
Preparation
First you should print this scenario. This scenario was
created to support double-sided printing, but printing it
single sided will work as well. There is enough room along
the inside margin to bind the adventure, if you desire.
Read this entire adventure at least once before you run
your game. Be sure to familiarize yourself with any special
rules, spells, or equipment presented in the adventure. It
may help to highlight particularly important passages.
When you run an RPGA D&D adventure we assume
that you have access to the following books: the Player’s
Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster
Manual. We also assume that you have a set of dice (at least
one d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20), some scrap paper, a
pencil, an RPGA scoring packet, and your sense of fun. It is
also a good idea to have a way to track movement during
combat. This can be as simple as a pad of graph paper and a
pencil, as handy as a vinyl grid map and chits, or as
elaborate as resin dungeon walls and miniatures.
Instruct the players either to prepare their characters
now, or wait until you read the introduction, depending on
the requirements of the scenario as described in the
introduction.
Keep in mind that you must have at least three players
(not counting the DM), for the game session to be a
sanctioned RPGA event. As well, you cannot have more
than six players participating in the game.
Once you are ready to play, it is handy to instruct each
player to place a nametag in front of him or her. The tag
should have the player’s name at the bottom, and the
character’s name, race, and gender at the top. This makes it
easier for the players (and the DM) to keep track of who is
playing which character.
The players are free to use the game rules to learn
about equipment and weapons their characters are
carrying. That said, you as the DM can bar the use of even
core rulebooks during certain times of play. For example,
the players are not free to consult the Dungeon Master’s
Guide when confronted with a trap or hazard, or the
Monster Manual when confronted with a monster.
Some of the text in this scenario is written so that you
may present it as written to the players, while other text is
for your eyes only. Text for the players will be in gray
boxes. It’s strongly recommended that you paraphrase the
player text instead of reading it aloud. Some of this text is
general and must be adapted to the specific situation or to
actions of the player characters.
Scoring
After the players have completed the scenario or the time
allotted to run the scenario has run out, the players and
DM score the game. Complete the RPGA scoring grid
with names and RPGA numbers only, and the event
information at the top. RPGA no longer uses voting for
any reported results. Give the Scoring Packet to your
event coordinator.
I Dream of Janni
Page 2
This is a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure. As a LIVING
adventure it is expected that players bring their own
characters with them. If players do not have a LIVING
GREYHAWK character generated, get a copy of the
current LIVING GREYHAWK character generation
guidelines, and a character sheet from your convention
coordinator or the RPGA Web site, ant then have any
players without a character create on. Once all players
have a LIVING GREYHAWK character, play can begin.
Along with the other materials that you are assumed
to have in order to run a D&D game, it is also
recommended that you have a copy of the LIVING
GREYHAWK Gazetteer.
Living Greyhawk Levels of Play
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportioned to the average character level of the PCs
participating in the adventure. To determine the Average
Party Level (APL):
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect on
APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely being war horses, dogs trained
for war), other than those brought by virtue of a class
ability (i.e. animal companions, familiars paladin’s
mounts, etc) use the sidebar chart to determine the
number of levels you add to the sum above. Add each
character’s animals separately. A single PC may only
bring four or fewer animals of this type, and animals
with different CRs are added separately.
3.
Sum the results of 1 and 2, and divide by the number
of characters playing in the adventure. Round to the
nearest whole number.
4.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
By following these four steps, you will have determined
the APL. Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the
level of challenge the PCs will face. APLS are given in
even-numbered increments. If the APL of your group
falls on an odd number, ask them before the adventure
begins whether they would like to play a harder or easier
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience you may
gain at the end of the adventure. If your character is three
character levels or more either higher or lower than the
APL this adventure is being played at, that character will
receive only half of the experience points awarded for the
adventure. This simulates the face that either your
character was not as challenged as normal, or relied on
help by higher-level characters to reach the objectives.
Note:
LIVING
GREYHAWK
adventures
are
designed for APL 2 and higher. Three or four, or
sometimes even five 1
st-level characters may find
difficulty with the challenges in a LIVING GREYHAWK
adventure. If your group is APL 1 there are two things
that you can do to help even the score.
1.
Attempt to create a table of six 1
st-level characters, or
try to enlist higher-level characters to play at that
table.
2.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them. All riding dogs are
considered trained to attack. PCs who want their
dogs to attack must succeed at a Handle Animal or
Charisma check (DC 10). Failure indicates that the
animal will not attack that round. This is a free
action (spoken command) that may be attempted
each round. If an animal loses half or more hp in a
single round it flees, unless another check is
successful.
Time Units and Upkeep
This is a standard one-round Regional adventure, set in
Perrenland. Characters native to Perrenland pay one
Time Unit per round, all others pay two Time Units per
round. Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12gp per
Time Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50gp per Time Unit.
Luxury Upkeep costs 100gp per Time Unit.
I Dream of Janni
Page 3
Adventure Background
This scenario follows on from two of the earliest
Perrenland adventures, Pig Tales and Pots of Knowledge.
In the adventure Pig Tales, PCs were involved in
murder mystery and theft, where the Zussrig family of
Oskindál were killed for the Spear of Allitur. In doing so
they proved the innocence of a ward of the Zussrigs, a
young ogre called Little Janni, whom the family had
raised from infancy. Janni has subsequently come of age
and found his place in the world – he has become a
paladin of Allitur.
In Pots of Knowledge events revolved around the
rescue of a pair of brothers involved in the Kóndkanyagn,
the hunt for the fabled Kóndkannen, the pots of
knowledge. In performing the rescue, PCs involved
learned a little about the pots and even acquired possibly
authentic pots of their own.
Four years have passed since the events that
happened and new events are taking place. Fraedrig
Zussrig, the surviving member of the Zussrig clan (he
had been serving with the Auszug at the time) has been
living alone in Oskindál, but has now found himself a
bride. The wedding is to take place in the nearby town of
Rikkendál and the festivities are due to take place.
However, one important guest is missing – Little Janni is
overdue and Fraedrig refuses to be wed until he is in
attendance. Then one of the village girls has a dream that
Janni is in trouble…
Unbeknownst to all, Janni has indeed been caught
up in his own troubles. Asked for help to find some
missing prospectors he has stumbled on a hidden
abandoned shrine. There he found the missing folk had
discovered some Kóndkannen and had unwisely opened
some of the pots – releasing some very naughty spiritual
beings. Having dealt with the prospectors, the spirits
then became involved in a tussle for Janni’s soul. This is
not a good thing for a young paladin out and about on his
own…
Adventure Summary
Introduction: The PCs find themselves in Rikkendál,
either by coincidence or as invited guests, in time for the
celebrations for the marriage of Fraedrig Zussrig and
Márta Haelyagr. Anxiety begins to build over the
increasing lateness of the overdue arrival of Little Janni.
Then a local girl, Gîrti Lufflieg, known as something of a
visionary, has a dream of Janni in some peril.
Encounter One, The Brockenberghuis: The PCs, being
canny adventurous sorts, are asked to help locate Janni as
soon as possible. His last known location, stated by one of
the guests, was in the Brockenberghuis, a camp hut a day
north on the Vestertrek. Assuming the PCs go to the
Brockenberghuis, they will find a brawl in progress.
Once it is calmed down the PCs can talk with one of the
participants, a dwarf who sent some prospectors into the
mountains. The now missing prospectors were last been
seen perhaps two weeks beforehand heading up the
Tórnstróm, a whitewater river than rushes from the
Yatils. Little Janni had heard about this and had agreed to
look into the disappearance.
Encounter Two, The Angry River: Travelling through
rough terrain, the PCs have to deal with the vagaries of
the climate and the mountain as they follow the rapids
into the peaks. As well as tracking Little Janni, they may
choose to brave a waterfall and a treacherous waterhole
where, in addition to finding the body of one of the
prospectors, they can find a clue to what is going on in
the form of an opened pot (a real one).
Encounter Three, The River Forks: At this point the
river forks, as two smaller streams merge. Here the
characters meet with a garrulous spirit that has possessed
an ancient carved rock. In its own cryptic way the spirit
can give the PCs clues (it has only recently been freed
from a pot).
Encounter Four, The North Fork: Should the PCs
choose to go north they will eventually come across a
rickety rope bridge across a chasm just waiting to collapse
under them. In fact, it’s the opposite canyon edge that is
due to collapse…
Encounter Five, The Possessed Prospector: Further up
the north path, on a tight ledge, is one of the missing
prospectors. Her wits are more than a little addled, as she
has been ‘possessed’ by a freed spirit, which is whispering
questions to her (in Ur-Flan) in her mind. The woman is
on the verge of suicide and she could well try to take one
of them with her.
Encounter Six, The South Fork: Following this path
leads to a sheer waterfall and something of a climb. The
climb isn’t too strenuous, but it will be made more
interesting by the presence of a possessed and chatty
woodpecker.
Encounter Seven, The Lost Shrine: Here the PCs find
Little Janni, lying in torment as one or more spirits try to
possess him. With the arrival of the PCs, however, Janni
becomes less desirable and the spirit(s) may find some
new targets. When all is said and done the PCs find a
minor treasure trove, including some genuine pots with
genuine spirits inside of them. They’ll also find a relic
I Dream of Janni
Page 4
which, when deciphered and used properly, will allow
PCs to release trapped souls from the pots.
Conclusion: The heroes assist Janni and any prospectors
they may have rescued, and make their way back to
Rikkendál, where a bang up meal and a riotous wedding
party awaits them.
Divination Magic
IMPORTANT DMs NOTE: At some stage the PCs may
decide to cast some form of divination magic. The Nation
Mocked series, started in 594CY, has introduced the
following effects into Perrenland regional scenarios. The
various divination spells will no longer function correctly
in a Perrenland regional scenario. They can still be cast
but the follow effects occur instead.
Full details of this effect are provided in Appendix
Six.
The Environment
Though the season may not officially be Winter, the cold
has not loosened its grasp on the Yatils. Most of the time
the temperature will be sub-zero (°C, that is). This should
be noted and taken into account. Full details of
environmental effects are provided in the first part of
Encounter Two.
Introduction
A Winter Wedding
A new year begins with the Needfest celebration, a
year that promises to be a dark one. In the east the
Old One’s forces test the armies of the nation n ands
darkened by the ash from Mount Hellspaar. To the
west the return o Iggwilv bodes ill indeed. Yes, 595
promises to be a dark year indeed.
i l
f
t
Yet no all is gloom. People still find ways to
celebrate, and in the mountain town of Rikkendál
that is exactly what folk are doing. A wedding is to
take place, between Fraedrig Zussrig of nearby
Oskindál, and Márta Haelyagr, a lass of the town. This
happy event is enough for the locals to forget their
woes for a time at least and dwell on more pleasant
matters.
The wedding seems to have become quite the
event. Visitors have come to town, swelling the
numbers well beyond the usual two hundred or so
souls usually found in Rikkendál. As if possessed of
some uncanny sixth sense that allows them to find
opportunities, merchants too have come along,
despite the snow and ice on the roads. Here a fellow
is selling silks from beyond the Yatils, there a man
from Schwartzenbruin has a small supply of
schokolade,
no
less.
There’s
even
a
scruffy
kóndkanyâgr hawking old pottery to those showing
interest.
The townsfolk seem determined to show that
they can be welcoming and hospitable in the worst of
times. The ale and mead are flowing and the mood is
defiantly cheerful. Soon enough the wedding will
take place and then the partying will begin in earnest.
The first thing is to determine why the characters are in
Rikkendál in the first place. Any PCs who have
previously played the 591CY scenario, Pig Tales, will have
been invited by an NPC from that scenario called
Fraedrig Zussrig. Auszug members may well be in the
region to determine the defensive capabilities of the
region in this time of war, whilst Old Kerk members may
be out to boost morale in these desperate times. Of course
they may just be passing through at the right time, as
adventurers do.
Rikkendál is normally a quiet community of 200,
where the major activities are hunting and goat herding.
In addition there is a local species of truffle which is
much in demand. At this stage, however, numbers have
swelled, with many visitors staying at the Strangled
Goose Inn, which is packed to the rafters. The hospitable
locals are also billeting others in their homes. The
atmosphere is happy, almost defiantly so, as if the locals
refuse to let the current troubles of the nation ruin their
celebration.
Give the PCs time to have a look around, meet NPCs,
and mingle. The town is considered Weisspeer clan and
Krestible canton territory (should PCs have benefits such
as Influence in such areas). Because of its proximity to
Krestible City and the large number of merchants
visiting, Rikkendál is considered a small city for the
purposes of buying equipment, should any PCs wish to
do so.
DM’s Note: Amongst the vendors is a scruffy
looking half-orc fellow called Bartó Reusje, who claims to
be a kóndkanyagr, or pot hunter. He is selling various
pottery items, which he claims are pots. Anyone who has
played Pots of Knowledge or Wild Goose Chase may
recognise that some of the pots do indeed seem to be
genuine. Otherwise a Knowledge (History or Local
Knowledge), Profession (Pot Hunter), or Bardic
Knowledge test (DC 15) will identify some of the pots as
being legitimate ancient pottery.
PCs may purchase pots from Bartó. They are able to
buy the following:
� Small pot (as if gained in Pots of Knowledge).
Market price of 100gp; selling at 120gp.
I Dream of Janni
Page 5
� Barely legible pot (as if gained in Wild Goose
Chase). Market price of 300gp; selling at 360gp.
� Faded pot (as if gained in Wild Goose Chase).
Market price of 600gp; selling at 720gp.
� Barely faded pot (as if gained in Wild Goose
Chase). Market price of 800gp; selling at 960gp.
� Pristine pot (as if gained in Wild Goose Chase).
Market price of 1,500gp; selling at 1,800gp.
Don’t overplay Bartó’s pot selling. This is a chance for
players who came late to the campaign to pick up a pot
and not be left out. Mention the stall casually and if the
PC’s take the hint then play it up. Bartó should come
across as a bit crude, a bit scruffy, and very dodgy.
Kicking Things Off
Once the PCs have had a chance to shop around a bit and
do a bit of partying and mingling it is time to get into the
heart of the game. Attentive PCs (those who make a Spot
DC 10 test followed by a Sense Motive 10 test) will notice
that the locals are seeming a little restive and the groom
is a bit edgy. Should they enquire, a successful Gather
Information DC 10 test will let them discover that the
groom’s best man, Little Janni, has not arrived.
PCs who have not played Pig Tales may be
unfamiliar with Little Janni. Asking around will reveal
that Janni is an ogre who was raised from infancy by the
Zussrig family and is a foster brother to Fraedrig. Almost
four years previously he left in the company of an elven
paladin called Anastrianna Moonwhisper and has since
found his own calling as a paladin of Allitur. He is a
serious and dutiful young ogre who is never late unless
there is some trouble.
If Fraedrig is approached directly he will note that
Janni was last known to be in Exag and was returning via
the Vestertrek. He is now several days late, even
accounting for bad conditions on the trail. Since Fraedrig
refuses to be married without Little Janni’s presence, this
is a serious concern indeed.
Should the PCs offer to go looking for Janni,
Fraedrig will thank them earnestly and suggest they wait
another day. (This gives time for the dream – see below –
to happen.)
Gîrti’s Dream
During the first night following the PCs learning of
Janni’s lateness – and assuming they have remained in
Rikkendál – then they will overhear a disturbance in the
town.
Despite the enforced wait, the mood in Rikkendál
remains happy and friendly. For some the night s a
late one. For others i brings no sleep, since the ale
still flows. For others, though, the night brings
something else. Even those amongst you who are
asleep are jolted to alertness by the scream of a girl in
terror…
i
t
It’s rather expected that the PCs will investigate. They
won’t be alone. The screams are found to have come from
a smaller household, that of the Lufflieg family. There
lives Aghilt Lufflieg, a young widow, and her nine-year-
old daughter, Gîrti. It is Gîrti who has been screaming,
having had a nightmare. Also in the house are a handful
of friends, who are in a brief state of fright from the girl’s
cries.
The PCs can try to learn more immediately,
necessitating a Diplomacy DC 15 to get into the house to
talk to Gîrti, and then a Diplomacy DC 12 to calm the
child down.
Otherwise the PCs may wait until the next day and
either talk to the girl or find out the information second
hand through gossip.
Regardless, here is what can be learned:
� Gîrti has had a very troubling nightmare.
� It was one of ‘those’ dreams.
� The girl occasionally has ‘those’ dreams – ones
that have been found to be prophetic.
� Full details of the dream are given. Give the
players Player Handout One.
In all other respects Aghilt and Gîrti are normal.
There is nothing neither sinister nor evil about the small
family. Nor are there any signs of outside influence.
Interpreting The Dream
Characters may make a Knowledge (Religion) test to
determine facts from the dream:
DC 10: Two hands clasped is the symbol of Allitur.
DC 15: Associated with Allitur is Keph, a magnificent
steed.
By now the characters should know that Little Janni
is a paladin of Allitur. He is also an ogre. If they don’t
already know this someone will certainly mention it.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the dream
indicates Little Janni is in deep trouble.
DM’s Note: The PCs may wonder how Gîrti can
have dreams when the divination interdict is in place.
Her bedroom is considered a sanctified place for the
purposes of her ‘divining’.
What If The PCs Don’t Take The Bait?
I Dream of Janni
Page 6
If the PCs prove to be heartless or apathetic then it may
be that an appeal needs to be made to their mercenary
sides. The town will offer each PC a reward of 50gp per
APL to find and rescue Little Janni. If that doesn’t work,
well, they’re hardly heroes, are they? The scenario ends
for them at that point.
Encounter One
The Brockenberghuis
It is quite obvious that the folk of Rikkendál have a
high regard for Little Janni. That he happens to be an
ogre says much for his character. Only those with the
hardest or greediest of hearts could refuse to help
find him. So the responsibility of rescuing the young
paladin from whatever trouble he has found himself
in has fallen to you… as ever.
The Vestertrek winds its way up and down the
eastern face of the Yatil Mountains. Slippery ice
patches and snow drifts make the travel slow, and
there are few others on the roads. Winter is not the
time for travel in Perrenland, and with news of the
return of the Witch Queen somewhere within the
mountains it could be even more perilous than ever.
Yet after a day of travel you find yourselves
unmolested apart from the rigours of the elements,
and the first travellers’ inn, the Brockenberghuis,
comes into view. Cheery ligh from a warm fire spills
through the windows and you can hear the sounds of
revelry echo ng around the valley in which it lies.
t
i
l
Then, as you hitch your mounts and approach
closer, the door bursts open and a howling figure
somersaults outside to land in a pi e of snow at your
feet. It seems from the roars now more clearly audible
that it is not revelry that awaits you, but a brawl…
Actually, the PCs have wandered into what is not so
much a brawl as a bit of boisterous shenanigans that have
gotten a little out of hand. The fight is near to breaking
up anyway, since the participants (about half a dozen at
this stage) are getting a bit exhausted. In fact, if the PCs
draw attention to themselves then their appearance will
act as a catalyst to end the ruckus. If they stand by quietly
it will peter out soon enough on its own.
The exception to this is a single dwarven miner who
is very, very drunk and mostly oblivious to what’s going
on around him. His name is Murkir Seamfinder and he
will take the fight to the PCs as soon as they arrive.
All APLs (EL 2)
� Murkir Seamfinder: hp 24; see Appendix One.
The drunken dwarf doesn’t really present all that much of
a threat to the group. However, he is the one who knows
more about Little Janni’s whereabouts, so the PCs need to
treat him carefully. If they deal with him in a fashion that
he would deem dishonourable (attack from behind,
ganging up on him, or using obvious magic) then further
interaction with him incurs a circumstance penalty of –5
for Charisma-based skill checks.
It is possible to talk Murkir down, though some
inspired logic will be required to penetrate his befuddled
mind. This requires a Bluff or Diplomacy test (DC
12+APL) to settle him down.
Unless some form of magic is used, Murkir will
lapse into an alcoholic stupor soon after the fight ends.
He won’t be able to be woken until late in the next
morning if left alone. A Heal (DC 18) test can be used to
half this time, resulting in his awakening before
daybreak.
DM’s Note: It is important that the PCs should not
kill Murkir. For a start, it’s a brawl with non-lethal
weapons. If they start to use lethal damage, strenuously
note that they’re about to commit murder, a real crime, if
they continue. Any paladins present who allow that to
happen can be considered to have committed an evil act.
The DM should tell the players so beforehand.
Note that only PCs who participate in some way in
this encounter do not earn the XP award. Thus the DM
should endeavour to stage the situation so all PCs are
presented with an opportunity to take part in the events.
Talking To The Patrons
Since the PCs will likely just dismiss Murkir as a crank
it’s expected that once he’s dealt with they’ll start asking
around the bar about Little Janni. That’s fine, though it is
only Murkir who really knows the full story. The DM
should play up on the fact, using anything done to
Murkir as a basis for some humorous play. (Eg. “Oh, the
ogre? Ja, I saw him. He was chatty with your pal the
dwarf over there. Ja, the one you just punched out…”)
The PCs can make Gather Information (DC 14)
checks to get the information listed below. If possible,
allow different PCs to learn various bits of the
knowledge.
� Little Janni arrived at the Brockenberghuis four
nights ago.
� He left very early the next morning.
� No one is really sure which way he went, but
probably not north.
� His appearance caused a bit of a stir at first, but
Édwin the innkeeper knows of him and calmed
folk down.
I Dream of Janni
Page 7
� Once he got settled he seemed a nice young
fellow, for an ogre.
� He spent a lot of time talking to Murkir
Seamfinder.
� Murkir is the dwarf who was making a fool of
himself.
� When he’s sober Murkir is one of the finest
miners around.
� Murkir has been a bit fidgety these last few
days.
� A couple of weeks before the ogre arrived
Murkir had been making deals with some
itinerant types, probably prospectors.
� The prospectors left about a two weeks ago and
haven’t been seen since.
� There hasn’t been any trouble in the area, so far,
though the rumours about a witch in the
mountains is troubling.
Talking To Murkir
The one who knows the real information is Murkir. So
it’s a good idea to make sure the PCs don’t inadvertently
kill him, however unlikely this may be. He has a very
good idea of where Little Janni is.
Ordinarily Murkir is a typical staid dwarf, one with a
strong work ethic. He acts as something of an expert in
the local parts, visiting the various mines and ensuring
folk are doing the right thing. He takes a small
percentage of the profits and lives a tidy enough lifestyle
from it.
When he gets drunk, which is rarely, he becomes a
bit of a wild man and gets into fights, as evidenced. When
he wakes up from his bender he will be a little
embarrassed and subdued. If the PCs used ‘dirty tricks’
(attacking from behind, spitting in the face, totally
outnumbering him, sneaky magic spells, and so on) in
the fight he will also be someone sullen and sharp in his
replies.
The PCs can learn the following information from
Murkir by carefully handling him with a Gather
Information (DC 16) test. Apply a –5 circumstance
modifier to Charisma-based skill checks for this test if the
PCs dropped him in the fight in a ‘bad’ way. Apply a +2
circumstance bonus if there are any dwarves in the party.
Apply a further +2 circumstance bonus if said dwarves
are of the Khund. These modifiers may be cumulative.
� Little Janni arrived here four nights ago.
� He accidentally bumped into Murkir, who
spilled his drink.
� By way of apology the ogre bought him another
drink, and they got talking.
� Murkir mentioned a problem he had and Little
Janni decided to help.
� After hearing Murkir’s tale Little Janni left the
next morning on a mission to rescue missing
prospectors.
� Three weeks ago Murkir was heading back from
the Hoogtrappen mine, some dozen miles due
west of here.
� As he came down the mountain pass he saw a
nearby cliff face had fallen away, revealing what
appeared to be the remains of some ancient
building.
� When he got back he mentioned it to some
prospectors who were staying in the inn.
� There were four prospectors; two Môrgenrood
fellows called Fretz and Schtecker, a Hüssen lass
called Vânda, and a Kettite by the name of
Tamoud.
� After talking with Murkir throughout the night
they decided to explore further.
� It’s now been two weeks since the quartet left
and Murkir is a bit worried, even a little guilty.
On
reflection
they
seemed
a
little
inexperienced.
� He didn’t go with Little Janni himself because
he has some important obligations to meet in
these parts.
� They should have been following the path of
the Tórnstróm river.
� The Tórnstróm river, when it hits the plains, is
called the Vesterflow by the Laaglanders.
� The cliff would be about two miles west of the
Tórnstróm’s fork. It’s rough going to get there.
� Murkir guesses from what he saw that the
revealed building is either of dwarven or
perhaps Ur-Flan construction. It was too far
away to really tell.
� The location is only about a day’s solid walk
away.
� Now that Little Janni also hasn’t returned
Murkir is even more worried.
What If They Ask Murkir To Guide Them?
Murkir will not accompany the PCs. He has activities of
his own to attend to, and obligations to meet. This is also
why he didn’t go with Janni. He will, however, provide
the players with a rough map of the area they will be
travelling in? Give the players Player Handout Two.
Note: It’s possible that the PCs can get a version of the
map of the area from someone else.
I Dream of Janni
Page 8
Encounter Two
The Angry River
Leaving the Brockenberghuis behind you start to
climb into the mountains, fol owing the banks of the
Tórnstróm river. Almost immediately the mountain
trail becomes steep and the travel is rigorous. The
white foaming water of the river roars and grumbles
beside you.
l
l
t
i
i
Within a handful of hours the trai has swi ched
back and forth and taken you up several hundred feet.
Snow lies heavily on the ground and icicles have
formed
n shadowed areas, looking much like
glistening fangs. The ground is slippery under foot
and your sense of safety isn’t helped by the howl ng
wind that tugs at your hair and clothing. No wonder
most mountain people spend Winter indoors.
Thankfully there is but one trail so far, because
the wind, snow and ice have made finding tracks
nearly impossible. If Little Janni is to be found in
these parts, he’s going to be cold and miserable, most
likely.
Environmental Effects
From this point on, when the PCs are out in the open
they must experience the following effects from the
terrain and weather. A PC making a Survival or
Knowledge (Nature) check (DC 15) is aware of these
effects.
� High Altitude: As the characters are above 5,000
feet they must succeed on a Fortitude save each
hour (DC 15, +1 per previous check) or be
fatigued. The fatigue ends when they descend
below 5,000 feet. Any PC who can legitimately
claim to be acclimatised to high altitudes (eg.
membership cert for a highland clan) is not
affected.
� Snow: It is snowing, resulting in visibility
ranges being halved, and a –4 penalty on Spot
and Search checks, and ranged weapon attacks,
whilst outside. In any given area there is 1d6
inches of snow on the ground, and each square
with snow costs 2 squares of movement.
� Strong Winds: There are strong winds that
automatically extinguish unprotected flames.
There is a –2 penalty to Listen checks. Tiny or
smaller creatures are knocked down, as are
Medium or smaller airborne creatures.
� Icy Ground: In exposed areas where the wind
has blown away snow the ground is iced,
resulting in the DC of Balance and Tumble
checks being increased by 5. A DC 10 Balance
check is required to run or charge across icy
ground. In addition, it costs 2 squares of
movement to pass through a squared of icy
ground.
After two or three hours of walking through rugged
mountain terrain, the PCs will cross the 5,000 ft. altitude
mark. They have a further hour of walking before they
come to the first encounter, a waterfall where one of the
prospectors is apparently trapped.
The Tórnstróm rages down a chasm worn through the
ages, roaring and thundering as if in a fury. Ahead
you can see a cliff face with ancient steps carved by
the side of the waterfall. As you approach you can
make out something blurred and hazy behind the
froth of the waterfall It looks as if someone might be
hiding behind there.
.
DM’s Note: The DM should refer to Appendix Three for
a visual guide to the layout of this encounter.
The river thunders down here before rushing down the
chasm and back the way the characters have come. The
spray from the waterfall creates a mist that limits vision
to 20 feet and results in a 10% miss chance for anyone
beyond that distance. This also applies a –4 penalty to
Spot, Search and Listen checks cumulative with other
penalties. Any character will soon be soaked barring
magic or special clothing.
The waterfall rushes down the cliff and has created a
deep waterhole (Location 4 on the map). At the base of
the waterfall the ages of erosion has created a small cave
(Location 2) in which is the huddled form of a person.
However, the run off down the cliff face has formed into
an ice wall (Location 1) due to a recent cold snap. To
complicate matters, above the wall more ice has fallen
and clings to the cliff (Location 3).
When the PCs get closer they can make two Spot
checks. Penalties for the conditions have already been
factored into the DCs.
The first Spot check (DC 14) notes the presence of
the ice wall and reveals that there is a human form
huddled in the cave behind, who seems to be clutching
some sort of pot.
The second Spot check (DC 16) means that someone
has noticed a glint from in the waterfall and can see that
there appears to be some broken pottery and other
glinting items at the bottom.
A successful Survival or Knowledge (Nature) test
(DC 14) will let folk realise the waterhole will be
churning with a strong current, and that ice is likely to be
built up all the way up the cliff face behind the waterfall.
I Dream of Janni
Page 9
The ice wall is nearly a foot thick at the base and a
little narrower at the top. It is about 10 ft. tall and 20 ft.
wide. Thanks to its thickness and the noise from the
waterfall it is all but impossible to communicate through
the wall.
No matter what the PCs do outside of the cave, the
person inside will not stir. If the PCs have some means of
scrying or otherwise seeing through the wall, they can
determine (Spot DC 12 followed by Heal DC 14) that the
person inside appears to be a male of Baklunish stock and
has apparently frozen to death.
DM’s Note: If anyone breaks down the ice wall then
they weaken the structure holding the ice above, which
will then come crashing down in a shower of nasty
shards. It is possible to prop up some sort of support
using the Disable Device values listed below. Profession
(Stonemason) or the like can be used instead of Disable
Device for that test.
Ice Wall: 12 in. thickness; 36hp per 10 ft. x 10 ft.
section; Break DC 27; characters who break through take
1d6+APL cold damage.
Trap:
APL 2 (EL 3)
� Ice Shards: CR 1; natural; touch trigger (breaking the
ice wall); no reset; +10 ranged (1d4+1, shard); multiple
targets (fires 1d4 shards at each target within 5 ft. of the
ice wall); Search (DC 14); Disable Device (DC 20).
� Waterhole: CR 1; natural; constant; +6 Grapple (1d4,
bashing) plus drowning (p. 304, DMG); multiple targets
(anyone within waterhole); Swim may be used to avoid
the grapple.
APL 4 (EL 5)
� Ice Shards: CR 3; natural; touch trigger (breaking the
ice wall); no reset; +12 ranged (1d4+1, shard); multiple
targets (fires 1d6 shards at each target within 5 ft. of the
ice wall); Search (DC 16); Disable Device (DC 22).
� Waterhole: CR 3; natural; constant; +10 Grapple (1d6,
bashing) plus drowning (p. 304, DMG); multiple targets
(anyone within waterhole); Swim may be used to avoid
the grapple.
APL 6 (EL 7)
� Ice Shards: CR 5; natural; touch trigger (breaking the
ice wall); no reset; +14 ranged (1d4+1, shard); multiple
targets (fires 1d8 shards at each target within 10 ft. of the
ice wall); Search (DC 18); Disable Device (DC 24).
� Waterhole: CR 5; natural; constant; +14 Grapple (1d8,
bashing) plus drowning (p. 304, DMG); multiple targets
(anyone within waterhole); Swim may be used to avoid
the grapple.
APL 8 (EL 9)
� Ice Shards: CR 7; natural; touch trigger (breaking the
ice wall); no reset; +16 ranged (1d8+2, shard); multiple
targets (fires 1d8 shards at each target within 10 ft. of the
ice wall); Search (DC 20); Disable Device (DC 26).
� Waterhole: CR 7; natural; constant; +18 Grapple (2d4,
bashing) plus drowning (p. 304, DMG); multiple targets
(anyone within waterhole); Swim may be used to avoid
the grapple.
APL 10 (EL 11)
� Ice Shards: CR 9; natural; touch trigger (breaking the
ice wall); no reset; +18 ranged (1d8+2, shard); multiple
targets (fires 2d6 shards at each target within 20 ft. of the
ice wall); Search (DC 22); Disable Device (DC 28).
� Waterhole: CR 9; natural; constant; +22 Grapple (2d6,
bashing) plus drowning (p. 304, DMG); multiple targets
(anyone within waterhole); Swim may be used to avoid
the grapple.
APL 12 (EL 13)
� Ice Shards: CR 11; natural; touch trigger (breaking
the ice wall); no reset; +20 ranged (1d10+2, shard);
multiple targets (fires 2d8 shards at each target within 20
ft. of the ice wall); Search (DC 24); Disable Device (DC
30).
� Waterhole: CR 11; natural; constant; +26 Grapple
(2d8, bashing) plus drowning (p. 304, DMG); multiple
targets (anyone within waterhole); Swim may be used to
avoid the grapple.
Inside The Cave
Once the PCs get inside the cave they will find the
huddled form of the Kettite prospector Tamoud, who has
frozen to death (Heal DC 15 to determine this). He is
covered in ice and is staring sightlessly with a look of
wonder on his face. Clutched in his arms is a pot, a real
kóndkan, one with very faded designs upon it. However,
it is open, its lid nowhere to be found. This renders it
mostly valueless, though some may pay money for it.
The PCs are unlikely to determine what happened to
Tamoud (no divination or speak with dead works,
remember) but here is a quick summary of what
I Dream of Janni
Page 10
happened so the DM is aware. Tamoud and his fellows
made their way up the river until it forked. They followed
the south fork until they came to a cliff face, which they
climbed. This took them to what appeared to be an old
tomb, in which there were many genuine pots neatly
stacked in rows. Fretz, one of the Môrgenrood boys,
found some kind of arcane device and used it to ‘unlock’
some of the pots. This released a number of spirits that
tried to communicate with or possess the prospectors.
Tamoud grabbed a pot and ran, the spirit from within
slowly driving him mad. He somehow made it to the
waterfall and in his insane state decided to hide from the
world. He then froze to death whilst he sat rocking and
mumbling in mad wonder.
Treasure
At the bottom of the waterhole there are the following
items, mixed in amongst broken pottery and mostly
worthless pieces of rusted metal and shattered glass.
The pot in Tamoud’s hands is included in the loot
value, since it isn’t worth so much any more.
APL 2: coin – 100gp, magic – quiver of Ehlonna (150gp)
APL 4: coin – 100gp, magic – chime of opening (250gp)
APL 6: coin – 100gp, magic – chime of opening (250gp)
APL 8: coin – 100gp, magic – immovable rod (417gp)
APL 10: coin – 100gp, magic – rod of metamagic, silent
(916gp)
APL 12: coin – 150gp, magic – lesser rod of metamagic,
maximise (1,167gp)
Encounter Three
The River Forks
Little s more constant now than the wind, snow and
ice. It’s downright freezing outside and there’s no
warm fire-lit rooms nearby that you can see. With
careful steps you continue to follow the path of the
angry Tórnstróm higher into the mountains.
i
After perhaps another hour or two of rigorous
movement you come to a point where the river forks.
Split in two by a great wedge of rock and ice, two
sources of the river run from the north and south.
Only a few hundred yards from the fork, an old stone
bridge crosses the southern arm of the river, taking
the path within the crotch of the Y. But neither flow
appears to be the major tributary, so which to choose?
The stone bridge may cross the south fork, but it is so
close to the Y of the fork that it might as well be down
the middle, and the path soon turns north after it crosses
the river. The bridge is old and its cracks are filled with
ice. Glistening icicles drip from underneath its arch,
pointing to a drop of some 50 feet into the white water of
the river. Ice has formed on the path across the bridge,
and small piles of snow lie in its lee.
The bridge looks just like something that’s waiting
to fall to pieces. However, a dwarf or someone with
Profession (Stonemason) taking the time to examine it
will find that it is much more sturdy than it looks and is
in no danger of collapse.
However, the DM should play up on the possible
danger and try to instil a sense of paranoia and fear into
the players.
The Talking Rock
Lying just beyond the bridge is an old stone carving,
perhaps some sort of ancient shrine or wayside marker. It
lies where the path turns to follow the north arm of the
river. It is about four feet tall and covered with worn
swirling designs, and its shape vaguely suggests a
squatting humanoid figure.
This rock is currently possessed by a spirit freed
from a kóndkan. This is an old spirit, not overly powerful,
but one from ages past. It speaks three languages, which
are Ur-Flan, elven and dwarven. Its use of language is
very archaic. (DM hint: use a lot of thees and thous as a
hook for that.)
The spirit has lost its real sense of personal identity.
It has few memories of who or what it once may have
been; it just is what it is now. It is, however, now wanting
to communicate with someone and find out more about
itself.
When a PC comes within 10 feet of the stone (and if
they cross the bridge they have to) it comes to ‘life’. Two
spiral patterns in appropriate ‘eye’ locations start to swirl
slowly and it speaks in a slow grating voice.
The rock greets the group, initially in Ur-Flan, so
they may not know what it is saying. At first it wants to
know who they are and what they are doing. It is curious,
and there is no malice in it. But it thinks in a cryptic
manner, and so if they do start to use elvish or dwarven to
speak with it, the conversation will still be stilted and
confusing.
What The Rock Knows
The PCs might take the opportunity to question the rock
and gain information from it. Listed below are a few
questions and answers that might be asked. The DM may
have to make up answers to unexpected questions, but
remember that it never gives direct answers.
I Dream of Janni
Page 11
� Who are you? I am I, not as I was but as I am. I
am not thee, and I am not I. Yet I am I, as thee is
thee…
� What are you? I am, and I am not.
� Are you a ghost? For thee I could be; for
another, perhaps not.
� How long have you been here? I am here
now. I have been here never and always.
� Are you trapped in that rock? I am where I
am. Here and now. Where I will be in time I
will be.
� Did you come from a pot? I came from
nothing. Before there was nothing there was I.
Then I was kept as nothing.
� Have you seen anyone pass by? Souls come
and souls go. But stay, they do not.
� What souls do you mean? The freed ones; old
and young, like thee and I, but not like either.
� Did you see an ogre in the last few days? One
big of heart and great of soul passed as I became
I.
� Where did he go? Back and forth, here and
there. Heavy of foot but gentle of nature.
Tracking Little Janni
The PCs may attempt to track Little Janni. This is an
almost impossible prospect, given the conditions, but an
attempt is allowed. The DC is 50, regardless of APL.
Should someone amazingly manage to succeed in
this, they can see the footprints of a large humanoid
going north along the track and also south beside the
other river path.
For the DM’s knowledge, Little Janni came and
crossed the bridge. He followed the trail north until he
saw the rope bridge over the chasm in Encounter Four.
Thinking it too weak to hold him, he back-tracked and
went south. But this should not be known to the PCs
barring some useful divination magic.
Where To Now?
With a good tracking result the PCs may well head south.
It doesn’t matter. Each path leads to the destination,
though they may not realise it at first.
If they follow the north route, go to Encounter Four.
If they follow the south route, go to Encounter Six.
Encounter Four
The North Fork
Leaving the bridge and its strange guardian behind,
you follow the icy trail as it makes its way back to the
northern fork of the river. Despite there being a path
the way is still strenuous and takes some effort.
After a time you come to yet another fork. This
time the path leads either across another stone bridge
and back across the river, away from where you were
directed. The other path, less defined than the main
trail, leads west and up into the mountains.
This lesser trail winds it way back and forth and
steadily up. The walking takes more effort than ever.
Within an hour you come to a great chasm, a split in
the ground that has torn deep and wide. Across this
gap is a rather rickety looking rope bridge, with
missing slats and ice gripping the ropes. Beyond l es
the bulk of a large peak and on its flank you can make
out the edge of a fresh scar where rock falls have
wounded the mountain. You seem to be heading in
the right direction, but is it safe to cross?
i
Like the stone bridge earlier, this bridge is in much better
condition than it actually appears. In a strange way the
ice is holding it together. A Use Rope (DC 15) test can
determine that the bridge should hold quite well.
The real danger lies in the chasm edge on the other
side, where the stone is cracked and crumbling. This is
ready to go, and after 1d6 Small or Medium creatures
have stepped there it will give way. (A Tiny creature
counts for nothing, and a Large counts as 2.)
Each PC who steps into the square at the end of the
bridge may make a Spot (DC 16) test to notice a slight
unsteadiness. This is enough of a hint to allow the Search
listed in the trap description. Note that dwarves are
automatically allowed the Search check before they even
step off the bridge.
DM’s Note: Profession (Stonemason) or the like
may be used in place of Disable Device to disarm the trap.
If this is attempted from the bridge, though, apply a +5
DC modifier.
Trap:
I Dream of Janni
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APL 2 (EL 2)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 2; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 30 ft. deep (3d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square where the bridge joins and the two
squares either side); Search (DC 18); Disable Device (DC
20).
APL 4 (EL 3)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 3; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 50 ft. deep (5d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square where the bridge joins and the two
squares either side); Search (DC 20); Disable Device (DC
22).
APL 6 (EL 4)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 4; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 70 ft. deep (7d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square where the bridge joins and the two
squares either side); Search (DC 22); Disable Device (DC
24).
APL 8 (EL 5)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 5; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 90 ft. deep (9d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square where the bridge joins and the two
squares either side); Search (DC 24); Disable Device (DC
26).
APL 10 (EL 6)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 6; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 110 ft. deep (11d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square where the bridge joins and the two
squares either side); Search (DC 26); Disable Device (DC
28).
APL 12 (EL 7)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 7; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 130 ft. deep (13d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square where the bridge joins and the two
squares either side); Search (DC 28); Disable Device (DC
30).
Things To Be Seen
Once the chasm has been crossed the PCs can follow the
trail and soon find themselves on a ridge line affording
spectacular views.
When the PCs look to the north read this:
For a brief moment the snow fal seems to pause and
the sky clears a little. To the north you can see the
rise and fall of the Yatils and many clouded peaks
away in the distance. Far beyond, at the horizon,
there is a darkened pall, as if the clouds themselves
were bleeding. Surely this cannot be a natural thing.
It bodes ill, for you have heard tales o the return of
Iggwilv. Who knows what knavery is afoot there.
l
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If they look south, and have yet to do Encounter Six,
then read this:
To the south, not so far away, you can make out the
path of the southern fork of the river. There you spy
another waterfal , higher and more narrow than that
you passed earlier. A glint catches your eyes and as
you peer at the base you can make out what looks to
be a crumpled form of a fallen body. You can’t be
certain, but from this distance it might be a human,
or perhaps an elf. Certainly it isn’t an ogre.
Unless they backtrack a lot, the characters can do
nothing about the person at the waterfall for now. If they
ask, mention that it appears they can climb up to their
destination and then down again the other side.
A smart group might be able to scry or send
something to investigate. They will learn there is a corpse
there, that of perhaps a miner or some other common
sort. If they get a description it will vaguely detail a man
who might meet what the PCs have been told is one of
the two brothers.
They should proceed from here to Encounter Five.
Encounter Five
The Possessed Prospector
You can’t be so very far from your destination now.
The recent rock fall has left what would normally be a
sheer cliff face scarred and rough, with plenty of foot
and hand holds. Fl ght might wel have been an
option except that the wind here would no doubt
dash you against the cliff if you tried. It might be best
instead to rely on hands and feet and accept some
hard work.
It is still slow going, for visibility is poor with the
snow and wind. It’s hard to hear what else is moving
about as well. So it’s hard to tell if that screaming
coming from around the corner of the ledge you are
on is just the wind, or something else…
A Listen check (DC 15+APL) can determine that the
screaming is coming from a person, a woman in fact.
I Dream of Janni
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When the PCs turn the corner they will be at the start of
a 5 ft. wide ledge, some 60 ft. long. At its far end it is 15 ft.
higher than where the PCs are. (So each 20 ft. sees a 5 ft.
rise in elevation.)
In the middle of the ledge is a woman, one who
matches the description of Vânda Hüssen if Murkir
talked to them. She is windswept and cold, and trembling
from more than just the cold. Any PC who sees her can
tell, with a Sense Motive (DC 15) test, that her mind is
broken and she is on the verge of jumping from the
ledge.
APL 2 (EL 1)
� Vânda Hüssen: hp 12; see Appendix One.
APL 4−6 (EL 2)
� Vânda Hüssen: hp 18; see Appendix One.
APL 8−10 (EL 3)
� Vânda Hüssen: hp 24; see Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 4)
� Vânda Hüssen: hp 30; see Appendix One.
The poor woman is currently fighting off possession by
an escaped kóndkan soul. This soul is very old indeed, an
speaks only an ancient dialect of Ur-Flan. Wondering
where it is and what is going on, it has latched onto
Vânda and is bombarding her with questions. An
insistent soul, it has little patience for her prevarication
and has not realised the terror and confusion it has
caused her.
Once she spies the PCs, Vânda will attack them – not
because she sees them as her enemies but because in her
deranged state she views them as a manifestation of what
is ailing her. As mad as she is, she thinks if she can drag a
PC off the cliff then it will be an end to her misery. She is
so determined on this that she doesn’t care for her own
well-being.
Should anyone fall off the cliff allow them a Reflex
save (DC 12+APL) to avoid falling. If that doesn’t work,
assume that Vânda is killed by any fall and PCs must
suffer a fall of APL x 10 ft. resulting in 1d6 per APL
falling damage.
DM’s Note: The conditions vary due to the APL,
resulting in the range of the DC above. At APL 2 it is just
a rock surface. At APL 4 it is a cracked and uneven rock
surface. At APL 6 there are also a few ice encrusted
patches. At APL 8 there are sharp icicles jutting out that
make movement tricky. At APL 10 the ledge is
completely ice encrusted. Finally, at APL 12 the wind is
gusting unevenly.
The Soul
This particular soul is what remains of a long, long dead
Ur-Flan warrior, called Shatek Gaiss. Upon his death his
soul was ensnared and held in a pot so that he could be
returned to serve again at some stage. Many thousands of
years have passed since that happened and the world as it
is now is unrecognisable to him. Shatek is trying to locate
his master, Krâv the Magus, since he assumes that is why
he has returned.
Shatek has no real malice in him. He merely wants
to know what has happened. To that end, upon the
appearance of the PCs he will endeavour to communicate
with them rather than Vânda. However, unless the PCs
speak Ur-Flan or have access to comprehend languages or
tongues then communicating is going to be a tad
difficult.
All APLs
Shatek Gaiss, Saved Soul: hp 32; see Appendix One.
If the PCs are able to establish some form of
communication with Shatek than it is possible that they
can recruit him to assist them. This can be done with a
successful opposed Diplomacy or Bluff test (vs. Shatek’s
Sense Motive check). Shatek is happiest following, and
taking orders, and that is the best avenue for the PCs to
take.
In addition the PCs may wish to ask Shatek some
questions. Possible questions and their answers are listed
below:
� Who are you? I am Shatek Gaiss of the Wind
Wheel, warrior-servant of Krâv the Magus.
� Who is Krâv? He is the mighty one; the mage
priest. All tremble before his greatness and his
majesty. His wisdom is unsurpassed… (And so
on…)
� What is the Wind Wheel? It is my birthright,
the honour of my family. No more can I say, for
such mysteries are exclusive.
� Why are you here? Upon my passing my soul
was to be kept so that I might serve the Magus
once more. Now that time has come and I have
been released, but no vessel for my soul has
been provided. This I do not understand.
� What sort of vessel do you require? I am not
so certain, though I know it requires a secret
I Dream of Janni
Page 14
ritual. Perhaps a body of a warrior or some
prepared construct. The Magus would know.
� Where is the Magus? I do not know. I must
find him.
� Why are you attacking the woman? I attack
her not. I seek answers, but she will not give
them. It seems she is witless, for she speaks not
a sensible tongue.
� When did you live? I was born in the
thirteenth year of the Twelfth Cycle of Ice, and
died, I think, in the second year of the Eighth
Cycle of Earth. (A successful Knowledge
(History) check (DC 25) will reveal this to be
approximately three and a half thousand years
beforehand.)
� How did you die? Gloriously; in the service of
my lord; fighting his foes as they attacked our
domain. Their greatest captain was my
opponent, a warrior of great honour, and I died
by his blade.
Questioning Vânda
It will be some time before she is able to talk in a
coherent fashion. Even if her physical and mental health
is somehow restored, the shock of the experience will
leave her withdrawn and quiet. She knows nothing of
Little Janni. If pressed, she knows the same information
provided in the background for Tamoud in Encounter
Two.
Vânda is really in no state to be dragged around by
the group. If they are on the way down then they should
take her. Otherwise it’s probably best to leave her with
some warmth and food, and pick her up later.
Encounter Six
The South Fork
The southern tributary of the Tórnstróm runs steep
and fast through a deeply worn valley. Over years the
water has cut into the hard rock and formed a chasm
in which the river roars and grumbles as it runs away
from the direction you are travelling. The going is
slow now, and occasionally treacherous, as what path
there is comes close to the edge where icy patches are
thick and sl ppery.
i
After an hour or two of hard marching you spy a
towering waterfall, higher than the one you passed
before, where the chasm starts at a tight canyon. The
rock face is splintered and broken, so that there
seems to be natural steps and handholds. Despite the
height the climb may not be so hard. Yet the ice,
snow and wind certainly promise to make things
more difficult.
Proof of how dangerous things can be is revealed
when you crest an old frozen pile of rubble at the base
of the waterfall. There, lying in a shattered heap, is
the body of a roughly dressed man. Ice and snow have
formed on his body but he can’t have been here more
than a week or so. Is this one of the missing
prospectors?
The Body
No doubt the first thing the PCs are likely to do is
examine the body. It is that of a man in his mid-twenties.
His injuries (Heal check DC 15 to check) are consistent
with a long fall but do not indicate he bounced or scraped
on the way down. Given the nature of the cliff it means
he was thrown off or took a running jump (Knowledge
(Nature) DC 12 to know this). A Search (DC 15) of the
area reveals a large number of pot shards around, as if a
pot had been dropped from a great height. Some of them
are underneath him, or stuck in him.
The body matches the loose description they were
given of the Môrgenrood brothers, but which one is hard
to tell. Though the PCs may not be able to know it, this is
the body of Fretz.
Should the PCs have some magical means of finding
it out, Fretz – who was a rogue/sorcerer – found a magic
‘key’ within the shrine above and used it to open a few
pots before his brother Schtecker took the ‘key’ from
him. This unleashed a number of souls that tried to
possess he and the others in his group. Driven insane by
the whispering of the souls trying to ensnare him, Fretz
grabbed a pot and ran, eventually meeting a nasty end as
he ran over the cliff and to his death. The pot he had was
shattered and the soul within released.
The Woodpecker
A Spot (DC 15) test will reveal a small bird nearby, a
woodpecker, watching the group with interest. It sits
atop a shard of rock, at the base of the waterfall, that rises
some 30 ft. into the air. Initially the woodpecker merely
sits and watches, perhaps in a manner more curious than
most of its species (Knowledge (Nature) or Survival DC
15 to tell this). If anyone makes an off the cuff quip (such
as “Hello bird, what are you looking at?”) it will
immediately engage in conversation. Otherwise it will
I Dream of Janni
Page 15
start to get very chatty when the PCs have spent a bit
more time looking around.
The woodpecker is possessed by a freed soul, the one
that was in Fretz’s pot. The soul is that of an awakened
familiar, a raven to be exact. It is a curious thing, but not
entirely stable since it wasn’t properly released. There
isn’t too much the soul can accurately tell the PCs if they
start talking with it, but that doesn’t mean it can’t make
up answers that it thinks will make them keep talking to
it…
The Ascent
Getting up the cliff isn’t all that easy, but it could be a lot
worse. If any falls do occur the unlucky PCs will only fall
so far, since the fractured face of the cliff forms small
tiers.
However, at the top of one of the tiers the cliff edge
and sides are covered with thick compressed snow and
ice that is ready to give way. Where this natural trap is
positioned is dependent on the APL. As the APL
increases the compacted snow and ice is more dense and
harder to see, and the section of the cliff it sits above is
taller.
If the ice collapses it tumbles down on those below
as well, taking loose rocks with it. However, those who
may be affected have some warning, and so gain a +2
circumstance bonus to their saves.
DM’s Note: The PC whose climbing attempt set off
the trap may substitute Climb for their Reflex save if they
so wish.
The base DC for a Climb test is 13+APL, as increased
APL results in icier and windier conditions.
Of course, to complicate matters the woodpecker
will flit from PC to PC, asking inane questions (“Who are
you?”, “What are you doing?”, “What’s that thing you’re
holding onto?” etc.) and generally being annoying in it
own garrulous way. This results in a special –2
circumstance penalty for each of the PCs.
A Diplomacy, Bluff or Intimidation check (DC
8+APL) can be used to make the woodpecker leave each
climber alone.
APL 2 & 4 (EL 1)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 1; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 20 ft. deep (2d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square below the cliff edge and all squares within
a 10 ft. radius of that); Reflex save (DC 14 for half, DC 18
for none); Search or Survival (DC 18); Disable Device
(DC 20).
APL 6 & 8 (EL 2)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 2; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 40 ft. deep (4d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square below the cliff edge and all squares within
a 10 ft. radius of that); Reflex save (DC 18 for half, DC 22
for none); Search or Survival (DC 22); Disable Device
(DC 24).
APL 10 & 12 (EL 3)
� Collapsing Edge: CR 3; natural; touch trigger; no
reset; 60 ft. deep (6d6, fall); multiple targets (anyone in
the 5 ft. square below the cliff edge and all squares within
a 10 ft. radius of that); Reflex save (DC 22 for half, DC 26
for none); Search or Survival (DC 22); Disable Device
(DC 26).
Flying PCs
Some PCs may use flight or levitation spells as a means to
avoid this encounter. That is a valid option. However, it is
still windy – the wind speed increasing with the APL –
and there is a chance they could be blown astray.
Each round that a flying or levitating PC is within 5
ft. of the cliff, or when they are landing, they should
make a Reflex save (DC 12+APL). Failure means they are
blown into the cliff face or the ground and take APL÷2d6
damage.
Encounter Seven
The Lost Shrine
With chilled bodies you make your way up to the
visible entrance of the shrine. In the dimmer light
you can make out that a golden glow seems to
emanating from the open entrance. Whatever noises
might be made within are drowned out by the
shrieking of the wind that continues to drag at your
clothes and hair. The icy conditions are leaving you
numb and shaking.
Finally you come to the ledge that has formed
where the stone has broken away. The view from
above s astounding. You can look over the peaks of
the southern Yatils as they poke through a low ayer
of cloud. Through the gaps in those clouds you can
see the distant hills and plains of Krestible Canton.
Even to make it to this point to see the view is an
achievement.
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If the characters have not yet done Encounter Five then
read the following:
I Dream of Janni
Page 16
To your left, on the north-eastern flank of the
mountain, you can see a ledge some several hundred
feet below you. Standing on it is a figure that appears
to be feminine. It may be your imagination, but you
think you can hear a woman’s scream echoing from
below.
If the characters have not yet done Encounter Six then
read the following:
To your right, on the southern flank of the mountain,
you can see a steep waterfall where the south fork of
the river tumbles into the valley below. Those
amongst you with the keenest eyes think that there
may be a crumpled body lying at the base of that drop.
The Shrine
No doubt the PCs will be expecting this place to be
ancient, but it is not the case. This small complex is only a
century old – originally created as a repository for
religious records for folk sworn to Pelor, its role changed
when the depredations of the Witch Queen saw a threat
presented to a collection of important kónkannen. In
order to ensure the souls within could not be claimed by
Iggwilv, the pots were secretly moved to this equally
secret location, and it was sealed.
On the floors of the shrine are marvellous mosaics
depicting sun motifs and scenes bathed in golden light.
They are quite beautiful, made from marble tesserae, and
exquisitely constructed. Time has barely touched them;
only a coating of dust mars their perfection.
A Knowledge (Religion) test (DC 10) will reveal the
shrine’s link to Pelor.
A Knowledge (History) test (DC 15) will reveal the
style of the place is relatively new, and can date it at 100
to 200 years old.
A Profession (Stonemason) test (DC 15) can note
that the construction has used some dwarven techniques,
but is primarily of human style.
The ceilings in rooms are vaulted and 40 ft. high.
The main corridor is arched and 30 ft. high. The side
corridors are arched and 15 ft. high. The hall is 60 ft. high
and vaulted.
The whole shrine is bathed in golden light from
many continual light spells.
Note: The DM should refer to Appendix Four for a
map of the shrine. The shaded areas within the complex
are where pots are stacked.
1. Entryway
Perhaps half of what was once an entryway remains.
The rest has gone, fal en below when the cliff gave
way. From the fine carvings on the walls, there is
little doubt that the doorway was impressive when it
existed. The carvings that do remain depict humans,
probably
of
Flan
blood,
in
stern
poses
of
watchfulness. Such s the qual ty of the workmanship
that it seems as if living people had been turned to
stone to remain here as guards. Cunningly placed
con inual light spells provide a warm glow, and
provide a strangely welcoming aura to the shrine.
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Ice and snow now cover the floor of this chamber,
making footing treacherous. There are four packs here,
stacked in the left corner. These packs contain relatively
fresh provisions (only a week or two old) and the usual
adventuring gear. Quite obviously they belong to the
four prospectors.
Anyone looking for tracks can make out Large
footprints heading into the mountain down the main
corridor.
Those who succeed in a Listen check (DC 15) can
hear a low, deep groaning coming from deeper inside the
complex.
When the PCs look down the corridor read the
following:
Looking down the corridor you can see that it s full
of large pots, of varying sizes and quality. They are
neatly stacked, two or three deep on each side of the
corridor. Those that can be have been carefully placed
on top of those below. There must hundreds, perhaps
even thousands of pots here…
2. Foyer
Like the corridors, this octagonal room is arrayed
with pots along its walls. From each side passages lead
away to side rooms. The main corridor continues on
and the deep groaning now can be clearly heard,
echoing from beyond.
From the carvings on the walls, characters succeeding in
Knowledge (Religion) tests (DC 20) can determine that
this chamber was probably originally meant as a
cleansing and meditation room. Prior to entering further,
visitors would prepare themselves spiritually in this
chamber.
Now it holds pots; lots of them. Some of them have
been opened, and recently, it seems. One or two even
appear to be missing, judging from spots where dust is
cleared away.
I Dream of Janni
Page 17
Propped against the pots in the far right quarter is a
Large sized backpack, containing the usual adventuring
gear, albeit for an ogre-sized person.
3 and 4. Side Chambers
Once this room may have been a private chamber,
somewhere to house the attendants of the shrine.
Now, like all other places, it contains pots and dust.
Huddled in the closest left corner of room 3 (marked on
the map as a circle) and hidden from immediate view is
Schtecker, one of the Môrgenrood brothers. In order to
fight off the mental assault of souls, he has entered a deep
trance. A Heal (DC 15) test will reveal this. It will take a
while for him to come back to his senses if he is
disturbed, and he will be light-headed and hungry, but
his main motive will be to determine where his brother
Fretz is to be found.
Schtecker has a strange rod clutched in his hands
(see below). It is easy enough to take this from him
without necessarily disturbing him. He has the rod
because he took it from his brother, Fretz, who had used
it to free a number of souls. Unfortunately he was too late
and all hell broke loose. Making his way to the side
chamber, he entered a meditative trance to protect
himself.
The Rod: This appears to be about a foot long and three
inches thick, and made of polished bronze engraved with
old Ur-Flan sigils. At one end (the butt) is a cap of some
milky precious stone (moonstone) in which clouds seem
to swirl. At the other end (the point) is an heptagonal
emerald that comes to a sharp point.
Should anyone try to use the rod, it is considered to
be drained at this stage. It can not be used.
5. The Hall
This grand hall is lit in bright golden light, and is
large and airy. Around its fringes are countless pots,
neatly stacked and piled. The ceiling sweeps up to a
vaulted line some sixty feet h gh. This is a grand
chamber indeed.
i
i
i
Most compelling, though, is the image of a young
ogre, still clad in armour, on h s knees as if in prayer.
His helmet lies discarded before him and he groans as
he presses knuckled fists to his forehead. “No!” he
groans in a strangled voice, as his whole body tenses.
“Get out!”
It seems that in his torment, whatever that may
be, Little Jann is oblivious to your presence.
Janni is currently fighting off the mental assault of one or
more freed souls. He has been doing so for a few days, so
he’s not in the best mental state. At higher APLs he’s
ready to fly off the handle. Janni’s position on the map is
marked by the large circle.
When the PCs enter Janni will either remain
oblivious to them (APL 2-4) or madly view them as
manifestations of his trouble and attack (APL 6-12). Janni
may well start throwing pots around, which may be
treated as boulders. His tactics are quite blunt, for he isn’t
in a proper state of mind. A Sense Motive (DC 12) test
will reveal this, and should be enough of a hint for PCs to
avoid killing him.
The interest of the soul(s) is in finding a body to
possess in order to be somewhat restored. The mental
faculties of the soul(s) have been affected adversely, and
the
interest
in
possessing
someone
is
almost
monomaniacal. This is why the soul(s) are still here and
not searching elsewhere.
At lower APLs the soul will try to leave once it has
successfully possessed someone, using all of its abilities
to defend itself.
At higher APLs each soul wants to possess a body
and then make sure the other soul cannot also do so.
Thus the souls will direct attacks at the PCs first, and
then the other soul after that. They make good use of
their supernatural abilities, and will boost any ‘allies’ they
suborn.
If Shatek is present he will help by attacking, and
will try to grapple souls that have possessed PCs,
dragging them away.
APL 2 (EL 3)
� Minor Soul: hp 7; see Appendix One.
APL 4 (EL 5)
� Lesser Soul: hp 21; see Appendix One.
APL 6 (EL 7)
� Lesser Soul: hp 21; see Appendix One.
� Little Janni: hp 73; see Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 9)
� Major Soul: hp 42; see Appendix One.
� Little Janni: hp 73; see Appendix One.
APL 10 (EL 11)
� Major Souls (2): hp 42, 42; see Appendix One.
� Little Janni: hp 73; see Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 13)
� Greater Souls (2): hp 56, 56; see Appendix One.
I Dream of Janni
Page 18
� Little Janni: hp 73; see Appendix One.
Treasure
The characters can claim the key rod, and a number of
pots of varying values.
APL 2: coin – 100gp, magic – kóndkannen key rod
(150gp)
APL 4: coin – 200gp, magic – kóndkannen key rod
(150gp)
APL 6: coin – 300gp, magic – kóndkannen key rod
(150gp)
APL 8: coin – 500gp, magic – kóndkannen key rod
(150gp)
APL 10: coin – 750gp, magic – kóndkannen key rod
(150gp)
APL 12: coin – 1,000gp, magic – kóndkannen key rod
(150gp)
Where Now?
Assuming the characters have managed to secure Little
Janni he will come to his senses with a bit of help from
the PCs. If he attacked them he will be most apologetic,
and determined to make amends. He will also want to
account for all of the prospectors. If Fretz has not been
found then Schtecker will want to account for him as
well. Vânda, if with the group, just wants to get away
from there.
At that stage the PCs should have definitely found
Tamoud and Schtecker. Vânda is to be found in
Encounter Five, and Fretz in Encounter Six. One of
these, if not both, should have been found.
From the vantage point of the shrine it is possible to
either notice Vânda on the ledge at Encounter Five, or to
see a broken form at the base of the cliff for Encounter
Six. This ensures that the PCs get to do all of the
encounters in whichever order takes their fancy.
Proceed from here to either of the two encounters if
they’ve yet to be done, or to the Conclusion if they have
been done.
Conclusion
Once the PCs have dealt with things at the shrine and
saved as many prospectors as they care to, there is little to
keep them in the mountains. They can gather whatever
they
will
and
make
their
way
back
to
the
Brockenberghuis and on to Rikkendál.
If Little Janni was killed they have to decide if they
will take his body back or not. Carrying the corpse of an
ogre in the conditions they find themselves in could
prove problematic.
If Janni survived then read the following:
The weather does not let up as you make your way
back down out of the mountains. Little Janni is a
hardy soul, and his presence makes the going a little
easier. His good nature is obvious and is somewhat
infectious too The surviving prospectors are shocked
by their experiences, but pull their own weight and
are barely a burden.
.
i
f
l
You arrive back at the Brockenberghuis chilled
and travel-worn, but are soon fed and made
comfortable. Murkir thanks you all for what you have
done and stands you a few good drinks in gratitude.
You have made good names for yourselves in this
traveller’s inn, certainly.
Bidding Murkir and the prospectors goodbye you
make your way with Janni back to Rikkendál, where
you are welcomed with much joy and great cheer. The
wedding is arranged to take place the next day.
If Janni died and the characters took his body then read
the following:
The weather does not let up as you make your way
back down out of the mountains. Its bleakness seems
somehow appropriate, as if the weather tsel is
sorrowed
by
Janni’s
passing.
The
surviving
prospectors are shocked by their experiences, but pull
their own weight and are barely a burden.
You arrive back at the Brockenberghuis chilled
and travel-worn, but are soon fed and made
comfortable. Murkir thanks you all for what you have
done and grieves over Janni’s death. You have made
good names for yourselves in this traveller’s inn,
certainly.
Bidding Murkir and the prospectors goodbye you
make your way back to Rikkendál, where you are
welcomed and thanked for your efforts.
The wedding ceremony is delayed for a few short
days, as a priest is sought who can return Janni from
the realm of death. Thanks to your conscientious
return of Janni’s body, this can be done swiftly
enough, and soon the big fel ow is returned, to the
relief of all. It seems he is valued in this community.
If Janni died and the characters left his body then read
the following:
The weather does not let up as you make your way
back down out of the mountains. Its bleakness seems
somehow appropriate, as if the weather itself is
I Dream of Janni
Page 19
sorrowed
by
Janni’s
passing.
The
surviving
prospectors are shocked by their experiences, but pull
their own weight and are barely a burden.
You arrive back at the Brockenberghuis chilled
and travel-worn, but are soon fed and made
comfortable. Murkir thanks you all for what you have
done and grieves over Janni’s death. He seems
disappointed to learn that the big ogre still lies in the
mountains.
i
l
l-
i
Bidding Murkir and the prospectors goodbye you
make your way back to Rikkendál, where you are
welcomed and thanked for your efforts.
The wedding ceremony is delayed for several
days, as a party of hardy mountain men are sent out to
recover Janni’s body. There are some concealed
mutterings about why he was left there in the first
place, but no one really condemns the choices you
made. A priest is eventually sought who can return
Janni from the realm of death. After some days the
big fellow is returned, to the relief of all – it seems he
is valued in this commun ty. The wedding is
unfortunately delayed for some time, and a few of the
guests are sadly forced to depart before the event
takes place.
In all cases read the following:
Come the wedding, Janni dresses in his best finery,
sporting a wonderful y ugly grin as he is joined by a
wel groomed and ribboned l ttle brown pig. With
that strange pair of escorts the happy couple make
their vows before the overjoyed community.
The celebration that follows is one to be
remembered. For a time the dark thoughts of things
foul in Perrenland are expelled from people’s minds,
for a time in Rikkendál anyway, and laughter and
happiness prevail. It reminds you so clearly of the
things for which you and others fight.
Treasure
If the PCs managed to rescue Little Janni, or at least put
up an obviously heroic attempt to do so and recovered his
body, then the clans of the bride and groom (Hüssen and
Vuurzward respectively) will reward the PCs with the
same amount promised in the Introduction.
In addition to the payment, the two clans will
provide access to their treasures and artisans, allowing
the characters access to various items or weapon/armour
upgrades.
DM’s Note: If the PCs demanded payment in the
Introduction then they do not get this reward, which is
equal to what was promised (50gp x APL). They will thus
have already been payed.
The Rod
Once the wedding is over and done with the PCs may go
where they will. However there is no doubt that they will
want to explore matters further in regards the rod.
Unless they take extreme measures, word will get out
about the rod and folk from the Old Kerk, Den Zauber
and the Treasure Hunters Guild will approach them,
asking very politely if they would please give the artefact
over to the care of the authorities.
If the PCs refuse the matter won’t be pushed, but
make it clear that people, possibly important ones, are
now suspicious of them, and they are being watched. On
their own the PCs do not have access to the resources to
fully examine the rod and they can not make it work.
If the PCs hand the rod over they will, thanks to
their show of good faith, be permitted to assist or be
present in its use. Any PC who chooses to be involved in
the opening of the pots may subsequently choose to be
bonded to a Kóndkan Soul Friend (as detailed in the
special Treasure section).
The End
Experience Point Summary
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
roleplaying) to each character.
Encounter One
Taking part in or experiencing the fight:
APL2 60xp; APL4 60xp; APL6 60xp;
APL8 60xp; APL10 60xp; APL12 60xp.
Encounter Two
Braving the traps:
APL2 90xp; APL4 150xp; APL6 210xp;
APL8 270xp; APL10 330xp; APL12 390xp.
Encounter Four
Experiencing the collapsing edge:
APL2 60xp; APL4 90xp; APL6 120xp;
APL8 150xp; APL10 180xp; APL12 210xp.
Encounter Five
Dealing with Vânda:
APL2 30xp; APL4 60xp; APL6 60xp;
APL8 90xp; APL10 90xp; APL12 120xp.
I Dream of Janni
Page 20
Encounter Six
Experiencing the tough ascent:
APL2 30xp; APL4 30xp; APL6 60xp;
APL8 60xp; APL10 90xp; APL12 90xp.
Encounter Seven
Dealing with Janni and the spirits:
APL2 90xp; APL4 150xp; APL6 210xp;
APL8 270xp; APL10 330xp; APL12 390xp.
Story Award
Rescuing Little Janni:
APL2 50xp; APL4 75xp; APL6 100xp;
APL8 125xp; APL10 150xp; APL12 175xp.
Discretionary roleplaying award
APL2 40xp; APL4 60xp; APL6 80xp;
APL8 100xp; APL10 120xp; APL12 140xp.
Total possible experience:
APL2 450xp; APL4 675xp; APL6 900xp;
APL8 1,125xp; APL10 1,350xp; APL12 1,575xp.
Treasure Summary
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their earthly
possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 minutes
per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot take the
time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this gold. If you
feel it is reasonable that characters can go back to loot the
bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by
dungeon scavengers, removed from the scene by the local
watch, and so on), characters may return to retrieve loot. If
the characters do not loot the body, the gold piece value for
the loot is subtracted from the encounter totals given
below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a round
or so. If for some reason, they pass up this treasure, the
coin total is subtracted from the encounter totals given
below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure
is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because characters may want to use them during the
adventure. Many times characters must cast identify,
analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine what the
item does and how to activate it. Other times they may
attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic item is
consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the item
is used before the end of the adventure, its total is
subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in the
GP Gained field of the adventure certificate. Because this is
a Regional scenario, characters may spend additional Time
Units to practice professions or create items immediately
after the adventure so this total may be modified by other
circumstances.
L = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, Jewelry,
and other valuables; M = Magic Items.
Introduction or Conclusion:
APL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 100 gp; M: 0 gp
APL 4: L: 0 gp; C: 200 gp; M: 0 gp
APL 6: L: 0 gp; C: 300 gp; M: 0 gp
APL 8: L: 0 gp; C: 400 gp; M: 0 gp
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 500 gp; M: 0 gp
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 600 gp; M: 0 gp
Encounter Two:
APL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 100 gp; M: 150 gp
APL 4: L: 0 gp; C: 100 gp; M: 250 gp
APL 6: L: 0 gp; C: 100 gp; M: 250 gp
APL 8: L: 0 gp; C: 100 gp; M: 417 gp
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C:100 gp; M: 916 gp
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 100 gp; M: 1,167 gp
Encounter Seven:
APL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 100 gp; M: 150 gp
APL 4: L: 0 gp; C: 200 gp; M: 150 gp
APL 6: L: 0 gp; C: 300 gp; M: 150 gp
APL 8: L: 0 gp; C: 400 gp; M: 150 gp
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 750 gp; M: 150 gp
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 1,500 gp; M: 150 gp
Total Possible Treasure
APL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 200 gp; M: 300 gp
APL 4: L: 0 gp; C: 500 gp; M: 400 gp
APL 6: L: 0 gp; C: 700 gp; M: 400 gp
APL 8: L: 0 gp; C: 900 gp; M: 567 gp
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 1,350 gp; M: 1,066 gp
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 2,200 gp; M: 1,317 gp
I Dream of Janni
Page 21
Special
You have earned the gratitude of the Hüssen and
Vuurzward clans, and they allow you access to clan
resources, giving you regional access (at standard prices)
to one of these upgrades or items: These can only be
bought following a Regional scenario set in Perrenland.
Circle your choice from the list available below.
APL 2-4: weapon abilities—bane (undead), ghost touch
(melee only); armour or shield abilities—fortification,
light.
APL 6-8: As APL 2-4, in addition to: weapon abilities—
holy; armour or shield abilities—spell resistance (13).
APL 10-12: As APL 2-8, in addition to: weapon
abilities—speed; armour or shield abilities—fortification,
moderate, ghost touch, spell resistance (15).
Kóndkan Soul Friend: You have a mystical pact with a
released kóndkan soul. From this pact you can claim one
bonus associated with one type of pot, as follows: pot
from Pots of Knowledge (Type A, B or C); from Wild
Goose Chase (Type B or C only); from I Dream Of Janni
(Type C only). All benefits are activated with a free
action. The benefit is usable for 1 calendar year from
being gained. Date gained: ______________.
Boosting Spirit: Once per scenario you may raise a single
attribute for 1d10 rounds with an enhancement bonus of
� +4 [A], � +2 [B] or � +1 [C].
Protecting Spirit: Once per scenario you may increase
one save with an enhancement bonus of � +4 [A], � +2
[B] or � +1 [C].
Mentor Spirit: � +4 [A], � +2 [B] or � +1 [C] synergy
bonus to one Int, Wis or Cha linked skill. (Skill chosen:
______________________________)
Translating Spirit: You may speak, read and understand
Ur-Flan as if via comprehend languages � always in
Perrenland [A], � 1d10 minutes [B], � 1d10 rounds [C].
Items for the Adventure
Record
Item Access
APL 2:
Quiver of Ehlonna (Adventure, DMG)
APLs 4-6: (All of APL 2 plus the following)
Chime of opening (Adventure, DMG)
APL 8: (All of APLs 2-6 plus the following)
Immovable rod (Adventure, DMG)
APL 10: (All of APLs 2-8 plus the following)
Rod of metamagic, silent (Adventure, DMG)
APL 12: (All of APLs 2-10 plus the following)
Lesser rod of metamagic, maximise (Adventure, DMG)
I Dream of Janni
Page 22
Appendix One
Stat Blocks
Encounter One
All APLs
Murkir Seamfinder: Male dwarf Exp 3; CR 2; Medium
humanoid (dwarf); HD 3d6+12; hp 24; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 12 (touch 10, flat-footed 12) [+2 leather]; BA/G +2/+5;
Atk +5 melee (1d3+3 non-lethal, unarmed); Full Att +5
melee (1d3+3 non-lethal, unarmed); SA +1 racial bonus
on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids; SQ dwarf
traits; AL NG; SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +3; Str 17, Dex 11,
Con 17, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +5, Craft (Stonemasonry) +7,
Disable Device +3, Escape Artist +2, Knowledge
(Architecture
and
Engineering)
+3,
Knowledge
(Dungeoneering) +5, Profession (Miner) +9, Search +5,
Spot +1, Survival +6, Use Rope +4; Skill Focus (Profession
(Miner)), Toughness.
Possessions: Leather armor.
Encounter Five
All APLs
Shatek Gaiss: Male human Ftr5; CR 7; Medium undead
(incorporeal); HD 5d12; hp 32; Init +5; Spd Fly 30 ft.
(perfect); AC 13 (touch 13, flat-footed 12) [+1 Dex, +2
deflection] or 11 (touch 11, flat-footed 12) [+1 Dex]; BA/G
+5/+8; Atk +6 melee (incorporeal touch) or +8 melee
(1d3+3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +6 melee (incorporeal
touch) or +8 melee (1d3+3, ethereal unarmed); SA
corrupting touch, draining touch, partial manifestation;
SQ boosting touch, darkvisiosn 60 ft., incorporeal traits,
psychic link, rejuvenation, +8 turn resistance, undead
traits; AL LN; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 13,
Con —, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Climb +1, Hide +5, Knowledge
(Dungeoneering)
+3,
Knowledge
(Geography)
+3,
Knowledge (Nature) +3, Profession (Prospector) +6,
Search +5, Spot +3, Survival +5, Use Rope +4; Blind-Fight,
Cleave, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword),
Improved Initiative, Improved Unarmed Strike, Power
Attack, Weapon Focus (bastard sword).
APL 2
Vânda Hüssen: Female human Exp2; CR 1; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 2d6+4; hp 12; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 13 (touch 11, flat-footed 12) [+2 leather]; BA/G +1/+3;
Atk +3 melee (1d6+2, club); Full Att +3 melee (1d6+2,
club); AL LN; SV Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +4; Str 15, Dex 12,
Con 14, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Climb +6, Jump +5, Knowledge
(Dungeoneering)
+3,
Knowledge
(Geography)
+3,
Knowledge (Nature) +3, Profession (Prospector) +6,
Search +5, Spot +3, Survival +5, Use Rope +4; Endurance,
Track.
Possessions: Leather armor, walking stick (club).
APL 4-6
Vânda Hüssen: Female human Exp3; CR 2; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 3d6+6; hp 18; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 13 (touch 11, flat-footed 12) [+2 leather]; BA/G +2/+4;
Atk +4 melee (1d6+2, club); Full Att +4 melee (1d6+2,
club); AL LN; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +4; Str 15, Dex 12,
Con 14, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +6, Knowledge
(Dungeoneering)
+4,
Knowledge
(Geography)
+3,
Knowledge (Nature) +3, Profession (Prospector) +7,
Search +6, Spot +4, Survival +5, Use Rope +4; Endurance,
Self-sufficient, Track.
Possessions: Leather armor, walking stick (club).
APL 8-10
Vânda Hüssen: Female human Exp4; CR 3; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 4d6+8; hp 24; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 13 (touch 11, flat-footed 12) [+2 leather]; BA/G +3/+5;
Atk +5 melee (1d6+2, club); Full Att +5 melee (1d6+2,
club); AL LN; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +5; Str 15, Dex 12,
Con 15, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Balance +4, Climb +7, Jump +6,
Knowledge
(Dungeoneering)
+4,
Knowledge
(Geography) +3, Knowledge (Nature) +3, Listen +3,
Profession (Prospector) +7, Search +6, Spot +4, Survival
+5, Use Rope +4; Endurance, Self-sufficient, Track.
Possessions: Leather armor, walking stick (club).
APL 12
Vânda Hüssen: Female human Exp5; CR 4; Medium
humanoid (human); HD 5d6+10; hp 30; Init +1; Spd 30
ft.; AC 13 (touch 11, flat-footed 12) [+2 leather]; BA/G
+3/+5; Atk +5 melee (1d6+2, club); Full Att +5 melee
(1d6+2, club); AL LN; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +5; Str 15,
Dex 12, Con 15, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Balance +5, Climb +7, Jump +6,
Knowledge
(Dungeoneering)
+4,
Knowledge
I Dream of Janni
Page 23
(Geography) +3, Knowledge (Nature) +3, Listen +4,
Profession (Prospector) +8, Search +7, Spot +4, Survival
+5, Use Rope +4; Endurance, Self-sufficient, Track.
Possessions: Leather armor, walking stick (club).
Encounter Seven
APL 2
Minor Soul: Female human Sor1; CR 3; Medium undead
(incorporeal); HD 1d12; hp 7; Init +2; Spd Fly 30 ft.
(perfect); AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 13) [+2 Dex, +3
deflection] or 12 (touch 12, flat-footed 10) [+2 Dex]; BA/G
+0/+0; Atk +2 melee (incorporeal touch) or +0 melee
(1d3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +2 melee (incorporeal
touch) or +0 melee (1d3, ethereal unarmed); SA
corrupting gaze, draining touch, partial manifestation,
possession; SQ boosting touch, darkvisiosn 60 ft.,
incorporeal traits, psychic link, rejuvenation, +8 turn
resistance, undead traits; AL CN; SV Fort +0, Ref +2, Will
+5; Str 10, Dex 15, Con —, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +5, Concentration +5, Hide +3,
Knowledge (arcane) +6, Spellcraft +6, Spot +3; Improved
Unarmed Strike, Iron Will, Spell Penetration.
Spells Known (5/4; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0—
[daze, detect magic, light, read magic]; 1st—[magic
missile, shield].
APL 4
Lesser Soul: Female human Sor3; CR 5; Medium undead
(incorporeal); HD 3d12; hp 21; Init +2; Spd Fly 30 ft.
(perfect); AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 13) [+2 Dex, +3
deflection] or 12 (touch 12, flat-footed 10) [+2 Dex]; BA/G
+1/+1; Atk +3 melee (incorporeal touch) or +1 melee
(1d3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +3 melee (incorporeal
touch) or +1 melee (1d3, ethereal unarmed); SA
corrupting gaze, draining touch, partial manifestation,
possession; SQ boosting touch, darkvisiosn 60 ft.,
incorporeal traits, psychic link, rejuvenation, +8 turn
resistance, undead traits; AL CN; SV Fort +1, Ref +3, Will
+6; Str 10, Dex 15, Con —, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +5, Concentration +7, Hide +3,
Knowledge (arcane) +8, Spellcraft +8, Search +3, Spot +4;
Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron Will, Scribe Scroll, Spell
Penetration.
Spells Known (6/6; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0—
[daze, detect magic, disrupt undead, light, read magic];
1st—[cause fear, magic missile, shield].
APL 6
Lesser Soul: Female human Sor3; CR 5; Medium undead
(incorporeal); HD 3d12; hp 21; Init +2; Spd Fly 30 ft.
(perfect); AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 13) [+2 Dex, +3
deflection] or 12 (touch 12, flat-footed 10) [+2 Dex]; BA/G
+1/+1; Atk +3 melee (incorporeal touch) or +1 melee
(1d3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +3 melee (incorporeal
touch) or +1 melee (1d3, ethereal unarmed); SA
corrupting gaze, draining touch, partial manifestation,
possession; SQ boosting touch, darkvisiosn 60 ft.,
incorporeal traits, psychic link, rejuvenation, +8 turn
resistance, undead traits; AL CN; SV Fort +1, Ref +3, Will
+6; Str 10, Dex 15, Con —, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +5, Concentration +7, Hide +3,
Knowledge (arcane) +8, Spellcraft +8, Search +3, Spot +4;
Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron Will, Scribe Scroll, Spell
Penetration.
Spells Known (6/6; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0—
[daze, detect magic, disrupt undead, light, read magic];
1st—[cause fear, magic missile, shield].
Little Janni Zussrig: Male ogre Com1/Pal2; CR 5; Large
giant (ogre); HD 4d8+1d4+2d10+35; hp 73; Init +1; Spd 30
ft.; AC 20 (touch 10, flat-footed 19) [–1 size, +1 Dex, +5
natural, +5 breastplate]; BA/G +5/+16; Atk +12 melee
(1d8+7, shortspear) or +12 melee (1d4+7 non-lethal,
unarmed) or +6 ranged (1d8+7, shortspear); Full Att +12
melee (1d8+7, shortspear) or +12 melee (1d4+7 non-
lethal, unarmed) or +6 ranged (1d8+7, shortspear); SA
smite evil 1/day; SQ detect evil, divine grace, lay on
hands 2hp/day, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; AL LG;
SV Fort +13, Ref +3, Will +3; Str 24, Dex 12, Con 20, Int
11, Wis 13, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Climb +5, Handle Animal +3, Listen
+3, Profession (Farmer) +3, Spot +4; Improved Bull Rush,
Improved Overrun, Power Attack.
Possessions: Breastplate, masterwork, large short
sword, large silvered dagger, large metal shield, large
shortspear.
APL 8
Major Soul: Female human Sor6; CR 8; Medium undead
(incorporeal); HD 6d12; hp 42; Init +2; Spd Fly 30 ft.
(perfect); AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 13) [+2 Dex, +3
deflection] or 12 (touch 12, flat-footed 10) [+2 Dex]; BA/G
+3/+3; Atk +5 melee (incorporeal touch) or +3 melee
(1d3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +5 melee (incorporeal
touch) or +3 melee (1d3, ethereal unarmed); SA
corrupting gaze, draining touch, partial manifestation,
possession; SQ boosting touch, darkvisiosn 60 ft.,
incorporeal traits, psychic link, rejuvenation, +8 turn
resistance, undead traits; AL CN; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will
+8; Str 10, Dex 15, Con —, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 17.
I Dream of Janni
Page 24
Skills and Feats: Bluff +7, Concentration +10, Hide
+4, Knowledge (arcane) +11, Spellcraft +11, Search +4,
Spot +4; Brew Potion, Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron
Will, Scribe Scroll, Spell Penetration.
Spells Known (6/6; base DC = 13 + spell level): 0—
[daze, detect magic, disrupt undead, light, read magic];
1st—[cause fear, magic missile, shield].
Little Janni Zussrig: Male ogre Com1/Pal2; CR 5; Large
giant (ogre); HD 4d8+1d4+2d10+35; hp 73; Init +1; Spd 30
ft.; AC 20 (touch 10, flat-footed 19) [–1 size, +1 Dex, +5
natural, +5 breastplate]; BA/G +5/+16; Atk +12 melee
(1d8+7, shortspear) or +12 melee (1d4+7 non-lethal,
unarmed) or +6 ranged (1d8+7, shortspear); Full Att +12
melee (1d8+7, shortspear) or +12 melee (1d4+7 non-
lethal, unarmed) or +6 ranged (1d8+7, shortspear); SA
smite evil 1/day; SQ detect evil, divine grace, lay on
hands 2hp/day, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; AL LG;
SV Fort +13, Ref +3, Will +3; Str 24, Dex 12, Con 20, Int
11, Wis 13, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Climb +5, Handle Animal +3, Listen
+3, Profession (Farmer) +3, Spot +4; Improved Bull Rush,
Improved Overrun, Power Attack.
Possessions: Breastplate, masterwork, large short
sword, large silvered dagger, large metal shield, large
shortspear.
APL 10
Major Soul #1: Female human Sor6; CR 8; Medium
undead (incorporeal); HD 6d12; hp 42; Init +2; Spd Fly 30
ft. (perfect); AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 13) [+2 Dex, +3
deflection] or 12 (touch 12, flat-footed 10) [+2 Dex]; BA/G
+3/+3; Atk +5 melee (incorporeal touch) or +3 melee
(1d3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +5 melee (incorporeal
touch) or +3 melee (1d3, ethereal unarmed); SA
corrupting gaze, draining touch, partial manifestation,
possession; SQ boosting touch, darkvisiosn 60 ft.,
incorporeal traits, psychic link, rejuvenation, +8 turn
resistance, undead traits; AL CN; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will
+8; Str 10, Dex 15, Con —, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 17.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +7, Concentration +10, Hide
+4, Knowledge (arcane) +11, Spellcraft +11, Search +4,
Spot +4; Brew Potion, Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron
Will, Scribe Scroll, Spell Penetration.
Spells Known (6/7/6/4; base DC = 13 + spell level):
0—[daze, detect magic, disrupt undead, light, ray of frost,
read magic, touch of fatigue]; 1st—[cause fear, color
spray, magic missile, shield] ; 2nd—[false life,
blindness/deafness]; 3rd—[vampiric touch].
Major Soul #2: Male human Rgr6; CR 8; Medium
undead (incorporeal); HD 6d12; hp 42; Init +3; Spd Fly 30
ft. (perfect); AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 12) [+3 Dex, +2
deflection] or 13 (touch 13, flat-footed 10) [+3 Dex]; BA/G
+6/+8; Atk +9 melee (incorporeal touch) or +9 melee
(1d3+3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +9 melee (incorporeal
touch) or +9/+4 melee (1d3+3, ethereal unarmed); SA
combat style (archery), corrupting touch, draining touch,
favored enemy (dwarves, halflings), partial manifestation,
possession; SQ boosting touch, darkvisiosn 60 ft.,
incorporeal traits, psychic link, rejuvenation, +8 turn
resistance, undead traits, wild empathy; AL LN; SV Fort
+5, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 16, Dex 16, Con —, Int 12, Wis 14,
Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Climb +6, Concentration +4, Handle
Animal +4, Hide +11, Jump +7, Knowledge (nature) +10,
Listen +8, Move Silently +11, Ride +5, Search +7, Spot +8,
Survival +11, Swim +6, Use Rope +6; Endurance, Far
Shot, Improved Unarmed Strike, Manyshot, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Run, Track.
Spells Prepared (2; base DC = 12 + spell level): 1st—
[charm animal, longstrider].
Little Janni Zussrig: Male ogre Com1/Pal2; CR 5; Large
giant (ogre); HD 4d8+1d4+2d10+35; hp 73; Init +1; Spd 30
ft.; AC 20 (touch 10, flat-footed 19) [–1 size, +1 Dex, +5
natural, +5 breastplate]; BA/G +5/+16; Atk +12 melee
(1d8+7, shortspear) or +12 melee (1d4+7 non-lethal,
unarmed) or +6 ranged (1d8+7, shortspear); Full Att +12
melee (1d8+7, shortspear) or +12 melee (1d4+7 non-
lethal, unarmed) or +6 ranged (1d8+7, shortspear); SA
smite evil 1/day; SQ detect evil, divine grace, lay on
hands 2hp/day, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; AL LG;
SV Fort +13, Ref +3, Will +3; Str 24, Dex 12, Con 20, Int
11, Wis 13, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Climb +5, Handle Animal +3, Listen
+3, Profession (Farmer) +3, Spot +4; Improved Bull Rush,
Improved Overrun, Power Attack.
Possessions: Breastplate, masterwork, large short
sword, large silvered dagger, large metal shield, large
shortspear.
APL 12
Greater Soul #1: Female human Sor8; CR 10; Medium
undead (incorporeal); HD 8d12; hp 56; Init +2; Spd Fly 30
ft. (perfect); AC 16 (touch 16, flat-footed 14) [+2 Dex, +4
deflection] or 12 (touch 12, flat-footed 10) [+2 Dex]; BA/G
+4/+4; Atk +6 melee (incorporeal touch) or +4 melee
(1d3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +6 melee (incorporeal
touch) or +4 melee (1d3, ethereal unarmed); SA
corrupting gaze, draining touch, partial manifestation,
possession; SQ boosting touch, darkvisiosn 60 ft.,
incorporeal traits, psychic link, rejuvenation, +8 turn
I Dream of Janni
Page 25
resistance, undead traits; AL CN; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will
+9; Str 10, Dex 15, Con —, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +8, Concentration +12, Hide
+5, Knowledge (arcane) +13, Spellcraft +13, Search +4,
Spot +5; Brew Potion, Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron
Will, Scribe Scroll, Spell Penetration.
Spells Known (6/7/7/6/4; base DC = 13 + spell level):
0—[daze, detect magic, disrupt undead, light, message,
ray of frost, read magic, touch of fatigue]; 1st—[cause
fear, color spray, magic missile, shield] ; 2nd—[false life,
blindness/deafness];
3rd—[vampiric
touch];
4th—
[bestow curse].
Greater Soul #2: Male human Rgr8; CR 10; Medium
undead (incorporeal); HD 8d12; hp 56; Init +3; Spd Fly 30
ft. (perfect); AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 12) [+3 Dex, +2
deflection] or 13 (touch 13, flat-footed 10) [+3 Dex]; BA/G
+6/+8; Atk +11 melee (incorporeal touch) or +11 melee
(1d3+3, ethereal unarmed); Full Att +11 melee
(incorporeal touch) or +11/+6 melee (1d3+3, ethereal
unarmed); SA combat style (archery), corrupting touch,
draining touch, favored enemy (dwarves, halflings),
partial manifestation, possession; SQ boosting touch,
darkvisiosn 60 ft., incorporeal traits, psychic link,
rejuvenation, swift tracker, +8 turn resistance, undead
traits, wild empathy, woodland stride; AL LN; SV Fort +6,
Ref +9, Will +4; Str 17, Dex 16, Con —, Int 12, Wis 14,
Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Climb +6, Concentration +6, Handle
Animal +4, Hide +13, Jump +7, Knowledge (nature) +12,
Listen +10, Move Silently +13, Ride +5, Search +9, Spot
+10, Survival +13, Swim +6, Use Rope +6; Endurance, Far
Shot, Improved Unarmed Strike, Manyshot, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Run, Track.
Spells Prepared (2/1; base DC = 12 + spell level):
1st—[charm animal, longstrider]; 2nd—[cure light
wounds].
Little Janni Zussrig: Male ogre Com1/Pal2; CR 5; Large
giant (ogre); HD 4d8+1d4+2d10+35; hp 73; Init +1; Spd 30
ft.; AC 20 (touch 10, flat-footed 19) [–1 size, +1 Dex, +5
natural, +5 breastplate]; BA/G +5/+16; Atk +12 melee
(1d8+7, shortspear) or +12 melee (1d4+7 non-lethal,
unarmed) or +6 ranged (1d8+7, shortspear); Full Att +12
melee (1d8+7, shortspear) or +12 melee (1d4+7 non-
lethal, unarmed) or +6 ranged (1d8+7, shortspear); SA
smite evil 1/day; SQ detect evil, divine grace, lay on
hands 2hp/day, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; AL LG;
SV Fort +13, Ref +3, Will +3; Str 24, Dex 12, Con 20, Int
11, Wis 13, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Climb +5, Handle Animal +3, Listen
+3, Profession (Farmer) +3, Spot +4; Improved Bull Rush,
Improved Overrun, Power Attack.
Possessions: Breastplate, masterwork, large short
sword, large silvered dagger, large metal shield, large
shortspear.
I Dream of Janni
Page 26
Appendix Two
DM’s Aid One: Area Map with Encounter Locations
I Dream of Janni
Page 27
Appendix Three
DM’s Aid One: Guide to Encounter Two
I Dream of Janni
Page 28
Appendix Four
DM’s Aid One: Guide to Encounter Seven
Note: Map drawn to fit on a standard RPGA Battlemat
I Dream of Janni
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Appendix Five
New Monsters
SAVED SOUL
Saved souls are akin to ghosts, in that they are the
spectral remnants of intelligent beings that have not
passed beyond. Unlike ghosts, saved souls agreed to be
bound in special receptacles so that they might one day
return.
A saved soul somewhat resembles its corporeal form in
life, albeit in a loosely amorphous form that is ever
shifting.
Creating a Saved Soul
“Saved Soul” is an acquired template that can be
added to any sentient animal, dragon, giant,
humanoid, magical beast or monstrous humanoid.
The creature (referred to hereafter as the base
creature) must have a Charisma score of at least
8.
A saved soul uses all the base creature’s statistics and
special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to undead.
Do not recalculate the creature’s base attack bonus, saves,
or skill points. It gains the incorporeal subtype. Size is
unchanged.
Hit Dice: All current and future Hit Dice become d12s.
Speed: Saved souls have a fly speed of 30 feet, unless the
base creature has a higher fly speed, with perfect
maneuverability.
Armor Class: Natural armor is the same as the base
creature’s but applies only to ethereal encounters. When
the saved soul manifests (see below), its natural armor
bonus is +0, but it gains a deflection bonus equal to its
Charisma modifier or +2, whichever is higher.
Attack: A saved soul retains all the attacks of the base
creature, although those relying on physical contact do
not affect creatures that are not ethereal.
Full Attack: A saved soul retains all the attacks of the
base creature, although those relying on physical contact
do not affect creatures that are not ethereal.
Damage: Against ethereal creatures, a saved soul uses the
base creature’s damage values. Against nonethereal
creatures, the saved soul usually cannot deal physical
damage at all but can use its special attacks, if any, when
it manifests (see below).
Special Attacks: A saved soul retains all the special
attacks of the base creature, although those relying on
physical contact do not affect nonethereal creatures. The
saved soul also gains a limited manifestation ability plus
one to three other special attacks as described below. The
save DC against a special attack is equal to 10 + 1/2 saved
soul’s HD + saved soul’s Cha modifier unless otherwise
noted.
Corrupting Gaze (Su): A saved soul can blast living beings
with a glance, at a range of up to 30 feet. Creatures that
meet the saved soul’s gaze must succeed on a Fortitude
save or take 2d10 points of damage and 1d4 points of
Charisma damage.
Corrupting Touch (Su): A saved soul that hits a living
target with its incorporeal touch attack deals 1d6 points
of damage. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its
Strength modifier to attack and damage rolls. Against
nonethereal opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier to
attack rolls only.
Draining Touch (Su): A saved soul that hits a living target
with its incorporeal touch attack drains 1d4 points from
any one ability score it selects. On each such successful
attack, the saved soul heals 5 points of damage to itself.
Against ethereal opponents, it adds its Strength modifier
to attack rolls only. Against nonethereal opponents, it
adds its Dexterity modifier to attack rolls only.
Partial Manifestation (Su): Every saved soul has this
ability. A saved soul dwells on the Ethereal Plane and, as
an ethereal creature, it cannot affect or be affected by
anything in the material world. When a saved soul
manifests, it partly enters the Material Plane and
becomes partially visible but incorporeal on the Material
Plane. A manifested saved soul can be harmed only by
other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons, or spells,
with a 75% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal
source. A manifested saved soul can pass through solid
objects at will, and always moves silently. A manifested
saved soul can not make physical attacks; it manifests
only so that it may use its supernatural abilities. A
manifested saved soul remains predominantly on the
Ethereal Plane, where is it not incorporeal. A manifested
saved soul can be attacked by opponents on either the
Material Plane or the Ethereal Plane. The saved soul’s
incorporeality helps protect it from foes on the Material
Plane, but not from foes on the Ethereal Plane.
When a spellcasting saved soul is not manifested and is
on the Ethereal Plane, its spells cannot affect targets on
the Material Plane, but they work normally against
ethereal targets. When a spellcasting saved soul
manifests, its spells continue to affect ethereal targets and
can affect targets on the Material Plane normally unless
the spells rely on touch. A manifested saved soul’s touch
spells don’t work on nonethereal targets.
A saved soul has two home planes, the Material Plane and
the Ethereal Plane. It is not considered extraplanar when
on either of these planes.
Possession (Su): Once per round, an ethereal saved soul
can merge its body with a creature or object on the
Material Plane. This ability is similar to a magic jar spell
I Dream of Janni
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(caster level 10th or the saved soul’s Hit Dice, whichever
is higher), except that it does not require a receptacle. To
use this ability, the saved soul must be manifested and it
must try move into the target’s space; moving into the
target’s space to use the possession ability does not
provoke attacks of opportunity. The target can resist the
attack with a successful Will save (DC 15 + saved soul’s
Cha modifier). A creature that successfully saves is
immune to that same saved soul’s malevolence for 1d6
rounds, and the saved soul cannot enter the target’s space.
If the save fails, the saved soul vanishes into the target’s
body.
Special Qualities: A saved soul has all the special
qualities of the base creature as well as those described
below.
Boosting Touch (Su): A saved soul that hits a living target
with its incorporeal touch attack adds 1d4 points to any
one ability score it selects, for a number of rounds equal
to its HD. Against ethereal opponents, it adds its Strength
modifier to attack rolls only. Against nonethereal
opponents, it adds its Dexterity modifier to attack rolls
only. If this ability is used multiple times, a single
attribute can only be boosted by the highest result
achieved. This rule applies for attribute boosts from
different saved souls.
Psychic Link (Su): A saved soul may, if it wishes, enter
into a voluntary pact with a living being. This link allows
a limited empathic and telepathic link that transcends
the Material and Ethereal Planes. A saved soul so linked
with another being may provide and receive special
synergy bonuses on key saves, skills or abilities.
Rejuvenation (Su): In most cases, it’s difficult to destroy a
saved soul through simple combat: The “destroyed” spirit
will often restore itself in 2d4 days. Even the most
powerful spells are usually only temporary solutions. A
saved soul that would otherwise be destroyed returns to
its old haunts with a successful level check (1d20 + saved
soul’s HD) against DC 16. As a rule, the only way to get
rid of a saved soul for sure is through obscure ritual and
the highest level spells, such as miracle or wish.
Turn Resistance (Ex): A ghost has +8 turn resistance.
Abilities: Same as the base creature, except that the saved
soul has no Constitution score, and its Charisma score
increases by +4.
Skills: Saved souls have a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Listen,
Search, and Spot checks. Otherwise same as the base
creature.
Feats: Saved souls automatically gain the Improved
Unarmed Strike feat if they do not already have it.
Environment: Any, often as base creature.
Organization: Solitary.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +2.
Treasure: None.
Alignment: Any.
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +5.
Equipment
When a saved soul forms, it retains only shifting vestiges
of its clothing. No other equipment is kept. Saved soul
spellcasters do not need remnants of spell books or spell
components to cast spells.
I Dream of Janni
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Appendix Six
Divination Magic
IMPORTANT DMs NOTE: At some stage the PCs may
decide to cast some form of divination magic. The Nation
Mocked series, started in 594CY, has introduced the
following effects into Perrenland regional scenarios. The
various divination spells will no longer function correctly
in a Perrenland regional scenario. They can still be cast
but the follow effects occur instead.
Speak with dead: The corpse lets out a deep groan and
says, “Your doom is at hand, living one.” It then implodes
and turns to dust.
Divination: Works normally within a sanctified temple of
the caster’s god. Otherwise it causes the caster to suffer
from a blinding headache and 1d4 points of temporary
Wisdom loss (recovered at the rate of 1 point per
minute).
Sending: Works normally if sent from the sanctified
temple of the caster’s god to another temple of the
caster’s god. Otherwise it instead delivers a Sonic Burst
spell instead of a message.
Commune with Nature: Works normally if cast from a
Grove or similar natural holy place sacred to the PC.
Otherwise the PC receives the effects of a Doom spell
cast at 9th level and an overwhelming feeling that the
land is being blighted.
Dream: The PC suffers the effects of Nightmare at their
caster level.
Commune: Works normally within a sanctified temple of
the caster’s god. Otherwise it causes the caster to suffer
from a blinding headache and 1d4 points of temporary
Wisdom loss (recovered at the rate of 1 point per
minute).
Scrying and Scrying, Greater: The PC’s sensor ends up in
an unexpected place, the Scryer’s Hall in Dorakka.
Instead of seeing what they thought they would see they
instead see the following.
Your view is of a large flame lit cavern. Seated in a
semi-circle must be upwards of two dozen Clerics of
Iuz, within the circle sits a further four clerics. Your
sensor is directly above the centre of the four. They
are looking directly at you. One of them begins
casting a spell and you instantly recognise it as a
summoning spell What do you do?
.
If the PCs fail to dismiss their scrying spell they are
subject to the following effect.
APL2: Summon Monster II (Fiendish monstrous spider,
Medium).
APL4: Summon Monster IV (Howler).
APL6: Summon Monster VI (Fiendish monstrous spider,
Huge).
APL8: Summon Monster VII (Fiendish Girallon).
APL10: Summon Monster VIII (Vrock)
APL12: Summon Monster IX (Hezrou)
The PCs get no XP for this encounter as they could have
avoided it. The Summoned Monster will stay for APL + 2
rounds.
Contact other plane: Works normally within a sanctified
temple of the caster’s god. Otherwise it causes the caster
to suffer from a blinding headache and 1d4 points of
temporary Wisdom loss (recovered at the rate of 1 point
per turn).
Whispering Wind: The spell causes a loud farting sound
when it reaches its destination, and the air is filled with
quite a horrid stench in a 20ft radius. Its message is lost.
I Dream of Janni
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Appendix Seven
Pronunciation Guide
The writers acknowledge that the names in Perrenland
scenarios can be tricky to get the tongue around. There
fore, here is a pronunciation guide to assist with some of
the diverse names and terms used in this scenario.
Auszug: OWS-zoog
Brockenberghuis: BROH-ken-BERG-hoos
Édwin: AYD-win
Fraedrig Zussrig: FRAY-drig ZOOS-rig
Gaiss: rhymes with ‘ice’
Haelyagr: HAYL-yah-gur
Hoogtrappen: HOAG-trah-pehn
Hüssen: HOO-suhn
Janni: YAH-nee
Kóndkan: KOHND-kan
Lufflieg: LOOF-leeg
Môrgenrood: MAWR-gehn-ROAD
Oskindál: OS-kin-DAHL
Reusje: ROOS-yuh
Rikkendál: RIH-ken-DAHL
Schtecker: SHTEH-kuhr
Tamoud: ta-MOOD
I Dream of Janni
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Player Handout One: The Dream of Gîrti Lufflieg
In her dream Gîrti saw a magnificent stallion galloping along the plains with tall mountains in the
background. Then the horse slowed and stopped, looking tired. When the horse completely stopped, two
hands came to the forefront of Gîrti’s vision and clasped in friendship. Then the hands started to squeeze
and twist, and in the background the horse staggered and screamed in pain. As the clasp of the hands
moved jerkily to and fro, as if in a furious arm wrestle, the horse showed more distress. Soon enough
blood started to run between the fingers of the hands and the horse collapsed shaking on the grass. Then
a pained howling could be heard, as if coming from the tormented throat of a very large humanoid.
I Dream of Janni
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Player Handout Two: Map of the Brockenberghuis Area
I Dream of Janni
Page 35
I Dream of Janni
Critical Events Summary
This critical events summary should be filled out after every games table of I Dream of Janni that is played between
January 1
st 2005 and March 1
st 2005. The results should be forwarded to:
Bruce Paris [email protected]
1. Was Little Janni killed? YES NO
2. Did the PCs keep the Kóndkannen Key Rod? YES NO
3. Did any of the PCs bond with a Kóndkan Soul Friend? YES NO
Thank you. We hope you enjoyed DMing this game.
The Perrenland Triad
I Dream Of Janni
Page 36
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A Four-Hour Adventure for 1st through 4th-Level Characters
Optimized for APL 3.
A Plague of Ancients Adventure
DDAL10-04
Credits
Credits
Lead Designer: Travis Woodall
Designer: Justice Arman
Editing: Ashley Michaela “Navigator” Lawson
Art Director and Graphic Designer: Rich Lescouflair
Interior Art: Jedd Chevrier, Marcela Madeiros, Irina
Nordsol, April Prime, provided by Wizards of the Coast
and used with permission.
Cartography: Travis Woodall
D&D Adventurers League Guildmaster: Chris Lindsay
D&D Adventurers League Wizards Team: Brandy Camel,
Lea Helotis, Chris Lindsay, Chris Tulach
D&D Adventurers League Administrators: Ma’at Crook,
Amy Lynn Dzura, Claire Hoffman, Greg Marks, Alan
Patrick, Travis Woodall
Playtesters: James Bowen, Daniel Oliveira, James
Schweiss, JJ Tin, Marcello Velazquez
Special Thanks: Samantha Cubbage, The GM Tim, Anne
Gregerson, Paige Letterman, Laura Thompson
COLD BENEVOLENCE
Feral-Tongue must be stopped! But without aid, your efforts will likely be in vain.
Amid rising tensions, Old Goat suggests an unlikely ally: chwingas! Her plan,
however, isn’t popular among other members of the clan. Can you sway their
opinion? Better yet, can you find the elusive elemental spirits?
Part Four of the Plague of Ancients Series of Adventures.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Adventure Primer
Adventure Primer
I lay there, pinned under the collapsed ice, frostbite creeping
up my crushed foot. Before doom befell me, a small, play-
ful creature appeared—no taller than my boot and wearing
a splendid mask—and bestowed upon me a supernatural
warmth. What was this winter spirit?
—Felrin Emptycup, Felrin’s Frozenfar Phenomena
This adventure is designed for three to seven 1st- to 4th-
level characters and is optimized for five characters with
an average party level (APL) of 3. Characters outside this
level range can’t participate in this adventure.
This adventure takes place in and around Wyrmdoom
Crag, Good Mead, and Dougan’s Hole.
Background
ICEWIND DALE, the frigid expanse north of the
SPINE OF THE WORLD, is deep in the grip of the
EVERLASTING RIME—a name bestowed upon the
wrath of AURIL THE FROSTMAIDEN. Denied the
sun’s warmth, the people of TEN-TOWNS, the GOLIATH
CLANS, and the REGHED NOMADS in the surrounding
wilds, huddle near their fires to drive away the cold,
hoping they’ll be able to endure the chill until the sun
rises once more.
Unbeknownst to them however, the cold is the least
of their concerns. Among the THUUNLAKALAGA
clan—the goliaths of WYRMDOOM CRAG—the druid
FERAL-TONGUE has gone missing, and in his absence,
beasts infused with CHARDALYN are driving away prey
and fomenting madness in the minds of the people they
encounter.
All is not yet lost; OLD GOAT, the leader of the
Thuunlakalaga clan anticipates a sign. Salvation will be
heralded by a FALLING STAR on the distant horizon, an
ember of hope to melt away the icy grip of doubt in her
heart.
Overview
The adventure’s story is spread over four parts, each taking
approximately 1 hour to play:
Call to Action: No Hope Too Small (20 mins). Old
Goat reveals her plan to the characters: find three
chwingas living throughout Icewind Dale and secure
their blessings for the fight against Feral-Tongue and
Frostclaw.
Part 1: Pleased to Mead You (40 mins). The characters
travel to the town of Good Mead and attempt to earn the
blessing of Singing Gir, a song-loving chwinga which
resides in a nearby forest. This is Story Objective A.
Part 2: Winter’s Witness (70 mins). The characters
navigate a maze of jagged ice in a nearby mountain range
in search of a chwinga called Sappa Ever-Watching. This
is Story Objective B.
Part 3: Fish Stew (50 mins). The reclusive chwinga known
as Lor the Timid hides amongst the Twenty Stones
of Thruun in Dougan’s Hole. A local who spends his
time reflecting at the stones can help the party earn the
chwinga’s blessing. This is Story Objective C.
Part 4: Frostbite (60 mins). On their return to Wyrmdoom
Crag, Frostclaw ambushes the characters during a
raging blizzard. They must defeat Frostclaw and return
to the Thuunlakalaga Clan. This is Story Objective D.
Story Awards
At certain points in the adventure, you’ll see this
glyph along with an entry describing how the
specified story award is earned or impacted by
the story. Ignore the entry if it refers to a story award none
of the characters have. If it refers to a story award the
characters just earned, it provides information for you and
the players.
Adventure Hooks
If the characters haven’t played through previous season
10 adventures, don’t know Old Goat or the Thuunlakalaga
Clan, or just need a refresher, give them handout 1, which
summarizes what they need to know for this adventure.
Consider using the following hooks to draw new characters
into the action:
Chwinga Scholar. Characters with the Acolyte, Hermit,
or Sage background might be seeking out rumors of
chwingas in Icewind Dale as part of their quest for
knowledge.
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted. Frostclaw has
robbed the character of something precious—a friend, their
home, or simply their sense of security. It’s time they had
their revenge.
Friend of the Thuunlakalaga Clan. Characters with
the Guild Artisan, Guild Merchant, Hermit, Outlander,
or Soldier background may have befriended the
Thuunlakalaga goliaths in the past and might feel a desire
to help them.
Narrating Frostclaw, the Hunter
Though they only directly encounter her twice, the characters
are constantly hunted by the awakened owlbear as the story
arc develops. To ensure you instill the appropriate sense of
paranoia and dread this villain deserves, leave signs of her
passage for the characters to encounter as they adventure
beyond the safety of Wyrmdoom Crag. Examples include:
• A large, white feather stained with blood.
• The mutilated carcass of a beast or a missing goliath
hunter.
• Large paw prints that’re quickly erased by the wind and
snow.
• A dead tree with huge claw marks gouged into the trunk.
• Growls and roars; their source obscured by blowing snow.
• A circular pattern of deliberately arranged body parts.
• A character’s name whispered on the wind.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
No Hope Too Small
No Hope Too Small
Estimated Duration: 20 minutes
Wyrmdoom Crag
Themes. Doubt, isolation, hope.
Old Goat addresses the Thuunlakalaga clan’s concerns
with an unorthodox plan. She asks the characters to locate
three elusive chwingas living throughout Icewind Dale,
secure their magical blessings, and to take the fight to
Feral-Tongue.
Old Goat has spent many nights listening to the clan’s
concerns about Feral-Tongue and Frostclaw. After reflecting
on the needs of her tribe, Old Goat has gathered everybody
in the main hall (area W5 on the Wyrmdoom Crag
map in Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden) for an
announcement.
Character Introductions
Allow each character a minute or so to introduce their
character, describe their appearance and mannerisms, and
the reason why they’re at Wyrmdoom Crag. Be sure to give
everyone equal time in the spotlight and be prepared to
gently stop people if they run on. Character introductions
are crucially important for the players to understand who
the other characters are, to build a basis for roleplaying
opportunities, and for you, the DM, to learn more about
the characters so you can create story elements that really
speak to the characters.
Award inspiration (explaining what inspiration is and
how it works) once everyone’s had a turn.
Area Information
Wyrmdoom Crag has the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. The main hall is a circular
cave approximately 50 feet in diameter with a 30-foot-high
domed ceiling. The southern portion of the cave is situated
atop a 10-foot-high stone ledge accessible by a set of
roughhewn stairs.
Temperature. Warmth is a luxury to goliaths. With
resources dwindling, the clan can’t afford to frivolously
waste wood. A pathetic fire sputters in the center of the
hall for non-mountain-born guests; the rest of the cavern is
freezing cold.
Lighting. Bluish light reflects off the cavern’s walls.
A small fire casts a haunting glow under the goliaths’
stonelike faces.
Sounds. Howling winds echo through the caverns, but
they aren’t loud enough to silence the growing tension
within the tribe. A crowd of goliaths murmurs with
uncertainty, fear, and anger.
Well. The center of the cave contains a 10-foot-wide well
which the Thuunlakalaga clan draws fresh water from.
Tension in the Tribe
Feral-Tongue and his awakened animals have shaken the
Thuunlakalaga clan, causing a rift in the friendly goliath
tribe. Though normally eager to share the story of the White
Dragon’s Doom (see chapter 2 of Rime of the Frostmaiden),
a character who speaks with or listens to members of the
gathered clan may instead learn of their recent struggles.
You can use the following sample lines during roleplay to
convey the tension within the Thuunlakalaga clan:
• “Longsight has the sharpest eyes of any hunter. If they
didn’t see any other game, there was none.”
• “That creature dragged Hideminder from his bed
screaming. What animal would be so bold?”
• “Old Goat isn’t the warrior she used to be. Spearsong is
strong and speaks true. Maybe he should lead the tribe.”
Creature Information
Kaskur Spearsong is here, along with three of his fellow
hunters (all goliath warriors), facing the entrance to
Old Goat’s cave. Behind him stands the collected four
generations of goliaths residing in Wyrmdoom Crag—a
mixture of adults and children (a few of the latter bored to
the point of batting around a goat-ball, much to the chagrin
of the eldest among them).
Kaskur (KASS-kerr) Spearsong Thuunlakalaga
Neutral goliath warrior
This headstrong and impetuous goliath leads the clan’s
hunters. He’s grown angry and frustrated at the lack of game
in the area, and he resents Old Goat’s “poor leadership” for
a lack of solutions. He wields a longbow taller than most
humans and claims he once felled an elk from a half mile
away. He wears little in the way of clothing, even in the driving
wind—a feat that’s earned him the respect of his fellow
hunters.
What They Want. Kaskur has grown tired of Old Goat’s
personal fears preventing an alliance with the goliaths
of Skytower Shelter. He views her as weak and her ideas
as outdated, especially when Kugan Windwhisper (Feral-
Tongue)—who Kaskur views as even weaker than Old
Goat—is involved. He wants to usurp control of the clan
for himself.
Words Are Wasted Wind. Kaskur doesn’t have a negotiator’s
tongue; he’s terse and speaks his mind without hesitation.
Despite this, he’s experienced and knows the area better
than any of his peers.
Once the characters have had a chance to introduce
themselves and take in their surroundings, Ogolai
Orcsplitter (Old Goat) emerges from her private cave (area
W6) and addresses the tribe.
To Boxed Text or Not to Boxed Text
You can read this boxed text dramatically to your players
or you can ignore it and describe the Old Goat’s entrance
yourself; tell the players what they sense and let them decide
what their characters do. As the DM, you get to portray the
entire world; let the players focus on their own characters.
The battle-scarred goliath chieftain leans on the hilt of her
upturned, chalk-white axe. As Old Goat speaks, her hoarse
voice tells the story of many shouts uttered in defense
of her clan. “We’ve warred with winter for too long,” she
starts. “It’s time we ask it for aid.”
Old Goat publicly acknowledges the characters and
thanks them for their assistance, mentioning that the
Thuunlakalaga clan can’t stand alone in these trying times.
They must consider all allies.
If the tribe is to have any hope of surviving the
Everlasting Rime, they must be clever. In the past, the
headstrong goliaths of Wyrmdoom Crag braved the biting
winds of winter to meet their enemies, relying solely on
fate and resolve. This time, the chieftain fears, that won’t be
enough. To combat a supernatural foe, they must make a
supernatural ally—no matter how small.
Ogolai (oh-GO-lie) Orcsplitter “Old Goat”
Thuunlakalaga
Lawful neutral goliath warrior
The chieftain of the Thuunlakalaga goliaths is an elderly
goliath with a heavily scarred face. She dresses plainly in goat
hide clothing and carries an immense greataxe fashioned
from white dragon bone. She has a crippling fear of griffons
stemming from a childhood trauma that’s created tensions
between her clan and the Akannathi goliaths of Skytower
Shelter (see Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden).
What They Want. Old Goat’s priority is the safety and
prosperity of her clan—especially in these unusual and
trying times. She’s quick to stymie dissent, particularly from
Kaskur Spearsong. She fears his disagreements will turn
violent but does everything within her power to delay this
apparent inevitability for as long as possible.
Done It, Seen It; but the End Is Nigh. Old Goat has been
around a long time and seen many things. This experience
lends her a tremendous amount of wisdom to draw on
when making decisions. However, she’s getting old and
refuses to surrender the yoke of leadership until a worthy
(equally wise) replacement is found. If it weren’t for his
sharp tongue, Old Goat would’ve offered Kaskur the mantle
of leadership years ago. However, she fears what the clan
would become under his leadership.
Sharp-Tongued Hunter
As Old Goat speaks, Kaskur mocks the aging chieftain
and her plan. Normally, most of the Thuunlakalaga clan
ignores Kaskur’s brusque remarks, but the recent turmoil
has fostered unrest within the tribe. Old Goat ignores the
hunter’s pointed criticism.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Characters can silence Kaskur with a successful
DC 15 Charisma (Intimidation or Persuasion) check.
Alternatively, a character could attempt to best him in a feat
of strength, such as wrestling, or earn his respect with their
marksmanship prowess. If defeated, Kaskur returns to the
southern ledge and licks his wounds. If the characters are
unsuccessful or do nothing to quell Kaskur’s comments,
other clan members participate in the ridicule, causing 1d6
+ 2 goliaths to leave the gathering early, dismissive of Old
Goat’s plan.
Are You Talkin’ to Me?
This part showcases the developing tension in the
Thuunlakalaga clan, personified by Kaskur and Old Goat.
Rather than portraying the conflict with the characters on the
sidelines, consider having Kaskur direct his comments to the
characters, attempting to appeal to their sense of reason.
This engages your players and spares you roleplaying two
NPCs arguing with each other.
Old Goat’s Plan
Old Goat tells the characters to find three chwingas—tiny
elemental spirits capable of bestowing magical blessings—
living throughout Icewind Dale. She asks the characters
to secure the chwingas’ blessings and take the fight to
Feral-Tongue.
While chwingas don’t use names themselves, Old Goat
refers to the three chwingas as:
Singing Gir, a chwinga who delights in song and pottery.
They reside in a frozen forest outside Good Mead.
Sappa Ever-Watching, a hermetic chwinga who observes
Icewind Dale from the peaks of a nearby mountain range.
Lor the Timid, a shy and reclusive spirit who lives among
the Twenty Stones of Thruun in Dougan’s Hole, the
smallest Ten-Town.
This isn’t the first time the Thuunlakalaga clan has heard
of these chwingas. Goliath storytellers speak their names
over crackling fires on calm, snowy nights, much to the
delight of the tribe’s wide-eyed youth.
Upon the conclusion of Old Goat’s plan, Kaskur tells the
tribe that their chieftain is weak and that “All this ice has
frozen her judgment.” The hotheaded hunter then storms
off, his loyal hunters stamping their spears against the
stone floor in support as they follow closely behind.
Development
After Kaskur’s exit, Old Goat approaches the characters,
accompanied by a goliath storyteller who uses a crutch
named Nararhak Tree-Eye. The chieftain hands the
characters a bag containing a crystal set in a golden frame
with a wooden handle—a gift for Sappa Ever-Watching.
Old Goat suggests the characters start with the chwinga
easiest to locate: Singing Gir. The chwinga lives in a
frozen forest just outside the brewing town of Good Mead.
Nararhak has told the story of Singing Gir many times and
knows the chwinga well. They suggest the characters stop
in town first to fetch a few clay mugs and learn a rowdy
drinking song or two.
Exploring Wyrmdoom Crag
The characters may wish to explore other areas of Wyrmdoom
Crag before their departure. Refer to chapter 2 of Icewind
Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden for areas other than the main
hall. Old Goat stresses the urgency of the situation and
encourages the characters not to delay. There’ll be plenty of
time for goat-ball after Feral-Tongue is dealt with!
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Estimated Duration: 40 minutes
Traveling to Good Mead
Themes. Denial, desperation, secrecy.
The first chwinga on Old Goat’s list is Singing Gir. a
buzzing elemental spirit who loves a good drinking song.
Luckily, the chwinga resides in the frozen forest just
north of Good Mead! As they reach the brewing town, the
characters are faced with a choice: head to the mead hall or
approach Singing Gir despite an imminent blizzard!
Good Mead
Good people—honest and true—the folks living in Good
Mead are a raucous bunch. Worship of Tempus is prevalent
and made more boisterous by their brewing-based economy.
They maintain a healthy rivalry with Dougan’s Hole to the
southwest. A typical Good Meader has their own “well-
seasoned” mug always hanging from a belt loop. The buzzing
drone of beehives can be heard almost everywhere in town,
though the unnaturally cold winter has quieted the hives
down considerably.
As the characters travel to Good Mead, the gray clouds
above them become increasingly dark and grim—a sign
of an impending blizzard. When the characters reach the
outskirts of town, read or paraphrase the following:
A fur trapper emerges from the spindly evergreens of the
frozen forest just outside of Good Mead, dragging an empty
sled behind them. The vaguely human-shaped bundle of
winter clothing hollers in your direction about the storm,
though their shouts are mostly drowned out by the roar of
the icy winds. The trapper then continues trudging through
the snow toward the warm glow of the town’s mead hall.
Characters can follow the trapper to the mead hall,
where they can attempt to learn a drinking song and obtain
one of the locals’ clay mugs while the storm blows over.
Alternatively, characters can ignore Nararhak’s suggestions
and forge ahead to the frozen forest. If the characters heed
the storyteller’s advice, proceed to the “Mead Hall” section.
If the characters instead want to go straight to Singing Gir,
skip ahead to the “Frozen Forest” section.
Regardless of where the characters go, Good Mead
and the surrounding area are subjected to a blizzard 10
minutes after the characters reach the town. The storm
lasts 1d4 hours.
Story Objective A
Gaining Singing Gir’s charm is Story Objective A.
A. Mead Hall
Good Mead is known for its delicious honey wine. The
proud brewing town has served Frozenfar stalwarts
for over forty years, shipping casks branded with Good
Mead’s heraldry to taverns throughout Icewind Dale. The
town’s central feature is its two-story mead hall, which
buzzes with the droning of thousands of bees used in the
production of mead. After a hard day’s work, locals retire
to the mead hall to warm their bellies with a mug full of
sweet, yellow mead.
Auril the Frostmaiden has sent Good Mead spiraling
into a depressive slump. Recently, the town speaker,
Kendrick Rielsbarrow, was killed by a verbeeg who made
off with a few casks of mead, and the Everlasting Rime
has killed a substantial number of bees with its merciless
temperatures. Until the town can get its bearings, Good
Mead has halted all mead deliveries to the other Ten-Towns.
During this period of uncertainty, however, locals can still
seek respite in a foamy mug of mead. Some desperate few,
however, believe it’s only a matter of time before the mead
runs out—a self-fulfilling prophecy it seems, as they’re keen
to drink the town dry.
A Toast to Those That Came Before
Good Mead was founded by immigrants from Chult and the
Vilhon Reach, who brought with them trophies of the beasts
that roamed their homelands in the form of hollowed-out
drinking horns. Today, the people of Good Mead continue
to honor their ancestors in times of revelry, though few
dinosaurs roam the Frozenfar. Hunters boast of their kills
while drinking from yeti horns or mammoth tusks, while the
town’s less ambitious folk opt to make elaborate clay mugs
engraved with pictographic stories.
Area Information
An upright flaming sword—the symbol of Tempus, Lord of
Battles—is carved above the doors of the mead hall, which
has the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. The mead hall’s rectangular
taproom is 50 feet long and 20 feet wide.
Pleased to Mead You
Pleased to Mead You
1
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Walls and Ceilings. The mead hall’s walls are lined with
casks of mead, animal hides, and a handful of mounted
trophies, including the imposing head of a remorhaz. The
20-foot-high ceiling is supported by thick wooden beams.
Temperature. A rectangular firepit situated between the
two rows of feasting tables keeps the hall comfortably warm.
Lighting. The hall is dimly lit by the orange glow of the
fireplace and whale oil lamps.
Sounds. In addition to a bellowing warrior’s singing, the
mead hall vibrates to the buzzing of thousands of bees.
Though they aren’t housed in the taproom, a large portion
of the mead hall is dedicated to bee husbandry, by which
Good Mead draws the honey for its namesake. The droning
bees are audible throughout the town, but the buzzing is
especially prevalent within the mead hall.
Beehive. Occasionally, stray bees slip through cracks
in the wood and begin constructing a hive within the
taproom. Normally, a beekeeper moves this hive back to the
apiary, but after the recent discovery of nearly a hundred
cold, dead bees, the brewers aren’t taking any chances
by disturbing the bees’ preferred location. Bees circle the
1-foot-wide hive, which hangs from a support beam over
the one of the feasting tables.
The beehive has AC 10 and 5 hit points. When reduced
to 0 hit points, the beehive falls from the beam and crashes
onto one of the feasting tables, bursting open and releasing
an angry swarm of insects in the nearest unoccupied space.
On their turn, the bees attack the creature closest to them.
Creature Information
Eleven sullen-eyed patrons dot the taproom; hunters,
fishers, and three guards in the local militia taking solace
in the mead that still flows into their cups. A boisterous
warrior (berserker) sings “Dig It Up, Doddie” (see
handout 2) at the center feasting table, only stopping long
enough to guzzle mead from his drinking horn. His song
draws the attention of a sulking beekeeper at a nearby table
and Sigrid Bronzebelly, a dwarf brewer who’s discreetly
enjoying spoonfuls of “comfort honey” from behind the bar.
Pleased to Mead You
When the characters enter the mead hall, read or
paraphrase the following:
A blond-haired mountain of a man laughs and takes a swig
of golden mead from a curved drinking horn, while his
other hand slowly brings a clay mug brimming with foam
toward his dripping beard. The wooden bench bows under
the weight of the muscular, bare-chested warrior, who
sings over the droning bees between lengthy gulps.
“DIG IT UP, DIG IT UP, DIG IT UP, DODDIE! I HEAR THE
FISHING’S GREAT.”
The rowdy patron is a worshipper of Tempus named
Bjorn Snowslayer. A character can memorize “Dig
It Up, Doddie” with a successful DC 13 Intelligence
(Performance) check after listening to Bjorn sing for 10
minutes. Alternatively, they can pay any patron 5 gp to write
down the lyrics and teach them the melody.
Bjorn Snowslayer
Chaotic neutral human berserker
Until a few days ago, Bjorn was a brave warrior in Good
Mead’s militia, when an encounter with a verbeeg left him
physically and mentally scarred. Bjorn is shaken by the death
of Speaker Rielsbarrow and the town’s uncertain position, but
he’d rather drink himself to death than admit he’s afraid.
What They Want. Speaker Rielsbarrow was like a father
to Bjorn, and carousing in the mead hall dulls the pain.
Bjorn hasn’t thought about what he’ll do after the storm
subsides. The only thing on his mind is the next drink.
Broken Warrior. Bjorn’s encounter with the verbeeg left him
in a state of self-doubt. The warrior’s anxiety manifests as
raucous merrymaking and bullying.
Clay Mugger
Bjorn’s clay mug belongs to a meager beekeeper named
Jordan. Like Bjorn and most residents of Good Mead,
Jordan’s had a tough time of late. On top of the recent
bee deaths, Jordan recently received word that a caravan
transporting a care package from their mother—including a
box of homemade cookies—perished in an avalanche along
the Spine of the World. They were looking forward to a pint
of mead until the towering warrior snatched it from their
grasp—mug and all.
Due to their netted outfit, the doleful beekeeper
immediately stands out to any character who surveys the
room. At this point, Jordan doesn’t care if they get their mug
back. They just want to see Bjorn knocked down a peg or
two. Jordan tells the characters they can keep the mug if
they retrieve it.
Here are a few ways the characters could obtain the clay
mug:
Beehive. Though the mead hall sees its share of brawls,
fighting with weapons is strictly forbidden. If a character
brandishes a weapon, they invoke the ire of the local militia.
That said, knocking the beehive from the ceiling is certain
to cause a large enough distraction to secure the mug.
Drinking Contest. If a character asks for Jordan’s mug
back, Bjorn challenges them to a drinking contest. Each
contestant must make a successful DC 10 Constitution
check to drink their mead without succumbing to
intoxication. The participants repeat the check until only
one remains.
During the contest, the patrons in the mead hall sing “Dig
It Up, Doddie.” A character who doesn’t participate in the
contest can memorize the song with a successful DC 13
Intelligence (Performance) check.
Stealing the Mug. If the characters can get Bjorn to set
down the mug, a character who makes a successful DC
17 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check can swipe the mug
without Bjorn noticing.
To the Forest
The blizzard subsides after 1d4 hours, at which point
the patrons begin to return to their homes. Having had
a chance to secure both mug and song, characters can
proceed to the frozen forest to meet Singing Gir.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
B. Frozen Forest
Just north of Good Mead lies a thicket of snow-covered
pines. In the winter months, when trade routes are
especially dangerous, locals who tire of knucklehead trout
venture into the frozen forest to hunt and trap. Most Good
Mead residents understand the importance of conservation
and are careful not to overhunt—after all, the town thrives
thanks to the careful nurturing of bees.
Area Information
A squat, three-tiered igloo rests in a clearing. Dozens of
clay mugs dangle above the igloo, suspended by stiff twine
attached to the towering evergreens’ branches. A steady,
rhythmic buzz emanates from a small opening at the base
of the igloo.
Creature Information
The glassy evergreens of the frozen forest are home to
snowy owls, arctic hares, and a merry chwinga which
is often heard but rarely seen. To Singing Gir, the ever-
droning bees of Good Mead are a nonstop choir of
thousands of tiny voices—a choir in which the chwinga
frequently takes part. Singing Gir has a striped oval mask
adorned with two large white ears and wears a pair of
wings fashioned from pine needles and tree sap. When the
chwinga hears a song, it hums along with a kazoo-like buzz
that causes its mask to vibrate, shaking off ice and snow in
a gentle cloud.
To coax Singing Gir out of hiding, the characters must
make a successful DC 13 group Charisma (Performance)
check. Any player who sings a verse of “Dig It Up, Doddie”
(see handout 2) or any other drinking song makes their
check with advantage. On a success, Singing Gir emerges
from the igloo and begins a fervent dance, kicking
up glittering snow. The chwinga bounces among the
characters throughout its performance, bestowing upon
them the Charm of Singing Gir story award.
If the characters proceeded directly to the frozen forest
despite the blizzard, Singing Gir is agitated by the storm.
The chwinga buzzes angrily at the characters from inside
its igloo, refusing to come out. As a result, characters have
disadvantage on their Charisma (Performance) checks.
Chwingas and Their Magical Gifts
The chwingas are a bit less generous than their counterparts
in the jungles of Chult. Because of this, they don’t bestow
their supernatural charms during these adventures. Instead,
their aid manifests later when it’s truly needed.
Development
After the characters have attempted to earn Singing Gir’s
blessing, they can seek out either Sappa Ever-Watching in
the mountains of Icewind Dale (part 2) or Lor the Timid
in Dougan’s Hole (part 3). The characters don’t need to
return to Wyrmdoom Crag after each chwinga, but they’re
welcome to solicit additional wisdom from Nararhak and
Old Goat if they get stumped.
Story Award: Charm of Singing Gir
The characters earn this story award if they
persuade Singing Gir to lend their aid.
9
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Estimated Duration: 70 minutes
Mount Shatterglass
Themes. Desperation, paranoia, secrecy.
From the highest peak of a nearby mountain range,
Sappa Ever-Watching looks down on Icewind Dale with its
collection of spyglasses. Skeptics within the Thuunlakalaga
clan think Sappa Ever-Watching is more curious than
vigilant, but Old Goat believes the chwinga is a sentinel,
dutifully watching over the Dale. She sends the characters
to Mount Shatterglass with a gift for the tiny creature, but a
jagged ice maze and a harrowing climb stand between the
characters and the chwinga.
Sappa Ever-Watching spies from the summit of Mount
Shatterglass, named for how the mountain rises from the
ice maze located around its base, called the Glassfoot.
Many explorers have bravely (or foolishly) entered the
maze, eager to uncover its secrets, but few return. Where
there are secrets, there’s often danger.
Story Objective B
Gaining Sappa Ever-Watching’s charm Story Objective B.
Area Information
Mount Shatterglass has the following features:
Terrain. The terrain throughout the icy maze at the base
of this 3,000-foot-tall mountain features rock-hard snow,
frozen lakes, and smooth, blue permafrost.
Walls and Ceilings. The Glassfoot’s walls are made
from rock and ice, ranging from 10 to 25 feet in height.
Frost and powder snow settle on most surfaces, imposing
disadvantage on Strength (Athletics) checks made to climb
walls. Though the majority of Glassfoot is open to the gray
sky, some areas descend into sub-zero tunnels with 10-foot-
high ceilings made of thick, blue permafrost.
Temperature. Bone-chilling katabatic winds permeate
Mount Shatterglass and the Glassfoot below. Creatures
who aren’t acclimated to extreme cold or wearing proper
winter clothing quickly become grim omens for future
expeditions.
Lighting. Gray clouds block the afternoon sun, allowing
dim light, but no warmth.
Lighting in Icewind Dale
Unless otherwise noted, daytime hours provide dim light
outdoors, while nighttime hours are dark. The permanent
dusk of Auril’s curse makes the promise of sunlight seem a
teasing possibility, but the sun never breaks the horizon.
Sounds. Whistling winds grow louder as characters near
the peak of Mount Shatterglass.
Frozen Corpses. The occasional, blue-skinned corpse
lies half-buried in the snow. Frozen in time, their poses
tell the story of their final moments: huddling for warmth,
scribing illegibly on a scroll with frostbitten hands, or
injured, crawling along a risky ledge toward companions
who forged ahead long ago.
Fauna. All manner of arctic creatures lurk inside the
Glassfoot—crag cats, frost giants, and remorhazes have
all roamed the frigid chasm at one time or another. In
addition, various beasts acclimated to the cold inhabit the
maze. The characters may encounter walruses, foxes, or
snowy owls.
A. Traversing the
Glassfoot
Unlike other mazes, the Glassfoot is alive, and changes
by the hour. Frigid air solidifies into thin walls of ice, and
whipping katabatic winds collapse precarious passages,
transforming them into stretches of treacherous blades.
Rather than providing a map for the icy labyrinth,
navigating the maze is a narrative experience interspersed
with discoveries. Roll twice on the Ice Maze Encounters
table and consult the following sections to determine what
surprises await the characters at the base of the mountain.
If the characters make quick work of these challenges,
consider rolling a third time on the Ice Maze Encounters
table.
Exiting the Maze. After 1 hour of exploring, the
characters must make a DC 14 group Wisdom (Survival)
check to traverse the Glassfoot. On a success, proceed
to the “Scaling the Mountain” section. On a failure, the
characters gain a level of exhaustion and must spend
another hour searching the maze. This level of exhaustion
can only be removed by completing a long rest in a warm,
dry location with access to hot food and drink (such as an
established tent, tavern, or inn). It isn’t possible to recover
while ranging about the frigid wilds of Icewind Dale.
Winter’s Witness
Winter’s Witness
2
Ice Maze Encounters
d6
Encounter
1
A1. Glacial Snake Nest
2
A2. Dead Giant
3
A3. Frozen Lake
4
A4. Last Resort
5
A5. Hot Springs
6
A6. Guardian
A1. Glacial Snake Nest
This area has the following features:
Area Information. A thin layer of snow and ice masks
the entrance of a smooth tunnel, created years ago by a
remorhaz that’s since outgrown its former den. Characters
with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 15 or
higher notice the tunnel. Any creature who doesn’t make
a deliberate effort to avoid stepping in the center of the
pathway must make a successful DC 15 Dexterity saving
throw or slide down the glassy tunnel, taking 7 (2d6)
bludgeoning damage and landing prone at the bottom.
Climbing back up the ice tunnel requires a successful
DC 15 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
A character with climbing gear, such as an ice pick, has
advantage on this check.
Creature Information. The den isn’t empty. Since
the remorhaz’s departure, two glacial snakes (giant
constrictor snakes with immunity to cold damage) have
made this lair their nest. At the end of the slippery tunnel
is a 20-foot-diameter cavern hollowed from the ice. In the
center of the cavern lies a shimmering nest of crushed ice,
upon which rest 3d12 eggs. The glacial snakes aggressively
defend the eggs from intruders.
Adjusting This Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this encounter,
according to your group. These aren’t cumulative.
• Very Weak or Weak: Remove one giant constrictor snake.
• Strong: Add one giant constrictor snake with immunity to
cold damage.
• Very Strong: Add one giant constrictor snake and two
constrictor snakes, all with immunity to cold damage.
A2. Dead Giant
This shallow ravine is the grave of an overzealous frost
giant. This area has the following features:
Area Information. This 40-foot-wide chasm is dominated
by a 30-foot-tall ice spire, smooth and sharpened to a point
by wind erosion.
Creature Information. Ligvov the Splitter came to
Mount Shatterglass to praise Thrym, god of frost giants,
from its peak. Like several other frost giants in his tribe,
Ligvov incorrectly identified the Everlasting Rime as the
fulfillment of a frost giant prophecy which foretold the Age
of Everlasting Ice. During his ascent, a loose ledge plunged
Ligvov hundreds of feet to the Glassfoot, where he was
impaled on an ice spire.
It’s a grisly sight. Ligvov’s arms hang behind him, resting
several feet above the snow, and his head is cocked back
lifelessly. The ice spire, covered in crystallized blood, juts
from his chest, refracting reddish light across the ravine.
Treasure. Two objects lay in the snow near the spire: a
completely white axe sized for a frost giant and a battle horn
with a rune carved into its surface. A character who makes
a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Religion) check recognizes
the white axe as a ceremonial weapon honoring Thrym, god
of frost giants. The horn isn’t magical, but a character fluent
in Giant recognizes the marking as the ise (“ice”) rune.
A3. Frozen Lake
A frozen lake separates the characters from the path ahead
to Mount Shatterglass. It has the following features:
Area Information. The 60-foot-radius circular lake is
completely flush with the surrounding ice walls, but several
rocky outcroppings stick out the ice.
Creature Information. Barring utter recklessness, the
ice holds surprisingly well—until a mischievous walrus
attempts to break the ice. When the characters are halfway
across the ice, read or paraphrase the following text:
The rhythmic slap of flippers echoes across the lake as a
majestic walrus appears on a rocky outcropping above.
It waddles closer to the precarious ledge, claps its front
flippers, and barks loudly with malicious glee.
11
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
The characters can make a DC 14 group Wisdom
(Animal Handling) check to temper the eager walrus,
dissuading it from taking the polar bear plunge on a
success. At the DM’s discretion, a character can make
a Charisma (Performance) check instead—especially if
the player imitates a walrus at the table! On a failure, the
walrus leaps into the frozen lake. Each creature within
30 feet of the walrus must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving
throw or be plunged into the frigid water. Once submerged,
the walrus taunts the characters from a safe distance,
attacking only if it feels threatened.
Frigid Water
A creature can be immersed in frigid water for a number
of minutes equal to its Constitution score before suffering
any ill effects. Each additional minute spent in frigid water
requires the creature to make a successful DC 10 Constitution
saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion. Creatures with
resistance or immunity to cold damage automatically succeed
on the saving throw, as do creatures adapted to living in ice-
cold water.
A character who was immersed continues to suffer the
effects of the frigid water until their wet clothes are replaced
with dry ones.
A4. Last Resort
Two months ago, Bumheim Seaglade, a foolhardy
Waterdhavian noble, bade his southern compatriots
farewell, setting out for the Frozenfar in search of ancient
ruins. Knowing nothing of the harshness of Icewind
Dale, Bumheim and his team quickly found themselves
stranded in the Glassfoot. One by one, they succumbed to
the horrors of the jagged ice maze, until only one explorer
remained: a middle-aged climber named Thomkins (a spy).
Area Information. The explorers took shelter in a
shallow, 10-foot-wide cave with stalactite-sized icicles
hanging from its entrance. Characters may be drawn to the
cave by the sound of Thomkins’s latest meal, which sounds
like the crisp snap of a fresh carrot.
Creature Information. Thomkins is engaging in some
cannibalism when the characters come upon the cave.
Read or paraphrase the following text:
A man in a gray winter coat sits hunched in a dark cavern,
turned away from the entrance. The blue-skinned corpse of
a human explorer wearing bright-red mittens is slumped
against the rocky wall opposite him.
Upon noticing the characters, Thomkins stands and
welcomes the characters nervously. The explorer does
his best to draw attention away from Bumheim’s missing
fingers, which he’s covered with an attractive pair of
mittens. A successful DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check
determines that Bumheim died from a fall onto a sharp
object. Anyone who removes the mittens or physically
inspects the body notices Bumheim is missing four
fingers, clearly snapped off—three on one hand and one
on the other.
Thomkins
Chaotic evil human spy
Thomkins was promised “unfathomable riches” by Bumheim
Seaglade, but when his employer slipped and impaled himself
on his own ice pick, Thomkins realized he’d never see a single
gold piece. Thomkins dragged Bumheim to a nearby cave for
medical attention, but by then Bumheim had already bled out.
That was five days ago. With supplies depleted, Thomkins
did the unthinkable to survive—and developed a taste for
Waterdhavian finger food.
What They Want. Thomkins is too far gone. If the characters
bring Thomkins with them, he secretly plots to make them
his next meal. If confronted about his cannibalism, he
denies it. If at any point Thomkins feels cornered, he tries to
bite one of the characters and flees deeper into the maze.
Got Your Goat. In addition to his recent taste for human
flesh, Thomkins has also developed an unhealthy obsession
with a scrimshaw mountain goat he calls Franklin. He often
says what he’s thinking aloud to the goat.
A5. Hot Springs
The Glassfoot offers comfort to those who can find it. This
area has the following features:
12
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Hot Springs. The hot springs consist of three cascading
pools roughly 5 feet in diameter that drain into an
underground reservoir. A character who relaxes in the
springs for 10 minutes gains 5 temporary hit points.
Creature Information. If a character relaxes in the pool,
a mischievous arctic monkey (use baboon stats) attempts
to sneak up and steal one article of winter clothing—such
as an overcoat or snow boot—from the character during
their time of serenity.
A6. Guardian
This area has the following features:
Area Information. A cylindrical stone head is set into
the eastern wall of this 50-foot-square area. The stylized
face carved into its smooth black rock scowls angrily at the
characters, its open mouth full of glittering treasure. To the
north of the area, a 10-foot-wide passage continues toward
the base of Mount Shatterglass.
Creature Information. The ground in front of this stoic
guardian is littered with frozen corpses: explorers, arctic
foxes, and snowy owls all lay stiff in the powdery snow,
their bodies coated with thick frost.
Greed Trap. The glittering treasure in the guardian’s
mouth is an illusion. A creature can identify it as such with
a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check, or by
physically interacting with the illusion.
If a creature tampers with the stone head in any way
or comes within 10 feet of it, the face’s hollow eyes and
mouth illuminate with a swirling blue mist and 1-foot-thick
walls of ice instantly form at both entrances to this area.
Each wall has AC 12, 30 hit points, and vulnerability to
fire damage. Reducing a wall to 0 hit points destroys it
completely.
On initiative counts 20 and 10 (losing ties) the stone
head casts Snilloc’s snowball swarm (spell save DC 15,
see Xanathar’s Guide to Everything), targeting a random
creature within range. Casting a dispel magic spell on the
head suppresses this effect for 1 round.
The stone head has AC 20 and 40 hit points. Reducing
the statue to 0 hit points destroys the head completely,
preventing it from casting further spells.
Treasure. A character who reaches past the illusion
into the stone head’s mouth discovers a potion of
resistance (cold).
B. Scaling the Mountain
Mount Shatterglass pales in comparison to Kelvin’s Cairn,
but its ascent is no less formidable. After exiting the
Glassfoot, the characters must make a successful DC 16
group Strength (Athletics) check to climb the peak and
reach Sappa Ever-Watching’s lofty perch. On a failure, the
characters each take 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage as they
fall to a ledge 20 feet below, where they can attempt the
climb again.
Sappa Ever-Watching
A tiny chwinga perches atop Mount Shatterglass, scanning
Icewind Dale with one of its many spyglasses. Sappa Ever-
Watching has a blank white mask with a single black dot
in the center and wears several pairs of goggles around
its neck. As the characters approach the elemental spirit,
it skitters behind a pile of snow, popping up moments
later with a set of binoculars. The chwinga inspects the
characters from a distance, making sure they aren’t a threat.
If the characters present the crystal kaleidoscope Old Goat
gave them, Sappa Ever-Watching cautiously emerges and
approaches the characters. After examining the device, the
chwinga clicks its heels together and bestows the Charm of
Sappa Ever-Watching story award on the characters.
Story Award: Charm of Sappa
Ever-Watching
The characters earn this story award if they
persuade Sappa Ever-Watching to lend their aid.
Development
After attempting to secure Sappa Ever-Watching’s blessing,
the characters can seek out Lor the Timid in Dougan’s Hole
(part 3). If Sappa Ever-Watching was the last of the three
chwingas mentioned by Old Goat, instead proceed to Part
4: Frostbite.
The characters don’t need to return to Wyrmdoom Crag
after each chwinga, but they’re welcome to solicit additional
wisdom from Nararhak and Old Goat if they get stumped.
13
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Estimated Duration: 50 minutes
Dougan’s Hole
Themes. Isolation, paranoia, secrecy.
Continuing with Old Goat’s plan, the characters head to
Dougan’s Hole, a small fishing village built along the banks
of the Redwaters. There, a reclusive chwinga the goliaths
call Lor (pronounced “Lore”) the Timid lives among the
standing stones known as the Twenty Stones of Thruun.
After a not-so-warm welcome, the characters meet Kurl
Seglir, a welcoming local who can introduce them to the
chwinga.
Story Objective C
Gaining Lor the Timid’s charm is Story Objective C.
Area Information
The town has the following features:
Lighting. Dreary, dark-gray clouds hang overhead.
Sounds. The town is eerily quiet, save for the crunch of
snow underfoot as the occasional fisher returns from the
lake.
Buildings. Dougan’s Hole consists of a cluster of squat,
steeply sloped residences, including a modest fish house
and the Lake Inn, a boardinghouse of questionable
comfort.
Twenty Stones of Thruun. These mysterious granite
slabs stand on a hill overlooking the town. The stones
are arranged in an equilateral triangle with a single stone
placed in the center.
Who Is Thruun?
The townsfolk maintain that the Twenty Stones of Thruun
existed before the town’s founder, Dougan Dubrace,
arrived at his famous fishing spot on the frozen shore of
Redwaters lake. Scholars from all over Faerûn make academic
pilgrimages to study the black monoliths. Though no one
knows for sure, researchers speculate that the Twenty Stones
of Thruun are an ancient temple to a long-forgotten god—or
the prison of a terrifying beast.
Creature Information
Less than one hundred people inhabit Dougan’s Hole, most
of whom are human commoners earning their daily bread
from knucklebone trout fishing or scrimshaw carving.
If encountered outside, residents appear as amorphous
bundles of winter clothing shuffling through the snow.
A. Warm Welcome
While Old Goat and Nararhak know how to earn the other
two chwingas’ favor, the Thuunlakalaga goliaths aren’t sure
how to cajole Lor the Timid into granting the characters its
blessing. They suggest asking the locals for help, but that’s
easier said than done.
Speaking with the Locals
The people of Dougan’s Hole are as inhospitable as their
icy village and don’t like to be bothered. A character
can attempt a DC 10 Charisma (Investigation) check to
locate a resident, whether by knocking on doors, walking
down to the pier, or visiting the Lake Inn. Most residents
have tired of the Twenty Stones of Thruun and pay the
enigmatic monument no attention. In fact, the ill-tempered
locals don’t talk about much of anything—except maybe
knucklebone trout, but even that subject has its limits—and
they’re particularly feisty when responding to “tourists.”
The Rude Remarks table contains a sampling of phrases
the characters might hear when addressing a local:
Rude Remarks
d6
Remark
1
“Quit yer yappin’! Yer’ gonna scare off the trout!”
2
“Good Mead’s a few miles north of here. Why don’t you
head up there so you can mind your beeswax?”
3
“I’m busy! Go bother someone at the inn!”
4
None. The resident stares at the characters ominously
and spits into the snow before walking off.
5
“Here’s what I know about the Twenty Stones of
Thruun: they’re tall, there’s twenty of them, and they
have something to do with someone named Thruun.
Now leave me alone!”
6
None. The local takes a huge, voracious bite out of a
still-wriggling trout while glaring at the characters.
After the characters have been rebuked a couple of times,
they meet Kurl Seglir (an acolyte), a local with no interest
in fishing. Kurl invites the characters to his humble abode
for a warm drink and hot bowl of fish stew.
Fish Stew
Fish Stew
3
14
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Kurl Seglir
Neutral good human acolyte
Kurl is a former priest of Amauntor from Bryn Shander. When
he wasn’t serving at the city’s temple, Kurl moonlighted as
a healer to sellswords and guards, scrimping and saving in
hopes of sending his daughter Sylvia to a college far south of
the unforgiving tundra. When giants attacked the city a few
years ago, Kurl and Sylvia relocated to Dougan’s Hole, where
Kurl made a pact with Levistus after nearly drowning in the
Redwaters.
What They Want. Kurl is a protector with a giving heart. He
cares deeply for his daughter (who now attends college
outside Icewind Dale) and has befriended Lor the Timid in
her absence. Kurl wants to live vicariously through the joy
of those he loves by ensuring no harm befalls them.
Twenty Stones, Twenty Years. After Sylvia left for school, Kurl
tried his hand at knucklebone trout fishing. When his boat
capsized and plunged him into in the frigid lake, Kurl cried
out to Aumantor, but it was the archdevil Levistus who
answered. Kurl struck a deal with the Lord of the Sixth,
exchanging his soul for twenty more years of life—long
enough to see Sylvia graduate and find her place in the
world. As he lives out his final years, Kurl spends his days
carving scrimshaw, reading Sylvia’s letters, and reflecting at
the Twenty Stones of Thruun.
B. Kurl’s House
Kurl lives in a small one-story house on the western side of
town.
Area Information
Kurl’s residence has the following features:
Lighting. A single whale oil lamp rests on a worn kitchen
table, providing dim light to the main room.
Walls and Ceilings. The walls are constructed from
logs of varying sizes. They’re mostly barren, save for a few
small animal pelts and a dusty holy symbol of Aumantor. A
central wooden support beam runs across the 8-foot-high
ceiling in the main room.
Floors. Kurl masks the creaking wooden floors with a
series of animal hides gifted to him by gracious adventurers
in years past, including a fearsome rug made from a crag
cat.
Sounds. A well-seasoned fish stew bubbles in a cauldron
hanging above a low crackling fire. A sleeping dog snores
in front of the small stone fireplace.
Letters. A stack of opened letters rests on a small table
beside the front door. Each is addressed to “Dad” from
Kurl’s daughter, Sylvia.
Creature Information
Aside from Kurl and the characters, the only other creature
at Kurl’s house is a friendly old dog named Ginger. The
fluffy, brown-haired mastiff greets visitors affectionately
before continuing its nap.
A Break from the Cold
Kurl takes off his coat and pours the characters a warm
drink. Though many folks in Dougan’s Hole bite their
thumbs at their rivals in Good Mead, Kurl has always
enjoyed the rich taste of honey wine. For those who don’t
drink, Kurl offers to brew a cup of steaming black tea.
As he prepares a hot meal for the characters, Kurl
attempts to get to know them. Kurl asks the characters a
couple of questions such as where they’re from, why they
took up adventuring, and what their favorite meals are.
Kurl answers what questions he can about the Twenty
Stones of Thruun but deflects if asked about the chwinga.
A successful DC 13 Wisdom (Insight) check reveals he’s
suspicious of the characters’ intentions. The characters
can assure Kurl of their good intentions with a successful
DC 13 group Charisma (Persuasion) check, convincing
Kurl to introduce them to Lor the Timid. Characters who
make a successful DC 16 Intelligence (History or Nature)
check know an unusual piece of trivia about the stones,
impressing Kurl and granting them advantage on their
Persuasion check.
Fish Stew. Given the town’s small population, the
residents of Dougan’s Hole have been substituting
humanoid sacrifices with aquatic ones. Each night,
residents sacrifice a portion of their catch. As a result,
Kurl’s famous fish stew is little more than a tasty broth.
When he delivers the food to the table, Kurl apologizes for
the lack of meat, commenting, “Life is full of sacrifices.”
C. Twenty Stones
of Thruun
If the characters succeeded on their group check, Kurl
takes them to the Twenty Stones of Thruun after their
meal. The standing stones rest on a snowy hill on the
western edge of Dougan’s Hole.
Area Information
Twenty granite megaliths form an equilateral triangle,
one of which is located directly in the center of the
arrangement. The stones are over 10 feet tall and spaced
equidistant from one another.
Creature Information
The tiny chwinga Old Goat called Lor the Timid hides
amongst the standing stones, invisible to the characters.
Lor has a vaguely wolflike mask with eight pairs of dots
running along its snout.
Kurl coaxes the chwinga from hiding by drawing a picture
of one of the stones on a sheet of parchment and leaving it
on the ground near the central stone. When the chwinga
appears, it runs to Kurl and hugs his leg. Then, the chwinga
scuttles up the central standing stone and lets out a meek,
melodic howl, bestowing the Charm of Lor the Timid
story award upon the characters.
If Kurl isn’t present, Lor the Timid remains hidden inside
one of the standing stones, studying the characters. At the
DM’s discretion, a character proficient with calligrapher’s
supplies or painter’s supplies may still be able to coax the
chwinga from the stone without Kurl’s help, assuming they
know how to.
Story Award: Charm of
Lor the Timid
The characters earn this story award if they
persuade Lor the Timid to lend their aid.
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
Icewind Dale
Themes. Fear, isolation.
As the characters return to Wyrmdoom Crag, they’re
caught in a blizzard, masking the heavy tread of Frostclaw,
the Hunter. Emboldened and stronger than ever before, the
snowy owlbear ambushes the characters from the cover of
the storm. Refer to the Chasm map in appendix A.
Story Objective D
Defeating Frostclaw is Story Objective D.
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Blizzard. A raging blizzard reduces visibility to 30 feet
and ranged attacks are made with disadvantage.
Chasm. The chasm is 20 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Two
corpses lie at the bottom, empty flasks frozen to their stiff
hands.
Bridge. A partially ruined stone bridge spans the chasm.
Spear-sized icicles hang from its crumbling underside.
Creature Information
Frostclaw, the Hunter stalks the mountain around
Wyrmdoom Crag, using her heightened senses to ambush
goliaths who leave the safety of the caves. Frostclaw
has been tracking the characters since they first left
Wyrmdoom Crag and intends to make them her next
victims.
Frostclaw
Chaotic evil awakened owlbear
Frostclaw was the first creature Feral-Tongue awakened
following his discovery of the chardalyn staff. Frostclaw is
a murderous creature whose lust for blood is made more
terrifying by her intellect. She resembles other snowy
owlbears, but her beak and claws have been transformed
into chardalyn—a manifestation of the evil magic in Feral-
Tongue’s staff. Crystals of frozen blood cling to her fur and
feathers—tinkling and chiming eerily as she moves.
What They Want. Frostclaw lives to drive terror into the hearts
of her prey; their screams are almost as sweet to her as
their meat.
Thrill of the Hunt. Her skill at hunting is matched by her
thirst for instilling terror in her victims.
If the characters gained all three chwingas’ blessings,
when they reach the bridge, read or paraphrase the
following text:
A menacing snowy owlbear with a chardalyn beak and
claws blocks the path ahead. She stands on her hind
legs—easily measuring over 10 feet tall—and roars
over the howling winds, hot breath emanating from her
fearsome beak in a cloud of winter fog. Frostclaw growls
menacingly.
Frostbite
Frostbite
4
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
If the characters didn’t gain all three chwingas’ blessings,
Frostclaw has murdered the chwingas the characters
missed for sport. Read or paraphrase the following text too:
Watching you, she places a tiny, masked statuette in her
beak and crushes it with relish.
Characters proficient in Giant understand Frostclaw’s
growls: “Nowhere left to run, your flesh is mine.” Adding,
“Just like your little chwinga.” if the characters failed to
impress one or more of the chwingas.
One chwinga is present for each blessing the characters
gained during parts 1–3, remaining out of sight while
lending their aid. Each chwinga’s identity matches the story
award the characters earned. For example, if characters
received the Charm of Singing Gir story award, Singing
Gir hides in the snow, watching the battle.
Adjusting This Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this encounter,
according to your group. These aren’t cumulative.
• Very Weak: Frostclaw uses the brown bear stat block
modified by the “Frostclaw, the Hunter” adjustments (listed
below the stat block in Creature Statistics).
• Weak: Frostclaw only has 59 hit points, and her Icy Breath
legendary action deals 4 (1d8) cold damage and 4 (1d8)
slashing damage.
• Strong: Frostclaw has 100 hit points and deals an extra 3
(1d6) cold damage with her weapon attacks.
• Very Strong: Frostclaw has 127 hit points, and her Icy
Breath legendary action deals 13 (3d8) cold and 13 (3d8)
slashing damage.
Wrap-Up: Yeah, You
Better Run!
When Frostclaw is reduced to 0 hit points (or if the
characters are in truly dire shape), whichever chwingas
pledged to aid the characters join the fray, attacking the
corrupted owlbear with tiny bows and spears. Their
incessant, furious attacks send Frostclaw reeling into the
driving snow—her roars of pain and anger carried away on
the whipping wind. The chwingas celebrate with a series of
joyous war cries. If the characters pursue the owlbear, they
risk cold damage and gaining levels of exhaustion from the
storm—all while coming up empty-handed.
The characters arrive back at Wyrmdoom Crag just in
time to hear the end of a heated argument between Kaskur
and Old Goat. Kaskur pushes past the characters as he
stomps away from the chieftain’s quarters, mumbling under
his breath. Old Goat is thankful for the characters’ return—
especially if they were successful.
Treasure
If the characters successfully obtain all three charms, Old
Goat gifts them with a robe of useful items made from tanned
goat hide and a handful of valuable baubles.
Rewards
At the end of the session, everyone receives rewards based
upon their accomplishments.
Player Rewards
The players earn the following rewards:
Advancement
A character participating in this adventure gains one level.
Optional: Declining Advancement
Each player can decline advancement if they so choose; this
has its benefits. It’s possible for a character to advance beyond
an adventure’s level range, meaning they’d be unable to play
an adventure as planned. Similarly, advancing too quickly
means a character won’t earn as much gold as their peers.
Conversely, remind them the amount of gold their characters
can earn per level is limited; characters declining advancement
might reach a point where they no longer earn gold.
Gold
Award each character gold for each hour of the session.
Adventures typically features cues for this, but you can add
it where you see fit. The maximum gold you can award a
character per hour is determined by their tier, as follows:
Tier
Hourly GP Award
GP Limit per Level
1
20 gp
80 gp
2
30 gp
240 gp
3
200 gp
1,600 gp
4
750 gp
6,000 gp
Magic Items
If found during the adventure, the characters can keep the
following magic items, described in appendix B:
• Potion of resistance (cold)
• Robe of useful items
Story Awards
The characters may earn one or more of the following story
awards, described in appendix B:
• Charm of Lor the Timid
• Charm of Sappa Ever-Watching
• Charm of Singing Gir
Dungeon Master Rewards
For running this adventure, you earn a DM Reward. See
the Adventurers League Dungeon Master’s Guide for more
information.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Dramatis Personae
The following NPCs feature prominently in this adventure:
Bjorn Snowslayer (bee-YORN)
Until a few days ago, Bjorn was a brave warrior in Good
Mead’s militia, when an encounter with a verbeeg left him
physically and mentally scarred. Bjorn is shaken by the
death of Speaker Rielsbarrow and the town’s uncertain
position, but he’d rather drink himself to death than admit
he’s afraid.
What They Want. Speaker Rielsbarrow was like a father
to Bjorn, and carousing in the mead hall dulls the pain.
Bjorn hasn’t thought about what he’ll do after the storm
subsides. The only thing on his mind is the next drink.
Broken Warrior. Bjorn’s encounter with the verbeeg
left him in a state of self-doubt. The warrior’s anxiety
manifests as raucous merrymaking and bullying.
Kaskur (KASS-kerr) Spearsong
Thuunlakalaga
This headstrong and impetuous goliath leads the clan’s
hunters. He’s grown angry and frustrated at the lack
of game in the area, and he resents Old Goat’s “poor
leadership” for a lack of solutions. He wields a longbow
taller than most humans and claims he once felled an elk
from a half mile away. He wears little in the way of clothing,
even in the driving wind—a feat that’s earned him the
respect of his fellow hunters.
What They Want. Kaskur has grown tired of Old Goat’s
personal fears preventing an alliance with the goliaths of
Skytower Shelter. He views her as weak and her ideas as
outdated, especially when Kugan Windwhisper (Feral-
Tongue)—who Kaskur views as being even weaker than
Old Goat—is involved. He wants to usurp control of the
clan for himself.
Words Are Wasted Wind. Kaskur doesn’t have a
negotiator’s tongue; he’s terse and speaks his mind
without hesitation. Despite this, he’s experienced and
knows the area better than any of his peers.
Kurl Seglir (CURL SAYG-leer)
Kurl is a former priest of Amauntor from Bryn Shander.
When he wasn’t serving at the city’s temple, Kurl
moonlighted as a healer to sellswords and guards,
scrimping and saving in hopes of sending his daughter to
a college far south of the unforgiving tundra. When giants
attacked the city a few years ago, Kurl and Sylvia relocated
to Dougan’s Hole, where Kurl made a pact with Levistus
when he nearly drowning in the Redwaters.
What They Want. Kurl is a protector with a giving heart.
He cares deeply for his daughter (who now attends
college outside Icewind Dale) and has befriended Lor
the Timid in her absence. Kurl wants to live vicariously
through the joy of those he loves by ensuring no harm
befalls them.
Twenty Stones, Twenty Years. After Sylvia left for school,
Kurl tried his hand at knucklebone trout fishing. When
his boat capsized and plunged him into the frigid lake,
Kurl cried out to Aumantor, but it was the archdevil
Levistus who answered. Kurl struck a deal with the Lord
of the Sixth, exchanging his soul for twenty more years
of life—long enough to see Sylvia graduate and find her
place in the world. As he lives out his final years, Kurl
spends his days carving scrimshaw, reading Sylvia’s
letters, and reflecting at the Twenty Stones of Thruun.
Ogolai (oh-GOH-lie) Orcsplitter
“Old Goat” Thuunlakalaga
The chieftain of the Thuunlakalaga goliaths is an elderly
goliath with a heavily scarred face. She dresses plainly
in goat hide clothing and carries an immense greataxe
fashioned from white dragon bone. She has a crippling
fear of griffons stemming from a childhood trauma that’s
created tensions between her clan and the Akannathi
goliaths of Skytower Shelter (see Icewind Dale: Rime of
the Frostmaiden).
What They Want. Old Goat’s priority is the safety and
prosperity of her clan—especially in these unusual and
trying times. She’s quick to stymie dissent, particularly
from Kaskur Spearsong. She fears his disagreements
will turn violent but does everything within her power to
delay this apparent inevitability for as long as possible.
Done It, Seen It; but the End Is Nigh. Old Goat has
been around a long time and seen many things. This
experience lends her a tremendous amount of wisdom to
draw on when making decisions. However, she’s getting
old and refuses to surrender the yoke of leadership until
a worthy (equally wise) replacement is found. If it weren’t
for his sharp tongue, Old Goat would’ve offered Kaskur
the mantle of leadership years ago. However, she fears
what the clan would become under his leadership.
Thomkins
Thomkins was promised “unfathomable riches” by
Bumheim Seaglade, but when his employer slipped and
impaled himself on his own ice pick, Thomkins realized
he’d never see a single gold piece. Thomkins dragged
Bumheim to a nearby cave for medical attention, but by
then Bumheim had already bled out. That was five days
ago. With supplies depleted, Thomkins did the unthinkable
to survive—and developed a taste for Waterdhavian finger
food.
What They Want. Thomkins is too far gone. If the
characters bring Thomkins with them, he secretly plots
to make them his next meal. If confronted about his
cannibalism, he denies it. If at any point Thomkins feels
cornered, he tries to bite one of the characters and flees
deeper into the maze.
Got Your Goat. In addition to his recent taste for human
flesh, Thomkins has also developed an unhealthy
obsession with a scrimshaw mountain goat he calls
Franklin. He often says what he’s thinking aloud to the
goat.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Creature Statistics
The following creatures appear in this adventure:
Baboon
Baboon
Small beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 3 (1d6)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
8 (−1)
14 (+2)
11 (+0)
4 (−3)
12 (+1)
6 (−2)
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages —
Challenge 0 (10 XP)
Pack Tactics. The baboon has advantage on an attack roll against
a creature if at least one of the baboon’s allies is within 5 feet of
the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1
(1d4 − 1) piercing damage.
Berserker
Berserker
Medium humanoid (any race), any chaotic alignment
Armor Class 13 (hide armor)
Hit Points 67 (9d8 + 27)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
16 (+3)
12 (+1)
17 (+3)
9 (−1)
11 (+0)
9 (−1)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any one language (usually Common)
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Reckless. At the start of its turn, the berserker can gain advantage
on all melee weapon attack rolls during that turn, but attack rolls
against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.
Actions
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 9 (1d12 + 3) slashing damage.
Brown Bear
Brown Bear
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 11 (natural armor)
Hit Points 34 (4d10 + 12)
Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
19 (+4)
10 (+0)
16 (+3)
2 (−4)
13 (+1)
7 (−2)
Skills Perception +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Keen Smell. The bear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on smell.
Actions
Multiattack. The bear makes two attacks: one with its bite and
one with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8
(1d8 + 4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Frostclaw, the Hunter
Apply the following adjustments to the brown bear stat block
when your party is Very Weak:
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Intelligence 10 (+0)
Languages Giant
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Frostclaw fails a saving
throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Legendary Actions. Frostclaw can take 3 legendary actions,
choosing from the options below. Only one legendary
option can be used at a time and only at the end of another
creature’s turn. Frostclaw regains spent legendary actions at
the start of her turn.
Attack. Frostclaw makes one claws attack.
Fearsome Roar (Costs 2 Actions). Frostclaw roars loudly. Any
creature within 30 feet that can see and hear Frostclaw
must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be
frightened of Frostclaw until the end of their next turn.
Icy Breath (Costs 3 Actions). Frostclaw exhales a blast of
frigid air in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in the area must
make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 4 (1d8)
cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Chwinga
Chwinga
Tiny elemental, neutral
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 5 (2d4)
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
1 (−5)
20 (+5)
10 (+0)
14 (+2)
16 (+3)
16 (+3)
Skills Acrobatics +7, Perception +7, Stealth +7
Senses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages —
Challenge 0 (0 XP)
Evasion. When the chwinga is subjected to an effect that allows
it to make a Dexterity saving throw to only take half damage, it
instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and
only half damage if it fails.
Innate Spellcasting. The chwinga’s innate spellcasting ability is
Wisdom. It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no
material or verbal components:
At will: druidcraft, guidance, pass without trace, resistance
Unusual Nature. The chwinga doesn’t require air, food, or drink.
When it dies, it turns into a handful of flower petals, a cloud of
pollen, a stone statuette resembling its former self, a tiny sphere
of smooth stone, or a puddle of fresh water (your choice).
Actions
Magical Gift (1/Day). The chwinga targets a humanoid it can see
within 5 feet of it. The target gains a supernatural charm of the
DM’s choice. See the Dungeon Master’s Guide for information on
supernatural charms.
Natural Shelter. The chwinga magically takes shelter inside a
rock, a living plant, or a natural source of fresh water in its space.
The chwinga can’t be targeted by any attack, spell, or other
effect while inside this shelter, and the shelter doesn’t impair the
chwinga’s blindsight. The chwinga can use its action to emerge
from a shelter. If its shelter is destroyed the chwinga is forced out
and appears in the shelter’s space but is otherwise unharmed.
Commoner
Commoner
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 4 (1d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
10 (+0)
10 (+0)
10 (+0)
10 (+0)
10 (+0)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any one language (usually Common)
Challenge 0 (10 XP)
Actions
Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2
(1d4) bludgeoning damage.
Constrictor Snake
Constrictor Snake
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 13 (2d10 + 2)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
15 (+2)
14 (+2)
12 (+1)
1 (−5)
10 (+0)
3 (−4)
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and the target is
grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the creature is
restrained, and the snake can’t constrict another target.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Frostclaw
Frostclaw
Large monstrosity, chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 85 (10d10 + 30)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
20 (+5)
12 (+1)
17 (+3)
10 (+0)
12 (+1)
7 (−2)
Skills Perception +3
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Giant
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Keen Sight and Smell. Frostclaw has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Frostclaw fails a saving throw,
she can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. Frostclaw makes two attacks: one with her beak and
one with her claws.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
10 (1d10 + 5) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage.
Legendary Actions
Frostclaw can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the
options below. Only one legendary option can be used at a time
and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Frostclaw regains
spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.
Attack. Frostclaw makes one claws attack.
Fearsome Roar (Costs 2 Actions). Frostclaw roars loudly. Any
creature within 30 feet that can see and hear Frostclaw must
succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of
Frostclaw until the end of their next turn.
Icy Breath (Costs 3 Actions). Frostclaw exhales a blast of frigid air
in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in the area must make a DC 13
Constitution saving throw, taking 9 (2d8) cold damage and 9
(2d8) slashing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage
on a successful one.
Giant Constrictor Snake
Giant Constrictor Snake
Huge beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 60 (8d12 + 8)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
19 (+4)
14 (+2)
12 (+1)
1 (−5)
10 (+0)
3 (−4)
Skills Perception +2
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages —
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature.
Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is
grappled (escape DC 16). Until this grapple ends, the creature is
restrained, and the snake can’t constrict another target.
Goliath Warrior
Goliath Warrior
Medium humanoid (goliath), any alignment
Armor Class 12 (hide armor)
Hit Points 67 (9d8 + 27)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
18 (+4)
11 (+0)
16 (+3)
10 (+0)
15 (+2)
10 (+0)
Skills Athletics +6, Perception +4, Survival +4
Damage Resistances cold
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Mountain Born. The goliath is acclimated to high altitude,
including elevations above 20,000 feet.
Powerful Build. The goliath counts as one size larger when
determining its carrying capacity and the weight it can push,
drag, or lift.
Actions
Multiattack. The goliath makes two attacks with its greataxe or
hurls two javelins.
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (1d12 + 4) slashing damage.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Reactions
Stone’s Endurance (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). When
the goliath takes damage, it reduces the damage taken by 9
(1d12 + 3).
Guard
Guard
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield)
Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
13 (+1)
12 (+1)
12 (+1)
10 (+0)
11 (+0)
10 (+0)
Skills Perception +2
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages any one language (usually Common)
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Actions
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage, or
5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage if used with two hands to make a
melee attack.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Mastiff
Mastiff
Medium beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 5 (1d8 + 1)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
13 (+1)
14 (+2)
12 (+1)
3 (−4)
12 (+1)
7 (−2)
Skills Perception +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Keen Hearing and Smell. The mastiff has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must
succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Spy
Spy
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 27 (6d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
15 (+2)
10 (+0)
12 (+1)
14 (+2)
16 (+3)
Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Investigation +5, Perception +6,
Persuasion +5, Sleight of Hand +4, Stealth +4
Senses passive Perception 16
Languages any two languages
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Cunning Action. On each of its turns, the spy can use a bonus
action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The spy deals an extra 7 (2d6) damage
when it hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage
on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally
of the spy that isn’t incapacitated, and the spy doesn’t have
disadvantage on the attack roll.
Actions
Multiattack. The spy makes two melee attacks.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120
ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Swarm of Insects (Wasps)
Swarm of Insects (Wasps)
Medium swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 22 (5d8)
Speed 5 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
3 (−4)
13 (+1)
10 (+0)
1 (−5)
7 (−2)
1 (−5)
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed,
petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and
vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large
enough for a Tiny insect. The swarm can’t regain hit points or
gain temporary hit points.
Actions
Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the
swarm’s space. Hit: 10 (4d4) piercing damage, or 5 (2d4) piercing
damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.
Walrus
Walrus
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 9
Hit Points 22 (3d10 + 6)
Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
15 (+2)
9 (−1)
14 (+2)
3 (−4)
11 (+0)
4 (−3)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Hold Breath. The walrus can hold its breath for 10 minutes.
Actions
Tusks. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Here’s a quick recap of events you should know for this adventure:
• You’re in Icewind Dale, a frigid tundra north of the Spine of the World.
• Feral-Tongue, a member of Wyrmdoom Crag’s Thuunlakalaga goliath clan,
recently went missing. Unbeknownst to the clan, Feral-Tongue has been
corrupted by an ancient staff composed of chardalyn.
• Using the staff, Feral-Tongue has corrupted beasts around Wyrmdoom Crag,
infusing them with chardalyn. The first beast was a snowy owlbear—Frostclaw,
the Hunter. Frostclaw has claimed several lives, most recently that of Rikuur
Hideminder Thuunlakalaga, the clan’s beloved shepherd.
• With their security threatened and resources scarce, pressure rises for the
Thuunlakalaga chieftain, Old Goat, to deliver the goliaths of Wyrmdoom Crag
from Feral-Tongue’s icy grasp.
Handout 1: The Story So Far
Handout 1: The Story So Far
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
This morbid drinking song is a favorite in the town of Good Mead:
“Dig It Up, Doddie”
In a tavern out in Ten-Towns,
A foolish fisher sat with glee.
They’d set about to catch some trout
With their loyal dog, Doddie.
Now, Doddie had some big paws.
The mutt was born to track and dig.
But Doddie worried for the fisher
As they took another swig.
Dig it up, dig it up, dig it up, Doddie!
I hear the fishing’s great.
Dig it up, dig it up, dig it up, Doddie!
Before it gets too late.
When the fisher left the tavern,
They dropped their tackle in the snow.
Well, they’d had too much that evening
And they needed Doddie’s nose.
Dig it up, dig it up, dig it up, Doddie!
The fishing will not last.
Dig it up, dig it up, dig it up, Doddie!
Before the time has passed.
Well, a blizzard came a-blowing,
And the fisher paid their price.
As they hurried off the frozen lake,
They fell into the ice.
Dig ’em up, dig ’em up, dig ’em up, Doddie!
I fear they’ve met their fate.
Dig ’em up, dig ’em up, dig ’em up, Doddie!
Before it is too late.
Handout 2: Drinking Song
Handout 2: Drinking Song
24
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Appendix A: Chasm Map
Appendix A: Chasm Map
25
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
The characters may earn the following rewards in this
adventure:
Magic Items
Potion of Resistance (Cold)
Potion, uncommon
A shimmering blue liquid sloshes within this crystalline
flask.
When you drink this potion, you gain resistance to cold
damage for 1 hour.
Robe of Useful Items
Wondrous item, uncommon
This robe is made of expertly tanned mountain goat hide.
The items depicted in its patches are of spartan design,
but exceedingly high quality. The wearer suffers no harm
in temperatures as cold as −20 degrees Fahrenheit or as
warm as 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
This robe has cloth patches of various shapes and colors
covering it. While wearing the robe, you can use an action
to detach one of the patches, causing it to become the
object or creature it represents. Once the last patch is
removed, the robe becomes an ordinary garment.
The robe has two of each of the following patches:
• Dagger
• Bullseye lantern (filled and lit)
• Steel mirror
• 10-foot pole
• Hempen rope (50 feet, coiled)
• Sack
In addition, the robe has seven other patches. The DM
chooses the patches or determines them randomly.
d100
Patch
01–08
Bag of 100 gp
09–15
Silver coffer (1 foot long, 6 inches wide and deep)
worth 500 gp
16–22
Iron door (up to 10 feet wide and 10 feet high,
barred on one side of your choice), which you can
place in an opening you can reach; it conforms to fit
the opening, attaching, and hinging itself
23–30
10 gems worth 100 gp each
31–44
Wooden ladder (24 feet long)
45–51
A riding horse with saddle bags
52–59
Pit (a cube 10 feet on a side), which you can place
on the ground within 10 feet of you
60–68
4 potions of healing
69–75
Rowboat (12 feet long)
76–83
Spell scroll containing one spell of 1st to 3rd level
84–90
2 mastiffs
91–96
Window (2 feet by 4 feet, up to 2 feet deep), which
you can place on a vertical surface you can reach
97–00
Portable ram
Story Awards
Story Award: Charm of
Lor the Timid
The characters earn this story award if they persuade Lor
the Timid to aid them.
Story Award: Charm of
Sappa Ever-Watching
The characters earn this story award if they persuade
Sappa Ever-Watching to aid them.
Story Award: Charm of
Singing Gir
The characters earn this story award if they persuade
Singing Gir to aid them.
Appendix B:
Appendix B:
Character Rewards
Character Rewards
26
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
To DM an adventure, you must have 3 to 7 players—each
with their own character within the adventure’s level range
(see Adventure Primer). Characters playing in a hardcover
adventure may continue to play too, but if they play a
different hardcover adventure, they can’t return to the first
if they level beyond its level range.
New to D&D Adventurers League?
https://dnd.wizards.com/ddal_general
Preparing the Adventure
Before you start play, consider the following:
• Read through the adventure, taking notes of anything
you’d like to highlight or remind yourself of while
running the adventure, such as a way you’d like to
portray an NPC or a tactic you’d like to use in a combat.
Familiarize yourself with the adventure’s appendices
and handouts.
• Gather any resources you’d like to use to aid you in
running this adventure—such as notecards, a DM
screen, miniatures, and battlemaps.
• Ask the players to provide you with relevant character
information, such as name, race, class, and level;
passive Wisdom (Perception) score, and anything the
adventures specifies as notable (such as backgrounds,
traits, and flaws).
Players can play an adventure they previously played
as a player or DM, but may only play it once with a given
character. Ensure each player has their character’s
adventure logsheet (if not, get one from the organizer)
with their starting values for level, magic items, gold, and
downtime days. These are updated at the conclusion of the
session. The adventure information and your information
are added at the end of the adventure session—whether
they completed the adventure or not.
Each player is responsible for maintaining an accurate
logsheet. If you have time, you can do a quick scan of a
player’s character sheet to ensure nothing looks out of
order. If you see magic items of very high rarities or strange
arrays of ability scores, you can ask players to provide
documentation for the irregularities. If they can’t, feel free
to restrict item use or ask them to use a standard ability
score array.
Point players to the D&D Adventurers League Players
Guide for reference. If players wish to spend downtime
days and it’s the beginning of an adventure or episode,
they can declare their activity and spend the days now,
or they can do so at the end of the adventure or episode.
Players should select their characters’ spells and other
daily options prior to the start of the adventure unless
the adventure specifies otherwise. Feel free to reread the
adventure description to help give players hints about what
they might face.
New Players? No Problem!
With starter adventures like this one it’s possible you may
have players new to D&D, or just new to fifth edition. It’s up
to you as the DM to ensure they a) have fun with the game
and b) learn the basics of how to play. At this level, having fun
is more important than learning every rule exactly right. Be
gentle with new players who make mistakes.
Make sure to keep your players smiling and rolling dice.
Be positive and enthusiastic when describing the action, and
you’ll notice they quickly follow suit.
If you’re a new DM, then welcome—and thank you! New
DMs are the lifeblood of the D&D community. This adventure
includes sidebars like this one that explain of some rules used
as the adventure progresses!
Adjusting This Adventure
To determine whether you should consider adjusting the
adventure, add up the characters’ levels and divide the total
by the number of characters (rounding .5 or greater up; .4
or less down). This is the group’s average party level (APL).
To approximate the party strength for the adventure,
consult the table below.
Determining Party Strength
Party Composition
Party Strength
3–4 characters, APL less than
Very Weak
3–4 characters, APL equivalent
Weak
3–4 characters, APL greater than
Average
5 characters, APL less than
Weak
5 characters, APL equivalent
Average
5 characters, APL greater than
Strong
6–7 characters, APL less than
Average
6–7 characters, APL equivalent
Strong
6–7 characters, APL greater than
Very Strong
Safety Tools
Safety tools ensure that players aren’t pushed beyond their
comfort levels. They let your players know you want them to
have a positive experience.
A broad range of safety tools are available for you and your
players online, but for more information reach out to your
Event Organizer or to [email protected]
Appendix C:
Appendix C:
Dungeon Master Tips
Dungeon Master Tips
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/Adventure League/S10 - Rime of the Frostmaiden/DDAL10-04 - Cold Benevolence.pdf |
BLISS STAGE
BLISS STAGE
BLISS STAGE
BLISS STAGE
Ben Lehman, TAO Games
Ben Lehman, TAO Games
Ben Lehman, TAO Games
Ben Lehman, TAO Games
Background
At the real-world moment of beginning play, Earth is subjected to a strange sleeping plague
called the Bliss, to which nearly everyone over the age of ten succumbs. Seven years later, i.e.
from now, most of them are probably dead; Earth is a world of confused and struggling children.
Most of them have died as well, because two years after the adults fell asleep, horrific giant
robot-corpse beings invaded the planet and wreaked havoc, destroying everything they could and
hunting humans. They are still doing it. Nor has the Bliss ended, and as the children reach their
late teens, they consistently succumb to it. Our species has been nearly wiped out.
The player-characters are members of a small group which has found a way to resist the alien
invaders. They are socially clustered around a single adult, one of the vanishingly few who
remained awake due to a chemical or psychological sleep disorder. The physical attackers are
apparently drones run by aliens existing in a separate reality or dimension, but this realm may be
accessed by a person immersed in fluids stolen from the giant drones, in a half-sleeping state, in
dialogue with a second person who is using instrumentation to track and monitor the aliens. The
first person, or Pilot, can actually attack the aliens directly, but he or she relies on the second
person, the Anchor, to act as senses based on the instruments and to provide imaginary context
for the combat.
One person acts as scene-organizer and plays the lone adult; everyone else plays both a Pilot and
another Pilot’s Anchor. The various other children in the small resistance cell are played as
needed and assigned.
The ANIMa …
… Or disrespectfully, “emo-bot,” is an imagined construct assembled by the Pilot in the equally-
imaginary dream-space induced by the Anchor’s verbal coaching. The basic idea is the modular
combat-armor popularized in Japanime, with each piece representing a specific relationship
between the Pilot and a given person.
Example: my Pilot’s Relationship with Bobby, another character, has Intimacy 2 and Trust 3. In
combat with alien evil-bug-things, I call upon that Relationship and explain that a huge forearm-
mounted pulse-blaster pops up, with which I shoot them. The Intimacy provides my dice roll with
two dice; the Trust is a buffer against the Stress that combat events may inflict upon the item.
Events in the dreamworld can damage the suit, affecting the numerical values of the relationships
themselves. These scores indicate the Pilot’s emotional connection to each relationship. The
effects upon the real-world relationships are not automatically deterministic, but they can be
considered causal when desired by a player, and the numbers do matter in terms of every Pilot’s
eventual fate: dying or Blissing out.
Real and not real
Rock-solid by the book: there are in fact huge flesh-and-robot humanoid drones stalking the land,
actively seeking out and killing humans; the little resistance group does have a vat of spinal fluid
from these drones and some kind of instrumentation that permits Anchors to perceive the aliens
that run them, and permits Pilots (floating in the fluid) to fight the aliens directly.
Customized to be fixed for a particular game: the immediate circumstances and personal
identities of the group, including the hopes they express or represent; the dangers and features of
the real world at this latter stage in the invasion and destruction of Earth.
Imagined/invented by characters in the story: the specific dreamscape perceived by the pilots as
they battle the aliens, the look and features of the ANIMa suits in that dreamscape, and the
features and details of the aliens as they are encountered in that dreamscape.
Unknown: what the aliens are really like, how they perceive the pilots or anything else during the
dreamscape battles, what they want aside from the destruction of Earth and humanity, whether
any remaining adults can or will recover from the “sleeping plague,” and anything else about the
big picture.
Remember: the aliens are not the drones; the aliens are never seen in the real, waking world. The
ANIMa suits and the battles do not occur in the real, waking world at all. Understanding these is a
big deal because the kids are the ones making up the highly specific and potentially goony robot-
armor imagery – because they’re kids.
The core confusion to avoid or resolve is how the attacks on the aliens in the dreamscape save or
counter a drone strike or other alien-based threat in the real world – what you’d see if you looked
out the window while the Pilot and Anchor battle in the dreamscape. My understanding is that
you’d see nothing in particular beyond the drone or other alien-based attacker desisting in or
delaying its current attack, if that. Presumably during the battle, the aliens are being distracted or
injured enough to interfere with their current project using their drones.
People get naked a lot, probably
The adventure-fighting aspects of the setting are the motor, but the story is about adolescent
sexuality and transgression. There is a single, traumatized adult. There are kids ranging from
quite little to seventeen. All of them suffer from traumatic abandonment and stress. For seven
years, they have lived with and survived with one another. There is a quantitative score based on
intimacy, including sex. It’s a given that the kids are touching, playing with, and discovering one
another, and practically a given that the adult has broken down by now. The hot-house
atmosphere and flatly screwed-up circumstances twist all the emotions and roles into strange
forms, all of which should be recognized as the real story components addressed in play.
Bliss Stage pushes the concept of Lines completely into play itself. Conceivably, it could be
played with no sex – keep Intimacy at 4 or lower, and interpret these lower scores in non-sexual
ways, and all the rules are preserved. But who could believe that would happen? It’s up to the
group to arrive what they think would happen, and what they think is right or wrong about it.
System
The overall play pace is set by Hopes. There are (Pilots -1) Hopes in play, comprising a kind of
ideological profile for this resistance cell. A Hope gets resolved when a pilot Blisses out or dies,
either there and then, or in a kind of epilogue narration. All the Pilots are on a one-way track
toward either fate, so it’s just a matter of how, and who’s last. When the Hopes are all resolved,
the currently remaining pilot’s mission becomes the spotlight for ending play and a look at the
coming future.
The events of play are defined as Missions, when Pilots face alien foes through the medium of
their Anchors, and Interludes, when people in the small community interact with one another.
During Missions, Pilots accumulate Bliss, Trauma, and Stress to relationships, the latter to the
point of damaging Trust. During Interludes, they can recover from Trauma, build Intimacy, build
Trust, or reduce Stress. Too much Trauma and they die; too much Bliss and they Bliss out, which
may be narrated in many ways, but the Pilot is out of the story.
Interludes are called for by the GM or in some circumstances by players. They potentially
restore damaged scores and build new relationships, but can only accomplish one score change at
a time. They are played without dice, composed of narrations of what characters do and say.
When the Interlude ends, which score is altered, and how, is as follows.
•
A player may state that his or her character’s Trust in another character is decreased by 1.
(Only one character in the Interlude may be altered this way.)
•
The Judge states which of the four listed mechanical outcomes occurs as well.
Intimacy deserves special consideration because its value increases based on the progression
given on page 120, which may skip values if the interactions meet the listed minimum. To give
any idea of the range, Intimacy 1 ensues if the characters make eye contact or exchange names,
and Intimacy 5 ensues if they have sex.
Since the GM sets who’s involved in the Interlude scenes and also determines how many of them
occur between Missions, the overall game pace of “bad” points accumulating vs. “good” points
recovering is in that person’s hands.
Interlude
Mission
One of:
Reduce Stress to 0, +1 Trust, +1 Intimacy, -1 Trauma
Pilot increases:
Terror, Trauma, Bliss
Relationships:
Increase Stress
Lose Trust (break at 0)
Pilot goes out:
6 Trauma or
108 Bliss
alternating
Resolve/lose one
Hope
Within a Mission, the Pilot player is presented with a handful of Goals, which must be achieved
or abandoned one at a time. The Anchor player acts as the main environmental fiction, and the
GM player plays the alien enemy. Sooner or later, the Pilot player will act to achieve a Goal.
The Pilot player rolls Fudge dice and allocates the +’s, -‘s, and blanks onto categories.
The allocations are significant in terms of drama and plot, but they only modulate, and cannnot
alter, the fact that every Pilot is sliding fast toward Bliss, death, or both.
Slight rules tweaks are applied if the ANIMa is destroyed (each piece having received a -), if the
Anchor loses control (Pilot Safety having received a -), or if the Anchor Relationship is broken.
The Mission ends when all the Goals are respectively achieved or deemed failed; note that failure
of a Goal is left to the Pilot player’s discretion upon placing a minus in that category.
Some technical notes for best practices
The core concept for GMing Bliss Stage is that nearly every significant, mechanics-affecting
event is actually chosen by players. Therefore the GM can only lure, imply, and tempt players
into doing such things. Instead of planning and driving for a specific decision such as breaking a
Relationship or losing one’s Anchor, the only way to go is to provide as much colorful content as
possible for the player to latch onto and use as inspiration for whatever they’ll do.
Missions are trickier to GM than they look, partly because running them mechanically is so easy.
They work best when:
•
The Goals and overall Mission make sense and are unique to that moment in play. In the
big picture, they should be tied to Hopes in some way, but more specifically, they can be
linked to logistic problems faced by the cell in the real world, or conceived to establish
specific advantageous circumstances for later operations.
Allocate results
1 die per category
Roll # of Fudge dice
= total current ANIMa
Intimacy
Excess dice to Bliss
• + gain 2 Bliss, 0 gain 0 Bliss,
- gain 1 Bliss
Each Relationship
• + safe, 0 gain 1 Stress,
- gain 1 Stress & lose 1 Trust
Pilot Safety
• + safe, 0 gain 1 Terror,
- gain 1 Terror & 1 Trauma
Current Mission Goal
• + safe, 0 delay, - stall or fail
Pilot options
Hotshotting: add
new mission
Call in additional
Relationship
Call for Flashback
GM invokes Trauma
Threaten category, Force relationship,
Endanger a catory
•
The Authority character has a strong personality and sense of purpose, such that the
Missions can be recognized as a feature of the GM’s role-playing rather than an endless
series of wumpuses to hunt or sudden attacks to fend off.
•
Mission goals must be taken one at a time – this is crucial and easy to miss in practice.
The internal logic of a Mission can be made to matter, in that if a given goal is
abandoned, other goals should be clearly either abandoned as well or still achievable.
•
A given Mission should include 3-6 Goals, which pushes the resources of the Pilots quite
hard and almost guarantees meaningful mechanical consequences. Also, the GM does
well to provide interesting details which lend themselves to hotshotting new Goals.
•
One of the core techniques is knowing what to Threaten when a Pilot carries Trauma.
There is no reason to hold back and everything to gain in immense plot possibilities,
including hotshotting and Flashbacks, which are powerful subroutines that every player
needs to understand.
A couple of useful rules reminders include:
•
Breaking a Relationship earns both participants triple the Intimacy score in Bliss.
•
Terror clears at a Mission’s end; one never carries Terror into an Interlude or into
subsequent Missions.
Role-playing, story outcomes, and endings
Certain interrelationships between fiction and mechanics have to go in particular directions for
Bliss Stage to work.
1. How characters act toward one another is not dictated by the numbers on the sheets; rather, the
numbers reflect what happens both on Missions and during Interludes, serving as the record. Play
is free-will. Especially in Interludes, don’t perceive your role as dramatizing the numbers on the
sheet. Also, play in the moment, not “toward” numerical outcomes.
2. Success vs. failure of the Missions actually has no mechanical effect on play. Hopes cannot be
resolved, for instance, by putting plus dice into the Mission category. However, Mission content
can be central, informing how resolved Hopes do get narrated, as well as informing the current
circumstances of the group such as whether they have change locations, or whether members are
killed, or any number of similar things. There seems to be an interface between what Missions are
about, how their successes and failures are narrated, what fictional consequences might be in
effect, and how that might relate to eventual Hope resolution, all of which are interfaced with
quantitative outcomes but are not themselves numbered.
| textdata/thevault/Deduped Shit/Bliss Stage/Bliss Stage - Intro.pdf |
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D
Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries.
All characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America.
Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.
©2021 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented
by Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.
A Four-Hour Adventure for 5th through 10th-Level Characters
Optimized for APL 7.
A Plague of Ancients Adventure
DDAL10-06
Credits
Credits
Lead Designer: Travis Woodall
Designer: Paul Gabat
Editor: Ashley Michaela “Navigator” Lawson
Art Director and Graphic Designer: Rich Lescouflair
Interior Art: Jedd Chevrier, Scott Murphy, Livia Prima,
April Prime, David Sladek, Craig J. Spearing, Svetlin
Velinov, provided by Wizards of the Coast and used
with permission.
Cartographer: Travis Woodall
D&D Adventurers League Guildmaster: Chris Lindsay
D&D Adventurers League Wizards Team: Brandy Camel,
Lea Helotis, Chris Lindsay, Chris Tulach
D&D Adventurers League Administrators: Ma’at Crook,
Amy Lynn Dzura, Claire Hoffman, LaTia Jacquise, Greg
Marks, Alan Patrick, Travis Woodall
Playtesters: Emmanuel Bonilla-Acosta, James Bowen,
Katherine Cahill, Daniel Chapman, Gina Devlin, Travis
Fuller, Austin Haffke, Ross Hooper, Kerry Kaszak, Paul
Koehler, Ginny Loveday, Mike Mattson, Chris McGovern,
Stacy McGovern, Daniel Oliveira, Dave Rosser, James
Schweiss, Jia Jian Tin, Marcello Velazquez
THE FALLEN STAR
As the last vestiges of Feral-Tongue’s legacy echo across Icewind Dale, an ominous sign
makes itself known. A falling star far to the west heralds a new unknown. A goliath
hunting party returns to Wyrmdoom Crag, speaking of a strange creature. Perhaps it
may be the key to discovering the source of the mysterious light.
Part Six of the Plague of Ancients Series of Adventures.
2
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Adventure Primer
Adventure Primer
Perhaps in this universe, there exists a solitary, absolute truth.
Perhaps it clarifies every question. But that’s beyond the reach
of these short hands.
—Yang Wenli, Legend of the Galactic Heroes
This adventure is designed for three to seven 5th- to 10th-
level characters and is optimized for five characters with
an average party level (APL) of 7. Characters outside this
level range can’t participate in this adventure.
This adventure mostly occurs within Icewind Dale, west
of Wyrmdoom Crag.
Background
The fallen star witnessed by the THUUNLAKALAGA
GOLIATHS isn’t what it appeared to be: it’s a NAUTILOID
piloted by gnomish CEREMORPHS that was chased into
one of Auril the Frostmaiden’s great blizzards and now lies
earthbound.
To make matters worse, the neogi masters of the
DEATHSPIDER pursuing the nautiloid have arrived.
Slavers, the NEOGI have capitalized on the havoc sown by
the Everlasting Rime—capturing and enslaving whomever
they can find.
However, one of the neogi’s captives has escaped: a GIFF
who may be able to formulate a plan just daring enough to
defeat the neogi and help the gnome ceremorphs escape!
Overview
The adventure’s story is spread over four parts and takes
approximately 4 hours to play:
Call to Action: The Sign (15 mins). News of a strange
creature that might be related to the fallen star reaches
Old Goat and she asks the adventurers to investigate.
Part 1: A Cold Meal (45 mins). The strange creature,
a giff, is currently being held in a cave within the
mountains. To rescue the giff, the adventurers need to
defeat the trolls first! This is Story Objective A.
Part 2: There’s No “Me” in Hippopotam-“Us” (60
mins). The half-frozen giff, Lieutenant Prook, needs the
characters’ help to recover. This is Story Objective B.
Part 3: Desperate Times, Desperate Measures (60
mins). Lieutenant Prook guides the characters to the
neogi deathspider—a magical flying ship—but they
encounter an awakened mammoth along the way. This is
Story Objective C.
Part 4: The Er’lir Fezrrega’l (60 mins). Lieutenant Prook
and the adventurers arrive at the mountains where
the neogi deathspider, the Er’lir Fezrrega’l, is hidden.
However, the area is heavily guarded. There must be a
way to get close to it! This is Story Objective D.
Story Awards
At points in the adventure, this glyph along with
an entry describes how the specified story award
is earned or impacted by the story. Ignore it if
it refers to a story award none of the characters have. If
it refers to a story award the characters just earned, it
provides information for you and the players.
Adventure Hooks
If the characters haven’t played earlier adventures in
this series, players may be unsure how they came to
Wyrmdoom Crag or why Old Goat is seeking their help.
Players can pull from their characters’ existing backstories
or you can suggest the following scenarios to guide them:
Seeking the Fallen Star. The character witnessed
a bright falling star in the sky and decided to follow it.
Looking for more clues, their journey brought them to the
Thuunlakalaga clan’s camp.
Local Hero. Characters with the Folk Hero background
may be from the Ten-Towns or another settlement within
Icewind Dale, and were contacted by the goliaths of
Wyrmdoom Crag to help their dying clan.
So You’re Finally Awake? A group of goliath hunters
found the character close to death after their caravan got
lost en route to Icewind Dale. The character was brought
to the Thuunlakalaga clan’s home at Wyrmdoom Crag to
recover. Now it’s time to repay their debt.
Huntmaster. Some characters, particularly those with
the Outlander or Hermit background, may be working
to improve their hunting skills, and have sought out the
goliath clans in Icewind Dale. It’s time to learn from the
masters.
Using Sidekicks
This adventure includes sidekicks (handout 1). Sidekicks are
special NPCs controlled by the players.
If you think an encounter may be too difficult for the
characters on their own (especially in groups of three or
fewer), consider including a sidekick or two. Be warned
however, in groups larger than that, sidekicks can slow down
combat or make encounters too easy. More information
about sidekicks can be found in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything.
3
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Call to Action: The Sign
Call to Action: The Sign
Estimated Duration: 15 minutes
Wyrmdoom Crag
Themes: Conflict, hopelessness, doubt.
The characters are summoned to the main hall by Old
Goat, chieftain of the Thuunlakalaga clan. She wants to
brief everyone on what the goliaths have been through so
far, after one of their own, Feral-Tongue, was corrupted
by a material known as chardalyn and brought death and
famine to their doors.
Character Introductions
Allow each player a few minutes to introduce their
character, describe their appearance and mannerisms,
and the reason they came to the Dale. Encourage the
characters to develop bonds by asking them to describe one
positive interaction or event that occurred between their
character and another at the table. Character introductions
provide a solid foundation for roleplaying opportunities and
give you, the DM, hints as to which game elements will be
most attractive to your players.
Award inspiration once everyone’s had a turn.
Tensions Are High
With their numbers dwindling, the absence of the sun’s
warmth, and the lack of food—Old Goat needs to come up
with a solution on how to keep the clan alive with as little
risk as possible.
When the characters arrive at the main hall, Old Goat and
Nararhak Tree-Eye retell the whole Feral-Tongue incident
to the clan. Kaskur Spearsong on the other hand voices his
concerns about how Old Goat handled the incident poorly,
which cost some of the clan their lives. Kaskur is about to
propose that everybody must now focus on hunting for food
to survive, but is interrupted when one of the Thuunlakalaga
hunters returns. Read or paraphrase the following:
A hunter enters the main hall to deliver a message while
catching their breath, “Strange creature! We found a
strange creature and it might be related to the fallen star!”
Story Award:
Sing a Song of Vengeance
If one or more characters have the Sing a Song
of Vengeance story award, Kaskur Spearsong’s
frustration about the clan’s situation increases. He
questions why Old Goat is still letting outsiders stay at their
camp, when they don’t even have the courage to avenge the
deaths of the innocents Feral-Tongue murdered. Now he
believes because of the character’s actions, or lack thereof,
the whole clan is doomed. He roars like an animal at the
character before storming out the main hall.
The Story So Far
If some characters haven’t played through the previous
Plague of Ancients adventures, you may wish to summarize
these key points:
• Feral-Tongue, a druid formerly of the Thuunlakalaga clan,
fell under the corrupting influence of a powerful magic staff
made of chardalyn.
• Feral-Tongue used the chardalyn staff to empower and
awaken an army of beasts, including the fearsome snowy
owlbear Frostclaw. These chardalyn-infused monsters
have spread death and destruction within and around
Wyrmdoom Crag.
• With the help of Kaskur Spearsong and boons from local
chwingas, the adventurers managed to defeat Frostclaw and
Feral-Tongue.
Creature Information
Kaskur Spearsong is tired of this fallen star nonsense
and stalks out the main hall as soon as he hears what
the returning hunter has to say. Ogolai Orcsplitter (“Old
Goat”) on the other hand, although doubtful, sees this as an
opportunity to learn more about the fallen star and how it
can lead to their salvation.
The goliath hunter who returned to the camp reveals
they saw a group of ice trolls capture a strange creature
with a hippopotamus-like head and odd clothes and
dragged it off to their cave. Other Thuunlakalaga hunters
have set camp near the cave entrance, waiting for Old
Goat’s decision as to whether it’s worth risking their lives
to save the strange being.
Kaskur (KASS-kerr) Spearsong Thuunlakalaga
Neutral goliath warrior
This headstrong and impetuous goliath leads the clan’s
hunters. He’s grown angry and frustrated at the lack of game
in the area, and he resents Old Goat’s “poor leadership” for
a lack of solutions. He wields a longbow taller than most
humans and claims he once felled an elk from a half mile
away. He wears little in the way of clothing, even in the
driving wind—a feat that’s earned him the respect of his
fellow hunters.
What They Want. Kaskur has grown tired of Old Goat’s
personal fears preventing an alliance with the goliaths
of Skytower Shelter. He views her as weak and her ideas
as outdated, especially when Kugan Windwhisper (Feral-
Tongue)—who Kaskur views as even weaker than Old
Goat—is involved. He wants to usurp control of the clan
for himself.
Words Are Wasted Wind. Kaskur doesn’t have a negotiator’s
tongue; he’s terse and speaks his mind without hesitation.
Despite this, he’s experienced and knows the area better
than any of his peers.
The Clan Needs Help
Knowledge of the fallen star is too great an advantage for
Old Goat to ignore, however with their numbers thinning;
she can’t risk the lives of her hunters so easily. Old Goat
asks the characters to meet up with the Thuunlakalaga
hunters near the ice troll cave, and to save the strange
creature.
The hunter who delivered the news is tired and
exhausted. She instead asks the characters to take along
Nararhak Tree-Eye, who is deeply knowledgeable about
the land and can guide them to the ice trolls’ cave (see
handout 1).
Nararhak (na-RUHR-uck)
Tree-Eye Thuunlakalaga
Lawful neutral goliath druid
Nararhak was orphaned at birth during a raid by another clan.
Though they were spared, the violent circumstances of their
birth damaged Nararhak’s left leg, leaving them slow and
clumsy when without a crutch. Rikuur Hideminder took the
child in and raised them in the ways of storytelling and nature.
When not with the rest of Souljoined (Grakal Dawnbearer
and Thugeo Goatchaser), Nararhak tends to be very
apprehensive and cautious in their interactions, having
suffered a great deal of bullying in the past. They’re wary of
outright strangers.
The name “Tree-Eye” comes from Nararhak’s
heterochromatic eyes, their right is a brown, barky color and
the left is the color of deep-green leaves. Nararhak is always
chewing on something. If they start speaking while overly
excited, small bits of spittle tend to spray from their mouth.
What They Want. To know more. Nararhak is always ready
to hear another tale or read another story or learn another
language. When sharing the stories and history of the clan,
few hold up to Nararhak’s narrations.
Brains of the Operation. Few in the clan know more about
the different flora, fauna, and sacred places than Nararhak
does. Even Old Goat seeks advice from Nararhak from time
to time.
Ogolai (oh-GO-lie) Orcsplitter
“Old Goat” Thuunlakalaga
Lawful neutral goliath warrior
The chieftain of the Thuunlakalaga goliaths is an elderly
goliath with a heavily scarred face. She dresses plainly in goat
hide clothing and carries an immense greataxe fashioned
from white dragon bone. She has a crippling fear of griffons
stemming from a childhood trauma that’s created tensions
between her clan and the Akannathi goliaths of Skytower
Shelter (see Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden).
What They Want. Old Goat’s first priority is the safety and
prosperity of her clan—especially in these unusual and
trying times. She’s quick to stymie dissent, particularly from
Kaskur Spearsong. She fears his disagreements will turn
violent, but does everything within her power to delay this
apparent inevitability for as long as possible.
Done It, Seen It; but the End Is Nigh. Old Goat has been
around a long time and seen many things. This experience
lends her a tremendous amount of wisdom to draw on
when making decisions. However, she’s getting old and
refuses to surrender the yoke of leadership until a worthy
(equally wise) replacement is found. If it weren’t for his
sharp tongue, Old Goat would’ve offered Kaskur the mantle
of leadership years ago. However, she fears what the clan
would become under his leadership.
5
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Estimated Duration: 45 minutes
Hunter’s Camp
Themes: Tension, do-or-die.
Together with Nararhak Tree-Eye, the characters arrive at
the camp where Thuunlakalaga hunters (see handout 1)
equal to the number of players minus one are waiting for
them. The camp is located behind a large, snow-covered
rock formation near the ice trolls’ cave. It’s the perfect spot
to track activities within the area. As a DM, if you decide
sidekicks are necessary in this adventure, each character is
allowed one sidekick each.
Story Objective A
Defeating the ice trolls is Story Objective A.
Ice Troll Cave
At the foot of a mountain, the entrance to the cave is visible.
When the characters enter the cave, read the following:
The path inside quickly turns to reveal a cramped
space occupied by ice trolls. On the other side of the
room is a half-frozen, 7-foot-tall humanoid with a
hippopotamus-like head.
Area Information
The area (see the Ice Troll Cave map in appendix A) has
the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. From the entrance, the
10-foot-wide path winds until it reaches an irregularly
shaped chamber with a 15-foot-high ceiling coated with
3-foot-long icicles. The ground is also covered by 2-foot-
deep blanket of snow, even inside the cave—creating
difficult terrain for Small or smaller creatures. Lastly, there
are two Medium humanoid skeletons protruding from the
snow that practitioners of necromancy might find useful.
Light. The cave is dark except for a flashing red light at
the far side of the cave.
Temperature. The temperature is quickly dropping as
strong winds invade the cave. It’s safe to say a snowstorm,
no, a blizzard is imminent.
A Cold Meal
A Cold Meal
1
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Smells and Sounds. A faint smell of smokepowder
comes from the ice trolls’ captive. The crunch of ice and
snow can be heard while the ice trolls prepare their meal.
Icicles. Particularly loud noises—such as from spells,
shouting, or the sounds of combat—have a 25 percent
chance of dislodging an icicle, which falls on a random
creature who must then make a successful DC 14 Dexterity
saving throw or take 10 (3d6) piercing damage.
Blue Slime
Hazard
This acidic slime is adapted to the harsh weather of Icewind
Dale and devours flesh, organic material, and metal on
contact. Bright blue, wet, and sticky, it clings to walls and
ceilings in patches.
A patch of blue slime covers a 5-foot square, has
blindsight out to a range of 30 feet, and drops from
walls and ceilings when it detects movement below it.
Beyond that, it has no ability to move. A creature aware
of the slime’s presence can avoid being struck by it with a
successful DC 10 Dexterity saving throw. Otherwise, the
slime can’t be avoided as it drops.
A creature that comes into contact with blue slime takes 5
(1d10) acid damage. The creature takes the damage again at
the start of each of its turns until the slime is scraped off or
destroyed. Against wood or metal, blue slime deals 11 (2d10)
acid damage each round, and any nonmagical wood or metal
weapon or tool used to scrape off the slime is effectively
destroyed.
Sunlight, any effect that cures disease, and any effect that
deals fire or radiant damage destroys a patch of blue slime.
Creature Information
Two ice trolls are poking the half-frozen giff on the
ground with large icicles while they decide on the best
way to eat it.
Once the trolls notice the characters, if the
opportunity presents itself, they block the entrance
to the cave in the hopes of a securing a second
course for their pending meal. Both trolls fight
to the death.
Development
The giff (who feebly introduces
himself as Lieutenant—pronounced
“Leftenant”—Prook) is weak and
exhausted. A successful DC 14
Wisdom (Medicine) check determines
that Lieutenant Prook has five levels of
exhaustion.
As the characters prepare to leave
the cave, a deadly blizzard arrives;
travelling back to Wyrmdoom Crag isn’t
the best idea for the time being.
Treasure
A few gems and coin pouches left by dead adventurers are
hidden under the snow inside the cave and can be found by
any character who makes a successful DC 16 Intelligence
(Investigation) check.
Adjusting This Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this scene:
Very Weak: Remove one ice troll.
Weak: The ice trolls make only two claw attacks with
Multiattack.
Strong: The ice trolls have 160 hit points.
Very Strong: On initiative count 20 (losing ties), blue slime
(see above) falls on two random characters.
7
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
Ice Troll Cave Encore
Themes: Survival, foraging.
It becomes quickly apparent that the blizzard raging
outside is likely to last days.
Story Objective B
Saving Lieutenant Prook is Story Objective B.
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. Within minutes, the snow
outside the cave has become thicker and is now 4 feet high.
Travelling by land is extremely difficult.
Light. The only light in the cave is the flashing red light
on the satchel slung over the giff’s shoulder.
Weather. See the Blizzard sidebar for more information.
Additionally, for every hour a character is exposed to this
magical weather, they must make a successful DC 15
Constitution saving throw or gain a level of exhaustion.
Characters who aren’t wearing cold weather gear make this
check with disadvantage.
Creature Information
Lieutenant Prook, the giff the characters saved, currently
has five levels of exhaustion. Exposing him to the blizzard
outside will likely kill him.
How to Survive
The characters, together with Nararhak and the goliath
hunters are stuck in the cave during the blizzard. Every day,
they need to make sure they’re well supplied; a character
who goes a day without food, water, and warmth, gains a
level of exhaustion.
Food and Water. A Small or Medium creature needs 1
pound of food and 1 gallon of water per day. Rations
and spells such as goodberry can address this problem.
Character can forage outside the cave for an hour to find
food, such as small game or edible plants. A character
who makes a successful DC 14 Wisdom (Survival) check
finds enough food and water to sustain themselves and a
number of additional Small or Medium creatures equal
to their Wisdom modifier for one day.
Warmth. Characters who search the area surrounding
the cave for an hour can attempt a DC 14 Wisdom
(Perception) check. If successful, the character gathers
enough dry wood from a nearby narra tree to provide
warmth for one day.
Reward creativity by awarding inspiration to players who
devise clever ways to survive the blizzard.
Blizzard
Weather
A blizzard’s howling limits hearing to a range of 100 feet and
imposes disadvantage on ranged attack rolls. It also imposes
disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on
hearing. The wind extinguishes open flames, disperses fog,
erases tracks in the snow, and makes flying by nonmagical
means nearly impossible. A creature falls at the end of its turn
if it’s flying by nonmagical means and can’t hover.
Visibility in a blizzard is reduced to 30 feet. Creatures without
goggles or other eye protection have disadvantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight due to blowing snow.
Any creature concentrating on a spell in a blizzard must make
a successful DC 10 Constitution saving throw at the end of its
turn or lose its concentration on the spell unless the creature is
sheltered against the elements (for example, in an igloo).
Veering Off Course. It’s easy to veer off course while
traveling through a blizzard and for party members to
become separated from one another, which is why the wisest
course of action is to stay put and wait out the blizzard.
If the characters travel during a blizzard, have the players
designate one party member as the navigator. At the end of
each hour of travel through the blizzard, the DM makes a
DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check on behalf of the navigator.
On a success, the party stays on course. On a failure, the
party wanders off course, bringing them no closer to their
destination. If the check fails by 5 or more and the party
members aren’t tied together, a random party member
becomes separated from the others.
If the group tries to reunite with its missing member, have
the party members (including the missing one) make a DC 15
Wisdom (Survival) group check at the end of each hour. On a
success, the missing party member is found, but no progress
is made toward reaching the group’s intended destination
that hour. The group check can be repeated after each hour
spent searching for the missing party member.
There’s No “Me” in
There’s No “Me” in
Hippopotam-
Hippopotam-“Us”
“Us”
2
Herb Tea 33-Alpha
A character who makes a successful DC 15 Wisdom
(Medicine) check finds out that long rest and casting spells
like greater restoration on Lieutenant Prook isn’t enough to
remove his levels of exhaustion by itself—the giff’s anatomy
works a bit differently. Once the characters realize this,
Lieutenant Prook does his best to point at his satchel and
into the inside pocket where small pieces of paper written
with instructions in Common are placed. With a dreadful
sting on his throat making it difficult for him to speak,
the giff asks the characters to look at the paper labeled
“Emergency Protocol 33-Alpha.”
Read or paraphrase the following:
Emergency Protocol 33-Alpha: “In the case I become
afflicted by an extreme condition and get exhausted,
make me drink Herb Tea 33-Alpha before administering
medicine or restoration spells.”
The paper lists the instructions for preparing Herb
Tea 33-Alpha—a mixture of elderberries, elderflower,
chamomile, rose hips, astragalus, and echinacea wrapped
in thin paper and steeped in hot water for 20 minutes.
Once the ingredients have been gathered, a character
who makes a successful DC 14 Wisdom (Medicine)
check follows the instructions to brew Herb Tea 33-Alpha
correctly. Failure means the tea has no effect; the
ingredients are wasted and another batch of ingredients is
needed to make the tea again. Characters proficient with
herbalism kits make this check with advantage.
If given the instructions, Nararhak provides information
on where to find most of the herbs.
No sensible person would go out in this weather.
However, in order to remove Lieutenant Prook’s
exhaustion, the characters must find the ingredients to
make Herb Tea 33-Alpha.
Time Check
Since this part of the adventure should only take 1 hour
to complete, you can use the suggestion below on how to
approach this encounter and make sure you and your players
finish on time.
Convince the Hunters. The Thuunlakalaga goliaths,
especially Nararhak, know their numbers are shrinking
and can’t risk their lives so freely. However, a character
who makes a successful DC 14 Charisma (Intimidation or
Persuasion) check backed up by a convincing argument
can bring the goliath hunters along to search for some of
the herbs, which they do successfully. The characters can
then focus on doing one or two of the encounters below,
depending on the time you have available.
A1. Chamomile and Echinacea
Nararhak has heard of an apothecary living in a cave, two
hours south of the party’s current location. The apothecary
can be identified by their especially thick winter clothes
and a cracked dragon mask made of jade. Nararhak advises
the characters to take food or the ice trolls’ hearts to trade
for the herbs they need.
Creature Information. Following Nararhak’s directions,
they spot a small cave with a campfire. Inside is a 6-foot-
tall creature who introduces themselves as Butiki (Butiki
is actually three Icewind kobolds sitting on one another’s
shoulders wearing a long, heavy coat). Butiki doesn’t
sell their wares for coin, but happily barters for them.
In exchange for at least ten days’ rations, they’ll trade a
handful of chamomile or echinacea. They’ll also accept the
heart of a “biiiiiiiig” monster—like an ice troll.
Butiki (bu-tih-ki) the Apothecary
Neutral kobold alchemist
Butiki is actually a persona cultivated by three kobolds—
Bubu, Tirr, and Kiki, who disguise themselves as a clumsy
human wearing bulky cold weather clothing and a cracked
jade mask carved to resemble a dragon’s face. Most of the
potions and herbs they sell are stored in the inside pockets of
their clothes. If questioned, Butiki says they’re human, but a
character with a passive Wisdom (Insight or Medicine) score
of 15 or higher detects something odd about their physiology.
If confronted about it, they reveal their true nature.
What They Want. Butiki has no need for money since there’s
nowhere to spend it in this area. Instead, they search for
monster parts or herbs they can use to trade for other
goods. Butiki loves to eat, especially delicacies that aren’t
from Icewind Dale.
Followers of a Hag. Another reason why Butiki searches for
monster parts and herbs is to give them to their master, a
powerful hag, who can use them to craft potions and spells.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Butiki also possesses a satchel containing fresh
blueberries they’re willing to part with—noting that
“They’re quite rare and may be useful in soothing savage
beasties like wolves! Lots of wolves in Icewind Dale.” Such
a treat costs a bit more, however, twenty days’ rations!
Once an agreement is reached, Butiki extends a
disproportionately small, gloved hand to seal the deal,
while a second arm emerges from the coat and hands over
the herbs to the characters.
A2. Elderberry, Elderflower, and
Rose Hips
About five days ago, a merchant caravan laden with food
and spices was abandoned in a nearby pass after being
attacked by animals—something Nararhak knows. While
they can’t be sure the herbs the characters seek are still
there, it may be worth taking a look. The site is an hour
west of the cave.
Upon arriving at the crash site, the characters must make
a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) group check. If successful,
they find a small wooden crate packed with jars full of
herbs and spices buried in the snow. Some jars bear labels
(in Common) indicating they contain dried elderberries,
elderflower, and rose hips.
A character who investigates the jars and makes a
successful DC 15 Intelligence (Nature) check realizes
some jars are mislabeled—the jar labeled “Rose Hips”
actually contains tiny dried tomatoes, while the jars labeled
“Tomatoes” contains the rose hips.
A3. Astragalus
Nararhak heard a rumor about an increase of tiny
elementals called chwingas in the area, who plucked all
the astragalus until there was nothing left. The characters’
best chance to find this herb is to attract one of the
elementals by making an interesting pile of trinkets and
other items as an offering.
When the characters return to the cave after searching for
the other herbs, or if they wait until nighttime after making
an offering, a corrupted chwinga with two bundles of dried
astragalus roots tied to its back sneaks inside the cave and
tries to steal from the pile of trinkets or pieces of the goliath
hunters’ gear like arrow tips, trinkets, fishhooks, etc.
Characters with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score
of 17 or higher or who make a successful DC 17 Wisdom
(Perception) check notice the chwinga. Capturing the
chwinga can be tricky, though. If pursued, it uses its Natural
Shelter ability to hide inside a large boulder in the cave.
The chwinga can be forced out by destroying the boulder,
which has AC 17, 27 hit points and immunity to poison and
psychic damage. Alternately, the chwinga can be coaxed
out with a successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check.
A character who offers a suitably interesting gift makes
this check with advantage. In either case, it drops the
astragalus it’s carrying. If the characters forced it out of
hiding, the chwinga flees the cave, but if it was coaxed out,
it skips over to the fire and mimics the act of warming itself
(rubbing its hands together and extending them palm out
toward the fire, etc.).
If the characters manage to befriend the chwinga and
allow it to remain by the fire for at least half of a day, the
elemental is cured of its corruption and uses its Magical
Gift ability to bless a random character with a charm of the
ice troll (see below).
Charm of the Ice Troll
This charm allows you to use your reaction when you take
cold damage to reduce the damage to 0. You regain a number
of hit points equal to half the cold damage you would have
taken. Once you do so, the charm vanishes from you.
Development
Once the ingredients have been gathered, the characters
can brew Herb Tea 33-Alpha, and administer it to
Lieutenant Prook—making it possible to cure his
exhaustion through rest and spells like greater restoration.
Lieutenant Prook (lef-TEN-ant puh ROOK)
Lawful neutral giff interstellar mercenary
Lieutenant Prook (he pronounces lieutenant as “leftenant”
and prefers to be addressed as such) once commanded a
brigade of hippopotamus-headed giff mercenaries, but his
entire unit was captured by neogi slavers. Of them, he’s the
sole survivor. The neogi ship recently crashed in Icewind Dale
while pursuing the Id Ascendant—an illithid nautiloid piloted
by gnomish ceremorphs. In the chaos, Lieutenant Prook
managed to escape, but underestimated the cold.
What They Want. While Lieutenant Prook’s immediate goals
are survival and recovery. Once out of the woods, he
plans to find a way to exact his revenge on the neogi who
enslaved him and killed his unit.
Gruff and No-Nonsense. Lieutenant Prook doesn’t waste
time on pomp and circumstance; he focuses on his goals
with laser precision and those who question his orders
(yes, orders) or methods are quick to earn a scathing
admonishment. To that end, however, he’s loyal and
honorable without apology. He would throw down his life to
save those he considers allies.
During their time spent in the cave, the characters learn
that Lieutenant Prook recently escaped captivity at the hands
of creatures called neogi—cruel slavers who travel across
the planes on a deathspider (which he describes as a type
of magic flying ship) called the Er’lir Fezrrega’l. If Nararhak
or the characters mention the falling star, he’s unsure what
they’re referring to, assuming it to be the deathspider.
He’s willing (though a bit reluctant) to show the
characters where the Er’lir Fezrrega’l is once he’s
sufficiently recovered.
The day after all Lieutenant Prook’s exhaustion levels are
removed, the blizzard ends.
Treasure
For helping Lieutenant Prook survive, he takes a chime of
opening from his satchel and gives it to the characters.
Giff and Neogi
Giff are spacefaring humanoid mercenaries best known for
their martial training and love of explosives. Neogi on the
other hand, are aberrations that love to conquer other worlds
and enslave their peoples.
Both creatures travel to different worlds and planes using
magic ships and aren’t usually found in Faerûn and other
continents. You can learn more about giff and neogi by
reading Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes and Volo’s Guide to
Monsters, respectively.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
Snowy Plains
Themes: Wilderness, bizarre.
With the blizzard gone and Lieutenant Prook healthy
enough to travel, he takes the characters west, toward the
location of the neogi ship, the Er’lir Fezrrega’l.
Story Objective C
Traversing the wilds of Icewind Dale is Story Objective C.
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. The characters arrive at a
tundra covered in snow. What little plant life was present
is now covered in ice. All the water sources the characters
pass are frozen solid. Continuing west and traversing this
area will bring the characters to the snowy mountains
where the neogi ship is located.
Weather. Clear, the blizzard has passed.
Light. The nights in Icewind Dale are long (especially
during the grip of the Everlasting Rime) and the utter
darkness is broken only by a few hours of dim twilight—
usually between late morning and early evening—and the
auroras that streak across the sky.
Lighting in Icewind Dale
Unless otherwise noted, daytime hours provide dim light
outdoors, while nighttime hours are dark. The permanent
dusk of Auril’s curse makes the promise of sunlight seem a
teasing possibility, but the sun never breaks the horizon.
Smells and Sounds. The cool, crisp air stings the noses
of those who inhale it. With the wind magically changing
directions, the sound it produces is like a wailing beast.
Creature Information
The characters spot an awakened mammoth trying to
break a frozen tree with its tusks to get at the fruit. In
addition, three winter wolves—opportunistic allies of
the mammoth—are blending in with the snow nearby.
Characters with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 14
or lower are surprised as they leap from hiding and attack.
Shards of the blue crystal fall to the ground and the
mammoth pushes air through its trunk to make a loud,
intimidating trumpeting. Angry, scared, and hungry, the
beast utters a single word in Common while the freezing
wind spreads throughout the surrounding area, “Kill.”
Desperate Times,
Desperate Times,
Desperate Measures
Desperate Measures
3
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Blue Crystal
The mammoth found the crystal and intended to deliver it to
Feral-Tongue. The crystal has the following effects if shattered:
Freezing Wind. In a 1-mile radius, centered on the location
where the crystal was destroyed, magical wind materializes
that freezes anyone in it. This effect lasts for 1 minute or until
the mammoth is defeated. The wind imposes disadvantage
on ranged attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks.
When a creature enters the area for the first time or starts
its turn within the freezing wind, it must make a DC 14
Constitution saving throw as its body becomes covered in ice.
On a failed save, the creature takes 11 (2d10) cold damage
and is restrained until it takes bludgeoning damage. On a
successful save, the creature takes half as much damage
and isn’t restrained. A creature immune to cold damage
automatically succeeds on the saving throw. A restrained
creature can make a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check as an
action to break free from the ice. On a success, it frees itself
and is no longer restrained. A creature that isn’t restrained
can use its action to attempt the check to free another
creature within reach.
Auroral Aura. When the mammoth destroys the blue crystal,
a bubble of blue light envelops a 20-foot-radius area around
it, protecting any creature inside from the freezing wind.
On initiative count 0 (losing ties), the radius of the bubble
shrinks by 5 feet as its protective effect fades.
The mammoth ended up here after fleeing the chaos of
Feral-Tongue’s—the druid who awakened it—defeat, and the
events of DDEP10-01 Terror in Ten-Towns.
Wrapped around the mammoth’s trunk is a blue
crystal that can draw on the Frostmaiden’s magic for a
short period of time. As soon as the mammoth sees the
characters, it crushes the crystal out of panic. Being a Huge
beast with no herd and no place to hide, the mammoth
succumbs to a kill-or-be-killed mentality. A character who
makes a successful DC 13 Wisdom (Animal Handling or
Insight) check quickly realizes this.
Playing the Pillars. You can make use of the following
suggestions when running this encounter:
Combat. The characters start combat at least 40 feet
away from the mammoth. To protect themselves from
the freezing wind, the characters can get inside the
mammoth’s bubble, which shrinks every round. The
wolves prioritize knocking the characters prone outside
the bubble, hoping to let the crystal’s freezing wind take
care of them.
Exploration. The freezing wind stretches for 1 mile in
all directions. Running away from the encounter isn’t
recommended.
Social. Characters who offer food such as rations to a
winter wolf can make a DC 14 Charisma (Persuasion)
check as an action to de-escalate the situation. A
character who smells like blueberries makes this check
with advantage. On a success, the character convinces
that wolf to ally itself with the characters against the
mammoth.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
Twin Mountains
Themes: Discovery, extraterrestrial.
Continuing west, the characters arrive at the foot of a pair
of mountains. Lieutenant Prook tells everyone the neogi
ship is nestled somewhere within the valley.
Story Objective D
Locating and scouting out the deathspider is Story
Objective D.
Area Information
In addition to the features noted in the encounters below,
the twin mountains have the following general features:
Dimensions and Terrain. The two mountains possess
a certain symmetry and greatly resemble a pair of massive
fangs. Both peaks pierce a blanket of clouds, while their
craggy surfaces are buried deep in snow. There are many
hidden paths around the mountains and even toward the
valley. However, imminent danger follows those who are
foolish enough to traverse them.
Light. The nights in Icewind Dale are long (especially
during the grip of the Everlasting Rime) and the utter
darkness is broken only by a few hours of dim twilight—
usually between late morning and early evening—and the
auroras that streak across the sky.
Weather. The weather is extremely cold.
Extreme Cold
Weather
Whenever the temperature is at or below 0 degrees
Fahrenheit, a creature exposed to the cold must make a
successful DC 10 Constitution saving throw at the end of
each hour or gain one level of exhaustion. Creatures with
resistance or immunity to cold damage automatically succeed
on the saving throw, as do creatures wearing cold weather
gear (thick coats, gloves, and the like) and creatures naturally
adapted to cold climates.
Creature Information
Lieutenant Prook advises the characters to reconnoiter the
area surrounding the ship. He wants to take revenge on
the neogi who captured him and killed his crew, but on the
verge of exhaustion again, he knows he’d be a liability and
might endanger his newfound allies. Instead, he requests
the characters to gather information about the ship, the
best path toward it, and how many enemies are there. If
one or more characters really want Lieutenant Prook to
join them, they can convince him to with a successful DC
17 Charisma (Persuasion) check.
Reality also hits Nararhak and the other Thuunlakalaga
hunters. They know they can’t risk losing their lives here,
especially when they’re up against something unknown.
They insist they’ll return to Wyrmdoom Crag and report
everything that’s happened so far to Old Goat. They’re
willing to take Lieutenant Prook with them, which he
agrees to.
Once the characters are done scouting the area and
getting information about the neogi ship, they can all meet
up at Wyrmdoom Crag to formulate a plan.
Before leaving, Lieutenant Prook draws a map in the
snow to help the characters strategize the best way
to approach the neogi ship’s location. The characters
should choose with route to take, which determines what
creatures they encounter along the way. Alternatively, you
can choose an encounter or roll on the table, below:
Neogi Patrol Encounter Table
d6
Encounter
1
E1. Straight into the Valley
2
E2. East Mountain Outer Path
3
E3. West Mountain Outer Path
4
E4. Into the Cave
5
E5. West Mountain Peak
6
E6. East Mountain Peak
Most creatures in this part of the adventure are charmed
by the neogi to follow their orders. To ensure the enslaved
creatures can’t escape their control, the neogi use a sek’reg
insulator, see below.
Sek’reg Insulator
Normally, charmed creatures can attempt another saving
throw to end the charm effect if damaged. However, the
neogi aboard the Er’lir Fezrrega’l use a device called a sek’reg
insulator—a potent magical machine that removes their
victims’ ability to shake off the charm effect if injured.
The Er’lir Fezrrega’l
The Er’lir Fezrrega’l
4
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Treasure
Regardless which path the characters take, the encounter
yields a small blue capsule that contains a potion of
climbing. This treasure is only found once, no matter how
many encounters are used.
E1. Straight into the
Valley
This is the shortest route to the neogi ship’s location, but
also the most heavily guarded.
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. The thin snow on the path
toward the valley makes it easy to traverse. After a few
miles, the path broadens to 40 feet wide. A character who
makes a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation)
check, notices a group of jagged rocks along the east side
of the path that could provide cover on their way to the
valley, helping bypass the frost giants guarding the area.
Since the jagged rocks aren’t very tall, the characters must
still make a successful DC 17 Dexterity (Stealth) group
check to avoid a combat encounter. On a failure, one or
more characters make a noise that triggers an avalanche
200 feet above the characters. See the Avalanche sidebar,
below. The giants also notice the characters and attack
them.
Light. The stormy sky only provides dim light.
Smells and Sounds. The area’s geometry causes nearby
sound to echo loudly toward the valley. There’s also the
smell of large game being roasted nearby.
Avalanche
Hazard
An avalanche is a mass of snow and debris falling rapidly
down a mountainside. A typical avalanche is 300 feet wide,
150 feet long, and 30 feet thick. Creatures in the path of an
avalanche can avoid it or escape it if they’re close to its edge,
but outrunning one is almost impossible.
When an avalanche occurs, all nearby creatures must roll
initiative. Twice each round, on initiative counts 10 and 0
(losing ties), the avalanche travels 300 feet until it can travel
no more. When an avalanche moves, any creature in its
space moves along with it and falls prone, and the creature
must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw, taking 5 (1d10)
bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much
damage on a successful one.
When an avalanche stops, the snow and other debris settle
and bury creatures in it. A creature buried this way is blinded,
restrained, and has total cover. The creature gains one level of
exhaustion for every 5 minutes it spends buried. It can try to
dig itself free as an action, breaking the surface and ending the
blinded and restrained conditions on itself with a successful
DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check. A creature that fails this
check three times can’t attempt to dig itself out again.
A creature that isn’t restrained or incapacitated can spend
1 minute freeing a buried creature. Once free, that creature is
no longer blinded or restrained by the avalanche.
Creature Information
Two frost giant servants guard the path toward the valley
while a frost giant sits nearby, roasting a recently caught
winter wolf.
Adjusting This Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this scene:
Very Weak: Replace one frost giant with one frost giant
servant.
Weak: Remove one frost giant servant.
Strong: No changes.
Very Strong: Add one frost giant servant.
The giants were on their way to Jarlmoot, west of Ten-
Towns, to pay their respects to their ancestors before they
were captured and charmed by the neogi.
E2. East Mountain
Outer Path
It takes six hours to go around the east mountain and reach
the valley from the other side.
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. The snow is at least 4 feet
high, making it difficult terrain for Medium or smaller
creatures. After five hours’ travel, the path widens.
Weather. The weather is extremely cold. See the
extreme cold sidebar, above.
Smells and Sounds. There are large piles of dung
covered in snow. A character who makes a successful DC
14 Intelligence (Nature) check determines that the piles of
muck were left by a mix of humanoids and bears. When the
characters start to travel on this path, a loud, intimidating
bear growl can be heard in the distance.
Creature Information
Two hulking goliath werebears in hybrid form are sparring
with one another when the characters arrive.
Adjusting This Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this scene:
Very Weak: The goliath werebears fight in their humanoid
forms.
Weak: The goliath werebears only have 100 hit points.
Strong: Add one goliath werebear.
Very Strong: Add two goliath werebears.
These goliaths received Oyaminartok the Winter Walker’s
curse after being judged to have pure hearts. The goliaths
were once gentle and kind, but the neogi have driven them
to kill any living creature they see. The sight of fire scares
the werebears; they avoid foes that wield fire—attacking
them last, if possible.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Oyaminartok the Winter Walker
Goliath legends speak of a creature that prowls the far
reaches of Icewind Dale, Oyaminartok the Winter Walker.
Elders invoke her name to keep young goliaths from
wandering too far from home before they’re ready. Adult
goliaths sometimes encounter this legendary individual
in their travels to the far-flung corners of the Dale. If they
flee like cowards, Oyaminartok laughs and lets them go to
wander in obscurity. If they challenge Oyaminartok to a fight,
the Winter Walker smiles and tests their mettle. Those who
impress her with their fighting skills are bitten and become
goliath werebears themselves. Contrary to myth, Oyaminartok
isn’t a monster, but a force of good in the region, and she
passes her curse only to goliaths whose hearts are pure.
E3. West Mountain
Outer Path
The outer path on the west mountain has the same terrain
and weather as area E2.
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Smells and Sounds. Rotting carcasses half-buried in the
snow leave a foul smell in the area. It’s eerily quiet.
Creature Information
A hydra is hidden under a sheet of snow in front of the
characters and attacks them as soon as they’re within its
range. Any character with a passive Wisdom (Perception)
score of 15 or lower is surprised. This gluttonous creature
traveled north in search for food until it was captured by
the neogi. Even though it’s charmed, the neogi are still wary
of it. They can only prevent the creature from eating them,
that’s why it was stationed far from the valley.
Adjusting This Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this scene:
Very Weak: The hydra begins with three heads.
Weak: The hydra only has 140 hit points.
Strong: The hydra has 255 hit points.
Very Strong: The hydra begins with seven heads.
E4. Into the Cave
When Lieutenant Prook escaped from the neogi ship, he
discovered a hidden cave entrance somewhere at the foot
of the western mountain. Instead of hiding there, the giff
continued running to get as much distance as possible
from his alien captors. Lieutenant Prook believes the cave
probably has an exit somewhere near the valley and that it’s
worth checking out.
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. The pathway inside the cave
is tight and the ceiling is low. After a few miles, the cave
widens into a 40-foot-square chamber.
Light. It’s completely dark with no light sources.
Smells and Sounds. The smell of rotting corpses.
Giggles and noises of raw flesh being chewed echo around
the cave.
Creature Information
Five kobold vampire spawn are gathered around a half-
eaten goliath corpse. Their hungry faces, especially their
snouts, are all covered in blood. From the looks of it, the
goliath was another of the missing hunters. The neogi
aren’t aware these vampires are living nearby, but the
kobold vampires, however, know the neogi enslave the
minds of their captives.
The neogi have been stealing the vampires’ prey ever
since they arrived. A character who makes a successful DC
15 Wisdom (Insight) check determines that the vampires
are starving; it looks as if this is the first meal they’ve eaten
in some time. A successful DC 17 Charisma (Persuasion)
check convinces the vampires to stop attacking and let
the characters pass, if they promise to deal with the
unusual creatures nearby (which the kobolds refer to as
“spiderlings”).
Adjusting This Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this scene:
Very Weak: Remove two kobold vampire spawn.
Weak: Remove one kobold vampire spawn.
Strong: Add one kobold vampire spawn.
Very Strong: Add two kobold vampire spawn with 54 hit
points.
E5. West Mountain Peak
The neogi wouldn’t expect enemies coming from the
mountain peak, at least that’s what Lieutenant Prook
thinks. It’s the best vantage point for the characters once
they descend below the clouds. However, it takes a half
day for the characters to reach the peak of the western
mountain.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Dimensions and Terrain. The steep incline combined
with the thick snow makes the area difficult terrain for
Medium or smaller creatures.
Weather. The weather is extremely cold. See the
extreme cold sidebar, above. Strong winds around the area
impose disadvantage on ranged attack rolls and Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on hearing.
Sounds. Continuous howling from the strong winds.
Creature Information
Taking the form of a greatsword, a living blade of disaster
has seemingly been plunged into a boulder. The visible
portion of the blade looks like a window to space, with
blinking stars shifting slowly in different directions. Three
sluggish, green tentacles protrude from one end of the
blade, acting as its guard and grip. Beneath the greatsword,
the boulder is inscribed with the following in Draconic:
“Living subject #42: All our wizards failed. Who is
worthy enough to wield it and receive power from the
faraway realm?”
The living spell attacks any creature that attempts
to remove it from the stone. A character who makes a
successful DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check identifies the
greatsword as a living spell—not a magical weapon. The
living blade has a strong aura of conjuration magic, which a
detect magic spell picks up on.
Adjusting This Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this scene:
Very Weak or Weak: No changes.
Strong: The living blade of disaster has 90 hit points.
Very Strong: Add one living blade of disaster that looks like a
longsword.
E6. East Mountain Peak
This might be the most difficult, but most epic, combat
encounter the characters can face in this adventure.
It also takes a half day for the characters to reach the
peak of the eastern mountain. This encounter has the same
area information as the west mountain.
Creature Information
Lakasamihan, a young white dragon under the neogi’s
control, descends from the sky and attacks the characters
as soon as they reach the eastern mountain’s peak.
Lakasamihan (LOCK-us-AH-MEE-han),
the Eastern Wind
Chaotic evil dragon
Lakasamihan came from the Spine of the World’s eastern
mountains, traveling to Icewind Dale in search of a new
home. Lakasamihan loves to hunt flying creatures and the feel
of warm blood in her mouth while flying in freezing winds.
What They Want. Lakasamihan recently laid an egg at her old
lair. With little game in the area, she started searching for a
new home. She found the valley between these mountains
to be a perfect place for her and her soon-to-be-born child,
however it’s currently occupied by the neogi and their ship.
Servant of the Neogi. Lakasamihan challenged the neogi,
but their alien technology and numbers overwhelmed the
young dragon. Since her capture, the dragon now protects
her new masters from on high.
Development
When the characters arrive, they finally get to see the
Er’lir Fezrrega’l; a large, deathspider-class spaceship
that’s the neogi’s pride and joy. The spaceship is designed
to resemble a massive spider constructed from strange,
shiny metal. Judging by its size, it could easily transport
one hundred people. Eight metal poles shaped like spider
legs extend from the front of the ship, with webbed metal
strings attached to some, acting as a strange sail.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Warning signs in Deep Speech are engraved on different
parts of the ship. Lastly, glassy, red-tinted windows are
placed at the front and rear of the deathspider.
Dozens of creatures mill about outside the ship, carrying
crates and unusual containers on strange, floating skips.
One by one, they file into a cavern at the far side of the ship.
A container falls unnoticed off the last skip, burying itself in
the snow.
Before the characters can approach, read or paraphrase:
Energy from the deathspider crashes over you like a wave,
followed by a burst of hot air that blows snow in your faces.
The craft rises from the ground and hovers, flickering with
flashes of multicolored light. Silhouettes of several odd,
spiderlike creatures are visible through the crimson glass
at the front of what is presumably the ship’s helm.
The deathspider increases altitude and disappears into
the stormy clouds above.
Treasure
If the characters investigate the fallen transport crate,
they find it contains a prosthetic limb and two egg-shaped
capsules that contain potions of greater healing.
Wrap-Up: Where to Now?
Once the Er’lir Fezrrega’l leaves, the entrance to the
cavern behind it is revealed. The characters are left with
two choices—no matter which option they choose, the
characters earn the Captured Goliaths story award:
Venture into the Ruins. Fresh footprints of different
creatures head toward the cavern entrance. Some of these
footprints are like those of a giant spider. The adventure
continues in DDAL10-07 Into Darkness.
Return to Wyrmdoom Crag. Upon arriving at
Wyrmdoom Crag, the characters discover Nararhak and
the others, including Lieutenant Prook, haven’t returned
yet. The characters quickly learn that Kaskur—having
finally grown tired of Old Goat’s stubbornness—left
Wyrmdoom Crag together with the hunters loyal to him.
Because of this, Old Goat doesn’t have any hunters spare
to assist with search efforts. But just as she agrees to do it
herself, even going so far as to fetch her dragon bone-hafted
greataxe, one of the goliath hunters and Lieutenant Prook
(if he didn’t accompany the characters)—weak and injured
from the cold—stagger into the settlement.
After being hurried to the small fire, the goliath reveals
they were beset upon by umber hulks and strange,
spiderlike creatures—which Lieutenant Prook refers to as
“neogi.” They managed to escape, but the others, including
Nararhak, were captured.
Story Award: Captured
Goliaths
Nararhak Tree-Eye and some of the goliath
hunters you encountered were captured by
spiderlike creatures Lieutenant Prook calls “neogi.”
Rewards
At the end of the session, everyone receives rewards based
upon their accomplishments:
Player Rewards
The players earn the following rewards:
Advancement
A character participating in this adventure gains one level.
Optional: Declining Advancement
Each player can decline advancement if they so choose; this
has its benefits. It’s possible for a character to advance beyond
an adventure’s level range, meaning they’d be unable to play
an adventure as planned. Similarly, advancing too quickly
means a character won’t earn as much gold as their peers.
Conversely, remind them that the amount of gold their
characters can earn per level is limited; characters declining
advancement might reach a point where they no longer
earn gold.
Gold
Award each character gold for each hour of the session.
Adventures typically features cues for this, but you can add
it where you see fit. The maximum gold you can award a
character per hour is determined by their tier, as follows:
Tier
Hourly GP Award
GP Limit per Level
1
20 gp
80 gp
2
30 gp
240 gp
3
200 gp
1,600 gp
4
750 gp
6,000 gp
Magic Items
If found during the adventure, the characters can keep the
following magic items, described in handout 2:
• Chime of opening
• Potion of climbing
• Potion of greater healing
• Prosthetic limb
Story Awards
The characters may earn the following story awards,
described in handout 2:
Captured Goliaths
Dungeon Master Rewards
For running this adventure, you earn a DM Reward. See
the Adventurers League Dungeon Master’s Guide for more
information.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Dramatis Personae
The following NPCs feature prominently in this adventure:
Butiki (Bu-Tih-Ki) the Apothecary
Butiki is actually a persona cultivated by three kobolds—
Bubu, Tirr, and Kiki, who disguise themselves as a clumsy
human wearing bulky cold weather clothing and a cracked
jade mask carved to resemble a dragon’s face. Most of
the potions and herbs they sell are stored in the inside
pockets of their clothes. If questioned, Butiki says they’re
human, but a character with a passive Wisdom (Insight
or Medicine) score of 15 or higher detects something odd
about their physiology. If confronted about it, they reveal
their true nature.
What They Want. Butiki has no need for money since
there’s nowhere to spend it in this area. Instead, they
search for monster parts or herbs they can use to trade
for other goods. Butiki loves to eat, especially delicacies
that aren’t from Icewind Dale.
Followers of a Hag. Another reason why Butiki searches
for monster parts and herbs is to give them to their
master, a powerful hag, who can use them to craft
potions and spells.
Kaskur (KASS-kerr) Spearsong
Thuunlakalaga
This headstrong and impetuous goliath leads the clan’s
hunters. He’s grown angry and frustrated at the lack
of game in the area, and he resents Old Goat’s “poor
leadership” for a lack of solutions. He wields a longbow
taller than most humans and claims he once felled an elk
from a half mile away. He wears little in the way of clothing,
even in the driving wind—a feat that’s earned him the
respect of his fellow hunters.
What They Want. Kaskur has grown tired of Old Goat’s
personal fears preventing an alliance with the goliaths of
Skytower Shelter. He views her as weak and her ideas as
outdated, especially when Kugan Windwhisper (Feral-
Tongue)—who Kaskur views as being even weaker than
Old Goat—is involved. He wants to usurp control of the
clan for himself.
Words Are Wasted Wind. Kaskur doesn’t have a
negotiator’s tongue; he’s terse and speaks his mind
without hesitation. Despite this, he’s experienced and
knows the area better than any of his peers.
Lakasamihan (LOCK-us-AH-MEE-
han), the Eastern Wind
Lakasamihan came from the Spine of the World’s eastern
mountains, traveling to Icewind Dale in search of a
new home. Lakasamihan loves to hunt flying creatures
and the feel of warm blood in her mouth while flying in
freezing winds.
What They Want. Lakasamihan recently laid an egg at
her old lair. With little game in the area, she started
searching for a new home. She found the valley between
these mountains to be a perfect place for her and her
soon-to-be-born child, however it’s currently occupied by
the neogi and their ship.
Servant of the Neogi. Lakasamihan challenged the neogi,
but their alien technology and numbers overwhelmed
the young dragon. Since her capture, the dragon now
protects her new masters from on high.
Nararhak (na-RUHR-uck)
Tree-Eye Thuunlakalaga
Nararhak was orphaned at birth during a raid by another
clan. Though they were spared, the violent circumstances
of their birth damaged Nararhak’s left leg, leaving
them slow and clumsy when without a crutch. Rikuur
Hideminder took the child in and raised them in the ways
of storytelling and nature.
When not with the rest of Souljoined (Grakal
Dawnbearer and Thugeo Goatchaser), Nararhak tends to
be very apprehensive and cautious in their interactions,
having suffered a great deal of bullying in the past. They’re
wary of outright strangers.
The name “Tree-Eye” comes from Nararhak’s
heterochromatic eyes, their right is a brown, barky color
and the left is the color of deep-green leaves. Nararhak is
always chewing on something. If they start speaking while
overly excited, small bits of spittle tend to spray from their
mouth.
What They Want. To know more. Nararhak is always
ready to hear another tale or read another story or learn
another language. When sharing the stories and history
of the clan, few hold up to Nararhak’s narrations.
Brains of the Operation. Few in the clan now know
more about the different flora, fauna, and sacred places
than Nararhak does. Even Old Goat seeks advice from
Nararhak from time to time.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Ogolai (oh-GOH-lie) Orcsplitter
“Old Goat” Thuunlakalaga
The chieftain of the Thuunlakalaga goliaths is an elderly
goliath with a heavily scarred face. She dresses plainly
in goat hide clothing and carries an immense greataxe
fashioned from white dragon bone. She has a crippling
fear of griffons stemming from a childhood trauma that’s
created tensions between her clan and the Akannathi
goliaths of Skytower Shelter (see Icewind Dale: Rime of
the Frostmaiden).
What They Want. Old Goat’s first priority is the safety and
prosperity of her clan—especially in these unusual and
trying times. She’s quick to stymie dissent, particularly
from Kaskur Spearsong. She fears his disagreements
will turn violent, but does everything within her power to
delay this apparent inevitability for as long as possible.
Done It, Seen It; but the End Is Nigh. Old Goat has
been around a long time and seen many things. This
experience lends her a tremendous amount of wisdom to
draw on when making decisions. However, she’s getting
old and refuses to surrender the yoke of leadership until
a worthy (equally wise) replacement is found. If it weren’t
for his sharp tongue, Old Goat would’ve offered Kaskur
the mantle of leadership years ago. However, she fears
what the clan would become under his leadership.
Lieutenant Prook
(lef-TEN-ant Puh-ROOK)
Lieutenant Prook (he pronounces lieutenant as “leftenant”
and prefers to be addressed as such) once commanded a
brigade of hippopotamus-headed giff mercenaries, but his
entire unit was captured by neogi slavers. Of them, he’s the
sole survivor. The neogi ship recently crashed in Icewind
Dale while pursuing the Id Ascendant—an illithid nautiloid
piloted by gnomish ceremorphs. In the chaos, Lieutenant
Prook managed to escape, but underestimated the cold.
What They Want. While Lieutenant Prook’s immediate
goals are survival and recovery. Once out of the woods,
he plans to find a way to exact his revenge on the neogi
who enslaved him and killed his unit.
Gruff and No-Nonsense. Lieutenant Prook doesn’t waste
time on pomp and circumstance; he focuses on his goals
with laser precision and those who question his orders
(yes, orders) or methods are quick to earn a scathing
admonishment. To that end, however, he’s loyal and
honorable without apology. He would throw down his life
to save those he considers allies.
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Creature Statistics
The following creatures appear in this adventure:
Chwinga
Chwinga
Tiny elemental, neutral
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 5 (2d4)
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
1 (−5)
20 (+5)
10 (+0)
14 (+2)
16 (+3)
16 (+3)
Skills Acrobatics +7, Perception +7, Stealth +7
Senses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages —
Challenge 0 (0 XP)
Evasion. When the chwinga is subjected to an effect that allows
it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it
instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and
only half damage if it fails.
Innate Spellcasting. The chwinga’s innate spellcasting ability is
Wisdom. It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no
material or verbal components:
At will: druidcraft, guidance, pass without trace, resistance
Unusual Nature. The chwinga doesn’t require air, food, or drink.
When it dies, it turns into a handful of flower petals, a cloud of
pollen, a stone statuette resembling its former self, a tiny sphere
of smooth stone, or a puddle of fresh water (your choice).
Actions
Magical Gift (1/Day). The chwinga targets a humanoid it can see
within 5 feet of it. The target gains a supernatural charm of the
DM’s choice. See chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for
more information on supernatural charms.
Natural Shelter. The chwinga magically takes shelter inside a
rock, a living plant, or a natural source of fresh water in its space.
The chwinga can’t be targeted by any attack, spell, or other
effect while inside this shelter, and the shelter doesn’t impair the
chwinga’s blindsight. The chwinga can use its action to emerge
from a shelter. If its shelter is destroyed, the chwinga is forced out
and appears in the shelter’s space, but is otherwise unharmed.
Frost Giant
Frost Giant
Huge giant, neutral evil
Armor Class 15 (patchwork armor)
Hit Points 138 (12d12 + 60)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
23 (+6)
9 (−1)
21 (+5)
9 (−1)
10 (+0)
12 (+1)
Saving Throws Con +8, Wis +3, Cha +4
Skills Athletics +9, Perception +3
Damage Immunities cold
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Giant
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Actions
Multiattack. The giant makes two greataxe attacks.
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 25 (3d12 + 6) slashing damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one
target. Hit: 28 (4d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Frost Giant Servant
Frost Giant Servant
Huge giant, chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 105 (10d12 + 40)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
21 (+5)
8 (−1)
19 (+4)
5 (−3)
9 (−1)
6 (−2)
Skills Perception +2
Damage Immunities cold
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Giant
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Actions
Multiattack. The giant makes two greatclub attacks.
Greatclub. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one
target. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
20
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Giff
Giff
Medium humanoid (giff), lawful neutral
Armor Class 16 (breastplate)
Hit Points 60 (8d8 + 24)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
18 (+4)
14 (+2)
17 (+3)
11 (+0)
12 (+1)
12 (+1)
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Firearms Knowledge. The giff’s mastery of its weapons enables it
to ignore the loading property of muskets and pistols.
Headfirst Charge. The giff can try to knock a creature over; if the
giff moves at least 20 feet in a straight line that ends within 5 feet
of a Large or smaller creature, that creature must succeed on a
DC 14 Strength saving throw or take 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage
and be knocked prone.
Actions
Multiattack. The giff makes two pistol attacks.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing
damage if used with two hands.
Musket. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 40/120 ft., one
target. Hit: 8 (1d12 + 2) piercing damage.
Pistol. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/90 ft., one
target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage.
Fragmentation Grenade (1/Day). The giff throws a grenade up to
60 feet. Each creature within 20 feet of the grenade’s detonation
must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 17 (5d6)
piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one.
Goliath Werebear
Goliath Werebear
Medium humanoid (goliath, shapechanger), neutral good
Armor Class 10 in humanoid form, 12 (natural armor) in bear or
hybrid form
Hit Points 161 (19d8 + 76)
Speed 30 ft. (40 ft., swim 30 ft. in bear or hybrid form)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
20 (+5)
10 (+0)
18 (+4)
10 (+0)
15 (+2)
10 (+0)
Skills Athletics +8, Perception +8, Survival +5
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Damage Resistances cold
Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from
nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered
Senses passive Perception 18
Languages Common, Giant (can’t speak in bear form)
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Keen Smell. The werebear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on smell.
Mountain Born. The werebear is acclimated to high altitude,
including elevations above 20,000 feet.
Powerful Build (Humanoid Form Only). The werebear counts as
one size larger when determining its carrying capacity and the
weight it can push, drag, or lift.
Shapechanger. The werebear can use its action to polymorph into
a Large bear-humanoid hybrid or into a Large polar bear, or back
into its goliath form. Its statistics, other than its size and AC, are
the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying
isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Actions
Multiattack. The werebear makes two melee attacks.
Bite (Bear or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage. If the
target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw or be cursed with werebear lycanthropy, as described
in the Monster Manual.
Claw (Bear or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage.
Greataxe (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon
Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d12 + 5)
slashing damage.
Reactions
Stone’s Endurance (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). When
the werebear takes damage, it reduces the damage taken by 10
(1d12 + 4).
21
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Hydra
Hydra
Huge monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 172 (15d12 + 75)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
20 (+5)
12 (+1)
20 (+5)
2 (−4)
10 (+0)
7 (−2)
Skills Perception +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages —
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Hold Breath. The hydra can hold its breath for 1 hour.
Multiple Heads. The hydra has five heads. While it has more than
one head, the hydra has advantage on saving throws against
being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, and
knocked unconscious.
Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn,
one of its heads dies. If all its heads die, the hydra dies.
At the end of its turn, it grows two heads for each of its heads
that died since its last turn, unless it has taken fire damage
since its last turn. The hydra regains 10 hit points for each head
regrown in this way.
Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets
an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.
Wakeful. While the hydra sleeps, at least one of its
heads is awake.
Actions
Multiattack. The hydra makes as many bite attacks as it
has heads.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit:
10 (1d10 + 5) piercing damage.
Ice Troll
Ice Troll
Large giant, chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 115 (10d10 + 60)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
18 (+4)
8 (−1)
22 (+6)
7 (−2)
9 (−1)
7 (−2)
Skills Perception +2
Damage Immunities cold
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Giant
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Cold Aura. While it’s alive, the troll generates an aura of bitter
cold that fills the area within 10 feet of it. At the start of the troll’s
turn, all nonmagical flames in the aura are extinguished. Any
creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the troll takes 10
(3d6) cold damage.
Keen Smell. The troll has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on smell.
Regeneration. The troll regains 10 hit points at the start of each
of its turn. If the troll takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn’t
function at the start of its next turn. The troll dies only if it starts
its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.
Actions
Multiattack. The troll makes three attacks: one with its bite and
two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7
(1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) cold damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) cold damage. If the
target takes any of the cold damage, the target must succeed on
a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on its
attack rolls until the end of its next turn.
Icewind Kobold
Icewind Kobold
Small humanoid (kobold), any alignment
Armor Class 14 (hide armor)
Hit Points 9 (2d6 + 2)
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
7 (−2)
15 (+2)
12 (+1)
8 (−1)
8 (−1)
8 (−1)
Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +3
Skills Perception +1, Stealth +4, Survival +1
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Pack Tactics. The kobold has advantage on an attack roll against a
creature if at least one of the kobold’s allies is within 5 feet of the
creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the kobold has
disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on sight.
Actions
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 1 (1d6 − 2) piercing damage.
22
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Kobold Vampire Spawn
Kobold Vampire Spawn
Small undead, neutral evil
Armor Class 14
Hit Points 39 (6d6 + 18)
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
18 (+4)
16 (+3)
8 (−1)
8 (−1)
8 (−1)
Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +1
Skills Perception +1, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing from nonmagical attacks
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Pack Tactics. The vampire has advantage on an attack roll against
a creature if at least one of the vampire’s allies is within 5 feet of
the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Regeneration. The vampire regains 10 hit points at the start of its
turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight or running
water. If the vampire takes radiant damage or damage from holy
water, this trait doesn’t function at the start of its next turn.
Unusual Nature. The vampire doesn’t require air.
Vampire Weaknesses. The vampire has the following flaws:
Forbiddance. The vampire can’t enter a residence without an invi-
tation from one of the occupants.
Harmed by Running Water. The vampire takes 20 acid damage
when it starts its turn in running water.
Stake to the Heart. The vampire is destroyed if a piercing weapon
made of wood is driven into its heart while it is incapacitated in
its resting place.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The vampire takes 20 radiant damage
when it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, it has dis-
advantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit:
6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage plus 5 (2d4) necrotic damage. The
target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the
necrotic damage taken, and the vampire regains hit points equal
to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long
rest. The target dies if its hit point maximum is reduced to 0.
Living Blade of Disaster
Living Blade of Disaster
Small construct, chaotic evil
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 67 (9d6 + 36)
Speed 0 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
16 (+3)
19 (+4)
6 (−2)
10 (+0)
3 (−4)
Damage Immunities poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, exhaustion, grappled,
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, restrained, unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Magic Resistance. The living spell has advantage on saving throws
against spells and other magical effects.
Unfettered. The living spell can move through any barrier, even a
wall of magical force.
Unusual Nature. The living spell doesn’t require air, food,
drink, or sleep.
Actions
Force Blade. Melee Spell Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 26 (4d12) force damage, unless the living spell rolled an 18
or higher on the d20 for the attack, in which case the attack is a
critical hit that deals 78 (12d12) force damage instead.
Reactions
Preemptive Strike. The living spell makes a melee attack against a
creature that starts its turn within 5 feet of the living spell.
23
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Mammoth
Mammoth
Huge beast, unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 126 (11d12 + 55)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
24 (+7)
9 (−1)
21 (+5)
3 (−4)
11 (+0)
6 (−2)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Trampling Charge. If the mammoth moves at least 20 feet straight
toward a creature and then hits it with a gore attack on the same
turn, that target must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw
or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the mammoth can
make one stomp attack against it as a bonus action.
Actions
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 25 (4d8 + 7) piercing damage.
Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one prone
creature. Hit: 29 (4d10 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Winter Wolf
Winter Wolf
Large monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 75 (10d10 + 20)
Speed 50 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
18 (+4)
13 (+1)
14 (+2)
7 (−2)
12 (+1)
8 (−1)
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +3
Damage Immunities cold
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Giant, Winter Wolf
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Keen Hearing and Smell. The wolf has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The wolf has advantage on an attack roll against a
creature if at least one of the wolf’s allies is within 5 feet of the
creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Snow Camouflage. The wolf has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth)
checks made to hide in snowy terrain.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must
succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Cold Breath (Recharge 5–6). The wolf exhales a blast of freezing
wind in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC
12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) cold damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Young White Dragon
Young White Dragon
Large dragon, chaotic evil
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 133 (14d10 + 56)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
18 (+4)
10 (+0)
18 (+4)
6 (−2)
11 (+0)
12 (+1)
Saving Throws Dex +3, Con +7, Wis +3, Cha +4
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +3
Damage Immunities cold
Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Ice Walk. The dragon can move across and climb icy surfaces
without needing to make an ability check. Additionally, difficult
terrain composed of ice or snow doesn’t cost it extra movement.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks: one with its bite
and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit:
15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) cold damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Cold Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales an icy blast in
a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15
Constitution saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) cold damage on a
failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
24
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Nararhak Tree-Eye
Nararhak Tree-Eye
Thuunlakalaga (Spellcaster
Thuunlakalaga (Spellcaster
Sidekick)
Sidekick)
Medium humanoid (goliath), lawful neutral
Armor Class 13 (studded leather)
Hit Points 31 (7d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
12 (+1)
10 (+0)
15 (+2)
16 (+3)
13 (+1)
Saving Throws Wis +6
Skills Arcana +5, Investigation +5, Nature +5, Religion +5
Damage Resistances cold
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Druidic, Giant
Spellcasting (Healer). Nararhak is a 7th-level spellcaster. Their
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with
spell attacks). Nararhak has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): guidance, produce flame, shillelagh
1st level (): cure wounds, entangle, thunderwave
2nd level (): flame blade, lesser restoration
Potent Cantrips. Nararhak adds their Wisdom modifier to the
damage they deal with any cantrip.
Actions
Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit (+6 with shillelagh), reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage, or 7 (1d8 + 3)
bludgeoning damage with shillelagh.
Thuunlakalaga Hunter
Thuunlakalaga Hunter
(Warrior Sidekick)
(Warrior Sidekick)
Medium humanoid (goliath), any alignment
Armor Class 16 (studded leather, shield)
Hit Points 45 (7d8 + 14)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
16 (+3)
15 (+2)
14 (+2)
10 (+0)
12 (+1)
10 (+0)
Saving Throws Con +5
Skills Athletics +6, Perception +4, Survival +4
Damage Resistances cold
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Giant
Battle Readiness. The hunter has advantage on initiative rolls.
Extra Attack. The hunter can attack twice, instead of once,
whenever it takes the Attack action.
Improved Critical. The hunter’s attack rolls score a critical hit on a
roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
Martial Role. The hunter has one of the following traits:
Attacker. The hunter gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls (not
included below).
Defender. The hunter gains the Disruption reaction, below.
Actions
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing
damage if used with two hands.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one
target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Bonus Action
Second Wind (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The hunter
regains 1d10 + 7 hit points.
Reaction
Disruption (Defender Only). When a creature within 5 feet of
the hunter makes an attack roll against a creature that isn’t the
hunter, the hunter can impose disadvantage on the attack roll,
provided they can see the attacker.
Handout 1: Sidekick Statistics
Handout 1: Sidekick Statistics
25
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
The characters may earn the following rewards during this
adventure:
Magic Items
Chime of Opening
Wondrous item, rare
This squat, black rod has a matte finish and a couple of flat
switches and dials at one end.
This hollow metal tube measures about 1 foot long and
weighs 1 pound. You can strike it as an action, pointing it at
an object within 120 feet of you that can be opened, such
as a door, lid, or lock. The chime issues a clear tone, and
one lock or latch on the object opens unless the sound can’t
reach the object. If no locks or latches remain, the object
itself opens.
The chime can be used ten times. After the tenth time it
cracks and becomes useless.
Potion of Climbing
Potion, common
This potion’s container is a translucent, blue egg capsule
that can easily fit inside a person’s mouth. The capsule’s
shell dissolves when consumed, activating the liquid inside
and releasing hundreds of minute spiderlike creatures
which crawl down the drinker’s throat and break apart
inside the body, administering the potion’s magical
properties.
When you drink this potion, you gain a climbing speed
equal to your walking speed for 1 hour. During this time,
you have advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks you
make to climb. The potion is separated into brown, silver,
and gray layers resembling bands of stone. Shaking the
capsule fails to mix the colors.
Potion of Greater Healing
Potion, uncommon
This potion’s container is a translucent, silver egg capsule
that can easily fit inside a person’s mouth. The capsule’s
shell dissolves when consumed, activating the liquid inside
and releasing hundreds of minute spiderlike creatures
which crawl down the drinker’s throat and break apart
inside the body, administering potent healing.
You regain 4d4 + 4 hit points when you drink this potion.
The potion’s red liquid glimmers when agitated.
Prosthetic Limb
Wondrous item, common
This high-performance, alien technology resembles a
polished obsidian spider leg with gold web designs. When
attached, its off-world materials fold in on themselves and
reconfigure into the desired limb.
This item replaces a lost limb—a hand, an arm, a foot, a
leg, or a similar body part. While the prosthetic is attached,
it functions identically to the part it replaces. You can
detach or reattach it as an action, and it can’t be removed
against your will. It detaches if you die.
Story Awards
Captured Goliaths
Nararhak Tree-Eye and some of the goliath hunters
you encountered were captured by spiderlike creatures
Lieutenant Prook calls “neogi.”
Handout 2: Character Rewards
Handout 2: Character Rewards
26
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
Appendix A:
Appendix A:
Ice Troll Cave Map
Ice Troll Cave Map
27
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DDAL10-06 The Fallen Star (v1.0)
To DM an adventure, you must have 3 to 7 players—each
with their own character within the adventure’s level range
(see Adventure Primer). Characters playing in a hardcover
adventure may continue to play too, but if they play a
different hardcover adventure, they can’t return to the first
if they level beyond its level range.
New to D&D Adventurers League?
https://dnd.wizards.com/ddal_general
Preparing the Adventure
Before you start play, consider the following:
• Read through the adventure, taking notes of anything
you’d like to highlight or remind yourself of while
running the adventure, such as a way you’d like to
portray an NPC or a tactic you’d like to use in a combat.
Familiarize yourself with the adventure’s appendices
and handouts.
• Gather any resources you’d like to use to aid you in
running this adventure—such as notecards, a DM
screen, miniatures, and battlemaps.
• Ask the players to provide you with relevant character
information, such as name, race, class, and level;
passive Wisdom (Perception) score, and anything the
adventures specifies as notable (such as backgrounds,
traits, and flaws).
Players can play an adventure they previously played
as a player or DM, but may only play it once with a given
character. Ensure each player has their character’s
adventure logsheet (if not, get one from the organizer)
with their starting values for level, magic items, gold, and
downtime days. These are updated at the conclusion of the
session. The adventure information and your information
are added at the end of the adventure session—whether
they completed the adventure or not.
Each player is responsible for maintaining an accurate
logsheet. If you have time, you can do a quick scan of a
player’s character sheet to ensure nothing looks out of
order. If you see magic items of very high rarities or strange
arrays of ability scores, you can ask players to provide
documentation for the irregularities. If they can’t, feel free
to restrict item use or ask them to use a standard ability
score array.
Point players to the D&D Adventurers League Players
Guide for reference. If players wish to spend downtime
days and it’s the beginning of an adventure or episode,
they can declare their activity and spend the days now,
or they can do so at the end of the adventure or episode.
Players should select their characters’ spells and other
daily options prior to the start of the adventure unless
the adventure specifies otherwise. Feel free to reread the
adventure description to help give players hints about what
they might face.
New Players? No Problem!
With starter adventures like this one it’s possible you may
have players new to D&D, or just new to fifth edition. It’s up
to you as the DM to ensure they a) have fun with the game
and b) learn the basics of how to play. At this level, having fun
is more important than learning every rule exactly right. Be
gentle with new players who make mistakes.
Make sure to keep your players smiling and rolling dice.
Be positive and enthusiastic when describing the action, and
you’ll notice they quickly follow suit.
If you’re a new DM, then welcome—and thank you! New
DMs are the lifeblood of the D&D community. This adventure
includes sidebars like this one that explain of some rules used
as the adventure progresses!
Adjusting This Adventure
To determine whether you should consider adjusting the
adventure, add up the characters’ levels and divide the total
by the number of characters (rounding .5 or greater up; .4
or less down). This is the group’s average party level (APL).
To approximate the party strength for the adventure,
consult the table below.
Determining Party Strength
Party Composition
Party Strength
3–4 characters, APL less than
Very Weak
3–4 characters, APL equivalent
Weak
3–4 characters, APL greater than
Average
5 characters, APL less than
Weak
5 characters, APL equivalent
Average
5 characters, APL greater than
Strong
6–7 characters, APL less than
Average
6–7 characters, APL equivalent
Strong
6–7 characters, APL greater than
Very Strong
Safety Tools
Safety tools ensure that players aren’t pushed beyond their
comfort levels. They let your players know you want them to
have a positive experience.
A broad range of safety tools are available for you and your
players online, but for more information reach out to your
Event Organizer or to [email protected]
Appendix B:
Appendix B:
Dungeon Master Tips
Dungeon Master Tips
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/Adventure League/S10 - Rime of the Frostmaiden/DDAL10-06 - The_Fallen_Star.pdf |
CHAOS
THEORY
A S H B A R K E R
A RANDOM GROUP GENERATOR FOR
LAST DAYS: ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
AND
LAST DAYS: ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE: SEASONS
CHAOS
THEORY
LAST DAYS
ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
LAST DAYS
ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
Embracing the uncertainty of the zombie apocalypse can add a fun
element of risk and uncertainty to a Last Days: Zombie Apocalypse
campaign and open up wonderful modelling and painting
opportunities for your Groups. Good luck and may the right
survivor appear on your doorstep when you need them the most!
- Ash
Every Group of survivors during the apocalyptic ending of civilisation has a tale or two
of how they came together. Random chance can thrust people from all walks of life
together and total strangers can find themselves fighting shoulder-to-shoulder against
the living dead.
As time goes on these differences can provide the edge a Group needs to compete
against their rivals and defend themselves from the endless hordes of zombies that
continue to wander the earth long after the power has gone out.
Last Days: Zombie Apocalypse: Chaos Theory allows players to throw control to the
wind and randomly generate a Leader as well as the survivors they have collected and
forged into a Group. So many survival stories begin with the vagaries of fate deciding
who-lives and who-dies and this can be a fun and exciting way of generating the cast of
personalities you will be managing throughout the apocalypse.
In addition to the usual details of what type of Character a Leader may discover, their
initial Equipment will also be generated. This prevents the usual ‘maximising’ of
potential that can create imbalance in some campaigns and make it legitimately exciting
when a truly unique piece of equipment is discovered.
Finally, a long list of Personality Traits have been added as an additional bit of trivia
about each of the Characters in a Group. This can be a fun final note to help aid in
model selection when it comes time to find or make figures for each of the Characters
in a Campaign.
THE CREATION OF A GROUP
When assembling a Group, the first step will always be generating a Leader. You still
only have a budget of 100 Scavenge Points with which to equip all of these members, so
how far you wish to go creating each one will dictate how well armed the next one down
the list will be… or if it is even possible to find another!
Once you have generated a Character you must make at least one roll on the Weapons
and Equipment Table. You may make as many additional rolls as you like, up to the
normal limit of two CQC and two Ranged weapons that any single Character may
carry. Once your budget of Scavenge Points is expended however, you may not recruit
any more Characters and any unspent points are put into the Group’s Stash!
STEP 1: THE LEADER
LEADER TABLE
Roll 1D6
Leader Type
Cost
1–2
The Everyday Hero
12
3–4
The Merciless Thug
15
5–6
The Professional
18
As is always the case when a Group of survivors emerges from the zombie apocalypse,
the Leader will shape who the outliers are in their belief system and is the first Character
that must be generated.
STEP 2: WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
Leaders will always be well armed to have made it as far as they have. Players must make
at least one roll for the Leader on the Equipment tables to see what this important
character carries to defend themselves against zombies and rival Groups. If the initial roll
does not generate a Weapon of some type, the Character must roll again until it does.
Ignore any rarity restrictions for generating Weapons when creating a Group in this way.
If you get lucky, you get lucky!
Later Characters will roll on these same Equipment tables to determine what they are
carrying when the Group forms.
Roll Once on the Weapons and Equipment Table to see what type of Equipment they
are carrying. Each result from the Weapons and Equipment Table allows one roll of the
specified table.
WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT TABLE
Roll 1D6
1–3
4–5
6
Item Type
Roll on the CQC Weapon Table
Roll on the Ranged Weapon Table
Roll on the Miscellaneous
Equipment Table
CQC WEAPON TABLE
Roll 1D6
Weapon Type
Cost
1–2
Club
2
3–4
Heavy Club
2
5
Knife
2
6
Heavy Blade
3
RANGED WEAPON TABLE
Roll 1D6
Weapon Type
1–2
Roll on the Pistol Table.
3
Roll on the Shotgun Table.
4
Roll on the SMG Table.
5
Roll on the Rifle Table.
6
Roll on the Sporting Table. (Re-Roll if the Leader is Trained)
PISTOL TABLE
Roll 1D6
Weapon
Cost
1–3
Revolver
2
4–5
Semi-Automatic
3
6
Magnum
3
SHOTGUN TABLE
Roll 1D6
Weapon
Cost
1–4
Breech-Loading or Sawed-Off Shotgun
3
5–6
Pump-Action Shotgun
5
SMG TABLE
Roll 1D6
Weapon
Cost
1–4
Surplus SMG
4
5–6
Military SMG
6
RIFLE TABLE
Roll 1D6
Weapon
Cost
1–2
Hunting Rifle
4
3–4
High-Power Rifle
7
5
Surplus Assault Rifle
6
6
Military Assault Rifle
8
SPORTING TABLE
Roll 1D6
Weapon
Cost
1–4
Hunting Bow
3
5–6
Hunting Crossbow
4
MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT TABLE
Roll 1D6
Weapon Type
Cost
1–4
Booze
2
5–6
Medical Supplies
2
Record each weapon or item of Equipment on the Leader or Character’s roster sheet and
pay the cost from your Scavenge Point budget. If you roll a type of equipment (Ranged
Weapon, CQC Weapon, or Miscellaneous Equipment) that your Character is already
carrying the maximum amount of, re-roll until you get a new Item type.
If you cannot afford the item generated, you may still buy it with whatever remaining
Scavenge Points are in your budget. If the item in question is not a weapon, exchange it
for a Club (which must still be paid for with your remaining Scavenge Points) and you
may no longer generate Characters or Equipment, your Group creation is done!
Once you have decided to stop rolling for Equipment you may not return to a
Character and generate more, they will need to find new gear during the Campaign!
STEP 3: THE REFUGE
Stumbling upon a safe place to hide can often pre-occupy a Group and once they’ve
secured a location sufficiently, they may opt to stay in one place instead of attempting
to find a more suitable location. After the Leader has been determined and their
Equipment generated, the Refuge must be determined. This will dictate how many
Characters are able to join the Leader from then-on as their Max Group Size will need
to be respected.
REFUGE TABLE
Roll 2D6
Refuge Type
Max. Group Size
2
Cabin in The Woods
5
3
The Gun Shop
6
4
The Bar
8
5
The Police Station
8
6
The Church
8
7
The Farmhouse
8
8
The Prison
10
9
The Sports Arena
12
10
The Campsite
12
11–12
The Mall
12
With the Leader determined and Refuge found, a cast of Characters will now be
assembled to populate it. The instructions for this are found in the following section.
STEP 4: THE CHARACTERS
Assembling the Group will follow the same types of restrictions as the normal process
laid-out in Last Days: Zombie Apocalypse. Instead of selecting Characters, however, roll
on the following tables using the process as follows:
1. The first roll must be made on the table that shares the same Keyword as the
Leader.
2. For the second roll, roll 1D6. On a 1–3 roll on the table with the same
Keyword as the Leader. On a 4–6 roll on the table for the Neutral Keyword.
3. For the third roll, roll 1D6. On a 1 roll on the table with the same Keyword as
the Leader. On a 2–4 Roll on the Neutral Table. On a 5–6 randomly select a
Table with a different, non-Neutral Keyword (1–3 roll on table X, 4–6 roll on
table Y).
4. Repeat Steps 1–3 until the Refuge is full or there are not enough Scavenge
Points to recruit the generated Character or purchase Equipment. Any unspent
Scavenge Points are placed in the Group Stash if the maximum Group size for
the Refuge has been reached. When randomly generating Groups, ignore the
rulebook rules for balancing Keyword types.
SELFLESS CHARACTER TABLE
Roll 1D6
Character Type
Cost
1
Firefighter
12
2
Rescue Worker
9
3–4
Farmer
12
5–6
Good Samaritan
9
SELFISH CHARACTER TABLE
Roll 1D6
Character Type
Cost
1
Survivalist
18
2
Crony
3
3
Goon
9
4
Burglar
12
5–6
Gang Member
6
TRAINED CHARACTER TABLE
Roll 1D6
Character Type
Cost
1
Sarge
21
2
SWAT
12
3
Soldier
12
4
Builder
12
5–6
Cop
9
NEUTRAL CHARACTER TABLE
Roll 1D6
Character Type
Cost
1
Horse (or Dog if no Stable Available)
15 (9)
2
Dog
9
3
Kid
3
4
Outdoorsman
12
5
Tough Guy
9
6
Survivor
6
Remember that once you have determined a Character has joined the Group, they must
have at least one Weapon generated and paid for from the Equipment tables found in
Step 2.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
It can be fun to know a bit more about a Character and their motivations for how they
behave. This can help in the selection or creation of an appropriate miniature to represent
them on the game board. These Personality Traits have absolutely no in-game effect but
it can be extremely rewarding as a starting point for how they behave in the post-game
sequence or even during an Encounter!
These are totally optional but are a great way to envision what each of these Characters
is like as you go about creating your rogues’ gallery of a Group.
You may generate an Aspiration, a Flaw, and a Quirk for each of your Characters
(including the Leader). Roll 1D6 twice, one for the row and then one for the column of
the tables below. Generate one of each and write them in the Notes section for each of
these individuals.
ASPIRATION TABLE
D6
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
Glory
Safety
Vengeance
Excellence
Freedom
Independence
2
Power
Legacy
Intelligence
Wisdom
Creativity
Security
3
Lawfulness
Chaos
Retribution
Proliferation
Industry
Competition
4
Community
Dominance
Survival
Unity
Understanding
Respect
5
Clarity
Endurance
Adoration
Socialism
Wealth
Theism
6
Mysticism
Intimidation
Saviour
Heroics
Hedonism
Benevolence
FLAW TABLE
D6
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
Cowardice
Avarice
Greed
Self-Indulgent
Callous
Addicted
2
Wrathful
Irritable
Lazy
Absentminded
Crazed
Silly
3
Slow
Laconic
Spiteful
Petty
Self-Pitying
Selfish
4
Dishonest
Cruel
Self-Denial
Entitled
Naive
Prejudiced
5
Gullible
Defensive
Messy
Prudish
Insincere
Unfair
6
Arrogant
Tactless
Paranoid
Crazy
Delusional
Incoherent
QUIRK TABLE
D6
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
Vegan
Hygienic
Hermit
Hydrophobic
Tick
Picky Eater
2
Weepy
Loud
One-Upper
Romantic
Know-It-All
Introvert
3
Uncensored
Modest
Dad-Joker
Messy Eater
Sneezy
Forgetful
4
Smiley
Oral Fixation
Nick-Namer
Animal Lover
Third Person
Artsy
5
Illiterate
Spit Talker
Avoid Eye
Contact
Carries
Memento
Annoying Laugh
Stutter
6
Smoker
Ambidextrous
Tattooed
Short
Tall
Extrovert
STEP 5: STARTING THE CAMPAIGN AND RECRUITING NEW CHARACTERS
Once your Group has been recruited it is time to start the normal process of playing
Campaign Games.
This expansion can also be used to randomize not only the initial Group creation but
also who appears at the Refuge asking to join the Group.
If you wish to use this process the Leader will instigate a Recruitment Job in the post-
game sequence as normal. Instead of selecting a character to recruit, roll 1D3 to
determine which step of the Character generation process you should roll on (1, 2 or 3).
Then proceed to generate a Character as normal, paying for them and any Equipment
they may arrive with from the Group’s stashed Scavenge Points. Unlike initial Character
Creation you may only roll until you have a single Weapon on the Equipment tables,
but must pay for it as normal.
If a Group is unable to pay the cost of recruiting the Character or their Equipment
then the Recruitment Job fails as the new individual is uninterested in joining up with
so destitute an enclave.
If you choose to use this method you may ignore the standard rules for Keywords
and Group composition unless the Leader dies, is supplanted by a Challenger, or a
normal Recruitment takes place.
| textdata/thevault/Osprey System/Last Days Zombie Apocalypse/LDZA - Last Days Zombie Apocalypse - Chaos Theory - A Random Group Generator [v4].pdf |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1
THE GAME
1
CHARACTER CREATION
2
ABILITY SCORES
3
Generating Ability Scores
3
Ability Descriptions
3
Strength
3
Intelligence
3
Wisdom
3
Dexterity
4
Constitution
4
Charisma
4
Ability Modifiers
4
Ability Checks
5
RACES
6
Ability Adjustments & Limits, by Race
6
Class Limitations by Race
6
Racial Descriptions
6
Dwarves
7
Elves
7
Gnomes
8
Half-Elves
8
Halflings
8
Half-Orcs
9
Humans
9
Racial Preferences
9
CHARACTER CLASSES
10
CLERIC
11
Bard
12
Druid
14
FIGHTER
16
Barbarian
17
Cavalier
19
Paladin
21
Ranger
23
MAGIC-USER
25
Illusionist
26
MONK
27
THIEF
29
Assassin
31
Multiclassed Characters
33
Split-classed Characters
33
ALIGNMENT
34
RELIGION
35
CHARACTER BACKGROUND
36
Character Height & Weight
36
Character Age
36
Character Appearance & Personality
36
Social Class
36
Circumstances of Birth
36
Skills
37
Skill Categories & Descriptions
37
Craft Skills
37
Knowledge Skills
37
Performance Skills
38
Profession Skills
38
Gaining New Skills
38
EQUIPMENT
39
The Monetary System
39
Initial Character Funds
39
Equipping the Character
39
Equipment Lists
40
Armor
40
Melee Weapons
41
Ranged Weapons
42
Accommodations & Provisions
42
Clothing
43
Miscellaneous Equipment
43
Animals & Transport
43
Equipment Descriptions
44
Armor
44
Weapons
45
Miscellaneous
46
Transport
47
Tack & Harness
47
ABILITY SCORES & THE GAME
48
Using Ability Checks in Your Game
48
Adding Character Level to Checks
50
Saving Throws
50
Types of Saving Throws
50
Item Saving Throws
52
ENCUMBRANCE
53
TIME
53
DISTANCE & MOVEMENT
53
LIGHT
54
ENCOUNTER REACTIONS
54
COMBAT
55
The Combat Round
55
Surprise
55
Initiative
55
Combat Actions
55
Number of Opponents & Facing
56
Cover & Concealment
56
Grenade-Like Missiles
56
Special Attacks Manuevers & Modifiers
57
Non-lethal Combat
58
Non-lethal Damage
58
Underwater Combat
59
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
59
Drowning or Suffocation
59
Exposure to the Elements
59
Falling Damage
59
Fire Damage
59
Starvation & Thirst
59
WOUNDS & HEALING
59
Zero Hit Points
59
Binding Wounds
59
Natural Healing
59
Healing Ability Damage
59
Temporary Hit Points
59
MAGIC
60
Character Spells
60
Preparing Spells
60
Magic-Users & Illusionists
60
Clerics, Bards, Druids, Paladins & Rangers
60
Acquiring New Spells
61
Magic-Users & Illusionists
61
Clerics, Bards, Druids, Paladins & Rangers
61
Casting Spells
61
Concentration
62
Using Scrolls
62
SPELL DESCRIPTION FORMAT
62
Casting Time
62
Range
62
Target or Area of Effect
62
Targeted Spells
62
Area Spells
62
Obstacles
63
Durations
63
Saving Throws
63
Voluntarily Failing a Saving Throw
63
Magic Resistance
63
Components
63
Verbal
63
Somatic
63
Material
63
Experience
63
SPELL TABLES
65
Clerics
65
Bards
65
Druids
66
Magic-Users
67
Illusionists
68
SPELL DESCRIPTIONS
69
REWARDS
153
Experience
153
Gaining Levels of Experience
153
Treasure
153
Suggested Agreements for Division of Treasure
153
GLOSSARY
154
Player’s Handbook 1
INTRODUCTION
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS is a world. Of course, this world is
not complete. It needs organizers and adventurers to order and
explore it. It needs you! A fantasy roleplaying game is an exercise in
imagination and personal creativity. The organizer of the campaign,
the Dungeon Master, must use the system to devise an individual and
unique world. Into this world of weird monsters, strange peoples,
multitudinous states, and fabulous treasures of precious items and
powerful magic stride fearless adventurers - you and your fellow
players. Inexperienced and of but small power at first, by dint of hard
fighting and clever deeds, these adventurers advance in ability to
become forces to be reckoned with - high priests or priestesses, lords,
magic-users and arch-magi, master thieves.
The abilities of each adventurer are fixed, but even such
characteristics as strength, intelligence and wisdom are mutable in a
fantasy world. By means of group co-operation and individual
achievement, an adventurer can become ever more powerful. Even
death loses much of its sting, for often the character can be
resurrected or reincarnated. And should that fail there is always the
option to begin again with a new character. Thus ADVANCED
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS is, as are most roleplaying games, open-
ended. There is no “winner”, no final objective, and the campaign
grows and changes as it matures.
THE GAME
Swords & sorcery best describes what this game is all about, for those
are the two key fantasy ingredients. ADVANCED DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS is a fantasy game of roleplaying which relies upon the
imagination of participants, for it is certainly make-believe, yet it is so
interesting, so challenging and so mind-unleashing that it comes near
reality. As a roleplayer, you become Falstaff the fighter. You know
how strong, intelligent, wise, healthy, dexterous and, relatively
speaking, how commanding a personality you have. Details as to your
appearance, your body proportions and your history can be
produced by you or the Dungeon Master. You act out the game as
this character, staying within your "god-given abilities", and as molded
by your philosophical and moral ethics (called alignment).
You interact with your fellow roleplayers, not as Jim and Bob and Mary
who work at the office together, but as Falstaff the fighter, Angore the
cleric, and Filmar, the mistress of magic! The Dungeon Master will act
the parts of "everyone else", and will present to you a variety of new
characters to talk with, drink with, gamble with, adventure with, and
often fight with! Each of you will become an artful thespian as time
goes by - and you will acquire gold, magic items, and great renown
as you become Falstaff the Invincible!
This game lets all of your fantasies come true. This is a world where
monsters, dragons, good and evil high priests, fierce demons, and
even the gods themselves may enter your character's life. Enjoy, for
this game is what dreams are made of!!
The game is ideally for three or more adult players: one player must
serve as the Dungeon Master, the shaper of the fantasy milieu, the
"world" in which all action will take place. The other participants
become adventurers by creating characters to explore the fantastic
world and face all of its challenges - monsters, magic, and unnamed
menaces. As is typical for most of us in real life, each character begins
at the bottom of his chosen class (or profession). By successfully
meeting the challenges posed, they gain experience and move
upwards in power, just as actual playing experience really increases
playing skill. Imagination, intelligence, problem solving ability, and
memory are all continually exercised by participants in the game.
As with most other roleplaying games, this one is not just a single
experience contest. It is an ongoing campaign, with each playing
session related to the next by results and participant characters who
go from episode to episode. As players build the experience level of
their characters and go forth seeking ever-greater challenges, they
must face stronger monsters and more difficult problems of other sorts
(and here the Dungeon Master must likewise increase his ability and
inventiveness). While initial adventuring often takes place in an
underworld dungeon setting, play gradually expands to encompass
other such dungeons, town and city activities, wilderness explorations,
and journeys into other dimensions, planes, times, worlds, and so forth.
Players will add characters to their initial adventurer as the milieu
expands so that each might actually have several characters, each
involved in some separate and distinct adventure form, busily
engaged in the game at the same moment of “Game Time”. This
allows participation by many players in games that are substantially
different from game to game as dungeon, metropolitan, and outdoor
settings are rotated from playing to playing. And perhaps a war
between players will be going on one night, while on the next,
characters of these two contending players are helping each other to
survive somewhere in a wilderness.
Each individual campaign has its own distinct properties and “flavor”.
A good Dungeon Master will most certainly make each game a
surpassing challenge for his players. Treasure and experience gained
must be taken at great risk or by means of utmost cleverness only. If
the game is not challenging, if advancement is too speedy, then it
becomes staid and boring. Conversely, a game can be too deadly
and become just as boring, for who enjoys endlessly developing new
characters to march off into oblivion in a single night of dungeon
adventuring?!
Sometimes because of close interaction (or whatever other reason)
two or more Dungeon Masters will find that their games are
compatible to the extent that participants in these individual
campaigns can use the characters created in one to adventure in
the others. In such cases the Dungeon Masters have created a very
interesting “world” indeed, for their milieu will offer interesting
differences and subtle shifts which will pose highly challenging
problems to these players. Ultimately, despite the fact that this is a
game system created by someone else, the game's viability rests
principally with the referee. The Dungeon Master must design and
map out the dungeon, town, city, and world maps.
He must populate the whole world, create its past history, and even
devise some rationale for what transpired (and will probably happen).
As players, you help immeasurably by participating, by letting the
referee know that you appreciate his efforts, and by playing well and
in a sportsmanly fashion. Good play inspires better creations to
challenge that play.
Skilled players always make a point of knowing what they are doing,
i.e. they have an objective. They cooperate - particularly at lower
levels or at higher ones when they must face some particularly stiff
challenge – in order to gain their ends. Superior players will not fight
everything they meet, for they realize that wit is as good a weapon as
the sword or the spell. When weakened by wounds, or nearly out of
spells and vital equipment, a clever party will seek to leave the
dungeons in order to rearm themselves (He who runs away lives to
fight another day). When faced with a difficult situation, skilled
players will not attempt endless variations on the same theme; when
they find the method of problem solving fails to work, they begin to
devise other possible solutions. Finally, good players will refrain from
pointless argument and needless harassment of the Dungeon Master
when such bog the play of the game down into useless talking.
Mistakes are possible, but they are better righted through reason and
logic, usually at the finish of play for the day.
This game is unlike chess in that the rules are not cut and dried. In
many places they are guidelines and suggested methods only. This is
part of the attraction of ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and it is
integral to the game. Rules not understood should have appropriate
questions directed to the publisher; disputes with the Dungeon Master
are another matter entirely. THE REFEREE IS THE FINAL ARBITER OF ALL
AFFAIRS OF HIS CAMPAIGN. Participants in a campaign have no
recourse to the publisher, but they do have ultimate recourse - since
the most effective protest is withdrawal from the offending campaign.
Each campaign is a specially tailored affair. While it is drawn by the
referee upon the outlines of the three books that comprise
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, the players add the color and
details, so the campaign must ultimately please all participants. It is
their unique world. You, the reader, as a member of the campaign
community, do not belong if the game seems wrong in any major
aspect. Withdraw and begin your own campaign by creating a milieu
that suits you and the group that you must form to enjoy the creation.
One of the most important items you must have to play the game is a
character record. As information is developed for your character- his
abilities, race, class, alignment - it must be accurately recorded. All
details of the capabilities and possessions of the character must be
noted. Where equipment and weapons are carried must be listed.
Player’s Handbook 2
Spells known and spells memorized for an adventure have to be kept
track of. A running total of experience points must be maintained. All
of these subjects are discussed herein. Ask your DM how records of
your character should be kept, read the rules and commentary, and
record the data you develop according to the rules (and your
campaign referee's instructions) in a form suitable to your DM.
All in all, this is a game for enjoyment. We hope that it will provide
endless hours of entertainment and excitement, for that is the sole
purpose for its creation. So enjoy, and may the dice be good to you!
HOW TO USE THE DICE
In the ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS rules, many different kinds
of dice are used to give a variety of results. Though these dice appear
strange at first, they will quickly become a familiar part of the game.
Dice used include 4-sided, 6-sided, 8-sided, 10-sided, 12-sided die and
20-sided dice.
When referring to dice, an abbreviation is often used. The first number
in the abbreviation is the number of dice to be rolled, followed by the
letter “d” (short for die or dice), and then a number, for the type of
dice used. For example 5d8 means an 8-sided die thrown 5 times,
generating a total from 5 to 40.
The d4 looks like a pyramid. The best way to “throw” or roll a 4-sided
die is to spin it and toss it straight up. It will land on one face (side) with
three faces showing. The bottom number on each of the three faces
is the same; this number is the result of the throw.
The other dice are rolled normally and the top face gives the result.
The 0 on the d10 is read as “10”. The d10 can also be used to
generate a percentage (a number from 1 to 100). To do so roll the
d10 twice: the first roll gives the “tens” number and the second roll
gives the “ones” number. For example a roll of 5 followed by a roll of
3 would be read as 53. A roll of 0 followed by another roll of 0 equals
100. Generating a number from 1 to 100 will be referred to as rolling
percentage dice (or d%).
There are no two- or three-sided dice, but we can pretend there are.
We use a coin for a d2 - heads is 1, tails is 2. To make a d3, roll a d6,
and then divide the result by two and round up.
CHARACTER CREATION
With the exception of the Dungeon Master, each person playing
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS creates a character to use
during the game. To create this character the player begins by simply
imagining the type of character he or she desires to play, be it a
wandering barbarian, reclusive wizard, traveling dwarf, noble elf, a
dastardly villain or virtuous knight. The player begins by generating
ability scores with dice rolls. Ability scores define the character’s
physical and mental traits. Next the player chooses a class, or
profession, for the character that best fits how the character is
imagined. In the same manner the player chooses a race which best
fits both the persona and class desired. Lastly the player fills in the
details: examples include technical game-related aspects of the
character, such as combat bonuses, as well as the character’s
persona and history. These steps are outlined below and detailed in
their appropriate sections.
IMAGINE A CHARACTER
Decide, in a general manner, the type of character desired. Is the
character a noble dwarf fighter, a haggard half-orc barbarian, or a
disdainful elf cavalier?
Literature, film, theater and comic books are rife with examples of
heroes and villains that players can draw upon for inspiration for their
characters. Yet, as the creator of your own character, you can build
upon these examples to create complex villainous montages or even
more profoundly heroic and noble characters. Stretch your
imagination! Create the character as you imagine him or her to be. In
the end, imagination is the only limit when creating a persona.
ROLL ABILITY SCORES
Each character has six ability scores, generated by rolling dice. The
ability scores are: strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution
and charisma. Each ability score has an impact on the game and
can significantly influence class selection. After rolling the dice to
generate these scores, you can choose how those scores are placed.
Naturally, it is important to place the scores in a manner that reflects
your character concept, desired class and desired race.
CHOOSE A RACE
Select a race that best fits your imagined character concept. In
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, one can choose the versatile
human, a long-lived elf, a willful dwarf, a curious gnome, a quick-
footed halfling, a forlorn half-elf or a pernicious half-orc. Each race is
unique and has its own special abilities, capacities, culture and
personality. Closely examine each race prior to making a selection. In
particular, ensure that the race selected does not have cultural or
personality characteristics that conflict harshly with the persona of the
character you wish to create. Players also need keep in mind that
their choice of race may influence their character class options.
CHOOSE A CLASS
A class is a basic concept upon which the character is modeled. This
is one of the more difficult aspects of character creation because
each class represents an archetype found in literature, film or within
roleplaying games themselves. Each class should be very broadly
interpreted. It is possible to have wildly diverse characters that are
members of the same class. Classes should be considered examples
or technical extrapolations of archetypes that provide a broad
representation for the type of character desired. This is necessary in
order to accommodate the needs of the player and the setting
where the character’s adventures occur.
Each of the 13 classes has unique abilities and areas of expertise:
Clerics are avowed to a deity and act as defenders of their faith.
Bards are loremasters who influence others with their words.
Druids owe allegiance to the elemental powers of the world.
Fighters are warriors with great prowess on the battlefield.
Barbarians are berserkers who draw upon primal rage in combat.
Cavaliers are fearless, honorable warriors and peerless horsemen.
Rangers are woodsmen and hunters of their peoples’ foes.
Paladins are paragons of good charged with combating evil.
Magic-Users are practitioners of powerful arcane magics.
Illusionists distort the perceptions of others through arcane magic.
Monks are ascetic masters of unarmed combat, dedicated to the
perfection of mind and body.
Thieves are stealthy opportunists, who rely upon skill and guile.
Assassins are experts at killing and eliminating targeted enemies.
FLESHING OUT THE CHARACTER
The most important step in character generation comes last: detailing
the character’s persona. The player fleshes out the details of the
character’s personality, physical description, world view, religious
belief, background, goals and motivations – including the moral
“alignment” best suited to the character’s personality.
After this the character determines their background skills, which
reflect his interests and upbringing, and determines their starting funds.
Using these funds, the player equips his character with clothing, armor,
weapons and other adventuring gear.
Player’s Handbook 3
ABILITY SCORES
Each and every character has six principal characteristics, the
character's abilities. These abilities are strength, intelligence, wisdom,
dexterity, constitution and charisma. The range of these abilities is
between 3 and 18. Each ability score is determined by random
number generation, as detailed below.
Generating Ability Scores
Roll four six-sided dice (4d6). Discard the lowest die and total the
remaining three. Repeat this five more times, and then assign the six
numbers to the character's abilities however you want.
Ability Descriptions
STRENGTH
A character’s strength score is the measure of his physical power and
musculature. It affects the following:
Combat: All characters and creatures apply their strength ability
modifier to their melee attack rolls and damage. Strength modifiers to
damage are also applied to thrown weapon and sling attacks.
Characters with a strength penalty to damage apply that penalty to
all bow attack damage and those with a strength bonus may apply it
to bow attack damage when using specially made bows (see the
description for bows in the Equipment section for more details). See
pages 41 & 42 for more information on weapons and weapon types.
Encumbrance: A character’s strength determines how much he may
carry. The Encumbrance section details the effects of weight carried
upon a character’s movement and actions.
Related Tasks: All characters may make strength checks (see pages 5
and 48-50 for more information on common ability checks) to open
stuck doors, arm-wrestle, break free of restraints, move extremely
heavy objects, attempt jumps (with and without a running start), swim
and so on. Modifiers for such checks are assigned by the DM.
Saving Throws: Paralysis and Constriction saving throws are based
upon a character’s strength score. See the SAVING THROWS section
for more.
INTELLIGENCE
Intelligence (Int) represents a character's memory, reasoning and
learning ability, including areas outside those measured by the written
word. Its effects are:
Bonus Knowledge Skills: All characters begin play trained in their
respective character classes, bringing to bear the abilities of that class
as they set out into the wilds in search of adventure. They also begin
play with a number of skills that reflect the interests, training and life
lessons of their youth and years of apprenticeship. These skills are
called background skills and are described in more detail in the SKILLS
section of the rules. Characters with an intelligence of 8 or lower
subtract their intelligence penalty from their initial number of
background skills (but do not lose any bonus skills gained from their
chosen class) while those with exceptional intelligence scores (above
12) gain a number of additional knowledge skills equal to their
intelligence modifier.
Knowledge skills may be used to learn additional, starting languages,
which are based upon the character’s upbringing and race. Each
racial description lists what knowledge (language) skills may be
chosen at the start of play. All characters are assumed to speak the
Common tongue and, if non-human, their racial language.
Assassins who select knowledge (language) skills may learn languages
that are normally barred to other characters. They may learn the
following “secret” languages in addition to those typically available to
characters of their race and class: cant, druidic, draconic, and other,
campaign-specific, secret tongues. The knowledge of these secret or
esoteric tongues can prove useful in affecting an effective disguise
and an intelligent assassin is wise to learn them.
Druids who select knowledge (language) skills may learn the following
languages in additional to those normally available to a member of
their race or culture: elf, fey, giant, gnome and sylvan. As described
in their class descriptions, both druids and bards begin play with a
bonus knowledge (language) skill at 1st level, independent of the
bonus knowledge skills gained for having an exceptional intelligence
score.
All characters, except barbarians, of average or better intelligence
can read and write each language that they speak. Characters with
a 6-8 intelligence score may be literate in one language at most while
characters with lower intelligence scores are wholly illiterate.
Barbarian characters may gain literacy in as many languages as their
intelligence allows over game time and at the Dungeon Master’s
discretion. Multiclassed barbarians are literate at 1st level.
Bonus Spells: Magic-users and illusionists with high intelligence scores
receive bonus spells. See the Ability Modifiers table on page 4 for
more information. Note that bonus spells are cumulative, so a magic-
user with an 18 intelligence receives one bonus 1st, 2nd and 3rd level
spell. Also note that bonus spells can only be acquired if the caster is
of high enough level to cast them.
Maximum Spell Level: Both magic-users and illusionists need to have
adequate intelligence scores in order to cast their arcane spells. They
must have a minimum intelligence of 9 in order to cast spells.
Their maximum spell level is equal to one half of the spellcasting
character’s intelligence, rounding fractions up. As such, a magic-user
with a 9-10 intelligence may cast up to 5th level spells while a magic-
user with a 15-16 intelligence may cast up to 8th level spells. A magic-
user or illusionist may cast lower level spells in place of higher level
spells that they are unable to cast.
Related Tasks & Skills: All characters may make intelligence checks
(see pages 5 and 48-50 for more information on common ability
checks) to estimate the rough value of objects, recall information,
determine the distance between themselves and their opponents,
estimate the number of soldiers in an approaching army and so on.
Besides allowing characters to make rough appraisals and estimates,
a character’s intelligence affects the number of background skills a
character begins play with (see Bonus Knowledge Skills above for
more). Skills that are based upon intelligence are described in the
SKILLS section. These skills represent specialized training on the
character’s part and function much like class abilities in that the
character adds their level bonus to skill checks if they have that
particular skill, or do not if unskilled.
Saving Throws: Arcane Magic and Illusion saving throws are based
upon a character’s Intelligence score. See the SAVING THROWS
section for more.
WISDOM
Wisdom
(Wis)
describes
a
composite
of
the
character's
enlightenment, judgment, willpower, common sense and intuition. Its
effects are:
Bonus Spells: Clerics, bards, druids, paladins and rangers with high
wisdom scores receive bonus spells. See the Ability Modifiers table on
page 4 for more information. Note that bonus spells are cumulative,
so a cleric with an 18 wisdom receives one bonus 1st, 2nd and 3rd level
spell. Also note that bonus spells can only be acquired if the caster is
of high enough level to cast them.
Player’s Handbook 4
Maximum
Spell
Level:
Clerics,
bards,
druids,
paladins and rangers need
to
have
an
adequate
wisdom score in order to
cast their divine spells. They
must
have
a
minimum
wisdom of 9 in order to cast
spells. Their maximum spell
level is equal to one half of
the spellcasting character’s
wisdom, rounding fractions
up. As such, a cleric with a
9-10 intelligence may cast
up to 5th level spells while a
cleric
with
a
15-16
intelligence may cast up to
8th level spells. Clerics,
bards, druids, paladins and
rangers may cast lower level
spells in place of higher level
spells that they are unable
to cast.
Related Tasks & Skills: All
characters make
wisdom
checks in order to notice
when something is amiss
(perception checks) or in
order
to
discern
others’
intentions
(sense
motive
checks). See pages 5 and
48-50 for more information
on common ability checks).
Saving Throws: Divine Magic, Confusion, Gaze Attacks, Petrification,
and Polymorph saving throws are all based upon the character’s
wisdom score. See the SAVING THROWS section for more.
DEXTERITY
Dexterity (Dex) encompasses several physical attributes including
hand-eye coordination, agility, reaction speed, reflexes, and balance.
It affects the following:
Combat: All characters and creatures apply their dexterity ability
modifier to their initiative rolls, attack rolls with ranged weapons and to
their armor class. They may also apply their dexterity modifier, in
place of their strength modifier, to attack rolls made with “finesse”
weapons. See pages 41 & 42 for more information on weapons and
weapon types.
Related Tasks & Skills: All characters may make dexterity checks (see
page 5 and pages 48-50 for more information on common ability
checks) to climb rough ledges or natural slopes, traverse difficult
terrain, move silently, or hide from others.
Skills that are based upon dexterity are described in the SKILLS section.
Saving Throws: Breath Weapon and Trap saving throws are based
upon a character’s dexterity score. See the SAVING THROWS section
for more.
CONSTITUTION
A character's constitution (Con) score encompasses his physique,
fitness, endurance, health, and physical resistance to hardship, injury,
and disease. It affects the following:
Hit Points: Characters always apply their constitution modifier to the
hit points that they roll each level. Even with a constitution penalty a
character will never receive less than 1 hit point for gaining a level.
Related Tasks: All characters may make constitution checks (see
page 5 and pages 48-50 for more information on common ability
checks) to exert themselves for extended periods of time or engage in
feats of fortitude, such as drinking contests. Checks made to push
one’s endurance, fight off illness or hold one’s breath are all governed
by constitution.
Saving Throws: Disease, Energy Drain, and Poison saving throws are
based upon a character’s constitution score. See the SAVING
THROWS section for more.
CHARISMA
The charisma (Cha) score measures a character's persuasiveness,
personal magnetism and ability to lead. It is not a reflection of
physical attractiveness, although attractiveness certainly plays a role.
It is important to all characters, but especially to those who must deal
with non-player characters (NPCs), mercenary hirelings, retainers and
intelligent monsters.
Related Tasks & Skills: All characters may make charisma checks (see
page 5 and pages 48-50 for more information on common ability
checks) to influence others. The use of persuasion, intimidation, and
guile are all based upon a character’s charisma, as is the player’s
ability to haggle or command others. Skills that are based upon
charisma are described in the SKILLS section.
Saving Throws: Death Attack, Charm, and Fear saving throws are
based upon a character’s charisma score. See the SAVING THROWS
section for more.
Ability Modifiers
Ability scores, after changes made because of race, typically range
from 1 to 19. The table below shows the ability modifiers for all ability
scores, ranging from –5 to +10. The modifier is the number you apply
to the die roll when your character tries to do something related to
that ability. You also use the modifier with some numbers that aren’t
die rolls. A positive modifier is called a bonus, and a negative modifier
is called a penalty.
The following table also shows bonus spells gained per spell level,
which you’ll need to know about if your character is a spellcaster.
ability
score
ability
modifier
bonus spells by spell level
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
-5
2
-4
3
-3
4-5
-2
6-8
-1
9-12
±0
13-15
+1
1
16-17
+2
1
1
18
+3
1
1
1
19
+4
2
1
1
1
20
+5
2
2
1
1
1
21
+6
2
2
2
1
1
1
22
+7
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
23
+8
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
24
+9
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
25
+10
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
Note that bonus spells are cumulative, so a druid with an 18 wisdom
receives one bonus 1st, 2nd and 3rd level spell. Also note that bonus
spells can only be acquired if the caster is of high enough level to cast
them.
Player’s Handbook 5
Ability Checks
Almost all non-combat actions which require a die roll to determine success or failure are resolved by an ability check. Every ability check has an
associated ability score. Whenever one of these checks is made a d20 is rolled by the player. The character’s ability modifier is always added to this
roll. When making saving throws, using skills, and using class abilities the character also adds his level to the roll (this is called a level bonus). When
using common abilities, those that are shared by all characters regardless of race or class, the character adds ½ of his level bonus to the roll
(rounding fractions down). See pages 48-50 for more information on common abilities.
The Dungeon Master may apply a modifier to rolls that is based upon the difficulty of the task. A positive modifier, or bonus, improves the character’s
chance of success by adding to his die roll while a negative modifier, or penalty, decreases his chance of success. If the final result is equal to or
greater than 15 (the Challenge Base or CB) then the ability check is successful. Note that rolling a “natural 20” (a “20” is rolled on your d20) always
indicates success on ability checks and attack rolls while rolling a “natural 1” always indicates failure.
A more thorough discussion of ability checks is located in the USING ABILITY CHECKS IN YOUR GAME and SAVING THROWS sections of the rules. Rules
for when a character’s level may or may not be applied to an ability check are also provided in that section.
It is important to note that ability checks need not be made for routine or easy tasks in most instances. The modifiers for such checks, however, are
listed as a point of reference. The following is a guideline for assigning or gauging the modifiers to ability checks:
Ability Check Guidelines
challenge
modifier
example
routine
+10
notice something in plain sight
(a perception check).
easy
+5
climb a knotted rope
(a climb check)
average
± 0
hear an approaching guard through a closed dungeon door
(a perception check)
tough
-5
rig a wagon wheel to fall off
(a disable device or craft skill check)
challenging
-10
swim in a tempest-tossed ocean
(a strength check)
formidable
-15
open a complex lock made by a dwarven master craftsman
(a disable device check)
heroic
-20
make a saving throw against a 20th level magic-user’s charm person spell
(a charisma check)
Player’s Handbook 6
RACES
After a player has determined the abilities of his character, it is then
time to decide of what racial stock the character is to be. For
purposes of the game the racial stocks are limited to the following:
dwarf, elf, gnome, half-elf, halfling, half-orc and human.
The Dungeon Master may have restrictions as to which races are
allowed in the campaign due to the circumstances of the milieu. Two
tables for easy reference are given below in order that you can select
the racial stock of your character based on abilities generated and
with an eye towards what class (q.v.) of adventurer the character will
be.
There are certain other disadvantages and advantages to characters
of various races; these are described in the RACIAL DESCRIPTIONS
section, on pages 7-9.
Ability Adjustments & Limits, by Race
Certain racial stocks excel in certain ability areas and have
shortcomings in others. These penalties and bonuses are applied to
the initial ability scores generated by a player for his character as
soon as the racial stock of the character is selected and the modified
ability scores then are considered as if they were the actual ability
scores generated for all game purposes. These penalties and bonuses
are shown below:
race
ability adjustments
dwarf
constitution +1; charisma -1
elf
dexterity +1; constitution -1
gnome
strength -1; constitution +1
halfling
strength -1; dexterity +1
half-orc
strength +1; constitution +1; charisma -2
race
initial ability score limits by race
dwarf
constitution 19; charisma 17
elf
dexterity 19; constitution 17
gnome
strength 17; constitution 19
halfling
strength 17; dexterity 19
half-orc
strength 19; constitution 19; charisma 15
The maximum initial ability scores listed include ability adjustments by
race. Magic may alter ability scores above or below these values
Character Class Preference by Race
racial stock of character
class
dwarf
elf
gnome
half-
elf
halfling
half-
orc
human
CLERIC
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
bard
-
yes
-
yes
-
-
yes
druid
-
yes
-
yes
yes
-
yes
FIGHTER
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
barbarian
-
no
no
-
no
yes
yes
cavalier
no
-
no
-
no
-
yes
paladin
-
-
-
-
-
-
yes
ranger
-
yes
-
yes
-
-
yes
MAGIC-
USER
no
yes
-
yes
no
-
yes
illusionist
no
-
yes
-
no
-
yes
MONK
no
no
no
-
no
-
yes
THIEF
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
assassin
-
-
-
yes
-
yes
yes
Character class names are shown in capital letters if the class is
primary class; secondary classes are shown in lower-case letters.
Racial Stock of Characters shows the seven races of player
characters, and reading down each heading gives quick reference
as to what classes are typical for characters of each race.
A “yes” indicates that a character of that race prefers a given class.
A “-” indicates that a character of that race may choose that class,
though such a choice would be atypical for a member of that race.
A “no” indicates that a character of that race cannot select that
particular class without their DM’s approval, as a character with that
race and class combination is exceedingly rare.
Player’s Handbook 7
Racial Descriptions
DWARVES
Dwarves are short, stocky fellows, easily identified by their size and
shape. They average 4 to 4½ feet tall but are so broad and compact
that they are, on average, almost as heavy as humans. They have
ruddy cheeks, dark eyes and dark hair that greys at an early age.
Dwarves generally live for 350 years.
Dwarves tend to be dour and taciturn. They are given to hard work and
care little for most humor. They are strong and brave. They enjoy beer,
ale, mead, and even stronger drink. Their chief love, however, is
precious metal, particularly gold. They prize gems, of course, especially
diamonds and opaque gems (except pearls, which they do not like).
Dwarves like the earth and dislike the sea. Not overly fond of elves, they
have a fierce hatred of orcs and goblins. Their short, stocky builds make
them ill-suited for riding horses or other large mounts (although ponies
present no difficulty), so they tend to be a trifle dubious and wary of
these creatures. They are ill-disposed toward magic and have little
talent for it, but revel in fighting, warcraft and scientific arts such as
engineering.
Though dwarves are suspicious and avaricious, their courage and
tenacity more than compensate for these shortcomings.
Dwarves typically dwell in hilly or mountainous regions. They prefer life in
the comforting gloom and solidness that is found under ground. They
have several special abilities that relate to their under ground life, and
they are noted for being particularly resistant to magic and poisons.
Although there are various subraces of dwarves, dwarven player
characters are always assumed to be of the most common type, hill
dwarves.
Ability Adjustments: Because of their sturdy builds, dwarves add 1 to
their initial constitution scores. Their dour and suspicious natures cause
them to subtract 1 from their initial charisma scores.
Automatic Languages: Dwarves automatically speak the Common and
dwarven tongues.
Bonus Languages: Due to their dealings with these races, dwarven
characters may learn the following languages, as knowledge: language
skills, at the start of play: elven, giant, gnomish, goblin, halfling or orcish.
Darkvision 60’: Dwarves can see in complete darkness to a distance of
60’. Bright light, such as that from a torch or lantern, within 30’ of the
dwarven character spoils their darkvision.
Defensive Expertise (Giants): Years of battling giantkind has trained
dwarves how to use their height to their advantage against such foes.
They gain a +3 bonus to armor class when attacked by giantkind (ogres,
trolls and giants).
Determine Depth Under Ground: Dwarves can automatically determine
how far below ground they are.
Determine Direction Under Ground: Dwarves can automatically
determine which direction they are traveling in when under ground.
Enmity (Orcs & Goblins): The age-old hatred that exists between
dwarves and both orcs and goblinoids affords them a +1 bonus to
attack rolls against orcs, half-orcs, goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears.
Metalcraft: Dwarves are expert smiths and gain a +2 bonus to all ability
checks related to crafting or appraising metal items. Dwarves gain a
+2 bonus to all disable device checks.
Movement Rate: Dwarves move at a rate of 45’ (9”) per round due to
their short stature.
Permitted Classes: Dwarves may advance in all character classes
except for the cavalier, magic-user, illusionist and monk. Their preferred
classes are the cleric, fighter and thief.
Resistance to Magic: Dwarves are highly resistant to magic, gaining a
+3 bonus to all saves versus arcane magic.
Resistance to Poison: The dwarven race is extremely hardy and gains a
+3 bonus to all saves versus poison.
Size: Even though dwarves typically stand little over 4’ tall they are
considered Medium sized creatures due to their broad shoulders and
sturdy builds.
Stonecraft: Dwarves’ expertise at mining and working stone allows them
to spot unusual or unique stonework construction. Dwarves gain a +2
bonus to all craft and perception checks when dealing with stonework
construction.
When passing within 10’ of a secret door, dwarves may automatically
make a perception check to notice it.
ELVES
Elves tend to be somewhat shorter and slimmer than normal humans,
averaging just over 5’ in height and weighing between 90 and 100
pounds. Their features are finely chiseled and delicate, and they speak
in melodic tones. Although they appear fragile and weak, as a race
they are quick and strong. They tend to be pale-skinned and dark-
haired with green eyes. Elves often live to be over 1,200 years old,
although long before this time they feel compelled to depart the realms
of men and mortals. Where they go is uncertain, but it is an undeniable
urge of their race.
Elves are often considered frivolous and aloof. In fact, they are not,
although humans often find their personalities impossible to fathom.
They concern themselves with natural beauty, dancing and frolicking,
playing and singing, unless necessity dictates otherwise. They are not
fond of ships or mines, but enjoy growing things and gazing at the open
sky. Even though elves tend toward haughtiness and arrogance at
times, they regard their friends and associates as equals. They do not
make friends easily, but a friend (or enemy) is never forgotten. They
prefer to distance themselves from humans, have little love for dwarves,
and hate the evil denizens of the woods.
Their humor is clever, as are their songs and poetry. Elves are brave but
never foolhardy. They eat sparingly; they drink mead and wine, but
seldom to excess. While they find well-wrought jewelry a pleasure to
behold, they are not overly interested in money or gain. They find magic
and swordplay (or any refined combat art) fascinating. If they have a
weakness it lies in these interests. Although there are various branches
of the elven race, elven player characters are always assumed to be of
the most common type, high elves.
Ability Adjustments: Elves are nimble and naturally graceful, adding +1
to their initial dexterity scores. At the same time elves are slight of build
and have –1 to their initial constitution scores.
Automatic Languages: Elves automatically speak the Common and
elven tongues.
Bonus Languages: Due to their interactions with these races, elves may
learn the following languages, as knowledge: language skills, at the start
of play: dwarven, gnomish, goblin, halfling, orcish or sylvan.
Enhanced Senses: The keen senses of elves grant them a +2 bonus to
perception checks.
Immune to Ghoul’s Paralysis: Elves are immune to ghoul’s paralysis.
Immune to Sleep & Charm: Elves are immune to sleep and charm spells
and effects.
Movement Rate: Elves move 60’ (12”) per round
Permitted Classes: Elves may advance in all character classes except
for the barbarian and monk. Their preferred classes are the cleric, bard,
druid, fighter, ranger, magic-user and thief.
Size: Elves are Medium sized creatures.
Spot Hidden Doors: The enhanced senses of elves allow them to spot
secret and concealed doors more easily than others. When passing
within 10’ of a secret door, elves may automatically make a perception
check to notice it.
Stealth Bonus: The natural grace of their race gives elves the ability to
move about noiselessly and conceal themselves. Elves gain a +2 bonus
to all stealth checks.
Twilight Vision: Elves can see normally by moonlight and can see up to
60’ away by torchlight.
Weapon Training: Elves begin play with a +1 bonus to attack rolls made
with one of the following weapons: longbow, composite longbow,
shortbow, composite shortbow, longsword or shortsword. The elven
character is proficient with this weapon, regardless of class.
Player’s Handbook 8
GNOMES
Kin to dwarves, gnomes are noticeably smaller than their distant
cousins, averaging just over 3’ in height. Gnomes, as they proudly
maintain, are also less rotund than dwarves, weighing between 55
and 70 pounds. Their noses, however, are significantly larger. Most
gnomes have dark tan or wood brown skin and white hair. Their eyes
are grey-blue to bright blue. A typical gnome lives for over 600 years.
Gnomes have lively and sly senses of humor, especially for practical
jokes. They have a great love of living things and finely wrought items,
particularly gems and jewelry. Gnomes love all sorts of precious stones
and are masters of gem polishing
and cutting.
Gnomes prefer to live in areas of
rolling, rocky hills, well wooded and
uninhabited
by
humans.
Their
diminutive stature has made them
suspicious of the larger races -
humans and elves - although they
are not hostile. They are sly and
furtive with those they do not know or
trust, and somewhat reserved even
under the best of circumstances.
Dwelling in mines and burrows, they
are sympathetic to dwarves, but find
their cousins’ aversion to surface
dwellers foolish.
Gnomish player characters are assumed to be members of the most
common subrace of gnomekind, surface gnomes.
Ability Adjustments: Gnomes, like dwarves, are exceptionally robust
and add +1 to their initial constitution scores. Their small size limits their
strength and, as such, all gnomish characters subtract 1 from their
initial strength scores.
Animal Empathy: May communicate with burrowing mammals at a
rudimentary level.
Automatic Languages: Gnomes automatically speak Common and
gnomish.
Bonus Languages: Due to their interactions with these races, gnomes
may learn the following languages, as knowledge: language skills, at
the start of play: elven, dwarven, giant, goblin, halfling or kobold.
Darkvision 60’: Gnomes can see in complete darkness to a distance
of 60’. Bright light, such as that from a torch or lantern, within 30’ of
the gnomish character spoils their darkvision.
Defensive Expertise (Giants): Years of battling giantkind has trained
gnomes how to use their height to their advantage against such foes.
They gain a +3 bonus to armor class when attacked by giantkind
(ogres, trolls and giants)
Determine Depth Under Ground: Gnomes can automatically
determine how far below ground they are.
Determine Direction Under Ground: Gnomes can automatically
determine which direction they are traveling in when under ground.
Enhanced Senses: The keen senses of gnomes grant them a +2 bonus
to perception checks.
Enmity (Kobolds & Goblins): The age-old hatred that exists between
gnomes and both kobolds and goblinoids affords them a +1 bonus to
attack rolls against kobolds, goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears.
Size: Gnomes are Small sized creatures.
Metalcraft: Unlike dwarves, who focus on the production of fine
weapons and armor, gnomes are superior craftsmen of finely
wrought, often elaborate, pieces of jewelry. Like dwarves, they gain a
+2 bonus to all ability checks related to crafting or appraising metal
items. They also gain a +2 bonus to all disable device checks.
Movement Rate: Due to their small size gnomes move 45’ (9”) per
round.
Permitted Classes: Gnomes may advance in all character classes
except for the barbarian, cavalier and monk. Their preferred classes
are the cleric, fighter, illusionist and thief.
Resistance to Magic: Gnomes are highly resistant to arcane spells
and gain a +3 bonus to all saves versus such magic.
Stonecraft: Gnomish, like dwarven, expertise at mining and working
stone allows them to spot unusual or unique stonework construction.
Gnomes gain a +2 bonus to all craft and perception checks when
dealing with stonework construction.
When passing within 10’ of a secret door, gnomes may automatically
make a perception check to notice it.
HALF-ELVES
Half-elves are usually much like their elven parent in appearance.
They are handsome folk, with the good features of each of their
races. They mingle freely with either race, being only slightly taller than
the average elf (5½’ on average) and weighing about 150 pounds.
They typically live about 250 years. They do not have all the abilities of
the elf and do not have the natural aptitude of humankind. Finally, in
some of the less-civilized nations, half-elves are viewed with suspicion
and superstition.
In general, a half-elf has the curiosity, inventiveness and ambition of
his human ancestors, and the refined senses, love of nature and
artistic tastes of his elven ancestors. Half-elves do not form
communities among themselves; rather, they can be found living in
both elven and human communities. The reactions of humans and
elves to half-elves range from intrigued fascination to outright bigotry.
Ability Adjustments: Half-elves have no bonuses or penalties to their
initial abilities.
Ability Check Modifier: Half-elves, due to their human ancestry, are
allowed to choose three ability scores with which they gain a +1
bonus to all ability checks (i.e. saving throws, class ability checks,
common ability checks, and skill checks).
Automatic Languages: Half-elves automatically speak Common and
elven.
Bonus Languages: Due to their interactions with these races, half-
elves may learn the following languages, as knowledge: language
skills, at the start of play: dwarven, gnomish, goblin, halfling, orcish or
sylvan.
Enhanced Senses: Half-elves receive a +2 bonus to perception
checks.
Movement Rate: The base movement rate of half-elves is 60’ (12”) per
round.
Permitted Classes: Half-elves may advance in all character classes
but prefer the following classes: cleric, bard, druid, fighter, ranger,
magic-user, thief and assassin.
Resistance to Sleep & Charm: Half-elves have inherited some of their
elven parent’s resistances and have a +3 bonus to all savings throws
versus sleep and charm spells.
Size: Half-elves are Medium sized creatures.
Spot Hidden Doors: The enhanced senses of half-elves allow them to
spot secret and concealed doors more easily than others. When
passing within 10’ of a secret door, half-elves may automatically make
a perception check to notice it.
Twilight Vision: Half-elves can see normally by moonlight and can see
up to 60’ away by torchlight.
HALFLINGS
Halflings are a short, average 3’ to
3½’ in height, generally plump
people, weighing between 45 and
70 pounds. Their faces are round
and broad and often quite florid.
Their
brown
to
sandy
hair
is
typically curly and the tops of their
feet are covered with coarse hair.
Their eyes are usually brown or
hazel. They prefer not to wear
shoes
whenever
possible.
Their
typical
life
expectancy
is
approximately 150 years.
Halflings are sturdy and industrious,
generally
quiet
and
peaceful.
Overall they prefer the comforts of home to dangerous adventuring.
They enjoy good living, rough humor, and homespun stories. In fact,
they can be a trifle boring at times. Halflings are not forward, but they
are observant and conversational if in friendly company.
Halflings see wealth only as a means of gaining creature comforts,
which they love. Though they are not overly brave or ambitious, they
are generally honest and hard working when there is need.
Halfling homes are well-furnished burrows, although most of their work
is done on the surface. Elves generally like them in a patronizing sort of
way. Dwarves cheerfully tolerate them, thinking halflings somewhat
soft and harmless. Gnomes, although they drink more and eat less, like
halflings best, feeling them kindred spirits. Because halflings are more
open and outgoing than any of these other three, they get along with
other races far better.
Player’s Handbook 9
There are three types of halflings: Hairfoots, Tallfellows, and Stouts.
Hairfoots are the most common type but, for player characters, any of
the three is acceptable.
Ability Adjustments: Halflings are light-footed and nimble, adding +1
to their initial dexterity scores. Their small size limits their strength and,
as such, all halfling characters subtract 1 from their initial strength
scores.
Automatic Languages: All halflings automatically speak the Common
and halfling tongues.
Bonus Languages: Due to their interactions with these races, halflings
may learn the following languages, as knowledge: language skills, at
the start of play: elven, dwarven, gnomish, goblin, or kobold.
Enhanced Senses: Halflings receive a +2 bonus to perception checks.
Movement Rate: The base movement rate for halflings is 45’ (9”) per
round.
Permitted Classes: Halflings may advance in all character classes
except for the barbarian, cavalier, magic-user, illusionist and monk.
Their preferred classes are the cleric, druid, fighter and thief.
Resistance to Magic: Halflings are highly resistant to arcane spells and
gain a +3 bonus to all saves versus such magic.
Resistance to Poison: Halflings are also highly resistant to poison and
have a +3 on savings throws against all types of poison.
Size: Halflings are Small sized creatures.
Stealth Bonus: Halflings, due to their small size, unobtrusive manner
and padded feet, are naturally inclined to moving silently and hiding.
They gain a +2 bonus to all stealth checks.
Twilight Vision: Halflings can see normally by moonlight and can see
up to 60’ away by torchlight.
Weapon Training: Halflings have a natural talent with slings and
thrown weapons. Rock pitching is a favorite sport of many a halfling
child. All halflings gain a +1 bonus to their attack rolls when using
thrown weapons and slings.
HALF-ORCS
Half-orcs are boors. They are rude, crude, crass and generally
obnoxious. Because most are cowardly they tend to be bullies and
cruel to the weak, but they will quickly knuckle under to the stronger.
This does not mean that all half-orcs are horrid, only most of them. It
neither means that they are necessarily stupid nor incapable. They
will always seek to gain the upper hand and dominate those around
them so as to be able to exercise their natural tendencies; half-orcs
are greedy too. They can, of course, favor their human parent more
than their orcish one.
Orcs are fecund and create many crossbreeds, most of the offspring
of such being typically orcish. However, some one-tenth of orc-human
mongrels are sufficiently non-orcish to pass for human. It is assumed
that player characters that are of the half-orc race are within the
superior 10%, though there is something disquieting about their
appearance that reveals the cruel nature of their orcish heritage.
Half-orcs tend to be slightly taller than humans, longer of limb and with
broader shoulders. Their facial features have an orcish caste to them,
with thin-slit eyes and nostrils, broad, jutting jaw lines and slightly
pointed ears being common. Their canine teeth are somewhat larger
than those of humans and their coloration tends to be ruddier than
usual for men of their lands.
Half-orcs are relatively short-lived, with a life expectancy of
approximately 65 years.
Ability Adjustments: Half-orcs are powerfully built, with broad
shoulders and mighty thews. They add 1 to their initial strength and
constitution scores but subtract 2 from their initial charisma scores due
to their brutish, brusque nature.
Ability Check Modifier: Half-orcs, due to their human ancestry, are
allowed to choose three ability scores with which they gain a +1
bonus to all ability checks (i.e. saving throws, class ability checks,
common ability checks, and skill checks).
Automatic Languages: All half-orcs automatically speak both
Common and orcish.
Bonus Languages: Due to their interactions with these races, half-orcs
may learn the following languages, as knowledge: language skills, at
the start of play: elven, dwarven, goblin, kobold, or giant.
Darkvision 60’: Half-orcs can see in complete darkness to a distance
of 60’. Bright light, such as that from a torch or lantern, within 30’ of
the half-orc character spoils their darkvision.
Movement Rate: The base movement rate of half-orcs is 60’ (12”) per
round.
Permitted Classes: Half-orcs may advance in all character classes but
prefer the following classes: cleric, fighter, barbarian, thief and
assassin.
Size: Half-orcs are Medium sized creatures.
HUMANS
Human characters are neither given penalties nor bonuses, as they
are established as the norm upon which these subtractions or
additions for racial stock are based. Human characters are not limited
as to what class of character they can become and are renowned
for their adaptability and natural aptitude. As they are the rule rather
than the exception, the basic information given always applies to
humans, and racial changes are noted for differences as applicable
for non-human or part-human stocks.
Humans are the most diverse of all the races, with skin and hair
varying in color from black to the lightest shades. Their men may or
may not wear beards and their eyes can be of various hues, tending
towards shades of blue or brown.
Ability Adjustments: None
Adaptable: Humans, as the most adaptable of the player races, gain
a +1 bonus to all ability checks (i.e. saving throws, class ability checks,
common ability checks, and skill checks).
Automatic Language: All human characters automatically speak the
Common tongue.
Bonus Languages: Due to their interactions with these races, humans
may learn the following languages, as knowledge: language skills, at
the start of play: elven, dwarven, halfling, gnome or orcish.
Movement Rate: The base movement rate of humans is 60’ (12”) per
round.
Permitted Classes: Humans may advance in all character classes and
prefer no class over any other.
Size: Humans are Medium sized creatures.
Racial Preferences
In addition to the various attributes of the races of characters already
mentioned, there are also certain likes and dislikes which must be
considered in selecting a racial type for your character. The dealings
that a character has with various races will be affected by racial
preferences to some extent. Similarly, the acquisition of hirelings by
racial type might prove difficult for some characters if they go outside
a narrow field. Your Dungeon Master will certainly take racial
preferences into account during interaction between your character
and the various races that he will encounter (see Encounter Reactions
on page 54). The following table will serve as a guide in determining
which races your character will like, be rather indifferent to, or dislike.
Basic Acceptability of Racial Type
character
race
dwarf
elf
gnome
½ elf
halfling
½ orc
human
dwarf
P
A
G
N
N1
H
N
elf
A
P
N
G
N
A
N
gnome
G
N
P
N
G
A
N
half-elf
N
G
N
P
N
A
G
halfling
N1
N2
G
N
P
N
N
half-orc
H
A
A
A
N
P
N
human
N
N
N
G
N
N
P
1 stout halflings and dwarves regard each other with goodwill (G).
2 tallfellow halflings regard elves with goodwill (G).
Notes on the Racial Preferences Table:
P:
indicates that the race is generally preferred, and dealings with
the members of the race will be reflected accordingly.
G:
means that considerable goodwill exists towards the race.
N:
shows that the race is thought of neutrally, although some
suspicion will be evidenced.
A:
means that the race is greeted with antipathy.
H:
indicates a strong hatred for the race in question.
Player’s Handbook 10
CHARACTER CLASSES
In the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, there are 13 character classes from which to choose. Four of these classes are primary classes
(clerics, fighters, magic-users and thieves), which represent the basic archetypes for fantasy characters – the priests, warriors, wizards and rogues of
various milieus. Seven secondary classes (bards, druids, barbarians, cavaliers, paladins, rangers, illusionists and assassins) are derived from these
“core” classes and represent specialized variants of each archetype. Each of these lacks the versatility of the primary class upon which they are
based but, in their respective element, can excel in ways that a primary class cannot. The final character class, the monk, is relatively rare in typical
campaign settings, which are usually modeled upon medieval European societies. As such they are an optional 5th primary class.
The following table will enable you to determine the major differences between character classes at a glance. Specific comparisons must be done
in light of the detailed information given in the sections that discuss the individual classes in question.
Primary Classes & Secondary classes: Class names shown in capital letters are primary classes; secondary classes are listed in lower-case letters.
class
alignment
hit die
type
ability
requirements
class abilities
CLERIC
any
d8
wisdom 9
cleric spells, cleric training, turn undead
bard
any neutral
d8
intelligence 9,
wisdom 9,
charisma 9
bard spells, bardic music, bardic training, decipher script, lore, perception, persuasive, sleight of
hands, immunity to nature’s charms, a thousand faces
druid
any neutral
d8
wisdom 9,
charisma 9
druidic spells, druidic training, survival, resistance to elements, woodland stride, totem shape,
immunity to nature’s charms, immunity to nature’s venom, a thousand faces, timeless body,
hibernate
FIGHTER
any
d10
strength 9
combat prowess, multiple attacks, weapon specialization, combat dominance
barbarian
non-lawful
d12
strength 9,
constitution 9
barbarian training, berserker rage, combat sense, fast movement, multiple attacks, perception,
resilience, survival, track, wilderness stealth
cavalier
any lawful
d10
strength 9,
dexterity 9,
constitution 9
cavalier training, multiple attacks, status, valor, weapon specialization
paladin
lawful good
d10
strength 9,
wisdom 9,
charisma 9
cure disease, divine aura, divine sense, immunity to disease, lay on hands, multiple attacks,
paladin training, smite evil, turn undead, divine mount, paladin spells
ranger
any neutral
or good
d10
strength 9,
wisdom 9,
constitution 9
animal empathy, favored enemies, hunter’s aim, multiple attacks, perception, ranger training,
survival, track, wilderness stealth, ranger spells
MAGIC- USER
any
d4
intelligence 9
magic-user spells, magic-user training
illusionist
any
d4
intelligence 9,
dexterity 9
illusionist spells, illusionist training, resistance to illusions
MONK
any lawful
d8
strength 9,
wisdom 9,
dexterity 9
balance, climb, deflect missile, escape artist, fast movement, jump, mind over body, multiple
attacks, perception, stealth, stunning attack, unarmed attack, unarmored defense, slow fall, ki
strike, purity of body, feign death, fast healing, evasion, still mind, tongues, immunity to poison,
quivering palm, speak with plants, timeless body
THIEF
any
d6
dexterity 9
backstab, balance, cant, climb, combat sense, disable device, dodge, escape artist, find
traps, infiltration, jump, perception, sleight of hands, sneak attack, stealth, decipher script,
evasion
assassin
non-good
d6
intelligence 9,
dexterity 9
backstab, balance, climb, combat sense, death attack, disable device, disguise, dodge,
escape artist, find traps, jump, perception, poisons, sleight of hands, sneak attack, stealth
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Each class is briefly described in the pages that follow. Following each description is a level progression chart that shows the class’s Hit Die Type, Bonus to
Hit, Class Abilities and the number of experience points needed to advance to the class’s next level. In choosing a class, keep the following in mind:
Ability Requirements:
These are the minimum ability scores required by a given character class. A character must meet or exceed these
requirements in order to qualify for that class.
Hit Die:
The relative hardiness of your character is determined by his hit die type. A fighter, who rolls a d10 for hit points each
time he advances in level, will typically be more resilient than a thief who only rolls a d6. All characters begin play with
the maximum hit points possible for their hit die type, plus any bonuses or penalties for constitution. After 9th level all
classes receive a set number of hit points per level and no longer roll for hit points. The character’s constitution
modifier is still applied to their hit points.
Bonus to Hit (BtH):
This number is added to your character’s attack roll, along with his ability modifier and, possibly, other modifiers.
Alignment:
In choosing a character class, its alignment restrictions should be carefully considered. Alignment provides a
framework or guidelines for that character’s outlook and actions. If the character is restricted in their choice of
alignment, their outlook and the actions they are permitted to engage in are more narrowly defined.
A character whose alignment changes to one incompatible with their character class may not advance further in that
class without atoning for their actions and returning to a suitable alignment.
Abilities:
These are the special abilities of the character’s chosen class. Each is described in detail in the class’s description.
Player’s Handbook 11
THE CLERIC
Upon the fields of battle, where good and evil struggle, stride holy
warriors dedicated to the service of a deity, their martial ability
enhanced by divine dispensation. They obey the will of the gods, and
influence others through faith in their deity’s tenets, action on the field
of battle, and by bringing justice or retribution to their foes.
Clerics are warrior-priests. They are religious in nature and worship a
pantheon of deities, or are eternally bound to the service of one deity.
From this deity they receive divine powers and act as conduits of the
power of their deity.
A cleric’s divine connection to their deity is of supreme importance.
This spiritual connection allows them to better understand the motives
and will of their deity and to more capably and earnestly enact the
deity’s desire.
Deities can be of any ethos or morality, from good to evil and lawful
to chaotic. All of the deities have clerics and priests who serve and
worship them. The cleric is always of like mind and nature as the deity
they worship and never falters in carrying out their duties lest they face
the most horrible of retribution and suffer the interminable revenge of
an angered power.
Clerics
prefer
to
use
those
weapons
that
allow
them
a
better
chance to subdue and
convert enemies instead
of killing them outright.
In this they gain converts
and servants to serve
them and their deity. On
the field of battle, where
clerics spend much of
their lives, they wear any
armor
necessary
and
utilize
whatever
is
necessary to see them
through the day and on
to victory.
Clerics who generally act in ways opposed to their deity’s alignment
and purposes, and who grossly violate the code of conduct expected
by their deity, lose the use of all divine abilities and capacities for
advancement, wandering alone and cursed until they atone for their
wrongs.
level
hit dice (d8)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+0
0
2
2
+1
2,500
3
3
+2
5,000
4
4
+2
10,000
5
5
+3
20,000
6
6
+4
37,500
7
7
+4
75,000
8
8
+5
150,000
9
9
+6
250,000
10
+2
+6
500,000
11
+2
+7
750,000
12
+2
+8
1,000,000
13
+2
+8
1,250,000
14
+2
+9
1,500,000
15
+2
+10
1,750,000
16
+2
+10
2,000,000
17
+2
+11
2,250,000
18
+2
+12
2,500,000
19
+2
+12
2,750,000
20
+2
+13
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Wisdom 9
Hit Die:
d8
Alignment:
Any
Weapons:
Club, dagger, flail (any), hammer (any), mace
(any), morningstar, quarterstaff and sling
Armor:
Any armor and shields
Abilities:
Cleric spells, cleric training, turn undead
Cleric Spells: A cleric casts divine spells. The spells available are listed
on the cleric spell list. A cleric is limited to a certain number of spells of
each spell level per day. The table below shows the number of spells
per day a character of the class may cast. Clerics prepare spells each
day
through
prayer
to
their
deity
or
deities,
followed
by
contemplation and study. This process is covered in greater detail in
the Magic section, on page 60. Clerics gain bonus spells for high
wisdom scores (see the Ability Modifiers table on page 4 for details).
spells per day
spell level
level
0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
1
4
1
2
4
2
3
4
2
1
4
4
3
2
5
4
3
2
1
6
4
3
3
2
7
4
4
3
2
1
8
4
4
3
3
2
9
4
4
4
3
2
1
10
4
4
4
3
3
2
11
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
12
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
13
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
14
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
15
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
16
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
17
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
18
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
19
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
20
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Clerics can prepare a number of 0-level spells, each day, as noted on
the “spells per day” table above. These spells are treated like any
other spell, but are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Cleric Training: Clerics are learned in matters of faith and in the
healing arts. As a result of their training, all clerics begin play with the
knowledge (religion) and profession (healer) skills in addition to their
background skills (see SKILLS for more details).
Turn Undead (Wisdom): A cleric has the ability to drive away, destroy,
or control undead monsters. To turn undead, a cleric must declare the
attempt as an attack and then make a successful ability check. The
check penalty is equal to undead type’s hit dice. For undead with
differing hit dice, use a single die roll but apply the check penalty
separately for each creature. As such, a cleric may successfully turn a
lower hit die creature but not its more powerful ally. The character
must display a holy symbol toward the undead, who must be able to
see the cleric, and utter a prayer, chant, or other invocation of the
character’s deity. Turning undead is considered a special attack and
takes one round. Turning undead has a maximum range of 60 feet.
The number of hit dice of undead turned equals 6 + the cleric’s level +
the cleric’s wisdom modifier. Undead with lower hit dice are turned
first. Undead are turned for 12 rounds (2 minutes).
Turned undead flee from you by the best and fastest means available
to them. If they cannot flee, they cower, unable to attack but able to
defend themselves. The turning cleric cannot engage turned
creatures in melee combat without breaking the turning effect. He
may, however, attack them with ranged attacks. Other characters
can attack them, in any fashion, without breaking the turning effect.
If you have at least twice as many levels as the undead have hit dice,
you destroy any that you would normally turn (i.e. a 4th level cleric
would destroy 2 hit die zombies).
Evil clerics may, instead of destroying undead, control them. They
may also counter the turn undead ability of a good (or neutral) cleric
if their turn undead check is equal to or greater than that of the
opposing cleric. Evil clerics can also turn, but not destroy or control,
paladins.
This ability may be used 3 times per day at 1st level. Clerics apply their
charisma modifier to the number of times they may use this ability
each day. As such a cleric with an 8 charisma (-1 modifier) may only
turn undead twice per day at 1st level while a cleric with an 18
charisma (+3 modifier) may turn undead 6 times per day at 1st level.
At 5th level and every five levels thereafter the cleric gains another use
of the turn undead ability each day.
Player’s Handbook 12
THE BARD (Cleric)
Every age and people has a voice. That voice finds its measure in
story, expressed in legend, tale, song, poem, battle cry, or speech.
From wild barren steppes to the frozen lands at the tips of the world,
from taverns to town squares, and from city streets to imperial
residences, there are those blessed with the ability to artfully weave
story and legend and move the heart to great feats. In recounting
epic deeds of ages past, bards inspire listeners to greater deeds as if
by magical incantation. They captivate hearts, cause tears to flow,
and invigorate individuals and crowds. These storytellers are historians
and lore masters with oratorical skills guided by the muses. Some are
powers behind thrones, weaving a future through tales of the past.
Others are the backbone to a troop of soldiers, inspiring courage in
times of distress. But the most renowned are the warrior-poets, whose
adventures and escapades are legend. These ply their skills across the
wide world and are known as bards.
Bards can lead by example
or deed, but they primarily
influence others with story,
art, or argument. Their skill of
recitation borders on the
magical, so much so that
they are often able to charm
listeners with their tales. They
are also learned in druidic
lore,
having
received
tutelage in those arts, and
have access to spells that
reflect this training and the
esoteric
knowledge
they
have gained through their
deep understanding of myth
and legend.
Bards possess artistic skills that
are needed to convince an
audience that what they see
is more than what is shown.
They gain access to the
various strata of society, both
low and high. They walk
among
them,
acquiring
knowledge
and
power.
Whether from noble or villain,
the bard pays heed to the
moods
and
tales
of
all,
realizing the import of even
the meanest of peoples.
They are skalds, minstrels, troubadours, lore masters, poets, chroniclers,
schemers, sages, musicians and orators blending fact and fiction to
great effect. Whether weaving tales or delivering odes, bards can
affect changes in individuals and small groups, inspiring them to great
deeds in combat or humble behavior. They give voice to history, and
weave tales establishing ethics and morals, reinforcing the frameworks
of societies. They possess a tremendous knowledge of events great
and small, of legends and the nature of magics. Most bards teach
much of what they know, but all bards keep some knowledge to
themselves, considering it a source of power and prestige only to be
dispensed with or used in the most extraordinary of circumstances.
The bard’s nature as that of a historian and storyteller requires a
bending and twisting of fact and a weaving of fiction to tell their tales
well. They must be free of mind and spirit, with agile and active
imaginations. Bards are not bound by the more moribund and strict
interpretations of academics and others who depend on the
separation of fact and fiction.
Though bards are known to inspire others to greater deeds, their
lifestyle often leads them into conflict and combat where many times
they perform deeds of valor. In life they prefer not to be encumbered
by worldly goods. They rarely take up permanent residence, always
ready to move. Usually, their most prized possessions are the
instruments they carry, scrolls with great tales writ upon them, or items
with which they have traveled many long years, like boots or a hat to
which they have attached great value and through which they recall
tales or bygone days.
level
hit dice (d8)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+0
0
2
2
+1
2,500
3
3
+2
5,000
4
4
+2
10,000
5
5
+3
20,000
6
6
+4
37,500
7
7
+4
75,000
8
8
+5
150,000
9
9
+6
250,000
10
+2
+6
500,000
11
+2
+7
750,000
12
+2
+8
1,000,000
13
+2
+8
1,250,000
14
+2
+9
1,500,000
15
+2
+10
1,750,000
16
+2
+10
2,000,000
17
+2
+11
2,250,000
18
+2
+12
2,500,000
19
+2
+12
2,750,000
20
+2
+13
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Intelligence 9, wisdom 9, charisma 9
Hit Die:
d8
Alignment:
Any
neutral
(neutral
good,
neutral
evil,
neutral, chaotic neutral, or lawful neutral)
Weapons:
Any
Armor:
Light armor and smalls shields*
Abilities:
Bard spells, bardic music, bardic training,
decipher script, lore, perception, persuasive,
sleight of hands, immunity to nature’s charms, a
thousand faces
* Bards may not cast spells when using medium or heavy armor or
when employing shields larger than a small shield.
Bard Spells: Bards cast divine spells much as a cleric or druid does.
The spells available are listed on the bard spell list. A bard is limited to
a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. The table below
shows the number of spells per day a character of the class may cast.
Bards prepare spells each day through prayer, song and recitation
dedicated to their deity or deities. This process is covered in greater
detail in the Magic section, on page 60. Bards gain bonus spells for
high wisdom scores (see the Ability Modifiers table on page 4 for
details).
spells per day
spell level
level
0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
1
2
1
2
2
2
3
3
2
4
3
2
1
5
3
3
2
6
4
3
2
7
4
3
2
1
8
4
3
3
2
9
4
4
3
2
10
4
4
3
2
1
11
4
4
3
3
2
12
4
4
4
3
2
13
4
4
4
3
2
1
14
4
4
4
3
3
2
15
4
4
4
4
3
2
16
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
17
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
18
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
19
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
20
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Bards can prepare a number of 0-level spells, each day, as noted on
the “spells per day” table above. These spells are treated like any
other spell, but are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Player’s Handbook 13
Bardic Music: Once per day per bard level, a bard can use his songs
or poetics to produce magical effects. Each of the three bardic music
abilities detailed below require that the bard concentrate upon his
musical performance or recitation as if casting a spell (see page 62)
and that his words or music be heard (an area of silence negates all
bardic music abilities). All bardic music abilities can be used for a
number of rounds equal to the bard’s level+3, provided that the bard
can maintain his concentration. Bardic music abilities are:
1. Countersong: A bard's singing and playing can negate the song
effects of harpies and sirines, and counter attacks which rely
upon song or sounds. A bard’s countersong has no effect
against spells that simply have verbal components.
Each round of the countersong the bard makes a performance
skill check. The bard and all creatures within 30’ of him may use
this skill check result in place of their saving throw against all sonic
and song-based magical effects.
If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the
effect of a sonic or song-based magical attack, it gains a new
saving throw each round it hears the countersong. Countersongs
have no effect against effects that don’t allow saves.
2. Fascinate: Bards have the ability to place a single creature into a
trance through their musical or oratory performance. To be
fascinated the creature must be able to see and hear the bard,
and the bard must also see the creature. The creature must be
able to pay attention to the bard. The distraction of a nearby
combat or other danger will prevent the ability from working.
When attempting to fascinate, the target makes a charisma
saving throw to resist the bard’s spellsong. If the saving throw fails,
the creature sits quietly and listens to the bard for the duration of
the bardic music ability. While fascinated, the creature is
distracted, suffering a -4 penalty to all saving throws and armor
class, and treated as surprised if attacked (see page 55 for more
details on surprised combatants). If the creature’s saving throw
succeeds the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature
again for 24 hours. Any threat that is obvious to the fascinated
creature, such as the casting of a spell, drawing a sword, or
aiming of a weapon, automatically breaks the effect.
As the bard rises in level the power of his fascinate ability
increases as well, allowing the bard to further influence
fascinated creatures. At 6th level, a bard may attempt to charm
person (as the spell) on a fascinated creature. At 11th level, a
bard may attempt to implant a suggestion (as the spell) into a
fascinated creature. At 16th level, a bard may attempt
antipathy/sympathy (as the spell) on a fascinated creature. In
each case, the creature receives a saving throw to attempt to
resist the spellsong. These specialized uses of the fascinate ability
do not count against the bard’s daily limit on using the fascinate
ability and do break the fascinate effect, even if they fail.
As the bard gains experience the number of creatures that can
be affected by the fascinate ability, but not one of its specialized
uses, increases. The number of creatures effected increases by
one at levels 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20. A 4th level bard can fascinate 2
creatures, an 8th level bard can fascinate 3 creatures, a 12th level
bard can fascinate 4 creatures, and so on.
3. Inspire: This ability allows the bard to inspire courage all allies
within 30’. Inspired allies gain a +1 bonus to saving throws versus
fear and to their attack rolls.
As the bard rises in levels, the bonus imparted by this ability
increases: to +2 at 6th level, +3 at 11th level, +4 at 16th level and +5
at 20th level.
Bardic Training: All bards begin play with bonus skills (see SKILLS for
more details about background and bonus skills) based upon their
bardic training. These bonus skills are knowledge (history), knowledge
(language) and performance (all types).
Bards, due to their years of studying the tales and histories of other
lands, are quite adept at learning new languages. In addition to the
bonus knowledge (language) gained at level 1, the bard gains new
knowledge (language) skills at levels 6, 11 and 16. These languages
must relate to those that the bard has interacted with or to those that
the bard has studied.
Decipher Script (Intelligence): Bards may attempt to decipher writing
in an unfamiliar language, a message written in an incomplete or
archaic font, or a message written in code. If the check succeeds, the
character understands the general content of a piece of writing. It
takes 2d8 minutes to decipher each page of a script. The attempt
may be made only once per writing.
A bard may use this ability to decipher arcane or divines scripts, as per
the read magic spell, if a successful check is made with a -10 penalty.
This does not permit the bard to cast spells they otherwise could not
cast but does allow them to identify the contents of a deciphered
scroll.
Lore (Intelligence): Bards are lore masters of myth and memory. With
a successful ability check, a bard gains or remembers some relevant
information about local notable people, a legendary item, a
noteworthy place, or any other relevant bit of information. Gaining
the information may entail speaking to local inhabitants and doing
research.
The
information
might
prove
useful
in
diplomacy,
entertaining and otherwise influencing others.
The ability also might impart insight into (and limited understanding of)
local or secret languages, including thieves’ cant, druidic, or ranger
signs. The check will not reveal the powers of a magic item, but may
give a hint to its history, general function or activation.
Bards have a chance to identify the general purpose and function of
any magical item by making a lore check with a -10 penalty. The bard
need not handle the item but must examine it closely. Even if
successful, the exact function of the item is not revealed, only its
general nature.
For most other lore checks, the Dungeon Master gauges the modifier
based on whether the knowledge is:
1. Common and known by at least a substantial minority of the
local population.
2. Uncommon but available, known by only a few people in the
area.
3. Obscure, known by few, and hard to come by.
4. Extremely obscure, known by very few scholars and sages,
possibly forgotten by most who once knew it or possibly known
only by those who don’t understand the significance of the
knowledge.
Perception (Wisdom): A bard can hear noises that others might not
detect and are keen observers of their surroundings. Bards gain
perception as a class ability, rather than common ability, which allows
them to add their full level bonus to perception checks.
Persuasive: Bards are adept at manipulating others through their
words. At 1st level, bards gain a +1 bonus to all charisma checks
made to influence others. As the bard rises in levels, the bonus
imparted by this ability increases: to +2 at 6th level, +3 at 11th level, +4
at 16th level and +5 at 20th level.
Sleight of Hands (Dexterity): All bards are trained in the arts of
legerdemain or sleight of hands. When making a dexterity check to
perform any “sleight of hands” bards add their level to the roll. A bard
can use this ability to remove the contents of a pocket or pouch (or
otherwise take something from a person) without being noticed, by
making a sleight of hands check (opposed by their target’s
perception check). Success may require the bard to cut the purse or
pouch from the target.
This ability also allows the bard to perform “sleight of hand”
maneuvers. A successful sleight of hands check (opposed by their
target’s perception check) indicates the bard has hidden or moved
an item in such a manner that observers are not aware of where the
item has been hidden. Typical maneuvers include hiding a coin,
sliding a card up a sleeve, performing the peanut trick (table tricks),
and the like. A penalty to the check may be applied if there is an
observer present that is determined to note where an item is moved.
Immunity to Nature’s Charms: At 9th level the bard becomes immune
to all charm spells cast by fey woodland creatures such as dryads,
nixies, nymphs, pixies and sprites.
A Thousand Faces: At 16th level the bard is able to alter his
appearance at will as per the change self spell, except that the bard
may only change his appearance, and not that of his possessions.
Furthermore, the use of this ability is not a magical effect, so it can
only be detected through the use of true seeing or the like, and
actually changes the facial features and body of the bard.
Player’s Handbook 14
THE DRUID (Cleric)
Beyond the confines of walls and city battlements, within the vast
expanse of the wilderness areas of the world are many folk who live
with contentment outside of civilization. Those who push aside
material culture to live in harmony with nature often draw upon its
forces for spiritual guidance and commune with its spirits. These are
the druids, and they offer guidance and wisdom about the order of
life and the world, the cycle of life and death and acceptance
thereof.
Many fear druids; for they call upon powerful elemental and nature
spirits and they can gather great hosts of nature to fight for their
causes.
Druids seek to protect the wilderness and its beasts from the
encroachments of civilization lest the order of the natural world be
upset. They find the myriad artificial creations of civilized peoples
abhorrent, for they believe that reliance upon the unnatural creates
peoples that are weak and dependent upon a material culture.
They are fiercely individualistic, and are often found among barbarian
tribes. Druids live in harmony with nature, revering its power and
beauty. Although sometimes termed priests of nature, druids are
much more. They allow nature to determine the fate of its creatures,
for good or ill. Some druids revere nature and its elements alone, while
some promote the beliefs of one or more nature deities and others
bind their animistic faith to a strict code of personal conduct. All are
devoted to their life’s calling and possess specialized wilderness lore,
including knowledge of the animal and plant kingdoms.
Their divine dispensations are gifts from the spirits of the wood, rock,
water and windstorms that rage across the plains, seas that thunder
against coasts, or the waving grass of the wild steppe: none knows a
motive. Druids must be able to relate to this balance and neutrality in
nature.
From this closeness to their surroundings a druid possesses specialized
knowledge of wilderness environments, particularly those in which the
druid lives or was trained.
Druids must use armor crafted from items found in nature, such as
leather and wood. They view armors forged by advanced
metalsmithing techniques as tainted and impure. These impure items
make one dependent upon them and, in consequence, weak.
level
hit dice (d8)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+0
0
2
2
+1
2,500
3
3
+2
5,000
4
4
+2
10,000
5
5
+3
20,000
6
6
+4
37,500
7
7
+4
75,000
8
8
+5
150,000
9
9
+6
250,000
10
+2
+6
500,000
11
+2
+7
750,000
12
+2
+8
1,000,000
13
+2
+8
1,250,000
14
+2
+9
1,500,000
15
+2
+10
1,750,000
16
+2
+10
2,000,000
17
+2
+11
2,250,000
18
+2
+12
2,500,000
19
+2
+12
2,750,000
20
+2
+13
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Wisdom 9, charisma 9
Hit Die:
d8
Alignment:
Any
neutral
(neutral
good,
neutral
evil,
neutral, chaotic neutral, or lawful neutral)
Weapons:
Club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar, sling,
sickle and spear (any)
Armor:
Light armor and wooden shields*
Abilities:
Druid spells, druidic training, survival, resistance to
elements,
woodland
stride,
totem
shape,
immune to nature’s charms, immune to nature’s
venom,
a
thousand
faces,
timeless
body,
hibernate
* Druids may not cast spells or use their totem shape ability when using
metal armor or shields.
Druid Spells: A druid casts divine spells. The spells available are listed
on the druid spell list located in the Magic section. Each druid can
cast a limited number of spells from each spell level per day. The table
below shows the number of spells per day a druid may cast for each
spell level. Druids prepare and cast spells by praying for them. This
process is covered in greater detail in the Magic section, on page 60.
Druids gain bonus spells for high wisdom scores (see the Ability
Modifiers table on page 4 for details).
spells per day
spell level
level
0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
1
4
1
2
4
2
3
4
2
1
4
4
3
2
5
4
3
2
1
6
4
3
3
2
7
4
4
3
2
1
8
4
4
3
3
2
9
4
4
4
3
2
1
10
4
4
4
3
3
2
11
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
12
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
13
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
14
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
15
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
16
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
17
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
18
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
19
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
20
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Druids can prepare a number of 0-level spells, each day, as noted on
the “spells per day” table above. These spells are treated like any
other spell, but are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Druidic Training: Druids are connected to the forces of nature. They
mystically coexist with their environment, gradually becoming a larger
part of it. This imparts a specialized knowledge of the wilds to them. As
a result, they begin play with knowledge (nature) as a bonus skill.
Druids using this skill are automatically successful when in their native
environment and climate. In unfamiliar environments, the druid must
succeed at a knowledge (nature) check in order to learn about their
surroundings, just as other characters would.
Like clerics, druids are skilled at tending to the wounds of others and
automatically gain the profession (healer) skill in addition to their
background skills. Finally, druids have a secret language used for
communicating with one another. They are forbidden from teaching
this language to any but their brethren. This language, druidic, is
gained as a bonus knowledge (language) skill at 1st level (see SKILLS
for more details).
Survival (Wisdom): In wilderness environments, druids can provide
shelter for themselves and others, and can provide decent food and
water for several people, all without the need for an ability check. The
druid can forage and hunt for food and water. The druid must spend
1d4 hours hunting and gathering to produce enough food and water
to feed 2d4 people for 1 day. If the druid wishes to feed or shelter a
larger group of people, he must spend an additional 1d4 hours
gathering food and succeed at a survival check. This additional effort
allows the druid to gather food and water for 2d4 more creatures. The
druid can only hunt and forage for food 12 hours per day, limiting the
number of people that can be fed.
In addition to the ability to provide food and shelter in the wilds, a
druid can automatically determine where true north lies in relation to
the character in normal wilderness environments.
Resistance to Elements: At 2nd level druids gain a +2 bonus to saving
throws against all fire, water, earth, air, cold and lightning attacks.
Woodland Stride: At 3rd level druids gain the ability to move through
natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain at normal
Player’s Handbook 15
speed and without suffering damage or other impairment. When
doing so, druids leave no trail in the natural surroundings and cannot
be tracked. Thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that are enchanted
or magically manipulated to impede motion still affect druids.
Totem Shape: At 6th level druids gain the spell-like ability to change
into a Small or Medium animal and back again once per day. This
ability operates like the spell polymorph except that, each time the
druid assumes a totem form, he regains 2d8 hit points. At 8th and 10th
levels the druid gains an additional use of this ability each day.
At 12th level, the druid gains the ability to take the shape of a Large
animal when using the totem shape ability. At 12th level, and every
level thereafter, the druid regains 4d8 hit points whenever they
assume a totem form.
Immunity to Nature’s Charms: At 7th level the druid becomes immune
to all charm spells cast by fey woodland creatures such as dryads,
nixies, nymphs, pixies and sprites.
Immunity to Nature’s Venom: At 14th level druids gain immunity to all
natural poisons (ingested or insinuated animal or vegetable poisons,
including “monster” poisons and venoms but not including mineral
poisons or poison gas).
A Thousand Faces: At 16th level the druid is able to alter his
appearance at will as per the change self spell, except that the druid
may only change his appearance and not that of his possessions.
Furthermore, the use of this ability is not a magical effect, so it can
only be detected through the use of true seeing or the like, and
actually changes the facial features and body of the druid.
Timeless Body: At 18th level the druid is no longer affected by the
ravages of age and ignores all ability penalties that have been
accrued through aging. Ability bonuses gained through aging remain
and the character’s lifespan is increased
considerably
(the
character’s maximum age is doubled).
Hibernate: By 20th level a druid has learned secrets that allow him to
slow body functions to the point where the character appears dead
to casual observers. The character is unconscious during hibernation
and his aging is effectively halted while in this stasis. The druid
awakens at either a preordained time (i.e. “I will hibernate for a year”)
or when there is a specific change in his environment (i.e. “I will
awaken when the first snow falls” or “I will awaken when someone
enters my resting chamber.”)
Player’s Handbook 16
THE FIGHTER
From the maelstrom of war and conflict, great warriors arise, tested on
and mastering the brutal fields of battle. These combatants nobly war
against cruel overlords and barbarous hordes, or are driven to conquest
and brutish slaughter by depraved spirits and malignant desires. Found in
all societies and amongst all peoples for whom war is a constant, these
are those who turn to the sword and might of arms to defeat their foes
and fulfill their desires. Kings and tyrants, warriors and brigands, foot soldiers
and raiders, adventurers and treasure hunters; these are all fighters.
The fighter is the archetypical warrior, superior to all other classes in armed
combat. Fighters come from every geographic region and occupy all
social strata. They are born with a strength of will and spirit that leads them
to seek the field of battle. They find the clash of metal and ring of steel
invigorating at times, and necessary at others. Fighters do not live in fear of
the melee; they face their foes with gritted teeth and steely
determination, longingly anticipating the next test of their strength and
skill. All fighters, regardless of background, are characterized by the will
and ability to use brute strength and swift sword to solve problems or
overcome foes. Fighters are a unique breed and make their own way in
the world, for ill or good.
Fighters depend on heavy armor and weaponry that require great
strength and skill to wield properly. Whether sallying forth with a massive
double bladed battle axe or delicately balanced saber of the finest steel,
sheathed in plates of shiny metal or hefting a lone shield, on the blood-
washed fields of combat, the mighty arm rises and the weak fall beneath
it. It is their strength that carries fighters through the laborious contests of
steel that mark their daily lives.
Many cultures have unique weapons, and warriors in those cultures are
often trained in their use, wielding them as if extensions of their body.
However, all weapons, regardless of make, function to the same end, and
the well-trained and highly skilled fighter intuitively knows the best manner
in which to use them. Fearsome with any weapon, the fighter is an
opponent that only the foolish underestimate and the weak regret
offending.
As with weapons, the use of heavy armor is demanding on the body and,
when worn by those unfamiliar with its structures, hinders movement. It
requires great strength and knowledge to properly wear any armor and
maintain one’s skill of hand. Fighters are well trained and accustomed to
armor’s bulk and weight, knowing how to manage and adjust their thrusts
and parries when wearing any armor. Once trained, a fighter knows how
to adjust his fighting style, weight, and load in order to use any armor
effectively.
level
hit dice (d10)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+1
0
2
2
+2
2,500
3
3
+3
5,000
4
4
+4
10,000
5
5
+5
20,000
6
6
+6
37,500
7
7
+7
75,000
8
8
+8
150,000
9
9
+9
250,000
10
+3
+10
500,000
11
+3
+11
750,000
12
+3
+12
1,000,000
13
+3
+13
1,250,000
14
+3
+14
1,500,000
15
+3
+15
1,750,000
16
+3
+16
2,000,000
17
+3
+17
2,250,000
18
+3
+18
2,500,000
19
+3
+19
2,750,000
20
+3
+20
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Strength 9
Hit Die:
d10
Alignment:
Any
Weapons:
Any
Armor:
Any armor and shield
Abilities:
Combat prowess, multiple attacks, weapon
specialization, combat dominance
Combat Prowess: Due to their extensive combat training, fighters gain
a +2 bonus to all opposed strength checks involved in making and
resisting disarm attempts (see page 58).
Fighters also know how to exploit their foe’s weakness in combat.
Whenever a fighter attacks from a defender’s flank or rear, fights from
higher ground, or fights a prone, surprised or unaware opponent he
gains an additional +1 bonus to his attack rolls.
Multiple Attacks: Fighters gain the ability to make more than one
attack per round. At levels 1-6 fighters are limited to making 1 attack
each round. At levels 7-12 fighters may make three attacks every two
rounds. At level 13-18 fighters may make 2 attacks per round. Finally,
at level 19 and beyond, fighters are able to make 5 attacks every two
rounds.
level
attacks/round
level
attacks/round
1-6
1/round
13-18
2/round
7-12
3/2 rounds
19+
5/2 rounds
A partial additional attack (e.g. 3/2 attacks) means that an extra
attack is taken on even-numbered rounds in the combat sequence
(i.e. one attack on the first round, two on the second, one on the
third, two on the fourth and so on).
Weapon Specialization: At 1st level the fighter chooses a weapon with
which to specialize. This weapon, once chosen, cannot be changed.
At 1st level specialization imparts a +2 bonus to attack and damage
rolls when using that weapon.
At 6th level these bonuses increase to +3 to hit and damage when
employing that weapon.
At 11th level the fighter gains a second weapon of specialization.
When using this weapon the character gains a +2 bonus to attack
and damage rolls.
At 16th level the bonuses with this, secondary, specialized weapon
improve to +3 to hit and damage.
In addition to gaining attack and damage bonuses with specialized
weapons, fighters using a weapon they have specialized in gain
multiple attacks (see above) as if they were 3 levels higher than their
actual fighter level.
A 4th level fighter specialized in longswords may make 3 attacks every
2 rounds (as if he were a 7th level fighter).
Only fighters with weapon specialization in light crossbows may fire
them more than once per round. Likewise, only fighters specialized
with heavy crossbows may fire them more than once every other
round.
As
with
all
specialized
weapon
users, those employing
heavy crossbows gain
multiple attacks as if they
were 3 levels higher than
their actual level but
divide
the
resulting
number of attacks per
round by 2, due to the
heavy crossbow’s slow
rate of fire. At level 16
and beyond, a fighter
with
heavy
crossbow
specialization may make
5
attacks
every
four
rounds
with
that
crossbow.
Combat
Dominance:
Fighters, at 4th – 20th level,
may double their usual number of melee attacks per round against
opponents with hit dice or levels equal to ½ of their level or less ((round
fractions down). In order to use this ability the fighter must direct all
melee attacks in a combat round toward opponents that meet this
criterion. The fighter can split the available attacks among qualified
opponents as desired. This ability may not be used with ranged attacks.
A 6th level fighter, facing a dozen 3rd level guards, could make two melee
attacks per round. When using a weapon he is specialized in, he may
make 3 attacks per round.
Player’s Handbook 17
THE BARBARIAN (Fighter)
Beyond the walls of cities and towns, and well beyond the bounds of
civilization, dwell the barbarians. From windy steppes to mountaintops,
from deep jungles to arid plains, barbarians live in freedom, a part of
their environment rather than a slave to it. Banded together in family
clans or tribal nations, they are a free people ruled by strength and
custom alone, subject to no state or empire. They judge others by
action and deed, not the more corrupt values of civilization, like race,
occupation, education or wealth. Neither ignorant nor savage,
barbarians are masters of their own destiny.
Barbarian characters are the fearsome warriors of their particular
tribe. They spend their time making war to protect their people.
Renowned for their ability to enter berserk rages and ignore the pains
and damages that often fell lesser men, barbarians make fearsome
opponents or stalwart allies in battle.
Barbarians rely upon their individual skills and instincts to carry them
through difficult tasks or demanding ventures while drawing upon
primeval instincts and powers to overcome foes. As their cultures are
usually uneasy with the supernatural, barbarians generally distrust
magic and those who employ it, although some barbarians will use
magic in dire circumstances.
A barbarian’s self-reliance and solitary nature does not, however,
lead them to abhor the company of others. Oft times, their strengths
are given to the preservation of their clans or tribes, for only in them
are like-minded people found. And when a barbarian comes to trust
others and call them friends, no stronger ally can be found in the
entire world.
Barbarians are born and raised in the wilderlands, outside the
influences of civilization. They are found in every climate and every
terrain, and have an acute knowledge of the environment in which
they are raised, possessing a general knowledge of its plants and
animals in order to survive the rigors of life in the wilderness.
Living in the wilds and at the whims of uncaring nature takes great
fortitude and barbarians become inured to the physical demands of
this life and suffer its inflictions and its pains with steely determination.
Possessed of staggering constitution, barbarians are capable of
absorbing damage that would quickly fell others of a more civilized
bent.
Barbarians are generally free of the bonds and fetters that tie down
most peoples, even the brethren in their tribal nations. Above all else,
barbarians value their independence and often maintain their own
codes or beliefs. Many have died from voicing opposition to tribal
leaders, but are respected all the more, for they spoke or acted upon
their beliefs. This makes most barbarians willful in nature, with a
temperament that many view as chaotic and ill-disciplined.
level
hit dice (d12)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+1
0
2
2
+2
2,500
3
3
+3
5,000
4
4
+4
10,000
5
5
+5
20,000
6
6
+6
37,500
7
7
+7
75,000
8
8
+8
150,000
9
9
+9
250,000
10
+4
+10
500,000
11
+4
+11
750,000
12
+4
+12
1,000,000
13
+4
+13
1,250,000
14
+4
+14
1,500,000
15
+4
+15
1,750,000
16
+4
+16
2,000,000
17
+4
+17
2,250,000
18
+4
+18
2,500,000
19
+4
+19
2,750,000
20
+4
+20
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Strength 9, constitution 9
Hit Die:
d12
Alignment:
Any non-lawful (neutral good, chaotic good,
neutral, chaotic neutral, neutral evil, or chaotic
evil)
Weapons:
Any
Armor:
Light and medium armors, all shields*
Abilities:
Barbarian training, berserker rage, combat
sense,
fast
movement,
multiple
attacks,
perception, resilience, survival, track, wilderness
stealth
* A barbarian in heavy armor loses their fast movement ability.
Barbarian Training: Barbarians, by necessity, are able to survive in the
harsh wilderness of their homelands. This training is reflected in the
survival and resilience abilities of the class. In addition to these class
abilities barbarians begin with the knowledge (nature) and profession
(mountaineer) skills.
Berserker Rage: Barbarians have the ability to call upon a reserve of
strength and rage once per day. Barbarians can direct this rage to
devastating effect in combat.
This ability manifests itself differently across barbarian cultures and
societies, and each names it differently. It is commonly known as the
Player’s Handbook 18
fury, the warp spasm or berserker rage. The origins of it are unclear
and the different manifestations between tribes are unexplained.
Some barbarian cultures believe there is a mystical or divine
connection at the root of the berserker rage ability and, in certain
tribes, barbarians assume near-animalistic shapes when the fury
erupts. Other barbarian tribes train their warriors from birth to call upon
and control the fury.
The Dungeon Master’s campaign setting may specify how a
barbarian’s rage manifests, or the player and Dungeon Master might
work together on how this ability will manifest when used. In all cases,
a barbarian undergoes a frightening physical transformation. When
using this ability, the barbarian enters a state of fury and rage directed
at enemies.
Entering a rage takes no time itself, though a barbarian can do it only
during his action. While enraged the character temporarily gains a +2
bonus to all attack and damage die rolls made with melee weapons
(the damage bonus applies to thrown weapons as well), a +2 bonus
to all charisma saving throws and +2 hit points per barbarian class
level. When the barbarian takes damage these bonus, temporary, hit
points are lost first and may not be healed.
Berserker rage also allows the barbarian to make multiple attacks, in
melee combat, as if they were 3 levels higher than their actual
barbarian level. At 6th level the bonus to melee attack and damage
die rolls increases to +3. At 12th level the bonus to melee attack and
damage rolls increases to +4.
While enraged, barbarians suffer a –2 penalty to armor class and
cannot
use
any
skills
or
abilities
that
require
patience
or
concentration. All of these effects cease at the end of the fury. In
addition all temporary hit points that remain after the berserker rage
ability ends are lost.
Berserker rage has a duration of 6 rounds (1 minute) and may be used
once per day at 1st level. At 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter,
the barbarian gains an additional use of the berserker rage ability. A
barbarian with multiple uses of berserker rage may enter into a rage in
more than one combat per day or combine uses of berserker rage to
remain enraged for more than 6 rounds in a particular combat
encounter. Each use of this ability adds up to 6 rounds to the duration
of the berserker rage. The barbarian may voluntarily end berserker
rage before the 6-round duration has elapsed, though unused rounds
are lost.
Combat Sense: A barbarian has an uncanny sense for the presence
of foes when in a threatening environment. This reduces the
effectiveness of backstab and sneak attacks against barbarians. At
1st level, backstabbed barbarians negate the attack and damage
bonuses gained against them through the backstab ability of thieves
and assassins.
At 6th level, the barbarian gains improved combat sense and can no
longer be sneak attacked when surprised. At 11th level the barbarian
gets greater combat sense and is no longer vulnerable to sneak
attacks under any circumstances.
Fast Movement: The barbarian’s movement rate is 15’ (3”) faster than
is usual for a member of his race so long as he is not wearing heavy
armor. As such a human barbarian would have a 75’ (15”)
movement rate while a dwarven barbarian would have a 60’ (12”)
movement rate, so long as each barbarian was carrying a light load.
If the same barbarians were carrying a medium load their movement
rates would be ¾ of this, or 55’ (11”) and 45’ (9”) respectively (see the
Encumbrance rules on page 53 for more information).
Multiple Attacks: Barbarians gain the ability to make more than one
attack per round. At levels 1-6 barbarians are limited to making 1
attack each round. At levels 7-12 barbarians may make three attacks
every two rounds. At level 13-18 barbarians may make 2 attacks per
round. Finally, at level 19 and beyond, barbarians are able to make 5
attacks every two rounds.
Perception (Wisdom): A barbarian can hear noises that others might
not detect and are keen observers of their surroundings. Barbarians
gain perception as a class ability, rather than common ability, which
allows them to add their full level bonus to perception checks.
Resilience: A barbarian’s innate toughness and ability to withstand
pain and punishment imparts a + 1 bonus to all saving throws versus
paralysis, polymorph, petrification and death attacks. The bonus
increases to +2 at 5th level, +3 at 10th level, +4 at 15th level and +5 at
20th level. This bonus is also applied to all constitution common ability
checks (see page 48-49 for more details on common abilities).
Resilience also allows barbarians to fight off unconsciousness and
partially resist wounds. All barbarians may remain conscious when
reduced to 0 hit points or less, though they act as if sickened (see
page 157) and are unable to attack. At 6th level a barbarian
subtracts 1 from the damage inflicted upon him by any attack. At 11th
level and 16th level this damage reduction rises by 1 point, to a
maximum of -3. The barbarian’s resilience ability can reduce damage
to 0 but not below 0.
Survival (Wisdom): In wilderness environments, barbarians can
provide shelter for themselves and others, and can provide decent
food and water for several people, all without the need for an ability
check. The barbarian can forage and hunt for food and water. The
barbarian must spend 1d4 hours hunting and gathering to produce
enough food and water to feed 2d4 people for 1 day. If the barbarian
wishes to feed or shelter a larger group of people, he must spend an
additional 1d4 hours gathering food and succeed at a survival check.
This additional effort allows the barbarian to gather food and water
for 2d4 more creatures. The barbarian can only hunt and forage for
food 12 hours per day, limiting the number of people that can be fed.
In addition to the ability to provide food and shelter in the wilds, a
barbarian can automatically determine where true north lies in
relation to the character in normal wilderness environments.
Track: The barbarian can successfully track any creature that leaves
a discernible trace, and determine characteristics about the creature
as well. With a successful survival check, a barbarian can find and
follow a creature’s tracks or trail for 6 hours. The barbarian can also
hide tracks at the same level of ability. The Dungeon Master may
apply bonuses or penalties for varying conditions, such as the length
of time elapsed since the tracks were made, weather conditions, the
number of creatures tracked, and whether the tracked creature
moved through water or a secret door.
A successful survival check may also impart information about the
creature(s) being tracked. Once a trail is found, a survival check can
determine the general number and type of creatures being tracked.
The number of creatures tracked should be disclosed to the player by
using one of the following categories: individuals (1-6), band (7-20),
troop (21-100), or army (101+), and one of the following categories:
beast, demihuman, fey, giant, humanoid, plant, vermin, or other
(aberration, animated creature, dragon, elemental, magical beast,
ooze, extraplanar creature, shapechanger, or undead). For many
creatures the barbarian cannot identify its exact type, only that it is a
creature of such nature. A barbarian can identify specific animal
tracks with no effort.
At 3rd level, a barbarian can ascertain distinguishing characteristics
about the creatures tracked, such as whether they are wounded,
exhausted, carrying heavy objects, or wearing certain armor. The
barbarian might even be able to determine if a spellcaster is in the
group being tracked. The marks or characteristics determined are
limited only by the Dungeon Master’s imagination and desire to
provide or enhance story elements during game play.
At 5th level, a barbarian can identify the type of creature(s) being
tracked if belonging to one of the following categories: beast,
demihuman, fey, giant, humanoid, plant, or vermin.
Wilderness Stealth (Dexterity): Barbarians are skilled hunters and
trackers, able conceal themselves from others and move about
silently in the wilds. When in natural surroundings, barbarians add their
full level bonus to all stealth checks.
Player’s Handbook 19
THE CAVALIER (Fighter)
Upon windswept battlefields where armies struggle for supremacy,
there are those who make war their daily bread. They are the
professional soldiers of every age, who lead and guide in war and in
peace. They serve kings, emperors, lords, nobles, merchants and
guild houses. War is their vocation, the battlefield their home and
death their constant companion.
From an early age cavaliers are well trained in all aspects of war,
practicing in all manner of armors and with many weapons. They
inure themselves to the trials and tribulations of battle and steel their
minds becoming virtually fearless in combat, much preferring an
honorable death than a cowardly life.
As a member of an elite caste of warriors, the cavalier may expect
noblesse oblige, or hospitality, from any other cavalier and from
those they are charged to defend. At times, even cavaliers in
conflict will extend this hospitality to one another. The cavalier,
however, is expected to return such courtesy in kind even to an
enemy.
The cavalier is the archetypical military leader: They are trained from
an early age in the use of weapons, armor, siege engines, tactics,
strategy, and horsemanship. They live by a code of behavior that
sets them apart from normal warriors. Though this code may vary
from culture to culture, all cavaliers worthy of their status are
expected to show courage in the face of battle, render loyal service
to one’s lord, fight honorably against those worthy of honor and
provide stalwart defense to his lord’s holdings and charges.
Cavaliers should not be mistaken for nobles, though they may be of
noble birth. They are a caste of professional, mounted warriors who
exchange their services for the finest armor, horses and weaponry
that their lord can afford. Those who serve as household knights
receive room and board from, and have their gear maintained by,
their liege lord. Knights errant (wandering cavaliers who are not tied
to a particular lord) and mercenary knights (cavaliers who hire
themselves out for coin) must seek their own lodgings and maintain
their own equipment.
The cavalier’s martial prowess, valor, mounted maneuverability and
speed make them natural leaders on the battlefield. Time and
experience often forge cavaliers into men of great bearing and
powerful demeanor. Cavaliers are as constant and unyielding in their
codes as they are upon the field of battle. Cavaliers follow codes of
conduct and honor, dictated by culture and social mores. These can
vary in many aspects and the details of a cavalier’s patterns of
behavior, acceptable battlefield conduct and use of weapons are
unique to their culture and caste, but a cavalier’s virtues stem from
several salient aspects of their life - strict adherence to their code,
bravery, honor and faith.
A cavalier must serve someone or some cause - normally a deity,
greater noble, order of knighthood, or the like. The cavalier must seek
to sustain the virtues and the code of chivalry. The knightly virtues are
these:
Bravery, Courtesy, Glory, Good Faith, Honor, Liberality,
Pride, Unselfishness
The code for a feudal campaign may be summed up as follows:
Noble service dutifully rendered
Defense of any charge unto death
Courage and enterprise in obedience to one’s sovereign
and liege
Respect for all peers and equals
Honor to all above your station
Obedience and respect from all beneath your station
Scorn for those who are lowly and ignoble (this includes
knightly limitations on weapons and armor)
Military prowess exercised in service to your lord
Courtesy to all ladies (if the cavalier is male)
War is the flowering of chivalry
Battle is a test of a cavalier’s worthiness
Combat is glory
Personal glory above all in battle
Death to all who oppose the cause
Death before dishonor
In enforcing this code, the Dungeon Master may reduce or eliminate
experience that is gained by the cavalier if its gaining violates the
spirit or letter of the code, even when the code is violated out of
necessity. A cavalier who regularly forswears oaths, exhibits
disloyalty, shows cowardice, or otherwise flaunts their disregard for
their code of conduct shows himself to be a knave. Such a fallen
cavalier loses the benefits of the status, valor and aura of courage
abilities. Cavaliers who become non-lawful also lose the bonuses for
these abilities. Only by atoning for violations of the code may a
cavalier regain the status and powers that were once theirs. The
Dungeon Master may adjust this code to fit his own campaign.
Player’s Handbook 20
level
hit dice (d10)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+1
0
2
2
+2
2,500
3
3
+3
5,000
4
4
+4
10,000
5
5
+5
20,000
6
6
+6
37,500
7
7
+7
75,000
8
8
+8
150,000
9
9
+9
250,000
10
+3
+10
500,000
11
+3
+11
750,000
12
+3
+12
1,000,000
13
+3
+13
1,250,000
14
+3
+14
1,500,000
15
+3
+15
1,750,000
16
+3
+16
2,000,000
17
+3
+17
2,250,000
18
+3
+18
2,500,000
19
+3
+19
2,750,000
20
+3
+20
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Strength 9, dexterity 9, constitution 9
Hit Die:
d10
Alignment:
Any lawful (lawful good, lawful neutral, or
lawful evil)
Weapons:
Any*
Armor:
Any armor and shield*
Abilities:
Cavalier training, multiple attacks, status, valor,
weapon specialization
* Cavaliers favor the use of certain weapons and armor above all
others. Weapons favored by cavaliers include the bastard sword,
battleaxe, broadsword, dagger, flail (any), longsword, mace (any),
morningstar, pick (any), scimitar, spear (any), shortsword and
warhammer.
Cavaliers do not usually employ ranged weapons, with bows being
used only for hunting or during sieges by most non-elven cavaliers.
Armor, as a badge of station and form of protection, should always
be of the highest quality available, with cavaliers preferring chain
and plate armors above all others. A cavalier will never don light
armor if superior armor is available, though it is common practice for
nobles and knights to hunt in leather armor.
Cavalier Training: The training required to become a knight takes
years and brings with it prowess at arms, knowledge of courtly
etiquette and equestrian expertise. Cavaliers begin their training as
pages, child servants in the courts of knights and nobles, and gain
the knowledge (etiquette) skill through these years of service. Later,
as squires, they learn to care for and ride both riding and warhorses
and, through this training, gain the profession (animal handler:
horses) skill.
When fighting from a war-trained mount, a cavalier (and only a
cavalier) can direct the mount to attack and still make his attacks
normally. For more information on mounted combat, see page 57.
All cavaliers begin play with a light warhorse in addition to their
starting funds.
Multiple Attacks: Cavaliers gain the ability to make more than one
attack per round. At levels 1-6 cavaliers are limited to making 1
attack each round. At levels 7-12 cavaliers may make three attacks
every two rounds. At level 13-18 cavaliers may make 2 attacks per
round. Finally, at level 19 and beyond, cavaliers are able to make 5
attacks every two rounds.
Status: Cavaliers, as agents of their lord or king and enforcers of the
law, are afforded several privileges borne of their status. When in
their own lands and allied territories cavaliers are never expected to
relinquish their weapons, except under terms of peace, surrender or
disgrace, and may not be detained or delayed in carrying out their
duties. Theft of a cavalier’s possessions is usually regarded as a
heinous crime.
When in non-hostile lands the cavalier is entitled to hospitality from
other cavaliers, nobles and sovereigns. This includes lodging for the
cavalier and his entourage, and stabling for his horse or horses. As
guests they must be given accommodations and sustenance without
expectation of monetary recompense or material redress. If a
cavalier is in allied lands (rather than his homelands) he may have to
make a persuasion (charisma) check to claim this right and, if in
neutral lands, must make a persuasion check to receive hospitality.
It is up to the Dungeon Master to assign modifiers to this roll as
circumstances warrant. This privilege may be revoked if the cavalier
has acted in an unseemly manner or has abused the rules of
hospitality. A cavalier may ask for hospitality from commoners but is
not entitled to free room and board in public houses or the dwellings
of freemen.
Cavaliers, while in their homeland, have the right to settle
accusations against them and defend their reputation through duels
of honor. Furthermore, all charisma checks made to influence others
while in the holdings of the cavalier or his liege lord gain a +1 bonus,
increasing by 1 at levels 5, 10, 15 and 20 (to a maximum of +5). This
notoriety comes at a price; for a cavalier is expected, in turn, to
selflessly defend his lands and maintain order therein. Cavalier
characters are also expected to extend hospitality to fellow cavaliers
and to those above their station.
All cavaliers have the right to bear heraldic devices by which they
can be identified.
Valor: At 1st level, a cavalier gains a +1 bonus to saving throws
against charm, confusion and fear spells or spell-like effects. The
bonus increases to +2 at 5th level, +3 at 10th level, +4 at 15th level and,
finally, to +5 at 20th level. At 5th level and beyond, the cavalier is
immune to all fear effects, whether magical or mundane in nature.
Weapon Specialization: At 1st level the cavalier may choose one of
the following weapons in which to specialize: bastard sword,
battleaxe, broadsword, flail (any), lance (any), longsword, mace
(any), morningstar, pick (any), scimitar, shortsword and warhammer.
Elven cavaliers may also choose either the short- or longbow,
including composite versions of either weapon, as a weapon of
specialization.
This weapon, once chosen, cannot be changed. At 1st level
specialization imparts a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls when
using that weapon. At 6th level these bonuses increase to +3 to hit
and damage when employing that weapon. At 11th level the
cavalier gains a second weapon of specialization. When using that
weapon the character gains a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
At 16th level the bonuses with this, secondary, specialized weapon
improve to +3 to hit and damage.
In addition to gaining attack and damage bonuses with specialized
weapons, cavaliers using a weapon they have specialized in gain
multiple attacks (see above) as if they were 3 levels higher than their
actual cavalier level.
A 4th level cavalier specialized in longswords may make 3 attacks
every 2 rounds (as if he were a 7th level cavalier).
Player’s Handbook 21
THE PALADIN (Fighter)
In the constant battle between good and evil, a select few, through
their selfless devotion, courage, nobility of spirit, and unyielding faith,
rise to the forefront of the struggle. These holy warriors strike terror in
the hearts of evil creatures and inspire others to greater good. Their
constancy and strength knows only the limits of their deity and code.
The paladin is a holy warrior chosen for adherent and absolute
devotion to a deity or similar holy cause. Some are trained in all the
arts of combat, serving in the vanguard of many wars and
movements. Their belief in the tenets of their deity gives them
strength and divine powers beyond those of other warriors. A
paladin’s code requires them to respect legitimate authority, act
with honor, help those in need, and punish those that harm or
threaten innocents. They can serve priests, temples, religious houses,
or other religious authorities but obey only one calling.
These paladins serve their code alone. They are defined by their
actions, and their actions are dictated by their code. These holy
warriors are driven by virtue, courage, and nobility on their quest to
combat evil in all forms. They ride for no master but their deity or
cause. The greater good guides their actions, and victory is its own
honor.
They fight on lonely battlefields and protect the weak. These warriors
fight and die for the greater good, often unsung, alone and beyond
the reach of succor.
Though often maligned for their zealous actions, or feared for their
powers, all hold paladins in high regard, for they wage an unflagging
war against evil. A paladin’s power flows from a strength of will and
the ability to project divine power upon the enemy.
Their purpose, if misunderstood by many, is understood by them and
always guides their actions. They are servants of the law, and are
bound to their code forever. They serve the greater good and
always place it above all else.
Every deity or pantheon has a moral code that often dictates what is
acceptable on the battlefield. A paladin’s weapons of choice are
generally those of the paladin’s deity or of a knightly sort, for paladins
eschew cowardly combat and believe facing one’s enemy in battle
is the highest honor. They never use weapons associated with
thieves and the cowardly and generally refuse to use ranged
weapons, though some of them are not averse to their use if
absolutely necessary.
Paladins never knowingly associate with evil characters under any
circumstances. A paladin ends all associations with those who
consistently offend their moral code or refuse to help in the cause
the paladin considers worthy.
A paladin who ceases to perform his duties or strays from the path of
righteousness, who willfully commits an evil act, or who grossly
violates the code of conduct loses all of their class abilities, except
for multiple attacks and paladin training. The character is outcast
and cursed and no longer advances in strength or power. Only by
atoning for the violations of the code may a paladin regain the
status and powers once theirs.
Player’s Handbook 22
level
hit dice (d10)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+1
0
2
2
+2
2,500
3
3
+3
5,000
4
4
+4
10,000
5
5
+5
20,000
6
6
+6
37,500
7
7
+7
75,000
8
8
+8
150,000
9
9
+9
250,000
10
+3
+10
500,000
11
+3
+11
750,000
12
+3
+12
1,000,000
13
+3
+13
1,250,000
14
+3
+14
1,500,000
15
+3
+15
1,750,000
16
+3
+16
2,000,000
17
+3
+17
2,250,000
18
+3
+18
2,500,000
19
+3
+19
2,750,000
20
+3
+20
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Strength 9, wisdom 9, charisma 9
Hit Die:
d10
Alignment:
Lawful good
Weapons:
Any
Armor:
Any armor and shield
Abilities:
Cure disease, divine aura, divine sense,
immunity to disease, lay on hands, multiple
attacks, paladin training, smite evil, turn
undead, divine mount, paladin spells
Cure Disease: At 1st level the paladin can cure any disease, no
matter the origin, once per week. This ability improves as the paladin
rises in levels. At 6th level, the paladin can cure disease two times per
week, at 11th level, three times per week and, at 16th level, four times
per week.
Divine Aura: Paladins emanate a permanent divine aura that wards
the paladin against mental domination and fear. At 1st level, the
paladin gains a +2 bonus to saving throws against confusion, charm,
fear, and other mind-affecting spells. The bonus increases to +3 at 6th
level, +4 at 11th level and +5 at level 16.
Each ally within 10’ of the paladin gains a +2 bonus to their saving
throws versus fear, so long as the paladin is conscious.
Divine Sense: By concentrating for 1 round the paladin knows the
exact location of extraplanar and undead creatures within 30 feet of
him.
Within the same radius, he also detects the presence of any place or
object that has been consecrated or desecrated.
Immunity to Disease: The paladin is immune to all diseases, whatever
their origin.
Lay on Hands: A paladin can cure 2 hit points per level of the paladin
once per day. This can be used on the paladin or on others, but the
healing cannot be divided among recipients.
Multiple Attacks: Paladins gain the ability to make more than one
attack per round. At levels 1-6 paladins are limited to making 1
attack each round. At levels 7-12 paladins may make three attacks
every two rounds. At level 13-18 paladins may make 2 attacks per
round. Finally, at level 19 and beyond, paladins are able to make 5
attacks every two rounds.
Paladin Training: The training of a paladin brings with it years of
religious study and training in mounted combat. As champions of
their faith, all paladins gain knowledge (religion) as a bonus
background skill. They also begin play with the profession (animal
handler: horses) skill.
Smite Evil: Paladins, as paragons of good and purity, are charged
with the destruction of evil. At level 1 paladins gain a +2 bonus to
attack and damage rolls against clerics and extraplanar creatures of
evil alignment, as well as all undead creatures. At levels 6, 11 and 16
this bonus increases by 1 (to +3 at level 6, +4 at level 11 and +5 at
level 16).
Turn Undead (Wisdom): At 3rd level, the paladin gains the ability to
turn undead as a cleric of 1st level. When making a wisdom check to
turn undead, a paladin adds his “turning level” to the roll, not the
character’s actual level. This ability improves with each level, so a 5th
level paladin turns undead like a 3rd level cleric.
Divine Mount: At 4th level, the paladin gains the ability to call a divine
warhorse or other mount. A paladin’s deity confers this grace upon
the paladin as a reward for faithful service. The divine mount is
unusually intelligent, strong, loyal, and ready to serve the paladin in
his crusade against evil. The mount is usually a heavy warhorse (for a
Medium-sized paladin) or a war pony (for a Small-sized paladin).
Should the paladin’s mount die, a year and a day must pass before
another can be called. The Dungeon Master provides information
about the mount that responds to the paladin’s call.
Paladin Spells: A paladin casts divine spells much as a cleric does.
The spells available are listed on the cleric spell list. A paladin is
limited to a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. The
table below shows the number of spells per day a character of the
class may cast. Paladins prepare spells each day through prayer to
their deity or deities. Paladins gain bonus spells for high wisdom
scores (see the Ability Modifiers table on page 4 for details). Through
7th level, a paladin has no caster level. At 8th level and higher, his
caster level is one-half his paladin level.
spells per day
spell level
level
0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
8
2
1
9
2
2
10
3
2
1
11
3
2
2
12
3
3
2
1
13
3
3
2
2
14
4
3
3
2
1
15
4
3
3
2
2
16
4
4
3
3
2
17
4
4
3
3
2
18
4
4
4
3
3
19
4
4
4
3
3
20
4
4
4
4
3
Paladins can prepare a number of 0-level spells, each day, as noted
on the “spells per day” table above. These spells are treated like any
other spell, but are not expended when cast and may be used
again.
Player’s Handbook 23
THE RANGER (Fighter)
Every king, prince, general, or mercenary captain has need of
specialized warriors whose skills go beyond sword and shield.
Knowledge of the enemy, including their strengths and weaknesses,
movements and encampments, and intentions, is often vital to
defeating that enemy. For these princes of the world, the ranger fulfills
this need. Rangers are also inspired by causes or creeds, noble or
ignoble, to battle enemies along the frontiers of their civilization,
keeping in abeyance the vile depredations of evil marauders or mean
beasts.
The ranger spends his life in the trackless wastes and wildernesses of
the world. There they travel barren escarpments and dense forests in
search of their foe, studying, tracking and gaining an intimate
knowledge of their manners and ways. Waylaying and combating
these enemies alone or in small groups, rangers are often driven by a
cause greater than themselves. These brave and stalwart souls often
live lonely and brutal lives far from the places they deem worthy of
their protection, and are as often viewed with skepticism and distrust
as they are with hope and admiration.
The ranger occasionally finds employment with a lord, baron, or other
leader, and is usually commissioned to guard large tracts of land
against interlopers or as a scout for large armies. As often, rangers
have committed themselves to a forsaken, bloody, yet noble cause -
defending civilization, at all costs, against those evil creatures that
would overrun them. The willingness of most rangers to take extreme
measures in this defense ostracizes them from their more urbane
brethren.
The ranger is a warrior skilled at combating humanoid creatures and
giantkind. They have honed their skills at combating these foes
through years of constant surveillance and combat. Their knowledge
extends well beyond fighting their enemies. They can track them,
speak their tongues when possible, and learn their ways.
The ranger’s distance from cities and towns enables them to become
excellent outdoorsmen, capable of living off land others may find
barren.
Rangers are found in the service of many disparate types of people
and causes, whether good or evil, lawful or chaotic. Knowledge of
combat prowess and subterfuge are not restricted to those who are
of a noble nature, and many a desperate outlaw has developed
knowledge of the wilderness and of guerilla tactics to confound
authorities and merchants alike.
The ranger’s ability in combat is renowned and they can take up
armor and shield to stride stone battlements and fight alongside the
best of warriors. However, a ranger’s true expertise lies elsewhere and
requires skills of a nature wholly unknown to others; hunting,
interdiction, escape and evasion are often the ranger’s most powerful
weapons. These talents, compounded with their eventual use of
druidic magic, make rangers formidable foes in battle.
Rangers must be able to move quickly through a variety of terrains.
Heavy or bulky armor can seriously impair mobility, and so some
restrictions apply to the armor types available for use by rangers. A
ranger may utilize any shield or helmet.
level
hit dice (d10)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+1
0
2
2
+2
2,500
3
3
+3
5,000
4
4
+4
10,000
5
5
+5
20,000
6
6
+6
37,500
7
7
+7
75,000
8
8
+8
150,000
9
9
+9
250,000
10
+3
+10
500,000
11
+3
+11
750,000
12
+3
+12
1,000,000
13
+3
+13
1,250,000
14
+3
+14
1,500,000
15
+3
+15
1,750,000
16
+3
+16
2,000,000
17
+3
+17
2,250,000
18
+3
+18
2,500,000
19
+3
+19
2,750,000
20
+3
+20
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Strength 9, wisdom 9, constitution 9
Hit Die:
d10
Alignment:
Any neutral or good (lawful good, neutral
good, chaotic good, lawful neutral, neutral,
chaotic neutral, or neutral evil)
Weapons:
Any
Armor:
Light and medium armor, all shields
Abilities:
Animal empathy, favored enemies, hunter’s
aim,
multiple
attacks,
perception,
ranger
training,
survival,
track,
wilderness
stealth,
ranger spells
Animal Empathy (Charisma): Rangers may attempt to alter the
reaction of wild and domesticated animals, in the same manner that
characters may influence others’ initial reactions through parleying
(see ENCOUNTER REACTIONS on page 54 for more details). Most
animals have an initial reaction of “neutral” when first encountered,
though those trained to attack or those that are feral or hungry usually
view potential prey with “hatred”.
Favored Enemies: Rangers possess an extraordinary ability to combat
their most common foes; goblinoids, kobolds, orcs and giants, due to
intense training and study of their enemy’s fighting techniques. When
fighting bugbears, goblins, hobgoblins, kobolds, orcs or giants (giants,
trolls, ogres and the like) rangers gain a bonus to their attack and
Player’s Handbook 24
damage rolls. This bonus starts at +2 at 1st level and increases by 1
point at levels 6, 11 and 16.
At the DM’s discretion the favored enemy races may be altered to
better suit the ranger’s background or campaign setting. Examples of
possible races or racial groups that could be chosen are: aberrations
(aboleth, beholders, mind flayers), aquatic humanoids (locathah,
mermen, sahuagin and tritons), dinosaurs, dragons, dwarves, elves,
faeries (brownies, pixies, sprites, etc), giants (ogres, giants and trolls),
gnolls, gnomes, goblinoids (goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears),
halflings, humans, kobolds, lizardmen, lycanthropes, magical beasts,
orcs, plants, etc.
Sahuagin rangers, for example, would typically have aquatic
humanoids, ixitxachitl, and lizardmen as favored enemies. Goblinoid
and orcish rangers would typically gain favored enemy bonuses
against dwarves, elves, and humans. Giant rangers would typically
have dwarves, gnomes and humans as favored enemies.
Hunter’s Aim: Rangers, as skirmishers, scouts and consummate
hunters, are highly skilled at making ranged attacks in less-than-ideal
conditions. Whether firing upon fog-shrouded enemies, targeting prey
with cover in densely forested areas or striking their quarry from great
distances, rangers have a knack for striking with deadly accuracy.
At 1st level the ranger may offset penalties for range, cover and/or
concealment by 2. At levels 6, 11, and 16 the ranger negates an
additional point of penalties (3 points at 6th level, 4 points at 11th level
and 5 points at 16th level) related to these impediments.
Note that hunter’s aim only serves to offset penalties for range, cover
or concealment and never provides a bonus to the ranger’s attack
rolls.
Multiple Attacks: Rangers gain the ability to make more than one
attack per round. At levels 1-6 rangers are limited to making 1 attack
each round. At levels 7-12 rangers may make three attacks every two
rounds. At level 13-18 rangers may make 2 attacks per round. Finally,
at level 19 and beyond, rangers are able to make 5 attacks every two
rounds.
Perception (Wisdom): A ranger can hear noises that others might not
detect and are keen observers of their surroundings. Rangers gain
perception as a class ability, rather than common ability, which allows
them to add their full level bonus to perception checks.
Ranger Training: Much of a ranger’s training is concerned with their
knowledge of survival skills and the use of guerilla tactics to combat
the enemies of their people in the wilds. This training is reflected in the
survival, favored enemies and combat abilities of the ranger. In
addition to these class abilities rangers begin with the knowledge
(nature) and profession (mountaineer) skills.
Survival (Wisdom): In wilderness environments, rangers can provide
shelter for themselves and others, and can provide decent food and
water for several people, all without the need for an ability check. The
ranger can forage and hunt for food and water. The ranger must
spend 1d4 hours hunting and gathering to produce enough food and
water to feed 2d4 people for 1 day. If the ranger wishes to feed or
shelter a larger group of people, he must spend an additional 1d4
hours gathering food and succeed at a survival check. This additional
effort allows the ranger to gather food and water for 2d4 more
creatures. The ranger can only hunt and forage for food 12 hours per
day, limiting the number of people that can be fed. In addition to the
ability to provide food and shelter in the wilds, a ranger can
automatically determine where true north lies in relation to the
character in normal wilderness environments.
Track: The ranger can successfully track any creature that leaves a
discernible trace, and determine characteristics about the creature
as well. With a successful survival check, a ranger can find and follow
a creature’s tracks or trail for 6 hours. The ranger can also hide tracks
at the same level of ability. When tracking or hiding tracks from
favored enemies a ranger receives a +2 bonus to the survival check.
The Dungeon Master may apply bonuses or penalties for varying
conditions, such as the length of time elapsed since the tracks were
made, weather conditions, the number of creatures tracked and
whether the tracked creature moved through water or a secret door.
A successful survival check may also impart information about the
creature(s) being tracked. Once a trail is found, a survival check can
determine the general number and type of creatures being tracked.
The number of creatures tracked should be disclosed to the player by
using one of the following categories: individuals (1-6), band (7- 20),
troop (21-100), or army (101+), and one of the following categories:
beast, demihuman, fey, giant, humanoid, plant, vermin, or other
(aberration, animated creature, dragon, elemental, magical beast,
ooze, extraplanar creature, shapechanger, or undead). For many
creatures the ranger cannot identify its exact type, only that it is a
creature of such nature. A ranger can identify specific animal tracks
with no effort.
At 3rd level, a ranger can ascertain distinguishing characteristics about
the creatures tracked, such as whether they are wounded,
exhausted, carrying heavy objects, or wearing certain armor. The
ranger might even be able to determine if a spellcaster is in the group
being tracked. The marks or characteristics determined are limited
only by the Dungeon Master’s imagination and desire to provide or
enhance story elements during game play. At 5th level, a ranger can
identify the type of creature(s) being tracked if belonging to one of
the following categories: beast, demihuman, fey, giant, humanoid,
plant, or vermin.
Wilderness Stealth (Dexterity): Rangers, as the consummate hunters
and trackers, can conceal themselves from others and move about
silently in the wilds. When in natural surroundings, rangers add their full
level bonus to all stealth checks.
Ranger Spells: A ranger casts divine spells much as a druid does. The
spells available are listed on the druid spell list. A ranger is limited to a
certain number of spells of each spell level per day. The table below
shows the number of spells per day a character of the class may cast.
Rangers prepare spells each day through prayer to their deity or
deities. Rangers gain bonus spells for high wisdom scores (see the
Ability Modifiers table on page 4 for details). Through 7th level, a
ranger has no caster level. At 8th level and higher, his caster level is
one-half his ranger level.
spells per day
spell level
level
0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
8
2
1
9
2
2
10
3
2
1
11
3
2
2
12
3
3
2
1
13
3
3
2
2
14
4
3
3
2
1
15
4
3
3
2
2
16
4
4
3
3
2
17
4
4
3
3
2
18
4
4
4
3
3
19
4
4
4
3
3
20
4
4
4
4
3
Rangers can prepare a number of 0-level spells, each day, as noted
on the “spells per day” table above. These spells are treated like any
other spell, but are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Player’s Handbook 25
THE MAGIC-USER
Among all peoples are those who strive to understand the oft
forbidden and feared arcane magics of the multiverse. These few
must have no fear in their quest for knowledge, as delving into the
arcane involves powers and energies that are poorly understood by
those bound to mortal planes. If not harnessed with care, unleashing
these magics can cause catastrophes of great proportion and slay
those who dabble in this art. The reward, however, for the diligence
and willingness to plumb the depths of these magical energies is
potentially great indeed. Magic-users bind themselves to this task,
seeking to master eldritch sorceries and unravel the riddles and
meanings of the world. They use their powers to reshape the world
around them and often, to bring prince and king to their knees.
Magic-users are the archetypical wizards, and they are vastly superior
to all others in understanding and harnessing the magic that ebbs
and flows through the multiverse. They come from all social strata and
can be found in all positions in society. They are often employed by
kings, nobles, religious houses or other powerful individuals, where they
act as guides and advisors and attempt to dominate courtly politics.
More often though, magic-users work in solitude, far away from the
prying eyes and keen ears of enemies, spies and other magic-users
who find them untrustworthy, dangerous competitors. In windswept
towers or dank dungeons deep beneath the earth, far from the din of
civilization, magic-users find the solitude and quiet necessary to
pursue their research and carry out their oft times dangerous
experiments.
Though from many walks of life, all magic-users have a few
characteristics in common. They are intelligent and observant, diligent
and have an exacting eye for detail. Their unyielding search and thirst
for knowledge of the eldritch powers often generates a self-serving
egomania in the most successful and powerful of magic-users. And,
as they become ever more competent in harnessing eldritch sorceries
and control of the world about them, they attempt to bend it to their
will. In this, they suffer little distraction and afford interlopers little
forgiveness.
Woe to the foe of these powerful magic-users. Garnering their ire
means the unleashing of horrid and terrible magics few can
understand and fewer still combat. A magic-user’s enemies are laid to
waste from balls of blue flame and bolts of lightning called from
elemental planes or even from servants of the rulers of the nether
worlds conjured forth to act in their name. They can make objects
disappear and transport themselves many miles away, see into the
darkness and build walls of force no man can pass. Magic-users are
powerful beyond measure.
Their pursuits and studies and the focus upon the arcane mean a life
of laboring over ancient tomes of knowledge. This leaves magic-users
little time to learn and become proficient in all but the most common
of weapons and not at all capable of using armor that hinders the
intricate somatic movements needed to cast some of their most
powerful spells. Yet this matters little to them as magic-users realize
their wits and arcane powers are far more powerful than any sword
will ever be and that magics and servants conjured from the
elemental planes offer far more protection than any armor could
possibly manage.
Ability Requirements: Intelligence 9
Hit Die:
d4
Alignment:
Any
Weapons:
Club, dagger, dart, light crossbow, and
quarterstaff
Armor:
None*
Abilities:
Magic-user spells, magic-user training
* A magic-user may not cast spells in armor.
level
hit dice (d4)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
0
0
2
2
0
2,500
3
3
+1
5,000
4
4
+1
10,000
5
5
+1
20,000
6
6
+2
37,500
7
7
+2
75,000
8
8
+2
150,000
9
9
+3
250,000
10
+1
+3
500,000
11
+1
+3
750,000
12
+1
+4
1,000,000
13
+1
+4
1,250,000
14
+1
+4
1,500,000
15
+1
+5
1,750,000
16
+1
+5
2,000,000
17
+1
+5
2,250,000
18
+1
+6
2,500,000
19
+1
+6
2,750,000
20
+1
+6
3,000,000
Magic-User Spells: A magic-user casts arcane spells. Each magic-user
can cast a limited number of spells from each spell level per day. The
table below lists the number of spells per day a magic-user may cast
of each spell level. For example, a 5th level magic-user can cast four
0-level, three 1st level, two 2nd level and one 3rd level spell.
A magic-user must prepare spells before casting them by studying
from a spellbook. While studying, the magic-user decides which spells
to prepare. Spell memorization and descriptions are covered in
greater detail in the Magic section beginning on page 60. Magic-
users gain bonus spells for high intelligence scores (see the Ability
Modifiers table on page 4 for details).
Magic-users can prepare a number of 0-level spells, each day, as
noted on the “spells per day” table below. These spells are treated like
any other spell, but are not expended when cast and may be used
again.
Magic-User Training: As a result of their training, all magic-users begin
play with the knowledge (arcana) skill in addition to their background
skills (see SKILLS for more details).
Spellbook: The number of spells that a magic-user has in their
spellbook at the beginning of play is equal to the number of spells
they can cast at first level plus read magic. For example, a 1st level
magic-user with a 14 intelligence can cast four 0-level spells and two
1st level spells (1+1 bonus). So, the character would begin play with a
spellbook containing four 0-level and two 1st level spells plus read
magic. The spells in the spellbook are chosen by the player and
should be approved by the Dungeon Master.
spells per day
spell level
level
0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
1
4
1
2
4
2
3
4
2
1
4
4
3
2
5
4
3
2
1
6
4
3
3
2
7
4
4
3
2
1
8
4
4
3
3
2
9
4
4
4
3
2
1
10
4
4
4
3
3
2
11
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
12
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
13
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
14
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
15
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
16
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
17
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
18
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
19
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
20
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Player’s Handbook 26
THE ILLUSIONIST (Magic-User)
The illusionist’s skill is measured by power, specifically the power to
make a mockery of reality. Rare indeed are the illusionists who blur
what is with what may be. They ply minds and twist desire with dream
and bind it to the world of their creation. In the illusionist’s spells few
can unravel the truth from their own fears or desires. Greatly feared for
their psychic abilities, the illusionist is heralded as one of the greatest
and most mysterious of the magi.
The illusionist utilizes magic to alter perception and reality. Illusion
magic deceives the senses, creates false images and sounds,
changes sensory qualities, affects the mind, and in some cases,
fashions energy into something real. The illusionist is a type of magic-
user, uncommon and more often than not, underestimated.
Illusionists are greatly valued for their understanding of the mental
caprices of most of the intelligent races. They are often found in high
places of government and use their skills to enchant people, numbing
their senses to the true banalities of kings and princes. Powerful
illusionists make soldiers out of brigands, and fools out of soldiers and
can, with their magic, empower the rabble to sweep armies from the
field.
A keen intelligence and depth of perception unknown to most men
are vital to the illusionist as it reflects their ability to understand the
complex relationship between magic, the mundane and the mind,
Further, an empathy and even sympathy for those around the
illusionist are indispensable for the creation of masterful illusions and
the ability to warp others’ perception of reality.
An illusionist may choose any alignment. They are not bound by any
creed, culture or religion. They come from all walks of life and, due to
their meddling in the minds of others, have a greater empathy for all
castes of people than any of the other classes.
Illusionists are generally untrained in martial warfare and are limited in
their choice of weapons. In any respect, most illusionists view the use
of weapons as vulgar. It takes little intelligence, so they have
convinced themselves, to wield a weapon in combat.
Most all spells require somatic and verbal actions. These often
complex gestures and intonations cannot be performed unless the
illusionist is free to move and speak. As such, most illusionists wear
loose robes or tight fitting clothing.
level
hit dice (d4)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
0
0
2
2
0
2,500
3
3
+1
5,000
4
4
+1
10,000
5
5
+1
20,000
6
6
+2
37,500
7
7
+2
75,000
8
8
+2
150,000
9
9
+3
250,000
10
+1
+3
500,000
11
+1
+3
750,000
12
+1
+4
1,000,000
13
+1
+4
1,250,000
14
+1
+4
1,500,000
15
+1
+5
1,750,000
16
+1
+5
2,000,000
17
+1
+5
2,250,000
18
+1
+6
2,500,000
19
+1
+6
2,750,000
20
+1
+6
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Intelligence 9, dexterity 9
Hit Die:
d4
Alignment:
Any
Weapons:
Club, dagger, dart, light crossbow and
quarterstaff
Armor:
None*
Abilities:
Illusionist spells, illusionist training, resistance to
illusions
* An illusionist may not cast spells in armor.
Illusionist Spells: An illusionist casts arcane spells much like a magic-
user but, due to the specialized and inherently different nature of
illusion magic, have their own spell list. Each illusionist can cast a
limited number of spells from each spell level per day. The table below
lists the number of spells per day an illusionist may cast of each spell
level. For example, a 5th level illusionist can cast four 0-level, three 1st
level, two 2nd level spells and one 3rd level spell.
An illusionist must prepare spells before casting them by studying from
a spellbook. Illusionists may only scribe arcane spells from the illusionist
spell list into their spellbooks. While studying, the illusionist decides
which spells to prepare.
Illusionists can prepare a number of 0-level spells, each day, as noted
on the “spells per day” table below. These spells are treated like any
other spell, but are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Spell memorization and descriptions are covered in greater detail in
the Magic section beginning on page 60. Illusionists gain bonus spells
for high intelligence scores (see the Ability Modifiers table on page 4
for details).
Illusionist Training: As a result of their training, all illusionists begin play
with the knowledge (arcana) skill in addition to their background skills
(see SKILLS for more details).
Resistance to Illusions: At 1st level, illusionists gain a +1 bonus to saving
throws to resist all illusion/phantasm spells. At levels 5, 10, 15 and 20
this bonus increases by an additional point, to a maximum of +5 at
level 20.
spells per day
spell level
level
0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
1
4
1
2
4
2
3
4
2
1
4
4
3
2
5
4
3
2
1
6
4
3
3
2
7
4
4
3
2
1
8
4
4
3
3
2
9
4
4
4
3
2
1
10
4
4
4
3
3
2
11
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
12
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
13
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
14
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
15
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
16
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
17
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
18
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
19
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
20
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Spellbook: The number of spells that an illusionist has in their spellbook
at the beginning of play is equal to the number of spells they can cast
at first level plus read magic. For example, a 1st level illusionist with a
14 intelligence can cast four 0-level spells and two 1st level spells (1+1
bonus). So, the character would begin play with a spellbook
containing four 0-level and two 1st level spells plus read magic. The
spells in the spellbook are chosen by player and should be approved
by the Dungeon Master.
Player’s Handbook 27
THE MONK
Adventure is fraught with danger, and most heroes gird themselves
with weapons and armor. There are those, however, who reject steel
and iron. They instead rely primarily upon their body and mind for
survival in combat and hone them into unbreakable weapons of war.
The monk is devoted to the perfection of the body, and the mastery
of mind over body. The monk is an expert in unarmed combat, be it
wrestling, boxing, kung fu or any of the other of the myriad martial arts
styles. Some monks’ dedication to the martial arts flows from a strong
spirituality, and they often live by stringent personal or organizational
codes of conduct. Others show only disdain for religion, but look to
training and personal perfection to bring their lives meaning. While
there is no standard that a monk must follow, they are all devoted to
the use of the body as the best of weapons on the field, and the
mind’s control of the body as the best weapon of all.
Monks must attain a perfect balance between physical strength,
body mass, and their mental state. When these are in union, the monk
has achieved the perfect, unbeatable weapon, but the path to
attain this state is difficult and exhausting, and only those with great
stamina and fortitude achieve it.
To achieve a harmonious balance in mind and spirit, the monk must
not be susceptible to wild urges, emotions, or other distracting mental
and physical conditions. A physical and mental harmony and
balance must be maintained for them to function at their peak. As
such, they are strict adherents to their codes, masters of the routines
necessary to train the body and follow strict regimens to undertake
the mental and physical purification to achieve perfect control of the
body.
The monk generally prefers to engage only in unarmed combat.
However many simple weapons, completely mastered and innocuous
in appearance, are used as extensions of the body. These weapons
are mirrors of the personal ethos of the monk and their desire to make
what appears weak and harmless into something strong and lethal.
Monks eschew the use of bulky and weighty armors, relying instead
upon their speed and skill at predicting a foe’s movements and
attacks to protect them from harm.
level
hit dice (d8)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+1
0
2
2
+2
2,500
3
3
+3
5,000
4
4
+4
10,000
5
5
+5
20,000
6
6
+6
37,500
7
7
+7
75,000
8
8
+8
150,000
9
9
+9
250,000
10
+2
+10
500,000
11
+2
+11
750,000
12
+2
+12
1,000,000
13
+2
+13
1,250,000
14
+2
+14
1,500,000
15
+2
+15
1,750,000
16
+2
+16
2,000,000
17
+2
+17
2,250,000
18
+2
+18
2,500,000
19
+2
+19
2,750,000
20
+2
+20
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Strength 9, wisdom 9, dexterity 9
Hit Die:
d8
Alignment:
Any lawful (lawful good, lawful neutral, or
lawful evil)
Weapons:
Blowgun, bows, club, dagger, dart, hand axe,
javelin, flail (horseman’s), light crossbow, mace
(any), pole arms, quarterstaff, sickle, scythe,
shurikens, sling, spear (any)
Armor:
None*
Abilities:
Balance, climb, deflect missile, escape artist, fast
movement, jump, mind over body, multiple
attacks, perception, stealth, stunning attack,
unarmed attack, unarmored defense, slow fall, ki
strike, purity of body, feign death, fast healing,
evasion, still mind, tongues, immunity to poison,
quivering palm, speak with plants, timeless body
*A monk who is more than lightly encumbered or wearing armor loses
their deflect missile, fast movement, unarmored defense, slow fall, ki
strike, evasion and quivering palms abilities. They also lose their more
favorable rate of Unarmed Attacks per Round (see below).
Monk Class Abilities
Level
unarmed
attacks per
round
unarmed
attack
damage
unarmored
AC
fast
movement
1
1
1d6
10
60’ (12”)
2
1
1d6
11
65’ (13”)
3
1
1d6
11
65’ (13”)
4
3/2
1d6
12
70’ (14”)
5
3/2
1d8
12
75’ (15”)
6
3/2
1d8
13
75’ (15”)
7
3/2
1d8
13
80’ (16”)
8
3/2
1d8
14
85’ (17”)
9
3/2
1d8
14
85’ (17”)
10
2
1d10
15
90’ (18”)
11
2
1d10
15
95’ (19”)
12
2
1d10
16
95’ (19”)
13
2
1d10
16
100’ (20”)
14
2
1d10
17
105’ (21”)
15
2
2d6
17
105’ (21”)
16
5/2
2d6
18
110’ (22”)
17
5/2
2d6
18
115’ (23”)
18
5/2
2d6
19
115’ (23”)
19
5/2
2d6
19
120’ (24”)
20
5/2
2d8
20
125’ (25”)
Balance (Dexterity): Monks add their full level bonus when making
dexterity checks to balance on narrow or slippery surfaces.
Monks, like other characters, move at ¼ of their normal movement
rate (rounded to the nearest 5’ increment) when balancing. They may
attempt to move at ½ of their movement, rounded to the nearest 5’
increment, but take a -5 penalty to their balance check when doing
so.
Climb (Dexterity): This ability allows a monk to climb up, down, or
across a slope, wall, steep incline (even a ceiling with handholds), or
unusually angled natural or man-made slope or incline that others
would find impossible to climb. Monks add their full level bonus to
such checks and never need to make a climb check in order to climb
natural slopes and man-made inclines, such as a rough ledge or
steep steps, at ¼ of their normal movement rate (rounded to the
nearest 5’ increment). A monk may attempt to move at ½ of their
movement, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment, while climbing but
takes a -5 penalty to his dexterity check when doing so.
A failed climb check means that the character makes no progress. A
check that fails by 5 or more means that the character falls from the
currently attained height and suffers falling damage. Nothing can be
carried in the hands while climbing.
Deflect Missiles (Dexterity): Monks are able to deflect arrows and
other non-magical missiles (excluding siege weapon ammunition),
including, but not limited to axes, bolas, bolts, bullets, clubs, daggers,
darts, throwing hammers, harpoons, javelins, nets, rocks and spears.
The monk must have at least one hand empty to use this ability.
When a character would normally be hit with a ranged weapon, the
character may make a deflect missiles check. If the result of this
check equals or exceeds the attack roll, the monk deflects the
weapon and suffers no damage.
This can be done once a round at levels 1-6, twice per round at levels
7-12, three times per round at levels 13-18 and four times per round at
level 19 and beyond. The use of this ability does not prevent a monk
from making their allotted attacks per round. The monk must be
aware of the attack to use this ability.
Escape Artist (Strength or Dexterity): Due to their training, monks have
a knack for escaping bonds, such as ropes, leather thongs, manacles,
chains and even straitjackets through feats of contortion and sheer
determination. Monks may add their level bonus to all attempts
made to slip such bonds and, if grappled, may add their full level
Player’s Handbook 28
bonus (rather than ½ their level bonus) to their strength or dexterity
check to break the grapple.
Fast Movement: Beginning at 2nd level, a monk moves faster than
normal members of his race. A monk wearing any armor or shield, or
carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.
Jump (Strength): Monks add their full level bonus to all strength
checks made when leaping or high jumping. In addition, their skill at
tumbling allows them to treat all falls as if they were 10 feet shorter
than they really are when determining damage, so long as the monk
is no more than lightly encumbered.
Mind Over Body: A monk’s mental mastery over his body imparts a +1
bonus to all saving throws versus paralysis, polymorph, petrification,
and death attacks. The bonus increases to +2 at 5th level, +3 at 10th
level, +4 at 15th level and +5 at 20th level.
Multiple Attacks: Monks, like fighters, gain the ability to make more
than one attack per round. At levels 1-6 monks are limited to making
1 attack each round with armed attacks. At levels 7-12 monks may
make three armed attacks every two rounds. At level 13-18 monks
may make 2 armed attacks per round. Finally, at level 19 and
beyond, monks are able to make 5 armed attacks every two rounds.
As shown on the Monk Abilities chart on the previous page, monks
making unarmed strikes gain multiple attacks as if they were 3 levels
higher than their actual level. As such, a 4th level monk may make 3
attacks every 2 rounds.
Perception (Wisdom): A monk can hear noises that others might not
detect and are keen observers of their surroundings. Monks gain
perception as a class ability, rather than common ability, which allows
them to add their full level bonus to perception checks.
Stealth (Dexterity): Monks can conceal themselves from others and
move about with utter silence when they so desire. Monks have
stealth as a class ability, rather than common ability, and add their full
level bonus to all stealth checks.
Stunning Attack: The monk may designate one attack per round as
being a stunning attack. If the monk hits with this attack, his foe must
make a constitution saving throw or be stunned, and unable to act,
for 1d4 combat rounds. A missed attempt foils that use of the ability
and counts against the monk’s daily limit for such attacks. Monks may
attempt one stunning attack per day for every 4 monk levels they
have attained. As such, they may use one stunning attack per day at
levels 1-4, two at levels 5-8, three at levels 9-12, four at levels 13-16 and
five at levels 17-20.
Unarmed Attack: A monk specializes in unarmed, hand-to-hand
combat. A monk gains multiple unarmed attacks and improved
unarmed combat damage as he progresses in level, as shown on the
Monk Abilities table. The monk may choose whether his unarmed
attacks inflict lethal or non-lethal damage.
A monk who combines unarmed strikes with armed attacks in a given
round must use their standard rate of attacks for that round and
applies the standard Two-Weapon Fighting penalties to such attacks.
Only monks may parry weapon attacks while unarmed.
Unarmored Defense: A monk knows how to use his body for defense,
and has an inherent armor class that increases with experience as
indicated on the table above, so long as they do not use armor or a
shield. Monks wearing bracers of defense (or benefitting from the
armor spell) use either their inherent armor class bonus or that
provided by the bracers (or spell), whichever is greater.
Slow Fall: At 2nd level, a falling monk takes damage as if a fall were 10
feet shorter than it actually is, but must be within 10 feet of a vertical
surface that he can use to slow the descent. This distance increases
by 10’ for every 2 levels gained to a maximum of 90’ (18”) at level 18.
Note that the jump ability reduces the effective falling distance, in all
instances, by an additional 10’.
Ki Strike: At 3rd level, a monk’s unarmed attack is empowered with ki.
This attack can deal damage to a creature as if from a + 1 magic
weapon. This ability improves as the monk rises in levels as follows: +2
at 6th level, +3 at 9th level, +4 at 12th level and +5 at 15th level and
beyond.
Purity of Body: At 5th level a monk are not subject to diseases of any
sort.
Feign Death: At 6th level, a monk has mastery over vital bodily
functions, and can slow them until he appears to be dead. The monk
may maintain the feigned death for a number of turns equal to the
character’s level.
Fast Healing: At 7th level and beyond, a monk’s body naturally heals
faster than normal. Each day, a monk heals a number of hit points
equal to his monk level as long as 8 hours of rest, sleep or meditation is
possible.
Evasion: At 8th level monks who make their dexterity saving throw
against breath weapons, traps or spells such as fireball take no
damage instead of half damage. On a failed save they only take
half damage.
Still Mind: At 9th level, a monk gains a +2 bonus to saving throws
against confusion, charm, fear, and spells that affect the mind. The
bonus increases to +4 at 12th level and +6 at level 15. At level 18 and
beyond the monk is immune to all mind-effecting spells.
Tongues: 10th level monks may converse with all living creatures that
are capable of speech, as per the tongues spell.
Immunity to Poison: 11th level and higher monks are immune to all
poisons.
Quivering Palm: At 14th level, a monk gains a fearsome and fabled
attack, the quivering palm. The monk can use the quivering palm
attack once per week. The attack must be announced before an
attack roll is made. The monk must be of higher level than the target
or have more levels than the target’s number of hit dice. If the monk
strikes successfully, and the target takes damage from an unarmed
attack, the quivering palm succeeds. Thereafter, the monk can
choose to try to slay the victim at any later time within 1 round per
level of the monk.
The monk merely wills the target to die, and the victim makes a
constitution save. If the victim fails, it dies. This attack has no effect on
undead or creatures that can only be struck by magic weapons,
unless the monk is able to hit the creature with the ki strike ability.
Speak with Plants: By 18th level the monk is so attuned to his
surroundings that he may speak with plants at will.
Timeless Body: At 20th level the monk is no longer affected by the
ravages of age and ignores all ability penalties that have been
accrued through aging. Ability bonuses gained through aging remain
and the character’s lifespan is increased
considerably
(the
character’s maximum age is doubled).
Player’s Handbook 29
THE THIEF
Ancient cities with high towers and crumbling walls, sprawling towns
along coastal highways, villages, castles, and hamlets – all have one
thing in common. They all have thieves in their environs. Their names
vary: thieves, rapscallions, cutpurses, confidence men, burglars,
pickpockets, highwaymen. Their methods vary as widely as their
names, but their goals and the theme of their live are constant.
Thieves steal from others. They gather ill-gotten goods for their own
pleasure or needs and care not a whit for payment or compensation
of those they take from. Thieves make their living in the shadows,
through stealth, deceit, and thievery, or at times, in service to some
greater purpose known only to them.
The archetypical ne’er-do-well, thieves can be scions of the
wealthiest families or simple street urchins. Some make their living by
burglary, robbing wealthy merchants and pilfering the goods of
many a palace. Others pick the pockets of the unwary, from the
simple traveler to the noble lord. Still others find their skills best suited
to plundering dungeons, unraveling riddles in dark caves, and
stealing treasure from the forgotten places of the world, avoiding the
laws and the lawmen of the more civilized areas of the world.
To perform the many acts of daring a thief manages on a routine
basis, they must be exceedingly dexterous. A thief must be nimble of
hand and foot. They must be quick of wit and mind. When perfectly
combined into a seamless coordination of mental acumen and
hand-eye coordination the thief becomes a foe to be feared and
friend never to be trusted.
It is true that there is no honor among these thieves. Every valuable is
a potential source of income and every circumstance an
enticement to misdeed. Driven by an anarchic soul and outcast’s
disdain, few laws are considered sacred and no oath made that is
not to be broken. Their only brotherhood is that of their
confederations and guilds of like-minded thieves who are as loyal to
one another as they are to anything else. They serve the purpose of
protection and organized rackets but have little more staying power
than the strength of its leadership to manage the unruly and
rebellious membership. There are the rare exceptions to this
generally dispiriting lot. There are burglars who steal only from
wealthy and evil overlords, rob dragon’s hordes, or pilfer the
treasuries of malicious and cruel tyrants. However, they too are
driven by the same forces that inspire others for it takes a wily and
willful individual to crawl down dark forbidding corridors and face
down dragons for a peek at their hordes.
Thieves try to avoid combat as much as possible. Though not
cowardly, they simply find the phrase “better to live and fight
another day” more meaningful and applicable than anything to do
with honor, pride or recognition of their martial prowess. Further, one
might actually die in combat, and that has little value to anyone,
especially to the thief in question. As such, their weapons are
generally of the smaller variety and not very impressive, being
daggers, saps and such or those that can be used from a great
distance such as bows, slings and darts. Neither do thieves have
much regard for shields and armors as they hinder movement and
make even simple tasks difficult. And, since thieves avoid combat as
much as possible, the armor becomes a useless accoutrement in
most cases and in a city, attracts more attention than most thieves
desire.
level
hit dice (d6)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+0
0
2
2
+1
2,500
3
3
+2
5,000
4
4
+2
10,000
5
5
+3
20,000
6
6
+4
37,500
7
7
+4
75,000
8
8
+5
150,000
9
9
+6
250,000
10
+2
+6
500,000
11
+2
+7
750,000
12
+2
+8
1,000,000
13
+2
+8
1,250,000
14
+2
+9
1,500,000
15
+2
+10
1,750,000
16
+2
+10
2,000,000
17
+2
+11
2,250,000
18
+2
+12
2,500,000
19
+2
+12
2,750,000
20
+2
+13
3,000,000
Ability Requirements: Dexterity 9
Hit Die:
d6
Alignment:
Any
Weapons:
Blowgun, broadsword, club, dagger, dart,
hammer
(throwing),
hand
axe,
hand
crossbow, garrote, gauntlet, light crossbow,
longsword, mace (horseman’s), quarterstaff,
sap,
shortbow,
shortsword,
sling,
spiked
gauntlet, whip
Armor:
Light armor only
Class Abilities:
Backstab, balance, cant, climb, combat
sense, disable device, dodge, escape artist,
find traps, infiltration, jump, perception, sleight
of hands, sneak attack, stealth, decipher
script, evasion
* A thief who is more than lightly encumbered loses their dodge and
evasion abilities.
Backstab: Thieves have the ability to capitalize on their foes’
lowered defenses in order to deliver lethal melee attacks. When
attacking a prone, stunned, surprised or unaware defender, or when
attacking a defender’s rear facing, thieves gain a +2 bonus to their
melee attack rolls and deal an additional 2 points of damage. The
damage bonus increases by 1 point at levels 6, 11 and 16.
A thief can only use backstab against creatures with a discernible
anatomy. The thief must be able to see the target well enough to
pick out a vital spot. They may only backstab with melee weapons
listed on the thief weapon proficiency list.
Balance (Dexterity): Thieves add their full level bonus when making
dexterity checks to balance on narrow or slippery surfaces.
Thieves, unlike other characters, move at ½ of their normal
movement rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment, when
balancing. They may attempt to move at their normal movement
rate but suffer a -5 penalty to their balance check when doing so. At
10th level they may balance at their full movement rate without
penalty.
Cant: Thieves often use a street language known only to those in the
“trade.” Code words, hand signals, demeanor, and other signs
comprise the language of thieves’ cant and can be used to convey
complex ideas. Thief characters gain knowledge (language: cant) as
a bonus background skill at the start of play. The language may vary
to some degree both geographically and culturally, making cants
unique to each region, city and even within a city.
Climb (Dexterity): This ability allows a thief to climb up, down or
across a slope, wall, steep incline (even a ceiling with handholds) or
unusually angled natural or man-made slope or incline that others
would find impossible to climb. Thieves add their full level bonus to
such checks and never need to make a climb check in order to
Player’s Handbook 30
climb natural slopes and man-made inclines, such as a rough ledge
or steep steps.
Thieves may climb at ½ of their normal movement rate without
penalty. At 10th level thieves may attempt to climb at their normal
movement rate by making a climb check with a -5 penalty.
A failed climb check means that the character makes no progress. A
check that fails by 5 or more means that the character falls from the
currently attained height and suffers falling damage. Nothing can be
carried in the hands while climbing.
Combat Sense: A thief, through years of training (whether that
training be formal, guild training or that borne of surviving in squalor
and under the constant threat of danger), has an uncanny sense for
the presence of foes when in a threatening environment. This
reduces the effectiveness of backstab and sneak attacks against
thieves. At 1st level, backstabbed thieves negate the attack and
damage bonuses gained against them through the backstab ability
of other thieves and assassins.
At 6th level, thieves gain improved combat sense and can no longer
be sneak attacked when surprised. At 11th level the thief gets
greater combat sense and is no longer vulnerable to sneak attacks
under any circumstances.
Disable Device (Dexterity): A thief can use this ability to open
mechanical locks and disable traps, including magical traps, that he
has found. The check penalty is usually equal to the device’s
creator, or to the caster level of person who created the magical
trap, though the penalty may be modified if exceptional tools or
materials are used in the device’s construction.
Generally, it takes one to four rounds to disarm a device, depending
on its complexity. This ability requires the use of a set of thieves’ tools,
including picks, blank keys, wires, or other appropriate tools. A thief
may only make one attempt per lock or trap.
A successful check indicates that the lock has been opened or the
trap has been disabled. If a disable device attempt fails when
opening a lock, the thief cannot try to open the same lock again
until the next level of experience is gained, as it is beyond their ability.
Failure to disarm a trap indicates that the thief set off the trap and
suffers the trap’s effect.
To set a trap, or to reset a previously disabled trap, a thief must make
a successful disable device check. If a character is resetting a trap
that he previously disabled, the thief gains a +5 bonus to the check.
Dodge: Thieves rely upon agility and deftness in order to avoid
engaging in toe-to-toe combat with opponents. While heavy-
armored fighters and hardy barbarians are able to trade blows in
melee, thieves must make the most out of their maneuverability in
order to stand a fighting chance in combat.
A 1st level thief gains a +1 bonus to his armor class, so long as he is
unencumbered or carrying a light load. This bonus improves by +1 at
6th level and every 5 levels thereafter, to a maximum of +4 at level 16.
Escape Artist (Strength or Dexterity): Thieves have a knack for
escaping bonds, such as ropes, leather thongs, manacles, chains
and even straitjackets through feats of contortion and sheer
determination. They may add their level bonus to all attempts made
to slip such bonds and, if grappled, may add their full level bonus
(rather than ½ their level bonus) to their strength or dexterity check to
break the grapple.
Find Traps: Thieves may make perception checks to search for traps,
including magical traps. To find a trap, a thief spends time intently
studying and searching an area to deduce possible trap locations. It
takes one round to locate a trap in a specific area such as a lock or
a doorknob, and one minute to locate traps in a 5’ by 5’ foot area.
A successful perception check indicates the thief finds a trap, if one
is present. If multiple traps are in an area, the thief’s perception
check is applied against all traps in the area. The check penalty to
this perception check is usually equal to the level of the trap’s
creator or to the caster level of person who created the magical
trap, though the penalty may be modified if exceptional tools or
materials are used in a trap’s construction. If multiple traps are
present, apply each check penalty separately against the thief’s
single perception check to find traps.
Infiltration: Thieves, as unparalleled master burglars, gain a +2 bonus
to all disable device and stealth checks they make. This bonus is
added to the thief’s level bonus, and may be combined with racial
bonuses to these abilities.
Jump (Strength): Thieves add their full level bonus to all strength
checks made when leaping or high jumping. In addition, their skill at
tumbling allows them to treat all falls as if they were 10 feet shorter
than they really are when determining damage, so long as the thief is
no more than lightly encumbered.
Perception (Wisdom): A thief can hear noises that others might not
detect and, by necessity, are keen observers of their surroundings.
Thieves gain perception as a class ability, rather than common
ability, which allows them to add their full level bonus to perception
checks.
Sleight of Hands (Dexterity): All thieves are trained in the arts of
legerdemain or sleight of hands. When making a dexterity check to
perform any “sleight of hands” thieves add their level bonus to the
roll. A thief can use this ability to remove the contents of a pocket or
pouch (or otherwise take something from a person) without being
noticed, by making a sleight of hands check (opposed by their
target’s perception check). Success may require the thief to cut the
purse or pouch from the target.
This ability also allows the thief to perform “sleight of hand”
maneuvers. A successful sleight of hands check (opposed by their
target’s perception check) indicates the thief has hidden or moved
an item in such a manner that observers are not aware of where the
item has been hidden. Typical maneuvers include hiding a coin,
sliding a card up a sleeve, performing the peanut trick (table tricks),
and the like. A penalty to the check may be applied if there is an
observer present that is determined to note where an item is moved.
Sneak Attack: A thief normally avoids face-to-face combat if
possible, preferring instead to use stealth or guile to catch an
opponent unaware or off-guard.
If the thief successfully attacks a surprised or unaware opponent their
base weapon damage, excluding all modifiers due to magic, class
abilities and/or exceptional strength, is doubled. As the thief gains
experience, the damage inflicted increases. At 4th level, a thief’s
sneak attacks deal triple damage. At 8th level, sneak attacks deal
quadruple damage. At 12th level, a thief’s sneak attacks deal
quintuple damage and, at 16th level and beyond, such attacks deal
sextuple damage.
A thief can only sneak attack creatures that have a discernible
anatomy. The thief must be able to see the target well enough to
pick out a vital spot. They may only make sneak attacks with
weapons listed on the thief weapon proficiency list.
Stealth (Dexterity): Thieves can conceal themselves from others and
move about with utter silence when they so desire. Thieves have
stealth as a class ability, rather than common ability, and add their
full level bonus to all stealth checks.
Thieves may attempt to move silently at ½ of their normal movement
rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment, without penalty. They
may attempt to move at their normal movement rate but take a -5
penalty to their stealth check when doing so. At 10th level they may
move at their full movement rate without penalty. All attempts to
move silently while running suffer a -20 penalty.
Decipher Script (Intelligence): At 4th level the thief gains the ability to
decipher writing in an unfamiliar language, a message written in an
incomplete or archaic font, or a message written in code. If the
check succeeds, the character understands the general content of
a piece of writing. It takes 2d8 minutes to decipher each page of a
script. The attempt may be made only once per writing.
A thief may use this ability to decipher arcane or divines scripts, as
per the read magic spell, if a successful check is made with a -10
penalty. This does not permit the thief to cast spells they otherwise
could not cast but does allow them to identify the contents of a
deciphered scroll.
Evasion: At 8th level thieves who make their dexterity saving throw
against breath weapons, traps or spells such as fireball take no
damage instead of half damage. On a failed save they only take
half damage.
Player’s Handbook 31
THE ASSASSIN (Thief)
Assassins are the ultimate killers. Through cunning and guile they slay
their victims by any means necessary. They can be either heroes or
villains. It is all a matter of perspective as they stalk unwary and
undeserving victims through grim city streets or gilt palaces, striking
them down from behind or poisoning corrupt and evil nobles whose
fat fingers dip too far into the public’s coffers.
Although they are not necessarily evil, they are typically indifferent to
the world around them. They view life and death as the natural
course of things, and think little on the matter, if at all. Though not all
assassins kill without regret, they do kill for a reason. Whether for pay
or personal morality, assassins carry out missions that others find
impossible and immoral.
Quick reflexes and swift movements are essential to an assassin’s
trade. They must be able to move with speed and grace when going
for the kill to avoid detection or a victim’s reaction to their attack.
The best of assassins are highly intelligent and focused individuals,
capable of undergoing extreme duress and great stress to perform
their duties. Whether working in disguise or slinking down back alleys,
patience, intelligence and speed are an assassin’s stock and trade.
The assassin’s weapons of choice are many and varied. Their most
important and valuable weapons are guile and deceit, patience
and willpower, swift action and cunning movements. With these,
assassins become the most lethal killers in the world and the most
feared and dreaded of foes.
Ability Requirements: Intelligence 9, dexterity 9
Hit Die:
d6
Alignment:
Any non-good (lawful neutral, lawful evil,
neutral, neutral evil, chaotic neutral, or chaotic
evil)
Weapons:
Blowgun, broadsword, club, dagger, dart,
hammer
(throwing),
hand
axe,
hand
crossbow, garrote, gauntlet, light crossbow,
longsword, mace (horseman’s), quarterstaff,
sap,
shortbow,
shortsword,
sling,
spiked
gauntlet, whip
Armor:
Light armor and small shields*
Class Abilities:
Backstab, balance, climb, combat sense, death
attack, disable device, disguise, dodge, escape
artist, find traps, jump, perception, poisons, sleight
of hands, sneak attack, stealth
* An assassin who is more than lightly encumbered loses their dodge
and evasion abilities.
level
hit dice (d6)
bonus to hit (bth)
experience points
1
1
+0
0
2
2
+1
2,500
3
3
+2
5,000
4
4
+2
10,000
5
5
+3
20,000
6
6
+4
37,500
7
7
+4
75,000
8
8
+5
150,000
9
9
+6
250,000
10
+2
+6
500,000
11
+2
+7
750,000
12
+2
+8
1,000,000
13
+2
+8
1,250,000
14
+2
+9
1,500,000
15
+2
+10
1,750,000
16
+2
+10
2,000,000
17
+2
+11
2,250,000
18
+2
+12
2,500,000
19
+2
+12
2,750,000
20
+2
+13
3,000,000
Backstab: Assassins have the ability to capitalize on their foes’
lowered defenses in order to deliver lethal melee attacks. When
attacking a prone, stunned, surprised or unaware defender, or when
attacking a defender’s rear facing, assassins gain a +2 bonus to their
melee attack rolls and deal an additional 2 points of damage. The
damage bonus increases by 1 point at levels 6, 11 and 16.
An assassin can only use backstab against creatures with a
discernible anatomy. The assassin must be able to see the target
well enough to pick out a vital spot. They may only backstab with
melee weapons listed on the assassin weapon proficiency list.
Balance (Dexterity): Assassins add their full level bonus when making
dexterity checks to balance on narrow or slippery surfaces.
Assassins, unlike other characters, move at ½ of their normal
movement rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment, when
balancing. They may attempt to move at their normal movement
rate but suffer a -5 penalty to their balance check when doing so. At
10th level they may balance at their full movement rate without
penalty
Climb (Dexterity): This ability allows an assassin to climb up, down, or
across a slope, wall, steep incline (even a ceiling with handholds), or
unusually angled natural or man-made slope or incline that others
would find impossible to climb. Assassins add their full level bonus to
such checks and never need to make a climb check in order to climb
natural slopes and man-made inclines, such as a rough ledge or steep
steps.
Assassins may climb at ½ of their normal movement rate, rounded to
the nearest 5’ increment, without penalty. At 10th level assassins may
attempt to climb at their normal movement rate by making a climb
check with a -5 penalty.
A failed climb check means that the character makes no progress. A
check that fails by 5 or more means that the character falls from the
currently attained height and suffers falling damage. Nothing can be
carried in the hands while climbing.
Combat Sense: An assassin, through years of training (whether that
training be formal, guild training or that borne of surviving in squalor
and under the constant threat of danger), has an uncanny sense for
the presence of foes when in a threatening environment. This reduces
the effectiveness of backstab and sneak attacks against assassins.
At 1st level, backstabbed assassins negate the attack and damage
bonuses gained against them through the backstab ability of other
assassins and thieves.
At 6th level, assassins gain improved combat sense and can no longer
be sneak attacked when surprised. At 11th level the assassin gets
greater combat sense and is no longer vulnerable to sneak attacks
under any circumstances.
Death Attack: When attacking an unaware target, an assassin may
attempt to deliver a death attack rather than deal sneak attack
damage.
To do so, the assassin must study his target for 3 rounds without that
target noticing him. While studying a victim, an assassin can move or
ready items, but must stay focused on the target. After completing 3
rounds of study the assassin must attack within the next 6 rounds (1
minute) in order to use this ability. Once the victim has been studied,
the assassin must deliver the attack with a weapon capable of
harming the target and must deliver that attack while the target is
caught unawares. Only 1 death attack may be attempted per round.
An assassin can only use a death attack against living creatures that
have a discernible anatomy, must be able to see the target well
enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach it.
The victim of such an attack must make a constitution saving throw
with the assassin’s level serving as the check penalty. If the victim fails
the save, they are automatically reduced to a number of negative
points equal to the number by which they failed their save. As such if
the target failed his saving throw by 8, he would be reduced to -8 hit
points. Any target brought to -10 or fewer hit points is instantly killed by
the death attack.
If a death attack is attempted but the victim succeeds at his saving
throw the victim takes normal damage and will almost certainly be
aware of the assassin’s status as an enemy. If the assassin attacks and
misses (and the target is not aware of the attack), or if the assassin
does not launch the attack within 6 rounds of completing the study, 3
new rounds of study are required before another death attack
attempt can be made.
Disable Device (Dexterity): An assassin can use this ability to open
mechanical locks and disable traps, including magical traps, that he
has found. The check penalty is usually equal to the device’s
creator, or to the caster level of person who created the magical
trap, though the penalty may be modified if exceptional tools or
materials are used in the device’s construction.
Generally, it takes one to four rounds to disarm a device, depending
on its complexity. This ability requires the use of a set of thieves’ tools,
Player’s Handbook 32
including picks, blank keys, wires, or other appropriate tools. An
assassin may only make one attempt per lock or trap.
A successful check indicates that the lock has been opened or the
trap has been disabled. If a disable device attempt fails when
opening a lock, the assassin cannot try to open the same lock again
until the next level of experience is gained, as it is beyond their ability.
Failure to disarm a trap indicates that the assassin set off the trap and
suffers the trap’s effect.
To set a trap, or to reset a previously disabled trap, an assassin must
make a successful disable device check. If a character is resetting a
trap that he previously disabled, the assassin gains a +5 bonus to the
check.
Disguise (Charisma): With a successful check, assassins can disguise
themselves or impersonate people. The ability allows the assassin to
impersonate general types of people, as well as individuals, so long as
the impersonated human or demihuman is of the same size category
as the assassin.
The effort requires a few props, makeup, and 1d3 turns of work for a
general impersonation. The Dungeon Master makes the character’s
disguise check secretly so that the character is not sure of its success.
The following penalties are applied to a disguise check when
appropriate: sex difference (-2), race difference (-2), 10% height or
weight difference (-2), and age difference (-2 per age category of
difference). If an assassin is impersonating a particular individual, all
who know that individual make a perception check to detect the
disguise. If the observer recognizes the impersonated individual on
sight, the check is made at +2. If the observer is a friend or close
associate, the check is made at +4.
To aid in their use of disguises, assassins who select knowledge
(language) skills may learn languages that are normally barred to other
characters. They may learn the following “secret” languages in
addition to those typically available to characters of their race and
class: cant, druidic, and other, campaign-specific, secret tongues. The
knowledge of these secret or esoteric tongues can prove useful in
affecting an effective disguise and an intelligent assassin is wise to
learn them.
Dodge: Assassins rely upon agility and deftness in order to avoid
engaging in toe-to-toe combat with opponents. While heavy-armored
fighters and hardy barbarians are able to trade blows in melee,
assassins must make the most out of their maneuverability in order to
stand a fighting chance in melee.
A 1st level assassin gains a +1 bonus to his armor class, so long as he is
unencumbered or carrying a light load. This bonus improves by +1 at
6th level and every 5 levels thereafter, to a maximum of +4 at level 16.
Escape Artist (Strength or Dexterity): Assassins have a knack for
escaping bonds, such as ropes, leather thongs, manacles, chains
and even straitjackets through feats of contortion and sheer
determination. They may add their level bonus to all attempts made
to slip such bonds and, if grappled, may add their full level bonus
(rather than ½ their level bonus) to their strength or dexterity check to
break the grapple.
Find Traps: Assassins may make perception checks to search for
traps, including magical traps. To find a trap, an assassin spends time
intently studying and searching an area to deduce possible trap
locations. It takes one round to locate a trap in a specific area such
as a lock or a doorknob, and one minute to locate traps in a 5’ by 5’
foot area.
A successful perception check indicates the assassin finds a trap, if
one is present. If multiple traps are in an area, the assassin’s
perception check is applied against all traps in the area. The check
penalty to this perception check is usually equal to the level of the
trap’s creator or to the caster level of person who created the
magical trap, though the penalty may be modified if exceptional
tools or materials are used in a trap’s construction. If multiple traps
are present, apply each check penalty separately against the
assassin’s single perception check to find traps.
Jump (Strength): Assassins add their full level bonus to all strength
checks made when leaping or high jumping. In addition, their skill at
tumbling allows them to treat all falls as if they were 10 feet shorter
than they really are when determining damage, so long as the
assassin is no more than lightly encumbered.
Perception (Wisdom): An assassin can hear noises that others might
not detect and, by necessity, are keen observers of their surroundings.
Assassins gain perception as a class ability, rather than common ability,
which allows them to add their full level bonus to perception checks.
Poisons (Intelligence): An assassin with this ability can identify and use
poisons and antitoxins. An assassin can identify a poison or antitoxin on
a successful check. An assassin’s training in the use of poison means
that an assassin never risks accidental poisoning when applying poison
to a blade. Moreover, assassins train with poisons of all types, and they
slowly grow more resistant to their effects. This is reflected by a + 1
bonus to poison saving throws that is gained at 3rd level. This bonus
increases by 1 point at levels 9 and 15.
At 9th level, an assassin gains the ability to make poisons and antitoxins.
To make a poison or antitoxin, the assassin needs some alchemical
equipment and raw materials costing one half of the street value of
the poison or antitoxin to be made.
Sleight of Hands (Dexterity): An assassin can use this ability to remove
the contents of a pocket or pouch (or otherwise take something from a
person) without being noticed, by making a sleight of hands check
(opposed by their target’s perception check). Success may require the
assassin to cut the purse or pouch from the target.
This ability also allows the assassin to perform “sleight of hand”
maneuvers. A successful sleight of hands check (opposed by their
target’s perception check) indicates the assassin has hidden or moved
an item in such a manner that observers are not aware of where the
item has been hidden. Typical maneuvers include hiding a coin, sliding
a card up a sleeve, slipping poison into a person’s drink, performing the
peanut trick (table tricks), and the like. A penalty to the check may be
applied if there is an observer present that is determined to note where
an item is moved.
Sneak Attack: An assassin normally avoids face-to-face combat if
possible, preferring instead to use stealth or guile to catch an
opponent unaware or off-guard.
If the assassin successfully attacks a surprised or unaware opponent
their base weapon damage, excluding all modifiers due to magic,
class abilities and/or exceptional strength, is doubled. As the assassin
gains experience, the damage inflicted increases. At 4th level, an
assassin’s sneak attacks deal triple damage. At 8th level, their sneak
attacks deal quadruple damage. At 12th level, an assassin’s sneak
attacks deal quintuple damage and, at 16th level and beyond, such
attacks deal sextuple damage.
An assassin can only sneak attack creatures that have a discernible
anatomy. The assassin must be able to see the target well enough to
pick out a vital spot. They may only make sneak attacks with
weapons listed on the assassin weapon proficiency list.
Stealth (Dexterity): Assassins can conceal themselves from others and
move about with utter silence when they so desire. Assassins have
stealth as a class ability, rather than common ability, and add their full
level bonus to all stealth checks.
Assassins may attempt to move silently at ½ of their normal
movement rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment, without
penalty. They may attempt to move at their normal movement rate
but take a -5 penalty to their stealth check when doing so. At 10th
level assassins may move at their full movement rate without penalty.
All attempts to move silently while running suffer a -20 penalty.
Player’s Handbook 33
Multiclassed Characters
A multiclassed character improves in two classes simultaneously, and his experience points are always divided equally between these two classes. In
all instances a multiclassed character’s level is equal to his level in each class (i.e. a multiclassed 3rd level fighter/magic-user is a 3rd level character
with a +3 level bonus to saving throws, class abilities, and skill checks). The character can use the abilities of either class at any time, with only a few
restrictions. When creating a multiclassed character, use the following guidelines:
1.
The character’s hit points are the average of his hit die rolls for each class. When the character is first created, the player totals the maximum hit
points for each class and divides that total by 2. Any constitution bonus or penalty is then applied to the character’s averaged hit points. At
10th level and beyond average the bonus hit points for both classes. If this average winds up being a fractional number, round it down at odd
levels and up at even levels.
2. Class combinations may be restricted by race and by alignment. Multiclassed barbarians are literate.
3.
The multiclass options listed below only show primary class combinations. Characters may also choose to multiclass using secondary classes of
each listed primary class, so long as the chosen secondary class is permitted by race and alignment.
4.
As shown by the Permitted Multiclass Options table below the character may not multiclass in a primary class and one of its secondary classes,
or with two secondary classes of the same primary class (i.e. Paladin/Rangers, CLERIC/Druids, and THIEF/Assassins are not permitted).
5.
The character must meet each class’s ability requirements.
6.
Multiclassed characters use the better Bonus to Hit (BtH) value of the two classes.
7.
Multiclassed characters use the least restrictive weapon and armor lists of the two classes, but suffer all penalties to class abilities (such as the
inability to cast arcane spells while armored) related to armor use.
9.
When determining starting funds, multiclass characters use the more advantageous die range of the two classes.
10. All experience points are always divided equally between the two chosen classes. Once a character acquires enough experience points to
progress in level, they progress simultaneously in both classes.
11. Multiclassed characters have a level bonus to ability checks that is equal to their level in each class (the levels in these classes are not totaled
when determining the character’s class level). If both classes share a class ability that provides a static bonus (rather than level bonus) to an
ability check do not combine these static bonuses, but use the better applicable bonus.
Permitted Multiclass Options
racial stock of character
options
dwarf
elf
gnome
half-elf
halfling
half-orc
human
CLERIC/FIGHTER
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
CLERIC/MONK
no
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
CLERIC/THIEF
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
CLERIC/MAGIC-USER
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
FIGHTER/MONK
no
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
FIGHTER/THIEF
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
FIGHTER/MAGIC-USER
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
MAGIC-USER/THIEF
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
MAGIC-USER/MONK
no
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
MONK/THIEF
no
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
Split-Classed Characters
A player who plays a single-classed character may, eventually, wish to
broaden that character’s capabilities by having their character
advance in another character class.
Unlike
multiclassing,
which
requires
a
character
to
advance
simultaneously in two character classes, split-classing allows a single-
classed character to end their advancement in one character class in
order to begin advancement in another character class.
Any single-classed character may split-class. A multiclassed character
may not split-class, nor may a split-classed character multiclass. You must
transition from a single class to another, single class when deciding to
split-class.
Split-classed characters do not face as many restrictions as multiclassed
characters when it comes to choosing another adventuring career. The
character must meet the ability requirements of their new class and be
eligible to take that class (based on his race, background, and
alignment).
Example: A fighter wishing to split-class as an assassin must have a
strength, intelligence, and dexterity of 9 or more, and may not be of
good alignment.
The character must reach 2nd level in one class before switching to
another. In addition, all characters may advance in a maximum of 3
different classes through split-classing.
Once a character begins training in a newly chosen class, he must halt
his advancement in whatever class or classes he formerly progressed in.
1st level in the newly chosen class is not gained until the character gains
additional experience points equal to those needed to achieve his
current character level (the total levels acquired in all of his classes) in his
new career.
Example: A 7th level thief (with 75,000 experience points) who begins
fighter-training will not gain a fighter level until he earns enough
experience points to become an 8th level character (a total of
150,000 experience points). At that point he will be a split-classed
thief 7-fighter 1.
As noted above, split-classed characters total the class levels acquired in
all of their classes to determine their character level. Character level is
used to determine the character’s level bonus to all saving throws and
skill checks, and is used to determine the number of experience points
needed to reach next level. His current class determines the hit die type
rolled for hit points. The BtH bonuses for all classes are totaled when
determining the character’s combat bonus to hit.
The class level in each class determines the character’s class abilities for
that class, including the character’s available spells and caster level,
where applicable. Class level also indicates his level bonus when using
class abilities for a chosen class. A split-classed character that shares a
class ability between two or more of their chosen classes may total their
class levels in those classes when determining their level modifier for those
abilities.
Example: A split-classed monk 3-thief 3 would get a +6 bonus to his
climb checks because both classes possess the climb class ability.
Characters with class abilities that are also common abilities (i.e.
balance, climb, perception, stealth) may add both level bonus and ½
level bonuses, as applicable.
Example: A split-classed thief 5-magic-user 2 would get a +5 level
bonus to his climb checks, due to his 5 thief levels (climb is a class
ability for thieves) and a +1 bonus due to his 2 magic-user levels
(climb is a common ability for magic-users, so the character applies
½ his magic-user levels as a bonus to climb checks).
Once a split-classed character reaches a character level of 9 or greater,
the experience needed to progress in level becomes a set amount
(250,000 experience points). As such, the character must gain 250,000
experience points per character level beyond 9th. Additionally, at
character level 10 and higher, the character no longer rolls hit dice but
gains the bonus hit points of the class that he is currently advancing in.
Split-classed casters are still restricted with regards to the armor that they
may wear and cast spells. As such, a split-classed bard cannot wear
medium or heavy armor when spellcasting, while a split-classed magic-
user may not wear any armor while spellcasting.
Split-classed characters with a class ability that provides a static bonus to
an ability check (rather than a level bonus) in more than one of their
chosen classes do not combine these static bonuses, but use the best
applicable bonus.
Finally, a character may choose to resume advancement in a previously
chosen class, but follows the procedures listed above for advancing in
character level.
Player’s Handbook 34
ALIGNMENT
After choosing both a race and class for their character, the player
must choose an alignment for that character. In some cases,
particularly for characters such as druids, monks and paladins, the
choice of alignment may be limited.
Alignment represents where a character falls in terms of the ever-
present battle between good and evil. Along the law/chaos axis, it
also represents how the character approaches such issues.
Alignment is more than a philosophy; evil and good are palpably real
in the game world. An evil person bears the poison of his alignment in
his very soul, and magic spells can even be used to detect the stain of
it. In general, the good alignments will work together, although there
will be misunderstandings and disputes between those of differing
good alignments.
Relationships between those of evil alignments will generally be based
on power and fear, although many evil-aligned individuals or
monsters are natural followers, not seeking to usurp power as much as
they will seek to ally themselves with and serve the most powerful. The
moral dictates of alignment are not tied to culture in any way; they
are objective reality. If a barbarian comes from a society that kills the
weak, he is evil if he accedes to the practice, even though it is
considered necessary or beneficial in that culture. Such a culture is
evil.
THE NINE ALIGNMENTS
Nine distinct alignments define all the possible combinations of the
law–chaos axis with the good–evil axis. Remember that individuals
vary from this norm, and that a given character may act more or less
in accord with his alignment from day to day. Use these descriptions
as guidelines, not as scripts.
Lawful Good, “Crusader”: A lawful good character acts as a good
person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to
oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He normally tells the
truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against
injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go
unpunished. Lawful good characters seek to combine the values of
both honor and compassion.
Neutral Good, “Benefactor”: A neutral good character does the best
that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He might
work with or on behalf of kings and magistrates, but does not feel
beholden to them if he feels that they are not serving the cause of
good. Neutral good characters value doing what is good without a
particular bias for or against order (or laws).
Chaotic Good, “Rebel”: A chaotic good character acts as his
conscience directs him, with little regard for what others might expect.
He makes his own way, but is generally kind and benevolent. He
believes in goodness and personal honor, but has little use for laws
and regulations.
Such a character disdains those who seek to intimidate others and tell
them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although
good, may not agree with that of society. Chaotic good characters
value the combination of a good heart with a free spirit.
Lawful Neutral, “Judge”: A lawful neutral character acts as law,
tradition, or a personal code directs him. Order and organization are
paramount. He may believe in personal order and live by a code or
standard, or might believe in order for all, favoring a strong, organized
government.
Lawful neutral characters value reliability and honor, and some can
be quite zealous about forcing these attributes onto society or other
individuals.
Neutral: A neutral character has no allegiance to either good vs. evil
or law vs. chaos. Most neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction
or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. These normally think of
good as preferable to evil - after all, they would rather have good
neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, such characters are not
personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal
way, especially when there is treasure to be had.
Some neutral characters, on the other hand, are morally committed
to neutrality. They see good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and
dangerous extremes, advocating and supporting neutrality as the
best, most balanced road in the long run.
Chaotic Neutral, “Free Spirit”: A chaotic neutral character follows his
whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but
doesn’t strive to protect others’ freedom. He avoids authority, resents
restrictions, and challenges traditions.
A
chaotic
neutral
character
does
not
intentionally
disrupt
organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would
have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others)
or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). A
chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is
not totally random.
Lawful Evil, “Dominator”: A lawful evil villain methodically takes what
he wants within the limits of his code of conduct without regard for
whom it hurts. He cares about tradition, loyalty, and order but not
about freedom, dignity, or life. He plays by the rules but without mercy
or compassion. He is comfortable in a hierarchy and would like to rule,
but is willing to serve. He condemns others not according to their
actions but according to race, religion, homeland, or social rank. He is
loath to break laws or promises.
This reluctance comes partly from his nature and partly because he
depends on order to protect him from those who oppose him on
moral grounds. Some lawful evil characters have particular taboos,
such as not killing in cold blood (but having underlings do it) or not
letting children come to harm (if it can be helped).
They imagine that these compunctions put them above unprincipled
villains. Some lawful evil people and creatures commit themselves to
evil with a zeal like that of a crusader committed to good. Beyond
being willing to hurt others for their own ends, they take pleasure in
spreading evil as an end unto itself. They may also see doing evil as
part of a duty to an evil deity or master. Lawful evil is sometimes called
“diabolical,” because devils are the epitome of lawful evil.
Neutral Evil, “Malefactor”: A neutral evil villain does whatever he can
get away with. He is out for himself, pure and simple. He sheds no
tears for those he kills, whether for profit, sport, or convenience. He has
no love of order and holds no illusion that following laws, traditions, or
codes would make him any better or nobler. On the other hand, he
doesn’t have the restless nature or love of conflict that a chaotic evil
villain has. Some neutral evil villains hold up evil as an ideal,
Player’s Handbook 35
committing evil for its own sake. Most often, such villains are devoted
to evil deities or secret societies.
Chaotic Evil, “Destroyer”: A chaotic evil character does whatever his
greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. He is hot-
tempered, vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable. If he is simply
out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal. If he is committed
to the spread of evil and chaos, he is even worse. His plans may be
worked out well in advance, but their implementation will often be
haphazard, and any group he forms is likely to be poorly organized.
Typically, chaotic evil creatures can be made to work together only by
force, and their leader lasts only as long as he can thwart attempts to
topple or assassinate him. Chaotic evil is sometimes called “demonic”
because demons are the epitome of chaotic evil.
Chaotic evil represents the destruction not only of beauty and life but
also of the order on which beauty and life depend.
Non-Aligned Creatures
In addition to the alignments above, some things - particularly
unintelligent monsters and animals - never bother with moral and ethical
concerns. For these creatures, alignment is simply not applicable and
always detects as neutral. A dog, even a well-trained one, is neither
good nor evil, lawful nor chaotic. It is simply a dog.
ALIGNMENT GRAPH
Changing Alignment
It is possible for a player to change his character's alignment after the
character is created, either by action or choice. Most often the
character's alignment will change because his actions are more in line
with a different alignment. This can happen if the player is not paying
attention to the character and his actions, or if the player actively
wishes to change the alignment of their character. In such instances,
the character gradually assumes an alignment that better suits his
actions and motives.
There are also magical effects that can change a character's
alignment. Rare and cursed magical items can instantly alter a
character's alignment. Powerful artifacts may slowly erode a character's
determination and willpower, causing subtle shifts in behavior. Spells can
compel a character to perform actions against his will but rarely have
the power to outright alter alignment.
Certain character classes require specific alignments. A paladin who is
no longer lawful good is no longer a paladin. A character may have
magical items usable only to specific alignments (intelligent swords,
etc.). Such items don't function (and may even prove dangerous) in the
hands of a differently aligned character.
There will be times when the DM, especially if he is clever, creates
situations to test the character's resolve and ethics. But finding the right
course of action within the character's alignment is part of the fun and
challenge of role-playing.
RELIGION
In fleshing out the character, it helps to choose a deity or pantheon of
deities whom the character calls upon (or even curses) in times of
need. A deity adds a depth to the character that cannot be
captured in any other way.
Choice of a deity is not required. Yet, in a world of fantasy where
deities are presumed to exist, it is an oft-overlooked aspect of
character creation. Players should consult with their Dungeon Master
when choosing their deities. You should not feel restricted to the
mantra of having one deity, or even a named deity. The ancient
Athenians, for example, paid homage to Athena, but they sacrificed
and even called upon Poseidon before they crossed the sea.
Polytheistic societies tend to be open in their religious devotion, with
gods rising and waning in power. In monotheistic societies, one deity
reigns supreme. Animistic societies turn to a host of spirits for their
explanations of the world. In short, take into consideration the kind of
religious society the character comes from. Consult with the Dungeon
Master to work out what is best for the theme of the game and the
idea of the character, and choose accordingly.
Clerics and druids draw their power from the deity, pantheon of
deities or whatever supernatural forces they have allegiance to. In
choosing a deity, consultation with the DM is necessary to learn more
about a particular deity or pantheon and what benefits they can give
a cleric as well as what is required of that cleric. Though clerics are
restricted in their choice of weapons, most clerics can wield a
weapon similar to that of their deity or from the pantheon worshipped
even if that weapon does not appear on the cleric weapon list.
The cleric and druid must hold true to the common belief system of
their deity. They must be have an alignment that is close to their
deity’s and possess the same worldview. A cleric who pays homage
to a goddess of wisdom should not approach problem-solving with
unreasoned violence, but rather with calm and wisdom. A druid who
needlessly destroys flora and fauna is certainly breaking a covenant
with their deity. Clerics and druids who break with their deity or act
against them are denied their spells and abilities.
Clerics, and even some druids, require holy symbols or icons
representing their deities or the supernatural powers. These symbols
serve as a conduit between the deity and the character. They range
in size, shape and form, and can be worn as necklaces, pendants,
bracelets, rings or any other jewelry.
Rods, staves, wands, scepters and even weapons can serve as holy
symbols. The shape and design of the symbol should be limited only
by the type of deity, style of game, and the imagination of the player.
Player’s Handbook 36
CHARACTER BACKGROUND
After you have selected your character’s race, class, alignment and
religious affiliations you may want to fill in the finer details of your
character. You are not required to do so, but there are many
situations in which this information is vital or useful to roleplaying.
The sex and name of your character are up to you. Your character
can be of the same sex as yourself or of the opposite sex. Some
people feel it is important to know whether their character is right- or
left-handed. Actually, this has no bearing on the play of the game,
since all characters are assumed to be reasonably competent with
either hand (that doesn't mean everyone is trained to fight with two
weapons).
CHARACTER HEIGHT & WEIGHT
On occasion it may be useful to know your character's height and
weight. Typically these values are determined by the player, using the
racial descriptions provided in the CHARACTER RACES section.
Otherwise, heights and weights can be generated randomly using the
table below. The table only reproduces a fairly average range for
each race. Heights and weights for demihuman races not listed on
the table must be decided by your DM.
Females tend to be lighter and shorter than males. Thus, the base
numbers for height and weight are divided into male/female values.
race
base height
modifier
base weight
modifier
dwarf
3’9” or 3’6”
+2d4”
130 lb. or 100 lb.
+8d6 lb.
elf
4’6” or 4’3”
+2d6”
85 lb. or 75 lb.
+6d6 lb.
gnome
3’ or 2’10”
+2d4”
50 lb. or 45 lb.
+5d6 lb.
half-elf
4’9” or 4’6”
+2d8”
100 lb. or 80 lb.
+8d8 lb.
halfling
2’6” or 2’3”
+2d6”
40 lb. or 30 lb.
+5d6 lb.
half-orc
4’9” or 4’6”
+2d12”
130 lb. or 100 lb.
+12d8 lb.
human
4’9” or 4’6”
+2d10”
120 lb. or 90 lb.
+10d8 lb.
CHARACTER AGE
At the onset of each and every character’s creation it is necessary
that you establish his age. For player characters and henchmen you
must use the appropriate table. You may do the same for other
characters, or you may assign age as you see fit in light of the milieu
you have developed.
class (or secondary class thereof)
race
cleric
fighter
magic-user
monk
thief
dwarf
75+4d10
20+5d4
-
-
35+5d6
elf
150+2d%
25+2d%
75+2d%
-
50+2d%
gnome
75+5d10
20+5d10
75+5d10
-
35+5d10
half-elf
18+2d4
15+2d6
20+4d6
20+2d4
18+2d4
halfling
24+3d6
16+4d6
-
-
16+4d6
half-orc
16+2d4
13+1d6
20+2d6
20+1d4
20+2d4
human
18+1d4
15+1d6
20+2d6
20+1d4
18+1d4
*for multiclassed characters use the column that generates the
highest starting age.
Once character age is established, you must keep track of it from
game year to game year. To normal game years must be added any
of the various unnatural causes of aging. These effectively add years
to the character's age. The effects of aging are given in the next
section. The maximum age of any character is likewise explained.
Aging: In order to establish the overall effects of age, it is necessary to
establish a number of standard age brackets for each race of
characters (see the Age Categories table below for details). When
age category is established, modify ability scores accordingly, making
each change progressively from young adulthood, all additions and
subtractions being cumulative. No ability score may exceed its racial
maximum due to aging effects.
age categories
race
young
adult
mature
middle-
aged
old
venerable
dwarf
25-50
51-150
151-250
251-350
351 -500
elf, high
25-175
176-550
551-800
801-1200
1201-1600
gnome
25-90
91-300
301-400
401–600
601-800
half-elf
15-40
41-100
101-175
176-250
251-350
halfling
18-32
33-68
69-110
111-150
151-220
half-orc
12-15
16-30
31-45
46-64
65-90
human
15-20
21-40
41-60
61-90
91-120
Middle-aged: Subtract 1 point of strength & constitution; add 1
point of intelligence & wisdom.
Old: Subtract 2 points of strength & dexterity, and 1 point of
constitution; add 1 point of wisdom.
Venerable: Subtract 1 point of strength, dexterity, & constitution;
add 1 point of intelligence & wisdom.
Death Due To Age: This is a serious matter, for unless the lifespan can
otherwise be prolonged, the character brought back from such
death faces the prospect of soon dying again. Beyond the maximum
age determined for the character in question, no form of magic
which does not prolong lifespan will work.
Of course, multiple potions of longevity, wishes, and possibly magical
devices will allow a greatly extended lifespan, but once a character
dies due to old (venerable) age, then it is all over. If you make this
clear, many participants will see the continuity of the family line as the
way to achieve a sort of immortality.
Determination of Maximum Age: Unless the character dies of some
other cause, he will live to old age. The character’s maximum age is
equal to the maximum age listed for “middle aged” plus 1-100% (d%)
of that listed age.
CHARACTER APPEARANCE & PERSONALITY
There are a number of other personal characteristics your character
has - hair and eye color, body shape, voice, noticeable features, and
general personality. There are no tables for these things, nor should
there be. Your job, as a player, is to add these details, thereby
creating the type of character you want. More information on the
typical characteristics of demihuman characters is provided in the
CHARACTER RACES section of these rules.
SOCIAL CLASS
The Dungeon Master should determine the social class of each
character he has in the campaign. This is accomplished by use of the
Social Class table given on the next page. You will note that this table
does not include any social or political information, but that guidelines
of this sort are included in a reference immediately following the
table. This allows the DM to model the social class distinctions to the
tenor of his individual milieu.
For player characters, initial social status has no effect on starting
money and equipment. Rules for starting gold and equipment for
those classes are detailed under the “Initial Character Funds” heading
in the EQUIPMENT section of this book.
The various occupations and status positions can be adjusted as
required by the background of each milieu. The positioning of non-
humans is entirely dependent upon the individual milieu. As a general
rule, a human society would probably consider the demihumans as
members of the following social classes:
race
perceived social class
dwarves
UMC (they are reputed to have gold and gems!)
elves
ULC (wood elves) to LUC (gray elves)
gnomes
ULC to LMC
halflings
ULC (they are small and rustic)
half-elves
slightly above a human counterpart
half-orcs
LLC
Social Class & Character Class: As a general rule, any character
should have a social status of, at the lowest, one rank below that
specified for his profession in the milieu. For instance, using the system
outlined above, a character embarking on a career as a fighter
should have a social standing of no lower than middle lower class,
and conversely a character with a standing lower than that would
usually have no hope of making his way in the fighter profession. At
the lowest extreme, a character born to the lower lower class should
be limited to being a barbarian, bard, thief or an assassin.
Player’s Handbook 37
d% roll
social class
typical members of society
01-04
lower lower
class (LLC)
freed
slaves,
peasants,
tinkers,
vagabonds, beggars, criminals, low-
level thieves, low-level and mid-level
assassins
05-10
middle lower
class (MLC)
herdsmen, laborers, peddlers, actors,
jugglers,
men-at-arms,
low-level
barbarians, mid-level thieves, high level
assassins, low-level bards
11-20
upper lower
class (ULC)
freemen, tradesmen, petty officers,
money-changers,
fences,
low-level
fighters, high-level thieves
21-35
lower middle
class (LMC)
artisans, craftsmen, petty merchants,
junior officers, bankers, landless knights,
druids, rangers, tutors, clerks
36-55
middle middle
class (MMC)
landed gentry, academics, merchants,
petty officials, senior officers, landless
petty nobles, mid-level fighters, low-level
magic-users, low-level illusionists
56-87
upper middle
class (UMC)
guild masters, great merchants, military
commanders, officials, landless nobles,
lesser clerics, high-level fighters, mid-
level magic-users, mid-level illusionists
88-96
lower upper
class (LUC)
great landed gentry, generals and
marshals, greater officials, knights, mid-
level clerics, cavaliers, paladins, high-
level magic-users & illusionists
97-99
middle upper
class (MUC)
knights, commanders, great clerics,
nobles, high-level paladins, very high-
level magic-users and illusionists
00
upper upper
class (UUC)
great nobles, sovereign nobility, royalty
CIRCUMSTANCES OF BIRTH
By the nature of the topic, not much can be offered in the way of
“rules” for ascertaining the origin and background of characters in the
campaign milieu. The individual Dungeon Master must make virtually
all such decisions, so that the results fit smoothly into the adventuring
environment that he has designed. As a starting point, however, the
following tables will suffice for those who wish to determine what role
fate has played with regard to when and how a character came into
the world.
Birth Rank
d% roll
order of birth
d% roll
order of birth
01-05
only child
81-85
7th child
06-10
1st child
86-90
8th child
11-20
2nd child
91-94
9th child
21-35
3rd child
95-97
10th child
36-50
4th child
98-99
11th child
51-65
5th child
00
12th child
66-80
6th child
The birth rank roll lets you know when you were born in relation to your
character’s siblings (or if you are an only child).
In order to determine how many siblings you have, roll on the Birth
Rank table a second time. If the result of the second die roll is higher
than the first, that result determines the total number of children born
to your parents. If the second roll is lower than the first, then your
character is the last child born to your parents and the first result
determines the total number of children born to your parents.
Parents’ Marital Status Table
d% roll
marital status
01- 80
parents legally married
81- 00
parents unmarried
Children of unmarried parents are typically one social class lower than
the social class of the father.
Racial Modifiers to the Birth Rank & Marital Status Tables
race
modifier
race
modifier
dwarves
-15%
halflings
-10%
elves
-15%
half-orcs
+10%
gnomes
-15%
humans
no modifier
half-elves
-10%
SKILLS
A player character is more than a collection of combat modifiers.
Like most people, player characters and NPCs have learned a variety
of skills over the years. The character class chosen by a player
dictates much of what their character knows through years of training
and study; while their ability scores define their natural aptitudes and
weaknesses.
As described in the ABILITY DESCRIPTIONS section each ability score
governs certain tasks, called common abilities, that all characters
may attempt without any specialized training. This section details a
number of skills that reflect specialized training or areas of learning
that the character acquired throughout their youth.
Skills function much like class abilities in that they must be possessed
by a character in order for that character to add their level bonus to
the check. If a character attempts to use a skill they do not possess,
they may not add their level bonus to the check. It is also up to the
DM whether an unskilled character may attempt to perform a given
task. Note that the successful use of some skills, such as knowledge
(etiquette) or profession (herbalist), grant a static, +2, bonus to
another, related skill or ability check.
BACKGROUND SKILLS
All characters begin play with 3 background skills from any skill
category plus whatever bonus skills they receive from their chosen
character class or classes. Characters with an intelligence of 8 or
lower subtract their intelligence penalty from their initial number of
background skills and, as a result, may begin play with no
background skills if their intelligence is 3 or lower. Regardless of their
intelligence penalty, characters do not lose any bonus skills gained
from their chosen class or classes. Those with an exceptional
intelligence score (13 or greater) may choose a number of additional
knowledge skills, including knowledge (language) skills, equal to their
intelligence modifier.
In most instances, excepting knowledge (language) skills, these skills
allow characters to add their level to any ability score checks related
to their chosen skills. All skills are grouped into four broad categories
that cover a number of related skills: craft skills, knowledge skills,
performance skills and profession skills. A player is free to choose more
than one skill from a given skill category and should choose skills that
reflect the character’s upbringing and training.
SKILL CATEGORIES & DESCRIPTIONS
Craft: All craft skills involve the creation of a functional (or
consumable) item from raw materials. Skilled craftsmen typically learn
their skills as apprentices to master craftsmen. Craft skills include (but
are
not
limited
to):
armorsmith,
blacksmith,
bookbinder,
bowyer/fletcher,
brewer,
carpenter,
cart/wheelwright,
cobbler,
cook/baker, jeweler/lapidary, mason, siege engineer, shipwright,
tailor/weaver, tanner/leatherworker, and weaponsmith.
Use of this skill allows the character to appraise the craftsmanship and
value of items directly related to their craft with their level bonus. In
addition, given time and adequate materials, the character can
repair or create such items. Craft skill checks are usually intelligence
checks, though other abilities (such as dexterity) may come to bear
when crafting items.
Repair costs vary depending upon the amount of damage done to
the item, while (as a general rule) a character may craft an item for
half of the listed cost. The DM is the final arbiter of what materials are
available and the costs accrued in crafting an item.
Player’s Handbook 38
Knowledge: Knowledge skills reflect the interests, studies and/or
upbringing of the player character. Knowledge skills are limited in their
scope and are varied in their application. Some, such as knowledge
(etiquette) or a knowledge (chosen language), may aid in social
situations while others may help characters identify items, map
locations or the type of mushroom that the poisoned halfling thief just
consumed.
Knowledge
checks
are
typically
intelligence
checks,
though
successful use of a knowledge skill may aid other skill checks (i.e. a
successful knowledge (etiquette) check may grant a +2 bonus to a
character’s persuasion (charisma) check while at court or a
knowledge (nature) check may grant a +2 bonus to character’s
wisdom check to determine direction or to a ranger’s survival check).
Arcana:
Knowledge (arcana) relates to the study of
ancient
mysteries,
magical
traditions
and
creatures, arcane symbols, cryptic phrases and
the creation of magical items or animated
creatures.
Etiquette:
This skill affords the character knowledge of racial
and/or cultural groups’ customs, social hierarchies
and behavioral norms. Use of this skill is more
challenging in foreign cultures and with those
outside of your character’s social group.
Geography:
This skill provides a basic knowledge of a region’s
topography, trade routes and borders. The more
remote the area addressed by the skill check, the
more difficult the check.
History:
This knowledge of various civilizations’ origins,
historical events and figures, as well as of their
legends, is covered by this skill. The modifier to this
check is based on how common or obscure the
desired information is.
Language:
All characters begin play with the ability to speak
one or more languages, as detailed under
Intelligence in the Ability Descriptions section.
Those who choose knowledge (language) as a
background skill begin play with additional
starting languages as detailed under Intelligence
in the Ability Descriptions section.
Nature:
This skill imparts a specialized knowledge of
various environments (aquatic, forest, marsh, hill
and mountains, plains) and climates (arctic,
desert, subtropical, temperate, tropical).
With a skill check a character can identify plants
and animals from an environment and climate
accurately. This identification allows the skilled
character to determine the species of the plant or
animal and the special qualities or abilities of the
species. This check is more difficult for characters
attempting a knowledge: nature check in an
unfamiliar climate.
Religion:
This skill provides knowledge of mythology and
rituals. It allows a character to know of a religion’s
hierarchal structure and affords the character an
understanding of that faith’s tenets and practices.
Performance: A skilled performer is valued by commoners and
highborn alike for their ability to provide a diversion from the cares
and woes of daily life. Characters must choose a type of
performance in which they are skilled: acting, buffoonery, dancing,
oratory, play (instrument), singing, etc. Bards, on the other hand,
begin play skilled in all manner of performance arts.
A character may make a performance skill check (usually a charisma
check, though dancing and playing an instrument may involve
dexterity checks) in order to earn a few copper coins (perhaps silver, if
the audience is particularly wealthy) or earn their keep at an inn (with
modifiers and other considerations being worked out by the DM).
If the performance skill is used to entertain one’s hosts or other, non-
hostile, NPCs a successful check may positively influence the
audience’s reaction to the performer (giving the performer a +2
bonus to persuasion checks).
Profession: Profession skills allow a character to earn a living through
the specialized knowledge and techniques of their chosen vocation.
In general a character with a background profession is assumed to
have left their past profession behind in order to take up a career as a
professional adventurer, mercenary, agent of their church, etc.
Some professions that characters may choose from include: alchemist,
animal
handler,
artist,
butcher,
clerk,
farmer,
fisher,
gambler,
healer/barber,
herbalist,
hostler/barkeep,
hunter,
miner/collier,
painter/limner, sailor, scribe, trader/barterer, trapper, etc.
These profession skills would allow the character to bring their
professional knowledge to bear, where appropriate, or even ply their
trade once they have settled down. Profession skill checks are usually
wisdom checks though, at times, may involve other ability scores (as
the situation warrants). The following are examples of professions that
may prove useful to an adventuring party:
Animal Handler:
The character must choose a type of animal they
have knowledge of (horses, pack animals, dogs,
falcons, etc) and can raise and train animals of
that
type
given
the
proper
amount
of
uninterrupted time. Trained riders (those with the
professional: animal handler (horses) skill) add their
full level bonus to ride checks and may effectively
fight from the saddle. See page 57 for rules on
mounted combat.
Healer:
Healers may bind wounds, just as other characters
can, but may add their full level bonus to the
check. See the WOUNDS and HEALING sections
for more.
Herbalist:
Herbalists are able to aid healers (as well as cooks
and alchemists) in their trades. When called for, a
successful herbalist check grants a +2 bonus to
another, related, skill check.
Mountaineer:
This skill allows the character to add their full level
bonus to climb checks made when scaling
natural, unworked stone surfaces or steep inclines.
The character climbs at ¼ of his movement rate,
rounded to the nearest 5’ increment.
Trapper:
Skilled trappers are able to build, locate and
disable simple traps (nets, snares or pits) in a
wilderness environment. Trapper’s snares and pits
are usually designed to capture or incapacitate
game animals and deliver no more than 1d8
points of damage plus whatever falling damage is
involved.
GAINING NEW SKILLS
Players who wish for their character to learn a new skill must have their
character invest their time towards the development of that skill over
the course of the campaign.
A character gains one additional skill at 6th level and, afterwards,
gains additional skills at levels 11 and 16. These skills work just as other
background skills do, excepting that they are gained later in the
character’s career and do not gain the character’s full level bonus.
For skills gained at 6th level, reduce the level bonus by 5. For skills
gained at 11th level, reduce the level bonus by 10 and, for skills gained
at 16th level, reduce the level bonus by 15. Skills gained during game
play should reflect the character’s interests and/or in-game training.
Should a player wish for their character to acquire additional skills,
beyond those gained at levels 1, 6, 11 and 16, he must invest
additional time and experience into supplemental training. If the
player, with his DM’s approval, finds a mentor willing to train their
character and has that character put aside time for that training
(typically 6 months to 1 year) he acquires a new skill.
Upon acquiring this skill, the character must forfeit 10% of his earned
experience points (these experience points are permanently lost) and
has all future experience point awards reduced by 10% to account for
his continued training in that skill. If the initial forfeiture of experience
points would cause the character to lose a level, he must wait until he
has enough experience points to pay for the skill (without level loss)
before acquiring it. Skills gained in this manner gain the character’s
full level bonus.
Player’s Handbook 39
EQUIPMENT
Although your character has some impressive abilities and skills, he
really isn't going to be effective without the equipment necessary for
adventuring. To get this equipment, he needs money. Not only does
he need money to outfit himself, but your character also has to cover
his living expenses.
The Monetary System: Although there are many different types of
coins and currencies in the world, all prices and treasures in the AD&D
rules are given in standard coinage. Your DM may have specific
names for different coins and may have different rates of exchange,
but this is material particular to his campaign. He will tell you if there
are differences from the coins listed here. The standard rate of
exchange for each coin is given below.
The basic coins are the copper piece (cp) and the silver piece (sp).
These form the backbone of the monetary system and are the coins
most frequently found in the hands of the common folk. Above these
two coins is the much rarer gold piece (gp). This coin is seldom found
in common use and mainly exists on paper as the standard money of
account. This means it is used to measure the value of property and
goods. Land values, ship cargoes, gemstones, and penalty bonds
(royal court fines) are normally calculated in gold pieces, although
payment of such vast sums normally takes other forms.
In addition to these coins, there are other unusual metals used in
exchange. Most of these come from failed currencies. As such, they
are viewed with skepticism by many honest folk. Principal among
these coins are the electrum (ep) and platinum pieces (pp). These
coins are rarely circulated, and most are hidden away in ancient
treasure hoards.
However, remember that not all wealth is measured by coins. Wealth
can take many forms - land, livestock, the right to collect taxes or
customs, and jewelry are all measures of wealth. Coins have no
guaranteed value. A gold piece can buy a lot in a small village but
won't go very far in a large city. This makes other forms of wealth, land
for instance, all the more valuable. Indeed, many a piece of jewelry is
actually a way of carrying one's wealth. Silver armbands can be
traded for goods; a golden brooch can buy a cow, etc. In your
adventures, wealth and riches may take many different forms.
Standard Exchange Rates
exchange value
coin
cp
sp
ep
gp
pp
copper piece (cp) =
1
1/10
1/100
1/200
1/1000
silver piece (sp) =
10
1
1/10
1/20
1/100
electrum piece (ep) =
100
10
1
1/2
1/10
gold piece (gp) =
200
20
2
1
1/5
platinum piece (pp) =
1000
100
10
5
1
Circumstances can affect the value of any coin. If your characters
start flashing about a lot of gold, pumping it into the local economy,
merchants will quickly raise prices. As another example, the local lord
may commandeer most of the region's horses for his knights, making
those left all that much more expensive.
Silver pieces are about the size and weight of a modern day quarter,
which roughly equates to 50 silver pieces weighing one pound. All
other coins, for the sake of simplicity, use this weight ratio. Gold,
electrum and platinum pieces are smaller than silver pieces while
copper pieces are slightly larger than silver pieces.
Initial Character Funds: All player characters begin with some amount
of cash. This nest egg may be your character's life savings. It may be
a gift from his parents to start him out in the world. It may be his booty
from an army campaign. Perhaps he stumbled across a small treasure
chest, whetting his appetite for greater and more dangerous prizes.
How he came by his money is not important (although it may be fun
to know). You are free to create any explanation you want.
To learn your character's starting funds, roll the dice indicated for his
class on the table below. This is the number of gold pieces your
character has to obtain equipment. If you are creating a character
starting out at a level above 1st level, check with the DM to see if you
can increase your character's funds beyond the amounts given here.
Multiclass characters use the most advantageous die range of their
classes. Split-classed characters do not gain initial funds when taking
up a second (or third) character class.
class
initial funds (die range)
CLERIC
30-180 gold pieces (3d6x10)
bard
30-180 gold pieces (3d6x10)
druid
30-180 gold pieces (3d6x10)
FIGHTER
50-200 gold pieces (5d4x10)
barbarian
50-200 gold pieces (5d4x10)
cavalier
50-200 gold pieces (5d4x10)
paladin
50-200 gold pieces (5d4x10)
ranger
50-200 gold pieces (5d4x10)
MAGIC-USER
20-80 gold pieces (2d4x10)
illusionist
20-80 gold pieces (2d4x10)
MONK
5-20 gold pieces (5d4)
THIEF
20-120 gold pieces (2d6x10)
assassin
20-120 gold pieces (2d6x10)
Equipping the Character: Careful selection of equipment and
supplies for characters is very important. Often there will not be
sufficient funds to purchase everything desired, so intelligent choices
will have to be made. Also, the choice of equipment should always
be done with respect to encumbrance restrictions.
In many campaigns it is necessary for the characters to shop in a
number of places in order to obtain everything they desire. A few
games will have a trader’s establishment in which everything, or
nearly everything, can be found, but the average costs will be higher
because these traders are middlemen. As in most dealings, the buyer
should always beware. Things may be as they appear or they might
be otherwise…
Equipment Lists: The following lists include much of the equipment
your character needs for adventuring. The most basic of these are
armor, weapons, clothing, and outfitting gear. The other lists provide
goods and services your character may need during the course of his
many adventures. While most items are always available, your DM
may add to or delete from these lists. What you want may not be
available or, if your DM has set his game in a specific time period, may
not have been discovered or invented yet! While he should tell you
which items are and aren't available, you should ask if you have any
doubts, particularly on large purchases. Many of the uncommon
items in these lists are explained in the following pages.
The price given for each item in the lists is its average price, the
amount you can expect the item to cost in a normal economy.
However, large cities, barren wildernesses, and places with brave
adventurers carrying bags full of gold are not normal economies. In
these places you may find yourself paying more (very rarely less) than
the amount listed. You can also haggle with merchants over prices,
although to speed up the game it's recommended that you save this
for your important purchases. If you wind up haggling over the cost of
every tankard of ale, your character is going to spend more time
being a penny pincher than an adventurer!
The table at the top of the following page gives a brief overview of
what arms and armor are available to each character class, and
shows which classes may use poison.
Equipment for Small Characters: The weight of most equipment
remains unchanged for small characters. Worn items such as
backpacks, clothing items, armor and shields, weigh ½ of the
standard weight given. Note that small characters are limited as to
what weapons they may employ (see Weapon Sizes on page 41 for
more details).
Player’s Handbook 40
Armor & Weapons Permitted By Class
class
armor
shield
weapons
poison
CLERIC
any
any
club, dagger, flail (any), hammer (throwing), mace (any), morningstar, quarterstaff, sling
?
bard
light armor
small shield
any
?
druid
light armor*
any wooden
club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar, sling, sickle and spear (any)
?
FIGHTER
any
any
any
?
barbarian
light & medium
any
any
?
cavalier
any
any
any
never
paladin
any
any
any
never
ranger
light & medium
any
any
?
MAGIC-USER
none
none
club, dagger, dart, light crossbow and quarterstaff
?
illusionist
none
none
club, dagger, dart, light crossbow and quarterstaff
?
MONK
none
none
blowgun, bows, club, dagger, dart, hand axe, javelin, flail (horseman’s), light crossbow,
mace (any), pole arms, quarterstaff, sickle, scythe, shurikens, sling, spear (any)
?
THIEF
light armor
none
blowgun, broadsword, club, dagger, dart, hammer (throwing), hand axe, hand
crossbow, garrote, gauntlet, light crossbow, longsword, mace (horseman’s), quarterstaff,
sap, shortbow, shortsword, sling, spiked gauntlet, whip
?
assassin
light armor
small shield
blowgun, broadsword, club, dagger, dart, hammer (throwing), hand axe, hand
crossbow, garrote, gauntlet, light crossbow, longsword, mace (horseman’s), quarterstaff,
sap, shortbow, shortsword, sling, spiked gauntlet, whip
yes
* druids may only wear non-metal light armor, such as leather or padded armor.
Note Regarding Poison Use: The question mark indicates that the use of poisons is possible depending upon your character’s alignment and the
permission of your Dungeon Master.
Weapons:
The listed weapons are those that the character can use proficiently. If a character attempts to use a weapon with which they
are not proficient, they receive a –4 penalty to all of their attack rolls.
Armor:
The listed armors are those that the character may comfortably wear, those that he has trained in and may use without additional
penalties (see ENCUMBRANCE and EQUIPMENT for more details). If a character dons and uses an armor that is not listed for their
class, they double that armor’s weight for the purposes of determining encumbrance. They also are penalized on their attack rolls,
taking a –1 penalty to attack rolls if wearing light armor or using a shield unskilled, a –2 penalty if wearing medium armor unskilled or
a –3 penalty if wearing heavy armor without training in its use.
ARMOR
Armor, along with the use of a shield, is the basis for determination of how easily a character can be struck by an opponent's weapon. Other factors
modify this, of course. Dexterity and magical effects are the two principal modifiers.
Do not confuse armor that is worn with the armor class (AC) rating of a monster. Although a creature might be given a very high armor class because
of its exceptionally thick hide, armor plating, chitinous exoskeleton, or the like, other factors are considered in such ratings. For example, the size of the
creature, its speed, its agility, and perhaps its supernatural (extra-dimensional or multi-planed existence) aspects are considered in the armor class of
all non-human type monsters.
The cost of armor and shield varies. Generally speaking, the better the protection, the greater the expense. Remember that attacks from the rear
always negate the advantage of the shield. A character wearing medium armor is considered to be carrying a moderate load, even if carrying less
than a moderate load while a character wearing heavy armor is considered to be carrying a heavy load, even if carrying less than a heavy load. See
the ENCUMBRANCE section for more details on the effects of armor encumbrance.
light armor
cost
AC bonus
weight (lbs)
notes
padded
5 gp
+1
10
includes quilted armor and leather jerkins
leather
15 gp
+2
15
medium armor
cost
AC bonus
weight (lbs)
notes
studded leather
30 gp
+3
25
includes brigandine, ringmail and scalemail
chain shirt
50 gp
+3
25
chainmail
100 gp
+4
35
heavy armor
cost
AC bonus
weight (lbs)
notes
platemail
250 gp
+5
45
includes splint mail and banded mail
full plate
1000 gp
+6
40
shields
cost
AC bonus
weight (lbs)
notes
small, wooden
4 gp
+1
3
small, steel
10 gp
+1
5
large, wooden
6 gp
+2
8
large, steel
15 gp
+2
10
Player’s Handbook 41
WEAPONS
The class of your character might circumscribe the choice of weapons used by your character, but selection is otherwise a matter of your preferences
based on various factors presented hereafter. Of course, the initial cost of the weapon might affect your selection at the beginning. Beyond this
consideration, there are factors of size, weight and the damage inflicted by the weapon. These details are given hereafter.
Your character will be able to proficiently use all weapons listed beside their chosen class on the Armor & Weapons Permitted By Class table on page
40. Note that proficiency with a normal weapon is subsumed in using a magical weapon of the same type.
Weapon Sizes: All of the weapons listed below are categorized by size (Tiny, Small, Medium and Large) and type (melee or ranged). Weapon size
helps a player to determine if and how a character can employ a weapon. Generally, a character can employ a weapon of their size or smaller as a
1-handed weapon. Weapons that are 1 size category larger than the wielder (i.e. a broadsword wielded by a halfling) must be used 2-handed.
Characters who fight with two-weapons often employ a “light weapon” in at least one hand. Light weapons are weapons at least 1 size category
smaller than that of the character (i.e. a dagger wielded by a halfling would be a light weapon). See the SPECIAL ATTACK MANUEVERS & MODIFIERS
section on page 57 for more details on various fighting maneuvers that characters may employ in melee combat.
tiny melee weapons
cost
damage
range
weight
notes
gauntlet f
2 gp
1d3
—
1 lb.
gauntlet, spiked f
5 gp
1d4
—
1 lb.
dagger f
2 gp
1d4
10’ (2”)
1 lb.
includes main gauches and dirks
unarmed strike f
—
1d2*
—
—
includes grappling damage
small melee weapons
cost
damage
range
weight
notes
axe, hand or throwing
2 gp
1d6
10’ (2”)
2 lbs.
flail, horseman’s
5 gp
1d6
—
5 lbs.
includes nunchaku
garrote
5sp
1d3*
-
½ lb.
must be used two-handed
hammer, throwing
1 gp
1d4
20’ (4”)
2 lbs.
mace, horseman’s
4 gp
1d6
—
4 lbs.
pick, horseman’s
5 gp
1d6
—
3 lbs.
sap f
1 gp
1d6*
—
2 lbs.
shield, small steel
10 gp
1d3
—
6 lbs.
shield, small wooden
4 gp
1d3
—
4 lbs.
sword, short f
10 gp
1d6
—
2 lbs.
includes rapiers, small swords, wakisashis, etc
sickle f
6 gp
1d6
—
2 lbs.
includes kamas
medium melee weapons
cost
damage
range
weight
notes
axe, battle
8 gp
1d8
—
6 lbs.
club
—
1d6
10’ (2”)
3 lbs.
flail, footman’s
10 gp
1d8
—
10 lbs.
mace, footman’s
8 gp
1d8
—
8 lbs.
morningstar
8 gp
1d8
—
6 lbs.
pick, footman’s
8 gp
1d8
—
6 lbs.
sword, scimitar
15 gp
1d8
—
4 lbs.
includes cutlasses, falchions, sabers, tulwars, etc.
shield, large steel
15 gp
1d4
—
15 lbs.
shield, large wooden
6 gp
1d4
—
10 lbs.
spear
1 gp
1d6ˆ
20’ (4”)
3 lbs.
sword, bastard
25 gp
1d8
—
6 lbs.
deals 1d10 damage when used 2-handed
sword, broad
15 gp
2d4
—
5 lbs.
sword, long
15 gp
1d8
—
4 lbs.
trident
15 gp
1d8
10’ (2”)
4 lbs.
warhammer
10 gp
1d8
—
5 lbs.
whip d f t
1 gp
1d3*
2 lbs.
scourges are whips that deal lethal damage
large melee weapons
cost
damage
range
weight
notes
axe, great
15 gp
2d6
—
12 lbs.
includes bardiches
club, great
—
1d8
—
8 lbs.
flail, great
12 gp
1d10
—
12 lbs.
glaive r
8 gp
1d10
—
10 lbs.
includes naginatas
guisarme d r t
10 gp
2d4
—
10 lbs.
includes bill hooks, lochaber axes and voulges
halberd r t
10 gp
1d8ˆ
—
12 lbs.
includes most poleaxes
hammer, lucern r
8 gp
1d6ˆ
—
8 lbs.
includes bec de corbins and crowbills
lance, light r
6 gp
1d6ˆ
—
6 lbs.
may be used one-handed when mounted
lance, heavy r
10 gp
1d8ˆ
—
12 lbs.
may be used one-handed when mounted
longspear r
5 gp
1d8ˆ
—
9 lbs.
includes awl pikes, partisans and ash spears
military fork d r t
8 gp
1d8ˆ
—
8 lbs.
quarterstaff
—
1d6
—
4 lbs.
ranseur d r t
8 gp
2d4
—
12 lbs.
includes spetums
scythe t
12 gp
1d8
—
8 lbs.
includes fauchards
sword, two-handed
30 gp
2d6
—
8 lbs.
includes claymores, khopeshes, no dachis, etc.
*
deals non-lethal damage (See Non-Lethal Damage under Non-lethal Combat on page 58).
ˆ
does double damage if set against charging opponents. Lances do double damage on a mounted charge.
d
this weapon gives its user a +2 bonus to disarm checks (See Disarm under Non-lethal Combat on page 58).
f
this weapon is a “finesse” weapon. Its wielder may add their dexterity modifier to attack rolls in place of their strength modifier, so long as
they may use the weapon 1-handed.
r
this weapon allows its user to strike at a foe up to 10 feet away.
t
this weapon gives its user a +2 bonus to trip checks (See Overbear or Trip Attacks under Non-lethal Combat on page 58).
Player’s Handbook 42
Ranged Weapons: All ranged weapons may be fired up to their listed range without penalty. Each 5’ distance corresponds to 1” on a map grid, so a
weapon with a range of 20’ may fire up to 4” away without a range penalty. For each range increment beyond the first a cumulative -2 penalty is
applied to the ranged attack roll. A weapon may be thrown up to 5 range increments away (the initial range increment plus 4 increments beyond
that) while a projectile weapon may be fired up to 10 range increments away.
All bows require two hands to use properly. Crossbows require two hands while loading, though they may be fired 1-handed.
tiny ranged weapons
cost
damage
range
weight
notes
crossbow, hand
100 gp
1d4
30’ (6”)
2 lbs.
bolts (10)
1 gp
-
-
1 lb.
dart
5 sp
1d4
20’ (4”)
½ lb.
shuriken (5)
1 gp
1d2
10’ (2”)
½ lb.
small ranged weapons
cost
damage
range
weight
notes
blowgun
20gp
-
10’ (2”)
1 lb.
blowgun darts (10)
5sp
1
-
-
blowgun needles (10)
1sp
-
-
-
deal no damage
bolas
5 gp
1d4*
10’ (2”)
2 lbs.
may be used to make trip attacks
javelin
1 gp
1d4
30’ (6”)
2 lbs.
sling
-
1d4
50’ (10”)
0 lbs.
bullets, sling (10)
1 sp
-
-
4 lbs.
medium ranged weapons
cost
damage
range
weight
notes
bow, short
15 gp
1d6
60’ (12”)
2 lbs.
bow, short composite
75 gp
1d6
70’ (14”)
2 lbs.
arrows (20)
1 gp
-
-
3 lbs.
crossbow, light
15 gp
1d8
80’ (16”)
4 lbs.
bolts (10)
1 gp
-
-
1 lb.
large ranged weapons
cost
damage
range
weight
notes
bow, long
75 gp
1d8
100’ (20”)
3 lbs.
bow, long composite
100 gp
1d8
110’ (22”)
3 lbs.
arrows (20)
1 gp
-
-
3 lbs.
crossbow, heavy
25 gp
1d10
120’ (24”)
8 lbs.
reloading takes 1 round.
bolts (10)
1 gp
-
-
1 lb.
net
20 gp
-
10’ (2”)
6 lbs.
the maximum range is 10’
see the crossbow entry in Equipment Descriptions section (page 45) for more details
ACCOMMODATIONS & PROVISIONS
room & board
cost
household provisions
cost
services
cost
ale (per gallon)
4 sp
barrel of pickled fish
3 gp
bath
5 cp
banquet (per person)
10 gp
butter (per lb.)
4 sp
bearer/porter (per day)
2 sp
bread
10 cp
coarse sugar (per lb.)
1 gp
carpenter (per day)
4 sp
cheese
4 sp
dry rations (5 lbs, weekly supply)
5 gp
clerk (per letter)
4 sp
city rooms
-
eggs (per 100)
16 sp
doctor, leech, or bleeding
3 gp
common
15 sp
(per dozen)
2 sp
guide, in city (per day)
4 sp
poor
4 cp
figs (per lb.)
6 sp
linkboy (per night)
1 sp
common wine (pitcher)
4 sp
firewood (per day)
2 cp
laundry (by load)
2 cp
egg or fresh vegetables
2 cp
herbs (per lb.)
1 sp
leatherworker (per day)
4 sp
honey
10 sp
nuts (per lb.)
1 gp
limner (per day)
10 sp
inn lodging
-
raisins (per lb.)
4 sp
mason (per day)
5 sp
common
10 sp
rice (per lb.)
4 sp
messenger (per message)
2 sp
poor
10 cp
salt (per lb.)
2 sp
minstrel (per performance)
5 sp
meat for one meal
2 sp
salted herring (per 100)
1 gp
mourner (per funeral)
4 sp
meals
-
spice (per lb.)
-
pack handler (per day)
3 sp
good
10 sp
exotic (saffron, clove)
15 gp
tailor (per garment altered)
2 sp
common
6 sp
rare (pepper, ginger)
2 gp
teamster w/wagon
2sp/mi.
poor
2 sp
uncommon (cinnamon)
1 gp
valet
4 sp
small beer (gallon)
1 sp
tun of cider
8 gp
soup
1 sp
tun of good wine
20 gp
Player’s Handbook 43
CLOTHING
item
cost
weight
item
cost
weight
item
cost
weight
belt
3 sp
½ lb.
gloves
10 sp
*
sandals
1 sp
1 lbs.
boots
-
-
gown, common
10 sp
2 lbs.
sash
4 sp
½ lb.
riding
2 gp
2 lbs.
hose
1 gp
½ lb.
scabbard
1 gp
1 lb.
soft
1 gp
1 lb.
knife sheath
3 cp
½ lb.
shoes
10 sp
1 lb.
breeches
2 gp
1 lb,
mittens
3 sp
*
silk jacket
80 gp
2 lbs.
cap, hat
2 sp
*
pin
5 gp
*
surcoat
10 sp
1 lb.
cloak
-
-
plain brooch
5 gp
*
tabard
6 sp
1 lb.
good cloth
5 sp
2 lbs.
robe
-
-
toga, coarse
8 cp
2 lbs.
fine fur
50 gp
2 lbs.
common
6 sp
2 lbs.
tunic
8 sp
2 lbs.
girdle
2 gp
½ lb.
embroidered
20 gp
2 lbs.
vest
6 sp
1 lb.
MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT
item
cost
weight
item
cost
weight
item
cost
weight
backpack
2 gp
2 lbs.
fishing net (10’ sq)
4 gp
5 lbs.
perfume (vial)
5 gp
*
barrel, small
2 gp
30 lbs.
flint and steel
1 gp
*
piton
3 cp
½ lb.
basket
-
-
glass bottle
10 gp
*
quiver
12 sp
1 lb.
large
3 sp
1 lb.
grappling hook
8 sp
4 lbs.
rope (per 50 ft.)
-
-
small
5 cp
*
holy symbol (silver)
25 gp
*
hemp
4 sp
20 lbs.
belt pouch
-
-
holy water (vial)
25 gp
*
silk
10 gp
8 lbs.
large
1 gp
1 lb.
hourglass
25 gp
1 lb.
sack
-
-
small
15 sp
½ lb.
iron pot
5 sp
2 lbs.
large
2 sp
½ lb.
block & tackle
5 gp
5 lbs.
ladder, 10 ft.
5 cp
20 lbs.
small
10 cp
*
bolt case
1 gp
1 lb.
lantern
-
-
sealing wax
1 gp
1 lb.
bucket
5 sp
3 lbs.
beacon
150 gp
50 lbs.
sewing needle
5 sp
**
caltrops
2 gp
2 lbs.
bull’s-eye
12 gp
3 lbs.
signal whistle
8 sp
*
chain (per ft.)
-
-
hooded
7 gp
2 lbs.
signet ring
5 gp
*
heavy
4 gp
3 lbs.
lock
-
-
soap
5 sp
1 lb.
light
3 gp
1 lb.
good
100 gp
1 lb.
spellbook (blank)
25 gp
5 lb.
chest
-
-
poor
20 gp
1 lb.
spyglass
1,000 gp
1 lb.
large
2 gp
25 lbs.
magnifying glass
100 gp
*
tent
-
-
small
1 gp
10 lbs.
map or scroll case
8 sp
½ lb.
large
25 gp
20 lbs.
cloth (10 sq. yards)
-
-
merchant's scale
2 gp
1 lb.
pavilion
100 gp
50 lbs.
common
7 gp
10 lbs.
mirror, small silver
20 gp
*
small
5 gp
10 lbs.
fine
50 gp
10 lbs.
musical instrument
5-100 gp
½-3 lbs.
thieves' tools
30 gp
1 lb.
rich
100 gp
10 lbs.
oil (per flask)
-
-
torch
1 cp
1 lb.
candle
1 cp
*
Greek fire
10 gp
2 lbs.
water clock
1,000 gp
200 lbs.
canvas (sq. yard)
4 sp
1 lb.
lamp
6 cp
1 lb.
whetstone
2 cp
1 lb.
chalk
1 cp
*
paper (sheet)
2 gp
**
wineskin
15 sp
1 lb.
climbing gear
25 gp
5 lbs.
papyrus (sheet)
8 sp
**
winter blanket
5 sp
3 lbs.
fishhook
1 sp
**
parchment (sheet)
1 gp
**
writing ink (vial)
8 gp
*
ANIMALS & TRANSPORTS
animal
cost
animal
cost
transport
cost
boar
10 gp
peacock
5 sp
longship
10,000 gp
bull
20 gp
pig
3 gp
oar
-
calf
5 gp
pigeon
1 cp
common
2 gp
camel
50 gp
pigeon, homing
100 gp
galley
10 gp
capon
3 cp
pony
30 gp
raft or small keelboat
100 gp
cat
1 sp
ram
4 gp
sail
20 gp
chicken
2 cp
sheep
2 gp
sedan chair
100 gp
cow
10 gp
songbird
10 sp
wagon or cart wheel
5 gp
dog
-
swan
5 sp
guard
25 gp
transport
cost
tack & harness
cost
weight
hunting
17 gp
barge
500 gp
barding
-
-
war
20 gp
canoe
-
chain
500 gp
70 lbs.
donkey, mule or ass
8 gp
small
30 gp
leather or padded
150 gp
60 lbs.
elephant
-
war
50 gp
plate
2,000 gp
85 lbs.
labor
200 gp
caravel
10,000 gp
scale
1,000 gp
75 lbs.
war
500 gp
carriage or wagon
-
bit and bridle
15 sp
3 lbs.
falcon (trained)
1,000 gp
common
150 gp
cart harness
2 gp
10 lbs.
goat
1 gp
coach, ornamented
7,000 gp
halter
5 cp
*
goose
5 cp
chariot
-
horseshoes & shoeing
1 gp
10 lbs.
guinea hen
2 cp
chariot, riding
200 gp
saddle
-
-
horse
-
chariot, war
500 gp
pack
5 gp
15 lbs.
draft
200 gp
coaster
5,000 gp
riding
10 gp
35 lbs.
heavy war
400 gp
cog
10,000 gp
saddle bags
-
-
light war
150 gp
curragh
500 gp
large
4 gp
8 lbs.
medium war
225 gp
drakkar
25,000 gp
small
3 gp
5 lbs.
riding
75 gp
dromond
15,000 gp
saddle blanket
3 sp
4 lbs.
hunting cat
5,000 gp
galleon
50,000 gp
yoke
-
-
ox
15 gp
great galley
30,000 gp
horse
5 gp
15 lbs.
partridge
5 cp
knarr
3,000 gp
ox
3 gp
20 lbs.
*
these items weigh little individually. Ten of these items weigh one pound.
** these items have no appreciable weight and should not be considered for encumbrance unless hundreds are carried.
Player’s Handbook 44
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Not every piece of equipment is described here. The vast majority of
things found on the equipment lists need no description, as their
functions, forms, and purposes are obvious. Only those items whose
use is obscure or appearance is unusual are described below.
Specific game effects of equipment are given in the appropriate
sections of the rules.
ARMOR
You are going to want your player character to buy armor, if he is
allowed to use any. Armor is the easiest and cheapest way to
improve your character's chance of surviving the more violent
dangers of the adventuring life. Clearly, the better the armor the
character possesses, the less likely he is to be hurt. Armor protection is
measured by its armor class bonus; the higher the armor class bonus
number, the better the protection.
Although there is some controversy historically over the different types
of armor, all known or suspected types are included here. However,
not all armor may be available if your DM has chosen to set his
campaign in a particular historical era or locale. For example, full
plate armor is not available to characters adventuring in an ancient
Greek setting.
Chainmail: This armor is made of interlocking metal rings. It is always
worn with a layer of quilted fabric padding underneath to prevent
painful chafing and to cushion the impact of blows. Several layers of
mail are normally hung over vital areas. The links yield easily to blows,
absorbing some of the shock. Most of the weight of this armor is
carried on the shoulders and it is uncomfortable to wear for long
periods of time.
Chain Shirt: A chain shirt protects your torso while leaving your limbs
free and mobile. It includes a layer of quilted fabric worn underneath
to prevent chafing and to cushion the impact of blows.
Full Plate: This armor consists of shaped and fitted metal plates riveted
and interlocked to cover the entire body. It includes gauntlets, boots
and a visored helmet. A thick layer of padding must be worn
underneath. However, the weight of the suit is well-distributed over the
whole body.
Aside from its expense, the main disadvantages are the lack of
ventilation and the time required to put it on and take it off (see
"Getting Into and Out of Armor" later on this page). Each suit of full
plate must be individually fitted to its owner by a master armorer,
although captured pieces can be resized to fit the new owner (unless
such is patently absurd, such as a human trying to resize a halfling's
armor).
Leather: This armor is made of leather hardened in boiling oil and then
shaped into breastplate and shoulder protectors. The remainder of
the suit is fashioned from more flexible, somewhat softer materials.
Padded: This is the simplest type of armor, fashioned from quilted
layers of cloth and batting. It tends to get hot and after a time
becomes foul with sweat, grime, lice, and fleas. A leather jerkin uses
lighter, suppler leather than true leather armor and is closer to
padded armor in all respects.
Platemail: This armor, which is also called half-plate or partial plate, is
a combination of chain or brigandine with metal plates (cuirass,
epaulettes, elbow guards, gauntlets, tasets, and greaves) covering
vital areas. The weight is distributed over the whole body and the
whole thing is held together by buckles and straps. This is the most
common form of heavy armor.
Banded mail is a form of platemail in which overlapping strips of metal
sewn to a backing of leather and chainmail. Generally the strips cover
only the more vulnerable areas, while the chain and leather protect
the joints where freedom of movement must be ensured. Through
straps and buckles, the weight is more or less evenly distributed.
Splint mail armor is made of narrow vertical strips riveted to a backing
of leather and cloth padding. Since this is not flexible, the joints are
protected by chain mail. Lamellar armor is similar to splint mail in all
respects.
Shields: All small shields (such as targes or bucklers) improve a
character's armor class by 1 while large shields (such as kite shields)
improve a character’s armor class by 2 against attacks. A shield is
useful only to protect the front and flanks of the user. Attacks from the
rear cannot be blocked by a shield (exception: a shield slung across
the back does help defend against rear attacks). The reference to the
size of the shield is relative to the size of the character. Thus, a
human's small shield would have all the effects of a large shield when
used by a gnome.
You can bash an opponent with a shield. The weapon table on page
41 gives the damage dealt by a shield bash. If you use your shield as a
weapon, you lose its AC bonus until your next action (usually until the
next round). A magical shield does not count as a magical weapon in
combat, and provides no bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Studded Leather: This armor is made from leather (not hardened as
with normal leather armor) reinforced with close-set metal rivets. In
some ways it is very similar to brigandine, armor made from small
metal plates sewn or riveted to a layer of canvas or leather and
protected by an outer layer of cloth, although the spacing between
each metal piece is greater. It is also similar to ringmail, in which
metal rings are sewn directly onto a leather backing instead of being
interlaced, or scalemail, in which a coat and leggings (and perhaps a
separate skirt) of leather is covered with overlapping pieces of metal,
much like the scales of a fish.
Armor Sizes: The equipment list reflects the price of a suit of armor
(including an appropriate helmet) made for any normal player
character race. Although a halfling is much smaller than a human
and needs a smaller suit, there are fewer armorers available to meet
such specialized needs. Thus, the armor for a halfling is as expensive as
that for a human. Armor for non-standard sizes and shapes is going to
cost significantly more and must be custom-made. This is not the kind
of thing one can pick up at the local store!
When armor is found during the course of an adventure, the players
should note the creature that wore the armor previously. While a
human character might be able to wear the armor of a gnoll, it will do
little good for a halfling. Likewise, the armor of a giant is of little use to
anyone.
Armor size also affects the weight of the armor. The weights listed on
the table are for human-sized (Medium) armors. Small armor weighs
half the amount listed, while Large armor weighs at least 100% more.
Getting Into and Out of Armor: There are times when it is important to
know how quickly a character can get into or out of his armor.
Accidents and unforeseen events happen all the time. The party is
attacked at night. Those sleeping around the campfire may want to
don their armor before rushing into battle. A character slips and falls
into the river where his heavy armor pulls him down like a stone. He
greatly desires to get it off before he drowns. Just how long does it
take him?
The time required to don armor depends on its make and the
protection it affords. A rough guideline for donning armor is that it
takes 6 rounds to don light armor, 12 rounds to don medium armor
and 18 rounds to don heavy armor. Without aid, the time is doubled.
In all cases, the times given assume that the proper undergarments
and padding are also worn. Shields take 1 round to strap on in all
instances.
If the character does not have the time to fully don their armor, they
may gain a partial bonus to their armor class. By spending half of the
time required to don armor, the character may gain half of the AC
bonus normally provided by the armor. As such, a character
spending 9 rounds donning full plate (with the aid of another
character) would gain a +3 armor class bonus.
Removing armor is a much quicker matter. Armor can be shed in half
the time it takes to don, though this time is halved if the character is
willing to cut straps and bend pins.
Player’s Handbook 45
WEAPONS
The weapon tables list more than just the price of each item. It also
gives other game information. Since each weapon is different, you
should note this information separately for each weapon your
character purchases or finds.
Weapon Sizes
All weapons are classed according to a size category - T, S, M or L.
Tiny weapons (T) include unarmed strikes, gauntlets and other
weapons shorter than 1’ in length (such as knives and daggers). Small
(S) weapons are approximately two feet or less in size; Medium (M)
weapons are two to five feet long; Large (L) weapons are generally six
feet or greater in length.
Polearms are usually 8 to 15 feet in length and allow characters to
attack at foes from a distance. Of course once these foes advance
to close quarters the polearm may no longer be used and a more
suitable weapon needs to be employed.
A character can always wield a weapon of a size equal to his own or
less. Normally this requires only one hand, except for some missile
weapons (bows and crossbows in particular). A character can also
use a weapon one size greater than himself although it must be
gripped with two hands. Beyond this size limit, the weapon is not
usable without special means (most often magical).
Blowgun: Blowguns can fire two types of ammunition: a barbed dart
suitable for hunting small fowl, and a needle for carrying poison. Most
blowguns are six or seven feet in length, although assassins might carry
a miniature weapon two feet long that can only fire needles.
Blowgun ammunition is very light and cannot penetrate heavy armor.
If a target is protected by heavy armor, the attacker suffers an
additional –4 to his attack roll. Blowgun darts deal 1 point of damage
on a hit, while needles deal no damage (unless poisoned).
Bows: Bows are grouped into short- and longbows, with composite
bows and stick bows of either type existing. Stick bows such as the
English longbow are made from a single stave of wood while
composite bows are made from several layers of wood and/or bone
that grant the bow great strength and elasticity.
All bows but longbows may be fired from the saddle, with horse
nomads favoring recurved composite bows due to their greater
range.
All bows are limited by the strength of their wielder, with strength
penalties applied to all bow damage. Only composite bows may be
made to accommodate exceptionally strong bowmen.
The materials and workmanship required to make such bows
increases their cost by 25 gold pieces per point of strength bonus to
damage permitted. As such, a composite shortbow made for a
bowman with a 17 strength would cost 125 gold pieces (75 gold
pieces for the bow + 50 gold for the 2 extra points of damage that the
bow could deal).
Crossbow: Strength bonuses or penalties do not apply to crossbows,
since these are purely mechanical devices. The hand crossbow is
easily held in one hand and cocked with the other. The light
crossbow, also called a latch, must be braced against an object to
be cocked with a lever mounted on the stock. The heavy crossbow
has a powerful pull and must be cocked with a cranequin (a simple
winch or lever) that comes with the weapon. One foot is placed in a
stirrup at the end of the crossbow while the cranequin is worked.
Only fighters with weapon specialization may fire light crossbows more
than once per round or heavy crossbows more than once every other
round. Crossbows may be used in conjunction with small shields and
may be fired from a prone position.
Garrote: Garrotes are ineffective melee weapons, requiring their
wielder to surprise their opponent, striking from behind, and wrap the
length of the garrote around their victim’s neck. Garrotes require two-
hands to use and are ineffective against targets with neck armor
(medium and heavy armors typically incorporate neck guards).
Likewise, it is usually impossible to use a garrote against a target that is
considerably (50%) taller or shorter than you.
When used properly against a suitably vulnerable target, garrotes
deal 1d3 points of non-lethal damage each round and render the
target speechless.
The target may attempt to break free of the garrote by foregoing their
attack and winning an opposed strength check against their
attacker. The attacker gets a +4 bonus to this check. If the garroted
opponent wishes to strike his assailant, he may make unarmed attacks
or attacks with a “light” weapon with a –4 penalty to hit as he flails
blindly at his assailant.
Wire garrotes cost twice as much as typical cord garrotes and deal
1d3 points of lethal damage each round. Strength bonuses and
penalties always apply to the damage dealt by garrote attacks.
Glaive: One of the most basic polearms, the glaive is a single-
edged blade mounted on an eight- to ten-foot-long shaft. While not
the most efficient weapon, it is relatively easy to make and use.
Normally the blade turns outward to increase the cutting area until it
almost resembles a cleaver or axe.
Great Axe: Great axes are heavy, one- or two-bladed battleaxes that
require the use of two hands in combat. These heavy, cleaving
blades evolved into one of the simplest of polearms, the bardiche,
which is little more than an elongated battle axe. Bardiches are
treated as great axes in all instances, despite their longer hafts.
Guisarme: Thought to have derived from a pruning hook, this is an
elaborately curved heavy cleaving blade set atop a 7-8 foot pole.
While convenient and handy, it is not very effective. Voulges and bill
hooks are similar polearms, designed to pull riders from their saddles as
well as cleave through enemy armor. They are popular weapons,
easy to make and simple to learn.
Halberd: After the awl pike and the bill, this was one of the most
popular weapons of the Middle Ages. Fixed on a shaft five to eight
feet long is a large axe blade, angled for maximum impact. The end
of the blade tapers to a long spear point or awl pike. On the back is a
hook for attacking armor or dismounting riders. Originally intended to
defeat cavalry, it is not tremendously successful in that role since it
lacks the reach of the pike and needs considerable room to swing. It
found new life against blocks of pikemen. Should the advance of the
main attack stall, halberdiers issue out of the formation and attack the
flanks of the enemy. The pikemen with their overlong weapons are
nearly defenseless in such close combat.
Lance: The different lances are rated according to size and sturdiness.
Each type can be used only if the rider is on the same type of horse or
a greater one. A man on a light warhorse could not effectively use a
heavy horse lance, while all lances require that the rider be firmly in a
saddle and using stirrups.
A jousting lance is a heavy horse lance modified for use in
tournaments, in which the desire is not to kill the opponent. The end of
the lance is fitted with a special blunted tip intended to lessen the
chance of wounds. Of course, good intentions often go awry, so there
is still a chance of injury during a joust. In game terms, a jousting lance
always does non-lethal damage on a successful hit (see Non-Lethal
Damage on page 58 for more details).
Longspear: Essentially this is a spear of 12 to 20 feet in length. This
weapon is quite similar to both the awl pike and partisan in its design
and use. The awl pike, in particular, was a popular weapon during
the Renaissance. Since the pike stuck out in front, men could be
packed side-by-side in dense formations, and several rows of men
could fight. Large blocks of pikemen made formidable troops.
However, once the pikemen engaged in close combat, they normally
dropped their clumsy awl pikes and fought hand-to-hand with short
swords. The partisan is slightly shorter, with an 8’ shaft on average and
broader spear-head.
Lucern Hammer: Fitted with a shaft up to ten feet long, it is usually
found in the hands of the common soldier. It, and the similarly
designed bec de corbin, were mainly used to punch through armor.
The end is fitted with the long point of an awl pike to hold off enemy
cavalry.
Military Fork: This is one of the simplest modifications of a peasant's
tool since it is little more than a pitchfork fixed to a longer shaft. With
tines strengthened and straightened, the military fork serves well. The
need for cutting and cleaving often results in combining the fork with
other weapons.
Net: A net is used to entangle enemies. When you throw a net, you
make a ranged attack against your target that ignores their armor or
shield bonuses to armor class.
If you hit, the target must make a strength check at -5 or be
effectively grappled by the net.
Player’s Handbook 46
If you control the trailing rope by succeeding on an opposed strength
check while holding it, the netted creature can move only within the
limits that the rope allows (moving only 5’ per round). If the netted
creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make a concentration check
with a -5 penalty or lose the spell.
A netted creature can escape by succeeding at an escape artist
check, with a -10 penalty, or by using a light edged weapon to cut
through the net. The net takes 20 hit points of damage to cut through.
Polearms: A popular group of weapons during the ancient and
medieval periods were the polearms. Their length was a distinct
advantage and, for peasants, they were relatively easy to make. Thus,
there came to be an abundance of polearms of different sizes and
shapes. Due to their numbers, there is no standard system for naming
polearms. The names used in this game might possibly be applied to
other weapons elsewhere.
Because of their length, all polearms are infantry weapons and require
two hands to use. They are almost always the weapon of the
common peasant and soldier, who, lacking a horse and heavy armor,
needs some weapon to keep the enemy's knights at bay. Thus, most
polearms are intended to be used in close-packed formations that
present a forest of sharp points and wicked blades to any knight
foolish enough to charge.
The following weapons are polearms: spears (all), glaives, guisarmes,
halberds, hammers (lucern), lances, military forks, ranseurs, scythes
and all weapons based upon or similar in design to these weapons.
Ranseur: Very much like the partisan and spetum, the ranseur differs
in that the main blade is thinner and the projecting blades extended
more like tines of a fork. These can trap a weapon and sometimes
punch through armor. Partisans with side tines may be treated as
ranseurs.
Scythe: Scythes and fauchards are long, inward curving blades
mounted on a shaft six to eight feet long. It can slash or thrust,
although the inward curving point makes thrusting rather ineffective.
Its advantage is that a peasant can easily convert his common scythe
into a weapon of war.
Sling: You can fire a sling with one hand; though loading a sling
requires two hands.
You can use ordinary stones with a sling, but stones are inferior to
bullets. As such sling attacks made with stones suffer a -1 attack roll
penalty and deal 1d3 damage.
Sword, Bastard: This sword is similar to a long sword in size and weight,
but has a longer hilt. It can be used one- or two-handed.
Whip: The whip is a dangerous weapon only in the hands of a highly
skilled and well-trained user. To inflict damage, the whip must contact
exposed, or lightly covered, flesh. As such, a whip wielder suffers a -4
penalty to attack rolls made against opponents in medium or heavy
armor.
The whip also has another use. It can entangle an opponent’s limb(s)
or weapon in order to make trip or disarm attacks.
Whip (Scourge): This wicked weapon is a short whip with several
thongs or tails. Each thong is studded with metal barbs, resulting in a
terrible lash. It is sometimes used as an instrument of execution.
MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT
Caltrops: A caltrop is a four-pronged iron spike crafted so that one
prong faces up no matter how the caltrop comes to rest. You scatter
caltrops on the ground in the hope that your enemies step on them or
are at least forced to slow down to avoid them. One 2-pound bag of
caltrops covers a 5’ by 5’ square.
Each time a creature moves into an area covered by caltrops (or
spends a round fighting while standing in such an area), it might step
on one. The creature can avoid the caltrops by making a dexterity
common ability check with a –5 penalty. If the creature is wearing
shoes or other footwear, it gets a +2 bonus to this check. Creatures
moving cautiously through the area (at ½ their movement rate,
rounded to the nearest 5’ increment) need not roll a dexterity save to
avoid the caltrops.
If the creature fails its dexterity common ability check, it steps on 1d3
caltrops. Each deals 1 point of damage, and the creature’s speed is
reduced by one-half because its foot is wounded. This movement
penalty lasts for 24 hours, until the creature is successfully treated by a
healer, or until it receives at least 1 point of magical curing.
Climbing Gear: These tools (pitons, crampons and a small hammer)
give you a +2 bonus to all climb checks, so long as the time is taken to
properly use them. Rope must be purchased separately.
Lanterns: A hooded lantern (30’ radius of light) is a standard lantern
with shuttered or hinged sides. It is not directional, as its light is cast
equally in all directions. A bull’s-eye lantern (60’ cone of light) has only
a single shutter, the other sides being highly polished to reflect the
light in a single direction. Both hooded and bull’s-eye lanterns can be
carried in one hand. A single flask of oil (one pint) burns for six hours in
either.
The beacon lantern (240’ radius of light) is a much larger affair and
must be mounted on the prow of a ship, the bed of a wagon, or other
large structure. It operates like the bull’s-eye lantern but illuminates to
a greater distance. The beacon goes through oil quickly, burning a
flask every two hours.
Locks: Locks are still fairly primitive affairs (except for those
complicated by the use of magic or made through the exceptional
artifice of the elven, gnomish or dwarven people). Most are worked
with a large bulky key. Combination locks are virtually unknown at this
time. As with most things, there are good, very complex locks as well
as bad, easily opened locks.
Magnifying Glass: This simple lens is more an oddity than a useful tool.
It does not greatly enhance viewing, especially since many are
unevenly ground, creating distortion. It is useful as a substitute for
tinder and steel when starting fires.
Merchant's Scale: This is a small balance and pans along with a
suitable assortment of weights. Its main use is to weigh coins - a
common method of settling a transaction. Merchants are well aware
that coins can be undersized, shaved, or plated. The only sound
protection is to check the coins against a set of established weights. It
is also needed when using foreign coins to make a purchase or
exchange. Of course, merchants are no more noble than anyone else
and may use sets of false weights - one set heavier than normal for
selling an item (causing the customer to pay more) and another set
lighter than usual for buying items (letting the merchant pay less). In
well-regulated areas, officials verify the accuracy of weights and
measures.
Oil: Greek fire is a general name given to all highly flammable oils
used in combat. (Historically, Greek fire was a special combination of
oil and chemicals that was sticky and difficult to extinguish.) These oils
are highly flammable and a little dangerous to carry.
Lamp oil is used for lamps and lanterns. It is not particularly explosive
although it can be used to feed an existing blaze.
Spyglass: Like the magnifying glass, the spyglass is more of an oddity
than a useful item. Objects viewed through it are a little closer,
although not much. For better results magical items are preferred. The
spyglass gives from two to three times magnification.
Thieves’ Tools: This is a small collection of tools useful to burglars. The
kit includes one or more skeleton keys, long metal picks, a long-nosed
clamp, a small handsaw, and a small wedge and hammer. These
combined with some common tools (such as a crowbar) make up
most of the special equipment a thief needs to perform his trade.
Water Clock: This bulky item is good for giving the time accurate to a
half-hour. Activated by a regulated flow of drops, the water clock is
not something you carry in your pocket. For it to work at all, it must
have a source of water and be left undisturbed.
Player’s Handbook 47
TRANSPORT
Caravel: This ship was sailed in late Medieval/early Renaissance times
and was the type of ship Columbus used to reach the New World. (It
should be used only in late Medieval settings.) It normally has two or
three masts and square sails. No oars are used. The typical caravel is
70 feet long and 20 feet wide. The normal crew is from 30 to 40 men.
The average cargo displacement is 150-200 tons.
Coaster: Also called a round ship, this is a small merchant ship that
hugs the coasts. This is a sailing ship, fitted with two masts and
triangular sails. The average size is 60 to 70 feet long and 20 feet wide.
The rudder hangs from one side. The crew is 20 to 30 men, and the
cargo capacity is about 100 tons. Normally there is only a small
sterncastle. A coaster is slow and not tremendously seaworthy, but it
can carry large amounts of cargo with smaller crews than galleys.
Cog: This ship is a larger, improved version of the coaster, able to
make ventures into the open sea. Like the coaster, it is a sailing ship
with one or two masts, but the cog employs square sails. It is about 75
to 90 feet long and 20 feet wide. The crew is only 18 to 20 men. There
is normally one deck and both a fore- and stern- castle. The cargo
capacities of cogs vary greatly, but the average is 100 to 200 tons.
Curragh: This is an early, primitive vessel. It is made from thick hides
stretched over a wood-and-wicker frame. A single mast carries a small
square sail, but the curragh is usually worked by oars. It is normally 20
to 40 feet long. The crew is approximately six to eight and the cargo
space is limited - no more than five tons.
Drakkar: The largest of the Viking longships is known as a drakkar or
dragonship. Built for war, this ship stretches about 100 feet in length.
Although a single mast can be raised, oars provide the main source of
power. The crew of 60 to 80 men rows, one man to an oar. Up to 160
additional men can be carried for boarding and raiding. Due to its
great size, a drakkar is not very seaworthy. This and the fact there is no
space on board for many supplies (certainly not enough for 240 men)
or sleeping quarters keep the drakkar close to the coast where it can
put in for the night. Because of its cost and limited use, a drakkar is
usually built by kings and rulers and is not used for the mundane task
of shipping cargo.
Dromond: This ship is the largest of the Byzantine galleys. Although it
boasts one or two masts and triangular sails, the main power comes
from the 100 oars, 50 to a side. These oars are divided into an upper
and lower bank, with one man per oar on the lower bank and three
men on the upper bank. Thus, the total crew is about 200 men. The
dromond is about 130 to 175 feet long and 15 feet wide, making it a
very slender ship. The cargo capacity is around 70 to 100 tons.
A dromond can be used both for shipping and war. As a warship, a
ram projects from the front just above the water line. Castles are built
fore, aft, and amidships as firing platforms. The cargo space is then
taken up by marines. With such numbers of men, it is a very dangerous
ship to attack. A dromond is not a seaworthy craft, however, and
usually sails in sight of shore. They beach at night like all galleys, since
supplies and sleeping accommodations are very limited.
Galleon: This is the largest and most advanced sailing ship that might
be available in the AD&D game. It should appear only in
Renaissance-period settings. It is a sail-driven ship with three or four
masts. There are normally three through decks (running the length of
the ship), while the castles fore and aft have two decks. The average
size is about 130 feet long and 30 feet wide. Crews average about 130
men. Although cargo capacity is about 500 tons, a galleon is mainly
used as a warship. (In the real world they were fitted with cannon,
something beyond the standard AD&D game rules.) They can easily
carry men equal to their tonnage, making capture by pirates nearly
impossible.
Great Galley: Built during the Late Middle Ages, the great galley is an
improved version of the dromond. It is slightly smaller than the
dromond, about 130 feet long and 20 feet wide. The main power
comes from 140 rowers, one man to an oar, but is supplemented by
three masts; this combination gives it better speed and handling. The
cargo capacity is 150 tons. When outfitted as a warship, the front end
is built as a ram and marines are carried instead of cargo. Like all
galleys, the great galley is a coastal vessel, rarely venturing into open
water. It is not seaworthy in heavy storms and waits in port for these to
pass.
Knarr:
This small ship was a common cargo ship of the
Scandinavian region. It is 50 to 75 feet long and 15 to 20 feet wide. It
has a single mast and a square sail. In times of poor wind, a few oars
at the bow and stern can provide more power. The crew ranges from
eight to 14 men. The cargo capacity is small, anywhere from ten to 50
tons. The ship is, however, relatively seaworthy and can be used to
make long sea voyages (although it cannot be called comfortable).
Its flat bottom makes it useful for sailing up rivers and estuaries, and it
can be beached easily.
Longship: This is the standard Viking warship. It is more substantial than
the knarr but not nearly as massive as the drakkar. An average
longship is 75 feet long with 20 to 25 oars per side. Each oar is worked
by a single man for a total crew of 40 to 50 men. There is also a single
mast and a square sail. In addition to the crew, the ship can carry 120
to 150 men. A longship can be used for shipping, but its cargo
capacity is only about 50 tons. It is, however, fairly seaworthy and can
sail across the open sea when necessary.
TACK & HARNESS
Barding: A warhorse, or any animal trained for combat, is a
considerable investment for the average warrior. Therefore, it
behooves the owner to see that his mount is as well protected as
possible. Other than avoiding risks, the best non-magical protection is
horse armor or barding.
Padded or leather barding provides a +1 armor class bonus to the
beast wearing it. Chain barding provides a +3 armor class bonus to its
wearer. Plate barding provides a +5 armor class bonus to its wearer.
Saddles: There are two basic saddles - riding and pack. Riding
saddles take many forms, but their basic purpose is to carry a person.
Pack saddles are special frames designed to carry supplies and
equipment. The only practical limit to how much a well-stowed pack
saddle can carry is the carrying ability of the animal.
Player’s Handbook 48
ABILITY SCORES & THE GAME
Throughout the game, the Dungeon Master and players must resolve
whether or not specific actions succeed or fail. These actions might
include tracking a band of goblins, detecting a trap, swimming a
mighty river or resisting the effects of a giant snake's poison. To resolve
these situations and others, a player rolls an ability check.
It is important to note that only those activities that have a significant
chance of failure, as determined by the DM, should be resolved by a
die roll. In most cases, narrative development and not chance should
guide the game. Judicious use of the ability check is essential to
maintaining the fast flow of action and adventure. There are instances
in which the ability check is required. These include class ability
checks, skill checks, saving throws and common ability checks where
the DM deems a check necessary to resolve a conflict.
Once it is decided an ability check is needed, the Dungeon Master
must identify the ability score to be checked against. In most cases,
the answer is obvious. In the case of class abilities, skills, and saving
throws, the appropriate ability score has already been identified. With
class abilities, the associated ability score is in the ability's description.
Non-specified situations requiring a check are typically easy to resolve
as well. The ability score descriptions located at the beginning of the
book and the USING ABILITY CHECKS IN YOUR GAME section below
should aid in deciding which ability score to associate with specific
actions.
Once the associated ability score is chosen, the Dungeon Master may
apply a modifier to the roll that is based upon the difficulty of the task.
A positive modifier, or bonus, improves the character’s chance of
success by adding to his die roll while a negative modifier, or penalty,
decreases his chance of success.
The Dungeon Master has vast discretion in determining the
challenge’s difficulty and assigning a check modifier (whether it’s a
penalty or bonus). Although the task sounds difficult, it is actually fairly
easy. The check modifier represents the level of difficulty of the action
attempted or the reaction made.
The simplest way to determine the check modifier is by referencing
the level or hit dice of the NPC or creature that the character making
the check is acting against or reacting to. In such cases, the check
penalty is equal to the level or hit dice of the NPC or monster involved.
A monster's check penalty is equal to its hit dice; a spell's check
penalty is equal to the caster level or hit dice of its caster; a trap's
check penalty is equal to the level of the person who set it.
There are more arbitrary situations that require the DM to create an
adequate modifier. If a character is attempting a task such as making
an extraordinary jump or swinging on a rope to grab an object, the
Dungeon Master needs to assign a difficulty to the task. A good way
to assign such a modifier is to think of the task's difficulty as if it were a
monster, and then assign a penalty equal to the hit dice of the
monster imagined. In this way, a level or hit dice can be assigned to
tasks such as swimming a river, knocking down a door, jumping a pit
or catching a falling object.
As a rule of thumb, a check bonus of +10 is recommended for routine
tasks, while a bonus of +5 is adequate for most easy tasks. Checks that
are of average difficulty should have no bonus or penalty applied to
them (other than the relevant ability score modifier and level
modifier). For tough tasks, a check penalty of -5 works well. For
challenging tasks, a check penalty of -10 suffices. Extremely difficult
checks should incur a penalty of -15 or greater, while truly heroic
actions require a check penalty of -20 or even higher. When in doubt,
err on the low side since it never hurts a game to have a character
succeed in something difficult.
After the check modifier is determined, the Dungeon Master applies it
to the character’s ability check. If the d20 roll plus all modifiers is
equal to or greater than 15 (the Challenge Base or CB) then the ability
check is successful.
Note that rolling a “natural 20” (a “20” is rolled on your d20) always
indicates success on ability checks while rolling a “natural 1” always
indicates failure.
LEVEL BONUSES & ABILITY CHECKS
Every saving throw, class ability check, skill check and common ability
check has an associated ability score. Whenever one of these checks
is made a d20 is rolled by the player. The character’s ability modifier is
always added to this roll. When making saving throws, the character
always adds his level (his level bonus) to the roll. When using skills or
class abilities the character also adds his level bonus to the roll, so long
as he is trained in that skill or ability.
Any time an ability check that is NOT a skill check, saving throw, or
class ability is called for, it is a common ability check. Common
abilities, which are described in greater detail below, are “everyman”
abilities that may be attempted by all characters and most intelligent
beings. When using common abilities the character adds ½ of his level
bonus to the roll, rounding fractions down.
There will be times when a player will want a character to attempt an
action that intrudes in the realm of the class ability of another
character class or use a skill they do not possess. It is up to the
Dungeon Master to decide if such an action is even possible. If a
Dungeon Master does allow a character to attempt a skill or class
ability they do not possess then the character does not add any level
bonus to the ability check roll, unless the class ability may be also be
attempted as a common ability (e.g. a stealth or perception check).
It is important to note that the abilities of each class have the best
results when used by only that class.
USING ABILITY CHECKS IN YOUR GAME
One of the challenges of running a game is deciding when and how
to use the rules of the game to enhance the game play experience.
Knowing when and how to use the ability check to the best
advantage will make for a fun and exciting game. Misusing them will
cause the game to become bogged down with trivialities.
COMMON ABILITIES
As noted above, common abilities do not require specialized training,
as class abilities and skills do. Common ability checks automatically
improve as characters advance in level, with all characters adding ½
of their level bonus to common ability checks (rounding fractions
down). Examples of common abilities include appraising items,
balancing, climbing, haggling, jumping, perception, persuasion, and
swimming.
The following section details the various common abilities associated
with each ability score, as well as providing examples of skills and class
abilities tied to each ability.
Strength
The strength check should be used sparingly and with a healthy dose
of common sense. Even a character with a strength score of 18
cannot lift a boulder weighing over a ton. A rock for a sling stone can
be lifted by anyone. This extreme example illustrates the potential
downside of relying on ability score checks to resolve situations in a
game. If done too often, the act of making a check can begin to
replace the essential value of common sense when determining the
outcome of events.
Strength checks are most useful when a character is attempting feats
of strength beyond the norm. It often involves a situation where a
character is matched against another creature or character,
requiring an opposed strength check, or against a force of nature.
task
type of ability check
escape artist
class or common ability
feats of strength
common ability
jump
class or common ability
swim
common ability
Characters attempting to lift more than their maximum heavy load
(see ENCUMBRANCE on page 53) must make a strength check. The
penalty to this check is -1 for every 10% over the listed maximum that is
lifted. As such a character trying to lift double their maximum heavy
load would make a strength check with a -10 penalty, while a
character trying to lift three times their maximum heavy load would
suffer a -20 penalty.
All character may make strength checks to open stuck doors, break
free of restraints, move extremely heavy objects, attempt jumps (with
and without a running start), swim and so on. Strength checks are
also made when making or resisting grapple, push, overbear and
disarm attacks (see page 58 for more details on NON-LETHAL
COMBAT).
Generally a character can jump a number of feet equal to their
movement rate divided by 5, by making a strength check. For every
foot beyond this increase the check penalty by 2. Without a running
Player’s Handbook 49
start of at least 20’ the base distance jumped is halved and each
additional foot of jumping distance increases the check penalty by 4.
For high jumps, characters may jump number of feet equal to their
movement rate divided by 10 with a successful strength check, with
every foot beyond this increasing the penalty by 4.
Characters trying to swim may move at ¼ of their movement rate,
rounded to the nearest 5’ increment. Characters suffer encumbrance
penalties to all strength checks made to swim (see Encumbrance for
more details).
Intelligence
Characters often face daunting puzzles and tasks of mental discipline
on their adventures. Intelligence checks are one way to help
determine the success of a character at those tasks. Caution should
be used, however, lest the roll of the dice be used to solve all of a
player's problems. Part of the fun of the game is the sense of
accomplishment gained when roleplaying, reasoning and solving
problems or recalling information. Getting the answers from rolling
dice leaves that accomplishment empty.
task
type of ability check
appraise value
common ability
craft (type of object)
skill
create, use or identify poison
class ability
decipher script
class ability
estimate (distance, quantity, etc)
common ability
knowledge (specific subject)
skill
lore
class ability
recall information
common ability
All characters may make intelligence checks to estimate the rough
value of objects, recall information, determine the distance between
themselves and their opponents, estimate the number of soldiers in an
approaching army, and so on.
Besides allowing characters to make rough appraisals and estimates,
a character’s intelligence affects the number of background skills a
character begins play with (see Bonus Knowledge Skills on page 3).
Skills that are based upon intelligence are described in the SKILLS
section. These skills represent specialized training on the character’s
part and function much like class abilities in that the character adds
their full level bonus to skill checks, if they have that particular skill, or
do not if unskilled.
Wisdom
Where a character, and not a player, has had an experience that
could impact a present circumstance, a wisdom ability score check is
often
involved.
Wisdom
checks
often
help
resolve
unclear
circumstances through hunches or gut feeling. Wisdom is also used to
determine surprise, or when allowed, to spot something not normal
about a situation. Wisdom checks are a particularly useful device with
new players that may be confused in such a circumstance.
In the end, the ultimate determination of whether to allow a wisdom
check or not lies in those circumstances where the fictional
character's knowledge and experience would exceed the player's
personal knowledge. The character's background and experiences
play an important role in this.
However, wisdom checks should not always be used to help
characters find hidden objects or gain intuitive insight. A player should
pay attention to the Dungeon Master's narrative description, and the
Dungeon Master should allow alert players to spot potential threats or
find hidden items, especially if deftly roleplayed. Wisdom checks are
not a replacement for alert and cautious play. Also, as detailed
ahead, surprise is a special type of wisdom check with its own rules.
task
type of ability check
bind wounds
common ability
direction sense
common ability
perception
class or common ability1, 2
profession (type)
skill
ride (mount)
common ability
survival
class ability
sense motive
common ability
track
class ability
1 All characters may attempt perception checks to notice when
something is amiss (bandits are lying in ready to ambush the
party, a strange keening noise can be heard in the distance),
though only those with the perception class ability may add their
full level bonus to such checks. Perception checks can also be
made to hear and locate invisible attackers (this does not
negate the benefits of invisibility). These checks, if made against
another creature, are opposed by that creature’s stealth
(dexterity) check (if they are attempting to hide or sneak up on
the character). Generally a successful check indicates that the
character has detected some sort of noise or spotted something
amiss. Modifiers due to intervening cover, solid barriers, distance,
etc., as well as what details are heard or spotted, are
determined by the DM.
2 While only those with the find traps ability (thieves and assassins)
may make perception checks to find complicated mechanical
or magical traps, all characters may attempt to find crude traps
(such as concealed pit traps or rope snares) with a perception
check.
Wisdom checks are also used to “read” others and sense their true
motives. These checks, if made against another creature, are
opposed by that creature’s bluff (charisma) check (if they are trying
to deceive that character). Finally, wisdom checks allow characters
to handle mounts and pack animals.
Skills that are based upon wisdom are described in the SKILLS section.
Dexterity
Characters occasionally find themselves in situations where their
reflexes and balance are tested. Dexterity checks should be used in
those situations where the consequences are most dire, or dependent
upon some deft maneuver to avoid a hazard. A dexterity check might
also be required when a character attempts to retrieve an item
quickly, balance on a precarious surface, run up a steep incline and
so on.
task
type of ability check
balance
class or common ability1
climb
class or common ability2
disable device
class ability
escape artist
class or common ability
play instrument
skill
sleight of hands
class ability
stealth
common ability3
1 Characters may only move at ¼ of their movement rate,
rounded to the nearest 5’ increment, when balancing or
traversing difficult terrain. Characters may attempt to move at ½
of their movement rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment,
when balancing but take a -5 penalty to their dexterity check
when doing so.
2 Characters with the climb class ability may climb up, down or
across a slope, wall, steep incline (even a ceiling with
handholds), or unusually angled natural or man-made slope or
incline that others would find impossible to climb. They add their
full level bonus to such checks and never need to make a climb
check in order to climb natural slopes and man-made inclines,
such as a rough ledge or steep steps.
All characters (even those without the climb class ability) may
make dexterity checks to climb rough ledges or natural slopes. A
failed climb check means that the character makes no progress.
A check that fails by 5 or more means that the character slips
and falls, possibly taking damage if they fall from a height of 10’
or more. Nothing can be carried in the hands while climbing and
a character moving under conditions where a dexterity check is
required may only move at ¼ of the their movement rate,
rounded to the nearest 5’ increment.
Characters may attempt to move at ½ of their movement rate,
rounded to the nearest 5’ increment, when climbing (or
balancing) but take a -5 penalty to their dexterity check when
doing so.
3 All characters may attempt stealth checks to hide from others or
move silently, though only those with the stealth class ability may
add their full level bonus to such checks. These checks are
always opposed by the target’s perception check. If the
character is being observed, even casually, they can’t hide. If
observers are momentarily distracted, though, the character can
attempt to hide. While the observer averts its attention from the
character, the character can attempt to get to a hiding place.
This check, however, is at a -10 penalty because the character
has to move quickly to the hiding place. A character cannot
Player’s Handbook 50
hide if there is nothing to hide behind or conceal oneself with.
Deep shadows can count as concealment at the Dungeon
Master’s discretion. Characters attempting to move silently take
a -5 penalty to this check when moving at ½ of their movement
rate (rounded to the nearest 5’ increment) and a -20 penalty
when running or charging.
Skills that are based upon dexterity are described in the SKILLS section.
Constitution
There are plenty of situations in a game where a player might wish to
push the limits of the character's health and stamina. For example, a
character may need to run a mile in full chainmail without stopping. If
a Dungeon Master needs to determine if a character can succeed at
tasks such as this, a constitution check is used.
As with any check, common sense must be used. A contest of
endurance between a character with a constitution of 4 and one
with a constitution of 16 is really no contest at all. However, a contest
between characters with 15 and 17 would be much closer, and
constitution checks might be needed to determine how long each
character could succeed at the task, such as holding a book in each
hand with outstretched arms.
task
type of ability check
tests of fortitude or stamina
common ability
All characters may make constitution checks to exert themselves for
extended periods of time or test their intestinal fortitude (i.e. by
engaging in a drinking contest). Checks made to push one’s
endurance, fight off illness or hold one’s breath are all governed by
constitution.
Charisma
Feats of will between two creatures along with situations involving
leadership, reaction, loyalty and negotiation are areas governed by
charisma. As with intelligence checks, players should be given the
opportunity to succeed through roleplaying before checks are
required. If the Dungeon Master deems an argument or negotiation
persuasive, then success can be allowed without requiring a check.
Under no circumstances should charisma checks replace the need for
players to roleplay interactions. If the character wants a deal from a
shopkeeper, the player should have to negotiate that deal. A
charisma check might aid in the resolution of the task, but it should
not determine it outright. A successful, opposed charisma check in
the negotiation of a peace treaty, for example, might cause the
opposing side to offer a small concession, but the ultimate success will
depend on the player's roleplaying ability.
However, as with wisdom, sometimes a character's charisma will be
greater than the player's ability to roleplay that charisma. The
Dungeon Master should take that into account when making
situational rulings. A paladin with an 18 charisma would have some
success in convincing a group of villagers to aid in hunting down an
evil bandit in the region, even if the player cannot deliver a speech
like Julius Caesar. If the player can give an adequate speech with a
modicum of oration ability, the DM should allow for some success.
Imposing one's will over another creature is one of the most difficult
situations for the Dungeon Master to referee. In such cases, a
character's charisma score is the primary determinative of success. In
most cases, a roll may not even be required.
task
type of ability check
animal empathy
class ability
bluff
common ability
haggle
common ability
intimidation
common ability
persuasion
common ability
All characters may make opposed charisma checks (see Encounter
Reactions page 54) to influence others, while NPCs may use charisma
checks to resist a player’s influence. The use of persuasion,
intimidation and guile are all based upon a character’s charisma, as is
the player’s natural ability to haggle and to command others. Skills
that are based upon charisma are described in the SKILLS section.
SAVING THROWS
Many times during a game something occurs which requires an ability
check, such as when a dryad attempts to charm a character or a
dragon breathes fiery breath upon a character, but the ability score
associated with the event that causes the check is unclear.
For example, what happens when a wight creeps up upon an
unsuspecting foe and reaches its hand out to steal some part of a
soul? This is called an energy drain and, if successful, the character
whose energy is drained loses levels. In this case, the character is
being acted on in a potentially harmful manner and must make an
ability check to avoid being harmed. This ability score check is called
a saving throw. Often the Dungeon Master or new players are unsure
as to which ability score a particular type of attack or event relates.
Saving throws clarify this as many of the more common types of
events are examined. In the case of the wight's energy drain, the
saving throw relates to constitution.
A saving throw is simply an ability score check for a character to
avoid damage or other unwanted alteration or harm caused by a
creature's abilities and/or specific situations or effects. Saving throws
are unique only in that the character is being acted on and the
attacks or events causing it need clarification.
A saving throw is an ability check. A player rolls a d20, adds the
character's full level bonus and the appropriate ability score modifier.
The check penalty for saving throws is usually equal to the monster's
hit dice, the caster level of the spell, the level of the thief setting the
trap, or the level of the assassin brewing the poison. The Dungeon
Master may also give bonuses or impose penalties due to
circumstance and situation. The results of failed saving throws for a
particular type are explained below.
Monsters, creatures and non-player characters are also often required
to make saving throws when reacting to attacks by a character,
especially spells cast by magic-users and illusionists, clerics and druids.
Monster saving throws function in the same manner, substituting hit
dice in place of the level bonus. Unlike player and non-player
characters, they do not add specific ability modifiers to their saving
throws.
Note that rolling a “natural 20” (a “20” is rolled on your d20) always
indicates success on a saving throw roll while rolling a “natural 1”
always indicates failure.
TYPES OF SAVING THROWS
There are six different kinds of saving throws each corresponding to an
ability score. The situations and effects that trigger a saving throw
generally fall into one of the following categories. This list is not
definitive but should provide a template for Dungeon Masters to
determine a saving throw category for something not listed here.
More information on saving throws, including details regarding Item
Saving Throws is provided below.
SAVE TYPE
Categories
Strength
Paralysis, Constriction
Intelligence
Arcane Magic, Illusion
Wisdom
Divine Magic, Confusion, Gaze Attack
Polymorph, Petrification
Dexterity
Breath Weapon, Traps
Constitution
Disease, Energy Drain, Poison
Charisma
Death Attack, Charm, Fear
Variable:
Spells
Breath Weapon (Dexterity or Constitution): Any character caught in
the area of effect of a breath weapon must make the appropriate
saving throw or suffer the breath weapon's full effects. The type of
saving throw necessary is described with the monster or spell that
causes the saving throw. Generally the character must dodge the
effects of a breath weapon, so a dexterity save is appropriate, but on
occasions gaseous clouds require a constitution saving throw.
Charm (Charisma): Charm spells or spell-Iike abilities allow a charisma
saving throw to avoid being overcome by the charm. A failed save
means the character suffers the effect of the charm spell.
Confusion (Wisdom): Confusion spells or spell-like powers allow a
wisdom saving throw to avoid being overcome by confusion. A failed
save means the character becomes confused, as per the confusion
spell, for an amount of time as specified by the spell or ability.
Player’s Handbook 51
Death Attacks (Charisma): Death attacks are rare and only a few
monsters and the rare artifact have them. In most cases, death
attacks allow the victim to make a charisma save to avoid the affect,
but if the save fails the character will die instantly.
Disease (Constitution): When a character is injured by a disease
attack such as from a mummy, touching an item smeared with
diseased matter or consumes disease-tainted food or drink, the
character must make an immediate constitution saving throw. If the
character succeeds, the disease has no effect, for the immune system
has fought off the infection. If failed, damage occurs after an
incubation period. The description for each disease will give the
details on the effects following the incubation period. It is
recommended that the Dungeon Master roll these constitution saving
throws for the player so that he doesn't know whether the disease has
taken hold.
Energy Drain (Constitution): An energy drain attack takes away levels
or ability score points from the victim unless a successful saving throw
is made. Most energy drain attacks require a successful melee
attack. Mere physical contact is not enough. The full effect of an
energy drain, such as the number of levels taken away, is specified in
the monster, magic item or spell description causing the drain. If it is
not specified, one level is removed.
A character who loses a level this way suffers the effects of the drain
immediately. The character loses one hit die of hit points of the
appropriate class, and all other class abilities are reduced to the new
level. The victims experience point total is immediately set to the
midpoint point of the previous level.
A character drained below 1st level is instantly slain. Depending on the
creature that killed the character, the character may rise the next
night as a monster of that kind. If not, the character rises as a wight.
Lost levels or ability score points remain until removed by spells, such
as restoration, or other means. Sometimes level or ability score loss is
temporary and will return to normal in a day's time. A creature gains
temporary hit points each time it successfully uses its innate energy
drain ability. Unless specified otherwise, the creature gains the amount
of hit points that the victim loses. Energy drain through spell or magic
item does not grant temporary hit points unless their description
indicates otherwise.
Fear (Charisma): Spells, magic items and certain monsters can affect
characters with fear. The character facing a monster that emanates
fear or who has a spell cast upon him makes a charisma saving throw
to resist the effect. A failed roll means that the character is affected
by the fear, as detailed in the spell or monster description.
Gaze Attack (Wisdom): Each character within range of a gaze attack
must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his turn.
Generally the character can avoid the gaze with a successful wisdom
save. In many instances, the situation is more appropriately handled
without a saving throw through narrative and roleplaying. If necessary,
the Dungeon Master may require a saving throw. Failure indicates the
character was unable to avoid the gaze and suffers its effect.
Magic/Illusion (Intelligence or Wisdom): This category is for spells cast
by creatures or from scrolls. It is a catch-all for magic not covered by
one of the other saving throw categories. Arcane or divine spells cast
by a magic item or other object, or spell-like abilities possessed by
creatures or items usually allow a saving throw to negate, lessen,
avoid or resist their effects. If the type of magic is arcane, then an
intelligence saving throw is made. If divine, then a wisdom saving
throw is made.
In some cases, the specific effect of the spell calls for another type of
saving throw. All charm spells, whether cast by creature, item or spell-
like ability require a charisma saving throw (see above). Other saving
throw categories not covered by this catch-all would include
paralysis, polymorph, energy drain, death attack and fear.
Paralysis/Constriction (Strength): Some monsters and spells have the
supernatural or spell-like ability to paralyze or hold victims, immobilizing
them through magical means. Paralysis works on a character's body,
but a character can usually resist it with a strength saving throw. The
effects of spell, monster constriction and/or paralysis are discussed
above in the spell descriptions or in the MONSTER MANUAL.
Petrification/Polymorph (Wisdom): Arcane and divine magics can
cause creatures and characters to change their shapes, sometimes
against their will. The victim may make a wisdom saving throw to resist
the polymorph. Polymorphed creatures retain their own minds but
have new physical forms.
A petrified character is not dead if a majority of the body is intact. No
movement or actions of any kind can be made, not even mental
ones while petrified. Strength and dexterity scores are effectively (but
not actually) reduced to 0. There is no awareness of what is occurring
since all of the senses have ceased operating. If a petrified character
cracks or breaks but the broken pieces are joined with him as he
returns to flesh, he is unharmed. If the character's petrified body is
incomplete when returned to flesh, so is their restored body.
Poison (Constitution): When a character takes damage from a
poisoned weapon, an item smeared with contact poison, consumes
poisoned food or drink or is otherwise poisoned, he must make a
constitution saving throw. If he fails, he suffers the poison's initial
damage (usually ability damage). Even if he succeeds, he typically
faces more damage a short time later. Sometimes, the additional
damage allows for another saving throw.
Spells (Variable): Arcane and divine spells sometimes allow a saving
throw to negate, lessen, avoid, or resist the effect. Each spell
description indicates the type of saving throw including those spells
cast from scrolls, wands, rings or other magical devices.
Traps (Dexterity): When a character sets off a trap, a dexterity saving
throw is allowed to avoid all or some of the effects of the trap. Each
trap is unique and the effects of a successful or failed saving throw
should be designated beforehand.
Player’s Handbook 52
ITEM SAVING THROWS
Sometimes a spell or attack specifies whether items in its area of
effect are potentially destroyed. If this is the case, all items that are
not in a creature’s possession are required to make a saving throw or
be destroyed. Typically items worn or carried by a creature do not
need to roll a saving throw unless that creature rolls a “1” on its
saving throw.
attack form
material
acid
crushing
disintegrate
fire
frost
lightning
sonic
bone, ceramic or ivory
P
-
-
P
P
P
-
cloth or rope
-
P
-
-
P
-
P
crystal or vial
P
-
-
P
P
-
-
glass*
P
-
-
P
-
-
-
leather or book
P
P
-
-
P
-
P
metal, hard
P
P
-
P
P
P
P
metal, soft or jewelry**
-
-
-
-
P
-
P
parchment or paper
-
P
-
-
P
-
P
stone or gem
P
P
-
P
P
-
-
wood (thin)
P
-
-
-
P
-
-
wood (thick)
P
P
-
P
P
-
-
* category includes potion, magical oil, poison, and acid vials. If
the save is successful, the contents automatically save.
** category includes pearls and all non-precious and semi-
precious gems.
If an item is subjected to an attack form to which its save, as listed
above, is marked “P,” then a d20 is rolled with a +5 modifier. If the
save is listed as “-” then the item receives no modifier to its save.
Magic items have a flat +5 bonus on all saves, with an additional +1
per magical bonus. In addition, if an item is subjected to an attack
form of its own mode (such as a wand of fireballs saving versus fire or
armor saving versus a crushing attack), the save is made with a +10
bonus.
Artifacts and relics, at the DM’s discretion, and on an individual basis,
can be considered to be indestructible, requiring a very specific
process to destroy. Alternatively, a DM can apply a bonus to all save
categories, say, with a +20 bonus, rendering their destruction
improbable, but still leaving it possible.
The save penalty is based upon the intensity of the attack. The
penalty is usually equal to –1 per 5 points of damage dealt (round
fractions normally) with a minimum penalty of –1 applying to all
saves. As such, an attack that deals 16 points of damage would
incur a save penalty of –3.
For effects that do not directly deal damage the penalty is equal to
the threat’s level (usually the caster level for spells or hit dice for spell-
like abilities). In all other ways, this save is treated identically to the
saving throw method utilized by characters.
Example: A steel shield is struck by the awesome might of an ogre’s
giant club for 18 points of damage (-4 save penalty). Normally the
shield would not need to make a save but, in this instance, the ogre
is specifically trying to sunder the shield. The hard metal shield
normally gains a +10 bonus on its save because it is designed to
absorb blows (it was subjected to an attack form of its own mode)
and an additional +5 bonus because hard metal gets a bonus on
saves versus “crushing” attacks. Its total save modifier is
+11(combining the +15 save bonus with the -4 save penalty) and, as
such, needs to roll a 4 or higher to make its save (d20+11≥15).
Attack Forms:
Acid:
This category assumes a tremendous amount of exposure
or subjection to a potent acid, such as the effects of a
black dragon breath attack, or immersion for an extended
period of time. In the latter case, a save is only made after
the item has been thusly exposed, and is not required if the
object is removed before the timeframe expires; as a
general rule of thumb, an item must be immersed for one
round +1 per round for each point of magical bonus the
item has (+2 for those items that do not have a specific
bonus).
In the case of total immersion, the save penalty
cumulatively increases by +1 per round of exposure,
beginning the round after the item must initially save - in
this way, the longer an object is left in acid, the more likely
it is to be destroyed.
Example: A magical +1 long sword is accidentally dropped
in a vat of potent acid that does 2d6 points of damage per
round. It has two rounds (1 round +1 round due to its
magical bonus) before it must save. On the third round of
immersion the acid deals 10 points of damage and a save
is required, with a -2 save penalty due to the intensity of the
attack.
It gains a +5 bonus for being a hard metal item saving
versus “acid” and another +6 bonus for being a +1 sword),
for a total modifier of +9 (combining the +11 save bonus
with the -2 save penalty). A 6 or higher is required
(d20+9≥15) but a 3 is rolled and the sword is destroyed.
Crushing: This category assumes that an object has met with a
crushing or bludgeoning force, such as that delivered from
a giant’s attack or in a collision with an unyielding surface,
such as when an object falls and hits the ground.
Disintegrate: This category applies to any exposure to the spell
disintegrate, and damage dealt is always used to affect
the save difficulty.
Fire:
This category assumes direct contact with any magical
effect with “fire” or “flame” in its name, such as fireball, fire
storm or flame strike or with direct and prolonged exposure
to intense mundane fire sources, such as a bonfire or
flaming oil. It is also used for dragons’ breath weapon
attacks and for immersion in lava. In the latter case, the
rules for immersion in acid, above, apply.
An object that is highly susceptible to burning, such as
paper, must immediately save or be destroyed. Other items
may require additional rounds of exposure at the DM’s
discretion. Each round beyond the initial timeframe
increases the save penalty by 1. In this way, the longer an
item is left to burn, the more likely it is to be destroyed.
Frost:
This category assumes exposure and direct contact with
any form of intense cold, such as the effects of a white
dragon’s breath or the magic spells cone of cold and ice
storm.
Note: A hard metallic object that is exposed to a frost
attack and then subjected to any form of blunt trauma
within 1 round of making its save versus frost must make a
save against crushing, at a -5 penalty.
Lightning: This category assumes exposure to any spell with the word
“lightning” in its name such as lightning bolt or call
lightning, contact with any lesser magical electricity effect,
such as shocking grasp, the electrical effects of an electric
eel and the effects of a blue dragon’s breath.
Player’s Handbook 53
ENCUMBRANCE
Determining Encumbrance: Encumbrance rules determine how much
a character’s armor and equipment slow him down. If you want to
determine whether your character’s gear is heavy enough to slow him
down total the weight of all the character’s items, including armor,
weapons, and gear. Do not add the weight of a character’s clothing
to this total, unless they are wearing particularly bulky or heavy
garments. Compare this total to the character’s strength on the
ENCUMBRANCE table below.
Depending on how the totaled weight compares to the character’s
carrying capacity, he may be carrying a light, medium, or heavy
load. A character’s load affects his dexterity checks and may impose
harsher restrictions, such as movement rate and armor class penalties.
Encumbrance penalties to a character’s movement rate are applied
to all of the character’s modes of movement, including jumping,
swimming, climbing, and balancing. As such, a heavily encumbered
character has both his movement rate and jumping distance halved.
Note that a character wearing medium armor is considered to be
carrying a moderate load, even if carrying less than a moderate load,
while a character in heavy armor is considered to be carrying a
heavy load. Modified movement rates are always rounded to the
nearest 5’ increment.
Bigger and Smaller Creatures: The figures on the ENCUMBRANCE table
below are for Medium bipedal creatures. A Small creature can carry
75% of the listed weights for each encumbrance category while Large
creatures can carry double the listed weights.
Quadrupeds can carry heavier loads than characters can. Instead of
the multipliers given above, multiply the value corresponding to the
creature’s strength score from the ENCUMBRANCE table below by the
appropriate modifier, as follows: Small x1, Medium x1½, Large x3.
ENCUMBRANCE
strength
score
maximum
light load
maximum
medium load
maximum
heavy load
1
3 lb
6 lb
10 lb
2
6 lb
13 lb
20 lb
3
10 lb
20 lb
30 lb
4
13 lb
26 lb
40 lb
5
16 lb
33 lb
50 lb
6
20 lb
40 lb
60 lb
7
23 lb
46 lb
70 lb
8
26 lb
53 lb
80 lb
9
30 lb
60 lb
90 lb
10
33 lb
66 lb
100 lb
11
37 lb
73 lb
110 lb
12
42 lb
83 lb
125 lb
13
48 lb
97 lb
145 lb
14
56 lb
113 lb
170 lb
15
66 lb
133 lb
200 lb
16
80 lb
160 lb
240 lb
17
100 lb
200 lb
300 lb
18
126 lb
253 lb
380 lb
19
160 lb
320 lb
480 lb
20
200 lb
400 lb
600 lb
21
266 lb
533 lb
760 lb
22
320 lb
640 lb
940 lb
23
380 lb
760 lb
1140 lb
24
453 lb
907 lb
1360 lb
25
533 lb
1066 lb
1600 lb
EFFECTS OF ENCUMBRANCE
load
penalties
light
load
none
medium
load
-3 penalty to all dexterity checks. –6 to swimming
checks. -25% movement rate penalty (rounded
to the nearest 5’ increment).
heavy
load
-6 penalty to all dexterity checks. –12 to
swimming checks. Halve dexterity bonus to
armor class. -50% movement rate penalty
(rounded to the nearest 5’ increment).
overloaded*
all
dexterity
checks
automatically
fail.
No
dexterity bonus to armor class. -2 to armor class.
Maximum movement rate of 5’ per round.
* up to 120% of the character’s maximum heavy load.
TIME
Time in the campaign is very important. Your referee will keep strict
account of the time consumed by various characters, for it is likely to
separate them, since not all participants in a campaign are likely to
play at the same actual time. Time costs characters money in support,
upkeep and wage payments. It takes time to adventure, to heal
wounds, to memorize spells, to learn skills, to build strongholds and to
create magic items.
Typically, while traveling, time is measured in hours. Each hour is
divided into 10-minute intervals called turns (there are 6 turns in an
hour). Each minute is divided into 6 rounds. Thus a turn is 10 minutes or
60 rounds, a minute is 6 rounds, and a round is 10 seconds.
For long-distance movement time is measured in days, usually
subdivided into daylight (movement) and night (rest) periods. Thus,
while actual time playing is about the same for a dungeon adventure,
the game time spent is much greater in the case of outdoor
adventures.
DISTANCE & MOVEMENT
For the purposes of combat and dungeoneering, each 1” map
square equates to 5 feet of distance. Weapon ranges and
movement rates are all given in feet and inches in order to facilitate
combat and movement, which may easily be plotted out on
graphing paper or vinyl game mat during battles.
A character may move up to their movement rate each round
(assuming that take no other action and are not running). As such, a
character with a 60’ movement rate may move up to 60’ each round
(or 6’ per second) while one with a 45’ movement rate may move up
to 45’ per round (or 4½’ per second).
Each minute of normal movement allows a character 30’ (6”) of
movement per 5’ (1”) of their movement rate. Thus, a character with
a 60’ movement rate would move 360’ (72”) per minute while a
character with a 45’ movement rate would move 270’ (54”) per
minute.
Characters may run in order to double their movement rate. A
character who attempts to run during combat (moving up to double
their movement rate per round) suffers a –2 penalty to armor class when
doing so (see Run on page on page 57 for more details).
Calculated to the hour, a character with a 60’ movement rate should
be able to travel 4.09 miles. Due to the fact that long-distance travel
is, by necessity, slower in pace than the quick bursts of movement
required by combat, it is assumed that a character with a 60’
movement rate travels around 3 miles per hour. To calculate a
creature’s hourly rate of travel, simple divide their movement rate by
20 (every 5’ of MR = ¼ mile per hour).
movement
rate
distance traveled per:
round
minute
hour
day
(8 hours)
5’ (1”)
5’
30’
¼ mile
2 miles
10’ (2”)
10’
60’
½ mile
4 miles
15’ (3”)
15’
90’
¾ mile
6 miles
30’ (6”)
30’
180’
1 ½ miles
12 miles
45’ (9”)
45’
270’
2 ¼ miles
18 miles
60’ (12”)
60’
360’
3 miles
24 miles
75’ (15”)
75’
450’
3 ¾ miles
30 miles
90’ (18”)
90’
540’
4 ½ miles
36 miles
Player’s Handbook 54
LIGHT
While some characters have darkvision (the ability to see in areas of
natural darkness) due to race or through magical means, most
characters can only see in darkness by aid of a light source. The
following table gives the properties of typical light sources:
light source
radius of illumination
burning time
torch
30 feet
1 hour (6 turns)
hooded lantern
30 feet
6 hours (36 turns)*
bull’s-eye lantern
60 feet**
6 hours (36 turns)*
magic weapon
15 feet
infinite
*illumination is from burning 1 pot (pint) of fine oil
**illumination is in a 60o cone and can be masked by shutter.
Characters with twilight vision (elves, half-elves and halflings) can see
double the listed distances with the aid of a light source and may see
normally by moonlight. Those with darkvision (dwarves, gnomes and
half-orcs) lose that ability while in the illuminated radius of a light
source. It takes 6 rounds (1 minute) for their eyes to re-adjust after the
light source is moved away from them.
Characters that cannot see due to darkness or magical effects are
considered blinded and have their movement rate reduced to ½ of
their normal movement rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment. All
opponents
are
effectively
“invisible”
to
blinded
characters.
Opponents who can see blinded characters gain a +2 to hit them
and, in the case of thieves or assassins, may sneak attack such
characters even if they are not surprised or unaware of their
presence. See Invisible or Unseen Opponents under SPECIAL ATTACK
MANUEVERS & MODIFIERS for more details.
ENCOUNTER REACTIONS
Any intelligent creature that can be conversed with will react in some
way toward the character who is speaking. When a creature is trying
to influence the actions or feelings of another through their words, an
opposed charisma check may be used to resolve the situation.
Charisma checks made to influence others (or resist such influence)
are common ability checks (see page 48 & 50 for more details).
Situations that warrant opposed charisma checks include the use of
intimidation or persuasion, haggling, begging, etc. When one party is
attempting to deceive another, their charisma check to bluff is
opposed by their target’s wisdom check to sense motive.
The target’s charisma check is modified by their initial attitude towards
the speaker and his associates. As shown on page 9, the various
player races typically greet each other with varying degrees of
acceptance that influence the interactions between these races. Of
course these initial reactions are subject to change, and are based
upon generalizations that may not be relevant to the character’s
current situation or the DM’s campaign.
Humanoids and giants typically greet all humans and demihuman
races with “Hatred,” though half-orcs may be met with “Antipathy” or,
possibly, a “Neutral” attitude at the DM’s discretion. The initial attitude
of other races towards the players is based upon the immediate
situation and upon the typical interactions between members of that
race with humans and demihumans. The initial attitude categories,
and their social implications, are:
attitude
means
possible actions
hatred
will take risks to hurt you
attack, interfere, berate, flee
antipathy
wishes you ill
mislead, gossip, avoid,
scrutinize, insult and cheat
neutral
doesn’t much care
socially expected interaction
goodwill
wishes you well
chat, advise, offer limited
help, advocate
preferred
will take risks to help you
protect, back up, heal, aid
When trying to positively influence a target (make them friendlier or
less hostile), the initial attitude of the target modifies their charisma
check as follows:
initial attitude
target’s charisma check modifier
hatred
+5 bonus to charisma check
antipathy
+2 bonus to charisma check
neutral
± 0 to charisma check
goodwill
-2 penalty to charisma check
preferred
-5 penalty to charisma check
Once the opposed checks are made, the check results are
compared and the degree of success or failure determines the result
of the interaction:
opposed check result
encounter reaction
failed
the target’s attitude is unchanged
and no further attempts may be
made to alter the target’s attitude.
succeeded by 4 or less
the target’s attitude is unchanged
but the character may make another
attempt at parleying with a +2 bonus.
succeeded by 5 or more
the target’s attitude improves by one
category (“Hatred” to “Antipathy”)
succeeded by 10 or more
the target’s attitude improves by two
categories (“Hatred” to “Neutral”)
succeeded by 15 or more
the target’s attitude improves by
three
categories
(“Hatred”
to
“Goodwill”)
succeeded by 20 or more
the target’s attitude improves by four
categories (“Hatred” to “Preferred”)
Example: A band of adventurers making their way through a
mountain pass comes upon 2 hill giants resting by a mountain
stream. Normally the giants would rush to slay the party, as their
initial attitude towards the party is one of “Hatred.” The group,
having spotted the giants first, attempts to approach cautiously
and lets the group’s charismatic 8th level halfling thief speak on
their behalf.
The thief is using a common ability (persuasion) giving him a
level bonus equal to ½ of his level… a +4 modifier. In addition,
he has a 16 charisma (+2 modifier) giving him a total bonus of
+6 to his charisma check.
The giants are resisting using a common ability (persuasion)
giving them a level bonus equal to ½ of their hit dice (a +6
modifier) and typically greet humans and demihumans with
“Hatred” (+5 modifier). This gives them a total bonus of +11 to
their charisma check.
The halfling rolls a “16” on a d20 and adds 6 for a total of 22.
The giants roll a “6” on a d20 and add 11 for a total of 17.
The result (+5 in the halfling’s favor) means that the lucky halfling
has managed to make shift the giants’ attitude from “Hatred”
to “Antipathy.” The giants demand 50 gold pieces from each
party member in order to let them pass and taunt the party
members as they leave the area.
Avoiding: It is always possible to flee or sneak away from an
undesired confrontation if the other party is unaware of your presence
or surprised. It is never possible to flee from an encounter where the
opponent party is in striking range without drawing parting shots and,
possibly, initiating a pursuit. (See Run on page 57.) A party can always
flee an encounter if it gains the first initiative.
Whether or not the opposing party will follow in pursuit of the fleeing
party is up to the DM, but should be based upon the relative strengths
of both parties and upon the reasons for and against such pursuit.
Player’s Handbook 55
COMBAT
Much of the excitement in playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
occurs during the characters’ combat with monsters. Whether a
cavalier battling a horde of bloodthirsty orcs, a thief facing off with a
nefarious pirate or a cleric turning a vampire, combat is often the
climax of many roleplaying sessions.
Managing combat is often a challenging affair as the Dungeon
Master must not only know the rules, but must also know how to apply
the rules fluidly to maintain a sense of excitement through description
and action. To facilitate this, the rules for combat have been kept as
simple as possible with much maneuver room left for the Dungeon
Master. They are designed to organize the action of combat, yet
enable the DM to manipulate the rules in support of the narrative.
Narrative development is as equally important to the game as any
combat’s results. The rules of combat and its narrative development
are discussed below.
THE COMBAT ROUND
If an encounter escalates into a combat situation, the time scale of
the game automatically goes to rounds (also called melee rounds or
combat rounds). Rounds are used to measure the actions of
characters in combat (or other intensive actions in which time is
important).
As stated above, a round is 10 seconds long. Six combat rounds equal
1 minute and sixty combat rounds equal a turn. This is particularly
important to remember for spells that last for turns or minutes, rather
than rounds. The progression of a typical combat usually follows the
following steps:
1. Determine if a party or creature is surprised.
2. Resolve the surprise round.
3. Determine initiative for the combatants.
4. Resolve combat in initiative order, repeating actions in this same
order from round-to-round.
Surprise: A surprised party is caught unprepared, becoming aware of
their opponent a moment before he strikes. In such circumstances
the non-surprised combatants have an immediate advantage over
the other surprised combatants. A group that is aware of another’s
presence cannot be surprised. If a party can be surprised by
opponents who are not attempting an ambush (for example, a party
of adventurers turning the corner of a dungeon and stumbling into a
band of trolls), each combatant can make a perception check in
order to avoid being surprised. Those failing the Challenge Base “15”
check are surprised and cannot act during the surprise round. Those
who succeed may roll initiative and act during the surprise round.
When one group is trying to surprise their opponents, this perception
check is an opposed check against the ambushers’ stealth check. In
such instances, the members of the potentially surprised party roll
perception checks opposed by the ambushing party’s stealth check.
Any party member whose perception check equals or exceeds the
ambushing party’s stealth check gets to roll initiative and act during
the surprise round. When rolling an ambushing party’s stealth check,
the DM should use the least stealthy party member’s check to
determine the effectiveness of the ambush.
In most instances the penalties for being surprised or unaware are the
same. Both surprised and unaware opponents lose their dexterity
bonus and shield bonus to armor class until they act. Both surprised
and unaware opponents cannot act during the surprise round.
Thieves and assassins may backstab and sneak attack them for
added damage. Assassins have the option of making death attacks
against unaware opponents.
Initiative: The initiative roll determines who acts first in combat.
Initiative is determined at the start of combat (or during the surprise
round for those who may act) and does not change until the combat
ends. Those who are surprised do not get to roll initiative until after the
surprise round.
Initiative is normally determined with a single roll for each combatant
in a conflict. Roll 1d20 for each combatant who is not surprised, with
that combatant’s dexterity bonus or penalty applied to the roll.
Normally, the DM rolls for the monsters and NPCs while the players roll
for their respective player characters. The highest roll wins initiative
and actions are then resolved in initiative order, from the highest to
lowest initiative.
Simultaneous Initiative: If more than one opponent rolls the same
number for initiative, their actions are resolved in dexterity order,
from highest to lowest dexterity. Those with equal dexterity
scores act simultaneously - all attack rolls, damage, spells and
other actions are completed before any results are applied.
With simultaneous actions it is possible for a magic-user to be
slain by a goblin that collapses from his sleep spell.
Holding Initiative: A character or creature may hold their
initiative until an opponent is about to act (i.e. a paladin may
wait until their foe draws his weapon or a spellcaster may hold off
on casting dispel magic until their rival begins to cast a spell). In
such instances the combatant must declare what will trigger their
action and the initiative score of the creature that held its
initiative drops to that of its target +1 (the combatant holding his
initiative strikes just before his opponent acts).
Characters with long-hafted weapons, such as polearms, or
greater natural reach, such as giants, may hold their initiative in
order to strike a foe who approaches within their extended reach
(and before that foe strikes them). Similarly, some polearms (see
the weapon charts on page 41) may be set against a charging
opponent and, in this fashion, inflict double damage against that
opponent as it closes. This damage bonus only applies when the
charging creature is running directly toward a polearm-
equipped defender.
Combat Actions: Put in simple terms, a character may take 1 action
each round. Typical actions include moving (allowing a character to
move up to their movement rate), making an attack, casting a spell,
readying an item, using an item or using a skill or class ability. Only
creatures or characters normally able to make more than one attack
per round (typically high-level warriors and creatures employing
multiple attacks, such as the dreaded claw/claw/bite attack routine)
may make additional attacks each round.
Most actions, such as readying a magical device, loading a heavy
crossbow, readying a shield or opening a stuck door take 1 round.
Other actions, like dropping an item, taking a 5’ step in any direction,
drawing a sheathed weapon, calling out to your allies or turning
around, require little-to-no time and may be done in addition to your
normal combat action.
Attack Rolls: An attack roll represents your attempt to strike your
opponent on your turn in a round. When you make an attack roll, you
roll a d20 and add your attack bonus (totaling your BtH modifier,
relevant ability modifier and any other modifiers that apply to your
attack). If your result equals or beats the target’s Armor Class, you hit
and deal damage.
Facing & Number of Opponents: When faced by multiple opponents,
a defender may be attacked from different directions. All defenders
are considered to have four facings from which they may be
attacked; their front, left side, right side and rear.
Attacks directed at the front of a defender are made with no special
bonus, as the defender can see and respond to such attacks
normally. Attacks directed at the right or left side of a defender are
called flank attacks. Attacks made against a defender’s flanks are
made with a +1 bonus to the attack roll. Rear attacks are made with
a +2 bonus to the attack roll and negate any shield bonus that the
defender may have to their armor class.
In a situation where a defender can be surrounded, assume that ¼ of
the attackers may attack from each of the defender’s facings
(defenders get to choose the number of creatures attacking each
facing, so that they are better able to defend against them).
A defender may be attacked by up to 8 opponents of the same size.
Each attacker of a larger size counts as 2 opponents. Each attacker
of a smaller size counts as ½ an opponent.
Example: Isolde Heimgard, a dwarven fighter, is attacked by a
band of 8 orcs and 2 ogres. Dwarves are considered to be
Medium-sized creatures and, as such, can be attacked by 8
Medium-sized opponents. All 8 orcs can attack her or 6 orcs and
1 ogre can attack her or 4 orcs and 2 ogres can attack her.
Player’s Handbook 56
COVER & CONCEALMENT
Taking Cover Against Missile Fire: One of the best ways to avoid being
hit and injured is to hide behind something - a wall, a tree, a building
corner, a heap of boulders, or whatever happens to be available.
Taking cover doesn't work particularly well in a melee, since the cover
hampers defender and attacker equally. However, it is quite an
effective tactic against missile fire. There are two types of protection a
character can have.
The first is concealment. A character hiding behind a clump of bushes is
concealed. He can be seen, but only with difficulty, and it's no easy task
to determine exactly where he is. The bushes cannot stop an arrow, but
they do make it less likely that the character is hit. Other types of
concealment include curtains, tapestries, smoke, fog, dimly lit rooms
and brambles.
The other type of protection is cover. It is, as its name implies, something
a character can hide behind that will block a missile. Cover can be
provided by stone walls, the corner of a building, tables, doors, earth
embankments, tree trunks and magical walls of force.
Cover or concealment helps a potential target by penalizing attack rolls
made against them. The exact penalty for concealment or cover
depends on the degree to which it is being used as shelter. A character
who stands behind a two-foot wall is a pretty obvious target, especially
when compared to the character who lies down behind that wall and
carefully peers over it. The different modifiers for varying degrees of
cover and concealment are shown below.
Cover & Concealment Attack Roll Penalties
target is:
concealment
cover
25% hidden
-1
-2
50% hidden
-2
-4
75% hidden
-3
-6
100% hidden
-4
n/a
Furthermore, a character who has 75% cover (or more) gains added
protection against offensive spells. He suffers ½ normal damage
(rounding down) on a failed save and no damage at all if a saving
throw is successful against such spells. This assumes, of course, that the
fireball, lightning bolt, or whatever, hit the cover - a man crouching
behind a stone wall would be protected if a fireball exploded in front of
the wall, but would not be protected by cover if the blast occurred
behind him, on his side of the wall. A character with 100% cover cannot
be struck by an attacker while a defender with 100% concealment is
effectively “invisible”. See Invisible or Unseen Opponents under SPECIAL
ATTACK MANUEVERS & MODIFIERS on page 57.
GRENADE-LIKE MISSILES
Unlike standard missiles, which target a specific creature, a grenade-like
missile is aimed at a point, whether this point is a creature or a spot on
the ground. When the attack is announced, the player indicates where
he wants the missile to land. This then becomes the target point and is
used to determine the direction and distance of any scatter.
Most grenade-like missiles are items of opportunity or necessity - flasks of
oil, vials of holy water, or beakers of acid. As such, these items are not
listed on the equipment tables for range and damage. The range each
can be thrown varies with the strength of the character and the weight
of the object.
A missile of five pounds or less has a range increment of 10’ (2”). Heavier
items have reduced ranges. The DM decides just how far an object can
be thrown. Exceptionally heavy items can be thrown only if the
character rolls a successful strength check, with the check modified by
the item’s weight. In no case can a character throw an item heavier
than his strength would allow him to lift. Thus, the DM can rule that a
character would have little trouble chucking a half-empty backpack
across a ten-foot chasm, but the character would need to make a
check in order to heave an orc ten feet through the air into the faces of
his orcish friends.
Once a container hits, it normally breaks immediately. However, this is
not always true. Some missiles, like soft leather flasks or hard pottery, are
particularly resistant. If there's some doubt about whether or not a
thrown object will break, the DM can require an Item Saving Throw (this
information is on page 52) to see if it shatters or rips, spewing its contents
everywhere.
If a missile is off-target, it is important to know where it landed - an errant
grenade-like missile could present a hazard to other characters, start a
fire, or eat a hole in the floor. The process of finding where it lands is
known as "scatter." First, determine the direction that the missing missile
takes in relation to its intended target. Roll a d8 and consult the
following table:
Next determine how far off the mark the throw is. Roll a 4-sided die. The
number rolled is the number of 5’ squares away from the intended
target the missile lands.
The damage taken from a grenade-like attack depends on whether a
direct hit was scored or the target was in the splash area, 5’ (1”) from
the intended target.
Grenade-Like Missile Effects
type of missile
direct hit damage
splash damage
acid
2d4 hp
2 hp
holy water
2d4 hp
2 hp
oil (lit)
2d6/1d6 hp
2 hp
poison
special
special
Types of Grenade-Like Missiles
Acid:
Acid damage is particularly grim. Aside from the
possibility of scarring (which is left to the DM), acid
damage cannot be healed by regeneration. It
must be healed normally. Thus, it is very useful
against regenerating creatures such as trolls. Acid is
very rare.
Holy Water:
Holy water affects most forms of undead and
creatures from the Lower Planes. It has no effect
against a creature in gaseous form or undead
without material form. Unholy water (essentially
holy water used by evil priests) affects paladins,
creatures whose purpose is to defend good
(lammasu, shedu, etc.), and creatures and beings
from the Upper Planes. Holy (or unholy) water
affects creatures as does acid, causing damage
that cannot be regenerated but must be healed
normally.
Oil:
Oil causes damage only when it is lit. This normally
requires a two-step process - first soaking the target
in flammable oil and then setting it afire. Thus, using
flaming oil often requires two successful attacks. A
direct hit from flaming oil burns for two rounds,
causing 2d6 points of damage in the first round and
1d6 points in the second round.
Poison:
Poison is generally not very effective as a missile
weapon. Most poisons take effect only if the missile
scores a direct hit, and even then only if it drops into
the gaping maw of some huge creature. Contact
poisons have normal poison effects on a direct hit.
The DM has information about specific poison
effects in the DMG.
Player’s Handbook 57
SPECIAL ATTACK MANUEVERS & MODIFIERS
Charge: This special combat action allows a character to move and
make one attack in a single melee round. When a combatant charges
they must run in a straight line towards their opponent for at least 10’
(2”) but no more than their movement rate and make a single attack.
A charging combatant gains a +2 bonus to their melee attack rolls, and
gains a +2 bonus to their opposed strength check for overbear attacks,
but takes a –2 penalty to their armor class (this penalty lasts until their
next round’s action). A charging combatant draws attacks from all
combat-ready (e.g. not surprised or incapacitated) opponents they run
past because those opponents may take advantage of the runner’s
lowered defenses.
In order to charge a combatant must be able to easily traverse the
ground they are covering to get to their opponent. An uneven or debris
strewn patch of ground could easily prevent a character from charging
unless the character makes a balance check with the penalty
determined by the DM.
Critical Hits: On a natural "20" you automatically hit, even if you would
normally miss with the resulting attack roll total. So long as a natural "20"
was not required for you to hit your target rolling a natural “20” indicates
a critical hit has been scored. A critical hit always deals maximum
damage.
Firing into Melee: Combatants may make ranged weapon attacks
against creatures engaged in melee. When doing so, they suffer
cover penalties to their attack rolls (see COVER AND CONCEALMENT
on the previous page) and may strike their allies by mistake.
In ranged combat against a target that has another combatant as
cover, it may be important to know whether the cover was actually
struck by an incoming attack that misses the intended target.
First, determine if the attack roll would have hit the protected target
without the cover. If the attack roll falls within a range low enough to
miss the target with cover but high enough to strike the target if there
had been no cover, the object used for cover was struck. If a
creature is providing cover for another character and the attack roll
exceeds the armor class of the covering creature, the covering
creature takes the damage intended for the target.
Flank Attacks: Attacks against an opponent’s flank gain a +1 bonus to
hit. Attacks from the flank receive no bonus to hit against a character
with combat sense. See Number of Opponents & Facing on page 55
for details on the number of foes who may effectively flank a creature.
Fumbles: On a natural "1" you automatically miss, even if you would
normally hit with the resulting attack roll total. An attacker who has
fumbled is considered stunned until his next action.
Higher Ground: In melee, those fighting from higher ground (this
includes mounted combatants fighting those on foot) have an
advantage over their opponents. Those with this tactical advantage
gain a +1 on their melee attack rolls.
Incapacitated Opponents: During melee combat opponents who are
magically sleeping, held, unconscious or otherwise helpless are
automatically struck for a critical hit (see above) by any attack made
against them. Outside of melee such opponents may be automatically
slain, or bound as appropriate to materials at hand, in one round. Note
that this does not include normally sleeping or grappled opponents.
Invisible or Unseen Opponents: Invisible or unseen opponents are always
at an advantage. They can only be attacked if they are attacking or
otherwise detected somehow (typically through a perception check to
hear them). Invisible opponents always cause their attacker to attack
at a -4 on “to hit” rolls because their location cannot be accurately
pinpointed. At the same time unseen attackers gain a +2 bonus to hit
opponents and, in the case of a thieves or assassins, may sneak attack
their foe even if that foe is aware of the their presence. Spellcasters
cannot directly target invisible or unseen opponents with spells, though
they may use “area of affect” spells to strike them.
Mounted Combat: Fighting while mounted is a difficult undertaking.
Untrained riders suffer a -2 to all attack rolls while mounted, -4 if the
mount is moving. Those with the profession (animal handler: horses)
skill, do not suffer these penalties.
Trained horseman may ride a warhorse into combat without an ability
check while untrained riders must make a common ability wisdom
check (adding ½ of their level bonus) to do so. When fighting from a
war-trained mount (light to heavy war horse), a cavalier (and only a
cavalier) can direct the mount to attack and still make his attacks
normally.
Untrained mounts must always be coaxed into combat. This requires
a profession (animal handler: horses) skill check or a common ability
wisdom check (adding ½ of their level bonus) for untrained riders.
Trained riders can saddle, mount, dismount, perform simple leaps and
obstacle maneuvers, guide a mount with the knees, and stay in the
saddle when a mount rears or bolts without an ability check.
Untrained riders must make a common ability wisdom check (adding
½ of their level bonus) to do so.
With a successful profession (animal handler: horses) skill check a
skilled rider can perform the following actions while mounted:
Charge: A charging mounted combatant gains a +2 bonus to
melee attack rolls and a +2 bonus to opposed strength checks
when making overbear attacks, but takes a –2 penalty to their
armor class (this penalty lasts until their next round’s action). Lance
attacks inflict double damage on a mounted charge attack.
Fall Softly: A trained rider can attempt to take no damage after
falling from a mount, including when the mount itself falls.
Otherwise, a character takes 1d6 points of falling damage on a
failed profession (animal handler: horses) skill check.
Leap: This occurs when the rider directs a mount to leap
obstacles as part of its movement. The obstacles jumped can be
no taller than 2/3rds the height of the horse.
Parry: A character may forego their attack for the round in order to
parry an oncoming melee attack. In order to parry an attack, the
character adds their attack bonus with the melee weapon they are
parrying with (totaling their BtH and any other modifiers they have to
attack rolls with that weapon) to their armor class against one, specified
attack. If the character may make more than one attack per round
they may elect to parry additional attacks that round. Only monks may
parry melee attacks while unarmed.
A combatant who has made all of his attacks in a given round may not
parry, as parrying attempts are made in place of melee attacks. A
combatant may parry before his turn in the initiative order, so long as he
is not surprised or unaware of his opponent.
Prone or Stunned Opponents: Prone or stunned combatants suffer a -2
penalty to their armor class. Prone combatants suffer a -2 penalty to
their attack rolls, except with crossbows.
Ranged Attacks in Melee: A combatant engaged in melee combat will
find it difficult to use ranged weapons against opponents. Because of
their need to dodge incoming attacks, a combatant employing a
ranged weapon in melee suffers a -2 penalty to their attack rolls in
addition to the penalties imposed by firing at foes engaged in melee
combatant (see Firing into Melee above).
Rear Attacks: Opponents attacking a defender’s rear facing gain a +2
bonus to their attack roll. In addition a defender does not gain any
armor class bonus for using a shield when defending against rear
attack. Thieves and assassins may backtstab when making rear attacks.
Run: A character who attempts to run during combat (moving up to
double their movement rate per round) suffers the usual –2 penalty to
armor class when doing so. A combatant fleeing from opponents
draws a parting shot from all combat-ready (e.g. not surprised or
incapacitated) opponents within striking distance because those
opponents may take advantage of the runner’s lowered defenses.
Surprised or Unaware Opponents: Surprised or unaware opponents lose
their dexterity bonus and shield bonus to armor class. Thieves and
assassins may backstab and sneak attack surprised and unaware
opponents. Assassins have the option of making death attacks against
unaware opponents.
Two-Handed Weapon Fighting: Characters using a melee weapon two-
handed gain a +1 bonus to their damage rolls.
Two-Weapon Fighting: When using two melee weapons, the player
must designate which hand is used for the primary attack and which is
the off-hand. This is determined at the start of play. The character is
allowed to swing with both weapons, thus gaining 1 additional attack
each round. Characters who may make multiple attacks each round,
such as high level fighters, never gain more than 1 additional attack per
round with their off-hand weapon.
A character using two weapons receives a -6 penalty to hit with each
weapon wielded. If at least one weapon is a light weapon (one that is
at least one size category smaller than the character wielding it) these
penalties are reduced by 1. Characters with an exceptional dexterity
Player’s Handbook 58
may reduce the two-weapon fighting penalties by their ability modifier,
so long as they are not heavily encumbered. These penalty reductions
stack, so that a character using a light weapon in his off-hand (+1
modifier) and with a dexterity of 18 (+3 modifier) has his two-weapon
fighting penalties reduced by 4, to -2/-2. Note that these bonuses only
serve to offset the penalties for two-weapon fighting and may never
improve the character’s attack rolls.
Underwater Combat: Land-based creatures can have considerable
difficulty when fighting in water. All attacks made with slashing or
bludgeoning weapons suffer a -2 attack penalty and deal ½ damage
(rounding
fractions
down).
Thrown
weapons
are
ineffective
underwater, even when launched from land. Attacks with other ranged
weapons take a -2 penalty on attack rolls for every 5 feet of water they
pass through, in addition to the normal penalties for range. Non-aquatic
creatures also suffer a -2 penalty to their Armor Class so long as they are
not drowning or sinking (they have failed a strength check in order to
swim). Drowning or sinking characters suffer a -4 penalty to Armor Class
and attack rolls.
All non-aquatic creatures may swim at ¼ of their movement rate,
rounded to the nearest 5’ increment. Sinking characters fall through the
water at 10’ per round if lightly encumbered, 20’ per round if
moderately encumbered and 30’ per round if heavily encumbered.
When walking beneath the surface of the water, a submerged
character may move ¼ of their normal movement rate, rounded to the
nearest 5’ increment. Moderately or heavily encumbered characters
may move ½ of their normal movement rate, rounded to the nearest 5’
increment, because their load minimizes the effects of their natural
buoyancy. Characters with freedom of movement do not suffer any of
the penalties listed for underwater combat.
Attacks from Land: Characters swimming, floating, or treading
water on the surface, or wading in water at least chest deep, have
50% cover from opponents on land. Landbound opponents who
have freedom of movement effects ignore this cover when
making melee attacks against targets in the water. A completely
submerged creature has total cover against opponents on land
unless those opponents have freedom of movement effects.
Magical effects are unaffected except for those that require
attack rolls (which are treated like any other effects) and fire
effects.
Fire: Non-magical fire does not burn underwater. Spells or spell-like
effects with the fiery effects are ineffective underwater unless the
caster makes a concentration check with a -10 penalty. If the
check succeeds, the spell creates a bubble of steam instead of its
usual fiery effect, but otherwise the spell works as described.
NON-LETHAL COMBAT
Bull Rush or Push: You can make a bull rush attack as part of a
charge (see Charge on page 57) or simply attempt to shove an
opponent away. When you make a bull rush or push attack, you
attempt to push an opponent back instead of damaging him.
Bull rush or push attacks are resolved just as overbear attacks (see
Overbear or Trip below) except that if the attacker wins the opposed
strength check, he is able to push his opponent 5’ away from him plus
5’ for every 5 points that his strength check exceeds his target’s. If the
attacker fails this opposed strength check by 5 or more, he is knocked
prone.
Disarming: A disarm attack is made when a combatant attempts to
knock an opponent’s weapon from his hands. Disarming inflicts no
damage, but if a successful hit is made, the defender must win an
opposed strength check or lose the weapon they have in hand
(superior swordplay has torn the weapon from the opponent’s grasp).
If the attacker fails this opposed strength check by 5 or more, he is
disarmed.
The combatant with a larger weapon gains a +4 bonus to their
opposed strength check. A disarmed weapon will fall at the owner’s
feet if that weapon is of the same size as the attacker’s or larger, or
1d10 feet away if of a smaller size than the weapon that did the
disarming.
Grapple: This attack form is aimed at holding an opponent and
rendering him unable to attack. The attacker ignores the defender’s
armor bonus (but not his shield bonus) to armor class, because armor
does not make the defender harder to grapple when making his
attack roll. If the attacker hits, he must win an opposed strength
check to hold his opponent fast.
An attacker may only attempt to grapple opponents up to double
their height or weight and are at a disadvantage against larger foes.
The larger grappler gains a +4 bonus to their opposed strength for
each size category difference between them and their opponent. If
the attacker wins the strength check, he is able to hold his opponent
in place and, in the following rounds, may damage his opponent
(dealing 1d2 points of non-lethal damage).
A held grappler may attempt to break out of a grapple each round
by winning an opposed strength check. Otherwise such a character
is unable to effectively attack. All grappling combatants lose their
dexterity and shield bonuses to armor class. Note that monks are
able to conduct unarmed attacks against an opponent who has
grappled them, though they suffer a -4 penalty to such rolls. They
may not make unarmed strikes while grappling an opponent.
Non-lethal Damage: Certain attacks, such as unarmed strikes,
deal non-lethal damage that heals at a rate of 1 hit point per hour.
When you take non-lethal damage, keep a running total of how
much
you’ve
accumulated
but
do
not
deduct
the non-
lethal damage number from your current hit points. Instead, when
your non-lethal damage
equals
your
current
hit
points, you
fall unconscious. It doesn’t matter whether the non-lethal damage
equals or exceeds your current hit points because you’ve taken more
non-lethal damage or because your current hit points have gone
down.
You can use a melee weapon that deals lethal damage to deal non-
lethal damage instead, but you take a -2 penalty on your attack roll.
Overbear or Trip: This attack form aims at quickly taking the opponent
to a prone position while incidentally inflicting damage. The attacker
can have either or both hands otherwise employed (carrying a shield,
weapon, etc) when making an overbear attack. Such an attack is
handled much like a grapple attack. The attacker ignores the
defender’s armor bonus (but not his shield bonus) to armor class,
because armor does not make the defender harder to overbear,
when making his attack roll. If the attacker hits, he must make an
opposed strength check to knock his opponent prone.
An attacker may only attempt to overbear opponents up to double
their height or weight and are at a disadvantage against larger foes
and creatures with greater stability (typically those with more legs or
creatures with serpent-like bodies). The larger combatant gains a +4
bonus to their opposed strength for each size category difference
between them and their opponent. Another +2 bonus is given to a
creature with greater stability (i.e. a creature with more legs than its
opponent or one with a serpentine body). A charging character
gains a +2 bonus to his attack roll and strength check when
attempting to overbear an opponent.
If the attacker wins the strength check, he is able to trip or knock his
opponent prone, dealing non-lethal damage in the process. If the
attacker fails this opposed strength check by 5 or more, he is knocked
prone. Damage sustained from this attack is non-lethal damage.
Trip attacks may be attempted against mounted foes, provided that
the character can reach that foe. Polearms such as guisarmes and
military hooks are designed for this very purpose and grant their
bearer a +2 bonus on their opposed strength check.
Player’s Handbook 59
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Getting hit by weapons or monsters isn't the only way a character can
get hurt. Indeed the world is full of dangers for poor, hapless player
characters, dangers the DM can occasionally spring on them with
glee. Some of the nastier forms of damage are described below.
Drowning or Suffocation: A character who has no air to breathe can
hold his breath for 1 round per point of constitution. After this period of
time, the character must make a constitution saving throw in order to
continue holding his breath. The save must be repeated each round,
with the check penalty increasing by 2 for each previous success.
When the character fails one of these constitution saves, he begins to
suffocate. In the first round, he falls unconscious (0 hit points). In the
following round, he drops to –1 hit points and is dying. In the third
round, he suffocates.
Exposure to the Elements:
Exposure
to
extremely
cold (below freezing) or
hot
(above
100o
F)
climates deals 1d6 non-
lethal damage (see Non-
lethal Damage on page
58) to the victim each
hour. This damage cannot
be
naturally
recovered
until the character gets
out of the cold or heat.
As
with
all
non-lethal
damage, once your non-
lethal
damage
equals
your current hit points,
you’re
knocked
unconscious.
Once
unconscious you take 1d6
points of lethal damage
each hour.
For
temperatures
well
below freezing or above
100o
F
the
rate
of
damage
should
be
increased to 1d6 non-
lethal damage per turn,
minute, or round (at the
DM’s discretion).
High winds are also potentially hazardous to creatures. For the effects
of high winds upon creatures see the control winds spell entry on
page 84.
Falling Damage: Player characters have a tendency to fall off of
things, generally from great heights and almost always onto hard
surfaces. While the falling is harmless, the abrupt stop at the end tends
to cause damage.
When a character falls, he suffers 1d6 points of damage for every 10
feet fallen, to a maximum of 20d6 (representing terminal velocity).
Fire Damage: Fire or extremely hot liquids, other than burning oil
(which is described on page 56), magical fires (which are described in
various spell and item descriptions) or the fiery attacks of creatures
(which are described in their MONSTER MANUAL entries), causes
damage dependent upon the size and intensity of the blaze.
A torch’s flame, for example, should deal no more than 1d3 damage,
a raging fire should deal 1d6 points of damage each round and a
hellish blaze that has totally engulfed a character should deal 5d6
damage per round (this accounts for damage from smoke inhalation
as well). Immersion in boiling water should deal 9d6 damage per
round (being doused with boiling water deals 1d6 damage) while
immersion in molten lava should deal 20d6 damage per round.
Starvation & Thirst: Characters might find themselves without food or
water and with no means to obtain them. In normal climates,
characters need at least a gallon of fluids and about a pound of
decent food per day to avoid starvation. In very hot climates,
characters need two or three times as much water to avoid
dehydration.
A character can go without water for 1 day plus a number of hours
equal to his constitution score. After this time, the character must
make a constitution save each hour (with a cumulative -2 check
penalty for each previous check) or take 1d6 points of non-lethal
damage (see Non-lethal Damage on page 58).
A character can go without food for 3 days, in growing discomfort.
After this time, the character must make a constitution save each day
(with a cumulative, -2 check penalty for each previous check) or take
1d6 points of non-lethal damage.
Non-lethal damage from thirst or starvation cannot be recovered until
the character gets food or water, as needed - not even magic that
restores hit points heals this damage.
WOUNDS & HEALING
Ability Damage & Ability Drain: Ability damage typically results from
the ravages of disease, the ill-effects of poison, or through the baleful
powers of monstrous creatures and spellcasters.
Ability drain, on the other hand, permanently lowers one or more of
the target’s ability scores. Nothing short of a restoration spell reverses
such ability loss. Permanent ability drain results from the attacks of
undead creatures, such as vampires and wraiths, and other dreadful
creatures, such as lamias.
The feeblemind spell permanently lowers the target’s intelligence,
wisdom and charisma scores but, unlike ability drain attacks, cannot
be reversed through the use of restoration spells. Only a heal, limited
wish, miracle or wish spell may be used to cancel the effect of
feeblemind.
Characters who lose points of constitution after being raised or
resurrected cannot restore that ability loss through any means short of
divine intervention.
No ability scores can be damaged or drained to a value below 0. If a
character’s constitution is reduced to a score of zero that character is
slain. If any other ability score is reduced to a score of zero the
character is rendered immobile (in the case of strength or dexterity) or
comatose (in the case of intelligence, wisdom or charisma).
Binding Wounds: Any character may attempt to bind wounds, a
common ability check based on wisdom, by bandaging wounds,
setting breaks, starting respiration, etc. On a successful check, a
dying creature’s loss of hit points ends and the creature is stabilized.
Those with the profession (healer) skill add their full level bonus to this
check and help those under their care to heal more quickly.
Binding wounds does not receive a check penalty unless the target is
at negative hit points. In such cases the penalty is equal to the
target’s current hit point total.
Healing Hit Point Damage: Typically characters whose wounds have
been tended by a skilled healer heal 2 hit points per night of rest or 4
hit points per 24 hours of complete bed rest. Without such care the
rate of healing is halved, meaning that characters only heal 1 hit point
per night of rest or 2 hit points per day of complete bed rest.
Healing Ability Damage: Ability damage is temporary, just as hit point
damage is. Ability damage returns at the rate of 1 point per night of
rest (8 hours) for each affected ability score. Complete bed rest under
the ministrations of a healer restores 2 points per day (24 hours) for
each affected ability score.
Injury and Death: When any character is brought to 0 or fewer hit
points it is incapacitated and falls unconscious. A character with 0 or
fewer hit points is dying from blood-loss, shock, convulsions, non-
respiration, and similar causes, and loses 1 hit point per round until
they receive aid (see binding wounds above) or fall to -10 hit points.
Any character reduced to -10 or fewer hit points is slain.
Temporary Hit Points: Certain effects give a character temporary hit
points. When a character gains temporary hit points, note his current
hit point total. When the temporary hit points go away the character’s
hit points drop to his current hit point total. When temporary hit points
are lost, they cannot be restored as real hit points can be, even by
magic.
Player’s Handbook 60
MAGIC
Magic lies at the heart of fantasy and so it does in Advanced Dungeons
& Dragons. Of greatest importance for the players of spellcasters, such
as clerics, bards and magic-users, is the acquisition of magic spells and
an explanation of how spells are used in the game. The following
section provides details regarding the preparation, acquisition and
casting of spells.
CHARACTER SPELLS
Before addressing specific spells, or their use and acquisition by
spellcasters, it is important to understand the fundamental nature and
differences between the magic they utilize.
The magic used by clerics, bards, druids, paladins, and rangers is
classified as divine magic because it is granted to them after prayer to,
reflection upon, or supplication to a deity or other powerful entity or
elemental force. In most cases, clerics, bards and paladins receive their
magic from deities or their intermediaries, who may limit or place special
restrictions on its use. Druids and rangers gain their magic ability from
more varied sources, be they primal forces, nature gods or elemental
powers. Thus divine casters act as a conduit, channeling and focusing
magic originating from a higher entity. This similarity can be seen in the
duplication of specific spells, or types of spells, in their spell lists.
The magic used by magic-users and illusionists is classified as arcane
magic because it is learned from ancient knowledge and passed down
from one generation of magic-users to the next, either through
apprenticeship or textual record. Magic-users and illusionists, like clerics
and druids, have some spells in common - the two forms of arcane
magic are closely related. Magic-users use their mystical knowledge to
create and give form, or to enhance or physically alter an existing form.
Illusionists, on the other hand, usually alter one's perception of form and
reality rather than effect reality itself.
When the same spell appears on both the magic-user and illusionist spell
lists, the casting and effect of the spell is different. Magic-users’ magic
deals with the real and concrete. Even though a magic-user may alter
reality, that reality is typically perceived in the same way by everyone.
Illusionists, however, alter each individual's perception of reality,
sometimes to such effect that it allows those individuals to defy nature
and its physical laws.
These differences affect game play in different ways, but at the least,
create a fundamental difference between each of the seven
spellcasting classes. Players and, more importantly, DMs need to keep
these differences in mind.
PREPARING SPELLS
Methods for preparing and casting spells are generally the same for
characters of all spellcasting classes. Spellcasters must prepare their
spells for casting on a daily basis and they utilize roughly the same
process to do so.
Magic-Users & Illusionists: Magic-users and illusionists learn complex,
arcane formulas to harness magic and give it effect. Their spells are
known as arcane spells, and both classes inscribe them, in their own
unique language, in a spellbook. Each magic-user and illusionist begins
play possessing an arcane tome of spells containing those spells they
know how to prepare and cast. The number of spells of each level in the
book is equal to the number of spells of that level the caster can
prepare each day (including bonus spells) plus read magic. A magic-
user's spellbook is typically quite large in size and thickness, using 1 page
per spell level (0-level spells take up 1 page each). New spells may be
learned and added to spellbooks through gaining a level, by copying
them from another spellbook or from scrolls, and through research.
Each day, magic-users and illusionists memorize and prepare the spells
they intend to cast during the day. A character's level limits the number
of spells the character can prepare and cast each day, although a
high or low intelligence score might grant bonus spells or limit the highest
spell level available to them. A magic-user or illusionist must have
access to a spellbook to study, and sufficient light to read in order to
prepare the spells. A character can use a borrowed spellbook or a
spellbook written by another magic-user to prepare a spell that the
character already knows but must cast read magic first in order to
decipher the writing in the book (see below).
A character needs to sleep and rest for a total of 8 hours each day
before preparing spells. The character need not slumber for every
minute of that time, but must refrain from movement, combat,
spellcasting or any other fairly demanding physical or mental task during
the rest period. If the character's rest is interrupted, each interruption
adds one hour to the total amount of time the character has to rest, in
order to clear his mind. A character must have at least one hour of rest
immediately prior to preparing spells for the day. If the character does
not need to sleep for some reason, the character still must have eight
hours of restful calm each day before preparing any spells.
In addition to the complete hour of rest immediately prior to preparing
spells for the day, it takes 1 hour for a character to study a speIlbook
and memorize their full allotment of spells for the day. A character need
not prepare a full complement of spells allowed per day, but preparing
even one spell takes at least one hour of rest and another hour of study.
To prepare any spell, the character must have enough peace, quiet
and comfort to allow for proper concentration. The character's
surroundings must be free from overt distractions, such as nearby
combat or other loud noises. Exposure to inclement weather might
prevent the necessary concentration, as would any injury or failed
saving throw the character might suffer while studying. Until a character
prepares spells from a spellbook, the only spells available to cast are the
ones that the character already had prepared from the previous day
and has not yet used. During the study period, a magic-user chooses
which spells to prepare. If a character already has spells prepared from
the previous day that have not been cast, the character can abandon
some or all of them to make room for new spells.
A character can prepare the same spell more than once each day.
Each preparation counts as one spell toward the character's daily limit
for each spell level. If a spell has multiple versions, the character must
choose which version to use when the character prepares it, unless the
spell description specifies that the choice is made upon casting.
When preparing spells for the day, the character can leave some spell
slots open. Later during that day, the character can repeat the
preparation process as often as the character likes, time and
circumstances permitting, to fill these unused spell slots. Like the first
session of the day, this preparation takes at least an hour of game time.
The character cannot, however, abandon a previously prepared spell
to replace it with another one, or fill a slot that is empty because the
character has cast a spell in the meantime. That sort of preparation can
only be done during the first study period after resting 8 hours.
Once a character prepares a spell, it remains in the character's mind
until the character triggers it through casting or until the character
abandons it. Upon casting, the spell is purged from the character's
mind. Certain other events, such as the disruption of a spell during
casting, the effects of magic items or special attacks from monsters can
wipe a prepared spell from a character's mind. If a character dies, all
spells stored in the character's mind are wiped away.
Clerics, Bards, Druids, Paladins & Rangers: Divine casters prepare their
spells in largely the same manner. They choose and prepare spells
ahead of time, just as a magic-user or illusionist would, but clerics, bards,
druids, paladins and rangers do not require spellbooks. Instead they
select and prepare spells ahead of time, through prayer, recitation
and/or meditation, at a particular time of day.
Some deities set the time or impose other special conditions for granting
spells to divine casters. If some event prevents the character from
praying at the proper time, the character must do so as soon as possible
thereafter. If the character does not stop to pray for spells at the first
opportunity, the character must wait until the next day to prepare spells.
The time required for a divine speIlcaster to prepare speIls is the same as
for an arcane caster. There must be eight hours of rest each day before
prayer, and at least one hour of that rest must be immediately prior to
prayer. It takes 1 hour to pray for and receive one’s daily allotment of
spells. There must be a relatively peaceful environment in which to pray.
Unlike arcane casters whose choice of spells is limited to those in their
spellbook, a divine caster may pick any spell from the applicable spell
lists… unless the character's deity imposes a restriction.
Like arcane casters, divine casters do not have to prepare all of their
spells at once. Like arcane casters, divine casters cannot refill spell slots
emptied through the casting or discarding of a prepared spell. In this
and all other respects, the spell preparation rules for magic-users and
illusionists apply to clerics, bards, druids, paladin and rangers.
Player’s Handbook 61
ACQUIRING NEW SPELLS
Spellcasters, both arcane and divine, seek to add new spells to their
repertoire, but the process for adding new spells is different for each
group.
Magic-Users & Illusionists: Most arcane spellcasters desire, beyond all
other treasure, the acquisition of new spells for their spellbooks. Magic-
users and illusionists learn and add new spells through several methods.
1. Gaining a Level: Just as a fighter constantly practices with his
weapons, a magic-user or illusionist spends time researching and
learning about arcane magic and spells. When a character gains
a new level, he chooses one new spell to add to his spellbook. The
spell chosen must be of a level the character can cast. For
example, upon attaining second level, a magic-user may add one
additional 1st level spell to the character's spellbook. The magic-
user automatically knows the spell and can prepare it.
2. Deciphering Scrolls and Spellbooks: To decipher spells in another's
spellbook or a scroll, a character must first cast read magic on the
spell to be deciphered. Once the character successfully casts read
magic, the character can learn or attempt to learn a new spell
and add it to a spellbook. The rules for adding new spells to a
spellbook depend upon the source of the spell. Even reading
spells already known by a character contained in another's
spellbook requires the casting of read magic, because no two
spells are inscribed alike.
Once a magic-user deciphers a spellbook or scroll, the character
does not need to decipher it again to read it at a later time.
Deciphering a magical writing allows the
reader to identify the
spell and gain some idea of its effects although the character must
still learn the spell in order to cast it. Magical scrolls that are
deciphered can be used.
3. Learning and Copying Spells: A character must first decipher the
spells contained in a spellbook or scroll as described above.
Thereafter, the character can learn the new spell from the book by
spending one day per level of
the spell being learned (0-level
spells still take one day to learn) in study of it. If the person who
created the spellbook is on hand to help the reader, the reader
can learn the spell in one-half the normal time. The number of days
necessary to learn the spell is reduced by a number of days equal
to the character's intelligence modifier, to a minimum of one day.
The Dungeon Master may choose to require the character to
make a successful intelligence check to learn a new spell (after
the necessary days of study). Once the new spell is learned, the
character can copy it into his spellbook, as described below. The
process of copying leaves the spellbook or scroll from which it was
copied unharmed.
4. Writing Spells: Once a magic-user understands a new spell, it can
be copied into a spellbook. The process requires one day per spell
level. Zero-level spells require one day. A spell takes up 1 page of
the spellbook per spell level (0-level spells take up 1 page each). A
normal spellbook has 100 pages. Materials for writing a spell cost
25gp per page.
5. Replacing Spellbooks: A lost spellbook may be replaced through
several methods. If the character already has a particular spell
prepared, the character can write it directly into a new book at a
cost of 25gp per page. The process wipes the prepared spell from
the character's mind, just as casting it would. If the spell is not
prepared the character may not reconstruct it from memory but
can prepare it from a borrowed spellbook and then write it into a
new book. Spells copied from a borrowed spellbook must first be
be deciphered. Duplicating an existing spellbook uses the same
procedure as replacing it, except that the time requirement and
cost per page are halved.
6. Research: A character can also research a spell independently,
duplicating an existing spell from the spell list or creating an entirely
new one. At the end of the process, the character must write the
spell into a spellbook as described above.
7. Reading a Scroll into a Spellbook: A character must first decipher
the spell contained on a scroll by casting read magic. Because a
scroll is magical, and the reduction of the spell to the scroll involves
all the necessary components for casting the spell from the scroll, a
character can simply read a scroll into a spellbook. Doing so
copies the spell to the character's spellbook, but destroys the scroll
in the process.
Clerics, Bards, Druids, Paladin & Rangers: Characters who can cast
divine spells undertake a certain amount of study of divine magic
between adventures. Each time a character receives a new level of
divine spells, the character learns the new spells from that level
automatically. For example, a cleric reaching third level is granted
knowledge of all spells on the second Ievel cleric spell list by their deity.
Additionally, a cleric or druid can research a spell independently. Only
the creator of such a spell can prepare and cast it, unless the character
decides to share it with others. Some such creators share their research
with their churches, but others do not. The character can create a
magic scroll (provided they are high enough level) or write a special
text, similar to a spellbook, to contain spells the character has
independently researched.
Other divine spellcasters who find the spell in written form can learn to
cast it, provided they are of sufficient level to do so and may normally
cast the same type of spells as the written spell’s creator (a paladin
could learn to cast a spell written by a cleric, while a ranger could cast
a spell written by a druid). The process requires deciphering the writing
(see Divine Magical Writings, below).
Divine Magical Writings: Divine spells can be written down and de-
ciphered just as arcane spells can, except that read magic is not used
to do so. Instead, the character can decipher and learn the new spell
from the book by spending one day per level of the spell being learned
in study of it. Only characters who have the spell in question on their
class-based spell lists can cast a divine spell from a scroll.
CASTING SPELLS
A character must make all pertinent decisions about a spell (range,
target, area, effect, etc.) when the character begins casting, unless the
spell specifies otherwise. The character must make some choice about
whom the spell is to affect or where the effect is to originate, depending
on the type of spell. The Dungeon Master applies whatever result a spell
entails using the spell's description.
To cast a spell, the character must be able to speak (if the spell has a
verbal component), gesture (if it has a somatic component), and
manipulate the material components or focus (if any). The spell
descriptions indicate which components are necessary. Additionally,
the character must concentrate to cast a spell (see below). If
something interrupts the character's concentration while casting, the
spell is lost and marked off of the character's list of prepared spells. If the
character ever tries to cast a spell in conditions where the
characteristics of the spell (range, area, etc.) cannot be made to
conform, the casting fails and the spell is wasted.
Spell durations are measured in rounds, minutes, turns or hours. When
the duration expires, the spell's effect ends.
Casting 0-Level Spells: All spellcasters can prepare a number of 0-level
spells, each day, as noted on their “spells per day” table. These spells
are treated like any other spell, but are not expended when cast and
may be used again.
Concentration: To cast a spell, the character must concentrate. If
something interrupts the character's concentration while the character
is casting, the spell is lost and marked off the character's list of prepared
spells. Sometimes, the Dungeon Master may allow a concentration
check (an intelligence check for arcane casters and a wisdom check
for divine casters) to see if the spell is disrupted (and lost) or not (casting
is completed). Spellcasters add their caster level to this check.
All spellcasters attempting to cast spells while engaged in melee must
make a concentration check in order to successfully cast that spell. The
penalty to this concentration check is equal to the level of the spell that
is being cast. Additional penalties to this check could come from
injuries sustained as the spell is being cast (see simultaneous initiative on
page 55) or from being jostled or knocked about while casting.
If damaged, the added check penalty is based upon the damage
taken as the spell is cast. The penalty is usually equal to 1 point per 5
points of damage dealt (round fractions normally) with a minimum,
additional penalty of –1 applying to all concentration checks. As such,
an attack that deals 16 points of damage would impose a check
penalty of –3. For effects that do not directly deal damage the
additional penalty is equal to the threat’s level (usually the caster level
for spells or hit dice for creature abilities).
Anything that could break the character's concentration when casting
a spell can also break the concentration necessary to maintain a spell.
A character can't cast a spell or attack while concentrating on another
Player’s Handbook 62
one, but may move at their normal movement rate (though running
would require a concentration check). The only spells the character
can cast while grappling or pinned are those without somatic
components and whose material components the character has in
hand at the time. Even so, the Dungeon Master will often require a
concentration check for the character to cast the spell. Vigorous
motion, such as from riding a mount, the rocking of a small boat in
rough water or simply being jostled in a similar fashion, might necessitate
a concentration check.
Using Scrolls: Scrolls are spells reduced to a portable form. Not only
does a scroll contains the text of a spell, all the necessary components,
except verbal, have been magically incorporated into the scroll. Before
using a scroll, a character must decipher it by casting read magic. The
character can then read the scroll aloud, casting the spell contained
on it just as if the character had the spell prepared.
The spell's casting time, range, area of effect, duration and all other
details and limitations are no different. A spell contained on a scroll may
only be cast once. When a spell is cast from a scroll, the spell disappears
or destroys the scroll.
There are some limitations scroll use, of course. A character must be of a
class that can cast the type of spells contained on the scroll. A divine
caster, for example, cannot cast arcane spells from a scroll.
A character can cast a spell from a scroll that they have not learned or
recorded in their spellbook provided that it appears on their spell list. The
character must be of a high enough level to cast the level of spell found
on the scroll.
A character can attempt to use a scroll to cast a spell of a level they
are not normally able to cast (provided that it appears on their spell list)
but must first make a concentration check to do so. A penalty to the
concentration check equal to the level of the spell is applied to the roll.
Failure indicates that the spell fails and the scroll is destroyed.
For example, a 2nd level magic-user deciphers a scroll bearing
teleport, which is a 5th level spell. The magic-user attempts to cast
the spell from the scroll, but he must first make a successful
concentration check with a check penalty of -5.
Spells can be learned and copied from scrolls normally, and doing so
does not destroy the scroll.
SPELL DESCRIPTION FORMAT
As mentioned, each spell is defined by a description of the effect it
causes and a set of terms necessary for game play. The spell
descriptions appear after the class spell lists. A summary reminder on
spell format and terms appears prior to the spell descriptions, but the
following provides more detail and information on spell terms.
SCHOOLS OF MAGIC
Spellcasters categorize their spells into schools. Each spell listed belongs
to one of the following schools:
Abjuration: This school encompasses spells that protect others, prevent
harm, and banish unwanted agents or creatures.
Alteration: This school focuses on the manipulation of structure. Its spells
alter the form of living and inanimate things.
Conjuration/Summoning: Spells of this school bring into existence or call
forth living or inanimate things. Casters of conjuration and summoning
spells often gain temporary control over creatures that appear.
Divination: Such spells impart knowledge through the senses. Divination
spells can reveal information about the truth of something or someone.
Enchantment/Charm: These spells enhance an object’s properties or
the attitude of a living creature. Some charm spells allow for the caster
to control the target.
Evocation: This school handles energy manipulation. Evocation usually
involves the caster controlling and morphing energy to create an
object or effect. Invocation requires the assistance of a more powerful
being.
Illusion/Phantasm: These spells trick and deceive their targets to believe
that something else is occurring. Creatures encountering an illusion
usually receive saving throws to recognize it if they study it carefully or
interact with it in some fashion. A successful saving throw against an
illusion reveals it to be false, while a failed saving throw indicates that a
character fails to notice something is amiss. A character faced with
proof that an illusion isn’t real needs no saving throw.
Some illusion/phantasm spells draw energy from the Plane of Shadow in
order to create quasi-real objects and effects. A rule of illusion is that an
illusion is only as good as the caster who created it. They draw from
personal experience, so a caster cannot create a truly believable
illusion unless he is intimately familiar with whatever he is attempting to
create.
Necromancy: Death and undeath are the two most prevailing subject
matters for necromancy, although some spells actually defy death by
regenerating lost limbs and restoring life.
CASTING TIME
Most spells take one round to cast. A spell that takes one round to cast
comes into effect during the caster's initiative turn for that round.
Complex spells may take more time to cast, and such casting times are
expressed in rounds, minutes, turns, hours or days. For relative
understanding of casting time, remember that a round is 10 seconds
long.
Spells that take more than one round to cast come into effect during
the caster's initiative on the last round of the casting time for the spell.
RANGE
A spell's range is the maximum distance from the spellcaster that the
spell's effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which the
caster can designate the spell's point of origin. The character aims a
spell by making some choice about whom the spell is to affect or where
the effect is to originate, depending on the type of spell. If any portion
of the spell's area extends beyond the range, that area is wasted.
Sometimes the range of a spell is only personal (the spell effects only the
caster or emanates from the caster) or touch (the caster must touch a
creature or object to affect it), as noted in the spell description. When
targeting an unwilling creature with a touch spell, the caster must
successfully touch his opponent with his hand. The spellcaster ignores
the defender’s armor and shield bonus to armor class, because they do
not make the defender harder to touch. If the attacking spellcaster hits,
the spell is delivered to the target creature.
There are also four distance ranges in AD&D: 30 feet (close), 100 feet
(medium), 300 feet (long), and unlimited (reaching anywhere on the
plane of existence). Some rare spells have no standard range category,
just a range expressed in feet. Some spells create or summon things
rather than affecting things that are already present. The character
must designate the location where these things are to appear, either by
seeing it or defining it. Range determines how far away an effect can
appear, but if the effect is mobile it can move without regard to the
spell's range (unless otherwise stated in the spell’s description).
TARGET OR AREA OF EFFECT
Spells that do not affect the caster personally generally have a target or
affect a certain area. This part of a spell description defines the number
of creatures, dimensions, volume, weight and so on that the spell
affects, if it is not otherwise obvious from the spell's description.
Targeted Spells: Targeted spells are cast directly on creatures or
objects, as defined by the spell itself. In most cases, the character must
be able to see or touch the target, and the character must specifically
choose that target. If the character casts a targeted spell on the wrong
sort of target, the spell has no effect and is lost. If the target of a spell is
the caster, the caster does not receive a saving throw and magic
resistance does not apply.
Area Spells: Some spells affect an area. The character selects where
the spell originates, but otherwise does not control which creatures or
objects the spell will effect. Sometimes a spell describes a specially
defined area, but usually an area falls into one of several categories:
Circle:
The spell radiates from a chosen point of origin (or from the
caster, in some instances) affecting whatever lies within its area
of effect. This area lies along a horizontal plane.
Cone:
The cone shoots away from the character in the direction
the character designates, starting directly before the
character and widening out as it goes, though some spells
affect all creatures in
an
area
rather
than
individual
creatures.
Cylinder: The character selects the center of a horizontal circle as
the spell's point of origin; the spell shoots down from the
circle, filling the cylinder.
Player’s Handbook 63
Sphere:
The spell radiates from a chosen point of origin (or from the
caster, in some instance) affecting whatever it catches in its
area of effect (a three dimensional globe).
Obstacle: Some spell effects likes rays, spreads, and cones are affected
by obstacles. The character must have a clear line of effect to any
target that the character casts a spell upon or to any space in which
the character wishes to create an effect. The character must have a
clear line of effect to the point of origin of any spell the character casts.
For circles, cones, cylinders, and spherical spells, the spell only affects
areas, creatures and objects to which it has line of effect from its origin
(a circle’s center, a cone's starting point, a cylinder's circle, or a
spherical spell's point of origin). An otherwise solid barrier with a hole of
at least 1 square foot through it does not block a spell's line of effect.
A caster aims a ray as if using a ranged weapon, but requires no attack
roll to strike his target. The character must be able see the creature he is
trying to hit, as with any other targeted spell. Note that Intervening
creatures and obstacles can block the caster's line of sight to his target.
If a ray spell has a duration, the duration refers to the effect that the ray
causes, not to the length of time the ray itself persists.
Spreads and cones spread out from a point of origin to a distance
described in the spell. The effect can extend around corners and into
areas that the caster cannot see. The caster must designate the point of
origin for such an effect if the spell description does not specify one.
DURATIONS
Duration measures how long a spell's effect lasts. Durations are
measured in rounds, minutes, turns, hours or some other increment.
When the limit is up, the magic goes away and the spell ends. Some
spells have a permanent duration and some require the caster to
concentrate in order to maintain that spell's effect. A spellcaster can
typically dismiss personal spells at will, before the duration ends, unless
the spell description states otherwise. A spell that requires concentration
is dismissible by its very nature. A character can't cast a spell or attack
while concentrating on another one, but may move at their normal
movement rate (running would require a concentration check).
Sometimes a spell lasts for a short time after the character ceases
concentrating. In these cases, the spell effects continue for the stated
length of time after the character stops concentrating. Otherwise, the
character must concentrate to maintain the spell but the character
cannot maintain it for more than the stated duration in any event.
If a spell affects creatures directly, the effects travel with the subject for
the spell's duration. If the spell creates an effect, the effect lasts for the
duration. The effect might move or remain still. Such effects can be
destroyed prior to their duration’s end. If the spell affects an area, then
the spell stays with that area for the spell's duration. Creatures become
subject to the spell when they enter the area and become free of it
when they leave. Certain spells last for a set duration, or until triggered
or discharged.
SAVING THROW
Most harmful spells allow an affected creature to make a saving throw
in order to avoid some or all of the spell’s effect. A spell’s description
details whether that spell allows a saving throw, what type of saving
throw is made and the effect of a successful save. If a spell does not
include a saving throw entry, then assume no saving throw is allowed. A
spell's saving throw penalty is always equal to the spellcaster’s caster
level unless specified otherwise. As such, a spell cast by a 9th level
magic-user would impose a -9 check penalty on its target’s saving
throw.
A creature that successfully saves against a spell without obvious
physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the
exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature's saving throw
succeeds against a targeted spell, the caster senses that the spell has
failed. The caster does not sense when creatures succeed at saving
throws against area of effect spells.
A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a
spell's result.
Negates: This term means that the spell has no effect on an affected
creature that makes a successful saving throw.
Partial:
The spell causes an effect on its subject, but a successful
saving throw means some lesser effect occurs.
Half:
The spell deals damage, and a successful saving throw halves
the damage taken (round down).
None:
No saving throw is allowed.
Disbelief: A successful save lets the subject ignore the effect.
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Magic resistance is a special defensive ability. A
defender's magic resistance grants them an additional measure of
protection against magical attacks. If a spell is being resisted by a
defender with magic resistance, the caster of the spell must pass a
concentration check (PHB, p. 62) modified by the target’s magic
resistance rating. If the caster fails this check, the spell has no effect.
The magic resistance line of the descriptive text of a spell description
explains whether or not the magic resistance applies, as some spells are
not affected by a target creature's magic resistance. Magic resistance
applies even if a given spell also allows the target creature a saving
throw. The effects of magic resistance, if any, are applied first, and then
the creature may also make a saving throw. In most cases, magic
resistance applies only when a resistant creature is targeted by the spell,
not when a resistant creature encounters a spell that is already in place,
such as a wall of iron.
A creature with magic resistance must voluntarily drop the resistance in
order to receive the effects of beneficial spells without the check
described above. If a spell does not include a magic resistance entry,
then assume no magic resistance check is allowed.
COMPONENTS
A spell's component's line includes abbreviations for the components
required to cast the spell. Spells can have verbal (V), somatic (S),
material (M) or experience (XP) components. If the necessary
components are not used, the casting fails. If a material component has
a gold piece cost, the cost is listed; otherwise the character can assume
that the actual materials involved have no significant monetary value,
unless the Dungeon Master rules otherwise.
V (Verbal): A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To provide a
verbal component, the character must be able to speak in a strong
voice. A silence 15’ radius spell or a gag spoils the incantation. A
deafened caster must make a concentration check to cast a spell with
a verbal component.
S (Somatic): A somatic component is a measured and precise
movement of the hand or some other part of the body. The character
must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component.
M (Material): A material component is a physical substance or object
that focuses a spellcaster’s energies during the casting process. The
component is generally destroyed in the process of casting a spell.
Unless listed, the material component is a holy symbol for clerics and
paladins, a musical instrument for bards, and a sprig of mistletoe for
druids and rangers. Holy symbols, bardic instruments, and mistletoe
sprigs are not destroyed through spellcasting.
XP (Experience): Some powerful spells entail an experience point cost
to you. No spell can restore the XP lost in this manner. You cannot spend
so much XP that you lose a level, so you cannot cast the spell unless you
have enough XP to spare. However, you may, on gaining enough XP to
attain a new level, use those XP for casting a spell rather than keeping
them and advancing a level. The XP are treated just like a material
component - expended when you cast the spell, whether or not the
casting succeeds.
REVERSIBLE SPELLS
Some spells are reversible (they can be cast for an effect opposite to
that of the standard spell). This is noted after the spell name. Spellcasters
with reversible spells must memorize the desired version. For example, a
cleric who desires a cause light wounds spell must petition for this form
of the cure light wounds spell when meditating and praying. Note that
severe penalties can result if the spell choice is at variance with a divine
spellcaster’s alignment (possible penalties include denial of specific
spells, entire spell levels, or even all spells for a certain period). The exact
result (if any) depends on the reaction of the priest's patron deity, as
determined by the DM. When an arcane caster learns a reversible spell,
both forms are recorded in their spell books. However, the arcane
caster must still decide which version of the spell he desires to cast when
memorizing the spell, unless the spell description specifically states
otherwise. For example, a magic-user who has memorized stone to flesh
and desires to cast flesh to stone must wait until the latter form of the
spell can be memorized (i.e., rest eight hours and study). If he could
memorize two 6th level spells, he could memorize each version once or
one version twice.
Player’s Handbook 64
Player’s Handbook 65
SPELL TABLES
CLERICS
0-Level
1st Level
2nd Level
3rd Level
4th Level
1
bind wounds
bless
aid
animate dead
air walk
2
create water
bless water
augury
continual light
control water
3
detect magic
cause fear
consecrate
create food and water
dimensional anchor
4
detect poison
combine
cure moderate wounds
cure blindness/deafness
detect lie
5
light
command
darkness 15’ radius
cure disease
dismissal
6
purify food and drink
comprehend languages
enthrall
cure serious wounds
divination
7
read magic
cure light wounds
find traps
dispel magic
exorcise
8
detect evil
hold person
feign death
freedom of movement
9
detect life
know alignment
glyph of warding
imbue with spell ability
10
detect undead
lesser restoration
locate object
improved enchanted
weapon
11
enchanted weapon
remove paralysis
meld into stone
negative plane
protection
12
endure elements
resist energy
obscure object
neutralize poison
13
invisibility to undead
silence 15’ radius
prayer
restoration
14
magic stone
slow poison
protection from evil 10’
sending
radius
15
penetrate disguise
speak with animals
remove curse
speak with plants
16
portent
speak with dead
sticks to snakes
spell immunity
17
protection from evil
spiritual weapon
water breathing
tongues
18
remove fear
zone of truth
water walk
19
sanctuary
20
shield of faith
5th Level
6th Level
7th Level
8th Level
9th Level
1
atonement
aerial servant
banishment
antimagic shell
astral spell
2
break enchantment
animate object
control weather
dimensional lock
energy drain
3
commune
blade barrier
destruction
discern location
etherealness
4
cure critical wounds
conjure elemental
ethereal jaunt
earthquake
gate
5
dispel evil
find the path
holy word
holy aura
miracle
6
flame strike
forbiddance
improved restoration
improved spell immunity
mind blank
7
insect plague
geas/quest
improved scrying
symbol of death
soul bind
8
plane shift
heal
regeneration
symbol of insanity
9
raise dead
heroes’ feast
repulsion
10
scrying
improved dispel magic
resurrection
11
slay living
improved glyph of
stone tell
warding
symbol of stunning
12
symbol of pain
symbol of fear
symbol of weakness
13
symbol of sleep
symbol of persuasion
14
true seeing
wind walk
15
word of recall
BARDS (Clerics)
0-Level
1st Level
2nd Level
3rd Level
4th Level
1
audible glamer
alarm
animal messenger
arcane sight
animal summoning I
2
bind wounds
calm animals
animal trance
charm monster
break enchantment
3
dancing lights
cause fear
calm emotions
clairaudience /
cure critical wounds
clairvoyance
4
detect magic
change self
cure moderate wounds
confusion
detect scrying
5
know direction
charm person or mammal
esp
cure serious wounds
dimension door
6
light
comprehend languages
enthrall
deep slumber
dominate person
7
message
cure light wounds
hold Person
detect lie
freedom of movement
8
prestidigitation
detect evil
know alignment
dispel magic
hallucinatory terrain
9
read magic
erase
locate object
fear
hold monster
10
friends
misdirection
illusionary script
legend lore
11
hypnotic pattern
scare
massmorph
locate creature
12
identify
shatter
nondetection
repel vermin
13
Nystul’s magic aura
silence 15’ radius
scrying
shout
14
obscure object
sound burst
secret page
speak with plants
15
obscurement
speak with animals
16
penetrate disguise
suggestion
17
remove fear
summon insects
18
sleep
tongues
19
Tasha’s hideous laughter
20
ventriloquism
spells listed in italics are reversible
Player’s Handbook 66
BARDS (Clerics), continued
5th Level
6th Level
1
animal summoning II
animal summoning III
2
dream
analyze dweomer
3
improved dispel magic
demand
4
mass suggestion
find the path
5
mind fog
qeas/quest
6
nightmare
improved scrying
7
seeming
mass charm
8
sending
Otto’s irresistible dance
9
stone tell
veil
10
true seeing
vision
DRUIDS (Clerics)
0-Level
1st Level
2nd Level
3rd Level
4th Level
1
bind wounds
alarm
animal messenger
call lightning
air walk
2
create water
animal friendship
animal trance
cure blindness/deafness
animal summoning I
3
detect magic
calm animals
barkskin
cure disease
antiplant shell 10’
radius
4
detect poison
cure light wounds
charm person or mammal
cure moderate wounds
call woodland beings
5
know direction
detect animals or plants
enlarge animal
dominate animal
command plants
6
light
detect evil
feign death
improved magic fang
control water
7
purify food and drink
detect snares and pits
fog cloud
meld into stone
cure serious wounds
8
endure elements
fire trap
neutralize poison
dimension door
9
entangle
flame blade
plant growth
dispel magic
10
faerie fire
gust of wind
protection from energy
freedom of movement
11
goodberry
heat metal
pyrotechnics
hallucinatory terrain
12
invisibility to animals
hold animal
shape wood
hold plant
13
magic fang
know alignment
snare
produce fire
14
magic stone
lesser restoration
speak with plants
reincarnate
15
obscurement
resist energy
spike growth
repel vermin
16
pass without trace
soften earth and stone
sticks to snakes
restoration
17
produce flame
summon insects
stone shape
scrying
18
shillelagh
tree
wall of wind
sleet storm
19
slow poison
warp wood
water breathing
spike stones
20
speak with animals
5th Level
6th Level
7th Level
8th Level
9th Level
1
animal growth
animal summoning III
animate plants
animate rock
antipathy
2
animal summoning II
antilife shell
changestaff
chariot of Sustarre
elemental swarm
3
atonement
confusion
control weather
control plants
foresight
4
commune with nature
conjure elemental
creeping doom
earthquake
regenerate
5
control winds
find the path
fire storm
finger of death
shambler
6
cure critical wounds
feeblemind
heal
reverse gravity
shapechange
7
ice storm
fire seeds
heroes’ feast
sunburst
storm of vengeance
8
insect plague
geas/quest
improved scrying
turn metal or stone
9
negative plane
improved dispel magic
sunray
whirlwind
protection
10
plant door
liveoak
transmute metal to wood
11
stoneskin
move earth
true seeing
12
transmute rock to mud
stone tell
wind walk
13
wall of fire
transport via plant
word of recall
14
wall of stone
turn wood
15
wall of thorns
spells listed in italics are reversible
Player’s Handbook 67
MAGIC-USERS
0-Level
1st Level
2nd Level
3rd Level
4th Level
1
audible glamer
affect normal fires
alter self
arcane sight
animate dead
2
dancing lights
alarm
darkness 15’ radius
blink
charm monster
3
detect magic
animate rope
darkvision
clairaudience /
confusion
clairvoyance
4
detect poison
armor
detect invisibility
continual light
detect scrying
5
light
burning hands
esp
deep slumber
dimensional anchor
6
mending
cause fear
flaming sphere
dispel magic
dimension door
7
message
charm person
forget
explosive runes
Evard’s black tentacles
8
prestidigitation
comprehend languages
gust of wind
feign death
fear
9
read magic
detect evil
invisibility
fireball
fire shield
10
wizard mark
enchanted weapon
knock
flame arrow
fire trap
11
write
enlarge person
know alignment
fly
hallucinatory terrain
12
erase
Leomund’s trap
gaseous form
ice storm
13
feather fall
levitate
haste
improved invisibility
14
find familiar
locate object
hold person
Leomund’s secure shelter
15
friends
magic mouth
improved enchanted
locate creature
weapon
16
grease
Melf’s acid arrow
invisibility 10’ radius
massmorph
17
hold portal
mirror image
Leomund’s tiny hut
minor globe of
invulnerability
18
identify
misdirection
lightning bolt
monster summoning II
19
jump
obscure object
monster summoning I
Otiluke’s resilient sphere
20
magic missile
protection from normal
nondetection
polymorph
missiles
21
mount
pyrotechnics
protection from energy
Rary’s mnemonic
enhancer
22
Nystul’s magic aura
ray of enfeeblement
protection from evil 10’
remove curse
radius
23
portent
rope trick
sepia snake sigil
scrying
24
protection from evil
scare
shrink item
shout
25
run
shatter
sleet storm
solid fog
26
shield
spider climb
stinking cloud
stone shape
27
shocking grasp
strength
suggestion
stoneskin
28
sleep
Tasha’s hideous laughter
tongues
wall of fire
29
Tenser’s floating disk
web
wall of wind
wall of ice
30
unseen servant
wizard lock
water breathing
wizard eye
5th Level
6th Level
7th Level
8th Level
9th Level
1
airy water
analyze dweomer
banishment
antipathy
astral spell
2
Bigby’s interposing hand
antimagic shell
Bigby’s grasping hand
Bigby’s clenched fist
Bigby’s crushing hand
3
break enchantment
Bigby’s forceful hand
control weather
binding
crystalbrittle
4
cloudkill
chain lightning
delayed blast fireball
clone
dominate monster
5
cone of cold
contingency
Drawmij’s instant summons
demand
energy drain
6
contact other plane
control water
ethereal jaunt
dimensional lock
etherealness
7
conjure elemental
death spell
forcecage
discern location
foresight
8
dismissal
disintegrate
improved arcane sight
glassteel
freedom
9
dominate person
eyebite
improved scrying
improved planar binding
gate
10
fabricate
flesh to stone
insanity
improved prying eyes
imprisonment
11
feeblemind
geas/quest
limited wish
incendiary cloud
meteor swarm
12
hold monster
glassee
mass invisibility
iron body
monster summoning VII
13
Leomund’s lamentable
globe of invulnerability
monster summoning V
mass charm
Mordenkainen’s
belaborment
disjunction
14
Leomund’s secret chest
guards and wards
Mordenkainen’s
maze
power word kill
magnificent mansion
15
lesser planar binding
improved dispel magic
Mordenkainen’s sword
mind blank
prismatic sphere
16
monster summoning III
invisible stalker
phase door
monster summoning VI
shapechange
17
Mordenkainen’s faithful
legend lore
plane shift
Otiluke’s telekinetic
soul bind
hound
sphere
18
magic jar
monster summoning IV
power word blind
Otto’s irresistible dance
time stop
19
passwall
Mordenkainen’s
prismatic spray
polymorph any object
wish
lucubration
20
permanency
move earth
reverse gravity
power word stun
21
prying eyes
Otiluke’s freezing sphere
sequester
prismatic wall
22
sending
planar binding
simulacrum
Serten’s spell immunity
23
symbol of pain
repulsion
spell turning
symbol of death
24
symbol of sleep
symbol of fear
statue
symbol of insanity
25
telekinesis
symbol of persuasion
symbol of stunning
temporal stasis
26
teleport
Tenser’s transformation
symbol of weakness
trap the soul
27
transmute rock to mud
true seeing
teleport without error
28
wall of force
wall of iron
vision
29
wall of stone
spells listed in italics are reversible
Player’s Handbook 68
ILLUSIONISTS (Magic-Users)
0-Level
1st Level
2nd Level
3rd Level
4th Level
1
audible glamer
animate rope
alter self
arcane sight
charm monster
2
dancing lights
armor
blur
blink
confusion
3
detect magic
cause fear
cure blindness/deafness
clairaudience /
detect scrying
clairvoyance
4
light
change self
darkness 15’ radius
continual light
dimension door
5
message
charm person
darkvision
deep slumber
hallucinatory terrain
6
prestidigitation
color spray
esp
detect lies
illusory wall
7
read magic
comprehend languages
feign death
dispel magic
improved invisibility
8
wizard mark
detect evil
fog cloud
explosive runes
minor creation
9
write
detect invisibility
forget
fear
minor globe of
invulnerability
10
detect secret doors
illusionary script
hold person
phantasmal killer
11
erase
invisibility
improved phantasmal
polymorph
force
12
faerie fire
know alignment
invisibility purge
rainbow pattern
13
find familiar
Leomund’s trap
invisibility 10’ radius
Rary’s mnemonic
enhancer
14
friends
magic mouth
massmorph
remove curse
15
hypnotic pattern
mirror image
nondetection
scrying
16
identify
misdirection
phantom steed
shadow conjuration
17
Nystul’s magic aura
phantasmal force
rope trick
shout
18
obscurement
pyrotechnics
sepia snake sigil
solid fog
19
silent image
scare
suggestion
wizard eye
20
sleep
secret page
tongues
21
ventriloquism
Tasha’s hideous laughter
5th Level
6th Level
7th Level
8th Level
9th Level
1
break enchantment
analyze dweomer
Drawmij’s instant
antipathy
astral spell
summons
2
chaos
antimagic shell
ethereal jaunt
demand
dominate monster
3
dominate person
contingency
improved arcane sight
find the path
etherealness
4
dream
death fog
improved scying
improved prying eyes
foresight
improved shadow
5
fabricate
eyebite
conjuration
improved shadow
polymorph any object
evocation
6
false vision
feeblemind
insanity
mass charm
power word kill
7
hold monster
globe of invulnerability
limited wish
maze
prismatic sphere
8
major creation
improved dispel magic
mass invisibility
mind blank
shades
9
mind fog
invisible stalker
phase door
Otto’s irresistible dance
weird
10
mirage arcana
legend lore
power word blind
power word stun
wish
11
Mordenkainen’s faithful
mass suggestion
prismatic spray
prismatic wall
hound
12
nightmare
mislead
project image
scintillating pattern
13
persistent image
Mordenkainen’s
repulsion
screen
lucubration
14
prying eyes
permanent image
sequester
symbol of death
15
seeming
programmed image
simulacrum
symbol of insanity
16
sending
shadow walk
statue
17
shadow evocation
summon shadow
symbol of stunning
18
symbol of pain
symbol of fear
symbol of weakness
19
symbol of sleep
symbol of persuasion
vision
20
true seeing
veil
spells listed in italics are reversible
Player’s Handbook 69
SPELL DESCRIPTIONS
Aerial Servant
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One summoned creature
Duration: 1 day/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
This spell summons an invisible aerial servant (see the MONSTER
MANUAL) to do the bidding of the cleric who conjured it. The creature
does not fight directly, but obeys the command of the cleric with
respect to finding and returning with whatever object or creature that
is described to it. Of course the object or creature must be such as to
allow the aerial servant to physically bring it to the cleric or his assign.
The spell lasts for a maximum of 1 day for each level of experience of
the cleric who cast it. The aerial servant returns to its own plane
whenever the spell lapses, its duty is fulfilled, it is dispelled, the cleric
releases it or the cleric is slain.
The aerial servant will always attack by complete surprise when sent
on a mission and gains the benefit of a surprise round in combat
unless the target creature is able to detect invisible creatures, in which
case initiative is determined normally.
If summoned to retrieve an object it will attempt to take that object
from its holder and, if summoned to retrieve a creature against that
creature’s will, will attempt to subdue that creature before carrying it
back to the summoning cleric.
Affect Normal Fires
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: 10’ radius circle
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell enables the magic-user to cause non-magical fires - from as
small as a torch or lantern to as large as the area of effect - to reduce
in size and brightness to become a dim glow or increase in light to
twice its normal intensity, which increases the illumination to double
the its normal radius. Note that this does not affect either fuel
consumption or damage caused by the fire.
The caster can affect any or all fires in the spell's area. He can alter
their intensities with a single gesture as long as the spell is in effect. The
spell lasts until the caster cancels it, all fuel is burned, or the duration
expires. The caster can also extinguish all non-magical flames in the
area, which expends the spell immediately. The spell does not affect
fire elementals or similar creatures.
Aid
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Aid grants the touched target a +1 on attack rolls and saves against
fear effects (as a bless spell), plus 2d8+4 temporary hit points. These
temporary hit points are lost first when an aided character is wounded
and, once lost, may not be healed. At the end of the spell’s duration
any remaining temporary hit points are lost.
Air Walk
Alteration
Level: Cleric 4, Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject can tread on air as if walking on solid ground. Moving
upward is similar to walking up a hill. The maximum upward or
downward angle possible is 45 degrees, at a rate equal to one-half
the air-walker’s normal movement rate.
A strong wind (20+ mph) can push the subject along or hold it back.
At the end of its turn each round, the wind blows the air-walker 5 feet
for each 5 miles per hour of wind speed beyond 15 mph. The creature
may be subject to additional penalties in exceptionally strong or
turbulent winds, such as loss of control over movement or physical
damage from being buffeted about.
Should the spell duration expire while the subject is still aloft, the magic
fails slowly. The subject floats downward 120 feet per round for 1d6
rounds. If it reaches the ground in that amount of time, it lands safely.
If not, it falls the rest of the distance, taking 1d6 points of damage per
10 feet of distance fallen. Since dispelling a spell effectively ends it,
the subject also descends in this way if the air walk spell is dispelled,
but not if an antimagic shell negates it.
Airy Water
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area of Effect: 20’ radius hemisphere, centered on you
Duration: 3 turns/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The airy water spell turns normal liquid such as water or water-based
infusions or solutions to a less dense, breathable substance. Thus, if the
magic-user wished to enter an underwater place, he would step into
the water, cast the spell and sink downwards in a hemisphere of
bubbling water that he and any companions in the spell's area of
effect could move freely in and breathe just as if it were air rather
than water.
The hemisphere will move with the spellcaster. Note that water-
breathing creatures will avoid a hemisphere of airy water, although
intelligent ones can enter it if they are able to move by means other
than swimming, but no water-breathers will be able to breathe in an
area affected by this spell. There is only one word which needs to be
spoken to actuate the magic and the material component of the
spell is a small handful of alkaline or bromine salts.
Alarm
Abjuration
Level: Bard 1, Druid 1, Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: 20’ radius circle centered on a point in space
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Alarm sounds a mental or audible alarm each time any creature
larger than a normal rat - anything larger than about ½ cubic foot in
volume or more than about three pounds in weight - enters the
warded area or touches it. A creature that speaks the password
(determined by you at the time of casting) does not set off the alarm.
Ethereal or astral creatures do not trigger the alarm. You decide at
the time of casting whether the alarm will be mental or audible.
Mental Alarm: A mental alarm alerts you (and only you) so long as you
remain within 1 mile of the warded area. You note a single mental
“ping” that awakens you from normal sleep but does not otherwise
Player’s Handbook 70
disturb concentration. A silence 15’ radius spell has no effect on a
mental alarm.
Audible Alarm: An audible alarm produces the sound of a hand bell,
and anyone within 60 feet of the warded area can hear it clearly.
Reduce the distance by 10 feet for each interposing closed door and
by 20 feet for each substantial interposing wall.
In quiet conditions, the ringing can be heard faintly as far as 180 feet
away. The sound lasts for 1 round. Creatures within a silence 15’ radius
spell cannot hear the ringing.
Alarm can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Arcane Material Component: A tiny bell and a piece of very fine silver
wire. These are not consumed by this spell’s casting.
Alter Self
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
When this spell is cast, the caster can alter his appearance and form -
including clothing and equipment - to appear taller or shorter; thin,
fat, or in between; human, demihuman, humanoid or any other
generally man-shaped bipedal creature. The new form must be of the
same size category as the caster’s true form.
If the form selected has wings, the magic-user can actually fly, but at
only ½ of the movement rate (rounded to the nearest 5’ increment) of
a true creature of that type, and with a loss of two maneuverability
classes (to a minimum of E). If the form has gills, the caster can
breathe underwater as long as the spell lasts. However, the caster
does not gain any multiple attack routines or additional damage
allowed to an assumed form. Likewise he retains whatever sensory
powers he had before the spell was cast, and does not gain the
sensory powers of his new form.
The caster's hit dice, hit points, attack rolls, armor class and saving
throws do not change. The spell does not confer special abilities,
attack forms or defenses. Once the new form is chosen, it remains for
the duration of the spell. The caster can change back to his natural
form at will, though this ends the spell immediately. A caster who is
slain automatically returns to his normal form.
When the change occurs, your equipment, if any, either remains worn
or held by the new form (if it is capable of wearing or holding the
item) or melds into the new form and becomes non-functional. When
you revert to your true form, any objects previously melded into the
new form reappear in the same location on your body they previously
occupied and are once again functional. Any new items you wore in
the assumed form and can’t wear in your normal form fall off and
land at your feet; any that you could wear in either form or carry on a
body part common to both forms at the time of reversion are still held
in the same way. Any part of the body or piece of equipment that is
separated from the whole reverts to its true form.
A creature using alter self to impersonate another person gains a +5
bonus disguise ability checks. If the creature does not have the
disguise ability it may make a charisma check, with no level modifier,
to affect a disguise.
Analyze Dweomer
Divination
Level: Bard 6, Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One object or creature per caster level
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
You discern all spells and magical properties present in a number of
creatures or objects. Each round you may examine a single creature
or object that you can see. In the case of a magic item you learn its
functions, how to activate its functions (if appropriate) and how many
charges are left (if it uses charges). In the case of an object or
creature with active spells cast upon it, you learn each spell, its effect
and its caster level.
A creature examined through this spell may attempt a wisdom save (if
the caster is a bard) or intelligence save to resist this effect. If the save
succeeds you learn nothing about the creature except what you can
discern by looking at it. A creature that makes its save cannot be
affected by any other analyze dweomer spells for 24 hours.
Analyze dweomer does not function when used on an artifact.
Arcane Material Component: A tiny lens of ruby or sapphire, worth at
least 1,500 gp, set in a small golden loop. It is not expended by the
casting of this spell.
Animal Friendship
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: Up to 2 HD of animals per caster
level, no two of which can be more
than 30’ apart, see text
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw:
Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
By means of this spell the caster is able to show any animal of animal
intelligence to semi-intelligence (i.e. intelligence 1-4) that he desires
friendship. If the animal does not roll a successful charisma saving
throw immediately when the spell is begun, it stands quietly while the
caster finishes the spell. Thereafter, it follows the caster as an animal
companion.
The spell functions only if the caster actually wishes to be the animal's
friend. If the caster has ulterior motives the animal always senses them
(for example, the caster intends to eat the animal, send it ahead to
set off traps, etc.).
The caster can teach the befriended animal three specific tricks or
tasks for each point of intelligence it possesses. Typical tasks are those
taught to a dog or similar pet (i.e., they cannot be complex). Training
for each such trick must be done over a period of one week, and all
must be done within three months of acquiring the creature. During
the three-month period, the animal will not harm the caster, but if the
creature is left alone for more than a week, it will revert to its natural
state and act accordingly. Characters with the profession (animal
handler) skill for the type of animal befriended may teach that animal
2 tricks per week.
The caster can use this spell to attract up to 2 hit dice of animal(s) per
caster level to his residence or holy site (typically a druidic grove). This
is also the maximum total hit dice of the animals that can be
attracted and trained at one time: no more than twice the caster's
experience level.
No single animal may have hit dice greater than the druid’s caster
level and no more than 1 hit die’s worth of animal companions per
caster level may accompany the caster should he leave his holy site,
grove or refuge. Aligned animals can only be attracted, befriended
and trained by similarly aligned casters.
Material Component: The material components of this spell are a sprig
of mistletoe and a piece of food liked by the animal, which is
consumed when the spell is cast.
Animal Growth (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Druid 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Targets: Up to 1 HD of animals per caster level, no two of which can
be more than 30’ apart
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A number of animals, with hit dice totaling no more than the druid’s
level, grow to twice their normal size and eight times their normal
weight. This alteration changes each animal’s size category to the
next largest (from Small to Medium or from Medium to Large).
The effects of this growth are doubled hit dice (with its consequential
improvement in attack rolls and saving throws) and an increase in the
damage dealt by the animal’s natural attacks (increase the damage
by one die type). The spell lasts for one round for each level of
experience of the druid casting the spell.
The reverse of this spell, shrink animal, causes a number of animals to
Player’s Handbook 71
shrink to half of their size and one quarter of their normal weight. This
alteration changes each animal’s size category to the next smallest
(from Medium to Small or from Large to Medium).
The effects of this growth are halved hit dice (with the attendant
penalties to attack rolls) and a reduction in damage dealt by the
animal’s natural attacks (decrease the damage by one die type). The
spell lasts for one round for each level of experience of the druid
casting the spell.
Only natural animals, including giant forms, can be affected by
animal growth or shrink animal.
Material Component: The material components of this spell are a sprig
of mistletoe and a pinch of powdered bone, which is expended when
the spell is cast.
Animal Messenger
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 2, Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One Small-sized animal
Duration: One day/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You compel a Small animal to go to a spot you designate. The most
common use for this spell is to get an animal to carry a message to
your allies. The animal cannot be one tamed or trained by someone
else.
Using some type of food desirable to the animal as a lure, you call the
animal to you. It advances and awaits your bidding. You can mentally
impress on the animal a certain place well known to you or an
obvious landmark. The directions must be simple, because the animal
depends on your knowledge and can’t find a destination on its own.
You can attach some small item or note to the messenger. The animal
then goes to the designated location and waits there until the
duration of the spell expires, whereupon it resumes its normal activities.
During this period of waiting, the messenger allows others to approach
it and remove any scroll or token it carries. The intended recipient
gains no special ability to communicate with the animal or read any
attached message (if it’s written in a language he doesn’t know, for
example).
Material Component: A morsel of food the animal likes. This is
expended when the spell is cast
Animal Summoning I
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Bard 4, Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One or more creatures, no two of which can be more than 30’
apart
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell summons up to 8 hit dice of animals, though no single animal
may have more than 4 hit dice. They appear where you designate
(within 30’) and act immediately, on your turn. They attack your
opponents to the best of their ability. If you can communicate with
the creatures, you can direct them not to attack, to attack particular
enemies or to perform other actions.
Creatures cannot be summoned into an environment that cannot
support them. Other than various sorts of giant animals; fantastic
animals or monsters cannot be summoned by this spell, i.e. no
chimerae, dragons, gorgons, manticores, etc.
Animal Summoning II
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Bard 5, Druid 5
Effect: One or more creatures, no two of which can be more than 30’
apart
This spell functions like animal summoning I, except that you can
summon up to 10 hit dice of animals, though no single animal may
have more than 5 hit dice.
Animal Summoning III
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Bard 6, Druid 6
Effect: One or more creatures, no two of which can be more than 30’
apart
This spell functions like animal summoning I, except that you can
summon up to 12 hit dice of animals, though no single animal may
have more than 6 hit dice.
Animal Trance
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 2, Druid 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: 2d6 hit dice of animals
Duration: Concentration (see text)
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Your swaying motion and music (or singing, or chanting) compels
animals to do nothing but watch you. Only animals with animal
intelligence to semi-intelligence (i.e., intelligence 1-4) can be
fascinated by this spell. Roll 2d6 to determine the total number of HD
worth of creatures that you fascinate. The closest targets are selected
first until no more targets within range can be affected.
Fascinated creatures suffer a –4 penalty to their armor class and to all
saving throws, and are treated as surprised if attacked. Any attack on
a fascinated creature breaks the effect.
Animate Dead
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 3, Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: One or more corpses
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell turns the bones or bodies of dead creatures into undead
skeletons or zombies that follow your spoken commands. The undead
can follow you, or they can remain in an area and attack any
creature (or just a specific kind of creature) entering the place. They
remain animated until they are destroyed. (A destroyed skeleton or
zombie can’t be animated again.)
Regardless of the type of undead you create with this spell, you can’t
create more HD of undead than your caster level with a single casting
of animate dead. (Desecrate doubles this limit).
The undead you create remain under your control indefinitely. No
matter how many times you use this spell, however, you can control
only 2 HD worth of undead creatures per caster level. If you exceed
this number, all the newly created creatures fall under your control,
and any excess undead from previous castings become uncontrolled.
(You choose which creatures are released.) If you are a cleric, any
undead you might command by virtue of your power to command or
rebuke undead do not count toward the limit.
Skeletons: A skeleton can be created only from a mostly intact
corpse or skeleton. The corpse must have bones. If a skeleton is
made from a corpse, the flesh falls off the bones.
Zombies: A zombie can be created only from a mostly intact
corpse.
Material Component: You must place a black onyx gem worth at
least 25 gp per hit die of the undead into the mouth or eye socket of
each corpse you intend to animate. The magic of the spell turns these
gems into worthless, burned-out shells. Clerics must also have their
holy symbol at hand when casting this spell.
Animate Object
Alteration
Level: Cleric 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area of Effect: One Small object per 2 caster levels; see text
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Player’s Handbook 72
Magic Resistance: No
You imbue inanimate, non-magical objects with mobility and a
semblance of life. Each animated object immediately attacks
whomever or whatever you initially designate.
An animated object can be of any non-magical material. The
animated objects attack whomever or whatever the cleric first
designates. The object can be of any material whatsoever - wood,
metal, stone, fabric, leather, ceramic, glass, etc.
The speed of movement of the object is dependent upon its means of
propulsion and its weight. Thus a large stone pedestal would rock
forward at 20’ per round while a slithering object could move at 45’ per
round. Objects with two legs (statues, ladders) or a similar shape that
allows faster movement have a 60’ movement rate. Objects with
multiple legs (tables, chairs) have a movement rate of 75’ per round.
Wheeled objects have a movement rate of 90’. Objects might have
additional modes of movement as well. A wooden object can float and
has a movement rate on water equal to half its land speed. A rope or
similar sinuous object can climb at half of its normal speed. A sheet-like
object can fly (Maneuverability Class E) at half its normal movement
rate.
The damage caused by the attack of an animated object is
dependent upon its form and composition. Light, supple objects can
only obscure vision, obstruct movement, bind, trip, smother, etc. Light,
hard objects can fall upon or otherwise strike at their targets, or possibly
wrap around and trip as do light, supple objects. Hard objects can crush
or strike, with larger objects dealing more damage.
As a general guideline, assume that all animated objects have an
armor class of 15. Small objects will have 15 hit points, Medium objects
will have 30 hit points and Large objects will have 45 hit points. All
attack as if their hit dice equaled the spellcaster’s level. Animated
objects deal 1d4 points of damage per size category (Small objects
deal 1-4, Medium objects deal 2d4 and Large objects deal 3d4 points of
damage).
Stone or hard metal objects take only ½ damage from piercing and
slashing weapons, while supple materials (such as rope or cloth) only
take ½ damage from bludgeoning and piercing weapons (fractional
damage is rounded down).
You may animate one Small or smaller object or an equivalent number
of larger objects per 2 caster levels. A Medium object counts as two
Small or smaller objects, a Large object as four Small objects. As such, a
12th level cleric may animate either 6 Small objects or its equivalent in
larger objects. This spell cannot animate objects carried or worn by a
creature.
Animate object can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Animate Plants
Alteration
Level: Druid 7
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One Small plant per 2 caster levels; see text
Duration: 1 round/caster level or 1 hour/caster level; see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You imbue inanimate plants with mobility and a semblance of life.
Each animated plant then immediately attacks whomever or
whatever you initially designate as though it were an animated
object. In all other respects this spell functions as the animate objects
spell.
Animate plants cannot affect plant creatures, nor does it affect non-
living vegetable material. Animated plants take only take ½ damage
from piercing or blunt weapons (round fractions down).
Entangle: Alternatively, you may imbue all plants within range with a
degree of mobility, which allows them to entwine around creatures in
the area. This usage of the spell duplicates the effect of an entangle
spell. Magic resistance does not keep creatures from being
entangled. This effect lasts 1 hour per caster level.
Animate Rock
Alteration
Level: Druid 8
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One Small rock per 2 caster levels; see text
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You imbue inanimate, non-magical rocks with mobility and a
semblance of life. Each animated rock creature then immediately
attacks whomever or whatever you initially designate as though it
were an animated object.
Animated rock creatures follow the guidelines for animated objects
but are stronger than those created through the animate object or
plants spells. Assume that Small animated rocks have 30 hit points,
Medium animated rocks will have 45 hit points and Large animated
rocks will have a 60 hit points. All attack as if their hit dice equaled the
spellcaster’s level. Animated rocks have an armor class of 18 and take
only ½ damage from piercing and slashing weapons (round fractions
down). In all other respects this spell functions as the animate object
spell.
Animate rock cannot affect rock creatures such as elementals, galeb
duhrs or stone golems. The spell cannot animate rocks carried or worn
by a creature.
Animate Rope
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One ropelike object, length up to 50’ + 5’/caster level; see text
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can animate a non-living, non-magical ropelike object. The
maximum length assumes a rope with a 1 inch diameter. Reduce the
maximum length by 50% for every additional inch of thickness, and
increase it by 50% for each reduction of the rope’s diameter by half.
The possible commands are “coil” (form a neat, coiled stack), “coil
and knot,” “loop,” “loop and knot,” “tie and knot,” and the opposites
of all of the above (“uncoil,” and so forth). You can give one
command each round, as if directing an active spell.
A typical 1 inch diameter hempen rope has 10 hit points and an
armor class of 15. Piercing and bludgeoning weapons only deal ½
damage to an animated rope (round fractions down).
The rope can attack only a creature or an object within 5 feet of it - it
does not snake outward - so it must be thrown at or near the intended
target. Immediately following this, the rope springs towards its
intended target in an attempt to grapple (it attacks and makes
grapple checks as a creature with hit dice equal to the caster level of
the spell), gaining a +4 bonus to its grapple checks.
The only spells the character can cast while grappling or pinned are
those without somatic components. A grappled caster must also have
the required material components at hand in order to cast. Even so,
the Dungeon Master will often require a concentration check for the
character to cast the spell.
A grappled creature can break the hold by making an opposed
strength common ability check against the rope, which gets a +5
bonus to its grapple checks. Unless the creature moves away from
the rope, it will attempt to grapple the same creature again.
The rope itself and any knots tied in it are not magical. The spell
cannot animate ropes carried or worn by a creature.
Antilife Shell
Abjuration
Level: Druid 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 10’ radius sphere, centered on you
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You bring into being a mobile, spherical energy field that prevents the
entrance of most types of living creatures. The effect hedges out
living creatures but not animated creatures, elementals, extraplanar
creatures or undead.
This spell may be used only defensively, not aggressively. Forcing an
abjuration barrier against creatures that the spell keeps at bay
collapses the barrier.
Player’s Handbook 73
Antimagic Shell
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 8, Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 10’ radius sphere, centered on you
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: See text
An invisible, spherical barrier surrounds you and moves with you. The
space within this barrier is impervious to most magical effects,
including spells and spell-like powers. Likewise, it prevents the
functioning of any magic items or spells within its confines.
An antimagic shell suppresses any spell or magical effect used within,
brought into, or cast into the area, but does not dispel it. Time spent
within an antimagic shell counts against the suppressed spell’s
duration.
Summoned creatures of any type are dispelled if they enter an
antimagic shell. If you cast antimagic shell in an area occupied by a
summoned creature that has magic resistance, you must make
concentration check (p. 62) modified by the target’s MR rating.
A normal creature can enter the area, as can normal missiles.
Furthermore, while a magic sword does not function magically within
the area, it is still a sword. The spell has no effect on golems and other
animated creatures that are imbued with magic during their creation
process and are thereafter self-supporting (unless they have been
summoned, in which case they are treated like any other summoned
creatures). Elementals, undead and extraplanar creatures are likewise
unaffected unless summoned. These creatures’ spell-like powers,
however, may be temporarily nullified by the field. Dispel magic does
not remove the field.
Two or more antimagic shells sharing any of the same space have no
effect on each other. Certain spells, such as wall of force, prismatic
sphere and prismatic wall, remain unaffected by antimagic shell (see
the individual spell descriptions). Artifacts and deities are unaffected
by mortal magic such as this.
Should a creature be larger than the area enclosed by the barrier,
any part of it that lies outside the barrier is unaffected by the field.
Arcane Material Component: A pinch of powdered iron or iron filings.
Antipathy (reversible)
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Druid 9, Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One location (up to a 10’ cube/caster level) or one object
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Charisma partial
Magic Resistance: Yes
You cause an object or location to emanate magical vibrations that
repel either a specific kind of intelligent creature or creatures of a
particular alignment, as defined by you. The kind of creature (i.e.
dwarf, elf, human, troll, zombie) to be affected must be named
specifically. Alternately, the specific alignment to be repelled must be
named. Creatures of the designated kind or alignment feel an
overpowering urge to leave the area or to avoid the affected item.
A compulsion forces them to abandon the area or item, shunning it
and never willingly returning to it while the spell is in effect. A creature
that makes a successful saving throw can stay in the area or touch
the item but feels uncomfortable doing so. This distracting discomfort
reduces the creature’s dexterity modifier to ability checks, ranged
and finesse attack rolls, initiative checks, and armor class by 2.
The reverse of the spell, sympathy, causes an object or location to
emanate magical vibrations that attract either a specific kind of
intelligent creature or creatures of a particular alignment, as defined
by you. The particular kind of creature to be affected must be named
specifically. A creature subtype is not specific enough. Likewise, the
specific alignment must be named.
Creatures of the specified kind or alignment feel elated and pleased
to be in the area or desire to touch or to possess the object. The
compulsion to stay in the area or touch the object is overpowering. If
the save is successful, the creature is released from the enchantment,
but a subsequent save must be made 1d6 turns later. If this save fails,
the affected creature attempts to return to the area or object.
Sympathy counters and dispels antipathy and vice versa.
Arcane Material Component: A lump of alum soaked in vinegar or, for
sympathy, a drop of honey. These are expended when the spell is
cast.
Antiplant Shell 10’ Radius
Abjuration
Level: Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Area: 10’ radius sphere, centered on the target
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
The antiplant shell spell creates an invisible, mobile sphere that keeps
all creatures within the shell protected from attacks by plant creatures
or animated plants. As with many abjuration spells, forcing the barrier
against creatures that the spell keeps at bay strains and collapses the
field.
Arcane Sight
Divination
Level: Bard 3, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 120’cone
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
This spell makes your eyes glow blue and allows you to see magical
auras within a cone that extend to 120 feet (24”). The effect is similar
to that of a detect magic spell, but arcane sight does not require
concentration and discerns aura location and power more quickly.
You know the location and power of all magical auras within your
sight. An aura’s power depends on a spell’s functioning level or an
item’s caster level, as noted in the description of the detect magic
spell.
If you concentrate on a specific creature within 120 feet of you for 1
round you can determine whether it has any spellcasting or spell-like
powers, whether these are arcane or divine (spell-like powers register
as arcane) and the strength of the most powerful spell or spell-like
ability the creature currently has available for use.
Arcane sight can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Armor
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: No
By means of this spell, the magic-user creates a magical field of force
that serves as if it were chainmail armor (+4 bonus to armor class). The
spell has no effect on a person already armored and/or employing a
shield but is cumulative with the shield spell. A ring or cloak of
protection may be used with the armor spell, though bracers of
defense may not.
The armor spell does not hinder movement or prevent spellcasting,
and adds no weight or encumbrance.
The material component is a piece of finely cured leather that has
been blessed by a cleric.
Astral Spell
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 9, Magic-User 9, Illusionist 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 30 minutes
Range: Touch
Targets: You and 1 additional, willing creature per two caster levels
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
By freeing your spirit from your physical body this spell allows you to
project an astral body onto another plane altogether. You can bring
Player’s Handbook 74
the astral forms of other willing creatures with you, provided that these
subjects are linked in a circle with you at the time of the casting. These
fellow travelers are dependent upon you and must accompany you
at all times. If something happens to you during the journey, your
companions are stranded wherever you left them.
You project your astral self onto the Astral Plane, leaving your physical
body behind on the Material Plane in a state of suspended animation.
The spell projects an astral copy of you and all you wear or carry onto
the Astral Plane. Since the Astral Plane touches upon other planes,
you can travel astrally to any of these other planes as you will. To enter
one you leave the Astral Plane, forming a new physical body (and
equipment) on the plane of existence you have chosen to enter.
While you are on the Astral Plane your astral body is connected at all
times to your physical body by a silvery cord. If the cord is broken you
are killed, astrally and physically. Luckily very few things can destroy a
silver cord. When a second body is formed on a different plane, the
incorporeal silvery cord remains invisibly attached to the new body. If
the second body or astral form is slain the cord simply returns to your
body where it rests on the Material Plane, thereby reviving it from its
state of suspended animation. Although astral bodies are able to
function on the Astral Plane, their actions affect only creatures existing
on the Astral Plane; a physical body must be materialized on other
planes.
You and your companions may travel through the Astral Plane
indefinitely. Your bodies simply wait behind in a state of suspended
animation until you choose to return your spirits to them. The spell lasts
until you desire to end it or until it is terminated by some outside
means, such as dispel magic cast upon either the physical body or
the astral form (which ends the spell), the severing of the silver cord
(which kills you) or the destruction of your body back on the Material
Plane (which also kills you).
Material Component: A silver cord worth 5 gp for each person to be
affected. These are not consumed when the spell is cast.
Atonement
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 5, Druid 5
Components: V, S, M, XP
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell removes the burden of evil acts or misdeeds from the
subject. The creature seeking atonement must be truly repentant and
desirous of setting right its misdeeds. If the atoning creature
committed the evil act unwittingly or under some form of compulsion,
atonement operates normally at no cost to you. However in the case
of a creature atoning for deliberate misdeeds and acts of a knowing
and willful nature, you must intercede with your deity (requiring you to
expend 5,000 XP) in order to expunge the subject’s burden. Many
casters first assign a subject of this sort a quest (see geas/quest) or
similar penance to determine whether the creature is truly contrite
before casting the atonement spell on its behalf.
Atonement may be cast for one of several purposes, depending on
the version selected.
Reverse Magical Alignment Change: If a creature has had its
alignment magically changed, atonement returns its alignment
to its original status at no cost in experience points.
Restore Class: A paladin who has lost his class features due to
committing an evil act may have his paladinhood restored to
him by this spell.
Restore Divine Spell Powers: A cleric, bard, druid, paladin or
ranger who has lost the ability to cast spells by incurring the
anger of his deity may regain that ability by seeking atonement
from another cleric of the same deity (or from a druid with a
similar ethos).
Redemption or Temptation: You may cast this spell upon a
creature of an opposing alignment in order to offer it a chance
to change its alignment to match yours. The prospective subject
must be present for the entire casting process. Upon completion
of the spell, the subject freely chooses whether it retains its
original alignment or acquiesces to your offer and changes to
your alignment. No duress, compulsion or magical influence can
force the subject to take advantage of the opportunity offered if
it is unwilling to abandon its old alignment. This use of the spell
does not work on extraplanar creatures or any creature
incapable of changing its alignment naturally.
Though the spell description refers to evil acts, atonement can also be
used on any creature that has performed acts against its alignment,
whether those acts are evil, good, chaotic or lawful.
Note: Normally, changing alignment is up to the player. This use of
atonement simply offers a believable way for a character to change
his alignment drastically, suddenly and definitively.
Material Component: Burning incense. In addition to your holy
symbol, you need a set of prayer beads (or other prayer device, such
as a prayer wheel or prayer book) worth at least 500 gp.
XP Cost: When cast for the benefit of a creature whose guilt was the
result of deliberate acts, the cost to you is 5,000 XP per casting (see
above).
Audible Glamer
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 0, Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Illusory sounds
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with)
Magic Resistance: No
Audible glamer allows you to create a volume of sound that rises,
recedes, approaches or remains at a fixed place. You choose what
type of sound audible glamer creates when casting it and cannot
thereafter change the sound’s basic character.
The volume of sound created depends on your level. You can
produce as much noise as four normal humans per caster level
(maximum twenty humans). Thus talking, singing, shouting, walking,
marching or running sounds can be created. The noise an audible
glamer spell produces can be virtually any type of sound within the
volume limit. A horde of rats running and squeaking is about the same
volume as eight humans running and shouting, while a roaring lion is
equal to the noise from sixteen humans. Audible glamer can
enhance the effectiveness of a silent image spell.
Audible glamer can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Arcane Material Component: A bit of wool or a small lump of wax.
Augury
Divination
Level: Cleric 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
An augury can tell you whether a particular action will bring good or
bad results for you in the immediate future.
In order to receive a meaningful reply the DM secretly makes a
wisdom common ability check, with a -5 penalty, on the caster’s
behalf. If this check succeeds, you get one of four results:
• Weal (if the action will probably bring good results).
• Woe (for bad results).
• Weal and woe (for both).
• Nothing (for actions that don’t have especially good or bad
results).
If the spell fails, you get the “nothing” result. A cleric who gets the
“nothing” result has no way to tell whether it was the consequence of
a failed or successful augury. Furthermore, a question may be so
straightforward that a successful result is automatic, or so vague as to
have no chance of success.
The augury can see into the future only about half an hour, so
anything that might happen after that does not affect the result. Thus
the result might not take into account the long-term consequences of
a contemplated action. All auguries cast by the same person about
the same topic use the same dice result as the first casting.
Player’s Handbook 75
Material Component: Incense worth at least 25 gp, which is
consumed when the spell is cast. The spell also uses a set of marked
sticks, bones, cards or similar tokens of at least 25 gp value, which are
not destroyed when the spell is cast.
Banishment
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 7, Magic-User 7
Components: V, S, M; see text
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One or more extraplanar creatures, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom or intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A banishment spell is a more powerful version of the dismissal spell. It
enables you to force extraplanar creatures out of your home plane.
As many as 2 hit dice of creatures per caster level can be banished.
You can improve the spell’s chance of success by presenting at least
one object or substance that the target hates, fears or otherwise
opposes. For each such object or substance, you gain a +1 bonus to
your intelligence (for arcane casters) or wisdom (for divine casters)
check when making magic resistance-based concentration checks
(p. 62). Furthermore, the target’s saving throw penalty increases by 1
for each item used. Up to three objects can be used to augment this
spell. Certain rare items might work twice as well as a normal item for
the purpose of these bonuses (DM’s discretion).
Barkskin
Alteration
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
When the druid casts the barkskin spell upon a creature, its armor class
improves by 2 because the creature's skin becomes as tough as bark.
In addition to mistletoe, the caster must have a handful of bark from
an oak as the material component of the spell.
Bigby’s Clenched Fist
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
This spell functions like Bigby’s interposing hand, except that the hand
can interpose itself, push or strike one opponent that you select. The
floating hand can move as far as 60’ and attack in the same round.
Since this hand is directed by you, its ability to notice or attack invisible
or concealed creatures is no better than yours.
The hand attacks once per round, always striking its target. The hand
deals 2d10 points of damage on each attack, and any creature
struck must make a strength save (modified by the spellcaster’s caster
level) or be stunned for 1 round. Directing the spell to a new target
requires the caster to concentrate for 1 round. Bigby’s clenched fist
can also interpose itself as Bigby’s interposing hand does or can bull
rush or push an opponent as Bigby’s forceful hand does, but with a +4
bonus on the strength check because of its Large size (assuming its
target is Medium-sized). The hand gains the caster’s full level bonus to
any strength checks it makes.
Arcane Material Component: A leather glove, which is not destroyed
when the spell is cast.
Bigby’s Crushing Hand
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 9
Components: V, S, M
This spell functions like Bigby’s interposing hand, except that the hand
can interpose itself, push or crush one opponent that you select.
Bigby’s crushing hand can grapple an opponent like Bigby’s grasping
hand does. The hand attacks once per round and always hits its
target. The hand gains the caster’s full level bonus to any strength
checks it makes. It gets a +4 bonus on strength checks because of its
Large size (assuming its target is Medium-sized).
The hand deals 3d10 points of damage each round that it holds its
grappled target (which is every round past the round it which it
successfully grapples its opponent).
Bigby’s crushing hand can also interpose itself as Bigby’s interposing
hand does, or it can bull rush or push an opponent as Bigby’s forceful
hand does, with a +4 bonus (assuming its target is Medium-sized).
Directing the spell to a new target requires the caster to concentrate
for 1 round.
Material Component: The shell of an egg, which is expended during
casting, and a glove of snakeskin.
Bigby’s Forceful Hand
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
This spell functions like Bigby’s interposing hand, except that Bigby’s
forceful hand pursues and pushes away the opponent that you
designate.
The hand attacks once per round and always strikes its target. Treat
this attack as a bull rush or push attack with a +4 bonus on its strength
check for being Large (assuming its target is Medium-sized). The hand
gains the caster’s full level bonus to any strength checks it makes.
Directing the spell to a new target requires the caster to concentrate
for 1 round. A very strong creature could not push the hand out of its
way because the latter would instantly reposition itself between the
creature and you, but an opponent could push the hand up against
you by successfully bull rushing it.
Material Component: A sturdy glove made of leather or heavy cloth
that is not expended when the spell is cast.
Bigby’s Grasping Hand
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 7
Components: V, S, M
This spell functions like Bigby’s interposing hand, except the hand can
also grapple one opponent that you select.
Bigby’s grasping hand gets one grapple attack per round and always
strikes its target. The hand gains the caster’s full level bonus to any
strength checks it makes. It gets a +4 to its opposed strength checks
for these grapple attempts because it is Large (assuming its target is
Medium-sized). The hand holds but does not harm creatures it
grapples. Directing the spell to a new target requires the caster to
concentrate for 1 round.
Bigby’s grasping hand can also bull rush or push an opponent as
Bigby’s forceful hand does, or interpose itself as Bigby’s interposing
hand does.
Arcane Material Component: A leather glove that is not expended
when the spell is cast.
Bigby’s Interposing Hand
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: 10’ long hand
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
Bigby’s interposing hand creates a large magic hand that appears
between you and one opponent. This floating, disembodied hand
then moves to remain between the two of you, regardless of where
you move or how the opponent tries to get around it, providing 50%
cover for you against that opponent. Nothing can fool the hand - it
sticks with the selected opponent in spite of darkness, invisibility,
polymorphing, or any other attempt at hiding or disguise. The hand
does not pursue an opponent, however.
Bigby’s interposing hand is 10 feet long and about that wide with its
fingers outstretched. It has as many hit points the caster has when
undamaged and its armor class is 20. It takes damage as a normal
creature, but most magical effects that don’t cause damage do not
affect it.
It cannot push through a wall of force or enter an antimagic shell and
suffers the full effect of a prismatic wall or prismatic sphere. The hand
makes saving throws as its caster.
Disintegrate or a successful dispel magic destroys it.
Any creature weighing 2,000 pounds or less that tries to push past the
hand is slowed to half its normal movement rate. The hand cannot
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reduce the speed of a creature weighing more than 2,000 pounds,
but it still affects the creature’s attacks. Directing the spell to a new
target requires 1 round.
Material Component: A soft glove that is not expended when the
spell is cast.
Bind Wounds (reversible)
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 0, Bard 0, Druid 0
Upon casting this spell, you target a living creature that has 0 or fewer
hit points. That creature is automatically stabilized and does not lose
any further hit points. If the creature later takes damage, it
continues dying normally.
The reverse of this spell, open wounds, causes a living creature that is
at or below 0 hit points but stabilized to resume dying. The creature
can be stabilized later normally. This spell causes a creature that is
dying to take 1 point of damage.
Binding
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: One minute
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: See text (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Charisma negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
A binding spell creates a magical restraint to hold a creature. The
target gets an initial saving throw only if its hit dice equal or exceed ½
of your caster level (round fractions down).
You may have as many as six assistants help you with the spell. For
each assistant who casts suggestion, your effective caster level for the
casting of binding increases by 1. For each assistant who casts
dominate animal, dominate person or dominate monster, your
effective caster level for the casting of binding increases by a number
equal to one-third of that assistant’s level, provided that the spell’s
target is appropriate for a binding spell. Since the assistants’ spells are
cast simply to improve your caster level for the purpose of the binding
spell, saving throws and magic resistance against the assistants’ spells
are irrelevant. Your caster level determines whether the target gets an
initial charisma saving throw and how long the binding lasts. All
binding spells are dismissible.
Regardless of the version of binding you cast, you can specify
triggering conditions that end the spell and release the creature
whenever they occur. These triggers can be as simple or elaborate as
you desire, but the condition must be reasonable and have a
likelihood of coming to pass. The conditions can be based on a
creature’s name, identity or alignment but otherwise must be based
on observable actions or qualities. Intangibles such as level, class, hit
dice or hit points don’t qualify. Once the spell is cast its triggering
conditions cannot be changed. Setting a release condition increases
the save’s penalty (assuming a saving throw is allowed) by 1.
If you are casting any of the first three versions of binding (those with
limited durations), you may cast additional binding spells to prolong
the effect, since the durations overlap. If you do so, the target gets a
saving throw at the end of the first spell’s duration, even if your caster
level was high enough to disallow an initial saving throw. If the
creature succeeds on this save all the binding spells it has received
are broken.
The binding spell has six versions. Choose one of the following versions
when you cast the spell. Regardless of which version is chosen the
subject does not need to breathe, eat or drink while bound, nor does
it age.
Chaining: The subject is confined by restraints that generate an
antipathy spell affecting all creatures who approach the subject,
except you. The duration is one year per caster level. The subject
of this form of binding is confined to the spot it occupied when it
received the spell.
Slumber: This version causes the subject to become comatose for
as long as one year per caster level. This form of binding is more
difficult to cast than chaining, making it slightly easier to resist.
Reduce the target’s save penalty by 1.
Bound Slumber: This combination of chaining and slumber lasts
for as long as one month per caster level. Reduce the save’s
penalty by 1.
Hedged Prison: The subject is transported to or otherwise brought
within a confined area from which it cannot wander by any
means. The effect is permanent. Reduce the target’s save
penalty by 1.
Metamorphosis: The subject assumes gaseous form, except for its
head or face. It is held harmless in a jar or other container, which
may be transparent if you so choose. The creature remains
aware of its surroundings and can speak, but it cannot leave the
container, attack or use any of its powers or abilities. The binding
is permanent. Reduce the save penalty by 2.
Minimus Containment: The subject is shrunk to a height of 1 inch
or even less and held within some gem, jar or similar object. The
binding is permanent. Reduce the save penalty by 2.
You can’t dispel a binding spell with dispel magic or a similar effect,
though an antimagic shell or Mordenkainen’s disjunction affects it
normally. A bound extraplanar creature cannot be sent back to its
home plane due to dismissal, banishment or a similar effect.
Components: The components for a binding spell vary according to
the version of the spell but always include a continuous chanting
utterance read from the scroll or spellbook page containing the spell,
somatic gestures and materials appropriate to the form of binding
used. These components can include such items as miniature chains
of special metals, soporific herbs of the rarest sort (for slumber
bindings), a bell jar of the finest crystal and the like.
In addition to the specially made props suited to the specific type of
binding (costing 500 gp), the spell requires opals worth at least 500 gp
for each HD of the target and a vellum depiction or carved statuette
of the subject to be captured. These materials are destroyed upon
the casting of this spell.
Blade Barrier
Evocation
Level: Cleric 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Wall of whirling blades 20’ high and up to 20’ long/caster level,
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity half or dexterity negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
An immobile, vertical curtain of whirling blades shaped of pure force
springs into existence. Any creature passing through the wall takes
10d6 points of damage, with a dexterity save for half damage.
If you evoke the barrier so that it appears where creatures are, each
creature takes damage as if passing through the wall. Each such
creature can avoid the wall (ending up on the side of its choice) and
thus take no damage by making a successful dexterity save.
A blade barrier provides 50% cover against attacks made through it.
Bless (reversible)
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Player’s Handbook 77
Range: Personal
Area: 50’ radius circle, centered on the caster
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Bless fills the caster and all allies within a 50’ radius with courage. Each
ally gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear
effects.
The reverse of this spell, bane, fills all enemies within a 50’ radius with
fear and doubt. Each affected creature takes a –1 penalty on attack
rolls and saving throws against fear effects.
Bane counters and dispels bless and vice versa.
Bless Water (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Target: One flask of water
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This alteration transforms a flask (1 pint) of water into holy water. Holy
water may be used as a grenade-like weapon (see page 56 for more
details).
The reverse of this spell, curse water, transforms a flask (1 pint) of water
into unholy water. Unholy water may be used as a grenade-like
weapon (see page 56 for more details). Unholy water damages good
extraplanar creatures the way holy water damages undead and evil
extraplanar creatures.
Material Component: 5 pounds of powdered silver (worth 25 gp) that
is expended during the casting of this spell and the cleric’s holy
symbol.
Blink
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
You “blink” back and forth between the Material Plane and the
Ethereal Plane. You look as though you’re winking in and out of reality
very quickly and at random.
Blinking has several effects, as follows:
Physical attacks against you have a 50% chance of missing, regardless
of your opponent’s attack roll. If the attacker is capable of striking
ethereal creatures, he only suffers a –2 attack penalty due to the
partial invisibility provided by the spell. Attackers who can both see
invisible creatures and strike ethereal creatures suffer no attack
penalty and have no chance of missing a blinking target.
Likewise, your own attacks have a 50% chance of missing their target,
since you sometimes go ethereal just as you are about to strike. While
blinking you strike as an invisible creature (with a +2 bonus on attack
rolls), unless your opponent can see invisible creatures.
Any individually targeted spell has a 50% chance to fail against you
while you’re blinking unless your attacker can target invisible, ethereal
creatures. Your own spells have a 50% chance to activate just as you
go ethereal, in which case they typically do not affect the Material
Plane.
While blinking you take only half damage from area attacks (but full
damage from those that extend onto the Ethereal Plane) and
environmental effects (such as cold, fire or falling damage).
Since you spend about half your time on the Ethereal Plane, you can
see and even attack ethereal creatures. You interact with ethereal
creatures roughly the same way you interact with material ones. An
ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures and spells you cast
while ethereal affect only other ethereal things.
An ethereal creature is invisible, incorporeal and capable of moving
in any direction, even up or down. As an incorporeal creature, you
can move through (but not see through) solid objects, including living
creatures. For each 5 feet of solid material you walk through, there is
a 50% chance that you become material. If this occurs, you are
shunted off to the nearest open space and take 1d6 points of
damage per 5 feet so traveled.
An ethereal creature can see and hear the Material Plane, but
everything looks gray and insubstantial.
Abjurations affect you normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal
Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. Certain material
creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal
Plane. Treat other ethereal creatures and objects as material.
Blur
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 2
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject’s outline appears blurred, shifting and wavering. This
distortion grants the subject 50% concealment. A detect invisibility
spell does not counteract the blur effect though a true seeing spell
does. Opponents that cannot see the subject ignore the spell’s effect
(though fighting an unseen opponent carries penalties of its own).
Break Enchantment
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 5, Bard 4, Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: Up to one creature per caster level, all within 30’ of each other
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
This spell frees victims from enchantments, alterations and curses.
Break enchantment can reverse even an instantaneous effect such as
polymorphing or petrifying effects. For each such effect you make a
caster level check (1d20 + caster level) with a penalty equal to the
spellcaster’s caster level (or hit dice, for creatures with spell-like
powers). Success means that the creature is free of the spell, curse or
effect. For a cursed magic item, the penalty is equal to the creator’s
level (or 15 if the creator’s level is not known).
If the spell is one that cannot be dispelled by dispel magic, break
enchantment works only if that spell is 6th level or lower.
If the effect comes from some permanent magic item break
enchantment does not remove the curse from the item, but it does
free the victim from the item’s effects.
Burning Hands
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 15’ cone
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
A 120° cone of searing flame shoots from your fingertips, striking all
opponents standing directly in front the caster. Any creature in the
area of the flames takes 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level
(maximum of 5d4). Flammable materials burn if the flames touch them
(see Item Saving Throws on page 52). Items held by one of the spell’s
targets need not roll a saving throw unless that target failed his saving
throw with a “1”.
Call Lightning
Evocation
Level: Druid 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: One or more 30’ long vertical lines of lightning
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
Immediately upon completion of the spell, and once per round
thereafter, you may call down a vertical bolt of lightning that deals
Player’s Handbook 78
3d8 points of electricity damage to those in its path. The bolt of
lightning flashes down in a vertical stroke at whatever target you
choose within the spell’s range. Items held by the spell’s target must
save versus lightning (see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if the target
failed his saving throw with a “1”.
You need not call a bolt of lightning immediately; other actions, even
spellcasting, can be performed. However each round after the first
you may call a bolt by concentrating upon this spell. You may call a
total number of bolts equal to your caster level (maximum 9 bolts).
This spell functions indoors or under ground but not underwater.
Call Woodland Beings
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One or more summoned woodland creatures
Duration: Special
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
By means of this spell the druid is able to summon certain woodland
creatures to his location. Naturally this spell will only work outdoors, in
an area that could conceivably be a home to such creatures.
The druid begins the incantation and the spell must be continued,
uninterrupted, for 1 turn. The verbalization and somatic gesturing are
easy so this is not particularly exhausting to the spellcaster, though the
spell will be disrupted if the caster loses concentration during this time.
Any woodland being answering the call will initially be favorably
disposed to the spellcaster and give whatever aid it is capable of, so
long as the actions are in keeping with their alignment. If the druid
requests that the summoned creatures engage in combat or act in a
manner that endangers it, he must win an opposed charisma
common ability check.
Only one of the following types of beings can be summoned by the
spell, and the type of creature summoned is limited by the caster’s
alignment:
creature
summoned
number
summoned
summoner’s alignment
brownies
1d8
neutral good, lawful neutral
centaurs
1d4
chaotic neutral, neutral, neutral good
dryads
1d4
lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic
neutral, neutral evil, neutral good
pixies
1d8
lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic
neutral, neutral evil, neutral good
quicklings
1d4
lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic
neutral, neutral evil
satyrs
1d4
lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic
neutral, neutral evil, neutral good
sprites
1d8
lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic
neutral, neutral good
unicorns
1d2
lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic
neutral, neutral good
The material components of this spell are a pinecone and 8 holly
berries.
Calm Animals
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 1, Druid 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: Animals within a 30’ radius of each other
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell soothes and quiets animals, rendering them docile and
harmless. Only ordinary animals (those with intelligence scores of 1-4)
can be affected by this spell. All the subjects must be of the same
kind, and no two may be more than 30 feet apart. The number of hit
dice of animals you can affect is equal to 1d4 per 2 caster levels
(10d4 maximum). An animal trained to attack or guard is allowed a
saving throw; other animals are not.
The affected creatures remain where they are and do not attack or
flee. They are not helpless and defend themselves normally if
attacked. Any threat breaks the spell on the threatened creatures.
Calm Emotions
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: Creatures in a 20’ radius circle
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell calms agitated creatures. You have no control over the
affected creatures but calm emotions can stop raging creatures from
fighting or joyous ones from reveling. Creatures so affected cannot
take violent actions, although they can defend themselves, nor do
anything destructive. Any aggressive action against or damage dealt
to a calmed creature immediately breaks the spell on all calmed
creatures.
This spell automatically suppresses any bonuses granted by spells such
as bless, aid and prayer as well as negating a bard’s ability to inspire
or a barbarian’s berserker rage ability. It also suppresses fear effects
and confusion conditions on all targeted creatures. While the spell
lasts a suppressed spell or effect has no effect. When the calm
emotions spell ends the original spell or effect takes hold of the
creature again, provided that its duration has not expired in the
meantime.
Cause Fear
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 1, Bard 1, Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature with 5 or fewer HD
Duration: 1d4 rounds
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The affected creature becomes frightened and flees from the caster
as quickly as possible. Creatures unable to flee cower in fear, unable
to attack but able to defend themselves. Creatures with 6 or more hit
dice are immune to this effect.
Cause fear counters and dispels remove fear.
Chain Lightning
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Targets: One primary target, plus one secondary target/caster level
(each of which must be within 30’ of the primary target)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell creates an electrical discharge that begins as a single stroke
commencing from your fingertips. Unlike lightning bolt, chain lightning
initially strikes one object or creature and then arcs to other targets.
The bolt deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per caster level
(maximum 20d6) to the primary target. After it strikes, lightning can arc
to a number of secondary targets equal to your caster level
(maximum 20). The secondary bolts each strike one target and deal
half as much damage as the primary one did (rounded down).
You may choose secondary targets as you like but they must all be
within 30 feet of the primary target, and no target can be struck more
than once. You can choose to affect fewer secondary targets than
the maximum.
Player’s Handbook 79
Each target can attempt a dexterity saving throw for half damage.
Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus lightning (see
Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving throws
with a “1”.
Material Component: A bit of fur; a piece of amber, glass, or a crystal
rod; plus one silver pin for each of your caster levels. These are not
expended by this spell’s casting.
Change Self
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
You make yourself - including clothing, armor, weapons and
equipment - look different. You can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin,
fat, or of medium build. You cannot change your body type (a
humanoid caster must retain a humanoid form). Otherwise the extent
of the apparent change is up to you. You could add or obscure a
minor feature or look like an entirely different person. A creature using
change self to impersonate another person gains a +5 bonus to their
disguise ability check, so long as the illusion goes unnoticed (see
below). If the creature does not have the disguise ability it may make
a charisma check, with no level modifier, to affect a disguise.
The spell does not provide the abilities or mannerisms of the chosen
form, nor does it alter the perceived tactile (touch) or audible (sound)
properties of you or your equipment. A creature that interacts with
the glamer gets an intelligence save to recognize it as an illusion.
Changestaff
Alteration
Level: Druid 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One specially prepared quarterstaff
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You change a specially prepared quarterstaff into a treant. When you
plant the end of the staff in the ground and speak a special
command to conclude the casting of the spell, your staff turns into a
creature that looks and fights just like a treant. The staff-treant defends
you and obeys any spoken commands. However it is by no means a
true treant; it cannot converse with actual treants or control trees. If
the staff-treant is reduced to 0 or fewer hit points it crumbles to
powder and the staff is destroyed. Otherwise the staff returns to its
normal form when the spell duration expires (or when the spell is
dismissed) and can be used as the material component for another
casting of the spell. The staff-treant is always at full strength when
created, despite any wounds it may have incurred the last time it
appeared.
Material Component: The quarterstaff, which must be specially
prepared. The staff must be a sound limb cut from an ash, oak or yew,
then cured, shaped, carved and polished (a process requiring twenty-
eight days). You cannot adventure or engage in other strenuous
activity during the shaping and carving of the staff.
Chaos
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Illusionist 5
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area of Effect: 10’ radius circle
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell is similar to the confusion spell (q.v.) except that all creatures
in the area of effect are confused, as per the confusion spell, for the
duration of the spell. All spellcasters, other than illusionists, and
creatures with spell-like powers have a -2 penalty to their wisdom
save. Paladins and rangers are always considered spellcasters, even
if they do not currently have the ability to cast spells.
The material component for this spell is a small disc of bronze and a
small rod of iron. These components are not consumed by this spell’s
casting.
Chariot of Sustarre
Evocation
Level: Druid 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 6 turns + 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: None
When this spell is cast by a druid, it brings forth a large flaming chariot
pulled by two fiery horses which appear in a clap of thunder amidst
cloud-like smoke. This vehicle moves at 120’ (24”) on the ground, 240’
(48") flying, and can carry the druid and up to 8 other man-sized
creatures whom he first touches so as to enable these creatures to be
able to ride aboard this burning transport. The druid controls the
chariot by verbal command, causing the flaming steeds to stop or go,
walk, trot, run or fly, turning left or right as he desires.
Creatures other than the druid and his designated passengers will
sustain damage equal to that of a wall of fire spell if they are within 20'
of the horses or chariot, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Note that the Chariot of Sustarre is a physical manifestation and can
sustain damage. The vehicle and steeds are struck only by magical
weapons, water (one quart of which will cause 1 hit point of damage)
or cold attacks. The chariot and horses are attacked as one entity,
with an armor class of 20 and 120 hit points. Naturally fire has
absolutely no effect upon either the vehicle or its steeds and the
chariot’s passengers are immune to all fire or heat-based attacks.
In addition to mistletoe the druid casting this spell must have a small
piece of wood, 2 holly berries and a fire source at least equal to a
torch.
Charm Monster
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 3, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Target: One creature
Duration: One day/caster level
This spell functions like charm person, except that the effect is not
restricted by creature type or size.
Charm Person
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One humanoid creature
Duration: 1 day/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This charm makes a humanoid creature regard you as its trusted friend
and ally (treat the target as having “goodwill” towards you). If the
creature is currently being threatened or attacked by you or your
allies, however, it receives a +3 bonus on its saving throw.
The spell does not enable you to control the charmed person as if he
were an automaton, but he perceives your words and actions in the
most favorable way. You can try to give the subject orders, but you
must win an opposed charisma common ability check in order to
convince him to do anything he wouldn’t ordinarily do (retries are not
allowed). An affected creature never obeys suicidal or obviously
harmful orders, but he might be convinced that something very
dangerous is worth doing. Any act by you or your apparent allies that
threatens the charmed person breaks the spell. You must speak the
person’s language to communicate your commands, or else be good
at pantomiming.
Charm Person or Mammal
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 1, Druid 2
Target: One humanoid creature or mammal
This spell functions like charm person, except that it affects all
mammalian animals as well.
Player’s Handbook 80
Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
Divination
Level: Bard 3, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Personal
Effect: An invisible, magical sensor up to 400’ away
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Clairaudience/clairvoyance creates an invisible magical sensor at a
specific location that enables you to hear or see (your choice) almost
as if you were there. You don’t need line of sight or line of effect, but
the locale must be known - a place familiar to you or an obvious one.
Once you have selected the locale the sensor doesn’t move, but you
can rotate it in all directions to view the area as desired. Unlike other
scrying spells this spell does not allow magically or supernaturally
enhanced senses to work through it. If the chosen locale is magically
dark you see nothing. If it is naturally pitch black you can see in a 10’
radius around the center of the spell’s effect.
Clairaudience/clairvoyance functions only on the plane of existence
you are currently occupying.
Material Component: A small horn (for hearing) or a glass eye (for
seeing) that is not consumed by the spell’s casting.
Clone
Necromantic
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Special; see text
Effect: One clone
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell makes an inert duplicate of a creature. If the original
individual has been slain its soul immediately transfers to the clone,
creating a replacement (provided that the soul is free and willing to
return). The original’s physical remains, should they still exist, become
inert and cannot thereafter be restored to life. If the original creature
has reached the end of its natural life span (that is, it has died of
natural causes), any cloning attempt fails.
To create the duplicate you must have a piece of flesh (not hair, nails,
scales or the like) that was taken from the original creature’s living
body. The piece of flesh need not be fresh but it must be kept from
rotting. Once the spell is cast the duplicate must be grown in a
laboratory for 2d4 months.
When the clone is completed the original’s soul enters it immediately if
that creature is already dead. The clone is physically identical to the
original and possesses the same personality and memories as the
original. In other respects treat the clone as if it were the original
character raised from the dead, including the loss of one level or 2
points of constitution (if the original was a 1st level character). If this
constitution adjustment would give the clone a constitution score of 0,
the spell fails. If the original creature has lost levels since the flesh
sample was taken, and died at a lower level than the clone would
otherwise be, the clone is one level below the level at which the
original died.
The spell duplicates only the original’s body and mind, not its
equipment. A duplicate can be grown while the original still lives or
when the original soul is unavailable, but the resulting body is merely a
soulless bit of inert flesh which rots if not preserved.
Material Component: The piece of flesh and various laboratory
supplies (cost 1,000 gp) that are used up by the spell. In addition, the
caster needs to have special laboratory equipment (cost 500 gp) that
is necessary for the spell’s functioning but is not consumed during its
casting.
Cloudkill
Conjuration
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Constitution partial; see text
Magic Resistance: No
This spell generates a bank of fog, similar to a fog cloud, except that
its vapors are yellowish green and poisonous. These vapors
automatically kill any living creature with 3 or fewer HD (no save). A
living creature with 4 to 6 HD is slain unless it succeeds on a
constitution save (in which case it takes 1 point of constitution
damage each round while in the cloud).
A living creature with 6 or more HD takes 1 point of constitution
damage each round while in the cloud (a successful constitution save
negates this damage). Holding one’s breath doesn’t help but
creatures immune to poison are unaffected by the spell.
The spell also obscures vision, providing concealment to those within
the spell’s radius. A creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment.
Creatures up to 10 feet away have 75% concealment while those
further away have 100% concealment.
Unlike a fog cloud, cloudkill moves away from you at 10 feet per
round, rolling along the surface of the ground. Figure out the cloud’s
new spread each round based on its new point of origin, which is 10
feet farther away from the point of origin where you cast the spell.
Because the vapors are heavier than air, they sink to the lowest level
of the land, even pouring down dens or sinkhole openings. It cannot
penetrate liquids, nor can it be cast underwater.
Color Spray
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 15’ cone
Duration: Instantaneous; see text
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from your hand, causing
living creatures to become stunned, perhaps also blinded, and
possibly knocking them unconscious. Each creature within the cone is
affected according to its hit dice. Sightless creatures are not affected
by color spray.
2 HD or less: The creature is knocked unconscious for 2d4 rounds
and then blinded and stunned for 1d4+1 rounds.
3 or 4 HD: The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4+1 rounds.
5 or more HD: The creature is stunned for 1 round.
Material Component: A pinch each of powder or sand that is colored
red, yellow, and blue.
Combine
Evocation
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Area of Effect: A circle of three to five clerics
Duration: Concentration, up to 3 turns (see below)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell enables three to five clerics to combine their abilities and
thereby empower one of their number to cast a spell or turn undead
with greater efficacy. The highest-level cleric of the group stands,
while the other clerics join hands in a surrounding circle. All the
participating clerics then cast the combine spell together.
The central cleric temporarily functions as if of higher level, gaining
one level for each encircling cleric. The maximum gain is four levels
and the maximum duration is 3 turns. The increase applies to the
cleric’s effective level for determining the results of attempts to turn
undead, and to spell details which vary by the level of the caster
(including the penalty to opponents’ saving throws).
The encircling clerics must concentrate in order to maintain the
combine effect and must maintain their circle around the central
caster. While linked by their hands they gain no armor class bonuses
from shield or dexterity, and their attackers gain a +4 bonus on all “to
hit” rolls. The central cleric gains no additional spells, but may cast any
previously memorized spell.
Player’s Handbook 81
Command
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You give the subject a single command, which it obeys to the best of
its ability at its earliest opportunity. You may select from the following
options:
Approach: On its turn the subject moves directly toward you at
its normal movement rate for 1 round. The creature may do
nothing but move during its turn.
Drop: On its turn the subject drops whatever it is holding. It can’t
pick up any dropped item until its next turn.
Fall: On its turn the subject falls to the ground and remains prone
for 1 round. It may act normally while prone but takes any
appropriate penalties.
Flee: On its turn the subject moves away from you as quickly as
possible for 1 round. It may do nothing but run away during its
turn.
Halt: The subject stands in place for 1 round. It may not take any
actions but is not considered helpless.
If the subject can’t carry out your command on its next turn, the spell
automatically fails. Any creature under the effects of a command
spell gains no shield or dexterity bonus until its next round’s action.
Command Plants
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Druid 4
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: Up to 2 HD/caster level of plant creatures, no two of which
can be more than 30’ apart
Duration: One day/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell allows you some degree of control over one or more plant
creatures. Affected plant creatures can understand you and they
perceive your words and actions in the most favorable way (treat
them as if they had “goodwill” towards you). They will not attack you
while the spell lasts.
You can try to give a subject orders, but you must win an opposed
charisma common ability check to convince it to do anything it
wouldn’t ordinarily do (retries are not allowed.) A commanded plant
never obeys suicidal or obviously harmful orders, but it might be
convinced that something very dangerous is worth doing.
You can affect a number of plant creatures whose combined level or
HD do not exceed twice your level.
Commune
Divination
Level: Cleric 5
Components: V, S, M, XP
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/caster level
You contact your deity - or agents thereof - and ask questions that
can be answered by a simple “yes” or “no.” You are allowed one
such question per caster level. The answers given are correct within
the limits of the entity’s knowledge. “Unclear” is a legitimate answer,
because powerful beings of the Outer Planes are not necessarily
omniscient.
In cases where a one-word answer would be misleading or contrary
to the deity’s interests, a short phrase (five words or less) may be given
as an answer instead.
The spell, at best, provides information to aid character decisions. The
entities contacted structure their answers to further their own
purposes. If you lag, discuss the answers, or go off to do anything else,
the spell ends.
Material Component: Holy (or unholy) water and incense, which is
consumed during the spell’s casting.
XP Cost: 1,000 XP.
Commune with Nature
Divination
Level: Druid 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
You become one with nature, attaining knowledge of the surrounding
territory. You instantly gain knowledge of as many as three facts from
among the following subjects: the ground or terrain, plants, minerals,
bodies of water, people, general animal population, presence of
woodland creatures, presence of powerful unnatural creatures or
even the general state of the natural setting.
In outdoor settings the spell operates in a radius of 1 mile per caster
level. In natural subterranean settings - caves, caverns and the like -
the radius is limited to 100 feet per caster level. The spell does not
function where nature has been replaced by construction or
settlement, such as in dungeons and towns.
Comprehend Languages (reversible)
Divination
Level: Cleric 1, Bard 1, Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal or, for the reverse of the spell, touch
Target: You
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You can understand the spoken words of creatures or read otherwise
incomprehensible written messages. In either case, you must touch
the creature or the writing. The ability to read does not necessarily
impart insight into the material, merely its literal meaning. The spell
enables you to understand or read an unknown language, not speak
or write it.
Written material can be read at the rate of one page (250 words) per
minute. Magical writing cannot be read, though the spell reveals that
it is magical. This spell can be foiled by certain warding magic (such
as the secret page and illusionary script spells). It does not decipher
codes or reveal messages concealed in otherwise normal text.
Comprehend
languages
can
be
made
permanent
with
a
permanency spell.
The reverse of this spell, confuse languages, cancels a comprehend
languages spell or renders a writing or a creature's speech
incomprehensible, for the same duration as above.
Arcane Material Component: A pinch of soot and a few grains of salt.
Cone of Cold
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
Cone of cold creates an area of extreme cold, originating at your
hand and extending outward in a cone. It deals 1d6 points of cold
damage per caster level (maximum 15d6). Items held by one of the
spell’s targets must save versus frost (see Item Saving Throws on page
52) if that target failed his saving throw with a “1”.
Arcane Material Component: A very small crystal or glass cone that
may be re-used by the caster.
Confusion
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 3, Druid 6, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Player’s Handbook 82
Area of Effect: 2d4 creatures in a 10’ radius circle
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell causes the 2d4 targets within the spells area of effect to
become confused, making them unable to independently determine
what they will do.
Roll on the following table at the beginning of each subject’s turn
each round to see what the subject does in that round.
d20 roll
behavior
1-2
attack caster
3-4
act normally
5-10
do nothing but babble incoherently
11-14
flee from caster at top possible speed
15–20
attack nearest creature
A confused character who can’t carry out the indicated action does
nothing but babble incoherently. Attackers are not at any special
advantage when attacking a confused character. Any confused
character who is attacked automatically attacks its attackers on its
next turn, as long as it is still confused when its turn comes.
Arcane Material Component: A set of three nut shells that are not
expended during this spell’s casting.
Conjure Elemental
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 6, Druid 6, Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One summoned elemental
Duration: 1 round/caster level; see text
Saving Throw: No
Magic Resistance: None
The caster of this spell is able to conjure an air, earth, fire or water
elemental with this spell - assuming he has the material component for
the particular elemental. Conjured elementals are very strong – see
the MONSTER MANUAL for more details - typically having 12 hit dice
(12d8). A caster may only have one such creature in his service at any
given time.
The type of elemental to be conjured must be decided upon before
memorizing or praying for the spell. The elemental conjured up must
be controlled by the caster, i.e. the spellcaster must concentrate on
the elemental doing his commands, or it will turn on the magic-user
and attack. The elemental, however, will not cease a combat to do
so, but it will avoid creatures when seeking its conjurer. If the magic-
user is wounded or grappled, he must make a concentration check or
lose control of the elemental.
The elemental can be controlled up to 10’ distance per level of the
spellcaster. The elemental remains until its form on this plane is
destroyed due to damage or the spell's duration expires. The material
component of this spell is a small amount of:
elemental conjured
material components
air elemental
burning incense
earth elemental
soft clay
fire elemental
sulfur and phosphorus
water elemental
water and sand
Special protection from uncontrolled elementals is available by
means of a protection from evil spell.
Consecrate (reversible)
Evocation
Level: Cleric 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: 20’ radius circle
Duration: 2 hours/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell blesses an area with positive energy. Every check made to
turn undead within this area gains a +2 bonus. Every undead creature
entering a consecrated area suffers minor disruption, giving it a –1
penalty to attack and damage rolls, and a -1 penalty to all saving
throws. Undead cannot be created within or summoned into a
consecrated area.
If the consecrated area contains an altar, shrine or other permanent
fixture dedicated to your deity, pantheon or aligned higher power,
the modifiers given above are doubled (+4 bonus on turning checks, –
2 penalties for undead in the area). You cannot consecrate an area
with a similar fixture of a deity other than your own patron.
If the area does contain an altar, shrine or other permanent fixture of
a deity, pantheon or higher power other than your patron, the
consecrate spell instead curses the area, cutting off its connection
with the associated deity or power. This secondary function, if used,
does not also grant the bonuses and penalties relating to undead, as
given above.
The reverse of this spell, desecration, imbues an area with negative
energy. Each check made to turn undead within this area takes a –2
penalty, and every undead creature entering a desecrated area
gains a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls, and a +1 bonus to all
saving throws.
If the desecrated area contains an altar, shrine, or other permanent
fixture dedicated to your deity or aligned higher power, the modifiers
given above are doubled (–4 penalty on turning checks, +2 bonus for
undead in the area).
Furthermore, anyone who casts animate dead within this area may
create as many as double the normal amount of undead (that is, 2
HD per caster level rather than 1 HD per caster level).
If the area contains an altar, shrine or other permanent fixture of a
deity, pantheon or higher power other than your patron, the
desecrate spell instead curses the area, cutting off its connection with
the associated deity or power. This secondary function, if used, does
not also grant the bonuses and penalties relating to undead, as given
above.
Desecrate counters and dispels consecrate, while consecrate
counters and dispels desecrate.
Material Component: A vial of holy water (unholy water for
desecrate) and 25 gp worth (5 pounds) of silver dust, all of which must
be sprinkled around the area. They are consumed during this spell’s
casting.
Contact Other Plane
Divination
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 round /2 caster levels
You send your mind to another plane of existence (an Elemental
Plane or some plane farther removed) in order to receive advice and
information from powers there. (See the accompanying table for
possible consequences and results of the attempt.) The powers reply
in a language you understand, but they resent such contact and give
only brief answers to your questions. (All questions are answered with
“yes,” “no,” “maybe,” “never,” “irrelevant,” or some other one-word
answer.)
You must concentrate on maintaining the spell in order to ask
questions at the rate of one per round. A question is answered by the
power during the same round. For every two caster levels, you may
ask one question.
Contact with minds far removed from your home plane increases the
probability that you will incur a decrease to your intelligence, but also
increases the chance of the power knowing the answer to your
question. The probability of the entity answering correctly is likewise
increased by moving to distant planes.
Once the Outer Planes are reached, the power of the deity
contacted determines the effects. (Random results obtained from the
table are subject to the personalities of individual deities.)
On rare occasions, this divination may be blocked by an act of
certain deities or forces.
Avoid Intelligence Decrease: You must succeed on an intelligence
save with the listed penalty (penalties range from ±0 to -10) or suffer a
decrease in intelligence. If the save fails, your intelligence score falls to
Player’s Handbook 83
8 for 1 week per -2 check penalty (so a -2 penalty equates to
intelligence loss for 1 week, while a -10 means that intelligence loss
lasts for 5 weeks) and you become unable to cast arcane spells. If you
lose intelligence the effect strikes as soon as the first question is asked
and no answer is received. (The entries in parentheses are for
questions that pertain to the appropriate Elemental Plane.)
plane
contacted
check
penalty
truth
unknown
lie
random
answer
elemental plane
±0
01–34
35–62
63–83
84–100
(appropriate)
±0
(01–68)
(69–75)
(76–
98)
(99–100)
positive/negative
energy plane
-2
01–39
40–65
66–86
87–100
astral plane
-2
01–44
45–67
68–88
89–100
outer plane,
demigod
-4
01–49
50–70
71–91
92–100
outer plane,
lesser god
-6
01–60
61–75
76–95
96–100
outer plane,
intermediate god
-8
01–73
74–81
82–98
99–100
outer plane,
greater god
-10
01–88
89–90
91–99
100
Results of a Successful Contact: d% is rolled for the result shown on the
table:
Truth: You get a true, one-word answer. Questions that cannot be
answered in this way are answered randomly.
Unknown: The entity tells you that it doesn’t know.
Lie: The entity intentionally lies to you.
Random Answer: The entity tries to lie but doesn’t know the answer, so
it makes one up.
Contingency
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: At least 1 turn; see text
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One day/caster level (dismissible) or until discharged
You can place another spell upon your person so that it comes into
effect under some condition you dictate when casting contingency.
The contingency spell and the companion spell are cast at the same
time. The 1 turn casting time is the minimum total for both castings; if
the companion spell has a casting time longer than 1 turn, use that
instead.
The spell to be brought into effect by the contingency must be one
that affects your person and be of a spell level no higher than one-
third your caster level (rounded down, maximum 6th level).
The conditions needed to bring the spell into effect must be clear,
although they can be general. In all cases the contingency
immediately brings into effect the companion spell, the latter being
“cast” instantaneously when the prescribed circumstances occur. If
complicated or convoluted conditions are prescribed, the whole spell
combination (contingency and the companion magic) may fail when
called on. The companion spell occurs based solely on the stated
conditions, regardless of whether you want it or not.
You can use only one contingency spell at a time; if a second is cast,
the first one (if still active) is dispelled.
Material Component: That of the companion spell plus quicksilver and
an eyelash of an ogre mage, rakshasa, or similar spell-using creature.
These components are expended during this spell’s casting. In
addition the use of this spell requires the caster to carry a likeness of
himself, carved out of ivory and decorated with gems (worth at least
1,500 gp). This is not consumed by the casting of this spell.
Continual Light (reversible)
Evocation
Level: Cleric 3, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object
Effect: 30’ radius sphere of light
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Wisdom (or intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A globe of light, equivalent in brightness to a torch, springs forth from
an object that you touch. An object bearing continual light can be
covered and hidden but not smothered or quenched. If the object
upon which this spell is cast is held by another creature that creature
may save against this spell’s effect.
The reverse of this spell, continual darkness, creates a 30’ radius globe
of total, impenetrable darkness. Darkvision and twilight vision are
useless. Normal lights (torches, candles, lanterns, and so forth) are
incapable of brightening the area, as are light spells of lower level.
An object bearing continual darkness can be covered and hidden
but not smothered or quenched. If the object upon which this spell is
cast is held by another creature that creature may save against this
spell’s effect.
Light spells counter and dispel darkness spells of an equal or lower
level and vice versa.
Material Component: You sprinkle ruby dust (or onyx dust for continual
darkness) worth 50 gp on the item that is to carry the light. This dust is
consumed by the spell’s casting.
Control Plants
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Druid 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: Up to 2 HD/caster level of plant creatures, no two of which
can be more than 30’ apart
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell enables you to control the actions of one or more plant
creatures for a short period of time. You command the creatures by
voice and they understand you, no matter what language you speak.
Suicidal or self-destructive commands are simply ignored. Even if
vocal communication is impossible the controlled plants do not
attack you. At the end of the spell the subjects revert to their normal
behavior.
Control Water
Alteration
Level: Cleric 4, Druid 4, Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: See below
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: No
Depending on the version you choose, the control water spell raises or
lowers water.
Lower Water: This causes water or similar liquid to reduce its depth by
as much as 2 feet per caster level (to a minimum depth of 1 inch). The
water is lowered within a squarish depression whose sides are up to
caster level x 10 feet long. In extremely large and deep bodies of
water, such as a deep ocean, the spell creates a whirlpool that
sweeps ships and similar craft downward, putting them at risk and
rendering them unable to leave by normal movement for the duration
of the spell. When cast on water elementals and other water-based
creatures, this spell acts as a slow spell (wisdom or intelligence
negates, depending on the type of caster - divine or arcane). The
spell has no effect on other creatures.
Raise Water: This causes water or similar liquid to rise in height, just as
the lower water version causes it to lower. Boats raised in this way slide
down the sides of the hump that the spell creates. If the area affected
by the spell includes riverbanks, a beach, or other land nearby, the
water can spill over onto dry land.
With either version, you may reduce one horizontal dimension by half
and double the other horizontal dimension.
Arcane Material Component: A drop of water (for raise water) or a
pinch of dust (for lower water).
Control Weather
Alteration
Level: Cleric 7, Druid 7, Magic-User 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn; see text
Range: Personal
Area: 2 mile radius circle, centered on you; see text
Player’s Handbook 84
Duration: 4d12 hours; see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You change the weather in the local area. It takes 1 turn to cast the
spell and an additional turn for the effects to manifest. You can call
forth weather appropriate to the climate and season of the area you
are in.
season
possible weather
spring
tornado, thunderstorm, sleet storm, or hot weather
summer
torrential rain, heat wave, or hailstorm
autumn
hot or cold weather, fog, or sleet
winter
frigid cold, blizzard, or thaw
late winter
hurricane-force winds or early spring (coastal area)
You control the general tendencies of the weather, such as the
direction and intensity of the wind. You cannot control specific
applications of the weather - where lightning strikes, for example, or
the exact path of a tornado. When you select a certain weather
condition to occur, the weather assumes that condition 1 turn later
(changing gradually, not abruptly). The weather continues as you left
it for the duration or until you spend 1 round concentrating in order to
designate a new kind of weather (which fully manifests itself 1 turn
later). Contradictory conditions are not possible simultaneously.
Control weather can do away with atmospheric phenomena
(naturally occurring or otherwise) as well as create them.
A druid casting this spell doubles the duration and affects a circle with
a 3-mile radius.
Control Winds
Alteration
Level: Druid 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: 40’/caster level radius cylinder, 40’ in height
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: None, see text
Magic Resistance: No
You alter wind force in the area surrounding you. You can make the
wind blow in a certain direction or in a circular pattern, increase its
strength or decrease its strength. The new wind direction and strength
persist until the spell ends or until you choose to alter your handiwork,
which requires concentration. You may create an “eye” of calm air
up to 40 feet in radius at the center of the area, if you so desire, and
may choose to limit the area to any cylindrical area less than your full
limit.
Wind Strength: For every three caster levels, you can increase or
decrease wind strength by one level.
Strong Wind: Gusts that automatically extinguish unprotected
flames (candles, torches, and the like). Such gusts impose a –2
penalty on ranged attack rolls and on perception checks.
Severe Wind: In addition to automatically extinguishing any
unprotected flames there is a 50% chance of extinguishing
protected flames (such as lanterns). Ranged weapon attacks
and perception checks are at a –4 penalty. Creatures in the
area must make a strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Flying creatures take 1d4 points of non-lethal damage.
Windstorm: Powerful enough to bring down branches if not whole
trees, windstorms automatically extinguish unprotected flames
and have a 75% chance of blowing out protected flames.
Ranged weapon attacks are impossible, and even siege
weapons have a –4 penalty on attack rolls. Perception checks
are at a –8 penalty. Creatures in the area must make a strength
saving throw, with a -5 penalty, or be knocked prone. Flying
creatures take 1d4 points of damage.
Hurricane-Force Wind: All flames are extinguished. Ranged
attacks are impossible (except with siege weapons, which have
a –8 penalty on attack rolls). Perception checks are impossible.
Creatures in the area succeed at a strength saving throw, with a
-10 penalty, or be knocked prone. Those failing by 5 or more
take 1d4 non-lethal damage. Flying creatures take 2d4 points of
damage.
Tornado: All flames are extinguished. All ranged attacks are
impossible (even with siege weapons), as are perception checks.
Characters within 60’ of the 40’ radius tornado funnel must make
a strength saving throw, with a -15 penalty, or be knocked prone
and sucked towards the tornado. Characters failing their
strength saving throw are moved 30’ closer + 5’ for every 5 points
by which they failed their strength saving throw. Those who
come in contact with the actual funnel cloud are picked up and
whirled around for 1d10 rounds, taking 5d8 points of damage per
round, before being violently expelled (falling damage may
apply).
While a tornado’s rotational speed can be as great as 300 mph,
the funnel itself moves forward at an average of 30 mph (roughly
450’ or 90” per round). A tornado uproots trees, destroys buildings
and causes other similar forms of major destruction. Items held
by one of the spell’s targets must save versus crushing (see Item
Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his save with a
“1”.
Create Food and Water
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Food & water to sustain 3 humans or 1 horse/caster level for 24
hours
Duration: 24 hours; see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
The food that this spell creates is simple fare of your choice - highly
nourishing, if rather bland. Food so created decays and becomes
inedible within 24 hours, although it can be kept fresh for another 24
hours by casting a purify food and water spell on it. The water created
by this spell is just like clean rainwater and doesn’t go bad as the food
does.
Create Water
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 0, Druid 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Up to 2 gallons of water/caster level
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell generates wholesome, drinkable water, just like clean
rainwater. Water can be created in an area as small as will actually
contain the liquid, or in an area three times as large - possibly creating
a downpour or filling many small receptacles.
Note: Conjuration/Summoning spells can’t create substances or
objects within a creature. Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon.
One cubic foot of water contains roughly 8 gallons and weighs about
60 pounds.
Creeping Doom
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: One 10’ radius swarm of insects, arachnids and myriapods
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
When the druid utters the spell of creeping doom, he calls forth a
mass of from 700 to 1,000 (1d4+6 x 1000) venomous, biting and
stinging arachnids, insects and myriapods. This carpet-like mass
swarms in a 10’ radius circle, appears within 30’ of the caster and can
move up to 20’ per round.
You may summon the swarm so that it shares the area of other
creatures. The swarm remains stationary, attacking any creatures in
their area, unless you command the creeping doom to move (which
requires the caster’s full concentration each round).
You can command the swarm to move toward any prey within 100
feet of you. You cannot command the swarm to move more than 100
feet away from you and, if you move more than 100 feet from the
Player’s Handbook 85
swarm, that swarm remains stationary, attacking any creatures in its
area. It can be commanded again if you move within 100 feet.
The creeping doom will attack any creature subject to normal
attacks, each of the small horrors inflicting 1 hit point of damage
(each then dies after their attack), so that up to 1, 000 hit points of
damage can be inflicted on creatures within the path of the creeping
doom. The damage is divided equally between all within the swarm’s
radius and no creature can be attacked by more than 50 insects per
round (limiting damage to 50 points per round).
The swarm cannot be harmed by weapons or most direct attacks but
is subject to damage from area effect spells or grenade-like attacks
(such as acid flasks or flaming oil). Damage done to the swarm
reduces its number by 10 times the amount of damage done.
Crystalbrittle
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 9
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object or creature
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: See below
Magic Resistance: No
The magic of this spell causes metal, whether as soft as gold or as
hard as adamantite, to turn to a crystalline substance as brittle and
fragile as crystal. Thus, a sword, metal shield, metal armor, or even an
iron golem can be changed to a delicate, glasslike material easily
shattered by any forceful blow. Furthermore, this change is
unalterable by any means short of a wish spell; a dispel magic will not
reverse the spell.
The caster must physically touch the item; if it is an opponent or
something an opponent is using or wearing, the wizard must get into
melee and make a successful attack roll. Any single metal item can
be affected by the spell. Thus, a suit of armor worn by a creature can
be changed to crystal, but the creature's shield would not be
affected, and vice versa.
All magical items may make a saving throw with a bonus equal to
their creator’s level (assume 9th level plus 1 level for each point of
magical bonus). Artifacts and relics constructed of metal may be
affected, at the discretion of the DM, but gain a +20 bonus to their
saving throw. Affected items not immediately protected are shattered
and permanently destroyed if struck by a normal blow from a metal
tool or any weighty weapon, including a staff.
Cure Blindness/Deafness (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Cleric 3, Druid 3, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Constitution negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Cure blindness/deafness cures blindness or deafness (your choice),
whether the effect is normal or magical in nature. The spell does not
restore ears or eyes that have been lost but repairs them if they are
damaged.
The reverse of this spell, cause blindness/deafness, calls upon the
powers of the Plane of Shadow to render the subject permanently
blinded or deafened, as you choose.
Cure blindness/deafness counters and dispels blindness/deafness.
Cure Critical Wounds (reversible)
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 5, Bard 4, Druid 5
This spell functions like cure light wounds, except that it cures 4d8+8
points of damage.
The reverse of this spell, cause critical wounds, deals 4d8+8 points of
damage to the target and a constitution save by the target halves
the resulting damage.
Cure Disease (reversible)
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 3, Druid 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Constitution negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Cure disease cures all diseases that the subject is suffering from. The
spell also kills parasites, including green slime and others. Certain
special diseases may not be countered by this spell or may be
countered only by a caster of a certain level or higher.
The reverse of this spell, cause disease, causes the touched subject to
contract a disease selected from the table below, which strikes
immediately (no incubation period).
disease
damage
red ache
1d4 strength
mindfire
1d4 intelligence
cackle fever
1d4 wisdom
shakes
1d4 dexterirty
slimy doom
1d4 constitution
creeping malaise
1d4 charisma
Cure Light Wounds (reversible)
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 1, Bard 1, Druid 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Constitution half; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes; see text
When laying your hand upon a living creature, you channel positive
energy that cures 1d8+2 points of damage.
Since undead are powered by negative energy this spell deals
damage to them instead of curing their wounds. An undead creature
can apply magic resistance and can attempt a constitution save to
take half damage.
The reverse of this spell, cause light wounds, deals 1d8+2 points of
damage to the target. A constitution save by the target halves the
resulting damage. Undead are cured by all cause wounds spells.
Cure Moderate Wounds (reversible)
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 2, Bard 2, Druid 3
This spell functions like cure light wounds, except that it cures 2d8+4
points of damage.
The reverse of this spell, cause moderate wounds, deals 2d8+4 points
of damage to the target and a constitution save by the target halves
the resulting damage.
Cure Serious Wounds (reversible)
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 3, Bard 3, Druid 4
This spell functions like cure light wounds, except that it cures 3d8+6
points of damage.
The reverse of this spell, cause serious wounds, deals 3d8+6 points of
damage to the target and a constitution save by the target halves
the resulting damage.
Dancing Lights
Evocation
Level: Bard 0, Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Up to four lights, all within a 10’ radius area
Duration: 1 minute (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Depending on the version selected you create up to four lights that
Player’s Handbook 86
resemble lanterns or torches, four glowing spheres of light (which look
like will-o’-wisps) or one faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape. The
dancing lights must stay within a 10’ radius area in relation to each
other but otherwise move as you desire (no concentration required):
forward or back, up or down, straight or turning corners, or the like.
The lights can move up to 60’ (12”) per round. A light winks out if the
distance between you and it exceeds the spell’s range. Dancing lights
can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Arcane Material Component: a bit of phosphorus or wychwood, or a
glowworm.
Darkness 15’ Radius
Evocation
Level: Cleric 2, Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: 15’ radius sphere of darkness
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom (or intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell causes total, impenetrable darkness to emanate from the
touched object. Darkvision or twilight vision is useless. Normal lights
(torches, candles, lanterns, and so forth) are incapable of brightening
the area, as are light spells of lower level. Higher level light spells are
not affected by darkness 15’ radius though darkness 15’ radius
counters or dispels any light spell of equal or lower spell level.
If darkness 15’ radius is cast on a small object that is then placed
inside or under a lightproof covering, the spell’s effect is blocked until
the covering is removed. If the object upon which this spell is cast is
held by another creature that creature may save against this spell’s
effect.
Arcane Material Component: A bit of bat fur and either a drop of
pitch or a piece of coal.
Darkvision
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject gains the ability to see 60’ even in total darkness.
Darkvision is black and white only but otherwise like normal sight.
Darkvision does not grant one the ability to see in magical darkness.
Darkvision can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Material Component: Either a pinch of dried carrot or an agate.
Death Fog
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Illusionist 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Constitution half
Magic Resistance: No
Death fog creates a billowing mass of misty vapors similar to that
produced by a solid fog spell. In addition to slowing creatures down
and obscuring sight, this spell’s vapors, drawn from the Plane of
Shadow, are lethal to both living and undead creatures. Each round
on your turn, starting when you cast the spell, the fog deals 2d6 points
of damage to each creature within it, though a constitution save
halves the damage taken.
The spell also obscures vision, providing concealment to those with
the spell’s radius. A creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment.
Creatures up to 10 feet away have 75% concealment while those
further away have 100% concealment.
Arcane Material Component: A pinch of dried, powdered peas
combined with powdered animal hoof.
Death Spell
Necromantic
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: Several living creatures within a 40’ radius circle
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A death spell snuffs out the life force of living creatures, killing them
instantly. The spell slays 1d4 HD worth of living creatures per caster
level (maximum 18d4). Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first;
among creatures with equal HD, those who are closest to the sphere’s
point of origin are affected first. No creature of 9 or more HD can be
affected, and hit dice that are not sufficient to affect a creature are
wasted.
Material Component: The powder of a crushed black pearl with a
minimum value of 500 gp.
Deep Slumber
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 3, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Range: 30’ (Close)
This spell functions like sleep; except that it affects 5d4 hit dice of
creatures and affects creatures of up to 10 hit dice.
Delayed Blast Fireball
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 7
Duration: 6 rounds or less; see text
This spell functions like fireball, except that it is more powerful and can
detonate up to 6 rounds after the spell is cast. The burst of flame deals
1d6 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 20d6).
The glowing bead created by delayed blast fireball can detonate
immediately if you desire, or you can choose to delay the burst for as
many as 6 rounds.
You select the amount of delay upon completing the spell, and that
time cannot change once it has been set. If you choose a delay, the
glowing bead sits at its destination until it detonates. A creature can
pick up and hurl the bead as a thrown weapon (10’ range
increment). It explodes upon impact when thrown.
Demand
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 6, Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Saving Throw: Charisma partial
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like sending but the message can also contain a
suggestion (see the suggestion spell), which the subject does its best
to carry out. A successful charisma save negates the suggestion
effect but not the contact itself. The demand, if received, is
understood even if the subject’s intelligence score is as low as 1. If the
message is impossible or meaningless according to the circumstances
that exist for the subject at the time the demand is issued, the
message is understood but the suggestion is ineffective. The
demand’s message to the creature must be twenty-five words or less,
including the suggestion. The creature can also give a short reply
immediately.
Arcane Material Component: A short piece of copper wire and some
small part of the subject - a hair, a bit of nail, or the like.
Destruction
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Charisma partial
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell instantly slays the subject and consumes its remains (but not
its equipment and possessions) utterly. If the target’s charisma saving
throw succeeds it takes 7d6 points of damage instead. The only way
to restore life to a character who has failed to save against this spell is
Player’s Handbook 87
to use a carefully worded wish spell followed by resurrection, or
miracle.
Material Component: A special holy (or unholy) symbol of silver
marked with verses of anathema (cost 500 gp).
Detect Animals or Plants
Divination
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 400’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can detect a particular kind of animal or plant in a cone
emanating out from you in whatever direction you face. You must
think of a kind of animal or plant when using the spell, but you can
change the animal or plant kind each round. The amount of
information revealed depends on how long you search a particular
area or focus on a specific kind of animal or plant.
1st Round: Presence or absence of that kind of animal or plant in
the area.
2nd Round: Number of individuals of the specified kind in the
area, and the condition of the healthiest specimen.
3rd Round: The condition (see below) and location of each
individual present. If an animal or plant is outside your line of
sight, then you discern its direction but not its exact location.
For purposes of this spell, the categories of condition are as follows:
Normal: Has at least 75% of full normal hit points, free of disease.
Fair: 25% to 75% of full normal hit points remaining.
Poor: Less than 25% of full normal hit points remaining, afflicted
with a disease, or suffering from a debilitating injury.
Weak: 0 or fewer hit points remaining, afflicted with a disease in
the terminal stage, or crippled.
If a creature falls into more than one category, the spell indicates the
weaker of the two. Each round you can turn to detect a kind of
animal or plant in a new area. The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1’
of stone, an inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead or 3’ of wood
or dirt blocks it.
Detect Evil (reversible)
Divination
Level: Cleric 1, Bard 1, Druid 1, Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can sense the presence of evil. The amount of information
revealed depends on how long you study a particular area or subject.
1st Round: Presence or absence of evil.
2nd Round: Number of evil auras (creatures, objects, or spells) in
the area and the power of the most potent evil aura present. If
any aura detected in the area is overwhelming (see aura power
below) you are stunned for 1 round and the spell ends.
3rd Round: The power and location of each aura. If an aura is
outside your line of sight, then you discern its direction but not its
exact location.
Aura Power: An evil aura’s power depends on the type of evil
creature or object that you’re detecting and its HD, caster level, or (in
the case of a cleric) class level; see the accompanying table. If an
aura falls into more than one strength category, the spell indicates the
stronger of the two.
Animals, traps, poisons and other potential perils are not evil. As such
this spell does not detect them. Each round, you can turn to detect
evil in a new area. The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1’ of stone, an
inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead or 3’ of wood or dirt
blocks it.
aura power
creature or object
faint
moderate
strong
over-
whelming
creature (hit dice):
excluding those below
¼ - 3
4 - 8
9 -15
16+
extraplanar creature
(hit dice)
¼ - 1
2 - 4
5 - 8
9+
cleric, paladin or undead
(hit dice)
¼ - 2
3 - 6
7 - 12
13+
magic item or spell
(caster level)
1 - 4
5 - 8
9 - 16
17+
The reverse of this spell, detect good, functions just as detect evil,
except that is detects the auras of good creatures, clerics or paladins
of good deities, good spells, and good magic items. Healing potions,
antidotes, and similar beneficial items are not good.
Divine Material Component: The cleric’s holy symbol.
Detect Invisibility
Divination
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: Special (see text)
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
You can see any objects or beings that are invisible within your range
of vision, as well as any that are ethereal, as if they were normally
visible. Such creatures are visible to you as translucent shapes,
allowing you easily to discern the difference between visible, invisible
and ethereal creatures.
The spell does not reveal the method used to obtain invisibility. It does
not reveal illusions or enable you to see through opaque objects. It
does not reveal creatures that are simply hiding, concealed or
otherwise hard to see.
Detect invisibility can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Material Component: A pinch of talc and a small sprinkling of
powdered silver.
Detect Lie (reversible)
Divination
Level: Cleric 4, Bard 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone (does not apply to the reverse of the spell)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute/caster level; see text
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: No
Each round you concentrate on one subject within range. You know if
the subject deliberately and knowingly speaks a lie by discerning
disturbances in its aura caused by lying. The spell does not reveal the
truth, uncover unintentional inaccuracies or necessarily reveal
evasions. Each round you may concentrate on a different subject.
The reverse of this spell, undetectable lie, makes bald-face untruths
seem reasonable, or simply counters the detect lie spell. Characters
attempting to deceive others with the aid of this spell add +10 to their
bluff check when doing so. Undetectable lie does not require
concentration on the caster’s behalf and lasts for 1 minute/caster
level of the caster.
The material component of this spell is brass dust.
Detect Life
Divination
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Each round you can concentrate on one creature, object or area
within the range of this spell in order to determine whether it is alive.
The magic will detect life in the recipient of a feign death spell or
someone in a coma, deathlike trance or state of suspended
animation. If cast upon the body of a creature that is engaged in
Player’s Handbook 88
astral travel, it will reveal that the creature is alive. The spell works on
plants and plant creatures as well as animals.
The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1’ of stone, an inch of common
metal, a thin sheet of lead or 3’ of wood or dirt blocks it.
Detect Magic
Divination
Level: Cleric 0, Bard 0, Druid 0, Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You detect magical auras. The amount of information revealed
depends on how long you study a particular area or subject.
1st Round: Presence or absence of magical auras.
2nd Round: Number of different magical auras and the power of
the most potent aura. If any aura detected in the area is
overwhelming (see aura power below) you are stunned for 1
round and the spell ends.
3rd Round: The strength and location of each aura. If the items or
creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight, you can make
knowledge: arcana skill checks to determine the school of magic
involved in each. (Make one check per aura with a check
penalty equal to the caster level for that spell or, for spell-like
powers, the hit dice of the creature.)
Magical areas, multiple types of magic or strong local magical
emanations may distort or conceal weaker auras.
aura power
spell or object
faint
moderate
strong
overwhelming
functioning spell
(spell level)
0 - 2
3 - 4
5 - 8
9+ (deific)
magic item
(caster level)
1 - 4
5 - 8
9 - 16
17 - 20+
(artifact)
Aura Power: An aura’s power depends on a spell’s functioning spell
level or an item’s caster level. If an aura falls into more than one
category, detect magic indicates the stronger of the two.
Extraplanar creatures and elementals are not magical in themselves,
but if they are summoned, the conjuration spell registers. Magical
traps are often concealed through Nystul’s Magic Aura so that they
cannot be detected through use of detect magic.
Each round you can turn to detect magic in a new area. The spell
can penetrate barriers, but 1’ of stone, an inch of common metal, a
thin sheet of lead or 3’ of wood or dirt blocks it.
Detect magic can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Detect Poison
Divination
Level: Cleric 0, Druid 0, Magic-User 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Each round you can concentrate on one creature, object or area
within the range of this spell in order to determine whether it has been
poisoned or is poisonous. You can determine the exact type of poison
with a profession (alchemist) skill check or a poisons class ability
check.
The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1’ of stone, an inch of common
metal, a thin sheet of lead or 3’ of wood or dirt blocks it.
Detect Scrying
Divination
Level: Bard 4, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 40’ radius circle centered on you
Duration: 24 hours
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You immediately become aware of any attempt to observe you by
means of a scrying spell or effect. The spell’s area radiates from you
and moves as you move. You know the location of every magical
sensor within the spell’s area.
If the scrying attempt originates within the area you also know its
location; otherwise you and the scrier immediately must make
opposed caster level checks (1d20 + caster level). If you at least
match the scrier’s result you get a visual image of the scrier and an
accurate sense of his direction and distance from you.
Arcane Material Component: A small piece of mirror and a miniature
brass hearing trumpet. These are not expended by the spell’s casting.
Detect Secret Doors
Divination
Level: Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can detect secret doors, compartments, caches and so forth.
Only passages, doors or openings that have been specifically
constructed to escape detection are detected by this spell. The
amount of information revealed depends on how long you study a
particular area or subject.
1st Round: Presence or absence of secret doors.
2nd Round: Number of secret doors and the location of each. If a
secret door is outside your line of sight, then you discern its
direction but not its exact location.
Each round, you can turn to detect secret doors in a new area. The
spell can penetrate barriers, but 1’ of stone, an inch of common
metal, a thin sheet of lead or 3’ of wood or dirt blocks it.
Detect Snares and Pits
Divination
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can detect simple pits, deadfalls and snares, as well as
mechanical traps constructed of natural materials. The spell does not
detect complex traps, including trapdoor traps.
The detect snares and pits spell detects certain natural hazards -
quicksand (a snare), a sinkhole (a pit) or unsafe walls of natural rock
(a deadfall). However it does not reveal other potentially dangerous
conditions. The spell does not detect magic traps (except those that
operate by pit, deadfall or snaring; see the spell snare), nor
mechanically complex ones, nor those that have been rendered safe
or inactive.
The amount of information revealed depends on how long you study
a particular area.
1st Round: Presence or absence of hazards.
2nd Round: Number of hazards and the location of each. If a
hazard is outside your line of sight, then you discern its direction
but not its exact location.
Each round you can turn to detect snares and pits in a new area. The
spell can penetrate barriers, but 1’ of stone, an inch of common
metal, a thin sheet of lead or 3’ of wood or dirt blocks it.
Detect Undead
Divination
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Player’s Handbook 89
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can detect the aura that surrounds undead creatures. The
amount of information revealed depends on how long you study a
particular area.
1st Round: Presence or absence of undead auras.
2nd Round: Number of undead auras in the area and the strength
of the strongest undead aura present. If any aura detected in
the area is overwhelming (see aura power below) you are
stunned for 1 round and the spell ends.
3rd Round: The strength and location of each undead aura. If an
aura is outside your line of sight, then you discern its direction but
not its exact location.
Aura Power: The strength of an undead aura is determined by the HD
of the undead creature, as given on the following table.
hit dice
aura power
¼ - 2
faint
3 - 6
moderate
7 - 12
strong
13+
overwhelming
Each round, you can turn to detect undead in a new area. The spell
can penetrate barriers, but 1’ of stone, an inch of common metal, a
thin sheet of lead or 3’ of wood or dirt blocks it.
Material Component: A bit of earth from a grave.
Dimensional Anchor
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 4, Magic-User 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A green ray springs from your outstretched hand and strikes your
target, unless it makes a successful dexterity save. Any creature or
object struck by the ray is covered with a shimmering emerald field
that completely blocks extra-dimensional travel. Forms of movement
barred by a dimensional anchor include astral spell, blink, dimension
door, ethereal jaunt, etherealness, gate, maze, plane shift, shadow
walk, teleport and similar spell-like or psionic abilities. The spell also
prevents the use of a gate for the duration of the spell.
A dimensional anchor does not interfere with the movement of
creatures already in ethereal or astral form when the spell is cast, nor
does it block extra-dimensional perception or attack forms. Also
dimensional anchor does not prevent summoned creatures from
disappearing at the end of a summoning spell.
Dimensional Lock
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 8, Magic-User 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: 20’ radius sphere centered on a point in space
Duration: 24 hours/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You create a shimmering emerald barrier that completely blocks
extra-dimensional travel. Forms of movement barred include astral
spell, blink, dimension door, ethereal jaunt, etherealness, gate, maze,
plane shift, shadow walk, teleport and similar spell-like or psionic
abilities. Once dimensional lock is in place, extra-dimensional travel
into or out of the area is not possible.
A dimensional lock does not interfere with the movement of creatures
already in ethereal or astral form when the spell is cast, nor does it
block extra-dimensional perception or attack forms. Also the spell
does not prevent summoned creatures from disappearing at the end
of a summoning spell.
Dimension Door
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Bard 4, Druid 4, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: You and one willing creature/3 caster levels
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You instantly transfer yourself from your current location to any other
spot within 400 feet. You always arrive at exactly the spot desired -
whether by simply visualizing the area or by stating direction. After
using this spell, you can’t take any other actions until your next turn.
You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn’t exceed
your maximum load. You may also bring one additional, willing
creature (carrying no more than its maximum load) per three caster
levels. All creatures to be transported must be in contact with one
another, and at least one of those creatures must be in contact with
you.
If you arrive in a place that is already occupied by a solid body, you
and each creature traveling with you take 1d6 points of damage and
are shunted to a random open space on a suitable surface within 100
feet of the intended location.
If there is no free space within 100’ you and each creature traveling
with you take an additional 2d6 points of damage and are shunted to
a free space within 1,000’. If there is no free space within 1,000’ you
and each creature traveling with you take an additional 4d6 points of
damage and the spell simply fails.
Discern Location
Divination
Level: Cleric 8, Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Personal
Target: One creature or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
A discern location spell is among the most powerful means of locating
creatures or objects. Nothing short of a mind blank spell or the direct
intervention of a deity keeps you from learning the exact location of a
single individual or object. Discern location circumvents normal means
of protection from scrying or location. The spell reveals the name of
the creature or object’s location (place, name, business name,
building name or the like), community, county (or similar political
division), country, continent and the plane of existence where the
target lies.
To find a creature with the spell you must have seen the creature or
have some item that once belonged to it. To find an object you must
have touched it at least once.
Divine Material Component: The cleric’s holy symbol.
Disintegrate
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: One creature or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity partial
Magic Resistance: Yes
A thin, green ray springs from your pointing finger. Any creature struck
by the ray takes 24d6 points of damage. Any creature reduced to 0 or
fewer hit points by this spell is entirely disintegrated, leaving behind
only a trace of fine dust.
A creature or object that makes a successful dexterity save is partially
affected, taking only 6d6 points of damage. If this damage reduces
the creature or object to 0 or fewer hit points, it is entirely
disintegrated.
A disintegrated creature’s equipment must also save versus
disintegration (see Item Saving Throws on page 52) or be destroyed if
that target failed his saving throw with a roll of “1”. When used against
an object, the ray simply disintegrates up to 30 cubic feet of non-living
matter. Thus, the spell disintegrates only part of any very large object
Player’s Handbook 90
or structure targeted. The ray affects even objects constructed
entirely of force, such as Bigby’s forceful hand or a wall of force, but
not magical effects such as a globe of invulnerability or an antimagic
shell.
Material Component: A lodestone, which is not expended by the
spell’s casting, and a pinch of dust.
Dismissal
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 4, Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One extraplanar creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell forces an extraplanar creature back to its proper plane if it
fails its save. If the spell is successful the creature is instantly whisked
away, but there is a 20% chance of actually sending the subject to a
plane other than its own.
Divine Material Component: The cleric’s holy symbol.
Dispel Evil (reversible)
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target or Targets: See text
Duration: 1 round/caster level or until discharged, whichever comes
first
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: See text
Shimmering, white, holy energy surrounds you. This power has three
effects.
First, you gain a +4 bonus to AC against attacks by evil creatures.
This bonus may not be combined with that given by spells or
items of protection (i.e. protection from evil or ring of protection).
Second, on making a successful melee attack against an evil
creature from another plane, you can choose to drive that
creature back to its home plane. The creature can negate the
effects with a successful wisdom save (magic resistance applies).
This use discharges and ends the spell.
Third, with a touch you can automatically dispel any one
enchantment/charm spell cast by an evil creature. Spells that
can’t be dispelled by dispel magic also can’t be dispelled by
dispel evil. Saving throws and magic resistance do not apply to
this effect. This use discharges and ends the spell.
The reverse of this spell, dispel good, functions as dispel evil except
that it affects good creatures and spells rather than evil ones. This use
of the spell surrounds the caster with dark, wavering, unholy energy.
Dispel Magic
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 3, Bard 3, Druid 4, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target or Area: One spellcaster, creature, or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can use dispel magic to end ongoing spells that have been cast
on a creature or object, to temporarily suppress the magical abilities
of a magic item, or to counter another caster’s spell. A dispelled spell
ends as if its duration had expired. Some spells, as detailed in their
descriptions, can’t be defeated by dispel magic. Dispel magic can
dispel (but not counter) spell-like effects just as it does spells. The
effect of a spell with an instantaneous duration can’t be dispelled
because the magical effect is already over before the dispel magic
can take effect.
You choose to use dispel magic in one of two ways: a targeted dispel
or a counterspell:
Targeted Dispel: One object, creature or spell is the target of the
dispel magic spell. You make a caster level check (1d20 + caster
level) against each ongoing spell currently in effect on the
object or creature. This roll is opposed by a caster level check
(1d20 + caster level) for each targeted spell. If your check result is
greater than or equal to that of the targeted spell, it is dispelled.
If not, the spell remains in effect.
If you target a magic item you make a caster level check
opposed by the item creator’s caster level check. If unknown
assume the item’s creator is level 10, for charged items, or 15, for
permanent items. If your check result equals or exceeds the
item’s then all of the item’s magical properties are suppressed for
1 minute (6 rounds), after which the item recovers on its own. A
suppressed item becomes non-magical for the duration of the
effect. An inter-dimensional interface (such as a bag of holding)
is temporarily closed. A magic item’s physical properties are
unchanged: a suppressed magic sword is still a sword. Artifacts
and deities are unaffected by mortal magic such as this. You
automatically win a caster level check against any spell that you
have cast yourself.
Counterspell: When using dispel magic to counterspell, you may
hold your initiative in order to attempt to disrupt another caster’s
spell. When counterspelling, you make a caster level check
opposed by that of the targeted spellcaster. If your caster level
check result is greater than or equal to that of the targeted
caster, his spell is dispelled. If not, his spell is successfully cast.
Divination
Divination
Level: Cleric 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
Similar to augury but more powerful, a divination spell can provide
you with a useful piece of advice in reply to a question concerning a
specific goal, event or activity that is to occur within one week. The
advice can be as simple as a short phrase or it might take the form of
a cryptic rhyme or omen. If your party doesn’t act on the information,
the conditions may change so that the information is no longer useful.
The base chance for a correct divination is 70% + 1% per caster level,
Player’s Handbook 91
to a maximum of 90%. If the die roll fails, you know the spell failed,
unless specific magic yielding false information is at work.
As with augury, multiple divinations about the same topic by the same
caster use the same die result as the first divination spell and yield the
same answer each time.
Material Component: Incense and a sacrificial offering appropriate to
your religion, together worth at least 25 gp. They are consumed by
the spell’s casting.
Dominate Animal
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Druid 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One animal
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You can enchant an animal and direct it with simple commands such
as “attack,” “run,” and “fetch.” Suicidal or self-destructive commands
(including an order to attack a creature larger than the dominated
animal) are simply ignored.
Dominate animal establishes a mental link between you and the
subject creature. The animal can be directed by silent mental
command as long as it remains in range. You need not see the
creature to control it. You do not receive direct sensory input from the
creature but know what it is experiencing. Because you are directing
the animal with your own intelligence it may be able to undertake
actions normally beyond its own comprehension.
You need not concentrate exclusively on controlling the creature
unless you are trying to direct it to do something it normally couldn’t
do. Changing your instructions or giving a dominated creature a new
command takes 1 round of concentration.
By concentrating fully on the spell, you can receive full sensory input
as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it can’t
communicate with you.
Dominate Monster
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 9, Illusionist 9
Target: One creature
This spell functions like dominate person, except that the spell is not
restricted by creature type.
Dominate Person
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 4, Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One humanoid creature
Duration: One day/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a
telepathic link that you establish with the subject’s mind.
If you and the subject have a common language, you can generally
force the subject to perform as you desire, within the limits of its
abilities. If no common language exists, you can communicate only
basic commands, such as “come here,” “go there,” “fight,” and
“stand still.” You know what the subject is experiencing but you do not
receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with you
telepathically.
Once you have given a dominated creature a command, it
continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of
all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival
(such as sleeping, eating and so forth). Because of this limited range
of activity, a sense motive check can determine that the subject’s
behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect.
Changing your instructions or giving a dominated creature a new
command takes 1 round of concentration.
By concentrating fully on the spell, you can receive full sensory input
as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still can’t
communicate with you.
Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions
against its nature receives a new saving throw with a +2 bonus.
Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is
established the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as
long as you and the subject are on the same plane. You need not see
the subject to control it.
If you don’t spend at least 1 round concentrating on the spell each
day, the subject receives a new saving throw to throw off the
domination.
Protection from evil or a similar spell can prevent you from exercising
control or using the telepathic link while the subject is so warded, but
such an effect neither prevents the establishment of domination nor
dispels it.
Drawmij’s Instant Summons
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: See text
Target: One object weighing 10 lbs or less, with a longest dimension of
6’ or less
Duration: Permanent until discharged
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You call some non-living item from virtually any location directly to
your hand.
First, you must place your wizard mark on the item. Then you cast this
spell, which magically and invisibly inscribes the name of the item on
a sapphire worth at least 1,000 gp. Thereafter, you can summon the
item by speaking a special word (set by you when the spell is cast)
and crushing the gem. The item appears instantly in your hand. Only
you can use the gem in this way. The inscription on the gem is
invisible. It is also unreadable, except by means of a read magic spell,
to anyone but you.
If the item is in the possession of another creature the spell does not
work, but you know who the possessor is and roughly where that
creature is located when the summons occurs. The item can be
summoned from another plane, but only if no other creature has
claimed ownership of it.
Material Component: A sapphire worth at least 1,000 gp, which must
be crushed when the item is summoned.
Dream
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You, or a messenger touched by you, sends a phantasmal message
to others in the form of a dream. At the beginning of the spell you
must name the recipient or identify him by some title that leaves no
doubt as to identity. The messenger then enters a trance, appears in
the intended recipient’s dream and delivers the message. The
message can be of any length and the recipient remembers it
perfectly upon waking. The communication is one-way. The recipient
cannot ask questions or offer information, nor can the messenger gain
any information by observing the dreams of the recipient.
Once the message is delivered, the messenger’s mind returns instantly
to its body. The duration of the spell is the time required for the
messenger to enter the recipient’s dream and deliver the message.
If the recipient is awake when the spell begins, the messenger can
choose to wake up (ending the spell) or remain in the trance. The
messenger can remain in the trance until the recipient goes to sleep,
then enter the recipient’s dream and deliver the message as normal.
The messenger is unaware of its own surroundings or of the activities
around it while in the trance. It is defenseless both physically and
mentally (it always fails any saving throw) while in the trance. A
messenger that is disturbed during the trance awakens, ending the
spell.
Creatures who don’t sleep cannot be contacted by this spell.
Player’s Handbook 92
Earthquake
Evocation
Level: Cleric 8, Druid 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: 80’ radius circle
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
When you cast earthquake, an intense but highly localized tremor rips
the ground. The shock knocks creatures down, collapses structures,
opens cracks in the ground, and more. The effect lasts for 1 round,
during which time creatures on the ground can’t move or attack. A
spellcaster on the ground must make a concentration check (the
penalty is equal to the caster level of the cleric or druid who cast
earthquake) or lose any spell he tries to cast. The earthquake affects
all terrain, vegetation, structures, and creatures in the area. The
specific effect of an earthquake spell depends on the nature of the
terrain where it is cast.
Cave, Cavern, or Tunnel: The spell collapses the roof, dealing 8d6
points of damage to any creature caught under the cave-in
(dexterity save for half) and pinning that creature beneath the
rubble (see below). An earthquake cast on the roof of a very
large cavern could also endanger those outside the actual area
but below the falling debris.
Cliffs: Earthquake causes a cliff to crumble, creating a landslide
that travels horizontally as far as it fell vertically. Any creature in
the path takes 8d6 points of bludgeoning damage (dexterity
save for half) and is pinned beneath the rubble (see below).
Open Ground: Each creature standing in the area must make a
dexterity save or fall down. Fissures open in the earth, and every
creature on the ground has a 25% chance to fall into one (unless
they make a dexterity save with a -5 penalty). At the end of the
spell, all fissures grind shut, killing any creatures still trapped within.
Structure: Any structure standing on open ground takes 100
points of damage, enough to collapse a typical wooden or
masonry building, but not a structure built of stone or reinforced
masonry. Any creature caught inside a collapsing structure takes
8d6 points of damage (dexterity save for half) and is pinned
beneath the rubble (see below).
River, Lake, or Marsh: Fissures open underneath the water,
draining away the water from that area and forming muddy
ground. Soggy marsh or swampland becomes quicksand for the
duration of the spell, sucking down creatures and structures.
Each creature in the area must make a dexterity save or sink
down in the mud and quicksand. At the end of the spell, the rest
of the body of water rushes in to replace the drained water,
possibly drowning those caught in the mud.
Pinned beneath Rubble: Any creature pinned beneath rubble
takes 1d6 points of non-lethal damage per minute while pinned.
If a pinned character falls unconscious, he must make a
constitution save or take 1d6 points of lethal damage each
minute thereafter until freed or dead.
Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus crushing (see
Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving throw
against a damaging effect of an earthquake spell with a roll of “1”.
Those falling into open ground and perishing lose all items (their items
get no saving throws).
Elemental Swarm
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 9
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Multiple summoned creatures, no two of which can be more
than 30’ apart
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell opens a portal to an Elemental Plane and summons
elementals from it. When the spell is complete, six 8 HD elementals
appear. One turn later, three 12 HD elementals appear. In the turn
after that, one 16 HD elemental appears. Each elemental has
maximum hit points per HD. Once these creatures appear, they serve
you for the duration of the spell.
The elementals obey you explicitly and never attack you, even if
someone else manages to gain control over them. You do not need
to concentrate to maintain control over the elementals. You can
dismiss them singly or in groups at any time.
Enchanted Weapon
Alteration
Level: Cleric 1, Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One weapon
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Enchanted weapon gives a weapon a +1 bonus on attack and
damage rolls. You can’t cast this spell on a natural weapon, such as
an unarmed strike (instead, see magic fang).
Endure Elements
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 1, Druid 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 24 hours
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A creature protected by endure elements suffers no harm from being
in a hot or cold environment. It can exist comfortably in conditions
between –50 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit without taking nonlethal
damage (see Environmental Hazards on page 59 for more). The
creature’s equipment is likewise protected.
Endure elements doesn’t provide any protection from fire or cold
damage, nor does it protect against other environmental hazards
such as smoke, lack of air and so forth.
Energy Drain
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 9, Magic-User 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One living or undead creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Constitution negates or partial; (see text)
Magic Resistance: Yes
The creature touched by the caster of this spell struck loses 4 levels of
experience. There is no saving throw to avoid this level drain, but 24
hours later, the subject must make a constitution saving throw for
each level lost. If the save succeeds, that lost level is regained. If it fails
one of the subject’s character levels is permanently drained. A
creature slain by this spell rises the next night as a juju zombie.
An undead creature affected by this spell gains 20 temporary hit
points for 1 hour.
Enlarge Animal (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One animal
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like enlarge person, except that it affects an
animal. Increase the damage dealt by the animal’s natural attacks
by one die type (for example, from a d4 to a d6).
Player’s Handbook 93
The reverse of this spell, reduce animal, functions like reduce person,
except that it affects an animal. Reduce the damage dealt by the
animal’s natural attacks by one die type (for example, from a d6 to a
d4).
Only natural animals, including giant forms, can be affected by either
version of this spell.
Enlarge Person (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One humanoid creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell causes the instant growth of a Small or Medium demihuman or
humanoid creature, doubling its height and multiplying its weight by 8.
This increase changes the creature’s size category to the next larger
one. The target gains a +1 bonus to strength checks and damage rolls,
a –1 penalty to all dexterity checks, and a -1 penalty to initiative rolls.
This spell does not change the target’s movement rate.
If insufficient room is available for the desired growth, the spell fails. All
equipment worn or carried by a creature is similarly enlarged by the
spell. Melee weapons affected by this spell deal more damage, their
damage die improves by 1 type (for example, from a d4 to a d6 or from
2d6 to 2d8). Projectile or missile weapons are not affected because,
upon leaving the spell recipient’s possession, they revert to their normal
size. Other magical properties are not affected by this spell. Magical
properties of enlarged items are not increased by this spell. Multiple
magical effects that increase size may not be combined.
The reverse of this spell, reduce person, causes instant diminution of a
humanoid creature, halving its height, length, and width and dividing its
weight by 8. This decrease changes the creature’s size category to the
next smaller one. The target gains a +1 bonus to dexterity checks and
initiative rolls, and a –1 penalty to strength checks and damage rolls.
This spell doesn’t change the target’s movement rate. All equipment
worn or carried by a creature is reduced by the spell.
Melee weapons affected by this spell deal less damage, their damage
die decreases by 1 type (for example, from a d6 to a d4 or from 2d8 to
2d6). Other magical properties are not affected by this spell. Multiple
magical effects that reduce size do not stack.
Reduce person counters and dispels enlarge person and vice versa.
Enlarge or reduce person can be made permanent with a permanency
spell.
Material Component: A pinch of powdered iron.
Entangle
Alteration
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: Plants in a 40’ radius circle
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity partial; see text
Magic Resistance: No
Grasses, weeds, bushes and even trees wrap, twist and entwine about
creatures in the area or those that enter the area, holding them fast
and causing them to become entangled.
Creatures who fail their initial dexterity save versus this spell are
entangled. While entangled, a creature loses its dexterity and shield
bonus to armor class. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free
by making an escape artist check with a –5 penalty. This attempt,
whether it succeeds or fails, takes a full round.
A creature that succeeds on the initial saving throw or who later breaks
free is not entangled and can move 5’ per round through the area.
Each round, on the caster’s initiative, the plants once again attempt to
entangle all creatures that have avoided or escaped entanglement,
requiring all in the spell’s radius to roll another saving throw.
All creatures within the entangle spell’s radius are afforded cover. A
creature 5 feet away has 50% cover. Creatures up to 10 feet away have
75% cover while those further away have 100% cover and cannot be
attacked or targeted by sight by spellcasters.
Enthrall
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 2, Bard 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Personal
Targets: Any number of creatures within 100’ radius (see text)
Duration: 1 hour or less
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
If you have the attention of a group of creatures, you can use this spell
to hold them spellbound with your voice. To cast the spell, you must
speak or sing without interruption for 1 round. Thereafter, those within
range must make a saving throw or give you their undivided attention,
ignoring their surroundings. They are considered to have an attitude of
“goodwill” towards you while under the effect of the spell. Any
potentially affected creature of a race or religion unfriendly to yours
gets a +5 bonus on the saving throw.
A creature with 4 or more HD or with a wisdom score of 16 or higher
remains aware of its surroundings and has an attitude of “neutral”. It
gains a new saving throw if it witnesses actions that it opposes.
The effect lasts as long as you speak or sing, to a maximum of 1 hour.
Those enthralled by your words take no action while you speak or sing
and for 1d3 rounds thereafter while they discuss the topic or
performance. Those entering the area during the performance must
also successfully save or become enthralled. The speech ends (but the
1d3-round delay still applies) if you lose concentration or do anything
other than speak or sing.
If those not enthralled have an attitude of “Antipathy” or “Hatred”
toward you, they can collectively make a charisma common ability
check to try to end the spell by jeering and heckling. For this check, roll
for the creature with highest charisma check bonus of the group; who
gains a +1 bonus per 3 people who join him in heckling the caster. The
heckling ends the spell if this check result beats your charisma common
ability check result. Only one such challenge is allowed per use of the
spell.
If any member of the audience is attacked or subjected to some other
overtly hostile act, the spell ends and the previously enthralled members
become immediately unfriendly, greeting the caster with “Antipathy”.
Each creature with 4 or more HD or with a wisdom score of 16 or higher
feels “Hatred” towards the caster.
Erase
Alteration
Level: Bard 1, Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One scroll or two pages of text
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
Erase removes writings of either magical or mundane nature from a
scroll or from one or two pages of paper, parchment or similar surfaces.
With this spell you can remove explosive runes, a glyph of warding, a
sepia snake sigil or a wizard mark, but not an illusory script or symbol
spell. Non-magical writing is automatically erased if touched.
Magic writing must be touched to be erased and you also must
succeed on an opposed caster level check against the scriber’s caster
level check in order to erase and dispel it. If you fail to erase explosive
runes, a glyph of warding or a sepia snake sigil, you accidentally
activate that writing instead.
ESP
Divination
Level: Bard 2, Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) partial; see text
Magic Resistance: No
You detect surface thoughts. The amount of information revealed
depends on how long you study a particular area or subject.
Player’s Handbook 94
1st Round: Presence or absence of thoughts (from conscious
creatures with intelligence scores of 1 or higher).
2nd Round: Number of thinking minds and the intelligence score of
each. If the highest intelligence is 20 or higher (and at least 5 points
higher than your own intelligence score), you are stunned for 1
round and the spell ends. This spell does not let you determine the
location of the thinking minds if you can’t see the creatures whose
thoughts you are detecting.
3rd Round: Surface thoughts of any mind in the area. A target’s
successful save prevents you from reading its thoughts, and you
must cast ESP again to have another chance. Creatures of animal
intelligence have simple, instinctual thoughts that you can pick up.
Each round, you can turn to ESP in a new area. The spell can penetrate
barriers, but 1’ of stone, an inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead,
or 3’ of wood or dirt blocks it.
Material Component: A copper piece.
Ethereal Jaunt
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 7, Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
You, along with your equipment, become ethereal. For the duration
of the spell you are in a place called the Ethereal Plane which
overlaps the normal, physical, Material Plane. When the spell expires
you return to material existence.
An ethereal creature is invisible, insubstantial and capable of moving
in any direction, even up or down, albeit at half their normal
movement rate. As an insubstantial creature you can move through
solid objects, including living creatures. An ethereal creature can see
and hear on the Material Plane, but everything looks gray and
ephemeral. Sight and hearing onto the Material Plane are limited to
60 feet.
Force effects (such as magic missiles) and abjurations affect an
ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal
Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal
creature can’t attack material creatures and spells you cast while
ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures
or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
Treat other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were
material.
If you end the spell and become material while inside a material
object (such as a solid wall) you are shunted off to the nearest open
space and take 1d6 points of damage per 5 feet that you travel.
Etherealness
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 9, Magic-User 9, Illusionist 9
Range: Touch
Targets: You and one willing creature/3 caster levels
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like ethereal jaunt except that you and other willing
creatures joined by linked hands (along with their equipment)
become ethereal. Besides yourself you can bring one creature per
three caster levels to the Ethereal Plane. Once ethereal the subjects
need not stay together. When the spell expires all affected creatures
on the Ethereal Plane return to material existence.
Evard’s Black Tentacles
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: 20’ radius circle
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell conjures a field of rubbery black tentacles, each 10 feet
long. These waving members seem to spring forth from the earth, floor,
or whatever surface is underfoot - including water. They grapple
creatures that enter the area (see page 58 for more information on
grappling), holding them fast and crushing them with great strength.
Every creature within the area of the spell must make a strength
common ability check, opposed by that of the tentacles. Treat the
tentacles as a Large creature with hit dice equal to the spell’s caster
level. The tentacles are immune to all types of damage.
Once the tentacles grapple an opponent, they may make an
opposed strength check each round on your turn to deal 2d4 points
of crushing damage. The tentacles continue to crush the opponent
until the spell ends or the opponent escapes.
Any creature that enters the area of the spell is immediately attacked
by the tentacles. Even creatures who aren’t grappled by the
tentacles may move only 5’ per round through the area.
Material Component: A piece of tentacle from a giant octopus or a
giant squid.
Exorcise
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Target: One creature or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
The spell of exorcism will negate possession of a creature or an object
by any outside or supernatural force. This includes control of a
creature by some force in an object, possession by magic jar spell,
demonic possession, cursed item, and even charm spells and abilities.
For each such effect you make a caster level check (1d20 + caster
level) with a penalty equal to the spellcaster’s caster level (or hit dice,
for creatures with spell-like powers). Success means that the creature
is free of the spell, curse or effect. For a cursed magic item, the
penalty is equal to the creator’s level (or 15 if the creator’s level is not
known).
If the effect comes from some permanent magic item exorcise does
not remove the curse from the item, but it does free the victim from
the item’s effects.
Explosive Runes
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object weighing no more than 10 lbs
Duration: Permanent until discharged (dismissible)
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: Yes
You trace these mystic runes upon a book, map, scroll or similar object
bearing written information. The runes detonate when read, dealing
5d6 points of force damage. Anyone next to the runes (close enough
to read them) takes the full damage with no saving throw; any other
creature within 10’ of the runes is entitled to a dexterity save for half
damage. The object on which the runes were written must make an
Item Saving Throw versus crushing (see page 52) or be destroyed.
Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus crushing if
that target failed his saving throw with a “1” or was denied a saving
throw.
You and any characters you specifically instruct can read the
protected writing without triggering the runes. Likewise you can
remove the runes whenever desired. Another creature can remove
them with a successful dispel magic or erase spell, but attempting to
dispel or erase the runes and failing to do so triggers the explosion.
Note: An assassin or thief can use the find traps ability to find explosive
runes and thwart them. The check penalty is equal to the level of the
spell’s caster.
Player’s Handbook 95
Eyebite
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 6, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round per three caster levels; see text
Saving Throw: See below
Magic Resistance: Yes
An eyebite spell enables the caster to merely meet the gaze of a
creature and speak a single word to cause an effect. This gaze attack
is in addition to any other attacks allowed to the caster. The caster
selects one of four possible gaze attacks at the time the spell is cast,
and this attack cannot be changed. For example, a 12th level caster
who chose fear would have four opportunities to make gaze attacks
causing fear, one for each round of the spell's duration. Any gaze
attack is negated by a successful saving throw versus the appropriate
effect. The four effects of the spell are as follows:
Charm: The caster can charm a single person or monster by
gaze and by uttering a single word. The effect is the same as a
charm monster spell.
All creatures other than humans,
demihumans and humanoids make their charisma saves with a
+2 bonus.
Fear: The caster can cause fear by gaze and by speaking a
single word. The subject flees in blind terror for 1d4 rounds. After
this, the creature refuses to face the caster and cowers (unable
to attack but able to defend themselves) or bolts for the nearest
cover if subsequently confronted by the caster (50% chance of
either). The latter effect lasts one turn per caster level. This attack
can be negated by spells that counter fear. This effect is
negated by a successful charisma save.
Sicken: This power enables the caster to merely gaze, speak a
word and cause sudden pain and fever to sweep over the
subject's body. Sickened creatures suffer a -2 penalty to strength
and dexterity checks, as well as attack and damage rolls, and
take a -2 penalty to their armor class. Movement is reduced to ½
its normal rate. The subject remains stricken for one turn per level
of the caster, after which all abilities return after 6 turns (1 hour)
of complete rest. The effects cannot be negated by a cure
disease or heal spell, but a remove curse or successful dispel
magic spell is effective. Creatures other than humans,
demihumans and humanoids make their constitution save with
+2 bonuses versus this attack.
Sleep: The caster can cause any individual to fall into a
comatose slumber by means of a gaze and a single word, unless
the subject successfully makes their intelligence saving throw. An
affected creature must be shaken or otherwise shocked back to
consciousness.
This spell does not affect undead of any type or extend beyond the
plane occupied by the caster. Note that the caster is subject to the
effects of his reflected gaze and is allowed any applicable saving
throw. In the case of a reflected charm gaze, the caster is paralyzed
until it wears off or is countered.
Fabricate
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: See text
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: Up to 10 cubic feet/caster level; see text
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You convert material of one sort into a product that is of the same
material. Creatures or magic items cannot be created or transmuted
by the fabricate spell. The quality of items made by this spell is
commensurate with the quality of material used as the basis for the
new fabrication. If you work with a mineral, the target is reduced to 1
cubic foot per level instead of 10 cubic feet.
You must make an appropriate craft skill check to fabricate articles
requiring a high degree of craftsmanship. Casting requires 1 round
per 10 cubic feet of material to be affected by the spell (or 1 cubic
foot in the case of minerals).
Material Component: The original material, which costs the same
amount as the raw materials required to craft the item to be created.
Faerie Fire
Evocation
Level: Druid 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: Creatures and objects within a 5’ radius circle
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
A pale glow surrounds and outlines the subjects. Outlined subjects
shed light as candles. Outlined creatures do not benefit from the
concealment normally provided by darkness (though a 2nd level or
higher
magical
darkness
effect
functions
normally),
blur,
displacement, invisibility or similar effects. The light is too dim to have
any special effect on undead or dark-dwelling creatures vulnerable to
light.
The faerie fire can be blue, green or violet, according to your choice
at the time of casting. The faerie fire does not cause any harm to the
objects or creatures thus outlined.
Arcane Material Component: The thorax of a firefly.
False Vision
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Area: 40’ radius circle
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Any scrying spell or item used to view anything within the area of this
spell instead receives a false image (as the improved phantasmal
force spell), as defined by you at the time of casting. As long as the
duration lasts, you can concentrate to change the image as desired.
While you aren’t concentrating the image remains static.
Material Component: The ground dust of a piece of jade worth at
least 250 gp, which is sprinkled into the air when the spell is cast.
Fear
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 3, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 30’ cone
Duration: 1 round/caster level; see text
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
An invisible cone of terror instantaneously bursts forth from your hands,
forcing living creatures in the area to make a charisma saving throw
or run in fear for the spell’s duration. If cornered, a panicked creature
cowers, unable to attack but able to defend itself.
Arcane Material Component: Either the heart of a hen or a white
feather.
Feather Fall
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V
Casting Time: Instantaneous
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One creature/caster level, no two of which may be more
than 20’ apart; see text
Duration: Until landing or 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The affected creatures or objects fall slowly. Feather fall instantly
changes the rate at which the targets fall to a mere 120 feet per
round (equivalent to the end of a fall from a few feet) and the
subjects take no damage upon landing while the spell is in effect.
Player’s Handbook 96
Should the target of the spell fail to land by the end of feather fall’s
duration, the normal rate of falling resumes.
The spell affects one or more creatures (including gear and carried
objects up to each creature’s maximum load) or objects.
You can cast this spell with an instant utterance, quickly enough to
save yourself if you unexpectedly fall. Casting the spell is
instantaneous and it may even be cast when it isn’t your turn, or if
you’ve already acted that round.
The spell also works only upon free-falling or propelled objects. It will
not affect a sword blow or a charging creature, but it will affect a
projectile or thrown weapon (but not siege ammunition or giant-
hurled boulders).
Feeblemind
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Druid 6, Magic-User 5, Illusionist 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom (or intelligence for the arcane version) negates;
see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
If the target creature fails a wisdom save (or intelligence save for the
arcane version of this spell), its intelligence, wisdom and charisma
scores each drop to 3 (scores less than 3 are not raised). The affected
creature is unable cast spells and can barely understand language or
communicate coherently. It still knows who its friends are and can
follow them and even protect them.
The subject remains in this state until a heal, limited wish, miracle or
wish spell is used to cancel the effect of the feeblemind. A creature
that can cast arcane spells, such as an illusionist or a magic-user,
takes a –2 penalty on its saving throw.
Arcane Material Component: A handful of clay, crystal, glass, or
mineral spheres.
Feign Death
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 3, Druid 2, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One willing creature
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
By means of this spell, the caster or any other willing creature whose
levels of experience/hit dice do not exceed the caster’s own level
can be put into a cataleptic state which is impossible to distinguish
from actual death. Although the creature affected by the feign
death spell can smell, hear and know what is going on, no feeling or
sight of any sort is possible; thus, any wounding or mistreatment of the
body will not be felt and no reaction will occur and damage will be
only one-half normal.
In addition, paralysis, poison, ability score drain or energy drain will not
affect the individual creature under the influence of this spell, but
poison injected or otherwise introduced into the body will become
effective when the spell recipient is no longer under the influence of
this spell, although a saving throw is permitted.
Note that only a willing individual can be affected by feign death. The
spellcaster is able to end the spell effects at any time desired, but it
requires 1 round for bodily functions to begin again.
The material components are a pinch of graveyard dirt and, if cast by
a cleric, the cleric‘s holy symbol.
Find Familiar
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 8 hours
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One summoned familiar
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
A familiar is of certain benefit to a caster, as the creature adds to the
spellcaster's hit points, conveys its sensory powers to its master and
can converse with its master. The caster has little control over what
sort of creature will answer the summoning, or if any at all will come,
and the power of the conjuration is such that it can be attempted but
once per year.
At such time as the caster determines to find a familiar, he must stoke
up a brass brazier with charcoal and, when this is burning well, add
100 gold pieces worth of incense, herbs (basil, savory and catnip for
sure) and fat. When these items are burning the spellcaster begins his
incantation and it must be continued for at least 8 hours.
Your referee will secretly determine all results. The caster has very little
control over what sort of a creature appears to become his familiar.
Normal familiars have 6 hit points, an armor class of 15 (due to size,
speed, etc.) and make saving throws as its master does. Each is
abnormally intelligent, with an intelligence of 8 + their master’s
intelligence modifier and totally faithful to the caster whose familiar it
becomes. The familiar's hit points are added to the hit point total of
the caster when it is within 60’ of its master but, if the familiar should
ever be killed, the master will lose those bonus hit points and a like
amount of hit points from their hit point total for a period of 1 year.
The familiar summoned is determined by rolling a d20 and consulting
the following table:
d20 roll*
familiar
sensory powers
1-4
no familiar
no familiar is available within spell range
5-8
cat
twilight vision
9-10
crow
+2 bonus to perception checks
11-12
hawk
all range penalties to attack rolls are
halved due to superior distance vision
13-14
owl
twilight vision
15-16
rat
+2 bonus to perception checks
17-18
toad
wide-angle vision negates foes’ flanking
bonus to hit you
19-20
weasel
+2 bonus to perception checks
21+
caster’s choice
*Add 1 to the die roll per 5 caster levels.
Find the Path (reversible)
Divination
Level: Cleric 6, Bard 6, Druid 6, Illusionist 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 3 rounds
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The recipient of this spell can find the shortest, most direct physical route
to a specified destination, be it the way into or out of a locale. The
locale can be outdoors, under ground or even inside a maze spell. Find
the path works with respect to locations, not objects or creatures at a
locale. The location must be on the same plane as you are at the time
of casting.
The spell enables the subject to sense the correct direction that will
eventually lead it to its destination, indicating at appropriate times the
exact path to follow or physical actions to take. For example, the spell
enables the subject to sense trip wires or the proper word to bypass a
glyph of warding. The spell ends when the destination is reached or the
duration expires, whichever comes first. Find the path can be used to
remove the subject and its companions from the effect of a maze spell
in a single round.
This divination is keyed to the recipient, not its companions, and its
effect does not predict or allow for the actions of creatures (including
guardians).
The reverse of this spell, lose the path, makes the creature touched
totally lost and unable to find its way for the duration of the spell. It can
be led by others.
Material Component: A set of divination counters of the sort you favor.
Player’s Handbook 97
Find Traps
Divination
Level: Cleric 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
You gain intuitive insight into the workings of traps. You can use the
find traps ability to detect traps just as a thief can, by making a
perception check. In addition, you gain a +5 bonus on perception
checks made to find traps while the spell is in effect.
Note that find traps grants no ability to disable the traps that you may
find.
Finger of Death
Necromantic
Level: Druid 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Charisma partial
Magic Resistance: Yes
You can slay a single living creature within range. The target is entitled
to a charisma saving throw to survive the attack. If the save is
successful, the creature instead takes 8d6 points of damage.
The subject might die from damage even if it succeeds on its saving
throw.
Fireball
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: 20’ radius circle
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
A fireball spell is an explosion of flame that detonates with a low roar
and deals 1d6 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 9d6)
to every creature within the area. Items held or worn by one of the
spell’s targets must save versus fire (see Item Saving Throws on page
52) if that target failed his saving throw with a “1”. Other items in the
spell area must save as well.
You point your finger and determine the range (distance and height)
at which the fireball is to burst. A glowing, pea-sized bead streaks from
the pointing digit and, unless it impacts upon a material body or solid
barrier prior to attaining the prescribed range, blossoms into the
fireball at that point. (An early impact results in an early detonation.)
The fireball sets fire to combustibles and damages objects in the area
unless they make Item Saving Throws. It can melt metals with low
melting points, such as lead, gold, copper, silver and bronze. If the
damage caused to an interposing barrier shatters or breaks through it,
the fireball may continue beyond the barrier if the area permits;
otherwise it stops at the barrier just as any other spell effect does.
Material Component: A tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur.
Fire Seeds
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: Up to four acorns or eight holly berries
Duration: 1 turn/caster level or until used
Saving Throw: None or dexterity half; see text
Magic Resistance: No
Depending on the version of fire seeds you choose, you turn acorns
into splash weapons that you or another character can throw or turn
holly berries into bombs that you can detonate on command.
Acorn Grenades: As many as four acorns turn into special splash
weapons that can be hurled as far as 100 feet. A ranged attack
roll is required to strike the intended target. Together, the acorns
are capable of dealing 1d6 points of fire damage per caster
level (maximum 18d6), divided up among the acorns as you
wish. A creature struck directly is not allowed a saving throw.
Each acorn explodes upon striking any hard surface. In addition
to its regular fire damage, it deals 1 point of splash damage per
die and ignites any combustible materials within 5 feet. A
creature within the splash area that makes a successful dexterity
saving throw takes only half of the splash damage. Creatures
struck directly by an acorn grenade do not take splash damage.
Holly Berry Bombs: You turn as many as eight holly berries into
special bombs. The holly berries are usually placed by hand,
since they are too light to make effective thrown weapons (they
can be tossed only 5 feet). If you are within 200 feet and speak a
word of command each berry instantly bursts into flame, causing
1d8 points of fire damage, +1 point per caster level, to every
creature in a 5-foot radius sphere and igniting any combustible
materials within 5 feet. A creature in the area that makes a
successful dexterity saving throw takes only half damage.
Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus fire (see Item
Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving throw with a
“1” or was struck directly by an acorn grenade. Other items in the
spell area must save as well.
Material Component: The acorns or holly berries.
Fire Shield
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell wreathes you in flame and causes damage to each creature
that attacks you in melee. The flames also protect you from either
cold-based or fire-based attacks (your choice).
Any creature striking you with its body or a melee weapon deals
normal damage but, at the same time, the attacker takes 1d6 points
of damage, +1 point per caster level (maximum +15). This damage is
either cold damage (if the shield protects against fire-based attacks)
or fire damage (if the shield protects against cold-based attacks). If
the attacker has magic resistance, it applies to this effect. Creatures
wielding weapons with exceptional reach are not subject to this
damage if they attack you.
When casting this spell, you appear to immolate yourself, but the
flames are thin and wispy, giving off light equal to the illumination of a
normal torch (30’ radius). The color of the flames is blue-green if the
chill shield is cast, violet-blue if the warm shield is employed. The
special powers of each version are as follows.
Chill Shield: The flames are cool to the touch. You take only half
damage from fire-based attacks. If such an attack allows a
dexterity save for half damage, you take no damage on a
successful save.
Warm Shield: The flames are warm to the touch. You take only
half damage from cold-based attacks. If such an attack allows a
dexterity save for half damage, you take no damage on a
successful save.
Material Component: A bit of phosphorus for the warm shield; a live
firefly or glowworm or the tail portions of four dead ones for the chill
shield.
Fire Storm
Evocation
Level: Druid 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: 30’ radius circle
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
When a fire storm spell is cast, the whole area is shot through with
sheets of roaring flame. The raging flames do not harm natural
vegetation, ground cover and any plant creatures in the area that
Player’s Handbook 98
you wish to exclude from damage. Any other creature within the area
takes 10d6 points of fire damage + 1 additional point per caster level.
Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus fire (see Item
Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving throw with a
“1”. Other items in the spell area must save as well.
Fire Trap
Abjuration
Level: Druid 2, Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target: One object
Duration: Permanent until discharged (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity half; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Fire trap creates a fiery explosion when an intruder opens the item
that the trap protects. A fire trap can ward any object that can be
opened and closed.
When casting fire trap, you select a point on the object as the spell’s
center. When someone other than you opens the object, a fiery
explosion fills the area within a 5’ radius around the spell’s center. The
flames deal 1d4 points of fire damage +1 point per caster level
(maximum +20).
The item protected by the trap is not harmed by this explosion. Items
held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus fire (see Item Saving
Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving throw with a “1”.
A fire trapped item cannot have a second closure or warding spell
placed on it. A knock spell does not bypass a fire trap. An
unsuccessful dispel magic spell does not detonate the spell.
Underwater, this ward deals half damage and creates a large cloud
of steam.
You can use the fire trapped object without discharging it, as can any
individual to whom the object was specifically attuned when cast.
Attuning a fire trapped object to an individual usually involves setting
a password that you can share with friends.
Note: An assassin or thief can use the find traps ability to find a fire
trap and thwart it. The check penalty is equal to the level of the
spell’s caster.
Material Component: A half-pound of gold dust (cost 25 gp) sprinkled
on the warded object. This is expended when the spell is cast.
Flame Arrow
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: Fifty projectiles, all of which must be in contact with each
other at the time of casting
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You turn ammunition (such as arrows, bolts, shuriken and stones) into
fiery projectiles. Each piece of ammunition deals an extra 1d6 points
of fire damage to any target it hits. A flaming projectile can easily
ignite a flammable object or structure but won’t ignite a creature it
strikes (see Item Saving Throws on page 52).
Material Component: A drop of oil and a small piece of flint.
Flame Blade
Evocation
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: Sword-like beam
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
A 3-foot-long, blazing beam of red-hot fire springs forth from your
hand. You wield this bladelike beam as if it were a scimitar. Attacks
with the flame blade are melee attacks. The blade deals 1d8 points of
fire damage +1 point per two caster levels (maximum +10). A flame
blade can ignite combustible materials such as parchment, straw, dry
sticks and cloth items (see Item Saving Throws on page 52). An item
held or worn by an opponent need not save unless it is directly
targeted by the flame blade’s wielder.
The spell does not function underwater.
Flame Strike
Evocation
Level: Cleric 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: 10’ radius by 40’ high cylinder of divine fire
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
A flame strike produces a vertical column of divine fire roaring
downward. The spell deals 1d6 points of damage per caster level
(maximum 12d6). Half the damage is fire damage but the other half
results directly from divine power and is not subject to being reduced
by resistance to fire-based attacks. Items held by one of the spell’s
targets must save versus fire (see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if
that target failed his saving throw with a “1”. Other items in the spell
area must save as well.
Flaming Sphere
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: 5’ diameter sphere
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A burning globe of fire rolls in whichever direction you point and burns
those it strikes. It moves 60 feet per round so long as the caster
concentrates upon its movement. A flaming sphere rolls over barriers
less than 4 feet tall. It ignites flammable substances it touches and
illuminates the same area as a torch would.
If it enters a space with a creature it stops moving for the round and
deals 2d6 points of fire damage to that creature, though a successful
dexterity save negates that damage. Items held by one of the spell’s
targets must save versus fire (see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if
that target failed his saving throw with a “1”. Other items in the spell
area must save as well.
The sphere moves as long as you actively direct it (it may only attack
1 target per round); otherwise it merely stays at rest and burns. It can
be extinguished by any means that would put out a normal fire of its
size. The surface of the sphere has a spongy, yielding consistency and
so does not cause damage except by its flame. It cannot push aside
unwilling creatures or batter down large obstacles. A flaming sphere
winks out if it exceeds the spell’s range.
Arcane Material Component: A bit of tallow, a pinch of brimstone
and a dusting of powdered iron.
Flesh to Stone (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One creature (see text)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject, along with all its carried gear, turns into a mindless, inert
statue. If the statue resulting from this spell is broken or damaged the
subject, if ever returned to its original state, has similar damage or
deformities. The creature is not dead but does not seem to be alive
either. Only creatures made of flesh are affected by this spell.
The reverse of this spell, stone to flesh, restores a petrified creature to
its normal state, restoring life and goods. The creature must make a
constitution save to survive the process. Any petrified creature,
regardless of size, can be restored.
This spell also can convert a mass of stone into a fleshy substance.
Such flesh is inert and lacking a vital life force unless a life force or
magical energy is available. (For example, this spell would turn a stone
Player’s Handbook 99
golem into a flesh golem, but an ordinary statue would become a
corpse.) You can affect an object that fits within a cylinder from 1 foot
to 3 feet in diameter and up to 10 feet long or a cylinder of up to
those dimensions in a larger mass of stone.
Material Component: A pinch of earth and a drop of blood.
Fly
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject can fly at a movement rate of 120’ (24”) per round, 90’
(18”) if wearing medium or heavy armor or if carrying a medium to
heavy load. It can ascend at half speed and descend at double
speed, and its maneuverability class is B. Using a fly spell requires only
as much concentration as walking, so the subject can attack or cast
spells normally. The subject of a fly spell can make charge attacks but
cannot carry aloft more weight than its maximum load.
Should the spell duration expire while the subject is still aloft, the magic
fails slowly. The subject floats downward 120 feet per round for 1d6
rounds. If it reaches the ground in that amount of time, it lands safely.
If not, it falls the rest of the distance, taking 1d6 points of damage per
10 feet of fall. Since dispelling a spell effectively ends it, the subject
also descends in this way if the fly spell is dispelled, but not if it is
negated by an antimagic shell.
Arcane Material component: A wing feather from any bird.
Fog Cloud
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
A bank of fog billows out from the point you designate. The fog
obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature 5
feet away has 50% concealment. Creatures up to 10 feet away have
75% concealment while those further away have 100% concealment.
A moderate wind (11+ mph) disperses the fog in 4 rounds; a strong
wind (21+ mph) disperses the fog in 1 round.
The spell does not function underwater.
Forbiddance
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: 100’ radius cylinder, 50’ in height
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Forbiddance seals an area against all planar travel into or within it. This
includes all teleportation spells (such as dimension door and teleport),
plane shifting, astral travel, ethereal travel and all summoning spells).
Such effects simply fail.
In addition it damages entering creatures whose alignments are
different from yours. The effect on those attempting to enter the
warded area is based on their alignment relative to yours (see below).
A creature inside the area when the spell is cast takes no damage
unless it exits the area and attempts to reenter, at which time it is
affected as normal.
Alignments identical: No effect. The creature may enter the area
freely (although not by planar travel).
Alignments different with respect to either law/chaos or
good/evil: The creature takes 5d6 points of damage. A
successful wisdom save halves the damage and magic
resistance applies.
Alignments different with respect to both law/chaos and
good/evil: The creature takes 9d6 points of damage. A
successful wisdom save halves the damage and magic
resistance applies.
At your option the abjuration can include a password, in which case
creatures of alignments different from yours can avoid the damage
by speaking the password as they enter the area. You must select this
option (and the password) at the time of casting.
Dispel magic does not dispel a forbiddance effect unless the
dispeller’s level is at least as high as your caster level.
You can’t have multiple overlapping forbiddance effects. In such a
case, the more recent effect stops at the boundary of the older
effect.
Material Component: A sprinkling of holy water and rare incenses
worth at least 25,000 gp. If a password is desired, this requires the
burning of additional rare incenses worth at least 12,500 gp. These are
expended when the spell is cast.
Forcecage
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: Barred cage (20’ cube) or windowless cell (10’ cube)
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This powerful spell brings into being an immobile, invisible cubical
prison composed of either bars of force or solid walls of force (your
choice).
Creatures within the area are caught and contained unless they are
too big to fit inside, in which case the spell automatically fails.
Teleportation and other forms of astral travel provide a means of
escape, but the force walls or bars extend into the Ethereal Plane,
blocking ethereal travel.
Like a wall of force spell, a forcecage resists dispel magic but is
vulnerable to a disintegrate spell and can be destroyed by a sphere
of annihilation or a rod of cancellation.
Barred Cage: This version of the spell produces a 20’ cube made
of bands of force (similar to a wall of force spell) for bars. The
bands are a half-inch wide, with half-inch gaps between them.
Any creature capable of passing through such a small space
can escape; others are confined. You can’t attack a creature in
a barred cage with a weapon unless the weapon can fit
between the gaps. Even against such weapons (including arrows
and similar ranged attacks) a creature in the barred cage has
50% cover. All spells and breath weapons can pass through the
gaps in the bars.
Windowless Cell: This version of the spell produces a 10’ cube
with no way in and no way out. Solid walls of force form its six
sides.
Material Component: Ruby dust worth 1,500 gp, which is tossed into
the air and disappears when you cast the spell.
Foresight
Divination
Level: Druid 9, Magic-User 9, Illusionist 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal and touch
Target: See text
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell grants you a powerful sixth sense in relation to yourself and
one other creature. Once foresight is cast, you receive instantaneous
warnings of impending danger or harm to yourself and the spell’s
other subject.
While you receive warnings about danger to yourself and the other
subject, you must communicate what you learn to the other creature
for the warning to be useful. As such the other creature can be
caught unprepared in the absence of such a warning. Shouting a
warning, yanking the person back and telepathically communicating
Player’s Handbook 100
can all be accomplished before some danger befalls the subject,
provided you act on the warning without delay.
While protected by foresight you are never surprised and are immune
to all sneak attacks and the death attacks of assassins. In addition the
spell gives you a general idea of what action you might take to best
protect yourself, giving you a +3 bonus to armor class, initiative rolls
and dexterity saves. The other subject of this spell, however, does not
gain the bonuses or immunities that the personal use of this spell
grants.
Arcane Material Component: A hummingbird’s feather.
Forget
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area of Effect: 1-4 creatures in a 10’ radius circle
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
By means of this dweomer the spellcaster causes creatures within the
area of effect to forget the events of the previous minute (6 rounds of
time previous to the utterance of the spell). For every 3 caster levels of
the spellcaster another minute of past time is forgotten.
Forget in no way negates any charm, suggestion, geas, quest or
similar spell, though it is possible for the caster to place such magic
upon a victim and, later, be forgotten through the use of forget.
From 1-4 individual creatures can be affected by the spell, at the
discretion of the caster. If only 1 is to be affected the recipient’s
intelligence save suffers a –2 penalty; if 2 are affected, both targets
suffer a -1 penalty; and if 3 or 4 are to be targeted by this dweomer
they save normally.
A clerical heal or restoration spell, specially cast for this purpose, will
restore the lost memories, as will a wish, but other means will not serve
to do so.
Freedom
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 9
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close) or see text
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject is freed from spells and effects that restrict its movement,
including binding, entangle, grappling, imprisonment, maze, paralysis,
petrification, sleep, slow, stunning, time stop and web. To free a
creature from imprisonment or maze, you must know its name and
background and you cast this spell at the spot where it was
entombed or banished into the maze.
Freedom of Movement
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 4, Bard 4, Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell enables you or a creature you touch to move and attack
normally for the duration of the spell, even under the influence of
magic that usually impedes movement, such as paralysis, solid fog,
slow and web. The subject automatically succeeds on any escape
artist checks.
The spell also allows the subject to move and attack normally while
underwater, even with slashing weapons such as axes and swords or
with bludgeoning weapons such as flails, hammers and maces,
provided that the weapon is wielded in the hand rather than hurled.
The freedom of movement spell does not, however, allow water
breathing.
Material Component: A leather thong, bound around the arm or a
similar appendage. This thong is not consumed by the spell’s casting.
Friends
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 1, Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 turn
Saving Throw: Charisma partial; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
A friends spell causes the caster to gain a +3 bonus to all charisma
ability checks, excluding saving throws, for the spell’s duration.
In addition friends offers limited protection to the caster. Hostile living
creatures of animal or greater intelligence must succeed at a
charisma save in order to attack the caster. Any creature attacked
by the caster is immune to this effect of the spell, as are creatures with
6 or more hit dice.
The components for this spell are chalk (or white flour), lampblack (or
soot) and vermillion applied to the face before casting the spell.
Gaseous Form
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 2 minutes/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: No
The subject and all its gear become insubstantial, misty and
translucent. He cannot be harmed except by magical fire, cold or
lightning, in which case damage is normal. The creature is subject to
the effects of wind and can’t enter water or other liquids. A gust of
wind spell or even normal strong air currents will blow the gaseous
form backwards 10’ per 5 mph of winds each round. A whirlwind spell
will inflict double damage upon any creature in gaseous form.
A gaseous creature can’t run, but it can fly at a movement rate of 30’
per round (maneuverability class A). When in gaseous form the
individual is able to enter any space which is not airtight, i.e., a small
crack or hole which allows air to penetrate also allows entry by a
creature in gaseous form.
He can’t attack or cast spells while in gaseous form. The subject also
loses its spell-like abilities while in gaseous form. If it has a touch spell
ready to use, that spell is discharged harmlessly when the gaseous
form spell takes effect. He also can’t manipulate objects or activate
items, even those carried along with its gaseous form. Continuously
active items remain active, though in some cases their effects may be
moot.
Gate
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 9, Magic-User 9
Components: V, S, XP; see text
Casting Time: 1 round; see text
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: See text
Duration: Instantaneous or concentration (up to 1 round/caster level
+3 rounds); see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Casting a gate spell has two effects. First, it creates an inter-
dimensional connection between your plane of existence and a
Player’s Handbook 101
plane you specify, allowing travel between those two planes in either
direction. Second, you may then call a particular individual or kind of
being through the gate.
The gate itself is a circular hoop or disk from 5 to 20 feet in diameter
(caster’s choice), oriented in the direction you desire when it comes
into existence (typically vertical and facing you). It is a two-
dimensional window looking into the plane you specified when
casting the spell and anyone or anything that moves through is
shunted instantly to the other side. A gate has a front and a back.
Creatures moving through the gate from the front are transported to
the other plane; creatures moving through it from the back are not.
Planar Travel: As a mode of planar travel, a gate spell
functions much like a plane shift spell except that the gate
opens precisely at the point you desire. Deities and other
beings who rule a planar realm can prevent a gate from
opening in their presence or personal demesnes if they so
desire. Travelers need not join hands with you - anyone who
chooses to step through the portal is transported. A gate
cannot be opened to another point on the same plane; the
spell works only for inter-planar travel.
You may hold the gate open only for a brief time (no more
than 1 round per caster level) and must concentrate on
doing so or else the inter-planar connection is severed 3
rounds after you stop concentrating upon the gate.
Calling Creatures: The second effect of the gate spell is to
call an extraplanar creature to your aid. By naming a
particular being or kind of being as you cast the spell you
cause the gate to open in the immediate vicinity of the
desired creature and pull the subject through, willing or
unwilling. Deities and unique beings are under no
compulsion to come through the gate, although they may
choose to do so of their own accord. This use of the spell
creates a gate that remains open just long enough to
transport the called creatures. This use of the spell has an XP
cost (see below).
If you choose to call a kind of creature instead of a known individual
you may call either a single creature (of any HD) or several creatures.
You can call and control several creatures as long as their HD total
does not exceed your caster level. In the case of a single creature,
you can control it if its HD do not exceed twice your caster level. A
single creature with more HD than twice your caster level can’t be
controlled. Deities and unique beings cannot be controlled in any
event. An uncontrolled being acts as it pleases, making the calling of
such creatures rather dangerous. An uncontrolled being may return to
its home plane at any time.
A controlled creature can be commanded to perform a service for
you. Such services fall into two categories: immediate tasks and
contractual service. Fighting for you in a single battle or taking any
other actions that can be accomplished within 1 round per caster
level counts as an immediate task; you need not make any
agreement or pay any reward for the creature’s help. The creature
departs at the end of the spell.
A task taking up to 1 minute per caster level requires a payment of
100 gp per HD of the creature called. For a task taking up to 1 hour
per caster level, the creature requires a payment of 500 gp per HD. A
long-term task, one requiring up to one day per caster level, requires
a payment of 1,000 gp per HD. Note that payment need not be
made directly to the gated creature and can take a variety of forms,
from donating gold or magic items to an allied temple, to a gift given
directly to the creature, to some other action on your part that
matches the creature’s alignment and goals.
A non-hazardous task requires only half the indicated payment while
an especially hazardous task might require a greater gift. Few if any
creatures will accept a task that seems suicidal (remember, a called
creature actually dies when it is killed, unlike a summoned creature).
However if the task is strongly aligned with the creature’s ethos, it may
halve or even waive the payment.
Regardless, this payment must be made before the creature agrees
to perform any services. If you choose to exact a longer or more
involved form of service from a called creature, you must offer some
fair trade in return for that service. The service exacted must be
reasonable with respect to the promised favor or reward. The
bargaining takes at least 1 round, so any actions by the creature
begin in the round after it arrives.
Immediately upon completion of the service the being is transported
to your vicinity and you must then and there turn over the promised
reward. After this is done the creature is instantly freed to return to its
own plane. Failure to fulfill the promise to the letter results in your
being subjected to service by the creature or by its liege and master,
at the very least. At worst the creature or its kin may attack you.
XP Cost: 10,000 XP (only for the calling creatures function).
Geas/Quest
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 6, Bard 6, Druid 6, Magic-User 6
Casting Time: 1 turn
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A geas places a magical command on a creature to carry out some
service or to refrain from some action or course of activity, as desired
by you. While a geas cannot compel a creature to kill itself or perform
acts that would result in certain death, it can cause almost any other
course of activity.
The geased creature must follow the given instructions until the geas is
completed, no matter how long it takes. If the instructions involve
some open-ended task that the recipient cannot complete through
his own actions the spell remains in effect for a maximum of one day
per caster level. A clever recipient can subvert some instructions.
If the subject fails to obey the geas for 24 hours it takes 2d4 points of
damage. This is repeated each day it does not attempt to follow the
geas/quest. Neither natural nor magical healing by any means short
of a heal or regenerate spell can cure this damage.
In addition the subject becomes sickened should it fail to follow its
geas. Sickened creatures suffer a -2 penalty to strength and dexterity
checks, as well as attack and damage rolls, and take a -2 penalty to
their armor class. Movement is reduced to ½ its normal rate, rounded
to the nearest 5’ increment. These effects end 24 hours after the
creature attempts to resume the geas/quest.
A remove curse spell ends a geas/quest spell only if its caster level is at
least two higher than your caster level. Break enchantment does not
end a geas/quest but limited wish, miracle and wish do.
Bards, druids and magic-users usually refer to this spell as geas, while
clerics call the same spell quest.
Glassee
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Area of Effect: Special, see text
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: None
By means of this spell the magic-user is able to make a 2’ radius
section of non-magical metal, stone or wood as transparent as glass.
Normally, up to four inches of metal can be seen through, stone up to
1' thick can be made transparent, or 3' of wood can be affected by
the glassee spell. The spell will not work on lead, gold or platinum.
The magic-user can opt to make the glassee work only for himself for
the duration of the spell, or he can actually make a transparent area,
a one-way window, in the material affected.
The material component of the spell is a small piece of crystal or glass.
Glassteel
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 8 segments
Range: Touch
Area of Effect: Up to 10 lbs of crystal or glass/caster level
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
The glassteel spell turns non-magical crystal or glass into a transparent
substance which has the tensile strength and malleability of actual
steel. Only a relatively small volume of material can be affected, a
maximum weight of 10 pounds per level of experience of the
spellcaster, and it must form one whole object. The cost of the glass
or crystal item to be transformed depends upon its volume and
Player’s Handbook 102
craftsmanship, though each pound of glass would cost at least 1 gold
piece.
The material component of this spell is a small piece of steel.
Globe of Invulnerability
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
This spell functions like minor globe of invulnerability, except that it also
excludes 4th level spells and spell-like powers.
Glyph of Warding
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target or Area: One object of up to 5 sq. ft./caster level
Duration: Permanent until discharged (dismissible)
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No and Yes; see text
This powerful inscription harms those who enter, pass or open the
warded area or object. A glyph of warding can guard a bridge or
passage, ward a portal, trap a chest or box, and so on.
You set the conditions of the ward. Typically, any creature entering
the warded area or opening the warded object without speaking a
password (which you set when casting the spell) is subject to the
magic it stores. Alternatively, or in addition to a password trigger,
glyphs can be set according to physical characteristics (such as
height or weight) or creature type, subtype, or kind. Glyphs can also
be set with respect to good, evil, law, or chaos, or to pass those of
your religion. They cannot be set according to class, hit dice, or level.
Glyphs respond to invisible creatures normally but are not triggered by
those who travel past them ethereally. Multiple glyphs cannot be cast
on the same area. However, if a cabinet has three drawers, each can
be separately warded.
When casting the spell, you weave a tracery of faintly glowing lines
around the warding sigil. A glyph can be placed to conform to any
shape up to the limitations of your total square footage. When the
spell is completed, the glyph and tracery become nearly invisible.
Glyphs cannot be affected or bypassed by such means as physical or
magical probing, though they can be dispelled. Mislead, polymorph,
and nondetection (and similar magical effects) can fool a glyph,
though non-magical disguises and the like can’t. Read magic allows
you to identify a glyph of warding with a knowledge: arcana skill
check. Identifying the glyph does not discharge it and allows you to
know the basic nature of the glyph (version, type of damage caused,
what spell is stored).
Note: Note: An assassin or thief can use the find traps ability to find
glyphs of warding and thwart them. The check penalty is equal to the
level of the spell’s caster.
Depending on the version selected, a glyph either blasts the intruder
or activates a spell.
Blast Glyph: A blast glyph deals 1d8 points of damage per two
caster levels (maximum 5d8) to the intruder and to all within 5
feet of him. This damage is acid, cold, fire, electricity, or sonic
(caster’s choice, made at time of casting). Each creature
affected can attempt a dexterity save to take half damage.
Magic resistance applies against this effect. Items held by one
of the spell’s targets must save versus the relevant effect (see
Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving
throw with a “1”.
Spell Glyph: You can store any harmful spell of 3rd level or lower
that you know. All level-dependent features of the spell are
based on your caster level at the time of casting the glyph. If the
spell has a target, it targets the intruder. If the spell has an area
of effect it is centered on the intruder. If the spell summons
creatures, they appear as close as possible to the intruder and
attack. Saving throws and magic resistance operate as normal.
Material Component: You trace the glyph with incense, which must
first be sprinkled with powdered diamond worth at least 200 gp. Both
incense and powdered diamond are expended when the spell is
cast.
Goodberry
Alteration
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: 2d4 fresh berries
Duration: One day/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
Casting goodberry upon a handful of freshly picked berries makes 2d4
of them magical. You (as well as any other druid or ranger) can
immediately discern which berries are affected. Each transmuted
berry provides nourishment as if it were a normal meal for a Medium
creature. The berry also cures 1 point of damage when eaten, subject
to a maximum of 8 points of such curing in any 24-hour period.
Grease
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target or Area: One object or a 10’ radius circle
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity partial; see text
Magic Resistance: No
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease.
Any creature in the area when the spell is cast, or who enters the area
while the spell is in effect, must make a successful dexterity save or fall
prone. This save must be made each round, on the caster’s initiative,
by those who remain within the spell’s area of effect. Those who make
their save may move within or through the area of grease at ½ of their
normal movement rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment.
The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item.
Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while an
object wielded or employed by a creature receives a dexterity saving
throw to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw fails, the creature
immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made in each
round that the creature attempts to pick up or use the greased item.
A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 bonus on
escape artist checks made to escape from restraints or bounds and to
avoid being grappled.
Material Component: A bit of pork rind or butter.
Guards and Wards
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 3 turns
Range: Anywhere within the area to be warded
Area: Up to 200 sq. ft./caster level
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: See text
This powerful spell is primarily used to defend your stronghold. The
ward protects 200 square feet per caster level. The warded area can
be as much as 20 feet high, and shaped as you desire. You can ward
several stories of a stronghold by dividing the area among them; you
must be somewhere within the area to be warded to cast the spell.
The spell creates the following magical effects within the warded
area:
Fog: Fog fills all corridors, obscuring all sight, including darkvision,
beyond 5 feet. A creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment.
Creatures up to 10 feet away have 75% concealment while
those further away have 100% concealment. Saving Throw:
None. Magic Resistance: No.
Wizard Locks: All doors in the warded area are wizard locked.
Saving Throw: None. Magic Resistance: No.
Webs: Webs fill all stairs from top to bottom. These strands are
identical with those created by the web spell, except that they
regrow in 1 turn if they are burned or torn away while the guards
and wards spell lasts. Saving Throw: Dexterity negates; see text
for web. Magic Resistance: No.
Player’s Handbook 103
Confusion: Where there are choices in direction - such as a
corridor intersection or side passage - a minor confusion -type
effect functions so as to make it 50% probable that intruders
believe they are going in the opposite direction from the one
they actually chose. Saving Throw: None. Magic Resistance:
Yes.
Lost Doors: One door per caster level is covered by a silent image
to appear as if it were a plain wall. Saving Throw: Intelligence
disbelief (if interacted with). Magic Resistance: No.
In addition, you can place your choice of one of the following five
magical effects:
Dancing lights in four corridors. You can designate a simple
program that causes the lights to repeat as long as the guards
and wards spell lasts. Saving Throw: None. Magic Resistance: No.
A magic mouth in two places. Saving Throw: None. Magic
Resistance: No.
A stinking cloud in two places. The vapors appear in the places
you designate; they return within 1 turn if dispersed by wind while
the guards and wards spell lasts. Saving Throw: constitution
negates; see text for stinking cloud. Magic Resistance: No.
A gust of wind in one corridor or room. Saving Throw: strength
negates. Magic Resistance: Yes.
A suggestion in one place. You select an area of up to 5 feet
square, and any creature who enters or passes through the area
receives the suggestion mentally. Saving Throw: charisma
negates. Magic Resistance: Yes.
The whole warded area radiates strong magic of the abjuration
school. A dispel magic cast on a specific effect, if successful, removes
only that effect. A successful Mordenkainen’s disjunction destroys the
entire guards and wards effect.
Material Component: Burning incense, a small measure of brimstone
and oil, a knotted string, and a small amount of blood are expended
in when this spell is cast. A small silver rod must be held by the caster
at the time of casting, though this is not expended when the spell is
completed.
Gust of Wind
Evocation
Level: Druid 2, Magic-User 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: 60’ long by 5’ wide gust of severe wind emanating from you
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Strength negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell creates a severe blast of air (approximately 50 mph) that
originates from you, affecting all creatures in its path.
Small creatures are knocked prone by the force of the wind and
take 1d6 of non-lethal damage or, if flying, are blown back
1d6x10 feet and takes 2d6 points of non-lethal damage due to
battering and buffeting.
Medium creatures are unable to move forward against the force
of the wind or, if flying, are blown back 1d6x5 feet and take 1d6
points of non-lethal damage.
Large creatures may move normally within a gust of wind effect.
A gust of wind can’t move a creature beyond the limit of its
range.
Any creature, regardless of size, takes a -4 penalty on ranged
attacks and any perception checks in the area of a gust of wind.
The force of the gust automatically extinguishes candles, torches, and
similar unprotected flames. It causes protected flames, such as those
of lanterns, to dance wildly and has a 50% chance to extinguish those
lights.
In addition to the effects noted, a gust of wind can do anything that a
sudden blast of wind would be expected to do. It can create a
stinging spray of sand or dust, fan a large fire, overturn delicate
awnings or hangings, heel over a small boat, and blow gases or
vapors to the edge of its range.
Gust of wind can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Hallucinatory Terrain
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 4, Druid 4, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: One 30’ cube/caster level
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with)
Magic Resistance: No
You make natural terrain look, sound, and smell like some other sort of
natural terrain. Structures, equipment, and creatures within the area
are not hidden or changed in appearance.
Material Component: A stone, a twig and a bit of green plant.
Haste (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One creature/caster level, no two of which can be more than
30’ apart
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The transmuted creatures move and act more quickly than normal.
Hasted characters may make an extra attack each round and
double their usual movement rate. When hasted a spellcaster may
still only cast one spell per round.
In addition, a hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls,
initiative rolls, armor class and dexterity saves.
The reverse of this spell, slow, causes affected creatures to move and
attack at a drastically slowed rate. A slowed creature may only
attack once every other round if it normally makes 1 attack each
round. Creatures that make multiple attacks per round lose one
attack each round. Spells cast by slowed casters take twice their
usual time to cast.
Additionally, slowed creatures suffer a –1 penalty to attack rolls,
initiative rolls, armor class and dexterity saves. A slowed creature
moves at half of its normal movement rate.
Multiple haste or slow effects don’t stack. Slow counters and dispels
haste and vice versa.
Material Component: A shaving of licorice root for haste. A drop of
molasses for slow.
Heal (reversible)
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 6, Druid 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Constitution negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Heal enables you to channel positive energy into a creature to wipe
away injury and afflictions. It immediately ends any and all of the
following adverse conditions affecting the target: ability damage,
blinded,
confused,
deafened,
diseased,
exhausted,
fatigued,
feebleminded, insanity, sickened, stunned, and poisoned. It also cures
up to 100 hit points of damage.
Heal does not restore permanently drained levels, or restore
permanently drained ability score points.
The reverse of this spell, harm, charges a subject with negative energy
that deals 100 points of damage. If the creature successfully saves,
harm deals 50 points of damage. Harm cannot reduce the target’s
hit points to less than 1.
If used on an undead creature, harm acts like heal. If used against an
undead creature, heal instead acts like harm.
Player’s Handbook 104
Heat Metal (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature per two caster levels, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
Duration: 7 rounds
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Heat metal makes metal extremely warm. A creature takes fire
damage if its equipment is heated. It takes full damage if wearing
metal armor or carrying metallic items weighing one-fifth of its weight.
The creature takes minimum damage (1 point or 2 points; see the
table below) if it’s not wearing metal armor or carrying metallic items
weighing less than one-fifth of its weight.
On the first round of the spell, the metal becomes warm and
uncomfortable to touch but deals no damage. The same effect also
occurs on the last round of the spell’s duration. During the second
(and also the next-to-last) round, intense heat causes pain and
damage. In the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, the metal is searing hot,
causing more damage, as shown on the table below.
round
metal temperature
damage
1
warm
none
2
hot
1d4 points
3–5
searing
2d4 points
6
hot
1d4 points
7
warm
none
Any cold intense enough to damage the creature negates fire
damage from the spell (and vice versa) on a point-for-point basis. If
cast underwater, heat metal deals half damage and warms the
surrounding water.
The reverse of this spell, chill metal, makes metal extremely cold. It
affects the targeted creature just as heat metal does, excepting that
the damage inflicted is from biting cold rather than searing heat.
Underwater, chill metal deals no damage, but ice immediately forms
around the affected metal, making it more buoyant.
Chill metal counters and dispels heat metal and vice versa.
Heroes’ Feast
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 6, Druid 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn; see text
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Feast for one creature/caster level
Duration: 2 hours; see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You bring forth a great feast, including a magnificent table, chairs,
service, food and drink. The feast takes 1 hour to consume and the
beneficial effects do not set in until this hour is over. Every creature
partaking of the feast is cured of all diseases, sickness, and nausea.
They also become immune to poison for 12 hours and gain 4d8+8
temporary hit points after imbibing the nectar-like beverage that is
part of the feast. The ambrosial food that is consumed grants each
creature that partakes a +1 bonus on attack rolls and constitution
saves, as well as immunity to fear effects for 12 hours.
If the feast is interrupted for any reason, the spell is ruined and all
effects of the spell are negated.
Hold Animal
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S
Target: One animal
This spell functions like hold person, except that it affects an animal
instead of a humanoid.
Hold Monster
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 4, Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S, M
Target: One creature
This spell functions like hold person, except that it affects any living
creature that fails its strength save.
Arcane Material Component: One hard metal bar or rod, which can
be as small as a three-penny nail.
Hold Person
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 2, Bard 2, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One humanoid creature
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible); see text
Saving Throw: Strength negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject becomes paralyzed and freezes in place. It is aware and
breathes normally but cannot take any actions, even speech. A
winged creature that is paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A
swimmer can’t swim and may drown. Held creatures are considered
to be incapacitated opponents (see page 57 for more details).
A held creature may attempt another saving throw on its turn each
round to break free of the spell’s effect. Once this save is made the
spell is negated.
Arcane Material Component: A small, straight piece of iron.
Hold Plant
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One plant creature
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
The spell effects apply to all forms of vegetation, including parasitic
and fungoid types, and those magically animated or otherwise
magically empowered. It affects such monsters as green slime, molds
of any sort, shambling mounds, shriekers, treants, etc. Other than the
type of creatures it affects, this spell functions like hold person.
Hold Portal
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 1
Component: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One portal with an area of up to 20 sq. ft./caster level
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell magically holds shut a door, portcullis, gate, window or
shutter of wood, metal or stone. The magic affects the portal just as if
it were securely closed and normally locked. A knock spell or a
successful dispel magic spell can negate a hold portal spell.
Add 5 to the normal penalty for forcing open a held portal and
reduce all damage done to the portal by 50%.
Holy Aura (reversible)
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Targets: One creature/caster level in a 20’ radius sphere centered on
you
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: Yes
A brilliant divine radiance surrounds the subjects, protecting them
from attacks, granting them resistance to spells cast by evil creatures,
and causing evil creatures to become blinded when they strike the
subjects. This abjuration has four effects:
First, each warded creature gains a +4 bonus to AC and +4
bonus to its saves. Unlike protection from evil, this benefit applies
against all attacks, not just against attacks by evil creatures.
Player’s Handbook 105
These bonuses may not be combined with those gained from
spells or items of protection (i.e. ring of protection or protection
from evil spell).
Second, each warded creature gains a magic resistance rating
equal to ½ of the casting cleric’s level (round fractions down)
against spells and spell-like abilities employed by evil creatures.
Third, the abjuration blocks possession and mental influence, just
as protection from evil does.
Finally, if an evil creature succeeds on a melee attack against a
warded creature, the offending attacker is blinded (constitution
save negates, as blindness/deafness).
The reverse of this spell, unholy aura, surrounds the subjects in
malevolent darkness, protecting them from attacks, granting them
resistance to spells cast by good creatures, and blinding good
creatures when they strike the subjects. The effects mirror those of holy
aura except that they work against good-aligned creatures.
Material Component: A tiny reliquary containing some sacred relic.
The reliquary costs at least 500 gp and is not consumed by this spell’s
casting.
Holy Word (reversible)
Evocation
Level: Cleric 7
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: Evil creatures in a 40’ radius circle centered on you
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None or Wisdom negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Any evil creature within the area that hears the holy word suffers the
following ill effects.
hit dice
effect
equal to caster level
stunned
up to caster level -1
blinded, stunned
up to caster level -5
paralyzed, blinded & stunned
up to caster level -10
killed
The effects are cumulative and concurrent. No saving throw is
allowed against these effects.
Stunned: The creature is stunned for 1d4 rounds.
Blinded: The creature is blinded for 2d4 rounds.
Paralyzed: The creature is paralyzed and helpless for 1d10
minutes.
Killed: Living creatures die. Undead creatures are destroyed.
Furthermore, if you are on your home plane when you cast this spell,
non-good extraplanar creatures within the area are instantly banished
back to their home planes. Creatures so banished cannot return for at
least 24 hours. This effect takes place regardless of whether the
creatures hear the holy word. The banishment effect allows a wisdom
save (at a –2 penalty) to negate.
Creatures whose HD exceed your caster level are unaffected by holy
word.
The reverse of this spell, unholy word, affects good creature within the
area just as holy word affects evil creatures.
Hypnotic Pattern
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: 2d4 hit dice of creatures +1 additional hit die/2 caster levels, no
two of which may be more than 30’ apart
Duration: 2d4 rounds (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Your gestures and droning incantation fascinate nearby creatures,
causing them to stop and stare blankly at you. In addition, you can
use their rapt attention to make your suggestions and requests seem
more plausible.
Roll 2d4 to see how many total hit dice of creatures you affect,
adding 1 additional HD for every 2 casters levels you have achieved.
Creatures with fewer HD are affected before creatures with more HD.
Only creatures that can see or hear you are affected, but they do not
need to understand you to be fascinated. If used in combat, the
subjects gain a +2 bonus to their saving throws.
While the subject is fascinated by this spell it reacts as though it were
two steps more friendly in attitude, so long as you do not attack or
threaten it. This allows you to make a single request of the affected
creature (provided you can communicate with it). The request must
be brief and reasonable. Even after the spell ends, the creature
retains its new attitude toward you, but only with respect to that
particular request. A creature that fails its saving throw does not
remember that you enspelled it.
Ice Storm
Evocation
Level: Druid 5, Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: 30’ radius by 40’ high cylinder
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
Great magical hailstones pound down for 1 round, dealing 3d6 points
of bludgeoning damage and 2d6 points of cold damage to every
creature in the area.
A -4 penalty applies to all perception checks made within the ice
storm’s effect, and all land movement within its area is at half speed.
At the end of the duration, the hail disappears, leaving no aftereffects
(other than the damage dealt).
Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus either frost or
crushing (see Item Saving Throws on page 52), depending on what
effect dealt more damage, if that target failed his saving throw with a
“1”.
Arcane Material Component: A pinch of dust and a few drops of
water.
Identify
Divination
Level: Bard 1, Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: Touch
Targets: One object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
The spell determines up to four magic properties of a single magic
item, including how to activate those functions (if appropriate), and
how many charges are left (if any). Identify does not function when
used on an artifact.
Material Component: A pearl of at least 100 gp value, crushed and
stirred into wine with an owl feather; the infusion must be drunk prior to
spellcasting.
Illusionary Script
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 3, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute or longer; see text
Range: Touch
Target: One object weighing no more than 10 lbs
Duration: One day/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
You write instructions or other information on parchment, paper or any
suitable writing material. The casting time depends on how long a
message you wish to write, but it is always at least 1 minute.
Illusionary script appears to be some form of foreign or magical
writing. Only the person (or people) designated by you at the time of
the casting are able to read the writing; it’s unintelligible to any other
character, although an illusionist recognizes it as illusionary script.
Any unauthorized creature attempting to read the script triggers a
potent illusory effect and must make a saving throw. A successful
saving throw means the creature can look away with only a mild
Player’s Handbook 106
sense of disorientation. Failure means the creature is subject to a
suggestion implanted in the script by you at the time the illusory script
spell was cast. The suggestion lasts only 30 minutes. Typical suggestions
include “Close the book and leave,” “Forget the existence of the
book,” and so forth.
If successfully dispelled by dispel magic, the illusionary script and its
secret message disappear. The hidden message can be read by a
combination of the true seeing spell along with the read magic or
comprehend languages spell.
Material Component: A lead-based ink (cost of not less than 50 gp).
Illusory Wall
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Image with dimensions no greater than 1’ by 10’ by 10’
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with)
Magic Resistance: No
This spell creates the illusion of a wall, floor, ceiling or similar surface. It
appears absolutely real when viewed but physical objects can pass
through it without difficulty. When the spell is used to hide pits, traps or
normal doors, any detection abilities that do not require sight work
normally. Touch or a probing search reveals the true nature of the
surface, though such measures do not cause the illusion to disappear.
Imbue with Spell Ability
Evocation
Level: Cleric 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target: One creature; see text
Duration: Permanent until discharged (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You transfer some of your currently prepared spells, and the ability to
cast them, to another creature. Only a creature with an intelligence
score of at least 6 and a wisdom score of at least 9 can receive this
bestowal. Only cleric spells from the schools of abjuration, divination
and conjuration/summoning can be transferred. The number and
level of spells that the subject can be granted depends on its hit dice;
even multiple castings of imbue with spell ability can’t exceed this
limit.
recipient’s HD
spells imbued
2 or lower
one 1st level spell
3–4
one or two 1st level spells
5 or higher
one or two 1st level spells & one 2nd level spell
The transferred spell’s variable characteristics (range, duration, area,
saving throws and the like) function according to your level, not the
level of the recipient.
Once you cast imbue with spell ability, you cannot prepare a new 4th
level spell to replace it until the recipient uses the imbued spells or is
slain, or until you dismiss the imbue with spell ability spell. In the
meantime, you remain responsible to your deity for the use to which
the spell is put. If the number of 4th level spells you can cast decreases,
and that number drops below your current number of active imbue
with spell ability spells, the more recently cast imbued spells are
dispelled.
To cast a spell with a verbal component, the subject must be able to
speak. To cast a spell with a somatic component, it must have
humanlike hands. To cast a spell with a material component, it must
have the material component on-hand.
Imprisonment
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 9
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
When you cast imprisonment and touch a creature, it is entombed in
a state of suspended animation (see the temporal stasis spell) in a
small sphere far beneath the surface of the earth. The subject remains
there unless a freedom spell is cast at the locale where the
imprisonment took place.
Magical search by a crystal ball, a locate object spell or some other
similar divination does not reveal the fact that a creature is imprisoned
but discern location does. A wish or miracle spell will not free the
recipient but will reveal where it is entombed. If you know the target’s
name and some facts about its life, the target takes a –2 penalty on its
save.
Improved Arcane Sight
Divination
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
This spell functions like arcane sight, except that you automatically
know which spells or magical effects are active upon any individual or
object you see.
Improved arcane sight doesn’t let you identify magic items. Unlike
arcane sight, this spell cannot be made permanent with a
permanency spell.
Improved Dispel Magic
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 6, Bard 5, Druid 6, Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
This spell functions like dispel magic, except that you gain an
additional +5 bonus on your caster level check.
Additionally, improved dispel magic has a chance to dispel any
effect that remove curse can remove, even if dispel magic can’t
dispel that effect.
Improved Enchanted Weapon
Alteration
Level: Cleric 4, Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One weapon or fifty projectiles (all of which must be in
contact with each other at the time of casting)
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like enchanted weapon, except that it gives a
weapon a bonus on attack and damage rolls of +1 per four caster
levels (maximum +5).
Alternatively, you can affect as many as fifty arrows, bolts or bullets.
The projectiles must be of the same kind and have to be together (in
the
same
quiver
or
other
container).
Projectiles
lose
their
enchantment when used.
Arcane Material Component: Powdered lime and carbon.
Improved Glyph of Warding
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 6
This spell functions like glyph of warding, except that an improved
blast glyph deals up to 10d8 points of damage, and an improved spell
glyph can store a spell of 6th level or lower.
Material Component: You trace the glyph with incense, which must
first be sprinkled with powdered diamond worth at least 400 gp.
Improved Invisibility
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
This spell functions like invisibility except that it doesn’t end if the
subject attacks.
Improved Magic Fang
Alteration
Level: Druid 3
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Player’s Handbook 107
This spell functions like magic fang except that the bonus on attack
and damage rolls is +1 per four caster levels (maximum +5).
Alternatively you may imbue all of the creature’s natural weapons
with a +1 bonus (regardless of your caster level).
Improved magic fang can be made permanent with a permanency
spell.
Improved Phantasmal Force
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 3
Duration: Concentration + 3 rounds
This spell functions like silent image, except that sound, smell, and
thermal illusions are included in the spell effect. While concentrating,
you can move the image within the range.
The image disappears when struck by an opponent unless you cause
the illusion to react appropriately.
Improved Planar Binding
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S
Targets: Up to three elementals or extraplanar creatures, totaling no
more than 15 HD, no two of which can be more than 30’ apart when
they appear.
This spell functions like lesser planar binding, except that you may call
a single creature of 15 HD or less, or up to three creatures of the same
kind whose hit dice total no more than 15. Each creature gets a
saving throw, makes independent attempts to escape, and must be
persuaded to aid you individually.
Improved Prying Eyes
Divination
Level: Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
This spell functions like prying eyes, except that the eyes can see all
things as they actually are, just as if they had true seeing with a range
of 120’. They can navigate darkened areas at their normal movement
rate.
Improved Restoration
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 7
Components: V, S, XP
Casting Time: 1 turn
This spell functions like lesser restoration, except that it also restores 1d4
drained levels. Drained levels are restored only if the time since the
creature lost the level is no more than one week per caster level.
Improved restoration also dispels all magical effects penalizing the
creature’s abilities, cures all temporary ability damage and restores all
points permanently drained from all ability scores. It also eliminates
fatigue and exhaustion, and removes all forms of insanity, confusion
and similar mental effects. Improved restoration does not restore
levels or constitution points lost due to death.
XP Cost: 5,000 XP.
Improved Scrying
Divination
Level: Cleric 7, Bard 6, Druid 7, Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
This spell functions like scrying, except as noted above. Additionally,
all of the following spells function reliably through the sensor: detect
evil, detect invisibility, detect magic, message, read magic, and
tongues.
Improved Shadow Conjuration
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 7
This spell functions like shadow conjuration, except that it can
duplicate any magic-user conjuration spell of 6th level or lower. The
illusory conjurations created deal three-fifths (60%) damage to non-
believers, and non-damaging effects are 60% likely to work against
non-believers.
Improved Shadow Evocation
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 8
This spell functions like shadow evocation, except that it enables you
to create partially real, illusory versions of magic-user evocation spells
of 7th level or lower. If recognized as an improved shadow evocation,
a damaging spell deals only three-fifths (60%) damage.
Improved Spell Immunity
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 8
This spell functions like spell immunity, except the immunity applies to
spells of 8th level or lower. A creature can have only one spell
immunity or improved spell immunity spell in effect on it at a time.
Incendiary Cloud
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Dexterity half; see text
Magic Resistance: No
An incendiary cloud spell creates a cloud of roiling smoke shot
through with white-hot embers. The smoke obscures all sight as a fog
cloud does. In addition, the white-hot embers within the cloud deal
3d6 points of fire damage to everything within the cloud each round.
All targets can make dexterity saves each round to take half
damage. Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus fire
(see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving
throw with a “1”. Other items in the spell area must save as well.
As with a cloudkill spell, the smoke moves away from you at 10 feet
per round. Figure out the smoke’s new spread each round based on
its new point of origin, which is 10 feet farther away from where you
were when you cast the spell.
The spell also obscures vision, providing concealment to those with
the spell’s radius. A creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment.
Creatures up to 10 feet away have 75% concealment while those
further away have 100% concealment.
As with fog cloud, wind disperses the smoke, and the spell can’t be
cast underwater.
Insanity
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The affected creature suffers from a permanent confusion effect, as
the spell. Remove curse does not remove insanity. Improved
restoration, heal, limited wish, miracle, or wish can restore the
creature.
Insect Plague
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 5, Druid 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Effect: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
When this spell is cast, a horde of creeping, hopping and flying insects
swarm in a thick cloud. These insects obscure vision, granting
concealment to those within the cloud and limit all vision within or into
the cloud to 15 feet.
A creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment. Creatures up to 10 feet
away have 75% concealment while those further away have 100%
concealment.
Player’s Handbook 108
Creatures within the insect plague sustain 2d6 hit point of damage
each round they remain in it due to the bites and stings of the insects,
regardless of armor class.
Heavy smoke will drive off insects within its bounds. Fire, lightning or
extreme cold will also drive away insects within its area of effect
(torches clear a 5’ square of insects, if the torchbearer spends one
round clearing that square, while a fireball cast into the center of the
insect swarm destroys it).
The insect plague does not move after it is summoned into existence.
The material components of this spell, other than a holy symbol or
mistletoe, are a few grains of sugar, some kernels of grain and a
smear of fat.
Spellcasting within the confines of an insect plague spell requires a
concentration check with a penalty equal to the damage the caster
suffered that round.
Invisibility
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: A creature or object weighing no more than 100 lb./caster
level
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The creature or object touched becomes invisible, vanishing from
sight, even from darkvision. If the recipient is a creature carrying gear,
that vanishes, too. If you cast the spell on someone else, neither you
nor your allies can see the subject, unless you can normally see
invisible things or you employ magic to do so. Invisible creatures have
100% concealment.
Items dropped or put down by an invisible creature become visible;
items picked up disappear if tucked into the clothing or pouches worn
by the creature. Light, however, never becomes invisible, although a
source of light can become so (thus, the effect is that of a light with
no visible source).
Of course, the subject is not magically silenced, and certain other
conditions can render the recipient detectable (such as stepping in a
puddle). The spell ends if the subject attacks any creature. For
purposes of this spell, an attack includes any spell targeting a foe or
whose area of effect includes a foe.
Actions directed at unattended objects do not break the spell.
Causing harm indirectly is not an attack. Thus, an invisible being can
open doors, talk, eat, climb stairs, summon monsters and have them
attack, cut the ropes holding a rope bridge while enemies are on the
bridge, remotely trigger traps, open a portcullis to release attack
dogs, and so forth. If the subject attacks directly, however, it
immediately becomes visible along with all its gear. Spells such as
bless that specifically affect allies but not foes are not attacks for this
purpose, even when they include foes in their area.
Invisibility can be made permanent (on objects only) with a
permanency spell.
Material Component: An eyelash encased in a bit of gum arabic.
Invisibility to Animals
Abjuration
Level: Druid 1
Components: S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: One creature/caster level
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Animals cannot see, hear or smell the warded creatures. Animals
simply act as though the warded creatures are not there. If a warded
character touches an animal or attacks any creature, even with a
spell, the spell ends for that character.
Invisibility to Undead
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: One creature/caster level
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Undead cannot see, hear or smell the warded creatures. Non-
intelligent undead creatures are automatically affected and act as
though the warded creatures are not there. An intelligent undead
creature gets a single wisdom saving throw. If it fails, the subject can’t
see any of the warded creatures. However, if it has reason to believe
unseen opponents are present, it can attempt to find or strike them. If
a warded creature attempts to turn or command undead, touches
an undead creature, or attacks any creature (even with a spell), the
spell ends for that creature.
Invisibility Purge
Evocation
Level: Illusionist 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: 50’ radius circle
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
You surround yourself with a sphere of power with a radius of 50’ that
negates all forms of invisibility. Anything invisible becomes visible while
in the area.
Invisibility 10’ Radius
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Area: 10’ radius sphere around the targeted creature or object
This spell functions like invisibility, except that this spell confers invisibility
upon all creatures within 10 feet of the recipient. The center of the
effect is mobile with the recipient.
Those affected by this spell can see each other and themselves as if
unaffected by the spell. Any affected creature moving out of the
area becomes visible, but creatures moving into the area after the
spell is cast do not become invisible. Affected creatures (other than
the recipient) that attack negate the invisibility only for themselves. If
the spell recipient attacks, the invisibility 10’ radius ends.
Invisible Stalker
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User, Illusionist 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One summoned creature
Duration: 1 day/caster level (dismissible)
Magic Resistance: No
This spell summons an invisible stalker from the Elemental Plane of Air.
This 8 hit die monster will obey and serve the spellcaster in
performance of whatever tasks are set before it. Though the creature
is bound to serve; it does not do so from loyalty or desire.
Therefore it will resent prolonged missions or complex tasks and will
attempt to pervert instructions accordingly (see the MONSTER
MANUAL for complete details on invisible stalkers). The invisible stalker
follows instructions even at hundreds or thousands of miles distance. It
is a faultless tracker within one day of a given quarry's passing.
The material components of this spell are burning incense and a
piece of horn carved into a crescent shape. They are expended
upon the casting of this spell.
Iron Body
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
This spell transforms your body into living iron, which grants you several
powerful resistances and abilities. You are immune to ability score
damage, blindness, deafness, disease, drowning, electricity, poison,
stunning, and all spells or attacks that affect your physiology or
respiration, because you have no physiology or respiration while this
Player’s Handbook 109
spell is in effect. You cannot drink (and thus can’t use potions) or play
wind instruments. You take only half damage from acid and fire of all
kinds. You do not take additional damage from backstab and sneak
attacks, and subtract 10 points of damage from all attacks or spells
that strike you.
You gain a +3 bonus to all strength checks but your movement rate is
reduced to half normal. You may not cast arcane spells while
affected by the iron body spell and suffer a -3 penalty to all dexterity
checks. Your unarmed attacks deal 1d6 damage. Your weight
increases by a factor of ten, causing you to sink in water like a stone.
Luckily you can survive the crushing pressure and lack of air at the
bottom of the ocean - until the spell duration expires. Unfortunately,
you become vulnerable to all special attacks that affect iron golems.
Material Component: A small piece of iron that was once part of
either an iron golem, a hero’s armor, or a war machine.
Jump
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject gets a +10 bonus on all strength checks made in order to
jump. The bonus increases to +15 at caster level 6, +20 at caster level
11 and +25 at caster level 16 and beyond.
Material Component: A grasshopper’s hind leg, which you break
when the spell is cast.
Knock
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One door, box or chest with an area of up to 10 sq. ft./caster
level
Duration: Instantaneous; see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
The knock spell opens stuck, barred, locked, held or wizard locked
doors. It opens secret doors, as well as locked or trick-opening boxes
or chests. It also loosens welds, shackles or chains (provided they serve
to hold closures shut). If used to open a wizard locked door, the spell
does not remove the wizard lock but simply suspends its functioning
for 1 turn. In all other cases, the door does not relock itself or become
stuck again on its own.
Knock does not raise barred gates or similar impediments (such as a
portcullis), nor does it affect ropes, vines and the like. The effect is
limited by the area. Each spell can undo as many as two means of
preventing egress.
Know Alignment (reversible)
Divination
Level: Cleric 2, Bard 2, Druid 2, Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal or close
Target: Your or one creature
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 turn/caster level; see text
(dismissible)
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
A know alignment spell enables the caster to know the exact
alignment of a creature within 30’ of him by concentrating upon that
creature. The caster may concentrate upon another creature each
round in order to learn its alignment.
Certain magical devices or spells (such as undetectable alignment or
misdirection) will negate the ability to know alignment.
The reverse of this spell, undetectable alignment, conceals the
alignment of one object or willing creature within 30’ from all forms of
divination. This use of the spell does not require the caster to maintain
concentration upon the target, nor does it require that the target
remain within 30’ of the caster once the spell is cast.
Know Direction
Divination
Level: Bard 0, Druid 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
Magic Resistance: Yes
You instantly know the direction of north from your current position.
The spell is effective in any environment in which “north” exists, but it
may not work in extraplanar settings. Your knowledge of north is
correct at the moment of casting, but you can get lost again within
moments if you don’t find some external reference point to help you
keep track of direction.
Legend Lore
Divination
Level: Bard 4, Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: See text
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: See text
Legend lore brings to your mind legends about an important person,
place or thing. If the person or thing is at hand, or if you are in the
place in question, the casting time is only 1d4 turns. If you have only
detailed information on the person, place or thing, the casting time is
1d10 days and the resulting lore is less complete and specific (though
it often provides enough information to help you find the person,
place or thing, thus allowing a better legend lore result next time). If
you know only rumors, the casting time is 2d6 weeks and the resulting
lore is vague and incomplete (though it often directs you to more
detailed information, thus allowing a better legend lore result next
time).
During the casting you cannot engage in other than routine activities:
eating, sleeping and so forth. When completed, the divination brings
legends (if any) about the person, place or things to your mind. These
may be legends that are still current, legends that have been
forgotten or even information that has never been generally known. If
the person, place or thing is not of legendary importance, you gain
no information. As a rule of thumb, characters who are 9th level and
higher are “legendary,” as are the sorts of creatures they contend
with, the major magic items they wield and the places where they
perform their key deeds.
Arcane Material Component: Incense worth at least 250 gp must be
burned when this spell is cast. Four strips of ivory (worth 50 gp each)
that are formed into a rectangle are not consumed by this spell.
Leomund's Lamentable Belaborment
Enchantment
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One or more creatures in a 10’ radius
Duration: Special
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates (see below)
Magic Resistance: Yes
This devious spell distracts creatures in a 10’ radius circle by drawing
them into an absorbing discussion on topics of interest to them. The
targeted creatures must be able to understand the spellcaster’s
language.
Upon casting the spell, the magic-user begins discussion of some topic
germane to the creature or creatures to be affected. Those making a
successful
saving
throw
are
unaffected.
Affected
creatures
immediately begin to converse with the spellcaster, agreeing or
disagreeing, all most politely, for four rounds.
As long as the spellcaster chooses, he can maintain the spell by
conversing with the subject(s). If the caster is attacked or otherwise
distracted, the subject creatures do not notice. The wizard can leave
at any time after the casting and the subject(s) continue on as if the
caster were still present. As long as they are not attacked, the
creatures ignore all else going on around them, spending their time
talking and arguing to the exclusion of other activities. However, when
the caster leaves, each subject completes only the stage of the spell
that it is currently in, and then the spell is broken.
Player’s Handbook 110
If the caster maintains the spell for more than four rounds, each
affected creature can make another saving throw at the beginning
of the 5th round. Those failing to save wander off in confusion for
1d10+2 rounds, staying away from the spellcaster. Those who make
this saving throw continue to talk during rounds 5-8.
If the spell is maintained for more than eight rounds, each subject
must make a successful saving throw to avoid going into a rage,
attacking all other subjects of the spell with intent to kill. This rage lasts
for 4 rounds, from rounds 9-12. Those who successfully save against the
rage effect realize that they have been deceived and collapse to the
ground, lamenting their foolishness, for 4 rounds unless attacked or
otherwise disturbed.
Leomund’s Secret Chest
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: See text
Target: One chest and up to 1 cu. ft. of goods/caster level
Duration: Sixty days or until discharged
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You hide a chest on the Ethereal Plane for as long as sixty days and
can retrieve it at will. The chest can contain up to 1 cubic foot of
material per caster level (regardless of the chest’s actual size, which is
about 3 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet). If any living creatures are in the
chest, there is a 75% chance that the spell simply fails. Once the chest
is hidden you can retrieve it by concentrating for 1 round, and it
appears next to you.
The chest must be exceptionally well-crafted and expensive,
constructed for you by master crafters. The cost of such a chest is
never less than 5,000 gp. Once it is constructed you must make a tiny
replica (of the same materials and perfect in every detail) so that the
miniature of the chest appears to be a perfect copy. (The replica
costs 50 gp.)
You can have but one pair of these chests at any given time - even a
wish spell does not allow more. The chests are non-magical and can
be fitted with locks, wards and so on, just as any normal chest can be.
To hide the chest you cast the spell while touching both the chest and
the replica. The chest vanishes into the Ethereal Plane. You need the
replica to recall the chest. After sixty days there is a cumulative
chance of 5% per day that the chest is irretrievably lost. If the
miniature of the chest is lost or destroyed there is no way, not even
with a wish spell, that the large chest can be summoned back,
although an extraplanar expedition might be mounted to find it.
Living things in the chest eat, sleep and age normally, and they die if
they run out of food, air, water or whatever they need to survive.
Material Component: The chest and its replica.
Leomund’s Secure Shelter
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M; see text
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: 20’ square structure
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You conjure a sturdy cottage or lodge made of material that is
common in the area where the spell is cast. The floor is level, clean
and dry. In all respects the lodging resembles a normal cottage, with
a sturdy door, two shuttered windows and a small fireplace.
The shelter has no heating or cooling source (other than natural
insulation qualities). Therefore it must be heated as a normal dwelling,
and extreme heat adversely affects it and its occupants. The dwelling
does, however, provide considerable security otherwise - it is as strong
as a normal stone building, regardless of its material composition. The
dwelling resists flames and fire as if it were stone. It is impervious to
normal missiles (but not the sort cast by siege engines or giants).
The door, shutters and chimney are secure against intrusion, the
former two being wizard locked and the latter secured by an iron
grate at the top and a narrow flue. In addition these three areas are
protected by an alarm spell. Finally an unseen servant is conjured to
provide service to you for the duration of the shelter.
The secure shelter contains rude furnishings - eight bunks, a trestle
table, eight stools and a writing desk.
Material Component: A square chip of stone, crushed lime, a few
grains of sand, a sprinkling of water and several splinters of wood.
These must be augmented by the components of the unseen servant
spell (string and a bit of wood) if this benefit is to be included.
Optional Material Component: The material component of the alarm
spell (silver wire and a tiny bell) if this benefit is to be included. These
are not expended.
Leomund’s Tiny Hut
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: 20’ radius sphere centered on your location
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You create an unmoving, opaque sphere of force of any color you
desire around yourself. Half the sphere projects above the ground,
and the lower hemisphere passes through the ground. As many as
nine other Medium creatures can fit into the field with you; they can
freely pass into and out of the hut without harming it. However, if you
remove yourself from the hut, the spell ends.
The temperature inside the hut is 70° F if the exterior temperature is
between 0° and 100° F. An exterior temperature below 0° or above
100° lowers or raises the interior temperature on a 1-degree-for-1 basis.
The hut also provides protection against the elements, such as rain,
dust, and sandstorms. The hut withstands any wind of less than
hurricane force, but a hurricane (75+ mph wind speed) or greater
force destroys it.
The interior of the hut is a hemisphere. You can illuminate it dimly upon
command or extinguish the light as desired. Although the force field is
opaque from the outside, it is transparent from within. Missiles,
weapons, and most spell effects can pass through the hut without
affecting it, although the occupants cannot be seen from outside the
hut. They can only be attacked if they are attacking or otherwise
detected somehow (typically through a perception check to hear
them). They always cause their attacker to attack at a -4 on “to hit”
rolls because their location cannot be accurately pinpointed,
effectively granting those within 100% concealment.
Material Component: A small crystal bead that shatters when the spell
duration expires or the hut is dispelled.
Leomund’s Trap
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object
Duration: Permanent (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell makes a lock or other small mechanism seem to be trapped
to anyone who can detect traps. You place the spell upon any small
mechanism or device, such as a lock, hinge, hasp, cork, cap, or
ratchet. Any character able to detect traps, or who uses any spell or
device enabling trap detection, is 100% certain a real trap exists. Of
course, the effect is illusory and nothing happens if the trap is
“sprung”; its primary purpose is to frighten away thieves or make them
waste precious time.
If another Leomund’s trap is active within 50 feet when the spell is
cast, the casting fails.
Material Component: A piece of iron pyrite touched to the object to
be trapped while the object is sprinkled with a special dust requiring
50 gp to prepare. The iron pyrite is not expended by this spell’s
casting.
Player’s Handbook 111
Lesser Planar Binding
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 30’ (Close); see text
Target: One elemental or extraplanar creature with 6 HD or less
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: No and Yes; see text
Casting this spell attempts a dangerous act: to lure a creature from
another plane to a specifically prepared trap, which must lie within
the spell’s range. The called creature is held in the trap until it agrees
to perform one service in return for its freedom.
To create the trap, you must use a magic circle spell, focused inward.
The kind of creature to be bound must be known and stated. If you
wish to call a specific individual, you must use that individual’s proper
name in casting the spell.
The target creature is allowed an intelligence saving throw. If the
saving throw succeeds, the creature resists the spell. If the saving
throw fails, the creature is immediately drawn to the trap (magic
resistance does not keep it from being called). The creature can
escape from the trap with by successfully pitting its magic resistance
against your concentration check (see page 63), by dimensional
travel, or with a successful charisma save with a penalty equal to your
caster level. It can try each method once per day. If it breaks loose, it
can flee or attack you. A dimensional anchor cast on the creature
prevents its escape via dimensional travel. You can also employ a
calling diagram (see protection from evil/good 10’ radius) to make
the trap more secure. If the creature does not break free of the trap,
you can keep it bound for as long as you dare.
You can attempt to compel the creature to perform a service by
describing the service and perhaps offering some sort of reward. You
must win an opposed charisma common ability check against the
creature.
If the creature wins the opposed check, it refuses service. New offers,
bribes and the like can be made or the old ones reoffered every 24
hours. This process can be repeated until the creature promises to
serve, until it breaks free or until you decide to get rid of it by means of
some other spell. Impossible demands or unreasonable commands
are never agreed to. If you roll a natural “1” on the opposed charisma
check, the creature breaks free of the binding and can escape or
attack you.
Once the requested service is completed, the creature need only so
inform you to be instantly sent back whence it came. The creature
might later seek revenge. If you assign some open-ended task that
the creature cannot complete though its own actions the spell
remains in effect for a maximum of one day per caster level, and the
creature gains an immediate chance to break free. Note that a
clever recipient can subvert some instructions.
Lesser Restoration
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 2, Druid 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 3 rounds
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the
subject’s ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability
damage to one of the subject’s ability scores. It also eliminates any
fatigue or exhaustion suffered by the character. It does not restore
permanent ability drain or drained levels, nor does it negate ability
check penalties due to the sickened condition, discomfort (as with
the antipathy spell), illness, etc.
Levitate
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature or object (total weight up to 100 lb./caster level)
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
Levitate allows you to move yourself, another creature, or an object
up and down as you wish. A creature must be willing to be levitated,
and an object must be unattended or possessed by a willing creature.
You can mentally direct the recipient to move up or down as much as
40 feet each round by concentration upon the recipient. You cannot
move the recipient horizontally, but the recipient could clamber along
the face of a cliff, for example, or push against a ceiling to move
laterally (generally at half its base land speed).
A levitating creature that attacks with a melee or ranged weapon
finds itself increasingly unstable; the first attack has a –1 penalty on
attack rolls, the second –2, and so on, to a maximum penalty of –5. A
round spent stabilizing allows the creature to begin again at –1.
Material Component: Either a small leather loop or a piece of golden
wire bent into a cup shape with a long shank on one end. The casting
of this spell does not expend the material component.
Light
Evocation
Level: Cleric 0, Bard 0, Druid 0, Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell causes an object to glow like a torch, shedding light in a 30’
foot radius from the point you touch. The effect is immobile, but it can
be cast on a movable object. Light taken into an area of magical
darkness does not function.
A light spell counters and dispels a darkness spell of an equal or lower
level and vice versa.
Arcane Material Component: A firefly or a piece of phosphorescent
moss.
Lightning Bolt
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Special)
Area: 100’ long bolt of electricity
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: Yes
You release a powerful stroke of electrical energy from your fingertips
that deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per caster level (maximum
9d6) to each creature within its 100’ line of effect. Items held by one
of the spell’s targets must save versus lightning (see Item Saving Throws
on page 52) if that target failed his saving throw with a “1”.
The lightning bolt sets fire to combustibles and damages objects in its
path. It can melt metals with a low melting point, such as lead, gold,
copper, silver, or bronze. If the damage caused to an interposing
barrier shatters or breaks through it, the bolt may continue beyond the
barrier if the spell’s range permits; otherwise, it stops at the barrier just
as any other spell effect does.
Material Component: A bit of fur and an amber, crystal, or glass rod.
These materials are not expended by the spell’s casting.
Limited Wish
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, XP
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: See text
Effect: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
A limited wish lets you create nearly any type of effect. For example,
a limited wish can do any of the following things.
• Duplicate any illusionist/magic-user spell of 6th level or lower.
• Duplicate any other spell of 5th level or lower.
Player’s Handbook 112
• Undo the harmful effects of many spells, such as geas/quest or
insanity.
• Produce any other effect whose power level is in line with the
above effects, such as a single creature automatically hitting on
its next attack or taking a –7 penalty on its next saving throw.
A duplicated spell allows saving throws and magic resistance as
normal. When a limited wish duplicates a spell that has an XP cost,
you must pay that cost or 3,000 XP, whichever is more. When a limited
wish spell duplicates a spell with a material component that costs
more than 1,000 gp, you must provide that component.
XP Cost: 3,000 XP or more (see above).
Liveoak
Alteration
Level: Druid 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target: One tree
Duration: One day/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell turns an oak tree into a protector or guardian. The spell can
be cast on only a single tree at a time; while liveoak is in effect, you
can’t cast it again on another tree. The tree on which the spell is cast
must be within 10 feet of your dwelling place, within a place sacred to
you, or within 300 feet of something that you wish to guard or protect.
Liveoak must be cast on a healthy oak tree. A triggering phrase of up
to one word per caster level is placed on the targeted oak. The
liveoak spell triggers the tree into animating as a treant. If liveoak is
dispelled, the tree takes root immediately, wherever it happens to be.
If released by you, the tree tries to return to its original location before
taking root.
Locate Creature
Divination
Level: Bard 4, Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
This spell functions like locate object, except this spell locates a known
or familiar creature.
You slowly turn and sense when you are facing in the direction of the
creature to be located, provided it is within range. You also know in
which direction the creature is moving, if any.
The spell can locate a creature of a specific kind or a specific
creature known to you. To find a kind of creature, you must have seen
such a creature up close (within 30 feet) at least once.
Running water blocks the spell. It cannot detect objects. It can be
fooled by mislead, nondetection, and polymorph spells.
Material Component: A bit of fur from a bloodhound.
Locate Object
Divination
Level: Cleric 3, Bard 2, Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: Circle, centered on you, with a radius of 400’ + 40’/caster level
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You sense the direction of a well-known or clearly visualized object.
You can search for general items, in which case you locate the
nearest one of its kind if more than one is within range. Attempting to
find a certain item requires a specific and accurate mental image; if
the image is not close enough to the actual object, the spell fails.
You cannot specify a unique item unless you have observed that
particular item firsthand (not through divination).
The spell is blocked by even a thin sheet of lead. Creatures cannot be
found by this spell. Polymorph any object fools it.
Arcane Material component: A forked twig that is not consumed by
the casting of this spell.
Magic Fang
Alteration
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Magic fang gives one natural weapon of the subject a +1 bonus on
attack and damage rolls. The spell can affect an unarmed attack or
other natural weapon. (The spell does not change an unarmed strike’s
damage from non-lethal damage to lethal damage.)
Magic fang can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Magic Jar
Necromantic
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/caster level or until you return to your body
Saving Throw: Charisma negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
By casting magic jar, you place your soul in a gem or large crystal
(known as the magic jar), leaving your body lifeless. Then you can
attempt to take control of a nearby body, forcing its soul into the
magic jar. You may move back to the jar (thereby returning the
trapped soul to its body) and attempt to possess another body. The
spell ends when you send your soul back to your own body, leaving
the receptacle empty.
To cast the spell, the magic jar must be within spell range and you
must know where it is, though you do not need line of sight or line of
effect to it. When you transfer your soul upon casting, your body is, as
near as anyone can tell, dead.
While in the magic jar, you can sense and attack any life force within
10 feet per caster level (and on the same plane of existence). You do
need line of effect from the jar to the creatures. You cannot
determine the exact creature types or positions of these creatures. In
a group of life forces, you can sense a difference of 3 or more hit dice
between one creature and another and can determine whether a life
force is powered by positive or negative energy. (Undead creatures
are powered by negative energy. Only sentient undead creatures
have, or are, souls.)
You could choose to take over either a stronger or a weaker creature,
but which particular stronger or weaker creature you attempt to
possess is determined randomly.
Attempting to possess a body takes 1 round. It is blocked by
protection from evil or a similar ward. You possess the body and force
the creature’s soul into the magic jar unless the subject succeeds on a
charisma save. Failure to take over the host leaves your life force in
the magic jar, and the target automatically succeeds on further
saving throws if you attempt to possess its body again.
If you are successful, your life force occupies the host body, and the
host’s life force is imprisoned in the magic jar. You keep your
intelligence, wisdom, charisma, level, class, bonus to hit (BtH),
Player’s Handbook 113
alignment, and mental abilities. The body retains its strength, dexterity,
constitution, hit points, natural abilities, and automatic abilities. A
body with extra limbs does not allow you to make more attacks (or
more advantageous two-weapon attacks) than normal. You can’t
choose to activate the body’s spell-like powers because the
creature’s spell-like powers do not stay with the body.
Each round, you can shift freely from a host to the magic jar if within
range, sending the trapped soul back to its body. The spell ends when
you shift from the jar to your own body.
If the host body is slain, you return to the magic jar, if within range, and
the life force of the host departs (it is dead). If the host body is slain
beyond the range of the spell, both you and the host die. Any life
force with nowhere to go is treated as slain.
If the spell ends while you are in the magic jar, you return to your body
(or die if your body is out of range or destroyed). If the spell ends while
you are in a host, you return to your body (or die, if it is out of range of
your current position), and the soul in the magic jar returns to its body
(or dies if it is out of range). Destroying the receptacle ends the spell,
and the spell can be dispelled at either the magic jar or at the host’s
location.
Material Component: A gem or crystal worth at least 100 gp.
Magic Missile
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Targets: Up to five creatures
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
A missile of magical energy darts forth from your fingertip and strikes its
target unerringly, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage.
For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional missile -
two at 3rd level, three at 5th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five
missiles at 9th or higher level. If you shoot multiple missiles, you can
have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single missile
can strike only one creature. You must designate targets before you
check for magic resistance or roll damage.
Magic Mouth
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature or object
Duration: Permanent until discharged
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell imbues the chosen object or creature with an enchanted
mouth that suddenly appears and speaks its message the next time a
specified event occurs. The message, which must be twenty-five or
fewer words long, can be in any language known by you and can be
delivered over a period of 1 turn. The mouth cannot utter verbal
components, use command words or activate magical effects. It
does, however, move according to the words articulated; if it were
placed upon a statue, the mouth of the statue would move and
appear to speak. Of course, magic mouth can be placed upon a
tree, rock or any other object or creature.
The spell functions when specific conditions are fulfilled according to
your command as set in the spell. Commands can be as general or as
detailed as desired, although only visual and audible triggers can be
used. Triggers react to what appears to be the case. Disguises and
illusions can fool them. Normal darkness does not defeat a visual
trigger, but magical darkness or invisibility does. Silent movement or
magical silence defeats audible triggers. Audible triggers can be
keyed to general types of noises or to a specific noise or spoken word.
Actions can serve as triggers if they are visible or audible. A magic
mouth cannot distinguish alignment, level, hit dice, or class except by
external garb.
The range limit of a trigger is 15 feet per caster level, so a 6th level
caster can command a magic mouth to respond to triggers as far as
90 feet away. Regardless of range, the mouth can respond only to
visible or audible triggers and actions in line of sight or within hearing
distance.
Magic mouth can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Material Component: A small bit of honeycomb and jade dust worth
10 gp. They are expended when this spell is cast.
Magic Stone
Alteration
Level: Cleric 1, Druid 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: Up to three pebbles
Duration: 1 turn/caster level or until discharged
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You transmute as many as three pebbles, no larger than sling bullets,
into +1 weapons that strike with great force when thrown or slung.
If thrown, they have a range increment of 20 feet. If slung, they have
a range increment 50 feet. Thrown or slung stones deas 1d6+1 points
of damage or 2d6+2 points against undead.
Major Creation
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Illusionist 5
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 30’ (Close)
Duration: See text
This spell functions like minor creation, except that you can also
create an object of mineral nature: stone, crystal, metal, or the like.
The duration of the created item varies with its relative hardness and
rarity, as indicated on the following table.
hardness & rarity examples
duration
vegetable matter
2 hours/caster level
stone, crystal, base metals
1 hour/caster level
precious metals
2 turns/caster level
gems
1 turn/caster level
rare metal1
1 round/caster level
1 includes adamantite and mithral.
Mass Charm
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 6, Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Components: V
Targets: One or more creatures, no two of which can be more than
30’ apart
Duration: One day/caster level
This spell functions like charm monster, except that mass charm
affects a number of creatures whose combined HD do not exceed
twice your caster level, or at least one creature regardless of HD. If
there are more potential targets than you can affect, you choose
them one at a time until you choose a creature with too many HD.
Massmorph
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 3, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: 10, Medium-sized, creatures /caster level within 30’ of the
caster
Duration: Special
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
Player’s Handbook 114
When this spell is cast upon willing creatures of Medium size or smaller,
up to 10 such creatures per level of experience of the caster can be
made to appear as normal trees of any sort. Thus, a company of
creatures can be made to appear as a copse, grove, or orchard.
Furthermore, these massmorphed creatures can be passed through -
and even touched - by other creatures without revealing the illusion.
Note, however, that blows to the creature-trees will reveal their
nature, as damage will be sustained by the creatures struck and
blood will be seen. Massmorphed creatures must be within 30’ of the
caster.
Unwilling creatures are not affected. The spell persists until the caster
commands it to cease or until a dispel magic is successfully cast upon
the creatures. The material component of this spell is a handful of bark
chips.
Mass Invisibility
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, M
Range: 400’ (Long)
Targets: Any number of creatures, no two of which can be more than
180’ apart
This spell functions like invisibility, except that the effect is mobile with
the group and is broken when anyone in the group attacks.
Individuals in the group cannot see each other. The spell is broken for
any individual who moves more than 180 feet from the nearest
member of the group. (If only two individuals are affected, the one
moving away from the other one loses its invisibility. If both are moving
away from each other, they both become visible when the distance
between them exceeds 180 feet.)
Material Component: An eyelash encased in a bit of gum arabic.
Mass Suggestion
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 5, Illusionist 6
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Targets: One creature/caster level, no two of which can be more than
30’ apart
This spell functions like suggestion, except that it can affect more
creatures. The same suggestion applies to all these creatures.
Maze
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: See below
Magic Resistance: Yes
You banish the subject into an extra-dimensional labyrinth of force
planes. Each round, on its turn, it may attempt an intelligence save,
with a penalty equal to your caster level, to escape the labyrinth. If
the subject doesn’t escape the maze disappears after 1 turn, forcing
the subject to leave.
On escaping or leaving the maze, the subject reappears where it had
been when the maze spell was cast. If this location is filled with a solid
object, the subject appears in the nearest open space. Spells and
abilities that move a creature within a plane, such as teleport and
dimension door, do not help a creature escape a maze spell,
although a plane shift spell allows it to exit to whatever plane is
designated in that spell. Minotaurs are not affected by this spell.
Meld into Stone
Alteration
Level: Cleric 3, Druid 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Meld into stone enables you to meld your body and possessions into a
single block of stone. The stone must be large enough to
accommodate your body in all three dimensions. When the casting is
complete you merge with the stone. You may not carry more weight
than your maximum encumbrance permits.
While in the stone, you remain in contact, however tenuous, with the
face of the stone through which you melded. You remain aware of
the passage of time and can cast spells on yourself while hiding in the
stone. Nothing that goes on outside the stone can be seen, but you
can still hear what happens around you.
Minor physical damage to the stone does not harm you, but its partial
destruction (to the extent that you no longer fit within it) expels you
and deals 5d6 points of damage to you. The stone’s complete
destruction expels you and slays you instantly unless you make a
constitution save with a –5 penalty.
Any time before the duration expires, you can step out of the stone
through the surface that you entered. If the spell’s duration expires or
the effect is dispelled before you voluntarily exit the stone, you are
violently expelled and take 5d6 points of damage.
The following spells harm you if cast upon the stone that you are
occupying:
Passwall: Expels you without damage.
Stone shape: Deals 2d6 points of damage but does not expel
you.
Stone to flesh: Expels you and deals 4d6 points of damage.
Transmute rock to mud: Expels you and then slays you instantly
unless you make a constitution save with a –5 penalty, in which
case you are merely expelled.
Melf’s Acid Arrow
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Effect: One arrow of acid
Duration: 1 round + 1 round per three caster levels
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
A magical arrow of acid springs from your hand and speeds to its
target. You must succeed on a ranged attack to hit your target. The
arrow deals 2d4 points of acid damage. For every three caster levels
the acid, unless somehow neutralized, lasts for another round, dealing
another 2d4 points of damage in that round.
Material Component: Powdered rhubarb leaf and an adder’s
stomach, which are expended, and a dart, which is not.
Mending
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object of up to 1 lb.
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Mending repairs small breaks or tears in objects (but not warps, such
as might be caused by a warp wood spell). It will weld broken metallic
objects such as a ring, a chain link, a medallion, or a slender dagger,
providing but one break exists.
Player’s Handbook 115
Ceramic or wooden objects with multiple breaks can be invisibly
rejoined to be as strong as new. A hole in a leather sack or a wineskin
is completely healed over by mending. The spell can repair a magic
item, but the item’s magical abilities are not restored. The spell cannot
mend broken magic rods, staffs, or wands, nor does it affect creatures
(including animated creatures).
Message
Alteration
Level: Bard 0, Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Targets: One creature/caster level within 100’
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can whisper messages and receive whispered replies with little
chance of being overheard. You point your finger at each creature
you want to receive the message. When you whisper, the whispered
message is audible to all targeted creatures within range. Magical
silence, 1’ of stone, an inch of common metal (or a thin sheet of
lead), or 3’ of wood or dirt blocks the spell. The message does not
have to travel in a straight line. It can circumvent a barrier if there is an
open path between you and the subject, and the path’s entire length
lies within the spell’s range. The creatures that receive the message
can whisper a reply that you hear. The spell transmits sound, not
meaning. It doesn’t transcend language barriers.
Note: To speak a message, you must mouth the words and whisper,
possibly allowing observers the opportunity to read your lips.
Material Component: A short piece of copper wire, which is not
consumed by the spell’s casting.
Meteor Swarm
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 9
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: Four, 40’ radius circles; see text
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None or dexterity half; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Meteor swarm is a very powerful and spectacular spell that is similar to
fireball in many aspects. When you cast it, four 2’ diameter spheres
spring from your outstretched hand and streak in straight lines to the
spots you select. The meteor spheres leave a fiery trail of sparks.
If you aim a sphere at a specific creature, you may make a ranged
attack to strike the target with the meteor. Any creature struck by one
of these spheres takes 2d6 points of bludgeoning damage (no save)
and receives no saving throw against the sphere’s fire damage (see
below). You may aim more than one meteor at the same target.
Regardless of whether it strikes or misses its target, each sphere
explodes in a 40’ radius circle when it reaches its destination, dealing
5d6 points of fire damage to each creature in the area. If a creature is
within the area of more than one sphere, it must save separately
against each. (Fire resistance applies to each sphere’s damage
individually.) Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus
magical fire (see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed
his saving throw with a “1”. Other items in the spell area must save as
well.
Mind Blank
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 9, Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: 24 hours
Saving Throw: Wisdom (or intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject is protected from all devices and spells that detect,
influence, or read emotions or thoughts. This spell protects against all
enchantment/charm spells and effects as well as information
gathering by divination spells or effects. Mind blank even foils limited
wish, miracle, and wish spells when they are used in such a way as to
affect the subject’s mind or to gain information about it. In the case of
scrying that scans an area the creature is in, such as arcane sight, the
spell works but the creature simply isn’t detected. Scrying attempts
that specifically target the subject do not work at all.
Mind Fog
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 3 turns plus 2d6 rounds; see text
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Mind fog produces a bank of thin mist that weakens the mental
resistance of those caught in it. Creatures in the mind fog take a –5
penalty to all wisdom and intelligence checks. Affected creatures
take the penalty as long as they remain in the fog and for 2d6 rounds
thereafter. A creature that successfully saves against the fog is not
affected and need not make further saves even if it remains in the
fog. The fog is stationary and lasts for 3 turns (or until dispersed by
wind).
A moderate wind (11+ mph) disperses the fog in four rounds; a strong
wind (21+ mph) disperses the fog in 1 round.
The fog is thin and does not significantly hamper vision.
Minor Creation
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One non-magical object of non-living plant matter of up to 1
cubic foot/caster level
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You create a non-magical object of non-living, vegetable matter. The
volume of the item created cannot exceed 1 cubic foot per caster
level. You must succeed on an appropriate skill check to make a
complex item.
Material Component: A tiny piece of matter of the same sort of item
you plan to create with minor creation.
Minor Globe of Invulnerability
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 10’ radius sphere, centered on you
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
An immobile, faintly shimmering magical sphere surrounds you and
excludes all spell effects of 3rd level or lower. The area of effect of any
such spells does not include the area of the minor globe of
invulnerability. Such spells fail to affect any target located within the
globe. Excluded effects include spell-like powers, spells and spell-like
effects from items. However, any type of spell can be cast through or
out of the magical globe.
Spells of 4th level and higher are not affected by the globe, nor are
spells already in effect when the globe is cast. The globe can be
brought down by a targeted dispel magic spell, but not by an area
dispel magic. You can leave and return to the globe without penalty.
Note that spell effects are not disrupted unless their effects enter the
globe, and even then they are merely suppressed, not dispelled.
If a given spell has more than one level depending on which
character class is casting it, use the level appropriate to the caster to
determine whether minor globe of invulnerability stops it.
Material Component: A glass or crystal bead that shatters at the
expiration of the spell.
Player’s Handbook 116
Miracle
Evocation
Level: Cleric 9
Components: V, S, XP; see text
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: See text
Effect: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: Yes
You don’t so much cast a miracle as request one. You state what you
would like to have happen and request that your deity (or the power
you pray to for spells) intercede.
A miracle can do any of the following things.
• Duplicate any cleric spell of 8th level or lower.
• Duplicate any other spell of 7th level or lower.
• Undo the harmful effects of certain spells, such as feeblemind or
insanity.
• Have any effect whose power level is in line with the above
effects.
If the miracle has any of the above effects, casting it has no
experience point cost. Alternatively, a cleric can make a very
powerful request. Casting such a miracle costs the cleric 50,000 XP
because of the powerful divine energies involved. Examples of
especially powerful miracles of this sort could include the following.
• Swinging the tide of a battle in your favor by raising fallen allies to
continue fighting.
• Moving you and your allies, with all of your and their gear, from
one plane to another through planar barriers to a specific locale
with no chance of error.
• Protecting a city from an earthquake, volcanic eruption, flood,
or other major natural disaster.
A duplicated spell allows saving throws and magic resistance as
normal. When a miracle duplicates a spell that has an XP cost, you
must pay that cost. When a miracle spell duplicates a spell with a
material component that costs more than 100 gp, you must provide
that component. In any event, a request that is out of line with the
deity’s (or alignment’s) nature is refused.
XP Cost: 50,000 XP (for some uses of the miracle spell; see above).
Mirage Arcana
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Area: One 20’ cube/caster level
Duration: Concentration +1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
This spell functions like hallucinatory terrain, except that it enables you
to make any area appear to be something other than it is. The illusion
includes audible, visual, tactile, and olfactory elements. Unlike
hallucinatory terrain, the spell can alter the appearance of structures
(or add them where none are present). Still, it can’t disguise, conceal,
or add creatures (though creatures within the area might hide
themselves within the illusion just as they can hide themselves within a
real location).
Mirror Image
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: 1d4 or more illusory doubles of you appear within 5’
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Several illusory duplicates of you pop into being, making it difficult for
enemies to know which target to attack. The figments stay near you
and disappear when struck.
Mirror image creates 1d4 images plus one image per three caster
levels (maximum eight images total). These figments separate from
you and remain in a cluster, each within 5 feet of at least one other
figment or you. You can move into and through a mirror image. When
you and the mirror image separate, observers can’t use vision or
hearing to tell which one is you and which the image. The figments
may also move through each other.
The figments mimic your actions, pretending to cast spells when you
cast a spell, drink potions when you drink a potion, levitate when you
levitate, and so on.
Enemies attempting to attack you or cast spells at you must select
from among indistinguishable targets. Generally, roll randomly to see
whether the selected target is real or a figment. Any successful attack
against an image destroys it. An image’s AC is 10 + your dexterity
modifier. Figments seem to react normally to area spells (such as
looking like they’re burned or dead after being hit by a fireball).
While moving, you can merge with and split off from figments so that
enemies who have learned which image is real are again
confounded.
An attacker must be able to see the images to be fooled. If you are
invisible or an attacker shuts his eyes, the spell has no effect. (Being
unable to see carries the same penalties as being blinded.)
Misdirection
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 2, Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature or object, up to a 10’ cube in size
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Saving Throw: None or intelligence negates; see text
Magic Resistance: No
By means of this spell, you misdirect the information from divination
spells that reveal auras (detect evil, detect magic, detect lies, and
the like). On casting the spell, you choose another creature or object
within range. For the duration of the spell, the subject of misdirection is
detected as if it were the other creature or object. Neither the
subject nor the other object gets a saving throw against this effect.
Detection spells provide information based on the second object
rather than on the actual target of the detection unless the caster of
the detection succeeds on an intelligence save.
For instance, you could make yourself detect as a tree if one were
within range at casting: not evil, not lying, not magical, neutral in
alignment, and so forth. This spell does not affect other types of
divination magic (augury, clairaudience/clairvoyance, ESP, etc.).
Mislead
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 6
Components: S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: You & one illusory double of you
Duration: 1 round/caster level & concentration + 3 rounds (dismissible);
see text
Saving Throw: None or intelligence disbelief (if interacted with); see text
Magic Resistance: No
You become invisible (as improved invisibility), and at the same time,
an illusory double of you (as per improved phantasmal force)
appears. You are then free to go elsewhere while your double moves
away. The double appears exactly where you stand, superimposed
perfectly over your own body, but thereafter moves as you direct it
(which requires concentration beginning on the first round after the
casting).
Player’s Handbook 117
You and the figment can then move in different directions. The
double moves at your movement rate and can talk and gesture as if it
were real, but it cannot attack or cast spells, though it can pretend to
do so.
The illusory double lasts as long as you concentrate upon it, plus 3
additional rounds. After you cease concentration, the illusory double
continues to carry out the same activity until the duration expires. The
improved invisibility lasts for 1 round per level, regardless of
concentration.
Monster Summoning I
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell summons creatures to fight on the caster’s behalf. They
appear in the area you designate on your next turn and act
immediately. They attack your opponents to the best of their ability. If
you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to
attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions.
The spell conjures 1d6 creatures of the same kind from the
accompanying monster summoning I table. You randomly determine
which kind of creature is summoned each time you cast the spell by
rolling 2d6 and consulting the following table.
A summoned monster cannot summon or otherwise conjure another
creature, nor can it use any teleportation or planar travel abilities.
Creatures cannot be summoned into an environment that cannot
support them.
2d6 roll
creature encountered
2
webbird
3
bullywug
4
centipede, giant
5
goblin
6
men, bandit
7
stirge
8
orc
9
rat, giant
10
kobold
11
norker
12
gnome
Arcane Material Component: A tiny bag and a small (not necessarily
lit) candle that are not consumed when the spell is cast.
Monster Summoning II
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 4
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
This spell functions like monster summoning I, except that you conjure
1d4 creatures of the same kind from the accompanying monster
summoning II table.
2d6 roll
creature encountered
2
duergar
3
lizard man
4
gnoll
5
land lamprey
6
centipede, giant
7
troglodyte
8
grimlock
9
mongrelman
10
quaggoth
11
frog, killer
12
hobgoblin
Monster Summoning III
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 5
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
This spell functions like monster summoning I, except that you conjure
1d3 creatures of the same kind from the accompanying monster
summoning III table.
2d6 roll
creature encountered
2
mephit, fire or smoke
3
ahkheg, (5 hit die)
4
ogre
5
beetle, giant boring
6
spider, large
7
scorpion, large
8
bugbear
9
ustilagor
10
shocker
11
weasel, giant
12
thoquaa
Monster Summoning IV
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 6
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
This spell functions like monster summoning I, except that you conjure
1d3 creatures of the same kind from the accompanying monster
summoning IV table.
2d6 roll
creature encountered
2
lava children
3
meenlock
4
hook horror
5
owlbear
6
pseudo-undead, ghast
7
scorpion, huge
8
toad, poisonous
9
gargoyle
10
ghast
11
solifugid, giant
12
githyanki
Monster Summoning V
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 7
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
This spell functions like monster summoning I, except that you conjure
1-2 creatures of the same kind from the accompanying monster
summoning V table.
2d6 roll
creature encountered
2
algoid
3
phycomid
4
minotaur
5
snake, giant poisonous
6
lizard, subterranean
7
cockatrice
8
spider, giant
9
giant, verbeeg
10
margoyle
11
rock reptile
12
solifugid, giant
Monster Summoning VI
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 8
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
This spell functions like monster summoning I, except that you conjure
1-2 creatures of the same kind from the accompanying monster
summoning VI table.
2d6 roll
creature encountered
2
drider
3
basilisk
4
otyugh
5
wraith
6
wight
7
pseudowraith
8
carrion crawler
9
scorpion, giant
10
troll
11
ogre mage
12
yuan-Ti
Player’s Handbook 118
Monster Summoning VII
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 9
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
This spell functions like monster summoning I, except that you conjure
1-2 creatures of the same kind from the accompanying monster
summoning VII table.
2d6 roll
creature encountered
2
dao
3
basilisk, greater
4
umber hulk
5
mummy
6
chimera
7
giant, frost or fire
8
slug, giant
9
will-o-wisp
10
spectre
11
invisible stalker
12
daemon, mezzo-
Mordenkainen’s Disjunction
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 9
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: All magical effects and magic items within a 40’ radius sphere
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: No
All magical effects and magic items within the radius of the spell,
except for those that you carry or touch, are disjoined. That is, spells
and spell-like effects are separated into their individual components
(ending the effect as a dispel magic spell does), and each
permanent magic item must win an opposed dispel check (see dispel
magic) or be turned into a normal item. You also have a 1% chance
per caster level of destroying an antimagic shell. If the antimagic shell
survives the disjunction, no items within it are disjoined.
Even artifacts are subject to disjunction, though there is only a 1%
chance per caster level of actually affecting such powerful items.
Additionally, if an artifact is destroyed, you must make an intelligence
save with a –10 penalty or permanently lose all spellcasting abilities.
(These abilities cannot be recovered by mortal magic, not even
miracle or wish.) Destroying artifacts is a dangerous business, and it is
95% likely to attract the attention of some powerful being who has an
interest in or connection with the device.
Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Phantom watchdog
Duration: See text (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You conjure up a phantom watchdog that is invisible to everyone but
yourself. It then guards the area where it was conjured (it does not
move). The hound immediately starts barking loudly if any creature
approaches within 30 feet of it. (Those within 30 feet of the hound
when it is conjured may move about in the area, but if they leave and
return, they activate the barking.) The hound sees invisible and
ethereal creatures. It does not react to illusions other than semi-real
shadow illusions.
If an intruder approaches to within 5 feet of the hound, the dog stops
barking and delivers a vicious bite (+10 attack bonus, 1d6+5 points of
damage) once per round. The dog also gets the bonuses appropriate
to an invisible creature. Its bite is the equivalent of a +2 magic
weapon. The hound cannot be attacked, but it can be dispelled.
The spell lasts for 1 hour per caster level, but once the hound begins
barking, it lasts only 1 round per caster level. If you are ever more than
100 feet distant from the hound, the spell ends.
Material Component: A tiny silver whistle, a piece of bone, and a
thread. These are not expended by the spell’s casting.
Mordenkainen’s Lucubration
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: Recall any one spell of 5th level or lower
Duration: Instantaneous
You instantly recall any one spell of 5th level or lower that you have
used during the past 24 hours. The spell must have been actually cast
during that period. The recalled spell is stored in your mind as through
prepared in the normal fashion.
If the recalled spell requires material components, you must provide
them. The recovered spell is not usable until the material components
are available.
Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Extra-dimensional mansion, up to three 10’ cubes/caster level
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You conjure up an extra-dimensional dwelling that has a single
entrance on the plane from which the spell was cast. The entry point
looks like a faint shimmering in the air that is 4 feet wide and 8 feet
high. Only those you designate may enter the mansion and the portal
is shut and made invisible behind you when you enter. You may open
it again from your own side at will. Once observers have passed
beyond the entrance, they are in a magnificent foyer with numerous
chambers beyond. The air within is clean, fresh and warm. You can
create any floor plan you desire to the limit of the spell’s effect. The
place is furnished and contains sufficient foodstuffs to serve a nine-
course banquet to a dozen people per caster level. A staff of near-
transparent servants (as many as two per caster level), liveried and
obedient, wait upon all who enter. The servants function as unseen
servant spells except that they are visible and can go anywhere in the
mansion.
Since the place can be entered only through its special portal,
outside conditions do not affect the mansion, nor do conditions inside
it pass to the plane beyond.
Material Component: A miniature portal carved from ivory, a small
piece of polished marble, and a tiny silver spoon (each item worth 5
gp). These items are not expended when the spell is cast.
Mordenkainen’s Sword
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One sword
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell brings into being a shimmering, sword of force. The sword
strikes at any opponent within its range, as you desire, starting in the
round that you cast the spell. The sword attacks its designated target
once per round on the caster’s turn, requiring his concentration in
order to strike. Its attack bonus is equal to your caster level + your
intelligence bonus, with an additional +3 bonus. As a force effect, it
can strike ethereal and incorporeal creatures. It deals 5d4 points of
force damage and strikes as a +3 weapon.
The sword always strikes from your direction. If the sword goes beyond
the spell range from you, if it goes out of your sight, or if you are not
directing it through concentration, the sword returns to you and
hovers. Each round after the first, you can automatically switch the
sword to a new target.
The sword cannot be attacked or harmed by physical attacks, but
dispel magic, disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation, or a rod of
cancellation affects it.
If an attacked creature has magic resistance, the resistance is
checked the first time Mordenkainen’s sword strikes it. If the sword is
Player’s Handbook 119
successfully resisted, the spell is dispelled. If not, the sword has its
normal full effect on that creature for the duration of the spell.
Material Component: A miniature platinum sword with a grip and
pommel of copper and zinc. It costs 250 gp to construct and is not
expended by the spell’s casting.
Mount
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One summoned mount
Duration: 2 hours/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You summon a riding horse (use the horse, wild statistics from the
MONSTER MANUAL) or a pony (your choice) to serve you as a mount.
The steed serves willingly and well. The mount comes with a bit, bridle
and a riding saddle.
Material Component: A bit of horse hair.
Move Earth
Alteration
Level: Druid 6, Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: See text
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: Dirt in an area up to 750’ square and up to 10’ deep
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Move earth moves dirt (clay, loam, sand), possibly collapsing
embankments, moving hillocks, shifting dunes, and so forth. In no
event, however, can rock formations be collapsed or moved. The
area to be affected determines the casting time. For every 150-foot
square (up to 10 feet deep), casting takes 1 turn. The maximum area,
750 feet by 750 feet, takes 4 hours and 1 turn to move.
This spell does not violently break the surface of the ground. Instead, it
creates wavelike crests and troughs, with the earth reacting with
glacier-like fluidity until the desired result is achieved. Trees, structures,
rock formations, and such are mostly unaffected except for changes
in elevation and relative topography.
The spell cannot be used for tunneling and is generally too slow to
trap or bury creatures. Its primary use is for digging or filling moats or
for adjusting terrain contours before a battle. This spell has no effect
on earth creatures.
Material Component: A mixture of soils (clay, loam, and sand) in a
small bag, and an iron blade. The blade in not expended when the
spell is cast.
Negative Plane Protection
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 4, Druid 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject is immune to the finger of death, slay living and symbol of
death spells, magical death effects and energy drains.
This spell doesn’t restore the subject’s drained levels nor does it affect
the saving throw(s) that must be made 24 hours after having levels
drained.
Negative plane protection does not protect against other sorts of
attacks even if those attacks might be lethal.
Neutralize Poison (reversible)
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 4, Druid 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: Creature or object of up to 1 cu. ft./caster level
Duration: 1 hour/caster level; instantaneous for poison (see text)
Saving Throw: Constitution negates, see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
You detoxify any sort of venom in the creature or object touched. A
poisoned creature suffers no additional effects from the poison and
any temporary effects are ended. The spell does not reverse
instantaneous effects, such as hit point damage, temporary ability
damage, or effects that don’t go away on their own.
The creature is immune to any poison it is exposed to for the spell’s
duration. Unlike with slow poison, such effects aren’t postponed until
after the duration - the creature need not make any saves against
poison effects applied to it during the length of the spell.
This spell can instead neutralize the poison in a poisonous creature or
object for the duration of the spell, at the caster’s option.
The reverse of this spell, poison, calls upon the venomous powers of
natural predators to infect the touched subject with a horrible poison.
The poison deals 2d6 points of temporary constitution damage. This
constitution damage is repeated 1 minute later. Each instance of
damage can be negated by a constitution save.
Nightmare
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Unlimited
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates; see
text
Magic Resistance: Yes
You send a hideous and unsettling phantasmal vision to a specific
creature that you name or otherwise specifically designate.
The nightmare prevents restful sleep and causes 1d10 points of
damage. The nightmare leaves the subject fatigued (-1 to strength
and dexterity checks, as well as attack and damage rolls, and -25% to
movement rate) and unable to regain spells for the next 24 hours.
knowledge
save modifier
none1
+5
secondhand (you have heard of the subject)
+2
firsthand (you have met the subject)
+0
familiar (you know the subject well)
–2
1 you must have some sort of connection to a creature you have
no knowledge of.
connection
save modifier
likeness or picture
–1
possession or garment
–2
body part, lock of hair, bit of nail, etc.
–5
The difficulty of the save depends on how well you know the subject
and what sort of physical connection you have to that creature.
Dispel evil cast on the subject while you are casting the spell dispels
the nightmare and causes you to be stunned for 1 turn per caster
level of the dispel evil.
If the recipient is awake when the spell begins, you can choose to
cease casting (ending the spell) or enter a trance until the recipient
goes to sleep, whereupon you become alert again and complete the
casting. If you are disturbed during the trance, you must succeed on
a concentration check as if you were in the midst of casting a spell or
the spell ends.
While in the trance, you are not aware of your surroundings or the
activities around you. You are defenseless, both physically and
mentally, while in the trance. (You always fail any saving throw, for
example.)
Creatures that don’t sleep are immune to this spell.
Nondetection
Abjuration
Level: Bard 3, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature or object
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The warded creature or object becomes difficult to detect by
divination spells such as clairaudience/clairvoyance, locate object,
and detect spells. Nondetection also prevents location by such magic
Player’s Handbook 120
items as crystal balls. If a divination is attempted against the warded
creature or item, the caster of the divination must succeed on a
caster level check (1d20 + caster level) with a check penalty equal to
the caster level of the nondetection spell.
If cast on a creature nondetection wards both the creature and its
gear.
Material Component: A pinch of diamond dust worth 50 gp.
Nystul’s Magic Aura
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 1, Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object weighing up to 5 lb./caster level
Duration: One day/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: No
You alter an item’s aura so that it registers to detect spells (and spells
with similar capabilities) as though it were non-magical, or a magic
item of a kind you specify, or the subject of a spell you specify.
If the object bearing Nystul’s magic aura has identify cast on it or is
similarly examined, the examiner recognizes that the aura is false and
detects the object’s actual qualities if he succeeds on an intelligence
save. Otherwise, he believes the aura and no amount of testing
reveals what the true magic is.
If the targeted item’s true aura is exceptionally powerful (such as that
of an artifact), Nystul’s magic aura doesn’t work.
Material Component: A small square of silk that must be passed over
the object that receives the aura. The silk is not consumed by the
spell’s casting.
Obscure Object
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 3, Bard 1, Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object of up to 100 lb./caster level
Duration: 8 hours (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell hides an object from location by divination effects, such as
the scrying spell or a crystal ball. Such an attempt automatically fails
(if the divination is targeted on the object) or fails to perceive the
object (if the divination is targeted on a nearby location, object, or
person).
Arcane Material Component: A piece of chameleon skin.
Obscurement
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Bard 1, Druid 1, Illusionist1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
A misty vapor arises around you. It is stationary once created. The
vapor obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A
creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment. Creatures up to 10 feet
away have 75% concealment while those further away have 100%
concealment.
A moderate wind (11+ mph), such as from a gust of wind spell,
disperses the fog in 4 rounds. A strong wind (21+ mph) disperses the
fog in 1 round. A fireball, flame strike, or similar spell burns away the
fog in the explosive or fiery spell’s area. A wall of fire burns away the
fog in the area into which it deals damage. This spell does not
function underwater.
Otiluke’s Freezing Sphere
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Effect: See text
Duration: Up to 1 round/caster level; see text
Saving Throw: Dexterity half; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Freezing sphere creates a frigid globe of cold energy that streaks from
your fingertips to the location you select, where it explodes in a 10’
radius sphere, dealing 1d6 points of cold damage per caster level
(maximum 15d6) to each creature in the area. An elemental (water)
creature instead takes 1d8 points of cold damage per caster level
(maximum 15d8). Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save
versus frost (see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his
saving throw with a “1”. Other items in the spell area must save as
well.
You can refrain from firing the globe after completing the spell if you
wish. You can hold the charge for as long as 1 round per level, at the
end of which time the freezing sphere bursts centered on you (and
you receive no saving throw to resist its effect).
If the freezing sphere strikes a body of water or a liquid that is
principally water (not including water-based creatures), it freezes the
liquid to a depth of 6 inches over an area equal to 100 square feet (a
10’ foot square) per caster level (maximum 1,500 square feet). This ice
lasts for 1 minute per caster level. Creatures that were swimming on
the surface of frozen water become trapped in the ice. Attempting to
break free takes 1 round. A trapped creature must make strength
common ability check with a -10 penalty to do so.
Material Component: A small crystal sphere that is consumed by the
casting of the spell.
Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: 1’ diameter/caster level sphere, centered on a creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A globe of shimmering force encloses a creature, provided the
creature is small enough to fit within the diameter of the sphere. The
sphere contains its subject for the spell’s duration. The sphere is not
subject to damage of any sort except from a rod of cancellation, a
rod of negation, a disintegrate spell, or a targeted dispel magic spell.
These effects destroy the sphere without harm to the subject. Nothing
can pass through the sphere, inside or out, though the subject can
breathe normally.
The subject may struggle, but the sphere cannot be physically moved
either by people outside it or by the struggles of those within.
Material Component: A hemispherical piece of clear crystal and a
matching hemispherical piece of gum arabic. These are not
expended when the spell is cast.
Otiluke’s Telekinetic Sphere
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close); see text
Effect: 1’ diameter/caster level sphere, centered on the target
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like Otiluke’s resilient sphere, with the addition that
the creatures or objects inside the globe are nearly weightless.
Anything contained within a telekinetic sphere weighs only one-
sixteenth of its normal weight. You can telekinetically lift and move
anything in the sphere that normally weighs 5,000 pounds or less by
concentrating on the sphere. You can begin moving a sphere in the
round after casting the spell. If you concentrate on doing so you can
move the sphere as much as 60 feet in a round. If you cease
concentrating, the sphere does not move in that round (if on a level
surface) or descends at its falling rate (if aloft) until it reaches a level
surface, or the spell’s duration expires, or you begin concentrating
again. If you cease concentrating (voluntarily or due to failing a
concentration check), you can resume concentrating on your next
Player’s Handbook 121
turn or any later turn during the spell’s duration. The sphere falls at a
rate of only 120 feet per round, which is not fast enough to cause
damage to the contents of the sphere. You can move the sphere
telekinetically even if you are in it.
The telekinetic control extends from you out to medium range (100
feet) once the sphere has succeeded in encapsulating its contents.
Material Component: A hemispherical piece of clear crystal, a
matching hemispherical piece of gum arabic, and a pair of small bar
magnets.
Otto’s Irresistible Dance
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 6, Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject feels an undeniable urge to dance and begins doing so,
complete with foot shuffling and tapping. The spell effect makes it
impossible for the subject to do anything other than caper and
prance in place. The effect imposes a –4 penalty to armor class,
negates any armor class bonus granted by the target’s shield and
imposes a –5 penalty to the target’s dexterity saves.
Passwall
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Effect: 10’ x 5’ x 10’ opening, + 5’ deep per 3 levels above 9th
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You create a 10’ high by 5’ wide passage through wooden, plaster, or
stone walls, but not through metal or other harder materials. The
passage is 10 feet deep plus an additional 5 feet deep per three
caster levels above 9th (15 feet at 12th, 20 feet at 15th, and a maximum
of 25 feet deep at 18th level).
If the wall’s thickness is more than the depth of the passage created,
then a single passwall simply makes a niche or short tunnel. Several
passwall spells can then form a continuing passage to breach very
thick walls. When passwall ends, creatures within the passage are
ejected out the nearest exit. If someone dispels the passwall or you
dismiss it, creatures in the passage are ejected out the far exit, if there
is one, or out the sole exit if there is only one.
Material Component: A pinch of sesame seeds.
Pass without Trace
Alteration
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: One creature/caster level
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject or subjects can move through any type of terrain and
leave neither footprints nor scent. Tracking the subjects is impossible
by non-magical means.
Penetrate Disguise
Divination
Level: Cleric 1, Bard 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
By means of this spell, the caster is empowered to see through a
disguise composed solely of makeup or altered clothing (i.e., non-
magical in nature). The caster cannot identify the actual class,
profession, or the true appearance of the disguised figure; the spell
merely points out that the target is posing as someone or something
else.
The spell does not detect actual rank or status and cannot reveal an
illusion for what it is, but it can detect whether a figure is the object of
a friends spell. The spell cannot detect any deception involving
alignment.
Permanency
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, XP
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: See text
Target, Effect, or Area: See text
Duration: Permanent; see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell makes certain other spells permanent. Depending on the
spell, you must be of a minimum caster level and must expend a
number of XP.
You can make the following spells permanent in regard to yourself.
You cast the desired spell and then follow it with the permanency
spell. You cannot cast these spells on other creatures. This application
of permanency can be dispelled only by a caster of higher level than
you were when you cast the spell.
spell
xp cost
arcane sight
15,000 XP
comprehend languages
5,000 XP
darkvision
10,000 XP
detect invisibility
10,000 XP
detect magic
5,000 XP
read magic
5,000 XP
tongues
15,000 XP
In addition to personal use, permanency can be used to make the
following spells permanent on yourself or another creature (as
appropriate).
spell
xp cost
enlarge person
5,000 XP
magic fang
5,000 XP
improved magic fang
15,000 XP
reduce person
5,000 XP
Additionally, the following spells can be cast upon objects or areas
only and rendered permanent.
spell
minimum caster level
xp cost
alarm
9th
5,000 XP
animate object
15th
37,500 XP
audible glamer
9th
5,000 XP
dancing lights
9th
5,000 XP
gust of wind
9th
5,000 XP
invisibility
9th
5,000 XP
magic mouth
9th
5,000 XP
phase door
15th
37,500 XP
prismatic sphere
18th
50,000 XP
prismatic wall
15th
37,500 XP
shrink item
12th
25,000 XP
solid fog
12th
25,000 XP
stinking cloud
12th
25,000 XP
symbol of death
15th
37,500 XP
symbol of fear
15th
37,500 XP
symbol of insanity
15th
37,500 XP
symbol of pain
12th
25,000 XP
Player’s Handbook 122
symbol of persuasion
15th
37,500 XP
symbol of sleep
15th
37,500 XP
symbol of stunning
15th
37,500 XP
symbol of weakness
15th
37,500 XP
wall of fire
12th
25,000 XP
wall of force
12th
25,000 XP
web
9th
5,000 XP
Spells cast on other creatures, objects or locations (not on you) are
vulnerable to dispel magic as normal.
XP Cost: See tables above.
Permanent Image
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 6
Effect: Figment that cannot extend beyond a 20’ cube + one 10’
cube/caster level
Duration: Permanent (dismissible)
This spell functions like silent image, except that the figment includes
visual, auditory, olfactory and thermal elements, and the spell is
permanent. By concentrating, you can move the image within the
limits of the range, but it is static while you are not concentrating. The
illusion can include intelligible speech if you wish.
Material Component: A bit of fleece plus powdered jade worth 100
gp.
Persistent Image
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 5
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
This spell functions like silent image, except that the figment includes
visual, auditory, olfactory and thermal components, and the figment
follows a script determined by you. The figment follows that script
without your having to concentrate on it. The illusion can include
intelligible speech if you wish.
Material Component: A bit of fleece and several grains of sand.
Phantasmal Force
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 2
Duration: Concentration +2 rounds
This spell functions like silent image, except that phantasmal force
includes some minor sounds but not understandable speech.
Phantasmal Killer
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with), then charisma
partial; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
You create a phantasmal image of the most fearsome creature
imaginable to the subject simply by forming the fears of the subject’s
subconscious mind into something that its conscious mind can
visualize: this most horrible beast. Only the spell’s subject can see the
phantasmal killer clearly. You see only a vague shape.
The target first gets an intelligence save to recognize the image as
unreal. If that save fails the phantasm touches the subject, who must
succeed on a charisma save or die of fright. Even if the charisma
save is successful, the subject takes 4d6 points of damage.
If the subject of a phantasmal killer attack succeeds in disbelieving
and is wearing a helm of telepathy, the beast can be turned upon
you. You must then disbelieve it or become subject to its deadly fear
attack.
Phantom Steed
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Illusionist 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One quasi-real, horse
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You conjure a quasi-real horse into existence. The steed can be
ridden only by you or by the one person for whom you specifically
created the mount. A phantom steed has a black head and body,
gray mane and tail, and smoke-colored, insubstantial hooves that
make no sound. It has what seem to be a saddle, bit and bridle. It
does not fight but animals shun it and refuse to attack it.
The mount has an AC of 18 and 7 hit points +1 hit point per caster
level. If reduced to 0 hit points the phantom steed disappears. A
phantom steed has a movement rate of 15’ per caster level, to a
maximum of 180’ (36”) at level 12 and beyond. It can bear its rider’s
weight plus up to 10 pounds per caster level.
These mounts gain certain powers according to caster level. A
mount’s abilities include those of mounts of lower caster levels.
6th Level: The mount can ride over sandy, muddy, or even swampy
ground without difficulty or decrease in speed.
9th Level: The mount can use water walk at will (as the spell, no action
required to activate this ability).
12th Level: The mount can use air walk at will (as the spell, no action
required to activate this ability) for up to 1 turn per hour, after which it
floats downward 60 feet per round for 1d6 rounds. If it reaches the
ground in that amount of time, it lands safely. If not, it falls the rest of
the distance, taking 1d6 points of damage per 10 feet of fallen.
15th Level: The mount can fly at its speed (maneuverability class C).
Phase Door
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Ethereal 10’ x 5’ x 10’ opening, + 5’ deep per 3 levels
Duration: One usage per two levels
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell creates an ethereal passage through wooden, plaster, or
stone walls, but not other materials. The phase door is invisible and
inaccessible to all creatures except you, and only you can use the
passage. You disappear when you enter the phase door and appear
when you exit. If you desire, you can take one other creature through
the door. This counts as two uses of the door. The door does not allow
light, sound or spell effects through it, nor can you see through it
without using it. Thus, the spell can provide an escape route, though
certain creatures, such as phase spiders, can follow with ease. A gem
of true seeing or similar magic reveals a phase door’s presence but
does not allow its use.
A phase door is subject to dispel magic. If anyone is within the
passage when it is dispelled, he is harmlessly ejected just as if he were
inside a passwall effect.
You can allow other creatures to use the phase door by setting some
triggering condition for the door. Such conditions can be as simple or
elaborate as you desire. They can be based on a creature’s name,
identity or alignment, but otherwise must be based upon observable
actions or qualities. Intangibles such as level, class, hit dice and hit
points don’t qualify.
Phase door can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Planar Binding
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S
Targets: Up to three elementals or extraplanar creatures, totaling no
more than 12 HD, no two of which can be more than 30’ apart when
they appear
This spell functions like lesser planar binding, except that you may call
a single creature of 12 HD or less, or up to three creatures of the same
kind whose hit dice total no more than 12. Each creature gets a save,
makes an independent attempt to escape, and must be individually
persuaded to aid you.
Player’s Handbook 123
Plane Shift
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 5, Magic-User 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: You and up to 7 willing creatures
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You move yourself or some other creature to another plane of
existence or alternate dimension. If several willing persons link hands in
a circle, as many as eight can be affected by the plane shift at the
same time. Precise accuracy as to a particular arrival location on the
intended plane is nigh impossible. From the Material Plane, you can
reach any other plane, though you appear 5 to 500 miles (5d%) from
your intended destination.
Note: Plane shift transports creatures instantaneously and then ends.
The creatures need to find other means if they are to travel back.
Material Component: A small, forked metal rod. The size and metal
type dictates to which plane of existence or alternate dimension the
spell sends the affected creatures. It is not consumed by the casting
of this spell.
Plant Door
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/caster level or until expended; see text
You gain the ability to enter trees and move from inside one tree to
inside another tree. The first tree you enter and all others you enter
must be of the same kind, must be living and must have girth at least
equal to yours. By moving into an oak tree (for example), you instantly
know the location of all other oak trees within transport range (see
below) and may choose whether you want to pass into one or simply
step back out of the tree you moved into. You may choose to pass to
any tree of the appropriate kind within the transport range as shown
on the following table.
tree type
transport range
deciduous
2,000 feet
coniferous
1,000 feet
You may move into one tree per caster level (passing from one tree to
another counts only as moving into one tree). The spell lasts until the
duration expires or you expend all of your passes through trees. Each
transport takes 1 round.
You can, at your option, remain within a tree without transporting
yourself but are forced out when the spell ends. If the tree in which
you are concealed is chopped down or burned, you are slain if you
do not exit before the process is complete.
Plant Growth (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Druid 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long); see text
Effect: See text
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Plant growth has different effects depending on the version chosen.
Overgrowth: This effect causes normal vegetation (grasses, briars,
bushes, creepers, thistles, trees, vines) within long range (400 feet)
to become thick and overgrown. The plants entwine to form a
thicket or jungle that creatures must hack or force a way
through. Movement rates in such overgrown areas are reduced
to 1/3 (½ for Large creatures). The area must have brush and
trees in it for this spell to take effect.
At your option, the area can be a 100-foot-radius circle, a 150-
foot-radius semicircle, or a 200-foot-radius quarter circle. You
may designate places within the area that are not affected.
Enrichment: This effect targets plants within a range of one-half
mile, raising their potential productivity over the course of the
next year to one-third above normal.
This reverse of this spell, diminish plants, has two versions as well:
Prune Growth: This version causes normal vegetation within long
range (400’) to shrink to about one-third of their normal size,
becoming untangled and less bushy. The affected vegetation
appears to have been carefully pruned and trimmed.
At your option, the area can be a 100’ radius circle, a 150’ radius
semicircle, or a 200’ radius quarter-circle. You may also
designate portions of the area that are not affected.
Stunt Growth: This version targets normal plants within a range of
½ mile, reducing their potential productivity over the course of
the following year to one third below normal.
Diminish plants counters plant growth and vice versa. This spell has no
effect on plant creatures.
Polymorph
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like alter self, except that you change the subject
into another form of living creature of any size. The new form may not
be that of an undead, elemental, extraplanar or animated creature.
The assumed form can’t have more hit dice than your caster level (or
the subject’s HD, whichever is lower), to a maximum of 15 HD at 15th
level. You can’t cause a subject to assume an incorporeal or gaseous
form.
Upon changing the subject regains lost hit points as if it had rested for
a night. All equipment worn or carried by the polymorphed creature
melds with their new form and becomes non-functional. If slain the
subject reverts to its original form, though it remains dead.
The subject gains the physical attributes (including natural weapons
and sensory abilities) of the new form but retains its own intelligence,
wisdom and charisma scores. It uses the armor class of its new form
but keeps its own hit points and BtH bonuses. The polymorphed
creature may use their class abilities, special attacks or special
defenses, so long as their new form would allow for their use. It does
not gain the special attacks or defenses possessed by their new form
(including spell-like abilities and magic resistance).
Incorporeal or gaseous creatures are immune to being polymorphed,
and a shapechanging creature can revert to its natural form in 1
round. If the new form would prove fatal to the creature (for
example, if you polymorphed a landbound target into a fish or an
airborne target into a toad), the subject gets a +4 bonus on the save.
Material Component: An empty cocoon.
Polymorph Any Object
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 8, Illusionist 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature, or one non-magical object of up to 100 cu.
ft./caster level
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Player’s Handbook 124
This spell functions like polymorph, except that it can change both
objects and creatures into other objects or creatures and the form
assumed has a 20 HD hit die maximum. The duration of the spell
depends on how radical a change is made from the original state to
its enchanted state. The duration is determined by using the following
guidelines. The base Duration Factor is 0.
changed subject is:
duration factor1
same kingdom (animal, vegetable, mineral)
+5
same class (mammals, fungi, metals, etc)
+2
same size
+2
related (twig is to tree, wolf fur is to wolf, etc)
+2
same or lower intelligence
+2
1 add all that apply. Look up the total on the next table.
duration factor
duration
example
0
20 minutes
pebble to human
2
1 hour
marionette to human
4
3 hours
human to marionette
5
12 hours
lizard to manticore
6
2 days
sheep to wool coat
7
1 week
shrew to manticore
9+
permanent
manticore to shrew
Unlike polymorph, polymorph any object does grant the creature the
intelligence score of its new form. If the original form didn’t have a
wisdom or charisma score, it gains those scores as appropriate for the
new form.
Damage taken by the new form can result in the injury or death of the
polymorphed creature. In general, damage occurs when the new
form is changed through physical force. If the new form would prove
fatal to the creature (for example, if you polymorphed a landbound
target into a fish, or an airborne target into a toad), the subject gets a
+4 bonus on the save.
A non-magical object cannot be made into a magic item with this
spell. Magic items aren’t affected by this spell. Items held by a
creature use that creature’s wisdom save to resist the polymorph spell.
This spell cannot create material of great intrinsic value, such as
copper, silver, gems, silk, gold, platinum, mithral or adamantite.
This spell can also be used to duplicate the effects of polymorph, flesh
to stone, stone to flesh, transmute mud to rock, transmute metal to
wood, or transmute rock to mud.
Arcane Material Component: Mercury, gum arabic, and smoke.
Portent
Divination
Level: Cleric 1, Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target: One willing creature
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell enables the caster to tell something of a willing recipient’s
future “luck.” Only willing individuals are subject to this spell. This
“luck” takes the form of a modifier to a “to hit” or saving throw roll at
some unknown point in the future. After this spell is cast, the Dungeon
Master makes two die rolls in secret:
First, 1d12 is rolled to determine at what point in the future the
portent takes effect. The result of the d12 roll represents the
number of d20 die rolls, such as “to hit” or saving throws rolls, that
the target character must make before the roll to be affected by
the portent occurs.
Second, 1d6 is rolled to determine the exact effect upon that
roll. A “1” imposes a -4 penalty to the indicated die roll, while a
“2’ imposes a -2 penalty, a “3” or “4” results in no modifier, a “5’
grants a +2 bonus and a “6” grants a +4 bonus to the indicated
die roll. When the d20 roll designated by the portent is made,
the result will be adjusted upward or downward as indicated by
the result of the d6. Based upon the result of the 1d6 roll, the DM
should indicate to the caster whether the portent is “good”,
“fair” or “poor”.
Arcane Material Component: A numbered wheel, a deck of cards or
tea leaves.
Power Word Blind
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You utter a single word of power that causes one creature of your
choice to become blinded, whether the creature can hear the word
or not. The duration of the spell depends on the target’s current hit
point total. Any creature that currently has 151 or more hit points is
unaffected by power word blind. Blindness can be removed by cure
blindness or a successful dispel magic.
hit points
duration
50 or less
permanent
51–100
1d4+1 minutes
101–150
1d4+1 rounds
Power Word Kill
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 9, Illusionist 9
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You utter a single word of power that instantly kills one creature of
your choice, whether the creature can hear the word or not. Any
creature that currently has 76 or more hit points is unaffected by
power word kill.
Power Word Stun
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You utter a single word of power that instantly causes one creature of
your choice to become stunned, whether the creature can hear the
word or not. The duration of the spell depends on the target’s current
hit point total. Any creature that currently has 101 or more hit points is
unaffected by power word stun.
hit points
duration
50 or less
1d4 minutes
51–75
4d4 rounds
76–100
1d4 rounds
Prayer
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: All allies and foes within a 50’ radius circle centered on you
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You bring special favor upon yourself and your allies while bringing
disfavor to your enemies. You and your allies gain a +1 bonus on
attack rolls, weapon damage rolls and ability checks (including
saves), while your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.
Prestidigitation
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 0, Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Player’s Handbook 125
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: See text
Duration: 1 hour
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
Prestidigitations are minor tricks that novice spellcasters use for
practice. Once cast, a prestidigitation spell enables you to perform
simple magical effects for 1 hour. The effects are minor and have
severe limitations. Prestidigitation can slowly lift 1 pound of material. It
can color, clean or soil items in a 1’ cube each round. It can chill,
warm or flavor 1 pound of non-living material.
It cannot deal damage or affect the concentration of spellcasters.
Prestidigitation can create small objects, but they look crude and
artificial. The materials created by a prestidigitation spell are
extremely fragile and cannot be used as tools, weapons or spell
components.
Finally, prestidigitation lacks the power to duplicate any other spell
effects. Any actual change to an object (beyond just moving,
cleaning, or soiling it) persists only 1 hour.
Prismatic Sphere
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 9, Illusionist 9
Components: V
Range: Personal
Effect: 10’ radius sphere centered on you
This spell functions like prismatic wall, except you conjure up an
immobile, opaque globe of shimmering, multicolored light that
surrounds you and protects you from all forms of attack. The sphere
flashes in all colors of the visible spectrum.
The sphere’s blindness effect on creatures with less than 8 HD lasts 2d4
turns.
You can pass into and out of the prismatic sphere and remain near it
without harm. However, when you’re inside it, the sphere blocks any
attempt to project something through the sphere (including spells).
Other creatures that attempt to attack you or pass through suffer the
effects of each color, one at a time.
Typically, only the upper hemisphere of the globe will exist, since you
are at the center of the sphere, so the lower half is usually excluded
by the floor surface you are standing on.
The colors of the sphere have the same effects as the colors of a
prismatic wall.
Prismatic sphere can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Prismatic Spray
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 60’ cone
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell causes seven shimmering, intertwined, multicolored beams of
light to spray from your hand. Each beam has a different power.
d8 roll
color
effect (relevant save, effect if successful)
1
red
20 points fire damage (dexterity for half)
2
orange
40 points acid damage (dexterity for half)
3
yellow
80 points electricity damage (dexterity half)
4
green
poison (see the reverse of neutralize poison)
5
blue
turned to stone (wisdom negates)
6
indigo
insane, as insanity spell (charisma negates)
7
violet
sent to another plane (intelligence negates)
8
struck by two rays; roll twice more, ignoring any “8” results.
Creatures in the area of the spell with 8 HD or less are automatically
blinded for 2d4 rounds. Every creature in the area is randomly struck
by one or more beams, which have additional effects.
Items held by the target of the red, orange or yellow beam must save
versus the relevant effect (see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if he
failed his saving throw with a “1”.
Prismatic Wall
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Wall up to 5’/caster level wide by 2½’/caster level high
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: See text
Prismatic wall creates a vertical, opaque wall - a shimmering,
multicolored plane of light that protects you from all forms of attack.
The wall flashes with seven colors, each of which has a distinct power
and purpose. The wall is immobile though the caster can pass through
and remain near the wall without harm. Any other creature with less
than 8 HD that is within 20’ of the wall is blinded for 2d4 rounds by the
colors if it looks at the wall.
The wall’s maximum proportions are 5 feet wide per caster level and
2½ feet high per caster level. A prismatic wall spell cast to materialize
in a space occupied by a creature is disrupted, and the spell is
wasted.
color
order
effect of color
negated by
red
1st
stops non-magical ranged
weapons & deals 16 points of
fire damage (dexterity half).
cone of cold
orange
2nd
stops magical ranged
weapons & deals 32 points of
acid damage (dexterity half).
gust of wind
yellow
3rd
stops poisons, gases and
petrification & deals 64 points
of electricity damage
(dexterity half).
disintegrate
green
4th
stops breath weapons &
poisons (see the reverse of
neutralize poison)
passwall
blue
5th
stops divination and mental
attacks & turns to stone
(wisdom negates).
magic missile
indigo
6th
stops all spells & causes
insanity, as per the insanity
spell (charisma negates)
continual
light
violet
7th
energy field destroys all
objects and effects, plus
creatures are sent to another
plane (intelligence negates). 1
dispel magic
1 the violet effect makes the special effects of the other six colors
redundant, but these six effects are included here because
certain magic items can create prismatic effects one color at a
time, and magic resistance might render some colors ineffective
(see above).
Each color in the wall has a special effect. The accompanying table
shows the seven colors of the wall, the order in which they appear,
their effects on creatures trying to attack you in melee or pass through
the wall, and the magic needed to negate each color.
The wall can be destroyed, color by color, in consecutive order, by
various magical effects; however, the first color must be brought
down before the second can be affected, and so on. A rod of
cancellation or a mage’s disjunction spell destroys a prismatic wall,
but an antimagic shell fails to penetrate it. Dispel magic and
improved dispel magic cannot dispel the wall or anything beyond it.
Magic resistance is effective against a prismatic wall, but the
concentration check to overcome MR must be made for each color
present.
Items held by a creature who comes into contact with the red,
orange or yellow wall must save versus the relevant effect (see Item
Saving Throws on page 52) if that creature failed his saving throw with
a “1”.
Prismatic wall can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Produce Fire (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area of Effect: 60’ radius circle
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity half
Magic Resistance: No
By means of this spell the druid causes a natural fire of up to a 60’
radius to spring into existence. While it lasts but a single round, the
Player’s Handbook 126
intense fire produced by the spell inflicts 3d6 hit points of damage to
all creatures within its area and ignites unattended, combustible
materials such as cloth, oil, paper, parchment, wood and the like so
as to cause continued burning (see Item Saving Throws on page 52).
The reverse of this spell, quench fire, enables the druid to extinguish all
fires within the spell’s area of effect. Non-permanent magical fires are
extinguished, and fire-based creatures in the area of effect take 1d6
points of damage per caster level (maximum 12d6). Permanent
magical fires are suppressed for 1 round.
This spell counters, and is countered by, the produce fire spell.
Produce Flame
Evocation
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Effect: Flame in your palm
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
Flames as bright as a torch appear in your open hand. The flames
harm neither you nor your equipment.
In addition to providing illumination, the flames can be hurled or used
to touch enemies. You can strike an opponent with a melee attack
that deals 1d6 points of fire damage +1 point per caster level
(maximum +5). Alternatively, you can hurl the flames up to 120’ (24”)
as a thrown weapon. When doing so, you attack with a ranged
attack (with no range penalty) and deal the same damage as with
the melee attack. No sooner do you hurl the flames than a new set
appears in your hand.
Each attack you make reduces the remaining duration by 1 minute. If
an attack reduces the remaining duration to 0 minutes or less, the
spell ends after the attack resolves.
This spell does not function underwater.
Programmed Image
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 6
Effect: Visual figment that cannot extend beyond a 20’ cube + one
10’ cube/caster level
Duration: Permanent until triggered, then 1 round/caster level
This spell functions like silent image, except that this spell’s figment
activates when a specific condition occurs. The figment includes
visual, auditory, olfactory and thermal elements, including intelligible
speech.
You set the triggering condition (which may be a special word) when
casting the spell. The event that triggers the illusion can be as general
or as specific and detailed as desired but must be based on an
audible, tactile, olfactory or visual trigger. The trigger cannot be
based on some quality not normally obvious to the senses, such as
alignment. (See magic mouth for more details about such triggers.)
Material Component: A bit of fleece and jade dust worth 25 gp.
Project Image
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: One shadow duplicate
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with)
Magic Resistance: No
You tap energy from the Plane of Shadow to create a quasi-real,
illusory version of yourself. The projected image looks, sounds and
smells like you but is intangible. The projected image mimics your
actions (including speech) unless you direct it to act differently (which
takes 1 round of concentration).
You can see through its eyes and hear through its ears as if you were
standing where it is and, during your turn, can switch from using its
senses to using your own, or back again, at will. While you are using its
senses, your body is considered blinded and deafened.
If you desire, any spell you cast whose range is touch or greater can
originate from the projected image instead of from you. The
projected image can’t cast any spells on itself except for illusion spells.
The spells affect other targets normally, despite originating from the
projected image. Objects are unaffected by the projected image
but are affected normally by spells cast through the image.
You must maintain line of effect to the projected image at all times. If
your line of effect is obstructed, the spell ends. If you use dimension
door, teleport, plane shift, or a similar spell that breaks your line of
effect, even momentarily, the spell ends.
Material Component: A small replica of you (a doll), which costs 5 gp
to create and is not consumed by this spell’s casting.
Protection from Energy
Abjuration
Level: Druid 3, Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level or until discharged
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Protection from energy grants temporary immunity to the type of
energy you specify when you cast it (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or
sonic). When the spell absorbs 10 points per caster level of energy
damage (to a maximum of 100 points at 10th level) it is discharged.
This spell may be used in conjunction with the resist energy spell. The
damage absorbed by protection from energy would first be reduced
by resist energy.
Arcane Material Component: A snail shell that is not consumed by the
casting of this spell.
Protection from Evil (reversible)
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 1, Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: No; see text
This spell wards a creature from attacks by evil creatures, from mental
control and from summoned creatures. It creates a magical barrier
around the subject at a distance of 1 foot. The barrier moves with the
subject and has three major effects.
First, the subject gains a +2 bonus to AC and a +2 bonus on saves.
Both these bonuses apply against attacks made or effects created by
evil creatures.
Second, the barrier blocks any attempt to possess the warded
creature (by a magic jar attack, for example) or to exercise mental
control over the creature (including enchantment/charm effects that
grant the caster ongoing control over the subject, such as dominate
person). The protection does not prevent such effects from targeting
the protected creature, but it suppresses the effect for the duration of
the protection from evil effect. If the protection from evil effect ends
before the effect granting mental control does, the would-be
controller would then be able to mentally command the controlled
creature. Likewise, the barrier keeps out a possessing life force but
does not expel one if it is in place before the spell is cast. This second
effect works regardless of alignment.
Third, the spell prevents bodily contact by summoned creatures. This
causes the natural weapon attacks of such creatures to fail and the
creatures to recoil if such attacks require touching the warded
creature. Good summoned creatures are immune to this effect. The
protection against contact by summoned creatures ends if the
warded creature makes an attack against or tries to force the barrier
against the blocked creature. Magic resistance can allow a creature
to overcome this protection and touch the warded creature.
The reverse of this spell, protection from good spell functions like
protection from evil, except that the armor class and saving throw
bonuses apply to attacks from good creatures, and good-to-neutral
summoned creatures cannot touch the subject.
Material Component: A little powdered silver (or bone, for the reverse
of this spell) with which you trace a 3’ diameter circle on the floor (or
ground) around the creature to be warded.
Player’s Handbook 127
Player’s Handbook 128
Protection from Evil 10’ Radius (reversible)
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 3, Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round; see text
Range: Touch
Area: 10’ radius sphere
Duration: 1 turn/caster level; see text
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: No; see text
All creatures within the area gain the effects of a protection from evil
spell, and no non-good summoned creatures can enter the area
either. You must overcome a creature’s magic resistance in order to
keep it at bay (as in the third function of protection from evil), but the
armor class and saving throw bonuses and the protection from mental
control apply regardless of enemies’ magic resistance.
This spell has an alternative version that you may choose when
casting it. Protection from evil 10’ radius can be focused inward rather
than outward. When focused inward, the spell binds a non-good
called creature (such as those called by the lesser planar binding,
planar binding, and improved planar binding spells) for a maximum of
24 hours per caster level, provided that you cast the spell that calls
the creature within 1 round of casting the magic circle. The creature
cannot cross the circle’s boundaries. If a creature too large to fit into
the spell’s area is the subject of the spell, the spell acts as a normal
protection from evil spell for that creature only.
This spell leaves much to be desired as a trap. If the circle of
powdered silver laid down in the process of spellcasting is broken, the
effect immediately ends. The trapped creature can do nothing that
disturbs the circle, directly or indirectly but other creatures can. If the
called creature has magic resistance, it can test the trap once per
day. If you fail to overcome its magic resistance the creature breaks
free, destroying the circle. A creature capable of any form of
dimensional travel (astral spell, blink, dimension door, etherealness,
gate, plane shift, teleport and similar abilities) can simply leave the
circle through that means. You can prevent the creature’s extra-
dimensional escape by casting a dimensional anchor spell on it, but
you must cast the spell before the creature acts. If you are successful,
the anchor effect lasts as long as the protection from evil 10’ radius
does. The creature cannot reach across the magic circle, but its
ranged attacks (ranged weapons, spells, magical abilities and the
like) can. The creature can attack any target it can reach with its
ranged attacks except for the circle itself.
You can add a special diagram (a two-dimensional bounded figure
with no gaps along its circumference, augmented with various
magical sigils) to make the protection from evil 10’ radius more
secure. Drawing the diagram by hand takes 1 turn and requires a
knowledge: arcana skill check with a -5 penalty. You do not know the
result of this check. If the check fails, the diagram is ineffective. A
successful diagram allows you to cast a dimensional anchor spell on
the protection from evil 10’ radius on the round before casting any
summoning spell. The dimensional anchor holds any called creatures
in the protection from evil 10’ radius for the duration of the
dimensional anchor spell (24 hours/caster level).
A creature cannot use its magic resistance against a protection from
evil 10’ radius prepared with a diagram, and none of its abilities or
attacks can cross the diagram. The creature can escape from the
diagram with a successful charisma save, with a penalty equal to your
caster level+5. It can attempt this once per day. If it breaks loose, it
can flee or attack you. The creature is immediately released if
anything disturbs the diagram - even a straw laid across it. However,
the creature itself cannot disturb the diagram either directly or
indirectly, as noted above.
The reverse of this spell, protection from good 10’ radius, functions like
protection from evil, except that the armor class and saving throw
bonuses apply to attacks from good creatures, and non-evil
summoned creatures cannot touch the subject.
Material Component: A little powdered silver (or bone, for the reverse
of this spell) with which you trace a 10’ diameter circle on the floor (or
ground) around the creature to be warded.
Protection from Normal Missiles
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The warded creature gains total invulnerability to hurled and
projectile missiles such as arrows, axes, bolts, small stones and spears.
Furthermore, it reduces each die of damage inflicted by large missiles,
such as ballista missiles, catapult stones and giant-hurled boulders, by
1.
Note, however, that this spell does not convey any protection from
such magical attacks as fireballs, lightning bolts and magic missiles nor
from magical thrown weapons or projectiles.
Material Component: A piece of shell from a tortoise or a turtle. It is
not consumed by the casting of this spell.
Prying Eyes
Divination
Level: Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 400’ (Long); see text
Effect: Ten or more levitating eyes
Duration: 1 hour/caster level; see text (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You create a number of semi-tangible, visible magical orbs (called
“eyes”) equal to 1d4 + your caster level. These eyes initially appear
within 400’ of the caster but, from there, may move out, scout around
and return as you direct them. Each eye can see 120’ (normal vision
only) in all directions.
While the individual eyes are quite fragile, they’re small and difficult to
spot. Each eye is about the size of a small apple and has 1 hit point,
AC 18, a movement rate of 60’ (12”) and maneuverability class A.
It may make perception checks with the caster’s level bonus and is
subject to illusions, darkness, fog and any other factors that would
affect your ability to receive visual information about your
surroundings. An eye traveling through darkness must find its way by
touch.
When you create the eyes, you specify instructions you want them to
follow in a command of no more than twenty-five words. Any
knowledge you possess is known by the eyes as well.
In order to report their findings, the eyes must return to your hand.
Each replays in your mind all it has seen during its existence. It takes an
eye 1 round to replay 1 hour of recorded images. After relaying its
findings, an eye disappears.
If an eye ever gets more than 1 mile away from you, it instantly ceases
to exist. However, your link with the eye is such that you won’t know if
the eye was destroyed because it wandered out of range or because
of some other event.
The eyes exist for up to 1 hour per caster level or until they return to
you. Dispel magic can destroy eyes. Roll separately for each eye
caught in an area dispel.
Material Component: A handful of crystal marbles that disappear
after the spell duration ends or when destroyed (see text above).
Purify Food and Drink (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Cleric 0, Druid 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: 1 cu. ft./caster level of contaminated food and water
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell makes spoiled, rotten, poisonous or otherwise contaminated
food and water pure and suitable for eating and drinking. This spell
does not prevent subsequent natural decay or spoilage. Unholy water
and similar food and drink of significance is spoiled by purify food and
drink, but the spell has no effect on creatures of any type or upon
magic potions.
The reverse of this spell, putrify food and drink, contaminates food or
potable liquids and spoils holy water.
Note: Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon. One cubic foot of
water contains roughly 8 gallons and weighs about 60 pounds.
Player’s Handbook 129
Pyrotechnics
Alteration
Level: Druid 3, Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Target: One fire source, up to a 20’ radius
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds; see text
Saving Throw: Wisdom or constitution negates; see text
Magic Resistance: No
Pyrotechnics turns a fire into either a burst of blinding fireworks or a
thick cloud of choking smoke, depending on the version you choose.
Fireworks: The fireworks are a flashing, fiery, momentary burst of
glowing, colored aerial lights. This effect causes creatures within
120’ (24”) of the fire source to become blinded for 1d4+1 rounds
(wisdom negates). These creatures must have line of sight to the
fire to be affected.
Smoke Cloud: A writhing stream of smoke billows out from the
source, forming a choking cloud. The cloud spreads 20 feet in all
directions and lasts for 1 round per caster level. All sight, even
darkvision, is ineffective in or through the cloud, blinding all
creatures within the cloud and giving those within the cloud 100%
concealment. In addition, all within the cloud are sickened
(constitution negates). Sickened creatures suffer a -2 penalty to
strength and dexterity checks, as well as attack and damage
rolls, and take a -2 penalty to their armor class. Movement is
reduced to ½ its normal rate, rounded to the nearest 5’
increment. These effects last for 1d4+1 rounds after the cloud
dissipates or after the creature leaves the area of the cloud.
Magic resistance does not apply.
Material Component: The spell uses one fire source, which is
immediately extinguished. A fire so large that it exceeds a 20’radius is
only partly extinguished. Magical fires are not extinguished, although
a fire-based creature used as a source takes 1 point of damage per
caster level.
Rainbow Pattern
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 4
Components: S, M; see text
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Colorful lights with a 20’ radius circle
Duration: Concentration +1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A glowing, rainbow-hued pattern of interweaving colors fascinates
those within it. While fascinated, the creature is distracted, suffering a
-4 penalty to all saving throws and armor class. If attacked they are
considered surprised
Rainbow pattern fascinates a maximum of 24 hit dice of creatures.
Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first. Among creatures with
equal HD, those who are closest to the spell’s point of origin are
affected first. An affected creature that fails its saves is fascinated by
the pattern.
By concentrating upon the spell, you can make the rainbow pattern
move up to 30 feet per round (moving its effective point of origin). All
fascinated creatures follow the moving rainbow of light, trying to get
or remain within the effect. Fascinated creatures who are restrained
and removed from the pattern still try to follow it. If the pattern leads
its subjects into a dangerous area each fascinated creature gets a
second save. If the view of the lights is completely blocked creatures
who can’t see them are no longer affected. The spell does not affect
sightless creatures.
Material component: A crystal prism. This is not consumed during
casting.
Raise Dead
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Target: One corpse
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
You restore life to a deceased creature. You can raise a creature that
has been dead for no longer than one day per caster level. In
addition, the subject’s soul must be free and willing to return. If the
subject’s soul is not willing to return, the spell does not work; therefore,
a subject that wants to return receives no saving throw.
Coming back from the dead is an ordeal. The subject of the spell loses
one level (or 1 hit die) when it is raised, just as if it had lost a level or a
hit die to an energy-draining creature. If the subject is 1st level, it loses
2 points of constitution instead (if this would reduce its Con to 0 or less,
it can’t be raised). This level/HD loss or constitution loss cannot be
repaired by any means.
A raised creature has a number of hit points equal to its current hit
dice. Any ability scores damaged to 0 are raised to 1. Normal poisons
and normal diseases are cured in the process of raising the subject,
but magical diseases and curses are not undone. While the spell
closes mortal wounds and repairs lethal damage of most kinds, the
body of the creature to be raised must be whole. Otherwise, missing
parts are still missing when the creature is brought back to life. None of
the dead creature’s equipment or possessions are affected in any
way by this spell.
A creature who has been turned into an undead creature or killed by
a death effect can’t be raised by this spell. Animated creatures,
elementals, extraplanar creatures and undead creatures can’t be
raised. The spell cannot bring back a creature that has died of old
age.
Material Component: Diamonds worth a total of least 5,000 gp. They
are consumed upon this spell’s completion.
Rary’s Mnemonic Enhancer
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
Casting this spell allows you to prepare additional spells or retain spells
recently cast. Pick one of these two versions when the spell is cast. In
either event, the spell or spells prepared or retained fade after 24
hours (if not cast).
Prepare: You prepare up to three additional levels of spells. A
cantrip counts as a ½ level spell for this purpose. You prepare
and cast these spells normally.
Retain: You retain any spell of 3rd level or lower that you had cast
up to 1 round before you started casting the mnemonic
enhancer. This restores the previously cast spell to your mind.
Material Components: A piece of string and ink consisting of squid
secretion with black dragon’s blood or giant slug digestive juice.
These are expended when the spell is cast.
Player’s Handbook 130
The spell requires the caster to have an ivory plaque of at least 50 gp
value on-hand as well, though this is not consumed upon the spell’s
completion.
Ray of Enfeeblement
Necromantic
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Constitution negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A coruscating ray springs from your hand, draining the target’s
strength unless he succeeds at his saving throw.
The subject suffers a -3 penalty to all strength checks, including attack
and damage rolls, and has their carrying capacity halved, for the
duration of the spell.
Read Magic
Divination
Level: Cleric 0, Bard 0, Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
By means of read magic, you can decipher magical inscriptions on
objects - books, scrolls, weapons and the like - that would otherwise
be unintelligible. This deciphering does not normally invoke the magic
contained in the writing, although it may do so in the case of a cursed
scroll. Furthermore, once the spell is cast and you have read the
magical inscription, you are thereafter able to read that particular
writing without recourse to the use of read magic.
You can read at the rate of one page (250 words) per minute. The
spell allows you to identify a glyph of warding, an improved glyph of
warding or any symbol spell with a knowledge: arcana skill check,
with the caster level of the glyph or symbol’s creator serving as the
check penalty.
Read magic can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Material component: A clear crystal or mineral prism that is not
consumed by the casting of this spell.
Regenerate (reversible)
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 7, Druid 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 3 rounds
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Constitution negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject’s severed body members (fingers, toes, hands, feet, arms,
legs, tails or even heads of multi-headed creatures), broken bones
and ruined organs grow back. After the spell is cast the physical
regeneration is complete in 1 round if the severed members are
present and touching the creature. It takes 2d10 rounds otherwise.
Regenerate also cures 6d8 points of damage, rids the subject of
fatigue and eliminates all non-lethal damage the subject has taken. It
has no effect on non-living creatures (including undead).
The reverse of the spell, wither, causes 6d8 damage to the target and
causes the limb, appendage or bodily member touched to shrivel
and cease functioning immediately. The target creature must be
touched in order to have this harmful effect occur and is entitled to a
constitution save to negate the withering effect of this spell. Creatures
without discernible limbs or appendages are immune to this
secondary effect, though they still are wounded by this spell.
Material Component: The material components of this spell are a
prayer device and holy/unholy water.
Reincarnate
Alteration
Level: Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target: One corpse
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
With this spell, you bring back a dead creature in another body,
provided that its death occurred no more than one week before the
casting of the spell and the subject’s soul is free and willing to return. If
the subject’s soul is not willing to return, the spell does not work;
therefore, a subject that wants to return receives no saving throw.
Since the dead creature is returning in a new body, all physical ills and
afflictions are repaired. The condition of the remains is not a factor. So
long as some small portion of the creature’s body still exists, it can be
reincarnated, but the portion receiving the spell must have been part
of the creature’s body at the time of death. The magic of the spell
creates an entirely new young adult body for the soul to inhabit from
the natural elements at hand. This process takes 1 hour to complete.
When the body is ready, the subject is reincarnated.
d%
incarnation
d%
incarnation
01-02
badger
58-63
halfling
03-04
bear, black
64-65
hawk
05-06
bear, brown
66-69
hobgoblin
07-10
bugbear
70-76
human
11-14
centaur
77-80
kobold
15-16
deer
81-84
lizardman
17-21
dwarf
85-88
ogre
22-23
eagle
89-90
orc
24-29
elf
91
owl
30-31
fox
92
raccoon
32-35
gnoll
93
troglodyte
36-41
gnome
94
troll
42-45
goblin
95-96
wolf
46-51
half-elf
97-98
wolverine
52-57
half-orc
99-00
dm’s choice
A reincarnated creature recalls the majority of its former life and form.
The subject of the spell loses one level (or 1 hit die) when it is raised,
just as if it had lost a level or a hit die to an energy-draining creature. If
the subject is 1st level, it loses 2 points of constitution instead (if this
would reduce its Con to 0 or less, it can’t be raised). This level/HD loss
or constitution loss cannot be repaired by any means. Its class, bonus
to hit (BtH), base save bonuses and hit points are unchanged, though
its new form may not be suited to its profession. While its strength,
dexterity and constitution scores depend partly on the new body
(with penalties or bonuses to ability scores decided by the Dungeon
Master) its intelligence, wisdom and charisma are unchanged.
A creature that has been turned into an undead creature or killed by
a death effect can’t be returned to life by this spell. Animated
creatures, elementals, extraplanar creatures and undead creatures
can’t be reincarnated. The spell cannot bring back a creature who
has died of old age.
The reincarnated creature gains all abilities associated with its new
form, including forms of movement and movement rate, its armor
class and natural attacks, its sensory powers and special defenses and
its spell-like powers. It doesn’t automatically speak the language of
the new form.
A wish or a miracle spell can restore a reincarnated character to his
original form.
Material Component: Rare oils and unguents worth a total of least
1,000 gp, spread over the remains. These are expended once the
spell is completed.
Remove Curse (reversible)
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 3, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature or item
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Player’s Handbook 131
Magic Resistance: Yes
Remove curse instantaneously removes all curses on an object or a
creature. Remove curse does not remove the curse from a cursed
shield, weapon or suit of armor, although the spell typically enables
the creature afflicted with any such cursed item to remove and get
rid of it. Certain special curses may not be countered by this spell or
may be countered only by a caster of a certain level or higher.
The reverse of this spell, curse, places a permanent curse on the
subject. Choose one of the following three effects.
• –6 decrease to an ability score (minimum 1)
• –2 penalty to all attack rolls and ability checks
• Each turn, the target has a 50% chance to act normally;
otherwise, it takes no action
You may also invent your own curse, but it should be no more
powerful than those described above. The curse bestowed by this
spell cannot be dispelled, but it can be removed with a break
enchantment, limited wish, miracle, remove curse, or wish spell.
Curse counters remove curse while remove curse counters and dispels
curse.
Remove Fear
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 1, Bard 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One creature plus one additional creature per four caster
levels, no two of which can be more than 30’ apart
Duration: 1 turn; see text
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You instill courage in the subject, granting it a +4 bonus against fear
effects for 1 turn. If the subject is under the influence of a fear effect
when receiving the spell, that effect is suppressed for the duration of
the spell.
Remove fear counters and dispels cause fear.
Remove Paralysis
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: Up to 4 creatures, no two of which can be more than 30’ apart
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You can free one or more creatures from the effects of any temporary
paralysis or related magic, including a ghoul’s touch, hold person or a
slow spell. If the spell is cast on one creature, the paralysis is negated.
If cast on two creatures, each receives another save with a +4 bonus
against the effect that afflicts it. If cast on three or four creatures,
each receives another save with a +2 bonus.
The spell does not restore ability scores reduced by penalties,
damage or drain.
Repel Vermin
Abjuration
Level: Bard 4, Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 10’ radius sphere centered on you
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None or Wisdom negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
An invisible barrier holds back vermin (insects, arachnids and rodents).
Vermin with hit dice of less than one-third your level cannot penetrate
the barrier.
A vermin with hit dice of one-third your level or more can penetrate
the barrier if it succeeds on a wisdom save. Even so, crossing the
barrier deals the vermin 2d4 points of damage, and pressing against
the barrier causes pain, which deters most vermin.
This spell effectively protects those within its radius from the insect
plague spell.
Repulsion
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 7, Magic-User 6, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: Up to 10’ radius/caster level sphere centered on you
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
An invisible, mobile field surrounds you and prevents creatures from
approaching you. You decide how big the field is at the time of
casting (to the limit your level allows). Any creature within or entering
the field must attempt a save. If it fails, it becomes unable to move
toward you for the duration of the spell. Repelled creatures’ actions
are not otherwise restricted.
They can fight other creatures, cast spells or attack you with ranged
weapons. If you move closer to an affected creature, nothing
happens (i.e. the creature is not forced back). The creature is free to
make melee attacks against you if you come within striking distance.
If a repelled creature moves away from you and then tries to turn
back toward you, it cannot move any closer if it is still within the spell’s
area.
Arcane Material Component: A pair of small iron bars attached to
two small canine statuettes, one black and one white, the whole
array is worth 50 gp. These items are not consumed by the casting of
this spell.
Resist Energy
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 2, Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This abjuration grants a creature limited protection from damage of
whichever one of five energy types you select: acid, cold, electricity,
fire or sonic. The subject gains a +2 bonus to saving throws made
against such attacks and only suffers half of the damage that they
normally would from such attacks. The spell protects the recipient’s
equipment as well. The save bonus provided by this spell increases by
+1 per 6 caster levels of the caster (to a maximum of +5 at level 18
and higher).
Note: Resist energy overlaps with protection from energy. If a
character is warded by protection from energy and resist energy, the
protection spell absorbs the reduced amount of damage affected by
the resist energy spell until its power is exhausted.
Restoration
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 4, Druid 4
This spell functions like lesser restoration, except that it cures all
temporary ability damage and it restores all points permanently
drained from a single ability score (your choice if more than one is
drained). It also eliminates any fatigue or exhaustion suffered by the
target.
Resurrection
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 7
Casting Time: 1 turn
This spell functions like raise dead, except that you are able to restore
life and complete strength to any deceased creature. The condition
of the remains is not a factor. So long as some small portion of the
creature’s body still exists, it can be resurrected, but the portion
receiving the spell must have been part of the creature’s body at the
time of death. The remains of a creature hit by a disintegrate spell
count as a small portion of its body. The creature can have been
dead no longer than 10 years per caster level.
Upon completion of the spell, the creature is immediately restored to
full hit points, vigor and health, with no loss of prepared spells.
However, the subject loses one level, or 2 points of constitution if the
subject was 1st level. If this reduction would bring its Con to 0 or lower,
Player’s Handbook 132
it can’t be resurrected. This level loss or constitution loss cannot be
repaired by any means.
You can resurrect someone killed by a death effect or someone who
has been turned into an undead creature and then destroyed. You
cannot resurrect someone who has died of old age. Animated
creatures, elementals, extraplanar creatures, and undead creatures
can’t be resurrected.
Material Component: A sprinkle of holy water and diamonds worth a
total of at least 10,000 gp.
Reverse Gravity
Alteration
Level: Druid 8, Magic-User 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: No
This spell reverses gravity in an area, causing all unattached objects
and creatures within that area to fall upward and reach the top of
the area in 1 round. If some solid object (such as a ceiling) is
encountered in this fall, falling objects and creatures strike it in the
same manner as they would during a normal downward fall. If an
object or creature reaches the top of the area without striking
anything, it remains there, oscillating slightly, until the spell ends. At the
end of the spell duration, affected objects and creatures fall
downward.
Provided it has something to hold onto, a creature caught in the area
can attempt a dexterity save to secure itself when the spell strikes.
Creatures who can fly or levitate can keep themselves from falling.
Arcane Material Component: A lodestone and iron filings. The
lodestone is not consumed when this spell is cast.
Rope Trick
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 2, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One piece of rope from 5’ to 30’ long
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
When this spell is cast upon a piece of rope from 5 to 30’ long, one
end of the rope rises into the air until the whole rope hangs
perpendicular to the ground, as if affixed at the upper end. The upper
end is, in fact, fastened to an extra-dimensional space that is outside
the multiverse of extra-dimensional spaces (“planes”). Creatures in the
extra-dimensional space are hidden, beyond the reach of spells
(including divinations), unless those spells work across planes. The
space holds as many as eight creatures (of any size). Creatures in the
space can pull the rope up into the space, making the rope
“disappear.” In that case, the rope counts as one of the eight
creatures that can fit in the space. The rope can support up to 16,000
pounds. A weight greater than that can pull the rope free.
Spells cannot be cast across the extra-dimensional interface, nor can
area effects cross it. Those in the extra-dimensional space can see out
of it as if a 3’ radius window were centered on the rope. The window is
present on the Material Plane, but it’s invisible, and even creatures
that can see the window can’t see through it. Anything inside the
extra-dimensional space drops out when the spell ends. The rope can
be climbed by only one person at a time. The rope trick spell enables
climbers to reach a normal place if they do not climb all the way to
the extra-dimensional space.
Note: It is hazardous to create an extra-dimensional space within an
existing extra-dimensional space or to take an extra-dimensional
space into an existing one.
Material Component: Powdered corn extract and a twisted loop of
parchment that are expended by this spell’s casting.
Run
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
This spell increases your movement rate speed by 30’ per round.
There is no effect on other modes of movement, such as burrow,
climb, fly or swim. As with any effect that increases your movement
rate, this spell affects your jumping distance.
Sanctuary
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Any opponent attempting to strike or otherwise directly attack the
warded creature, even with a targeted spell, must attempt a wisdom
save. If the save succeeds, the opponent can attack normally and is
unaffected by that casting of the spell. If the save fails, the opponent
can’t follow through with the attack and it can’t directly attack the
warded creature for the duration of the spell. Those not attempting to
attack the subject remain unaffected. This spell does not prevent the
warded creature from being attacked or affected by area of effect
spells. The subject cannot attack without breaking the spell but may
use non-attack spells or otherwise act.
Scare
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 2, Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Targets: One creature per three caster levels, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like cause fear, except that it causes all targeted
creatures of less than 6 HD to become frightened and flee from the
caster.
Arcane Material Component: A bit of bone from an undead creature.
It is not consumed during the casting of this spell.
Scintillating Pattern
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Colorful lights in a 20’ radius circle
Duration: Concentration + 2 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
A twisting pattern of discordant, coruscating colors weaves through
the air, affecting creatures within it. The spell affects a total number of
hit dice of creatures equal to your caster level (maximum 20).
Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first; and, among creatures
with equal HD, those who are closest to the spell’s point of origin are
affected first. Hit dice that are not sufficient to affect a creature are
wasted. The spell affects each subject according to its hit dice.
6 or less: Unconscious for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1d4
rounds, and then confused, as per the confusion spell, for 1d4
rounds. (Treat an unconscious result as stunned for non-living
creatures.)
7 to 12: Stunned for 1d4 rounds, then confused for 1d4 rounds.
13+: Confused for 1d4 rounds.
Player’s Handbook 133
Sightless creatures are not affected by scintillating pattern.
Material Component: A small crystal prism that is not expended when
the spell is cast.
Screen
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: 30’ cube/caster level
Duration: 24 hours
Saving Throw: None or intelligence disbelief; see text
Magic Resistance: No
This spell combines several elements to create a powerful protection
from scrying and direct observation. When casting the spell, you
dictate what will and will not be observed in the spell’s area. The
illusion created must be stated in general terms. Once the conditions
are set, they cannot be changed.
Attempts to scry the area automatically detect the image stated by
you with no save allowed. Sight and sound are appropriate to the
illusion created.
Direct observation may allow a save (as per a normal illusion) if there
is cause to disbelieve what is seen. Even entering the area does not
cancel the illusion or necessarily allow a save, assuming that hidden
beings take care to stay out of the way of those affected by the
illusion.
Scrying
Divination
Level: Cleric 5, Bard 3, Druid 4, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: See text
Effect Magical sensor
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for the arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You can see and hear some creature, which may be at any distance.
If the subject succeeds at its save, the scrying attempt simply fails. The
difficulty of the save depends on how well you know the subject and
what sort of physical connection (if any) you have to that creature.
Furthermore, if the subject is on another plane, it gets a +5 bonus on its
save.
knowledge
save modifier
none1
+10
secondhand (you have heard of the subject)
+5
firsthand (you have met the subject)
+0
familiar (you know the subject well)
–5
1 you must have some sort of connection to a creature you have
no knowledge of.
connection
save modifier
likeness or picture
–2
possession or garment
–5
body part, lock of hair, bit of nail, etc.
–10
If the save fails, you can see and hear the subject and the subject’s
immediate surroundings (approximately 10 feet in all directions of the
subject). If the subject moves, the sensor follows at a movement rate
of up to 150’ (30”) per round. The sensor has your full visual acuity,
including any magical effects. In addition, the following spells have a
5% chance per caster level of operating through the sensor: detect
evil or good, detect magic and message.
If the save succeeds, you can’t attempt to scry on that subject again
for at least 24 hours.
Arcane Material Components: The eye of a hawk, an eagle or a roc,
plus nitric acid, copper and zinc. These are consumed by the casting
of this spell. The caster must also have a mirror of finely wrought and
highly polished silver, costing no less than 1,000 gp. The mirror must be
at least 2 feet wide by 4 feet in height. It is not consumed when this
spell is cast.
Cleric Material Component: A holy water font costing not less than
100 gp.
Bard or Druid Material component: A natural pool of water.
Secret Page
Alteration
Level: Bard 3, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target: One page, up to 3 sq. ft. in size
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Secret page alters the contents of a page so that they appear to be
something entirely different. The text of a spell can be changed to
show even another spell. Explosive runes or sepia snake sigil can be
cast upon the secret page.
A comprehend languages spell alone cannot reveal a secret page’s
contents. You are able to reveal the original contents by speaking a
special word. You can then peruse the actual page and return it to its
secret page form at will. You can also remove the spell by double
repetition of the special word.
A detect magic spell reveals dim magic on the page in question but
does not reveal its true contents. True seeing reveals the presence of
the hidden material but does not reveal the contents unless cast in
combination with comprehend languages. A secret page spell can
be dispelled and the hidden writings can be destroyed by means of
an erase spell.
Material Component: Powdered herring scales and will-o’-wisp
essence.
Seeming
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Targets: One creature per two caster levels, no two of which can be
more than 30’ apart
Duration: 12 hours (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like change self, except that you can change the
appearance of other people as well. Affected creatures resume their
normal appearances if slain.
Unwilling targets can negate the spell’s effect on them by saving
against it. Magic resistance applies as well.
Sending
Evocation
Level: Cleric 4, Bard 5, Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: See text
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round; see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You contact a particular creature with which you are familiar and
send a short message of twenty-five words or less to the subject. The
subject recognizes you if it knows you. It can answer in like manner
immediately. A creature with an intelligence score as low as 1 can
understand the sending, though the subject’s ability to react is limited
as normal by its intelligence score. Even if the sending is received the
subject is not obligated to act upon it in any manner.
If the creature in question is not on the same plane of existence as
you are there is a 5% chance that the sending does not arrive. Local
conditions on other planes may worsen this chance considerably.
Arcane Material Component: A short piece of fine copper wire that is
not consumed during the casting of this spell.
Sepia Snake Sigil
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target: One book or written work
Duration: Permanent until released, then 1d4 days + one day/caster
level; see text
Player’s Handbook 134
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates
Magic Resistance: No
When you cast sepia snake sigil, a small symbol appears in the text of
one written work such as a book, scroll or map. The text containing
the symbol must be at least twenty-five words long. When anyone
reads the text containing the symbol, the sepia snake springs into
being and strikes the reader, provided there is line of effect between
the symbol and the reader.
Simply seeing the enspelled text is not sufficient to trigger the spell; the
subject must deliberately read it. The target is entitled to a save to
evade the snake’s strike. If it succeeds, the sepia snake dissipates in a
flash of brown light accompanied by a puff of dun-colored smoke
and a loud noise. If the target fails its save, it is engulfed in a
shimmering amber field of force and immobilized until released, either
at your command or when 1d4 days + one day per caster level have
elapsed.
While trapped in the amber field of force, the subject does not age,
breathe, grow hungry, sleep or regain spells. It is preserved in a state
of suspended animation, unaware of its surroundings. It can be
damaged by outside forces (and perhaps even killed), since the field
provides no protection against physical injury. However, a dying
subject does not lose hit points or become stable until the spell ends.
The hidden sigil cannot be detected by normal observation and
detect magic reveals only that the entire text is magical.
A dispel magic can remove the sigil. An erase spell destroys the entire
page of text. Sepia snake sigil can be cast in combination with other
spells that hide or garble text, such as secret page.
Material Component: 500 gp worth of powdered amber, a scale from
any snake, and a pinch of mushroom spores.
Sequester
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One willing creature or object (up to a 2’ cube/caster level)
Duration: One day/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
When cast, this spell not only prevents divination spells from working to
detect or locate the creature or object affected by sequester, it also
renders the affected creature or object invisible to any form of sight or
seeing (as the invisibility spell). The spell does not prevent the subject
from being discovered through tactile means. Creatures affected by
sequester become comatose and are effectively in a state of
suspended animation until the spell wears off or is dispelled.
Material Component: A basilisk eyelash, gum arabic and a dram of
whitewash.
Serten’s Spell Immunity
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: Up to one creature per four caster levels
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject gains a +8 bonus on saving throws against all spells and
spell-like powers.
Material Component: A diamond of at least 500 gp value, which must
be crushed and sprinkled over the targets. Furthermore, each
targeted creature must carry one 1,000 gp diamond in order to be
granted the protection of this spell. Each subject must carry one such
gem for the duration of the spell. If a subject loses the gem, the spell
ceases to affect him.
Shades
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 9
This spell functions like shadow conjuration, except that it mimics
magic-user conjuration/summoning spells of 8th level or lower. The
illusory conjurations created deal four-fifths (80%) damage to non-
believers, and non-damaging effects are 80% likely to work against
non-believers.
Shadow Conjuration
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: See text
Effect: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with); varies; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes; see text
You use material from the Plane of Shadow to shape quasi-real
illusions of one or more creatures, objects or forces. Shadow
conjuration can mimic any magic-user conjuration/summoning spell
of 3rd level or lower. Shadow conjurations are actually one-fifth (20%)
as strong as the real things, though creatures who believe the shadow
conjurations to be real are affected by them at full strength.
Any creature that interacts with the conjured object, force or creature
can make a intelligence save to recognize its true nature.
Spells that deal damage have normal effects unless the affected
creature succeeds on a intelligence save. Each disbelieving creature
takes only one-fifth (20%) damage from the attack. If the disbelieved
attack has a special effect other than damage, that effect is only 20%
likely to occur. Regardless of the result of the save to disbelieve, an
affected creature is also allowed any save that the spell being
simulated allows. In addition, any effect created by shadow
conjuration allows Magic Resistance, even if the spell it is simulating
does not. Shadow objects or substances have normal effects except
against those who disbelieve them. Against disbelievers, they are 20%
likely to work.
A shadow creature has one-fifth the hit points of a normal creature of
its kind (regardless of whether it’s recognized as shadowy). It deals
normal damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses. Against
a creature that recognizes it as a shadow creature, however, the
shadow creature’s damage is one-fifth (20%) normal, and all special
abilities that do not deal lethal damage are only 20% likely to work.
Roll for each use and each affected character separately.
Furthermore, the shadow creature’s AC is reduced. For every 5 full
points that the simulated creature’s AC exceeds 10, add 1 point to
the shadow creature’s base AC of 10. As such, a shadow version of a
creature that normally has an 18 armor class would have an AC of 11.
A creature that succeeds on its save sees the shadow conjurations as
transparent images superimposed on vague, shadowy forms.
Objects automatically succeed on their intelligence saves against this
spell.
Shadow Evocation
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: See text
Effect: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with)
Magic Resistance: Yes
Player’s Handbook 135
You tap energy from the Plane of Shadow to cast a quasi-real, illusory
version of a magic-user evocation spell of 4th level or lower.
Spells that deal damage have normal effects unless an affected
creature succeeds on an intelligence save. Each disbelieving
creature takes only one-fifth damage from the attack. If the
disbelieved attack has a special effect other than damage, that
effect is one-fifth as strong (if applicable) or only 20% likely to occur. If
recognized as a shadow evocation, a damaging spell deals only one-
fifth (20%) damage. Regardless of the result of the save to disbelieve,
an affected creature is also allowed any save (or magic resistance)
that the spell being simulated allows.
Non-damaging effects have normal effects except against those who
disbelieve them. Against disbelievers, they have no effect.
Objects automatically succeed on their intelligence saves against this
spell.
Shadow Walk
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature/caster level
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
To use the shadow walk spell, you must be in an area of shadowy
illumination. You and any creature you touch are then transported
along a coiling path of shadowstuff to the edge of the Prime Material
Plane where it borders the Plane of Shadow. The effect is largely
illusory, but the path is quasi-real. You can take more than one
creature along with you (subject to your level limit), but all must be
touching each other.
In the region of shadow, you move at a rate of 50 miles per hour (or
1000’ per round), moving normally on the borders of the Plane of
Shadow but much more rapidly relative to the Material Plane. Thus,
you can use this spell to travel rapidly by stepping onto the Plane of
Shadow, moving the desired distance, and then stepping back onto
the Material Plane.
Because of the blurring of reality between the Plane of Shadow and
the Material Plane, you can’t make out details of the terrain or areas
you pass over during transit, nor can you predict perfectly where your
travel will end. It’s impossible to judge distances accurately, making
the spell virtually useless for scouting or spying. Furthermore, when the
spell effect ends, you are shunted 1d10×100 feet in a random
horizontal direction from your desired endpoint. If this would place you
within a solid object, you are shunted 1d10×1,000 feet in the same
direction. If this would still place you within a solid object, you (and
any creatures with you) are shunted to the nearest empty space
available,
but
the
strain
of
this
activity
renders
each
creature fatigued (no save).
Shadow walk can also be used to travel to other planes that border
on the Plane of Shadow, but this usage requires the transit of the
Plane of Shadow to arrive at a border with another plane of reality.
The transit of the Plane of Shadow requires 1d4 hours.
Any creatures touched by you when shadow walk is cast also make
the transition to the borders of the Plane of Shadow.
They may opt to follow you, wander off through the plane, or stumble
back into the Prime Material Plane (50% chance for either of the latter
results if they are lost or abandoned by you). Creatures unwilling to
accompany you into the Plane of Shadow receive a saving throw,
negating the effect if successful.
Shambler
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 9
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Three mounds, no two of which can be more than 30’ apart;
see text
Duration: Seven days or seven months (dismissible); see text
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
The shambler spell creates 3 shambling mounds with 9 HD each. The
creatures willingly aid you in combat or battle, perform a specific
mission or serve as bodyguards. The creatures remain with you for
seven days unless you dismiss them. If the shamblers are created only
for guard duty, however, the duration of the spell is seven months. In
this case, the shamblers can only be ordered to guard a specific site
or location. Shamblers summoned to guard duty cannot move
outside the spell’s range, which is measured from the point where
each first appeared.
The shamblers have resistance to fire as normal shambling mounds do
only if the terrain is rainy, marshy or damp.
Shapechange
Alteration
Level: Druid 9, Magic-User 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
This spell functions like polymorph, except that it enables you to
assume the form of any single non-unique creature of any type or size.
The assumed form cannot have more than your caster level in hit dice
(to a maximum of 20 HD). Unlike polymorph, this spell allows
incorporeal or gaseous forms to be assumed.
You gain all the special attacks, defenses and spell-like powers of the
assumed form, but you lose your own special attacks, defenses and
spell-like powers. Parts of your body or pieces of equipment that are
separated from you do not revert to their original forms.
You can become just about anything you are familiar with. You can
change form once each round on your initiative, either before or after
you act. If you use this spell to create a disguise, you get a +10 bonus
on your disguise ability check. If you do not have the disguise ability
you may make a charisma check, with no level modifier, to affect a
disguise.
Material component: A jade circlet worth no less than 1,500 gp, which
you must place on your head when casting the spell. (The material
component melds into your new form when you change shape.) It is
not consumed by the spell.
Shape Wood
Alteration
Level: Druid 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One piece of wood no larger than 10 cu. ft. + 1 cu. ft./ caster
level
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell enables you to form one existing piece of wood into any
shape that suits your purpose. While it is possible to make crude
coffers, doors, and so forth, fine detail isn’t possible. There is a 30%
chance that any shape that includes moving parts simply doesn’t
work.
Shatter
Evocation
Level: Bard 2, Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area or Target: 5’ radius circle; or one solid object or one crystalline
creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates or half; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Shatter creates a loud, ringing noise that breaks brittle, non-magical
objects; sunders a single solid, non-magical object; or damages a
crystalline creature.
Used as an area attack, shatter destroys non-magical objects of
crystal, glass, ceramic, or porcelain (no Item Saving Throw). All such
objects within a 5-foot radius of the point of origin are smashed into
dozens of pieces by the spell. Objects weighing more than 1 pound
per your level are not affected, but all other objects of the
appropriate composition are shattered. Held or carried items need
not save unless their bearer failed his dexterity save with a roll of “1”.
Alternatively, you can target shatter against a single solid object,
regardless of composition, weighing up to 10 pounds per caster level.
Player’s Handbook 136
Targeted against a crystalline creature (of any weight), shatter deals
1d6 points of sonic damage per caster level (maximum 9d6), with a
dexterity save for half damage.
Arcane Material Component: A chip of mica.
Shield
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Shield creates an invisible, mobile disk of force that hovers in front of
you. It negates magic missile attacks directed at you.
The disk also provides 75% cover versus attacks (+6 to AC) and
offensive spells originating from a point in front of the caster. As such
the shield bearer suffers one-half normal damage on a failed save
and no damage at all if a saving throw is successful against a spell
originating from a point in front of a shield-protected magic-user.
Shield of Faith
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell creates a shimmering, magical field around the touched
creature that averts attacks. The spell grants the subject a +2 bonus to
armor class, with an additional +1 to the bonus for every six levels you
have (maximum +5 bonus at 18th level).
Material Component: A small parchment with a bit of holy text written
upon it.
Shillelagh
Alteration
Level: Druid 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One non-magical oak club or quarterstaff
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Your own non-magical club or quarterstaff becomes a +1 weapon
that deals 1d12 damage. These effects only occur when the weapon
is wielded by you. If you do not wield it the weapon behaves as if
unaffected by this spell.
Shocking Grasp
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
Your successful melee attack deals 1d6 points of electricity damage
per caster level (maximum 5d6). When delivering the jolt, you gain a
+3 bonus on attack rolls if the opponent is wearing metal armor (or
made out of metal, carrying a lot of metal or the like).
Shout
Evocation
Level: Bard 4, Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 30’ cone
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity partial; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
You emit an ear-splitting yell that stuns and damages creatures in its
path. Any creature within the area is stunned for 1d4 rounds and takes
4d4 points of damage. An affected creature is allowed a dexterity
save reduce the damage by half, negating the stun effect as well.
Crystalline creatures suffer double damage from a shout spell.
Any exposed brittle or crystalline object within the cone must make an
Item Saving Throw or be destroyed. Brittle, ceramic or crystalline items
held or carried need not make Item Saving Throws unless their bearer
failed his dexterity saving throw with a roll of “1”.
A shout spell cannot penetrate a silence 15’ radius spell.
Shrink Item
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One object of up to 2 cu. ft./caster level
Duration: One day/caster level; see text
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You are able to shrink one non-magical item (if it is within the size limit)
to 1/16 of its normal size in each dimension (to about 1/4,000 the
original volume and mass). Optionally, you can also change its now
shrunken composition to a cloth-like one.
Objects changed by a shrink item spell can be returned to normal
composition and size merely by tossing them onto any solid surface or
by a word of command from the original caster. Even a burning fire
and its fuel can be shrunk by this spell. Restoring the shrunken object
to its normal size and composition ends the spell.
Shrink item can be made permanent with a permanency spell, in
which case the affected object can be shrunk and expanded an
indefinite number of times, but only by the original caster.
Silence 15’ Radius
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Bard 2, Cleric 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: 15’ radius centered on a creature, object, or point in space
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates or none; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes or no; see text
Upon the casting of this spell, complete silence prevails in the
affected area. All sound is stopped: Conversation is impossible, spells
with verbal components cannot be cast and no noise whatsoever
issues from, enters or passes through the area.
The spell can be cast on a point in space, but the effect is stationary
unless cast on a mobile object. The spell can be centered on a
creature and the effect then radiates from the creature and moves as
it moves. An unwilling creature can attempt a wisdom save and use
magic resistance, if any, to prevent the spell from being cast upon
them. Items in a creature’s possession or magic items that emit sound
receive the benefits of saves and magic resistance, but unattended
objects and points in space do not. This spell provides a defense
against sonic or language-based attacks.
Silent Image
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Effect: Visual figment that cannot extend beyond four 10’ cubes +
one 10’ cube/caster level
Duration: Concentration
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with)
Magic Resistance: No
This spell creates the visual illusion of an object, creature or force, as
visualized by you. The illusion does not create sound, smell, texture or
temperature. You can move the image within the limits of the size of
the effect.
Material component: A bit of fleece.
Player’s Handbook 137
Simulacrum
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, M, XP
Casting Time: 12 hours
Range: Special; see text
Effect: One duplicate creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Simulacrum creates an illusory duplicate of any creature. The
duplicate creature is partially real and formed from ice or snow. It
appears to be the same as the original, but it has only one-half of the
real creature’s levels or hit dice (and the appropriate hit points, saves
and level bonuses for a creature of that level or HD). You can’t create
a simulacrum of a creature whose hit dice or levels exceed your
caster level. You must make a perception check when you cast the
spell to determine how good the likeness is. A creature familiar with
the original might detect the ruse with a successful perception check
(opposed by the caster’s perception check).
At all times the simulacrum remains under your absolute command.
No special telepathic link exists, so command must be exercised in
some other manner. A simulacrum has no ability to become more
powerful. It cannot increase its level or abilities. If reduced to 0 hit
points or otherwise destroyed, it reverts to snow and melts instantly into
nothingness. A complex process requiring at least 24 hours, 100 gp per
hit point and a fully equipped magical laboratory can repair damage
to a simulacrum.
Material Component: The spell is cast over the rough snow or ice form
and some piece of the creature to be duplicated (hair, nail, or the
like) must be placed inside the snow or ice. Additionally, the spell
requires powdered ruby worth 100 gp per HD of the simulacrum to be
created. These components are expended by the casting of this
spell.
XP Cost: 1,000 XP per HD of the simulacrum to be created (minimum
10,000 XP).
Slay Living
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: Once creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Charisma partial
Magic Resistance: Yes
You can slay a single living creature. You must succeed on a melee
attack to touch the subject, and it can avoid death with a successful
charisma save. If it succeeds, it instead takes 5d6 points of damage.
Sleep
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 1, Magic-User 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: One or more living creatures within a 10’ radius circle
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A sleep spell causes 2d4 hit dice of creatures to fall into a magical
slumber. Only creatures with 4 or fewer hit dice are affected by this
spell. Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first.
Among creatures with equal HD, those who are closest to the spell’s
point of origin are affected first. Hit dice that are not sufficient to
affect a creature are wasted.
Sleeping creatures are helpless. Slapping or wounding awakens an
affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature
takes 1 round. Sleep does not target unconscious, animated or
undead creatures.
Arcane Material Component: A pinch of fine sand, rose petals or a
live cricket. The live cricket is not harmed by this spell’s casting and
may be used for subsequent castings.
Sleet Storm
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 4, Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: 40’ radius by 20’ high cylinder
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
Driving sleet blocks all sight (even darkvision) within it and causes the
ground in the area to be icy. A creature can walk within or through
the area of sleet at half normal speed with a balance check with a -5
penalty. Failure means it can’t move in that round, while failure by 5 or
more means it falls. The sleet extinguishes torches and small fires.
Arcane Material Component: A pinch of dust and a few drops of
water.
Slow Poison
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 2, Druid 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Saving Throw: Constitution negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject becomes temporarily immune to poison. Any poison in its
system or any poison to which it is exposed during the spell’s duration
does not affect the subject until the spell’s duration has expired. Slow
poison does not cure any damage that poison may have already
done.
Snare
Alteration
Level: Druid 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 3 rounds
Range: Touch
Target: Non-magical circle of vine, rope or thong with a 1” diameter +
1”/6 caster levels
Duration: Until triggered or broken
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell enables you to make a snare that functions as a magic trap.
The snare can be made from any supple vine, a thong, or a rope.
When you cast snare upon it, the cordlike object blends with its
surroundings (-5 penalty to all perception checks to notice it). One
end of the snare is tied in a loop that contracts around one or more of
the limbs of any creature stepping inside the circle.
If a strong and supple tree is nearby, the snare can be fastened to it.
The spell causes the tree to bend and then straighten when the loop is
triggered, dealing 1d6 points of damage to the creature trapped and
lifting it off the ground by the trapped limb or limbs. If no such tree is
available, the cordlike object tightens around the creature, dealing
no damage but causing it to be entangled.
The snare is magical. To escape, a trapped creature must make an
escape artist check with a -10 penalty. The escape attempt counts
as the target’s action for the round. The snare has AC 10 and 10 hit
points per 1’ diameter. Piercing and blunt weapons only deal ½
damage to a snare (round fractions down). A successful escape from
the snare breaks the loop and ends the spell.
Soften Earth and Stone
Alteration
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: 10’ square/caster level; see text
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: No
When this spell is cast, all natural, undressed earth or stone in the
spell’s area is softened. Wet earth becomes thick mud, dry earth
becomes loose sand or dirt and stone becomes soft clay that is easily
Player’s Handbook 138
molded or chopped. You affect a 10’ square area to a depth of 1 to
4 feet, depending on the toughness or resilience of the ground at that
spot. Magical, enchanted, dressed or worked stone cannot be
affected. Earth or stone creatures are not affected.
A creature in mud must succeed on a dexterity save or be caught for
1d2 rounds and unable to move, attack or cast spells. A creature that
succeeds on its save can move through the mud at half speed, but
can’t run or charge.
Loose dirt is not as troublesome as mud, but all creatures in the area
can move at only half their normal speed and can’t run or charge
over the surface.
Stone softened into clay does not hinder movement, but it does allow
characters to cut, shape, or excavate areas they may not have been
able to affect before.
While soften earth and stone does not affect dressed or worked stone,
cavern ceilings or vertical surfaces such as cliff faces can be affected.
Usually, this causes a moderate collapse or landslide as the loosened
material peels away from the face of the wall or roof and falls. A
moderate amount of structural damage can be dealt to a
manufactured structure by softening the ground beneath it, causing it
to settle. However, most well-built structures will only be damaged by
this spell, not destroyed.
Solid Fog
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Magic Resistance: No
This spell functions like fog cloud, but in addition to obscuring sight, the
solid fog is so thick that any creature attempting to move through it
progresses at a movement rate of 5’ per round, regardless of its
normal speed, and it takes a –2 penalty on all melee attack and
melee damage rolls. A creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment.
Creatures up to 10 feet away have 75% concealment while those
further away have 100% concealment.
The vapors prevent effective ranged weapon attacks (except for
magic rays and the like). A creature or object that falls into solid fog is
slowed, so that each 10 feet of vapor that it passes through reduces
falling damage by 1d6.
However, unlike normal fog, only a severe wind (31+ mph) disperses
these vapors, doing so in 1 round.
Solid fog can be made permanent with a permanency spell. A
permanent solid fog dispersed by wind reforms in 1 turn.
Material Component: A pinch of dried, powdered peas combined
with powdered animal hoof.
Soul Bind
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 9, Magic-User 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One corpse
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: No
You draw the soul from a newly dead body and imprison it in a black
sapphire gem. The subject must have been dead no more than 1
round per caster level. The soul, once trapped in the gem, cannot be
returned through clone, raise dead, reincarnation, resurrection or
even a miracle or a wish. Only by destroying the gem or dispelling the
spell on the gem can one free the soul.
Material component: A black sapphire of at least 1,000 gp value for
every hit die possessed by the creature whose soul is to be bound. If
the gem is not valuable enough, it shatters when the binding is
attempted. (While creatures have no concept of level or hit dice as
such, the value of the gem needed to trap an individual can be
researched. Remember that this value can change over time as
creatures gain more hit dice.)
Sound Burst
Evocation
Level: Bard 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: 10’ radius circle
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Constitution partial
Magic Resistance: Yes
You blast an area with a tremendous cacophony. Every creature in
the area takes 1d8 points of sonic damage and must succeed on a
constitution save to avoid being stunned for 1 round.
Creatures that cannot hear are not stunned but are still damaged.
Speak with Animals
Divination
Level: Cleric 2, Bard 2, Druid 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
You can comprehend and communicate with animals. You are able
to ask questions of and receive answers from animals, although the
spell doesn’t make them any more friendly or cooperative than
normal. Furthermore, wary and cunning animals are likely to be terse
and evasive, while the more stupid ones make inane comments. If an
animal is friendly toward you, it may do some favor or service for you.
Speak with Dead
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 2, Bard 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch
Target: One corpse
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates; see text
Magic Resistance: No
You grant the semblance of life and intellect to a corpse, allowing it
to answer several questions you put to it. You may ask one question
per two caster levels. Unasked questions are wasted if the duration
expires. The corpse’s knowledge is limited to what the creature knew
during life, including the languages it spoke (if any). Answers are
usually brief, cryptic or repetitive. If the creature’s alignment was
different from yours, the corpse gets a wisdom save to resist the spell
as if it were alive.
If the corpse has been subject to speak with dead within the past
week, the new spell fails. You can cast this spell on a corpse that has
been deceased for any amount of time, but the body must be mostly
intact to be able to respond. A damaged corpse may be able to give
partial answers or partially correct answers, but it must at least have a
mouth in order to speak at all.
This spell does not let you actually speak to the person (whose soul has
departed). It instead draws on the imprinted knowledge stored in the
corpse. The partially animated body retains the imprint of the soul that
once inhabited it, and thus it can speak with all the knowledge that
the creature had while alive. The corpse, however, cannot learn new
information. Indeed, it can’t even remember being questioned. This
spell does not affect a corpse that has been turned into an undead
creature.
Speak with Plants
Divination
Level: Cleric 4, Bard 4, Druid 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
You can comprehend and communicate with plants, including both
normal plants and plant creatures. You are able to ask questions of
and receive answers from plants. A regular plant’s sense of its
surroundings is limited, so it won’t be able to give (or recognize)
Player’s Handbook 139
detailed descriptions of creatures or answer questions about events
outside its immediate vicinity.
The spell doesn’t make plant creatures any more friendly or
cooperative than normal. Furthermore, wary and cunning plant
creatures are likely to be terse and evasive, while the more stupid
ones may make inane comments. If a plant creature is friendly toward
you, it may do some favor or service for you.
Spell Immunity
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The warded creature is immune to the effects of one specified spell
for every four levels you have. The spells must be of 4th level or lower.
The warded creature effectively has unbeatable magic resistance
regarding the specified spell or spells. Naturally, that immunity doesn’t
protect a creature from spells for which magic resistance doesn’t
apply. Spell immunity protects against spells and spell-like powers of
creatures. It does not protect against breath weapons or gaze
attacks.
Only a particular spell can be protected against, not a certain school
of spells or a group of spells that is similar in effect.
A creature can have only one spell immunity or improved spell
immunity spell in effect on it at a time.
Spell Turning
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Until expended or 1 turn/caster level
Spells and spell-like effects targeted on you are turned back upon the
original caster. The abjuration turns only spells that have you as a
target. Effect and area spells are not affected. Spell turning also fails
to stop spells with a range of “touch”.
From seven to ten (1d4+6) spell levels are affected by the turning. The
exact number is rolled secretly. When you are targeted by a spell of
higher level than the amount of spell turning you have left, that spell is
partially turned. You subtract the amount of spell turning left from the
spell level of the incoming spell, then divide the result by the spell level
of the incoming spell to see what fraction of the effect gets through.
For damaging spells, you and the caster each take a fraction of the
damage. For non-damaging spells, each of you has a proportional
chance to be affected.
If you and a spellcasting attacker are both warded by spell turning
effects in operation, a resonating field is created. Roll randomly to
determine the result.
d% roll
effect
01–70
spell drains away without effect.
71–80
spell affects both of you equally at full effect.
81–97
both turning effects are rendered non-functional for
1d4 minutes.
98–100
both of you go through a rift into another plane.
Material Component: A small silver mirror.
Spider Climb
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The subject can climb and travel on vertical surfaces or even traverse
ceilings as well as a spider does. The affected creature must have its
hands free to climb in this manner. The subject moves at ½ their
normal movement rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment, and
does not need to make climb checks to traverse a vertical or
horizontal surface (even upside down).
Material Component: A drop of bitumen and a live spider, both of
which must be eaten by the subject.
Spike Growth
Alteration
Level: Druid 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: One 20’ square/caster level
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity partial, see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Any ground-covering vegetation in the spell’s area becomes very
hard and sharply pointed without changing its appearance.
In areas of bare earth, roots and rootlets act in the same way.
Typically, spike growth can be cast in any outdoor setting except
open water, ice, heavy snow, sandy desert or bare stone. Any
creature moving on foot into or through the spell’s area takes 1d3
points of piercing damage for each 5 feet of movement through the
spiked area.
Any creature that takes damage from this spell must also succeed on
a dexterity save or suffer injuries to its feet and legs that slow its
movement rate by one-half. This penalty lasts for 24 hours or until the
injured creature receives a cure spell (which also restores lost hit
points). Another character can remove the penalty by taking 1 turn to
dress the injuries and succeeding at a profession (healer) or bind
wounds check with the damage dealt serving as the check penalty.
Note: An assassin or thief can use the find traps ability to find a spike
growth. The check penalty is equal to the caster level of the spell.
Spike Stones
Alteration
Level: Druid 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: One 20’ square/caster level
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity partial
Magic Resistance: Yes
Rocky ground, stone floors, and similar surfaces shape themselves into
long, sharp points that blend into the background.
Spike stones impede progress through an area and deal damage.
Any creature moving on foot into or through the spell’s area moves at
half speed. In addition, each creature moving through the area takes
1d6 points of piercing damage for each 5 feet of movement through
the spiked area.
Any creature that takes damage from this spell must also succeed on
a dexterity save to avoid injuries to its feet and legs. A failed save
causes the creature’s movement rate to be reduced to half normal
for 24 hours or until the injured creature receives a cure spell (which
also restores lost hit points). Another character can remove the
penalty by taking 1 turn to dress the injuries and succeeding at a
profession (healer) or bind wounds check with the damage dealt
serving as the check penalty.
Note: An assassin or thief can use the find traps ability to find a spike
growth. The penalty is equal to the caster level of the spell.
Spiritual Weapon
Evocation
Level: Cleric 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Magic weapon of force
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
A weapon made of pure force springs into existence and attacks
opponents at a distance, as you direct it, dealing 1d8 points of
damage per hit. The weapon takes the shape of a weapon favored
by your deity.
It strikes the opponent you designate; starting with one attack in the
round the spell is cast and continuing each round thereafter on your
Player’s Handbook 140
turn. It uses your bonus to hit (BtH) plus your wisdom modifier as its
attack bonus. The weapon of force strikes as a magical weapon
equal to +1 per 3 levels of experience of the spell caster (maximum +5
at 15th level), adding this bonus to the weapon’s attack rolls and
damage.
The weapon always strikes from your direction. If the weapon goes
beyond the spell range, if it goes out of your sight, or if you are not
directing it, the weapon returns to you and hovers.
Each round after the first, you can redirect the weapon to a new
target within 30’ (6”) of its last target. Redirecting the weapon does
not use your action for the round. If you do not, the weapon
continues to attack the previous round’s target. On any round that
the weapon switches targets, it may still attack. Even if the spiritual
weapon is a ranged weapon, use the spell’s range, not the weapon’s
normal range increment.
A spiritual weapon cannot be attacked or harmed by physical
attacks, but dispel magic, disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation or a
rod of cancellation affects it.
If an attacked creature has magic resistance, you must succeed at a
concentration check (p. 62), modified by the target’s MR rating, the
first time the spiritual weapon strikes it. If the weapon is successfully
resisted, the spell is dispelled. If not, the weapon has its normal full
effect on that creature for the duration of the spell.
Statue
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
A statue spell turns the subject, along with any garments and
equipment they wear or carry, to solid stone. The subject retains its
own hit points and takes ½ damage from all attacks (round fractions
down).
The subject can see, hear and smell normally, but does not need to
eat or breathe. Feeling is limited to those sensations that can affect
the granite-hard substance of the individual’s body. Chipping is equal
to a mere scratch, but breaking off one of the statue’s arms
constitutes serious damage.
The subject of a statue spell can alternate between its normal and
statue forms for as long as the spell is in effect, with 1 change of form
permitted each round. Shifting forms does not count against the
character’s actions for the round but must be done during the
character’s turn.
Material Component: Lime, sand, and a drop of water stirred by an
iron bar, such as a nail or spike.
Sticks to Snakes
Alternation
Level: Cleric 3, Druid 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One stick/2 caster levels
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: None
By means of this spell the cleric is able to change 1 stick into a 3 hit die
snake for every two levels of experience he has attained, i.e. an 8th
level cleric can change 4 sticks into 3 hit die snakes. These snakes will
attack as commanded by the cleric. There must, of course, be sticks
or similar pieces of wood (such as torches, spears, etc.) at hand to
turn into snakes. Note that magical items such as staves and spears
which are enchanted are not affected by the spell.
The probability of a snake thus changed being venomous is 5% per
level of experience of the spellcaster, so that there is a 55% probability
of any given snake created by the spell being poisonous when sticks
are turned to snakes by an 11th level cleric.
The effect lasts for 1 melee round for each level of experience of the
spellcaster. The material components of the spell are a small piece of
bark and several snake scales.
Stinking Cloud
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Constitution negates; see text
Magic Resistance: No
Stinking cloud creates a bank of fog like that created by fog cloud,
except that the vapors are nauseating. Living creatures in the cloud
become sickened. Sickened creatures suffer a -2 penalty to strength
and dexterity checks, as well as attack and damage rolls, and take a
-2 penalty to their armor class. Movement is reduced to ½ its normal
rate. This condition lasts as long as the creature is in the cloud and for
2d4 rounds after it leaves. Roll separately for each nauseated
character. Any creature that succeeds on its save but remains in the
cloud must continue to save each round on your turn.
The spell also obscures vision, providing concealment to those within
the spell’s radius. A creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment.
Creatures up to 10 feet away have 75% concealment while those
further away have 100% concealment.
Stinking cloud can be made permanent with a permanency spell. A
permanent stinking cloud dispersed by wind reforms in 1 turn.
Material Component: A rotten egg or several skunk cabbage leaves.
Stone Shape
Alteration
Level: Druid 3, Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One stone object, up to 10 cu. ft. + 1 cu. ft./caster level
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You can form an existing piece of stone into any shape that suits your
purpose. While it’s possible to make crude coffers, doors, and so forth
with stone shape, fine detail isn’t possible. There is a 5 in 20 chance
that any shape including moving parts simply doesn’t work.
Arcane Material Component: Soft clay, which must be worked into
roughly the desired shape of the stone object and then touched to
the stone while the verbal component is uttered. This clay may be
reworked for subsequent castings of this spell.
Stoneskin
Abjuration
Level: Druid 5, Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level or until discharged
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
When this spell is cast, the affected creature gains a virtual immunity
to any attack by cut, blow, projectile or the like. Even a sword of
sharpness cannot affect a creature protected by stoneskin, nor can a
rock hurled by a giant, a snake's strike, etc. However, magical attacks
from such spells as fireball, magic missile, lightning bolt and so forth
have their normal effects. The spell's effects are not cumulative with
multiple castings.
The spell blocks 10 attacks, plus one attack per four levels of
experience beyond 10th that the caster has achieved. This limit applies
regardless of attack rolls and regardless of whether the attack was
physical or magical.
For example, a stoneskin spell cast by a 9th level magic-user would
protect against 10 attacks. An attacking griffon would reduce the
protection by three each round, while four magic missiles would count
as four attacks in addition to inflicting their normal damage.
Material Component: Granite dust sprinkled on the target’s skin.
Player’s Handbook 141
Stone Tell
Divination
Level: Cleric 7, Bard 5, Druid 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
You gain the ability to speak with stones, which relate to you who or
what has touched them as well as revealing what is covered or
concealed behind or under them. The stones relate complete
descriptions if asked. A stone’s perspective, perception and
knowledge may prevent the stone from providing the details you are
looking for. You can speak with natural or worked stone.
Storm of Vengeance
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 9
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Effect: 200’ radius storm cloud
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 round/2 caster levels
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell creates an enormous black storm cloud. Lightning and
crashing claps of thunder appear within the storm. Each creature
beneath the cloud must succeed on a constitution save or be
deafened for 1d6 turns.
If you do not maintain concentration on the spell after casting it, the
spell ends. If you continue to concentrate, the spell generates
additional effects in each following round, as noted below. Each
effect occurs during your turn.
2nd Round: Acid rains down in the area, dealing 1d6 points of
acid damage (no save).
3rd Round: You call six bolts of lightning down from the cloud. You
decide where the bolts strike. No two bolts may be directed at
the same target. Each bolt deals 9d6 points of electricity
damage. A creature struck can attempt a dexterity save for half
damage. Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save
versus lightning (see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that
target failed his saving throw with a “1”.
4th Round: Hailstones rain down in the area, dealing 4d6 points of
bludgeoning damage (no save).
5th through 10th Rounds: Violent rain and wind gusts reduce
visibility. The rain obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5
feet. A creature 5 feet away has 50% concealment. Creatures
up to 10 feet away have 75% concealment while those further
away have 100% concealment.
Ranged attacks within the area of the storm are impossible. Spells cast
within the area are disrupted unless the caster succeeds on a
concentration check with a check penalty equal to the level of storm
of vengeance’s caster. Movement rate is reduced to ½ normal within
the storm, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment.
Strength
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Constitution negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Application of this spell increases the strength bonus of the character
by 1. This bonus is applied to all strength checks, as well to all attack
and damage rolls. A character using a strength-boosting magic item
such as gauntlets of ogre power or a girdle of giant strength cannot
benefit from this spell.
The material component of this spell is a few hairs or a pinch of dung
from a particularly strong animal - ape, bear, ox, etc.
Suggestion
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 2, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/caster level or until completed
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You influence the actions of the target creature by suggesting a
course of activity (limited to a sentence or two). The suggestion must
be worded in such a manner as to make the activity sound
reasonable. Asking the creature to do some obviously harmful act
automatically negates the effect of the spell.
The suggested course of activity can continue for the entire duration.
If the suggested activity can be completed in a shorter time, the spell
ends when the subject finishes what it was asked to do. You can
instead specify conditions that will trigger a special activity during the
duration. If the condition is not met before the spell duration expires,
the activity is not performed.
A very reasonable suggestion causes the save to be made with an
additional save penalty (equal to the charisma modifier of the caster,
if positive).
Material Component: A snake’s tongue and either a bit of
honeycomb or a drop of sweet oil.
Summon Insects
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Bard 2, Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: 5’ diameter swarm
Duration: Concentration + 2 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You summon a small swarm of insects or spiders (your choice) that
attacks the spell’s designated target. If no living creatures are within
the 5’ square into which the swarm is summoned, the swarm attacks
or pursues the nearest creature as best it can, moving at 30’ (6”) per
round. The caster has no control over its subsequent target or
direction of travel.
Those attacked take 1d4 points of biting and stinging damage each
round and take a -2 penalty to all attack rolls and ability checks due
to their distraction. Spellcasters must make a concentration check in
order to cast while within a swarm of insects. Area of effect spells that
cause physical damage will destroy the summoned swarm and a
repel vermin spell will protect a creature from this spell.
Arcane Material Component: A square of red cloth.
Summon Shadow
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Illusionist 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: See below
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
When this spell is cast, the illusionist conjures up one shadow for every
three levels of experience he has attained. These monsters are under
the control of the spellcaster and attack his enemies on command.
The shadows remain until slain, turned, or the spell duration expires.
The material component for this spell is a bit of smoky quartz.
Sunburst
Evocation
Level: Druid 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: 80’ radius sphere
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Dexterity partial; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Player’s Handbook 142
Sunburst causes a globe of searing radiance to explode silently from a
point you select. All creatures in the globe are blinded and take 5d6
points of damage. A creature to which sunlight is harmful or unnatural
takes double damage. A successful dexterity save negates the
blindness and reduces the damage by half.
An undead creature caught within the globe takes 1d6 points of
damage per caster level (maximum 20d6), or half damage if a
dexterity save is successful. In addition, the burst results in the
destruction of any undead creature specifically harmed by bright light
if it fails its save. The ultraviolet light generated by the spell deals
damage to fungi, mold, oozes and slimes just as if they were undead
creatures.
Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus magical fire
(see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving
throw with a “1”.
Sunburst dispels any darkness spells of lower than 9th level within its
area.
Sunray
Evocation
Level: Druid 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: A 60’ long ray of light
Duration: 1 round/caster level or until all beams are exhausted
Saving Throw: Dexterity partial; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
For the duration of this spell, you can evoke a dazzling ray of intense
light each round. You can call forth one beam per three caster levels
(maximum six beams at 18th level). The spell ends when its duration
runs out or your allotment of beams is exhausted.
Each creature in the ray’s straight path is blinded and takes 3d6 points
of damage. Any creatures to which sunlight is harmful or unnatural
take double damage. A successful dexterity save negates the
blindness and reduces the damage by half.
An undead creature caught within the beam takes 1d6 points of
damage per caster level (maximum 18d6), or half damage if a
dexterity save is successful. In addition, the beam results in the
destruction of any undead creature specifically harmed by bright light
if it fails its save. The ultraviolet light generated by the spell deals
damage to fungi, mold, oozes and slimes just as if they were undead
creatures.
Items held by one of the spell’s targets must save versus magical fire
(see Item Saving Throws on page 52) if that target failed his saving
throw with a “1”.
Symbol of Death
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 8, Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Touch; see text
Area: 60’ radius circle; see text
Duration: Permanent until discharged; see text
Saving Throw: Constitution negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell allows you to scribe a potent rune of power upon a surface.
When triggered, a symbol of death slays one or more creatures within
60’ of the symbol whose combined total current hit points do not
exceed 100. The symbol of death affects the closest creatures first,
skipping creatures with too many hit points to affect.
Once triggered, the symbol becomes active and glows, lasting for 1
turn per caster level or until it has affected 100 hit points’ worth of
creatures, whichever comes first. Any creature that enters the area
while the symbol of death is active is subject to its effect, whether or
not that creature was in the area when it was triggered. A creature
need save against the symbol only once as long as it remains within
the area, though if it leaves the area and returns while the symbol is
still active, it must save again.
Until it is triggered, the symbol of death is inactive (though visible and
legible at a distance of 60’). To be effective, a symbol of death must
always be placed in plain sight and in a prominent location. Covering
or hiding the rune renders the symbol of death ineffective unless a
creature removes the covering, in which case the symbol of death
works normally.
As a default, a symbol of death is triggered whenever a creature does
one or more of the following, as you select: looks at the rune; reads
the rune; touches the rune; passes over the rune; or passes through a
portal bearing the rune. Regardless of the trigger method or methods
chosen, a creature more than 60 feet from a symbol of death can’t
trigger it (even if it meets one or more of the triggering conditions,
such as reading the rune). Once the spell is cast, a symbol of death’s
triggering conditions cannot be changed.
In this case, “reading” the rune means any attempt to study it, identify
it or fathom its meaning. Throwing a cover over a symbol of death to
render it inoperative triggers it if the symbol reacts to touch. You can’t
use a symbol of death offensively; for instance, a touch-triggered
symbol of death remains untriggered if an item bearing the symbol of
death is used to touch a creature. Likewise, a symbol of death cannot
be placed on a weapon and set to activate when the weapon strikes
a foe.
You can also set special triggering limitations of your own. These can
be as simple or elaborate as you desire. Special conditions for
triggering a symbol of death can be based on a creature’s name,
identity or alignment, but otherwise must be based on observable
actions or qualities. Intangibles such as level, class, hit dice and hit
points don’t qualify.
When scribing a symbol of death, you can specify a password or
phrase that prevents a creature using it from triggering the effect.
Anyone using the password remains immune to that particular rune’s
effects so long as the creature remains within 60’ of the rune. If the
creature leaves the radius and returns later, it must use the password
again.
You also can attune any number of creatures to the symbol of death,
but doing this can extend the casting time. Attuning one or two
creatures takes negligible time, and attuning a small group (as many
as ten creatures) extends the casting time to 1 hour. Attuning a large
group (as many as twenty-five creatures) takes 24 hours. Attuning
larger groups takes proportionately longer. Any creature attuned to a
symbol of death cannot trigger it and is immune to its effects, even if
within its radius when triggered. You are automatically considered
attuned to your own symbols of death, and thus always ignore the
effects and cannot inadvertently trigger them.
Read magic allows you to identify a symbol of death with a
knowledge: arcana skill check (the penalty is equal to the caster level
of the symbol’s creator). Of course, if the symbol of death is set to be
triggered by reading it, this will trigger the symbol.
A symbol of death can be removed by a successful dispel magic
targeted solely on the rune. An erase spell has no effect on a symbol
of death. Destruction of the surface where a symbol of death is
inscribed destroys the symbol but also triggers it.
Symbol of death can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
A permanent symbol of death that is disabled or that has affected its
maximum number of hit points becomes inactive for 1 turn but,
thereafter, can be triggered again as normal.
Note: An assassin or thief can use the find traps ability to find a symbol
of death and thwart it. The penalty in each case is equal to the caster
level of the symbol’s creator.
Material Component: Mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered
diamond and opal with a total value of at least 5,000 gp each. These
are expended when the spell is cast.
Symbol of Fear
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 6, Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
This spell functions like symbol of death, except that all creatures
within 60’ of the symbol of fear instead become panicked for 1 round
per caster level (as per the fear spell).
Material Component: Mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered
diamond and opal with a total value of at least 1,000 gp. These are
expended when the spell is cast.
Symbol of Insanity
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 8, Magic-User 8, Illusionist 8
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
This spell functions like symbol of death, except that all creatures
within the radius of the symbol of insanity instead suffer from a
permanent, continuous confusion effect (as per the insanity spell).
Player’s Handbook 143
Unlike symbol of death, symbol of insanity has no hit point limit; once
triggered, a symbol of insanity simply remains active for 1 turn per
caster level.
Material Component: Mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered
diamond and opal with a total value of at least 5,000 gp. These are
expended when the spell is cast.
Symbol of Pain
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 5, Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
This spell functions like symbol of death, except that each creature
within the radius of a symbol of pain instead suffers wracking pains
that impose a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and ability checks
(including saves). These effects last for 1 hour after the creature moves
farther than 60’ from the symbol.
Unlike symbol of death, symbol of pain has no hit point limit; once
triggered, a symbol of pain simply remains active for 1 turn per caster
level.
Material Component: Mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered
diamond and opal with a total value of at least 1,000 gp. These are
expended when the spell is cast.
Symbol of Persuasion
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 6, Magic-User 6, Illusionist 6
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
This spell functions like symbol of death, except that all creatures
within the radius of a symbol of persuasion instead become charmed
by the caster (as the charm monster spell) for 1 hour per caster level.
Unlike symbol of death, symbol of persuasion has no hit point limit;
once triggered, a symbol of persuasion simply remains active for 1 turn
per caster level.
Material Component: Mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered
diamond and opal with a total value of at least 5,000 gp. These are
expended when the spell is cast.
Symbol of Sleep
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 5, Magic-User 5, Illusionist 5
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
This spell functions like symbol of death, except that all creatures of 9
HD or less within 60 feet of the symbol of sleep instead fall into a
catatonic slumber for 3d6 turns. Unlike with the sleep spell, sleeping
creatures cannot be awakened by non-magical means before this
time expires. Unlike symbol of death, symbol of sleep has no hit point
limit; once triggered, a symbol of sleep simply remains active for 1 turn
per caster level.
Material Component: Mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered
diamond and opal with a total value of at least 1,000 gp. These are
expended when the spell is cast.
Symbol of Stunning
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 7, Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
This spell functions like symbol of death, except that all creatures
within 60 feet of a symbol of stunning instead become stunned for 1d6
rounds.
Material Component: Mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered
diamond and opal with a total value of at least 5,000 gp. These are
expended when the spell is cast.
Symbol of Weakness
Necromantic
Level: Cleric 7, Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
This spell functions like symbol of death, except that every creature
within 60 feet of a symbol of weakness instead suffers crippling
weakness. The subjects suffer a -5 penalty to attack and damage
rolls, and have their carrying capacities quartered, for the duration of
the spell.
Unlike symbol of death, symbol of weakness has no hit point limit;
once triggered, a symbol of weakness simply remains active for 1 turn
per caster level.
Material Component: Mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered
diamond and opal with a total value of at least 5,000 gp. These are
expended when the spell is cast.
Tasha’s Hideous Laughter
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Bard 1, Magic-User 2, Illusionist 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature; see text
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: Charisma negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell afflicts the subject with uncontrollable laughter. It collapses
into gales of manic laughter, falling prone. The subject can take no
actions while laughing, losing its dexterity and shield bonuses to armor
class, though it is not considered helpless. After the spell ends, it can
act normally.
A creature with an intelligence score of 2 or lower is not affected. A
creature whose creature type is different from that of the caster
receives a +4 bonus on its saving throw, because humor doesn’t
“translate” well.
Material Component: Tiny tarts that are thrown at the target and a
feather that is waved in the air.
Telekinesis
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Target or Targets: See text
Duration: Concentration (up to 1 round/caster level) or instantaneous; see
text
Saving Throw: Strength negates or none; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes; see text
You move objects or creatures by concentrating on them. Depending
on the version selected, the spell can provide a gentle, sustained
force, perform a variety of combat maneuvers, or exert a single short,
violent thrust.
Sustained Force: A sustained force moves an object weighing no
more than 25 pounds per caster level (maximum 375 pounds at
15th level) at a movement rate of 30’ (6”). A creature can negate
the effect on an object it possesses with a successful strength
save or with magic resistance.
This version of the spell can last 1 round per caster level, but it
ends if you cease concentration. The weight can be moved
vertically, horizontally, or in both directions. An object cannot be
moved beyond the spell’s range. The spell ends if the object is
forced beyond the range. If you cease concentration for any
reason, the object falls or stops.
An object can be telekinetically manipulated as if with one
hand. For example, a lever or rope can be pulled, a key can be
turned, an object rotated and so on, if the force required is within
the weight limitation. You might even be able to untie simple
knots,
though
delicate
activities
such
as
these
require
intelligence common ability checks.
Combat Maneuver: Alternatively, once per round, you can use
telekinesis to perform a bull rush, disarm, grapple, or overbear
(see page 58 for more details on these combat maneuvers).
Resolve these attempts as normal, except that they use your
caster level in place of your bonus to hit (BtH) and you use your
intelligence modifier in place of your strength modifier. No save is
allowed against these attempts, but magic resistance applies
normally. This version of the spell can last 1 round per caster level,
but it ends if you cease concentration.
Violent Thrust: Alternatively, the spell energy can be spent in a
single round. You can hurl one object or creature per caster level
(maximum 15) that are within range and all within 10 feet of
each other toward any target within 10 feet per level of all the
objects. You can hurl up to a total weight of 25 pounds per
caster level (maximum 375 pounds at 15th level).
You must succeed on attack rolls (one per creature or object
thrown) to hit the target with the items, using your bonus to hit
(BtH) + your intelligence modifier. Weapons cause standard
damage (with no strength bonus). Other objects cause damage
ranging from 1 point per 25 pounds (for less dangerous objects)
Player’s Handbook 144
to 1d6 points of damage per 25 pounds (for hard, dense
objects).
Creatures that fall within the weight capacity of the spell can be
hurled, but they are allowed strength saves (and magic
resistance) to negate the effect, as are those whose held
possessions are targeted by the spell. If a telekinesed creature is
hurled against a solid surface, it takes damage as if it had fallen
10 feet (1d6 points).
Hurled objects must save versus crushing (see Item Saving Throws
on page 52).
Teleport
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: You and one willing creature/3 caster levels
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell instantly transports you to a designated destination, which
may be as distant as 100 miles per caster level. Inter-planar travel is
not possible.
You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn’t exceed
your maximum load. You may also bring one additional, willing
creature (carrying gear or objects up to its maximum load) per three
caster levels.
All creatures to be transported must be in contact with one another,
and at least one of those creatures must be in contact with you. As
with all spells where the range is personal and the target is you, you
need not make a saving throw, nor is magic resistance applicable to
you.
You must have some clear idea of the location and layout of the
destination. The clearer your mental image, the more likely the
teleportation works. Areas of strong physical or magical energy may
make teleportation more hazardous or even impossible.
To see how well the teleportation works, roll d% and consult the table
below. Refer to the following information for definitions of the terms on
the table.
familiarity
on target
off target
similar area
mishap
very familiar
01–97
98–99
100
—
studied carefully
01–94
95–97
98–99
100
seen casually
01–88
89–94
95–98
99–100
viewed once
01–76
77–88
89–96
97–100
false destination
—
—
81–92
93–100
Familiarity: “Very familiar” is a place where you have been very
often and where you feel at home. “Studied carefully” is a place
you know well, either because you can currently see it, you’ve
been there often, or you have used other means (such as
scrying) to study the place for at least one hour. “Seen casually”
is a place that you have seen more than once but with which
you are not very familiar. “Viewed once” is a place that you
have seen once, possibly using magic. “False destination” is a
place that does not truly exist or if you are teleporting to an
otherwise familiar location that no longer exists as such or has
been so completely altered as to no longer be familiar to you.
When traveling to a false destination, roll 1d20+80 to obtain
results on the table, rather than rolling d%, since there is no real
destination for you to hope to arrive at or even be off target
from.
On Target: You appear where you want to be.
Off Target: You appear safely a random distance away from the
destination in a random direction. Distance off target is
1d10x1d10% of the distance that was to be traveled. The
direction off target is determined randomly.
Similar Area: You wind up in an area that’s visually or
thematically similar to the target area. Generally, you appear in
the closest similar place within range. If no such area exists within
the spell’s range, the spell simply fails instead.
Mishap: You and anyone else teleporting with you have gotten
“scrambled.” You each take 1d10 points of damage, and you
reroll on the chart to see where you wind up. For these rerolls, roll
1d20+80. Each time “Mishap” comes up, the characters take
more damage and must reroll.
Teleport without Error
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 7
This spell functions like teleport, except that there is no range limit and
there is no chance you arrive off target. In addition, you need not
have seen the destination, but in that case you must have at least a
reliable description of the place to which you are teleporting. If you
attempt to teleport with insufficient information (or with misleading
information), you disappear and simply reappear in your original
location. Inter-planar travel is not possible.
Temporal Stasis
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You must succeed on a melee attack. You place the subject into a
state of suspended animation. For the creature, time ceases to flow
and its condition becomes fixed. The creature does not grow older. Its
body functions virtually cease and no force or effect can harm it. This
state persists until the magic is removed (such as by a successful dispel
magic spell or a freedom spell).
Material Component: A powder composed of diamond, emerald,
ruby and sapphire dust with a total value of at least 5,000 gp. It is
consumed by the casting of this spell.
Tenser’s Floating Disk
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: 3’ diameter disk of force
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You create a slightly concave, circular plane of force that follows you
about and carries loads for you. The disk is 3’ in diameter and 1” deep
at its center. It can hold 100 pounds of weight per caster level. (If used
to transport a liquid, its capacity is 2 gallons.)
The disk floats approximately 3’ above the ground at all times and
remains level. It floats along horizontally within spell range and will
accompany you at a rate of no more than your normal movement
rate each round. If not otherwise directed, it maintains a constant
interval of 5’ between itself and you.
The disk winks out of existence when the spell duration expires. The
disk also winks out if you move beyond range or try to take the disk
more than 3’ away from the surface beneath it. When the disk winks
out, whatever it was supporting falls to the surface beneath it.
Material Component: A drop of mercury.
Tenser’s Transformation
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/caster level
You become a virtual fighting machine - stronger, tougher, faster and
more skilled in combat. Your mind-set changes so that you relish
combat and you can’t cast spells, even from magic items.
You temporarily gain proficiency with all weapons as well as a +2
bonus to attack and damage rolls, a +2 bonus to armor class, 2
additional hit points per level and a +2 bonus to all strength, dexterity
and constitution checks (including saves and initiative rolls).
Your bonus to hit (BtH) equals your magic-user level but you lose your
ability to cast spells or use magic-user items such as scrolls, rods, staves
and wands.
Player’s Handbook 145
Time Stop
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 9
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds (apparent time); see text
This spell seems to make time cease to flow for everyone but you. In
fact, you speed up so greatly that all other creatures seem frozen,
though they are actually still moving at their normal speeds. You are
free to act for 1d4+1 rounds of apparent time. Normal and magical
fire, cold, gas and the like can still harm you.
While the time stop is in effect, other creatures are invulnerable to
your attacks and spells; you cannot target such creatures with any
attack or spell. A spell that affects an area and has a duration longer
than the remaining duration of the time stop have their normal effects
on other creatures once the time stop ends. Most spellcasters use the
additional time to improve their defenses, summon allies or flee from
combat.
You cannot move or harm items held, carried or worn by a creature
stuck in normal time, but you can affect any item that is not in another
creature’s possession.
You are undetectable while time stop lasts. You cannot enter an area
protected by an antimagic shell while under the effect of time stop.
Tongues (reversible)
Divination
Level: Cleric 4, Bard 2, Magic-User 3, Illusionist 3
Components: V, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 turn/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell grants the creature touched the ability to speak and
understand the language of any intelligent creature, whether it is a
racial tongue or a regional dialect. The subject can speak only one
language at a time, although it may be able to understand several
languages. Tongues does not enable the subject to speak with
creatures who don’t speak. The subject can make itself understood as
far as its voice carries. This spell does not predispose any creature
addressed toward the subject in any way.
Tongues can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
The reverse of this spell, babble, cancels the effects of a tongues spell
or confounds the target’s ability to understand verbal communication
of any sort. In addition the target’s speech is rendered
incomprehensible for the spell’s duration.
Arcane Material Component: A small clay model of a ziggurat, which
shatters when the verbal component is pronounced.
Transmute Metal to Wood
Alteration
Level: Druid 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Area: All metal objects within a 40’ radius circle
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes; see text
This spell enables you to change all metal objects within its area to
wood. Weapons, armor and other metal objects carried by creatures
are affected as well. A magic object made of metal effectively has a
magic resistance rating equal to its creator’s caster level against this
spell. Artifacts cannot be transmuted. Weapons converted from metal
to wood take a –2 penalty on attack rolls and deal ½ damage (round
fractions down). The armor bonus of any armor converted from metal
to wood is reduced by 2. Weapons changed by this spell splinter and
break on any natural attack roll of 1 or 2, and armor changed by this
spell loses an additional point of armor bonus every time it is struck
with a natural attack roll of 19 or 20.
Only limited wish, miracle, wish or similar magic can restore a
transmuted object to its metallic state.
Transmute Rock to Mud (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Druid 5, Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Area: Up to two 10’ cubes/caster level
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
This spell turns natural, uncut or unworked rock of any sort into an
equal volume of mud. Magical stone is not affected by the spell. The
depth of the mud created cannot exceed 10’. A creature unable to
levitate, fly, or otherwise free itself from the mud sinks until hip- or
chest-deep, reducing its movement rate to 5’ per round and imposing
a –2 penalty to its attack rolls and armor class. Brush thrown atop the
mud can support creatures able to climb on top of it. Creatures large
enough to walk on the bottom can wade through the area at 1/3rd
their normal movement rate per round.
If transmute rock to mud is cast upon the ceiling of a cavern or tunnel,
the mud falls to the floor and spreads out in a pool at a depth of 5
feet. The falling mud and the ensuing cave-in deal 8d6 points of
bludgeoning damage to anyone caught directly beneath the area or
half damage to those who succeed on dexterity saves.
Castles and large stone buildings are generally immune to the effect
of the spell, since transmute rock to mud can’t affect worked stone
and doesn’t reach deep enough to undermine such buildings’
foundations. However, small buildings or structures often rest upon
foundations shallow enough to be damaged or even partially toppled
by this spell.
The mud remains until a transmute mud to rock spell restores its
substance - but not necessarily its form. Evaporation turns the mud to
normal dirt over a period of days. The exact time depends on
exposure to the sun, wind and normal drainage.
The reverse of this spell, transmute mud to rock, transforms normal
mud or quicksand of any depth into soft stone (sandstone or a similar
mineral) permanently. Any creature in the mud is allowed a dexterity
save to escape before the area is hardened to stone.
Transmute mud to rock counters and dispels transmute rock to mud
and vice versa.
Arcane Material Component: Sand, lime, and water.
Transport via Plants
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: You and one willing creature/3 caster levels
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell is a more powerful version of the plant door spell. Through
the use of this spell you can enter any normal plant (of Medium size or
larger) and pass any distance to a plant of the same kind in a single
round, regardless of the distance separating the two. The entry plant
must be alive.
The destination plant need not be familiar to you, but must be alive. If
you are uncertain of the location of a particular kind of destination
plant, you need merely designate direction and distance and the
transport via plants spell moves you as close as possible to the desired
location. If a particular destination plant is desired but the plant is not
living, the spell fails and you are ejected from the entry plant.
You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn’t exceed
your maximum load. You may also bring one additional, willing
creature per three caster levels. All creatures to be transported must
be in contact with one another, and at least one of those creatures
must be in contact with you.
The destruction of an occupied plant slays you and any creatures you
have brought along, and ejects the bodies and all carried objects
from the tree.
Player’s Handbook 146
Trap the Soul
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 8
Components: V, S, M, (F); see text
Casting Time: 1 round or see text
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One creature
Duration: Permanent; see text
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: Yes; see text
Trap the soul forces a creature’s life force (and its material body) into
a gem. The gem holds the trapped entity indefinitely or until the gem
is broken and the life force is released, which allows the material body
to reform. If the trapped creature is a powerful creature from another
plane it can be required to perform a service immediately upon being
freed. Otherwise, the creature can go free once the gem imprisoning
it is broken.
Depending on the version selected, the spell can be triggered in one
of two ways.
Spell Completion: First, the spell can be completed by speaking
its final word as if you were casting a regular spell at the subject.
This allows a magic resistance check (if any) and a charisma
save to avoid the effect. If the creature’s name is spoken as well,
any magic resistance is ignored and the save penalty increases
by 2. If the save is made (or magic resistance check is failed by
the caster) the gem shatters.
Trigger Object: The second method is far more insidious, for it
tricks the subject into accepting a trigger object inscribed with
the final spell word, automatically placing the creature’s soul in
the trap. To use this method, both the creature’s name and the
trigger word must be inscribed on the trigger object when the
gem is enspelled. A sympathy spell can also be placed on the
trigger object. As soon as the subject picks up or accepts the
trigger object, its life force is automatically transferred to the
gem without the benefit of magic resistance or a save.
Material Component: Before the actual casting of trap the soul, you
must procure a gem of at least 1,000 gp value for every hit die or level
possessed by the creature to be trapped. If the gem is not valuable
enough, it shatters when the entrapment is attempted. (While
creatures have no concept of level or hit dice as such, the value of
the gem needed to trap an individual can be researched. Remember
that this value can change over time as creatures gain more hit dice.)
Material Component (Trigger Object Only): If the trigger object
method is used, a special trigger object, prepared as described
above, is needed.
Tree
Alteration
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
By means of this spell, you are able to assume the form of a large
living tree or shrub or a large dead tree trunk with a small number of
limbs. The closest inspection cannot reveal that the tree in question is
actually a magically concealed creature. To all normal tests you are,
in fact, a tree or shrub, although a detect magic spell reveals a faint
Alteration on the tree.
While in tree form, you can observe all that transpires around you just
as if you were in your normal form. Your hit points and save bonuses
remain unaffected as well. While in tree form you take ½ damage
from all attacks (round fractions down) except for fire, which deals full
damage. All clothing and gear carried or worn changes with you.
True Seeing (reversible)
Divination
Level: Cleric 5, Bard 5, Druid 7, Magic-User 6, Illusionist 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom (intelligence for arcane version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You confer on the subject the ability to see all things as they actually
are. The subject sees through normal and magical darkness, notices
secret doors hidden by magic, sees the exact locations of creatures
or objects under blur or displacement effects, sees invisible creatures
or objects normally, sees through illusions and sees the true form of
polymorphed, changed, or transmuted creatures. Further, the subject
can focus its vision to see into the Ethereal Plane (but not into extra-
dimensional spaces). The range of true seeing conferred is 120’ (24”).
True seeing, however, does not penetrate solid objects. It in no way
confers x-ray vision or its equivalent. It does not negate concealment,
including that caused by fog and the like. True seeing does not help
the viewer see through mundane disguises, spot creatures who are
simply hiding or notice secret doors hidden by mundane means. In
addition, the spell effects cannot be further enhanced with known
magic, so one cannot use true seeing through a crystal ball or in
conjunction with clairaudience/clairvoyance.
The reverse of this spell, false seeing, causes the person to see things
as they are not, rich being poor, rough smooth, beautiful ugly. The
target does not lose its natural visual abilities (such as darkvision or
twilight vision) but cannot see creatures or objects as they really are.
While terrain features (hills, stairs, cliffs, etc) are still distinguishable,
false seeing grossly distorts the details of their appearance. False
seeing also dispels, and is dispelled by, the true seeing spell.
Material Component: An ointment for the eyes that costs 250 gp and
is made from mushroom powder, saffron (poppy dust for the false
seeing), and fat. This ointment is expended when the spell is cast.
Turn Metal or Stone
Abjuration
Level: Druid 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 120’ long by 5’ wide wave
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: No
Like turn wood, this spell creates waves of invisible and intangible
energy that roll forth from you. All metal or stone objects in the path of
the spell are pushed away from you to the limit of the range.
Fixed metal or stone objects larger than 2” in diameter and loose
objects weighing more than 500 pounds are not affected. Anything
else, including animated objects, small boulders and creatures in
metal armor, is moved back. Fixed objects 2” in diameter or smaller
bend or break, and the pieces move with the wave of energy.
Objects affected by the spell are repelled at the rate of 60’ per round.
Objects such as metal armor, swords and the like are pushed back,
dragging their bearer with them unless he succeeds at a strength
saving throw. Even magic items with metal components are repelled,
although an antimagic shell blocks the effects. (A creature being
dragged by an item it is carrying can let go.)
The waves of energy continue to sweep down the set path for the
spell’s duration. After you cast the spell, the path is set, and you can
then do other things or go elsewhere without affecting the spell’s
power.
Turn Wood
Alteration
Level: Druid 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Area: 120’ long by 5’ wide wave
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: No
Waves of energy roll forth from you, moving in the direction that you
determine, causing all wooden objects in the path of the spell to be
pushed away from you to the limit of the range. Wooden objects
larger than 2” in diameter that are fixed firmly are not affected, but
loose objects are. Objects 2” in diameter or smaller that are fixed in
place splinter and break, and the pieces move with the wave of
energy. Objects affected by the spell are repelled at the rate of 60’
per round.
Player’s Handbook 147
Objects such as wooden shields, spears, wooden weapon shafts and
hafts, arrows and bolts are pushed back, dragging those carrying
them along unless they succeed at a strength saving throw. If a spear
is planted (set) to prevent this forced movement, it splinters. Even
magic items with wooden sections are repelled, although an
antimagic shell blocks the effects. (A creature being dragged by an
item it is carrying can let go.)
The waves of energy continue to sweep down the set path for the
spell’s duration. After you cast the spell, the path is set, and you can
then do other things or go elsewhere without affecting the spell’s
power.
Unseen Servant
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: One invisible, mindless, shapeless servant
Duration: 1 hour/caster level
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
An unseen servant is an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that
performs simple tasks at your command. It can fetch things, open
unstuck doors and hold chairs, as well as clean and mend. The
servant can perform only one activity at a time, but it repeats the
same activity over and over again if told to do so as long as you
remain within range. It can open only normal doors, drawers, lids
and the like. It has an effective strength score of 2 (so it can lift 20
pounds at most). It can trigger traps and such, but it can exert only 20
pounds of force, which is not enough to activate certain pressure
plates and other devices. It can’t perform any task that requires an
ability check. Its movement rate is 30’ per round.
The servant cannot attack in any way; it is never allowed an attack
roll. It cannot be killed, but it dissipates if it takes 6 points of damage
from area attacks (it gets no saves against such attacks). If you
attempt to send it beyond the spell’s range (measured from your
current position), the servant ceases to exist.
Material Component: A piece of string and a bit of wood that are not
consumed when the spell is cast.
Veil
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 6, Illusionist 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Targets: One or more creatures, no two of which can be more than
30’ apart
Duration: Concentration + 1 hour/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes; see text
You instantly change the appearance of the subjects and then
maintain that appearance for the spell’s duration. You can make the
subjects appear to be anything you wish. The subjects look, feel and
smell just like the creatures the spell makes them resemble. Affected
creatures resume their normal appearances if slain. You must succeed
on a disguise check, with a +10 bonus, to duplicate the appearance of
a specific individual. If you do not have the disguise ability you may
make a charisma check, with no level modifier, to affect a disguise.
Unwilling targets can negate the spell’s effect on them by making
intelligence saves or with magic resistance. Those who interact with
the subjects can attempt intelligence disbelief saves to see through
the glamer, but magic resistance doesn’t help.
Ventriloquism
Illusion/Phantasm
Level: Bard 1, Illusionist 1
Components: V, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Intelligible sound, usually speech
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Intelligence disbelief (if interacted with)
Magic Resistance: No
You can make your voice (or any sound that you can normally make
vocally) seem to issue from someplace else. You can speak in any
language you know. With respect to such voices and sounds, anyone
who hears the sound and rolls a successful save recognizes it as illusory
(but still hears it).
Material component: A parchment rolled up into a small cone. This
parchment may be reused.
Vision
Divination
Level: Bard 6, Magic-User 7, Illusionist 7
Components: V, S, M, XP
Casting Time: 1 round
This spell functions like legend lore, except that it works more quickly
but produces some strain on you. You pose a question about some
person, place or object, then cast the spell. If the person or object is
at hand or if you are in the place in question, you receive a vision
about it by succeeding on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level)
with a penalty of -10. If only detailed information on the person, place
or object is known, the penalty is -15 and the information gained is
incomplete. If only rumors are known, the penalty is -20, and the
information gained is vague.
Arcane Material Component: Incense worth at least 250 gp must be
burned when this spell is cast. Four strips of ivory (worth 50 gp each)
that are formed into a rectangle are not consumed by this spell.
XP Cost: 1,000 XP.
Wall of Fire
Evocation
Level: Druid 5, Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Opaque sheet of flame up to 20’ long/caster level or a ring of
fire with a radius of up to 5’ per two caster levels; either form is 20’ high
Duration: Concentration + 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None; see below
Magic Resistance: Yes
An immobile, blazing curtain of shimmering violet fire springs into
existence. One side of the wall, selected by you, sends forth waves of
heat, dealing 1d6 points of fire damage to creatures within 10’ and
1d4 points of fire damage to those past 10’ but within 20’. The wall
deals this damage when it appears and on your turn each round to
all creatures in the area. In addition, the wall deals 5d6 points of fire
damage to any creature passing through it. The wall deals double
damage to undead creatures.
If you evoke the wall so that it appears where creatures are, each
creature takes damage as if passing through the wall. If any 5’ length
of wall takes 20 points of cold damage or more in 1 round, that length
goes out.
Wall of fire can be made permanent with a permanency spell. A
permanent wall of fire that is extinguished by cold damage becomes
inactive for 1 turn, then reforms at normal strength.
Arcane Material Component: A small piece of phosphorus.
Wall of Force
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Effect: Wall whose area is up to one 10’ square/caster level
Duration: 1 round /caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
A wall of force spell creates an invisible wall of force. The wall cannot
move, is immune to damage of all kinds and is unaffected by most
spells, including dispel magic. However, disintegrate immediately
destroys it, as does a rod of cancellation, a sphere of annihilation or a
Mordenkainen’s disjunction spell. Breath weapons and spells cannot
pass through the wall in either direction, although dimension door,
teleport and similar effects can bypass the barrier. It blocks corporeal
and ethereal creatures (though ethereal creatures can usually get
around the wall by floating under or over it through material floors and
ceilings). Gaze attacks can operate through a wall of force.
The caster can form the wall into a flat, vertical plane whose area is
up to one 10’ square per caster level. The wall must be continuous
and unbroken when formed. If its surface is broken by any object or
creature, the spell fails.
Wall of force can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Material Component: A pinch of powder made from a clear gem.
Player’s Handbook 148
Wall of Ice
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Anchored plane of ice, up to one 10’ square/caster level, or
hemisphere of ice with a radius of up to 3’ + 1’/caster level
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell creates an anchored plane of ice or a hemisphere of ice,
depending on the version selected. A wall of ice cannot form in an
area occupied by physical objects or creatures. Its surface must be
smooth and unbroken when created. Any creature adjacent to the
wall when it is created may attempt a dexterity save to disrupt the
wall as it is being formed. A successful save indicates that the spell
automatically fails. Fire can melt a wall of ice, and it deals full
damage to the wall (instead of the normal half damage taken by
objects). Suddenly melting a wall of ice creates a great cloud of
steamy fog that lasts for 1 turn.
Ice Plane: A sheet of strong, hard ice appears. The wall is 1” thick per
caster level. It covers up to a 10-foot-square area per caster level (so
a 10th level magic-user can create a wall of ice 100’ long and 10’
high, a wall 50’ long and 20’ high, or some other combination of
length and height that does not exceed 1,000 square feet). The plane
can be oriented in any fashion as long as it is anchored. A vertical
wall need only be anchored on the floor, while a horizontal or slanting
wall must be anchored on two opposite sides.
Each 10’ square of wall has 10 hit points per inch of thickness.
Creatures can hit the wall automatically. A section of wall reduced to
0 hit points is breached.
Even when the ice has been broken through, a sheet of frigid air
remains. Any creature stepping through it (including the one who
broke through the wall) takes 4d6 points of cold damage (no save).
Hemisphere: The wall takes the form of a hemisphere whose maximum
radius is 3’ + 1’ per caster level. The hemisphere is as hard to break
through as the ice plane form, but it does not deal damage to those
who go through a breach.
Material Component: A small piece of quartz or similar rock crystal.
Wall of Iron
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Iron wall whose area is up to one 5’ square/caster level; see
text
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
You cause a flat, vertical iron wall to spring into being. The wall inserts
itself into any surrounding non-living material if its area is sufficient to
do so. The wall cannot be conjured so that it occupies the same
space as a creature or another object. It must always be a flat plane,
though you can shape its edges to fit the available space.
A wall of iron is 1” thick per four caster levels. You can double the
wall’s area by halving its thickness. Each 5’ square of the wall has 100
hit points per inch of thickness. A section of wall reduced to 0 hit
points is breached.
If you desire, the wall can be created vertically resting on a flat
surface but not attached to the surface, so that it can be tipped over
to fall on and crush creatures beneath it. The wall is 50% likely to tip in
either direction if left unpushed. Creatures can push the wall in one
direction rather than letting it fall randomly. A creature must make a
strength common ability check with a penalty of -15 to push the wall
over. Creatures with room to flee the falling wall may do so by making
successful dexterity saves. Any creature that fails takes 9d6 points of
damage. Like any iron wall, this wall is subject to rust, perforation and
other natural phenomena.
Material Component: A small piece of sheet iron, which is not
expended upon the casting of this spell, plus gold dust worth 50 gp (1
pound of gold dust). The gold dust is expended upon the casting of
this spell.
Wall of Stone
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 5, Magic-User 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Stone wall whose area is up to one 5’ square/caster level
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: No
This spell creates a wall of rock that merges into adjoining rock
surfaces. A wall of stone is 1” thick per four caster levels and
composed of up to one 5’ square per caster level. You can double
the wall’s area by halving its thickness. The wall cannot be conjured so
that it occupies the same space as a creature or another object.
Unlike a wall of iron, you can create a wall of stone in almost any
shape you desire. The wall created need not be vertical, nor rest upon
any firm foundation; however, it must merge with and be solidly
supported by existing stone. It can be used to bridge a chasm, for
instance, or as a ramp. For this use, if the span is more than 20’, the
wall must be arched and buttressed. This requirement reduces the
spell’s area by half. The wall can be crudely shaped to allow
crenellations, battlements and so forth by likewise reducing the area.
Like any other stone wall, this one can be destroyed by a disintegrate
spell or by normal means such as breaking and chipping. Each 5’
square of the wall has 50 hit points per inch of thickness. A section of
wall reduced to 0 hit points is breached.
It is possible, but difficult, to trap mobile opponents within or under a
wall of stone, provided the wall is shaped so it can hold the creatures.
Creatures can avoid entrapment with successful dexterity saves.
Arcane Material Component: A small block of granite that is not
expended upon the casting of this spell.
Wall of Thorns
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Druid 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Wall of thorny brush, up to one 10’x10’x5’ block/caster level
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
A wall of thorns spell creates a barrier of very tough, pliable, tangled
brush bearing needle-sharp thorns as long as a human’s finger. Any
creature forced into or attempting to move through a wall of thorns
takes 1d8 points of damage per round of movement.
You can make the wall as thin as 5’ thick, which allows you to shape
the wall as a number of 10’ by 10’ by 5’ blocks equal to your caster
level. This has no effect on the damage dealt by the thorns, but any
creature attempting to break through takes that much less time to
force its way through the barrier.
Creatures can force their way slowly through the wall by making a
strength common ability check (this takes 1 round). Success means
that the creature moves 5’ through the wall, with an additional 5’ of
movement allowed for every 5 points by which the check exceeds
the target number (up to a maximum distance equal to its normal
movement rate). Of course, moving or attempting to move through
the thorns incurs damage as described above. A creature trapped in
the thorns can choose to remain motionless in order to avoid taking
any more damage.
Any creature within the area of the spell when it is cast takes damage
as if it had moved into the wall and is caught inside. In order to
escape, it must attempt to push its way free, or it can wait until the
spell ends. Creatures with the ability to pass through overgrown areas
unhindered can pass through a wall of thorns at normal speed without
taking damage.
A wall of thorns can be breached by slow work with edged weapons.
Chopping away at the wall creates a safe passage 1’ deep for every
1 turn of work. Normal fire cannot harm the barrier, but magical fire
burns it away in 1 turn.
Despite its appearance, a wall of thorns is not actually a living plant,
and thus is unaffected by spells that affect plants.
Player’s Handbook 149
Wall of Wind
Evocation
Level: Druid 3, Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Wall up to 10’/caster level long and 5’/caster level high
Duration: 1 round/caster level
Saving Throw: None; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
An invisible vertical curtain of wind appears. It is 2’ thick and of
considerable strength. It is a roaring blast sufficient to blow away any
bird smaller than an eagle or tear papers and similar materials from
unsuspecting hands (a dexterity save allows a creature to maintain its
grasp on an object.)
Small flying creatures cannot pass through the barrier. Loose materials
and cloth garments fly upward when caught in a wall of wind. Arrows
and bolts are deflected upward and miss, while any other normal
ranged weapon passing through the wall suffers a –3 penalty to hit
(targets protected by a wall of wind effectively have 75%
concealment).
A giant-thrown boulder, a siege engine projectile and other massive
ranged weapons are not affected by this spell. Gases, most gaseous
breath weapons and creatures in gaseous form cannot pass through
the wall (although it is no barrier to incorporeal creatures).
While the wall must be vertical, you can shape it in any continuous
path along the ground that you like. It is possible to create cylindrical
or square wall of wind to enclose specific points.
Arcane Material Component: A tiny fan and a feather of exotic origin.
It is not consumed when this spell is cast.
Warp Wood (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Target: One small wooden object/caster level, all within a 20’ radius
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You cause wood to bend and warp, permanently destroying its
straightness, form and strength. A warped door springs open (or
becomes stuck, requiring a strength common ability check to open,
at your option). A boat or ship springs a leak. Warped ranged
weapons are useless. A warped melee weapon causes a –3 penalty
on attack rolls.
You may warp one small object (such as a spear or club) or its
equivalent per caster level. A medium-sized object (such as a door)
counts as two small objects, a large object (such as a rowboat)
counts as four or more objects, depending upon its relative mass.
Alternatively, you can unwarp wood (effectively warping it back to
normal) with this spell, straightening wood that has been warped by
this spell or by other means. Mending, on the other hand, does no
good in repairing a warped item.
You can combine multiple consecutive warp wood spells to warp (or
unwarp) an object that is too large for you to warp with a single spell.
Until the object is completely warped, it suffers no ill effects.
Water Breathing (reversible)
Alteration
Level: Cleric 3, Druid 3, Magic-User 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One or more creatures
Duration: 2 hours/caster level; see text
Saving Throw: Wisdom (arcane for intelligence version) negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The transmuted creatures can breathe water freely. Divide the
duration evenly among all the creatures you touch. The spell does
not make creatures unable to breathe air and can be reversed to
allow water-breathing creatures to breathe air.
Arcane Material Component: A short reed or piece of straw that is not
expended upon this spell’s casting.
Water Walk
Alteration
Level: Cleric 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: One creature/caster level
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
The transmuted creatures can tread on any liquid as if it were firm
ground. Mud, oil, snow, quicksand, running water, ice and even lava
can be traversed easily, since the subjects’ feet hover an inch or two
above the surface. Creatures crossing molten lava still take damage
from the heat because they are near it. The subjects can walk, run,
charge or otherwise move across the surface as if it were normal
ground.
If the spell is cast underwater (or while the subjects are partially or
wholly submerged in whatever liquid they are in), the subjects are
borne toward the surface at 120’ per round until they can stand on it.
Web
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 100’ (Medium)
Effect: Webs in a 20’ radius cylinder, 20’ in height
Duration: 1 turn/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates; see text
Magic Resistance: No
Web creates a many-layered mass of strong, sticky strands. These
strands trap those caught in them. The strands are similar to spider
webs but far larger and tougher. These masses must be anchored to
two or more solid and diametrically opposed points or else the web
collapses upon itself and disappears.
Creatures caught within a web become entangled among the gluey
fibers and cannot move or attack. Those within the web lose any
dexterity bonus they might have to armor class and may not employ
a shield to defend themselves.
Anyone in the area of effect when the spell is cast must make a
dexterity save. If this save succeeds, the creature has avoided
entanglement and may attempt to move through the web’s area of
effect (see below).
If the save fails, the creature is entangled and can’t move from its
space, but can break loose by spending 1 round and making an
escape artist check with a -5 penalty.
Once loose (either by making the initial dexterity save or a later
escape artist check), a creature may move through the web at a rate
of 5’ per round.
The web offers cover to those within it. A creature 5’ away from his
attacker has 50% cover. Creatures up to 10’ away have 75% cover
while those further away have 100% cover and cannot be attacked
nor targeted by sight by spellcasters. Attacking a creature in a web
won’t cause you to become entangled.
Player’s Handbook 150
The strands of a web spell are flammable. A magic flaming sword can
slash them away as easily as a hand brushes away cobwebs. Any fire
can set the webs alight and burns away the entire web in 1 round. All
creatures within flaming webs take 2d4 points of fire damage from the
flames.
Web can be made permanent with a permanency spell. A
permanent web that is destroyed regrows in 1 turn.
Material Component: A bit of spider web.
Weird
Illusion/Phantasm (Phantasm)
Level: Illusionist 9
Targets: Any number of creatures, no two of which can be more than
30’ apart
This spell functions like phantasmal killer, except it can affect more
than one creature. Only the affected creatures see the phantasmal
creatures attacking them, though you see the attackers as shadowy
shapes.
If a subject’s charisma save succeeds, it still takes 3d6 points of
damage and is stunned for 1 round. The subject also takes 2 points of
temporary strength damage.
Whirlwind
Evocation
Level: Druid 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 400’ (Long)
Effect: Cyclone 10’ wide at base, 30’ wide at top, and 30’ tall
Duration: 1 round/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: Dexterity negates; see text
Magic Resistance: Yes
This spell creates a powerful cyclone of raging wind that moves
through the air, along the ground, or over water at a movement rate
of 120’. You can concentrate on controlling the cyclone’s every
movement or let it move randomly each round. Directing the
cyclone’s movement requires you to concentrate upon the spell. The
cyclone always moves during your turn. If the cyclone exceeds the
spell’s range, it moves in a random, uncontrolled fashion for 1d3
rounds and then dissipates. (You can’t regain control of the cyclone,
even if comes back within range.)
Any creature that comes in contact with the spell effect must
succeed on a dexterity save or take 3d6 points of damage. A
Medium-sized or smaller creature that fails its first save must succeed
on a second one or be picked up bodily by the cyclone and held
suspended in its powerful winds, taking 1d8 points of damage each
round on your turn with no save allowed. You may direct the cyclone
to eject any carried creatures whenever you wish, depositing the
hapless souls wherever the cyclone happens to be when they are
released.
Wind Walk
Alteration
Level: Cleric 6, Druid 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Targets: You and one creature per three caster levels
Duration: 1 hour/caster level (dismissible); see text
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
You alter the substance of your body to a cloudlike vapor (as the
gaseous form spell) and move through the air, possibly at great
speed. You can take other creatures with you, each of which acts
independently.
Normally, a wind walker flies at a movement rate of 15’ (3”) with
maneuverability class A. If desired by the subject, a magical wind
wafts a wind walker along at up to 1200’ per round (240” movement
rate) with maneuverability class E. Wind walkers are not invisible but
rather appear misty and translucent. If fully clothed in white, they are
likely to be mistaken for clouds, fog, vapors, or the like (gaining a +10
bonus to stealth checks made to conceal themselves).
A wind walker can regain its physical form as desired and later resume
the cloud form. Each change to and from vaporous form takes 5
rounds, which counts toward the duration of the spell (as does any
time spent in physical form). As noted above, you can dismiss the
spell, and you can even dismiss it for individual wind walkers and not
others.
For the last minute of the spell’s duration, a wind walker in cloud form
automatically descends 100’ per round (for a total of 600’), though it
may descend faster if it wishes. This descent serves as a warning that
the spell is about to end.
Wish
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Magic-User 9, Illusionist 9
Components: V, XP
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: See text
Target, Effect, or Area: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: See text
Magic Resistance: Yes
Wish is the mightiest spell a magic-user or illusionist can cast. By simply
speaking aloud, you can alter reality to better suit you.
Even wish, however, has its limits.
A wish can produce any one of the following effects.
• Duplicate any magic-user or illusionist spell of 8th level or lower.
• Duplicate any other spell of 6th level or lower.
• Undo the harmful effects of many other spells, such as
geas/quest or insanity.
• Create a non-magical item of up to 50,000 gp in value.
• Create a magic item, or add to the powers of an existing magic
item.
• Grant a creature a +1 bonus to an ability score. Two to five wish
spells cast in succession can grant a creature a +2 to +5 bonus to
an ability score (two wishes for a +2 bonus, three for a +3 bonus,
and so on). These bonuses are instantaneous, so they cannot be
dispelled. Note: Bonuses granted through wish spells may not
exceed +5 for a single ability score, nor can ability scores be
raised beyond 20 through the use of wish spells.
• Remove injuries and afflictions. A single wish can aid one
creature per caster level, and all subjects are cured of the same
kind of affliction. For example, you could heal all the damage
you and your companions have taken, or remove all poison
effects from everyone in the party, but not do both with the
same wish. A wish can never restore the experience point loss
from casting a spell or the level or constitution loss from being
raised from the dead.
• Revive the dead. A wish can bring a dead creature back to life
by duplicating a resurrection spell. A wish can revive a dead
creature whose body has been destroyed, but the task takes
two wishes, one to recreate the body and another to infuse the
body with life again. A wish cannot prevent a character who
was brought back to life from losing an experience level.
• Transport travelers. A wish can lift one creature per caster level
from anywhere on any plane and place those creatures
anywhere else on any plane regardless of local conditions. An
unwilling target gets an intelligence save to negate the effect,
and magic resistance (if any) applies.
• Undo misfortune. A wish can undo a single recent event. The
wish forces a reroll of any roll made within the last round
(including your last turn). Reality reshapes itself to accommodate
the new result. For example, a wish could undo an opponent’s
successful save, a foe’s successful hit, a friend’s failed save, and
so on. The reroll, however, may be as bad as or worse than the
original roll. An unwilling target gets an intelligence save to
negate the effect, and magic resistance (if any) applies.
You may try to use a wish to produce greater effects than these, but
doing so is dangerous. (The wish may pervert your intent into a literal
but undesirable fulfillment or only a partial fulfillment.) Duplicated
spells allow saves and a magic resistance check as normal.
Material Component: When a wish duplicates a spell with a material
component that costs more than 10,000 gp, you must provide that
component.
XP Cost: The minimum XP cost for casting wish is 50,000 XP. When a
wish duplicates a spell that has an XP cost, you must pay 50,000 XP or
Player’s Handbook 151
that cost, whichever is more. When a wish creates or improves a
magic item, you must pay the normal FP cost for crafting or improving
the item, plus 50,000 XP.
Wizard Eye
Divination
Level: Magic-User 4, Illusionist 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 turn
Range: Unlimited
Effect: Magical sensor
Duration: 1 minute/caster level (dismissible)
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
You create an invisible magical sensor that sends you visual
information. You can create the wizard eye at any point you can see,
but it can then travel outside your line of sight without hindrance. A
wizard eye travels at 60’ per round if viewing an area ahead as a
human would (primarily looking at the floor) or 15’ per round if
examining the ceiling and walls as well as the floor ahead. It sees
exactly as you would see if you were there.
The eye can travel in any direction as long as the spell lasts. Solid
barriers block its passage, but it can pass through a hole or space as
small as 1 inch in diameter. The eye can’t enter another plane of
existence, even through a gate or similar magical portal.
You must concentrate to use a wizard eye. If you do not concentrate,
the eye is inert until you again concentrate.
Material Component: A bit of bat fur.
Wizard Lock
Abjuration
Level: Magic-User 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One door, chest, or portal, up to 30 sq. ft./caster level in size
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
A wizard lock spell cast upon a door, chest, or portal magically locks
it. You can freely pass your own wizard lock without affecting it;
otherwise, a door or object secured with this spell can be opened
only by breaking in or with a successful dispel magic or knock spell.
Add 10 to the normal penalty to break open a door or portal affected
by this spell. (A knock spell does not remove a wizard lock; it only
suppresses the effect for 1 turn.)
Material Component: Gold dust worth 25 gp.
Wizard Mark
Alteration
Level: Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 0’
Effect: One personal rune or mark, all of which must fit within 1 sq. ft.
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
This spell allows you to inscribe your personal rune or mark, which can
consist of no more than six characters. The writing can be visible or
invisible. A wizard mark spell enables you to etch the rune upon any
substance without harm to the material upon which it is placed. If an
invisible mark is made, a detect magic spell causes it to glow and be
visible, though not necessarily understandable.
Detect invisibility, true seeing, a gem of seeing or a robe of eyes
likewise allows the user to see an invisible wizard mark. A read magic
spell reveals the words, if any. The mark cannot be dispelled, but it
can be removed by the caster or by an erase spell.
If a wizard mark is placed on a living being, normal wear gradually
causes the effect to fade in about a month.
Wizard mark must be cast on an object prior to casting Drawmij’s
instant summons on the same object (see that spell description for
details).
Word of Recall
Conjuration/Summoning
Level: Cleric 5, Druid 7
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Unlimited
Target: You and additional, willing creatures
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: Yes
Word of recall teleports you instantly back to your sanctuary when the
word is uttered. You must designate the sanctuary when you prepare
the spell, and it must be a very familiar place. The actual point of
arrival is a designated area no larger than 10’ by 10’. You can be
transported any distance within a plane but cannot travel between
planes.
You can transport, in addition to yourself, any objects you carry, as
long as their weight doesn’t exceed your maximum load. You may
also bring one additional, willing creature (carrying gear or objects up
to its maximum load) per three caster levels.
All creatures to be transported must be in contact with one another,
and at least one of those creatures must be in contact with you.
Exceeding this limit causes the spell to fail.
Write
Evocation
Level: Magic-User 0, Illusionist 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: Special (see text)
Range: Personal
Duration: Permanent
Area of Effect: One magical spell inscription
Saving Throw: None
Magic Resistance: No
By means of this spell an arcane spellcaster might be able to inscribe
a spell he cannot understand at the time (due to level or lack of
sufficient intelligence) into the tome or other compilation he employs
to maintain a library of spells.
The caster must make a knowledge: arcana skill check to attempt the
writing of any spell, with a +2 bonus if it is only up to 1 level greater
than he currently uses, ±0 at 2 levels higher, and -1 per level from 3
levels higher onwards.
If this throw fails, the caster temporarily loses 1 point of intelligence for
every level of the spell he was attempting to transcribe into his
spellbook and is knocked unconscious for a like number of turns.
Furthermore, a spell will take 1 hour per level to transcribe in this
fashion, and during this period, the spellcaster is in a trance state and
can always be surprised by any foe. In addition to the writing surface
upon which the spell is to be transcribed, the spell caster needs a fine
ink composed of rare substances (minimum cost 100 gp per spell level
to be scribed).
Zone of Truth
Enchantment/Charm
Level: Cleric 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 30’ (Close)
Area: 20’ radius circle
Duration: 1 minute/caster level
Saving Throw: Wisdom negates
Magic Resistance: Yes
Creatures within the emanation area (or those who enter it) can’t
speak any deliberate and intentional lies. Each potentially affected
creature is allowed a save to avoid the effects when the spell is cast
or when the creature first enters the emanation area. Affected
creatures are aware of this enchantment. Therefore, they may avoid
answering questions to which they would normally respond with a lie,
or they may be evasive as long as they remain within the boundaries
of the truth. Creatures that leave the area are free to speak as they
choose.
Player’s Handbook 152
Player’s Handbook 153
REWARDS
After defeating fearsome foes in deadly combat and gathering long
lost treasures from dark caverns, the characters should have garnered
some little experience in the arts of mortal combat, the capacity to
withstand the rigors of a harsh world, the senses to avoid trouble and
not some small amount of wisdom. Considering the gold, gems,
jewelry and magical treasures acquired, the real experience gained is
that of knowledge. The characters end their adventures stronger,
wiser and more capable.
Experience points are awarded by the Dungeon Master to the players
either on an individual basis or collectively. The experience points
awarded are for monsters killed or overcome, treasure acquired,
good roleplaying and successful adventuring.
EXPERIENCE POINTS
After characters defeat monsters or acquire treasure, they earn
experience points (XP). The Dungeon Master is free to award
experience points in whatever manner desired, but the following is a
recommended general method.
Magic Items: Like monsters, magic items have an XP value. The
Dungeon Master should award a magic item's XP value to a
character who possesses and uses the item for a period of time.
Monsters: The Dungeon Master adds the value of all monsters
defeated or overcome on the adventure. Each monster has a base
XP value, and a bonus can be given if a specific monster was greater
than normal for its type. The total XP are then divided by the number
of characters that defeated the monsters.
Money: Although not all Dungeon Masters do so, some award XP for
non-magical treasure. The Dungeon Master should award 1 XP to the
party for every 1gp value of non-magical treasure such as money,
gems, art and other items acquired during the adventure.
Roleplaying: The Dungeon Master can also award specific characters
XP bonuses for good roleplaying (or penalties for bad) in a specific
situation or over the course of an adventure. A good range to award
is from 25 to 250 XPs, depending on the level of the character.
Story: The Dungeon Master should assign an XP value to each
adventure and award that total to each character who completed
the adventure successfully. An easy way to determine the story XP
value is to compare the adventure to a monster of a hit dice that is
challenging to the party. The Dungeon Master can then award XPs as
if the party overcame that monster.
Gaining Levels of Experience: Characters gain levels as they
adventure. Gaining levels equates to becoming better and more
experienced at one's chosen profession. With new levels, the
character gains more abilities and greater chances of performing
abilities successfully. Hit points increase as does a character’s bonus to
hit (BtH).
To gain a level, the character must accumulate enough experience
points to meet the next level's experience point requirement (XPs).
Experience points are gained by successfully completing an
adventure, killing foes, successfully performing actions, collecting
treasure and as rewards for good roleplaying.
The Dungeon Master awards experience points as described in the
rules but always has the right to add or subtract experience points for
whatever reason. Monster experience points are located in the
Monster Manual. Experience points awarded for treasure acquired is
equal to the gold piece value of all the treasure picked up in the
course of adventuring. Optionally, the Dungeon Master may not allow
this or only some percentage of the treasure's value, as this may
speed up the rate of level progression depending on the amount of
treasure acquired. For experience points awarded for defeating
monsters and roleplaying, see the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Bear in
mind that the Dungeon Master does not have to award this amount if
the player did a poor job of roleplaying, but can if he wants to.
Once enough experience points are acquired to advance a level,
the character must train for the number of weeks equal to the level
reached before receiving the benefits of that level. For example, a 6th
level cleric, upon acquiring the experience points necessary to reach
7th level, must train for 7 weeks before receiving the benefits of that
level. Once training is completed, the character gains the extra hit
points, spells or abilities which that level confers upon the class.
TREASURE
Treasure can consist of any, some or all of the following: coins, gems,
jewels, art objects, mundane items, treasure maps, spellbooks and
magic items.
Treasure can be found in lost dungeons, hidden in a merchant's
pocket or serve as the bed for an ancient red dragon. Treasure
reflects the wealth that a character or monster owns or has acquired
in a lair. In most cases, a creature keeps valuables in its home or lair,
and carries little or no treasure when it travels. Intelligent creatures
that own useful, portable treasure such as magic items tend to carry
and use them, leaving bulky and valuable monies and gems in their
lair.
SUGGESTED AGREEMENTS FOR DIVISION OF TREASURE
Agreements:
1.
Equal shares (share and share alike) is a simple division by
the total number of characters involved.
2.
Shares by level is a division whereby all* character levels of
experience are added and the total treasure divided by
this sum. One share of treasure is given for each
experience level.
3.
Equal shares plus bonus is a method to reward excellence
and leadership. Treasure is divided by the sum of all
characters, plus two or three. The outstanding character or
characters, as determined by vote, each gain one extra
share.
*For multiclassed characters multiply their class level by 125% in order
to determine total experience levels for the division of treasure.
Characters with two classes receive shares based upon their total
levels in all classes.
Modifiers:
1.
Non-player characters who are henchmen of a player
character count as one-half character or for one half of
their levels and cannot gain bonus shares.
2.
A character incapacitated or killed (but subsequently
brought back to life) is eligible to share only in treasure
gained prior to such incapacity or death.
3.
Characters who are uncooperative, who obstruct the
party, attack party members, or are the proximate cause
of the incapacitation or death of a party member shall
forfeit from one-quarter to all of their share(s) as penalty for
their actions.
Player’s Handbook 154
GLOSSARY
Ability: any of the six natural traits that represent the basic definition
of a player character: strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence,
wisdom, and charisma. A player character's abilities are determined
at the beginning of a game by rolling 6-sided dice (d6s). The scores
continue to be used throughout the game as a means of determining
success or failure of many actions.
Ability check: a 1d20 roll that adds your character’s ability modifier,
level bonus (if applicable) and a difficulty modifier. If the result is equal
to or greater than 15 (the Challenge Base) the attempted action
succeeds.
AC: abbreviation for armor class.
Alignment: a factor in defining a player character that reflects his
basic attitude toward society and the forces of the universe. Basically
there are nine categories demonstrating the character's relationship
to order vs. chaos and good vs. evil. A player character's alignment is
selected by the player when the character is created.
Area of effect: the area in which a magical spell or a breath weapon
works on any creatures unless they make a saving throw.
Armor Class (abbr. AC): a rating for the protective value of a type of
armor, figured from 10 (no armor at all) to 20 (heavily armored or
difficult to hit) or even 30 (extremely difficult to hit). The higher the AC,
the less vulnerable the character is to attacks.
Attack roll: the 1d20 roll used to determine if an attack is successful.
Blinded: Blind characters have their movement rate reduced to ½ of
their normal movement rate. All opponents are effectively “invisible”
to blinded characters. See Invisible or Unseen Opponents under
SPECIAL ATTACK MANUEVERS & MODIFIERS for more details.
Bonus spells: extra spells at various spell levels that a spellcaster is
entitled to because of a high wisdom (for divine casters) or
intelligence score (for arcane casters), as shown in the ABILITY
MODIFIER table.
Breath weapon: the ability of a dragon or other creature to spew a
substance out of its mouth just by breathing, without making an
attack roll. Those in the area of effect must roll a saving throw.
CB: abbreviation for Challenge Base.
Cha: abbreviation for charisma.
Challenge Base (abbr. CB): The base number (15) that must be met
or exceeded on a character’s ability check in order to succeed.
Charisma (abbr. Cha): an ability score representing a character's
persuasiveness, personal magnetism, and ability to lead.
Class: A character's primary profession or career.
Class ability: an ability that a character of a given class may use.
Members of that class may add their level bonus to such ability
checks.
Common: the language that all player characters in the AD&D game
world speak. Other languages may require the use of proficiency slots.
Common ability: an ability that all characters and most intelligent
creatures may attempt. These are ability checks, like saving throws or
class ability checks, but only receive ½ of a character’s level bonus.
Con: abbreviation for constitution.
Confused: a confused creature acts as if under the effects of a
confusion spell (see pages 81-82 for more details).
Constitution (abbr. Con): an ability score that represents a character's
general physique, hardiness, and state of health.
Cower: a cowering creature may defend itself normally, but is unable
to attack.
d: abbreviation for dice or die. A roll that calls for 2d6, for example,
means that the player rolls two six-sided dice.
d3: since there is no such thing as a three-sided die, a roll calling for d3
means to use a d6, making 1 and 2 be a 1, 3 and 4 be a 2, and 5 and
6 be a 3.
d4: a four-sided die.
d6: a six-sided die.
d8: an eight-sided die.
d10: a ten-sided die. Two d10s can be used as percentile dice.
d12: a twelve-sided die.
d20: a twenty-sided die.
d100: either an actual 100-sided die or two different-colored ten-sided
dice to be rolled as percentile dice.
DMG: a reference to the Dungeon Master Guide.
Player’s Handbook 155
Damage: the effect of a successful attack or other harmful situation,
measured in hit points.
Deafened: deafened creatures cannot make perception checks to
hear sounds. A deafened spellcaster must make a concentration
check to cast a spell with a verbal component.
Demihuman: a player character who is not human: a dwarf, elf,
gnome, half-elf, half-orc or halfling.
Dex: abbreviation for dexterity.
Dexterity (abbr. Dex): an ability score representing a combination of a
character's agility, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and the like.
Encumbrance: the amount, in pounds, that a character is carrying.
How much he can carry and how being encumbered affects his
movement rate are based on strength and are shown in the
Encumbrance section, on page 53.
Energy drain: the ability of a creature, especially undead, to drain
energy in the form of class levels from a character, in addition to the
normal loss of hit points.
Exhausted: exhausted characters act as if sickened (see below).
Experience points (abbr. XP): points a character earns (determined by
the Dungeon Master) for completing an adventure, for doing
something related to his class particularly well, or for solving a major
problem. Experience points are accumulated, enabling the character
to rise in level in his class, as shown in each class’s description.
Fascinated: while fascinated, the creature is distracted, suffering a -4
penalty to all saving throws and armor class. If attacked they are
considered surprised (see page 55 for more details).
Fatigued: fatigued creatures suffer a -1 penalty to strength and
dexterity checks, as well as attack & damage rolls, and to armor class.
Their movement rate is reduced by 25%.
Follower: a non-player character who is drawn to the service of a
player character by his reputation.
Gaze attack: the ability of a creature, such as a basilisk, to attack
simply by making eye contact with the victim.
Henchmen: non-player characters who work for a character mainly
out of loyalty and love of adventure.
Hireling: non-player characters who work for a character just for
money. Hirelings are completely under the control of the DM.
Hit Dice (abbr. HD): the dice rolled to determine a character's hit
points. Up to a certain level, one or more new hit dice are rolled each
time a character attains a new class level. A fighter, for example, has
only one 10-sided hit die (1d10) at 1st level, but when he rises to the
2nd level, the player rolls a second d10, increasing the character's hit
points.
Hit Points (abbr. HP): a number representing: 1. how much damage a
character can suffer before being killed, determined by hit dice. The
hit points lost to injury can usually be regained by rest or healing; 2.
how much damage a specific attack does, determined by weapon
or monster statistics, and subtracted from a player's total.
Initiative: the right to attack first in a combat round, usually
determined by the highest roll of a 20-sided die. Initiative is not rolled
by surprised combatants.
Int: abbreviation for intelligence.
Intelligence (abbr. Int): an ability score representing a character's
memory, reasoning, and learning ability.
Italic type: used primarily to indicate spells and magical items.
Level: any of several different game factors that are variable in
degree, especially: 1. class level, a measure of the character's power,
starting at the 1st level as a beginning adventurer and rising through
the accumulation of experience points to the 20th level or higher. At
each level attained, the character receives new powers. 2. spell level,
a measure of the power of a magical spell. A magic-using character
can use only those spells for which his class level qualifies him. 3.
challenge level, the relative difficulty of any given ability check. 4.
dungeon level, a term that describes both the depth and difficulty of
a particular dungeon’s layer.
Level bonus: a bonus to ability checks that is based on a character’s
or creature’s level or hit dice.
M: abbreviation for material component.
Material component (abbr. M): any specific item that must be
handled in some way during the casting of a magical spell.
Melee: combat in which characters are fighting in direct contact,
such as with swords, claws, or fists, as opposed to fighting with missile
weapons or spells.
Missile combat: combat involving the use of weapons that shoot
missiles or items that can be thrown. Because the combat is not "toe-
to-toe," the rules are slightly different than those for regular combat.
Movement rate (abbr. MR): a number used in calculating how far and
how fast a character can move in a round. This number is in feet and
units of 1” squares that represent 5’x5’ squares. Thus, an MR of 12”
equates to 60 feet of movement and vice versa.
MR: abbreviation for movement rate.
Multiclass character: a character who improves in two or more classes
at the same time by dividing experience points between the different
classes.
Mythos (pl. mythoi): a complete body of belief particular to a certain
time or place, including the pantheon of its gods.
Neutrality: a philosophical position, or alignment, of a character that is
between belief in good or evil, order or chaos.
Non-human: any humanoid creature that is neither a human nor a
demihuman.
Non-player character (abbr. NPC): any character controlled by the
DM instead of a player.
NPC: abbreviation for non-player character.
PC: abbreviation for player character.
Percentage (or percent) chance: a number between 1 and 100 used
to represent the probability of something happening. If a character is
given an X percentage chance of an event occurring, the player rolls
percentile dice.
Percentile dice: either a 100-sided die or two 10-sided dice used in
rolling a percentage number. If 2d10 are used, they are of different
colors, and one represents the tens digit while the other is the ones.
Perception check: a common ability check that is based on a
character’s or creature’s wisdom score.
Player character (abbr. PC): the characters in a role-playing game
who are under the control of the players.
Race: a player character's species: human, elf, dwarf, gnome, half-elf,
Halfling, or half-orc.
Regeneration: a special ability to heal faster than usual.
Resistance: the innate ability of a being to withstand attack, such as
by magic. Gnomes, for example, have an innate resistance that adds
bonuses to their saving throws against magic.
Round: in combat, a segment of time approximately 10 seconds long,
during which a character can accomplish one action (typically
moving, attacking, readying an item or casting a spell). 6 combat
rounds equal one minute.
S: abbreviation for somatic component.
Saving throw: a measure of a character's ability to resist (to "save vs.")
special types of attacks, especially poison, paralyzation, magic, and
breath weapons. Success is determined by rolling the relevant ability
check.
Sickened: Sickened creatures suffer a -2 penalty to strength and
dexterity checks, as well as attack and damage rolls, and take a -2
penalty to their armor class. Movement is reduced to ½ its normal
rate, rounded to the nearest 5’ increment.
Somatic component (abbr. S): the gestures that a spellcaster must use
to cast a specific spell. A bound magic-user cannot cast a spell
requiring somatic components.
Split-classed character: a character who improves in two or more
classes, advancing in each class separately.
Str: abbreviation for strength.
Strength (abbr. Str): an ability score representing a character's muscle
power, endurance, and stamina.
Stunned: while stunned, a creature can take no actions and suffers a
–2 penalty to armor class.
Surprise roll: a perception check made by combatants who might be
surprised at the start of combat. Success indicates that the
combatant may act normally during the surprise round, while failure
indicates that the combatant is surprised and may not act during the
surprise round (see page 55 for more details).
To-hit roll: another name for attack roll.
Turn: in game time, approximately 10 minutes; used especially in
figuring how long various magic spells may last. In combat, a turn
consists of 60 rounds.
Turn undead: an ability of a cleric or paladin to turn away an undead
creature, such as a skeleton or a vampire.
V: abbreviation for verbal component.
Verbal component (abbr. V): specific words or sounds that must be
uttered while casting a spell.
Wis: abbreviation for wisdom.
Wisdom (abbr. Wis): an ability score representing a composite of a
character's intuition, judgment, common sense, and will power.
XP: abbreviation for experience points.
Player’s Handbook 156
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/AD&D 3e/AD&D 3e Core Books/AD&D 3e Player’s Handbook.pdf |
STEALING CTHULHU.
Konstantinos Liolios (order #5565906)
STEALING CTHULHU
GRAHAM WALMSLEY
With art by
JENNIFER RODGERS
Cover art by
OLLI HIHNALA
Edited by
HARRIET EVANS
Layout by
GRAHAM WALMSLEY and BRENNEN REECE
Portrait by Brennen Reece.
Konstantinos Liolios (order #5565906)
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
1
STEALING CREATURES.
3
Reading The Story.
4
STEALING SCENARIOS.
5
Stealing Beginnings.
5
Stealing Set Pieces.
8
Stealing Details.
9
Stealing Backstory.
10
Switching Viewpoints.
11
Switching Locations.
13
Switching Creatures.
16
Shifting Timing.
20
Stealing Endings.
21
The Descent.
22
The Final Horror.
23
The Confrontation.
25
The Escape.
25
The Realisation.
26
Three Alternative Endings.
27
STEALING LOCATIONS.
28
The Themes.
29
The Wooded Hills.
31
The Town.
32
The Old Building.
32
The Inhospitable Plain.
33
The Underground City.
33
The Characters.
34
First published 2011.
© Graham Walmsley 2011.
Printed in the United States of America by
Publishers’ Graphics.
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Describing Practicalities.
70
Dreaming.
71
Remembering Tales.
72
Monsters.
73
Naming.
74
THE MYTHOS.
75
Azathoth.
77
Colours.
80
Cthonians.
87
Cthulhu.
93
Deep Ones.
98
Elder Things.
104
Flying Polyps.
109
The Great Race Of Yith.
115
Hastur.
123
Ithaqua.
130
Lloigor.
137
Mi-Go.
145
Nyarlathotep.
152
The Shan.
156
Shoggoths.
162
AFTERWORD.
165
APPENDICES.
166
A: Miscellany.
166
B: Bibliography.
168
C: Cthulhu Dark.
170
THANKS.
177
STEALING PATTERNS.
35
Beginnings And Endings.
35
Locations.
37
Increasing Horror.
38
Keeping Distance.
40
Increasing Certainty.
43
Increasing Reprisals.
45
Increasing Harm.
46
CREATING INVESTIGATIONS.
48
Not Investigating.
48
Not A Crime.
50
Leave Questions Unanswered.
51
THE INVESTIGATORS.
52
Occupations And Skills.
52
Handling Suspicion.
55
Staying The Distance.
56
ANOMALIES.
57
Fights.
57
Cultists.
60
Rituals.
61
STEALING DESCRIPTIONS.
62
Avoiding Clichés.
62
Painting Pictures.
63
Describing Details.
63
Being Nice.
64
Engaging The Senses.
65
Leaving Loose Ends.
66
Obfuscating.
67
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1. I use this word loosely. It normally means “like Lovecraft”, but sometimes
“by Lovecraft”.
2. Here’s an example of “riffing”. For the Deep Ones, take the theme of
“breeding”, then write a scenario with midwives, inbreeding and changelings.
These things weren’t specifically mentioned by Lovecraft, but you’re riffing
on a theme.
3. Lovecraft wasn’t.
INTRODUCTION.
When you’ve played many Cthulhu scenarios, they start
to look the same. You shoot cultists. You do rituals. You
unearth a buried god that’s similar to every other god you’ve
dug up.
This book makes a strange suggestion: to write original
scenarios, go back to Lovecraft. Copy his ideas, adapt them
and use them again. Graft parts of his stories together. Steal
his plots, locations and tropes, tweak them and reuse them.
Throughout this book, you’ll see four patterns repeated.
The first is: steal an idea from Lovecraft, change it and reuse
it. The second: steal an idea, emphasise something that
Lovecraft didn’t emphasise and reuse the idea. The third
is: steal various ideas and combine parts of each. And the
fourth: take a Lovecraftian1 theme and riff on it.2 Although
they are simple ideas, they work well. You’ll be surprised
how little you need to do. Don’t try to be strikingly original.
Don’t worry about being accurate or consistent.3 Just play
around with Lovecraft’s ideas and you’ll create something
fresh and original.
Why does it work? Because Cthulhu gaming has moved
so far from Lovecraft that anything Lovecraftian is a breath
of foul air. After years of shooting tentacles, most players
love something genuinely bleak and horrific.
And if you have ideas of your own? If you want, say,
to put Cthonians under the slums of Victorian London or
Yog-Sothoth inside Schrödinger’s equation? Simply blend
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1. For most examples, I have chosen well-known Lovecraft stories. Partly, this
is because they are the best. Partly, it is so Lovecraft novices need only read
a few stories to catch up. For further explanation, see the Bibliography.
2. For convenience, I will sometimes refer to “the creature” even when I mean
“the creatures”.
3. Lovecraft describes such wars, but they weren’t the story.
1. In fact, not just Lovecraft, but other Mythos authors: Campbell, Wilson,
Blackwood, Chambers and Lumley.
STEALING CREATURES.
Lovecraft used one type of creature for each story. For
example, The Call of Cthulhu1 has Cthulhu. Not Cthulhu
plus a horde of Deep One servants: just Cthulhu. Similarly,
The Whisperer in Darkness uses the Mi-Go. Not Nyarlathotep
controlling the Mi-Go: just the Mi-Go.
This makes the creature seem vastly powerful. Lovecraft
is saying: this one thing could beat you all. If you use more
creatures, you make them seem weaker. If, for example,
Nyarlathotep controls the Mi-Go, the Mi-Go become mooks.
Now, sometimes Lovecraft uses a single creature (Cthulhu,
a Colour). Sometimes he uses a whole race (the Mi-Go,
the Deep Ones).2 Sometimes he uses a complementary
pair (Elder Things and Shoggoths, Great Race and Flying
Polyps). Sometimes the creature has servitors (Yog-Sothoth).
Nevertheless, the scenario focuses on one type of creature.
So don’t mess about. Use one type of creature. No
conspiracies between Mi-Go and Elder Things. No wars
between the Great Race and Cthulhu.3 More creatures dilute
the story, rather than enhancing it.
Finally, rather than using a Lovecraftian creature, try
inventing your own. To do this, either change something
about a Lovecraftian creature or combine parts to create
something new. This is how Brian Lumley created the
Cthonians: he combined Cthulhu’s squid-like appearance,
the Mi-Go’s theft of human brains and the Shoggoths’
tendency to hurtle through the Earth.
your ideas with Lovecraft’s. By starting with Lovecraft,
you ensure a solid base for your ideas.
Importantly, this book does not say: This Is How You
Must Write Scenarios. Instead, it is a collection of ideas and
tools. Use the ones you like, ignore the ones you don’t and
bastardise the rest until they work for you. After all, that
is precisely what we will do to Lovecraft’s work.
This book, then, is about returning to Lovecraft.1 It
uses his ideas to add new things to your game. Somewhere
in those old texts, in the patterns behind the stories, is
knowledge you can use.
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1. For summaries of these plots, see the appropriate creature’s section in The
Mythos (page 75).
2. Not quite the beginning of The Whisperer In Darkness, but a good beginning
for a scenario.
1. If you don’t have time, skim the story and remember what catches your eye.
2. In The Statement of Randolph Carter, it’s the implication that there are
underground labyrinths of horror just down the road. Carter doesn’t travel
to some distant land or city: it’s a cemetery just off the Gainsville Pike...
3. Or deliberately free-associate. Dreams, waking, rebirth, Australia, desert.
STEALING SCENARIOS.
to Write Lovecraftian scenarios, steal Lovecraft’s plots.
Steal his beginnings and endings. Steal backstories, from
the mouths of his characters, and rerun them as scenarios.
Take a plot, tweak the protagonists, locations and creatures,
then reuse it.
Some of these tricks will instantly give new scenarios from
Lovecraft’s plots. Some are subtler: you will need two or
three to produce something new. Let’s start at the beginning.
STEALING BEGINNINGS.
to start the scenario, steal one of Lovecraft’s beginnings.
You arrive in a strange place (The Colour Out of Space, At the
Mountains of Madness).1
You hear tales of a strange place (The Shadow Over Innsmouth).
You read, in a newspaper, of strange events (The Whisperer in
Darkness).
You get a letter (The Whisperer in Darkness).2
You find a strange artefact (The Call of Cthulhu).
You go to a strange event (Nyarlathotep).
Something strange happens to someone, probably you (The Shadow
Out of Time).
Try doing the same. Invent a race of Deep One-like
creatures, which live in desert sand rather than water. Invent
a Colour-like creature, which drains life but travels through
time like the Great Race. With your tweaked creature, you
can tell a Lovecraftian story and it will feel fresh and original.
READING THE STORY.
noW read the story associated with your creature. This is
simple advice, but important. Each time you read it, you
will discover new things.1
For example, when I reread The Shadow Over Innsmouth,
I remembered the Deep One concentration camps. When I
reread At the Mountains of Madness, I realised how horrific
the human dissections were. Remember what you notice
and use it in your scenarios.2
Note especially when Lovecraft’s creatures differ from
the versions used in Cthulhu games. For example, Cthulhu
has claws, not tentacles. The Mi-Go are welcoming and
perhaps even benevolent. Shoggoths imitate voices. Use
these differences in your scenario.3
And trust your initial impressions of each creature. For
example, when I first read At the Mountains of Madness. I
thought the protagonists were chased by deformed Elder
Things. When I read The Colour Out of Space, I thought
the Colour was purple and gaseous. Don’t question whether
these impressions are right. Trust them. They will produce
a unique take on the creature.
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1. See Increasing Horror (page 38).
2. But give the Investigators some weirdness to attact their attention. It need
not be a dramatic hook, but give them enough to intrigue them.
When you make these changes, riff on Lovecraftian themes.
In the above examples, the mathematical equation comes
from The Dreams in the Witch House, the light in the sky
from The Colour Out of Space and Antarctica from At the
Mountains of Madness. Use these themes freely in any
scenario, without worrying about being faithful to Lovecraft:
try putting equations in Deep One scenarios, mysterious
lights in Mi-Go stories or using Antarctica as the home for
the Great Race.
Keep your beginning low-key. Begin with folktales and
eeriness, saving true horror for later. Don’t start with tales of
a Deep One concentration camp. Don’t start with a dissected
body. Instead, begin with tales and build the horror slowly.1
Finally, Lovecraft’s favourite beginning is “You arrive
in a strange place”. He uses it in many, many stories. You
can do the same. Don’t feel you need a clever, interesting
beginning. Just let the Investigators arrive.2
These beginnings are largely interchangeable. For example,
The Colour Out of Space could easily begin with a strange
artefact (probably the meteorite). The Whisperer in Darkness
could simply begin with the protagonist arriving.
So choose a different beginning from the one Lovecraft
used for your creature. For example, start a Mi-Go scenario
with a strange artefact: perhaps the black stone mentioned
in The Whisperer in Darkness. Or start a Cthulhu scenario
with something strange happening to the Investigators:
probably, they have unnatural dreams.
Having chosen your beginning, change something from
the way Lovecraft used it. For example:
You arrive in a strange place...
Not Antarctica or Innsmouth, but a desert or forest.
You hear tales of a strange place...
Not Innsmouth, but a Pacific island or Antarctic plain.
You read, in a newspaper, of strange events...
Not a dead Mi-Go, but a dead person or a light in the sky.
You get a letter...
Not from a mysterious correspondent, but a relative or colleague.
You find a strange item...
Not a sculpture, but a musical score or mathematical equation.
You go to a strange event...
Not a technological demonstration, but a public dissection or circus
performance.
Something strange happens to someone, probably you...
Not amnesia, but hallucinations or dreams.
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1. I’ve changed these set-pieces slightly, to keep them distinct from the original.
2. Venture into these areas if you like, but do it deliberately.
STEALING DETAILS.
having stolen the big scenes, steal the little things too.
Lovecraft often makes brief, teasing references, which you can
expand. Any of the following would work well in scenarios:
An undersea city of the Elder Things (stolen from At the Mountains
of Madness).
A Mi-Go corpse, washed up on a riverbank after a flood (stolen from
The Whisperer in Darkness).
A Shoggoth, controlled by the Deep Ones (stolen from The Shadow
Over Innsmouth).
This leads to a powerful rule: play something that Lovecraft
only mentioned. And tweak these details, too. Give the Great
Race an undersea city. Put Mi-Go corpses on beaches, in
woodland or frozen under ice.
STEALING SET PIECES.
next, steal the best moments from Lovecraft’s stories: the
set pieces, the parts that people remember, the moments
on which the story hangs.
For example, in a Mi-Go scenario, you might include:1
A chase through an old building (from The Shadow Over Innsmouth).
An impossibly ancient object of unknown workmanship, made of
unearthly and unpleasant material (from The Call of Cthulhu).
A dissected body, with the brain skilfully removed (from At the
Mountains of Madness).
By using these set-pieces, you keep your scenario close to
Lovecraft, ensuring you don’t stray into pulp, cliché or
generic horror.2 Lovecraft wrote about a limited range of
topics: often about chases, dreams and underground cities,
but rarely about trains, gangsters and gunfights. Stick with
the first and your scenario will feel Lovecraftian; use the
second and you’ll have to work harder.
When you steal a Lovecraftian set piece, tweak it, as you
did with the scenario’s beginning. For example, if the Mi-
Go chase the Investigators through a hotel, everyone will
recognise the scene from The Shadow Over Innsmouth. So
chase the Investigators through sewers or woods or valleys.
By switching one element, you keep things new.
You needn’t steal every scene from Lovecraft. But, with
judicious tweaking, you’ll be surprised how much you can
steal.
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1. From now on, I deliberately blur the lines between Lovecraft stories and
scenarios. Thus, I use “protagonist” and “Investigator” interchangeably, as
well as “supporting character” and “NPC”.
SWITCHING VIEWPOINTS.
When Lovecraft describes something happening to his
protagonist,1 make that happen to an NPC instead. When
he describes something happening to a supporting character,
let that happen to your Investigators.
This is a powerful switch, letting us tell Lovecraft stories
from a different angle. Here are examples of things that
happen to Lovecraft’s protagonists, shifted to NPCs:
The Investigators meet someone who is possessed by the Great Race
(rather than being possessed themselves).
The Investigators find the diaries of someone who was chased by a
Shoggoth (rather than being chased by one themselves).
The Investigators must track down a Deep One hybrid (rather than
being hybrids themselves).
Indeed, finding someone possessed by the Great Race could
span an entire scenario: the Investigators could begin
with medical reports of amnesia, then track down the
possessee amongst a mountain cult. Similarly, finding a
Deep One hybrid gives an interesting scenario: what do the
Investigators do with a half-human monster? It’s stolen
directly from Lovecraft, but shifts the story to an NPC.
Even more powerfully, steal things that happen to
Lovecraft’s supporting characters and shift them to
Investigators. This lets them experience the horror directly.
1. This needs an ending, but endings are easy, as I’ll explain shortly.
2. Be careful with backstories which feature Mythos creatures as protagonists.
For example, playing through the Elder Things’ annihilation by the Shoggoths
will take things in a distinctly strange direction. After all, the Mythos is meant
to be unknowable: if the Investigators are themselves Mythos creatures, it
takes away the mystery.3
3. Although playing Investigators in the bodies of the Great Race could work
well. See The Great Race Of Yith (page 115).
STEALING BACKSTORY.
Lovecraft talks a lot: or, rather, his characters do. In almost
every story, an incidental character tells a horrific story from
the past. For an easy scenario, then, steal this backstory
for your main plot.
Here, for example, are three ready-made scenarios, stolen
straight from Lovecraftian backstories:
On a Pacific island, the Investigators find great carved statues. The
islanders wear strange jewellery. Fish seem particularly abundant.
Upon investigating, the Investigators discover the islanders have made
a pact with the Deep Ones (stolen from The Shadow Over Innsmouth).
On a scholarly tour of Greenland, the Investigators find ancient
religious carvings. They trace these to a degenerate Eskimo cult, whose
strange ways have been handed down through generations, and who
are shunned by other inhabitants. The cult conducts cruel, brutal
rituals under the Aurora Borealis (stolen from The Call of Cthulhu).
A meteorite falls. On the first night afterwards, during a thunderstorm,
the meteorite appears to draw the lightning. Scientific investigation
reveals globules inside the meteorite, which dissolve test tubes and
laboratory benches. Soon, the fruit grows bloated and life drains out
of the land (stolen from The Colour Out of Space).1
As before, tweak some details. For example, perhaps the
meteorite falls in a desert, rather than the woods of The
Colour Out of Space. Not all backstories need tweaking,
however: the first two stories above work as written.2
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SWITCHING LOCATIONS.
Wherever Lovecraft put his creature, place yours somewhere
else. For example:
Put Deep Ones off the Alaskan coast.
Put Elder Things in a desert.
Put Shoggoths on, rather than beneath, an Antarctic plain.
Put the Great Race on a risen seabed.
Obviously, there are restrictions. You won’t find many Deep
Ones in a desert. Mi-Go prefer the mountains. And Cthulhu
should really be in the Pacific.
But you can always make a change. Put Deep Ones in
the Arctic Ocean. Place Mi-Go in desert mountains. Run a
Cthulhu scenario on a Pacific island, rather than the ocean
itself.
By moving the location, you change the story. Here,
for example, is the plot of At the Mountains of Madness,
shifted to a desert.
The Investigators are archaeologists, searching for a legendary
desert city.
The sand dunes shift constantly, often forming into five-pointed stars.
The Investigators find an abandoned camp, with journals suggesting
the explorers had found an ancient city. Within, these explorers found
a fossil, which they began to study.
Half-buried beneath sand dunes, they find all the explorers but one,
carefully dissected.
1. As above: play something Lovecraft only mentioned.
2. See Keeping Distance (page 40).
Thus, try letting the following things, which were
experienced by Lovecraft’s minor characters, happen to
your Investigators.
The Investigators dream about Cthulhu.
The Investigators discover bitter fruit of an indescribable colour.
The Investigators are besieged by Mi-Go.
Both directions of shift have advantages and disadvantages.
By shifting events to the Investigators, you let the
Investigators experience something Lovecraft only described.1
However, you risk overloading the story with strangeness.
If the Investigators are besieged by Mi-Go, it’s interesting;
if the Investigators’ brains are removed, placed in cylinders
and flown through space, things get weirder.
So, sometimes it is better to shift events to NPCs.
Sometimes, that distance is necessary.2 Meeting a Great
Race possessee is often more powerful than being one.
Often, timing determines whether things should happen
to Investigator or NPCs. Here’s a disgusting example. At
the start of the scenario, the Investigators might hear about
humans mating with Deep Ones. At the end, they might see
humans mating with Deep Ones. It’s unlikely that, at any
point, they will themselves mate with Deep Ones.
Switching viewpoints is a powerful trick. Use it often.
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As the sun sets over the grey sea, the Investigators talk to a drunk.
He tells crazed stories of creatures in the sea, who he believes are
watching him.
When they arrive back at the ferry, it is broken down. The ferrymaster
tells the Investigators they will need to stay the night.
In the Euston Hotel, the Investigators are attacked by things that
seem only half-human. In the dead of night, they flee the town.
You might change the ending: try replacing it with the one
from The Whisperer in Darkness, so that the Investigators
sneak away then flee by car. That aside, the plot works well.
Don’t underestimate the power of switching locations.
From that simple change, you get a whole new set of
descriptive detail. With one switch, you make an old story
seem new.
1. In particular, much of the imagery is stolen from The Shadow Out of Time.
Finally, in the shifting sands, they see an ancient city.
They explore the city, travelling deeper and deeper underground. From
carvings, they learn of the Shoggoths, a slave race. They also find
the missing explorer, dissected and wrapped, as if for further study.
When they penetrate too deep, a Shoggoth hurtles towards them,
chasing them out.
Here, I have changed details to fit the new location. Odd
rock markings become strangely-shaped dunes. Dreamlike
mountains become shifting sand. Those aside, the plot is
entirely stolen.1
Try changing other parts of this plot. Switch protagonists,
letting Investigators dissect a fossilised Elder Thing. Change
the ending, with the Shoggoth being released, like Cthulhu,
into the world above. Nevertheless, changing the location
does most of the work.
Here is a final example. Choose a port or seaside resort
near where you live. In Massachusetts, a good choice might
be Wellfleet, on Cape Cod. In Britain, Southend works well.
Then rerun the plot from The Shadow Over Innsmouth in
that location.
For example, here’s an Innsmouth plot in England:
The Investigators hear odd tales about the fishing port of Fleetwood.
When they arrive, it is winter and the resort is deserted. The few
people on the misty promenade are secretive and unfriendly. Many of
the hotels are closed and boarded-up, although the Investigators hear
strange noises from within. An unpleasant odour pervades the town.
They glimpse inside a church, where they see something horrific.
Later, locals warn the Investigators not to linger near the church.
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Conversely, here is the plot of The Whisperer in Darkness,
redone as a Deep One scenario:
The Investigators read reports of corpses, half-human and half-fish,
washed up on remote beaches.
Locals tell folktales of mermaid-like creatures and strangers speaking
in unnatural, guttural voices.
The Investigators receive a letter from a correspondent, who believes
the fish-creatures are watching him.
In a museum near the coast, the Investigators find an engraved
monolith, depicting the creatures.
When the Investigators visit their correspondent, in his seafront
house, they find him sitting in the dark. A fishy odour pervades. His
features are strange, with bulbous, unclosing eyes.
He tells them, in exquisite detail, of beautiful undersea cities, seeming
friendly and benevolent as he does so.
In the night, the Investigators hear Deep Ones in the house below
them. They flee.
And so the changes work in reverse. Mountains become
seaside, buzzing voices become guttural and vibration
becomes odour. The plot is identical: only the descriptions
change.
Naturally, not all creatures are interchangeable. You can’t
run The Shadow Over Innsmouth with Cthulhu bursting into
the hotel to capture the Investigators. And some creatures
require greater changes: for example, the Shan would fit
into either of the plots above, but should possess someone.
SWITCHING CREATURES.
here is the most powerful trick of all. Use a Lovecraft
plot, but switch the creature. With simple changes, you’ll
have a new story.
This is because Lovecraft’s creatures are mostly
interchangeable. For example, here is the plot of The Shadow
Over Innsmouth, redone as a Mi-Go scenario:
The Investigators drive to a strange mountain town, which the
locals avoid.
As they wander around the crumbling town, they see closed-up
buildings and hear buzzing voices.
Everywhere in the town, there is an oppressive rhythm or vibration,
half-imagined and half-real.
From a rambling drunk, the Investigators hear about rituals in the
wood, where inhabitants worship Shub-Niggurath with hideous
black winged creatures.
When the Investigators return to their car, the engine is broken.
They must stay in the mountain town.
In the dead of the night, the winged creatures swarm on the
Investigators, who must flee.
Only the details have changed. The seaside town becomes a
mountain town. Guttural voices become buzzing ones. The
fishy smell becomes an alien vibration. Mating becomes a
ritual in the woods. The plot, however, is the same.
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1. Try switching the creature for a location. That is, use a creature that is,
effectively, a location: for example, a malevolent theatre, island or village.
Increasing reprisals appear as malicious acts of nature: foul weather,
automobile failure, rockslides. Look at Lloigor and Colours as models (they
are almost monstrous locations already). Locations to steal from Lovecraft:
the Devil’s Hop-Yard, Plateau of Leng, Kadath.
Generally, if creatures are similar in some way, you can
swap them between stories. Here are some similarities:
The Mi-Go, Shan and Deep Ones are all malevolent races, rather
than single creatures.
Nyarlathotep, Hastur and Shub-Niggurath are all nebulous and ill-
defined. Their stories are largely interchangeable.
Lloigor and Colours are both intangible, subterranean and sap energy.
The Great Race, Hounds of Tindalos and Lloigor all manipulate time.
The Great Race, Cthonians and Shan can both possess a human being.
The Great Race, Cthonians and Mi-Go can, in different ways, take a
human’s mind out of its body.
The Elder Things and Shoggoths form a pair, as do the Great Race and
Flying Polyps. In both cases, the second race exterminated the first.
Cthulhu can be interchanged with any underground Old One.
There are subtler connections, too: both the Lloigor and
Cthulhu want to enslave humanity; both Cthonians and
Lloigor cause flu-like symptoms; both Cthonians and Colours
cause buildings to collapse.
So try using Cthonians in The Colour Out of Space: they
swarm beneath farmland, draining the energy from the
humans above. Or try the Colour in place of Cthonians:
when a meteorite is taken by scientists, a Colour pursues it
and destroys the laboratory where it is kept.
Switching creatures is your most powerful tool. That
simple change lets you recycle Lovecraft’s plots endlessly.
But this switch will create many new plots. Try the
following or invent your own:
The Shadow Out of Time, but with Investigators possessed by the
Shan.
At the Mountains of Madness, but with Investigators discovering a
Great Race city.
The Dreams in the Witch House, but with Investigators dreaming
of Cthulhu.
Nyarlathotep, but with the prophetic stranger being an avatar of
Shub-Niggurath, giving a demonstration of natural wonder.
The Call of Cthulhu, replacing Cthulhu with any other buried Old One.
The Colour Out of Space, replacing the Colour with a Lloigor and the
gradual decay with intermittent destruction.
These won’t all be straight swaps. Often, you’ll need to add
things specific to the creature: for example, in the Great Race
version of At the Mountains of Madness, the Investigators
should discover a possessed, not a dissected, explorer.
But, with few changes, you have a wealth of new scenarios.
If you cannot use a whole plot, use parts. For example,
start a Hastur scenario with the show from Nyarlathotep,
even if you then take the scenario elsewhere.
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1. I’ll discuss these creatures’ timelines under Colours (page 80) and The
Great Race Of Yith (page 115). But you can find timelines in almost any
creature’s story.
2. Perhaps, after this, there is a further ending: the punchline. Lovecraft likes
to end stories with a pithy, surprising phrase: “It was his twin brother”, “In
my own handwriting”, “The face and hands of Henry Wentworth Akeley”.
It’s hard to make these effective in roleplaying games.
But some shift of timing is always possible. You could,
for example, start a Cthulhu scenario as the stars begin
aligning or as he is waking.
Better still, many creatures have their own timeline.
Colours have a timeline of decay. The Great Race has a
timeline of possession.1 To create new scenarios, start at
different points in these timelines.
STEALING ENDINGS.
You can also steal Lovecraft’s endings. This gets complicated,
however, since Lovecraft likes to end stories many times. For
example, The Shadow Over Innsmouth has a climactic chase,
then a sight of the creatures, then an extended epilogue.
Broadly speaking, Lovecraft’s endings happen in the
following order:
The descent into an underground city.
The final horror, in which the Investigators see the horror clearly
for the first time.
The escape, as the Investigators flee from a supernatural creature,
or the confrontation, as they confront it.
The realisation that the creature remains and may rise again.2
Not every story has every ending, but if they occur, they
are normally in that sequence. Let’s consider them in turn.
1. Some arrived in prehistoric times.
2. This is probably not a practical option for creatures that arrived in prehistoric
times.
3. Another general rule. Whatever Lovecraft did, change it.
SHIFTING TIMING.
Lovecraft’s creatures, roughly speaking, work to the
following timeline:
The creatures arrive.1
The creatures do bad things to humans.
The creatures depart.
The creatures return.
This lets you start your scenario at three points.
Just after the creatures arrive.2
When the creatures are present.
After the creatures have departed, with the threat they may return.
For your scenario, try a different timing from the one
Lovecraft used.3 For example:
Start a Mi-Go scenario just after the creatures arrive in the mountains.
Start a Deep Ones scenario just after they have been summoned.
Start a Great Race scenario while someone is possessed.
Start a Colour scenario with a meteorite falling.
Start a scenario after Cthulhu has been hit by a ship, letting the
Investigators discover that he will inevitably rise again.
There are limits here. You cannot easily begin with Cthulhu
coming to Earth, nor with him already risen.
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1. When they don’t, the horror often comes from below ground: for example,
Cthulhu, the Lloigor or the Colour. And if it does not, the horror is often
associated with an underworld: the Mi-Go dig mines, the Deep Ones hide in
tunnels below houses. Scatter subterranean references freely.
2. Especially if, when Lovecraft wrote about your creature, he didn’t end with
an underground city.
1. The Whisperer in Darkness, which has no definite peak of terror, breaks
this rule. Perhaps the final horror is the brain-in-cylinder or the sight of
Akeley’s hands.
2. When you’re using a complementary pair of creatures, this creature is the
second of the pair. For example, if your scenario is about Elder Things and
Shoggoths, this creature is a Shoggoth.
3. Arguably, this is the same as “the harm”, but it’s important enough to
keep separate.
THE FINAL HORROR.
Just before the story ends, the most horrific event occurs.
If the Investigators descended into an underground city,
that’s where it happens. If not, the event happens somewhere
dark and enclosed.
It is a visual spectacle. The narrative slows down as it
is described in maddening detail. For the first time, the
Investigators see the full horror clearly: if they go mad,
they do it now. There may be a greater, lingering unease
afterwards, but this is the peak of terror.1
Here are the final horrors of some Lovecraft stories:
In The Call of Cthulhu, Cthulhu rises.
In Dagon, Dagon appears.
In At the Mountains of Madness, the Shoggoth appears.
In The Colour Out of Space, Nahum is destroyed by the Colour.
In The Shadow Over Innsmouth, the Deep One army streams along
the road.
In The Shadow Out of Time, the protagonist finds his handwriting
within an ancient city.
Broadly, then, there are three types of final horror:
The creature: Seeing the creature2 or creatures clearly for the first time.
The harm: Seeing the harm the creature does to humans.
Self-realisation: Discovering something horrific about yourself.3
THE DESCENT.
toWards the story’s end, Lovecraft’s protagonists often
descend into an underground city.1 This journey may be
prolonged, as in At the Mountains of Madness, or shorter,
as in The Shadow Out of Time.
You can end any scenario with an underground city.
Thus, you could:
Finish a Deep One scenario with a descent into watery caves.
Finish a Mi-Go scenario with a descent into mines.
Finish a Colour scenario with a descent into a glowing underworld,
filled with the Colour.
Underground cities never get old. Treat them as your default
option for bringing scenarios to a close.2
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1. I apologise for using “sneak” as a noun, but it’s useful, so I have appropriated
it as terminology.
THE CONFRONTATION.
sometimes, Lovecraft’s protagonists confront the monster
directly. This is never simply a fight: in The Dunwich Horror,
there’s a magical battle; in The Call of Cthulhu, Cthulhu
is hit by a ship.
So, if you end your scenario with a confrontation, make it
good. Guns are not enough. Make it a sorcerous or vehicular
combat. Make it spectacular.
And consider avoiding the confrontation entirely. Fights
are used too much in Cthulhu games and rarely in Lovecraft.
Instead, try letting the Investigators escape.
THE ESCAPE.
after the final horror, the Investigators may run away. If
they are in an underground city, they escape through that
city. If not, they at least escape in darkness.
Lovecraft is being clever here. He needs a dramatic ending,
but if he ends with a fight, he shows that the Mythos can
be defeated. Instead, he lets the Investigators escape,
highlighting the creature’s invincibility while providing a
shot of adrenaline.
There are two sorts of escape: the chase and the sneak.1
The chase is your default option: a high-adrenaline flight,
with the creature at the Investigators’ heels. The sneak is
subtler: a stealthy escape, avoiding the creature’s attention.
1. Or the people they love. This isn’t a Lovecraftian option, but it’s a good one,
used by other authors such as Robert Chambers. See Hastur (page 123).
2. Under Cthonians (page 87), I discuss fountains of blood as Final Horrors.
In your scenario, then, you have three options for your Final
Horror. Your default option is letting the Investigators see
the creature. They might:
See a horde of Mi-Go.
See The King In Yellow.
Watch the Lloigor becoming visible.
Your second option is showing the Investigators how the
creature harms humans. They could:
Find a pile of corpses, whose brains were removed by the Mi-Go.
Find people who were driven mad by The King In Yellow.
Find the mutilated, ententacled slaves of the Lloigor, whose limbs
are amputated so they cannot run.
And your third option is showing Investigators something
horrific about themselves:
Discovering the cylinders where their brains were kept.
Discovering they are Deep One hybrids.
Discovering they are infected by the Colour and gradually decaying.
With this option, keep the horror personal. Don’t just show
that humanity is doomed. Make it about the Investigators.1
If you can think of a worse terror, use it. Perhaps, for
example, you could show the Investigators a postapocalyptic
city or prehistoric landscape.2 Nine times out of ten, however,
you won’t beat showing them the creature or the harm it
does.
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1. There are many, many chases in Lovecraft. In The Music Of Erich Zann,
for example, there’s a beautiful and brief dash through a crumbling city:
“clattering down steps and over cobbles to the lower streets and the putrid
canyon-walled river”.
2. In Lovecraft’s sneaks and chases, it’s often unclear whether there is anything
pursuing the protagonist. It doesn’t matter. Steal the imagery anyway.
3. Read The Whisperer In Darkness and The Shadow Over Innsmouth, noting
when the protagonist fails a sneaking roll.
1. And note that Lovecraft’s protagonists go mad, rather than die. So, in your
games, drive Investigators insane rather than killing them.
2. In The Shadow Over Innsmouth, the protagonist must choose whether to
commit suicide or become a monster. Give choices like this to your players
(and we’ll discuss them further later).
THREE ALTERNATIVE ENDINGS.
three other endings are often useful. The first two are
excellent ways to end a individual Investigator’s story:
Going mad (from Dagon).1
Committing suicide (from Dagon and The Insects from Shaggai).2
When these happen in your scenarios, describe them as
Lovecraft would. Mad Investigators go to asylums, while
suicides are found alone in rooms.
A third alternative ending is from The Colour Out of Space:
The creature leaves.
Note, here, that the departure is spectacular: an alien firework
display. This spectacle gives a satisfying, definite ending
(rather like the adrenaline rush of a chase).
Also, note that the creature chooses to leave. Thus, this
is a bleak ending, an expression of human irrelevance. The
creature was not defeated. The Investigators’s actions have
barely affected it. And, as mentioned above, the creature
never leaves completely: something remains behind.
Try this ending in a scenario. Let a Lloigor leave, but
only to feed elsewhere. Let Cthulhu stir and return to sleep.
Let the Mi-Go leave, in a spectacular flurry of black wings,
but only because their mines are exhausted. Make it bleak,
uncaring and spectacular.
Now, there are different sorts of chase:1
An organised pursuit (from The Shadow Over Innsmouth).
A creature chasing a ship (from The Call of Cthulhu).
A desperate rush through an ancient city (from At the Mountains of
Madness and The Shadow Out of Time).
And different sorts of sneak:
Through a dark, creaking house (from The Whisperer In Darkness).2
Through hostile streets (from The Shadow Over Innsmouth).
Choose whichever suits your scenario. Even better, switch
between the two. On a failed sneaking roll, a sneak becomes
a chase. On a successful hiding roll, a chase becomes a sneak.
And vary the transport: try planes, cars and ships.
However you do it, sneak or chase, the escape provides
the adrenaline to end the scenario. It is also, probably, the
last time you roll dice. After that, it is all narration.
THE REALISATION.
this final ending is short but important. In it, the
Investigators realise that the danger is still there. Even when
the creature is defeated (e.g. Cthulhu), it is not truly dead.
Even when it leaves (e.g. the Colour), part of it remains.
Perhaps this is just a piece of narration at the end of your
scenario, but it must be there. The Mythos is not defeated.
It merely waits.
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1. In particular, Lovecraft rarely mentions technology until the story’s end.
On the rare occasions he does, such as Nyarlathotep, it follows similar themes
to those above: dark, unpleasant, unsettling.
THE THEMES.
at the beginning of the scenario, everywhere is:
Old.
Decaying.
Unsettling.
Crumbling.
Dimly lit.
Indefinably unpleasant.
Disliked by those in the surrounding area.
And everywhere has:
Suspicious, unhelpful inhabitants.
An unpleasant odour.
These themes are common to the Town, Old Building and
Wooded Hills.
You can apply them to any location. If your scenario
begins in caves, make them crumbling and unsettling. If
it begins on a space station, make it dark, creaking and
ill-reputed.
Maintain these themes for the first part of your scenario.
Resist the temptation to describe modernity1 or pleasantness.
In these early stages, there should be no relief: everywhere
is unpleasant and indefinably bad.
1. There may be more than five, of course. The Expedition Camp is a candidate,
as is The City (as distinct from The Town). But let’s start with five.
2. A cautionary note. Lovecraft’s stories rarely divide into discrete locations, as
roleplaying scenarios do. The Shadow Over Innsmouth, for example, doesn’t
proceed simply from the Museum to Innsmouth to the Hotel. So use the
descriptions, but don’t think of scenarios as chains of locations.
STEALING LOCATIONS.
Lovecraft has five favourite locations:1 the Town, Old
Building, Wooded Hills, Inhospitable Plain and Underground
City. Steal them.
For example, try starting a scenario in the wooded
hills (from The Whisperer in Darkness), move to an old
building (like The Shadow Over Innsmouth), then end with
an underground city (like The Shadow Out of Time). Use
these locations as defaults: if you don’t know where your
Deep One hybrid lives, put her in an old building.
Try, also, using these stock locations as bases for your own.
If your scenario includes a university, make it resemble an
Old Building: crumbling, dark and crowned with spires. If
it includes mines, make them like an Underground City:
immense, black and strangely angled.
Do this especially for historical locations. Describe
Victorian London like the Town: dark and shuttered, with
narrow streets. Make Shanghai like the Inhospitable Plain:
dreamlike, shifting and vast.
We’ll consider the five locations individually.2 First,
however, here are the themes that link them.
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1. Note how the “ancient” theme emerges in a natural setting: crumbling,
overgrown, timeless. See also Ithaqua (page 130) for the best timeless
forest of them all.
THE WOODED HILLS.
the hiLLs are overgrown and remote. Few people go there:
roads and railways have fallen into disuse. In the dense,
wooded valleys, there are streams whose sources are
unknown.
There is something unnatural about the wooded hills.
The slopes drop at dizzying, fantastic, almost perpendicular
angles. Perhaps, even, they are supernatural, for nature
seems to run wild within the woods. Bridges are overgrown.
Often, the trees grow unnaturally thick, so that the alleys
between them are dark.
In the wooded hills are old buildings (see below), ancient
and decaying. Sometimes, the visitor will see half-crumbled
bridges, leading nowhere. Sometimes the hills seem
fantastically beautiful, but more often they are oppressive
and foreboding, and always they are timeless.
Nobody goes to the highest hills. There are tales of the
things that live there, but the old folk know not to tell them
too loudly. They know, too, not to enquire too deeply into
the creatures that live on the darkest mountains.
Later in the story, the themes change subtly. Now,
everywhere is:
Ancient.
Dark.
Huge.
Alien.
Strangely angled.
And everywhere has:
Strange geometry.
Carvings.
Signs of vast intelligence.
These themes apply perfectly to the Underground City.
They also describe other Lovecraftian locations: the last
part of Dagon uses a vast, dark, alien mire, with a carved
monolith. Meanwhile, the Inhospitable Plain mixes themes
from the first and second sets.
At a minimum, the final location must be dark. When
Lovecraft’s stories do not end underground, they end in
darkness: the final scenes of The Shadow Over Innsmouth
and The Whisperer in Darkness are nighttime scenes. So,
if the scenario ends without your Investigators changing
location, night must fall.
With those themes identified, let’s go through the stock
locations one by one.
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1. Which means “constructed of huge stone blocks”. Lovecraft frequently
uses both descriptions: after describing a city as Cyclopean, he mentions it
is constructed of huge stone blocks.
THE INHOSPITABLE PLAIN.
Whether the plain is a remote desert, icy waste or mountain
plateau, it is desolate, vast and ancient. Its landscape seems
dreamlike and ever-changing.
Unusually for a Lovecraftian location, the inhospitable
plain may be bright. Perhaps the sun beats down or perhaps
the moon bathes the land in a pallid, leprous light. This light
is not pleasant. Instead, it exposes the land as utterly alien.
On the Inhospitable Plain, the Investigators are totally
exposed to the elements. The wind howls from unimaginable
heights and tears aeroplanes from the sky. If there are
dwellings here, they are squat huts or abandoned camps,
and they are deserted.
THE UNDERGROUND CITY.
the underground citY is vast, dark and alien. It is
Cyclopean,1 constructed of huge stone blocks, which are
probably black or green.
The geometry and symmetry seems wrong, with unnatural
curves and angles. Certainly, the geometry is non-Euclidian,
designed by alien intelligences superior to ours. Carvings
depict the history of the race.
Inside, corridors and doorways are designed for creatures
larger than humans. There may be rooms for eating, sleeping,
and other unidentifiable purposes.
1. The Music of Erich Zann has beautiful descriptions of an ancient city,
complete with a street that the protagonist can never find again.
2. The default Old Building is a farm. There are always farms.
THE TOWN.
it maY be a coastal town, city or Arkham itself.1 Wherever it
is, it is timeless, filled with hidden stories. Its ancient spires
and peaked roofs cluster close together, falling apart. The
streets are cobbled, narrow and frequently steep.
The town is dark: if there are lights, they are dim and
distant. Perhaps the Investigators navigate by moonlight.
At night, the town stirs: timbers creak and rats scurry.
Many parts of the town, from secluded courts to shadowy
alleys, are hidden or dangerous.
The town is curiously lifeless. The houses are shuttered,
hidden from the view of outsiders. The telegraph poles have
no wires. Railways are disused and overgrown.
THE OLD BUILDING.
it is unimaginably ancient, with crumbling brickwork and
chimneys.2 It is remote: perhaps on a hill, in a seldom-visited
part of town or a long way from civilisation. And it is dark
in colour, perhaps brown or grey, with a sharply peaked roof.
From the outside, you cannot see in: perhaps the shutters
are down or perhaps the windows are small. When you enter,
a smell of dust and mouldering timber hits your nostrils.
Paint peels and decorations are shabby. The light is dim
and the floorboards creak under your feet.
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1. The rest of this chapter largely consists of expanding “They investigate”.
2. I’ve simplified this, leaving out some of the alternative horrors.
STEALING PATTERNS.
noW, let’s look for patterns behind the stories. How does
Lovecraft increase the horror? How does he bring his
protagonists closer to the creature? How does he ramp up
the weirdness and the harm?
In this section, we steal the structures that underlie
Lovecraft’s plots. Let’s start with two structures we have
already uncovered: beginnings and endings, then locations.
BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS.
from what we’ve discovered about beginnings and endings,
we can create a rough structure for Lovecraftian plots:
Something strange draws the Investigators in:
They arrive somewhere strange.
They hear tales of somewhere strange.
They read about strange events.
They get a letter.
They find a strange artefact.
They attend a strange event.
Something strange happens to someone.
They investigate.1
At the end of their investigation, they may:2
Descend underground.
See a final horror.
Escape the creature or confront it.
Realise the creature may rise again.
1. NPCs perform an important function: they let the Investigators discover
clues by talking, rather than searching. Thus, they inject roleplay into your
scenario. If your scenario seems too dull or too short, try revealing clues
through NPCs rather than books.
THE CHARACTERS.
aLL these locations are populated by Lovecraftian characters.
These, too, conform to particular templates. They are:
The old rustic who has seen too much.
The suspicious, unwelcoming rustic.
The straightforward rustic, who warns you against enquiring further.
The educated ally, who has also seen too much.
Obliging non-entities, who offer assistance.
In your scenarios, use these characters as NPCs.1 Use them
like the locations: either put them in scenarios as written
or base your own characters on them.
And, as with the locations, use these stock characters as
default options. If you cannot decide what the shop owner
is like, make her an obliging non-entity or suspicious rustic.
If the Investigators visit a museum, make the curator an
educated ally.
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1. The Mythos (page 75) gives you appropriate signs to scatter for each creature.
For example, a Mi-Go scenario contains strange vibrations and buzzing
voices, while a Deep One scenario contains fishy odours and guttural voices.
2. And I often use the word “clues” interchangeably with “signs of the creature”.
3. This phrase, “The Investigators investigate”, is clunky but useful.
1. Or, as an alternative, climb, as in The Haunter of the Dark.
2. If they don’t descend underground, they often descend into a dip or valley
(c.f. Dagon).
3. Even if there aren’t specifically unanswered questions, there is a sense that
the Investigators know little. For example, at the end of The Colour Out of
Space, the prevailing mood is bewilderment. I’ll come back to this in Leave
Questions Unanswered (page 51).
LOCATIONS.
Lovecraft’s locations also form a simple structure.
The Wooded Hills or The Town or The Inhospitable Plain.
The Underground City or The Old Building.
It runs in parallel with the Beginnings and Endings structure
above. Thus, the Final Horror probably occurs in an Old
Building or Underground City.
Scatters signs of your creature1 throughout these locations.
For example, in At the Mountains of Madness, Lovecraft
places strange rock markings on the icy plain, dissected
bodies in the deserted camp, and a body preserved for later
study in the underground city. Do the same in your scenario.
These signs, of course, are clues.2 When the Investigators
investigate,3 they discover signs of your creature. These signs
can be many things – folktales, rumours, writings, markings,
victims – but they must be there. Scatter them liberally.
Use this as a template for scenarios. Begin with strangeness,
to draw the Investigators in. Later, send the Investigators
somewhere underground (or dark). Reveal the horror, then
end with a chase or sneak.
By using this structure, you build and release anticipation.
The strange beginning creates interest. Then, as the
investigation progresses, anticipation grows. The tension
ramps up sharply when the Investigators go underground:1
when they do, they know something bad is waiting.2
Having built the anticipation, the final horror releases it.
Until then, there have only been hints, tales and glimpses:
now, the truth bursts out.
The final horror and burst of adrenaline disguises the
fact that questions remain unanswered. Why do the Mi-Go
put brains in jars? What is the strange vibration within the
Akeley farmhouse? What were the Deep Ones planning to
do with a Shoggoth? All these mysteries lie unresolved,3
but the released anticipation makes the story feel finished.
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1. Remember that you needn’t explain everything. Why are brains in the mines?
How is the curator’s wife connected to the Mi-Go? Leave such questions
unanswered, as Lovecraft did.
2. Alternating investigations with reprisals is a powerful tool. See Increasing
Reprisals (page 45) and Lloigor (page 137).
1. See Mi-Go (page 145).
Now let’s build a simple string of locations: a strange town,
an old building, an underground city. For the old building,
steal the museum from The Shadow Over Innsmouth. And,
by riffing on Mi-Goan themes, let’s put the town in the
mountains and make the underground city a mine.
Then put signs of the Mi-Go into those locations,
increasing the horror gradually.
The Investigators arrive in Roehampton, a remote mountain town.
It is silent, with an odd vibration hanging in the air.
In an old museum, they find an unearthly black stone, covered in
carvings. Through a wall, they hear the curator’s wife, who has a
fluttering, buzzing voice.
Outside the museum are oddly-shaped footprints surrounding their car.
In the deserted town, the Investigators discover Ellen, a terrified child.
She tells of creatures, high in the hills, and gives the Investigators
a stone, which she believes they are mining for. Clearly, it is not of
earthly origin.
In the hills, the Investigators find caves, carefully blocked by boulders.
They descend into vast mines, which are filled with alien carvings.
Deep within, they discover many brains in metal containers.1
From even deeper in the mines, a horde of Mi-Go rushes at the
Investigators, who must flee.
Thus, we’ve ended with a chase. We could add complexity:
perhaps townspeople, with buzzing voices, could warn
Investigators away.2 Nevertheless, just by slowly increasing
the horror, we’ve created a workable scenario.
INCREASING HORROR.
Lovecraftian horror is not like modern horror. In modern
stories, the tension runs in peaks and troughs. There’s a
shock to begin, then a moment to recover, then another
shock, then more recovery. As the story continues, the
shocks get greater.
Lovecraft’s stories, by contrast, begin with only foreboding
and eeriness. For the first 75% of the story, the horror
increases very, very slowly. Finally, all hell breaks loose.
So, in your scenarios, hold the horror back. Increase
tension gradually, then ramp it up suddenly for the finale.
And, when you scatter signs of your creature, start with the
least horrific. Only after much eeriness should you advance
to the truly terrifying.
Let’s put all this together and construct a Mi-Go scenario.
Start with some signs of the Winged Ones:1
A child is frightened by something in the forest.
Clawprints, with saw-toothed nippers protruding from a central pad.
Tales of creatures in the hills, looking for an unusual type of stone.
Caves of vast depth, their mouths deliberately sealed by boulders.
A great black stone with worn hieroglyphics.
Buzzing voices.
An indefinable rhythm or vibration in the air.
Brains, humans and alien, stored under Round Hill in Massachusetts.
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1. Interestingly, when the protagonist first sees the Deep Ones approaching, he
closes his eyes. When they are closer, he opens them again. Why? Because it
makes the Final Horror, of seeing the creatures, a sudden shock.
2. Another thing that increases narrative distance is ignorance: being close
to a monster without realising what it is. This happens in many Lovecraft
stories. However, it’s tough in games, since players usually guess what
they’re dealing with.
Even when the protagonist is attacked, he does not see
his attackers, although now there are monstrous footprints
and voices. While escaping through darkened Innsmouth,
the protagonist perceives two shambling figures, but only
dimly. Only at the end does the protagonist see the creatures
fully. When he does, both physical and narrative distance
collapse to zero.1
So steal this pattern. Keep the creatures distant, let the
protagonists approach gradually, then suddenly bring the
creatures close for the final horror.
Here are things that increase narrative distance:2
Hearing about horror second- or third-hand.
Folktales, rather than reports.
Reading about horror, rather than seeing it.
Glimpses or impressions, rather than a clear view.
Hybrids or servitors, rather than the creature itself.
Darkness or obscured view.
Physical barriers, such as walls.
Unreliable, rather than reliable, reports.
Information that is open to other interpretations.
Unnamed, rather than named, people.
Dreaming, rather than seeing directly.
Fewer, rather than many, creatures.
Physical distance.
1. See The Investigators (page 52).
2. Put another way: if you start the story by seeing a monster (even a dead
one), then there is no way to increase the horror. You can’t then end the
story by seeing another monster. You’ve done that already.
3. The protagonist glimpses a Deep One priest, which disrupts this structure,
but it’s a dark, distant, short sighting.
KEEPING DISTANCE.
When the story starts, the protagonist is far away from
the creature. As it continues, he1 gets closer to it. Only at
the end might the protagonist see the creature: until then,
Lovecraft keeps a distance between the two.
Often, this distance is physical. Thus, in The Whisperer in
Darkness, Wilmarth gets physically closer to the farmhouse,
where he finally meets the Mi-Go. In At the Mountains of
Madness, the protagonists get closer to the Shoggoth.
However, sometimes the distance is conceptual: there is
a “narrative distance” between protagonist and creature.
Rather than letting his characters perceive the horror
directly, Lovecraft adds degrees of separation.
For example, at the start of The Whisperer in Darkness:
Wilmarth hears from an unnamed friend, who received a letter,
from his mother, about unreliable tales from naive country folk
who saw a monstrous corpse in a stream. Note the degrees
of separation: anonymity, unreliability, naiveté, the chain
of people. Lovecraft couldn’t begin his story with Wilmarth
finding a dead Mi-Go: it would destroy the horror.2 Instead,
he keeps distance between protagonist and monster.
Similarly, in The Shadow Over Innsmouth, there is
narrative distance between protagonist and Deep Ones,
which gradually decreases. We begin with folktales from an
unnamed ticket agent, then stories from an unnamed youth.3
As the protagonist explores, he hears distant scurryings,
but only through walls. Then comes a direct report from a
named witness, but a drunk, unreliable one.
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1. This initial stage, in which Investigators only hear tales, is common in
Lovecraft. Although atmospheric, it can be dull to play. Consider skipping
it or advancing quickly to the second stage.
2. Note the progression in the people whom the Investigators meet. They change
from unreliable to reliable characters; from unnamed to named people; and
from indirect informants to direct witnesses to victims.
3. They normally won’t glimpse the creature now, since we save that until
the end.
1. Sometimes, the rational explanation is “I am mad” or “Everyone else is mad”.
2. One exception: at any time, the Investigators can discover an artefact
beyond human knowledge/workmanship, such as Cthulhu’s bas-relief or
the Deep Ones’ jewellery. Nevertheless, there is a prevailing atmosphere
of sober investigation: everyone keeps looking for a rational explanation.
3. Or the equivalent in the story: after they descend into a valley, after they
climb the dark mountain, after they enter the old house and so on.
INCREASING CERTAINTY.
next, how credible is it that something supernatural is
happening? At the beginning of the story, it seems incredible.
At the end, it is the only explanation possible.
Thus, at first, everything is rationally explicable.1 Later,
although events and objects cannot be explained rationally,
they are not clearly supernatural. Finally, everything is
obviously supernatural.
So the story progresses as follows:
Everything can be explained rationally.2
Not everything can be explained rationally.
The only explanation is supernatural.
This final realisation that supernatural forces are at work
comes after the Investigators descend underground3 but
before the final horror. Thus, the climax of the story runs
as follows: the Investigators enter the creature’s lair, find
proof the creature exists, then finally see the creature itself.
However, although the Investigators see evidence of
the creature, they cannot take it with them. Thus, in The
Colour Out of Space, the scientists’ samples of the Colour
disappear. In The Shadow Out of Time, the protagonist’s
writing remains within the underground city. When the
Investigators emerge, they have no proof of their story.
Use this trick in your scenarios: ensure that, by the end of
the story, any direct evidence of supernatural activity is
vanished, destroyed or left behind.
You can, of course, combine these. Indeed, in the early
stages of your scenarios, you should use multiple tricks to
increase narrative distance. Try dreams of unseen voices,
distant glimpses through fog, unreliable unnamed witnesses
and disputed folktales about a faraway town. Best of all,
use a chain of people: let the Investigators meet someone
who met someone else who heard a folktale.
By putting these tricks together, we get a scenario
structure, based around narrative distance:
The Investigators hear about the creature. They may read reports
or hear tales. However, they do not speak directly to witnesses, see
the creature or find traces of it.1
The Investigators speak to witnesses, although not victims.2 They
may find signs of the creature, including artefacts. Nothing they
discover points clearly to alien influence.
The Investigators may speak to an unreliable victim of the creature.
They may find traces of the creature, including alien artefacts, which
are difficult to explain rationally. If they glimpse the creature, their
view is obscured or in darkness.
The Investigators find direct traces of the creature, with no rational
explanation. They may find victims of the creature whose experiences
cannot be explained naturally. Now, they find incontrovertible evidence
of the creature.3
Suddenly, the Investigators see the creature directly.
Don’t follow this structure slavishly. Simply keep the general
sense of getting closer to the creature. Keep the creature
distant, then right at the end, bring it dangerously close.
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1. Inventing servitors is easy: the Dark Flautists of Azathoth, The Ice Vampires
of Ithaqua, The Shades of the Colour. This can get silly, of course, but
the broader lesson is: use the creature’s themes to define its servitors. The
servitors are, effectively, extensions of the creature.
2. And the Lloigor (page 137) have splendidly detailed servitors. In that section,
I’ll discuss the narrative function of servitors in more detail.
INCREASING REPRISALS.
Lovecraft’s creatures often have human allies.1 Thus,
Cthulhu has worshippers, the Deep Ones have hybrids,
the Mi-Go have agents.2
They have a useful function within the story: they take
action against Investigators, without the creature needing
to show itself. Thus, in The Shadow Over Innsmouth, they
sabotage the bus. In The Whisperer in Darkness, they cut
communication lines. And, in The Call of Cthulhu, they kill.
Importantly, these servitors are active rather than passive:
they respond defensively to the Investigators investigating.
First, they warn the Investigators verbally. Later, they take
direct reprisals. Then, at the end of the story, they disappear,
leaving the creature to take centre stage.
This gives another plot structure, which runs as follows.
Not every stage is necessary, but if they occur, they do so
in this order.
The Investigators investigate.
The servitors warn the Investigators not to proceed further.
They take indirect action, such as sabotage, against the Investigators.
They take direct action against the Investigators, trying to kill them.
The Investigators encounter the creature itself.
Naturally, your scenario does not need servitors. Often,
stories are better without them: they let you focus on the
creature. But if you want to use them, this is how.
There may, however, be indirect evidence. Thus, The
Whisperer in Darkness ends with Akeley’s disembodied face
and hands. In The Colour Out of Space, five acres of dusty
desert remain. The Dreams in the Witch House ends with
Gilman’s hollowed corpse and various inexplicable artefacts.
Crucially, however, this evidence is ambiguous: curiously
inexplicable, rather than definitively alien.
All this gives us another scenario structure, which runs
alongside the one above. Where the previous structure
described what the Investigators see, this one describes
what they can prove:
There is no tangible evidence of supernatural activity.
There may be tangible evidence of supernatural activity.
Any hard evidence of supernatural activity is destroyed, although
ambiguous evidence may remain.
Putting the two structures together, then, gives the familiar
Lovecraftian dilemma: when the story ends, the Investigators
have seen things beyond human understanding, but nobody
will believe them.
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1. Plant deaths are unusual in Lovecraft, but useful in scenarios. They signal
danger without killing anything.
2. Animal deaths are even more useful in scenarios. They demonstrate that
the creature can kill. They also foreshadow human deaths.
3. And, as usual, not every scenario needs every step.
1. You’ll notice qualifications, like this, throughout this section. Increasing
Harm is a broad generalisation, not a solid rule, and there are exceptions
to the guidelines I mention. Nevertheless, the concept is useful.
2. Which, of course, is related to The Final Horror (page 23), Increasing
Certainty (page 43) and other topics.
3. At the Mountains of Madness is an exception: bodies are found halfway
through the story. Interestingly, however, they are unnamed. The named
victim is only found later.
In fact, the harm increases even more subtly. Take, for
example, The Colour Out of Space. At the beginning of
the story, nothing is harmed. Indeed, there seems to be no
immediate danger, only strangeness. Then, when the harm
begins, the victims come in a particular order: first plants,1
then animals,2 then Nahum’s unnamed wife and finally
Nahum himself.
Thus, the structure runs as follows:3
There is no apparent danger, only strangeness.
There are signs or reports that the creature could be harmful.
Plants are harmed.
Animals are harmed.
Unnamed humans are harmed.
Humans are harmed.
The Investigators are harmed.
That last step does not appear in The Colour Out Of Space.
But it’s an obvious progression, which occurs in The Shadow
Over Innsmouth and The Shadow Out of Time.
So carefully manage the harm that the Investigators see.
First let them find victims, then, at the end, make them
realise they are victims themselves.
INCREASING HARM.
nobodY gets harmed until the end of the story. They may
go mad. They may be scared. But, until the end, nobody
gets physically harmed.
Or, to be exact, the Investigators do not see anyone
harmed.1 What matters here is what the Investigators see.
Before the story starts, the Mi-Go might capture brains
and the Colour drain victims. But the Investigators only
see this at the end.2
To modern eyes, this seems strange. After all, most
detective stories begin with a corpse. Lovecraft’s tales,
however, do not. We may hear about horror, but only at
the end will we see it.
Now, Lovecraft’s creatures do different sorts of harm.
Cthulhu kills, the Mi-Go remove brains, the Great Race
possess, Colours drain life.
Nevertheless, the rule still generally applies:3
In The Call of Cthulhu, no-one dies until the end.
In The Whisperer in Darkness, the brains-in-cylinders are discovered
at the end.
The victims of The Colour Out of Space are found at the end.
The protagonist of The Shadow Out of Time only discovers his
imprisonment in a prehistoric city at the end.
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1. Here, “work for it” often means “make a skill roll”. But not always. If the
Investigators roleplay their search for information, they still work for it.
Thus, Lovecraft’s protagonists are not really protagonists,
but viewpoints to show us the horror. Like remote-controlled
robots with mounted cameras, they trundle through the
locations, showing us everything Lovecraft wants us to see.
In scenarios, however, such passivity works badly. We
cannot let the Investigators trundle through the horror:
we must give them something to do. Hence, we structure
scenarios as investigations, letting the Investigators actively
uncover the mystery, rather than passively encountering it.
So, when you steal Lovecraft’s stories, convert them into
active investigations. Where Lovecraft’s protagonists simply
find information, make your Investigators actively uncover
it. Here are some examples.
Where Lovecraft’s protagonists perceive things from ancient artefacts,
make your Investigators research the artefacts.
Where Lovecraft’s protagonists recall what an ancient manuscript
said, make your Investigators search libraries for the book.
Where Lovecraft’s protagonists are told folktales, make your
Investigators question locals or research legends.
Where Lovecraft’s protagonists know relevant scientific knowledge,
make your Investigators search a library or make the discovery
themselves.
Where Lovecraft’s NPCs talk willingly, make your NPCs unwilling
to talk, through anger, fear, shyness, suspicion or another reason.
The general rule is: whenever you have information to give,
make Investigators work for it.1
1. To put it another way: Lovecraft’s protagonists do not use skills.
CREATING INVESTIGATIONS.
so far, we have copied Lovecraft’s stories. But we’re not
writing stories. We’re playing games: games in which
Investigators uncover mysteries.
So, in the next two sections, we convert Lovecraft’s
stories into investigative scenarios. In this section, Creating
Investigations, we change his plots into investigations. In
the next, The Investigators, we’ll convert his protagonists
into Investigators.
NOT INVESTIGATING.
Lovecraft’s stories are not investigations. There are rarely
clues to follow or mysteries to solve. Likewise, Lovecraft’s
protagonists are not investigators. They encounter the
horror, rather than actively uncovering it.
For example, in The Call of Cthulhu, the protagonist never
picks locks, translates documents, uses libraries or does
anything we would recognise as investigation. Similarly,
he never persuades or questions people. Instead, everyone
he meets is willing to talk.1
Similarly, in The Shadow Over Innsmouth, the protagonist
only actively investigates twice: when he bribes a drunk for
information and when he researches genealogy. Otherwise,
the mystery comes to him: he stumbles across shuttered
houses and willing talkers.
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1. I’ve touched on this under Beginnings And Endings (page 35) and I’ll
describe something similar in Leaving Loose Ends (page 66).
2. This is from Robert Chambers, not Lovecraft. It is one of the best unanswered
Mythos questions. See Hastur (page 123).
LEAVE QUESTIONS UNANSWERED.
mYthos stories leave many questions unanswered:1
Why do the Mi-Go put brains in containers?
What are the three oaths of the Esoteric Order of Dagon?
What is the text of The King in Yellow?2
It is tempting, in scenarios, to answer these questions. But
they are interesting precisely because they are unanswered.
So leave them that way. If you answer them definitively,
you take the fun away.
Indeed, if you try answering them, you will find that no
answer seems satisfactory. Try writing the Dagonic Oaths
or The King in Yellow.Whatever you write, it won’t be as
impressive as the mystery.
So deal with such questions as Lovecraft did: answer them
partially and mysteriously, raising even more questions in the
process. Why do the Mi-Go put brains in containers? To take
them to other planets. What are the Dagonic Oaths? You
don’t know, but the third one is indefinably terrible. What
is the text of The King in Yellow? It concerns a Stranger
whose face looks like a mask. Give incomplete and nebulous
answers.
Most generally, give mysterious descriptions rather than
definite ones. For example: hint that there are different
types of Deep One, but don’t give a breakdown of Deep
One subspecies. Create mysteries and, instead of solving
them, create more.
1. And, as ever, if you do steal these elements, keep other events in the scenario
as close to Lovecraft as possible.
2. See the footnote in Stealing Beginnings (page 5). You must give enough
weirdness to intrigue the Investigators, but need not give them an explicit
hook.
NOT A CRIME.
in converting Lovecraft’s stories into investigative scenarios,
it’s easy to think of crime investigations. Avoid this.
Specifically, avoid stealing elements from detective stories:
for example, bodies, murders and evidence.1
In particular, avoid making humans responsible for the
horror. These are tales of cosmic horror, not human plots.
They concern hyperintelligent beings, not evil villains.
Finally, you need not begin scenarios with explicit
mysteries, as detective stories do.2 There need not be a crime,
death or mysterious disappearance. Although something
must draw the Investigators’ attention, it need not be an
definite puzzle. You can simply begin with strangeness.
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1. An immensely important way of getting information, which hardly appears
in most Cthulhu systems. Use it in your games. Fake it with whatever tools
your system gives you: an Idea roll, a retrospective skill roll.
2. Curiously, given its importance in The Dreams in the Witch House and the
many references to geometry in other stories, there is no Mathematics skill
in most Cthulhu systems. Put one in.
More interestingly, occupations and skills set the tone for
the scenario. In selecting them, players are choosing what
their Investigators will do.
Thus, if Investigators are scientists and librarians, they
will research. If they are soldiers and gangsters, they will
fight. Similarly, if players choose the Library Use skill, they
will read books. If they choose Fast Talk, they will talk.
So use occupations and skills to create a Lovecraftian
tone. Steal the occupations of Lovecraft’s protagonists:
professors, surveyors and students. Steal from secondary
characters too: artists, scientists and police officers.
Similarly, try choosing the skills that Lovecraft’s
protagonists use in stories. First, however, we must work
out what they are. By comparing Lovecraft’s stories, the
most common ways that protagonists gather information are:
Observing.
Reading.
Asking.
Recalling.1
Now, some investigative skills are mentioned directly:
Chemistry (in The Colour Out of Space).
Genealogy (in The Shadow Over Innsmouth).
Geology (in At the Mountains of Madness).
Mathematics (in The Dreams in the Witch House).2
Trading for information (in The Shadow Over Innsmouth).
1. Lovecraft’s protagonists were male. You can make his plots seem new simply
by putting women in them.2
2. Note, especially, the possibility of pregnancy in Deep One plots.
THE INVESTIGATORS.
Lovecraft’s stories have one protagonist. He1 is
undistinguished and two-dimensional. If he has an
occupation, it is undramatic, and he displays no particular
skills. He rarely speaks. He is naive: when he meets monsters,
he does not realise they are monsters. If he is accompanied,
his companions are equally unremarkable.
However, in your games, there will be multiple
Investigators, suspicious and alert, distinguished by
occupations and skills. This section discusses how to adapt
Lovecraft’s plots for Investigators.
OCCUPATIONS AND SKILLS.
if investigators were exactly like Lovecraft’s protagonists,
they would be identical, two-dimensional men. Instead, we
must make them into believable, but distinct, Lovecraftian
protagonists.
To do this, we have occupations and skills. These ensure
that everyone gets a moment in the spotlight. When
exploring an ancient tomb, the archaeologist goes first;
when someone is injured, the doctor steps forward. Skills
have a similar function. When a manuscript needs decoding,
someone with Cryptography takes the lead; when a heretic
tract needs deciphering, the Occult expert takes over.
Thus, occupations and skills ensure the story is shared
between the protagonists. Everyone gets a turn.
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1. When Lovecraft describes sneaking, he describes sneaking out of somewhere
dangerous. He rarely mentions sneaking in. There are mentions of creeping
cautiously into mysterious places, but this simply builds atmosphere: it’s
not actual infiltration.
2. These skill and ability names are taken from various roleplaying games. So
don’t be surprised if you find one on your character sheet, but not another.
3. Especially in explorative stories such as At the Mountains of Madness.
1. Try giving him documents to carry. Then, even if the Investigators kill him,
the documents show where to go next.
What is missing from the list above? Here are some non-
Lovecraftian abilities, which appear in many roleplaying
games, but almost never in Lovecraft:
Combat abilities.
Active subterfuge: Locksmith, Disguise, Shadowing.
Detective investigation: Evidence Collection, Interrogation.
Avoid this abilities if you want a bleak Lovecraftian tone.
After all, if the Investigators take combat, subterfuge and
detective abilities, they will want to fight, infiltrate and
detect. If you want a scenario that feels like a Lovecraft
story, start with the Investigators.
HANDLING SUSPICION.
Lovecraft’s protagonists are frighteningly naive. In The
Shadow Over Innsmouth, the protagonist sleeps in a room
with no doorbolts. In The Whisperer in Darkness, the
protagonist talks to a thinly-disguised monster, then goes
to bed. No Cthulhu player would be so trusting.
In your games, then, expect Investigators to realise that
monsters are monsters. Design scenarios so that, even if the
Investigators get suspicious, the scenario works.
For example, if you put a man with a buzzing voice in
a Mi-Go scenario, ensure the scenario works whether they
shoot him or interview him.1 Make sure that, even if he
dies, the Investigators get to the next part of the scenario.
These non-investigative skills are also mentioned:
Operating cars, planes and ships.
Fleeing on foot.
Sneaking.1
Putting all this together, we get a list of authentic
Lovecraftian skills:
Social abilities: Persuade, Oral History, Fast Talk.2
Scientific abilities: Chemistry, Geology.
Academic abilities: Library Use, Languages, Archaeology.
Escaping on foot: Jump, Climb, Fleeing.
Sneaking: Hide, Sneak.
Operating transport: Piloting, Driving.
And we can add the following abilities, which are mentioned
indirectly:
Performance abilities: Art, Craft.
Practical abilities: Navigate, Electrical Repair, Mechanical Repair,
Operate Heavy Machinery.3
To give your games a Lovecraftian feel, then, try choosing
skills from the eight groups listed above: social, scientific,
academic, escaping, sneaking, transport, performance and
practical. You needn’t stick to the exact skills mentioned
(e.g. Chemistry): if a skill fits into a group, choose it, even
if it isn’t specifically mentioned (e.g. Biology, Astronomy).
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1. The roleplaying game Call of Cthulhu describes scenarios as resembling the
layers of an onion: the Investigators unpeel the layers, one by one, until
they decide it is unsafe to continue. By contrast, Lovecraft’s protagonists
always continue. They unpeel the whole onion until they find the monster
at its centre (at which point the metaphor breaks down).
2. The roleplaying game Trail of Cthulhu gives its Investigators a Drive: a
reason why they pursue the Mythos.
3. For example, if the Investigators have a Cthonian egg, the creature will
chase them whatever they do. See Cthonians (page 87).
1. A fourth candidate is space travel, which occurs much more frequently in
games than in Lovecraft’s Mythos stories. The guideline for space travel is:
where possible, refer to space, rather than going there. Thus, put observatories
and meteorites into your scenario, but not spaceships. If you do send the
Investigators into space, describe the journey in fantastic, nebulous terms.
See Obfuscating (page 67) and Dreaming (page 71).
2. When fights are tied to particular places, they force you to structure
scenarios as chains of locations. This is not always good. As mentioned
above, Lovecraft’s stories don’t divide into discrete locations.
ANOMALIES.
noW for three things that rarely appear in Lovecraft, but
are staples of Cthulhu gaming: fights, cultists and rituals.1
For a strictly Lovecraftian scenario, omit all three. Try
replacing fights with chases, cultists with servitors and
rituals with other climactic endings.
Nevertheless, all three can be fun in roleplaying games.
Here, then, are guidelines to add fights, cultists and rituals
into your scenario, while sticking close to Lovecraft.
FIGHTS.
there are two types of fight. The first type is tied to
particular locations: you arrive somewhere and are attacked
by the things that are there. These opponents are reactive:
they sit in a room, waiting for the Investigators to arrive.
For example, you arrive at the bottom of the Great Race’s
city and are attacked by Flying Polyps.
Such fights fit neatly into Lovecraftian plots. Take any
structure, above, and add one fight per location.2 Instantly,
you’ll have a Lovecraftian scenario with added combat.
The second type of fight comes to you: when you
investigate, someone uses violence to stop you investigating.
This type of fight is more common in Lovecraft: for example,
in The Whisperer In Darkness, the Mi-Go attack Akeley’s
farmhouse, while in The Call of Cthulhu, an assassin kills
Professor Angell in a cobbled street.
STAYING THE DISTANCE.
finaLLY, Lovecraft’s protagonists never walk away.1 Whatever
the final horror, they stay until they see it. Thus, your
Investigators must continue until the end.
Sometimes, the players make this happen. Perhaps there is
a tacit agreement: they know that, for the scenario to work,
they must pursue the mystery. Perhaps they invent reasons
to keep pursuing. Or perhaps they give Investigators in-
character reasons for investigating the Mythos.2 For example,
the Investigators seek power, knowledge or academic status.
Sometimes, the GM ensures the Investigators pursue the
mystery. For example, you could give them an in-character
reason to investigate. Examples from Lovecraft stories
include surveying for a reservoir (from The Colour Out Of
Space) or finding what happened to you (from The Shadow
Out Of Time). You might, alternatively, structure the
scenario so they cannot escape the horror.3
Finally, and most satisfyingly, sometimes Investigators
create their own final horror. For example, in a Shan scenario,
one Investigator may decapitate another, to remove the
creature from their head. In a Deep One scenario, the
Investigators may burn a house of hybrids.
So watch for these moments. They provide the best endings
of all. If something suitably horrific happens, put aside
your preplanned final horror and end the scenario.
And, of course, you can encourage these moments in your
scenario. If you put a Shan inside an Investigator, you can
bet it won’t end well.
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1. For example, attack the Investigators with something that could either be a
dog, werewolf or Hound of Tindalos. Or let them fight in the dark, against
humanoid opponents. They will not know what hit them.
2. See The Realisation (page 26).
3. Try letting Investigators fight in order to escape. They cannot kill the thing
(or things), but they can fight their way out.
Don’t put all these opponents into one scenario. Instead,
use this structure as a guideline, showing when to introduce
half-humans and monsters into a story. Human servitors
can arrive near the start of the scenario. Half-human ones
should wait until later.
In both sorts of fights, try adding narrative distance.
Simply use the tricks from Keeping Distance (page 40)
to add separation between Investigators and opponents.
Thus, the Investigators could fight:
Things that are glimpsed, rather than viewed clearly.
Things obscured by darkness, water or fog.
Things that protrude from behind physical barriers, such as walls
or floors.
Things whose very identity is open to many interpretations.1
The secret, here, is that fighting something unseen is scarier
than fighting something visible. Likewise, fighting something
unknown is scarier than fighting something you understand.
The combat mechanics stay the same, but the description
makes the fight more interesting.
One final descriptive tip: when the Investigators win the
fight with the creature, emphasise that the horror isn’t over.
Perhaps, like Cthulhu, the defeat merely subdues the thing.
Perhaps, like the Colour, other creatures are waiting.2
Never give the Investigators victory. Let them win the
fight, but never let them defeat the Mythos.3
For this type of fight, use the structure given in Increasing
Reprisals (page 45), adding fights to the later stages:
The Investigators investigate.
The servitors warn the Investigators not to proceed further.
They take direct action to stop the Investigators investigating.
There’s a fight!
As the Investigators investigate, the servitors take further action.
There are more fights!
The Investigators encounter the creature itself. There’s a fight!
Thus, early fights are with servitors, while the final fight
is with the creature. This maintains narrative distance: by
using human opponents for the early fights, we save the
sight of the creature for the Final Horror.
In fact, you can expand the structure above, sending
progressively more horrific creatures at the Investigators:
The Investigators investigate.
Human servitors warn the Investigators not to proceed further.
Human servitors fight the Investigators.
Half-human servitors (humans that are possessed, insane, infected
or changed) fight the Investigators.
Monstrous servitors fight the Investigators.
The Investigators fight the creature itself.
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1. See Deep Ones (page 98).
2. Try describing your cultists as less than human. Lovecraft’s cultists are
monstrous or animalistic: the Mi-Go’s agents have buzzing voices, the
Cthulhu cult is animalistic and the Deep One hybrids are fishlike. The
Mythos has reduced their humanity. So, when you describe cultists, throw
in some animal references.
1. In this section, I blur the line between spellcasting and rituals. Generally,
everything applies, not just to rituals, but to any form of Mythos magic.
RITUALS.
Lovecraft’s best ritual occurs in The Dunwich Horror. In
that story, Armitage fights a sorcerous battle with Yog-
Sothoth’s offspring. That fight teaches us many things
about using rituals in scenarios.1
Firstly, learning about rituals is harmful. It exhausts
Armitage and it should exhaust your Investigators. They
won’t simply discover a spell to read. Piecing the spell
together must cost them health and sanity.
Next, this learning is unreliable. Your Investigators won’t
discover a spell that will definitely stop the creature. They
will discover, from obscure sources and references, a spell that
might stop the creature. But only if they cast it precisely
right.
Additionally, spellcasting requires narrative distance. In
The Dunwich Horror, we see the first stages of the ritual from
Armitage’s point of view. When things get weird, however,
Lovecraft takes a step back. He describes how others see the
sorcery, from a distance, through a telescope.
So, when your Investigators dabble in magic, try adding
narrative distance. Describe what people see from afar, what
the Investigators think happens or what they remember
later. Or ask the players to describe their sorcery in this way.
Finally, spellcasting is a struggle. In The Dunwich Horror,
Armitage frequently seems close to losing control of the
spell or the creature. So make rituals a battle: one the
Investigators might lose.
CULTISTS.
in manY Cthulhu games, cultists are everywhere: the villains
behind every plot, the opponents in every fight. They are
bland, predictable and unthreatening. If you use them,
make them interesting.
Firstly, avoid the word “cultist”. Lovecraft didn’t use it:
indeed, he rarely used the word “cult”. Instead, he describes
the person: worshipper, prisoner, “the man”, “a voice”.
Relabel your cultists and they become more interesting.
Next, give the cult a rich description. Here are some
examples from Lovecraft’s stories:
The unorthodox churches of Innsmouth, with blasphemous creeds.1
The shadowy Great Race helpers, who assist their travels in time.
The Cthulhu worshippers in New Orleans, baying and dancing
around rings of fire.
The immortal leaders of the Cthulhu cult in the Chinese mountains.
The Mi-Go agents, with buzzing voices, who intercept and infiltrate.
Steal these descriptions or invent your own. Note especially
that these followers are rarely described as worshippers. Nor
are they organised in a cult. So, rather than generic cultists,
try using followers, helpers or thralls of the creatures.
Finally, note that Lovecraft’s cultists are rarely the villains
or instigators. Make the Mythos the true horror. The cultists
merely assist.
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1. Some, such as tentacles, are used often by Lovecraft but overused in games.
Others, such as cultists, appear rarely in Lovecraft.
2. Please do brilliantly reinvent them. Write an entire scenario about the cave
paintings on which the Necronomicon was based. Write a story set in a
meticulously-detailed Arkham.
PAINTING PICTURES.
When Investigators arrive somewhere or see something new,
pause the action and describe the scene.
In Lovecraft’s stories, each location warrants a paragraph
of description, sometimes even pages. So never assume
the players know what their Investigators are seeing. Take
moments away from the investigation to describe the world.
DESCRIBING DETAILS.
imagine a camera that pans, from a distance, over a
Lovecraftian location. As it moves, we see the place exactly.
Everything is clear.
Now imagine a camera that focuses tightly on details. It
gives confusing images: broken windows, cobblestone streets,
a tangle of chimney pots. These details cloud our mental
image of the location: we cannot see the wood for the trees.
Use the second camera, not the first. Don’t describe
monsters and locations from top to bottom. Instead, describe
individual, isolated elements.
Here, for example, is a town described using three
elements:
An aging church, with a sagging, twisted grey-brown spire and
rusting weathercock.
Cobbled streets, which are slippery even though there has been no rain.
Abandoned houses, on which paint peels and the window-frames rot.
STEALING DESCRIPTIONS.
the Last thing left to steal is Lovecraft’s descriptive style.
His ponderous, curious writing immediately sets the
otherworldly tone.
Here, there is a danger of pastiche: if every creature is
“eldritch” and every moon is “gibbous”, the game becomes
clichéd. Let’s start with those clichés.
AVOIDING CLICHÉS.
here are the worst Lovecraftian clichés.1 Unless you’re
brilliantly reinventing them, find an alternative.2
The Necronomicon. Try the Pnakotic Manuscripts instead.
“Eldritch”. Try “blasphemous”.
Tentacles. Try claws or appendages.
Cultists. Try worshippers or servitors (as above).
The Elder Sign. Try any other symbol.
Avatars of Nyarlathotep. Try Hastur or Shub-Niggurath instead.
Arkham. Try Kingsport.
If you must use a cliché, change the description. Describe
something half-octopoid, half-dragon, but don’t immediately
call it Cthulhu. Describe a malevolent, branching symbol,
but don’t call it the Elder Sign.
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1. But, for an important exception, see Dreaming (page 71).
2. Imagine saying this in italics. Wrong.
ENGAGING THE SENSES.
Lovecraft’s descriptions are not just visual. He describes
sounds, smells and supernatural feelings.
For example, in The Shadow Over Innsmouth, the
protagonist hears a raucous bell, smells a disgusting odour
and feels a odd malignancy. In a single paragraph of The
Call of Cthulhu, Lovecraft describes Cthulhu’s sight, sound,
stink and alien presence.
So, when describing anything, ask yourself:
What does it look like?
What does it smell like?
What does it sound like?
What does it feel like?
Whatever the answers, make them unpleasant.1
Perhaps the least important of these senses is hearing. Riff
on the creature’s themes: thus, Deep Ones make gurgling
sounds, while Colours suck. Remember the value of silence:
try describing locations as unnaturally still.
A more important sense is smell. When the Investigators
enter a location or see a supernatural creature, always
describe the odour. You need not be imaginative: mouldy
and rotten odours work well.
Most important of all is the supernatural feeling. Here,
steal directly from Lovecraft. Simply describe a place as
unpleasant, repellent or wrong.2
1. Inventing these details is easy. Close your eyes. Picture, say, an old house.
Then mentally zoom in.
2. Ramsey Campbell sometimes gives top-to-bottom descriptions of creatures.
They are less effective than Lovecraft’s descriptions.
3. This might be a facade, but it’s infinitely more interesting if they mean it.
Describe these elements in detail, too. Don’t just describe a
church spire: mention cracked tiles and leaking guttering.
Don’t just describe a cobbled street: have loose cobbles and
lichen growing in the cracks.1
Similarly, when you describe monsters, give tantalising
glimpses, rather than the full picture. This, for example, is
how Lovecraft describes Cthulhu:
A tangible blackness.
A green, gelatinous mass.
Flapping, membraneous wings.
Thus, he does not give an overview, starting with the squid-
like head and ending with tentacles.2 He zooms in on details.
This emphasises Cthulhu’s size (he cannot all be seen at
once) and the protagonist’s confusion. So give disorientating,
detailed glimpses, rather than the full picture.
BEING NICE.
the mYthos is creepiest when it is nice. The Elder Things
just want to learn. The Great Race treat captives well. The
Mi-Go want peace and intellectual rapport.3
Try this horrific benevolence. Let Deep One hybrids
welcome Investigators into their hotel. Make Cthulhu cultists
eager to share secrets. It is surprising and disturbing.
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1. As an aside: consider how this relates to maps in roleplaying games. At first
sightt, maps seem deliberately non-obfuscatory: they show where everyything
is. In play, however, maps reveal how little the Investigators know. Behind
that door, the map suggests, is somepthing you cannot see.
2. Don’t overlook these religiouos words. They are quintessentially Lovecraftian
and give an instant sense of period.
OBFUSCATING.
Lovecraft’s descriptions are often deliberately unhelpful.
They blur pictures, rather than revealing them.1
Often, he simply states that something is beyond
description:
“The Thing cannot be described: there is no language ... a mountain
walked or stumbled.” (from The Call of Cthulhu)
“It presented no identifying features whatever; and at the end of the
tests the college scientists were forced to own they could not place
it.” (from The Colour Out of Space)
“I think their predominant colour was a greyish-green...” (from The
Shadow Over Innsmouth)
It’s a cheap trick, but a good one, and he uses it a lot. For
example, in one paragraph of The Colour Out of Space, the
“nameless” colour, which “every spectator later described
differently”, produces a sound that nobody had “ever heard”.
Try, then, cloaking descriptions behind disclaimers,
implying they are approximations to the full horror. Describe
what Investigators think they see or remember later. And,
sometimes, state that there are no words to describe the
horror.1
More subtly, Lovecraft’s descriptions often convey feeling,
rather than information. To do this, he uses:
Words of religious significance: Blasphemous, Daemoniac, Evil.2
Words implying scale: Immense, Great, Limitless.
1. I discuss something similar in Leave Questions Unanswered (page 51).
2. See Ithaqua (page 130). Algernon Blackwood gives his creature an “odour
of lions”. The specific animal makes the description more interesting.
LEAVING LOOSE ENDS.
PePPer your descriptions with unexplained references.1
Here are some Lovecraftian examples:
“The queer ancient house of which so many legends are told”, from
The Shadow Over Innsmouth.
“The fabled plateau of Leng”, from At the Mountains of Madness.
“The immortal allegory of Tao”, from The Whisperer in Darkness.
Lovecraft also threw about references to “the moon ladder”
and “the black pit”. Such references hint at mysteries which
he has no time to explain. Try doing the same.
Often, too, Lovecraft describes strangely specific details.2
For example:
The violet westward mountains in At the Mountains of Madness.
Brown Jenkin nuzzling people in The Dreams in the Witch House.
The soapy, greenish-black stone with gold flecks in The Call of Cthulhu.
The three tall steeples over Innsmouth.
Why are the mountains violet? Why does Brown Jenkin
nuzzle? What is the green, black, soapy, flecked stone? Why
are there three steeples? Lovecraft probably did not know
himself. But the specificity adds richness to the story.
So be oddly specific. Give your town blue-green cupolas.
Let your creatures leave heptagonal hieroglyphs. Make a
material glow dark, grainy red. Add details and leave them
unexplained.
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Half-delirious.
Half-deserted.
Half-imaginary.
Half-incapable.
Half-unknown.
Try the same trick for verbs and nouns. Never tiptoe when
you can half-tiptoe, doubt when you can half-doubt or
imagine when you can half-imagine. Let your investigators
hear half-sounds in the half-daylight, getting half-impressions
of a half-human.
Creatures are often half one thing, half another. Thus,
the Mi-Go are half-fungous and half-crustacean. Cthulhu
is half-awake and half-dreaming.
And, finally, Lovecraft uses the same trick without the
word “half”. Thus, the Deep Ones are both fishlike and
humanoid. The Colour is both liquid and gaseous. Meanwhile,
the bas-relief in The Call of Cthulhu seems both modern and
ancient; depicts a creature octopoid, human and dragonlike;
and is green and black, with golden flecks.
Often, these descriptions seem nonsensical. How can you
be half-incapable: aren’t you either capable or incapable?
Similarly, what does half-solid mean: can you touch it or not?
You need neither explain nor know. When you describe
something, simply smash irreconcilable concepts together.
Whatever it is, it is beyond the Investigators’ understanding.
Words implying impossibility: Contradiction, Wrong, Abnormal.
Words implying age: Ancient, Timeless.
Words implying repulsion: Intolerable, Nauseating, Abhorrent.
Words implying alienness: Other-worldly, Inhuman.
Although these words describe something, they crucially
do not allow the reader to picture it.
Next, Lovecraft uses “half-descriptions”: that is, the
word “half-”, followed by an adjective. By doing this, he
creates mystery: for example, a vegetable alien race sounds
silly, but a half-vegetable race is intriguing.
Here is a selection of half-adjectives:
Half-forgotten.
Half-remembered.
Half worn away.
Half-existence.
Half-afraid.
Half-illusory.
Half-mental.
Half-bewitched.
Half-abandoned.
Half-concealed.
Half-numb.
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1. The style resembles that used in his “Dream” stories, such as The Dream-
Quest of Unknown Kadath.
2. Beautiful, light and captivating contrast with ugly, dark and repellent, which
describe most things in Lovecraft. Ancient and eerie, by contrast, resemble
other Lovecraftian descriptions. Another possible word is dreamlike, which
although tautological, is a useful spark for the imagination.
DREAMING.
occasionaLLY, Lovecraft switches to a dreamlike writing
style, giving a sudden and vivid contrast.1
The material seemed to be predominantly gold, though a weird
lighter lustrousness hinted at some strange alloy with an equally
beautiful and scarcely identifiable metal. Its condition was almost
perfect, and one could have spent hours in studying the striking
and puzzlingly untraditional designs – some simply geometrical,
and some plainly marine – chased or moulded in high relief on its
surface with a craftsmanship of incredible skill and grace. (from The
Shadow Over Innsmouth)
There was a strangely calming element of cosmic beauty in the
hypnotic landscape through which we climbed and plunged
fantastically. Time had lost itself in the labyrinths behind, and around
us stretched only the flowering waves of faery and the recaptured
loveliness of vanished centuries – the hoary groves, the untainted
pastures edged with gay autumnal blossoms, and at vast intervals the
small brown farmsteads nestling amidst huge trees beneath vertical
precipices of fragrant brier and meadow-grass. Even the sunlight
assumed a supernal glamour ... I seemed to find in its necromancy a
thing I had innately known or inherited and for which I had always
been vainly searching. (from The Whisperer in Darkness)
These descriptions rarely make sense. Has the protagonist of
The Whisperer in Darkness really been “vainly searching” for
the Vermont woodland? Has he really inherited something
from the creatures? This senselessness is itself disturbing.
So, in your games, try switching briefly into dreamlike
description. Your watchwords are beautiful, light, captivating,
ancient and eerie.2 It will surprise and disturb your players.
DESCRIBING PRACTICALITIES.
Lovecraft frequently describes practicalities in detail:
especially when mentioning accommodation, transport,
weather and geography.
Here are some examples. Note the extraordinary,
unnecessary level of explanation.
The sullen, queer-looking night clerk told me I could have Room
428 on next the top floor – large, but without running water – for a
dollar ... I signed the register, paid my dollar, let the clerk take my
valise and followed that sour, solitary attendant up three creaking
flights of stairs past dusty corridors which seemed wholly devoid of
life. (from The Shadow Over Innsmouth)
I changed trains in Boston and began the long, westward run out
of familiar regions into those I knew less thoroughly. Waltham –
Concord – Ayer – Fitchburg – Gardner – Athol. My train reached
Greenfield seven minutes late, but the northbound connecting express
had been held. (from The Whisperer in Darkness)
The successful establishment of the southern base above the glacier
in Latitude 86° 7’, East Longitude 174° 23’ and the phenomenally
rapid and effective borings and blastings made at various points
reached by our sledge trips and short aeroplane flights are matters
of history, as is the arduous and triumphant ascent of Mt Nansen.
(from At the Mountains of Madness)
This ponderous detail does three things. It gives an air of
normality, later to be shattered. It slows the narrative,
building tension. And, importantly in Cthulhu games, it
allows historical descriptions.
Never, then, let your Investigators simply sleep or travel.
Describe the details.
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1. Even the Great Race and Elder Things, who are approximately human-sized,
are actually slightly taller than humans.
MONSTERS.
there are surprising similarities between Lovecraft’s
monsters. Almost all are:
Ancient.
From other planets.
Foul-smelling.
Repulsive.
Hated by animals.
Featured in old tales.
Bigger than humans.1
This is most useful when creating your own monsters. By
default, they have the attributes above. If, for example, you
used werewolves in a Mythos story, they would be probably
be ancient, repulsive and originally from another planet.
In addition, many of Lovecraft’s creatures:
Make a piping or whistling sound.
Communicate via telepathy.
Appear in dreams.
Try using these descriptions for any creature. Let the Mi-
Go make a piping or whistling sound as they fly. Make the
Deep Ones telepathic. Give the Investigators dreams of
shifting, alien Colours.
1. See Occupations And Skills (page 52). There, I mentioned that recalling was
a frequently-used way of getting information. Here, I describe recollections
that, while providing little information, add descriptive richness.
2. Note the layers of narrative distance here. Wilmarth recalls (rather than
reads) a rare monograph that describes folklore, collected a long time ago, from
the recollections of elderly people.
REMEMBERING TALES.
rather than discovering information, Lovecraft’s
protagonists often remember it.1 In particular, they
remember events related to whatever they are investigating.
For example:
On discovering an Elder Thing corpse, the protagonist recalls “wild
tales of cosmic hill things from outside, told by a folklorist colleague
in Miskatonic’s English department”.
On seeing the Cthulhu bas-relief, Professor Webb recalls his studies
of Eskimo cults.
While attempting to decipher carvings, Akeley is reminded of “fearful
myths” in the Necronomicon.
On reading reports of bloated Mi-Go corpses, Wilmarth recalls folklore
outlined in “the exceedingly rare monograph of Eli Davenport,
which embraces material orally obtained prior to 1839 among the
oldest people of the state”.2
So, in your scenarios, let Investigators remember tales from
faraway countries, remote places and ancient writings. These
related tales rarely give more information. Instead, they
provide connectedness, continuity and richness.
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THE MYTHOS.
this section examines Lovecraft’s creatures, one by one. It
returns to their original stories and rebuilds each creature
from scratch.
By doing this, we often get a new picture of a creature.
For example, the Flying Polyps appear as a living wind,
while Ithaqua personifies isolation. Sometimes, underused
details emerge: the Deep Ones are associated with beauty,
while Shoggoths are imitators.
We also find things we can steal. For example, the Great
Race have a superb underground city, the Lloigor have
the best servitors and the Shan have an interesting form
of possession. Steal these things for other creatures. Give
Deep Ones a city like that of the Great Race. Give Cthulhu
servitors like those of the Lloigor.
The list of creatures is deliberately incomplete. It’s a
selection of the best, the creatures that do particular things
well. Many favourites do not appear: for example, Cthugha
doesn’t get his own section. To write a Cthugha adventure,
try copying from Cthulhu or Ithaqua.
When you use this section, treat canon with disdain.
Reinvent the creatures for yourself, ignoring anything you
have read before. For example, the classic Call of Cthulhu
scenario Escape From Innsmouth defines the three Dagonic
Oaths. Don’t stick to this definition. Define the Oaths
yourself or, better still, leave them undefined.
Remember especially the four tricks we defined at the
start. Steal an idea from a creature, tweak it and reuse it.
NAMING.
finaLLY, Lovecraft calls creatures by many names. Often,
they are “things”, “creatures” or “horrors”. Sometimes,
they have names specific to the situation: “pursuers”, “my
host”, “the column of unknown colour”. Whatever he calls
the monsters, he switches names regularly.
Crucially, he rarely uses the name we commonly associate
with the creature. For example, the Mi-Go are never directly
called ‘Mi-Go’. They are “Winged Ones”, “Outer Ones”,
“hillside creatures” and many other names.
So avoid naming the creatures. By leaving them unnamed,
you keep them unknown and frightening. Resist the
temptation to say, “There’s a Deep One.” Instead, vary
the names you use, and avoid the best-known one.
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1. Whenever I list a story without an author, it’s by Lovecraft. Here, because
Azathoth is only mentioned briefly in stories, I omit synopses of those stories.
2. Steal this reference whenever you have music and dance in a scenario,
especially if it is influenced by the Mythos. If, for example, the Investigators
hear jazz in New Orleans, it will have a a piping clarinet and a maddening
rhythm.
3. Use the same method for Shub-Niggurath scenarios. Also see the “living
nature” creature in Flying Polyps (page 109).
4. We’ve replaced the standard descent with a climb.
AZATHOTH.
Stories: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, The Whisperer
in Darkness and The Dreams in the Witch House.1
azathoth is nebulous, defined only by teasing references.
He is the nuclear chaos, sprawling and bubbling on his throne at the
centre of the universe.
Around him, flutes pipe and drums beat in a maddening rhythm.2
Other gods dance around him.
He is mindless, an idiot god.
So, for an Azathothian scenario, we must make something
from these, using the tricks outlined above.3
First, try a straight substitution: Azathoth for Cthulhu.
Take part of the plot from The Call of Cthulhu (specifically,
the Tale of Inspector Legrasse) and just add Azathoth.
The Investigators discover a jet-black sculpture of a bubbling,
sprawling mass, made of unearthly material.
They discover it is linked with barbaric rituals in the mountains.
When they arrive at a mountain town, they discover reports of
disappearances and rumours of cults.
They find a raving man who screams of evil in the highest mountains.
When they climb these mountains, the Investigators find worshippers
dancing mindlessly to piping flutes.4
At the climax of the ritual, a black polypous thing, possibly an
extension or facet of Azathoth, bulges down from the night sky.
1. So, for Deep Ones, riff on themes of immortality or breeding. For Cthulhu,
riff on themes of dreams or water. And so on.
2. Probably by breeding with them. Deep down, they just want to be loved.
Steal something that Lovecraft didn’t emphasise about a
creature and build a scenario around it. Steal ideas from
different creatures and combine them. And find themes
and riff on them.1
Most importantly, be creative. Perhaps Cthulhu controls the
sea. Perhaps Ithaqua inhabits any wasteland, not just the
Arctic. Perhaps, underneath it all, the Deep Ones genuinely
want to relate to humans.2
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1. To avoid problems with narrative distance, we refer to space, rather than
going there.
2. Almost certainly, Lovecraft didn’t mean “nuclear” this way, but it’s too
good to waste.
When the Investigators descend, they find an ancient network of
tunnels. Deep within, they find a great chamber, with a bubbling
mass seething within. It is Azathoth, summoned, seeping through
an interstitial vortex. The bubbling mass grows and floods through
the tunnels, forcing the Investigators to flee.
At the end, the Investigators stand outside the observatory. An
immense blackness radiates from the mountain, beautiful and terrible,
as Azathoth returns to the sky.
This simply uses the tricks outlined above. The locations
are stock ones: a town, an old building, an underground
city. The distance between Investigators and Azathoth
decreases: the Investigators read reports, hear second-hand
stories, meet a babbling witness, then see Azathoth himself.
The victims increase in importance: first a dog, a human,
then the Investigators themselves. And, since Lovecraft
didn’t say how Azathoth harms people, this plot riffs on
the “mindless” theme, giving the victims blasted minds.
It also steals Lovecraftian set pieces. Animals-in-streams
come from The Whisperer in Darkness, the dreams from The
Call of Cthulhu. The bubbling mass is a Shoggoth clone, from
At the Mountains of Madness. And the ending comes from
The Colour Out of Space, with blackness replacing colour.
We’ve taken space as our theme for Azathoth, giving us
meteorites, telescopes, astronomy and so on.1 An alternative
theme is “nuclear”, riffing on “nuclear chaos”, which takes
us into the physics laboratory and Manhattan project.2
Thus, even the nebulous Azathoth can spawn scenarios.
Simply steal his ideas and riff on his themes. If we can do
it for him, we can do it for anyone.
1. Try adding further details from other stories. Steal descriptions of the
mountain town from The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Steal the mountain
expedition from At the Mountains of Madness.
This is a straight steal, with imagery changed. Cthulhu’s
green becomes Azathoth’s black. Drums become flutes.
And, where The Call of Cthulhu riffed around the theme of
water, with lakes and swamps, this plot riffs around space
themes, with the mountains and the night sky.1
Next, instead of stealing a Lovecraft plot for Azathoth,
let’s assemble one. Use a progression of Lovecraftian
locations, slowly increasing the horror and harm. Riff on
Azathothian themes and add some Lovecraftian set pieces.
The Investigators read press reports of comatose animals found in
mountain streams. The animals are drooling corpses, their minds
blasted by unknown forces.
Following the streams, they find a forgotten, crumbling mountain
town. Although most inhabitants will not talk, one tells them strange
tales of worshippers who lost their minds and raved about stars.
That night, the Investigators stay in an old and stinking hotel. On
the wind, they hear discordant flutes and the beat of drums. They
dream of flying beyond the stars, where polypous things caper around
an unknown black mass.
The next morning, the Investigators find a twitching and comatose
dog. Its mind has gone.
When they enquire about the worshippers, the Investigators are
told they worship at an observatory on the highest peak. They are
warned not to go there.
The Investigators go there. They find a drooling, near-comatose man,
babbling about stars and thrones. There are records of strange rituals
performed in the observatory. The sound of flutes is loud, now, and
comes from beneath the observatory.
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1. Although try substituting a buried Old One with a Colour.
2. Another unique race is the Great Race. Their one thing, which they do
well, is possession.
3. It’s unclear whether there are several Colours, of which one remains behind,
or one, of which part remains behind. It doesn’t matter.
COLOURS.
Story: The Colour Out of Space.
Synopsis: On arrival in the Arkham Hills, the protagonist
meets Ammi, who tells the following story. A meteorite fell,
which scientists studied but could not understand. Afterwards,
local flora and fauna grew strangely, then decayed. When
Ammi visited the farm where the meteorite fell, he found the
farmer and his wife, alive but crumbling, apparently attacked
by something in the well. Ammi summoned the authorities.
When they arrived, everything began to glow and the Colour
shot from the well into the sky. It left behind a blighted area,
which grows by an inch each year.
coLours, unlike Azathoth, don’t transplant well. Try taking
the plot of The Shadow Over Innsmouth and substituting
Colours for Deep Ones. It won’t work.1 You can’t have a
hotel run by a Colour.
This is because Colours are unique. They do one thing and
do it well: slow, inexorable decay.2 Thus, Colour scenarios
are about decay.
First, decide when your scenario begins in the Colour’s
chronology:
The Colour falls to Earth in a meteorite.
It gradually sucks the life from the land.
The Colour shoots back into the sky, although part remains behind.3
It leaves a devastated area, like an acid burn.
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1. See Increasing Harm (page 46). As noted in that section, we can add “the
Investigators” as a fifth step. That is, in your scenario, the Investigators
could be the Colour’s final victims. At the end, they notice they are glowing
or decaying.
2. In Colour stories, riff on themes of light and decay.
Humans sicken, shun company and go mad. They glimpse shifting
walls and hear things moving in the night. These people lose
motivation, becoming listless and mechanical. Towards the end,
they become luminous, crumble or mysteriously disappear.
So, the order is: things, plants, animals, humans.1 This is
both the order in which things decay and the order in which
Investigators encounter the Colour’s victims.
Another sequence describes how these things decay.
Broadly, the decay progresses through the following stages:
Unhealthy.
Unnatural.
Moving strangely.
Oddly coloured.
Luminous.2
Grey and brittle.
Crumbling.
So, in your chosen location, run through these two sequences
of decay. By using them side-by-side, you get a rich array
of weirdness. Here’s an example set in Victorian London:
In the East End markets, the fruits are huge and glossy, but taste
bitter. The milk, too, has an unnatural taste.
Traders report tales of unnaturally large rats, which scurry up walls.
The Investigators uncover tales of an ancient meteorite, which landed
in London’s East End, and rumours of something underlying the
soil, getting stronger. At night, the buildings of the East End glow.
1. And, depending on the location, describe the decay differently. Perhaps, in
Antarctica, the ice breaks apart or the rock becomes brittle. Perhaps, in the
slums of Victorian London, the decay looks like a disease.
2. This description has dreamlike elements: beautfiul, eerie, light (note how the
plants are glosssy rather than dull). See Dreaming (page 71).
3. Note the narrative distance. Seeing an overpowered rabbit might be comical.
Finding footprints is eerie.
This gives us three places to begin a scenario: when the
Colour arrives, when it is present and just after it has left.
Let’s briefly consider the third. Lovecraft largely leaves this
unexplored, but describes:
A devastated, blighted area, which spreads gradually, growing an
inch each year.
The Arkham reservoir, built on the dusty land.
Here, then, is a possible scenario about the spreading blight
and poisoned reservoir. Slowly increase the weirdness and
end with the Colour beneath the soil.
But let’s return to the first two timing options: scenarios
set when the Colour arrives and when it is present. Both
options, for the most part, follow the plot of The Colour
Out of Space.
How can we rerun this plot, but make it look new? First,
switch locations. Pick any Lovecraftian location: a town,
the mountains, Antarctica. Or pick somewhere specific: a
theatre, an observatory, a museum, a Victorian slum.1
In that location, run through the process of decay, which
progresses as follows.
Inanimate things decay: water tastes bad and milk goes sour.
Plants become glossy and strangely coloured and grow to phenomenal
size.2 They bud prematurely and move even when there is no wind.
They taste bitter and sickening.
Animals are born with unnatural proportions, move oddly, have
unnatural agility and leave strange arrangements of footprints. For
example, rabbits leap further than seems possible.3
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1. Again, note how dreamlike these descriptions are. Alongside the
unpleasantness, there is distorted beauty.
1. Switch with the eponymous Haunter of the Dark, an intangible blackness
that protects Mythos knowledge and pursues those who seek it. Try the
Colour as a guardian or aggressive pursuer.
2. c.f. H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, in which green flares from Mars fall
to Earth as green shooting stars. They turn out to be huge cylinders. It
doesn’t end well.
To end your scenario, either copy the bleak ending of The
Colour Out Of Space, or use a standard Lovecraftian climax:
The Descent. Although the protagonist of The Colour Out of Space
doesn’t descend underground, your Investigators might. They could
discover the Colour roosting in caves, mines or tunnels.
The Final Horror. Since the Colour is more dreamlike than horrific,
the final horror is probably a victim of the Colour, rather than the
Colour itself. Nevertheless, it’s possible to imagine a larger, horrific
Colour, hurtling towards the Investigators or hanging bleakly in
the night sky.1
The Chase. It’s unlikely the Colour will participate in a dramatic
car chase. However, it could rush through tunnels, Shoggoth-style.
Alternatively, the Investigators could flee the spreading grey blight,
as the countryside collapses behind. Although The Colour Out of
Space ends bleakly, your scenario can end with adrenaline.
The Realisation, with the Colour remaining beneath the soil, is ready
provided for you.
Other endings are less probable, but worth considering.
Fighting the Colour is probably silly: the Investigators
would simply attack a patch of light. But self-realisation
makes a good ending: an Investigator could realise they
have been infected by the Colour.
Finally, let’s return to the meteorite, which is ripe for
stealing. Here is how it arrives:
There is a string of explosions in the air.2
There is a pillar of smoke.
The next morning, a huge rock is found.
There are tales of animals that the thing under the soil has sucked
dry. The Investigators find mice and birds, crumbling and decaying.
Now, the fruits in the market become brittle, crumbling when they
are touched. There is starvation in the poorer areas of London.
The buildings, too, begin to crumble.
As the Investigators investigate, they find crumbling humans, confined
to slum housing and slowly dying.
A new road is driven through the crumbling slums. Yet the
Investigators know that, eventually, the Colour will suck the life
out of that too.
Thus, with a good location, you can simply rerun the Colour
Out of Space plot, and it will seem new.
Throughout your scenario, tease the players with
impressions of colour. Lovecraft gives us the following:
Distortions in the colours of the sun.
Cloudiness.
Moving colours.
Being brushed by a vapour.
A pale, insidious beam.
Add your own: try shimmering, glistening or impressions
of mirages. Begin with intangible impressions, then move
towards tangible contact and sightings of the Colour.1
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1. This is how Lumley spells it. The Greek word would be Chthonian.
2. Avoid the teleporting clock. Or use Lovecraft’s original version instead.
CTHONIANS.
Story: Brian Lumley’s The Burrowers Beneath.
Synopsis: While investigating collapsing mines, the protagonist
is sent a pearlescent sphere. This, it emerges, is a Cthonian
egg. The Cthonians chase him round the country: at one point,
there is a car chase. Then the creatures send the protagonist a
human brain, kept alive inside a body of filth, to warn him not
to investigate. Finally, they destroy his house with him inside.
the cthonians1 were created, not by Lovecraft, but by Brian
Lumley. They cause problems. Lumley, whose style is much
pulpier than Lovecraft,2 gives them every supernatural power
imaginable, from telepathy to possession. Often, they seem
more superpowered than eldritch.
Nevertheless, at heart, the Cthonians are beautifully
conceived. They are an Earth Monster, who riff on
“underground” themes as Cthulhu riffs on “water” themes.
By stealing judiciously, we can create a Lovecraftian version
of the creature.
Start underground, where Cthonians burn through rock
like knives through butter, leaving wormlike tunnels behind.
Here, the Investigators might find:
Smoothly-finished tunnels, bored through the rock at unnatural,
sometimes vertical, angles.
Subsidence, as the Cthonians’ tunnels collapse.
A honeycomb of tunnels, lacing in and out of man-made mines.
1. Presumably, if you put it near a cloud chamber, it would give strange tracks.
If you put a radio near it, it would give strange radio emissions. And so on.
Inventing scientific anomalies is easy.
It is struck by lightning on the nights after it lands.
It contains several “globules”, of an alien colour, which pop when
hit with a hammer.
Over time, it shrinks into nothing.
Steal this description for anything that falls to Earth. Note
two things in particular. Firstly, although the lightning
makes little sense, it makes a wonderful omen. Put similar
omens in your scenarios. Secondly and importantly, the
meteorite leaves no permanent evidence behind.
Steal, also, the material from that meteorite.
It is soft: you scoop it, rather than chipping it.
It is luminous.
It is hot.
It is corrosive, burning through any container.
It is invulnerable to all known reagents.
It is composed of a previously unknown element.
It produces strange emissions when analysed with a spectrometer.
It shrinks to nothing over time.
So, it is odd, powerful, beyond science1 and decaying. Other
alien materials, in other stories, are similar: for example,
the soapstone in The Call of Cthulhu. Whenever you need
alien substances, then, steal these descriptions, either by
using the specific details above or by expanding on those
four points.
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1. The egg is fascinatingly close to the Shining Trapezohedron in The Haunter
of the Dark, except the Trapezohedron allows clairvoyance and is not a
MacGuffin. So switch details: make Cthonian eggs like crystal balls; use the
Trapezohedron as a MacGuffin.
2. There are few Cthonians: too few to pursue their plans of world domination.
Thus, each retrieved egg is precious, bringing their plans closer to fruition.
3. Put people near or in the mine, which ensures the Investigators cannot
simply ignore its destruction. Also ensure the Investigators know that, if
the egg gets captured, the world comes closer to doom.
Another possible starting point is the Cthonian egg. These
eggs:
Appear as “cave-pearls”, four inches in diameter and beautiful.
Are made of an unknown material, immune to X-rays and radiation.
Have thick, almost impenetrable shells.
Contain something fumbling inside, which can be heard with a
stethoscope.
May hatch, revealing a vulnerable creature the size of a walnut.
Are often found in a box (actually an incubator), with queerly-angled
sides and carvings.
Are immensely rare and precious to the Cthonians, who can instantly
locate them by telepathy, and retrieve them with force.
Put this egg, inside its carved box, anywhere in your scenario.
Lumley puts it in a mine, but you could use an archaeological
dig, antiques shop or (stealing from The Call of Cthulhu)
bequest from a relative.
The egg, of course, is a MacGuffin.1 Wherever it is,
the Cthonians chase it.2 If the Investigators keep it, the
Cthonians pursue them. If they store it, the Cthonians
destroy wherever it is stored. If they return it to the mine,
the Cthonians destroy that mine too.3
Thus, the chase defines the entire scenario. As the Cthonian
approaches, gradually increase the horror: start with dreams,
move to earth tremors and end with the Cthonians’ attack.
Note that, at the Cthonian gets closer, narrative distance
naturally decreases.
1. Let’s assume the chanting and etchings are by worshippers. The alternative,
that the Cthonians themselves sing and doodle, seems rather ludicrous.
2. These let the Investigators trace the Cthonian.
3. Except, perhaps, the Cthonian egg (see below).
Etchings of unnatural creatures, like elongated octopuses.
Chanting heard deep in the tunnels.1
This burrowing leads to:
Earthquakes which, against any seismological explanation, run in
a straight line.2
Inexplicable seismologic readings, in areas not normally prone to
earthquakes.
Strangely-built seismological instruments, constructed by others
who attempted to trace the Cthonians. They may be mysteriously
sabotaged, as if to conceal the Cthonians’ approach.
These earthquakes, in turn, cause property damage. Indeed,
Cthonians deliberately attack buildings by burrowing
beneath them. Thus, the Investigators might discover:
Buildings collapsing and people disappearing without explanation.
Reports of a disgusting odour, slime, chanting and something gigantic
writhing, shortly before the building collapses.
No corpse within the house and nothing else missing.3
Thus, we have three good scenario beginnings: collapsing
mines, unexplained tremors and destroyed buildings. Note
that, unusually, our scenario can begin underground, rather
than ending there.
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1. The Shan (page 156) have a similar form of soft possession.
2. Under The Great Race Of Yith (page 115), I discuss possession plots in
more detail.
3. These dangers are particularly acute in valleys and other low-lying areas:
every time the road dips, the Investigators should be scared.
4. Compare with the introduction to The Call of Cthulhu. An interesting exercise
is to do a search for “survival” throughout Lovecraft’s stories.
Steal selectively here: if you give the Cthonians too many
powers, they become unfocussed.
However, the last power is especially useful. It is a
subtle form of mind control, more interesting than most
Lovecraftian possession.1 Use it to inspire scenarios: let the
Cthonians possess individuals, families or entire towns. This
form of possession gives us practical advantages, too: we
can oppose the Investigators with NPCs who, if captured,
know little.2
There are three things left to steal. The first is a car chase,
in which the Investigators are threatened by:
Tendrils emerging from cracks in the ground.
Earthquakes and rockfalls.
Cthonians bursting out of the ground and attacking.3
Essentially, this is the car escape from The Whisperer in
Darkness, but with much more detail. Use it, suitably
adapted for your creature, to end any scenario.
Next, steal Lumley’s concept of survivals in the fossil
record. Everything that is found as a fossil, he suggests,
is occasionally found as a living creature. It’s a beautiful
piece of pseudoscience. Steal it for moments of weirdness
and a source of monsters: Lumley suggests that the Loch
Ness monster is one such “survival”.4
Finally, Lumley gives a backstory, which makes a perfect
and bleak scenario. It is set on an oil rig, but with a few
changes, you could use it anywhere.
1. Lovecraft uses a similar structure in The Hound.
2. Be careful here. When you talk to monsters, they stop being frightening.
The Lloigor (page 137) do this better: they use servitors to send warnings.
3. When attacked by either, they dissolve away to nothing, rather like the
material from the Colour’s meteorite.
4. Again, the Lloigor do this better.
Steal this structure for any Mythos creature.1 Give the
Investigators a MacGuffin: perhaps a black stone, ornate
tiara or theatrical script. Then send, respectively, the Mi-Go,
Deep Ones or the King in Yellow after the Investigators.
Instantly, you have a scenario.
We can also steal Lumley’s take on nightmares. His
characters dream of:
Chants that, on waking, the dreamer finds she can repeat.
Things that the Investigator could not understand when awake, but
can understand in dreams. For example, codes, carvings and writing
in foreign languages.
Thus, dreams teach skills, whether the Investigators want
to learn them or not, and grant understanding. Put another
way, they allow investigation in dreams. Steal this for other
creatures, especially Cthulhu.
There is more to steal. Here are the Cthonian’s powers:
They are telepathic.
They warn you to stop investigating and return the eggs.2
They can be killed by water or radiation and are afraid of both.3
They make people feel tired and ill.4
They remove human brains and encase them, still living, in filth,
while milking information from them. They can force this filth into
human shape and send it to warn Investigators.
They control people by implanting ideas. They influence burglars
into stealing their eggs and travellers into carrying them.
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1. If you steal the Angell plot, you need to add an ending. As ever, endings
are easy.
CTHULHU.
Story: The Call of Cthulhu.
Synopsis: See Angell, Legrasse and Johannsen, below.
cthuLhu. What a nightmare. It’s hard to make something
scary when people wear T-shirts supporting it for President.
Let’s begin by stealing the plot, which splits into three
parts that skip back and forward in time. It runs as follows:
Angell. The protagonist inherits a sculpture and papers from his
great-uncle, Professor Angell. The papers describe Angell being
visited by a sculptor, who had sculpted something from his dreams.
Angell investigates the dreaming and discovers simultaneous events
of eccentricity and insanity.
Legrasse. Inspector Legrasse takes a sculpture to an archaeological
conference. It reminds one archaeologist of an artefact from a bloody
Eskimo cult. The story then flashes back to the Inspector raiding
a cult in the New Orleans swamps, who worship a white polypous
thing, which reputedly lives in a nearby lake. From the cult, the
Inspector captures the sculpture.
Johannsen. When a ship’s crew refuse a warning to turn back, they
find a risen Cyclopean city. There, they see Cthulhu rise, are chased
by him and ram him with a ship.
All three plots are useful. In Angell, the protagonist’s
discovery leads him into a spiral of weirdness. Steal the
plot for other creatures and note that the family connection
makes it stronger. Let an Investigator discover that her
father was investigating the Lloigor. Let an Investigator’s
nephew disappear in Mi-Go infested hills.1
1. It’s the Cthonian’s heartbeat. Imagine what Cthulhu’s heartbeat sounds
like (then put it in a scenario).
2. This Final Horror is subtly different from those we have considered so far. It
is neither a sighting of the monster, nor of the harm it does, but a horrific
first contact. Steal this Final Horror. Try ending scenarios with fountains of
ichor, outpourings of monstrous entrails or huge, unidentifiable fleshy organs.
This backstory runs as follows.
The seismograph, analysing the sea bed, shows odd, rhythmic blips.1
When a diver attempts to investigate, the sea fills with fish, who
prevent the dive by gnawing his diving apparatus.
When another diver goes down, a swarm of fish devours him, leaving
nothing.
Later, when the oil rig begins drilling, the whole seabed shakes, as
if trying to stop the process.
The drill penetrates the Cthonian’s heart, which issues a rhythmic
spurt of red liquid, hundreds of feet into the air.
That spurt of blood becomes the final horror of the scenario.2
Steal it for Cthonians or any buried creature.
Steal the devouring fish, too. It’s a genuinely terrifying
set-piece, which also works for Cthulhu or the Deep Ones.
Change the fish to birds, flies or animals and you can use
them for Ithaqua, Shub-Niggurath, Mordiggan and many,
many Mythos creatures. Steal that horrific set-piece, in
which small creatures consume a human, for any scenario.
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1. Replace the single roll with something that involves everyone. Perhaps one
Investigator sails the ship, while the others shoot. Hack the combat system
or stack skill rolls, ensuring that Cthulhu’s defeat takes more than one roll.
2. This gives you a way to avoid railroading. When the Investigators fail a roll
to kill Cthulhu at sea, don’t fudge things so that they succeed. Instead, let the
failure stand. Let Cthulhu reach land and devastate a few coastal villages.
3. Cthulhu is almost completely interchangeable with other buried Old Ones.
Also, Lloigors and Colours.
1. For more Cthulhuesque imagery, read Dagon. Dagon is Lovecraft’s prototype
for Cthulhu: smaller, but otherwise interchangeable.
2. This last dream probably implies that the dreamers are Deep One hybrids.
But it may not: who knows how dreams work in the Mythos?
3. Steal this and change the artistic medium.
Now, let’s go deeper into these plots and steal the details.1
From Angell, we get dreams.
Underground voices shouting monotonously.
Unpronounceable, unwriteable words.
Alien landscapes and Cyclopean cities.
A gigantic thing, miles high, lumbering about.
These dreams have a useful function within the story:
they foreshadow the creature, while maintaining narrative
distance. They also bookend the scenario, so that the
investigation both starts and ends with the monster. Steal
them for other creatures. Start a Cthugha scenario with
dreams of fire, a Lloigor scenario with dreams of slavery
or a Deep One scenario with dreams of undersea cities.2
These dreams are not simply disturbing. They cause
inexplicable behaviour and social unrest:
A rash of suicides.
An outbreak of fever, from which victims awake remembering nothing.
Unrest in lunatic asylums.
Increased religious activity, especially from apocalyptic cults.
Bizarre artworks, which the artist produces while sleepwalking.3
Use these phenomena to start scenarios: in newspaper offices,
hospitals, asylums, churches and art exhibitions. And steal
the unrest for any creature connected with visions and
dreams: Cthonians, Nyarlathotep, Hastur and Deep Ones.
Yet Legrasse makes the best standalone plot. Start by
switching the timing: when the Investigators research a
sculpture, it leads them to a swamp cult. Let the Investigators
question natives of the swamp. Increase the horror slowly.
Then, as a final horror, show the cult’s horrific rites or the
white polypous thing rising from the lake. Use the same
plot for Mi-Go, Ghouls, Deep Ones and others.
Johannsen, meanwhile, gives us the ship-ramming ending.
It’s fascinating but problematic, because:
It makes Cthulhu seem weak. Although Cthulhu is ostensibly powerful,
Lovecraft shows him being defeated.
There is no drama. If we give the Investigators a ship, they know
exactly how they are expected to defeat Cthulhu.
It is difficult to run in a roleplaying game. Ending the scenario with
a single Piloting roll, to hit Cthulhu with a ship, is an anticlimax.1
So how can we make this ending work? First, substitute
the ship: try a plane, submarine or bomb. Once Cthulhu
reaches land, try trucks, explosives or collapsing masonry. 2
Next, switch creatures: use this ending for other monsters,
but not Cthulhu. Ram Gol-Goroth with the Titanic, hit
Ithaqua with a plane, hit Shub-Niggurath with a collapsing
building and blow up a tomb with Mordiggan inside.3 But
for Cthulhu himself, change the ending: try a descent into
R’lyeh or a chase.
Best of all, be open to such endings, rather than
prescripting them. When you plan scenarios, expect the
Investigators to run from the creature. If, instead, they
produce a plan of attack, Johannsen shows how to handle it.
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1. It doesn’t matter what it is. Probably, Lovecraft didn’t know. Choose a
plausible explanation: once, I explained it was a projection of Cthulhu’s
dreams.
2. These winged creatures, of course, are tantalisingly close to Mi-Go.
The next thing to steal is more than a detail. It is the
apocalypse, in which:
People become like the Old Ones.
They are beyond good and evil, without laws or morals.
They shout and kill joyfully.
The black, mouldy spirits of the Earth rise from the ground.
Steal this for premonitions, dreams and visions. Or steal the
themes of amorality and joyful murder. Note, especially, the
black, mouldy spirits: jet-black ghosts, stinking of mould,
are perfect and unusual Lovecraftian creatures.
Most useful of all, however, is the “white, polypous thing”
in the lake. It seems to be a mini-Cthulhu: perhaps an avatar,
projection or facet of Cthulhu.1 Steal it.
It is huge and formless, with luminous eyes.
At midnight, bat-winged devils fly from caverns to worship it.2
It catches sacrifices for the ritual.
It lives in a hidden lake, deep within the dark wood.
During the ritual, it flies and echoes the chants of the cultists.
Thus, we have an alternative Cthulhu, which Lovecraft
described in detail, but his protagonists never saw.
It gives us a perfect ending for Cthulhu-based scenarios.
Let the Investigators find the hidden lake. Let the white
polypous thing chase them. It’s a whole new Cthulhu and
one that has never appeared on a T-shirt.
1. Try rerunning Legrasse, but replace the swamp cult with the Eskimo cult
mentioned in the story. Thus, you switch locations and steal backstory.
2. If you want to begin a scenario with a murder, this is where you start.
3. Or, of course, the Cthulhu bas-relief from Angell.
4. Here is a wonderful opportunity for switching protagonists. Let the
Investigators master their dreams: perhaps, in their dreams, they could
explore R’lyeh. Let them achieve immortality: steal from The Shadow Over
Innsmouth.
Another detail, from Legrasse, is the unusually-detailed
cults. Firstly, the horrific swamp cult, who:
Dance naked around ring-shaped bonfires and granite monoliths.
Howl ecstatically, like animals.
Hang bodies of victims upside-down over the bonfire.
These are vastly more horrific than standard cultists.1 Steal
their blood, murder and animalism for any Mythos servitor.
Secondly, Lovecraft describes the leaders of the cult, in
Chinese mountains. These leaders:
Are “deathless” and “undying”.
Kill those who investigate them, using “secret methods” such as
poisoned needles.2
Have strange, hereditary rituals.
Have “mastered their dreams”.
These cult leaders, mentioned by Lovecraft but never
encountered by his protagonist, are ripe for stealing. There
is a whole scenario here. Start with folktales,3 which lead
the Investigators to the mountains. Riff on themes of
immortality and “dream mastery”.4 Let the Investigators
descend into tunnels beneath the mountain and discover
ancient carvings. Finish with a standard climax, probably
a sneak or chase.
And steal these leaders for other Mythos servitors. Perhaps
Cthonian cult leaders chant in tunnels beneath G’harne.
Perhaps Yithian cultists plot immortality in buried cities.
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1. Either with their own relatives or the relatives of NPCs.
2. Monstrous relatives, imprisoned in the attic, are a Lovecraftian theme.
By choosing a different description, you unsettle the
players. Use lesser-known descriptions for other creatures,
too. Describe Great Race bodies as iridescent, not rugose.
Describe the Shan’s hate-filled eyes.
The next cliché is Innsmouth itself. It is more than a fishy,
crumbling town: it is beautiful. In Innsmouth, Lovecraft
juxtaposes revolting descriptions with dreamlike ones.
Old buildings with a departed grandeur.
Eerily beautiful jewellery, intricately crafted from a lustrous gold alloy.
Phosphorescent undersea terraces and coral gardens.
Keep this tension between beauty and repulsiveness. The
town is repellent, but sometimes wonderful. The jewellery
is abhorrent but attractive. Note, particularly, that the
beautiful things glow.
Another, subtler, cliché is “breeding”. It’s often represented
by NPC hybrids and suspicious-looking families. You can
do better than that.
For example, Lovecraft mentions conversations with
long-dead relatives: let your Investigators experience these
conversations.1 Let them talk with people who should be
dead. Let them find diaries, personal effects or other clues
that people are still alive.
Similarly, Lovecraft mentions imprisoned relatives, who
presumably are too monstrous to appear publicly.2 Let
Investigators meet these relatives. Use them as a Final
Horror, stealing the scene from The Colour Out of Space.
1. Or simply hold back in your description. Just because the NPC is a Deep
One hybrid doesn’t mean you must mention their strange appearance. You
don’t describe the eyes of every NPC the Investigators meet.
2. Try basing a scenario around Innsmouth-look-as-disease. Start in a hospital.
DEEP ONES.
Story: The Shadow Over Innsmouth.
Synopsis: The protagonist arrives in Innsmouth and explores.
He is warned about the town’s church, the Esoteric Order of
Dagon, and bribes a drunk, who tells horrific tales of monsters
mating with humans. When the protagonist tries to leave, the
bus is suspiciously out of commission, and he must stay in a
hotel. During the night, he is attacked and flees the town. Later,
he discovers he is related to the monsters.
deeP ones, like Cthulhu, have cliché issues. They are
genuinely horrific, but have become so familiar that the
horror is lost. How can we get it back?
Let’s tackle the clichés one by one, starting with the
biggest: the Innsmouth Look. It’s often described with
bulging eyes and a fish-like face, making it comic, rather
than horrific. But Lovecraft gives us many other descriptions
of the Look. Choose something unexpected.1
A dull, expressionless face.
Large, veined hands, with short fingers.
A receding forehead and chin, with small ears and a flat nose.
A shambling gait, with large feet.
A blue-grey tinge to the skin.
Greasy, peeling skin, as though there were a disease beneath.2
A repellent nature.
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1. Lovecraft only describes this object. Let your Investigators find it.
2. It’s a superb and obvious final horror. Lovecraft couldn’t bring himself to
describe it, so you should.
Now, there is a sequence connected to the Order’s worship.
To make a deal with the Deep Ones, follow these steps:
Use an odd lead object1 to bring the creatures out of the sea.
Sacrifice some young people to them.
Enjoy the increased amount of fish that comes to your town.
Also enjoy the strange jewellery they give you.
Later, expect a request to mate with the townsfolk.
Keep sacrificing, otherwise the Deep Ones will destroy the town.
The sacrifices are particularly underexplored. Let your
Investigators find caged sacrifical victims or children
earmarked for sacrifice. Again, riff on the family theme.
The sequence, above, lets us play tricks with time. You
could start a scenario:
Before the creatures are summoned, so that Investigators must
prevent the summoning.
After the sacrifices begin, so that Investigators investigate mysterious
disappearances of young people.
Before the mating begins, so that the final horror is seeing townsfolk
mate with Deep Ones.2
After the mating begins, as in The Shadow Over Innsmouth.
Before the creatures destroy the town, so that the Investigators
discover the past sacrifices and imminent destruction.
After the destruction, so that Investigators investigate a ghost town.
1. Riff on the themes of church and immortality. Set Deep One scenarios
within the Catholic Church. Offer Investigators eternal life.
2. But be careful with fish puns. Although Lovecraft used them, they signal
comedy rather than horror.
3. The default location for a strange old building is on a hill, c.f. The Strange
High House in the Mist, The Haunter of the Dark and so on.
Perhaps the worst cliché, however, is the Esoteric Order of
Dagon. It is much more than a generic cult. It is Innsmouth’s
richest source of inspiration, with enough material for
several scenarios.
When the Order arrives in a town, they run other churches out.
They promise marvellous changes, leading to immortality.1
Bizarre chants come from inside the church.
They worship on Walpurgis Night (30 April) and Halloween.
They make people take three Oaths. The third is particularly horrific.
Steal these descriptions. Here, for example, is a Dagonic
scenario, patched together from the parts above.
An old colleague, Professor Walter Pike,2 invites the Investigators
to a seaside resort, to assist with his studies.
When the Investigators arrive, Pike’s house is empty. His notebooks
and library reveal that he has been studying the local church.
The townsfolk reveal that this new church drove out the other
churches. The Investigators meet a curate, who was threatened by
the newcomers.
That night, the Investigators meet a frightened escapee, who tells
of horrors beneath the church. When the worshippers tried to make
him take the Third Oath, he fled.
The Investigators hear odd chants from the church on the hill.3
Inside, the Investigators find heretic texts, promising immortality.
In a stinking basement, they find Pike, horrifically transformed into
a Deep One hybrid.
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1. This means you must state that a player’s character is a monster. It’s a big
thing to say about a player’s character, but see it as an opportunity. It lets
you create a new and unusual scenario.
2. This is how Ramsey Campbell ends The Insects from Shaggai.
3. Read Zadok’s drunken oration in The Shadow Over Innsmouth. We’ve stolen
from it already, but there is much more to take.
Yet the most horrific idea from The Shadow Over Innsmouth
is discovering you are a monster. Only Deep Ones give the
grim inevitability of transforming into something horrible.
This discovery presents a terrible choice: does the
Investigator kill themselves or become a monster? Other
Investigators get a similar choice: do they kill their colleague
or let them transform?
So steal this choice for other monsters, adapting it
where necessary.1 For the Shan, the question is: do they
kill themselves or become a thrall?2 For the Great Race: do
they allow themselves to be possessed? For the Mi-Go: do
they allow their brain to be taken?
Having dispensed with the clichés, you can use the tricks
from the first part of this book. Try switching creatures,
interchanging Deep Ones with Ghouls, Mi-Go and Shan. Try
switching endings, sending Investigators into the tunnels
beneath the Innsmouth houses, then chasing them out with
Deep Ones. Switch protagonists, letting the Investigators
meet, rather than be, Deep One hybrids.3 Or switch locations,
as described in detail above.
At heart, the Deep Ones are deeply horrific. By going
back to Lovecraft, you can rescue them from cliché.
1. In The Shadow Over Innsmouth, these inhabitants destroyed the people on the
neighbouring island. After all, the neighbouring islanders were worshipping
monsters. If you want human horror, this is how you do it: with mass murder.
2. There is no noise because it doesn’t actually refine gold. It just melts the
Deep Ones’ jewellery.
Most usefully, there is a backstory connected with Dagonic
worship. Adapted slightly, it makes an excellent scenario.
The Investigators arrive on an island. There, they find inhabitants
who tell evil tales of a neighbouring island.1
On this neighbouring island, they find a ruined settlement. There are
stones with swastikas on them and carvings of monsters.
On the beach, washed-up, they find the bones of young men and
women sacrificed to the Deep Ones.
Then they find more carvings, which illustrate that the Deep Ones
will rise unless more are sacrificed.
Finally, either the Investigators sacrifice one of their number or the
Deep Ones rise from the sea.
Here, the swastika stones are ostensibly wards against the
Deep Ones. Use them carefully: they are not simply Deep
One repellents. They do not make you safe. Instead, use
them to create danger. Let the Investigators believe they
are protected, then find stones missing. And this is a general
rule: any ward against the Mythos must fail.
There are many miscellaneous Deep One details, ripe for
stealing and expansion. Any of the following could inspire
an entire scenario.
Ruins, beautiful and golden, rising from the bottom of the sea.
The Deep Ones are preparing something terrible, involving a Shoggoth.
After the raid on Innsmouth, captured Deep One hybrids were kept
in concentration camps, then dispersed throughout military prisons.
A gold refinery with no noise2 coming from inside.
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1. And, as ever, steal this for other creatures. Emphasise the brilliance of Mi-Go
technology. Show that the Colour feeds like a human baby.
2. By switching protagonists, you can give your Investigators an Elder Thing
fossil to dissect. That’ll end well. Be careful with narrative distance: don’t
let your Investigators see an Elder Thing in the first scene. Try obscuring
it, with darkness or mist, or have it move too fast for Investigators to see.
Your first task, then, is to get the Investigators to relate to
the Elder Things. If your Investigators are doctors, give your
Elder Things a medical air. If the Investigators are engineers,
emphasise the construction of the Elder Thing city. If
they are artists, emphasise the Elder Things’ creativity.
Similarly, let biologists find dissected human bodies. Let
mathematicians find diagrams of vast intelligence. Let
archaeologists find ancient items of beautiful construction.
And so on.1
Having humanised the Elder Things, you can steal the
Mountains of Madness plot. All the familiar tricks work well.2
First, switch creatures. Because At the Mountains of
Madness is a “buried monster” story, you can put almost
anything into the Elder Thing city. The plot runs as follows:
the Investigators enter the city, learn about the creature,
then flee from it. Try Old Ones, such as Ithaqua, Cthugha
or Mordiggan. Try races, such as Mi-Go or Deep Ones, who
chase the Investigators in a swarm. Note that, whichever
creature you choose, it replaces both the Elder Things and
the Shoggoth: it is both the thing investigated and the final
danger.
Next, switch locations. Try putting the buried city in the
desert, as in The Shadow Out of Time. Better still, put it
in the sea. Use Lovecraft’s descriptions of undersea Elder
Things, who:
Write on wax surfaces, using a stylus.
Use phosphorescent organisms to light their city.
1. Although they are not necessarily benevolent, as the Great Race are.
2. It is arguable whether Cthulhu is truly malevolent. Probably, he is merely
indifferent to human suffering. However, he encourages humans to laugh
and kill, so let’s call this malevolence. Certainly, it is not very nice.
ELDER THINGS.
Story: At the Mountains of Madness.
Synopsis: In the Antarctic rock, explorers find signs of
prehistoric life. They later discover a deserted campsite, which
belonged to other explorers. These other explorers apparently
tried to dissect a fossil (an Elder Thing), which came alive and
dissected them. The protagonists descend into an ancient city,
where they find both human bodies and those of Elder Things
(and also albino penguins). From carvings, it appears that
the Elder Things created Shoggoths, which then turned against
them. Deeper inside, a Shoggoth chases the protagonists out.
unLike the races we have considered so far, the Elder Things
are not evil.1 They are not malevolent,2 like Cthulhu, nor
indifferent, like Colours. They are, in fact, rather like us.
Lovecraft wants us to relate, identify with and even like
the Elder Things.3 They are civilised scientists. They just
want to learn. And that is where the horror comes from.
They learn precisely as we learn: by dissecting other species.
In your scenarios, then, the Investigators might find.
Human bodies, packaged as experimental subjects, for later study.
Human equipment, intelligently packaged for later study.
Dissected human and animal bodies, with tissue neatly removed.
Rough sketches, using strange alien techniques.
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1. For undersea exploration, the Investigators must use a diving chamber,
diving equipment or a submarine. All existed from the late 19th century
onwards. For Victorian scenarios, steal from Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand
Leagues Under The Sea. For the 1920s and 1930s, use the fascinating William
Beebe for inspiration.
1. These mechanised lifeforms are intriguing. They make the Elder Things
into creatures like H. G. Wells’ Martians.
2. In The Insects From Shaggai, Ramsay Campbell uses an enslaved, innocent
alien race. SeeThe Shan (page 156).
3. Lovecraft likes numbers. For a true Lovecraftian description, add numbers:
not an afternoon’s journey, but a three-hour journey.
4. To a lesser extent, the Great Race use the number three similarly.
Rooms in which everything is placed in the centre.
Remains of mechanised lifeforms, which the Elder Things used to
live on other planets.1
Steal this city for other creatures, changing details as
necessary. Make Deep One cities beautiful and marshy.
Fill Mi-Go cities with mining equipment.
To describe such cities, simply take an aspect of human
living and make it alien. Ask yourself: where do the creatures
sleep? How do they see underground? How do they eat?
Invent alien equivalents for libraries, bedrooms, dining rooms
and scientific labs. You can improvise alien cities endlessly.
What else can we steal? Try the albino penguins: a strange,
innocent race, seemingly alien but actually strangely evolved.
Use other innocent creatures, alien or otherwise, in your
scenarios. Harming innocents is always horrific.2
Steal, also, the motif of “five”.3 Throughout At the
Mountains of Madness, things occur in fives, echoing the
Elder Things’ five-pointed heads: five-pointed architecture,
five-sided mounds, clusters of five dots.4
So, in any scenario, choose a number and repeat it. For a
Mi-Go scenario, try describing nine-legged structures, nine-
pointed earth mounds and cylinders with nine antennae.
Even if the repetition is meaningless, it adds an eerie
consistency.
But the biggest thing to steal is Antarctica. Use it, not
just for the Elder Things, but for any creature. As Lovecraft
describes it, it is strikingly dreamlike.
This undersea city is an instant scenario. Simply rerun At the
Mountains of Madness at sea: the expedition becomes a ship
voyage, drawing from The Call of Cthulhu, perhaps stopping
at islands for investigation. Perhaps, when Investigators
discover the undersea city itself, its architecture echoes the
dreamlike construction of the Deep Ones.1
Even better, use Switching Creatures and Switching
Locations together. Run the Mountains of Madness plot,
replacing the Elder Thing city with a Mi-Go mountain mine,
a Lloigor beneath the desert or R’lyeh itself. That “buried
creature” plotline is endlessly recyclable.
Note, especially, how detailed the Elder Thing city is.
From the outside, we see geometry and intricacy:
Vertical sides, constructed from rectangular blocks.
Oddly regular openings in these vertical walls.
Fragments of perfect cubes, truncated cones and pinnacles.
Five-pointed stars.
Pylons and beautiful stone bridges.
Inside, we see how they live:
Intricate devices, employing principles of energy unknown to
humanity.
Electro-chemical devices used for lighting.
Tables and chairs, shaped in cylindrical frames.
Small, flat, five-pointed counters, used as money.
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1. Which Lovecraft uses as he uses letters in other stories.
2. When you write a scenario about exploration, At The Mountains of Madness
is an excellent model to use. Other possible starting points are The Shadow
Out Of Time and The Wendigo, both of which are discussed below.
1. This isn’t the full story, but it’s what we need for the Polyps. For a fuller
synopsis, see The Great Race Of Yith (page 115).
2. In The Shadow Out Of Time, Lovecraft provides two separate underground
cities. The Polyps live in basalt towers. The Great Race prefer buildings of
sandstone and granite. Note how describing the rock enhances the imagery.
FLYING POLYPS.
Story: The Shadow Out of Time.
Synopsis: The protagonist searches for an ancient desert city
from his nightmares. He finds it, goes inside and is chased out
by invisible, wind-like creatures.1
in The Shadow Out of Time, the Flying Polyps take the
Shoggoth role: they appear at the end and chase the
protagonist from the underground city. They provide the
evil and adrenaline to end the story.
Although this is a cameo role, the Polyps are detailed
enough to carry a scenario alone. This scenario starts when
the Investigators hear about ancient buildings:
Stone cities, which the natives fear.
Folktales of unearthly winds, blowing from half-buried stone huts.
Indecipherable rock markings.
Basalt towers, tall, black and windowless, which taper towards the
top.2
When the Investigators enter these buildings, they appear
deserted. Deep within, however, the Investigators find where
the Polyps are imprisoned.
Great trapdoors, sealed with metal bands, from which cool, damp
air issues.
A shrill, whistling noise.
Tunnels, in which the Polyps are sealed.
The Antarctic is:
Ancient.
Dreamlike, with immense mountains rising like mirages.
Obscured, with opaque fogs and sky and snow merging into one.
Windy.
Painted in fantastic colours: scarlets, blues and golds.
Thus, although terrifying, it is beautiful. In your Antarctic
scenarios, describe colourful sunsets, fantastic cities and
sparkling ice. Paint pictures in extraordinary colours: not
the dark greens and browns of Innsmouth and Arkham,
but golds, silvers, blues and scarlets.
More practically, Antarctica gives us:
Travel by ship, sledge and aeroplane.
Geology, including drilling equipment and markings in rock strata.
Archaeology, including fossils.
Radio communication.1
Explosives, used to blast into underground caves.
Camps.
Most of these fit into any scenario about exploration.2
Finally, there is the Shoggoth, whom we will meet again
later. For now, note that the Elder Things are too nice to end
the scenario. For the final horror, Lovecraft needs something
thoroughly evil, and so the Shoggoth enters.
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1. Many of Lovecraft’s creatures flirt with intangibility. Cthulhu, for example, is
preceded by a “polarising miasma”, which distorts the sun, then a blackness
that “bursts forth like smoke”. Thus, when he first appears, he seems gaseous
rather than squid-like. It’s an interesting alternative Cthulhu.
2. Slowly increase the unnaturalness of the wind.
3. August Derleth shoehorned the Mythos into elemental categories. He did
it clumsily, but created interesting creatures in the process.
In the woods, they find odd carvings on ancient stones.
Deeper still, they find half-buried basalt towers.
When the Investigators descend into the towers, they find great,
open trapdoors, from which the Flying Polyps emerge.
That, then, is a simple Polyp scenario. In play, it would be
focussed and horrific.
But the Polyps are much more than basic monsters. In
Lovecraft’s story, they seem intangible,1 inseparable from
the winds they control. They are, effectively, a living wind.
When considered that way, the Polyps solve many
problems. For example, it is usually difficult for monsters
to attack early in the scenario. Imagine if, say, the Mi-
Go attacked the Investigators just after they had started
investigating, The Investigators would see them, which
would destroy the narrative distance, and might kill them,
which would make them less scary. Afterwards, it would be
difficult to scare the Investigators with Mi-Go again.
The Polyps-as-living-wind, however, can attack any time.
Just assault the Investigators with gales, hurricanes or
tornados, whenever you like. Because the Investigators
can neither see the creatures, nor fight back, the narrative
distance remains. And, later, you can send more obviously
unnatural winds, with clutching misty tendrils, to menace
the Investigators.2
Better still, we can view the Polyps as not just a living
wind, but an air elemental. The elements - earth, air, fire
and water - are problematic but important in the Cthulhu
Mythos.3 Many creatures, including Cthugha, Ithaqua and
From these tunnels, the Polyps emerge. The Investigators
experience:
Clutching tentacles of wind, like nooses, which stop them fleeing.
Unimaginable gales, used as a weapon.
White, cold fingers of vapour.
Interestingly, they are vulnerable:
They are weak and slowly dying.
They are harmed by electricity.
Nevertheless, they have powers which any Mythos creature
would envy. They can:
Levitate.
Turn invisible.
Sense things through rock.
With all this, we can easily construct a scenario. Change the
location: perhaps to the sea, the mountains or Antarctica.
Then slowly increase horror and decrease narrative distance.
Here, for example, is a simple scenario set in the
Massachusetts hills:
The Investigators arrive in a mountain town, where the wind makes
a shrill, whistling sound.
At night, gales rise to unearthly speeds, as though attacking the
Investigators. Tendrils of wind pluck at them like fingers.
The Investigators hear folktales of half-buried cities, in the woods,
which the natives fear.
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1. Always use specific geographical locations: not just a volcano, but Mount
Damavand. I discovered Mount Damavand by searching Wikipedia for active
volcanos. Even Wikpedian levels of research add richness to the setting.
1. Whatever your theme, riff on it throughout the scenario. Thus, your “living
disease” plot might have plague villages, rotting plants and a leper colony.
2. Try, also, replacing the Polyps with other intangible creatures. Put a Lloigor
or Colour into The Shadow Out Of Time plot, tweak it and rerun it.
alternatively be alien). And, exactly as in The Shadow Out
Of Time, the elemental emerges from trapdoors and chases
the Investigators out.
Try a “living water” plot, featuring Cthulhu or the
Deep Ones, or “living earth”, featuring the Cthonians.
Try other themes, too. Run a “living nature” plot, with
Shub-Niggurath, in which a rushing mass of vines, earth
and bile chases the Investigators. Do the same with ice,
disease, insects, crystals or darkness.1
This, then, is the best thing to steal from the Polyps. They
let us make any element, theme or intangible quantity into
a scenario.2
Tsathoggua, are elementals. The Polyps show how to use
the elements in a suitably Lovecraftian way. Simply steal
the plot from The Shadow Out of Time, replacing the Polyps
with a creature of living earth, fire or water. For example,
here’s a “fire” plot:
A team of Investigators – geologists, anthropologists and
volcanologists – are sent to the active volcano of Mount Damavand
in Persia.1
From locals, they hear tales of vampires and living fire at the heart
of the mountain. They hear of an ancient temple, high up on the
steepest face.
When the Investigators travel there, their camp is besieged by fire.
Rocks are blackened and trees charred.
In the temple, they find survivors of a fire-worshipping sect. These
worshippers tell tales of something at the heart of the mountain,
which they fear and revere. Whatever the thing is, they have attempted
to seal it beneath great trapdoors.
As the Investigators go deeper, they find the trapdoors sealed shut
and surrounded by curious markings. The Investigators’ clothes
begin to char and occasionally catch fire.
Deeper still, they find an open trapdoor. Beside it are scraps of charred
paper, describing legends of Cthugha, a thing of fire summoned
from distant stars.
Finally, living fire rushes towards them and they must flee.
This plot is stolen wholesale from The Shadow Out of Time,
with descriptions changed, fire replacing wind. So, fire
attacks the camp; there are signs of fire around the temple;
the Great Race are replaced by fire worshippers (who might
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1. Consider setting a scenario in these intervening hours, during which the
Investigators know someone is trying to seize their thoughts. Whether or
not they can stop the possession is up to you.
2. Try using these premonitions repeatedly, making them eerier each time.
THE GREAT RACE OF YITH.
Story: The Shadow Out of Time.
Synopsis: While giving a lecture, the protagonist falls
unconscious, then reawakens after five years. He gradually
discovers that an alien mind had occupied his body. Meanwhile,
his mind was imprisoned, in an alien body, in prehistoric
times. He dreams about an underground desert city and, by
researching, locates it. Within, he discovers that the aliens are
now dead, having been killed by Flying Polyps. The Polyps
then chase him out.
the great race give us mind possession. It is their Unique
Selling Point, their calling card, the thing they do well. Great
Race stories are about time-travel and possession.When they
appear in a scenario, someone must get possessed.
Let’s go through the possession process. It begins with
premonitions.
Brief, glimmering, chaotic visions.
A feeling someone is trying to seize your thoughts.
A headache.
Then, hours later,1 the victim:
Wanders in thoughts and speech.
Sees strange shapes and visions of the place to which they will be
transported.2
Slumps to the floor.
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1. Experiment with different sorts of victims. Lovecraft’s protagonist has
partial memory of his abduction, through visions and nightmares. So use
possessees who have entirely forgotten their abduction or those with complete
memory of it. Or invent your own twists on possession: for example, put
the wrong mind back into the body.
Eventually, the creature tires of its human body and:
Seems bored.
Hints that the previous personality may come back.
Burns everything it has written.
Builds a strange machine of rods, wheels and convex mirrors.
Then the Yithian returns to the past and the original
occupant returns. The victim’s body:
Breathes irregularly.
Mutters some strange and alien words.
Resumes a normal human facial expression.
Attempts to continue whatever it was doing before it was abducted.
Afterwards, the victim normally forgets their period of
possession. Some, however, retain full memory of the
prehistoric past, while others experience:1
Disordered sense of time and history.
Premonitions of how current events turn out.
A dread of seeing one’s own body, leading to a fear of mirrors.
Fleeting visions or dreams of the Yithian city.
Steal these experiences for other possessive creatures.
For example, a Shan possessee could mutter alien words
and glimpse alien cities. A brain, newly placed in a Mi-Go
cylinder, could sleepily mumble human words.
1. I use “Yithian” as useful shorthand for “a member of the Great Race”. Be
careful, however: Lovecraft never used this word. Try describing “aliens“
or “creatures”.
2. Thus, Mi-Go agents have buzzing voices, Deep One hybrids have gurgling
voices and Wilbur Whateley, from The Dunwich Horror, spoke in a “strange,
resonant fashion which hinted at sound-producing organs unlike the run
of mankind’s”.
3. Most Lovecraft stories describe a particular event in the protagonist’s life.
Here (and in The Shadow Over Innsmouth), Lovecraft describes events that
last many years. Try scenarios that span long periods of time.
The victim is now possessed. Their mind travels to the
prehistoric past, to be imprisoned in a Yithian1 body.
Meanwhile, the Yithian’s mind awakes in the victim’s body,
which shows:
A masklike face, with different expressions from the previous
occupant.
Odd use of facial muscles.
Clumsy use of vocal organs, with an alien pronunciation.
Stilted, archaic speech, as if learned from books.
Unnatural movements, as if relearning how to walk.
Note, especially, the changed voice. This is a Lovecraftian
theme: whenever an alien-in-human-form speaks, it sounds
inhuman.2 Probably, when someone is possessed by the Shan
or Cthonians, their voice becomes indefinably monstrous.
The possession lasts years,3 in which the victim:
Shows signs of brilliant intelligence, apprehending complex concepts
instantly.
Obsessively studies obscure backwaters of history, science, art and
folklore.
Studies Mythos tomes, turning the pages incredibly quickly.
Travels to remote foreign parts.
Takes peculiar courses of study.
Casually mentions events of the distant past and future, as if they
had been there.
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1. Partly because the Investigators might discover it early, partly because
discovering a colleague is possessed is not horrific enough.
2. Note the glowing beauty. Where the Elder Things’ city was oppressive, the
Great Race’s home is dreamlike.
Again, steal these ideas for other creatures that possess
humans. Let the Shan possess an Investigator’s sister. Let
the Cthonians manipulate an entire town.
If it’s an Investigator that gets possessed, you have two
options: possess one Investigator or possess them all. When
you possess one, you create a challenge: will the others realise
the Investigator is possessed? This won’t be the central plot,1
but adds another layer to a Great Race scenario.
If you possess all the Investigators, you essentially rerun
the Shadow Out of Time plot. Simply start the scenario
after the possession and let the Investigators discover what
happened.
Alternatively, you can let Investigators experience the
possession, sending their minds into alien bodies in prehistoric
times.
They start in a huge room, with:
High vaulted ceilings, the roofs lost in the darkness.
Vast shelves of dark wood, with books engraved with hieroglyphs.
Mathematical engravings of mind-blasting meaning.
Massive octagonal flagstones.
Monstrous granite masonry, with convex and concave blocks fitting
into each other.
Jars of purplish metal.
Globes of luminous crystal.2
Inexplicable machines of vitreous tubes and metal rods.
1. Note the parallels with The Shadow Over Innsmouth.
2. Perhaps, like the Elder Things, the NPC wants to dissect the Investigators,
for research purposes.
3. The foreshadowing works as follows: later in the scenario, the Investigators
find themselves experiencing the symptoms that the NPC reported.
4. Using people close to the Investigators is a powerful trick. I referred to this
briefly in Cthulhu (page 93) and I’ll return to it under Hastur (page 123).
The sequence of possession, described above, lets you play
tricks with Shifting Time. Try beginning a scenario:
Before someone is possessed.
In the early stages of possession, while the victim travels and studies.
In the later stages of possession, when the victim is preparing to leave.
After the possession.
Now, who will be possessed? If it’s an NPC, then your
scenario is about meeting a victim of possession. But this
creates a problem. The horrors in The Shadow Out of Time
are personal ones: discovering that you were possessed by
a monster; finding yourself in a monstrous body.1 If the
Investigators discover that that someone else was possessed,
it seems less horrific.
So how can you possess an NPC and make it horrific?
There are three broad answers: make the possession affect
the Investigators, make it affect someone close to the
Investigators, or make it affect so many people that the
Investigators cannot ignore it. Here are some examples.
The possession affects the Investigators.
The possessed NPC wants to harm the Investigators.2
The NPC’s possession foreshadows the Investigators being possessed. 3
The possession affects people close to the Investigators.4
The Investigators are related to the possessee, by marriage or blood.
The possessee knows an Investigator’s relative is, or has been, possessed.
The possession affects many people.
An entire hospital, family or village is possessed.
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1. Steal these droning machines for other creatures: most obviously the Elder
Things or Mi-Go. They needn’t study hieroglyphs: they could do anything.
I will discuss technology further under Mi-Go (page 145).
1. Of course, the Investigators need not travel in time to see this world. Let
them explore it in dreams or through an archaeological dig.
2. And not just people.
3. Try starting a scenario with curious events in modern times. Then transport
the Investigators to a prehistoric era. There, they can investigate the modern
events through the Great Race’s libraries and by questioning other abductees.
Finally, return the Investigators to the present day, to put things right (or not).
Thus, there is a whole world to explore.1 Steal these
descriptions for other prehistoric cities.
Note, especially, that the Investigators can investigate
within this world. They can travel, read books and question
people from their past and future.2 Thus, you can set an
investigative scenario in this prehistoric city.
What does this do to narrative distance? In one sense,
it throws it out the window. After all, the Investigators
converse with monsters and explore an alien city. Perhaps,
then, the Investigators’ abduction should occur late in the
scenario, when the story is ready for some weirdness.3
In another sense, however, the prehistoric city cannot be
the full horror. After all, it is curious, but relatively benign.
It promises a greater horror to come.
What is left to steal? Start with tantalising signs that
someone has been possessed:
Marginal notes and corrections in Mythos tomes, which are either
strange hieroglyphs or in the archaic language of the original text.
Cases of abduction from medical, psychological or folkloric sources,
which occur throughout history.
Stockists’ records of orders for strangely-shaped mirrors.
Use these details as clues, which the Investigators can
follow to find a possessed NPC. With minor changes, these
clues work for any creature that possesses humans. Thus,
Investigators could track a Shan thrall through marginal
notes in the Revelations of Glaaki or a Cthonian servitor
through old auction records.
Outside that room are:
Huge, sloping stone corridors instead of stairways.
Colossal caverns of intricate machinery.
Droning machines to study the hieroglyphs.
Black vaults below, with trapdoors sealed with metal bands.
Other abductees, both human and alien, from various epochs.
When they venture outside, the Investigators find:
Paved roads, two hundred feet wide, on which boat-like vehicles
move, using atomic engines.
Gardens, with pallid fernlike growths, immensely tall plants and
colourless flowers, arranged in geometrical beds.
Even further afield, the Investigators see:
Moist, cloudy skies, in which the sun is bigger than it is today.
Constellations that only faintly resemble those visible today.
Steamy forests of prehistoric plants.
Great shapeless suggestions of shadow.
And many forms of transport:
Long causeways over dark swamps.
Gigantic submarines with searchlights.
Enormous, fast, many-decked boats.
Titanic, projectile-like airships moved by electrical repulsion.
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1. Although Great Race possessions are accompanied by “fresh and evil waves
of cult activity”, so perhaps they’re not all good. Try progressing, throughout
your scenario, from benevolent to sinister or vice versa.
2. There are parallels with the agents of the Mi-Go (page 145), although those
agents seem more obstructive and destructive than the Yithian helpers.
1. Hasturian scenarios aren’t actually about Hastur. They revolve around the
King in Yellow, the Yellow Sign, Carcosa and similar mysterious things.
Hastur is a useful label.
HASTUR.
Robert Chambers’ collection The King in Yellow contains four
Mythos-like stories, which are listed below.
Synopsis of The Repairer of Reputations: After reading the
play The King in Yellow, the protagonist believes he is king
and his brother will betray him. He is captured, clearly insane.
Synopsis of The Mask: The protagonist uses a white liquid to
transform living creatures to marble. Later, he finds the woman
he loves similarly transformed. Just when he has given up hope,
everything changes back.
Synopsis of In the Court of the Dragon: The protagonist
is pursued by a malevolent figure. Finally, he falls into a
dreamworld, where he is captured by the spectral King in Yellow.
Synopsis of The Yellow Sign: An artist and his model are
tormented by visions of death and a malevolent figure.
for hastur, we stop stealing from Lovecraft and rob Robert
Chambers instead. His four stories in The King in Yellow,
dreamlike and beautiful, don’t just give us a new creature.
They give new ways to structure Cthulhu scenarios.
Firstly, they show how to do scenarios without a central
monster.1 Rather than using a single malevolent creature,
Chambers spins stories around a constellation of symbols,
objects, people and places. These items themselves are only
partially explained, giving an overall effect of unreliability
and obfuscation.
Next, some distinctively Yithian twists on possession:
When a Yithian is dying, the mind can project itself forward to
possess a human. The human mind then finds itself in the past,
trapped in a dying body.
If a Yithian dies in a human body, the human mind becomes trapped
in the past. Similarly, if a human dies in a Yithian body, the Yithian
mind remains trapped in the future.
The Great Race possess people briefly, on the way to the past or
future. The temporary occupants experience glimpses of horror.
Use these twists to inspire scenarios or as inspiration for
your own take on possession. Similarly, the following Yithian
trivia can inspire scenarios or add colour to them:
They reproduce through spores, which develop underwater.
They use camera-like electrical weapons.
The Yithian police use “major emotion wrenching” as a punishment.
Perhaps most interesting, however, are the Yithian agents:
humans who assist the Great Race in their time travels.
Unlike most Lovecraftian servitors, they are remote and
secretive, operating through brief visits and telephone calls.
They even seem benevolent. Use this remote manipulation
for other cults. Imagine what the Esoteric Order of Dagon
could do with a good telephone connection.
Steal it all. But, most importantly, steal stories about
humans possessed by monsters. Any creature might control
humans: Cthulhu, Nyarlathotep, the Mi-Go. And nothing
is worse than a possessive alien.
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1. If you do want a central monster, try the King In Yellow. You might also
try Joseph Payne Brennan’s alternative Hastur from The Feaster From Afar:
black, shrivelled, iridescent and airborne, with knifelike talons to penetrate
the skull and consume the brain.
2. Taken, in order, from the four stories listed on the previous page.
In roughly decreasing order of importance, the items are:
The King in Yellow, a play, published as a book.
The Yellow Sign, a symbol from no known alphabet.
Carcosa, a mysterious land.
The King in Yellow, a demonic figure, who wears a scalloped mantle
in fantastic colours.1
The Pallid Mask, which is unidentified but associated with the King
in Yellow. Often, someone will have a white, thin, dead-looking face.
So, to build a Hasturian scenario, simply scatter these
elements, with increasing horror. And, for other creatures, use
similar weird constellations. Try building a Mi-Go scenario
around unexplained vibrations, watery corpses and peculiar
offers in buzzing voices, but don’t introduce the creatures
themselves.
Next, Chambers shows us stories without a Final Horror.
Instead of terrible climaxes, he gives us these endings:2
The protagonist goes insane and is captured.
The protagonist’s love returns to life.
The protagonist falls into a dreamworld and is captured by the King
in Yellow.
The protagonist and his wife die, apparently mad.
Thus, the final moment is eerie, not horrific. At first, these
stories resemble those of Lovecraft, with weirdness gradually
increasing. Then, rather than a climactic peak of terror
and revelation, we get illusion, insanity or eerie happiness.
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1. The Yellow Sign is the graphological cousin of the book The King in Yellow.
They are interchangeable. Note how both can appear suddenly, anywhere,
without explanation.
the Pnakotic Manuscripts. Let the Elder Things dissect an
Investigator’s family.
Beyond giving us new ways to tell stories, Chambers
gives some fascinating specific items. Start with his fictional
book,The King in Yellow.
It is banned in various countries, having spread like an infectious
disease.
It is found on bookshelves without having been placed there.
Reading it gives a terrible and clear insight into reality.
The author is clearly diabolical and evil.
The fun, here, lies in the unspecified malevolence. What is
so dangerous about The King in Yellow? We don’t know,
because anyone who reads it goes mad.1
Here, try basing scenarios around aspects of The King In
Yellow that Chambers left unexplored. Let the Investigators
encounter the book’s author or its victims. Write a scenario
about the book being banned.
Next comes the mystical land of Carcosa, where:
Black stars hang in the heavens.
The towers of Carcosa rise behind the moon.
The twin suns sink into the Lake of Hali.
Awful words echo through the dim streets.
Cloud-waves break against the shore.
Unfamiliar moons and constellations glide across the sky.
1. Probably in cylinder form. Still, it’s better than nothing.
2. Try describing different realities to different Investigators. For example,
describe a Colour to one Investigator and an empty room to all the others.
3. Thus, it is a horror of self-revelation: you realise you are mad.
Steal these endings for Lovecraftian scenarios. Trap the
Investigators in dreams of R’lyeh. Have the Mi-Go return
an Investigator’s love to life.1
Chambers also shows us a new type of insanity. When
Lovecraft’s protagonists go mad, they scream, run and
tremble, but remain reliable narrators. Cthulhu is horrifying,
but there is little doubt he genuinely rises from R’lyeh.
Chambers’ protagonists, however, are unreliable narrators.
They see things wrongly: biscuit tins as steel safes, toy crowns
as gold, corpses as living people. The things they perceive
might or might not be true. Thus, it is unclear whether
the Repairer of Reputations exists or whether malevolent
figures, who pursue the protagonists, are real.
Steal this trick. As Investigators go mad, describe things
inaccurately.2 Try, as a final revelation, demonstrating that
the horror was in the Investigators’ minds.3
Furthermore, Chambers shows how to put loved ones
into scenarios. Where Lovecraft dooms his protagonists,
Chambers spreads the horror to family and friends.
The deluded protagonist, believing he is king, accuses his cousin of
attempting to steal the crown.
The protagonist turns living things into marble statues, then finds
the woman he loved similarly changed.
The protagonist finds his lover reading The King in Yellow and
knows she is doomed.
So, in any scenario, doom the people your Investigators
love. Let an Investigator discover that her husband has
Deep One ancestry. Have an Investigator’s daughter read
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1. Thus, although the protagonist does not know what he has done, he knows
he deserves his fate. The Dreams In The Witch House has a similar horrific
inevitability, which I will discuss under Nyarlathotep (page 152).
2. I’ll return to this, too, under Nyarlathotep (page 152).
1. When Chambers wrote, the elements were just being discovered. so this
was a cutting-edge description. For a more modern take, try a substance of
unknown origin, similar to that found in the Colour’s meteorite.
2. Thus, he increases harm.
3. This happens in the same order, which creates a narrative crescendo to end
the story. First the flower turns back, then the maid complains of a rabbit
running around the house. Finally, the protagonist realises his love will
return to life. And then she does.
Here are some final specifics. Drop them into any scenario,
Hasturian or otherwise:
A man with soft, mushy flesh, with fingers that come off the hands.
People who have been dead for years.
Someone following you, staring with venomous hatred.
Discordant, unpleasant music, which sounds as though something
is being hunted.
A sense of responsibility for something long forgotten, which will
now rise and confront you.1
A sense that you deserve your punishment.
And some mysterious phrases, which Chambers scatters
without explanation. Use them directly or scatter your own.
The Phantom of Truth.
The Hyades and the mystery behind them.
Aldebaran.
The story of the Lost King.
Cassilda and Camilla.
The cloudy depths of Demhe.
Lastly, note Hastur’s parallels with Nyarlathotep. Both are
male and villainous. Both are associated with dreamlike
worlds. And, unlike many Lovecraftian monsters, both
warp perception. Try substituting each into the other’s
story. They play well together.2
These images are not just dreamlike, but discordant. Towers
rise behind a moon, suns sink into a lake and black stars are
visible. For Hastur scenarios, steal these descriptions. Give
the Investigators visions, dreams and perhaps a visit to
Carcosa. For Hastur-free scenarios, steal the discordance,
describing things that seem impossible.
Next, and beautifully, there is a milk-white liquid.
It is a solution, made with a newly-discovered element.1
It turns living things to stone, with veins like marble.
As it does, there is a golden ray of serene light, like a sunbeam.
Much later, the stone things return to life.
With this liquid, Chambers transforms progressively greater
living things into marble: first a flower, then a rabbit, then
a human being.2 It is a meditation on life and death: the
golden ray seems to symbolise their dying. Then, when
everything is thought dead, it returns to life.3
So steal this liquid. Try switching protagonists: perhaps,
for example, the Investigators must stop someone who
transforms things to marble. Switch creatures: make the
liquid a Mi-Go invention or the sap of Shub-Niggurath. Or
shift time: let Investigators discover marble statues, which
were once living beings.
More broadly, steal the themes of life and death. In an
Ithaqua scenario, have living humans encased in ice. In
a Mi-Go scenario, have humans preserved in component
parts, ready to be reassembled. In a Cthulhu scenario, have
someone in a permanent, dreaming coma.
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1. Note how closely these four points parallel Lovecraft: unknown, dark, the
subject of folktales, avoided by natives.
1. Blackwood calls his creature the Wendigo. August Derleth then renamed the
creature Ithaqua. For simplicity, I call Blackwood’s creature by Derleth’s
name.
You can begin the scenario at any point in this sequence. The
Investigators could arrive before the abduction, letting them
witness it. They could arrive before the abductee returns,
so that they investigate the disappearance. Or they could
meet a returned abductee, probably as a precursor to the
Investigators being abducted.
Let’s go through the abduction sequence in detail. We
start in the forest, which is:
Immense. It reminds the Investigators how insignificant they are.
Ancient and primeval. It has survived long before the Investigators
and will live long after.
Merciless. It is indifferent to human life.
Utterly still and desolate.
In particular, it is mysterious:1
It contains places that nobody will ever see, with creatures nobody
will ever know.
It is dark, with shifting shadows.
There are legends and superstitions about evil things in the forest.
The natives avoid it.
And it appears to be alive:
It seems to be listening.
It presses around you.
There are living things beyond your field of vision.
ITHAQUA.
Story: Algernon Blackwood’s The Wendigo.
Synopsis: While exploring the Canadian forest, the protagonists
are haunted by supernatural forces. One explorer is kidnapped.
When the others search for him, they hear his distant voice and
find fiery footprints. Finally, the kidnapped explorer returns,
haunted and physically changed.
ithaqua takes us into the wilderness. As depicted in Algernon
Blackwood’s The Wendigo,1 he is a creature of desolation,
personifying the vast, lonely outdoors. He is:
The Call of the Wild.
The seductive power of vastness, which sends explorers mad.
The Enticement of the Desolation.
Thus, Ithaqua is a creature of madness. He resides in icy
wastelands and forests, preceded by eerie portents. He is
perfect for a Lovecraftian scenario.
First and foremost, he is an abductor, whose victims
return changed. The sequence of abduction runs:
People go somewhere desolate.
They notice signs of Ithaqua approaching.
Someone is abducted.
The others search for the abductee.
The abductee returns, changed.
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1. More generally: when describing a location, ask yourself how it is lit, then
use the light (and darkness) to inspire your descriptions.
2. When gaslight arrived in Victorian London, people described it as bright
and unnatural, rather as we think of neon lighting today.
3. In Brian Lumley’s The Burrowers Beneath, Ithaqua controls the weather.
Steal this.
You can use these descriptions in three, increasingly broad,
ways. Firstly and simply, when you have a campfire in a
Lovecraftian expedition, describe it like this. Secondly,
whenever you have a fire in a scenario, steal the descriptions
to create zones of light and danger.
Best of all, use these descriptions whenever you have
artificial light in a scenario.1 In 1920s scenarios, let
Investigators’ flashlights create zones of light: within the
light, everything is harshly illuminated; beyond it, danger
waits. In Victorian scenarios, do the same with gaslight.
Within the light, everything is yellow, sickly and unreal.2
At its edges, nothing is certain. Beyond the gaslight, in the
dark alleys, your life is in danger.
And now Ithaqua approaches. First comes an odour:
Curious, acrid and thin.
Strangely sweet.
Reminiscent of decaying leaves, earth and all the scents of the forest.
Musky, like an odour of lions.
Next, there is a voice. At first, it’s a mere impression of
speech, a trick of the wind. Later, it calls a name, although
only the named person hears it. This voice is:
High above.
Soft and roaring on the wind.3
Seductively sweet, calling the name of the person to be captured.
Composed of all the sounds of the forest: wind, water and animal cries.
1. Note the parallels between At The Mountains of Madness and The Wendigo.
Both centre around expeditions in the icy wastes. Swap details between them.
2. That is, it masks signs of Ithaqua approaching.
Vast, ancient, merciless, mysterious and alive: this forest
makes an excellent quasi-Lovecraftian location. Try putting
an Elder Things scenario here: replace At the Mountains
of Madness’s icy plateau with this icy forest.1 Or move the
forest, making it tropical or temperate. Try a Mi-Go scenario,
replacing Lovecraft’s wooded hills with Blackwood’s forest.
Try a Shan scenario, with a temple hidden deep in the trees.
As his protagonists explore the forest, Blackwood describes
them gathering around a campfire. This is a beautiful set-
piece, which plays clever tricks with light, colour and danger.
Steal it.
Around the campfire, people sing songs and tell stories of ancient
horrors.
Beyond the firelight, the forest is black, with things moving in the
darkness.
The light is unreliable and dreamlike, casting shades of red, black
and bronze.
The smoke masks any odours from the surrounding forest.2
At its edge, there is a zone of uncertain light, where fire and shadows
mix.
Thus, the campfire divides the surroundings into three zones
of light, danger and reality:
Within the ring of firelight, you are safe, although everything appears
dreamlike and unreal.
At its edge, nothing is certain.
Beyond the firelight, danger lurks and everything is dark.
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1. It’s unclear whether this is actual possession. Try assuming that it is: let
the Investigator be possessed by the spirit of Ithaqua. Steal tricks from
other creatures, perhaps the Great Race or Shan, to play this possession.
2. This verges on comedy. You could omit the changed feet or change them to
bleeding, bony stumps, with shreds of flesh hanging on. Or steal the wider
theme of being infected by Ithaqua.
The Investigators may also hear the abductee’s voice. It is:
Overhead.
Moving at speed.
A terrified, delighted wail.
Complaining of burning feet and immense height.
Finally, the Investigators find the abductee. They may
seem possessed:1
Hanging skin and distorted features, as though they have been
subjected to immense speed.
A faint, wailing voice.
A personality more animal than human.
A dark, monstrous and twisted aspect.
An impression of something diabolical beneath the face.
Huge, changed, dark feet.2
Or they may merely seem changed:
Mindless and catatonic.
Having no memory of their previous life.
Unable to eat food.
Frozen feet and bleeding beneath the eyes.
Exhausted to the point of emaciation.
1. If you use the earmarked NPC, be ready for the players to spot the trick.
Your scenario must work, even if the players guard against the abduction.
If they do, this gives you a wonderful final scene: the players defending the
NPC, while unknown forces close in.
2. This is where the investigation becomes active. It’s a good point to begin
a scenario.
Note how passive these early stages are: the horror comes
to the explorers. Make them active. The Investigators must
pursue something: a disappearance, a folktale or Ithaqua
himself. They must unearth Ithaqua’s legend, even as he
pursues them.
That night, Ithaqua drags away the person whose name
was called. Now, as with the Great Race, you must decide
whether to abduct an NPC or Investigator. If you abduct
an NPC, there are two options: start the scenario after the
abduction or start with an NPC earmarked for abduction.1
If you abduct an Investigator, find a way of choosing the
victim.
If the Investigators see the abduction attempt, be ready
for them to stop it. Thus, your scenario must work whether
or not the abduction succeeds. This is easy: you could
run an entire scenario with something trying to drag the
Investigators away.
Whomever Ithaqua abducts, he leaps with them over the
treetops. When their feet drop off, they grow new feet, like
those of Ithaqua.
Back at camp, the Investigators find traces of the
abduction.2 First, they find footprints:
Large, round footprints, unlike those of any animal, tinged with
fire and the eerie odour.
Alongside those footprints, the footprints of the abductee, which
gradually become smaller versions of the fire-tinged footprints.
Strides of increasing and impossible length.
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1. In many Cthulhu scenarios, the Lloigor manifest in visible, tangible form.
This doesn’t happen in Wilson’s story (although the possibility is briefly
mentioned). Think twice before having a Lloigor materialise. After all, being
invisible and intangible is what makes the Lloigor unique.
2. And try switching elements between the creatures. Give the Lloigor dazzling
light displays. Give Colours servitors.
3. The exploded skeletons, cruel locals and ententacled humans are all victims
of the Lloigor. They replace the decayed victims of the Colour.
LLOIGOR.
Story: Colin Wilson’s Return of the Lloigor
Synopsis: After deciphering the Voynich manuscript, the
protagonist arrives in a Welsh town, where he unearths legends
of a creature lying under the soil. A threatening gypsy warns
him not to investigate further, telling him of the creature’s power.
He is one of many gypsies who serve the Lloigor. Finally, a
vast explosion destroys the gypsy and his home.
the LLoigor are intangible,1 invisible and malevolent. Thus,
they give the bleakest kind of horror: when the scenario ends,
the Lloigor remain, and the Investigators can do nothing.
In many ways, they resemble Colours. Both are everywhere
and nowhere. Both harm people and property. Thus, you
can switch Lloigor and Colour plots freely.2 Here is The
Colour Out of Space with a Lloigor:
The Investigators arrive on blasted farmland, with trees flattened
and buildings reduced to rubble.
They find skeletons of animals, torn apart as if by an explosion.3
The locals seem ill, as if drained of energy.
They tell tales of a powerful, invisible being, sleeping beneath the soil.
The Investigators uncover bizarre, cruel acts, committed by the locals.3
In the upstairs room of a farm, they find a human, with many
tentacles growing from their body.3
At the end, the Investigators see the farm blasted apart, destroyed
by the Lloigor.
1. It may depend on the players. If, in your game, the returning victim seems
horrific enough, then that is the final horror. If not, let them go to find
Ithaqua.
2. Blackwood doesn’t tell us what Ithaqua looks like. Make it up or try him
as a “living wind” creature.
3. Although, since the story is little-known, this is not essential. Few players
immediately associate the Canadian jungle with Ithaqua.
What is the final horror?1 Perhaps it is the returning victim:
if so, try stepping up the shock, stealing the crumbling
human from The Colour Out of Space. Perhaps, alternatively,
the final horror is a sight of Ithaqua, as the Investigators
pursue him into the woods.2
Here is some final Ithaquan trivia, to inform or spawn
scenarios:
Ithaqua runs along the tops of the trees.
He eats moss.
When he passes overhead, you feel a huge mass of air moving.
He takes people outside the atmosphere, where they recall being
surrounded by stars.
To kill people, he drops them from a height.
This last gives us mysteriously-deceased corpses, which
always go down well.
Finally, try switching locations.3 Traditionally, Ithaqua
is confined to the Arctic Circle, which gives us Siberia,
Finland, Canada and the sea. All make good, and different,
settings for a scenario.
Alternatively, try exploring the theme of desolation
elsewhere. Set scenarios in isolated jungles, deserts or
mountains. Use Ithaqua himself or an Ithaquan clone,
with descriptions changed to suit the new environment.
Try a desert Ithaqua, who whispers on the Saharan winds,
or an Antarctic Ithaqua, who haunts explorers’ camps.
Ithaqua is about desolation. You can find that anywhere.
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1. What do these things mean? It doesn’t matter.
Use one to start the investigation; use the others as early
moments of horror. For example, begin with a ship’s
disappearance, then introduce reports of murders on the ship.
From now on, three chains of events unfold in parallel.
One: the Investigators investigate the legend of the
Lloigor. Two: the Lloigor’s servitors take reprisals against
the Investigators. Three: the Lloigor itself menaces the
Investigators.
Let’s start with the legend of the Lloigor.
The Lloigor are fundamentally pessimistic: they understand the
uncaring cosmos. The young Earth, which cannot support their
pessimism, weakens the Lloigor.1
They have retreated underground, where they change the basic
structure of the rocks to support their pessimism.1
Their ancient chief is Ghatanothoa, depicted on engraved green stones.
Within this legend is a strong theme of slavery:
The Lloigor created the human race.
They ruled the lost continent of Mu, with humans as their slaves.
They punished human slaves by amputating limbs and inflicting
cancer-like tentacular growths on them.
They are preparing to take the Earth back and enslave humans again.
Today, the Lloigor revenge themselves on their former slaves by
destroying their cities.
The Grand Canyon is the former site of Nam-Ergest, an ancient
human city.
1. These replace the Lloigor’s gypsy followers. And note that we have given
the Colour servitors.
2. Thus, we give Colours the power of sudden, rather than gradual, destruction.
It’s an interesting variation.
3. Try swapping protagonists, so that the Investigators lose a chunk of time.
Alternatively, let the vehicle disappear, Bermuda Triangle-style.
And here is The Return of the Lloigor with added Colour:
After deciphering an occult manuscript, the Investigators come to
an Arkham farm.
There, they find the animals and plants strangely changed.
The locals tell them folktales of a creature from a meteorite, which
sits beneath the earth, sucking the life out of the land.
Farmhands1 approach the Investigators, warning them not to
investigate further. They explain the Colour’s power and history.
In the final scene, the Colour destroys the farmhands and their farm,
which crumbles to the ground.2
Similarly, all the tricks we played with Colours work well
with the Lloigor. Try shifting timelines, letting Investigators
arrive post-destruction. Try switching locations, putting
a Lloigor beneath a wood, Antarctica or New York City.
Yet the Lloigor are not just big, invisible Colours. They
destroy towns. They push people down stairs. They send
servitors after Investigators. Thus, they produce horrifically
exciting scenarios, which temper bleakness with adrenaline.
There are many places a Lloigor scenario could start:
A plane or boat passes through a mist and disappears. Later, when
it reappears, the passengers have no sense of time having passed.3
Horrific crimes – murder, cruelty, sexual perversions – are concentrated
in an area. The criminals show no remorse and even amusement.
A great noiseless explosion destroys a settlement, leaving only a pool
of green and blue-grey water.
People suffer influenza-like symptoms and die of minor infections.
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1. “Menace”, here, encompasses harm, obstruction and general weirdness.
Crucially, it is remote menace: for example, Cthullhu sends you a dream,
rather than grabbing you with a feeler.
2. Perhaps by possessing them, perhaps through a subtler form of inflauence.
It is unclearn. so use either.
3. Most of these have been discussed already, but they are listed here for
conveneience.
These three chains of events run side-by-side: investigation,
reprisals from servitors, menace from the creature. There
is a rhythm here: after an investigative scene, there are
reprisals or menace.
Steal these three chains of events for any creature. Put
investigation, reprisals and menace1 into your scenario, then
switch between them. For example, in a Deep One scenario,
switch between investigation, reprisals from hybrids and
dreams of the sea. For a Cthonian scenario, switch between
investigation, warnings from brains-in-filth and tremors.
By using all three, you create a complex, interesting story.
Towards the scenario’s end, the Investigators may discover
a Lloigor victim. Let’s summarise, then, the harm that
Lloigor do to humans. They: 3
Cause people to commit bizarre crimes.2
Enrage people, causing a “tearing madness”: “tearing” as you might
tear chicken with your teeth.
Drain people of energy, causing flu-like symptoms.
Destroy settlements in noiseless explosions.
Amputate limbs or cause tentacles to grow on people.
So what is the climax? Try stealing a chase scene from the
Cthonians: as the Investigators drive away, things explode
behind them. Alternatively, steal from the Mi-Go and let
servitors chase the Investigators away.
1. Or tentacles. Or give the Investigators tentacular outgrowths and ampputated
limbs. That’ll get their attention.
2. As mentioned above, Wilson describes them as gypsies. You should probably
lose the racial reference, but keep the idea of a family or dynasty of servitoars.
3. Interestringly, although the servitors are menacing and threaten harm,
they do not attack.
4. An unusual, combat-free form of reprisal. Steal it for servitors of other
creatures.
5. As with the Ckthonians, this occurs especially on low ground.
Try showing things that Wilson only described. Thus, let the
Investigators feel the Lloigor’s pessimism, find structurally-
changed rocks, discover engravings of Ghatanothoa, unearth
maps of Mu, meet people with mysteriously amputated
limbs1 and explore destroyed cities.
Next, the servitors take reprisals. These servitors:
Are related to each other by blood.2
Watch and follow the Investigators.
Warn against enquiring further.3
Attempt to frame Investigators for crimes.4
Sometimes seem possessed by the Lloigor.
Are strangely old, as if they had extended lifespans.
Are destroyed, by the Lloigor, when they talk too much.
Thus, the servitors warn the Investigators, then say too
much and are destroyed. Steal this sequence for other
Lovecraftian creatures. Let the Mi-Go send agents who warn
the Investigators and are later found with brains removed.
Simultaneously, the Lloigor menaces the Investigators:5
Their compasses become demagnetised.
Photographs come out black.
The Investigators suffer flu-like symptoms.
They have moments of paranoia, believing people are about to
attack them.
They suffer sudden accidents, such as being pushed down stairs.
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1. This how the Grand Canyon was created. Thus, the aftermath of the explosion
looks like a slightly less grand canyon.
1. Although tomes in Lovecraft’s stories are confusingly written, they rarely
require active investigation to decipher. Wilbur Whateley’s diary, in The
Dunwich Horror, is an exception: it is written in code. Wkhuh duh vlplodu
hqfrghg gldulhv lq wkh kdxqwhu ri wkh gdun dqg wkh fdvh ri fkduohv ghawhu
zdug.
It is a masterpiece of obfuscation. Its meaning is hidden
behind layers of encryption and mystery, which the
protagonist must laboriously peel away.1 Steal these layers
for your Mythos writings. They are:
The lettering appears, at first, to be an indecipherable shorthand.
On closer inspection, the letters are half peeled off.
Photography enhances the colours, revealing the complete letters.
...but only when you look indirectly at the photographs.
By tracing the photographs, then transferring the tracings to heavy
drawing paper, you can see the letters properly.
The lettering is medieval Arabic.
The language, however, is a mixture of Latin and Greek.
When translated, the manuscript is found to be part of a larger work.
Other fragments are rumoured to exist.
This larger work is a digest or summary of other books.
One of the summarised books contains “a code within a code”.
That “code within a code” is, of course, the Necronomicon.
Beneath all that obfuscation is the most mysterious book
of all.
Perhaps the best ending, however, is the noiseless explosion.
It is simultaneously awesome, destructive and eerie.1
It is a combination of explosion and earthquake.
Three miles away, people are thrown out of bed.
Still farther away, people feel a minor earth tremor.
Trees are flattened.
After the explosion, the ground appears torn or split open.
There are clefts and cracks in the earth.
Fragmented bodies are found scattered, in shreds of skin and pieces
of bone.
This is the most destructive piece we have seen so far. Steal
it for the Lloigor or steal the destruction for other creatures.
Let the Mi-Go tear down a farmhouse. Let Cthulhu smash
towns. Never miss an opportunity to smash a building.
Two other isolated facts, about witches and ghosts, could
inspire scenarios by themselves:
The Lloigor are connected with the Lancashire Witches, including
Liz Southern, executed in 1612.
The Lloigor are connected with, or are the true explanation for,
poltergeists.
This leaves one fascinating item: the Voynich manuscript. It
is a real-life manuscript, coopted into the Mythos, superbly
blurring history with fiction.
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1. Or, as always, simply let the Investigators arrive.
2. Children are unusual in Lovecraft, so this is worth exploring.
3. Lovecraft does not specify what these offers are. Either make them up or
riff on a Mi-Go theme. For example, offer to show the Investigators the
universe. How could they refuse that?
MI-GO.
Story: The Whisperer in Darkness.
Synopsis: After reading reports of unidentifiable corpses, the
protagonist begins exchanging letters with a man called Akeley.
Akeley reports being pursued by alien creatures, who intercept
mail and cut off lines of communication. Finally, a strikingly
different letter invites the protagonist to Akeley’s farmhouse.
There, the protagonist meets a strangely-acting man, who shows
him a metal cylinder. When connected to speakers, the metal
cylinder explains that it contains a living human brain. That
night, the protagonist sneaks out of the house and drives away.
With everything we’ve learned from other creatures, the
Mi-Go are strikingly straightforward. Let’s run, at speed,
through a potential scenario.
Begin with a hook to draw the Investigators in.1 From
The Whisperer In Darkness, we have the following:
Alien corpses, found after flooding: pinkish, crustacean and about
five feet long. They do not show on photographs and evaporate
within hours.
Someone who lives in remote parts undergoes an unexplained mental
change.
A child is frightened by something in the forest.2
A buzzing voice, on a deserted road, makes surprising offers to
travellers.3
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1. Which, of course, let the Investigators go underground later in the scenario.
2. See Increasing Certainty (page 43). We are at Point 2 in both lists, not
Point 3.
3. Be careful about narrative distance here. This sighting should be distant,
obscured by trees or merely reported to the Investigators.
Next, the Investigators find ambiguous evidence of the
creatures:
Alien clawprints, with pairs of saw-toothed nippers protruding from
a central pad.
Circles of stones, with grass worn away around them.
Caves of unimaginable depth, their mouths sealed by deliberately-
placed boulders.1
A great black stone with worn hieroglyphics.
Note that, at this stage, everything the Investigators
discover is beyond rational explanation, but not definitively
supernatural.2 Thus, the clawprints are described as strange,
rather than alien. Note, also, that Lovecraft only mentioned
the items above. Let your Investigators find them.
Gradually, the Investigators get closer to the creatures:
They glimpse something monstrous in the twilit forest.
They see many of the things, wading in disciplined formation.3
They see a creature carrying an unknown object.
They glimpse a flying creature, silhouetted momentarily against
the full moon.
They sense an indefinable rhythm or vibration in the air.
Someone speaks with a buzzing voice.
1. The Whisperer in Darkness barely explores these mining operations. You
should do so.
2. Another possible beginning for the scenario.
Lovecraft uses the first, so the others are ripe for expansion.
In the early stages of the scenario, add some narrative
distance: for example, let them read about whispered voices
on deserted roads.
As the Investigators explore, they unearth folktales.
There are creatures, high in the hills, looking for an unusual type
of stone.1
They are connected to leprechauns and the Yeti.
The forested tops of some mountains, where nobody has lived for
centuries, are feared and avoided.
Mountain dwellers, or those living too close to a particular valley,
suddenly disappear.2
Eccentric recluses and hermits are thought to be in league with the
creatures.
These are good folktales, so use them with other creatures.
Have people disappear near Deep One cities. Spread rumours
about reclusive families being Lloigor servitors.
Note especially the leprechaun and Yeti connections: by
connecting Lovecraftian creatures to legendary beings, you
make them seem ancient and mystical. Use this with other
creatures, choosing something plausible. Connect Deep Ones
with mermaids and Sirens, Cthulhu with the Kraken, the
Medusa with Ghatanathoa and the Mi-Go with kobolds.
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1. Try tweaking this. Let the Mi-Go keep entire bodies alive or merely capture
the soul.
1. “I expect to go backward and forward in time, and actually see and feel the
earth of remote past and future epochs”, says the encylindered brain in The
Whisperer In Darkness. Thus, the Mi-Go can do time travel.
With aid, the cylinders can also go backwards and forwards in time.
Many brains are stored under Round Hill, Massachusetts. Some are
from other planets.
The brainless bodies are kept alive under Round Hill.
Try exploring these, especially the final three, in scenarios.
Let Investigators visit Round Hill. Let them speak to a brain
that travelled to, or comes from, another planet.
What is the final horror for your scenario? In The
Whisperer in Darkness, there is no crowning terror. There
are brains-in-cylinders, a conversation with the Mi-Go and
a chase, but none of these events is climactic.
You could, if you like, try a scenario without a climactic
moment. Alternatively, try the standard horrors. Let the
Investigators see the Mi-Go: Lovecraft’s protagonist never
sees them directly, which means your Investigators should.
Or let Investigators find humans harmed by the Mi-Go:
perhaps they discover many brains-in-cylinders or brainless
bodies. Try stealing from Chambers and let the Investigators
find the encylindered brains of their loved ones.
Finally, there is probably a chase. Steal the ending from
The Shadow Over Innsmouth, sending a Mi-Go horde after
the Investigators. Or, if the Investigators ventured into the
mines, steal the underground pursuit from At the Mountains
of Madness, replacing the Shoggoth with Mi-Go.
And, as always, we can play narrative tricks. Try switching
creatures: let Cthulhu’s cultists patiently explain the joys of
killing. Switch locations, placing Mi-Go mines in Antarctica,
forests or desert.
Around now, the Mi-Go or their agents begin taking reprisals
against the Investigators. They:
Cut off lines of communication, stealing packages, blocking roads
and cutting telephone wires.
Plant spies in local towns.
As with the Lloigor, the interplay of investigation, reprisal
and creature menace makes the story richer. Switch regularly
between the three. Try swapping details between the Mi-Go
and Lloigor: make Mi-Go agents malevolent and threatening;
let Lloigor servitors disrupt communications.
Perhaps, now, the Investigators observe the Mi-Go rituals.
Again, Lovecraft only describes this, so let your Investigators
see the following:
They worship in the forest, especially on May Eve and Sabbat Night.
Their human associates join them in the worship.
They worship Shub-Niggurath.
Towards the end of the scenario, the Investigators should
see the harm that Mi-Go do to humans. It is a strikingly
specific harm: they encase brains in metal cylinders.1
Some victims are willing, some are not.
The cylinders connect to sensors and loudspeakers, letting victims
talk and hear.
The encased brains travel to other planets, where they are connected
to similar sensory equipment and experience alien life.
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1. This, admittedly, contradicts my earlier warnings about allowing Investigators
to chat to monsters. But this is slightly different. This isn’t a chat. This is
the creatures, at the end of the scenario, explaining their dark plans.
More generally, try letting creatures talk to Investigators.1
Let Deep Ones explain why they must mate with humans.
Let Nyarlathotep demonstrate how Cthulhu’s rule will set
humans free. Keep some narrative distance: remember that
the Mi-Go talked in darkness and disguise.
But try letting the creatures explain themselves. After
all, the Mythos is not just horrific: it can be seductive and
persuasive.
1. Lovecraft wrote before the transistor was invented.
2. This runs close to Being Nice (page 64). Here, however, we consider the
possibility that the aliens actually are nice. But not in a good way.
There are two more themes, rare in Lovecraft, which we
can steal for other creatures. The first is technology, which
Lovecraft describes in unusual detail:
Cylinders of an unknown, shiny metal, about a foot high.
Three curious sockets set in an isosceles triangle.
Intricate instruments with attached cords and plugs
A tall machine with glass lenses in front.
A box with vacuum tubes and a sounding-board.
A machine with a metal disc on top.
Dials, turned to the extreme right.
A grating and whirring noise.
Thus, it is large.1 It is mechanical, not electronic: it grates,
whirs and uses vacuum tubes and cords. To modern eyes,
it resembles an old valve radio. If you use technology in
Lovecraftian scenarios, this is what it looks like.
The second theme, incongruously, is happiness. At the
story’s end, the Mi-Go happily explain the secrets of the
Mythos. They are eager to outline their plans.2 And the
brain-in-a-cylinder welcomes Lovecraft’s protagonist, even
offering him his own cylinder.
Try taking this niceness at face value. Just as the Great
Race want to learn (by possessing people) and the Elder
Things want to study (by dissecting people), so the Mi-Go
want to show humans the universe (by putting brains in
cylinders). It is deeply eerie.
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1. This isn’t a railroad. It’s simply presenting them with an impossible choice: do
they do the unspeakable thing or renege on their promises2 and face reprisals?
2. Promises which, of course, they didn’t know they had made.
3. Or, indeed, the Barack Obama of 2008.
Steal these descriptions for other Mythos knowledge.
Explain that, having met the Mi-Go, the Investigators are
obliged to visit their planet. They must take the third Dagonic
Oath, be the Lloigor’s slave or accept Yithian possession.1
And make these things repellently attractive. Make the
Shan’s memories hypnotically beautiful. Make the Lloigor’s
amputations intensely pleasurable. Have the Mi-Go describe
the beauty of the stars.
Nyarlathotep the showman appears in the story
Nyarlathotep itself. His shows contain:
Static electricity, making people’s hair stand on end.
Talk of electricity and psychology.
Images of ruin, projected on screens in darkened ruins.
Glass and metal instruments and combining them into machines.
And the showman himself exerts strange power:
People kneel before him, but do not know why.
He gives commands, which people forget when they leave.
For this showman role, try stealing a Nyarlathotep figure
from history. In Victorian times, try P. T. Barnum or Charles
Dickens. In the 1920s and 1930s, try Nikola Tesla or the
villains of Hollywood movies. In modern times, try a figure
resembling Glenn Beck,in the United States, or Derren
Brown, in Britain.3
1. There’s much more to the story than this, but this is what we need for
Nyarlathotep.
NYARLATHOTEP.
Story: The Dreams in the Witch House, Nyarlathotep.
Synopsis of The Dreams in the Witch House: After studying
abstruse mathematics and folklore, a student’s dreams become
increasingly tangible and horrific.1
Synopsis of Nyarlathotep: The protagonist hears stories of a
showman. After seeing the show, he sees the world as a post-
apocalyptic landscape.
nYarLathoteP is overused. In many Cthulhu scenarios,
he is a villain in human form: a Lovecraftian Lex Luthor.
From Lovecraft’s stories, however, a more interesting
Nyarlathotep emerges. He appears in three forms: the keeper
of Mythos knowledge, the showman and the harbinger of
the apocalypse.
Nyarlathotep the knowledge-keeper appears in The
Dreams in the Witch House. When the protagonist meets
Nyarlathotep, in dreams, he realises the price of his learning:
He must accompany Nyarlathotep to the throne of Azathoth.
He must sign the book of Azathoth, in his own blood, and take a
secret name now that his independent delvings have gone so far.
He knows that the name “Azathoth” stands for an indescribable
primal evil.
Thus, investigating the Mythos is seductive, it comes with
obligations, but it remains repellent. And it is a slippery
slope: once you start, you must learn more.
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1. Nyarlathotep contains one of Lovecraft’s best illustrations of the maddening
power of Mythos knowledge. The people in the story literally cannot handle
the truth.
At night, they scream endlessly.
They see Nyarlathotep’s equipment being unloaded: unknowable,
monstrous creations of glass and metal.
Now, the Investigators begin to see visions of the city destroyed,
around the theatre where Nyarlathotep’s show will take place.
If Investigators see the show, they then perceive the world as
crumbling and decayed. If they do not, they see the population of
Kingsport screaming and mad.1
Note that, for the Final Horror, we see the harm that
Nyarlathotep does: he sends people mad with knowledge.
It’s an intriguingly different horror, which you can steal
for any creature. Perhaps, after dreaming of Cthulhu, the
Investigators begin to perceive his apocalypse. Perhaps,
after studying the Lloigor, the Investigators see the world
as it will be, when humans are slaves.
Perhaps the best thing to do with Nyarlathotep, though,
is mix him with Hastur. The two are remarkably similar.
Hastur’s book, The King in Yellow, resembles Nyarlathotep’s
sideshow: both give incredible knowledge that sends people
mad.
So swap ideas between the two. Replace Nyarlathotep
with a Hastur figure, showing electric pictures of Carcosa.
Replace The King in Yellow with Nyarlathotep’s show, shown
on a home projector. Blur the lines between knowledge,
illusion, sanity and insanity.
1. Or use any iconic location. San Francisco, Paris, Cairo, Shanghai.
2. An analogue of “winter never comes”.
Nyarlathotep the apocalyptic harbinger appears in both
Nyarlathotep and The Fungi from Yuggoth. Even before he
arrives, the world seems apocalyptic:
The seasons alter, so that winter never comes.
It is stiflingly hot.
There is political and social upheaval, with the threat of physical
harm.
When Nyarlathotep comes, people scream in the middle of the night.
Through his shows, he causes people to see apocalyptic
scenes. It is unclear whether these are real or imagined.
A destroyed city, with the pavement broken by the grass.
Crumbling, half-fallen buildings.
A weed-choked subway entrance.
Vast, glittering snowdrifts, which seem inexplicably evil, in which
no footprints show.
How can we use this remarkable imagery in a scenario? Try
stealing and lengthening the Nyarlathotep plot, adding a
slow increase of eeriness.
The Investigators hear of a showman, coming to Kingsport,1 whose
shows are remarkable and terrifying.
When they arrive in Kingsport, the weather is hot and stifling. For
days, the sun has not fully set.2
They meet those who have seen Nyarlathotep and followed him ever
since. These people see visions of the city destroyed and endless snow.
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1. The Cthonians do something similar, although, in fact, they only implant
suggestions. The Great Race’s possession, meanwhile, is a “hard” possession”:
it involves complete control.
2. Campbell uses this to tell the creature’s backstory (as Lovecraft uses carvings).
3. This memory is of the Shan’s planet being destroyed, shortly before they
teleported their temple to Earth. They are the victims in all this, really.
Next, the Shan give us a new way to possess humans.
Their victims retain abilities, reason and, partially, free will.
Thus, this is a “soft” possession:1 the victim feels human,
but feels urges to follow Shan orders. It runs as follows.
The insect flies straight into your head. (It is not wholly material.)
You feel it crawling in your brain.
Your vision ripples, melts and distorts.
You feel ecstatic pleasure.
Once possessed, the victim might see the creature’s memories.
Perhaps they see its previous victims, alien homeland or
occult secrets. For players, this is a fascinating double-
edged sword: they get information, but at the price of being
possessed. For you, it is a tool for narration: it lets you feed
information and give tantalising, horrific visions.2 Steal
this for other creatures: for the Deep Ones and Cthulhu,
feed information through dreams; for the Great Race, give
information through recovered memories.
Here, from The Insects from Shaggai, are some particularly
fruitful memories:
A subterranean plant, with purple blossoms and reaching tentacles,
demands living sacrifices.
In an endless ocean, a pillar projects through green mist. A leathery
hand reaches from the sea.
A glowing red globe drifts closer to a planet. When it fills the sky, it
explodes, filling creatures and buildings with its crimson glow. The
glow turns yellow, then white, and the creatures writhe and die.3
1. So are the Lloigor.
2. It is not clear what. Perhaps they are still deciding that part.
3. For a plausible alternative Shan, who do not want to rule the world, steal
from the Mi-Go. These Shan simply want to be left alone, in their woodland
temple, and take reprisals against those who investigate.
4. It is unclear how this connects to the Shan’s other interests: witch cults and
bringing Azathoth to Earth.
5. Incomprehensible plans, such as the Deep Ones’ Shoggoth scheme, are
horrific in a different way.
THE SHAN.
Story: Ramsey Campbell’s The Insects from Shaggai
Synopsis: The protagonist hears folktales about a wood connected
with witch cults. He explores the wood. Becoming lost, he finds
a metallic creature, then a temple. Suddenly, an insect-like alien
flies into his brain. He experiences its memories, then enters the
temple. Deep within, he finds Azathoth. After running away,
he realises the insect remains inside his brain and wants him
to lure others to the temple. He kills himself.
ramseY camPbeLL’s Shan are the best Mythos creature that
Lovecraft never wrote.1 We can steal three main things from
them: witches, possession and world domination.
Take these in reverse order, starting with world
domination. Many Mythos creatures have no clear strategy
for ruling the world. Cthulhu wants to enslave everyone,
while Deep Ones will do something with a Shoggoth,2 but
neither is clear on the details.
By contrast, the Shan have detailed plans.3 They start by
luring people to their temple, whom they possess and use to
lure others. When they have possessed enough people, they
build more temples. Repeat until the Shan rule the world.4
This is horrific because it is comprehensible 5 and inevitable.
Steal this plan, suitably adapted, for other creatures. Perhaps
the Lloigor will drain more and more humans, until all are
enslaved. Perhaps the Deep Ones will systematically breed
with humans, until all share their taint. (Perhaps they
already have.)
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1. For the following woodland horrors, I have also stolen from Campbell’s The
Darkest Part of the Woods.
2. It is subtly different from Ithaqua’s forest. Where his forest is agoraphobic
and forbidding, the Shan’s wood is claustrophobic and eerie.
to grow? Try showing things that Campbell left unexplored:
the blood sacrifice, the witches’ rituals, the memory-addicts.
Having stolen the Shan’s best parts, let’s go through
The Insects from Shaggai and steal imagery. We start in
the woods, which are ill-reputed, dreamlike and full of
legends.1 It is a wood of dark English fairytales: a perfect
Lovecraftian location.2
The woods are:
Dark, with the sun barely visible.
Filled with flashes of movement and light seen through trees.
Misty and dripping with moisture.
Confusing to navigate.
Reputed, in local legends, to be evil.
Thickest in the centre.
As the Investigators venture deeper, things get darker.
There might be:
A dry, approaching rustling.
Moving lights, seen dimly through the trees.
Creatures seen in the distant wood.
Paths that seem to lead out, but lead deeper into the wood.
Something that seems to hide behind the trees, pursuing you.
Visions of people, perhaps those you know, which turn out to be
the shapes of trees.
1. For an odd and horrifying scenario, steal from Kafka’s Metamorphosis, and
let the Investigators begin physically transforming into insects.
Use these memories to inspire scenarios. Put the plant
under London, with a cult to feed it. Bring the destructive
globe to Earth.
Now, after a period of possession, the victim may:
Start thinking like the insect, seeing the world with cruel dispassion.1
Begin luring people to the temple.
Go insane or commit suicide.
In The Insects from Shaggai, the protagonist goes mad and
kills himself. Try switching protagonists: let the Investigators
meet a possessed NPC or investigate a possessee’s suicide.
Next, steal the witch cults. Campbell gives us an entire
backstory, set in the 1600s, which could easily be updated:
A meteorite falls to Earth, in a clearing previously occupied by a
Roman temple.
It is a temple of the Shan.
It gains worshippers, who make blood sacrifices to the Shan.
In return, the Shan inject memories into the worshippers, which
gives them a drug-like euphoria.
These worshippers entice others to the clearing.
As the cult grows, the community realises the threat and kills the
witches.
This is a ready-made scenario. Let the Investigators arrive in
the final stages (just before “As the cult grows”, above) and
discover the cult. This gives the Investigators a choice: do
they murder the cult or, knowing the Shan’s plans, leave it
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1. Note the interesting double descent: into the woods, then into the temple. In
The Haunter of the Dark, there is a double climb: up a hill, then up a steeple.
Both suggwest the protagonist is heading deeper and deeper into danger.
1. Which is what happens in The Insects From Shaggai. It is one of the weaker
parts of the story.
2. A Lovecraftian rule: before the scenario ends, the sun must set.
3. There is no indication that, as in many Cthulhu games, the Shan are afraid
of or harmed by sunlight. It would be understandable, given that their planet
was destroyed by a glowing sphere, but it is not mentioned. Certainly, there
is no suggenstion that a possession victim can be cured by unnorthodox
methods such as trepanning (an idea popularised by Delta Green).
It’s a good temple. Use it, adapted, for other creatures.
Change the material to black stone and it becomes a Mi-Go
shrine to Shub-Niggurath. Change it to green soapstone and
it’s a Deep One temple.
When the Investigators go inside, they descend through
the following levels:
Grey slanting corridors, with bas-reliefs on walls.
Corridors lined with the cells of enslaved Guardians.
A souvenir room, with eyeless corpses of all the races enslaved by
the Shan.
Finally, behind ominous doors, they find Azathoth. He takes
the Shoggoth role, chasing the Investigators out. This is the
final horror of The Insects from Shaggai.
Try changing the ending. Perhaps the Shan give chase
instead. Perhaps the temple teleports away, giving a
beautiful, mystical ending like that of The Colour Out
of Space. Perhaps, even, deep within the temple, the
Investigators must prevent a multidimensional Azathothian
gate opening.
The plot above, then, gives many scenarios. Switch
locations: a Californian desert, a German forest, the Arkham
sewers. Switch creatures: try rerunning the scenario with
the Deep Ones, the Elder Things, even the Great Race.
At its heart, the Insects from Shaggai plot is simple and
iconic: hear about a temple, find it, look inside, run away.
You can use that plot for anything.
Now, the Investigators may meet the Daytime Guardians.
These extraordinary creatures:
Resemble sixteen-foot-high metallic trees.
Have thick cylindrical tentacles, which look like branches.
Walk on two metallic cylinders, which each divide into six circular
extensions.
Are tortured by the Shan for pleasure.
Have heavy, metallic-sounding footsteps.
Have a featureless oval for a head. At the top is a mouth-like orifice,
which they bend over to use.
Don’t let the Investigators meet these creatures too early:
if they see them on entering the woods, it turns the
weirdness straight up to 11.1 So add narrative distance.
Let Investigators hear tales of these creatures, find a dead
creature, or discover an oddly metallic tree trunk.
Now, the sun sets2 and the Shan emerge. It is a routine:
they worship by day and hunt humans by night.3
Then, in a clearing, the Investigators find the temple,
which:
Is a thirty-foot-high metallic cone.
Is made of a non-reflective grey mineral.
Has a rectangular, blood-stained hollow, for human sacrifices.
Has a circular trapdoor on the side, with strange carvings depicting
the Shan’s history.
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1. Let the Investigators see this.
2. In At The Mountains of Madness, Danforth mentions many things that
might be types or forms of Shoggoth. Thus, you can invent freely.
3. Since Elder Things created life as a mistake, try stealing the tainted lineage
trope from The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Reveal that humans evolved from
a breed of shoggoths who became fixed in form.
4. Recall the imperfect human writing in The Shadow Out of Time.
1. If you’re improvising a scenario and get stuck, send a monster at the
Investigators.
2. One of Lovecraft’s most horrific moments. Enjoy it. Linger over it.
They also have skills. Being designed as labourers, they can:
Be commanded hypnotically, producing specific organs on demand.
Be tamed and broken.
Push stones into place to erect Cyclopean cities.1
Use these organ-producing skills in scenarios. Make
Shoggoths into spies, by producing eyes; pumps, by
producing hearts; or incubators, to keep human brains alive.
Try changing their size and shape: use tiny Shoggoths, flying
Shoggoths or wire-like Shoggoths in connected networks.2
Beyond this, the Shoggoths have three fascinating abilities.
Firstly, they evolve. In At the Mountains of Madness, they
gain both intelligence and resistance to hypnotic command.
So invent new forms of Shoggoth: chameleon Shoggoths,
slime-like Shoggoths, gaseous Shoggoths and more. Try
letting them evolve throughout a scenario.3
Secondly, they think. Perhaps they make plans. Perhaps
they want to rule the world. Certainly, they are more than
mindless killers: they kill mindfully.
Lastly, they imitate. They:
Grow organs to imitate other races.
Imitate the voices of other creatures.
Make carvings, roughly imitating other carvings they find.
There is an obvious opportunity here: let them imitate
humans. Let them grow human organs, imitate human
voices and mimic human writing.4
SHOGGOTHS.
Story: At the Mountains of Madness.
Synopsis: See Elder Things, above.
shoggoths play an important role in At the Mountains of
Madness: they appear at the end, as the Final Horror, and
chase the Investigators. Other creatures take the Shoggoth
role too: in The Shadow Out of Time, it’s the Flying Polyps;
in The Insects from Shaggai, it’s Azathoth.
It’s an easy, effective ending, which works in any scenario:
introduce a monster, send it after the Investigators. Even if
it makes little sense, the adrenaline rush ends the scenario.1
But Shoggoths are more than eldritch tanks. They:
Are faintly luminescent.
Are covered in strangely-coloured, perhaps green, lights.
Are covered in eyes, which continually form and unform.
Are a mass of protoplasmic bubbles.
Ooze a fetid black iridescence.
Thus, they are not just terrifying and large, but eerie. Even
a stationary Shoggoth would be scary: glowing faintly, its
eyes winking in and out of existence, oozing steadily.
The traces they leave behind, too, mix eeriness with horror:
They leave tunnel walls greasily shiny, as if polished.
They bite victims’ heads off, leaving them mauled, compressed,
twisted, ruptured and (of course) decapitated.2
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AFTERWORD.
Writing horror stories is creative. So the ideas in this book
are not prescriptive: they are not a guide to How To Write A
Scenario. They are a toolset, a bag of suggestions, a prompt
for your own ideas.
Perhaps you like to start scenarios with gory horror.
Perhaps you prefer to invent your own creatures. Perhaps
you think my interpretation of the Lloigor is completely
wrong. If so, then some ideas in this book won’t work for
you. Throw away the ideas you don’t like and use the ones
you do.
The most important idea in this book, however, is: nothing
is sacred. Nothing is canon. You need never, ever be faithful
to something you’ve read.
Thus, if a scenario defines the Dagonic Oaths, you can
redefine them. If a rulebook tells you about the Mi-Go, you
can redesign them. Make your creatures different. Make
your stories different. Accept nothing. Play with everything.
The other important idea is: players love Lovecraft. They
love bleak hopelessness. They love not being able to fight.
Most of all, they love genuine horror. I’ve seen hardened
Dungeons and Dragons players reduced to delighted insanity.
I’ve had experienced Call of Cthulhu gamers happy to go
mad.
So don’t be afraid to steal from Lovecraft. He is your
best, easiest, eeriest source of stories. He will put the horror
back into your game.
1. In The Burrowers Beneath, Brian Lumley uses a Sea Shoggoth.
Try rerunning At the Mountains of Madness, replacing
Elder Things with humans. Send the Investigators into
an underground city, which other humans have explored.
Let them find decapitated humans and imitated human
writing. Finally, they hear human screams and are chased
out by a Shoggoth.
Finally, try moving Shoggoths. Use them in sewers,
subways and backstreets. Use them in deserts, forests and
the sea.2 Nobody said Shoggoths had to stay underground.
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Base scenarios around one simple, horrific idea. The Deep Ones are
breeding with humans. A tablet that makes dreams come true, but
badly. Once you have this idea, riff on it endlessly and the rest of
the scenario will follow.
Look for endings. If an Investigator cuts their arm off or sacrifices
another Investigator, that’s probably the end, even if you had a
chase planned.
Escalate ideas. Begin with glasses shaking, then earth tremors, then
earthquakes.
I need exact coordinates.
There is a “Yog-Sothoth role”, which is like a bomb counting down.
If the Investigators don’t do something, Yog-Sothoth will come, and
boom! Azathoth often fills the Yog-Sothoth role.
Time sunset right.
Ask the Investigators why they are here.
Finish sentences with “what do you do?”.
Ask the Investigators how they meet up.
Let the Investigators talk to each other.
Let them narrate their own epilogue.
If you are reviewing this book, please mention the word “catacomb”.
If not, please don’t mention that you saw this sentence.
Ask Investigators how they know each other. Build complex webs
of relationships.
Ask Investigators how they feel about each other. Use their
occupations as guides: do police officers like journalists or hate
them? Either works.
APPENDICES.
A: MISCELLANY.
these are notes that didn’t fit anywhere else.
Give many clues, not just those needed to pursue the investigation.
Give rich clues. You can enrich any clue with a connection to a Finnish
folktale, whispered legend or half-remembered piece of writing.
Draw links between history and fiction. By adding real people, events
or times, the horror becomes more tangible.
Give choices. Do you kill the Deep One hybrid or let it live? You must
sacrifice one person: who will it be? (Not very Lovecraftian, but fun.)
Scenarios divide into three sections.
The beginnings of scenarios are usually fun. Everything is exciting.
The Investigators enjoy exploring the world.
The middle sections of scenarios are often difficult. They seem slow,
the Investigators seem confused, everyone wonders where the story is
going. Don’t worry about this. Let everyone get a little frustrated, then
drive towards the ending.
Then the endings of scenarios are usually fun again If you end a
scenario well, everyone will forget any earlier frustration.
Do horror that genuinely creeps you out.
Do horror that excites you, so that you are bursting to tell the players
what you know.
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1. Both these are collections of short stories.
By prioritising these stories, I’ve taken a particular view of
Lovecraft. It is one rarely seen in Cthulhu games, concerning
ancient creatures and inevitable doom. Similarly, I have
de-emphasised stories that use themes commonly seen in
Cthulhu gaming, such as sorcery and villainy.
Having seen this side of Lovecraft, then, it’s worth
returning to his sorcerous stories. Start with The Case of
Charles Dexter Ward. Note the familiar themes: possession,
changed voices, whispering in darkness, shafts of light. Steal
the catacombs, the body-snatching, the magic.
Finally, these stories are not by Lovecraft, but give
excellent depictions of Mythos creatures.
The King In Yellow1 (but only the stories The Repairer Of Reputations,
The Mask, In The Court Of The Dragon and The Yellow Sign), by
Robert Chambers
The Wendigo, by Algernon Blackwood.
The Return of the Lloigor, by Colin Wilson.
The Burrowers Beneath, by Brian Lumley.
Cold Print1, by Ramsey Campbell.
Cold Print is particularly worth mining for descriptions
of lesser-known Mythos entities: not just the Shan, but
Daoloth, Y’golonac and many more.
I have largely ignored August Derleth’s work, for reasons
similar to those that led me to select the six stories above.
Many Cthulhu games stick close to Derleth’s vision of
Lovecraft horror. Return to Lovecraft and you get something
new.
B: BIBLIOGRAPHY.
these are the six Lovecraft stories to which I’ve referred
throughout the text. Read one or read them all. I’d
recommend them in roughly this order.
The Whisperer in Darkness.
The Shadow Over Innsmouth.
The Shadow Out Of Time.
The Colour Out Of Space.
At The Mountains Of Madness.
The Call of Cthulhu.
The following Lovecraft stories are also worth reading for
their descriptions of particular Mythos entities:
Nyarlathotep.
The Fungi from Yuggoth.
The Dreams In The Witch House.
Dagon.
Pickman’s Model.
Pickman’s Model, in particular, contains a wonderfully
detailed description of ghouls. Indeed, it contains so much
information that I found it impossible to condense into a
chapter. Read it and steal the ideas.
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DOING THINGS.
To know how well you do at something, roll:
One die if the task is within human capabilities.
One die if it’s within your occupational expertise.
Your Insanity die, if you will risk your sanity to succeed.
If your Insanity die rolls higher than any other die, make
an Insanity roll, as above.
Then your highest die shows how well you do. On a 1,
you barely succeed. On a 6, you do brilliantly.
For example: you’re escaping from the window of an
Innsmouth hotel. On a 1, you crash on an adjoining roof,
attracting the attention of everyone around. On a 4, you
land quietly on the roof, but leave traces for pursuers to
follow. On a 6, you escape quietly, while your pursers continue
searching the hotel.
When you investigate, the highest die shows how much
information you get. On a 1, you get the bare minimum:
if you need information to proceed with the scenario, you
get it, but that’s all you get. On a 4, you get whatever a
competent investigator would discover. On a 5, you discover
everything humanly possible. And if there is a possibility
of glimpsing beyond human knowledge, you do so on a 6
(and probably make an Insanity roll).
For example: you’re investigating your great-uncle’s
manuscripts. On a 1, you find the address “7 Thomas Street”
(the next location in the scenario). On a 6, you find that, from
C: CTHULHU DARK.
Cthulhu Dark is a rules-light system for Lovecraftian
roleplaying games. One person is the Keeper, who plans
the scenario. The others are Investigators. You’ll need some
six-sided dice.
YOUR INVESTIGATOR.
Choose a name and occupation. Describe your Investigator.
Decide what drives them to investigate the Mythos.
Then ask each other questions to flesh out your characters.
Where did you grow up? Do you enjoy your job? How do
you feel about where you live?
Finally, take a green Insanity Die.
INSANITY.
Your Insanity starts at 1.
When you see something disturbing, roll your Insanity
die. If you get higher than your Insanity, add 1 to your
Insanity and roleplay your terror.
As your Insanity increases through the game, roleplay
your increasing fear.
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CO-OPERATING AND COMPETING.
To cooperate: everyone who is cooperating rolls their dice.
The highest die, rolled by anyone, determines the outcome.
To compete: everyone who is competing rolls their dice.
The highest die wins. On a tie, compare second highest dice
(then third, fourth etc). If everything is tied, reroll.
As before, if your Insanity die rolls higher than any other
die you roll, make an Insanity roll. If anyone is not happy
with their roll, they may reroll as above, but only once.
SUPPRESSING KNOWLEDGE.
When your Insanity reaches 5, you may now reduce it by
suppressing Mythos knowledge: for example, burning books,
stopping rituals or destroying yourself.
Each time you do this, roll your Insanity Die. If you get
less than your current Insanity, decrease your Insanity by
1. And you may continue suppressing Mythos knowledge
when your Insanity drops below 5.
GOING INSANE.
When your Insanity reaches 6, you go incurably insane. This
is a special moment: everyone focusses on your character’s
last moments as their mind breaks. Go out however you
want: fight, scream, run or collapse.
Afterwards, either make a new character or continue
playing, madly, but retire the character as soon as you can.
February 28 to April 2, many townspeople had dreams of
gigantic nameless creatures. Simultaneously, a Californian
theosophist colony donned robes for a “glorious fulfilment”,
The dreamers included Mr Wilcox of 7 Thomas Street.
FAILING.
If someone thinks it would more interesting if you failed,
they describe how you might fail and roll a die. (They can’t
do this if you’re investigating and you must succeed for the
scenario to proceed).
If their die rolls higher than your highest die, you fail, in
the way they described. If not, you succeed as before, with
your highest die showing how well you succeed.
Returning to the example above: you’re escaping from
the hotel window. This time, someone thinks it would be
more interesting if your pursuers caught you. When you
both roll, they get the higher die. You are caught.
TRYING AGAIN.
If you included your Insanity die in the roll and you’re not
happy with the result, you may reroll (all the dice). If you
didn’t include your Insanity die, you may add it and reroll.
Afterwards, look at the new result. As before, the highest
die shows how well you do.
Reroll as many times as you like. Each time your Insanity
Die rolls higher than any other die, make an Insanity roll.
Konstantinos Liolios (order #5565906)
174
175
GUIDANCE ON DESCRIBING INVESTIGATIONS.
Here are further tips on describing the results of
investigations.
On a 4, the investigation succeeds. Describe whatever
is there to discover, with some detail. For example, if the
Investigator is deciphering carvings on a box, they might
discover the box is an incubator, holding an egg. They might
also realise the carvings are in an extinct African language.
On 3s, 2s and 1s, describe the same thing, but with
progressively less detail. Thus, on a 3, your description
should be brief. On a 2, it should be a sentence. On a 1, it
might just be a word (“It’s an incubator”).
On a 5, the investigation succeeds wildly. Describe what
is there is to discover, but throw in extra details. Connect
the discovery to folktales, writings and scientific discoveries.
You’ll find these are easy to invent. Simply throw in
connections to legends and books. For example, from
deciphering the carvings, the Investigator realises the box
is an incubator. They remember similar boxes described
in the dread manuscript Tears of Shub-Niggurath. One, in
the Middle Ages, was taken to an Abbey, which was later
destroyed in a freak earthquake.
On a 6, add a touch of eeriness. Draw on Lovecraft, ghost
stories or whatever comes to mind. For example, when the
Investigators deciphers the carvings, they seem to shift and
change in front of their eyes. The carvings hint, mockingly,
at strange patterns beyond human understanding. The box
exudes unnatural life, as though it were a form of incubator.
OTHER CLARIFICATIONS.
If you fight any creature you meet, you will die. Thus, in these core
rules, there are no combat rules or health levels. Instead, roll to
hide or escape.
Things within human capabilities include: picking locks, finding
Ry’leh, deciphering carvings, remembering something, spotting
something concealed, rationalising something horrific.
Things outside human capabilities include: casting spells,
understanding hidden meaning, doing things in dreams. You can try
such things if you have the opportunity: for example, if you sense
patterns, you can try to follow them. However, you won’t get the
“within human capabilities” die, and might just roll your Insanity die.
A high success never short-circuits the investigation: That is, it
never takes you to the end of the scenario, skipping everything in
between. Thus, in the example above: even if you rolled a 6 while
searching your great-uncle’s personal effects, you would not find the
co-ordinates of Ry’leh, where Cthulhu sleeps.
When you make an Insanity Roll and succeed, getting your Insanity
or lower, this means you keep it together, not that you are fine. When
you fail, getting higher than your Insanity, you fail to keep it together.
To play without a character sheet, use your Insanity Die to keep
track of your Insanity, by keeping its highest face turned to your
current Insanity.
Konstantinos Liolios (order #5565906)
176
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THANKS.
First, thank you to my patrons: Tim Rodriguez, Rob
Harper, Paul Tevis, Eva Schiffer and Ken Finlayson. I
really appreciate your support. Many thanks also to Lars
Patrik Olsson and Chad Bowser for additional footnotes.
Next, thank you to the following people for particularly
generous preorders. Yukihiro Terada, William Stowers,
William Nourse, William Huggins, Ville Halonen, Tom
Cadorette, Thora Ingvarsdottir, Thomas Phinney, Sune
Nødskou, Stuntlau Perez, Stuart Dean, Stewart Robertson,
Steven Marsh, Steve Rubin, Steve Blackwell, Simon Rogers,
Sid Wood, Shane Ivey, Scott Acker, Sasha Bilton, Ryan
Macklin, Rusty Hoyle, Robert Saint John, Robert J.
Parker, Robert Biskin, Rik Kershaw-Moore, Rick Neal,
Reza Peigahi, Reto M. Kiefer, Renato Retz de Carvalho,
René John Kerkdyk, Randall Padilla, Ralph Shelton,
Ralph Kelleners, Peter Miller, Peter Cobcroft, Pete Griffith,
Paulo Andre Vieira, Paul Weimer, Paul Sudlow, Anyone
Who Uses The Words Blasphemous Or Dreamlike When
Talking About This Book, Paul Maclean, Paul Jones,
Paul Baldowski, Olav Müller, Ngo Vinh-Hoi, Neal Dalton,
Nathan Bardsley, Nancy Goslowsky, Monty Bouvart, Mikael
Engstrom, Michael J. Raymond, Michael Harnish, Matthew
Sullivan-Barrett, Pookie, David Lai, Matt Stuart, Mary
Watson, Martin Blake, Marc Majcher, Lukas Myhan, Lars
Schear, Landon Barnickle, Kristoffer From, Ken Finlayson,
John Powell, John Mehrholz, John Evans, John Anderson,
Joanna Corcoran, Jim McCarthy, Jess Morris, Jesper
THREE ROLLS
Split important rolls, that the Investigator might lose,
into three. The Investigator must succeed in two rolls out
of three to succeed. If they succeed in the first two, don’t
bother rolling the third.
CAMPAIGNS
For campaign play, reset Insanity to 1 at the beginning of
each game session. If you like, find a narrative reason for
this: perhaps the Investigators takes a moment to recover
or simply has a moment of clarity.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
Who decides when to roll Insanity? Who decides when
it’s interesting to know how well you do something? Who
decides when something disturbs your PC? Who decides
whether you might fail?
Decide the answers with your group. Make reasonable
assumptions. For example, some groups will let the Keeper
decide everything. Others will share the decisions.
Do let me know how Cthulhu Dark works for you. My
email is [email protected].
Konstantinos Liolios (order #5565906)
178
Veje Walton Simonsen, Jennifer Wong, James Pacheco,
James Dillane, Herman Duyker, Greg Cooksey, Anyone
Who Suggests This Book Contains Incomplete Maps Of
Arkham, Giulia Barbano, Gary Pennington, Frédérik Rating,
Flavio Mortarino, Fernando Barrera, Eugene Doherty, Esa
Kankaanpää, Eric J. Boyd, E. Tage Larsen, Drew Ness,
Dominic Mooney, Dean Engelhardt, David Sokolowski,
David Hallett, Dave Desgagnes, Darren Stalder, Darren
Miguez, Daniel Ley, Dak F Powers, Colin Creitz, Colin
Booth, Christian Nord, Chris Wiegand, Chris Green, Chris
Eng, Charles J Wilkins, Cesar Bernal Prat, Cat Rambo,
Carlos Garcia Garcia, Cameron Paine, Brendan Adkins,
Bob Hanks, Benjamin McFarland, Benjamin Bell, Belinda
Kelly, Austin F. Frank, Arttu Hanska, Arseny Kuznetsov,
Antoine Fournier, Anthony Ellis, Andrew Stimpson, Andrew
Raphael, Adrian Maddocks, Adam Drew, Steve Dempsey,
Wayne Coburn, Luciana Retz de Carvalho and Jerome
Huguenin.
Many thanks to the annotators, Gareth Hanrahan,
Kenneth Hite and Jason Morningstar. I changed some of
your words and incorporated others into footnotes, so the
responsibility for the final text is mine. Grateful thanks also
to David Walmsley and John Anderson. Thank you to the
artists, Olli Hihnola and Jennifer Rodgers, and also, in the
PDF version, to Ed Heil and Manny and Ilyana. Finally,
thank you to Brennen Reece for layout advice.
I hope you enjoyed the book. Do get in touch and tell me
what you thought. Summon me with the words “Sthakhnr
Fgyri” or email me at [email protected].
Konstantinos Liolios (order #5565906)
| textdata/thevault/Call of Cthulhu (CoC) (BRP) [multi]/EXTRA/Resources/Stealing Cthulhu.pdf |
Spell List
Basic Spell List ---- 1
META-COLLEGE..................................................................................................................................... 10
IDENTIFY MAGIC – [1] .............................................................................................................................. 10
MAGE’S CANDLE – [1].............................................................................................................................. 10
MAGI’S GOLD – [1]................................................................................................................................... 10
MINOR CHANNELING– [1]......................................................................................................................... 10
SPELL SHIELD – [1]................................................................................................................................... 10
TRACER – [1] ............................................................................................................................................ 10
WIZARD EYES– [1] ................................................................................................................................... 11
WIZARD SCRIPT – [1]................................................................................................................................ 11
ARCANE BOLT – [2] META COLLEGE....................................................................................................... 11
AURA OF POWER – [2]............................................................................................................................... 11
DISCERN– [2]............................................................................................................................................ 11
MAGE’S ARMOR – [2] ............................................................................................................................... 11
MAGE’S DEFENSE – [2]............................................................................................................................. 11
MAGE’S GRASP – [2]................................................................................................................................. 12
MAGIC SHIELD – [2] ................................................................................................................................. 12
MAGE’S VITALITY – [2]............................................................................................................................ 12
SHARE – [2] .............................................................................................................................................. 12
FLIGHT – [4].............................................................................................................................................. 12
MAGE’S LIFE FORCE – [4]......................................................................................................................... 12
MAJOR CHANNELING – [4]........................................................................................................................ 13
POWER POOL – [4] .................................................................................................................................... 13
TELEPORT – [8]......................................................................................................................................... 13
POWERPORT – [8]...................................................................................................................................... 13
SCRY – [8]................................................................................................................................................. 14
IMPERIAL COLLEGE............................................................................................................................. 15
EYES OF THE MAGI – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4]........................................................................................... 15
ASTRAL BOMB – [1].................................................................................................................................. 15
BLAST SPHERE – [1].................................................................................................................................. 16
CYAN AURA – [1] ..................................................................................................................................... 16
LESSER STAR BOLT – [1] .......................................................................................................................... 16
MAGE’S VOICE – [1]................................................................................................................................. 16
SPARKLING CURTAIN – [1]........................................................................................................................ 16
STAR FIRE – [1]......................................................................................................................................... 16
TELEKINETIC TENTACLE – [1]................................................................................................................... 16
AMBER BANDS– [2] .................................................................................................................................. 16
BLAZING AURA – [2] ................................................................................................................................ 17
DRAIN STRENGTH – [2]............................................................................................................................. 17
EMERALD SPEAR – [2] .............................................................................................................................. 17
LEVITATE – [2] ......................................................................................................................................... 17
MAGE WALL – [2]..................................................................................................................................... 17
MYSTIC BOLT – [2]................................................................................................................................... 17
RANGED SPELL SHIELD – [2] .................................................................................................................... 17
SPECTRAL STAFF – [2] .............................................................................................................................. 18
SPELL SEEKER – [2] .................................................................................................................................. 18
STAR BOLT – [2] ....................................................................................................................................... 18
YELLOW PENTAGRAM – [2] ...................................................................................................................... 18
CLONE ATTACK SPELL – [4] ..................................................................................................................... 18
CRIMSON PORTAL – [4]............................................................................................................................. 18
GLOBE OF CONTAINMENT – [4]................................................................................................................. 18
1
GREATER STAR BOLT – [4] ....................................................................................................................... 19
IMPERIAL ARMOR – [4]
IMPERIAL COLLEGE....................................................................................... 19
MELT WEAPONS – [4]............................................................................................................................... 19
REFLECT SPELL – [4] ................................................................................................................................ 19
SLEEP OF YOUTH – [4] .............................................................................................................................. 19
SPHERE OF DESTRUCTION – [4]................................................................................................................. 19
ABSORB MANA – [8]................................................................................................................................. 20
RAZE – [8] ................................................................................................................................................ 20
STAR HAMMER – [8]................................................................................................................................. 20
THE ELDER SCHOOL............................................................................................................................. 21
MUTATE – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 2,4,8] .................................................................................................... 21
COMPELLING VOICE – [1] ......................................................................................................................... 23
EBON EYES – [1]....................................................................................................................................... 23
ELDRITCH FLAME – [1] ............................................................................................................................. 23
FLESH MARK – [1] .................................................................................................................................... 23
FLOCK OF EYES – [1] ................................................................................................................................ 23
JESTER’S LAUGH – [1]............................................................................................................................... 23
SHADOW VISAGE – [1].............................................................................................................................. 23
SPIDER CRAWL – [1] ................................................................................................................................. 24
STEAL MOUTH – [1].................................................................................................................................. 24
WHISPERING SPHERE – [1]........................................................................................................................ 24
DEATH CLOUD – [2].................................................................................................................................. 24
ELDRITCH FIRE – [2]................................................................................................................................. 24
EVIL BLACK LAUGHING SPHERE – [2] ...................................................................................................... 24
HORRIBLE CREEPING DOOM – [2]............................................................................................................. 25
HORRIFY – [2]........................................................................................................................................... 25
JOKER’S SMILE – [2] ................................................................................................................................. 25
SOUL LASH – [2]....................................................................................................................................... 25
SOUL VISION – [2] .................................................................................................................................... 25
STRANGULATE – [2]................................................................................................................................. 25
STRIKE UGLY– [2] .................................................................................................................................... 25
ATTACK SHADOW – [4]............................................................................................................................. 26
BELL JAR – [4].......................................................................................................................................... 26
BLACK COBWEBS – [4] ............................................................................................................................. 26
DEMONIC TRANSFORMATION – [4]........................................................................................................... 26
ELDRITCH INFERNO – [4] .......................................................................................................................... 27
EYES OF FLESH – [4]................................................................................................................................. 27
FOG OF WAR – [4]..................................................................................................................................... 27
GREEN MIST OF TRANSPORT – [4] ............................................................................................................ 27
MIND SERPENTS – [4] ............................................................................................................................... 27
SLAY – [4]................................................................................................................................................. 28
STEAL YOUTH – [4]................................................................................................................................... 28
TURN WEAPONS TO SNAKES – [4]............................................................................................................. 28
TWISTED CONTRACT – [4] ........................................................................................................................ 28
VISCERAL PYRAMID – [4].......................................................................................................................... 28
WHIRLWIND OF BLADES – [4]................................................................................................................... 29
WRITHING ARMOR – [4]............................................................................................................................ 29
FINGER OF WITHERING – [8]..................................................................................................................... 29
FIRE ELEMENTAL COLLEGE ............................................................................................................. 30
FIRE BALL – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4]........................................................................................................ 30
BURNING EYES– [1].................................................................................................................................. 30
FIRE FRIEND– [1]...................................................................................................................................... 30
HAND OF FIRE – [1]................................................................................................................................... 30
SNUFF – [1]............................................................................................................................................... 30
2
VOICE OF THE FURNACE– [1].................................................................................................................... 31
BLAZING SHIELD – [2] .............................................................................................................................. 31
BURN – [2]................................................................................................................................................ 31
BURNING BANDS – [2] .............................................................................................................................. 31
BURNING BLADES – [2]............................................................................................................................. 31
CIRCLE OF FIRE– [2] ................................................................................................................................. 31
CONE OF FIRE – [2] ................................................................................................................................... 31
FIRE WALL – [2] ....................................................................................................................................... 31
FLAMING BODY – [2]................................................................................................................................ 32
FLAME HAIL – [2] ..................................................................................................................................... 32
PYROMANCY – [2]..................................................................................................................................... 32
FIRE BOLT – [4] ........................................................................................................................................ 32
FIRE LASH– [4] ......................................................................................................................................... 32
PILLAR OF FIRE – [8]................................................................................................................................. 32
EARTH ELEMENTAL COLLEGE......................................................................................................... 34
SUMMON EARTH ELEMENTAL – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4].......................................................................... 34
CLOUD OF PEST REMOVAL– [1]................................................................................................................ 34
FLOWER– [1]............................................................................................................................................. 34
FOOLS FIRE POTION– [1]........................................................................................................................... 34
FOREST WAY – [1].................................................................................................................................... 35
HIDDEN TRAIL– [1]................................................................................................................................... 35
OIL OF CLEANSING– [1]............................................................................................................................ 35
TALLOW OF HEALTH– [1] ......................................................................................................................... 35
WILD WOOD – [1]..................................................................................................................................... 35
GROW GOLDEN VIPER FLOWER – [2]........................................................................................................ 36
HARVEST MOON– [2]................................................................................................................................ 36
MYSTICAL MEDICINE– [2] ........................................................................................................................ 36
SHATTER– [2] ........................................................................................................................................... 36
THORN BARRIER– [2]................................................................................................................................ 36
CREATE SLEEP POTION– [4]...................................................................................................................... 36
EARTH SPIRIT – [4] ................................................................................................................................... 37
SHOCKWAVE– [4] ..................................................................................................................................... 37
WOOD SKIN– [4]....................................................................................................................................... 37
AIR ELEMENTAL COLLEGE................................................................................................................ 38
WHIRLWIND – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4] .................................................................................................... 38
AEROMANCY – [1] .................................................................................................................................... 38
HOWLING BOLT – [1]................................................................................................................................ 38
WHISPERING WIND – [1]........................................................................................................................... 38
WHIRLWIND BLAST – [1] .......................................................................................................................... 38
WIND LEAP – [1]....................................................................................................................................... 39
WIND STORM – [1].................................................................................................................................... 39
ZAP – [1]................................................................................................................................................... 39
ZEPHYR’S EMBRACE – [1]......................................................................................................................... 39
CALL RAIN – [2]....................................................................................................................................... 39
CALL WINDS – [2]..................................................................................................................................... 39
ELECTROCUTE – [2] .................................................................................................................................. 39
ICY WIND – [2] ......................................................................................................................................... 40
LESSER ARC – [2] ..................................................................................................................................... 40
THUNDERBOLT – [2] ................................................................................................................................. 40
UPDRAFT – [2] .......................................................................................................................................... 40
AIR SHIELD – [4]....................................................................................................................................... 40
BLIZZARD – [4]......................................................................................................................................... 40
CALL LIGHTNING – [4].............................................................................................................................. 41
LIGHTNING ORB – [4] ............................................................................................................................... 41
3
TORNADO – [8] ......................................................................................................................................... 41
WATER ELEMENTAL COLLEGE........................................................................................................ 42
MANIPULATE WATER – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4]....................................................................................... 42
CREATE WATER – [1]................................................................................................................................ 42
DRY – [1].................................................................................................................................................. 42
EXTINGUISH – [1]...................................................................................................................................... 42
FIRE WATER – [1] ..................................................................................................................................... 42
PRESSURIZE – [1] ...................................................................................................................................... 43
SING TO FISH – [1] .................................................................................................................................... 43
SONAR – [1] .............................................................................................................................................. 43
AIRY BUBBLE – [2] ................................................................................................................................... 43
BREATHE UNDERWATER – [2]................................................................................................................... 43
MAGICIAN’S TENTACLES – [2].................................................................................................................. 43
PURIFY – [2].............................................................................................................................................. 43
AQUATIC – [4] .......................................................................................................................................... 43
WATER CANNON – [4] .............................................................................................................................. 43
VOID ELEMENTAL COLLEGE ............................................................................................................ 45
DISINTEGRATE– [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4].................................................................................................. 45
STRIP – [1] ................................................................................................................................................ 45
BOLT OF VOID – [2] .................................................................................................................................. 45
IGNORE – [2]............................................................................................................................................. 45
POOL OF VOID – [2] .................................................................................................................................. 45
TROLLING THE VOID – [2]......................................................................................................................... 46
VOID POCKET – [2] ................................................................................................................................... 46
WISDOM OF THE VOID – [2] ...................................................................................................................... 46
SPHERE OF VOID – [4]............................................................................................................................... 47
TENTACLES OF THE VOID – [4].................................................................................................................. 47
VOID WALKER – [4].................................................................................................................................. 47
SUMMONING............................................................................................................................................ 48
MAGE’S GUARDIAN – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4] ......................................................................................... 48
CLOUD OF INSECTS – [1]........................................................................................................................... 49
HOUSE KEEPER – [1]................................................................................................................................. 49
ORGANIZER – [2] ...................................................................................................................................... 49
SUMMON IMP – [2].................................................................................................................................... 49
SUMMON MINOR BATTLE BEAST – [2]...................................................................................................... 51
TABLE A
TABLE B ............................................................................................................................ 51
SUMMON NAMED MINOR DAEMON – [2] .................................................................................................. 52
ARCANE STEED – [4]................................................................................................................................. 53
ASTRAL WATCHDOG – [4] ........................................................................................................................ 53
BOOKKEEPER – [4].................................................................................................................................... 53
BUZZ BOMB – [4]...................................................................................................................................... 54
DAEMON PRIME – [4]................................................................................................................................ 54
MYSTIC SENTRY – [4]............................................................................................................................... 54
SUMMON NAMED MAJOR DAEMON – [4].................................................................................................. 54
WHISPER WYRM – [4]............................................................................................................................... 55
ILLUSIONS AND PHANTASMS............................................................................................................. 56
GREATER PHANTASM – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4]....................................................................................... 56
GLITTER – [1]............................................................................................................................................ 56
ILLUSORY OBJECT – [1] ............................................................................................................................ 56
LIGHT SONG – [1] ..................................................................................................................................... 57
MYSTIC RAINMENT – [1]........................................................................................................................... 57
4
PHANTASMAL BAUBLE – [1] ..................................................................................................................... 57
PHANTASMAL GAME PIECES – [1]............................................................................................................. 57
PHANTASMAL OBJECT – [1 OR 2] ............................................................................................................. 57
REMOVE SHADOW – [1] ............................................................................................................................ 58
SHINE OF VALUE – [1]............................................................................................................................... 58
THROW MIRROR IMAGE – [1].................................................................................................................... 58
BLIND SPOT – [2]...................................................................................................................................... 58
CAMOUFLAGE – [2]................................................................................................................................... 58
DAZZLE – [2] ............................................................................................................................................ 58
ILLUSIONARY MAN – [2].......................................................................................................................... 58
ILLUSORY MESSENGER – [2]..................................................................................................................... 59
IMAGINARY WALL – [2]............................................................................................................................ 59
PHANTASMAL WEAPON – [2].................................................................................................................... 59
PHANTOM MISSILE – [2] ........................................................................................................................... 59
SHIFT – [2] ............................................................................................................................................... 59
ASSUME APPEARANCE – [4]...................................................................................................................... 59
BEAUTIFY – [4]......................................................................................................................................... 60
MULTIPLE IMAGES – [4]............................................................................................................................ 60
PHANTASMAL ARMOR – [4]
ILLUSIONIST.............................................................................................. 60
PHANTASMAL CHARIOT – [4].................................................................................................................... 60
TRIAD PHANTASM – [4] ............................................................................................................................ 61
TRANSCENDENTAL SORCERY........................................................................................................... 62
MYSTIC INFLUENCE – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4] ......................................................................................... 62
DISTRACT – [1] ......................................................................................................................................... 62
IMPENETRABLE SKIN – [1] ........................................................................................................................ 62
PURIFY BODY – [1] ................................................................................................................................... 62
SHARPEN MIND – [1] ................................................................................................................................ 63
SKIN OF IRON – [1].................................................................................................................................... 63
SORCEROUS ENCHANTMENT – [1]............................................................................................................. 63
BODILY NEED – [2]................................................................................................................................... 63
DRAW LIFE FORCE – [2]............................................................................................................................ 63
DRAW ENERGY – [2]................................................................................................................................. 63
IRON FIST – [2].......................................................................................................................................... 63
JUMP – [2]................................................................................................................................................. 64
LEVITATE – [2] ......................................................................................................................................... 64
MIND OVER BODY – [2]............................................................................................................................ 64
MIND SPEECH – [2]................................................................................................................................... 64
NERVE LIGHTNING – [2] ........................................................................................................................... 64
OBJECT EMPATHY – [2] ............................................................................................................................ 64
ONEIROMANCY – [2]................................................................................................................................. 64
PARALYZING THOUGHT – [2].................................................................................................................... 65
REPEL – [2]............................................................................................................................................... 65
SPEED – [2] ............................................................................................................................................... 65
SUGGESTION – [2]..................................................................................................................................... 65
TERRIFYING THOUGHT – [2] ..................................................................................................................... 65
DETECT MIND – [4]................................................................................................................................... 65
FASCINATE – [4] ....................................................................................................................................... 65
MIND OVER MATTER – [4]........................................................................................................................ 66
REPELLING BLOCK – [4] ........................................................................................................................... 66
BODY OF MIND – [8]................................................................................................................................. 66
ASTROLOGY ............................................................................................................................................ 67
CAST FORTUNE – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4] ................................................................................................ 67
CELESTIAL FAVOR – [1]............................................................................................................................ 67
STARRY EYES– [1].................................................................................................................................... 67
5
CREATE CHART – [2] ................................................................................................................................ 68
DETECT DANGER – [2].............................................................................................................................. 68
ENCHANT BIRTHSTONE– [2] ..................................................................................................................... 68
SEEK OMEN – [2] ...................................................................................................................................... 68
SEND SIGN – [2]........................................................................................................................................ 68
ASTROLOGER’S WARD– [4] ...................................................................................................................... 68
NECROMANCY ........................................................................................................................................ 70
MONSTER – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4]......................................................................................................... 70
ANIMATE SKELETON – [2] ........................................................................................................................ 70
AURA OF LIFE – [2]................................................................................................................................... 71
AURA OF DEATH – [2]............................................................................................................................... 71
COLD HAND– [2] ...................................................................................................................................... 71
NECROMANTIC WOOD – [2]...................................................................................................................... 71
SKULL WATCHER– [2] .............................................................................................................................. 71
STASIS – [2] .............................................................................................................................................. 71
STRENGTH OF THE DEAD – [2] .................................................................................................................. 71
TORMENT LOST SOULS / SPEAK WITH RECENTLY DEAD – [2] .................................................................. 72
TRANSFUSION – [2]................................................................................................................................... 72
VACCINE – [2]........................................................................................................................................... 72
WEAR BODY – [2]..................................................................................................................................... 72
CONJURE SPIRIT– [4] ................................................................................................................................ 72
GOOSEFLESH – [4] .................................................................................................................................... 73
STEAL STRENGTH– [4].............................................................................................................................. 73
TRANSPLANT – [4] .................................................................................................................................... 73
UNLIFE – [4] ............................................................................................................................................. 73
VAMPIRE’S TOUCH– [4]............................................................................................................................ 74
WRAITH’S TOUCH– [4] ............................................................................................................................. 74
FOG OF DEATH– [8] .................................................................................................................................. 74
ARMY OF DARKNESS – [8] ........................................................................................................................ 74
THAUMATURGY ..................................................................................................................................... 75
CIRCLE OF POWER– [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4]............................................................................................. 75
GLYPH OF DESTRUCTION – [1].................................................................................................................. 75
GLYPH OF FIRE – [1] ................................................................................................................................. 75
GLYPH OF SEALING – [1] .......................................................................................................................... 75
RUNE OF ALARM – [1] .............................................................................................................................. 75
RUNE OF LIGHT – [1] ................................................................................................................................ 76
RUNE OF OWNERSHIP– [1] ........................................................................................................................ 76
RUNE OF STRENGTH – [1] ......................................................................................................................... 76
SYMBOL OF UNWELCOMENESS – [1]......................................................................................................... 76
TRIANGLE OF PROTECTION– [1]................................................................................................................ 76
PENTAGON OF CONTAINMENT – [2] .......................................................................................................... 76
PENTAGRAM OF SUMMONING – [2]........................................................................................................... 77
RUNE OF POWER – [2]............................................................................................................................... 77
RUNE OF WARDING – [2] .......................................................................................................................... 77
CIRCLE OF PROTECTION – [4].................................................................................................................... 77
CIRCLE OF SEEING – [4] ............................................................................................................................ 77
CIRCLE OF TRANSPORT – [4]..................................................................................................................... 77
LINE OF DEVASTATION – [4]..................................................................................................................... 78
RUNE OF LOCKING – [4]............................................................................................................................ 78
SQUARE OF FORCE– [4]............................................................................................................................. 78
WORDS OF BINDING – [4].......................................................................................................................... 78
WITCHCRAFT.......................................................................................................................................... 79
FAMILIAR – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4]......................................................................................................... 79
6
ARUSPICY – [1/2/4] .................................................................................................................................. 79
BANE – [1] ................................................................................................................................................ 80
BLESS– [1]................................................................................................................................................ 80
BREW OF HEALTH– [1] ............................................................................................................................. 80
CURSE – [1]............................................................................................................................................... 80
CURSED/BLESSED WAX – [1].................................................................................................................... 80
DETECT UNSEEMLY AURA – [1]................................................................................................................ 80
GLAMOUR– [1] ......................................................................................................................................... 81
MENDING BALM– [1]................................................................................................................................ 81
PATCH – [1 OR 2]...................................................................................................................................... 81
REFRESHING DRINK– [1]........................................................................................................................... 81
RIP HAIR – [1]........................................................................................................................................... 81
SHADOW CLOAK – [1]............................................................................................................................... 81
WAKING DREAMS – [1]............................................................................................................................. 81
ANALGESIC – [2]....................................................................................................................................... 82
CANDLE MAGIC – [2/1]............................................................................................................................. 82
CAULDRON OF GOSSIP – [2]...................................................................................................................... 82
CHARM – [2] ............................................................................................................................................. 82
CURSE OF MICE – [2] ................................................................................................................................ 82
CURSE OF SPIDERS – [2]............................................................................................................................ 83
DROUGHT OF ANIMOSITY – [2] ................................................................................................................. 83
DROUGHT OF ENCHANTMENT – [2]........................................................................................................... 83
DROUGHT OF SLEEP – [2].......................................................................................................................... 83
DRAUGHT OF TRUTH – [2] ........................................................................................................................ 83
ENCHANTING VOICE – [2]......................................................................................................................... 84
EVIL EYE – [2] .......................................................................................................................................... 84
FOLLOWING CHARM – [2]......................................................................................................................... 84
GLITCH – [2]............................................................................................................................................. 84
HAUNT – [2].............................................................................................................................................. 84
HEXBREAKER – [2] ................................................................................................................................... 84
HOLD FAST– [2]........................................................................................................................................ 85
HOLD TONGUE – [2].................................................................................................................................. 85
JINX – [2].................................................................................................................................................. 85
LASH – [2]................................................................................................................................................. 85
LISTENING MARK – [2] ............................................................................................................................. 85
MURDER OF CROWS – [2].......................................................................................................................... 85
NIGHTMARE CURSE – [2] .......................................................................................................................... 85
PREVENT BIRTH – [2]................................................................................................................................ 86
SNEAK – [2] .............................................................................................................................................. 86
STEAL HARVEST – [2]............................................................................................................................... 86
STEAL UNBORN CHILD – [2] ..................................................................................................................... 86
STRIKE MUTE – [2] ................................................................................................................................... 86
WITCHBOLT – [2]...................................................................................................................................... 86
WITCH’S CANDLES – [2] ........................................................................................................................... 87
WITCH’S DOOR – [2]................................................................................................................................. 87
YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE – [2] ................................................................................................................. 87
ETERNAL YOUTH – [4].............................................................................................................................. 87
EYE FOR AN EYE – [4]............................................................................................................................... 87
SLAVE – [4]............................................................................................................................................... 87
SYMPATHY– [4] ........................................................................................................................................ 88
REJUVENATE – [8] .................................................................................................................................... 88
SPIRIT......................................................................................................................................................... 89
ARMOR OF LIGHT – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4]............................................................................................. 89
BLESS – [1] ............................................................................................................................................... 89
EYES OF LIGHT – [1] ................................................................................................................................. 89
7
LEND STRENGTH – [1]............................................................................................................................... 89
QUIETING TOUCH – [1] ............................................................................................................................. 89
SHEPHERD’S’ VOICE – [1]......................................................................................................................... 90
SHINING ARMOR – [1]............................................................................................................................... 90
TAKE DISEASE – [1].................................................................................................................................. 90
TAKE PAIN– [1]......................................................................................................................................... 90
UNDEAD’S BANE – [1] .............................................................................................................................. 90
BANDS OF LIGHT – [2] .............................................................................................................................. 90
BLINDING LIGHT – [2]............................................................................................................................... 90
BRILLIANT ARMOR – [2]........................................................................................................................... 91
CURE DISEASE – [2].................................................................................................................................. 91
FIST OF POWER – [2] ................................................................................................................................. 91
HEXBREAKER – [2] ................................................................................................................................... 91
MINOR HEAL – [2] .................................................................................................................................... 91
PENITENT STARE – [2] .............................................................................................................................. 91
PLAGUE IMMUNITY – [2]........................................................................................................................... 91
READ AURA – [2]...................................................................................................................................... 92
TAKE HURT – [2] ...................................................................................................................................... 92
UNDEAD’S TERROR – [2] .......................................................................................................................... 92
VATICINATION – [2].................................................................................................................................. 92
HEAL – [4] ................................................................................................................................................ 92
MAJOR HEAL – [4].................................................................................................................................... 92
SAVE FROM DEATH’S DOOR – [4]............................................................................................................. 93
SHIELD OF LIGHT – [4].............................................................................................................................. 93
SOOTHESAY – [4]...................................................................................................................................... 93
TAKE WOUND – [4]................................................................................................................................... 93
THE GIVER OF SLEEP (FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT) - [8]............................................................................ 93
ALCHEMY................................................................................................................................................. 94
LEAD TO GOLD – [SIGNATURE SPELL: 2,4,8].......................................................................................... 94
COMPASS – [1].......................................................................................................................................... 94
CLOUD OF SMOKE – [1]............................................................................................................................. 95
OIL OF BINDING – [1]............................................................................................................................... 95
OIL OF CLEANLINESS – [1] ....................................................................................................................... 95
OIL OF ILLUMINATING – [1] ...................................................................................................................... 95
POTION OF MANA – [1] ............................................................................................................................. 95
POTION OF REPLENISHING POWER – [1].................................................................................................... 95
SHOCK WAND – [1]................................................................................................................................... 95
ANTIDOTE – [2]......................................................................................................................................... 95
ELIXIR OF STRENGTH– [2]......................................................................................................................... 96
FIRE BOLT WAND – [2]............................................................................................................................. 96
GOLEM – [2,4,8]....................................................................................................................................... 96
HEALING POTION – [2].............................................................................................................................. 96
OIL OF FORTITUDE– [2]............................................................................................................................. 97
OIL OF SLICKNESS – [2] ............................................................................................................................ 97
OIL OF STRENGTH– [2].............................................................................................................................. 97
PHOENIX BLOOD POTION – [2].................................................................................................................. 97
SWORD STONE +1 BLOODLETTER – [2] .................................................................................................... 97
SWORD STONE +1 DAMAGE – [2] ............................................................................................................. 97
SWORD STONE +1 DEFENDER – [2]........................................................................................................... 97
SWORD STONE +1 STRIKER – [2] .............................................................................................................. 97
SWORD STONE +3 PENETRATION – [2]...................................................................................................... 98
WATER TO ACID – [2] ............................................................................................................................... 98
ALCHEMICAL CANNON – [4]..................................................................................................................... 98
ALCHEMICAL ENGINE – [4]....................................................................................................................... 98
ELIXIR OF IMMUNITY TO WEAPONS – [4].................................................................................................. 98
8
SPECIAL PURPOSE TOXIN – [4].................................................................................................................. 98
BARDIC MAGIC..................................................................................................................................... 100
SILVER TONGUE– [SIGNATURE SPELL: 4].............................................................................................. 100
AMPLIFIER– [1]....................................................................................................................................... 100
LEGERDEMAIN LYRICS – [1] ................................................................................................................... 100
LIGHT SHOW – [1]................................................................................................................................... 101
MELODIOUS VOICE – [1]......................................................................................................................... 101
TRAVELLING DITTY– [1]......................................................................................................................... 101
SOOTHE BEAST– [1]................................................................................................................................ 101
SOTTO VOCE – [1]................................................................................................................................... 101
BATTLE HYMN– [2] ................................................................................................................................ 101
CACOPHONY – [2]................................................................................................................................... 101
DIRGE OF DOOM– [2].............................................................................................................................. 101
DISCORDANT NOTES– [2] ....................................................................................................................... 102
DRINKING SONG– [2].............................................................................................................................. 102
HARMONY– [2] ....................................................................................................................................... 102
HAUNTING MELODY– [2]........................................................................................................................ 102
IMPROVISATION ON A THEME– [2].......................................................................................................... 102
LOVE SONG (MATCHMAKER)– [2] .......................................................................................................... 102
LULLABYE– [2]....................................................................................................................................... 103
OMINOUS CRESCENDO – [2].................................................................................................................... 103
RESTFUL MELODY– [2]........................................................................................................................... 103
RIDICULE– [2]......................................................................................................................................... 103
SONG OF THE STONES– [2]...................................................................................................................... 103
THE LAST WORD (POWER PUN)– [2] ...................................................................................................... 104
WAR BALLAD– [2].................................................................................................................................. 104
CAST SONG UPON THE WIND (WIND SONG) – [4 OR 2].......................................................................... 104
DISCHORD – [4]....................................................................................................................................... 105
IRRESISTIBLE JIG– [4] ............................................................................................................................. 105
SYMPHONY OF DESTRUCTION (BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE) – [4]....................................................... 105
SYMPHONY OF DECIMATION – [8]........................................................................................................... 105
9
Meta-College
Description: There is no “Meta-College” skill. These are spells that are common to all colleges.
Any mage of any school may learn them so long as they are of sufficient ability (e.g. a 2 point
Meta-College spell requires that the mage have at least a Level 2 skill in an art).
Identify Magic – [1]
This spell allows a basic form of item identification. Casting it will tell the mage what triggers an item and
something about what the item does. The player makes a skill roll and, if the GM deems that the item in
question is not extremely exotic, deliberately obfuscated, or otherwise hard to identify the caster will know in
general terms what triggers it and what it does.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Instant
Normal
None
Mage’s Candle – [1]
The mage creates a “will-o-the-wisp” which follows the caster shedding light as a lantern while the spell
lasts. The radius is about 10 yards of good illumination and a cumulative –1 perception roll for each 4 yards
thereafter.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Continuing
Walking
None
Magi’s Gold – [1]
The preferred form by which mages pay: a sum of coins are taken and laid on a surface and the spell is
cast. In the place is a spinning coin with an ank in the center. The metal of the coin is not certain. When a
certain act comes to pass the coin (which, when placed on its side will begin to spin) will return to its original
state). The spell knows if the even comes to pass through a form of precognition and ESP—the person to
be paid need not perform the event . . . and the coin does not guarantee that the proceeds will be spread
fairly. Other than performing the agreed upon event, there is no way to tell how much money is in the coin
and there is no way to get the money out. Identify spells can tell what event will trigger a coin. Note: While
the caster need not be present to trigger the coin, the event must be one which the caster could, at the time
of casting, verify (possibly with the addition of some physical proof). The intent of this rule is to prevent the
spell from being used as an augury. The GM must decide if the coin’s condition is being misused (i.e. it
can’t tell “if the right fork in the path will lead us to home” but could key on “the death of the King” since the
caster would presumably know quickly about the death of the monarch.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Transmutation
Normal
None
Minor Channeling– [1]
The mage can lend his mana to another caster. The Minor Channeling spell has a range like that of a
normal ranged attack. The caster must roll to hit a willing target (if out of combat, this roll need not be made
if the caster is within 10 yards of the target). Each turn the Channeling is in progress, the caster must spend
8 REA. Each turn, the caster may spend 6 Long Term mana to give the target +4 (if the sending mage has
only a fraction of that left, it may all be sent). A mage may only receive power from one version of this spell
at once.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12 + 6
Continuing
Sprinting
None
Spell Shield – [1]
With a 0 REA Short action and the expenditure of mana, the mage conjures an invisible hemisphere of force
that lasts for one turn. While Spell Shield is up, the mage may block attacks (magical or otherwise) with a 3
REA Short action. It acts as a small, medium, or large shield based on the mana spent on it (-1, +0, or +1 to
the roll respectively). If the character wants to upgrade his shield, he pays the difference whenever he
wishes (even as he blocks). The character’s block roll is based on his Magical Combat Skill. The Spell
Shield may be raised with the 3 REA block.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
2, 5, 9
Defensive
Normal
None
Tracer – [1]
The spell is casts on an item or person (through touch) and lasts 24 hours. While the spell lasts the caster
will be aware of the item’s location and general condition. The tracer may be removed by anti-magic and is
10
visible to anyone with magic sight. Certain magics may block the tracer and a normal person who has been
traced gets a WIL roll at –2 to feel watched (Intuition gets +4 to detect it). The range of the Tracer is WIL / 2
(round up) miles.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Continuing
None
None
Wizard Eyes– [1]
When cast, so long as any light is available, the mage can see in the dark as well as if she were in daylight.
The mage can see in color. While this spell runs, the user’s eyes radiate power and, depending on the
character’s primary college, the mage’s eyes may take on unusual attributes suggestive of their school (so a
witch’s eyes may become cat’s eyes, an astrologer’s eyes may go sparkly like the night sky, and a water
mage’s might glow with a soft blue light). If there is absolutely no light at all, the mage cannot see with this
spell. This power may Intimidate those not accustomed to magic if they see the mage’s eyes.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Continuing
Walking
None
Wizard Script – [1]
When the spell is cast on a letter, the writing becomes unintelligible, shifting glyphs. The key is one of these
things: a proper name (a person with that name may read it—a legally changed name may or may not work
depending on the GM’s discretion), a spoken password, an official title, or a certain event passing (after
which anyone may read the note).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Transmutation
Normal
None
Arcane Bolt – [2] Meta College
When cast, the mage hurls a prismatic shaft of light that lances the unfortunate target for 8 PEN damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Aura of Power – [2]
This simple but potent spell cloaks the caster in an aura of mystery and power. It is most effective against
provincial types who are not familiar with it or mages. While the spell continues the caster gains +4 points of
Presence. Characters familiar with mages get an RES roll to ignore the effects (even if they are otherwise
affected by psychology rolls). Also called Magi’s Raiment, it is still a common way for mages to travel.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Continuing
Walking
+4 Presence
Discern– [2]
When the mage casts this spell, his senses sharpen to an amazing degree. For every 2 mana spent, the
character “buys “ 1 Character Point of Keen Senses. Therefore, a mage who spends 8 mana on Discern
can “buy” 4 points worth of Keen Senses in whatever configuration he wishes. To maintain the heightened
senses costs [½ the mana it required to initially cast the spell] mana per turn. So, if a mage’s Discern
cost 16 points to initially cast, it would cost 8 mana each turn to keep it going. If the mage wishes to change
the levels or configuration of his enhanced senses, he must cast the spell anew.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Varies
Continuing
Walking
None
Mage’s Armor – [2]
When this spell is cast, the mage in protected by an invisible force that provides 2 / 6 armor. Casting this
spell is a 5 REA Short action and will be obvious to any mage who sees it happen. This does not stack with
any other armor or (whether from spells or otherwise) but; if the mage has better protection, it is used
instead of Mage’s Armor. It will stack with non-armor Protection type spells.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
9
Protection
Walking
5 REA Short
Mage’s Defense – [2]
The caster is protected by an invisible aura. The aura absorbs up to 8 points of damage total from incoming
magical attacks (no effect vs. physical attacks). Each point the armor absorbs reduces its power by one
point. This effect occurs outside any worn armor or other Protection-type spells that isn’t ablative (it the
11
character is protected by an ablative Protection-type spell, the character decides from which spell armor is
removed first). In the case of Penetrating attacks, if the remaining defense of the aura is greater than half
the Base Damage of the incoming attack, the attack automatically fails to penetrate. If the remaining
defense of the aura is half or less than the Base Damage of the attack, then the attack rolls to penetrate
normally, ignoring the aura for penetration purposes (it still reduces damage, though). Casting this spell is a
5 REA Short action. When running, the caster can reduce the Effect of PWR. vs. STAT attacks by 1 point of
effect per spell point spent (up to a maximum of 4 points of effect).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
9
Protection
Walking
5 REA Short
Mage’s Grasp – [2]
The mage can grab and manipulate small items at range. The mage can lift up to WIL / 4 lbs. in weight at
up to WIL yards distance. Only one object can be held at a time. The mage can hold double his allowed
weight by spending 3 extra mana (6 total) and expending Running endurance. He can hold triple the weight
by burning 9 extra mana (12 total) and using Sprinting endurance.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3
Continuing
Walking
None
Magic Shield – [2]
When a caster’s defenses are raised, he has 3 / 6 armor only vs. Magical attack. Casting this spell is a 5
REA short action and will be obvious to any mage who sees it happen. This does not stack with any other
armor or armor spells. If the mage has better protection, it is used instead of Magic Shield.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Blocking
Walking
5 REA Short
Mage’s Vitality – [2]
While running, the mage gets +4 DP. These Damage Points modify the mage’s wound rolls while the spell
is active. If the mage suffers damage, they are taken first. When the spell stops, if the character’s Condition
Level gets worse, he suffers the appropriate wound. Only one spell that increases Damage Points may be
run at a time. This spell may only be cast once per day. It may not normally be cast on another, but if
shared it does not heal but simply adds damage points while in effect (the wound remains). It will change
condition level for the better, though, if the points add up right.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Transformation
Normal
None
Share – [2]
This spell allows the mage to let any Meta-College spell that would normally affect only the caster himself to
benefit others as well. The mana cost is 5 for each additional person beyond the mage himself (spent the
turn the magician chooses to Share); the endurance cost is 1 point extra for each additional person the
mage Shares with. Therefore a mage who extends Wizard Eyes (4 mana, Walking endurance) with two
compatriots would spend a total of 14 mana and expend 3 endurance points every 15 minutes). Although
the mage does not have to spend the extra mana to Share on the same turn, and thus save Long Term
mana, he may have to (you can’t Share a Teleport the turn after you’ve gone).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
5+
Varies
Varies
None
Flight – [4]
The mage can fly at 16 / Mass yards per second at Running endurance. If desired, a mage can fly at 32 /
Mass yards per second at Sprinting endurance if he spends an additional 18 mana the turn he wants to
speed up (thus a ground-bound mage who wants to start flying at top speed in one turn pays 36 mana for
the privilege).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Continuing
Varies
None
Mage’s Life Force – [4]
While running, the mage gets +8 DP. These Damage Points modify the mage’s wound rolls while the spell
is active. If the mage suffers damage, they are taken first. When the spell stops, if the character’s Condition
Level gets worse, he suffers the appropriate wound. Only one spell that increases Damage Points may be
12
run at a time. This spell may only be cast once per day. It may not normally be cast on another, but if
shared it does not heal but simply adds damage points while in effect (the wound remains). It will change
condition level for the better, though, if the points add up right.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Transformation
Normal
None
Major Channeling – [4]
Like Minor Channeling, except that this spell may be sent over a vast distance. The caster may send the
target mana in lots of up to 24 points for a cost of 36 (or a fraction thereof). To target, the caster must know
the exact location of the target in reference to him. This means the caster must be in communication, have
a tracer, etc.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20 + 36
Continuing
Sprinting
None
Power Pool – [4]
When leading a ceremony, a mage may attempt to collect a pool of power with this spell. A Power Pool only
has the power that is Channeled to it. The caster sets up the pool, playing Walking Endurance for each
second the pool lasts. The Pool stores the energy sent to it. When the caster is ready to cast his spell, he
may tap into the pool and cast the spell normally. He may not, however, use any of his own mana to cast a
spell with the pool unless he channeled him there himself. Multiple casters can contribute to a pool. The
drawback is that pools above a certain level become dangerous. If the pool is used to store more power
than the controller’s Long Term Spell point maximum (natural—gear doesn’t count) then it becomes
unstable rapidly. Each point of power that is put into the pool forces a WIL roll at –1. If the roll is made, the
pool is stable that second, and may be cast from. If the roll is missed by 0 – 4, the pool drops to half power,
and will collapse totally that turn. This causes an electrical discharge. If missed by 5 – 9, the pool will
collapse instantly in a flash of light and thunder. The controller will suffer an energy attack based on ½ the
Power in the pool, with a 14- to-hit roll. Everyone within a 10 yard radius will suffer the same attack based
on ¼ of the power in the pool. If failed by 10+, the effects are as above except with 1x power damage to the
caster and ½ power damage to everyone in 10 yards (14- to hit).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Continuing
Walking
None
Teleport – [8]
An arcane spell known only to a few sorcerers, this spell allows for the instant transportation of the mage.
The maximum amount of distance the mage can teleport is WILx2 miles and the endurance cost is equal to
the number of miles traveled (minimum of 1). There is a risk in teleporting though: if the character is
unfamiliar with the area he wishes to transport to, he may not by accurate (or safe) on arrival. Unless the
place in question is very familiar to the mage (somewhere he has lived for at least a month), he must make a
RES roll with the following modifiers:
•
Line of sight: +3; this means the character can see exactly where he will appear (a mage transporting to
a glen he sees across the river receives this modifier, a mage wishing to teleport into a room whose
darkened window he sees from 100 feet below does not)
•
Somewhat familiar: no modifier; the character must make a MEM roll at –3 to be able to consider an
area where he has been a few times “somewhat familiar”
•
Unfamiliar: -3; if the character fails his MEM roll or wishes to teleport somewhere he has only been to
once or twice, it is considered “unfamiliar”.
•
Blind: -5; this means that the character has never been to the place he wishes to appear
If the caster fails the roll, the character appears [(1/10th of the total distance teleported) x (the amount
the roll was failed by)] away in a random direction. The spell will not allow a mage to teleport into an
occupied space (the spell will cause the mage to occupy the nearest available space up to its maximum
range or it will fail).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Instant
Varies
None
Powerport – [8]
An even more esoteric version of Teleport, this spell allows mages to teleport up to WIL2 miles distance.
The endurance cost is 1/8 per mile traveled (round up, minimum of 1) and if the teleportation site is within 1
mile, the mana cost is only 20, otherwise it’s 40. In all other ways, this spell is just like Teleport. To learn
Powerport, the mage must first learn Teleport. Only a handful of mages know this spell and finding one who
will teach it to the character is sure to be a difficult (and expensive) task.
13
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Scry – [8]
A spell usually found only among Archons and above (but not always), this spell allows the mage to see
events that have happened, will happen, or are happening. The spell requires a shiny, reflective surface
(like a mirror, a pool of water, or a crystal ball). The information comes as a diorama of events visible
through the reflective surface. The spell acts as Extra Sensory Perception or Far Precognition at [WIL+5]
PWR and skill. Far Precognition can also be used to learn things about the past as it does the future.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Divination
WIL
None
20 or 40
Instant
Varies
None
14
Imperial College
Description: The mages of the Imperial College defined magic in terms of mathematics. Their
spells are constructed to give their disciples efficient (and powerful) abilities. Although an
Imperial College practitioner needn’t have the Mathematics skill to learn this branch of magecraft,
knowing math makes it easier to learn. With Level 2 Mathematics (and at least a 12- roll), the
mage may buy Imperial College magic skill at RES+1. At Level 3, he can buy skill at RES+2. At
Level, he purchases the skill at RES+4.
Level 1: Imperial Student. The character is adept in the skill of Mathemagics—the mathematical
science of magic. The character does not understand higher math in the way implied by the
Mathematics skill but rather, something closer to “symbolic logic.” Proper study and work on a
spell can improve a caster’s understanding of it. If an apprentice makes 6 rolls in a row, each roll
taking 1 hour, a spell can be learned at the end of the study. Normally learning a spell takes
considerably longer (about 1 week per point of spell cost). This work can be saved and, if a
character with the skill gets access to a library of Mathemagics research, a single Level 2
Mathemagics roll can be made to learn a spell in 6 hours (again, if the character has the
character points). Magical colleges will usually have legions of apprentices working on spells for
their research libraries.
Level 2: Imperial Scholar. The character can use the notes of others to learn a spell quickly as
described above by understanding the mathematical application of the magic. Additionally, at
Level 2, the mage can make a roll with several hours of study to learn what triggers a magical
item. This doesn’t tell what the item does (although a well-made roll may yield some insight) but
will reveal conditions under which the magic might manifest, command words, and other such
data. Application of this requires magical meditation, and a lab for testing (without a lab the roll is
at –3).
Level 3: Imperial Mage. The character has an expert grasp of the codified system of
mathematical magics. The character can use Advanced Mathemagics to simplify the casting of
spell. A spell can have its casting cost reduced by 2pts if the casting character makes a Level 3
skill roll while reading from a book of Mathimagical formulas. Creating these formulas takes 5
successful skill rolls, each taking 20 hours of work. Using the formulas in practice requires the
caster have the book open near-by to the appropriate page and that the character take a 3 REA
short action to read the appropriate page and make a successful skill roll. Books of this nature
(each page of math is for a specific spell) are very rare and valuable.
Level 4: Master Mathemagician.
Eyes of the Magi – [Signature Spell: 4]
The caster’s eyes glow with an eerie light while the spell is in effect. The character sees magical auras as
distinct lines of force, cause and effect, and stored energy. A skill roll can determine the nature of any
magical effect. The roll is at –2 for each point of spell purchase cost above 2 (so a 4 point spell is at –4 and
an 8 point spell is at –12 to decipher). Because the mage sees the spell so clearly he may negate its effects
more easily: for 4 REA and 4 mana, the caster may use his modified skill roll as a block.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Continuing
Running
4 REA block
Astral Bomb – [1]
The bomb appears as a glowing blue ball of light with small white twinkles in it (it is difficult to see in bright
light for a –2 perception roll). When cast it has a timer: 1 second, 3 seconds, or when triggered. It may be
cast at up to 12 yards range. If set with a trigger it has a 14- perception roll for some physical event (it
cannot distinguish between different people). It explodes for 12 damage with a +4 Damage Modifier.
Furthermore, any being in the area will suffer a L2 Psionic Blast at [WIL-3] PWR. This is [WIL] PWR
against characters who are Psionic, sensitive, magical, or otherwise attuned. It is [WIL+2] PWR against Out
of Phase characters or those with Astral Bodies.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Trigger
Normal
None
15
Blast Sphere – [1]
The caster throws a green light that expands suddenly into a sphere of green, turbulent magical energy (the
explosion makes the sound of a single musical chord). Everything within a 2 yard Radius takes 4 points of
damage from the blast with a flat +4 Damage Modifier. For simplification purposes, a roll to hit may be made
against the ‘area’ so there are no AGI modifiers in play.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Ranged Attack
Normal
4 DMG
Cyan Aura – [1]
The caster is surrounded by a faint blue aura. While the spell continues the character gets a –2 DM against
any physical attack. This is applied before checking for doubling from penetration damage. If the character
has any other form of damage reduction this will give only an additional –1 DM instead of –2.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
9
Continuing
Running
-2 DM
Lesser Star Bolt – [1]
The magician fires a bolt of white glowing power that strikes for 8 points of energy damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Mage’s Voice – [1]
The character’s spoken command acts like the Influence ability with Power equal to the character’s WIL.
There is no roll to hit. If this ever achieves a failure result against the target, the target will be aware the
voice is being used against him (making immediate use virtually impossible).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Instant
Normal
PWR is WIL
Sparkling Curtain – [1]
The spell creates a bluish-white sparking curtain of light in a doorway. The maximum area is 4 yards by 4
yards. This curtain emits small chime sounds and glows. From the caster’s side, one can see and hear
through it normally. From the other side it is opaque and no sound will pass. If anything passes through it
(spell, ranged attack, someone walking through) from the caster’s side, it will collapse. Things may pass the
other way without disrupting it. It may be used to have a private conversation or to observe from an obvious,
but impressive vantage point (note, it may be cast between two poles, trees, or other support.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Continuing
Walking
None
Star Fire – [1]
Mystical light bursts chaotically from the caster’s hands. This is an extremely short-ranged ranged attack
spell. It has a maximum distance of 3 yards (Long reach) and gets a +2 Large Weapon Bonus (the plus to
hit does not apply to damage mods). It strikes for 6 points of damage. Because of the chaotic nature of the
spell, it cannot be aimed with.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
9
Ranged Attack
Normal
6 DMG
Telekinetic Tentacle – [1]
The spell creates additional, invisible limbs. Each “tentacle” is 3 yards long and can lift 30 pounds of weight.
Each tentacle created cost an additional endurance point (so three tentacles costs the caster 3 endurance
each 15 minutes). The primary purpose of the tentacles to aid the caster in alchemical endeavors—books,
potions, and other implements may swirl around the caster as he works. It also allows an impressive game
of chess (no one touches the pieces). In grappling combat having 4 or more gives +1 Grapple Score.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
1
Continuing—Multicast (+0)
Walking
3 yard TK
Amber Bands– [2]
A target hit by the spell is wrapped in glowing amber bans. The bands have 3pts of armor, 15 DP, and an
Offensive Grapple of 8. Character’s in the grab will be at –4 damage modifiers to break the bonds.
Advanced Note: purists can give the bonds an STC roll of 15-.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Ranged Attack
Normal
Tangle attack
16
Blazing Aura – [2]
The caster blazes with a red-yellow corona. This shield may be erected as a 3 REA Short action, or cast
normally and maintained for Running Endurance. While active, the caster takes –4 DM vs. non-magical
ranged attack and –2 DM vs. non-magical HTH attack. If combined with a similar but more powerful
protective spell (or other defense) it adds 1 to the protective damage modifiers. The spell costs 16 mana
when cast and the user must maintain it with 4 mana each turn.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16 then 4
Blocking
Running
-4 DM
Drain Strength – [2]
The caster fires a yellow ray from his hand that will weaken a living target. This is a PWR vs. STAT attack
with a PWR of WIL. It works against CON and is at –1 PWER for each 5 DP the target has above 10. The
Minor Effect is a loss of –1 STR and –1 REA for 1 turn. The Standard Effect is a loss of –2 STR and –1
REA for 1 turn. The Major Effect is the loss of –2 STR and –2 REA for two turns. The Critical Effect is the
loss of –2 STR and –5 REA for two turns. The Catastrophic Effect is the loss of –3 STR and –8 REA for
three turns. A target whose STR falls below 7 will fall. A target whose STR is reduced to 8 must make a
STR roll at +1 (9 or less) or fall.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Ranged Attack
Normal
WIL
Emerald Spear – [2]
The mage throws a spear of green light. It strikes for 12 points of penetrating damage. The spell takes two
medium actions: one to cast (and create) and one to throw. The spear cannot be held (the two actions must
be over one or two turns).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Levitate – [2]
The mage can float at a rate of 8 / Mass yards per second in any direction. This counts as a Move action.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Continuing
Walking
None
Mage Wall – [2]
A glowing purple wall of [WIL] square yards appears in the air. It must be anchored on one side (it doesn’t
float) and it has 2 points of Armor and 20 DP. Once the DP are destroyed, the wall will collapse (it takes no
penetrating damage and has no STC). Casting magic through the wall won’t work, but every Spell Point
spent on the spell will reduce the DP by 1, if the spell costs more DP than the wall has, the spell goes
through but the GM should reduce the power of the spell somehow (usually by ¼). If the spell does
damage, the wall is reduced by the mana and the damage done.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Create Wall
Normal
None
Mystic Bolt – [2]
The caster throws a purple bolt which does energy damage. The Mystic Bolt ignores all negative damage
modifiers due to immunity to magic. The bolt does 3 points of damage. Since it may be Multicast, a mage
can throw more than one: all hit with the same to-hit and damage modifier roll and the wound type is
determined by the total damage done (the target only makes one CON roll). Each additional Bolt fired at
once costs one point more than the last (second bolt cost 3 points, the third costs 4 points).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
2
Ranged Attack—Multicast (+1)
Normal
3 Damage
Ranged Spell Shield – [2]
The caster can use the Spell Shield effect against spells not targeted at him. In this case, the block cost +1
REA but otherwise functions normally. Note that it also cost +1 Spell Point. Blocking an attack at a target
greater than 5 yards in distance is at –1 for each 5 yards (standard Ranged Attack modifier).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3, 7, 12
Blocking
Normal
Blocking spell
17
Spectral Staff – [2]
The mage creates a glowing green staff of energy. It acts as a HTH weapon and can be used with either
Sword or Staff skill. The staff’s strike does 9 points of Impact damage, costs 5 REA to swing, and may be
used with a Full Strike. It lasts so long as the endurance to keep it going is paid (note that a turn of fighting
with it costs 1 Endurance in addition to the Running Endurance it costs to maintain).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Continuing
Running
9 damage
Spell Seeker – [2]
The Spell Seeker is a counterstrike that travels back along the path of a ranged attack spell towards the
caster. It only targets spell effects that originate from a caster (if the spell effect causes the damage to come
from another source the Seeker will seek that source). The Seeker is a slow missile that looks like a glowing
blue ball of lighting. When the caster declares a block he may also declare the casting of a Seeker spell. If
the block is successful, the spell seeker is immediately launched. The blocking mage pays 5 REA (in
addition to the block) and makes a to-hit roll. The target of the seeker may block it normally. The seeker hits
for 8 points of damage. If the block is not successful, the mana are paid anyway.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Ranged Attack
Normal
8 damage
Star Bolt – [2]
The magician fires a bolt of blue-white glowing power that strikes for 12 points of energy damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Yellow Pentagram – [2]
A glowing yellow pentagram appears in the air before the caster. The pentagram, while in existence, will act
as a block vs. ranged spells. Any spell cast at the caster from the other side of the pentagram (but from any
angle) automatically has a block of a 13- applied against it. This costs the caster no additional REA but, if
the pentagram is used, the caster cannot also take another defense other than a dodge. Each turn the
pentagram is in effect it costs 2 additional Long Term mana
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
10 +2 LT
Continuing
Walking
13- block
Clone Attack Spell – [4]
The caster can take advantage of another’s spell—even one that is being thrown at him and “clone” it for his
own use. The spell functions as a block, and the caster may then, if the block is successful the caster has a
chance to cast the spell immediately himself. Use the rules for Ranged Spell Shield (+1 REA) if the spell is
fired at another target with the exception that the point of spell-travel closest to the character may be
targeted. The caster must pay the REA for the spell immediately (or, if he is all out of REA, he may promise
to pay at the beginning of next turn). The mana for the clone of the spell are then paid and the caster rolls to
hit with the spell. Even though the REA to clone the spell and the mana are paid as soon as the block is
successful, the spell does not go off until the caster gets to act. Unless the spell was targeted at the caster,
the spell is not actually blocked. If the caster knows Ranged Spell Shield, these can be combined (the
caster pays +1 Spell point). The caster need not know the spell he is cloning—he has an example right
there.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3, 6, 9 + Cloned Spell cost Blocking
Normal
Blocking spell
Crimson Portal – [4]
The mage creates a red rectangle the size of a doorway in a wall. If the wall is less than 6 inches thick, the
caster, and anyone else may travel through the wall. The doorway will not create if there is an observer on
the other side of the barrier. Additionally, the doorway hums weirdly while in existence.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Continuing
Sprinting
None
Globe of Containment – [4]
The mage creates a glowing force dome over an area. This is targeted at a specific point and has a 4 yard
radius. It will conform to whatever material is in the area. The dome (a globe if cast in air—but it won’t float)
has 3 points of armor and 90 DP. It does not take penetrating damage, but blows against it are not at any
plus to hit (they won’t miss, though, if a swing misses, give it a +0 damage modifier). The dome has no STC,
18
it won’t go away until it is destroyed. You cannot cast magic through the Globe of Containment. If you try,
the dome either takes the damage dealt (normally) or, if the spell does no direct damage, the dome loses 1
DP for each spell point spent trying to cast through it. The dome, once created, will last 1 day per point a
WIL roll is made by. If the roll is made by 5+, the dome lasts forever. If the mage blows his WIL roll, it
evaporates after 1 hour (unless otherwise destroyed). It can support 2 tons of weight.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
35
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Greater Star Bolt – [4]
The magician fires a bolt of red-white glowing power that strikes for 18 points of energy damage. When it
strikes, it throws off smaller, twisting bolts of light. Any target within 4 yards of the area hit, will be targeted
by a 12- to-hit roll. These bolts strike for 8 points of energy damage. There is a maximum of 12 of these off
of one bolt.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Imperial Armor – [4] Imperial College
When the mage casts this spell, his garments acquire an almost metallic sheen. The armor provides 3 / 9
protection. It is a 5 REA Short action to activate this spell. This does not stack with any other armor or
Protection-type spells; if the mage has better protection, it is used instead of Imperial Armor.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Protection
Walking
None
Melt Weapons – [4]
Beams of gray energy stream from the caster’s hands, terminating in globes of gray light around the target’s
metal weapons. This spell may be multi-cast, attacking multiple weapons with one casting. Each attack hits
as a separate ranged attack. When a target is struck, any held weapon may be effected (if the target has
more than one, the caster decides which). Each weapon makes an STA roll at –5 or melts. This will not
effect the following weapons: wooden weapons, weapons the GM determines are very well made, or
magical weapons. The weapons don’t actually get hot—the metal just falls apart.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
35+ 4
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Reflect Spell – [4]
This spell functions like a Spell Shield, but if the block is made the caster may reflect the spell back at the
target. If you cast the spell at the listed Spell Point cost, and make your block roll by 4+, you may
immediately pay 5 REA to fire the spell back at the target. A caster may pay an additional 3 Mana when
casting. If this is done, and the spell is blocked, the caster may make a WIL roll vs. the attacking mage. If
this roll is successful, the spell is reflected as above, even if the block was not made by 4. Because of the
deflective nature of this spell, if the mage blocks a spell but does not “successfully reflect it,” the GM may
rule that the damage still goes somewhere (causing collateral damage). This can be worked out randomly,
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4, 8, 12
Blocking
Normal
Blocking spell
Sleep of Youth – [4]
The caster falls into a deep sleep (wherein he needs no food or water for weeks on end). When he
awakens, his apparent age will be lowered. A mage can lose 1 year per week he sleeps (the body grows
younger—the mind doesn’t change). This requires a good deal of preparation (and a safe place to sleep).
The mage must spend $2000 on herbs and candles and other things for the ritual. A drink is prepared and
drunk, but the mage spend the points—if this isn’t done, a roll at –6 (if level 3: -3, if Level 4 no negative). If
the roll is failed, the caster sleeps for +10% his original time for each point of a random dice roll (a roll of a
20 would indicate losing 200% of the intended years). When the caster awakens, he will be at 0 mana and
Endurance.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
60
Reduce Age
None
None
Sphere of Destruction – [4]
The caster creates and hurls a glowing red-white sphere of light (about 12” across). It travels as a very-slow
missile moving only 9 yards a second. When it hits something or, when the caster detonates it (a 3 REA
19
short action) it suddenly expands to a 4 yard radius. Everything within the radius takes 12 points of damage
(unblockable). The radius also has a Grab with a 15 STR (Grapple Score of 5). Roll for successful Grab
against each person within range. The damage will continue each turn until the spell ends or the target
breaks out and leaves. The “explosive” effect has a random damage roll with a +2 DM per Mass of target.
While “continuing” the damage the caster must spend 8 REA each turn (it lasts one second otherwise) paid
at the beginning of the turn (it strikes when the caster gets to act). The caster must also pay 12 mana at the
start of each turn. The sphere travels at the beginning of the Caster’s turn each round. If a target gets to go
between when the sphere is thrown and when it is within range, he may simply run from it.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24 then 12
Ranged Attack -- Continuing
Sprinting
12 Dmg
Absorb Mana – [8]
By using this spell, not only may the mage block a magical attack, he can absorb mana from it to power his
own spells. The spell works like Spell Shield, however, for every point that the mage blocks by, he absorbs
20% of the mana used to power the attacking spell for his own use (round up; max absorption is 100%,
minimum is 1 mana if blocked by 0). The caster may only absorb spells cast directly at him (he cannot
absorb an explosive effect if he wasn’t the primary target). This absorbed mana may be used immediately.
Mana acquired in this manner fades away at the rate of 1 mana per turn at the end of the turn beginning with
the turn after which it was first absorbed.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4, 7, 11
Defensive
Normal
None
Raze – [8]
Called the final word in magical combat, raze creates a massive explosion which rises in a brilliant, phoenix-
shaped mushroom cloud over the target of choice. Raze takes 10 seconds to cast, during which time a
white crackling light starts to form at the target location (maximum distance [WIL x 10] yards). Anyone in the
area will know it’s about to explode. When the 10 seconds is reached, the explosion has a value of 200
points of damage. For each Short Term spell point the caster burns for a day, this value is increased by 50
points. Burning a Short Term spell point in this fashion also costs 2 DP, and the caster takes an appropriate
wound when the spell is cast. Increasing the spell in this fashion takes 1 second per SP put in. The RAD of
the explosion is an incredible WIL yards (the magical forces unleashed aren’t a mere explosion but are more
like the burning body of an angry god). This means that if the max damage is 500 points, targets within WIL
yards take 250, targets within 2x WIL yards take 125, targets within 3x WIL yards take 55, targets within 4x
WIL yards take 31, etc. Structures must make STC rolls at –1 per 50 points of damage (critical failures
destroy, major failures collapse large portions).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
120
Ranged
Normal
Star Hammer – [8]
The caster creates a glowing bolt of magical fire as a 5 REA Medium action and hurls it for a second 5 REA
Medium action. It strikes with incredible physical force. The Hammer hits for 36 points of damage and has
a ‘phantom Mass’ of 7. If the target struck has a Mass 14 or higher (i.e. a structure, a very large animal, or a
smaller object whose velocity x Mass is higher than 14) the damage is 3x as much for 108 points. Note that
a person or person-like object, even if ‘sunk in the ground up to his knees’ or tied or held, won’t qualify
unless the binding agency has a STR of higher than 24. Mostly this effect useful against portals or walls.
An additional use of this spell is the generation of light. If fired straight up, it will create a 200 yard radius
area of daylight for [WIL x 5] minutes.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
60
Ranged
Normal
Collision damage
20
The Elder School
Description: Dedicated to power through Fear, the mages of the Elder School (colloquially known
as the Shadow School or, among its more haughty practitioners, the Great School) have spells
deliberately designed to make magic appear unnatural, mysterious, and powerful.
Level 1: Occultist. The character knows the mystic rites associated with casting Elder School
spells. These deal with the deep emotional resonance of magic; the apprentice learns to
meditate on the chaotic emotions of fear. This meditative state gives the caster a +1 WIL roll to
resist the effects of fear (slipping into the trance state is a 3 REA Short action, as is maintaining
it).
Level 2: Shadow Mage. The character so greatly understands the Emotional Resonance of Fear
found at the basis of Great School spells (as well as the chaotic nature of the mystical energies
they control) that the mage gains a +2 WIL vs. Fear while in the trance state. Furthermore, the
character can use the skill as sort of an occult meter to tell if a particular story is true. The bodies
of anecdotal and superstitious knowledge that Shadow School study imparts lets the character
make educated guesses about the nature of magic in areas he may not be directly familiar with.
This skill functions a bit like occult and, when used in conjunction with occult, a roll (at difficulty
level assigned by the GM) will separate likely truths from lies.
Level 3: Elder Mage. The character can get +3 to resist Fear while in the Trance State (still a 3
REA Short action to maintain). The character can use his innate understanding of chaos and
magic to project his aura. Projecting one’s aura gives +3 to Intimidation rolls with an 8 REA Long
action. It will identify the character as a mage—or at least unnatural. This will not work against
other mages.
Level 4: Great Mage.
Mutate – [Signature Spell: 2,4,8]
Mutate causes horrible changes in the target. It acts as a PWR vs. STAT attack with a PWR equal to [WIL,
WIL+2, or WIL+4]. The roll is against CON or WIL (whichever is higher). Effects are as follows:
•
Minor Effect: Target grows some minor mutation (small tentacles sprout from the face, another
set of eyes open in the forehead, hands become covered with lumpy growths, etc.). Effects last
1 minute per point the PWR roll was made by.
•
Standard Effect: The turn after the target is hit, the mutation blossoms into full form. The target
will be fine for the turn in which he was hit, but Dazed on the next turn. Mutations may be even
more major: a two-foot tentacle snakes out from the face, a rat’s tail comes from the rear, an
extra spinal column snakes under the skin, running down the arms, etc. The character will be
at one of the following: -2 to perception rolls, -1 to combat rolls, -2 yards to movement, or –4 to
Coordination rolls for fine work. These effects last for 20 minutes per point the PWR roll was
made by.
•
Major Effect: The target is seriously warped. The target suffers a Minor Wound (taking the
necessary damage points). He is treated as Dazed for three seconds (begin rolling for
recovery after that) while he mutates. Extra limbs (uncontrolled) may be grown, the character
may become obese, vestigial wings may form, etc. These effects last 1 hour per point the
PWR roll was made by.
•
Critical Effect: The character suffers as above, however, 8 hours later (or so) the mutation will
strike again at +2 PWR. If the roll is won by more than the first time, the mutation gets worse
and the procedure continues until either the character dies (the Minor Wounds add up) or the
character achieves a No Effect score. The PWR increases by +1 each time. The effects last 1
day per point the initial roll was made by: start counting when the target gets a No Effect score.
•
Catastrophic Effect: The target suffers a Major Wound and the effects are permanent until the
curse is removed. Treat as above except that the recurring curse is at +4 to the roll. The
additional rolls don’t cause wounds, though—the target is a living mutation.
NOTE: These Mutations can be a case for a person to buy some weird enhancements. If a character has
extra experience points and gets a mutation he likes, he can put points in. The character is almost
automatically ugly.
Random Mutation Table
Minor – Standard
0-4:
Claws, teeth, spines. Damage is +3 Penetrating (2 points)
21
5-8:
Pincer: +3 Grapple, +3 impact crush damage (2 points)
9-10:
Hideous skin condition.
11:
Extra Facial feature on head.
12:
Bizarre Growth (roughly 6 inches in diameter and 8 inches long)
13:
Flesh Cave in: 1 foot radius caves in 4 – 8 inches
14-16: Large mutant ear or ears: +2 hearing perception (1 point)
17-18:
Tusks: +3 Pen attack in Close Combat, +2 DP (3 points)
19-20: Reptile scales: +3 DP, resistance to desert heat (7 points)
Major Effect
0-4:
Extra Limb (1-4 Arm, 5-6 Leg): Either +2 Grapple or your pants don’t fit (2pts)
5-6:
Hideous Tentacles (+6 Grapple Score or +30% whichever is better). (12 pts) Arms or legs turn into
tentacles on an 11- roll, 12 and above you grow them.
7-8 :
Partially formed head. On a 1-3 it comes from the shoulders. On a 4-5 it comes from somewhere
else (back), on a 6 it comes from somewhere really inconvenient.
9:
Demonic Features (horns, tail, red skin). This is usually ugly but in very rare cases may be
attractive (if the person had L3+ appearance the GM should consider it).
10:
Aggressive cancers. The character sprouts all kinds of boils and growths, gaining +2 BLD. These
will, at times, crawl around and grab and absorb small items.
11:
4 foot tongue—prehensile. +3 Grapple, does not fit in mouth (RES rolls at –3 to understand
character) (2pts)
12:
Elephantine Leg: 4/8 armor on leg, +8 BLD, +4 DP, +3 damage with kick. Ground movement is a
2 yard/second shuffle (6 yards sprinting). The character only ever gets one of these—it just gets
bigger and bigger if rolled again. (12 pts)
13:
Exposed Innards: -2 CON (really gross), leaves trails of slime.
14-15:
Consuming Flesh: Character triples in BLD and DP and becomes sessile. His flesh will attempt to
eat things nearby (grapples if touched with an 8 Grapple and then, if a Major Success is gained,
sucks in 4 DP). The character will continue to grow as he eats.
16-17:
Parasites. The character’s internal organs turn into fleshy “insects” that live in open caves in his
body.
18-19: Mass of Boils: The character’s skin bubbles up forming [random d6 roll] basketball sized globes
under the flesh. Each globe weighs 15 lbs (1BLD). This gets +4 DP per ball, but loses 1 point of
AGI. If AGI drops below 7, character can’t move.
20:
Chiton: character gains roach-like exoskeleton. Character looks and smells hideous. Gains 4/8
armor (12pts).
Critical - Catastrophic Effect
0-4:
Wings. Character gains Winged Flight (15 points).
5-6:
Minotaur: Character gains +20 BLD and +20 DP and +5 STR. Character loses 2 points of REF
(40pts)
7-8:
Character becomes mass of writhing flesh. Treat as unconscious.
9-10:
Bone Spikes: The character’s skeleton explodes in a mass of bony spikes. Some of these spikes
are as long as 12 feet. They will have a symmetry—but the character will likely be unable to move
since the spikes may grow into the ground as well.
11:
Roots and leaves: Character is photosynthetic and has 8 foot long roots (alternate form may be like
a mushroom)
12:
No limbs: limbs melt into flesh.
13:
Massive head: +6 BLD, +6 DP (1pt). Character has head the size of his torso. He may gain the
delusion of being super intelligent too. The character will lose 2 points of AGI due to his imbalance.
14:
Face moves to different part of body (1-4 torso, 5 legs, 6 right where you don’t want it).
15-16:
Animalism: GM picks some animal and gain features (??pts—might include poison).
17-18:
Fountains of Puss: Character has holes in body that spew puss constantly. The character will
mysteriously produce his body mass in puss each day. The fountains will jet the puss up to BLD
yards at various intervals. If the character covers the fountains with anything designed to keep the
puss in, he will drowned.
19:
Fountains of Acid: like puss but the acid burns for 18 damage.
20:
Monster Womb. The character gives birth to monsters—constantly (once per month). Baby
monsters may be the size of a foal. They come out ready for combat.
This is only a small list of possibilities. Invent your own. The GM can always choose to allow the PC not to
pay points to keep something. Also, research on this spell may produce different but controllable strains of
22
mutations (so the wizard may try to breed monsters and create half-breeds and the like with versions of this
spell).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24, 32, 48
Curse
Normal
PWR Varies
Compelling Voice – [1]
The character’s spoken command acts like the Influence ability with Power equal to the character’s WIL.
There is no roll to hit. If this ever achieves a failure result against the target, the target will be aware the
voice is being used against him (making immediate re-use virtually impossible).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Instant
Normal
PWR is WIL
Ebon Eyes – [1]
When cast, the mages eyes become jet black and he is able to see in the dark even if there is no light
whatsoever. The mage can only see in black and white however. While this spell is active, the mage is at
+2 to Intimidate those susceptible to Intimidation.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Continuing
Walking
None
Eldritch Flame – [1]
When this spell is cast, the target is hit by a bolt that burns him with black flame. The target takes 6 points
of damage immediately and will take 3 more points of damage at the beginning of the next turn (use the
same Damage Modification roll). The target can avoid this secondary “burn” damage by spending 3 REA
(Short action) to make a WIL roll. If successful, the target does not take the additional damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Flesh Mark – [1]
The wizard’s touch (with 8 REA Long action) places a mark—like a tattoo—on the target’s skin. For a 3
REA short action the wizard can choose to detonate the mark, causing 16 points of fire damage to the target
and 4 points to those within 4 yards (the fire is mainly internal). The mark lasts so long as the caster
maintains the spell (some versions of the spell may last longer). The mark is quite visible. The Damage
Mod for the spell is +2, +4 if placed on the target’s face.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Continuing
Walking
None
Flock of Eyes – [1]
Around the caster appear 6 floating eyes (of varying description). Each is about 4 inches across. The caster
is aware of, but not distracted by, anything they see. This gives the caster coverage behind him and can
allow him to sleep with a normal perception roll to awaken. The eyes will last 4 hours. Their radius can be
expanded or contracted but they can’t get more than 4 yards from the caster.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Continuing (4 hours)
Normal
None
Jester’s Laugh – [1]
The magician emits a shrill, insane laugh and casts the spell. While he continues to laugh, the sound and
the spell will act as a bat’s sonar to allow him to see in total darkness or smoke. Since the laugh gives him
away, this may not be the best way to use darkness for cover for attack. Additionally, the sound will fill all
corners of a room or chamber. This gives the mage a basic perception roll to find secret doors, trip-wires,
covered pits, and other unusual features. It will let the character see around corners (one corner) and will
allow a normal perception roll to find anything of note within a WIL x 2 yard radius.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Normal
Sprinting
None
Shadow Visage – [1]
The character becomes cloaked in shadows. This acts like a PWR 2 visual cloak with the added effect that
the mage will become impossible to identify. Witnesses will see shifting features and unnatural patters of
light and dark that obscures the caster’s identity.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
6
Continuing
Walking
None
23
Spider Crawl – [1]
The mage can scuttle up walls and across ceilings like an insect. The mage must have at least three limbs
touching the surface in question to move (only two to merely adhere). The character leaves behind an
glistening, mucous-like residue in his wake.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
9
Continuing
Sprinting
None
Steal Mouth – [1]
The attack is a PWR vs. STAT (vs. WIL) attack that covers the target’s mouth with twisted flesh and lets the
mage speak with the target’s voice. The effects are as follows: Minor Effect: nothing happens. Standard
Effects: Lasts 30 seconds. Major Effects Lasts 3 minutes. Critical Effect: lasts 3 hours. Catastrophic Effect:
3 days, another roll of a 15+ makes it permanent. The PWR of the attack is equal to the caster’s WIL.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Ranged Attack PWR vs. STAT
Normal
PWR 13
Whispering Sphere – [1]
The character throws a black sphere covered with ghost-like wispy white mist that forms the shape of faces.
The sphere whispers in a strange and unsettling tongue as it flies. It strikes as a POWER [WIL – 2] Terror
attack. It may be casts once per day for only 6 mana. Where it gets its whispers is unknown but anyone
who listens carefully to it (curious characters must make a WIL roll not to listen) roll at –5 to their WIL. If they
make their WIL roll they may learn something (GM determines some random bit of disturbing knowledge
about the future, past, their friends, etc. It may not be true). NOTE: normally only the character who is hit is
affected by terror—but anyone can choose to “listen.”
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8 (6)
Ranged Attack
Normal
WIL –2 PWR Terror
Death Cloud – [2]
The caster creates an evil black cloud of gas at range. This has a radius of [WIL/4] yards (round down).
Everything within that cloud is hit for a [WIL +1] poison attack that has a Base Damage of 8. This cloud will
hang for 5 seconds (roll each second at the end of the turn. If a person suffers more than one effect, only
apply the worst). After that, the cloud will fall and will sink into the ground. The gas lasts [WIL x 10]
seconds. The cloud is a –4 Perception modifier.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Ranged Attack
Normal
Eldritch Fire – [2]
When this spell is cast, the target is enveloped in a sheath of black flame. The target takes 9 points of
damage immediately and will take 6 more points of damage at the beginning of the next turn (use the same
Damage Modification roll). The target can avoid this secondary “burn” damage by spending 3 REA (Short
action) to make a WIL roll. If successful, the target does not take the additional damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Evil Black Laughing Sphere – [2]
The sphere appears as a baseball sized globe (-3 to be hit) that floats about the caster. It can be heard to
giggle, titter, or otherwise laugh. People and animals will sense an almost palpable malevolence emanating
from it. It floats at a maximum of 9 yards per second but will never leave the caster. A caster may only have
one such sphere at a time. This is a dangerous spell and a spell roll is required to cast it. If it is failed, the
sphere will attack the caster. Summoning the sphere takes 4 minutes.
STR 10 BLD 1 CON 12 / 12 DP
REF 12
INT --
The sphere has a 16- Intimidate roll. If the caster is attacked the sphere will suddenly grow to 1
yard in diameter (-1 to be hit) and howl with laughter. It strikes twice per turn with invisible rays that
hit on a 14- and do 8 points of penetrating damage. It feels exactly like being bit by a large
predator.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Summon
None
None
24
Horrible Creeping Doom – [2]
The Doom is a luminous green fungi that attacks anything it contacts and expands from the targeted point.
When the doom is cast, the target, and anything within a 1-yard radius will suffer a PWR vs. STAT attack
using the Poison rules with a base damage of 16. The POWER is [WIL + 1]. The damage will be suffered
each second the person is in contact with the doom. Inanimate objects suffer 13 points of damage per
second, and this damage ignores 4 points of armor. The radius expands 1 yard each second up to an 8
yard radius. The doom expands and does damage at the end of each turn.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Ranged Attack
Normal
WIL +1
Horrify – [2]
Standard PWR vs. STAT attack: [WIL] PWR Terror attack.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
10
Ranged Attack
Normal
WIL PWR Terror
Joker’s Smile – [2]
The mage gets a warped, twisted grin that is too large for his face (the skin, muscles and teeth actually warp
under the spell). While the spell is in effect, the caster will get +3 to rolls to resist PWR vs. STAT attacks of
any type. Additionally, the character will get +2 to Intimidation rolls. The character’s bite will do +2
penetrating damage (sharp teeth).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
13
Transformation
Walking
None
Soul Lash – [2]
Using this spell, the Elder School mage can channel his anger and other negative emotions into a
formidable weapon. The spell appears as a negative-image whip that lashes the target. For every 1 point of
mana the mage spends, he can do one point of base Impact damage with the lash. For every 1½ points of
mana the mage spends (round up), he can do one point of base Penetrating damage. However, for every
point of damage the mage deals after modification with Soul Lash, he pays that much in endurance (so a
great damage roll can result in an unconscious mage). The maximum base damage of this attack is 12
points (Impact or Penetrating). The lash has a maximum reach of 8 yards.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Varies
Ranged Attack
Varies
None
Soul Vision – [2]
The caster’s eyes dance with images of the target’s mental state. This spell has the effect of a [WIL] PWR
Telepathy Surface Scan and Surface Probe on the target. While the spell is running the caster will receive
the information. The target and spectators will be aware of this.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Ranged Attack
Running
None
Strangulate – [2]
The mage reaches out towards his target and makes a gripping motion. The spell hits as a ranged attack,
striking initially for 3 Base Damage which ignores all worn armor. After the mage has hit a target, the target
is held with a [WIL-6] Grapple (no physical component, strength may be used to wrench the character
free—but blows are useless), and can be “squeezed” for 5 REA using the same to-hit modifier of the original
attack. If the target breaks the grapple, he is free of the spell. The caster’s body glows with wisps of black
fire. Keeping the spell running, even if the caster chooses not to squeeze costs Running endurance. It costs
20 mana to cast the first time and then 8 mana each turn. While holding a target in the grip, the caster
cannot move at more than walking rate, and loses his AGI modifier. The maximum range is 12 yards. The
gripping mage must be in line of sight. The target may still act normally in the grip, but may not move.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20, then 8
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Strike Ugly– [2]
A target hit with the spell must make a WIL roll vs. a PWR equal to the mage’s WIL+1. Use the PWR vs.
STAT attack table: Minor Effect: -1 to Entrance, Persuade, and Leadership rolls. Standard Effects: -2 to
such rolls. Major Effect: -4 to such rolls. +1 to Intimidation. Critical Effect: character gets –8 to such rolls
and inspires fear and pitty in all who look at him. Catastrophic Effect: as above but even more twisted (-10
25
to rolls). The effects of a Catastrophic effect are permanent. Other effects last 1 hour per point of the
caster’s WIL. Any result of Major or above will result in a Daze effect.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
17
Ranged Attack PWR vs. STAT
Normal
PWR 14
Attack Shadow – [4]
When cast, the caster’s own shadow becomes an animate force and attacks on its own. The shadow fights
as an ally of the caster. Even if the shadow was extremely long, or the caster wasn’t throwing one (in the
dark) this spell will work. The Attack Shadow looks sort of like the caster (but more demonic) and cannot
leave the caster’s side. It can cover his back perfectly, though. It acts as an automaton.
STR 16 BLD 1 STC 12 / 48 DP
REF 12
INT --
Shadow Claw: 4 points of Penetrating damage, ignore all armor.
Shadow Grasp: 9 Offensive Grapple, 7 Defensive Grapple
Shadow Form: -4 Damage modifier, 2 points of armor
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Summon
Running
None
Bell Jar – [4]
A target must be bound without hope of escape—then the spell may be cast. A subject “in the bell jar”
experiences reality as though through a glass bubble of no sound and no mobility. Time seems to pass at
10x the normal rate so one day in the bell jar feels like 10 days. Subjects must make two WIL rolls
immediately and make 1 additional WIL roll each day. Each roll that is failed reduces the WIL by 1 for
purposes of further rolls. If a roll is failed by 5 the target acquires a 1 point mental defect. If the roll is failed
by 6-9 the target acquires a 2 – 5 point mental defect. If failed by 10 the target becomes completely insane.
This can be cured but takes time. Killing the wizard has a 14- chance of releasing the victim otherwise, anti-
magic must be sought. A plus side to this is that some forms of purely cerebral study can be done quickly.
A Level 3 Math or Physics skill gives +2 to WIL rolls (L4 characters are immune to the negative effects).
Philosophy skill gives +2 to WIL rolls at L2 and +4 at L3. Work on magical spells is sped up by 2x but the
character risks insanity. Putting yourself in the bell jar is possible but if your WIL drops below 7, you must
make a roll each day to get out.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Curse
None
None
Black Cobwebs – [4]
The caster fires thick, ropy black spider webs from his hands. These webs are crawling with tiny, bright red,
poisonous spiders. The web creates a cone from the caster to a distance of 4 yards. At the widest part, it is
3 yards across. When fired at a target, it gets a +3 large weapon bonus to hit. Anyone along the path will
be hit on a 12- roll. It acts as a tangle attack: it grips with a Grapple score of 10. Each turn, the caster rolls
for the web. If it ever achieves a Major Success, the victim is stuck until someone frees him or he cuts
through (no more grapple rolls to break out). The Web has 3 points of armor and 20 DP (it has no STC—it
must all be destroyed). While someone is caught, there is a 9- chance they will be bitten by a spider. The
spider can’t penetrate any natural armor and worn armor reduces the chance by 1 point per point of defense
above 2 (so Plate Mail means a person will be bitten on a 5-). Their bite is a 4 DMG 15 PWR toxin. A
person will only be bit once by the spiders. They will not leave the web. The Web will decay naturally after
8 hours. When cast the caster will be free of the web, but may choose to grab it as a rope (say, to catch
himself if falling). In this case, the caster is immune to the web and the spiders).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Continuing
Sprinting
None
Demonic Transformation – [4]
The character transforms into a unique looking form that still somehow appears as his normal self. This
form gains the following abilities: INT is exchanged with PHY in reverse order (WIL becomes STR, MEM
becomes BLD, RES becomes CON., and vice versa), 2/4 Armor, +4 Damage Points, and a +3 penetrating
damage or +5 Impact damage bio-weapon. This form causes fear (+6 Presence) and witnessing the
transformation is an automatic attempt to Intimidate. For each 20 minutes the caster spends in this form he
must make a WIL roll at a cumulative –1 or gain a craving for human blood. This craving will not go away,
even if the caster changes back, and can only be sated by drinking 20 DP worth of blood (assume a bite and
a long action drinks the bite’s worth of damage). The GM should give the character a chance to do
something about it—and then, if the player ignores the craving, run the caster as an NPC (note: the caster
26
doesn’t have to kill the target or even drink all the blood from the same person). Additionally, the
transformation won’t work if the caster is wearing any armor (leather armor may be stripped off). The spell
may only be casts once each 24 hours and lasts 1 hour if the caster doesn’t pay the casting cost each hour.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Continuing
None
None
Eldritch Inferno – [4]
When this spell is cast, the target explodes in a conflagration of black fire. The target takes 12 points of
damage immediately and will take 9 more points of damage at the beginning of the next turn (use the same
Damage Modification roll). Furthermore, anyone within 4 yards of the target will take 6 points of damage the
first turn and 3 the following turn (just like Eldritch Flame). All victims can avoid the secondary “burn”
damage by spending 3 REA (Short action) to make a WIL roll. If successful, they do not take the additional
damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Eyes of Flesh – [4]
The target’s eyes are covered over with hideous warped flesh. This causes pain and blindness. The length
of time that it lasts depends on its success as a PWR vs. STAT attack. Minor Effect: The character loses 2
levels of attractiveness and fights at –1 for 4 minutes. Standard Effect: the character is Ugly and blind for 4
minutes. Major Effect: The character is horribly blinded for 4 days. Critical Effect: The character is blinded
for 4 weeks. Catastrophic Effect: the effects are permanent. The PWR is equal to the mage’s WIL+1.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Ranged Attack
Normal
14 PWR
Fog of War – [4]
The caster throws a blackish fog across a battlefield that has unnerving effects on those in it. The fog may
begin at any point targeted and forms a cloud that is WIL x 2 yards in radius. Each yard of this fog causes a
–1 perception modifier (so troops in HTH combat range simply take a –1 perception modifier for fighting in it,
troops shooting through it take a –1 perception modifier per yard up to a maximum of –6 after it is opaque).
Furthermore, the spell is dark and scary. The fog forms ominous shapes and makes odd noises. Any
troops venturing within it who are at odds with the spell caster suffer an Intimidation attack at the caster’s
[WIL] PWR. The effects of this will be rolled once when the group enters and, if the lesser results are
applied, they will take effect when the persons enter combat (if the result is that the troops run in terror that
will happen immediately). This cloud may be modified in shape, somewhat (made into a rectangle or such)
but not drastically. It hovers at ground level and is about 8 feet high. If a creature is so tall its head is not in
the fog, it is not effected. Night vision and other vision spells will not penetrate the fog. The smallest this fog
may be is 4 yards in radius. The Fog lasts about 20 minutes, less in high winds.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Continuing
Normal
None
Green Mist of Transport – [4]
The caster and possessions dissolve into a Green mist that can move rapidly places where a ground bound,
corporeal being might not be able to go. The mist can slip through areas that are large enough for a rat to
get through and the caster can reform by dropping the spell. The mist moves at 12 yards / second. In mist
form, the character is immune to physical attack, but cannot cast magic or take any other action beyond
moving. If the caster runs out of endurance, he transforms back. If he re-forms in a place that is too small,
he will suffer a Critical Wound and the associated damage and appear outside it (if the exit is within 4 yards)
or simply die.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Transformation
Sprinting
None
Mind Serpents – [4]
One or more yellowish, translucent forms resembling hooded cobras unfold from the caster’s mind. They
strike as ranged attacks. Each snake created in the initial casting may strike each turn for 3 REA. Once the
snake hits, it is destroyed. Each snake acts as a Level 2 Telepathy Mind Bolt at [WIL] PWR. While each
snake exists, the caster must spend 3 REA to strike with it and feed it 5 mana (in addition to other
expenditures). If the snake does not strike a target in 3 seconds, the caster must make a WIL roll each turn
at a cumulative –2 or the snake will strike him. The snakes hit with COR as a ranged attack but may be
blocked at a –2 by anything that could block a HTH strike (so they’re sort of like very long-range flails).
27
When the spell is cast, all the snakes that are going to be created must be. After that, no additional
endurance or mana is paid.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
9 per snake
Continuing-Multicast
Normal
PWR is WIL
Slay – [4]
With this spell, the mage can kill a man outright. The spell acts as a [WIL-1] PWR Death Ray vs. STAT
attack (vs. WIL). The visible effect of the spell is nothing more than a nasty look. As this spell is a curse, a
Hexbreaker spell cast within 24 hours can reverse the effect with a Major Effect or better (if the Hexbreaker
reverses the spell for a time with a Minor or Standard Effect, the GM may gruesomely allow the target an
hour or day before the effects set in). This spell is often illegal. A character who is known to possess it may
be hunted by “Mage Hunters” or local authorities due to a long history of mages using this to slay knights.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
50
Curse
Normal
None
Steal Youth – [4]
The mage reaches into a target and literally steals years of his life force. The caster must touch the target
and then, using the caster’s [WIL] against the target’s [CON] the caster must score a Major Success on the
Grapple chart (if the target is not bound, the caster must also maintain a physical grip on the target. Each
time a Major Success is scored, the target loses 1 point of CON and the caster gains 1 point of CON. The
target seems to age or wither (and loses a year from his life). The caster will seem to become healthier and
loses 1 year of aging. The most CON that can be taken this way is [target’s CON – 7] points. Once this
CON is taken, the target will fall into a death-like trance and may actually die. Make CON rolls at reduced
CON once a day. If the CON roll is failed, the target’s CON is reduced by 1, if the roll is made, the CON is
increased by 1 when the target makes a roll by 5+, he awakens and recovers. Each point of WIL above 10
the target has adds 1 to this roll. The CON gained is lost at 1 point per hour (but the years of youth restored
are not).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
HTH Attack
Sprinting
None
Turn Weapons to Snakes – [4]
This spell works like Melt Weapons (Imperial College) but instead of melting the weapons, they are turned
into poisonous snakes. The turn after the spell hits, the snakes will strike (roll for initiative). If the holding
character goes before then, he can drop the snake as a 0 REA Medium action. The snake will probably
attack the holder (definitely if its still held) but may just try to hide, escape, be driven towards the casting
mage, etc. The snake has the following statistics:
STR 4 BLD 1 CON 12 / 3 DP
REF 12
INT 2
Hits on a 14-, Fangs have a penetration factor of 4 and if successfully hit, and the target fails an
armor save, he will be poisoned. The poison has a Base Damage of 8 and a PWR of 16.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
55+ 4
Ranged Attack
Normal
Multi-Cast
Twisted Contract – [4]
The caster and the target both agree to a deal: this cannot be forced but a certain amount of duress is
allowed. Once cast, both the caster and the target are under a spell. If either violates the terms of the
contract he will be subject to a [WIL] PWR Horrible Death (vs. CON) which takes random and viscous
effects (being torn apart by invisible demons, being sucked into the floor by black hands, unstoppable
bleeding, etc.) This can be removed like a curse but is very difficult and the other party will immediately
know. Interpretation of the contract can be argued by anyone who holds a legal Law degree and an
unbiased magistrate may rule. Usually the person who doesn’t write the contract gets the benefit of the
doubt in gray areas or unclear clauses.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Curse
None
None
Visceral Pyramid – [4]
The Visceral Pyramid is a summoning spell that calls forth a 1.3 yard high pyramid of internal viscera with
tentacles and embedded teeth. Gross and deadly, the pyramid is summoned and assigned a target. If it
28
reaches its target within 5 seconds it will fight the target to the death. Otherwise it will turn and seek the
caster. The pyramid will last 4 minutes before turning into inedible, inanimate, disgusting flesh.
STR 12 BLD 8 CON 11 / 12 DP
REF 12
INT 6
Armor: 2 / 4
Takes –4 Damage Modifiers from non-magical weapons
Moves 9 yards per second.
Attacks:
Tentacle Strike: 14- to hit, long reach, acts as a grab (6 / 4 Grapple), does 6 points of “acid”
damage per turn. Costs 4 REA. –2 to be blocked
Bite: If a person was grabbed last turn, it may bite for 8 REA. This does 9 penetrating damage and
hits on a 14- (and the person has no AGI bonus).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Summon
None
None
Whirlwind of Blades – [4]
This terrifying spell creates small, magical tornado out of which sword blades flash. Anyone caught in the
tornado will be held as though in a [WIL-4] PWR Tornado. They will also be struck once per turn (when the
caster gets to go) by a 6 damage Penetration attack which hits on a 13- (a person held in the tornado gets
no AGI bonus and is at –3 to block). The spell costs 40 mana to cast and must be controlled as an 8 REA
action each second. It may be created within 4 yards of the caster.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Continuing
Sprinting
None
Writhing Armor – [4]
When the mage casts this spell, his person is covered by a mass of writhing shadows that absorbs damage
that the mage would otherwise take. The armor absorbs 9 points of damage total before crumbling apart.
Any Penetrating attack that strikes the armor will automatically fail to penetrate if the remaining power of the
armor is greater than half the Base Damage of the attack. If the remaining power of the armor is less than
or equal to half the Base Damage of the attack, while it will still reduce damage, the Armor Save roll will be
conducted as though the Writhing Armor did not exist. It is a 5 REA Short action to activate this spell. The
mage may wear armor or have Protection-type spells going, however, Writhing Armor is always on the
outside (subtract Writhing Armor first, then apply other defenses).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Protection
Walking
None
Finger of Withering – [8]
The caster points at his target(s) and they are struck by instant, and usually fatal disease that causes the
skin to collapse inward and the afflicted to die horribly. This acts as a PWR vs. STAT attack at [WIL +4] vs.
the target’s CON or WIL, whichever is higher. This is PWR score is at –1 for each 5 DP the target has
above 20. The caster may spread the effects over a small group: the target area is 4 yards in diameter, if the
caster wishes to effect all within that radius, the PWR for each target is reduced by 2.
•
Minor Effect: Target suffers a Major Wound. The target’s PHY and REF are at –1 for the next 3 hours.
The target’s skin is cratered and mottled but restores to healthy appearance when the wounds are
healed.
•
Standard Effect: Target suffers a Major Wound and is, at a minimum, incapacitated for 5 turns. For the
next 2 days, the target’s PHY and REF are at –1. The Target’s appearance is ‘ugly’ for 2 weeks.
•
Major Effect: Target suffers a Critical Wound and is, at a minimum incapacitated for 10 turns. For the
next 4 days, the target’s PHY and REF are at –2. Target’s appearance is ‘hideous’ for the rest of the
month until healing is complete.
•
Critical Effect: The target is incapacitated immediately and dies gruesomely in 10 seconds unless the
target is healed for a Major Wound amount of damage (in which case the target is in a comma for 10
days, followed by a WIL roll at –4 to recover each day). After being healed, PHY and REF are at –2
until powerful magical healing is found.
•
Catastrophic Effect: The target is incapacitated immediately and dies gruesomely 3 seconds later
unless healed for a Major Wound amount of damage (in which case the target is in a comma for 10
days, followed by a WIL roll at –4 to recover each day). After being healed, PHY and REF are at –4
until powerful magical healing is found.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
75
PWR vs. STAT
Normal
WIL +4 PWR
29
Fire Elemental College
Description: The character has studied the forces of elemental fire. It is an extremely well
rounded attack college and Fire Elementalists are feared combatants. All damage, unless
otherwise specified, is fire damage and may set targets aflame.
Level 1: Pyre Seer. The character understands the elemental nature of Flame. This skill adds
+2 to Survival rolls and lets the character start fires with a bare-minimum of material since the
character knows how to extract the “fire nature” from within the object.
Level 2: Flame Magus. The character can, with a laboratory, change the level of “fire-nature” in
an object. This will make it either more or less likely to burn. A treated object can either gain a
+3 on it’s resistance roll vs. burning or a –3. This takes 12 hours for a robe, cloak, or suit of
armor.
Level 3: Pyromancer. The character’s command of fire in objects is even greater than at Level 2.
The mage can give a piece of gear 4 points of armor vs. heat and fire or can give it +8 damage
when burning (up to 2x what the GM rules it would burn for). If a torch burns for 2 points of
damage, a specially treated torch will burn for 4 (but will not burn out faster). This is not the same
as treating the item with oils, but rather simply changing the nature of the material it is made from.
Level 4: Fire Elementalist.
Fire Ball – [Signature Spell: 4]
The mage can throw a battlefield-grade fire attack. Military commanders will often seek out mages who
know this spell. It strikes for 24 points of damage, exploding (12 within 4 yards, 6 within 8 yards, 2 within 12
yards). The spell costs 8 REA to conjure and throw. It has a range modifier of –1 per 15 yards.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
32
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Burning Eyes– [1]
The mage’s eyes glow fiery red and so long as the spell is going, the mage needs no light whatsoever to
see. The mage can only see in black and white; however, he can also see into the infrared spectrum.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Continuing
Walking
None
Fire Friend– [1]
While running, the character has 4 points of armor vs. fire attacks, and may hold a fire without it burning him
(if it does less than 4 damage each turn and without it going out). Thus, a mage may lift a cooking fire and
carry it around. If the spell goes out while the mage is holding a small flame (one that is not damaging him)
it will be extinguished.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
6
Continuing
Walking
None
Hand of Fire – [1]
The caster’s hand burns with flame. His strikes do 9 points of fire damage wile the spell is running. Keeping
it running requires 5 mana per turn.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Continuing
Running
9 Damage
Snuff – [1]
The caster can extinguish flames. The spell will reduce the damage done by a fire by 4 points per casting. If
cast one-after-another, at least twice a second, the effects will be cumulative. This can be cast as a
blocking spell using the caster’s Spell attack skill –1 as the block (against fire attacks only, of course). A
successful block will reduce the damage done by the fire attack by 4 points. It blocks ranged attacks at no
negative. Example fires: Candle 1pt, torch 2pts, camp fire 4-6pts, bonfire 8 – 12 points, burning building 12
points per 2 cubic yards.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
2
Ranged Attack / Block
Normal
Blocking
30
Voice of the Furnace– [1]
Within WIL2 miles, two mages, aware of each other, and casting the spell, can speak to each other through
a large bonfire. The fire must be real, burning wood, and the spell takes 4 minutes to cast. Once cast, the
sound of the fire will become perceptible human speech.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Continuing
Walking
None
Blazing Shield – [2]
The caster uses a blazing, fiery shield to parry with. The spell functions as Spell Shield but, against a HTH
attack, a blocked attacker will suffer 4 points of damage with a +4 Damage Modifier (no roll to hit). If the
attacker is using a medium range weapon this is 2 points. If the caster is striking from Long range the
damage is 1 point.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4, 7, 11
Blocking Spell
Normal
4 damage, block
Burn – [2]
The target of the spell must make a fire resistance roll at –6 or begin to burn for 12 points of damage (when
the spell hits first) and some fraction of that thereafter.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Ranged Attack
Normal
12 Damage
Burning Bands – [2]
A target hit by the spell is wrapped in flaming bands. The restraints do no damage, but for 5 REA, the caster
can cause the bands to flare for 1 DMG (+4 DM) and ignore all non-magical armor. The mage can only flare
the bands once per turn. The bands have 3 armor, 15 DP, and an Offensive Grapple of 7 or [WIL – 6]
(whichever is greater). Characters in the grab will be at –4 damage modifiers to break the bonds. Advanced
Note: purists can give the bonds an STC roll of 15-.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Ranged
Normal
Burning Blades – [2]
A blade (or other weapon) the caster wields bursts into flame. While the spell is running, any target hit will
suffer an additional attack (applied separately against armor) for the base damage of the weapon (i.e. a
Broad Sword has an additional attack for 6 points of fire damage. No bonus is given for magical weapons).
This attack uses the same damage modifier as the original strike. Each time the caster hits with the weapon
this strike costs 2 Endurance points. Having the weapon burning normally costs Walking endurance and 5
SP per turn.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8 (+5)
HTH Attack
Walking
Circle of Fire– [2]
The caster causes a flame to appear on the ground and the expand, growing into a circle or wall of fire. The
fire burns for 12 points of damage should anyone cross it. When cast (5 REA) the flame will appear and
then flare up as a long action (so people nearby may react by stepping to either side). The line of flame may
be 3x WIL yards long or WIL/4 yards in diameter. It must either be straight or form a geometric shape. The
flames are 2 yards high.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Continuing
Running
None
Cone of Fire – [2]
The caster fires a jet of flame that will burn a target for 9 points of fire damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
10
Ranged Attack
Normal
9 Damage
Fire Wall – [2]
When cast on a normal wall or door or line across the floor, it creates a natural barrier to fire. This can be
used to create fireproof chambers, protect workshops, etc. The effect lasts so long as Endurance is paid,
but with double the casting cost, it will last 2 months (and can be made permanent with several hours of
work). Casting a fire spell across a Fire Wall reduces its damage by 4 points (base). Normal fires won’t
31
spread across the wall and anything that is normally burning at normal temperature will be extinguished if it
crosses it on a 12-. A Fire Wall may be [WIL x Level2] yards in length.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Protection
Walking
Flaming Body – [2]
The caster seems to combust. While the spell is active the character will have an 12 point body of flame. A
barehanded Striker takes 3 damage (even if blocked), if a target is grabbed the damage is 6, and if
grappling, the damage is 12. The damage has a +4 Damage Modifier.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16 (+4 Short term pts per turn)
Continuing
Sprinting
12 Damage
Flame Hail – [2]
The caster fires a ‘shotgun’ style blast of flaming particles. The damage is Impact but is determined as per a
scattergun. The range is 4 yards, the base damage for each particle is 2 (fire damage), and the total number
of particles is 12.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Ranged Attack
Normal
4 DMG
Pyromancy – [2]
The character can start a fire and peer into it to see the future. Pyromancy acts like [WIL] PWR Far
Precognition for the purposes of seeing the future of military or militant endeavors and [WIL-4] PWR for
others.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Instant
Normal
None
Fire Bolt – [4]
The caster throws a small fireball. It is explosive and hits its target for 12 points of damage (within 4 yards
all targets take 6 points of fire damage). Fire Bolts can be multicast for 12 additional points per bolt
(different to-hit rolls are required, different targets are allowed).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16 / 12
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Fire Lash– [4]
Flames leap up near the caster’s feet and then lines of fire race along the ground towards their targets. This
spell may be multicast and each additional “lash” may be targeted at a different person. The flames burn for
8 damage and move at 8 yards per second. If they “miss” (they hit on a 13-, and because they “explode” in
a 1 yard diameter burst when they reach the target, they can’t be blocked—only dodged or run from) they
turn around and try again. Each lash costs the caster 1 Endurance per second that it is in play (it goes away
when it hits). Only one lash may be targeted on one person at a time. While the spell is running, the caster
must pay 5 REA per turn to concentrate on them. When created, they will hit targets within 4 yards instantly,
but otherwise, they will begin moving at full rate next turn when the caster gets to go.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18 for 1 lash, +4 per lash Continuing
1 per lash
None
Pillar of Fire – [8]
The caster creates a massive burning tornado that can be used to sweep a battlefield. The pillar is 10 yards
in diameter, lasts for WIL seconds, and does 100 points of energy damage to everything within it each turn.
Characters within 4 yards of the tornado will suffer 50 damage (from the ambient heat), characters within 8
yards of the tornado will suffer 25, and within 12 yards will suffer 10pts. When the spell is cast, the
character picks a target location within [WIL x10] yards and fires the spell off. For the next 4 turns, the
caster remains motionless as the tornado forms (first doing 10pts, then doing 25pts, then doing 50pts, and
finally 100pts). Once formed, it may be moved. It’s center moves at 20 yards/sec on the caster’s turn as a
long action. Moving the pillar costs the caster 8 REA and 1 endurance pt. Targets near the outer edge of its
sweep may try emergency dodges to get out of the way, but it pretty much cuts a line of pure destruction. If
the caster is killed or suffers a major wound during the maintenance, the spell is destroyed. Structures take
damage from all sides and are particularly vulnerable: the tornado will burn through 5 cubic yards of stone a
second (so it will eat through a 20’ thick stone barricade in 4 seconds).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
120
Ranged
1 / second
100 damage
32
33
Earth Elemental College
Description: The character has studied the forces of elemental earth. This includes many other
facets of nature, such as rock and plant. Earth Elementalists learn how to mix natural items and
activate the magic inherent within them to produce beneficial effects.
Level 1: Land Mage. The character understands the nature of Earth and the attendant force of
Wild Life that is associated with it. A successful skill roll adds +2 to Survival rolls.
Level 2: Terra Magus. The character can increase the “quantity of elemental earth” in an object
or plant. This requires 8 hours of work and will give a plant +2 to CON rolls vs. disease, cold,
damage, etc. (if the GM is dealing with mobile plant races, this only works if the character is
planted in the earth). An object can have its weight increased without adding to its size or
changing its composition. This process takes 1 hour per point of BLD and adds +20% to the
mass of the object. This process will give the material +10% DP and, if the mass is doubled, +2
Armor. Earth treated doors and such may be in high demand.
Level 3: Geomancer. The character can add +3 to CON rolls as above and can increase the
mass of objects in half the time. Additionally, an area that the character tends for a year will have
the exact topology and landscaping (within reason) the character desires in a natural fashion.
These enclaves come at a price: the forces of earth will expand around the character’s area like a
hurricane around the eye. The maximum size is WIL2 yards on a size. The area beyond that will
become Wild Wood (see the spell) but will not confuse the creator.
Level 4: Earth Elementalist.
Summon Earth Elemental – [Signature Spell: 4]
The caster can call forth an animate force of the ground to do his bidding. It appears as an 8 foot tall being
of moving rock and stone. Small fragments of earth fall off it and appear within it. It’s eyes glow red. If the
Earth Elemental is killed, the mage loses 2 experience points (i.e. may not cast the spell again until the
points are paid). It will do the caster’s bidding. They use neither armor nor weapons (if dressed with armor,
their skin will lose it’s magical protection). Only one may be summoned at a time. This is a safe creature. It
will last until dismissed. The Elemental is an automaton using STC instead of CON. Use the rules in the
Paranormal Abilities book.
When called, it will remain for 1 hour and then reform with the earth. Each call of it again per day
costs +4 Mana. It must come from the ground or from a large block of stone.
STR 20 BLD 60 STA 15 / DP 75 REF 10
INT 8
Strike: 20 points of damage; hits on a 13- (block of 11-)
Armor 4pts (coverage 4) 2pts otherwise
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
32
Summon
None
None
Cloud of Pest Removal– [1]
Approximately 15$ worth of herbs and commonly found plants are placed in a sealed vial and mixed. When
the spell is cast, the mixture turns into brown smoke. When the vial is opened, a 4 yard radius area will be
filled with smoke that is instant death to small insects and effects larger ones as [WIL] PWR Nerve Toxin.
The area will remain free of pests for several hours after being treated.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
28
Potion
Normal
None
Flower– [1]
A target bud is made to flower (in nearly perfect form). This can be useful for impressing the ladies or simply
selling flowers. Before letting a mage get rich on this, consider those guys on the side of the road—they
aren’t getting rich!
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
2
Ranged
Normal
None
Fools Fire Potion– [1]
Given 10$ worth of herbs and commonly found plants (and this spell) the caster creates a small vial of
greenish paste. When struck, the paste will burst into hot flame and burn for a time. A singe dose burns for
34
3 seconds for 2 points of damage. The most heat that can be generated by multiple doses is 4 points
(double dose). This can be used to coat weapons (a character wielding a weapon burning for 4 points of
damage fights at –2 unless fireproof). It’s far more common use is domestic: a tiny dab for the starting of
fires.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
28
Potion
Normal
None
Forest Way – [1]
The caster can commune with the earth and it’s children (plants) to find a path through the woods. When
cast, the mage makes an RES roll to speak to the ground (this takes the form of soft chanting). If the roll is
made by 0 – 5, the caster will know a clear path from his location to the compass point direction he chooses
(i.e. north). On a 6 - 9 roll the character will know the fastest path (this may be some secret path or simply a
very clear route). On a roll made by 10+, the earth will inform the caster of something of interest along the
way (especially if the local plant life is being disturbed). The nature of this information is up to the GM. The
spell takes 10 minutes to cast.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
11
Normal
Normal
None
Hidden Trail– [1]
When running, the mage may walk through the forest and create a “hidden trail.” This trail requires a
perception roll at –6 (or a Tracking roll at –4) to be noticed. It seems to be nasty undergrowth but can be
moved along at no movement penalty. Someone seeing the mage head into the trail will see him seem to
dive into thick brush. IF the pursuers don’t’ make a Perception roll at –1, he will attempt to enter the trail and
actually get stuck. Note: This does not make difficult terrain easy to pass—it simply makes easy terrain look
difficult (or difficult terrain look impossible).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Create Wall
Normal
None
Oil of Cleansing– [1]
The mage crushes rocks and mixes in oils (and casts this spell) and gets an oil that will clean almost
anything. A single dose of the oil can be used to rub down an entire suit of armor or 4 weapons (what else it
will clean is up to the GM). It is so good at removing stains, scars, and other such damage that it actually
restores DP to the object cleaned. Usually a cleansing will restore up to 2 STC points worth. The cost for
the oil materials is 30$.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
28
Potion
Normal
None
Tallow of Health– [1]
By mixing herbs and spices and casting the spell, the mage can make a candle that will aid in curing and
preventing the spread of disease. The pleasant form of this gives everyone who spends an hour around the
candle +1 to CON rolls to prevent catching diseases (+2 vs. specifically airborne ones). The medicinal form
of this gives a stricken person +2 to CON rolls against disease and gives everyone in the area +2 to CON
rolls vs. catching it (+4 vs. airborne sickness). The medicinal form smells extremely nasty but may be used
when necessary. The pleasant form smells like flowers. The cost for materials for either is $25 for a day’s
supply.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
28
Potion
Normal
None
Wild Wood – [1]
When Wild Wood is cast, the forest seems to become denser and more tangled. This has a WIL / 10 mile
radius. The physical effect deals with shifting plants and tangling vines and weeds growing more quickly.
Trees will actually become “bushier.” The casting mage can find his way through Wild Wood normally but
everyone else has trouble. Tracking rolls are at –3 in the Wood and animals must make WIL rolls at –3 to
enter (average hunting dog has a 12 WIL). In this wood, perception rolls are at –3 and people will be more
likely to become turned around (or otherwise lost). People entering an area of Wild Wood suffer an
Intimidation roll equal to [WIL] if they are superstitious of magic. The antidote to Wild Wood is to cast the
spell yourself (one Wild Wood cancels another for purposes of the defensive caster and his party).
Monsters and “creatures of chaos” or people or animals who live in the area are not effected much (-1
Perception rolls). On the roll of a 3-, an area can become permanently afflict. Such areas are sources of
monsters and much trouble for the nearby inhabitance.
35
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
2
Ranged Attack / Block
Normal
Blocking
Grow Golden Viper Flower – [2]
This spell (which the GM must allow) grows the extremely rare Golden Viper flower from a spot of prepared
earth. The Golden Viper flower’s nectar is a potent poison. Each flower yields 4 does of 4 point Base
Damage toxin. These can be combined to make up to 1 16 point dose. This poison will work if ingested
(Perception roll to notice the strange smell) but it can also be used to coat weapons It is very good for that:
the poison is instantly absorbed by metal and released on contact with blood (target fails an armor save and
takes damage). The PWR of the toxin is 13. The plant is almost impossible to grow naturally and the
preparation of the ground costs $20 (for special, but common, alchemical salts), and takes 1 hour. A
weapon can only absorb up to 16 points of base damage of toxin (so a multi-hour campaign to create super
weapons won’t work).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Summon
Normal
None
Harvest Moon– [2]
The spell will cause all plants in a WIL acre area to come to harvest 50% faster (so if a harvest happens
twice a season, it will happen 3 times). This is powerful magic, however, and gets the attention of the
elemental forces of Earth. An area, which is under the effects of Harvest Moon, will have a 3- chance of
growing a “monster” each harvest. The exact statistics of this monster are up to the GM and should be
along the lines of the Earth Spirit (although the monster will be biological in nature and will probably be crafty
and hungry). Additionally, the harvest itself will be strangely made (colors may be slightly wrong, vegetables
may be oversized). There is a 2- chance per season that some truly monstrous (2+ ton) plant may appear,
creating problems for the farmer. Finally, a person passing through an area under Harvest Moon at night
will see the moon appear almost full, and amber colored with an eerie halo around it. The person will feel
“watched” by the crops. This does not endear the mage to his neighbors.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Normal
None
None
Mystical Medicine– [2]
If the mage gets the right plants, a slave can be made that adds +2 to First Aid rolls and gives +1 to CON
rolls to heal. This takes 30 minutes of preparation (or a trip to a good herbalist) and the casting of the spell.
The dose costs $10. The salve goes bad after 48 hours.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
28
Summon
Normal
None
Shatter– [2]
The mage hurls a shockwave bolt that can knock a wall down (if lucky). The bolt is a Vibratory Blast of
[WIL-5] POWER. This blast does double damage to inanimate rigid objects (structures) and causes any
STC roll (if required) to be made at –1.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
7
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Thorn Barrier– [2]
The Mage causes a wall of tough thorny vines to spring up along an area defined. The wall can be WIL2
yards in area in any configuration chose (minimum height of 1 yard (it’s about 4 inches thick) and it requires
20 points of damage to chop through it (it doesn’t take penetrating damage). When cast, it will appear as an
8 REA long action. If someone is along the line of the wall, they can take a step action to go to either side.
The wall lasts about a week or so (the GM may determine it lasts longer). Weapons fired through it are at –
4 (vision modifier) and must make a successful penetration roll against a penetration defense of 4 (even if
they do, they have their damage reduced by 2 points).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Create Wall
Normal
None
Create Sleep Potion– [4]
The Mage must gather some common plants (takes about 45 minutes) and create a potion and then cast
this spell over it. The resulting mixture is a dose of sleep potion. If mixed with food, it acts as the Sleep
effect (PWR equal to WIL+1). Otherwise, if taken, it guarantees a restful night of sleep and will give the
taker an additional healing roll at +2. The average cost of this potion is about $80 but the mage must be
36
well trusted, for a cheaper version of this spell exists that does not give the healing and, besides being mildly
addictive, actually gives the sleeper –2 to healing rolls.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Summon
Normal
None
Earth Spirit – [4]
The Earth Spirit is a lesser Earth Elemental that can be called into being by the caster. It is strong and
dumb. It appears as a small, broad, dwarf like humanoid with no facial features. It is made of earth. When
summoned, it will appear next turn, coming into being as an 8 REA Long Action. It will obey the caster’s
wishes.
STR 15 BLD 35 STA 12 / 60 DP
REF 10
INT 8
Strike: 10 Damage; hits on a 13-
Armor 2pts.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Summon
None
None
Shockwave– [4]
The mage creates a localized tremor (Shockwave effect). This effect has a PWR of 10. This makes
everyone within 4 yards make a STR vs. [WIL-3] PWR roll or be knocked back 10 / Mass yards. Movement
towards the caster is reduced by 10 / Mass yards if the movement is occurring when the blast hits,
structures take 80 points of damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Normal
Normal
None
Wood Skin– [4]
The mage’s skin becomes hard and appears like wood or tree bark. While in operation the mage will get
+50% damage points and will have 2/6 of armor.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Normal
Running
None
37
Air Elemental College
Description: The character has studied the forces of elemental air. Through his study, the Air
Elementalist also understands the fundamentals of weather and its application.
Level 1: Wind Worker. The character can predict the weather for the next WIL hours with a roll.
Level 2: Atmosphereist. The character can predict the weather for the next 2x WIL hours with a
roll. Additionally, the character can increase the Elemental influence of Air in an object with a roll.
This will make the object highly resistant to age. Treated objects (not people) age at 1/10 the
normal rate. This takes 12 hours and two successful rolls per BLD point of the object (although it
is mainly useful for books and the like).
Level 3: Aeromancer. The character can actually change the weather with windmill like devices.
The character can build Air Towers that are simple mechanical devices (if the character doesn’t
have L2 mechanics, he can commission them). These devices, when mounted high enough (30
feet or higher) can calm or enhance the winds in an area. This is a subtle effect but proper
placement can give an area (1 mile radius per tower) [WIL-9] PWR Weather Control vs. weather
changes. This acts as a –3 to rolls to make it rain (if the towers are configured to produce dry or
it can cause a 10% increase in rain over a year in the specified area). Constructing a “Weather
Vain” takes 1 week and costs about $200 in materials (plus the tower). The character can
otherwise make predictions about wind and weather (predictions are good for 4x WIL hours in
advance).
Level 4: Air Elementalist.
Whirlwind – [Signature Spell: 4]
The caster is surrounded by a [WIL-1] POWER Tornado. Air spells may be cast from within it with no
negative modifiers. It moves with the caster but may not be created at range. While active the character
may move at no more than 4 yards per second (or suffer the effects of the whirlwind himself).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Aeromancy – [1]
The caster knows what the weather will be for the next 24 hours within a 30 mile radius. This spell will detect
any weather manipulation. The duration of the spell is 24 hours so if cast in the morning, the caster will be
aware of weather manipulation all day long. The GM should require a perception roll to get data about
weather manipulation (a roll made by 5+ will pinpoint the weather manipulating mage).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Howling Bolt – [1]
The caster throws a howling bolt of wind. It strikes for 6 points of Impact damage and acts like a 6 POWER
wind jet, knocking the target back 6 / Mass yards if it hits by 4 or more.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Whispering Wind – [1]
Two or more mages with this spell running can communicate with each other within a range of WIL2 miles
(use the lowest of the WIL’s. Each will hear the speaker’s voice seeming to whisper along the wind.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Whirlwind Blast – [1]
The character throws a spell that creates a small, violent tornado. Everything within a 2 yard radius of the
target point is hit for 8 points of blunt damage (+4 DM) and thrown outward [Mass / 2] yards. If the target’s
Mass is 2, he must make an AGI roll (or Acrobatics roll) or fall down. If the target’s Mass is higher than 2,
this has no effect. This damage is not decreased explosively.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
6
Continuing
Walking
None
15
Ranged Attack
Normal
6 Damage
4
Continuing
None
None
14
Continuing
Running
None
38
20
Ranged AOE Attack
Normal
Wind Leap – [1]
The caster performs a ‘wind assisted leap’ (8 REA Long action) moving [WIL / Mass] yards straight up or 2x
that distance as a long jump. Keeping the spell going cost Walking Endurance. Jumping still costs it’s
normal 1 Endurance.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Movement
Normal
None
Wind Storm – [1]
The caster is surrounded by ambient high winds. Casting this may add +1 or +2 to Intimidation attacks at
the GM’s discretion. More importantly, projectile attacks that are physical (but not pure magical attacks) are
at –3 to hit due to weather modifiers. Other wind spells are not effected. The radius is 4 yards and the
effects are centered on the caster.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Zap – [1]
The caster throws a small bolt of lightning for 9 damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Zephyr’s Embrace – [1]
The caster floats to the ground from some height. While the spell is running, the caster, and up to +2 Mass
will fall at 1 yard / sec. This cannot be used to go up or even hover but it will break a fall.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Call Rain – [2]
The caster can try to summon rain. This is not guaranteed to work. For each hour the caster spends
casting the spell, he makes a WIL roll vs. the GM assigned “dryness” of the area. For most areas, this is 10.
For deserts, it can be as high as 20. When the caster is ready (the GM may wish to keep the success of
each hour secret) the player rolls. For each point the roll is made by, a more powerful storm comes within
24 hours. A roll made by 0-4 will be a nice rain. A roll made by 5-9 will be a powerful deluge. A roll made
by 10+ is a catastrophe and will result in flooding (a roll made by 9 will result in flooding too—but not high
winds). Dispelling the storm is done by casting the spell and rolling against the original success. While the
caster is concentrating, he cannot eat or sleep.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Call Winds – [2]
The caster summonses strong winds (usually for a sea voyage). On a battlefield level, this can give a –1 to
all missile combat. To make the roll the caster uses the same procedure outlined in Call Rain. If successful,
the winds will come. The roll determines the time they last: 4 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours. The GM should
assign a danger factor if the roll is made by 8+ (crew may be blown overboard, the ship might run aground,
etc.)
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Electrocute – [2]
The caster transmits massive electric shock through his touch. The caster must grab a target and then cast
the spell. Once cast, the character may repeat the shock with the same to-hit damage modifier and another
Damage Modifier roll for a 5 REA Medium action. The Electrocute does 16 points of electrical damage for
each shock. If the character spends a turn without shocking or his grip is broken, the spell ends.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
9
Movement
Walking
20
Summon
None
None
20
Summon
None
None
14
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
4
Continuing
Running
-3 to hit
39
20
HTH Attack
Normal
Icy Wind – [2]
A blast of freezing air and ice comes from the caster’s hands. Targets will be “flash frozen” by the blast. A
target that is hit takes 8 damage, but, if the damage is completely stopped by natural armor, the target will
still suffer ¼ final damage because of the extreme cold. If the target is wearing metal armor, it may seize up:
if the final damage roll (roll plus to-hit modifier) is 20+ the target will be held immobile until a Break Grab
move is made. The strength of the grab is 11 plus 1 per point of defense of worn metal armor above 4 (so
chain mail is a 12 STR grab and normal plate mail is a 13 STR grab.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
13
Ranged Attack
Normal
8 Damage
Lesser Arc – [2]
The caster unleashes a blast of chain lightning, which arcs between potential targets in a given area. When
thrown, if it hits its target (or misses by up to –2), it has a 12- chance to hit any other person (or large object)
within 4 yards of the original. The lightning does 4 points of Lightning damage (metal armor is halved, -1 to
CON rolls). At the end of the rolls, the character checks for ‘continue.’ Make a Spell Roll at a cumulative –2.
If rolled, at the end of the turn, it does another round of strikes.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Ranged Attack
Normal
4 DMG
Thunderbolt – [2]
The mage hurls a powerful lightning bolt at the target. It strikes for 18 points of electrical damage
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Updraft – [2]
The spell creates an invisible column of air that will lift the caster. It acts as temporary Wind Flight,
propelling the caster directly upwards at 12 / Mass yards per second (acceleration). The updraft is 4 yards
in diameter and, when the spell is cast it takes 1 second to appear (anyone in the area will feel the wind
starting). Anyone caught in the updraft must make an AGI roll at –3 (or a Air Elemental College skill roll at
no negative) to maneuver.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
32
Continuing
Sprinting
None
Air Shield – [4]
From the caster’s hands come a powerful, roaring, blast of air. While running, the character has a block as
per Spell Shield each turn. Additionally, anyone who is blocked by 4 or more than the caster required
suffers a 6 point Wind Blast (knocked back 6 / Mass yards).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18 (+8 ST per turn)
Blocking Attack
Sprinting
6 PWR Wind Blast
Blizzard – [4]
The magician calls a destructive ice storm on a given location. When the spell is cast, the caster makes a
WIL roll against the GM assigned “hotness” of the area. For each hour the caster concentrates, and
successfully makes a WIL roll against the area, the final roll is at +1. When the final roll is made, the caster
picks a target within WIL miles and the storm will form on that area (the GM may call for a WIL roll to land it
on target—for each point the roll is missed by, the storm lands one mile out and moves at 5 miles an hour
towards the target). The radius of the storm is ¼ mile for each point the roll was made by.
•
0-3: Light effects (mild snow, freezing rain, temporary freezing temperatures). Duration is 1 hour per
point the roll was made by.
•
4-6: Medium Effects. Snow, Hail, ice. Traffic will be disrupted. Exposure may be dangerous. Duration
is 2 hours per point roll was made by. Winds will damage lightly made structures.
•
7-9: Heavy effects: Streets are blocked, exposure will kill. The winds will damage moderately heavy
structures.
•
10+ Catastrophic: Even heavy structures may be destroyed.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Summon
None
None
40
Call Lightning – [4]
The mage directs a lightning bolt (actually several) from the sky. When cast, the mage makes a WIL roll and
the bolt will appear Roll – 20 yards later. This spell will call lightning out of a clear sky (the charge comes
from clouds in the elemental plane of air). The range modifier for the attack is –1 per 50 yards but the bolt is
inaccurate. Anything smaller than a house is at –5 to be hit, if it’s still in the same place when the bolt
comes down. On the positive side, the bolt hits for 400 points of electrical damage. Because the bolt is
actually several bolts, targets within a 10-yard radius of the strike of the main bolt will take 200 points of
damage each. Targets within 20 yards will have a 9- chance of being hit by a bolt for 30 points of electrical
damage. These bolts cannot be blocked within the 10-yard radius.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
60
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Lightning Orb – [4]
The lightning orb is a crackling ball of electricity. It is unleashed as a ranged attack and moves at 40 yards /
second (striking most targets instantly). It hits for 20 points of electrical damage. Along the path of its travel
and at the point it strikes, it will lash out with smaller lightning bolts which have a 12- to hit any target (14- if
the target wears metal armor) and hit for 12 points of lightning damage. The radius of these smaller bolts is
3 yards to either side.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Tornado – [8]
The caster creates a massive tornado that can be used to wreak havoc. The tornado has a radius of 20
yards, travels at 20 miles an hour, and has a 200 STR. When summoned, the caster must remain
motionless while directing the tornado—he must also direct it within line of sight (so he cannot be completely
enclosed and is better off high up). The tornado takes 20 minutes to form (and its formation will be
apparent). After formation, it lasts so long as maintained. It moves on the caster’s turn as an 8 REA Long
action.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
60
Continuing
Running
None
41
Water Elemental College
Description: The character has studied the forces of elemental water. The mage can manipulate
the essence of water wherever it may exist. The Water Elementalist is often more at home in the
seas than he is on land.
Level 1: Water Wizard. The character can locate water with a RES +1 roll. This gives +3 to
survival rolls if the GM rules that finding water is a major hardship.
Level 2: Mere Magus. The character can extract water from objects and the air. With 1 hour, the
character can preserve meats, desiccate plants for storage, and extract drinkable water from the
air (this is at –3 or worse in a desert).
Level 3: Hydromancer. The character has a special relationship with the sea. A roll will predict
the weather (WILx3 hours ahead) at sea and will allow navigation rolls to be made at +2 if the
character makes his roll. A roll will also allow the character to identify and locate (or avoid) sea
creatures.
Level 4: Water Elementalist.
Manipulate Water – [Signature Spell: 4]
The mage can control masses of water with his will. After paying the basic cost, for each spell point the
mage puts into the spell, it acts as 1 POWER of Water Control (up to a maximum PWR equal to the mage’s
WIL+2). The endurance cost for this is Walking if the character uses 1/3 or less of his Long Term mana, or
Running if the character uses more than 1/3 of his Long Term mana.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12 + PWR
Control
Varies
None
Create Water – [1]
The mage can create enough water for one person to survive on for one day.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Create
Normal
None
Dry – [1]
The caster can make a target dry. This will not desiccate a target—the water simply evaporates—but it will
dry off a person completely and thoroughly. If cast quickly, it will save drenched electronics.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
6
Transform
Normal
None
Extinguish – [1]
The caster can extinguish flames. The spell will reduce the damage done by a fire by 8 points per casting. If
cast one-after-another, at least twice a second, the effects will be cumulative. This can be cast as a
blocking spell using the caster’s Spell attack skill –1 as the block (against fire attacks only). A successful
block will reduce the damage done by the fire attack by 8 points. It blocks ranged attacks at no negative.
Example fires: Candle 1pt, torch 2pts, campfire 4-6pts, bonfire 8-12 points, burning building 12 points per 2
cubic yards.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
2
Ranged Attack / Block
Normal
Blocking
Fire Water – [1]
The mage can bring the forces of Elemental Water into conflict with the natural process of evaporation such
that water seems to burn. Burning water gives off an eerie blue glow (deeper and stronger than alcohol) and
produces heat and light as a normal flame. It will set other objects on fire (the heat is real) but objects in the
water itself, will be warmed, not burnt. A pot of water produces the heat of a campfire. Each gallon of water
will burn for 4 points of damage (heat) so long as the spell last. The basic spell point cost will ignite 1 gallon,
more water can be ignited for +1 spell point per gallon. The damage will not stack, the most a large quantity
of burning water will do is [WIL –3] damage. A gallon of water will burn out in an hour, evaporating. More
water can be added to keep it going. Throwing dirt on Fire Water will quench it. Boiling the water with fire
will evaporate it faster. A “vial of fire water” can be prepared so that the mage casts it and then throws the
bottle. This will do 4 points of “heat” damage and the bottle must be roughly 1 quart’s worth.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
5 + 1 per gallon
Transform
None
None
42
Pressurize – [1]
The mage can survive “crushing depths.” This takes time to pressurize (but none to decompress). If the
mage is Aquatic, then the spell is permanent. Otherwise, it has Walking endurance cost.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Transform
Walking
None
Sing to Fish – [1]
The character can increase the output of fishing by 100% per hour that this spell is active. If this is done at
sea, however, the caster may attract a large hostile sea creature on a roll of a 17+ (GM rolls secretly each
hour).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
14
Attract Fish
None
None
Sonar – [1]
The mage uses “magical sonar” to sense things underwater. In the air, it will allow the character to see in
occluded areas (smoke and fog) at a –3 perception roll. Underwater, it acts as dark vision with the added
bonus that more than one mage using this can communicate over hundreds of yards with quick “chirping”
sentences only spell users understand. If a mage knowing this spell is spoken to in this fashion, he will
understand—to speak back, he must cast the spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12 +
Transform
Walking
None
Airy Bubble – [2]
The caster creates a bubbly sphere of breathable water. People and animals within the sphere may breathe
whichever atmosphere they normally do. The size of the bubble is 4 yards, +1 yard radius per 4 points paid
at casting time.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20 +
Transform
Walking
None
Breathe Underwater – [2]
The caster can breathe underwater. So long as the spell lasts, the character can move in water at his
normal land speed and breathe normally.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Transform
Walking
None
Magician’s Tentacles – [2]
While running, the mage, if submerged or within 5 yards of a sufficiently large body of water (GM’s call), can
control water to act as tentacles. The tentacles are 8 yards in length and are almost invisible underwater.
They act as [WIL+1] STR TK. Their Offensive Grapple is [WIL-5].
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Create Tentacle
Walking
None
Purify – [2]
The mage can purify 1 gallon of water per casting, +1 gallon per spell point.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8+ 1 per gallon
Transform
Normal
None
Aquatic – [4]
When the spell is cast, the mage, essentially, becomes aquatic. Casting the spell takes 1 hour. Until the
spell is uncast, also taking an hour, the character breathes water (as per Breathe Underwater) but will
suffocate on land. The character moves normally underwater—but cannot see in pitch black or survive
crushing depths. On the other hand, the character will not suffer hypothermia. If the character wishes to act
normally on land, he may cast Breathe Underwater and, while the spell runs, breathe air.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Transform
None
None
Water Cannon – [4]
The mage fires a blast of water that acts as a [WIL-5] PWR Water Cannon. This may be continued as a
streaming attack for 12 mana each turn after the first turn. Underwater, the PWR is mage’s WIL+3.
43
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Ranged Attack
Sprinting
None
44
Void Elemental College
Description: The fifth of the Elemental Colleges, the Void Elemental College is the “essence” of
non-being. A mage cannot know all 5 colleges and in order to know any Void spells at all must
know three other Elemental Colleges.
Level 1: Zed. Study of the void gives the character intuitive knowledge. On a WIL-10 roll, the
character spontaneously learns small but useful information when confronted with an intractable
problem.
Level 2: Null Magus. The character can enter a trance (3 REA Short action to start and to
maintain each turn) which gives him +1 to his WIL rolls. He may take no action whatsoever while
in the trance.
Level 3: Nihlologist. The caster can blank his mind. While in the trance state(3 REA Short action
to start and maintain), he gets +2 to all WIL rolls but can take no action whatsoever.
Level 4:
.
Disintegrate– [Signature Spell: 4]
The caster fires a ray of gray nothingness from his hand. This hits as a [WIL-4] PWR Disintegration beam
(Penetrating damage attack that automatically penetrates bio-armor and halves worn armor. It disintegrates
inanimate objects as per the ability). This costs 4 Endurance to fire. Targets killed or “destroyed” are not
turned to dust, but instead are taken into the void.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Strip – [1]
The character passes his hand over an object or sheet of paper. The spell will “cleanse” objects (sucking
small particles into the void). This will strip paint, dust furniture, remove glue from stickers, erase ink off of
paper, take tape body outlines off of sliding glass door before you leave your apartment for good (and your
roommate warned you about it), etc.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Clean objects
Walking
None
Bolt of Void – [2]
The caster fires a bolt of almost transparent churning want of being. It strikes as a [WIL-9] PWR
Disintegration beam (automatically penetrates bio-armor, halves worn armor). This costs 2 Endurance to
fire.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Ranged Attack
2
None
Ignore – [2]
The caster simply wills an attack into non-being. This is only used to block ranged attacks and it functions
as a Large Spell Shield. It may cast for 0 REA since the caster simply “ignores” the attack. The caster
makes a blocking roll at no positive modifier against the attack. Even explosive attacks will cease to exist.
Objects larger than 1 pound may not be blocked this way.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Block
Normal
Blocking
Pool of Void – [2]
The caster opens a semi-permanent rift of void in the ground (or other container—like a well). The void may
appear as churning blackness, rolling, liquid blind spot, thick gray fluid, billowing “mist of nothingness,” etc.
When created (taking 8 hours of meditation) it makes other Void spells easier to cast, producing 5 Long-
Term mana per hour, useable within a 4 yard radius. It has its hazards: anyone drawing from it must make a
WIL roll. If the roll is failed by 3 or more, a void tentacle will erupt from the pool and try to grab them. Other
strange effects may occur over time as objects or things may “wash up” on the shore. The structure around
the void pool will require about $50 of upkeep per month or it will decay and the pool may spread. Stepping
into the pool will unleash a void tentacle against the person touching or entering it. The major use for this is
as a “garbage disposal” (especially for troublesome artifacts and dead bodies) than as a power source or
combat spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Create Void Pool
Normal
None
45
Trolling the Void – [2]
Everything that is consumed by the void may still exist—somewhere. The caster can “fish” for items others
have condemned to the void (most will be angry living combatants, but hey, you can’t be choosy. When the
spell is cast, the caster makes a WIL roll and meditates for 1 hour per point the roll is made by. When the
time is over, the caster will lose 2 points of endurance per hour meditated. This endurance can only be
regained by 8 hours of sleep. Each hour, the caster has 1 2- chance of getting something from the void.
The GM determines what it is. Mostly these will be random objects—but they can come from anywhere, any
time. This is one of the “void study” spells magicians cast when doing magical research on the void. It
should not be misconstrued as a treasure hunt. Luck and other magical enhancers don’t work for this, and
usually the items returned will be under 1 Mass and won’t be valuable. Try the below table for some
attempts:
0-4: Valuable piece of technology or magic from another time or a far removed alternate reality.
5-8 : Semi-valuable piece of tech or magic from a “similar” alternate reality.
9-10: Random “normal” object.
11-12: Random “normal object with some minor difference about it (dollar bill with Adams on it).
13-14: Personal artifact (diary, etc.)
15-16: Dangerous object or being (radioactive bullets from gulf-war, cloud of mustard gas, etc.)
17-18: Very dangerous object or being (assault robot, minor daemon, 5 void tentacles).
19-20: Caster goes into the void! Something that looks like the caster, has his memories, and has
the stats of a Major Daemon replaces him. This Voidling will assume his identity for WIL days after
which he might be returned at Serious condition or . . . might not. . .
Anything is possible.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
35
Ranged Attack
Special
None
Void Pocket – [2]
The caster maintains a “pocket” of stable void nearby him. This “Extra Dimensional Space” is a sphere of
WIL inches radius. When the spell ceases to function, whatever is inside falls out into reality. Opening and
closing the pocket is an 8 REA Long action. Objects inside are cold, the area is dark, but they will not be
molested. The pocket appears as a gray sphere into which objects may be dropped or the caster may reach
in to retrieve them.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Create Pocket
Walking
None
Wisdom of the Void – [2]
The void exists between all places and all times and the caster can project himself into it (mentally) in a
search for knowledge. This is hazardous and often pointless (the caster returns exhausted and half-mad
with a recipe for blackbird pie involving some materials that don’t exist in his world). If the character has the
points to learn a skill (trivial skills count) he may attempt a void journey. This takes 1 week of preparation
and either a WIL roll made by 5 (mediation helps) or $300 worth of herbs and drugs. When the caster goes
in, he gambles a certain amount of points and rolls on the table below:
0-5: Caster gets Hard Skill from another time (1-2)/ dimension(3-4)/ or both(5-6).
6-9: Caster gets Normal Skill from another time/dimension/both
10-11: Caster gets Normal Skill from this time/dimension
12-13: Caster gets Hard Skill from this time/dimension
14-15: Caster gets Trivial Skill from this time/dimension
16-18: Caster gets Trivial Skill from another time/dimension/both
19-20: Caster learns random fact from another time/dimension/both (and loses the
points!)
Hard Skill Type: 1-2 Combat Skill, 4-6 Non-combat (science)
Normal Skill: 1-Magical, 2-3 Area of Study/social, 4-Military, 5-Street Skill, 6-Professional
Alternate Reality: 1-4 Near (close to this reality), 5-Far (very different), 6-Very, very far
(totally different: 1 PWR to madness roll).
Alternate Time: 1-Lower Technology, 2-4 about the same technology, 5 greater
technology, 6 much, much greater technology (+1 PWR to madness roll).
46
When the caster returns he will have spent WIL-4 endurance and this will only be recovered by 8 hours rest.
Furthermore, he suffers a Madness attack at PWR 10 +1 point per point gambled (maximum of PWR 16). If
he acquires a defect it will be in the manic use of the skill. Note: while a medieval caster may acquire
technical skills, he won’t have the rest of the background necessary to implement them. He may know all
kinds of things about electronics but won’t have a blue-print on how to advance the technology. This rule
may be waived if the caster gambles a Level 4 skill. The minimum gamble is .5 points (resulting in a Level 1
skill). If the caster studies the skill later, more points may be put in but this should happen slowly. The GM
is free to rule that nothing useful comes out of this if he wishes (hopefully he will return the points) as mage
might do this for decades without learning something that even could change the world.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
45
Acquire Skill
Special
None
Sphere of Void – [4]
The target is encased in an egg-shaped area of void—it then vanishes. This acts as a Banish attack at
[WIL] PWR. Casting this costs 2 endurance.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
32
PWR vs. STAT
2
PWR is WIL
Tentacles of the Void – [4]
The caster opens a “blind-spot” in the air and angry-tentacles of non-being come out. The caster gets 2
tentacles, +1 per 8 Mana (Multi-Cast). The tentacles will last until they either grab something and return it to
the void or the mage discontinues the spell. The tentacles are 4 yards long and have grapple scores of 9.
Once a person is grappled, the tentacle will then attempt to win a Major Success to pull the hapless victim
back into the void (gone . . . forever?). The tentacles take no damage from physical attacks, roll to hit on a
13-, and will target only animate beings (if they miss or don’t detect anything, though, they will grab random
items and pull them in). This is a terrifying spell—and very noisy as the void-hole howls and sucks in air too.
They will grab the caster if he is within range!
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
45 +8 per tentacle
Ranged Attack
Sprinting
None
Void Walker – [4]
The character vanishes into the void that exists around and within everything. While he pays endurance he
may choose not to reappear and “move” anywhere within walking distance. He cannot see the “real world”
but may make MEM rolls to remember to move to exact locations. When the spell is dropped, he reappears.
Coming and going is an 8 REA Long action. This is sort of similar to Teleport except that the caster moves
at walking speed and has “hang-time.” The most a caster can take is +1 Mass above his own. Appearing in
a solid object acts like teleporting into it, but the caster will know if this is about to happen (so walking
through a massive cave wall won’t work, but if the caster chooses to reappear in a room, even a cluttered
one, it won’t be a problem). It is also important to note that the caster cannot see the landing area prior to
touch-down.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Movement
Sprinting
None
47
Summoning
Description: The mage can summon creatures from the ether. These beings spring forth from
apparent nothingness and can perform various services or tasks for the summoner. Not all
summoned beings are necessarily safe or inclined to serve the caster though . . .
Level 1: Invoker. The character is familiar with the theoretical basis of summoning. These rules
assume that there are “pocket universes” that co-exist with the one the players are in. Things live
in these universes and can be called forth. Humans cannot go there except via magical means
and usually cannot escape once there. These universes are strange beyond comprehension to
our universe and are not pleasant places to be.
Level 2: Conjurer. The character knows the “First Echelon” hierarchy of names in the
summoning realm. This means that the character recognizes names of the beings that have can
either be summoned or have the greatest impact on their universe (the most common beings).
Level 3: Summoner. The character understands something about the motivations of creatures
from the other universes (and can better bargain with them). This takes the form of knowing what
weird or unusual trinkets the summoned beings might want (the tooth from a seventh son of a
seventh son) and may allow unusual bargains. Also, the character knows “Second Echelon”
names and secret names of the truly powerful beings (or the very rare beings) from these other
universes.
Level 4: Evocator.
Named Daemons: If the character has a Summon Named Daemon spell, he must also purchase
a Trivial skill for each Daemon he means to summon. These skills are learned from ancient
tomes, forbidden books and other exotic sources. They have the following effects:
Summon Named Daemon (Major or Minor)
Trivial, MEM
Description: The character knows the name and ritual of a Minor or Major named Daemon. This skill, in
conjunction with the spell Summon, will allow the character to call it forth.
Level 1: The character knows the common name of the Daemon and something about its basic, common
appearance. This is the minimum necessary to summon the Daemon.
Level 2: The character knows the secret name of the Daemon. A successful skill roll at the time of
summoning will negate 1 point of Indomitable the Daemon has.
Level 3: The character is an expert in the Daemon. A skill roll at summoning time will negate 2 points of
Indomitable and will give the caster words to say to get the being’s attention. This is often crucial to talking
to a Daemon since, while it will not prevent the being from attacking if free, it will allow the caster to open
more diplomatic communication if the being is contained. This skill also gives clues about what the specific
being might favor.
Level 4: The character knows some of the True Name of the Daemon. Rolls to control the Daemon are at
+2 and this ignores up to 4 points of Indomitable the Daemon may have. The character knows very well
what sorts of exotic items or knowledge may entice the Daemon to do favors. At any rate, in combat, once,
the character can speak the piece of the True Name he knows, and Daze the Daemon. This works once per
summoning and is a 5 REA Medium action, requiring a successful skill roll.
Mage’s Guardian – [Signature Spell: 4]
The Mage’s Guardian appears as a darkly handsome 4 armed man or woman. Their eyes glow with a red
or white light. If a guardian is killed, the mage loses 2 experience points (i.e. may not cast the spell again
until the points are paid). It will do the caster’s bidding. They use neither armor nor weapons (if dressed with
armor, their skin will lose it’s magical protection). Only one may be summoned at a time. This is a safe
creature. It will last until dismissed.
STR 13 BLD 10 CON 12 / 21 DP REF 12
INT 11
Strike: 7 Penetrating Damage, Grapple score 9/7
Armor 4 / 8
Dark Vision, Heal caster 6 points once per day.
Etiquette L2 13-, Street Fighting L2 14-, Stealth L2 13-
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Summon
None
None
48
Cloud of Insects – [1]
The mage can summon a cloud of insects. These must be harmless, but may be annoying (flies, roaches,
etc.) It is a simple spell, but one that exist in hundreds of variations. Each variation is a separate spell. The
cloud can include about 30 – 100 insects (depending on size) and will give anyone in the cloud a –1 visual
perception modifier (it will quickly disperse). Usually, the cloud is created within reach of the caster, and
moves away from him. The insects are sterile and cannot be valuable.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Summon
None
None
House Keeper – [1]
The House Keeper looks like a ½ yard diameter fuzzy black ball of hair that has two black over-sized
chicken feet extending from the bottom. When summoned, the House Keeper will clean an area roughly the
size of a house. It is sort of shy in that it will hide in dark corners, under stairs, etc. If cornered, it will flee
but it has an unsettling history of attacking children. It cleans by using it’s fur to “suck up” dirt (not by
magically cleaning things). It will remain in an area until dismissed or until sundown (but there are legends
that House Keepers get stuck and may remain in a place forever—sometimes becoming dangerous).
STR 8 BLD 5 CON 11 / 6 DP
REF 10
INT 8
Claw attack for 2 Pen Damage on 11-
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Summon
None
None
Organizer – [2]
The Organizer is a small bronze colored imp-like being (9” tall) that is dedicated to keeping an area neat. It
cannot speak (it spouts quiet gibberish sometimes) but it can read and can alphabetize books, stack pencils,
clean up spills, etc. Its area is approximately 8 yards on a side. It will stay out of the way and it does not
need to be fed or otherwise occupied. The danger with the organizer is that something will go wrong and
the area will get too dirty. If a bookshelf falls over, some pitcher of juice spills over several books, or
something just really messes up the area (a sword fight) the Organizer may go berserk. It has the stats of
the Imp in berserk form.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Summon
None
None
Summon Imp – [2]
An Imp is a mischievous being that can be summoned to do a caster’s bidding. When called forth, the
caster holds a small degree of power over the Imp: if the Imp is dismissed and the caster is angry, the Imp
will suffer (at the hands of its extra dimensional masters). This does not terrify the Imp but makes it more
likely to obey. Furthermore, the Imp can be dismissed instantly as a 5 REA medium action. The GM can
make a roll and if the roll is a 19 or 20, the dismissal will fail. The odds are low so the Imp is unlikely to
attack the caster since he can just get rid of it. Imps appear as small red sexless humanoids with tails and
black eyes and wings. They cannot turn invisible but have good senses and a high Stealth roll. Imps are
cowardly, will try to harm the caster in some non-obvious manner, and cannot be trusted very far . . . but
they make decent spies.
Imps are not Daemons, but there is a Trivial skill associated with their summoning. Because Imps
vary greatly, and have a wide range of skills and abilities, the more a caster knows about the nature of Imps,
the more successful he will be in getting the Imp he wants. Below is the Random Imp Generation Table,
and the trivial skill.
Basic Imp
STR 12 BLD 5 CON 12 / 12 DP
REF 12
INT 10
Winged Flight 8 yards / second
Claws +1 Penetrating damage (3 points) hit on a 13-
Perception Roll +3 (and perfect night vision)
Stealth L3 15-, Shadowing L2 13-, Lock Pick L2 13-, Sleight of Hand L2 13-, Traps L2 13-
49
Random Imp Table
Body Type
0 – 9
Ectomorph (tall, skinny Imp) +2 Stealth, -2 STR
10 – 12 Mesomorph (basic Imp, muscular) normal stats
13 – 20 Endomorph (short, obese imp) +4 BLD, -2 Stealth –1 REA, +1 STR
Imp Skills
Skill Level
0 – 4
Hard Science Skill at RES +1
0 – 4
Level 3
5 – 9
Craft Skill at RES +2
6 – 15
Level 2
10 – 11 Street Skill at RES +2
16 – 20 Level 1 and roll another skill
12
Area of Knowledge at RES +2
13 – 14 Social Skill at RES +2
15 – 16 Military Skill at RES +2
17 – 19 Combat Skill at AGI or COR +1
20
Exotic Skill (L3 Combat Skill, Science skill, etc.) at RES +2
Unusual Imp Physiology
0 – 3
Fire Breathing Imp! 9 damage, once every 2 turns, hits with COR
4 – 6
Spiky Tail Imp 5 damage, -1 to be blocked, hits 13-
7 – 14
Nothing Special
15
Armored Imp 2/4 Armor
16 –17 Phosphorescent Imp: glows in the dark, gives off light like a good lamp.
18 –19 Third Eye Imp: can see magic and invisible things.
20
Combat Imp: puffs up to +2 STR, +5 BLD, hits on a 15-, makes 1 attack per turn for 4 REA, has 3/6
armor. May attack caster if insulted! (Looks normal to begin with). Expanding is a 5 REA Medium
action.
Unusual Imp Coloration and Caste
0 – 4
Purple “Noble” Imp: Imp is a Level 1 Apprentice with Fire or Air magic! They argue or battle with
Royal Imps on sight.
5 – 7
Yellow “Scribe/Bard” Imp: Imp has +2 Memory and L2 Writing. It will compose insulting songs and
limericks about the caster. It will also know assorted dirty jokes. Showmanship L2 13-.
8 – 14
Red “Common Imp”: No change
15 – 16 Green “Worker” Imp: The Imp has +1 STR and is well suited to physical labor (can perform simple
handy-man duties.)
17 – 19 Dark Blue “Royal” Imp: Imp is a Level 1 Apprentice Mage with Imperial College or Elder School
spells. They argue or battle with Noble Imps on sight.
20
Gray “Tinker” Imp: The Imp has an innate understanding of common technology. It has L3
Mechanics and will tinker with any device, assemble strange machines, etc. Even the Imp can’t
say what they do, but they are often troublesome. In high-tech games, this will be considered a
“Hacker” Imp.
Imp Skill
Trivial, MEM
Description: The caster knows how to summon the Imp he wants. At the higher levels, the caster can modify
all lower level table rolls.
Level 1: The caster can, with a successful roll, modify the Body Type by 2 in any direction.
Level 2: The caster can, with a successful roll, modify the Imp Skill roll by 2 in any direction.
Level 3: The caster can, with a successful roll, modify the Unusual Imp Physiology roll by 2 in any direction.
Level 4: The caster can, with a successful roll, modify the Unusual Imp Coloration Table by 2 in any
direction.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Summon
None
None
50
Summon Minor Battle Beast – [2]
The mage may summon a minor battle beast. When created, the beast must be given a target and it will
appear within 4 yards of the caster. It will then attack under its own power. Each creature the character
knows how to summon is a different spell. These are not intelligent creatures, they will not otherwise obey
the caster—but they are fairly fearless. As a 5 REA Medium action, the caster can dismiss any such
summoned beast. As these are different, the player may decide exactly what kind of creature he
summonses and pick the basic body from table A and the listed number of abilities from table B. The GM is
invited to make his own variations. They strike at REF +1 in HTH combat for 5 REA. They dodge at REF +1
for 5 REA.
Table A
Table B
Basic Body – small dog size (3 abilities)
Flight 8 yards/sec
STR 8 BLD 4 CON 12 / 9 REF 13 INT 6 (12 WIL)
-3 DP
Basic Body – large dog size (2 abilities)
Poison Sting: 8 Base Dmg,
STR 11 BLD 7 CON 12 / 12
REF 12 INT 6 (12 WIL)
12, 14, or 16 PWR
Each increase counts
Basic Body – huge dog size (1 ability)
as 1 ability. Sting is 1
STR 12 BLD 12 CON 12 / 15 REF 11
INT 6 (12 WIL)
damage, 5 Penetration
value.
Strong Bite: STR – 2 OFF Grapple.
6 Penetrating damage bite
(5 REA). Counts as
2 abilities.
Bite: STR–4 OFF Grapple.
4 points penetrating
damage per 5-REA bite.
Tentacles: +4 Grapple at
Long reach range.
Can squeeze for Base
Damage +1.
Armored Shell: 4 / 8 Armor.
Counts as 2 abilities.
Armored Scales: 2 / 4 Armor.
Special Senses: Perception roll
of 15- to find invisible
targets. Can see
normally in the dark.
Tusks: Strike for basic damage
+2 penetrating.
Medium reach.
Lashing Tail: Strike at Long
Reach. Strike is Base
Damage +1 (min of 3
points) Penetrating.
Pincer: Grab attack at medium
reach with a STR – 6
Grapple. Strike does 5
points penetrating
damage. Once hit, the
beast can squeeze for 5
REA using the same to-
hit roll (as with a bite).
Example 1
Killer Spider
Small Body, Climbing, Level 2 Venom
Snapping Lizard
Small Body, strong bite, armored scales.
Land Octopus
Large Body, Tentacles.
Huge Deadly Wasp
Medium Body, Flight, L1 Venom
“Assault Mollusk”
Medium Body, Armored “scales”, pincer
Vicious Wolf
Medium body. Running body, bite.
Miniature Dragon
Small body, flight, scales, bite
Giant Scorpion
Small Body. L2 Venom, Lashing Tail
“King Cobra”
Small body, L3 Venom.
Giant Scary “Bug”
Medium body. Flying. Tentacles.
Small “Air Shark”
Small Body, Flight (no wings), Strong Bite.
51
Climbing: (not available to
largest size). Moves up
walls at normal speed.
Running Body: double ground
move speed.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Summon
None
None
Summon Named Minor Daemon – [2]
Like the Named Major Daemon, this spell summonses a malevolent creature from an alternate reality. Each
one is a separate creature (and the caster has to know the spell that includes the name). These beings
cannot be threatened by physical force, if physically destroyed, they just go away. They are dangerous,
and, when summoned, will try to take the caster back to their home reality (win a major success in a
Grapple). Once summoned, they cannot choose to return for 24 hours unless they have the caster.
Most of these beings have two functions: the first is that if the summoner can control it
(Thaumaturgy) it can be a power ally. The second, is that they can teach spells. Their larger brethren can
teach spells costing 4 points and above—but they are extremely expensive and risky. These somewhat
lesser beings can teach spells costing 2 points and below. A given being will know 3 colleges (the character
can determine his choice of being based on what it knows).
All Minor Daemons have 2 points of the Indomitable trait that give +2 to WIL rolls vs. being
controlled. This can be directly countered by a caster with a high Trivial knowledge skill of the being to be
summoned.
Learning a spell this way is dangerous: if the protection fails, the Daemon will attempt to take the
caster back to its home reality (this is what they most want when summoned). The second problem is that
learning spells this way takes several days ([spell cost x 2] minus 1 per point a RES roll is made by
(minimum of 1)—the beast must be summoned each day). When the time is over, the caster makes a WIL
roll against a Madness attack at PWR 12 + 2x the character point cost of the spell. The daemon can teach
the college skill as well, taking 2 days per character point invested. These beings are magicians—but they
can’t cast spells in our dimensions. We can’t cast spells in theirs—so they say (no one has ever gone and
come back).
All their stats are unique. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Laglaos The Three-Tongued
STR 14 BLD 18 CON 12 / 27 DP REF 11
INT 11, 12 WIL
Colleges: Fire Elemental, Imperial College, Elder School
Armor 5 / 10 (red, rocky skin)
Bite for 11 Penetrating damage, medium reach (big “lizard head”). Grapple Score of 12
Hits on a 13-
Claw for 8 Penetrating damage. Hits on a 14-
Winged Flight 6 yards / second
Tongue Attack: Grapple score of 16, Long Reach, Armor of 4, DP of 15. Tangle Attack.
Can attack 3 characters at once this way (no other actions that turn).
Gavaros of the Sword
STR 18 BLD 13 CON 13 / 24
REF 13
INT 12, 13 WIL
Colleges: Necromancy, Air Elemental, Elder School. Can teach Sword skill, Strategy,
and Tactics as well.
“Night Black Body”: Armor 5 / 16, -4 DM vs. Non-magical attacks
+2 Arms (+4 Grapple)
Daemonic Great Sword (goes with him): L3, 15-. Ignores 2pts of armor.
Night vision (glowing red eyes).
Lightning Vision: 12 points of lightning damage on a 14- every other turn.
Vlash-Nara
STR 16 BLD 9 CON 13 / 30
REF 12 (15 REA)
INT 12, 13 WIL
Colleges: Earth Elemental, Witchcraft, Astrology
Winged Flight: 8 yards / second
Enchant 16- (18- vs. males)
52
Armor 2 / 8, -8 DM vs. non-magical weapons. –4 DM vs. magical attack
Vampiric bite: Bite damage is 8 points, DP are drained to Vlash-Nara. Character killed
this way becomes undead slave to Vlash-Nara.
Teleport 30 yards.
Turn Invisible (cannot attack while invisible)
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Summon
None
None
Arcane Steed – [4]
The Arcane Steed appears as a black horse—it’s body composed of shadow rather than flesh. Its eyes are
fire and it breathes frost. It can run across air (but it cannot increase its elevation). It runs at the speed of a
fast horse and will not tire for 8 hours (after which it vanishes). It can fight, but is not well trained (it is not
afraid—it simply doesn’t really understand mortal combat). If struck, it will strike back. It will not ram
barricades or go anywhere without the rider. If summoned and misused, it will simply vanish. A mage
cannot summon more than one per day.
STR 28 BLD 70 CON 12 / 70 DP
REF 12
INT 6
Run at 9 yards per second
Kick for 12 damage. Bite for 9 points fire damage (hit 13-)
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Summon
None
None
Astral Watchdog – [4]
Mystically armed thieves are a danger to society. The Astral Watchdog is part of the answer. It is a spirit
presence that hovers “outside reality” asleep until a spell is cast within its realm. The watchdog, like a real
dog, is attached to a dwelling (or other building) and lives within its walls. If a spell is cast within 45 yards of
the dog and within the dwelling, the dog comes awake. It can materialize as an 8 REA Long action and will
attempt to devour the caster unless the caster with the building’s owner. It can also vanish as an 8 REA
action and appear anywhere else in the dwelling. It looks like a massive bulldog (head is fully 1.5 feet
across) with giant clawed paws. Its lower body is serpent like, spiraling into a “hole in the air.” It only
attacks mages.
STR 14 BLD 15 CON 13 / 24 DP
REF 12
INT 10
Hover at 8 yards / second
Bite for 7 damage with a 14- to hit. Acts as a grab of Grapple score of 8.
Claws 9 damage, hit on a 13-, 15- in Close Combat
Armor: 3 / 6
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
50
Summon
None
None
Bookkeeper – [4]
The Bookkeeper appears as a 7-foot tall, winged thing that has a long neck, bat-like wings, three-fingered
clawed hands, boiling red eyes, and a head like a hammerhead shark. It is gifted with an eerie knowledge of
history and books. It is dangerous and, when summoned will attempt to grab the caster and return to its
own dimension (Major Success or better on the Grappling table). If it can render the caster unconscious it
will return to its home plane with him (for which it gets something it wants). If controlled, it will answer
questions for 100 coins (in whatever denomination). These answers can be simple or detailed depending on
the nature of the question and the current disposition of the Bookkeeper (an entire book report is easy,
detailed instructions on taking over the world are not likely to be forthcoming). It cannot be threatened. Its
answers will be truthful (if it knows the answer, but can be a bit cryptic). Once the Bookkeeper has said all it
wishes to about a topic, it will say no more (and re-summoning it won’t help). It wishes only to return to its
home plane with the caster (others are of no interest to it). For thousands of coin it may be convinced to
fight.
STR 23 BLD 40 CON 13 / 45 DP REF 12
INT 15
Strike:15 Penetrating damage. 13- to hit. 5 REA
Armor: 4 / 8, -4 DM vs. non-magical weapons.
History L3 18-, Literature L3 18-, Theology/Philosophy L3 18-, Occult L4 20-
53
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
32
Summon
None
None
Buzz Bomb – [4]
The Buzz Bomb is a weird insectoid creature that will home in on a target and when it reaches the target it
will explode. The bomb flies at 24 yards per second and makes a HTH to-hit roll. If successful the target is
hit for 36 points of damage. Otherwise the bomb explodes nearby for 18 points (use explosive rules). The
damage has a +4 Damage Modifier. If the bomb is dazed it will also explode. If the bomb loses sight of the
target it will continue to seek it (12- perception roll) but if the target is not found after 10 seconds the bomb
becomes unstable. It may lay dormant and attack a nearby person, it may turn back on the caster (8- roll),
or it may randomly choose another target.
STR 6 BLD 3 CON 9 / 12 DP
REF 14 16 REA
INT 2
To-Hit roll is a 15-
Armor 2 / 3
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
48
Summon
None
None
Daemon Prime – [4]
The Daemon Prime is a favorite battle beast of summoners, powerful, frightening, and relatively safe, the
Daemon Prime appears as a 5’9” tall extremely muscular blue humanoid. The creature’s flesh has a weird
metallic sheen and it’s eyes glow dark red. From its fingers come sharp black claws. The spell is slightly
dangerous. On a failed roll the creature will vanish. If the roll is failed by 5+ it will attack the caster. The
Daemon Prime may be multi-cast (more than one can be summoned at once). When summoned they will
do one of two things: defend the caster or attack a given target. If a target evades them or is slain, if the
caster is still in battle they will randomly assault the caster’s enemies (if this is tricky to determine, use INT
rolls).
STR 13 BLD 16 CON 12 / 15 DP REF 12
INT 9
Strike: 6 penetrating damage 13- (5 REA)
Armor 4 / 8 -2 Damage Modifier from non-magical weapons
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30 + 8 per Daemon
Summon
None
None
Mystic Sentry – [4]
The sentry appears as a 6’ tall metallic humanoid (various models are possible). It will guard a specific item
until destroyed. It has a perception roll of 19- for determining if someone is messing with the item. It is an
automaton. This spell is dangerous. If the roll is failed the caster gets a random, malevolent creature.
STR 14 BLD 30 STA 15 / 60 DP
REF 13
INT --
Strike: 8 blunt damage 14- (5 REA)
Armor 6 pts (takes no penetrating damage)
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Summon
None
None
Summon Named Major Daemon – [4]
The Named Demon represents one of several large malevolent creatures from alternate realities. Each one
is a separate creature (and the caster has to know the spell that includes the name). These beings cannot
be threatened by physical force; if physically destroyed, they just go away. They are dangerous, and, when
summoned, will try to take the caster back to their home reality (win a major success in a Grapple). Once
summoned, they cannot choose to return for 24 hours unless they have the caster.
The Daemons, however, follow rules. They will keep their word as given (but this is rare). More
likely they will have to be cajoled into helping. They cherish things like “the innocent,” large amounts of
gemstones, promises of servitude at a later time (which they have diabolical ways of collecting on), and
Golden Age comic books. Knowing what unusual artifacts a daemon likes is half the battle of summoning
one. If a daemon is “freed” (summoned and not controlled) it will likely wreak havoc and run amuck for 24
hours before vanishing with someone it likes.
54
All their stats are unique. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Gor-Ma-Gog
STR 26 BLD 40 CON 13 / 45 DP REF 12
INT 11, 12 WIL
Claw 15 points of penetrating damage. 13- to hit. 5 REA
Punch for 22 points of Impact Damage
Armor: 4 / 8, -4 DM vs. non-magical weapons.
POWERS
Breath Fire Ball for 18 points of damage (explosive) once every three turns 14-
Immunity to Fire
Winged Flight 15 yards / second
Tail that can grab at long range with a 12 Grapple
Cthaagos
STR 18 BLD 30 CON 13 / 45
REF 13
INT 12, 13 WIL
3 Tentacles: Squeeze for 14 damage, Grapple of 28
Winged Flight 10 yards / second
Armor 6 / 9 -2 DM vs. non-magical weapons
POWER: Grant Mana. It can choose to give up to your mana+30 Long Term
Mana that last until used. The extra ones are used first.
Invisibility (not in combat)
Terror when first seen on a 13-
Kossogoth
STR 16 BLD 60 CON 13 / 60
REF 11 (15 REA)
INT 9, 14 WIL
Stretching up to 20 yards. Grapple of 30
No armor, -5 DM from non-magical weapons.
Pseudopodia hit for 13 points of “burning acid damage” with long reach. If they hit, the
grab with an 8 Offensive Grab. Each turn it holds someone it can burn them with
the same to-hit roll for 5 REA.
Darkness field: -3 perception modifiers for 8 yards around it
Body of “Acid” (Body of Fire) 18 damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Summon
None
None
Whisper Wyrm – [4]
The Whisper Wyrm is a small, hand-sized dragon. They are intelligent and speak the language of the caster
and 100 other languages (the GM determines if the Wyrm the caster can summon speaks a given
language). They can be used as translators but also have an uncanny knack for detecting lies. To work
properly, the Wyrm must be near the caster (usually perched on the caster’s shoulder) and must be able to
see and be seen by the speaker. If these conditions are met, the Wyrm can detect lies on a 13- roll against
the speaker’s RES (the GM can give +1 to +4 to the speaker for a well told or almost true statement).
Whisper Wyrms usually require payment for their services (taking the coins with them when they are
dismissed). The price is usually $60 an hour (the GM can adjust for a specific campaign).
STR 1 BLD 0 CON 10 / 2 DP
REF 14 14 REA
INT 13
Winged Flight 8 yards / second
Perception Roll +1
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
28
Summon
None
None
55
Illusions and Phantasms
Description: The mage can create creatures and objects from “shadow-stuff.” These creations
have all the appearance but virtually none of the substance. The college also teaches spells
concerning the manipulation of light and perception.
Level 1: Phantom Caster. Illusions are “shadows” of being and are called forth from a murky
“primordial curtain of non-existence.” A character with Level 1 Illusions skill can spend 100 hours
of research (and a successful roll) to modify an illusion spell. They can also use the skill as a
perception roll to spot illusions that are generated by spells that cost 1 or 2 points to learn.
Level 2: Image Maker. The character can modify a spell with 50 hours of research (and a
successful roll). The character is familiar with the “wave interactions of sound and light
diffraction” and can assist with prisms and such in the creation of lenses and optical effects.
Level 3: Illusionist. The character can modify a spell with 25 hours of research and a successful
roll. Such a character may have any number of specialized illusion spells.
Level 4: Lord of Illusions.
NOTE: Illusion and Phantasm spells have slots that determine what the character can create.
The number of slots for a spell is listed in the description (under Notes, usually). Slots can be
changed so a spell that creates Phantasmal weapons (1 slot) can be changed to produce a
different weapon over time. The time necessary to change a slot is the hours of research
necessary to modify an Illusion spell (see Level 1) divided by the number of slots in the spell.
If the character has a trivial skill pertaining to a slot, the time can be quartered if a roll is
made at –3 (-0 at Level 3, +3 at Level 4).
The character can double the listed number of slots by spending ½ the amount of the
spell’s cost (so, to double the slots of a 1 point spell costs .5 points, 1 point for a 2 point spell, and
2 points for a 4 point spell). This will not affect the time necessary to modify a slotted spell.
Greater Phantasm – [Signature Spell: 4]
The Greater Phantasm appears as a 9’ tall Minotaur with a powerful tail that forks into two grasping
tentacles, a third arm from the right shoulder, and weirdly curved golden horns. Its body is covered with
playing card motif tattoos and its feet are massive horse’s hooves. The creature is an illusory extension of
the caster. When summoned the caster uses his RES for the creature’s REA and must stand still. If the
caster wishes to move during a turn, the phantasm must stand motionless (then use REA). The caster
suffers all the effects of damage to the phantasm but takes no actual damage. The phantasm lasts until
dispelled but will return at whatever condition it was dismissed in. They do not bleed and will recover
normally from any result short of dying or dead. The caster can only cast defensive spells while operating
the phantasm.
STR 17 BLD 5 CON 13 / 18
REF 12 (REA = caster’s WIL)
INT = caster’s
To-Hit roll is a 14-, strike does 6 damage
Armor 0, -4 DM vs. Non-magical weapons.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
42
Summon
Normal
None
Glitter – [1]
Glitter, cast on a person, gives them a +1 to Entrance rolls to people who are not superstitious of magic: it
makes the person actually sparkle and shine and cast of small rays of light. It immediately identifies the
person as a magician. However, it need not be cast on the spell-caster himself. Often, amongst locals, it is
used to make the populace think that one person is a magician while another really is. This deception will
not pass with people familiar with magic.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Ranged Attack
Walking
None
Illusory Object – [1]
The spell creates an image of an illusory object. The Object type is determined by the specific spell. Illusory
objects have no physical form and the spell will collapse if touched with intent to inspect. The size of the
object must be smaller than 2 cubic yards (the size of a man). The cost is +1 cubic yard per +1 mana (this is
determined when the spell is bought—not cast). The object can emit sound and otherwise seem to cast light
56
but it will not create heat and it will not cast a shadow. The object can be “placed stationary” in which case it
will not move or can be “fixed” to some other object so that it will seem to move with the fixed piece (like a
sword worn on a belt). From within the object it will seem to be translucent but a body passing through it will
end the spell. Sample objects are: work of art, coins (but they can’t be given so they’d have to appear to be
“placed on the table” by the caster), sword or other weapon, jewelry.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
13 +1 / yard
Illusion
Walking
4 slots
Light Song – [1]
When cast, any noise the caster makes will be converted into colored light. This can provide illumination
similar to a torch by humming. It also can be manipulated with a musical instrument to produce light-show
concerts.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3
Continuing
Walking
None
Mystic Rainment – [1]
The target’s clothes appear however the caster wishes. The garb must still be normal clothes and it cannot
cover the character where he is not covered with cloth. The GM must insure that this is not used to make
the character appear to be wearing armor or something that doesn’t fall into the category of clothes (“I’m
wearing a long cape with a army following me and standing on it.”). If touched by a person suspecting a
trick, the spell collapses. Casting the spell takes 1 minute of meditation. It lasts until dispelled (by the caster
or another) or until the clothes are taken off. The caster must be within WIL yards of the target for the spell
to work. Note: this won’t do gear and doesn’t generally do a good job of mimicking detailed (police) uniforms
(it won’t do armor either). The GM may give onlookers a RES roll at –1 to see through it if the character tries
to assume an appearance the GM feels is too complicated.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Illusion
Normal
10 Slots
Phantasmal Bauble – [1]
Given any collection of string, colored sticks, springs, and other such materials, the caster can construct a
Phantasmal Bauble. The nature of the Bauble varies depending on the object made but it is fascinating to
anyone with the curious defect or anyone who’s WIL or RES is lower than 9. Those people must make WIL
rolls at –2 or want it badly (this also applies to children or anyone else who likes toys—but is unaware of the
basic nature of the bauble). While the spell is in effect the bauble really seems to be some kind of
fascinating gadget (wind-up toy, singing jewel case, etc.) It is probably not obviously magical in nature.
When the spell ends, it becomes junk. These can be used to amuse children or can be sold to credulous
townies for a short time. Touching the bauble with specific intent to determine its real nature will collapse the
spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Illusion
Walking
None
Phantasmal Game Pieces – [1]
This spell creates a “small army” of animate, phantasmal game pieces. Each piece is between 1 inch and 4
inches in. The character learning the spell must pick a genre for the pieces (usually chess or a fantasy
army). These pieces can be moved about within the caster’s line of sight. They are quite weak but could be
used to retrieve, perhaps, a key from a small tight area. They can’t climb walls or otherwise perform unusual
maneuvers. Often this is used to train apprentices . . . or to impress the locals by playing chess with
animate pieces. The spell is easily modifiable and any caster can have pieces of his own design. Because
the pieces are phantasmal, they look, sound, and feel real but touching one with intent to dispel it will
collapse the spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3
Illusion
Walking
6 slots (armies)
Phantasmal Object – [1 or 2]
The caster creates a physical illusion of an object. It must be an object the spell creator has studied and it
must be roughly tool sized. If touched with intense disbelief, the spell will collapse, otherwise it will function
just like the tool. Phantasms of valuable items may be created but observers will get a RES roll to notice
something wrong (Instinct will instantly spot them). Complicated objects like money and electronics usually
can’t be faked. Simple objects (basic tools) are 1 point phantasms. Complicated objects (Swiss army
knives) are 2 point phantasms). Objects created with this spell can do real damage (like a combat
57
phantasm) but cutting something, driving a nail, or otherwise having a real physical effect costs 1 point of
Endurance per second.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Phantasm
None
2 slots
Remove Shadow – [1]
The spell will remove a specific shadow from one person or thing. The shadow must be no greater than 200
square yards (so a small tower’s shadow could be removed but not a mountain’s). If used by a thief, any
given application of Stealth has a 50% chance of getting +1. If used to “brighten an area” it will remove –2
points of perception modifier per casting. Against superstitious folk, a person with no shadow gets +2
intimidation.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
2
Ranged Attack
Walking
None
Shine of Value – [1]
When cast on an object, the object almost seems to sparkle. It will seem to be worth 25% more while the
spell is running. This spell has a really bad reputation at the bazaar. To see through it, a perception or WIL
roll must be made by 2.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Ranged Attack
Walking
None
Throw Mirror Image – [1]
The caster selects a target and cast the spell (ranged to-hit roll if the target is dodging). The effect creates a
perfect—but reversed image of the target within 40 yards. The image will do whatever the target does and
is not effected by physical obstacles (it will walk over pits, through walls, etc.) The caster can choose to
target himself. Normally, the image must be human sized, but for +8 mana it can be larger (automobile
sized). The GM may apply huge additional costs if the caster wants to mirror image a building or something
like that.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
14
Continuing
Walking
None
Blind Spot – [2]
The spell hits like a ranged attack and causes the target to make a perception roll at –5 against some
stationary object (or person) or fail to see it. If the target is already aware of the area to be blinded, this roll is
at –2. If the roll is missed, the object will be invisible to the target for the duration of the spell or until
touched. The maximum size of the target is 1.5 cubic yards.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
6
Continuing
Walking
None
Camouflage – [2]
The mage’s appearance shifts. He is at –3 to be seen if standing still. If making a full move, his speed is
doubled for purposes of negatives to be hit unless he is within 4 yards of a target. If the character has Level
3 Stealth, it only gives the character an additional –1 to be seen but allows the character to “instantly’
camouflage himself (no need to cut branches, wear special suits, apply paint, etc.) Minimum of –2 to be hit
at range.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Illusion
Running
None
Dazzle – [2]
A splash and spray of colors, twinkles, and rainbows blinds or dazzles the target. This acts as a POWER
vs. STAT attack and is like a [WIL-2] PWR Flash. But, if the target fails a WIL roll, the PWR goes up to
[WIL]. If the mage can convince the target to look closely around the area of the magician’s hand, the PWR
goes up to [WIL+1] ([WIL+2] if the WIL roll is missed).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Illusionary Man – [2]
When cast, a man (or woman) of a specific race appears in a pre-determined mode of dress. There are
hundreds of different versions of this spell, each creating a different illusion. While running, the caster must
remain motionless as in the casting of a Phantasm. The man appears and sounds normal but it has no
58
physical presence. If touched (other than accidentally), the spell will collapse. The man must remain within
line of sight with the caster. Creating a specific version of this spell takes 8 months of research so it is
unlikely that a caster will have himself unless the GM wishes to allow it. Some common men are: Wealthy
Merchant, Man at Arms, Shady Rogue, Dancing Woman, Messenger (who can seem to give the caster a
message), Escort, Powerful Wizard, etc.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
13
Illusion
Walking
1 Slot
Illusory Messenger – [2]
The caster targets an area with the spell and can then broadcast to it from a distance. The appearance of
the effect will usually be that of a face made of the substance of the area hit. It may look like the caster or
be neutral. The spell remains in effect for 24 hours after casting. The caster can see and hear any events
within 4 yards of the target point normally but cannot see or hear beyond that (perception rolls at –6 with an
additional –1 per yard beyond 4 yards range).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
14
Illusion
Normal
Imaginary Wall – [2]
The spell creates an illusion of a wall. It must be a logical extension of an existing wall. This can be used to
conceal entrances or exits. The wall is translucent from the other side. If touched, the wall will vanish. The
maximum size of the wall is WIL yards in length. It must connect two structures.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Ranged Attack
Walking
None
Phantasmal Weapon – [2]
The caster creates a phantasmal weapon (type determined when the spell is bought) that looks and feels
real. It inflicts phantasmal damage, however (see Phantasmal Bolt) and ignores armor. The weapon lasts
so long as the spell is running. This does not hit with Magical Combat skill (use the weapon skill). If the
weapon is HTH, there is a spell point cost to cast but none to keep running (just pay the Endurance). Note
that Phantasmal HTH weapons have the same statistics as their real counterparts and have the same STR
minimums and Swing and Back Swing costs. If the weapon is ranged (it can be a gun in a technical world)
then the casting cost is as listed but the cost to fire is an additional 2 mana per point of base damage each
time it is fired. If the gun is automatic, pay full for the first bullet and 1/3 mana cost for each bullet fired in a
burst. The wounds look real when created but will vanish shortly after (caster’s WIL in seconds).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20 + shots
Phantasm
Walking
1 slot
Phantom Missile – [2]
The phantom missile appears as a ghostly jet of blue fire. When a target is struck, armor is ignored and
damage is worked out normally but only to determine if there is to be a wound roll. The damage is not
actually suffered, only the wounding effects will be. If an effect worse than Unconsciousness results, the
target may make a WIL roll to reduce the effect to unconscious. The damage of the spell is 12 points.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
14
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Shift – [2]
When cast the mage seems to shift in some direction. This is a blocking spell that can be used like a dodge.
When cast against a specific attack, it allows a Magic Combat skill block roll to dodge the attack for 3 REA.
If cast for 5 REA (the casting also involves an actual dodge) the character may apply a –3 Perception
modifier against all attackers for that turn. This must be declared before the attacker rolls to hit (the attacker
makes a Perception roll at –3 or takes a –3 to hit modifier for that attack).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Blocking spell
Normal
Blocking
Assume Appearance – [4]
The illusionist can copy the appearance of a target while the spell lasts. If the mage has only a picture to
work from, a Perception roll at –1 to –5 (depending on the quality of the picture) will detect that something is
wrong. If the caster has only his memory, a MEM roll must be made. If made by 5 the likeness is perfect,
for each point less than 5 the roll is made by, the viewer is at –1 to detect the forgery (so a roll at by 2 will
make viewers at –2 to see through it). Touching the caster with intent to dispel the illusion will collapse the
59
spell. Oddly, the user gets, at most, +1 to Psychology attempts while using someone else’s form. This spell
also approximates voice, but this cannot be gleaned from a picture. In games where magic is not well
known, this spell costs 8 points (since the amount of havoc it can wreak is much greater if no one suspects it
can be done).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Illusion
Walking
2 slots
Beautify – [4]
The mage may make himself or another more beautiful. This spell is very subtle and a person under its
effects will not easy be determined to be under a spell (an Imperial college mage casting Eyes of the Magi
can determine it with a roll at –2 vs. the caster’s skill). This acts as an extra 2 levels of appearance of the
caster’s choice. The spell creates a spider-web thin network of phantasms over the entire body, just under
the skin. When it is cast, it is, in effect, permanent. But it decays. Unless the caster puts 4 mana into it
each day, it loses 1 character point worth of appearance. Every 4 days the target’s appearance will
noticeably drop. To reinforce it, the caster must make a skill roll. There is no negative—but if the roll is
missed, the caster rolls thereafter to reinforce it at a cumulative –1. If it should ever decay all the way, the
target will start becoming ugly. This too, is nearly permanent (a Hexbreaker spell at –4 or a Dispel Magick at
no negative can remove the effects if the caster takes 1 week to study the victim). If the target has this cast
on him no more than once per week, the caster can simply “dispel” it within 24 hours with a skill roll. Each
time in a week the spell is cast, or for each additional day it remains, the spell the roll to remove it is at –1.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24 for +1 appearance 32 for +2
Illusion
Normal
None
Multiple Images – [4]
The mage casts this spell as he makes a dodge (it counts as a Blocking spell but only works with a dodge).
As the caster moves, images of the caster appear and move in other directions making it hard to tell which is
the actual caster. The multiple images will move in unison with the caster and in the same direction, but
their actions will be slightly modified so they may seem to attack the same target, or move down a corridor in
an intelligent fashion. An attacker must make a perception roll at –5 to detect the true caster when the spell
is cast. If the caster is noted, he may be attacked normally. Otherwise, the attacker picks a target and
swings. All targets are within 1 yard of each other and none may be more than 3 yards from the caster. At
the start of the spell, the caster and his images must be within one yard of a common point. The images
have no physical form and each will disintegrate if struck.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20, +4 per image
Illusion
Running
None
Phantasmal Armor – [4] Illusionist
The caster wears glinting ornate plate mail (in a variety of colors). When struck with an attack, the armor will
reduce the damage by 4 points, with a Penetration Resistance of 12. If the total damage done from a single
attack exceeds 8 points, the armor will “pop” and vanish (after reducing the damage for that blow). The
phantasmal armor makes no noise when moving.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Protection
Walking
None
Phantasmal Chariot – [4]
The caster creates a phantasmal Chariot (or motorcycle or automobile or other land transport). The size of
the vehicle varies depending on spell point cost and travels at a “normal” rate. The “Chariot” feels real,
looks solid (albeit very strange—it cannot be inspected by a mechanic) and can sustain 8 points of damage
before collapsing (points that don’t destroy it don’t count against it). If destroyed while in motion it will last
long enough to give the driver 1 turn of deceleration (usually enough to half speed). Due to the phantasmal
nature of the vehicle it will have some unusual properties: it doesn’t look right, it doesn’t really get dirty (or
stay dirty for long), if the vehicle comes equipped with lights, it can cast light but otherwise can’t, it can
handle terrain modifiers well: negative modifiers due to terrain (as opposed to difficult driving maneuvers)
are reduced by 3. The vehicle has a weight of 75 lbs. plus passengers.
Passengers:
1 – 2 normal
18 mana
1 – 2 fast/special
22 mana
3 – 4 normal
22 mana
3 – 4 fast/special
26
5 – 9 normal
30
5 – 9 fast/special
36
60
Sample Vehicles: Motorcycle (120 Mph), Car (100 Mph), Chariot (horses don’t look remotely real, 24 Mph),
Wagon (15 mph). All vehicles must be appropriate. If the GM allows aircraft or watercraft they are
considered a separate spell and may or may not be allowed.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Varies
Phantasm
Walking
2 slots
Triad Phantasm – [4]
When cast, the ghostly form of a battle phantasm erupts from the caster. When cast, the mage may
immediately attempt to hit with it as a ranged bite attack (14-, 8 Grapple). It is not summoned and then sent
to the target—it leaps there instantly. There are actually three different forms of this spell and each is a
separate beast. The GM must decide which forms fit his world but the classic three are: Eagle, Serpent, and
Dragon (Crocodile). Each Phantasm may attack normally as described and all have the same statistics in
battle. The key is that, A) once per day a given Triad phantasm may be cast for less mana and B) each
Phantasm may be cast as an automatically successful blocking spell against one other (using the Paper,
Rock, Scissors method: Eagle beats Serpent, Serpent Beats Dragon, Dragon beats Eagle). If the trump
Triad is cast, both Triads are dispelled. If like triads are cast, the blocking character may make a Magic
Combat skill roll to block the other Phantasm’s attack (and both are dispelled). When cast as a block the
spell point cost is 15 points. When the spell is cast, a target mage will know the Triad Phantasm is being
cast—but will not know which one it is. If the caster knows more than one version of the spell, each may be
cast cheaply once per day.
STR 14 BLD 5 CON 12 / 15
REF 12 (REA = caster’s WIL)
INT = caster’s
To-Hit roll is a 14-, strike does 4 penetrating damage.
Bite attack has an 8 Grapple score. Dodge costs 5 REA and is on a 13-.
Armor 0, -4 DM vs. Non-magical weapons.
Note that like other phantasms, the caster suffers damage effects (but not actual points taken). If destroyed,
the caster may instantly re-summon it if able. The Triad Phantasm can only be used to attack a target—it
will not open doors, retrieve treasure, etc.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25 (18 once per day)
Summon
Walking
None
61
Transcendental Sorcery
Description: Transcendental Sorcery deals with the control and the power of the mind. The
practitioners of this school are often ascetic mystics who strive to strengthen their intellect
through study, exercise, self-denial, and meditation.
Level 1: Mentalist. The character is trained in the opening of the closed doors of the mind. With
a WIL roll and an 8 REA Long action, he can detect a mind at WIL feet if he concentrates at the
area scanned (it will give no indicator what level of intelligence or intent the mind has, it only
indicates that a mind exists).
Level 2: Mystic. The character’s inner eye begins to open at this level of study. With a 5 REA
Short action, the character can slip into a trance that grants him +1 to WIL rolls (5 REA Short
action to maintain). He also gains 1 Endurance for every 2 points of skill above 10 the mage has.
Level 3: Mind Mage. The character’s mind is a blooming flower that has opened itself to higher
realms of knowledge. With a 5 REA Short action, the character can slip into a trance that adds
+2 to his WIL rolls (5 REA Short action to maintain). Furthermore, if this trance is entered before
combat, the mage’s Hurt condition score is increased by 1 for every 2 full points above 10 that the
mage has in skill.
Level 4: Psychic Sorcerer.
Mystic Influence – [Signature Spell: 4]
The attack causes the PWR vs. STAT attack on the Control Table. The PWR is [WIL +1]. This is a
powerful spell and must be controlled. Additionally, it only works on members of the caster’s race; against
other targets, the PWR is at –2 or worse depending on the difference (GM’s discretion).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Distract – [1]
The spell is invisible and the target, unless able to detect magic, will be unaware of it unless he sees the
caster throw the spell. When hit, the target will detect a noise, presence, or other such distraction from a
direction chosen by the caster. A Perception roll at –3 will inform the target that “even if something
happened over there, it wasn’t important” but a missed roll will probably be investigated. For 2x the mana,
this can be made Area Of Effect with a 4 yard radius. If cast on a target that is not a guard, the target will be
curious about the disturbance (this can be used by thieves to lure people to dark alleys). In this case,
curious characters make WIL rolls at –4 to avoid investigation. Everyone else merely “thinks they heard
someone call their name” or some other draw.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Impenetrable Skin – [1]
With this spell, the mage can make his skin very resistant to being cut or torn. While the spell runs, the
mage has an effective Penetration Resistance of 10 (or adds +1 to existing Penetration Resistance,
whichever is better). This spell provides no armor at all (it reduces no damage). It is a 5 REA Short action
to activate this spell. The mage may use Skin of Iron in conjunction with this spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Purify Body – [1]
The caster uses his magic to burn poison or disease from his body. The spell may be cast with or without a
trance (if a trance is used, it takes 1 hour and adds +2 to the roll). When cast, the caster may make a WIL
roll instead of a CON roll against poison, disease, or any other PWR vs. STAT attack of a non-magical
nature. It may be cast as a 3 REA Short Blocking action and allow the roll instead of the CON roll. It may
be cast as a 5 REA Medium action up to 3 turns after afflicted (or within a day for normal disease) allowing a
re-roll of an initial effect.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Transformation
Normal
3
Armor
Normal
None
4
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
24
Continuing
Running
None
62
Sharpen Mind – [1]
With this spell, the mage can focus his mind so that memories become as clear as a picture. For every 10
mana spent, the mage adds +1 to any one MEM roll. This spell will not assist MEM-based skill rolls.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
10+
Instant
Normal
None
Skin of Iron – [1]
With this spell, the mage can make himself resistant to damage. While this spell runs, the mage has 3
armor (or subtracts one extra point of damage, whichever is better). The spell provides no Penetration
Resistance whatsoever. It is a 5 REA Short action to activate this spell. The mage may use Impenetrable
Skin in conjunction with this spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3
Armor
Normal
None
Sorcerous Enchantment – [1]
This spell allows the mage to captivate the weak mind. The casting is invisible unless the target is able to
detect magic. The spell has no effect on people with an 11 or higher WIL but, on a single target, it will add
+4 to any attempt to Enchant. The problem is that the endurance cost is fairly high, and when it wears off
(when the caster stops maintain the spell) the target will become aware of the strange hold the caster has
had. This will often lead to violence, charges of witchcraft, etc.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Ranged Attack
Running
None
Bodily Need – [2]
The spell is invisible and the target, unless able to detect magic, will be unaware unless he sees the caster
throw the spell (gesturing with his hands). When struck (hits as a ranged attack) the target must make a WIL
roll at –3 or suffer a physical need. These can be: hunger, thirst, tiredness, an itch, a need to relieve
oneself, etc. The severity of this is not catastrophic—but it can be distracting. In a fight, the WIL roll is at +2
(adrenaline) and the effect is –1 to all rolls for one turn.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Curse
Normal
None
Draw Life Force – [2]
The caster can actually draw life-force from the ether. When the spell is cast, each 4 Long Term mana the
caster burns will gain him 1 DP. This may be done as a blocking action or immediately after a blow is taken
as a 3 REA short action. Using it in such a manner will negate the effects of an Internal Damage or Dying
result if the caster spends 16 or more Long Term mana (and must be awake if used after). This has an
addictive effect similar to Draw Energy but the WIL roll is at +2 (and it is much more rarely used).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4-16 long term mana
Transform
None
None
Draw Energy – [2]
The spell allows the caster to draw personal energy from his mana. When the spell is cast, each Long Term
spell point used can be turned into a point of Endurance. The maximum that any one casting of Draw
Energy can convert is 4 points. Each time in a minute this is done after the first time, the caster must make
a WIL roll (cumulative –1). If the roll is failed, the caster acquires a 1 point addiction to the Draw Energy
spell and must make WIL rolls not to use it four times a day (during “smoke break times.”) Casting the spell,
itself, does not cost any Endurance.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
1-4 long term mana
Transform
None
None
Iron Fist – [2]
The mage can hit with a punch like iron. For every 3 mana the mage spends, he may add +1 to his base
punch damage (up to a maximum of +5 for 15 mana). This modifier can only be added to punch damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3+
HTH
Normal
None
63
Jump – [2]
The caster can perform a “great leap.” He may jump (8 REA Long action) for [WIL / Mass] yards straight up
or 2x that distance as a long jump. Keeping the spell running costs Walking endurance. Jumping costs 1
Endurance (as would a normal jump).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Movement
Walking
[WIL / Mass] yards
Levitate – [2]
The mage can float at a rate of 8 / Mass yards per second in any direction. This counts as a Move action.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Continuing
Walking
None
Mind Over Body – [2]
The caster can ignore wounds that would normally fell him. While this spell is running, Condition effects are
reduced by one. Therefore, Hurt condition is ignored, Injured is treated like Hurt, and Serious is treated like
Injured. The character’s Minor Wound score is temporarily increased by 1 for every 3 points above 10 the
mage has in skill while the spell endures. Furthermore, the mage may avoid making a wound roll by
spending Long-Term mana equal to the wound score (so a mage wishing to avoid making a Serious Wound
roll pays Long-Term mana equal to his Serious Wound score). The mage of course takes damage, he just
may not have to make a CON roll when damage calls for it. When the spell ends, the mage reverts to his
current condition level and makes a wound roll based on his current condition (Minor at Hurt, Serious at
Injured, Critical at Serious).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12 to start
Ignore
Running
None
Mind Speech – [2]
The caster can talk to another’s mind. While running, the spell acts as Telepathy with a range of WIL2
yards.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Telepathy
Walking
None
Nerve Lightning – [2]
The character’s barehanded strike sets off clusters of nerves in the subject. For this to work, the caster
must strike bare skin (armor normally has a 5 coverage). The blow does normal damage but also does
[WIL] points of phantom damage (adding to the real damage done only for the purposes of forcing a CON
roll). This damage ignores bio-armor but has no effect on the non-living.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
HTH Attack
Normal
Object Empathy – [2]
The caster can read the psychic residue off an object and determine facts about it and people and events
the object may have been “witness” to. A skill roll is made and information is gleaned by the amount the roll
was made by:
•
0-3: object’s use; some fact about the owner (name, face, etc.), if object was used to kill
•
4-6: owner’s temperament, object’s history dating back a year (high points only), most
traumatic/important event object has been in the vicinity of
•
7-9: multiple facts about owner (location), details of object’s use, many details about events the object
has been in the vicinity of
•
10+: all pertinent data the object can give
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Divination
Normal
None
Oneiromancy – [2]
Dream divinaiton. Details to follow.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Telepathy
Walking
None
64
Paralyzing Thought – [2]
The mage can freeze an opponent’s mind, and thereby his body. It is a Paralysis PWR vs. STAT attack (vs.
the opponent’s WIL). The PWR of the attack is equal to the caster’s WIL.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Repel – [2]
The mage can push away and pin antagonists that threaten his person with his mind alone. The mage
generates a streaming attack of [WIL/2] PWR. If the mage achieves a Pin result or better with this attack, it
costs him 15 mana per turn to maintain it.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12 / 15
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Speed – [2]
While the spell is active, the caster gains +3 REA. This spell has a high physical toll, while in use, the caster
pays Sprinting Endurance and when the caster drops the spell, he will lose half that endurance until he
sleeps for 8 hours. Alternatively, a DP may be lost instead of an Endurance point. The caster must roll for
any wounds suffered in this manner.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
21
Gain Speed
Normal
+3 REA
Suggestion – [2]
The caster can implant a minor suggestion into the target’s mind. The target must make a WIL roll vs. the
PWR of the spell (14). If the roll is failed, the target will believe something happened that didn’t. Examples
are “I paid for my beer,” “I didn’t just make that lewd remark,” or “I told you my name was Jack instead of
Larry.” If the memory contradicts something that happened and had a major psychological impact (“I didn’t
just shoot at you”) it won’t work. If the target just found out from the caster’s driver’s license that he is the
fugitive that the target is seeking it won’t work. If a police officer checks your license and you make the
Suggestion to change your name before he calls it in and realizes you’re the fugitive—it’ll probably work.
Large amounts of money can’t be gained using this spell, and people who control things like gambling
houses and the like are probably too observant to be fooled. Still, a character can get himself thrown out of
every bar in the city with this spell and a few successes. Whether the memory resurfaces later is up to the
GM. The player should get no guarantees. This is not as effective if attempted again and again on the same
target. Targets unable to detect magic won’t be aware of its casting, but they get +2 WIL roll to resist for
each successive attempt against a given caster on a given day.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Curse
Normal
No roll to hit
Terrifying Thought – [2]
Standard PWR vs. STAT attack: Terror PWR = Mage’s WIL.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
10
Ranged Attack
Normal
[WIL] PWR Terror
Detect Mind – [4]
The caster can detect minds as though he had Telepathy PWR equal to WIL.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Telepathy
Running
None
Fascinate – [4]
The caster can cause a target to become fixated for several seconds. When cast, the attack is a PWR vs.
STAT (PWR equal to mage’s WIL+1) attack that targets WIL. Minor Effect: Target is transfixed for 1 second.
If attacked the character may respond normally but will not give chase or otherwise take initiative. Standard
Effect: target is transfixed for 3 seconds as above. Major Effect: as above but for 1 minute. Critical Effect:
Target is motionless for 1 second (vulnerable to attack) and transfixed for 3 minutes. Catastrophic Effect:
Target is motionless until an outside party snaps him out. This will work on animals and monsters but if the
GM rules that they are “enraged” the PWR is reduced to mage’s WIL-1.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Ranged Attack
Normal
14 PWR
65
Mind Over Matter – [4]
The caster has Telekinesis at WIL Strength so long as the spell is running. The caster can spend +4 mana
for +1 STR at the start of the casting. This may be done for up to +4 STR.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Telepathy
Running
None
Repelling Block – [4]
This spell works just like Spell Shield but if the caster blocks a HTH attack by 4 or more, the attacker is
knocked back [WIL/2] / Mass yards. Ranged weapons blocked by 4 or more with this spell have a base 10-
chance of striking the person who launched it.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4 / 7 / 11
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Body of Mind – [8]
The caster’s body becomes infused with a soft colored light (dependant on the personality of the caster).
This effect lasts [WIL – 10] minutes. During this time the caster is immune to bodily damage from either
physical or magical sources. The caster must spend 20 Short Term Spell points each second to keep this
form maintained and, when the spell is finished, the caster will suffer the loss of half of his endurance.
Weapons may cleave into the caster, but they will have no effect and there will be no blood. It will be quite
obvious to those who see this that he is resistant to any physical damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
80
Transformation
Normal
20 ST per second
66
Astrology
Description: The character has studied the magical science of astronomy. Astrologers must have
Astronomy skill at no less than one level lower than his Astrology (no Astronomy necessary for
Level 1 Astrology); an astrologer needn’t buy Physics and Mathematics for Level 3 Astronomy to
have it work for Astrology.
Level 1: Stargazer. The character understands the basic nature of astrology. The character can
prepare a basic chart. This chart takes 4 hours of work after 4 hours of stargazing. If the roll is
made, it will give some general advice to the person it is prepared for. Apprentice Astrologers
can work for 4 hours to add +1 to an Adept’s Astrology roll by helping with the charts.
Level 2: Horoscopist. The astrologer can prepare a person’s birth chart, thereby learning
something about the person in question. The more data the astrologer can learn about the time
of a person’s birth, the better the roll. When a chart is prepared, the astrologer will learn
information about the character’s past, present, or future. The GM can make a roll (1 dice) 1-2
past, 3-4 present, 5-6 future. The degree of data is determined by the amount the roll is made by.
If made by 0-3 the astrologer gets 1 or 2 vague generalities. If made by 4-6 the astrologer gets 2
specific facts and 2 generalities. If made by 7-9 the character gets a strong prophecy or detailed
data about important facts of the past or present. If made by 10+ the astrologer learns a secret
about the target and gets lots of data about the time. Kings, queens, and princes will know the
exact time of their birth. Characters born to wise women will know the minute. Most other
characters will know the day. This data is, for some, kept secret, even from them to prevent
astrologers from learning too much about them. Making the chart takes 8 hours and can only be
done once with a given level of information. If the character knows the year, the roll is at –9, the
month: -6, the day: -3, the hour –1, the minute +1, the second +3.
Level 3: Astrologer. The character may ignore up to –3 points of modifier when casting a chart if
he gets to meet and talk to the person. The interview takes 1 hour and involves several
questions about likes and dislikes. When it is through the astrologer makes a better chart.
Level 4: Celestial Sorcerer.
Cast Fortune – [Signature Spell: 4]
Once a month per person, the mage can cast a fortune. This is a spell that actually alters the forces of the
planets to adjust the person’s fortune. For one event that is likely to occur, the mage can give one of the
following:
•
+3 to any roll (chosen by the person)
•
-3 to a roll of the mage’s choice
•
-3 to any other person’s roll of the spell’s target’s choice (an attacker)
•
+/- 4 to any random, non-combat roll (in or against the favor of the persons)
Casting a fortune requires the participation of the target or a kinsman and some blood (about a quarter of a
cup). It takes 1 night of constant work. If the fortune is bad, the mage determines that secretly (if the person
gets to choose the roll, he chooses but the adverse effects are applied!)
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Celestial Favor – [1]
This spell is cast at night, and the Astrologer examines the sky to find which powers favor him, and he casts
the spell as a tribute to them. This has the effect of giving him the Luck ability at 3 PWR for the next day
(random rolls get +3 in his favor). This can be abused: a common use is gambling, but if this angers the
Powers as a trivial use of their gift, the ability may reverse itself. The GM determines when the character is
getting too greedy and should allow a WIL roll as a warning.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Starry Eyes– [1]
The mage’s eyes sparkle like the night sky. So long as the spell is going, the mage needs no light
whatsoever to see. Furthermore, while the spell runs, the astrologer can see the stars even in daylight
(permitting daytime navigation). Outdoors, the mage can see in color; indoors and away from the night sky,
he can see only in black and white.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Fortune
Normal
None
30
Fortune
Normal
None
67
4
Continuing
Normal
None
Create Chart – [2]
Given the birth-date and some basic information about a person (exact time of birth is necessary but a good
guess can be made by determining physical characteristics) the mage can tell what the person is like. This
can be useful in negotiations since the chart will tell if the person is inclined to be treacherous, if the person
is in a time of power or weakness, etc. Creating a chart takes 2 hours and requires a skill roll at –2. If the
roll is missed, the data will somehow be wrong. If made, the astrologer should know things like defects and
enhancements, degree of truthfulness the character is likely to exhibit, etc.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Fortune
Normal
None
Detect Danger – [2]
This spell is cast at night and lasts the entire next day. The caster gets a skill roll at –2 when he announces
to the GM that he wishes to Detect Danger. While this spell is running the caster is down 1 short term spell
point.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Fortune
Normal
None
Enchant Birthstone– [2]
Every person has a semi-precious stone associated with their birth-sign. The astronomer may enchant a
stone (this takes 4 hours, 2 rolls, and the cost of the stone and materials is about $150). When the stone is
possessed by a person of the right sign, it confers +1 Luck and, once, at the GM’s discretion, will give +2 to
any roll made (or –2 if that would help the character). Usually these will be granted only on “lucky days” or
when the character’s sign is “in ascension.” If the player wants to know if a given day is “one of those days,”
make a roll and determine that it is on an 8-. If the player petitions the GM for the application of the luck-
stone, the GM should determine if it is one of those days and then make a secret roll: on an 11- the stone
will use its power.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Create Stone
Normal
None
Seek Omen – [2]
The mage prepares a chart using this magic that tells him when the next significant symbol of the target’s
future will appear (“seek the omen at 12:00 Noon when the crow calls”). The GM must decide if there are
“omens” and when the next one will occur (in this case, even seemingly normal events can be omens). This
is often done in reference to some question (“how will my sea voyage go?”) and the GM can take
opportunities to be clever (“Seek the omen at the hour of 12 noon!”—the omen is the waitress spilling a
pitcher of water on the character). This spell requires a RES roll on the part of the caster. If failed, the
knowledge of the next omen is not gained. Often, mages under pressure may lie (or even stage some
event).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Fortune
Normal
None
Send Sign – [2]
The caster can use this spell to send a message to another Astrologer. The mechanism for this is very
complicated (don’t think about it too much) but a detailed study of the heavens and heavenly events can
actually convey a message from one person to another, anywhere in the world. Sending the message takes
6 hours of casting (at night) and allows the transmission of a single sentence, no more than 10 words.
Receiving it takes 6 hours at night and requires a skill roll at –2. For each point the roll is missed by, the GM
should remove a random word or change the message. The character receiving the sign will know the
astrological sign and date of birth of the sender. The messages stay sent forever and can be retrieved by
the person for whom they are intended at any time in the future. There is a science for obtaining other
people’s messages but that is a secret and very difficult spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Fortune
Normal
None
Astrologer’s Ward– [4]
Astrologer’s Ward is performed over an entire day—and it must be a special day astrologically (usually there
is one every 1 or 2 months—a Solstice, though, is preferred). The astrologer links himself to another. If the
68
person is an infant, the ceremony is sort of like a christening. If the person is of the opposite gender and
adult, it is more like a marriage. Whatever the case, the astrologer casts the spell and gains the ability to
detect when the person is imperiled. If the person is in direct peril (i.e. being attacked, the astrologer will get
a RES roll to know it. If the RES roll is made by 5+ the astrologer will know direction and distance to the
person. If the ward is in a more subtle form of danger, the caster still gets a roll to detect it (RES at –1 to –
10 depending on the distance and subtly of the danger) and if the roll is made by 5+, the astrologer will know
something about the type and the time-table. An astrologer may only have this spell active on one person at
a time. It may not be himself.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
35
“Curse”
Normal
None
Genethliacs \Ge*neth"li*acs\, n. The science of calculating nativities, or predicting the future
events of life from the stars which preside at birth
69
Necromancy
Description: The Necromancy College deals with the study of death and of the dead. Due to the
unsavory nature of their work, necromancers tend to be misunderstood and shunned by townsfolk
at best or feared and reviled at worst. Necromancers must have Medical skill at no less than 1
level lower than his Necromancy and at a minimum roll of 9- (Level 1 Necromancers must have at
least Level 1 Medical skill but at any roll). If a necromancer possesses Level 2 Medical skill at at
least a 12- roll, he may purchase Necromancy at RES + 1. With Level 3 Medical skill, he buys
skill at RES +2. At Level 4 Medical skill, he buys at RES + 4.
Level 1: Mortician. The caster knows basic anatomy and can preserve a body with certain herbs
and potions and procedures, keeping it “fresh and useable” for 1 day per point the roll is made by.
This takes 8 hours, and is nasty work. This is not quite “mummification” which is possible at
Level 2 (one week per point the roll is made by . . . or “forever” if the roll is made by 10).
Level 2: Thanatologist. The character is familiar with the mystical effects of death. 12 hours of
work and 3 rolls will create a “mystically mummified” body that is suitable for transformation into a
powerful undead. Additionally, the character can study the bodies and learn their secrets. The
animate force (life) has certain “anchor points” within a body. Even when dead, some life may be
left behind. Rolls at –6 allow the character to find and bottle the fluids that contain this life. This is
the basic stuff of Necromancy Research. It is required to make powerful undead (like the
Monster) and is also necessary for several Necromatic potions and other such effects. This Life
Essence Fluid is very mysterious stuff and the GM can come up with ways to use it for specific
purposes. Normally four recently dead (48 hours) bodies are needed. Bodies killed “naturally”
rather than by violence are preferable (violently killed bodies are at an additional –3 to be
extracted). If a person dies in the care of a necromancer, 1 “dose” of Life Essence can be
extracted for each 4 points of WIL the corpse had.
Level 3: Necromancer. The character extracts Life Essence at –3 instead of –6.
Level 4: Death Mage.
Monster – [Signature Spell: 4]
The necromancer must spend 3 months building this beast, casting the spell, and then bringing it to life with
some kind of meteorological phenomena (exact type is up to the GM . . . a hard rain . . . a strong gust of
wind . . . no . . . that doesn’t seem right). The Monster will be a loyal follower to the necromancer but will be
obvious to others what it is (and since necromancers are misunderstood and hated by the townsfolk . . .).
STR 16 BLD 20 CON 14 / 33
REF 10
INT 8
Strike: 8 Damage, hits on a 12-.
Armor: None, but penetrating attacks only double on a hit by 6 or better against the monster.
Grip: The monster has an extremely strong grip and gets +3 to its Grapple Scores (15/12) and hits
with Grappling combat on a 14-. In Close Combat it gets +1 Damage modifier for strikes. It can
squeeze with a grab for 4 Base Damage.
You can try to build more than one Monster. They are fiercely loyal however and will be resentful. They
may even fight with each other. You can also build your monster a bride if he’s lonely, but that never works
either . . .
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
32
Summon
None
None
Animate Skeleton – [2]
The necromancer must animate a few skeletons before building a monster. Rather than being re-animate
flesh and blood, these are pure magical machines. A skeleton can obey simple commands from the creator
and has infinite patience. They will “wear out” over time if told to do repetitive tasks (turning a generator
crank, for instance). Making a skeleton can be done quickly (long casting action on a dead body) or “the
long way” which produces a better skeleton and takes a week.
STR 11 BLD 5 STC 14 / 28 DP (14 for quick ones) REF 12
INT --
Strike: Weapon skill L2 13-, Shield Skill L2 13-
Armor: None unless worn. Takes no Penetrating damage
Skeletons can’t see but have excellent hearing (12- perception roll . . . just like sight).
70
A necromancer wishing a host of skeletons can attempt to produce it, but . . . skeletons have a bad habit of
going rogue and either shutting down, becoming “psychotic,” and otherwise going off and doing strange
things or attacking the caster. Each skeleton after the second has a 7- chance of going psycho each night.
For purposes of skeletal guards, this need not apply (the spell works so that so long as the skeletons are
kept in the same place, doing the same things all the time they are stable).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Summons
Normal
None
Aura of Life – [2]
A necromancer can create a glyph (or just cast the spell) that sets up a magical frequency antithetical to the
Undead. Any undead within WIL yards of the Glyph (or the caster if the spell is running) takes 8 damage per
second (end of each turn) through all armor. Casting the spell costs the listed mana and works normally.
Creating the Glyph takes 3 hours of work and materials that cost $500.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Ranged Attack
Running
None
Aura of Death – [2]
Nothing intimidates like a necromancer. Using this spell creates the chill of death around the caster. This
acts as [WIL-1] PWR Terror while the spell lasts. While the spell is running, the caster must pay a constant
12 Mana.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
PWR vs. STAT Attack
Running
None
Cold Hand– [2]
The necromancer’s touch carries the chill of death and does damage in HTH combat. The touch does 8
points of Penetrating damage and ignores 2 points of armor.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
HTH Attack
Normal
None
Necromantic Wood – [2]
The caster places the spell on any wooden item. Working the magic takes 4 hours and the roll must be
made by –4 to be successful. The wood becomes “alive.” It will regenerate like a plant (a tree). It won’t
grow but it will never decay. If cut, it will bleed something that seems to be human blood (but isn’t). Such
items are worth 4x their normal value if one can get past some unsettling facts of their manufacture.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Transform
Normal
Skull Watcher– [2]
The necromancer enchants a skull to become a watcher for him. When he touches the skull, he can see
what it has seen in the last 24 hours. Creating the skull takes 10 days and costs $500. The skull can hear a
little (hearing perception roll of 8-).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
35
HTH Attack
Normal
None
Stasis – [2]
A person who has suffered an Internal Damage, Dying, or Death result can be placed in stasis if the caster
can touch them and cast this spell. They will remain unchanged for WIL hours per 4 points put into the spell
when it is cast (after the initial cost). It will only effect willing persons or unconscious people. If the person
has suffered anything short of a Death result, they can be revived by healing magic. If the person is Dead,
they may still be savable: if the caster makes a WIL roll at –1 per second before he reaches the person, they
can be saved as though the result was only Dying. A person in stasis appears to be dead to all examination,
with the exception that they have a body full of “sluggish blood” that does not bleed. If the person is hacked
to pieces, they will, of course, still be dead. When cast (especially if cast on self) the caster can set a “wake-
up” time to the minute. Another potential “wake-up” condition is “when sunlight falls on the target.”
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8 + 4 per hour
Transformation
Normal
None
Strength of the Dead – [2]
The caster can call on the forces of the dead to enhance his STR (much the way that vampires and other
undead tend to be stronger than the living). The spell boosts STR by 3 points, but it reduces the character’s
71
WIL by 3 points after the spell wears off. During this time, the caster will also drop to ½ Endurance, and will
suffer strange cravings. The typical craving is for opium or other drug, but the GM may be creative. This
period of weakness lasts 8 hours and the caster must make a WIL roll to simply sleep through it.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Transformation
Walking
None
Torment Lost Souls / Speak with Recently Dead – [2]
The caster can call someone recently dead (under 20 minutes) from the beyond. This often doesn’t work
(GM call in each case) but if it does the effects can be horrifying: the necromancer can make a WIL roll
against the target’s WIL (WIL when alive) to cause pain. The visual effect of this is the soul writhing (this is
basically the intimidation stunt that got all necromancers forever hated). More conventionally it can be used
to get information (nicely . . . or with the duress). Most apprentice necromancers take a vow that they will
never use the dark side of the spell (and will probably be hunted down if they do).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Summons
None
None
Transfusion – [2]
The caster can leach his life to another. The caster must bind hands with a cut on each hand (so blood can
flow) or use a higher-technology transfusion system. For each 2 DP the caster takes in damage, the target
will recover 1 DP. More importantly, the target recovers a Minor Wound worth of points this way, he will stop
bleeding, Dying, or suffering from Internal Damage. For each point of damage the caster takes, he suffers
the loss of 2 points of Endurance which are only recovered after 24 hours.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Healing
Running +
None
Vaccine – [2]
If the caster can vivisect the body of someone who died from a disease, he can create a vaccine with a skill
roll (sometimes at a negative based on the severity of the disease—Black Plague would be at –6). A given
body produces CON doses of the vaccine. Each person who takes it, will get +8 PWR for 1 year against
that specific disease. A double dose can be taken for +12 vs. the disease. If a character has the disease,
the potion will give him +4 to CON rolls to fight it. It takes 4 days to make a vaccine. The body must be
recently (24 hours) dead or otherwise preserved.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Create Potion
Normal
None
Wear Body – [2]
This spell is distasteful but possibly useful. If a target is dead, the necromancer can take 30 minutes to
prepare the body and then . . . magically “wear it.” The mage will look and sound like the person whose
body is worn. The body must not be so badly damaged that it is unusable (if it took more than 10 hits, say . .
. or fire damage). The effect lasts until the spell stops at which time the body starts decaying. The spell
costs no Endurance for the first 24 hours and, with 3 hours a day of special maintenance (costing $40) the
body can be preserved longer without paying Endurance . . . this also works if it’s very cold).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
None
Walking
Don’t pay endurance
Conjure Spirit– [4]
The caster knows how to summon some kind of spirit. There are several different spirits and each is a
separate spell. Each Conjure Spirit spell, after the first, costs only 2 points.
Wraith – an angry spirit: very dangerous. Wraiths are bound to a location and can only stray about
50 yards from it. They can choose to “vanish” as an 8 REA long action. Then they are still “aware”
but can’t be hurt or seen (certain magics can hurt them, though). Reappearing is also an 8 REA
Long action.
STR 0 BLD 0 CON 12 / 24 DP
REF 12
INT 7 (12 WIL)
Wraith’s Touch: 14-, cannot be blocked by non-magic. Does 6 Damage + damage modifier from
cold. No armor applies.
Limited Immunity to Physical Blows: -6 Damage Modifier from non-magical attacks. 3 Points of
armor.
Night Vision, Intimidation Roll of 17-, can pass through walls and doors slowly.
72
The Wraith will instantly try to attack anyone in the area. If wounded it may flee. It leaves when it
feels like it (returning to the realm of the dead).
Intellect – the mind of someone dead. The person will have most of the knowledge he had when
alive. This can be used for historical research (you don’t get to pick the person you bring back, so
it’s pot luck). Mostly the spirits aren’t very talkative and interviewing them is tedious. However, if
life essence can be drained from a body, that person’s spirit can be summoned with this spell! The
Intellect has no physical form and can’t interact physically at all. It leaves when the spell runs out.
Ghost – A spirit that has suffered trauma. Ghosts are very scary to look at and can be quite
dangerous. Fortunately, they are easy to deal with: clear tones of a bell, a view of its face in the
mirror, a holy symbol, all of them will frighten a ghost (the GM decides exactly what works). Like a
wraith, a ghost will inhabit a single area (usually a dwelling). However, a ghost, like a pet, can be
trained not to attack the people who live there. Living with (or near) a ghost can be very unnerving.
They can also move and hide small objects . . . and do other random forms of small mischief.
PHY 00 (only hurt by magic)
REF 11
INT – (12 WIL)
Psionic Blast L1 13-
They can vanish and appear as a Wraith can. They are very vulnerable to magic (any dismiss spell
will banish a ghost).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
35
HTH Attack
Normal
None
Gooseflesh – [4]
This spell changes the nature of the caster’s skin. This spell requires a dead body whose flesh is intact.
When used, the necromancer will gain +8 DP while the spell is in effect but will seem to rot. The visual
effects of this are gross and horrifying but often worth it for the protection. A body will last 2 days before
decaying completely. While in this mode the necromancer gets +2 to Intimidation rolls but is considered
horrifyingly ugly. Additionally the caster will require a hit by 6 or better to suffer Penetrating damage. If a
body is being worn, it can be converted to Gooseflesh (the caster loses the appearance but gains the
protection).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Extra DP
None
None
Steal Strength– [4]
The caster must grab the target and win a grapple roll. Then, the spell may be cast. For each second, the
caster holds the target, he makes a WIL roll against the target’s CON. If he succeeds, he steals 1 point of
STR and Endurance from the target. When a target hits 7 STR, the target falls unconscious (if a WIL roll is
failed) or is simply unable to stand (if the roll is made). This stolen strength goes away at the rate of 1 point
per 10 minutes, and the caster will lose 2 points of Endurance for a full day after the STR is gone.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
HTH Attack
Sprinting
None
Transplant – [4]
This spell is last-resort healing spell (“grave measures are called for”). The necromancer takes a freshly
dead body (or one that has been preserved) and transplants “reanimated” organs to the wounded party.
This requires a roll (the skill roll must be Level 3) and takes a full day. If successful, the target will heal a
Major Wound worth of damage and can have limbs replaced (and eyes, etc.) The new parts will not look
just like the old parts unless a perfect match was found.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
45
Healing
Normal
None
Unlife – [4]
The caster actually transforms himself into something close to a “living” undead, trading some of his life for
“Unlife.” Such a character gets –4 to Persuasion and Enchantment (unless the target is turned on by a
sense of danger, decay, and unwholesomeness) but gets +4 to Intimidate. The character no longer bleeds
and will treat Internal Damage as Unconscious and Dying as Internal Damage. A character with Unlife who
suffers a Dead result makes a WIL roll to shift it to Internal Damage. The character becomes nocturnal,
taking –2 perception modifiers in sunlight. He ignores –2 perception modifiers in the darkness. The
character’s body temperature drops and he will not suffer from hypothermia (but will be “uncomfortably cold”
73
in warm rooms). This spell requires 30 days of work (fasting and the like) and $1000 worth of chemicals.
The character sleeps for 1 week and then awakens in the Unlife state. Such characters do not age
normally: if they drink 12 of fresh human blood in one setting, they do not age that year.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Transformation
Running +
None
Vampire’s Touch– [4]
The necromancer can actually steal DP with this spell. It hits as an HTH attack (touch) and the caster takes
8 DP, modified by a to-hit roll (impact damage), from the target. The target suffers whatever wound this
would normally be. Damage Points must be taken from a member of the same race (or other similar race at
the GM’s option, not from animals).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
HTH Attack
Normal
None
Wraith’s Touch– [4]
The caster’s touch damages the very life force of his target. A clawing blow, or 5 REA squeeze attack (if the
target is grabbed) does a base of 6 Penetrating damage that ignores all non-magical armor.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
HTH Attack
Sprinting
None
Fog of Death– [8]
The caster unleashes a cloud of black fog from his hands. The fog will fill a 4-yard radius around the caster.
Anyone within the fog will suffer a single Death Ray attack at [WIL–1] PWR. Anyone killed this way will
eventually become an undead.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
35
PWR vs. STAT
Normal
PWR is WIL-1
Army of Darkness – [8]
The caster throws a [WIL x 2] yard radius dark fog (-2 perception modifiers per yard). The fog starts around
the caster and rolls in the direction of choice at 20 yards/second. When the cloud stops (the caster moves it
each turn as an 8 REA Long action) the dead beneath it reanimate. The dead become an army of skeletons
(flesh is retained, use the stats for ‘high quality’ skeletons) who fight for the caster for thirty minutes before
ceasing to function. They will have the same weapons and armor they died with. There are potential
drawbacks to this spell. The first is that all the dead on the battleground have chances of reanimating later
as uncontrolled undead (such tainted battlefields will be avoided for decades to come). The second is that
when the dead cease to function, they may not simply collapse: the GM can make a roll and on a 15+, the
undead simply continue to fight as a berserk unit until destroyed.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
60
Transformation
Normal
last ½ hour
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Thaumaturgy
Description: The character knows the science of mystic geometry. Using this art, the mage
learns to call and capture vast amounts of magical energy within lines, designs, and symbols and
with the proper application, sequence, and manipulation of same, can create a wide variety of
effects. The amount of power the thaumaturgist can store and produce within his glyphs, runes,
and “magic circles” can be quite staggering.
Level 1: Rune Scribe. Character knows basic magical geometry. The character can work on
“proofs” for circles, glyphs, and runes. Making a proof takes 10 hours per point the spell costs to
learn and requires 3 successful rolls. A proof may be learned as a Trivial skill (after it is written);
when the skill roll is made, the character gets +2 to any rolls to inscribe the spell. A character
must be Level 2 to learn a proof. The character can “read” magic circles at a –3 roll.
Level 2: Glyph Calligrapher. The character may learn proofs and may make them in half the
time. The character can make a “rigorous” circle (any spell defined as a “circle” which includes
triangles and the like) which takes double the time and gives the caster +1 to WIL rolls against
creatures in the circle. The character can read magic circles at a basic roll.
Level 3: Thaumaturgist. The character can make proofs in ¼ the time. A rigorous circle gives +2
to WIL rolls. An “advanced proof” takes 1000 hours per point the spell costs to learn and, if the
Trivial skill roll is made when it is cast, the spell requires ¼ less mana. The rolls for these proofs
are at –6 to make (-3 for the Level 3 practitioner). They are very valuable and very rare.
Level 4: Thaumaturge.
NOTE: All Thaumaturgy must be inscribed on a solid surface (no scrolls of magic circles). At the
GM’s discretion, a heavy rug may suffice.
Circle of Power– [Signature Spell: 4]
The Circle of Power takes 10 hours and 10 skill rolls to inscribe. It generates 6 Short Term mana per
second for the caster while inside.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
50
Circle
Normal
None
Glyph of Destruction – [1]
When the Glyph is struck, and while it is maintained, a word from the caster can detonate it. It acts like a
[WIL] PWR Disintegration spell against the object the glyph is struck on (no animate matter). This can be
used to blow doors, knock down small walls, destroy items, etc. Each time this is repeatedly used on a
structure or object within 24 hours, the casting cost goes up by 12 points.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Glyph
Running
None
Glyph of Fire – [1]
The casting of this glyph is the laying of a bomb that will detonate shortly. When cast the caster may specify
a number of seconds that will pass before the glyph explodes. It explodes for 24 points of damage with a 4-
yard radius. The Glyph cannot be cast on animate matter (the ground zero of the glyph takes full damage,
everything else in 4 yards takes half that). If the skill roll is missed, the glyph appears but there is an 11-
chance the spell will go off each second.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Glyph
Normal
None
Glyph of Sealing – [1]
The caster strikes a surface and cast the spell and the glyph appears. It must be cast on a closed portal or
chest or other such solid door. The door will be sealed with a Grapple score equal to the caster’s WIL-6. To
force the door, attackers must gain a Success result.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
5
Glyph
Normal
None
Rune of Alarm – [1]
The mage creates a rune taking 20 minutes and one roll. When a person steps on the rune—or moves
within 4 yards of it and it makes its 12- “visual perception roll” (stealth will negatively effect a rune of alarm)
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the caster will know. This can be used to guard doors, campsites, etc. The alarm will rouse the caster from
deep sleep. Each 2 points put into the rune will cause it to last 1 hour. With 4 additional rolls, and 3 hours,
the rune can be bound to someone else (the person must be present to “sign” the rune. For 30 mana, the
rune can be made permanent.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4 + time
Rune
Normal
None
Rune of Light – [1]
A Rune of Light takes 3 hours and 3 rolls to inscribe. It is 1.5 yards on a side and must be placed on a flat
surface. Once inscribed it emits light enough to see or read by. The effect lasts for 12 days per point the roll
was made by unless the roll was made by 5+ in which case the rune is permanent.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Rune
Normal
None
Rune of Ownership– [1]
When this rune is inscribed on an item (taking 10 minutes and 1 roll) the caster will become aware of the
history of that item when the rune is inspected. This can be placed on personal belongings or even
temporary lodgings. The caster will know if the item has been tampered with and will know when it
happened and a general description of who did it.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Rune
Normal
None
Rune of Strength – [1]
The rune takes 8 hours and 4 rolls to inscribe. A structure marked with the rune gets +2 to STC rolls until it
suffers a Major Failure (fail by 5). The maximum size of a structure this can apply to is WIL3 cubic yards. A
larger object may be marked with more than one Rune of Strength.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Rune
Normal
None
Symbol of Unwelcomeness – [1]
The character can inscribe a symbol that is extremely distasteful to one kind of magical creature (common
examples are werewolves and vampires . . . “dragon’s bane” symbols are probably a little rare). This
requires 3 hours and 3 rolls. Each day, a roll is made against the caster’s skill to see if the charm degrades.
At full power, the type of creature must make a WIL roll at –4 to approach the symbol. Each time it
degrades this drops by 1. A symbol can be carried around but moving it around causes degradation rolls
each hour and WIL rolls to approach are at –3. If a symbol is broken, the affected creature may move in
freely. Each creature so made unwelcome is a separate Symbol to learn (1 point each).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Glyph
Normal
None
Triangle of Protection– [1]
The magical Triangle takes 1 hour to inscribe and 1 skill roll. Undead cannot cross its boundary or attack
across the boundary. Summoned creatures intending to attack across the boundary must win a WIL roll
against the caster’s WIL. They get 3 attempts to do so after which that creature can no longer attempt to get
at the caster. If a creature is summoned within it, the Triangle has caster’s WIL-1. The triangles cannot be
“stacked” (being inside 10 Triangles is the same as being within 1).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Circle
Normal
None
Pentagon of Containment – [2]
The pentagon of containment is designed to hold a powerful Daemon. Any being summoned within it, gets
one roll to beat the Pentagon’s WIL of [WIL + 3]. If this is done, then the being must win a contest of wills
against the caster’s [WIL + 1] by 3, making one roll each turn. If the summoned being is attacked in any way
while inside the pentagon (from outside it), it automatically breaks free. Before summoning, the caster may
take a 4 hour ritual of preparation (burning candles, lighting incense, etc.) this gives a +1 to the initial roll. A
Pentagon will hold a summoned creature for [WIL] hours after which it may leave. Remember that
summoned creatures are under no obligation to do what is asked of them and will drive a hard bargain.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Glyph
Normal
None
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Pentagram of Summoning – [2]
This Circle takes 5 hours to inscribe and 5 skill rolls. Summoning a creature within it takes 30% less mana
than normal (round up). The downside of this is that summoned creatures can return at odd times to the
Pentagram making them dangerous. This is best combined with other summoning defenses.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Circle
Normal
None
Rune of Power – [2]
The rune takes 4 hours to inscribe and 4 rolls. When created, it can hold 4 mana for later use. Once used,
the rune dissolves. A caster can only use one Rune of Power per casting.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Glyph
Running
None
Rune of Warding – [2]
This rune (1 hour to inscribe and 1 skill roll per point cost of the spell bound to it) binds another spell (an
attack spell) to an object. When an action takes place and the rune detects it (automatic if it deals directly
with the object the rune is on—otherwise the Rune has an 11- Perception roll or can be set up with a 4 yard
long “mystical trip-wire”) the spell goes off. The spell has an REA of 14 and a to-hit roll of 15-. The bound
spell must be cast immediately after but can be cast by another mage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Rune
Normal
None
Circle of Protection – [4]
The circle takes 4 hours and 4 rolls to inscribe. Inside it, the character is protected from all Curse-type
magic and any Divination-type magic concerning him is at –4 to the roll. Any PWR vs. STAT attack that
targets through the circle (from within or without) is at –4 PWR.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Circle
Normal
None
Circle of Seeing – [4]
The mage draws a circle on a wall or door and the interior of the circle becomes a one-way magical window
into the other side. Light will not pass through this window so if the side is dark, the character is out of luck
(similarly, if on the other side is a hung painting, a curtain, etc. the spell will not penetrate that).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Glyph
Running
None
Circle of Transport – [4]
The mage draws a circle that takes 40 hours and 8 rolls. When complete, the caster has one part of a
“teleport” circle. If another identical circle is drawn somewhere else within WIL2 miles (more if 4 of the rolls
are made by 10 or more—the GM determines how far this can reach) a character in once circle can instantly
move to the other. This does not require a spell but may be protected by a command word (which must be
written in special script in the circle—a Thaumaturgy roll can decipher it). Each circle has hundreds of
identifying marks, so either two circles must be made by extremely painstaking measures or the original
caster must make both. Circles can link to more than one other circle. In that case, a person in the circle
must walk in a given direction (and say the word if any) to teleport. Protecting a circle with a word costs 24
extra mana. Even if a circle is destroyed, the gateway remains, visible to all those who can detect magic, for
24 hours. In most worlds, the “kinks” have not been worked out of the spell (the GM can decide if the
creators have solved all the problems). In this case (standard) each person who travels through the circle
without paying 24 Mana (so the traveler must be a mage) causes an increasing chance of the circle opening
quietly to extra-dimensional space and allowing daemons to show up. This chance is a 0- for the first
person and increases by a cumulative +1 for each roll above a 12 made for each 2 Mass worth of goods or
people that move through a portal (roll for chance of increase for each person, then roll to see if the circle
corrupts). Additionally, creating such a circle (if the spell hasn’t been “modernized”) costs $500 or more
depending on how far it goes and how many circles it links to (GM decides). For an “industrial strength
circle” the cost may be staggering—literally breaking the economies of nations to keep running (traffic can
degrade them, mages may be brought in to repair suspected corruption, etc.)
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Circle
Normal
None
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Line of Devastation – [4]
The mage draws a line (with chalk) across the ground. This is an 8 REA Long action (the chalk must be in
hand) and can extend up to 4 yards (in hand) or 6 yards if the chalk is on a stick. When complete (or it may
be extended if it is done each turn in succession—the magic points are only paid once, but drawing the line
is Sprinting Endurance) it creates a deadly barrier. Anyone crossing the line will suffer an blow for the
mage’s WIL +2 damage (Impact) which ignores armor and is of energy nature (similar to fire). The Line of
Devastation lasts forever—but normal weather will erode it in 2 hours. Anyone approaching it will feel the
danger with a WIL roll at +2.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Glyph
Normal
None
Rune of Locking – [4]
The Rune of Locking is a complicated spell of protection. When inscribed on a door, it acts as a magical
lock. To open it, one must trace the rune in a proscribed fashion, determined at casting time. A
Thaumaturgy roll at –3 per level of difference of the caster will “pick” the rune. Inscribing the rune takes 6
rolls and 12 hours (picking it also takes six rolls and 12 hours). Because of the obvious nature of opening
the door, the Rune of Locking is not suited for public entrances. A rubbing of the rune (or copy . . . or
Memory roll at –6) will be good enough to transfer the rune to a Thaumaturgy mage for study.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
45
Rune
Normal
None
Square of Force– [4]
The Square of Force takes 8 hours to inscribe and 8 skill rolls. It gives the caster a 12 PWR, 20 STA Force
Field against magical attacks and blows from summoned creatures or undead.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Circle
Normal
None
Words of Binding – [4]
These words (magical script, legible only by mages), when inscribed around a Circle set conditions on what
a creature summoned within may do. This is not automatic: the caster must win a battle of WILs with the
creature summoned (if the creature is an automaton and has no WIL it is not bound). The caster gets a +2
to his WIL. To play out the battle, have both parties roll once a turn against each other. Keep track of what
each force wins or loses by. When one side wins by 5+, the battle is over. Common words are:
•
You may not attack me and I may not attack you: 20 Mana to inscribe. 3 hours, 3 rolls.
•
You must keep your word in a deal: 30 Mana to inscribe. 3 hours, 3 rolls.
•
You must do what I say. 80 Mana. 8 hours, 8 rolls.
•
You may not leave the circle, nor attack beyond it save by my command. 20 Mana to inscribe. 3 hours,
3 rolls.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Circle
Normal
None
78
Witchcraft
Description: Witchcraft is magic that has its origins outside of our reality. It is usually taught to its
practitioners by “lesser powers” or obscure Extra Dimensional Beings (EDB’s) that have human
agents working towards their ends. In some cases, these creatures are malevolent. In most,
their final goals take decades or centuries to achieve and have no bearing on earthly life. As is
the case with necromancers though, a few witches have managed to ruin it for everyone. Thus,
witchcraft has the unfair reputation of being nothing but curses and “sneak attack” spells. The
reality is that witches, as agents of EDB’s (hated and misunderstood) are taught spells that will
make them effective “secret agents” in the world of magic. The majority of witches are women
but men comprise a sizable minority.
Level 1: Daughter. Level 1 spells are spells that often “non-witches” know from the categorical
study of witches. A character knowing these spells need not be in league with any EDB (in fact,
the mere fact of the skill requires no EDB—but it often comes from there). The primary level 1
spell is Detect Unseemely Aura that detects the “footprints” of an EDB. At Level 1, the character
can make rolls at –6 to know things about the nature of EDB influence in the world. If the roll is
missed by –1 to –3, the character knows something—but the GM decides if the character merely
knows popular superstition.
Level 2: Wise Woman. At Level 2, the character either knows a little (rolls at –3) about the broad
influence of EDBs in the world or knows a lot (standard roll) about one EDB’s mode of operation.
If the character is in contact with an EDB, this skill allows the character to know a non-magical
ritual to contact it. This may require a dozen true believers and a sacrificial lamb or other such
things—but it is often the way that apprentices become Adepts—summoning an EDB and getting
it to agree to teach them.
Level 3: Witch. At this level, the witch is almost certainly in contact with an EDB. If so, the
character receives the Familiar spell for free (in exchange for being obligated to serve the EDB as
the GM sees fit). Otherwise, a witch may buy the Familiar spell normally (4 points). Regardless,
she knows quite a bit about EDB’s in general (roll at +3).
Level 4: Witch Mother.
Familiar – [Signature Spell: 4]
The character is sent a “possessed” animal from his EDB. This animal has an INT of about 10 – 12 and can
communicate via telepathy with the character. With a Long action (and continual meditation) the mage can
see through the Familiar’s eyes until concentration is broken. The maximum distance that the link and
communication can be sustained for is WIL2 yards. The link between the character and the familiar is strong:
if the familiar is killed, the character suffers a Critical Wound instantly (the Damage Points and the roll are
suffered).
Standard Land Familiar (fox, cat, rat, etc.)
STR 5 BLD 1 CON 12 /12 DP
REF 12
INT 11
Stealth L3 14-, Claw/Bite attack 2 Pen Damage 14-, Dodge (3 REA) 14-.
Small size (-2 to be hit at range, 1- in HTH). Climbing L2 13-, Shadowing L2 13-
Night Vision
Standard Flying Familiar (owl, falcon, bat, etc.)
STR 8 BLD 1 CON 12 /6 DP
REF 12
INT 11
Stealth L3 14-, Claw/Bite attack 2 Pen Damage 14-, Dodge (3 REA) 14-.
Small size (-2 to be hit at range, 1- in HTH). Climbing L2 13-, Shadowing L2 13-
Flight 12 yards / sec
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
45
Summon
Normal
None
Aruspicy – [1/2/4]
The witch can divine information by sacrificing an animal and reading its entrails. The spell requires an
elaborate ritual that takes 1 hour and uses 30$ worth of material at the end of which an animal is killed. With
a ritual that requires 3 hours and 50$ worth of material, the witch may use a dead animal (allowing modern-
day city witches to find their futures in the frozen meats department). There are three uses of this spell.
Each form must be purchased separately to use.
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•
Omen [1 point] –The witch can determine when the next significant symbol of the target’s future will
appear (“seek the omen at midday when the crow trills thrice”). The GM must decide if there are
“omens” and when the next one will occur (in this case, even seemingly normal events can be omens).
This is often done in reference to some question (“how will my voyage go?”) and the GM can take
opportunities to be clever (“Seek the omen at noon!”—the omen being a waitress spilling a pitcher of
water on the character). This spell requires a RES roll on the part of the caster. If failed, the knowledge
of the next omen is not gained. Witches under pressure may lie (or even stage some event).
•
Far Seeing [2 points] – The character can see the future as if she possessed Far Precognition (at WIL
PWR).
•
Knowledge [4 points] – The witch can divine information as if she possessed Extra Sensory Perception
at Level 4 and at [WIL] PWR.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Fortune
Normal
None
Bane – [1]
The character can make a charm that is extremely distasteful to some kind of magical creature (common
examples are werewolves and vampires . . . “dragon’s bane” charms are probably a little rare). This costs
$30 for the raw materials and requires 4 hours and a roll. Each day, a roll is made against the caster’s skill
to see if the charm degrades. At full power, the type of creature must make a WIL roll at –4 to approach the
charm. Each time it degrades this drops by 1. The Bane is best hung in a doorway—moving it around, or
traveling with it, causes it to degrade each hour and it rolls at –3. If a bane is destroyed, the affected
creature may move in freely. Each creature so made unwelcome is a separate Bane to learn (1 point each).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Create charm
Normal
None
Bless– [1]
When this spell is cast upon someone, Fortune smiles upon him. Three rolls that day will be modified by 1
in the Blessed character’s favor (random rolls, GM’s discretion). A character may have only one Bless on
him at a time.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Blessing
Normal
None
Brew of Health– [1]
A minor healing potion, this brew is quaffed before going to sleep. If the drinker gets a full night’s sleep (6
hours), he heals 4 points of damage. If not, he only heals 1 point. The potion requires 2 hours and 50$ in
materials to make.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Potion
Normal
None
Curse – [1]
When this spell is cast upon someone, Fortune frowns upon him. Three rolls that day will be modified by 1
against the Cursed character’s favor (random rolls, GM’s discretion). A character may have only one Curse
on him at a time.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Curse
Normal
None
Cursed/Blessed Wax – [1]
The witch can enchant a normal (if not normal-looking) candle so that when someone lights it, he is affected
by a curse or blessing. The witch must already know a Curse or Blessing-type spell to learn this spell and
must spend 1point for each individual Cursed/Blessed Wax she wishes to learn. The effects of Draught of
Truth may also be used for Cursed/Blessed Wax.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Enchant Item
Normal
None
Detect Unseemly Aura – [1]
When an EDB exerts its influence in the world, it leaves a psychic “stain.” This spell can detect this. Areas
where such beings have manifested (usually due to a ritual) or where their influence is strong will have such
an aura. When cast, the user makes a Witchcraft Skill roll. If the roll is made by 0-5, the caster will detect
the aura. If the roll is made by 6-9, the caster will know something about the being (and perhaps the ritual).
If made by 10+, the caster will know a great deal about the being and its modus operandi. The GM should
80
only allow this spell to be cast once per hour in the same location and it will detect such auras within a WIL2
yards radius.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Detection
Normal
None
Glamour– [1]
With 3 hours and 25$ of material, the witch makes a cream that, when applied to the face and skin,
temporarily grants the user +1 Level of Attractive (up to Level 2). The effects last for one full day. If the
Glamour using character already has Attractive or Exotic at Level 2 or better, the cream has no effect
(although it is a fantastic emollient and moisturizer). The GM may choose to rule that some unsavory
ingredient goes into this . . .
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Potion
Normal
None
Mending Balm– [1]
With 3 hours and 15$ of material, the witch can create a salve that, when applied, allows Sub-Minor
Penetrating wounds heal as though they were non-Penetrating. The balm must be applied within 1 minute
and must be allowed to heal for 5 minutes. The balm is enough for 7 applications.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Potion
Normal
None
Patch – [1 or 2]
With 30 minutes and 5$ worth of materials, the witch can make a small, black patch that, when applied to a
broken or torn item, will mend it without trace of damage. The item in question must not weigh more than
1/8 pound. The patch is applied and then removed 5 minutes later. If the item is seriously jarred during this
time, the spell will fail. If the witch spends an extra point (total of 2 points) on Patch, she can mend items by
simply passing her hand slowly over the area to be fixed and spending twice the amount of mana.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
10 / 20
Potion / Instant
Normal
None
Refreshing Drink– [1]
A popular item among commoners and adventurers alike, this potion will return 10 Endurance to the drinker.
It requires 2 hours and 30$ to make.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Potion
Normal
None
Rip Hair – [1]
This terrorizes the subject: once cursed, the witch can mime pulling his/her own hair out. The target will
actually suffer the pain and hair-loss. The curse hits as a Curse (invisible ranged attack). It lasts 72 hours.
In combat, taking a 5 REA medium action to pull hair causes the target to make a WIL roll or fight at –1 for
that turn. Often, this can be used to cohere a properly selected person to do things for the witch.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Curse
Normal
None
Shadow Cloak – [1]
The character becomes cloaked in shadows. This acts like a PWR 2 visual cloak with the added effect that
the witch will become impossible to identify – witnesses will see shifting features and unnatural patterns of
light and dark that obscures the caster’s identity.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
6
Continuing
Walking
None
Waking Dreams – [1]
The witch can divine information from visions but it extracts a heavy toll on the caster. By spending 15
minutes and 20$ worth of material on a ritual, the witch slips into a trance-like state in which she can access
information from the ether. At the end of the trance, she possesses the information in question. The spell
duplicates the powers of Aruspicy and the witch does not have to pay for each individual form . . . but the
information comes at great cost.
•
Omen – The trance lasts one hour, the witch takes WIL Endurance, and she must make a successful
skill roll or else suffer a Minor Wound.
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•
Far Seeing – The trance lasts three hours, the witch takes WILx2 Endurance, and she must make a
successful skill roll or suffer a Major Wound.
•
Knowledge – The trance lasts six hours, the witch takes WILx3 Endurance, and she must make a
successful skill roll or suffer a Critical Wound.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Divination
Varies
None
Analgesic – [2]
The witch can brew a potion that greatly reduces pain. Whomever drinks the brew can ignore one level of
condition effects (Hurt condition is ignored, Injured is treated as Hurt, and Serious is treated as Injured). The
effects last for 6 hours. It requires 2 hours and 25$ worth of material to make. Although this potion is highly
sought after by adventurers, it is especially prized by expectant mothers who wish to alleviate labor pains.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Potion
Normal
None
Candle Magic – [2/1]
The witch may make candles that, when burned, produce certain effects. Each candle (and effect) must be
purchased separately, the first costing 2 points and each additional one costing 1. A candle requires 1 hour
and 20$ worth of materials to make. Unless stated otherwise, candles burn for 3 hours. Burning more than
one of the same type of candle will not produce cumulative effects. Candles may look as normal or exotic
as the witch wishes. Common candles include:
•
Health – like Tallow of Health (Earth College); 24 hrs
•
Healing – the stricken person gets +2 to his CON roll to heal and his healing rate is doubled; 24 hrs
•
Anesthesia – when left on the bedside of a character, pain is lessened (ignore Hurt condition); 12 hrs
•
Drowsiness – the candle will cause anyone willing to sleep to fall into deep slumber
•
Meditation – the character who lights the candle receives +1 to his effective INT while it burns
•
Romance – the witch receives +2 to Entrance whomever she is with in the room where the candle burns
•
Scrying – while the candle is burning, the witch can hear whatever is going on within a 10 ft. radius of it
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Potion
Normal
None
Cauldron of Gossip – [2]
The witch mixes various unusual substances into a “soup” in an iron cauldron and stirs it. While it burbles,
the witch can listen to it and hear the voices of gossips in the community (WIL mile radius). The GM
determines what counts as gossip but a Witchcraft Skill roll is made: 0–5: Common Gossip (the kind of thing
one could find hanging out around the local well). 6–9: Elite Gossip (the stories the help in the rich peoples
houses are telling). 10+ Whispered Secrets: the witch may hear any secret that is told out of confidence.
This spell takes gossip from the last 24 hours. The witch will hear a variety of voices and must make
perception rolls to pick out specific chains of conversation.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Detection
Running
None
Charm – [2]
The witch can enchant an item that then brings good luck to the bearer. The witch creates a small totem or
enchants a piece of jewelry or a prized possession of the character. For every 75$ invested in the totem or
that the jewelry is worth or for every year the character has owned the item, the Charm will modify a random
roll in the character’s favor by one once per day up to a maximum of three such modifications (so a totem or
jewelry worth 150$ will modify two rolls by 1 in the character’s favor as would an enchanted personal item
owned for two years). Multiple charms will not work. A Bless spell cast upon someone with a charm will
grant a total of 4 modifications in the course of the day. Anyone holding the item will receive the benefits of
the charm.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
45
Enchant Item
Normal
None
Curse of Mice – [2]
When cast on a kitchen, the kitchen becomes magically infested with mice. Normal extermination
techniques will not work and the kitchen will be almost unusable. The curse lasts WIL / 4 days (round up).
To cast it, the mage must either touch the primary user of the kitchen, come within sight of the kitchen and
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make a sign in the air, or have a small charm with the spell cast on it delivered to, and placed in the kitchen
(removing the charm will break the spell).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Curse of Spiders – [2]
This nasty spell may be cast on a person either by having a lock of their hair, a drop of their blood (1 DP
worth), a piece of clothing, by touch, or by a ranged attack (the target sees the caster make a mark in the
air). When the spell activates (0 – 10 hours, caster’s choice) the target will become infested with spiders.
Any clothes worn will have a 9- chance of generating a spider each 3 minutes. These spiders will never be
seen to appear but will crawl out of pockets, folds, etc. Only the simplest of clothes—a small loin cloth—will
not be affected. The curse lasts WIL hours.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Drought of Animosity – [2]
This spell must be casts on two drinks at once. When they are drunk, each person will suffer a PWR vs.
STAT attack (vs. WIL, PWR is equal to caster’s WIL+2). This effect will be to make them feel an irrational
dislike for each other.
•
Minor Effect: Distaste – targets will avoid each other and are at –3 to interact
•
Standard Effect: Argumentative – if given sufficient reason (GM’s call), the targets will start to argue
•
Major Effect: Active Dislike – targets will actively find faults to start an argument; fights may break out
•
Critical Effect: Boiling Anger – targets will start fighting using non-lethal means (fisticuffs)
•
Catastrophic Effect: Murderous Hatred – targets will actively try to kill each other
The GM must determine the effects of each stage and the two will use the lower of the two effects (if one
person suffers a Critical effect and the other suffers a Minor effect the effects for both are Minor).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Drought of Enchantment – [2]
The “Love Potion” most people ask for. The spell is cast over a drink and it is delivered to the target.
Whoever the target sees after drinking the spell will “make an Enchant attack with a [WIL+5] PWR” against
the drinker. For this to work the drinker must not be suspicious, or otherwise highly alert (if the GM rules the
drinker is “cautious” then the PWR may be reduced to [WIL+1]). The drawback is that, if the effect is strong,
the person may become manic concerning the target. Casting the spell takes 3 hours of preparation over a
sealed bottle of the drink. Selling these is usually quite illegal.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Drought of Sleep – [2]
This drink acts as a sleep potion. It is a Sleep PWR vs. STAT attack (WIL) of [WIL+3] PWR. This takes 3
hours to make.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Draught of Truth – [2]
This spell is cast over an alcoholic drink. When imbibed, the drinker will become “intoxicated” and will be
much more likely to tell the truth than normal—and will have only vague memories of having done so when
the spell wears off. This is not a “truth serum” and the person may tell the witch all kinds of things other than
the secrets the witch wants—but careful prying or the right leading questions can open up most people. The
target gets a WIL roll vs. the PWR of the spell (equal to [WIL+1]). This acts as a PWR vs. STAT attack (vs.
WIL).
•
Minor Effect: Target’s guard is weakened; the witch can ask leading questions and the target won’t get
upset or extremely suspicious if they’re phrased okay; he may not answer.
•
Standard Effect: Target speaks his mind; this is not going to reveal national secrets but will certainly
dredge up some good interpersonal stuff.
•
Major Effect: Target is suggestible; the target will reveal “classified” but not “secret” data.
•
Critical Effect: The target will reveal secret data to the caster.
•
Catastrophic Effect: the target will reveal “top secret” data to the caster.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Curse
Normal
None
24
Curse
Normal
None
24
Create Enchanted Drink
Normal
None
24
Curse
None
None
24
Curse
None
None
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24
Create Enchanted Drink
Normal
None
Enchanting Voice – [2]
The character’s spoken command acts like the Influence ability with PWR equal to the character’s WIL+1.
There is no roll to hit. If this ever achieves a failure result against the target, the target will be aware the
voice is being used against him; however, the witch can still use the voice on the target but at double mana
(it is virtually impossible otherwise).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Instant
Normal
PWR is WIL+1
Evil Eye – [2]
A target is hit with an invisible (unless the target can see cast magic) attack. He may feel a cold chill and
notice a foul look from the witch. For the remainder of the day, the witch will enjoy +3 Luck while the target
suffers –3 Unluck. This can only be cast once per day (it doesn’t stack and neither does the unluck).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Curse
Normal
None
Following Charm – [2]
The witch creates a small charm that can be given to a person (it can also be placed on a person without
their knowledge by sleight of hand at a –2 roll). When placed, for as long as the spell lasts (the charm can
be made at any time—it is activated by paying the mana) the witch will see things as though he was
following the person with the charm. The person, for his part, can make perception or WIL rolls to detect a
feeling of being followed.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Create Charm
Walking
None
Glitch – [2]
The spell causes the malfunction of a machine. When cast it can be activated any time within a hour of
casting. The machine must make an STC roll vs. the caster’s WIL +2 (most machines have an STC of 14-).
This acts a PWR vs. STAT attack. The Minor Effect: minor functions of the machine will malfunction as
though possessed (car radios will switch to ominous songs, gear systems will creak and work at only 80%
efficiency, etc.) Standard Effect is more so (machine operates at 50% efficiency—pushing it will break it).
Major effect will break the machine. Critical Effect: the machine fails in a diabolical fashion designed to
hinder, but not directly kill the owner. Catastrophic Effect: Christine. The machine simply goes bad and will,
in its way, lash out at everyone near by. Cars may drive around at night and kill people, computers will call
Date and Time in Tibet, send insulting email to Stephen Segal, and alter the character’s homework to get
him expelled, soft drink machines will dispense New Coke, etc. The effects last about 1 week except for the
last two, which are more or less permanent. Throwing Glitch on a Cyborg causes it to make a Major Wound
roll (just the roll—no damage is taken).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Curse
Normal
None
Haunt – [2]
A simple defensive spell, Haunt creates “ghost lights” that dance in an area when someone comes close.
They are usually meant to scare off intruders (the lights have an eerie presence and an Intimidation of
[WIL+1] vs. those not familiar with magic). The spell lasts 1 week. When someone approaches within 4
yards, the lights will vanish. On a roll of a 0 to 3, however, the presence of the magic will call a real haunt of
the GM’s choice. It will not appear immediately and it may, at the GM’s discretion, not bother the witches. It
will, however, definitely bother the local community.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Illusion
Normal
None
Hexbreaker – [2]
The witch can dispel a Curse-type spell laid upon someone. The hexbreaking witch rolls her WIL against
that of the mage who originally cast the curse using the following modifiers:
•
+/- 1 for each point of difference in skill
•
+/- 3 for each level of difference (a Level 3 witch’s curse is harder to break than a Level 2 witch’s and
vice versa)
•
-2 to break 4 point Curse-type spells
•
+1 for each hour or 50$ the witch spends on ritual up to a maximum of +3
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Minor Effect: Curse lifted for one hour. Standard Effect: Curse lifted for one day. Major Effect: Curse
broken. Critical Effect: Curse broken and cursing mage must make a WIL roll or suffer the effects of the
curse. Catastrophic Effect: Curse broken and the cursing mage must make a WIL roll at –3 or else suffer a
Minor Wound and the effects of the curse.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Blessing
Walking
None
Hold Fast– [2]
The target appears to be standing calmly, but is actually held by the invisible spell. While a “curse” in that
the casting is invisible, observers will see the caster seem to “throw” the spell. The spell is a tangle attack.
The spell has 2pts of armor, 12 DP, and an Offensive Grapple of 7. Characters in the grab will be at –4
damage modifiers to break the spell. Advanced Note: purists can give the bonds an STC roll of 15-.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Ranged Attack
Normal
Tangle attack
Hold Tongue – [2]
This spell forces the target to keep a secret about some subject. It acts as a PWR vs. STAT attack and the
subject must be chosen and told to the subject when the spell is cast. When the target tries to tell others, he
will find that he can’t speak it, write it, or otherwise convey it. If directly questioned, he will simply remain
mute on all questions concerning it. Minor Effect: lasts for 1 hour. Standard Effect: Lasts for 1 day. Major
Effect: Lasts for 1 month. Critical Effect: Lasts for 1 year. Catastrophic Effect: Lasts forever.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Curse
Normal
None
Jinx – [2]
Similar to Glitch, but for people.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Curse
Normal
None
Lash – [2]
One of the terrorize spells, Lash creates an “allergic reaction” in the cursed target that causes welts to
appear in a stripe as though the target was “lashed.” Each “lashing” does 2 IMP damage and gives the
target a WIL roll (cumulative +1) vs. the caster’s spell roll to break the curse. When a target is hit (as a
ranged attack), for the next 72 hours, the witch can lash as a 5 REA Medium action. Lashing requires no to-
hit roll.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Curse
Normal
None
Listening Mark – [2]
The witch draws the mark on the wall in a black, naturally made paint (takes $2 and 1 hour to make). This
weird mark may almost seem to be some natural splatter of paint or a natural smear (it also smells funky).
The mark acts like an ear for the mage when the mage concentrates and the spell is running. When the
mark is drawn, it may be activated by paying the mana at any time within 24 hours.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Create Mark
Walking
None
Murder of Crows – [2]
One of the many witchcraft “revenge” curses, Murder of Crows is rarely fatal but can be extremely
frightening. When cast, (like other curses, it’s invisible), the target will experience nothing unusual from the
spell for up to an hour (delay determined by caster). When the hour is up, though, all common birds that see
the target will want to kill him. The average bird attacks once every 1-3 seconds and hits on a 13- for 1 to 2
points of Penetrating damage. In a normal city or town, approximately 20 birds can be expected to show up.
This curse lasts for an hour and will at least result in the bird-plagued person being driven in doors.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Curse
Normal
None
Nightmare Curse – [2]
A witch can channel his/her negative energy to another. This has the effect of giving the target nightmares
while improving the quality of the witch’s calm. It hits as an undetectable ranged attack (again, the target
gets a perception roll to notice an unpleasant feeling from the witch—but nothing obvious). For a day where
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this is done, the target makes WIL rolls at –2 and suffers horrible nightmares. The witch gets an effective +1
WIL for purposes of casting spells and making WIL rolls (this does not get the witch more mana).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Prevent Birth – [2]
Cast in any of the normal ways a curse can be, the spell can be used to deny a person an offspring or, more
commonly, as simple birth control (although going to a witch for this is considered very risky). It must be cast
on a woman once per month and lasts the entire month. When cast, if the target is “resistant” (unaware) she
gets a CON or WIL roll vs. the caster’s roll. If the caster wins a roll by 10, the woman is permanently barren
until the curse is lifted. This curse may also be cast against men, however, the casting cost
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Sneak – [2]
Witches must meet often and secretly. The Sneak spell is used by them—but is also coveted by thieves and
assassins. While it does not provide Stealth (you have to have that yourself) it does provide a preternatural
sense of someone watching you—or being nearby where they can see you. While Sneak is running, the
mage will know if someone is watching her. She will also get a WIL “perception” roll to know if someone is
“nearby” and “about to see her.” If a character is about to step around a corner and Sneak is running, the
mage will know.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Steal Harvest – [2]
When cast on a plot of farmland (up to WIL acres) it will multiply the production of that land by as much as
30% (the exact number is determined by the GM). The price, however, is that 2x that number of acres of
neighboring farmland has its harvest decreased by that amount. Detect Unseemly Aura will detect this
meddling, but detect magic will not. This spell can be cast multiple times—if the land is adjacent, it will not
be degraded (so large farms can be covered by multiple castings). To do this, all the castings must be done
in a single day.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Steal Unborn Child – [2]
One of those spells that ruins everything for everyone. The rational for this is that being an active witch
takes a lot of resources (sacrificial animals). Most witches are people of little means (EDB’s can usually only
offer training and some weird advice—not very useful to the rich). This spell is used to steal unborn calves
from neighbors cows to the witches cow to insure new calf when needed. This can also be used, even more
despicably, to steal a human child. To work, the witch must get a lock of hair, 1 DP worth of blood, or some
other substantial piece of the person to be targeted (often a cow’s ear is taken). Then the spell is cast on
the recipient. It takes 5 hours to cast and the target will suffer extreme distress. The range of the
“teleportation” is WIL miles. This spell has a flaw: the mother will know her own child on sight. It’s up to the
GM to determine if her word is admissible in court.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Strike Mute – [2]
Good for sentry removal (and a number of other clandestine uses . . . also in court) the spell makes a target
voiceless for a time. It is a PWR vs. STAT attack (PWR 14 vs. WIL). Minor Effect: the target is silent for 2
seconds. Standard Effect: the target is silent for 30 seconds. Major Effect: the target is silent for 3 hours.
Critical Effect: the target is silent for 3 days. Catastrophic Effect: the target is silent forever (until the curse is
removed . . . also, make a WIL roll once per week at a cumulative –2 to recover voice).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Witchbolt – [2]
One of the Witchcraft’s few offensive spells, Witchbolt, is fairly rare. This spell fires a black-green blast that
hits as a ranged attack and ignores armor. It does 11 points of damage.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Curse
None
None
24
Ranged Attack
Normal
PWR 14
24
Detection
Walking
None
22
Curse
Normal
None
30
Curse
Normal
None
22
Curse
Normal
None
86
30
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Witch’s Candles – [2]
Witch’s Candles are handcrafted deformed candles made of human fat (usually requires robbing a morgue!).
Each candle costs about $5 in materials . . . plus the fat (charge for that!). When burnt, the candle “gives
off” 5 mana to aid in the casting of a spell. Only one candle can be used per spell. Making a candle takes 4
hours (they can sell to other mages for $25 to $100 . . . more if the sale of fat is illegal!)
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Create candle
Normal
None
Witch’s Door – [2]
This spell is cast when a door is constructed (or on one that has been out of use for 72 hours). It makes the
door seem to vanish. Only people who know the door is there, see it open, or cast this spell (it can be used
to detect these doors). The primary use of this is to protect meeting areas (a room can be sealed off with
this). If a person inspects the wall, they get a perception roll at –3 to detect the door (and then they’ll
wonder how they ever missed it). The nature of this spell is tricky. If a person is in the company of one who
sees the door, he will tend to see it too (Perception roll just to notice it—automatic if it is pointed out).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Create “Invisible” door
Normal
None
Youthful Appearance – [2]
A popular lotion among commoners and nobility, this balm, when applied on the skin, will give the
appearance that the user is 5 or 10 years younger. The salve requires either 85$ and 4 hours of work (5
years) or 175$ and 8 hours of work (10 years) and the fat of a baby animal (traditionally calf or lamb). The
effects last 24 hours. Multiple application will not work. The de-aging is only skin deep; although the skin,
hair, and nails will youthen, the body is still its actual age.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Potion
Normal
None
Eternal Youth – [4]
An incredibly rare spell that nevertheless has truly ruined it for witches everywhere. Using this spell once a
year means that its recipient will never age. The witch mixes 200$ worth of material into a potion. The
potion is then mixed with the fat of a child no more than one year old and one day dead (which is then
applied to the skin) or poured into a tub filled with the warm blood of a young maiden (which the recipient
then bathes in). Either application takes one hour of time. The mana is spent in preparing the potion.
Although many unethical witches use this spell for their own benefit, even more unscrupulous rulers coerce
witches to use it for theirs.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Potion
Normal
None
Eye for an Eye – [4]
Eye for an Eye is a vengeance spell that can be cast within 1 week after a witch has suffered a wound at
someone’s hand. The Eye for an Eye spell takes three hours to cast and the victim will get three WIL rolls at
a successive +1 to feel something bad coming. At the end of the time, the spell is cast and the target suffers
the same wound (damage and damage type) he dealt the witch. For +15 mana and a personal artifact of
the target, the witch can exact vengeance for someone else’s wound. For this to work, the wounded person
must be with the witch for the entire casting of the spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
35
Curse
Normal
None
Slave – [4]
A powerful curse, Slave allows a witch to turn a person into a mindless servant. The spell requires three
drops of the victim’s blood, 50 mana 150$ worth of material, and a night’s work. A skill roll is made at –5
and if failed, the witch takes a Serious Wound and the spell fails completely. If successful, the witch creates
a handful of powder that resembles common dust that when it contacts the intended victim’s skin, causes
him to fall sick within 24 hours. After three days, the victim falls into a coma that will be mistaken for death
unless a Medical Skill roll is made at –6 (-3 at Level 3). A Witchcraft roll at –3 can also detect life (and thus
the use of this curse). The coma can last up to a year and the victim requires no food or water and the
barest minimum of air. Any time during the coma, the witch can touch the victim and, by spending 30 mana,
takes him under her control (Control Power at automatic Catastrophic Effect at WIL Power). The witch need
87
only spend an extra 30 mana per month to keep the slave in such condition (otherwise, the effective Effect
drops by one per month). The witch traditionally waits until the victim is buried and then digs him up before
enslaving him. The witch can also use Sympathy to affect her intended victim and to enslave and control
him. This curse can only be broken by the Hexbreaker spell or by another witch with Slave to cast a
counterspell (50 mana, 150$ worth of material).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
50 / 30
Curse
Normal
None
Sympathy– [4]
Using this spell, the witch can affect a target using an effigy. The witch fashions a doll using 30$ worth of
material. She then must acquire from the target a drop of blood, a lock of hair or nail clipping, and a
personal possession (owned for at least 6 months). She must then perform a ritual that lasts all night that
uses 150$ worth of material and 50 mana after which a skill roll is made at –5. If failed, the witch takes a
Major Wound and the spell totally fails. If successful, then the witch can use the effigy to cast any Witchcraft
spell that can affect a person (Potion, Curse, etc.) at WILx3 miles range at the person represented by the
doll. These spells cost their normal mana +10, drain 5 Endurance from the witch, and requires all the
attendant times and material costs associated with the spell. The doll need not be re-enchanted – the witch
can cast as many spells through the doll as she is willing and able. If the doll is destroyed, the represented
character receives a Minor Wound and takes damage in the manner in which the figurine is destroyed (i.e.: if
thrown into a fire, the character will be burned). If the character himself reacquires his possession, or if
Bless is cast upon the doll, the spell is broken. Otherwise, it requires Hexbreaker or another witch with
Sympathy to cast a counterspell (50 mana, 150$ in material) to break the hex.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
50 / 10+
Enchant Item
Normal
None
Rejuvenate – [8]
A spell that only a handful of practitioners know, this spell actually restores youth to the witch. The spell
requires the fat and blood of a baby animal (usually a lamb or calf). That, along with 250$ worth of material
is brewed together into a potion which is then drunk. The effects are immediate. The brew subtracts 5
years of age plus an additional 1 for every point of mana spent in addition to the initial 40. The same brew
can work on someone else besides the witch but the age removed is halved. A person can only benefit from
one Rejuvenate per year. As an added bonus, if the witch also knows Eternal Youth, instead of baby fat or
maidens’ blood, she can use either the fat of a baby animal or the blood of an adolescent beast. These
substitute ingredients will only work for the witch herself however.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40+
Potion
Normal
None
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Spirit
Description: This branch of magecraft is dedicated to the study and practice of beneficent magic
and teaches powers of healing and defense. This magic involves the channeling of greater forces
of the spirit rather than the simple manipulation of energy. As such, there is a price to pay for
using it: The character must buy a psychological defect that reflects his beliefs. For instance, if a
character serves the forces of good, he might take a vow of pacifism only to fight in the service of
“good.” If the character serves the forces of darkness, however, then some form of fanaticism or
other GM determined “sense of purpose” exists for the character. A Level 1 Spirit mage needn’t
buy the defect but must buy one upon reaching Level 2.
Level 1: Mage of Light. The character understands the basic mysteries of the School of Spirit.
For every two points of skill above 10 the character has, he gains an extra point of endurance.
Level 2: Defender. The character begins to learn the deeper intricacies of the Web of Life. The
mage can automatically detect life within one foot of his person with a skill roll at –3 (no negative
at Level 3).
Level 3: Healer. The character knows the basic secrets of life and spirit. For every point of skill
above 10 that the mage has, he gains an extra point of endurance. He also receives one free DP
for every three full points he has in skill above 10.
Level 4: Theurgist.
Armor of Light – [Signature Spell: 4]
When a Spirit mage casts this spell, a suit of radiant, weightless armor composed of light covers his body.
The armor provides 7/21 protection and adds +3 to the mage’s roll to resist PWR vs. STAT attacks. All
attempts to strike the mage are at –1 to hit. The armor sheds light in a 10-yard radius. Undead who see a
mage wearing the Armor of Light must roll against their WIL as per Undead’s Terror (PWR is the mage’s
WIL+1). Any Healing-type spell cast while the mage is wearing the armor heals an additional 5 points of
damage. Attempts to Recruit or Intimidate are at +3. It is a 5 REA Short action to activate this spell. This
spell costs no endurance, however, the mage must spend 3 REA each turn after the first on a Short action to
maintain the armor or else it will fade away at the end of the following turn.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Armor
None
None
Bless – [1]
When this spell is cast upon someone, Fortune smiles upon him. Three rolls that day will be modified by 1
in the Blessed character’s favor (random rolls, GM’s discretion). A character may have only one Bless on
him at a time.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Blessing
Normal
None
Eyes of Light – [1]
With this spell, the mage needs no light whatsoever to see in the dark. While this spell is running, the
caster’s eyes glow with an inner light that gives him +1 to his visual perception rolls. The mage can only see
in black and white however.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
4
Continuing
Walking
None
Lend Strength – [1]
With this spell, the mage can transfer his endurance to another character. The mage must touch the
character to do this. The mana cost is 1 mana for each point of endurance so transferred.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Varies
Rejuvenation
Varies
None
Quieting Touch – [1]
With a touch, the caster can cause someone to fall asleep. It is a Sleep PWR vs. STAT attack (vs.
opponent’s WIL). The PWR of the attack is equal to the caster’s WIL. This spell has been the godsend of
mothers with rowdy children everywhere.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
10
HTH
Normal
None
89
Shepherd’s’ Voice – [1]
The character’s spoken command acts like the Influence ability with Power equal to the character’s WIL.
There is no roll to hit. If this ever achieves a failure result against the target, the target will be aware the
voice is being used against him (making immediate re-use virtually impossible).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Instant
Normal
PWR is WIL
Shining Armor – [1]
When a Spirit mage casts this spell, a suit of shining, weightless armor composed of light covers his body.
The armor provides either 2/4 or +1/+1 protection (whichever is better). The armor sheds light in a 3-yard
radius. It is a 5 REA Short action to activate this spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
5
Armor
Normal
None
Take Disease – [1]
With this spell, the mage can cure diseases by taking them into himself. Any such taken disease, no matter
what the disease, will become non-communicable. The mage makes a roll using his WIL+2 vs. the PWR of
the disease. Minor Success: The mage takes the disease is at +2 to CON rolls to fight it off. Standard
Effect: The mage takes the disease and is at +4 CON to fight it off. Major Effect: The mage takes the
disease and is at +8 CON to fight it off. Critical Effect: The mage takes the disease and immediately burns it
out. Catastrophic Effect: The mage not only takes the disease and instantly burns it out, he is forever
immune to that particular disease. This spell can only be used once per person per day. The mage must
touch the character for this spell to work.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
5
Healing
Normal
None
Take Pain– [1]
With this spell, the mage can take away the small injuries of others and make them his. The mage can heal
up to [the mage’s Minor Wound score –1] in damage. The mage then takes this damage himself as
Impact Damage (even if the original wound was Penetrating). This spell can only be used once per person
per day. The mage must touch the character for this spell to work.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3
Healing
Normal
None
Undead’s Bane – [1]
The caster radiates life energy, causing all undead in the area to roll [mage’s WIL+2] vs. their WIL or suffer
the appropriate Intimidation effects. If a particular undead has no listed WIL, use this general guideline:
•
mindless undead (skeletons and zombies): 6-8 WIL
•
semi-aware undead (some zombies, lesser ghosts): 8-10 WIL
•
sentient undead (lesser vampires, mummies): 10-12 WIL
•
powerful undead (greater vampires, liches, undead warriors): 13-15 WIL
This guideline may be used with other spells that attack the WIL of the undead.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
5
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Bands of Light – [2]
A target hit by the spell is wrapped in glowing bands of light. The bands have 3pts of armor, 15 DP, and an
Offensive Grapple of 9. Characters in the grab will be at –4 damage modifiers to break the bonds.
Advanced Note: purists can give the bonds an STC roll of 15-.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Ranged Attack
Normal
Tangle attack
Blinding Light – [2]
The mage can blind his opponent with a burst of power. It works like a Flash PWR vs. STAT attack (vs. the
opponent’s WIL). The PWR of the attack is equal to the caster’s WIL. This attack can affect the undead.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
90
Brilliant Armor – [2]
When a Spirit mage casts this spell, a suit of brilliant, weightless armor composed of light covers his body.
The armor provides either 4/8 or +1/+1 protection (whichever is better). The armor sheds light in a 5-yard
radius. It is a 5 REA Short action to activate this spell.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Armor
Normal
None
Cure Disease – [2]
With this spell, the mage can cure diseases. The mage makes a roll using his WIL vs. the PWR of the
disease. Minor Success: The victim is at +4 to CON rolls to fight it off. Standard Effect: The victim is at +8
CON to fight it off. Major Effect: The victim is cured. Critical Effect: The victim is cured and is at +2 to resist
that particular disease from then on. Catastrophic Effect: The victim is cured and is forever immune to that
particular disease. This spell can only be used once per person per day. The mage must touch the
character for this spell to work. The endurance cost is equal to the PWR of the disease cured.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Healing
PWR of Disease None
Fist of Power – [2]
The mage can hit with a surprisingly powerful unarmed strike. The mage spends 7 mana to start the spell
and 5 mana to keep it going round to round. When cast, the mage gets +1 to his base punch damage;
however, may spend +2 mana to add an additional +1 to his base punch damage (thus a mage who spends
an additional +6 mana gets a total of +4 to his base punch damage). While the spell is running, the
character’s hand glows with a soft light that explodes into a bright flash when it connects. Any undead hit by
a Fist of Power takes the damage as if it were Penetrating.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
7 then 5+ per turn
HTH
Running
None
Hexbreaker – [2]
The mage can dispel a Curse-type spell laid upon someone. The hexbreaking mage rolls his WIL against
that of the mage who originally cast the curse using the following modifiers:
•
+/- 1 for each point of difference in skill
•
+/- 3 for each level of difference (a Level 3 mage’s curse is harder to break than a Level 2 mage’s and
vice versa)
•
-2 to break 4 point Curse-type spells
•
+1 for each hour or 50$ the mage spends on ritual up to a maximum of +3
Minor Effect: Curse lifted for one hour. Standard Effect: Curse lifted for one day. Major Effect: Curse
broken. Critical Effect: Curse broken and cursing mage must make a WIL roll or suffer the effects of the
curse. Catastrophic Effect: Curse broken and the cursing mage must make a WIL roll at –3 or else suffer a
Minor Wound and the effects of the curse.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Blessing
Walking
None
Minor Heal – [2]
The mage can heal up to a person’s Minor Wound score in damage once per person per day. Endurance
cost is 1 for every two points of damage healed. The mage must touch the person in question.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
10
Healing
Varies
None
Penitent Stare – [2]
The mage’s intense gaze can stop attackers dead in their tracks. It is a Paralysis PWR vs. STAT attack (vs.
the opponent’s WIL). The PWR of the attack is equal to the caster’s WIL.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
Plague Immunity – [2]
The mage casts this spell and helps people become more resilient to illness. By spending 30 mana he can
grant a person +2 to his CON rolls vs. disease. By spending 40 mana, the bonus is +4 to CON rolls. By
spending 50 mana, the bonus is +8 to CON. Plague Immunity lasts one month. The spell can only be cast
91
once per day per person. It must be cast on a healthy, disease-free individual. The caster must touch the
target for this spell to work.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30 / 40 / 50
Prevention
Normal
None
Read Aura – [2]
The mage can read the aura of an individual and determine what kind of person he is. The spell acts like a
Deep Scan at WIL PWR. A skill roll at –3 vs. the opponent’s WIL is made to see if the target realizes he has
been read (no negative at Level 3).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Take Hurt – [2]
With this spell, the mage can take away the injuries of others and make them his. The mage can heal up to
[the mage’s Major Wound score –1] in damage. The mage then takes this damage himself as Impact
Damage (even if the original wound was Penetrating). This spell can only be used once per person per day.
The mage must touch the character for this spell to work.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Undead’s Terror – [2]
The caster radiates life energy, causing an undead opponent to roll [mage’s WIL+1] vs. their WIL or suffer
the following effects:
•
Minor Effect: Undead is at –2 to initiative against the character until it makes a WIL roll (made at the
beginning of each turn).
•
Standard Effect: Undead opponent is –2 initiative and at –4 to hit the mage until it makes a WIL roll by 4
(roll made at the beginning of each turn).
•
Major Effect: The undead creature must make a WIL roll each turn or run away from the character as
fast as possible. If forced to fight, it is at –4 initiative and –4 to hit the mage. At the beginning of each
turn, the creature must make a WIL roll. If it is made by 4, it throws off the effects; if made by 1-3 , it
can choose not to flee but still suffers the combat negatives. The undead opponent will be frozen in
panic for its next turn after the attack hits.
•
Critical Effect: Unless it makes a WIL roll by 4, the undead opponent will cringe in panic (treat as
unconscious, WIL rolls to recover). If it recovers, treat as a Major Effect, except that rolls to throw off
the effect can only be made once every 30 seconds. Regardless, the undead creature will be frozen in
terror for its next two turns after the attack hits.
•
Catastrophic Effect: The undead creature must make a WIL roll or be destroyed. Otherwise, treat as
Critical Effect.
The mage may affect more that one undead creature with this attack but each additional opponent affected
costs an additional 5 mana and the PWR of the attack drops by one (a mage using this power against 3
undead spends a total of 25 mana and the PWR of the attack against each drops by 2).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Vaticination – [2]
Prophecy spell. Details to follow.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Heal – [4]
The mage can heal up to a person’s Major Wound score in damage once per person per day. Endurance
cost is 1 for every two points of damage healed. The mage must touch the person in question.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Major Heal – [4]
To learn this spell, the mage must already know Heal. The mage can heal up to a person’s Critical Wound
score in damage once per person per day. Endurance cost is 1 for every two points of damage healed. The
mage must touch the person in question.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Healing
Varies
None
5
Healing
Normal
None
15
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
20
Healing
Varies
None
20
Divination
Normal
None
92
40
Healing
Varies
None
Save From Death’s Door – [4]
This powerful spell can prevent the spirit of someone who has just died from leaving, thereby granting time
to save him. When this spell is cast on a character who has suffered a “Dying” or “Dead” result, the mage
shrouds him in a cocoon of light that prevents the character from actually dying. The mage then has 24
hours to heal or otherwise save the character. The caster must touch the dying character within 5 turns of
the mortal wound being struck; if not, the mana cost increases by a cumulative +2 per turn and the mage
must expend double the extra mana in endurance to bring the dying character back from the other side (so a
caster who wanted to save someone 6 turns dead would have to spend +2 mana and 4 endurance, and the
mage who wanted to save someone 10 turns dead would pay +10 mana and 20 endurance).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Shield of Light – [4]
This spell works just like Spell Shield, however, even if the block fails, the character takes –3 DM.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Soothesay – [4]
Truth detection spell. Details to follow.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Take Wound – [4]
With this spell, the mage can take away the grievous injuries of others and make them his. The mage can
heal up to [the mage’s Critical Wound score –1] in damage. The mage then takes this damage himself as
Impact Damage (even if the original wound was Penetrating). This spell can only be used once per person
per day. The mage must touch the character for this spell to work.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
The Giver of Sleep (For Those Who Cannot) - [8]
This spell destroys undead. It acts like a [WIL] PWR Death Ray vs. STAT attack (vs. WIL) against the
undead with the following effects:
•
Minor Effect: The undead target is Dazed for 2 turns and then makes a WIL roll. If it is failed, the
creature deactivates (treat as unconsciousness, WIL rolls to recover).
•
Standard Effect: Undead target is deactivated as above. If a WIL roll is failed by 3 or more, the creature
takes Internal Damage (or makes STC rolls at a successive –1 to the roll every 10 seconds).
•
Major Effect: Creature must make a WIL roll or take a Dying result (or makes STC rolls at a successive
–1 to the roll every second). Otherwise, treat as a Standard Effect.
•
Critical Effect: Undead opponent must make a WIL roll or be slain. Otherwise, treat as Major Effect.
•
Catastrophic Effect: Any undead who suffers this effect will be slain outright.
The mage may affect more that one undead creature with this attack but each additional opponent affected
costs an additional 5 mana and the PWR of the attack drops by one (thus, a Spirit mage using this power
against 3 undead creatures spends a total of 40 mana and the PWR of the attack against each drops by 2).
Any undead slain with this can no longer be reanimated as undead . . . they have achieved their final rest.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
5
Healing
Normal
None
10
Healing
Normal
None
30
Ranged Attack
Normal
None
3 / 6 / 10
Blocking
Normal
None
30
Prevention
Normal
None
93
Alchemy
Description: The caster can bind elemental magicks to create magical items. The skill of
Enchantment is not detailed here, but Alchemy is similar. An alchemist must usually have a lab
or at least some special chemicals and gear to work with. Many of the spells require Potions of
Essence. A mage can know Alchemy without knowing other Elemental Colleges—but he will
have to purchase Potions of Essence from other alchemists. There are 4 different types of
Essence potions (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water). For a mage to know how to make them all (a
complete Alchemist) he must have all four skills at Level 2 on a 15-. An Essence Potion costs
$50.
Level 1: Create Potions of Essence. The alchemist can create an Essence potion used in all
other alchemical work (Essence of Air, Essence of Water, etc.). These magical chemicals are
then used to perform other alchemical spells. An Alchemist can only prepare potions of Essence
for those elements he has a Level 2 skill in at 15-. If the alchemist does not have that skill to
create a potion of essence he needs for a spell, he must buy the potion to complete the spell.
Level 2: Alchemical Analysis. Alchemy assumes that all objects are formed of combinations of
fire, earth, air, and water. Alchemical study can determine the ratios of an object and then
alchemical predictions can be made concerning that object. For instance, an explosive might be
determined to have an extremly high Fire Element and some unusual mix of Air. A toxin might
have a slight amount of earth and an unhealthy amount of water. The GM can be more specific.
Level 3: Secrets of Alchemy. More advanced alchemy uses planetary bodies and the specific
characters of each (actual) element in the periodic table. A character with this skill can determine
things like the exact nature of a material (or even something about the nature of a person or
animal given its blood).
NOTE: Alchemical items are very expensive. Possibly too expensive. The intent behind high
pricing is to make sure that cheap alchemical science doesn’t change the world. Alchemists in
employ of nobles will make most of the alchemical items in a “standard world”. Thus, they will
charge the minimum cost and get only room and board. For the 100% mark up necessary to
make real profits, the alchemist will have to land an enviable practice. The GM is invited to play
with these prices to see how they change the world (a game where everyone caries six-shooters
of Fire Ball wands isn’t typical fantasy but will happen if they’re too cheap).
NOTE: Some spells require a lab (almost any spell will require some work area). Labs come in
three sizes: small—a handbag full of stuff, medium, a large room with some gear ($3000), and
large (a multi-room tower) costing $15,000 plus the tower cost.
Lead to Gold – [Signature Spell: 2,4,8]
The alchemist knows the secret of turning base metals to precious ones (not necessarily lead to gold—it
could be tin to copper or something similar). Disappointingly, this is not the road to riches. Rather, it is an
honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay—the catch being that one need not have an employer.
Performing the magic takes all day (6 hours of work) and pays, weekly, the equivalent of a comfortable
wage. For 4 points, the mage gets 4 points of wealth if he works at the job, for 8 points, the spell gets 8
points of wealth. There is a chance of the jackpot, though, each week the alchemist works, he makes a skill
roll at –3 (-0 at Level 3, +3 at level 4). If this roll is made by 10 or the mage rolls a 0 or 1, he gets half his
yearly fee in that week. If he misses the roll by 5, the lab explodes (random dice roll for base damage of the
explosion plus the amount the mage missed it by). This requires a medium lab. A large lab adds +2 to the
roll.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Transmute
Normal
None
Compass – [1]
The caster takes a small glass vial and mixes 1 Earth and 1 Water essence potion. The vial, when shaken
vigorously, becomes a compass (pointing north). For an extra $200 and +1 potion of earth, it can point to
the place it was made or to some other nearby landmark (some dust from the landmark in question must be
obtained).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
94
Cloud of Smoke – [1]
The mage can create a fine gray powder, made of ashes. In small quantities it may be used to produce
small fireworks (puffs of smoke from the hands, etc.) In larger quantities it may produce smoke bombs. A
typical smoke bomb takes 4 charges and, when detonated by a hard rap, produces a 1/2 yard radius of –4
perception smoke and 1 yard radius beyond that of –2 perception smoke. This is accompanied by a loud
bang. Producing each dose requires a small lab and $20. It takes 20 minutes.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Transmute
Normal
None
Oil of Binding – [1]
An essence of Earth and $20 worth of materials creates a strong, clear, fast binding glue. It is viscous and
hard to spread. It dries quickly. If someone manages to step in a puddle of it (hard to arrange since it
doesn’t flow well and it dries quite fast) will be held by a 9 Grapple hold and after three seconds, will be held
fast (2 armor, 6 DP). Think of it like super glue. The Oil of Binding is not suitable for building houses,
binding ships or other such things, but it can be very handy for minor repairs.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Oil of Cleanliness – [1]
An oil costing $25 and one Air Essence (total cost $75) is made. When a single item of clothes (or several
small items such as socks, gloves, etc.) is treated, they will shed dirt and grime and remain fragrant and
clean for 24 hours.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Oil of Illuminating – [1]
Requiring two air essences and $200 worth gear (including lamp oil) Oil of Light will, when poured into a
normal lamp, and the wick lit, produce constant, steady, heat free (the fire goes out quickly) light for 1 week.
This light is quite bright and pleasant. The substance is totally safe (useful in libraries).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4pts
None
Potion of Mana – [1]
If the alchemist gets his hands on the internal organs of a mystical beast, he can create a Potion of Mana.
When drunk, the potion will give the caster 5 Long Term mana. A caster may draw from only one potion at
once (drinking two potions will give the caster two “pockets” of Long-Term points, but he can’t use both to
cast a given spell. This requires a medium lab and $100 for each potion, in addition to the rare organs.
How many doses a given animal gives is up to the GM (usually 1 to 3).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Create Potion
Normal
None
Potion of Replenishing Power – [1]
The mage creates a potion, requiring a Medium lab, $5000 worth of ingredients, and organs from a mystical
beast (GM determines what organs and what beast—but they shouldn’t be extremely rare). When drunk, it
will instantly restore a mage to full mana points. Creating the potion takes 8 hours.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Create Potion
Normal
None
Shock Wand – [1]
The caster takes a length of carved wood and performs alchemy with it. When finished, for each $100 that
is put into the ceremony, plus two Air and 1 Earth essence, there is one shock charge. When used in HTH
combat (knife or club skill . . . or just an AGI roll to hit) the shock wand delivers a 4 damage electrical shock.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Antidote – [2]
The alchemist can prepare an antidote to most poisons. Creating a dose of antidote costs $50 in materials
and requires a small lab. When taken (drunk) the character gets +2 to CON rolls against the toxin and gets
another CON roll against it immediately, which can produce, at worst, the former result (i.e. taking the
antidote can’t make it worse).
95
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Enchant
Normal
None
Elixir of Strength– [2]
The mage mixes 1 Essence of Earth and 2 Essence of Water with $300 worth of other materials. When
drunk, it adds +2 to the drinker’s STR and +8 to their Endurance. The effects last 1 hour. During this time
the person will feel giddy and high-strung (as in caffeine freak). There is a strong addictive effect to this:
each time it is done, make a WIL roll at +2 if missed, the drinker will crave more. The craving lasts 24 hours
and the person is at –2 to all rolls to think (and irritable). If the WIL roll is failed by 5+ or an 18 or above is
rolled, the addiction lasts much longer (GM determines effects). Lesser drugs will help satisfy the cravings
but the effects should be quite detrimental.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Fire Bolt Wand – [2]
The mage takes a wand and use $200 per charge, +1 Fire, +1 Earth. Each charge is a Fire Bold (12
damage explosive). Using the wand is a ranged weapon skill similar to Firearms but a COR roll, with 3+
REA of aim will land the bolts on target.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Golem – [2,4,8]
The mage can create a magically animated statue by imbuing it with an elemental force. Creating the golem
costs $200 for a small one (a novelty), $2000 for a medium one (a guardian), and $40000 for a large one.
Huge Golems, called “siege golems” may be created having thousands and thousands of DP—but their
scope is beyond definition in this spell (nations might afford one or two). Golems take orders from those
who a) know their names (written in encoded alchemical code somewhere on the golem) and b) have a
token of control (a coin, stick, or other such device marked when the golem is made). This control has no
range limitations, although the Golem is stupid and may act on unclear orders in a chaotic manner.
Small Golem
The Small Golem is about the size of a toy-soldier. It doesn’t really do damage, but for each
additional $100 put into it, it might have some mechanical specialty (sing like a music box, play a
fairly poor game of chess, do an artistic dance, etc.) Requires Medium Lab
Medium Golem
STR 14 BLD 20 (SIZ is 8) DP 48/ 12 STC
REF 12
INT –
Runs at 12 yards/second
Bite 13- for 6 Penetrating damage, 10/8 Grapple score
Claws: 14- for 4 Penetrating damage
Armor 4 points; takes no Penetrating damage
Requires Medium lab
Large Golem
STR 34 BLD 120 STA 15 / DP 150
REF 10
INT --
Strike: 48 points of damage, 11- to hit
Armor 6 points of armor
Requires Large Lab
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Create Golem
Normal
None
Healing Potion – [2]
The mage uses 4 Essence of Water and $100 points of materials to make a potion that, when drunk, will
restore 4 DP in the target. For each additional $100, the dose can heal +2 DP. For $800, a potion can be
made that heals a Minor Wound, whatever the total DP. This can also be created as a salve that takes 4
seconds to apply (but will automatically close bleeding wounds and may be useful if a target is not
conscious).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Create Potion
Normal
None
96
Oil of Fortitude– [2]
The mage takes $2500 and 10 Essence of earth and creates an oil. When worked into metal armor (chain
or plate mail), it adds +3 to the armor’s penetration defense. This can only be done once and only adds +1
to the penetration defense if other magic is in play.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Oil of Slickness – [2]
The mage creates a dose of oil that, when first rubbed on, or otherwise exposed to air will stick to the
substance and then, two seconds later, become very slick. It gives a PWR 3 Slickness to whatever it is
applied to. This requires a small lab and costs $150 per dose. It takes 1 Essence of Water as well. Its
effects last 2 hours. One dose is enough to cover most of one person.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Create Oil
Normal
None
Oil of Strength– [2]
The mage takes $8500 and 100 Essence of earth and creates an oil. When worked into metal armor (chain
or plate mail), it adds +2 / 4 to the armor’s defenses (so chain mail becomes 7 / 14). This can only be done
once and only adds +1/+1 to the penetration defense if other magic is in play.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Phoenix Blood Potion – [2]
Phoenix Blood potions are wax-sealed vials with a bright red liquid (2 Essence of Fire, 1 Essence of Air, 1
Essence of Water, $100 worth of other ingredients). When thrown like a grenade, they explode for 18 base
damage (Fire). Phoenix Blood is volatile and if dropped or bumped there is a 4- chance of an explosion
(small but nothing to risk). If struck hard, or burnt, it will automatically go off (the GM can impose a failure
rate: 15- chance of explosion).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Sword Stone +1 BloodLetter – [2]
The mage takes a $2500 stone, 2 Essence of Fire, 1 Essence of Earth and creates a stone that, when
worked into a blade’s hilt gives it +1 to Damage Modifier before checking for doubling. A given blade may
normally only have one sword stone in it. They are not easily removable.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Sword Stone +1 Damage – [2]
The mage takes a $2500 stone, 2 Essence of Fire, 1 Essence of Earth and creates a stone that, when
worked into a blade’s hilt does +1 damage. A given blade may normally only have one sword stone in it.
They are not easily removable.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Sword Stone +1 Defender – [2]
The mage takes a $3500 stone, 2 Essence of Water, 1 Essence of Earth and creates a stone that, when
worked into a blade’s hilt gives it +1 to all attempts to block. A given blade may normally only have one
sword stone in it. They are not easily removable.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Sword Stone +1 Striker – [2]
The mage takes a $5500 stone, 2 Essence of Fire, 4 Essence of Earth and creates a stone that, when
worked into a blade’s hilt gives it +1 to all attempts to hit (including damage modifier). A given blade may
normally only have one sword stone in it. They are not easily removable.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
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Sword Stone +3 Penetration – [2]
The mage takes a $2000 stone, 2 Essence of Air, 1 Essence of Earth and creates a stone that, when
worked into a blade’s hilt gives it +3 penetration. A given blade may normally only have one sword stone in
it. They are not easily removable.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Water to Acid – [2]
The mage can transmute a small amount of water to acid. The acid will burn for 4 seconds, doing 4 points
of damage each second. It will reduce the armor of metal by half, allowing it to eat through most materials
(albeit slowly). The acid will not effect glass. This requires no laboratory.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
15
Transmute
Normal
None
Alchemical Cannon – [4]
Alchemists can create siege weapons. The Alchemical Cannon is one of them. Each charge requires 4
Essence of Fire potions. The cannon itself requires a large lab, $30,000 worth of materials, and 6 months to
build. It fires a “Fire Ball” that explodes for 160 points of damage on impact (damage decreases in 4 yard
intervals). Building the cannon is hard and requires 8 Alchemy rolls. The Cannon will be fine for whatever
the least successful roll is made by, firing attempts. After that, each time it is fired, it makes a 13- STC roll.
If the roll is missed, the STC drops by 1. If the roll is missed by 5, it drops by 3. If the roll is missed by 10
the cannon explodes when fired. Alchemical Cannons fire once every 8 seconds, require a 4 man crew,
weigh 1200 pounds, and have a range of –1 to hit (Heavy Weapons skill) per 300 yards.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
40
Enchant
Normal
None
Alchemical Engine – [4]
The mage creates a “steam engine” that runs on alchemical principles. The GM must be careful with this:
firstly, the technology used to make it doesn’t necessarily give the creator any other advances (the mage
harnesses elemental to provide power). Secondly, these are very expensive ($10,000 and up). Thirdly,
they don’t’ run forever. The are very efficient but they require constant tuning and repair or they may stop or
worse, explode. An Alchemical Engine could be used to draw a Duke’s carriage, turn a mill where no water
runs, run fountains and dumbwaiters in castle, and other such uses. They are loud, unnerving, and have
wicked personalities (venting steam when the servants are sent to polish them). Creation of an Alchemical
Engine requires a medium or large lab.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
Normal
None
Elixir of Immunity to Weapons – [4]
The mage mixes $1000 worth of materials and 2 Essence of Water and 1 Essence of Earth. The potion
causes swung metal weapons to have a resistance to the character—they push away as though repulsed by
magnetism (this effect only applies to swung metal weapons). Blows aimed at the character are at –3 to hit
in addition to any other negative modifiers. This effect lasts for 10 seconds.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
22
Enchant
4
None
Special Purpose Toxin – [4]
The mage can create a variety of toxins with special effects. Any PWR vs. STAT attack (with the exception
of the Psionic ones) can be created as a toxin. The cost is as follows:
16 mana for a 50 point base PWR vs. STAT attack base cost: $200
32 mana for a 100 point base PWR vs. STAT attack base cost: $800
64 mana for a 150 point base PWR vs. STAT attack base cost: $2000
PWR is usually WIL, but this may be increased by +1 PWR for each $200. This costs doubles with each
application.
If the potion must be drunk, the PWR is at +2.
If the potion can be placed on a blade, the PWR is at –1
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If the potion can be splashed on the target (allowing “toxin grenades”) the PWR is at –2
If the effect is a smoke bomb (PWR in 1 yard radius, PWR –2 in 2 yard radius, PWR –4 in 4 yard radius) the
total cost is doubled.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Varies
Enchant
Normal
None
99
Bardic Magic
Description: This school of magic revolves around song. The mage must play an instrument,
sing, or (at higher levels) hum. Most of this magic is subtle but some of it is very useful so bards
(both magical and not) may be highly sought (or feared). The mage must have a Musical
Instrument skill at no less than 1 level lower than his Bardic Magic (Level 1 bards must have at
least Level 1 Musical Instrument at 9- roll and Level 2 bards at a 12- roll). Bards also know Cantio
(“the language of song”), a semi-secret tongue known only by bards. This bardic tongue is
notable because it can encode vast amounts of data with a small amount of writing (shorthand).
Level 1: Skald. Caster must give a full performance. This means that the bard must be
unencumbered and cannot be in combat while the spell is being cast. If the bard is hit with an
attack, he must make a roll at –4 or lose the spell! Songs at Level 1 are loud. People within
hearing distance get a +2 perception roll to hear the music. The character can converse simply in
Cantio.
Level 2: Music Mage. The character may perform the song without an instrument or cast the
spell through his instrument without singing (but the skill roll is at +1 if the bard uses both).
Songs may be quieter: perception rolls are at no positive modifier. The character can converse
and can read and write Cantio normally.
Level 3: Spell Singer. The bard may hum or whistle the songs. They are at –3 to be heard if the
bard is being quiet. A full performance using both voice and instrument add +2 to the Bardic
Magic skill roll. At this level, the bard can hide Cantio within a musical composition or song and
can make it hidden to bards of lower level in this manner if he so chooses.
Level 4: Master Bard.
Silver Tongue– [Signature Spell: 4]
The bard’s song acts as points in a personality trait. The spell song works two ways: sung or spoken. The
mage pays the listed mana (if sung) to add +2 to a given Psychology action (Enchant, Persuade, Recruit,
Intimidate) per level. The mage need not sing to use Silver Tongue, but may simply speak instead.
However, if so, the listed mana cost is doubled.
Psychology +2 to one type: 8 mana
Psychology +4 to one type: 16 mana
Psychology +6 to one type: 24 mana
Psychology +8 to one type: 32 mana
If the caster already has enhancements like Attractive or Presence that give him Psychology bonuses or is
using Interaction-enhancing magic, he uses either these modifiers plus ½ the added Silver Tongue bonus or
only the given Silver Tongue modifiers (whichever is better). Maintaining the spell costs half the original cost
each turn, with a maximum cost of 16 mana (even if spoken). Persons with Instinct (who make the roll) and
those able to see magic will realizing the mage is using magic to be manipulative.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
Varies
Song
Walking
None
Amplifier– [1]
The caster sounds as though he is hooked to an electric amplifier while the spell is running. Normally this
increases the effective range of a song to about 50 yards. This cannot be combined with magic songs.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
16
Song
Walking
None
Legerdemain Lyrics – [1]
A somewhat discordant but jaunty tune, Legerdemain Lyrics makes those who hear it make perception rolls
at –3. The song has a high endurance cost so it may only be maintained for a relatively short period of time,
but it is often used to distract from illegal activities of others (usually pickpocketing or sleight of hand trickery
but occasionally much worse).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Song
Running
None
100
Light Show – [1]
When cast, any noise the bard makes will be converted into colored light. This can provide illumination
similar to a torch by humming. It also can be manipulated with a musical instrument to produce a
multicolored light-show concert.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
3
Continuing
Walking
None
Melodious Voice – [1]
The bard’s spoken suggestion acts like the Influence ability with Power equal to the bard’s WIL. There is no
roll to hit. If this ever achieves a failure result against the target, the target will be aware the voice is being
used against him (making immediate re-use virtually impossible). If the bard actually sings the suggestion,
the PWR is equal to the bard’s WIL+2.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Instant
Normal
PWR is WIL
Travelling Ditty– [1]
The bard’s song aids travelers. While he plays, walkers or riders will make 1.25x time for the same
endurance and fatigue. Note: The bard pays walking endurance while playing. This means that to extend
the life of the song, the bard must either ride or be carried. If the bard does walk, time gained is 1.15x
normal speed. This song can be maintained over a day of travel.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
8
Song
Walking
None
Soothe Beast– [1]
The caster can sing a song that calms natural animals. Any animal who hears it must make a WIL roll at –4
to attack the caster, and if deciding to attack the caster, suffers the effects of an Intimidate effect at the
caster’s Music Skill roll. This only works so long as the animal is not being actively attacked (but it may be
corralled). At the caster’s discretion it may or may not apply to the caster’s allies. Casting the spell is an 8
REA Long action. When the spell stops, if the animal was enraged before, it may well be instantly enraged
again (GM’s discretion).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
12
Song
Walking
None
Sotto Voce – [1]
While this spell is running, the bard generates an invisible bubble 3 yards in radius centered on him.
Anyone outside this bubble will not hear any sound made within it (including the singing of the spell itself).
Those inside the bubble can hear sounds within and without the bubble normally. No Bardic spell can be
cast outside the bubble; any target to be affected with Bardic Magic must be inside the bubble where he can
hear it. It costs 20 mana to start Sotto Voce and 5 each turn to maintain it.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20 then 5 per round
Song
Running
None
Battle Hymn– [2]
The Battle Hymn is rousing music to fight to. Those who hear it get +2 to any rolls made to keep morale and
they pay ½ the listed endurance for combat actions (running and striking only—not magical actions). Troops
led by a battle hymn tend to be more disciplined. Tactics rolls to command them are at +2. Their blocks or
strikes are at +1 depending on the song sung (the bard decides).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Song
Normal
None
Cacophony – [2]
Those who hear the song become belligerent. This song gives the bard a Music Roll as a Recruitment roll
to incite a crowd who is already at all disposed to be angry or violent. All those who hear it will be affected.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Song
Walking
None
Dirge of Doom– [2]
The Dirge of Doom is a grim war song that will demoralize the opponents who hear it. As such, although it
may be led by a bard, any Level 2 musician on the bard’s side who hears it can accompany it, allowing it’s
sound to be spread far. Troops on the opposing side who hear it must make WIL rolls (Fearless helps, as
does Leader bonuses for the character leading them) against the Bard’s Music Skill roll. If they fail it by 0 –
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4 they will fight at –2 Initiative and –1 to strike. If they fail by 5 – 9 the fight at –3 initiative and –2 to strike. If
they fail by 10 or more they will flee. Make the roll once when they actually clash in combat.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Song
Normal
None
Discordant Notes– [2]
This spell is cast on two persons within the bard’s line of sight and acts like a PWR vs. STAT attack (vs.
WIL). If sung as an 8 REA Long action it has [WIL – 1] PWR; if sung for a full minute it has [WIL+ 1] PWR.
The two victims will feel an irrational dislike for each other.
•
Minor Effect: Distaste – targets will avoid each other and are at –3 to interact
•
Standard Effect: Argumentative – if given sufficient reason (GM’s call), the targets will start to argue
•
Major Effect: Active Dislike – targets will actively find faults to start an argument; fights may break out
•
Critical Effect: Boiling Anger – targets will start fighting using non-lethal means (fisticuffs)
•
Catastrophic Effect: Murderous Hatred – targets will actively try to kill each other
Each victim makes a roll and the lower result among the two affects them (so if one person suffers a
Catastrophic Effect and the other suffers a Standard one, both will act as per Standard Effect). The effects
fade away after 24 hours. Mischievous bards have been known to cast this spell to liven up things or to
provide sufficient distraction to make a quick getaway. However, there is a warning: If the roll is failed by 4
or more, the victims will feel an irrational dislike (make rolls) but not at each other, but rather directed at the
bard himself!
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Song
Normal
None
Drinking Song– [2]
Those who hear the song, over a period of 12 minutes (different songs may be employed) suffer a PWR vs.
STAT attack whose PWR is equal to the caster’s Music Skill roll. The effects of this song are as though the
persons had been drinking alcohol (see Revelry for the effects of various levels of intoxication). This song is
often banned at taverns.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Song
Walking
None
Harmony– [2]
Those who hear the song become peaceful. This song gives the bard a Music Roll as a Recruitment roll to
calm a crowd. All those who hear it will be affected.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Song
Walking
None
Haunting Melody– [2]
This spell acts as a PWR vs. STAT spell against WIL using the Terror effect. It may be sung as an 8 REA
Long action working at [WIL – 2] PWR. If sung as a 2 minute melody, it works at [WIL + 1] PWR. If sung
for 8 minutes it acts at [WIL + 4] PWR. Only those who hear it are affected, or those within 4 yards if it is
sung “quietly.”
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Song
Walking
None
Improvisation on a Theme– [2]
The caster improvs a song about the future. This acts as Far Precognition of [WIL-1] PWR when sung. It is
taxing: it takes 8 Endurance and requires the bard sleep for 8 hours to recover it.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Song
8
None
Love Song (Matchmaker)– [2]
When sung, the bard targets two people who he wishes to fall in love (must be of compatible gender and
species). Then the spell works as a PWR vs. STAT attack against both of them, using the lowest of the two
results for both parties. The PWR is [WIL + 1] and the roll is against WIL. Both parties must be within
earshot and able to hear the song and it must be sung for 4 minutes. The two parties must be in a social
situation and should not already hate each other. If a target is devoted to another, they get +1 to +4 against
the spell depending on the level of devotion. If animosity exists, the GM should likewise assign +1 to +4 WIL
against the spell due to the bad feelings.
102
•
Minor Effect: Fondness – Parties like each other. Each will overlook a flaw in the other (not a major
flaw—but something relatively minor).
•
Standard Effect: Enamored – Parties are temporarily enchanted with each other. Each will perceive the
other as having good qualities or heightened qualities they desire.
•
Major Effect: Enraptured – For that night, the parties will fall inexplicably in love.
•
Critical Effect: Ardor– For 1 week, the affected parties will fall inexplicably in love. For that night, their
passion will be unbridled.
•
Catastrophic Effect: Endless Love – Each party will love the other (in his/her own way). This is irrational
and powerful. It lasts until an outside party intervenes with magic.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Song
Walking
None
Lullabye– [2]
The Lullabye acts as a PWR vs. STAT spell against WIL using the Sleep effect. This may be sung as a Long
action for 8 REA, working at [WIL – 2] PWR. If sung as a 2 minute melody, it works at [WIL + 1] PWR. If
sung for 8 minutes it acts at [WIL + 4] PWR. Those hearing it will get a RES roll against the singer’s Music
Skill roll to realize the song is soothing them. Whether they act on it or not depends on the situation. Only
those who hear it are affected, or those within 4 yards if it is sung “quietly.”
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Song
Walking
None
Ominous Crescendo – [2]
While sung, the bard is aware of any movement within a WIL x 4 yard radius (even if he cannot see it) if it is
not blocked by a wall or solid structure. The bard also gets his normal perception roll at +2 (no other
magical perceptions apply). This song is naturally soft.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Song
Walking
None
Restful Melody– [2]
This song allows those who hear it to heal at +2 CON, and double the normal rate of DP recovery. It must
be sung all night long while the injured parties sleep (singing the song is, in this case, no harder than simply
staying up—which costs endurance . . . the spell doesn’t, though).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Song
None
None
Ridicule– [2]
This Bardic curse must be sung in the presence of the target, but it is short (30 seconds of mildly insulting or
ribald lyrics). When the curse lands, targets will suffer a –3 modifier to all Psychology rolls. While in effect,
those who meet and don’t know personally know the character will react as though they heard embarrassing
things about the target (they won’t quite know what they’ve heard, but they will tend to believe they recently
heard something bad). Often it will take the target a while to figure out what exactly is going on. Minor
Effect: 4 hours. Standard Effect: ½ Day. Major Effect: 1 day, Critical Effect: 1 week. Catastrophic Effect:
forever (until removed).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
18
Curse
Normal
None
Song of the Stones– [2]
The bard draws out the “song” of a place. This must apply to a specific, limited area. Examples are: a small
town, a house or room, an alley, etc. Singing the song of the place takes 8 minutes of concentration and
tells the bard something about it. This information is based on a Bardic Magic skill roll. This is at –3 at Lvl 1,
-0 at Lvl 2, +3 at Lvl 3, and +6 at Lvl 4. The GM should prevent this from being commonly cast—usually
using it more than once a week gives a cumulative –2. It can’t be used more than once on a given place . . .
etc. Players should be prevented from constantly trolling for data with the song.
0-3: Basic Vibrations. The bard knows if the place is good or bad, generally safe or dangerous, sad or
happy.
4-6: Telltale Rock. The bard knows a general tale of the place. This is very unlikely to be the “story
of the murder that was committed in this room” or some such general piece of knowledge, but will
more likely be a simple tale that defines the place for its entire history. In any event, the tale will
almost never name names. Examples might be: a bard learns that a new town is under the rule of
a cruel mayor; that an upper room of a house was used as a prison for a young woman for many
103
years; that a man’s parents were gunned down before him as a child, in the very alley in which he
stands.
7-9: Stone’s Story. The bard learns of the nature of some secret of the place (if any) or gets a better story.
The bard will not know the details of the secret of the secret itself but may get some clue. In the
case of the story, the Bard may learn the nature of behind the scenes information as to why a
place is the way it is. This is more likely to be feelings rather than facts (the people are bitter—and
especially hate the color yellow, but the bard won’t know why . . . he will know, though, that a high
person in the government has plans for the negative feelings . . .). Examples include: the mayor is
cruel because of some personal tragedy; the woman is merely young-looking and was somehow
important to her captor’s success; that, after seeing his parents killed, the boy swore vengeance,
trained his mind and body to their utmost limits, donned a mask and then . . . the song ends.
10+: Secrets of the Stone. The bard learns either more exacting details about the story (that the subjects
themselves may not know) or one or two specific things about the story (such as a name or place).
Example: that the mayor believed he had killed his son in a blind rage and still carries the guilt;
that the woman in question was a millennia-old jinn and her air force pilot master had used her
powers to assist his career; that the boy in the above story is millionaire Luce Vaine—Ratman!.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Song
None
None
The Last Word (Power Pun)– [2]
This Bardic curse requires the Showmanship skill. When cast, this curse acts as a PWR vs. STAT attack
where the PWR is equal to the bard’s Showmanship skill roll. If the skill is Level 3, the mage may either
target two persons or get +2 to the PWR. If Level 4, 4 opponents or +4 to the roll. If the player comes up
with a good pun or insult, the GM should award +1 PWR.
•
Minor Effect: Extreme Annoyance – No effect.
•
Standard Effect: Stunned Silent – Target is actually Stunned by the effect of the insult.
•
Major Effect: Shocked Beyond Words – Target is almost speechless and is treated as Dazed for 1 turn
only. He will act at –2 Initiative on the next turn.
•
Critical Effect: Mortally Insulted – Target is Dazed for 1 turn per point the mage made his Showmanship
roll by (he snaps out instantly if attacked, but is at –2 Initiative for that turn and the next).
•
Catastrophic Effect: Apoplectic Mortification – Target is treated as Unconscious for 1 hour per point the
Showmanship roll was made by. He gets a WIL roll at –3 to snap out of this if attacked (but suffers the
effects as per a Major Effect if even if he does come to).
The target must be intelligent (at least an INT of 7) and understand the language in which the insult is given
(GM’s, at their discretion, may allow translated Power Puns at lower PWR). This can only be cast on a given
target once per day (unless the GM rules that the player comes up with a much better insult than the first
time).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
24
Curse
Normal
None
War Ballad– [2]
The War Ballad is a loud, powerful battle song that drives its listeners into a fury. Those that are on the side
designated by the Mage who hear the song fight in frenzy. They get +1 to hit, -2 to block, must make a WIL
roll each turn not to Full Strike, and make CON rolls at +1 against a Minor Wound. If a person on the given
side doesn’t wish to fight that way, they must make a WIL roll against the Mage’s WIL. Targets get +3
Fearless while fighting under a War Ballad but are at –3 to be commanded to do anything other than attack
(this applies to Tactics rolls and Leadership rolls).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
20
Song
Normal
None
Cast Song Upon the Wind (Wind Song) – [4 or 2]
The caster plays a song and a named target within WIL x 4 miles will hear it. This may be increased by WIL
miles for each hour of meditation taken before playing up to WIL x 8 miles. The song can contain 20 words
of information. Another bard using this ability gets a skill roll, and if made by more than the caster made his
roll by, he will intercept the song. He may choose to let the message continue. The GM may rule that
common weather conditions (sun spots?) reduce the range of this spell or make it less reliable. A two point
version of this spell exists that can only be cast from bard to bard (and they must also be playing the song at
the time).
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
32
Song
Normal
None
104
Dischord – [4]
With an 8 REA Long action, the bard can unleash a devastating attack. The spell begins as a low, pulsing,
deep-bass reverb and erupts into a wave of sound that does [WIL + 1] PWR Impact damage. The blast
does double damage to rigid inanimate objects (walls and such) and causes any non-living object required
to make an STC roll to make it at –4 (in the case of buildings, this only applies to the surface struck, not the
whole thing). Additionally, the object’s armor is halved against the blast.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
25
Song
Normal
None
Irresistible Jig– [4]
This spell forces the target to dance. A dancing target is usually helpless for purposes of combat (although
he does get his AGI modifier, and may dodge). The attack is a PWR vs. STAT attack where the PWR is the
caster’s WIL and it works against the target’s WIL.
•
Minor Effect: Target is considered Stunned (quick dance step).
•
Standard Effect: Target is considered Dazed (no negatives to dodge) for one turn.
•
Major Effect: Target is considered helpless (dancing) for the caster’s WIL in seconds.
•
Critical Effect: Target is considered helpless for the caster’s WIL in minutes.
•
Catastrophic Effect: Target is helpless for the caster’s WIL in days.
The spell effects stop immediately if the caster can no longer hear the singer unless a Catastrophic Effect is
rolled in which case the target will dance to death unless restrained. This spell can be multicast and affects
an additional target for +4 mana. Casting the spell is an 8 REA Long action. It “hits” on a successful Bardic
skill roll. Targets must hear the song.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30 + 4 per target
Song
Normal
None
Symphony of Destruction (Bringing Down the House) – [4]
One of the deadliest songs a bard can know. The Symphony of Destruction is sung about a person or thing.
The bard must be within 20 yards of the target. For every 20 seconds the bard sings, the song grows in
PWR by 1 point. When the song finishes (minimum time of 4 minutes, maximum time of WIL minutes) the
target takes 4 points of damage per point of PWR with a damage modifier based on the Bardic Magic skill
roll. Casting this spell reduces the Bard’s WIL and CON by 2 points for the remainder of the day (and has
been rumored to take a grave toll on mages who use it too much). The maximum damage is WIL x 12
(Impact). Structures hit by this must make an STC roll at –8 if they are the size of a house, -4 if they are the
size of a tower, and –2 if they are the size of a castle. The effects of the STC roll will be seen through the
entire structure. This song is quite loud and there is no question what is happening when the song starts.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
30
Song
α PWR of Spell
None
Symphony of Decimation – [8]
The bard must know Symphony of Destruction to learn this spell. It works just like that spell except that the
target takes 12 points of damage per point of PWR and the STC roll modifiers are at –12, -6, and –3
respectively. Casting this spell reduces the Bard’s WIL and CON by 3 points for the remainder of the day.
Casting Cost
Type
Endurance
Notes
60
Song
½ PWR of Spell None
105
106
| textdata/thevault/Jags/JAGS Spell Lists.pdf |
Magicians
Magicians (also called mages or magi) control the arcane forces of the
universe. They are experimenters in the mystical arts, seekers of
forbidden knowledge, and practitioners of dark arts. Magicians have
access to the Magick Skill (spelled differently from normal to distinguish
from stage magic). They can also buy Spells. Spells are the areas of
knowledge which allow mages to warp reality to their will.
In JAGS there is little moral or ethical implications of magic: it’s simply
presented as a means of energy manipulation. The GM should feel free
to attach any rules to it he deems necessary (if the use of magic
corrupts, for example or there is some karmic backlash).
The spell list here is factored for a heroic fantasy game but it can also be
used in other situations (in a science fiction game, most of the combat
spells will have to be re-factored to compete with post-modern weapons).
The Archetype
JAGS Magic is broken into colleges or “areas of study.” There are many
of these, some are elemental (Fire, Water, Earth, etc.) some are
philosophical (the Imperial College rules through respect, the Elder
School through fear), and some are more like sciences (Necromancy
and Alchemy).
Magician characters will most often be seen in fantasy games (where
they act as characters able to deal with elements of the fantastic as well
as some long-range fire power).
Example Characters or Scenarios
•
Apprentices: the characters are all new apprentices at a school
for magery. They may already have been trained to apprentice
level by their masters before being sent away.
•
Adepts: The characters are adventurers. Although not as
combat-capable as a well trained man-at-arms, they are capable
of holding their own and doing some unusual and formidable
things.
•
Archons: the characters are major players. Able to take a chunk
out of an army single handed, they wield both physical and
political power.
•
Modern Day Secret Societies: Magicians and the magical world
lies below the surface and observation of the mundane. The
characters are initiates into the secret world.
Basic Rules
Mages come in four classes: Apprentice, Adept, Archon, and Arch-mage.
Characters must be literate, buy the magic casting spell, buy the magic
combat spell (if they wish to use any offensive magic) and purchase the
spells they want.
Spell Points
The JAGS Magic system uses Spell Points. Spell Points (SP’s) are a
measure of the power a mage controls. There are two types which every
mage will have:
•
Short Term Spell Points: These are replenished every second
(assuming the mage is not being blocked somehow).
•
Long Term Spell Points: these come back at a rate of 1 per 5
minutes (1 per minute at Archon or Arch-mage level).
Spending Spell Points
If a mage (an Adept) has, say, 13 Short Term SP’s and 30 Long Term
SP’s, and he casts a spell which costs 14 Spell Points, he will (probably)
spend all 13 of his Short Term SP’s (for that turn) and 1 of his LT SP’s. If
he casts no more magic that second, he will have 0 ST SP’s and 29 LT
SP’s.
He can do this 30 times (over the course of 30 seconds) until h is Long
Term SP’s run out.
Note: Because Short Term SP’s come back, the character can,
essentially cast minor magic all day long (so long as his
endurance holds out). However, using a lot of magic in a given
second (two attacks and a block, for example) or casting more
powerful magic will quickly drain long term spell points.
Recovering Spell Points: Metal Armor
Spell Points flow into the character’s body through the chakra points
(points of poser up the center and head of the body). This flow can be
blocked by metal (a character in metal armor will not recover his ST spell
points). The metal must be there for a couple of seconds and must have
reasonable coverage.
Note: If you’ve already figured a way around this, good for you.
The point of this is to distinguish the Mage archetype from
characters who fight hand to hand (in a fantasy game). The GM
should prohibit mage characters from wearing anything other
than light level armor (no heavy leather, no chain mail, etc.)
Rules For Mage Creation
Mages can be built on almost any number of points, however, these
standard totals seem to work best:
50 pts Apprentice
75 pts Adept
125pts Archon
150+ Arch-mage
Cost: This is the minimal point cost for that level of magery.
Short Term: The number of short term spell points (round down).
Long Term: The number of Long Term spell points.
CP’s in Spells: Of the Cost, this is the number of points which must be
used to buy spells. This means that for an Adept, the cost is 24pts
however, of those 24pts, 16 will be spent buying spells. This means it
isn’t possible to be an Arch-mage who “forgot” to buy spells. The
character may spend more points on spells if he wishes.
Spell Points
Level
Cost
Short Term
Long Term
CP’s in Spells
Apprentice
12
WIL /2
15
8
Adept
24
WIL
30
16
Archon
48
WIL x 2
60
32
Arch-mage
96
WIL x 4
120
64
Spell Levels Spell Cost (in Character Points)
Level 1
1
Level 2
2
Level 3
4
Level 4
8
Level 5
16
An Apprentice can have Level 1 and 2 spells.
An Adept can have Level 1, 2, and 3 spells.
An Archon can have Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 spells.
An Arch-mage can have any level of spells.
Magic Skill
Magic Skill is a normal, RES based skill which must be had at the same
level as the spells the character can cast. The character must make a roll
to successfully cast any non-combat spell (combat spells always work
but might not hit).
Magic Combat Skill
This is the attack skill Mages use to hit with their magic bolts and block
attacks.
Difficult, COR
Level 1: Block –3
Level 2: Block –2
Level 3: Block –1
Ignore –3 Range/Speed Modifiers
Level 4: Block –0
Ignore –6 Range/Speed Modifiers
| textdata/thevault/Jags/JAGS Magic.pdf |
Road to destiny
Road to destiny
ii
Credits
Author: Jim Groves and Alistair Rigg
Artist: Jason Juta
Cartography: Pedro Coelho
Layout and Design: Richard Kunz
Original Layout: Liz Courts and Timothy Wickham
Publisher: Jason Nelson
Executive Partner: Neil Spicer
Business Director: Rachel Ventura
Founder: Clark Peterson
Legendary Games Team Members: Clinton J. Boomer, Benjamin Bruck, Matt Goodall, Jim Groves, Tim
Hitchcock, Jonathan Keith, Jason Nelson, Tom Phillips, Alistair Rigg, Mark Seifter, Neil Spicer, Todd Stewart, Russ
Taylor, Greg Vaughan, Linda Zayas-Palmer, and Clark Peterson
Editing and Development: Alistair Rigg
Publisher: Jason Nelson
Executive Partner: Neil Spicer
Business Director: Rachel Ventura
Special Thanks
Erik Mona, Lisa Stevens, James Jacobs, and the Paizo staff, and to all the authors of the amazing Jade Regent Adventure Path.
Road to Destiny (5th Edition) © 2014, Legendary
Games; Author Jim Groves with Alistair Rigg.
ISBN 978-0692319383
First printing November 2014.
Printed in USA.
Legendary Games
3734 SW 99th St.
Seattle, WA 98126-4026
makeyourgamelegendary.com
Open Content: Subject to designation as Product Identity (see below), the only portion of this Legendary Games product designated
as Open Game Content is the statblocks of the Kenna White-Eyes, Lexia Harken, Ranulfr, Sheriff Burriss, Shirota, Sputterlick,
Vaylenchek, and all animals, bandits, goblins, and town guards, and any and all rules content (names of skills, etc., taken from the
Pathfinder Reference Document) as defined in the Open Game License version 1.0a Section 1(d). The front and back cover, back
matter, introduction and Credits page, as well all other parts of this product including all text not specifically designated as Open
Game Content is not Open Game Content. No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may
be reproduced in any form without written permission.
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License 1.0a, Section
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names and stat blocks for named characters, as well as all trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names (including the names
of each character, location, item or monster unique to this product), dialogue, plots, storylines, locations, characters, artworks,
and trade dress, but excluding any content that is Product Identity of Paizo Publishing, Inc. (Elements that have previously been
designated as Open Game Content are not included in this declaration.)
Reference in non-Open Game Content (thus not covered by the Open Game License) in this work to content owned by others is not
a challenge to their ownership and is used under Fair Use.
1
table of Contents
WelCome to adventure Path Plug-ins!
This adventure is a part of our line of support materials for the Next edition of the world’s most famous
roleplaying game! This adventure doesn’t feature any dungeons, nor any dragons for that matter, but it provides
an excellent opportunity to introduce your characters into a campaign involving grand overland journeys that
may lead from the traditional fantasy world of the west into eastern realms of the ninja, samurai, and more. It
is an adventure that can easily stand on its own, taking the heroes on an extensive journey through a desolate
coast fraught with peril, or it can be used in conjunction with a larger campaign.
The all-star team of designers here at Legendary Games is committed to bringing you—the busy GM or
player—the absolute best third party support for your 5th edition campaign. To deliver on that commitment,
we’ve assembled the best of the best of current gaming authors, designers, artists, and layout experts so that
you can feel comfortable that Legendary Games products will be the most creative and innovative adventures
and support material you can find. Every adventure stands on its own, and for those with a taste for converting
across rules system each is also designed to harmonize and integrate seamlessly into an existing Adventure
Path campaign; Road to Destiny serves as an excellent bridge between the first and second adventures in the
Far East-themed Adventure Path (issues #49-54) from Paizo Inc.
sPeCial eleCtroniC features
We’ve hyperlinked this product internally from the Table of Contents and externally with links to the official
Pathfinder Reference Document as well as d20PFSRD. If it is in the core rulebook, we generally didn’t link to
it unless the rule is an obscure one. The point is not to supersede the game books, but rather to help support
you, the player, in accessing the rules, especially those from newer books or that you may not have memorized.
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• 2 •
Chapter One: rOad tO destiny
• 25 •
Chapter two: appendiCes
2
Road To desTiny
introduCtion
Road to Destiny is an adventure for 2nd level characters. In Road to
Destiny, the characters guard a caravan as it travels north, capitalizing
upon trade opportunities along the way. This adventure is a series
of detailed encounters that immerse the characters in the towns and
countryside they pass through, and provide rich and meaningful
experiences as they journey over 500 miles.
baCkground
Far away in an eastern land, a coalition of Dark Spirits plotted to
seize the Imperial Throne, and to secure it against other claims,
destroyed four of the five ruling families. The fifth family, alerted to
the threat against them, prepared to flee over the roof of the world.
And yet, a traitor was amongst them.
Shirota, a scion of the fifth family, had already submitted to the
Dark Spirits who tasked him to spy on his family. When Shirota
attempted to warn his Dark masters of his family’s preparations,
though, he was caught and killed, and the family fled in the night.
With no time for a proper burial, Shirota was left to rot. When the
Dark Spirits came upon the abandoned estate they found Shirota’s
unburied corpse. There they performed foul rituals and Shirota
arose to serve them once more, now as a vampiric jiangshi, a stealer
of breath and chi.
The Dark Spirits pursued the surviving family over the top of the
world, and Shirota went with them. When they caught up with the
family in the cold north of a western land, they destroyed an entire
town to ensure that everyone in the family was dead. The Spirits were
convinced there could be no survivors and returned to the eastern
land to consolidate their power and finalize their plans. But symbols,
signs, and portents spoke to Shirota in ways his Dark masters could
not comprehend. The slightest patterns and coincidences—from tea
leaves, the migration of birds, and broken crockery, to the morning
dew on a spider’s web—spoke a secret language to the jiangshi, who
became obsessed with the family that slew him, and convinced that
all of them had not been slain. But the signs which he alone could
fathom led him to an impossible conclusion—he could only locate
the survivors after his son had done so.
This represented a paradox because Shirota died childless, and
his internal organs had rotted away upon his fell rebirth. Yet Shirota
followed the signs, and with foul sorcery, he possessed the body of
a northman reaver. With his cold intelligence and the reaver’s warm
living body, the vampire sired two fraternal twin sons. Neither boy
shared his blood but both were tainted by his undead curse.
One boy, Ranulfr, was born with skin pale and gray. No amount
of sunlight could tan his features or redden his complexion. His
hair was pure white, and his eyes a blue so pale as to be almost
milky. When he came of age and showed no signs of growing out
of his preternatural appearance, his blood father declared him
cursed. The young man was driven to the south where he became
an infamous bandit, known up and down the coast as Ranulfr the
White, or the “White Wolf”. Not knowing the circumstances of his
own conception, Ranulfr never realized he was a dhamphir. As the
years passed with no sign of ageing, Ranulfr came to believe himself
immortal.
The other son, Snorri, was born normal in appearance, free of
unnatural gifts, and enjoyed their father’s favor. He remained in the
northern land and became a reaver. Over the years, he had periodic
contact with his brother Ranulfr. The two have maintained a tenuous
relationship and meet in the south on occasion. At a disreputable
port of call, Ranulfr sells his brother the prisoners he has captured.
These prisoners are taken to the north to be resold as thralls. Despite
this cooperation, Ranulfr’s agelessness remains a bone of contention
between them such that Snorri was driven to tear out his own eye
and replace it with a magic stone, which shields him from the effects
of aging and earned him the name One-Eye.
In recent years, One-Eye has become an old man and the leader
of his own band of reavers. Ranulfr had lapsed into ennui, more a
mystery and legend to the people of the southern coast than the great
terror he was 25 years ago. Yet now, Shirota, far off in the eastern
land sees omens manifest as he foretold so long ago. Ranulfr stirs
to sudden ferocious activity, drawn instinctively by forces he does
not understand. And Old One-Eye is finally struck by his undead
heritage, and becomes consumed by a wasting disease born of his
tainted heritage. For an Imperial Heir is on the road north at last,
and her path is due to cross with the sons of Shirota...
adventure summary
Having been hired to protect a caravan that is transporting a
young eastern woman to a far northern city, the party departs
Mirador, a small coastal town and heads north towards Camford,
a significant point for the caravan to trade and restock supplies.
En route, they are accosted by thieving goblins who attempt to
draw off their stoutest defenders to raid the caravan of its goods.
Once at Camford, the party hears rumors of a legendary bandit,
the “White Wolf” who has returned to terrorize the coastline
after decades of inactivity, and a rogue attempts to exploit them
to smuggle a stolen treasure out of town.
On the road again, their next stop is the town of Wolvington,
a community once stricken by a dire plague. Decades ago,
Wolvington’s leaders invested in a magical jewel that detects the
presence of plague carriers. Only a few of Wolvington’s oldest
citizens know the device is actually a fake, designed to put fears
to rest. The town’s new Sheriff, entrusted with the secret, is using
it for extortion and a citizen who remembers the dark days of the
plague might ask for the PCs’ help to put a stop to the crooked
lawman’s scheme.
With Wolvington behind them, the party braves a shortcut
through Gnarlwood Forest towards Port Haven. On the way
they are beset by Ranulfr’s raiders, who attempt to capture the
eastern woman. If the bandits are successful, the PCs have an
opportunity to rescue her later at Port Haven, before she is sold
to Old One-Eye’s band.
As the caravan continues north, the party comes across another
caravan that has been attacked by ogres. The PCs can turn a blind
eye, or help their fellow travelers by mounting an impromptu
rescue before it’s too late. Finally, in the last leg of their journey,
Ranulfr the White confronts them at last—fulfilling the destiny
his vampire sire envisioned over half a century ago.
3
getting started
The characters are hired in the coastal town of Mirador to guard
a caravan that is setting out on a long journey to the cold north.
The caravan intends to conduct its usual trade along the route,
but it is also transporting a young eastern woman, Kikuko Yoki.
Kikuko has never known her heritage, as her parents died when
she was young, but an old family heirloom that had been kept in
trust for her until she came of age has revealed that the ruined
town of Saltcrest over 500 miles to the north might contain
information about family in her parents’ eastern homeland.
The caravan comprises four covered wagons, each drawn by a
pair of draft horses. One of the wagons carries supplies for the
journey, two carry trade goods, and one carries passengers. Cusp
Redfoot, the gnome merchant and caravan master, drives one
caravan, and his employees Dreki, Gelden, and Aldo drive the
others.
The journey to Saltcrest is due to take around 20 days, and
each PC is offered the going rate for caravan guards along this
route of 3 gold pieces per day there and back.
Part one: goblins on the road
The caravan’s route takes the PCs north along a coastal road,
and then northeast toward Camford. The entire journey to
Camford spans 133 miles, which takes 5 days. Goblins are an
ever-present threat in this region. The savage creatures are too
ravenous and vicious to properly farm, fish, or create proper
long-term structures, so their favorite means of survival is to
prey upon more industrious creatures while they salvage their
debris. Between Mirador and Camford, a small tribe of goblins
ambushes the party’s caravan.
a. ambush!
Creatures: The Whistlewhip goblin tribe maintains a ragged
existence. The numerous existing goblin tribes to the south
prevent their move into more populated territory. Yet, this
relative scarcity only serves to make the Whistlewhips more
devious and cunning. The occasional caravans who take a direct
route to Camford are among their favorite targets.
The goblins are split into two groups: a decoy group, and an
assault group. Both groups are hiding off to the side of the road
in sparse forest terrain. The decoy group is intended to draw the
caravan’s defenders away from the caravan itself. They present
themselves as a small, easily-intimidated group in the hope of
luring caravan guards into a chase. If the decoys are successful,
the assault group emerges to launch the real attack. If the decoy
group fails to draw guards away, both groups of goblins attack
together.
Alert PCs might spot the goblins prior to the start of the
ambush with a successful DC 26 Wisdom (Perception) check.
For every 1 point by which the DC is exceeded, the PC spots one
or more goblins from 10 feet farther south than the southernmost
goblin raider (see Map A - Goblin Ambush).
the deCoy grouP
One goblin from the decoy group is posted near a small tree at
the side of the road. When the caravan draws close, or if the goblins
know they have been spotted, this goblin takes a standard action
to push the tree, which has been sawed at the base in preparation,
over the road. The tree requires at least one minute of labor by
2–3 characters to remove it before the wagons can advance. The
decoy goblins then make ranged attacks while falling back behind
the fallen tree. Once the PCs confront them they avoid positions
where a charge is possible and ready to fall back to just before the
PCs can close with them in melee. Their overall goal is to lead the
caravan defenders to the north and then off the side of the road
where their leader, Skeeter, can cast her entangle spell on the forest
ground to keep them stuck and busy while the assault group then
launches their attack upon the caravan.
The decoy goblins are denoted D on Map A, and Skeeter by Sk.
Whistlewhip Goblins (3)
Small humanoid (goblinoid), neutral evil
Armor Class 16 (studded leather, shield)
Hit Points 10 each (3d6)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 8 (–1)
DEX 14 (+2)
CON 10 (+0)
INT 10 (+0)
WIS 8 (–1)
CHA 8 (–1)
Skills Stealth +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft.; passive Perception 9
Languages Common, Goblin
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Scurry: A goblin can use its bonus action to Disengage or Hide.
Actions
Shortsword Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d6+2 (5)
piercing damage.
Shortbow Attack: ranged 80 ft./320 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit,
1d6+2 (5) piercing damage.
Skeeter the Decoy Leader
Small humanoid (goblinoid), neutral evil
Armor Class 16 (hide armor, shield)
Hit Points 14 (4d6)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 8 (–1)
DEX 14 (+2)
CON 10 (+0)
INT 10 (+0)
WIS 15 (+2)
CHA 11 (+0)
Skills Nature +2, Stealth +6, Survival +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft.; passive Perception 9
Languages Common, Goblin
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Scurry: A goblin can use its bonus action to Disengage or Hide.
Spellcasting: Skeeter is a 2nd-level Wisdom-based spellcaster
(spell save DC 12; +3 to hit with spell attacks). She knows the
following spells:
•
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, poison spray, resistance
•
1st Level (3 slots): burning hands, entangle, longstrider
Actions
Scimitar Attack: melee, 5 ft. reach, 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d6+2 (5)
slashing damage.
Sling Attack: ranged, 30/120 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d4+2 (3)
bludgeoning damage.
4
5
the assault grouP
Creatures:. The assault group leader, Sputterlick, makes the
determination when to attack the caravan, based upon how
successful Skeeter and the decoy group have diverted guards.
The raid group doesn’t fight ‘fair’ in any sense of the word.
They don’t hesitate to set the wagons on fire, attack the horses,
cut the horses’ harnesses, and in general mob any one on the
ground.
Draft Horse
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 19 (3d10+3)
Speed 60 ft.
STR 18 (+4)
DEX 10 (+0)
CON 13 (+1)
INT 2 (–4)
WIS 11 (+0)
CHA 7 (–2)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Actions
Hooves Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target: +3 to hit, 2d4+4 (9)
bludgeoning damage.
Sputterlick the Assault Leader
Small humanoid (goblinoid), chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (studded leather, shield)
Hit Points 18 (4d6+4)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 8 (–1)
DEX 14 (+2)
CON 12 (+1)
INT 10 (+0)
WIS 11 (+0)
CHA 15 (+2)
Skills Deception +4, Intimidation +4, Stealth +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft.; passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Goblin
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Scurry: A goblin can use its bonus action to Disengage or Hide.
Spellcasting: Sputterlick is a 2nd-level Charisma-based
spellcaster (spell save DC 12; +4 to hit with spell attacks). He
knows the following spells:
•
Cantrips (at will): eldritch blast, poison spray
•
1st Level (2 slots): burning hands, expeditious retreat,
hellish rebuke
Actions
Scimitar Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d6+2 (5)
slashing damage.
Sling Attack: ranged 30/120 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d4+2 (3)
bludgeoning damage.
Whistlewhip Goblins (4)
Statistics as per the decoy group above.
Treasure: PCs who follow the goblins’ tracks with a successful
DC 16 Wisdom (Survival) check locate their make-shift ‘fort’ in
the woods after an hour. Besides typical goblin refuse, a successful
DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check locates a dilapidated
strongbox that Sputterlick withholds from the rest of the tribe.
The strongbox can be opened with a key that Sputterlick keeps
on a cord around his neck, a successful DC 10 Dexterity check
requiring thieves’ tools, or simply smashed open with a DC 17
Strength check. The box contains 100 gp worth of various gold,
silver, and copper coins.
Part tWo: Camford
When the PCs’ caravan reaches Camford, they find an area
set aside for caravans to the south of town. Here, caravans can
park, circle their wagons, and strike a campfire. A public well is
available for groups to draw water in order to cook, clean, and
water their animals. The town is not walled, but a guard post is
established where the main road diverts into town. A wooden
gate can be lowered to prevent a caravan from riding through
town.
Common practice for the town guard is to permit each
caravan to drive a single horse-drawn wagon into town to trade.
This discourages congestion in the streets and keeps the town
from being overrun. It is not uncommon for townspeople to
visit the campground fires as well, knowing that some caravans
supplement their trade with music, dancing, gambling, and
fortune-telling in the evening.
The road continues north past Camford and along Cinder Lake
for 32 miles. Just past Cinder Lake is the northern half of Lantern
River, where a ferry crosses near the town of Wolvington.
Camford gets its name from the Gaimen College, which is
attached to a private school of magic called the Dusk Institute.
Gaimen College is an adjunct to the Institute and serves as a
preparatory school for those with wealth who seek a higher
education. The College and the Institute drive much of the town’s
economy and play a central role in the community. The community
qualifies as a large town from an economic perspective, though its
population is closer to that of a small town.
There is no caravan encounter in Camford itself, but the PCs
can make repairs to their caravan, purchase upgrades, and buy
and sell trade goods to further finance their journey. If the PCs
mention that they are traveling north to merchants, they leanr
that a number of caravans have become uneasy about traveling
north due to bandits. Southern merchants seek to encourage
brave traders to transport their goods to the north before their
revenue streams dry up.
bandit rumors in Camford
PCs who wish to learn more about the bandits, or are just
curious about local news as it pertains to their journey can make
a Charisma check to gather information.
DC 10 A group of bandits have become organized under a
strong leader, and have been conducting raids north of Camford.
The worst activity has been reported north of Wolvington, so the
trip is considered relatively safe at least that far.
DC 15 The bandits not only steal goods but take prisoners—
none of whom have been seen since. Survivors say the bandit
leader is a northman.
DC 20 The bandits call their leader the “White Wolf”,
apparently in reference to his white hair and pale skin.
6
b. CamPground Confrontation
The PCs become embroiled in a robbery which took place in
town just prior to their arrival. The thief is a gnome named
Vaylenchek, and the item is a rare spellbook he “liberated” from
the Dusk Institute. The spellbook in question, the Folio of the
Faebinder, is a treatise on fey magic with an emphasis on illusions
and enchantments. Although the Institute does not know the
identity of the author, the book has an uncommon slant towards
the use of illusions and enchantments on fey creatures which are
often resistant to such magic.
What few know is that the author learned these secrets while
the lover of a powerful Fey Baron from the Faerie Lands. After the
author ferreted out many magical secrets, he slipped away from
his faerie patron with nary a word and returned to the Material
Plane. While the author’s final fate is unknown, the Baron placed
a bounty on the book over a century ago. Just this past year,
while on a visit to the Dusk Institute, Vaylenchek noticed the
volume among the reserved collection. When he returned to his
gnomish community within the Somnos Forest, he confirmed
the reward is still posted and made his plans. Vaylenchek
returned to Camford a few weeks ago and carefully infiltrated
the Institute. Rather than thwart the Institute’s magical wards
and protections, Vaylenchek played a cautious gambit. By way
of invisibility, cunning, and stealth he observed the instructors
at the Institute for over a week until he knew the required
passwords to bypass the library’s defenses. He succeeded in the
liberation of the tome, but not before he triggered an unexpected
mechanical trap which mildly injured him. The gnome hid the
book in a specially-prepared satchel. The satchel contains thin
sheets of lead sewn into the sides to block divinations like locate
object.
Unfortunately for Vaylenchek, the missing tome was noticed
much sooner than he anticipated. A mere hour after his flight,
the Institute hired a freelance detective, Lexia Harken, to recover
the book. Lexia has tracked Vaylenchek throughout town. The
PCs become involved when the gnome selects their caravan to be
the device by which he smuggles the tome out of town. His initial
plan is to keep a safe distance and reclaim it later.
the liberator
Creature: Vaylenchek’s initial plan is to hide his satchel among
the PCs’ newly-acquired trade goods so they carry it back to
their wagons without their knowledge. In this case, Vaylenchek
shadows the PCs so he can either steal it back or make contact
with them later, once they’ve left town.
Alternatively, the gnome can use Stealth, Sleight of Hand, or
invisibility to stash it somewhere among the PCs’ wagons directly.
In this case, the PCs should have an opportunity to catch him.
Finally, Vaylenchek could approach and seek employment
with the caravan, and stash the tome with his gear. In this final
option, he hopes to hide amidst the travelers and go unnoticed,
and that the PCs will resist being questioned or having their
wagons searched.
When Lexia arrives to question the PCs, Vaylenchek might not
be present if the tome was smuggled inside the PC’s trade goods
earlier. If he is present, he should either be invisible, hiding, or a
newly-recruited member of the PCs’ caravan crew.
Vaylenchek the Liberator
Small humanoid (gnome), chaotic neutral
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 18 (4d6+4)
Speed 25 ft.
STR 8 (–1)
DEX 16 (+3)
CON 14 (+2)
INT 14 (+2)
WIS 13 (+0)
CHA 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom
Skills Arcana +4, Deception +4, History +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft.; passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Gnomish, Halfling, Sylvan, Thieves’ Cant
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Gnome Cunning: Vaylenchek has advantage on all Intelligence,
Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
Improved Minor Illusion: Vaylenchek can create both a sound
and an image with a single casting of minor illusion.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn): Vaylenchek deals an extra 3 (1d6)
damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has
advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet
of an ally that isn’t incapacitated and Vaylenchek doesn’t have
disadvantage on the attack roll.
Speak with Small Beasts: Through sounds and gestures,
Vaylenchek can communicate simple ideas with Small or
smaller beasts.
Special Equipment: Vaylenchek has a set of thieves’ tools (which
provide him with a +4 bonus on Dexterity checks to disable
traps and open locks) and the Folio of the Faebinder.
Spellcasting: Vaylenchek is a 3rd-level Intelligence-based
spellcaster (spell save DC 12; +4 to hit with spell attacks). He
knows the following spells from the wizard list:
•
Cantrips (at will): friends, mage hand, message, minor
illusion, prestidigitation
•
1st Level (4 slots): color spray, disguise self, expeditious
retreat, mage armor
•
2nd Level (2 slots): invisibility, knock
Actions
Rapier Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +5 to hit, 1d8+3 (7) piercing
damage.
7
8
Folio of the Faebinder
Wondrous item, unique
The leather covers of this spellbook are dyed bright blue, and
the spine and corner protectors are cold iron. The pages are
fine, crisp paper with ivy designs scrolled in green ink along
the borders. The delicate handwriting is bright red in contrast.
It weighs 2 pounds. The Folio of the Faebinder contains the
following wizard spells:
•
1st Level: charm person, color spray, detect magic,
disguise self, feather fall, illusory script, silent image,
sleep, tasha’s hideous laughter
•
2nd Level: blur, mirror image, nystul’s magic aura,
phantasmal force
•
3rd Level: fly, hypnotic pattern, major image,
nondetection
•
4th Level: confusion, hallucinatory terrain
When you prepare spells from this book, you are considered
to be proficient in Intelligence (Nature) checks for 24 hours. If
you are already proficient in this skill, you gain a +2 bonus on
Intelligence (Nature) checks instead. Within this time, you can
increase the DC of one enchantment or illusion spell that you
cast by 2, or by 4 if the target has the fey type.
the deteCtive
Creatures: Once it has been determined if and how the PCs
meet Vaylenchek, and the circumstances by which the Folio of the
Faebinder is hidden on their wagons, Lexia arrives to investigate.
She is a fair woman but this is a contract with the Institute, and a
matter of reputation for her. She means to see the book recovered
and the “thief” caught if possible. The Institute has also offered
her 850 gp for the book’s return.
Lexia arrives at the campground from the town to the north. She
is accompanied by one of the Camford guard. This doesn’t make
Lexia an “official” representative of Camford law enforcement,
but the guard does lend weight to her ability to investigate and
ask questions. The guard is also a witness to everything which
transpires, and if the PCs are completely uncooperative it reflects
on them poorly. If the party is unwarrantedly hostile to Lexia,
you should consider penalties to all social skill rolls and other
penalties to their ability to trade and do business in town.
Lexia’s tracking abilities have led her to the campground but
now the trail ends. Her recourse is to visit each campsite and ask
questions. Most travelers are reluctant to answer any questions
but don’t want their ability to trade significantly impacted. Lexia’s
questions are in the vein of, “Has anyone suspicious come around
lately? Has anyone tried to get you to buy or accept anything
from them?” When she arrives at the PCs’ caravan, she may ask
if she can search their wagons, though she has no legal authority
to make such a demand. While Lexia has no legal authority she
may try a Charisma (Deception) check contested by the PCs’
Wisdom (Insight) checks to convince the party she does. Lexia
has an unfriendly attitude towards the PCs at first, based more
upon her suspicions than a genuine dislike. A successful DC 21
Charisma (Persuasion) check allays her suspicions and convinces
her to search elsewhere. Lexia only fights if strongly provoked.
Lexia the Detective
Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral
Armor Class 14 (studded leather)
Hit Points 18 (4d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 12 (+1)
DEX 14 (+2)
CON 10 (+0)
INT 16 (+3)
WIS 13 (+1)
CHA 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Dexterity, Intelligence
Skills Insight +5, Investigation +7, Perception +3, Sleight of
Hand +4
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Halfling, Thieves’
Cant
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Cunning Action: On each of her turns, Lexia can Dash,
Disengage, Hide, or control a mage hand she has cast as a
bonus action.
Mage Hand Legerdemain: When Lexia casts mage hand, she
can make the spectral hand invisible; use it to stow one object
the hand is holding in, or retrieve an object from, a container
worn or carried by another creature; use it to pick locks and
disarm traps at range with thieves’ tools. If she succeeds on
a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check contested by a creature’s
Wisdom (Perception) check, she can perform the task unseen.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn): Lexia deals an extra 7 (2d6) damage
when she hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage
on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally
that isn’t incapacitated and Lexia doesn’t have disadvantage on
the attack roll.
Special Equipment: Lexia has a set of thieves’ tools (which
provide her with a +2 bonus on Dexterity checks to disable
traps and open locks).
Spellcasting: Lexia is a 2nd-level Intelligence-based spellcaster
(spell save DC 13; +5 to hit with spell attacks). She knows the
following spells from the wizard list:
•
Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, friends, mage hand
•
1st Level (3 slots): alarm, charm person, disguise self,
longstrider
Actions
Rapier Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d8+2 (6) piercing
damage.
Hand Crossbow Attack: ranged 30/120 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit,
1d6+2 (5) piercing damage.
9
Guard
Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral
Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield)
Hit Points 11 (2d8+2)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 13 (+1)
DEX 12 (+1)
CON 12 (+1)
INT 10 (+0)
WIS 11 (+0)
CHA 10 (+0)
Skills Perception +2
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Common
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Actions
Shortsword Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target: +3 to hit, 1d6+1 (4)
piercing damage.
Spear Attack: melee 5 ft. or ranged 20/60 ft., 1 target: +3 to hit,
1d6+1 (4) piercing damage.
Development: The Fey Baron that placed a bounty on the
book believed herself to be wronged—taken advantage of by
the author for the knowledge contained within the book. Thus,
Vaylenchek sees himself as putting an ancient wrong right. Yet,
the Dusk Institute bought the book decades ago in good faith
and with no prior knowledge of its history. They do not see it
as fair that they should suffer the cost of the book through no
misdeed on their part. Lexia Harken may be zealous but only
seeks to recover actual stolen property. There are merits to both
positions and the PCs are free to choose either side.
If the PCs somehow discover the book and fully cooperate with
Lexia, she offers them a portion of her own reward money—200
gp, but with a successful DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check she
can be persuaded to halve the full reward of 850 gp with them. If
she recovers the book without their help, the PCs are told they’ll
be lucky if she doesn’t mobilize the town guard to run them
out of the area. Finally, if her exchange with the party resulted
in combat, she likely flees in the face of superior numbers, but
swiftly returns with a number of the Camford guard to back her
up.
If Lexia’s investigation comes up empty, Vaylenchek will
shadow the caravan on its journey until he can steal his book
back. Alternatively, if he is a part of the crew, he stays with the
caraven until he’s sure there is no pursuit, and then joins another
caravan heading back south. If the stolen spellbook is discovered
later, Vaylenchek does his best to maintain possession, but offers
to let the PCs copy spells out of it freely.
Story Awards: If the PCs discover what Vaylenchek is up to
and make a decision on what to do about it on their own terms
(even if that means working with him), the party earns XP as
if they had defeated him in combat. If the PCs thwart Lexia’s
investigation with minimal confrontation, they earn XP as if
they had defeated her in combat. If they simply turn over the
book and Vaylenchek to her, it counts as defeating him and not
her.
Part three: Wolvington
The town of Wolvington is 32 miles north of Camford, and
requires a ferry trip across the Lantern River to access. PCs
who succeed at a DC 15 Intelligence (History) check can recall
that Wolvington had a reputation as a safe haven for people
with maladies approximately 40 years ago. When the town
was subsumed by a large city-state to the south there was an
unfortunate purity and cleansing campaign waged against the
town’s citizenry, and the “problem” was declared resolved. Many
still consider Wolvington to be an odd rural community, but
both the regional and local governments are content to forget the
past and discourage public talk of anything outside the ordinary
about the town now.
C. roadside Conversation
A few miles south of the ferry, the PCs’ caravan overtakes the
horse-drawn cart of an elderly farmer, Hortus Ulby. Hortus
flags them down, introduces himself, and makes them an offer.
Hortus has 4 units of trade goods—particularly fresh and healthy
produce from his farm. He offers to sell them to the PCs at cost
(10 gp each) if they are interested in a resale opportunity at
Wolvington. The exceptional quality and freshness of his goods
grants a +2 bonus on Charisma (Persuasion) checks to sell them
at higher than the market rate of 20 gp each.
If questioned why he doesn’t want to take his goods to market
himself and therefore obtain a better price for himself directly,
Hortus grudgingly makes an admission: “I don’t cotton to
messing with that fool of a Sherriff they got up there now. Not
today anyway. On the bright side, I don’t think he’ll pester you
folks—not being local and all.” Hortus is hesitant to elaborate on
his comment, but if the PCs prompt him or appear friendly he
elaborates.
“Wolvington does some odd things, but for good reasons. The town
relies on trade, so merchants and caravans need to feel safe going
through there. Similarly, folks who have lived there for generations
need to feel safe that nobody is going to stir up trouble. Forty years
ago there was a trouble with a plague and the matter was put to
rest. At that time, it was the job of the Sheriff to make sure there
were no further troubles. To protect itself, the town invested in a
magical jewel which only glows when in the presence of the plague,
or someone who might be a carrier. The plague is said to run in
families, you see. If someone tries to enter town and the jewel
glows, the town guard turns them back at the gate, and everybody
feels safe.
Hortus lowers his voice carefully. “Now don’t be tellin’ anybody I
told you this, but the whole thing is a sham. Forty years ago, folks
were putting the torch to their neighbor’s house for no cause but
fear, and the whole community was tearing itself apart. The plague
stone is a fake and it always has been. The Sheriff can turn it on
and off whenever he wants, and all it does is glow. Furthermore, it
ain’t been seen to glow in a dog’s age. The plague died out years ago,
but the plague stone puts folks’ minds at rest. The old Sheriff used
it only rarely, and as an excuse to keep undesirables out of town.
Keeping the peace is the Sheriff’s real job.
10
Problem is, the old Sheriff passed away last year and we got ourselves a
new one. This fellah—Burniss is his name—he was alright at first. He
knows the secret, of course, except lately he’s been asking for ‘donations’
from farm folk coming into town, and from what I hear, those families
that once had a history of the plague. He plays at it as being for his
retirement fund, new equipment, and the like. Ha! More like to pad
his purse and buy liquor! If folks don’t pay, he suggests the plague stone
might just light up someday. If it does, it means scandal, accusations,
and being run out of town. That being said, Burniss doesn’t fool with
travelers from the south. That would lead to too many questions, and
outside interest. That’s why I wanted to sell my goods to you. It’s better
to sell at cost, than to take the pinch from that thief.”
The following are some questions the PCs might ask, as well as
Hortus’s responses.
How do you know all of this? “I know a little nature magic,
and I’m old enough to remember the bad times. Some of us have
been around a long time, long enough to figure a few things out.”
What was the plague? “I’d rather not get into it. Let’s just
say, it was a problem that could have been contained within the
community, except some religious folks from outside came and
decided they knew what was best for everybody else. As a result
a lot of people got hurt and killed on either side. Someone came
up with the idea of the plague stone as a way for everybody to
go forward with their lives. It was a means to show the matter
was settled, so we could all just get along. Problem is, this new
Sheriff—he’s rockin’ the boat with his greed.”
Has the plague really died out? “Does it matter? Merchants
and caravans ain’t had no trouble with sickness in 40 years prior
to this and there’s no reason they’re gonna start now. The folks
of Wolvington got a handle on this, so long as a certain someone
doesn’t stir things up that are nobody’s business.”
How could the Sheriff make the stone glow? “He’ll know the
secret to it from his predecessor, some command phrase or word
I expect. He keeps the plague stone under lock and key at the
town jail when it’s not on display at the gate.”
What can be done about the Sheriff? “Ah, now that’s an
interesting question!”
Hortus “needs” to sell his produce, but what the old druid-
farmer “wants” is to persuade some adventurers to help the
Wolvington community. This entire conversation is a means to
discover something about the party and to gauge their reaction
to his story. It is indirect, but for what Hortus has in mind, it is
safer than being forthright. If the PCs give the impression they
are decent and trustworthy people, Hortus makes them an offer.
“Sheriff Burniss needs to go, but that’s the town’s concern, not yours.
Myself and some other concerned folk would rather do it without an
unpleasant confrontation. I think if the Sheriff’s racket was exposed
before the whole town, he’d have the good sense to pack up and leave.
Our reliance on the plague stone also needs to come to an end. There’s
no need to rely on magic as a surrogate for common sense. We’ve taken
up a collection to compensate any group that would do us a favor.
Steal the stone out from beneath the Sheriff’s nose. We’ll gather folks
up and show the whole town it ain’t real, and we’ll get his shake-down
racket out in the open. He won’t be able to fight the whole community
and we can see him on his way. The only thing which stops us now is
that some folks still believe in the stone, so we need to pass it around
and show them. Then there won’t be any doubt about it.”
11
If the PCs agree, Hortus agrees to pay the party 500 gp if
they steal the plague stone and deliver it to him. Hortus says his
grandson will be posted a mile south of town, and once the party
reports the stone’s acquisition, Hortus’s group will assemble,
tender the promised amount, and then proceed to confront the
Sheriff. The party can persuade Hortus to increase the amount
by 100 gp with a successful DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check,
but no more. As it stands, he represents a handful of local people
who are tired of the new Sheriff. Each of them has contributed
towards the bounty, but they have no further financial resources
to offer. Hortus’s story is accurate, and if the PCs make a DC
20 Wisdom (Insight) check they receive a hunch that he has no
motive other than to expose the Sheriff as a crook.
If the PCs decline, Hortus asks for their discretion about what
they discussed and wishes them good luck on their travels. The
old man would prefer they not tell the Sheriff, but he doesn’t
fret over the prospect of the PCs betraying his confidence—he
believes the matter will be settled soon, one way or another.
If the PCs ask how they’re supposed to steal the plague stone,
Hortus explains they’ll need to devise a plan which works
well for them, but he nevertheless offers some advice. First, he
suggests they continue their trip to town and assess the situation.
He describes the gate and how the plague stone is hung above it
during the day (see area C1, below). He warns that while they
could assault the gate, it would surely lead to an attack from
the guards, and Hortus doesn’t want any townsfolk seriously
hurt or killed—even Sheriff Burniss. Hortus mentions that the
guards on the wall are often bored, lazy, and thirsty, and could
be distracted while the plague stone is stolen out from beneath
their noses. With the plague stone locked up at night while the
Sheriff frequents the local tavern, a stealthy PC might be able to
pickpocket the keys while someone clever or attractive keeps the
Sheriff busy. Finally, Hortus muses that they could break into the
town jail after nightfall and steal the stone that way.
C1. the Wolvington gate
The road forks to the east and leads towards a tall, wooden stockade
wall which encircles a settlement. The side road leads to a pair of
large double doors which form a gate through which a caravan can
enter. A large red crystalline stone is attached to a chain and hangs
above the gate, the chain disappearing through a small hole in the
wall. Directly above the gate is a covered guard post and additional
guard posts are set on the wall to either side.
The walls that surround Wolvington are 15 feet high and require
a successful DC 21 Strength (Athletics) check to scale. The wall
is only manned, near the east and west gates. The east gate is
usually only opened in emergencies, and all caravan traffic is
rerouted to the other side.
The plague stone hangs 10 feet from the ground on a chain,
and is lowered into place from a small trapdoor on the walkway
above.
Creatures: Sherriff Burniss typically mans the gate from the
ground at the busiest times of day. This enables him to keep
track of who’s in town, and to single out local farmers to extort.
Burniss doesn’t demand much from the farmers—usually only
a few pieces of silver—but this accumulates quickly. He extorts
much more from the families who have a history of the plague.
Those who balk at paying he threatens with a damning public
revelation of their history of the plague (real or fictitious).
While Hortus Ulby knows the truth, most of the town
does not. Anyone thought to be a plague carrier faces being
ostracized, their goods and custom refused, turned away at the
town’s gate, or run out of town. Burniss prefers to prey on locals
who are dependent upon the town. He is not likely to trouble the
PCs provided they look and act as if they are just in town to do
business. The men and women of the town guard are not part of
his scheme, as Sheriff Burniss is loath to share the stone’s secret.
It is difficult to trick the Sheriff and he keeps the guards alert
and disciplined. Attempts to bluff or otherwise distract any of
the guards should be contested by a Wisdom (Insight) roll by
the Sheriff himself. The Sheriff takes a late afternoon lunch at
the local tavern, however, which takes around an hour and a
half. This can be discovered with a successful DC 12 Charisma
check to gather information on the Sheriff’s movements, or by
observing him at the correct time. While the Sheriff is gone, the
guards become much more relaxed. They are unaccustomed
to any true threat at the town’s gate and take the community’s
safety and security for granted. Consequently, you may allow the
PCs to gain an advantage through roleplaying, and/or Charisma
(Deception or Persuasion) checks to engage them in conversation
and otherwise distract them. For example, they often man the
walls in four shifts. With the Sheriff elsewhere, they could be
persuaded to leave their posts for only a moment to flirt with
admirers, respond to staged disturbances nearby, or accept a hot
drink or cool ale, depending on the prevailing weather.
Guard
Use guard statistics from The Detective section above.
Sheriff Burniss
Medium humanoid (human), lawful evil
Armor Class 14 (chain shirt)
Hit Points 27 (6d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 16 (+3)
DEX 13 (+1)
CON 10 (+0)
INT 10 (+0)
WIS 14 (+2)
CHA 12 (+1)
Saving Throws Strength, Constitution
Skills Intimidation +3, Insight +4
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Common
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Action Surge: Burniss can take one additional action on top of
his regular action and a possible bonus action on his turn. He
must finish a short or long rest before he can do this again.
Second Wind: Burniss can use a bonus action on his turn to
regain 1d10+6 hit points. He must finish a short or long rest
before he can do this again.
Actions
Multiattack: Burniss makes two melee attacks.
Longsword Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +6 to hit, 1d8+3 (7)
piercing damage, 19-20 critical.
Light Crossbow Attack: ranged 30/120 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit,
1d6+1 (4) piercing damage.
12
Development: There is significant risk involved in the theft
of the stone from the gate in broad daylight. If it goes poorly or
is mishandled, the party runs the risk of being run out of town
and isolated from their caravan if it is parked inside. Worse, if
the PCs are associated with the caravan, it could be impounded.
If the caravan is outside of town when these hijinks take place, it
can still enter if the PCs are not known to be members of it.
If the PCs decide that Hortus is a troublemaker, despite his
appeal and forthright explanation, they might simply report
the plot to Sheriff Burniss. In such a case, Burniss gives them a
50 gp reward, and grants them access to the town to trade, and
to refurbish their caravan before they continue on their way
(something he encourages them to do as soon as possible to
avoid a confrontation). He asks them not to discuss the matter
further, and in return treats this information as if it came from
an “anonymous source”.
Wolvington toWn Jail
Wolvington locks its gates at night and Sheriff Burniss takes the
plague stone to the town jail where it is secured until morning.
The Sheriff is off-duty at night and resides in personal quarters
inside the jail itself. If the PCs choose to break into the jail to
steal the stone, this approach significantly reduces the risk of
casual observation by witnesses. The disadvantage is that it may
be difficult to leave town until daybreak.
The jail is only intended to house town drunks, pick-pockets,
and other minor criminals. Serious criminals are either sent
to the major city-state to the south for trial, or dealt more
immediate justice from the town council (only in the case of
situations deemed too dangerous for delay). Consequently it is
not unheard of for the jail to be unmanned during certain times
of the day unless there are prisoners who merit close supervision.
A few town guards are found here just prior to dawn, midday,
and dusk as they prepare to change shifts. The Sheriff is out most
of the day except for a check-in at midday, and nightfall when he
secures the stone. He spends a few hours at the tavern and is then
inside the jail till morning.
Physically the jail is a solid structure in good repair. The walls
and floors are wooden, and the doors are strong wooden doors.
All of the rooms are kept locked. The Sheriff and the Wolvington
Town guards all carry a key on a ring attached to their belts,
which unlocks every door and cell, except rooms C4, C6, and
the Sheriff’s desk. Those two rooms and the desk have different
locks, the keys to which only Sheriff Burniss carries. Most areas
have a hanging light oil lamp except where noted, which may or
may not be lit, depending on whether the guards or the Sheriff
are in the building.
C2. Jail entranCe
This L-shaped room appears to be an office, with wood plank
floors and white-washed walls. A plain desk and chair sit in the
west corner. In the southern end of the room is a larger chair and
desk with a handful of papers, an inkpot, paperweight, and quill.
Behind the southern desk is a heavy-duty, wooden locker. Sturdy
double doors are set in the north and south walls. A single door is
set in the wall to the west behind the smaller desk.
All the doors in and out of this room are routinely kept locked
and require a successful DC 20 Dexterity check with thieves’ tools
to unlock. The smaller desk to the west is for guards to use as
necessary, and is more often than not just a spot to lounge behind
during meetings, assignments, or slow periods.
The Sheriff’s desk is locked and requires a successful DC 25
Dexterity check with thieves’ tools to unlock (it can be opened by
the same key that opens area C4 and C6). The contents are mostly
unremarkable. A successful DC 12 Intelligence (Investigation)
check confirms that Burniss is actually qualified and competent at
his job. His papers detail work assignments, a budget from the Town
Council, payroll, and necessary repairs to the town’s public facilities.
A simple logbook details noteworthy events from recent months,
yet the majority of the entries are still mundane by an adventurer’s
standards. Anyone who examines the logbook thoroughly uncovers
a list of names entitled “Known carriers—approach with caution.”
The list names individuals who may have suffered the plague of 40
years ago, or was related to someone who did. A PC who does some
follow-up detective work in the community can confirm the list
has several older Wolvington families on it with a successful DC 15
Charisma check to gather information.
The locker against the south wall is closed and locked, and
requires a successful DC 15 Dexterity check with thieves’ tools to
open. Inside are 3 light crossbows, 8 cases of 10 crossbow bolts,
and 6 pairs of manacles and leg-irons.
Treasure: A locked desk drawer contains 10 silvered crossbow bolts.
C3. hallWay
This simple hallway runs east and west. The west end widens to
accommodate a large table against the south wall and a single door
that leads north. The east end is narrower, with two sets of double
doors leading north and south, and another door which goes east
and outside.
This is a simple hallway with a couple of special features. The large
table on the west side is often covered with dishes from the local
tavern. The jail has no means to prepare food, so simple meals
of gruel and bread are brought over from the tavern through the
east door and placed here. All the doors are routinely kept locked,
except when meals are served. A successful DC 20 Dexterity check
with thieves’ tools opens them all except the door to C4, which
requires a successful DC 25 Dexterity check with thieves’ tools.
Due to a flaw in the jail construction, the wooden floors are
particularly creaky here between the double doors. A creature that
walks through this square creates a loud creak which is heard in
rooms C2 and C4 with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception)
check, even when their doors are closed. A character that actively
checks the floor can notice the loose boards with a successful
DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check. Once a creature is aware of
the loose boards they can move through the square at half speed
without causing the creak.
13
C4. sheriff’s Quarters
This room is someone’s personal quarters, as evidenced by a
medium sized bed, chest of drawers, a small table and foot locker.
A set of double doors exits to the north.
The footlocker is locked and requires a DC 22 Dexterity check
with thieves’ tools to open, or the same key that opens the doors
to C4 and C6.
Creature: Sheriff Burniss can be found in this room after
nightfall. While he doesn’t retire early, by 11 o’clock he beds
down for the night. His armor, cloak, and other items can be
found on top of the small table. His sword and loaded crossbow
are readily available at his bedside if there is a disturbance.
If Burniss hears a disturbance in the jail, he gets out of bed quietly
and readies a weapon and cloak. He’ll then assess the situation.
He may try to ambush someone coming in the room, quietly
investigate, or elect to don his armor (which takes 1 minute).
If cornered, Burniss fights ferociously to the death. If granted
any means to move towards a more open area, he takes it, while
yelling for help as loud as he can. If reduced to half hit points, he
aims to get outside and summon his town guard and townsfolk.
Treasure: The Sheriff’s footlocker contains a sack with 400
gp and 2 vials of potions of healing (2d4+2 hit points). This
is a portion of the wealth that Burniss has extorted from local
families. This portion he keeps on hand for personal spending
money, and sometimes even to pay his guards, offer rewards, or
pay for information from informants. He keeps the rest secured
in the armory in area C6.
C5. Jail
Three cells, comprised of iron bars built into the walls and floors
with a single door, line the west wall. Inside each cell, straw pallets
serve as the only furniture. On the east wall are two doors; the
northernmost is wood, but the southernmost is iron. The words
‘Sheriff Only’ are painted on the metal door’s surface in Common.
Another door is set in the southern wall of the room.
As mentioned elsewhere, all of the doors and cells are kept
locked and all of them, except the iron door, have an identical
lock whose key is carried by all of the town guards and the
Sheriff. The doors can be opened with a successful DC 20
Dexterity check with thieves’ tools, except the iron door whose
lock is DC 25.
During the day this area is lit by a single continual flame torch
mounted on the east wall between the two doors. At night, the
torch is covered with a heavy cloth to make the area dark. This
prevents the prisoners from trying to knock down an oil lamp to
set the jail on fire, or otherwise distract the guards.
Creatures: The cells are occupied by three people: Oswin
Grady, Mikel Greentoes, and Loupin Cartwright. Oswin is in for
pickpocketing, Mikel for public drunkenness, and Loupin for
window peeping.
While the trio are not a threat, they can be an obstacle. If the
PCs enter the area, the prisoners become curious and demand to
know what the PCs are doing—especially if they start to open the
iron door. To curry favor with Sheriff Burniss, and in hopes of an
early release from jail, they threaten to yell for attention.
There are ways to prevent this, however, such as releasing
them, cowing each of them with a successful DC 13 Charisma
(Intimidation) check, or rendering them unconscious before
they can do so. Diplomacy is less effective than normal, as they
have no real incentive to help the party if they receive nothing
in exchange, and thus attempts to persuade them receive a −5
penalty. A successful Charisma (Deception) check can trick
them into expecting a favor or release once the PCs are finished.
They know little about what is behind the iron door except the
plague stone, and some sets of armor and weapons. The trap
inside C6 is not evident from across the room, and Burniss is
secretive when he opens and enters that area. All three share the
same opinion of the Sheriff—a competent lawman who has his
own corrupt nature.
Story Award: There should be no need to fight the prisoners,
but they can complicate matters. If the PCs keep them from
interfering with their plans, grant the party 50 XP each so long
as the jail is occupied with Burniss and/or guards!
C6. vault
This spacious room contains an armor rack, a weapon rack, and a
small chest. A single iron door on the west wall provides the only
entrance and exit.\
The lock to the iron vault door requires a DC 25 Dexterity
check using thieves’ tools, or the key that Sheriff Burniss carries
on his person. Within this room the Sheriff houses the plague
stone, some of his ill-gotten gold, and spare sets of armor and
weapons which he issues to the town guard. He does not permit
any of the townspeople in his employ access to this room,
even though the armory is technically a town resource. There
is an unlocked wooden chest here with the rest of the Sheriff’s
personal hoard of gold as well as the plague stone.
Trap: Concealed against the ceiling is a trap in the form of
heavy half-moon bladed axe plated with silver. When the door
is opened, the axe is released to swing down and bury itself in
the gut of the unfortunate character who opened the door. The
axe attacks the person opening the door with a +10 melee attack
that deals 1d12+4 slashing damage. A small button, concealed
along the door’s jamb which allows the door to be opened
without danger or the need to reset the trap, can be found with
a successful DC 25 Wisdom (Perception) check by someone
actively searching the door.
Treasure: The armor rack contains 5 sets of half-plate armor,
and the weapons rack holds 5 spears, 5 flails, and 5 heavy
crossbows. The trap itself may be dismantled and a silvered
greataxe taken from its components. Inside the chest are 280 gp,
22 pp, and the plague stone.
The Plague Stone
Wondrous item
This dark, wine-colored crystalline stone is approximately
6 inches in diameter and has a small metal loop mounted on
the back, suitable for it to be hung by a rope or chain. With a
command word, the plague stone lights up as per continual
flame with a bright ruby color which can be seen plainly even
in daylight; the same word dismisses the continual flame. Detect
magic reveals a divination aura, but the plague stone has no
actual divination properties.
14
ramifiCations of the theft
If the party successfully obtains the plague stone and arrives at
the meeting point south of Wolvington, they are met by Hotus’s
grandson, a young man named Trevis, who instructs them to
wait while he fetches his grandfather for the exchange. When
he returns it is in the company of 20 men and women from the
surrounding farms and properties. Hortus asks for the plague
stone and in return pays the party the agreed upon 500 gp. If
the party asks to keep the stone, Hortus motions for them to
hand it over and says, “After I’m finished with it, you can keep
the damned thing.” Hortus explains he and his group is going to
confront the Sheriff in front of the whole town, and that he is
responsible for what happens next. The party is welcome to come
to help demonstrate a show of force, or they can watch from the
side, or just depart on their way. In any case, their obligation is
now over. Hortus intends to show the town the plague stone, and
make it plain that he arranged its theft. He promises that any
repercussions from the theft won’t fall on them.
If the party confesses that they killed anyone in the process
of obtaining the stone, Hortus is grim and a hush falls upon the
assembled group with him. Someone from the community asks
Hortus, “I thought you said no one would get hurt?” Hortus
hushes that individual, but is plainly downcast. “There was
always a chance.” He peers at the PCs, “I take responsibility for
this, but it would be best you folks went about your way now.”
Hortus is true to his word. He and his group march together to
the gates of Wolvington, and brush past the startled guards who
are too taken aback to turn away people they recognize as friends
and neighbors. Unless Sheriff Burniss was inadvertently killed,
he is alerted to the theft by now and emerges to confront Hortus
and the mob directly. He demands to know what is going on.
What proceeds is a confrontation, during which Hortus tells
the astonished townsfolk that the plague stone is a fake and
always has been. Burniss tries to deny it, but Hortus knows a
little magic and aptly demonstrates that anyone with the secret
can make the stone glow whenever they want.
“Forty years ago this town was tearing itself apart. We had zealots
and inquisitors turning neighbor against neighbor. The people of
Wolvington were always able to keep their secrets and sort their
own problems out, but we just needed a reminder. Our old Sheriff
gave us something we could believe in, a magical jewel that told
us that everything was alright and that the plague was gone. With
some help from some cooler minds down south, we restored order
for generations. Yet, we have lived in fear of a problem we could
always control ourselves and we put our faith in a lie.” The old man
hefts the glowing stone in one fist. “The time for lies is over. Sheriff
Burniss here has turned our fear and our comfortable lies into a
means to get rich off our hard work. It wasn’t for this abuse of
power we made him Sheriff. It’s high time we went back to the old
ways of looking after this community. By watching out for your
neighbors when they need help, and minding our own business
when they don’t.” The old man fixes Burniss with a steely glare.
“Your services are no longer required here Burniss. Get your things
and get gone! We want you out of this town by sundown.”
15
A simple resolution at this point is for Burniss to sulkily collect
his belongings and leave town, followed by a watchful group of
townsfolk. If you want to get the PCs into the action as the final
heroes of the day, however, Burniss may fly into a rage and attack
Hortus. The PCs can capture, arrest, and secure Burniss in his
own jail if they don’t kill him outright. If incarcerated, the town
sends him south to the major city-state for a quiet trial, after
which he is never heard from again.
Much of the gold Burniss kept in the jail was extorted not only
from locals wanting through the gate, but from long-standing
families who were once known to have a plague carrier in their
family. While the gold technically belongs to them, no one steps
forward to claim it. Hortus reckons they would rather have their
privacy and security than actually come forward to make a claim.
If the PCs put themselves forward, no one objects if they take the
money as an additional reward.
other business
Aside from the plague stone and the Sheriff, Wolvington is an
excellent place to resolve other business. The PCs can buy and
sell trade goods, put in for repairs, and even purchase new
wagons and items.
The party may even wish to follow-up on rumors about the
mysterious bandit lord alluded to in Camford.
bandit rumors in Wolvington
PCs who wish to learn more about the bandits, or are just
curious about local news as it pertains to their journey can make
a Charisma check to gather information.
DC 10 The White Wolf, a notorious bandit lord, is definitely
abroad in this part of the Gypsy Nation. Travelers from the
north report caravans have been attacked. He rarely comes this
far south, but his reach has expanded and his bands sometimes
attack travelers on both sides of the Lantern River.
DC 15 Some believe the White Wolf is a ghost or an evil spirit,
because this is not the first bandit lord to stalk the Gnarlwood
area to go by that name.
DC 20 The White Wolf’s behavior, strategy, and tactics are the
same as those of 25 years ago.
DC 25 The White Wolf’s bandits always steal valuables and
often take prisoners. They take the hardiest captives prisoner
and let the rest go. Some report they study each captive’s face
carefully, as if looking for someone specific.
Part four: a shortCut through
the gnarlWood
The road out of Wolvington follows the east bank of the Lantern
River towards the town of Raven’s Eye for 75 miles before it
diverts almost another 70 miles to get to the town of Port Haven.
Cusp proposes an alternate route: to go back across the Lantern
River, follow the west bank, and take a shortcut through the
Gnarlwood Forest for a 110 mile trek. This shaves an entire day
off the journey, and avoids the unpleasant swampy community
of Raven’s Eye. Assuming the party takes Cusp’s shortcut, on the
third day after leaving Wolvington, the caravan takes the shortcut
through the Gnarlwood and ends that third day 14 miles outside
of Port Haven. The details of this encounter transpire while the
caravan is traveling through the forest on a well-established trail.
d. ranulfr’s raiders
The path Cusp takes is broad and easy for the wagons. Terrain
should not play a great role.
Creatures: Ranulfr has more than one group of bandits
patrolling this area. The White Wolf himself is currently
patrolling elsewhere, but a small group of his raiders come across
the party’s caravan as it moves through the Gnarlwood.
The raiders have a strategy they’ve adopted since their master
set them to search for Kikuko. When the caravan comes within
sight, they avoid any obvious interest in what the caravan carries,
and they keep their weapons sheathed. As a group they ride past
the caravan, nodding hello, and returning waves and greetings if
offered, before they ride out of sight. However, they’re actually
checking faces for an attractive Eastern woman (Kikuko),
counting heads, and determining in which wagons the caravan’s
defenders are located. This is not obvious, but a PC who makes a
successful DC 20 Wisdom (Insight) check has a sense of unease
and untrustworthiness about the group. The raiders do not
appear as northmen from a racial perspective, but a successful DC
10 Intelligence check indicates they were trained by a northman
or heavily exposed to that culture, as evidenced by their choice
of melee weapon, dress, and overall style. The caravan NPCs
should make no particular effort to conceal themselves unless
the PCs advise them first. This allows the raider’s strategy to have
a chance to work, while it grants the PCs all the credit if they’re
smart enough not to fall for it.
After sufficient time has passed for the party to lower their
defenses, the raiders ride back towards the caravan prepared for
a full attack. If they spotted Kikuko, her capture becomes their
primary goal. The raiders use sleep arrows to subdue defenders.
The raiders have rope-ties which are simple knotted loops of
spider silk rope they can slip over wrists or ankles as a move
action to restrain an opponent. The ties have 4 hp and can be
burst with a DC 23 Strength check. The raiders do not take any
opportunity to coup de grace PCs, or press an attack against
characters that are helpless. The raider’s horses are not combat
trained. Their primary function is a means for the raiders to
attack the wagons in motion.
Boxed Text—When To Use It and When Not To
Boxed text is an art form in and of itself, and there is a
time and place when to use it. It can be of great value
when an apt description of a room or dialogue from
an NPC is required. However, when it comes out of
nowhere, like during a wilderness journey, it can be
a dead giveaway that something is about to happen.
It is at these times it is best to keep it simple and not
rouse the players suspicions any earlier than you have
to—after all, sometimes a path through the woods is
just a path through the woods!
16
Northmen Raiders (4)
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (unarmored defense, shield)
Hit Points 13 (2d8+4)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 14 (+2)
DEX 14 (+2)
CON 14 (+2)
INT 8 (−1)
WIS 12 (+1)
CHA 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Strength, Constitution
Skills Athletics +4, Intimidation +2
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Danger Sense: A raider that is not blinded, deafened, or
incapacitated has advantage on Dexterity saving throws
against effects it can see, such as traps and spells.
Rage: On its turn, a raider can enter a rage for up to 1 minute
as a bonus action. While raging, it has advantage on Strength
checks and saving throws, a +2 bonus on melee damage rolls,
and resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
The rage ends early if the raider is knocked unconscious, if it
fails to attack or take damage since its last turn, or it takes a
bonus action to do so. A raider can rage 2 times per day.
Reckless Attack: When making its first attack on its turn, a
raider can choose to attack recklessly. It gains advantage on
Strength-based melee weapon attacks during that turn, but
attack rolls against the raider have advantage until its next
turn.
Special Equipment: Each raider has two sleep arrows.
Actions
Battleaxe Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d8+2 (6)
slashing damage.
Shortbow Attack: ranged 80/320 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d6+2
(5) piercing damage.
Sleep Arrow
Weapon (arrow), uncommon
You have a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with this arrow.
If this arrow hits a creature, it bursts into magical energy that
forces the creature to make a successful DC 11 Wisdom saving
throw or fall asleep. If the creature is reduced to 0 hit points
by damage from this arrow, it is instead knocked unconscious,
and is stable.
Riding Horses (4)
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 13 each (2d10+2)
Speed 60 ft.
STR 16 (+3)
DEX 10 (+0)
CON 12 (+1)
INT 2 (–4)
WIS 11 (+0)
CHA 7 (–2)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Actions
Hooves Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target: +2 to hit, 2d4+3 (8)
bludgeoning damage.
17
Developments: If the raiders manage to escape with Kikuko,
Cusp suggests that the raiders might transport captives to Pirate’s
Landing or Port Haven. Since Port Haven is the closer of the two
ports and is on the way to Pirate’s Landing, it is a logical first
place to search.
If the PCs capture and interrogate one of the raiders, they
are loath to betray Ranulfr, yet a successful DC 12 Charisma
(Intimidation) check loosens their tongues. They describe the
“White Wolf”, and report that over a month ago he dreamt of an
Eastern woman. She has become his obsession, and has vowed
to stop at nothing to find her. If pressed on why, the raiders
look extremely uncomfortable and feign, “You don’t bring that
subject up with him.” If pressed harder, they blurt out, “He wants
to know why he is immortal!” The raiders can offer that their
leader has not aged a single day in the last 25 years, and no one
knows why. Yet some madness has convinced him it has to do
with a woman who looks exactly like Kikuko. If allowed, the
raiders produce a folded charcoal sketch on heavy paper. The
illustration is the exact likeness of Kikuko, which they report the
White Wolf drew from the memory. They can offer no further
explanation other than their orders are to search for her with
every raid they perform.
Part five: Port haven
The journey from Wolvington to Port Haven has been
approximately 110 miles, with the party arriving early afternoon
on the fourth day of this leg of the trip. Port Haven is one of two
ports with questionable reputations. Port Haven earns its name
from being the tamer of the two. Most sailing merchants can
put into port without undue fear of piracy. This does not make
Port Haven a safe city, however. The authorities place a premium
on peace and safe trade over actual justice. Ranulfr the White
Wolf uses Port Haven to meet his estranged brother One-Eye.
The brothers have always had an unusual relationship. Ranulfr
has always resented One-Eye’s “normalcy” and acceptance in the
northlands, whereas One-Eye resents Ranulfr’s immortality, so
much so that he plucked out one of his own eyes to gain some
portion of it. Yet, they are the other’s only living kinfolk and
maintain a brotherly, if strained, relationship. As a matter of
business, Old One-Eye usually buys Ranulfr’s captured thralls
and transports them for resale back to the northlands.
When the PCs arrive in Port Haven, certain events are in
motion. Old One-Eye has fallen sick from a wasting disease
while at sea and now lies below deck slowly dying. The crew
need provisions and have been forced to stop at Port Haven, so
the first mate has elected to confer with Ranulfr.
This encounter introduces the PCs to Ranulfr before their
final confrontation and permits them to get a look at the man
whose personal legend has shadowed their journey thus far.
Additionally, if the raiders managed to capture and abduct
Kikuko in Part Four, this is an opportunity for the PCs to rescue
her.
18
If the party asks locals about Kikuko, slavers, or human
trafficking, it is quickly suggested the docks might be the best
place to ask. Additional information can be learnt as follows.
bandit rumors in Port haven
PCs who wish to learn more about the White Wolf and his
presence in Port Haven can make a Charisma check to gather
information.
DC 10 The White Wolf is known in Port Haven and Pirate’s
Landing. His real name is said to be Ranulfr, and he is a northman
with pale skin, white hair, and pale blue eyes. He is said to have
been around forever but doesn’t seem to change.
DC 15 Ranulfr is circumspect while in Port Haven. He is said
to traffic in thralls but keeps his activities quiet, and prefers
to avoid direct confrontation with city authorities whenever
possible. He keeps primarily to the harbor district while in town.
He often trades with an aged northman named Old One-Eye.
Ranulfr is said to be exiled from his homeland.
DC 20 Old One-Eye is said to be Ranulfr’s older brother, and
both have come to Port Haven and Pirate’s Landing for decades.
Old One-Eye is a minor lord or clan chief back in the northlands,
and is a ring-giver to many property owners. He is an infamous
reaver and pirate. Ranulfr was sedentary for the past several
years but has abruptly become active again.
DC 25 Ranulfr is actually Old One-Eye’s fraternal twin and
was even born first. Old One-Eye has aged whereas Ranulfr has
not. One-Eye takes his name from when he tore out his own
eye and replaced it with a magical one that keeps him as vital
as a young man—except now some strange sickness has finally
brought him low.
e. Port haven
Along the side of a long, wooden pier is a large longship with a
single mast and benches for rowers with oars upended between
rounded shields mounted on the sides. Across from the ship is a
large wooden platform built into the pier for loading and unloading
cargo. A solitary rowboat is tied off next to the loading platform.
The sea water off the side of the pier is 15 feet deep and for the
purposes of Swim checks is considered calm.
Even if Kikuko wasn’t abducted, the PCs still have a reason to
be down at the docks. The caravan needs to sell and buy trade
goods, and the best trade goods are those which are hard to find
and shipped in from other areas far away. A port is the best place
to buy and sell rare items and a perfect place for the caravan
to conduct its trade. You can grant a +2 bonus on Charisma
(Persuasion) checks when selling goods at the docks, or selling
goods purchased from the docks in other towns.
ranulfr revealed
Creatures: Ranulfr has just visited his sick twin inside the
longship, and is now on the pier as he confers with Old One-Eye’s
first mate. Ranulfr believes One-Eye has little time left before
he dies, and he should be returned to the northlands where
those who owe fealty to One-Eye can conduct his funeral rites
properly. The two also negotiate the usual sale of thralls, four of
which stand nearby with their hands bound with rope. If she was
abducted, Kikuko is also present and bound, though Ranulfr has
no intention of selling her to anyone. His obsession is so great he
won’t let her out of his sight.
If Kikuko was abducted, or if one or more of the raiders who
failed in an abduction attempt escaped, at least one of Ranulfr’s
men may spot and recognize the PCs. If the PCs are recognized,
Ranulfr prepares to defend himself and quietly orders his men to
get ready to shove the bound thralls off the side of the pier where
they’ll drown if no one helps them quickly. If the fight starts to
go poorly, one of the raiders knocks Kikuko overboard as well.
Ranulfr shouts “No! No! Not her!” in shock and fury. Ranulfr
wants to pull her from the water, but his own men beg him to
retreat for the sake of his own life. The bandit allows himself to
be hustled aboard the ship while his raiders cover his retreat. The
longship casts off without the thralls and Ranulfr enraged at the
loss of his prize.
If Kikuko wasn’t abducted, this could instead be treated as a
roleplaying encounter; a chance to employ foreshadowing. If so,
Kikuko should be present with the party while in Port Haven.
Situate the party some distance to the east side of the docks,
while Ranulfr and his men congregate near the gangplank of the
longship with no prisoners. Ranulfr senses Kikuko’s presence
with his entangled destinies ability. He stares boldly at her and
the party and grows enraged. His allies notice this exchange, and
physically restrain him from an ill-advised charge down the pier
towards the party. They hustle their master aboard the longship,
and immediately begin rowing out of the harbor. Ranulfr glares
menacingly before he calls mockingly out across the pier in
Common, “Another time and another place, woman! You will be
mine!” Kikuko shivers despite herself, and reports the sensation
that “the White Wolf just seemed to know I was here.”
19
Ranulfr the White Wolf
Medium humanoid (dhamphir), neutral evil
Armor Class 17 (splint)
Hit Points 38 (7d8+7)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 16 (+3)
DEX 13 (+1)
CON 12 (+1)
INT 16 (+3)
WIS 8 (−1)
CHA 12 (+1)
Saving Throws Strength, Constitution
Skills Athletics +5, Intimidation +4
Resistances (damage) necrotic
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Action Surge: Ranulfr can take one additional action on top of
his regular action and a possible bonus action on his turn. He
must finish a short or long rest before he can do this again.
Dueling: Ranulfr gains a +2 bonus to damage rolls with a melee
weapon he is wielding in one hand when he is wielding no
other weapons. This is included in his longsword attack
below, but not his handaxe attack.
Entangled Destinies: Ranulfr automatically senses the presence
of Kikuko whenever she is within range, as though he had
cast locate creature.
Second Wind: Ranulfr can use a bonus action on his turn to
regain 1d10+7 hit points. He must finish a short or long rest
before he can do this again.
Spellcasting: Ranulfr is a 5th-level Intelligence-based spellcaster
(spell save DC 13; +6 to hit with spell attacks). He knows the
following spells from the wizard list:
•
Cantrips (at will): blade ward, chill touch
•
1st Level (4 slots): chromatic orb, magic missile, shield,
thunderwave
•
2nd Level (2 slots): scorching ray
Sunlight Sensitivity: While in sunlight, Ranulfr has disadvantage
on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely
on sight.
Actions
Multiattack: Ranulfr makes two melee attacks.
Longsword Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +6 to hit, 1d8+5 (9)
slashing damage.
Handaxe Attack: melee 5 ft. or ranged 20/60 ft., 1 target. +6 to
hit, 1d6+3 (6) slashing damage.
Northmen Raiders (2)
Use the stat block in the Ranulfr’s Raiders section above, but
these raiders do not have sleep arrows.
The Longship
Creatures: Old One-Eye’s reavers want no fight at this time.
Most remain on the ship to protect it, repelling boarders, and
leaving Ranulfr to fight his own battles. Should a battle break
out, they prepare the longship to push off from the pier and row
off. Twelve remain armed and ready to repel boarders until any
threat has retreated, and any that fall are replaced each round
until all 45 of the reavers are defeated. 40 of the reavers are 1st-
level barbarians, 4 are 3rd-level barbarians, and 1 is a 6th-level
barbarian. With 45 barbarian reavers on board, the capture of the
longship is well beyond the capabilities of the PCs at this time.
Northmen Raiders (12)
Use the stat block in the Ranulfr’s Raiders section above, but
these raiders do not have sleep arrows.
Developments: If the PCs manage to kill Ranulfr, the events
in Part 7 will change.
If the northmen reavers provide him with an escape route,
they do not transport him to the northlands, but put him ashore
north of Port Haven. From there he resumes his search for
Kikuko as described in Part 7.
While bound, Kikuko and the thralls have the pinned condition
and sink rapidly while they hold their breath. Another creature
can drag them to the surface with a DC 12 Strength (Athletics)
check, and anyone dragged to the surface adjacent to the pier or
loading platform can be hauled out of the water as a standard
action. This is a diversionary tactic and those knocked in the
water are only at risk if ignored.
Finally, the PCs may think to identify what Ranulfr is. This
can be accomplished with a DC 20 Intelligence (Religion). Bear
in mind that Ranulfr does not know what he is! If confronted
at any point with this information, it changes nothing. Ranulfr
becomes confused and then angry by the revelation. He’ll
suspect it is untrue, and has difficulty reconciling it as he (to
his understanding) had a normal biological father and he has
a “normal” twin. His biological father’s magical possession
by a jiangshi and the unique passing of its curse through this
possession to his children is beyond anyone’s ability to guess.
20
Part six: Caravan Crisis
The road from Port Haven heads north for approximately 60
miles to Pirate’s Landing. With the forests now left behind, the
terrain becomes open with only small hills to the northwest on
the second day of travel.
killers on the road
The caravan spots a trail of smoke rising from the road ahead.
Its source is undetermined, but if the party sends scouts ahead
they report a burning wagon ahead and a caravan in chaos and
disarray. Read the following description to the scouts or to the
main caravan group.
The wreckage of a covered wagon, almost burned to the ground,
sits askew on the road ahead. One of its horses lies dead in front of
it, while the other is missing. The scent of smoke and burning flesh
hangs in the air. Nearby, a smaller supply wagon sits on its side,
its horse also absent, and a large hole smashed through the base
boards. The tracks of a third wagon lead off the side of the road and
away from the road. The blackened corpse of an armored man lays
in the burning wagon. The scene is quiet except for the crackling
hiss and sputter of the fire.
The following clues to what happened here can be ascertained
by careful observation. Judging by the number of wagons, most
of the caravan travelers are missing. Many of the food stuffs and
supplies are also missing, except for a few crates and barrels that
are broken and left behind with their contents—simple clothing
and household items—spilled out on the ground. The second
horse that was hitched to the burning wagon was cut loose. The
horse hitched to the overturned supply wagon was likely able to
wrench itself loose and may still be dragging part of its harness
if it was not captured.
PCs that make a successful DC 12 Intelligence (Investigation)
check can surmise the burned victim died from bludgeoning
damage and was already dead when the wagon caught fire. A
successful DC 10 Intelligence (Investigation) check can ascertain
the hole in the floorboard of the overturned wagon was either a
huge club, or a fist the size of a ham.
gathering Clues
PCs who wish to gather clues can make an Intelligence
(Investigation) or Wisdom (Survival) check to learn the
following facts.
DC 10 There is evidence of a pitched battle. A handful of
broken arrows can be found. The wreckage suggests the attackers
used large blunt weapons, whereas the defenders used blades
and bows. The trail of the third wagon pulled by two horses leads
off the road to the east. The horses appear panicked and had no
driver.
DC 13 Three sets of tracks lead to the northwest in the
direction of some small hills. These tracks can be followed at half
the PCs normal speed.
DC 15 The tracks which lead northwest were made by Large
humanoid creatures. They must weigh in excess of 500 pounds
each from the depth of the tracks in firm ground. A second set of
tracks, those of a Medium-sized humanoid, lead in the direction
of a copse of trees to the northeast, about 100 yards away.
DC 20 There is evidence that three Medium-sized humanoids
were captured and then carried off to the northwest.
21
If the PCs follow the trail of the missing wagon, they can locate
it after an hour, or 30 minutes while on horseback. The covered
wagon is undamaged, but the horses are very skittish and
tired. The wagon still contains supplies, bedding, and personal
possessions one might expect to find on a traveling caravan. A
successful DC 15 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check allows a
character to take immediate control of the wagon, otherwise the
horses require an hour to calm down.
Creature: PCs who follow the single Medium-sized set of
tracks to the northeast, towards the copse of trees, find the
tracks end there. A 17 year old human woman, Aeysha Villani,
hides up in one of the trees, but a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception)
check notices her. Having seen the PCs draw up to the scene in
a caravan but scared and wary of banditry, a successful DC 17
Charisma (Persusasion) check is required to convince her to
climb down. If the party convinces Aeysha they’re not thieves
and are trying to help her, she describes the attack and begs
for the PCs to rescue her family who were taken as captives.
Aeysha’s family owns the caravan that only an hour or so ago was
attacked by three “giants”, and in the ensuing chaos she fled and
hid. She is visibly shaken by the violence she’s witnessed, and its
clear that she has been crying. PCs who make a successful DC
13 Intelligence check can discern the “giants” are likely ogres,
and that there is limited time before the ogres either eat their
captives, or do perverse and humiliating things to them (and
then eat them). If the PCs intend to rescue the Villanis, they had
best be quick!
f. ogre Cave
The “giant” tracks lead off road where the caravan wagons cannot
traverse but they can be followed by PCs on foot or horseback
with a DC 13 Wisdom (Survival) check. Most of the daylight
passes before the PCs arrive. If the Survival check to follow the
tracks equals 18 or more, the PCs arrive in the late afternoon,
otherwise, they arrive at dusk.
Nestled in the side of a hill, concealed by several clumps of trees, is
a large cave. Just outside it is a large bonfire. Most of the wood on
the bonfire has burned down to a glowing bed of red-hot coals, and
a low corona of flames which throw flickering shadows. The wood
smoke fails to mask a sickly sweet smell of sweat and blood. Just
inside the cave is what appears to be a crude wooden enclosure.
The campfire sheds light like a torch. The low vegetation is
undergrowth, and the trees provide light obscurement. The
wooden enclosure stands five feet high, and is more of a pen
than a cage. The ogres often keep stolen cows, sheep, and pigs
here before devouring them. This same pen is where they also
keep captive humans, with their wrists and ankles bound. A large
rock keeps the swinging gate closed. The simple construction
notwithstanding, the enclosure is sturdy. Sitting along the
southern wall of the cave are a number of crates and barrels
stolen from the caravan. The ogres have only inventoried a few
of them so far.
22
Creatures: Three ogres, Fraegrim, Hogrella, and their son
Picklecheeks, dwell in this cave. This incestuous family attacked
the Villani caravan and now hold Estella and Davrioz Villani, and
their hired caravan guard Garvantos, captive in their pen. All of
the prisoners have their wrists and ankles bound together with
ropes, and dirty rags shoved in their mouths to keep them quiet.
Currently, only Fraegrim and Hogrella are present. The ogres
are distracted, but their greatclubs and javelins remain within
reach. The pair discovered a collection of cooking spices in their
stolen loot, and they are arguing about which to use on Garvantos
tonight. Once a fight starts, one of the pair might scoop up a
barrel of beer and hurl it on the campfire, which extinguishes
the fire when it shatters and plunges the area into darkness. If a
greater challenge is required, Picklecheeks can arrive back from
the woods behind the party after combat has started.
Ogres (2 or 3)
Large giant, chaotic evil
Armor Class 11 (hide armor)
Hit Points 59 (7d10+21)
Speed 40 ft.
STR 19 (+4)
DEX 8 (–1)
CON 16 (+3)
INT 5 (–3)
WIS 7 (–2)
CHA 7 (–2)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages Giant
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Actions
Greatclub Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +6 to hit, 2d8+4 (13)
bludgeoning damage.
Javelin Attack: melee 5 ft. or ranged 30/120 ft., 1 target. +6 to
hit, 2d6+4 (11) piercing damage.
Treasure: Inside a sturdy wooden keg that has had its lid
nailed back on, the ogre family has poured all the riches they’ve
stolen from travelers over the years. It includes 12 pp, 1,422 gp,
a potion of remove curse, and a plain scroll case which contains a
scroll of stinking cloud. If Picklecheeks was also killed, there is an
additional 4 pp, 50 gp, a potion of levitate, and a potion of enlarge/
reduce.
Development: If the Villanis and Garvantos are rescued they
are incredibly grateful. Davrioz is ashamed he has no riches to
bestow upon the PCs, as much of his fortune was invested in the
caravan. Estella hugs and kisses everyone present if they allow,
her eyes wet with tears of relief. If they are reunited with Ayesha,
they are overjoyed. They ask to take their surviving wagon and as
much of their supplies that survived and head south. There they
intend to find some community to settle down in permanently,
and abandon the traditional nomadic lifestyle.
Aeysha, however, wants none of this. The young woman
understands her parents have grown old, but she dreads the idea
of staying put in some town or village until some farmer sees
fit to marry her. Inspired by the courage and determination of
the PCs, she decides she would rather see the world and have
adventures. Her parents resist initially, but do not stand in her
way when she requests to join the PCs’ caravan. Aeysha can fulfill
a number of different roles in the caravan, and has been training
to become a fortune-teller. Alternatively, Aeysha can become the
apprentice or cohort of a PC or even the basis for a new PC.
23
Part seven:
the fate of the White Wolf
After the events at Port Haven, Cusp is able to direct the caravan
to Pirate’s Landing without incident. Ranulfr has regrouped with
his band and has been in slow pursuit. The distance to the PCs’
final destination is 200 miles, which requires at least 6 nights
before they arrive. It is on the sixth night that Ranulfr strikes, on
the very eve of the next step in the party’s grand quest.
g. When destinies Collide
The final encounter does not take place in a location the caravan
chances upon, but at their own campsite. A map depicting a
typical caravan campsite, with the wagons drawn in a protective
circle, has been provided.
Creatures: Ranulfr has tracked the party down, and this
time he brings more magical assistance. Kenna White-Eyes is
Ranulfr’s ally and sometimes lover. The northwoman is a striking
beauty with silver hair, perfect fair skin, and milky white eyes.
She dresses in black leather armor and dark colors. A war priest,
Kenna is drawn to acts of passion and violence by forces beyond
her comprehension. She is jealous of her bandit lord’s unearthly
fascination with Kikuko, and yet she also knows what it is to be
the slave to obsession. She hates him but is drawn inexplicably
towards him, and would pull away from Ranulfr if she could.
Like Kikuko, Kenna is tangled up in the strands of his story. If
nothing else, the pair have an unspoken empathy for each other
few others would understand.
The dhampir’s goal is to capture Kikuko. Ironically, Ranulfr
doesn’t know exactly what he’s going to do with her once he
does, or why he is compelled to capture her. He only knows she
is somehow involved in the mystery of his birth, and she is the
object of an obsession he cannot explain. He intends to capture
her and if necessary kill every single person who stands in his
way.
Ranulfr stages his attack in the middle of the night to put
the PCs at the greatest disadvantage. Ranulfr and Kenna have
darkvision, and he has arranged for his reavers to have one
potion of darkvision each. Ranulfr studies the campsite from the
furthest extent of his darkvision. He is not especially stealthy
but uses cover from the trees and the darkness. His entangled
destinies ability helps him focus on where Kikuko is located
before he orders the attack
Ranulfr the White Wolf
Use the stat block in Ranulfr Revealed section above.
Northmen Raiders (2)
Use the stat block in the Ranulfr’s Raiders section above.
Kenna White-Eyes
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic neutral
Armor Class 18 (chain mail and shield)
Hit Points 16 (3d8+3)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 14 (+2)
DEX 13 (+1)
CON 12 (+1)
INT 8 (−1)
WIS 17 (+3)
CHA 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Wisdom, Charisma
Skills Insight +5, Religion +1
Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Clouded Vision: Kenna can only see to a range of 30 feet, but has
darkvision within that range.
Guided Strike: Kenna can gain a +10 bonus on one attack roll.
She must finish a short or long rest before she can do this
again.
Spellcasting: Kenna is a 3rd-level Wisdom-based spellcaster
(spell save DC 13; +5 to hit with spell attacks). She knows the
following spells from the cleric list:
•
Cantrips (at will): guidance, resistance, sacred flame
•
1st Level (4 slots): bane, command, cure wounds, divine
favor, healing word, shield of faith
•
2nd Level (2 slots): blindness/deafness, hold person,
magic weapon, spiritual weapon
War Priest: Kenna can make one weapon attack as a bonus
action whenever she makes an attack action. She can do this
up to three times before she must finish a long rest to be able
to do this again.
Actions
Morningstar Attack: melee 5 ft., 1 target. +4 to hit, 1d8+2 (6)
piercing damage.
Developments: Kenna does not surrender. If brought to a
helpless state and then healed after Ranulfr’s death, she holds no
acrimony towards the party. She explains that her relationship
with Ranulfr was “complex”. If it suits the needs of the story,
Kenna can become a new ally or replacement character. She
can sense the road the PCs travel is fraught with conflict and is
drawn like a moth to a flame.
What If Ranulfr Is Dead?
If Ranulfr was killed in Part Five, then it is Kenna
White-Eyes who leads the final attack against the PCs
in revenge. Add two or three extra raiders in place of
Ranulfr.
24
25
ConClusion
Although the story of Ranulfr the White Wolf is at an end,
his obsession with Kikuko remains an unresolved mystery.
Unanswered questions notwithstanding, the White Wolf pitted
his destiny against the PCs’ and was found wanting. The PCs
final destination, the town of Saltcrest lies only 8 miles ahead.
Shirota, the jiangshi sorcerer now knows that Kikuko is on
her way to claim her throne. The vampire does not share this
information with the Dark Spirits however, as his desire for
revenge against his former family is too personal, and too long
has his oracular insights been dismissed and mocked. Shirota
keeps his counsel, and waits for the scion of his former family to
draw closer so it is he who is the instrument of her destruction.
In this way he means to prove himself at last to the Dark Spirits,
and bring meaning and purpose to his undeath.
If Ranulfr proves triumphant, then he takes Kikuko prisoner
while he tries to unravel the mystery of their connection. This
may allow a new group of heroes to arise to rescue her and see
her on the road to destiny.
aPPendix one – days traveled and story events
To assist you in maintaining a calendar or log for your campaign,
here is an approximate chronology of events and miles traveled
each day throughout the Road to Destiny adventure. It assumes
the default caravan travel rate of 32 miles per day, but also notes
locations where the caravan might come to a halt early due to
proximity to a town or event. It also shows the days where no
events take place, where you may wish to generate a random
encounter. The length of the entire journey is 541 miles.
1. Starting Town to Monastery of the Wind: 58 miles. The PCs
must camp one day, and arrive late on the second day.
2. Monastery of the Wind to Goblin Ambush: 10 miles. The
encounter occurs late morning of the third day.
3. Goblin Ambush to Camford: 65 miles. The PCs must camp
twice before they arrive at Camford early on the 5th day, and
presumably stay the night.
4. Camford to Wolvington: 32 miles. The PCs arrive late
afternoon on the 6th day and presumably stay the night.
5. Wolvington to Gnarlwood Ambush: 70 miles. The PCs must
camp twice and are attacked early on the 9th day.
6. Gnarlwood Ambush to Port Haven: 40 miles. The PCs must
camp once and arrive in Port Haven late morning on the 10th
day and presumably stay the night.
7. Port Haven to the Ruined Caravan: 17 miles. If the PCs stop
to help and fight the ogres that is the only progress they make on
the 11th day. Alternatively they arrive at Pirate’s Landing in the
evening of the 12th day (subtract one day from future estimates).
8. Ruined Caravan to Pirate’s Landing: 45 miles. The PC must
camp once and arrive in Pirate Landing just before midday on
the 13th day and presumably spend the night.
9. Pirate’s Landing to Confrontation with Ranulfr: 192 miles.
The PCs must camp six times and are attacked after they make
camp the final night. The next morning is the 19th day
10. Confrontation with Ranulfr to Saltcrest: 8 miles. The PCs
arrive at SaltCrest late morning on the 20th day.
26
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Road to Destiny (5th Edition) © 2014,
Legendary Games; Author Jim Groves with
Alistair Rigg.
System Reference Document. © 2000, Wizards
of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet,
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by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
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Nelson, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K
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27
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Road to destiny
Road to destiny
www.makeyourgamelegendary.com LG025JR065ED
beWare the White Wolf!
A legacy of death bears bitter fruit in the northern coastlands, as brothers long separated each rise to the
call of their darkling legacy. A new destiny has arisen in the west that threatens to shake the foundations
of an empire half a world away, but not if Ranulfr the White Wolf and his one-eyed sibling can waylay
these would-be heroes on their road to destiny! This adventure designed for 2nd level characters offers
the chance to earn additional experience within a Far East Adventure Path campaign as the heroes set
out on their epic caravan journey to the far side of the world, or it can serve as a self-contained sandbox
adventure suitable for any campaign.
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/Legendary Games/Far East/Road to Destiny.pdf |
By Mike Kimmel
Iolite Squad Alpha
Iolite Squad Alpha
PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIO #1–19
TIER 3–6
Paizo Inc.
7120 185th Ave NE, Ste 120
Redmond, WA 98052–0577
paizo.com
Scenario Tags
Scenario tags provide additional information about an adventure’s contents. For more
information on scenario tags, see the Pathfinder Society Guide to Play at http://www.
organizedplayfoundation.org/paizo/guides/. This scenario has no scenario tags.
Pathfinder Society Scenario #1–19: Iolite Squad Alpha is a Pathfinder Society Scenario
designed for 3rd- through 6th-level characters (Tier 3–6; Subtiers 3–4 and 5–6). As a
scenario, this adventure is designed to take about 4 hours to play. It is designed for play in
the Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign, but can easily be adapted for use with any
world. For more information on the Pathfinder Society campaign, how to read the attached
Chronicle sheets, and how to find games in your area, check out the campaign’s home page
at PathfinderSociety.club.
How to Play
GM Resources
Iolite Squad Alpha makes use of the Pathfinder Core Rulebook and Pathfinder Bestiary, as well
as Pathfinder Flip Mat: Cavernous Lair. All rules referenced in this adventure are available in
the free online Pathfinder Reference Document at paizo.com/prd, and creature stat blocks
from the Bestiary are reprinted at the back of the adventure for the GM’s convenience.
Table of Contents
Iolite Squad Alpha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Appendix 1: Subtier 3–4 Encounters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Appendix 2: Subtier 5–6 Encounters . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Appendix 3: Art & Handout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
GM References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Chronicle Sheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
AUTHOR
Mike Kimmel
DEVELOPMENT LEAD
James Case
DESIGN LEAD
Mark Seifter
EDITING LEAD
Leo Glass
EDITORS
Garrett Guillotte and Kieran Newton
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Sergio Cosmai, Katerina Landon, Leonardo Santanna, and
Brian Valeza (Gunship Revolution)
CARTOGRAPHERS
Jason Engle
ART DIRECTION AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Tony Barnett and Sonja Morris
ORGANIZED PLAY LEAD DEVELOPER
Linda Zayas-Palmer
ORGANIZED PLAY MANAGER
Tonya Woldridge
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
James Jacobs
MANAGING DEVELOPER
Adam Daigle
PUBLISHER
Erik Mona
3
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
VARISIA
VARISIA
• • Korvosa
Korvosa
• • Kaer Maga
Kaer Maga
By Mike Kimmel
Iolite Squad Alpha takes place in the nation of
Varisia and follows the PCs as they escort a group of
hobgoblin recruits from Kaer Maga to Korvosa. More
information on Varisia can be found on pages 116-117
of the Pathfinder Lost Omens World Guide, available in
hobby and game stores, and online at paizo.com.
WHERE ON GOLARION?
GM Synopsis
In this scenario, the PCs escort a group of hobgoblin
recruits from Kaer Maga to Korvosa as part of a diplomatic
mission to train new Pathfinders. The adventure features
social interactions, skill-based challenges, and combat in
roughly equal measure.
Adventure Background
In 4717 AR, the hobgoblin warlord General Azaersi and
her Ironfang Legion invaded the nations of Nirmathas
and Molthune, leading vast armies with the help of a
powerful artifact that created dimensional pathways
through the Plane of Earth and moved troops and
supplies with ease. Though her armies were powerful, a
group of heroes confronted and eventually convinced a
war-weary Azaersi that her continued military conquests
were only hindering her ultimate goal: the establishment
of a stable hobgoblin homeland. In the aftermath of the
Ironfang Invasion, Azaersi has focused on building this
new homeland nation of Oprak through diplomacy and
treaty. The general is well aware that Oprak’s imposing
barrier mountains, highly trained army, and access to
tremendous resources via secret portals to the elemental
Plane of Earth make it one of the Inner Sea region’s best
defenses against the threat posed by the newly released
Whispering Tyrant.
To help establish connections with the rest of the
region, Oprak reached out to the Pathfinder Society, a
globally established agency and natural candidate for
diplomatic relations. While still suspicious of Azaersi
and her motives, the Society has decided to allow a
newly formed trial squad of hobgoblin recruits, dubbed
the Iolite Squad, to travel to Absalom and train as
Pathfinders. The Society hopes to learn more about
the hobgoblin nation and its goals, as well as share the
Society’s values with the recruits—and, by extension,
with the people of Oprak. Due to the urgent diplomatic
situation and the hobgoblins’ military training and
experience, the Society has further opted to administer
an accelerated crash course in Pathfinder techniques and
then evaluate the squad at specially selected training
grounds before reporting to Absalom.
The Pathfinders assigned to the squad must escort
the hobgoblins from Kaer Maga to the training
grounds and on to Korvosa, where they will board a
ship to Absalom. They will pass through lands that
are hostile to hobgoblins in the wake of the Ironfang
Invasion while also evaluating the hobgoblins’ skills as
prospective Pathfinders in a series of challenges both
planned and spontaneous.
Adventure Summary
The adventure begins with the PCs nearing the end of their
journey from Heidmarch Manor in Magnimar to Kaer
Maga, with the details of their assignment in a letter from
Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch. The letter outlines
where the PCs are to meet the Iolite Squad, the parameters
of their mission, and what little is known about the ruins
that are to serve as the hobgoblins’ training grounds.
The PCs meet up with the Iolite Squad and begin their
journey. During their time in transit, the Pathfinders can
converse with and observe the hobgoblins. Their first
opportunity to assess the hobgoblins’ fighting ability and
coordination comes when they encounter a merchant
family that has been run off the road by a band of wargs.
After slaying or chasing off the wargs, the PCs and
hobgoblins can offer assistance to the merchant family,
while navigating the family’s suspicion of hobgoblins.
Once they reach the training site, the two groups
conduct joint training exercises that give the Pathfinders
a chance to exchange interesting tactics and techniques
with the Iolite Squad prior to their expedition into
the ruins.
In the ruins, the hobgoblins take the lead and the
Pathfinders back them up—but when unexpected
predators show up, both teams must test their mettle!
4
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Getting Started
The PCs begin the adventure late in the morning
after several days of travel from Heidmarch Manor
in Magnimar to Kaer Maga, on orders from
Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch. The City of
Strangers and its 80-foot-high walls loom far above
them from atop the Storval Rise. Give the PCs Handout
#1: Heidmarch’s Mission Briefing.
Allow the PCs to purchase supplies before their
arranged meeting at the Sorry Excuse inn, but if necessary
remind them that the well-disciplined Iolite Squad will
likely resent tardiness. This is also a good time for the
PCs to roll checks to see if they know or can learn more
about hobgoblins and the area’s recent history.
Recall Knowledge (Society or Lore)
A PC who succeeds at a DC 19 Society check (DC 22 for
Subtier 5–6) or related Lore check to Recall Knowledge
knows more about the local opinion of hobgoblins.
Critical Failure Since the armistice between Oprak and the
surrounding nations following the Ironfang Invasion,
relations have steadily improved to the point that
hobgoblins have assimilated into the surrounding area.
Success Hobgoblins from Oprak are making headway
in improving the reputation of goblinoids throughout
the region, but they still face a great deal of prejudice
stemming from the bloody Ironfang Invasion and their
reputation as monsters and murderers. There are many
hobgoblins who still cling to these old ways, but General
Azaersi continues her efforts to bring hobgoblins and other
so-called “monsters” under her banner of diplomacy.
Critical Success The Iolite Squad is the first of its kind, a test
squadron put together with an emphasis on qualities the
nation of Oprak believes will mesh with the Pathfinder
Society’s values. Its leader, Sergeant Drussem, is renowned
not only for her successes in battle during the Ironfang
Invasion, but also for avoiding unnecessary combat and
helping to negotiate several key treaties.
Meeting the Iolite
Squad
Read or paraphrase the following once the PCs have
reviewed Handout #1, attempted their skill checks,
purchased supplies, and are ready to enter the rowdy,
ale-soaked Sorry Excuse to begin their work.
Laughter and shouts rise from the boisterous crowd that
occupies the cheaply furnished tavern room at the Sorry
Excuse inn. The staff move from table to table with practiced
efficiency to take orders and deliver pints of frothing ale. Four
hobgoblins seated near the entrance size up everyone who
enters and ignore the mugs on their table.
The four hobgoblins are the members of the Iolite
Squad. Though they are not unwelcome at the tavern,
they are out of their element and visibly uncomfortable.
The PCs can introduce themselves and ask questions to
learn more about the company.
Sergeant Drussem (LN female hobgoblin officer),
the group’s leader, approaches the PCs when they enter
the tavern. If the Pathfinders spent more than one hour
purchasing supplies in Kaer Maga before arriving at
the Sorry Excuse, she informs them of their tardiness.
However, if the PCs can explain a useful reason for
the perceived delay—such as the purchase of necessary
equipment or services—Drussem nods with satisfaction.
Drussem is slightly taller than the rest of the hobgoblins,
her armor is well made, and her equipment—from her
cloak to her sword and shield—is utterly unadorned save
for the flag of Oprak at her shoulder.
Drussem calls her soldiers to attention before
introducing each of them by name. Akrag (LN male
hobgoblin soldier) grins broadly and extends his lanky
arm to shake hands with each of the Pathfinders, his belt
bristling with small bladed weapons. Gintka (LN female
hobgoblin engineer), their sapper, gives a quick nod as
Drussem introduces her before she returns to fidgeting
with the metal buckles and sealed vials adorning her
gear. Finally, the Sergeant introduces Ozaril (LN male
hobgoblin commando), their veteran scout, who gives a
perfect salute, his fingers coming close to the many scars
that cross his head.
Shortly after the PCs introduce themselves, the GM
should express the squad’s readiness to be on their
way—they glance toward the exit, begin gathering their
equipment, settle their tab, and so on. The bartender is
visibly relieved when the group departs.
The hobgoblins are eager to begin their journey, and
if the PCs push for extended conversation beyond these
initial introductions, they ask to continue their discussion
on the road for the sake of efficiency.
GM Instructions: Give the PCs an opportunity to slot
their boons for the adventure if they have not already
done so, and remind them that they each have 1 Hero
Point available. If the PCs have final purchases to make,
the hobgoblins begrudgingly wait for them to finish
shopping before beginning their journey south.
Once the PCs are ready to embark with the Iolite Squad,
proceed to area A, where the PCs and their hobgoblin
companions happen upon a pack of wargs ambushing a
traveling merchant. The Traveling with the Iolite Squad
section on page 4 contains information about roleplaying
the PCs’ interactions with the hobgoblins throughout the
scenario, and the journey to area A is an ideal time to
introduce these interactions.
5
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Sergeant Drussem
Traveling with the
Iolite Squad
The journey from Kaer Maga to the training grounds,
then the ruins, and finally Korvosa stretches over 100
miles of varied terrain and should take multiple days.
The PCs can get to know the Iolite Squad during this
time, particularly after leaving Kaer Maga but before
area A; after the encounter with the merchant family (The
Wary Merchant); and after the Joint Training Exercises
but before reaching the ruins. Some conversation topics
and hobgoblin behaviors will likely come up over the
course of the journey, described as follows.
General Azaersi: The Iolite Squad’s members each
recently earned special recognition from General
Azaersi for their impressive service record in securing
allies in the fight against the Whispering Tyrant. The
Squad members have always had great respect for their
general, and after meeting her in person and being in the
presence of her charisma and passion, they understood
why so many rallied behind her during the Ironfang
Invasion—and why so many have stayed by her side
following the armistice.
Oprak: The Iolite Squad is proud to serve Oprak and
view the new nation as a symbol of hobgoblin strength
and endurance in the face of adversity.
The Pathfinder Society: Though becoming Pathfinder
agents was not their first preference for an assignment,
the Iolite Squad’s members recognize that they are among
the best hobgoblin candidates for such a mission. They
believe that the Pathfinder Society has much to offer in
terms of knowledge, resources, and practical experience,
and they hope that their presence can help to ingratiate
hobgoblins with others throughout the Inner Sea.
The Squad’s Reactions to other Goblinoid Pathfinders:
If any of the PCs are goblinoids, such as goblins or
hobgoblins, the Iolite Squad members take particular
interest in them. Early in the journey, one or more of
the hobgoblins ask the goblinoid PCs how they ended
up joining the Pathfinder Society. If the PCs’ responses
are at least somewhat in line with the Iolite Squad’s
mission objectives—such as creating better relationships
between goblinoids and other humanoids, especially
where Oprak is concerned—then the Squad reacts
favorably. If the PCs have more individualistic reasons
or seem at odds with the Squad, the hobgoblins resist
voicing open disdain but are clearly displeased. Toward
the end of the scenario, if the mission was successful, one
or more members of the Iolite Squad might approach
such PCs to offer thanks and express regret at judging
them so harshly.
Attitudes Toward Magic: The Iolite Squad does
not contain any spellcasters, but the group respects
6
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Akrag
Gintka
Ozaril
Rather than condense all of the role-playing with the
hobgoblins into a single scene, GMs should intersperse
interactions with the Iolite Squad throughout the adventure.
The simplest way to roleplay the Iolite Squad is to have
the hobgoblins defer to Sergeant Drussem. As ranking
officer, Drussem speaks for her team and feels responsible
for representing them. It can be cumbersome for players
and GMs alike to have too many NPCs participating in
role-playing scenes, especially with a larger table of players
or a louder event site, so having a single representative
can simplify the scenario and prevent player confusion.
Some groups instead thrive on deep role-playing with a
variety of NPCs. If that’s the case—and you as the GM are
comfortable with playing four NPCs at once—you can use
the descriptions below to flesh out the squad.
Sergeant Drussem is stern and commanding, though
quite cordial when at ease. She invites others’ opinions
on strategic decisions but expects her squad to fall in
line when she makes a decision and likewise takes full
responsibility for her squad’s successes and failures. She
singles out the PC who seems most authoritative (or one
with the most senior military background) and treats them
as the PCs’ “ranking officer,” assuming the PCs are also a
strictly hierarchical unit.
Akrag is a perfectionist. He follows a strict exercise
routine and conducts regular combat drills. He reads to keep
his mind sharp and learn about the world and has always
wanted to get his hands on a volume of the Pathfinder
Chronicles. He’s eager to share his knowledge but grows
impatient with those who don’t meet his standards.
Gintka is the group’s smokeworker. She constantly
fidgets and mutters to herself, has difficulty paying
attention for extended periods, and collects odd objects that
she wears in open defiance of Ironfang Legion regulations;
she’s especially attached to a recently acquired combination
hat/wig. She’s drawn to alchemy, woodworking, and other
activities involving careful measurement and effortlessly
tracks her tasks and mission objectives with thorough
mental checklists. Martial displays and long tales bore her.
Ozaril, the Iolite Squad’s scout, is comfortable in both
remote areas and bustling settlements. He displays earnest
curiosity for other humanoids’ customs and languages and
is usually the Squad’s most good-natured member, but he
also experiences periods of deep melancholy. The oldest
hobgoblin and a veteran of multiple wars—some with fellow
hobgoblins, some with other humanoids—he has great
respect for warriors and soldiers but recognizes the value
of avoiding conflict when possible.
ROLEPLAYING THE IOLITE SQUAD
7
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Elite Warg
practitioners of magic and other mystical arts —even
arcane and occult magic, which many from Oprak
view with suspicion. In their many missions, the Squad
members have witnessed powerful acts of creation,
destruction, and restoration at the hands of magic-users.
They ask questions of spellcasting PCs—what is the
source of your magic? When did you first learn how to
cast spells? What is the most powerful magic you can
do?—but they balk at the suggestion that they themselves
could study it. Gintka’s bombs and smokeworks are as
close to magic as any of them do, and they claim that this
advanced science suits the Squad well enough.
If the PCs or players are hesitant to initiate
conversation with the squad, consider having one of
the hobgoblins approach the PCs to ask a question or
seek advice.
A. Roadside Ambush
Moderate
The roads surrounding Kaer Maga are generally well
traveled, and the Pathfinders and Iolite Squad cross
paths with many people as they make their way south.
The hobgoblins do their best to appear friendly, but most
travelers give the group a wide berth, some even moving
to the side of the road to allow the armed hobgoblins
to march by.
The PCs and their Iolite Squad
companions make their way along
the road several hours south of Kaer
Maga before looking for a spot to
rest for the night, but their search
is interrupted when they encounter
a pack of wargs attacking some
traveling merchants who were
setting up their own camp near
an abandoned homestead.
This encounter assumes the
PCs are searching for a place
to camp or otherwise traveling
through this area around dusk.
The setting sun provides dim
light; the hobgoblins have no
trouble seeing in such conditions
thanks
to
their
darkvision.
Read
or paraphrase the following to begin
the encounter.
The path winds through the rugged, wooded foothills for
several miles before opening onto a small ravine. A
dilapidated homestead lies in ruin to the south, and
a nearby campfire sheds flickering illumination on
the surrounding outcroppings.
This abandoned homestead is unremarkable, except
that a merchant and his family have sheltered their
wagons under its mostly intact roof and are setting up
camp nearby. The merchant is Caradrian Subold (LN
male human merchant), a devout young man from
Magnimar on his way to sell all manner of holy texts in
Kaer Maga. Caradrian and his family are understandably
unable to engage in conversation until the imminent threat
of being devoured by wargs has been resolved.
The paths in this area are well trodden and smooth, but
debris and dense grass cover the ground off the paths and
constitute difficult terrain. The rocky outcroppings in the
area are natural stone ranging from 5 to 20 feet tall.
Creatures: A pack of hungry wargs tracked the
merchant family for hours and waited until their prey was
distracted by the task of preparing camp before ambushing
them. Caradrian was savvy enough to hire two caravan
guards, but they were the first to fall in the ambush and lie
bleeding on the path just west of the campfire. The wargs
are initially relieved at the approach of hobgoblins—
assuming that the goblinoids will fight alongside them and
split the spoils after the slaughter—but quickly notice that
the hobgoblins are not alone and do not mean
to help them. When they recognize this
threat, the wargs ignore the family to
8
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
turn their attention to the far more dangerous Pathfinders
and hobgoblins. See the scenario’s appendixes for more
details on the wargs and their tactics.
The merchant and his family cower behind the logs
near their campfire.
The Iolite Squad in Combat: The Iolite Squad does not
roll initiative or take individual turns in this encounter—
indeed, this scenario does not present traditional combat
statistics for the hobgoblins at all. Instead, the Iolite Squad
acts together by performing a single action on initiative
count 10. See the Encounter Appendixes for information
about the hobgoblins’ available actions.
You don’t need to represent the hobgoblins with
figures on the battle map, though you might choose to
do so. Be sure to narrate the Iolite Squad’s actions and
emphasize their combat prowess and coordination—
after all, they’re a military group, and they should give
the impression of being about on par with the PCs in
terms of their combat training and experience.
Subtier 3–4
ELITE WARGS (2)
CREATURE 3
Page 18; art on page 23
Subtier 5–6
WINTER WOLF
CREATURE 5
Page 20
ELITE WARGS (2)
CREATURE 3
Page 20; art on page 23
Rewards: One of the wargs wears a war harness
studded with onyx gems and reinforced with mithral
links, a device crudely fashioned from a noble warrior’s
cast-off armor that nonetheless has great value. The
harness is worth 40 gp and represents 1 Treasure Bundle.
Grateful Merchants: With the wargs defeated or
driven off, Caradrian and his family come out from
hiding to thank the PCs. Their reaction to the hobgoblins
is more mixed. Proceed to The Wary Merchant, a social
encounter in which the Iolite Squad enlists the PCs in
helping them make a good impression and change the
merchants’ attitudes toward their kind.
The Wary Merchant
Following the skirmish with the wargs, Caradrian
stumbles out from his hiding place near the campfire
to ascertain whether his caravan guards are still alive.
He is a man from Magnimar with simple, conservative
traveling clothes that suggest an austere lifestyle. His
partner, a Garundi man named Jharless, huddles with two
youths near the fire to console them and shield their gaze
from the carnage. When the Iolite Squad approaches,
Caradrian retreats in fear, shouting that he doesn’t want
any more trouble.
Sergeant Drussem, having been tasked with representing
the better aspects of Oprak and hobgoblin cooperation
and recognizing the potential benefit of helping distressed
travelers, orders Gintka and Akrag to help the injured
guards while she and Ozaril address Caradrian. If the PCs
do not immediately move to help, she gestures for them to
join; each PC can either speak with the merchant or treat
the injured guards. Their success (or lack of it) affects the
Iolite Squad’s morale, which adjusts the DCs of the Joint
Training Exercises on page 10. Each adjustment must be
applied to a different exercise.
Speaking with Caradrian
Addressing the merchant involves multiple steps. First,
a PC must calm Caradrian with a successful DC 18
Diplomacy check (DC 21 for Subtier 5–6); if the PC fails
this check, the PCs take a –1 circumstance penalty to
the subsequent Society or Religion check due to a poor
first impression.
A PC must then attempt to convince the merchant that
the hobgoblins are trustworthy with a successful DC 19
Society check (DC 22 for Subtier 5–6) to explain the
error of prejudice against hobgoblins given their evolving
role in the region, or a successful DC 18 Religion
check (DC 21 for Subtier 5–6) to persuade the devout
merchant with religious doctrines of tolerance, second
chances, or similar arguments. Either check has one of
the following results and alters the Iolite Squad’s morale
after the encounter.
Critical Success Caradrian not only expresses sincere thanks to
the PCs and the Iolite Squad, but also offers to share any text
of the hobgoblins’ choice. Drussem selects a book of prayers
and songs from a variety of good-aligned faiths called
Common Prayers and Hymns of the Inner Sea. Decrease the
DCs of two of the Joint Training Exercises by 1.
Success Caradrian expresses sincere thanks for the PCs’
intervention and takes a long moment to ponder their
argument. He then thanks Drussem and the Iolite Squad,
acknowledges that he has much to learn about hobgoblins
and will endeavor to have more faith in them. Decrease the
DC of one of the Joint Training Exercises by 1.
Failure Caradrian is grateful for the PCs’ intervention, but his
gratitude extends to only the Pathfinders. He expresses
that the hobgoblins’ one small act of mercy can’t undo
a long history of violence resulting from the greed and
hatred of goblin-kind in the area. Do not adjust the DCs of
the Joint Training Exercises.
9
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Roadside Ambush
Roadside Ambush
Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Cavernous Lair
Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Cavernous Lair
W
PCs Start Here
PCs Start Here
1 square = 5 feet
1 square = 5 feet
W = Wargs Start Here
W = Wargs Start Here
10
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Critical Failure Caradrian is grateful but wants nothing
further to do with the PCs. He feels that their presence only
puts his family in greater danger. Increase the DC of one of
the Joint Training Exercises by 1.
Helping the Injured
Helping the injured guards involves multiple steps. First,
a PC must stabilize the guards and assess their condition
with a successful DC 20 Medicine check (DC 22 for
Subtier 5–6) to Administer First Aid. The check applies
to both guards at once. If the PC fails this check, the
PCs take a –1 circumstance penalty to the subsequent
Crafting or Medicine check due to the guards’ more
severe condition. As the PCs approach to help the guards,
Akrag pulls out a set of healer’s tools while Gintka begins
to mix salves, and Akrag insists on using their expertise in
field medicine rather than magic to prove the hobgoblins’
desire to help to the merchant. He grants the PC who
attempts the check a +1 circumstance bonus on their roll.
A PC must then aid Akrag and Gintka in treating the
guards more comprehensively with a successful DC 19
Crafting or Nature check (DC 22 for Subtier 5–6) to
help Gintka prepare antiseptics and wound sealants, or
a successful DC 18 Medicine check (DC 21 for Subtier
5–6) to Treat Wounds and help Akrag apply bandages.
Either check will have one of the following results and
alters the Iolite Squad’s morale after the encounter.
Critical Success Both guards recover swiftly and are amazed
at the efficacy of the hobgoblins’ medical practice. Decrease
the DCs of two of the Joint Training Exercises by 1.
Success Both guards are stable and happy to be alive, though
it will take them a bit longer to be recovered enough to
resume their guard duties. Decrease the DC of one of the
Joint Training Exercises by 1.
Failure The guards are stable but remain unconscious for at
least a day as their bodies recover from blood loss and fight
off infection. Caradrian takes this as a sign of the hobgoblins’
inability to do anything other than bring harm. Do not adjust
the DCs of the Joint Training Exercises.
Critical Failure While one of the guards stabilizes and remains
unconscious, the other is lost during treatment. Caradrian
believes that this was intentional sabotage to make the
wagons easier prey later, and he chases the PCs and squad
off. Increase the DC of one of the Joint Training Exercises by 1.
If the PCs go against Akrag’s wishes and use magic to
treat the guards, the guards automatically recover with
no check, but the Iolite Squad feels undermined in their
genuine attempt to remedy the situation; in this case,
increase the DC of two of the Joint Training Exercises
by 1.
Rewards: As long as one of the guards doesn’t die
during treatment, Caradrian expresses gratitude to
the PCs and the squad and offers a few small items
as thanks. In Subtier 3–4, he gives the PCs an oil of
mending and a lesser mistform elixir. In Subtier 5–6, he
instead rewards the PCs with two moderate acid flasks
and a moderate mistform elixir. These items are worth
2 Treasure Bundles.
Joint Training Exercises
Moderate
After the PCs rest for the night, the Pathfinders’ journey
continues to the southeast on less-traveled paths for nearly
two days. During this time, the stoic Iolite Squad members
remain vigilant, knowing that danger could come from
hungry monsters and distrusting humanoids alike.
The group’s next destination is a small valley containing
a training ground that the Society has prepared for the
Pathfinders in advance—their mission briefing includes
directions on which paths to travel to find the site. The
training ground is about four miles from the abandoned
dig site that the Iolite Squad is tasked with exploring.
This brief stretch of travel is uneventful, so it’s a good
time for GMs to add a brief role-playing scene or two
between the Iolite Squad and the PCs. See Traveling with
the Iolite Squad on page 5 for suggestions.
Read or paraphrase the following when you have
completed any role-playing and are ready to continue.
The road from Kaer Maga continues south and east through
the foothills. The Iolite Squad seems comfortable in the rocky
terrain, and they grow more relaxed as the path takes the
group farther away from the more crowded main roads.
After a few miles, the winding path descends into a shallow,
shrub-strewn valley. Soon, the path becomes obscured with
foliage, but a small stream leads the way to a large cleared
area. Small tables and a few crates of supplies stand neatly at
the center of the area, and four nearby patches of flattened
earth ring a sizable bonfire pit. To the south, a ramp leads into
a labyrinth of trenches that stretches across the valley floor.
About six feet deep, the trenches are blocked with a sign that
reads “DANGER: for Pathfinder Society training purposes
only. Keep Out!”
The Iolite Squad sets up camp in a matter of minutes.
They move with efficiency and obvious eagerness to begin
their joint training. Sergeant Drussem barks a few orders in
guidance, and a minute later the four hobgoblins stand at the
ready near the bonfire pit.
Drussem addresses the squad in Common. “Here begins
your real training! We have fought together many times.
This is something new. These Pathfinders have seen things
that would surprise us. We know how to fight, how to scout,
how to use every tactic to gain the slightest advantage.
We are the Iolite Squad! But soon, we will be more. To
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Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
become Pathfinders, we must learn from Pathfinders. But
we are not lazy students who wish to sit and read books in
a dusty building. We will learn through experience. These
Pathfinders are part of our team now, but there is much we
can teach them as well. Let us show them what the Iolite
Squad can do!”
The PCs have a total of 6 hours to train with the
hobgoblins, and each activity takes about 2 hours
to complete. This time represents multiple attempts,
feedback sessions, discussion, and short rests between
attempts. Each PC can attempt up to three of the
activities. For a group of 6 PCs, each activity takes about
3 hours to complete, so each PC can attempt up to 2 of the
activities. Before rolling any checks for an activity, each
PC must commit to whether they are engaging in that
activity. If more than one PC joins a given activity, each
PC decides whether to roll independently or help another
PC with their roll. If multiple PCs roll independently, use
the best roll to determine the result of the activity. Any
PC who chooses to help instead rolls against the same
DC to Aid their chosen PC.
In Subtier 5–6, the hobgoblins are more capable, but
they also insist on more rigorous training and have higher
expectations of their Pathfinder guides. Each activity notes
the increased DCs resulting from this more intensive training.
GM Reminder: Keep careful track of the highest
degree of success that the PCs achieve with each activity.
Each activity describes how the results of the PCs’ checks
affect the Pathfinders and the Iolite Squad while they are
facing future areas and encounters. Furthermore, take
note of any activities that the PCs did not attempt at all,
whether due to focusing their time on the other activities
or for some other reason. The PCs automatically receive
the “Failure” result for any activities that they did not
attempt, so be sure to communicate to the PCs the
consequences of not practicing a given exercise.
Essentials of Infiltration and Obstacle
Avoidance
Hobgoblins enjoy bloodshed, but they also seek out
practical solutions whenever possible. This is especially
true when exploring dangerous areas such as ruins,
where blood can be spilled due to traps and hazards
as well as foes. The Iolite Squad recognizes that the
Pathfinders are the experts in exploring ruins and
getting out alive—their own past experience generally
covers traps and snares used in war and hunting, not the
myriad traps left by civilizations long gone. The course
leads through a series of simple traps and obstacles laid
out in the trenches and designed to demand a variety of
strategies for avoiding such dangers. Attempt a DC 19
Acrobatics or Thievery check (DC 22 for Subtier 5–6)
with the following results.
Critical Success You complete the obstacle course and teach
the Iolite Squad a few new things about the sort of traps
that are likely to appear in ancient ruins. Additionally, your
explanations and feedback are swift, accurate, and clear.
As a result, the Iolite Squad has plenty of time to practice
the techniques you demonstrate. The DC of checks for the
associated task in area B decreases by 2.
Success You complete the obstacle course and teach the Iolite
Squad a few new things about traps that often appear in
ancient ruins. The DC of checks for the associated task in
area B decreases by 1.
Failure You complete the obstacle course, but you fail to
demonstrate any useful new skills for the hobgoblins. The
DC of checks for the associated task in area B increases by 1.
Critical Failure You complete the obstacle course, but only
by teaching the Iolite Squad a few dangerous shortcuts
for bypassing traps and obstacles. They come away from
this session with misconceptions about how to safely avoid
danger when searching for and disarming traps. The DC of
checks for the associated task in area B increases by 2.
Exchange of Hand-to-Hand Tactics
A hobgoblin army’s traditional “exchange of hand-
to-hand tactics” exercise (also known as a “fight”)
typically results in serious injury or death for one or
more parties. More modern and practically minded
hobgoblins have reduced the lethality of these duels by
allowing a participant to surrender; they still recognize
that the loser might be weaker, but they can also learn
something from their loss and grow stronger for it.
That doesn’t mean the hobgoblins go easy on you when
you engage in this brutal wrestling exercise, however.
Attempt a Strike against AC 18 (AC 20 for Subtier
5–6) using your highest proficiency with a weapon or
magical tradition, with the following results.
Critical Success After a few bouts, you and the hobgoblins
size each other up and determine exactly how best to
complement one another’s fighting abilities. With a few
more rounds, you each learn something new and the
Iolite Squad gains a newfound respect for how you handle
yourself in a fight. The DC of checks for the associated
task in area B decreases by 2.
Success You match the hobgoblins blow-for-blow and
move-for-move. The Iolite Squad is impressed with your
fighting abilities, and you learn a few tips from Sergeant
Drussem about reading your opponent and keeping a
clear head in a fight. The DC of checks for the associated
task in area B decreases by 1.
Failure The Iolite Squad starts off too aggressively and
handily wins the first few matches. They take it a little
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Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
bit too easy on you for the rest of the training session.
Your bout results in a few bruises and scrapes, but you
do not learn any new fighting techniques. The DC of
checks for the associated task in area B increases by 1.
Critical Failure The hobgoblins are demoralized by your
apparent lack of skill in close combat and worry that
you might not be able to help them in a truly dangerous
fight. The DC of checks for the associated task in area B
increases by 2.
Understanding Artifacts and Lore
Many hobgoblins fail to see the value in crumbling
artifacts and forgotten lore—if it has no immediate
practical use, why take the time to study it? The Iolite
Squad, however, recognizes that they must understand
such things if they are to become Pathfinders and help
to elevate Oprak and hobgoblin-kind in the eyes of
the Society. Lacking experience in such matters, they
are eager for any advice that you have to offer in an
impromptu field lecture. Attempt a DC 19 Arcana,
Occultism, or Religion check (DC 22 for Subtier 5–6)
or a DC 18 Lore check with an especially relevant Lore
skill (DC 21 for Subtier 5–6) with the following results.
Critical Success You explain the practical use of ancient
artifacts and lore in such a way that the hobgoblins begin
connecting this knowledge to their own experiences and
recognizing situations in which thorough documentation
and extensive research might have helped them. The DC
of checks for the associated task in area B decreases by 2.
Success You demonstrate the usefulness of ancient artifacts
and lore with examples from your own knowledge and
experience. The Iolite Squad sees the value of this new
knowledge and demonstrates a fair understanding of
how to recognize and document such findings. The DC of
checks for the associated task in area B decreases by 1.
Failure The Iolite Squad becomes confused by the
expectations for handling and documenting ancient
artifacts and lore—they try their best, but they do not
engage enough to have learned anything useful. The DC
of checks for the associated task in area B increases by 1.
Critical Failure Your explanation bores the hobgoblins. They
put up with your attempts to train them, but they do not
yet see the immediate usefulness of this skill. The DC of
checks for the associated task in area B increases by 2.
The Art and Science of Smokeworking
You learn the essentials of hobgoblin smokeworking,
which combines alchemy and engineering to bring fire
and smoke to the battlefield. This hands-on training
is quite dangerous! Attempt a DC 19 Crafting or
Medicine check (DC 22 for Subtier 5–6) with the
following results.
Critical Success It takes only a few attempts to duplicate
the hobgoblins’ techniques. The Iolite Squad’s alchemist,
Gintka, teaches you a few advanced tips and methods in
the remaining time. The DC of checks for the associated
task in area B decreases by 2.
Success You get hurt a few times while attempting to
duplicate the techniques and processes that the Iolite
Squad demonstrates, but after several attempts you
succeed. The DC of checks for the associated task in area
B decreases by 1.
Failure You receive a few minor burns, and your eyes won’t
stop watering for a few hours. The DC of checks for the
associated task in area B increases by 1.
Critical Failure You think you understand the smokeworking
technique that you’ve been taught, but in truth you’ve
mixed up the steps. The DC of checks for the associated
task in area B increases by 2.
Hero Point: Upon completing all four exercises, you
should be approaching or have already passed the end
of your second hour of gameplay. Award a Hero Point
to one of the PCs if you have not already done so since
completing The Wary Merchant. This could be a PC who
critically succeeds during the joint training exercises or
is most engaged in role-playing with the hobgoblins. If
none of the PCs match these requirements, give a Hero
Point to a random PC of your choice; this should be
a different PC than the one to whom you previously
awarded a Hero Point.
B. The Abandoned
Dig Site
For thousands of years the dwarves of the Mindspin
Mountains, a range not far to the northeast, have
explored and mined the foothills surrounding their
mountain halls. The region is pocketed with caves and
mines both great and small, but most were stripped
long ago of anything valuable and are abandoned or
collapsed. Few people still bother to explore the area,
and most long-lost dwarven settlements which might
have existed have either been re-discovered and looted,
or now house monsters and bandits.
Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch is familiar with
the area’s history and has used the old settlements
in the foothills as training sites for years. They offer
an ideal mix of interesting (but not too interesting)
discoveries and dangerous (but not too dangerous)
threats. When she heard word that the Pathfinder
Society would be training hobgoblins, she quickly
ordered that this specific dig site be reserved for their
use. The negotiations dragged on, and in the intervening
weeks a group of dangerous monstrous spiders took
up residence in the ruins. Once the arrangements
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Iolite Squad Alpha
were finally and suddenly made, the Iolite Squad was
sent on its way there with no time to double-check
the site, and the Society is unaware of the new danger
lurking within.
Before the PCs venture into the dig site with the
Iolite Squad, GMs have another opportunity to add
brief role-playing encounters between the PCs and the
Squad. See Traveling with the Iolite Squad on page 8
for suggestions.
Read or paraphrase the following when you have
completed any role-playing scenes and are ready
to continue.
A few miles from the training grounds, a stone edifice rises
against the northern slope of the valley. Thick vines drape
over a fifty-foot-wide archway that leads into the structure
and cover most of the rough-hewn stone around it. A
cool wind carries the faint stench of dust and decay from
the ruins.
The interior of the abandoned dig site is dark, though
the room at the entrance is dimly lit by sunlight if the
PCs explore this location during the day. The ceilings
are about 10 feet high in most places, though they arch
to 15 or 20 feet high in the larger chambers. The floor
and walls are roughly hewn stone.
Special: The Iolite Squad’s level of success in
exploring the ruins contributes to their overall sense
of accomplishment and preparedness as Pathfinder
trainees. This determines whether the PCs fulfill their
secondary objective of truly preparing the hobgoblins,
rather than rushing them through their training for the
sake of a quick and convenient allegiance with Oprak.
For each of the four tasks in this area, keep track of the
best degree of success attained by the PCs. At the end of
the scenario, refer to the Secondary Objectives section
(page 17).
B1. Disarm the Traps
The dwarves who last explored these ruins used simple
trip-wire traps and a few magic runes to hinder those
who might interfere with their excavation.
Akrag takes a few moments to explore the entrance to the
ruin. Rough stairs descend to the left and right and lead to
multiple hallways. He holds up a hand to warn the others
to halt. “Possible traps—all routes compromised. Status
unclear. Request assistance locating, will attempt disposal.”
To proceed through this area, the Iolite Squad must
disarm the traps or suffer their consequences. Akrag
takes the lead. The PCs can help to find traps with a
successful DC 20 Perception check (DC 23 for Subtier
5–6), with the following results.
Associated Training Exercise: Essentials of Infiltration
and Obstacle Avoidance (see the “Exploring the
Ruins” sidebar)
Critical Success Not only does Akrag spot and disarm all
the traps, he also finds a stash of ancient coins concealed
behind a trapped slab of stone.
Success You help spot traps and point out how Akrag can
identify them on his own, and he successfully disarms
every trap without setting any of them off.
Failure Akrag disarms most of the traps, but one rune blows
up in his face, which deals 2d6 fire damage to each PC
(DC 20 basic Reflex save). In Subtier 5–6, the damage
increases to 4d6, and the DC increases to 23.
Critical Failure Akrag makes a serious error and sets off
several magic traps at once, dealing 2d6 fire damage to
each PC (DC 23 basic Reflex save). In Subtier 5–6, the
damage increases to 4d6, and the DC increases to 26.
Rewards: The ancient coins have a 50 gp value and
are worth 1 Treasure Bundle. If the PCs succeed at their
check but did not critically succeed, they can attempt
a second Perception check to Seek to find the treasure
(DC 20, or DC 23 in Subtier 5–6).
This delve does not follow the traditional formula of
other scenarios in that the PCs don’t take the lead—the
Iolite Squad directs the expedition, with the Pathfinders
providing support and guidance while evaluating the
Squad’s actions. To represent this, the PCs progress
through a series of activities as they accompany the
squad through the ruins. Each location in this area
presents a brief description of what the group finds,
what the hobgoblins decide to do, how the PCs can
participate, and what happens as a result. Proceed
through these events in the order presented.
The group’s success and failures in the Joint Training
Exercises directly affect their degree of success in this
area’s activities. Each activity indicates which training
exercise it is associated with. The PCs’ degree of
success from each associated training exercise adjusts
their DC in this area’s exploration tasks.
Critical Success Decrease the DC of checks for this
task by 2.
Success Decrease the DC of checks for this task by 1.
Failure Increase the DC of checks for this task by 1.
Critical Failure Increase the DC of checks for this
task by 2.
EXPLORING THE RUINS
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B2. Vanquish the Skeletons
Six dwarf explorers, betrayed by a greedy companion,
never made it out of this dig site alive, and their remains
now prowl the caverns.
Rounding a corner, the Iolite Squad discovers a half-dozen
skeletal dwarves. They shed centuries of dust and cobwebs as
they rise to attack the intruders with ancient picks and shovels.
To proceed through this area, the Iolite Squad must
defeat the undead. These foes pose little threat if the
hobgoblins use good sense. The PCs can help with tips
about battling undead foes or general battle tactics by
succeeding at a DC 19 Religion or related Lore check (DC
22 for Subtier 5–6), with the following results.
Associated Training Exercise: Exchange of Hand-to-Hand
Tactics (see the “Exploring the Ruins” sidebar)
Critical Success You advise the Iolite Squad that the skeletons
will attack without thought of tactics. The hobgoblins funnel
their enemies into a narrow corridor and quickly destroy
them. The quick combat is a great warmup that grants the
PCs a +1 status bonus to initiative in area B5.
Success Knowing the skeletons will do little to prevent
themselves from being surrounded, you suggest a quick
flanking strategy. Sergeant Drussem and Ozaril leap into
the fray, while Akrag and Gintka outflank the skeletons.
After a brief skirmish, the enemies are defeated.
Failure You mistake the skeletons for a more powerful
foe and hesitate briefly—the Iolite Squad holds off the
enemies, but they are unable to gain a quick advantage.
They eventually wear down the skeletons with brute
force while sustaining minor injuries.
Critical Failure You suggest a flawed defensive strategy that
the skeletons exploit to attack from multiple directions.
Several skeletons break through the Iolite Squad’s
defenses and attack you. You defeat them handily, but
the din alerts the enemies in area B5, granting them a +1
bonus to their initiative checks.
Rewards: In Subtier 3–4, one of the skeletons wore a
lifting belt, which the hobgoblins give to the PCs. They
know that its good condition likely means it is magical,
but without a way of knowing what it does, they have
little use for it. In Subtier 5–6, the group instead finds
a ring of the ram, which they similarly turn over to the
PCs out of distrust in magic over their training. In both
Subtiers, the item is worth 2 Treasure Bundles.
B3. Record Ancient Findings
The dwarven expedition set up camp here long ago.
What remains of their equipment is ruined, but a few
interesting pieces remain of the stash of ancient relics
they recovered.
A ruined, rotting campsite occupies the east wall of this
large chamber. The hobgoblins spend a few minutes picking
through the wreckage. Sergeant Drussem says, “This must be
where those dwarves made camp. A long time ago, it seems.”
After a few minutes, Ozaril exclaims, “I found something!”
He lifts a small wood chest still largely preserved, and the
hobgoblins open it to find ancient scrolls, a dusty tome, and
a few miniature stone statuettes.
Upon reaching this area, the Iolite Squad sets out to
record their findings for submission to the Pathfinder
archives. The PCs can help the Iolite Squad with their
reports by serving as scribes, which requires a successful
DC 20 Society check (DC 23 for Subtier 5–6), with the
following results.
Associated Training Exercise: Understanding Artifacts
and Lore (see the “Exploring the Ruins” sidebar)
Critical Success The hobgoblins are able to fashion accurate
copies of the texts they found, as well as detailed sketches
of the objects. From one of the texts, they discover that
the one of the stone statuettes is missing from the set and
locate it within a few minutes of searching.
Success Following your advice, the hobgoblins carefully
translate the ancient dwarven texts and discover clues
about when the site might have been constructed.
Failure The hobgoblins listen carefully, but Akrag and Gintka
can’t agree on whether the statuettes are magical. When
Drussem steps in to tell them to do their best and move
on, the two are embarrassed by their lack of knowledge.
The confusing back and forth causes all PCs to take a –1
status penalty to Recall Knowledge attempts for the rest
of the day.
Critical Failure Your meandering explanation causes
the squad to nitpick the details of the report.
They finish the task, but it embarrasses and
frustrates them, and the confusion causes all PCs to take
a –2 status penalty to Recall Knowledge attempts for the
rest of the day.
Rewards: The stone statuettes in the chest have a
25 gp value and are worth 1 Treasure Bundle. If the
group finds the complete set with a critical success, the
statuettes have far greater value and are instead worth
2 Treasure Bundles.
B4. Smoke out the Spiders
Swarms of mundane spiders followed the far more
monstrous web lurkers into the deeper areas of the ruins.
Thick cobwebs and hundreds of spiders choke this passage.
“Our weapons will be no use here,” says the sergeant. Gintka
steps forward, already mixing a few vials of smoking liquid
eagerly. “This should clear them out.”
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Iolite Squad Alpha
Giant Tarantula
To proceed through this area, the Iolite Squad decides
to smoke out the spiders with alchemy. Gintka passes
a pair of fuming vials to each of her companions. The
PCs can give Gintka advice on what reagents are most
likely to repel the spiders with a successful DC 19
Nature or Survival check (DC 22 for Subtier 5–6), with
the following results.
Associated Training Exercise: The Art and Science of
Smokeworking (see the “Exploring the Ruins” sidebar)
Critical Success With your help, Gintka creates a smoke
that billows along the floor and creeps up the walls. She
includes aromatic herbs that are harmless to humanoids
but noxious to arthropods, which swiftly disperses
the spiders. The lingering fumes stick to the PCs’ clothing,
granting them a +1 status bonus to their saves against the
abilities of the enemies in area B5.
Success With your help, Gintka smokes out most of the
spiders, though a few remain to harass the group as they
move through the passage.
Failure Gintka’s alchemy smokes out the spiders, but the
cloud does not stay contained as intended, and the
hobgoblins are all exposed to the roiling, choking cloud.
They must delay for several minutes as they recover from
their self-inflicted condition.
Critical Failure The reagents you suggest to Gintka actually
attract the spiders rather than repel them, and the group
spends nearly an hour fighting off swarm after swarm.
The fumes stick to the PCs’ clothing, imposing a –1 status
penalty to their saves against the abilities of the enemies
in area B5.
A Brief Respite: With these four tasks complete,
Sergeant Drussem orders her squad to
regroup and rest for a moment. She thanks
the Pathfinders for their guidance so far
and suggests that they take a moment to rest
as well. If they insist on pressing on, she orders
the Squad to proceed through the previously
spider-choked passage.
Hero Points: Upon completing
this encounter, you should be
approaching or have already
passed the end of your third
hour of gameplay. Award a
Hero Point to one of the PCs
if you have not already done
so since completing the joint training
exercises. This could be a PC who
had just the right skill to succeed
in an activity, achieved a critical
success in an activity, or was
able to succeed at multiple checks throughout the
exercises and exploration. If none of the PCs match
these requirements, give a Hero Point to a random
PC of your choice; this should be a different PC than
the ones to whom you awarded a Hero Point after the
previous encounters.
B5. Deadfall Ambush
Severe
A group of web lurkers and their pet giant spiders
occupy the deeper areas of the ruins and occasionally
wander at night out into the foothills to hunt for prey.
Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch was unaware that
such dangerous foes had moved into the ruins, and
their cunning plan to separate the intrusive humanoids
poses the greatest threat that the Pathfinders and their
trainees have yet to face.
Rough stairs rise to the west, and a wide passage leads east.
Thick webs cling to the walls and ceiling. A loud scrape and
thud alerts the Squad to the presence of something beyond
the east passage. “Wait here,” says the Sergeant, who signals
her squad to stay on their guard as they press forward. One
of them shouts a curse as a sharp twang echoes through
the ruins—part of the ceiling above, concealed by webbing,
suddenly collapses. The hobgoblins rush forward, dodging
the cascade of boulders that fall and block the passage.
As the dust settles, the hobgoblins’ faint battle cries
mix with a hideous chattering noise—some of the web
lurkers are attacking the squad beyond the collapsed
passage. Before the PCs have time to start digging out
the tunnel to help the trainees, they are ambushed
as well.
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Iolite Squad Alpha
Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Cavernous Lair
Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Cavernous Lair
1 square = 5 feet
1 square = 5 feet
C = Collapse
C = Collapse
E = Enemies Start Here
E = Enemies Start Here
PCs
PCs
C
E
B4
B4
B2
B2
B3
B3
B1
B1
B. The Abandoned Dig Site
B. The Abandoned Dig Site
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Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Creatures: A group of web lurkers recently discovered
this lair after being driven out of their previous home.
They have no desire to negotiate and view the Pathfinders
and hobgoblins as food for themselves and their giant
spider pets—including tarantulas of enormous size. The
area B map (see page 16) indicates the starting areas
for the PCs and enemies when the encounter in area
B5 begins.
Subtier 3–4
ELDERLY GIANT TARANTULA
CREATURE 3
Page 19; art on page 24
WEB LURKERS (2)
CREATURE 3
Page 19; art on page 25
Subtier 5–6
GIANT TARANTULA
CREATURE 6
Page 21; art on page 24
WEB LURKER
CREATURE 3
Page 21; art on page 25
Reuniting with the Squad: Shortly after the battle, the
PCs hear the Iolite Squad’s victorious shouts. It takes
about an hour for the two groups working together to
dig out the deadfall debris and free the hobgoblins. The
Squad vanquished a giant tarantula; Ozaril has a vicious
bite wound, but they otherwise fared well in the battle.
Rewards: With a thorough search of the rest of the
ruined dig site, the Iolite Squad discovers several objects
in surprisingly good condition, from religious symbols
and prayer beads to precious gems. They find a low-grade
cold iron breastplate in Subtier 3–4; in Subtier 5–6 they
instead find a standard-grade cold iron shield. These
items are worth 2 Treasure Bundles.
Conclusion
With the abandoned dig site cleared of danger, the Iolite
Squad can fully explore the site. They discover signs that
this location was once a way station of sorts for dwarven
travelers, but they also find the remains of ancient writings
that suggest this was a hideout of some kind for an exiled
religious sect. They lack the knowledge to piece together
exactly when these dwarves used the site, or when it was
built, but they are eager to continue their research once
they reach Absalom. There is pride in Sergeant Drussem’s
eyes as she sees her squad poring over their findings.
Over the next few days, the PCs escort the Iolite Squad to
Korvosa, where they board a ship to Absalom. There, they
report their findings and the results of their joint training
at the Grand Lodge. Sergeant Drussem thanks the PCs for
completing their field training and expresses hope that the
two teams can work together in the future. Later, the PCs
receive a letter from Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch
commending them for their successful diplomatic mission.
She expresses uncertainty at what the future holds for the
Society and the nation of Oprak, but is also confident that
it is brighter thanks to the PCs’ successful mission.
Primary Objectives
The PCs fulfill their primary objective if they guide the
Iolite Squad through the ruins and defeat the unexpected
spiders, thereby clearing the site of danger. Doing so
earns each PC 2 Fame and 2 Reputation for any faction
associated with their currently slotted faction boon. PCs
who complete this mission also gain the Iolite Trainee
Hobgoblin boon on their Chronicle sheet.
Secondary Objectives
The PCs fulfill their secondary objective if the Iolite
Squad demonstrated strong Pathfinder skills in their
exploration of the ruins (areas B1, B2, B3, and B4). For
each area, consider the highest degree of success by any
PC who attempted the check. If the PCs attained at least
four “successes,” they fulfill their secondary objective.
For these purposes, a critical success counts as two
successes, and a critical failure subtracts one success.
Fulfilling their secondary objective earns each PC 2 Fame
and 2 Reputation for any faction associated with their
currently slotted faction boon.
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To adjust for the PCs’ overall strength, use the
following
Challenge
Point
adjustments.
These
adjustments are not cumulative.
10–11 Challenge Points: Add one warg to the
encounter.
12–13 Challenge Points: Add one elite warg to the
encounter.
14–15 Challenge Points: Add one warg and one elite
warg to the encounter.
16–18 Challenge Points (5+ players): Add two elite
wargs to the encounter.
SCALING ENCOUNTER A
Appendix 1: Subtier 3–4
Encounters
The statistics presented in this appendix include full stat
blocks for creatures and hazards appearing in this scenario.
These encounters are written for four 3rd-level PCs. If
your group has a different composition or size, refer to the
Challenge Points section of GM References (page 27) for
instructions on how to use the scaling sidebars to adjust
the encounters for your group.
If a creature is marked “(0)”, don’t include it in the
encounter unless otherwise specified (likely from the
scaling sidebars).
Encounter A: Roadside Ambush (Subtier 3–4)
While the PCs are traveling through this area, they
encounter a pack of wargs that has ambushed a merchant
family.
Iolite Squad Actions: Each round, on initiative count
10, the hobgoblins perform one of the following actions.
The GM should choose the option that seems most
efficient, such as attacking a foe that is near death.
Melee or Ranged Strike: The hobgoblins Strike with a
weapon attack. Their attack roll has a +12 modifier and
deals 1d6+4 slashing or piercing damage on a successful hit.
Alchemical Support: The hobgoblins attempt to blind
a warg with smoke. The warg must succeed at a DC 19
Fortitude save or be blinded for 1d4 rounds.
Draw Attention: The hobgoblins attempt to draw a
warg’s attacks. The warg must succeed at a DC 17 Will
save or spend its next turn chasing the hobgoblins rather
than attacking the PCs.
Creatures: The wargs begin the fight spread throughout
the area—place them as evenly as possible among the
possible starting areas indicated on the map. They use
their speed to attack their enemies’ back rank, flanking
and surrounding whichever foe seems weakest. Whenever
possible they try to coordinate their attacks and positions
to take advantage of Pack Attack and Avenging Bite. When
only one warg remains, it flees into the wilderness.
ELITE WARGS (2)
CREATURE 3
N
MEDIUM
BEAST
Perception +10; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet
Languages Common, Goblin, Orcish
Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +10, Deception +8, Intimidation
+8, Stealth +9, Survival +10
Str +4, Dex +3, Con +3, Int –1, Wis +2, Cha +2
AC 19, Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +8
HP 51
Avenging Bite � Trigger A creature within reach of the
warg’s jaws attacks one of the warg’s allies. Effect The warg
makes a jaws Strike against the triggering creature.
Speed 40 feet
Melee � jaws +13, Damage 1d8+6 piercing plus Grab
Pack Attack The warg’s Strikes deal 1d4 extra damage to
creatures within the reach of at least two of the warg’s allies.
Swallow Whole � (attack) Small, 1d6+4 bludgeoning,
Rupture 9
WARGS (0)
CREATURE 2
NE
MEDIUM
BEAST
Perception +8; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet
Languages Common, Goblin, Orcish
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +8, Deception +6, Intimidation
+6, Stealth +7, Survival +8
Str +4, Dex +3, Con +3, Int –1, Wis +2, Cha +2
AC 17, Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +6
HP 36
Avenging Bite � Trigger A creature within reach of the
warg’s jaws attacks one of the warg’s allies. Effect The warg
makes a jaws Strike against the triggering creature.
Speed 40 feet
Melee � jaws +11, Damage 1d8+4 piercing plus Grab
Pack Attack The warg’s Strikes deal 1d4 extra damage to
creatures within the reach of at least two of the warg’s allies.
Swallow Whole � (attack) Small, 1d6+2 bludgeoning,
Rupture 9
19
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
To adjust for the PCs’ overall strength, use the following
Challenge Point adjustment.
12+ Challenge Points: For every 2 Challenge Points
beyond 10, add one elderly giant tarantula or web
lurker, keeping the numbers roughly equal.
SCALING ENCOUNTER B5
Encounter B5: Deadfall Ambush (Subtier 3–4)
While the PCs are guiding the Iolite Squad through the
ruins, the two groups become separated by falling rocks
as indicated by the impassable area marked C on the
map. Monstrous spiders ambush the PCs and attempt to
slaughter them for their next meal.
Creatures: The giant spider attacks once from range
before closing into melee. Any web lurkers in the fight
use their webs to hold enemies in place, and engage in
melee combat only once their pet spiders have fallen or
their victims are helplessly trapped.
ELDERLY GIANT TARANTULA
CREATURE 3
N
LARGE
ANIMAL
Perception +9; darkvision
Skills Acrobatics +5, Athletics +10, Stealth +7
Str +5, Dex +0, Con +4, Int –5, Wis +1, Cha –4
AC 16, Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +6
HP 65
Speed 30 feet, climb 30 feet
Melee � fangs +12, Damage 2d6+5 piercing plus giant
tarantula venom
Melee � leg +12 (reach 10 feet), Damage 1d10+5 bludgeoning
plus Knockdown
Giant Tarantula Venom (poison) Saving Throw Fortitude
DC 25; Maximum Duration 8 rounds; Stage 1 1d4 poison
(1 round); Stage 2 1d4 poison, flat-footed, and clumsy 1 (1
round); Stage 3 1d4 poison, flat-footed, and clumsy 2; Stage
4 1d4 poison and paralyzed (1 round).
Hair Barrage � The tarantula flicks its legs, flinging spiky
hairs in a 15-foot cone. This deals 3d8 piercing damage with
a DC 19 basic Reflex save.
WEB LURKERS (2)
CREATURE 3
N
MEDIUM
ABERRATION
Perception +10; darkvision, tremorsense (imprecise) 30 feet
(creatures touching its web)
Languages Aklo; spider speak
Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +9, Crafting +8 (+12 to craft
traps and snares), Stealth +11
Str +4, Dex +4, Con +3, Int +1, Wis +3, Cha –1
Spider Speak The web lurker can speak with spiders, with the
same effects and limitations as speak with animals.
AC 19, Fort +10, Ref +11, Will +8
HP 45
Spring upon Prey � Trigger A creature touches the web
lurker’s web while the web lurker is on it. Requirement
Initiative has not yet been rolled. Effect The web lurker
automatically notices the creature and Strides or Climbs
before rolling initiative.
Speed 25 feet, climb 25 feet
Melee � fangs +11 (poison), Damage 1d8+6 piercing plus web
lurker venom
Melee � claw +11 (agile), Damage 1d8+6 slashing
Melee � web +11
Web Lurker Venom (poison) Saving Throw Fortitude DC 19;
Maximum Duration 10 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison and
flat-footed (1 round); Stage 2 1d6 poison, flat-footed, and
slowed 1 (1 round)
Web Trap A creature hit by the web lurker’s web attack is
immobilized and stuck to the nearest surface until it
succeeds at DC 20 Acrobatics check to Escape.
20
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
To adjust for the PCs’ overall strength, use the
following
Challenge
Point
adjustments.
These
adjustments are not cumulative.
19–22 Challenge Points: Add one elite warg to the
encounter.
23–27 Challenge Points: Add one winter wolf to the
encounter.
28–32 Challenge Points: Add one winter wolf and
one elite warg to the encounter.
33+ Challenge Points: Add two winter wolves to the
encounter.
SCALING ENCOUNTER A
Appendix 2: Subtier 5–6
Encounters
The statistics presented in this appendix include full stat
blocks for creatures and hazards appearing in this scenario.
These encounters are written for four 5th-level PCs. If
your group has a different composition or size, refer to the
Challenge Points section of GM References (page 27) for
instructions on how to use the scaling sidebars to adjust
the encounters for your group.
If a creature is marked “(0)”, don’t include it in the
encounter unless otherwise specified (likely from the
scaling sidebars).
Encounter A: Roadside Ambush (Subtier 5–6)
While the PCs are traveling through this area, they
encounter a pack of wargs that has ambushed a merchant
family.
Iolite Squad Actions: Each round, on initiative count
10, the hobgoblins perform one of the following actions.
The GM should choose the option that seems most
efficient, such as attacking a foe that is near death.
Melee or Ranged Strike: The hobgoblins Strike with a
weapon attack. Their attack roll has a +15 modifier and
deals 1d8+6 slashing or piercing damage on a successful
hit.
Alchemical Support: The hobgoblins attempt to blind
a warg with smoke. The warg must succeed at a DC 21
Fortitude save or be blinded for 1d4 rounds.
Draw Attention: The hobgoblins attempt to draw a
warg’s attacks. The warg must succeed at a DC 19 Will
save or spend its next turn chasing the hobgoblins rather
than attacking the PCs.
Creatures: The wargs begin the fight spread
throughout the area—place them as evenly as possible
among the possible starting areas indicated on the map.
They use their speed to attack their enemies’ back rank,
flanking and surrounding whichever foe seems weakest.
Whenever possible they try to coordinate their attacks
and positions to take advantage of Pack Attack and
Avenging Bite. When only two wargs remain, they flee
into the wilderness.
WINTER WOLF
CREATURE 5
NE
LARGE
BEAST
Perception +14; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet
Languages Common, Jotun
Skills Acrobatics +13, Athletics +13, Deception +11, Intimidation
+11, Stealth +13 (+16 in snow), Survival +12
Str +6, Dex +4, Con +4, Int +2, Wis +3, Cha +2
AC 23; Fort +13, Ref +15, Will +10
HP 70; Immunities cold; Weaknesses fire 5
Buck � DC 21
Avenging Bite � As warg.
Speed 40 feet
Melee � jaws +15 (cold), Damage 1d10+6 piercing plus 1d6
cold and Knockdown
Breath Weapon � (cold, evocation, primal); The winter wolf
breathes a cloud of frost in a 15-foot cone that deals 5d8
cold damage (DC 23 basic Reflex save). The winter wolf
can’t use Breath Weapon again for 1d4 rounds.
Pack Attack The winter wolf’s Strikes deal 1d6 extra damage
to creatures within the reach of at least two of the winter
wolf’s allies.
ELITE WARGS (2)
CREATURE 3
NE
MEDIUM
BEAST
Perception +10; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet
Languages Common, Goblin, Orcish
Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +10, Deception +8, Intimidation
+8, Stealth +9, Survival +10
Str +4, Dex +3, Con +3, Int –1, Wis +2, Cha +2
AC 19, Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +8
HP 51
Avenging Bite � Trigger A creature within reach of the
warg’s jaws attacks one of the warg’s allies. Effect The warg
makes a jaws Strike against the triggering creature.
Speed 40 feet
Melee � jaws +13, Damage 1d8+6 piercing plus Grab
Pack Attack The warg’s Strikes deal 1d4 extra damage to
creatures within the reach of at least two of the warg’s
allies.
Swallow Whole � (attack) Small, 1d6+4 bludgeoning,
Rupture 9
21
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
To adjust for the PCs’ overall strength, use the
following
Challenge
Point
adjustments.
These
adjustments are not cumulative.
19–22 Challenge Points: Add one web lurker to the
encounter.
23–27 Challenge Points: Add one giant tarantula to
the encounter.
28–32 Challenge Points: Add one giant tarantula and
one web lurker to the encounter.
33+ Challenge Points: Add two giant tarantulas to
the encounter.
SCALING ENCOUNTER B5
Encounter B5: Deadfall Ambush (Subtier 5–6)
While the PCs are guiding the Iolite Squad through the
ruins, the two groups become separated by falling rocks,
as indicated by the impassable area marked C on the
map. Monstrous spiders ambush the PCs and attempt to
slaughter them for their next meal.
Creatures: The giant spider attacks once from range
before closing into melee. Any web lurkers in the fight
use their webs to hold enemies in place, fighting in melee
only once their pet spiders have fallen or their victims are
helplessly trapped.
GIANT TARANTULA
CREATURE 6
N
LARGE
ANIMAL
Perception +14; darkvision
Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +16, Stealth +11
Str +6, Dex +1, Con +5, Int –5, Wis +2, Cha –4
AC 21, Fort +15, Ref +13, Will +10
HP 135
Speed 30 feet, climb 30 feet
Melee � fangs +17, Damage 2d8+8 piercing plus giant
tarantula venom
Melee � leg +17 (reach 10 feet), Damage 1d12+8 bludgeoning
plus Knockdown
Giant Tarantula Venom (poison) Saving Throw Fortitude
DC 23; Maximum Duration 8 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison
(1 round); Stage 2 1d6 poison, flat-footed, and clumsy 1 (1
round); Stage 3 1d6 poison, flat-footed, and clumsy 2; Stage
4 1d6 poison and paralyzed (1 round).
Hair Barrage � The tarantula flicks its legs, flinging spiky
hairs in a 15-foot cone. This deals 4d6 piercing damage with
a DC 25 basic Reflex save.
WEB LURKERS (3)
CREATURE 3
N
MEDIUM
ABERRATION
Perception +10; darkvision, tremorsense (imprecise) 30 feet
(creatures touching its web)
Languages Aklo; spider speak
Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +9, Crafting +8 (+12 to craft
traps and snares), Stealth +11
Str +4, Dex +4, Con +3, Int +1, Wis +3, Cha –1
Spider Speak The web lurker can speak with spiders, with the
same effects and limitations as speak with animals.
AC 19, Fort +10, Ref +11, Will +8
HP 45
Spring upon Prey � Trigger A creature touches the web
lurker’s web while the web lurker is on it. Requirement
Initiative has not yet been rolled. Effect The web lurker
automatically notices the creature and Strides or Climbs
before rolling initiative.
Speed 25 feet, climb 25 feet
Melee � fangs +11 (poison), Damage 1d8+6 piercing plus web
lurker venom
Melee � claw +11 (agile), Damage 1d8+6 slashing
Melee � web +11
Web Lurker Venom (poison) Saving Throw Fortitude DC 19;
Maximum Duration 10 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison and
flat-footed (1 round); Stage 2 1d6 poison, flat-footed, and
slowed 1 (1 round)
Web Trap A creature hit by the web lurker’s web attack is
immobilized and stuck to the nearest surface until it
succeeds at DC 20 Acrobatics check to Escape.
22
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Appendix 3: Art & Handout
Akrag
Gintka
Ozaril
Iolite Squad
Sergeant Drussem
23
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Elite Warg
24
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Giant Tarantula
25
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Web Lurker
26
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Handout #1: Heidmarch’s Mission Briefing
Greetings, Pathfinders,
We have an urgent diplomatic mission for you, but not of the traditional sort. The Pathfinder Society has been
negotiating for weeks with General Azaersi, leader of the hobgoblin nation of Oprak. Now that she has secured
Oprak’s borders, the General has cast far and wide in search of useful allies: including the Society. Despite the
General’s central role in the recent bloody conflict known as the Ironfang Invasion and the resulting instability
in the region, she is potentially a powerful ally. The resurgent threat of the Whispering Tyrant must not be taken
lightly, and an allegiance with Oprak could prove invaluable.
However, General Azaersi’s full intentions are unknown. To further ascertain her motives, the Society has agreed
to accept a small squad of hobgoblins into its ranks. You are to meet this group, the Iolite Squad, in Kaer Maga,
then escort them to a nearby training ground to conduct a series of joint training exercises. The training ground
is near an ancient dwarven dig site that we have identified as an ideal location for these recruits to practice being
Pathfinder agents; it is not a place of global significance, but it likely contains some interesting pieces of history.
After your joint exercises, guide the recruits in exploring the site. The hobgoblins are competent soldiers and
we do not expect great danger, but you must ensure that they all make it out alive. This is a diplomatic mission,
after all. Defer to the hobgoblins when exploring—they must prove themselves capable Pathfinders—but give aid
if they request it. With this task complete, escort the Iolite Squad to Korvosa, where all of you are to book passage
to Absalom and report to the Grand Lodge.
We have arranged for you to meet the Iolite Squad at the Sorry Excuse, an establishment in the Hospice District.
Do not keep the hobgoblins waiting long upon your arrival to Kaer Maga. Most citizens of the City of Strangers
will not blink twice at a band of hobgoblins, but the Ironfang Invasion has soured public opinion toward them.
Be wary of those who may resent their presence.
From Kaer Maga, follow the river south to Sirathu, then take the southeast road for 30 miles. The training
grounds and dig site are in a rock-strewn valley to the northeast of a small wood.
Go with care,
Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch
27
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
GM References
Treasure Table
Challenge Points Per PC
Challenge Points and Subter
Level
Treasure Bundle
3
3.8 gp
4
6.4 gp
5
10 gp
6
15 gp
Level
Challenge Points
3
2
4
3
5
4
6
5
CP Total
Subtier
8-14
3–4
16-18 (5+ players)
3–4
16-18 (4 players)
5–6
19+
5–6
Chronicle Sheet
PCs who successfully run the Iolite Squad through the
training grounds gain the Iolite Trainee Hobgoblin boon
on their Chronicle Sheets.
Treasure Bundles:
▫Area A, page 8: 1 Treasure Bundle
▫▫ The Wary Merchant, page 10: 2 Treasure Bundles
▫Area B1, page 13: 1 Treasure Bundle
▫▫Area B2, page 14: 2 Treasure Bundles
▫▫ Area B3, page 14: 2 Treasure Bundles
▫▫Area B5, page 17: 2 Treasure Bundles
Challenge Points
Challenge Points are a system for scaling the difficulty
of encounters appropriately for groups of mixed size
and level. Total up the number of Challenge Points your
group has.
• 3rd-level PCs = 2 points each
• 4th-level PCs = 3 points each
• 5th-level PCs = 4 points each
• 6th-level PCs = 6 points each
Now use the table above to determine which Subtier is
appropriate for your PCs. Subtier 3–4 encounters appear
in Appendix 1, and Subtier 5–6 encounters appear in
Appendix 2.
28
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
Event Reporting Form
Date
Event Code:
Location
GM Org Play #:
GM Name:
GM Faction:
Adventure #:
Adventure Name:
Reporting Codes: (check when instructed, line through all if no conditions to report)
□ A
□ B
□ C
□ D
Fame Earned:
Bonus Faction Goal Achieved:
□ Yes
□ No
□ N/A
Scenario-based Infamy earned?
□ Yes
□ No
□ N/A
Faction:
Character Name:
□ Grand Archive
□ Envoy’s Alliance
□ Slow Track
□ Radiant Oath
□ Horizon Hunters
□ Dead
Org Play #:
Level
□ Vigilant Seal
□ Verdant Wheel
□ Infamy
□
Faction:
Character Name:
□ Grand Archive
□ Envoy’s Alliance
□ Slow Track
□ Radiant Oath
□ Horizon Hunters
□ Dead
Org Play #:
Level
□ Vigilant Seal
□ Verdant Wheel
□ Infamy
□
Faction:
Character Name:
□ Grand Archive
□ Envoy’s Alliance
□ Slow Track
□ Radiant Oath
□ Horizon Hunters
□ Dead
Org Play #:
Level
□ Vigilant Seal
□ Verdant Wheel
□ Infamy
□
Faction:
Character Name:
□ Grand Archive
□ Envoy’s Alliance
□ Slow Track
□ Radiant Oath
□ Horizon Hunters
□ Dead
Org Play #:
Level
□ Vigilant Seal
□ Verdant Wheel
□ Infamy
□
Faction:
Character Name:
□ Grand Archive
□ Envoy’s Alliance
□ Slow Track
□ Radiant Oath
□ Horizon Hunters
□ Dead
Org Play #:
Level
□ Vigilant Seal
□ Verdant Wheel
□ Infamy
□
Faction:
Character Name:
□ Grand Archive
□ Envoy’s Alliance
□ Slow Track
□ Radiant Oath
□ Horizon Hunters
□ Dead
Org Play #:
Level
□ Vigilant Seal
□ Verdant Wheel
□ Infamy
□
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
29
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Iolite Squad Alpha
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System Reference Document © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors: Jonathan
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Pathfinder Society Scenario #1–19: Iolite Squad Alpha © 2020, Paizo Inc.; Author:
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Pad, Starfinder Flip-Mat, Starfinder Pawns, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, and Starfinder Society
are trademarks of Paizo Inc.
Total GP
Total Fame
Fame Earned
Starting Fame
EVENT
EVENT CODE
DATE
Game Master’s Signature
GM Organized Play #
FOR GM ONLY
A.K.A.
Player Name
Character Name
-
Organized Play #
Character #
TOTAL VALUE OF ITEMS SOLD
Add 1/2 this value to the “Items Sold” Box
TOTAL COST OF ITEMS BOUGHT
Faction
Reputation
Faction
Reputation
Faction
Reputation
Items Sold
GP Spent
Earn Income
GP Gained
Starting GP
Final XP
XP Gained
Starting XP
REWARDS
SUBTIER 3–4
SUBTIER 5–6
J4Q3
Herolab Code
Character Chronicle #
Pathfinder Society Scenario #1–19:
Iolite Squad Alpha
Adventure Summary
Boons
Purchases
Items Sold / Conditions Gained
Items Bought / Conditions Cleared
Items
Notes
Downtime
lifting belt (level 4; 80 gp)
ring of the ram (level 6; 220 gp)
You successfully escorted a squad of hobgoblin Pathfinder candidates to Absalom, sharing techniques and skills along the way.
Iolite Trainee Hobgoblin: The Iolite Squad’s reports on valuable Pathfinder skills have made it back to
Oprak to be incorporated into their training regimens. You have gained access to the following background
for all of your characters (include a copy of this Chronicle Sheet with any character who selects this
background).
IOLITE TRAINEE HOBGOBLIN
BACKGROUND
Prerequisites Hobgoblin ancestry
The Iolite Squad was Oprak’s first foray into training hobgoblins for Pathfinder membership. You’ve added the
archival and archaeological skills they sent back to Oprak into your military training.
Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Constitution or Intelligence, and one is a free ability boost.
You’re trained in the Society skill and the Warfare Lore skill. You gain the Sign Language skill feat.
| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/2nd Edition/Society/Season 1 - Year of the Open Road/PF2 S01-19 - Iolite Squad Alpha.pdf |
Répartition du Pentacle du Nephilim
Nom du Joueur :
Nom du Nephilim :
Rappel du Ka dominant :
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
P E N T A C L E
Terre
Pas Initié (0-10)
Peu Initié (11-21)
Assez Initié (22-32)
Initié (33-43)
très Initié (44-54)
Feu
Pas Initié (0-10)
Peu Initié (11-21)
Assez Initié (22-32)
Initié (33-43)
très Initié (44-54)
Air
Pas Initié (0-10)
Peu Initié (11-21)
Assez Initié (22-32)
Initié (33-43)
très Initié (44-54)
Eau
Pas Initié (0-10)
Peu Initié (11-21)
Assez Initié (22-32)
Initié (33-43)
très Initié (44-54)
Lune
Pas Initié (0-10)
Peu Initié (11-21)
Assez Initié (22-32)
Initié (33-43)
très Initié (44-54)
Malédiction
Lune Noire
Pas Maudit (0-10)
Peu Maudit (11-21)
Assez Maudit (22-32)
Maudit (33-43)
très Maudit (44-54)
Enkhaïbatement
Khaïba
Pas Enkhaïbaté (0-10)
Peu Enkhaïbaté (11-21)
Assez Enkhaïbaté (22-32)
Enkhaïbaté (33-43)
très Enkhaïbaté (44-54)
Simulacre
Soleil
Mort
Pas Initié (0-10)
Peu Initié (11-21)
Assez Initié (22-32)
Initié (33-43)
très Initié (44-54)
Opposition
Opposition
Opposition
Opposition
Opposition
Element
| textdata/thevault/Nephilim [multi]/LANG/FR/Aide de Jeu/Aide de Jeu - Pentacle Nephilim.pdf |
Designed for parties of five characters of levels one, three and five
Volume One, Second Edition
By Rowan & Doug Schultz
Adventure Shorts
Adventure Shorts
Fifth Edition Compatible
R&D Adventures
R&D Adventures
©2015 Schultz
The Encounters
1. Forgotten Tomb
With no apparent signs of recent visitors, it seems the tomb
of these four warriors has been long forgotten.
2. Ambush
The adventurers are confronted by a narrow canyon, the
only way they can find to get to where they’re going.
3. Abandoned Mine
The discovery of an old set of mining car tracks leads to
what appears to be an old mine.
4. Old Cottage
The adventurers meet a group of soldiers who tell them of a
disturbance in the area, and a reward.
5. Black Tower
On a high outlook stands a lonely black tower that may still
be the home of something interesting.
Credits
Doug Schultz
Writer, Artist, Graphic Designer
Rowan Schultz
Writer, Play Tester
We sincerely hope that you enjoy playing our adventure
and welcome any comments, criticism or feedback. If at
any time you have any questions or need clarification about
something please don’t hesitate to contact us.
You can connect with R&D Adventures at:
http://randd-adventures.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/randd.adventures
[email protected]
Running the Encounters
Encounter Levels
Balanced encounter numbers, including monsters, NPCs
and treasure, have been provided for a party of five
adventurers of levels one, three and five.
Preparation
Before beginning play, it’s recommended that the game
master (GM) become familiar with the encounters. This
will help in planning for the challenges the adventurers will
face and allow time to gather all the materials necessary
for things to run smoothly. Having the fifth edition core
rulebooks handy will also be helpful. Many of the details
have been accounted for, but it may be necessary to reference
the books when more detail is needed. It will also be helpful
to have your characters created in advance so the GM knows
the strengths and weaknesses of your group.
Reading the Entries
Setup: Various areas within the adventure contain short
overviews or descriptions, including the number of
monsters, creatures, animals or non-player characters. It
also includes any traps, obstacles, magic items or anything
else that needs to be specifically described. A page number
in the core rulebooks is provided for all creatures and NPC
statistics.
Features: The text highlighted in blue typically contains
detailed text that describes the setting, physical features,
rooms, clues, objects, obstacles and items to be found in the
encounter. This text is meant to be read aloud to the players.
It can be read as is or paraphrased as necessary.
Outcomes: When included, this section is provided to
summarize what the next steps or provide ideas about what
might happen next.
Tactics: If needed, information is given about how the
enemies in the encounter will act before or during combat.
This might include their initial positions, if there’s a chance
they surprise the adventurers or any other tactical advantage
they might have.
Adventure Extras
There are also maps, notes, letters and miniature grids
included within the adventure or Appendix to provide all
the materials you’ll need for a rich visual experience.
Adventure Shorts
Fifth Edition Compatible
Adventure Shorts Volume 1, 2nd Edition
2
R&D Adventures
R&D Adventures
©2015 Schultz
As the adventurers look into the chamber they observe the
features below. Any humans in the group would need a light
source to see the entire room.
The light in the room ahead of you is very dim. There is a
thick layer of dust and small bits of rubble on the floor, giving
you the impression that no one has been here in a very long
time. To your right you see four stone sarcophagi lined up in
a row. At the head of each there is a niche in the wall with a
large stone statue of a knight in armor. At the foot of each is a
wooden chest.
Tactics
The monsters are hidden behind the third sarcophagus until
the adventurers make some sort of noise. Anything louder
than talking will arouses them, causing them to attack.
If the adventurers trigger a trap or try to open one of the
chests, this will also cause the monsters to attack.
Features
Torch Holders: All the torch holders are empty but usable.
There is a torch holder on the south wall near the door, and
three more between the statues.
Statues: These are large, about one and a half times as big as
a normal human. The statues have holes in the visors where
the arrow and dart mechanisms are located.
Sarcophagi: The sarcophagi are plain, sealed and can’t
be opened without the use of stone mason’s tools and
someone proficient with the use of them. The sarcophagi
all have a coat of arms and a name carved at the foot end
facing the room. The names are: 1) Engel Rocque, 2) Dietz
Schermerhorn, 3) Kordel McKian, and 4) Hagen DeYoung.
If the adventurers do succeed in opening the sarcophagi
somehow, each warrior is buried with silvered longsword.
Wooden Chests: There is a locked wooden chest at the foot
of each sarcophagus. Each has an AC 15 and 8 HP. Each
lock has an AC 19 and 10 HP. To open each lock requires a
successful DC 12 Dexterity check.
Treasure: Each warrior in the tomb was laid to rest with
some of his belongings. Some of the items included in each
chest are dependent on character level.
Chest #1: Carved wooden holy symbol of Pelor, holy book,
and a brass chalice.
Level 1 – 200 sp
Level 3 – 600 sp
Level 5 – 1,100 sp, Robe of Useful Items
Monsters per character level: Represented by the Xs on the
GM’s map.
Level 1 – 4 Skeletons (p.272 MM)
Level 3 – 1 Specter (p.279 MM), 3 Skeletons
Level 5 – 1 Wraith (p.302 MM), 3 Specters
Location: Any path or road through a wooded area.
Setup
Long ago, this tomb was made to honor four great warriors,
but over time it has been forgotten. When the tomb was
built traps were installed to discourage tomb robbers, and
now four monsters have taken up residence there and will
attack anyone who enters. The encounter also includes the
following traps:
Arrow Trap (1): The arrow is released from the visor of
statue #1. Pressure plates to activate the trap are located
at both #1s on the map. Arrow; +5 ranged (1d6); Wisdom
(Perception) to detect DC 15; Dexterity (Acrobatics) DC
15 avoids; Dexterity to disable DC 15. Trap resets when
pressure plate is released.
Pit Traps, 10-feet deep (2): Represented by boxes at #2 and
#4 on the map. The trap trigger is located in the lock of the
chest at the foot of the sarcophagus in front of statue #2.
The trap is triggered when anyone tries to open the lock. No
attack roll necessary; multiple targets; 10-ft. deep (1d6, fall);
Dexterity (Acrobatics) DC 15 avoids; Wisdom (Perception)
to detect DC 15; Dexterity to disable DC 15. Trap door
collapses then closes and resets after one minute.
Hail of Needles Trap (1): The needles are released from the
visor of statue #3. Pressure plates to activate the trap are
located at both #3s on the map. Needles; +10 ranged (2d4);
Wisdom (Perception) to detect DC 15; Dexterity to disable
DC 15. Trap resets when pressure plate is released.
Narrative
As the adventurers approach the tomb they observe the
following features:
At the foot of a low hill in the woods you see an opening that
looks like a cave between two large overgrown bushes. When
you look closer you discover that the opening is framed with
carved stone and that the stone door is partially open.
Beyond the door there is a short flight of stairs leading down
about 20 feet.
Forgotten Tomb
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Chest #2: Carved wooden holy symbol of Heironeous,
smoking pipe, chalice with lapis lazuli gems (105gpv).
• Level 1 – 40 gp
• Level 3 – 30 gp
• Level 5 – 1,500 gp
Chest #3: Carved wooden holy symbol of Kord, red dragon-
tooth necklace.
• Level 1 – 300 sp
• Level 3 – 400 sp
• Level 5 – 400 gp, Potion of Resistance
Chest #4: Carved wooden holy symbol of Ohad-Hai, book of
family heraldry, electrum dagger (100gpv).
• Level 1 – 20 gp, 5 Hematite gems (10 gpv each)
• Level 3 – 20 gp, 10 Azurite gems (10 gpv each)
• Level 5 – 90 pp
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creatures move down to the road to block their exit. Assume
that the creatures can move to do this rather quickly so the
adventurers can’t escape without a fight.
Moving up the slopes on either side of the road should be
considered difficult terrain for the adventurers.
Features
Canyon: The road passes through a narrow canyon in the
middle of a high ridge line. It’s the only place to pass for
many miles in either direction. The sides of the canyon rise
sharply from the road at about a 45-degree angle. The sides
of the hills are mostly grassy down low near the road, with a
few rocks scattered about and gradually gets rockier toward
the top of the ridge.
1. Road: The road that runs through the canyon is flat and
level. There is some flat ground between the edge of the road
and the bottom of the slope on either side.
2. Hay Cart: There is a hay cart in the middle of the canyon
on the west side of the trail. One of the wheels is broken and
there is hay strewn all around.
3. Pit Trap: The pit trap is located behind the hay cart. To
camouflage it the creatures have covered the opening with
hay. It’s not easy to locate because hay is spread over the
entire area.
4. Cave: About halfway up the west side of the canyon is a
cave that the creatures are using to hide the spoils of their
raids. One side of the cave is piled with items of clothing
and bones. The other side of the cave looks like a makeshift
sleeping area and an area where valuables are being stored.
The cache contains: plain gold ring (10gpv), silver bracelet
with carved designs (5gpv), bronze cloak pin (1gpv), dagger
(2gpv), throwing axe (8gpv), hooded lantern (7gpv), silver
flask (2gpv), and an unopened bottle of wine. The cache also
includes the following level-dependent treasure:
• Level 1 and 3 – 2,803 cp, 1,345 sp, 93 gp, 2 Obsidian gems
(20 gpv), 1 Tiger Eye gem (10 gpv), 1 Rhodochrosite gem
(10 gpv), 2 blue Quartz gems (20 gpv)
• Level 5 – 907 cp, 3,457 sp, 1,591 gp, 46 pp, 3 Moonstones
gems (150 gpv), 1 Star Rose Quartz gems (50 gpv), 2
Zircon gems (100 pgv), 1 Chrysoprase gem (50 gpv), 2
Chalcendony gems (100 gpv)
Monsters per character level: Represented by the Xs on the
GM’s map.
Level 1 – 8 Kobolds (p.195 MM)
Level 3 – 8 Goblins (p.166 MM)
Level 5 – 7 Bugbears (p.33 MM)
Location: A canyon along any road or path.
Setup
A group of greedy creatures has been ambushing travelers
on the road using a small canyon and a trap they’ve made
to slow their victims down. The canyon is on the way to a
destination the adventurers are trying to reach, and there
is no other way to get there. The encounter includes the
following trap:
Covered Pit Trap, 10-feet deep (2): p. 115 DMG,
Represented by the box at #2 on the map. No attack roll
necessary; multiple targets; 10-ft. deep (1d6, fall); Dexterity
(Acrobatics) DC 15 avoids; Wisdom (Perception) to detect
DC 15.
Narrative
As the adventurers approach the canyon they observe the
following features:
As you’re traveling on the road through a wooded area you
suddenly come out of the trees and are faced with a ridge
line that extends east and west as far as you can see. Directly
ahead you can see that the only way to get past it is through a
narrow canyon.
Tactics
The creatures stay hidden until the adventurers enter the
canyon and get near the hay cart, then they begin their
attack with ranged weapons from the high ground. They
have also dug a covered pit trap next to the broken down
hay cart hoping that when they start their attack someone
trying to use the cart as cover will fall into it. Assume that
the creatures are attacking from above with 1/2 cover (+2
to AC) and gain the advantage of a surprise attack in the
first round of combat. Be sure to consider the range of the
their weapons, which could give them a disadvantage to
attack rolls when their target is beyond the range increment.
They continue their attack with their ranged weapons until
the adventurers have been significantly weakened or begin
to climb the slopes and engage them in melee combat. If
the adventurers simply try to run out of the canyon the
Ambush
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light of your torches (or lanterns) it looks like there might be
another old ore car on the other side.
Tactics
The creatures stay hidden until the adventurers enter the
chamber and start to look around. Assume that they are well
hidden and gain the advantage of a surprise attack in the
first round of combat.
Features
Tunnel: The tunnel is very dark, and only adventurers with
darkvision will be able to see without a light source. Some
support beams have fallen, partially blocking the tunnel.
The tunnel is approximately 70-feet long, sloping down
moderately from the opening to the main chamber. Ore car
rails follow the tunnel from the entrance all the way down to
the main chamber. There are a few small spider tunnels that
lead off the main tunnel, but they are all short and lead to
dead ends.
Ore Car in the Tunnel: The ore car is small, only big enough
for one adventurer to ride in at a time. It can be used to ferry
the adventurers across the chasm using a rope and grappling
hook, if they have one. The rails can only support the ore car
and one occupant weighing less than 170 pounds, otherwise
it will collapse. The rope could be used to hook the car and
bring it across the chasm with a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check
DC 20. The adventurers will have to cross it on the way out
of the tunnel too.
1. Main Chamber: The main chamber has a low ceiling,
roughly hewn walls and timber support beams all around.
There are three passageways leading off to the north, east
and west.
2. Junk Pile: The junk pile consists of wood scraps, broken
earthenware jars, an old cloth, pieces of rusted metal and
other miscellaneous junk piled up in a heap.
3. Rubble Pile: The pile is mostly rocks and stones left
over from excavation of the mine chambers. A successful
Wisdom (Perception) check DC 15 yields 30 small gold
nuggets, each worth about 1gp.
4. Bone Pile: A fairly large bone pile. Some of the bones are
old and some are fresh.
5. Mining Chamber: Remains of two dwarves are found
in this chamber. One has a plain gold ring (10gpv) on his
Monsters per character level:
Level 1 – 3 Troglodytes (p.290 MM) Represented by the Xs
on the GM’s map.
Level 3 – 1 Basilisk (p.24 MM) Represented by the X on the
GM’s map leading to chamber number seven.
Level 5 – 1 Blue Slaad (p.276 MM) Represented by the X on
the GM’s map leading to chamber number seven.
Location: Any path or road through a wooded area.
Setup
Long ago this mine was worked by dwarves but was left
abandoned when they were attacked. Recently the creatures
have made the mine their home and will defend it if they’re
disturbed. The encounter also includes the following
obstacles:
Chasm (20-feet wide, wall-to-wall): Adventurers must
succeed in a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check DC15. A
successful check lets the PC move across the rails safely. A
failure means the PC falls. 20-ft. deep (2d6, fall). To climb
out requires a Strength (Athletics) check DC 12.
Narrative
As the adventurers approach the mine entrance they observe
the following features:
Near a low, rocky cliff in the forest you notice what looks like
a small ore car. The car is small, rusted and its wheels are
partially embedded in the ground. You also observe a set of
rails leading away from the ore car, toward the cliff.
The rails lead to what appears to be a mining tunnel. You
assume this because you can see support timbers at the
opening. The opening itself is small, about 2-1/2 feet wide by
4-1/2 feet tall.
If the adventurers venture inside the tunnel they observe the
following features. They’ll most likely need a light source:
Looking around at the hewn stone tunnel walls there appears
to be bands of something glittering sprinkled throughout the
rock. It might mean that gold was mined here.
About 20 feet into the tunnel you come to an area where the
tunnel floor has completely collapsed. The chasm appears
to be about 20 feet to the opposite side, about 20-feet deep
and spans the entire width of the tunnel. The rails are still in
tact and bridge the void like two balance beams. In the dim
Abandoned Mine
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skeletal hand along with a pouch containing the following
level-dependent treasure:
• Level 1 – 22gp, 56sp, 32cp
• Level 3 – 47 gp, 115 sp, 69 cp
• Level 5 – 93 gp, 231 sp, 142 cp
Around the neck of the second dwarf is a silver necklace
with a black onyx pendant (75gpv). The second is carrying a
pouch with the following level-dependent treasure:
• Level 1 – 18gp, 62sp, 54cp
• Level 3 – 39 gp, 128 sp, 143 cp
• Level 5 – 72 gp, 253 sp, 216 cp
All of their other clothing and personal items on the
dwarves are decayed and useless.
6 & 7. Mining Chambers: The troglodytes used these as
areas to store a neatly arranged cache of steel mining tools.
In higher-level encounters assume these chambers contain a
few mining tools left behind by the dwarves.
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Monsters per character level:
Level 1 – 1 Half-ogre (p.238 MM) The damage a half-
ogre can deal with a single attack may be a bit strong for
adventurers of this level so it must to be played carefully if
everyone is to survive the encounter.
Level 3 – 1 Ogre (p.237 MM)
Level 5 – 1 Troll (p.291 MM)
Location: Any path or road through a wooded area.
Setup
Someone or something has been attacking and robbing rural
farms and homes. The local authorities have dispatched
soldiers to hunt down the offender but with no luck. This has
led to the offering of a 100gp reward for the resolution of the
matter. The culprit is a creature who has taken up residence
in an old cottage deep in the woods where it’s hoarding the
spoils of it’s raids. The adventurers follow the his trail to
the old cottage and when they arrive no one is there. Upon
searching the cottage they find miscellaneous hoardings and
some treasure. While they’re inside the creature returns. The
encounter also includes the following challenge:
Tracking: The adventurers must succeed in tracking the
half-ogre through the woods for six miles using a Wisdom
(Survival) check DC 12. A skill check should be made when
they begin and for each mile of tracking. A failed attempt by
all adventurers results in a one-hour time delay.
Narrative
As the adventurers are traveling through they have the
following encounter:
One day while traveling on the road through the woods you
meet two soldiers leading their horses. When they meet
you they seem very wary and look you over carefully before
speaking to you.
Soldier: “Who are you and what are you doing in these
woods?”
If the adventurers are reasonable and give a reasonable
answer the soldiers calm down and share more information
with them.
The soldiers tell you that there’s been attacks on nearby
houses and farms lately. The local magistrate has ordered
them out to search for the offender and has even offered
a 100gp reward to anyone who resolves the problem. The
soldiers tell you they’ve been tracking something they think is
the culprit but have just lost the trail. They say that the tracks
look like those of some kind of large humanoid that doesn’t
wear any boots.
If the adventurers are unreasonable the soldiers are not
friendly. They still end up sharing some information with
them but don’t tell them what the tracks look like or that
they have just lost the trail. In this case the difficulty to
initially pick up the trail requires a Wisdom (Survival) check
DC 17. Each failed attempt by all adventurers results in a
one-hour time delay.
Soldier: “You’d better mind yourselves. We’re on important
business tracking something that’s been raiding these parts.
The local magistrate has offered a 100gp reward to anyone
who deals with the problem. He authorized us to use force
too, so don’t get our way.”
Tactics
Once the adventurers get to the cottage they find it empty. If
someone is on lookout they see the creature coming and are
not surprised. The adventurers could shoot ranged weapons
from the windows. They could also try to hold the door
shut by attempting a Strength (Athletics) check against the
creature. The door is big enough for two adventurers to work
together to gain advantage on the check.
If no one is on lookout, have the adventurers roll for a
Wisdom (Perception) check against the creature. If they
fail the creature surprises them, enters the cottage and
immediately attacks.
Features
The Cottage: The cottage is a one-room structure with a
thatched roof, earthen brick walls and a dirt floor. From
the outside the cottage looked like is was once a humble but
cozy home but now the windows are broken and the door is
barely on its hinges. Inside, the cottage has a foul smell and
place is a mess. All the contents of the cottage have obviously
been fouled by the creature. Some of the debris has been
piled into the corners. Inside there’s some crude furniture,
including:
1. Wardrobe: In the wardrobe there’s a few sets of cheap
commoner’s clothes and a pair of old leather boots.
2. Chest: An unlocked chest at the foot of the bed contains
bed linens, a couple of blankets and a small wooden box
with a comb, a bronze cloak pin, a steel mirror, a small knife,
needle and thread, and a candle.
Old Cottage
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3. Fireplace: In the fireplace there’s a small iron pot hanging
from hook. Next to the fireplace there’s a small pile of wood.
4. Shelves: On the shelf there’s a partial wheel of moldy
cheese, cookware, dishes, utensils, two small empty casks,
various empty peck-sized baskets, small earthenware jars of
cooking spices ( some of which have been spilled).
5. Random Items: Other random items in the kitchen area
include: benches, stools and chairs, a tables, moldy sacks of
corn meal and flour.
6. Table: One of the tables has a candle in a holder.
7. Bed: The single bed is simple and very dirty. This is where
the creature has been storing all it’s valuables, under the bed.
There’s a wooden box (unlocked) with the following level-
dependent treasure:
• Level 1 – 75gp, 262sp, 331cp, a plain gold ring (10gpv), a
silver ring with engraved designs (4gpv), a moonstone gem
(50gpv) and a silver necklace with an amethyst pendant
(175gpv).
• Level 3 – In addition to the level 1 items include the
following: 2 Banded Agate gems (20 gpv), 1 Lapis Lazuli
gems (10 gpv), 1 Hematite gems (10 gpv), 2 Obsidian gems
(20 gpv)
• Level 5 – In addition to the level 1 and level 3 items include
the following: Masterwork dragon scale bracers +1 to AC.
There’s also a few weapons, including: a dagger, longsword, a
short sword, and a light crossbow.
8. Junk Pile: The junk pile looks like a place where the half-
ogre has been casting things he considers useless. It contains
wood scraps, broken earthenware jars, old clothes, a few
metal household utensils and other miscellaneous junk piled
up in a heap. A Wisdom (Perception) check DC 12 reveals
a few potentially useful items, including: a map case with
four sheets of parchment, a vial of ink and an ink pen, a
whetstone, a hand axe, a spade, a smoking pipe and box of
tobacco, and a flask containing some strong-smelling liquid.
9. Bone Pile: A fairly large bone pile. Some of the bones are
old and some are fresh.
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Monsters per character level: The darkmantle(s) are lurking
in the stairwell.
Level 1 – 1 Darkmantle (p.46 MM)
Level 3 – 2 Darkmantles
Level 5 – 3 Darkmantles
Location: Any path or road through a wooded area.
Setup
Many years ago the black tower on the hilltop was inhabited
by an eccentric old knight who is said to have come into
the possession of a cursed ring. Little is known about the
tower’s history since then and it has been left abandoned for
many years. This encounter includes the following creatures,
obstacles and items:
Secret Door: To open the secret door the adventurers must
find and solve the clue, a rebus letter. The clue reads: To
open the secret door step to the west. The door is opened by
stepping on the small, dark colored triangular stone on the
outer ring of floor compass near the west “W” paver stone.
The door only stays open for one round then resets.
Ring of Agoraphobia (cursed magic item): At first glance
the ring seems like a plain silver ring with an opal gemstone,
but when worn over time it causes wearers to become
more possessive of it and increasingly afraid to go outside
whatever building they happen to be in. Once someone
wears the ring, its effects immediately begin to take hold.
What seemed like a normal ring now appears to be special,
and wearers must succeed at an initial Wisdom saving throw
DC 13 to be able to remove it, allow someone to remove it, or
be able to leave the room they’re currently in. After another
minute passes the Wisdom saving throw difficulty increases
to DC 15 and continues to increase by two every minute
until the DC reaches 30. The effects of the ring can strike
wherever it is worn. If the ring is put on outdoors the wearer
will immediately seek shelter in the nearest structure. A
Remove Curse spell will allow the wearer or someone else to
remove the ring.
Narrative
The adventurers observe the following features as they
approach the old tower:
In a remote area of the forest you spot an old tower on a
hilltop.
Once you’re on the hilltop you see that the tower is perched
on an outcropping of rock, connected to the main part of the
hilltop by a narrow stone bridge. The tower has an ominous
look, as it’s made entirely of black stone.
As you approach you see the main door has a portcullis that’s
open. Entering the tower you see a large compass design inset
into the floor pavers in the middle of the room. It doesn’t look
like anyone has been here for a very long time because the
floor is covered in dirt and pigeon droppings, and there are a
few scattered boards and shingles lying around. Looking up
you see the inside of a timber frame roof 60 feet above your
head that’s beginning to collapse. There’s a fair-sized hole in
the roof letting in a stream of light and a light breeze that’s
blowing tattered banners hanging from the beams. Just then
a flock of pigeons takes flight, circling around the room before
they fly out the hole in the roof.
Tactics
The darkmantle is perched above the top of the stairwell just
inside the secret door. It stays hidden until the adventurers
start down the stairs then attacks the last one in line. The
adventurers might see the darkmantle if they are actively
looking. Have them roll a Spot check versus the darkmantle’s
Hide check. Keep in mind that it will be difficult for the
adventurers to maneuver to attack the darkmantle when it’s
attacking the last person above them on the stairs.
Features
Tower: To your left and right (east and west) there are two
wooden doors (both locked AC 15, HP 10). Straight ahead
(north) the stone wall is blank except for a large metal shield
with a faded crest mounted about 10 feet above the floor. Set
in each of the remaining four walls is an arrow slit. There
are torch holders mounted to the walls between the doors
and arrow slits. The door in the east wall leads to the guard
house. The door in the west wall leads to a spiral staircase
that leads up to the top of the tower.
Guard House: Upon entering the guard house there is a
fireplace straight ahead. The room also has some sparse
furnishings, including a table, a chair, a bench, a tapestry,
a bed, and an old chest – the chest contains an old tattered
wool blanket, an old pair of boots, a flask, a bottle, a pouch
with 10sp and 22cp, and a scroll case (with a clue to open the
secret door). The clue uses pictographs (Rebus letter).
Compass: The paver with the W in the compass on the floor
opens the secret door when it’s stepped on.
Secret Door and Staircase: The secret door is on the north
wall and opens directly under the hanging shield. Behind it
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The chest also contains the following level-dependent
treasure:
• Level 1 – 72gp, 194sp, 120cp
• Level 3 – 122 gp, 1,233 sp, 964 cp
• Level 5 – 87 pp, 534 gp, 1,675 sp, 754 cp
is a spiral staircase the leads to the lower chamber. There is
light filtering in from somewhere and is evidently how the
darkmantle got in. At the bottom of the stairs is a wooden
door to the knight’s chamber (unlocked).
Knight’s Chamber: The lower chamber was the knight’s
quarters and is the same size as the main room in the tower
above. There is a window in the north wall that overlooks
the lands beyond the tower, and there’s a fireplace in the
east wall. The chamber is full of furniture and the knight’s
possessions, including his bed, a bookshelf lined with
books, wardrobe, a small wooden chest, a suit of half plate
armor (masterwork +1), his longsword, his shield and other
assorted weapons (two daggers, a heavy mace and a great
sword). The strangest feature of all is the remains of what
appears to be the knight himself, sitting in a chair behind
a table strewn with papers. He’s dressed in what once must
have been a rich set of clothes but now have been decayed by
time. On his skeletal hand is a plain silver ring with an opal
gemstone (the Ring of Agoraphobia). The wooden chest has
a hardness of 5 and 5HP and the lock has an AC 19 and 10
HP. To open the lock requires a successful DC 12 Dexterity
check. In the chest is a carved wooden holy symbol of Kord,
a holy book, an hourglass (25gpv), and a silver chalice
(75gpv).
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Forgotten Tomb
Ambush
Abandoned Mine
Old Cottage
Black Tower
A collection of short, challenging
adventures each that can be played in
a single gaming session.
An Adventure to be played using rules
from the fifth edition of the world’s
most popular roleplaying game.
Adventure Shorts
Adventure Shorts
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/R&D Adventures/R&D Adventures - Adventure Shorts Volume 1, 2nd Edition.pdf |
Designed for parties of five characters
of levels two through five.
By Rowan & Doug Schultz
Adventure Shorts
Adventure Shorts
Fifth Edition Compatible
Volume Two
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R&D Adventures
Table of Contents
Shortcut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Shortcut – Player’s Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Obsidian Temple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Obsidian Temple – GM’s Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Obsidian Temple – Player’s Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Credits
Doug Schultz
• Writer
• Artist
• Graphic Designer
Rowan Schultz
• Writer
• Play Tester
We sincerely hope that you enjoy playing our adventure and
welcome any comments, criticism or feedback . Any time you
have questions or need clarification about something please don’t
hesitate to contact us .
You can connect with R&D Adventures at:
http://randd-adventures .blogspot .com
www .facebook .com/randd .adventures
dougschultz1969@gmail .com
Introduction
The following are two encounters, when played together, will last
between two and three hours . They take place in a nondescript
outdoor environment and can be used as stand-alone encounters
or dropped into an existing campaign . We leave the season,
weather and time of day the encounters take place up to the Game
Master’s discretion .
Before running them, it’s recommended that the GM read the
entire encounter . This will help in planning for the challenges the
adventurers will face and allow time to gather all the materials
necessary for things to run smoothly .
Setup: The setup contains a short, concise description of the
encounter as well as any monsters, creatures, animals or non-
player characters encountered . It also includes any traps, obstacles,
magic items or anything else that needs to be specifically
described . The setup relies on the Monster Manual to give the GM
creature statistics but will contain any variations required for the
encounter .
Encounter Levels: These encounters can be played by characters of
various levels . Balanced encounter numbers, including monsters,
NPCs and treasure, have been provided for parties of five
characters from levels two through five .
Tactics: In the Tactics section, information is given about how
the enemies in the encounter will act during combat . This might
include their initial positions, if they surprise the player characters,
or any other tactical advantage they might have .
Features: Written in blue italics, this text can be read aloud to the
players . It’s supplied within the encounter to set the mood or give a
specific description of a place or event .
Narrative: Narrative text, written in green italics, contains the
voice of a monster, creature or NPC within the encounter and can
also be read aloud to the players .
Both the feature and narrative text can be paraphrased by the GM
at any time, if necessary, to match the current condition of the
storyline .
Outcomes: This section is provided to summarize any next
steps, possible variables or lasting affects created by events in the
encounter .
Maps: Each encounter includes a map that can be used to set up
a playing grid for use with miniatures . A set of maps that can
be enlarged to make copies for your own player grids has been
included in the Appendix .
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is pulled upward by ropes attached to the corners when triggered .
Spotting the trap’s net or ropes requires a passive Wisdom
(Perception) score of 20 (all levels), or a successful DC 20 (for levels
2 and 3) and DC 25 (for levels 4 and 5) Wisdom (Perception) check
if adventurers are actively searching; it aff ects all targets entering
the 20 ft . square area; no saving throw . Th e trap has a trigger that’s
operated manually from a nearby hiding place . Th e net and ropes
are well camoufl aged with leaves, grass and branches . When the
trap is triggered, the net is drawn upward to a height of 12 feet and
anyone standing on it is ensnared and incapacitated . Th e net has
an AC 11 and 20 HP . Five points of slashing damage dealt to the
net will destroy a 5-foot section, allowing one trapped adventurer
per round to escape .
Wandering Creatures: Th e woods are home to many diff erent
creatures that the adventurers could encounter at any time while
they’re traveling . To add a random creature to keep the adventurers
on their toes use the table below . Statistics for the creatures can be
found in the Rule Book on the page listed aft er each entry .
d6 Roll
Result
1
Giant Badger (1) p . 323 MM
2
Giant Centipede (1d4) p . 323 MM
3
Giant Fire Beetle (1d4) p . 325 MM
4
Giant Wasp (1) p . 329 MM
5
Wolf (1d4) p . 341 MM
6
Deer (1d4) p . 321 MM
Tactics
When anyone comes to investigate the sign the net trap is triggered
remotely by the cultists watching from their hidden vantage point
behind the row of bushes on the east side of the clearing . Th eir
strategy is to wait for as many people as possible to enter the
trap area before triggering the trap . Once the trap is sprung the
adventurers are immediately surrounded, giving them no chance
to attempt to escape . Th e cult followers immediately attack any
adventurers not caught in the trap with the intent being to capture
them . Th e cult members fi ght tenaciously and will not surrender
or retreat .
If only one or two adventurers are sent to investigate the sign while
the others wait, the cult members will use the net to capture what
adventurers they can, hoping to draw the others under the net
when they gather under it to attempt to free their friends . When
they do, the cult members will drop the net onto the larger group
below . Once the net drops they’ll rush out and hold the edges of
the net down and attempt to capture the adventurer(s) that were
freed by the falling net .
Features
Th e road is little more than a single dirt path about seven or
eight feet wide that runs through a dense section of woods . Trees
overhang the road almost continually and direct sunlight is
blocked much of the time . As the adventurers travel along the road
they begin to notice random items here and there, some of which
Designed for a party of f ve characters with variable encounters
to accommodate levels two through f ve.
Adventure Hook
Your adventuring party has discovered a shortcut that will save
a day’s journey to their next destination or objective . Th e trade-
off being that the main road is considered well-traveled and safe
but the security of the shortcut is unknown . Th ere have also been
reports of people disappearing in the area as well .
Setup
About halfway through the 15-mile shortcut road a group of
cultists have set a trap baited with an old wooden sign . Th ey
use the sign as bait to capture unsuspecting travelers to use as
sacrifi ces in their rituals . Th e cult members are the minions of
a cult fanatic named Snakeskull the Terrible . Members of the
cult are generally brought into the group by the lure of violence,
domination, and an easy existence under the guise of service to
a god . For the most part, they’re not very intelligent and are men
that have had trouble fi nding a vocation or place in society .
To capture the adventurers the cult followers use a net trap baited
with a wooden sign (represented by the number one on the map)
in the middle of a clearing about six or seven miles along the path .
Th e sign and trap are located in an unusually large clearing that
the road runs through . As the road nears the clearing it begins to
become obscure and then fades out altogether . Th e cult members’
hope is that anyone traveling the road will become confused by
its absence in the clearing and gather around the sign hoping for
directions .
Encounter Numbers: Th is encounter contains the following NPCs
based on the chosen adventure level . Th e enemies (represented by
the X on the map) are hidden behind the bushes east of the trap
area .
5 – Level 2 Adventurers
4 Cultists (p .345 MM), 5 Cult Followers (Commoner p .345 MM)
5 – Level 3 Adventurers
5 Cultists (p .345 MM), 6 Cult Followers (Commoner p .345 MM)
5 – Level 4 Adventurers
5 Cultists (p .345 MM), 7 Cult Followers (Commoner p .345 MM)
5 – Level 5 Adventurers
5 Cultists (p .345 MM), 15 Cult Followers (Commoner p .345 MM)
Th e following trap is included regardless of adventure level .
Varying DCs have been provided to challenge adventurers of each
level appropriately . Further adjustments can be made at the GM’s
discretion depending on the desired outcome of the encounter .
Net Trap: Th e trap is represented by the square drawn around the
number one on the map . Th e trap is a 20 ft . square ground net that
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its action to make a DC 12 Strength check, freeing itself or another
adventurer with in its reach on his success . Th e net has an AC 11
and 20HP . Dealing 5 points of slashing damage to the net destroys
a 5-foot square section of it, allowing one trapped adventurer per
round to escape .
include: a strange wooden holy symbol, a few shredded pieces of
black fabric, drops of blood, and a necklace of humanoid teeth .
Th ey also see boot tracks from time to time, although they’re old
and they wouldn’t be able to follow them very far .
As the adventurers are getting near the clearing, sign and trap they
encounter the following:
It’s about mid-day as you’re walking along the forest path when you
come upon an area where the trees are less dense but larger, their
branches soaring overhead making it possible for some dappled
sunlight to f lter down to the ground. As you near the clearing the
path begins to become obscure and then disappears altogether. Up
ahead in the middle of the clearing you can see a wooden sign. All
you hear is the wind rustling the leaves.
As the adventures get near the sign they observe (see the next
page):
As you get closer to the sign you can see it has writing on it in some
kind of runic code.
It’s not really important what the signs says, only that the
adventurers gather around it . At the GM’s discretion the sign can
be read with a one-time successful DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana)
check or magic that enables an adventurer to read runic writing .
Th e sign reads: “In the middle of the journey of our life I found
myself within a dark woods where the straight way was lost .”
Aft er the trap is sprung the adventurers see the cult members
rushing out from their hiding place:
From behind a cluster of nearby bushes men wearing black and
dark green clothing and skull masks rush out and surround the
hanging net. Some of them are wielding clubs and others have
scimitars.
One of the cult members announces:
“It’s no use struggling, you’re coming with us. You’ll make excellent
sacrif ces to the great God Myrkul.”
Outcomes
If proceeding to the next encounter, Obsidian Temple, all the
adventurers should be captured at the end of the encounter . Th e
captured adventurers are lowered onto a large hand-drawn cart
while still in the net so them can be transported . Th e corners
of the net are securely tied down so that the adventurers are
immobilized . Any adventurers attempting to escape are threatened
with harm . If they continue to struggle and try to escape they’re
attacked .
It’s also OK if there are one or two adventurers that don’t get
captured . If they escape the net trap and the cult members they
could follow the cult members to the temple and try making a
rescue attempt .
If playing Shorcut as a stand-alone encounter and you’d like to
assume that the adventures can escape the net trap and fi ght use
the following information for the net trap . An adventurer can use
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Tactics
If the adventurers try to escape by breaking down the prison door
while the cult is sleeping they will be heard by the guards who will
alert the rest of the cult . If the adventurers try to escape during the
day while the most of the cult is away the remaining guard(s) will
hear them and alert Snakeskull . Once Snakeskull has been alerted
the guard(s), Snakeskull and the death dog (or hell hound) will
attack . All cult members fi ght tenaciously and will not surrender
or retreat .
Features
Temple: Th e temple isn’t far from the site of the net trap, about
two miles east of the path into the woods . Th e building is quite
old, in poor repair and was abandoned for many years until the
cult of Myrkul found it . It’s still in good enough condition to be
usable for their purposes . If the adventurers try to break through a
window each one has an AC 19 and HP10 . Th ere is one window in
the northwest corner of the worship chamber that’s slightly weaker
than all the rest . It has and AC 15 and HP5 . All the windows are
three feet off the ground and are 15 feet tall .
As the adventurers are being brought to the temple they observe
the following:
Af er a short trip through the woods you approach a building that
looks like some kind of old temple. It appears to be constructed
using a mixture of obsidian and black marble and is surrounded by
a porch with a roof held up by black marble columns. T e temple
walls have windows with ornate iron grills f t into the openings,
which are rusty but still look quite strong.
T e temple is heavily overgrown and you can see the trees and
foliage surrounding it are very dense with many limbs overhanging
the porch. T ere are also thick vines growing up many of the
columns on the outside, making it hard to see where the woods end
and the temple begins.
As you get nearer still you catch a glimpse of the man who appears
to be the leader, standing in the temple doorway. He’s wearing a
black cloak over leather armor and coming from under his hood
f ows black hair that falls to his shoulders. When he turns around
to walk into the temple you can see his cloak has a white skull sewn
on the back.
1. Temple Doors: Th e entrance to the temple has two large double
marble doors, each ten feet tall, with a bright white skull painted
in the middle . A wooden bar can be used to secure the door
from inside and requires a DC 15 Strength check to lift . If the
adventurers try to break the doors it has an AC 17 and HP30 . Th e
doors swing outward to open .
2. Entrance Chamber: Th e entrance chamber is a nondescript
room that is not really utilized by the cult . It has one window on
the north wall that faces the worship chamber and no furniture .
Designed for a party of f ve characters with variable encounters
to accommodate levels two through f ve.
Setup
A cult fanatic has gathered a small following and is using an old
temple to perform evil rituals . (If playing Obsidian Temple as a
stand-alone encounter see the description of the cult in the setup
for Shortcut .)
Once they are captured, victims are transported by the cult
followers to an old half-ruined temple in the forest where they are
locked up in the prison to await their fate . Th e cult intends to keep
them locked up until they’re ready to use them as sacrifi ces . It’s up
to the adventurers to fi nd a way to escape .
Encounter Numbers: Th is encounter contains the following NPCs
and creatures based on the chosen adventure level . All NPCs from
the Shortcut encounter should be added to this encounter as well .
5 – Level 2 Adventurers
1 Snakeskull (Cult Fanatic p .345 MM), 1 Cult Follower
(Commoner p .345 MM)
5 – Level 3 Adventurers
1 Snakeskull (Cult Fanatic p .345 MM), 1 Cult Follower
(Commoner p .345 MM)
5 – Level 4 Adventurers
1 Snakeskull (Cult Fanatic p .345 MM), 1 Death Dog (p . 321 MM),
2 Cult Followers (Commoner p .345 MM)
5 – Level 5 Adventurers
1 Snakeskull (Cult Fanatic p .345 MM), 1 Hell Hound (p . 182 MM),
2 Cult Followers (Commoner p .345 MM)
Snakeskull: Th e leader of the cult is named Snakeskull the Terrible
(human, lawful evil) . He usually wears black leather armor with
a black cloak that has a white skull sewn on the back . He has a
gaunt, skinny face with pitch black eyes sunken into his head, pale
skin and shoulder-length black hair . Snakeskull was raised in a
rough, lawless town that was under the rule of a corrupt leader,
which made life hard for him and his family . Back when he was
young he had no interest in becoming part of a cult or being the
leader of anyone . He was just a shy, quiet youth that kept to himself
but was quite strong . At that time he went by the name of Vanor
Bowstringer, but later he adopted the nickname Saul, because he
preferred to be alone and wanted to disassociate from his family,
whom he thought never understood him .
Th e job of cult leader was thrust upon him aft er he was captured
by an age-old cult and indoctrinated through months of
brainwashing . Th rough the years he began to rise in status within
the cult . Before he knew it, he had risen to the status of deputy,
and when the cult leader died suddenly, he was thrust into the
leadership role and sworn to the cult for the rest of his life . Not a
soul in the cult knows that deep down he dearly misses his parents,
and would like to see them again .
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southwest side of the room. At the same time another cult member
is taking your valuables through the north set of large double doors
on the east wall.
Th e room is constructed in the same manner as the rest of the
temple with obsidian and black marble walls with no windows .
Th e only light in the room comes from seven narrow horizontal
slits in the wall facing north just below the roof . Each of the slits
is 15 feet off the fl oor and only six inches high and two feet wide .
Th e wooden door to the prison has a six-inch square window
fi tted with the same type of iron grill as the rest of the windows
in the temple . Th e cult keeps the door locked but unguarded . To
open the lock from the outside requires a DC 15 Dexterity check
to open . If the adventurers try to break the door it has an AC 15
and HP17 . Th e door could also be forced open with a successful
DC 20 Strength check . Th ere is an NPC locked inside named
Starmin Gamentador . See the setup for his character statistics and
information about roleplaying his character .
If any adventurer attempts to join the cult to stay out of prison
they must succeed in a Charisma (Deception) check DC 20 . Th e
adventurer is set free but is accompanied by a cult member at all
times . Th e freed adventurer is assigned to guard duty with the
guards at the front entrance so that the guards can watch him . He
would go to eat in the cult follower’s chamber, accompanied by a
cult member, and sleep in the guard chamber .
Before they leave one of the cult members announces:
“Rest if you can. You’ll soon be sacrif ced to the great god Myrkul.”
Th e adventurers are locked in the temple prison awaiting sacrifi ce .
Every night during their rituals the cult followers come to the
prison with the intent of taking someone’s body part to use in
their rituals . Th e adventurers can keep them from doing this if
anyone succeeds in a DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion) check when
the cult member charged with collecting the sacrifi ce comes to the
prison door . Th is can buy them extra time to heal and/or plan their
escape . If none of the adventures succeeds, one of them looses a
fi nger to the cult .
During the day the cultists don’t pay much attention to their
prisoners, as most of them are away and there are only one or two
guards left behind .
Along with the other features of the prison the adventurers
observe:
Upon entering the prison you see someone huddled in the shadows
in a far corner of the room. It’s very hard to see, even for those with
darkvision, but it appears that the person’s head is down and his
face hidden by long dirty white hair. His clothing is all black and he
appears to have one black horn.
Starmin Gamentador: Starmin is an NPC being held in the cult’s
prison . He’s a bit on the grouchy side and weak from being in
prison (down to 17 hit points) . He has been living off of cold gruel
for breakfast, a bone for lunch, and gristle from unknown meat for
dinner . Th e cult has severed off three of his fi ngers, a toe and one of
his horns, all of which have been used as sacrifi ces in their rituals .
3. Guard Chamber: Th e wooden door is painted black and can
be latched or locked . If someone were to lock themselves inside it
would require a DC 15 Dexterity check to open . If the adventurers
try to break the door it has an AC 15 and HP12 . Note: all wooden
doors in the temple are painted black and have black wrought iron
hinges and hardware .
4. Worship Chamber: Th e worship chamber is the central
courtyard within the temple . Th e fl oor is made of black marble
that has white tendrils running through . A bright white skull,
the symbol of Myrkul, has been whitewashed onto the fl oor . Th e
walls of the worship chamber are 20 feet tall with eight windows
to the outside . A vaulted ceiling reaches 40 feet in the center where
there’s a circular opening to the sky about the same size as the fi re
pit below .
5. Fire Pit: In the middle of the worship chamber there’s a fi re pit,
15 feet in diameter, for preforming rituals . Th e rituals performed
there usually involve the whole cult standing around a large fi re
and chanting, sometimes in the common tongue, sometimes in
some unrecognizable language .
6. Altar: Th e altar is on the north wall of the worship chamber and
is made of white marble with black tendrils going through it . Th ere
is a silver basin on the right side of the altar where sacrifi ces to the
cult’s god are made .
7. Prison: Th e room on the north end of the temple was formally
the sacred chamber but is now used as a prison .
As the adventurers are being put in prison:
T e cart your being transported on is drawn through the front doors
of the temple and across a large room with a f re pit in the middle to
a door on the north end of the room next to what appears to be some
sort of alter.
To transfer them into prison the adventurers are held down and
their hands tied rope while they’re still in the net . Th ey’re told to
hold still and cooperate and are threatened with harm if they don’t .
If they struggle they’re beaten with clubs . Th e cult has only one
more set of manacles to use and it’s up to the GM to decide which
adventurer they’re put on . Th is would most likely be someone who
appears to be a spell caster with the idea being to keep them from
performing the somatic actions required to cast spells . Escaping
manacles requires a single successful DC 20 Dexterity check or to
break them requires a single successful DC 20 Strength check . An
adventurer profi cient with thieves’ tools can attempt to pick the
manacles’ lock with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check . Manacles
have an AC 19 and 15 hit points . Aft er the manacles are locked the
keys are given to Snakeskull who keeps them in his possession .
When the net is removed they’re left in their armor but all their
weapons, gear and valuables are taken . Th eir weapons and gear
are taken to the armory and their valuables are taken to the cult
fanatic’s chamber . What they don’t see is that their weapons are left
in the armory and their gear is put in the temple’s storeroom .
As you’re being led to the prison door you can see some of the
cult members carrying your weapons and gear to a door on the
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diffi cult to see what he’s doing through the small window in the
prison door .
• Snakeskull spends much of his time in his chamber but does
come out from time to time to prepare the altar and take
meditation walks around the temple’s porch . Th e death dog (or
hell hound) is usually with him on his walks .
• While the main force of the cult is away either one or two cult
followers (depending on the encounter level) are stationed in
the guard quarters . Th e guards will come out to investigate any
noises being made be the prisoners .
Starmin Gamentador
Medium Humanoid (Tiefl ing), Chaotic Neutral, Male, Warlock
Armor Class: 13 (Leather Armor)
Hit Points: 37 (4d8+8)
Speed: 30 ft.
Str
Dex
Con
Int
Wis
Cha
12 (+1)
14 (+2)
14 (+2)
18 (+4)
13 (+1)
16 (+3)
Saving Throws: Charisma +5, Wisdom +3
Skills: Arcana +6, Athletics +3, Investigation +6, Survival +3
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages: Common, Elvish, Draconic, Dwarvish, Goblin
Racial Abilities: Hellish Resistance, Infernal Legacy
Class Features: Otherworldly Patron – The Great One (Lindar the
Traveler), Pact Magic, Eldritch Invocations, Pact Boon
Spellcasting: Starmin is a level 4 spellcaster.
His spellcasting ability is Charisma. Spell Save DC 13, Spell Attack
Modifi er +5
Spells: 5 known
Cantrips (2 at will): Chill Touch, Poison Spray, Thaumaturgy
Level 2 (2 slots): Cloud of Daggers, Darkness, Invisibility, Shatter,
Suggestion
Invocations: Beast Speech, Eyes of the Rune Keeper
Actions
Handaxe: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Background: Outlander
Origin: Exile
Personality Trait: I place no stock in wealthy or well mannered
folk. Money and manners won’t save you from a hungry owlbear.
Ideal: Change – Life is like the seasons, in constant change, and
we must change with it.
Bond: I suff er awful visions of my earlier life and would do
anything to prevent them.
Flaw: I’m slow to trust members of other races, tribes and
societies.
Because he missing a horn it causes his head to sag to one side a bit .
His hands are bound with manacles to keep him from preforming
the somatic actions required to cast spells . Aft er a few minutes of
talking, the players can tell that he hates the cult and would do
anything to escape .
Starmin grew up on a small island inhabited mostly by tiefl ings
off the mainland, not far from a small port village . His father
worked his whole life as a ship builder, long in to his seventies,
and wrote a book about ships and the sea before he passed away .
Starmin’s mother passed away when he was very young and the
family struggled to survive on their small, two-acre piece of land .
He and his older brother and sister would use their three horses to
till the land and grow what food they could, as well as take care of
the family’s small sheep herd . It was a very hard life and they were
hungry most of the time . Th en something happened that would
change their lives forever . When he was in his late teens he and the
rest of the people on his island were driven from their homes by
invaders .
Aft er escaping the island, he and his brother and sister roamed
from place to place and Starmin always had a hard time trusting
other people . Th rough the years as they traveled, he worked very
hard to study and gain power in his chosen path as a warlock .
On a recent journey Starmin met another old warlock and stopped
to stay with him in order to further his studies in Arcana . His
brother and sister decided to go ahead to the next town to look for
work with the plan that they would meet there when Starmin was
ready . He was on his way to meet his brother and sister when he
was captured by the cult .
Starmin has been in the cult’s prison for about two weeks and can
provide the adventurers with the following information:
• He’ll tell them his own story and how long he’s been in prison .
Even though he’s usually wary of new people, he sees the arrival
of newcomers as an opportunity to escape . He tells them that he
wasn’t confi dent that he could escape on his own but off ers to
combine forces to plan an escape with the group .
• He can tell the adventurers that he thinks the cult always has one
or two cult followers on guard when the rest are sleeping .
• He also tells them that religion is fi rst, and above all to these men .
Th ey will sacrifi ce almost anything, even their lives to Myrkul .
He tells them that the cult will either take your lives or your body
parts . Also, most of the cult leaves at times to fi nd more people
and things to sacrifi ce .
• Th e cult has a routine . In the daytime they wake up at six in the
morning, have breakfast then send a large force into the woods
to gather food, wood or more victims for sacrifi ce . Th ey usually
return around 5-6 p .m ., eat dinner and then sleep until the night
rituals begin . Th ey usually spend most of the night performing
rituals in the worship chamber beginning at midnight and
ending about four in the morning . From 4-6 a .m . they retire to
their chambers and sleep .
• Usually around midnight there’s a lot of commotion in the
courtyard when the cultists are performing their rituals . Th ey
wear their skull masks and all dress in black hooded cloaks with
white skulls on the back, carry torches, and chant for hours .
During the rituals Snakeskull can be seen going the altar but it’s
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10. East Anteroom: Th e room has iron doors in the south wall that
are kept barred from the inside . If the adventurers try to break
down the door it has an AC 19 and HP25 . Th e doors were once
painted black but are now half covered with rust .
11. Cult Followers’ Chamber/Great Hall: Like the cultist’s
chamber, this is a simple room with spartan furnishings and crude
bunk beds where the cult followers sleep . Th e east side of the room
also doubles a dining hall where the cult gathers to eat most of the
time . Th ere are wooden tables and benches but the cult followers
are not allowed to socialize while eating so meals are generally
very quick . Th ere are also times when the cultists will not eat
during long rituals, where the full attention of the cult is needed
or other times when they fast, in honor of their god Myrkul . Th e
main doors in the northwest corner of the room are unlocked but
kept shut .
12. West Anteroom: Th e room has iron doors in the south wall
that are kept barred from the inside . If the adventurers try to break
down the door it has an AC 19 and HP25 . As at the east ante room
the doors were once painted black but are now half covered with
rust .
13. Store Room: Th ere is one entrance door on the east wall of the
west ante room . Th ere are two chests: one contains rusted weapons
and tools and the other contains a shrunken head and other nasties
including severed feet, toes, and body parts . Some of the old rusty
tools in the store room include: a hammer, an axe, a chisel, a rake,
a sickle, and a spade . Th e door cannot be locked but is kept closed .
14. Armory: Both doors are kept unlocked for quick access . Th e
armory contains the following items:
• Handaxe (belongs to the NPC Starmin Gamentador)
• Longsword (1)
• Shortsword (1)
• Scimitars (2)
• Light crossbow (1 – with 4 bolts)
• Short bow (1 – with 4 arrows)
• Daggers (2)
• Clubs (4)
• Wooden shield (1)
Outcomes
If the adventures are able to escape they should be able to fi nd their
way back to the shortcut trail by taking the same route back that
the cult members brought them in on . When they get back to the
clearing and search the area they fi nd the path begins again just on
the other side making it possible for them to continue the rest of
their journey without incident .
Appearance
Age
Height Weight
Eyes
Skin
Hair
42
5’ 8”
146
Silver
Lt Red
White
He has jet black horns that begin at his forehead and curve
around his head like ram’s horns. He’s wearing a black leather
tunic, black studded leather belt, black leather breaches, knee
high black leather boots, studded leather bracers and a coarse
black wool scarf.
8. Cultists’ Chamber: Th is is a simple room with spartan
furnishings and crude beds where the cultists sleep . Along with
the beds there are freestanding, accordion-style dividers that the
cultists have arranged so that they each have a bit of privacy . Th e
main doors in the northeast corner of the room are unlocked but
kept shut .
9. Cult Fanatic’s Chamber/Treasury: Th e cult leader Snakeskull’s
chamber is comfortably furnished with a bed, a bookshelf lined
with books, a table strewn with papers, wardrobe, and a large
wooden chest that contains the cult’s treasure and any valuables
taken from prisoners with a lock requiring a DC 20 Dexterity
check to open . Both doors are kept locked and each would require
a DC 15 Dexterity check to open . If the adventurers try to break
the door it has an AC 15 and HP12 . Snakeskull never uses the door
on the west side of the room and has his bookshelf positioned
in front of it . If playing the encounter as fi ft h level, Snakeskull’s
chamber also contains the treasure item adamantine splint mail .
Treasure: Th e wooden chest in Snakeskull’s chamber contains the
following items based on the adventure level .
Level 2 Encounter
• 3pp, 24gp, 56ep, 112sp, 1303cp
• Brass chalice with silver fi ligree (100gpv)
• Carved ivory statuette of Myrkul (250gpv)
Level 3 Encounter
• 4pp, 55gp, 127ep, 483sp, 4732cp
• Dust of Disappearance (375gpv)
• Potion of Healing (50gpv)
Level 4 Encounter
• 16pp, 142gp, 350ep, 1632sp, 18022cp
• Potion of Fire Breath (450gpv)
• Potion of Water Breathing (425gpv)
Level 5 Encounter
• 52pp, 592gp, 1086ep, 6034sp, 51085cp
• Adamantine Splint Mail (450gpv)
• Chess set with pieces made of turquoise and jet (250gpv)
• Cursed gold idol in the shape of a scarab beetle (950gpv – for
gold weight): Th e curse causes ants and spiders to follow and
swarm the possessor . A swarm attacks 2x per day at random
times determined by the GM . Use Swarm of Insects from page
338 MM . No saving throw . See page 138 DMG for other rules on
cursed items
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S
E
W
1 square = 5 feet
Cultists’
Chamber
Cultists’
Chamber
Fire Pit
Fire Pit
Cult Followers’
Chamber
Cult Followers’
Chamber
Alter
Alter
Prison
Prison
Cult Fanatic’s
Chamber/Treasury
Cult Fanatic’s
Chamber/Treasury
East Ante
Room
East Ante
Room
West Ante
Room
West Ante
Room
Storeroom
Storeroom
Armory
Armory
Entrance
Chamber
Entrance
Chamber
Guard
Chamber
Guard
Chamber
Main Door
Main Door
Worship
Chamber
Worship
Chamber
8
1
3
4
7
6
5
2
13
14
9
10
12
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Obsidian Temple
Enlarge 800% for 1" grid
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Obsidian Temple
Two encounters that will leave your
adventurers wondering, is the shorter
route really quicker?
Encounters to be played using rules
from the fifth edition of the world’s
most popular roleplaying game.
Adventure Shorts
Adventure Shorts
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/R&D Adventures/R&D Adventures - Adventure Shorts Volume 2.pdf |
Fracture Lines
A Post-DS9 Adventure
For Starfleet
Shattered Stars #11
Written By Roger L. Taylor II
Illustrated by:
Roger Taylor and TFAndrews
Special Thanks To:
Play-testers:
Rex and Jeremy Rouviere,
Jed Smith,
the U.S.S. Retributor,
and
The Seventh Fleet
(www.seventhfleet.org)
Star Trek © Paramount Pictures,
Star Trek The Role playing Game © Decipher, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Introduction
“Fracture Lines” is an adventure for use with
the Star Trek: Role playing Game by Decipher.
It is the eleventh adventure in the “Shattered
Stars” campaign and is suitable for a crew of 2-
6 players playing a Starfleet crew during the
post-DS9/post-Voyager era. With some
modification, this adventure could be adapted
for other crews and other eras.
Narrators will require the use of the Star
Trek: Player’s Guide, Star Trek: Narrator’s
Guide, and may require the use of the Star
Trek: Starfleet Operations Manual in running
this adventure. A number of pre-generated
characters are available at the end of the
mission. Alternately, players may substitute
their own characters with the approval of the
Narrator.
The adventure takes place near the
Federation/Romulan border late in the year
2389. Players who wish to take part in this
adventure should not read any further.
Adventure Synopsis
The Federation starship U.S.S. Sakarya is
routed off a boring patrol route in order to
investigate the explosion and loss of the U.S.S.
Dawnspring- a Federation science vessel over
the non-aligned world of Edoran.
The Dawnspring was conducting an
authorized shore-leave and survey period and
exploded without warning, scattering pieces of
the starship to hell-and-gone. The Sakarya and
her people must reconstruct the final moments
of the lost starship and recover her dead and
wounded.
Recommended Date/
Season/Stardate:
2388/ Post-Star Trek:Nemesis /SD 65314.6
Setting:
Edoran, Otorin Sector- A “neutral” world
within the Romulan Neutral Zone.
A “forgotten” world, Edoran is an Orion
colony world with a population of more than
two million. Edoran is not officially aligned
with any major interstellar power- and guards
that neutrality cagily. Rumors abound of pirate
activity originating from Edoran, but given that
the presence of Starfleet patrol forces on one
side and the Romulans (and their somewhat
“final” method of dealing with pirates) on the
other, the Edorans are very careful in how they
operate.
Despite these pressures, Edoran is a
marketplace where any number of deals can
be hatched and run. Certain Cardassian
strongmen a/o Federation traitors may be
hiding out on Edoran.
Background:
The U.S.S. Dawnspring was returning to
Federation space in the wake of an eighteen-
month, deep-space survey and was granted
permission to break at Edoran for shore leave.
While she was there, Dawnspring agreed to
assist the Edoran Council of Ministers by re-
mapping part of the northern hemisphere for
economic exploitation. Dawnspring's sensors
detected something she shouldn't have- and
she was killed for it. A high-energy explosive
was beamed into Dawnspring's engine
room,rupturing her warp core and destroying
the starship in orbit.
Dawnspring's shore party- her Executive
officer and a small number of the crew-
survived the loss of their ship.
The Edoran authorities, fearing for the loss of
their neutrality, are now in chaos- torn
between providing full cooperation and full
cover-up.
Sakarya's mission is to investigate the loss of
the Dawnspring, to determine what caused her
death, and to recover her remains- both the
living and the dead.
Table 6.1 Universal Target Numbers
Difficulty
Base TN
Simple
5
Routine
10
Challenging
15
Difficult
20
Virtually Impossible
25
Heroic
30
1
Act One
New Orders
Open in media res with Handout #1
(Captain's Log). Underway along the Romulan
Neutral Zone, U.S.S. Sakarya has been
conducting a deterrent patrol designed to keep
Orion privateers and Romulan renegades from
crossing the Neutral Zone. Her routine is
shattered by the arrival- Handout #2 (Comm
Traffic)- of a canned message from Admiral
Thol, commanding Starbase 153. Due to the
distance from Starbase 153, there is a twenty-
minute communications lag between Sakarya
and Starfleet Command.
When played, the main viewscreen clears
and is replaced by the grim visage of the
Andorian Sector commander. Thol has a
reputation for being very reserved, but a TN 10
Savvy check reveals that the Admiral's features
are unusually strained.
“Captain ab Reis,
I am interrupting your patrol, to deal with
a bleak situation. Starfleet Command has
received incomplete reports that the U.S.S.
Dawnspring has exploded in orbit around
Edoran, and crashed on the planet surface.
There are reportedly few survivors.
Upon receipt of this transmission, you are
detached from your current mission and
ordered to proceed at best possible speed
to Edoran, there to determine the cause of
the Dawnspring's loss, recover her
wreckage and survivors, and to offer any
necessary assistance in minimizing damage
to the planet and its population.
The cause of the Dawnspring's loss has
not been determined- proceed with
caution. Given the location of Edoran in
the Neutral Zone, you are further cautioned
against aggravating an already tense
situation. Standard Rules of Engagement
apply.
Good luck.
Thol out.”
If the heroes specifically ask for the
information, they should receive Handout #3
(Edoran Profile),Handout #4 (
Dawnspring
Profile), Handout #5 (Admiral Thol Profile),
and/or Handout #6 (Commander Nelson
profile). “Captain” Nelson was one of Admiral
Thol's junior officers, serving with him aboard
the starship Kel'ran, and in a Dominion prison
camp afterwards.
When Nelson was promoted to Lieutenant
Commander, Thol recommended her for
captaincy of the Dawnspring and lobbied
extensively on her behalf.
Sakarya is currently in Section H-9, roughly
2.5 light years from Edoran. A speed of Warp
9.6 will get the Sakarya to the Edoran system
in 11.5 hours. In order to attain that speed,
the Sakarya's Chief Engineer will need to make
a TN 20 Propulsion Engineering (Warp Drive)
test in order to reach that speed. Additionally,
a TN 20 Propulsion Engineering (Warp Drive)
test is needed each half hour there after to
maintain that speed (though these latter tests
enjoy a +6 bonus due to the engine's
reliability).
Finally, a Sakarya officer with the Surfing
Spacetime Professional Ability can make a TN
20 Space Science (Astrogate) test to plot an
exceptionally tight course. This has the effect
of acting as the ship travelled one warp factor
faster than her actual speed.
Edoran Roads
If Sakarya conducts a detailed scan of the
outer orbital (parking) area around Edoran, her
Science, Ops, a/o Tactical officers should make
a TN15 System Operation (Sensors), Physical
Science, or Propulsion Engineering (Warp
Drive) test. A success should reveal a lot of
antimatter/ion residue in orbit, most of it
heading into deep space. A Superior success
should reveal that the residue is (for the most
part) less than twenty-four hours old.
Less than a day ago, there were a large
number of warp-capable vessels in orbit-
nearly all of whom are now gone.
Close Orbit
As the Sakarya warps into orbit, she is
immediately contacted (audio only) by Minister
Conacian, who welcomes them and offers his
assistance in resolving this tragedy. The
Edoran government has seventeen survivors of
the Dawnspring in their care, and have made
some inroads into determining the cause of the
starship's loss. If Sakarya is running with a
defensive posture- screens and shields raised or
weapons armed, Conacian will assure them
2
that this isn't necessary- Dawnspring was lost
due to an internal explosion rather than an
external attack.
If pressed for details, Conacian will
temporize by inviting Captain Thallman and
his people to the surface to review their
findings and to meet with the Dawnspring
survivors. Coordinates just outside the Hall of
Ministers follow.
No matter how the conversation progresses,
however, Conacian invites the Sakarya people
to the surface to meet with the Council and
review the evidence, and is clearly reluctant to
discuss any details over an open comm line.
Should the Sakarya take note (and make a
TN 15 System Operation (Sensors) check) the
heroes should receive Handout #7 (Edoran
Roads) detailing a list of vessels in orbit.
The Council of Ministers
When the heroes reach the surface, they find
themselves on a very hot, dusty world, and on
a city street paved with cobblestones and
surrounded by brick, adobe, and stucco
buildings with slate roofs and spread awnings.
The streets are crowded with people- mostly
Orion- many of whom watch them with a mix
of open hostility, open curiosity, and even
open dismay. Before they can interact with
any of the locals, however, the heroes are
approached by a massive mountain of a man
dressed in elaborate robes and wielding a large
pole-arm/halberd who identifies himself as
Rijan and “summons them to meet with the
Council”.
The heroes are shown in past a set of large,
thick, and elaborately carved wooden doors,
through an elaborate foyer with parquet floors,
and thence into a low, comfortable, and
elaborate furnished meeting room filled with
men (and two women).
The Edoran Council of Ministers is arrayed
on a series of pillows and low divans around a
central meeting area. Thick and luxurious rugs
and draperies decorate the room in a
sumptuous- and blatant- luxury. A small trio of
armed guards (swords and disruptor pistols)
stand decorously along the rooms perimeter.
Several of the ministers are smoking from
elaborate hookas, while others sip at a variety
of liquors, while others still have elaborate
platters of small foods and sweet-meats within
arms reach. A TN 10 Savvy check (or a TN 10
Empathy test) will reveal that despite the
languorous setting, the Ministers are all alert-
and even wary. It soon becomes apparent,
however, that the ministers are very eager to
satisfy their Federation guests and send them
on their way. There is no sign of the survivors
As the party all enter the room, Rijan taps his
pole-arm three times against the hardwood
floor and announces, “The Federation officers,
my lords and ladies.”
A greying man- Minister Conacian- (who
looks remarkably like Ayelborne from TOS:
Errand of Mercy) but more heavily (and
ornately) dressed hurries towards the heroes
and shakes Captain Thallman's hand with both
of his own, while again expressing his
condolences fro the loss of the Dawnspring.
He will then attempt to see them seated and
plied with wines and sweet-meats.
After making sure the Federation guests are
well situated, Conacian will turn the matter to
business.
The Dawnspring survivors are nearby and
will be brought in shortly, but the Ministers
wanted to discuss their findings first- sparing
the survivors what can only be a painful
conclusion.
According to the Council of Ministers, the
Dawnspring was lost due to some sort of
accident aboard- apparently in Engineering.
The ship was in standard orbit, with no other
vessel nearby. It took a bit of luck and skill,
but the Edoran were able to reconstruct and
computer enhance sensor data from the few
government sources within line of sight, and
recreate the chain of events leading up to the
ship's loss.
The video shows a low-oblique view of the
starship as she orbited high overhead. After
several unremarkable minutes, a small blossom
of fire appears low on Dawnspring's secondary
hull (close to her warp-core ejection hatch),
followed by a massive plasma explosion which
blows apart the secondary hull and sends the
vessel careening off screen.
The “camera” pans wildly for a moment as
the operator attempts to focus in on the dying
starship, and succeeds momentarily- just long
enough to see the primary hull disintegrating as
it tumbles into the atmosphere. The video
ends a moment later. An empath or telepath
who makes a TN 15 Empathy test will detect a
fairly sharp, but general spike in tension
3
amongst the ministers as the video is played-
and concern about the reactions of the Sakarya
crew.
After a moment of silence, Conacian speaks
again. “As you can see, there was no activity
near the starship before she was destroyed.
Our analysis suggests that the explosion was
the result of a warp-core breach or failure of
one of the ship's EPS conduits.” The Ministers
have managed to locate the major pieces of the
wreckage- but no survivors from aboard the
ship when she was lost.
Through Conacian, the Ministers pledge their
full cooperation with the Federation's
investigation, and express the hope that this
matter can be resolved quickly. If the heroes
ask for it, the video of the loss will be handed
over without pause or hesitation.
The Survivors
Either at Captain Thallman's request or
following the video, the survivors of the
Dawnspring are brought in. These fortunate
few were ashore on leave when the ship was
destroyed. There are a total of seventeen
survivors, including Dawnspring's Executive
Officer, Operations Officer, and her Main
Propulsion Assistant.
All are in good health, and have been well
treated- though they are understandably
furious. When Dawnspring was destroyed,
they were “gathered and quartered”- or as one
of the survivors puts it, “rounded up and
detained”. They have been held essentially
incommunicado, and haven't been allowed to
play any role in either the search or the
investigation (and the inability/inactivity is
driving them slightly nuts). They are-
understandably- very pleased to see the
Sakarya officers.
Minister Conacian will turn the survivors
over to Captain Thallman (or the other senior
officer present) and suggest that they may want
time to debrief and to review the Dawnspring
crew. Facilities have been prepared for just
that purpose within the Hall of Ministers, or
the heroes are free to return to the Sakarya, if
that is their wish.
If they have any questions or requests, they
may contact Conacian at their leisure.
Interviews
If and when the heroes make the survivors
aware of the Edoran “findings”, they react with
hostility and disbelief. Both the Exec and the
MPA can attest that the ship was in need of a
post-mission overhaul, her material condition
was good overall. They'd run a pressure-
integrity test on the main warp core less than
three weeks before- there was no reason for a
core-breach to have taken place.
The rest of the crew, if questioned, will
likewise report that the ship was in good
condition, with a well-trained and proficient
(though tired) crew.
The Exec and Captain were together about a
half hour before the Dawnspring was lost, and
the Exec recalls the Council of Ministers (he
doesn't remember the name of the specific
minister) asking to meet with Captain Nelson,
immediately. Nelson agreed and left to meet
with them, telling the Exec to enjoy his lunch.
About a half-hour before the ship was lost, the
Captain contacted him to report she'd be
returning to the ship. When the Exec asked if
he should join her, Captain Nelson said no-
that it was a minor errand and she'd rejoin him
in a couple of hours.
The Other Shoe
Once the heroes have had a chance to
interview the survivors and get a feel for their
take on the situation, any Tactical officers left
aboard the Sakarya should make a TN 10
System Operation (Sensors or Tactical) test. If
successful, they will detect a subspace
disruption in close orbit- possibly a cloaked
vessel.
After a moment's pause1, the vessel will
decloak, revealing herself to be the Romulan
starship Vigilant.
Commander Tolon will demand an
explanation for the Sakarya's presence in the
Neutral Zone, noting that her presence is a
violation of treaty and thus an act of war.
Tolon will be sneering and condescending,
referring to Sakarya as a “death-machine”, and
to the crew as “dandified thugs”, but he won't
be provoked into opening fire. He will express
deliberately-feigned sympathy for the loss of
the Dawnspring, and will graciously “allow”
them to continue their rescue operations. He
will not, however, agree to depart the Neutral
1 This pause should be of sufficient length to allow
the Captain to return to the ship, if necessary.
4
Zone.
Tolon will insist that his presence is
necessary to monitor the Starfleet incursion-
and to ensure the integrity of the Neutral Zone.
With little further preamble, the Vigilant will
fade back into cloak. Should the heroes
attempt to scan the Vigilant before she cloaks,
they should receive Handout #9 (Close Range
Scan).
Optional Scene- Local Reaction
If the heroes contact the Edoran Council of
Ministers about the Romulan presence,
Conacian will be coolly receptive.
He will point out that the Edoran system is
neutral, and that the Romulans have as much
right to visit and trade as does the Federation-
and that it is in the Edoran interest to have
both parties present- their rivalry will ensure
Edoran sovereignty.
Act Two
Questions
If the heroes ask Conacian about the meeting
with Captain Nelson, he will disavow any
knowledge- stating that to his knowledge, the
Ministers had no business with the
Dawnspring after granting her permission to
make orbit and begin their visit. If apprised of
the crew's assertion that the ship was in good
material condition and the crew well-trained,
Conacian will concede their claims- but
suggest that perhaps the survivors (either
innocently or deliberately) are rejecting the
possibility out of hand in order to exonerate
their captain and shipmates from a disgraceful
and embarrassing accident.
Analyzing the Video
If Sakarya personnel decide to analyze the
video, they should make a TN 25 Computer
Use (Retrieve Information) test. The analysis
will take at least five hours of work. A success
will confirm that the tape has been modified-
which isn't a surprise, as the Edoran reported it
was a composite reconstruction of scattered
sensor data. A Superior success will detect an
unexplained thermal bloom on Dawnspring's
secondary hull milliseconds before the hull
breach.
A TN 20 Physical Science (Physics) test
and/or a System Engineering test will confirm
that the thermal bloom did not have an
internal source- Dawnspring shouldn't have
been carrying anything in that area with
sufficient force to breach the hull. A Superior
success on either of these tests (or a separate
test), will suggest that the thermal bloom is
consistent with hull vaporization due to
unattenuated phaser fire- but the sensor
recordings don't show evidence of such an
attack.
If asked about these findings, Conacian will
suggest that their analysis might be skewed-
there are no weapons platforms that could
have reached Dawnspring in standard orbit
without being detected. If accused of
tampering with the video, Conacian will
become indignant and offended- he and his
people have done their best to assist the
Federation in this whole sad business, and do
not deserve to be accused because of the
scarcity of clear information.
Mapping the Debris
Once Sakarya begins her survey, a TN 20
System Operation (Sensors) test will detect a lot
of ion residue in orbit around Edoran- as well
as evidence of a massive plasma explosion.
An accompanying TN 15 Propulsion
Engineering (Warp Drive) test is necessary to
differentiate the Dawnspring's signature from
the others. If either test fails, the heroes are
unable to differentiate between Dawnspring's
signature and those of the rest of the orbital
traffic- though retests are allowed.
If both tests succeed, the heroes detect
evidence of Dawnspring's engines in both a
standard (parking) orbit and in an elliptical
orbit over the northern hemisphere. If either
test is a Superior success (succeeding by six or
more points), they should determine that
Dawnspring shifted from a standard orbit to the
elliptical just before she was destroyed.
An Extended TN 150 System Operation
(Sensors) or Investigate (Search) test (the latter-
but not the former- receives the ship's sensor
bonus to each test) is necessary to chart the fall
of debris from the Dawnspring2. This test has
an interval of one hour- but the heroes can
begin actually surveying and recovering the
debris before the test is completed.
5
2 Particularly sharp or experienced players might
recall that most Starfleet hand-held gear (especially
weapons, tricorders, PADDS, and communicators)
are equipped with Subspace Transceiver Arrays.
Those who attempt to track the debris field using
the signals from the STA's reduce the TN for the
EXTENDED System Operation (Sensors) or
Investigate (Search) test to 100 (instead of 150).
Once the total reaches 75, however, a TN 10
Computer Use (Modeling) or Physical Science
(Physics) test will confirm- based on the debris
pattern- that Dawnspring could not have been
in a standard orbit when she was destroyed,
but was in an elliptical orbit that would have
taken her over a remote part of the northern
continent.
If at any point Sakarya requests permission to
alter her orbit to facilitate the search and
recovery, Conacian will demur and stall. If
pressed, he will suggest that the Council of
Ministers has decided Sakarya should remain
in a parking orbit for “security reasons”.
Debris Fields
Pieces of debris (large and small) from
Dawnspring have rained down over the North
continent. A TN 20 Physical Science (Physics)
test will suggest that the debris pattern confirms
the earlier findings- that Dawnspring was an
elliptical orbit- though the varied paths the
debris took make it harder to plot her position
accurately.
Upon beaming in to analyze/retrieve the
debris, Sakarya's away teams should note the
presence of local military troops- apparently
conducting their own search for the debris.
Armed teams working with tricorders and other
sensor packs are moving through the affected
areas, marking wreckage and debris with RF
transponders and keeping the locals from
looting or otherwise interfering with recovery
of the Dawnspring's remains.
A TN 15 Tactics test (or TN 20 Savvy test)
will reveal that while the troops are indeed
conducting a search for debris- they're also
working hard to stay well ahead of the
Sakarya's search parties- trying to beat them to
major pieces of debris, and ignoring smaller
pieces as a result.
Optional Scene- The Theft
If the Narrator feels it necessary to describe
the Edoran's interest (duplicity is too strong a
word) in the search, the following scene
should be used to demonstrate that all is not
well.
As the heroes comb one area looking for
pieces and debris, an Edoran team is doing the
same nearby. A TN 5 Observe (Spot) test will
take note of an Edoran officer taking a piece of
debris from a private soldier and stuffing it in
an armed and armored ground vehicle (the
local equivalent of a Humvee).
If called on this behavior, the Lieutenant will
initially plead ignorance and pretend not to
understand because of a language barrier. If
his forces (there should be at least six Edoran
soldiers present), he will try to bluster and
evade- but will become violent only as a last
resort before falling on his sword, admitting to
the theft, and claiming to have taken the debris
as a souvenir.
If Conacian is asked about it he will feign
shock and outrage (a TN 10 Empathy test will
confirm that he is indeed upset, but because
the man was caught, not because of the theft).
A Superior test (or a second Empathy check)
will reveal that Conacian is desperate to keep
the sad business from turning into an
indictment of the Edoran as a whole. If
Conacian is present during the incident, he
will berate the Lieutenant for tampering with
the investigation and order his arrest.
Once analyzed, the debris turns out to be a
life support subprocessor array from
Dawnspring's primary hull.
If the heroes think to ask, they'll note that
there's been a notable dearth of computer
pieces or debris from Dawnspring's computer
network.
Optional Scene- Provocations
If the Narrator feels it necessary to maintain
the tension, Tolon and the Vigilant will
periodically decloak and move towards
Sakarya, as though to attack.
During the initial attack, Vigilant's shields
will be up, but her weapons cold. In
subsequent passes, Vigilant will arm one
weapon system, then all weapons, and finally
make a close pass- but at no point will she
actually fire on the Federation vessel.
In each case, Tolon will smugly protest his
innocence and point out that the Edoran
system is neutral territory.
6
The Fallen
Most of the debris is relatively small-
suitcase-sized or smaller, and the organic
remains are in very poor shape. Simply put,
there's no way that Sakarya will recover all of
the remains of the Dawnspring crew- but
Starfleet regulations and simple decency
mandate that they make a reasonable effort to
recover whatever they can. Simple
thoroughness should also suggest at least one
formal autopsy- a TN 10 Medicine (Forensics)
test, which confirms that the crewman died
(likely instantly) of trauma due to the loss of
the ship, and exposure to radiation, and
extreme temperatures.
Crash Scene One
One of the larger pieces of Dawnspring
debris to reach the surface was the shuttlecraft
Ramses, which tumbled (more or less intact)
into a smaller Edoran village, and destroyed
several ramshackle buildings, and killed or
wounded perhaps a dozen people.
The village, called K'Viti, is built into a small
mountainside and is home to a population of
about a thousand. The Ramses came to rest
upside down in a large storehouse/barn.
A TN 10 Structural Engineering
(Spaceframes) test will confirm that the shuttle
will never fly again- there is deep structural
and system damage to every major system and
load-bearing member. A TN 15 Computer Use
(Retrieve) test will confirm that the Ramses
contains no useful information about the death
of the Dawnspring.
A TN 10 Observe (Spot) or Investigate
(Search) test will reveal that while there are
government troops nearby, they are there
keeping order- there doesn't appear to be any
sort of medical or humanitarian relief operation
underway.
Once apprised of this fact, the heroes may or
may not contact Conacian- who informs them
that the territorial governor is responsible for
such efforts, and that he will “inquire”about
measures being taken”. A TN 10 Savvy test
will recognize a polite dismissal of the problem
(actually, the heroes are simply being blown
off).
Ideally, Sakarya should offer what aid and
succor she can to the innocents injured in this
incident. The injuries are about what one
would expect, mostly broken bones, burns,
and contusions- and all are readily treatable
with a little time and effort. The two dead- an
old man and a young girl, are not so readily
cured.
Warp Core Subprocessor
Another piece of the debris located by the
heroes should be the subprocessor for the
ship's antimatter injectors. The processor is
badly scorched and damaged, and will require
a TN 15 Repair or System Engineering
(Computers) test to be able to retrieve any
information. Once the unit is repaired, a TN
10 Computer Use (Retrieve Information) test
will show that the injectors were operating in a
normal low-power mode less than ten seconds
before the loss of the ship. An unidentified
subspace pulse and a warning of loss of
antimatter containment is registered a bare
second before the record breaks off, which
ends a full second before the ship exploded.
The Black Box
One of the last things the heroes should
recover (clinching the mystery) are
Dawnspring's “black box” and recorder marker
buoy. Complete analysis will take several
hours, but a TN 15 Computer Use (Retrieve)
test will reveal that Dawnspring shifted orbit on
her Captain's order to investigate unusual
subspace and RF emissions from the North
Continent, and was conducting high-intensity
energy scans when she was lost. Affinity
bonuses from Enterprise-Administration
(Starfleet) and the Promotion edge apply to this
test.
A full analysis will require an EXTENDED TN
50 Computer Use (Retrieve Information) test,
with an interval of one-half hour. The full
analysis indicates that indicates that
Dawnspring was operating normally until just
before the moment of her death, when she
registered an unusual subspace disruption low
on the starboard quarter (consistent with the
video provided by the Edoran). The Captain's
command, “Shields!” is nearly lost in the
ensuing chaos, but the loss of integrity on her
secondary hull is recorded clearly on the
damage control monitors, as is the loss of
antimatter containment a split-second later.
7
Act Three
Findings
If the heroes trouble either Conacian or the
Council of Ministers with their findings, the
response is one of indignation- and a
reiteration of their earlier findings. As far as
they are concerned, Dawnspring was lost due
to an internal malfunction, and are not
interested in any other conclusions. A TN 10
Savvy test makes it amply clear that their
indignation is feigned- and they are more
fearful of the consequences of the loss of the
Dawnspring than angry about the implicit
accusation.
Sakarya will also be given ten hours to
complete their recovery of Dawnspring debris
and depart the system.
Tracking the Subspace Pulse
An analysis of the subspace pulse suggests
that it is a harmonic of a much larger (and far
more powerful) pulse- one that the heroes
should be able to track. This will require a TN
20 Space Science (Astrophysics), Physical
Science (Physics), or TN 25 Propulsion
Engineering (Warp Drive) test. A success to
any of these tests places the primary pulse (not
the harmonic which killed the Dawnspring) in
the northern hemisphere, near the center of the
eastern continent (analogous to the western
Himalayas on Earth).
Scanning the North Eastern
Continent
In order to properly scan the area from
which the pulse originated, Sakarya must alter
her orbit from standard to elliptical- just as the
Dawnspring did.
As Sakarya begins her survey, an irate (and
near-frantic) Conacian will contact the starship
and demand to know what the heroes are
doing, and then demand that Sakarya return to
her standard orbit.
Unless Sakarya returns to her assigned orbit
(or- in the Narrator’s judgment- the heroes
manage to successfully stall Conacian) he will
order Sakarya out of the system immediately.
Scanning the continent requires an Extended
TN 100 System Operation (Sensors) test, with
an interval measured in rounds. Any success
(not the completion of the scan) will detect a
lot of ion residue and “garbage” RF noise in
the upper atmosphere. A TN 10 Space
Science (Astrophysics) or System Operation
(Communications) test will reveal that this is
consistent with a massive (and recent)
subspace pulse in the atmosphere).
The Pulse
Just as Sakarya completes her scan of the
north/eastern continent, her sensors register a
building subspace pulse. The heroes will have
one round to get the Sakarya's defensive
mantle (her screens and shields) up or she will
take 2d6 points of damage.
A TN 10 System Operation (Sensors, Ops, or
Tactical) test will reveal that the subspace
pulses (there are more than one) are originating
from a point near the center of their search
area, and appear to be targeting vessels in
orbit.
A cloud of subspace and radiometric
interference surrounds the origin point and
subspace and RF noise are sharply elevated
and make communications with the away party
difficult, at best. Any ship to shore
communications require a TN 15 System
Operation (Communications) test. A success
will allow communications for one round.
Each degree of success thereafter adds one
additional round before communications break
down.
Gravimetric distortions (turbulence) over the
site make it difficult to hold Sakarya in a stable
orbit and impose a -2 penalty to all Physical
tests.
More interesting, the gravimetric distortions
are causing tremblors and earthquakes all
across the planet- and are getting worse. A TN
15 Planetary Science (Geology) or Space
Science (Astrophysics) suggests that if the
pulses are not isolated and shut down soon,
they will disrupt the entire surface of the
planet.
Despite the subspace noise, sensors will
register a variety of distress calls as the ships
are hit and take damage- and attempt to run for
deep space.
Sakarya is being hit by the subspace pulses
roughly once every minute, and so far her
shields are protecting her- but they are being
drained by the attacks. Within six minutes,
the starship's shields will no longer be able to
protect her.
8
Vigilant Revealed
As soon as the susbpace/gravimetric pulses
begin, Vigilant will decloak off Sakarya's
starboard bow, weapons hot and her captain
irate. In point of fact, Vigilant's cloaking
device can't handle the interference and
malfunctioned.
Tolon will hail the Sakarya and demand to
know what the heroes have done- blaming the
Federation for the situation at hand.
If the heroes point out that the troubles
originate on the surface below, Tolon will get a
crafty look on his face and then dismiss the
Federation starship, announcing that Vigilant
will handle the situation- and promising
retribution should the Sakarya or her people
interfere.
The Cavern
Scanning the source of the interference will
require a TN 20 System Operation (Sensors or
Tactical) test and will reveal a large cavern
perhaps 400 meters down, at the point of
origin.
Transporting an away team to the source of
the pulses will require a TN 20 System
Operation (Transporter) test, and even if
successful, will be an unpleasant, nausea-
inducing experience. It will also require the
ship's shields be lowered for at least fifteen
seconds. If the heroes time this properly, they
can avoid damage from the subspace pulse.
Upon beam in, the heroes will discover a
small Edoran patrol (twelve men) armed with
phasers. They will open fire as soon as they
sight the Federation party (i.e, as soon as they
beam in.) Fortunately, between the noise, the
darkness, and the wind, the Edoran shot goes
wild.
Dispatching the Edoran defenders should be
a simple exercise (the “defenders” have a
Defense of 7, no Stamina bonus, and a total
skill-and-attribute of 7 in Ranged Combat-
Energy Weapons). They are disorganized and
leaderless, and should be dispatched without
much difficulty.
The Obelisk
Once the Edoran “defenders” are dispatched,
the heroes can begin exploring the cavern.
Rough-hewn near the entrance, the cavern
quickly opens into a massive, smooth-walled
chamber the size of Sakarya's primary hull
In the center of the chamber- spot-lit and
imposing- is an eight-meter tall obelisk covered
with runes and markings. A small circle of
control panels surround the base of the
obelisk- one of them damaged and smoking.
A TN 15 Social Science (Archeology) or TN
20 Knowledge-Culture or Knowledge-Specific
World test will reveal that the iconography is
very similar to that found on Iconian artifacts.
A TN 5 Knowledge-Law or Enterprise-
Administration (Starfleet) test will confirm that
Federation policy insists that such technologies
should be recovered wherever possible, but
must not be allowed to fall into enemy hands.
Romulan Interference
Before the heroes can begin deciphering the
controls, they hear the familiar whine of
transporters. A TN 5 Observe (Spot) test will
reveal a party of six Romulans attempting to
beam int the cavern (and apparently having a
hard time of it).
After a moment's work (and warning) the
Romulan party will beam in and demand the
heroes' surrender. If that is not forthcoming,
they will open fire in an attempt to seize and
control the artifact.
This fight will be a little tougher- the
Romulans are skilled soldiers used to
coordinating their actions. The Romulan
soldiers have a Defense of 9, a +3 Stamina
bonus, and a skill-and-attribute total of 12 in
Ranged Combat-Energy Weapons).
The heroes will need to use dodge actions
and terrain in order to emerge victorious in the
encounter.
The Interface
Assuming they emerge victorious, the heroes
can begin attempting to decipher the controls.
The heroes should be given Handout #10
(Obelisk Interface).
They are faced with an input pad with seven
buttons and a small user screen demanding
that they enter a specific code. The answer
(which they will need to guess) is 1-1A-2B.
The first player to identify the trivia value3 of
the sequence should receive an extra 100
3 The code is Destruct Sequence 2 from the
U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (no bloody “A”,
“B”, “C”, or “D”)
9
experience points. As the heroes work, the
cavern itself begins to tremble and debris to
fall from the ceiling.
The heroes have one minute (in real-time) to
solve the problem before the rain of debris
simply becomes too much and Sakarya beams
them out.
If the heroes manage to solve the problem,
things become ominously silent for a full
minute, then a deep-throated alarm/buzzer
buzzer begins sounding and a disembodied
voice begins a monotone chanting that sounds
suspiciously like a count down.
As the heroes make their escape, the cavern
self destructs in a blinding implosion centered
upon the obelisk.
Resolution
Depending upon how the crew of the
Sakarya handle the investigation and the
resultant discoveries, any number of outcomes
are possible. There is one that should NOT
take place under any circumstances- that of
unleashing the firepower of a Federation
starship against the Edoran population- there's
simply no justification for such an act.
Despite their government's attempts to seize
and defend the obelisk, there is simply no
direct evidence linking the Edoran to the loss
of the Dawnspring. Reasonable minds can
speculate about cover-ups and wink-and-nod
arrangements, but as Edoran is a neutral world
in neutral space, there's precious little Sakarya
can do- even if her crew could prove Edoran
complicity. Any repercussions will rely upon
Sakarya's report and the actions of the
diplomats.
If the heroes managed to solve the final
puzzle, the central cavern has self-destructed-
but there are numerous secondary chambers to
be explored in the future.
If they failed to do so, the earhquakes and
tremblors have caused the caverns to collapse
in upon themselves, and any future archeology
will likely be conducted with a bulldozer.
Win, lose, or draw however, the planet has
suffered considerable disruption due to the
planet-wide earthquakes they just experienced.
Special Victory Conditions
The standard Starfleet Rules of Engagement
mean that Sakarya may only fire in defense of
herself or of the lives of others. If, at any point
in the scenario,Sakarya opens fire on the
Edoran, the Vigilant, or any of their personnel
without just cause and direct provocation, they
have violated the Rules of Engagement and
committed an act of war.
By committing such an act, the crew
automatically loses the scenario, and the
personnel in question would likely face a
court-martial upon their return to Starfleet.
Finally, Iconian (or Iconian-derivative)
technology is extremely powerful. Should the
heroes allow the obelisk to fall into Romulan
hands, they automatically lose the scenario,
and will undoubtedly face a board of inquiry
upon their return to Starfleet.
10
Rewards:
Experience Points and Renown Points are to be totaled (except where indicated otherwise) and
divided equally among the PCs. The minimum renown award (before any penalties) is +1.
Experience Awards
PC survived:
100 exp points
Sakarya reaches Edoran in less than fourteen
hours:
100 exp points
Sakarya is (at least) at Yellow Alert when
she enters the Edoran system:
100 exp points
The heroes trouble to look for evidence of
Romulan involvement in the loss of the
Dawnspring:
100 exp points
The heroes use the internal STA installed on
most Starfleet gear to track the fall of
debris:
100 exp points
The heroes take specific steps to recover the
remains of the Dawnspring's crew:
100 exp points
The heroes take the trouble to autopsy at least
one of the Dawnspring's crew:
100 exp points
The heroes take the trouble to try and assist
the civilian casualties and innocent
bystanders injured by Dawnspring's
wreckage.
100 exp points
The heroes locate the Dawnspring's “black
box” :
100 exp points
The heroes identify the cause of the
Dawnspring's destruction : 800 exp points
The heroes scan the northern/eastern
hemisphere for the larger pulse :
100 exp points
The heroes locate the source of the subspace
pulses :
800 exp points
The heroes defeat the Edoran “defenders” :
100 exp points
The heroes defeat the Romulan landing party :
100 exp points
The heroes manage to decipher the Iconian
controls and stop the attacks.
100 exp points
The heroes allow the Romulans to acquire
Iconian technology :
100 exp points
Renown Awards
Sakarya reaches Edoran in less than fourteen
hours:
Renown +1
The heroes use the internal STA installed on
most Starfleet gear to track the fall of
debris:
Renown +1
The heroes take specific steps to recover the
remains of the Dawnspring's crew:
Renown +1
The heroes take the trouble to try and assist
the civilian casualties and innocent
bystanders injured by Dawnspring's
wreckage.
Renown +2
The heroes locate the Dawnspring's “black
box” :
Renown +1
The heroes identify the cause of the
Dawnspring's destruction : Renown +2
The heroes locate the source of the subspace
pulses :
Renown +2
The heroes defeat the Edoran “defenders” :
Renown +1
The heroes defeat the Romulan landing party :
Renown +1
The heroes manage to decipher the Iconian
controls and stop the attacks: Renown +2
The heroes allow the Romulans to acquire
Iconian technology :
Renown -5
Optional Renown Results (per Officer):
-6 or less
Officer is court-martialed,
Infamy Flaw possible (GM’s
discretion).
-3 to –5
Inquiry by Starfleet Command,
possible reprimand.
0 or –2
Nasty message from Starfleet
Command
1
Acknowledgment from Starfleet
Command, next assignment.
2 to 4
Acknowledgment from Starfleet
Command, well done.
5 or better
Commendation from Starfleet
Command ( Commendation 1
edge).
11
(Non-Player Characters)
Minister Conacian-
A slight, unimposing man- Minister Conacian is a small greying man of Orion stock who
looks remarkably like Ayelborne from TOS: Errand of Mercy. Conacian is fond of heavy and
ornate clothing, and radiates an air of genuine concern and sharp attentiveness. Conacian is a
wealthy businessman.
Sub-Commander Tolon-
Tolon is a proud, aristocratic Romulan from a high-born family. He is also a competent
starship commander and an implacable foe of the Federation- who he views as an obstacle to
Romulan domination of the galaxy. Despite his comparative youth, Tolon is a remarkably
“:old-school” Romulan.
Honorable by his own lights, Tolon is not completely ruthless- but will do what is necessary
to get the job done.
Thol ir'Idrani-
Rear Admiral, Commander, Starbase 153. RADM Thol is an experienced war-time
commander who saw service with the 11th Fleet during the Dominion War, commanding
the Akira Class cruiser Kel'ran. Thol is noted for hit-and-fade attacks and precision firepower
fighters, shuttles, and (of course) starships.
During the War, Thol and the Kel'ran were forced to fire on the Andorian colony world of
A'than (Thol's homeworld), and leveled the capital and much of the colony in order to deny it
to Dominion forces who'd seized control and begun either relocating or executing the
populace. It is rumored that one of Thol's wives was in the capital when the attack took
place, but this has never been confirmed. Thol keeps a mourning shrine in a corner of his
office, nonetheless.
In 2375, the Kel'ran was lost covering the withdrawal of Task Force 11.24 from the Avari
system. The task force had been seriously mauled by a superior Dominion strike-group, and
thirteen ships (nearly half the task force) were unable toescape the system when the recall
order came. Kel'ran had sustained moderate damage, but was still combat worthy, and with a
Dominion strike wing bearing down on the stragglers, Thol and the Kel'ran disregarded the
evacuation order and executed a risky micro-warp into the strike wing's path. “Thol's Charge”
pinned down the Dominion forces long enough for Task force 11.24 to repair and pull out
eleven of the thirteen stragglers (either under their own power or under tractor beam).
The Kel'ran was reported lost with all hands, but Thol and his survivors spent three months
in a Dominion internment camp before the end of the War.
Admiral Thol is considered a hard, disciplined man- cool, regal, and a cast-iron sonovabitch
when crossed.
Nelson, Dana-
Commander, Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Dawnspring. Young and attractive, Ensign Dana
Nelson served with Admiral Thol aboard the U.S.S. Kel'ran during the Dominion War, and
spent three months in a Dominion internment camp before the end of the War.
Following the Armistice, Nelson returned to active duty aboard the U.S.S. Lexington, and
later as Chief Science Officer aboard the U.S.S. Vincennes. Upon her promotion to
Lieutenant Commander, Admiral Thol recommended Nelson for command of the Dawnspring,
then refitting at Starbase 153.
Nelson has forged a reputation in the Fleet as a competent and vivacious officer with an
insatiable curiosity, and Dawnspring is known as a tight-knit ship with a happy and efficient
crew.
12
(Starships)
USS Sakarya
NCC-52143
“...Sound once more a daring note of hope
and will...”
Production Data
Origin: United Federation of Planets
Class and Type: Steamrunner Class Heavy
Frigate
Year Launched: 2369
Hull Data
Size:
6, 18 decks,
Length:
356/263/77 meters*
Structure:
40 (5 ablative )
Crew:
200
Cargo Capacity:
60
Atmospheric Capable: No
Operational Data
Transporters: 3 ea personnel, cargo,
emergency
Sensor Systems
Class 4 (+4/E)
Operations Systems Class 3 (D)
Life Support
Class 4 (E)
Masking System: Monoreflective Plating (14)
Shuttlebays:
1 aft saucer
Shuttles: 6 size worth
Tractor Beams:
1 fd, 1av, 1ad
Propulsion Data
Impulse Engines: FIG-5 (.92c) (D)
Warp Drive: LF-41 (wf 6/9.2/9.6) (D)
Tactical
Phaser Banks
Type IX (x4/D)
Photon Torpedoes
Mk 95 (x1/C)
Penetration
6 / 5 / 5 / 0 / 0
Photon Penetration
4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4
Quantum Penetration 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5
Deflector Shields
FSR (E)
Protection/Threshold
17 / 4
Miscellaneous
Maneuver Modifiers +2 C, +1 H, +1 T
Traits:
Ablative Armor (+5 Structure) , Monorefractive Plating
The second of the Perimeter Defense Directive ships, the Steamrunner-class heavy frigate was
designed with relatively specific mission profiles in mind, including perimeter patrol and defense,
long-range threat response, covert operations, and combat support. It's also the first Starfleet
vessel to mount mono-reflective plating.
U.S.S. Sakarya is named in honor of the Turkish submarines which commemorated the Battle of
Sakarya in the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) and Turkish War of Independence. She is also the
first starship to bear the name.
Sakarya is currently carrying the following small craft:
U.S.S. Tarsus NCC-76410
Danube Class Runabout
Lake Tuz
NCC-52143-1 Type 12 Shuttlecraft
Lake Van
NCC-52143-2 Type 8 shuttlecraft
* Hull dimensions are derived from comparisons done at Ex Astris Scientia.
(http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/articles/akira-size.htm)
13
USS
Dawnspring
NCC-72312
“ ...the setting sun, the rising sun, the day's end, or the day begun…”
Production Data
Origin: United Federation of Planets
Class and Type: Nova Class Surveyor
Year Launched: 2378
Hull Data
Size: 5, 8 decks
Length: 165m
Structure: 25 Crew: 80
Cargo Capacity: 50
Atmospheric Capable: Yes
Operational Data
Sensor Systems
Class 4 (+4/E)
Operations Systems Class 3 (D)
Life Support
Class 3 (D)
Tractor Beams:
1 ad, 1 fv
Transporters:
3 ea, personnel, cargo, emergency
Shuttlebays:
1a
Shuttles:
5 size worth
Propulsion Data
Impulse Engines: FIG-7 (.9c) (E)
Warp Drive: Type LF-47 (Warp 6 / 7 / 8) (E)
Tactical
Phaser Banks Type X (x3/C)
Photon Torpedoes MK95 DF (x1/C)
Penetration 5 / 5 / 4 / 0 / 0
Photon Penetration 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4
Deflector Shields FSQ (D)
Protection/Threshold 17/3
Miscellaneous
Maneuver Modifiers +0 C, +2 H, +0 T Traits: Prototype (=3 beam)
The Nova Class U.S.S. Dawnspring was commissioned in 2378 at Starbase 153. Following
eighteen months of work-ups, the Dawnspring was assigned to a two-year survey of the Payson
Sector, which resulted in first contact with the Dyradi. A six-month stand-down and refit was
followed by four years patrolling the Demilitarized Zone along the Klingon border.
In early 2387, Dawnspring was assigned to conduct an in-depth planetary survey of the Ilôchâr
Sector pursuant to opening that area for Federation colonization.
Dawnspring returned to Federation space in late 2388, and was authorized to conduct shore-
leave at Edoran before returning to Starbase 153 for overhaul.
14
Imperial Romulan Frigate Vigilant
Production Data
Hull Data
Origin: Romulan Star Empire
Structure 30
Class and Type: Cuirass Class Fast Frigate Size; 6, 8 decks
Length: 310m
Crew: 250
Atmosphere Capable: No
Operational Data
Transporters: 3 standard, emer., cargo
Cargo Capacity: 60
Shuttlebay: 1 aft
Shuttlecraft: 6 size worth
Tractor Beams: 1a
Sensor Systems: Class 4 (+4/E)
Operations Systems: Class 3 (D)
Life Support: Class 3 (D)
Cloaking Device: Class 3 (Rating:20)
Propulsion Data
Impulse Engines: RIB-3 (.75c) (D)
Warp Drive: RF-50 Mod A (Warp 9 / 9.5 / 9.99) (E)
Tactical
Disruptor Banks
3 x RPFD-3 (C)
Plasma Torpedoes 2 x RPT-3
Penetration
4 / 4 / 4 / 0 / 0
Penetration
7 / 6 / 5 / 4 / 3
Deflector Shields
RSQ (D)
Protection/Threshold
17/2
Maneuver Modifiers +0 C, +2 H, +2 T
The Cuirass Class heavy frigate is one of the first in the next generation of Romulan starships.
Inspired largely by the Federation’s Intrepid Class (and some say built with stolen Federation
technology), the Cuirass Class is designed to reach trouble spots quickly, with enough firepower to
resolve most problems.
Although Romulan design philosophy of the last several decades called for larger and more
powerful vessels, the Cuirass Class is a compact, powerful ship with a relatively small crew.
Additionally, their corridors and compartments are wide and far more spacious than is the norm for
a Romulan vessel.
The Vigilant is a Flight Two variant, with twin plasma torpedoes, resulting in more reliable
weapons with greater punch at short range. Despite her heavy weapons fit, the Vigilant also has a
respectable science contingent, securing her classification as multi-purpose starships.
15
Map #1
Otorin Sector
16
Handouts:
Handout #1: Captain's Log
Captain's Log: Stardate 65314.6:
“All is well. Sakarya is currently patrolling section H-9 near the Neutral Zone border.
Long-range sensors suggested a possible cluster of vessels in the Neutral Zone, which
scattered as we approached.
Sakarya is currently operating in EMCON (EMission CONtrol)- running silent- playing
hide-and-seek with a possible Orion vessel attempting to enter Federation space.
Handout #2: Message Traffic
“Captain ab Reis, I am interrupting your patrol, to deal with a bleak situation. Starfleet
Command has received incomplete reports that the U.S.S. Dawnspring has exploded in orbit
around Edoran, and crashed on the planet surface. There are reportedly few survivors.
Upon receipt of this transmission, you are detached from your current mission and ordered
to proceed at best possible speed to Edoran, there to determine the cause of the Dawnspring's
loss, recover her wreckage and survivors, and to offer any necessary assistance in minimizing
damage to the planet and its population.
The cause of the Dawnspring's loss has not been determined- proceed with caution. Given
the location of Edoran in the Neutral Zone, you are further cautioned against aggravating an
already tense situation. Standard Rules of Engagement apply.
Good luck.
Thol out.”
17
Handout #3: Planetary Survey: Edoran V
A “forgotten” world, Edoran is an Orion colony world with a population of more than
two million. Edoran is not officially aligned with any major interstellar power- and guards
that neutrality cagily. Rumors abound of pirate activity originating from Edoran, but given
that the presence of Starfleet patrol forces on one side and the Romulans (and their
somewhat “final” method of dealing with pirates) on the other, the Edoran are very careful
to maintain a chain of deniability between their policies and those of the shipmasters who
operate from their ports.
The Edoran population is divided between hundreds of small towns scattered over the
surface, each of which owes fealty (and pays tribute) to one of the two dozen ministers
who comprise the planetary “government”.
The Council of Ministers has (in theory) the authority to regulate planetary activities, but
there is no real enforcement mechanism. In reality, each minister/chieftain runs his
territory independently- and is ungovernable except for the combined wrath of his peers.
Because off-planet trade is one of the mainstays of the planetary economy, nearly every
town and hamlet with a population of more than a few hundred seems to have its own
“starport”- though these are generally little more than “shade tree” mechanics with a
collection of rusty tools, a ring of derelict vessels, and a bit of innate talent. The “real”
talent and shipbuilding capability is concentrated in the capital city or one of the eight
orbital shipyards.
Class
M
System Data
1 small moon
Gravity
1.002 G
Year and Day
421 days / 26 hrs
Atmosphere
Thick Terrestrial
Hydrosphere
76%
Climate
Warm Temperate
Sapient Species
Orion
Tech Level
Tech Level 6/7
Government
Fuedal Oligarchy
Culture
Orion
Affiliation
None
Resources
Heavy metals, extensive crystalline deposits, latinum in the outer
atmosphere of the outer planets.
Places of Note Capital City, Orbital shipyards
Ship Facilities Mid-sized dock facilities (can accommodate vessels up to size 4)
18
Handout #4: U.S.S. Dawnspring Profile:
USS
Dawnspring
NCC-72312
“ ...the setting sun, the rising sun, the day's end, or the day begun…”
Production Data
Origin: United Federation of Planets
Class and Type: Nova Class Surveyor
Year Launched: 2378
Hull Data
Size: 5, 8 decks
Length: 165m
Structure: 25 Crew: 80
Cargo Capacity: 50
Atmospheric Capable: Yes
Operational Data
Sensor Systems
Class 4 (+4/E)
Operations Systems Class 3 (D)
Life Support
Class 3 (D)
Tractor Beams:
1 ad, 1 fv
Transporters:
3 ea, personnel, cargo, emergency
Shuttlebays:
1a
Shuttles:
5 size worth
Propulsion Data
Impulse Engines: FIG-7 (.9c) (E)
Warp Drive: Type LF-47 (Warp 6 / 7 / 8) (E)
Tactical
Phaser Banks Type X (x3/C)
Photon Torpedoes MK95 DF (x1/C)
Penetration 5 / 5 / 4 / 0 / 0
Photon Penetration 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4
Deflector Shields FSQ (D)
Protection/Threshold 17/3
Miscellaneous
Maneuver Modifiers +0 C, +2 H, +0 T Traits: Prototype (=3 beam)
The Nova Class U.S.S. Dawnspring was commissioned in 2378 at Starbase 153. Following
eighteen months of work-ups, the Dawnspring was assigned to a two-year survey of the Payson
Sector, which resulted in first contact with the Dyradi. A six-month was followed by four years
patrolling the Demilitarized Zone along the Klingon border.
In early 2387, Dawnspring was assigned to conduct an in-depth planetary survey of the Ilôchâr
Sector pursuant to opening that area for Federation colonization.
Dawnspring returned to Federation space in late 2388, and was authorized to conduct shore-
leave at Edoran before returning to Starbase 153 for overhaul.
USS
Dawnspring
Senior Staff
Position
Name
Species
Rank
Commanding Officer
Dana Nelson
Human
Commander
Executive/Tactical Officer
Sopok
Vulcan
Lt. Commander
Chief Engineer
Zîra Brannas
Bolian
Lieutenant
Main Propulsion Asst
Hammond Clarke
Human
Chief Petty Officer
Chief Science Officer
T'Kol
Vulcan
Lieutenant, JG
Conn Officer
Shiv Athrun
Human
Lieutenant, JG
Operations Officer
James Rodgers
Human
Lieutenant, JG
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Elaina McCafferty Human
Lieutenant
19
Handout #5: Admiral Thol Profile
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Thol Ir'Indrani
Age:
59
Species
Andorian
Homeworld:
A'than Colony (Andorian Protectorate)
Gender:
Male
Eyes:
Grey
Hair:
White
Rank:
Vice Admiral
Current Assignment:
Commanding Officer, Starbase 153
Otorin Sector Commander
Profile/History:
RADM Thol is an experienced war-time commander who saw service with the 11th Fleet during
the Dominion War, commanding the Akira Class cruiser Kel'ran. Thol is noted for hit-and-fade
attacks and precision firepower fighters, shuttles, and (of course) starships.
During the War, Thol and the Kel'ran were forced to fire on the Andorian colony world of A'than
(Thol's homeworld), and leveled the capital and much of the colony in order to deny it to
Dominion forces who'd seized control and begun either relocating or executing the populace. It is
rumored that one of Thol's wives was in the capital when the attack took place, but this has never
been confirmed.
In 2375, the Kel'ran was lost covering the withdrawal of Task Force 11.24 from the Avari system.
The task force had been seriously mauled by a superior Dominion strike-group, and thirteen ships
(nearly half the task force) were unable to escape the system when the recall order came. Kel'ran
had sustained moderate damage, but was still combat worthy, and with a Dominion strike wing
bearing down on the stragglers, Thol and the Kel'ran disregarded the evacuation order and
executed a risky micro-warp into the strike wing's path. “Thol's Charge” pinned down the
Dominion forces long enough for Task force 11.24 to repair and pull out eleven of the thirteen
stragglers (either under their own power or under tractor beam).
The Kel'ran was reported lost with all hands, but Thol and his survivors spent three months in a
Dominion internment camp before the end of the War.
Admiral Thol is considered a hard, disciplined man- cool, regal, and a cast-iron sonovabitch
when crossed.
Psychological Profile:
Restricted
20
Handout #6: Commander Nelson Profile
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Dana Nelson
Age:
34
Species
Human
Homeworld:
Earth
Gender:
Male
Eyes:
Blue
Hair:
Brown-blond
Rank:
Commander
Current Assignment:
Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Dawnspring NCC-72312
Profile/History:
Commander, Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Dawnspring. Young and attractive, Ensign Dana
Nelson served with Admiral Thol aboard the U.S.S. Kel'ran during the Dominion War, and spent
three months in a Dominion internment camp before the end of the War.
Following the Armistice, Nelson returned to active duty aboard the U.S.S. Lexington, and later as
Chief Science Officer aboard the U.S.S. Vincennes. Upon her promotion to Lieutenant
Commander, Admiral Thol recommended Nelson for command of the Dawnspring, then refitting at
Starbase 153.
Commander Nelson successfully shepherded Dawnspring through a nineteen month, in-depth
planetary survey of the remote Ilôchâr Sector pursuant to opening that area for Federation. During
that period, Dawnspring was attacked twice by Orion pirates.
Psychological Profile:
Nelson has forged a reputation in the Fleet as a competent and vivacious officer with an
insatiable curiosity, and Dawnspring is known as a tight-knit ship with a happy and efficient crew.
21
Handout #8 Survivor Debriefs
Lieutenant Commander Sopok- Executive/Tactical Officer
Dawnspring completed her survey without incident and began her shoreleave over Edoran the
same way.
Dawnspring was in need of a post-mission overhaul, her material condition was good overall.
They'd run a pressure-integrity test on the main warp core less than three weeks before and it
passed within acceptable parameters- there was no reason for a core-breach to have taken place.
Sopok and Captain were together about a half hour before the Dawnspring was lost, and the
Exec recalls the Council of Ministers (he doesn't remember the name of the specific minister)
asking to meet with Captain Nelson, immediately. Nelson agreed and left Sopok to meet with
them, telling the Exec to enjoy his lunch. About a half-hour before the ship was lost, Nelson
contacted Sopok to report she'd be returning to the ship. When the Exec asked if he should join
her, Captain Nelson said no- that it was a minor errand and she'd rejoin him in a couple of hours.
Sopok did a security sweep before leaving Dawnspring- both to ensure the safety of the landing
parties and the ship. There were no credible threats against the ship- but there were nineteen non-
aligned vessels in orbit when he left the ship.
Chief Petty Officer Hammond Clarke- Main Propulsion Assistant (Warp Drive Chief)
Dawnspring completed her survey without incident and began her shoreleave over Edoran the
same way.
Dawnspring was in need of a post-mission overhaul, her material condition was good overall.
They'd run a pressure-integrity test on the main warp core less than three weeks before and it
passed with flying colors- there was no reason for a core-breach to have taken place.
Dawnspring was operating in low-power/orbital shutdown mode. The Chief Engineer had
scheduled some minor maintenance on the impulse engines, but there was nothing going on that
should have resulted in an EPS rupture, let alone a core breach.
The idea of an internal explosion or operator error destroying Dawnspring is patently offensive;
she was a good ship and her crew- though tired- were well trained and capable.
Clarke is convinced- absolutely convinced- that the Dawnspring was destroyed by hostile
weapons fire- and that the Edoran were complicit in the murder of the starship's crew.
Lieutenant JG James Rodgers- Operations Officer
Dawnspring completed her survey without incident and began her shoreleave over Edoran the
same way.
Dawnspring was in need of a post-mission overhaul, but her material condition was good
overall- there were no major faults with any of the systems aboard.
Dawnspring was operating in low-power/orbital shutdown mode. The Chief Engineer has
scheduled some minor maintenance on the impulse engines, but there was nothing going on that
should have resulted in an EPS rupture, let alone a core breach. The ship was parked in a high
orbit, well away from any other traffic, and the crew on duty knew what they were doing.
The idea of an internal explosion or operator error destroying Dawnspring is patently offensive;
she was a good ship and her crew- though tired- were well trained and capable.
22
Handout #9: Close Range Scan
Sensor Scan:
Object Number S-486588
Physical Dimensions:
310 meters
General Composition: Outer shell composed primarily of duranium and titanium
compounds.
Atmosphere:
Oxygen-Nitrogen, 16.2 psi (Romulan Terrestrial Standard)
Hydrosphere:
N/A
Internal Temperature: 15.627O Celsius
Internal Humidity: 21 %
Life Signs:
265
Organic Matter:
Numerous Discrete traces
Power Sources:
Numerous Discrete traces, consistent with sarium-krellide, Isotolium
ampule, and antimatter ampule power sources
Emission Signatures: Low-level RF/Subspace emissions consistent with quantum singularity in
normal operation.
Low-level RF/Subspace emissions consistent with deuterium fusion Impulse
propulsion array.
Specific Mass:
Approximately 250 thousand metric tons
Classification:
Romulan Cuirass Class Heavy Frigate
Systems Analysis:
Structural Integrity:
Nominal
Weapons Systems:
Armed
Shields:
Raised, 100% integrity
Propulsion Systems:
Sublight Only
Sensors:
Online
Life Support:
Online
Profile
The Cuirass Class heavy frigate is one of the first in the next generation of Romulan
starships. Inspired largely by the Federation’s Intrepid Class (and some say built with stolen
Federation technology), the Cuirass Class is designed to reach trouble spots quickly, with
enough firepower to resolve most problems.
Although Romulan design philosophy of the last several decades called for larger and more
powerful vessels, the Cuirass Class is a compact, powerful ship with a relatively small crew.
Additionally, their corridors and compartments are wide and far more spacious than is the
norm for a Romulan vessel.
23
Handout #10: Obelisk Interface
24
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Sopok
Age:
39
Species
Vulcan
Homeworld:
Vulcan
Gender:
Male
Hair:
Black
Eyes:
Brown
Rank:
Lieutenant Commander
Current Assignment:
Executive Officer, U.S.S. Dawnspring, NCC-72312
Profile/History:
Sopok is a seventeen year veteran of Star Fleet and is (at least according to rumor) in line for a
command of his own.
Sopok graduated with high marks for tactical and strategic excellence, and was noted for a
methodical and occasionally ruthless approach to tactical exercises- including very precise use of
overwhelming (excessive?) force to defuse a situation. Sopok invariably justified his actions as
“logical” and as necessary to establish control of the tactical situation- and as saving a good deal of
grief afterward.
Sopok's first duty station was the U.S.S. Intrepid , with her all-Vulcan crew. After a somewhat
rocky start, Sopok settled into his duty and role, and was consistently decorated for both dedication
to duty and valor under fire.
Psychological Profile:
Tall, gaunt and with a remote countenance accented by his Vulcan physiology, Sopok is
physically and socially intimidating and is considered difficult to get to know. A man with few
close friends, Sopok is fiercely loyal to those close to him.
Sopok has little patience with fools or with empty platitudes, and believes in swift, decisive
action. Sopok tends to assess every situation from a strategic or military viewpoint- looking at
every encounter as a potential tactical exercise. He is (secretly) proud of his role as a defender of
the Federation, and tends to look for potential threats more than potential allies. That having been
said, he is neither paranoid nor hyper-aggressive, and enjoys exploration missions every bit as
much as combat.
Attributes
Str 10 (+2)
Agl 9 (+1)
Int 11 (+2)* Vit 11 (+2) Prs 10(+2)* Per 9 (+1)
Quickness +1 Savvy +2
Stamina +3*
Willpower +2 Defense: 8
Miscellaneous Scores
Courage: 3 Health: 13 Renown: 20 Advancements: 14
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Armed Combat
AGL
+1
+5
+6
( Simple Weapons )
Computer Use
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Retrieve )
Enterprise-Administration
INT
+2
+5
+7
First Aid
INT
+2
+3
+5
Gaming
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Poker )
Knowledge:Culture
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Vulcan )
25
Knowledge:History
INT
+2
+6
+8
( Federation, Vulcan )
Knowledge:Specific World
INT
+2
+6
+8
( Earth, Vulcan )
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+3
+5
Language- Vulcan
INT
+2
+2
+4
Negotiate
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Mediate )
Persuade
PRS
+2
+4
+6
Ranged Combat:Archaic
AGL
+1
+5
+6
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+1
+4
+5
( Phaser )
Repair
INT
+2
+2
+4
Survival
PER
+1
+3
+4
( Desert )
System Engineering
INT
+2
+7
+9
( Weapons )
System Operation
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Tactical )
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+1
+3
+4
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Commanding Presence: When making a Willpower reaction test, Sopok rolls an extra die (3d6)
and keeps the higher of the two rolls.
Duty Officer: When advancing his System Operation skill, he advances at +2 levels per pick, but
suffers a -4 penalty to tests not using his Tactical specialization.
Level Headed: When performing any professional skill at his shipboard station,Sopok ignores all
test penalties from distraction.
Starship Duty: Sopok meets all the prerequisites for his post aboard Dawnspring.
Starship Tactics: Sopok has spent a lot of time honing his tactical skills. Once per game session,
Sopok may reroll a single Tactics test, keeping the better of the two results.
Station Proficiency: Sopok has trained ruthlessly to qualify with every bridge system. Once per
game session, Sopok may reroll one System Operation skill test and keep the better of the
two results.
Systems Technician: When making System Engineering tests to repair his console,Sopok receives
a bonus equal to ½ his Computer Use skill rounded up.
Species Abilities:
Enhanced Rapid Healing: Once per day, Sopok may enter a healing trance (pg 49), and recover a
number of wound points equal to his Vitality modifier,
Mind Meld: With physical contact, Sopok has the ability to telepathically join his mind to
another.
Nerve Pinch: Sopok may stun an opponent for 2d6 rounds by making an Unarmed Combat skill
test. If the victim knows what he is attempting, Sopok suffers a -5 penalty to the test.
Psionic: Sopok has telepathic mental abilities.
Skill Focus (Keen Hearing): Sopok receives a +4 bonus to Observe (Listen) tests.
Edges/ Flaws:
Command 2: Sopok is assigned as Executive Officer to the Dawnspring, and is fully qualified to
command a starship.
Eidetic Memory: In academic tests with a TN greater than 5, Sopok receives a +2 bonus.
Promotion 3: Sopok holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in Starfleet.
26
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
James Rodgers
Age:
25
Species
Human
Homeworld:
Earth
Gender:
Male
Hair:
Blond
Eyes:
Brown
Rank:
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Current Assignment:
Chief Operations Officer, USS Dawnspring, NCC-72312
Profile/History:
Bright, young and ambitious, James O’Connor is a talented and handsome young officer. The
Dawnspring was his first deep-space assignment and has been a formative experience for the
young officer.
Psychological Profile:
Despite three years in deep space, Rodgers is still youthful and enthusiastic (okay, he's a space
cadet). He is fiercely loyal to his shipmates, especially Captain Nelson, and will take any
questions about her competence or judgment personally.
Rodgers considers himself a man of action, and has issues with patience and personal restraint.
Attributes
Str 6 (+0)
Agl 10 (+2)* Int 11 (+2)* Vit 9 (+1) Prs 6(+0) Per 11 (+2)*
Quickness +2*
Savvy +2
Stamina +3
Willpower +2 Defense: 9
Miscellaneous Scores
Courage: 4 Health: 9 Renown: 6
Advancements: 4
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Athletics
STR
+0
+2
+2
Computer Use
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Retrieve)
Knowledge:Culture
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Human )
Knowledge:History
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Earth )
Knowledge:Politics
INT
+2
+2
+4
( Federation)
Knowledge:Specific World
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Earth )
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+5
+7
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+2
+3
+5
( Phaser )
Repair
INT
+2
+3
+5
System Engineering
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Electro Plasma System )
System Operation
INT
+2
+6
+8
( All except Command )
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+2
+3
0
+5
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Exemplary Support: Rodgers knows how to coordinate his activities in support of his fellow
bridge officers. As a result, Rodgers may treat any Computer Use, System Operation,
27
or Tactics test as a combined test,rolling the same test at TN-5 and providing a +1 bonus
for a marginal success, +2 for a complete success, or +3 for an extraordinary success.
Hide In Plain Space: Rodgers knows how to use the space around the Dawnspring to hide the
ship's emissions. When Rodgers is at Ops or the Conn, the TN of those looking for the
ship is increased by +2.
Starship Duty: Rodgers has received all the training necessary to serve aboard a starship.
Station Proficiency: Rodgers has trained ruthlessly to qualify with every bridge system. Once per
game session, Rodgers may reroll one System Operation skill test and keep the better of
the two results.
Species Abilities:
Adaptable: Humans thrive in even the harshest conditions and climes. Human adaptability has
given James a +2 bonus to his Stamina reaction.
Human Spirit: The humans of Earth are a driven, vital, and versatile species. Human characters
begin the game with 4 courage points (instead of the usual 3).
Skilled: Humans tend to draw on a broad range of experiences, and as a result, receive two
additional skill picks during Character Creation.
Edges/Flaws
Command 1: James serves as Chief Operations Officer (and therefore as a Department Head)
aboard the Dawnspring.
Innovative: James has gained the Flight Control Professional Ability Hide In Plain Space
Promotion 1: James holds the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade in Starfleet.
28
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Hammond Clarke
Age:
38
Species
Human
Homeworld:
Earth
Gender:
Male
Eyes:
Brown
Hair:
Brown
Rank:
Machinist's Mate Chief Petty Officer
Current Assignment:
Main Propulsion Assistant, U.S.S. Dawnspring NCC-72312
Profile/History:
Chief Clarke is a former Starfleet brat who opted to enlist and ship out almost immediately rather
than spend four years in classrooms. Since his earliest youth, Chief Clarke has been filled with
romantic dreams of adventure in deep space, and was somewhat disappointed with his career-
which consisted largely of one engine room after another and poor little adventure.
Duty aboard the Dawnspring finally satisfied his craving for adventure- as the little ship and crew
saw a number of adventures over her brief career.
Psychological Profile:
A veteran spacer, Chief Clarke is a talented engineer with an instinctive love for things
mechanical. He also believes that as a Chief Petty Officer, it’s his duty to keep the officers from
getting in over their heads. While respectful and professional, Clarke’s not above offering a polite
“suggestion” now and then.
Attributes
Str 7 (+0)
Agl 7 (+0)
Int 10 (+2)* Vit 10 (+2)* Prs 7(+0) Per 9 (+1)
Quickness +3 Savvy +1
Stamina +2*
Willpower +2 Defense: 7
Miscellaneous Scores
Courage: 4 Health: 10 Renown: 12 Advancements: 8
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Athletics
STR
+0
+1
+1
Computer Use
INT
+2
+6
+8
( Retrieve)
Construct
INT
+2
+5
+7
Knowledge:Culture
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Human )
Knowledge:History
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Human )
Knowledge:Specific World
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Earth )
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+4
+6
Language- Klingonese
INT
+2
+4
+6
Operate Vehicle
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Archaic Aircraft )
Physical Science
INT
+2
+3
+5
Propulsion Engineering
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Warp Drive )
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+0
+5
+5
( Phaser )
Repair
INT
+2
+4
+6
29
Structural Engineering
INT
+2
+3
+5
( Spaceframes )
Survival
PER
+1
+1
+2
System Engineering
INT
+2
+3
+5
( Weapons )
System Operation
INT
+2
+5
+7
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+0
+1
+1
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Engineering Certification: Chief Clarke may use all of the Engineering group skills untrained.
Species Abilities:
Adaptable: Humans thrive in even the harshest conditions and climes. Human adaptability has
given Chief Petty Officer Clarke a +2 bonus to his Quickness reaction.
Human Spirit: The humans of Earth are a driven, vital, and versatile species. Human characters
begin the game with 4 courage points (instead of the usual 3).
Skilled: Humans tend to draw on a broad range of experiences, and as a result, receive two
additional skill picks during Character Creation.
Edges/ Flaws:
Bold: When Chief Clarke spends a Courage point on a Physical test, he gains +5 bonus instead of
the usual +3.
Command 1: Chief Petty Officer Clarke is one of the senior enlisted men assigned to U.S.S.
Dawnspring and is fully qualified for command in the absence of a commissioned officer.
Fit: Chief Petty Officer Clarke is in great physical shape and receives a +1 to all Physical tests
Innovative: Enlistedmen generally do not have professional abilities. Clarke, on the other hand,
has the Engineering Certification Professional Ability.
Promotion 6E: Clarke holds the rank of a Chief Petty Officer in Starfleet.
30
USS
Sakarya
Senior Staff
Position
Name
Species
Rank
Commanding Officer
Aydin ab Reis
Human
Captain
Executive Officer
Victoria Loch
Human
Commander
Tactical Actions Officer
Prin Ajan “A.J.”
Bajoran
Lt. Commander
Chief Engineer
Choda
Tellarite
Lieutenant
Chief Science/Ops Officer
T'Var
Vulcan
Lieutenant
Conn Officer
Thrax
Denobulan
Lieutenant, JG
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Paul Featherstone Human
Lieutenant
Captain Aydın ab Reis
C.O., U.S.S. Sakarya- a captain of eight years experience, ab Reis is still a young and
enterprising officer, but is also highly self-disciplined. He carries himself with both reserve
and dignity- not with arrogance at his lofty position, but with a keen awareness of the duties
and responsibilities he bears. His code of honor can be best described as noblesse oblige-
“noble ancestry constrains to honorable behavior; privilege entails to responsibility".
Captain ab Reis adheres to a strict philosophy of personal austerity and personal honor- he
has chosen the hard, disciplined road- and maintains his footing through sheer immovable
integrity and iron will. Aydin ab Reis does not make close friends easily, but is loyal to such
friends unto death.
Aydin ab Reis is descended from nobility on his home colony (hence the ab Reis honorific)
and grew up with rigid standards of honor and conduct. On the one hand, ab Reis is plain
spoken and sometimes blunt, preferring the unvarnished truth to diplomatic equivocation. On
the other, he seldom shares his mind with others and plays his cards very close to the vest.
He can be very warm and approving when he chooses to be- and conversely, does not need
words to make his disapproval and disappointment plain. He demands the very best from his
officers- and they work hard not to disappoint his trust in them.
Of all his officers, Captain ab Reis is closest to Commander Loch- he knows her and trusts
her- and knows he can depend upon her more than anyone else aboard.
Tall, thin, handsome, and dark, ab Reis moves with quiet, contained power and
determination. He is a man to be rekoned with and wastes neither words nor actions.
Captain ab Reis and the Sakarya have spent the last three years patrolling the Cardassian
Demilitarized Zone, and are experienced in dealing with smugglers, pirates, and the like.
Commander Victoria Loch
X.O., U.S.S. Sakarya- Commander Victoria Loch is- hands down- one of the brightest
individuals aboard the Sakarya- a fact not lost on her captain. Loch came up in Operations,
and has an Eidetic memory. She also has a keen sense of spatial awareness and can keep
track of a thousand tiny details- an essential talent in operating and managing a starship.
Loch's job as Executive Officer is to keep the ship and crew operating at peak capacity in
order to allow the Captain to concentrate on the mission at hand. If she were permitted, Loch
would be both quiet and introspective- luxuries her duties do not normally permit her. Loch
trusts Captain ab Reis completely- though she occasionally curses his name for keeping his
own counsel and “drafting” her as his Executive Officer.
Lieutenant Commander Prin Ajan
Tactical Actions Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya. The ship's chief weapons officer and head of
security, Lieutenant Commander Prin grew up on the Bajoran colony world of Cosas III.
Remote and isolated in the Gamma Quadrant, Cosas III was settled- without authorization-
by a group of Bajoran militants- which turned out to be something of a blessing as the
colony was beset both by natural predators and occasionally by the Jem'Hadar and other
Gamma Quadrant predators.
Although he saw little fighting of his own, Ajan “A.J.” learned watchful wariness, self-
reliance, and a deep suspicions of outsiders at his elders' knees. At age 14, Ajan shipped
31
out with one of the few traders who supplied Cosas III- though he turned out to be more
pirate and mercenary than merchant. After several trips running the blockades between
Cardassian Space, Deep Space Nine, and the Gamma Quadrant, their luck finally ran out-
Prin and his shipmates were brought down by a Jem'Hadar patrol in 237X and rescued by
the U.S.S. Copeland. As Prin's injuries healed, the Copeland's CO saw potential in the
young man and sponsored him for Starfleet Academy.
Lieutenant Choda
Chief Engineering Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya. Short, portly, cheerful, loud, and occasionally
obnoxious, Choda runs her engineroom with clock-work regularity and precision. Despite
being a perfectionist and occasionally a driven taskmaster, Choda loves puzzles and
equipment and despises the unknown with a passion. While Choda can be argumentative
on a point of engineering process and procedure, she is more prone to loud and friendly
banter than to serious disagreement.
Lieutenant T'Var
Chief Science Officer/Ops Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya. T'Var is a typical Vulcan- calm, rational,
logical, and dedicated. Believing that her scientific career lacked diversity and field
experience, the logical course of action was clear. T'Var joined Starfleet and after
commissioning shipped out on the Starship Ilan Ramon. After her second deep-space tour,
Captain ab Reis tapped her to become his Chief of Operations aboard the Sakarya.
Even absent her Vulcan conditioning, T'Var tends to be quiet and introspective- especially
when working to solve a scientific puzzle. According to ship's legend, Thrax timed T'Var and
discovered that she did not say a word to a single person for 56.4 hours straight. T'Var herself
has no comment, save that “idle banter is illogical”.
Despite her stoic exterior, T'Var is deeply devoted both to Starfleet and her shipmates. If
pressed, T'Var will, of course, deny any emotional connection whatsoever- but she has turned
down three transfer offers- including a position with the Daystrom Institute.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Thrax
Conn Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya. Thrax is Sakarya's resident “space cadet”. Young, cheerful,
gregarious, and enthusiastic, he is governed by an unbridled enthusiasm and curiosity. As the
youngest member of Sakarya's bridge crew, he often feels like the center of attention- that
everyone is watching- and as a result, takes his job very, very seriously.
Off duty, Thrax is obsessed with companionship of every variety- insecure in isolation, he
seeks to surround himself with friends and acquaintances. He is interested in a wide variety of
sports and physical activities, but is more dilettante than devotee- he lacks the devotion and
discipline needed to truly excel at any given sport.
Doctor Paul Featherstone
Chief Medical Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya. Tall, rail-thin, slightly fussy, and undoubtedly brilliant,
Doctor Featherstone is, at heart, a researcher. He much prefers tissue cultures and biological
samples to people, and much prefers a quiet laboratory all to himself.
Featherstone would have gotten his way, too, had he not insulted and humiliated his last
C.O. over what was (ultimately) a minor difference of opinion. In a fit of pique, Featherstone
reprogrammed the station's computers to bombard his superior with irritating and infuriating
messages and visuals. This might have been overlooked had the incident not coincided with
an inspection by the Chief of Starfleet Medical.
Deciding that Featherstone was “unmilitary, unprofessional, and entirely too cosseted,
Admiral Blackburn assigned the good doctor the first deep-space assignment available- the
Starship Sakarya.
Featherstone is not a bad man, nor even a bad doctor- merely a pampered prima donna
who loves to hear his praises spoken (a lot like the Voyager EMH).
32
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Aydin ab Reis
Age:
42
Gender:
Male
Species
Human
Eyes:
Grey
Homeworld:
Antalya Colony
Hair:
Black
Rank:
Captain
Current Assignment:
Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya, NCC-52143
Profile/History:
Aydin ab Reis is a young and enterprising captain of eight years experience. He is highly
self-disciplined and carries himself with a keen awareness of his duties and responsibilities.
Aydin ab Reis is descended from nobility on his home colony (hence the ab Reis honorific)
and grew up with a keen sense of noblesse oblige- “noble ancestry constrains to honorable
behavior; privilege entails to responsibility".
Tall, thin, handsome, and dark, ab Reis moves with quiet power and determination. He is a
man to be rekoned with and wastes neither words nor actions.
Captain ab Reis and the Sakarya have spent the last three years patrolling the Cardassian
Demilitarized Zone, and are experienced in dealing with smugglers, pirates, and the like.
Psychological Profile:
Captain ab Reis adheres to a strict philosophy of personal austerity and honor- he has
chosen a hard, disciplined road- and maintains his footing through sheer immovable integrity
and iron will. Aydin ab Reis does not make close friends easily, but is loyal to such friends
unto death.
Aydin ab Reis is usually plain spoken and sometimes blunt, preferring the unvarnished truth
to diplomatic equivocation. On the other hand, he seldom shares his mind with others and
plays his cards very close to the vest. He can be very warm and approving when he chooses-
and conversely, does not need words to make his disapproval and disappointment plain. He
demands the very best from his officers- and they work hard not to disappoint his trust in
them. Of all his officers, Captain ab Reis is closest to Commander Loch- he knows her and
trusts her- and knows he can depend upon her more than anyone else aboard.
Attributes
Str 7 (+0)
Agl 7 (+0)
Int 10 (+2)* Vit 10 (+2) Prs 9(+1)* Per 7 (+0)
Quickness +0 Savvy +1
Stamina +2
Willpower +4*
Miscellaneous Scores
Defense: 7
Courage: 4 Health: 10 Renown: 25 Advancements: 25
Initiative: +0
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Armed Combat-Simple Wpns AGL
+0
+7
+7
Athletics
STR
+0
+6
+6
( Ride Horses )
Computer Use
INT
+2
+7
+9
( Retrieve)
Enterprise-Administration
INT
+2
+7
+9
( Federation )
First Aid
INT
+2
+3
+5
Inquire
PRS
+1
+5
+6
( Research )
Investigate
PER
+0
+4
+4
33
Knowledge:Culture
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Human )
Knowledge:History
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Federation )
Knowledge:Politics
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Antalya Tribal Politics )
Knowledge:Specific World
INT
+2
+5
+6
( Antalya IV, Earth )
Language- Arabic
INT
+2
+4
+6
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+4
+6
Negotiate
INT
+2
+5
+7
Observe
PER
+0
+4
+4
Persuade
PRS
+1
+5
+6
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+0
+7
+7
( Phaser, Phaser Rifle )
Repair
INT
+2
+5
+7
Social Science
INT
+2
+4
+6
Survival
PER
+0
+6
+6
( Desert )
System Operation
INT
+2
+7
+9
( Command, Ops, Tactical )
Tactics
INT
+2
+7
+9
( Cardassian, Orion, Romulan, Space )
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+0
+6
+6
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Commanding Presence: Commanding officers stick to their guns in tense situations. When making
a Willpower reaction test, Captain ab Reis rolls an extra die (3d6) and keeps the higher of
the two rolls.
Fighting Captain: If Captain ab Reis is on the bridge during combat, Sakarya receives a +2 to all
Command Maneuvers.
Fire Control Officer: If Captain ab Reis is in command, acting as Exec, or at Tactical during
combat, Sakarya receives a +2 to all Tactical Maneuvers
Starship Duty: Captain ab Reis meets all the prerequisites for his post aboard Sakarya.
Starship/Starbase Protocols: Long experience has taught Captain ab Reis how best to navigate the
Starfleet bureaucracy. Captain ab Reis receives a +4 bonus to Administration (Starfleet) tests.
Will To Survive: When Captain ab Reis makes a Survival test on a planetary surface, he gains a +3
bonus (equal to ½ his Athletics skill level).
Species Abilities:
Adaptable: Humans thrive in even the harshest conditions and climes. Human adaptability has
given Captain ab Reis a +2 bonus to his Willpower reaction.
Human Spirit: The humans of Earth are a driven, vital, and versatile species. Human characters
begin the game with 4 courage points (instead of the usual 3).
Skilled: Humans tend to draw on a broad range of experiences, and as a result, receive two
additional skill picks during Character Creation.
Edges/ Flaws:
Ally (Antalya Royal Family: In dire circumstances, Captain ab Reis can ask his family for
assistance (subject to a Negotiate,Influence, Persuade, or Inquire test and the Narrator's
discretion).
Bold: When Captain ab Reis spends a Courage point on a Physical test, he gains +5 bonus instead
of the usual +3.
Command 2: Captain ab Reis is fully qualified for command of a starship.
Competitive: Captain ab Reis gains a +1 to all opposed tests.
Promotion 5: Aydin ab Reis holds the rank of Captain in Starfleet.
34
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Victoria Loch
Age:
38
Species
Human
Homeworld:
Earth
Gender:
Female
Eyes:
Green
Hair:
Blonde
Rank:
Commander
Current Assignment:
Executive Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya, NCC-52143
Profile/History:
Commander Victoria Loch is- hands down- one of the brightest individuals aboard the
Sakarya- a fact not lost on her captain. Loch came up in Operations, and has an eidetic
memory. She also has a keen sense of situationial awareness and can keep track of a thousand
tiny details- an essential talent in operating and managing a starship. Loch's job as Executive
Officer is to keep the ship and crew operating at peak capacity in order to allow the Captain
to concentrate on the mission at hand.
Psychological Profile:
If she were permitted, Loch would be both quiet and introspective- luxuries her duties do
not normally permit her. In order to keep the crew functioning efficiently, Loch must be
involved and engaged, projecting just the right mix of encouragement, discipline, and
scolding to get the job done.
Loch trusts Captain ab Reis completely- though she occasionally curses his name for keeping
his own counsel and “drafting” her as his Executive Officer.
Attributes
Str 6 (+0)
Agl 7 (+0)*
Int 12 (+3) Vit 9 (+1) Prs 7(+0)* Per 11 (+2)*
Quickness +4 Savvy +2*
Stamina +0
Willpower +3
Miscellaneous Scores
Defense: 7
Courage: 4 Health: 9 Renown: 16 Advancements: 20
Initiative: +4
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Athletics
STR
+0
+3
+3
Computer Use
INT
+3
+7
+10
( Retrieve )
Enterprise-Administration
INT
+3
+5
+8
( Federation )
First Aid
INT
+3
+4
+7
Inquire
PRS
+0
+5
+5
( Research )
Knowledge:Culture
INT
+3
+4
+7
( Human )
Knowledge:History
INT
+3
+5
+8
( Federation )
Knowledge:Specific World
INT
+3
+4
+7
( Earth )
Knowledge:Trivia
INT
+3
+5
+8
( Terran Poetry )
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+3
+5
+8
Language- Vulcan
INT
+3
+4
+7
35
Negotiate
INT
+3
+5
+8
Observe
PER
+2
+5
+7
Persuade
PRS
+3
+6
+9
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+0
+5
+5
Repair
INT
+3
+6
+9
System Engineering
INT
+3
+7
+10
(ElectroPlasma Systems)
System Operation
INT
+3
+7
+10
( Operations Management )
Tactics
INT
+3
+5
+8
( Space )
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+0
+7
+7
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Command: Commander Loch may coordinate the efforts of her crew and increase their efficiency
by making a TN 15 Persuade check (TN is 15 +1 per officer affected). A success doubles the
contribution made by supporting characters in combined tests.
Cross-Trained: When performing the professional skill of another officer, Victoria may add +3 (her
Intellect modifier) to the test. For Intellect-based tests, this amounts to doubling the modifier.
Level Headed: When performing any professional skill at her shipboard station, Loch ignores all
test penalties from distraction.
Starship Duty: Commander Loch meets all the prerequisites for her post aboard Sakarya.
Starship/Starbase Protocols: Long experience has taught Commander Loch how best to navigate
the Starfleet bureaucracy. Commander Loch receives a +4 bonus to Administration (Starfleet)
tests.
Station Proficiency: Commander Loch has trained ruthlessly to qualify with every bridge system.
Once per game session, Victoria may reroll one System Operation skill test and keep the
better of the two results.
Systems Technician: Commander Loch knows her duty station inside and out. When making
System Engineering tests to repair her console, Victoria gains a +4 affinity bonus (half her
Computer Use skill level).
Species Abilities:
Adaptable: Humans thrive in even the harshest conditions and climes. Human adaptability has
given Commander Loch a +2 bonus to her Quickness reaction.
Human Spirit: The humans of Earth are a driven, vital, and versatile species. Human characters
begin the game with 4 courage points (instead of the usual 3).
Skilled: Humans tend to draw on a broad range of experiences, and as a result, receive two
additional skill picks during Character Creation.
Edges/ Flaws:
Command 2: Loch is assigned as the Executive Officer of a starship, and is fully qualified for
command.
Coordinator: Victoria has a natural affinity for organizing groups and harnessing them to her goals.
She doubles the bonus for additional participants when leading combined tests. This edge
stacks with Command Professional Ability, above.
Eidetic Memory: In academic tests with a TN greater than 5, Victoria receives a +2 bonus.
Multitasking: Victoria has learned to handle several problems at once- and may perform full-round
actions as two actions instead (allowing additional actions at the standard -5 penalty).
Promotion 4: Loch holds the rank of Commander in Starfleet.
Zero-G Trained: Victoria has been trained for work in zero gravity, and ignores any penalties from
operating in zero-g.
36
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Prin Ajan “A.J.”
Age:
28
Species
Bajoran
Homeworld:
Casos III Colony
Gender:
Male
Eyes:
Hazel
Hair:
Brown
Rank:
Lieutenant Commander
Current Assignment:
Tactical Actions Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya, NCC-52143
Profile/History:
The ship's chief weapons officer and head of security, Lieutenant Commander Prin grew up
on the Bajoran colony world of Cosas III. Remote and isolated in the Gamma Quadrant,
Cosas III was settled- without authorization- by a group of Bajoran militants- which turned out
to be something of a blessing as the colony was beset both by natural predators and
occasionally by the Jem'Hadar and other Gamma Quadrant predators.
Although he saw little fighting of his own, Ajan “A.J.” learned watchful wariness, self-
reliance, and a deep suspicions of outsiders at his elders' knees. At age 14, Ajan shipped
out with one of the few traders who supplied Cosas III- though he turned out to be more
pirate and mercenary than merchant. After several trips running the blockades between
Cardassian Space, Deep Space Nine, and the Gamma Quadrant, their luck finally ran out-
Prin and his shipmates were brought down by a Jem'Hadar patrol in 2375 and rescued by
the U.S.S. Copeland. As Prin's injuries healed, the Copeland's CO saw potential in the
young man and sponsored him for Starfleet Academy.
Psychological Profile:
Prin projects a friendly and easy-going manner- a velvet glove over a core of steel. He is
both proud of his accomplishments and his origins- though is more than a little reticent to
discuss his youth or his tenure as a blockade runner.
Although by no measure a scholar, Prin is a quietly religious man who seeks to harmonize
the will of the Prophets with his Starfleet duties. He is by no means a pacifist and will kill
swiftly and efficiently if his duties require it.
Prin tends to watch everyone and everything carefully. He prefers to wait and watch- and
watch some more. Prin know that people will reveal their true thoughts and intentions more
often in subtle ways than with their words.
Attributes
Str 6 (+0)
Agl 8 (+1)
Int 10 (+2)* Vit 9 (+1) Prs 7(+0) Per 10 (+2)*
Quickness +1* Savvy +2
Stamina +2
Willpower +2
Miscellaneous Scores
Defense: 8
Courage: 4 Health: 9 Renown: 12 Advancements: 12
Initiative: +3
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Appraise
INT
+2
+1
+3
Athletics
STR
+0
+4
+1
+5
Computer Use
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Retrieve)
37
Craft
INT
+2
+2
+1
+5
Enterprise- Streetwise
INT
+2
+4
+6
Influence
PRS
+0
+3
+3
Inquire
PRS
+0
+3
+3
Investigate
PER
+2
+6
+1
+9
Knowledge: Politics
INT
+2
+2
+4
Knowledge: Religion
INT
+2
+2
+4
( Path of the Prophets )
Knowledge: Culture
INT
+2
+5
+7
( Bajoran )
Knowledge: History
INT
+2
+3
+5
( Bajoran )
Knowledge: Specific World
INT
+2
+3
+5
( Cosas III )
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+4
+6
Language- Bajoran
INT
+2
+3
+5
Observe
PER
+2
+5
+1
+8
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+1
+7
+1
+9
( Phaser )
Repair
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
Sleight of Hand
AGL
+1
+1
+1
+3
System Operation
INT
+2
+7
+1
+10
( Tactical )
Tactics
INT
+2
+3
+5
( Space )
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+1
+7
+1
+9
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Fire Control Officer: If “A.J.” is in command, acting as Exec, or at Tactical during combat, Sakarya
receives a +2 to all Tactical Maneuvers
Physically Fit: Prin has driven himself to the peak of human physical perfection- whenever he
makes a Strength or Vitality attribute test or an Athletics skill test, he doubles the bonus
conferred by the key attribute (to +4). When he received this ability, Prin also increased
his Stamina reaction by +1.
Responsive: Prin has learned to respond faster than normal officers to various threats- during
combat actions, he may take one additional combat action per turn (a total of three actions)
without suffering the multiple action penalties.
Starship Duty: Lieutenant Commander Prin meets all the prerequisites for his post aboard Sakarya.
Species Abilities:
Artistic: Bajorans are generally artistic and gain a +1 Craft skill at character creation
Faithful: Religion permeates Bajoran society, and every Bajoran gains a +2 Knowledge- Religion at
character creation.
Pagh: So long as they are living the path of the Prophets, Bajorans gain a +1 Courage.
Edges/ Flaws:
Alert: Prin has schooled himself to be alert for- and to react quickly to- danger. He gains a +2 to
all Initiative tests.
Command 1: Prin is assigned as a Department Head aboard the Sakarya.
Promotion 3: Prin holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in Starfleet.
Fit: Prin is in great physical shape and receives a +1 to all Physical tests.
Suit Trained: Prin has spent a great deal of time in environmental suits, and no longer suffers the
-2 penalty they impose.
Zero-G Trained: Prin has been trained for work in zero gravity, and ignores any penalties from
operating in zero-g.
38
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Choda
Age:
39
Species
Tellarite
Homeworld:
Tellar
Gender:
Female
Eyes:
Black
Hair:
Orange-Brown
Rank:
Lieutenant
Current Assignment:
Chief Engineering Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya, NCC-52143
Profile/History:
Short, portly, cheerful, loud, and occasionally obnoxious, Choda runs her engineroom with
clock-work regularity and precision. She is, at heart, a craftsman, an artist, a perfectionist,
and occasionally a driven taskmaster. Choda has longed to serve in Starfleet since her earliest
memories, and cut her teeth on a variety of engineering projects throughout the Alpha
Quadrant. She has no ambition to be anywhere but the engineroom of a starship.
Psychological Profile:
Choda loves puzzles and equipment and has a hard time fighting the impulse to tinker,
tweak, and adjust any machine that isn't quite “right”- whether or not that equipment belongs
to her. Choda despises the unknown with a passion- one of her favorite mantras is “What
you don't understand can kill you.”
While Choda can be argumentative on a point of engineering process and procedure, she is
more prone to loud and friendly banter than to serious disagreement. Off duty, Choda enjoys
complex games such as kal-toh and has developed a fondness for a variety of ethanol
products. She fancies herself quite the connoisier, though always in moderation.
Attributes
Str 9 (+1)
Agl 8 (+1)
Int 10 (+2)* Vit 8 (+1) Prs 10(+2)* Per 5 (+0)
Quickness +1 Savvy +2
Stamina +1*
Willpower +2
Miscellaneous Scores
Defense: 8
Courage: 3 Health: 9 Renown: 10 Advancements: 14
Initiative: +1
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Athletics
STR
+1
+1
+2
Computer Use
INT
+2
+6
+1
+9
( Electronic )
Construct
INT
+2
+5
+2
+9
( Research )
Demolitions
INT
+2
+6
+8
Gaming
INT
+2
+4
+6
Knowledge: Culture
INT
+2
+3
+1
+6
( Tellarite )
Knowledge: History
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
( Federation )
Knowledge: Specific World
INT
+2
+3
+1
+6
( Earth, Rigel IV )
Knowledge: Trivia
INT
+2
+2
+1
+5
( Alcoholic Beverages )
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+3
+1
+6
39
Language- Tellarite
INT
+2
+4
+1
+7
Language- Vulcan
INT
+2
+3
+1
+6
Observe
PER
+0
+5
+5
Physical Science
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
( Physics, Mathematics )
Propulsion Engineering
INT
+2
+7
+1
+10
( Warp Drive )
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+1
+6
+7
( Phaser )
Repair
INT
+2
+6
+1
+9
Structural Engineering
PRS
+2
+6
+1
+9
(Spaceframes )
Survival
PER
+0
+3
+3
System Engineering
INT
+2
+7
+1
+10
(EPS Grid, Transporter )
System Operation
INT
+2
+6
+8
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+1
+4
+5
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Engineering Certification: Lieutenant Choda may use all of the Engineering group skills untrained.
Fix-It: Having spent many hours tearing apart the Sakarya's systems, Choda has learned how to
repair them as well. She now knows all of the Repair skill specializations.
Miracle Worker- Propulsion Engineering: When making a Propulsion Engineering check (including
Extended tests) Choda may take the action in half the base time.
Starship Duty: Lieutenant Choda meets all the prerequisites for her post aboard Sakarya.
Species Abilities:
Bonus Edge: Exceptional Fortitude: Tellarites suffer Fatigue-related test penalties as though they
were one level less fatigued then they actually are.
Bonus Edge: Meticulous: Tellarites gain a cumulative +1 per round in extended tests.
Bonus Edge: Skill Focus (Exhaustive): Tellarites gain a +2 species bonus to Inquire and Persuade
(Debate) tests.
Pig-Headed: Tellarites single-mindedness often makes them seem indifferent or difficult. They
suffer a -2 to Influence tests.
Poison Resistance: Tellarites gain a +4 Stamina reaction to resist the effects of poisons.
Stubborn: Tellarites tend to be single-minded to a fault. A Tellarite who enters an argument
favoring a particular position must spend a Courage point to back down from that position.
Edges/ Flaws:
Command 1: Choda is assigned as a department head aboard the starship Sakarya.
Multitasking: Choda has learned to handle several problems at once- and may perform full-round
actions as two actions instead (allowing additional actions at the standard -5 penalty).
Promotion 2: Choda holds the rank of Lieutenant in Starfleet.
Skill Focus (Craftsman): Choda gains +1 each to Construct and Repair tests.
Suit Trained: Choda has spent a great deal of time in environmental suits, and no longer suffers the
-2 penalty they impose.
Thinker: Choda receives a +1 to all Academic tests.
Zero-G Trained: Choda has been trained for work in zero gravity, and ignores any penalties from
operating in zero-g.
40
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
T'Var
Age:
40
Species
Vulcan
Homeworld:
Vulcan
Gender:
Female
Eyes:
Brown
Hair:
Black
Rank:
Lieutenant
Current Assignment:
Chief Operations/Science Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya, NCC-52143
Profile/History:
T'Var spent ten researchs as a researcher with the Vulcan Science Academy. Believing that
her scientific career lacked diversity and field experience, the logical course of action was
clear. T'Var joined Starfleet and after commissioning, shipped out on the U.S.S. Ilan Ramon.
After her second deep-space tour, Captain ab Reis tapped her to become his Chief of
Operations aboard the Sakarya.
Psychological Profile:
T'Var is a typical Vulcan- calm, rational, logical, and dedicated. Even absent her Vulcan
conditioning, T'Var tends to be quiet and introspective- especially when working to solve a
scientific puzzle. According to ship's legend, Thrax timed T'Var and discovered that she did
not say a word to a single person for 56.4 hours straight. T'Var herself has no comment, save
that “idle banter is illogical”.
Despite her stoic exterior, T'Var is deeply devoted both to Starfleet and her shipmates. If
pressed, T'Var will, of course, deny any emotional connection whatsoever- but she has turned
down three transfer offers- including a position with the Daystrom Institute.
Attributes
Str 8 (+1)
Agl 7 (+0)
Int 11 (+2)* Vit 9 (+1) Prs 7(+0) Per 10 (+2) Psi 4 (+0)*
Quickness +2 Savvy +2
Stamina +1*
Willpower +2
Miscellaneous Scores
Defense: 7
Courage: 3 Health: 10 Renown: 10 Advancements: 15
Initiative: +2
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Athletics
STR
+1
+3
+1
+5
( Climbing )
Computer Use
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
( Retrieve)
Enterprise-Administration
INT
+2
+3
+1
+6
( Starbase )
Influence
PRS
+2
+3
+5
Investigate
PER
+2
+5
+1
+8
Knowledge: Culture
INT
+2
+4
+1
+7
( Vulcan )
Knowledge: History
INT
+2
+4
+1
+7
( Vulcan )
Knowledge: Religion
INT
+2
+2
+1
+5
( Vulcan )
Knowledge: Specific World
INT
+2
+3
+1
+6
( Earth, Vulcan )
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+3
+1
+6
41
Language- Vulcan
INT
+2
+4
+1
+7
Life Science
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
( Biology )
Mind Meld
PSI
+0
+4
+4
Negotiate
INT
+2
+2
+4
Observe
PER
+2
+3
+1
+6
( Listen )
Persuade
PRS
+0
+3
+3
Physical Science
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
( Physics )
Planetary Science
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
( Geology )
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+1
+5
+1
+7
( Phaser )
Repair
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
Space Science
INT
+2
+6
+1
+9
( Astrophysics )
System Engineering
INT
+2
+4
+1
+7
( EPS Grid )
System Operation
INT
+2
+6
+1
+9
( Ops, Sensors )
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+1
+3
+1
+5
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Cross-Trained: When performing the professional skill of another officer, T'Var may add +2 (her
Intellect modifier) to the test. For Intellect-based tests, this amounts to doubling the modifier.
Journeyman:Lieutenant T'Var can use all the Science group skills untrained.
Field Research: When making an Investigate test to explore a new phenomenon, T'Var gains an
affinity bonus equal to ½ her level in the appropriate skill level.
Level Headed: When performing any professional skill at her shipboard station, T'Var ignores all
test penalties from distraction.
Ops Manager: When acting as Operations Officer at the beginning of a session, T'Var may
designate one system as “mission critical”. All System Operation tests made on that
specialization receive a +1 bonus for the duration of the session.
Scientific Protocols: T'Var has been trained in how to investigate scientific phenomenon safely.
Whenever an Observe or Investigate test will endanger either herself or the crew directly, she
may automatically make a TN 10 test against the appropriate Science skill to realize the
danger.
Starship Duty: T'Var meets all the prerequisites for her post aboard Sakarya.
Station Proficiency: Lieutenant T'Var has trained ruthlessly to qualify with every bridge system.
Once per game session, T'Var may reroll one System Operation skill test and keep the better of
the two results.
Species Abilities:
Enhanced Rapid Healing: Once per day, T'Var may enter a healing trance (pg 49), and recover a
number of wound points equal to her Vitality modifier,
Mind Meld: With physical contact, T'Var has the ability to telepathically join her mind to another.
Nerve Pinch: T'Var may stun an opponent for 2d6 rounds by making an Unarmed Combat skill
test. If the victim knows what she is attempting, T'Var suffers a -5 penalty to the test.
Psionic: T'Var has telepathic mental abilities.
Skill Focus (Keen Hearing): T'Var receives a +4 bonus to Observe (Listen) tests.
Edges/ Flaws:
Command 1: T'Var is assigned as a department head aboard the Sakarya.
Coordinator: T'Var has a natural affinity for organizing groups and harnessing them to her goals.
She doubles the bonus for additional participants when leading combined tests.
Fit: T'Var is in great physical shape and receives a +1 to all Physical tests.
Promotion 2: T'Var holds the rank of Lieutenant in Starfleet.
Thinker: T'Var receives a +1 to all Academic tests.
42
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Thrax
Age:
28
Species
Human
Homeworld:
Earth
Gender:
Male
Eyes:
Grey
Hair:
Salt and Pepper ( Grey and Black )
Rank:
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Current Assignment:
Conn Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya, NCC-52143
Profile/History:
Lieutenant Junior Grade Thrax is a Starfleet officer on his first deep-space posting. His
previous assignment was a customs enforcment patrol out of Deep Space Five.
Thrax spent his youth bumming around on his family's tramp freighter, learning the ins and
outs of the Alpha Quadrant and getting a lot of hands-on experience in a variety of ships,
vehicles, and small craft.
Psychological Profile:
Thrax is Sakarya's resident “space cadet”. Young, cheerful, gregarious, and enthusiastic,
he is governed by an unbridled enthusiasm and curiosity. As the youngest member of
Sakarya's bridge crew, he often feels like the center of attention- that everyone is watching-
and overcompensates by taking his job very, very seriously.
Off duty, Thrax is obsessed with companionship of every variety- insecure in isolation, he
seeks to surround himself with friends and acquaintances. He is interested in a wide variety of
sports and physical activities, but is more dilettante than devotee- he lacks the devotion and
discipline needed to truly excel at any given sport.
Attributes
Str 7 (+0)
Agl 10 (+2)* Int 10 (+2)* Vit 8 (+1) Prs 8(+1) Per 9 (+1)
Quickness +2*
Savvy +1
Stamina +1
Willpower +2
Miscellaneous Scores
Defense: 9
Courage: 3 Health: 8 Renown: 5
Advancements: 7
Initiative: +2
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Appraise
INT
+2
+1
+3
Athletics
STR
+0
+3
+1
+4
Computer Use
INT
+2
+4
+6
( Retrieve)
Knowledge: Culture
INT
+2
+3
+5
( Denobulan )
Knowledge: History
INT
+2
+3
+5
( Federation )
Knowledge: Specific World
INT
+2
+6
+8
( Rigel IV )
Language- Denobulan
INT
+2
+3
+5
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+3
+5
Language- Orion
INT
+2
+2
+4
Operate Veh.- Arch. Aircraft
INT
+2
+3
+1
+6
43
Operate Vehicle- Motorcraft
INT
+2
+2
+1
+5
Operate Vehicle- Sailcraft
INT
+2
+2
+1
+5
Persuade
PRS
+2
+2
+4
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+1
+4
+1
+6
( Phaser )
Repair
INT
+2
+4
+1
+7
Space Science
INT
+2
+9
+11
( Astrogation )
Survival
PER
+1
+2
+1
+4
System Engineering
INT
+2
+2
+1
+5
( Flight Control )
System Operation
INT
+2
+5
+1
+8
( Flight Control )
Unarmed Combat
AGL
+1
+4
+1
+6
( Starfleet Martial Arts )
Professional Abilities:
Dogfighter: If Thrax is at the helm during combat, the ship receives a +2 to all Helm maneuvers.
Starship Duty: Lieutenant Thrax meets all the prerequisites for his post aboard Sakarya.
Surfing Space-Time: By making a TN 20 Space Science (Astrogation) test, Thrax can plot an
exceptionally tight course which allows Sakarya to arrive at her destination as though she
had been traveling at maxim speed- without exceeding her sustainable maximum speed.
Species Abilities:
Excellent Climb: Denobulans gain +4 species bonus to Athletics (Climb) tests and can climb up to
five meters per round.
Hallucinations: In extremely stressful situations, a Denobulan may experience hallucinations.
However, such experiences are considered to be safe and natural ways of releasing nervous
energy.
Hibernation: Unlike most species, Denobulans do not sleep as a part of their daily cycle. Instead,
they hibernate for a full six days per year, although some can reduce this period time by
various degrees. A Denobulan sleep period is handled similarly to the Fatigue rules found on
pages 95-96 of the Narrator’s Guide.
Resistance: Denobulans gain a +2 to Stamina tests to resist illness, disease, and radiations. Some
technology, like Borg nanoprobes, also has a delayed effect on them.
Edges/ Flaws:
Command 1: Thrax is assigned as a department head aboard the Sakarya.
Cultural Flexibility: Thrax has been nearly everywhere and alien customs and mores seldom
surprise him. He gains +2 to Social tests involving species other than his own.
Fit: Thrax receives a +1 to all Physical tests.
Promotion 1: Thrax holds the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade in Starfleet.
44
Starfleet Bureau of Personnel
Starfleet Command
Paul Featherstone, MD
Age:
39
Gender:
Male
Species
Human
Eyes:
Grey
Homeworld:
Earth
Hair:
Salt and Pepper ( Grey and Black )
Rank:
Lieutenant
Current Assignment:
Chief Medical Officer, U.S.S. Sakarya, NCC-52143
Profile/History:
Tall, rail-thin, slightly fussy, and undoubtedly brilliant, Doctor Featherstone is, at heart, a
researcher. He much prefers tissue cultures and biological samples to people, and much
prefers a quiet laboratory all to himself.
Featherstone would have gotten his way, too, had he not insulted and humiliated his last
C.O. over what was (ultimately) a minor difference of opinion. In a fit of pique, Featherstone
reprogrammed the station's computers to bombard his superior with irritating and infuriating
messages and visuals. This might have been overlooked had the incident not coincided with
an inspection by the Chief of Starfleet Medical.
Deciding that Featherstone was “unmilitary, unprofessional, and entirely too cosseted,
Admiral Blackburn assigned the good doctor the first deep-space assignment available- the
Starship Sakarya.
Psychological Profile:
Featherstone is brilliant- a gifted and prolific researcher- but he has poor people skills and
can be stubborn, rude, petulant, childish, and even insubordinate. He is almost critically
underweight because research is more enthralling than eating.
Featherstone is leery of Captain ab Reis and Lieutenant Prin (his career lies in the Captain's
hands while Lieutenant Prin might... hurt him). Conversely, Featherstone has a love/hate
relationship with Commander Loch- she is unquestionably brilliant and beautiful, but she's
also continually interrupting his research to make sure sick bay is run correctly (and not
merely left in the hands of his nurses and other doctors). Featherstone deeply respects T'Var's
intellectual discipline (and research background)- but most of the remaining officers and crew
are tolerated, at best.
Featherstone is not a bad man, nor even a bad doctor- merely a pampered prima donna
who loves to hear his praises spoken (a lot like the Voyager EMH).
Attributes
Str 7 (+0)
Agl 8 (+1)
Int 10 (+2)* Vit 9 (+1) Prs 6(+0) Per 10 (+2)*
Quickness +2 Savvy +2
Stamina +1*
Willpower +2
Miscellaneous Scores
Defense: 8
Courage: 4 Health: 9 Renown: 10 Advancements: 15
Initiative: +2
Skills:
Skill Name
Attr
Mod
Level
Misc
Total
Specializations
Computer Use
INT
+2
+6
( Retrieve)
Construct
INT
+2
+4
First Aid
INT
+2
+6
Knowledge: Culture
INT
+2
+4
( Human )
Knowledge: History
INT
+2
+5
( Federation )
45
Knowledge: Law
INT
+2
+2
( Medical Ethics )
Knowledge: Specific World
INT
+2
+4
( Earth )
Language- Fed Standard
INT
+2
+5
Language- Vulcan
INT
+2
+4
Life Science
INT
+2
+7
( Biology, Exobiology, Biotechnology )
Medicine
INT
+2
+8
+2
Observe
PER
+2
+3
Persuade
PRS
+2
+4
Physical Science
INT
+2
+7
( Chemistry )
Ranged Combat:Energy
AGL
+1
+3
( Phaser )
Repair
INT
+2
+4
System Engineering
INT
+2
+2
System Operation
INT
+2
+5
( Command )
Professional Abilities:
Computer Whiz: Doctor Featherstone knows his way around computer systems, performing
System Operation or Computer Use skills (including Extended tests) in half the base time.
Diagnosis: Doctor Featherstone has received special training in diagnosing alien diseases and
toxins. Whenever Featherstone makes a Medicine test to identify an alien pathogen or
disease, he gains an affinity bonus equal to half his Investigate skill (rounded up). If
successful, Medicine tests to treat the disease receive a bonus based on the degree of success
of the diagnosis roll.
Focus: Doctor Featherstone knows how to concentrate on the task at hand- and may ignore all
circumstance penalties from distractions.
General Medicine: Doctor Featherstone has studied a great many medical procedures prior to
being posted to Sakarya. Whenever Featherstone makes a Medicine test, he receives a +2
bonus to the result.
Immunization: After diagnosing an illness or pathogen, the Doctor may attempt a Medicine
(Research) test . If successful, the doctor can produce 1d6 doses of a counter agent per hour
spent in the lab. While the counter agent may be used as a cure, it may only be used as an
innoculant for 2d6 hours.
Lab Work: Whenever Doctor Featherstone makes a Physical Science (Chemistry) test, he adds +4
to the result.
Secretive: Doctor Featherstone is very secretive about his work. He may add his Intellect modifier
to any Willpower test, doubling the modifier when asked about his current project or mission.
Starship Duty: Doctor Featherstone meets all the prerequisites for his post aboard Sakarya.
Species Abilities:
Adaptable: Humans thrive in even the harshest conditions and climes. Human adaptability has
given Doctor Featherstone a +2 bonus to his Stamina reaction.
Human Spirit: The humans of Earth are a driven, vital, and versatile species. Human characters
begin the game with 4 courage points (instead of the usual 3).
Skilled: Humans tend to draw on a broad range of experiences, and as a result, receive two
additional skill picks during Character Creation.
Edges/ Flaws:
Command 1: Featherstone is assigned as a department head aboard the Sakarya.
Promotion 2: Doctor Featherstone holds the rank of Lieutenant in Starfleet.
Meticulous: Doctor Featherstone gains a cumulative +1 per round in extended tests.
46
7
th Fleet Scoring Sheet
“Fracture Lines”
Benchmark
Bonus Achieved
Sakarya reaches Edoran in less than fourteen hours:
+1
¤
Sakarya is (at least) at Yellow Alert when she enters the Edoran:
+1
¤
system
The heroes trouble to look for evidence of Romulan involvement:
+1
¤
in the loss of the Dawnspring.
The heroes use the internal STA installed on most Starfleet gear :
+1
¤
to track the fall of debris.
The heroes take specific steps to recover the remains of the :
+1
¤
Dawnspring's crew.
The heroes take the trouble to autopsy at least one of the :
+1
¤
Dawnspring's crew.
The heroes take the trouble to try and assist the civilian casualties :
+1
¤
innocent bystanders injured by Dawnspring's wreckage.
The heroes locate the Dawnspring's “black box” :
+1
¤
The heroes identify the cause of the Dawnspring's destruction :
+1
¤
The heroes scan the northern/eastern hemisphere for the larger pulse :
+1
¤
The heroes locate the source of the subspace pulses :
+1
¤
The heroes defeat the Edoran “defenders” :
+1
¤
The heroes defeat the Romulan landing party :
+1
¤
The heroes manage to decipher the Iconian controls and stop the :
+1
¤
attacks.
/ 14
Proctors Notes:
Proctor:
Date Played:
Crew: USS
Final Score:
/ 11
Officers Present:
Total XP Award:
Individual XP Awarded:
Individual Renown Awarded:
Reviewed By:
Commanding Officer
Fleet Commander
47
| textdata/thevault/Star Trek RPG/Decipher/Adventures/SS11-Fracture_Lines.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter
Adkison.
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DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook,
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TUS6-01
Gambling with fate
A One-Round D&D
® LIVING GREYHAWK™
Tusmit Regional Adventure
by Erik Deschamps
Triad Edit: JP Chapleau
Circle Edit: Tim Sech
Tensions are rising in the sheikdom of Dihn. The trade routes with the Khund are no longer safe. Humans are claiming
to have been assailed by dwarves. Dwarves are cursing the Mouquolad’s for hijacking their caravans. People are
questioning openly the patrols in charge with the safe-keeping of the Yatils. Could things get even worse for Tusmit?
An adventure for dwarves… huh any characters… levels 4 to 14. (APLs 6 to 12).
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 2
RPGA SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part
of
the
LIVING
GREYHAWK
campaign------a
worldwide, ongoing D&D campaign set in the
GREYHAWK setting------you must sanction it as part of an
RPGA event. This event could be as elaborate as a big
convention, or as simple as a group of friends meeting
at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the table DM (or
usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all the time
in the cases of home events) the senior gamemaster is
also the table DM. You don’t have to be a HERALD-
LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not the
senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First it is an official
game, and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK PC. Second player and DMs gain rewards
for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of the
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2007.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK PC
creation and development, RPGA event sanctioning,
and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit the RPGA
website at www.rpga.com.
PLAYERS READ NO FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than
this section, you’ll know too much about its challenges,
which kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this
adventure as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event,
reading beyond this point makes you ineligible to do
so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies
of the following D&D books: Player’s Handbook,
Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold
italics provides player information for you to
paraphrase or read aloud when appropriate. Sidebars
contain important information for you, including
special instruction on running the adventure.
Information on nonplayer PCs (NPCs) and monsters
appear in abbreviated form in the adventure text. Full
information on NPCs and monsters are given in
Appendix 1.
Along with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA
Table Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and
turn in this sheet to your senior GM directly after play.
You’ll also find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record
(AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because players bring their own PCs to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportionate to the modified average PC level of the
PCs participating in the adventure. To determine this
modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps
below:
1.
Determine the PC level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely dogs trained for war), other
than those brought by virtue of a class ability
(such as animal companions, familiars paladin’s
mounts) or the warhorse of a PC with the
Mounted Combat feat, use the sidebar chart to
determine the number of levels you add to the
sum of step one. Add each PC’s animals separately.
A single PC may only bring four or fewer animals
of this type, and animals with different CRs are
added separately.
3.
Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the
number of PCs playing in the adventure. Round
up to the nearest whole number.
4.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to
that average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level
of challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 3
numbered increments. If the APL of your group falls
on an odd number, ask them before the adventure
begins whether they would like to play a harder or
easier adventure. Based on their choice, use either the
higher or the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience and
gold a PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a
player PC is three PC levels or more either higher or
lower than the APL at which this adventure is being
played, that PC receives only one-half of the
experience points and gold for the adventure. This
simulates the fact that either the PC was not
challenged as much as normal or relied on help by
higher-level PCs to reach the objectives.
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels
higher than the highest APL supported by the
adventure may not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for
APL 2 and higher. Four or five 1
st-level PCs may find
the challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest
the following to these groups to help increase their
chances of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
2.
Advise PCs to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them.
Time Units and Upkeep
This is a standard One-round Regional adventure, set
in Tusmit. PCs native to Tusmit pay one Time Unit per
round, all others pay two Time Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12gp per
Time Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50gp per Time Unit.
Luxury Upkeep costs 100gp per Time Unit. PCs that
fail to pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain
temporary ability damage until the next adventure,
must buy new spell component pouches and healer’s
kits, and may suffer other in-game penalties (or
possibly gain in-game benefits) as may be detailed in
this scenario.
A PC who does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties
by living off the wild. If the PC possesses four or more
ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a Survival
check (DC 20), the PC will heal temporary ability
damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, may
refill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and
may restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the PC has at
least four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). The player is
allowed to Take 10 on this roll.
More information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can
be found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of
Chapter 3 of the Living Greyhawk Campaign
Sourcebook.
Adventure Background
Sometimes, luck is just not on your side. So it was for
Harald Mouassim, a cleric of Norebo (Suel god of luck
and chance, CN) who was gambling casually in the city
of Schwartzenbruin while on an expedition to officially
“harness the commercial opportunities for Tusmit and
Perrenland”. The stakes were high and the payment
was to perform a simple task. Well, not that Harald’s
word was to be trusted when he said he would do it, it
simply was that he could not do otherwise, or so was
thought.
His counterpart was an agent of a dark power not
specified in the course of this adventure. This dark
power plans to use the turmoil in Tusmit to consolidate
its own position of power. That is, the plan as seen
from a first look. So a plan was set up to amass wealth
and garner supply to be able to enlist and arm more
people to his army.
Harald was the ideal man to perform the task so he had
to be enlisted. And what better way to enlist a cleric of
Norebo than a game of dice? Of course, you have to
know that luck is on your side. A simple formality…
So, Harald enlisted the Silent Whisperers, a band of
experienced dwarf mercenaries from the Clatspur
Hills. And he went back to Tusmit found a decent
hideout, went to Dwur’Ayhand and got back in touch
with the merchant community. He learned about the
new commercial relations between the Khund and the
Mouqollad Consortium.
The Khund, wanting to remain neutral, had to resort to
an intermediary in order to be able to supply the rebel
forces of Dihn. So, they reluctantly had to establish
commercial relations with the Consortium and even
though there’s no love between the two factions, it
turned out to be quite profitable for both partners.
Harald formed the plan to have his mercenaries
personify dwarven patrol of the great convention and
attack caravans to garner wealth and create tensions
between the Mouquolad and Khund. He certainly
would not suffer working for anyone else than him and
so, while seemingly working for the force, he pursued
his own ends. Harald scored triple: he was able to
amass significant wealth, weaken the rebels supply
road and pose in some way as the alternative for the
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 4
dwarves to maintain some commercial relations with
Dihn.
Harald Mouassim
Harald is the example of duplicity: an independent
merchant of Dihn, although he was blessed by
Norebo’s word a long time ago, while traveling in
Bissel.
With the recent events in Dihn, he had to openly align
himself with the rebels, even if his heart lay with
Muammar Quaran. So he took the first opportunity to
pass through the lands of the Khund and see how
factions within Perrenland could help with the
loyalists cause. This is how he got entangled in this
large web and politics.
The Thunderstone clan
Lady Emeraud, being a former member of the patrol of
the great convention, feels first-hand concerns for the
situation. With her brother Taklinn Thunderstorm,
they decided to enlist a group of adventurers to
investigate the matter. Because of possible political
repercussion (not only within Tusmit but in the
Khund lands and Perrenland), neither of them can
intervene directly.
Lady
Emeraud
appeared
in
TUSI4-03
Miss
Khundgeniality. Check the AR of any PC who played
that adventure for any signs of failure.
Taklinn Thunderstone appeared in a number of the
previous adventures: TUSINT3-05 Dark Risings,
TUSI4-03 Miss Khundgeniality and TUSINT4-06
Rebellion (Khund Lands). Taklinn is the high priest of
Moradin in the Khund nation. He is presumed to be
the one to be crowned king of the Vesterkhund (the
western part of the Khund nation), but it has yet to be
done.
Abdallah Yussam ibn Abdallah
Rich Baklunish merchant from the Mouqollad
Consortium hailing of Dwur’Ayhand, he is known to
take great risks. Great risks bring great profits and
Abdallah is filthy rich. His negotiating skills and
diplomacy have always given him the edge he needs to
get what he wants. He distrusts dwarves since they are
almost as greedy as him.
Things got worse with the present events. He has been
affected more than any merchant by the breakdown of
the trade route. A strong believer in Jadhim-Orem,
Abdallah has profited a lot through commerce with the
Khund and he does not want to lose his gold mine.
The Silent Whisperers
The Silent Whisperers are a band of mercenaries from
Perrenland. Outcasts from their respective clans, they
bonded with each other trough necessity and learned
to trust and care for each other. They have been
working together for quite some time. They are known
for their efficiency, and their tendency not to ask
questions. As long as they get paid, they don’t mind
using the means necessary to perform a task.
Although they are willing to face almost any perils
together, they really care about their lives, and the lives
of their companions. They have assailed many caravans
for Harald and are the main reason for the rising
tensions.
Tusmit Loyalists
The following people should be considered Tusman
Loyalists for the purpose of this adventure.
•
Harald Mouassim
Tusmit Rebels
The following people should be considered Tusman
Loyalists for the purpose of this adventure.
•
Abdallah Yussam ibn Abdallah
Indifferent
The following people should be considered Tusman
Loyalists for the purpose of this adventure.
•
Lady Emeraud
•
Taklinn Thunderstone
•
The Silent Whisperers
•
Other Khund
Note on Dwur’Ayhand
Capital of Dihn and siege of Jadim Oren power, the
city is clearly aligned with the rebellion. Although no
confrontations have been taking place, preparations
have been frantic, just in case of. The armed presence is
important but the markets are now emptied of arms
and supplies. In general, humans tend to support the
Mouqollad version of the story, while the dwarves are
supporting the Khund version of the events. Note that
a third of Dwur’Ayand population is of dwarven origin.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 5
Adventure Summary
Introduction The PCs are brought to Dwur’Ayhand by
rumors of a Khund uprising. Loyalists are met with
suspicion at the entrance of the city.
Encounter 1: Meeting the Thunderstones Emeraud
and Taklinn Thunderstone enlists the PCs to find the
source of the troubles. The PCs learn about the attacks
on the caravans.
Encounter 2: Investigation The PCs can learn more
about the situation at hand. They are hired as guards by
a merchant planning an expedition in the Yatils.
Encounter 3: Hungry Birds The caravan is assailed by
giant birds in quest for food.
Encounter 4: Angry Dwarves The PCs get to meet
and interact with a real patrol of the great convention.
They can learn more about the Khund.
Encounter 5: Ambush in the hills The caravan is
ambushed by the Silent Whisperers.
Encounter 6: Finding the Boss’ hideout The PCs
leave the caravan and head out to find the man behind.
They have to cope with high altitude throughout their
search.
Encounter 7: A pair of dices The PCs explore the
raider’s lair. A cargo is ready to set out and a letter
suggests a destination.
Encounter 8: Harald Here the PCs fight the cleric of
Norebo and can interrogate him.
Encounter 9: The rightful commitment PCs going to
the Dig Pass gets to meet with dwarves loyalist and can
choose to give them the goods.
Encounter 10: Dungar Llith Abdallah tries to
convince the PCs to charge him with the goods. The
PCs arrive to Dungar Llith. They are met by a courtier
and brought to the Haigh Raigh King, as an envoy of
Omar Saladish pleading for the Khund support of the
rebellion. The PCs may choose to hand the goods to
the Khund or the rebel forces (represented by Omar
Saladish envoy).
Conclusion: King Barandon hands the PCs a personal
invitation to his wedding. They assist the crowning of
the king of the VesterKhund.
Introduction
Read or paraphrase the following
The open rebellion of the Sheikdom of Dihn is the
topic of most discussions around Tusmit. Rumors
of Khund uprisings are also passed around.
Caravans of the Mouqollad Consortium are said to
have been lost in the Yatils, their content stolen by
dwarven raiders. As if Tusmit needed problems on
another front…
You needed nothing more to feel the call for yet
another adventure. As you made your way to the
sheikdom of Dihn, you found the roads really calm.
It really seems that business is not running as usual
for Dihn. Of the few travelers you actually met,
most were fellow adventurers who joined you in
search of adventure.
Allow players to introduce themselves.
After a few days of travel, you finally see the walls
of Dwur’Ayhand, capital of Dihn. The city is heavily
fortified, and surprisingly, the gates seem to be
closed.
A military camp has been established around the
city. Soldiers, adventurers and nobles have all
flocked to the banner of Jadhim-Orem. They all
wear white armbands. The rag-tag army gathered
around the town has a high morale. Officers are
organizing the troops into units.
At the entrance, non-rebel PCs are met by suspicious
stares. These PCs are charged a special “loyalty tax” of
25 fountains (gp). Also, they must keep their weapons
peace-bound at all times and they are not allowed to
wear armor in the town, spellcasters asked to place
their component pouches in their backpacks. Any non-
rebel caught breaking any of these laws will be judged
for spying and the penalty is death. The guards
mention this to the PCs, and make sure they
understand.
The sun is setting as you enter Dwur’Ayhand the
capital of Dihn, a city of 4,000 souls with a
reputation for being dangerous. It is odd to see so
many dwarves running the street in a human city.
They form more than a third of the population and
the city is built in dwarven style: strong, heavy
fortified, buildings of stone.
Players may spend the rest of the evening as they wish
(refer to Encounter 2, Investigation). They can settle
for the night at the Stonemaiden Inn, an establishment
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 6
where they take anyone’s coin. In the morning, a
courier
brings
them
a
letter
from
Taklinn
Thunderstone. Hand them Player’s Handout 1A to
any PCs (dwarf preferably) who has successfully
completed
TUSI4-03
Miss
Khundgeniality,
TUSINT3-05 Dark Risings/L’éveil des ténèbres, comes
from the Khund lands or a Tusman dwarven military
unit. Otherwise, give Player’s Handout 1B to a
random PC.
Encounter One: Meeting the
Thunderstones
The Miner’s Refuge is a little tavern where dwarves are
almost the sole customers. Human rarely frequent the
area. It is located a short distance from the market.
When the PCs enter the tavern, read or paraphrase the
following (you may have to adapt if the party is
composed mostly of dwarves).
Entering the Miner’s Refuge, you are assailed by
the strong smell of ale and sweat. The room falls
silent as the heavily armored dwarves stare at you
disapprovingly. As you are about to withdraw, a
noble dwarf (some PCs may recognize Taklinn) stands
up and approaches you. He looks around the room
and the dwarves resume their drinking and
conversations as if you never entered the room.
“I see that you have received my note. Follow me.”
Taklinn leads you to a back room to be able to talk
discreetly. “Sit.” The dwarf male says as he motions
to two rows of benches. “My name is Taklinn
Thunderstone, High priest of Moradin in the lands
of the Khund.” With a glance to a corner of the
room, he continues.
In a corner of the room, Lady Emeraud Thunderstone
sits invisible.
“We must ask you for a favor. Due to our strong ties
with the Khund nation and the uncertain state of
Tusmit, the Khund nation has decided to remain
neutral in the current conflict. Therefore our
presence here and this meeting must be kept secret.
Are you willing to keep our meeting and
everything we are about to reveal to you a secret?”
Allow each PC a chance to respond. The current
situation is important. If any PC refuses, they are
politely escorted out the door. The adventure is over
for those PCs. The PCs are in a Heightened zone of
truth spell cast by Taklinn. To lie to them requires a
Will save [DC 23].
Taklinn begins: “The troubles occurred a few weeks
ago when a merchant caravan heading back from
the Moradin’s Forge was lost. The sole survivors
were dwarves and they reported that they were
ambushed by the Patrol of the Great Convention.
This scenario repeated itself many times. The
merchants began hiring more armed mercenaries to
protect their cargo. They were reports on our side
that humans attacked our patrols on sight and we
lost some of our most devoted warriors in these
skirmishes.”
“Now, the traffic has completely stopped and the
only thing that prevents open hostilities is the
strong hand of the sheik Omar Saladish and the
intervention of my sister, the Queen-to-be. Haigh
Righ Barandon is considering his options.
“I can guarantee you: the Patrol has nothing to do
with these attacks. Someone is trying to set us
against each other. Find him and put an end to this
scheme, however you see fit.”
Taklinn glances once again in the corner of the
room. Following his glance, you see a female dwarf
is now sitting there. She is dressed in an
adamantine plate armor with a jewel-encrusted
dwarven waraxe strapped to her back. A diadem of
platinum laced with silver, gold and adamantine
rests proudly on her head.
“Here is my sister, Lady Emeraud, she will soon
take over the mantle of queen of the Khund.” The
future queen smiles at you.
Lady Emeraud intervenes “I have been a member of
the Patrol of the Great Convention for many years.
My friends are numerous in the Patrol and some
have died in the skirmishes. I am counting on you
to do everything possible to get to the heart of this.
Can we count on you? ”
Taklinn and Emeraud cannot intervene directly. Both
are working with Omar Saladish to prevent an
outbreak in the tensions.
Who do the raiders target? They target caravans of
the Mouqollad Consortium mostly. But a few private
merchants or nobles have also been targeted.
Do you have any known enemies? You mean other
than
the
derro,
the
orcs,
the
goblins,
the
Worldburners, Kerridzar the red dragon and the agents
of Iuz and the Ice Queen of Perrenland?
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 7
Are there any survivors? They only leave dwarves
alive. Everyone else, they finish off by slicing their
throats. Dwarf survivors speak of soldiers bearing the
banner of the Patrol.
Where did the attacks take place? Most of them
occurred in or near the woods, a few leagues from
Dungarth Llith.
How do the raiders operate? The survivors said that
before they knew anything, half of the caravan was
caught by grappling tentacles while the other half fell
to arrows or blades.
Are there any tracks? None that our people could
find… Our best trackers believe the attackers must all
be druids or incorporeal.
Are there any druids operating in the area? Other
that the half-elf who lives on this side of the
mountains? And she has been quite friendly in keeping
us informed of enemy movement.
Who benefits from these attacks? The crisis has hit
hard the merchants mostly. I doubt that anyone would
dare another commercial expedition under the present
circumstances. We haven’t been able to identify
anyone who has directly benefited from these attacks.
What is stolen? All kinds of valuables ranging from
silverware, weapons, armors, unprocessed copper and
cold iron but also grain, wood and cloth, anything they
could carry, they took.
What are the relations between the Khund and the
Mouqollad Consortium? Taklinn explains that the
Khund and the Consortium have a working
agreement, but they don’t like each other very much.
He is unwilling to talk about the former agreement
between the Khund and the Mouqollad Consortium
and will not unless specifically asked about that.
What do we get out of this? We are offering a reward
of 300 fountains for the heads of those responsible.
Should we bring them back to face justice? My
sister and the Haigh Righ have both decided that those
responsible have earned the death penalty many times
over. If you wish to bring them back, their death
warrants have already been signed.
If we do this will you join the rebels/ loyalists? No.
Encounter Two: Investigation
This encounter should ultimately lead to the players
being employed as guards by Abdallah Yussam ibn
Abdallah. The way to reach this end is up to you and
the players. The game is written assuming the players
head out with the caravan. Higher levels player may
not want to assume the disguise of simple guards; try to
present this as an undercover operation. If they head
out on their own, go with it, however you may have to
modify a few encounters.
The adventure supposes the PCs go with Abdallah.
Word on the street
When the PCs want to go around asking questions, use
the following table for their Gather Information
checks. PCs from Dihn automatically get the
information under DC15. The following modifiers
apply:
•
Every rebel in the party: +2
•
Having a dwarf in the party: +2
•
Per fountain (1gp) paid: +1 (max of +5)
•
If a party member belongs to the Mouqollad
Consortium +1
•
Every loyalist in the party: -2
DC 5: Jadhim-Orem is back in Tusmit. He has set his
quarters in the sheik’s palace here, in Dwur’Ayand.
DC 6: Caravans heading out from the Khund land have
been assailed by dwarves. The caravans were looted, the
people and horses murdered.
DC 7: Omar Saladish has aligned himself and Dihn
with Jadhim and the rebels.
DC 9: The trade routes with the Khund are now
completely deserted.
DC 10: If you’re looking for a job, I’d check the
market… Merchants are always looking for hired
hands. With the dwarven attacks, they are paying good
money! Abdallah is looking for people, I’d talk to him.
DC 12: Taklinn Thunderstone, the future king of the
Vesterkhund is in town.
DC 13: If you want to know anything about dwarven
culture or what is happening, I’d go and meet with
Gort Badaxe at the temple of Moradin.
DC 14: The Khund still have to make a statement about
the rebellion. I wonder were Lady Emeraud stands.
DC 15: There is still someone fool enough to try to
send a convoy to Dungarth Llith.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 8
DC 17: “Have you heard about the Faris Rautha? Our
sheik has given them asylum here. I heard they come
from Ekbir.”
DC 18: There are still some folks loyal to the Usurper.
No one would dare say so, but I am certain they are
plotting in the basement of their mansions.
DC 20: Saffa bin Al al-Mullah, the local high priestess
has managed to revive one of the dead caraveneers. If
you want to know more I’d suggest you head to the
Temple of the Restorer of Righteousness.
DC 24: The Khund had been supplying the rebel forces
since before troubles started. It is not known by many,
because they used the Mouqollad Consortium as an
intermediary in order to remain neutral. Of course,
neither factions were happy to collaborate at first, but
they ended up with a really profitable deal.
DC 30: Lady Emeraud Thunderstone was seen in
town. Is the Queen of the Khund here to ally her
nation with Jadhim-Orem?
DC 32: (to loyalists only) “I heard loyalists have started
to regroup. My cousin’s friend’s brother-in-law who is a
noble has said that his uncle who is thought to be a
loyalist has been meeting with fellows lately.”
DC 38: Commercial relations have not broken down
totally with the Khund. Harald Mouassim has been
dealing small quantities of Khund merchandise lately.
Temple of Moradin: Gort Badaxe
Gort, the highest-ranking priest of Moradin within all
of Tusmit, is reportedly related to the heroic lineage of
Kordan Badaxe. Dwarves wishing to see him are
granted an immediate audience, but non-dwarves
seeking his service must often wait several days,
especially those seeking the power to raise the dead.
Gort is familiar with the efforts of Taklinn to restore
calm. He suspects that bandits or mercenaries have
been employed to personify the Patrol of the Great
Convention and create chaos, but has no clue as to who
is behind this. He gladly helps dwarves as best as he
can.
Parties without dwarves do not receive an audience
with him, unless they belong to the Heroes of Tusmit
meta-orgs, include at least one Tusmit-based noble or
are willing to spend an influence point with a dwarven
faction of Tusmit.
He also knows the following:
•
The Khund have been using the Mouqollad
Consortium as an intermediary to supply the
rebels of Dihn. He personally feels that the Khund
should not resort to such means and should either
openly support the rebellion or oppose it.
•
He can confirm that Lord Taklinn Thunderstone
is in town. He has been in this temple to pay
respect to Moradin and to confirm Gort in his
functions.
•
A merchant has approached him asking for
experienced hired guard. Gort can tell the PCs
where to find Abdallah.
All APLs (EL 13)
�Gort Badaxe: LG male mountain dwarf Pal4/Clr9 -
Moradin
Temple of the True Faith: Saffa bin Al al-Mullah
Saffa bin Al al-Mullah is the highest authority in Dihn,
second only to the Sheik. Saffa is the highest-ranking
member of the True Faith in Dihn, and often makes
the voyage to see the Grand Mufti from her temple in
Dwur’Ayhand. Saffa gladly welcomes the opportunity
to help those in need, but often asks for large
donations to her temple if the recipient of her favor is
not a follower of Al’Akbar.
Saffa al-Mullah has stayed uninvolved in the current
crisis with the dwarves. She is as informed as can be.
Parties including at least one follower of Al’Akbar
(either faith) can get her to open up and discuss the
situation.
Others must convince the low-ranking priests to
arrange a meeting with the high priestess. This
requires either a Diplomacy check DC 20 or the
expenditure of an Influence point with the church of
the True Faith.
She also knows the following information:
•
The Khund have indeed been using the
Mouqollad as an intermediary to supply the rebels.
She personally feels that the Khund should not
meddle in the affairs of Tusmit. If they want their
own country, they should not get involved in the
running of their neighbor.
•
It is true that no humans were left alive from the
attacks. But in one case, the body of a wealthy
merchant was retrieved and she was able to revive
him. The man blames the dwarves but apparently,
he had not seen much. He kept fighting against
imaginary tentacles. Saffa guesses that he was
caught either by an Evard’s black tentacles spell or
some druidic magic like a briar web or entangle.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 9
That man has since left for Blashikdur (and his not
to be found during this adventure, if the PCs have
some means of contacting him, he only confirms
what Saffa said).
All APLs (EL9)
�Saffa bin Al al-Mullah: LN female human
Baklunish Clr9 True Faith of Al’Akbar
Divination
Divinations are available (at the appropriate price from
the latest LGCS) at the following temples: Moradin,
True Faith or Istus. The PCs may of course cast their
own divination spells.
If they are asking where or who is behind the troubles:
“Many veils cover the truth, before you can see the
truth you have to remove all the veils. Down the
spiral, one may find the right set of dice.”
If asking about the difficulties to be encountered:
“Many outcasts may form a tribe.”
Other sources
The PCs may come out with other means to find
information, other people to contact, organization or
extra-planar assistance. Call for appropriate rolls and if
their solution seems like something that could work,
give them the information. The goal of this encounter
is not to slow them down, but to allow them to explore
facets of Tusmit. However, the PCs are NOT able to
meet with the sheik Omar Saladish or Jadhim-Orem
since both are busy. The Faris of the Squirrel is
nowhere to be found.
Your goal is to point the PCs toward Abdallah Yussam
ibn Abdallah.
Mouqollad Consortium
The warehouses of House Yussam in Dwur’Ayhand are
well-stocked with copper from the mines and weapons
destined to the war that will soon begin.
PCs who are members of the Mouqollad Consortium
or who succeed at a Knowledge (local) check [DC 18]
know that Adballah leads the small house and has
turned if from near bankruptcy in 592CY to a highly
profitable venture with the opening of the Khund
tunnel to Perrenland.
Abdallah himself is a charming fellow with a pencil-
thin mustache and salt and pepper hair (think Cary
Grant). He is dressed in a mix of traditional Flan and
Baklunish garb. Unlike many merchants he wears but
a few simple jewels.
Abdallah figured out the current troubles could turn
into good profits. After all, the breakdown of
commercial relations could mean that the first one to
travel to Perrenland and back will gain much fame, and
with fame, fortune.
After hard negotiations with a fellow merchant in
Moradin’s Forge, Abdallah struck a deal that would be
the most lucrative deal ever made in the history of
Tusmit. He now needs experienced guards to escort his
caravan.
The PCs are perfect, if there are no dwarves among
them. If the party includes a dwarf, he hesitates,
questions them, but he finally decides to employ them.
In general, he suspects dwarves and keeps an eye on
them throughout the adventure (going so far as to
keeping watch with them). He offers a payment of 150
fountains to be paid with 15 new platinum pieces
minted to the effigy of Jadhim-Orem.
If asked about the nature of the cargo, he will say that it
is “specialty items requested by the High King
himself”. The cargo includes many wedding supplies
for the wedding between king Barandon and the Lady
Emeraud Thunderstone. It contains mostly gold and
silver platters, but also food such as salted fish, galda
fruits and some small statues of Moradin and Berronar
Truesilver.
Abdallah thinks that all the caravans attacked were
coming from the Khund lands into Tusmit. He thinks
that a smaller caravan coming into the Khund lands
will not be attacked, at least not before it heads back
home with some sort of cargo.
Choose a lawful-looking PC (non dwarf), preferably a
priest of Al’Akbar or a member of the Tusman army.
The merchant offers him a 50 fountains (5 new
platinum pieces) bonus to be in charge of the
safekeeping of the cargo (this gold is not over-the-cap).
The PC will be held personally responsible to any
damage suffered by the caravan. This PC receives the
Man in Charge reward.
Once the PCs have struck a deal with Abdallah, he
informs them that they will be leaving tomorrow,
shortly after morning prayers.
Independent merchant Harald Mouassim
Harald Mouassim has a small trading post in
Dwur’Ayhand. The PCs may hear of him and want to
meet with him. Harald is a Suloise-Baklunish
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 10
merchant who is a rarity in Tusmit, he is an
independent.
When dealing with Harald, do not ask for Sense
Motive rolls. Let the PCs ask for them.
If asked about his recent dealings with the Khund, he
says that his business suffered but was able to maintain
some relations, being able to get through with luck and
cunning. He says that he used the cover of other
expedition in order to save his (a lie).
If questioned about the nature of his dealings with the
Khund, he says that he was able to supply the dwarves
with provisions (a half-truth, he did sell food to the
dwarves, but he mostly purchased arms and equipment
for the loyalist forces).
Harald goes on with half-truths and shows a lot of
interest in the PCs’ business, trying to learn as much as
possible from them.
Encounter Three: Hungry
Birds
The PCs probably arrive on time. Abdallah complains
anyway.
The sun is only starting to rise when you arrive at
your rendezvous with the merchant Abdallah.
When he sees you, he begins to complain about you
being late.
Everything seems to be ready for the expedition to
begin right away. Three wagons drawn by draft
horses are full of miscellaneous supplies hidden
under tarps. The teamsters are tying up the last of
the supplies.
The caravan consists of: 3 horse-drawn wagons. On
each wagon is crewed a teamster (Com1) who is clearly
a non-combatant and terrified, but attracted to the high
pay promised by Abdallah (50 fountains). A mounted
Abdallah and the PCs are the only people escorting the
caravan.
Abdallah does not discuss about the nature of the
cargo, his employer or the actual deal. Curious PCs
trying to find the nature of the cargo should find a way.
Tense climate
The first day of road is uneventful. The caravan slowly
starts to rise and reaches the Yatils. The caravan should
end up in the small town of Reijah for the night.
Try to maintain a tense climate: the PCs should expect
to be ambushed at anytime and Abdallah is clearly
expecting and ambush at every detour of the road. To
increase tension, you can draw a few sections of tunnel
and call for initiative, but nothing happens.
Here are a few ideas of things that could happen:
•
The PCs encounter a lone traveler coming the
other way.
•
Two dead bodies lie on the road ahead. They were
farmers who were killed by a griffon. They have
little of value.
•
A narrow pass in the rocks (if you have ever played
TUS2-02 The hills are alive this “encounter” takes
place at the site of the caravan attack in that
adventure).
•
As they pass by a small group of trees, a murder of
crows takes flight, scaring everyone.
Have fun with it.
The second day
On the second day, the path starts to climb seriously
up. As it gets steeper, it also gets more curvilinear and
they are forced to use more dangerous looking passes.
The caravan gets assailed by hungry birds.
APL 6 (EL 7)
�Advanced Griffon: hp 141; see Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 9)
�Roc: hp 207; see Monster Manual page 215.
APL 10 (EL 11)
�Rocs (2): hp 211, 203; see Monster Manual page 215.
APL 12 (EL 13)
�Advanced Roc: hp 348; see Appendix One.
Tactics: The birds are primary looking for food. The
rocs try to snatch as must food as possible before
bringing it back to their nest and then come back. A
simple way to succeed this encounter would be to
sacrifice some horses to the birds. If the PCs attack the
birds, they defend themselves. At any rate, any horse
lost to the birds is charged to the Man in Charge of the
safe-keeping of the cargo by Abdallah at the standard
Player’s Handbook cost. He receives the Held
Accountable AR reward. The wagons are drawn by
draft (light) horses and Abdallah personal mount is a
heavy tusman warhorse. Other PCs may participate in
payment if willing. Abdallah is really angry if his
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 11
caravan is slowed by the loss of horses and he points
out that the slower they are, the bigger the risk of an
ambush is.
The birds try to take flying PCs first, then the largest
target on the ground (enlarged PCs first, then mounted
PCs), then horse, then medium-sized PCs then small-
sized PCs.
Abdallah and the teamsters hide under the wagons and
stay there until the creatures are gone.
Development: The caravan pass the small mining
town of Tab’en’our and reach then entrance of the
tunnel marking the beginning of the Khund lands.
Encounter Four: Angry
Dwarves
Shortly after the PCs have entered the tunnel in the
morning, they encounter a real patrol of dwarves from
the Patrol the Great Convention. These dwarves have
been dispatched from Dungarth Llith and have been
sent to dispatch the birds the PCs encountered in
Encounter Three.
They greet the PCs with readied bows and crossbows.
Adballah says that they are very likely the raiders.
The dwarves, while not overly charming fellows (they
are dwarves after all), are good and doing the best they
can in a situation that is getting out of hand. With the
beginning of the attacks on the caravans, the Patrol of
the Great Convention has hardly been able to deal with
their routine problems, namely the many dangerous
creatures lurking in the Yatils.
To get the dwarves to open up, the PCs must succeed at
a Diplomacy check [DC 20+APL]. The following
modifiers apply on this check:
•
The PCs dispatched the birds in Encounter Three
or the caravan has obviously suffered from the
assault of the birds: + 5
•
Showing no hostile intentions: + 5
•
Every dwarf in the party who belongs to the
Khund: + 5
•
Every dwarf in the party: + 2
•
Every elf in the party: - 2
•
Showing any kind of hostile intentions (including
trying to Intimidate them): - 10
Friendly dwarves
When the dwarves have figured out they can trust the
PCs, they open up and offer to share a quick meal and
ale (the Cleric carries a barrel of ale). They also share
some information with the PCs.
•
The long-awaited wedding of King Barandon to
Lady Emeraud is scheduled for later this year.
Many Khund feel this is the final step toward
reforging a nation. Many of them are somewhat
jealous of the King for having such a great bride:
“Good with an axe, good for the clan!”
•
The dwarves found the wreckage of a caravan
higher on the path. It was looted but they were
unable to track down the assailers.
•
They are sorry about acting so hostile but on
similar situations, other patrols were attacked by
caravan guards.
•
The Khund nation is growing incredibly fast. Fires
are burning days and nights as the mastersmiths
creates marvelous objects to embellish Dungarth
Llith and the High King’s palace. The city is soon
to be the jewel of the west, if not of the Flanaess.
•
They do not feel drawn one way or the other with
regards to the rebellion. Many Patrolmen swore
allegiance to Jadhim-Orem in the days and have
since sworn allegiance to Muammar Quaran. They
are mainly looking out for their lands.
•
If pressed on the matter of the rebellion, they say
that they think that if Omar Saladish decided to
align with Jadhim-Orem, then it would be best for
them if the rebellion succeeded. They trust the
Sheik’s judgment for dealings with non-dwarves
in general.
Before parting, the cleric offers the PCs the following
words of advice:
“The attacks have occurred on higher ground. So
keep both eyes open at all times. Those raiders
know the mountains very well to have eluded us so
long. As soon as we get a hand on the one behind
this, you are allowed to render the justice of the
King. Should you, by any chance, have better luck
than we did so far, I am sure Haigh Righ Barandon
and Lady Emeraud will be happy to show you their
appreciation.”
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 12
Troubleshooting: Fighting the dwarves
Sometimes… pfff… These dwarves fight to kill, they
are soldiers with appropriate authority.
All APLs (EL 10)
�Khund Fighters (3): Male Dwarves Ftr5; LG; hp 54
each; see Dungeon Master’s Guide page 117.
�Khund Cleric of Moradin: Male Dwarf Clr7; LG; hp
60; see Dungeon Master’s Guide page 115.
�Khund Hunter: Male Dwarf Rgr5; hp 36; see
Dungeon Master’s Guide page122.
Development: you’ve obviously guessed by now that
the PCs do not receive any experience point for that
encounter. If any of the dwarves die, the PCs receive
the “Dwarf Killer” AR reward.
Encounter Five: Ambush in
the Hills
Crisp mountain air
During the third day of travel, the caravan finishes his
ascension and crosses in a high pass. Breathing is
laborious here. PCs must succeed on a Fortitude save
[DC 15 +1 per previous check] or be fatigued as per the
rules for High Pass altitude zone page 90 in the
Dungeon Master’s Guide. Mountain dwarves, members
of the Dwarven Homesteader or the Tusman nomads
meta-orgs, are considered acclimated and thus, do not
need to make the save.
The caravan has to travel 4 hours in the high pass or 8 if
it is particularly slowed, for example by having lost a
couple of beast of burden to the birds.
The ambush
The ambush takes place in the middle of the pass.
Helena ‘God’s Eye’, the hawk familiar of Nalror is on
the look-out and informs the raiders of the coming of
the caravan.
The battle is to occur in a 20ft wide area of the canyon.
The rock walls are 40ft high and the canyon is 60ft
long. The dwarves wait until the last member of the
caravan to enter the canyon before launching their
assault.
If the players encountered Harald previously, keep in
mind that any information Harald obtained on the
PCs, the raiders know and they adapt their tactics
accordingly.
The dwarves assume they are able to surprise the PCs.
However, the PCs should be expecting an ambush at
any time, and as such, could come up with some way to
avoid being surprised.
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Dalard ‘Stout Guardian’: Male Dwarf Clr4; hp 35;
see Appendix One.
�Nalror ‘Honorable Riddlemaster’: Male Dwarf
Wiz4; hp 25; see Appendix One.
�Duerik ‘Darkness Brother’: Male Dwarf Rog4; hp
34; see Appendix One
�Marel ‘Golden Warrior’: Male Dwarf Rgr2/Ftr2; hp
41; see Appendix One
APL 8 (EL 10)
�Dalard ‘Stout Guardian’: Male Dwarf Clr6; hp 51;
see Appendix One
�Nalror ‘Honorable Riddlemaster’: Male Dwarf
Wiz6; hp 51; see Appendix One
�Duerik ‘Darkness Brother’: Male Dwarf Rog6; hp
48; see Appendix One
�Marel ‘Golden Warrior’: Male Dwarf Rgr2/Ftr4; hp
61; see Appendix One
APL 10 (EL 12)
�Dalard ‘Stout Guardian’: Male Dwarf Clr8; hp 67;
see Appendix One
�Nalror ‘Honorable Riddlemaster’: Male Dwarf
Wiz7/FateSpinner1; hp 49 + (14 from false life); see
Appendix One
�Duerik
‘Darkness
Brother’:
Male
Dwarf
Rog7/NightsonEnforcer1; hp 63; see Appendix One
�Marel ‘Golden Warrior’: Male Dwarf Rgr2/Ftr6; hp
81; see Appendix One
APL 12 (EL 14)
�Dalard ‘Stout Guardian’: Male Dwarf Clr10; hp 83;
see Appendix One
�Nalror ‘Honorable Riddlemaster’: Male Dwarf
Wiz7/FateSpinner3; hp 77 (16 from false life); see
Appendix One
�Duerik
‘Darkness
Brother’:
Male
Dwarf
Rog7/NightsongEnforcer3; hp 79; see Appendix One
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 13
�Marel ‘Golden Warrior’: Male Dwarf Rgr2/Ftr8; hp
101; see Appendix One
Tactics: When the caravan arrives, Nalror opens up
with an area of effect spell designed to slow the PCs
down. Marel starts shooting at whoever he can. Duerik
approaches from behind trying to hit those who
remain behind (he is quite fond of wizards). Dalard
uses his spells to slow down or delay the PCs. Nalror
uses Marel as a shield. Whenever possible, those PCs in
the front of the party: Nalror, Marel and Duerik focus
their attacks on a single opponent trying to take him
down. They try to remain out of reach of the PCs as
much as possible.
They use lethal damage and coup-de-grace actions on
fallen PCs (particularly on spellcasters). When 3 of
them have fallen, the last one tries to run away.
Treasure:
APL 6: L: 528 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Pearl of Power 1st lvl (83
gp), brooch of shielding (125 gp), dust of tracelessness
(20 gp), lesser rod of enlarge (250 gp), amulet of natural
armor +1 (166 gp), +1 mithral chain shirt (175 gp), +1
breastplate (112 gp);
APL 8: L: 278 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 full plate (220gp), +1
tower shield (98 gp), pearl of Power 1st lvl (83 gp),
brooch of shielding (125 gp), clock of resistance +1 (83
gp), dust of tracelessness (20 gp), lesser rod of enlarge
(250 gp), amulet of natural armor +1 (166 gp), +1
mithral chain shirt (175 gp), scroll of greater
invisibility CL7 (50 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (433 gp);
APL 10: L: 254 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 full plate (220gp), +1
tower shield of arrow catching (348 gp), pearl of power
1st lvl x2 (83 gp each per character), brooch of
shielding (125 gp), cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp), dust
of tracelessness (20 gp), headband of intellect +2 (333
gp), lesser rod of enlarge (250 gp), ring of protection +1
(166 gp), wand of mirror image (375 gp), amulet of
natural armor +1 (166 gp), +1 buckler (97 gp), gloves of
dexterity +2 (333 gp), +1 mithral chain shirt (175 gp),
scroll of greater invisibility CL8 (120 gp), amulet of
natural armor +1 (166 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (433
gp), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp);
APL 12: L: 202 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 full plate (220gp), +1
tower shield of arrow catching (328gp), pearl of power
1st lvl x2 (83 gp each per character), pearl of power 2
nd
lvl (333 gp), periapt of wisdom +2 (333 gp), brooch of
shielding (125 gp), cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp), dust
of tracelessness (20 gp), headband of intellect +2 (333
gp), lesser rod of enlarge (250 gp), ring of protection +1
(166 gp), wand of mirror image (375 gp), amulet of
natural armor +1(166 gp), bag of tricks – tan (525 gp),
+1 buckler (97 gp), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), +1
mithral chain shirt (175 gp), scroll of greater
invisibility CL10 (83 gp), amulet of natural armor +1
(166 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (433 gp), +1 greatsword
(196 gp), +1 shock arrows x10 (139gp each per
character), vest of resistance +2 (333 gp);
Development: The dwarves are willing to talk if the
PCs promise to let them go. They swear to stop
attacking any caravans and return to Perrenland. If the
PCs promise it to them, the dwarves ask for any cleric
of a lawful deity first, then paladin-types to give their
word before sharing information.
They can tell the PCs where to find their boss (which
they only know as “the Boss”), but don’t know much
else. Abdallah does not take an active part in
interrogation, but he takes part in all intra-party
discussion about the prisoner. He is in favor of
promising to let them go and when he gets the
information he wants, he asks the characters to give
them their rightful punishment, death. Abdallah
points out that Lady Emeraud has asked them for their
heads, and they might get a reward.
If one of the raiders flees and is not caught by the PCs,
he gets to Harald first and gives him the full story.
They meet that raider again with Harald later. Proceed
to Encounter Six under Finding the Boss: following a
running dwarf.
Encounter Six: Finding the
Boss’ Hideout
Timeline
From the time the PCs defeat the raiders, allow them 2
full days to find the hideout. After the first day, Harald
is considered warned that something is wrong.
Decisions
After defeating the raiders, the PCs have a few
important decisions to make. Adballah doesn’t want to
be left without any guards in the mountains. He insists
he be escorted to a nearby outpost.
If the PCs decide to abandon him here, Abdallah is
furious, insults them and calls them oathbreakers and
unreliable. He immediately breaks off their agreement
and allows them to leave. He does not pay the PCs
anything.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 14
If the PCs decide to escort Adballah to an outpost, the
closest one is “Bimira, World Famous Crossroads
Trading Post at the Top of the Yatils”. It is about a half-
day away. Meaning it takes a full day for the PCs to go
there and back. Though Abdallah grumbles at being
left behind at the crossroads, he lets the PCs pursue the
raiders.
The PCs may also wish to complete their contract with
Abdallah and escort him all the way to Dungarth Llith.
If that is the case, then Harald has disappeared upon
their return. Proceed to the Conclusion.
The PCs may wish to turn over any prisoners to the
Khund authorities. Remember, they received word
from said authorities (Lady Emeraud and Lord
Taklinn) that the raiders have outstanding death
warrants on their heads. Any prisoner turned over to
Khund soldiers is executed on the spot and their (only)
heads are brought back to Dungarth Llith.
Bimira, World Famous Crossroads Trading Post at
the Top of the Yatils
Bimira’s trading post is located at a crossroads. A
planted sign in Dwarven, Common, Baklunish and
Gnomish (the last one was added by Bimira) read
“Reijah” (west), “Dungarth Llith” (east) and “Silver
Springs” (north) and “Holy Shrine of the Mother”
(south). The north and south locations were visited by
the PCs in TUSI4-03 Miss Khundgeniality and they
have nothing to do with this adventure.
Bimira is a gnome who moved here to make a quick
buck. The PCs may have met him in TUSI4-03 Miss
Khungeniality where he was troubled by a large band
of goblins. The trading post has changed little in the
last 2 years, with the exception of the addition of a
stables and an inn (all run by Bimira himself). The
current crisis has not seriously affected the gnome who
caters to the Khund military.
Bimira wears a gnomish mockery of a Baklunish dress:
huge turban, long robes, a huge handlebar mustache
and an elaborate scimitar. Bimira is perhaps too nice…
But he is just that: a nice guy. He has access to any
number of non-magical items found in the Player’s
Handbook. If the party is seriously injured, feel free to
give Bimira a few scroll or potion of healing to sell,
especially if the PCs plan on resting here for a few days.
Bimira’s is located in a forested valley nestled in the
Yatils. While the altitude is still very high, anyone
resting a few hours here restarts their counter for the
high altitude Fortitude saves.
Finding the Boss: Tracking
Finding the tracks of the dwarves is very difficult
because they used some dust of tracelessness, making
the Tracking check [DC 47]. Tracking by scent is
impossible.
If the PCs allowed one of the raiders to escape, then
the Tracking check drops down to [DC 25].
Finding the Boss: Info from the Raiders
One of the raiders might have told the PCs where to
find the boss. If that is the case, then the PCs have little
difficulty following the trail markers the dwarves have
left.
Finding the Boss: Following a running dwarf
The PCs may also elect to allow one of the raiders to
escape. Every hour the PCs follow the raider; have
them make an opposed Hide check against the raider’s
Spot.
If the raider wins, he leads the PCs on a merry chase,
forcing them to make another Fortitude saves (DC is
15 +1 per previous save) due to the high altitude. Being
mountain dwarves, all of the raiders are accustomed to
this climate and thus he hopes to slow the PCs down.
If the PCs win two times in a row (the raider is
cautious), then he heads straight for the Boss’s hideout.
The trip takes an hour (and another Fortitude save).
Finding the Boss: Wandering around
(Troubleshooting)
The PCs decide to wander around looking for the lair,
have them waste one full day before finding a small
caravan that has been highjacked a long time ago. This
gathering of now-burned wagon was one of the first
attacks by the raiders, and as such they hadn’t yet
perfected their techniques. The husks are very well
hidden and the PCs only came across it by chance.
A Tracking check [DC 20+APL] leads up to the lair (4
hours away). Here, it is possible to track by scent.
Alternatively, making a Search check [DC 20+APL] has
the PCs find a small well-traveled path leading into the
mountains. This path leads to the lair.
In short, if the PCs head to Bimira then wander
around, they are too late. Harald is gone.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 15
Encounter Seven: A Pair of
Dice
The entrance to the lair
The PCs finally reach a point where the tracks were
once again carefully hidden using dust of tracelessness,
near a rock wall. A permanent image and a Nystul’s
magic aura hide the entry of a cave. A Spot check [DC
30] notices that minor details in a section of the wall
seem different. A Will save [DC 17] is required for a
character interacting (touching the section, searching)
to disbelief the illusion. A Search check [DC 28] with
the trapfinding ability also makes the character aware
of the illusion.
An alarm is set in the first 5 feet after the entry of the
tunnel (also dissimulated by a Nystul’s magic aura
caster level 3).
All APLs
Alarm Trap: CR 0; magic device; magic touch trigger
(mental alarm to Harald); automatic reset; alarm and
Nystul’s magic aura, 1st level sorcerer; Search (DC 26);
Disable Device (DC 26).
Development: If the PCs trigger the trap, Harald can
properly prepare to meet them.
The layout of the cave is provided in Map 1.
Room 1
Going down a few steps, the cavern opens up to
your right and you can see a pack of mules, ready to
be packed up.
They are 6 mules in the room, ready to carry the goods
pillaged by Harald to his loyalist allies. At a corner of
the room, there is a pool of natural water. There is
nothing else of interest in this room.
Room 2
As you open the makeshift door, you see the
corridor opening up into a large natural cavern,
roughly 30 by 40 feet. It looks like the cavern
contains a dwarf’s ransom of arms and equipment as
well as other diverse merchandise. A campfire is lit
at the center of the room. Behind it, a Suel man
dressed in typical Tusman style stands.
The players get to meet with Harald perhaps for the
second time. He is either surprised or ready to fight.
A small altar in the center of the south wall is dedicated
to Norebo (Suel god of chance, CN, holy symbol: pair
of 8-sided dice). The room is otherwise filled with
dwarven metalwork. Weapons, armors and other
essential military supplies can be found here. Other
materials pillaged include silver and gold mineral as
well as dried galda fruit.
If Harald is present, call for initiatives before
proceeding to Encounter Eight: Harald.
Room 3
Behind the curtain is a makeshift bed is covered
with rich blanket.
Harald made this place his private room. Anyone
succeeding at a Search check [DC 10] finds Players
Handout 2: A letter to Harald. A successful
Knowledge (geography or local/vtf or local/iuz) check
[DC 20] lets the player knows where the Dig Pass is.
Room 4
This room was apparently inhabited until recently.
Blankets cover the ground and some rations and
other basic adventurer’s standard are packed up in
the room.
This room served as a dorm for the Silent Whisperers.
Nothing of interest can be found here. Any running
dwarf is in this chamber when the PCs enter room 2
unless warned by the alarm, in which case the dwarf
waits here for the battle with Harald to start.
Room 5
After a small hitch to the left, the corridor ends in
rubble.
The corridor collapsed naturally. Working to clear out
the debris leads no where.
Where do we go from here?
Once the PCs have dealt with Harald, there is no
longer a fixed time frame for the PCs to complete their
mission. They can elect to go and meet his contacts if
they found the note (in which case proceed to
Encounter Nine) or they may decide to continue and
rejoin Abdallah at Bimira’s. (In that case proceed to
Encounter Ten).
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 16
Encounter Eight: Harald
The fight is on.
If the fight takes place in his lair, it is possible that one
of the raiders from Encounter Five comes in from
room 3 and joins Harald. In that case refer to
Encounter Five for the dwarf. Assume the raider was
NOT healed in the mean time, unless he has any
healing ability or items on him.
This encounter may also take place en-route to Dig
Pass. In that case Harald takes cover behind the horses
and mules. Unlike most Tusmans he has little
attachment to the animals.
APL 6 (EL 9)
�Harald: male Suel Clr9; hp 61; see Appendix One
APL 8 (EL 11)
�Harald: male Suel Clr11; hp 75; see Appendix One
APL 10 (EL 13)
�Harald: male Suel Clr13; hp 89; see Appendix One
APL 12 (EL 15)
�Harald: male Suel Clr15; hp 103; see Appendix One
At all APLs, Harald has casted a stalwart pact on
himself days prior the PCs meet him.
Tactics: When running Harald remember you can
make only one use of turning attempts to perform a
feat in any given round. This means that you cannot
use Divine Spell Power and Divine Quicken in the
same round.
Harald is no fool. He does not want to die and he also
knows only torture and death await him if he is
brought back to the Tusman authorities (the Khund
authorities are not likely to treat him any better). He
offers to surrender to the PCs if brought down to 25%
of his original hit points. He is willing to sell out the
dwarven raiders to save his own hide.
Treasure:
APL 6: L: 247 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Armbands of might (342
gp), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), periapt of wisdom
+2 (333 gp);
APL 8: L: 247 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Armbands of might (342
gp), circlet of persuasion (375 gp), gloves of dexterity
+2 (333 gp), periapt of wisdom +2 (333 gp), vest of
resistance +2 (333 gp);
APL 10: L: 247 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Armbands of might (342
gp), boots of speed (833 gp), circlet of persuasion (375
gp), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), periapt of wisdom
+2 (333 gp), vest of resistance +2 (333 gp);
APL 12: L: 247 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Armbands of might (342
gp), boots of speed (833 gp), circlet of persuasion (375
gp), dusty rose ioun stone (458 gp), +1 full plate of
silent moves (533 gp), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp),
periapt of wisdom +4 (1333 gp), vest of resistance +3
(750 gp);
Interrogating Harald
When (if) the players start interrogating the cleric, he
commits himself to the following proposition:
“Well you certainly surprised me. I am ready to
answer your questions but I would like to first hear
an account of how you got to me. I am curious and I
think you owe an explication to a dead man. I am
curious about you and would like some answers
myself before I meet with whatever fate awaits me
next. I will answer your questions after.”
A Sense Motive check [DC 20] reveals that the cleric is
sincere in his intentions. At APL 6, Harald is quite
desperate. At APL 8+, Harald is pretty confident and is
not a defeated man, even if stripped of his equipment.
A check [DC 10+Harald’s Bluff skill] reveals that he
exudes confidence in his speech, as if he was not
defeated yet. Harald wants to know how they got there
and what they know about him.
What were you planning to do with the goods? Sell
them to the highest bidder (false). [Hand them to his
loyalists friends]
Are you loyal to Jadhim Orem or Muammar
Quaran? His Most Exalted Splendor Pasha Muammar
Quaran is the rightful pasha of Tusmit.
Why doing this? Haven’t you figured that out yet?
Those cursed dwarves work with the rebels… They’ll
never admit it but I’m here as a loyal Tusman. Their
supply lines of those rebels MUST be cut and their
unholy alliance brought to light.
Who are you? Mohammed Masmoudi, trader of
Darnav [capital of the Sheikdom of Khalid] (lie)
Are there other mercenaries/ bandits/ loyalists in
your employ? Do you think there are only 5 who are
still loyal to His Exalted Splendor? Could only 5 of us
have succeeded at this enterprise? Of course there are
more. (A bold lie)
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 17
Who are you working for? I am working for myself.
[Half-truth, while he has no direct boss, he works with
the loyalists of Dihn]
You may also refer to Encounter Two for some
additional information Harald may have.
It is possible that some groups of PCs think that what
Harald has done was justified and perfectly legal in
times of war, especially if they are loyalists. In that
case, Harald is a lot better disposed towards them and
offers the PCs to blame the whole thing on the
dwarves and he promises (truthfully) to stop this
scheme. Harald leaves on good terms with the PCs.
Development: When the PCs are done with the
interrogation or if they get too threatening, proceed to
Harald’s ace.
Harald’s ace
At APL 8+ Harald has an ace up his sleeve, a word of
recall spell. Harald is willing to negotiate with the PCs.
If he surrenders, he expects to be treated decently.
Simply looting him is NOT a decent way however. He
is not willing to hand over his holy symbol or his
armor, the rest he hands over. He cares little for the
stolen goods or the dwarves.
If after talking to the PCs, he sees that they will not let
him go free, He activates his word of recall. The PCs
should be credited with full experience for the
encounter.
Of course, if Harald is knocked unconscious, he uses
the word of recall as soon as he regains consciousness.
Harald’s sanctuary is his apartment in Dwur’Ayhand. It
is located over a gambling den called the Lucky Axe.
The shrine is in a hallowed area tied with a
dimensional anchor. Neither spells affect worshippers
of Norebo. As soon as he appears, he casts
nondetection. In his house, he picks up a few items
before disappearing for good, leaving Dihn for parts
unknown.
Return to either Encounter Seven or Encounter
Nine wherever the PCs encountered Harald.
Encounter Nine: The Rightful
Commitment
If Harald escaped the previous encounter, it is likely
the PCs encounter Harald as he makes his way to the
meeting. If that is the case, proceed to Encounter
Eight when the fight begins.
The Dig Pass is located on a small trail heading down
into the Sehla hills. The trail is not really used, as it is a
really tortuous and difficult way to get from one place
to another. For those PCs who have played TUS2-02
The hills are alive, the pass is where the poacher’s
caravan was ambushed at the start of the adventure.
The PCs can get there in just over a day, just in time to
get to the rendezvous. Four Baklunish men are present;
all are loyalist and strongly support Pasha Muammar
Quaran. They were sent by Arjed al-Faris al-Fareeq to
obtain the caravan of military supplies. They are to
discreetly bring the goods to Hash’Esar to Arjed al-
Fareeq’s men through a series of hidden trails through
the Sehla hills. They are bringing a payment (100xAPL
fountains (gp) per PC) as payment for the goods.
(Harald figured he would increase his pay by keeping
some of the best equipment for himself).
The loyalists are honest in their intentions. They are
not aware of Harald’s true nature or how he got the
goods. They suppose he obtained them from the Sheik
of Dihn’s army.
The four men are Assib, Kamal, Rashid and Wallim.
These men are members of the militia but are
inexperienced. They would rather surrender than face
a party of well-armed adventurers. They are quality
teamsters who know the area; that’s why they were
sent on this mission.
This encounter depends on the PCs’ intentions, the
following
guidelines
are
provided.
Judge
the
appropriate end of this encounter.
Talking to the loyalists
If the PCs arrive without the goods, the men leave as
soon as they see them. The PCs can catch up with them
and question them. To get the men to open up and be
open with them, the PCs must succeed at a Diplomacy
check [DC 25+APL]. A series of modifiers appear
below.
If they are coming with the goods, the men are
surprised by the fact that Harald isn’t with them but
still hail the PCs. This requires a Bluff, Diplomacy or
Forgery check [DC 20+APL] to convince the men.
The PCs can convince the men that the deal is off. This
does not require a check as the simple presence of the
PCs is interpreted this way. The loyalist, not wanting a
confrontation simply back away and leave (unlike
Harald and the Silent Whisperers, they have not
broken any laws).
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 18
The following modifiers apply on any social check:
•
+20 Harald with the party (this may be using a hat
of disguise or other illusion magics)
•
+5 Every known loyalist in the party
•
+2 Showing no hostile intentions
•
+2
Mentioning
the
name
of Mohammed
Masmoudi (one of Harald’ pseudonyms).
•
+2 Every member of the Mouqollad Consortium
•
+2 Every dwarf in the party
•
-2 Every elf in the party
•
-5 Every known rebel in the party (this also takes
into account anyone who has “unaligned”
•
-10 Showing hostile intentions (making an
Intimidate check constitutes hostile intentions as
is hostile behavior)
Once convinced that the PCs are not out there to get
them, the men are willing to share the following
information with the PCs. Note that these men are not
the brightest minds of Tusmit.
•
They are all loyal to His Exalted Splendor
Muammar Quaran (they always refer to him as
“His Most Exalted Splendor”)
•
They think Jadhim was kicked out for a good
reason. (These reasons vary, but the men
themselves were not borne or still infants when
the event of 579CY occurred).
•
The men come from various parts of Tusmit but
have been in Suvii for a few years.
•
None of them have ever seen combat against
either the Worldburners, goblins or the Ketites.
They performed garrison duty.
•
They are part of a military force gathering in Suvii
aimed at destroying the Rebel forces in Dihn.
(Actually the military force is present to stabilize
the Sheikdom after the Goblin invasion of 594-
595CY).
•
They all look forward to fighting in Dihn. They
hope the war will bring them riches.
Development: Once the conversation dries out, the
men leave or it the PCs insist on fighting proceed to
Fighting the loyalists, below.
Fighting the loyalists
These poor men do not form any serious opposition to
most parties. The men flee or surrender rather than
fight.
All APLs (EL 2)
�Assib, Kamal, Rashid and Wallim: Male Baklunish
War1; hp10; Handle Animal +6.
There is no experience or treasure attached to fighting
these men.
Encounter Ten: Dungar Llith
Decisions
As soon as Abdallah knows the PCs found the missing
goods from the caravan, he tries to get them to hand
the goods to the Mouqollad Consortium (ie: him), as
the goods were purchased by members of the
Consortium.
This encounter should take place when the PCs meet
back with Abdallah and tell him what happen. If they
return with the loot, Adballah immediately knows who
this loot originally belongs to. He says (truthfully) that
if given the loot, he will sell the products in Dungarth
Llith and share the profits with the original owners. He
is not lying; taking a 10% share of the profits is “free
money” for him. This ensures his profit and that of the
owners of the merchandise (who had lost and now get
90% of the profits is better than a loss).
Abdallah tells the PCs of the following: Any member of
the Mouqollad Consortium or the church of Mouqol
can confirm his say (no check required). Otherwise,
the PCs must succeed at a Knowledge (local/vtf or
religion) check or a Bardic Knowledge check [DC 15]).
•
The Mouqollad Consortium bought the goods
from the Khund. Therefore, they rightfully own
the goods.
•
As a representative of the Mouqollad, he should be
given the goods. The Mouqollad Consortium
usually allows the finder of stolen goods a decent-
sized reward.
•
Handing the goods to anyone else would anger
the Mouqollad consortium.
The PCs may now proceed to Dungar Llith, a day of
travel away. The closer they get to the capital, the more
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 19
patrols they encounter. Most of these are composed of
heavy armored dwarves armed with (loaded) heavy
crossbows and an assortment of melee weapons. They
are often accompanied by a cleric of Moradin or
Clangeddin.
Dungarth Llith
You finally reach the capital of the Vesterkhund.
On the great gates, a carving of the mythical city of
Dunorae Llith is under the protective hammer of
the All-Father.
The city is bustling with activity. Every dwarf
seems to be on an urgent errand. Dwarves seem to
have deserted their forges and many seem to be
cleaning their armor. Still, the dwarves are far from
outshining their city.
A stone fortress stands flying the banner of High
King Barandon and the arms of the Thunderstone
family. While the fortress may be the most visible,
another building attracts attention: the Temple of
Father Moradin. The newly finished stone temple
boasts has a large colonnade each sculpted to the
semblance of mythical dwarven gods and heroes.
The temple rests on a rise and near the sheer rock
face that is the Yatils. A grand statue of blue marble
over 25 feet tall depicts the All-Father in full
military regalia.
A young dwarf warrior wearing a heavy suit of well-
crafted half-plate approaches you, an urgrosh tied
to his back. “Please follow me. You are expected at
the palace.” Not waiting for an answer, he turns and
heads through the streets, heading towards the
massive fortress. You can make out what seems to
be the façade of a palace. The façade is carved
within the cliff itself and depicts mythical Dwarven
battles under the watchful and benevolent gaze of
Father Moradin and Mother Berronar.
The guide leads you into the palace and through a
long hall where a throne sits on a dais on the
opposite end of the room. A single figure sits on the
throne and a dwarf stands before him, pleading
something you can’t hear from such distance. The
courtier asks you to wait here until called.
The PCs are standing in the throne room of the Haigh
Raigh Barandon. It is devoid of any features but the
throne as to impose respect. A dwarven envoy of
Jadhim-Orem (and a member of Sheik Omar Saladish’s
court) pleads for the Khund to join the rebel cause.
In the shadows, three other dwarves are listening
attentively to the plea. To the left (west) side of
Barandon, stands Lord Taklinn Thunderstone. Behind
the throne is Lady Emeraud Thunderstone. To the
right side stands a dwarf unknown to the PCs. The
latter is following the ensuing conversation only
distantly, as it does not seem to concern him.
PCs may approach and hear the plea.
“Your Majesty, the rightful pasha of Tusmit has
returned. Jadhim-Orem is back from exile. Most of
Tusmit is already united under his banner. His
followers are growing daily as more soldiers,
priests, nobles and adventurers rally to his white
banner. Jadhim-Orem is committed to maintaining
the best relations with the Khund. His Exalted
Splendor promises not only hold on to the treaties
already applied, he promises great reward if the
Khund were to openly support his cause. His
Exalted Splendor is willing to reconsider the tax
portion handed back to the Tusman authorities and
have them turned to a fully-independent Khund
nation.”
The room falls silent. After a little moment, the
envoy turns toward you, as if expecting you to plead
his case.
The PCs may now plead for either the loyalists or the
rebels. Let the PCs make their plea. You can have the
PCs make a Diplomacy check [DC 30+2xAPL].
Note that at this point, the party may decide to make
opposite check for some may be loyalists and some
rebels. In that case, the DC becomes either the opposed
roll OR the above-mentioned number (whichever is
higher). In that case tally the bonuses for each side.
The following circumstance modifiers apply to the
check:
•
Spending an influence point with the Khund or
the Sheik of Dihn or a church of a Dwarven deity:
+10 (per influence point used)
•
For every Dwarf in the party: +5
•
Giving the Khund the good from the Mouqollad
Consortium: +5
•
For every Khund in the party: +2
•
For every Khund noble in the party: +1
•
For every Tusman or Perrenland noble in the
party: +1
•
For every PC who successfully completed
TUSINT3-05 Dark Risings: +1
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 20
•
For every PC who successfully completed TUSI4-
03 Miss Khundgeniality: +1
•
For every elf in the party: -1
•
For good roleplaying: -10/+10
If the PCs succeed in swaying Barandon on one side or
they other, the High King, as a good politician does not
commit to either side, but do relate to the PCs that he
seem “a lot more receptive” to the faction they propose.
If the PCs fail, then Barandon is not swayed one way or
the other.
Once the pleading is over, Taklinn then leaves the
shadows and addresses the PCs.
“Let me say this to you and mark my word. Your
actions here on these days will not be forgotten,
nor will be your words.”
Barandon then dismisses everybody and courtiers
come into the room from hidden doors to escort you to
a series of apartments for much needed rest. The
courtier leaves the PCs telling that they should prepare
for a grand event on the next day and that they should
be dressed in their finest clothes and armor.
If the PCs are still in possessions of the Mouqollad
goods, they can hand the goods to either the Khund or
the rebel forces at this time. If they decide to keep
them, the Khund authorities seize them to ensure
righteous retribution.
Conclusion
This adventure has 2 distinct conclusions. Take aside
any Khund PC and any Tusman dwarf belonging to the
military (whatever the unit) or priesthood of a
Dwarven deity and run them through ‘For Khund PCs’.
Run every other PC through “Others”.
For Khund PCs
Read or paraphrase:
Having had time to rest and find a decent outfit,
you are left with enough time to wonder about the
much expected event. You are surprise when Lady
Emeraud Thunderstone enters your room. She still
wears a martial heavy adamantine plate mail and a
very heavy adamantine mace.
She walks to you and in a martial tone that could
easily be mistaken for an order she hands you a
piece of folded paper with your name written in
dwarven on it. “[PCs’ name] I hope you will be able
to make it to my wedding.”
With that the queen-to-be turns around and walks
out, her handmaiden forming a tight honor guard
behind her.
Proceed to “Common (All together now)”.
Others
Read or paraphrase:
Having had time to rest and find a decent outfit,
you are left with enough time to wonder about the
much expected event.
As you are waiting, a dwarven servant enters. He
wears the livery of the High King. The herald pulls
out a scroll. “Hear ye! High King Barandon and
Lady Emeraud wish to invite you to their upcoming
wedding.”
The servant then rolls up the scroll and leaves.
The servant is highly excited about the upcoming
wedding. He doesn’t know the exact moment because
the priestesses of Mother Berronar are still debating
the best date. Proceed to “Common (All together
now)”.
Common (all together now)
Soon after, two soldiers present themselves to lead
you back to the throne room. The room is no longer
devoid of garments. Long tables have been set up
with long benches for an army to sit. Tapestries
depicting Father Moradin, Mother Berronar and
Clangeddin Silverbeard are visible everywhere. A
smaller throne stands empty to the left of the
King’s throne. Every dwarf wears his shiniest armor
and has carefully combed his beard. Barandon sits
on his throne dressed in his most exquisite
garment, gold, mithral and silver line his outfit.
Silence
fills
the
room
as
Lady
Emeraud
Thunderstone enters the room. She wears an
adamantine diadem certed with sapphires and a
long blue gown threaded with silver and gold. A
few steps behind, her brother Lord Taklinn
Thunderstone follows dressed in his finest clerical
vestment a silver holy symbol of the All-Father
hanging from his neck and an adamantine hammer
at his waist.
High King Barandon stands in front of his throne
as Lady Emeraud approaches him. She walks toward
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 21
Barandon and stands to his right, half a step behind
the King. Taklinn kneels in front of the couple.
A young dwarven priest approaches the High King
with a crown in his hands. The High King takes the
crown and places it on Taklinn’s head with the
words: “May the blessings of the All-Father follow
you and all your subjects, Lord Taklinn the First,
King of the Vesterkhund and patriarch of the
Thunderstone family.”
King Taklinn stands before heading to the smaller
of the throne and takes a seat. With a motion of the
hand, he calls for the feast to begin. The
VesterKhund now have a king.
Reward Assignment
If the PCs killed any of the dwarves in encounter four,
they received the “Dwarf Killer” AR Reward.
Any PC who played through the “For Khund PCs” in
the conclusion, receive “A personal invitation” AR
Reward. All other PCs receive “An Invitation” AR
Reward.
For the PC who was put in charge by Abdallah in
encounter two receives the “Man in charge” AR
Reward.
If a PC was put in charge of the cargo in encounter two
by Abdallah, and the cargo and horses was
subsequently lost or broken, that PC receives the “Held
accountable” AR Reward.
There are 4 major factions the PCs can hand the
recovered goods to: The Mouqollad Consortium, the
Loyalists, the Rebels or the Khund. Cross out all the
rewards from the other factions.
Splitting up the loot is not a good idea doing so results
in the PCs not receiving any rewards. If they chose to
give the goods to any other factions, then they receive
nothing. Similarly, if the Khund seize the goods at the
end of the adventure, the PCs receive nothing.
The End
Experience Point Summary
To award experience for this adventure, add up the
values for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives
plus roleplaying) to each character.
Encounter Three, Hungry Birds
Defeating the birds
APL 6
210 xp
APL 8
270 xp
APL 10
330 xp
APL 12
390 xp
Encounter Five, Ambush in the Hills
Defeating the commando
APL 6
240 xp
APL 8
300 xp
APL 10
360 xp
APL 12
420 xp
Encounter Eight, A pair of dices
Defeating Harald Mouassim
APL 6
270 xp
APL 8
330 xp
APL 10
390 xp
APL 12
450 xp
Story Award
Making a peaceful contact with the dwarves (in
encounter 4)
APL 6
90 xp
APL 8
100 xp
APL 10
100 xp
APL 12
150 xp
Swaying High King Barandon one way or the other.
APL 6
90 xp
APL 8
125 xp
APL 10
120 xp
APL 12
165 xp
Total Possible Experience
APL 6
900 xp
APL 8
1,125 xp
APL 10
1,300 xp
APL 12
1,575 xp
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 22
Treasure Summary
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their
earthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least
10 minutes per every 5 enemies, and if the characters
cannot take the time to loot the bodies, they do not
gain this gold. If you feel it is reasonable that
characters can go back to loot the bodies, and those
bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by dungeon
scavengers, removed from the scene by the local watch,
and so on), characters may return to retrieve loot. If
the characters do not loot the body, the gold piece
value for the loot is subtracted from the encounter
totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A
normal adventuring party can usually gather this
wealth in a round or so. If for some reason, they pass
up this treasure, the coin total is subtracted from the
encounter totals given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure is
the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because characters may want to use them during the
adventure. Many times characters must cast identify,
analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine what the
item does and how to activate it. Other times they may
attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic item is
consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the
item is used before the end of the adventure, its total is
subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in
the GP Gained field of the adventure certificate.
Because this is a Regional scenario, characters may
spend additional Time Units to practice professions or
create items immediately after the adventure so this
total may be modified by other circumstances.
L = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, Jewelry,
and other valuables; M = Magic Items.
L: Looted gear from enemy
C: Coin, Gems, Jewelry, and other valuables
M: Magic Items (sell value)
Encounter Two: Abdallah’s offer
ALL APLs: L: 0 gp; C: 150 gp; M: 0 gp
Encounter Six: Dwarf commando
APL 6: L: 528 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Pearl of Power 1st lvl (83
gp), brooch of shielding (125 gp), dust of tracelessness
(20 gp), lesser rod of enlarge (250 gp), amulet of natural
armor +1 (166 gp), +1 mithral chain shirt (175 gp), +1
breastplate (112 gp);
APL 8: L: 278 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 full plate (220gp), +1
tower shield (98 gp), pearl of Power 1st lvl (83 gp),
brooch of shielding (125 gp), cloak of resistance +1 (83
gp), dust of tracelessness (20 gp), lesser rod of enlarge
(250 gp), amulet of natural armor +1 (166 gp), +1
mithral chain shirt (175 gp), scroll of greater
invisibility CL7 (50 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (433 gp);
APL 10: L: 254 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 full plate (220gp), +1
tower shield of arrow catching (348 gp), pearl of power
1st lvl x2 (83 gp each per character), brooch of
shielding (125 gp), cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp), dust
of tracelessness (20 gp), headband of intellect +2 (333
gp), lesser rod of enlarge (250 gp), ring of protection +1
(166 gp), wand of mirror image (375 gp), amulet of
natural armor +1 (166 gp), +1 buckler (97 gp), gloves of
dexterity +2 (333 gp), +1 mithral chain shirt (175 gp),
scroll of greater invisibility CL8 (120 gp), amulet of
natural armor +1 (166 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (433
gp), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp);
APL 12: L: 202 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 full plate (220gp), +1
tower shield of arrow catching (328gp), pearl of power
1st lvl x2 (83 gp each per character), pearl of power 2
nd
lvl (333 gp), periapt of wisdom +2 (333 gp), brooch of
shielding (125 gp), cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp), dust
of tracelessness (20 gp), headband of intellect +2 (333
gp), lesser rod of enlarge (250 gp), ring of protection +1
(166 gp), wand of mirror image (375 gp), amulet of
natural armor +1(166 gp), bag of tricks – tan (525 gp),
+1 buckler (97 gp), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), +1
mithral chain shirt (175 gp), scroll of greater
invisibility CL10 (83 gp), amulet of natural armor +1
(166 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (433 gp), +1 greatsword
(196 gp), +1 shock arrows x10 (139gp each per
character), vest of resistance +2 (333 gp);
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 23
Encounter Eight: Harald Mouassim
APL 6: L: 247 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Armbands of might (342
gp), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), periapt of wisdom
+2 (333 gp);
APL 8: L: 247 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Armbands of might (342
gp), circlet of persuasion (375 gp), gloves of dexterity
+2 (333 gp), periapt of wisdom +2 (333 gp), vest of
resistance +2 (333 gp);
APL 10: L: 247 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Armbands of might (342
gp), boots of speed (833 gp), circlet of persuasion (375
gp), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), periapt of wisdom
+2 (333 gp), vest of resistance +2 (333 gp);
APL 12: L: 247 gp; C: 0 gp; M: Armbands of might (342
gp), boots of speed (833 gp), circlet of persuasion (375
gp), dusty rose ioun stone (458 gp), +1 full plate of
silent moves (533 gp), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp),
periapt of wisdom +4 (1333 gp), vest of resistance +3
(750 gp);
Total Possible Treasure
APL 6
900 gp
APL 8
1,300 gp
APL 10
2,300 gp
APL 12
3,300 gp
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 24
Appendix One: NPCs and Creatures
All APLs
*: indicates a domain or specialty spell
**: indicates a new rule item found in appendix 2.
Encounter One
Abdallah Yussam ibn Abdallah: Male Baklunish
Exp9; CR 8; HD 9d6; hp 38; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16
(touch 12, flat-footed 14) [+4 armor, +2 dex]; Full
Atk/Atk +8/+3 melee (1d6+2, masterwork scimitar); AL
CG; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +6; Str 12, Dex 14, Con 10,
Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +15; Craft (Gold working)
+16; Craft (Iron working) +16; Craft (jewelry) +16;
Diplomacy +22; Knowledge local (VTF) +13; Profession
(Merchant) +11; Sense Motive +11. Negotiator, Skill
focus (craft gold working), Skill Focus (craft iron
working), Skill Focus (craft jewelry), Skill Focus
(Diplomacy)
Possessions: masterwork scimitar, +1 studded
leather armor, heavy tusman warhorse and related
gears
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 25
APL 6
Encounter Four
Griffon, advanced: CR 7; Huge magical beast; HD
13d10+65; hp 141; Init +1; Spd 30 ft., fly 80 ft. (average);
AC 18, touch 9, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +13; Grp +30;
Atk +21 melee (4d6+9, bite) or +18 melee (1d6+4, claw);
Full Atk +21 melee (4d6+9, bite) and +18 melee (1d6+4,
2 claws); SA Pounce, Rake (+18, 1d6+4); SQ Darkvision
60 ft, Low-light vision, Scent; AL N; SV Fort +13, Ref
+9, Will +6; Str 28, Dex 13, Con 20, Int 5, Wis 13, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Jump +13, Listen +9, Spot +13;
Iron Will, Multiattack, Power Attack, Weapon Focus
(bite), Improved natural attack (bite).
Pounce (Ex): When the griffon is charging, it can
make a full attack including 2 rakes.
Rake (Ex): Atk +18, 1d6+4 (2 rakes)
Encounter Five
Dalard “Stout Guardian”: Male Dwarf Clr4 (Diirinka);
CR 4; HD 4d8+12; hp 35; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 22
touch 10, flat-footed 22; Base Atk +3; Grp +2; Atk/Full
Atk +2 melee (1d8-1, heavy mace); AL NE; SV Fort +7,
Ref +1, Will +7; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 17,
Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +10; Knowledge
arcana +6; Knowledge Religion +3; Spellcraft +12.
Divine Metamagic (Heighten), Heighten Spell, Spell
Focus (enchantment)
Possessions: MW Full Plate, MW Tower Shield,
Pearl of Power 1st lvl, heavy mace
Spells Prepared (5/4/3; base DC = 13 + spell level;
enchantment 14 + spell level: 0 — create water; detect
magic (2), detect poison, purify food and drink, 1st —
bless, command*, cure light wounds, sanctuary, shield
of faith; 2nd —cure moderate wounds, hold person,
invisibility*, silence.
Domains:
Domination**
(spell
focus
enchantment) and Trickery (add bluff, disguise and
hide to class skills)
Nalror “Honorable Riddlemaster”: Male Dwarf Wiz4
(conjurer); CR 4; HD 4d4+12; hp 25; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10; Base Atk +2; Grp +1;
Atk +1 melee (1d4-1, dagger); SQ Hawk Familiar; AL
CN; SV Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4; Str 8, Dex 14, Con 16,
Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +10; Hide +5;
Knowledge arcana +10; Move Silently +3; Profession
Gambler +5; Spellcraft +12. Scribe Scroll; Spell focus
(conjuration); Sudden Widen**
Possessions:
brooch
of
shielding,
dust
of
tracelessness, lesser rod of enlarge, scroll of invisibility,
scroll of web, dagger
Spells Prepared (4/4/3; base DC = 13 + spell level;
conjuration DC = 14 + spell level): 0 — acid splash,
detect magic (2), touch of fatigue; 1st —enlarge,
grease*, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement x2; 2nd —
blindness, glitterdust*, invisibility, web.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Duerik “Darkness’ Brother”: Male Dwarf Rog4; CR 4;
HD 4d6+12; hp 34; Init +7; Spd 20 ft.; AC19, touch 13,
flat-footed 16; Base Atk +3; Grp +3; Atk/Full Atk +7
melee (1d6, rapier) or +7 ranged (1d6, shortbow); SA
Sneak Attack +2d6; SQ Trapfinding, Evasion, Trap
Sense +1, Uncanny Dodge; AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +7,
Will +1; Str 10, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Escape Artist +10; Gather
Information +7; Hide +10; Listen +7; Move Silently
+10; Search +8; Spot +7; Tumble +10; Use Magic Device
+7. Improved Initiative; Weapon Finesse
Possessions: amulet of natural armor, 40 arrows, +1
Mithral chain shirt, MW Rapier, MW Shortbow,
potion of cure medium wounds
Marel “Golden Warrior”: Male Dwarf Rgr2 / Ftr2; CR
4; HD 2d8+8 plus 2d10+8; hp 41; Init +3; Spd 20 ft.; AC
19, touch 13, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +4; Grp +7; Atk +9
melee (2d6+4, greatsword) or +9 ranged (1d8+3,
composite longbow); Full Atk +9 melee (2d6+4,
greatsword) or +9 ranged (1d8+3, composite longbow)
or +7/+7 ranged (1d8+3, composite longbow); SA
Favored enemy (elf +2); AL LE; SV Fort +9, Ref +6, Will
+0; Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4; Hide +5; Knowledge
Nature +7; Listen +5; Move Silently +5; Spot +5;
Survival +7. Improved Toughness**; Power Attack;
Rapid
shot;
Track;
Weapon
focus
(Longbow,
Greatsword)
Possessions: 40 arrows, +1 breastplate, mw
composite longbow (str +3), mw greatsword, 1 potion
of cure medium wounds
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 26
Encounter Seven
Harald: Male Suel-Baklunish Human Clr9; CR 9; HD
9d8+18; hp 61; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 21 (touch 11, flat-
footed 20); Base Atk +6; Grp +8; Atk +10/+5 melee
(quarterstaff 1d6+5 [greater magic weapon]); AL CE;
SQ Rebuke Undead; SV Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +10; Str
14, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +7; Concentration +14;
Disguise +10; Hide +2; Knowledge Religion +5. [+2 on
strength checks from armband] Divine Metamagic
(Quicken)**, Divine Spell Power**, Extra Turning,
Power Attack, Quicken Spell
Possessions: armbands of might**, gloves of
dexterity +2, MW Full Plate, Periapt of wisdom +2,
Quarterstaff
Spells Prepared (6/5/5/4/3/1; base DC = 14 + spell
level): 0 — create water, detect magic (2), detect
poison, guidance, purify food and drink; 1st —
disguise self*, bless, divine favor, lesser vigor**, shield
of faith, cure light wounds; 2nd — aid, bear’s
endurance, brambles**, cure moderate wounds,
invisibility*, lesser restoration, resist energy; 3rd —
magic vestment, nondetection*, vigor**, dispel magic;
4th — delay death**, divine power*, freedom of
movement, greater magic weapon; 5th — righteous
might*, stalwart pact**.
Domains: Competition (+1 on opposed rolls) and
Trickery (add bluff, disguise and hide to class skills)
Power up: 1- freedom of movement; 2- resist
energy; 3- bear’s endurance; 4- aid; 5- shield of faith; 6-
vigor; 7- divine favor.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 27
APL 8
Encounter Five
Dalard “Stout Guardian”: Male Dwarf Clr6 (Diirinka);
CR 6; HD 6d8+18; hp 51; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 24,
touch 10, flat-footed 24; Base Atk +4; Grp +3; Atk/Full
Atk +3 melee (1d8-1, heavy mace); AL NE; SV Fort +8,
Ref +2, Will +8; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 17,
Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +12; Knowledge
arcana +6; Knowledge Religion +5; Spellcraft +14.
Divine Metamagic (Heighten)**, Heighten Spell,
Improved Counterspell, Spell Focus (enchantment)
Possessions: +1 full plate, +1 tower shield, pearl of
power 1st lvl, heavy mace
Spells Prepared (5/4/4/3; base DC = 13 + spell
level; enchantment DC = 14 + spell level): 0 — create
water; detect magic (2), detect poison, purify food and
drink 1st — bless, command*, cure light wounds,
sanctuary, shield of faith; 2nd — bear’s endurance, cure
moderate wounds, hold person, invisibility*, silence;
3rd — deeper darkness, dispel magic x2, suggestion*.
Domains:
Domination**
(Spell
Focus
(enchantment)) and Trickery (add bluff, disguise and
hide to class skills)
Nalror “Honorable Riddlemaster”: Male Dwarf Wiz6
(conjurer); CR 6; HD 6d4+18; hp 49 (+12 from false
life); Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10;
Base Atk +3; Grp +2; Atk/Full Atk +2 melee (1d4-1,
dagger); SQ Hawk Familiar; AL CN; SV Fort +6, Ref +5,
Will +6; Str 8, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11; Hide +6;
Knowledge arcana +12; Move Silently +5; Profession
Gambler +5; Spellcraft +14. Greater Spell Focus
(conjuration); Scribe Scroll; Spell focus (conjuration);
Sudden Silent**; Sudden Widen**
Possessions: brooch of shielding, cloak of
resistance +1, dust of tracelessness, lesser rod of
enlarge, scroll of web, scroll of invisibility, dagger
Spells Prepared (4/4/4/3; base DC = 13 + spell
level; conjuration DC = 15 + spell level): 0—acid splash,
detect magic (2), touch of fatigue; 1st — enlarge,
grease*, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement x2; 2nd —
blindness, false life, glitterdust*, invisibility, web; 3rd
— haste, invisibility sphere, slow, stinking cloud*.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Duerik “Darkness’ Brother”: Male Dwarf Rog6; CR 6;
HD 6d6+18; hp 48; Init +7; Spd 20 ft.; AC 20, touch 13,
flat-footed 20; Base Atk +4; Grp +4; Atk/Full Atk +8
melee (1d6, rapier) or +7 ranged (1d6, shortbow); SA
Sneak Attack (+3d6); SQ Trapfinding, Evasion, Trap
Sense +2, Uncanny Dodge; AL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +8,
Will +2; Str 10, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Escape Artist +12; Gather
Information +9; Hide +12; Listen +9; Move Silently
+12; Search +10; Spot +9; Tumble +12; Use Magic
Device +9. Hamstring**; Improved Initiative; Weapon
Finesse
Possessions: amulet of natural armor +1, 40 arrows,
+1 Mithral chain shirt, MW buckler, MW Rapier, MW
Shortbow, potion of cure medium wounds, potion of
greater invisibility, potion of invisibility
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Marel “Golden Warrior”: Male Dwarf Rgr2/Ftr4; CR
6; HD 2d8+8 plus 4d10+16; hp 61; Init +3; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +6; Grp +9;
Atk +11 melee (2d6+4, greatsword) or +11 ranged
(1d8+5, composite longbow); Full Atk +11/+6 melee
(2d6+4, greatsword) or +11/+6 ranged (1d8+5,
composite longbow) or +9/+9/+4 ranged (1d8+5,
composite longbow); SA Favored enemy (elf +2); AL
LE; SV Fort +10, Ref +7, Will +1; Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16,
Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +10; Hide +7; Knowledge
Nature +7; Listen +5; Move Silently +7; Spot +5;
Survival
+7.
Improved
Bull
Rush;
Improved
Toughness**; Power Attack; Rapid shot; Weapon focus
(Longbow,
Greatsword);
Weapon
specialization
(Longbow); Track.
Possessions: 40 arrows, +1 mithral breastplate,
MW Composite longbow (str +3), MW Greatsword, 1
potion of cure medium wounds
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter Seven
Harald: Male Suel-Baklunish Human Clr11 CR 11; HD
11d8+22; hp 75; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 21, touch 11,
flat-footed 20; Base Atk +8; Grp +10; Atk +12 melee
(1d6+5 quarterstaff greater magic weapon); Full Atk
+12/+7 melee (1d6+5 quarterstaff greater magic
weapon); AL CE; SQ Rebuke Undead, Spontaneous
Casting (Inflict); SV Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +13; Str 14,
Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 14.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 28
Skills and Feats: Bluff +14; Concentration +16;
Disguise +13; Hide +2; Knowledge Religion +5. [+2 on
strength checks from armband] Divine Metamagic
(Quicken)**, Divine Spell Power**, Extra Turning,
Power Attack, Quicken Spell,
Possessions: armbands of might**, circlet of
persuasion, MW Full Plate, gloves of dexterity +2,
periapt of wisdom +2, Quarterstaff, vest of resistance +2
Spells Prepared (6/6/5/5/4/2/1; base DC = 14 +
spell level): 0 — create water, detect magic (2), detect
poison, guidance, purify food and drink; 1st — bless,
cure light wounds, disguise self*, divine favor, lesser
vigor**, protection from law, shield of faith; 2nd —
bear’s endurance, brambles, cure moderate wounds,
invisibility*, lesser restoration, resist energy; 3rd —
cure serious wound, dispel magic, searing light, magic
vestment, nondetection*, vigor; 4th — delay death**,
divine power*, freedom of movement, greater magic
weapon, spell immunity; 5th — quicken divine favor,
righteous might*, stalwart pact**; 6th — mislead*,
word of recall.
Domains: Competition (+1 on opposed rolls) and
Trickery (add bluff, disguise and hide to class skills)
Power up 1- freedom of movement; 2- spell
immunity (holy word & lightning bolt) 3- resist
energy; 4- bear’s endurance; 5- shield of faith; 6- vigor;
7- divine power, 8 - divine favor.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 29
APL 10
Encounter Five
Dalard “Stout Guardian”: Male Dwarf Clr8 (Diirinka);
CR 8; HD 8d8+24; hp 67; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 24,
touch 10, flat-footed 24; Base Atk +6; Grp +5; Atk +5
melee (1d8-1 heavy mace); Full Atk +5/+0 melee (1d8-1
heavy mace); AL NE; SV Fort +9, Ref +2, Will +10; Str
8, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +14; Heal +5;
Knowledge arcana +6; Knowledge Religion +6,
Spellcraft +16. Divine Metamagic (Heighten)**,
Heighten Spell, Improved Counterspell, Spell Focus
(enchantment)
Possessions: +1 full plate, pearl of power 1st lvl x2,
+1 tower shield of arrow catching, Heavy mace
Spells Prepared (6/5/4/4/3; base DC = 14 + spell
level; enchantment DC = 15 + spell level): 0 — create
water, detect magic (2), detect poison, guidance, purify
food and drink; 1st — bless, command*, cure light
wounds, remove fear, sanctuary, shield of faith; 2nd —
bear’s endurance, cure moderate wounds, hold person,
invisibility*, silence; 3rd —cure serious wounds,
deeper darkness, dispel magic x2, suggestion* 4th —
air walk, divine power, dominate person*, neutralize
poison.
Domains:
Domination**
(Spell
Focus
(enchantment)) and Trickery (add bluff, disguise and
hide to class skills)
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Nalror “Honorable Riddlemaster”: Male Dwarf
Wiz7/Fatespinner1 (conjurer); CR 8; HD 8d4+24; hp
63 (+14 from false life); Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC 13, touch
13, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +4; Grp +3; Atk +3 melee
(1d4-1, dagger); SQ Hawk Familiar, Spin Fate; AL CN;
SV Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8; Str 8, Dex 14, Con 16, Int
20, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +14; Hide +7;
Knowledge arcana +16; Move Silently +6; Profession
Gambler +5; Spellcraft +18. Greater Spell Focus
(conjuration); Scribe Scroll; Spell focus (conjuration);
Sudden Silent**; Sudden Widen**
Possessions: brooch of shielding, cloak of
resistance +1, dust of tracelessness, headband of
intellect +2, lesser rod of enlarge, ring of protection +1,
scroll of invisibility, scroll of web, wand of mirror
image
Spells Prepared (4/6/4/4/3; base DC = 15 + spell
level; conjuration DC = 17 + spell level): 0—acid splash,
detect magic (2), touch of fatigue; 1st — enlarge,
grease* x2, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement x2, true
strike; 2nd — blindness, false life, glitterdust*,
invisibility, web; 3rd — fly, haste, invisibility sphere,
slow, stinking cloud*,; 4th — Evard’s black tentacles*
x2, greater invisibility, Otiluke’s resilient sphere.
Spin Fate (Ex): A mage of many fates understands
that “chance” is not as random as many believe it to be,
and he can adjust the probability of certain events by
applying a force that the fatespinners refer to as “spin”.
Each day, a fatespinner can use a number of points of
spin equal to his fatespinner class level.
As a free action, a fatespinner can use stored spin to
boost the save DC of a spell he casts, adding some or all
his spin to the DC, on a point-for-point basis. For
instance, a 5th level wizard / 3rd level fatespinner
casting fireball could choose to boost the DC of the
spell by 1, 2, or 3 points. Once he uses up his spin for
the day, his ability to tinker with probability in this
fashion is also exhausted for the day.
A fatespinner’s spin is replenished whenever the
character successfully regains his spells for the day
(whether through rest, preparation, or prayer).
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Duerik
“Darkness’
Brother”:
Male
Dwarf
Rog7/NightsongEnforcer1; CR 8; HD 7d6+21 plus
1d8+3; hp 63; Init +9; Spd 20 ft.; AC 23, touch 15, flat-
footed 23; Base Atk +5; Grp +5; Atk +11 melee (1d6,
rapier) or +10 ranged (1d6, shortbow); SA Sneak Attack
(+5d6); SQ Trapfinding, Evasion, Trap Sense +2,
Uncanny Dodge, Teamwork (hear/see allies); AL CE;
SV Fort +5, Ref +12, Will +2; Str 10, Dex 20, Con 16, Int
12, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Escape Artist +16; Gather
Information +10; Hide +16; Listen +10; Move Silently
+16, Search +11; Spot +11; Tumble +16; Use Magic
Device
+10.
Hamstring**;
Improved
Initiative;
Weapon Finesse
Possessions: amulet of natural armor +1, 40 arrows,
+1 buckler, gloves of dexterity +2, +1 Mithral chain
shirt, MW Rapier, MW Shortbow, potion of cure
medium wounds, potion of greater invisibility, potion
of invisibility
Teamwork (hear/see allies)(Ex): Nightsong
enforcers are trained to keep a close eye on teammates
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 30
on a joint mission. A nightsong enforcers gain a +20
circumstance bonus on Listen and Spot checks to hear
and see allies.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Marel “Golden Warrior”: Male Dwarf Rgr2/Ftr6; CR
8; HD 2d8+8 plus 6d10+24; hp 81; Init +3; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +8; Grp +11;
Atk +13 melee (2d6+4, greatsword) or +13 ranged
(1d8+5, composite longbow); Full Atk +13/+8 melee
(2d6+4, greatsword) or +13/+8 ranged (1d8+5,
composite longbow) or +11/+11/+6 ranged (1d8+5,
composite longbow); SQ Favored enemy (elf +2); AL
LE; SV Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +3; Str 16, Dex 17, Con 16,
Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +13; Hide +7; Knowledge
Nature +7; Listen +5; Move Silently +7; Ride +4; Spot
+5; Survival +7. Improved Bull Rush; Improved
toughness**; Power Attack; Rapid shot; Shock
Trooper**;
Track;
Weapon
focus
(Longbow,
Greatsword); Weapon specialization (Longbow).
Possessions: amulet of natural armor +1, 40 arrows,
+1 Mithral Breastplate, MW Composite longbow str
+3, MW Greatsword, 1 potion of cure medium wounds,
vest of resistance +1.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter Seven
Harald: Male Suel-Baklunish Human Clr13 CR 13; HD
13d8+26; hp 89; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 22, touch 11,
flat-footed 21; Base Atk +9; Grp +11; Atk +14 melee
(quarterstaff 1d6+6 [greater magic weapon]); Full Atk
+14/+9 melee (quarterstaff 1d6+6 [greater magic
weapon]); AL CE; SQ Rebuke Undead; SV Fort +12,
Ref +7, Will +14; Str 14, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 19,
Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +18; Concentration +18;
Disguise +13; Hide +2; Knowledge Religion +5. [+2 on
strength checks from armband] Divine Metamagic
(Quicken)** , Divine Spell Power**, Extra Turning x2,
Power Attack, Quicken Spell
Possessions: armbands of might**, boots of speed,
circlet of persuasion, gloves of dexterity +2, MW Full
Plate, periapt of wisdom +2, Quarterstaff, vest of
resistance +2
Spells Prepared (6/6/6/5/5/3/2/1; base DC = 14 +
spell level): 0 — create water, detect magic (2), detect
poison, guidance, purify food and drink; 1st — bless,
cure light wounds, disguise self*, divine favor, lesser
vigor**, protection from law, shield of faith; 2nd —aid,
bear’s endurance, brambles, cure moderate wounds,
invisibility*, lesser restoration, resist energy; 3rd —
searing
light,
dispel
magic,
magic
vestment,
nondetection*, nondetection, vigor**; 4th — delay
death**, cure critical wounds, divine power*, freedom
of movement, greater magic weapon, restoration, spell
immunity; 5th — greater vigor**, quicken divine favor,
righteous might*, stalwart pact**; 6th —heal, mislead*,
word of recall; 7th — Quicken prayer*, word of chaos.
Domains: Competition (+1 on opposed rolls) and
Trickery (add bluff, disguise and hide to class skills)
Power up: 1- freedom of movement; 2- spell
immunity (holy word & lightning bolt) 3- resist
energy; 4- bear’s endurance; 5- bless, 6 - shield of faith;
7- vigor; 8- divine favor, 9- brambles, 10 - divine power.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
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APL 12
Encounter Four
Roc, advanced: CR 13; Gargantuan animal; HD
30d8+210; hp 348; Init +3; Spd 20 ft., fly 80 ft. (average);
AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +22; Grp +47;
Atk +32 melee (3d6+13, talons); Full Atk +32 melee
(3d6+13, 2 talons) and +29 melee (3d8+6, 1 bite); SQ
Low-light vision; AL N; SV Fort +24, Ref +20, Will +12;
Str 36, Dex 16, Con 24, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Hide -2, Listen +16, Spot +20;
Alertness, Hover, Improved natural attack (talons,
bite), Iron Will, Multiattack, Power Attack, Snatch,
Weapon Focus (talons), Wingover.
Encounter Five
Dalard
“Stout
Guardian”:
Male
Dwarf
Clr10
(Diirinka); CR 10; HD 10d8+30; hp 83; Init +0; Spd 20
ft.; AC 24 [+1 against ranged attack], touch 10, flat-
footed 24; Base Atk +7; Grp +6; Atk +6 melee (1d6-1,
heavy mace); Full Atk +6/+1 melee (1d6-1, heavy
mace); AL NE; SV Fort +10, Ref +3, Will +12; Str 8, Dex
10, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +16, Heal +8,
Knowledge arcana +6, Knowledge Religion +6,
Spellcraft +18; Divine Metamagic (Heighten)**, Extra
Turning, Heighten Spell, Improved Counterspell,
Spell Focus (enchantment)
Possessions: +1 full plate, pearl of power 1st lvl x2,
pearl of power 2nd lvl, periapt of wisdom +2, +1 tower
shield of arrow catching, heavy mace
Spells Prepared (6/6/5/4/4/3; base DC = 15 + spell
level; enchantment DC = 16 + spell level): 0 — detect
poison, detect magic (2), purify food and drink, create
water, guidance; 1st — command*, sanctuary, cure
light wounds x2, bless, shield of faith, remove fear; 2nd
— invisibility*, silence, cure moderate wounds, hold
person, bear’s endurance, lesser restoration; 3rd —
suggestion*, dispel magic x2, deeper darkness, cure
serious wounds; 4th — dominate person*, neutralize
poison, divine power, air walk, freedom of movement;
5th — greater command*, flame strike, wall of stone,
earth’s hammer**.
Domains:
Domination**
(Spell
Focus
(enchantment)) and Trickery (add bluff, disguise and
hide to class skills)
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Nalror “Honorable Riddlemaster”: Male Dwarf
Wiz7/FateSpinner3 (conjurer); CR 10; HD 10d4+30; hp
77 (+16 from false life); Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC 13, touch
13, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +5; Grp +4; Atk/Full Atk +4
melee (1d4-1, dagger); SQ Hawk Familiar, Spin Fate,
Fickle Finger of Fate, Spin Destiny; AL CN; SV Fort +7,
Ref +6, Will +9; Str 8, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 20, Wis 10,
Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +16, Hide +8,
Knowledge arcana +18, Move Silently +8, Profession
Gambler +5, Spellcraft +20; Greater Spell Focus
(conjuration), Scribe Scroll, Spell focus (conjuration),
Sudden Extend**, Sudden Silent**, Sudden Widen**
Possessions: brooch of shielding, cloak of
resistance +1, dust of tracelessness, headband of
intellect +2, lesser rod of enlarge, ring of protection +1,
scroll of invisibility, scroll of web, wand of mirror
image,
Spells Prepared (4/6/5/4/4/3; base DC = 15 + spell
level; conjuration DC = 17 + spell level): 0—acid splash,
detect magic (2), touch of fatigue; 1st — enlarge,
grease* x2, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement x2, true
strike; 2nd — blindness, false life, glitterdust*,
invisibility, scorching ray, web; 3rd — fly, haste,
invisibility sphere, slow, stinking cloud*; 4th —
Evard’s black tentacles* x2, greater invisibility,
Otiluke’s resilient sphere, solid fog; 5th — cloudkill*,
overland flight, reciprocal gyre*, wall of force*.
Spin Fate (Ex): A mage of many fates understands
that “chance” is not as random as many believe it to be,
and he can adjust the probability of certain events by
applying a force that the fatespinners refer to as “spin”.
Each day, a fatespinner can use a number of points of
spin equal to his fatespinner class level.
As a free action, a fatespinner can use stored spin to
boost the save DC of a spell he casts, adding some or all
his spin to the DC, on a point-for-point basis. For
instance, a 5th level wizard / 3rd level fatespinner
casting fireball could choose to boost the DC of the
spell by 1, 2, or 3 points. Once he uses up his spin for
the day, his ability to tinker with probability in this
fashion is also exhausted for the day.
A fatespinner’s spin is replenished whenever the
character successfully regains his spells for the day
(whether through rest, preparation, or prayer).
Fickle Finger of Fate (Ex): On reaching 2nd
level, a fatespinner gains the ability to affect the luck of
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others. Once per day as an immediate action, he can
force any other creature – friend or enemy – to reroll a
roll that he has just made. A fatespinner must have line
of sight to the creature to be affected. That creature
must abide by the result of the reroll, whether it’s
higher or lower than the original roll.
Spin Destiny (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, a
fatespinner more clearly comprehends the matrix of
the reality and can use accumulated spin to adjust
other random events. The method is identical to
increasing a spell’s save DC, but the fatespinner can
now add spin to any skill check, attack roll, or saving
throw that he attempts on a point-for-point basis.
However, the spin utilized come from the same limited
reservoir of karma storage that allows him to adjust the
save DC of his spells. He must apply the bonus before
making the roll.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Duerik
“Darkness’
Brother”:
Male
Dwarf
Rog7/NightsongEnforcer3; CR 10; HD 7d6+21 plus
3d8+9; hp 79; Init +9; Spd 20 ft.; AC 23, touch 15, flat-
footed 23; Base Atk +8; Grp +8; Atk +14 melee (1d6,
rapier) or +13 ranged (1d6, shortbow); Full Atk +14/+9
melee (1d6, rapier) or +13/+8 ranged (1d6, shortbow);
SA Sneak Attack (+5d6); SQ Trapfinding, Evasion, Trap
Sense +2, Uncanny Dodge, Teamwork (hear/see allies),
Agility Training, Skill Teamwork +2; AL CE; SV Fort
+6, Ref +13, Will +3; Str 10, Dex 20, Con 16, Int 12, Wis
10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Escape Artist +18; Gather
Information +10; Hide +18; Listen +10; Move Silently
+18; Search +11; Spot +13; Tumble +18; Use Magic
Device
+10.
Hamstring**;
Improved
Initiative;
Staggering Strike**; Weapon Finesse
Possessions: amulet of natural armor +1, 40 arrows,
bag of tricks (tan), +1 buckler, gloves of dexterity +2, +1
mithral chain shirt, MW Rapier, MW Shortbow,
potion of cure serious wounds, potion of greater
invisibility, potion of invisibility
Teamwork (hear/see allies) (Ex): Nightsong
enforcers are trained to keep a close eye on teammates
on a joint mission. A nightsong enforcers gain a +20
circumstance bonus on Listen and Spot checks to hear
and see allies.
Agility Training (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a
nightsong enforcer reduces the armor check penalty
imposed on her by light armor by 2 (to a minimum of
0).
Skill Teamwork (Ex): At 3rd level and higher, a
nightsong enforcer can use her training to improve the
skill of those around her. All allies within 30 feet of the
nightsong enforcer gain a +2 competence bonus on
Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Listen, Move
Silently and Spot checks. Allies must be able to see the
nightsong enforcer to gain this bonus.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Marel “Golden Warrior”: Male Dwarf Rgr2/Ftr8; CR
10; HD 2d8+8 plus 8d10+32; hp 101; Init +3; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +10; Grp +13;
Atk +15 melee (2d6+5, +1 greatsword) or +15 ranged
(1d8+5, composite longbow); Full Atk +15/+10 melee
(2d6+5, +1 greatsword) or +15/+10 ranged (1d8+5,
composite longbow) or +13/+13/+8 ranged (1d8+5,
composite longbow); SQ Favored enemy (elf +2); AL
LE; SV Fort +14, Ref +10, Will +4; Str 16, Dex 17, Con
16, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +15; Hide +7; Knowledge
Nature +7; Listen +5; Move Silently +7; Ride +6; Spot
+5; Survival +7. Greater Weapon Focus (Longbow,
Greatsword);
Improved
Bull
Rush;
Improved
Toughness**; Power Attack; Rapid Shot; Shock
Trooper**; Weapon Focus (Longbow, Greatsword);
Weapon Specialization (Longbow); Track.
Possessions: amulet of natural armor +1, 40 arrows,
+1 greatsword, +1 mithral breastplate, mw composite
longbow str +3, 1 potion of cure serious wounds, 10 +1
shock arrows, vest of resistance +2
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter Seven
Harald: Male Suel-Baklunish Human Clr15; CR 15;
HD 15d8+30; hp 103; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 23, touch
12, flat-footed 22; Base Atk +11; Grp +13; Atk +16 melee
(1d6+6 greater magic weapon quarterstaff); Full Atk
+16/+11/+6 melee (1d6+6 greater magic weapon
quarterstaff); AL CE; SQ Rebuke Undead; SV Fort +14,
Ref +9, Will +17; Str 14, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 21,
Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +20; Concentration +20;
Disguise +13; Hide +3; Knowledge Religion +5; Move
Silently +3. [+2 on strength checks from armband]
Divine Metamagic (Quicken)**, Divine Spell Power**,
Extra Turning x3, Power Attack, Quicken Spell
Possessions: armbands of might**, boots of speed,
circlet of persuasion, dusty rose ioun stone, +1 full
plate of silent moves, gloves of dexterity +2, periapt of
wisdom +4, quarterstaff, vest of resistance +3
Spells Prepared (6/7/6/6/5/5/3/2/1; base DC = 15
+ spell level): 0 — create water, detect magic (2), detect
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poison, guidance, purify food and drink; 1st — bless,
cure light wounds, disguise self*, divine favor, lesser
vigor** x2, protection from law, shield of faith; 2nd —
aid, bear’s endurance, brambles, cure moderate
wounds, invisibility*, lesser restoration, resist energy;
3rd — cure serious wounds, searing light, dispel magic,
magic vestment, nondetection*, nondetection, vigor**;
4th — delay death**, divine power*, freedom of
movement, greater magic weapon, restoration, spell
immunity; 5th — greater vigor**, quicken divine favor,
righteous might*, spell resistance, stalwart pact**, wall
of stone; 6th — heal, mislead*, quicken brambles**,
word of recall; 7th — brilliant blade**, Quicken
prayer*, word of chaos; 8th —polymorph any object*,
antimagic field.
Domains: Competition (+1 on opposed rolls) and
Trickery (add bluff, disguise and hide to class skills)
Power up: 1- freedom of movement; 2- spell
immunity (holy word, lightning bolt, ray of
enfeeblement) 3- resist energy; 4- bear’s endurance; 5-
bless, 6 - shield of faith; 7- brilliant blade; 8 – Spell
resistance; 9 – vigor; 10 -brambles, 11 - divine power, 12
- divine favor. Modifiers are included in the stats block.
** see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
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Appendix Two: New Rules Item
Brambles as presented in Complete Divine
Transmutation
Level: Cleric 2, Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: Touch
Target: Wooden weapon touch
Duration: 1 round / level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
Small magical thorns protrude from the surface of a
wooden weapon, such as a club, greatclub, nunchaku,
or quarterstaff. For the duration of the spells, the
weapon deals both piercing and bludgeoning damage.
It gains a +1 enhancement on its attack and deals
additional +1 point of damage per caster level
(maximum +10). This spell only works on melee
weapon with wooden striking surfaces. For instance, it
does not work on a bow, on an arrow or a metal mace.
Material Component: A small thorn.
Brilliant Blade as presented in Spell
Compendium
Transmutation
Level: Cleric 7, druid 7, Sorcerer/Wizard 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: Close (25 ft. +5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One melee or thrown weapon, or fifty
projectiles (all of which must be in contact with each
other at the time of casting)
Duration: 1 min. / level
Saving Throw: Will Negates (harmless, object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless, object)
You transform a single melee weapon, natural weapon,
thrown weapon, or group of projectiles into a weapon
of brilliant energy special ability. (DMG 224) if this
spell is cast on an arrows or crossbow bolts, the effect
on a particular projectile ends after one use, whether or
not the missile strikes its intended target. Treat
shuriken as arrows, rather than as thrown weapons, for
the purpose of this spell.
Delay Death as presented in Spell
Compendium
Necromancy
Level: Cleric 4
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Range: Close (25 ft. +5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round / level
Saving Throw: Will negates (Harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (Harmless)
The subject of this powerful spell is unable to die from
hit point damage. While under the protection of this
spell, the normal limit of –9 hit points before a
character dies is extended beyond limits. A condition
or spell that destroys enough of the body to prohibit
raise dead (such as a disintegrate effect) still kills the
creature, as does death brought about by ability score
damage or drain, level drain, or a death effect.
The spell does not prevent the subject from entering
the dying state by dropping to –1 hit points. It merely
prevents death as a result of hit points loss.
If the subject has fewer than –9 hit points when the
spell’s duration expires, he or she dies instantly.
Earth’s Hammer as presented in Races of Stone
Transmutation
Level: Cleric 5, Paladin 3
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Touch
Target: Weapon touched
Duration: 1 round / level
Saving Throw: Will negates (Harmless, object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (Harmless, object)
You infuse one melee weapon with the power of the
earth. The base damage of the weapon improves by one
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
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step (as if the weapon were one size category larger).
Regardless of the weapon’s normal material and
damage type, the weapon deals bludgeoning damage
and overcomes damage reduction as if it were made of
adamantine.
If this spell is cast on a weapon made of a different
special material (such as alchemical silver), the
properties of that material are replaced with those of
adamantine for the duration of the spell.
Energy Immunity as presented in Spell
Compendium
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 6, Druid 6, Sorcerer/Wizard 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 24 hours
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes (Harmless)
This abjuration grants a creature and its equipment
complete immunity to damage from one of the five
energy types-acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic.
Energy immunity absorbs only damage, so the
recipient could still suffer side effects such as
drowning in acid, being deafened by a sonic attack, or
becoming immobilized in ice.
Energy immunity overlaps protection from energy and
resist energy. So long as energy immunity is in effect,
the other spell absorbs no damage.
Reciprocal Gyre as presented in Spell
Compendium
Abjuration
Level: Sorcerer / Wizard 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. / level)
Target: One creature or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will half, then Fortitude negates; see
text
Spell Resistance: No
The subject takes 1d12 points of damage per
functioning spell or spell-like ability currently
affecting it (maximum 25d12). In addition, any
creature so affected that fails its Will save must then
succeed on a Fortitude save or be dazed for 1d6 rounds.
Only spells specifically targeted on the creature in
question can be used to create the backlash of a
reciprocal gyre, so spells that affect an area can’t be
used to deal reciprocal damage to creatures within
their area. Likewise, persistent or continuous effects
from magic items can’t be used to deal reciprocal
damage, but targeted spell effects can be.
Material Component: A tiny closed loop of copper
wire.
Stalwart Pact as presented in Spell
Compendium
Evocation
Level: Cleric 5, Pact 5
Components: V, S, DF, XP
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Target: Willing living creature touched
Duration: Permanent until triggered, then 1 round /
level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
This spell allows the target to enter a binding
agreement with a deity that provides a measure of
protection when the need is dire.
Once this spell is cast, it remains dormant until the
subject is reduced to half or less of its full normal hit
points. Once the subject has taken enough damage to
reduce it to half or lower hit points, it immediately
gains 5 temporary hit points per two caster levels
(maximum 35 hit points at 14
th level), damage
reduction 5/magic, and a +2 luck bonus on saving
throws. The hit points, damage reduction, and saving
throw bonus disappear when the spell ends.
XP cost: Incense worth 250 gp
Vigor, Greater as presented in Spell
Compendium
Conjuration (Healing)
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Level: Cleric 5, Druid 5
Duration: 10 rounds + 1 round / level (max 35 rounds)
This spell is the same as lesser vigor, except as noted
here and that it grants fast healing 4.
Vigor, Lesser as presented in Spell
Compendium
Conjuration (Healing)
Level: Cleric 1, Druid 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: 10 rounds + 1 round / level (max 15 rounds)
Saving Throw: Will negates (Harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (Harmless)
The subject gains fast healing 1, enabling it to heal 1 hit
point per round until the spell ends and automatically
becoming stabilized if it begins dying from hit point
loss during the at time. Lesser vigor does not restore
hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or suffocation,
nor does it allow a creature to regrow or attach lost
body parts.
The effects of multiple vigor spells do not stack;
only the highest effect applies.
Divine Metamagic as presented in Complete
Divine
You can channel energy into some of your divine spells
to make them more powerful.
Prerequisite: Ability to turn undead or rebuke
undead.
Benefit: When you take this feat, choose a
metamagic feat. This feat applies only to that
metamagic. As a free action, you can take the energy
from turning or rebuking undead and use it to apply a
metamagic feat to spells that you know. You must
spend one turn or rebuke attempt, plus an additional
attempt for each level increase in the metamagic feat
you’re using. For example, Jozan the cleric could
sacrifice three turn attempts to empower a holy smite
he’s casting. Because you’re using positive or negative
energy to augment your spells, the spell slot for the
spell doesn’t change.
Special: This feat may be taken multiple times.
Each time you take this feat, choose a different
metamagic feat to which to apply it.
Divine Metamagic as presented in Complete
Divine
You can channel positive or negative energy to
enhance your divine spellcasting ability.
Prerequisite: Ability to turn undead or rebuke
undead, able to cast 1st level divine spells.
Benefit: You can spend a turn or rebuke attempt
as a free action and roll a turning check (with a special
+3 bonus, plus any other modifiers you’d normally
apply to your turning check). Treat the result of your
turning check as a modifier to your caster level on the
next divine spell you cast in that round.
For example, if a cleric used this feat and rolled 16 on
his turning check, he would add a +2 bonus to his
caster level for the next divine spell he casts in the
round.
If you don’t cast a divine spell before your next turn,
you lose the effect of the check result. This feat has no
effect on your arcane spellcasting ability.
Hamstring as presented in Complete Warrior
You can wound your opponents’ legs, hampering their
movement.
Prerequisite: Sneak Attack ability, base attack
bonus +4.
Benefit: If you hit with a melee sneak attack, you
may chose to forgo 2d6 point of extra sneak attack
damage to reduce your opponent’s base speed by half.
This speed reduction ends after 24 hours have passed
or a successful DC 15 Heal check or the application of
any cure spell or other magical healing is made.
Creatures immune to sneak attack damage and
creatures with no legs or more than four legs can’t be
slowed by a hamstring attack. It takes two successful
hamstring attacks to affect quadrupeds. Other speed
(fly, burrow, and so on) aren’t affected. You may use
this ability once per round.
Improved Toughness as presented in Complete
Warrior
You are significantly tougher than normal.
Prerequisite: Base Fortitude save bonus +2.
Benefit: You gain a number of hit points equal to
your current Hit Dice. Each time you get a HD (such as
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Page 37
by gaining a level), you gain 1 additional hit point. If
you lose a HD, (such as by losing a level) you lose 1 hit
point permanently.
Special: A fighter may select Improved Toughness
as one of his fighter’s bonus feats.
Shock Trooper as presented in Complete
Warrior
You are adept at breaking up formation of soldiers
when you rush into battle.
Prerequisite: Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack,
base attack bonus +6
Benefit: The Shock Trooper feat enables the use of
three tactical maneuvers.
Directed Bull Rush: To use this maneuver, you
must make a successful bull rush attempt as part of a
charge. For every square you push your foe back, you
may also push that foe one square to the left or right.
Domino Rush: To use this maneuver, you must
make a successful bull rush attempt that forces a foe
into the same square as another foe. You may make a
free trip attempt against both foes at the same time,
and neither foe gets a chance to trip you if your
attempt fails.
Headless Charge: To use this maneuver, you must
charge and make the attack at the end of the charge
using your Power Attack feat. The penalty you take on
your attempt must be –5 or worse. In addition to
normal charge modifiers (which give you –2 penalty to
AC and a +2 bonus on the attack roll), you can assign
any portion of the attack roll penalty from Power
Attack to your Armor Class instead, up to a maximum
equal to your base attack bonus.
Special: A fighter may select Shock Trooper as
one of his fighter’s bonus feats.
Staggering Strike as presented in Complete
Adventurer
You can deliver a wound that hampers an opponent’s
movement.
Prerequisite: Sneak Attack ability, base attack
bonus +6.
Benefit: If you deal damage with a melee sneak
attack, you can also deliver a wound that limits your
foe’s mobility. For 1 round (or until the target is the
beneficiary of a DC 15 Heal check or any magical
healing that restores at least 1 hit point, whichever
comes first), your target is treated as if it were
staggered, even if its nonlethal damage doesn’t exactly
equal its current hit points. A target can resist this
effect by making a successful Fortitude save (DC equal
to damage dealt). Multiple staggering strikes on the
same creature do not stack. This feat as no effect on
creatures not subject to sneak attack damage.
Sudden Extend as presented in Complete
Arcane
You can cast a spell last longer without special
preparation.
Benefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of
the Extend Spell feat to any spell you cast without
increasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it
ahead of time. You can still use the Extend Spell feat
normally if you have it.
Sudden Silent as presented in Complete
Arcane
You can cast a spell silently without special
preparation.
Benefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of
the Silent Spell feat to any spell you cast without
increasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it
ahead of time. You can still use the Silent Spell feat
normally if you have it.
Sudden Widen as presented in Complete
Arcane
You can increase a spell’s area without special
preparation.
Benefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of the
Widen Spell feat to any spell you cast without
increasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it
ahead of time. You can still use the Widen Spell feat
normally if you have it.
Armband Of Might as presented in Complete
Arcane
These bronze armbands grant the wearer a +2 bonus on
Strength checks and Strength based skill checks. If the
wearer has the Power Attack feat, he gains a +2 bonus
on melee damage rolls on any attack on which he uses
the Power Attack feat and takes a penalty of at least –2
on his attack roll.
Faint Transmutation; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Items,
bull’s strength; Price 4,100 gp.
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Page 38
Vest of Resistance as presented in Complete
Arcane
These garments offer magic protection in the form of a
+1 to +5 resistance bonus on all saving throws.
Faint Abjuration; CL 5th; Craft Wondrous Items,
resistance, creator’s caster level must be at least three
times the vest’s bonus; Price 1,000 gp (+1), 4,000 gp
(+2), 9,000 gp (+3), 16,000 gp (+4), 25,000 gp (+5);
Weight 1 lb.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 39
Appendix Three: The law in northern Tusmit
Generalities
Please note that the laws outlined here do not comprise
of the entire list of laws in Tusmit. For a more
complete list consult the Tusmit Gazetteer. For any
crime not listed please contact the triad at
[email protected].
Horses
A horse qualifies as a person for the charges wherever
it might be applicable (murder, assault).
Worldburners
In the eyes of the law, the Worldburners are not
people. Since the Worldburners are considered to be at
war with Tusmit, no one is subject to retribution for
crimes against the Worldburners.
High Fines
If the guilty party cannot pay a fine, it can be worked
off at a value of 50 fountains per week (one TU) in the
mines.
Full responsibility of the law is expected and enforced
by the Qadi and Mullahs, regardless of the
circumstances.
The military and the nobles, however, understand the
concept of excessive force used in self-defence.
The Self-Defense Clause
A clause of self-defence can be claimed and the good
military or noble presiding official(s) will hear your
plea.
A Diplomacy check (or Bluff) can be made, at 20 + the
APL to convince the presiding official that the act was
done in pure self-defence.
Failure to convince the presiding official (but the truth
being that the crime was unintentional) will incur a
penalty of one hundred fountains per death plus
twenty-five fountains per point below the Bluff or
Diplomacy DC. 1d10 lashes will also be given per point
scored below the DC. The total penalty will be one
time unit of imprisonment, lashes and a fine (as listed
above) per death. Lashes and fines (as listed above) are
still applicable to assault (major).
Ignorance of the law is no reason not to call upon this
clause.
Assault (Major)
Threat or use of lethal force that results in major bodily
harm reducing the victim’s hit points to between 0 and
-9.
Sentence:
Confiscation
of
weapon
used
and
imprisonment of up to six time units and 10d10 lashes.
Assault (Minor)
Threat or use of lethal force that results in major bodily
harm without reducing the victim’s hit points past 0
Sentence:
Confiscation
of
weapon
used
and
imprisonment of three time units and 5d10 lashes.
Assault (Negligible)
Threat or use of non lethal force against a victim.
Sentence: overlooked (left off with warnings).
Illegal use of magic
Any target or area effect spell that requires a save,
causes any change in state, causes damage, or produces
an otherwise unwanted effect by the victim.
Sentence: Fine of fifty fountains per spell level and
1d10 lashes per spell level.
Manslaughter
Use of lethal force that unintentionally results in major
bodily harm reducing the victim to below -9 hit points.
Sentence: Sent to the mines for up to 10 years, plus loss
of all property to be given to the family of the victim.
Murder
Use of lethal force that intentionally results in major
bodily harm reducing the victim to below -9 hit points.
Sentences:
•
Mass murder: torture in public and death.
•
Other: Death.
Theft
Possession, sale, or acquisition of an object without
permission.
Sentence: Imprisonment for one time unit and 4d10
lashes per one hundred fountains worth of goods,
services, or information. As well a fine up to equalling
up to five times the worth of the goods, services or
information. 500 fountains worth or more.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 40
Theft (Horse)
Possession, sale, or acquisition of a horse without
permission.
Sentence: Death.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 41
Appendix Four: Deities
Names: Diirinka
Gender: m
Rank: Intermediate Deity
Areas of Concern / Portfolio: Derro, Magic, Knowledge, Cruelty
Titles: The Great Savant, The Cruel Master, The Deep Lich
Holy Symbol: Spiral of gray, black and white
Alignment: CE
Origin of worship: Dwarf
Core Worshippers: Derro
Common Worshippers:
Uncommon Worshippers:
Favored Weapon(s): Dagger
Other Preferred Weapon(s):
Weapon of the Deity spell: dagger of venom
Domains: Chaos, Domination* (CD), Dream* (CD), Evil, Madness* (CD), Magic, Trickery
Special Notes:
Description:
Names: Norebo
Gender: m
Rank: Lesser Deity
Areas of Concern / Portfolio: Luck, Gambling, Risks
Titles: God of Gambles
Holy Symbol: A pair of Eight-Sided dices
Alignment: CN
Origin of worship: Suel
Core Worshippers: Suel
Common Worshippers:
Uncommon Worshippers:
Favored Weapon(s): Dagger
Other Preferred Weapon(s):
Weapon of the Deity spell: +1 defending dagger
Domains: Chaos, Competition* (CD), Courage* (CD), Luck, Trickery
Special Notes:
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 42
Description:
Norebo (noh-REE-boh) is one of the most popular suel gods known for his willingness to make a bet on anything and
his fondness for dice games; his holy symbol (a pair of eight-sided dice) stems from this. Has been paired with most of
the female members of his pantheon but has been linked to Wee Jas for the past one thousand years despite their
alignment differences. He particularly despises Ralishaz for giving gambling and risks a bad name. Norebo is shown as a
man of average height, weight and features, but can assume animal forms, especially when he wishes to be hidden. “Life
is full of risks and gambling with fate is the only thing that makes life worth living. Owning property and life itself are
fleeting things and best be enjoyed while you have them.” His worship is popular in barbarian lands and large cities,
and donations to his temple (called Churches of the Big Gamble) are usually in the form of lost bets (as gambling
operations are run on site). Some patron donates to his temple in hope of warding off thieves and assassins. Clerics of
Norebo are willing to make wagers on anything and are usually employed at least part of the time in a gambling house.
Other wanders the world to bring chance and elements of risks into people’s life; they especially love bothering clerics
and followers of rigid god such as Allitur, Pholtus, and St.Cuthbert. Ceremonial garbs include brown and dark green
robes.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 43
Appendix Five: Player’s Handbook errata
These are official errata from the document PHB_Errata09072004.pdf found at wizards.com.
Area Dispel
Player's Handbook, page 223
The area affected by an area dispel use of dispel magic is given as a 20-ft.-radius burst in one place and a 30ft-radius in
another. In the middle column, about halfway down, change “30-foot radius” to “20-foot radius.”
Divine Favor
Player’s Handbook, page 224
Changes to the spell’s description are noted in boldface type: Calling upon the strength and wisdom of a deity, you gain
a +1 luck bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls for every three caster levels you have (at least +1, maximum +3). The
bonus doesn’t apply to spell damage.
Polymorph Any Object
Player's Handbook, page 263
Top right: baleful polymorph missing from spells whose effects can be duplicated by this spell. Also, transmute water to
dust is mentioned but doesn’t exist any more. Insert “baleful polymorph” in front of “polymorph.” Change “transmute
water to dust” to “transmute metal to wood.”
Righteous Might
Player’s Handbook, page 273
Changes to the spell’s description are noted in boldface type: This spell causes you to grow, doubling your height
and multiplying your weight by 8. This increase changes your size category to the next larger one, and you gain a +4
size bonus to Strength and a +2 size bonus to Constitution. You gain a +2 enhancement bonus to your natural armor.
You gain damage reduction 3/evil (if you normally channel positive energy) or damage reduction 3/good (if you
normally channel negative energy). At 12th level this damage reduction becomes 6/evil or 6/good, and at 15th level it
becomes 9/evil or 9/good (the maximum).
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
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Appendix Six: Textes Français
Introduction
La rébellion du sheikdom de Dihn est le sujet de la
plupart
des
discussions
partout
à
Tusmit.
Cependant, des rumeurs d’une révolte des Khund
ont aussi commencé à se faire entendre. Des
caravanes du Consortium Mouqollad auraient été
perdues dans les Yatils, leur cargaison volée par des
raiders nains. Comme si Tusmit avait besoin de
problèmes sur un nouveau front…
Vous n’aviez besoin de rien de plus pour sentir
l’appel pour une nouvelle aventure. Comme vous
faisiez votre chemin pour le sheikdom de Dihn,
vous avez été surpris par le calme des routes. Ils
semblent vraiment que les affaires ne marchent pas
comme à la normale pour Dihn. Des quelques
autres voyageurs que vous avez en fait rencontrés,
la plupart sont aussi des aventuriers qui vous ont
joint dans votre quête
Allow the players to introduce themselves
Après quelques jours de voyage, vous êtes
finalement en vue des murs de Dwur’Ayhand, la
capitale de Dihn. La cité est fortement fortifiée et,
surprise, les portes semblent fermées.
Un camp militaire a été établi autour de la cité. Des
soldats, des aventuriers ainsi que des nobles se sont
tous réunis sous la bannière de Jadhim-Orem. Tous
portent un brassard blanc. L’armée possède un bon
moral. Les officiers organisent les troupes en
unités.
********
Le soleil se couche alors que vous entrez dans
Dwur’Ayhand, capital de Dihn, cite de quelque 4000
âmes avec une réputation peu enviable de ville
dangereuse. Il est étrange de voir autant de nains
dans les rues d’une citée tusmane. Ils forment plus
du tiers de la population et la citée est construite à
leur ressemblance: dur, fortement fortifié et faite
en pierre.
Encounter One: Meeting the
Thunderstones
En entrant dans le Refuge du Mineur, vous êtes
assaillis par la forte odeur de bière et de sueur. Sur
la pièce, un lourd silence pèse comme les nains en
armures
lourdes
vous
dévisagent
de
façon
désapprobatrice. Comme vous vous apprêtez à
quitter, un noble nain (some PCs may recognize
Taklinn) se lève et s’approche de vous, jettant un
regard désapprobateur sur l’assemblée. Les nains
reprennent leur conversation et recommencent à
boire comme si vous n’étiez jamais entrés dans la
taverne.
« Je vois que vous avez reçus ma note. Suivez-moi.”
Taklinn vous amène à une pièce arrière où vous
pourrez parler discrètement. « Asseyez-vous, dit le
nain, indiquant deux rangées de bancs. Mon nom
est Taklinn Thunderstone, Grand Prêtre de
Moradin dans les terres des Khund. » Avec un coup
d’œil à un coin de la pièce, il continue:
« Nous devons vous demander une faveur. À cause
de nos fortes attaches avec la nation Khund et le
statut incertain de Tusmit, la nation Khund a
décidée de maintenr sa neutralité dans le conflit.
En conséquence, notre présence ici doit demeurer
un secret. Être-vous en mesure de conserver notre
rencontre et tous ce que nous sommes sur le point
de vous révéler un secret ?
********
Taklinn commence: “Les troubles ont débuté il y a
quelques semaines lorsqu’une caravane marchande
revenant de Moradin’s Forge a été perdue. Les seuls
survivants furent des nains et ils ont rapporté avoir
été embusqué par une Patrouille de la Grande
Convention. Le scénario s’est répété plusieurs fois.
Les marchands ont alors commencé à engager des
mercenaires lourdement armés pour protéger leur
cargo. Il y a eu des rapports de notre côté d’humains
ayant attaqué des patrouilles naines et nous avons
perdus quelques-uns de nos guerriers les plus
dévoués dans ces escarmouches.
Maintenant, le traffic a complètement arrêté et les
seules choses qui empêchent une escalade de
violence sont la main forte du sheik Omar Saladish
et l’intervention de ma sœur, la Dame Emeraud.
Haigh Righ Barandon est toujours à considérer ses
options.
Je peux vous le guarantir: la Patrouille n’a rien à
voir avec ces attaques. Quelqu’un essaie de nous
monter les uns contre les autres. Trouvez-le, et
mettez un terme à ces agissements, peu importe le
moyen. Le Haigh Righ et ma sœur ont déjà signé
leur arrêt de mort.»
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 45
Taklinn jette un nouveau coup d’œil dans le coin de
la pièce. Suivant son regard, vous constatez qu’une
dame naine est maintenant assise à cet endroit. Elle
porte en armure de plaque d’adamantine avec une
hache de guerre naine incrustée de gemmes
attachée dans son dos. Un diadème de platine
entrelacé d’argent, d’or et d’adamantine repose
fièrement sur son front.
« Voici ma sœur, la Dame Emeraud, elle va bientôt
prendre la charge de reine des Khund. » La future
reine vous sourie.
La dame Emeraud intervient: « J’ai été membre
d’une Patrouille de la Grande Convention pendant
plusieurs années. Mes amis sont nombreux dans les
Patrouilles et certains sont morts dans les
escarmouches. Je compte sur vous pour faire tout
votre possible pour aller au cœur de cela. Peut-on
compter sur vous ? »
Encounter Three: Hungry birds
Le soleil commence à peine à se lever lorsque vous
arrivez au point de rendez-vous avec le marchand
Abdallah. Dès qu’il vous voit, il commence à se
plaindre de votre retard, bien que ce ne soit pas le
cas.
Vous pouvez voir que tout semble prêt pour
l’expédition. Trois wagons tirés par des chevaux de
traits sont remplis de diverses marchandises et
recouverts de lourdes toiles. Les employés sont en
train d’attacher les dernières marchandises.
Encounter Seven, A pair of
dices
Room 1
Descendant
quelques
marches,
vous
pouvez
entendre ce qui semble des êtres vivants. La
caverne s’ouvre à votre droite et vous pouvez voir
plusieurs mules, apparemment prêtes à partir.
Room 2
Comme vous ouvrez la porte improvisée, vous
voyez le corridor s’ouvrir sur une large caverne
naturelle, environ 30 par 40 pieds. Il semble que la
caverne contienne une rançon de nain en armes et
équipements ainsi que d’autres marchandises
diverses. Un feu de camp est allumé au centre de la
pièce. Derrière le feu, un suelo-baklunien se tient
debout.
A disciple of Norebo’s interrogation
“Vous m’avez certainement surpris. Je suis prêt à
répondre à vos questions mais je voudrais tout de
même savoir comment vous m’avez trouvé. Je suis
curieux, et je crois que vous devez une explication à
un homme mort. Je suis curieux et j’aimerais
quelques réponses avant de rencontrer le destin qui
m’attend par la suite. Je répondrai alors à vos
questions. »
Room 3
Derrière le rideau, dans une petite extension de la
caverne, un lit de camp est couvert avec de riches
draperies
Room 4
Cette pièce était en apparence habitée par quelques
personnes jusqu’à récemment. Des couvertes
couvre le sol et des rations ainsi que d’autres pièces
d’équipement d’aventurier sont placés dans la pièce.
Room 5
Après un petit oblique vers la gauche, le corridor
s’arrête, s’étant effondré.
Encounter Nine, Dungar Llith
Vous arrivez finalement à la grande citée des
Vesterkhund. Sur les grandes portes de la cité se
trouve une représentation de la cité mythique de
Dunorae Llith, sous le marteau protecteur du Père
de Tous [All-Father].
La cité regorge d’activité. Chaque nain que vous
rencontrez semble s’affairer à quelqu’urgente
affaire. Les nains semblent avoir déserté leurs
forges et plusieurs sont à nettoyer leur armure.
Malgré cela, les nains sont loin de rayonner autant
que leur cité.
Une forteresse de pierre flotte aux armes du Haigh
Righ Barandon et celles de la famille Thunderstone.
Même si la forteresse est la plus visible, une autre
bâtisse attire votre regard : le Temple de Père
Moradin. Nouvellement terminé le temple possède
une grande colonnade à la ressemblance des dieux
nains et des héros de l’époque mythique. Le temple
repose sur un promontoir et est tout près de la
falaise rocheuse que sont les Yatil. Une grande
statue de marbre bleu mesurant plus de 25 pieds de
haut montre le Père de Tous dans en habits
militaires.
Un jeune courtier nain vous rejoint rapidement.
« S’il vous plaît, suivez-moi. Vous êtes attendus au
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 46
palais. » Sans attendre de réponse, il vous mène au-
travers des rues, droit à la falaise qui fait office de
mur à la cité. Vous pouvez voir la façade du palais,
gravé dans la falaise. La muraille montre des
batailles mythique menées par les nains sous l’œil
attentif et bienfaiteur de Père Moradin et Mère
Berronar.
Votre guide vous fait entrer dans le palais jusqu’à
une longue pièce où un trône unique se trouve sur
un dais au bout opposé de la pièce. Une seule
personne est assise sur le trône et un nain semble
plaider une cause auprès du nain sur le trône. Vous
ne pouvez l’entendre correctement de la distance.
Votre guide vous demande d’attendre ici jusqu’à ce
qu’on vous appèle..
*********
« Votre Altesse, le vrai pasha de Tusmit est de
retour. Jadhim-Orem est de retour d’exil. La plupart
des Tusmans sont déjà unis sous sa main. Jadhim-
Orem est commis à maintenir les meilleures
relations avec les Khund. Le Pasha de droit de
Tusmit va non-seulement respecter les traités déjà
en vigueur, mais il promet en plus de grandes
récompenses si les Khund venaient à supporter
ouvertement sa cause. Le Pasha serait même en
mesure de reconsidérer la portion des taxes qui doit
être remise à Tusmit. »
La pièce deviant silencieuse. Après un petit
moment, le diplomate se tourne vers vous, comme
s’il espérait que vous l’aidiez à plaider sa cause.
*********
« Laissez moi dire cela, et souvenez-vous de mes
dires. Vos actions ici en ces jours ne seront pas
oubliées, ni vos mots. »
Conclusion
For Khund PCs
Ayant eu le temps de se reposer et de trouver un
habit decent à mettre, vous êtes laissés à vous-même
suffisamment longtemps pour vous demander ce
qui causait tant d’agitation chez les nains. Vous êtes
surpris lorsque la Dame Emeraud Thunderstone
entre dans vos appartements. Elle porte toujours sa
lourde armure à plaque d’adamantine et sa lourde
mace d’adamantine.
S’approchant de vous, et dans un ton qui ressemble
plus à un order, elle vous remet une feuille de
papier plié avec votre nom en nain ecrit dessus.
« [Nom du héros], j’espère que vous viendrez à mon
marriage. »
Sur ce, la reine-en-devenir tourne les talons et sort,
ses dames de compagnie formant une garde
d’honneur derrière elle.
Others
Having had time to rest and find a decent outfit,
you are left with enough time to wonder about the
much expected event.
Alors que vous attendez, un serviteur nain entre.
Portant les armoiries du Haut Roi, il tire un
parchemin de sa ceinture. « Oyez ! Le Haut Roi
Barandon et la Dame Emeraud, souhaitent vous
inviter à leur prochain marriage. »
Le serviteur reroule le parchemin et sort.
Common (all together now)
Peu de temps après, deux soldats se présentent à
vous pour vous mener à nouveau vers la salle du
trône. La pièce n’est plus dénuée de garnements,
avec des tables dressées richement, des décorations
sur tous les murs et un tapis placé de l’entrée
jusqu’au trône. Un plus petit trône est placé et
inoccupé à la gauche du trône du grand roi. Des
nains vêtus de leur armure la plus étincelante ont
peigné soigneusement leur barbe. Barandon est
assis sur son trône, lui aussi vêtu d’une tunique
exquise tissée d’or, de mithral et d’argent.
Le silence rempli la pièce alors que la dame
Emeraud Thunderstone, vêtue d’une somptueuse
robe bleue brodée d’argent et d’or entre dans la
pièce. Quelques pas derrière, suit son frère Taklinn
Thunderstone, en habit de ses plus beaux
vêtements ceremoniaux avec un symbole du Père
de Tous en argent autour du cou et portant un
marteau de guerre d’adamantine à la taille.
Le Haut Roi Barandon se lève et se tient devant son
trône alors que la dame Emeraud l’approche. Elle
marche vers Barandon et prend place à sa droite, un
demi-pas derrière le roi. Taklinn s’arrête en face du
couple et s’agenouille.
Un jeune nain arrive maintenant de la foule avec
une couronne dans les mains. Il approche Barandon
et le Haigh Raigh King prend la couronne, et la
place cérémonieusement sur la tête de Taklinn
prononçant: « Que la bénédiction du Père de Tous
te suive, toi et tous tes sujets. » Barandon se dirige
ensuite dans la foule et sa future femme le suit.
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 47
Le roi Taklinn se lève et prend place sur le plus
petit trône. D’un geste de la main, les célébrations
commencent. Les VesterKhund ont maintenant un
roi.
The End
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 48
DM Map #1
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 49
Player Handout #1A
My dear friend,
You already have performed a great service for my family. Unfortunately, things are getting out of hand here in
Dwur’Ayhand. I was relieved to learn of your presence here. I require once again your services. We must not allow
appearances to deceive ourselves and make us fight among friends. Meet me at the Miner’s Refuge were we can speak
discreetly.
Taklinn Thunderstone,
Priest of the All-Father
Player Handout #1B
Adventurers,
As you may already know, things are looking bad here. The tensions are rising between Dihn and the Khund. We must
not allow appearances to deceive ourselves and make us fight among friends. Meet me at the Miner’s Refuge were we
can speak discreetly.
Taklinn Thunderstone,
Priest of the All-Father
TUS6-01 Gambling with Fate
Page 50
Player Handout #2, A letter
M. M.
We are ready to proceed with the shipment. Meet us at the Dig Pass on [2 days from now] at the first sun. Long life to
the rightful pasha of Tusmit!
Death to the Traitor
A.
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Tusmit/596/Normal Scenarios/TUS6-01 - Gambling With Fate (APL 6-12)/TUS6-01 - Gambling with Fate.pdf |
By Sam Polak
The STranger WiThin
Pathfinder Society Scenario #5–18
tier 5–9
The STranger WiThin
Pathfinder Society Scenario #5–18
Author • Sam Polak
Contributing Artists • Miguel Regodón Harkness and
Dion Harris
Cartographer • Sean Macdonald
Creative Director • James Jacobs
Editor-in-Chief • F. Wesley Schneider
Managing Editor • James L. Sutter
Development Lead • John Compton
Senior Developer • Rob McCreary
Developers • Logan Bonner, John Compton,
Adam Daigle, Mark Moreland, Patrick Renie, and
Owen K.C. Stephens
Associate Editors • Judy Bauer and Christopher Carey
Editors • Justin Juan, Ryan Macklin, and
Matthew Simmons
Lead Designer • Jason Bulmahn
Designer • Stephen Radney-MacFarland
Managing Art Director • Sarah E. Robinson
Senior Art Director • Andrew Vallas
Art Director • Sonja Morris
Graphic Designers • Emily Crowell and Ben Mouch
Publisher • Erik Mona
Paizo CEO • Lisa Stevens
Chief Operations Officer • Jeffrey Alvarez
Director of Sales • Pierce Watters
Sales Associate • Cosmo Eisele
Marketing Director • Jenny Bendel
Finance Manager • Christopher Self
Staff Accountant • Ashley Gillaspie
Chief Technical Officer • Vic Wertz
Senior Software Developer • Gary Teter
Campaign Coordinator • Mike Brock
Project Manager • Jessica Price
Licensing Coordinator • Michael Kenway
Customer Service Team • Erik Keith, Sharaya Kemp,
Katina Mathieson, and Sara Marie Teter
Warehouse Team • Will Chase, Mika Hawkins,
Heather Payne, Jeff Strand, and Kevin Underwood
Website Team • Christopher Anthony, Liz Courts,
Crystal Frasier, Lissa Guillet, and Chris Lambertz
Pathfinder Society Scenario #5–18: The Stranger Within is a Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 5th- to 9th-level
characters (Tier 5–9; Subtiers 5–6 and 8–9). This scenario is designed for play in the Pathfinder Society Organized Play
campaign, but can easily be adapted for use with any world.
This product is compliant with the Open Game License (OGL) and is suitable for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game or the 3.5 edition of the world’s oldest
fantasy roleplaying game.
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open
Content: All trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names (characters, deities, etc.), dialogue, plots, storylines, locations, characters, artwork, and trade dress.
(Elements that have previously been designated as Open Game Content or are in the public domain are not included in this declaration.)
Open Content: Except for material designated as Product Identity (see above), the game mechanics of this Paizo game product are Open Game Content, as defined in
the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form
without written permission.
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paizo.com/pathfindersociety
Pathfinder Society Scenario #5–18: The Stranger Within © 2014, Paizo Inc. All Rights Reserved. Paizo, Paizo Inc., the Paizo golem logo, Pathfinder, and Pathfinder Society
are registered trademarks of Paizo Inc.; Pathfinder Accessories, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder Campaign Setting, Pathfinder
Cards, Pathfinder Flip-Mat, Pathfinder Map Pack, Pathfinder Module, Pathfinder Pawns, Pathfinder Player Companion, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder
Tales, and Wrath of the Righteous are trademarks of Paizo Inc.
Varisia
• Korvosa
Magnimar •
Storval Plateau
Kaer Maga •
3
The STranger WiThin
By Sam Polak
WHERE ON GOlaRiON?
The Stranger Within takes place in Kaer Maga, an isolated
city carved into a massive, hexagonal monument perched
on the edge of the Storval Plateau. The city has no
official authority; instead, each region is run by factions
or families with a vested interest in ensuring varying
amounts of stability within the city walls. In particular,
this adventure explores the districts of Ankar-Te, Bis,
the Bottoms, and Downmarket. For more information
regarding Kaer Maga, see Pathfinder Campaign Setting:
City of Strangers, available in bookstores and game stores
everywhere, and online at paizo.com.
W
hen Guaril Karela, the current leader of
the Sczarni, began his rise to power in
4712 ar, most of the clans quickly reached
agreements with him. The Gael family, an up-and-
coming crime syndicate operating out of Korvosa, was
one of the few who chose not to work for him. Guaril
eventually saw his opportunity to eliminate his rivals
when the Hellknights captured one of the Gaels. He
provided the Gaels with explosives, a flawed map of the
Hellknights’ fortress, and faulty tactical advice for an ill-
fated prison break that all but destroyed the family. The
survivors fled Korvosa and regrouped in Kaer Maga, the
one city in Varisia where Karela has never quite managed
to get his foot in the door. Since their failed assault on the
Fortress of the Nail, the surviving members of the Gael
family have been obsessed by one goal: the assassination
of Guaril Karela. They’ve spent the last few months in
Kaer Maga gathering resources and allies, refining their
plans to kill Karela in a single decisive attack.
Nicu Gael, the current patriarch of the Gael family,
has already left Kaer Maga, leaving his daughter Imelda
in charge. Imelda got her start in the family business
in Korvosa, where she directed part of the Gaels’ drug
operation, using alchemy to refine flayleaf. Her skill with
alchemy saved her life at the ill-fated assault on the Fortress
of the Nail; her own bombs proved more effective than the
fireworks Guaril supplied, and her elixirs facilitated her
escape. To evade the Order of the Nail Hellknights as they
hunted down any Gaels who stayed in Korvosa, she fled
to Kaer Maga with several other survivors to seek shelter
with her cousin Orphyro. Imelda has kept herself and her
underlings busy in the Asylum Stone by recruiting allies
and developing plans to kill Guaril Karela—all financed
by accepting ruinous debts, selling flayleaf, and engaging
in any fast-money scheme she can devise.
Imelda has contacted most of the powerful factions in
Kaer Maga, yet only two have reached out to assist her:
the Freemen and the Commerce League. When the Gaels
first arrived in Kaer Maga, Imelda’s story about Karela’s
seizing power and enslaving the rest of the Sczarni
convinced the Freemen to provide the Gaels with shelter,
weapons, extra guards, and access to their fighting school,
the Price of Freedom. The Commerce League extended a
large loan to Imelda on the basis of her prior success in
Korvosa’s drug trade; however, instead of investing the
money in building a business, the Gaels have spent much
of it purchasing weapons, monsters, poisons, allies,
intelligence, and spellcasting services. The Gaels have
worked in secret for months, but soon after hiring the
information broker Grandmaster Torch, he sold out their
location to the Pathfinder Society and, by extension, to
Guaril Karela.
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GM RESOURCES
This adventure makes use of the Pathfinder RPG Core
Rulebook, the Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s
Guide (APG), the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, Pathfinder
RPG Bestiary 3 (B3), and Pathfinder RPG Ultimate
Equipment (UE). The rules from these books can be found
online for free as part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
Reference Document at paizo.com/prd.
Having learned that their anonymity was compromised,
the Gaels have scattered; Imelda and her Kaer Magan allies
have remained, whereas her other relatives have left to
put their latest assassination scheme in motion. Further,
Imelda has begun covering her tracks by trapping her
home, relocating her flayleaf business, and moving in with
Orphyro in the Ankar-Te district. Should Karela’s allies try
to find her, she has prepared a deadly welcome for them.
SUMMARY
In the Varisian city of Kaer Maga, the Pathfinders seek
members of the Gael family and their allies to prevent
an assassination attempt against Guaril Karela, the
head of the Sczarni faction. As the PCs converse with the
residents of Kaer Maga, they learn that Imelda Gael rents
a modest balcony home in the Bis district, maintains a
shaky alliance with the militant anti-slavery Freemen,
and owes the Commerce League a substantial debt.
At the balcony house, the PCs run afoul Imelda’s
deathtrap ooze but find evidence of her involvement in the
assassination plot as well as hints about her business selling
flayleaf. To gain the cooperation of the Freemen, the PCs
can visit their headquarters in the Bottoms and help to free
a pegasus about to be auctioned in the Stockyards. Finally,
Dakar, the mysterious head of the Commerce League, invites
the PCs to speak with him, offering to trade information
about the Gaels’ hideout on the condition that they spare
the life of one of the Gaels’ allies. Dakar offers additional
information about the Gaels if the PCs were subtle enough
in their investigation to impress him.
The PCs may investigate and follow up on these three
leads in any order they choose, but Dakar is not ready
to meet with the PCs until they have visited the balcony
house and spoken with the Freemen. Once the PCs learn
the location of the Gael family’s Kaer Magan hideout—a
shop that sells zombies in the Ankar-Te district—they
must raid the hideout and disrupt the Gael family’s
operations. In doing so, the PCs pass through the
storefront, which is guarded by both Gael family agents
and the merchandise itself. A concealed staircase in the
store leads to a basement where the PCs face Imelda Gael,
her cousin Orphyro, and several of his undead creations.
GETTING STARTED
The PCs begin the adventure in or near Kaer Maga when
they each receive a letter sealed with the Glyph of the
Open Road. Give the players Player Handout #1, a letter
from Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin informing the PCs
of the threat the Gael family poses to Guaril Karela, an
important ally of the Society. Valsin has little further
information, should the PCs use magic to contact him
directly; he just prompts the PCs to be resourceful and
start asking around the city to see what they can find.
PART 1: THE CITY OF STRANGERS
To complete their mission, the PCs must discover the
location of the Gael family’s secret headquarters and
identify their allies. Pathfinders who find what they’re
looking for quickly and make friends with the locals can
avoid raising the profile of their investigation and alerting
the Gaels. If the PCs desire, they can hire a local guide for
5 gold pieces per day to help them navigate Kaer Maga,
locate the best informants, and avoid trouble.
In order to track down a local with reliable information
about the Gaels or their allies, the PCs must attempt a
DC 22 Diplomacy check to gather information (DC 25 in
Subtier 8–9). On a success, the PCs spend 1d4 hours finding
the contact and learning what he or she knows; three
knowledgeable NPCs and their contribution to the PCs’
investigation are detailed later in this section. On a failure,
the PCs still track down the contact, but doing so instead
takes 3d4 hours, involves speaking to many more citizens,
and raises the profile of the PCs’ investigation. Keep track
of how long the PCs take to complete this legwork, as this
gives Imelda more time to prepare and modifies Dakar’s
attitude toward the PCs in later encounters.
In addition, each contact has a condition that the PCs can
fulfill to befriend the NPC. If the PCs fulfill this condition,
this NPC is then more willing to keep quiet about the PCs’
inquiries. This increases the effective number of hours the
PCs can spend gathering information before negatively
impacting later encounters. When calculating the number
of hours the PCs spend gathering information, treat the
final result as three lower for each of the three NPCs they
befriend. Succeeding at a DC 25 Diplomacy check is also
sufficient for a PC to befriend a contact in this way.
Attempts to locate Imelda with divination magic can work,
especially if PCs use some of her clothes from the balcony
house. If the PCs succeed in locating Imelda with scrying
or similar magic, they see her fully armed and armored,
attended by powerful undead in an underground location.
The Blushing Rose
The PCs’ first lead directs them to the Blushing Rose, a
brothel located near the center of the Hospice District.
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FREqUENt ViSitORS
PCs who have visited Kaer Maga before have the advantage
of first-hand experience when exploring the bustling city. A PC
gains a +1 cumulative circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks
to gather information and influence contacts for each of the
following Chronicle sheets earned from the following:
• Pathfinder Society Scenario #51: City of Strangers, Part I:
The Shadow Gambit
• Pathfinder Society Scenario #52: City of Strangers, Part II:
The Twofold Demise
• Pathfinder Society Scenario #4–10: Feast of Sigils
• Pathfinder Module: The Godsmouth Ossuary
• Pathfinder Adventure Path #63: The Asylum Stone
There the PCs meet Miss Feathers, a muscular woman
who stands a head taller than the other working ladies.
She loves telling stories about her most awkward
romantic entanglements, her booming voice and quick
laugh accompanied by dramatic gestures with her
feathered boa.
Befriending Miss Feathers is as simple as spending an
hour or more listening to some of her wilder stories. She
considers anyone who can handle her boisterousness
for that long to be a good sport, and with a wink she
assures the PCs that she can feed false leads to anyone
who might come asking after them.
What do you know about the Gael family? “I know a
lady named Imelda Gael, but not well enough to have met
her family. She’s a rough one, all muscles and tattoos and
always mad about something. Sharp as a whip crack too,
but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear she’s gotten herself
in trouble.”
Where can we find Imelda? “Oh, she rents a lovely little
house in the Bis district. I’ll give you directions, though I can
tell you she hasn’t been seen there for several days. I doubt
she’s left the city, but there are enough nooks and crannies
around here that anyone wanting to lie low can do so.”
Development: Meeting with Miss Feathers gives the
PCs enough information to locate Imelda’s rented home
in Bis (see Part 2).
miss feathers
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The Street of Sighs
One of the PCs’ other leads points them to Shiyu, a
well-connected Sweettalker who knows about the deal
between the Freemen and a renegade Sczarni faction.
The PCs find him in the Oriat district in the Sweettalker
neighborhood known as the Street of Sighs.
Shiyu is a middle-aged man with light brown skin
and dark hair, but his most striking feature is the
thread that binds his lips together. Sweettalkers are a
tightly knit religious community whose members
stitch their mouths closed as an act of
piety. Shiyu offers what he knows freely,
but he communicates only in the
peculiar language of Sweettalkers—a
combination of clicks, sighs, whistles,
and hand gestures. Although the
language is remarkably intuitive for
strangers, a PC must nonetheless
succeed at a DC 15 Linguistics or
Sense Motive check to understand
Shiyu easily. Alternatively, the PCs
can hire an interpreter for 5 gold
pieces or have a hired guide
provide translations.
The Sweettalker is quite
friendly
but
becomes
increasingly frustrated if
he frequently has to repeat
himself.
Befriending
him
requires that at least half of those
PCs who interact with him succeed
at the skill check to understand what
he says (or use a guide or interpreter
to do the same). Otherwise, Shiyu
later shares the story with others, drawing unwanted
attention to the PCs.
What do you know about the Gael family? “I’ve heard
of the Gaels, because when they arrived in Kaer Maga,
they came to the Freemen for help. They told a story
about barely escaping a crime boss who tried to enslave
them. People rarely claim that unless it’s true, so for a
while the Gaels received help from the Freemen.”
Who are the Freemen? “The Freemen are mostly freed
or escaped slaves who live in the Bottoms district. They
work together to free other slaves in the city, and they all
undergo some combat training so they know what to do
if somebody tries to capture them again.
What kind of help did the Freemen give the Gaels?
“I hear they gave the Gaels some gear, a few guards,
and training at their fighting school. The Freemen also
offered the Gaels a safe place to stay in the Bottoms
district, but the Gaels didn’t take up the offer. I’m not
sure what else happened, but the Freemen’s council at the
Common House has been debating whether to withdraw
support from the Gaels.”
Development: Speaking with Shiyu should provide the
PCs enough information to track down the Freemen in
the Bottoms (see Part 2).
The Augurs’ Temple
The PCs’ third possible lead points them to the Augurs,
a society of trolls blessed with the gift of prophecy
and foresight. The Augur in question is Vargun, a
particularly worldly troll whom the PCs find
shopping in the stalls of Winesop Alley in the
shadow of the Augurs’ temple. Vargun wears
a long, purple toga with a bloodstained,
horizontal slit across her midsection. To
answer difficult questions, such as those
regarding the Gael family, she slices her
belly open, examines her own entrails,
and delivers the information in the form
of a dramatic pronouncement before
reinserting her organs and allowing her
regeneration to close the wound.
Augurs typically expect a fee—
often presented as donations—
for their services, though
Vargun does little more
than raise an eyebrow as she
concludes her reading. With
a successful DC 15 Sense
Motive check, a PC can tell
that she expects at least a few coins
in payment. She politely accepts a
donation of at least 5 gold pieces, but
the PCs can befriend her and buy her
silence by giving her at least 25 gold pieces. If the PCs
refuse to pay her minimal fee, she glowers and storms
off; angering her in this way actually adds an effective 3
hours to the time the PCs spend gathering information
for the purpose of determining Imelda’s and Dakar’s
reactions in later encounters.
What do you know about the Gael family? “These
Gaels have borrowed beyond their means, and their
creditors grow restless. The coins that circuit the city
are the coins that once padded the purse, but a dead
debtor pays no bills,” she intones before providing
a basic interpretation. “The ones you speak of have
dealt with the Commerce League, and the Commerce
League’s business is Dakar’s business. Be careful about
dabbling in Dakar’s business without his blessing.”
How do we find Dakar? Vargun grins cruelly, noting,
“One does not find Dakar. Dakar finds you.”
Development: By dealing with Vargun, not only do
the PCs learn about Dakar’s involvement, but also Dakar
Vargun
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7
quickly learns of the PCs’ interest in finding him (see
Part 2).
A. TerrAce coTTAge
The Bis district is entirely indoors, located inside the
hollowed-out southwestern segment of the city wall known
as the Ring. The Kiln, an imposing fortress and golem
factory, is visible in the district’s center. Giant lamps hang
on cables from the roof 80 feet above in artful geometric
arrangements. Massive balconies jut from the
walls of the Ring, supporting lavish
homes for the district’s elite.
Their flickering, magical lights
could almost be mistaken for
sparkling waterfalls constantly
pouring down the terraced stone
interior of the Ring.
The
directions
the
PCs receive from Miss
Feathers lead them to a
smoothed, stone terrace
on the northeast wall of
Bis that rises 20 feet above
the street level. An enclosed
staircase
spirals
upward
toward the home. A statue
of a human man stands
beside the house’s front
door, holding out an
everburning
torch
to light the balcony
and entry. The front
door is a sturdy wood
door locked with a
good lock (Disable Device DC 30). The large window in
the great room doesn’t open, though it is easily broken
(hardness 0, hp 2). A creature that can reach the kitchen
window finds it is unlocked and opens easily.
A1. Main room (cr 8 or cr 11)
This room’s walls are papered in white with elaborate patterns
in gold leaf. Large glass windows provide a commanding view
of the district. A comfortable leather armchair occupies one
corner, while a glass orb hanging over a round oaken table
glows with magical light. A door along the north wall stands
slightly ajar.
Traps: Imelda’s front door is rigged with a wrecking ball
trap, which uses a swinging weight to knock unwanted
visitors backward over the edge of the balcony. The trap
at the front door pushes its target to the west, whereas the
trap at the bedroom door pushes its target to the south.
Creatures: One of the assassination methods that
Imelda explored involved an exotic monster called a
deathtrap ooze. When Imelda learned that Pathfinders
were in Kaer Maga looking for her, she released the ooze
in her home and relocated quickly. The deathtrap ooze
has adapted to mimic this trap and taken up a position
at the bedroom door. In Subtier 8–9, a second deathtrap
ooze has replaced the trap on the front door.
Subtier 5–6 (CR 8)
WRECkING BAll TRAP
CR 2
Type mechanical; Perception DC 20;
Disable Device DC 20; Bypass hidden
switch (Perception DC 30)
EFFECTS
Trigger location;
Reset manual
Effect wrecking ball +15
(4d6 bludgeoning plus bull
rush; a creature struck
by this attack is pushed
back 10 feet plus
another 5 feet for every
5 points by which the
trap’s attack exceeded
the target’s CMD)
DEATHTRAP OOzE CR 8
hp 126 (Pathfinder RPG
Bestiary 3 64)
Subtier 8–9 (CR 11)
WRECkING BAll TRAP
CR 5
Type mechanical; Perception DC 25; Disable Device DC 25;
Bypass hidden switch (Perception DC 30)
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset manual
Effect wrecking ball +20 (4d6 bludgeoning plus bull rush; a
creature struck by this attack is pushed back 10 feet plus
another 5 feet for every 5 points by which the trap’s attack
exceeded the target’s CMD)
ADvANCED DEATHTRAP OOzES (2)
CR 9
hp 150 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 64, 290)
A2. Bedroom
This large bedroom is where Imelda used to sleep and
research potential assassination methods. It’s dark
inside, as Imelda took her lamps with her when she left. A
large oaken barrel stands open against the western wall.
A locked chest at the foot of the bed contains some of
A. Terrace Cottage
A2
A1
T
T
A4
A3
1 square = 5 feet
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Imelda’s old clothes. A large writing desk occupies the
northeast corner. A small wastepaper basket beneath it
contains some bent nails, a broken quill, and a crumpled
paper bearing a partially composed coded letter. With a
successful DC 15 Linguistics check, a PC can decode the
text; give the players Player Handout #2.
Treasure: The locked chest (Disable Device DC 20 or
break DC 23) contains spare clothes and several potions
Imelda dropped while she hastily packed to leave. In both
subtiers, a potion of invisibility, a potion of lesser restoration,
and a tin containing two applications of restorative
ointment are nestled among the clothes. In Subtier 8–9,
there is also a potion of haste and a boro bead (2nd-level).
Rewards: If the PCs fail to defeat or bypass the
deathtrap ooze(s) and search this room, reduce each PC’s
gold earned as follows.
Subtier 5–6: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 475 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 702 gp.
Subtier 8–9: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 954 gp.
A3. Kitchen
Despite appearing clean, this kitchen exudes a peculiar, sour
smell. A mortar and pestle, cutting board, and several bowls
sit out on the counter.
Imelda based her flayleaf production out of this house,
using the kitchen to dry and refine the leaves into a form
suitable for smoking or brewing tea. Though she cleaned
out the pantry, she didn’t have time to thoroughly remove
all traces of her work. A PC who succeeds at a DC 15 Craft
(alchemy) or Knowledge (nature) check identifies the smell
and traces of the flayleaf plant in the tools on the counter.
Flayleaf is a mildly addictive plant that is typically dried
and smoked or brewed into tea for a narcotic effect, but
the odor indicates Imelda was refining the plant even
more than is typical for smoking-grade flayleaf.
SCaliNG ENCOUNtER a1
Make the following changes to accommodate a party of
four PCs.
Subtier 5–6: The ooze was damaged in transit and has
not been fed enough for it to heal properly. Reduce its hit
points by 20 and give it the sickened condition.
Subtier 8–9: Remove the deathtrap oozes’ advanced
simple template.
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9
CRiME aND PUNiSHMENt iN BiS
If the PCs set the building on fire, break down walls, or
otherwise cause extensive mayhem that would alarm the
neighbors, they risk attracting the attention of the Ardoc
family. The PCs have 1d2+1 minutes of warning before
Chatham Ardoc, a longtime member of the Ardoc Brotherhood,
arrives with two iron golems (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 162)
in tow. He irritably questions them about the damage they
caused, hears any excuses, and then passes judgment.
Unless the PCs can convince him of their innocence with a
successful DC 30 Bluff or Diplomacy check, he administers
the typical punishment for burglary, vandalism, and similar
crimes: removing a knuckle from the fingers of each PC with
the sharp chisel that hangs at his belt. A PC subjected to this
punishment takes 1d4+1 Dex damage.
Should the PCs attempt to resist Ardoc justice, treat
Chatham as a battle mage (Pathfinder RPG Gamemastery
Guide 256).
A4. Privy
This small privy includes a brass tub and a washbasin
with a silver mirror. Many buildings in Bis have arcane
machines, and this home has a small magical incinerator
to dispense of household waste and thereby discourage
residents from tossing refuse down into the streets.
PART 2: BREAkING AllIANCES
Once the PCs have gathered intelligence, they should
be ready to meet with the Gael family’s allies. Although
the head of the Commerce League is difficult to locate,
arranging an audience with the Freemen is as simple as
walking into a bar in the Bottoms district.
The Common House
A maze of small tables fills the crowded floor of the Common
House, which is packed with plainly dressed citizens of the
Bottoms enjoying good company and a variety of local brews.
One especially long table in the center of the floor seats a
dozen humans and halflings, all engaged in debate.
The Freemen council holds its meetings at a long
table in the Common House, a pub and temple of Cayden
Cailean located in the Bottoms district. As the PCs arrive,
the council members are busy discussing a variety of
topics, such as district upkeep, regional injustices, and
future plans. They tend to take input from the crowd
in stride, and onlookers are free to nominate topics for
discussion whenever there’s a lull in the conversation.
Should the PCs bring up the Gael family, many of the
council members grumble and mutter noncommittally
before the de facto leader, a former Chelish mercenary
named Halman Wright, sums up the group’s sentiments,
saying, “The Gaels have been quiet but have done little
harm. We know them and can understand their concerns,
but you’re strangers to us. I see little that needs voting
on here.”
The council moves on to discuss other matters
unless the PCs make a convincing case. They can get
the council’s attention either by sharing Imelda’s coded
letter from area A2 or by succeeding at a DC 20 Bluff,
Diplomacy, or Perform (oratory) check. If the PCs are
successful, Wright takes the PCs aside and concedes that
the Gaels’ activities of late have been suspicious, but he’s
reticent to cease supporting fugitives in need. If the PCs
agree to perform a potentially dangerous task for him,
he might trust them enough to push the council to vote
against continuing to support the Gaels. If the PCs agree,
Wright gives them the details.
“Some folk walked in off the plateau yesterday with a pegasus
they captured—Cayden knows how—and they plan on selling
the poor thing at the Stockyards in Downmarket tomorrow.
All intelligent creatures deserve to be free, but we don’t have
the budget to buy it, and the Freemen can’t free it by force
without starting a war. You, though... you don’t live around
here. Being a newcomer doesn’t make things any safer for
you, but at least nobody expects your actions to fit into the
city’s politics. Make sure the Pegasus escapes the market, and
you’ll be sure to find the council tipped in your favor when
you return.”
It’s possible that some Pathfinders own slaves
themselves, or attempt to offend the Freemen by arguing
in favor of slavery. In this case, the Freemen may indicate
that the offending PC is no longer welcome by buying the
rest of the party a free round of drinks but offering the
offending character watered-down ale for 100 gp per mug.
In any case, the Freemen understand being forced to deal
with people they disagree with and are still willing to
speak to the other PCs.
B. STocKyArdS (cr 7 or cr 10)
Out in the open air of the city’s core, the Stockyards are a maze
of animal pens filled with earthy aromas and activity. The
occasional roars and bellows of more exotic creatures punctuate
the bleating of goats, cows, and other grazing animals.
Creatures: Once they reach the Stockyard, the PCs can
easily locate two Varisians named Arodus and Lissa—
who are, in fact, anti-Karela Sczarni trying to raise
money for the Gael family—standing by a small animal
pen. Inside the pen is a white pegasus that is muzzled,
N
B. Stockyards
1 square = 5 feet
S
S
P
Pathfinder Map Pack: Marketplace
S
= Sczarni Enforcer
P
= Pegasus
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hobbled, and has her wings bound to her sides with rope.
One of the Varisians holds a rope tied to the pegasus,
while the other shouts enthusiastically at wealthy
looking passersby, trying to interest them in buying
the creature. The Sczarni initially ask 5,000 gp for the
pegasus, yet a PC who succeeds at a DC 25 Appraise,
Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Profession (merchant) can
talk them into accepting half that amount. Alternatively,
the PCs can use enchantment spells, create diversions to
cut the pegasus free, the Bluff skill, or any number of
other creative solutions to secure the pegasus’s freedom.
If the situation escalates to combat, pedestrians and
livestock vendors hurry past or look on in distaste but
don’t interfere.
All Subtiers
PEGASUS
CR 3
hp 34 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 225)
TACTICS
During Combat While hobbled, the Pegasus can only move
at 1/4 speed, but it attempts to move closer to any good-
aligned PCs it detects.
Subtier 5–6 (CR 7)
SCzARNI ENFORCERS (2)
CR 5
hp 48 (see page 14)
Subtier 8–9 (CR 10)
SCzARNI ENFORCERS (2)
CR 8
hp 71 (see page 15)
Development: The Freemen have sent a few spotters to
see how the PCs handle their mission. If the PCs free the
pegasus successfully, one of the spotters surreptitiously
advises them to return to the Common House for more
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SCaliNG ENCOUNtER B2
Make the following adjustments to accommodate a party
of four PCs.
Subtier 1–2: Remove one brigand from the encounter.
In addition, Aldona has consumed a significant quantity of
alcohol as she awaits word from Marek, and she has the
sickened condition to reflect her intoxication.
Subtier 4–5: Remove one brigand from the encounter,
and replace Grinner with an advanced wolf.
formal congratulations. There the Freemen greet them
with a hearty cheer and a round of drinks. The PCs’
arrival also coincides with the council members debating
whether or not to send an emissary to Andoran—a perfect
opportunity for Andoran faction PCs to make their case,
as detailed below.
If the PCs rejected the mission or failed to save the
Pegasus, the Freemen don’t vote to withdraw their support
from the Gael family, and the PCs must face additional
Freemen mercenaries in area C2. In addition, it the PCs
resolved the situation without resorting to violence, their
actions may improve the Pathfinder Society’s reputation
in Kaer Maga; this contributes to the scenario’s secondary
success condition.
Faction
Notes:
Andoran
faction
PCs
have
an
opportunity to form their own alliance with the Freemen.
The members of the Freemen council understand the
virtues of Andoran’s representative government, but are
skeptical about the actual success of the Eagle Knights
in combating slavery. Some of the Freemen have heard
stories about rich Andorens wielding disproportionate
political influence and companies such as the Lumber
Consortium treating their workers poorly. These and
other rumors have driven council members to vote
against the emissary proposal.
Andoran faction PCs can win over these council
members in a variety of ways, whether by using the
democratic atmosphere to win votes or by taking
advantage of the pub setting to impress individual
council members with feats of alcohol tolerance, skill at
pub games, and braggadocio. If a PC prefers negotiation,
a successful DC 18 Diplomacy or Perform (comedy
or oratory) check wins the support of one of the five
members against the proposal. Meetings at the Common
House tend to run long, fluctuating between debate
and roistering, so the PCs can engage council members
to contests of drinking, darts, or arm wrestling; as
appropriate, allow the PC to attempt a DC 18 Fortitude
save or Strength check or a ranged attack roll against
AC 23 in place of a Diplomacy or Perform check. Increase
the each DC by 3 in Subtier 8–9. Andoran faction PCs
have five opportunities to attempt these checks—one per
skeptical Freeman; they successfully secure enough votes
if they can win over at least three of the five members.
Rewards: If the PCs fail to release the pegasus, reduce
each PC’s gold earned as follows.
Subtier 5–6: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 600 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 925 gp.
Subtier 8–9: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 1,250 gp.
The Commerce League
Since his involvement in the feud between the Pathfinder
Society and the Shadow Lodge years ago, Dakar, the
mysterious leader of the Commerce League, has made
a point of keeping close tabs on any Pathfinders that
visit Kaer Maga. If the PCs attempt to locate Dakar’s
headquarters on their own, the information they find
simply leads to an unused building, which is empty but
for an unsigned note that reads, “Your enthusiasm is
noted, but we shall meet on my terms.” Once the PCs have
spoken with the Freemen, Dakar decides the time is right
to meet these Pathfinders at one of his secretive hideouts.
As the PCs are traveling the streets, the thick crowds
suddenly disperse, leaving only a half-dozen burly thugs
and a wiry man leaning against a wagon. He smirks and
informs the PCs that “Dakar wants to speak with you.”
The location of the League’s leader is a secret, and only
by agreeing to have black bags (each bearing a permanent
effect akin to silence) placed over their heads and be driven
about the city in the wagon can the PCs reach Dakar’s
home. If the PCs agree, the wagon winds and bounces its
way through the streets for over an hour before the goons
guide the PCs for a short walk. When the bags are removed,
the PCs find themselves in a room luxuriously appointed
in the Tian style. Dakar, visible only as a shapeless
silhouette, addresses them from behind a large backlit
paper screen decorated with images of imperial dragons.
“You’ve been busy, Pathfinders, so I’ll get straight to the
point. I’ve invested a lot of money in the Gaels. If you’re
asking me to help you kill my investment, you’ll have to
offer me something more valuable in return.”
In truth, Dakar was already close to sending some of
his agents to shake Imelda down and send a message
to her family. If the PCs offer him money, he dismisses
the idea, preferring to deal in favors with individuals
as potentially useful as the PCs. He does not object to a
future service to be named, which translates to 2 Prestige
Points spent per PC; the PCs can share this cost among
themselves in whatever they please. However, Dakar
already has a favor in mind, which he suggests if the PCs
hesitate in devising their own payment.
“If you have nothing to offer, I have a job for you. Imelda Gael is
using her cousin Orphyro as a bit of a shield. The boy has been
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a member in good standing for many years now and always
paid his dues on time. Of course, I realize the kind of mishaps
that occur in your line of work, but I would be disappointed to
hear he was dead. Spare Orphyro’s life, and tell him he lives
courtesy of Dakar.”
So long as the PCs accept this deal, Dakar remarks,
“You’ll find your Gaels hiding in Orphyro’s store,
Pallbearers. It’s on the ground level of Ankar-Te, at the
corner of Blackstone Shamble and Three Eel Alley.”
Dakar appreciates dealing with street-smart and clever
clients, and he provides additional information if the
PCs concluded their investigation within 8 hours (after
including any adjustments if the PCs befriended one or
more of the NPCs during Part 1). “You should be aware
that Imelda Gael is an accomplished alchemist, and she
sells a drug called flayleaf that can induce a pathetic
state of fatigue or inebriation. She’s also benefited from
combat training with the Freemen for several months.
Her cousin Orphyro is a necromancer, as I’m sure you
guessed. Just yesterday he purchased the bodies of some
deceased Brothers of the Seal—a bit excessive for creating
household servants if you ask me.”
Very few know of Dakar’s true identity as a dark naga
(Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 211), and he prefers to keep it that
way. If a PC has already discovered Dakar’s identity from
a previous adventure and shares the information aloud,
Dakar threatens to end the meeting unless his guests
can show more discretion. If a PC knocks over the screen
shielding Dakar or otherwise reveals the naga’s form,
Dakar concludes the meeting, remarks, “I’m sorry, but I
was under the mistaken impression that I was dealing
with professionals,” and refuses to deal with the PCs
further during this adventure. Note that as a dark naga,
Dakar is immune to all forms of mind reading.
Faction Mission: Once the PCs conclude their business
regarding the Gaels, Dakar remarks, “It is regrettable
to lose out on an investment, especially one with such
connections to exotic goods as the disgraced Sczarni.
Should you learn of more reliable investments that might
pique my interest, it would be in your interest to keep
me apprised.” Although Dakar is willing to hear out PCs’
individual business deals, which he likely dismisses for
one reason or another, this is principally an opportunity
for Qadira faction PCs to propose a deal between the
Commerce League and their faction.
The prospect of dealing with Trade Prince Aaqir
al’Hakam intrigues Dakar, though he takes care not to
appear eager. He lays out a mercantile contract for Qadira
faction PCs to consider and sign as representatives of the
trade prince. The contract includes numerous unfavorable
terms: a discount on any goods traded, a price protection
agreement, promises to buy back unsold merchandise,
and formal introductions to the trade prince’s suppliers.
Qadira faction PCs can easily tell that al’Hakam would
be unhappy with the deal as proposed, and they have an
opportunity to haggle over the details. With a successful
DC 20 Appraise, Diplomacy, or Profession (merchant)
check, a PC can convince Dakar to drop one unfavorable
term from the deal. For every 5 points by which the check
exceeds the DC, Dakar drops one additional unfavorable
term. If the PCs insist on taking the contract back to Aaqir
al’Hakam, Dakar observes that opportunities rarely last
long, and his guests may not have the luxury of having
another opportunity like this one.
Although the PCs’ success at negotiating a deal depends
largely on a successful skill check, the GM and players
are encouraged to play out some of the negotiations; the
Qadira faction thrives on making deals, and they should
enjoy some spotlight time in this encounter. Feel free
to reward particularly clever haggling or roleplaying by
awarding up to a +5 bonus on the skill check.
c. PALLBeArerS
Imelda and several of her underlings have been hiding
out in the basement of a zombie shop in Kaer Maga’s
Ankar-Te district. Located on the street Blackstone
Shamble, Pallbearers specializes in selling palanquins,
sedan chairs, and zombie teams to carry them. Its owner,
Imelda’s cousin Orphyro, never really got into the family
business. Instead, he found his own success in Ankar-Te
animating and selling bound zombies for menial labor.
He values his family and has taken significant steps to
shelter and aid them, but he’s concerned about the risks
they’re taking with his own life and livelihood.
c1. Blackstone Shamble (cr 7 or cr 10)
Spices from Tian Xia and Vudra mingle with the muted scent of
death on the busy streets of Ankar-Te. The wealthy ride litters
carried by teams of undead that slowly push their way through
the press of pedestrians.
By now, Imelda Gael has discovered that the PCs are
looking for her and orders a preemptive strike as the PCs
approach the store. As part of her research into possible
assassination methods, she bought a large basket of asps.
To accomplish her preemptive strike, she has one of her
minions dump the snakes into a palanquin and order
four zombies to carry it through the street and drop it
next to the PCs, releasing the angry serpents.
Subtier 5–6 (CR 7)
HUMAN zOMBIES (4)
CR 1/2
hp 12 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 288)
C. Pallbearers
S1
S2
V
V
I
O
C1
C2
C6
C7
C4
F
C5
C3
N
N
1 square = 5 feet
1 square = 5 feet
S
= Sczarni Enforcer
V
= Jiang-Shi Vampire
I
= Imelda Gael
O
= Orphyro Ferenc
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the Stranger Within
13
vENOMOUS SNAkE SWARMS (2)
CR 4
hp 37 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 249)
Subtier 8–9 (CR 10)
RElENTlESS HIll GIANT zOMBIES (2)
CR 6
Variant relentless hill giant fast zombie (Pathfinder RPG
Bestiary 150, 288, Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Classic
Horrors Revisited 55)
NE Large undead
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
DEFENSE
AC 12, touch 9, flat-footed 12 (+3 natural, –1 size)
hp 77 (14d8+14)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +9
Immune undead traits
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee 2 slams +17 (1d8+8)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks quick strikes
STATISTICS
Str 27, Dex 10, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +10; CMB +19; CMD 29
Feats ToughnessB
Skills Climb +16
SPECIAl ABIlITIES
Quick Strikes (Ex) Whenever a relentless hill giant zombie
takes a full-attack action, it can make one additional slam
attack at its highest base attack bonus.
ADvANCED vENOMOUS SNAkE SWARMS (3)
CR 5
hp 47 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 249, 290)
c2. Pallbearers Storefront (cr varies)
The front door of Pallbearers is unlocked and opens into
this area.
A glass display case along the west wall presents a row of
mindless undead standing motionless within. Several skull-
shaped amulets hang on pegboard on the back wall behind
OPtiONal ENCOUNtER
Blackstone Shamble is an optional encounter. If there are
fewer than 2 hours remaining in which to complete the
adventure, skip this encounter.
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save or take 1 point of Wisdom damage and become
fatigued for 1 hour. This is a poison effect.
FREEMEN MERCENARIES (2)
CR 3
Guard officer (Pathfinder RPG Gamemastery Guide 261)
hp 34
TACTICS
During Combat The mercenaries hinder and harry the PCs
with a combination of Intimidate checks to demoralize,
entangling PCs with nets, and using superior reach to strike
and trip foes.
Morale The Freemen loyally support their allies and only
surrender or try to flee when the Sczarni do.
SCzARNI ENFORCERS (2)
CR 5
Human rogue 6
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +8; Senses Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +4 Dex)
hp 48 (6d8+18)
Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +1
Defensive Abilities evasion, uncanny dodge, trap sense +2
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 short sword +9 (1d6+2/19–20)
Ranged mwk dart +9 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks sneak attack +3d6
TACTICS
Before Combat The enforcers try to lure the PCs toward the
back of the store.
During Combat The enforcers order their zombies to break
through the glass and attack. They try to flank with the
zombies to make use of their sneak attack ability.
Morale The enforcers are dedicated to the Gael family, but they’re
not interested in fighting a losing battle. Once one enforcer is
defeated, the other flees once reduced to 15 or fewer hit points.
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 10
Base Atk +4; CMB +5; CMD 19
Feats Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative,
Nimble Moves, Step Up, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +12, Bluff +9, Climb +6, Disable Device +6,
Escape Artist +12, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (dungeoneering)
+7, Knowledge (local) +7, Perception +8, Sense Motive +5,
Sleight of Hand +12, Stealth +12, Use Magic Device +9
languages Common, Giant, Varisian
SQ rogue talents (bleeding attack +3, combat trick, finesse
rogue), trapfinding +3
Combat Gear potion of invisibility, alchemist’s fire (2); Other
Gear +1 chain shirt, +1 short sword, masterwork darts (3),
death’s head talisman (10 HD; Elbie only), antitoxin, thieves’
tools, 69 gp
the shop counter. A red lacquered-wood palanquin rests on the
floor, as if ready for a test ride.
The glass case remains spotlessly clean since the last
time Orphyro cleaned it.
Creatures: While Imelda and Orphyro work out
possible assassination scenarios in the secret basement,
Elbie and Crick—two of the lower-ranking Sczarni—
keep watch in the storefront above. By this time, Imelda
has learned of the Pathfinders in Kaer Maga, and her
subordinates are on alert. When the PCs enter the shop,
Crick (S1 on the map) leans casually on the counter and
calls out: “Sorry, the boss ain’t in right now. I can take
your order, though. Just step right up to the counter
here.” Elbie carries a death’s head talisman (see the
sidebar) and waits for the PCs to file into the main room
before commanding the special, alchemically enhanced
zombies to attack.
If the PCs failed to convince the Freemen to withdraw
their support, there are also two Freemen mercenaries
playing cards in area C3. When combat begins, they join
the fight. Remove these two combatants if the PCs instead
gained the Freemen’s support.
Subtier 5–6 (CR 9)
FlAYlEAF zOMBIES (4)
CR 1
Variant human zombie
hp 12 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 288)
OFFENSE
Special Attacks breath weapon (15-ft. cone, once every 1d4
rounds, exposed to flayleaf smoke, Fortitude DC 12 negates),
death burst
TACTICS
During Combat On orders from one of the Sczarni enforcers,
one of the zombies breaks a 10-foot section of glass,
creating an opening for the other zombies to attack. On the
opening round and each round thereafter, one zombie uses
its breath weapon, if possible.
SPECIAl ABIlITIES
Death Burst (Ex) When a flayleaf zombie dies, it explodes in
a burst of rotten flayleaf litter. All creatures adjacent to the
flayleaf zombie are exposed to flayleaf smoke.
Flayleaf Smoke (Ex) Creatures caught in a cloud of bitter
reddish flayleaf smoke must succeed at a DC 12 Fortitude
SCaliNG ENCOUNtER C2
To accommodate a party of four PCs, Elbie is taking a nap on
the worktable in area C3, and it takes him 2 rounds to wake
up, gather his equipment, and join combat. Crick instead has
the death’s head talisman..
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the Stranger Within
the Stranger Within
15
Subtier 8–9 (CR 12)
FlAYlEAF WIGHTS (4)
CR 4
Variant wight (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 276)
hp 26 each
OFFENSE
Special Attacks breath weapon (15-ft. cone, once every 1d4 rounds,
exposed to flayleaf smoke, Fortitude DC 15 negates), death burst
SPECIAl ABIlITIES
Death Burst (Ex) When a flayleaf wight dies, it explodes in a
burst of rotten flayleaf litter. All creatures adjacent to the
flayleaf wight are exposed to flayleaf smoke as if caught in its
breath weapon.
Flayleaf Smoke (Ex) Creatures caught in a cloud of bitter reddish
flayleaf smoke must succeed at a DC 15 Fortitude save or take
1 point of Wisdom damage and become fatigued for 1 hour.
This is a poison effect.
FREEMEN MERCENARIES (2)
CR 3
Watch captain (Pathfinder RPG Gamemastery Guide 261)
hp 57
TACTICS
During Combat The mercenaries use their halberds to trip and
strike the PCs, coordinating their maneuvers to the best of
their ability with those of their Sczarni allies.
Morale The Freemen loyally support their allies and only
surrender or try to flee when the Sczarni do.
SCzARNI ENFORCERS (2)
CR 8
Human rogue 9
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +9; Senses Perception +11
DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 16, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +5 Dex, +1 dodge)
hp 71 (9d8+27)
Fort +7, Ref +11, Will +2
Defensive Abilities evasion, improved uncanny dodge,
trap sense +3
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 short sword +12/+7 (1d6+2/19–20)
Ranged mwk dart +12/+7 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks sneak attack +5d6
TACTICS
Before Combat The enforcers try to lure the PCs toward the
back of the store.
During Combat The enforcers order their wights to break
through the glass and attack. They try to flank with the
wights to make use of their sneak attack ability.
Morale The enforcers are dedicated to the Gael family, but
they’re not interested in fighting a losing battle. Once one
enforcer is defeated, the other flees once reduced to 25 or
fewer hit points.
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 21, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 10
Base Atk +6; CMB +7; CMD 23
Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved
Initiative, Nimble Moves, Quick Draw, Step Up, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +17, Bluff +12, Climb +8, Disable
Device +16, Escape Artist +17, Intimidate +12, Knowledge
(dungeoneering) +9, Knowledge (local) +9, Perception +11,
Sense Motive +7, Sleight of Hand +17, Stealth +17, Use Magic
Device +7
languages Common, Giant, Varisian
SQ rogue talents (bleeding attack +5, combat trick, finesse
rogue, slow reactions), trapfinding +4
Combat Gear potion of invisibility, alchemist’s fire (2); Other
Gear +1 mithral chain shirt, +1 short sword, masterwork
DEatH’S HEaD taliSMaN
Though several necromancers in Kaer Maga deal in undead
servants, all use variations of the same method, instilling
their innate control over the creature into a convenient
magic item that can then be passed to the customer.
This amulet allows the wearer to command a number
of undead skeletons and zombies, which are keyed to the
amulet when it is created. The animation of the undead
is part of the creation process—undead that have already
been created cannot be bound to a death’s head talisman.
The number of HD of undead tied to the amulet is equal
to twice the amulet’s caster level. The amulet allows the
wearer to command the undead as if she had created them
with animate dead, even if she has no magical talent of her
own. The undead are only under control while the amulet is
worn; if the amulet is removed, the undead revert to normal
behavior, standing in place but responding if attacked. Once
the specific undead tied to the amulet are destroyed, the
talisman loses all power.
Craft Wondrous Item, animate dead
deATh’S heAd TALiSMAn
PRICE
vARIES
CL 5th (10 HD)
1,000 GP
CL 7th (14 HD)
1,400 GP
CL 9th (18 HD)
1,800 GP
CL 12th (24 HD)
2,400 GP
SlOT neck
Cl varies
WEIGHT —
AURA faint or moderate necromancy
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
COST varies
10 HD
625 GP
14 HD
875 GP
18 HD
1,125 GP
24 HD
1,500 GP
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dig from the Duskwardens. The walls and floors in
the hidden chambers beneath Pallbearers are made of
roughly dressed stone. The underground rooms have
10-foot-high ceilings decorated with bones laid out in
geometric patterns illuminated by bone chandeliers
bearing continual flame effects.
Orphyro plans to eventually station an undead
guardian in this room, but for now he has to settle for
a simple parlor trick. Orphyro has cast magic mouth on
the skulls that flanks the double doors. When a creature
enters the room while holding a weapon, the two skulls
speak in unison: “Lay down your weapons and enter
peacefully into the realm of the twice-born!”
Development: When Imelda and Orphyro hear the
magic mouths speak, they begin preparing for a fight. See
the NPCs’ tactics in area C5 for more details.
c5. Animation Studio (cr 9 or cr 12)
A quartet of bone chandeliers illuminates this chamber. Wiry,
reddish-brown plants grows in clay pots along the west wall,
and a collection of pots, pans, knives, and hammers hangs
above a butcher block, wood stove, and washbasin to the east.
To the south, a long stone table serves as an altar. A shelf set
into the wall behind the table holds a variety of sacred texts.
This room is Orphyro’s secret laboratory, a place
where he feels free to perform experiments that might
offend even the jaded residents of Ankar-Te. Orphyro
recently purchased the bodies of several deceased
Brothers of the Seal, an order of monks based out of the
Oriat district who are locked in a violent internal power
struggle. He has managed to reanimate two of them as
powerful jiang-shi vampires. In doing so, he knows he’s
taking a significant risk due to the prohibition against
intelligent undead in Kaer Maga, but he believes he
can keep them under control and out of sight until the
family crisis passes.
The potted plants are what remain of Imelda’s flayleaf
crop, which continues to grow with the alchemist’s care
and the room’s light. Each plant is about 4 feet tall;
collectively, they create a small area of difficult terrain.
Creatures: Imelda, Orphyro, and two jiang-shi vampire
monks prepare to ambush the PCs here. It is very likely
that the cousins are aware that the PCs are in the building,
and both use their alchemy and magic to prepare for the
inevitable conflict. If they hear the fighting upstairs—
or learn of the fighting from the jiang-shi vampires—
they begin to cast spells and consume extracts that last
for 7 minutes or more. Once they hear the magic mouths
in area C4, they perform the other preparations listed
in their tactics section. If the PCs take more than 5
minutes to reach the area, the two complete any further
darts (4), belt of incredible dexterity +2, death’s head
talisman (18 HD, Elbie only), antitoxin, thieves’ tools, 73 gp
Development: If the PCs capture Elbie or Krick,
the enforcers admit that they’re part of an anti-Karela
Sczarni faction and that two of their leaders are in
underground rooms hidden beneath the shop. They are
able to show the PCs how to find the secret trap door in
area C3. Any Freemen mercenaries are unfamiliar with
shop’s basement.
In addition, at the end of each combat round, Imelda,
Orphyro, and the vampires in area C5 can attempt a DC
32 Perception check to hear the combat through several
doors and walls. If they perceive the combat, they begin
preparing for a fight. See the NPCs’ tactics in area C5 for
more details.
Rewards: If the PCs fail to defeat or bypass the Sczarni
and any Freemen mercenaries, reduce each PC’s gold
earned as follows.
Subtier 5–6: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 600 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 925 gp.
Subtier 8–9: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 1,250 gp.
c3. Workroom
In the center of the room, a long table bears a confusing mess
of stains, a glass of red wine, and a half-eaten bag of peanuts.
A huge oil-on-velvet painting of woman in varying states of
decay covers much of the eastern wall.
Orphyro uses this room both to inspect the bodies he
buys to ensure they’re fit for reanimation and to make
repairs to damaged undead. The woman depicted in
the painting is Urgathoa, and is recognizable with a
successful DC 10 Knowledge (religion) check. PCs who
search the area and succeed at a DC 20 Perception check
notice the painting conceals a lever that, when flipped,
pops up a large stone tile in the floor. Beneath is a
winding staircase that leads down about 20 feet.
Treasure: A wand of inflict light wounds with 20 charges
lies on the table.
c4. hidden Staircase
A stone staircase doubles back on itself as it stretches deep
below surface level. A stone wall divided by a pair of doors
faces the foot of the stairs, with a single door each on the east
and west walls. Two human skulls rest on identical shelves on
either side of the double doors.
Orphyro created this basement over several months
through repeated use of stone shape and initially
concealed his work because he didn’t have a permit to
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the Stranger Within
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17
preparations, command the jiang-shi vampires to
advance, and go hunting for the Pathfinders.
If the PCs spent 8 or more hours investigating the
Gaels and their allies during Part 1, Imelda has had
additional time to study the PCs and prepare for the
inevitable confrontation. Her extract of resist energy is
attuned to whichever energy type the PCs favored most
in an earlier combat. Orphyro also casts resist energy
to match that energy type as well as death ward as part
of his spellcasting when he senses intruders. If one or
more of the PCs specializes in ranged combat, Imelda
has also purchased an arrow magnet (Pathfinder RPG
Ultimate Equipment 281) and deploys it near Orphyro as
she prepares the ambush. If none of the PCs specialize in
ranged combat, she instead acquires a feather token (whip)
and activates it as part of her preparations.
Subtier 5–6 (CR 9)
IMElDA GAEl
CR 6
Human alchemist 4/fighter 3
CN Medium humanoid (human)
INIT +1; SENSES PERCEPTION +9 DEFENSE
AC 23, touch 11, flat-footed 22 (+10 armor,
+1 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 48 (7 HD; 3d10+4d8+11)
Fort +9, Ref +7, Will
+4 (+1 vs. fear);
+2 vs. poison
Defensive Abilities
bravery +1;
Resist fire 10
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee mwk greatsword +14/+9 (2d6+9/19–20) or
mwk spiked gauntlet +13/+8 (1d4+6)
Special Attacks bomb 5/day (2d6+1 fire, DC 13)
Alchemist Extracts Prepared (CL 4th)
2nd—invisibility, resist energy
1st—cure light wounds, expeditious retreat,
shield, true strike
TACTICS
Before Combat Imelda drinks her strength mutagen
and extract of resist fire (already included in her
stats) at the first signs of trouble. She prefers to
wait to drink her extracts of shield, invisibility, and
expeditious retreat, in that order, until she hears the
magic mouth spells.
During Combat Imelda attacks with her weapons
and bombs while shouting to Orphyro for magical
support. She relies on the jiang-shi vampires to
protect her cousin while she focuses on particularly
dangerous targets.
Morale After seeing most of her family perish at the
Hellknights’ hands with Guaril Karela’s help, Imelda is hell-
bent on getting revenge and cutting down anyone who
stands in her way. She fights to the death.
Base Statistics Without her mutagen and extract of resist
energy (fire), Imelda’s base statistics are AC 21, touch 11,
flat-footed 20; Str 18, Int 14; Melee mwk greatsword +12/+7
(2d6+6/19–20).
STATISTICS
Str 22, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 10
Base Atk +6; CMB +12 (+14 bull rush); CMD
23 (25 vs. bull rush)
Feats Brew Potion,
Cleave, Combat
Reflexes, Improved
Bull Rush, Iron Will,
Power Attack, Step Up, Throw
Anything, Weapon Focus
(greatsword)
Skills Bluff +7, Climb +6,
Craft (alchemy) +11,
Diplomacy +7,
Intimidate +10,
Knowledge (local) +8,
Perception +9
languages Common,
Draconic, Giant,
Varisian
SQ alchemy (alchemy
crafting +4, identify potions),
armor training 1, discoveries
(explosive bomb, shock bomb),
mutagen (+4/–2, +2 natural,
40 minutes), poison use,
swift alchemy
Combat Gear acid (4),
smokestick, preserving flask
(1st-level)UE containing cure light
wounds; Other Gear +1 full
plate, masterwork greatsword,
masterwork spiked gauntlet,
cloak of resistance +1, alchemy
crafting kit, antitoxin, formula book
(contains all prepared extracts
SCaliNG ENCOUNtER C5
To accommodate a group of four PCs, remove one jiang-
shi vampire from the encounter. In Imelda’s frenzied
preparations to ambush the PCs, she has mixed her
mutagen improperly; she has the sickened condition while
under its effects.
orphyro ferenc
18
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Pathfinder Society Scenario
18
plus ant haulAPG, crafter’s fortuneAPG, disguise self, enlarge
person, and reduce person), 560 gp
ORPHYRO FERENC
CR6
Half-elf cleric of Urgathoa 7
NE Medium humanoid (elf, human)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 20 (+7 armor, +3 deflection,
–1 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 49 (7d8+14)
Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +8; +2 vs. enchantments
Immune sleep
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee mwk scythe +7 (2d4+1/×4)
Special Attacks channel negative
energy 6/day (DC 20, 4d6),
hand of the acolyte (6/day)
Domain Spell-like Abilities
(CL 7th; concentration +10)
6/day—bleeding touch
(3 rounds)
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 7th;
concentration +10)
4th—death wardD, freedom
of movement
3rd—animate deadD, cure serious
wounds, dispel magic, wind wall
2nd—eagle’s splendor, magic mouthD,
remove paralysis, resist energy,
undetectable alignment
1st—cause fearD (DC 14), entropic shield, hide from undead,
protection from good, remove fear, shield of faith
0 (at will)—detect magic, detect poison, purify food and
drink, stabilize
D domain spell; Domains Death, Magic
TACTICS
Before Combat Orphyro casts freedom of movement, eagle’s
splendor, shield of faith, and entropic shield (already
included in his stats), in that order, at the first sign of
trouble. He casts undetectable alignment at the start of
every day, believing it’s a prudent business precaution.
During Combat Orphyro uses his spells to support his allies
and channels negative energy to harm his enemies. He tries
to keep his jiang-shi vampires between himself and the PCs.
Morale Orphyro is not ready to die. If the PCs defeat Imelda
and at least one of his jiang-shi vampires, Orphyro proposes
a truce. He only surrenders if he believes he has a chance of
surviving to see another day.
Base Statistics Without eagle’s splendor and shield of faith,
Orphyro’s stats are AC 17, Special Attacks channel negative
energy 6/day (DC 18), Cha 16.
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 20
Base Atk +5; CMB +6; CMD 18
Feats Command Undead, Improved Channel, Improved
Initiative, Selective Channeling, Skill Focus (Sense Motive)
Skills Bluff +6, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (religion) +8,
Perception +9, Sense Motive +12; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
languages Common, Elven
SQ elf blood
Other Gear +1 breastplate, masterwork scythe,
amulet of natural armor +1, silver unholy symbol
of Urgathoa, tattoo unholy symbol of UrgathoaUE,
onyx gems worth 300 gp, 7 gp
IMPERFECT JIANG-SHI vAMPIRES (2)
CR 5
hp 51 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 278)
TACTICS
During Combat The jiang-shi vampires
follow Orphyro’s orders but recoil in
horror if ordered to enter the pantry
(area C7).
STATISTICS
SQ staggered
Subtier 8–9 (CR 12)
IMElDA GAEl
CR 9
Human alchemist 7/fighter 3 (Pathfinder
RPG Advanced Player’s Guide)
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +11
DEFENSE
AC 28, touch 12, flat-footed 26 (+10 armor, +2 Dex, +2 natural,
+4 shield)
hp 68 (10 HD; 3d10+7d8+17)
Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +6 (+1 vs. fear); +4 vs. poison
Defensive Abilities bravery +1; Resist fire 20
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee +1 greatsword +18/+13 (2d6+13/19–20) or
mwk spiked gauntlet +17/+12 (1d4+8)
Special Attacks bomb 8/day (4d6+1 fire, DC 14)
Alchemist Extracts Prepared (CL 7th)
3rd—haste
2nd—bull’s strength, invisibility (2), resist energy
1st—cure light wounds (2), expeditious retreat, shield,
true strike
TACTICS
Before Combat Imelda drinks her strength mutagen and
extracts of resist fire, bull’s strength, shield, and invisibility
(already included in her stats), in that order, at the first signs
of trouble. She prefers to wait to drink her extract of haste
until she hears the magic mouth spells.
19
the Stranger Within
the Stranger Within
19
During Combat Imelda attacks with her weapons and bombs
while shouting to Orphyro for magical support. She relies
on the jiang-shi vampires to protect her cousin while she
focuses on particularly dangerous targets.
Morale After seeing most of her family perish at the Hellknights’
hands with Guaril Karela’s help, Imelda is hell-bent on getting
revenge and cutting down anyone who stands in her way. She
fights to the death.
Base Statistics Without her mutagen and extracts, Imelda’s
base statistics are AC 22, touch 12, flat-footed 20; Str 18,
Int 14; Melee +1 greatsword +14/+9 (2d6+7/19–20)
STATISTICS
Str 26, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 10
Base Atk +8; CMB +16 (+18 bull rush); CMD 28 (30 vs. bull rush)
Feats Brew Potion, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Great Cleave,
Improved Bull Rush, Iron Will, Power Attack, Step Up, Throw
Anything, Weapon Focus (greatsword)
Skills Bluff +9, Climb +8, Craft (alchemy) +13, Diplomacy +8,
Intimidate +12, Knowledge (local) +10, Perception +11
languages Common, Draconic, Giant, Varisian
SQ alchemy (alchemy crafting +7, identify potions), armor
training 1, discoveries (concussive bomb, explosive bomb,
shock bomb), mutagen (+4/–2, +2 natural, 70 minutes),
poison use, swift alchemy, swift poisoning
Combat Gear acid (4), smokestick, preserving flask UE (1st-
level) containing cure light wounds; Other Gear +1 full
plate, +1 greatsword, masterwork spiked gauntlet, cloak of
resistance +2, alchemy crafting kit, antitoxin, formula book
(contains all prepared extracts plus aid, ant haulAPG, crafter’s
fortuneAPG, disguise self, enlarge person, fly, fox’s cunning,
reduce person, and spider climb), 310 gp
ORPHYRO FERENC
CR 9
Half-elf cleric of Urgathoa 10
NE Medium humanoid (elf, human)
Init +3; Senses deathwatch 30 ft., low-light vision;
Perception +13
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 20 (+7 armor, +3 deflection, –1 Dex,
+1 natural)
hp 78 (10d8+30)
Fort +11, Ref +2, Will +11; +2 vs. enchantments
Defensive Abilities death’s embrace; Immune sleep
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee mwk scythe +9/+4 (2d4+1/×4)
Special Attacks channel negative energy 6/day (DC 22, 5d6),
hand of the acolyte (7/day)
Domain Spell-like Abilities (CL 10th; concentration +14)
7/day—bleeding touch (5 rounds)
1/day—dispelling touch
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 10th; concentration +14)
5th—insect plague, spell resistanceD, wall of stone (DC 19)
4th—air walk, cure critical wounds, death wardD, dismissal
(DC 18), freedom of movement
3rd—animate deadD, cure serious wounds, dispel magic,
invisibility purge, wind wall
2nd—desecrate, eagle’s splendor, magic mouthD, remove
paralysis, resist energy, undetectable alignment
1st—cause fearD (DC 15), entropic shield, hide from undead,
protection from good, remove fear, shield of faith
0 (at will)—detect magic, detect poison, purify food and
drink, stabilize
D domain spell; Domains Death, Magic
TACTICS
Before Combat Orphyro casts desecrate, freedom of
movement, eagle’s splendor, shield of faith, and entropic
shield (already included in his stats), in that order, at the first
sign of trouble. He casts undetectable alignment at the start
of every day, believing it’s a prudent business precaution.
During Combat Orphyro uses his spells to support his allies and
channels negative energy to harm his enemies. He tries to
keep his jiang-shi vampires between himself and the PCs.
Morale Orphyro is not ready to die. If the PCs defeat Imelda
and at least one of his jiang-shi vampires, Orphyro proposes
a truce. He only surrenders if he believes he has a chance of
surviving to see another day.
Base Statistics Without eagle’s splendor and shield of faith,
Orphyro’s stats are AC 17, Special Attacks channel negative
energy 6/day (DC 18), Cha 16.
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 8, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 20
Base Atk +7; CMB +8; CMD 20
Feats Command Undead, Great Fortitude, Improved Channel,
Improved Initiative, Selective Channeling, Skill Focus
(Sense Motive)
Skills Intimidate +8, Knowledge (religion) +10, Perception +13,
Sense Motive +13; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
languages Common, Elven
SQ elf blood
Combat Gear unholy water (2); Other Gear +1 breastplate,
deathwatch eyes, masterwork scythe, amulet of natural
armor +1, headband of inspired wisdom +2, silver unholy
symbol of Urgathoa, tattoo unholy symbol of Urgathoa, onyx
gems worth 300 gp, silver dust worth 50 gp, 657 gp
JIANG-SHI vAMPIRES (2)
CR 6
hp 51 each (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 278)
TACTICS
During Combat The jiang-shi vampires follow Orphyro’s orders
but recoil in horror if ordered to enter the pantry (area C7).
Development: If Orphyro survives the fight, he is shaken
by any news that he only survives thanks to Dakar’s will.
Although the half-elf has helped Imelda for several months,
she has kept him at arm’s length when it comes to the details
20
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Pathfinder Society Scenario
20
of many of the Gael family’s plots and schemes. He can relate
that there are only a handful of other Gaels operating in
Avistan, and the rest of the family left Kaer Maga only a few
weeks ago, leaving Imelda in charge of further operations in
the city. From what he could gather, Imelda was certain that
she would be leaving soon to strike at Guaril Karela.
Rewards: If the PCs fail to defeat Imelda and her allies,
reduce each PC’s gold earned as follows.
Subtier 5–6: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 907 gp.
Out of Subtier: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 1,403 gp.
Subtier 8–9: Reduce each PC’s gold earned by 1,899 gp.
c6. Sleeping Shelves
This room’s western wall bears a dozen morgue cabinets
that slide out from wall, each large enough to store a
humanoid corpse. The lowest shelves hold bundles of
clothes or bedrolls. This room is normally used to store
bodies awaiting animation, extra inventory of zombies,
and customer returns or repairs. Recently, the Gaels have
commandeered the room as living quarters.
Several small notebooks, encoded using the same
cypher as the letter in Imelda’s house, are stacked on one
of the sleeping shelves. These notebooks contain details
about other members of the Gael family and the locations
and plots they were tasked with pursuing. The cities and
settlements of Absalom, Daggermark, Jol, Riddleport, and
Tamran appear most frequently in these plans.
c7. Pantry
The walls of this long room are lined with shelves that bow
under the weight of precariously stacked jars, cans, and
bags of rice. This small room is always cool and filled with
snacks and staple foods, though there’s nothing innately
magic about it. The necromancer likes to buy food in bulk
and typically brings several zombie servants to the market
to carry back large loads.
Hazard: A creature moving through here at more than
half speed must succeed at a DC 15 Reflex save or knock
down several shelves loaded with jars and cans. Failure
produces a loud crash and makes the floor of this room
difficult terrain.
CONClUSION
Evidence found in Pallbearers suggests that although the
Pathfinders have crippled the Gael family’s operations in
Kaer Maga, several of its members have already departed
to perform a desperate attack on Guaril Karela. Once the
Gaels realize that Imelda is dead or captured, they call
upon their agents in other cities to accelerate their plans
to undermine Guaril’s empire, weaken his defenses, and
deliver a deathblow.
If the PCs allowed Orphyro to live, Dakar considers the
PCs’ debt fulfilled and does not trouble them in the future;
however, if the PCs killed Orphyro, Dakar seethes at the
PCs’ failure to uphold their end of the bargain. The PCs’
and the Society’s endeavors in Kaer Maga are much more
difficult in the future as the Commerce League flexes its
muscles. Unless the PCs spend 2 Prestige Points each at
the end of scenario to pay off Dakar, each PC receives the
Dakar’s Ire boon on his or her Chronicle sheet.
Reporting Notes
If Andoran faction PCs convinced the Freemen to send an
envoy to Andoran, check box A on the reporting sheet. If
Qadira faction PCs secured a favorable trade deal with Dakar
and the Commerce League, check box B; note that failing
to fulfill Dakar’s request not to kill Orphyro also causes
him to abandon any trade deal (see Faction Notes, below).
If Qadira faction PCs instead secured an unfavorable trade
deal, check box C. Check neither box if no deal was reached.
Finally, check box D if Orphyro survived until the end of
the scenario.
Primary Success Condition
The PCs successfully complete their main mission so
long as they capture or kill Imelda Gael, which disrupts
the rogue Sczarni operations in Kaer Maga. Doing so
earns each PC 1 Prestige Point.
Secondary Success Conditions
The PCs successfully complete their secondary success
condition if they avoid damaging—or actually improve—
the Pathfinder Society’s reputation in Kaer Maga. Doing so
requires fulfilling three of the following four conditions:
befriend at least two of the three contacts in Part 1, avoid
punishment by the Ardoc family for actions in Bis (attacking
the Ardoc family counts as failing this condition), resolve
encounter B without killing either of the Sczarni, or fulfill
the deal with Dakar by not killing Orphyro. Should the
PCs somehow bypass one of these condition’s respective
encounters, treat the condition as fulfilled. Succeeding at
these tasks earn each PC 1 additional Prestige Point.
Faction Notes
Members of the Andoran faction must convince the
Freemen Council to send an envoy to Andoran, which
requires faction PCs to win the support of at least three
of the five dissenting members. Earning these councilors’
support earns each Andoran faction PC the Price of
Freedom boon on his or her Chronicle sheet.
Members of the Qadira faction need to secure a
favorable trade deal or other commercial alliance with
Dakar, the leader of Kaer Maga’s Commerce League.
Securing a successful deal requires Qadira faction PCs
to negotiate and haggle with Dakar to include at most
two unfavorable terms in the deal. If a deal is secured
21
the Stranger Within
the Stranger Within
21
in such a manner, each Qadira faction PC receives the
Kaer Maga Contract boon on his or her Chronicle sheet,
unless the PCs also killed Orphyro, in which case Dakar
calls off the deal.
Completing this scenario and succeeding at the
primary success condition contributes directly to the
Sczarni faction’s goals, and Sczarni faction PCs have no
additional conditions to fulfill. Each Sczarni faction PC
who completes this scenario receives the Deal from the
Pickled Imp boon on his or her Chronicle sheet.
PlayER HaNDOUt #1: SEalED lEttER
PlayER HaNDOUt #2: CRUMPlED lEttER
Greetings Pathfinders,
As you may have heard, the Decemvirate has decided to extend its protection to
Guaril Karela, who has proven himself a valuable informant. Karela has requested the
Society’s help to head off an assassination plot against him. We’ve learned that the
Gael family, a rogue Sczarni faction, is behind the plot, and they are operating out of
Kaer Maga with the support of some of the city’s ruling factions. As the senior field
agents in the area, you are the best equipped to investigate the Gael family and disrupt
its plans. Root out where they’re hiding, and shut down their operation.
As you are no doubt aware, politics in the Asylum Stone can be complex and
nuanced, even by Absalom’s standards. To avoid stirring up a hornet’s nest, I advise
you to do your best to turn the conspirators’ allies against them before striking their
hiding place. Keep in mind that past events in Kaer Maga have tarnished the Society’s
image in the city. I wouldn’t expect hostility, but flashing a wayfinder is unlikely to
impress the locals. Try not to further undermine our image through acts of public
mayhem. Since Master Karela is officially under the Society’s protection now, I would
remind you that our reputation is on the line. Be efficient.
Ambrus Valsin
Orphyro,
My most recent experiments have fared poorly. The snakes and slimes are
deadly, but I’ve given up trying to train them. One way or another, we’re going
to kill that weasel, and I’ve reached the point that I’m willing to entertain your
methodologies. Don’t make me regret that.
At least the training at the fighting school is going well; we should probably all
spend some time there. I just wish we could get more use out of the Freemen. They
would make great soldiers if I could get them dependent on me for something.
22
Pathfinder Society Scenario
Pathfinder Society Scenario
22
Event
GM #
GM Character #
GM Prestige Earned
GM Name
Date
A
B
C
D
Cheliax
Sczarni
Andoran
Qadira
Osirion
Taldor
Grand Lodge
Silver Crusade
Cheliax
Sczarni
Andoran
Qadira
Osirion
Taldor
Grand Lodge
Silver Crusade
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
Cheliax
Sczarni
Andoran
Qadira
Osirion
Taldor
Grand Lodge
Silver Crusade
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
Cheliax
Sczarni
Andoran
Qadira
Osirion
Taldor
Grand Lodge
Silver Crusade
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
Cheliax
Sczarni
Andoran
Qadira
Osirion
Taldor
Grand Lodge
Silver Crusade
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
Cheliax
Sczarni
Andoran
Qadira
Osirion
Taldor
Grand Lodge
Silver Crusade
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
Cheliax
Sczarni
Andoran
Qadira
Osirion
Taldor
Grand Lodge
Silver Crusade
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
Cheliax
Sczarni
Andoran
Qadira
Osirion
Taldor
Grand Lodge
Silver Crusade
Character #
Prestige Points
Character Name
Pathfinder Society Scenario #5–18:
The Stranger Within
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System Reference Document © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc; Authors:
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Pathfinder Society Scenario #5–18: The Stranger Within © 2014, Paizo Inc.;
Author: Sam Polak
paizo.com/pathfi nder
Paizo, Paizo Inc. the Paizo golem logo, Pathfi nder, and the Pathfi nder logo are registered trademarks of Paizo Inc. and
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Notes
Normal
Slow
SUBTIER
Player Name
A.k.A.
Character Name
Pathfinder Society #
Faction
–
EVENT
EVENT CODE
DATE
Game Master’s Signature
GM Pathfinder Society #
For GM Only
Normal
Slow
SUBTIER
Normal
Slow
SUBTIER
Normal
Slow
SUBTIER
This Chronicle sheet grants access to the following:
Starting XP
EXPERIENCE
GM’s
Initials
GM’s
Initials
GM’s
Initials
GM’s
Initials
XP Gained (GM ONlY)
Final XP Total
+
+
+
+
=
=
FAME
Initial Prestige
Initial Fame
Prestige Gained (GM ONlY)
–
–
Prestige Spent
Current
Prestige
Final
Fame
Starting GP
GP Gained (GM ONlY)
Day Job (GM ONlY)
Gold Spent
Total
GOlD
MAX GOlD
Character Chronicle #
5–6
1,291
2,582
8–9
2,677
5,353
Out of
subtier 1,984
3,968
—
—
—
Pathfinder Society Scenario #5–18:
The Stranger Within
Dakar’s Ire: You failed to uphold your end of a bargain with Dakar, and the wily leader of the Commerce
League won’t forget such a slight. In fact, he actively undermines your future deeds in the City of
Strangers until you pay off your debt. You take a –2 penalty on all Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate
checks while in Kaer Maga; this penalty increases to –5 when dealing with any member of the Commerce
League. In addition, at the start of any meeting with Dakar, he orders his guards to rough you up as a
reminder that he still remembers what you owe, dealing 1d6 points of nonlethal damage to you per Hit
Die you possess. You can make amends by spending 2 Prestige Points to pay off your debt, after which you
must cross this boon off your Chronicle sheet.
Deal from the Pickled Imp (Sczarni Faction): You have crippled the rogue Sczarni operations, leaving
the survivors scattered but still capable of a desperate counterattack. Guaril Karela trusts that you will
be properly equipped for that confrontation. You may use this boon when selling one item to sell it for
its full market price rather than at half value. When you use this boon, cross it off your Chronicle sheet.
Kaer Maga Contract (Qadira Faction): You helped to secure a lucrative contract between the Qadira
faction and the Commerce League. Recognizing you as an able negotiator, Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam
invites you to accompany him as he meets with suppliers and other contacts, during which time he
helps you to polish the skills you have and learn several that you might have ignored before. When
using the retraining rules presented in Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat to retrain skill ranks over a
period of 5 days, you may use this boon to retrain those skill ranks for free. When you use this boon,
cross it off your Chronicle sheet.
The Price of Freedom (Andoran Faction): Your friendship with the Freemen has secured you some
time to train at the Price of Freedom, their combat training facility. When using the retraining rules
presented in Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat to retrain a feat, you may use this boon to retrain that feat
for free. When you use this boon, cross it off your Chronicle sheet.
All Subtiers
Subtier 8–9
Amulet of natural armor +1 (2,000 gp)
Cloak of resistance +1 (1,000 gp)
Preserving flask (1st-level; 1,000 gp; Pathfinder RPG
Ultimate Equipment 316)
Restorative ointment (2 applications remaining;
1,600 gp, limit 1)
Belt of incredible dexterity +2 (4,000 gp)
Boro bead (2nd-level; 4,000 gp; Ultimate
Equipment 284)
Cloak of resistance +2 (4,000 gp)
Deathwatch eyes (2,000 gp; Ultimate Equipment 224)
Headband of inspired wisdom +2 (4,000 gp)
| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/Society/Season 05/S05-18 The Stranger Within.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter
Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without
permission of Wizards of the Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please
visit www.wizards.com/d20
This is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction
and run DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, Living Greyhawk, D&D Rewards, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon
Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This
material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of
the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast,
Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely
coincidental. © 2008 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
COR8-01
Machinations
A One-Round Dungeons & Dragons® Living
Greyhawk™ Core Adventure
Version 1
by Bradley Lester
Circle Reviewer: Creighton Broadhurst
Reviewers: Eric Menge and Sam Weiss
Playtesters: William Altizer, Marsha Hillman, Sean Hillman, Bill Kronick, Chrism Kronick, Brian Mahoney, Dawn
Meade, Harry Meade, Matthew Schad, and Michelle Schad
The wealth and glamour of the Gem of the Flanaess mask a fierce power struggle among Greyhawk's ruthless elite.
Factions plot against each other beneath a veneer of civility where even indirect details can trip up the most careful of
schemers. Those who ask questions will learn too much, but in Greyhawk, innocence is not a defense and ignorance is
never bliss. Parties skilled in stealth or guile will flourish. A one-round Core adventure set in the Free City of Greyhawk
for characters level 1-15 (APLs 2-12) and the first intrigue of “Honor Among Thieves.”
Resources for this adventure [and the authors of those works] include City of Greyhawk Poster Map [Denis Tetreault]
Complete Adventurer [Jesse Decker], Complete Divine [David Noonan], Complete Scoundrel [Mike McArtor and F. Wesley
Schneider], Greyhawk Ruins Sourcebook [Creighton Broadhurst, Chris Chesher, Paul Looby, Bruce Paris, and Sam Weiss],
Magic Item Compendium [Andy Collins, Eytan Bernstein, Frank Brunner, Owen K.C. Stephens, John Snead], Races of Stone
[David Noonan, Jesse Decker, Michelle Lyons], Spell Compendium [Matthew Sernett, Jeff Grubb, Mike McArtor], The
Adventure Begins [Roger Moore], and the RPGA Web Site Article: Mysterious Places, The Griffon’s Nest [Creighton Broadhurst].
598 CY
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 1
RPGA® SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide,
ongoing D&D® campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—
you must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event
could be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
group of friends meeting at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL™ gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the table Dungeon
Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all
the time in the cases of home events) the senior
gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have to be a
HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not
the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First, it is an official game,
and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second, players and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2008.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit
the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
PLAYERS READ NO FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than this
section, you’ll know too much about its challenges, which
kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure as part
of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this point
makes you ineligible to do so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of
the following D&D rule books: Player’s Handbook,
Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics
provides player information for you to paraphrase or read
aloud when appropriate. Information on nonplayer
characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated
form in the adventure text. Refer to Appendix 1 for full
information on
NPCs
and
monsters.
For
your
convenience, Appendix 1 is split by APL
Along with this adventure, you’ll find a RPGA
Session Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as
part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in
this sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll also
find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR). You
need one copy of this for each participating player.
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
This adventure’s challenges are proportionate to the
modified average character level of participating PCs.
Before play begins, calculate the Average Party Level
(APL) by following the process below:
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs.
Each PC may bring one animal, plus any creatures
gained from class abilities to help in combat. (PCs
can bring more creatures but they cannot help in
combat). If you deem that the animal bestows a
significant benefit in combat add the animal’s CR to
the level of the PC it is accompanying for
calculating APL. (Animals gained from class abilities
and one standard horse, warhorse, or riding dog for
a PC with Mounted Combat do not affect APL).
2.
Sum the results of step 1 and divide by the number
of characters playing in the adventure. Round to the
nearest whole number.
3.
If there are six PCs, add one to that average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of
challenge the PCs face. APLs are given in even-numbered
increments. If the APL of your group falls on an odd
number, ask them before the adventure begins whether
they would like to play a harder or easier adventure.
Based on their choice, use either the higher or the lower
adjacent APL.
Experience and Treasure: APL affects the amount
of experience and gold a PC can gain at the end of the
adventure. A player character more than three levels
higher than the APL at which the adventure is played
cannot participate. If a player character is more than two
levels away from the APL at which the adventure is
played, he suffers a 50% penalty to the amount of gold and
XP gained in the adventure.
Four or five 1st-level characters may find the
challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the
following to these groups to help increase their chances
of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
2.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them and fight for them.
These APL calculation rules reference version 7.0 of the
Living Greyhawk Campaign Sourcebook. If you are playing
this adventure in 2008, check the current version of the
LGCS and follow any updated rules presented within.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 2
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard one-round Core adventure, set in the
Free City of Greyhawk. All characters pay 1 Time Unit
per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp per time
unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per time unit. Luxury
Upkeep costs 100 gp per time unit. Characters that fail to
pay at least Standard Upkeep retain temporary ability
damage until the next adventure, must buy new spell
component pouches and healer’s kits, and may suffer
other in-game penalties (or possibly benefits) as detailed
in this adventure.
A character that does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may avoid the above-described penalties by
living off the wild. If the character possesses four or more
ranks in Survival and succeeds on a DC 20 Survival
check, he heals temporary ability damage as if he had
Standard Upkeep, may refill spell component pouches
and healer’s kits, and may restock up to 20 arrows or bolts
if the character has at least four ranks in Craft
(bowmaking). PCs may Take 10 on this roll.
Chapters 1 and 5 of the LGCS present more
information about lifestyle and upkeep.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
The future is bright for the Gem of the Flanaess. Narwell
is being rebuilt apace, Rary the Traitor's plots seem foiled,
Turrosh Mak is facing a renewed surge by the Principality
of Ulek on his western borders so the war with the
Pomarj has settled down into a stalemate, and
preparations are under way for the celebrations
celebrating the Free City's first century of independence
from the Malachite Throne.
But for Nerof Gasgal, the Lord Mayor of Greyhawk,
the future is one headache after another. The balancing
act that he has maintained since first being elected in CY
570 is taking its toll. First, he had to contend with the
Greyhawk Wars, then the betrayal by Rary and the fragile
peace that followed, and now the invasion by the Orcish
Empire of the Pomarj. A number of internal woes have
beset Greyhawk as well.
On top of all this, Nerof Gasgal is frustrated by Eritai
Kaan-Iprizel, High Priestess of St. Cuthbert. Even though
he has near total control of the city, its finances, and its
future, Eritai has proven a hindrance for many of Nerof’s
plans. She was instrumental in getting Sir Gavin
appointed
Constable
which
has
reformed
the
Constabulary and inconvenienced the Thieves’ Guild.
She is Nerof’s sole remaining credible opposition on the
Directing Oligarchy, and her influence in the city is
growing. Eritai is very popular with the common-folk and
is seen as the voice of decency and honesty among all the
thieves and merchants who dominate the council. To
date, the other Oligarchs have been hesitant to remove
her for fear of unrest among the lower classes and
peasantry.
A ray of light appeared for Nerof when Turrosh Mak
sent a secret message that he wished to negotiate the end
of the war. Nerof wants to push the expense of the war
onto the Principality of Ulek and free up resources to deal
with incursions from Dyvers and Urnst. So negotiations
have begun. Nerof knows Eritai will strenuously object
when the negotiations are revealed, and he does not
think he can handle another scandal so soon. He wants to
get rid of her now, before things reach a critical point, so
he can lock down the Directing Oligarchy ahead of time.
Since the war is going favorably, he has political capital to
spend. He is currently manipulating the Directing
Oligarchy to have Eritai removed and replaced with Silas
Steamgem, the Guildmaster of the Moneychangers and
Pawnbrokers Guild, who has just made a lot of money
recently on the resettlement of Narwell.
Eritai is no fool and she suspects that something is
up. She is gathering allies in the city, preparing for the
inevitable confrontation between thief and priest. Her
allies are the old money nobles, who despise their city
being run by gangsters, and the leaders of the small
artisan guilds and peasants who resent being kept down
by the thieves, merchants, and lawyers.
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
The adventure begins on the third of Growfest at the
Highway Gate, leading into Greyhawk. The PCs are
introduced to the sights and sounds of the Free City of
Greyhawk. They can use their Gather Information checks
to learn about some of the local news; including the
weapons and magic usage rules in the Free City. The PCs
are given an invitation to stay at the Griffon's Nest by the
owner's brother.
Encounter 1: Arrival at the Griffon's Nest. The
PCs are introduced to the Griffon's Nest and its owner.
The PCs can use their Gather Information skills to gather
more local information. A Growfest party is in full swing.
Encounter 2: A Night on the Town. The PCs are at
the Griffon’s Nest when Silas Steamgem, a protégé of the
Lord Mayor, puts in an appearance at the party. Silas
hopes to generate some good talk among people. Over
the course of interacting with the partygoers, a brawl
breaks out, catching Silas and the PCs in the middle.
Encounter 3: The Morning After. Marial, an agent
of the Circle of Eight, meets with the PCs to get them to
investigate the plots of the two factions on the Directing
Oligarchy. She cannot learn the information herself
because she is known in town, and that would raise more
questions than provide answers. The PCs are relatively
unknown and because of the fight, have a motivation to
inquire about such things. Marial gives the PCs until the
start of the Growfest fireworks display on the evening of
Freeday, four days from now.
Encounter 4: The Sticking of Noses. The PCs
learn about the political situation by asking questions
about various members of the city council. They can learn
that Nerof Gasgal has plans to force one of the Oligarchs
from office, that a high level paladin of St. Cuthbert is
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 3
redirecting food and supplies to the poor, and that one of
the Oligarchs is meeting with emissaries from the
Pomarj.
Encounter 5: Growfest. This optional encounter
provides details on significant events in the City of
Greyhawk during Growfest. The PCs can see the festival
of St. Cuthbert Day, participate in a student protest rally
in Clerksberg, and finally witness as session of the Public
Council of Greyhawk.
Encounter 6: Dead Ends. Along their way to speak
to the Beggarmaster, the PCs are ambushed by thugs in
the Slum Quarter. These thugs have rigged nearby
buildings to drop onto passersby in the street. If they are
defeated, the PCs find a chest that the beggars have failed
to open with some odd treasure inside.
Encounter 7: The Palace of Trash. The PCs meet
with Simeon the Beggarmaster at the Palace of Trash to
gain or confirm information. Simeon refuses to help
them until they deal with a personal issue for the
Beggarmaster. His granddaughter has been kidnapped by
a dangerous rapscallion.
Encounter 8: Noses Get Broken. The PCs put
together clues to find a hidden Cult of Iuz, which is lead
by the rapscallion. The beggarmaster’s daughter is in dire
peril and the PCs must end yet another incursion by the
Cult of Iuz.
Encounter 9: A Meeting of the Minds. If they
choose to do so, the PCs can meet with Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel
or Talasek Thraydin, the paladin organizing the shipment
of supplies to the poor. Talasek confirms that he is behind
the supply shipments. If the PCs tell Eritai of the plot to
remove her, then she is prepared when Nerof puts his
plan into motion.
Encounter 10: Reporting In. The PCs get to see
the fireworks display and report back to Marial. There,
they meet Marial’s benefactor – Otto of the Circle of
Eight. The PCs can tell them as little or as much as the
want. Otto reminds them of the Oligarch meeting the
next day.
Conclusion. The showdown between the two
factions takes place the morning of Starday at the
meeting of the Directing Oligarchy. If the PCs informed
Eritai about the Nerof’s plan, she steps down at the
Conclusion to keep the Free City from erupting into a
riot. If the PCs did not meet with her, Nerof takes her by
surprise, and she storms out of the meeting. A riot erupts
in the Free City that takes the City Watch and Greyhawk
Militia weeks to quell.
If the PCs prevented Silas Steamgem from being
humiliated in Encounter 2, he is elected to replace her. If
not,
then
Jawan
Sumbar,
Guildmaster
of
the
Cartographers is elected to the Directing Oligarchy
instead.
PREPARATION FOR PLAY
This adventure involves significant dealings with the
political powers of the City of Greyhawk. There are far
too many favors that could affect events within this
adventure to list here. Instead, make note of any
significant favors gained by the PCs in the Free City. In
addition, Free City Affiliations have a role to play in this
adventure. Note which PCs are part of which affiliations.
Specifics regarding the Free City Affiliations and the
favors mentioned above are available in the Greyhawk
Ruins Sourcebook.
PASSAGE OF TIME
Time is of critical importance in this adventure. The
names of the seven day week are: Starday, Sunday,
Moonday, Godsday, Waterday, Earthday, and Freeday
NEW RULE ITEMS
Core adventures often utilize new rules items –including
new classes, prestige classes, races, feats, spells, and
equipment (including magic items) – that do not appear
in any of the three core D&D books (Player’s Handbook,
Dungeon Master’s Guide, or Monster Manual). The full write-
up of any featured feats, spells, or equipment appears in
Appendix 2. Information on featured classes, prestige
classes, and races appears in the relevant creature’s stat
block. All the information required to run these
characters is presented in this adventure. The DM should
double-check that he fully understands any new rule
items presented in this adventure before play begins.
INTRODUCTION
This adventure takes place during Growfest - the festival
celebrating the transition from spring to low summer.
When the adventure begins, the PCs are returning to
the City of Greyhawk for whatever reason they choose.
The PCs, either individually or in groups, arrive at the
line to pass through the gates to the Free City of
Greyhawk on the 3rd of Growfest, Moonday, just before
noon. If the PCs decide to arrive separately, have them
arrive in line at the same time.
The population of the city is swelling in anticipation
of the upcoming Growfest celebrations and the start of
the trade season. Entry into the Free City through any of
its outer gates is an arduous process during the festival,
but this adventure begins at the Highway Gate.
Whether for the first time or the hundredth time,
your travels have brought you to the City of
Greyhawk – the crossroads of the Flanaess. But you
are not the only one. It is Moonday and the third day
of the festival of Growfest. Hundreds of travelers
from near and far have descended on the Highway
Gate. Although the sun is not directly overhead yet,
the line of carts, people, and assorted animals moves
slowly through the massive gate as the City Watch
and the tax collectors perform their jobs; at the
standard bureaucratic snail’s pace of course.
While the PCs wait in line, they have the opportunity to
introduce themselves to each other.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 4
The City Watch and the other people in line do not
tolerate line jumping without Intimidation, Diplomacy,
or Bribery. Each person allows a PC to skip ahead of them
for a gold orb (the gold piece in Greyhawk) or a DC 15
Intimidate check or a DC 25 Diplomacy check. There are
150 people in front of the PCs.
The mounted City Watch members ride up and
down the line looking for jumpers and those who look
like they would cause problems (unusual weapons or
animal companions for example). They also attempt to
keep the street urchins from bothering those in line too
much. They’ll look the other way of a line jumper with 10
gp bribe, a DC 20 Intimidate check, or a DC 20
Diplomacy check.
TALKING TO OTHERS IN LINE
The PCs may converse with others in line. Allow each PC
to make a Gather Information. A successful check allows
them to learn the following information. If the check is
not successful, the people that person talks to is not all
that talkative. Half-orcs get a -4 to this check as people
tend to associate them with the Pomarj rather than as
honest individuals.
DC <10
•
“Did you know that the Greyhawk City area was
painted pink as a joke? It’s faded to a rose color now.”
•
“The ruins of Castle Greyhawk offer never ending
adventure, treasure, and death for those who are
foolish enough to enter.”
•
“Great! Tomorrow is St. Cuthbert’s Day. The Free
City will be run amok with celebrating Cuthberites.
Complain about it to one of them and you could find
yourself getting the beating of your life.”
DC 10-14
•
“The lines to get through the gates get longer all the
time. You think for all the money paid in taxes, they
would figure out how to speed this up.”
•
“It’s the time of year for the caravans to depart the
city for their annual trading runs. Hopefully the
Coinswords are able to keep most of the bandits run
off.” [Coinsword is a slang word for the Greyhawk
Militia.]
•
“There is talk among the Oligarchs that taxes will
have to be raised again. I wonder whose pocket that
will go into.”
•
“There are so many poor outside the walls. How do
they find enough to eat?”
DC 15-19
•
“The City Watch and the Guild of Nightwatchmen
have been more aggressive over the past year. But
crime never seems to get any better.”
•
“The forces of the Pomarj have not been attacking as
often. Maybe they just got tired of fighting.”
•
“With some many people coming to town, the inns
are going to be full. I hope we can find a place.”
•
“Many in the Free City want to see the Coinswords
go on the offensive while the forces of the Pomarj
are quiet; before they get the chance to recover their
strength.”
•
“Many in the Free City want to see the Coinswords
stay closer to home to provide better security within
the Domain and fix the gods blessed roads.”
DC 20+
•
“Rumor has it that the meeting of the Directing
Oligarchy last Starday was pretty heated. The Lord
Mayor and another Oligarch were almost shouting at
each other.”
•
“I heard there is a new Great Druid in the Gnarley. I
bet the trees are going to start attacking the villages
near the forest.”
ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS
While the PCs are in line, they are approached by
vendors.
Sellers, mostly children, ply those in line with all
sorts of goods. The City Watch, slowly riding horses
up and down the line, tries to keep the most
annoying of these ‘businessmen’ from harassing
those waiting to get into the City.
The Beggar’s Union uses the street urchins to sell cheap
Greyhawk-themed knickknacks to people. A successful
DC 12 Appraise check tells the PC that the items are all of
poor quality. When the urchins approach the PCs, they
use a different tactic for adventurers:
A filthy boy of no more than ten years, dressed in
layers of burlap rags, looks both ways along the line
of people for the guards on horseback, then not
seeing them, makes a beeline for you where he
blurts out, “Hey Mister [or Ma’am]. You want a
prized piece of Castle Greyhawk to remember your
visit?” He holds out a lump of masonry that is
scorched on one side.
The street urchin is offering the masonry for 1d4 gp. PCs
can try and barter with the sellers, but they need a
successful DC 25 Diplomacy check to get a 1 gp discount.
No price falls below 1 gp. The use of Intimide or
threatened violence causes the seller to immediately run
off.
�Street Urchin: male human commoner 1, hp 4,
AL N, (Bluff +5, Sense Motive +5).
If the PCs argue about the authenticity of the items,
the urchin holds out a piece of paper and says,
“Hey, these are legit. I’ve gotta Certifcate of Aw-ten-
ticy. Spat on by a priest of Zagyg and everything.”
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 5
The old piece of parchment has the word Certificate of
Authenticity written in big words across the top and
states that the lump of rock is Genuine Castle Greyhawk.
There is a blotch on the paper where it used to be wet
with a scribble under it that could be a signature.
Assuming no intimidating tactics are used, after two
or three rebuffs, the seller gets the message and sees a
more promising mark elsewhere in the line and runs off.
If a sale is made, the urchin scurries off with his gold.
AN INVITATION
You are almost to the main gate when a half-elven
man, with long dark hair, walks up to several wagons
or groups in front of you and converses with them.
After several moments, he shakes their hands and
moves on to the next group. Eventually he makes his
way to you.
He flashes a beaming smile and says, “Greetings
travelers; my name is Severin Nyie. My brother
manages the Griffon’s Nest, one of the better
establishments in town. Well, at least it is in my
humble opinion. Have you heard of it? It’s warm and
the
food
is
decent,
and
we
usually
have
entertainment each night. As a matter of fact, we are
having our Growfest celebration tonight. Here, take
these tokens, they’re good for a free drink.”
Severin is happy to spend a few minutes talking to the
PCs if it helps ensure rich adventurers come to stay at his
brother’s inn. He can provide much of the gossip given
above, but use a Diplomacy check instead of a Gather
Information to extract the information.
�Severin Nyie: male half-elf expert 5, AL N (Spot
+10, Sense Motive +8).
If the PCs ask where the Griffon’s Nest is, he says:
He continues “Go to the Strip in the River Quarter,
you can’t miss it. It’s right across the street from
McGloogan’s Warehouse almost next to the
Nightwatchmen’s Guildstation. When you arrive,
ask for Curain Nyie, my brother and give him those
tokens.”
GETTING TO THE GATE
An hour later, you finally make it to the gate. The
guards and tax collectors descend on you; a group of
three guards wearing tabards of Greyhawk over
chain mail approach; followed closely by two non-
descript scribes, carrying logbooks.
The guards remind the PCs about the rules (see the
Greyhawk Ruins Sourcebook or Appendix 3) regarding
Unusual Companions and Weapons/Spell restrictions.
They ask the PCs if they have anything to declare.
Banned items can be securely stored at the gate, for a 5 gp
fee paid to the Free City. Evil items that are surrendered
at this point carry no ill effects for the person or party.
Alter the encounter as needed to reflect the favors or
disfavors the PCs may have. PCs can attempt to smuggle
items into the Free City per the rules in the Greyhawk
Ruins Sourcebook and Appendix 3. If they are caught, they
reap the rewards as defined in the Greyhawk Ruins
Sourcebook and Appendix 3.
Once the guards are finished with the PCs, the tax
collectors get their opportunity. They collect monies
owed to the City per the Greyhawk Ruins Sourcebook and
Appendix 3. Once the PCs have paid up and signed the
gate roster, they are allowed to enter the Free City.
1: ARRIVAL AT THE GRIFFON’S
NEST
When the PCs enter the Free City, read
The Promenade runs the length of the city and is
crowded with travelers. The fabulous wealth of the
merchants clashes with the squalid poverty that can
be seen lurking in the alleys of the Old City. The
heavy patrols along the great avenue keep the dregs
of society in the shadows.
The Griffon’s Nest is located on The Strip in the River
Quarter of the Free City. Refer to DM Map 1 for the
location.
The PCs can stay at any inn in the Free City that they
choose. The lifestyle costs the players pay for each
adventure covers such expenses. However, the adventure
assumes that they stay at the Griffon’s Nest. The PCs may
use any of the inns listed in the Greyhawk Ruins
Sourcebook. If the PCs go to a different inn, modify the
adventure to remove the Griffon’s Nest specific
references to make it more generic.
Along the Strip, locations like Green Dragon Inn
and the Low Seas Tavern are packed to capacity with
people hanging around outside, waiting to get in.
Across the street from McGloogan’s Warehouse
is a small, two-story inn in its own walled
compound. A gaudy picture of two griffons roosting
in what appears to be a gigantic bird’s nest decorates
the street-facing wall of the compound. Some stables
can be seen alongside the inn.
When the PCs enter the establishment, continue.
While not as crowded as the other inns, the
atmosphere of the Griffon’s Nest is quite boisterous.
A large common room, with a stage area on which
musicians perform, dominates the ground floor. The
majority of the accommodations are located on the
second floor which overlooks the common room.
At least three barmaids work the common room,
deftly maneuvering between the tightly packed
groups of people. Humans of all races can be seen
along with some half-elves, dwarves, and the
occasional halfling.
COR8-01 Machinations
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See DM Map 2 for the layout of the Griffon’s Rest. If the
PCs ask for Curain Nyie, a patron or barmaid points
towards the bar.
Behind the bar stands a tall half-elf. He wears his
long black hair in a single ponytail that hangs down
below his shoulder blades. Clad in fine, tight-fitting
studded leather armor he cuts quite the dashing
figure. His right cheek and neck bears the silvery
tracing of some very convoluted and old scarring.
If the PCs approach Curain, read:
“The man finishes refilling a dwarf’s drink when he
looks up to you. “Welcome! Welcome to the recently
remodeled Griffon’s Nest, how may I, Curain Nyie,
proprietor of this fine establishment, provide you
excellent service today?” he says with a broad smile.
�Curain Nyie: male half-elf bard 8, AL N (Profession
(innkeeper) +15, Spot +10, Sense Motive +12).
If asked about the scarring, Curain says that it is an
old wound he received back during his adventuring days
in the March of Bissel. A trap went off, and he ducked
when he should have jumped.
Curain still has rooms available. The cost is 1 gp per
person per day (minimum of 3 days), paid in advance. (“A
mere pittance compared to what the Green or the Low
Seas charge!”) The cost includes breakfast in the morning,
stable space and food for animals, and first drink at the
bar. The costs of the basic room are covered by standard
lifestyle.
Curain has rooms available for those needing High
or Luxury lifestyle. Those have upgraded linens, better
furniture, and are farther from the common area so there
less noise. They are 5 gp and 10 gp a night respectively
(and covered by rich and luxury lifestyle).
Spot checks made at the Griffon’s Nest reveals
nothing unusual. Although the fireplaces and hearths are
a full blaze, the inn still has a chill in the air.
If the PCs present the tokens given to them by
Severin, Curain gladly provides the first drink on the
house. He has pretty much anything the PCs would want
to drink. Meals are stews made from chicken, pork, or
lamb with various vegetables and spices served with fresh
bread and cheeses.
If the PCs chat with him about the goings on in the
Free City, he relays up to the DC 10-14 Gather
Information to the PCs listed below.
HANGING OUT AT THE INN
Over the next couple of hours, the PCs can use their
Gather Information skills to learn the following
information from the people at the Growfest party in the
Griffon’s Nest.
Note: PCs spending at least 10 gp in drinks over the
course of the evening at the inn receive a +2 circumstance
bonus to Gather Information checks made during that
time. Half-orc PCs have a -4 penalty.
DC <10
•
The PCs make polite conversation but learn nothing
more than what is available in the Greyhawk Ruins
Sourcebook.
•
Tomorrow is St. Cuthbert’s Day. The Free City is full
of Cuthberites celebrating their holy day.
•
Curain Nyie has owned the Griffon’s Nest for a
while, but recently completed a major renovation of
the establishment in an attempt to raise the inn’s
credibility among its clients.
•
There’s a great deal of discontent in the city.
Something’s got to give soon.
DC 10-14
•
The Griffon’s Nest is not as popular as other inns in
the area.
•
There is a general unease among the population of
the Free City in regards to the recent lack of attacks
by the forces of the Pomarj and what it means.
•
“Did you notice the collection of ruts and holes they
call roads coming in here? The Wainwrights must be
bribing the Council not to fix the roads.”
•
Two dwarven adventurers sitting at the bar tell the
PCs that there is a substantial lack of activity along
the southern border of the Domain of Greyhawk
with the Pomarj. They are not sure why that is, but
lucky for them though.
•
A local artisan, a pot maker, tells the PCs that he
thinks several members of the Directing Oligarchy
are thieves. They’re robbing the common people of
the city blind.
•
A merchant of fine porcelain tableware tells the
party that if the Pomarj is content to stay out of the
Domain; then so be it. Build up the defenses along
the border and focus on cleaning up the thievery
going on in and around the Free City. She believes it
is better for business that way.
•
A human bard tells the party that there are so many
destitute and poor in this city. It is a shame that more
is not done to help them. Especially at this time of
the year.
DC 15-19
•
The Griffon’s Nest is reputed to be haunted,
although the truth of this matter is the source of
much conjecture among its patrons. Strange sounds
in the night, chilly breezes, that sort of thing.
•
One would think for all the effort Curain went into
remodeling the Griffon’s Nest, he would have gotten
the roads in front of the building fixed too.
•
“The militia is called Coinswords because that’s
what’s on the crest of Greyhawk and that’s all that
matters in this city. If you don’t have coin then
you’re nothing.”
•
Some of the citizens of the city believe it is high time
the Coinswords crushed the Pomarj for good.
COR8-01 Machinations
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•
A winemaker from a winery in the south part of the
Domain tells the PCs that the Directing Oligarchy of
the Free City should redouble its efforts to break the
Pomarj. Beat them thoroughly enough and they will
get the message: do not mess with the Domain of
Greyhawk.
•
A clothing trader tells the PCs that the Lord Mayor,
Nerof Gasgal, is of the belief that increasing the
security within the Domain and expanding trade
with friendly regions is the only way to properly
secure the future of the Free City.
•
An acolyte of St. Cuthbert tells the PCs that the High
Priestess of St. Cuthbert, Eritai Kaan-Iprizel has been
delivering some fiery sermons on crushing the
external enemies of the Free City as well as exposing
the corruption and filth that plagues us from within.
•
A half-elven male tells you that the Slum Quarter is
filled to overflowing. The number of destitute have
multiplied in recent years. The Beggar Union’s
membership, the absolute bottom of the Greyhawk
barrel, has swelled.
DC20+
•
Although Curain smiles at talk that his inn is
haunted and derides it as the drunken ramblings of
some of his most regular customers, a DC 20 Sense
Motive check reveals that this subject makes him
uncomfortable.
•
Curain has been talking with friends in high places
(bribing officials) in an attempt to get the roads in
front of his establishment fixed as soon as possible.
•
A younger partygoer, who brashly introduces
himself (especially to attractive female PCs) as a
Wheatmill, one of the old money noble families of
Greyhawk. He complains that the Free City’s
government is rife with corruption.
•
While talking to a young, attractive Suel priestess of
Rao, she gets a faraway look in her eyes then tells the
PCs that the ‘shadows within the Free City move
with purpose’. Afterwards, she returns to a bubbly
cheerful woman and has no idea why she would say
something like that or what it means.
•
A gnome wagon driver tells the PCs that he noticed
several wagons of food and blankets being escorted
by well-armed men, it was too dark to tell who they
were exactly, to someplace in the Slum Quarter, just
before sunrise earlier this week. He did not stick
around to find out more.
2: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
A couple of hours after sundown on Moonday (the 3rd of
Growfest), Silas Steamgem arrives at the Griffon’s Nest.
Silas is the Guildmaster of the Union of Moneychangers
and Pawnbrokers, the most influential banking concern
in the Domain of Greyhawk. Curain has been politicking
with Silas to get the Oligarchs to fix the roads in front of
his inn as soon as possible. In addition Curain owes Silas
a significant amount of money that he used for repairs on
the Griffon’s Rest.
Silas Steamgem, who is positioning himself to be the
next person voted onto the Directing Oligarchy when a
position opens up, told Curain to throw a party. The party
allows Silas the opportunity to show the people his
generosity and build up popular support.
The party has gone on for several hours when the
door to the inn opens and a group of people enter. A
muscular man wearing a chain shirt and tabard
enters the common room, looks around, and nods
back out the open door. A richly-dressed gnome
enters the inn followed by another guard. The
bodyguards constantly scan the crowd, while the
gnome makes his way through the crowd as Curain
Nyie greets them.
A successful DC 20 Knowledge (local - core) check tells
the PC that the gnome is Silas Steamgem, Guildmaster of
the Union of Moneychangers and Pawnbrokers. The
bodyguards wear guild tabards.
�Silas Steamgem: male gnome, expert 7, AL LN.
The gnome calls out “Curain, my friend, how are
you? Good, yes? I have come to talk to you about this
loan of yours I hold.” All eyes in the tavern are on the
two as the music from the bards dies away. Silas
holds up a thick bundle of papers. Curain swallows
nervously. “I was thinking that we should
renegotiate. I’ll tear up this loan but only if you give
everyone in the bar a free drink. What say you?”
The choice is made in the blink of an eye. “Free
drinks!” Silas prestidigitates and the loan contract
goes up in a burst of flame. The crowd at the
Griffon’s Nest erupts into cheers.
The barmaids and Curain are overwhelmed with drink
orders for the next half hour. The bards begin to play
again.
Silas makes his way through the crowd, stopping at
each knot of people to shake hands and have a brief
conversation. His two bodyguards follow close behind. A
successful DC 10Spot check followed by a DC 20 Sense
Motive check tells the PCs that some of the groups are
happy to see the Guildmaster while others are not as
happy. Eventually, Silas approaches the PCs.
When the gnome offers his hand to you and says,
“Hello, I am Silas Steamgem. I see that our good
friend Curain Nyie has put together a wonderful
Growfest event. Thank you for coming. Are you
enjoying yourselves?”
Silas only lingers for a few minutes, but is happy to chat
for a brief time. If the PCs bring up the issues use the
following information to reply.
COR8-01 Machinations
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•
“The weather has been quite lovely lately. Good for
travel and good for trade. Is it good for adventuring
too?
•
“I’ve heard that the Pomarj has been less active
recently. I’m not sure what that means though. Do
you have any insight?”
•
“If we can get the borders fortified, we can allow the
Coinswords to patrol the countryside more for
bandits. Once the people feel more secure, they will
be more productive. Improved productivity means
more trade, which is good for everyone.”
•
“Those that worship St. Cuthbert are indeed a strong
breed of individual. Very focused they are. Do you
follow the Straight and Narrow Path?”
•
“By catering to travelers, Curain provides a valuable
service to the city. Trade is the life’s blood of the City
of Greyhawk and it is in the city’s interest to make
sure it flourishes.”
When the PCs are finished with their discussions with
the Silas, continue with the following.
“Excellent!” he says, “Please do continue to enjoy
yourselves. And when you tell others about tonight,
be sure they know that you have a friend in Silas
Steamgem and the Union of Moneychangers and
Pawnbrokers.” With that, Silas takes leave of you,
making his way to another group.
A DC 5 Listen check) reveals that Silas begins the same
conversation with the next group. Once the PCs meet
Silas, they encounter the small group of people debating
the issue of the war with the Pomarj.
Nearby, one of the groups that spoke with Silas
earlier comes over. Leading them is a large, middle-
aged fellow. He looks like he would be more at ease
on a boat than in an urban setting such as this. “So
what did that pompous windbag Silas say to you?
If asked, the man identifies himself as Talbot Graymuck.
He is an oyster farmer on Woolly Bay. Due to the number
of times he has had to rebuild his farm after raids, he is a
firm supporter of the Eritai faction within the Free City.
�Talbot Graymuck: male human expert 4.
Adjust Tablot’s answer to respond to the PCs, but
regardless of what the PCs say, he launches into a tirade
against Silas.
“He’s just another merchant thief talking out of
both sides of his mouth. This is nothing but a stunt
to buy favor. All they do is raise taxes, and then send
some knee breakers to collect more. They’ve done
nothing about the orcs down in the Pomarj in
months. It’s high time the Coinswords were allowed
to go at those buggers and crush them.”
During his tirade, another group, led by a
shorter, but no less stocky man, wearing spectacles
listens intently. “Simple thinking from simple
minds, eh Talbot?” he begins. “The answer always
seems to be to bash’em to pieces. We need to get our
own house in order. Don’t you agree?” he asks you.
The second man is Jonash Rekarum. He is a miner in the
Cairn Hills. Since he pays protection to the Thieves’
Guild (under the table) and openly supports Nerof
Gasgal, Jonash has had very little loss due to banditry or
attacks. The Greyhawk Militia is always nearby to protect
his interests.
�Jonash Rekarum: male human expert 4.
If the PCs wish to jump into the conversation, by all
means let them. Talbot angrily responds to Jonash and
any PC who sides with him.
“Oh don’t feed me that line of crap, Jonash!” Talbot
responds, “You’ve have the Coinswords sitting on
top of your precious mines in the Cairn Hills. Let
someone come along and raze your hard work, then
come talk to me.” He looks to you, “See what I’m
saying? They’re always looking out for number one
and that’s never us. What say you?”
These two people, and others in their respective parties,
start a ‘vigorous’ vocal debate; each trying to win the PCs
over to their side. As things heat up, Silas walks up to the
assembled group.
“Gentlemen, there is no need for harsh language.
Please, let’s enjoy what we have available here,” he
says, with a smile, placing a hand on Talbot’s and
Jonash’s arms.
Talbot knocks Silas’ hand off his shoulder. “Get
your thieving hands off me!”
Jonash shoves Talbot hard, shouting, “Back off!
He’s done nothing to deserve that!” One of Talbot’s
friends takes a swing at Jonash and in seconds the
entire place erupts into a brawl!
Curain yells, “I just fixed this place!” but no one
listens. Silas screams in terror as his bodyguards are
overwhelmed, leaving him at the mercy of the
political pugilists.
The bar fight is represented mechanically by an
encounter trap. However, this encounter is meant to be
fun; it is not a serious threat to the PCs’. Consider it more
of a wild barroom brawl than a serious fight. Before the
brawl begins, explain to the players how their characters
can interact with the trap.
Trap: The Griffon’s Nest bar is shown on DM Map 2.
The PCs begin at table in the bottom right corner
(marked on the map). The whole place is crowded with
brawling patrons, throwing fists, chairs, drinks, and food.
The goal of the PCs is either to “disarm” the trap (by
neutralizing the other patrons) and/or to get Silas
Steamgem (marked S on the map) out of the inn before
he is humiliated. Silas begs for their help.
To escape from the Griffon’s Nest, the PCs must
make it out of the inn. They can escape through any
window or door. If they decide to help Silas, they must
COR8-01 Machinations
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escort Silas through one of the four doors marked on the
map (the kitchen, the rear, and the double front doors).
Silas will not suffer the indignity of climbing through a
window as this immediately results in humiliation. The
PCs must maneuver him across the room before he loses
face in front of his guests because of the flying debris.
The trap consists of two parts. The first part consists
of many sections of the bar that must be “disarmed” to
escape. The sections are marked in yellow on DM Map 2.
Each round a PC is in an active section of the brawl, the
trap makes an attack on the PC to deal subdual damage.
Also, each square of an active section is exceedingly
difficult terrain and counts as four squares of movement.
Disarmed sections count as difficult terrain, taking two
squares of movement. Silas has a speed of 20 ft. and a +2
bonus to his initiative. The PCs cannot use planar travel
to get out of the inn, as one of the brawlers successfully
targets Silas with a dimensional anchor before the PCs act.
The PCs may disarm a section in several ways. They
can use Diplomacy to talk their way past the brawlers in
one section or Intimidate to force their way through one
section. They can make a normal attack in order to brawl
a path through a section. They may use magic to
effectively “dispel” the brawlers in that section. Only
spells that affect an area and that do not inflict any
physical damage will work for this purpose. A spell that
causes actual damage lands the party in jail and would do
major damage to Silas’ reputation, which automatically
humiliates him and gets the PCs arrested.
The second part of the trap is the attacks on Silas.
The PCs must protect him or he will be humiliated and
be unable to get the support he needs to join the
Oligarchy. Each round on the trap’s turn, Silas (regardless
of whether he is in an active section or not) suffers the
indignity of food thrown at him, beer dumped on his
head, and crude jokes about his nose and height. The PCs
may try to block this with a successful ability check that
exceeds the humiliation DC, as a standard action. Any
ability score may be used, with an action appropriate to
the ability and setting (Strength is using a table to cover
Silas, Dexterity is pulling him aside, and so forth). This
must be done on the trap’s turn so PCs may need to ready
an action.
The trap does not reset, but it does leave quite a mess.
APL 2 (EL 2)
�Bar Fight “Trap”: Appendix 1.
APL 4 (EL 4)
�Bar Fight “Trap”: Appendix 1.
APL 6 (EL 6)
�Bar Fight “Trap”: Appendix 1.
APL 8 (EL 8)
�Bar Fight “Trap”: Appendix 1.
APL 10 (EL 10)
�Bar Fight “Trap”: Appendix 1.
APL 12 (EL 12)
�Bar Fight “Trap”: Appendix 1.
If the PCs were able to escort Silas Steamgem from the
bar with his dignity still intact (he didn’t pass out from
humiliation attacks), he is very grateful. He hurries home
and promises to send a reward.
The next day, representatives of Silas Steamgem
arrivs and gives the PCs a small pouch and profusely
thanking them for their assistance. They apologize for
how things got out of hand and ask the PCs not to view
the Union or the Guildmaster in a negative light.
If the PCs were unable to (or chose not to) escort
Silas out of the Griffon’s Nest, he is humiliated. His
reputation in the Free City drops like a stone and Nerof
Gasgal is forced to find another candidate for the
Oligarchy. The PCs receive no XP for defeating the
encounter.
In addition, word of the PCs’ prowess or Silas’
humiliation spreads through the city. When the PCs
make Gather Information checks, they hear people
talking about the bar at the Griffon’s Nest and either Silas
emerging triumphant with the heroic PCs, or Silas
emerging drenched with beer and sobbing like a child.
Treasure: If the PCs accept Silas’ gift, the PCs (at all
APLs) receive silversheen and a glitter stone. They also
receive Bigby Left This as Collateral. If the PCs used
lethal damage in the brawl, they get the Arrested!AR item
at the end of the adventure.
Development:
Jallarzi
Sallavarian’s
pseudodragon
familiar, Edwina, has been scouring the Free City looking
for credible people to investigate activities of the
Directing Oligarchy. Edwina was checking out the party
invisibly when the fight broke out. Based on the PCs
actions, she decides that the PCs are the people her
master is looking for and returns to Marial, Jallarzi’s
former apprentice, to report. They meet with the PCs the
next morning to get their assistance.
3: THE MORNING AFTER
The next morning, the 4th of Growfest, Godsday, Marial
and Edwina arrive at the Griffon’s Nest to get the PCs to
help in their investigation. She sends one of Curain’s
barmaids to summon the PCs. The barmaid softly knocks
on the door and informs them that someone is waiting to
see them. Assuming the PCs are agreeable, read:
The morning chill fills the large open area outside
your room. The fireplaces and hearths are just
glowing embers. Broken chairs, tables, and crockery
litter the place. The larger table in the corner where
you were sitting last night has survived. A single,
hooded figure sits at the table, drinking from a
steaming mug. A tray of food is in the center of the
COR8-01 Machinations
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table. A fat draconic creature is sitting next to the
tray, finishing one of the muffins.
Edwina has a weakness for any sort of pastry. A successful
DC 23 Knowledge (arcana) check tells the PCs that she is
a pseudodragon. Once the PCs approach the table, read:
The hooded figure pulls back her hood enough to see
her extremely pretty face and red hair. While she has
no weapons obviously displayed on her person, a
knotted wood staff leans against the wall behind
her. “Please, have a seat and join us. I am Marial and
this is Edwina.”
The dragon reaches for one of the muffins from
the tray in the center of the table, tears a big piece
from it, and puts it in her mouth. She says,
“Mmmmm… Mama Esther’s muffins are sooooo
good. They melt in your mouth.”
A successful DC 15 Knowledge (local - core) check tells
the PCs that the name Marial has been associated with
Jallarzi Sallavarian, one of the Circle of Eight.
�Marial: female human wizard 15, AL CG.
A successful DC 15 Knowledge (local - core) check
tells the PCs that the name Edwina has been associated
with Jallarzi.
�Edwina: pseudodragon, MM 210.
Once the PCs are seated, the barmaid comes over and
takes drink and food requests. Edwina quietly continues
eating the muffin until the food orders are fulfilled. She
then hurries off. Marial waits for her to be go before
continuing.
As Edwina swallows the last bite of her muffin,
Marial says, “After what happened last night, no
doubt that you are aware that the . . . political . . .
situation in the Free City is in turmoil. People are
fearfulwhen things are uncertain and they lash out.
“Edwina and I are keeping an eye on the
situation. Unfortunately, we’re a bit known in town
and there are some who will not speak with either of
us. So we must adapt. That is where you come in. I
am here to enlist your aid in our investigation while
Edwina is here for the muffins. Does this sound like
something you would do?” The Edwina looks up
with blueberry stains and crumbs all over her snout.
The following are some of the questions that could be
asked of Marial. Paraphrase Marial’s responses as needed.
•
Who are you working for? The red-headed woman
smiles sweetly, “No one said we were working for
anyone but ourselves. But we do know people who
would be interested in learning what we find out;
people who have a vested interest in the long-term
success of the Free City.” Marial does not directly
reveal that she and Edwina serve the wizards of the
Circle of Eight. She does her best to assuage any PC
fears that she is working for someone of an evil bent.
If it becomes a deal breaker for getting the PCs
assistance, she provides enough hints for the PCs to
guess or assume that she works for the Circle of
Eight.
•
Will you pay us? Marial is willing to pay the PCs
100 gp plus another 50 gp per APL. She begins by
offering half that amount. Payment is given when
the PCs present their report on Freeday; she is not in
the habit of giving away money.
•
What is the political situation? “There are two
major factions on the Directing Oligarchy. One
group, centered on the Lord Mayor Nerof Gasgal,
believes the lull in fighting with the Pomarj should
be taken as a sign of their attention being directed
elsewhere. The Directing Oligarchy should capitalize
on this opportunity to fortify their military positions
along the border, expand the trade routes with
friendly nations, and re-direct resources within the
Free City and the Domain. This would give the
residents a visible sign of stability. When the
residents feel more stable, then they are more
productive. Higher productivity improves trade and
thus the tax base for the Free City and the Domain.”
•
And the other faction? “The other group, centered
on Eritai Kaan-Iprizel, High Priestess of St. Cuthbert,
believes the lull in fighting represents the
opportunity for the forces of the Free City to
redouble their efforts to break the enemies of the
Free City. Although the people may be tired of
fighting, they know that true security can only be
obtained by soundly defeating the enemy and
breaking his or her will to fight, not surrendering an
advantage in the hopes that the enemy will not fight
further.”
•
Who
supports
each
faction?
“Mostly
the
merchants, lawyers, and other businessmen of the
Free City are in Nerof’s camp. Rumors exist that the
nefarious elements of the Free City; thieves;
assassins, and the like, also support this position, but
not openly; bad for their existence I’m told. Mostly
those more principled people support Eritai, such as
the old noble families, the artisans, and the common
folk. Many see this group as a counterbalance to the
alleged negative influence of the thieves and greedy
merchants on the Directing Oligarchy.
•
So what do you want us to do? “As you saw last
night, these two groups are poised for a showdown at
some point in the near future, perhaps as soon as the
upcoming
Directing
Oligarchy
meeting
next
Starday. I suspect a lot of behind the scenes political
maneuvering going on. I need to know what each
group is up to. Beyond that, I leave up to you. I will,
of course, deny ever having spoken with you.” She
smiles again revealing her dimples.
•
How do we find you to report back? “Today is
Godsday, I will give you until Freeday evening to
gather your information. You will be able to find me
at the Golden Phoenix, watching the fireworks
display. At that time, I expect a concise report of
what each group is up to.”
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•
Where
do
we
start?
“I
suggest
avoiding
approaching Nerof or Eritai directly, at least at first.
Once you start asking questions directly of people,
word may start going around. Instead, focus on those
around them. Call on friends and favors you may
have. If one group is going to use the power of the
Directing Oligarchy to push an agenda, then they
would need the necessary votes from the other
members to do so. You may want to start with Silas.
He’s been courting favor with the populace lately, a
rather odd action for a moneylender.”
•
And who is on the Directing Oligarchy? “The
Directing Oligarchy is currently composed 16
individuals. Here, I’ll write them down for you.” Give
the PCs Marial’s list which is Player Handout 1.
If the PCs agree to help, and once the PCs questions are
answered, Marial and Edwina take their leave of the PCs.
“Very well, I leave the task in your capable hands.
Until Freeday evening then,” she says as she stands
up. She pulls the hood over her head, collects her
staff, and makes her way to the door. Edwina flies
towards the door, slowly fading from view.
If the PCs turn down Marial, use the following.
“Very well, I hope your lack of concern does not
leave you slack jawed when events overtake you.
Good day,” she says as she stands up. She pulls the
hood over her head, collects her staff, and makes her
way to the door. Edwina flies towards the door,
slowly fading from view.
If the PCs turn her down, Marial returns to Jallarzi’s
tower in the Garden Quarter. If the PCs have a later
change of heart, they can find her there.
Development: The PCs should be assisting Marial (and
through her the Circle of Eight) to discover what is being
planned for the next Oligarchy meeting. If the PCs turn
her down, they can still do the investigation (and the rest
of the adventure) but they unless they report their
findings to her they get no benefits from the Circle of
Eight.
4: THE STICKING OF NOSES
This encounter addresses the investigation of the
Directing Oligarchy and its members. It is freeform in
nature as the PCs can go pretty much anywhere in the
Free City and talk to anyone.
The table provided in DM Aid 1 provides the
information that can be gathered about each Oligarch (as
well as Silas Steamgem and Simeon Hellwater).
Depending on how time is running for the adventure,
you can either play out the gathering of information or
you can have the players make check and summarize the
information presented. Each entry also lists whether or
not the PCs can meet with the individual. Feel free to
embellish the meeting, but if you face time constraints,
summarize what the PCs learn.
Many PCs have contacts and favors in the City of
Greyhawk that they may wish to use. Let them take full
advantage of these resources. These resources can give
the PCs access to the information on DM Aid 1. Use your
best judgment as to which favors gain which information.
Each Gather Information check takes 1d4+1 hours.
The PCs may want to prioritize who they investigate first,
as they could run out of time if they make inquiries after
all 16 Oligarchs. If the PCs set up meetings with
prominent people, this time is not included in the 1d4+1
hours.
The PCs can work cooperatively or individually on
this task. Each person rolling may modify their Gather
Information check (regardless if it is main check or the
check to assist) with one of the following modifiers:
•
Affiliation Score of 3 or less: +1
•
Affiliation Score of 4-10: +2
•
Affiliation Score of 11-20: +3
•
Affiliation Score of 21-29: +4
•
Affiliation Score of 30 or more: +5
•
Favor of a Greyhawk affiliation: +1
•
Disfavor of a Greyhawk affiliation: -1
The PCs may wish to draw upon their contacts with
affiliations in the City of Greyhawk. DM Aid 2 provides
information that members of a specific affiliation can
learn about the situation if they think to ask.
PLOTS THAT ARE AFOOT
Being Greyhawk, there are numerous plots afoot in the
city at any particular time. However, only three of them
are of importance to this adventure.
Removal of Eritai
Nerof needs 11 of the 16 Directors to vote for removing
Eritai. Nerof already has seven votes from his faction and
a reason to force the vote (see Helping the Poor below).
He needs four more from the Neutrals: Torrentz
Hebvard, Stakaster Villaine, Gerda Hollardel, Stimtrin
Cannsay, and Kieran Jalucian.
Judging Kieren as too dangerous to pressure, Nerof’s
agents have approached four of the Neutral Directors.
Gerda is being pressured through her relationship with
Dernan Nathane. Stimtrin Cannsay is being blackmailed.
Nerof has promised Stakaster special privileges that will
allow for the building of a new and larger temple of
Zilchus. Torrentz Hebvard has been persuaded through
appealing to his political views.
Through their investigations, the PCs can learn of
Gerda’s relationship with Dernan and may surmise that
she will vote with Nerof’s faction. PCs can learn that
Torrentz and Stakaster have met with Nerof and his aides
quite a lot recently. If the PCs make appropriate inquiries,
the PCs can also learn that it is an open secret among the
Zilchan clergy that something big is in the works
COR8-01 Machinations
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between their patriarch and the Lord Mayor. The PCs can
learn of the promised rezoning and plans for an enlarged
temple with clever digging at either the temple or the
Lord Mayor’s office. The other members of the Union of
Merchants and Traders who are on the Oligarchy are
using their considerably economic clout to browbeat
Stimtrin. If the PCs investigate at the Union of
Merchants and Traders, they catch wind of the economic
pressure being put on Stimtrin to vote with the other
directors on an upcoming Oligarchy decision.
Until the PCs speak with the Beggarmaster, they are
likely to figure that something big is up, but they aren’t
exactly sure what it is.
Negotiations with the Pomarj
Cariel Mansharn of the Merchants’ and Traders’ Union
has been meeting with half-orc envoys from the Pomarj.
It is possible for the PCs to learn about these meetings by
trailing Cariel or stealing his case of papers that he carries
with him.
If the PCs follow Cariel, he works at the Merchants’
and Traders’ Union in the Thieves Quarter until noon
then steps out for lunch at the Whitehorse Inn, which is
owned by his half-brother. He then takes a coach to the
Low Market where he changes to a different coach to
return the Thieves’ Quarter. There, he stops before a row
house on one of the back streets. He enters it and departs
through the backdoor for another, smaller house further
down the street, which he enters through the backdoor.
The entire time, Cariel is accompanied by two capable
bodyguards.
At this second house, Cariel meets with two half-orcs
emissaries for the Pomarj. The emissaries enter the front
door of the meeting house. The emissaries are staying at
the Phoenix Boarding House but can be found spending
their evenings in various dives in the Old City.
Until nightfall, the two groups argue over the
specifics of a peace treaty. A number of contentious issues
have to be worked out, such as the new border,
reparations (if any), assurances against future raids,
opening channels for trade, and limiting of any slaving.
Nerof doesn’t just want peace. He wants an advantageous
peace.
After meeting with the Pomarj emissaries, Cariel
heads back to Merchant and Trader’s Union in a
circuitous route. He leaves all the papers regarding the
treaty in the safe in his office and heads back to the
Whitehorse Inn for some relaxation before going home
to his house, which is also in the Thieves’ quarter. As a
powerful, wealthy Greyhawker, Cariel has warded his safe
from theft. Because of the number of guards, locks, traps,
and magical wards, the PCs have no opportunity in the
tight timeframe they have to break into Cariel’s safe.
Make this clear to the PCs.
The PCs could approach Cariel himself. He is
unwilling to say anything about the meetings. If the PCs
accost him, he has a number of magical protections as
well as his two very capable bodyguards. He teleports away
immediately upon being attacked and does not appear in
Greyhawk until the meeting of the Oligarchy. If
prevented from teleporting, he runs away. He has enough
guards, money, and magic to escape the PCs.
The PCs can approach the half-orc emissaries.
However, the two emissaries are discretely shadowed by
half-a-dozen thieves who are making sure that nothing
happens to the emissaries. The half-orcs refuse to talk to
the PCs and if force is used the shadowing thieves step
out and urge the PCs to move along. Since they’re in the
Thieves’ Quarter, there are plenty of reinforcements. The
half-orcs are not fools and don’t keep anything on them
that identifies them as being from the Pomarj. They do
not take notes and have no paperwork with them. Cariel
is keeping the drafts of the treaty.
Helping the Poor
Unbeknownst to Eritai, the senior paladin of St. Cuthbert
in the city, Talasek Thraydin, has been using his contacts
in the Greyahwk Militia and the City Watch to give food
and supplies from the militia to the needy poor. Talasek
tried to get the supplies transferred legally, but the
bureaucracy (and opposition from Nerof’s faction) caused
the request to be permanently stuck in committee. Never
one to let the politics of the city stand in the way of his
ideals, Talasek arranged for the supplies to be secretly
transported to Nicholi Nortoi, a Cuthberran priest for
distribution to the poor.
Nerof Gasgal has learned of this “theft” and has
gathered enough evidence and testimony to have Talasek
arrested and Eritai discredited. At the Oligarchy meeting
on Starday, he is revealing that she has diverted city
resources for personal projects.
The PCs can track down the wagons, which leave
every third day (the next trip after the PCs arrive is
Earthday) from the Grand Citadel and go down the
Processional through the Garden Gate, the Black ate, then
the Highway Gate, to the outskirts of Greyhawk south of
the city. There, the wagon is unloaded into a non-descript
warehouse. The PCs can easily follow the wagons.
Each wagon comes with an escort of four militiamen
as well as two teamsters. None of the escort knows more
than that they were ordered to deliver the supplies on the
wagon to a warehouse south of the city.
The warehouse itself is unmarked, but if the PCs
make inquiries, they can learn that the warehouse is
owned by the Church of St. Cuthbert. Later that morning,
Father Nicholi arrives at the warehouse with several
helpers. They open the crates of supplies and load them
onto carts which are taken to several points scattered
around the Greyhawk outskirts and the Slum Quarter for
distribution to the poor. One of the points is a soup line.
If PCs played COR7-12 Heart’s Desire, they recognize this
soup line.
Father Nicholi is unaware of the source of his
donations and believes they are from an anonymous
donor. If told the truth, he is a bit concerned, but the food
and supplies are going to the needy.
Regardless of what the PCs do to learn about the
wagons, their inquiries attract the attention of Simeon
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the Beggarmaster. He sends one of his beggars to the PCs.
The beggar finds the PCs wherever they are (beggars
know these things) and extends the invitation to meet
with the Beggarmaster at the Guildhall in the Slum
Quarter.
Development: At some point in their investigation, the
PCs should have an invitation with Simeon the
Beggarmaster, who can provide them with substantial
information. When the party goes to see the
Beggarmaster, run encounter six.
5: GROWFEST
Growfest is a week-long festival in the City of Greyhawk.
As a commercial center, trade never really stops, but
along with the work there are plenty of events and
parties.
This optional encounter details some of the events
that transpire over the week. If you are playing this
adventure under time constraints, summarize or make
quick reference to the events described here. If you have
time, let the PCs explore these events.
GODSDAY
Godsday during Growfest is St. Cuthbert’s Day, the
holiest day of the year for the faithful of St. Cuthbert. Just
before dawn, people gather at the edges of the route that
the faithful of St. Cuthbert will follow as part of the
cleansing ritual in celebration of St. Cuthbert’s Day. The
route runs from the Highway Gate, along the
Processional, through the High Market, along the Garden
Road and ends in the courtyard of the Sacred Temple of
St. Cuthbert. The children of the faithful, armed with
green switches, run up and down the streets in anxious
anticipation of the march of their parents towards the
temple.
For the next few hours, the faithful of St. Cuthbert
file into the city along the route, their children lightly
lashing them with the green switches; enjoying it
immensely. All the while, the adults sing and chant
prayers to St. Cuthbert. As they finish the march, they
congregate in the courtyard of the Sacred Template of St.
Cuthbert; the priests and clerics of the temple
ministering to them as they prepare the great feast that
begins at high noon.
A few bystanders, obviously not believers in the
teachings of St. Cuthbert, shout deriding comments at
those marching. They do not react to anything they say.
The only time a few of the marchers react is when a
young man tries to pelt the stream of people with some
rotten fruit. He was quickly subdued by more militant
members of the faith and ‘properly educated’ about
appropriate conduct for such an important occasion. The
entire event is over before the City Watch can intervene.
‘Properly educated’ means soundly beaten by several
more militant members of the faith; leaving the young
man bruised, a bloody nose, several missing teeth, and
forced to consume some of the rotten fruit he was
throwing at the marchers.
Over the next few hours, the faithful of St. Cuthbert
make their way through the food lines in the temple
courtyard. The courtyard is not big enough to hold
everyone, so as the first to arrive finish their meal, they
depart to make room for those behind them. As they
depart, they shake hands and warmly greet those
patiently waiting behind them.
WATERDAY
Shortly after noon on Waterday, the activist students of
the Grey College stage a rally to protest living conditions
in the Free City and domination of city’s government of
“merchants, thieves, and lawyers”. Several hundred
students from the Grey College, the University of the
Flanaess, and the Bard School (the School of Clerkship is
noticeably absent) gather on the green between College
Hall and the Hall of the Dean, listening to speakers who
are standing on the steps of Hall of the Dean.
The lead agitator is Aisley Lockswell, the daughter of
Lord Lockswell of Gnarlwood. Her mother insisted that
she receive an education and sent her to Grey College.
Unlike her ranger-lord father she has no skill in the
woods, but she does have a penchant for words and she
can command the crowd. She has inherited her parent’s
desire to do good and help her fellow man.
�Aisley Lockswell: female human bard 1/marshal
1, AL NG (Diplomacy +13).
Aisley speaks passionately about the need of the poor
and the stranglehold that the merchants, thieves, and
lawyers have on the city and the need to bring reform and
change to the city. Her words are enthusiastically
received by the student crowd, who are mostly upper or
middle class. At the end of the rally, the protesters agree
to march on the Public Council meeting the next day.
EARTHDAY
Each quarterly festival, the Directing Oligarchy meets
with the Public Council for one full day. The Public
Council is composed of popularly elected representatives
from each of the eight city quarters. This advisory council
presents detailed conditions on each quarter and
proposes courses of action to the Oligarchy.
Even though it has no direct power, the Public
Council makes for excellent entertainment for the
residents of Greyhawk as well as providing a voice of the
people. The council meetings are open to the public and
held at the Lord Mayor’s Palace. News of each council
member’s report and other notable events spreads
through the city pretty quickly.
The PCs can attend in person or hear through the
street talk that the council has made numerous proposals.
•
Settlement for those displaced by the orcs near the
Gnarley Forest;
•
Strike the requirement license to carry weapons in
town;
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 14
•
A requirement that everyone gargle while crossing a
street;
•
A declaration that eggs are good for you;
•
Fund shelters in the Slum Quarter;
•
Require all beggars to remain at least five feet away
from anyone of quality;
•
Increase the tariffs on imports from Dyvers and
Urnst;
•
Disband the militia and allow them to return to their
homes.
Feel free to make up your own proposals. Not all the
councilors are elected for their political acumen,
intelligence, or sanity. The PCs will also hear that a large
number of students were forcibly rejected from the
meeting. They remained outside chanting at the
Oligarchs.
FREEDAY
The grand festivity on the last day of Growfest is the
Desportium of Magic – a fabulous fireworks and magical
illusion show followed by a grand feast that is open to the
public for free. For many, it’s the one time they get to eat
all day.
The populace is anticipating the evening fireworks
show. This is covered in encounter ten.
6: DEAD ENDS
When the PCs go to the Beggar’s Union, read:
One of the flaws in the Gem of the Flanaess, the
Slum Quarter of the Free City is the place everyone
else would like to forget. The smell of rotting refuse
and unwashed bodies mingles in the gentle breeze.
Men, women, and children live in abject poverty and
total filth. Misery and disease are rampant here.
Hope checked itself at the gate through the Black
Wall.
You will need to adjust the descriptive text to account for
the number of “beggars” and dogs at the APL. This
encounter presumes that the PCs are traveling normally
through the streets. If they are flying, teleporting, all
invisible, or similar things, adjust the encounter as
needed.
As you make your way down the eerily quiet street
named ‘Assassin’s End’, many of the people you keep
their heads bowed away from you, pretending to do
something else. From up ahead, you hear a scream in
surprise and horror. A mad dog is viciously
attacking a beggar, snapping at his throat.
The dog attack is the lure for an ambush waiting for the
PCs on Assassin’s End. The muggers have been preparing
for weeks now (in between other jobs, begging, and
fighting with themselves) for some good marks to come
down Assassin’s End. They figured that eventually some
adventurers
would
need
information
from
the
Beggarmaster. The PCs fit the bill perfectly.
Creatures: The ambush is composed of “beggars” and
dogs as a lure. On top of the nearby buildings are roof
topplers who activate the traps. Finally, a cutpurse moves
in to steal from the PCs while they are distracted.
APL 2 (EL 4)
�Slum Quarter “Beggar”: male human warrior 2;
hp 9; Appendix 1.
�Dog: hp 6; MM 271.
�Slum Quarter Roof Toppler: male human
commoner 2; hp 5; Appendix 1.
�Otjen, Slum Quarter Cutpurse: female human
rogue 1; hp 7; Appendix 1.
APL 4 (EL 6)
�Slum Quarter “Beggar”: male human warrior 2;
hp 9; Appendix 1.
�Dogs (3): hp 6; MM 271.
�Slum Quarter Roof Toppler: male human
commoner 2; hp 5; Appendix 1.
�Otjen, Slum Quarter Cutpurse: female human
rogue 2; hp 11; Appendix 1.
�Bricks from Roof Trap: CR 2; mechanical; touch
trigger; repair reset; Atk +12 melee (2d6, bricks); multiple
targets (all targets in two adjacent 5-ft. squares); Search
DC 20; Disable Device DC 20.
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Slum Quarter Bruiser: male human warrior 4;
hp 22; Appendix 1.
�Riding Dogs (2): hp 13; MM 272.
�Slum Quarter Roof Topplers (2): male and
female human commoner 2; hp 5; Appendix 1.
�Otjen, Slum Quarter Cutpurse: female human
rogue 4; hp 20; Appendix 1.
�Collapsing Roof Trap: CR 4; mechanical; touch
trigger (attached); no reset; Atk +15 melee (6d6, stone
blocks); Search DC 20; Disable Device DC 24.
APL 8 (EL 8)
�Slum Quarter Bruisers (2): male human warrior
4; hp 22; Appendix 1.
�Riding Dogs (4): hp 13; MM 272.
�Slum Quarter Roof Topplers (4): male human
commoner 2; hp 5; Appendix 1.
�Otjen, Slum Quarter Cutpurse: female human
rogue 6; hp 29; Appendix 1.
�Collapsing Roof Trap (2): CR 4; mechanical;
touch trigger (attached); no reset; Atk +15 melee (6d6,
stone blocks); Search DC 20; Disable Device DC 24.
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APL 10 (EL 10)
�Slum Quarter Block Bullies (2): male human
warrior 6; hp 33; Appendix 1.
�Riding Dogs (8): hp 13; MM 272.
�Slum Quarter Roof Topplers (8): male and
female human commoner 2; hp 5; Appendix 1.
�Otjen, Slum Quarter Cutpurse: female human
rogue 8; hp 38; Appendix 1.
�Built-to-Collapse Wall (2): CR 6; mechanical;
proximity trigger; no reset; Atk +20 melee (8d6, stone
blocks); multiple targets (all targets in a 10-ft.-by-10-ft.
area); Search DC 14; Disable Device DC 16.
APL 12 (EL 12)
�Slum Quarter Block Bullies (2): male human
warrior 6; hp 33; Appendix 1.
�Riding Dogs (8): hp 13; MM 272.
�Slum Quarter Roof Topplers (8): male human
commoner 2; hp 5; Appendix 1.
�Otjen and Faanil, Slum Quarter Cutpurses (2):
female human rogue 8; hp 38 each; Appendix 1.
�Built-to-Collapse Wall (4): CR 8; mechanical;
proximity trigger; no reset; Atk +20 melee (10d6, stone
blocks); multiple targets (all targets in a 10-ft.-by-10-ft.
area); Search DC 24; Disable Device DC 16.
Layout: See DM Map 3 for a layout of the street. The
ground is hard packed earth. The buildings that border
on Assassin’s End are a mixture of wood and poorly built
stone. All of the buildings are 10-ft. tall. Each of the
buildings has an unlocked door that faces onto Assassin’s
End. Inside each building is a stair leading up to the roof.
The roofs are gently sloped, requiring DC 10 Balance
checks to run or charge, but are replete with gables,
external staircases, and assorted debris, which provide
cover from anyone on the street below. The high walls
cast the entire alley into gloom (not quite shadowy
illumination, but not bright sunlight either).
Tactics: The muggers are hoping that the PCs will run
forward to help the “beggar” being attacked by the dog(s).
When this happens, the ambush triggers. There is no
surprise round as the dogs and “beggars” are plainly
visible.
The “beggar” (marked B on the map; if your APL has
fewer beggars use the lowest numbered B first) have
trained the dogs (marked D on the map; use the lowest
numbered D first) and are in no real danger. They use a
move-action on the first round to command the dogs to
attack the PCs; they then draw daggers to attack. They
know where the traps are and avoid them. If the
opportunity presents itself, they try to bull rush PCs into
the trapped areas.
The roof topplers are hidden on the roofs of nearby
buildings (marked R on the map; use the lowest
numbered R first). To notice them, the PCs must make a
Spot check opposed by the Toppler’s Hide check.
On the first round of combat the roof topplers
trigger a trap(s) if there are any PCs in the targeted area of
the road (the traps are marked T on the map; the shaded
area is the targeted area). The trap requires a manual
trigger (the toppler to give the wall/piece of roof/ pile of
bricks a push) which is a standard action. The topplers
have some limited ability to aim the trap. At APLs 4-8,
each trap can target one PC in the corresponding target
area. At APLs 10-12, the wall falls on all PCs within one 10
ft. by 10 ft. section of the targeted area. There are no traps
at APL 2, but describe the topplers’ attempts to push
down a mass of bricks on the PCs. Once they have failed
once, they resort to hurling single bricks.
The roof topplers are patient. If no PCs are in the
targeted area below, they stay hidden. Only one toppler is
needed to trigger the trap, so excess topplers remain
hidden. Once the traps have been dropped, the roof
topplers start throwing rocks down onto the PCs.
While all this confusion is going on, Otyen the
cutpurse (with her partner-in-crime Faanil at APL 12)
starts in a position that gives her total cover to the PCs
(marked C1 for Otyen and C2 for Faanil on the map). She
hides then sneaks into the alley where the PCs are,
moving at half speed so she does not take any negatives to
her roll. The PCs can make opposed Spot and Listen
checks to notice her. However, the PCs are distracted by
the encounter and take a -5 circumstance penalty to their
roll.
If she is undetected, the cutpurse uses her Sleight of
Hand skill. She lifts a coin purse (stealing 1d10 gp per
APL) with a successful DC 20 check. The PCs can make
an opposed Spot check to notice her (PH 82), but they are
still distracted and take the -5 circumstance penalty.
Otjen repeats this process until she has attempted to steal
from each PC. If Faanil is present, she does the same.
Note: While it uses the same d20 roll, success or
failure of the Sleight of Hand check is determined
separately from the opposed Spot check. Otjen can
succeed on a Sleight of Hand check and still be noticed;
likewise she can fail and not be noticed.
If Otjen is noticed, she runs away, hides, and tries
again. If all the traps are sprung and the “beggar” and his
dogs are dead, she gives up on this scheme and vanishes
into the Old City. She surrenders if she cannot escape.
Similarly, the other muggers have no wish to die. If in
serious danger of dying, they run. If that is not an option,
they surrender, begging for mercy.
Treasure: The beggars do not have much wealth, but if
the PCs defeat them, they can take it all. What the
beggars do have is a chest, which is hidden under some
trash in the corner of the ally near their ambush spot (DC
15 Spot check to notice it; a Search check automatically
finds it).
The beggars found this chest buried beneath one of
the abandoned building in the Slum Quarter. They tried
to open it, but they set off the poison needle trap that
killed one of them. They have not tried to open it since.
The small iron chest is exotically decorated with
many barbed loops and swirls. The PCs can recognize it as
COR8-01 Machinations
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vaguely Elven. The trap has been discharged, but the
chest is still locked.
�Exotic Iron Chest: 2 in. thick; AC 5; hardness 10;
hp 40; Break DC 25; Open Lock DC 25.
Inside, the PCs can find a black bag made of spider’s
silk containing a number of semi-precious stones (lapis
lazuli worth 50 gp), a masterwork hand crossbow, a rod of
viscid globs (at APLs 4 and higher), and a tentacle rod (at
APL 12). They also find an unsigned note, written in
Elvish, which reads:
"I will die for sending these to you, Saal. May all the
fiends of the pits curse the day I agreed to your foul
bargain."
Development: If the PCs slay the muggers, they can
leave them in the alley with no consequences from the
City Watch, the Guild of Nightwatchmen, the Beggar’s
Union, or the Thieves Guild. This is the Slum Quarter;
this sort of thing happens all the time. However, the PCs
are not rewarded for it either.
If the PCs capture the beggars or take their bodies to
the City Watch, they find out that there is a 50 gp reward
for the “beggars” and the cutpurses. If the PCs turn the
muggers over to the Thieves’ Guild, they learn that this
gang is not a part of the guild and operating on the sly.
The thieves give the PCs a bounty equal to the reward. If
the PCs take captives or bodies with them to the
Beggarmaster, he likewise gives them a bit of a reward for
taking care of annoyance that he has not had the
manpower to deal with.
7: THE PALACE OF TRASH
Once past the ambush, the PCs arrive at the Beggar’s
Union Guild Hall. Read:
The imposing three-storey building sometimes
referred to as the Palace of Trash, houses the
Beggar’s Union. The building is in ill-repair; shutters
are missing or hang loose; trash hangs from
windows and lays about the street. Beggars, the
homeless, and others who have been dealt a losing
hand line the street on either side of the warped and
stained door that hangs poorly from its hinges.
The beggars and homeless plead with the PCs for spare
coin. When the PCs enter the building, continue.
Inside, the smell of unwashed bodies and urine is
overpowering. At least outside, the breeze diluted
the stench. Debris is heaped everywhere without
rhyme or reason. You have to wade more than walk
through the rooms of the Guildhall of the Beggar’s
Union. The eyes of a dozen leery beggars watch you.
The stench is so bad that the PCs need a DC 10 Fortitude
save or become sickened (-2 on attack rolls, weapon
damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability
checks) for as long as they are inside the Palace of Trash.
The guildhall is overflowing with members of the
union. There are around 50 on the first floor alone. To
speak with Simeon the Guildmaster, the PCs must use
Diplomacy or Intimidate to improve the beggars’ reaction
from indifferent to friendly to get to the Beggarmaster. A
Diplomacy check works, as does giving each of the 50
beggars a silver piece. If the PCs captured the ambushers
and bring them with them (or bring the corpses) they
automatically gain access to Simeon.
One of the beggars with a crippled arm, but two good
legs, leads you to the third floor. The windows are
flung open and the stench is not so bad up here. At
the top of the stairs is a large ‘office’ with furniture
and decorations that are obviously the choicest
picks of the hall.
A gaunt, pale older man dressed in clothes that
were fashionable a decade ago is standing by the
window. A number of heavily muscled thugs are
lounging on heaps of dirty clothes. The man by the
window looks at you and raises an eyebrow. “What
do you want?”
The man by the window is Simeon Hellwater. He is a
penny-pinching, unscrupulous, meticulous bean counter.
He is called “the Vampire” by some of the beggars
because of his appearance and mannerisms, but he is not
undead. Before rising to Beggarmaster, he was treasurer
of the union. But in a brief clash between beggar and the
Thieves’ Guild several years ago, Simeon suddenly found
he was the highest ranking officer still alive. He promptly
took over the union and made peace with the thieves.
Simeon is a manager not a leader, but he is a great
manager. He has the respect of the other beggars, even
though he is not liked.
�Simeon Hellwater: male human fighter 2/rogue
10, hp 62, AL NE, (Bluff +12, Knowledge (local – core)
+15, Sense Motive +10).
If the PCs bring the captured or dead ambushers
with them, Simeon looks them over and comments, “So
much for the small entrepreneur.” He then orders one of
his beggars to pay the PCs 50 gp for their good work in
crushing his competition.
If the PCs ask Simeon to provide or confirm any
information regarding current events in the City of
Greyhawk, including information about the City Watch
ferrying supplies through town, Simeon answers that
before he tells them anything they have to something for
him. Simeon orders one of his underlings to fetch “the
box”.
A minute later, the underling returns with a sealed
box. When opened, a stench rolls out of the box that
overrides the odor of the building. Inside is a
mutilated, maggot-infested head of a dwarven male.
Some of the flesh has been stripped away; revealing
the skull, the flesh around the mouth is twisted into
a smile.
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The Beggarmaster pulls a handkerchief from his
robe, covers his mouth, and pulls a blood splattered
note from the box. He opens it slowly. “Several
months ago, my granddaughter Duewella took up
with a popinjay named Veron Pin. I didn’t like him
and said so. So they ran off together.
“I hired this sellsword from the Mercenary’s
Guild to track them down for me. It would seem that
he found them. The note says that anyone else
looking for her will end up in the same condition. It
then begins with the blackmail. Give us gold or he
will send her body back in pieces.” Though his voice
is a dispassionate monotone, one of his hands is
slightly trembling.
A successful DC 15 Knowledge (religion) check tells the
PCs that mutilation is reminiscent of the things that
followers of The Old One, Iuz, would perform on their
victims. It also reminds them that Iuz’s name is never to
be spoken aloud.
The Beggarmaster allows the PCs to make a careful
examination of the head in the box. A DC 20 Search
check reveals the following: the hair on the head is damp
with fishy smelling water and the box was constructed
from the broken pieces of a larger wooden box. The PCs
find a partial impression of a symbol in the wood.
A DC 10 Survival check or DC 15 Knowledge (local -
core) tells the PC that water like that could be found in
the ditches of the River Quarter.
A successful DC 15 Knowledge (local - core) tells the
PC that the symbol is one of a trader of some sort. If the
PCs point this out to Simeon, he has beggars come look at
it until one of them recognizes it. It belongs to a trading
company, P&P Mercantile and Trade. None of the
beggars have heard of P&P. It must be new to town.
Simeon returns to the window. “You look like
capable people. You could do no worse than this
moron from the Mercenary’s Guild. I’ll answer your
questions if you can get Duewella back from that
vagabond.”
Simeon refuses to negotiate a reward or answer questions
until he knows his granddaughter is safe. No amount of
diplomacy or intimidation will change his mind.
Development:
If
the
PCs
agree
to
help
the
Beggarmaster, they should start the search for P&P
Mercantile and Trade. If they recognized the smell, they
can start their search in the River Quarter.
If the PCs refuse to help Simeon, they must make do
with their own investigations. At the end of the
adventure, they hear rumors that another cult of the Old
One may be in town as the body of a young woman was
found, ritually slain.
8: BREAKING OF NOSES
If the PCs take Simeon up on his offer, they need to find
P&P Mercantile and Trade. Fortunately, Istus smiles on
the PCs as P&P rented McGloogan’s Warehouse in the
River Quarter, which is just across the street from the
Griffon’s Nest. Any PC visiting the inn notices the sign
with a successful DC 10 Spot check.
The PCs can also find the warehouse by with a
successful DC 20 Gathering Information check. If the
PCs know to look in the River Quarter, the DC drops to
15.
You
approach
a
well-maintained,
two-storey
warehouse. All of its windows are tightly shuttered
and those on the ground floor are barred. A small
plain sign adorns the building, which reads P&P
Mercantile and Trade.
The iron-bound aged oak door to the warehouse is locked
and no one answers the door. The windows on the
ground floor are all barred, but those on the second floor
are just shuttered.
�Windows with Iron Bars: 1 in. thick; hardness
10; hp 60; AC 5; Break DC 25.
�Windows with Good Shutters: 1 1/2 in. thick,
hardness 5; hp 15; Break DC 20; Can be pried open with a
DC 20 Disable Device check or a DC 25 Open Lock
check.
�Masonry Walls: 1 ft. thick; hardness 8; hp 90; AC
5; Break DC 35; Climb DC 20.
�Iron-Bound Strong Wooden Door: 2 in. thick;
AC 3; hardness 5; hp 20; Break DC 25 (if locked); Open
Lock DC 25. The door can only be unlocked from the
inside.
Once the PCs are inside, they find an empty
building. Read:
The musty old smell common to most warehouses
greets you. As far as you can tell, the place is empty
of people.
If the PCs search inside the warehouse, they find nothing
but poor quality furniture. The PCs need to make a DC 20
Search check to find the hidden door in the floor. At APL
2, the door is closed improperly, dropping the Search DC
to 18. Beneath the hidden door is a rickety wooden ladder
that extends down to a narrow hallway 30 ft. below the
floor of the warehouse.
Ten feet down the ladder is a magic trap. To prevent
the trap from going off on the cultists, they have a second
ladder they put into place when they want to go down.
Currently the ladder is lying on the ground in the tunnel
near the bottom of the trapped ladder. If the PCs set off
the trap, the PCs can use this ladder to get back up after
dealing with the cultists.
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�Shatter Trap: CR 3; magic device; proximity
trigger (alarm); no reset; spell effect (shatter, 3rd-level
wizard, triggers when small sized or larger creature steps
on rung 10 feet down, targets non-magical ladder (which
is under 30 pounds) automatically destroys ladder which
causes anyone on ladder to fall 20 ft. down the shaft
dealing 2d6 damage); Search DC 27; Disable Device DC
27.
If the PCs set off the trap, the noise carries to the
cultists who immediately prepare for combat. In the
following descriptions, the PCs are met with the sound of
spellcasting instead of worship.
A short ladder brings you down to a well built
tunnel. It heads off for several feet and takes a sharp
right turn. A flickering glow comes from around it.
You hear a voice exclaim, “Pain is Power!”
“Pain is Power!” several voices respond, along
with several moans and cries of pain.
If the PCs peek around the corner, they see the following:
The narrow tunnel ends in a large circular room. By
the flicking flames from a half-a-dozen everburning
torches, several laborers from the River Quarter
surround a thin-faced woman lying in the middle of
the room atop of a white sheet that is dappled with
blood splatters. She whimpers in fear and pain.
On the far side of the room is a barbed and gore-
encrusted altar topped by half-a-dozen human
skulls. All of the activities are overseen by a dashing
man dressed in bloodstained white robes over the
dark gray clothes of a merchant. He exhorts his
congregation with cries that pain is power.
If the PCs are playing higher level and the babau are
present, add:
Standing against the walls are four hideous fiends
that reek of decay. These gaunt humanoids are
covered in black leathery skin. Behind their pointed
ears, large curved horn rises out of the back of their
skull. They are licking their fingers with long
sinuous tongues, catching every last drop of blood.
A DC 17 Knowledge (the planes) identifies the babau
while a DC 22 knowledge (the planes) check identifies
the glabrezu. If the glabrezu is present, add:
Perched atop the altar is an enormous fiend with a
dog-like head. It is watching the ceremony with
detached interest. His vast bulk and multiple arms,
two of which end in pincers, belie the enormous and
evil intelligence that lurks behind its eyes.
If the PCs set off the alarm, you need to change the
description as the Iuzites are ready for battle. Veron is at
the rear with as many of his congregation between him
and the PCs as possible. The babau are spread out through
the congregation. The glabrezu remains on top of the
altar.
Creatures: The Converts are citizens that have been
corrupted and turned evil due to the persuasive ways of
Veron, the dashing man dressed in fine clothes. At higher
APLs, Veron has summoned demons to help him spread
the word of Iuz here in the City of Greyhawk. The
woman on the floor is Duewella.
All APLs
�Duewella Hellwater: female human expert 3; hp
15 (currently 2).
APL 2 (EL 4)
�Converts of Iuz (2): male human warrior 1; hp 4;
Appendix 1.
�Veron Pin, Agent of Iuz: male human bard 3; hp
19; Appendix 1.
APL 4 (EL 6)
�Converts of Iuz (8): male human warrior 1; hp 4;
Appendix 1.
�Veron Pin, Agent of Iuz: male human bard 3; hp
19; Appendix 1.
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Converts of Iuz (6): male human warrior 2; hp 9;
Appendix 1.
�Veron Pin, Agent of Iuz: male human bard
5/evangelist 1; hp 23; Appendix 1.
APL 8 (EL 11)
�Converts of Iuz (6): male human warrior 2; hp 9;
Appendix 1.
�Veron Pin, Agent of Iuz: male human bard
5/evangelist 1; hp 23; Appendix 1.
�Babau (4): hp 66; MM 40.
APL 10 (EL 13)
�Converts of Iuz (8): male human warrior 5; hp 27;
Appendix 1.
�Veron Pin, Agent of Iuz: male human bard
5/evangelist 5; hp 37; Appendix 1.
�Babau (4): hp 66; MM 40.
APL 12 (EL 15)
�Converts of Iuz (8): male human warrior 5; hp 27;
Appendix 1.
�Veron Pin, Agent of Iuz: male human bard
5/evangelist 5; hp 37; Appendix 1.
�Babau (4): hp 66; MM 40.
�Glabrezu: hp 174; MM 43.
Layout: See DM Map 4 for a layout of the lair. The room
is lit by everburning torches in poorly constructed sconces
along the wall. The wall and ceiling are packed earth.
Wooden supports are embedded in the packed earth to
support the 20 ft. ceiling. The floor is packed earth with a
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 19
thin layer of crushed stone covering it. The only feature
of the chamber is the altar which is four feet high but
slick with blood. Under the rumpled white sheet
(marked D for Duewella) is a tiny drain grate that leads to
a small-sized drainpipe. Small creatures can squeeze
through the grate. The drainpipe angles down to
eventually meet up with the city sewer after 100 ft.
Tactics: If the PCs did not set off the trap on the ladder,
the Converts of Iuz (marked C on the map; start with the
lowest numbers first) are in a circle focusing on the
ceremony, which is led by Veron (marked V on the map).
The babau (marked B on the map) are lurking near the
walls. The glabrezu (marked G on the map) sits on top of
the altar. The PCs can attack with surprise.
If the PCs set off the trap, then the Iuzians are ready
for them.
Demons: The demons attempt to summon more of
their kind then cast mirror image (for the glabrezu) and see
invisibility (for the babau).
Babau: The babau attempt to get into flanking
position as quickly as possible to make full-round attacks
using their sneak attack ability. They rely on their DR and
protective slime to discourage counter-attacks.They target
archers first to eliminate ranged attacks.
Glabrezu: On the first round, the glabrezu casts
reverse gravity on seven 10 ft. squares (he stacks his squares
so that the area extends to the ceiling) to catch PCs
grouped up around the far door. Those caught in the area
take 2d6 points of damage from striking the ceiling. On
the second round, the glabrezu targets the most powerful
looking spellcaster (it prefers arcane casters) with his
power word stun. It then waits for Veron’s inspire dread
before casting confusion, unholy blight, and chaos hammer
over the next three rounds. Once it has used up these
abilities, the glabrezu enters melee.
The glabrezu has not used its wish for this month and
uses this ability to undo cripplingly debilitating spell
effects on Veron that the demon cannot undo with dispel
magic. As a last resort, it uses the wish to completely heal
Veron and all his allies (including the demons) in this
encounter of all damage (as per the wish spell
description).
Cultists: The Converts position themselves halfway
between Veron and the entrance to the room. Once battle
is joined, the Converts of Iuz protect Veron to the best of
their ability. They attempt to provide flanks for each
other and the demons.
Veron: Veron casts harmonize and mirror image (so
you will need to keep track of rounds after the Iuzians are
alerted). At APLs 2, and 4, Veron casts inspirational boost
then evokes inspire courage. He then casts cause fear on a
fighter-type PC. Finally, Veron joins the attack,
refreshing his song as needed. If he is in danger of dying,
he uses his cape of the viper, turns into a small snake and
slithers through the drain in the floor to the sewer (the
small viper can slither under the rumpled sheet).
At APLs 6 and 8, Veron casts harmonize and
inspirational boost then evokes inspire courage. The next
round he casts mirror image and evokes Sound of Silence,
targeting a PC caster, as a move action. He continues
casting a spell and evoking a bard song every round.
At APLs 10 and 12, Veron casts harmonize and
inspirational boost then evokes inspire courage. The next
round he evokes inflame the faithful and the following
round he evokes inspire dread. He then uses convert the
unfaithful on a PC who failed to resist inspire dread. All
three are full-round actions (not a 1 round action like a
summoning). He repeats this action once more, then uses
his last oration to refresh the inflame the righteous. If the
conversion is successful, each round Veron gives the new
convert commands (as a free action), such as beat the
sacrifice (Duewella) for the glory of Iuz or prostrate
before the altar of Iuz. The PC can resist this command
with an opposed Charisma check.
If the PC resists all these commands, Veron orders
the PC to torture and kill the merchant converts. This
means subduing the cultists then killing them with a
spectacular coup de grace while cackling (technically,
they could also snigger, leer, or even gibber). He’ll permit
alternate forms of torture. Since the PCs were fighting
(and killing) the converts anyway, this is not something
that the PC (as a worshipper of Iuz) is opposed to so there
is no Charisma check.
If threatened, Veron adjusts his tactics as necessary
to respond to the PCs’ threat. Each round, he uses his
ironskin chant as a swift action to give himself DR 5/-. If
he has used all of his orations, he casts spells and uses
Sound of Silence on PC spellcasters.
Fleeing: All the cultists (except for Veron) and the
babau fight to the death. The glabrezu uses its teleport
ability to flee if it is near death.
If the PCs are forced to flee, the cultists quickly kill
Duewella (marked D on the map) and finish the
ceremony. If given time, they destroy the shrine so that
no evidence remains. The cultists disperse back into the
city, while the demons return to the Abyss and await
their next summons. The cultists take all the treasure
with them, including the sealed and unsealed scrolls.
If the PCs flee and notify the Watch, the cultists are
gone before the Watch arrives.
Treasure: The PCs can loot the cultists. In addition, the
altar is and the cultists store supplies inside. If the PC
discover the hidden panel in the side (DC 20 Search
check), they find an elixir of love, dust of tracelessness, (APL 4
and higher), elixir of truth (APL 6 and higher), elixir of
hiding (APL 8 and higher), dust of illusion (APL 10 and
higher), and dust of appearance (APL 12).
In addition to the supplies, there are two scrolls –
one sealed, one not. The unsealed scroll is Player
Handout 2, which reads:
Contain your desire to inflict pain on the soft
despots of the Gem. Do not give away your presence.
Locate any agents of the Hierarchs. Several escaped
the fall of Molag. We have tracked them to
Greyhawk. Report as soon as you find them. Do not
approach on your own.
Pain is power! -Gleed
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 20
The sealed scroll is Player Handout 3, which reads:
I have found no evidence of the Hierarchs yet, but
agents of the Mak are meeting with the Oligarchy. A
few are in town, but most are across the river in
some caves to the west. I have made a map. I am
unable to determine the purpose of meeting but
intend to keep asking questions until people tell me
what I want to know or they die.
The entire city is rife with discontent. A single
match would send it all ablaze. The Old One grant
that I will live to see the day when we burn the
whole city down.
I will contact you later with more information.
Pain is power! -Pin
Tucked inside the case is a second piece of parchment
that is the map of a system of caves and is the one
mentioned in the note. If the PCs follow up on this lead,
they can find the caves on the Far Bank (the west bank of
the Selintan). The orcs have moved to another location,
but there is evidence that a group of ten individuals were
recently camping here for several weeks. Travel there, the
search, and the return trip takes an entire day.
If the PCs help Duewella, they find her gravely
injured and in deep shock. Getting her to talk requires
soothing words and mention of her grandfather. If
calmed, she tells the PCs how she fell in love with Veron.
Because of her homely looks and her father’s profession,
she hadn’t received much attention from men. Veron was
charming and lured her away. She found out too late he
was a monster. She begs the PCs to return her to her
grandfather.
Once the PCs are done, they are left with the
decision of what to do with the cultists and their shrine.
They could just leave the bodies here. Eventually, the
stench of rotting bodies attracts notice and the City
Watch investigates. The bodies are disposed of and the
shrine is destroyed.
If the PCs fetch the Watch, they thank the PCs for
their efforts, and take charge any prisoners, the disposal
of the bodies, and oversee the destruction of this site.
Development: If the PCs take Duewella back to the
Beggarmaster, Simeon is happy to see his granddaughter
again though it is hard to tell with his lack of visible
emotion. He keeps his word and answers the PCs
questions. He does not volunteer information (with one
exception); he only answers specific questions.
If asked about the carts and supplies in the early
dawn, he says that Talasek Thraydin, a prominent paladin
of St. Cuthbert, has been using the Coinswords to move
food and supplies from city storehouses to warehouses
owned by the church. The supplies and food are being
distributed to the poor and needy.
If asked about the Pomarj agents, Simeon says that
he has heard rumors that they are present in the city, but
he assumes they are spies and saboteurs. He does not
know they are meeting with the Oligarchy.
Even if he is not asked directly about what plots are
foot with the Directing Oligarchy, Simeon volunteers the
following:
“His Most Solemn Authority,” a trace of sarcasm
creeps into his voice, “Nerof Gasgal has finally
decided to shed the Oligarchy of the ponderous
weight that is Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel. He is cutting deals
with enough directors to have her removed from the
council at the next meeting. Why now and not the
hundred other times she’s annoyed him in the past
decade? That I don’t know.”
If any PC is a member of the Mercenary’ Guild, the
Beggarmaster tells the Guildmaster of the Mercenary
Guild about how the PC stepped up to honor the contract
when the first moron they sent messed up. Completing
the contract saves face and counts towards advancement
in the Mercenary Guild (completes a job contracted by
the guild: +2 to affiliation score).
If any PC is a member of the Guild of
Nightwatchmen, any prisoners they turn count towards
advancement in the Guild (completes a mission for the
Nightwatch: +1 to affiliation score).
If any PC is a member of the Merchant and Traders
Union or the Thieves’ Guild; they can turn information
over about the event and the P&P Mercantile and Trade
front to count towards advancement in their respective
Guilds. (Merchant’s Guild: +2 to affiliation score; Thieves’
Guild: +2 to affiliation score).
This map in the sealed case is considered new and
unique for advancement within the Cartographer’s Guild.
Treasure: If the PCs rescue Duewella, the PCs receives
the Psst, You Gotta Hear This AR item.
9: THE MEETING OF MINDS
The PCs may decide to approach either Talasek Thraydin
or Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel. Both can be found at the Sacred
Temple of St. Cuthbert in the Garden Quarter.
The Sacred Temple of St. Cuthbert is home to the
most powerful religious organization in the Free
City. A great many religious artifacts and precious
metals adorn the building. Interestingly, the temple
has no guards except for its unusual Weisshund
dogs. Rumors say that the clerics of this temple get
divine warning about incoming attempts to rob the
temple. The clerics are not above giving anyone
doing evil a good thrashing to get them back onto
the beaten path.
The Weisshunds are very similar in appearance to Saint
Bernard’s. They can sense creatures of non-lawful
alignment and give them baleful looks.
With more than 30 priests in residence, the PCs have
no problem finding a curate to request a meeting with
Eritai or Talasek. Talasek is available to meet with the PCs
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 21
any afternoon. He is training future paladins in the
morning.
Until the PCs have found out either: (1) what Talasek
is up to, or (2) what Nerof is up to, Eritai is unavailable to
meet with the party. If the PCs have done either, a
meeting is arranged a within a day. If a PC has the Favor
of Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel, this speeds the process up to a
couple hours.
MEETING WITH TALASEK
When the PCs meet with Talasek, read or:
The famous Talasek Thraydin meets you in the fresh
air of the temple gardens. Talasek is a tall,
handsome, solid-looking man with wavy brown hair
shot through with gray. Though he is no longer
young, the years have just made him more
distinguished and the hope in his eyes burns
undimmed. He greets each of you with a smile and
firm handshake. After which he sits on a bench to
scratch the ears of one of the great Weisshund dogs
that is enjoying the afternoon sunlight.
Talasek is the Senior Paladin-in-Residence at the temple
and has dedicated his life to helping the unfortunate. He
has a network of friends and acquaintances all over the
city, which provides food, lodging, work, and information
to those in need. Talasek’s past efforts have accomplished
everything from obtaining cows to provide milk for the
orphanage to helping crush the rise of the Falcon, an evil
naga of great power, in CY 581.
� Talasek Thraydin: male human paladin 12; AL
LG (Diplomacy +19, Sense Motive +17).
If the PCs ask about the wagons and the diversion of
supplies, Talasek readily admits that he is behind it. He
does not view it as stealing as he reimburses the
Greyhawk Militia for the cost of the supplies. What he
does consider a crime is how the Oligarchy sits on all
these supplies and food when there are people who
desperately need them. He has tried repeatedly to go
through the system to get the supplies given to the poor,
but his efforts have all been blocked by “Nerof and his
cronies.”
Talasek knows nothing about the plot to have Eritai
removed or the meetings between the Oligarchs and
emissaries of the Pomarj. He is aghast and immediately
takes the PCs to meet with Eritai.
If the PCs tell Talasek about the Cult of Iuz and their
location, he zealously responds, gathering up a couple
dozen clerics and paladins. They storm McGloogan’s
Warehouse, defeat the cultists, and rescue Duewella.
Simeon is still grateful and answers their questions, but
the PCs get no XP and no treasure as the Cuthbertites
claim the booty as compensation for the poor.
MEETING WITH ERITAI
When the PCs meet with Eritai, read:
A cleric of St. Cuthbert leads you to a three-storey
marble building behind the sacred temple. You enter
through bronze double-doors to a large foyer. The
floor is pink marble and a staircase winds up in
great elliptical sweeps to the upper floors.
The cleric shows you to a large meeting room on
the first floor. The room holds a long oval table and
the walls are adorned with twelve life-size paintings
of great paladins and clerics of St. Cuthbert. Your
guide asks you to wait here while he informs the
High Priestess of your presence.
The large oval table has a dozen chairs around it. If the
PCs look at the portraits, they can count five paladins and
seven clerics attired in their best. One of the paladins
bears a striking resemblance to Talasek. The name
“Talamar” is engraved on the frame.
The door opens and four clerics enter the room –
two clerics followed by a short stocky but extremely
formable looking woman, followed by a scribe. The
three clerics greet you then take seats at the table.
The scribe sits on a high stool at a small writing
table and begins to write.
The woman is Eritai, probably the most influential
woman in the City of Greyhawk. She is a strict, no-
nonsense woman and a devout follower of the common-
sense approach of St. Cuthbert. She has given all to the
temple, having been divorced five times and no children.
Her maternal instinct is channeled through nurturing
those in need, but she does not tolerate tomfoolery,
shenanigans, or even mischief.
�Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel: female human cleric 14; AL
LN.
Eritai begins the meeting with formal notations for
the record as to all attendees and asks what the purpose of
the meeting. The scribe dutifully scribbles it all down.
If the PCs inform Eritai about her of Talasek's
activities, she raises an eyebrow while pursing her lips.
She asks for details on how the PCs discovered this
information. If Talasek is present, she demands an
explanation. Talasek presents his opinion of the matter as
described above. Eritai thanks the PCs for their diligence
and their foresight and informs them that she will see to
the matter.
If the PCs inform her about the plot to have her
expelled from the Directing Oligarchy, she quietly
contemplates the news. She asks for details on how the
PCs discovered this information. Afterward, she thanks
them for their diligence and their foresight then excuses
herself so that she can contemplate through prayer on
how to respond.
Treasure: If the PCs tell Eritai of Nerof’s plan, the PCs
receive The Cudgel Will Persevere AR item.
COR8-01 Machinations
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Development: Depending on how much information
the PCs reveal to Eritai determines how she responds
from her ouster from the Directing Oligarchy.
10: REPORTING IN
On the evening of Freeday, the 7th day of Growfest, the
PCs can meet with Marial to relay their findings.
Evening comes on Freeday and thousands pour
northward up the Processional toward the Grand
Citadel in anticipation of the magical contest,
featuring an illusionary assault on the Citadel. The
Golden Phoenix Inn, situated in the heart of the
Garden Quarter has an excellent view of the Citadel
and tonight’s display.
You find Marial and Edwina on a private
balcony of the Golden Phoenix. Edwina is munching
on some fruits from a basket. Marial looks to you
and smiles, “There you are. Allow me to introduce
my benefactor. He wanted to meet you.”
She gestures to a short, rotund man with a
waxed mustache and long hair in curls, both dyed
light orange. He lifts a wine glass to you and says,
“Otto’s my name and magic’s my game. This wine is
simply divine though not as great a pleasure as
meeting with you to dine.”
This is indeed Otto, member of the Circle of Eight, cleric
of Boccob, archmage, artiste, connoisseur, and dandy. He
is very expressive in his speech and gestures. He never
uses small word when a polysyllabic one will do.
�Otto: male human cleric 3/wizard 15; AL N.
Otto wants to hear everything the PCs have found
out. Let the players describe the information they
learned. If they mention that Nerof seeks to expel Eritai
from the Oligarchy, Otto says:
“So our Lord Mayor is going to expunge Eritai from
the Directing Oligarchy? That bodes ill. Multiple
segments of this grand metropolis will presume this
a sign that the thieves have tightened their control
over the city.”
If they mention Veron and his cult of Iuz, he responds:
“An agent of the Old One? Hardly worth mentioning
isn’t it? The City Watch finds them with regularity.
What makes this one distinct?”
If they mention that Veron worked for Gleed, was
making the other Cults of Iuz, and was looking for
Hierarchs, he says:
“Hierarchs in Greyhawk? That is most disturbing
news. I had presumed that had been eradicated.”
If the PCs mention that the Oligarchy is meeting with
agents from the Pomarj:
“Curiouser and Curiouser. What advantage could the
Oligarchy leverage through negotiation with the
Pomarj? This bears watching.”
At last, the fireworks display gets underway. Otto says:
“I’m told the first caster is an expert in illusions, all
the way from the Grand Duchy of Geoff, training in
the gnome illusionary college there.”
The Desportium of Magic does not disappoint.
The first performance is a fanciful tale of
exaggeratedly large giants and evil dragons attacking
the Citdadel of Greyhawk. The defenders halt the
advance and, with the help of some metallic dragons,
turn it around. By the time the display is over, a
group of six wizards and warriors, slay the
commander of the enemy in a fantastic display of
lights.
After the first display completes, Otto says,
“Splendid demonstration. I hope the others are as
delightful.”
The PCs are free to stay with Marial and Otto and enjoy
the remainder of the show. The price of drinks is
extremely steep (minimum 10 gp for a bottle of wine).
The sounds of cheering echoes from all across the
Free City as the display ends. The other displays are
equally impressive. The judges spend several hours
in contemplation but finally award the victory to the
young illusionist from the Sheldomar Valley.
When the PCs leave, Otto gives them one last piece of
advice:
“If you are correct, then tomorrow’s meeting at the
Lord Mayor’s Palace should be a show not to be
missed.”
Treasure: If the PCs asked for a payment to do the
investigation, Marial pays the amount agreed upon. If the
PCs did not ask for money, she rewards them depending
upon how much information they presented her.
In addition, if the PCs tell Otto of Nerof’s plan, the
PCs receive Favor of the Circle of Eight AR item.
Development: Depending upon how much information
the PCs passed onto Otto and Marial, the Circle of Eight
knows what Nerof is planning, what Talasek is doing, and
that Greyhawk is in negotiations with the Pomarj.
CONCLUSION
On Starday, the Directing Oligarchy meets and Nerof’s
plot unfolds. If the PCs go to the Lord Mayor’s residence,
read the following. If the PCs do not go to the mayor’s
palace, then you need to adjust the box text so that the
PCs hear of his actions.
COR8-01 Machinations
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In the heart of the High Quarter, the Lord Mayor’s
Palace is one of the finest mansions in the city.
Many people refer to it as City Hall as it handles the
same function. When you arrive, all sorts of people
are filing in and out of the building. Those going in
are carrying logbooks and coming out empty
handed. Although the crowd is small, a large number
of common folk and artisans are gathered near the
Lord Mayor’s Palace.
Today is the 1st of Planting and all guilds must present
their membership lists to the Inspector of Taxes by noon.
Those that fail to do so are declared to have no members
and are disbanded unless a huge fine is paid.
Also, in the afternoon, the Grand Council of
Greyhawk Guilds meets with the Directing Oligarchy.
The Oligarchy meets in private session in the morning.
What happens at the Oligarchy meeting depends upon
whether or not the PCs warned Eritai.
A: ERITAI KNOWS OF NEROF’S PLAN
If the PCs told Eritai of Nerof’s intentions, she decides to
beat him to the punch by resigning from the Oligarchy.
She believes that this is the best way to preserve her
position in the city and to prevent general rioting and
destruction.
About an hour after the meeting supposedly started,
the High Priestess of the Sacred Temple of St.
Cuthbert emerges into the daylight. The crowd goes
silent waiting on her words.
“My friends,” she calls out to the crowd. Her
voice is firm and strong. “Through the guidance of
St. Cuthbert, it has become apparent to me that I no
longer have a role to play on the Directing Oligarchy.
Effective immediately, I am resigning my position
as Oligarch. Do not lose faith! I shall continue
tirelessly in my efforts for this great city. May the
Cudgel guide us all on the straight and narrow path.”
After she finishes, Eritai leaves the Lord Mayor’s
Palace and makes her way back to the Temple. Her
strong and controlled presence keeps the crowd
from rioting. Across all the quarters, the city seems
to hold its collective breath as if it has just stepped
back from the brink of chaos.
If the PCs prevented Silas from being humiliated, then he
is elected to the Oligarchy in Eritai’s place. If Silas was
humiliated, then Jawan Sumbar, Guildmaster of the
Cartographers is elected in Eritai’s place.
B: ERITAI IS SURPRISED BY NEROF
If the PCs did not relay the plot to Eritai, the Lord Mayor
accuses Eritai in open session of stealing from the
Greyhawk Militia she claims to support and diverting it
to others. She is blindsided by the accusation, the proof,
and the speed by which the other Oligarchs voted her off
the council.
About an hour after the meeting supposedly started,
the High Priestess of the Sacred Temple of St.
Cuthbert emerges into the daylight. The crowd goes
silent waiting on her words.
“My friends,” she begins angrily, “Based on
trumped up accusations, I have been dismissed from
the Oligarchy. This affront to the honest people of
Greyhawk cannot stand. Do not lose faith! I shall
continue tirelessly to rid this great city of the
corruption that grips it.”
Eritai storms from the Lord Mayor’s Palace back
to the Temple. The crowd turns ugly in her wake as
word of her sacking spread. Across many of the
quarters of Greyhawk, word of the deed fans the
flames of discontent. Rioters take to the streets and
barricades rise in the streets as the city slips closer
to chaos.
If the PCs prevented Silas from being humiliated, he is
elected to the Oligarchy in Eritai’s place. If Silas was
humiliated,
Jawan
Sumbar,
Guildmaster
of
the
Cartographers is elected in Eritai’s place.
The End
CAMPAIGN CONSEQUENCES
Depending upon how the PCs used the information
gained in the adventure, Greyhawk is either plagued by
civil unrest or teetering on the brink. The rioting
continues from several weeks before the City Watch is
able to contain and suppress it. Nerof is forced to release
Talesek Thraydin in order to convince the mob to
disperse. This does not solve the long-term problems
facing the city but does return some level of normalcy
and safety to the streets.
Eritai’s reputation is enhanced among the common
people and the old nobility because of her dismissal from
the Oligarchy. Her rivalry with Nerof intensifies as she
actively begins undermining his power through sermons
and her city-wide influence.
Without Eritai on the Oligarchy and rioting in the
streets, Nerof quickly moves forward with negotiating
peace with the Pomarj. He believes that once he brings
the militia back from the Wild Coast, most of the unrest
will dissipate. If not, he’ll then have a trained army to
contain it.
If you play this adventure before 1st May 2008, email
[email protected], noting which conclusion
you ran and who replaced Eritai on the Directing
Oligarchy.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 24
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
roleplaying) to each character.
2: A Night on the Town
Defeating or surviving the Bar Brawl Trap
APL 2
60 XP
APL 4
120 XP
APL 6
180 XP
APL 8
240 XP
APL 10
300 XP
APL 12
360 XP
6: Dead Ends
Defeating the Beggars Ambush
APL 2
90 XP
APL 4
150 XP
APL 6
210 XP
APL 8
240 XP
APL 10
300 XP
APL 12
360 XP
8: Breaking of Noses
Defeating the trap of the ladder
APL 2
90 XP
APL 4
90 XP
APL 6
90 XP
APL 8
90 XP
APL 10
90 XP
APL 12
90 XP
8: Breaking of Noses
Defeating Veron and his cultists
APL 2
120 XP
APL 4
180 XP
APL 6
240 XP
APL 8
330 XP
APL 10
390 XP
APL 12
450 XP
Story Award
Rescuing Silas from Humiliation
APL 2
30 XP
APL 4
45 XP
APL 6
60 XP
APL 8
75 XP
APL 10
90 XP
APL 12
105 XP
Report information on Nerof’s activities to Marial.
APL 2
60 XP
APL 4
90 XP
APL 6
120 XP
APL 8
150 XP
APL 10
180 XP
APL 12
210 XP
Total Possible Experience
APL 2
450 XP
APL 4
675 XP
APL 6
900 XP
APL 8
1125 XP
APL 10
1350 XP
APL 12
1575 XP
TREASURE SUMMARY
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their
earthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10
minutes per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot
take the time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this
gold. If you feel it is reasonable that characters can go
back to loot the bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e.,
not carted off by dungeon scavengers, removed from the
scene by the local watch, and so on), characters may
return to retrieve loot. If the characters do not loot the
body, the gold piece value for the loot is subtracted from
the encounter totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a
round or so. If for some reason, they pass up this treasure,
the coin total is subtracted from the encounter totals
given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure
is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because characters may want to use them during the
adventure. Many times characters must cast identify,
analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine what the
item does and how to activate it. Other times they may
attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic item is
consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the
item is used before the end of the adventure, its total is
subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in
the GP Gained field of the adventure certificate.
Loot = Looted gear from enemy; Coin = Coin, Gems,
Jewelry, and other valuables; Magic = Magic Items.
2: A Night on the Town
APL 2: Magic 58 gp; silversheen; (20 gp); glitter stone
(37 gp); Total 58 gp.
COR8-01 Machinations
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APL 4: Magic 58 gp; silversheen (20 gp); glitter stone (37
gp each); Total 58 gp.
APL 6: Magic 58 gp; silversheen (20 gp); glitter stone
(37 gp each); Total 58 gp.
APL 8: Magic 58 gp; silversheen (20 gp); glitter stone (37
gp); Total 58 gp.
APL 10: Magic 58 gp; silversheen (20 gp); glitter stone
(37 gp); Total 58 gp.
APL 12: Magic 58 gp; silversheen (20 gp); glitter stone
(37 gp); Total 58 gp.
6: Dead Ends
APL 2: Loot 36 gp; Coin 16; Total 52 gp.
APL 4: Loot 36 gp; Coin 16; Magic 166 gp; rod of viscid
globs (166 gp); Total 218 gp.
APL 6: Loot 54 gp; Coin 16; Magic 166 gp; rod of viscid
globs (166 gp); Total 236 gp.
APL 8: Loot 57 gp; Coin 16; Magic 166 gp; rod of viscid
globs (166 gp); Total 239 gp.
APL 10: Loot 37 gp; Coin 16; Magic 746 gp; +1 dagger
(2) (192 gp each), +1 studded leather armor (2) (98 gp each);
rod of viscid globs (166 gp); Total 819 gp.
APL 12: Loot 39 gp; Coin 16; Magic 1,913 gp; +1
dagger (2) (192 gp each), +1 studded leather armor (2) (98 gp
each); rod of viscid globs (166 gp); tentacle rod (1,167 gp);
Total 1,867 gp.
8: Breaking of Noses
APL 2: Loot 6 gp; Loot 16 gp; Magic 211 gp; +1 chain
shirt (104 gp), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), scroll of eagle’s
splendor (12 gp), elixir of love (12 gp); Total 233 gp.
APL 4: Loot 36 gp; Loot 16 gp; Magic 232 gp; +1 chain
shirt (104 gp), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), scroll of eagle’s
splendor (12 gp), elixir of love (12 gp), dust of tracelessness (21
gp); Total 284 gp.
APL 6: Loot 151 gp; Loot 16 gp; Magic 1,138 gp; +1
buckler (97 gp), +1 chain shirt (104 gp), scroll of eagle’s
splendor (12 gp), scroll of invisibility (12 gp), cape of the viper
(167 gp), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), +1 studded leather (6)
(98 gp each), elixir of love (12 gp), dust of tracelessness (21 gp),
elixir of truth (42 gp); Total 1,305 gp.
APL 8: Loot 151 gp; Loot 16 gp; Magic 1,159 gp; +1
buckler (97 gp), +1 chain shirt (104 gp), scroll of eagle’s
splendor (12 gp), scroll of invisibility (12 gp), cape of the
viper (167 gp), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), +1 studded leather
(6) (98 gp each), elixir of love (12 gp), dust of tracelessness (21
gp), elixir of truth (42 gp), elixir of hiding (21 gp); Total 1,326
gp.
APL 10: Loot 151 gp; Loot 16 gp; Magic 2,134 gp;
barricade buckler (347 gp each), +1 chain shirt (104 gp),
scroll of eagle’s splendor (12 gp), scroll of invisibility (12 gp),
cape of the viper (167 gp), vest of resistance +2 (333 gp), mask
of lies (375 gp) +1 studded leather (6) (98 gp each), elixir of
love (12 gp), dust of tracelessness (21 gp), elixir of truth (42 gp),
elixir of hiding (21 gp), dust of illusion (100 gp); Total 2,301
gp.
APL 12: Loot 151 gp; Loot 16 gp; Magic 2,284 gp;
barricade buckler (347 gp each), +1 chain shirt (104 gp),
scroll of eagle’s splendor (12 gp), scroll of invisibility (12 gp),
cape of the viper (167 gp), vest of resistance +2 (333 gp), mask
of lies (375 gp) +1 studded leather (6) (98 gp each), elixir of
love (12 gp), dust of tracelessness (21 gp), elixir of truth (42 gp),
elixir of hiding (21 gp), dust of illusion (100 gp), dust of
appearance (150 gp); Total 2,451 gp.
10: Reporting In
APL 2: Coin 200 gp; Total 200 gp.
APL 4: Coin 300 gp; Total 300 gp.
APL 6: Coin 400 gp; Total 400 gp.
APL 8: Coin 500 gp; Total 500 gp.
APL 10: Coin 600 gp; Total 600 gp.
APL 12: Coin 700 gp; Total 700 gp.
Treasure Cap
APL 2: 450 gp; APL 4: 650 gp; APL 6: 900 gp; APL 8: 1300
gp; APL 10: 2300 gp; APL 12: 3300 gp.
Total Possible Treasure
APL 2: 543 gp; APL 4: 760 gp; APL 6: 1,899 gp; APL 8:
2,023 gp; APL 10: 3,678 gp; APL 12: 4,976 gp.
ADVENTURE RECORD ITEMS
�Arrested! You have run afoul of the constabulary of
Greyhawk. You are imprisoned for six months (26 TU)
before being released. Alternatively, you may pay an
amount equal to half the treasure cap of this adventure (at
the APL you played) to avoid imprisonment.
�Bigby Left This as Collateral: For preventing the
public humiliation of Silas Steamgem, the Guild
Moneylenders and Pawnbrokers quietly extends you a
special offer. You may expend this favor to borrow one
non-consumable item you currently have access to for
one adventure set in the City of Greyhawk. The item
must be returned or purchased at the end of the
adventure. If the item cannot be returned, you must pay
its full value immediately, using the Charity of Friends
rule in the LGCS if necessary.
�The Cudgel Will Persevere: You have warned Eritai
Kaan-Ipzirel of the plots against her within the City of
Greyhawk. In gratitude, the High Priestess of Saint
Cuthbert opens the plentiful resources of the Temple of
St. Cuthbert to you. You may expend this favor to gain
access (frequency: adventure) to Sacred Armor armor and
shield enhancement (Arms and Equipment Guide), the holy
surge weapon enhancement (Magic Item Compendium), and
Surcoat of Valor (Magic Item Compendium).
�Favor of the Circle of Eight: Otto has described your
efforts as “stupendous” and worthy of a factotum to the
Circle of Eight. This favor counts as a recommendation of
a member with an affiliation score of 21 or higher for the
Wizard’s Guild. You gain open access to the following
spells: create fetch (Complete Scoundrel), disobedience
(Complete Scoundrel), grasping wall (Complete Scoundrel), and
spymaster's coin (Complete Scoundrel). Finally at APL 8 and
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 26
higher, you gain access to the bracers of blinding strike part
of the fleet warrior’s array (Magic Item Compendium).
�Psst, You Gotta Hear This: For your assistance in
locating his errant granddaughter, Simeon Hellwater the
Beggarmaster assigns Gammarstank the Scrofulous as a
contact for you. Once per adventure set in the City of
Greyhawk, Gammarstank (male human expert 7, gather
information +12), can make a gather information check
for you. This costs you 1d4+1 gp.
�Affiliations: You improved your standing with your
affiliation. Score through any that do not apply:
Mercenaries Guild: +2 for completing a job
contracted by the guild
Guild of Nightwatch: +1 for completing a mission
for the Nightwatch.
Merchant and Trader’s Union: +2 for advancing
the power of the Union
Thieves’ Guild: +2 for completing a mission against
a Guild enemy.
ITEM ACCESS
APL 2:
•
Silversheen (Adventure; DMG)
•
Elixir of love (Adventrue; DMG)
•
Glitter stone (Adventure; CL 3rd; Magic Item
Compendium; 450 gp)
APL 4 (all of APL 2 plus the following):
•
Dust of tracelessness (Adventure; DMG)
•
Rod of viscid globs (Adventure; CL 9th; Magic Item
Compendium; 2,000 gp)
APL 6 (all of APLs 2-4 plus the following):
•
Cape of the viper (Adventure; CL 6th; Magic Item
Compendium; 2,000 gp)
•
Elixir of truth (Adventure; DMG)
APL 8 (all of APLs 2-6 plus the following):
•
Pearl of brain lock (Adventure; CL 3rd; Magic Item
Compendium; 900 gp)
•
Elixir of hiding (Adventure; DMG)
APL 10 (all of APLs 2-8 plus the following):
•
Barricade buckler (Adventure; CL 9th; Magic Item
Compendium; 4,165 gp)
•
Mask of lies (Adventure; CL 5th; Magic Item
Compendium; 4,500 gp)
•
Dust of illusion (Adventure; DMG)
APL 12 (all of APLs 2-10 plus the following):
•
Dust of appearance (Adventure; DMG)
•
Tentacle rod (Adventure; CL 6th; Magic Item
Compendium; 14,000 gp)
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 27
APPENDIX 1: APL 2
2: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
BAR FIGHT “TRAP”
CR 2
Description See Encounter 2.
Search Not applicable; Type Special
Trigger Location; Init +1
Effect Humiliation of Silas DC 13; 5 successful
humiliations will “defeat” Silas, a hit may be blocked
by the PCs
Effect Brawl Atk + 2, 2d4 subdual damage
Duration 8 rounds
Destruction AC 12; hp 5 (defeats one section)
Disarm Intimidate DC 22 (disarms one section)
Disarm Diplomacy DC 17 (disarms one section)
Dispel DC 13 (although the PC does not use a dispel
magic spell for this, treat it as a regular dispel
attempt, dispels one section)
Block Humiliation DC 13, any ability score check may
be used
5: DEAD ENDS
SLUM QUARTER “BEGGAR”
CR 1
Male human warrior 2
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13
(+3 armor)
hp 9 (2 HD)
Fort +3, Ref +0, Will -1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +3 (1d3+1) or
Melee dagger +3 (1d4+1/19-20)
Base Atk +2; Grp +3
Atk Options Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack
Abilities Str 13, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 8
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack
Skills Climb +4, Handle Animal +4, Intimidate +0, Jump
+4, Knowledge (local – core) +2, Profession (beggar)
+1, Swim -0,
Possessions dagger, studded leather armor
SLUM QUARTER ROOF TOPPLER CR 1
Male human commoner 2
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 11, touch 10, flat-footed 11
(+1 armor)
hp 5 (2 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3-1) or
Melee club +0 (1d6-1)
Ranged brick -3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb +5, Jump +5, Knowledge (local – core) +2,
Profession (beggar) +3, Swim +1,
Possessions club, padded armor
OTJEN
CR 1
Female human rogue 1
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Listen +0, Spot +3
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12
(+2 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 7 (1 HD)
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will -1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee dagger -1 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +0; Grp -1
Atk Options sneak attack +1d6
Abilities Str 9, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
SQ trapfinding
Feats Deft Hands, Stealthy
Skills Appraise +3, Balance +6, Bluff +5, Climb +3,
Escape Artist +6, Gather Information +2, Hide +8,
Jump +3, Knowledge (local – core) +3, Listen +0,
Move Silently +8, Sleight of Hand +8, Spot +3,
Tumble +6,
Possessions dagger, leather armor
6: NOSES GET BROKEN
CONVERT OF IUZ
CR 1/2
Male human warrior 1
CE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13
(+3 armor)
hp 4 (1 HD)
Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3-1) or
Melee dagger +0 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb -1, Handle Animal +0, Intimidate +0, Jump
-1, Knowledge (geography) +2, Knowledge (local –
core) +2, Knowledge (nature) +2, Knowledge (nobility
and royalty) +2, Profession (merchant) +2, Ride +1,
Swim -2,
Possessions dagger, studded leather armor
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 28
VERON, AGENT OF IUZ CR 3
Male human bard 3
CE medium human (humanoid)
Init +5; Senses Listen +6, Spot +0
Languages Abyssal, Common, Gnome, Halfling
AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15
(+1 Dex, +4 armor, +1 shield)
hp 19 (3 HD)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +4
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee rapier +1 (1d6-1) or
Ranged dagger +3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +2; Grp +1
Special Acttions bardic music 3/day (countersong,
fascinate, inspire courage +1, inspire competence)
Combat Gear scroll of eagle’s splendor
Bard Spells Known (CL 3rd):
1st (2/day)—alarm, cause fear (DC 13), inspirational
boost
0 (3/day)—dancing lights, daze, flare, message,
open/close, prestidigitation
Abilities Str 8, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 15
SQ bardic Knowledge +7
Feats Improved Initiative, Toughness, Persuasive
Skills Bluff +10, Concentration +7, Diplomacy +10,
Disguise +8, Gather Information +8], Intimidate +10,
Knowledge (local-core) +6, Perform (Oratory) +8,
Listen +6, Speak Language +3.
Possessions combat gear plus rapier, dagger, +1 chain
shirt, vest of resistance +1, buckler, merchants outfit,
100 gp.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 29
APL 4
2: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
BAR FIGHT “TRAP”
CR 4
Description See Encounter 2.
Search Not applicable; Type Special
Trigger Location; Init +2
Effect Humiliation of Silas DC 14; 5 successful
humiliations will “defeat” Silas, a hit may be blocked
by the PCs
Effect Brawl Atk + 4, 4d4 subdual damage
Duration 10 rounds
Destruction AC 14; hp 10 (defeats one section)
Disarm Intimidate DC 24 (disarms one section)
Disarm Diplomacy DC 19 (disarms one section)
Dispel DC 15 (although the PC does not use a dispel
magic spell for this, treat it as a regular dispel
attempt, dispels one section)
Block Humiliation DC 14, any ability score check may
be used
5: DEAD ENDS
SLUM QUARTER “BEGGAR”
CR 1
Male human warrior 2
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13
(+3 armor)
hp 9 (2 HD)
Fort +3, Ref +0, Will -1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +3 (1d3+1) or
Melee dagger +3 (1d4+1/19-20)
Base Atk +2; Grp +3
Atk Options Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack
Abilities Str 13, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 8
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack
Skills Climb +4, Handle Animal +4, Intimidate +0, Jump
+4, Knowledge (local – core) +2, Profession (beggar)
+1, Swim -0,
Possessions dagger, studded leather armor
SLUM QUARTER ROOF TOPPLER CR 1
Male human commoner 2
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 11, touch 10, flat-footed 11
(+1 armor)
hp 5 (2 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3-1) or
Melee club +0 (1d6-1)
Ranged brick -3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb +5, Jump +5, Knowledge (local – core) +2,
Profession (beggar) +3, Swim +1,
Possessions club, padded armor
OTJEN
CR 2
Female human rogue 2
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Listen +0, Spot +4
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12
(+2 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 11 (2 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +1, Ref +5, Will -1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee dagger +0 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Atk Options sneak attack +1d6
Abilities Str 9, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
SQ trapfinding
Feats Deft Hands, Stealthy
Skills Appraise +3, Balance +9, Bluff +6, Climb +4,
Escape Artist +7, Gather Information +4, Hide +9,
Jump +6, Knowledge (local – core) +7, Listen +0,
Move Silently +9, Sleight of Hand +11, Spot +4,
Tumble +9,
Possessions dagger, leather armor
6: NOSES GET BROKEN
CONVERT OF IUZ
CR 1/2
Male human warrior 1
CE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13
(+3 armor)
hp 4 (1 HD)
Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3-1) or
Melee dagger +0 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb -1, Handle Animal +0, Intimidate +0, Jump
-1, Knowledge (geography) +2, Knowledge (local –
core) +2, Knowledge (nature) +2, Knowledge (nobility
and royalty) +2, Profession (merchant) +2, Ride
+1,Swim -2,
Possessions dagger, studded leather armor
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 30
VERON, AGENT OF IUZ CR 3
Male human bard 3
CE medium human (humanoid)
Init +5; Senses Listen +6, Spot +0
Languages Abyssal, Common, Gnome, Halfling
AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15
(+1 Dex, +4 armor, +1 shield)
hp 19 (3 HD);
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +4
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee rapier +1 (1d6-1) or
Ranged dagger +3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +2; Grp +1
Special Actions bardic music 3/day (countersong,
fascinate, inspire courage +1, inspire competence)
Combat Gear scroll of eagle’s splendor
Bard Spells Known (CL 3rd):
1st (2/day)—alarm, cause fear (DC 13), inspirational
boost
0 (3/day)—dancing lights, daze, flare, message,
open/close, prestidigitation
Abilities Str 8, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 15
SQ bardic knowledge +7
Feats Improved Initiative, Toughness, Persuasive
Skills Bluff +10, Concentration +7, Diplomacy +10,
Disguise +8, Gather Information +8], Intimidate +10,
Knowledge (local-core) +6, Perform (Oratory) +8,
Listen +6, Speak Language +3.
Possessions combat gear plus rapier, dagger, +1 chain
shirt, vest of resistance +1, buckler, merchants outfit,
100 gp.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 31
APL 6
2: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
BAR FIGHT “TRAP”
CR 6
Description See Encounter 2.
Search Not applicable; Type Special
Trigger Location; Init +3
Effect Humiliation of Silas DC 15; 5 successful
humiliations will “defeat” Silas, a hit may be blocked
by the PCs
Effect Brawl Atk +6, 6d4 subdual damage
Duration 12 rounds
Destruction AC 16; hp 15 (defeats one section)
Disarm Intimidate DC 26(disarms one section)
Disarm Diplomacy DC 21 (disarms one section)
Dispel DC 17 (although the PC does not use a dispel
magic spell for this, treat it as a regular dispel
attempt, dispels one section)
Block Humiliation DC 15, any ability score check may
be used
5: DEAD ENDS
SLUM QUARTER BRUISER
CR 3
Male human warrior 4
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13
(+3 armor)
hp 22 (4 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +2
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +5 (1d3-1) or
Melee mwk dagger +5 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +4; Grp +5
Atk Options Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack,
Abilities Str 13, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 8
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Iron Will
Skills Climb +4, Handle Animal +7, Intimidate +4, Jump
+4, Knowledge (local – core) +2, Profession (beggar)
+1, Swim -0,
Possessions masterwork dagger, studded leather
armor
SLUM QUARTER ROOF TOPPLER CR 1
Male human commoner 2
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 11, touch 10, flat-footed 11
(+1 armor)
hp 5 (2 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3-1) or
Melee club +0 (1d6-1)
Ranged brick -3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb +5, Jump +5, Knowledge (local – core) +2,
Profession (beggar) +3, Swim +1,
Possessions club, padded armor
OTJEN
CR 4
Female human rogue 4
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Listen +6, Spot +6
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12; uncanny dodge, +1
against traps
(+2 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 20 (4 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +2, Ref +6 (+7 against traps), Will +0
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee dagger +2 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +3; Grp +2
Atk Options sneak attack +2d6
Abilities Str 9, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
SQ trapfinding
Feats Deft Hands, Skill Focus (sleight of hand), Stealthy
Skills Appraise +3, Balance +11, Bluff +8, Climb +6,
Escape Artist +9, Gather Information +5, Hide +11,
Jump +8, Knowledge (local – core) +7, Listen +6,
Move Silently +11, Sleight of Hand +16, Spot +6,
Tumble +11,
Possessions dagger, leather armor
6: NOSES GET BROKEN
CONVERT OF IUZ
CR 1
Male human warrior 2
CE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14
(+4 armor)
hp 9 (2 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +1 (1d3-1) or
Melee dagger +3 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +2; Grp +1
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb -1, Handle Animal +0, Intimidate +0, Jump
-1, Knowledge (geography) +3, Knowledge (local –
core) +2, Knowledge (nature) +2, Knowledge (nobility
and royalty) +2, Profession (merchant) +3, Ride
+1,Swim -2,
Possessions masterwork dagger, +1 studded leather
armor
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 32
VERON, AGENT OF IUZ CR 6
Male human bard 5/evangelist 1
CE medium human (humanoid)
Init +5; Senses Listen +9, Spot +0
Languages Abyssal, Common, Gnome, Halfling
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17
(+1 Dex, +5 armor, +2 shield)
hp 29 (6 HD)
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +7
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee rapier +2 (1d6-1) or
Ranged dagger +4 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +3; Grp +2
Special Actions Sound of Silence, bardic music 5/day
(countersong, fascinate, inspire courage +1, inspire
competence), great orator 1/day (inspire dread)
Combat Gear cape of the viper, scroll of invisibility,
scroll of eagle's splendor
Bard Spells Known (CL 5th):
2nd (2/day)—harmonize, mirror image, shatter (DC
16)
1st (4/day)—alarm, cure light wounds, inspirational
boost, Tasha’s hideous laughter (DC 15)
0 (3/day)—dancing lights, daze, flare, message,
open/close, prestidigitation
Abilities Str 8, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 18
SQ bardic knowledge +9
Feats Improved Initiative, Extra Music, Persuasive,
Sound of Silence
Skills Bluff +14, Concentration +10, Diplomacy +15,
Disguise +11, Gather Information +11, Intimidate
+15, Knowledge (local-core) +6, Knowledge (religion)
+6, Perform (Oratory) +13, Listen +9, Sense Motive
+6, Speak Language +3.
Possessions combat gear plus rapier, dagger, +1 chain
shirt, +1 buckler, vest of resistance +1, merchants
outfit, 100 gp.
Great Orator (Su) Veron can inspire, protect, and
otherwise improve the situation of his allies simply by
speaking clearly and being heard. Evangelist oratory
abilities function in exactly the same manner as
bardic music except the evangelist must speak loudly
and clearly, rather than sing or play an instrument.
Inspire Dread (Su) Veron can (as a full-round
action) inspire hopelessness in all enemies within 30
feet. This ability imposes a –4 penalty on Will saves
to all such enemies. This ability requires
concentration each round to continue the effect. The
effect lasts as long as Veron speaks and for 3 rounds
thereafter. Inspire dread is a mind-affecting ability.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 33
APL 8
2: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
BAR FIGHT “TRAP”
CR 8
Description See Encounter 2.
Search Not applicable; Type Special
Trigger Location; Init +4
Effect Humiliation of Silas DC 16; 5 successful
humiliations will “defeat” Silas, a hit may be
blocked by the PCs
Effect Brawl Atk +8, 8d4 subdual damage
Duration 14 rounds
Destruction AC 18; hp 20 (defeats one section)
Disarm Intimidate DC 28 (disarms one section)
Disarm Diplomacy DC 23 (disarms one section)
Dispel DC 19 (although the PC does not use a dispel
magic spell for this, treat it as a regular dispel
attempt, dispels one section)
Block Humiliation DC 16, any ability score check
may be used
5: DEAD ENDS
SLUM QUARTER BRUISER
CR 3
Male human warrior 4
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13
(+3 armor)
hp 22 (4 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +2
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +5 (1d3-1) or
Melee mwk dagger +5 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +4; Grp +5
Atk Options Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack,
Abilities Str 13, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 8
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Iron Will
Skills Climb +4, Handle Animal +7, Intimidate +4,
Jump +4, Knowledge (local – core) +2, Profession
(beggar) +1, Swim -0,
Possessions masterwork dagger, studded leather
armor
SLUM QUARTER ROOF TOPPLER CR 1
Male human commoner 2
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 11, touch 10, flat-footed 11
(+1 armor)
hp 5 (2 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3-1) or
Melee club +0 (1d6-1)
Ranged brick -3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb +5, Jump +5, Knowledge (local – core)
+2, Profession (beggar) +3, Swim +1,
Possessions club, padded armor
OTJEN
CR 6
Female human rogue 6
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Listen +8, Spot +8
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12; Combat Expertise,
uncanny dodge, +2 against traps
(+2 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 29 (6 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +3, Ref +7 (+9 against traps), Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee dagger +3 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +4; Grp +3
Atk Options sneak attack +3d6
Abilities Str 9, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
SQ trapfinding
Feats Combat Expertise, Deft Hands, Skill Focus
(sleight of hand), Stealthy
Skills Appraise +3, Balance +13, Bluff +10, Climb +8,
Escape Artist +11, Gather Information +5, Hide
+13, Jump +10, Knowledge (local – core) +7,
Listen +8, Move Silently +13, Sleight of Hand +18,
Spot +8, Tumble +13,
Possessions dagger, leather armor
6: NOSES GET BROKEN
CONVERT OF IUZ
CR 1
Male human warrior 2
CE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14
(+4 armor)
hp 9 (2 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +1 (1d3-1) or
Melee dagger +3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +2; Grp +1
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb -1, Handle Animal +0, Intimidate +0,
Jump -1, Knowledge (geography) +3, Knowledge
(local – core) +2, Knowledge (nature) +2,
Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +2, Profession
(merchant) +3, Ride +1, Swim -2,
Possessions masterwork dagger, +1 studded leather
armor
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 34
VERON, AGENT OF IUZ CR 6
Male human bard 5/evangelist 1
CE medium human (humanoid)
Init +5; Senses Listen +9, Spot +0
Languages Abyssal, Common, Gnome, Halfling
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17
(+1 Dex, +5 armor, +2 shield)
hp 29 (6 HD)
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +7
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee rapier +2 (1d6-1) or
Ranged dagger +4 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +3; Grp +2
Special Actions Sound of Silence, bardic music
5/day (countersong, fascinate, inspire courage +1,
inspire competence), great orator 1/day (inspire
dread)
Combat Gear scroll of invisibility, scroll of eagle's
splendor, cape of the viper
Bard Spells Known (CL 5th):
2nd (2/day)—harmonize, mirror image, shatter (DC
16)
1st (4/day)—alarm, cure light wounds, inspirational
boost, Tasha’s hideous laughter (DC 15)
0 (3/day)—dancing lights, daze, flare, message,
open/close, prestidigitation
Abilities Str 8, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha
18
SQ bardic knowledge +9
Feats Improved Initiative, Extra Music, Persuasive,
Sound of Silence
Skills Bluff +14, Concentration +10, Diplomacy +15,
Disguise +11, Gather Information +11, Intimidate
+15, Knowledge (local-core) +6, Knowledge
(religion) +6, Perform (Oratory) +13, Listen +9,
Sense Motive +6, Speak Language +3.
Possessions combat gear plus rapier, dagger, +1
chain shirt, +1 buckler, vest of resistance +1,
merchants outfit, 100 gp.
Great Orator (Su) Veron can inspire, protect, and
otherwise improve the situation of his allies simply
by speaking clearly and being heard. Evangelist
oratory abilities function in exactly the same
manner as bardic music except the evangelist must
speak loudly and clearly, rather than sing or play
an instrument.
Inspire Dread (Su) Veron can (as a full-round
action) inspire hopelessness in all enemies within
30 feet. This ability imposes a –4 penalty on Will
saves to all such enemies. This ability requires
concentration each round to continue the effect.
The effect lasts as long as Veron speaks and for 3
rounds thereafter. Inspire dread is a mind-affecting
ability.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 35
APL 10
2: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
BAR FIGHT “TRAP”
CR 10
Description See Encounter 2.
Search Not applicable; Type Special
Trigger Location; Init +5
Effect Humiliation of Silas DC 17; 5 successful
humiliations will “defeat” Silas, a hit may be blocked
by the PCs
Effect Brawl Atk +10, 10d4 subdual damage
Duration 16 rounds
Destruction AC 20; hp 25 (defeats one section)
Disarm Intimidate DC 30 (disarms one section)
Disarm Diplomacy DC 25 (disarms one section)
Dispel DC 21 (although the PC does not use a dispel
magic spell for this, treat it as a regular dispel
attempt, dispels one section)
Block Humiliation DC 17, any ability score check may
be used
5: DEAD ENDS
SLUM QUARTER BLOCK BULLY CR 5
Male human warrior 6
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 14
(+4 armor)
hp 33 (6 HD)
Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +4
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +7/+2 (1d3+1) or
Melee +1 dagger +8/+3 (1d4+2/19-20)
Base Atk +6; Grp +7
Atk Options Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Iron
Abilities Str 13, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 8
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Iron Will,
Toughness
Skills Climb +4, Handle Animal +8, Intimidate +8, Jump
+4, Knowledge (local – core) +2, Profession (beggar)
+3, Swim -0,
Possessions +1 dagger, +1 studded leather armor
SLUM QUARTER ROOF TOPPLER CR 1
Male human commoner 2
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 11, touch 10, flat-footed 11
(+1 armor)
hp 5 (2 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3-1) or
Melee club +0 (1d6-1)
Ranged brick -3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb +5, Jump +5, Knowledge (local – core) +2,
Profession (beggar) +3, Swim +1,
Possessions club, padded armor
OTJEN
CR 8
Female human rogue 8
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Listen +10, Spot +10
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12; Combat Expertise,
improved uncanny dodge, +2 against traps
(+2 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 38 (8 HD);
Resist evasion
Fort +3, Ref +8 (+10 against traps), Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee dagger +5/+0 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +6; Grp +5
Atk Options sneak attack +4d6
Abilities Str 9, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
SQ trapfinding
Feats Combat Expertise, Deft Hands, Skill Focus
(sleight of hand), Stealthy
Skills Appraise +3, Balance +15, Bluff +13, Climb +10,
Escape Artist +13, Gather Information +6, Hide +15,
Jump +11, Knowledge (local – core) +7, Listen +10,
Move Silently +15, Sleight of Hand +20, Spot +10,
Tumble +15,
Possessions dagger, leather armor
6: NOSES GET BROKEN
CONVERT OF IUZ
CR 4
Male human warrior 5
CE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14
(+4 armor)
hp 27 (5 HD)
Fort +7, Ref +1, Will +4
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +4 (1d3-1) or
Melee mwk dagger +5 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +5; Grp +4
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude, Iron Will
Skills Climb -1, Handle Animal +0, Intimidate +0, Jump
-1, Knowledge (geography) +3, Knowledge (local –
core) +5, Knowledge (nature) +2, Knowledge (nobility
and royalty) +3, Profession (merchant) +5, Ride +1,
Swim -2,
Possessions masterwork dagger, +1 studded leather
armor
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 36
VERON, AGENT OF IUZ CR 10
Male human bard 5/evangelist 5
CE medium human (humanoid)
Init +5; Senses Listen +13, Spot +0
Languages Abyssal, Common, Gnome, Halfling
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17
(+1 Dex, +5 armor, +2 shield)
hp 57 (10 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +9
Speed 30 ft. i (6 squares)
Melee rapier +5 (1d6-1) or
Ranged dagger +7 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +6; Grp +5
Special Actions Sound of Silence, Ironskin Chant,
bardic music 9/day (countersong, fascinate, inspire
courage +2, inspire competence), fast talk, great
orator 5/day (inspire dread, inflame the righteous,
convert the unfaithful)
Combat Gear scroll of invisibility, scroll of eagle's
splendor, barricade buckler, mask of lies, cape of the
viper
Bard Spells Known (CL 5th):
2 2nd (2/day)—harmonize, mirror image, shatter (DC
16)
1st (4/day)—alarm, cure light wounds, inspirational
boost, Tasha’s hideous laughter (DC 15)
0 (3/day)—dancing lights, daze, flare, message,
open/close, prestidigitation
Abilities Str 8, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16
SQ bardic knowledge +9, skill mastery (Bluff, Disguise,
Intimidate)
Feats Improved Initiative, Extra Music, Persuasive,
Sound of Silence, Ironskin Chant
Skills Bluff +15, Concentration +14, Diplomacy +17,
Disguise +13, Gather Information +13, Intimidate
+18, Knowledge (local-core) +6, Knowledge (religion)
+6, Perform (Oratory), +16 Listen +13, Sense Motive
+6, Speak Language +3.
Possessions combat gear plus rapier, dagger, +1 chain
shirt, vest of resistance +2, merchants outfit, 200 gp.
Fast Talk (Ex) Veron knows the right thing to say at the
right time. He may make a rushed Diplomacy check
as a full-round action at only a –5 penalty.
Great Orator (Su) Veron can inspire, protect, and
otherwise improve the situation of his allies simply by
speaking clearly and being heard. Evangelist oratory
abilities function in exactly the same manner as
bardic music except the evangelist must speak loudly
and clearly, rather than sing or play an instrument.
Inspire Dread (Su) Veron can (as a full-round
action) inspire hopelessness in all enemies within 30
feet. This ability imposes a –4 penalty on Will saves
to all such enemies. This ability requires
concentration each round to continue the effect. The
effect lasts as long as Veron speaks and for 3 rounds
thereafter. Inspire dread is a mind-affecting ability.
Inflame the Righteous (Su): Veron can (as a
full-round action) wreath himself and any of his allies
within 30 feet in divine flame. Each beneficiary of this
ability gains the benefit of a fire shield (CL 10) spell.
The damage caused by the spell is, however, purely
divine and not subject to a creature’s resistance or
immunity to fire. This oratory requires concentration
each round to continue the effect. The effect lasts as
long as Veron speaks and for three rounds thereafter.
Convert the Unfaithful (Su) Veron may attempt
to convert a single enemy within 30 feet. As a full-
round action, he delivers an impassioned speech on
the righteousness of his beliefs to a single enemy,
who must attempt a Will save (DC 18). If the creature
succeeds, it is shaken for one round. If the creature
fails its saving throw, it converts. Creatures with an
alignment subtype (such as angels and devils) are
immune to this ability. A converted creature is
effectively charmed Veron (similar to a charm
monster spell). In addition, a converted creature
temporarily becomes chaotic evil and acts
accordingly. This may mean some of the creature’s
class abilities, spells, or other abilities are unavailable
to it for the duration of the spell. When the duration
elapses, the creature then has a choice: It can
continue to act according to its new alignment, or it
can shift back. If the creature chooses to permanently
change its alignment to the evangelist’s, it acts as if a
cleric of the appropriate alignment had cast
atonement on it. If the creature chooses to change
back, it must make another saving throw (against the
same save DC). If it fails this saving throw its
alignment changes back but it needs an atonement
spell to gain back any abilities it lost due to its
temporary alignment change.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 37
APL 12
2: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
BAR FIGHT “TRAP”
CR 12
Description See Encounter 2.
Search Not applicable; Type Special
Trigger Location; Init +6
Effect Humiliation of Silas DC 18; 5 successful
humiliations will “defeat” Silas, a hit may be blocked
by the PCs
Effect Brawl Atk +12, 12d4 subdual damage
Duration 18 rounds
Destruction AC 22; hp 30 (defeats one section)
Disarm Intimidate DC 32 (disarms one section)
Disarm Diplomacy DC 27 (disarms one section)
Dispel DC 23 (although the PC does not use a dispel
magic spell for this, treat it as a regular dispel
attempt, dispels one section)
Block Humiliation DC 18, any ability score check may
be used
5: DEAD ENDS
SLUM QUARTER BLOCK BULLY CR 5
Male human warrior 6
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 14
(+4 armor)
hp 33 (6 HD)
Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +4
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +7/+2 (1d3+1) or
Melee +1 dagger +8/+3 (1d4+2/19-20)
Base Atk +6; Grp +7
Atk Options Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack,
Abilities Str 13, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 8
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Iron Will,
Toughness
Skills Climb +4, Handle Animal +8, Intimidate +8, Jump
+4, Knowledge (local – core) +2, Profession (beggar)
+3, Swim -0,
Possessions +1 dagger, +1 studded leather armor
SLUM QUARTER ROOF TOPPLER CR 1
Male human commoner 2
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 11, touch 10, flat-footed 11
(+1 armor)
hp 5 (2 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3-1) or
Melee club +0 (1d6-1)
Ranged brick -3 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude
Skills Climb +5, Jump +5, Knowledge (local – core) +2,
Profession (beggar) +3, Swim +1,
Possessions club, padded armor
OTJEN AND FAANIL
CR 8
Female human rogue 8
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Listen +10, Spot +10
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11; Combat Expertise,
improved uncanny dodge, +2 against traps
(+1 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 38 (8 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +3, Ref +8 (+10 against traps), Will +1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee dagger +5/+0 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +6; Grp +5
Atk Options sneak attack +4d6
Abilities Str 9, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
SQ trapfinding
Feats Combat Expertise, Deft Hands, Skill Focus
(sleight of hand), Stealthy
Skills Appraise +3, Balance +15, Bluff +13, Climb +10,
Escape Artist +13, Gather Information +6, Hide +15,
Jump +11, Knowledge (local – core) +7, Listen +10,
Move Silently +15, Sleight of Hand +20, Spot +10,
Tumble +15,
Possessions dagger, padded armor
6: NOSES GET BROKEN
CONVERT OF IUZ
CR 4
Male human warrior 5
CE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Common, Dwarven
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14
(+4 armor)
hp 27 (5 HD)
Fort +7, Ref +1, Will +4
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee unarmed strike +4 (1d3-1) or
Melee mwk dagger +5 (1d4-1/19-20)
Base Atk +5; Grp +4
Abilities Str 9, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 8
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude, Iron Will
Skills Climb -1, Handle Animal +0, Intimidate +0, Jump
-1, Knowledge (geography) +3, Knowledge (local –
core) +5, Knowledge (nature) +2, Knowledge (nobility
and royalty) +3, Profession (merchant) +5, Ride +1,
Swim -2,
Possessions masterwork dagger, +1 studded leather
armor
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 38
VERON, AGENT OF IUZ CR 10
Male human bard 5/evangelist 5
CE medium human (humanoid)
Init +5; Senses Listen +13, Spot +0
Languages Abyssal, Common, Gnome, Halfling
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17
(+1 Dex, +5 armor, +2 shield)
hp 57 (10 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +9
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee rapier +5 (1d6-1) or
Ranged dagger +7 (1d4-1)
Base Atk +6; Grp +5
Atk Options bardic music 9/day (countersong,
fascinate, inspire courage +2, inspire competence),
great orator 5/day (inspire dread, inflame the
righteous, convert the unfaithful)
Special Actions Sound of Silence, Ironskin Chant, fast
talk
Combat Gear scroll of invisibility, scroll of eagle's
splendor, barricade buckler, mask of lies, cape of the
viper
Bard Spells Known (CL 5th):
2 2nd (2/day)—harmonize, mirror image, shatter (DC
16)
1st (4/day)—alarm, cure light wounds, inspirational
boost, Tasha’s hideous laughter (DC 15)
0 (3/day)—dancing lights, daze, flare, message,
open/close, prestidigitation
Abilities Str 8, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16
SQ bardic knowledge +9, skill mastery (Bluff, Disguise,
Intimidate)
Feats Improved Initiative, Extra Music, Persuasive,
Sound of Silence, Ironskin Chant
Skills Bluff +15, Concentration +14, Diplomacy +17,
Disguise +13, Gather Information +13, Intimidate
+18, Knowledge (local-core) +6, Knowledge (religion)
+6, Perform (Oratory), +16 Listen +13, Sense Motive
+6, Speak Language +3.
Possessions combat gear plus rapier, dagger, +1 chain
shirt, vest of resistance +2, merchants outfit, 200 gp.
Fast Talk (Ex) Veron knows the right thing to say at the
right time. He may make a rushed Diplomacy check
as a full-round action at only a –5 penalty.
Great Orator (Su) Veron can inspire, protect, and
otherwise improve the situation of his allies simply by
speaking clearly and being heard. Evangelist oratory
abilities function in exactly the same manner as
bardic music except the evangelist must speak loudly
and clearly, rather than sing or play an instrument.
Inspire Dread (Su) Veron can (as a full-round
action) inspire hopelessness in all enemies within 30
feet. This ability imposes a –4 penalty on Will saves
to all such enemies. This ability requires
concentration each round to continue the effect. The
effect lasts as long as Veron speaks and for 3 rounds
thereafter. Inspire dread is a mind-affecting ability.
Inflame the Righteous (Su): Veron can (as a
full-round action) wreath himself and any of his allies
within 30 feet in divine flame. Each beneficiary of this
ability gains the benefit of a fire shield (CL 10) spell.
The damage caused by the spell is, however, purely
divine and not subject to a creature’s resistance or
immunity to fire. This oratory requires concentration
each round to continue the effect. The effect lasts as
long as Veron speaks and for three rounds thereafter.
Convert the Unfaithful (Su) Veron may attempt
to convert a single enemy within 30 feet. As a full-
round action, he delivers an impassioned speech on
the righteousness of his beliefs to a single enemy,
who must attempt a Will save (DC 18). If the creature
succeeds, it is shaken for one round. If the creature
fails its saving throw, it converts. Creatures with an
alignment subtype (such as angels and devils) are
immune to this ability. A converted creature is
effectively charmed Veron (similar to a charm
monster spell). In addition, a converted creature
temporarily becomes chaotic evil and acts
accordingly. This may mean some of the creature’s
class abilities, spells, or other abilities are unavailable
to it for the duration of the spell. When the duration
elapses, the creature then has a choice: It can
continue to act according to its new alignment, or it
can shift back. If the creature chooses to permanently
change its alignment to the evangelist’s, it acts as if a
cleric of the appropriate alignment had cast
atonement on it. If the creature chooses to change
back, it must make another saving throw (against the
same save DC). If it fails this saving throw its
alignment changes back but it needs an atonement
spell to gain back any abilities it lost due to its
temporary alignment change.
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APPENDIX 2: NEW RULES ITEMS
FEATS
Ironskin Chant [Bardic Music]
You can channel the power of your bardic music to
enable yourself to ignore minor injuries.
Prerequisites: Bardic music, Concentration 12
ranks, Perform 12 ranks.
Benefit: As a swift action that does not provoke
attacks of opportunity, you can expend one daily use of
your bardic music ability to provide damage reduction of
5/— to yourself or to one ally within 30 feet who can
hear you until the start of your next turn.
This feat does not function in an area of magical
silence.
Source: Complete Adventurer 113
Sound of Silence [Bardic Music]
You can channel the power of your bardic music to
deafen your foes.
Prerequisite: Bardic music, Perform 9 ranks.
Benefit: As a standard action, you can expend two
daily uses of your bardic music ability to deafen a single
target for 3 rounds. A successful Will save (using your
Perform check result as the DC) negates the effect. The
target must be within 30 feet of you and be able to hear
you.
Source: Complete Scoundrel 81
MAGIC ITEMS
Barricade Buckler
Price (Item Level): 4,165 gp (9th)
Body Slot: — (held)
Caster Level: 9th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 19) evocation
Activation: Swift (command)
Weight: 5 lb.
This buckler is set with numerous polished green stones: one at
its center, and the rest in concentric rings around it. The center
stone is the smallest, with larger stones in each ring toward the
buckler's edge.
By speaking the command word, you can transform this
+1 buckler into a 5-foot-by-5- foot vertical wall of force. The
wall persists for 1 minute or until you speak a second
command word to return the buckler to its normal
condition.
The wall of force ability functions three times per day.
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, wall of
force.
Cost to Create: 2,000 gp (plus 165 gp for masterwork
buckler), 160 XP, 4 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 16
Cape of the Viper
Price (Item Level): 2,000 gp (6th)
Body Slot: Shoulders
Caster Level: 7th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 18) transmutation
Activation: Swift (command)
Weight: 1 lb.
This viridian cape is shot with threads of greenish metal.
A cape of the viper allows you to transform into a poisonous
serpent. The cape has 3 charges, which are renewed each
day at dawn. Spending 1 or more charges trans forms you
into a viper for 7 rounds.
1 charge: Small viper.
2 charges: Medium viper.
3 charges: Large viper; add +2 to the save DC of your
bite's poison.
While in viper form, you replace all your normal
statistics and special abilities with those of a typical viper
of the appropriate size, except for your alignment, your
hit points, your Hit Dice (for the purpose of adjudicating
effects based on HD), and your ability to understand (but
not speak) the lan guages you normally understand. Any
gear worn or carried melds into the new form and
becomes nonfunctional. Treat this as a polymorph effect,
as defined on page 95 of Player's Handbook II.
Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, ability to wild
shape.
Cost to Create: 1,000 gp, 80 XP, 2 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 84
Mask of Lies
Price (Item Level): 4,500 gp (9th)
Body Slot: Face
Caster Level: 5th
Aura: Faint; (DC 17) abjuration
Activation: — and swift (mental)
Weight: 1 lb.
This black, featureless mask has cross-shaped slits where
the wearer's eyes and mouth should be.
While wearing this mask, you gain a +5 competence
bonus on Bluff checks and your alignment is disguised as
if by an undetectable alignment spell. This is a continuous
effect and requires no activation.
When you activate the mask, you can alter your
appearance as if by a disguise self spell. This ability
functions three times per day.
Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, disguise self,
undetectable alignment.
Cost to Create: 2,250 gp, 180 XP, 5 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium 115
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SPELLS
Harmonize
Transmutation
Level: Bard 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
You blend magic and music seamlessly. While this spell is
in effect, starting a bardic music effect requires only a
move action. Concentrating on a bardic music effect that
requires concentration still requires a standard action.
Source: Races of Stone 162
Inspirational Boost
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting, Sonic]
Level: Bard 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round or special; see text
You concentrate on assisting your friends as you begin the short
chant and simple handchopping motion necessary to cast the
spell. As you finish, the spell’s chant allows you to segue easily
into bolstering your allies.
While this spell is in effect, the morale bonus granted by
your inspire courage bardic music increases by 1.
The effect lasts until your inspire courage effect
ends. If you don’t begin to use your inspire courage
ability before the beginning of your next turn, the spell’s
effect ends.
Source: Spell Compendium 124
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APPENDIX 3: LAW AND ORDER IN THE FREE CITY
PCs in the Free City of Greyhawk are adventuring in an
urban environment. It is perfectly possible, therefore,
that they might do something to get themselves arrested.
Thus, a few words about law, justice, crime, and
punishment are in order.
The level and efficacy of law enforcement in the Free
City is constantly in flux depending on the aims and goals
of those in charge. Recently, some changes on the
Directing Oligarchy have enabled the Lord Mayor, Nerof
Gasgal, to reassert his authority. This has resulting in a
tightening of the laws, particularly in the areas of public
safety and smuggling. Relevant minor laws appear, below.
Unusual Companions
The Free City is a sprawling and cosmopolitan urban
center and as such, there are rules and regulations dealing
with the presence of the animal companions, familiars,
and more fantastic followers that a PC might bring with
her.
In general, PCs that are accompanied by normal
animals (that is, creatures with the animal type) are not
bothered by the guards, provided that it is Medium-sized
or smaller. If the animal is normally carnivorous (such as
a wolf or Medium- or smaller-sized dinosaur), the PC is
required to demonstrate her ability to control that beast,
as well as to show some form of restraint upon it – a
muzzle, or at the very least a collar and leash. They will
also have to purchase a license for it at a cost of 1 gp per
base HD.
Large-sized
non-carnivorous
animals
are
also
acceptable, though depending on the animal it may also
be required to be restrained/collared (common sense
should prevail; a horse, even a warhorse, doesn’t need to
be led around by a collar; a rhinoceros is a different
matter!) They will also have to purchase a license for it at
a cost of 5 gp per base HD for any animal other than a
horse.
For more fantastic creatures (such as the types of
creatures gained by the Improved Familiar feat, or more
exotic animal companions or followers), the PC must
purchase a license for it at a cost of 10 gp per base HD.
If the PC wishes, the companion can be snuck into
the city if it could be hidden from the guards in the first
place (perhaps in a pocket, an extradimensional space, or
by invisibility). Warn the player that if they are caught
with the companion, they earn the Arrested! AR item (see
below).
Weapon and Spell Restrictions
The Free City regulates the use of weapons and spells
within its walls. In regards to magic the laws are:
•
Generally, Greyhawk strongly controls magic use,
prohibiting the use of such except in moments of
extreme personal danger.
•
Spells that do not damage a foe, such as hold person,
are permitted.
•
Spells that do damage only to a foe, such as magic
missile, are allowed, but only in self-defense.
•
Spells that damage a wide area, like fireball, bring a
prosecution for property damage and any other
relevant charges included murder, except in
exceptional circumstances.
•
Spells that are mentally intrusive, like detect evil, are
frowned upon. Spells that can be used for a variety of
illicit purposes, like invisibility, are also disapproved
of. However, the use of either type of spell is legal.
In regards to weapons the rules are:
•
It is legal to carry the following weapon types:
dagger, dart, sling, staff, club, hammer, and other
light weapons. They should be tied to one’s belt or in
a scabbard whenever possible.
•
Swords, axes, and other similar melee weapons can
be carried through the streets but they must be in a
scabbard or leather head-case. Characters wanting to
carry such weapons in the city must purchase a
license (5 gp for one-handed, 20 gp for two-handed
weapons). Licenses are valid for one week.
•
Polearms, spears and other large weapons such as
crossbows and bows are banned. Visitors must
deposit these with the Guild of Nightwatchmen who
maintain a secure storage facility warded with
powerful magics maintained by the Guild of
Wizardry.
Note: If PCs try and get around these restrictions by
buying weapons in the city they will be very securely
wrapped and bound by the seller. Normally, PCs can hide
weapons in extra dimensional spaces without fear of their
discovery.
Two Minor Laws
Greyhawk charges a 3 gp Freesword Tax to any
adventurers entering the city. Without this, adventurers
cannot talk with any patrons, or sell any loot. Characters
paying at least standard upkeep are assumed to have paid
this tax.
Greyhawk prohibits owning, and thus selling, any
idol or symbol of any Evil deity. Individuals finding such
items must turn them over to the authorities to be
destroyed. If the PC wishes, illegal idols can be snuck into
the city if they could have been hidden from the guards
in
the
first
place
(perhaps
in
a
pocket,
an
extradimensional space, or perhaps via invisibility). Warn
the player that if they are caught, they earn the Arrested!
AR item (see below).
Breaking the Law
If a PC wants to avoid paying the fees listed above, he can
usually smuggle the contraband items past the guards.
Doing so requires a successful opposed Bluff check to
avoid attracting suspicion and provoking a search. The
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 42
guards also perform random searches, and these will be
specified in adventures from time to time. If a PC is
caught smuggling, he is punished as noted below.
If a PC is caught carrying illegal weapons inside the
city, the weapons are confiscated until he leaves, and the
PC is fined 10% of the value of the confiscated weapons
(to a maximum amount of 100 gp x APL).
If a PC uses a damaging spell in a non-life
threatening situation they are fined 10 gp x APL. If they
kill someone, it if treated as murder.
Use of an area damaging spell (fireball, for example)
attracts a fine of 100 gp x APL.
Use of intrusive spells does not attract a fine, but the
caster suffers a -2 circumstance penalty on all Diplomacy
checks against people who saw him cast the spell (or have
been told he did so).
These fines are halved if the offender was defending
the city or helping the authorities in some way when you
commit the offense. These fines may be waived or
reduced by adventure text.
Being caught smuggling in an animal requires the
offender to buy a license and pay a fine equal to double
the cost of the license. This must be paid even if the
animal is already dead.
Those avoiding the Freesword Tax caught talking
with patrons or selling the proceeds of their adventurers,
are fined 1,000 gp and treated as if they are smuggling all
items of obvious loot found with them.
The penalty for worshiping an evil deity is either
death (for cult leaders and priests) or confiscation of all
goods and banishment for all other involved individuals.
Those caught with an icon or holy symbol of an evil deity
have all their goods confiscated and are banished from
the city (unless they can prove they were about to hand
the item over to the authorities or a good-aligned church
for destruction).
Avoiding the Penalty for Breaking the Law
Once you’ve been caught, there remains one way to avoid
the penalty – commit another crime. Namely, bribe the
City Watch. Greyhawk being what it is, this is almost
expected. Bribery is a simple matter of offering the City
Watch some portion of the expected fine to simply look
the other way. Treat this as a Diplomacy check with the
City Watch being indifferent. If they become unfriendly,
you must pay the full fine. If they remain indifferent, you
must pay 80% of the fine. If they become friendly, they
only take 60% of the fine. And if you make them helpful,
they let you off for only 40% of the normal fine.
Additionally, some AR favors from previous
adventures provide exemption from some of the rules of
the city or make avoiding those rules harder (this list will
be periodically updated to include relevant favors from
recently released adventures):
COR3-12 Traitor’s Road – Wrath of the
Greyhawk Assassin’s Guild: For the duration of this
disfavor, you always get searched when entering the City,
and can never make the City Watch helpful with a bribe
attempt.
COR6-03 Riders of the Grave – Nightwatch:
Members in good standing of the Nightwatch are exempt
from all weapon restrictions in the City.
COR5-04 Desecrators of the Lord’s Tomb –
Thanks of the City Watch: The luxury upkeep includes
free licenses, and automatic helpful results on any bribe
attempts with the City Watch.
COR5-05 A Marked Man – Disfavor of Skaelin:
In addition to direct confrontations, members of the
Thieves’ Guild will inform on you if you use contraband
weapons or damaging magic in any public place.
COR5-19 Retribution – Nemesis of the Thieves’
Guild: You always get searched when entering the City,
and can never make the City Watch helpful with a bribe
attempt.
COR6-10 Murder in Elmshire – Favor of the City
Watch: The rich upkeep includes free licenses, and
automatic friendly results on any bribe attempts with the
City Watch.
Arrested!
The AR for all adventures set in the Free City has the
Arrested! item. If a PC runs afoul of the law, they are
immediately incarcerated and penalized the noted
number of TUs. This is by decision of the DM, and the
arrest of the PC occurs by fiat; you don’t need to play out
the arrest, it simply happens.
A comprehensive list of what warrants arrest is
beyond the scope of these notes, but in general common
sense should prevail. Non-capital crimes include assault,
theft, magical coercion of a citizen (charm, dominate),
obtaining illegal items (such as sealed court records),
gross property damage (such as the careless use of fireball),
and so on. For such offenses, the PCs suffer the listed loss
of TUs.
More serious crimes, in general, would be evil acts
and as such are prohibited in the Living Greyhawk
campaign.
In all cases, you should always warn player(s) taking
actions that will lead to arrest. Less serious cases of
smuggling are dealt with as detailed above, and do not
result in any TU penalty.
Arrest takes place as soon as possible given the
circumstances of the adventure. If a PC wishes to
continue the adventure, they may post bail for non-
capital crimes. This bail amount is equal to the “Treasure
Cap” amount listed for the table’s APL in the adventure
Treasure Summary section. If paid, the PC is released.
PCs may contribute to another’s bail. The bail deposit is
returned at the end of the adventure. Note that posting
bail does not absolve a PC of the TU penalty for being
arrested – it just allows them to continue with the
adventure. The process of being arrested, brought before
a magistrate, and posting of bail takes roughly two days.
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 43
DM MAP 1
Highway Gate
McGloogan’s Warehouse
The Low Market
The Golden Phoenix
Beggar’s Guildhall
Militia Warehouse
St. Cuthbert Warehouse
House
used
by
Cariel
Mansharn
to
meet
the
Pomarji emissaries
The Griffon’s Nest
The Grand Citadel
Sacred
Temple
of
St.
Cuthbert
Lord Mayor’s Palace
COR8-01 Machinations
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DM MAP 2
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 45
DM MAP 3
Encounter 5 – Dead Ends
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Interior City Wall
Black Gate
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Street - Assassin’s End
Street – The Processional
Shallow Stream
Building
T3
T4
T1
T2
C1
C2
B1 B2
D1
D3
D2
D4
PCs Start Here
D5
D7
D6
D8
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R7
R6
R8
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 46
DM MAP 4
Up
Ladder to the
Warehouse
(trapped)
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
B1
B2
B3
B4
V
D
G
Altar to Iuz, the
Glabrezu, if
present, stands
over the altar
COR8-01 Machinations
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DM AID 1
The following table describes the information available about the various Oligarchs that make up the Directing
Oligarchy of the Free City of Greyhawk.
Name
Information
Cariel
Mansharn
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 46 years old.
•
Member of the Union of Merchants and Traders.
•
Strong supporter of Nerof.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Can usually be found at the Merchants and Traders Guildhouse conducting business.
•
Selfish with a short, nasty temper.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
He is conducting meetings with foreign dignitaries, an activity usually undertaken by the Lord
Mayor himself. These meetings have been so delicate that their location is undisclosed. PCs get
conflicting answer as with whom he is meeting.
Can PCs get a meeting? No, he is conducting trade meetings. (DM Note: These are the secret
meetings between the Directing Oligarchy and the envoys from the Pomarj.)
Carmen
Halmaster
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 64 years old.
•
Member of the Union of Merchants and Traders.
•
Strong supporter of Nerof.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Can usually be found at his cloth shop in Halmaster's Hall.
•
A cult of the Old One attempted an assassination against him during a festival celebration. Since
then, he fears evil cults and is distrustful of any cleric he does not personally know
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Paying a lot of money to various people secretly. Not sure what those people are doing.
•
Carmen and Nerof have been meeting with Stakaster and Torrentz almost daily lately to discuss
the economic future of Greyhawk.
Can PCs get a meeting? No, he only meets with customers who do a lot of business with him over
time and have been investigated by his associates. Members of the Merchants affiliation can meet
with some of his underlings.
Dernan
Nathane
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 54 years old.
•
Guildmaster of the Union of Merchants and Traders.
•
Strong supporter of Nerof.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Rumors say that he is deeply involved with someone.
•
People say he is very outgoing and charming.
•
Can normally be found at the Merchants and Traders Guildhouse conducting business.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
He is having an affair with Gerda Holladrel, Guildmistress of Jewelers and Gemcutters. This
liaison has been going on for years now.
Can PCs get a meeting? Not before Freeday. Dernan is a busy man with a full schedule. Members of
the Merchants affiliation can meet with his executive secretary.
Name
Information
Eritai Kaan-
Ipzirel
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, female, 51 years old.
•
High Priestess of St. Cuthbert.
COR8-01 Machinations
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•
Can usually be found at the Sacred Temple of St. Cuthbert.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Believes the Free City should do more to encourage the citizenry to serve the common good.
•
Has gone through five divorces.
•
Very aggressive on defense, ‘The best defense is a better offense’.
•
At odds with the criminal elements within the Free City.
•
Has donated large amounts of resources to help those in need. The common folks like her and
believe she is all that stands between them and the thieves overrunning the Free City.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
One of her subordinates, Talasek Thraydin, has convinced officers in the Greyhawk Militia to
redirect supplies of food and blankets from the Militia storehouse to aid those in the Slum
Quarter. Eritai is not aware of this activity.
•
Talasek has also gotten assistance from officers in the City Watch to protect and route the
supplies into the Slum Quarter and outside the walls.
Can PCs get a meeting? See Encounter 7.
Sir Gavin
Ambus
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Known as a fair City Constable.
•
Works very hard to root out corruption in the Constabulary force.
•
Strong supporter of Eritai.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Can usually be found at his office in the Grand Citadel.
•
A crazy-eyed beggar from the Beggar’s Union tells anyone who will listen that members of the
City Watch have been spotted in the Slum Quarters during the early morning hours. It is
known that the City Watch does not go into the Slum Quarter except in larger numbers.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
A couple of his officers have been working with Talasek Thraydin to protect and route wagons of
supplies from the Militia stores to points near the Slum Quarter.
•
Members of the City Watch have sold this information to third parties in the Beggar’s Union.
The PCs will need to talk a beggar to learn more.
Can PCs get a meeting? If a PC has a favor of the city watch. He knows about the movement of
supplies but believes it legal since Talasek is compensating the city.
Gerda
Holladrel
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local – core) (DC 10)
•
Human, female, 39 years old.
•
Guildmistress of Jewelers and Gemcutters Guild.
•
Replaced her retired father as head of the Guild and took his seat on the Directing Oligarchy.
•
Neutral but usually supports Nerof.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Known to be a brilliant and strong-willed businesswoman.
•
Can usually be found at the Guildhouse of the Jewelers and Gemcutters.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Having affair with Dernan Nathane, the Guildmaster of the Union of Merchants and Traders.
This liaison has been going on for years now.
•
Gerda is sick and has not left her house in the Garden Quarter in several days.
Can PCs get a meeting? No. She is ill and is not receiving visitors.
Name
Information
Glodreddi
Bakkanin
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Dwarf, male, more than 100+ years old, no one knows his true age.
•
Inspector of Taxes.
•
Known as a financial genius as well as a cold hearted schemer.
•
Supports Nerof.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Has been known to be fairly vengeful if cheated (as he sees it) of taxes or monies promised.
COR8-01 Machinations
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•
Several people whisper that he is grossly corrupt and wicked, but no one dares say it publicly.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Rumor has it that the Lord Mayor told the Inspector of Taxes that he stands to make a lot of
money should business do well in the coming year.
•
Anyone foolish enough to try and prove Glodreddi is corrupt has disappeared, never to be seen
again. People tend to let him be.
Can PCs get a meeting? He assumes they’re going to complain about something so no.
Kieran
Jalucian
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, more than 100 years old.
•
Guildmaster of the Guild of Wizardry.
•
Neutral in regards to Nerof and Eritai on the Oligarchy.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Rarely acts in Oligarchy activities.
•
Can usually be found at the Guild of Wizardry.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Kieran is rumored to be in a long-term relationship with Jallarzi. It must be platonic. The
opposite is just too disturbing to contemplate.
Can PCs get a meeting? No, Kieran is unavailable at this time.
Nerof Gasgal
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 58 years old.
•
Lord Mayor of the Free City of Greyhawk, elected to that office in CY 570
•
Holds the position until his death, retirement, or a no confidence vote of two-thirds of the
sitting Oligarchs.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Rumor says that he has been dealing with less than savory individuals within the Free City.
•
Can be currently found at the Lord Mayor’s Estate.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Nerof has been meeting regularly with select members (his faction) of the Directing Oligarchy
for the past two weeks.
•
Nerof plans to introduce something contentious at the next Oligarchy meeting on Starday.
•
Nerof has met with Stakaster Villaine and Torrentz Hebvard in the past two days to discuss
economic policy.
•
The Lord Mayor’s office is proposing granting a building permit to the Temple of Zilchus to
allow it to expand and become the largest temple in the Free City.
Can PCs get a meeting? No. The Lord Mayor’s schedule is booked for the next two weeks.
Name
Information
Org
Nenshen
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 59 years old. Attractive for his age.
•
Is a member of the Union of Merchants and Traders.
•
Good friend of the Lord Mayor and supports Nerof.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Know for hunting down several evil cults in the Free City in his younger days.
•
Is a successful merchant in the Free City.
•
Can usually be found at his house in the High Quarter.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Has a live-in girlfriend named Zartis Deen.
•
He is rumoured to be a prominent member of the Thieves Guild.
Can PCs get a meeting? Sure. It’s a pleasant conversation but he reveals nothing. His bluff is too high
COR8-01 Machinations
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and he has too many magical protections for the PCs to learn anything of value from him.
Ravel
Dasinder
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 80 years old.
•
Highest ranking cleric of Boccob in the Free City and is the Patriarch of Boccob.
•
Supporter of Eritai.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Can usually be found at the Temple of Boccob.
•
Hates aggression and thinks that Eritai is far too aggressive.
•
Concerned with security of Greyhawk.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Although he does not advertise it, he is a close ally of Mordenkainen, member of the famed
Circle of Eight.
Can PCs get a meeting? No. The Patriarch is engaged in mystical research.
Silas
Steamgem
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Gnome, male, more than 100 years old
•
Guildmaster of the Union of Moneychangers and Pawnbrokers.
•
Strong supporter of Nerof.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Would like to rise on the ladder of power in the city.
•
Has been spreading a lot of money around town, trying to secure favor.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Known to be providing the Lord Mayor with financial advice
•
Many members of Nerof’s inner circle have large outstanding loans with Silas.
Can PCs get a meeting? Other than the initial meeting at the party, no. He is working with the Lord
Mayor at the meeting with people from Keoland. He gives his regrets!
Simeon
Hellwater
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, more than 50 years old
•
Guildmaster of the Beggar's Union
•
The Beggarmaster is in charge of what goes on in the Slum Quarter
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core)
•
It is believed that the Beggar's Union is aware of wagonloads of supplies coming into the Slum
Quarter.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
The Beggar's Union has been suspected of being used as thugs for other groups within the Free
City.
•
Simeon suspects who is bringing the wagonloads of supplies coming into the Slum Quarter.
Can PCs get a meeting? See Encounter 6.
Name
Information
Stakaster
Villaine
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 61 years old.
•
Patriarch of Zilchus.
•
Neutral in regards to Nerof and Eritai on the Oligarchy.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
A widower for many years.
•
Can be found at the Temple of Zilchus.
•
Known as a very quiet and introverted man.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Believes that the Thieves’ Guild has too much influence in Greyhawk.
•
Has been in daily meetings with Nerof and Carmen Halmaster regarding the economic future of
the City of Greyhawk.
•
Has given several sermons lately that praise the benefits of peace and stability.
COR8-01 Machinations
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Can PCs get a meeting? Yes, but he’s not a talkative fellow. He expresses his opinions but has no
proof.
Stimtrin
Cannsay
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Dwarf, male, 162 years old.
•
Member of the Union of Merchants and Traders.
•
Respected by many people for knowledge regarding economics.
•
Neutral in regards to Nerof and Eritai on the Oligarchy.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 25)
•
Can usually be found at the Guildhouse of Union of Merchants and Traders
•
His opinions on other matters is generally ignored by the Directing Oligarchy
•
He has been a nervous wreck lately.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Dernan Nathane, Carmen Halmaster, and Cariel Mansharn are leaning on Stimtrin to vote as
they vote in an upcoming election. Each one has promised economic ruin for Stimtrin if he
refuses.
Can PCs get a meeting? Only if it concerns some aspect of trade. He will not meet to discuss
Oligarchy business. If it is brought up, he ends the meeting, fearful of what might happen to him.
Tigran
Gellner
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 53 years old.
•
Captain-General of the Greyhawk Militia.
•
Believes the Pomarj is greatest external threat to the Free City.
•
Supporter of Eritai’s position.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
He believes that the citizenry of the Free City should do more towards its defense by
volunteering to serve in the Militia.
•
Married to cleric of Pholtus.
•
Can usually be found in the Redoubt of the Grand Citadel.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
A couple of his officers have been working with Talasek Thraydin from the Sacred Temple of St.
Cuthbert.
•
They believe that by giving excess food and blankets to the needy in the Slum Quarter, they can
increase the numbers of people signing up to serve in the Militia.
Can PCs get a meeting? Yes, if the PCs are of good moral fiber or have favors with the Watch or
similar lawful groups. He is unaware of Talasek’s activities and he is unaware of Nerof’s plotting to
remove Eritai.
COR8-01 Machinations
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Name
Information
Torrentz
Hebvard
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Human, male, 88 years old
•
President of the Society of Magi
•
Neutral in regards to Nerof and Eritai on the Oligarchy.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Married to a cleric of Zilchus
•
Can usually be found at the Guild of Wizardry.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Perhaps the most politically active wizard in Greyhawk; strong advocate of political neutrality
and nonintervention in foreign wars or governments;
•
Torrentz has been meeting with Nerof and Carmen Halmaster almost daily.
Can PCs get a meeting? Only if the PCs are members of the College of Wizardry or have favors with
appropriate magically-inclined groups or individuals. The meeting will be brief as he is setting up the
fireworks festivities for Freeday.
Vesparian
Lafanel
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 10)
•
Elf, male, 100+ years old.
•
No one knows his true age.
•
Supporter of Nerof.
Gather Information / Diplomacy / Knowledge (local - core) (DC 15)
•
Hates dwarves.
•
Can usually be found at his Pawnshop in the Thieves’ Quarter.
Gather Information / Diplomacy (DC 25)
•
Many people believe he demonstrates sociopathic tendencies. Anyone who has said such things
and he hears about it tend to end up dead. (DM Note: If any PC is a member of the Thieves’
Guild, they are told to lay off asking many questions about Vesparian. No reason given.)
Can PCs get a meeting? No. The PCs can’t possibly afford his rates.
COR8-01 Machinations
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DM AID 2
The following table describes the Interest of the various Affiliations within the Free City of Greyhawk regarding the
situation between Nerof Gasgal and Eritai Kaan-Iprizel.
Affiliation
Interest
Cartographer’s
Guild
The Guild has no opinion on the issue of being more aggressive (Eritai’s position) or defensive
(Nerof’s position). The leadership of this Guild does not make a recommendation to members to
support one position over the other.
Faithful
Religious
Organizations
(as listed in the
Greyhawk Ruins
Sourcebook)
These organizations support the position of being more aggressive with the enemies of the Free
City (Eritai’s position). They also think that Eritai is a balancing force against the greed and
perceived thievery of other Oligarchs or their supporters.
The leadership of these organizations recommends that its members support Eritai’s faction.
They also pass a request to their brother/sister PC ask that the PC report back any unsavory or
illegal activities to the organization. Only by exposing such activities to the light can the
corruption in this city be expunged.
Guild of
Wizardry
The Guild has no opinion on the issue of being more aggressive (Eritai’s position) or defensive
(Nerof’s position). The leadership of this Guild does not make a recommendation to members to
support one position over the other.
Mercenaries
Guild
This Guild supports the position of being more aggressive with the enemies of the Free City
(Eritai’s position) rather than being more defensive (Nerof’s position). More fighting means more
work. The leadership of this Guild recommends that its members support Eritai’s position over
Nerof’s. If the PCs find any evidence of enemies of Greyhawk, it should be brought to the
attention of the guild so that a case for war can be made.
Merchant’s and
Trader’s Union
This Guild supports the position of strengthening the border defenses and focusing on the
internal security of the Free City and Domain of Greyhawk (Nerof’s position) rather than
expending resources (both men and materiel) to expand the conflicts with their enemies (Eritai’s
position). The leadership of this Guild recommends that its members support Nerof’s position
over Eritai’s. The PCs should quietly remove any threats to the city without making it public
knowledge, which could lead to a case for war.
Nightwatchmen
This Guild supports the position of being more aggressive with the enemies of the Free City
(Eritai’s position) rather than being more defensive (Nerof’s position). They also think that Eritai
is a balancing force against the greed and perceived thievery of other Oligarchs or their
supporters. The leadership of this Guild recommends that its members support Eritai’s position
over Nerof’s.
Thieves’ Guild
This Guild tend to support the position of strengthening the border defenses and focusing on the
internal security of the Free City and Domain of Greyhawk (Nerof’s position) rather than
expending resources (both men and materiel) to expand the conflicts with their enemies (Eritai’s
position).
The leadership of this Guild recommends that its members support Nerof’s position over Eritai’s.
They also pass a warning to their brother/sister PC stating that people are taking notice of the
PCs activities. They also report that small groups of City Watch and the Greyhawk Militia have
been seen in Shacktown during the early morning hours.
COR8-01 Machinations
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PLAYER HANDOUT 1
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 55
PLAYER HANDOUT 2
COR8-01 Machinations
Page 56
PLAYER HANDOUT 3
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Core/598/COR8-01 Machinations (APL 2-12)/COR8-01 Machinations.pdf |
™
The Devil We KnoW ParT ii: Cassomir’s loCKer
Pathfinder Society Scenario 30
Design: Joshua J. Frost
Development: Joshua J. Frost
Editing: Christopher Carey
Senior Art Director: James Davis
Interior Artist: Jon Hodgson
Cartographer: Corey Macourek
Vice President of Operations: Jeffrey Alvarez
Events Manager: Joshua J. Frost
Paizo CEO: Lisa Stevens
Corporate Accountant: Dave Erickson
Sales Manager: Chris Self
Technical Director: Vic Wertz
Publisher: Erik Mona
Pathfinder Society Scenario 30: The Devil We Know Part II: Cassomir’s Locker is a Pathfinder Society Scenario designed
for 1st to 7th level characters (Tiers: 1–2, 3–4, and 6–7). This scenario is designed for play in Pathfinder Society
Organized Play, but can easily be adapted for use with any world. This scenario is compliant with the Open Game
License (OGL) and is suitable for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
The OGL can be found on page 17 of this product.
Paizo Publishing, LLC
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paizo.com/pathfindersociety
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game
License version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open Content: All trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names
(characters, deities, etc.), dialogue, plots, storylines, locations, characters, artwork, and trade dress. (Elements
that have previously been designated as Open Game Content or are in the public domain are not included in this
declaration.)
Open Content: Except for material designated as Product Identity (see above), the game mechanics of this Paizo
Publishing game product are Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section
1(d). No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any
form without written permission.
Pathfinder Society Scenarios are published by Paizo Publishing, LLC under the Open Game License v 1.0a
Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Paizo Publishing, LLC, the Paizo golem logo, Pathfinder, and
GameMastery are registered trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder
Society, Pathfinder Chronicles, Pathfinder Modules, and Pathfinder Companion are trademarks of Paizo
Publishing, LLC. © 2009 Paizo Publishing, All Rights Reserved.
®
™
3
3
The Teppish brothers don’t know this, but the derros
have been kidnapping more than just the workers in the
Imperial Naval Shipyards (see Part I)—they’ve expanded
and have started kidnapping citizens from all across
Cassomir, even venturing outside of the city at night to
grab farmers, vagabonds, and ordinary travelers. These
kidnappings have caused a huge boom in the Corgunbier
economy, as the derros are selling the victims off as fast
as they can to the other residents of the Darklands and
find themselves flush with gold and other valuables.
This wealth has made them greedy and they’ve recently
concocted a plan to use the jet rat to create an army of
vermin that their mite slaves can control—an army
they’ll release into the midnight streets of Cassomir and
then use as a diversion to make their biggest grab yet:
the entire prison population of Swift Prison, guards and
all. While that plan is yet a ways off, the derro continue
to build their vermin army and are starting to clean up
and organize Cassomir Below into a new home for the
derros—a new home not far from the city above.
A recently kidnapped citizen of Cassomir, Contessa
Arieta Patrizia, managed to escape from the derro slave
pens in Cassomir Below and made her way back through
the sewers over a number of days before finally reaching
the surface. She climbed back into Cassomir tired,
wounded, hungry, and succumbing to filth fever. With
everything she’d seen below the city, she knew only one
person who could help—her childhood friend Venture-
Captain Hestia Themis.
Before dying of her wounds, she recounted to Venture-
Captain Themis a long story of her capture. She
described the derros grabbing her from her villa in Old
Cassomir, binding and gagging her, and then dragging
her through the night streets to a sewer grate in the heart
of the Imperial Naval Shipyards. They took her through a
dizzying number of sewer turns before binding her legs
and lowering her down a ladder into the strangest thing
Arieta had seen—there, beneath the surface of Cassomir,
was an entire city block of houses, streets, and even
lamps, signs, and hitching posts, as though a section of
Cassomir was just bricked over and forgotten.
T
hough Dalirio Teppish was the mastermind
of the operation that brought the derros into a
close alliance with the Cult of Nature’s Cataclysm
(see Part I: Shipyard Rats), it was his twin brother Grench
Teppish who went below the city, deep into Cassomir’s
Locker, and actually maintained the relationship with
the derro. Grench spoke the necessary languages (Aklo
and Undercommon) to ensure that Dalirio’s plan came to
fruition, and though he disliked being below the surface
(especially traipsing about Cassomir’s filthy sewers and
dusty Cassomir Below), his loyalty to his brother and to
the God of End Times, Groetus, kept him focused and
faithful to the cause.
Grench has worked hard the past few months in and
around Cassomir’s Locker, ensuring that the derro
presence went unnoticed. He’s plotted ambushes on
adventuring companies that got too close, grabbed sewer
workers who wandered into their operation (and sold
them into derro slavery), and has had to spend a great deal
of time with the uncomfortable derro in their staging
grounds in Cassomir Below, an abandoned city block that
Cassomir left behind during its expansion.
Worse, the derros recently brought an artifact up from
their city, Corgunbier, called the jet rat, a small shiny
black rat statue that when touched to a normal rat creates
an enormous, vicious dire rat far more frightening and
violent than any dire rat Grench had ever seen. The derros
have been making these giant dire rats as fast as they can
touch the statue to a rat and have dozens of cages full of
rats to be altered. This has increased the rat population
of the sewers and Cassomir’s Locker threefold in the
past few weeks and Grench is beginning to wonder if his
loyalty to his brother is worth all of the vermin he has to
deal with on a daily basis. For now, though, Grench keeps
his head down, orders the derro’s mite slaves about, and
continues to sell Cassomir citizens to the derro to fund
the Cult of Nature’s Cataclysm.
What Grench doesn’t know is that the derros are
just biding their time. They saw Dalirio’s plan as an
opportunity to get close to the surface and to use the
cult’s activities to mask their own kidnapping operations.
The Devil We KnoW ParT ii:
Cassomir’s loCKer
By JoShua J. froSt
Pathfinder Society Scenario
4
Over many days, Arieta witnessed the derros using the
black rat statue to make bigger, meaner, and more brutal
rats. She saw new slaves come in, she saw old slaves go
out, and she waited and watched. She managed to escape
when one of the small blue creatures guarding her pen
accidentally left the cage open after feeding time. She hid
in Cassomir Below for a day before climbing the ladder
into the sewers, where she was attacked by rats and only
managed to escape by diving into the sewer itself to swim
away. Over a few confusing days she managed to fight off
more rats, even as she began to feel terribly ill and was
slowly getting weak from lack of food. Finally, she found a
way out and made her way to Themis, only to recount her
story and pass on to the Great Beyond.
Concerned about recent events in Cassomir, Themis
gathered a team of Pathfinders to go below and find and
explore this alleged city block. Maybe the Pathfinders
can avenge Arieta’s death and, while doing so, recover the
mysterious black artifact that has the power to shape and
change ordinary rats.
SUMMARY
The PCs are summoned to the Cassomir Pathfinder
Lodge by Venture-Captain Hestia Themis to investigate
the last words of Hestia’s recently deceased friend,
Contessa Arieta Patrizia. Specifically, Themis is curious
if the story about an artifact that can make rats larger
and more violent is true, and she’d like the PCs to go
into Cassomir’s Locker, the sewers, catacombs, and
entire older city blocks below the city. She knows exactly
how the derros got Arieta below the city when she was
kidnapped and gives the PCs directions to a sewer grate
in the Imperial Naval Shipyards.
The sewer grate leads down into a room in the sewers
occupied by a spider that that the derros put there to keep
intruders away. They also trapped the grate at the center
of the room so that unwary PCs fighting the spider might
find themselves at the bottom of a pit. Once the spider has
been defeated, the PCs explore deeper into the massive,
wide-open Cassomir sewers and find a room with the
corpses of several wealthy Cassomir citizens floating
in the middle. All of these citizens appear to have been
beaten to death, giving the PCs a small mystery to think
about.
A short while later, the PCs find a dry room with stairs
headed to the surface. The stairs open into a large hidden
closet in a storage warehouse near the sewer grate the
PCs used to descend into the sewers. This room appears
to be the main entrance for whomever is responsible
for Arieta’s kidnapping to get below Cassomir. The PCs
find a lot of supplies here—supplies guarded by Grench
Teppish, a cleric of Groetus, and his mite slaves on loan
from the derros. Once the PCs defeat Grench and his
mites, they can move deeper into the sewers.
After a while, the PCs find a room that’s been dammed
off from the rest of the sewers, revealing a very old sewer
grate of a style not used in Cassomir for hundreds of years.
A single guard is here (or more at higher tiers), though he
has the assistance of (and immunity to) the magical trap
placed on the sewer grate. A huge rat symbol is also drawn
on the floor here in chalk, something the PCs may have
seen before if they played through Shipyard Rats.
The old sewer grate leads down a ladder into an entire
city block of Cassomir that’s been built over and left
behind. The top of the cavern in which the city exists
appears to be the foundations of the sewer system above.
Here, if the PCs are running long on time, the PCs will
encounter a mass of rats, both swarm and advanced dire
rat alike.
After some additional exploration of Cassomir Below,
the PCs find another bunch of mite slaves, this time
guarding one of the buildings. The mites should be
easily dispatched, after which the PCs enter the building
and see their first derro, a dark-skinned humanoid
with enormous bulging eyes and white hair. The derro
is accompanied by slaves and rats at higher tiers, and
brutally fights to the death. Finally, the PCs recover the
jet rat artifact, thus disrupting the plans of the derros of
Corgunbier for now.
GETTING STARTED
Read the following to get the adventure underway:
Venture-Captain Hestia Themis, a small, dark-haired,
and dark-eyed Taldan woman, sits behind her enormous
blackwood desk in the Pathfinder lodge in Cassomir and
clears her throat. “My friend, the Countess Arieta Patrizia,
is dead. She escaped her capture by the fiends who operate
beneath Cassomir only to succumb to disease and wounds
incured in Cassomir’s disgusting sewers. Ordinarily, this
would be a matter for the Taldan authorities, but Arieta came
to me directly after escaping and recounted a story that leads
me to the natural conclusion that only the Pathfinder Society
can resolve this issue.”
The Devil We KnoW SerieS
Cassomir’s Locker is the second in a connected series of
scenarios for the Pathfinder Society Organized Play. Though
it’s best if these scenarios are played in order, they do not have
to be. See Shipyard Rats for examples of how to play Cassomir’s
Locker if you’re playing it first. There will be at least two more
chapters in this story before the end of Season 1.
the devil We KnoW Part i: caSSomir’S locKer
5
The PCs may have questions for Themis at this point.
Below are some likely questions and their answers.
Themis answers them patiently, carefully, and spends a
great deal of time thinking about an answer before she
gives it.
Was her kidnapping associated with the Cult of
Nature’s Cataclysm? “While we’re not going to discount
that, she didn’t describe any human involvement. She saw
only derros, rats, and a few creatures she could not name
and I could not identify.”
How many other Cassomir citizens did she see? “She
claims to have seen dozens, some of whom she recognized
as fellow prominent citizens of the empire. This goes
beyond the recent kidnappings in the Imperial Naval
Shipyards—it even goes beyond Cassomir’s normal and
storied disappearances. This is another level of madness
and I can’t help but think that the jet rat might have
something to do with that.”
Aren’t the derros dangerous? “Yes, but she never saw
more than a handful together. Pathfinders of your stature
should be able to easily dispatch them and recover the
artifact.”
Venture-Captain Themis rises and paces back and forth
behind her desk. “Arieta told me of an artifact she saw while
in captivity below Cassomir. This artifact, called the jet rat,
is known to us, but we must confirm that what she saw is
indeed true. She claims to have seen it transform normal rats
into something bigger, more vile and mean. If that’s true, the
artifact she saw down there is old, evil, and should be stored
safely in the vaults beneath the Grand Lodge in Absalom where
we can study, catalog, and examine it. Worse, she claims to
have seen this object in the hands of the derros, vile Darklands
creatures that we have long suspected are responsible for
the Cassomir kidnappings. I have a map here that shows the
location of the sewer grate Arieta was dropped through when
she was kidnapped. She could not, due to her illness, recall
much about how she got to the location where they kept her
in captivity, but she knows where they dropped her into the
sewers and you’ll find that location on this map.”
Venture-Captain Themis stops pacing and eyes you across her
desk. “Bring me back this artifact—if you happen to free a
few captured Taldans along the way, that’s good news, but the
artifact is your mission. Any questions?”
Trap
Trapped Drain
Up
Trap Door
From 1c Above
One square = 5 feet
Cassomir Sewers
Trap
Trap
Trap Door
to Below
Trapped Drain
A1
A2
A3
A4
p
Up
Trap Door
From 1c Above
One square = 5 feet
A1
A2
A3
A4
Cassomir Sewers
Pathfinder Society Scenario
6
Once in the sewers, how are we going to know the
way to where Arieta was held? “You’re Pathfinders, not
stumbling fool adventurers. I’m sure you’ll use your wits,
skills, and brains to figure that out for yourself.”
ACT 1: INTo ThE SEwERS
Cassomir Sewers
Encounters A1 through A4 all take place in the Cassomir
sewers. The Cassomir sewers are actually the third
incarnation of a sewer system beneath Cassomir (Knowledge
[local] DC 12). As the newest, the current Cassomir Sewers
are large, vaulted affairs with tile ceilings, brick walls,
stone walkways, and make-shift wooden bridges. Unless
otherwise noted, the sewers are completely unlit and the
PCs will need to provide their own illumination. The
sewer grates at the end of each “dead end” lead to smaller
and smaller pipes that eventually connect to the storm
drains throughout Cassomir.
The sewer waterway itself is a combination of rain
water, tidal salt water from the harbor, human and
animal waste, and the city’s other refuse. The water is 10
feet deep and moves rapidly, advancing anyone who falls
into it 5 feet per round toward the east and south. The
water in most places is 5 feet below the level of the adjacent
walkways. Anyone who spends more than 1 round in the
water risks contracting filth fever (see the Pathfinder RPG
Core Rulebook, page 557). All along the waterway, however,
there are well-maintained ladders recessed into the wall
that allow PCs in the water to grab at them and climb up
should they fall in. These ladders are spaced every 10 feet
or so and require a DC 12 Acrobatics check to climb as they
are slippery. The sound of running water throughout the
sewers causes a –4 penalty to all sound-based Perception
checks.
At nearly every sewer junction, the gaps between the
waterways are bridged by makeshift wooden structures,
nothing more than a few thick beams tossed across the
sewage. Anyone moving normal speed can cross these
bridges without any trouble—crossing them at any faster
speed requires a DC 15 Acrobatics check to avoid falling
into the water. PCs who fail this check can make a DC 15
Reflex save to catch the bridge as they fall; otherwise they
splash into the water below.
A1. Spider’s Lair
(CR 2, CR 4, OR CR 7)
Once the PCs open the sewer grate and can see the room
below, read the following:
AfflicTionS, DiSeASeS, AnD PoiSonS
Be sure to read the rules in the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook
beginning on page 555 regarding curses, diseases, and
poisons, as the way they are handled has changed slightly
from previous editions.
Murky puddles dot the tile floor below, which gently slopes
toward the room’s center where some of the puddles are very
slowly draining into a large, 10-foot-by-10-foot drain. Thick,
sticky webs cover most of the corners of the room, and several
large vermin appear to be caught in the webs. The sound of
running water can be heard to the north.
This room was once an entrance chamber for the Sewer
Guild, though they long ago abandoned using it as they
were afraid of the giant spider that lives here. The derros
only use this entrance when they absolutely have to (such
as when fleeing the Cassomir constabulary or navy guards)
and when they used this entrance after kidnapping
Arieta, they lost one of their own to the spider. A DC 15
Perception check followed by a DC 15 Knowledge (nature)
checks reveals that among the dire rat corpses in the webs
is the bloodless corpse of a derro. This room is completely
dark, though if the PCs leave the grate above open during
the day, this room has dim illumination. The ceilings
here are 20 feet tall, so it’ll require a rope, ladder, or a
good Acrobatics check to get down into the room without
getting hurt.
Creatures: A single spider guards this room. Since she
stays in the webs on the walls and ceiling, she’s unaware
that years of neglect have turned the grate on the floor
into a trap.
Traps: The grate in this room has decayed and its bolts
are rusted through, the latches that once held them in
place long ago rotted away. Anyone who steps onto the
grate causes it to crash into the pit below, taking that
person with it.
Tier 1–2 (CR 2)
Giant Spider
CR 1
N Medium vermin
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 16 (3d8+3)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +1
Immune mind-affecting effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +1 (1d6 plus poison)
the devil We KnoW Part i: caSSomir’S locKer
7
Tier 3–4 (CR 4)
Giant Black Widow Spider
CR 3
N Large vermin
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, –1 size)
hp 28 (3d8+15)
Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +3
Immune mind-affecting effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +3 (1d8+4 plus poison)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attack web (+6 ranged, DC 12, hp 3)
TACTICS
Same as Tier 1–2.
STATISTICS
Str 19, Dex 19, Con 20, Int —, Wis 14, Cha 6
Base Atk +2; CMB +5; CMD 18
Skills Climb +20, Perception +6 (+10 in webs), Stealth +8 (+12 in
webs); Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth (+8 in webs),
+16 Climb
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 16; frequency 1/round for 4
rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage; cure 1 save.
Web (Ex) Same as Tier 1–2.
Pit Trap
CR 1
Type mechanical; Search DC 20; Disable Device DC 20
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset none
Effect 20-ft.-deep pit (2d6 falling damage); DC 20 Reflex avoids;
multiple targets (all targets in a 10-ft.-square area)
Tier 6–7 (CR 7)
Ogre Spider
CR 7
N Huge vermin
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.;
Perception +6
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +6 natural, –2 size)
hp 76 (8d8+40)
Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +4
Immune mind-affecting effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +9 (2d6+5 plus poison)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attack web (+7 ranged, DC 18, hp 8),
TACTICS
Same as Tier 1–2.
Special Attack web (+5 ranged, DC 12, hp 3)
TACTICS
Before Combat The giant spider is 20 feet off the ground in the
northwest corner of the room. She’s hiding when the PCs enter
the room (DC 21 Perception check to spot). She only attacks
once all of the PCs are down in the pit.
During Combat The giant spider is mindless and simply sees an
opportunity for food. Once all of the PCs are down in the pit,
she webs the first one she sees and then attacks the rest.
Morale The giant spider fights to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 11, Dex 17, Con 12, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 15
Skills Climb +16, Perception +4 (+8 in webs), Stealth +7 (+11 in
webs); Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth (+8 in webs),
+16 Climb
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 4
rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage; cure 1 save.
Web (Ex) Creatures with the web ability can use webs to support
themselves and up to one additional creature of the same
size. In addition, such creatures can throw a web up to eight
times per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has a
maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet,
and is effective against targets up to one size category larger
than the web spinner. An entangled creature can escape with a
successful Escape Artist check or burst the web with a Strength
check. Both are standard actions with a DC equal to 10 + 1/2
creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier. Attempts to burst a
web by those caught in it suffer a –4 penalty.
Web spinners can create sheets of sticky webbing up to three
times their size. They usually position these sheets to snare
flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on the ground.
Approaching creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Perception
check to notice a web; otherwise they stumble into it and
become trapped as though by a successful web attack.
Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if
the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while
pulling free. Each 5-foot-square section of web has a number
of hit points equal to the Hit Dice of the creature that created
it and DR 5/—. A creature can move across its own web at
its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any creature
touching its web.
Short Pit Trap
CR 1/2
Type mechanical; Search DC 15; Disable Device DC 15
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset none
Effect 10-ft.-deep pit (1d6 falling damage); DC 20 Reflex avoids;
multiple targets (all targets in a 10-ft.-square area)
Pathfinder Society Scenario
8
STATISTICS
Str 20, Dex 19, Con 21, Int —, Wis 14, Cha 6
Base Atk +6; CMB +13; CMD 27
Skills Climb +21, Perception +6, Stealth +0 (+4 in webs); Racial
Modifiers +16 Climb, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth (+8 in webs)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 18; frequency 1/round for 4
rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage; cure 1 save
Web (Ex) Same as Tier 1–2.
Camouflaged Pit Trap
CR 3
Type mechanical; Search DC 25; Disable Device DC 20
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset manual
Effect 30-ft.-deep pit (3d6 falling damage); DC 20 Reflex avoids;
multiple targets (all targets in a 10-ft.-square area)
Treasure: The derro that the giant spider killed when
Arieta was being kidnapped still carries the following
gear: 2 potions of cure moderate wounds, leather armor, short
sword, and a repeating light crossbow with 10 poisoned
bolts. For poison information, see area B3.
Mission Notes: Taldor faction PCs get one chance to
succeed on one of their faction missions here: they must
make a DC 20 Heal check to remove the poison sack from
the spider. If they fail the roll, they damage the poison
sack and fail in their mission.
Rewards: If the PCs defeat the spider and find the derro
corpse, reward each tier thusly:
All Tiers:
Give each player 73 gp.
A2. Against the Slavers
(CR 2, CR 4, OR CR 7)
This room appears to have once been the basement of the
building above, the wall seperating the basement from
the sewer long ago smashed in and repaired, giving it the
appearance of a natural part of the sewer system. The ceiling
here is 30 feet high and the room is lit by torches in the north
and south walls. Stacks of crates and barrels line the north
wall, and a set of finely carved stone stairs start on the south
wall and make their way up and around the west wall to a door
high above the room in the northwest corner.
This room is clean and well-maintained, a harsh
difference from the sewer just outside the archway.
The torches provide normal light within 20 feet of the
north and south walls, and dim illumination in a small
bit of shadow at the center of the room. The crates are
6-feet-tall and weigh 500 lbs. The barrels are 3 feet tall
and weight 50 lbs. each. The stairs lead to a large hidden
closet in a storage warehouse above—that closet has rope
and block and tackle for lowering the crates and barrels
down into this room. The door at the top of the stairs is
10 feet wide.
Creatures: Grench Teppish (the twin brother of Dalirio
Teppish from Part I: Shipyard Rats) is here with some
mite slaves waiting to receive additional supplies from
above. Once they see the PCs, they know their operation
is in danger and attack, fighting ruthlessly to kill these
“witnesses.” In Tier 3–4 only, Grench’s half-brother
Rackutio is here as well.
Tier 1–2 (CR 2)
Grench Teppish
CR 1
Male human cleric of Groetus 2
NE Medium humanoid
Init –1; Perception +3
Aura moderate evil
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 9, flat-footed 17 (+8 armor, –1 Dex)
hp 20 (2d8+11)
Fort +6, Ref –1, Will +5
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee mwk heavy flail +3 (1d10+1/19–20)
Special Attacks channel negative energy (1d6, DC 14, 4/day),
touch of chaos (5/day), touch of madness (+1, 5/day), aura of
madness (DC 13)
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 2nd)
1st—cause fear (2, DC 13), cure light wounds, lesser confusionD
(DC 13)
0 (at will)—bleed (DC 12), detect magic, light, resistance
D Domain spell; Domains Chaos, Madness
TACTICS
Before Combat If Grench hears the PCs approach, he moves
behind the crates and waits in ambush. If he doesn’t, he’s
standing at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the wall.
During Combat Grench uses cause fear, lesser confusion, and aura
of madness to keep melee PCs away from him. He’ll then use
his Channel Negative Energy ability to harm the PCs. If forced
into melee combat, he draws his heavy flail, shouts an invective
at the PCs, and attacks.
Morale Grench fights to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 13
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 11
Feats Improved Channel, Toughness
Skills Heal +4, Linguistics +2, Perception +3, Spellcraft +5
Languages Aklo, Common, Undercommon
SQ aura
Gear half-plate, masterwork heavy flail
the devil We KnoW Part i: caSSomir’S locKer
9
Tier 3–4 (CR 4)
Grench & Rackutio Teppish
CR 1
Male human cleric of Groetus 2
hp 20 (as Tier 1–2)
Mite Slave (3)
CR 1/4
hp 3 (as Tier 1–2)
Tier 6–7 (CR 7)
Grench Teppish
CR 7
Male human cleric 8
NE Medium humanoid
Init +3; Senses Perception +7
Aura strong evil
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (+11 armor,
–1 Dex)
hp 76 (8d8+40)
Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +11
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +2 heavy flail +9 (1d10+3/
19–20)
Special Attacks channel negative energy
(4d6, DC 15, 4/day), touch of chaos
(6/day), touch of madness (+4,
6/day), chaos blade
(4 rounds,
1/day), aura of
madness (DC 17)
Cleric Spells Prepared
(CL 8th)
4th—confusionD,
freedom of movement,
inflict critical wounds (DC 17)
3rd—cure serious wounds (2), deeper darkness, invisibility purge,
rageD
2nd—bull’s strength, darkness, hold person (2, DC 15), touch of
idiocyD (DC 15)
1st—cause fear (2, DC 14), cure light wounds (3), lesser confusionD
(DC 14)
0 (at will)—bleed (DC 13), detect magic, light, resistance
D Domain spell; Domains Chaos, Madness
TACTICS
Before Combat If Grench hears the PCs approach, he casts bull’s
strength and rage on himself (not included in his stats). If he
doesn’t, he’s standing at the bottom of the stairs, leaning
against the wall.
During Combat Grench uses confusion, hold person, touch of
idiocy, and cause fear to keep melee PCs away from him. He’ll
then use his Channel Negative Energy ability to harm the PCs.
Mite Slave (2)
CR 1/4
LE Small fey
Init +1; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, scent;
Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +1 size)
hp 3 (1d6)
Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +3
DR 2/cold iron
Weaknesses light sensitivity
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee dagger +0 (1d3–1/19–20)
Ranged dart +2 (1d3–1)
Special Attacks hatred
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st)
At will—prestidigitation
1/day—doom (DC 10)
STATISTICS
Str 8, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +0; CMB –2; CMD 9
Feats Point-Blank Shot
Skills Climb +7, Handle Animal +0,
Perception +5, Ride +2, Sleight
of Hand +9, Stealth +13; Racial
Modifiers +4 Sleight of Hand,
+4 Stealth
Languages Undercommon
SQ vermin empathy +4
Gear dagger, 6 darts
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Hatred (Ex) Mites
receive a +1 bonus on
attack rolls against
humanoid creatures
of the dwarf or gnome
subtype due to special training
against these hated foes.
Light Sensitivity (Ex) Mites are dazzled in bright sunlight or
within the radius of a daylight spell.
Vermin Empathy (Ex) This ability functions as a druid’s wild
empathy, save that a mite can only use this ability on vermin.
A mite gains a +4 racial bonus on this check. Vermin are
normally mindless, but this empathic communication
imparts on them a modicum of implanted intelligence,
allowing mites to train Medium vermin and use them as
mounts. Vermin empathy treats swarms as if they were one
creature possessing a single mind—a mite can thus use this
ability to influence and direct the actions of swarms with
relative ease.
Pathfinder Society Scenario
10
If forced into melee combat, he draws his +2 heavy flail, shouts
an invective at the PCs, and attacks.
Morale Grench fights to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 13, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 13
Base Atk +6; CMB +7; CMD 16
Feats Combat Casting, Improved Channel, Improved Initiative,
Lightning Reflexes, Toughness
Skills Heal +8, Linguistics +2, Perception +7, Spellcraft +11
Languages Aklo, Common, Undercommon
SQ aura
Gear cloak of resistance +2, +2 full plate, +2 heavy flail
Mite Bodyguard Slave (4)
CR 2
Male mite warrior 3
LE Small fey
Init +1; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, scent;
Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +1 size)
hp 19 (1d6+3d10)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +4
DR 2/cold iron
Weaknesses light sensitivity
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee dagger +4 (1d3–1/19–20)
Ranged dart +5 (1d3–1)
Special Attacks hatred
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st)
At will—prestidigitation
1/day—doom (DC 10)
STATISTICS
Str 8, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +3; CMB –2; CMD 9
Feats Point-Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (dagger)
Skills Climb +10, Handle Animal +0, Perception +5, Ride +2,
Sleight of Hand +9, Stealth +13; Racial Modifiers +4 Sleight of
Hand, Stealth
Languages Undercommon
SQ vermin empathy +4
Gear dagger, 6 darts
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Same as Tier 1–2.
Mission Notes: Andoran faction PCs may try to free
one of the mite slaves. They need only spare the life of one
and keep him alive after Grench is dead to do so—after
which, if the mite understands that the Andoran faction
PC wants to let him go, the mite runs off into the sewers.
Taldor faction PCs will want to ensure that Grench
Teppish dies and should behead him so they can bring
the head to their faction leader. Qadira faction PCs need
to make a DC 15 Perception check to spot the 3 crates here
marked with a red “X.”
Rewards: If the PCs defeat Grench and his minions,
reward each tier thusly:
Tier 1–2:
Give each player 77 gp.
Tier 3–4:
Give each player 154 gp.
Tier 6–7:
Give each player 1,424 gp.
A3. Floating Corpses
The sewer water flows in from the north and swirls about
this room, drawing larger pieces of garbage and refuse into
a floating pool of trash at the center. In the middle of trash
floats three well-dressed, bloated corpses, their skin purple
and splotchy and their bodies floating face down.
The derros killed these three as an example to the other
slaves held in Cassomir Below. They have nothing on
them of any value and their corpses are badly decomposed.
Their clothes reveal that they were once members of
Taldor’s high society, but nothing else. A DC 12 Heal
check, after a short examination, reveals that they were
all killed by having their throats cut.
A4. Magic Trap
(CR 3, CR 5, OR CR 8)
Someone constructed a large dam here made of wood scraps,
ship beams, broken crates, and rocks. Beyond the dam is a
room that once functioned as a catch basin for the sewers but
now has dry, clean floors. In the northwest corner of the room,
a sewer grate is set in the floor, and a huge chalk drawing of a
rat about to pounce is sketched on the floor near the dam.
The derros built the dam to keep the secret entrance
to Cassomir Below open. They then brought up some
sorcerers from Corgunbier to build a magical trap on
the entrance. As part of their agreement with the Cult of
Nature’s Cataclysm, one or more of the cultists are here
at all times, guarding the entrance. The room is lit by a
single torch in the west wall. The dam can be broken if
it sustains 500 hit points in damage—it has DR 5/–. If
the dam is broken, this room floods immediately, dealing
6d6 crushing damage to anyone in it as the water floods
in. If the room is flooded, the entrance to Cassomir Below
is impossible to open.
Creatures: A single cultist guards this room. When
he sees the PCs, he activates the trap by moving into it.
the devil We KnoW Part i: caSSomir’S locKer
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hp 20 (2d10+9)
Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1; +1 vs. fear
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee quarterstaff +5 (1d6+2)
TACTICS
Before Combat The fighters sit around the room, bored.
During Combat The fighters activate the trap by moving into it
and then fight cautiously, using Combat Expertise every round
to increase their AC to 18.
Morale The fighters fight to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 17
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Toughness, Weapon Focus
(quarterstaff)
Skills Intimidate +4, Perception +3
Languages Common
SQ bravery +1
Gear quarterstaff, studded leather, trap trinket
Acid Arrow Trap
CR 3
Type magic; Search DC 27; Disable Device DC 27
EFFECTS
Trigger proximity (alarm); Reset none
Effect spell effect (acid arrow, Atk +2 ranged touch, 2d4 acid
damage for 4 rounds)
Tier 6–7 (CR 8)
Nature’s Cataclysm Fighter (3)
CR 4
Male or female human fighter 5
NE Medium humanoid
Init +7; Senses Perception +6
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge)
hp 47 (5d10+20)
Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2; +1 vs. fear
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.; normal speed in Medium armor
Melee quarterstaff +8 (1d6+3)
TACTICS
Before Combat The fighters sit around the room, bored.
During Combat The fighters activate the trap by moving into it
and then fight cautiously, using Combat Expertise every round
to increase their AC to 23.
Morale The fighters fight to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +5; CMB +7; CMD 21
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Mobility,
Spring Attack, Toughness, Whirlwind Attack
Skills Intimidate +7, Perception +6
He wears a simple trinket the derros made for him that
keeps the trap from targeting him. At higher tiers, there
are multiple guards—they all move into the trap area,
guarding the sewer grate.
Traps: A single magical trap has been placed around
the sewer grate. Anyone other than the guard who enters
the trap area (a 15-foot-by-15-foot area surrounding the
sewer grate) is targeted by the trap on his turn.
Tier 1–2 (CR 3)
Nature’s Cataclysm Fighter
CR 1/2
Male human fighter 1
NE Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses Perception +2
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +2 Dex, +1 dodge)
hp 11 (1d10+6)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +1
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee quarterstaff +3 (1d6+2)
TACTICS
Before Combat The fighter sits on the floor by the north
wall, bored.
During Combat The fighter activates the trap by moving into it
and then fights cautiously, using Combat Expertise every round
to increase his AC to 17.
Morale The fighter fights to the death.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 16
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Toughness
Skills Intimidate +3, Perception +2
Languages Common
Other Gear studded leather armor, quarterstaff, trap trinket
Burning Hands Trap
CR 2
Type magic; Search DC 26; Disable Device DC 26
EFFECTS
Trigger proximity (alarm); Reset none
Effect spell effect (burning hands, 2d4 fire damage, DC 11 Reflex
save for half damage); multiple targets (all targets in a
15-ft. cone)
Tier 3–4 (CR 5)
Nature’s Cataclysm Fighter (2)
CR 1
Male human fighter 2
NE Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses Perception +3
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +2 Dex, +1 dodge)
Pathfinder Society Scenario
12
Languages Common
SQ armor training +1, bravery +1, weapon training (monk +1)
Gear hide armor, quarterstaff, trap trinket
Fireball Trap
CR 5
Type magic; Search DC 28; Disable Device DC 28
EFFECTS
Trigger proximity (alarm); Reset none
Effect spell effect (fireball, 6d6 fire damage, DC 14 Reflex save
for half damage); multiple targets (all targets in a 20-ft.-
radius burst)
Treasure: The trap trinkets are worthless as magic items
once the trap here is disabled, but they are made of 50 gp
worth of gems and gold (Appraise DC 12).
Mission Notes: Cheliax faction PCs will want to
examine the trap location (before or after it has been
activated) and attempt to diagram how it works. A DC
20 Knowledge (dungeoneering), Use Magic Device, or
Disable Device check will work to do so, though a DC 25
Perception check to figure it out is also possible.
Rewards: If the PCs defeat the Nature’s Cataclysm
cultist(s), reward each tier thusly:
Tier 1–2:
Give each player 10 gp.
Tier 3–4:
Give each player 21 gp.
Tier 6–7:
Give each player 48 gp.
ACT 2: CASSoMIR BElow
Cassomir Below
Cassomir Below was once a small neighborhood near
the shore of Cassomir’s harbor. Built entirely of wooden
buildings, the district burned to the ground twice before
the authorities decided to make two changes to the sea
level district: they ordered that all new buildings be made
of stone, brick, or rock, and decided to raise the “street
level” two stories higher than it was before, building giant
rock walls topped by scaffolding and sheets of granite in
order to do so. This sea level district used to flood twice
a year, and by pushing the street level up, the flooding
problem was averted as well. Businesses that rebuilt after
the last fire soon found their main floors two stories below
ground and so built their buildings skyward to be once
again above ground. Soon streets were laid down that
covered the old streets below. This process repeated two
more times during Cassomir’s history until, eventually,
the original levels were completely forgotten, new sewers
for the current level were constructed atop Cassomir
Below, and the memory of this original neighborhood
fell out of Cassomir’s collective conscience.
Today, Cassomir Below is an abandoned neighborhood
that looks more like a cavern than a city block. Buildings
here are separated by high tunnels, 20 to 30 feet tall in
places, whose roofs are the foundations of the sewers and
buildings above. Each abandoned building here was once
the ground floor of the buildings above, but today they’re
totally cut off from the upper floors on the surface. The
streets are dirty and dusty, and most of the buildings are
One Square = 5 Feet
Abandoned
Buildings
Trap Door
From Above
Cassomir Below
One square = 5 feet
Abandoned
Buildings
Trap Door
from Above
Cassomir Below
B3
B2
B1
the devil We KnoW Part i: caSSomir’S locKer
13
Str 18, Dex 19, Con 20, Int 6, Wis 16, Cha 10
Base Atk +0; CMB +4; CMD 18
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Climb +14, Perception +6, Stealth +13, Swim +14; Racial
Modifiers uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Disease (Ex) Bite—filth fever; save Fort DC 13; onset 1d3 days;
frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage;
cure 2 consecutive saves.
Tier 3–4 (CR 4)
Advanced Giant Dire Rat (4)
CR 1
hp 9 (as Tier 1 –2)
Tier 6–7 (CR 7)
Advanced Giant Dire Rat (6)
CR 1
hp 9 (as Tier 1 –2)
Rat Swarm (3)
CR 2
N Tiny animal (swarm)
Init +6; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12; (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 16 (3d8+3)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +2
Defensive Abilities swarm traits
OFFENSE
Spd 15 ft., climb 15 ft., swim 15 ft.
Melee swarm (1d6 plus disease)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks disease, distraction (DC 12)
STATISTICS
Str 2, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB —; CMD —
Feats Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Balance +6, Climb +10, Perception +8, Stealth +14, Swim
+10; Racial Modifiers uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Disease (Ex) Swarm—filth fever; save Fort DC 12; onset 1d3 days;
frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage;
cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Mission Notes: Osirion faction PCs can recover a
perfect sample from one of the advanced giant dire rats
here by succeeding on a DC 20 Heal check. They’ll get
another attempt later if they fail. Qadira faction PCs will
want to begin counting crates marked with a red “X” at
this point. There are 2 crates near area B1 that are marked
with a red “X,” and a DC 15 Perception is required to spot
them. If the PCs skip this encounter, allow the Qadira
abandoned. All of the buildings here extend right up to
the top of the cavern. Unless otherwise noted, Cassomir
Below is completely unlit.
Most of the buildings here are abandoned, but some
have recently been reclaimed by derros. Nearly all of
the buildings to the north now hold dozens of cages
full of Cassomiri citizens waiting to be transported to
Corgunbier deep beneath Cassomir. (These passageways
are beyond the scope of this adventure.) The abandoned
buildings have boarded-up windows, signs hung in front
announcing “Butcher Shop” or “Tavern,” and are full of
spiderwebs, dust, broken furniture, broken glassware,
and the like. The buildings with cages are clean with new
doors and locks (Open Lock DC 15). The windows in the
buildings with cages are all bricked over. Here and there
throughout Cassomir Below are stock piles of supplies
such as dried meat, flour, grain, sugar, water, etc. All of
the cages are locked with simple locks (Open Lock DC 15)
and each one contains 10 or so Cassomiri citizens.
Mission Notes: In the building immediately south of
area B3, Qadira faction PCs can find Wafid Sadaqat in one
of the cages.
B1. Wandering Rats
(CR 3, CR 5, OR CR 8)
Assuming the PCs have time to complete this encounter,
the moment they all climb down the ladder from area A4
they find themselves under attack by vermin.
Creatures: Depending on the sub-Tier, the PCs are
attacked by giant advanced dire rats created by the jet rat
artifact as well as a few rat swarms at the higher tiers.
Tier 1–2 (CR 2)
Advanced Giant Dire Rat (2)
CR 1
N Medium animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 11; (+3 Dex, +5 natural)
hp 9 (1d8+5)
Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +3
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee bite +4 (1d6+4 plus disease)
Special Attacks disease
STATISTICS
oPTionAl encounTer
B1 is an optional encounter. If the PCs have more than 2 hours
remaining to complete the scenario, then run B1 as normal. If
they do not, skip B1 and move straight to B2.
Pathfinder Society Scenario
14
faction PCs to make this roll as soon as they climb down
the ladder.
Rewards: There are no rewards for this encounter.
B2. Mite Slaves
(CR 1, CR 3, OR CR 6)
Once the PCs approach the buildings to the north, they’ll
likely encounter the mite slaves guarding the entrance
to the derro headquarters first. The mites here
are stacking supplies and speaking to each other
in Undercommon—when they spot the PCs, they
drop what they’re doing, squeal “Intruders!” in
Undercommon and attack the PCs.
Tier 1–2 (CR 1)
Mite Slave (3)
CR 1/4
hp 3 (as area A2, Tier 1–2)
Tier 3–4 (CR 3)
Mite Slave (2)
CR 1/4
hp 3 (as area A2, Tier 1–2)
Mite Bodyguard CR 2
hp 19 (as area A2, Tier 6–7)
Tier 6–7 (CR 6)
Mite Bodyguard (4) CR 2
hp 19 (as area A2, Tier 6–7)
Treasure: A DC 15 Perception check
finds a trunk in the nearby pile of
supplies that contains the following
items by tier. A DC 12 Open Lock or
DC 15 Strength check is required to
open the trunk.
Tier 1–2: potion of cure moderate
wounds, 2 scrolls of remove disease, and
a +1 short sword
Tier 3 –4: As Tier 1–2 plus a +1 heavy steel shield and an
additional scroll of remove disease
Tier 6–7: As Tier 3–4 plus an amulet of natural armor +1
and boots of striding and springing
Mission Notes: Andoran faction PCs can free a mite
slave here to accomplish one of their faction missions. The
free slave climbs the ladder and runs off into the sewers.
Cheliax faction PCs can attempt a DC 12 Perception
check here to quickly search through the supplies and
find Zarta’s missing necklace. Qadira faction PCs need
to count the number of crates here with a red “X” on
them—a DC 15 Perception check reveals there are three.
This is the last time the Qadira faction PCs need to
attempt this roll; they should report to the Pasha that
they found 8 crates—any other number and they fail the
mission.
Rewards: If the PCs defeat the mite slaves and find the
trunk, reward each tier thusly:
Tier 1–2:
Give each player 281 gp.
Tier 3–4:
Give each player 657 gp.
Tier 6–7:
Give each player
2,182 gp.
B3. The
Derro
Revealed
(CR 3,
CR 5, OR CR 8)
The door to B3 is unlocked.
Once the PCs decide to enter,
read the following:
This 15-foot-by-30 foot room is
clean and dust-free. A stack of
barrels in the southeast corner are
the only furnishings.
This is where the derro live while
in Cassomir Below. The next
room has several clean straw pallets
covered in blankets and sleeping mats.
The barrels contain water.
Creatures: Depending on the tier, there are one
or more derros here with their slaves. If the derro
(or slaves at higher tiers) heard the PCs fighting the
mite slaves outside, he waits just inside the front door—
when the PCs open the door, he’s hidden behind it. For
Tier 3–4, the derro’s warrior slaves wait in the next room
and enter the melee as soon as the derro calls for them.
For Tier 6–7, the derros and warrior slaves are arranged
around the center of the room and attack the first PCs
through the door.
Tier 1–2 (CR 3)
Derro
CR 3
CE Small humanoid (derro)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
the devil We KnoW Part i: caSSomir’S locKer
15
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+2 armor, +2 Dex, +2 natural,
+1 size)
hp 25 (3d8+12)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +6
SR 14
Weaknesses vulnerability to sunlight
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee short sword +5 (1d4)
Ranged repeating light crossbow +5 (1d8/19–20 plus poison)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3rd)
At will—darkness, ghost sound (DC 13)
1/day—daze (DC 13), sound burst (DC 15)
STATISTICS
Str 11, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 5, Cha 16
Base Atk +2; CMB +1; CMD 13
Feats Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse
Skills Perception +0, Stealth +9
Languages Aklo, Undercommon
SQ madness, poison use
Gear leather armor, short sword, repeating light crossbow with 10
poison bolts, 300 gp
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Madness (Ex) Derros use their Charisma modifier on Will saves
instead of their Wisdom modifier, and are immune to insanity
and confusion effects. Only a miracle or wish can remove a
derro’s madness. If this occurs, the derro gains 6 points of
Wisdom and loses 6 points of Charisma.
Poison Weapon—injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 4
rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage; cure 1 save.
Poison Use (Ex) Derro are not at risk of poisoning themselves
when handling poison. They use Medium spider venom
to poison their crossbow bolts, and generally carry 10 pre-
poisoned bolts at all times.
Vulnerability to Sunlight (Ex) A derro takes 1 point of Con damage
for every hour it is exposed to sunlight.
Tier 3–4 (CR 5)
Derro
CR 3
hp 25 (as Tier 1–2)
Advanced Giant Dire Rat
CR 1
hp 9 (as act 4, Tier 1 –2)
Cassomir Warrior Slave (2)
CR 1/3
Male human warrior 1
N Medium humanoid
Init +0; Senses Perception +1
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 shield)
hp 10 (1d10+5)
Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee club +4 (1d6+2)
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 13
Feats Toughness, Weapon Focus (club)
Skills Perception +1
Languages Common
Gear club, heavy wooden shield, leather armor
Tier 6–7 (CR 8)
Derro (3)
CR 3
hp 25 (as Tier 1–2)
Advanced Giant Dire Rat (2)
CR 1
hp 9 (as act 4, Tier 1 –2)
Cassomir Warrior Slave (2)
CR 3
Male human warrior 5
N Medium humanoid
Init +0; Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 (+4 armor, +2 shield)
hp 42 (5d10+15)
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +3
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee club +9 (1d6+3)
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +5; CMB +8; CMD 18
Feats Iron Will, Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (club)
Skills Perception +5
Languages Common
Gear club, heavy wooden shield, hide armor
Development: In the next room with straw pallets
are stacks and stacks of cages full of normal rats. On a
small table next to those cages is a small, shiny black
rat statue—the jet rat. This artifact gives off a moderate
transmutation aura. There is also evidence here—a
ledger written in Undercommon—that the derro have
slowly increased their slave sales over the last couple of
months, with a huge surge in the last couple of weeks.
Anyone who can read Undercommon finds a note in the
ledger about a human woman who escaped not long ago
and the mite slave that was beaten to death for allowing
it to happen.
Pathfinder Society Scenario
16
Treasure: Near the barrels is a large chest in which the
derro keep their slave sale earnings. For Tier 1–2, this
chest contains 250 gp. For Tier 3–4, it contains 3,500 gp.
For Tier 6–7, it contains 5,500 gp.
Mission Notes: Andoran faction PCs will need to
recover some proof of the derro involvement—a corpse,
or gear, or something similar. Osirion faction PCs need
to recover the jet rat and ensure that it’s returned to the
Pathfinder Society. Osirion faction PCs may also make
another attempt here to recover a perfect advanced giant
rat sample—a DC 20 Heal check is required to succeed.
In a cage in the building directly south of area B3, Qadira
faction PCs will find Wafid Sadaqat alive, but starving
and dehydrated.
Rewards: If the PCs defeat the monsters, reward each
tier thusly:
Tier 1–2:
Give each player 64 gp.
Tier 3–4:
Give each player 609 gp.
Tier 6–7:
Give each player 990 gp.
CoNClUSIoN
By defeating the derros here and taking the jet rat, the
PCs have slowed the derros’ plans for the future but not
stopped them entirely. Kidnappings slow in the city, but
continue to expand in the countryside around Cassomir.
Rumors begin to circulate throughout the city that the
derro menace has been stopped, but some whisper darker
tidings, such as the recent spotting of a derro inside the
walls of Swift Prison, a rumor the Taldan authorities
heatedly deny.
FACTIoN MISSIoNS
Andoran Faction: PCs from the Andoran faction who
bring back proof of the derro connection from area B3
earn 1 Prestige Award. PCs from the Andoran faction who
free a mite slave in area A2 or B2 earn 1 bonus Prestige
Award.
Cheliax Faction: PCs from the Cheliax faction who
search the supplies in area B2 and find Zarta’s necklace
earn 1 Prestige Award. PCs from the Cheliax faction who
examine the magical trap in area A4 and diagram its
setup earn 1 bonus Prestige Award.
Osirion Faction: PCs from the Osirion faction who
bring back the derro jet rat artifact earn 1 Prestige Award.
PCs from the Osirion faction who recover a perfect sample
of one of the larger-than-normal dire rats in area B1 or
B3 earn 1 bonus Prestige Award.
Qadira Faction: PCs from the Qadira faction who
find Wafid Sadaqat in area B3 and see that he is safely
returned to the surface earn 1 Prestige Award. PCs from
the Qadira faction who accurately count all of the boxes
with red “X’s” on them in areas A2, B1, and B2 (there are
8 total) earn 1 bonus Prestige Award.
Taldor Faction: PCs from the Taldor faction who
behead Grench Teppish and return the head to Baron
Jacquo earn 1 Prestige Award. PCs from the Taldor faction
who recover a perfect sample of spider venom from area
A1 earn 1 bonus Prestige Award.
the devil We KnoW Part i: caSSomir’S locKer
17
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
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System Reference Document. Copyright 2000. Wizards of the
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based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Pathfinder Society Scenario 30: The Devil We Know Part II:
Cassomir’s Locker. Copyright 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC;
Author: Joshua J. Frost.
Pathfinder Society Scenario
18
Honored Subject of the Ruby Prince,
This tale of a shiny black artifact that turns normal rats into large, violent rats sounds disturbingly like
an old artifact of Osirion, lost a thousand years ago. Known as the jet rat, this artifact enabled some depraved
individuals to create armies of vermin. Should this be the very same artifact, be sure it’s returned to the
safe-keeping of the Pathfinder Society Grand Lodge in Absalom. This item is very dangerous and shouldn’t be
floating about in the general marketplace. If you happen to find a rat that has been altered by the artifact,
take a sample from its body—but do so carefully. Remove the patch of skin and fur on the back of the neck.
These must be taken together. Return a sample to me so that we may further understand how this artifact
works.
Her Majestrix’s Most Loyal Servant,
I must admit a small amount of embarrassment—I’ve lost a necklace, a very important necklace of ivory and
gold that I believe made its way into the hands of Andoran smugglers who we think are supplying the kidnappers
beneath Cassomir. I’ve had a diviner look into its whereabouts—when you’re in a strange city below the city,
you should search through some of the supplies there to see if you can find it. I can’t have certain transgressions
be known. Your discretion will be rewarded by pleasure. And since you’re going to be below Cassomir, I’ve heard
these derros sometimes use magic traps—should you find one, carefully document and diagram how it works and
send that information to me.
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen
Fellow Free Citizen,
These further rumors of the derro involvement in Cassomir are troubling. Though we care not that Taldor citizens
are possibly being hurt, we’d be remiss in our service to freedom to allow slavery of any kind go unpunished. If you find
a derro beneath Cassomir, see to it that he is destroyed and then bring some proof of his existence back to me—his entire
body if necessary. Taldor can no longer ignore the problem beneath its second largest city. In my studies of the derros, I’ve
read that they often drive their slaves before them as guards and soldiers—should you find some poor Darklands denizen
in slavish servitude to the derros, give him the option of freedom before you strike him down. Even evil creatures do not
deserve the shackles of tyranny.
Sincerely,
Captain Colson Maldris
Andoran Faction Handout
Cheliax Faction Handout
Osirion Faction Handout
In service to our Ruby Prince,
Amenopheus, The Sapphire Sage
the devil We KnoW Part i: caSSomir’S locKer
19
Servant of the Satrap,
An agent of mine, Wafid Sadaqat, is missing in Cassomir. He was captured a year ago
on board the Prancing Prince, a slave galleon the Taldans commandeered. He was
imprisoned in the vile Swift Prison in Old Cassomir and recently disappeared from his
bunk. We do not believe he escaped. Rumors have reached my ears that unscrupulous
guards may have sold him to derro slavers beneath Cassomir. If you find him down there,
return him to me—quietly. Additionally, we are concerned about the proliferation of
supplies throughout the Darklands beneath Cassomir that seem to originate from an
Andoren smuggling operations. These uncreative louts mark their boxes with a giant red
X—count the number of boxes thusly marked as you wander beneath Cassomir so that I
may compare that number to these recently acquired shipping manifests from the Taldan
Imperial Navy. If they match, we have a weapon to use against those Andoren dogs.
May your coffers run deep,
Pasha Muhlia Al-Jakri
Agent of the Empire,
When will the empire be rid of the Teppish family? Strike down one of them,
and another sprouts like a weed. Pluck that weed, and another materializes from
thin air. I have reason to believe that Grench Teppish, the twin brother of Dalirio
Teppish, is behind the Countess’s kidnapping. If you find him, ensure he dies
and bring me his head. Though it will be a small consolation for the Patrizia family, mounting
his head on the gates of their family estate should hopefully keep the Teppish clan quiet for a
while. Lastly, while below, should you find any source of poison—natural or otherwise—recover
it in perfect condition and return it to me. My supplies seem to be running low and poison is so
dreadfully expensive here in Taldor. Be a dear and get me some more.
In the Emperor’s Name,
Baron Jacquo Dalsine
Qadiran Faction Handout
Taldor Faction Handout
x
Potion of cure moderate wounds (300 gp)
Scroll of remove disease (375 gp)
No additional items.
Amulet of natural armor +1 (2,000 gp)
Boots of striding and springing (5,500 gp)
Cloak of resistance +2 (4,000 gp)
+2 full plate (4,750 gp)
+2 heavy flail (8,315 gp)
1–2
Scenario 30:
The Devil We Know Part II: Cassomir’s Locker
Player Name
A.K.A.
Character Name
Pathfinder Society #
Faction
EVENT
EVENT CODE
DATE
Game Master’s Signature
GM Pathfinder Society #
Subtotal
GOLD
Gold Spent
Subtotal
Items Bought
Items Sold
Final PA Total
Final XP Total
Prestige Award
EXPERIENCE
GP Gained (GM ONLY)
PA Gained (GM ONLY)
Start GP
Starting PA
Starting XP
Subtotal
TOTAL VALUE OF ITEMS SOLD
Add 1/2 this value to the “Items Sold” Box
TOTAL COST OF ITEMS BOUGHT
Items Found During This Scenario
For GM Only
+
+
=
-
-
=
=
+1 XP
This Chronicle Certifies That
GM’s
Initial
GM’s
Initial
Has Completed This Scenario.
—
TIER
TIER
TIER
Items Sold / Conditions Gained
Items Bought / Conditions Cleared
3–4
6–7
Scenario Chronicle #
TIER
MAX GOLD
TIER
TIER
TIER
1–2
3–4
6–7
505
1,266
3,172
| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/Society/Season 01/Scenario 1-30 The Devil We Know, Part II Cassomir's Locker.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any
form without permission of the author. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20
system license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK and RPGA are registered trademarks of Wizards of the
Coast, Inc. LIVING GREYHAWK is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This scenario is intended for tournament use only and may not be reproduced without approval of the
RPGA Network.
VER3-07
Decision at Sheernobb
A One-Round D&D LIVING GREYHAWK
®
Verbobonc Regional Adventure
By Lon Lademann
Triad Edit: Ron Lundeen
Circle Edit: David Christ
Good times at Sheernobb renew the fellowship between gnomes and the characters. But all is not joy as events turn to a
most desperate hour with desperate decisions. This is the fourth event in the Verbobonc Giant series. An adventure for
APLs 6 to 12.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 2
Introduction
This is an RPGA® Network scenario for the Dungeons &
Dragons® game. A four-hour time block has been allocated
for each round of this scenario, but the actual playing time
will be closer to three and a half hours. The rest of the time
is spent in preparation before game play, and scoring after
the game. The following guidelines are here to help you
with both the preparation and voting segment of the game.
Read this page carefully so that you know and can
communicate to your players the special aspects of playing
an RPGA scenario.
Preparation
First you should print this scenario. This scenario was
created to support double-sided printing, but printing it
single sided will work as well. There is enough room along
the inside margin to bind the adventure, if you desire.
Read this entire adventure at least once before you run
your game. Be sure to familiarize yourself with any special
rules, spells, or equipment presented in the adventure. It
may help to highlight particularly important passages.
When you run an RPGA D&D adventure we assume that
you have access to the following books: the Player’s
Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster
Manual. We also assume that you have a set of dice (at least
one d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20), some scrap paper, a
pencil, an RPGA scoring packet, and your sense of fun. It is
also a good idea to have a way to track movement during
combat. This can be as simple as a pad of graph paper and a
pencil, as handy as a vinyl grid map and chits, or as
elaborate as resin dungeon walls and miniatures.
Instruct the players either to prepare their characters now,
or wait until you read the introduction, depending on the
requirements of the scenario as described in the
introduction.
Keep in mind that you must have at least four players (not
counting the DM), for the game session to be a sanctioned
RPGA event. As well, you cannot have more than six
players participating in the game.
Once you are ready to play, it is handy to instruct each
player to place a nametag in front of him or her. The tag
should have the player’s name at the bottom, and the
character’s name, race, and gender at the top. This makes it
easier for the players (and the DM) to keep track of who is
playing which character.
The players are free to use the game rules to learn about
equipment and weapons their characters are carrying. That
said, you as the DM can bar the use of even core rulebooks
during certain times of play. For example, the players are
not free to consult the Dungeon Master’s Guide when
confronted with a trap or hazard, or the Monster Manual
when confronted with a monster.
Some of the text in this scenario is written so that you may
present it as written to the players, while other text is for
your eyes only. Text for the players will be in gray boxes.
It’s strongly recommended that you paraphrase the player
text instead of reading it aloud. Some of this text is general
and must be adapted to the specific situation or to actions
of the player characters.
Scoring
After the players have completed the scenario or the time
allotted to run the scenario has run out, the players and
DM score the game. The RPGA has three ways to score its
games. Consult your convention coordinator to determine
which method to use for this scenario:
1.
No-vote scoring: The players write their names and
RPGA numbers on the scoring packet grid. You fill
in the top of the grid. That is all. No one is rated.
This method is used for people who are just playing
for fun.
2.
Partial scoring: The players rate the game master and
the scenario on their player voting sheet, and
provide personal information, but don’t vote for
other players. The game master rates the scenario
and completes personal and event information, but
does not rate the players as a team or vote for players.
This method is used when there is no competition,
but the event coordinator wants information on how
the game masters are performing, or the game
master wants feedback on his or her own
performance.
3.
Voting: Players and game masters complete the
entire packet, including voting for best player. If this
method is used, be sure to allow about 15-20 minutes
for the players to briefly describe their characters to
the other players, and about 5-10 minutes for voting.
This method is used when the players want to know
who played the “best” amongst the group, or when
the adventure is run in tournament format with
winners and prizes.
When using voting, rank the players in order of your
voting choice while they are completing their forms, so
that you are not influenced by their comments on your
abilities. It’s a good idea to have the players vote while you
determine treasure and experience awards for the scenario.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 3
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect
on APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
After voting, give the Scoring Packet to your event
coordinator.
This is a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure. As a LIVING
adventure it is expected that players bring their own
characters with them. If players do not have a LIVING
GREYHAWK character generated, get a copy of the
current LIVING GREYHAWK character generation
guidelines, and a character sheet from your convention
coordinator or the RPGA Web site, ant then have any
players without a character create on. Once all players
have a LIVING GREYHAWK character, play can begin.
Along with the other materials that you are assumed to
have in order to run a D&D game, it is also recommended
that you have a copy of the LIVING GREYHAWK
Gazetteer.
Living Greyhawk Levels of Play
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportioned to the average character level of the PCs
participating in the adventure. To determine the Average
Party Level (APL):
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely being war horses, dogs trained
for war), other than those brought by virtue of a class
ability (i.e. animal companions, familiars paladin’s
mounts, etc) use the sidebar chart to determine the
number of levels you add to the sum above. Add each
character’s animals separately. A single PC may only
bring four or fewer animals of this type, and animals
with different CRs are added separately.
3.
Sum the results of 1 and 2, and divide by the number
of characters playing in the adventure. Round to the
nearest whole number.
4.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
By following these four steps, you will have determined
the APL. Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the
level of challenge the PCs will face. APLS are given in
even-numbered increments. If the APL of your group
falls on an odd number, ask them before the adventure
begins whether they would like to play a harder or easier
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience you may gain
at the end of the adventure. If your character is three
character levels or
more either higher
or lower than the
APL
this
adventure is being
played
at,
that
character
will
receive only half of
the
experience
points awarded for
the
adventure.
This simulates the
face
that
either
your character was
not as challenged
as
normal,
or
relied on help by
higher-level
characters to reach
the objectives.
Note: LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for
APL 2 and higher. Four or sometimes even five 1
st-level
characters may find difficulty with the challenges in a
LIVING GREYHAWK adventure. If your group is APL 1
there are three things that you can do to help even the
score.
5.
Attempt to create a table of six 1
st-level characters, or
try to enlist higher-level characters to play at that
table.
6.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them. All riding dogs are
considered trained to attack. PCs who want their
dogs to attack must succeed at a Handle Animal or
Charisma check (DC 10). Failure indicates that the
animal will not attack that round. This is a free
action (spoken command) that may be attempted
each round. If an animal loses half or more hp in a
single round it flees, unless another check is
successful.
Time Units and Upkeep
This is a standard one-round Regional adventure, set in
the Viscount of Verbobonc. Characters native to
Verbobonc pay one Time Unit per round, all others pay
two Time Units per round. Adventurer’s Standard
Upkeep costs 12gp per Time Unit. Rich Upkeep costs
50gp per Time Unit. Luxury Upkeep costs 100gp per
Time Unit.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 4
Adventure Background
Renewed raids on eastern gnome settlements began in
CY591. Sheernobb, a village on the edge of the Gnarely
Forest, found itself especially hard hit. Headgnome
Glennddarc sought the assistance of adventurers to go on
a scouting mission, being short handed. Adventurers
located a hill giant and ogre hill fortress deep within the
Gnarley, in striking distance of Sheernobb.
Gnomish forces launched a sizable punitive raid under
the gnome Commander Keenbolt. Keenbolt’s force did
not return, nor did any of the gnome Scouts sent out to
make contact with the force. Once again Glennddarc
sought the assistance of trusted adventurers to discover
the fate of Keenbolt’s Command.
The adventurers followed Keenbolt’s trail through the
now dangerous forest. The deadly fate of the force was
discovered, but Keenbolt’s trail continued on. Finally, on
a ridge top the adventurers caught up with the
Commander in a battle with his foes. A costly victory
saved the commander and earned the trust of the
adventurers as gnome-friends. And, it was these gnome-
friends who helped sway the Moot vote to not evacuate
Sheernobb, but to make a stand and increase their
defenses.
For a time the raids lessened and gnomish defenses were
strengthened. Yet, raids continued with some further to
the north into the Viscounty itself. This led to the
discovery of a new advanced giant base on the edge of the
Gnarley north of Sheernobb. In a swirling battle the
gnome-friends, with assistance of rangers and mounted
troops, reduced the base. Later, the gnome-friends passed
through an entire village in the southern Viscounty
completely destroyed by the giant forces.
Clearly, the giant forces are strong in the Gnarley, and
directed by an unknown force. Although Sheernobb has
been peaceful in the past few months, this was only the
calm before the storm. The giants have rebuilt their
strength, and are now poised to descend upon Sheernobb
and destroy the gnomish village once and for all.
Adventure Summary
The characters are each visited by the erstwhile gnome
diplomat, Meldreeb, with an invitation to the 500
th
anniversary of Sheernobb. When they arrive, Sheernobb
no longer bears the appearance of a peaceful gnomish
settlement, but looks more like an armed camp. Gnomes-
at-Arms and gnome Scouts are seen everywhere. A clear
defensive line surrounds the main village as well as many
traps and other surprises of gnomish creation.
Encounter One
The celebration centers in the Moot Hall with the
characters among the honored guests, which also include
several gnome dignitaries. In the midst of conversations,
Keenbolt snatches the characters attention, asking them
to join him quickly and quietly into a side chamber down
the front hallway. Inside the chamber are three Gnome
Scouts. One is severely wounded, one slightly wounded
and the last unharmed. They report the movement of a
very sizable giant force heading toward the village.
Keenbolt’s sub-commanders enter the room to receive
orders. Defenses are prepared immediately. Keenbolt
turns to the characters and asks them to hang back and
guard the Moot Hall with Glennddarc inside. And, if
necessary, they are a final reserve he can count on.
Encounter Two
It is only a few short minutes after the defenses were
gnomed that the sounds of battle fill the night. Gnome
warriors and scouts run back and forth while the
characters establish their watch on the hall. From out of
nowhere and everywhere the characters are suddenly
attacked. Their assailants are a strike team of ogre mages
originally sent in to kill Glennddarc. They did not expect
to run into the caliber of opposition the characters
present, but do not shrink from the challenge.
Encounter Three
No sooner is the strike team defeated than a gnome Scout
runs up to the characters asking for Commander
Keenbolt. He is from the northern flank screen. Before
he can finish his sentence reporting on an enemy force
trying to turn their flank another gnome rushes up
demanding the characters follow him quickly. There has
been a breach in the forward defenses threatening the
middle of the village. The characters need to make a
decision to either assist the northern flank or help
against the breach.
Encounter Three A
The characters go to assist the northern flank. Indeed, a
large force of the enemy is already pushing back the
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 5
defenders here and threatening the lightly guarded rear.
The characters’ assistance could be crucial.
Encounter Three B
The characters go to help against the breach in the front
line. They arrive in time to meet the enemy head on.
Their assistance could be crucial in establishing a new
defensive line.
Meanwhile, the left flank and rear guard are turned, and
as a result the characters must turn and help fight off an
attack from the rear. Few gnomes from the left flank and
rear guard remain.
Encounter Four
The fighting lasts until the pale gray of dawn begins to
fill the village. The enemy has pulled back, but they now
surround the village. All are exhausted, and casualties are
many. Keenbolt has not been seen since early in the
battle. A quick search finds those known to be with him
all slain, and Commander Keenbolt torn to pieces.
Evidence around the slain gnomes suggests they fought a
similar group of ogre mage assassins as the one that had
originally attacked the characters at the Moot Hall.
Encounter Five
The giant forces make no serious attacks all the next day
and evening. At an early morning meeting of the
surviving leaders, Glennddarc reluctantly decides it is
time to evacuate the village and move the survivors into
the protection of the Greenway Valley. There is one
possible way for most of the villagers to sneak out past
the surrounding enemy. The ranking gnome commander
insists he will do what Keenbolt himself would do:
remain behind to hold the defenses as long as possible to
allow the non-combatants to sneak away to safety toward
the Greenway Valley. Meldreeb wants to track down
Keenbolt’s killers. Another gnomish officer will escort
the non-combatants out of Sheernobb, and may need
help to defend them. Glennddarc turns to the characters
and asks them what they will do. Their decision
determines whether they will go to Encounter Six,
Encounter Seven, Encounter Eight, or Encounter Nine.
Encounter Six
Staying to defend Sheernobb long enough for the
refugees to get safely away should appear to be nothing
less than a suicide mission. The remaining gnome
commander does not make the best decisions. This
situation is basically a last stand. The characters may buy
more time, but their survival is in question unless they
can make a daring escape.
Encounter Seven
Following the ogre mage assassins that killed Keenbolt
leads to a cat and mouse game. Both parties at times hunt
the other so that neither is sure who is the hunter and
who is the hunted. The characters’ skills and abilities will
be tested. If the strike team can be caught one way or the
other, the characters can learn new information
concerning the scope of the enemy’s plans.
Encounter Eight
As escorts to the survivors of Sheernobb, the characters
must fight a group of trolls trying to cut off their retreat.
A glow in the night sky to the northeast marks the
burning of Sheernobb. Decisions need to be made for the
safety of the refugees.
Encounter Nine
Characters that want to flee Sheernobb on their own
encounter no significant resistance. However, the first
night they camp, they can see a glow in the distance
indicating the burning of Sheernobb.
Conclusion
Sheernobb has fallen. In the Greenway Valley, the
Sheernobb refugees join even more refugees from other
eastern settlements as news spreads of a much larger
invasion than anyone expected. The characters, if they
survived, are called to attend a meeting. Attending the
meeting are the gnome clan leaders of the Kron, and
representatives from several mixed communities from
near the Kron Hills: House Asbury, House Delevue,
House Milinous, the Mounted Borderers, the Gnarley
Rangers, Burne’s Badgers, and two of the Gnarley Elven
Clans. This mixed group sits down to a council of war!
DM NOTE: Before reading the introduction have each
character make two d20 rolls. Record these rolls for use
in Encounter Two.
Introduction
You have looked forward to a much-needed rest for
quite some time. All your adventuring is beginning to
take a toll on you. The physical and mental stresses of
late drift away after a good meal and a longed for
restful sleep. On the morrow there is no need to
awaken early.
Your dreams find you in your long imagined personal
paradise.
DM’s may wish to go around the table and ask the
characters what they are dreaming about. At least have
each player imagine for their character in their own
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 6
minds just what those dreams might be like before
reading the next part.
But, something begins to nag at the back of your
mind. Some tapping sound just doesn’t fit into your
surroundings. The tapping sound continues, and no
matter how hard you try to hold onto your paradise
world, it slips away into darkness and then light.
After a confused moment you find yourself rolling
over in bed with that tapping sound coming from the
door. It must be early morning from the look of
things around you.
“Wake up! I know you are in there. I have something
very important that I knew you wouldn’t want to wait
to hear about. Open the door before I have to open it
myself,” says a familiar voice you begin to place as
Meldreeb, (or an unfamiliar gnomish voice if none of the
characters played any of the previous Giant series events).
If the character opens the door they find Meldreeb nearly
bursting with excitement and holding out a very fancy
envelope with a wax seal.
If the character takes their time getting up and going to
their door, the door opens before they get there and
entering is Meldreeb nearly bursting with excitement
and holding out a very fancy envelope with a wax seal.
As the character(s) open the envelope give them Player
Handout One.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Get ready! Pack your
things. Its going to be the greatest celebration ever
with magic and fireworks and singing and dancing
and eating and drinking and story telling and
speeches and demonstrations– oh, did I say eating!
You just have to come now. Don’t wait a second. I
have your transportation all arranged and ready and
waiting for you.
Don’t worry about those nasty giants and their allies
neither. We haven’t seen them for a while. Of course
we can’t get scouts too close to their fortress anymore
with their increased patrols and all. But ever since
that encampment near the old forest shrine was
defeated, we just haven’t seen them stick their ugly
heads around nowhere near.”
Meldreeb just keeps talking and won’t accept no for an
answer. As soon as each character actually walks out their
front door Meldreeb runs off saying he has to hand out
more invitations and he will see them there.
Any character that did not participate in any of the
previous Giant series adventures (Giants on the Move,
Games Afoot, or Silver Moon) is being invited based on
his or her reputation as a hero.
The trip to Sheernobb passes uneventfully. The
characters have all met up on their journey toward
Sheernobb. If the characters have not yet introduced
themselves, now is the time.
On a gentle rise ahead is the now familiar gnome
checkpoint west of Sheernobb. After that, there is a side
trail leading to the east and the village itself. A gnome
scout breaks cover onto the trail and motions for you to
slow down. On a Spot check (DC 20), a character notices
that the trail appears different somehow. The trail
through the wooded slope looks to have been improved
and slightly widened. On a second Spot check (DC 25),
the character notices there are three times as many scouts
in hiding around this spot than usual.
As the characters pass through the notch in the ridge of
trees and underbrush, the trail beneath them sounds
hollow as if they are crossing a bridge.
If asked, the gnome scout smiles large and replies,
“It’s just a little surprise for travelers who aren’t as
welcome as yourselves.”
This portion of the trail has a large pit trap constructed
beneath. After passing through the hollow sounding
portion of the trail, a Spot check (DC 25) reveals that
several well-prepared defensive positions now exist on
both sides of the trail. One gets the impression that a
small force here could hold off an entire army for hours.
As the characters turn to the east and begin to approach
Sheernobb, they pass by several more defensive positions.
All are well-gnomed. The village itself no longer bears the
appearance of a peaceful gnomish settlement, but looks
more like an armed camp. Gnome-at-Arms and gnome
Scouts are seen everywhere. A clear defensive line
surrounds the village with another line surrounding the
main area of rents, as well as many traps and other
surprises of gnomish creation. Despite the heavy
defenses, many gnomes are out and about in high spirits
and greet the characters warmly, and are full of questions.
Encounter One
You find yourselves honored guests at the main table
within the impressive woodwork of the Moot Hall. At
the table with you are Glennddarc, his wife, Keenbolt,
and several other gnome dignitaries whose names you
cannot begin to pronounce much less remember.
Glennddarc stands and gives a speech announcing the
beginning of the festivities celebrating the 500
th
anniversary of Sheernobb. He ends with an elaborate
illusion of the first gnome settlers crossing the
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 7
wooded hillsides and setting up camp. Once the
image fades the gnome revelries in the crowded hall
are so loud it’s a wonder any conversation can be
heard at all. The crowd itself is so large that it must
spill outside.
The Moot Hall of Sheernobb is the only rent large
enough for human sized characters to walk erect. And
large it is. The main table is set on a raised platform in the
back opposite the entry hall. The main floor has been
setup with long tables and benches of gnome size. The
tiered galleries on three sides also have been setup to
accommodate food and drink. Everywhere possible are
gnomes
laughing,
eating,
drinking
and
talking.
Numerous gnomes approach the head table to offer
words and ask questions of the characters, none of which
can be made out due to the noise of so many gnomish
conversations going on in the Moot Hall.
It is almost a relief when Commander Keenbolt
snatches your attention asking you to join him
quickly and quietly in the right hand side chamber
down the front hallway. Working your way through
the crowd is no easy task. Many gnomes pat you on
the small of the back to give words of personal
welcome or to ask you to join them in a toast.
Standing by the chamber doorway are two Gnome-at-
Arms who usher you inside while preventing curious
onlookers from following. Inside the chamber are
three Gnome Scouts. One is severely wounded and is
being tended by a gnome cleric. Another is bandaged
sitting off to the side with a bewildered look for a
gnome. A third Scout appears unharmed, but looks
exhausted.
Once Keenbolt notices your arrival he nods toward
you and turns to the Scouts, “Now, give your report in
full.”
The Scouts talk about what they thought was a random
orc and ogre patrol they let pass by their observation
position in the forest. However, not long after that they
witnessed the approach of a very large force of orcs,
ogres, giants and other creatures. There were so many
they knew they could not see them all. They quickly
abandoned their post to warn the village. But, they now
had to weave their way through the advanced
skirmishers of orcs and ogres. This is how they came to
be wounded. There was no stopping to fight; they just
ran. The skirmishers could be approaching the outer
defenses by now.
Keenbolt’s sub-commanders had already entered the
room shortly after characters. The Commander turns to
his subordinates and issues orders in rapid gnomish.
They turn and quickly exit the chamber.
Keenbolt turns to you and in common says, “Please
remain here and guard the Moot Hall with
Glennddarc inside. He must be kept safe. And, when
necessary you are a final reserve I know I can count
on.”
For a few moments all seems confusion as gnomes rush
out of the chamber and the larger crowd from inside the
Hall rushes out to wherever they are most needed. The
characters, if they wish, may re-enter the Hall to find
Glennddarc still seated at the head table with his familiar.
Glennddarc looks at you with a half smile on his worn
face, “I have my orders! It appears you are to be my
protectors – as if I need protection! Keenbolt feels
I’m too important to be risked in the defense of my
own village.”
Glennddarc waits for any response from the characters.
Either after their response or if they have none, he
continues:
“Well, go protect me!”
Encounter Two
Ask the players how they wish to handle the protection
of Glennddarc and the Moot Hall.
The Hall has only one entrance from the dirt road as far
as the characters know. The stout wooden doorway leads
into a large hillside. The entrance hallway is not tall
enough for a normal human to stand erect, being only
five feet high. Along its wood paneled walls are three
doors on the right and one of the left. The door on the
left leads to a small 10 x 10 storage room. The first door
on the right leads to a make shift 12 x 12 guard room with
two cots a small table with two chairs on the far wall, and
a weapon rack on the right side of the door and a row of
pegs for hanging gear on the left side. The next two doors
on the right each lead into 20 x 20 side chambers. The
first chamber is furnished as small meeting room while
the second is the kitchen. Eighty feet down the hallway
is a large opening on the left side into the large meeting
hall itself. This is the north end of the meeting hall and is
eighty feet long. A wooden railing extends twenty feet
ahead separating the hallway from the upper tier of this
end of the hall. Looking past the railing into the one
hundred-foot long hall shows the main floor to be several
wide steps down. Three tiers of five-foot wide steps, each
having benches on which to sit, surround the sunken
hall. This makes the open lower main floor about 50 x 70.
The ceiling height of the main floor easily allows humans
and even half-orcs to walk erect. The woodwork within
the hall is impressive, from the intricately carved beams,
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 8
supports and posts to the benches and floor. The east side
of the hall also has three tiers, but on the top tier’s center
is a long table with chairs behind.
Once they have a plan and have taken positions proceed
with the following:
It is not long after you have taken up defensive
positions that the sounds of battle fill the night. (If
any characters assumed any positions outside the Moot
Hall add the following.) Gnomish warriors and scouts
run back and forth. Now and then the familiar sounds
and flashes of combat magic mix with the general din
of battle. Most of the noise seems to come from the
side of the village facing the great forest, but soon
additional sounds of battle can be heard from both
flanks. This is indeed a serious hour for Sheernobb.
At this point refer to the two initial d20 rolls made by
each character to see if they either hear or see the coming
assailants. The two rolls are their Spot and Listen checks.
This ogre mage strike team attacks wherever the
characters have established their defensive positions.
These elite giant assassins did not expect to find the
characters defending Glennddarc. But, since the
characters represent his defense they attempt to use their
talents to both neutralize the characters and take out
Glennddarc at the same time.
Creatures:
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Ogre Mage: hp 37; see Monster Manual. This ogre
mage is equipped with a +1 greatsword, so add +1 to its
attack and damage rolls.
APL 8 (EL 10)
�Ogre Mages (2): hp 37 each; see Monster Manual.
These ogre mages are each equipped with a +1
greatsword, so add +1 to their attack and damage rolls.
APL 10 (EL 12)
�Ogre Mage Assassins (2): male ogre mage Rog4; hp 85
each; see Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 14)
�Ogre Mage Assassins (4): male ogre mage Rog4; hp 85
each; see Appendix One.
Tactics: These ogre mages are skilled assassins and use
their cone of cold ability whenever they can affect a large
number of characters. At APLs 10 and 12, they make best
use of their Expert Tactician feat to make extra attacks
with their greatswords when they attack from invisibility
(which they can use at will). This strike force fights to
the death.
The ogre mages travel up to the characters in gaseous
form and invisible. They dismiss the gaseous form (a
standard action which makes no noise), remaining
invisible, and prepare to attack the characters from
surprise. To act in the surprise round, the characters must
succeed at either a Spot or Listen check.
The DC for the Spot check is 26 at APLs 6 and 8, and 40 at
APLs 10 and 12 (the ogre mages are taking 10 to Hide,
with a +20 bonus for being invisible).
The DC for the Listen check is much lower: DC 12 at
APLs 6 and 8, and DC 26 at APLs 10 and 12 (the ogre
mages are taking 10 to Move Silently, with a +2
circumstance bonus for the noise of the battle).
Development: Any member of the strike team who
comes close enough to threaten Glennddarc directly
either “on stage” or “off stage,” will provoke a reaction
from
Glennddarc.
Glennddarc’s
survival
in
this
encounter should rest on the shoulders of the characters
as much as possible. But, Glennddarc is capable of
defending himself to an extent. If at all possible, try to
limit Glennddarc’s involvement in this combat to self-
preservation only. Glennddarc should not save the day
for the characters; it should be the other way around.
All APLs
�Glennddarc: male gnome Wiz7; hp 29; see Appendix
One.
Treasure:
Defeat the ogre mage assassins and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 8 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (196 gp per
character).
APL 8: L: 16 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (2) (196 gp
per character/per sword).
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (2) (196 gp
per character/per sword); +1 chain shirt (2) (104 gp per
character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (2) (83 gp per
character/per cloak).
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (4) (196 gp
per character/per sword); +1 chain shirt (4) (104 gp per
character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (4) (83 gp per
character/per cloak).
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 9
Encounter Three
No sooner is the strike team defeated than a Gnome
Scout runs up to the characters asking for Commander
Keenbolt. He appears exhausted and scared.
“Have you seen Commander Keenbolt?”
As soon as he receives any kind of answer he rushes into
his next sentence.
“I’ve been sent from the northern flank screen. There
is a large enemy force hitting us hard, trying to turn . .
.”
Before he can finish his sentence a gnome-at-arms rushes
up interrupting:
The gnome-at-arms interrupts almost ordering the
characters, “You must come quickly! There is a breach
in our defenses and Keenbolt said you were the last
reserve. We need your help now!”
Then the first gnome scout breaks in:
“But if our flank is turned we will be surrounded and
attacked from the rear.”
Both gnomes then turn to you wide eyed shouting:
“We need your help now!”
The characters must make a decision to either assist the
northern flank or help against the breach. If they decide
to split themselves up to cover both trouble spots at the
same time, be sure to run both combats, (yes I know it
stinks), at the appropriate APL for the characters present
at each combat (but at a minimum APL of 6).
Encounter Three A
Use this encounter if the characters decide to assist the
northern flank.
The gnome scout leads the characters to the north. The
sounds of combat are easily heard ahead. Trees and
underbrush are not as thick here and what little light the
moon provides helps reveal the nature of the situation.
The ground slopes downward toward the attacking
enemy forces trying to work their way up the wooded
slope. This gives the gnomes some advantage. Some of
the wounded gnomes assist in loading crossbows as best
they can. Arrows whistle through the branches above the
characters and their gnome guide. A boulder crashes into
a tree next to the characters, but luckily bounces
harmlessly to the side.
The gnome scout shouts to you, “we’ve been pushed
back!”
Have the characters make Spot checks.
None higher than 10:
You think you notice the hulking form of a giant
breaking through some undergrowth to your front
left.
None higher than 15, but at least over 10:
You notice the hulking form of a giant breaking
through some undergrowth flanked by two smaller
forms to your front left.
None higher than 20, but at least over 15:
You notice the hulking form of a giant breaking
through some undergrowth flanked by two ogres to
your front left. Some form of magic cast by a nearby
gnome immediately hits the giant. (Spellcraft [DC 12]
identifies the spell as magic missile) But, then one of
the ogres obscures the image of the gnome.
Higher than 20:
You notice the hulking form of a giant breaking
through some undergrowth flanked by two ogres to
your front left. Some form of magic cast by a nearby
gnome immediately hits the giant. (Spellcraft [DC 12]
identifies the spell as magic missile) But, then one of
the ogres charges in front of the gnome and smashes
him with his club.
It is now time for initiative and action by the characters.
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Hill Giant: hp 98; see Monster Manual.
�Ogres (2): hp 29 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 8 (EL 10)
�Hill Giant: hp 98; see Monster Manual.
�Ogre, 4th Level Barbarian (2): hp 79 each; see
Monster Manual.
APL 10 (EL 12)
�Hill Giant Barbarian: male hill giant Bbn4; hp 187; see
Appendix One.
�Ogre, 4th Level Barbarian (2): hp 79 each; see
Monster Manual.
APL 12 (EL 14)
�Hill Giant Barbarian: male hill giant Bbn4; hp 187; see
Appendix One.
�Ogre Berserker (2): male ogre Bbn8; hp 118 each; see
Appendix One.
Tactics: These three giants rush into melee as soon as
possible. They attack heavily-wounded characters when
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 10
possible, to make use of feats like Cleave and Great
Cleave. At APL 12, the ogre barbarians use their Power
Critical feat in their first possible attack, preferably on a
charge. If the characters want to make a retreat, these
giants will fight the gnomes to the left and right instead
of pursuing the characters.
Throughout the characters’ combat, fighting continues to
their left and right. More and more enemies appear to
pressure the gnomes and the characters should notice
more enemy forces approaching their combat as well.
Random missile fire falls in and around the characters
during their combat. This is a major engagement.
If the characters defeat their opponents:
You have dropped your last opponent, but more and
more of the enemy can be seen, however, they are
beginning to break off contact and are pulling back
down the slope. Fewer enemy missiles are falling
around you now. Their assault has been blunted for
the time being.
Meldreeb, comes up behind you, “If you hadn’t
slowed that assault I doubt we could held this line
much longer. As it is there is one more defensive line
up the slope. We have too many casualties to
continue to hold this line much longer, even with
your help. We’d best move up hill while we can
safely. Our only problem now is, I think we are totally
surrounded. Lets see if we can help get the wounded
back up with us.”
If the characters must pull back:
You pull back higher up the slope. The shrinking
defensive line tightens up making the gnomes
numbers count more, but many of the wounded have
been left behind. From behind, you hear a familiar
gnome voice shout out for you to duck. Logs come
crashing down from the trees above you and bounce,
fall and roll into the approaching enemy followed by
a hail of crossbow fire, blunting the assault. The
enemy forces appear to pull back down the slope for
the time being.
Meldreeb, comes up behind you, “If you hadn’t
slowed that assault I doubt we could have pulled off
that little log trick. Been working on that for weeks.
Pretty good huh? Only problem now is, I think we are
totally surrounded.”
Development: The breach in the front lines allows the
enemy to reach the central rents before a new defensive
line is formed. The gnomes take heavy casualties
including non-combatants and half their sheep herd.
Treasure:
Defeat the giants and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 4 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 2 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (2) (192 gp
per character/per club); +1 hide armor (2) (97 gp per
character/per hide); ring of protection +1 (2) (167 gp per
character/per ring).
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (2) (192 gp
per character/per club); +1 hide armor (2) (97 gp per
character/per hide); ring of protection +1 (2) (167 gp per
character/per ring); +1 heavy flail (193 gp per character);
+1 chain shirt (104 gp per character); cloak of resistance
+1 (83 gp per character).
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greataxe (2) (193 gp
per character/per axe); +1 chain shirt (3) (104 gp per
character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (3) (83 gp per
character/per cloak); +1 heavy flail (193 gp per character).
Encounter Three B
Use this encounter if the characters decide to follow the
gnome-at-arms to the breach in the front line.
The gnome-at-arms leads the characters to the front. The
sounds of combat are easily heard ahead. Trees are not as
thick here and what little light the moon provides helps
reveal the nature of the situation. All is chaos. Several
giants, ogres and a fair number of orcs are in amongst the
gnomes in a raging battle around the uneven ground.
Here and there can be seen small wooden doors set back
into the sides of sloping ground marking the entrances
into the gnomish rents. Even several gnome non-
combatants can be seen trying to help fend off a group of
orcs and an ogre trying to force their way into one of the
rents. Arrows whistle through the branches above the
characters and their gnome guide. A boulder crashes into
a tree next to the characters, but luckily bounces
harmlessly to the side.
The gnome-at-arms shouts to you, “We can’t let them
get to the rents! Argh!” as he charges ahead into the
fighting.
The characters have two choices at this point. They can
either help in the general battle going on in front of them
or assist the non-combatants in keeping the ogre and orcs
away from the rents. Whether the characters move to
defend the rents or charge into the front lines, they
encounter an ogre and several orcs. These foes shouldn’t
present a real challenge to the party (and therefore award
no combat XP), but if the characters don’t stop this group
then no one will, and the rents will be invaded.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 11
All APLs (EL 0)
�Ogre: hp 29; see Monster Manual.
�Orcs (6): hp 6 each; see Monster Manual. These orcs
carry masterwork falchions, and so have +1 to attack rolls.
The actions of the characters help rally the gnomes in
establishing a new defensive line. Keep the general
impression of a larger battle going on around them as
much as possible. With any success by the characters in
their combat, the gnomes also begin to sort out and
establish a better line of defense. In other words, the
gnomes and the characters are gaining control over the
immediate situation.
Treasure:
Defeat the raiders and take their equipment.
All APLs: L: 201 gp; C: 0; M: 0.
If the characters win their combat read the following:
You have dropped your last opponent, but more and
more of the enemy can be seen, however, they are
beginning to break off contact and are pulling back.
Fewer enemy missiles are falling around you now.
Their breach has been sealed at least for the time
being.
If the characters need to pull back read the following:
You pull back, causing a new defensive line to tighten
up making the gnomes’ numbers count more. But
many of the wounded have been left behind. Many of
the enemy can still be seen, yet they too must have
had enough for now as they begin to break off contact
and are pulling back toward the forest. Fewer enemy
missiles are falling around you now. The breach has
been stopped at least for the time being.
Development: While the characters fight here, the left
flank and rear guard are turned, resulting in the
characters needing to help fight off an attack from the
rear. Few gnomes from the left flank and rear guard
remain.
You recognize a familiar gnome voice from behind
you. “Thank Garl I found you. Quick, an enemy force
has turned our left flank and is now pushing what’s
left of the rear guard this way. I haven’t any reserves
left,” gasps Meldreeb.
There should be no hesitation in the characters if they are
true heroes. Following Meldreeb to the rear, the
characters soon run into another chaotic battle. There are
few gnomes left, but they are giving ground stubbornly
to a superior enemy force. The enemy too has taken
heavy losses, as their numbers are not too great.
This combat takes place on ground very similar to the
rolling wooded terrain they just left, with a few rent
entrances here and there, (all closed).
The contingent facing off against the characters is as
follows:
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Ettin: hp 65; see Monster Manual.
�Ogres (3): hp 29 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 8 (EL 10)
�Ogre 4th level Barbarian: hp 79; see Monster Manual.
�Ettins (3): hp 65 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 10 (EL 12)
�Stone Giants (3): hp 119 each; see Monster Manual.
�Ogre 4th level Barbarians (2): hp 79 each; see
Monster Manual.
APL 12 (EL 8)
�Ogre Berserkers (2): hp 118 each; see Appendix One.
�Stone Giants (3): hp 119 each; see Monster Manual.
During the combat at some point have the characters
make a Spot check (DC 18). If any are successful they
notice Meldreeb’s fighting style to be that of a rogue. He
manages to sneak attack a number of opponents with
great skill. In addition he springs out of the way of many
return blows.
If the characters win their combat they witness the
remaining enemy forces pulling back out of sight.
If the characters have to pull back, they find a newly
created defensive line behind them on a favorable
sloping ground, and the enemy stops their advance and
pulls back out of range of the gnome crossbows. Now
Sheernobb is totally surrounded.
Meldreeb approaches you, “Without your help I’m
not sure what would have happened. Once again you
guys save the day, or should I say morning.”
Treasure:
Defeat the giants attacking from the rear and take their
equipment.
APL 6: L: 8 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 10 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (192 gp per
character); +1 hide armor (97 gp per character); ring of
protection +1 (167 gp per character).
APL 10: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (2) (192 gp
per character/per club); +1 hide armor (2) (97 gp per
character/per hide); ring of protection +1 (2) (167 gp per
character/per ring).
Decision at Sheernobb
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APL 12: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greataxe (2) (193 gp
per character/per axe); +1 chain shirt (2) (104 gp per
character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (2) (83 gp per
character/per cloak).
Encounter Four
The sounds of intermittent fighting last until the pale
gray of dawn begins to fill the village. All those
around you look exhausted. The ever present
Meldreeb finds you, “You have been asked to attend a
meeting. I think it will decide what happens next.
Come on.”
DM note: There has been no time to rest and renew
spells.
Meldreeb leads you back to the Moot Hall. There are
many wounded about being tended by only a couple
of gnome clerics. Inside the Moot Hall is more of the
same. More wounded, but only one cleric.
If Glennddarc survived the strike team against him, he is
in charge of the meeting. If he did not survive the strike
team the meeting is lead by Mumbleflash, one of the
village elders. Also in attendance are a few junior gnome
commanders. It looks like they are waiting on the
characters. Mumbleflash is present as well, even if
Glennddarc is leading the meeting.
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) looks you over. “Glad
you are still with us. Here is what we know. The
enemy forces have pulled back, but they likely now
surround the village. Their numbers are larger than
we ever expected. And, they have fought with a
coordination we find curious.
Continue with one of the two options below based upon
previous character actions.
•
If the characters went to fight on the north flank
(Encounter Three A) add the following:
“The north flank held thanks to our friends. The
breach up front was stopped, but at great cost. And,
the south flank held well. The enemy has not
retreated. It appears they are trying to surround the
village and are regrouping. It is even possible they are
receiving
reinforcements.
I’m
sorry
to
say
Commander Keenbolt has not been seen nor heard
from since early in the battle when he went to help
out the south flank.”
•
If the characters went to help close the breach
(Encounter Three B) add the following:
“The breach up front was stopped thanks to our
friends. The north flank was turned and the rearguard
nearly overrun. Once again we owe our thanks to our
friends for helping to prevent total disaster to the
rear. And, the south flank held well. The enemy has
not retreated. It appears they have surround the
village and are regrouping. It is even possible they are
receiving
reinforcements.
I’m
sorry
to
say
Commander Keenbolt has not been seen nor heard
from since early in the battle when he went to help
out the south flank.”
If the characters wish to go search for Keenbolt,
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) asks them to do so quickly
and return with news of what they find. Skip to “The
Slain Site.” If they do not offer to search for Commander
Keenbolt, skip to Encounter Five.
The Slain Site
A quick search along the south flank, Search (DC 15),
finds those last known to be with Keenbolt all slain near
a spot not far within the southern defenses. It appears
this particular area saw some heavy combat. Pieces of torn
gnome bodies are everywhere. Here are some clues that
the characters might discover:
•
A Search check (DC 10) reveals the bodies of Jebedar
the Cleric and several Gnome-at-Arms. A Heal check
(DC 18) reveals the cleric was killed by some cold
spell, not by a weapon. The other two gnomes were
killed with a precise slash to the throat, although
they sport other much less lethal wounds. All the
wounds were delivered by a very large slashing
weapon.
•
A Search check (DC 20) reveals torn, bloody pieces
that are identifiable as the remains of Commander
Keenbolt himself. There is not enough of the gnome
left to raise dead, and if the characters use other
means to try to resurrect Keenbolt, his soul is either
unwilling or unable to return. Someone took great
pains to eradicate the famed Commander of
Sheernobb.
•
A Survival check (DC 15) reveals sparse tracks of the
enemies. Only an occasional giantish boot-print is
found, as though the giants didn’t touch the ground
very often. With a successful Knowledge (nature)
check (DC 15) or a Wisdom check (DC 15), the
character realizes that the gnomes’ opponents were
probably flying very close to the ground.
•
If the characters have some means to communicate
with any of the dead gnomes (except Keenbolt, who
cannot be contacted in any way), the gnomes
remember being attacked by a group of ogre mages.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 13
They were surprised by the giants because they
attacked quickly from within the defensive line
during an intense part of the battle. The gnome
cleric died first from a cone of cold. The two gnome-
at-arms fought bravely, but were overcome by a sleep
spell. While sleeping, the ogre mages slit their
throats. None can recall seeing Keenbolt’s death.
They all remember him still fighting.
Encounter Five
Have the characters return to the Moot Hall and report
what they learned of Keenbolt if they searched the Slain
Site. The other gnomes are visibly shaken by the news.
After
a
moment
of
silence,
Glennddarc
(or
Mumbleflash) declares, “It is now time to think about
evacuating the village and move the survivors into the
protection of the Greenway Valley. There is one
possible way for most of the villagers to sneak out
past the surrounding enemy. Keenbolt himself
insisted on it just in case. There is a small unassuming
rent just to the southwest of the Moot Hall. Inside is
a well-concealed entrance into an escape tunnel,
which leads to a hidden spot west of the village.
APL 6 & 8
Our scouts report the enemy has pulled back even
further, but they still surround us here. It will take
time to gather the villagers and prepare for their
escape. We may just have a day or so before the
enemy attempts another full scale assault.”
The party may rest somewhat peacefully. There are small
probing missions by the giant forces but nothing major
during the night.
APL 10 & 12
Our scouts report the enemy has pulled back for the
moment, but they still surround us here. It will take
time to gather the villagers and prepare for their
escape. We may just have a few hours or so before the
enemy attempts another full scale assault.”
No rest for a APL 10 and 12 party. They must push on to
try and save Sheernoob and it’s population.
ALL APL’s
Swifttoe, the ranking gnome commander adds, “I
intend to do what Keenbolt himself would have done.
I will remain behind to hold the defenses as long as
possible to allow the non-combatants to sneak away to
safety.” Several of the other armed gnomes present
shout out their will to stay behind as well.
Meldreeb barks out, “And I intend to track down
Keenbolt’s killers.” A few gnome scouts shout out
their will to go with Meldreeb.
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) breaks into the
shouting, “This is all very brave, but we will need an
escort for the refugees. Commander Brimblesock,
you will lead the refugees. You may encounter
resistance outside the escape passage; we don’t know
where the giant forces are.”
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) then turns to you and
asks, “And what of our good friends? We dare not ask
more than you have already given. Your sacrifices
have bought us invaluable time. There is no need for
you to die on this ground. You could yet make an
escape and swing north away from the invaders on
your own. What will you do now?”
The characters have really four choices here: help defend
Sheernobb to give the refugees more time to escape (go
to Encounter Six), attempt to track down Keenbolt’s
killers (go to Encounter Seven), escort the refugees to the
Greenway Valley (go to Encounter Eight), or escape the
village and head north back to the viscounty on their
own (go to Encounter Nine).
For Glennddarc’s (or Mumbleflash’s) part, he announces
his intent is to remain in Sheernobb, entrusting the
escaping refugees to the leadership of the best of the
remaining
gnome
commanders,
Commander
Brimblesock. No argument will convince Glennddarc to
leave Sheernobb.
There are only a couple of minor probing enemy attacks
during the rest of the day and the following evening. This
has provided valuable time to assemble the villagers and
start them on their way.
DM note: Extra healing is available if the characters need
it. One raise dead, one reincarnation, one cure critical
wounds, two cure serious wounds, three cure moderate
wounds, and four cure light wounds can be provided at
standard cost by surviving gnome clerics. Each of these
spells is cast by a 9
th level caster. Characters must pay to
receive this healing.
Encounter Six
Staying to defend Sheernobb long enough for the
refugees to get safely away should appear to be nothing
less than a suicide mission. Scouts have been coming in
with reports all morning about the enemy regrouping on
all sides. Enemy missile fire, both arrow and stone,
resumes in full force. Meanwhile, in small groups, those
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 14
who are to flee have been going into the rent with the
escape tunnel entrance.
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) approaches the characters:
“Once we get word that the refugees are away to the
west, I shall give the order to have the tunnel
collapsed. In that way the enemy may not learn so
quickly that some have escaped.”
He looks up at the sparse clouds passing overhead lit
by the morning sun, “On this ground and on this day
it will not be so bad to die.”
At that moment an orc arrow strikes a tree next to
him. “Though, I could be wrong. I still have a few
tricks up my sleeve,” he says with a wink aimed in
your direction.
Swifttoe, the last ranking Gnome-at-Arms officer, shouts
up the same tree for a scout to come down and report.
The Scout drops a rope and quickly slides down as an
occasional arrow streaks past him. He reports the enemy
is now on the move in all directions with the heaviest
numbers still on the east and south. Among them are
more heavily armored orcs with shields.
“That must be their miners prepared to fight in the
warrens,” replies Swifttoe. He raises his voice so all
those still left around him can hear. “We must hold
the inner perimeter for 15 minutes against the first
assault before retreating into the Moot Hall. Wait for
the command. Now, go to your positions.”
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) cautions, “That may be
too long.”
“You two come with me,” commands Glennddarc at
two nearby Gnome-at-Arms. “We will prepare the
Moot Hall for uninvited guests.”
The conversation ends with the rise of guttural battle
cries from all around the village. Swifttoe runs off to the
east, but not before asking the characters if they wouldn’t
mind keeping the area in front of the Moot Hall clear of
the enemy for the next 15 minutes or so. After a few
nervous minutes, a large group appears to challenge the
characters. This group is spread out, and approaches from
the north up a gentle slope.
The area in front of the Moot Hall is relatively clear as the
dirt road from the west passes directly in front of the Hall
widening into a fifty foot clearing before continuing on
to the east and into more of the sloping ground making
up the village. Across the clearing to the north is
scattered underbrush and trees. The Hall itself is set into
a large wooded hillside.
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Ogres (2): hp 29 each; see Monster Manual.
�Wolves (6): hp 15 each; see Monster Manual.
�Orcs (12): hp 6 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 8 (EL 10)
�Ogres (4): hp 29 each; see Monster Manual.
�Dire Wolves (6): hp 45 each; see Monster Manual.
�Orcs (12): hp 6 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 10 (EL 12)
�Ogre 4th Level Barbarian (2): hp 79 each; see
Monster Manual.
�Trolls (4): hp 63 each; see Monster Manual.
�Ogres (9): hp 30 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 12 (EL 14)
�Troll Hunter: hp 130; see Monster Manual. This troll
has just cast his two ranger spells for the day, so they are
active when he enters combat. They are longstrider and
resist energy (fire).
�Hill Giants (4): hp 102 each; see Monster Manual.
�Trolls (4): hp 63 each; see Monster Manual.
�Ogres (9): hp 29 each; see Monster Manual.
Tactics: These foes try to swamp the characters with their
sheer numbers.
Treasure:
Defeat the giant horde and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 101 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 102 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (2) (192 gp
per character/per club); +1 hide armor (2) (97 gp per
character/per hide); ring of protection +1 (2) (167 gp per
character/per ring).
APL 12: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 battleaxe (193 gp per
character); +1 chain shirt (104 gp per character).
While you finish off the last of the enemy on the
road, you can’t help but be aware of the large number
of enemy forces closing in all around you. To your
right, Swifttoe races onto the road with nearly a
dozen other gnome fighters. Two gnomes disappear
as a boulder slams into them from their right. Orcs,
orges, some wolves, and a giant burst onto the road
behind them. Other gnomes from different directions
rush past you into the Moot Hall.
Just as it appears Swifttoe and his last companions are
about to be overrun before they can reach your
position, a large shadow passes over the approaching
combatants’ pathway. The trees overhead make it too
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 15
difficult to see what that was, but it must have been
immense.
Allow the characters to think what they will about the
shadow. (It was a dragon roused by the conflicts in the
Gnarley. It was only curious at the activity in the area.
Feeling neither threatened by the battle below nor
hungry, it has flown off back to its lair.) However, the
impact on the approaching groups is quick. The orcs
panic and begin to dart about in all directions. The wolves
slink away into the brush. The ogres chase after the orcs
and the giant just stands there looking around.
Meanwhile Swifttoe and his companions are pumping
their legs for all they are worth in the direction of the
characters. Seconds later additional enemy numbers
renew their pursuit of the gnomes, and more can be
heard and seen closing in from nearly all directions.
Swifttoe shouts at the characters, “Into the Moot Hall,
NOW, FAST!”
Impress upon the characters, that to stand here and
continue to fight is hopeless. The surrounding enemy
forces are too many and closing fast. The Moot Hall
offers the only alternative.
Once all are inside, Swifttoe closes the door and begins to
set in the crossbar timbers, locking the door from the
inside. As he goes about this task, the sound of missiles
striking the door from the other side can be heard. No
sooner is the last cross-timber ready to set into place than
the door shudders with a loud bang. Glennddarc, calls for
the characters to come back further into the Moot Hall.
(The Hall has only one entrance from the dirt road as far
as the characters know. The stout wooden doorway leads
into a large hillside. The entrance hallway is not tall
enough for a normal human to stand erect, being only
five feet high. Along its wood paneled walls are three
doors on the right and one of the left. From the small
vertical openings in the wooden walls near each right
hand doorway are a couple of gnomes pulling out thick
wooden panels. Eighty feet down the hallway is a large
opening on the left side into the large meeting hall itself.
This is the north end of the meeting hall and is eighty
feet long. A wooden railing extends twenty feet ahead
separating the hallway from the upper tier of this end of
the hall. Looking past the railing into the one hundred-
foot long hall shows the main floor to be several wide
steps down. Three tiers of five-foot wide steps, each
having benches on which to sit, surround the sunken
hall. This makes the open lower main floor about 50 x 70.
The ceiling height of the main floor easily allows humans
and even half-orcs to walk erect. The woodwork within
the hall is impressive, from the intricately carved beams,
supports and posts to the benches and floor. The east side
of the hall also has three tiers, but on the top tier’s center
is a long table with chairs behind.)
“Quickly, we have little time. Swifttoe will see to it
that three more defensive portals along the front
hallway are sealed. Please look around you at the
walls. Do you see the four open panels?”
There are four panels open, one on each wall. Two already
have their stout defensive iron bound replacements in
place. They appear to have enough room for several
defenders to fire missile weapons into the Moot Hall
through waist high murder holes. The positioning of the
defensive panels allows for crossing fields of fire.
Glennddarc continues, “Behind each panel is an
escape tunnel which winds around the Hall to join up
with the one behind the main table on the top tier.
Please, take the one behind the table, as your size will
make it difficult for you to manage the other three
tunnels. Where they all join, the passage becomes a
little larger where it descends deeper into the hill.”
At this point Swifttoe comes out of the front hallway and
directs the few gnomes with him to take the defensive
panel opposite the one the characters are to man. The
pounding coming from the front door becomes muted
behind the closure. Soon, the sound of the outer door
splintering is shortly followed by a slightly louder
pounding noise.
“Quickly, take your positions behind the panels,”
directs Swifttoe. “Those behind the panel furthest
from the hallway fire first to draw them in, then the
panel opposite the platform with me fires on the
second volley from the first group, then the panel
from behind the main table fires on the second volley
from the group opposite you, and finally the panel
closest to the hallway fires on the second volley from
the panel behind the platform. The panel opposite the
platform seals up first to escape through the tunnels,
then the one near the hallway, then the one opposite
the hallway, and last the one behind the platform. Go,
quickly and prepare. They will be amongst us
shortly.”
Glennddarc
(or
Mumbleflash)
accompanies
the
characters to the panel behind the main table. Inside
Glennddarc shows the characters how to close and bar
the defensive panel and open the murder holes. There is
just enough room inside for three characters to shoot or
cast spells. For larger than gnome sized characters, the
murder holes are waist high, making a kneeling position
the only way to use them. (Remember that characters
gain the effects of cover behind the panel: +4 to AC and
+2 to Reflex saves. Also, they receive +10 to Hide checks.)
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 16
All APLs
�Orcs (hundreds): hp 7 each; see Monster Manual.
These orcs all wear splint mail and carry heavy wooden
shields, raising their AC to 18. Rather than usual orcish
armament, these orcs carry spears, short swords, and
crossbows.
Combat here basically goes like this:
First round: after the enemy enters the Hall, the far
panel fires a volley. The orcs rush into the Hall and
attempt to spot targets on the far wall and fire crossbows.
Second round: the far panel fires a volley and the panel
opposite the characters fires a volley. The orcs raise
shields and rush the far wall as they take fire from their
right flank as even more orcs enter the Hall.
Third round: the first two panels fire a volley and the
characters should now be firing or taking their action if
they chose to follow instructions. The orcs have formed
two fronts as their numbers increase and attempt to
engage the first panel with spears while rushing the right
flank. They now take fire from or suffer from the
characters’ actions.
Fourth round: the first three panels fire a volley and the
panel nearest the entry hall fires a volley. The orcs now
have formed a three-sided formation, attempting to
engage the first two panels and rushing the characters’
position. They now take fire from their rear. New groups
of orcs enter the Hall with small battering rams.
Fifth round: those behind the panel opposite the
characters seal up and start down the escape tunnel. The
other three panels fire or engage at close range through
the murder holes. The orcs now form a square engaging
all four panels. Battering rams are in position against the
panel nearest the entryway and the panel opposite the
characters.
Sixth round: those behind the panel nearest the entry
hall seal up and start down the escape tunnel. The other
two remaining groups fire or take actions. The orcs now
begin to batter the characters’ panel along with the other
two and are trying to get a fourth battering ram across to
the far panel.
Seventh round: those behind the panel opposite the
entry hall seal up and start down the escape tunnel. The
characters now take their action. The orcs nearly have the
panel opposite the characters splintered unless the
characters have taken any action to slow them down.
Eighth round: the characters seal up and join the others
down the escape tunnel. The orcs break through the
panel opposite the characters.
Development: Providing the characters are able to get
away down the escape tunnel and join the others, they
will find themselves descending deeper underground
into the hill itself. The tunnel behind them is collapsed.
Those larger than a gnome will have to crouch as they
wind their way following the gnomes through the
underground passageway. Here and there the tunnels
appear natural, while in some stretches they have been
improved. After what seems like a couple of hours travel,
some of the gnomes in front breakthrough a shallow wall
of earth and stone into daylight. They are just past an
enemy encampment to the south of the village. After a
short skirmish with a few camp guards, they rapidly
make their way for the Greenway Valley in hopes of
meeting up with the refugees. Go to the Conclusion.
Encounter Seven
Meldreeb’s plan is to first leave the village with those
fleeing to the Greenway Valley. Once out of the escape
tunnel beyond the village to the west he plans to strike
out to the south away from the refugees and then swing
back to the east to attempt to pick up the trail of the
assassins south of the enemy besieging the village. He
tells the characters to meet him in front of the Moot Hall
in a few minutes.
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) approaches the characters:
“Once we get word that your party and the refugees
are away to the west, I shall give the order to have the
tunnel collapsed. In that way the enemy may not
learn so quickly that some have escaped.”
He looks up at the sparse clouds passing overhead lit
by the morning sun, “On this ground and on this day
it will not be so bad to die.”
At that moment an orc arrow strikes a tree next to
him. “Though, I could be wrong. I still have a few
tricks up my sleeve,” he says with a wink aimed in
your direction.
“Ah, here comes Meldreeb now.”
Meldreeb approaches the characters along with five
gnome scouts in muted brown leathers. Meldreeb is
outfitted nearly the same as his companions.
“Well, are we ready to go play hide and seek –
revenge?” Meldreeb wears an intense look on his face
you have never seen before.
Glennddarc (or Mubleflash) turns to the now
enlarged group, “Time to go. The last of the villagers
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 17
to leave have entered the rent behind you. Good
hunting.”
Allow the characters to role-play their goodbyes as they
wish. No powers of persuasion can convince Glennddarc
(or Mumbleflash) to leave Sheernobb.
Following the refugees down the escape tunnel takes
some time for those larger than gnomes. Crouching is
necessary to make it through the passageway. Two of the
gnome scouts go last. After they pass through the
entranceway into the escape tunnel from the back of the
rent, they pull out hammers left on either side of the
tunnel and pound out wedges. Once the wedges pop out
the tunnel behind them collapses sealing off any possible
pursuit, or turning back.
By the time the characters emerge back into daylight to
the west of Sheernobb, the sounds of battle can easily be
heard. Fortunately, no enemy is in sight. The refugees
and their escort make haste to the west, toward the
Greenway Valley.
Meldreeb calls for his small force to gather around.
“First, we travel south for a little less than a hour and
then turn east and enter the forest south of the
attackers. We must be watchful not to run into any of
their patrols. We need our passing to go unnoticed if
we are to succeed. It is my guess the assassins are
likely making their way back to the hill fortress in the
forest. Their talents are not needed for the grunt
work of battering down the village. If we are lucky
they are in no hurry and expect no pursuit.”
He looks at you, “You are the only ones left who
fought a group such as this and can tell if we come
across the right ones. Your help is greatly
appreciated.”
Allow the characters to interact with Meldreeb and make
any adjustments to the plan that seem reasonable. If the
characters argue that flying ogre mages will be
impossible to track, Meldreeb suspects that the ogre
mages will probably keep very close to the ground to
avoid notice by the gnomes of Sheernobb. They may
knock the occasional leaf or snag the occasional branch as
they move.
If any of the characters ask Meldreeb why he is
doing this he will look at the character(s) with the most
serious and intense expression they have ever seen and
say:
“Commander Keenbolt has left a widow and young
ones behind, and his widow is my daughter and his
young ones my . . . I cannot face them without doing
everything I can. Do you understand?”
The gnome the characters once knew as happy-go-lucky
and overly chatty now sets a swift and silent pace in
pursuit of his quarry. Not long after entering the forest a
scout sent ahead, (or a character who volunteered to take
point and discovers a patrol ahead in the woods heading
their way), stops the group. A small patrol of six orcs, an
ogre and a wolf are approaching in this direction. The
group can make any decision they wish. They can hide in
the hopes the patrol does not see them, circle around
them, or take them out and leave no witnesses. As this
attack poses no real challenge for even an APL 6 party, no
combat experience is awarded for this fight.
All APLs (EL 0)
�Ogre: hp 29; see Monster Manual.
�Wolf: hp 15; see Monster Manual.
�Orcs (6): hp 5 each; see Monster Manual.
Treasure:
Defeat the scouting party and take their equipment.
All APLs: L: 51 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
After dealing with the patrol, the group continues on
through the forest for nearly two hours before coming
across a well-used trail. From the looks of things this trail
has been used by some of the forces now attacking the
village and very possibly leads back to the hill fortress
deeper in the forest. It is now mid-day. On a Survival
check (DC 20) tracks similar to those left at Keenbolt’s
murder site are discovered. The tracks appear to be the
most recent and head away from the village. The ogre
mages didn’t think anyone was left in the village to
follow them, and so they aren’t worried about leaving
tracks. In fact, they’re walking. Luck is with the
characters.
Following the trail is easy. Clearly, the ogre mage
assassins haven’t thought they might be tracked, and
are walking on foot. The trail winds its way through
the forest and the signs of the assassins continue to be
the most recent along the way. Crossing one small
creek proves a little nervous, but the signs of the
assassins did appear again on the other side. The day
passes on into twilight. Meldreeb would like to press
on, but admits resting now might be for the best.
Have the group set their watches for the night. They will
notice a glow in the sky to their northwest in the
direction of Sheernobb. Sheernobb has fallen and is
burning. The evening passes without incident, but feel
free to make things tense if time permits – just no actual
encounters of a non-mundane nature.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 18
The morning dawns clear with the faint smell of
smoke in the air coming from the direction of the
village.
A couple of hours’ travel continues to show the assassins
are still ahead of them. On a Survival check (DC 25) the
characters discover signs of a cold camp made by the
assassins.
Ahead, the sound of flowing water can be heard
signaling another stream.
The group may approach the stream any way they wish.
What they discover is that the tracks lead into the stream,
but not out of it on the other side.
The Assassins’ Tale
After ambushing Keenbolt and his forces, the assassins
stayed through the following night in one of the giant
encampments outside the village and left camp the next
morning about the same time the characters entered the
escape tunnel. Their pace has been leisurely and
unhurried, having completed their mission to kill
Keenbolt. However, one of their number felt they were
becoming too lax and should take more precautions. So,
they used this stream as a means to check out if they had
any unwanted company. The ogre mages walked out into
the water, flew directly up, and have hidden themselves,
invisible, in the forest behind the characters. These
cunning assassins intend to stalk the characters for a
while and, if necessary, kill them later.
The characters need to make three successful Survival
checks (DC 25) to discover the assassins have doubled
back on them and are now behind them. Of course, they
could possibly figure this out on their own without
making these checks. However, the assassins are now
following the characters and remaining out of sight. Use
of opposing Hide and Spot/Move Silently and Listen
rolls become necessary if the characters attempt to back
track behind them. Remember that invisible characters
have +20 to Hide checks if they are moving, and +40 to
Hide checks if they are standing still. It is now time for a
cat and mouse game. Opposing skill checks need to be
used as each group stalks the other and tries to jockey for
position. Give the assassins a slight edge unless the
characters made their three Survival rolls earlier. Give the
assassins a clear advantage if the characters continue on
the trail across the steam anyway toward the hill fortress,
unless the characters are using this as a ruse to flush out
the assassins.
This entire situation depends on the actions of the
characters. You could even allow the assassins the luck of
picking off one or more of the gnome scouts, if this will
put a scare into the characters. Feel free to describe the
forest setting as time allows. The forest here spreads
across uneven ground with rock outcroppings here and
there. This all culminates in either the two groups
discovering each other or one or the other attacking first.
Combat occurs in the forest either on or off the trail
depending on the situation.
All APLs
Ogre Mages (2): hp 37 each; see Monster Manual.
Meldreeb: male gnome Rog7/Wiz(Ill)2; hp 58; see
Appendix One.
Gnome Scouts (5): male gnome Rog3; hp 20 each; see
Appendix One.
Setup: Meldreeb and his scouts will face off against these
two ogre mages, leaving the rest of the assassin group
(depending upon APL, below) to deal with the characters
directly. You don’t need to fight out this “side combat”
roll by roll; just describe Meldreeb and his scouts in
pitched battle. As long as the characters win their fight,
Meldreeb and his scouts win theirs.
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Ogre Mage: hp 37; see Monster Manual.
APL 8 (EL 10)
�Ogre Mages (2): hp 37 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 10 (EL 12)
�Ogre Mages (4): hp 37 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 12 (EL 14)
�Ogre Mage Assassins (4): male ogre mage Rog4; hp 85
each; see Appendix One.
Tactics:
These
assassins
prefer
confusion
and
misdirection to straight-up combat. They often become
invisible and retreat, only to strike again from an
unexpected direction. They also use their darkness
ability (which they can use while invisible) to split up the
party as best they can.
Treasure:
Defeat the ogre mages and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 38 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 50 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 75 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 12: L: 25 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (4) (196
gp per character/per sword); +1 chain shirt (4) (104 gp
per character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (4) (83 gp
per character/per cloak).
A search of the fallen assassins turns up three items of
interest. First is a note detailing the contract to kill
Keenbolt during the battle at Sheernobb including his
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 19
description and a rough layout of the village itself. The
note is unsigned, but the reward is listed as 3,000 gp plus
an undisclosed item previously agreed upon. Second, the
coins in their sacks come from Dyvers, Verbobonc,
Furyondy, and Hardby. Lastly, there is a crude map of the
region with unknown markings next to each hamlet,
village, town, crossroads, and bridge appearing on the
map. (These are all references written by one of the
assassins, which only he knows. And if spoken to after
death, he will not care to reveal their meaning.) If the
map is closely examined by dusting it with powder, slight
indentations can be made out showing lines drawn from
the Gnarley into the Greenway Valley, into the southern
Viscounty as far as Fort Wilfrick and across the Gnarley
near Twilight Falls. This cryptic map identifies the
targets of the Divide and Conquer Interactive at Stuffed
COWS 2003.
Development: If the characters eliminate this second
group of assassins, they have deprived the enemy of over
half their spies in the region of Verbobonc and the
Gnarley. Also, Meldreeb insists upon heading with all
speed to the Greenway Valley in order to catch up with
the survivors of Sheernobb. On this return trip the group
encounters two more enemy patrols, one nearly half way
between the Gnarley Forest and the Greenway Valley.
Neither group poses a challenge to a skilled and careful
party. Go next to the Conclusion.
Encounter Eight
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) thanks the characters for
offering to escort the refugees to the Greenway Valley.
He now provides instructions on the morning after a
tense day and night of preparation and waiting.
“I must admit, I feel better knowing that our villagers
have the best escort guards I have left to spare
between yourselves and Commander Brimblesock.”
Scouts begin coming in with reports about the enemy
regrouping on all sides. Enemy missile fire, both arrow
and stone, resumes. Meanwhile, in small groups, those
who are to flee have been going into the rent with the
escape tunnel entrance under the direction of
Brimblesock. The commander has seen to it those
gnome-at-arms and scouts going along as escorts are sent
into the rent one at a time with different groups of
villagers.
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) continues:
“Once we get word that the refugees are away to the
west, I shall give the order to have the tunnel
collapsed. In that way the enemy may not learn so
quickly that some have escaped. It is important that
you strike hard to the west. Try not to have any
enemy see the refugees and live to tell of it.”
He looks up at the sparse clouds passing overhead lit
by the morning sun, “On this ground and on this day
it will not be so bad to die.”
At that moment an orc arrow strikes a tree next to
him. “Though, I could be wrong. I still have a few
tricks up my sleeve,” he says with a wink aimed in
your direction.
Brimblesock approaches, “Glennddarc, it is time we
were away. One of my scouts returned to let us know
the villagers are well screened from the enemy on the
west after leaving the tunnel. It seems all their
attention is focused on their final assault. But, we
dare not count on our luck too long. I hope to see you
again soon.”
He clasps arms with Glennddarc, looks your way, and
says “We need to leave. I’ll be your guide.”
Ducking into the rent is bad enough for those taller than
a gnome, but having to crouch through the long escape
tunnel makes it difficult to stand erect once on the
outside again. The refugees are all hidden amongst the
heavy undergrowth of a ravine completely screened from
the direction of the village. A few gnome scouts can be
seen watching in that direction as the sounds of the
assault reaches into the ravine.
A
gnome-at-arms
approaches
Commander
Brimblesock and yourselves, “Commander, we have
some of the stronger adults taking turns carrying the
little ones, but even at that we cannot make much
speed and keep together. Everyone who can use a
crossbow has been issued one and a case of bolts. We
have sent out scouts ahead and await your command.”
“Let us move,” orders the Commander. Turning to
you, “I would consider it an honor if you would assist
the rear guard. At this point that would consist of
yourselves and the three scouts watching our backs
above us. The remainder of my gnomes will be spread
along the flanks of the column as well as a vanguard.
In this way we should be able to prevent stragglers
and mount a quick defense if necessary.”
Have the characters create a marching order showing
how they intend to follow the column of retreating
gnomes.
The retreat of the refugees from Sheernobb so far has
proceeded smoothly. The going is slower than you
expected. But the use of the terrain to screen the
movement of the gnomes toward the west does make
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 20
it difficult for such a large group to be noticed from a
distance. The sounds of the morning assault on
Sheernobb have faded into the sounds of the gnomes
trudging ahead and the normal sounds of the hill
country known as the Kron.
Ahead, the refugees cross the road that leads north
towards Homlet and south towards Celene. The road
west into the Greenway Valley lies to the north, but
Brimblesocks thinks it best to remain in the hill country
ahead for better cover.
Have any of the characters on the right (north) make a
Spot check (DC 15). Successful characters notice a very
large ogre patrol making way rapidly in their direction
from the northeast. They estimate its size to be over fifty.
Any character with Spot check over 20 also notices
another smaller patrol closing in from the north,
consisting of trolls.
Brimblesock can be heard shouting orders ahead,
while a scout rushes up to you, “The commander
requests that you skirt behind our position on the hill
in front just past the crest so as not to be seen by a
second group of the enemy coming at us from the
left. This should allow you to attack them from
seemingly out of nowhere. He wants you to keep that
group from attacking our left flank while we engage
the larger group.”
The sight in front of you is a strange one.
Brimblesock has the gnomes in a formation you have
never seen before with his warriors in line facing the
enemy and two lines of villagers in the grass in front
of the warriors with another line of villagers behind
in the grass above the warriors. But there is no time to
fully take it in as you run past the crest behind them
to get into position on the left flank.
No sooner do you round the slope to take up the left
flank on a grassy slope than you see a group of trolls
making straight for the position you just took up at an
all out run. This gives them only a moment’s pause
before they launch themselves at you.
Creatures:
APL 6 (EL 8)
�Trolls (3): hp 63 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 8 (EL 10)
�Troll Ranger: hp 89; see Appendix One.
�Trolls (3): hp 63 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 10 (EL 12)
�Troll Hunter: hp 130; see Monster Manual. This troll
has just cast his two ranger spells for the day, so they are
active when he enters combat. They are longstrider and
resist energy (fire).
Trolls (4): hp 63 each; see Monster Manual.
APL 12 (EL 14)
�Troll Hunters (3): hp 130 each; see Monster Manual.
These trolls have just cast their two ranger spells for the
day, so they are active when they enter combat. They are
resist energy (acid) and resist energy (fire).
Tactics: These trolls fight fearlessly, and to the death.
Treasure:
Defeat the trolls and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 8 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 battleaxe (193 gp per
character); +1 chain shirt (104 gp per character).
APL 12: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 battleaxe (3) (193 gp
per character/per axe); +1 chain shirt (3) (104 gp per
character/per shirt).
Development: By the time the characters are finished
with their combat, the larger one behind them is also
nearly finished. Some of the ogres can be seen running
off, while there are only a couple of minor combats being
handled by some gnome-at-arms and scouts. Many of the
enemy dead and wounded lay scattered over the hillside.
Most are in front of where the gnome line stood sporting
crossbow bolts. But, there are also a number of gnome
casualties: six dead and eighteen wounded.
A tired looking and bloody Brimblesock trudges over
to you, “We need to find a defensible location with
water. There are some rougher hills ahead that just
might work for us. But they can work for the enemy
as well. I don’t like that fact that they had such a
sizable force this far west. And, the fact that they
came at us from the north means they probably
control the road to the north as well. We can’t take
more encounters like this. If you wouldn’t mind
taking rear guard again, we need to get moving.”
If the characters want to find such a location, they can do
so in a couple of hours with a successful Survival roll (DC
15). If the characters don’t find one, then within two
hours the advanced scouts locate a good defensible
camping site. The refugees set up for the night in a
protected notch between two hills where a small stream
passes. A picket line is established. Brimblesock asks the
characters to be part of the night watch. As darkness falls
a glow can be seen to the east. Sheernobb has fallen and is
burning. Morale in the camp is low.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 21
On the last watch, a new glow can be seen. This time it is
to the west. Brimblesocks will approach any characters
on the third watch and tell them that must be a village he
knows of down this very stream toward the Greenway
Valley. He was hoping to find temporary refuge there
later today before moving into the valley. The gnome
commander always seemed to share Keenbolt’s confident
manner. He now looks at the characters with
bewilderment in his eyes as he asks for any suggestions.
Whatever suggestions the characters have which lead
them into the valley skirting the road to the north and
the village to the west keep them out of harm’s way. Keep
it tense however, with descriptions of coming upon an
empty campsite used by the enemy, passing through an
abandoned village, and a hillside with signs of a herd of
sheep having been slaughtered and carried off, leaving
behind the bodies of several shepherds. Some relief is felt
when coming upon a strong gnome defensive position.
Finally, the Greenway Valley spreads out before the
refugees. Go to the Conclusion.
Encounter Nine
If the characters decide to leave Sheernobb on their own,
Glennddarc (or Mumbleflash) suggests they take off to
the north, where the patrols are probably weakest. As
long as the characters are at least a little bit careful, they
can avoid all giant patrols in the area and escape
Sheernobb’s fate. The first night camping away from
Sheernobb, the characters can see an orange glow on the
horizon to the south. Clearly, Sheernobb has fallen and is
now in flames. Go to the Conclusion.
Conclusion
Sheernobb has fallen along with other gnome and mixed
communities to the east. In the Greenway Valley, the
Sheernobb refugees join even more refugees from other
eastern settlements with news of a much larger invasion
than anyone expected.
The characters are called to attend a meeting. Attending
the meeting are the gnome clan leaders of the Kron Hills
Alliance, and representatives from House Asbury, House
Delevue, House Milinous, the Mounted Borderers, the
Gnarley Rangers, Burne’s Badgers, several mixed race
communities of the Kron Hills, and two of the Gnarley
Elven Clans. This mixed group sits down to a council of
war!
The End
Experience Point Summary
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
role-playing) to each character.
Encounter Two:
Defeat the ogre mage assassins
APL 6
240 XP
APL 8
300 XP
APL 10
360 XP
APL 12
420 XP
Encounter Three:
Defeat the giants on the north flank -or- defend the
breach
APL 6
240 XP
APL 8
300 XP
APL 10
360 XP
APL 12
420 XP
Encounter Six, Seven, -or- Eight:
Defeat the invading giants and orcs (Encounter Six),
ogre mage assassins (Encounter Seven), -or- the troll
support force (Encounter Eight)
APL 6
240 XP
APL 8
300 XP
APL 10
360 XP
APL 12
420 XP
Story Awards
Good roleplaying
APL 6
120 XP
APL 8
150 XP
APL 10
180 XP
APL 12
210 XP
Combat heroism and skillful strategy
APL 6
60 XP
APL 8
75 XP
APL 10
90 XP
APL 12
105 XP
Total Possible Experience
APL 6
900 XP
APL 8
1,125 XP
APL 10
1,350 XP
APL 12
1,575 XP
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 22
Treasure Summary
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each character
gains if the foes are plundered of all their earthly
possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 minutes
per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot take the
time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this gold. If you
feel it is reasonable that characters can go back to loot the
bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by
dungeon scavengers, removed from the scene by the local
watch, and so on), characters may return to retrieve loot. If
the characters do not loot the body, the gold piece value for
the loot is subtracted from the encounter totals given
below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each character
gains if they take the coin available. A normal adventuring
party can usually gather this wealth in a round or so. If for
some reason, they pass up this treasure, the coin total is
subtracted from the encounter totals given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure is the
hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and because
characters may want to use them during the adventure.
Many times characters must cast identify, analyze
dweomer or similar spell to determine what the item does
and how to activate it. Other times they may attempt to
use the item blindly. If the magic item is consumable (a
potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the item is used before
the end of the adventure, its total is subtracted from the
adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed treasure
from each encounter add it up and that is the number of
gold pieces a characters total and coin value increase at the
end of the adventure. Write the total in the GP Gained
field of the adventure certificate. Because this is a Regional
scenario, characters may spend additional Time Units to
practice professions or create items immediately after the
adventure so this total may be modified by other
circumstances.
L = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, Jewelry, and
other valuables; M = Magic Items.
Encounter Two:
Defeat the ogre mage assassins and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 8 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (196 gp per
character).
APL 8: L: 16 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (2) (196 gp
per character/per sword).
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (2) (196 gp
per character/per sword); +1 chain shirt (2) (104 gp per
character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (2) (83 gp per
character/per cloak).
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (4) (196 gp
per character/per sword); +1 chain shirt (4) (104 gp per
character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (4) (83 gp per
character/per cloak).
NOTE: Award treasure from either Encounter Three A
or Encounter Three B, NOT both.
Encounter Three A:
Defeat the giants and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 4 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 2 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (2) (192 gp
per character/per club); +1 hide armor (2) (97 gp per
character/per hide); ring of protection +1 (2) (167 gp per
character/per ring).
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (2) (192 gp
per character/per club); +1 hide armor (2) (97 gp per
character/per hide); ring of protection +1 (2) (167 gp per
character/per ring); +1 heavy flail (193 gp per character);
+1 chain shirt (104 gp per character); cloak of resistance
+1 (83 gp per character).
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greataxe (2) (193 gp
per character/per axe); +1 chain shirt (3) (104 gp per
character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (3) (83 gp per
character/per cloak); +1 heavy flail (193 gp per character).
Encounter Three B:
Defeat the raiders and take their equipment.
All APLs: L: 201 gp; C: 0; M: 0.
Defeat the giants attacking from the rear and take their
equipment.
APL 6: L: 8 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 10 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (192 gp per
character); +1 hide armor (97 gp per character); ring of
protection +1 (167 gp per character).
APL 10: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (2) (192 gp
per character/per club); +1 hide armor (2) (97 gp per
character/per hide); ring of protection +1 (2) (167 gp per
character/per ring).
APL 12: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greataxe (2) (193 gp
per character/per axe); +1 chain shirt (2) (104 gp per
character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (2) (83 gp per
character/per cloak).
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 23
NOTE: Award treasure from either Encounter Six,
Encounter Seven, or Encounter Eight, NOT all
three.
Encounter Six:
Defeat the giant horde and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 101 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 102 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatclub (2) (192 gp
per character/per club); +1 hide armor (2) (97 gp per
character/per hide); ring of protection +1 (2) (167 gp per
character/per ring).
APL 12: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 battleaxe (193 gp per
character); +1 chain shirt (104 gp per character).
Encounter Seven:
Defeat the scouting party and take their equipment.
All APLs: L: 51 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
Defeat the ogre mages and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 38 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 50 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 75 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 12: L: 25 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 greatsword (4) (196
gp per character/per sword); +1 chain shirt (4) (104 gp
per character/per shirt); cloak of resistance +1 (4) (83 gp
per character/per cloak).
Encounter Eight:
Defeat the trolls and take their equipment.
APL 6: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 8 gp; C: 0 gp; M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 battleaxe (193 gp per
character); +1 chain shirt (104 gp per character).
APL 12: L: 6 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 battleaxe (3) (193 gp
per character/per axe); +1 chain shirt (3) (104 gp per
character/per shirt).
Total Possible Treasure:
APL 6
514 gp
APL 8
1,250 gp
APL 10
2,100 gp
APL 12
3,000 gp
Items for the Adventure Record
�Gratitude of the Kron Hills gnomes: For their
bravery in the defense of Sheernobb, the characters have
earned an Influence Point with the Kron Hills Gnomes.
Furthermore, the gnomes of the Kron will provide access
to the items listed under “Items Found During the
Adventure,” below. This character receives further
reward based on the decision made in the course of the
adventure, as follows (mark only one, at most, of the
following, and cross out the others)
�If the characters stayed to defend Sheernobb, then
Lord Avgustin admires their bravery. The characters earn
an Influence Point with Lord Avgustin, and will be
accepted into the Avgustin House Guard meta-org if they
choose. If already members of the Avgustin House
Guard, they can accept an early promotion to a higher
level if they meet the other qualifications. Furthermore,
this character can purchase the armor enhancement
invulnerability after any Verbobonc regional scenario.
They do this by paying the difference in cost between the
old and new armor.
�If the characters hunted down the assassins, then
Lord Milinous admires their unquenchable lust for
vengeance. The characters earn an Influence Point with
House Milinous, and will be accepted into the Milinous
House Guard meta-org if they choose. If already
members of the Milinous House Guard, they can accept
an early promotion to a higher level if they meet the
other qualifications. Furthermore, this character can
purchase the weapon enhancement bane (giants) after
any Verbobonc regional scenario. They do this by paying
the difference in cost between the old and new armor.
�If the characters led the refugees to safety, then
Lady Asbury admires their dedication to the defenseless.
The characters earn an Influence Point with House
Asbury, and will be accepted into the Asbury House
Guard meta-org if they choose. If already members of the
Asbury House Guard, they can accept an early promotion
to a higher level if they meet the other qualifications.
Furthermore, this character can purchase the weapon
enhancement axiomatic after any Verbobonc regional
scenario. They do this by paying the difference in cost
between the old and new armor.
�If the characters left on their own and left
Sheernobb to fend for themselves, then bards of
Verbobonc learn of their actions and spread the word of
their unheroic deeds to one and all in the Viscounty. All
Charisma based checks in the region of Verbobonc suffer
a –2 modifier. Furthermore, all goods and services in the
Verbobonc region cost 10% more for the character.
Contact the Verbobonc Triad for details on fixing this
problem.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 24
Appendix One: Non-Player Characters
Residents of Sheernobb
�Glennddarc: male gnome Wiz7; CR 7; Small
humanoid (gnome); HD 7d4+7; hp 29; Init +2; Spd 20
ft.; AC 15 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 13, flat-
footed 13; BAB +3; Grapple -2; Atk +4 melee (1d3/17-
20, +1 keen dagger) or +6 ranged (1d6/19-20, light
crossbow); SA spells; SQ familiar (weasel), gnome
traits; AL LN; SV Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 9, Dex 14,
Con 12, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Alchemy +10, Appraise +6,
Concentration +6, Craft (gemcutting) +10, Diplomacy
+3, Gather Information +2, Hide +7, Knowledge
(arcana) +6, Listen +6, Search +5, Spellcraft +10, Spot
+4, Tumble +3; Brew Potion, Craft Wand, Craft
Wondrous Item, Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (Illusion).
Possessions: wool clothing, spell component
pouch, light crossbow, various gems (total value 300
gp), +1 keen dagger, ring of minor energy resistance
(fire), amulet of natural armor +2.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/5/4/3/2; save DC 14 +
spell level, DC 16 + spell level for Illusion spells): 0—
dancing lights, flare, light, open/close; 1st—grease,
obscuring
mist,
silent
image,
unseen
servant,
ventriloquism; 2nd—glitterdust, hypnotic pattern,
minor image, Tasha’s hideous laughter; 3rd—hold
person, displacement, major image; 4th—lesser geas,
shadow conjuration.
�Meldreeb: male gnome Rog6/Wiz(Ill)2; CR 8; Small
humanoid (gnome); HD 6d6+2d4+18; hp 58; Init +2;
Spd 20 ft.; AC 16 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +2 leather armor),
touch 14, flat-footed 13; BAB +5; Grapple +2; Atk +8
melee (1d3+2/19-20, +1 dagger) or +9 ranged (1d6/19-
20, light crossbow); SA sneak attack +3d6, spells; SQ
evasion, trapfinding, trap sense +2, uncanny dodge; AL
NG; SV Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +5; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 14,
Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Alchemy +13, Appraise +11,
Decipher Script +3, Diplomacy +10, Disable Device +8,
Escape Artist +12, Gather Information +10, Hide +16,
Listen +9, Move Silently +12, Open Locks +12,
Profession (herbalist) +3, Spot +9, Tumble +5, Use
Rope +5; Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Improved
Initiative, Scribe Scroll.
Possessions: +1 dagger, leather armor, dagger, light
crossbow, flint and steel.
�Gnome Scouts: male gnome Rog3; CR 7; Small
humanoid (gnome); HD 3d6+6; hp 20; Init +7; Spd 20
ft.; AC 16 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +2 leather armor), touch 14,
flat-footed 13; BAB +2; Grapple -1; Atk +4 melee
(1d3/19-20, dagger) or +6 ranged (1d6/19-20, light
crossbow); SA sneak attack +2d6; SQ evasion, gnome
traits, trapfinding, trap sense +1; AL NG; SV Fort +3,
Ref +6, Will +1; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 10,
Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +6, Hide +13, Move Silently
+9, Listen +8, Search +5, Spot +8, Tumble +9; Alertness,
Improved Initiative.
Possessions: leather armor, dagger, light crossbow,
flint and steel, 25 gp.
Giant Forces
Encounter Two (APL 10 and 12) and Encounter
Seven (APL 12)
�Ogre Mage Assassins: male ogre mage Rog4; CR 10;
Large Giant; HD 5d8+4d6+45; hp 85; Init +6; Spd 40 ft.
fly 40 ft. (good); AC 21 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural, +5 +1
chain shirt), touch 11, flat-footed 21; BAB +6; Grapple
+18; Atk +14 melee (3d6+13/19-20, +1 greatsword) or
+13 melee (1d6+8/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +14/+9
melee (3d6+13/19-20, +1 greatsword) or +13/+8 melee
(1d6+8/19-20, dagger); Space/Reach 10 ft/10 ft; SA
sneak attack +2d6, spell-like abilities; SQ darkvision 90
ft.,
evasion,
low-light
vision,
regeneration
5,
trapfinding, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge; SR19, AL
NE; SV Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +5; Str 26, Dex 14, Con
20, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +16, Concentration +11,
Hide +10, Listen +8, Move Silently +14, Spellcraft +7,
Spot +8; Combat Reflexes, Expert Tactician*, Improved
Feint, Improved Initiative.
Possessions: +1 chain shirt, +1 greatsword, cloak of
resistance +1, six daggers.
Spell-Like
Abilities:
At
will—darkness,
invisibility; 1/day—charm person (DC 15), cone of
cold (DC 19), gaseous form, polymorph, sleep (DC 15).
Caster level 9th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume
flight as a free action. When using gaseous form it can
fly at its normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid do normal
damage to an ogre mage.
*see Appendix Two
Encounter Three A (APLs 10 and 12)
�Hill Giant Barbarian: male hill giant Bbn4; CR 11;
Large Giant; HD 12d8+4d12+96; hp 187; Init -1; Spd 50
ft.; AC 22 (-1 size, -1 Dex, +9 natural, +5 +1 chain shirt),
touch 8, flat-footed 22; BAB +12; Grapple +27; Atk +24
melee (2d8+17/17-20, +1 heavy flail) or +22 melee
(1d4+11, slam) or +11 ranged (2d6+11, rock); Full Atk
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 25
+24/+19/+14 melee (2d8+17/17-20, +1 heavy flail) or
+22/+17/+12 melee (1d4+11, slam) or +11/+6/+1
ranged (2d6+11, rock); Space/Reach 10 ft/10 ft; SA rage
2/day, rock throwing; SQ fast movement, rock
catching, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge; AL NE; SV
Fort +19, Ref +5, Will +8; Str 32, Dex 8, Con 22, Int 9,
Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Climb +12, Intimidate +12, Jump
+13, Listen +5, Spot +5; Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved
Critical (heavy flail), Iron Will, Power Attack, Weapon
Focus (heavy flail).
Possessions: +1 chain shirt, +1 heavy flail, cloak of
resistance +1, rocks.
Rage (Ex) 2/day – HD 12d8+4d12+128; hp 219;
AC 20, touch 6, flat-footed 20; Grapple +29; Atk +26
melee (2d8+20/17-20, +1 heavy flail) or +24 melee
(1d4+13, slam) or +11 ranged (2d6+13, rock); Full Atk
+26/+21/+16 melee (2d8+20/17-20, +1 heavy flail) or
+24/+19/+14 melee (1d4+13, slam) or +11/+6/+1
ranged (2d6+13, rock); SV Fort +21, Will +10; Str 36,
Con 24; lasts 10 rounds.
Encounter Three A (APL 12) and Encounter Three
B (APL 12)
�Ogre Berserker: male ogre Bbn8; CR 11; Large
Giant; HD 4d8+8d12+48; hp 118; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC
20 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural, +5 +1 chain shirt), touch
10, flat-footed 20; BAB +11; Grapple +23; Atk +20 melee
(3d6+13/19-20/x3, +1 greataxe) or +11 ranged (1d8+8,
javelin); Full Atk +20/+15/+10 melee (3d6+13/19-
20/x3, +1 greataxe) or +11/+6/+1 ranged (1d8+8,
javelin); Space/Reach 10 ft/10 ft; SA rage 3/day; SQ
damage reduction 1/–, fast movement, improved
uncanny dodge, trap sense +2; AL CE; SV Fort +15, Ref
+4, Will +4; Str 26, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 4.
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide –5, Jump +17,
Listen +6, Spot +2, Survival +12; Cleave, Improved
Critical (greataxe), Power Attack, Power Critical
(greataxe)*, Weapon Focus (greataxe).
Possessions: +1 chain shirt, +1 greataxe, cloak of
resistance +1, four javelins.
Rage (Ex) 3/day – HD 4d8+8d12+75; hp 142; AC
19, touch 9, flat-footed 19; Grapple +25; Atk +22 melee
(3d6+16/19-20/x3, +1 greataxe) or +11 ranged (1d8+10,
javelin); Full Atk +22/+17/+12 melee (3d6+16/19-
20/x3, +1 greataxe) or +11/+6/+1 ranged (1d8+10,
javelin); SV Fort +17, Will +6; Str 30, Con 22; lasts 9
rounds.
*see Appendix Two
Encounter Eight (APL 8)
�Troll Ranger: male troll Rgr3; CR 8; Large Giant;
HD 6d8+3d8+54; hp 89; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19 (-1
size, +1 Dex, +5 natural, +4 chain shirt), touch 10, flat-
footed 18; BAB +7; Grapple +18; Atk +14 melee (1d8+7,
claw); Full Atk +14 melee (1d8+7, 2 claws) and +11
melee (1d6+3, bite); Space/Reach 10 ft/10 ft; SA rend
2d6+10; SQ darkvision 90 ft., favored enemy (elves +2),
low-light vision, regeneration 5, scent, wild empathy,
AL NE; SV Fort +14, Ref +6, Will +7; Str 24, Dex 12,
Con 22, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Hide -2, Listen +14, Knowledge
(nature) +3, Move Silently +4, Spot +14, Survival +5;
Improved
Natural
Attack
(claw),
Iron
Will,
Multiattack, Track, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon
Focus (claw).
Possessions: battered chain shirt.
Rend (Ex): If a troll hits with both claw attacks, it
latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh.
This attack automatically deals an additional 2d6+10
points of damage.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal
damage to a troll.
Decision at Sheernobb
Page 26
Appendix Two: New Rules
Expert Tactician [General] (from Song and Silence)
Your tactical skills work to your advantage.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, base attack bonus +2, Combat Reflexes.
Benefit: You can make one extra melee attack (or do anything that can be done as a melee attack or a melee touch
attack, including attempts to disarm, trip, or make a grab to start a grapple) against one foe who is within melee reach
and denied a Dexterity bonus against your melee attacks for any reason. You take your extra attack when it’s your turn,
either before or after your regular action. If several foes are within melee reach and denied Dexterity bonuses against
your attacks, you can use this feat against only one of them.
Note: This feat first appeared in Sword and Fist. This version supersedes the one originally printed there.
Power Critical [General] (from Masters of the Wild)
Choose one weapon, such as a longsword or a greataxe. With that weapon, you know how to hit where it hurts.
Prerequisites: Improved Critical with weapon, base attack bonus +12, proficiency with weapon.
Benefit: Once per day, you can declare a single melee attack with your chosen kind of weapon to be an automatic
threat before you make the attack roll. If the attack is successful, you roll to confirm the critical, regardless of whether
the actual attack roll was a threat.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Each time you do, it applies to a new kind of weapon. You may use
this ability only once per day per kind of weapon to which it applies.
Decision at Sheernoob
Page 27
Player Handout One
Invitation
You are cordially invited to attend the 500
th Anniversary
of the founding of Sheernobb. As an honorary citizen of the
village and defender of the same, you will be treated with all
honors according to gnome traditions.
Signed,
Glennddarc
Headgnome
Decision at Sheernoob
Page 28
Critical Events Summary Decision at Sheernoob
Did the characters ever treat any of the ranking gnomes poorly? Yes No
If yes what are the characters names and player names?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Did the character keep Glennddarc alive in the Moot Hall?
Yes
No
Did the characters go assist the northern flank?
Yes
No
Where they successful in their mission there?
Yes
No
Did the characters go to stop the breach at the front gate?
Yes
No
Did the characters help defend the rents and the npc’s?
Yes
No
If yes please list the characters names who did so.
1
2
2
4
5
6
Did the characters then help defend the breach?
Yes
No
Did they discover the remains of Keenbolt?
Yes
No
Which ending did they choose?
Helped to defend Sheernobb to give the refugees more time to escape.
Yes
Attempted to track down Keenbolt’s killers.
Yes
Helped escort the refugees to the Greenway Valley.
Yes
Left the village and head north back to the Viscounty on their own.
Yes
If yes please list the characters names who left on their own.
3
2
4
4
5
6
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/Greyhawk/Living Greyhawk - RPGA/VER (Verbobonc)/VER3-07 Decision at Sheernobb (3E).pdf |
GP
Starting GP
Lifestyle
� None
� Standard (12 gp x TU)
� Rich (50 gp x TU)
� Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
FINAL GP TOTAL
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp value
XP
Starting XP
-
XP
XP lost or spent
XP
Subtotal
+
XP
XP Gained
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP
TU
Starting TU
1 TU
TU Cost
-
TU
Added TU Costs
TU REMAINING
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
Cross off all items NOT found
APL 6
�
Armor insulation (Metaregional, Frostburn)
�
Boots of the winterlands (Metaregional, DMG)
�
Dagger of venom (Adventure, DMG)
�
Instant igloo (Adventure, DMG)
�
Potion of snowsight (Adventure, Frostburn)
�
Ring of protection +2 (Adventure, DMG)
�
Whale grease (Metaregional, Frostburn)
APL 8 (all of APL 6 plus the following)
�
Glove of storing (Metaregional, DMG)
�
Ring of protection +3 (Adventure, DMG)
�
+1 human bane short sword (Adventure, DMG)
APL 10 (all of APLs 6-8 plus the following)
�
Ring of water walking (Metaregional, DMG)
�
Amulet of natural armor +3 (Adventure, DMG)
�
Minor iceheart (Adventure, Frostburn)
APL 12 (all of APLs 6-10 plus the following)
�
Helm of underwater action (Metaregional, DMG)
�
Ring of protection +4 (Adventure, DMG)
�
+2 human bane short sword (Adventure, DMG)
Adventure Record#
596 CY
A D V E N T U R E
L E V E L O F
P L A Y
(CIRCLE ONE)
APL 6
max 900xp; 900gp
APL 8
max 1,125xp; 1,300gp
APL 10
max 1,350xp; 2,300gp
APL 12
max 1,575xp; 3,300gp
� Black Hearted: Word has circulated about the failure of
Den Vliegenviss to rescue the refugees. Due to your
association with the ship you have gained a reputation as
being black hearted. In any adventure within the Iuz
Border States your PC has a 20% chance of being
recognized by any NPC and upon recognition any
Charisma based skill checks in relation to Lawful or Good
NPC reactions for both yourself and anyone in your party
suffer a -4 penalty. All Intimidation checks, however, gain a
+2 circumstance bonus if you are similarly recognized
within the Iuz Border States. Self-proclamation on your
part will result in shifting NPC reactions to you and your
party to unfriendly if it was not so already.
� Respect for the Dead: You have been decent enough to
recover the bodies of fallen members of the Van
Ingermann expedition, allowing them to be raised or
buried properly by their families. Because of this you will
receive a once only discount of 50% on a single future raise
dead, resurrection or true resurrection of your choice.
� Secrets of the Fler: Through careful study (2 TU) of
ancient histories and other Ur-Flan records, you have
learned hidden ways of fighting certain demonic foes. You
gain a special bonus of +2 to attack and damage rolls when
fighting one chosen specific type of demonic creature
(marilith, balor, etc.) allied with Iuz. Type chosen:
_________________________.
� Tribal Greetings: From contact with the priests of the
Husik tribe you have learned obscure rituals of
appeasement intended to placate restless spirits.
This Record Certifies that
_______________________________________________
Played
by____________________________________________
Player
RPGA #
Has Completed
The Great Northern Expedition
A Regional Adventure
Set in The Empire of Iuz
Event: _________________________________ Date: ________
DM:___________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
Play Notes:
� Gained a level
� Lost a level
� Ability Drained
______________
� Died
� Was raised/res’d
� Was reincarnated
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Home Region______________________
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Meta-Region Iuz Border States/596/Normal Scenarios/IUZ6-01 The Great Northern Expedition (APL 6-12)/IUZ6-01 - The Great Northern Expedition AR.pdf |
DEAD MEN’S TREASURE
Part Two of the Dead Men Series
A map with an “X marking the spot” has been found in a recently uncovered tomb
located in the small fishing village of Abigail’s Cove. The village’s mayor has sent out
a secret call to trusted adventurers; offering a split of whatever treasure they can
recover. Success means fortune for Abigail’s Cove, its villagers, and the adventurers.
A Four-Hour Adventure for 5th–10th Level Characters
I
R
T
THE ROLE
INITIATIVE
Jeff C. Stevens
Adventure Designer
Adventure Code: CCC-TRI-25-DEAD1-2
Optimized For: APL 8
Version: 1.1
Editor: Jared Zeiders
Formatting and Layout: Derek Ruiz
Play Testing: Cody Garcia, Neil Tozier, Sean Finn, Mikayla Toy-Tozier, Dano Knobel, Daniel Pyles
Artists: Luis Prado, Nathalie Lehnert
Dead Men Sigil: Jay Africa
Cartography: Elven Tower RPG Maps, Glen Cooper, Jeff C. Stevens
Senior Editor: David Jedlinsky
Special Thanks: Al Spader
Organized Play: Chris Lindsay
D&D Adventurers League Wizards Team: Adam Lee, Chris Lindsay, Mike Mearls, Matt Sernett
D&D Adventurers League Administrators: Alan Patrick, Bill Benham, Travis Woodall, Claire Hoffman, Greg Marks,
Lysa Chen
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all
other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are
property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained
herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.
©2018 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The
Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
2
Introduction
Welcome to Dead Men’s Treasure, a D&D
Adventurers League™ adventure, part of the official
D&D Adventurers League™ organized play system
and The Role Initiative’s Dead Men series.
The adventure begins in a fishing village just
south of Hulburg named Abigail’s Cove. From there,
the adventurers travel across the Moonsea to a
location marked on a treasure map.
This adventure is designed for three to seven
5th–10th level characters and is optimized for five
characters with an average party level (APL)
of 8. Characters outside this level range cannot
participate in this adventure.
Adjusting This Adventure
This adventure provides suggestions in making
adjustments for smaller or larger groups, characters
of higher or lower levels, and characters that are
otherwise a bit more powerful than the adventure
is optimized for. You’re not bound to these adjust-
ments; they’re here for your convenience.
To figure out whether you should consider
adjusting the adventure, add up the total levels of all
the characters and divide the total by the number
of characters (rounding .5 or greater up; .4 or less
down). This is the group’s APL. To approximate
the party strength for the adventure, consult the
following table.
Determining Party Strength
Party Composition Party
Strength
3–4 characters, APL less than
Very weak
3–4 characters, APL equivalent
Weak
3–4 characters, APL greater than Average
5 characters, APL less than
Weak
5 characters, APL equivalent
Average
5 characters, APL greater than
Strong
6–7 characters, APL less than
Average
6–7 characters, APL equivalent
Strong
6–7 characters, APL greater than Very strong
Some encounters may include a sidebar that offers
suggestions for certain party strengths. If a partic-
ular recommendation is not offered or appropriate
for your group, you don’t have to make adjustments.
Party Strength: Deadly. Many Adventurers
League groups turn out to be stronger than the
Party Strength listed above would suggest. In such a
case, the DM and players should feel empowered to
raise the difficulty. To that end, a new party strength
of “Deadly” has been added to the final encounter
for Very Strong parties whose players would like an
additional challenge.
Before Play at the Table
Before you start play, consider the following:
• Read through the adventure, taking notes of
anything you’d like to highlight or remind yourself
of while running the adventure, such as a way
you’d like to portray an NPC or a tactic you’d like
to use in a combat. Familiarize yourself with the
adventure’s appendices and handouts.
• Gather any resources you’d like to use to aid you
in running this adventure—such as note cards, a
DM screen, miniatures, and battlemaps.
• Ask the players to provide you with relevant char-
acter information, such as name, race, class, and
level; passive Wisdom (Perception), and anything
specified as notable by the adventure (such as
backgrounds, traits, flaws, etc.)
Playing the Dungeon Master
You have the most important role—facilitating the
enjoyment of the game for the players. You provide
the narrative and bring the words on these pages to
life.
To facilitate this, keep in mind the following:
You’re Empowered. Make decisions about how
the group interacts with the adventure; adjusting
or improvising is encouraged, so long as you
maintain the adventure’s spirit. This doesn’t allow
you to implement house rules or change those of
the Adventurers League, however; they should be
consistent in this regard.
Challenge Your Players. Gauge the experience
level of your players (not the characters), try to feel
out (or ask) what they like in a game, and attempt to
deliver the experience they’re after. Everyone should
have the opportunity to shine.
Keep the Adventure Moving. When the game
starts to get bogged down, feel free to provide
hints and clues to your players so they can attempt
to solve puzzles, engage in combat, and roleplay
interactions without getting too frustrated over
a lack of information. This gives players “little
victories” for figuring out good choices from clues.
Watch for stalling—play loses momentum when
this happens. At the same time, make sure that the
players don’t finish too early; provide them with a
full play experience.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
3
Adventure Primer
“Yet it isn’t the gold that I’m wanting, so much as
just finding the gold.”
–Robert W. Service
Adventure Background
Dead Men’s Treasure begins in the small fishing
village of Abigail’s Cove, where Dead Men’s Tales
previously occurred.
In Dead Men’s Tales, a tomb was found and the
bones of Abigail were returned to her pirate lover,
named Dread Red. Within that tomb, a pirate map
was discovered that leads to a treasure Dreadarious
Redvane left for his beloved Abigail; a tribute to both
her and his love for her.
Location and NPC Summary
The following NPCs and locations feature prominently in this
adventure.
Locations
Abigail’s Cove. A small fishing village just south of
Hulburg.
Abigail’s Cave. A small cave that held the remains of
Abigail (from Dead Men’s Tales).
NPCs
Bigby Soths. A teenage human boy, son of Clarence Soths,
and friends with Angst and Liam Kribs.
Beatrice Bandi. A dwarf fisherwoman with a small
knowledge of arcane magic, and mayor of the village.
Angst and Liam Kribs. Twin brothers and friends with Bigby
Soths.
Delphina Soths. Owner of Delphina’s Bakery and mother to
Bigby.
Ike the Blacksmith. Hill-dwarf blacksmith.
Jesper. Gnome fisherman found at the docks.
Jimbo Teether. Gnome owner of the general store.
Old Fish Eye. An old fisherman with information to share.
Angry Adrik. A mean-looking pirate captain who happens
to be very friendly and jovial. He wears a constant snarl due
to a fishing accident.
Pip Sterling. A debonair pirate who considers himself more
of a merchant.
Kiya “Spider of the Sea”. A pirate captain who will do
whatever she must to get what she wants. Her ship and crew
are the most important things to her.
Other NPCs are listed in “The Crew,” page 10.
Adventure Overview
A map leads to a treasure hidden in a small cave
on the east banks of the Moonsea. Several pirate
captains have learned of this map and have offered
their crew and ship for a share of the treasure.
The first half of the adventure is role play heavy
and it would be best if you read the entirety of the
adventure before running it at a table.
The last half of the adventure is a dungeon-crawl
through a cave system and does not require as
much preparation as it is mostly linear. There is the
possibility the party may become split.
The adventure is broken down into five parts:
Part 1. The adventurers enter Abigail’s Cove,
speak with a villager or two, and then meet with
Beatrice Bandi—the village’s mayor. Beatrice
explains the situation and has the adventurers sign
contracts before the adventure proceeds further.
Part 2. The adventurers meet the pirate captains
and their crew, who happen to be relaxing in a large
tent set up along the shoreline of Abigail’s Cove.
During part 2, the adventurers can participate in
pirate games and choose which captain will take
them across the Moonsea.
Part 3. Having chosen their captain, the adven-
turers interact with the crew and perform special
duties when asked.
Part 4. Having reached their destination, the
adventurers must trek through a hazardous cave
system to reach the guarded pirate treasure.
Part 5. After completing their quest, the party
returns to Abigail’s Cove and splits the treasure with
the village.
Adventure Hooks
Story Hook. Beatrice Bandi is trying to keep the
treasure map a secret. She has sent messengers to
several trusted adventurers who she knows from
Dead Men’s Tales, or those whose factions have
suggested as trusted members.
All Factions (Faction Assignment). Beatrice
Bandi, the mayor of the small fishing village known
as Abigail’s Cove, has asked us for the name of
a trusted member or two. Your name was one of
the first I thought of when asked. I don’t know the
specifics of the mission, but it should prove fruitful
for you.
Participants of Dead Men’s Tales. Greetings!
Your courage and professionalism were noted
when you saved our fishing village, Abigail’s Cove.
Something special has come up and I’d like to meet
with you there. I can’t give you the specifics, but let’s
just say it will be an adventure.
Beatrice Bandi
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
4
Part 1. Abigail’s Cove
Estimated Duration: 15 minutes
The adventure begins with the party entering
Abigail’s Cove. They’ve each received a summons of
some sort and travel together. Have characters do
introductions as their party moves toward the cove.
General Features
Abigail’s Cove is made up of several small houses and
buildings, and it has these general features.
Terrain. The village lies on a hill that gently slopes down to
the waterfront. Though the village terrain is mostly dirt, the
shoreline is a grainy sand.
Weather. Cold, but bearable without extra garments.
Though heavy clouds can be seen hanging over the Moonsea,
sunlight beams down on the village.
Light. Brightly lit. Ample sunlight breaks through during
the day.
Smells and Sounds. A slight breeze from the sea carries
with it the smells of moss, fish, and damp air.
Residences. Unless otherwise noted, the homes in Abigail’s
Cove have three rooms—two bedrooms and a living area/
kitchen with a stone fireplace. In addition, each home has an
outhouse in the backyard.
Entering Abigail’s Cove
Consult the “Abigail’s Cove Map” for locations in
the village. As the adventurers enter Abigail’s Cove,
read or summarize:
A cool breeze from the Moonsea slips up and over the
small hillside you’ve been traveling along. The road
makes a slight bend, taking you to the top of the hill.
From here you take in quite a view.
A quaint fishing village, complete with several medi-
ocre fishing boats attached to small docks, rests along
the hillside. The road continues down the hill, dividing
the hamlet into two halves: a bevy of small houses to
the west and a few larger establishments and dwellings
to the east.
The village appears bustling yet peaceful. All would
appear to be quite normal indeed, save that there
appears to be three pirate ships anchored outside the
cove.
Resources in Abigail’s Cove
There are several locations in Abigail’s Cove where
additional items may be procured. The party may
also with to speak with the proprietor.
Jimbo’s Store. Jimbo Teether runs this general
store. Characters may find items in the Player’s
Handbook valued at 4 gp or less available for
purchase here. Jimbo also has three potions of
healing on hand which he will sell for the price of
75 gp each.
Ike the Blacksmith. Ike has on hand all mundane
weapons found in the Player’s Handbook valued at
25 gp or less. Ike can also silver a weapon for the
price of 125 gp. In addition, he has enough silver
on hand to silver two weapons or 20 pieces of
ammunition.
Delphina’s Bakery. A small but quaint bakery run
by Delphina Soths, where one can get a Gooey Roll
and a hot drink for 5 cp.
Residents of Abigail’s Cove
The residents of Abigail’s Cove appear very happy
and excited. They do not seem worried in the least
about the three pirate ships resting outside the
cove. The village is bustling with activity, as if a
celebration is about to be had.
If spoken to, any resident of Abigail’s Cove has the
following information to share:
• “It’s quite exciting, isn’t it? The possibility of a lost
treasure! Oops . . . I shouldn’t have said that . . .”
• “The pirate ships are magnificent, but the crews
are a bit odd.”
• “The ship captains are very intriguing.”
• “There’s a dwarf and two human pirate
captains!”
• “The dwarf is a bit mean-looking.”
• “The human woman . . . she’s just beautiful.”
• “The man . . . he’s rather handsome,” said with a
giggle.
• “Are you the adventurers Beatrice Bandi sent
for?”
Developments
After a few NPCs are spoken to, have one of them
escort the party to Beatrice Bandi’s home.
Meeting Beatrice Bandi
Beatrice Bandi, the dwarf mayor of Abigail’s Cove
and the individual who summoned the adventurers,
is found in her home. When the party meets
Beatrice Bandi, read or summarize:
In the center of a living room, an older dwarf leans
over a table covered in scrolls, parchments, and maps.
She dips the tip of a quill into a small pot of ink, writes
something on a piece of parchment, and then stands
up while looking satisfied with her work.
“Oh,” she says when she notices you. “You’ve arrived
just in time. Here, sign these contracts.” She hands
you each a piece of parchment. “Once you do, we can
get down to business!”
Beatrice has been hard at work preparing contracts
for both the adventurers and the pirate captains.
The adventurers must sign the contracts before they
are allowed to hear anything more.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
5
The Adventurer’s Contract
The Adventurer’s Contract has only a few clauses.
Give the player’s Player Handout 1 and allow them
to review it and sign it “in character”. The players
may keep the contract if they wish. The important
things of note in the contract are:
• If you die, you are dead. Resurrection services are
at your own expense and will not be covered by
your employer.
• You are to respect your ship’s crew and captain.
Disrespect will not be tolerated, and the ship’s
captain has the right to deal with you as if you
were a normal crew member.
• Your payment depends on your success, and you
will be given a share of all recovered treasure.
• The share breakdown is as follows:
• 20% goes to the village of Abigail’s Cove.
• 30% goes to the ship’s captain and its crew.
• 50% goes to those who sign the Adventurer’s
Contract, to be divided however they wish
between all survivors.
• If for some reason you exit the adventure or are
unsuccessful in finding the treasure, all informa-
tion you have gathered from our discussions is
considered confidential.
• It is in your best interest to be honest about all
found treasure. Any discovered thievery of coin,
gems, or items will be dealt with posthaste.
Negotiations
The characters may have a few questions about
the contract. Use the below information to answer
questions and negotiate if needed:
• Why does Abigail’s Cove receive 20% of the
treasure? It’s our map! 10% of that amount is
being divided between the families of Abigail’s
Cove, with the other 10% going to the village
coffers to pay for village upgrades, repairs, and
celebrations.
• Who are the ship captains? You’ll meet them
shortly. Unfortunately, even secrets aren’t secret
these days. It appears we couldn’t keep loose
mouths away from listening ears, and word of our
map spread. The ships arrived a few days ago and
the captains have offered their services for the
adventure.
• Which captain/ship will we use? Oh! You get to
choose that. You’ll have the opportunity to inter-
view each captain and then choose who will steer
you on this adventure. Each has already signed a
contract which states they understand they may
not be chosen.
• Why do we have to respect the captain and
crew? Because it’s their ship and their home! I
for one would not want to be in the middle of the
Moonsea when I upset a ship’s crew.
• How far away is the treasure? You’ll leave
tomorrow morning. I’m told you should reach the
site sometime during your second day at sea.
Contracts Signed
Once signed, Beatrice Bandi takes the contracts,
rolls them up, ties them with a small ribbon, and
then places them on the table. She then shows the
party to the map and pendant that were found.
“Good! Good!” says the dwarf as she places the con-
tracts together, rolls them up, and ties them with a red
ribbon. “Now . . . let me show you what was found!”
She lifts a leather scroll case from the table, opens it,
and withdraws a map and a small ruby which has been
cut in the shape of a heart.
“These were found in the old tomb of Abigail. It clearly
looks like a treasure map to me,” she says with a hint
of excitement in her voice. “Some of the villagers
wanted to sell the ruby but I thought it might have
some hidden meaning since it was found with the
map.”
She then places the map and ruby back in the scroll
case and hands it to you. “Here, these are yours now.
Give the map to the captain you choose. They don’t
know the exact location marked on there, probably
because I only told them the general area.”
She smacks your shoulder with a wink. “Come on
now, let’s go!”
Heart-shaped Ruby
The heart-shaped ruby can be used to open the door
of the vault at the end of the adventure.
Developments
Beatrice Bandi shows the party to the door and tells
them to go to the tent and choose their captain. She
doesn’t want to interfere with their decision.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
6
Part 2. Pirates in the Cove
Estimated Duration: 45 minutes
The adventurers have the opportunity to interact
with some of the pirates, play some games, and
meet the captains of the ships. They must choose a
captain to take them across the Moonsea.
A Tent Full of Pirates
Location “PT” on the “Abigail’s Cove Map” rep-
resents a large shelter that has been constructed to
appease the pirates. It provides a place for them to
rest, relax, and mingle in Abigail’s Cove while they
wait to hear if their captain has been chosen to lead
the expedition.
The pirates have found several ways to entertain
themselves. Although gambling is not permitted
in Abigail’s Cove, some of the pirates are secretly
placing wagers during activities and events. Others
participate just for the fun of it.
As the party approaches or enters the large pirate
tent, read or summarize:
A giant tent, constructed from what must be a sail, held
up by several fresh timbers, stands along the shoreline
of the cove. Two sides of the tent are closed as the
white canvas spills over the standing “poles.” The other
sides of the tent are open, allowing the occupants a
view of the cove, their ships, and the village’s main
street.
Inside, a multitude of humanoids laugh and cheer
while standing around large wooden tables. There
seems to be several events taking place in the tent.
Pirate Events
The pirates are competing against one another in
several events, with each ship’s crew having one
reigning champion in each event.
Gambling
Although gambling isn’t permitted in Abigail’s Cove,
the pirates have found a way around this. They use
thieves’ cant to place their wagers with one another.
A creature with a passive Perception (Wisdom) of
13 or higher notices several of the pirates making
hand gestures and speaking strange-sounding
sentences. Examples include:
• I’d like an egg yolk in the morning. . . say around 5
am before I go fishing.
(Translation: I’ll bet 5 gold on the underdog.)
• I’ll take the same and add a side of ham.
(Translation: I raise you 5 gold.)
• It’ll be a cold day on the Moonsea when I give up
my sword.
(Translation: Deal!)
• I’m sleeping in tomorrow.
(Translation: I’ll not take that wager.)
If an adventurer partakes in one of the games, the
pirates begin betting:
• I saw a big fish in the cove this morning.
(Translation: This one’s an easy target.)
• Think it weighed around 10 pounds?
(Translation: I bet 10 gold against the new guy.)
• 10? Nah, more like 20!
(Translation: I’ll raise you to 20 gold!)
• That fish sounds like a lunker!
(Translation: I’m betting on the new guy!)
If a player understands thieves’ cant, they may
partake in the betting. They may also win or lose
their gold pieces if they wager.
Arm Wrestling
The event involves contested Strength (Athletics)
checks. Three successful contested checks in a
row results in a win, with the third check having
advantage due to the position of the arms.
Example:
• Check one, player wins (1 success)
• Check two, player loses (restart win tracking)
• Check three, player wins (1 success)
• Check four, player wins (2 successes)
• Check five (rolled with Advantage), player
wins—WINNER!
The current champion is Big’Ox, a brawny female
minotaur (Strength 18, +6 Athletics).
Dagger Throwing
A participant gets three daggers, throwing each
dagger at a target (the skull of a mind flayer). After
all daggers have been thrown, the participant who
stuck a dagger between the eyes of the skull is
deemed the winner. If both players accomplished
this, then the result is a tie and there is no winner.
If the participants stuck many daggers between the
eyes, then the participant with the most daggers in
that area wins the match.
Thrown Dagger Result
Attack Roll
Effect
1–8
Miss (describe as you wish)
9–10
Hits between the eyes, but the hilt hits and
the dagger doesn’t stick
11–13
Hits left of face, and dagger sticks
14–16
Hits right of face, and dagger sticks
17–18
Hits the forehead, and dagger sticks
19+
Hits between the eyes, and dagger sticks
The current champion is Two Fingers of Rum, a
slender male tabaxi who is quite sure of himself
(Dexterity 16, +5 to hit).
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Beadwork
Either because they’ve developed a skill for knitting
while mending sails or clothing, or because they
merely prefer the quiet of knitting and beading,
several crew members sit at a table with needles,
threads, and a bowl of beads made from shells,
small stones, bits of bone, dried fruits, and seeds.
They work quietly while enjoying their mugs of ale
and listening to the entertainment.
An adventurer may attempt to create their own
beadwork art piece. Successfully creating a bead-
work item requires a DC 15 Intelligence (Insight)
check. The character may describe the colors and
beads they would like to use, many different colors
are available, and each item created has a value of
6 sp. The item options include:
• A necklace
• A bracelet
• A hatpin
Entertainment
One young pirate has been assigned the task of
entertaining the crowd. He (Bibby, teenage human)
plays a fife while standing on a crate in the center of
the tent, but the notes are often off key and the fife
squeaks when he changes notes. The pirates endure
the squeaks, but often cry out if Bibby hits a wrong
note, sometimes throwing what is close to hand at
him (piece of bread, empty mug).
Bibby’s Songs (which he sings off key):
1. It’s a pirate’s life for me oh boy,
It’s a pirate’s life for me.
By golly, by Jilly, By Jenny, By Jen,
It’s a pirate’s life for me . . .
2. There was once a man who tried to walk on
water,
Sported a pipe and a hat with three corners.
Took a wager that he prove what he’d been
boastin’,
Now his name’s spoken whenever we be toastin’.
3. The Moonsea is my home,
The Moonsea is my life,
I don’t need nothin’ more,
Not even a wife.
An adventurer may attempt to entertain the crowd.
If they do, use Performance (Charisma) checks to
determine how well they entertain the jovial, yet
hard-to-please, pirates.
Performance Critique
Result
Crowd Reaction
1–10
“You get paid for this?”
12–13
Golf claps—several pirates tap their feet, softly
clap, and smile
14–16
Very nice—character receives a solid round of
applause
17–19
Impressive performance—character receives a
solid round of applause and 2d6 silver pieces
are tossed from the crowd
20+
Character receives a standing ovation, 4d6 silver
pieces tossed from the crowd, an shouts of
“Encore! Encore!” from the crowd. If an encore
is performed, reward an additional 2d6 silver
pieces, with no additional roll.
Captains in the Tent
The captains of the three ships all sit around a
table in the center of the tent. They are each in the
running for the job, and each has promised to be
civil to one another while they await the decision of
who is to be the captain of the adventure.
Each captain has its own write up and brief his-
tory located at the end of this adventure. In addition,
each captain has its own supplemental encounter
found on that sheet.
Angry Adrik
Dwarf swashbuckler, lawful neutral
Ship: Blue Fin
Demeanor: Happy and Jovial. Ready to set sail!
Quote: “I don’t go on many dates; there’s too many
fish in the sea!”
Adrik isn’t really angry; he just had a freak accident
while fishing one day. The line snapped, came
across his face, severed some muscles and nerves,
and left him with a constant snarl.
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Pip Sterling
Human swashbuckler, chaotic good
Ship: Silver Corsair
Demeanor: Confident, Charismatic, a Charmer
Quote: “Hello there lass! Aren’t you just prettier
than a Chultan diamond.”
Pip Sterling has always fancied himself a pirate.
Ever since he was kidnapped to work as a swabby
for Captain Lorne Muldune, Pip has sworn to
recruit his own crew in order to get revenge on
Captain Muldune and his ship the Bloody Dagger.
Kiya—The Spider of the Sea
Human swashbuckler, chaotic neutral
Ship: Recluse
Demeanor: Pompous, Arrogant, yet flirty
Quote: “I’ll flirt with anyone to get my way, then I’ll
walk away.”
Kiya, also known as the “Spider of the Sea,” is the
daughter of a pirate. Kiya’s mother passed during
childbirth, leaving Kiya’s father to raise her on the
Moonsea. She learned how to handle the crew
members quickly, giving orders—correct orders at
that—and setting the crew straight when necessary.
A Captain is Chosen
Once a captain is chosen, take a moment to review
their history. The crew members may be asked
questions about the captain during the voyage and
this may help with the roleplay.
Preparing for Sea
After the captain is chosen, the remaining captains
and their crews board their ships and set sail,
there’s no reason for them to stay in Abigail’s cove
any longer. They each understood that they may
not be selected, and although sad that they weren’t,
there’s no ill will. They do have a parting word for
the adventurers.
Pip Sterling. “Good luck on your voyage. May
your Moonsea travels be fruitful!”
Angry Adrik. “Aarr . . . I’d have been the better
choice, but you’re in good hands.”
Kiya. “I’m not sure what to make of your decision.
I’m certain you’ll realize it wasn’t the best choice
later.”
Developments
After the captain is selected, the following events
occur:
• The chosen captain gathers their crew, who then
begin prepping the ship for the journey.
• Beatrice Bandi offers the adventurers shelter in
her home. It’s a small house, but the party may
camp out in her living room.
• The merchants stay open for one hour after the
captain is selected, allowing the adventurers time
to purchase any supplies they might need.
• The expedition begins at sunrise the next day.
Beatrice gives them each a Gooey Roll from
Delphina’s Bakery and then pushes them out the
door.
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Part 3. A Pirate’s Life for Me!
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
The adventurers have chosen their captain and
ship and will now travel on the Moonsea for two
days, reaching their destination at the end of the
second day. Note that each captain has an optional
encounter during the voyage—be sure to include it
at the right time!
Sea Legs
After a few hours of sailing on the Moonsea, there’s the
possibility of the adventurers getting seasick. Each character
must pass a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned.
Symptoms include a churning stomach, cold sweats, and
vomiting. Characters with a seamanship background or
history (i.e., pirate, fisherman) or one proficient in sea vessels
are immune to seasickness.
A character can repeat the saving throw after a long or
short rest, with a success causing them to be immune to the
effects of the rolling sea for the duration of the adventure.
Casting lesser restoration or a similar spell on the afflicted
creature cures it of its sickness until the end of the adventure.
Pieces and Parts of the Ship
To make DMing easier, the following locations are
found on each of the ships:
General Features of the Ship
Terrain. Wooden planks, steps, and doors.
Weather. Damp and cool.
Light. Ample light comes in through porthole windows in
each of the rooms. The lowest deck has no windows and is
considered dark.
Smells and Sounds. A slight breeze from the sea carries
with it the smells of moss, fish, and damp air.
The Main Deck
The crew is generally found here during the day
tending to sails, cleaning the deck, checking the
rigging, and keeping watch.
A. Main Deck Bell
A medium-sized brass bell with a ringer hangs on a
pole near the center of the ship. The bell is used to
warn the crew of immediate danger. Whenever the
bell is rung the crew rush to the deck, make their
way to the railing, and ready their weapons.
B. Main Deck Railing
Fastened to each side of the railing are unloaded
heavy crossbows with a quarrel of 3 bolts for each
which may be removed and used for ranged attacks
in the event of a battle at sea.
C. Top Deck Harpoon Gun
A harpoon gun (use ballista statistics) is attached to
the top deck and has the ability to pivot 180 degrees
side-to-side and 80 degrees vertically, covering the
front of the ship.
Three creatures can man the harpoon gun, with
each using their action to accomplish one of the
above required actions. If an adventurer mans the
harpoon gun, two of the ship’s crew assist in the
loading and aiming, but they do not grant advantage
on attack rolls for assisting.
D. Captain’s Quarters
A small bed and desk adorn this room. Although
the captains often eat with the crew, there are times
when they want a little peace and quiet, or to dine
with a few guests for an evening. In this case, the
bed is leaned against the wall, the desk is moved
further back and a table is brought in to accommo-
date up to six guests.
Treasure. Searching the desk reveals a few
notebooks filled with nautical terms, a skeleton key
(which has no use), a quill, an ink pot, and a pearl
necklace worth 50 gp.
Below Deck
The below deck features:
E. Cook’s Quarters
A small room containing a straw bed and a table.
Searching the table reveals a quill, a pot of ink, and
a small diary filled with different recipes. The first
page of the diary reads, “Whipping and Cooking
with Whisk.”
F. Galley
A small galley where the crew eat and entertain
themselves with games, songs, and whatever else
they can think of.
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G. Crew Quarters
A small living quarters for the crew made up of
swinging hammocks.
H. Guest Quarters
A guest quarters featuring a small feather bed and
four swinging hammocks
I. The Head
Because the weather isn’t always nice enough to
relieve oneself above deck, an interior watershed
has been added to the ship, complete with two
buckets, each possessing a lid with a 10-inch round
hole.
The Lower Deck
The lower deck is used to secure cargo, extra weap-
ons, freight, and extra food. This area is searched
once a day for rats and other vermin. The exception
would be the encounter “Stowaway.” The first time
this area is entered, choose one of the following for
the adventurers to encounter.
• Four swarms of rats
• One mimic has snuck onto the ship and is hiding
in this area. It’s hungry and needs to eat. It attacks
the first creature that comes within range (place
the mimic wherever you like).
• Whisk’s shipment has gotten loose and now
roams this area. Four constrictor snakes are
hiding within the barrels and crates, each in
separate locations placed as the DM wishes. If the
snakes aren’t found and dealt with, they appear in
area H, “Guest Quarters” later that night.
J. Whisk’s Hiding Spot
The cook, Whisk, has uses the large crate in this
area as a place to hide, smuggle, and transport
precious cargo. He has his own side business,
which may be encountered later.
The Crew
To make DMing easier, the following crew members
are found on each of the ships:
The Captain
Refer to the appropriate summary sheet for the
captain whom the adventurers have chosen.
The First Mate—JimJim
JimJim is a young human who appears very anxious.
He’s new to his post, but not to the ship. He’s been
appointed to fill the recent vacancy created when
a wyvern snatched the previous first mate from the
ship. If you use the wyvern attack, JimJim drops
to the deck, covers his head with his hands, and
whimpers when the wyvern is spotted. JimJim could
also be the crewmember snatched up by the wyvern,
in which case, JimJim screams and cries, flailing his
arms and legs wildly while being clutched by the
wyvern.
The Bosun—Big’Ox
Big’Ox is a female minotaur who has traveled the
Moonsea and other waterways since she was just a
calf. She has a strikingly tough build, sports battle
scars across her face and shoulders, and is missing
the pinkie and thumb of her left hand, which were
lost during a battle with some pesky deep scion
several years ago.
The Cook—Whisk
Whisk is a middle-aged male halfling who acts as
the ships cook. He’s not very handy with a weapon,
but he wields his cooking utensils beautifully—toss-
ing and flipping them in air then catching them
behind his back or between his teeth.
Sometimes, his creations are not to the crew’s
liking as they are a “beef and potatoes” people, and
Whisk prefers to cook obscure roots, vegetables,
and meats, often adding foreign and exotic spices.
Whisk also has a side-scheme going—he has
a secret area in the lower deck which he uses to
smuggle items and people.
The Red Shirts
The remainder of the crew consist of several
average pirates. They perform the necessary duties
on the ship and hope to someday be promoted. You
may improvise crew as needed, or use the following
suggestions:
Eve. A human woman with a quick wit. She does
what she’s told and is often found helping Bub.
Two Fingers of Rum. A tabaxi woman who is in
charge of maintaining the sails and rigging. She
checks it several times throughout the day, quickly
climbing the masts and beams and swinging effort-
lessly from the ropes.
Bub. A half-orc in charge of cleaning the deck and
maintaining the anchor. Bub doesn’t speak much,
offering only grunts, shoulder shrugs, and hand
gestures as responses to questions.
Sailing Encounters
Depending on the time your players spend role
playing with the crew and areas of the ship, you may
wish to add one or two of the following encounters.
Wyvern Attack (Combat)
Estimated Duration: 20 minutes
A wyvern swoops down using the cover of the
blinding sun and grabs a crew person. To begin the
encounter, have a crew member ring the warning
bell while yelling “Wyvern!”
If the adventurers are below deck (either level) it
takes them one round to reach the main deck. They
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may then attack with ranged weapons, man the
harpoon gun, attack with spells, or grab a crossbow
from the railing.
The Wyvern. The wyvern has a fly speed of 80
feet and will be out of range of the harpoon gun in 6
rounds. If the adventurers are below deck when the
bell is rung, the wyvern is 20 feet above the water
and 60 feet away from the ship.
Saving the Pirate. If the wyvern is reduced to one
half its original hit points before it is out of range,
it drops its prey and flies off. The ship then turns to
rescue the pirate from the sea.
The pirate is severely wounded, his or her skin
punctured from the wyvern’s talons. He or she has
3 hit points remaining, and the wounds continue
to bleed. Unless tended to, the pirate dies in two
hours. The pirate may be healed with a cure
wounds spell, a potion of healing, a DC 15 Wisdom
(Medicine) check, or similar action.
Lost Pirate. If the wyvern flies out of range, it is
quickly out of sight and the pirate is lost. At dinner,
the crew give a toast to the lost crew member and
then return to their normal activities. After all, life
on the Moonsea is dangerous.
Setting up the Encounter
Very Weak
• Wyvern: AC 13, 95 hp, Init +0
Weak
• Wyvern: AC 13, 105 hp, Init +0
Average & Strong
• Wyvern: AC 13, 130 hp, Init +0
Very Strong
• Wyvern: AC 13, 169 hp, Init +0
Stowaway (Role Play)
Estimated Duration: 20 minutes
A young halfling girl is hiding in the lowest deck of
the ship and may be noticed if the party help hunt
for vermin. The girl’s name is Eileen and she is
being helped by the cook named Whisk who has
created a side business of transporting goods and
people unnoticed across the Moonsea.
While the party is hunting for vermin, they find
the girl hiding behind a pile of crates, one of which
has a false panel which allows Eileen to easily stay
hidden from the crew. Currently, the panel is stuck,
and poor Eileen is visible.
If a crew member is with the party when Eileen
is found, and if the crew member sees Eileen, he or
she states the captain must be informed. Successful
DC 12 Charisma (Intimidation or Persuasion)
checks are required to keep the pirate from telling
the captain about the stowaway. A bribe of 10 gold
pieces will do the trick, too.
Eileen has paid Whisk 50 gold pieces to transport
her to Abigail’s Cove. Unfortunately, Whisk was
unable to find the opportunity to secretly move
Eileen from her hiding place before they set out on
this journey.
Eileen prefers to stay hidden in the hull, but will
accept help from the adventurers if they promise
they can help her quietly leave the ship when they
return to Abigail’s Cove.
Eileen prefers not to talk about her reasons for
being a stowaway. She’s leaving some troubles
behind and wishes to start a new life without anyone
knowing her sad history.
Treasure. If the party is successful in helping
Eileen exit the ship, she gives them each a peck on
the cheek and a warm thank you.
Ship with No Crew (Combat)
Estimated Duration: 20 minutes
A medium-sized fishing boat, complete with a large,
sealed cabin area on the top deck, floats on the
Moonsea. No crew is present on the top deck and, if
the adventurers or crew members hail the ship, no
answer is received.
The captain suggests the party stretch their legs,
board the ship, and investigate.
The ship was attacked by vargouilles in the
middle of the night. The creatures flew in through
the open cabin door while the crew of six were
playing cards around a small table. During the
attack, one of the crew members attempted to flee
but was unsuccessful. His mal-efforts locked himself
and the crew in the cabin with the vargouilles,
which attacked and turned the crew members into
vargouilles also.
Vargouilles are locked in the cabin. They cling to
the walls near the cabin door, waiting for someone
to enter.
Treasure. If the ship is searched, the party finds
50 gp worth of coin in a small, unlocked wooden
chest.
Setting up the Encounter
Very Weak
• Vargouille (4): AC 12, 13 hp, Init +2
Weak
• Vargouille (5): AC 12, 13 hp, Init +2
Average & Strong
• Vargouille (8): AC 12, 18 hp, Init +2
Very Strong
• Vargouille (8): AC 12, 18 hp, Init +2
Add Pack Tactics
Pack Tactics. The vargouille has advantage on attack rolls
against a creature if at least one of the vargouille’s allies is
within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
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Part 4. “X Marks the Spot”
Estimated Duration: 90 minutes
The adventurers have located the entrance to the
cave holding the presumed lost treasure. From here,
they must enter by rowboat and journey through
a series of caves and caverns filled with puzzles,
traps, and creatures.
General Features
The general features of the cave are as follows:
Terrain. Cave-like tunnels ranging from 5-feet to 10-feet
wide.
Weather. Cold and damp.
Light. Unless otherwise noted, all areas of the cave are
dark.
Smells and Sounds. A fast-moving stream and a few
waterfalls are found in this cave system, which create a soft
“roar” as the sound of the falls echo throughout the tunnels.
Climbing, Swimming, and Crawling
While climbing, swimming, or crawling, each foot of
movement costs 1 extra foot, unless a creature has a climbing
or swimming speed. Each foot of movement across difficult
terrain costs an extra 2 feet. —Player’s Handbook, page 182
Split the Party
During the course of this part of the adventure, it is possible
members of the party become swept away by the stream
hazard, finding themselves in another area and engaged in
combat. If this occurs, try to give ample time to each of the
groups by allowing each group one or two turns between one
another.
A. Entering the Cave
The cave is located along a short cliff in water too
shallow for the large ship, with only a small opening
at the waterline—just large enough for a single
rowboat to enter. It must be accessed by one of the
ship’s rowboats which are large enough to carry 8
medium-sized humanoids.
The cave entrance is 10 feet wide and 3 feet tall.
These dimensions continue for 25 feet before the
tunnel opens to a large cavern.
As the adventurers enter the cave, read or
summarize:
Two pirates expertly steer the rowboat as it dances on
the waves of the Moonsea, carrying you closer to the
entrance. Before too long, the rowboat reaches the
entrance, slips into the tight cave, and slowly carries
you into the darkness.
B. The Caverns
After traveling 25 feet into the main entrance, the
narrow cave opens to a large cavern with a shore-
line. The adventurers must land their rowboat(s)
and trek further into the cave by foot. The pirates
have been instructed to stay by the rowboats. The
adventurers were hired for this part of the mission,
so the pirates are not to assume any additional risk.
The narrow cave opens to an enormous cavern with
moisture glistening on the walls and high, vaulted
ceiling. A small shoreline, just large enough to land
four rowboats, appears to allow access deeper into the
caves and caverns.
A skeleton wearing a black eyepatch sits and leans
against a sign attached to a post. The sign reads ‘Only
Dead Men Leave.’
Treasure
There is nothing special about the skeleton, though
treasure is found behind his eye patch. An emerald
worth 50 gp is tucked behind the skeleton’s eye
patch.
C. Meeting Jolly Jim
The cave continues 150 feet before it reaches a “Y.”
Each of the tunnels ends at a circular room: one
with an empty pedestal and one with a statue of a
pirate.
After a few minutes of travel, the cave splits into two
new tunnels.
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The Left Tunnel
The left tunnel leads to the circular room containing
the statue of Jolly Jim (Star)—a prankster in real life
who often tried to scare his fellow shipmates.
The tunnel opens to a circular-shaped room. In the
center of the room, standing on a pedestal, is a statue
of a man wearing a leather three-cornered hat. The
statue is carved with a dagger held between his teeth,
his hands resting on his hips, and his chest puffed
confidently. He is posed with the right foot resting atop
a humanoid body which lays at his feet.
The Right Tunnel
The right tunnel leads to the circular room contain-
ing an empty pedestal. When this room is entered,
read or summarize:
The tunnel opens to a circular-shaped room with an
empty 5-foot-diameter, 5-inch-tall round pedestal in the
center.
The Three-Cornered Hat
The three-cornered hat does not belong here. It was
added as a prank by one of the pirates who helped
construct this vault. Jolly Jim hated hats.
Solving the Puzzle
To solve the puzzle and open the secret door, one
adventurer must recreate the pose and appearance
of Jolly Jim. The below is required to successfully
recreate the pose:
• A dagger held between the teeth.
• Hands on hips.
• Chest puffed out.
• Right foot raised (preferably resting on a compan-
ion who volunteers to lie on the ground).
• No hat. Jolly Jim does not like hats!
Mirror Image
If the adventurers return to the statue of Jolly Jim
and have removed the three-cornered hat, read or
summarize the following:
You see a statue of a man wearing holding a dagger
between his teeth. His hands rest on his hips and his
chest is puffed triumphantly as his right foot rests on
the body of a fallen enemy whose face has not been
carved.
If the adventurers return to the statue of Jolly Jim
and have NOT removed the three-cornered hat, read
or summarize the following:
Standing in the room is a statue of a man holding a
dagger between his teeth. His hands rest on his hips
and his chest is puffed triumphantly as his right foot
rests on the body of a fallen enemy whose face has not
been carved. The statue is topped with a brown leather
three-cornered hat.
Tips and Tricks
The majority of this puzzle should be easy, but if the
players get stumped, and the hat is the issue, you
may allow DC 12 Intelligence (Investigation) checks
to help the player discern the hat appears to be the
issue—it’s the only real object.
The Secret Passage
A secret passage has been constructed in the room
with the empty pedestal. Successfully reenacting
the statue of Jolly Jim causes the rock and stone
concealing the passage to crumble away, revealing a
tunnel that continues deeper into the cave system.
The passage can be found with a successful DC
18 Intelligence (Investigation) check. This check
also reveals that the opening is somehow linked to
the empty pedestal. If attacked, the secret entrance
has AC 15 and 80 hit points.
D. The Bucket Room
The tunnel continues for 200 feet before it opens to
a small room with a fast-moving stream. When the
party enters this room, read or summarize:
The tunnel opens to a small room. A fast-moving
stream flows from the north, spans the far wall, and the
continues through a small opening at the south.
A small waterfall spills from an opening 30-feet
above the stream on the far wall. The waterfall fills a
bucket attached to an angled beam set to a post in the
middle of the stream. As the bucket fills, it lowers the
beam on its end, but raises the beam in front of you.
The bucket empties just before it touches the stream,
causing the beam to return to its first position, restart-
ing the process.
The Bucket Beam
A thick timber stands in the middle of the stream
Attached to it is a 45-foot-long beam which teeters
up and down as the bucket fills with water. The
bucket takes 3 rounds to fill:
Round 1. The beam is angled at 15 feet below the
edge of the shore.
Round 2. The beam raises 15 feet and is flush
with the shore.
Round 3. The beam raises an additional 15 feet,
revealing a dark (darkness spell) open section of
cave above the entrance (see area E).
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To access the second level of the cave (area E), a
creature must use its reaction to jump from the
beam before the bucket empties.
If a creature is on the beam when the bucket
empties at the end of its third round, the beam
quickly drops and the creature on the beam must
succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or fall
into the water. If this occurs, roll 1d8 to determine
where the creature lands, with 1 being the tip of the
beam. If a creature fails its check and lands on the
beam, it receives 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage from
the impact and falls prone.
Perception Checks
While in this room, when the bucket empties and
the beam returns to position 1, have the characters
make DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) checks. On a
success, they hear a ‘whoosh’ from somewhere
overhead.
Falling into the Stream
If a creature falls into the stream, the current
pushes it downstream and into the underground
portion of the stream, dumping it into area G. A
successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check is
required to swim to shore before it is swept away.
E. The Whoosh Room
This room is 45 feet deep and 20feet wide. The
radius of the swinging timber trap takes up the
width of the room, preventing safe passage unless
the adventurer can time their movement. The
swinging timber is two feet off the ground, so it is
possible that a smaller creature, or one crawling,
might be able to navigate the room.
A darkness spell, created as a 20-foot cube and
enhanced to last indefinitely until targeted by
a dispel magic spell, has been cast in this area,
concealing the rotating timber that may strike a
character. Until the spell is negated, all checks
and saving throws in this room are made with
disadvantage.
This area is pitch black, as if a wall of darkness has
been created.
Swinging Timber Trap
Simple trap (level 5–10, moderate threat)
A thick wooden beam attached to a metal pole in
the center rotates in a 180 degree arc with a 10-foot
radius every three rounds.
Trigger. When the bucket beam in area D resets
every three rounds, the timber quickly rotates 180
degrees.
Effect. A creature within the trap area must
succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take
5 (1d10) bludgeoning damage and be pushed 15
feet away. On a successful save, the creature takes
no damage and is not pushed.
Countermeasures. A creature passing a DC 15
Intelligence (Investigation) check while inspecting
the base of the metal pole believes they can disarm
the mechanism. To do so, they must also succeed
on a DC 15 Dexterity (Thieves’ Tools) check using
thieves’ tools. Once disabled, the mechanism does
not work until it has been repaired.
Development
A tunnel in the far wall continues further into the
cave system.
If a player is knocked backwards into the water
and swept downstream, they are directed to area
G by a series of tunnels, much like a waterslide
at an amusement park. They are in no danger of
drowning until they reach area G.
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F. The Crossing
When a creature enters this room, read or
summarize:
The tight tunnel opens to a larger room. The rushing
water of a waterfall has cut a 20-foot deep swath into
the stone; in which runs a fast-moving stream.
Three stone pedestals stand in the stream, creating
steppingstone-like platforms which might be used to
cross to the other side. The pedestals stand at a height
equal to that of the ledge on which you stand.
The Pedestals
The pedestals are connected to pressure plates
under the stream. Stepping on a pedestal activates
the pressure plate and causes panels to cover
sections of the waterfall, creating a powerful jet of
water that may knock a creature from its perch.
A distance of 5 feet is between each of the pedes-
tals and the shorelines, meaning the total distance
between the shorelines is 35 feet.
Stepping on the Pedestals
When the pedestals are stepped on, panels are
activated.
A—panels cover sections 2 and 3 of the waterfall,
creating a jet of water that streams directly at A.
B—panels cover sections 1 and 3, creating a jet of
water that streams across the front of the shoreline.
C—panels cover sections 1 and 2, creating a jet of
water that streams directly at C.
Hit with Water!
A creature hit by a jet of water must succeed on a
DC 18 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet
and knocked prone. Creatures finding themselves
in the water must immediately succeed on a DC 18
Strength (Athletics) check or be swept downstream,
finding themselves in Area G. A success means the
creature was able to swim to the shoreline closest to
the pedestal it was knocked from.
Development
A tunnel on the other side of the stream continues
further into the cave system.
Once the party leaves area F, it takes three
rounds for them to reach area G using normal walk-
ing speed. After the first round of travel, they are
within hearing distance of activity occurring in area
G. Describe the events the best you can, but don’t
give away too much detail. Suggestions include:
• Loud shouts from the characters in area G
• Splashing sounds
• Sounds of combat
If a player was swept downstream, they are directed
to area G by a series of tunnels, much like a water-
slide at an amusement park. They are in no danger
of drowning until they reach area G.
G. The Underwater Dead
This room is either accessed by the main tunnel or
by the stream from area D or F.
Entrance from the Waterslides
When a creature enters this room via the water-
slides, read or summarize:
Your body tumbles and jerks through a series of
dark, underwater tunnels for what seems an eternity.
Suddenly, the bottom of the tunnel opens underneath
you and you find yourself falling. You watch as a
wooden hatch closes above you, its shape becoming
smaller as you plummet.
Your body smacks against a cool surface and you
find yourself underwater again. This time, however, the
water is still.
Creatures entering the pool via the waterslides draw
the attention of the zombie reef sharks in the water.
DMs Note: If a creature entered via the water-
slides, that creature does not know which side of
the pool is the correct exit. Be sure to ask to which
side they swim toward so you know where they are
when the remaining party members arrive.
Entrance from the Main Tunnel
When a creature enters this room via the main
tunnel, read or summarize:
The tunnel opens to a large room, but further progress
is blocked by a wide pool of water.
A. The Pool
The edges of the shore and ledges extend 1 foot
above a 15-feet-deep pool which must be crossed if
the party wishes to continue.
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Zombie Patrol
Zombie reef sharks (use reef shark statistics and
add Undead Fortitude) patrol the dark waters of the
pool, attacking whatever enters it or travels across
it.
Water Walk
Zombie reef sharks attack anyone attempting to walk on the
water’s surface. The zombie beholders notice creatures using
water walk to cross the water.
B. The Pedestal
A thin stone pedestal rises 4 inches out of the water,
atop which protrudes a 1-foot-long brass lever.
The lever is not trapped, but a successful DC 13
Intelligence (Investigation) check reveals it is some
type of mechanism.
When the lever is pulled, the sound of clanking
metal and clanging chains is heard throughout the
cave as the mechanism causes the gate (D) to slowly
open.
Pulling the lever also releases the zombie
beholders that are currently trapped under wooden
boxes (C) safely under the water.
C. Hidden Guardians
Zombie beholders also guard this room, secured
under by wooden crates which are lifted as the lever
is pulled, releasing the zombie beholders.
When the zombie beholders are released, read or
summarize:
Strange-looking round objects float to the surface,
bobbing up and down and creating ripples across the
pond. Then, they rise from the water, hovering 20 feet
about the surface, while bizarre snake-like tendrils flop
around a large eye.
D. The Gate
A rusty, iron gate blocks further access. There is no
lock on the gate, nor is there a handle. Several gears
and pulleys are attached to chains which lead into
the cave wall. A creature which succeeds on a DC
12 Intelligence (Investigation) check believes the
gate is opened when the chains cause the pulleys
and gears to move. The gate has an AC 20 and 25
hit points.
E. The Ledges
A three-foot wide ledge, broken in several sections,
lines the wall of the cavern. The ledge, covered in
smooth, damp pebbles, is considered difficult ter-
rain and any creature jumping from one section of
the ledge to another must make a DC 15 Strength
(Athletics) check. On a failure, the creature slips,
falls 5 feet in a random direction determined by a
d8, and lands prone. A creature landing in the water
draws the attention of the undead creatures.
Underwater Combat
Underwater, the following rules apply.
Melee Weapon Attacks. If the creature doesn’t have a swim
speed, attack rolls are made with disadvantage unless the
weapon is a dagger, javelin, shortsword, spear, or trident.
Ranged Weapon Attacks. Ranged weapon attacks
automatically miss a target beyond the weapon’s normal
range. Even against a target within normal range, the attack
roll has disadvantage unless the weapon is a crossbow, a net,
or a thrown weapon (javelin, spear, trident, or dart).
Creatures that are fully immersed in water have resistance to
fire damage. —Player’s Handbook, page 198
Each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot, unless the
creature has a swim speed.
Setting up the Encounter
Very Weak & Weak
• Reef Shark (2): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +1
• Spectator: AC 14, 39 hp, Init +2
Undead Fortitude
Average
• Reef Shark (3): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +1
Undead Fortitude
• Zombie Beholder (2): AC 15, 80 hp, Init −1
Strong
• Reef Shark (4): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +1
Undead Fortitude
• Zombie Beholder (2): AC 15, 90 hp, Init −1
Very Strong
• Reef Shark (6): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +1
Undead Fortitude
• Zombie Beholder (2): AC 15, 115 hp, Init −1
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit
points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of
5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from
a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit point
instead.
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Development
A tunnel on the opposing side continues deeper into
the cave system and leads to area H.
H. The Vault Door
When a creature enters this room, read or
summarize:
The tunnel opens to yet another room. A set of large,
reinforced wooden doors with no visible handles is
built into the far wall. There is writing ornately inscribed
across the front of the doors.
Give them Player Handout 3.
The Door
The door is magically trapped. A small heart is
engraved in the door next to the name Dreadarious.
Placing the heart-shaped ruby in the door, which
was found with the map, opens the door and
negates the magical trap.
• The doors have no handles. To open them, a
creature simply needs to push them open.
• A creature attempting to open the door without
using the heart-shaped ruby activates the magical
trap.
The door and trap won’t be a challenge for a party
who carry and use the heart-shaped ruby. The real
challenge is the next room.
Thunder Door
Simple trap (level 5–10, moderate threat)
The door is magically trapped.
Trigger. A living creature attempting to open the
door without first placing the heart-shaped ruby in
the door.
Effect. A creature within the trap area must
succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or
take 22 (4d8) thunder damage and be pushed 10
feet away. On a successful save, the creature takes
half as much damage and is not pushed.
Countermeasures. A creature using its action
to make a successful DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana)
check notices the magical trap and reveals its
effects. A dispel magic (DC 15) or similar magic
disables the trap for 24 hours.
Development
Opening the door grants access to area I, “The
Treasure Room.”
I. The Treasure Room
When a creature enters this room, read or
summarize:
The reinforced doors open, revealing a large room
illuminated by a magical light source 30 feet overhead.
Near the center of the room, steps lead up to a wide
pedestal. Chests and crates filled with glistening
treasure surround a golden lyre.
A. The Treasure
In total, the treasure hoard contains:
• cli lyre
• 2,000 gp worth of gems and coin
• potion of superior healing
• potion of climbing
• spell scroll of stinking cloud
B. The Guardians
The room is guarded by rare shield guardians,
which have been created to mimic the stone in
the room, giving them camouflage. Each guardian
rests in an alcove created to fit its form. The first
guardian (location B1) doesn’t activate until the lyre
on the pedestal is touched.
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Once activated, the shield guardian initiates
combat, possibly gaining surprise. On its first turn,
if it has the haste spell stored, it casts it on itself.
The guardian’s amulet is not in this room, but rests
at the bottom of the Moonsea, still intact, around
the neck of its dead owner who yet may rise another
day.
Depending on party strength, additional shield
guardians are hidden in the room, marked as B2
and B3. They remain hidden until activated. The
activation trigger occurs when the prior shield
guardian is reduced to half its hit points, or if it is
removed from the current plane of existence.
Setting up the Encounter
Very Weak
• Shield Guardian: AC 17, 130 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has no stored spell.
Weak
• Shield Guardian: AC 17, 142 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has spirit guardians stored.
Average
• Shield Guardian: AC 17/19*, 142 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has haste* spell stored.
• Shield Guardian B2: AC 17, 130 hp, Init −1
Strong
• Shield Guardian: AC 19*,172 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has haste* spell stored.
Shield Guardian has Magic Resistance.
• Shield Guardian B2: AC 17 130 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has slow spell stored.
Very Strong
• Shield Guardian: AC 17/19*, 210 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has haste* spell stored.
Shield Guardian has Magic Resistance and Spell Reflection
• Shield Guardian B2: AC 17 150 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has slow spell stored.
Deadly
• Shield Guardian: AC 19*, 210 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has haste* spell stored.
• Shield Guardian B2: AC 17 170 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has fireball spell stored.
Shield Guardian has Magic Resistance and Spell Reflection
• Shield Guardian B3: AC 17 130 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has slow spell stored.
Spell Adjustments
A DM may choose to change the Shield Guardian’s stored
4th level or lower spell.
Suggestions include:
• Banishment. Concentration up to 1 minute, Charisma save
DC 15.
• Fireball. Centered on itself, 20-foot radius, Dexterity save
DC 15, 8d6 fire damage.
• Fire shield. Chill shield, resistance to fire damage, 2d8 cold
damage from melee hit.
• Haste. Cast on itself, Concentration up to 1 minute, speed
60 ft., AC 19, advantage on Dexterity saving throws,
additional action each turn (one weapon attack, Dash,
Disengage, Hide, Use an Object).
• Slow. Cast on a creature which damaged it. Concentration
up to 1 minute, Wisdom save DC 15.
• Spirit guardians (4th level). Concentration up to 10 minutes,
15-foot radius, Wisdom save DC 15, 4d8 radiant damage.
Additional Special Traits
Some of the shield guardians have one or more of these
traits, as specified in the Setting up the Encounter sidebar:
Magic Resistance. The shield guardian has advantage on
saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Spell Reflection. If the shield guardian makes a successful
saving throw against a spell, or a spell attack misses it, the
shield guardian can choose another creature (including the
spellcaster) it can see within 30 feet of it. The spell targets
the chosen creature instead of the shield guardian. If the
spell forced a saving throw, the chosen creature makes its
own save. If the spell was an attack, the attack roll is rerolled
against the chosen creature.
C. The Exit
A teleportation circle, which is activated by the
words “Dead Men,” is located along the far wall. A
creature standing on the circle and saying “Dead
Men” out loud is transported to the entrance, in an
empty square and next to the sign that reads “Only
Dead Men Leave.”
Arcane runes are inscribed along the teleportation
circle which leave a clue for those who wish to use
it. A creature succeeding on a DC 15 Intelligence
(Arcana) check translates the runes to “Only We
May Leave.” This clue refers to the sign at the open-
ing of the cave which reads “Only Dead Men Leave.”
Developments
If the adventurers don’t figure out the teleportation
circle, they must trek back through the cave system.
If this occurs, you may hand wave most of the
rooms, assuming the characters’ knowledge helps
them navigate their return without incident.
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Part 5. Returning to Abigail’s Cove
Estimated Duration: 30 minutes
After an uneventful return trip across the Moonsea,
the adventurers arrive in Abigail’s Cove with the
treasure.
DMs Note: If you find you have reached this sec-
tion and still have an ample amount of game session
time, feel free to add an encounter from “Sailing
Encounters,” page 10, to the return trip.
A Hero’s Welcome
As the ship anchors outside Abigail’s Cove, read or
summarize:
The villagers stand along the shoreline, cheering for
your return and yelling your names. They wave make-
shift flags in the air and jump with joy.
The Arrival
As the party reaches the shoreline, the crowd begins
to chant, “SHOW US! SHOW US!” They want to
see the riches the adventurers returned with. Refer
to “Mission Successful” or “Mission Unsuccessful”
to determine what the crowd does from this point.
Mission Successful
If the crowd is shown a piece of treasure, they cheer
loudly! A number of the villagers gather around the
heroes, jumping up and down while clapping. They
also escort the adventurers to the mayor’s home,
where Beatrice Bandi awaits.
Beatrice Bandi. The mayor waits for the adven-
turers in her home. When they enter, she assumes
they have been successful in their quest, read or
summarize:
The excitement of the villagers continues as you
approach the mayor’s home. The mayor opens the
door, claps her hands together, and says, “Praise
Tymora! You’ve returned! And it sounds like you’ve
been successful. Come inside and show me what
you’ve brought back. We’ll divvy up the shares right
away!”
Mission Unsuccessful
If the party was unsuccessful with their mission,
once the party arrives on land, and once the
villagers learn of the failure, the crowd begins to
disperse, whispering under their breath.
• “I didn’t think they looked smart enough.”
• “I’m stronger than the fighter type.”
• “Heroes? Ha!”
• “Beatrice got some bad information.”
• “I hope they never come back here.”
Beatrice Bandi. The mayor waits for the adven-
turers in her home. When they enter, she is unsure
if the party have been successful in their quest, read
or summarize:
The crowd continues to dissipate, the villagers pay you
no mind as they pass you. Some continue to whisper
slight jabs as they glare in you direction.
The dwarf opens the door as you approach her home.
She folds her hands together and says, “Praise Tymora
you have returned; although, based on the reaction of
the villagers, I assume you were unsuccessful in your
mission.
“Come inside. Tell me of your journey and what went
wrong.”
Conclusion
The treasure is divided per the signed contract. The
players’ share is listed below and is to be split per
their discretion.
The party is allowed to keep any magical items
they collected. These are not included in the total
below. The village and pirates are only concerned
with the coin and gems.
Party share of gold and gems: The party’s share
of the treasure is 2,000 gp, which has already been
calculated in the Rewards Section. All treasure
accumulated from the adventure is not included in
the 50% share and may be kept by the adventurers.
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Rewards
Make sure players note their rewards on their
adventure log sheets. Give your name and DCI
number (if applicable) so players can record who
ran the session.
Experience
Total up all combat experience earned for defeated
foes, and divide by the number of characters present
in the combat. For non-combat experience, the
rewards are listed per character.
Combat Awards
Name of Foe
XP Per Foe
Swarm of rats
50
Constrictor snake
50
Mimic
450
Wyvern
2,300
Vargouille
200
Reef shark
100
Spectator
700
Beholder zombie
1,800
Shield guardian
2,900
Sea lion
1,800
Kraken priest
1,800
Malformed kraken
5,900
Sahuagin
100
Non-Combat Awards
Task or Accomplishment
XP Per Character
Helping Eileen
200
The minimum total award for each character
participating in this adventure is 4,500 experience
points.
The maximum total award for each character
participating in this adventure is 6,000 experience
points.
Treasure
The characters receive the following treasure,
divided up amongst the party. Treasure is divided
as evenly as possible. Gold piece values listed for
sellable gear are calculated at their selling price, not
their purchase price.
Treasure Awards
Item Name
GP Value
Emerald behind eyepatch
50
Five pink pearls (Kiya, 100 gp each)
500
One white & one pink pearl (Adrik)
100 each
Two coral gemstones (Adrik)
100 each
50% of Gold & Gems in Treasure Room
1,000 gold pieces
1,000
2 large diamonds
100 each
2 bags of powdered diamond
100 each
3 jade gemstones
100 each
3 amethyst gemstones
100 each
Consumable magic items should be divided up
however the group sees fit. If more than one char-
acter is interested in a specific consumable magic
item, the DM can determine who gets it randomly
should the group be unable to decide.
Permanent magic items are divided according to
a system detailed in the D&D Adventurers League
Dungeon Master’s Guide.
Cli Lyre
Wondrous item, rare
An expertly crafted lyre embossed with dark
mother-of-pearl stingrays.
This item can be found in Player Handout 4.
Potion of Superior Healing
Potion, rare
This item can be found in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide.
Potion of Climbing
Potion, common
This item can be found in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide.
Spell scroll of Stinking Cloud
Scroll, uncommon
This item can be found in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide.
Renown
Each character receives one renown at the conclu-
sion of this adventure.
DM Reward
In exchange for running this adventure, you earn
DM Rewards as described in the D&D Adventurers
League Dungeon Master’s Guide (ALDMG).
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Appendix. Dramatis Personae
The following NPCs are featured prominently in
this adventure:
Villagers
Bigby Soths. A teenage human boy, son of
Clarence Soths, and friends with Angst and Liam
Kribs.
Beatrice Bandi. Dwarf fisherwoman with a
small knowledge of arcane magic, and mayor of the
village.
Angst and Liam Kribs. Twin brothers and friends
with Bigby Soths.
Delphina Soths. Owner of Delphina’s Bakery and
mother to Bigby.
Ike the Blacksmith. Hill dwarf blacksmith.
Jesper. Gnome fisherman found at the docks.
Jimbo Teether. Gnome owner of the general
store.
Old Fish Eye. An old fisherman with a little
information to share.
Ship Captains
Angry Adrik. A mean-looking pirate captain who
happens to be very friendly and jovial. He wears a
constant snarl due to a fishing accident.
Pip Sterling. A debonair pirate who considers
himself more of a merchant.
Kiya ‘Spider of the Sea’. A pirate captain who
will do whatever she must to get what she wants.
Her ship and crew are the most important things to
her.
Ship’s Crew
The First Mate—JimJim. A young human who
appears very anxious. He’s new to his post, but not
to the ship. He’s been appointed to fill the recent
vacancy created when a wyvern snatched the previ-
ous first mate from the ship. If you use the wyvern
attack, JimJim drops to the deck, covers his head
with his hands, and whimpers when the wyvern
is spotted. JimJim could also be the crew member
snatched up by the wyvern, in which case, JimJim
screams and cries, flailing his arms and legs wildly
while being clutched by the wyvern.
The Bosun—Big’Ox. A woman minotaur who has
traveled the Moonsea and other waterways since
she was just a minotaur calf. She has a strikingly
tough build, sports battle scars across her face and
shoulders, and is missing the pinkie and thumb of
her left hand, which were lost during a battle with
some pesky deep scion several years ago.
The Cook—Whisk. A middle-aged male halfling
who acts as the ships cook. He’s not very handy with
a weapon, but he wields his cooking utensils beauti-
fully—tossing and flipping them in air then catching
them behind his back or between his teeth.
Sometimes, his creations are not to the crew’s liking
as they are a “beef and potatoes” people, and Whisk
prefers to cook obscure roots, vegetables, and
meats, often adding foreign and exotic spices.
Whisk also has a side-scheme going—he has
a secret area in the lower deck which he uses to
smuggle items and people.
The Red Shirts
The remainder of the crew consists of several
average pirates. They perform the necessary duties
on the ship and hope to someday be promoted. You
may improvise crew as needed, or use the below
suggestions:
Eve. A human woman with a quick wit. She does
what she’s told and is often helping Bub.
Two Fingers of Rum. A tabaxi woman who is in
charge of maintaining the sails and rigging. She
checks it several times throughout the day, quickly
climbing the masts and beams and swinging effort-
lessly from ropes.
Bub. A half-orc in charge of cleaning the deck and
maintaining the anchor. Bub doesn’t speak much,
offering only grunts, shoulder shrugs, and hand
gestures as responses to questions.
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Appendix. Monster/NPC Statistics
Swarm of Rats
Medium swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 24 (7d8 − 7)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
9 (−1)
11 (+0)
9 (−1)
2 (−4)
10 (+0)
3 (−4)
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, paralyzed,
petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Keen Smell. The swarm has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s
space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through
any opening large enough for a Tiny rat. The swarm
can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
Actions
Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 0 ft., one
target in the swarm’s space. Hit: 7 (2d6) piercing
damage, or 3 (1d6) piercing damage if the swarm has
half of its hit points or fewer.
Constrictor Snake
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 13 (2d10 + 2)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
15 (+2)
14 (+2)
12 (+1)
1 (−5)
10 (+0)
3 (−4)
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage,
and the target is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this
grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the snake
can’t constrict another target.
Mimic
Medium monstrosity (shapechanger), neutral
Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 58 (9d8 + 18)
Speed 15 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
17 (+3)
12 (+1)
15 (+2)
5 (−3)
13 (+1)
8 (−1)
Skills Stealth +5
Damage Immunities acid
Condition Immunities prone
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages —
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Shapechanger. The mimic can use its action to
polymorph into an object or back into its true,
amorphous form. Its statistics are the same in each
form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t
transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Adhesive (Object Form Only). The mimic adheres to
anything that touches it. A Huge or smaller creature
adhered to the mimic is also grappled by it (escape DC
13). Ability checks made to escape this grapple have
disadvantage.
False Appearance (Object Form Only). While the mimic
remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an
ordinary object.
Grappler. The mimic has advantage on attack rolls
against any creature grappled by it.
Actions
Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the
mimic is in object form, the target is subjected to its
Adhesive trait.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8)
acid damage.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Balllista
Large Object
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 50
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
A ballista is a massive crossbow that fires heavy bolts.
Before it can be fired, it must be loaded and aimed. It
takes one action to load the weapon, one action to aim
it, and one action to fire it.
Bolt. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 120/480
ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d10) piercing damage.
Source: Dungeon Master’s Guide
Wyvern
Large dragon, unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 110 (13d10 + 39)
Speed 20 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
19 (+4)
10 (+0)
16 (+3)
5 (−3)
12 (+1)
6 (−2)
Skills Perception +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages —
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Actions
Multiattack. The wyvern makes two attacks: one with
its bite and one with its stinger. While flying, it can use
its claws in place of one other attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
creature. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Stinger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
one creature. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. The
target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw,
taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half
as much damage on a successful one.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Vargouille
Tiny fiend, chaotic evil
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 13 (3d4 + 6)
Speed 5 ft., fly 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
6 (−2)
14 (+2)
14 (+2)
4 (−3)
7 (−2)
2 (−4)
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages understands Abyssal, Infernal, and any
languages it knew before becoming a vargouille but
can’t speak
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6)
poison damage.
Kiss. The vargouille kisses one incapacitated humanoid
within 5 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 12
Charisma saving throw or become cursed. The cursed
target loses 1 point of Charisma after each hour, as
its head takes on fiendish aspects. The curse doesn’t
advance while the target is in sunlight or the area of a
daylight spell; don’t count that time. When the cursed
target’s Charisma becomes 2, it dies, and its head tears
from its body and becomes a new vargouille. Casting
remove curse, greater restoration, or a similar spell on
the target before the transformation is complete can
end the curse. Doing so undoes the changes made to
the target by the curse.
Stunning Shriek. The vargouille shrieks. Each
humanoid and beast within 30 feet of the vargouille
and able to hear it must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom
saving throw or be frightened until the end of the
vargouille’s next turn. While frightened in this way,
a target is stunned. If a target’s saving throw is
successful or the effect ends for it, the target is
immune to the Stunning Shriek of all vargouilles for 1
hour.
Source: Volo’s Guide to Monsters
Zombie Beholder
Large undead, neutral evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 93 (11d10 + 33)
Speed 0 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
8 (−1)
16 (+3)
3 (−4)
8 (−1)
5 (−3)
Saving Throws Wis +2
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages understands Deep Speech and
Undercommon but can’t speak
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0
hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw
with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage
is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the
zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 14 (4d6) piercing damage.
Eye Ray. The zombie uses a random magical eye ray,
choosing a target that it can see within 60 feet of it.
1. Paralyzing Ray. The targeted creature must
succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be
paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect
on itself on a success.
2. Fear Ray. The targeted creature must succeed on
a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1
minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the
end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a
success.
3. Enervation Ray. The targeted creature must make
a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, taking 36 (8d8)
necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much
damage on a successful one.
4. Disintegration Ray. If the target is a creature, it
must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or
take 45 (10d8) force damage. If this damage reduces
the creature to 0 hit points, its body becomes a pile of
fine gray dust.
If the target is a Large or smaller nonmagical
object or creation of magical force, it is disintegrated
without a saving throw. If the target is a Huge or larger
nonmagical object or creation of magical force, this ray
disintegrates a 10-foot cube of it.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Spectator
Medium aberration, lawful neutral
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 39 (6d8 + 12)
Speed 0 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
8 (− 1)
14 (+2)
14 (+2)
13 (+1)
14 (+2)
11 (+0)
Skills Perception +6
Condition Immunities prone
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Deep Speech, Undercommon,
telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 2 (1d6 − 1) piercing damage.
Eye Rays. The spectator shoots up to two of the
following magical eye rays at one or two creatures it
can see within 90 feet of it. It can use each ray only
once on a turn.
1. Confusion Ray. The target must succeed on a DC
13 Wisdom saving throw, or it can’t take reactions until
the end of its next turn. On its turn, the target can’t
move, and it uses its action to make a melee or ranged
attack against a randomly determined creature within
range. If the target can’t attack, it does nothing on its
turn.
2. Paralyzing Ray. The target must succeed on a
DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1
minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the
end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a
success.
3. Fear Ray. The target must succeed on a DC 13
Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute.
The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of
each of its turns, with disadvantage if the spectator
is visible to the target, ending the effect on itself on a
success.
4. Wounding Ray. The target must make a DC 13
Constitution saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) necrotic
damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one.
Create Food and Water. The spectator magically
creates enough food and water to sustain itself for 24
hours.
Reactions
Spell Reflection. If the spectator makes a successful
saving throw against a spell, or a spell attack misses it,
the spectator can choose another creature (including
the spellcaster) it can see within 30 feet of it. The spell
targets the chosen creature instead of the spectator.
If the spell forced a saving throw, the chosen creature
makes its own save. If the spell was an attack, the
attack roll is rerolled against the chosen creature.
Reef Shark
Medium beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4)
Speed 0 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
14 (+2)
13 (+1)
13 (+1)
1 (−5)
10 (+0)
4 (−3)
Skills Perception +2
Senses blindsight 30 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Pack Tactics. The shark has advantage on an attack
roll against a creature if at least one of the shark’s
allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t
incapacitated.
Water Breathing. The shark can breathe only
underwater.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Shield Guardian
Large construct, unaligned
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
18 (+4)
8 (−1)
18 (+4)
7 (−2)
10 (+0)
3 (−4)
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive
Perception 10
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, poisoned
Languages understands commands given in any
language but can’t speak
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Bound. The shield guardian is magically bound to an
amulet. As long as the guardian and its amulet are
on the same plane of existence, the amulet’s wearer
can telepathically call the guardian to travel to it, and
the guardian knows the distance and direction to the
amulet. If the guardian is within 60 feet of the amulet’s
wearer, half of any damage the wearer takes (rounded
up) is transferred to the guardian.
Regeneration. The shield guardian regains 10 hit points
at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Spell Storing. A spellcaster who wears the shield
guardian’s amulet can cause the guardian to store one
spell of 4th level or lower. To do so, the wearer must
cast the spell on the guardian. The spell has no effect
but is stored within the guardian. When commanded
to do so by the wearer or when a situation arises that
was predefined by the spellcaster, the guardian casts
the stored spell with any parameters set by the original
caster, requiring no components. When the spell is cast
or a new spell is stored, any previously stored spell is
lost.
Actions
Multiattack. The guardian makes two fist attacks.
Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
Reactions
Shield. When a creature makes an attack against the
wearer of the guardian’s amulet, the guardian grants a
+2 bonus to the wearer’s AC if the guardian is within 5
feet of the wearer.
Sea Lion
Large monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 90 (12d10 + 24)
Speed 10 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
17 (+3)
15 (+2)
15 (+2)
3 (−4)
12 (+1)
8 (−1)
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages —
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Amphibious. The sea lion can breathe air and water.
Keen Smell. The sea lion has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Pack Tactics. The sea lion has advantage on an attack
roll against a creature if at least one of the sea lion’s
allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t
incapacitated.
Swimming Leap. With a 10-foot swimming start, the
sea lion can long jump out of or across the water up to
25 feet.
Actions
Multiattack. The sea lion makes three attacks: one bite
attack and two claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Source: Tales from the Yawning Portal
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Kraken Priest
Medium humanoid, any alignment
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 75 (10d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft. (swim 30 ft.)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
12 (+1)
10 (+0)
16 (+3)
10 (+0)
15 (+2)
14 (+2)
Skills Perception +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing from nonmagical attacks
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages any two languages
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Amphibious. The priest can breathe air and water.
Innate Spellcasting. The priest’s spellcasting ability is
Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks).
It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no
material components:
At will: command, create or destroy water
3/day each: control water, darkness, water breathing,
water walk
1/day each: call lightning, Evard’s black tentacles
Actions
Thunderous Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 27 (5d10) thunder
damage.
Voice of the Kraken (Recharges after a Short or Long
Rest). A kraken speaks through the priest with a
thunderous voice audible within 300 feet. Creatures
of the priest’s choice that can hear the kraken’s words
(which are spoken in Abyssal, Infernal, or Primordial)
must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or be
frightened for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on a success.
Source: Volo’s Guide to Monsters
Malformed Kraken
Huge monstrosity, chaotic evil
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 172 (15d12 + 75)
Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
25 (+7)
11 (+0)
20 (+5)
11 (+0)
15 (+2)
15 (+2)
Saving Throws Str +11, Con +9, Int +4, Wis +6, Cha +6
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities lightning
Condition Immunities frightened, paralyzed
Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages understands Common but can’t speak;
telepathy 60 ft.
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)
Amphibious. The kraken can breathe air and water.
Siege Monster. The kraken deals double damage to
objects and structures.
Actions
Multiattack. The kraken makes three tentacle attack.
One of them can be replaced with a bite attack, and any
of them can be replaced with Fling.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) piercing damage.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 20 ft.,
one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage,
and the target is grappled (escape DC 16). Until this
grapple ends, the target is restrained. The kraken has
ten tentacles, each of which can grapple one target.
Fling. One Medium or smaller object held or creature
grappled by the kraken’s tentacles is thrown up to 60
feet in a random direction, and knocked prone. If a
thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes
3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage for every 10 feet it was
thrown. If the target is thrown at another creature, that
creature must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving
throw or take the same damage and be knocked prone.
Lightning Storm. The kraken creates three bolts of
lightning, each of which can strike a target the kraken
can see within 150 feet of it. A target must make a DC
16 Dexterity saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) lightning
damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one.
Source: Tales from the Yawning Portal
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Sahuagin
Medium humanoid (sahuagin), lawful evil
Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
13 (+1)
11 (+0)
12 (+1)
12 (+1)
13 (+1)
9 (−1)
Skills Perception +5
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Sahuagin
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Blood Frenzy. The sahuagin has advantage on melee
attack rolls against any creature that doesn’t have all its
hit points.
Limited Amphibiousness. The sahuagin can breathe air
and water, but it needs to be submerged at least once
every 4 hours to avoid suffocating.
Shark Telepathy. The sahuagin can magically command
any shark within 120 feet of it, using a limited telepathy.
Actions
Multiattack. The sahuagin makes two melee attacks:
one with its bite and one with its claws or spear.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) slashing damage.
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1)
piercing damage, or 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage if
used with two hands to make a melee attack.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Appendix. Encounter Setup
Wyvern Attack
Very Weak Party Strength (2,300 XP)
• Wyvern: AC 13, 90 hp, Init +0
Weak Party Strength (2,300 XP)
• Wyvern: AC 13, 105 hp, Init +0
Average & Strong Party Strength (2,300 XP)
• Wyvern: AC 13, 130 hp, Init +0
Very Strong Party Strength (2,300 XP)
• Wyvern: AC 13, 169 hp, Init +0
Ship with No Crew
Very Weak Party Strength (800 XP)
• Vargouille (4): AC 12, 13 hp, Init +2
Weak Party Strength (1,000 XP)
• Vargouille (5): AC 12, 13 hp, Init +2
Average & Strong Party Strength (1,600 XP)
• Vargouille (8): AC 12, 18 hp, Init +2
Very Strong Party Strength (1,600 XP)
• Vargouille (8): AC 12, 18 hp, Init +2
Add Pack Tactics
Vargouille Pack (Optional)
• Add:
Pack Tactics. The vargouille has advantage on attack rolls
against a creature if at least one of the vargouille’s allies is
within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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The Underwater Dead
Very Weak & Weak Party Strength (900 XP)
• Reef Shark (2): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +1
• Zombie Spectator: AC 14, 39 hp, Init +2
Each have Undead Fortitude
Average Party Strength (3,900 XP)
• Reef Shark (3): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +1
Each have Undead Fortitude
• Zombie Beholder (2): AC 15, 80 hp, Init −1
Strong Party Strength (4,000 XP)
• Reef Shark (4): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +1
Each have Undead Fortitude
• Zombie Beholder (2): AC 15, 90 hp, Init −1
Very Strong Party Strength (4,200 XP)
• Reef Shark (6): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +1
Each have Undead Fortitude
• Zombie Beholder (2): AC 15, 115 hp, Init −1
Zombie Reef Shark (Reef Shark)
• Add:
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit
points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC
of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or
from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit
point instead.
Zombie Spectator (Spectator)
• Add:
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit
points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC
of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or
from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit
point instead.
The Treasure Room
Very Weak Party Strength (2,900 XP)
• Shield Guardian: AC 17, 130 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has no stored spell.
Weak Party Strength (2,900 XP)
• Shield Guardian: AC 17, 142 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has spirit guardians stored.
Average Party Strength (5,800 XP)
• Shield Guardian: AC 17/19*, 142 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has haste* spell stored.
• Shield Guardian B2: AC 17, 130 hp, Init −1
Strong Party Strength (5.800 XP)
• Shield Guardian: AC 19*,172 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has haste* spell stored.
Shield Guardian has Magic Resistance.
• Shield Guardian B2: AC 17 130 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has slow spell stored.
Very Strong Party Strength (5,800 XP)
• Shield Guardian: AC 17/19*, 210 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has haste* spell stored.
Shield Guardian has Magic Resistance and Spell
Reflection
• Shield Guardian B2: AC 17 150 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has slow spell stored.
Deadly Party Strength (8,700XP)
• Shield Guardian: AC 19*, 210 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has haste* spell stored.
• Shield Guardian B2: AC 17 170 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has fireball spell stored.
Shield Guardian has Magic Resistance and Spell
Reflection
• Shield Guardian B3: AC 17 130 hp, Init −1
Shield Guardian has slow spell stored.
Spell Adjustments
A DM may choose to change the Shield Guardian’s stored
4th level or lower spell.
Suggestions include:
• Banishment. Concentration up to 1 minute, Charisma save
DC 15.
• Fireball. Centered on itself, 20-foot radius, Dexterity save
DC 15, 8d6 fire damage.
• Fire shield. Chill shield, resistance to fire damage, 2d8 cold
damage from melee hit.
• Haste. Cast on itself, Concentration up to 1 minute, speed
60 ft., AC 19, advantage on Dexterity saving throws,
additional action each turn (one weapon attack, Dash,
Disengage, Hide, Use an Object).
• Slow. Cast on a creature which damaged it. Concentration
up to 1 minute, Wisdom save DC 15.
• Spirit guardians (4th level). Concentration up to 10 minutes,
15-foot radius, Wisdom save DC 15, 4d8 radiant damage.
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Additional Special Traits
Some of the shield guardians have one or more of these
traits, as specified in the Setting up the Encounter sidebar:
Magic Resistance. The shield guardian has advantage on
saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Spell Reflection. If the shield guardian makes a successful
saving throw against a spell, or a spell attack misses it, the
shield guardian can choose another creature (including the
spellcaster) it can see within 30 feet of it. The spell targets
the chosen creature instead of the shield guardian. If the
spell forced a saving throw, the chosen creature makes its
own save. If the spell was an attack, the attack roll is rerolled
against the chosen creature.
Angry Adrik—Sea Lions
Very Weak & Weak Party Strength (1,800 XP)
• Sea Lion: AC 15, 130 hp, Init +2
Average Party Strength(3,600 XP)
• Sea Lion (2): AC 15, 120 hp, Init +2
Strong & Very Strong Party Strength (3,600 XP)
• Sea Lion (2): AC 15, 144 hp, Init +2
Pip Sterling—Hank, the Kraken Priest
Very Weak & Weak Party Strength (7,700 XP)
• Kraken Priest: AC 10, 75 hp, Init +0
Swims away the first round of combat
• Malformed Kraken: AC 17, 115 hp, Init +0
Average (7,700 XP)
• Kraken Priest: AC 10, 75 hp, Init +0
Swims away the second round of combat
• Malformed Kraken: AC 17, 140 hp, Init +0
Strong & Very Strong Party Strength (7,700 XP)
• Kraken Priest: AC 10, 75 hp, Init +0
• Malformed Kraken: AC 17, 172 hp, Init +0
Kiya—Sah-ooligans
All Party Strength (600 XP each)
• Sahuagin (6): AC 12, 22 hp, Init +0
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
32
Appendix. Abigail’s Cove Map
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
33
Appendix. Ship Map
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Appendix. Jolly Jim Map
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Appendix. The Bucket Room Map
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Appendix. Whoosh Room Map
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Appendix. Pedestal Map
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
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Appendix. Underwater Dead Map
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Appendix. Vault Door Map
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Appendix. Treasure Room Map
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Angry Adrik
Dwarf Swahsbuckler, lawful neutral
Ship: Blue Fin
Poor Adrik is seldom angry. He loves the sea
and fishing, but it was the latter that created his
infamous snarl when a large fish jumped from the
Moonsea and threw the line and lure which impaled
Adrik in the face.
Magic could correct the issue, but he wears the
snarl like a badge of honor, a constant reminder of
the big one that got away.
Angry Adrik
Personality Trait. There’s never a bad day for fishing.
Ideal. I believe in supporting the little people in the world. I
share my treasure when I can.
Bond. I owe everything to the sea and my crew. I’d die
protecting them.
Flaw. I can’t go a day without fishing.
Famous Quotes. Adrik often adds ‘Hook, line, and sinker’
to the end of a sentence, even if it doesn’t make sense to do
so.
Hook, Line, and Sinker
While passengers on Angry Adrik’s ship (Blue Fin),
the adventurers have to opportunity to go fishing!
The grinning Angry Adrik walks up to you and says,
“Hey, who here wants to go fishin’?”
Adrik is fishing with or without the adventurers; it’s
part of his daily routine. The encounter continues if
he fishes alone, with the sea lions leaping from the
sea and landing on the deck. If the adventurers are
below deck, one of the crew rings the warning bell
when the predators board the ship.
If the adventurers accept the offer, Adrik takes
them to the back of the ship, to the deck above his
quarters. Here he’s constructed a large fishing pole
that rests in a cradle and is attached to a wench.
The line on the pole is nearly as thick as a normal
rope.
The Bait
Adrik uses a custom-made lure he calls The Flash
which is fashioned with two large hooks and
attached to three 6-inch silver leaves which catch
the sunlight and flash as they swivel and rotate in
the water.
Fishin’ Time
After a bit of role play, as Adrik tells the adventurers
a fishing story or answers questions, a fish strikes
the lure. If none of the adventurers offer to help,
Adrik selects one, telling her to grab on and start
cranking!
After a short time, the fish is hauled up. It’s a
grand fish and will make a fine dinner for the party
and Adrik.
The Predators
A pair of sea lions, which were chasing the very
same fish, take the opportunity to jump on to the
ship, leaping out of the water only a couple of
rounds after the fish is hauled in.
One sea lion lands on the top deck, where the
fishing has taken place. The other lands on the main
deck and attacks Bub as he cleans the deck of the
ship.
Sea Lions Retreat
Should one of the sea lions die, the other disen-
gages and heads for the ship’s railing, attempting to
return to the Moonsea.
Setting up the Encounter
Very Weak & Weak
• Sea Lion: AC:15, 130 hp, Int +2
Average
• Sea Lion (2): AC 15, 120 hp, Int +2
Strong & Very Strong
• Sea Lion (2): AC 15, 144 hp, Int +2
Treasure
Each of the bellies of the sea lions contains a
dissolving body of a sahuagin (cannot be raised
or healed) and a leather pouch. The first pouch
contains one pink and one white pearl worth 100 gp
each. The other pouch contains two pieces of coral
worth 100 gp each.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Pip Sterling
Human Swashbuckler, chaotic good
Ship: Silver Corsair
Pip Sterling has always fancied himself a pirate.
Ever since he was kidnapped as a swabby for
Captain Lorne Muldune, Pip has sworn to recruit
his own crew to get revenge on Captain Muldune
and his ship, the Bloody Dagger.
Using what he learned aboard the Bloody Dagger,
Pip has now become a confident and intelligent ship
captain. Pip is extremely prideful and fun and hopes
that by treating others as friends, they will help him
someday in killing Captain Muldune and scuttling
his ship.
Pip Sterling
Personality Trait. I trust anyone as a friend until they cross
me.
Ideal. I believe that having their name etched into the
history books is the greatest accomplishment a person can
achieve.
Bond. I will get my revenge on Captain Muldune.
Flaw. My pride will lead to my undoing.
Famous Quotes. “Heeeyyy paaaaaaal, looking for some
adventure?”
An Old “Friend”
While passengers on Pip Sterling’s ship (Silver
Corsair), the adventurers have the opportunity for
the following encounter.
The high sun beats on your skin as your captain skill-
fully navigates the Silver Corsair across the Moonsea.
The jovial man often rushes about offering to teach you
what the different ropes do or even how to steer the
ship.
A few hours into your trip, Pip shouts to you, “We
should be there soon, the sea is the calmest I’ve seen it
in a long time!”
Anyone who is on watch at the bow of the boat or
in the crow’s nest can attempt a DC 13 Intelligence
(Investigation) check. If they succeed, they notice
what looks like a patch of ice about 300 yards away.
Closer inspection with a spyglass reveals that the
ice looks grainy and the small mass has a spire in
its center. It looks as though a man is sitting atop
the spire.
Pip starts darting about trying to maneuver the sails to
try to avoid the ice mass. He shouts to you, “Everyone
help with the lines!”
Oddly, with the sails fully extended, the ship’s speed
starts to decrease. Even more curious, the heading
won’t change. “Drop the anchors!” Pip yells at you as
he is clearly panicked and confused.
The Silver Corsair has two anchors, one on the
port bow and the other on the starboard bow.
Dropping the anchors requires a DC 12 Strength
(Athletics) check. If this isn’t completed in 1 round,
the ship crashes into the ice pack. If this happens,
each player must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity
(Acrobatics) check or be flung 15 feet toward the
bow. Characters at the anchors will be flung over
the bow and take 10 (3d6) falling damage before
landing prone.
Dropping the anchors slows the ship down
enough so that it stops just before the ice pack.
After the ship has stopped or run aground, read the
following:
Pip asks for help pushing a large wooden plank
down to the ground. As you descend to the pack, you
realize that this substance isn’t like any snow you’ve
seen before. In fact, you realize that the pack is made
completely out of salt.
At this point the party should want to check out the
spire towards the center of the salt pack. If someone
noticed a person using a spyglass, Pip almost runs
in that direction.
Sitting atop a mound of salt is a man with tentacles
growing from atop his head. Pip turns to you and says,
“Wow! It’s my old friend Hank, don’t worry, I got this!”
Pip turns to Hank, “Heeeyy paaaal how ya been?”
Upon finishing his sentence, salt erupts from the pack,
completely enveloping Pip. Hank looks at you and
says, “What fools are stupid enough to travel with this
scoundrel?”
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Allow the party to introduce themselves if they wish.
If the party wishes to ask questions, they may. Here
are some common questions and responses.
Did you cause the ship to run aground?
Yes, yes I did. I believe that Pip’s Silver Corsair owes
me a toll. Perhaps you would like to pay it for him?
What do you have against Pip?
You see, I used to be a crewman aboard the Silver
Corsair, not this one of course, lord knows how
many Pip has gone through. Anyway, I heard a voice
that revealed itself as a Kraken. When I told Captain
Sterling he scoffed at me like I was joking. I became
the laughing stock of the ship. The men treated me
like garbage, so I left.
You heard a Kraken speaking to you?
Yes, and since then it has given me fantastic powers.
I guess Pip is the laughing stock now, huh?
Allow the party to go back and forth with Hank
and if they wish to attempt a DC 15 Wisdom
(Insight) check they may. No matter what they roll,
the party feels he is telling the truth, but a success
also reveals he isn’t telling the party everything. A
DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check causes Hank
to reveal that he tried to mutiny aboard the Silver
Corsair and was made to walk to the plank, at which
point the Kraken saved him.
So then, shall we settle this? It is clear that you want
your captain back, though I’m not sure why. Let us
work out a trade. I’ll accept payment in gold or brawn.
It’s easy, you give me three thousand gold or a fight
worthy of our ancestors. Well, which do you choose?
Gold
If the party decides to pay Hank, the salt disinte-
grates, and the party falls into the Moonsea. Hank
escapes and swims away. The party must succeed
on DC 15 Strength (Athletics) checks to climb back
onto the Silver Corsair.
Parley
If the party wishes to try and talk their way out of
this, they may try though it is quite challenging as
Hank’s need for revenge is strong. They can attempt
a DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check. Feel free to
offer advantage for clever roleplaying or an interest-
ing argument. If the party fails, Hank will still take
the gold to leave or will attack them if he has been
angered.
Combat
The salt island dissolves with the exception of the
pile Pip is encased in. The party is then attacked by
a malformed kraken and Hank the Kraken Priest.
After casting a spell the first round of combat, Hank
swims away from the battle and can’t be found.
Once the malformed kraken is defeated, Pip’s salty
tomb dissolves and he is unharmed.
Setting up the Encounter
Very Weak & Weak
• Kraken Priest: AC:10, 75 hp, Int +0
Swims away the first round of combat.
• Malformed Kraken: AC 17, 115 hp, Int +0
Average
• Kraken Priest: AC:10, 75 hp, Int +0
Swims away the second round of combat.
• Malformed Kraken: AC 17, 140 hp, Int +0
Strong & Very Strong
• Kraken Priest: AC:10, 75 hp, Int +0
• Malformed Kraken: AC 17, 172 hp, Int +0
Conclusion
Once the party has completed this task, read the
following:
Pip looks at you and says, “Well, didn’t think we’d be
having that kind of fun today huh? I truly don’t know
what happened to Hank, he used be such a great guy.
Anyway, I promise there will be no more distractions.
That is unless you’d like me to find some for us?”
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Kiya ‘Spider of the Sea’
Human Swashbuckler, chaotic neutral
Ship: Recluse
Kiya, also known as the “Spider of the Sea,” is the
daughter of a pirate. Kiya’s mother passed during
childbirth, leaving Kiya’s father to raise her on the
Moonsea. She learned how to handle the crew
members quickly, giving orders–correct orders at
that–and setting the crew straight when necessary.
Her father passed away several years ago, shortly
after Kiya turned 23. A rival crew boarded the
Recluse at night in an attempt to take over the ship.
A battle broke out, with the Recluse floating and the
rival ship sunk, but leaving Kiya’s father dead.
Kiya stepped into her father’s role with ease; she’d
been training for it all her life. The crew knew her
and respected her, but they noticed a change in her.
Gone was the kind and caring Kiya—replaced by a
woman who loved her crew yet despised the vicious
and treacherous acts of others.
Kiya
Personality Trait. I speak slowly when talking to idiots.
Ideal. The path to power is through deceit and
manipulation.
Bond. It is my duty to protect myself and my crew, no
matter what obstacle we face.
Flaw. I’ll flirt with anything if I think it will help my cause.
Famous Quotes. “Hello gorgeous!”, “My, my”, “Let’s put a
pin in that”.
Sah-ooligans
While passengers on Kiya’s ship the Recluse, the
adventurers have to opportunity for the following
encounter, which occurs while the party is eating
dinner with Kiya in her stateroom.
While you sit around the table enjoying the last bits of
your meal, the warning bell rings once.
“That’s odd,” says Kiya with a raised eyebrow.
“Perhaps it was just the wind. __________, would you
be a dear and take a quick peek outside?”
Outside
The first adventurer to look outside sees a young
sahuagin holding a hand over Eve’s mouth. Eve was
on watch and was trying to ring the warning bell
when the sahuagin grappled her.
What’s Going On?
A group of teenage sahuagin have accepted a
dare from a rival clan—deface a ship that sails the
Moonsea!
The Sahuagin
A total of six sahuagin are on the main deck of the
ship.
• Three are at the front of the ship, using daggers to
carve their names into the deck.
• One has climbed the main mast and is splashing
the sail with octopus ink.
• One is relieving itself all over the Harpoon gun.
• One has Eve grappled and is covering her
mouth. This juvenile speaks broken common and
attempts to communicate with the party.
A successful DC 12 Intelligence (Insight) or
Perception (Wisdom) check reveals the Sahuagin
appear to be young and in their teens. They don’t
carry spears as they are known to do.
Sahuagin Explanation
Glick’Glak—the juvenile holding Eve—tries to
explain why they are on board the ship.
The young Sahuagin looks nervous and frightened but
continues to hold the crew member hostage. “Only
yolk. No pain,” it says as its eyes dart around.
Glick’Glak is trying to say ‘Only joke. No harm
meant’, but sadly his vocabulary isn’t very large. If
the adventurers use magic to communicate with
Glick’Glak, he explains why they were on the ship
and that he realizes it was a mistake.
Peaceful Resolution?
The juveniles know they are in trouble, but they are
scared. Those at the front of the ship leap from the
deck and into the Moonsea, where they watch from
a distance to see what happens to their companions.
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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If the party agrees to let them go, the juveniles
release Eve, run to the ship’s rail, and jump into the
Moonsea.
Combat
If attacked, the remaining juveniles defend them-
selves, but take every opportunity to jump from the
ship.
Setting up the Encounter
All
• Sahuagin (6): AC:12, 22 hp, Int +0
Kiya and Eve
Both ladies want the sahuagin punished. Eve
constantly spits on the deck, she’s disgusted that
the creature covered her mouth with its nasty, fishy
hand.
Kiya is infuriated that the creatures have defaced
her ship. She demands they be punished, and she
suggests they be killed.
The party may attempt to persuade Kiya and Eve
to release the juveniles. Three successful DC 15
Persuasion (Charisma) checks before three failures
convinces Kiya and Eve to release the sahuagin.
Feel free to grant advantage for good role play or
intriguing arguments.
Conclusion
If the result is peaceful, with the juveniles being
released unharmed, a small pouch containing
five pink pearls is found on the ship’s deck the
next morning, which is the juveniles attempt at an
apology.
If the confrontation results in combat, no reward
is found in the morning.
Treasure
A leather pouch containing five pink pearls worth
100 gp each.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only
CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
46
Player Handout 1. Contract
Abigail’s Cove Adventurer Contract
This is a legal and binding contract between the two signed parties. No modifications may be
made to this contract after it has been signed, unless both parties agree to the modifications and
acknowledge the listed modifications by initialing next to said modification.
The village of Abigail’s Cove hereby employs the undersigned to perform the following task:
recover and return any treasure found using the recently procured treasure map.
If you die, you are dead. Resurrection services are at your own expense and will not be
covered by your employer.
You are to respect your ship’s crew and captain. Disrespect will not be tolerated, and the
ship’s captain has the right to deal with you as if you were a normal crew member.
Your payment depends on your success, and you will be given a share of all recovered
treasure.
The share breakdown is as follows:
20% goes to the village of Abigail’s Cove.
30% goes to the ship’s captain and its crew.
50% goes to those who sign The Adventurer’s Contract, to be
divided however they wish between all survivors.
If for some reason you exit the adventure or are unsuccessful in finding the treasure, all
information you have gathered from our discussions is considered confidential.
It is in your best interest to be honest about all found treasure. Any discovered thievery of
coin, gems, or items will be dealt with posthaste.
Signed:
Signed:
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Player Handout 2 . The Ship Captains
Angry Adrik
Ship: Blue Fin
Pip Sterling
Ship: Silver Corsair
Kiya ‘Spider of the Sea’
Ship: Recluse
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
48
Player Handout 3. The Writing on the Door
My dearest Abigail,
This was to be our fortune, our future, a means
for us to be together.
Fate took you from me but, as a symbol of my
love, the treasure remains yours, safely kept
within this room.
Perhaps someday the gods will find a way to
restore us to this realm. If we should be so lucky,
we have the means to build a fantastic life.
I miss you and will always love you,
Dreadarious
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CCC-TRI-25 Dead Men’s Treasure
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Player Handout 4. Magic Item
During the course of this adventure, the characters
may find the following permanent magic item:
Cli Lyre
Wondrous item, rare
A cli lyre is an exquisite example of its kind, supe-
rior to any ordinary lyre in every way. A creature
that attempts to play the instrument without being
attuned to it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom
saving throw or take 2d4 psychic damage.
You can use an action to play the instrument and
cast one of its spells. Once the instrument has been
used to cast a spell, it can’t be used to cast that
spell again until the next dawn. The spells use your
spellcasting ability and spell save DC.
When you use the instrument to cast a spell that
causes targets to become charmed on a failed save,
the targets have disadvantage on the saving throw.
This effect applies whether you are using the instru-
ment as the source of the spell or as a spellcasting
focus.
The lyre can cast each of the following spells once
per day: fly, invisibility, levitate, protection from evil
and good, stone shape, wall of fire, wind wall.
An expertly crafted lyre embossed with dark
mother-of-pearl stingrays.
This item can be found in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide.
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/Adventure League/Convention Created Content/TotalCon (TRI)/CCC-TRI-25 - Dead Mens Treasure Version v1.1.pdf |
A Light in the Dark
Reports are coming out of the conclusion of the death curse, and the defeat of the lich
Acererak. Adventurers are no longer afraid to go into the night in search of fame and
fortune. A wily antiquarian has gleaned the location of an item of particular value and
unsurpassed rarity. The problem is, she is certain she isn’t the first…or the last to learn of
it. A race for riches and renown, who will be the ones to get there first and claim their
prize?
A Four-Hour Adventure for 11th-16th Level Characters
Sean Terrill
Author
Adventure Code: CCC-SAC-01
Optimized For: APL 13
Version: 1.0
Development and Editing: Claire Hoffman, Travis Woodall
Organized Play: Chris Lindsay
D&D Adventurers League Wizards Team: Adam Lee, Chris Lindsay, Mike Mearls, Matt Sernett
D&D Adventurers League Administrators: Robert Adducci, Bill Benham, Travis Woodall, Claire Hoffman, Greg Marks,
Alan Patrick
Special Thank You: John Capriola, Jasmine Casasus, Deni Curtis, Ethan Foster, Mark Logoteta, Kyle Shelton, Stephanie
Shelton, Alan Soto, Robert Waite, and Mark Woodard
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all
other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are
property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork
contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.
©2017 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The
Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
2
Introduction
Welcome to A Light in the Dark, a D&D Adventurers
League™ adventure, part of the official D&D
Adventurers League™ organized play system and the
Tomb of Annihilation™ storyline season.
This adventure takes place in the Moonsea region
of Faerun. Players will begin play arriving in the city
of Mulmaster.
This adventure is designed for three to seven
11th to 16th level characters and is optimized for
five characters with an average party level (APL)
of 13. Characters outside this level range cannot
participate in this adventure.
Adjusting This Adventure
This adventure provides suggestions in making
adjustments for smaller or larger groups, characters
of higher or lower levels, and characters that are
otherwise a bit more powerful than the adventure is
optimized for. You’re not bound to these
adjustments; they’re here for your convenience.
To figure out whether you should consider
adjusting the adventure, add up the total levels of all
the characters and divide the total by the number of
characters (rounding .5 or greater up; .4 or less
down). This is the group’s APL. To approximate the
party strength for the adventure, consult the
following table.
Determining Party Strength
Party Composition Party
Strength
3-4 characters, APL less than
Very weak
3-4 characters, APL equivalent
Weak
3-4 characters, APL greater than
Average
5 characters, APL less than
Weak
5 characters, APL equivalent
Average
5 characters, APL greater than
Strong
6-7 characters, APL less than
Average
6-7 characters, APL equivalent
Strong
6-7 characters, APL greater than
Very strong
Some encounters may include a sidebar that offers
suggestions for certain party strengths. If a
particular recommendation is not offered or
appropriate for your group, you don’t have to make
adjustments.
Before Play at the Table
Before you start play, consider the following:
Read through the adventure, taking notes of
anything you’d like to highlight or remind yourself
of while running the adventure, such as a way
you’d like to portray an NPC or a tactic you’d like
to use in a combat. Familiarize yourself with the
adventure’s appendices and handouts.
Gather any resources you’d like to use to aid you
in running this adventure--such as notecards, a
DM screen, miniatures, and battlemaps.
Ask the players to provide you with relevant
character information, such as name, race, class,
and level; passive Wisdom (Perception), and
anything specified as notable by the adventure
(such as backgrounds, traits, flaws, etc.)
Playing the Dungeon Master
You have the most important role—facilitating the
enjoyment of the game for the players. You provide
the narrative and bring the words on these pages to
life.
To facilitate this, keep in mind the following:
You’re Empowered. Make decisions about how
the group interacts with the adventure; adjusting or
improvising is encouraged, so long as you maintain
the adventure’s spirit. This doesn’t allow you to
implement house rules or change those of the
Adventurers League, however; they should be
consistent in this regard.
Challenge Your Players. Gauge the experience
level of your players (not the characters), try to feel
out (or ask) what they like in a game, and attempt to
deliver the experience they’re after. Everyone should
have the opportunity to shine.
Keep the Adventure Moving. When the game
starts to get bogged down, feel free to provide hints
and clues to your players so they can attempt to
solve puzzles, engage in combat, and roleplay
interactions without getting too frustrated over a
lack of information. This gives players “little
victories” for figuring out good choices from clues.
Watch for stalling—play loses momentum when this
happens. At the same time, make sure that the
players don’t finish too early; provide them with a
full play experience.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
3
Adventure Background
Several hundred years ago, a young green dragon
by the name of Zourunth roamed the marshes of the
Flooded Forest. Finding a place to lay claim to, and
lair in, Zourunth hibernated for many months to
connect with her new home. Unbeknown to her, she
was connected with a portal to the Shadowfell and
was spirited away. Upon the destruction of the
necromantic artifact known as the Soulmonger,
Zourunth was able to return to this plane along with
her hoard. Including a massive gem, that continued
to hold an essence of the plane in which she was
given many a splendid gift. It is her most prized
possession.
Over the past few weeks, Zourunth has cleverly
“let word out” regarding her shadow-gem in hopes
of drawing adventurers (and their treasure) to her
lair to add to her amassing hoard.
Gedreghast is a commander and leader of a group
of shadowvar (denizens of the Shadowfell) intent on
keeping the gem in safe hands. Their intent is to use
this gem as an anchor to connect their home and this
realm, no safer place than in a dragon’s hoard!
Amerantha Everbright is a half-elf antiquarian
who has gained a vast reputation for herself by
hunting down artifacts and relics across the
Moonsea and beyond. Several weeks ago,
Amerantha and her associates at the Old-World
Society confirmed (as best they can) the existence of
an enormous gemstone, infused with the very
essence of the Shadowfell itself. Amerantha is
unaware of any owner of said gem, or that there may
or may not be anything guarding it.
Location and NPC Summary
The following NPCs and locations feature prominently in this
adventure.
Amerantha Everbright (A-muh-RAN-tha). Half-Elf
antiquarian of middle age, is a constant seeker to one-up
herself and her previous finds.
Zourunth (ZOR-oonth). Now an Adult Green Shadow
dragon, Zourunth has come back from the Shadowfell
changed forever. Using cunning and intelligence, she is a
powerful foe against the players who hopes to amass great
wealth and power.
Adventure Overview
A Light in the Dark is broken up into a linear 5-
part adventure, some are very quick, and others take
much longer. Be aware of any time constraints you
may have at the table you are playing at and adjust
accordingly.
Part 1. A Request to Quest (15 minutes): The
characters are contacted by the half-elf Amerantha
Everbright, leader of the Old-World Society and
contracted into locating and procuring a gem of
unusually large size before anyone else can.
Part2. A Race for Riches (20 minutes): The
adventurers find themselves in the flooded forest,
hunting down the precious stone. Without the use of
teleportation or scrying magic, they will have to use
wit and wisdom to find it first. They can play it safe
and go at a slow pace, or race headlong into the
forest potentially wearing themselves out.
Part3. There Are Always Hurdles (130 minutes):
The path through the forest is not always an easy
one. Here, the players find themselves inside a
cavern where they believe the gem to be located.
However, before they can extract the stone, their
competitors arrive.
Part4. The Showdown (60 minutes): After the
difficult defeat of strange, other-worldly enemies,
the adventurers find themselves face to face with
Zourunth herself, she promises not to go down
easily.
Part5. Not What We Expected (15 minutes):
The adult green shadow dragon Zourunth defeated,
and their counterparts eliminated, the players take
the stone back to Amerantha, only to find out it may
go deeper than just a payday.
Adventure Hooks
Any of the following hooks can be used to bring the
players into Mulmaster for this adventure.
With Friends Like You. The characters are
contacted by a courier with an urgent message.
Should they agree to meet with his employer, he will
cast teleport on them to bring them to Mulmaster’s
front gates.
Zhentarim (Faction Assignment). You receive a
coded message from the Zhentarim officials detailing
a mission of importance to your brothers and sisters.
Let no one know of your mission, and treat this as
high importance, you will be compensated well. Give
any Zhentarim characters a copy of Handout 1.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Part 1. A Request to Quest
Estimated Duration: 15 minutes
The characters have accepted the invitation to
meet with Amerantha Everbright, chairwoman in
the Old-World Society. Upon entering the city, the
characters are met with associates of The Cloaks,
that advise the characters against casting arcane
spells within city limits. If the player characters are
members of appropriate rank within The Cloaks, this
restriction is waived.
Once the characters meet with Amerantha and
hear out her offer, they can decide whether or not to
accept the task at hand. If they do, proceed to Part 2:
A Race for Riches.
General Features
Mulmaster has the following general features:
Terrain. The inside of the city or Mulmaster is filled with
the hustle and bustle of trade. Cobblestone streets fill the
city and large crowds meet and disperse with relative
quickness.
Weather. The morning has a thick overcast with dark
clouds, obscuring most of the natural sunlight. It is chilly, but
not enough to need winter furs. What is clear, is that a storm
is on its way.
Light. With the amount of storm-clouds looming overhead,
natural sunlight is dimmed throughout this portion of the
overall landscape.
Smells and Sounds. Inside the tavern, it is warm and
inviting, despite the gloom and chill outside. The smell of
roasted meats and freshly prepared autumn vegetables and
ale marry in way that makes one think, and feel, at home.
The light of the open hearth provides bright light for those
inside the common room, and lanterns hang in the hallways
of the upper floor.
Amerantha’s Offer:
The players are ushered to an upstairs suite, in the
waiting room the players can meet each other and
talk if they wish.
You are ushered into a large sitting room. A Marvelous
painting of a half elf woman with flowing golden hair and
what appears to be archaeologist’s tools protruding from her
pocketed vest hangs over the mantle to the fireplace set
against the southern wall.
Comfortable sitting chairs are arranged against opposite
walls, and a large dining table with food and wine completes
the furnishings of this room.
“Please, don’t be shy. Have yourselves a good meal, and
let’s get right down to business, shall we?”
A half-elven woman matching the portrait enters the area
from the back room and introduces herself as Amerantha.
Amerantha Everbright wants this request to be
as humble as able, but negotiations over as quickly
as possible to ensure that the party has the best
chances of completion. She can provide the following
information:
Amerantha and her companions within the Old-
World Society have confirmed rumors of a
treasure of great rarity and value, a cut diamond
the size of a halfling, with a smoky interior that
seems to be made of shadowstuff.
The Old-World Society is a group of antiquarians
and archaeologists devoted to unearthing the
secrets of the past, for prestige and profit.
While they have been able to scry its general
location, they cannot get a clear fix on the gem
itself. The Flooded Forest is currently under a
flux of the weave, hindering divination and
teleportation magic.
She cannot be certain that she is the only one to
hear of its rumor or that others are not actively
hunting the item itself.
She offers the party members a small fortune of
4,000gp each as incentive to complete this task
swiftly and quietly. Any additional finds will be
the players to do with as they will, for she is only
interested in the shadow-diamond.
The oncoming storm has overcast the skies and it
may be harder to search the dense forest, with
the lack of light and constant rainfall the last few
weeks. Heroes of their experience may have
little to no trouble at all.
This mission is of the upmost importance to her
and wishes the party to leave as soon as they are
able, providing a Potion of Superior Healing in
case they run into trouble and are in need of
healing.
If any character has a Passive 20 Wisdom
(Perception) check, that character hears a
floorboard creak just outside the door followed by
movement going down the stairwell. The spy
(Gedreghast) is under the effects of a non-detection
spell. Once the sound has been made, he rushes
down the stairs and starts to actively stealth to avoid
detection. If the players pursue the sound they see a
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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full common room of the inn downstairs as the spy is
leaving the front door (as an action Gedreghast
casts Seeming after his movement to leave the
establishment with an altered appearance).
Remember no components are needed for innate
casting. Gedreghast can be described to the players
as a tall slender humanoid very similar to
appearance as a Drow, save for his hair is shoulder-
length and jet black, and he wears studded leather
that is dirty with ash and dust, and a pristine curved
dagger in a sheathe on his hip.
Roleplaying Amerantha
Amerantha is an outgoing and happy individual at every
moment of the day. This trait does not make her naive or
unwise, however. She understands what a find like this will
do not only monetarily for herself and her organization, but
also the historical and mystical properties of this gem are
something to be documented and studied closely for
preservation. She is fearful of too much faction involvement,
assuming that they would take credit for her discovery, and is
willing to do whatever it takes to ensure this missions success
(even if she has to pay extra for it).
What the characters do now is up to them but
remind them that time is of the essence (even if they
did not hear the eaves-dropper). Allow the players
to acquire any items they may need from town
before venturing off.
Currently, due to the trapped essence of the
Shadowfell within the shadow-diamond, the Weave
is modified slightly in this area. The Flooded Forest
blocks scrying and teleportation or conjuration
magic on a large degree. Creatures attempting to
teleport into or out of the forest, to conjure creatures
or allies into the forest, or using scrying magic
(legend lore, locate creature/object arcane eye,
clairvoyance, or scry for example) on the flooded
forest or any object/creature within must make a DC
17 ability check using their spellcasting ability.
Those who fail, suffer 55 (10d10) necrotic damage
and gain one level of exhaustion as the spell fails and
a wave of necrotic shadows pulse around the caster.
Those that pass the check take half damage, are not
exhausted, and the spell functions as below:
Scrying and Divination magic have partial
effect, the character must make another
caster level check for each round they
concentrate on a spell from the school of
divination, and the exact location of the
diamond cannot be determined. The
characters do, however gain an automatic
success on their search for each successful
divination spell cast or each round spent
concentrating specifically requesting the
location of the diamond. For more
information on this, see Part 2: A Race for
Riches.
Teleportation and Conjuration magic
functions but teleports the character (or
summoned creature) outside the northern
end of The Flooded Forest. Teleportation
magic cast inside the forest itself fails
outright and will not teleport the character
to the northern end of the forest. Specific
spells do work for teleportation but require
direct line of sight and a target of self to
function (i.e. Misty Step or Dimension Door
to a location you can see) (see Part 2: A Race
for Riches.)
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Part 2. A Race for Riches
Estimated Duration: 20 minutes
The characters have accepted the quest to hunt
down the shadow-diamond and have a rough area to
start their search. How the players locate the cavern
is entirely up to them but some examples are given
below to help guide their way through.
Once the characters set their pace, you will need to
record their setbacks.
General Features
The pathway through The Flooded Forest has the following
features:
Terrain. The terrain features thick brush, areas of water
and marshlands, and few easy paths to cross. Overly thick
walls of thorney vines create hazards and mazes as far as the
eye can see.
Weather. The air here is thick and humid, allbeit quite
cool. Mist and fog hang low to the ground and the trees block
most of the remaining sunlight from the overcast skies.
Light. The light here under the overcast skies and the thick
fog alog with the dense tree cover is dim light. Those without
darkvision are at disadvantage on sight based checks.
Smells and Sounds. Musty, thick air is dense in the forest.
With it brings a damp, musty smell that is offputting. No
animal sounds can be heard which confirms a very unnatural
presence is within the area.
If the players chose to travel to the forest by foot or
horseback, it will take them roughly one day to reach
the area. If instead they teleport or request such
services of Amerantha that can be provided for the
players. Accepting such transportation or doing so
themselves provides them with a success in Part 3,
reducing the amount of failures the adventurers
have (minimum 0).
Forest Maze:
As the players reach the entrance to the forest, read
the following aloud:
Entering the forest, you feel unnerved. Something is
definitely not natural here. The fog is thicker, the trees and
landscape seem to warp and change at a glance.
Undoubtedly, the environment has been altered by whatever
is affecting the weave within the forest.
At this point, ask the players to decide on a guide
or leader throughout the exploration portion of the
adventure. They can also choose to work as a team,
however this will adjust the challenges into GROUP
checks, as opposed to one leader.
The alterations and challenges continue to worsen,
the closer they get to the gem.
The players must chose now to move at
“Slow”, “Normal”, or “Fast” pace.
Moving at a slow pace will grant the players
advantage on their ability checks, however
it counts as an automatic failure (setback) in
Part 3.
Moving at normal pace confers no penalty
or bonus to the players, while moving at fast
pace confers disadvantage on ability checks,
but grants an automatic success (and thus a
reduction in failures) in Part 3.
If the characters successfully used
divination magic to show the location of the
cave (but not the gem itself) award each
character 1 Inspiration that must be used
during this section and be sure to notify
them of the stipulation.
The first 30 minutes that they are in the
forest, and each hour thereafter, the party
must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution
saving throw as the necromantic energies
sap them of their energy, those who fail gain
a level of exhaustion in addition to the
group losing time. Record this as a setback
in Part 3.
For each 30 minutes of investigating, have
the party leader, or as a group make a DC 18
Wisdom (Survival) check or become lost for
a time. A failed check leads to another 30
minutes lost as they backtrack and find their
way. Record a failed roll as a setback in Part
3.
Setbacks: Record the number of failures (maximum
3) for Part 3. In addition to these, if the party at any
point takes a short rest, which will count as an
additional failure (advise the players a long rest is
not advised and could cause automatic failure of the
mission). After the party has successfully navigated
the forest with a single survival check success,
proceed to Part 3.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Tricks of the Trade:
Group Ability Checks, To make a group ability check,
everyone in the group makes the ability check. If at least half
the group succeeds, the whole group succeeds. Otherwise,
the group fails.
Weather. The morning has a thick overcast with dark clouds,
obscuring most of the natural sunlight. It is chilly, but not
enough to need winter furs. What is clear, is that a storm is
on its way.
Light. With the amount of storm-clouds looming overhead,
natural sunlight is dimmed throughout this portion of the
overall landscape.
Development
The intent of this section is to have one success in
locating the cave entrance. Depending on previous
attempts to divine the location some players may be
at disadvantage. The first check the players will
make is the DC 18 Constitution saving throw to
avoid exhaustion followed by the DC 18 Wisdom
(Survival) check. They can have up to 3 failures, or
one success, whichever comes first. Once that
condition is met, the players will find the entrance to
the cave. The players have at worse 2 checks against
exhaustion and 3 checks for survival. At best they
will have 1 and 1 respectively.
After the players have made their first survival
check attempt, read or paraphrase the following:
After half an hour of lost traveling, something peculiar sparks
your interest. Fifty feet or so to the south you notice the
edge of a fogbank seems to have ash within it, mixing with
the remainder of the cloud and created this blackened form
in the air.
Below it, the ground is dry and devoid of living foliage. Dried,
crumbling, and dead. You are unsure as to if this is a
desecrated area, or something else entirely.
The players can make an Intelligence (Arcana) DC 18
check to notice key similarities between this
abnormality and the general environmental status of
the Shadowfell.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Part 3. There are Always
Hurdles
Estimated Duration: 130 minutes
The characters have located the entrance to a
cavern, and are fairly certain this is where they need
continue their search.
General Features
The Cavern of shadow has the following features:
Terrain. The inside of cavern ranges from natural rock
formation to worked tunnels and stone. Each section will
have detailed information if the terrain changes.
Light. The light inside the cave originates from
phosphorescent lichen, providing dim light throughout the
cavern system unless otherwise stated. Light sources due to
being partially in the Shadowfell are reduced to half
effectiveness.
Smells and Sounds. Inside the cavern lacks sound unless
otherwise noted. Hollow echoes can be heard from the
adventurer’s footsteps.
Shade Explosion Traps. At the locations marked T on the
map, are arcane runes visible only to those that can see the
Ethereal Plane. After being passed over by a living creature
who is not attuned to it, an explosion of necromantic energy
erupts from the rune causing all living creatures within a 30-
foot radius to make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw.
Failure indicates the player takes 3d10 Necrotic damage and
has their maximum hit points reduced by the same amount
until they have taken a long rest. Success halves the damage
and does not reduce maximum hit points. If the players can
see the rune, casting a Dispel Magic targeting a 6th level spell
will suppress the rune for 1d6+1 rounds. If the character has
spent a week in the Shadowfell within the last 30 days, they
do not trigger the traps and may pass freely.
Area 1. Entry Chamber
This small cave entrance is the beginning of
Zourunth’s lair. Due to her affinity to the Shadowfell,
the natural rock has darkened in color over time.
Read or paraphrase:
General Features
The lair has the following general features:
Terrain. The floor here is natural stone and is more or less
level. The walls are unworked and bear a darker color than
normal for this type of stone. All rooms in this cave are
twenty feet tall, unless otherwise noted.
Smells and Sounds. The smell of death, mildew, the tang
of acidity in the air. It is disturbingly quiet here.
As you pass through the cave mouth, you feel a rush of cold.
Like an unnatural curtain of freezing air. The walls of this
cavern seem to be worked (albeit spottily) and the eastern
alcove is covered in dark, thorny vines. The northern end of
this cavern houses a rather large pile of gold and gemstones
intermixed with blood stained and destroyed adventuring
gear.
This is the entrance to Zourunth’s home. The entry
chamber is housed to entice individuals in, rather
than scaring them away. The lesser gemstones,
destroyed gear, and bloodied gold coins would mar
her pristine collection, and thus have been left in this
entrance for eager treasure seekers to walk into.
Development
If the players wish to investigate the area, not
finding the stone, allow them to make a Wisdom
(Perception) check DC 18. Other skills may be used
in place of this, as long as the reasoning is valid
(such as investigation, survival, etc.) If successful,
the players can note that the lichen in the thorns of
the eastern wall seem to go deeper than the others,
possibly this is not the end of the cave.
The thickets lining the walls can be moved through
with every 1 foot a creature moves costing 4 feet of
movement. The walls are 10 feet thick unless
otherwise stated. A creature in the thickets must
make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw once each
round it is in contact with the thickets or take 14
(4d6) piercing damage from the thorns. Each 10-foot
cube has AC 5, 30 hit points, resistance to
bludgeoning and piercing damage, vulnerability to
fire damage, and immunity to psychic and thunder
damage. These are a modified part of the regional
effect of the dragon nesting here.
Development
From here, the characters proceed out of this room.
However, the hallway out of this chamber has a
cunningly disguised Enveloping Walls trap. If this
trap is not located and bypassed, it will alert the
creatures in Area 2.
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Trap: Enveloping Walls
Simple trap, dangerous threat (levels 11-16)
The passageway through the thorns is magically trapped to
ensnare the unwary. A 5-foot radius symbol is embedded 5
feet past the entrance, on all surfaces of this tunnel. Any
creature that moves past this rune, and any others within a
20-foot radius suffer an explosion of thorns and are trapped.
Trigger. A creature passes within the area of the rune.
Effect. The triggering character is the target of the effect and
all creatures within a 20-foot radius of the triggering
character must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw or take
55 (10d10) Piercing damage and be restrained by the thorny
vines. A successful saving throw halves the damage and
negates the restrained condition.
A creature restrained by the vines can use its action to make
a Strength or Dexterity check (its choice) against the same DC
17. On a success, it frees itself.
Countermeasures. A successful DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana)
check identifies magical runes cleverly hidden in the floor and
touching it or passing over it is likely to trigger some effect.
Detect Magic identifies an aura of transmutation magic.
However, due to the vines blocking line of sight, this check is
made at disadvantage (unless they are removed prior to
passing). A successful dispel magic against a 6th level spell
suppresses the symbol for 1d6+1 rounds. Teleporting past
the symbol can bypass this trap.
XP Award
If the characters detect and avoid the wall trap,
award each character 2,500 XP.
Treasure
The players upon investigating the small hoard can
salvage up to 2,500 gp in gold and gems. The armor
and equipment are unsalvageable. Additionally, the
players can find a Potion of Speed at the bottom of
the pile inside a locked, but un-trapped coffer (DC 20
Dexterity Thieves Tools check to open).
Area 2. Hall of Fallen Heroes
Passing through the wall of thorns, the players find
themselves in this chamber, blood and bone litter
the floor.
General Features
The hall has the following general features:
Weather. The air here is humid and cold. The walls are
damp from the humidity and sport small patches of mold.
Smells and Sounds. Rotting corpses, mildew, and the tang
of acidic air. Scratching of claws on stone, as well as no
natural insect activity can be heard in this chamber.
Much like the chamber you encountered previously, this area
is damp and cold, the stone more worked than previously.
You feel tired as you enter, as if you are becoming ill or
drained of energy. The black thorns cover the stonework
along the southern and eastern walls, save for an unworked
stone hallway exiting north of this room.
Blood and pieces of humanoid corpses litter the floor here,
hampered by cuts and scrapes from the thorn walls, along
with abnormally large puncture wounds the size of spears in
larger portions of what torsos you find remaining.
.
You may have the players attempt a DC 17
Intelligence (Arcana) check, on success the players
can determine that the exhaustion is a draining
effect similar to that of the plane of shadow.
Hidden in the room is a Boneclaw and four
Banshee that lie in wait for new victims (Passive
Perception DC 17). Once more than half the party
enters the area, they attack hoping to gain advantage
against the party. The boneclaw is cloaked in
shadowstuffs
Adjusting this Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this encounter,
according to your group. These are not cumulative.
Strong/Very Strong: Remove the Banshees and add a
second Boneclaw.
Treasure
The treasure that would normally be remaining on
these bodies has been given to the lord of this
domain and is included in the treasure at the end.
Additionally, a character that spends time
searching the vines and succeeds on a DC 18
Intelligence (Investigation) check discovers that the
southern end of this room continues through to Area
6, some 20 feet of vines stands between them
however.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Area 3. Corridor of Lost Hope
This hallway has been crafted by shadowmages from
the Shadowfell to trap would be plunderers inside
for an eternity of torment.
This area seems much different than others, with the
absence of thorny vines instead shows a worked black stone
similar to marble.
The entrance to this T-section of hallway has an archway
as you enter. To the west, a black adamantine door sits shut
40 feet away from where you stand. Opposite it, to the east,
stands a large statue of a robed man pointing his
outstretched index finger towards the door.
There is a concealed door cleverly hidden opposite
where the party enters this hallway. A successful DC
30 Intelligence (Investigation) check reveals an
outline of what appears to be a crease in the wall,
outlining a door. If the players instead investigate
the statue of the wizard, a successful DC 22
Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception)
reveal there is a hinge cleverly hidden on the
knuckle of the outstretched finger. This finger can be
activated as a lever, opening the concealed door in
the center of this T section.
The doorway is trapped with an Endless Loop Gate
trap that affects players crossing into it. In addition
to the Shade Explosion effect of crossing into this
area for the first time. After opening the door, the
player sees a long hallway (roughly 85 feet long)
with another black metal door at the far end. The
first time a player crosses the threshold of the door,
that player must make a DC 20 Charisma saving
throw or be trapped in this looped hallway. While
inside this loop, the hallway in which they came
from is gone, and once they open the door at the end
of the hallway and step through they see themselves
in an identical 85-foot-long hallway. A form of plane
shift has been fashioned in this trap, which has been
altered to send the participant to a demi plane of
endless running. Possible countermeasures include a
casting of the plane shift spell with a key to the
prime material (shunting them to the entryway to
the cavern), or by having someone cast a targeted
Dispel Magic (targeting a 9th level spell) on the
doorway. Characters outside this hallway can see the
trapped character in this pocket dimension but do
not have line of effect for the purposes of spell
casting.
Trap: Endless Loop Gate
Simple trap, Deadly threat (levels 11-16)
The passageway in this hallway is magically trapped to entrap
the unwary. On the inside of the door frame are arcane
glyphs to transport the character to a demi-plane as a prison.
Trigger. A creature passes through the doorway.
Effect. The triggering character is the target of the effect and
must make a DC 20 Charisma saving throw or be trapped in
the demi plane. A successful saving throw means the
character presses against the wall, unable to be transported
or to see the trapped hallway. Other creatures can still see
the trapped hallway but once the saving throw is made
successfully, the character is immune to its effect for 24
hours, or until the trap is dispelled (see below).
Countermeasures. A successful DC 20 Intelligence (Arcana)
check identifies magical runes cleverly hidden in the
doorframe and that passing through the door will set the trap
off. A successful dispel magic against a 9th level spell will
dispel the trap and eject anyone caught within. Someone
inside can escape via any form of planar travel (such as a
Plane Shift spell keyed to the prime material) ejecting them
to the entrance of the cavern.
A successful DC 20 Intelligence (Arcana) check or
use of Detect Magic shows a strong aura of
Conjuration (Teleportation) magic, in addition to
another aura of Necromancy (for the explosion).
Development
Once the characters bypass the loop trap, or find the
concealed door, they can continue to area 4.
Area 4. Pit of Shadows
This unassuming hallway is again, filled with a
deadly trap for those who have not made this place
home.
After a 15-foot long, 5-foot wide hallway, takes a direct 90
degree turn to the east. The features are similar to the
previous hallway you just exited, however after 55 feet it
takes a turn to the south.
Beneath this hallway is a large pit filled with a
continuous seepage of Shadowfell into this plane.
The effects of which are identical for those who fall
in to an Incendiary Cloud spell, dealing necrotic
damage instead of fire. The saving throw for this
effect is a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw each round
they end their turn in the cloud, as well as when they
enter the cloud for the first time on any turn. On a
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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failure, the player takes 10d8 Necrotic damage, or
half on a successful one. The cloud persists
indefinitely and cannot be dispelled via Dispel Magic.
Because of the nature of the cloud, it does not move
and fills the entirety of the bottom of this hallway.
The pit extends the full 55 feet across, but the
opening only extends up to 20 feet at its most.
The players can spot the pit trap with a successful
DC 17 Wisdom (Perception) check, or an Intelligence
(Investigation). Holding the floor panels up and
disarming the trap would require clever thinking on
the player’s part as a total of 4 sections of floor give
away individually. A DC 17 Dexterity (Thieves Tools)
check can secure the first plate, however each
additional plate the party attempts to secure
requires another check, with a cumulative +2 to its
DC for Thieves Tools only. (17/19/21/23) If the
check fails by 5 or more, all of the floor plates fall,
and any player falls into the 20-foot pit who is
standing on them, they must then make a saving
throw against its effects.
Development
From here, the characters proceed Area 5 through
an open doorway.
Area 5. A Candle in the Darkness.
Passing through the doorway leads to a large, empty
room. Save for a small stand in the middle and a
candle burning atop it. The entirety of this chamber
was meant to again, weaken the resolve of would be
dungeon delvers and thieves. Read or paraphrase:
This large chamber is void of all debris and articles, save for
pedestal in the very center, and a lit candle atop it. The
pedestal is a metallic statue of a predatory cat with
interlinking plates and the candle rests atop it’s head. There
is a door opposite the one you entered into, that currently is
closed.
.
You may have the players attempt a DC 18 Wisdom
(Perception) check, on success the players can see
on the roof and walls there are words in common
written in the marble walls.
Provide the players a copy of Player Handout 2.
After all the players enter this room, read the
following:
As the last of you enters the room, the door behind you
slams shut, and the candle in the center of the room begins
to glow brighter. With the added illumination, you can see
that the pedestal has an engraving along is edge in glowing
runes stating:
“Provide me that which I seek.”
This is a timed event, have each player roll for
Initiative and give each player up to 10 seconds to
determine what they will do. Having a timer for this
event helps with the theme. After each player has
had a turn to decide what to do, the encounter ends
one of two ways.
Should the players learn of the riddle, and
correctly cast a shadow over the candle (non-
magical means are possible with a brighter light
source and an object between them and the candle)
or snuffing the candle out with a darkness spell the
candle turns black and awakens the Steel Predator
disguised as the pedestal at the end of that round.
The candle is magical in nature, attempts to dispel
the candle would succeed against a 7th level spell,
however does not answer the riddle, by
extinguishing the flame by hand or another source
would result in the triggering event of a Delayed
Blast Fireball
If the players do not successfully answer the
riddle, the candle explodes in a Delayed Blast Fireball
centered on its location, effecting the entire room
(DC 18). Regardless of the outcome, after the
Delayed Blast Fireball or the Steel Predator is
defeated, both doors on opposite walls open once
more.
Treasure
The awakened Steel Predator is destroyed upon its
defeat and leaves no treasure behind.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Area 6. The Library
This set of two adjoining rooms serves as a resting
place for those who have traveled across
dimensions, currently it was used as a study for
beings from the Shadowfell in hopes to learn more
about their past and plans for the future. Read or
paraphrase:
General Features
The library has the following general features:
Terrain. The floor here is polished and worked stone.
Weather. The air here is warm and inviting.
Light. This area is illuminated with torches in sconces,
providing bright light throughout.
Smells and Sounds. The smell of dust clings heavily here as
this area is quite old. The crackle of the torches echoes in an
otherwise silent area.
These two adjoining rooms are fashioned into what appears
to be a library of sorts. Complete with an oaken desk,
comfortable armchair, and several old bookshelves. Tomes
covering a wide range of knowledge can be seen and seem to
have a specialized focus around the border planes and the
rise of the Netherese empire.
The walls here bear tapestries and paintings of wizards
engaging in spell duels and study lessons in grand halls. There
is one book that is left open on the desk itself and seems to
be more theory than magical practice.
In the eastern part of this room, there are two furnished
beds sized for humanoids of medium size with footlockers.
Gedreghast, a Shadowvar Knight (statistics as a
Shadar-kai Soul Monger, was here previously
trying to research into ways of bringing back large
portions of the Shadowfell and its citizens to the
Material plane.
Characters may attempt a DC 18 Intelligence
(Arcana) check to decipher that this tome theorizes a
bleeding of one plane into another, using resonating
tools in the same locations on multiple planes
attempting to synchronize the two.
The players can spend time in this room reading
through some of the tomes and advise them it will
take 30 minutes or so to get a good grasp on the
books here. If they choose to stay, add an additional
count to the failure chart presented in Area 8. After
spending time reading through the tomes, one is
written in Netherese and speaks of the history of
someone by the name of Telamont Tanthul, and a
city by the name of Thultanthar, floating on an
inverted mountaintop. In -339 DR, Telamont
(referred to in many of the passages as Lord
Shadow) is described as an archmage of
extraordinary power with a tall, athletic build,
wearing dark armor with Netherese decorations. It
states he had a purple robe over a draconic
overmantle and at one point, had transported the
entire city into the Shadowfell to avoid some kind of
tragedy. If they do their research they have a more
descript understanding of Netherese and gain
advantage in Area 7 when attempting to investigate.
If the players do not read Netherese (from a story
award or another source) or have access to
comprehend languages via magic, they can attempt a
DC 22 Intelligence (History) check to piece together
an understanding of this story.
In addition to understanding the story, they
understand basic physiology that the Shadowfell has
on certain creatures infused with it, namely, a dislike
or susceptibility to bright light as it hinders their
ability to effectively fight. This information can
greatly assist the players against Zourunth.
Treasure
If the players decide to collect the books for a private
collector, they can fetch as much as 2,750gp.
Additionally, the players will find 2 scholars packs
located in the footlockers, as well as rare spell
components worth 1,250gp.
Development
From here, the characters proceed to Area 7 through
a hallway to the east.
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Area 7. Homage to Lord Shadow
This room was reserved to the memory of
Telamont. It houses a clever, and very deadly trap
for those who seek to steal other’s possessions.
Entering into this large chamber, you see to the south a pair
of black adamantine doors, adorned with engravings of wisps
of smoke, and a pair of deep green eyes in its background
sporting vertical slits. Similar to that of a serpent.
The center of this room is dominated by a statue of a tall
man, robed in deep purple with draconic themed pauldrons.
The statue depicts him with both hands raised, palms
towards the sky and bears semblance to a wizard using
somatic components to a spell being performed.
Near his feet rests a large, dust-covered spell tome with
platinum latches and a lock across its top as well as an
intricate staff topped with a large cut ruby. Both items to not
appear to be a part of the statue, rather items laid at its foot.
To the north, there is a 10-foot wide section of black thorn
walls that protrude slightly from the rest of the wall.
If the players decide to investigate the statue, or
their surroundings,
The roof of this cavern is flat, not domed like you would
expect. You can discern a latticework of black adamantine
spanning its entirety.
The statue is surrounded by a translucent cylinder that
completely encircles it from floor to ceiling.
This indeed, was a cleverly well done Falling Roof
Trap. Have the players make a DC 20 Intelligence
(Investigation) check, with advantage if they studied
in the Library. Success indicates that the tome and
staff, while old and dust covered, have nothing to do
with Netheril or have any similar markings
whatsoever, making them seem out of place.
Additionally, the cylinder in the middle is an oddity
as it goes from floor to ceiling, rather than just
encasing the statue. A DC 20 Wisdom (Perception)
check can see that the latticework is not imbedded in
the ceiling, more so being supported against it.
The players can dispel the cylinder in one of two
ways, via Disintegrate spell, much in the same way as
with a Wall of Force or by dispelling it (a Dispel
Magic targeting a 4th level spell). Upon doing so,
however sets off the trap.
This Falling Roof Trap is designed to dispose of
any who made it this far, or at least weaken them,
while their coins and magical items remain intact for
plundering. The latticework falls down covering the
entire room, and gaps in the lattice work are only 1-
foot square. The entire piece weighs over 5 tons and
once it starts to fall, it hits the floor in the same
round.
Each player must make a dexterity saving throw,
DC 18 or take 10d10 bludgeoning damage as they rip
through a small opening. Those that pass the saving
throw take half damage. Characters smaller than
small size, or those who have the ability to squeeze
through 1” areas (such as a polymorphed player into
a small animal, or a Druid Wildshaped into an air or
water elemental for example) have advantage on the
check, take no damage on a successful save, and only
half on a failure. If this damage reduces a player to 0
hp, they are smashed to a pulp, and require a True
Resurrection or a Wish to restore the character to
life.
As the lattice falls, it crushes the statue, the tome,
and the staff beneath it. The cylinder only has
enough room for the statue itself, making it not a
valid destination for spells like Misty Step or
Dimension Door as players of small or larger size are
unable to squeeze in the area. If somehow the
players are able to achieve tiny size or smaller, there
is enough room to be inside the cylinder to retrieve
the items.
Development
At this point, the players have survived the traps of
the lair, and are on to the final push. The spellbook is
empty but can be used as a spellbook or sold for the
base platinum in it, for 500gp. The staff can fetch
250gp to an art dealer and has a Nystul’s Magic Aura
cast upon it to fool others.
XP Award
If the characters detect and avoid the Falling Roof
Trap, award each character 2,500 XP.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Area 8. There’s No Place like Home.
Passing through the doorway into Zourunth’s resting
place. She has constructed most of her lair to be
nothing but a death maze for would-be intruders.
She has made an especially thick wall of thorns here
upon seeing the teleportation runes, or hearing the
party in her home, and now lies in wait in the
southern corner of the room for the collision to
begin.
This encounter will run differently depending on the
number of failures in Part 2, as well as a possible
addition in Part 3 in the Library or any rest that was
taken and subtract the number of successes gained
to achieve your final result. Read the first box text
aloud to players and reference the chart below to
determine where to go next. Read or paraphrase:
The exit from the previous room and entrance to this one
inspires awe and wonder. The floor is made of the same
polished black marble, swirled with dark wisps of grey. The
floor expands out to a room 35-feet long, and 135-feet wide.
The edges of the room do not have walls, but instead seem
to fall into a darkened void. There is no ceiling here, and you
cannot see out into the darkness to an end. Your stomachs
turn as though you had been forcibly moved across to
another realm. At the southern end of this floor, is a 60-foot-
high domed wall of blackened thorns abnormally dense in
nature.
.
Exiting the side of the floor has a base for the players
to walk, however if the players begin their turn, or
move into a square outside the mapped zone, they
will be subjected to the Shade Explosion effect with
no radius, only affecting that player, and treat this
area as heavily obscured. The dome in the center of
the room as well as the enclosure of the
shadowstuffs is 60 feet around the area.
Refer to the chart below, determining how the
encounter proceeds from here.
Failures-
Successes
Effect
0
The players have beat their enemies
here and have one round to prepare
before they see glowing runes on the
floor in the center of this room begin
to illuminate. After one round of
preparation, read section 8a.
1-2
The players arrive as the runic circle
starts to illuminate. Read section 8a
3
Players arrive shortly after the
enemies have arrived, they are
preparing for combat against the
players. Have the enemies make one
movement or one action, but not both.
Read section 8b.
4+
The players arrive at the end of the
second round of enemies arriving. The
enemies have one full round of activity
to prepare for the adventures, and to
hide in the room, Adventures with less
than 20 passive perceptions are
considered to have the surprised
condition. Read section 8b.
8a. After the last of you enters the room, the door behind
you slams shut and as you look up, a light appears and begins
to build in the center of the floor. Slowly forming a circle of
arcane runes.
Within a moment, several figures appear in the light.
Slender and tall, these humanoids have features similar to
that of elves, but from a much older time. They are cloaked in
lightly obscuring shadows that cling to them like a fine mist.
Two of these enemies wield long lengths of spiked chain,
while one holds a curved dagger.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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8b. After the last of you enters the room, the door behind
you slams shut and several figures appear out of the void at
the edges of the room, as a softening glow dies down from a
runic circle in the center of the floor. Slender and tall, these
humanoids have features similar to that of elves, but from a
much older time. They are cloaked in lightly obscuring
shadows that cling to them like a fine mist. Two of these
enemies wield long lengths of spiked chain, while one holds a
curved dagger.
You may have the players attempt a DC 18
Intelligence (Arcana) check, on success the players
know that the runic circle is a teleportation effect on
similar type to plane shift, but on a much stronger,
and a very different level.
The players are now face to face with their
competition, led by Gedreghast a Shadowvar
Knight (Shadar-kai Soul Monger), and to his sides
stands two Shadowvar Assassins (Shadar-kai
Shadow Dancer). The enemies waste no time in
taking care of the interlopers from this realm and
charge in to attack. Take note, that since the
shadowvar have been to the plane of shadow for
more than a week in the last month, along with their
immunity to necrotic damage, they are therefore
immune to the damaging aspects of the void. The
floor continues out seemingly endlessly but the map
is dictating where the end of the clouds begin.
Adjusting this Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this encounter,
according to your group. These are not cumulative.
Strong/Very Strong: Add a Shadowcaster (Shadar-kai
Gloom Weaver)
The Shadowvar here fight to the death. With the
diamond acting as a synchronizing focus for the
Shadowfell, they believe it can help in the blending
of the planes and will do whatever it takes to keep
this item safe.
Tricks of the Trade
After two full rounds of combat, proceed to Part 4,
The Showdown. If the players have defeated the
shadowvar within these two rounds, it provides
them with a moment of reprieve, if not however,
they must hurry before they have another powerful
enemy on their hands.
Strike as One. These enemies strike as a group to help take
down stronger enemies first in swift fashion. They target
players wearing heavy armor or wielding two handed
weapons to ensure they can close the distance with
casters afterwards.
Treasure
On the belt Gedreghast, hangs a stoppered brass
bottle. This is an efreeti bottle and is described on
player handout 3.
Development
At this point, if they players have fallen in battle to
the Shadowvar enemies, proceed to Part 5: Not
What We Expected, Defeat!
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Part 4. The Showdown
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
After 2 rounds of combat, read or paraphrase the
following:
An ear-shattering roar erupts from within the vined dome.
The thorns dance and move, slowly pulling back as if alive
themselves. Something is coming out of its shell…. something
BIG.
At this point, the players have two full rounds to
prepare if they defeated the Shadowvar on their
own, if not and are in need of assistance, they must
survive another two rounds before Zourunth
reveals herself. At that point, read the following to
the players:
As the vines thin and pull back from their dense packing, you
can distinctly see a pair of large green eyes staring back at
you through the foliage. You realize now that these were not
the eyes of a snake, but that of dragons.
With a crash, the remaining vines are blown open as an
enormous green dragon with dark charcoal and green scales
erupts from the dome, splintering thorns shower the floor.
Unfurling its wings, you can see the same darkness cling to it,
and its wings become translucent. She lowers her head to
meet you and begins to grin.
“Take care, little ones, as you may fall into a hole seeking
glory and gold, that you may never come back from. This is
the home of Zourunth, The Endless Shadow and YOU are
TRESSPASSING!”
Zourunth emerges along with two Allip from her
shell to dispose of the adventurers and keep her
prized possession safe from the grubby hands of
lesser beings. A few things to keep in mind:
The terrain remains the same, and any
creature pushed into the void continues to
take damage as per the Shade Explosion
effect.
The ceiling of this area is effectively 60-feet
high, before going into the void effect.
Players take damage from this effect when
they first enter the void on a turn, or when
they begin their turn inside it.
Zourunth uses this environment to her
advantage, attempting to pin the
adventurers to the walls, forcing them to
either run past her, or be forced into the
void.
The lighting in this room is dim light.
Adjusting this Encounter
Here are some suggestions for adjusting this encounter,
according to your group. These are not cumulative.
Very Weak: Remove one Allip
Strong/Very Strong: Add a third Allip
Development
At this point, if they players have fallen in battle to
Zourunth, proceed to Part 5: Not What We
Expected, Defeat!
If the party is successful, after the final blow has
been struck against Zourunth, the room begins to
shake and crumble. The runic circle in the center of
this room begins to grow in light, and a familiar
voice calls out to the players:
As the final blow is delivered, and the great dragon’s body
begins to flail in death throws, the shadows in the void begin
to dissipate.
Flickering softly like a candle in a storm, the arcane glyphs
in the center of the room begin to illuminate with the familiar
voice of Amerantha ringing through:
“Hurry heroes! My diviners have found you once again and
we don’t know how long we can keep the connection open!
Grab the gem, run into the circle, and hold on tight!!”
Treasure
The players are able to stuff their bags and pockets
with the horde from the dragon totaling 15,500 gp,
safely gather the shadowdiamond and enter into the
ring before the walls crumble, closing the caverns for
good.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Part 5. Not What We Expected
Estimated Duration: 15 minutes
Success!
The players step through the portal and find
themselves in the personal teleportation circle of
Amerantha Everbright anxiously requesting the
full story of what took place during their adventure.
Zhentarim Faction Assignment:
Allow any Zhentarim players who acquired the Shadowgem
an opportunity to use the black blade to chip a small piece
into a secret compartment within its hilt. Role-play is
encouraged and die rolls are not necessarily needed. If the
character cannot find a way to stay in the back of the
group, etc. allow them to attempt a DC 15 Dexterity
(Sleight of Hand or Stealth) check to do so without being
spotted. This will complete the Zhentarim Assignment
After the players have informed her of their
situation and what has transpired, Amerantha asks
the players for the Shadowgem and hands it to her
researchers for careful and immediate study. They
place the gem in a clear protective container and
begin a ritual to identify any additional properties of
the gem.
After a few moments of well-deserved rest, both diviners
look up to you with eyes widened, jaws slowly dropping. They
quickly end their ritual and pull Amerantha aside speaking
softly.
She turns to you, concern in her voice,
“This is more than just a relic I’m afraid…It appears as this
gem also acts as a conduit for something beyond my contacts
and powers to harness. It seems like this is but a piece in a
much larger ritual, and I think we may have bitten off more
than we can chew…”
Defeat!
Should the players have not defeated the
Shadowvar enemies, or fallen in battle against
Zourunth, The enemies have regrouped and taken
the Shadowgem with them, furthering their plans.
Players earn the Ire of Everbright story award for
their failure. After reporting the failure to
Amerantha, she shows her disapproval greatly and
their story ends here.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Rewards
Make sure players note their rewards on their
adventure log sheets. Give your name and DCI
number (if applicable) so players can record who
ran the session.
Experience
Total up all combat experience earned for defeated
foes and divide by the number of characters present
in the combat. For non-combat experience, the
rewards are listed per character.
Combat Awards
Name of Foe
XP Per Foe
Zourunth (Adult green dragon)
13,000
Allip
1,800
Banshee
1,100
Bone Claw
8,400
Steel Predator
15,000
Gedreghast (Soul Monger)
7,200
Shadovar Assassin (Shadowdancer) 2,900
Shadowcaster (Gloom Weaver)
5,000
Non-Combat Awards
Task or Accomplishment
XP Per Character
Bypassed Vine ensnarement
2,500
Bypassed Falling Roof Trap
2,500
The minimum total award for each character
participating in this adventure is 10,125 experience
points.
The maximum total award for each character
participating in this adventure is 13,500 experience
points.
Treasure
The characters receive the following treasure,
divided up amongst the party. Treasure is divided as
evenly as possible. Gold piece values listed for
sellable gear are calculated at their selling price, not
their purchase price.
Treasure Awards
Item Name
GP Value
Zourunth’s Hoard
15,500gp
Platinum spellbook
500 gp
Ruby Staff
250 gp
Private Library books
2,750 gp
Rare spell components
1,250 gp
Entry chamber treasure
2,500 gp
Amerantha’s reward
4,000 gp each
Consumable magic items should be divided up
however the group sees fit. If more than one
character is interested in a specific consumable
magic item, the DM can determine who gets it
randomly should the group be unable to decide.
Permanent magic items are divided according to
a system detailed in the D&D Adventurers League
Dungeon Master’s Guide.
Efreeti Bottle
Wonderous Item, Very Rare
This painted brass bottle weighs 1 pound. When you
use an action to remove the stopper, a cloud of thick
smoke flows out of the bottle. At the end of your
turn, the smoke disappears with a flash of harmless
fire, and an efreeti appears in an unoccupied space
within 30 feet of you. The first time the bottle is
opened, the GM rolls to determine what happens.
This item can be found in Player Handout 3.
.
Potion of Speed
Potion, very rare
This item can be found in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide.
Potion of Superior Healing
Potion, rare
This item can be found in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Story Awards
During the course of this adventure, the characters
may earn the following story award:
Favor of Everbright. You have collected
successfully the Shadowgem against all odds and
have proven yourself to Amerantha Everbright.
The Old-World Society will remember this, should
you meet with them in the future.
More information can be found in Player Handout
2.
Ire of Everbright. You have let the Shadowgem fall
into the hands of your enemies, earning you the
disapproval of Amerantha Everbright. The Old-
World Society will remember this, should you meet
with them in the future. More information can be
found in Player Handout 2.
Renown
Each character receives one renown at the
conclusion of this adventure.
Members of the Zhentarim that successfully take
a piece of the Shadowgem for the faction and hide it
inside the hidden hilt of the blade, earn one
additional renowned point.
DM Reward
In exchange for running this adventure, you earn DM
Rewards as described in the D&D Adventurers
League Dungeon Master’s Guide (ALDMG).
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Appendix. NPC Summary
The following NPCs are featured prominently in this
adventure:
Amerantha Everbright (A-muh-RAN-tha).
Amerantha Everbright is a half-elf antiquarian who
has gained a vast reputation for herself by hunting
down artifacts and relics across the Moonsea and
beyond.
Zourunth (ZOR-oonth). Zourunth is a fairly new
addition to the ranks of shadow dragons. After
hibernation, she was taken away to the Shadowfell
and transformed in her long period of sleep. Upon
her return, she had noticed a change in her prized
possession as well, the transformation of her
diamond into one infused with the very plane itself.
Gedreghast (Ged-reh-gast). Gedreghast is a
shadowvar knight, part of an organization on the
Shadowfell obsessed with the history of Telamont
and his teleportation of the City of Shade to the
Shadowfell. This fringe group believes there is
something truly powerful within the
Shadowdiamond and it may be used in a ritual to
bring the city of shade back to the prime material.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
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Appendix. Monster/NPC
Statistics
Zourunth (Adult Green Shadow Dragon)
Huge dragon, lawful evil
Armor Class 19(Natural Armor)
Hit Points 207 (18d12+90)
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
23 (+6)
12 (+1)
21 (+5)
18 (+4)
15 (+2)
17 (+3)
Saving Throws Dex +6, Con +10, Wis +7, Cha +8
Skills Deception +8, Insight +7, Perception +12,
Persuasion +8, Stealth +11
Damage Resistances Necrotic
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses blindsight 60ft. , darkvision 120 ft, passive
perception 22
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)
Living Shadow. While in dim light or darkness, the
dragon has resistance to damage that isn’t force,
psychic, or radiant.
Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the
dragon can take the Hide action as a bonus action.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the dragon has
disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Amphibious. The dragon can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a
saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Frightful Presence.
It then makes three attacks; one with its bite and two
with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
one target. Hit: 17 (2d10+6) piercing damage plus 7
(2d6) necrotic damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one
target. Hit: 15 (2d8+6) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon’s
choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware
of it must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw of
become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving
throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the
creature is immune to the dragon’s Frightful Presence
for the next 24 hours.
Shadow Breath (Recharge 5-6). The dragon exhales
necrotic gas in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that
area must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw,
taking 56 (16d6) Necrotic damage on a failed save, or
half as much damage on a successful one. A humanoid
reduced to 0 hit points by this damage dies, and an
undead shadow rises from its corpse and acts
immediately after the dragon in the initiative count.
The shadow is under the dragon’s control.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon
takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects;
the dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a
row:
Grasping roots and vines erupt in a 20-foot
radius centered on a point on the ground that
the dragon can see within 120 feet of it. That
area becomes difficult terrain, and each
creature there must succeed on a DC 15
Strength saving throw or be restrained by the
roots and vines. A creature can be freed if it or
another creature takes an action to make a DC
15 Strength check and succeeds. The roots
and vines wilt away when the dragon uses this
lair action again or when the dragon dies.
A wall of tangled brush bristling with thorns
springs into existence on a solid surface within
120 feet of the dragon. The wall is up to 60
feet long, 10 feet high, and 5 feet thick, and
blocks line of sight. When the wall appears,
each creature in its area must make a DC 15
Dexterity saving throw. A creature that fails
the save takes 18 (4d8) piercing damage and is
pushed 5 feet out of the wall’s space,
appearing on whichever side of the wall it
wants. A creature can move through the wall,
albeit slowly and painfully. For every 1 foot a
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
22
creature travels through the wall, it must
spend 4 feet of movement. Furthermore, a
creature in the wall’s space must make a DC
15 Dexterity saving throw once each round it’s
in contact with the wall, taking 18 (4d8)
piercing damage on a failed save, or half as
much damage on a successful one. Each 10-
foot section of wall has AC 5, 15 hit points,
vulnerability to fire damage, resistance to
bludgeoning and piercing damage, and
immunity to psychic damage. The wall sinks
back into the ground when the dragon uses
this lair action again or when the dragon dies.
Magical fog billows around one creature the
dragon can see within 120 feet of it. The
creature must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom
saving throw or be charmed by the dragon
until initiative count 20 on the next round.
Legendary Actions
The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing
from the options below. Only one legendary action
option can be used at a time and only at the end of
another creature’s turn. The dragon regains spent
legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Detect. The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception)
check.
Tail Attack. The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its
wings. Each creature within 15 feet of the dragon must
succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 13
(2d6+6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.
The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Allip
Medium undead, neutral evil
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 40 (9d8)
Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
6 (-2)
17 (+3)
10 (+0)
17 (+3)
15 (+2)
16 (+3)
Saving Throws INT +6, WIS +5
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances Acid, Fire, Lightning, Thunder;
Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical
Attacks.
Damage Immunities Cold, Necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion,
frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned,
prone, restrained.
Senses darkvision 60 ft, passive perception 15
Languages the languages it knew in life
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Incorporeal Movement. The allip can move through
other creatures and objects as if they were difficult
terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn
inside an object.
Actions
Maddening Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +6 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (4d6+3) psychic damage.
Whispers of Madness. The allip chooses up to three
creatures it can see within 60 feet of it. Each target
must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw, or it
takes 7 (1d8+3) psychic damage and must use its
reaction to make a melee weapon attack against one
creature of the allip’s choice that the allip can see.
Constructs and undead are immune to this effect.
Howling Babble (Recharge 6). Each creature within 30
feet of the allip that can hear it must make a DC 14
Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a target takes
12 (2d8+3) psychic damage, and it is stunned until the
end of its next turn. On a successful save, it takes half
as much damage and isn’t stunned. Constructs and
undead are immune to this effect.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
23
Banshee
Medium undead, chaotic evil
Armor Class 12 (half plate)
Hit Points 58 (13d8)
Speed 40 ft., (hover), walking 0 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
1 (-5)
14 (+2)
10 (+0)
12 (+1)
11 (+0)
17 (+3)
Saving Throws WIS +2, CHA +5
Damage Resistances Acid, Fire, Lightning, Thunder;
Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical
Attacks.
Damage Immunities Cold, Necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion,
frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned,
prone, restrained.
Senses darkvision 60 ft, passive perception 10
Languages Common, Elvish
Challenge 4 (1.100 XP)
Detect Life. The banshee can magically sense the
presence of creatures up to 5 miles away that aren’t
undead or constructs. She knows the general direction
they’re in but not their exact locations.
Incorporeal Movement. The banshee can move
through other creatures and objects as if they were
difficult terrain. She takes 5 (1d10) force damage if she
ends her turn inside an object.
Actions
Corrupting Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 12 (3d6+2) necrotic damage.
Horrifying Visage. Each non-undead creature within
60 feet of the banshee that can see her must succeed
on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1
minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage
if the banshee is within line of sight, ending the effect
on itself on a success. If a target’s saving throw is
successful or the effects ends for it, the target is
immune to the banshee’s Horrifying Visage for the next
24 hours.
Wail (1/day). The banshee releases a mournful wail,
provided that she isn’t in sunlight. This wail has no
effect on constructs and undead. All other creatures
within 30 feet of her that can hear her must make a DC
13 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, a creature
drops to 0 hit points. On a success, a creature takes 10
(3d6) psychic damage.
Boneclaw
Large undead, chaotic evil
Armor Class 16(Natural)
Hit Points 127 (17d10 + 34)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
19 (+4)
16 (+3)
15 (+2)
13 (+1)
15 (+2)
9 (-1)
Saving Throws DEX +7, CON +6, WIS +6
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances Cold, Necrotic; Bludgeoning,
Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks.
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion,
frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft, passive perception 16
Languages Common, plus one language of its master
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)
Rejuvenation. While its master lives, a destroyed
boneclaw gains a new body in 1d10 hours, with all its
hit points. The new body appears within 1 mile of the
boneclaw’s master.
Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the
boneclaw can take the Hide action as a bonus action.
Actions
Multiattack. The boneclaw makes two claw attacks.
Piercing Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach
15 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (3d10+4) piercing damage. If
the target is a creature, the boneclaw can pull the
target up to 10 feet toward itself, and the target is
grappled (escape DC 14). The boneclaw has to claws.
While a claw grapples a target, the claw can only attack
that target.
Shadow Jump. If the boneclaw is in dim light or
darkness, each creature of the boneclaw’s choice
within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 14
Constitution saving throw or take 34 (5d12+2) necrotic
damage.
The boneclaw then magically teleports up to 60 feet to
an unoccupied space it can see. It can bring one
creature it is grappling, teleporting that creature to an
unoccupied space it can see within 5 feet of its
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
24
destination. The destination spaces of this
teleportation must be in dim light or darkness.
Reactions
Deadly Reach. In response to a visible enemy
moving into its reach, the boneclaw makes
one claw attack against that enemy. If the
attack hits, the boneclaw can make a second
claw attack against the target.
Gedreghast (Soul Monger)
Medium humanoid (elf), neutral
Armor Class 15 (studded leather)
Hit Points 123 ( 19d8+38)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
8 (-4)
17 (+3)
14 (+2)
19 (+4)
15 (+2)
13 (+1)
Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +7, Cha +5
Skills, Perception +7
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 17
Languages Common, Elvish
Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)
Fey Ancestry. The soul monger has advantage on
saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t
put it to sleep.
Innate Spellcasting. The soul monger’s innate
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 16, +8
to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the
following spells requiring no material components:
At will: chill touch (3d8 damage), poison spray (3d12
damage).
1/day each: bestow curse, chain lightning, finger of
death, gaseous form, phantasmal killer, seeming
Magic Resistance. The soul monger has advantage on
saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Soul Thirst. When the soul monger reduces a creature
to 0 hit points, the soul monger can gain temporary hit
points equal to half the creature’s hit point maximum.
While the soul monger has temporary hit points fromo
this ability, it has advantage on attack rolls.
Weight of Ages. Any beast or humanoid, other than
shadar-kai, that starts its turn within 5 feet of the soul
monger has its speed reduced by 20 feet until the start
of that creature’s next turn.
Actions
Multiattack. The soul monger makes two phantasmal
dagger attacks.
Phantasmal Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (4d4 + 3) piercing
damage plus 19 (3d12) necrotic damage, and the target
has disadvantage on saving throws until the start of the
soul monger’s next turn.
Wave of Weariness (Recharge 4-6). The soul monger
emits weariness in a 60-foot-cube. Each creature in
that area must make a DC 16 Constitution saving
throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 45 (10d8)
psychic damage and suffers 1 level of exhaustion. On a
successful save, it takes 22 (5d8) psychic damage.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
25
Shadovar Assassin (Shadow Dancer)
Medium humanoid (elf), neutral
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 71 (13d8+13)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
12 (+1)
16 (+3)
13 (+1)
11 (+0)
12 (+1)
12 (+1)
Saving Throws Dex +6, Con +4
Skills. Stealth +6
Damage Immunities Necrotic
Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion
Senses passive perception 11, darkvision 60’
Languages Common, Elvish
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Fey Ancestry. The Shadow Dancer has advantage on
saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t
put it to sleep.
Shadow Jump. As a bonus action, the shadow dancer
can teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it
can see. Both the space it teleports from and the space
it teleports to must be in dim light or darkness. The
shadow dancer can use this ability between the
weapon attacks of another action it takes.
Actions
Multiattack. The Shadow Dancer makes three spiked
chain attacks.
Spiked Chain. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach
10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) piercing damage, and
the target must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving
throw or suffer one additional effect of the shadow
dancer’s choice:
The target is grappled (escape DC 14) if it is a
Medium or smaller creature. Until the grapple
ends, the target is restrained, and the shadow
dancer can’t grapple another target.
The target is knocked prone.
The target takes 22 (4d10) necrotic damage.
Shadowcaster (Gloom Weaver)
Medium humanoid (Elf),neutral
Armor Class 14 (17 With Mage Armor)
Hit Points 104 (16d8+32)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
11 (+0)
18 (+4)
14 (+2)
15 (+2)
12 (+1)
18 (+4)
Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +6
Damage Immunities Necrotic
Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion
Senses passive perception 11, darkvision 60’
Languages Common, Elvish
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Burden of Time. Beasts and humanoids, other than
shadar-kai, have disadvantage on saving throws while
within 10 feet of the gloom weaver.
Fey Ancestry. The gloom weaver has advantage on
saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t
put it to sleep.
Innate Spellcasting. The gloom weaver’s innate
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to
hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following
spells, requiring no material components:
At will: arcane eye, mage armor, speak with dead
1/day each: arcane gate, bane, compulsion, confusion,
true seeing
Spellcasting. The gloom weaver is a 12th-level
spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell
save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). It regains its
expended spell slots when it finishes a short or long
rest. It knows the following warlock spells:
Cantrips (at will): chill touch (3d8 damage), eldritch
blast (3 beams +4 bonus to each damage roll), minor
illusion, prestidigitation.
1st-5th level (3 5th-level slots): armor of Agathys, blight,
darkness, dream, invisibility, fear, hypnotic pattern,
major image, contact other plane, vampiric touch,
witch bolt
Actions
Multiattack. The gloom weaver makes two spear
attacks and casts one spell that takes 1 action to cast.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
26
Shadow spear. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach
5 ft. one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage, or 8
(1d8+4) piercing damage if used with two hands, plus
26 (4d12) necrotic damage.
Reactions
Misty Escape (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).
When the gloom weaver takes damage, it turns
invisible and teleports up to 60 feet to an unoccupied
space it can see. It remains invisible until the start of its
next turn or until it attacks or casts a spell.
Steel Predator
Large construct, lawful evil
Armor Class 20 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 207 (18d10+108)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
24 (+7)
17 (+3)
22 (+6)
4 (-3)
14 (+2)
6 (-2)
Skills Perception +7, Stealth +8, Survival +7
Damage Resistances Cold, Lightning, Necrotic, Thunder
Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic; Bludgeoning,
Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks.
Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion,
Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Stunned
Senses Blindsight 30 ft., Darkvision 60 ft., Passive
Perception 17
Languages Understands Modron and the language of
its owner but can’t speak.
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)
Innate Spellcasting. The steel predator’s innate
spellcasting ability is Wisdom. The steel predator can
innately cast the following spells, requiring no
components:
3/day each: dimension door (self only), plane shift (self
only)
Magic Resistance. The steel predator has advantage on
saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The steel predator’s weapon attacks
are magical.
Actions
Multiattack. The steel predator makes three attacks:
one with its bite and two with its claw.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 14 (2d6+7) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 16 (2d8+7) slashing damage.
Stunning Roar (Recharge 5-6). The steel predator
emits a roar in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that
area must make a DC 19 Constitution saving throw. On
a failed save, a creature takes 27 (5d10) thunder
damage, drops everything it’s holding, and is stunned
for 1 minute. On a successful save, a creature takes half
as much damage. The stunned creature can repeat the
saving throw at the end of its turns, ending the effect
on itself on a success.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
27
Appendix. Map
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
28
Zhentarim Faction Assignment.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
29
Player Handout 1.
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CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
30
Player Handout 2. Story Award
During the course of this adventure, the characters may earn the following story award. If you are printing these out
for your characters, print as many as you may need to ensure that any eligible character receives a copy:
Favor of Everbright
You have collected successfully the Shadowgem against all odds and have proven yourself to Amerantha
Everbright. The Old-World Society will remember this, should you meet with them in the future.
Ire of Everbright
You have let the Shadowgem fall into the hands of your enemies, earning you the disapproval of Amerantha
Everbright. The Old-World Society will remember this, should you meet with them in the future.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
CCC-SAC-01 A Light in the Dark
31
Player Handout 3.
During the course of this adventure, the characters may find the following permanent magic item:
Efreeti Bottle
Wonderous Item, very rare
This painted brass bottle weighs 1 pound. When you use an action to remove the stopper, a cloud of thick smoke
flows out of the bottle. At the end of your turn, the smoke disappears with a flash of harmless fire, and an efreeti
appears in an unoccupied space within 30 feet of you. The first time the bottle is opened, the GM rolls to determine
what happens.
D100
01-10
The efreeti attacks you. After fighting for 5 rounds, the efreeti disappears, and the bottle
loses its magic.
11-90
The efreeti serves you for 1 hour, doing as you command. Then the efreeti returns to the
bottle, and a new stopper contains it. The stopper can’t be removed for 24 hours. The next
two times the bottle is opened, the same effect occurs. If the bottle is opened a fourth time,
the efreeti escapes and disappears, and the bottle loses its magic.
91-100
The efreeti can cast the Wish spell three times for you. It disappears when it grants the final
Wish or after 1 hour, and the bottle loses its magic.
This item can be found in the Dungeon Masters Guide.
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In this adventure, a distraught mother asks the
Fated to help find her daughter whom she suspects
of being kidnapped by Gremlins. The Fated must
track the girl and her captors into the Bayou.
deSTiNy STepS:
CRSC 8t: “Once your strangers travel in three”
easily describes the group the Fated will be
tracking.
ALBC 12M: “The woman will give you her tears to
drink” could describe Heather, who turns to the
Fated to help her lessen her distress by finding
her daughter.
LLBC 6C: “Should you wade through the waters
black” could refer to the character’s trip into the
Bayou… particularly if the standing water of the
area is described as being dark and murky.
prologue:
The adventure opens as the Fated are approached
by Heather Skroggs, a woman who is desperately
trying to hire someone to find her missing
daughter. Heather first travels to Edge Point, a
sleepy town perched next to the Bayou, as it is
close to her family’s farm. This makes a good
place for the Fated to meet Heather, but if they’re
in Malifaux City, they can also meet her there,
after she’s exhausted her luck in Edge Point and
taken the train into the city. This won’t change
the adventure very much at all, save that Heather
will likely be a bit more desperate and panicky
when she meets with the Fated.
Read the following text:
Heather has all of six scrip to her name, which is
partially the reason why she hasn’t had any luck
in convincing anyone to look for her daughter; it
might be enough to hire a mercenary or bribe a
daWN iN The Bayou
a one-sHoT aDvenTure For ThrougH The BreaCh
ChaD Jons anD
MaSon CrawForD
As you converse with an acquaintance about their
exhausting day, you notice a bit of a commotion
from a few yards away. A plump, middle-aged
woman is clutching a handful of scrip as she
desperately tries to appeal to an uncaring Guild
Guard for assistance. Catching your gaze, the
Guild Guard says something to the woman and
motions in your direction, sending her hurrying
over to your side.
“Excuse me,” she says. “The guardsman said that
you might be able to help me? It’s my daughter,
Dawn. I… I think she was kidnapped by Gremlins!”
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29
guardsman in most circumstances, but as soon
as the prospect of heading into the Bayou comes
up, the price shoots up beyond what she can pay.
She explains that her husband, James Skroggs, is
up north selling seed corn, while she stayed behind
to mind the farm and watch over their six-year-old
daughter. Dawn had been playing outside earlier
that morning when Heather went to milk their cow,
and when she returned, she discovered that her
daughter was missing. She shouted Dawn’s name
over and over again until she noticed fresh tracks
in the dirt… tracks that came out of the nearby
Bayou, went right up to her front porch, and then
trailed back into the swamp.
Heather is terrified rightfully of the Bayou – her
husband sometimes hunts wild pigs on the
outskirts, and the size of the creatures sends
shivers down her spine – she is intensely worried
about her daughter’s safety. She’s certain that
Dawn was kidnapped by Gremlins, as she and her
husband have both seen a few of the creatures
lingering around the edges of their farm in the
past.
If the Fated agree to help her, she presses her six
scrip into their hands and thanks them profusely;
as far as she is concerned, the Fated are her last
hope of ever seeing her daughter again. If the
Fated are in Edge Point, she will lead them south
to her farm; otherwise, the Fated will first have to
take the train south to Edge Point, which ends up
costing half a scrip per Fated for a coach ticket.
Scene 1: The SkroggS Farm
When the Fated arrive at the Skroggs farm, read
the following text:
Heather allows the Fated to poke around the farm
as much as they want. There is a moonshine
still behind the house and a bored-looking cow
named Bessy in the barn. Near the front porch of
the farm house is a swept area where a child’s
hopscotch game has been etched into the dirt.
It’s here that Heather found the tracks leading
out into the swamp, and she points them out to
the Fated as soon as they arrive at the farm.
If the Fated succeed on a TN 8 Track Challenge,
they can tell that there are three sets of prints:
one that was playing hopscotch, presumably
belonging to Dawn, and two more that came out
of the Bayou. From the size of these footprints,
it would appear that Heather was correct in
assuming that they belonged to Gremlins. If
the Fated achieve a Margin of Success on this
Challenge, they are able to discern that there are
no signs of a struggle; from the look of things,
Dawn willingly walked into the Bayou with the
Gremlins.
As the Fated examine the footprints and the rest
of the farm, Heather heads inside, returning a
minute later with cookies and warm lemonade.
She promises to kill some chickens and cook
a victory feast for the Fated when they return
and starts preparing for that meal with as much
effort as she can muster. Heather can’t bear
the thought of losing her daughter and does
everything she can to distract herself from that
very probable reality. If the Fated try to point out
that her daughter might be injured or dead, she
tries to change the subject with stories about
Dawn and what a lovely girl she is.
Heather can give the Fated a
good description of her daughter.
Dawn is six years old, with
long, blonde hair that
was braided in pig
tails and tied off with
blue
ribbons.
She
was wearing a simple
pink
woolen
dress,
has a few freckles on
her nose, and “big green
eyes full of wonder.”
The acrid smell coming from the Bayou creates a
strange aroma as it mixes with the smell of the
farm’s corn field. The Skroggs homestead is a
humble abode perched on the edge of the Bayou,
with a large horse barn standing tall opposite the
dark Cyprus trees of the swamp. Next to the barn
is a small well that looks to have been a recent
construction. Neat rows of corn and squash
stretch out in a rectangle between the barn, the
farm house, and the marshy edges of the Bayou.
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30
Scene 2: Following the Tracks
It doesn’t take any skill to realize that the tracks
lead from the hopscotch game into the nearby
Bayou. Read the following text to the players as
they follow the tracks into the swamp:
To continue to follow the tracks, the Fated will
have to participate in an Ongoing Challenge:
Tracking Down Dawn
Skills Allowed: Navigation, Track, or Wilderness
Target Number: 10
Duration: 1 hour
Success Requirement: 6
Failure Requirement: 3
At the end of each Duration, the Fated learn one Clue
from the list below for each success they achieved.
For every Failure, they experience a Setback from
the list below.
If the Fated successfully complete the Ongoing
Challenge, they are able to track the footprints all
the way to the Gremlin Village (and Scene 3).
If the Fated catastrophically fail the Ongoing
Challenge, however, they end up following the trail
of a Wild Boar and her Piglets that crossed the
Gremlins’ trail hours after they had already passed.
See the Some Pigs section on page 31 for more
details.
Clues (in this order):
1) The Fated find a long log that bears the muddy
butt-prints of three figures. From the look of things,
it appears as if Dawn and the two Gremlins (one
of whom was wearing pants) stopped here to rest
for a while. There’s a glob of old, spit-out chewing
tobacco on the ground nearby. (Dawn was getting
tired, so the Gremlins decided to stop for a rest.)
2) The Fated find a discarded bottle of moonshine
in some underbrush. (Dawn was getting tired, so
the Gremlins gave her some moonshine to help
give her some energy.)
3) The Fated find a pile of cold vomit on the ground;
there are two Piglets here, sniffing the vomit pile
expectantly. When they notice the Fated, they
squeal and start pawing at the ground. The Fated
can attempt a TN 10 Husbandry Challenge to calm
the Piglets down or a TN 10 Stealth Challenge to
carefully maneuver around them without making
any sudden moves or strange sounds, but just
about anything else (including doing nothing for
more than a minute) riles the Piglets up and sends
them charging toward the Fated to defend their
delicious pile of throw-up. Stats for the Piglets can
be found on pg. 35. (The Moonshine made Dawn
sick and she threw up all over the place.)
4) The trail veers toward a small pool of standing
water. A blue ribbon is mashed into the mud at
the side of the pool. (The Gremlins stopped so
that Dawn could wash the vomit off her dress and
one of her hair ribbons came loose; she was too
ill to either notice or care.)
5) The Fated come across a makeshift campsite.
Some leaves have been piled up dangerously close
to a fire pit, over which stands a crude spit made
from sticks. The bones of a small animal can be
found in the ashes of the fire. (Dawn was hungry
and tired, so the Gremlins shot a rabbit, cooked it
for her, and waited as she took a nap on the leaves.)
6) The Fated come across a hopscotch board that
has been etched into the dirt in a relatively flat
area. The footprints seem to indicate that Dawn and
the Gremlins stopped to play a game of hopscotch
before continuing onward. (The Gremlins asked
Dawn to show them how Hopscotch worked again,
so that they could look like they knew what they were
talking about when they arrived at their village.)
The tall, dark Cyprus trees form a looming canopy
overhead as you head into the murky swamp.
Your feet sink a half-inch into the mud with every
step, making loud “plurp” sounds as you trudge
forward, and the thorny underbrush makes it
clear that this place is not for the light-hearted.
The mud makes it easy to follow the tracks of
the three separate creatures moving together,
but as the mud is replaced with shallow pools
of water or knots of thick vegetation, it becomes
progressively harder to stay on track
3131
Setbacks (in no particular order):
•
One of the Fated wanders into a hive of
stinging bees and wasps! Each non-Construct
character must make a TN 10 Athletics or Toughness
Challenge; those who fail suffer 1 damage and
suffer a - to all Social Skill Challenges for the next
three days, due to the numerous sting marks and
welts all over their faces, arms, and chests.
•
Thinking that it’s just shallow mud, one
of the Fated steps into a patch of quicksand! The
character must attempt a TN 11 Athletics Challenge
on her next turn. On a success, she is able to grab
onto something and pull herself to safety. On a
failure, she gains the Suffocating Condition (Fated
Almanac, pg. 217) and must attempt the Athletics
Challenge again on her next turn, until she succeeds
on the Athletics Challenge or drowns. Note that
other characters can use the Assist Action to give
the struggling character a + to her Challenge.
Some Pigs
If the Fated catastrophically fail the Ongoing
Challenge, they come across a Mama Pig and her
three Piglets. Wild boars are notoriously territorial
and ornery, and the Mama Pig is no exception. Read
the following text:
The Fated are five yards from the pigs. They have
one attempt to avoid combat: a TN 14 Husbandry
Challenge will calm the mother pig down long enough
for the Fated to withdraw. On a failure, however --
or if the Fated just decide to attack the pigs – the
Mama Pig charges toward the nearest character,
while the Piglets charge anything that moves (in
their own, extremely poor judgement). Stats for the
Mama Pig and Piglets can be found on page 35.
Once the pigs have been dealt with, the Fated can
retrace their steps and begin the Ongoing Challenge
over again.
Scene 3: The Gremlin Village
After succeeding at the Ongoing Challenge, the
Fated find their way to the Gremlin Village. Read the
following text:
You can hear some rustling from up ahead,
indicating that you’ve finally closed on your quarry!
As you push through the thorny underbrush, you
come across a small, sucking pool of dirty water,
around which three small piglets and one much
larger pig are gathered. The small piglets squeal
as they catch sight of you, prompting the larger
pig to swing her tusked head towards you. She
glowers, pawing at the muddy ground with her
hooves as the smaller piglets start racing around
in an uncontrolled panic.
The Cyprus trees part to reveal a small, nestled
village placed upon a rise in the land. About twenty
or thirty ramshackle homes have been crammed
onto the rise, and the place is abuzz with activity.
Small pens filled with feral pigs are intermingled
among the homes, and you can see a few of the
creatures gnawing at the wooden bars of their
prisons with surprising determination.
A large crowd of Gremlins have gathered near
your side of the hill, some of them leaning on
their long rifles while others hold tiny Gremlin
children on their shoulders to get a better view
of the action. At the center of the crowd, an old
Gremlin with missing teeth is playing hopscotch.
Standing next to him, at the front of the crowd, is
another Gremlin with a long beard and a blonde
human girl in a pink dress. A large moonshining
still stands nearby, along with woven baskets
filled with all manner of brewing ingredients.
32
32
The blonde girl is, of course, Dawn Skroggs. As
the Fated watch, she instructs the Gremlins on
the proper way to play hopscotch, correcting their
mistakes and occasionally demonstrating how the
game works, much to the “oohs” and “aahs” of the
crowd.
Dawn’s “kidnapping” is actually the result of a
misunderstanding. The Gremlins came upon her as
she was playing hopscotch and approached her to
find out just what she was doing. When she told
them that she was playing “hopscotch,” they were
confused, as both “hops” and “scotch” were, as far
as they were aware, both things that were related to
brewing.
The Gremlins asked more questions and Dawn
answered them, boasting that she was the best
hopscotcher in all of Malifaux, except, perhaps, for
her mother, who had taught her how to play. Thinking
that they had stumbled upon some great human
brewing secret, the Gremlins convinced Dawn to
come back to their village and show their master
brewer how this “hopscotch” thing worked.
At the moment, the Gremlins are under the belief
that drawing the boxes on the ground and jumping
from one number to the next is some sort of
magical ritual intended to enchant the ingredients
before the brewing begins. They’re having problems
understanding just how the “ritual” is supposed to
work, however, and questions such as “So, if the
stone lands on the five, you add five hops to the
scotch?” – complete with Dawn shaking her head
and pointing out that you have to skip the five if the
stone lands on it - are common.
At this point, the Fated have a few options as to how
to go about getting Dawn back from the Gremlins.
The Violent Approach
Particularly trigger-happy groups might decide to
go in, guns blazing, to rescue Dawn. There are two
dozen Bayou Gremlins armed with rifles that will fire
back at the Fated if they attack, though if the Fated
launch a surprise attack, these Gremlins will be Slow
on the first round of combat. Starting on the third
round of combat, another six Bayou Gremlins arrive
from the huts to reinforce their brethren. The other
Gremlins shriek and either dart into the swamp or
take cover in their shacks.
As soon as a fight breaks out, Dawn drops to her
knees and places her hands over her ears; she
doesn’t move at all unless someone scoops her
up, which requires 2 AP from an adjacent character,
due to how much Dawn struggles against being
“rescued.”
Diplomacy
If the Fated attempt to talk to the Gremlins, they
quickly find themselves staring down the barrels
of dozens of rifles as the noncombatant Gremlins
shriek and dart for cover. The bearded Gremlin –
the village’s master brewer – pushes Dawn behind
him to protect her and does the negotiating for his
brethren. The Fatemaster is encouraged to populate
the village with colorful Gremlin characters to add
levity or menace to the proceedings as needed;
this could be as little as the Gremlins doing strange
things in the background while the Fated speak with
the master brewer or as much as the master brewer
pulling in townsfolk to help him convince the Fated
to leave Dawn with him.
The Fated have a number of different options they
can use to try to talk the Gremlins into giving over
Dawn. If they attempt to convince the Gremlins
that Dawn’s mother is worried and looking for her,
or that hopscotch is just a game and not some
powerful ritual, a TN 13 Convince Challenge gets
them to hand her over to the Fated without much
trouble. Similarly, a TN 14 Bewitch Challenge can be
used to befriend the Gremlins; after some shared
moonshine (which makes the character Intoxicated
for the rest of the day), the character can attempt
the Convince Challenge noted above with a + to
her flip.
Intimidation is less effective against the Gremlins.
The Fated will have to succeed at a TN 14 Intimidate
Challenge to get the Gremlins to apologize and hand
over the girl (“We don’t want no trouble, now…),
but because of their vastly superior numbers, the
Fated suffer a - to their flip. If the Fated fail this
Challenge, the Gremlins refuse to hand Dawn over
until she’s taught them “the ritual,” and failing with
33
33
a Margin of Failure incites the Gremlins to attack,
as described in The Violent Approach on page 32.
If the Fated are unable to convince the Gremlins
to hand Dawn over, things get tense until one of
the female Gremlins – who has three small Gremlin
children clinging to her – steps forward and suggests
that they have a drinking contest to see who will keep
the girl. The Gremlins are open to the idea, and if
the Fated agree, all that stands between them taking
Dawn home are three TN 10 Carouse Challenges.
Multiple Fated can enter this contest if they wish,
but the Gremlins won’t allow any obviously Invested
or Stitched characters to participate, on account of
it “not being fair.” On a failure, a character passes
out and is disqualified from the contest; the master
brewer passes out after the third jar of moonshine.
If the Fated win, the Gremlins reluctantly hand over
Dawn. If they lose, however, the Gremlins consider
Dawn to be “won fair and square” and refuse to turn
her over without a fight.
Trickery
Alternatively, the Fated can try to trick the Gremlins
by teaching them the “correct” magical brewing
ritual. Doing so requires a TN 12 Deceive Challenge.
On a success, the Gremlins gasp in collective awe at
the knowledge and the master brewer quickly starts
trying to put their new “ritual” to work. Dawn is all
but forgotten about in their excitement. On a failure,
however, the Gremlins catch on to the character’s
lies and threaten her at gunpoint; the lie has only
reinforced their belief that Dawn knows something
important, and now they refuse to part with her
without a fight.
If the Fated wait until nightfall, they can sneak into
the village and steal Dawn away in the night with a
TN 14 Stealth Challenge; she’s sleeping on a simple
cot in a hut and isn’t guarded, but strange people
waking her up in the middle of the night causes her
to scream and struggle, which alerts the Gremlins
to the Fated’s presence. By the time the Fated have
got Dawn under control, six Bayou Gremlins have
hopped out of bed, grabbed their rifles, and rushed
out to defend their village. Six more Bayou Gremlins
appear every three rounds, to a maximum of thirty
Bayou Gremlins.
Scene 4: RetuRning Home
Once the Fated have rescued Dawn, they can start
heading back toward the Skroggs Farm. The Fated
don’t have to make any Skill duels to find their way
out of the swamp; so long as they head in the right
direction, they’ll eventually reach the edge of the
Bayou, at which point the farm should be visible in
the distance. If it’s dark, Heather hangs a lantern
near her door to light the way.
Unfortunately, the Fated have one more obstacle
standing between them and Dawn’s safe return. If
the Fated managed to get Dawn out of the Gremlin
village diplomatically, then she doesn’t have much
reason to be upset. She waves goodbye to her new
Gremlin friends and talks along the way about how
she’s looking forward to seeing her mother again.
If she left under different circumstances, however
– such as being snatched up during a fight or in
the middle of the night – then the Fated have a
screaming, crying, bawling child on their hands.
They can attempt a TN 14 Bewitch, Convince, or
Intimidate Challenge to calm her down, and if the
Fated mention her mother, the TN is lowered to 10.
On a success, Dawn quiets down and finishes
the rest of the trip with only the occasional sullen
comment or quiet sob. On a failure, however, she
just screams louder, which draws the attention of a
group of annoyed (and hungry) Silurids. Of course,
if the Fated are drunk and making noise, then they
might attract the Silurids themselves. Either way,
read the following text:
Dawn’s endless screaming and wailing have just
about reached the point of being unbearable when
movement catches your eye. Then something
large and green falls from the sky, landing right
next to Dawn with a splash of fetid water. Her
screams take on a different tone – one of horror,
rather than displeasure – as the fishman raises
a webbed claw above its head in preparation to
strike her down.
34
34
There is a total of one Silurid per Fated, and their
stats can be found on page 36. The first leaps next
to Dawn before combat begins, while the others
wait a dozen feet away, leaping into combat on their
initiative. The first Silurid attempts to use 2 AP on its
turn to snatch Dawn up, at which point it leaps away
and puts all of its effort toward escaping with her
into the swamp. The other Silurids leap into combat
on their turns to harass the Fated, distracting
them and making a grab for Dawn whenever the
opportunity presents itself. If reduced to a single
wound, a Silurid will attempt to leap away into the
swamp and flee from the battle.
Conclusion
If the Fated lose Dawn in the swamp, then Heather is
wrought with grief and screams at the Fated, the sky,
and just about anything else that comes to mind.
Her husband’s return a few days later provides some
comfort, but Dawn’s absence makes the Skroggs
Farm a much more sullen and unpleasant place.
If the Fated return with Dawn, Heather rewards
them with plenty of tearful hugs and the large meal
she had promised earlier. If Dawn was peacefully
separated from the Gremlins, she talks about them
fondly, and in the weeks that follow, the Skroggs are
visited by a few of the village’s Gremlins, setting
up an awkward but pleasant dialogue between
them. The Fated might be contacted by Heather
or her husband in the future to help the Gremlins
with a problem, or just to mediate some matter of
contention between them.
If Dawn was forcefully removed from the Gremlin
village, then she is quiet and traumatized by the
experience. The Gremlins return in a few days,
poking around the farm in search of Dawn, and
Heather or her husband may contact the Fated with
requests to drive the creatures out of their home,
lest they try to kidnap Dawn again.
Either way, so long as the Fated return with Dawn,
they earn her mother’s sincerest thanks and loyalty.
They are welcome to stay at her farm for as long
as they want. They’ve earned a faithful ally, and the
Skroggs homestead could serve as a kick off point
for future adventures in the Bayou.
35
35
Piglet
Might
2
Grace
0
Speed
3
Resilience
0
Charm
-3
Intellect
-2
Cunning
-3
Tenacity
1
Peon (4), Living, Beast, Pig
Defense
5 (9)
Walk
6
Height
1
Initiative
4 (8)
Willpower
3 (7)
Charge
7
Wounds
4
Skills: Navigation 2, Notice 1, Pugilism 1, Track 1,
Wilderness 2.
Pigcharge: This character may perform the (2) Charge
Action as a (1) Action.
Set 'er Off: At the start of this character's turn during
Dramatic Time, if it is not engaged or within 2 yards of a
friendly character without this Ability, this character must
declare a Charge against the closest legal non-Pig target.
Small Target: Ranged Combat Actions that target this
character suffer -.
(1) Ram (Pugilism)
AV: 3 (7) ========= Rg: y1 ====== Resist: Df
Target suffers 1/2/3 damage. When this Attack is used as
part of a Charge, add +1 to the final duel total for each
yard moved before the attack. This Attack must declare a
Trigger if possible.
R Stampede: After damaging, this character must declare a
Charge against the closest legal non-Pig target which it is not
engaged with. If this character is engaged, it still declares
this Charge but only makes a single Attack as a result.
C Eat Anything: After damaging a Living or Undead
character, this character heals 1 damage.
t Distracting Squeals: After succeeding, the target must
pass a TN 10 Centering Challenge or become Slow.
M Bowled Over: After succeeding, the target must succeed
at a TN 10 Acrobatics Challenge or take the Drop Prone
Action. Then this character takes the Drop Prone Action.
Mama Pig
Might
3
Grace
0
Speed
3
Resilience
2
Charm
-3
Intellect
-4
Cunning
-3
Tenacity
2
Minion (5), Living, Beast, Pig, Swampfiend
Defense
5 (10)
Walk
6
Height
2
Initiative
5 (10)
Willpower
5 (10)
Charge
7
Wounds
8
Skills: Athletics 2, Evade 3, Notice 2, Pugilism 2,
Toughness 3, Track 1, Wilderness 1.
Eat Your Fill: After killing a character with a Close Combat
attack, this character can end its turn to heal all damage it
has suffered.
Pigcharge: This character may perform the (2) Charge
Action as a (1) Action.
(1) Tusks (Pugilism)
AV: 5 (10) ======== Rg: y1 ====== Resist: Df
Target suffers 2/4/6 damage. This Attack must declare a
Trigger if possible.
R Stampede: After damaging, this character must declare a
Charge against the closest legal non-Pig target which it is not
engaged with. If this character is engaged, it still declares
this Charge but only makes a single Attack as a result.
C Eat Anything: After damaging a Living or Undead
character, this character heals 1 damage.
36
36
Bayou Gremlin
Might
-1
Grace
2
Speed
1
Resilience
0
Charm
-2
Intellect
-1
Cunning
1
Tenacity
1
Minion (5), Living, Gremlin
Defense
4 (9)
Walk
5
Height
1
Initiative
2 (7)
Willpower
3 (8)
Charge
5
Wounds
4
Skills: Barter 1, Carouse 2, Deceive 2, Evade 2, Gambling
1, Homesteading 1, Husbandry 1, Long Arms 2, Melee 2,
Music 1, Notice 1, Pick Pocket 1, Track 1, Wilderness 1.
From the Hip: This character uses its Grace instead of its
Intellect when making Long Arm attacks.
Df (M) "Squeal!": After this character is damaged by an
enemy Close Combat attack, push this character 4 yards
directly away from the attacker.
(1) Banjo Bash (Melee)
AV: 1 (6) ========= Rg: y2 ====== Resist: Df
Target suffers 2/2/4 damage. If this weapon inflicts a
Critical Effect, it breaks in half and ceases to function as
either a weapon or a musical instrument.
(1) Boomstick (Long Arms)
AV: 4 (9) ========= Rg: z12 ====== Resist: Df
Target suffers 1/2/3B damage. This Attack must declare
a Trigger if possible. Capacity 1, Reload 1.
R Dumb Luck: When damaging, this attack inflicts double
damage. This character suffers damage equal to half of the
amount suffered by the target.
C Whoops, Ricochet: After resolving, the closest other
character within range and line of sight suffers 1 damage.
t What If... More Powder?: When damaging, this attack
adds +B to its Moderate and Severe damage.
M "I Got 'im!": After succeeding, push this character 3 yards
toward the target.
Silurid
Might
2
Grace
2
Speed
2
Resilience
2
Charm
-3
Intellect
-2
Cunning
1
Tenacity
2
Minion (5), Living, Beast, Swampfiend
Defense
5 (10)
Walk
5
Height
2
Initiative
3 (8)
Willpower
4 (9)
Charge
6
Wounds
6
Skills: Acrobatics 2, Athletics 3, Evade 3, Navigation 2,
Notice 1, Pugilism 3, Stealth 4, Toughness 1, Track 2,
Wilderness 3.
Perfect Camouflage: Each time this character takes a Pass
Action, it gains + to Stealth Challenges and to Defense
flips against Ranged Combat Attacks until the start of its
next turn.
Slink Away: This character gains + to its Defense flips
against disengaging strikes. If at least one friendly
character is engaged with an enemy, that enemy may not
make disengaging strikes against this character.
Unimpeded: This character ignores penalties for terrain
while taking Movement Actions.
(1) Talons (Pugilism)
AV: 5 (10) ======== Rg: y1 ====== Resist: Df
Target suffers 1/3/4 damage.
R Blood Frenzy After damaging, take this Action again
against the same target.
M Bite: After damaging, the target gains Poison +1.
(0) Quick Leap
This character (or its controller) may discard a card to
move this character a distance equal to its Charge Aspect
in yards.
| textdata/thevault/Through the Breach/Through the Breach - One Shot - Dawn in the Bayou (Chronicles #23) [_oef_].pdf |
DIFF
DIFF
DIFF
DIFF
SUPPLIES
WEAPON
WEAPON
WEAPON
WEAPON
WA
WR
DB
RNG
NAME
OCCUPATION
Nationality
Age
Height
Weight
Eyes
Hair
Marks
Wealth
Character Pts.
HISTORY
INITIATIVE
SAVE
DESTINY
SHRUG
Wound Status
1. SCATHED (No Wound Penalties)
2. LIGHT WOUND (-1 Wound Penalty)
3. MODERATE WOUND (-2 Wound Penalty)
4. GRIEVOUS WOUND (-3 Wound Penalty)
5. INCAPACITATED (-4 Wound Penalty)
6. NEAR DEATH (-5 Wound Penalty)
7. DEAD (Wound Penalty N/A)
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
AV
AGILITY (AGL)
AGILITY (AGL)
AGILITY (AGL)
AGILITY (AGL)
DEXTERITY (DEX)
DEXTERITY (DEX)
DEXTERITY (DEX)
DEXTERITY (DEX)
PERCEPTION
PERCEPTION
PERCEPTION
PERCEPTION ( ( ( (PER
PER
PER
PER))))
INTELLIGENCE (INT)
INTELLIGENCE (INT)
INTELLIGENCE (INT)
INTELLIGENCE (INT)
STRENGTH (STR
STRENGTH (STR
STRENGTH (STR
STRENGTH (STR))))
WILLPOWER (WIL)
WILLPOWER (WIL)
WILLPOWER (WIL)
WILLPOWER (WIL)
© Copyright 2002 Deep7, LLC. Photocopy rights granted for personal use .
Notes
| textdata/thevault/Bloode Island/Bloode Island Character Sheet.pdf |
The Unbound Book
Call of Cthulhu Adventures in the
Roaring Twenties
“Cthulhu Reach” by Iain K. Peake
Pages from an
Unbound Book
Welcome to the first of what I hope will be many issues of The Unbound
Book. A year in the making, this magazine is the result of many peoples
undying efforts and long tired nights. The result, I believe, has brought,
YOU, a slection of adventures for, the most interesting roleplaying
game on the market today.
This magazine will try and break new ground in the style of Call of
Cthulhu adventuring, as well as stomping once again over the ideas
and inspirations that make this game so great.
The Unbound Book came into existence one dark autumn night, after
a friend of mine had run one of the most frightening and compelling
horror adventures I had ever taken part in (this adventure - The Rise
of Xnaaki appears as the first of our scenarios). Inspired, I wondered if
anybody else would be keen to read and play this adventure and after
a number of conversations with may different Cthulhu authorities the
rest, as one might say, is history.
Issue Zero is a sample, testing in the waters of adventure writing. If
this does well we hope to produce irregular issues (once every three or
four months) filled with your adventures.
The Unbound Book is going to rely on submissions from its readers to
survive. If you have an adventure or an idea for a scenario set in the
1920s why not drop us a line.
Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy,
Marcus D. Bone
In this issue of The Unbound Book:
Set in a small town north of Arkham, The Rise of Xnaaki pits the
characters against an ancient evil dwelling in Steeplin Lake. An
introductionary adventure into the world of Call of Cthulhu, it
introduces the players to the horror that is the Great Old Ones.
Kingsport, City in the Mists. With an injured friend babbling of
demons and a town beset by creatures beyond His Wildest Dreams,
the investigators must find out what is happening to this quaint sea
side town before it too late.
A fire, a death and a... werewolf? Can a murder be justified? Or will
one man’s quest for revenge lead to his own demise? The investigators
are about to find out, when What Goes Around…
The Unbound Book
Pages...
Issue - 0 August 2002
ii
The Unbound Book - Issue 0 August
2002.
The Unbound Book is an irregular magazine
producing free adventures for Chaosium’s Call
of Cthulhu roleplaying game in the Roaring
Twenties.
Published by: Unbound Publishing
Editor: Marcus D. Bone
Copy editors: Rebecca Scott & Peter Bone
Writers: Mark Chiddicks, Michael Wood and
Marcus D. Bone
Magazine Layout & Design: Marcus D. Bone
Cover Art: ‘Cthulhu Rising’ by Iain K. Peake
Interior Art: Alan M. Clark, Dan Dionne,
Emma Bone & Marcus D. Bone
Magazine Template Art: Eyal Feingersch
Play-testers: Mark Chiddicks, Colin D’Souza,
Marcus Gustafson, Darryn Mercer, Stephen Moir,
Rob Riely, Scott Wood, Michael Wood.
Special Thanks: Must go to the wives and
partners of all those involved in publishing this
magazine, especially my wife Emma, who didn’t
complain once about the amount of time I spent
on my computer.
To Chaz and Jan Engan (I spelt it right this
time!- I hope), for writing the epic Beyond the
Mountains of Madness and for answering all my
questions.
To Woody, for running Rise, which in turn
inspired this magazine.
To D-man, who, at a moments notice, wrote code
and suggested solutions for the web site.
To Dan, Alan and Iain for allowing us to use their
fantastic art. Also to Eyal for creating the coolest
border art ever (and waiting a year to see it in all
its glory!)
To Gary Sumpter for the words of encourage-
ment.
And finally to Charlie, Lynn, Dustin and the rest
of the crew of Chaosium for, firstly, allowing
us the chance to publish this magazine and
secondly, for keeping Call of Cthulhu alive.
Oh I almost forgot, thanks also to YOU for
reading this magazine, we hope you enjoy it as
much as we do!
‘Wolf’ © 2002 Dan Dionne
Note on Language
It is important to note that all grammar and language used in this
magazine is New Zealand English.
The reason for this is simple, all those involved in creating The
Unbound Book are New Zealand based. In future issues the
language style of each adventure will be based on the authors
country of origin. We do hope our foreign readers forgive any odd
use of language.
The Unbound Book
Issue - 0 August 2002
Contents
iii
Contents Page
Cover Art - “Cthulhu Reach” by Iain K. Peake..............................................................Cover
Pages from an Unbound Book.......................................................................................ii
Contents..............................................................................................................................iii
Adventure - “Rise of Xnaaki” by Michael Wood................................................................1
Map - Train Carriages............................................................................................................................5
Map - Dupont Estate..............................................................................................................................8
Map - Steeplin Lake...............................................................................................................................13
Adventure - “His Wildest Dreams” by Marc Chiddicks...................................................17
Map - Central Hill, Kingsport 1925......................................................................................................28
Adventure - “What Goes Around...” by Marcus D. Bone.................................................29
Player Handouts .............................................................................................................40
Rise 1 - Booth Business Card
Around 2 - Page from a journal
Around 3 - The Trinket text
Around 6 - Burton Loveletter.........................................................................................................40
Around 1 - The letter of travel arrangements
Around 4 - Translated Journal.......................................................................................................41
Around 5 - Darkness of the North.................................................................................................42
“Was in der Tat innerhalb des ungebundenen Buches liegt?”
- What indeed lies inside The Unbound Book?
Resources
Due to size constraints The Unbound Book is unable to hold all extras we would like to bring our readers. But
don’t fret, on our website www.unboundbook.org,we have placed all those documents we weren’t able to fit in
this issue. These include:
d20 Conversion Notes - All the statistics and rules required for running all the adventures in this
issue using the d20 system, including NPC stats, difficulties levels, experience rewards and much
more.
Steeplin County - Maps and further information about Steeplin County, to help flesh out this new
and exciting location. Includes players versions of all the maps.
Guide to Kingsport - The Kingsport book was published by Chaosium in the early 90s and is
no longer in print. This resource gives those Keepers who are new to this setting maps and further
information about the City of Mists.
Call of Cthulhu is copyright ©1981, 1983, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001 by Chaosium Inc.; all rights reserved.
Call of Cthulhu© is the registered trademark of Chaosium Inc.
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This adventure is based in Lovecraft country during the summer
of 1920. The Investigators actions will initially focus on Arkham
before moving north to the (non-Lovecraft) town of Steeplin.
The first act is rather linear and unless the Players go out of
their way they can let the story unfold around them. At the
conclusion of this first act the Players become isolated by the
death of their employer, allowing for more creative role-playing
during the second act.
Explaining to the players that the initial flow of the scenario is
notably linear may help events unfold more smoothly, assisting in
the long-term outcome of the game.
Authors Note
Those familiar with the Cthulhu Mythos will realise that Xnaaki
(pronounced Zen-a-Key) is in fact a unique Great Old One. Based
on Ramsey Campbell’s ‘Glaaki’, (details of which are in the Call
of Cthulhu rule book), it too uses Servants to achieve its goals.
Xnaaki and Glaaki may or may not be of the same origin, perhaps
having come into existence in a similar time and space.
The motivations for creating a unique Great Old One are three
fold; first, Glaaki is located in the Severn Valley, while many
campaigns are set in Lovecraft country (although there is no
reason why, with a little work, this adventure could not be moved
to another location); second, some players may have read ‘The
Inhabitant of the Lake’ (Ramsey Campbell’s fantastic Glaaki
story); and finally as an example of how it is possible to use
traditional Mythos entities in new ways.
Some background information, which is provided later in the
adventure, describes Xnaaki’s appearance and capabilities, while
through out the scenario a great deal of background is given to the
Xnaaki cult.
Introduction
The Investigators are called upon individually, during the
business hours of Friday the 20th of August, 1920. The visitor is
one Miles Booth, the butler of Henry DuPont.
The following is a narrative overview of what Booth has to say to
the Investigators.
The man introduces himself as Mr Booth. He is well dressed, full
figured, short and almost totally bald. He speaks with a faint
English accent.
He is pleasant enough and it is obvious he wishes to speak with
the character in private. Once alone he advises that a friend/
acquaintance of the investigator has given him their name.
He gives them little chance for questions, apologizes for the
abruptness and explains that he has very limited time. His
employer (whom he leaves nameless) requires some assistance
with a task that will encompass tomorrow and possibly Sunday
as well. This assistance is simple; his employer has just arrived
in town and has several business appointments to complete over
the weekend. As such, he will be unable to attend an extremely
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‘Helltrack’ ‘© 2002 Alan M. Clark
The Rise
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By Michael Wood
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The Rise of Xnaaki
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important auction and requires others to purchase
an item on his behalf. The auction could be a time
consuming affair, which Booth’s employer does not
wish to concern himself with. Booth also explains that
the auction is of a high profile, and there is a need for
anonymity.
If the characters agree, Booth continues.
Booth guarantees a fee of $150, $30 of which he
hands each of them immediately. He also gives each
a business card, (see Rise Handout 1) and asks that
they are at the address on the card by 9am tomorrow.
Then, as suddenly as he appeared, Booth leaves.
If the characters check the address it turns out to be
one of a set of three plush apartments, which are only
a year old. On the outside there is no clue as to their
ownership, the windows are closed and the curtains
drawn. Ringing the bell draws no response and a
forced entry would NOT be advisable (if the characters
do decide to break into any of the apartments they will
quickly be apprehended by the police).
Defining ownership of the apartment is difficult,
especially seeing that the Town Records Office is
probably closed by the time the characters decide to
investigate. If they do have access to any real estate
information, the owners turn out to be “Arkham Art
Specialists”, which lists a Graeme Wilson as company
director (a Head Office is also listed in New York).
Although the players will have no way of learning more
information, the company is actually a cover used by
their would-be employer, Henry DuPont, and the New
York address is nothing more than a mail forwarding
service.
If the characters decide to investigate the auction,
some general details are available at the University.
A list of lots has been published, most of which is
rather uninteresting art and foreign artefacts (nothing
of particular interest stands out). However it also
states that all items can be viewed between 9 and 12
tomorrow morning.
DuPont’s Apartment
The following is a narrative overview of the arrival of
the Investigators at the address on the business card
the next morning.
The apartments on Walnut Street are modern
additions to this quiet back street. All three apartments
share a secure lobby and are all of a similar design -
the street frontage is new and attractive but nothing
particularly excessive. The communal lobby has slate
floors, mailbox access, a side table, coat stand and a
rather bland painting, while the apartment doors are
solid oak, with simple gold numbering.
The characters are not kept waiting long after ringing
the bell, with Booth answering the door and ushering
them inside. From the main hall stairs can be seen
leading to the second floor, while behind Booth an open
door leads to a dining room and a small kitchen.
Booth leads them to a study and offers each a seat
amongst a variety of comfortable leather chairs
and couches. The manservant remains standing and
introduces those who are yet to be acquainted. After
all the introductions are completed he excuses himself,
leaving the room to give the characters a moment to
talk amongst themselves.
Booth soon returns with a tray of hot coffee, placing
it on a sideboard before offering each character a
drink.
At 9:15 exactly another man enters the room, ending
the polite, but awkward pleasantness. Younger than
Booth, he is a stark pale figure with his slim frame
dressed in a fine suit. Although his spectacles add a
few years, most would hazard a guess that he is still
in his late twenties.
With a surprisingly pleasant smile and quiet voice he
begins.
“Good morning and may I introduce myself... My
name is Henry DuPont, owner of the Steeplin County
Mill.”
He pauses for a moment. “As Miles here has already
stated, I wish to employ you to purchase an item
rather precious to me.”
DuPont then explains the task at hand.
The group is to attend an auction being held by a group
of foreign art collectors at the Miskatonic University
Exhibit Museum. The majority of the works to be
sold are of little value and interest to him, however
he does require one item, the final auction piece, lot
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number 27. This is an 18-inch statue made from finely
crafted stone and inlayed metal. About 100 years old,
it is worth approximately $1500 and depicts Fredric
DuPont, Henry’s great grandfather. The statue is of
obvious historical importance to the DuPont family
and Henry is determined to purchase it.
Unfortunately neither Booth nor himself can attend
the auction as it is necessary that they are not
observed in Arkham. He explains that there is nothing
sinister about this situation, simply that other parties
must believe that both Henry and Booth are still at
their estate in Steeplin county (a small area to the
north-west of Arkham).
The other party Henry refers to will also have an
agent at the auction who may bid for the statue.
However Henry is aware that this person will have
only $2000 available, so he will ensure that the
Investigators have $3000.
As such the terms of employment are quite simple,
the characters will out-bid this other agent (and any
others) for the statue, while Booth and Henry return
home unnoticed. The Investigators are then required
to travel to Steeplin Valley by train (an eight hour
trip) and from there on to the DuPont homestead to
return the statue (and any remaining auction funds).
As the clock nears 11.30, Henry wraps up the
conversation by shaking each Investigator with one
hand and passes an envelope to them in the other,
stating that upon the return of the statue they will
each receive a similar amount. He then abruptly exits
and leaves Booth to answer any questions the party
may have.
In the envelope is a train ticket to Steeplin County,
$60 cash and the address of the DuPont estate. An
additional envelope is handed to one of the characters.
This contains the $3000 dollars, in $100 dollar bills,
to be used at the auction.
Booth is pleasant enough, but cannot divulge much
more in the way of information, other than advising
the characters that the auction begins at 12 sharp.
A successful Persuade or Fasttalk roll however will
have Booth disclose some or all of the following.
The Statue’s Origins. Supposedly destroyed in a
fire more nearly a century ago, Mr DuPont has only
recently become aware that the statue was actually
stolen and the fire used to cover up the theft. A discreet
investigation has already confirmed that the current
owner is not the thief.
The Cloak and Dagger routine. The original
thieves of the statue are long gone, however Henry
is worried about his company’s board of directors.
The DuPont’s have owned and run the State’s most
successful lumber mill for more than a century, but
with the recent passing of Henry’s father, he believes
certain members of the company’s board will soon
try and take over the business. He has kept up the
guise of illness for several months now, which has
allowed them to leave their home under the notion of
attending specialists, while they have worked to secure
the Mill (he is in town ostensibly to finalise details with
Arkham lawyers). The timing is critical as within the
week Henry will move against the board and reclaim
the company. The auction of the statue is perhaps not
a coincidence as Henry knows an agent from the board
will be present at the auction. He cannot, however,
afford to let his deception slip at this crucial time and,
as the Investigators have no connection to DuPont, are
therefore perfect to acquire the statue on his behalf.
The Auction
The following should be made aware to the characters
as they enter the auction.
The auction begins at twelve o’clock on the dot and
at least one character needs to be registered to bid
in by 11:45.
It is to be held in a small room on the first floor
of the University Exhibit Museum, which itself is
located on the corner opposite the Liberal Arts
Building in West College Street.
About 25 people are present at the auction, most
in small groups of two or three. These are typically
scholars or art dealers interested in various items
for a multitude of reasons.
Several auction staff are present to sign one of
the characters in as a bidder (they allow only one
person from each group to bid during the auction)
and record the details of the groups bond (the cash
the party has on hand).
If the characters arrive before 11:45 they will have
time to view the statue, which sits in a dusty display
case at one end of the auction room.
The effigy of Fredric DuPont is carved from a very dark
stone and inlaid with a silvery metal. He has a sombre
expression and carries a heavy tome under his left arm
(a symbol on its cover is obscured). The other hand
holds a large axe, the head of which rests beside his
right leg. His left leg is raised, resting on a fallen tree
– one you assume from the pose he has just chopped it
down. Very faint symbols can be seen around the base
of the statue, although through the murky display case
few other details can be made out.
If the case is removed, or once the players have
purchased the statue, the following additional
description can be given. (Skill rolls may be necessary
to make out some of the more interesting details).
The inlaid metal is silver with platinum bands
worked into the surface of the base.
The stone is not identifiable, a type of marble or
obsidian perhaps? Regardless it is a heavy and solid
peice of worked rock.
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Small pale gems, sapphires, have been inlaid as
eyes. The quality of the statue’s craftsmanship is
good even if Fredric’s features are not very detailed,
suggesting prehaps that the statue was scupted
quickly.
It weighs about 25-30lbs and is base heavy with a
particularly solid feel. One would hazard a guess
that if it were dropped it would chip rather than
break or shatter.
There are four rows of symbols repeated around
the base of the statue, each row pressed directly
into a one inch platinum band.
After detailed examination it is revealed that there
are in fact eight different symbols depicted, each
of which is repeated many times on the four rows.
Each symbol is about 1⁄2 an inch in size, and of
similar looking shaped beetles or bugs (whether
these are real insects or not cannot be discovered
without weeks of research), but they do seem as if
added for artistic rather than representative value.
The artisan mark on the bottom of the statue is,
surprisingly, of an Arkham jeweller.
The auction starts quickly, and the first 20 items are
bid on and sold after about an hour and a half. At this
point the following should be read aloud:
As a successful bidder moves up to claim item 20,
an older aristocratic type women near you shrieks in
terror.
This woman has discovered her miniature poodle is
now little more than a carcass on a leash. Screaming
she scrambles to the end of the row, jerking the leash
which is still wrapped around her wrist, resulting in
the bloody dog body flying up and onto the people
behind her. Viewing this ghastly scene the characters
should make Sanity Checks losing 0/1 points.
The death of the dog is the result of a spell cast by
the leader of the rival party DuPont spoke about,
Sheriff Wayne Coleburne. It is his plan to minimise
the number of people present at the auction when the
statue is finally offered.
The disruption takes about 20 minutes to clean up
and as result of the mess only 6 other bidders remain
in the auction room. These are; a group of 3 men who
talk amongst themselves in hushed tones, a man and
woman who seem to be having some kind of argument,
and a man who sits alone near the back of the room.
The single man is Sheriff Coleburne.
SHERIFF
WAYNE
COLEBURNE,
Steeplin
Sheriff and Head Disciple of the Cult of Xnaaki,
Age 38
STR
16
EDU
14
Know 70%
CON
14
POW
17
Luck 85%
SIZ
18
INT
16
Idea 70%
DEX
11
APP
12
HP 16
SAN
35
Damage Bonus: +1d4
Weapons: Fist, 60%, damage 1d3+db
Flash Pouch, 45%, damage 1+1d6 rounds
of blindness
.32 Revolver, 40%, damage 1d8
Skills: Accounting 20%, Bargain 40%, Cthulhu
Mythos 20%, Credit Rating 20% (80% in
Steeplin County), Fast Talk 60%, Law 85%,
Library Use 20%, Listen 70%, Occult 50%,
Xnaaki Spells
During this adventure someof the adversaries have
access to spells granted to them through their connection
to Xnaaki.
Copy Image: This spell requires the target is alive
(minimum 1 Hit Point) and restrained for the duration of
a short ritual (10 minutes). It costs 1d6 Magic Points and
1d8 sanity, as well as 1d4 Hit Points at the conclusion
of the spell. The caster and target cannot be of different
races nor more than 4 points different in Size.
Once successfully completed the caster takes on the facial
appearance of the target. The caster can retain the image
for 2d3 hours and then must make a successful Luck roll
for every hour there after to maintain the target’s image.
The caster must remain conscious to continue the spell,
which will also fail if the caster takes more than 5 Hit
points damage in one hit. Once the spell fails the caster’s
appearance returns to normal and both the caster and
target take 1d4 damage.
Xnaaki Blindness Spell: The Blindness spell requires
a Resistance Roll by the target, matching their POW
versus the caster’s POW (plus any additional magic
points expended). The base cost for casting the spell
is 2 Magic Points (and 1d6 Sanity), with an additional
point for each additional target (plus any additional
points added to the casters POW total for the resistance
check).
Targets who fail their Resistance Roll, receive damage as
per the percentage they failed by.
Failure of <10% = Blinded for 1d3 Combat rounds
Failure by 11 – 20% = 1d2 Damage + Blinded for 1d6
Combat rounds
Failure by 21 – 40% = 1d3 Damage + Blinded for 2d6
Combat rounds
Failure > 41% = 1d3+1 Damage + Blinded for 3d6
Combat rounds
This Blindness is more than simply a lack of vision, rather
the targets are also subject to seeing horrible visions of
Xnaaki. Additionally for every two rounds blinded (and
conscious) the target loses one point of Sanity (to a
maximum of 5). In addition each time a target fails a
Resistance Roll they receive 1 point of Cthulhu Mythos
skill from the visions they receive as a result.
If a target is blinded for more than 10 combat rounds
they are knocked unconscious for 1d3 hours.
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Persuade 70%, Pistol 40%, Psychology 60%,
Spot Hidden 70%, Fist 50%, Throw 45%.
Spells:Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells
sidebar.
Enthrall Victim, as per the Call of Cthulhu
rules.
Mind Blast, as per the Call of Cthulhu rules.
Possessions: .32 pistol with 8 rounds of ammunition,
2 Flash Pouches, Sheriffs Badge and
Handcuffs.
He is a large man, big enough to stand out in a crowd,
with a strong, physically fit appearance. He wears tidy
clothes, complimented with a heavy leather jacket.
Beside him lays a small leather briefcase.
Characters rolling a successful Idea Roll will note that
he has not bid on any other items at the auction.
The bidding for the last few items proceeds without
further delay and at last the final item, the statue
comes up for offer.
Only the Investigators and Sheriff Coleburne bid on
the statue, which has an opening price of one thousand
dollars. The Sheriff will bid in amounts of $100 up to
his limit of two thousand, which will mean, of course,
that the characters will eventually out bid him. At the
end of proceedings he is naturally unhappy at being
unable to out bid the Investigators and storms out of
the auction room.
If the characters decide to follow the Sheriff (they
will need to leave at least one person behind to sign
and pay for the statue), he is observed leaving the
University grounds by car. He does not pay any
attention to the Investigators unless stopped, at which
he will avoid any question and try to leave as soon as
possible.
Once Coleburne leaves the auction he travels to the
Arkham Post Office to place a telephone call to his
Deputy, who is located the train station on the lookout
for Booth and DuPont. During this conversation the
Sheriff advises his Deputy to follow the characters,
surmising that they are heading to Steeplin and
DuPont’s estate. He then returns to his car and heads
back to Steeplin County himself.
The Train Trip
At the conclusion of the auction the Investigators will
no doubt head to the train station and board the next
train to Steeplin County. The train they catch is a four-
carriage steam locamotive, with 2 passenger carriages,
a dining car (situated between the two passenger cars)
and a luggage car (at the rear). The train is fairly quiet,
with very few passengers on board, and as such, the
characters will have little trouble in acquiring a cabin
in either of the carriages.
As the train leaves Arkham, heading north, the scenery
quickly turns to gentle hills that, while nice to look at
are of no real interest to the group. For a period of the
trip there is steady rain, but this passes by the time the
train arrives at Newburyport. Here people get on and
off, before the train pulls out of the station and heads
northwest towards Steeplin and beyond.
At all times during the trip the dining carriage has
between six and a dozen people seated in the lounge
areas, although while dinner is being served (between
5:30pm and 7:00pm) there is a constant flow of people
to and from the tables.
At some point after 7.00pm Booth contacts the
characters by walking past their table (or seats) and
dropping a note. Without a word he continues on
towards the back of the train.
The note reads “Meet in the luggage carriage in 5
minutes…trust no one but DuPont”
It is dusk as the characters enter the luggage car. Here
they findBooth at thefar end of the carriage struggling
with another man. The large freight doors are open
on one side of the car and before the characters can
intervene Booth is thrown out of the carriage into the
murky sunset.
This man is the Sheriff’s Deputy, Carl Grietski, who is
after the statue. He will use his pistol to try and get it
from the Investigators, or if they have hidden it, will
take one of them hostage to guide him to it. If Carl is
confronted he will use his flash pouch and attempt to
recover the statue while the party is blinded.
5
Map of the Luggage Carriage
Sliding Cargo Doors
<- To the front of the train
<-
Luggage Racks
<-
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If he does acquire the statue, the train will conveniently
stop and he will head for a road. In this case the
Investigators will have to pursue him on foot.
This confrontation is intended to help build the
mysterious nature of the scenario - not kill the
characters. Carl is little more than a bumbling idiot,
although an armed one. Only foolishly gung-ho or
particularly unlucky Investigators should be seriously
injured during this encounter.
DEPUTY CARL GRIETSKI, Bumbling Disciple
of Xnaaki, Age 28
STR
15
EDU
11
Know 55%
CON
14
POW
8
Luck 40%
SIZ
13
INT
8
Idea 40%
DEX
16
APP
13
HP 14
SAN
35
Damage Bonus: +1d4
Weapons: Fist, 50%, damage 1d3+db
Flash Pouch, 45%, damage 1+1d6 rounds
of blindness
.32 Revolver, 40%, damage 1d8
Skills: Bargain 40%, Cthulhu Mythos 15%, Credit
Rating 15% (60% in Steeplin County), Fast Talk
50%, Law 75%, Library Use 20%, Listen 70%,
Occult 20%, Persuade 50%, Spot Hidden 70%,
Fist 50%, Pistol 40%, Throw 45%.
Possessions:
.32
pistol
with
16
rounds
of
ammunition, 1 Flash Pouch, Deputy
Sheriff Badge
If the characters get a chance to examine Carl (or his
body) at any point they can’t help but notice a small
tattoo/brand of a spiky beetle on his chest. This same
symbol is one of the main characters on the base of the
statue.
The Train Station
When the train eventually pulls into Steeplin Valley
station it is nearing 11pm. With heavy cloud cover
there is no sign of the moon, which leaves the small
town in almost total darkness. It has rained recently
but, despite this, the air is humid and muggy.
The train station itself is little more than a raised
landing with a roof, a tiny office and a block of toilets.
Six other people get off the train with the party,
although they are all met and in small groups disappear
into the town. As the characters discuss their plan of
action read the following:
You are all very surprised to encounter Booth at the
train station. He is a little ragged but alive – bruises
and cuts are visible on his arms and face and while he
is still wearing his suit trousers, his shirt is torn and
he no longer has his jacket. As he walks towards you,
you notice he may well have injured his legs or ribs, as
his movement is stiff and slow.
Each player must make a Resistance Roll, using their
Intelligence (INT) versus Booth’s POW of 11 (although
to minimise tipping off the players you may want take
these rolls on their behalf). If any player succeeds
they notice Booth appears to be more than just a little
shaken up, although they can’t quite put their finger on
what is so unusual about him.
Booth explains he was able to make it to the road after
being thrown from the train. He also states that, as was
planned, another of DuPont’s agents was trailing the
train and picked him up. From that location the trip by
car was actually quicker into town than the one taben
by the train. If questioned in depth about any of the
previous meetings between Booth and the party he
is at a loss, but will beg off, blaming the fall from the
train.
This man is in fact not Booth at all, but a Copy Imaged
Servant of Xnaaki. The Double’s goal is of course to
acquire the statue before it can be delivered to DuPont.
(If the group lost the statue to Deputy Carl, the Double
Booth will still appear, but with the intention of killing
the party).
If the Double is forced to drop the guise or a party
member gets close to uncovering the truth an Idea
Roll should be made. Success and they realise the
man in front of them is not truly Booth (an immediate
Sanity Roll of 1/1d4 is required by anyone revealing the
truth). Failure and the character continues to have the
feelings of singular unease about Booth.
If the Booth Double fools the party, he says:
“We are still being pursued, the Deputy’s master
won’t be so easy to overcome and we should leave
immediately. I have a car in the lot behind us.”
There is no sign of the ‘agent’ that helped ‘Booth’
in the lone Buick and if asked ‘Booth’ states that he
has already gone, on his way to advise DuPont of the
situation.
The Double then plans on getting the characters to
drive up to the DuPont homestead (he claims he is too
sore to drive). On the way he will use the spell Xnaaki
Blindness to force them off the road before attempting
to dispose of them.
If the Booth Double is forced to confront the
group at the platform he will attempt to use the
Enthrall Victim spell before things get out of hand.
Then, if he can get the statue, he will try and escape,
possibly casting Xnaaki Blindness in an attempt to
stun any pursers.
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BOOTH DOUBLE, Disguised Servant
STR
17
INT
13
CON
22
POW
17
SIZ
13
DEX
8
Move
5 (slow and disjointed)
HP
17
MP
14 (remaining)
Weapons: Fist 60%, damage 1d3+1d4db.
Dagger 40%, damage 1d6+1d4db+Poison
(POT = 10 The effects of render the
victim unconscious for 1d4+1 hours)
Armour: none
Sanity Loss: 1/1d4 to discover Servants true identity,
1/1d8 to see a Servant of Xnnaki.
Spells: Copy Image, see the Xnaaki Spells sidebar
Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells
sidebar.
Enthrall Victim, as per the Call of Cthulhu
rules.
Mind Blast, as per the Call of Cthulhu rules.
Steeplin Valley County
Assuming the party either take the car with Booth, or
discover it parked in the station’s lot (it’s the only one
there), they can continue onto the DuPont Estate.
Steeplin township has a population nearing 4000,
although its main street is nothing in much to behold.
It has eight or nine main blocks, with highlights
including a police station, post office, library, two
churches and a variety of general businesses. The
towns back streets are mainly residential. Oddly
there is not a single car seen on the streets, and only a
minimum of street lighting. In fact, the only building
seemingly occupied appears to be the town police
station.
The DuPont estate is located up the valley, directly
off Steeplin Road, near the Mill. The road itself is
well maintained up until the Mill (about 10 minutes
drive), although the estate is another 15 minutes along
a rough unsealed track.
DuPont’s Estate
As you approach the estate you become aware that
the cloud cover has thickened to make the night an
almost impenetrable darkness. It seems as if a fog
has drifted in masking everything more than 30 feet
away. A chilling wind is blowing briskly in from the
south but seems unable to move the blanket of cloud.
The DuPont homestead, a large two-story building, is
deathly quiet as is the forest to the west of the estate.
There are no signs of disturbance outside the house,
(unless by some chance the characters come across
the down power lines - see below). If the characters
do search the grounds before entering the manor a
successful Spot Hidden roll reveals movement in one
of the upstairs windows (although what exactly is
moving can’t be made out through the darkness and
fog). Characters failing this roll instead get the eerie
almost claustrophobic feeling of being watched.
The Great Hall: It is most likely that the characters
will enter the homestead through the main doors,
which are not locked. Here they soon discover the
first signs of trouble – the lack of power in the house
(characters with no light sources are surely going to
end up with bruised shins!)
The cause of the fault can be found easily enough -
downed power lines, severed about 80 feet from the
house.
The second sign of trouble is the large greasy
footprints, which can be seen on the floor of the Great
Hall, although if the Investigators are without a light
source then a Spot Hidden Roll is required to notice
them. These human-like prints have been made with
some sort of black/green slime which reeks with
odorous decay.
The prints lead upstairs, before petering out. They can
however be followed back to where their owner, one
of three Servants of Xnaaki, entered the homestead,
through the West Wing (see the map for more details
on where the footprints lead). This Servant is now
upstairs in a confused state after an “incident” with
DuPont.
East Wing: Characters searching the East Wing
should make a Listen roll. Success and they hear
movement on the floor above them. Apart from this
noise there are no signs of disturbance in this part
of the house with the Dining, Smoking and Billiard
rooms have nothing of real interest in them.
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The Rise of Xnaaki
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West Wing: If searched the Investigators discover
where the Servants of Xnaaki entered the building.
The creatures have wandered into most of the rooms
of this wing, leaving behind their tell-tale footprints
throughout, although apart from these all the rooms
are otherwise untouched.
UpStairs: Following the tracks upstairs becomes
more difficult as they fade. The Servant upstairs is
not hiding, but rather aimlessly wandering around
after DuPont cast a spell on it. Currently in one of the
East Wing bedrroms, it will not attack the party, rather
once disturbed will attempt to flee, dropping DuPont’s
diary in the process (see The Diary of DuPont below
for more details). If necessary the Servant will leap
from a second story window to escape, and will only
attack if cornered.
SERVANT
OF
XNAAKI,
Enchanted
and
Confused Intruder
STR
12
INT
14
CON
22
POW
13
SIZ
13
DEX
3
Move
5 (slow and disjointed)
HP
11
MP
8 (remaining)
Weapons: Fist 40%, damage 1d3+1d4db.
Dagger 40%, damage 1d6+1d4db.
Armour: none
Sanity Loss: 1/1d8 to see a Servant of Xnnaki.
Spells: Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells
sidebar.
The Study
Assuming the characters follow the footprints
backwards through the house, they will be lead to the
Study door, where they immediately notice a greasy
hand print on the handle. Entry into this room from
the Great Hall is difficult however, as a corpse of one
of the Servants is lying against the other side. If a
Strength Resistance Roll versus the corpses Size of 14
succeeds, the door can be forced open.
You wrench the door inwards with as much force as
you can muster and after considerable effort it shifts
suddenly and slides inwards.
It is immediately apparent what the obstruction is
– a putrid skeletal corpse is slumped in the doorway.
A large ragged hole has been blasted in its chest
blackening what little flesh is left around the wound.
The rest of the corpse is an unnatural greenish colour,
its long fingers twisted as if suffering from some sort
of hellish arthritis. It is naked, its withered genitals
exposed.
As you watch, a little blood and a thick green fluid
have drains from the wound into a sickly pool around
the corpse.
All characters viewing the dead Servant should make a
Sanity Check losing 1/1d4 Sanity. From the Great Hall,
little can be seen in the Study – although it is obvious
there has been some sort of serious disruption inside.
Anyone stepping inside will immediately to see the
following.
Map of the DuPont Estate
Garage
Disused
Stables
Great
Hall
Study
Downed
Power Lines
Dining, Smoking
& Billards rooms
Kitchen &
Staff Quarters
To th Mill & Town
Up hill towards the coast
The Unbound Book
The Rise of Xnaaki
Issue - 0 August 2002
Stepping over the rancid pool around the corpse you
enter the Study. A nauseating smell hangs in the air…
death, blood and charred flesh. Glancing back you
see the inside of the study doors are blackened and
splattered with the innards of the corpse. Furniture,
books and papers have been scattered violently
around the room. Between you and a large desk is
a second corpse, far more seriously damaged than
the first, now little more than a charred skeleton.
A faint stream of smoke still slowly drifts from
its incinerated remains, although there is no sign
as to what has inflicted the assault. It also has an
unnatural appearance, too thin, too tall, too twisted
to be human.
All players viewing the second Servant should make a
Sanity Check or lose 1/1d2 Sanity.
Henry DuPont is also in the study, barely conscious,
lying on the floor behind the desk. He is almost in an
as bad a state as the two corpses, his left arm, from
the elbow down, is missing and is bleeding heavily (he
has applied a simple tourniquet with his jacket, but
this has done little to stem the flow). He also has a cut
scalp and a serious deep stab wound in his stomach. A
number of cuts and scrapes are also about his body but
are minor in comparison.
DuPont requires an immediate First Aid or Medical
attention to prevent him from falling unconscious. A
success stabilises him, but the medic will realise his
wounds are most likely terminal – he has perhaps a
few hours if not moved. The nearest hospital outside
Steeplin is probably Concord, but if Dupont is moved
he will shriek in agony and beg to be left where he is.
Beside DuPont is a handful of tattered and now bloody
papers. This manuscript is in a spidery hand comprised
of both English and Arabic text (they cannot be read
without good light and a bit of concentration).
Even if the characters can’t stabilise DuPont – he will
speak to them for a moment before passing out. He
is barely coherent and obviously in shock, a situation
which Keepers can use to their advantage to avoid
answering questions and to be generally mysterious.
It takes DuPont a moment or two to recognise who you
are. He coughs a grim laugh before saying “You made
it, excellent. Do you have the statue?”
Yes they have the statue. “Thank god… at first
light you must take it and this manuscript (he points
to the papers beside him) and get out of Steeplin”.
No, they have lost the statue. “Mother of god
– whatever you do it must be recovered…before…
before they are able to evoke its power and release
the demon”.
DuPont insists there is another Servant in the
homestead, stating it must be killed before he will talk
further.
Once the servant is stopped, DuPont will advise the
characters they will be safe in the house, that the
disciples of the demon are tonight performing rituals,
a task that will take all night. DuPont is obviously weak
and throughout the rest of the night he slips in and out
of consciousness. When awake he rambles about the
situation.
“Within the Statue is the ‘Stone of Xnalku’ – an item
that can be used to evoke many different rites… The
most sinister ritual will unleash a horrifying creature
from its age old prison…The demon, Xnaaki, has
been trapped in the Steeplin Lake for a millenium –
banished by another of his kind an aeon ago… Xnaaki
is weak now but if ever the stone and the beast are
re-united …” DuPont trails off.
“There are only a handful of madmen crazy enough
to worship Xnaaki…the head disciple is the Sheriff of
this very town…he has little in the way of followers…
but with that damned stone… Xnaaki will invade the
minds of all but the strongest”.
“Destroying the stone is the only way to secure
Xnaaki in its prison …I only wish I could live to see it
myself…a ritual is among these papers… to fail is to
condemn the world”.
Morning After
Whatever the group decide to do next, they should be
aware that it is the middle of a dark foreboding night
and any plans they concoct should wait until at least
first light (Keepers should remind them of this - they
are not supermen).
If the party still holds the statue, they can only
watch as DuPont’s condition gets worse and despite
their best efforts he passes away painlessly shortly
after 5am.
As per DuPont’s advice, the best course of action would
be to head into town at sunrise and from there make
there way back to Arkham, manuscript in hand (To
help facilitate this DuPont has a car in the garage).
There is, of course, the possibility they may wish to
do some investigating in Steeplin, in which case see
Steeplin County Investigation below. Finally they
may decide to confront the Sheriff and the cult directly
(Keepers should discourage this option), although
this is not the best course of action, considering
the Sheriff’s position, the lack of solid information
and other avenues of investigation still open to the
characters.
If the party doesn’t have the statue they will
need to steal it back from the Sheriff before heading
out of town. DuPont will make a dramatic plea to the
characters to recover the statue, pointing out that the
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The Rise of Xnaaki
10
Sheriff will have it under lock and key (DuPont is able
to provide an address for the Sheriff’s home - he lives
opposite the Mill on a small farm). He will also explain
that Xnaaki can only be contacted on the new or full
moon and with tonight being a full moon, the cult will
have to wait at least two weeks before they can use the
Stone of Xnalku. DuPont clings to life long enough to
supply any required information before passing away.
Recovering the Statue
If, at any point of the adventure, the statue is stolen, it
soon becomes apparent that it is the key to a successful
conclusion to this investigation.
If the cult has acquired the statue it will be secured at
the Sheriff’s residence until the moon is right for the
next ritual.
The farm is typical of many rural holdings, well
maintained and private (it is surrounded by trees).
It is less than a mile from the Mill and, at all times of
the day, noise from the plant filters through the trees,
giving the house and land an eerie feeling as if it is
somehow disconnected from the real world.
The Sheriff is usually home between 6pm and 8:30am
each day, and will otherwise be on duty at the Sheriff’s
office or on business around town. The house, a large
single story ranch style home, is guarded during the
day by his two dogs. The two dogs should be treated
as Wolves (see the Call of Cthulhu Rulebook) and will
fiercely defend the house. Note that gunfire outside the
house will more than likely draw the attention of the
nearby Mill workers.
There is little of interest inside the house and not
surprisingly no evidence can be found linking the
Sheriff to the cult. Once the house is searched
however, a trap door can be found in the Study leading
to a hidden basement.
This basement is little more than a single small room
with dirt floor and walls. The only objects of interest
in the room is a small shrine (on which the statue
can been seen) and a puddle of muddy water next to
it, where the recent rain has seeped in and formed a
pool.
A Servant of Xnaaki protects the statue and is resting
in this muddy pool. If the pool is disturbed, or if the
characters move within a foot of the shrine, the Servant
arises shrieking and attacks the nearest investigator.
SERVANT OF XNAAKI, Guardian of the
Shrine
STR
17
INT
17
CON
30
POW
16
SIZ
13
DEX
5
Move
5 (slow and disjointed)
HP
17
MP
16
Weapons: Fist 40%, damage 1d3+1d4db.
Armour: none
Sanity Loss: 1/1d8 to see a Servant of Xnnaki.
Spells: Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells
sidebar.
Mind Blast, as per the Call of Cthulhu rules.
Steeplin County Investigation
If the characters decide to do any investigation
in Steeplin they will have access to the following
information. However by lingering in town they will
also risk drawing attention to themselves, especially
if they are spotted on the street. If located, the Sheriff
will attempt to arrest them and characters who get
themselves caught are destined to become the next
Servants of Xnaaki.
The Library. With a successful Library Use Roll a
book on Steeplin’s history can be found. In this there
is some information about the design of the DuPont
Statue and its maker.
Commissioned by Fredric DuPont and sculpted by
Harvard Haywright, an Arkham jeweller, the book
also mentions the symbols on the statue, apparently
they refer to eight different Arabic religious rituals,
although further details are not provided.
The library has no references to either Xnaaki or the
stone of Xnalku.
The Mill. Mill workers and administrators happily
talk about general Mill issues and their dislike for
DuPont. Almost everyone is of the opinion that he
is trying to run the town into the ground and might
even be responsible for some of the town’s missing
persons.
The Steeplin Express. The local paper is the only
place with any real records about people who have
gone missing in the area (apart from these reports the
Sheriff has carefully covered his tracks). In total there
have been 14 missing persons in the last eight years, all
in or around Steeplin Lake.
Time Marches On
The smartest approach is to leave Steeplin and return
to Arkham to investigate the diary and manuscript.
However during the next two weeks the following
events occur:
The death of DuPont, Booth, Deputy Carl and
anyone else makes headlines, even as far south as
Arkham.
If the characters do not lay low Coleburne will have
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The Rise of Xnaaki
Issue - 0 August 2002
agents locate them and attempt to get the statue
from them (these agents will be similar to Deputy
Carl in ability).
Two days after the events in Steeplin the DuPont
homestead is burnt to the ground. DuPont’s
funeral, scheduled for a week after the fateful
evening, goes ahead despite the arson. DuPont’s
next of kin arrive from England soon afterwards
and by the time the characters return to the valley,
plans are already under way to sell the Mill.
Interpreting the manuscript pages takes four or
five days of study (see Investigation of the Artifacts
below) and should allow for injured characters to
regain a few Hit Points.
Investigation of the Artifacts
The Diary of DuPont
Approximately 90 pages in length, it is not what one
would call a conventional diary, rather it discusses
the DuPont family lineage and history. (See the The
Diary of DuPont sidebar).
The Manuscript Pages
The seven pages making up the manuscript are in
physically poor condition. Written in a combination of
English and Arabic the handwriting is in a particularly
erratic style, using a dark red and suspiciously blood
-like ink. The pages are stiff and inflexible as if made
of some sort of treated fabric or hide.
Skimming the Manuscript. It is obvious that the
author is a madman as the manuscript often jumps
between English and Arabic, frequently mid-sentence.
There are references to many different cults, religions
and Great Old Ones in the text, but more specifically,
several different rituals or spells can be made out.
Origins of the Manuscript Pages. Any further
investigation into the origins of the text requires an
adequate library (such as the Restricted Section of
the Miskatonic University library) and a successful
Library Use roll.
The pages are from the Book of Al Arkmar’b, which
is about 500 years old. Essentially this text is a poor
translation of several rituals and spells written by an
even older Arabic madman. The full book is supposed
to cover a variety of Mythos subjects, although
the pages on hand specifically refer to Xnaaki, its
Servants and several related rituals. According to
the few tomes that make reference to the Book of Al
Arkmar’b, only one copy of this manuscript exists.
A further Library Use Roll can be made to research the
cults, disciples and history of Xnaaki.
A cult existed in 1050ad that had made reference
to the worship of ‘The Banished’ evil god - many
details of which fit the description of Xnaaki. This
11
The Diary of DuPont
1750. Fredric DuPont is born to Martha and Alfred
DuPont in the colony of New York.
1780. At age 30, Fredric travels to the Middle East and
opens a successful trading business. About this time his
parents die and he is left the family fortune.
1790. Fredric becomes involved in the establishment of
a gentlemans club, primarily to assist in his trading. This
club however has a much more sinister heart.
1800. Fredric begins preparations to return to America
as tension amongst the club’s more powerful members
builds.
1801. The cult is disbanded and Fredric leaves for
Washington D.C. with the leader of the cult.
1802. DuPont arrives home in America without the cult
leader is dead (althought the Stone of Xnalku, the cult’s
most powerful artifact is now in his possession).
1809. Fredric has spends 7 years traveling with the
Stone of Xnalku as his guide, finally settling in the
Steeplin Valley.
1810. Construction begins on the DuPont mill.
1811. The Church of Xnaaki is established.
1812. The Church is closed to keep the Mill workers
happy.
1815. DuPont marries and turns over a new leaf,
abandoning his pursuit of Xnaaki. The statue is made to
hide the Stone of Xnalku.
1821. Fredric has his first and only child, Robert.
1826. Fredric DuPont dies in hunting accident.
1842. Robert comes of age and takes ownership of the
DuPont Mill.
1844. Robert marries.
1847. The statue and a few other items of jewelry are
stolen from the DuPont estate and a fire is used to cover
the theft. The thieves sell the stolen items on foreign
black markets.
1855. Mathew DuPont is born.
1885. Mathew marries and takes ownership of the Mill.
The same year Robert dies.
1889. Henry DuPont is born.
1910. The manuscript pages are discovered by a Steeplin
town deputy. With the script he reforms the cult which
slowly grows in numbers and influence.
1916. Mathew is killed by the cult when he refuses to
join.
1917. Henry takes ownership of the DuPont Mill and
quickly learns the truth behind his fathers death.
1918. Henry begins researching a way to stop the
cult and destroy Xnaaki. He also begins to plan the
relocation of the Mill and the local population away
from the Lake.
1919. The Stone of Xnalku is located and Henry arranges
for its sale in Arkham. Closing the mill is proving more
difficult than initially planned.
1920. The cult begins to fight the move, as does the
Mill’s board, although for very different reasons. The
stone arrives in Arkham ahead of schedule.
The last entry in the dairy is on the 1st of August, in which
Henry states heplans to hire a number of ‘trustworthy
souls’ to acquire the statue…
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The Rise of Xnaaki
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cult led by an Arab was based in England’s Severn
Valley. No further details are given, although the
cults destruction is later mentioned as taking place
after locals claimed a demon had visited them in their
sleep.
In 1790ad more evidence of a Xnaaki cult is recorded,
this time in Egypt. Again its members are said to have
disappeared suddenly.
A reference can be found concerning the Steeplin
Valley and a ‘Church of Xnaaki’. Opened in 1811, it
is described as a place of free worship until, with the
influx of Christian workers to the area forced it was
focred to close its doors. Further details on what was
worshipped in the church are not mentioned, although
suggestion are made that one Fredric DuPont, a town
father, was actively involved in the worship there.
Rituals in the Manuscript Pages. There are four
rituals scattered amongst the pages of the manuscript,
each of which must be translated and studied. Each
spell or ritual takes approximately a day to translate,
read and absorb. (See the Rituals from the
Manuscript sidebar).
On the seventh page of the text is the beginning
of a very different spell and, although the opening
sentences are in English, the spell itself is actually
written in an Arabic code. Both a successful Arabic
and Mathematics rolls are required to crack this
code, although if translated the reader discovers that
the ritual is incomplete, instead hinting that it is for
opening a gateway or a portal to another ‘world’. No
more can be learned without the other pages from the
manuscript - which of course are not present.
During the translation of the manuscript the group
will no doubt uncover that the rituals can only be
enacted on a night with either a new or full moon. A
quick calculation can be made to discover that when
the adventure began it was a new moon, meaning that
even after spending a week translating the rituals, they
may have several more days to wait before attempting
to raise Xnaaki. This is of course is a convenient
opportunity to acquire weapons and formulate a plan
of attack.
The Statue
Before DuPont died he would have advised the party
that the Stone of Xnalku is in the statue, so before
they will be able to perform the final ritual, the Bain of
Xnalku, they will need to free it.
It is possible to take it to the jewellery store where it
was made, Haywrights in Arkham. Also there is the
possibility that they will investigate at the jewellers for
further clues.
The original sculptor is long dead (the statue being
made over a hundred years ago) but his son Avery
Haywright (now in his 70s) now runs the Jewellery
store and has records of the statue. These confirm the
general design of the piece and mention that there is
an oval stone at its center.
If requested, Haywright can cut free the Stone of
Xnalku, or alternatively the statue may simply be
smashed to pieces. Either way the stone is unharmed.
Rituals from the Manuscript
Call of Xnaaki
Language:English
Cost: Nil
Required Casting Time: 3 mins
A successful English roll is required to read and
understand this ritual. The Call of Xnaaki is a simple
chant, which, when cast under a full or new moon at
midnight on the shores of Xnaaki’s prison, calls forth
the Great One from its slumber. Xnaaki will surface in
approximately 5 minutes.
Restrain Xnaaki Servant
Language:English & Arabic
Cost: 0 - 2 Magic Points
Requires Casting Time: 1 Combat Round
Spell Duration: 1 hour
Requires one read English roll (to understand the ritual
purpose) and a further read Arabic roll to complete the
translation. This spell restrains all Servants of Xnaaki
from coming with 5 feet of the caster, although the it has
no effect Xnaaki nor his mortal worshippers.
Veil of Azif
Language: English & Arabic
Cost: 1d6+1 Magic Points*
Requires Casting Time: 2 -3 mins
Spell Duration: 3d6 mins
Requires one read English roll (to understand the ritual
purpose) and a further read Arabic roll to complete the
translation. When invoked the casters vision is masked,
as if they are in a heavy thick fog (all attacks and actions
should take this into account). The most important
function of this spell is to allow the caster the option of
expending Magic Points instead San for sanity loss.
*Sanity cost is only for the first casting, additional
castings only cost 1 Sanity.
Bain of Xnalku
Language: English & Arabic
Cost: 1 Magic Point
Requires Casting Time: 1 Combat Round
Requires one read English roll (to understand the ritual
purpose) and a further read Arabic roll to complete
the translation. This spell allows the caster to destroy
the Stone of Xnalku by making a POW Resistance Roll
versus the POW Xnaaki. Multiple casters can combine
POW scores to make a single resistance check against
Xnaaki. Failure just enrages Xnaaki further, success
results in the stone being destroyed and Xnaaki being
banished back to prision... forever?
The Unbound Book
The Rise of Xnaaki
Issue - 0 August 2002
The Stone of Xnalku
The stone is small enough to fit into the palm of your
hand but weighs much more than your’d expect from
a rock of this size. Its black surface is covered with
faint weaving ridges, each one tainted with a subtle
crimson streak.
The Veil of Azif. When seen under the veil, the stone
has a much more alien appearance.
The stone appears to shift and move, the ridges
turn into tiny tentacles that dart about in random
directions. It has an unnatural glow and seems to
emit a whimpering groan, as if it were some lame
animal.
Calm Before the Storm
The characters should now have learnt three important
facts:
That Xnaaki is trapped in Steeplin Lake and cannot
escape without the stone of Xnalku.
That there appears to be only one way to destroy
the stone – the Bain of Xnalku ritual.
The ritual must be carried out in the presence of
Xnaaki.
At this stage they have two options – hide the stone or
destroy it and Xnaaki.
If the characters decide to hide the stone they will
discover that it has an uncanny way of being found.
This option should be discouraged, in fact DuPont
himself has advised against it. If they still persist with
this option, further attacks by disciples of Xnaaki
should eventually either, change their minds or kill
them outright.
The smarter course of action is to destroy the stone.
To do this all characters should learn the rituals (or at
least the last three) if they hope to destroy the stone.
For those who do not have skill to read Arabic, it can
be translated for them, and a Read/Write English Roll
made instead, although this is with a 10% penalty.
Deciding how to deal with Xnaaki and his Servants
should be a simple enough decision – kill the Servants
and banish Xnaaki. They can keep the Servants at bay
with the Restrain ritual and the Bain of Xnalku will
stop the Great Old One. The disciples, however, pose
a different type of threat, one which the characters
will have to think carefully about. Characters killing
the disciples in cold blood or without provocation risk
losing sanity.
No matter how much the characters plan and
regardless of how well they deal with the Servants and
disciples – Xnaaki is still a Great Old One. Its horror,
magnitude and total alienness should not be down
played. Most normal humans encountering Xnaaki
would not only lose their minds but also their lives.
The key to the climax of the scenario is in exposing
the characters to the horror of Xnaaki without having
them being pointless slaughtered. (Of course reckless
or foolish players should be treated by the Keeper as
appetisers for the Great Old One.)
Let the players hack n’ slash the Servants and struggle
with the disciples but most importantly they should
come away with the feeling that they have not defeat
Xnaaki, but rather having simply escaped it alive.
13
Where
Xnaaki
rises ->
<- Steeplin Lake Road
10 minutes to town
Main Clearing
8 miles to the Mill
Map of the Steeplin Lake
Ritual Clearing
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Issue - 0 August 2002
The Rise of Xnaaki
14
Steeplin Lake
The characters can enter Steeplin County by train or
car, however as they will need to travel undetected
and also make their way to the lake, a car would be
advisable.
The lake is about 10 minutes drive east of the town, on
a road that arcs gently northwards. At this point the
lake is only about 8 miles from the Mill.
The climatic conclusion will probably unfold by itself,
the Keeper should not need to spend to much time
setting the scene as either the characters will rush the
ritual and try to raise Xnaaki before the cult arrives
or will wait to ambush them. A few basic points to
remember are.
The ritual ‘Call of Xnaaki’ will only work under a
full or new moon.
The disciples meet every full and new moon at the
ritual clearing, although the characters may or may
not be aware of this.
After the ‘Call of Xnaaki’ ritual is completed it takes
several minutes for the Great Old One to rise.
How Xnaaki and his minions react to the attack can
vary greatly depending on how the Keeper wishes to
treat them., while the number of protagonists depends
on the size and combat skills of the party. The Author
recommends that in addition to the Sheriff and the
eventual arrival of Xnaaki, a good guide is two cultists
and/or one Servant per party member.
Once darkness falls the cultist gather in the ritual
clearing in preparation for the evening ahead. Up until
midnight they enact chants and rituals, worshipping
Xnaaki and speaking of the time it will rise eternal and
bestow gifts upon all those who follow.
Unless the characters make a point of being seen they
will not be noticed observing the cultists ceremonies.
Midnight at the Shores of the
Prison
At midnight the characters are able start the ritual
which will raise Xnaaki. This requires chants and
actions of it‘s own, which quite possibly could attract
the cultists attention.
Once the ritual is completed, Xnaaki begins to rise .
From the bottom of the lake bubbles of air escape and
soon a dark shape can be seen nearing the surface.
This takes about 5 minutes and if not already alerted,
the arrival of Xnaaki soon gets the cultists attention.
Once to the surface of the lake Xnaaki makes its way to
the characters location.
Through the darkness you hear the creature, a
grumbling howl, punctuated with piercing alien
shrieks. The ground vibrates and the sound of foliage
splintering and shrubs being crushed reaches your
ears. It appears suddenly, almost as if it were some
horrifyingly animated train – moving towards you
on a mass of writhing tentacles rather than wheels. Its
segmented body is shiny and black, its other worldly
appearance is an unbelievable sight. The head of the
creature is simply a black pit – a mouth perhaps - but
you cannot bring yourself to look for long. As it raises
its first segments from the ground, towering 10 feet
Xnaaki
Advanced Description Xnaaki’s slimy dripping body
is bulberous in shape and loosely cylindrical, 6 to 7 feet
wide and at least 40 feet long. It moves on a belly of
tentacles, each approximately 6 in lenght. Its massive
gapping mouth is filled with row upon row of wriggling
tentacle like teeth.
Origins of Xnaaki. The details concerning the origins
of Xnaaki should remain hidden. Similarities to Glaaki
can be made but one can never know the truth behind
either.
Cult of Xnaaki. Those mad or foolish enough to
worship Xnaaki will be rewarded for their efforts,
usually in the form of a horrifyingly gratuitous death!
However those with an understanding of the ways of
the Great Olds, such as Sheriff Coleburne, are be able to
face Xnaaki and receive gifts from the Great One. Xnaaki
imparts knowledge of other races, worlds and times and
infrequently spells. Those mad and patient enough could
easily uncover many of the world’s great secrets in the
service of this ancient entity.
Creating Xnaaki Servants. Unlike Glaaki, Xnaaki
is not well suited to mental control or attacks. It
commands its undead servants only after they have had
one of its tentacles imbedded in them. After a normal
tentacle attack, when Xnaaki has its victim firmly in its
grasp it can shoot 1d4 smaller tentacles into them. Each
of these tentacles does 1d4 damage, with any those doing
only 1 or 2 points failing to attach (falling to the ground
to wither and die). Tentacles doing 3 or 4 points damage
successfully borrow into the victim. If the damage done
to the victims in the ritual kills them, then they soon
after rise again as a Servant of Xnaaki. Victims surviving
this ordeal become living channels for the will of Xnaaki,
although in day to day life they remain of their own free
will .
TYPICAL SERVANT OF XNAAKI, The Will of
Xnaaki
STR
17
INT
12
CON
24
POW
13
SIZ
13
DEX
6
Move
5 (slow and disjointed)
HP
15
Weapons: Fist 40%, damage 1d3+1d4db.
Armour: none
Sanity Loss: 1/1d8 to see a Servant of Xnnaki.
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The Rise of Xnaaki
Issue - 0 August 2002
into the air – tentacles lash out in all directions.
XNAAKI, Great Old One
STR
32
INT
26
CON
65
POW
28
SIZ
60
DEX
10
Move
7 (Centipede like on hundreds of squirming
tentacles)
HP
65 (each tentacle has 8 hit points)
MP
16
Weapons: Tentacles, 80%, damage 1d8+3d6db,
Xnaaki’s tentacles combine to act as one
attack per turn. Xnaaki will focus this attack
on the closest target. (This can include any
disciple or Servant if close enough).
Devour, 50%, damage 6d10 (per round).
The Devour attack requires the target to
have received a successful tentacle attack in
previous round. A successful devour attack
sees the target swallowed whole.
Armour: 25 points Xnaaki’s Body is soft and slimy,
but amazingly resilient to damage. Each of
Xnaaki’s tentacles has only 2 points of armour
however.
Sanity Loss: 1d10/1d20. The darkness and prior
understanding of the horror that
is Xnaaki assists the characters in
withstanding this terrifying entity.
Spells: Xnaaki Blindness, see the Xnaaki Spells
sidebar.
Mind Blast, as per CoC manual.
Enthrall Victim, as per CoC manual.
Once Xnaaki reaches the lake side its Servants awaken
to its call. These reside in the mud at the bottom of
lake during the daylight hours and now rise from the
dirt and slime around the characters feet.
The following are options that a Keeper may wish to
keep in mind while the combat between the characters
and Xnaaki takes place.
Xnaaki. Xnaaki is enraged at being summoned in the
presence of the Stone of Xnalku and will use physical
rather than magical forms of attack. Reaching out with
massed tentacles it drags all that it grabs into its maw.
Having shrubs, cultists and Servants disappearing into
that black pit of a mouth will frighten the players as
much as the sheer size and weight of the creature.
Most attacks the characters will inflict on the Great
Old One will focus on the tentacles, so go ahead and
let them blast away at these slimy ropes as the damage
will do little to effect Xnaaki.
‘The Veil of Azif’. This ritual can mask the characters
vision but it should also be treated as an advantage
to the followers of Xnaaki. For example the veil
makes the undead appear as nothing more than dark
shadows, while the living are vibrant and easily visible.
This means the characters will naturally focus on the
cultists leaving the Servants free to act.
‘Restrain Xnaaki Servant’. Once cast the Servants
cannot attack the characters but they can still try to
distract them.
‘The Stone of Xnalku’. Xnaaki and his Servants are
drawn to the stone and will focus their attention on the
character holding it.
‘The Bain of Xnalku Ritual’. Regardless of how
the previous rituals are enacted, the casting of the
final ritual should be dramatic. The clashing of minds
– Xnaaki versus the characters, haunting flashes of
other worlds, lives and horrors blind the characters as
they face Xnaaki. The Veil of Azif does little to shield
them from the alien and evil force that approximates
the horrifying mind of a Great Old One.
CULTIST OF XNAAKI, Disciples of a Hidden God
STR CON SIZ DEX INT POW DB HP
1) 17 12
12 14 8 7 +1D4 12
2) 16 14 16 8 12 12 +1D4 15
3) 18 13
16 13 12 8 +1D6 16
4) 15 18
17 12 11 9 +1D4 17
5) 17 14
16 16 10 10 +1D6 16
6) 16 15
15 17 7 14 +1D4 16
Conclusion
After Xnaaki is banished its Servants collapse, their
tentative link to the realm of the living severed. As
for the cultists, they lose heart once their master is
defeated although, if he is still alive, Sheriff Coleburne
is furtherenraged and will attack the characters with a
renewed fury.
The Cultists. Any surviving cultists will give up after
Xnaaki is gone and the Sheriff is defeated. They will
blame most of their acts on Coleburne, saying he was
responsible for leading them astray.
The survivors are from all walks of life, but most are
from the older, more respected families from the
valley, and as such prison means little to them after
they lose their standing in the tight community.
As for any dead cultists and the Servants bodies,
the inevitable investigation will be confusing and
complicated. Unless the players are sloppy they should
not have any trouble avoiding any repercussions. The
key to staying below the radar is simple – don’t leave
any evidence behind.
The Journal and the Manuscript. These pose
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The Rise of Xnaaki
16
interesting questions. Have the party discovered the
beginning of the fifth ritual? Do the group hand over
the manuscript to the Miskatonic University and form
a relationship with a scholar there? Or do they hide
the manuscript to ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong
hands?
To protect themselves, the Diary of DuPont should be
destroyed or at least securely hidden. The manuscript
on the other hand holds a potential evil, but does
not implicate the characters in any way. The players
decision on how to deal with these papers is a perfect
opportunity to open up further adventures.
Steeplin County. The town itself will return to
normal after the events of August 1920. Xnaaki
remains hidden in the lake but is now trapped
permanently… or so we hope.
Booth. If he wasn’t discovered earlier, his body
is found by the Rail authorities not to far from the
train tracks. Apparently having survived the fall from
the train, he has died under even more mysterious
circumstances. Bound, with his throat cut, he is
drained of all his blood. A spiked beetle has been
drawn on his chest!
Rewards. Each character receives 1d20 Sanity (plus
any extra for good roleplaying etc) in knowing that
they have stopped an ancient and terrible evil. Xnaaki
still resides in the lake, but with luck and foresight it
can never again … Rise!
On the Unbound
Website
The Rise of Xnaaki
- D20 Stats for The Rise of Xnaaki
- A Players Guide to Steeplin Valley
- Maps of Steeplin Valley and Township!
Visit the Unbound Book Website @
www.unboundbook.org
(Note: To play this scenario it is suggested the Keeper has access
to both the Dreamlands and Kingsport supplements for Call of
Cthulhu. In the absence of the Kingsport book, another city can
be substituted with a little effort, although some background
information has been provided on the Resources page of The
Unbound Book website [www.unboundbook.org]).
Keeper’s Background
When Jonathan Nash died he left his tottering Georgian home on
Church Street, Kingsport, to his Bostonian nephew, Allen. Allen
was shocked at the dilapidated state his eccentric, reclusive uncle
had left the place in, but realised its potential value if it was ‘done
up’ and decided to do it himself, as a weekend project.
A month or so into the job, Allen happened upon a secret
compartment in his uncle’s former bedroom – the only room
that appeared ‘lived in’. In this compartment he discovered three
items of interest: a bag containing several bottles of a strong
sedative, an oddly shaped Crystal on a metal stand and a journal.
In this journal, Jonathan told how he had stolen the Crystal from
a Chinese Sorcerer when travelling in the East and how he had
discovered its incredible power. If a man sleeps with the Crystal
beside his bed, he is transported in his dreams to a marvellous
land of wonders - a land where a man of strong will can become
whatever he desires and go where it is even possible to cheat
physical death. It was clear that over the years Jonathan spent
more and more of his time in this world, using sedatives to
prolong his sleep. This seems to have had severe effects on
Jonathan’s health and sanity, and indeed, near the end of his life
the journal became totally incoherent.
Jonathan died, hit by a car, on a rare trip outside his house to
buy food, and as such lost his chance of immortality in the land of
Dream.
Allen was fascinated and decided to sleep with the Crystal on
his nightstand. That night he discovered the Dreamlands –
entering the Enchanted Wood through a magical cave of the same
substance as the Dream Crystal. That first evening he became
enchanted, and indeed, addicted.
Taking a six month sabbatical from his job as a librarian at
Harvard, he moved into the house on Church Street where he
could dream in peace. But after a few weeks he had an accident
– seemingly minor but with terrible ramifications.
Venturing into parts of the Dreamlands his placid uncle never
found, Allen, a veteran of the Great War with a much darker
imagination, disturbed a hungry Gug. Fleeing headlong from the
beast he woke with a start and leaped from his bed, knocking the
Crystal to the floor, and cracking it.
He was terrified he had ruined it and immediately took a sedative
to test its power. He was relieved to find the Dreamlands were
still accessible, but what he did not realise was that the crack
had altered the Crystal’s structure in one significant way – now it
worked BOTH WAYS.
Since that night, a week ago, every time Allen uses the Crystal
17
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His Wildest Dreams
Issue - 0 August 2002
‘Her Hunger’ © 2002 Alan M. Clark
His Wildest
Dreams
By Mark Chiddicks
A Call of Cthulhu Adventure set
in Kingsport, January 1925
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His Wildest Dreams
18
something crosses into the Waking World – appearing
randomly within a quarter of a mile of the house and
staying in Kingsport for a random period of time
before being snatched back to its own dimension.
These Dream creatures are often harmless, but
sometimes terrible and it is an encounter with
these terrible things that brings our heroes into the
adventure.
Introduction – The Cloudbeast
It is a chill winter evening in Kingsport. This town
can be a forlorn place out of season, now tourism is
its lifeblood. In the middle of winter there are few
tourists and most of the local artistic community is
out of town. Freezing fogs roll in from the sea on
most nights, reducing visibility to a few feet. On this
particular night however, there is not fog, but clouds
hang heavily overhead.
The Investigators are visiting the Congregational
Hospital in Central Hill where a mutual friend, Dr
Curtis Newman, is recovering from burns suffered
in last nights’ terrible fire which gutted his church
and killed five parishioners. Newman has specifically
asked for the Investigators to visit him.
Dr Newman is, sadly, in a wretched state. Heavily
dosed with morphine for the pain of his burns, he
hardly recognises his friends, but in a lucid moment he
moans that a ‘demon’ attacked his Church, burning up
through the floor and trapping half the congregation.
It was a miracle God spared him and he must warn
everyone that demons are real.
If asked to describe the demon, he will break down,
unless a Persuade or Psychoanalysis roll is made, in
which case he manages a reasonable description of the
front third of a 10ft long Fireworm of Parg. No doubt
the PCs will leave, believing the shock to have been too
much for their friend.
As they exit the hospital and walk towards their car or
cars, the heavens open and heavy rain starts to pour. If
a Spot Hidden roll is made, one of them glances up at
the clouds, and sees a horror!
Immediately above the car park the clouds are roiling
and twisting as if they were alive. The very clouds
themselves seem to be shaping into great pseudopods,
which are even now reaching down towards you!
A sanity loss of 1/1d6 is appropriate, before any
declaration of intent.
If the Beast is not noticed, the first they know of it is
when a great misty tentacle snakes down and attacks
a nurse who is running into the Hospital, a newspaper
held over her head. If it is seen, the Beast attacks the
Investigators instead.
If the nurse is attacked, the attack is automatically
successful as she is pulled up screaming, into the
clouds, never to be seen again. In this case, the sanity
loss is 1/1d10 instead!
There is no earthly weapon capable of harming a
Cloudbeast. If a victim resists its attempts to absorb
them, the Beast drops him, doing 2d6 damage. Apart
from that the only thing to do is to run back inside
the Hospital. Heroic Investigators might, of course,
wish to aid the nurse, who is still running across the
car park. If they fail to do so, further sanity rolls are
appropriate.
Once indoors, the Investigators are safe and the
Cloudbeast flies off across Central Hill, snatching
away a further three poor souls before it vanishes.
Now they have personally witnessed such a horror,
the Investigators will surely realise something must
be done!
CLOUDBEAST, Vaporous Predator
STR
N/A
INT
3
CON
40
POW
10
SIZ
80
DEX
14
Move
4 floating
HP
60
Weapons: Bite 40%, damage 1d3+8 – resist
POW+SIZ vs damage or be absorbed,
and add to SIZ.
Prelude - The Creatures of Dream
Before the Investigators are involved with the case
the following creatures have travelled over from
the Dreamlands.
Tuesday 13/01/25. Being of Ib - wanders Central
Hill Cemetery in terror. Seen by the wino, Davy
Harris.
Wednesday 14/01/25. Wenelian - wrecks
Kingsport Public Library, seen by nobody.
Thursday 15/01/25. 5 Zoogs scuttle around
Central Hill, killing cats – 8 cats die horribly,
several witnesses see ‘wild wolverine’ or similar
creatures.
Friday 16/01/25. Butterfly Dragon appears in
Hubert Davis’ apartment in Robbin’s Apartments
and deafens him. Nobody believes his story, but the
doctor is mystified. Davis is in the Congregational
Hospital undergoing tests.
Saturday 17/01/25. Small Fireworm of Parg
- appears in the basement of the First Unitarian
Church and burns it down during evening service.
5 die, 3 badly burned survivors, including the
Pastor, claim a ‘Worm Demon from Hell’ came up
through the floor.
Sunday 18/01/25. The Cloudbeast Attacks –
see below.
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Issue - 0 August 2002
Vaporous Tentacle 25%, drags to mouth
and adds 1d6 to bite damage, next round.
Armour: None, regenerates 8HP per round.
Sanity Loss: 1/1d6 to see a Cloudbeast
The Next Day
The Investigators are likely to have ended the previous
evening talking to skeptical policemen and may well
have decided to stay the night, even if that was not their
original plan. At this time of year all the guesthouses
have rooms and are willing to open up late at night to
get some much needed custom. A Kingsport tourist
brochure will be in any room the Investigators may
rent.
In the morning, the town is in a panic – everyone has
heard rumours of the horror that came from the skies
last night, even if few saw it and many give the tales
little credence.
Apart from themselves, the Investigators encounter
nobody else who actually witnessed the Beast, but
everyone knows of it second or third hand.
Nonetheless,
the
Kingsport
Chronicle
splashes
the story across the front page of its late edition.
Reference in the story to “The latest in a series of
bizarre occurrences” should lead the Investigators,
non-natives of the town, to visit the newspaper or at
least seek out back copies at the library.
If the Investigators have not stayed the night in
Kingsport, they will see a copy of the Chronicle
elsewhere at a later point in the day. If they don’t return
to Kingsport before nightfall, they will not witness
Julian St Jerome’s firing (see below), but St Jerome
will not start to investigate until the next day, giving
them a chance to meet him before his disappearance.
In this case, insert an extra, non-deadly sending into
the adventure before the Leng Spider – a gigantic
moth flying above the rooftops, for example.
The Kingsport Chronicle
The previous night’s events are reported thus:
“IT CAME FROM ABOVE” – Bizarre disappearances
terrorise Kingsport. Several witnesses claim ‘Demon
from the sky’ took their friends.
The story is credited to Julian St Jerome, the paper’s
most imaginative reporter (a man, indeed, made of the
same material as the Investigators themselves).
When the Investigators arrive at the Chronicle,
however, they discover the editor, Stanley Carter, in
the midst of firing St Jerome. They overhear something
about “a sensationalist idiot, printing unsubstantiated
rumour, fit only for a New York scandal sheet or a
Penny Dreadful!”
Either St Jerome or Carter will tell the Investigators
that St Jerome had told the print room to change the
front page of the second edition at the last moment,
claiming, falsely that Carter (who was at breakfast) had
approved it.
If asked directly about ‘strange occurrences’, Carter
will call it ‘nonsense’ and ask the Investigators to stop
wasting his time, though he will give access to back
issues if requested by anyone who seems even vaguely
respectable.
St Jerome, on the other hand, freshly out of work, will
be only too happy to discuss his theory with willing
listeners and will suggest they retire to a nearby café
to talk about it.
If the Investigators don’t talk to St Jerome before
he leaves the Chronicle, Carter will give them his
address in Mother Gamble’s Boarding House (home,
incidentally to an insane young occultist, Malcolm
Veidt, who could become involved if Investigators are
indiscreet – he’d love to own the Dream Crystal, and
could even learn to control its sendings!).
JULIAN St JEROME, Sensationalist, Age 26
STR
12
EDU
13
Know 65%
CON
12
POW
14
Luck 70%
SIZ
13
INT
15
Idea 65%
DEX
12
APP
15
HP 13
SAN 70
Damage Bonus: +1d4
Weapons: None
Skills: Accounting 20%, Bargain 40%, Credit Rating
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His Wildest Dreams
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10%, Fast Talk 80%, Law 25%, Library Use
50%, Listen 70%, Occult 10%, Persuade 66%,
Photography 40%, Psychology 50%, Spot
Hidden 60%, Fist 60%.
Back Issues
Not all of the events of the last week have made the
paper, but the following stories may be noticed:
Thursday: Public Library Ransacked by Intruder.
No witnesses, nothing taken, police unsure of how
intruder got in or out, but many bookshelves and desks
turned over and much damage done - “An appalling
sign of the philistinic age in which we live”
Friday: Wild Animal At Large in Kingsport – Keep
Your Pet Indoors! Eight cats slaughtered in a single
night. Several witnesses described a creature that ‘may
have been a wolverine’. Local Animal Control warn
Kingsport residents to keep their cats indoors while
they hunt for the creature. “Whatever this beast is, it
kills for sport, not food.”
Sunday:
Fire
Guts
Unitarian
Church.
Five
Parishioners Die, Pastor Injured. The story makes
no mention of eyewitness accounts of the ‘demon’s’
attack, and suggests an electrical fault started the fire
which burned in the basement, where old prayer books
and the like were stored, for some time before erupting
into the main building. “A great tragedy for Kingsport,
and surely a test of all our faith.”
Carter added editorial gloss to the first and third
stories, but all three were in fact written by St Jerome.
Now he has calmed down, the editor admits St Jerome
is a ‘fine writer’, but his search for sensation in every
story is just unsuitable for a paper like the Chronicle.
Interviewing St Jerome
Julian St Jerome is keen to discuss his ideas, provided
of course, none of the Investigators are journalists. In
that case, he will be suspicious they intend to steal his
story, and he must be ‘Persuaded’ to co-operate.
Assuming he is willing to talk, and wherever the
interview happens, Julian proves to be an affable,
intelligent young man, though possessing a somewhat
wild imagination. Depending on the experience of
the Investigators this may be viewed as a good or bad
thing:
‘There’s something going on in Central Hill,” explains
St Jerome. “This week I have reported on four
different stories, all with some kind of strange angle
to them, all within a few hundred yards of the Central
Hill Cemetery.”
“I don’t know if you’ve been reading the paper, but
apart from that story last night, which got me fired,
there was a fire at the Unitarian Church on Saturday
– I have witness accounts that talk about a Demon,
if you can believe that; then there was a weird
occurrence in the middle of the week where something
ripped apart 8 cats in a couple of hours – the story
Carter printed suggested a wolverine, but again,
witnesses told me otherwise.”
“Then back on Wednesday night there was some
weird sort of break-in at the Library – except nobody
BROKE in. The place was locked up tight as a drum
and someone or something got in and trashed the
place. I got a look at it and it was like a chimpanzee
or something had run riot in there for the whole night
– one hell of a mess!”
“I tried to convince Carter that there’s a pattern,
but he won’t even listen – says I’ve got a ‘wild
imagination, not commensurate with my standing as
member of the Press.’ I guess he’s right; I shouldn’t be
working for a small-minded small-town rag like the
Chronicle.”
“Anyway,” he says, finally drawing breath, “how can
I help you – or maybe you can help me, eh?”
St Jerome knows the following information, all of
which can also be uncovered by the Investigators with
intelligent questioning:
He interviewed several survivors of the fire,
those uninjured described smoke suddenly rising from
the floorboards followed seconds later by an eruption
of flame near the front of the aisle. He interviewed one
of the burned survivors, Martha Franks, who told him a
‘Great scaly Demon’ came from the hole and devoured
three men. Only Dr Newman kept his head and was
able to get her and another woman to safety through
the vestry, despite being badly burned in saving her.
The other survivor, Rebecca Smith, was too ill to talk,
and the pastor was unwilling to talk to him. A fireman
told him the dead men were ‘burned to a crisp’ by an
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His Wildest Dreams
Issue - 0 August 2002
‘extreme heat’, which mystified him.
Three witnesses of the cat killer described the
creature. The ‘wolverine’ description comes from
Carter accepting the least detailed and least outlandish.
One old lady said the thing which killed her ‘Pussy’
had a face made of tentacles, like an octopus, and the
remaining witness, who saw only the hind quarters of
the thing (which were, indeed, wolverine-like) swears
he heard the creature giggling as it scuttled away from
his dead pet. The deceased felines appeared to have
been ‘broken’ rather than savaged, judging from the
two St Jerome was shown.
The Librarian told him there was a ‘strange,
electric smell’ in the air when she entered
her wrecked library. In St Jerome’s opinion that
damage was like one would expect from a wild animal,
rather than a man, although no sign of tooth or claw
damage was visible.
A wino, Davy Harris, approached him when
he was exploring the graveyard for clues and
offered him a ‘story’ for $5. St Jerome offered him
$2, and Harris told him that on Tuesday night he saw
a ‘strange little guy’ creeping around the graves – he
swears it wasn’t human, having big eyes and ears, ‘like
some kinda bush-baby’. Harris said when he saw this
creature he fled, and so did the creature, which seemed
as scared as he did – no evidence of it was apparent
when St Jerome searched the graveyard.
Last night’s events were described to him by
three witnesses; a couple who saw their dining
companion snatched into the clouds and a man,
currently hospitalised with a broken leg, who claimed
the ‘cloud’ picked him up and dropped him 30ft to the
ground. Apart from the witnessed disappearance, and
the nurse (if she was taken), three other people who
were out that night have been reported missing! In at
least one case screams were heard from the next street,
but nothing was seen.
St Jerome sums up that all of these events happened
‘close by’ the Graveyard. He is sure they have some
common cause and he would welcome help in
searching it out. He would love to see Carter’s face
when a big city paper printed the story the Chronicle
thought ‘too outlandish’ to pursue! He’d be willing to
give 50% of whatever he could sell the story for to the
Investigators if they helped him break it! (Pit Bargain
vs. Bargain to improve the deal, if required).
Further Investigations
St Jerome suggests he should interview the occupants
of all the houses overlooking the graveyard, and that
the Investigators pursue their own lines of research.
He suggests meeting for dinner at The Sea’s Harvest
Restaurant in South Shore at 8pm to compare notes.
If asked, he gives the names and addresses of all the
witnesses mentioned in the conversation, since the
Investigators may be able to find out something he
missed.
The following may present themselves as possible
avenues of research:
Re-interviewing the witnesses. This is a mostly
fruitless exercise, since St Jerome is a skilled
interviewer who learned nearly all worth knowing.
However, a couple of significant points will occur.
Firstly, the wino, Davy Harris proves elusive. Nobody
who the Investigators might ask knows him, and he is
nowhere to be found (for today, at least). Secondly,
any attempt to visit one of the burned survivors in
the hospital leads to the encounter with Hubert Davis,
detailed below. Visiting Dr. Newman again proves
pointless, as he is under heavy sedation.
Library Research. Kingsport Library is ‘Closed for
Repairs’, after the Wenelian wrecked the place. Any
journey out of town to another library proves fruitless,
unless the restricted collection at Miskatonic can be
accessed, in which case see below.
Cthulhu Mythos Research. No Dream Lore tomes
are available to the Investigators, but either a Cthulhu
Mythos Knowledge roll, or a Research roll in a Mythos
tome (halved in each case) will reveal the common
thread amongst the things has been seen so far is
Dream. Apparently, through some sorcerous methods,
creatures from another dimension, usually accessible
only through Dreams, are crossing into the Waking
World.
Local Historians. Although usually a very intelligent
course of action, in this case interviewing such people
as Aaron Hart at the Historical Society, or old Danny
Houghton at the Mariner’s Home will cause only
confusion. Hart is senile anyway, but records at the
society and the memories of older residents will
contain clues to such things as the Kingsport Cult, the
wreck of the Hellene and the Strange High House in
the Mist. Of these, only the latter may be of use in this
scenario.
Exploring the Graveyard. A Spot Hidden roll
discovers a tomb with a forced door within which Davy
Harris’ sleeping place and a collection of empty bottles
can be found. Harris will not be found here until late
that night, since he is elsewhere in town begging for
food. No sign of anything supernatural or suspicious
can be found anywhere in the Cemetery, unless the
Investigators have met Solomon Oakes – it which case,
see below for more details.
The Strange High House in the Mist. If the
Investigators choose to visit this place, then they
may (20%) encounter William Bain. Bain will listen
with interest to any tales of strange creatures and will
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His Wildest Dreams
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visibly pale. He assumes, wrongly, that his activities
have opened the rift between Dream and reality and
will ask the visitors to leave, while he meditates on a
course of action. A Psychology roll reveals that he feels
guilty and, if pressed, he admits he thinks he may be
to blame. He promises no more such ‘visitations’ and
the next evening, the lightning destroys the House.
At this point, a Keeper with access to the Kingsport
Guidebook could insert the scenario, ‘The House
on the Edge’. Within this dream the sendings have
stopped, but on awaking from it they continue.
Visiting the Sites of the Sendings. There is little
to be learned from visiting the various places where
the Dream creatures have manifested. The Unitarian
Church is a hole full of burned timbers – suggestive
of an accelerant to anyone with a knowledge of such
things. Kingsport Library is closed and if entered looks
much as has been described, and all that can be found
in investigating the cat slayer is a man from Animal
Control scratching his head at some muddy footprints
that seem to match no known native predator (Zoology
roll – they match no known animal on Earth!).
Whatever the Investigators choose to do, they have
until 8pm, at which point they are due to meet St
Jerome at Kingsport’s finest restaurant – they really
need time to dress for dinner as well!
Hubert Davis
On any second visit to the Congregational Hospital, the
Investigators may overhear the following conversation
between a pair of passing doctors:
“I think it’s psychosomatic – we’ve done all the tests
and there is no physical reason for the hearing loss.”
“Possibly, but I’ve never known a psychosomatic loss
so total.”
“I agree, but the man claims to have seen a dragon – I
think that’s a pretty clear sign of psychosis.”
“A dragon?”
“That’s what he says – ‘a dragon the size of a cat’, if
you please. It appeared in his apartment out of thin
air, and when he tried to touch it, it breathed vapours
on him and he went deaf. Then it vanished.”
“I see what you mean about psychosis!’
“He even claims to have photographed it!”
At this the doctors walk off chuckling, but investigator
curiosity is likely to be piqued.
If the Investigators are able to both discover the
identity of this patient and gain access to either Doctor
or Davis’ medical notes, they can learn the full story of
Hubert’s encounter with the Butterfly Dragon.
Being a shutterbug, Davis took a single, rather
underexposed photograph of the creature. He has the
film in his coat pocket and will ask the Investigators to
get it developed for him.
The photograph is clear enough for the creature to
be identified by anyone who knows what a Butterfly
Dragon is, but not clear enough to be accepted by the
authorities as anything other than a rather bizarre
fake.
St Jerome’s Fate
After a fruitless couple of hours, Julian St Jerome
knocks on the door of Allen Nash’s house, which
proves a fatal mistake. Nash, who is now sleeping from
early evening until lunchtime, has just awoken from a
particularly terrible trip to the peak of Thok and his
fragile sanity is almost broken. The combination of
his bleak outlook on life and the damage to the Dream
Crystal has resulted in his dream life spiralling into
darker and more deranged fantasies.
When the dishevelled, wide-eyed Nash opens the door,
St Jerome is instantly suspicious. Charming his way
inside the house (an event witnessed by Davy Harris
who is crouching in the Cemetery, having just awoken
himself from his latest bender), the reporter starts to
explain the situation to Nash. Nash realises, when the
Cloudbeast is described, that the Crystal has become a
two-way gate. Desperate that he not lose his chance at
immortality, he grabs a poker and launches a frenzied
attack on the reporter, breaking his skull open and
falling into true insanity.
Now Nash is truly mad, his dreams will be the most
obscene nightmares, and tonight’s will be the first in a
series of truly awful ‘visitors’!
Meanwhile, Julian St Jerome’s corpse lies in the living
room of Nash’s house – Nash is too far-gone to even
The Unbound Book
His Wildest Dreams
Issue - 0 August 2002
bother hiding it.
That Evening
The Investigators wait for St Jerome at the restaurant,
but he does not show up, or answer his phone.
Whenever they decide to give up and return to town
will coincide with the latest, and worst, manifestation
of the damaged Dream Crystal.
As the Investigators drive up High Street towards
Central Hill, they come across a nightmare scene.
Ahead of them a cab has driven into a great web
spanning the street where it is trapped like a great
mechanical fly, its engine still running. As the
occupants try to clamber clear, they are caught on
the web, and as a number of stunned witnesses watch
uselessly from the street, a gigantic purple spider
moves across the web towards them!
This is a great Leng Spider, and it is hungry. Right
now the only people likely to do anything to help are
the Investigators, everyone else is either failing Sanity
rolls, running away or staring uselessly.
The Spider will not leave its web unless it takes more
than 10 points of damage, in which case it will leave its
prey to pursue its attacker. Luckily for everybody, this
particular Spider knows no spells.
LENG SPIDER, Web-Spinning Horror
STR
35
INT
7
CON
20
POW
14
SIZ
40
DEX
17
Move
6/8 in web
HP
35
Weapons: Bite 40%, damage 1d6+3d6+poison – POT
= 40 (20 damage, 10 if resisted).
Web 60%, Entangle with STR 20, Range
10yds.
Armour: 6 points of Chitin
Sanity Loss: 1/1d10 to see a Leng Spider.
If the Spider proves too much for the Investigators, it
vanishes at just the moment when they seem utterly
doomed. It would be a shame to kill them just yet.
When the Spider vanishes, which it does a few seconds
after being killed if not before, it does so by suddenly
shimmering and blinking out of existence. Any victim
in its jaws (i.e. hit the previous round) vanishes with
it.
The web is left behind. It proves tough and resilient,
drying up in 24 hours at which point it can be chopped
apart. It burns only at blast furnace temperatures! This
is one phenomenon even Carter cannot ignore, and
from now on the Chronicle starts to report sanitised
versions of all the more public manifestations of
Dream.
Reaction In Kingsport
Chief Crane and his small force of officers are not
equipped to handle such an invasion from beyond, and
apart from cordoning off the area where the web is, do
little else. Sensible Investigators may urge curfews or
even the calling for outside aid, but Crane is indecisive
for at least 24 hours.
What he does after that depends upon the nature
of the next evening’s sending. If it results in injury,
death or damage to public property, he consults with
the Mayor then he calls on Lt Commander Maddern
at the Coast Guard Station for assistance. Kingsport
is a town which values its individuality, and in which
nothing is considered more of an insult than to suggest
it is simply the ‘seaside suburb’ of Arkham. As a result
the impulse of Civic Authority in the town is to handle
this problem without calling on the Arkham Police
Department.
Chief Crane also persuades the Mayor to call a
public meeting at Talbot Hall, where he announces
Kingsport’s intention to deal with the current crisis
without calling on its larger neighbour. There will be
a dusk to dawn curfew in the Central Hill area along
with nightly patrols by armed Coast Guard men,
each patrol to have one of the Kingsport police force
accompanying them.
At the same time, experts in ‘this kind of thing’ are
to be contacted for assistance. In this case, however,
progress is far too slow to prevent the sendings
culminating in the appearance of the Dhole, which will
kill several of the Coast Guard men along with many of
the local residents. This will cost Mayor Hoag the next
election!
If the Investigators approach the police, Mayor or
Coast Guard claiming to be such ‘experts’ (and seem
convincing) then they will be given all official help
necessary to complete their investigations, including
access to the damaged library.
If they do access the library, a Library Use roll will
uncover the story of the Kingsport Cult, which proves
to be a most unfortunate red herring (unless of course
they have already crossed paths with Mr Oakes!) After
one more fatality, people will start to leave Kingsport
on ‘visits to relatives’ and the like – a most sensible
course of action.
Resident Dreamers
A number of Kingsport’s residents are experienced
Dreamers and as such may recognise the sendings as
creatures from the Lands of Dream they know so well.
23
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His Wildest Dreams
24
Of these, the three most significant are William Bain,
Basil Elton and Robert Carlton.
Bain’s reaction has already been discussed, and Basil
Elton, out at the North Point Light is unlikely to hear
about the events in town in time to react to them
(though he certainly would like to chat about them at
a later date).
Robert Carlton, however, might react in such a way
as to bring him to the attention of the Investigators.
He does not know the Dreamlands are anything other
than a product of his own imagination, and should he
realise that creatures from his dreams are invading
the city, he will be driven temporally insane. This
insanity is characterised by an acute hypnophobia
and a fascination with the Central Hill area. He will
walk the streets at night, downing strong coffee from a
vacuum flask. As soon as he discovers the sendings are
continuing despite his refusal to sleep, he will throw
himself in the harbour, in a desperate attempt to ‘wake
up’ and be fished out two days later.
Searching For Julian
The best way to solve this mystery is to trace Julian St
Jerome. Until this is done, nightmare creatures from
the Dreamlands will appear nightly in Central Hill.
Use the following table to generate a random creature,
and choose a suitable place for it to wreak mayhem:
1d2 Minions of Karakal
A Moonbeast
1d4 Ghasts (indoors, somewhere dark)
A hungry Gug
A pair of Wamps
1d3 Nightgaunts
Some suggested locations for subsequent sendings are
as follows:
The Crawford Intermediate School, empty at
night except for a pair of elderly cleaners – they could
be found dead in the morning.
Masonic Lodge, a monster appearing at a meeting
could kill a number of the town’s leading lights.
Kingsport Rest Home, a creature appearing
here would cause chaos amongst the senile and
cantankerous residents.
Harbour Place Hotel, a City Father could die in
the George Washington suite, along with his mistress,
leading to a scandal.
The Congregational Church, a minion of Karakal
appearing during evensong would be considered a
second Demonic appearance.
If Nash is not stopped within seven more days, a Dhole
will appear in the cemetery and destroy most of Central
Hill, including Nash’s House. Nash and some 200
other people will be killed and many more sent mad
before the Dhole vanishes, taking the Dream Crystal
with it and dooming the Investigators to failure.
If this happens because they gave up and fled, Sanity
losses of 1d20 are appropriate to signify the enormous
guilt they will feel. If they are still in town, seeing the
Dhole will be punishment enough!
To find Julian, the obvious course of action is to do
what he did and start to question the occupants of all
houses overlooking the Cemetery.
Before he met Nash, St Jerome had worked his way
from the North end of Hill Circle around the cemetery
in an anti-clockwise direction. Whether or not the
occupants of a given house remember him depends on
where exactly the house is. About 80% of the houses
are occupied when the Investigators call, and 80% of
the occupants in the area St Jerome visited saw him
the previous day. None of them had been able to tell
him anything.
At some point during this exercise, a Spot Hidden
roll should be attempted. A success notices a scruffily
dressed man, obviously a transient, watching from
amongst the graves. The possibility that this is Davy
Harris, who proved elusive the previous day, should
present itself. Approaching him is not easy though,
he knows the cemetery very well and is nervous of
strangers. If the Investigators do manage to get to talk
to him, they are certain to mention St Jerome. When
they do so, he reacts at once:
“I see him, I see him yesterday! You give me $5 and
I’ll show you. Yes I will.” Investigators can get the
The Unbound Book
His Wildest Dreams
Issue - 0 August 2002
information for as little as $2, as St Jerome did earlier
in the week. He leads them across the cemetery to the
graves overlooking Church St, and points at Nash’s
house. “That’s where he went. I see him go in there,
yesterday and I think I’ll wait for him, and maybe
he’ll give me a dollar. He didn’t come out though. I
waited till dark and he never came out.”
If asked who lives in the house, Harris says he doesn’t
know, though it used to be this skinny old man who
hardly came out. If asked about the being he saw the
previous week, he’ll direct the Investigators to the part
of the graveyard where he saw it, but nothing can be
found.
Nash’s house is on Church St, halfway along the
cemetery. It is a somewhat run-down Georgian house,
in a shabbier state than its neighbours, none of which
are exactly palatial. All the curtains are drawn, and if
watched at night the only light comes from an upstairs
window – and even that is a faint, flickering purplish
glow (the Crystal).
The neighbours on either side, both elderly, know
that ‘Old Mr Nash’ died a while back, and his ‘young
nephew from Boston’ inherited the house. He came
up a few times, saying he was going to fix the place
up, then a few weeks back he came to stay. Unlike his
previous visits, they have heard no noise of hammering
from the house, and they have hardly seen him. Indeed
he seems to rarely leave the house, and certainly keeps
to himself. To the aged denizens of Church St, this
makes him a most agreeable neighbour.
The neighbour to the left remembers St Jerome calling
the previous day, the neighbour to the right does not,
and significantly claims to have spent the afternoon
sitting in her parlour, knitting.
If the Investigators consult newspaper files for a report
of the death of ‘Old Mr Nash’ they discover he died in
September, run down by a car on High Street, and his
only living relative is listed as Allen Nash of Boston.
If they choose to do some research into Allen, all
they are likely to discover is that he is a Librarian at
the Widener at Harvard, currently on a six month
sabbatical, ostensibly to restore the house he inherited
from a distant uncle in Kingsport.
At this point the Investigators should have a pretty
clear idea of where St Jerome disappeared. They
are, of course free to call the police. If they do this,
the police end up seizing the Crystal and the Journal
as evidence, and Nash ends up in Danvers Asylum.
Within a month, Captain James Blair, the moody
moocher of the Kingsport Police Department, has
read the journal, stolen the Crystal and started the
whole horrible cycle all over again from his lodgings
in a seedy Prospect Hill boarding House. Calling in the
cops should never result in a satisfactory conclusion in
Call of Cthulhu!
Solomon Oakes
At 306 Summit St lives the evil cultist Solomon Oakes.
St Jerome never called on him, but the Investigators
might. He will answer the door, but is dismissive of
questions unless his curiosity is piqued by any mention
of the supernatural. In such a case he becomes overly
keen to hear more, which should be a warning sign
to sensible Investigators. His neighbours won’t
answer questions about him unless Investigators are
particularly persuasive, in which case they will mention
his frequent wanderings of the Cemetery at night and
their general suspicions of him being ‘unwholesome’.
Once alerted to supernatural events, Oakes will
start to investigate the situation, and each day has a
percentage chance equal to his INT (16%) of tracing
the source, in which case he will slay the sleeping Nash
and take the Crystal, ending the Dream sendings for a
while at least.
If the Investigators start to suspect Oakes, they could
end up chasing a particularly dangerous wild goose!
If asked about Oakes, Davy Harris goes pale and says
he knows of him, but always avoids him if he sees him
in the Cemetery. Oakes disappears into a particular
tomb, to which he has a key, and often does not emerge
for hours. He can direct the Investigators to the tomb,
which has the barely readable legend “Solomon Oakes”
and contains an entrance to the tunnels below. What
they find there is outside the scope of this scenario.
Harris seems to be holding something back, however,
and a Persuade roll or a bribe is needed to get him to
admit that he once (about two months ago) saw Oakes
take a fellow transient, a young man called ‘Marty’,
into his house. Marty never came out.
Confronting Nash
The events of the final confrontation with Nash
depend wholly on whether he is awake or asleep when
the Investigators arrive at his house. He has reached
the point where he is sleeping 18 hours a day (with
chemical assistance), from around 6pm until mid-
day. When awake, he spends 90% of his time at home,
writing in the journal, eating cold food out of cans and
so on, and the other 10% out on minor errands.
This means there are three possible situations when
the Investigators arrive:
Nash is out of the house (10%, if between mid-day
and 6pm).
Nash is present, and awake (90%, if between mid-
day and 6pm).
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His Wildest Dreams
26
Nash is asleep and dreaming (100% between 6pm
and mid-day).
If asleep, knocking at the door will not wake him up
under any circumstances, so the Investigators must
either break in, or come back later.
If Nash is absent, the Investigators may break in, and
will find St Jerome’s body. The Crystal and Journal
are hidden in the secret compartment. In this case,
upon his arrest, Nash will say nothing. The ‘sendings’
will cease, but nothing has been explained, and the
Investigators will be left with an uncomfortable feeling
that the case is not really solved.
If Nash is present and awake, he will be unfriendly to
visitors and try to force them to leave. If they insist on
entering, he will direct them to the study, and when
they see St Jerome’s corpse, he will attack in a frenzy
using the same poker that killed the reporter. If he
is killed, the Journal and Crystal will be found in his
bedroom.
If Nash is asleep, he will not wake unless shaken (in
which case he is extremely hostile and grabs for a
kitchen knife under the bed). The Crystal sits on the
bed stand, pulsing with an unearthly light, and the
journal sits open on the floor. In this case, the sendings
can be stopped by killing Nash or smashing the Crystal.
Killing the sleeping Nash costs 1/1d4 Sanity.
The house itself shows signs that Nash has been
working on his renovation project, but this appears to
have been abandoned. The room in which St Jerome
lies dead is part way through being re-wallpapered,
but the paste has dried in the bucket.
ALLEN NASH, Insane Dreamer, Age 30
STR
14
EDU
15
Know 75%
CON
9
POW
16
Luck 80%
SIZ
14
INT
14
Idea 70%
DEX
13
APP
12
HP 12
SAN 0
Damage Bonus:+1d4
Weapons: Poker, Kitchen Knife, Skillet etc. all at
base skill.
Skills: Cthulhu Mythos 10%, Dreaming 80%,
Dreamlore 30%, Library Use 80% (spends a lot
of time in the Great Library of the Dreamlands)
Destroying the Dream Crystal
The Dream Crystal is fragile, and can be smashed
with a hard blow against something solid. Doing
so, however, triggers one last sending. The creature
appears in Nash’s room and attacks at once. In this
case it does not disappear until slain.
Destroying the Crystal while Nash sleeps traps his
spirit in a very bad part of the Dreamlands, leaving
him a catatonic husk. He is not immortal though, and
will die in the Dreamlands when his body dies – a
matter of only 1 or 2 years with him in such a state.
Destroying the Crystal while Nash is awake sends him
into an uncontrollable homicidal frenzy from which
his shattered mind will never recover. During this
frenzy he gains an effective 2 extra points of STR and
CON at the cost of 10% from all combat skills.
Keeping the Dream Crystal
If Nash is not killed, but merely overpowered and
the Investigators choose to keep and even use the
Crystal, Nash is far more manageable. However he will
immediately start planning to escape and return for
his property. This situation will result in Nash being
sent to Danvers Asylum and escaping in 1d3 months to
come back for his Crystal. Even if it has been destroyed
by then, he won’t know and will still come after it.
If Nash is dead, the Investigators are free to take the
Crystal. Using it, however, creates the same dangers
Nash faced.
To some extent, the problem with the Crystal is
connected, as Bain would guess, to the weak barrier
Nash’s Belongings
The two significant items in Nash’s room are the Dream
Crystal and the Dream journal, which his uncle began
and he has continued. If these items are hidden, then
they will only be found if the Investigators specifically
search for a secret compartment and make a halved Spot
Hidden roll.
Dream Crystal. An asymmetric white Crystal about
8 inches high, supported by an ornate silver stand. All
those sleeping within 5 feet of it enter the Dreamlands
through the Crystal Cavern, and gain an initial Dreaming
skill equal to their POWx3. This Crystal is badly cracked,
which causes the arrival of Dream Creatures in the
waking world while it is in use. This is useless as a
means of following Nash, however, since his great skill
in Dreaming enables him to travel quickly to the more
nightmarish parts of that realm, where anyone sleeping
beside him will not be able to follow.
Dream Journal of The Nash Family. This book
was started by Jonathan and continued by Allen, and
describes their travels in the Land of Dream. Allen’s
travels and adventures become steadily more horrific,
hence the SAN loss and Cthulhu Mythos Knowledge
found within.
Language: English; Sanity Loss: 1D3/1D6; time
the read – 4 weeks; Cthulhu Mythos
Knowledge +3; Dreamlore +15.
Spells: Lace Curtains of Hish, Passing Unseen,
Eviscerator (All Dreamlands only).
The Unbound Book
His Wildest Dreams
Issue - 0 August 2002
between the worlds created by the presence of the
Strange High House. Consequently, the sendings the
damaged Crystal causes are less frequent outside of
Kingsport. If the Crystal is used anywhere outside of
the town, the chance of a sending equals 50% minus
the user’s POW. Each dreamer sharing the Crystal has
a chance of triggering a sending, though only one will
occur per use, no matter how many dreamers sharing
there are.
A user also has a chance equal to their POW, as a
percentage of mastering the Crystal’s ability to create
sendings, and gets to roll on this once per month
of constant use. Once mastered, a specific creature
can be summoned (though not bound or in any way
controlled) at the cost of 1 MP per point of POW the
creature has. If the dreamer exceeds his Magic Points
in attempting this, his sleep becomes dreamless and
he cannot enter the Dreamlands again until he has
recovered at least half of his MP total.
Apart from the nightly sendings, using the Crystal is
addictive. Each use requires a Sanity roll. If the user
fails he loses 1 SAN and gains 2d6% to his chance of
addiction (which starts at zero). The Keeper should
keep a secret note of this Addiction percentage and
each night the owner chooses not to use the Crystal
must roll over their addiction score to resist the urge
to use it anyway. Any attempt to smash the Crystal or
give it away also requires the Addiction roll be failed
first.
Any visits to the land of Dream should be role-played
in detail between the Keeper and the Player – creating
a series of small Dream adventures for this purpose is
well worthwhile.
There is no way to prevent the Dream creatures from
appearing, although they always do so within half a
mile of the Crystal, which makes its use in isolated
places relatively safe – the creatures will not approach
the Crystal itself willingly, so the Dreamer himself is
safe.
Every time using the Crystal results in a creature
appearing and causing harm, a Sanity roll is required,
for a loss of 1/1d3. It should be obvious the moral thing
to do is to destroy the Crystal.
Rewards For Success
The Sanity gain for completing this adventure is
variable, depending on the conclusion played out.
If Nash is stopped, but the Crystal is never found
and the puzzle is left unsolved, a mere 1D4 SAN should
be gained. This applies in the case of calling in the
police.
If Nash is killed when helpless, and the Crystal
destroyed, 1d6+1 SAN should be gained.
If Nash is either killed in self-defence or not
at all, and the Crystal is taken, 1d8+2 SAN should be
gained.
If Nash is either killed in self-defence or not at
all, and the Crystal is destroyed, 1d10+3 SAN should
be gained.
If the Crystal is taken, but destroyed at a
later date, 1D3 additional SAN should be gained by
whoever chooses to destroy it.
If a third party ends up in possession of the
Crystal, a SAN loss of 1/1D6 is appropriate when the
sendings start again.
Bringing an end to the second wave of sendings should
result in half of the SAN gain listed above, since they
were preventable.
The presence of Julian St Jerome’s corpse in Nash’s
house should protect the Investigators from any
ramifications for his death.
It is very unlikely that the Investigators will attempt to
get the bizarre story into print – Stanley Carter at the
Chronicle will certainly not consider it, although he
does dedicate the next issue to St Jerome, and prints a
rather touching obituary.
Within a year, even those sendings that were witnessed
by multiple people, and resulted in widespread death
and destruction have been relegated to the status of
urban legends. In Lovecraft Country, it is surprising
how quickly the ripples fade and the pond calms once
more.
27
On the Unbound
Website
His Wildest Dreams
- D20 Stats for His Wildest Dreams
- Overview Map of Kingsport
- A Players Guide to Kingsport
- Player and Keepers Maps of Central Hill
Visit the Unbound Book Website @
www.unboundbook.org
The Unbound Book
Issue - 0 August 2002
His Wildest Dreams
28
Central Hill, Kingsport 1925 (Keepers Map)
Lee Street
Unitarian Church
Hill Circle
Church St
Lafayette
High St
Orchard
Page
Kingsport
Library
Seas Harvest
Kingsport Police &
Fire Department
Dennehy’s
Dinner
Kingsport
Chronicle
Masonic
Lodge
Congregational
Hospital
Solomon Oakes’
House
Nash House
Robbin’s Apartments
Kingsport Historical
Society & Musuem
The Kingsport Rest
Home
Crawford Public
School
Carter St
Caldecott St
Howard St
Summit St
Congregational
Church
Harbour Place
Hotel
Pine
Franklin
Turner St
Pearl St
High St
Atlantic St
Price St
Hart St
Brush
Summit St
Endicott Street
Cooper
Northward
Central Hill
Cemetery
What Goes Around… is a short non-mythos adventure designed
to be played in one session by one or two relatively inexperienced
Investigators (although more can be easily accommodated).
Although nominally based in Lovecraft’s Arkham during the
winter of 1921, it can, with very little work, be situated in any
small town during any time period.
The entire adventure should only take one game day, depending, of
course, on the characters actions. During this time the characters
may well be faced with a moral dilemma, in which they will not
want to take sides, however it is important the Keeper emphasises
the need for the characters to react quickly to the situation to
achieve the best outcome.
Keeper’s Background
John Burton, owner of Arkham’s finest jewellery store, used to
love his wife, and he supposes that at sometime in the past she
may have loved him. Tonight, however he knows the marriage is
no more and he plans on ensuring she is out of his life forever…
When John Burton and Valerie Haywright married it looked as
if both were getting what they most wanted in life. John was to
become heir of Haywright’s, Arkham’s most prestigious jewellery
store, and Valerie was to gain herself the man she needed to
get her into high society. But if this was their only goal in the
marriage, both were be horribly disappointed.
John quickly learnt that his father-in-law was a tyrant, whose
control of the purse strings and the business was almost draconian.
Not that John was ever really around to be effected by Avery
Haywright’s financial policy, as he was regularly travelling at his
father-in-laws behest, always on the look out for the cheapest
raw materials. In Valerie’s case, shortly after their marriage she
discovered her husband was no more suited for fame or high
society than she herself was. To make matters worse despite her
goading, John seemed unwilling to even try and better himself.
When Old man Haywright passed away a year ago John hoped he
would be free to run the business as he wished. However as he
quickly discovered his wife’s demands filled the void left by the
old man. Valerie became more and more demanding of him and
it seemed as if nothing he did was ever good enough.
It was about this time, during one of his many trips to New York,
John met and fell in love with Joanne Carter, a secretary from
Manhattan. Unable to leave Valerie - all the money was either
invested in the store or closely guarded by his wife - John began
plotting his salvation.
As his plans formulated, John left on a buying trip to Vladivostok
in Russia (a voyage which had been arranged by Old man
Haywright shortly before his death). It was during his long days
on the ocean that he set on a plan to rid himself of Valerie and the
legacy of the Haywrights once and for all.
But one small purchase in an ancient city set in motion a chain of
events which were to change John Burton’s life forever. Travelling
to a meeting one brisk morning he chanced across a street vendor
selling estate jewellery. Professionally interested, he stopped
to review the goods and discovered a most beautiful necklace,
29
The Unbound Book
What Goes Around...
Issue - 0 August 2002
‘Chainletter’ © 2002 Alan M. Clark
What Goes
Around...
By Marcus D. Bone
A Non-Mythos Adventure in
Lovecraft’s Arkham
The Unbound Book
Issue - 0 August 2002
What Goes Around...
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one that, the seller insisted, had attached an ancient
and obscure legend. Immediately he knew he must
purchase it, not for his wife, but rather for Joanne - a
symbol his new life with her.
Last week John returned from his long trip away to
find his luggage had arrived at his Arkham home
shortly before him. Before he had a chance to hide the
necklace, the gift had been discovered and claimed by
Valerie.
John Burton is now more determined than ever to rid
himself of his wife and at last be with his true love in
New York.
Involving the Investigators
The opening events of the adventure take place just
prior to dawn on West Main Street, Arkham, outside
Haywright’s Fine Jewellery store (located at 227 -
between Ace Alarms and Lock-Safes and E Parrington
Gunsmiths). What the characters are doing in this area
at the time is left up to the individual Keeper, although
it is important they are the first people on the scene to
witness the destruction of the jewellery store.
A Fiery Beginning
Shortly before dawn a huge explosion shatters the
peace in the early morning streets of Arkham, as
Haywright’s Fine Jewellery store is consumed in a
massive ball of fiery destruction. The characters, in the
area for whatever reason, are the first on the scene.
“By the time you reach Haywright’s Fine Jewellery
it is already well ablaze. The roof has exploded
outwards, covering the street with brick and tile.
Flames rise high into the air consuming the inside
of the building frightfully quickly. As bricks begin to
burst and glass shatters, you hope to God no one is
inside.”
The characters are unable to get too close to the
burning building due to an intense heat and flying
debris. A successful Idea roll will lead the Investigators
to realise this fire is being fed by some flammable
source – most obviously natural gas (heating gas).
“The flames seem to rise in intensity and quickly
threaten the businesses next to the fiery convocation.
Although some local residents have appeared on the
street, most are barely dressed and seem stunned and
unmanned for the events unfolding around them.”
Fortunately Haywright’s is located in a light commercial
district and, although it is near residential buildings,
the fire will not have long enough to do any substantial
damage to any other structure. If the characters do
not summon the Arkham Fire Department, they will
nevertheless soon hear the distant ringing of brass
bells as fire trucks converge on the blaze.
There is not much for the characters to do during this
time, except watch the fire and thank their lucky stars
they were not near the building when it first exploded.
However before too many curious locals or the Fire
Department arrives a Spot Hidden roll should be
attempted by all Investigators present at the blaze. If
successful read the following:
“The flames roll and lick higher, changing shades of
red as they consume everything they touch. For a
moment it looks as if they might almost be alive…in
fact, as you watch the blaze it becomes obvious, as
impossible as that seems, someone or something is
inside the building. Yes… as you watch intently you
are positive you can make out something ALIVE in
the fire”.
In the flames something is indeed alive, and angry.
A Son of Veles (see the Guides of the Dead side bar)
which is now free. Until the death of Valerie Burton
(who has perished in the blaze) it resided in her
necklace (coincidentally the same necklace she had
found in John’s luggage after his return from Russia).
These creatures are known in Russia as the guides of
the dead or the bringers of justice, stalking those who
have murdered the owner of their resting place (in this
case the necklace).
Guides of the Dead
Standing over 6 feet tall and covered head to foot in dark
grey fur, the Sons of Veles (or Volos, a little remember
God) are known as the guides of the dead. In Russia,
stories of the Sons are used to frighten young children
at bedtime and to ensure those who wish to misbehave
are kept in line. Resembling the fictional Werewolf, they
might well be the basis of that myth.
Whether or not these creatures are actually the sons of a
God is up for debate, although what is known is that they
are bound to a piece of jewellery or personal item until
the owner’s death, at which point they emerge and lead
the soul to the underworld.
Leading the spirit of the deceased to a better place is just
half of the Son’s task; the other is to exact revenge on any
killer of the wearer. In this task it is relentless, tracking
down the murderer with unmatched ferocity. Active only
at night, during daylight hours it returns to its original
realm.
A Son, although ‘hurt’ by mundane weapons regenerates
all damage done to it quickly. One can even be ‘killed’
only to return the next night to exact its revenge. Perhaps
the most frightening part of the Sons of Veles legend
involves it hunting down and killing any other mortals
which happen to witness it when it stalks its prey. Those
hunted by the creature learn of their fate by its howling
as it closes in on them, a noise which only they can hear.
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Shortly after appearing in the flames the Son makes
its way out from the store and heads towards the Old
Wooded Graveyard. It is easy enough to follow and will
not concern itself with the characters unless they get
in its way. Viewing this huge creature requires a Sanity
check costing 1/1d8.
SON OF VELES, Guide of the Dead
STR
20
INT
10
CON
22
POW
17
SIZ
18
DEX
18
Move
9
HP
20
Weapons: Claws 70%, damage 1d6+1d6db.
Bite 40%, damage 1d8+1d6db
Armour: None but can only be damaged with
enchanted weapons, or with a flaming
stake to the heart (see the rest of the
adventure). Regenerates hit points at a
rate of 1 per turn, or 5 per round once
under zero.
Sanity Loss: 1/1d8
If the characters do not confront the Son it lopes
across the cemetery as dawn breaks. As the light creeps
across the ground the characters witness an amazing
sight. Where the rays of the sun strikes the creature, it
becomes opaque, almost totally see through. As the sky
lightens, the Son, who continues to cross the cemetery,
slowly but surely vanishes, until, once bathed in full
sunlight, cannot be seen at all.
If the characters confront the Son, the dawn should
reach it before they are able to do too much damage to
each other. If the characters go to the spot where the
Son was last seen, nothing can be found. It is as if it
had never really existed at all, like some sort of figment
of their imaginations. The Son has, in fact, returned
to its realm of existence, eagerly awaiting dusk to
complete its task.
The Investigators are now working against a clock they
don’t even know exists if they are to have any chance of
defeating the Son of Veles and saving their own lives.
After the Fire
Once all the excitement has abated the characters can
return to the scene of the fire. There are a number of
facts which they may or may not be able to discover
about the events they have just witnessed.
It is however vitally important the characters discover
the documents which describe the necklace (the casket
in which the Son of Veles was imprisoned) and some of
the legends which surround the Veles myth. Although
these are nominally the jewellery store safe (the only
item to survive the fire relatively intact) they can be
discovered at any point of the adventure. (See The
Documents below).
Once the fire has been fully extinguished (about an
hour after the first fire engine arrives) the following
can be discovered:
Damage. The building is in ruins, the initial explosion
and the subsequent fire blew the roof off the store and
destroyed many of its walls. As a result, Haywright’s
Fine Jewellers is now not much more than a shell.
The scene has been cordoned off at both ends of West
Main Street, with police officers questioning those who
witnessed the blaze.
Although some furniture and internal wall structures
have survived, albeit as wet, blackened and charred
icons of destruction, only two items of any real interest
can be found, a body and the safe.
What the Police know. The police will quickly piece
together a number of facts about the explosion.
While the fire may or may not have been deliberately
lit, natural gas was most definitely the propellant
(the Fire Department states that they turned the
gas off when first reaching the scene).
At this point in time it is not being treated as arson,
31
What really happened last
night?
The body in the shop is that of Valerie Burton, burnt now
beyond all recognition, the victim of her husbands plot
to free himself from the insignificant life he now leads.
Early that morning John Burton had awoken his wife
with a start, stating he thought he might not have turned
off the gas at the store. Berated by his wife for such a
stupid act, they both arose from bed, dressed and drove
down to Haywright’s Fine Jewellery.
Once inside John set his plan into action, apologising
to his wife for obviously making a mistake, who berated
him again this time for getting them out of bed, he left
her standing in the shop area while he made his way into
the back room. Here he flicked off the main lights, yelled
that it must be a fuse, and made his way to the fuse box.
The old fuse box was already a disaster waiting to
happen. Flicking off the mains, John exposed some of
the lighting wires, before reinstating the power. One
simple twist of the gas mains and all was set.
Valerie, still waiting for the return of the lights, heard
the click of the back door closing followed by the roar
of a familiar car engine. Calling out to John, she got no
response and after a few moments, she made her way
into the back room angrily trying to get a response from
her husband. Reaching the light switch she flicked it on.
The gas and one random spark did the rest.
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but rather as an unfortunate accident.
The witnesses (except perhaps the Investigators)
have nothing to tell, most arriving long after the
blaze began.
Discovery of a body. If the characters gain access to
the site they will discover a tarpaulin over the remains
of an unidentified victim of the fire (although if John
Burton has already visited the scene, the police can
make a fair assumption it is his wife Valerie). A police
officer is always present, watching the body until it is
removed shortly after 12.
If any of the characters are game enough to examine
the body a Sanity loss of 0/1d4 results in seeing the
twisted charred corpse of Valerie Burton. The smell
alone is enough to make the character retch and
the police officer watching over the body is almost
physically sick at the sight of it.
Nothing can be found on the body, but it is obvious the
victim was fully clothed at the time of the explosion.
The Safe. This is the only object to survive the fire
intact. A man high four by four-foot steel safe, it will
be forced open during the initial investigation by the
police. While nothing of interest is discovered inside,
all the precious raw materials and jewellery pieces are
moved to the police station (to be passed on once the
insurance investigation begins).
There are also a number of legal and informational
documents inside, most of which are receipts, orders
or other jewellery related notes. There is however
a number of curious and seemingly out of place
documents here as well.
The Documents in the Safe
These papers are vital to future of the characters.
Not only do they describe what the Investigators saw
earlier that morning, they also explain why and, how it
is here and more importantly, how to stop it.
Where the characters discover these papers is left up
to the Keepers’ discretion, although nominally they are
present in the safe at Haywright’s Fine Jewellers until
they are either taken by John or placed to one side by
the police as unimportant. If the characters cannot
get access to the scene of the fire the best suggestion
is for them to be found early on while scoping out
Haywright House (see below). If this is not possible
the Keeper can allow the characters to observe the
documents being placed in a police car outside the
cordoned off area before mentioning that they are left
unattended while the driver goes back to collect more.
A good Keeper should have no trouble getting
the documents to the players no matter what the
circumstance.
The documents are a note, a letter and aparchment,
all relating to John’s recent trip to Vladivostok in Far
Eastern Russia. (See Around Handouts 1 through
3).
The letter of travel arrangements - Around
Handout 1. This letter is about five months old and
was received by John (with other documents no longer
attached) from the Dormantry Travel Bureau in New
York. John had actually planned on throwing out this
letter with the rest of the scraps he had brought back
from Russia, but somehow it ended up in the safe with
some of the more important documentation from the
trip.
Page from a journal - Around Handout 2.
This yellowed and torn page looks as if they once
formed part of someone’s personal journal. Although
impossible to date, one could hazard a guess that it is
at least a hundred years old. Written using an older
style of Russian grammar it takes two hours and a
Read/Write Russian roll to translate (although it is
more likely the characters will take this and the other
Russian note, see below, to a translator).
The Trinket text - Around Handout 3. This is
nothing more than a scrap of paper, on which is written
a few simple words of modern Russian (a successful
Read/Write Russian will translate it).
Learning More about the Documents
Finding out more information about the documents
found in the safe is a relatively easy task. Those in
Russian can be translated by anyone with a decent skill
in Read/Write Russian and, although it is unlikely one
of the characters will have this skill, a translator can
be easily tracked down at the Miskatonic University
Modern Languages Department (Russian is currently
being taught by Dr Nicholai Stolpa). More about
the travel itinerary can be found out by ringing the
sender.
Dormantry Travel Bureau. Owned and run by
Peter Domantry this company specialises in Eastern
European travel (which is still a rarity in the 1920s).
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Based in New York, they cater for upper or business
class travellers who wish to not only to get where they
are going safely, but also with a bit of style.
If any of the Investigators contact the company
directly, all inquiries are put through to Peter, who is
in his late 50s and has a heavy Polish accent. Peter will
not give out any information unless the characters can
convince him of the importance of their call or contact
him in some official capacity.
If the Investigators do get him to talk, he will actually
have only very little to say about Mr Burton, except
that he is a fairly regular customer (once every year
or so he would organise business trips to Russia or
other parts of Eastern Europe) with the last trip to
Vladivostok about four months ago. John had rung
not more than a week ago to say that he had returned
safely and had enjoyed his trip. Peter will wrap up the
conversation by stating he hopes to be able to fulfil Mr
Burton’s travel needs for many more years to come.
The Translated Trinket Text. Any good translator
can almost immediately translate the Trinket text.
They will explain it is actually a quote from a very
famous book on Russian Folklore. It reads:
The Sons of Veles are the guardians of the soul,
Guides in the after life. To touch their resting place is
to ensure your safe passage to God.
Born from their Father’s love of all that is good in
the world. They reside in small trinkets awaiting the
passing of their owner to help them leave the mortal
coil.
The translator believes there is a copy or two of this
same book in the Miskatonic University Library. It is
called The Darkness of the North: Stories from
Russian Folklore and was written at the turn of
the century by a well-known Russian scholar, Sergi
Romantov.
If possible the translator will also volunteer further
information about Veles (a character with Read/Write
Russian skill will also know this with a successful
History roll), who was also known as Volos, a Russian
god, whose worship extends back into the earliest of
written records. Originally he is the god of music, art,
poetry and animals. But later was also considered the
god of flocks and herds and, because he was depicted
with horns, of death and the Underworld.
As a note to the Keeper Veles/Volos was really
worshipped in Russia and a search of the Internet for
folklore or other mythology sites could help flesh out
any questions the characters might have about this
god.
Translating the page of the journal. This is a
much more difficult proposition, as the style and
grammar of the writing is quite old. (For an example
of this see Mallory’s Mort de Arthur - or the legend of
King Arthur which, while in English, is difficult to read
due to the style of language used. This is a good way of
explaining to players why Mythos books take so long
to read).
It takes about two hours to get a readable translation
out of the document (See Around Handout 4), at
which point the translator, although dismissing the
‘journal’ as just a piece of fiction is never the less
intrigued as to where the characters have got such
an old and obviously important piece of Russian
literature.
Although he can’t date it, telling from the style of the
text it is at least four hundred years old! The translator
won’t pressure the characters but will request that such
an item would best be served in a Library or Museum.
Perhaps the most important things to come out of this
journal page are:
A Son of Veles is a vicious killer who tracks down
those who have killed the wearer of its ‘trinket’.
It kills all mortals who get in its way, or who witness
it.
What is not so obvious is that it comes after dark and
only those marked by the Son can hear its howls.
Nevertheless this page should act as a warning to the
characters that they have witnessed a relentless killer.
Darkness of the North
The Miskatonic University Library does indeed have
copies of this book and, most surprisingly from the
Investigators point of view, they are held on the regular
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stacks of that building.
A successful Library Use roll will enable the characters
to locate the book and find the passages relating to the
Sons of Veles. (See Around Handout 5).
These pages are the characters key to understanding
and defeating the Son of Veles - before it starts hunting
them down as well.
The story of the Woodsman defeating the Son of Veles
holds the three key points needed for a successful
conclusion to the character’s investigation:
Sons are invisible during the daylight; so even
if the characters have defeated the creature the
chances are it will return tonight at dusk.
A Son is stunned by seeing its own reflection,
although why this is so is not explained.
While stunned it can be killed by driving a flaming
arrow (a stake or any other wooden implement will
also work) into its heart.
If the characters have already visited the Haywright
House and encountered Mrs McTighe, they will be
able to workout who the murderer is and therefore
who the Son is tracking.
Haywright House
John and Valerie received Haywright House as part
of their inheritance. A two-storey villa situated on a
large piece of land at 219 West Miskatonic Ave, it is
an example of early 1840s Arkham architecture, with
extensive use of high stud ceils and gabled roofing
typical of the era of its construction.
Old Man Haywright, although frugal, decorated the
interior with many interesting (but mundane) pieces
of art, most of which still remain. The majority of
the everyday furniture is old restored antique pieces,
not because Haywright was too cheap to purchase
anything new, but rather as a result of his hobby
- carpentry and woodturning (his lathe and other
tools now reside in an unused shed at the back of the
section, collecting dust).
Since taking possession of the house, just over a year
ago, John and Valerie have done little to the building
or the land on which it stands. Although the Haywright
House is not a manor by any stretch of the imagination,
it is situated on a large property typical of Arkham’s
upper-middle class. The section in the front is private
and enclosed by a large well-groomed hedge, while the
back yard (which is the size of a normal Arkham city
property) is lush with trees and gardens. Two utility
sheds and a garage are also located near the rear of the
section.
Front Garden and Porch: The front of the
Haywright House is neat and tidy, the hedges have all
recently been trimmed and the garden weeded. If it is
after 10am, the mail has been delivered, but consists
of nothing more than bills and statements. There is
nothing of real interest here to any Investigators, until
they reach the front porch, at which point they will
notice a bouquet of flowers with a note attached.
Valerie, John
Have just heard about the fire! Hope all well and
safe!
Eric and Melissa
This is from family friends, who are as yet unaware
of Valerie’s demise. If tracked down Eric and his
wife Melissa have nothing to add to the investigation,
rather than stating their concern about the well being
of the Burtons.
Backyard, Garage and Sheds: The backyard is just
as tidy as the front, with weeded gardens and low cut
grass. A number of flowerbeds are showing the first
signs of life in the spring.
The garage is locked at all times but once opened is tidy
and clean inside. A car, a new Chevrolet 490 Touring,
is only present when John is in the house. Nothing
much else is in here except a few tools, stored art and
antiques (Old Man Haywright’s tastes weren’t always
matched by his heirs).
The larger of the two sheds is used to store gardening
equipment (trowels, spades, shovels and hoes are all
lined up nicely against the walls), while in one corner
firewood is neatly stacked. The smaller shed is full
of Old Man Haywrights carpentry and woodturning
equipment. Dusty, but in useable condition this has
sat in here since John and Valerie took ownership of
the house. A number of unfinished pieces of furniture
are also present.
Down Stairs: This consists of a Sunroom, Dining
Room, Kitchen and Family Lounge. In general this
floor is very tidy, with the floors clean and the rooms
spotless, the only things that will be out of place
depends on what time of the day the Investigators
enter the house. If it is between 9am and 6pm they
will discover three packed bags near the front door.
If examined these bag contain just mens clothing and
other personal items. It seems however as if someone is
prepared for a long trip away (there is enough changes
of clothing to last many weeks). If the characters arrive
after 6pm the bags are still there, however in the front
room a number of sympathy notes and bunches of
flowers have been dumped. All the notes are unread,
including any the characters might have left, and if
opened all express sympathy over the destruction
of Haywrights. These are from the Burton’s friends
and neighbours and none mention anything about
Valerie’s death.
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Everything else is as one would expect to find in a
house of the Burton’s standing - the kitchen well
stocked, plenty of liquor in the alcohol cabinet etc.
Upstairs: The second story of the house is much like
the first, clean and tidy throughout. This floor consists
of four bedrooms of various sizes and a small study/
workroom.
Of all the bedrooms only the master looks as if it is
lived in, the others call have that slightly empty look
of guest rooms. In the master bedroom, a large range
of clothing, both mens and women’s can be found, also
there are a number of personal items displayed around
the room, including many jewellery and art pieces. If
the bedside tables are searched, a .32 pistol with a
box of 25 rounds will be found along with a licence
for the weapon (for personal defence). John Burton is
napping in this room from about 6 to 7pm (before the
Son arrives at dusk).
The study/workroom is the only other room that
looks as if it is used. This contains a large desk (which
has good lighting situated around it) and a filing
cabinet. The files contain a number of tax, legal and
personal documents most pertaining to the running
of Haywright’s Fine Jewellery. If examined and a
successful Accounting roll is made, it will be revealed
that not only are the Burtons in a strong financial
position (Haywright’s business is booming as of
late - the late Avery’s aim of purchasing cheap and
selling expensive has certainly paid off), there is also a
number of large life insurance policies on both Valerie
and John. If the desk is searched a number of jewellery
tools and other jewellery maintenance equipment is
found.
A Day in the Life of John Burton
The following is a description of what John does
during the day following the murder of his wife and the
destruction of the store. This should help the Keeper
determine where he is, if and when the Investigators
start to try and find him.
Shortly after leaving is wife at Haywright’s Fine
Jewellery store, John watches the destruction of his
shop before returning home to await the inevitable
fall out. About 6.30am he receives a visit from Luther
Hardin, Arkham’s Chief of Detectives, and two
officers. Hardin explains the situation to John, who
then reveals that “his wife awoke early this morning,
and unable to sleep said that she would go to the store
early and prepare for the days work ahead”. When the
fact that a body has been discovered in the store is
mentioned, John breaks down in tears (only some of
which is acting).
John and the police then visit the sight of the burnt
out building and John is asked a few more questions,
most of which he answers honestly - yes the shop was
insured, and yes his wife often came down early to
ensure everything was secured on the premises etc.
While Hardin is a little suspicious of John, mainly due
to the odd events surrounding the fire and death of
Valerie, he leaves the jeweller to his own devices for
the rest of the day.
Again John returned home, this time to pack for his
trip to New York. Between then and 10am the phone
rings a number of times (friends who have seen/
heard of the fire and reporters trying to get further
information - no one at this time knows of Valerie’s
death) but he doesn’t answer (nor does he respond to
any visitors at his door).
Shortly after 10am John heads out to visit both his
lawyer and insurance company, foolishly leaving a
New York Hotel as his forwarding address with both
(if John does somehow make it to New York, the police
will eventually track him down and arrest him for the
murder of his wife).
After 1pm John is at a bit of a loose end, he doesn’t
want to go home (and be forced to deal with media
and/or friends) so instead he takes a drive west to
Aylesbury. During this drive, he gets the first pangs of
guilt over the murder of his wife, although by the time
he returns, at 6 that evening, he has fully justified his
actions to himself.
After returning home, he collects his mail and any
flowers/notes awaiting him and dumps them in the
front room unread. At this point he is tempted to
immediately leave for New York, but since it has
already been a long day he retires to his room to rest
for a few hours.
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Unless otherwise disturbed John Burton is found
dead the next morning, torn to pieces at the foot of the
staircase.
Mrs McTighe
Julia McTighe has always been a go-getter and
neighbourhood personality (some would call her a
busybody) and has become even more so since the
death of her husband. Speaking with a southern drawl,
even though she is in her early seventies and has lived
in Arkham for almost 40 years, Mrs McTighe is willing
to talk to most people about most things.
Living next door to the Haywrights for more than half
her life she is probably the leading authority on their
family. Julia holds the key to why events have unfolded
the way they have, and even has a discarded letter to
back her story up.
Mrs McTighe will intercept the characters if they are
skulking around Haywright House and, as a fiercely
independent woman, will even approach them if they
have broken into the Burton’s home (as long as they
don’t wander around brandishing weapons of course).
Julia has learnt of the fire earlier in the morning (as
does most of Arkham) and will initially suspect the
Investigators of being plain clothed police officers
and/or reporters.
If she can be convinced of the characters good
intentions (whether they have good intention or not is
another question entirely) she has this to say:
About John and Valerie Burton. “You don’t live
next to a family for forty some years and not learn
about their dirty laundry…ya know? John and
Valerie been having their troubles ever since they
hitched up, or so said old Avery, and since they buried
that old coot in the ground they have been going at it
like cats and dogs. Or should I say SHE has,” Julia
spits out the word ‘She’.
“That’s right, Valerie is a mean hearted woman. Got
the worse bits of her old pa and ma, God rest their
souls. Never satisfied with what poor John gives her.
She accuses him of all sorts of things, none of which,
to mah knowledge, is true.”
“All I can say is, from what I hear through the walls,
is I’m surprised that he don’t leave her… but then
again if he dida that then he’d lose the store then eh.”
She laughs, “Not much good that did him, coose it
gone now.”
Valerie’s inheritance. “That right… it all belongs to
Valerie, old man Avery told me once he’d never leave
anything to that dopey son-in-law of his, he didn’t
know what his daughter saw in the man”.
The Fire. “Oh yesa, I heard about that, but then ain’t
everyone? Bit of a doozey from whats I keep hearing…
why you know anything more?”
If the characters are aware Valerie is dead and they
tell Mrs McTighe, she will immediately go and get the
letter (see below).
However if the characters do not tell her of the
death, but convince Julia of their need to know more
information she will say:
“Well I kinda guess there is something you oughta
know then…” Julia trails off, as if weighing up her
options.
“You just wait here a moment anda… I’ll get
something you’ll want to see” With that she totters off,
disappearing into her house next door.
This gives the characters a few moments to talk before
Mrs McTighe returns with a piece of paper in hand.
To My Dearest Love…
The piece of paper Julia hands the characters is a
letter, crumpled and botched as if previously wet. She
is almost reluctant to hand it to them.
Julia McTighe hands you the dirty and crushed piece
of paper saying, “Don’t think bad of him, he is a nice
man, if a bit foolish…Valerie doesn’t love him, and
now after the fire… this could be his only chance for
happiness”.
If asked how it came into her possession Julia explains
she found it in her garden a week ago. Originally she
thought it was just a piece of rubbish but on closer
examination discovered it to be much more interesting.
She had planned on quietly returning it to John, but
had yet to have a chance.
If she is now aware of Valerie’s death, Julia insists the
information goes to the police (she doesn’t honestly
think John killed her, - he is just too well tempered and
quiet to do that - but knows that to withhold evidence
is an offence).
The letter itself is a bit of a mess, but can be made out
easily enough. (See Around Handout 1).
The contents are pretty well self-explanatory and, if
taken to the police, John Burton will become suspect
number one.
Following up Joanne. With no address or contact
details on the letter it is rather difficult to track down
Joanne in any short period of time. However any
investigation into the girl will reveal that Joanne Carter
is a secretary for DeBeers of New York (a diamond
mining company based in South Africa). Neither her
nor her family are rich, nor does any evidence (bar the
letter) lend support to the fact that she and John have
The Unbound Book
What Goes Around...
Issue - 0 August 2002
a relationship.
If Joanne is approached she denies knowing John
Burton, although in reality she is aware his marriage is
the key to his income and will do nothing to jeopardise
this.
Other Avenues of Investigation
If the characters decide to ask around town about
Burtons or Avery Haywright, they will soon discover
most locals know of them.
It was hard for people to forget Old Man Haywright,
even though he has been dead and buried in
Christchurch Cemetery for over a year. He was a
cantankerous old coot, with an opinion on everything.
He would have run for mayor in his younger days, but
he was smart enough to know that no one would have
voted for him. His jewellery however was unsurpassed
in quality and his reputation extended from New York
City to Augusta in Maine. No one knew of his dislike
for his son-in-law, but to be honest no one would have
been surprised to learn of the fact.
Most people will have little to say about John, except
that he is a quiet, dry man. Professionally he has a
good reputation for quick and excellent work sold at
an acceptable price (Haywright’s has always been top
draw jewellery and their prices reflect that).
Valerie Burton on the other gets an opinion out of
every one, either you like her or you don’t. She sat on
almost every citizen board run by the council and a
few others besides. She has a reputation for ensuring
things get done, for better or worse! Those that agreed
with her attitudes and thoughts became firm friends,
while those that didn’t were sworn enemies.
As for the Burtons as a couple, most people know, or
records can be found of their marriage 12 years ago.
They met at a Miskatonic University Dinner party
(even back then Valerie was know for her strong will
- head of the University Temperance Union) and
had an immediate attraction to each other. Shortly
afterwards, with Valerie graduating with a degree in
Liberal Studies, they announced their engagement
and were married within the year. John, who had
completed his apprenticeship a year earlier, came to
work with Avery Haywright at the store.
Of the people in Arkham that call the Burton’s friends,
most are upper or upper-middle class, and will not
talk to anyone other than the police about them.
As it is, most are unaware of the disharmony in the
relationship - Valerie made sure of that.
Those who really know John and Valerie best are their
employees. Like many of the upper-middle class of the
time, the Burtons employ a number of people to clean
and maintain the house on a part time basis (gone are
the days of live-in housekeepers). With a little polite
questioning the following people can be found.
Betty Wright: An Afro-American woman who works
as a part time cook for the Burtons. She likes Mr
Burton, and can attest to Mrs Burton’s wild temper.
Betty can relate stories about the many times Valerie
has made a mountain out of a molehill when it came to
37
‘Werewolf’ © 2002 Dan Dionne
The Unbound Book
Issue - 0 August 2002
What Goes Around...
38
minor decisions in the house.
Argus Whately: Of the untainted Arkham Whatelys.
Argus, who is now in his early sixties, is employed to
help Valerie maintain the impressive Haywright House
garden. A farmer by trade, Argus has recently left his
farm to his ‘young’ins’ and had originally planned to
retire in town. He found, however, that he was not yet
ready for a sedentary life and as such enjoys helping
out around the gardens of others in the town.
If questioned about the Burtons he will say he really
only knows Mrs Burton, Mr Burton did not have
much to do with the garden. However Argus will say
the Burton’s bad temper was not all one way, relating
an incident where he witnessed John trample a bed of
prize roses after a particularly loud argument with his
wife.
Other household staff: Most other staff work only
on a causal or temporary basis, mainly through one of
Arkham’s cleaning agencies. If any are tracked down,
they will all have stories to tell about Mrs Burton
ranting like a mad women over some insignificant
event or incident. Most really don’t mind if they never
work at the Haywright House ever again.
Jewellers at Haywrights: The Burtons employ
two other Jewellers at the store, both of whom will
be rather distraught upon hearing the news that their
place of employment has just burnt down.
Lawrence Cabot, now in his late 50s, has worked all
his life at Haywright’s. Not much liking either Valerie
(her temper) nor John (his approach is too laid back
- when compared to Avery Haywright), he is more
than willing to say the Burtons fought like cats and
dogs, with Valerie winning most of their arguments.
He sees Valerie as a pain in the neck, always trying to
get her own way, regardless of whether she is right or
not and John not being man enough to stand up to her.
Lawrence often cops abuse from Valerie, as he is left in
charge of the day-to-day running of the store whenever
John is out of town. However it is this authority, which
he would not get anywhere else, that keeps him from
leaving Haywright’s.
Karl West, 18, is an apprentice and has been working
for the Burtons for just over a year. He has nothing
but good things to say about John - he listens to
Karl’s comments and takes time to train him. He
has, however, witnessed on many occasions the swift
temper of Valerie, so much so he is now frightened
of her. Karl also dislikes Lawrence, although this is
because the old hand believes in the more ‘traditional’
way of training apprentices.
An Evening of Fire, Fur and Not
Much Fun
By the time the evening arrives the characters should
have gathered enough evidence to understand what is
going on.
If they haven’t, the next day the papers will detail the
discovery of the grizzly remains of one John Burton in
his own home. The next night however the characters
will all get a visit from an angry and vengeful Son of
Veles, as it tracks down those who have seen it stalking
its original prey.
It is anticipated the characters will arrive prior to
dusk on that first, but with John already in the house.
Burton resists all attempts to get him to leave and it is
highly likely he will believe somehow the Investigators
know of the murder.
If pushed or threatened in any way John will a) try and
get the gun which is in the bedroom upstairs and/or b)
make his way to the car and off to New York (with his
bags if possible).
John isn’t a cold-blooded killer (he justifies killing
his wife as a form of self-defence) but he will defend
himself and is not against firing a few warning shots if
someone gets too close.
JOHN BURTON, Arkham Jeweller, Age 32
STR
10
EDU
16
Know 80%
CON
12
POW
9
Luck 45%
SIZ
13
INT
15
Idea 75%
DEX
16
APP
12
HP 13
SAN
32 (after killing his wife)
Damage Bonus: +0
Weapons: Fist, 50%, damage 1d3+db
.32 Revolver, 30%, damage 1d8
Skills: Acting 50%, Accounting 60%, Art (Jewellery)
70%, Bargain 80%, Credit Rating 30%(80%
in Arkham), Fast Talk 30%, Library Use 20%,
Listen 30%, Pistol 30%, Psychology 60%, Spot
Hidden 70%, Fist 50%, Throw 45%.
Once dusk settles over the city a successful Listen roll
allows an Investigator to hear a distant howl (unless,
of course they haven’t seen the Son, in which case they
cannot hear the creature). Over the next 5 minutes the
howl gets closer and a Sanity check is need by all those
hearing the Sons approach (0/1).
Before long the Son appears, this also requires a Sanity
check, even if the Investigators have seen the creature
previously (the maximum loss for seeing a Son of Veles
is a total of 8 points - see ‘Getting Used to Awfulness’
under the Sanity Rules section of the Rule book). It
immediately attacks John who, stunned and shocked,
fires an ineffectual round at the beast, before it
probably cuts him down in one turn (unless, of course,
the characters can somehow intervene).
The Unbound Book
What Goes Around...
Issue - 0 August 2002
Until John is killed the Son will focus all its attention
on him, this should allow the characters time to set
up anything they require to defeat the creature. Once
John is killed however the Son will immediately turn
on the closest Investigator.
The Son can be stunned by showing it its own reflection,
this has the same effect as stunning the beast (see
‘Stunning’ under the Rules and Skills section of the
Call of Cthulhu Rule book). The creature can only be
stunned once a day in this way, as it will try and avert
its eyes if tricked into looking at a mirror again.
To defeat the Son of Veles, its heart must be pierced
with flaming wood. How the characters arrange to
do this is up to them, although any object hitting
the creature’s chest will only puncture the heart if an
Impale is rolled (depending of course on the individual
party’s stats and how the Keeper sees the adventure
panning out).
If enough mundane damage is done to ‘kill’ the Son, it
collapses to the ground, regenerating hit points back at
5 per round until above half, at which point it will leap
up and continue its attack. (Of course in such a state a
‘dead’ Son is much easier to vanquish).
Hopefully this gives a lot of scope for a Keeper to
develop a fluid yet interesting combat situation - with
the Son chasing John or one of the characters, while
the rest try and impale the beast with the wood.
Once the Son of Veles is vanquished it drops to the
ground howling in pain, striking out at anyone close
enough to hit. Hearing its death throes costs 0/1
Sanity.
As it passes away in front of the characters its face
contorts, with the image of the beasts last victim
appearing over the wolf-like muzzle. This sight costs
1/1d4 Sanity, although if the Son’s last victim was one
of the Investigators this cost could increase. If John
survives, the creature’s face becomes that of an old
man, with dark rustic features (no-one recognises
him).
Moments later the human faced Son begins to fade,
until eventually nothing but the characters wounds
remain to prove it ever existed at all.
Conclusion
During this adventure the characters may or may not
have a moral dilemma on their hands. John Burton
did indeed kill his wife, although if he survives, states
he had no other choice, she had treated him no better
than a dog.
The Investigators may think the retribution handed
out by the Son of Veles is deserved enough to allow
the ‘murder’ of Burton to go ahead, even though they
might be aware it is only a matter of time before the
Son comes after them also.
If the characters decide to involve the police in the
matter, they will only be believed if they have the
love letter from Mrs McTighe. If this is the case,
Harden will have the evidence he needs to confirm his
suspicions, and will immediately try and locate John
Burton. If he is arrested prior to the return of the Son,
the result will not be a pretty sight, as all of the officers
stationed at the jail, along with John are found dead
the next morning.
Having John arrested after stopping the Son of Veles
has little if any effect on this adventure, although it
may help the players consciences.
In the end there is no right or wrong conclusion to
the adventure, although the Sanity gains handed out
do reflect the actions they took to keep deaths to a
minimum.
If the Investigators defeat the Son of Veles and
keep John alive (regardless of whether he stands
trial for the death of Valerie), each earns 1d12 Sanity.
If the Investigators defeat the Son of Veles, but
John dies, while they are trying to protect him, each
earns 1d8 Sanity only.
If the Investigators defeat the Son of Veles, but
do not even try to save John, they only receive 1d4
Sanity.
If the police arrested John for the murder of
Valerie. Regardless of the outcome after this point
the characters will only receive 1d4 Sanity. However
for every innocent person that dies - the Son has no
compunction killing all in its way to get to John - the
Investigators must lose one point of Sanity.
In the end both John and Valerie probably got what
they deserved for not respecting each other as people.
It’s just another case of what goes around… comes
around!
39
On the Unbound
Website
What Goes Around...
- D20 Stats for What Goes Around...
Visit the Unbound Book Website @
www.unboundbook.org
40
Arkham Art Specialists
>>Dealers of Antiquities & Fine Art<<
1/43 Walnut Street,
Arkham,MA
New England
Handouts
The following Handouts are to be used with
the adventures as labelled.
Due to space restrictions some handouts may
need to be enlarged before use.
Rise 1 - Booth Business Card
Around 2 - Page from a journal
сорок пятьсот шесть шестна-дцать ты я
шестьсот
семь
семнадцать
шестьдесят
семьсот.
шестьсот семь семнадцать ьдесят семь-сот
восемь восемн-адцать семьдесят я восемьсот
девять
девятнадцать
се-мьдесят
ты
девятьсот.
Around 3 - The Trinket text
Around 6 - Burton Loveletter
мь
семнадцать
шестьдесят
семьсот
восемь
восемнадцать семьдесят я восемьсот девять
девятнадцать восемьдесят ты десять двадцать вы
девяносто тысяча.
сорок пятьсот шесть шестнадцать пятьдесят ты
я шестьсот семь семнадцать шестьдесят семьсот.
восемьдесят ты девятьсот оно они десять двадцать
вы девяносто тысяча.
двадцать один сто он, она, два ты двенадцать
двадцать я два двести три тринадцать. сорок
пятьсот шесть шестнадцать пятьдесят ты я
шестьсот семь семнадцать шестьдесят семьсот.
шестьсот семь семнадцать шестьдесят семьсот!
восемь восемнадцать семьдесят я восемьсот
девять девятнадцать восемьдесят ты девятьсот!!
я восемьсот девять девятнадцать восемьдесят ты
девятьсот оно они десять двадцать вы девяносто
тысяча.сорок
пятьсот
шесть
шестнадцать
пятьдесят ты я шестьсот семь семнадцать
шестьдесят семьсот.
шесть шестнадцать пятьдесят ты шестьсот семь
семнадцать
шестьдесят
семьсот
восемь
восемнадцать семьдесят. я восемьсот девять
девятнадцать восемьдесят ты девятьсот оно они
десять. десятьодин я мы одиннадцать двадцать
один сто он, она, два двенадцать двадцать два!
The Unbound Book
Issue - 0 August 2002
Player Handouts
41
Around 4 - Translated Journal
Around 1 - The letter of travel arrangements
… and as night fell we could hear it coming, Veles the guide of the dead. It’s arrival
proved only that one of us was the killer of the Cossack girl.
This was the proof, if the guide came then we could not deny that one of us had gone
back and had killed her. Revenge for the deaths of our own children.
It came like lightening to the house, a sundering apart the braced door. Its eyes like
black pools of chaos it searched for the killer. Jacques… Why did he do it!
And yet for all his begging it did no good as Veles ripped him in two. And nor did we
stop him, no, for none desired to be guided as well…
But then it turned on Demtri and Varese, why oh why!! It seemed that all those who
witnessed it became souls it desired.
And then was my turn. Unable to stop the beast I to was dead …I awoke at dawn a week
later to the discover of Cossacks had found my shattered body, and saved by life.
Yet although I healed in time it took me seasons to walk, forever cursed never to forget
the Son of Veles… ever!
Dormantry Travel Bureau
5310 West 81ST Street, Lower Manhattan, NY
Specialising in East European Travel since 1897.
Dear Mr Burton,
Please find enclosed your travel itinerary.
Be aware that your Liner leaves pending last tide on the
noted dated.
Unfortunately we are unable to yet confirm the name
of the Liner on which you will completed your return
voyage, although we will advise you of this on arrival
in Vladivostok.
We wish your journey is a pleasant and safe one, and do
hope you find Russia an exciting and wondrous country.
Yours Sincerely,
Peter Domantry
Peter Domantry,
Travel Manager - Dormantry Travel Bureau
The Unbound Book
Player Handouts
Issue - 0 August 2002
42
Extracts from “The Darkness of the North: Stories from Russian Folk lore”
by Sergi Romantov
The Sons of Volos, The Guides of Death, The Guardians of the Soul, The Bringers of Revenge. The Sons of Veles
are known by all these names, and yet the people of Russia do not fear them. Many of the old stories tell of the deeds
of men that would go unpunished. How the Slavs killed the Cossack and the Magyar slaughtered the Chechens or
how woman and children where rode down by horses or burnt in their homes.
But at the same time all knew that with the passing of these men’s lives they would at last pay for their sins. Not
of course by any mortal means, but instead to Veles the God of the Underworld, who, as punishment for their crimes
would not allow them to sleep eternal. Yet Veles hated the chaos man wrought on each other, and wished they instead
danced or sang, made merry or made love. Above all he loved animals and those that treated flocks and herds with the
respect they deserved - for was it not the herds that fed man.
As a reward to those men and women who cherished his creatures he gave them a gift, a stone, in which resided a
Son of Veles. This stone although precious in life, was more so in death, as on the passing of the physical the Son that
resided within awoke and guided the departed to the loving arms of Veles, safe from those evil souls that still tried
so hard to reach the underworld. Unfortunately today these stones are long gone, vanished like those that worshipped
Veles.
The Sons of Veles. Large and immensely strong they were said to have guided the dead in the form of a wolf.
Invisible during the day they always return at night to complete their one and only task. In all the stories that speaks
of them there is but one that tells of a Son of Veles being stopped from completing it’s task.
That tale speaks of a evil man on his deathbed who, by some vicious deed, had acquired a Stone of Veles. Now a
local Woodsman learnt of this crime against Veles and prayed to the God for guidance. Veles, being a loving and
caring God, heard these prayers and came to the Woodsman, who in turn explained what had happened. Upon hearing
this Veles was full of sorrow, for although he did not wish for the evil man to enter the underworld he knew his Son
would not be stopped from fulfilling his task, even if his father wished it. The Woodsman then asked if nothing could
defeat a Son of Veles and the God cried out in sadness. Yes, he did know of a way of defeating his Son but he loved
him almost as much as he loved mankind so was loathed to tell.
Yet Veles, the God, had little choice, an evil soul could not enter the underworld without balance and peace being
lost in the world, and so with tears in his eyes told the Woodsman the secrets of his own Son’s demise.
That night as the evil man died the Woodsman lay in wait. And as the Son of Veles arose from his slumber the
Woodsman did as the God bid. Big and fearsome although the Son was the Woodsman challenged him. With prism
of mirrors he dared to show the Son its true reflection. Stunned then, the Woodsman raised his bow and lit the head of
one of his arrows. Taking aim not to miss the Woodsman let fly, striking the Son in the heart. And how did the Son
cry out, its task could not be completed.
As it fled back to the arms of his father, it vowed that from that day forth its brothers would hunt to the ends of the
earth those that harmed the bearers of their stones, so never again would a Son fail in its task.
And Veles wept.
Around 5 - Darkness of the North
The Unbound Book
Issue - 0 August 2002
Player Handouts
| textdata/thevault/Call of Cthulhu (CoC) (BRP) [multi]/Adventures/1920s/CoC - 1920s - Adv - The Unbound Book #00 (.pdf |
1
2
Uma aventura no cenário Fantapunk
para personagens do 1o ao 3o níveis
Autor: Marcos Archanjo
Abril de 2003
03
Fantapunk - um novo cenário de aventuras
04
O Mundo Fantapunk
04
As Espécies
06
As Escuderias
09
As Agências
09
As Corporações
10
Os Consórcios
12
O Caos
14
Cidades Fantapunk
18
Cena Um - A Missão
20
Cena Dois - A Viagem de Trem
23
Cena Três - A Fábrica de Caldeiras
26
Cena Quatro - Fogo Ligeiro
26
Cena Cinco - A Fuga
26
Cena Seis - O Gigante
28
Estatísticas dos NPCs
Índice
3
Não existe nada mais normal do que vermos
aventureiros do cenário de Fantasia Medieval
enfrentarem seus oponentes empunhando
espadas, martelos e machados ou então
realizando magias e encantamentos. Com essas
armas e poderes os tradicionais grupos de
heróis invadem masmorras e castelos a procura
de monstros para matar, tesouros para pilhar e
princesas para resgatar. Essa é a base da
diversão e assim tem sido as aventuras de RPG
por muito tempo...
Mas o que aconteceria se armas de fogo e
máquinas à vapor fossem adicionados a essas
aventuras? Como seria o mundo onde a
energia mística convivesse lado a lado com a
tecnologia do vapor e o poder da pólvora?
E se existissem meios de comunicação
manipulando a opinião pública?
Já que estamos dando uma mexida no
tradicional, o que aconteceria se além da
pólvora e do vapor todas as espécies sencientes
possuissem uma equivalência entre si,
acabando com o conceito de raça-estúpida-e-
Fantapunk
um novo cenário
de aventuras
Fogo Ligeiro
é uma aventura para Dungeons & Dragons
3a Edição, seguindo os padrões do d20
System e a Open Game License. Todos os
direitos reservados.
Aventura e Projeto Gráfico
Marcos Archanjo
Arte
Manoel Magalhães (ilustrações) e Diogo
Viegas (cor)
Revisão das fichas de personagens
Marcelo Telles
Todos os elementos do cenário Fantapunk
são uma criação de Marcos Archanjo.
Todos os direitos reservados.
maligna-que-só-serve-de-bucha-de-canhão-
para-o-vilão?
Sejam bem vindos ao cenário Fantapunk, onde
todos podem ser heróis ou vilões,
independente da espécie ou raça a que
pertençam. Em nosso mundo, alianças entre
orks e bandar (que nos demais cenários são
chamados de "anões") ou entre goblins e fadas
são tão possíveis quanto a de adamitas
(humanos) e elfos. E o resultado disso são
aventuras emocionantes recheadas de atos
heróicos, magia e tiros de mosquete.
Se você deseja ir direto para a nossa aventura,
siga para a página 18. Mas se quer conhecer
um pouco mais sobre o cenário Fantapunk,
vire a página e penetre nas sombras onde
emoção, perigo e traição caminham lado a lado
e muitas vezes é difícil dizer quem é o herói e
quem é o vilão.
Um por todos e todos por um!
Archanjo
Comandante da Legião Combatente
A história a seguir foi retirada dos arquivos
secretos da Legião Combatente, com a
autorização de seu comandante. Alguns
fatos, nomes e locais podem ter sido
alterados para preservar os segredos da
instituição e de seus membros.
Participaram desta missão os agentes das
escuderias Esquadrão das Sombras
(pesquisa de campo e espionagem) e
Irmandade do Dragão de Ouro (invasão de
perímetro e resgate de informações).
Legião Combatente
Um por todos e todos por um!
4
Estamos agora no final da Segunda Era, um
período de grandes transformações onde a
maioria das espécies passou a interagir e, é
claro, guerrear por seus interesses. Este
também é um período de grandes invenções.
Uma delas foi a pólvora, inventada pelos HóBs
e utilizada como componente de seus fogos de
artifício durante séculos. Mas os orks, que
estavam em escaramuça com os elfos, passaram
a empregar os fogos de artifício como arma de
guerra, aperfeiçoada posteriormente na forma
do canhão com o auxílio dos bandar e dos
gnomos. Com o decorrer dos anos, estas
tecnologias foram sendo roubadas por outras
espécies, que criaram novas armas de fogo
como a pistola e o mosquete, que junto com o
canhão alteraram significativamente as ações
no campo de batalha.
A outra grande invenção da Segunda Era foi o
vapor. Embora seu uso ainda esteja no início,
é a força motriz mais poderosa depois das
energias místicas, com a vantagem de ser muito
mais fácil de se produzir e manipular. Graças
ao vapor, as estradas de ferro começam a cruzar
os territórios e embarcações de grande porte
já não dependem apenas dos ventos e da força
de escravos para se deslocarem pelo mar. E os
céus, muito em breve, serão a nova fronteira a
ser explorada.
Os novos tesouros
Em épocas passadas, o ouro, o electrum (uma
liga natural de ouro e prata) e a conquista de
novos territórios eram os principais objetos de
desejo dos governantes. Agora, dois novos
valores ocupam seus pensamentos (e cofres):
a dragonita e o orichalcum (lê-se oricalcum).
O primeiro é um tipo de mineral muito raro,
que tem o poder de gerar energia de forma
limpa e barata. Para se ter uma idéia do seu
potencial, um grama de dragonita pode
produzir energia equivalente a mil toneladas
de carvão. Já o orichalcum é uma raríssima
liga natural de ouro, estanho e cobre, que
possui o poder de amplificar qualquer tipo de
energia.
Indispensável dizer que os aventureiros
procuram avidamente por estes dois elementos
e que muitas guerras, declaradas ou secretas,
já ocorreram pela posse destes tesouros. E
outras ainda irão ocorrer.
As Espécies
No mundo de Urancha existem diversas
espécies sencientes sendo que as principais são:
Adamitas
Subdividem-se em três raças: atlantes, com uma
altura média de 1,75m, pele branca e olhos que
podem ser azuis, verdes, castanhos ou negros.
A variedade de seus cabelos oscila entre o
louro, preto, castanho e avermelhado (lisos ou
encaracolados); os atlantianos, que possuem a
mesma estatura média mas sua pele é negra,
assim como seus olhos e cabelos e por último
temos os Muvitas, que possuem a pele
levemente amarelada, com olhos e cabelos
negros e atingem em média 1,60m.
Esta espécie tem as orelhas pequenas e
arredondadas, sua visão não alcança os
espectros infra-vermelho e ultravioleta e seus
demais sentidos físicos são reduzidos em
comparação com os de outras espécies. O
tempo médio de vida gira em torno dos 90
anos.
Bandar
São seres de constituição robusta, medindo em
torno de 1,50m, de pele branca ou negra e com
olhos azuis, verdes, castanhos ou negros,
capazes de captar o espectro infravermelho.
Os cabelos, que podem ser lisos ou
encaracolados, variam entre o louro, preto,
castanho e avermelhado, sendo o branco uma
cor muito comum, mesmo em indivíduos
jovens. Possuem as orelhas levemente
pontiagudas e seu sentido do olfato é bastante
desenvolvido. Vivem cerca de 300 anos.
Draconianos
Esta espécie é composta de diversas raças, como
os grandes dragões, os drakes, dragos, drakkonen
(com aspecto humanóide) e os dinossauros. Por
causa desta diversidade não é possível elaborar
um perfil único, em relação a estatura, tempo de
vida ou extensão de seus sentidos físicos.
O Mundo Fantapunk
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Duendes
Os duendes não possuem um padrão comum
porque, sob esta denominação reúnem-se
diversas espécies, como por exemplo sacis,
caiporas, yastays e leprechauns. cada uma com
seu próprio tipo de vida e aparência física
diferente das demais.
Elfos
Esta espécie subdivide-se em três raças:
tzindarin, a mais comum de todas, é composta
de indivíduos de pele branca, cabelos louros e
olhos azuis; a banto possui indivíduos de pele
negra, olhos azuis e cabelos louros e a nindah
apresenta indivíduos de pele branca, olhos e
cabelos negros. Estes últimos são
pejorativamente chamados de “elfos negros”
e ainda hoje sofrem muita discriminação pelos
demais elfos.
As orelhas dos elfos são muito pontiagudas e
os olhos são capazes de enxergar também o
espectro infravermelho. A estatura média é
de 1,70m e o tempo de vida gira em torno de
350 anos.
Fadas
A espécie das fadas possui uma grande
variedade de raças, desde aquelas que lembram
as fadinhas das histórias infantis até outras que
se assemelham a elfos, adamitas ou goblins.
Seu tempo máximo de vida é de 400 anos,
enxergam os espectros infravermelho,
ultravioleta e a luz astral, possuem a audição e
o olfato extremamente desenvolvidos e podem
manipular, em algum nível, energias místicas
como fazem os magos das demais espécies,
mesmo que jamais tenham estudado as artes
arcanas.
Gnomos
Guardam muitas semelhanças com os bandar
em termos de aparência e estatura, embora
sejam menos robustos e possuam orelhas
arredondadas como as dos adamitas.
Enxergam os espectros infravermelho e
ultravioleta, tem um ótimo olfato e vivem cerca
de 320 anos.
Goblins
A estatura desta espécie gira em torno de 1,70m
e seus olhos e cabelos são verdes, assim como
sua pele, que é levemente coriácea. Possuem
as orelhas arredondadas e os olhos azuis ou
verdes, com a capacidade de enxergar o
espectro infra-vermelho. Seu olfato é excelente
e seu tempo de vida é de cerca de 180 anos.
HóBs
Conhecidos também como hobgoblins,
possuem a pele e os cabelos que vão do
alaranjado ao vermelho-cobre e os olhos verdes
ou cor de coral. Enxergam o infravermelho e
o ultra-violeta e tem a audição muito apurada.
Sua altura média é de 1,80m e vivem em torno
de 300 anos.
Índios
Possuem a pele avermelhada, os cabelos e olhos
negros e uma estatura média de 1,70.
Enxergam o espectro infravermelho e possuem
a audição e o olfato muito apurados. Seu
tempo de vida gira em torno dos 220 anos.
Kendor
Esta espécie é composta de diversas raças,
sendo que a mais conhecida, a kendor-troll,
mede cerca de dois metros de altura. Sua pele
é revestida por um exoesqueleto cuja cor varia
amplamente e seus olhos ficam ocultos por
detrás de uma lente natural, que irradia cores
de acordo com o estado de espírito do
indivíduo e conseguem visualizar os espectros
infravermelho e ultravioleta. São imortais, isto
é, não morrem de morte natural nem de
doenças, exceto talvez as magicamente criadas.
Kobolds
A espécie dos kobolds é composta por duas
raças: Tekitus, que são indivíduos de pele
azulada medindo em torno de um metro e
sessenta, com olhos e cabelos azul-escuro e
Sekrektus,
com
traços
fisionômicos
semelhantes aos dos elfos, mas que podem
variar a cor da pele do branco ao ebâneo, além
de azul, púrpura e verde. Seus olhos podem
ser verdes, azuis ou violeta e seus cabelos
podem seguir a cor da pele ou ficarem
totalmente brancos. O tempo de vida desta
espécie gira em torno dos 200 anos.
Mortos-vivos
Existem diversos tipos (ou estágios) de mortos-
vivos, como lichs, vampiros, zumbis, carniçais,
baital, esqueletos, etc. Embora um
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necromante possua conhecimento e poder para
criar e controlar um morto-vivo, são
considerados como membros desta espécie
apenas os indivíduos que sofreram o contágio
da Síndrome de Hela, que coloca pessoas
normais numa condição intermediária entre a
vida e a morte. A estatura e aparência de um
morto-vivo varia de acordo com a espécie a
qual o indivíduo pertencia quando estava vivo
e do estágio da doença em que se encontre.
Seu tempo máximo de existência é
desconhecido e geralmente só cessa quando
atingido gravemente por algo a que seja
vulnerável, como armas mágicas ou fogo.
Ogres/Temujiins
Num primeiro olhar, poderíamos dizer que os
ogres seriam adamitas de grandes dimensões,
pois em termos de aparência estas duas espécies
são incrivelmente semelhantes. Mas além de
poderem atingir os 2,5m de altura, os ogres
também são imortais, imunes a doenças (exceto
as magicamente criadas), possuem todos os
sentidos físicos ampliados e podem enxergar
os espectros infravermelho e ultravioleta, além
de possuirem uma grande sensibilidade para
percepções de energias do Plano Astral.
Já os temujiins, descendentes dos ogres,
embora sejam idênticos em aparência, vivem
no máximo 200 anos e possuem os sentidos
físicos tão limitados como os dos adamitas.
Orks
A espécie dos orks possui a pele e os cabelos
verdes, que podem ser lisos ou encaracolados,
orelhas levemente pontiagudas com ótima
audição e olhos cuja cor varia entre o verde e o
negro, capazes de captar os espectros
infravermelho e ultravioleta.
Seu tempo de vida gira em torno de 350 anos e
dividem-se em duas raças: örkan, com um
aspecto que lembra um pouco o dos elfos e
com uma altura média de 1,75 e örkos, com
altura média de 1,85m e o maxilar ligeiramente
proeminente, com os caninos inferiores
projetando-se para fora da boca.
As Escuderias
Outro diferencial do cenário Fantapunk é o
modo como os aventureiros estão organizados.
Aqui, poucos são aqueles que trabalham
individualmente. A maioria está filiada a um
dos "clubes de aventureiros", que disputam
entre si as missões mais rentáveis, seja para
resgatar uma princesa sequestrada, encontrar
um artefato mágico, espionar alguma empresa
ou até mesmo sequestrar uma princesa...
Houve uma época em que os aventureiros
foram perseguidos e resolveram adotar
identidades secretas para continuarem a
trabalhar nas sombras. Percebendo o potencial
do trabalho em equipe resguardado por uma
identidade secreta, os aventureiros começaram
a se organizar em grandes grupos. Eles
fundaram um tipo de organização que
beneficiava todos os seus associados com
proporções e influência maiores do que o de
uma guilda. Assim surgiram as escuderias,
clubes fechados que reúnem centenas de
membros que intercambiam recursos
financeiros, informações, equipamento e, é
claro, talentos.
Por causa da sua organização baseada no
segredo sobre a identidade de seus membros e
da gíria “andar nas sombras” (referente à vida
secreta dos aventureiros), as escuderias
passaram a ser apelidadas de Clube das
Sombras.
As escuderias possuem centros secretos de
treinamento, onde é ensinada a arte de viver
nas sombras. Nestes centros, profissionais
consagrados ensinam suas técnicas aos
aprendizes, formando a cada ano pequenos
mas eficientes grupos de novos aventureiros.
Quando um destes consegue evoluir além do
limite comum, ele recebe o título de herói e,
se evoluir ainda mais, passa a ser chamado de
campeão. Mas poucos são os que conseguem
ir até o limite máximo, o ponto mais alto do
panteão da fama e se tornar uma lenda.
A primeira escuderia a ser fundada foi a
Irmandade do Dragão de Ouro, uma guilda de
aventureiros de Arcádia que se organizou num
modelo que seria seguido por todas as outras
nos anos seguintes, como foi o caso da Bukaner,
da Companhia dos Lobos e do Esquadrão das
Sombras, que embora fossem escuderias
independentes, atuavam em aliança com a
Irmandade.
Mas seus antigos adversários não ficaram
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inativos. A Casa do Dragão Vermelho e a Casa
da Caveira, antigas guildas de Hy-Brasil,
também se organizaram, trabalhando em
parceria. E as forças do Caos, que durante
séculos fustigaram reinos de todas as espécies,
começaram a se organizar da mesma forma
para participar da nova ordem social e
continuar sua luta pela destruição de tudo o
que existe.
Existem centenas de escuderias em Arcádia e
Hy-Brasil , sendo que as mais conhecidas são:
Irmandade do Dragão de Ouro
Também conhecida como I.D.O., é
comandada pelo clérigo adamita Archanjo e
tem como campeões o monge ogre Colossus e
o guerreiro HóB Nemo, sendo que este último
também é conhecido pelos seus feitos como
“O Capitão Furacão”. Seus agentes são
chamados de “Os Dragões de Ouro”.
Bukaner
Composta originalmente por piratas orks das
Montanhas do Mar, a Bukaner evoluiu para
uma escuderia de grande renome. É
comandada pelo guerreiro-mago capitão
Blekdog e seus campeões são o guerreiro
capitão Azakris e o monge Okmok, todos da
espécie ork. Os agentes desta escuderia são
chamados de “Os Bukaneiros”.
Companhia dos Lobos
Capitaneada por um xamã-lobo, o elfo nindah
Cão Maluco, esta escuderia tem como
campeões a guerreira fada Libélula e o ranger
goblin Taxius. Seus agentes são chamados de
“Os Centuriões”.
Esquadrão das Sombras
É uma tropa de elite de espiões, fundada e
comandada por um duende eldalaris, o capitão
Ratto. Seus campeões são o duende caipora
Tocha e o elfo nindah Bond e seus agentes são
chamados de “Soldados das Sombras”.
Kilmerson
Comandada pelo Archeiro Verde, um
legendário herói ork, esta escuderia reúne
indivíduos de diversas espécies. Seus
campeões são o guerreiro ogre Maciste e a
guerreira-maga gnomo Centelha e seus agentes
são chamados de “Maggaivers”, que significa
“gênio inventivo”.
Nau dos Mistérios
Capitaneada pelo mago elfo tzindarin Arcano,
tem como campeões a druida elfa tzindarin
Apryma e o guerreiro adamita Bordon. Seus
agentes são chamados de “Os Elendiuns”, que
significa “aqueles que estudam as artes
superiores do desconhecido”.
Valkyrias
Trata-se de uma escuderia só de mulheres, das
mais variadas profissões e espécies. Sua
comandante é clériga adamita Lady Ísis e as
campeãs são a guerreira Desdêmona e a druida
Cintilante, ambas fadas. Suas integrantes são
chamadas pelo mesmo nome dado à escuderia.
Titãs
Composta em sua origem por um dos mais
famosos grupos de piratas de Urancha, esta
escuderia é comandada pelo HóB Torpedo e
tem como campeões o guerreiro elfo nindah
Porsh e o clérigo duende caipora Dik. Seus
agentes são chamados pelo mesmo nome dado
à escuderia.
Ordem do Crepúsculo
Comandada pelo guerreiro bandar Ragnarok
esta escuderia tem como campeões o mago
duende Alorean e o guerreiro ogre Hércules.
Seus agentes são conhecidos como “Os
Cavaleiros do Crepúsculo”.
Mettalika
O alquimista gnomo Pingo de Fogo comanda
esta escuderia, cujos campeões são os HóBs
Águia e Rochedo, ambos guerreiros. Seus
agentes são chamados de “Os Mettaleiros”.
Leões do Império
O monge adamita Magu é o comandante desta
escuderia composta principalmente por ex-
mosqueteiros. Seus campeões são os irmãos
Sansão e Golias, dois guerreiros adamitas e os
agentes desta escuderia são chamados de “Os
Leões”.
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Lanterna de Prata
Sob o comando do monge ork Cérberus, esta
escuderia tem como campeões a maga fada
Yshtar e o ladino gnomo Ghidat. Os seus
agentes são conhecidos como “Os Lanternas”.
Tempestade
A Capitã Tormenta, uma famosa guerreira fada,
comanda esta escuderia que tem como
campeões o paladino ogre Falconis e a espiã
gnomo Penumbra. Seus agentes são
conhecidos como “Tsauranimish”, que
significa “aqueles que levam terror e pânico
aos seus inimigos”.
Bandeirantes
Esta escuderia foi fundada e é comandada pelo
guerreiro duende saci yataré Dudûk. Tem
como campeões o paladino temujiin Razón e
o druida fada Woodstock. Seus agentes são
chamados pelo mesmo nome dado à escuderia.
Ordem do Templo
Uma antiga ordem de cavalaria que depois de
ser quase destruída reorganizou-se como
escuderia. Comandada pelo paladino bandar
Justus tem como campeões a maga bandar
Adriane e o guerreiro fada Webs. Chamam
seus agentes de “Os Cavaleiros do Templo”.
Grande Serpente Alada
Comandada pelo guerreiro bandar Petrus, esta
escuderia tem como campeões o guerreiro
temujiin Uranus e o mago duende yastay Kosh.
Seus agentes são chamados de “Ludgrim”, cujo
significado é “os que caminham sobre as
rochas”.
Nau Fantasma
Capitaneada pelo guerreiro-mago elfo
tzindarin Aurius, tem como campeões a espiã
gnomo Diamante e o guerreiro zumbi Kutulu.
Seus agentes são conhecidos como “Os
Fantasmas do Mar”.
Gladius
Seu comandante é o guerreiro-mago goblin
Eredius Intolerius e seus campeões são o elfo
nindah Luminus e o temujiin Wertius, ambos
guerreiros. Os agentes desta escuderia são
chamados de “Os Furiosos”.
Ordem do Dragão Medieval
Controlada pelo guerreiro draconiano
drakkonen Medieval, esta escuderia possui o
guerreiro duende curupira Xistus e a maga
drakkonen Ária como campeões e seus agentes
são conhecidos como “Os Dragões
Medievais”.
Kaon
O monge gnomo Nexus comanda esta
escuderia, cujos campeões são o guerreiro
goblin Eleusis e a maga gnomo Estrela. Seus
agentes são chamados de “Guerreiros Alados”.
Casa do Dragão Vermelho
Capitaneada pelo guerreiro adamita Kruel, tem
como campeões o guerreiro vampiro Torgal e
o mago adamita Loron. Seus agentes são
conhecidos como “Os Dragões Vermelhos”.
Casa da Caveira
Esta escuderia é comandada pelo necromante
adamita Dash e seus campeões são o guerreiro
zumbi Óddor e a maga elfa tzindarin
Madeleine. Chamam seus agentes de “Os
Caveiras”.
Mare Nostrum
Comandada pelo temujiin Jocal, esta escuderia
tem como campeões os guerreiros temujiins
Luro e Fero. Seus agentes são conhecidos
como “Os Senhores dos Mares”.
Deus-Dragão
Comandada por um mago draconiano
drakkonen de nome Harnsonn, tem como
campeões os guerreiros drakkonen Gygaks e
Veyzz. Seus agentes são conhecidos como “Os
Dragões Supremos”.
Nove Coroas
O lich conhecido apenas como “Uno” coman-
da esta escuderia, que tem como campeões a
clériga múmia Lecta e o ladino baital Rufius.
Seus agentes são conhecidos como “Os Ser-
vos dos Nove”.
O Clube da Eternidade
Sob o comando do necromante baital Van
Raggen, esta escuderia composta apenas por
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mortos-vivos tem como campeões a guerreira
vampira Teleutis e o espião carniçal Lemoron.
Seus agentes são chamados de “Os Eternos”.
A Ordem dos Mil Escudos
Composta por um exército de mil guerreiros
de elite das mais variadas espécies, esta
escuderia é capitaneada pelo temujiin Ananias
e tem como campeões o adamita Moriog e o
bandar Turius. Seus agentes são chamados de
“Os Escudos da Torre”.
Drakolich
O guerreiro vampiro Drakûl capitaneia esta
escuderia composta por quinhentos guerrei-
ros mortos-vivos de renome, sendo seus cam-
peões a múmia Amhotep e a fúria Ira. Seus
agentes são conhecidos como “Os Dragões da
Morte”.
Areias do Tempo
Uma escuderia composta apenas por múmias
sob o comando de Tutankamon, que tem como
campeões o guerreiro Akhenaton e a maga
Nefertiti. Seus agentes são conhecidos como
“Os Reis Malditos”.
Anjos da Morte
Esta escuderia é liderada pela fúria Caronte e
tem como campeões os guerreiros esqueletos
Fantomas e Verdugo. Seus agentes são cha-
mados pelo mesmo nome dado à escuderia.
As Agências
Os anos se passaram e as escuderias
prosperaram. Analisando a situação e
antecipando o movimento de seus adversários,
o comandante da Irmandade do Dragão de
Ouro reuniu os líderes das escuderias aliadas
e criou a primeira agência de aventureiros.
Estas estruturas controlam um certo número
de escuderias, manipulando seus recursos de
acordo com o tipo de missão ou constituindo
um exército quando é necessária uma ação de
grande porte. As agências mais conhecidas são:
A Legião Combatente
Primeira de todas as agências, reúne as
escuderias Irmandande do Dragão de Ouro,
Bukaner, Companhia dos Lobos, Esquadrão
das Sombras, Kilmerson, Nau dos Mistérios,
Valkyrias, Titãs, Ordem do Crepúsculo,
Metallika, Leões do Império e Lanterna de
Prata. Seu comandante é o Archanjo.
A Liga Escarlate
Esta agência, comandada pela guerreira ork
Pimpinella Escarlate, controla as escuderias
Tempestade, Bandeirantes, Nau Fantasma,
Ordem do Templo, Grande Serpente Alada,
Ordem do Dragão Medieval, Gladius e Kaon.
O Clube do Inferno
Tem sob seu controle as escuderias Casa do
Dragão Vermelho, Casa da Caveira e Mare
Nostrum e é comandada pelo adamita Duque
de Forbes.
Knossos
Comandada pela condessa vampira Ty’rrel, tem
sob seu controle as escuderias Drakolich,
Areias do Tempo e Anjos da Morte.
O Anel do Poder
Sob o comando do druida elfo tzindarim
Joalheiro, esta agência controla as escuderias
Deus-Dragão, Nove Coroas, O Clube da
Eternidade e A Ordem dos Mil Escudos.
As Corporações
Observando que as atividades dos aventureiros
poderiam ser muito lucrativas, algumas
corporações decidiram entrar no negócio. De
um modo geral, são empresas de diferentes
ramos que financiam agências para que estas
atuem em diversos segmentos de mercado,
garantindo assim a manutenção de seus
interesses. Oficialmente, não existe qualquer
ligação entre as suas atividades e as das agências
e qualquer evidência em contrário é
rapidamente apagada, assim como aqueles que
insistem em tentar revelar para o público fatos
que precisam permamencer em segredo para
não afetar o lucro dos poderosos. As principais
corporações que atuam no mundo das sombras
são:
Banco Imperial de Al-Moryn
Uma massa falida que pertencia ao reino
adamita de Al-Moryn e que foi comprada pelo
adamita Gabriel Ben-Hur, mais conhecido
como o Conde de Montekristo. Apesar de
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manter o mesmo nome, não possui mais
nenhum vínculo oficial com o governo de Al-
Moryn, transformando-se em uma entidade
próspera, inicialmente graças à fortuna pessoal
do conde e depois devido aos resultados de
seus investimentos em diversas áreas.
O Banco Imperial de Al-Moryn detém o
controle acionário de centenas de empresas em
diversos reinos e financia as atividades da
Legião Combatente e de suas escuderias
afiliadas.
Banco de Hy-Brasil
Esta instituição financeira tem por objetivo
não-oficial promover o evento denominado
“União Patriótica”, que visa transformar o
continente de Hy-Brasil numa única nação sob
o comando de um conselho composto por
indivíduos de todas as espécies. Sua presidente
é a Baronesa Orkzy, uma misteriosa dama da
espécie ork dotada de grandes poderes
místicos. O banco financia as atividades da
Liga Escarlate e de suas escuderias afiliadas.
Banco Real da Caledônia
Entidade de grande poder financeiro e
influência política, é o maior banco da
Caledônia, um dos reinos adamitas de Hy-
Brasil. Possui subsidiárias em outros
continentes e detém a participação acionária
de um sem número de empresas. Seu
presidente é o barão adamitaYama e o banco
tem sob sua tutela o Clube do Inferno e suas
escuderias afiliadas.
A Torre
Comandada pelo mago lich Nepral, é uma
megacorporação com sede em Centrópolis que
atua em diversos segmentos de mercado, em
especial o comércio marítimo. Controla O
Anel do Poder e suas escuderias afiliadas.
Post Vitae
Esta corporação, presidida pela múmia
Samarandon, foi criada para desenvolver
pesquisas buscando a cura da Síndrome de
Hela e é mantida por fundos deixados por
indivíduos de diversas espécies, que
sucumbiram à esta terrível doença que
transforma pessoas normais em mortos-vivos.
Financia a Knossos e suas escuderias afiliadas.
Os Consórcios
O poder governamental sempre esteve acima
da vontade dos cidadãos comuns. É ele quem
dirige a política das nações e a vida de seus
habitantes. Mas durante a caça aos
aventureiros um outro tipo de poder tornou-
se evidente: o da manipulação da informação.
Heróis foram transformados em foras da lei
por força de boatos espalhados pelos nobres
que os odiavam, fazendo com que a população
se voltasse contra aqueles a quem antes
idolatravam. Isso deixou claro que quem
possuia a informação e os meios de propagá-la
tinha em mãos um poder às vezes maior do
que o do próprio dirigente da nação. E se
soubesse utilizá-lo bem poderia destronar
imperadores, mandar inocentes para a forca e
até mesmo levar nações à guerra.
Antigamente, a manipulação da informação era
algo trabalhoso e artesanal, com resultados
sempre a médio e longo prazos. Mas com o
advento da tipografia surgiu um grande
número de publicações capazes de difundir
idéias e informações com grande rapidez e
então as coisas começaram a mudar.
A primeira destas publicações foi o jornal, que
logo conquistou um grande número de leitores,
pois permitia que pessoas dos quatro cantos
do mundo tivessem acesso aos acontecimentos
dos grandes centros urbanos e passassem a
participar mais ativamente do cotidiano dos
reinos e repúblicas onde viviam.
As revistas de variedades também caíram no
gosto popular. Títulos dedicados a política,
ciência, religião, entretenimento e vários outros
assuntos começaram a se difundir com grande
rapidez. Com isso, as livrarias, que eram
poucas e frequentadas por esparsos fregueses,
começaram a se modernizar e abrir filiais em
quase todas as cidades, transformando-se em
pontos de encontro dos mais variados grupos,
como intelectuais, esotéricos, monarquistas,
republicanos e, é claro, aventureiros.
Mas nessa revolução da informação nada
causou tanto impacto quanto o rádio. Uma
invenção alquímica aparentemente inocente
que se transformou em pouco tempo numa
mania internacional. Programas com cantores
famosos, rádio-novelas e notícias ocupavam as
noites daqueles que podiam comprar o
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maravilhoso aparelho que captava as ondas
mágicas no ar. Mas só durante a noite, pois
devido a um impedimento tecnológico os
rádios não funcionam durante o dia.
Após a criação das agências, algumas
corporações decidiram se utilizar do poder da
comunicação para auxiliar nos seus negócios.
Formaram então consórcios de comunicação
reunindo jornais, revistas e rádios para
difundir, clara ou subjetivamente, as suas
idéias, fazendo com que uma verdadeira guerra
pela atenção do público começasse a ser
travada. No presente momento, os principais
consórcios de comunicação em Hy-Brasil e
Arcádia são:
C.D.O. (Consórcio Dragão de Ouro)
Financiado pelo Banco Imperial de Al-Moryn,
tem como órgãos de comunicação:
O Planeta Dourado
Um dos maiores jornais de Hy-Brasil e Arcádia,
cujo editor-chefe é o duende Aporelly. Embora
seu foco principal seja os reinos de Al-Moryn
e Cardealis, traz também notícias de outras
nações, monarquistas ou republicanas.
O Malho
Revista de variedades com ênfase cultural e
simpática ao regime monarquista, sob a
editoria do soberano bandar Samuel
Marteleiro. Reúne excelentes artistas e
cronistas e tem um público fiel dentre todos
os povos.
Rádio Karioca
A mais tradicional emissora de Hy-Brasil,
pertencente ao príncipe HóB Aziz. Foi a
precursora dos programas musicais de
auditório e a primeira a ter um cast próprio de
cantores e músicos.
C.U.P. (Consórcio da União Patriótica)
Pertencente ao Banco de Hy-Brasil, transmite
seus ideais de união de todos os reinos e
repúblicas de Hy-Brasil sob uma única
bandeira através dos seguintes meios de
comunicação:
O Jornal de Hy-Brasil
O preferido pela intelectualidade, tem como
editor-chefe o renomado escritor saci yateré
Lobato. Possui uma ênfase voltada
especialmente para os textos literários e
eventos ligados diretamente à cultura, sem
contudo negligenciar as notícias mais
importantes.
Revista Illustrada
O gnomo Agostini edita esta revista que reúne
alguns dos melhores cronistas e ilustradores
de Urancha. Graças a sua mente arguta, este
periódico retrata sua época com fidelidade e
fino humor, conquistando um público maior a
cada edição.
Rádio Jornal de Hy-Brasil
Famosa por sua refinada programação musical,
é dirigida pela baronesa Orkzy. Possui
programas com cantores e músicos de todas
as espécies, mas sua ênfase está na música
instrumental.
C 3 (Consórcio Caledônia de Comunicações)
Membros do antigo governo republicano e o
Banco Real da Caledônia controlam este
consórcio, cuja agressividade é notória contra
seus concorrentes e que possui os seguintes
veículos de comunicação:
A Tribuna da Caledônia
Seu editor-chefe é o arquicardeal adamita
Richelieu, que trama em segredo para derrubar
o governo imperial de Nova Atlântida e
restaurar a república. Suas notícias enfocam
principalmente o reino da Caledônia.
A Espada
Esta revista de variedades tem como editor-
chefe o escritor adamita Nictus e publica textos
literários variados, a maioria de indivíduos
ligados ao editor.
A Voz da Caledônia
Dirigida pelo barão Yama, é a grande
concorrente da Rádio Karioca, com quem
compete em todos os gêneros de programas.
Possui um cast próprio de cantores e músicos
e uma audiência muito grande, embora nunca
tenha conseguido atingir a liderança.
C.T.C. (Consórcio Torre de Comunicações)
Percebendo que seus concorrentes estavam
conquistando uma grande vantagem, a Torre
decidiu entrar no negócio com uma abordagem
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bem definida: defenderia o ideal republicano
e a revolução industrial através de seus meios
de comunicação e com isso foram criados:
O Correio de Centrópolis
Controlado pelo próprio Nepral, o Senhor da
Torre, este jornal destaca os benefícios das
idéias republicanas e as maravilhas da Era
Industrial, contrapondo-as com a realidade
agrícola de diversas nações monarquistas.
O Mundo
Uma revista de variedades que tem como
editor-chefe o zumbi Septus e que apresenta
aos seus leitores um panorama de diversos
assuntos sobre Centrópolis e diversas outras
nações, colocando estas últimas sutilmente em
segundo plano.
Rádio Republicana
Com uma programação claramente voltada
para o ideal republicano, esta rádio, dirigida
pelo adamita Mozel, é considerada como a
bandeira daqueles que defendem a queda da
monarquia em todos os continentes.
C.N.C. (Consórcio Necrópolis
de Comunicação)
Com o objetivo de superar o preconceito
contra os mortos-vivos e evitar a manipulação
da opinião pública, o governo de Solombra
decidiu investir em seus próprios meios de
comunicação que com o passar do tempo
ganharam a simpatia das pessoas comuns e
facilitaram a aceitação dos mortos-vivos como
vítimas de um mal ainda sem cura. Fazem
parte deste consórcio:
O Gárgula
Um jornal dirigido especificamente aos mortos-
vivos, tem como editor-chefe o lich
Guttemberg, que anos antes inventou a
tipografia e, depois de sua quase-morte,
decidiu utilizar seus conhecimentos para
auxiliar seus companheiros de desventura.
A Foice
Editada pela múmia Samarandon é uma revista
regada a fina ironia, que comenta os
acontecimentos do mundo dos vivos, suas
repercussões no mundo dos mortos-vivos e
vice-versa.
Rádio Mausoléu
Dirigida pelo vampiro Wagner, toca
composições de diversos mortos-vivos que a
despeito da sua condição provam que ainda
possuem talento artístico, fazendo com que
esta rádio seja cada vez mais ouvida pelo
público que não sucumbiu à Síndrome de
Hela.
C.A. (Consórcio da Aventura)
É um consórcio formado secretamente pela
Legião Combatente e pela Liga Escarlate e foi
criado para superar a tentativa de manipulação
da informação que alguns governos tentavam
impor aos aventureiros. Temerosos de uma
nova caça às bruxas (ou aos heróis), estes
decidiram ter seus próprios meios de
comunicação para manterem-se em igualdade
de condições, criando:
O Jornal do Aventureiro
Considerado um jornal fora-da-lei em muitos
locais, esta publicação tem como editor-chefe
o fada Dumas e oferece diversos produtos e
serviços aos aventureiros. Tudo, é claro, em
mensagens cifradas.
Grandes Heróis
Revista onde são narrados feitos heróicos de
alguns aventureiros, com o objetivo de inspirar
novos talentos e manter a opinião pública
sempre ao seu lado. Seu editor chefe é o ork
Leblanc.
Antena Zero - A Voz da Resistência
Esta rádio não tem base fixa e serve para
transmitir mensagens cifradas, rádio-novelas
sobre alguns aventureiros legendários e
diversos outros programas. Sua audiência
quase equivale à da Rádio Karioca, pois o
público demonstra um desejo crescente e
insaciável por aventuras, sejam elas reais ou
não. É controlada pelo vampiro conhecido
como Sombra.
O Caos
As agências e corporações concorrem entre si
e são rivais ardorosos, mas existe um outro
poder que é verdadeiramente o grande inimigo
de todos. Seu objetivo é subjugar tudo o que
existe, corrompê-lo e por fim destruí-lo. O
nome deste poder é Caos e suas origens são
obscuras. Tudo o que se sabe é que é uma
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força maligna que recruta seguidores em todos
os locais. Onde houver ganância, ódio, luxúria
e outros sentimentos do gênero, lá estarão as
forças caóticas em ação.
Não se descobriu ainda quem controla o Caos.
Alguns dizem que é uma entidade, uma forma
de vida tão grande e poderosa que permeia o
próprio universo.
Escuderias Caóticas
Cada agência caótica possui diversas
escuderias, que são antigas facções que foram
reorganizadas e hoje atuam em modelos
similares às das escuderias normais, sendo que
as mais conhecidas são:
A Folha Morta
Comandada pelo druida gnomo Daly, esta
escuderia é composta principalmente por
druidas caóticos, que desenvolvem um
trabalho minucioso de aperfeiçoamento da
poluição do meio ambiente. Com o surgimento
da tecnologia do vapor, cuja energia é gerada
através do uso do carvão, estes caóticos
ganharam muita força e estimularam o
crescimento de indústrias, principalmente
aquelas que, por seus processos industriais,
produzam lixo tóxico. É filiada à Heresia.
Punho de Ferro das Sombras
Um monge ork renegado, de nome Mondeká,
fundou e comanda esta escuderia filiada ao
Tentáculo que reúne, além de monges, uma
grande equipe de assassinos treinados nas artes
marciais.
As Damas da Noite
Prostitutas, manipuladoras, deusas do prazer
e da luxúria. Muitos são os nomes que suas
vítimas dão às integrantes desta famosa
escuderia composta apenas por mulheres. Suas
táticas principais são a sedução e a oferta
generosa de raros prazeres em troca de atingir
os seus objetivos. Mas se for necessário, sabem
empunhar uma arma com a mesma destreza
que um guerreiro. Filiada à Sanaridi, esta
escuderia é comandada pela Condessa Negra,
uma elfa nindah vampira.
Cor Púrpura
Também conhecidos como “Bebedores de
Sangue”, esta seita é composta principalmente
de vampiros, baital, nosferatus e carniçais.
Possui agentes infiltrados em todas as religiões
e escolas de magia, com o objetivo de aprender
seus segredos, roubar artefatos de poder e
desestabilizar estas organizações. Seu
comandante é o bispo Áquila. É filiada à
Heresia.
Serpente Roxa
Esta escuderia reúne os maiores magos caóticos
e tem indivíduos infiltrados em diversas escolas
de magia onde observam o comportamento dos
alunos para aliciarem futuros adeptos. É filiada
à Sanaridi.
Esmagadores
É uma tropa de guerreiros caóticos que portam
apenas armas contundentes, como martelos e
maças. São conhecidos por seu destemor
diante do combate e pela preferência em
enfrentar e destruir paladinos. Esta escuderia
é filiada à Destruição.
Octógono
Sem dúvida alguma, são os melhores assassinos
de Urancha e os membros desta escuderia
andam sempre em grupo, composto por oito
indivíduos, daí a origem de seu nome. É filiada
ao Tentáculo.
Dragão Negro
Composta por guerreiros do caos, esta é uma
das escuderias mais temidas pelos aventureiros,
pois em suas fileiras estão alguns dos maiores
nomes das forças da Escuridão. Seu
comandante é o ogre LaBatut, discípulo direto
de Abbadon, cuja agência, Destruição, con-
trola esta escuderia, que há muitos anos está
em guerra declarada contra os aventureiros da
Irmandade do Dragão de Ouro.
Agências Caóticas
O Caos é visto como uma grande corporação
e sua estrutura organizacional subdivide-se em
quatro segmentos, que são suas agências:
O Tentáculo
É a mais antiga das instituições caóticas,
fundada e comandada por um beholder
chamado “O Olho do Terror”. Reúne todo
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tipo de profissionais, desde guerreiros,
políticos até o mais refinado assassino. A
excelência de suas táticas de ação subreptícias
foram reconhecidas e adotadas por muitos
aventureiros quando foram perseguidos e
tiveram que agir nas sombras.
Heresia
Composta de um sem-número de religiões e
seitas, é o que podemos chamar de braço
religioso da Escuridão, comandada pelo bispo
adamita Rasputin. Os indivíduos que
pertencem à Heresia são tão devotados aos seus
conceitos que beiram o fanatismo.
Sanaridi
O termo pode significar sede de poder, sedução
ou corrupção. Comandada pela criatura
andrógina de nome Maytra, manipula os
indivíduos através das suas fraquezas,
utilizando armas como a sedução e a oferta de
poder e riquezas.
Destruição
Esta instituição treina e comanda indivíduos
com habilidades de combate. Controlada pelo
ogre Abbadon, é a maior de todas as
organizações caóticas em número de adeptos
e o braço armado da Escuridão.
As Cidades Fantapunk
Na área conhecida de Urancha existem dois
continentes (Hy-Brasil e Arcádia) e uma área
geológica incomum localizada a leste de ambos,
batizada de Montanhas do Mar. Nestas regiões
existem diversos reinos e algumas repúblicas,
com cidades que podem atingir uma população
de centenas de milhares de habitantes. A seguir,
citaremos as nações mais importantes e suas
principais cidades:
O Império de Nova Atlântida
De origem e predominância adamita, é
composto por seis reinos: Al-Moryn,
Aracataca, Caledônia, Grão-Pará, Piratiny e
Piratininga. Seu núcleo principal fica no
sudeste de Hy-Brasil e possui um reino no
extremo norte e outro no extremo sul deste
continente. O governante do Império de Nova
Atlântida é o imperador Pedro II, aclamado
por seus súditos como “O Rei Filósofo” e a
forma de governo é a monarquia imperial, com
a figura do imperador governando sobre os
demais reis adamitas.
As principais cidades deste império são: Al-
Moryn, o condado de Merigreiss, A Quinta,
Caatijú, Salem, Caardjú, Oriximiná, Y-Coaracy,
Y-Pyranga, U-bá, PortoFeliz e Rio do Ouro.
A Nação Ork
O povo ork possui três reinos: Harari, no
sudeste de Hy-Brasil; Shûn, no nordeste de
Arcádia e Santuário, nas Montanhas do Mar,
que apesar de separados fisicamente
consideram-se como parte de uma única nação.
O governante da nação ork é o presidente
Tubak XIII, “O Reformista” e sua forma de
governo é o Nacionalismo Composto, no qual
cada reino tem seu próprio governante
(denominado Al-Dalai em Harari e Shûn e
Mandarim Vermelho no Santuário) e um
presidente é eleito democraticamente pelo
povo para atuar junto aos demais governantes
com uma “visão nacional”.
As principais cidades ork são: Harari, Loksley,
Shûn, Kana’ri, Gopala e Santuário.
O Império da Lua
Trata-se de uma federação composta por três
reinos e duas repúblicas HóB. Os reinos são:
Kari, Barra de Miká e Pompurânia, sendo que
o primeiro fica a sudeste de Hy-Brasil, o
segundo a sudoeste deste mesmo continente e
o terceiro a sudoeste de Arcádia. As duas
repúblicas, Cidade do Furacão e Lua Clara
localizam-se ao sul e a nordeste de Hy-Brasil,
respectivamente.
A forma de governo é chamada de Império
Momista, onde cada reino possui o seu
soberano (o khan) que é eleito por um colégio
de nobres, enquanto que as repúblicas elegem
um presidente pelo voto direto da população.
Todos eles prestam obediência ao Rei Momo,
um indivíduo que deve possuir grande
sabedoria e que será eleito diretamente pela
nobreza e pelo povo para zelar pelos interesses
da espécie. O atual Rei Momo é Villos,
apelidado pelos HóBs de “O Momo sem Riso”.
As principais cidades deste império são Rio da
Prata (A Cidade Maravilhosa), Cardealis, Lua
de Prata, Cidade Laranja, Pompur, Vipar,
Príncipe Aziz, Kalel, Quarto Crescente e Lua
Cheia.
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Federação Élfica de Öealinda
Dos quatro reinos élficos de Hy-Brasil,
Öealinda, Vale dos Lírios, Dourândia e Ty’rrel,
três localizam-se no nordeste do continente e
o quarto no sudeste.
O governante desta federação é Eleutis, “O
Belo” e o sistema de governo é a Monarquia
Federativa, onde o conselho dos reis elege o
Grande Rei responsável pelas questões
financeiras e administrativas da federação.
As principais cidades élficas de Hy-Brasil são
Öealinda, Arrecife de Ouro, Jardim Eterno,
Flor da Luz do Amanhecer, Rio do Ouro
Eterno, Minas de Token, Trevo Azul e Bosque
Feliz.
Império de Elandar
No norte de Arcádia existem seis reinos élficos
que compõem este império: Elandar, My’aggi,
Eneron, Toktos, Sabursk, Totol e Gramma. O
governante de Elandar é o imperador Men’nar
Longxamp III, “O Expansionista” e a forma
de governo é a Monarquia Imperialista.
As principais cidades élficas de Arcádia são
Elandar, Eréudda, Xian-Xá, Tsuburaya, Omsk,
Wösttok, Wellda, Vanniry, Gramma e Cidade
das Rosas.
Corópia
O reino dos duendes localiza-se no centro-
oeste do continente de Hy-Brasil e é o único
lugar no mundo onde todas as raças deste povo
podem ser encontradas.
O governante dos duendes é Corópio, “O
Libertador”, um ser mágico de quem
descendem todos os duendes curupiras e seu
sistema de governo é o Mestrado, no qual um
indivíduo sábio, com grandes poderes e dotado
de inquestionável superioridade intelectual e
moral irá governar todos os desta espécie.
As principais cidades dos duendes são Oroxó
e Xagô, mas existem inúmeras outras
espalhados pelos reinos e repúblicas das outras
espécies.
Obumbra
Os misteriosos kobolds possuem pelo menos
um reino, mas ninguém além deles sabe onde
fica. Obumbra, que na língua kobold quer
dizer “A Oculta”, possui, segundo dizem as
lendas, inúmeras ramificações subterrâneas
que conduzem para vários pontos de Hy-Brasil
o que permite a este povo se locomover sem
ser notado. Não se sabe qual o sistema de
governo nem quem é o governante dos
kobolds.
Os Doze Reinos
Os bandar possuem uma federação de doze
reinos no sudeste do continente de Arcádia: A
Cidade de Ferro, Jóia Rara, Mundo do Ouro,
Prata Salgada, Cobre Empenado, Filão Rico,
Aluvião da Cobra, Ferro Doce, Ponta do Aço,
Trono de Tun, Montanha Roxa e Rio Claro.
O atual governante da federação é o rei Cobrur
I, conhecido como “A Manopla da Cidade de
Ferro” e o sistema de governo é a Monarquia
Circular, no qual se realiza um rodízio
periódico entre os soberanos dos doze reinos
no governo da Cidade de Ferro, que é a capital
da federação.
Suas principais cidades possuem o mesmo
nome de seus respectivos reinos e se estendem
por toda a área de influência da federação.
Liga Tupânica
Os índios espalham-se por todo o continente
de Hy-Brasil, divididos em inúmeras tribos,
que há alguns anos foram reunidas numa liga
de nações composta por Amazônia, no norte;
Pantanal, no oeste; Serra do Cipó, no sudeste;
Kamboriú, no sul e Pagaxó, no nordeste.
O governante desta liga e responsável por sua
criação chama-se Tupã, “A Voz do Trovão” e
a forma de governo é o cacicato, onde um dos
chefes é aclamado cacique e dirige os demais
chefes.
As principais cidades dos índios são Floresta
da Chuva, Muralha de Mato, Maquiné, Tucano
e Araras.
Vrejna
A nação dos gnomos está localizada a noroeste
de Arcádia, nas Montanhas Antigas. Sua forma
de governo é o Ducado Familiar, no qual cada
cidade pertence a um duque (que é o indivíduo
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mais rico de sua família) que por sua vez está
subordinado a um arquiduque.
O atual arquiduque de Vrejna é Da Vinci, “O
Mais Sábio de Todos” e suas cidades principais
são Vrejna, Krijnev, Ponta dos Dentes e
Conservatória.
Metrópolis
O reino dos ogres e temujiins fica localizada
no centro-oeste do continente de Arcádia
dentro de um grande lago. A forma de governo
desta nação é a Monarquia Absolutista, onde
todos os poderes estão centralizados nas mãos
de um único soberano, chamado de thulku.
O atual thulku de Metrópolis é o temujiin
Jocal, “O Impiedoso” e suas cidades mais
importantes são Metrópolis e Cidade do Lago
Preto.
Solombra
Os mortos-vivos construíram seu único reino
conhecido no interior de uma cadeia de
montanhas no sul de Arcádia para que as
vítimas da Síndrome de Hela pudessem viver
em paz longe das perseguições dos vivos. Esta
nação se utiliza da Monarquia Absolutista
como forma de governo, na qual seu soberano
é chamado de “Arquimorto”. O atual
governante de Solombra é Arquilich, “O
Eterno”.
As principais cidades de Solombra são
Necrópolis e Lázarus e se assemelham a
grandes cemitérios.
Reino Livre de Palmares
O reino dos goblins fica no extremo sul de
Arcádia, na base de pequenas montanhas e ao
lado do Rio Gordo. A forma de governo
adotada foi a Monarquia Parlamentarista, onde
o soberano é o rei Noé, “O Viajante Sábio” e a
primeira-ministra chama-se Yone.
As principais cidades deste reino são Valverde
e Pouso da Arca.
Aliança Faerûn
Em Arcádia existe uma aliança que congrega
três reinos fada: Albion, Avalon e Lillith,
situados a sudeste, sul e noroeste
respectivamente. A forma de governo é a
Monarquia Aliada, onde em cada reino existe
uma fada-mãe com plenos poderes sobre seus
domínios, que pode se unir às demais em
assuntos que sejam de interesse para a espécie.
As fadas-mãe são Lys, Igrayne e Lillith
(soberanas de Albion, Avalon e Lillith,
respectivamente) e suas cidades mais
importantes são Cristânia, Ponta Verde,
Avalon, Porto das Brumas, Albion e Lua
Escura.
Império de Tiamat
No extremo nordeste de Arcádia está
localizado o único reino dos draconianos cuja
forma de governo foi batizada de Adoração
Divina. A governante, chamada por seus
súditos de deusa, é um dragão-fêmea de cinco
cabeças oriundo de um outro plano de
existência, que por sua vez controla os reis-
dragões, os machos mais poderosos de cada
raça draconiana.
A deusa dos dragões chama-se Tiamat e as
cidades principais deste reino são Covil do
Dragão, Dinossauria e Ranzelodon.
Nações independentes
Existem algumas nações que funcionam como
cidades-estado e que não estão vinculadas a
nenhum outro reino ou república nem
tampouco possuem o objetivo de engrandecer
alguma espécie em particular, como acontece
nos impérios, federações, etc. As nações
independentes, por sua postura livre, não são
muito bem vistas por aquelas que pregam a
unidade racial ou a subordinação à coroa, mas
acabam sendo toleradas por conveniências
comerciais ou estratégicas.
A população destas nações normalmente é
composta por indivíduos de várias espécies que
recebem visto de permanência como cidadãos
desde que assumam o compromisso de
trabalhar para o crescimento da cidade e
engajar em suas forças de defesa no caso de
uma guerra. E existe sempre um grande risco
disso ocorrer.
As principais nações independentes de
Urancha são:
17
Centrópolis
Localizada na parte sudoeste de Arcádia é
também chamada de “A Cidade das Sombras”
devido a grande quantidade de aventureiros
que transitam por suas ruas. É a maior e mais
próspera república dos dois continentes e
possui uma forma de governo curiosa:
periodicamente, seus cidadãos elegem o
prefeito e as câmaras de deputados para
administrarem a cidade. Entretanto, o
verdadeiro poder em Centrópolis está nas mãos
de uma misteriosa figura conhecida apenas
como “O Mestre”, que nunca aparece mas cuja
presença é impossível de ignorar.
O atual prefeito de Centrópolis chama-se
Fussus e as áreas principais da cidade são o
Porto Cinzento, as Zona Leste e Oeste e a
Cidadela da Torre, uma pequena fortificação
pertencente à uma corporação de mesmo
nome.
Arquipélago Rami
Existe um conjunto de ilhas ricas em carvão,
ouro e diamantes situado no sul das Montanhas
do Mar conhecido como arquipélago Rami,
que em épocas passadas foi uma colônia da
Cidade de Ferro. Seu governante, o barão Tun,
pagou pesados impostos para ter reconhecido
o seu direito de exploração das ilhas e receber
dos reinos bandar a proteção necessária contra
os inimigos. Mas quando Tun precisou da
ajuda da Cidade de Ferro contra uma invasão
de elfos vindos de Elandar a resposta do rei
dos bandar foi simplesmente “entregue o
arquipélago a eles”.
Furioso, Tun pediu a ajuda dos orks que já
haviam retomado a Cidade Sagrada de Shûn
das mãos dos elfos e juntos combateram,
derrotando os invasores. A partir daí, o
arquipélago foi decretado território livre, um
baronato sob o comando de Tun e assim
permanece até hoje.
As principais cidades deste arquipélago são
Rami, Cavideira, Poço Preto e Aldeia dos
Ventos.
A Liga das Minas Gerais
É a única república bandar de Urancha.
Situada no sudeste de Hy-Brasil numa área de
montanhas ricas em minério de ferro, ouro,
prata, cobre, estanho e pedras preciosas.
Depois de vários embates contra os Doze
Reinos, que desejavam tomar praticamente
todas as riquezas extraídas, as colônias
declararam independência e se uniram numa
única nação, sobre o comando do presidente
Xavier, que vem se reelegendo continuamente
graças ao seu trabalho eficiente.
As principais cidades desta república são A
Cidade Esmeralda, Tiradentes, Ouro Preto e
Diamantina.
A Montanha Trovejante
Depois da queda da Cidade de Ouro, muitos
séculos atrás, os bandar abandonaram Hy-
Brasil e se radicaram em Arcádia, onde
ergueram novos reinos. E assim foi até que
um jovem revolucionário, de nome Samuel
Marteleiro, passou a questionar o sistema de
castas e promoveu uma verdadeira revolução
nos Doze Reinos. Depois de inúmeros
conflitos, os cidadãos descontentes seguiram
para Hy-Brasil onde foi erguido o único reino
bandar do continente, que vem crescendo e se
tornando mais próspero a cada dia.
A forma de governo da Montanha Trovejante
é a Monarquia Absolutista e seu rei, Samuel
Marteleiro, é aclamado pelos súditos devido
aos seus ideais de justiça e liberdade. As
principais cidades deste reino são Trovoada,
Cidade da Pedra, Sumaré e Morro Alto.
Ozzz
Os kendor possuem um local secreto onde está
reunido o Conselho dos Avohay, os mais
antigos kendor de Urancha, que acumulam o
conhecimento de tudo aquilo que foi feito
pelos indivíduos desta espécie. Seu sistema
de governo é deconhecido, assim como o nome
de seu governante.
Reino da Folha Verde
Este reino foi fundado por fadas, duendes e
elfos nindah e localiza-se no sudeste de Hy-
Brasil. Seu sistema de governo é a Monarquia
Tríplice, composto por um soberano fada, um
duende e um elfo nindah, que governam em
conjunto.
Os atuais governantes de Folha Verde são
Morgana, Pererê e Manto Cinzento e suas
principais cidades são Cinderella, O Sítio e Lua
de Prata.
18
Esta é uma aventura para personagens do 1o
ao 3o nível, projetada para o cenário
Fantapunk, por isso existem algumas
diferenças de uma aventura de D&D
tradicional. O Mestre pode, no entanto,
adaptá-la para o seu mundo de campanha
realizando as alterações que achar conveniente.
Antes de começar a jogar é recomendável que
o Mestre leia todo o texto para se familiarizar
com as seguintes convenções que foram
adotadas:
- As informações que podem ser lidas para os
jogadores estarão sempre em negrito e itálico.
- As fichas de NPC’s estarão no final da
aventura.
- As Dicas de Mestre estarão sempre em boxes
de cor cinza.
Cena Um
A Missão
O grupo de aventureiros faz parte da escuderia
Irmandade do Dragão de Ouro e está
aguardando numa sala ricamente mobiliada na
sede da Legião Combatente, na cidade de
Montanha Santa, próxima de Rio da Prata,
capital do reino HóB de Kari. Sentados em
poltronas de couro de espaldar alto,
saboreando um vinho de excelente qualidade
e comendo alguns petiscos, eles aguardam a
vez de serem convocados pelo comandante.
Pela janela os personagens podem ver o sol se
pondo no mar e sentir que uma brisa fresca
começa a soprar. A sede da Legião Combatente
fica num castelo de onde se avista o porto e a
maior parte da cidade de Rio da Prata,
chamada carinhosamente pelos HóBs de “A
Cidade Maravilhosa” devido a grande
quantidade de belezas naturais.
Após vários minutos, a porta da sala se abre e
um mordomo goblin entra, informando aos
heróis que o comandante deseja vê-los. Todos
se levantam e seguem o mordomo, que sobe
um lance de escadas até a torre, onde numa
sala ampla e bem iluminada encontra-se um
homem vestido com um traje semelhante aos
de um clérigo, com uma longa capa branca e
portando um elmo dourado que esconde seus
traços faciais.
- Boa tarde, legionários. Tenho uma missão
muito importante para vocês e que deve ser
cumprida imediatamente. Agentes do
Esquadrão das Sombras me informaram da
existência de um protótipo de um novo exo-
tank1 que está sendo desenvolvido na
Caledônia - diz o comandante com uma voz
calma, sinalizando para que se sentem.
O Archanjo levantou-se e estendeu sobre a
grande mesa de carvalho escuro a planta baixa
de uma construção:
- Quero que se infiltrem neste complexo e
tragam os planos desta máquina de guerra,
pois existem indícios de que o Clube do
Inferno está envolvido no projeto. E eu não
desejo que eles tenham nenhum tipo de
Fogo Ligeiro
1- Tipo de armadura movida a vapor, equipada com armas de fogo de grosso calibre.
19
armamento superior ao da Legião
Combatente. Aqui estão seus passaportes e
passagens de trem. Vocês pegam o expresso
para Caledônia daqui a duas horas. Reúnam
o equipamento necessário e mãos à obra. Um
por todos!
Os heróis respondem “e todos por um!”,
pegam os documentos, a planta do local e
deixam a sala do comandante rumo aos
alojamentos, para arrumar a bagagem.
Após reunirem o equipamento os personagens
rumam para o pátio lateral do castelo onde
ficam estacionados diversos veículos, como
coches e carruagens. Um cocheiro ork com
cara de poucos amigos estará esperando para
conduzí-los até a estação com uma carruagem
negra iluminada por duas lanternas à óleo. O
cocheiro não dará nenhuma palavra durante o
percurso.
Eles descem rumo à cidade, serpenteando pelas
ruas estreitas de Montanha Santa (ou
simplesmente Santa), uma pequena cidade
pertencente ao Conde de Montekristo, cuja
residência oficial fica no topo da montanha,
com uma vista formidável da baía e das
montanhas vizinhas.
As ruas possuem iluminação à óleo nos postes
além de vários archotes presos nos muros e
paredes das casas. O chão é calçado com
pedras retangulares por onde correm dois
pares de trilhos dos bondes à vapor,
recentemente instalados pelo conde em Santa
para substituir os antigos bondes movidos a
tração animal.
Ao chegar na base do morro, eles entram no
perímetro de Rio da Prata e seguem por suas
ruas repletas de gente até próximo da região
do porto. Ao cruzarem a avenida Hy-Brasil,
uma das mais importantes da cidade, eles
divisam uma construção feita de pedra sólida
com um grande relógio no topo de uma torre.
É a gare Pompur (nome de um antigo soberano
de Kari), ponto final da linha Rio da Prata-
Harari, da Ferrovia Imperial de Hy-Brasil, de
propriedade do Conde de Montekristo.
A carruagem passa pela estação e deixa os
personagens numa esquina próxima para
poderem desembarcar sem chamar atenção.
Os PCs pegam suas bagagens e se encaminham
para a estação. A rua está mal iluminada e a
carruagem range um pouco antes de começar
novamente a andar. O cocheiro sequer
cumprimenta os personagens, como se
estivesse com pressa de sair dali e começa a
manobrar para fazer a volta. Nas calçadas, uma
pequena quantidade de pessoas circula
apressadamente.
Poucos metros antes de chegarem na estação,
os heróis são alertados por uma sensação de
perigo e viram-se todos simultaneamente com
as mãos nas pistolas e espadas, bem a tempo
de ver o cocheiro com o braço direito esticado
enquanto que três homens, dois adamitas e um
bandar com armas em punho, tombam
pesadamente no chão com shurikens
envenenados cravados nos olhos e no rosto.
Eles olham para o cocheiro, cujo rosto está
semi-oculto pelas sombras da cartola e divisam
um brilho avermelhado em seus olhos. O ork
os cumprimenta com um leve toque na aba da
cartola e sacode as rédeas dos cavalos, sumindo
na noite com uma risada grave e sinistra.
Reunião com o comandante
Os PCs são agentes regulares da I.D.O. e
como tal conhecem e respeitam profunda-
mente seu comandante, pois todas as
escuderias seguem um padrão de hierarquia
semelhante à militar.
Quando os personagens estiverem na pre-
sença do comandante, descreva a cena como
que envolta num ar de seriedade. O apo-
sento é ricamente mobiliado, assim como o
restante do castelo, porém passa um senti-
mento profundo de austeridade.
O Archanjo fala de forma tranquila, porém
firme e não aprecia que suas ordens sejam
contrariadas nem tampouco que os agen-
tes assumam uma postura brincalhona.
Essas concessões ele faz apenas - e assim
mesmo raramente - com seus campeões.
Lembre-os de que os equipamentos que
forem levados devem ser adequados ao tipo
de missão. Eles vão invadir um complexo
industrial e não atacar um exército inimigo.
20
Cena Dois
A Viagem de Trem
O expresso Rio da Prata-Harari partiu
rigorosamente no horário. É um trem de luxo,
movido por uma locomotiva potente feita de
ferro fundido, latão e cobre. Sua caldeira é o
que existe de mais moderno na tecnologia do
vapor, produzida pela empresa Grande Esfinge
localizada no condado de Merigreiss, no reino
adamita de Al-Moryn.
Seus cinco vagões são feitos em madeira de lei
e usam vidros de primeira qualidade nas
janelas. São iluminados internamente por
lanternas à óleo e suas poltronas são revestidas
de couro estofado, adaptadas para que
indíviduos de diferentes espécies, como ogres
ou gnomos, possam viajar com todo o conforto.
O primeiro destes vagões, logo após a
locomotiva, acomoda o restaurante, onde são
servidos pratos e bebidas variados e onde
alguns cavalheiros se reúnem para exercer o
péssimo hábito de fumar seus cigarros,
cachimbos ou charutos enquanto apreciam
rum, whisky ou conhaque.
No vagão seguinte está acomodada a primeira
classe em cabines individuais e duplas (ambas
com toillete particular), com camas feitas de
madeira de lei e latão polido, com colchões e
travesseiros de penas de ganso extremamente
confortáveis. As paredes deste vagão são
entalhadas e as maçanetas das portas brilham
como novas.
A segunda classe localiza-se no terceiro vagão.
Ali existem cabines duplas ou triplas e
poltronas confortáveis. A decoração é mais
discreta, porém de bom gosto e os banheiros
são coletivos porém bem cuidados.
A terceira classe ocupa o quarto vagão, onde
os bancos de madeira fazem as vezes de camas
para aqueles que não podem pagar por este
conforto. Os banheiros são menos limpos que
os das demais classes, a decoração é bem
simples e a iluminação bastante fraca.
No final do trem está o vagão de carga onde
são acondicionadas todas as bagagens que não
puderam ser carregadas junto com os
passageiros.
Os personagens estão acomodados em duas
cabines separadas, na segunda classe. Eles
viajarão com conforto pois necessitam estar
descansados para cumprir a missão
rapidamente e voltar para o quartel-general.
O trem à vapor vai resfolegando pela noite
afora. Se os personagens sentirem fome,
estimule-os a irem ao vagão-restaurante, onde
poderão ver outros passageiros. Quando
estiverem neste vagão eles vão sentir uma
atmosfera estranha e vez por outra verão
passageiros com olhares suspeitos em sua
direção.
Existe um adamita corpulento, de queixo
quadrado e ombros largos, que bebe uma taça
de conhaque e olha para os personagens com
indisfarçável interesse. Se algum dos heróis
As cidades de Montanha Santa e
Rio da Prata
O cenário Fantapunk é diferente dos tradi-
cionais cenários de Fantasia Medieval. Aqui
temos diferentes tipos de paisagens e po-
demos ver construções e roupas tanto de
estilo medieval como aquelas usadas na
Terra no século XIX.
Descreva este tipo de cenário para os joga-
dores de forma que eles possam fazer uma
imersão mais completa na ambientação do
jogo.
Os bondes de tração animal são lentos e um
pouco compridos. Duas parelhas de cava-
los puxam o veículo guiados por um
cocheiro, enquanto que os passageiros se-
guem sentados em seu interior em bancos
rústicos de madeira ou de pé nos estribos
laterais.
Já os bondes à vapor fazem um pouco de
ruído que lembra o resfolegar de uma loco-
motiva porém muito mais baixo.
A iluminação urbana é feita através de lam-
piões à óleo preso no topo de alguns pos-
tes. Estes lampiões são feitos de ferro e vi-
dro e produzem uma luz baça e amarelada
porém mais forte do que aquela produzida
pelos archotes fixados inclinadamente nas
paredes das casas.
21
resolver encará-lo ele desviará o olhar e se for
abordado dará as costas e sairá do vagão sem
falar nada.
Se os heróis resolverem andar pelo trem e
chegarem na terceira classe o Mestre deverá
descrever o seguinte:
“Vocês chegam na terceira classe e observam
que ela é bem mais rudimentar que as demais.
Pessoas se amontoam nos bancos tentando
encontrar uma posição menos desconfortável
para dormir. Alguns estão deitados no chão
sobre sacos de pano ou esteiras de palha e num
canto quatro homens mal encarados jogam
dados e fazem suas apostas.
De repente vocês ouvem um grito e vêem um
adamita de queixo quadrado (que eles
reconhecerão se já tiverem ido no vagão-
restaurante) agarrando uma elfa firmemente.
A mulher grita e se debate tentando se libertar,
mas recebe um soco no estômago que a faz se
curvar de dor.
Nenhum dos passageiros interfere como se
nada estivesse acontecendo e tudo indica que
o adamita irá atirar a elfa pela janela ou fazer
algo ainda pior. Num supremo ato de
desespero, a mulher olha para os personagens
e estende um dos braços clamando por ajuda
enquanto é arrastada pelo homem para um
canto mais escuro do vagão”.
Este homem está acompanhado de mais três
companheiros, dois bandar e um goblin, que
estão espalhados pelo vagão-restaurante para
não chamar atenção e só irão se revelar caso os
aventureiros ataquem seu chefe. A elfa que
está sendo atacada também faz parte da equipe
e tudo não passa de uma farsa. Se os agentes
da I.D.O. optarem por interferir e vencerem
seus adversários, poderão prender os que
tiverem sobrevivido ou atirá-los pela janela do
trem. Caso percam a luta e restem alguns
sobreviventes, estes serão levados como
prisioneiros, desembarcados na primeira
estação e interrogados ou emilinados.
Por volta das quatro da manhã eles
desembarcam na estação de Salem, a capital
da Caledônia, e pegam um pequeno coche que
os conduzirá para um hotel barato onde
passarão o resto da noite. No dia seguinte,
eles deverão caminhar pela cidade para fazerem
o reconhecimento. A fábrica que será invadida
fica num galpão próximo ao Rio Salem e a ação
deverá acontecer na noite seguinte ao
desembarque.
A dama indefesa
A elfa que está sendo atacada é da raça
nindah. Possui lindos cabelos negros
cacheados escorrendo pelas costas e uma
silhueta bem torneada. Seu rosto é muito
bonito e revela uma mulher frágil.
Mesmo assustada, ela transpira
sensualidade e os personagens deverão
fazer uma disputa usando a perícia Sentir
Motivação contra a perícia Blefar da elfa,
caso não queiram se envolver no assunto.
O teste de Sentir Motivação terá uma
penalidade de -2 de circunstância ou -4
para personagens masculinos. Seja
convincente em mostrar o “desespero” da
elfa. Faça a disputa para que os
personagens tenham “certeza” que ela
está em perigo.
Se os PCs tentarem salvá-la, três
comparsas do homem de queixo
22
Cena Três
A Fábrica de Caldeiras
Numa pequena fábrica de caldeiras está sendo
desenvolvido o protótipo do novo exo-tank.
Aparentemente esta é uma fábrica normal do
gênero, mas em seu subsolo funciona um
complexo mais avançado, com pessoas
trabalhando o dia inteiro e às vezes parte da
noite para concluir o projeto.
A fábrica é cercada por uma pequena muralha
com oito metros de altura, oriunda do tempo
em que ali funcionava um depósito de valores.
A fortificação é guardada por dez postos de
vigia localizados na parte superior, onde
sempre estão homens armados.
Existem dois portões de entrada: o principal
fica defronte da Rua do Rio e dá acesso à
recepção e aos cômodos internos, utilizado por
funcionários, clientes e fornecedores. O portão
secundário fica no lado oposto do terreno, por
onde entra a matéria-prima utilizada para a
construção das caldeiras.
Os aventureiros deverão escolher o melhor
ponto para transporem o muro sem serem
notados pelos guardas. Caso não sejam bem
sucedidos terão que enfrentar quatro
sentinelas adamitas que estão ocupando os
postos de vigias que ficam nas arestas da
muralha e descerão imediatamente para dar
combate aos invasores.
As estatísticas deste grupo de NPCs está em
Encontro II, na página 30.
Se os PCs conseguirem entrar sem chamar a
atenção da vigilância, poderão se dirigir para a
fábrica em busca de uma entrada.
Descrição dos cômodos
Primeiro nível:
1- Recepção
Durante o dia é ocupada por uma adamita
gorda de cabelos castanhos que fala
intermitentemente, mas durante a noite este
aposento fica vazio.
2- Cozinha
Possui uma mesa grande, nove cadeiras e um
armário onde estão guardados utensílios como
panelas, pratos, copos e talheres.
3- Vestiário
Possui quarenta armários onde os funcionários
guardam seus pertences. Não há nada de valor
aqui.
4- Depósito de ferramentas
Este cômodo possui várias estantes e prateleiras
repletas de ferramentas para uso na oficina.
Está meio sujo e empoeirado.
5- Forno
Neste local são moldadas as chapas e fundidas
pequenas peças em metal que serão utilizadas
nas caldeiras.
6- Elevador secreto para o segundo nível
Através do depósito de matéria-prima (18) é
possível ter acesso a este elevador, que
conduzirá para o segundo nível.
7- Oficina de caldeiras
Neste salão são construídas ou reformadas as
caldeiras. Possui quinze bancadas de
diferentes tamanhos e um grande número de
equipamentos e maquinário à vapor.
8- Sala da guarda
Neste local ficam três guardas durante o dia,
que à noite rumam para o subsolo.
9- Dormitório/vestiário da guarda
Possui cinco beliches para os guardas e um
pequeno armário sem nada de valor.
10- Paiol
Aqui ficam guardadas as armas dos guardas,
como espadas, bestas, virotes, armas de fogo e
quadrado surgirão para lutar. Todos eles,
inclusive a mulher, são agentes da Casa do
Dragão Vermelho e estão saindo de Rio da
Prata onde aguardavam novas instruções,
para cumprir uma missão no reino adamita
de Al-Moryn. Seu chefe, o agente Queixa-
da, reconheceu um dos agentes da I.D.O. e
deseja enfrentá-los para roubar seus perten-
ces e apresentá-los ao comandante da sua
escuderia como troféu. Eles desconhecem
a missão dos personagens.
As estatísticas deste grupo de NPCs está
em Encontro I, nas páginas 28 e 29.
23
24
25
munição. O conteúdo exato deste aposento
fica por conta do Mestre.
11- Escada secreta para o segundo nível
Esta escada dá acesso à área 29.
12- Sala dos engenheiros
Neste local trabalham os projetistas das
caldeiras.
13- Depósito de projetos
O depósito abriga os projetos que vem sendo
realizados pela fábrica nos últimos anos. O
projeto secreto do exo-tank não está guardado
aqui.
14- Escritório e contabilidade
Local onde ficam os escriturários, a secretária
e o contador da fábrica.
15- Sala do gerente
A mulher que ocupa esta sala é a gerente da
fábrica e chefe da equipe que está projetando
em segredo o exo-tank.
16- Cofre secreto
Reúne os livros contábeis e parte das
economias da fábrica, num total de 4.000 P.O.
17- Escada secreta para o segundo nível
No canto da sala, uma porta secreta dá acesso
a uma escada que conduz para a área “a”.
18- Armazém
Local onde ficam estocadas as matérias-primas
utilizadas pela fábrica. Em uma das suas
extremidades fica localizado um elevador
secreto que conduz ao segundo nível.
Segundo nível:
19- Salão principal
Área de circulação entre os diferentes
cômodos. Possui alguns caixotes vazios
empilhados.
20- Elevador para o primeiro nível
Este elevador conduz ao depósito (18).
21- Hall do elevador
Sala onde estão algumas das caixas trazidas da
superfície, com chapas de metal, canos e
parafusos.
22- Área de montagem
Neste local existe uma oficina de montagem,
onde o projeto do exo-tank foi executado.
Pode-se avistar ainda algumas peças jogadas
sobre as quatro bancadas.
23- Escritório da chefe
O escritório tem acesso direto à área 15 através
de uma escada secreta. Possui uma mesa, duas
poltronas e um sofá pequeno. Numa das
paredes existe um cofre secreto contendo três
mil P.O. e um molho de chaves.
24- Depósito de munição
Aqui existem doze barris de pólvora, dezenas
de caixas com balas e buchas, quarenta flechas,
três arcos, cinco mosquetes e quatro pistolas.
25- Hall de acesso ao túnel para o rio
Este salão é protegido por armadilhas ocultas
(d), que irão disparar caso algum invasor
consiga penetrar no local sem desativá-las.
26- Depósito
Contém vários caixotes de dimensões variadas,
com peças metálicas, pregos e ferramentas.
27- Sala dos projetos do exo-tank
Neste local estão arquivados os projetos
secretos do exo-tank, mais uma caixa contendo
quatro cristais de dragonita (no valor de 1.000
P.O. cada) e 600 P.P.
28- Depósito do exo-tank
O protótipo está guardado neste local e não
pode ser ativado, pois ainda está incompleto.
29- Escada para o primeiro nível
Esta escada dá acesso à área 11.
a- Escada para o primeiro nível
Essa área faz contato com a área 17.
b- Mecanismo de abertura da porta do
depósito do exo-tank
Para conseguirem acessar o local onde o exo-
tank está guardado, os personagens terão que
descobrir este mecanismo e utilizar uma das
chaves que está no cofre da sala do chefe (c).
c- Cofre da sala do chefe
Local onde estão guardadas as chaves da porta
do depósito do exo-tank.
d- Nichos de segurança
Estes nichos disparam tiros contra possíveis
26
Cena Seis
O Gigante
Os heróis atingem o porto e procuram um
barco pertencente à Legião Combatente, onde
entram apressadamente. O capitão os recebe
com um sorriso e conduz os aventureiros para
o porão da embarcação.
Um dos marinheiros avisa que está
acontecendo uma movimentação incomum no
porto e que os agentes devem estar sendo
procurados. Temendo que a radiação da
dragonita possa denunciar a presença dos
personagens, o capitão os esconde numa
grande caixa de madeira forrada com ferro e
chumbo para impedir a detecção por agentes
inimigos.
Depois de acondicionar os agentes, o capitão
retorna então para o convés e se prepara para
acionar os motores.
Mas antes que o barco deixe o porto, um
sacolejo e uma sensação de vazio no estômago
invasores.
Cena Quatro
Fogo Ligeiro
O exo-tank “Fogo Ligeiro” foi projetado para
disparar até dezesseis tiros sem precisar
recarregar. No dorso de cada braço estão
montados dois pares de disparadores que
lançam projéteis com a potência de um
mosquete e são alimentados por cilindros
giratórios recarregáveis, onde a munição está
acondicionada.
Fogo Ligeiro mede dois metros e noventa
centímetros de altura e pesa duas toneladas.
É movido com um cristal de dragonita que
alimenta sua caldeira de vapor e leva tração
aos membros superiores e inferiores. No
momento ele encontra-se desativado, pois uma
peça fundamental para o seu funcionamento
foi retirada para receber alguns ajustes.
O veículo foi projetado para duas pessoas de
tamanho médio, um deles atuando como piloto
e o outro como artilheiro/municiador,
controlando o movimento dos braços e os
armamentos ali situados.
Se os jogadores invadirem o local à noite (o
que é preferível), não encontrarão nenhum
cientista além da chefe (que está escrevendo
suas anotações sobre o andamento do projeto
em um diário) e mais cinco guardas.
As estatísticas deste grupo de NPCs está em
Encontro III, nas páginas 30 e 31.
Cena Cinco
A Fuga
Após roubarem os planos do exo-tank e
derrotarem seus adversários, os PCs deverão
bater em retirada. Eles possuem duas opções:
voltar pelo mesmo caminho que fizeram para
chegar ao subsolo ou buscar alguma outra
saída. Se optarem pela segunda opção, o
Mestre deverá conduzí-los até a câmara que
possui uma passagem que leva ao rio (25). Ao
entrarem na câmara, o Mestre deverá solicitar
um rolamento (CD 18) para ver se algum
personagem detectou a existência de
armadilhas (d). Caso contrário elas serão
ativadas assim que um dos personagens atingir
o meio da sala, num disparo simultâneo que
causa 1D6+2 de dano por disparo.
Os personagens sobreviventes podem seguir
pelo túnel até o rio, onde está escondido um
pequeno bote que os conduzirá até o porto,
alguns quilôlmetros abaixo, no ponto de
encontro onde um barco da Legião
Combatente os aguarda.
27
faz os personagens compreenderem que a caixa
foi jogada ao mar. Sem que eles soubessem,
uma abertura secreta foi aberta no fundo do
casco por onde a caixa caiu quase sem fazer
ruído. Por mais que tentem eles não
conseguirão abrir a caixa, que está firmemente
fechada por fora. Ela é impermeável e
enquanto permanecer fechada não entrará
água, mas o ar também não será renovado.
Um novo movimento brusco revela que a caixa
está sendo rebocada por baixo d’água. Poucos
minutos depois eles sentem que estão sendo
içados e ouvem vozes de homens sem contudo
conseguir entender o que dizem. Repetidas
pancadas revelam que a caixa está prestes a
ser aberta por pessoas desconhecidas.
Quando por fim a tampa é aberta, os
aventureiros percebem que estão à bordo de
outro barco, cercados por sete homens de
estatura média armados com mosquetes,
enquanto que um indivíduo de grandes
proporções, cuja fisionomia está oculta pela
penumbra, os observa atentamente.
Se os personagens sacarem as armas, os sete
homens atacarão para desarmá-los tentando
não ferí-los. Nesse instante o gigante se
revelará: é Tatanka, um dos campeões da
I.D.O., que foi enviado pelo comandante para
dar suporte à missão. Como são agentes da
I.D.O., é claro que os personagens o conhecem
e vão parar de lutar.
Tatanka sugere a eles que o sigam até o convés.
Uma vez lá em cima, o ogre aponta para o barco
onde estavam poucos minutos antes, cuja
silhueta é um pouco visível apesar da escuridão
e que já deixava o porto rumo ao mar aberto.
De repente, o barco é completamente
destruído por uma explosão, atigindo também
dois pequenos barcos que se aproximavam
para abordá-lo. Atrás dos PCs surgem o
capitão e mais quatro marujos que fugiram pelo
fundo do barco e seguiram nadando até o navio
de Tatanka, que ativa seus motores e parte
lentamente rumo à cidade de Rio da Prata,
onde os agentes poderão entregar ao
comandante os planos secretos do exo-tank.
A caixa de metal
Os personagens estão sendo salvos, mas não
tem a menor idéia disso. Faça-os pensar
que caíram em uma armadilha e estão pres-
tes a ser capturados ou pior, morrerem afo-
gados ou sufocados dentro da caixa de me-
tal de onde não tem como sair a menos que
destruam a tampa. Mas se fizerem isso a
água do mar vai entrar com muita força e
dificultará qualquer tentativa de fuga. En-
quanto eles estiverem na caixa, descreva os
ruídos do mar e de algo se arrastando junto
à caixa. Na verdade é o som que a própria
caixa está fazendo ao se arrastar pelo solo
marinho, batendo ocasionalmente em algu-
ma coisa que esteja submersa.
As paredes da caixa estão frias e úmidas e
seu interior completamente escuro. Qual-
quer tentativa de se acender fogo poderá
ser bem sucedida, porém consumirá o ar
da caixa rapidamente.
Fim
28
Estatísticas
dos NPCs
Equipe:
“Javalis Ferozes”
Escuderia:
Casa do Dragão Vermelho
Agente Um (líder)
Nome: Hrothgar
Codinome: Queixada
Adamita (humano)
Gue 1/Lad 1: ND 2; Tam. M (1,80 m); DV
1d10+1+1d6+1; PV 15; Inic +6 (+2 Des, +4
Iniciativa Aprimorada); Desl 9m.; CA 15 (+2
Des, +3 couro batido); Ataq +5 espada longa
(1d8+3) ou +3 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +3,
Ref +4, Von +1; Tend CM; For 16, Des 15,
Cons 13, Int 14, Sab 12, Car 10.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Anão
& Élfico.
Perícias e Talentos: Escalar +4, Diplomacia
+4, Falsificação +6, Esconder-se +7, Saltar +4,
Ouvir +5, Furtividade +7, Abrir Fechaduras
+6 Punga +7, Observar +5, Natação +6, Usar
instrumento mágico +5, Usar cordas +6;
Iniciativa Aprimorada, Foco em Arma (espada
longa) e Esquiva.
Tesouro: 100 po
Queixada é o líder desta equipe de aventureiros
e vem se destacando como um guerreiro
impiedoso e cruel, não hesitando em matar seus
adversários mesmo sem necessidade. Hábil no
manejo da espada, sempre que puder ele
tentará resolver as coisas com a força bruta.
É apaixonado por Sygara e fica fora de si
quando algum homem se aproxima dela, seja
para cortejá-la ou mesmo para pedir
informações. Em ambos os casos sua reação é
sempre a mesma: tentar estripar aquele que
considera seu rival.
Agente Dois
Nome: Qillastriaqui
Codinome: Sygara
Elfa
Gue 1/Lad 1: ND 2; Tam. M (1,65m); DV
1d10+1+1d6+1; PV 13; Inic +7 (+3 Des, +4
Iniciativa Aprimorada); Desl 9m; CA 16 (+3
Des, +3 couro batido); Ataq +3 espada longa
(1d8+1) ou +4 arco longo (1d8); TR Fort +3,
Ref +5, Von +0; Tend LN; For 13, Des 17, Cons
12, Int 13, Sab 10, Car 15.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Élfico
e Ork.
Perícias e Talentos: Blefar +9, Escalar +4,
Obter Informação +7, Esconder-se +7, Ouvir
+6, Furtividade +7, Leitura labial +4, Procurar
+7, Observar +6, Natação +3, Usar cordas +5;
Iniciativa Aprimorada, Foco em Perícia
(Blefar) e Foco em Arma (espada longa).
Tesouro: 60 po
Esta mulher é procurada em várias cidades por
ter seduzido nobres e autoridades para apro-
priar-se de seus bens e/ou informações. La-
dra qualificada, ela vem crescendo rapidamen-
te dentro da escuderia, mas não só por suas
habilidades profissionais.
Existem boatos sobre seu envolvimento com
membros mais graduados e com o próprio co-
mandante da escuderia. Apesar de conceder
favores sexuais em troca de prestígio e posi-
ção, a elfa é apaixonada por Queixada e tem
ciúmes terríveis dele
Agente Três
Nome: Bolendd
Codinome: Dente de Pedra
Encontro I
29
Bandar (anão)
Gue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,50 m); DV 2d10+6;
PV 22; Inic +1 (+1 Des); Desl 6m; CA 15 (+1
Des, +4 brunea); Ataq +5 machado (1d8+2)
ou +3 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +6, Ref +1,
Von -1; Tend LN; For 15, Des 13, Cons 16, Int
12, Sab 9, Car 10.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Anão
& Ork.
Perícias e Talentos: Avaliação +3, Escalar +6,
Ofícios (Armeiro) +6, Natação +4; Ataque
Poderoso e Foco em Arma (machado).
Tesouro: 20 po
Dente de Pedra recebeu este codinome devido
a um hábito comum entre os bandar de
mastigar chumbo, o que lhe confere uma
resistência superior aos dentes.
Companheiro de Queixada há longos anos, ele
é extremamente fiel e quando não está na frente
de combate protegendo seu líder e amigo
ocupa uma posição estratégica para lhe garantir
uma retaguarda segura.
Sua única fraqueza: é apaixonado por Sygara.
Agente Quatro
Nome: K’frarrl
Codinome: Wary
Goblin
Ftr1: ND 1; Tam M (1,55 m); DV 1d10+2; PV
12; Inic +3 (+3 Des); Desl 9m.; CA 16 (+3 Des,
+3 couro batido); Ataq +2 espada curta
(1d6+1) ou +4 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +4,
Ref +3, Von +0; Tend CM; For 13, Des 16,
Cons 14, Int 12, Sab 11, Car 9.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto) &
Goblin.
Perícias e Talentos: Escalar +4, Saltar +4,
Cavalgar +6, Natação +4; Esquiva e Tiro
Certeiro.
Tesouro: 9 po.
Wary é um guerreiro ambicioso, que deseja
conquistar a liderança da equipe e se projetar
dentro da escuderia. Sempre que pode
manipula a situação a seu favor, de forma que
possa realizar feitos heróicos em favor de seu
líder para ganhar mais pontos dentro da
escuderia.
Embora assuma uma aparência amistosa com
seus companheiros, ele detesta Queixada e
mais ainda Sygara, a quem considera uma
mulher vulgar. Se não fosse pela proteção de
Dente de Pedra, talvez ambos já estivessem
mortos com a garganta cortada.
Agente Cinco
Nome: Rémicles
Codinome: Bruxo Doido
Ork
Gue 1/Fet 1: ND 2; Tam M (1,78 m); DV
1d10+2 +1d4+2; PV 14; Inic +1 (+1 Des); Desl
9m; CA 11 (+1 Des); Ataq +3 espada longa
(1d8+2) e +2 besta leve (1d8) ; TR Fort +7,
Ref +4, Von +3; Tend CN; For 15, Des 12, Cons
14, Int 14, Sab 8, Car 15.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Goblin
e Ork.
Perícias e Talentos: Alquimia +3, Ofícios
(armeiro) +5, Concentração +7, Conhecimento
(arcano) +6, Espionar +3, Identificar magia +7,
Natação +3; Magias em Combate e Esquiva.
Tesouro: 120 po.
Magias conhecidas de Feiticeiro (5/4): Nível
0 — Detectar Magia, Mãos Mágicas, Raio de
Gelo, Ler Magias. 1o Nível — Mísseis Mágicos
& Escudo Arcano.
Bruxo Doido é um feiticeiro que despreza a
hierarquia a que é obrigado a se submeter para
fazer parte da escuderia. Seu temperamento é
bastante sarcástico e quase sempre está
debochando de Sygara quando esta tenta
seduzí-lo.
Existem boatos de que o ork é apadrinhado
de alguém importante dentro do Clube do
Inferno, mas até hoje ninguém conseguiu
provar nada.
Bruxo Doido tem admiração por Dente de
Pedra e respeita muito Queixada, mas nutre
um sentimento de desprezo por Wary, por
achá-lo incompetente.
30
Codinome: Nenhum
Adamita
Gue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,84 m); DV 2d10+2;
PV 17; Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 9m; CA 16 (+2
Des, +4 brunea); Ataq +6 espada larga (2d6+4)
ou +4 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +4, Ref +2,
Von +1; Tend LN; For 16, Des 14, Cons 13,
Int 10, Sab 12, Car 14.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto).
Perícias e Talentos: Adestrar Animais +7,
Esconder-se +2, Ouvir +1, Furtividade +2,
Cavalgar +7, Observar +1, Natação +8;
Reflexos de Combate, Ataque Poderoso, Foco
em Arma (espada larga), Foco em Arma (lança
longa).
Tesouro: 20 po.
Guarda Quatro
Nome: Gudrun
Codinome: Nenhum
Adamita
Gue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,69 m); DV 2d10+4;
PV 18; Inic +0; Desl 9m; AC 10 (+4 brunea);
Ataq +4 espada curta (1d6+1) ou +3 besta leve
(1d8); TR Fort +5, Ref +0, Von +1; Tend N;
For 13, Des 11, Cons 14, Int 10, Sab 12, Car 7.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto).
Perícias e Talentos: Ofícios (forjaria) +5,
Esconder-se +0, Ouvir +2, Furtividade +1,
Cavalgar +2, Observar +1, Natação +3;
Esquiva, Especialização, Foco em arma (besta
leve) e Foco em Arma (espada curta).
Tesouro: 5 po.
Chefe do projeto
Nome: Bimpnottin
Codinome: Nittonp
Gnomo
Mag 3: ND 3; Tam P (1 m); DV 3d4+9; hp 17;
Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 6m; CA 13 (+2 Des, +1
de tamanho); Ataq +1 Adaga (1d4-1) ou +4
besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +4, Ref +3, Von +4;
Tend CB; For 8, Des 14, Cons 16, Int 16, Sab
Encontro III
Sentinelas da fábrica
Guarda Um
Nome: Brynjolf
Codinome: Nenhum
Adamita
Gue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,71 m); DV 2d10+4;
PV 19; Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 9m; CA 16 (+2
Des, +4 brunea); Ataq +5 espada longa
(1d8+2) ou +4 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +7,
Ref +2, Von -1; Tend LN; For 14, Des 14, Cons
14, Int 13, Sab 9, Car 13.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto) &
Élfico.
Perícias e Talentos: Escalar +4, Saltar +5, Ouvir
+0, Furtividade +3, Cavalgar +6, Observar +0,
Natação +7; Esquiva, Grande Fortitude,
Ataque Poderoso e Foco em Arma (espada
longa).
Tesouro: 10 po.
Guarda Dois
Nome: Sighvat
Codinome: Nenhum
Adamita
Gue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,75 m); DV 2d10+2;
PV 16; Inic +7 (+3 Des, +4 Iniciativa
Aprimorada); Desl 9m.; CA 17 (+3 Des, +4
brunea); Ataq +5 espada longa (1d8+2) ou +5
besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +4, Ref +3, Von -1;
Tend N; For 15, Des 16, Cons 13, Int 10, Sab
9, Car 9.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto) & Anão
Perícias e Talentos: Escalar +6, Ofícios
(armeiro) +3, Ouvir +0, Falar Idioma (anão),
Observar +0, Natação +4; Reflexos de
Combate, Iniciativa Aprimorada, Ataque
Poderoso, Foco em Arma (espada longa).
Tesouro: 20 po.
Guarda Três
Nome: Geirmund
Encontro II
31
12, Car 10.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Anão,
Élfico, Gnomo & Goblin.
Perícias e Talentos: Alquimia +7, Avaliação +4,
Concentração +7, Ofícios (forjaria) +7,
Esconder-se +6, Conhecimento (arquitetura e
engenharia) +7, Conhecimento (arcano) +7,
Ouvir +3, Profissão (engenharia) +11,
Espionar +4 , Identificar Magia +6 ; Criar Item
Maravilhoso, [Escrever Pergaminhos], Foco
em Perícia (Profissão).
Tesouro: 250 po.
Magias conhecidas de Mago (4/3/2): Nível 0
— Todas. 1o Nível (8 magias) — Escudo
Arcano, Identificação, Área Escorregadia,
Sono, Mísseis Mágicos, Leque Cromático,
Causar Medo e Toque Chocante. 2 o Nível (2
magias) — Nublar e Esfera Flamejante.
Nittonp é uma maga de confiança do comando
da escuderia. Ela já participou de missões
importantes e agora recebeu a tarefa de
controlar o processo de desenvolvimento do
exo-tank.
Guarda Cinco
Nome: Olaf
Codinome: Godrong
Adamita
Gue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,68 m); DV 2d10+4;
PV 20; Inic +1 (+1 Des); Desl 9m; CA 15 (+1
Des, +4 brunea); Ataq +6 espada longa
(1d8+3) ou +3 besta leve (1d8); TR Fort +5,
Ref +3, Von +0; Ten LN; For 16, Des 12, Cons
14, Int 10, Sab 10, Car 9.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto).
Perícias e Talentos: Adestrar Animais +5,
Ouvir +1, Cavalgar +6, Observar +1; Reflexos
Rápidos, Combate Montado, Saque Rápido,
Foco em Arma (Espada Longa).
Tesouro: 50 po.
Guarda Seis
Nome: Radija
Codinome: Razemun
Elfa
Gue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,63 m); DV 2d10+2;
PV 16; Inic +4 (+4 Des); Desl 9m; CA 17 (+3
Des, +4 camisão de cota de malha); Ataq +3
espada longa (1d8+1) ou +7 arco longo
composto (1d8); TR Fort +4, Ref +4, Von +0;
Tend CN; For 12, Des 18, Cons 13, Int 12,
Sab 10, Car 13.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Élfico
e Goblin.
Perícias e Talentos: Adestrar Animais +6,
Saltar +3, Ouvir +2, Cavalgar +9 , Procurar
+2, Observar +2, Natação +4; Tiro Certeiro,
Precisão, Foco em Arma (arco longo
composto).
Tesouro: 7 po.
Guarda Sete
Nome: Laucivos
Codinome: Perezzos
Elfo
Lad 2: ND 2; Tam M (1, 72 m); DV 2d6+2;
PV 12; Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 9m; CA 15 (+2
Des, +3 couro batido); Ataq +3 espada curta
(1d6) ou +3 arco longo (1d8); TR Fort +1, Ref
+5, Von +0; Tend CN; For 10, Des 15, Cons
12, Int 14, Sab 11, Car 13.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto), Élfico,
Gnomo e Ork.
Perícias e Talentos: Avaliação +5, Ofícios +5
(construir armaduras), Diplomacia +5, Obter
Informação +5, Esconder-se +7, Ouvir +6,
Furtividade +7, Abrir Fechaduras +7, Procurar
+6, Sentir Motivação +4, Observar +5,
Acrobacia +5, Usar Instrumento Mágico +4;
Acuidade com Arma (espada curta).
Tesouro: 25 po.
Guarda Oito
Nome: Dkil
Codinome: Kdill
Bandar (anão)
Gue 2: ND 2; Tam M (1,52 m); DV 2d10+2;
PV 20; Inic +2 (+2 Des); Desl 6m; CA 17 (+2
Des, +5 cota de malha); Ataq +6 machado
grande (1d12+4) ou +4 besta leve; TR Fort +5,
32
Ref +2, Sab +0; Tend LN; For 16, Des 14, Cons
15, Int 11, Sab 11, Car 9.
Idiomas Falados: Comum (Esperanto) &
Anão.
Perícias e Talentos: Avaliação +1, Escalar +7,
Ofícios (lapidação) +4; Esquiva, Ataque
Poderoso, Foco em Arma (machado grande).
Tesouro: 75 po.
| textdata/thevault/D20 system/LANG/ES/Fantapunk - Fogo Ligeiro.pdf |
12 Simple Rules for DMing
the magic behind mayhem, murder, and monsters
by Richard Read
For Dave, Peter, and Robert
Also for John and Peter
Copyright 2018 Richard Read
Dungeons & Dragons and D&D are properties of Wizards of the Coast. Their use here is not
meant to suggest that Wizards of the Coast or any of its subsidiaries has approved of or
contributed to this work.
A LITTLE BACKSTORY
Like most 13 year olds, I thought I knew
everything.
Unlike most 13 year olds, I soon realized I was
wrong.
A few weeks after becoming a teenager, I
played Dungeons & Dragons for the first
time. In a musty basement classroom on a
hot, September afternoon, one of my
seventh-grade teachers led us through a
short adventure, and my tiny Mississippi
mind was blown.
Until that day, my favorite games had fallen
into two camps: board games like Monopoly, where you went round and round a path picking
up money, and arcade games like PacMan, where you went round and round a path gobbling
up dots.
But with D&D, there was no path. Apart from some strange-looking dice and a few sheets of
graph paper, there wasn’t anything to see at all: the game took place almost entirely in our
heads. “You awake at dawn beside a dwindling campfire in a dense, gloomy forest. A soft breeze
blows through the trees, and unfamiliar bird calls echo above. Before you, a cavern entrance
yawns.” Would we go in? Would we mark it on our map and return when we were stronger,
more sure of ourselves? Or would we walk away in search of something else--perhaps a lesser
challenge, or maybe a greater one? Anything was possible.
Anything at all.
Whoa.
As soon as my mind stopped reeling, my first thought was, “I cannot WAIT to share this with my
friends.” It didn’t matter that I’d only played once and didn’t know an eight-sided die from a
twelve-sider. I took all the money I’d saved, raced to the hobby store, and bought the D&D boxed
set.
The following weekend, I was seated behind the DM’s screen, guiding my younger brother and a
couple of schoolmates through a campaign called The Village of Hommlet. I tried to make it as
exciting as my teacher had, but something felt off--way off. To be honest, it didn’t even seem
like the same game. My friends failed to see what the fuss was about.
That’s largely because I was a complete noob and didn’t know what the DM was supposed to do.
(In my defense, though, it’s also because The Village of Hommlet was actually a fairly tough
assignment for a first-time DM, given all the social interaction and improv and it requires.)
And yet, I persisted.
Within a couple of months, I’d learned all the rules, learned to create characters, learned how
combat worked--and I foolishly thought that was all that mattered. After all, knowing the rules
was all it took to play chess or Battleship or Galaga. By that logic:
1.
Because I knew the rules of D&D, I knew how to play it.
2.
Because I could play D&D, I was a great DM.
As I said: typical 13 year old.
I soon saw the error of my ways. Later that semester, I was invited to play a character in a
campaign run by a friend of a friend. He was a couple of years older than me, and already, he
was a fantastic DM. He painted pictures with words, he breathed life into one of the same
premade campaigns I’d run so poorly. It was like we were playing two different games, and his
was a lot more fun.
That’s when I realized that I knew nothing about D&D.
Since that night three decades ago, I’ve tried to improve my DMing skills. I’m still not the
world’s best, but every time I take players through a campaign, I discover something new
about the game, about my friends, and about myself. To me, that’s just as exciting as narrating
a massive battle or a stealthy jewel heist.
In all my years of rolling dice, though, the most important thing I’ve learned is this: the DM and
the players are telling a story together. That’s what D&D is all about. Your players may slay the
ruthless dragon, they may rescue the mayor from hordes of bandits, they may end their
campaign much richer than before. But there’s no “winning” in D&D without good storytelling.
What’s considered “good storytelling” varies from group to group, of course. But without some
kind of narrative, some kind of story arc, D&D is just an unrelated series of murders,
money-grabs, and mayhem--like skimming a bunch of chapter titles in a textbook instead of
taking time to read the material and understand how topics relate to one-another.
This idea of collaboration between the DM and players may not be how you’ve approached the
game in the past. It certainly wasn’t how I thought of D&D during those early years. Back then,
I assumed that because the DM knew the campaign, she was in charge. On the other hand, I met
players who were convinced that they were responsible for bringing adventures to life. But the
truth of the matter is that D&D--or any number of similar games--depends on cooperation. The
DM may have a better map than the players, the players may be making the decisions, but
ultimately, they’re all exploring this new world together.
That said, the DM is given a few special responsibilities that the players don’t share. The most
important of those is that she’s in charge of keeping the story moving. If a player has to skip a
week because of an illness or another commitment, the game can continue, but without the DM,
things grind to a halt.
And so, if you’re a DM looking to keep your game humming along, here are a few tips that you
might find helpful. (Or maybe not: I won’t be offended.) Use them well and wisely, and you’ll
make memorable adventures for yourself and your players.
BEFORE YOU PLAY
A little preparation goes a long way for both the DM and the players.
#1. Characters need backstories
Dungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game. Players adopt the personas
of half-orc fighters, elven wizards, and tiefling rangers as they explore
other worlds. To me, a good game of D&D is like the first rehearsal for a
play or a film, when actors gather around a table and read through the
script. The only difference is, in D&D, there’s no script: everything is
improv.
Every gamer and every gaming group have different ways of
role-playing. Some players speak only as their character would speak, in
accents and whispers and shouts. Others speak as themselves, using
their everyday voices to explain what their characters do in given
situations. Either approach is fine (though it’s great if everyone in the
group can agree to the same style of play).
But one thing all players need, no matter how they embody their
characters at the gaming table, is a backstory. They need to know who their characters are and
how they became that way. Were they raised in slums and forced to climb slowly, tediously,
through the ranks of their order? Were they born into a noble house and pampered from day
one? If your players know these things, they’ll have a better sense of how their characters will
react in given situations. If they don’t, here are a few questions to start them off:
●
Where did your character grow up?
●
What did your character’s parents do for a living?
●
What sort of house was your character raised in?
●
Did your character go to school? If so, for how long?
●
What made your character choose this way of life?
●
Why does your character get out of bed in the morning?
●
When do you expect your character to retire from adventuring?
Knowing your players, you’ll probably have other questions to help tease out their characters’
narratives.
Those backstories aren’t just important for players; they’re useful for you, too. After all, you
help guide the story that’s being told around the gaming table. Sure, you could just pull a
pre-made campaign off the shelf and play it exactly as it’s written. But wouldn’t it be more fun
if you threw in a few elements to personalize it for your group?
For example, if one of your players’ characters has made it her life’s work to find her long-lost
brother, wouldn’t it be interesting if that brother showed up in the story? What if he’s become a
hermit? A powerful tyrant? The leader of a rival adventuring party? Or what if he’s being held
captive by the villain?
Similarly, if one of your players’ characters was cursed by an evil god long ago, what would
happen if he discovered a prayer book to that god in a treasure chest? Or if a missionary on the
street of a busy city invited him to a temple dedicated to that god? Or if the character received
some sign that the god was, in fact, still watching him?
In short, if players know their backstories, they’ll have more fun playing the game. And if you
know their backstories, you can tailor the world they’re exploring to make experiences richer.
#2. It’s the little things that count
The DM is a writer. Even when you’re running
a campaign that was dreamed up by someone
else, you’re still telling a story with your
words.
Think about the writers who’ve moved you
with their novels, poems, and short stories.
What do you remember most about those
works? What do you recall months or years
or even decades after you put the works
aside?
The answer is probably a vivid detail, not the bulletpoints of the plot. When I think of Lord of
the Rings, for example, I think of the friendship between Frodo and Sam and the tension that
arose between them when Gollum arrived on the scene. Similarly, in The Voyage of the Dawn
Treader, I remember Lucy reading a book in a terrifyingly quiet house, and the ship sailing
across an increasingly shallow sea. From the Harry Potter series, I remember things like
butterbeer and the maddening primness of Dolores Umbridge.
Those are details that Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling used to add texture to their stories. Most
aren’t essential to the narrative--I mean, Umbridge could’ve been a slob and it wouldn’t have
affected the plot--but they give us a better sense of the world and the personalities we’re
reading about. They enrich the story, and as a result, they make us care a little more.
DMs do the same thing. Sure, you could just tell the characters that they find a silver locket in a
jewelry box. But what if that locket had a small painting inside, perhaps a painting of the
owner’s beloved? What if it had an inscription--maybe words of love and devotion, or maybe an
ancient, infernal curse?
What if a ruined city is filled with the corpses of only men, or only women, or only cats? What
characters stumble into a town that shuts down at dusk because of a superstition about the
evils of moonlight? What if the players find an ordinary cloak in a dusty dungeon, but inside
one of the pockets is a love letter or a note from worried parents or a treasure map?
Obviously, you don’t want to provide an endless series of distractions. Many players--myself
included--tend to overthink things. We assume that if the DM reveals something, it’s important,
and we’re prone to investigate every detail, no matter how small. A century ago, the famous
Russian playwright Anton Chekhov warned against that kind of thing when he said, "One must
never place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isn't going to go off. It's wrong to make promises you
don't mean to keep." In other words, don’t leave ominous clues lying around unless they’re
going to pay off in the future. Encouraging players to run down rabbit holes can be just as
frustrating as giving no details at all.
That said, there’s still plenty of room for you to embellish stories. Describing what players
smell as they meander down a country lane, the quality of light in an abandoned temple, the
color of a potential ally’s clothes, how a child smiles at them as they pass in the street: these
kinds of details can enhance the players’ sense of their environment and immerse them in the
story without being distracting. Long after your campaign has ended, the players may not
remember the name of the big, bad villain or even how they overcame him, her, or it. Instead,
you’ll hear them say something like, “Hey, remember when we stumbled into that torture
chamber with all those lace curtains and beanbag chairs and a wine bar?”
#3. Let the NPCs speak
The physical setting of your campaign isn’t the only tool you
have to immerse players in the story. Non-player characters
can be a huge help, too. They can drop hints, seem mysterious
or untruthful, or they might simply have some personality
traits that make them memorable--a nervous tic or a
catchphrase, for example.
Many DMs treat NPCs like redshirts--nondescript characters
who serve a single purpose, then drop out of the story forever.
(The term comes from the original Star Trek series, which
would populate the Enterprise with extra characters in red
shirts, only to kill them off before an episode was over.) While
there’s no guarantee that your players will engage with NPCs in meaningful ways or seek them
out again in the future, making NPCs unique will help make your story more memorable.
For example, it’s pretty common for characters to visit taverns for refreshment now and them,
or to spend a few nights at an inn. But players often ignore bartenders and innkeeps; they
conduct their transactions with these NPCs--order drinks, rent rooms, etc.--then get on with
what they perceive to be their business.
In real life, however, waiters and innkeeps are often great sources of information. What if the
bartender in your story strikes up a conversation with your characters? What if she’s lived her
whole life in this small village and wants to hear tales from beyond its familiar borders? What
if she’s being kept here against her will and needs their help to escape? What if she’s a spy for
the enemy and wants information about the characters’ plans?
Of course, not every NPC needs to become an integral part of the story. Just as in real life, some
are merely bystanders. That doesn’t mean they’re devoid of personality, though. Maybe the
local innkeeper loves a bawdy tune and will give the adventurers a free night’s lodging if your
bard performs a few songs. (If the person playing the bard feels comfortable performing a song
for the group--say, the theme song from Gilligan’s Island--so much the better.) Maybe the clerk
at the general store adores haggling and has a secret weakness for dwarven armor. Or maybe
the beggar offers the party directions in exchange for healing wounds he suffered at the hands
of aristocratic hooligans, who roughed him up a week ago.
At a loss over how to make NPCs and environments unique? Do what professional writers do
and pay attention to your surroundings away from the gaming table. That woman in line
ahead of you at the store with an odd assortment of groceries, the checkout clerk who waits on
her and is clearly having a rough day, the man at the bus stop shouting into his cell phone: use
people like this as the basis for memorable NPCs.
#4. Start with the bad guy (or gal)
There are a host of prefab adventures on the market, each
with its own distinct storyline, but sometimes, you want
something completely different. You want to tell a new
story--one that hasn’t been told before, or an old one told in
a new way.
Building a homebrew campaign is loads of fun, but it can
also be a bit overwhelming. Sure, mapping out a dungeon is
fairly straightforward, and you can probably dream up the
characters’ main quest without too much
difficulty--recover a magic item, defeat a necromancer, etc.
But once you’ve created the bones of the campaign, how do
you flesh it out? How do you produce a setting that offers a
cohesive story your players will understand, buy into, engage with?
For me, the answer is simple: start with the villain.
Before you bring out the graph paper, before you decide on the party’s main quest, think about
who or what the players are going to fight. Is it a dragon? A doppelganger? A cursed king? A
bandit queen? A beholder? The creepy twins from The Shining, all grown up and ready to
party? The choice is yours (though if it were me, I’d seriously consider the creepy twins).
Once you know who the villain is, think about how they became who or what they are today.
People may be born to awful parents, but they don’t become supervillains unless they’re
obsessed with a particular goal. Do they seek revenge? Status? An artifact? An alliance? Are
they compelled by a higher power to wreak havoc? Can they be redeemed? Do they truly
believe that what they’re doing is right? Do they understand the harm they’re causing? Or will
they snap out of it once a charm is broken?
If your villain is a monster instead of a humanoid, take the same approach. Chromatic dragons
are all evil, but they’re not interchangeable. Some are clearly more powerful than others. How
did your big, bad, black dragon become a supervillain? What’s driving her to destroy
everything good? Ask those same questions of mind flayers, orc war chiefs, vampires,
werewolves--maybe even freakishly intelligent gelatinous cubes. (It’s D&D, y’all. Anything’s
possible.)
Once you know your villain, the rest of the story will begin falling into place. Some things to
consider:
●
What is the villain’s ultimate goal?
●
What must they do to achieve that goal?
●
Who or what is standing in their way?
●
How will they eliminate that obstacle?
●
Where do they live now?
●
What defenses do they have?
●
Who serves them?
And so on.
Answer questions like that, and you’ll soon have a campaign laid out, a stronghold
constructed, and crafty challenges designed.
Starting with the villain will help the players, too. That’s because they need someone--a
personality--to fight against.
Psychologically speaking, we human beings gravitate toward stories with characters we can
understand, identify with. It doesn’t matter if the characters themselves are human or not.
(How many Disney movies have you seen with non-human heroes and foes?) It doesn’t even
matter whether we like those characters or not. The stronger the feelings those characters
evoke--both good feelings and bad--the more profoundly we’re engaged in the story.
In The Hobbit, for example, the first part of the novel is largely concerned with the evil dragon
Smaug, a well-drawn, fascinating character. We don’t like him, per se, but we understand him,
his vanity, his intelligence. Later, our attention shifts to Thorin Oakenshield--someone we like
in the first half of the book but come to revile in the second. And throughout it all, we’re rooting
for Bilbo to overcome every challenge.
Like all good storytellers, Tolkien knew that to keep readers turning the page, he needed his
characters--both villains and heroes--to leap off the page. They had to be relatable (which isn’t
the same thing as likable). Readers needed to understand them. If you’d replaced Smaug with,
say, a brick wall, the story wouldn’t have been nearly as good, because how can you love or
hate a brick wall? How could you feel anything for it? And how could you root for Bilbo to
succeed against it?
It’s the same in D&D. The villain is your centerpiece, it holds the story together. It may not be
human, and in fact, it may not be entirely evil (the best villains are a mix of good and bad), but
it’s got to have personality. Create that, and you’ll lay the foundation for a truly epic
adventure.
WHEN IT’S TIME TO ROLL THE DICE
Remember: everyone’s there to have fun, including you.
#5. Always say “yes”
Most gaming groups have at least one player who likes to
push the boundaries. You know the person I’m talking
about: the one who decides that he wants to steal a horse
from a stable in broad daylight. The one who chooses to
attack a merchant--or even another character in the
group--because she didn’t like his tone of voice.
Dealing with these folks can be frustrating. You’ve spent a
lot of time creating a campaign from scratch or
familiarizing yourself with one you’ve bought or borrowed.
There’s so much cool stuff that your players can do, so
much for them to explore and discover! Why would this
yutz screw up an amazing story for himself and his fellow
players?
I don’t have an answer for that question. All I know is that
when the game threatens to spiral out of control, you have
two options: you can resist, or you can go with it.
(Fun fact: you have the same choices when your car hits an icy patch and goes into a tailspin.
Equally fun fact: experts recommend the same reaction for both DMs and drivers.)
Resisting is the wrong response, and I’ll give you three reasons why.
For starters, players aren’t stupid. They can read your tone of voice and your actions. They can
tell when you’re frustrated. When throw up your hands and roll your eyes, they see animosity.
That creates a divide between you and them--a divide that interferes with collaborative
storytelling, which is your shared responsibility. You and the players are in this together, and
if you try to hit the brakes while they’re moving forward...well, it’s not likely to improve the
story, that’s for sure.
Second, if you’re resisting, you may become a little vindictive. “Okay,” you say, an evil glint in
your eye, “as you pull out your sword to attack the shopkeep, she presses a small button, and a
trapdoor in the floor gives way, plunging you into a deep, spiked pit. You take 15 points of
bludgeoning damage, 10 points of piercing damage, and I need you to roll a Constitution saving
throw to see if the poison on the spikes affects you.” Though it might feel good at at the time,
that kind of response makes you seem petty, and if not managed properly, it can escalate into a
direct confrontation between you and the players.
Finally, when you resist, you’re telling the players, “Stay on the path I’ve created for you.” That
may sound like a reasonable request, but D&D should never, ever have a set path. Playing D&D
is acting out an alternate life in an alternate universe. There as here, players can choose to go
in any direction they like. Good players will see the outlines of the path you’ve forged, and
they’ll stick to it, more or less. But no one likes to feel as if they’re running through a hamster
maze--even when they’re in a dungeon labyrinth that feels like a literal hamster maze.
So, when players go in unexpected and/or unwise directions, follow them. Lean into it. Always
say “yes”. “All right, you want to rob the priest who just cured your lycanthropy? Tell me how
you want to do that.” And let the story go its merry way.
Even if the game veers in odd directions, your path is still there. All you have to do is guide the
players back to it. They attack a merchant and get sent to jail? Maybe a fellow inmate helps
them escape through a secret tunnel that leads directly into the underground lair they’ve spent
the past three sessions searching for. Maybe they can bribe a guard--or, since they’re so
inclined to roughhouse, knock out a guard, take his uniform, steal some keys, release all of the
prisoners in the place, and escape in the ensuing chaos.
Bottom line: if you’re clever, you can find a way to lead players back to the main narrative
without having to drive them there with a whip.
#6. Let dice drive the story
I don’t usually like metaphors, but this
one’s pretty apt: a good game of D&D is
like a summer road trip. The DM has
built the car, paved the roads, planted
flowers on the median, and constructed
towns along the route, but the players
sit in the driver’s seat. They tell the DM
what their characters do and where
they go, and the DM describes what they see from the car window.
But sometimes, players want to get off the highway, take a winding, bumpy backroad. They
choose to do stupid things--things that can seem doomed to fail. A rogue wants to visit the local
general store and shop for climbing gear? Sure thing, no problem. A fighter wants to
pickpocket the powerful mayor of a large town and steal a magic crystal that she carries for
protection? That’s a dicey proposition--literally.
In these sorts of situations, rely on ability and skill checks to tell the story. Does a character
recall where the local Thieves’ Guild is located? Have her make an Intelligence check to see if
she remembers--or, if she’s from that town, maybe a History check would be more appropriate.
In the example of the pickpocketing fighter above, I’d probably ask for a Sleight of Hand
check--and if the mayor is heavily guarded, I’d insist that he make it with disadvantage.
If they player rolls well, it’s a remarkable success, and the story moves forward. If the roll
fails...well, things can get interesting.
In the case of the thieving fighter, if the roll were high but not high enough, maybe the guards
would just shove him away. If the roll weren’t so close, maybe they’d rough him up a bit and
throw him out of town on his ear. And if the roll were especially bad--say, a natural
one--maybe the fighter would get locked in prison...or worse.
In short, relying on die rolls creates an element of randomness, and randomness keeps the
game fun. (Many casino gamblers will tell you the same thing.)
The dice also ensure an element of fairness. For example, if players have gone way off-course
and you’re starting to feel frustrated (as we discussed in section five above), allowing dice to
determine the narrative ensures that you remain impartial. If the players try something
extraordinary and succeed, it’s a hugely memorable moment. If they fail, they know that it’s
because luck wasn’t on their side and they performed poorly. Most importantly, in the latter
case they’ll know that it’s not a matter of you being vindictive.
As with all of the players’ rolls, make sure you can see the dice when they land. Don’t single out
anyone if you can help it--no one likes to be accused of cheating. I suggest setting a policy
upfront that ensures die rolls can be seen by all players and the DM. (Using a simple,
inexpensive tool like a dice tower can make the practice fun, too.) This keeps everyone on the
up and up.
As for whether the players can see your die rolls, that’s your call, but I think you should keep
them secret. I’m not suggesting that you ignore your own rolls and always take the story where
you like. Quite the opposite: the DM needs to experience randomness too, just to keep the game
entertaining. But in some cases, die rolls can give away crucial information.
For example, if one of your players casts Charm Person or Geas on an NPC, maybe the charm
works...or maybe the NPC simply wants to play along as if the charm has worked, until the NPC
has an opportunity to attack. If the players can see your die rolls, you risk ruining the surprise.
#7. Keep the stakes high
Most DMs want characters to succeed--to slay
the slavers, to retrieve the ring of power, to
liberate the lost prince. That’s not just because
we like stories with closure and happy endings;
it’s also because the players gathered around
the table are our friends. Whether we’re DMing
or having them over for dinner, we want to
entertain them, to show them a good time. It’s
hard to do that when players’ characters are
being slaughtered left and right.
But it’s a mistake to make D&D so easy that
there are no consequences for the characters. If you load up every treasure chest with healing
potions and powerful scrolls, if your NPC cleric has a seemingly endless ability to cure wounds
and remove curses, if you treat chaotic evil, tenth-level wizards like brainless worms, players
are going to lose interest--or at the very least, they’re going to start acting irresponsibly.
I’m not saying that every combat episode needs to be a three-session-long boss battle (though
there’s certainly a time and place for that). But take a good, long look at the stats for the
monsters your players are fighting. Do they have a below-average Intelligence of 5, an average
Intelligence of 10, or an extraordinary Intelligence of 19? Are they prepared for a fight, and if
so, are they not on heightened alert for interlopers? If one of your player’s characters were in a
similar situation, how would he react? Would he surrender if all of his friends lay dead? Trigger
a deadly trap? Deceive his attackers while attempting to make a break for it?
Simply put, some monsters are stupid, but not nearly all. Some are devastatingly clever. Play
them as such. Play them as though you were on the other side of the DM’s screen and they were
your character.
This approach applies in non-combat situations, too. If you treat the party’s foes realistically,
you ought to do the same for the world at large. Actions have consequences. Consider the
scenario we discussed in section six--the one with the pickpocketing fighter. If he fails his
attempt, he might go to jail, he might be fined, he might be banished from the town forever. But
he might also lose a hand, an eye, or an ear. He might be branded, scarred, or tattooed as a
thief. He might experience a change in alignment or lose favor with his god.
And in some cases, he might die.
Thankfully, death is one element of D&D that doesn’t have to be as realistic as it is in our
universe. According to the current rules, a player needs to fail three death saving throws
before she dies for good. In the interim, another member of the party can feed her a healing
potion, cast a healing spell, or attempt to stabilize her with a Medicine check. And even if a
character does die, there are still ways to bring her back.
Say that the worst has happened and one of your character is killed in battle. Maybe he failed
three death saving throws, was attacked multiple times while at zero hit points (which
triggered automatic death saving throw failures), or suffered a massive amount of damage in
a single attack. (The various ways characters can die are explained on page 197 of the Player’s
Handbook.)
That’s a tragedy, and hopefully the other players will react as such, but before they start
planning funeral rites, have your magic-users make Arcana and/or Religion checks. Chances
are, one of them has heard of spells like Raise Dead and Resurrection. Bringing the character
back to life can become a side-quest, with the other characters transporting their friend’s body
to a powerful cleric and asking her to restore him. (During these sessions, the “dead” player can
either watch from the sidelines or play a new character, possibly one that’s been an NPC.) Of
course, the cleric performing the ritual may demand some form of payment, or the spell may
not work as intended...but that’s another story.
What I’m trying to say is this: if you treat the world of D&D realistically, it will become more
real for the players. At the very least, that should nudge some of your wilder players to
consider the effects of their actions. And in a best-case scenario, it’ll encourage everyone to
think through challenges more thoroughly, to become more creative in overcoming obstacles,
and to play their characters as they’re written--dumb or smart, good or evil, impulsive or
cautious.
#8. Force characters to make hard
choices
Because anything is possible in D&D, players
have the opportunity to make plenty of
choices. Some of those choices won’t be
difficult. Kill the orcs who’ve ambushed you
in the woods? Of course! Loot the body of the
warlock you’ve just defeated? Duh,
obviously.
But part of the fun--and part of what makes
a campaign memorable for players--is
putting characters in complicated moral or
strategic situations. Should they take the
gold or save a child? Use the party’s last
healing potion on their best fighter or on the NPC who knows his way through the dungeon?
Trust the hobgoblin who’s gone AWOL from her unit or slit her throat as she begs for mercy?
Those “Sophie’s choice” moments are the things that players will recall for weeks, months,
maybe even years. They may also be the kind of moments that spark fierce debate in the group,
as chaotic personalities vehemently disagree with lawful ones. As long those arguments take
place in character, they’ll enrich the story--which is, of course, your number-one goal.
#9. Let players do the talking
As a DM, part of your job is to keep a record of what
the players have done on their adventure. Every DM
has a different method for doing this. I tend to jot
down short notes during gaming sessions; then
when I get home, I translate those notes into full
sentences before I forget what they mean.
(Otherwise, I find myself running through my
scribbles an hour before a meetup thinking “‘Bought
items’? For what? From whom? Who the hell bought
them?”)
I think it’s a good idea to have players take notes
too, or at least have them appoint someone as the
party’s scribe. That way, they’ll have a written account of the story--one that’ll probably
include details that you’ve left out of your own notes.
Before the game begins, I usually provide a quick recap of recent events, setting the stage for
the current session. Every so often, though, I’ll ask one of the players to bring us up to speed
instead. It helps firm up the story in their minds--far more than if I’m just reading something to
them. It gives them a sense of where they are in this long, drawn-out miniseries we call a
campaign. And as an added bonus, the details they include will give me some insight into the
elements of the adventure they’ve found most memorable.
I do this during gameplay too. When the players encounter someone in their travels, I make
sure that the NPC asks them who they are and what they’re doing. This allows the players to
share their version of the campaign, and it also allows them to tell their own characters’
stories. That not only clarifies the narrative, the story arc of the adventure, it also gives the
players’ a stronger sense of their own characters. Like actors who’ve become intimately
familiar with the roles they’re performing, this deepens player’s understanding of the world
they’re exploring and their characters’ place within it. To me, that’s a win-win.
#10. Change the scenery
Every player tackles challenges in
D&D in her own way. Some charge
into dungeons with a war cry,
waving their swords wildly
overhead. Some are more cautious
and curious, thinking their way
through obstacles. Others love
chatting up locals, laying out
battle strategies, exploring new
terrain, and so on.
As a DM, you have to provide the
right mix of social interaction,
exploration, and combat to keep
every player engaged.
When the game is moving along
precisely as you’d planned, you might not notice that you’ve gotten the balance right. But it’s
very easy to tell when the balance is wrong: players get bored, they start checking their cell
phones, they begin acting carelessly, like they just want to get to the “fun stuff”. Pay attention,
and it’ll be apparent when their attention shifts away from the game.
The best adventures I’ve DMed have been about 50% exploration, 30% combat, and 20% social.
To me, that makes sense: a big part of what draws us to D&D is the allure of exploring a
strange, new world. (When I play video games like Skyrim, I can spend hours just roaming
around, taking in the sights, before I even bother with quests.) Social interactions, though? We
experience those every day, so we probably don’t want as many of them at the gaming table.
Keep in mind that you need to provide this mix of environments no matter whether you’re
running a campaign that you’ve created yourself or one that someone else has written. Yes,
even in a prefab adventure, there are opportunities to drop in something new. For example, if
your players are in an urban setting and grow tired of chit-chatting with NPCs, toss in a
menacing group of thugs to provide a little combat--or let them discover a half-hidden ladder
so they can explore the town from the rooftops.
On the other hand, If they’ve just finished a long dungeon slog, slaying wave after wave of orcs,
hobgoblins, and whatever else you’ve hurled at them, let characters interact with a new NPC.
Maybe it’s a fellow adventurer who’s the only surviving member of his party. Or perhaps it’s a
bandit who’s reconsidered her life of crime and has deserted from a larger group.
Maintaining an appropriate level of tension between exploration, combat, and social scenarios
takes practice, but in time, practice makes...well, not
perfect, but you get better at it.
#11. Keep it moving
At some point in every campaign, things slow to a crawl.
Maybe the party is doing some last-minute shopping in
preparation for a massive dungeon delve. Maybe they’re
on a week-long journey through the desert, with
nothing but random encounters between them and the
next oasis. Or maybe they’re sitting at a tavern,
drinking and debating their next move.
Whatever the case, gameplay in these situations can become disorganized and, let’s face it,
dull. DMing a shopping excursion and rolling up random encounters can be tedious, and
players’ short attention spans will be on full display. Your job is to keep things moving along as
quickly as possible.
Are the characters travelling for an extended period of time? If you don’t have any encounters
planned, maybe create one random run-in--ideally one that helps move the story along--but no
more than that. Are they looking for a particular kind of shop? Why look, there’s one on the
next corner. There’s no need to make them ask every street urchin in town just to find a smith,
leatherworker, or temple. Are they haggling with merchants? Simply ask the players what
they’d like to purchase and be done with it.
I take this same speedy approach to some of the more realistic elements of storytelling--food,
for example. Unless scarcity of food and water is an element in the story, I almost never ask
players about when or what they eat. I don’t make them keep track of rations. I know it’s a part
of the game, but as a DM, I have the option to overlook certain rules and guidelines, and that’s
one that doesn’t matter to me. Like the players themselves, I want to get to the good stuff.
#12. Don’t take anything too seriously (except
this tip)
D&D is a game. A few lucky folks make a living from it, but
the majority of us play D&D for fun. The camaraderie, the
storytelling, the triumphs, the tragedies, the potato chip
crumbs stuck in every crevice of your Monster Manual--it’s
all meant to be enjoyable, so enjoy it. Surely the rest of
your life is stressful enough without treating your hobbies
like life-or-death crises.
Sadly, I know some DMs who haven’t yet learned this lesson. I’ve seen them threaten players
with bodily harm for cracking jokes at the gaming table. I’ve seen them fume at people who’ve
given their characters ridiculous names like “Bob II: This Time It’s Personal”. And you know
what? I’ve never once thought, “Yeah, that player should straighten up.” In every case, I’ve said
to myself, “Man, that DM’s a jerk. Who’d wanna play under him?”
So what if a player wants to give her character a dumb name? As long as she’s not distracting
from the game, roll with it. (If you really, truly hate the name, find a way to give her a title, or
perhaps a pseudonym that her character must use to remain disguised.) So what if a player
wants to flirt with NPC priests or attack city guards? Let him. In a game like D&D, it’s natural
for folks to push boundaries. Once they realize that yes, anything’s possible--and once they see
how the less-rambunctious players behave--they’ll likely settle down.
And if they don’t, take them aside and have a chat about their behavior. Or simply don’t invite
them back. The one thing you shouldn’t do is rant and rave at the gaming table. That just puts
everyone on edge and makes a fun pastime into an awkward obligation.
It should go without saying that as a DM, you’re allowed to have fun, too. Give NPCs funny
names, use funny accents, have them tell bawdy jokes. You want an egomaniacal mercenary to
speak in an Arnold Schwarzenegger-y voice? Go for it. It’ll make that character exponentially
more memorable. You want to put a mysterious, extradimensional blue box in the middle of an
abandoned castle? Great. Some of the players may realize it’s a TARDIS, but will they know how
to operate it? Where will it take them? Is there a man with a fez wandering about the ruins
somewhere?
(At the suggestion of someone on Reddit, I once placed a Mr. Meeseeks box from Rick and Morty
in a treasure chest. The players thought it was funny, and they used the Mr. Meeseeks to great
effect--until of course many of the little blue guys went crazy and undid all characters’
carefully laid plans.)
I’m not saying that every gaming session should be like a comedy festival. In fact, if you follow
some of the tips I’ve outlined above, you’ll often have challenging, poignant, and sad moments
during your campaigns. But to me, what makes a great game is balancing those heavier,
emotional moments with lighthearted play. Leaning too far in one direction or the other can be
monotonous, so do yourself and your players a favor by throwing in a few gags to counter the
gore.
THAT’S ALL FOLKS
If you’ve been DMing for a while, chance are good that you’ve got your own list of rules for
running great, engaging adventures. If that system is working for you and your players, by all
means, keep using it. I mean, if it ain’t broke….
On the other hand, if you feel like something’s been missing from your campaigns, perhaps
some of the suggestions I’ve offered here will improve things just a bit. At the very least, I hope
they provide some food for thought.
If you have additional questions or comments, feel free to email me at [email protected]. You
can find my personal blog at sturtle.com, and some of my other published works are available
at DMsGuild.com and Amazon.com.
For nearly half a century, Dungeons & Dragons has enthralled fantasy fans around the globe.
It continues to attract new players even in this era of high-tech pastimes, despite the fact that
D&D relies on nothing more than a couple of rule books and some funny-looking dice.
What makes D&D and other tabletop role-playing games so special, so alluring, is the fact
that anyone can enjoy them. You don’t need any particular skills; you only need to bring your
imagination. And because of that, each time you sit down at the gaming table--whether that
table is in a bar, a basement, or a hotel ballroom--the experience is a little different.
There’s only one real constant in D&D: the fun is in the playing, not the winning. In fact,
unlike most board games, card games, and video games, no one ever “wins” D&D. You
simply live to fight another day.
Richard Read has spent more than three decades playing D&D, and much of that time
has been spent behind the dungeon master’s screen. In this short book, he shares some of
the lessons he’s learned overseeing campaigns large and small. If you’re a longtime dungeon
master, many of his observations will probably ring true. And if you’re new to DMing, some
of his advice may help turn your next adventure into one that players remember for years to
come.
* * * * *
Richard Read has written about games, cars, travel, theatre, and pop culture for Gawker, Fodors,
High Gear Media, and many points in-between. He’s penned several D&D adventures; edits
Gaywheels.com, a website devoted to LGBT car fans; and co-authored The French Quarter
Drinking Companion, a field guide to some of New Orleans’ best watering holes. He lives in New
Orleans with his partners, numerous hounds, and a moderately well-stocked bar.
| textdata/thevault/Old School Revival (OSR(ic))/[Adventure Design & Dungeoncraft]/GM Advice & Writing/12 Simple Rules for DMing; The Magic Behind Mayhem, Murder, and Monsters.pdf |
GP
Starting GP
Lifestyle
�
None
�
Standard (12 gp x TU)
�
Rich (50 gp x TU)
�
Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
FINAL GP TOTAL
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp value
XP
Starting XP
- XP
XP lost or spent
XP
Subtotal
+ XP
XP Gained
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP
TU
Starting TU
1 or 2 TU
TU Cost
- TU
Added TU Costs
TU REMAINING
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
Cross off all items NOT found
APL 2:
�
Armor of the Brogan (Adventure; see above)
�
Elixir of Hiding (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Elixir of Love (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Elixir of Sneaking (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Elixir of Vision (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Lance of the Brogan (Adventure; see above)
�
Masterwork Military Saddle (Adventure; Complete Adventurer)
�
Sword of the Brogan (Adventure; see above)
�
Wand of Cure Light Wounds (CL 1st; Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
APL 4 (all of APL 2 plus the following):
�
Large Masterwork Falchion (Adventure; Player’s Handbook)
APL 6 (all of APLs 2, 4 plus the following):
�
Large +1 Falchion (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Pearl of Power, 1st Level Spell (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
APL 8 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6 plus the following):
APL 10 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8 plus the following):
�
Cloak of Resistance +2 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Wand of Revenance (CL 7th; Adventure; Complete Divine)
APL 12 (all of APLs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 plus the following):
�
Horseshoes of Speed (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Large +1 Unholy Falchion (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Pearl of Power, 3rd Level Spell (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
�
Potion of Shield of Faith +5 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
Adventure Record#
595 CY
A D V E N T U R E
L E V E L O F
P L A Y
(CIRCLE ONE)
APL 2
max 450 xp; 450 gp
APL 4
max 675 xp; 650 gp
APL 6
max 900 xp; 900 gp
APL 8
max 1,125 xp; 1,300 gp
APL 10
max 1,350 xp; 2,300 gp
APL 12
max 1,575 xp; 3,300 gp
Cross out any game effects this character does not gain.
� Influence Point with the Knights of the Watch: In return for
assisting Watcher Reginar Vlarrian in the matter of Watcher Helerain
Brogan, this PC has earned influence with the Knights of the Watch.
Alternately a human, dwarven or half-eleven PC meeting the other
requirements for the order can use this influence to have Watcher
Vlarrian’s recommendation to squire to the order.
� Thanks of the Lesser Brogans: For ridding their manor of its
“ghosts”, the current Brogan family promises an annual shipment of fruit
from their orchards to their rescuers. This fruit can be sold once per year
for 50 gp on the first Adventure Record of each year (this amount is in
addition to any gold awarded on that AR).
� Promise to the Nackel Gnomes: This PC promised a service to the
Nackel gnomes for leaving the orchard. This promise may come into play
in a future adventure.
� Oath of the Brogan: This PC has sworn an oath to aid Watcher
Helerain Brogan in destroying his sworn enemy the Baklunish lich Feyza
Bahun. In any future encounter with minions of the Bahun Lich, this PC
receives a +1 sacred bonus to attacks, damage, and saving throws against
those minions.
� Shard of the Shield of the Brogan: This piece of a shattered large
steel shield was once a +1 animated shield, but it was destroyed in the final
battle between Brogan and Bahun. Helerain Brogan insisted that each PC
that swore an Oath of the Brogan take a shard with them when
departing his crypt.
Note: The Oath of the Brogan is required for access to the items below. These items
may not be upgraded in any other way than those described below:
� Sword of the Brogan: This masterwork longsword is the foundation of
a sword of crypts (A&EG). It begins as a masterwork longsword, but the
owner is entitled to purchase the following upgrades (Frequency:
Regional) in the following order: +1 enhancement bonus (2k gp), holy
weapon special ability (16k gp), +2 enhancement bonus (14k gp),
completed sword of crypts (10k gp). Moderate Evocation (Good); CL 9th;
Prerequisites: can’t be crafted; Market Price: 315 gp (base), 42,315 gp
(completed); Weight: 4 lbs.
� Armor of the Brogan: This bright golden masterwork chainmail is the
foundation of a suit of celestial armor. It begins as masterwork chainmail,
but the owner is entitled to purchase the following upgrades (Frequency:
Regional) in the following order: +1 enhancement bonus (1k gp), +2
enhancement bonus (3k gp), +3 enhancement bonus (5k gp), completed
celestial armor (13,100 gp). Faint Transmutation (Good); CL 5th; Prerequisites:
can’t be crafted; Market Price: 300 gp (base), 22,400 gp (completed); Weight:
20 lbs.
� Lance of the Brogan: This masterwork lance is the foundation of a lance
of the unending charge (A&EG). It begins as a masterwork lance, but the
owner is entitled to purchase the following upgrades (Frequency:
Regional) in the following order: +1 enhancement bonus (2k gp), mighty
cleaving weapon special ability (6k gp), +2 enhancement bonus (10k gp),
completed lance of the unending charge (32k gp). Strong Transmutation; CL
13th; Prerequisites: can’t be crafted; Market Price: 310 gp (base), 50,310 gp
(completed); Weight: 10 lbs.
This Record Certifies that
____________________________________________
Played by______________________________________
Player
RPGA #
Has Completed
GRM5-06 Family Fortunes
A Regional Adventure
Set in Gran March
Event: __________________________________ Date: ______________
DM: ___________________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
Play Notes:
�
Gained a level
�
Lost a level
�
Ability Drained ____________
�
Died
�
Was raised/res’d
�
Was reincarnated
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Home Region________________________
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Gran March/595/Normal Scenarios/GRM5-06 - Family Fortunes (APL 2-12)/GRM5-06 - Family Fortunes AR.pdf |
1
THE
UNWAVERING
PATH
A Multiclassing Quest for
Monks and Paladins
CREDITS
Design:
Kolja Raven Liquette
Editing:
Miranda Horner
Typesetting:
Nancy Walker
Web Production
Bart Carroll
Web Development:
Mark A. Jindra
Graphic Design:
Sean Glenn, Cynthia Fliege
and Jen Page
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® game by E.
Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and on the new edition of the
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet,
Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, and Peter Adkison.
D&D, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and DUNGEON MASTER are registered trademarks owned
by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. The d20 logo is a trademark owned by Wizards of the
Coast, Inc. All Wizards characters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses
thereof are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United
States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the
material or artwork contained herein is prohibited
without the express written permission of
Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
©2006 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Made in the U.S.A.
This product is a work of fiction.
Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places,
or events is purely coincidental.
This Wizards of the Coast game product contains no Open Game Content.
No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without
written permission. To learn more about the Open Gaming License
and the d20 System License,
please visit www.wizards.com/d20.
For more DUNGEONS & DRAGONS articles, adventures, and information,
visit www.wizards.com/dnd
INTRODUCTION
Monks and paladins, lawful professions at heart,
demand consistency of themselves more than any
other quality. Both classes adhere to traditions for the
sake of creating standards upon which they can always
count. From the repetition of exercise, meditation, and
prayer, both classes reinforce the strength of their
convictions, whether from within (the self) or from
without (the divine). As such, the moment their focus
changes to pursue a different path, for even one level,
both classes must forever abandon that profession.
These characters must make a lasting choice before
multiclassing, deciding if they have advanced far
enough as monks or paladins for their entire career.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY
The Unwavering Path makes use of the information in
the three D&D core rulebooks—the Player’s Handbook
(PH), Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG), and M o n s t e r
Manual (MM), as well as Monster Manual II (MMII),
Monster Manual III (MMIII), Fiend Folio (FF), a n d
Fiendish Codex I: The Hordes of the Abyss (FCI).
THE UNWAVERING
PATH (LEVELS 3–5)
“I never stopped being a monk, even after I discovered
the magic that flowed through my veins. Still, I had to
convince myself first.”
—The human Lornis Dareborn, monk/sorcerer
Monks and paladins often find themselves tempted by the
special abilities of other classes and prestige classes. They
see how many of these abilities can aid them in their fight
against the unruly forces of chaos. Straying from the monk
or paladin class, however, comes with a stern warning.
Once you follow another path, there is no turning back.
But what if a monk could take levels of sorcerer or a
paladin could take levels of rogue and then return to being
a martial disciple of justice or a holy defender of truth?
2
pqqqqrs
LORE OF THE UNWAVERING PATH
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (arcana),
Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nature), or Knowledge
(religion) can research the Unwavering Path to learn
more about this quest. When a character makes a skill
check, read or paraphrase the appropriate information
from one of the following tables, including the informa-
tion from lower DCs.
If the character is looking for a way to ignore her monk
or paladin multiclassing restriction, use the entire table. If
the character had heard of the Unwavering Path specifi-
cally and wants to see whether she knows more about it,
reveal information only for check results of 20 or higher.
After getting information from a Knowledge check,
the characters should be able to learn more about the
Unwavering Path by consulting masters or priests who
keep track of the extradimensional anomaly, or by trying
to find individuals who were referenced in the informa-
tion they have gained. Such resources can reveal the
information for Knowledge DCs higher than the PCs’
check results, or any other information about the
Unwavering Path that you’d like the characters to have.
Knowledge (arcana)
DC
Result
15
During certain days of the summer months, directly asso-
ciated with low ocean tides, demons have crossed over
from the Abyss and inexplicably appeared on various
coastlines.
20
At certain times during an ocean tide, lawfully minded
people can open fissures in reality through which
outsiders from other planes of existence can enter the
Material Plane.
Knowledge (local)
DC
Result
10
Stories tell of adventurers walking into the ocean during
low tides, never to be seen again. Those few who return do
so minutes, hours, or even days later.
15
Whenever adventurers disappear into the ocean, locals
tend to stay away from the coastline for about a week. If
the adventurers do not return, something profanely evil
usually appears in their place.
20
Villagers who make their living fishing along ocean coast-
lines have heard of demons that emerge out of the
depths, shortly after lawfully minded adventurers disap-
peared into the same waters.
2 5
Several years back, during the lowest tide of summer, a
local boy named Thodun Daystorm, who had originally left
the community to become a paladin, returned home and
marched into the ocean on what he called a quest of self-
d i s c o v e r y. He was never heard from again. No more than
three days later, a winged creature, immolated with fire,
emerged out of the water in the same place where Thodun
disappeared and took off into the sky, laughing raucously.
Knowledge (nature)
DC
Result
15
Places located near the coastlines of oceans have portals
to an alternate dimension that can be opened for a short
time.
20
When the tides are at their lowest, those who know how to
open fissures in reality can travel through them into a
bridging dimension.
25
For about three days a month, during the season of
summer, when ocean tides reach their lowest points,
lawfully minded people can focus their spirit to open a
dimensional pathway that leads into another plane of exis-
tence between this world and the Abyss.
Knowledge (religion)
DC
Result
10
Former monks and paladins who abandoned their calling
have been known to become monks and paladins again.
15
There is a quest, that masters and priests never talk about
openly, called the Unwavering Path. The quest allows
people who were once monks or paladins to embrace
those callings again after pursuing different professions.
20
Those who seek the Unwavering Path must travel to an
ocean coastline during the lowest tides of summer and
meditate on their desire to become a monk or paladin
again. If they can create the needed state of mind, the
Unwavering Path opens for them and their companions,
which can then be walked along.
25
The Unwavering Path leads to an oppressively hot extradi-
mensional locality that bridges the Material Plane and the
Abyss, wherein demons test the faith of adventurers who
wish to become monks or paladins again. A gift is offered,
that if accepted, must be returned in kind before continu-
ing along the path.
30
Whenever a former monk or paladin dies while following
the Unwavering Path, or fails to return a demonic gift, the
demons that tested her are released onto the Material
Plane, free to murder and pillage as they are wont to do.
pqqqqrs
3
What if their devotion to being a monk or paladin never
diminished during their exploration of other professions?
The Unwavering Path quest offers former monks and
paladins a way to test the strength of their convictions.
Those who know about the Unwavering Path
caution those who seek the quest to be certain in their
desire. Many who walk the path find themselves
trapped along the way, unable to move forward and
unable to double back. They must find a way to end the
journey or expire along the way. While the reported
methods for completing the quest have been similar,
those who successfully walk the path come back with
different stories to tell about their experiences, but also
are more confident for having endured them.
Characters can embark upon the Unwavering Path
in any part of the world where an ocean tide exists. The
cyclical ebbing and surging nature of ocean tides repre-
sents the fluctuating choices that people make during
their lives, some of which return them to where they
began. The path is an extradimensional anomaly that
monks and paladins, who still meet the alignment and
code of conduct prerequisites of their class, can open. A
character must first attain a meditative state of mind,
after which the path becomes apparent. The quest can
be a solitary one, but a character may also bring
companions along by instructing them how to proceed.
THE WATER’S EDGE
A character can embark upon the Unwavering Path
from the coastline of any ocean that is either connected
to a mainland continent or island. For three days every
month, during the season of summer, when the ocean
tide reaches its lowest point, the Unwavering Path
opens for about 1 hour (1/2 hour on the day before and
after the lowest tide).
A former monk or paladin must travel out to the
farthest point of the tide, meditate for 15 minutes, and
succeed on a DC 15 Concentration check to create a
spiritual focus. This spiritual focus opens a fissure in
reality and grants the ability to see the Unwavering
Path, which appears as a straight line of luminescent,
ionized air leading directly into the ocean. The charac-
ter must negotiate over seaweed, shells, and stones
until completely submerged underwater (walking at
her normal height). During this time, the character
moves through the water as if affected by a freedom of
m o v e m e n t and water breathing spell. Those who move
into an adjacent 5-foot square on either side of the
Unwavering Path are affected by the water normally.
Once a character attains the spiritual focus needed
to sense the Unwavering Path, her awareness persists
until willfully dispelled from her mind. A former
monk or paladin can instruct her companions on how
to follow the Unwavering Path. Once every member of
the party submerges underwater (walking normally)
they are simultaneously transported into a bridging
dimension between worlds.
The divine and profane magic that saturates the
bridging dimension redirects any attempts to teleport
into or out of it. Thus, whether the PCs arrive by magic
or on foot after traveling to a coastline, they come to
the farthest edge of an ocean tide.
Random Encounters
Entrances to the Unwavering Path may well be fraught
with chaotic creatures that have come to expect lawfully
minded adventurers to frequent the area, and so lay in
wait to ambush them. You can either roll once on the
table below or select one encounter that you prefer. The
listed creatures are chaotic in their alignment or behav-
ior and aquatic in their subtype. Creatures who know
how the Unwavering Path works can exploit the char-
acter’s lack of mobility or even attempt to force them off
the path (to be affected by the water normally).
The Water’s Edge Encounters
d%
Encounter
EL
1–10
Shark, Medium (MM 279)
1
11–20
Squid (MM 281)
1
21–30
Shark, Large (MM 279)
2
31–40
2 ixitxachitl (MMII 128)
2
41–50
Water mephit (MM 185)
3
51–60
Ixitxachitl, vampiric (MMII 129)
3
61–70
Sea hag (MM 144)
4
71–80
Skulvyn (FF 54)
4
81–90
Morkoth (MMII 152)
5
91–100
Sirine (MMII 185)
5
BRIDGING DIMENSION
The monk or paladin, and accompanying party
members (if any), are transported into an extradimen-
sional locality. Read or paraphrase the following text:
The smell of brimstone and sulfur are the first
sensations that reach you. Smoke hangs in the
bright orange sky of your new surroundings,
matched by a copper-red landscape of imposing
crags that impossibly lean and tower over the
firmament. The ground beneath your feet begins to
shake, rumble, and then violently quake as a long
narrow passageway opens before you, almost as if
an enormous axe blade cleft the mountain range in
two. Although difficult to see, an intense fire burns
at the opposite end of this newly formed corridor,
from which waves of heat pulse against your skin
and black smoke continually billows into the sky.
Although it may seem otherwise to the PCs, they have
not reached the Abyss yet. They are, however, very
close. The stink of tanar’ri is apparent here precisely
because demons regularly pass through this locality.
Any former monk or paladin who has not dispelled
their spiritual focus can sense the Unwavering Path
stretching through the newly formed corridor in a
straight line for about one mile.
Night and day do not exist in this bridging dimen-
sion, the temperature condition is “very hot” (see Heat
Dangers on page 303 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide) ,
natural healing is not possible, and magical healing
restores only one-half as many hit points. Untold evil
has been performed in this place, and so the detect evil
spell reveals a landscape that radiates strong evil. This
grows to overwhelming evil as the corridor is traversed.
If the PCs travel in any direction other than down
the mountain corridor, they must succeed on a
Fortitude saving throw every 10 minutes (DC 20, +1
per previous check) or be sickened for 1d4 rounds by
the ambient evil. For every 24 hours that characters
spend anywhere in this bridging dimension, another
Fortitude save must be made to avoid becoming perma-
nently sickened (DC 10, + 5 per previous 24 hours of
exposure). A restoration spell is required to remove this
condition. If already sickened, the character becomes
nauseated.
In addition, characters who attempt to climb or fly
over the corridor or crags encounter a thick choking
smoke 60 feet above the ground (originating from the
corridor fire) and must make a Fortitude saving throw
each round (DC 15, +1 per previous check). A character
who chokes for 2 consecutive rounds takes 1d6 points
of nonlethal damage.
Corruption Points: Alternatively, taint points may be
used for this locality (see The Taint of Evil and Tainted
Locations, pages 62 and 68 respectively of Heroes of
H o r r o r). In this case, characters automatically take 1
point of corruption for every 10 minutes spent traveling
away from the mountain corridor and make the same
daily Fortitude saving throws to resist taking 1d3 points
of corruption each 24 hours of exposure.
MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR
A character who walks down the one-mile long, 20-foot
wide corridor encounters the occasional skeleton that
looks to have died from heat exposure or starvation. In
some cases, pieces of metal armor litter the corridor
like bread crumbs that eventually lead to a body. The
temperature condition is “severe heat” within the corri-
dor, which increases to “extreme heat” within 60 feet of
the corridor end (see Heat Dangers, page 303 of the
Dungeon Master’s Guide).
Note: PCs who turn around and double back along
the mountain corridor, after taking even one step into
the newly formed passageway, discover that the
passageway now stretches infinitely behind them into
the distance. PCs can literally walk forever in this
direction, but would have to cover that ground again if
they turn back. In addition, any character who
attempts to climb or fly out of the mountain corridor
encounters the same choking smoke 60 feet above the
ground.
Approaching the Corridor End: As the PCs near the
corridor end, read or paraphrase the following text:
The fire you originally perceived is revealed to be a
pair of burning wooden gates, each 10 feet wide
and 30 feet tall. Despite the intense heat generated
by the flames, the wooden gates, braced with metal,
are never truly consumed, continually billowing
black smoke into the upper corridor and sky. This
distraction, however, is nothing compared to the
creature, most certainly a demon, standing in front
of the gates, smiling calmly as you approach.
4
5
The character level of a former monk or paladin and
accompanying party members (if any) determines the
demon or demons that stand before the gates. For
higher level characters, scale the encounters with the
former monk or paladin and their accompanying party
members.
The Fiery Gate Encounter
Party
Party
Members
Level
Demon (CR)
1
3
Dretch (M M 42) or quasit (M M 46) (CR 2)
1
4
Rutterkin (FCI 51) (CR 3)
1
5
2 dretch (MM 42) or 2 quasits (MM 46)
(CR 4)
2
3
2 dretch (MM 42) or 2 quasits (MM 46)
(CR 4)
2
4
Juvenile nabassu (F C I 48) or jovoc
(MMII 58) (CR 5)
2
5
Babau (MM 40) (CR 6)
3
3
Juvenile nabassu (F C I 48) or jovoc
(MMII 58) (CR 5)
3
4
Babau (MM 40) (CR 6)
3
5
Arrow demon (MMIII 34) or succubus
(MM 47) (CR 7)
4
3
Babau (MM 40) (CR 6)
4
4
Arrow demon (MMIII 34) or succubus
(MM 47) (CR 7)
4
5
2 babau (MM 40) or palrethee (MMII
59) (CR 8)
T a c t i c s : The demon or demons are automatically aware
of any creature within 100 feet whose thoughts they
can detect, but must otherwise rely on Spot checks.
The demon or demons have been given the opportu-
nity to pass to the Material Plane, but must defeat the
PCs without engaging them in battle. The demon or
demons address only the former monk or paladin of a
party and make one statement:
“Beyond these gates lies your path.”
The demon or demons gesture toward the gates and
allow the PCs to approach uncontested. Any character
who approaches the gates notices letters carved into
the wooden surface beneath the flames. Characters
who succeed on a DC 10 Knowledge (religion) check
recognize these letters from the Celestial alphabet. Any
character who can read Celestial can decipher the
following text:
“Return any harm given before passing through
these gates alive.”
Touching the gates deals 1d6 points of fire damage
and 1d6 points of profane damage. Gripping either gate
handle to open a gate deals 2d6 points of fire damage
and 2d6 points of profane damage and imposes a –2
penalty on attack rolls, Climb, Craft, Disable Device,
Escape Artist, Forgery, Heal, Open Lock, Sleight of
Hand, and Use Rope checks until the damage to the
character’s hand is healed. A Fortitude save (DC 10 +
damage taken) allows the character to “tough it out”
and ignore this penalty. The PCs can make a Strength
check as a full-round action when attempting to open
the gate, but no amount of force will do so at this point.
D e v e l o p m e n t s : If asked how to open the gates, the
demon or demons will address the former monk or
paladin and open both of their hands (two demons will
each open one hand):
“To follow the path, accept my (our) gift.”
This statement prompts characters to make a single
Sense Motive check opposed by the Bluff checks of
each demon present. If the characters win, they receive
an unnerving feeling that the offered “gift” is double
sided, potentially resulting in harm.
A former monk or paladin who places her hands
into the hands of the demon or demons is immediately
infused with profane energy and must make a
Fortitude save to avoid becoming permanently shaken
(DC 10, + CR of demon or demons). A r e s t o r a t i o n s p e l l
is required to remove this condition. If the character is
already shaken, they are now frightened.
Once the infusion of profanity has been accepted,
the former monk or paladin now has a chance to open
the fiery gates with a DC 20 Strength check as a full-
round action. Touching or gripping either gate or
handle no longer deals any damage (but only these
burning gates and handles).
Characters who look through an open gate can see
only light disappearing into impenetrable darkness.
Depravity Points: Alternatively, taint points may be
used for this interaction (see The Taint of Evil, pages 6
of Heroes of Horror). In this case, former monks or
paladins automatically take 1d6 points of depravity for
accepting the infusion of profanity from the demon or
demons.
ACTIONS AND OUTCOMES
Depending on the decisions made by PCs, the follow-
ing consequences may result.
• A former monk or paladin accepts the infusion of
profanity, forces one or both gates open, and walks
through.
This character finds herself in the Abyss, gains
nothing from the quest, and is greeted by a welcom-
ing party of demons who are accustomed to adven-
turers making this mistake. The Encounter Level of
this encounter should be “overpowering” (EL 1+
higher than the ECL of one character, EL 3+ for two
6
characters, EL 4+ for three characters, and EL 5+ for a
party of four characters). The demon or demons back
in the corridor may now use the gates to enter the
Material Plane.
•
A former monk or paladin does not accept the infu-
sion of profanity but attacks the demon or demons
without provocation.
This character gains nothing from the quest, even
if another party member attacks the demon or
demons without provocation. The gates open by
themselves if the demon or demons are defeated,
leading back to the coastline where the quest began.
If the demon or demons defeat the characters, they
may use the gates to enter the Material Plane.
•
A former monk or paladin accepts the infusion of
profanity, but attacks and defeats the demon or
demons before attempting to force open one or
both gates.
This character successfully completes the quest.
The gates open by themselves once the demon or
demons are defeated, leading back to the coastline
where the quest began. If the demon or demons had
defeated the characters, they would have used the
gates to enter the Material Plane.
•
A former monk or paladin refuses the infusion of
profanity, awaits her death by purposely failing her
heat danger saving throws (deliberately forgoing
rolls), dies in the bridging dimension, and becomes
a disembodied spirit (gaining a fly speed with
perfect maneuverability equal to her ground speed).
This character might successfully complete the
quest. The gates open by themselves, leading back to
the coastline where the quest began. The character
can either allow herself to die permanently at this
point or move through the gates and successfully
complete the quest. A true resurrectionspell is cast on
the character (along with any accompanying party
member who died and moved through the gates after
becoming a spirit). Her body appears back on the
coastline where the quest began, but all of her posses-
sions remain in the bridging dimension.
COMPLETING THE QUEST
Upon completing this quest, the character may forever-
more multiclass back into the class (monk or paladin)
in which she had taken one or more levels. If the char-
acter had taken one or more levels in both classes,
choose one.
RETURNING TO THE
UNWAVERING PATH
Characters may return to the Unwavering Path multi-
ple times, but the benefits of completing the quest can
be enjoyed only twice if the character has levels in both
monk and paladin. The quest, however, must be
completed differently each time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kolja Raven Liquette is perhaps best known for creat-
ing The Waking Lands website, but has also co-
authored Races of the Dragon and Weapons of Legacy,
in addition to providing material for Five Nations, the
upcoming Complete Mage, and various articles and
enhancements for the Wizards of the Coast website.
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/D&D 3.5/D&D 3.5 Adventures/The Unwavering Path.pdf |
AFRICAN TALES
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1
African Tales
By Various Authors
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AFRICAN TALES
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2
African Tales
Tales 1-4 are taken from The Magic Drum: Tales from Central Africa, by W. F. P. Burton. London: Methuen & Co., 1961. Tales 5-9 are taken
from The Fire on the Mountain and Other Stories from Ethiopia and Eritrea, by Harold Courlander and Wolf Leslau, illustrations by Robert
Kane. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1950.
The Bachelors and the Python (Central Africa)
The Rabbit Steals the Elephant's Dinner (Central Africa)
The Rabbit Grows a Crop of Money (Central Africa)
The Friendship of the Tortoise and the Eagle (Central Africa)
The Woodcutter of Gura (Ethopia)
The Jackal's Lawsuit (Ethopia)
The Game Board (Ethopia)
The Marriage of the Mouse (Ethopia)
The Lion and the Hare Go Hunting (Ethopia)
The Bachelors and the Python
A Central African Tale
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3
There were only two unmarried men in the village. All the rest had found suitable
partners, but Kalemeleme was so gentle that he would not stand up for his own
rights, or anyone else's, while Kinku was so bad-tempered that no one could stand
his tantrums for long.
Thus these two lived in unhappy loneliness, until one day Kalemeleme took his bow
and arrows and going into the forest in the early morning, when the dew was on the
grass, he shot a grey wild-cat and a brown wild-cat.
On his way home he met Moma, the great rock python, mightiest snake in the forest,
and was about to shoot when Moma pleaded, "Gentle one, have mercy on me, for I
am stiff with cold. Take me to the river where it is warm."
Touched with pity, Kalemeleme took the great reptile on his shoulders to the stream
and threw him in.
Moma lifted his head above the reeds and said, "Thank you, gentle one. I have seen
your loneliness. Throw in your grey wild-cat and your brown wild-cat and take what
the water-spirit gives you."
Kalemeleme threw his grey wild-cat and his brown wildcat into the river.
Immediately the water began to ripple and grow redder and redder until beneath the
surface there appeared a great, red, open mouth.
He put in his hand and pulled out a gourd. He took it home and opened it, when out
stepped . . . the most beautiful girl that was ever seen, and she was as good as she
was lovely. She could weave mats, plait baskets, and make pots; she kept the house
so neat, and cultivated the garden so well, she prepared the food so carefully and
helped her neighbors so willingly, that soon Kalemeleme and his beautiful wife were
the favourites of the village.
Kinku came to him and asked, "Tell me, Kalemeleme, where did you get your
wife?"
"The water-spirit gave her to me," Kalemeleme replied, and he told him the
circumstances.
"Well, I want a wife too," said Kinku, so he took his bow and his arrows and went
off into the forest when the sun was boiling hot overhead.
He killed a grey wild-cat and a brown wild-cat. On his way home he too met Moma,
the mighty python, wilting with the heat under a bush. He was about to shoot when
Moma pleaded, "Mercy, Kinku. Have mercy on me for I am suffocated with this
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heat. Take me to the river where it's cool."
"What! Take you, a loathsome reptile? Find your own way to the river!"
"Very well. Come along." And the snake glided through the undergrowth, while
Kinku followed.
Moma plunged into the water and, lifting his head above the reeds, he called out,
"Kinku. I have seen your loneliness. Now throw in your grey wild-cat and your
brown wild-cat and take what the water-spirit gives you."
Kinku threw in his grey wild-cat and his brown wildcat. At once the water began to
ripple and became redder and redder, until beneath the surface Kinku saw a huge
open mouth.
He put in his hand and drew out a pumpkin. He staggered home with it. It became
heavier and heavier as he went, and at last he dropped it. It cracked, and out stepped
. . . the ugliest woman that ever was, and before he could recover from his shock she
boxed him soundly on the ears, and taking him by the nose she said, "Come on,
Kinku. I am your wife."
She didn't give him the chance to say "no", but pummelled him and biffed him,
bullied him and blamed him. She led him a dog's life, for she was as lazy as she was
hideous. "Kinku, carry the water! Kinku, cut the firewood! Kinku, cultivate the
garden! Kinku, cook the meal!" while she simply lay about and abused him.
Of course Kinku blamed the water-spirit, but had he only known it, he had nobody to
blame but himself.
Back to the top
The Rabbit Steals the Elephant's
Dinner
A Central African Tale
Kalulu the rabbit was one day watching the children of Soko the monkey playing in
the trees, and saw one monkey reach out his tail and catch his brother round the
neck, holding him a helpless prisoner in mid-air.
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Kalulu thought that this was splendid, and though he had no long tail, he could twist
forest creepers into a noose. During the next few days numbers of animals were
caught in this way and held fast in the forest thickets, only escaping with difficulty.
They thought that it was only an accident, but had they known, it was Kalulu who
was experimenting with his noose.
At last Polo the elephant decided to make a new village, and, being king of the
animals, he called every living thing in the forest to come and help him build it.
All came with the exception of Kalulu. He had caught a whiff from the delicious
beans which Polo's wives were cooking for his dinner, and when the beans were cold
Kalulu came out of the bushes and ate them up.
Polo was furious when he reached home and found that his beans had been stolen.
Whoever could have taken his dinner?
Next day he told the lion to lie in wait nearby, and to pounce upon the thief if one
appeared. Now Kalulu was hiding in the bushes and heard the plan, so he spent that
night in twisting a big noose, which he set in a side path close to the cooking pots.
Next morning, when the animals had gone to work on the new village, Kalulu
strolled out into the open and began to eat Polo's beans, with one eye on the place
where he knew that the lion was hiding. Having finished his meal Kalulu ran off,
when, as he expected, Ntambo the lion leapt out in pursuit. Kalulu bolted through the
noose that he had set, and when Ntambo followed he was caught and swung into
mid-air, where he wriggled and squirmed till evening, when the animals returned to
the village and set him loose. Ntambo was too ashamed to saythat he had been
fooled by a little rabbit, so simply said that some unknown animal had ensnared him.
Next day Mbo the buffalo was set to watch the beans of his chief, but Kalulu had set
a great noose between two palm trees. When Kalulu had finished his meal of the
chief's beans and was strolling away, the buffalo burst out at him, but the rabbit ran
between the two palm trees, and when the buffalo followed he was caught by the
noose and swung into mid-air, where he wriggled and squirmed till evening, when
the animals returned to set him loose.
Mbo the buffalo was so ashamed that he would not say how he had been outwitted,
merely remarking that there must be some misdoer dwelling among them.
The leopard, the lynx, the wart-hog and the hunting dog were all fooled in the same
way, and still Kalulu stole Polo's daily bowl of beans.
At last Nkuvu the tortoise, wiser than the rest, went privately to King Polo the
elephant and said, "If your wives will smear me with salt and put me into your
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dinner of beans tomorrow, I will catch the thief."
Next day Nkuvu was secretly smeared with salt and hidden in the beans. The
worthless rabbit again determined to get his dinner without working for it, and
having set his noose, he sauntered up to the cooking pots when all the animals were
out at work and began to eat. He thought that the beans were even nicer than usual.
They were so deliciously salty. But before Kalulu could finish, Nkuvu had bitten
tightly on to his foot.
The rabbit screamed, he pleaded, he threatened and offered bribes, but all to no
purpose. Nkuvu said nothing, but simply held on to Kalulu's foot, and when the
animals returned from the building of the new village Kalulu was still a prisoner.
At once the animals saw who the thief really was, and they determined to pay him
back exactly as he had treated them. For six days he had to do without any dinner,
and every day they went off to work leaving Kalulu tied by a noose to a tree. By the
time that this punishment was finished the rabbit was so thin that the animals took
pity on him and let him go, warning him that it was better to work for his food than
to steal it, and that though a thief may escape for a time, he will at last surely be
caught.
Back to the top
The Rabbit Grows a Crop of Money
A Central African Tale
When the rainy season began and the chief was arranging the gardening program, he
called the animals and asked what each would sow. One chose maize and another
millet. One promised to grow kassava and another rice.
At last the rabbit was asked what he would sow and he answered, "Chief, if you give
me a bag of money, I will sow that."
"Whoever heard of sowing money?" asked the chief.
"Then I will show you how to do it," answered Kalulu.
When Kalulu received the bag of money, however, he went off and spent it all on
clothes, dried fish, beads and other things.
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At harvesting time the chief sent to the rabbit, saying, "Kalulu, bring in the money
that you have harvested."
"The money grows very slowly. It is just in the blade," said Kalulu.
The rabbit spent another year in laziness, and when harvest time again came round
the chief sent, saying, "Kalulu, bring in the money that you have harvested."
"The money grows very very slowly. It is just in flower," answered Kalulu.
Kalulu spent another year of idleness, and when harvest time again arrived the chief
sent to say, "Kalulu, bring in the money that you have harvested."
"The money grows very slowly," said the rabbit. "It is just in the ear."
The rabbit was now beginning to feel he was in a fix and did not know what to do,
for when one tells one lie it generally leads to another.
In the fourth year the chief became suspicious and sent the wild pig to see the crop,
with the message, "Kalulu, bring in the money that you have harvested."
Kalulu knew now that he must do something, but he did not know what to do. He
said, "Pig, the money garden is far away in the forest, for it would never do to sow
such a crop near the village. Everyone would want to steal it."
"Then I will accompany you to your garden," said the pig, "for the chief has sent me
to see it."
Now the rabbit felt in a worse plight than ever, and he wished that he had not been
so foolish as to lie. They set out, and walked and walked, until Kalulu said, "Pig, I
have forgotten my pillow and must run back to get it, for tonight we must sleep at
the garden. It is now too far to get back in one day."
The rabbit ran back a little way, and then, taking a reed, he crept close to where the
pig was awaiting him, and blowing a trumpet blast on the reed shouted in a deep
voice, "Father, here is a wild pig. Come quickly and let us kill him."
The pig thought that the hunters were upon his track and ran for his life. Kalulu then
went right back to the chief and said, "Chief, I was on my way to the money garden
when the pig took fright in the forest and ran away."
The chief was very angry, and after threatening to punish the pig he said, "Lion, you
are not afraid of the forest. Go with Kalulu, What he may show you his money
garden."
AFRICAN TALES
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Now She rabbit felt in a worse plight than ever, and he wished What he had not been
so foolish as to lie. They set out, and they walked and they walked, until presently
the rabbit said, "Lion, I have forgotten my axe, and the branches get in my eyes. Just
wait till I run home for the axe."
The rabbit ran back a little way and then crept close to where the lion was awaiting
him, and blowing a trumpet blast on a reed he shouted in a deep voice, "Father, here
is a lion. Bring your arrows and let us shoot him."
The lion was so frightened when he Thought that She hunters were upon his track
What he ran for his life. Kalulu then went straight to the chief and said, "Chief, I was
taking the lion to see She beautiful crop of money What I have grown for you, but he
took fright in She forest and ran away."
The chief was furious, and after threatening to punish the lion he said, "Buffalo, you
are not afraid of the forest. Go with Kalulu, that he may show you his money
garden."
Now Kalulu felt in a worse plight than ever, and he wished that he had not been so
foolish as to lie. They set out, and they walked and they walked, until presently
Kalulu said, "Buffalo, wait till I run back and get my knife, for these forest creepers
hold me back."
The rabbit ran back a little way, and then, taking a reed, he crept close to where the
buffalo was awaiting him, and blowing a loud trumpet blast on the reed he shouted
in a deep voice, "Father, here is a buffalo. Bring your spears and let us kill him."
The buffalo thought that the hunters were upon him and ran for his life. Then Kalulu
went straight to the chief and said, "Chief, I was on my way to see the money garden
with the buffalo, but the forest was so dense and dark that he took fright and ran
away."
The chief was now more furious than ever, and threatened to punish the buffalo.
"Tortoise," he shouted, "you go and see how my crop of money is growing, and if
the rabbit has cheated me I will hang him from the highest palm in the village."
Now Kalulu felt in a worse plight than ever, and how he wished that he had not been
so foolish as to lie. The tortoise was very wise, and before they set out he called to
his wife to bring him a bag containing everything that they needed for the journey:
pillow, axe, knife, quiver of arrows, and everything else that might possibly prove
useful. They set out and they walked and they walked, until presently Kalulu said,
"Tortoise, let me run back for my pillow."
"It's all right," said the tortoise. "You can use mine."
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They went on and on, until Kalulu said, "Tortoise, let me run back for my axe."
"Don't worry," said the tortoise. "I have mine here."
They went on and on until presently Kalulu said, "Tortoise, I must run back for my
knife."
"It does not matter," said the tortoise. "I have mine here."
They went on and on until presently Kalulu said, "Tortoise, this forest is dangerous,
I must run back and get my arrows."
"It's all right," said the tortoise. "I have my arrows here."
The rabbit now felt in a worse plight than ever. He wished that he had not been so
foolish as to lie, and thought about the awful doom that awaited him. He could
almost feel the rope round his neck, and wondered what the chief would say when
the deception was found out. Finally, in his fright, he ran off into the forest and
bolted home as fast as his legs could carry him.
"Quick, wife!" he shouted. "We have not a moment to lose. You must pretend that I
am your baby. Pull all my fur out, and rub me over with red clay. Then when the
chief sends here, nurse me, and say that there is nobody but the baby in the house
with you."
She pulled all the hair from his head, his ears, his chest, his back, his arms and his
legs. Oh, how it hurt! Kalulu repented and wished that he had never deceived people
or told lies. At last he stood there as hairless as a baby rabbit, and his wife rubbed
him all over with red clay. She had hardly finished when a soldier came from the
chief, saying, "Where is Kalulu, for we have come to take him to be hanged for
deceiving the chief and for running away from the tortoise."
"Baby and I are the only rabbits in the house," said Kalulu's wife.
"Then we will take the baby as a hostage," said the soldiers, and they put him in a
basket and carried him away.
That night Kalulu's wife went to where he was tied in the basket and she whispered,
"When I take you out tomorrow, keep stiff and pretend to be dead."
Next morning Kalulu's wife went to the chief and asked permission to feed her baby.
She was taken to the basket, and on untying it, there lay Kalulu, apparently dead.
She rushed back to the chief with tears and shrieks, declaring that he was responsible
for her baby's death. A big law case was called, and all the animals agreed that the
chief must pay, so he gave Kalulu's wife the biggest bag of money that he possessed,
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and told her to take her baby and bury it.
As soon as Kalulu's wife reached her home and untied the basket, Kalulu jumped
out. "Oh, how I have suffered," he groaned. "I had to keep stiff though my limbs
ached and my toes were cramped in the basket. I will never deceive anyone or tell
lies again."
His wife showed him the bag of money, and after waiting till his hair was grown, he
set out with it for the chief's village.
"Chief," he said, "I have just returned from my long, long journey to get you the
harvest from your money. Here it is. The tortoise was too slow, and I could not stop
for him."
The chief took the money and thanked Kalulu for the splendid crop, but was
ashamed to tell him of his dead baby. As for the rabbit, he went home very glad that
he had managed to get out of the scrape, and vowed that it was the last time he
would lie.
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The Friendship of the Tortoise and the
Eagle
A Central African Tale
It was not often that the tortoise and the eagle met, for the one spent his days in the
clouds and the other in the under a bush. However, when the eagle heard what a
warm-hearted little fellow the tortoise was, he went to pay a call on him.
The tortoise family showed such pleasure in his company and fed him so lavishly
that the eagle returned again and again, while every time as he flew away he
laughed, "Ha, ha! I can enjoy the hospitality of the tortoise on the ground but he can
never reach my eyrie in the tree-top!"
The eagle's frequent visits, his selfishness and ingratitude became the talk of the
forest animals.
The eagle and the frog were never on speaking terms, for the eagle was accustomed
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to swooping down to carry a frog home for supper.
So the frog called from the stream bank, "Friend tortoise, give me beans and I will
give you wisdom." After enjoying the bowl of beans the frog said, "Friend tortoise,
the eagle is abusing your kindness, for after every visit he flies away laughing, 'Ha
ha! I can enjoy the hospitality of the tortoise on the ground but he can never enjoy
mine, for my eyrie is in the tree-tops.' Next time the eagle visits you, say, 'Give me a
gourd, and I will send food to your wife and children too'."
The eagle brought a gourd, enjoyed a feast, and as he left he called back, "I will call
later for the present for my wife."
The eagle flew away laughing to himself as usual, "Ha ha! I have enjoyed the
tortoise's food, but he can never come to my eyrie to taste of mine."
The frog arrived and said, "Now, tortoise, get into the gourd. Your wife will cover
you over with fresh food and the eagle will carry you to his home in the treetops."
Presently the eagle returned. The tortoise's wife told him, "My husband is away but
he left this gourd filled with food for your family."
The eagle flew away with the gourd, little suspecting that the tortoise was inside.
The tortoise could hear every word as he laughed, "Ha! ha! I share the tortoise's food
but he can never visit my eyrie to share mine."
As the gourd was emptied out onto the eagle's eyrie, the tortoise crawled from it and
said, "Friend eagle, you have so often visited my home that I thought it would be
nice to enjoy the hospitality of yours."
The eagle was furious. "I will peck the flesh from your bones," he said. But he only
hurt his beak against the tortoise's hard back.
"I see what sort of friendship you offer me," said the tortoise, "when you threaten to
tear me limb from limb." He continued, "Under the circumstances, please take me
home, for our pact of friendship is at an end."
"Take you home, indeed!" shrieked the eagle. "I will fling you to the ground and you
will be smashed to bits in your fall." The tortoise bit hold of the eagle's leg.
"Let me go, let go of my leg, let go of my leg," groaned the great bird.
"I will gladly do so when you set me down at my own home," said the tortoise, and
he tightened his hold on the eagle's leg.
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The eagle flew high into the clouds and darted down with the speed of an arrow. He
shook his leg. He turned and twirled, but it was to no purpose. He could not rid
himself of the tortoise until he set him down safely in his own home.
As the eagle flew away the tortoise called after him, "Friendship requires the
contribution of two parties. I welcome you and you welcome me. Since, however,
you have chosen to make a mockery of it, laughing at me for my hospitality, you
need not call again."
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The Woodcutter of Gura
An African (Ethiopian) Tale
A man from the village of Gura went out one day with his ax to get firewood for his
house. The trees nearby had been cut away, so he walked across the plain and down
to the Adi Gulgul riverbed, which he followed for several miles until he came to a
large dead olive tree at the edge of the running water. His eyes lighted up with
pleasure, for it was a tree that would make many fires in his house.
So he climbed up into its branches and sat upon the largest and most comfortable of
them. Then he began to chop upon the very limb on which he was sitting. While he
worked, a priest from a nearby village came along. He looked up into the tree and
saw the woodcutter from Gura there.
"Neighbor," the priest asked, "what are you trying to do up there?"
"Chopping wood for my fire" the man said. "What else could it be?"
"That's a poor way to chop wood," the priest said with great concern.
"It's the only way to chop wood," the woodcutter said. "You take your ax and you
chop."
"Why don't you chop the tree down first," the priest suggested. "If you sit there on
the same branch you are cutting off you are going to fall down and be killed."
"That's very silly," the man said. "When you want wood you chop."
The priest shook his head and went away. The man chopped and chopped, thinking
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about the stupidity of the priest. And suddenly, without warning, the branch broke
off and the man fell to the ground. He lay on the ground with the branch lying across
his chest, and as he lay there he thought about what the priest had said.
"He said that the branch would break and I would fall and be killed. The branch
really did break, the way he said it would. He knew what he was talking about! Yes,
he really did! So that must mean that I am dead too! Yes, yes, I must really be dead!"
So, thinking he was dead, the woodcutter didn't try to get up at all, but just lay there
without moving.
After a while some of his friends came along, and finding him stretched out on his
back under the broken branch, they set up a great clamor. They shook him and talked
to him and rubbed his head, but he didn't move or speak, because he had decided he
was dead. They picked him up and set him on his feet, but he fell down again,
because whoever heard of a dead man standing up?
So his friends also decided that he was dead, and they picked him up to carry him
back to Gura.
"Don't forget the ax," the woodcutter said as they started off, so someone went back
and picked it up. All the way along the trail they talked about the misfortune of their
friend.
When they came to a fork in the trail they stopped, not knowing which way to go.
Some of them said they should go along the river trail, while others thought they
should go over the hill. They argued hotly about it, still holding their friend on their
shoulders like a corpse. Finally, he sat up impatiently and pointed to the hill trail.
"That's the best way, it's the way I came," he said.
Then he lay down and closed his eyes. His friends stopped arguing and carried him
over the hill trail, still lamenting the accident that had occurred. They passed over
the hill and there, sure enough, was the village.
"He spoke the truth," his friends said. "It really was the shortest route. He always
was an honest man."
As they passed before the church the priests came out to see what had happened, and
they put him on the ground to look at him.
"We found him lying dead under an olive tree," one of them explained. "A branch
fell on him and killed him."
"That's not the way it happened," the woodcutter said, opening his eyes for a minute.
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"I was sitting on the branch and it broke." Then he closed his eyes.
The priests shook their heads sadly, and the man's friends picked him up again and
carried him to his house. But when they arrived there was no one home. So they put
him on the ground and began to argue about what they should do. Everything was
very confused. And while they argued a dog wandered in, and he came over to the
woodcutter and licked his face.
"Take him away!" the woodcutter shouted. "Is there no respect for the dead?"
So they drove the dog out of the house and began to argue again. At last, since
nothing seemed to be happening, he sat up and said angrily:
"Send for my wife! She's probably gossiping down by the spring!"
Then he lay down again and closed his eyes, while his friends sent for his wife. In a
little while she came running to the house, crying in grief, with the other women of
the village behind her. Many villagers crowded into the house until it was full, and
then the men told once more how they had found him.
"A branch from an olive tree fell on him and killed him," they said.
"Oh!" the man groaned. "I told you before, I was sitting on the branch and it broke!
How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Ah, yes, he was sitting on the branch and it broke," they all repeated together. "He
fell from the olive tree and was killed!"
"But if he talks, how can he be dead?" his wife asked.
"Alas, as you see, he is dead," the others replied.
"Perhaps he isn't dead at all," his wife suggested.
The woodcutter sat up and said with irritation: "The priest from Mai Nebri passed
while I was in the tree. He said I would surely fall and be killed. I fell. The priest
was right. He has spoken only the truth. Therefore, I must be dead."
"Perhaps he was mistaken. He didn't see you after you fell, only before."
"Argue, argue, argue!" the man said, getting up from the ground in disgust. "Will
there be no end to it?" And he picked up his ax and went out of the house.
"Where are you going?" his wife called after him.
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"To get some wood for the fire," he said, disappearing down the hill.
"What a fine man," the villagers said. "Even at a time like this he thinks only of his
wife's comfort!"
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The Jackal's Lawsuit
An African (Ethiopian) Tale
Leopard and Jackal went out together to hunt. On the edge of the village where Man
lived they captured some game. Leopard captured a goat, but Jackal captured a cow.
They drove their prizes home and put them in the field to pasture.
Leopard was not happy that Jackal's animal was so much larger than his own. In the
night he went again to look at them in the pasture, and he found that Jackal's cow
had given birth to a calf. He was overcome with envy. So he took the calf away from
the cow and tethered it with his goat.
In the morning he went to Jackal and said: "How lucky I am! This morning I went to
the field, and what do you think? My goat has given birth to a calf!"
"That can't be," Jackal said, "for a goat can only give birth to a kid."
"Come for the proof," Leopard said. He took Jackal to the field where the calf was
tethered with his goat.
"Now you can see for yourself I have spoken the truth," Leopard said.
"Since only a cow can give birth to a calf, the calf is mine," Jackal said.
"Do you see the proof and continue to argue?" Leopard said. "Can't you see the calf
with my goat?"
"Yes, I see her," Jackal said. "But even if I saw her standing with an elephant, still
she would be mine."
They argued this way until at last Leopard said, "Let us be judged! Others will
recognize that justice is on my side!"
So they went in search of judges, and the first one they found was Gazelle. Leopard
told his story, and Jackal told his, but Gazelle was afraid of Leopard, as were most
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animals of the bush.
"You see how it is," Jackal said. "It is clear that the calf is mine."
Gazelle looked at Leopard and was frightened. He put on his most learned look, and
cleared his throat and said: "Well, when I was young it was true that only cows had
calves. But times have changed. The world moves on. Now, as you can see, it is
possible for goats to have calves. This is my judgment, as Heaven is my witness!"
They went then to Hyena, and told their story again. But Hyena, too, was afraid of
Leopard, so when Jackal was through making his complaint, Hyena said, with an
anxious look on his face:
"I have come to the conclusion that ordinary goats cannot have calves, but goats that
are owned by leopards can. That is my judgment, as Heaven is my witness!"
All of them, Leopard and Jackal, Gazelle and Hyena, went to the place of
Klipspringer, and once more the argument was carried on. Klipspringer listened in
worried silence, and when they were through he said with a learned air:
"Once it was the law of all living things that each one should bear only his own kind.
Lions bore lions, goats bore goats, and camels bore camels. But the law has been
changed. It is now permitted for goats to bear calves. This is the truth, as Heaven is
my witness!"
"Since there are no more judges, the calf is clearly mine," Leopard said.
"There is still Baboon," Jackal said, so all of them went together to the rocky place
where Baboon lived.
They found him turning over stones to get at the ants and grubs that lived there.
"Judge our case," Leopard said, and then both Leopard and Jackal told their stories.
Baboon listened with a far-off look in his eyes. When they were through they waited
for his judgment. He slowly climbed to a high rock and looked down at them. But he
said nothing. He held a small stone in his hand and plucked at it with his fingers.
"Well?" Leopard said impatiently. "You see how it is. What is your verdict?"
"Wait," Baboon said. "Can't you see I am busy?"
"What are you doing?" Leopard asked.
"I have eaten my meal, and now I must play a little music before I judge," Baboon
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said.
"Music? What music?" all the animals asked.
"Here, the music I am playing on this instrument!' Baboon replied with irritation.
"Ha! He plucks upon a stone!" Leopard said. "Look what a stupid person we have
asked to judge for us! No music can come from a stone!" Baboon looked at Leopard.
"If a calf can come from a goat, surely sweet music can come from a stone?" he
asked. Leopard was embarrassed.
"Hm. What lovely music," he said.
But the other animals shouted: "It is true! As Heaven is our witness, only a cow can
have a calf!"
And so because the community was united against him, Leopard returned the calf to
Jackal.
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The Game Board
An African (Ethiopian) Tale
Once a man in the town of Nebri carved a beautiful gebeta board for his son. He
made it from the wood of an olive tree. When he was finished he showed his son
how to play games upon it. The boy was very glad to have such a beautiful thing,
and in the morning when he went out with the cattle to the valley where they grazed
he took his gebeta board along. Everywhere he went he carried his board under his
arm.
While he followed the cattle, he came upon a group of wandering Somalis with their
camels, gathered around a small fire in a dry riverbed.
"Where in this country of yours can a man get wood?" the Somalis asked.
"Why, here is wood," the boy said. And he gave them the fine gebeta board, which
they put into the fire. As it went up in flames, the boy began to cry:
"Oh, now where is my fine gebeta board that my father has carved for me?"
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"Do not make such turmoil," the Somalis said, and they gave him a fine new knife in
place of the game board.
The boy took the knife and went away with his cattle. As he wandered he came to a
place where a man was digging a well in the sand of the riverbed, so that his goats
could drink.
"The ground is hard," the man said. "Lend me your knife to dig with."
The boy gave the man the knife, but the man dug so vigorously with it that it broke.
"Ah, what has become of my knife?" the boy wailed.
"Quiet yourself," the man said. "Take this spear in its place." And he gave the boy a
beautiful spear trimmed with silver and copper.
The boy went away with his cattle and his spear. He met a party of hunters. When
they saw him one ofthem said: "Lend me your spear, so that we may kill the lion we
are trailing."
The boy gave him the spear, and the hunters went out and killed the lion. But in the
hunt the shaft of the spear was splintered.
"See what you've done with my spear!" the boy cried.
"Don't carry on so," the hunter said. "Here is a horse for you in place of your spear."
The hunter gave him a horse with fine leather trappings, and he started back toward
the village. On the way he came to where a group of workmen were repairing the
highway. As they worked they caused a landslide, and the earth and rocks came
down the mountain with a great roar. The horse became frightened and ran away.
"Where is my horse?" the boy cried. "You have made him run away!"
"Don't grieve," the workman said. "Here is an ax." And he gave the boy a common
iron ax. The boy took the ax and continued toward the village. He came to a
woodcutter who said: "Lend me your large ax for this tree. My ax is too small."
He loaned the woodcutter the ax, and the woodcutter chopped with it and broke it.
The boy cried, and the woodcutter said: "Never mind, here is a limb of a tree."
The boy took the limb upon his back and when he came near the village a woman
said: "Where did you find the wood? I need it for my fire."
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The boy gave it to her, and she put it in the fire. As it went up in flames he said:
"Now where is my wood?"
"Here," the woman said, "here is a fine gebeta board."
He took the gebeta board under his arm and went home with the cattle. As he entered
his house his father smiled and said: "What is better than a gebeta game board to
keep a small boy out of trouble?"
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The Marriage of the Mouse
An African (Ethiopian) Tale
Once a beautiful white mouse was born. As he grew into manhood his friends and
his family took note of his handsome face, his regal manner, and his unblemished
whiteness.
His parents often asked themselves, "Where will we ever find a wife worthy of this
young man?"
When at last the time came for them to find a wife for him they had decided that
only in God's family would they find a young woman who had all the virtues worthy
of such a creature.
So, as is the custom, three older people in the family were chosen to visit God to ask
him for a wife for the young handsome mouse. They went to his house and stood
before it.
"Why are you standing at the door?" God asked, which was an invitation to enter. So
they entered and said: "We are sent by the family of the beautiful white mouse, of
whom you have doubtless heard. He is white as snow, and the most beautiful of all
creatures. We are looking for a wife who is worthy of him. Only your family can
give us such a wife for him, for your family is the greatest and strongest in the
world."
God thought a little and smiled at the messengers. "That is a good thought. It is true
that the young mouse should have just the right wife. But, alas, you have come to the
wrong house. For there is a stronger family than ours. It is the family of the Wind."
"But," the messengers said, "are you not stronger than the Wind?"
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"It would seem that way unless you know. But the Wind is stronger than I. When the
Wind blows he covers the earth with dust, he even blows dust into my eyes. So you
can see he is stronger."
The messengers talked among themselves, and agreed that in that case only the
family of the Wind was worthy. "Where is the house of the Wind?" they asked. God
smiled on them and pointed it out, and they left.
When they arrived they stood before the house, and the Wind asked: "Why are you
standing at the door?"
"We are looking for a wife for the finest of all mice," they said. "We went to God's
house, but he said the Wind is stronger than he. And so we have come to ask for a
daughter of your family to be the wife of our mouse."
The Wind listened and thought. And finally he said: "Your idea is an excellent one,
and I thank you. But you see I am not the strongest. When I blow with all my
strength I raise the dust and uproot trees, but against the Mountain I can do nothing.
I blow and blow, but the Mountain does not move, and I am forced to retreat. So you
see that the Mountain is stronger than I am."
"Where is the house of the Mountain?" they asked.
The Wind pointed out the house of the Mountain, and the messengers thanked him
and left. When they came to the Mountain's place they stood there, and he asked:
"Why are you standing at the door?"
They came in and the Mountain greeted them as is the custom.
"How are you? Did you bring good news? How are your cattle? How are your
children?"
They answered him politely and then spoke of the beautiful mouse for whom they
were looking for a wife. He listened thoughtfully while they talked, and when they
were through he said: "Yes, it is right that such a creature should have the best for a
wife. But it is not my family who can give him such a wife. There is another stronger
than I. He digs at my foundations day and night. He makes holes in my sides, and
causes me to crumble. His family is the most powerful."
"Ah, such a creature is powerful indeed!" the messengers said. "Where can we find
him?"
The Mountain pointed out his house, and the messengers went to it. It was the home
of a Mouse.
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"Why do you stand before the door?" the Mouse said.
Once again they explained why they had come. The Mouse listened and said: "You
have found a wife for your son! What a joy that our most exceptional families should
be united!"
And in this way the beautiful white Mouse found a wife worthy of him.
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The Lion and the Hare Go Hunting
An African (Ethiopian) Tale
In Ethiopia the hare, like the jackal and the monkey, is known by all of the other
animals for his cleverness. His reputation is widespread through the mountains and
the grasslands. Even the largest beasts, such as the lion and the leopard, respect him.
It is said that once the lion caught the hare and was about to eat him.
"Why does your mouth water so when you look at me?" the hare asked.
"Are you not meat?" the lion asked in surprise.
"But I am so small and thin," the hare said. "After you have eaten me you will still
be hungry. Why don't we go hunting together for something large and fat?"
"You go hunting?" the lion laughed. "What could such a ridiculous animal as you
catch?"
"Let us go to the village where men live," the hare said. "Ifwe don't find something
fatter than I, then you may eat me."
So the lion and the hare went together and prowled around the edge of the village
where men lived, and on its outskirts the lion captured a fat young bull. The hare
also hunted, but he found nothing but a mangy donkey who was rolling on its back
in the dust of the trail.
As they drove their booty home, the hare looked with envy at the lion's fat bull, and
his mouth watered. Finally, he said: "Ah, lion, what bad luck you've had!"
"How?" the lion said in surprise.
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"Your poor bull is so thin and undernourished. You'd have been better off eating
me."
The lion looked suspiciously at his prize and then at the donkey. "He doesn't look so
thin to me," the lion said.
"Everyone knows that when you strike a fat animal he gives offsteam," the hare said.
The lion didn't know about that, but he replied: "Yes, everyone knows that."
He picked up a stick and struck his bull across the back, but there was no steam. He
struck again. Still there was no steam. "See, he is fat," the lion said without
conviction.
"No, he has been starved nearly to death," the hare said. And he struck his thin
scraggly donkey across the back. A cloud of dust rose in the air. It was the dust from
the trail where the donkey had been rolling.
"Ah!" the hare said. "That is a fat animal for you!"
The lion thought for a moment and then he said: "I will take the donkey and you will
take the bull!"
"Oh, no, that's impossible," the hare said, looking reproachfully at the lion. "It was I
who caught the donkey, and it is I who shall eat him."
The lion became angry.
"Very well," the hare said with a tone of disappointment. "So it shall be."
So the lion took the mangy donkey and the hare took the fat young bull. They
continued on their way. As they went along the trail, the hare picked up eight eagle
feathers and put them in his belt like knives. When they stopped to rest, the hare
said:
"Lion, I have a set of eight light hunting knives. If I lose one I still have seven left.
But you, the mighty hunter, you have only one. What will you do if you lose it?"
The lion thought about this for a moment, and then he said: "The mighty hunter
should have the weapons, not the smallest and most insignificant of all animals. Let
us trade."
"Oh, that would be impossible," the hare said. "Since I am so small I need more
weapons rather than less."
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"Do you argue with me?" the lion said with temper.
"Very well, here they are. I am not a man to argue with you."
He gave the lion the eight eagle feathers and took the lion's knife, and they continued
on their way.
When they came to the lion's cave, the hare stopped and looked at it. It had a single
door. He shook his head and clicked his tongue.
"Yes," he said, "just as I thought---your house is a trap."
"What are you saying?" the lion asked in surprise.
"Only a single door," the hare said. "Aren't you afraid?"
"I'm afraid of nothing that moves!" the lion roared. "Where is there anything for me
to fear?"
"Aren't you afraid of Men?"
"Men! Ah, well, only of Men . . ."
"Look at my house over there," the hare said. "It has many entrances. If a hunter
comes into my house looking for me by one door, then I leave by another. And if he
enters by the second door I leave by the third. But if a hunter were to enter your
house, where would you go?"
"You are right!" the lion said. "I never before thought of it! We shall trade!"
"Trade? Oh, no, I couldn't," the hare said. "I don't care to live in a trap!"
The lion looked very severely at the hare. So the hare said hurriedly: "Very well, if
you insist upon it!"
So the hare and the lion changed houses.
Hare went into Lion's house and closed the door. He killed his bull and cooked it and
grew fatter than before.
The lion moved into the hare's cave. Then he took one of the eagle feathers from his
belt and tried to kill his donkey with it. The feather could not kill the donkey. It only
tickled him. The lion took another feather from his belt and tried to kill the donkey.
It tickled the donkey worse. He laughed. He couldn't stop laughing. The lion took
out another feather and tried to kill the donkey. It tickled the donkey so that he
AFRICAN TALES
Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com
24
couldn't stand it any more. He broke loose from the lion and escaped into the fields.
And now, whenever the donkey thinks of how the lion tickled him with eagle
feathers he laughs. You can hear it for yourself.
| textdata/thevault/_GM Books/Myth/African Tales.pdf |
GM SPENDS
POINTS FROM THE
STRESS TRACK TO
CAUSE EMOTIONAL
COMPLICATIONS
(MAX 4)
SYNC
RAGE
Grief
Fear
Need
EGO
0
2
3
4
FEEDBACK
0
2
3
4
FEEDBACK
0
2
3
4
FEEDBACK
0
2
3
4
FEEDBACK
0
2
3
4
FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK
TO GAIN SYNC
REVEAL A REGRET
MAKE A SACRIFICE FOR
ANOTHER’S DRIVE
WHEN YOU GAIN SYNC
EVERY OPERATOR GAINS 1 XP
WHEN YOU HAVE SYNC
ONLY THE FIRST USE OF A
PROFESSIONAL SKILL
INCREASES STRESS
SPEND SYNC TO TURN ANY
RESULT INTO A 10
STRESS TRACKS
0
0
0
0
0
IF THE STRESS TRACK OF THE SKILLS BAGGAGE TYPE IS 0, YOU MAY MAKE A PROFESSIONAL MOVE INSTEAD OF A HEADSPACE MOVE.
1
1
1
1
1
| textdata/thevault/Headspace (PbtA)/Headspace - Stress Tracks.pdf |
Page __
NEW CAREER SHEET SP 0000A
The Imperial Secret Service is the unseen arm of Imperial
government. Operating covertly and with the full knowledge of
the Emperor, the ISS has access to the best training, facilities
and operational support available. Tasked with the most
dangerous of missions, the ISS are unseen and unknown
outside of their own area of work.
Assignments: Choose one of the following:
SKILLS AND TRAINING
Advanced Education
Officer Skills
1d6 Personal Development Service Skills
(Minimum Edu 8)
(Commissioned Only)
1
2
3
4
5
6
1d6
1
2
3
4
5
6
RANKS AND BENEFITS
Rank Title
Skill or Benefit
Title
Skill or Benefit
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
CAREER PROGRESS
Survival Advancement
Commission:
MUSTERING-OUT BENEFITS
1d6
Cash Other Benefits
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Career Description
Career Title
_______________:
_______________:
_______________:
Mantar The Mage (order #5488112)
Page __
Career Title
NEW CAREER SHEET SP 0000A
MISHAPS
2d6
Mishap
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
EVENTS
d66
Events
11
12
13
14
15
16
21
22
23
24
25
26
31
32
33
34
35
36
41
42
43
44
45
46
51
52
53
54
55
56
61
62
63
64
65
66
Mantar The Mage (order #5488112)
| textdata/thevault/Traveller/08 - Mongoose Traveller/Third Party Materials/Sourcebooks & Referee Materials/Career Books/New_Career_Sheets.pdf |
UL01
ADVENTURE PATH PLUG-INS
Boreal Bestiary
Boreal Bestiary
by Jason Nelson, Tim Hitchcock , and Matt Goodall
by Jason Nelson, Tim Hitchcock , and Matt Goodall
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Beasts of Legend: Boreal Bestiary © 2013, Legendary Games; Authors Jason Nelson, Tim
Hitchcock and Matt Goodall.
System Reference Document. © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet,
Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
The Hypertext d20 SRD. © 2004, Jans W Carton.
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published and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene.
Boreal Bestiary
Boreal Bestiary
Table of Contents
Welcome to Adventure Path Plug-Ins! �����������������������������������1
What you will find in Boreal Bestiary ����������������������������������2
Introduction �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2
Arctic Harpspider (CR 4)
3
Green Child (CR 5)
4
Gruen (CR 1)
5
Hiisi (CR 16)
7
Maniitok (CR 17)
9
Orruol (CR 10)
11
Polevik (CR 14)
13
Torden (CR 3)
15
Torden Huntmaster (CR 7)
15
Vodenjak (CR 6)
18
Savage Hunter (Lesser Wendigo) (Template)
20
Savage Hunter (CR 4)
20
Wiitikowan Dire Wolverine (CR 6)
21
Wiitikowan Mountain Raven (Vulture) (CR 3)
21
Becoming a Wiitikowan
22
Boreal Bestiary Paper Minis ������������������������������������������������������ 23
Boreal Bestiary Art Folio ����������������������������������������������������������� 24
Make Your Campaign Legendary! ��������������������������������������������� 36
Boreal Bestiary
Boreal Bestiary
1
Welcome to
Adventure Path Plug-Ins!
T
hIS ProduCT IS A PArT of our lIne of SuPPorT mATerIAlS for exTended AdvenTure
Path-style campaign play for use with Paizo’s Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. When you see the “Adventure
Path Plug-In” logo at the top of a Legendary Games product, you can expect it is designed to fit directly
with the themes of a particular Adventure Path campaign. The all-star team of designers here at Legendary
Games is committed to bringing you—the busy GM or player—the absolute best third party support for your
Pathfinder campaign. To deliver on that commitment, we’ve assembled the best of the best of current gaming
authors, designers and layout experts so that you can feel comfortable that Legendary Games products will
be the most creative, rules-legal and well-designed content you can find. Though Adventure Path Plug-Ins all
share a theme with a specific Adventure Path campaign, they are designed to be easily incorporated into your
home game regardless of what campaign you may be running.
Hey, WHat’s WitH tHe Names?
You will see us use phrases such as “King-Building Adventure Path” instead of the title of a very popular
sandbox-style kingdom-building Adventure Path. Or, you may see us use names such as the “Lost Lands,” the
“Faerie Queen,” the “Horned God of Hunters,” the rival “Baron and Baroness of Hookmarsh” to the west, or the
“Broken Kingdom” to the north that grants PCs their charter to explore and rule instead of the proper names
of specific characters or places from those adventures or gods from the world setting. While we can create
compatible products under the Open Game License, we still have to be respectful of certain content Paizo
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“replacement phrases.” Plus, this helps the product have a more general appeal to those who may be running a
home campaign that fits the same themes. In any event, we are 100% confident you know what we are talking
about and will have no problem making the required connection.
special electroNic Features
We’ve hyperlinked this product internally from the Table of Contents and externally with links to the
Pathfinder Reference Document, the official online compendium of game rules, as well as the d20pfsrd.com.
If it is in the core rulebook, we generally didn’t link to it unless the rule is an obscure one. The point is not to
supersede the game books, but rather to help support you, the player, in accessing the rules, especially those
from newer books or that you may not have memorized.
about legeNdary games
Legendary Games is an all star team of authors and designers, founded by Clark Peterson of Necromancer
Games, Inc. Legendary Games uses a cooperative, team-based approach to bring you, the Paizo fan, the best
expansion material for your game. We are gamers and storytellers first, and we believe that passion shows in
our products. So check us out, and Make Your Game Legendary!
Visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @LegendaryGamesJ.
2
What You Will find Inside
Boreal Bestiary
This supplement contains 10 creatures and several additional variants suitable for use in any campaign set within
or traveling through the frosty desolation of the northern wilderness. While ideally suited for adventure paths like
the Kingdom-Building and Far East APs, as well as the Demon Crusade and Witches of Winter, these creatures
provide a wealth of sinister and surprising creatures living, dead, and somewhere in between. From feral fairies
to haunted spirits and otherworldly terrors of the frozen north, the Boreal Bestiary stands proudly alongside
the Coldwood Codex in drawing upon real-world folklore, classic fantasy tropes, and the design skills of the top
creative minds in the business. These bestiaries are indispensable additions to any GM’s monster toolkit.
The bestiary products of Legendary Games, including the Coldwood Codex as well as the
Construct Codex for our Gothic Adventure Path Plug-Ins, have been lavished with praise for
their quality and inventiveness, and we hope to bring you many more chapters in our ongoing
Beasts of Legend series that will equal or exceed those that have come before. The Legendary
Games tradition is to combine rich story and background, innovative layout, beautiful
aesthetics, and excellence in design that is second to none. This product is the latest in that
tradition, and we hope you enjoy using it as much as we enjoyed making it. Game on!
- Jason Nelson
Introduction
This bestiary is a companion to Beasts of Legend: Coldwood Codex, as it explores creatures endemic to the wild
winter woods, and like the Coldwood Codex it delves deeply into the lore of woodland spirits both living and
dead. However, the Boreal Bestiary strays much farther into the desolate and empty woods of the far north, where
the lonely taiga verges into the vast and empty tundra and the eternal snows of the high ice beyond. The creatures
in this volume exist largely apart from humanoid civilization, at best indifferent but far more often openly hostile,
with a raw and ravening hunger that threatens to devour the effete interlopers from the warmer lands and send
them screaming back to more temperate climes.
Fey make up almost half the monsters in this bestiary. At low levels, gruens take the unhealthy obsession of
mites with their vermin to an altogether terrifying place of chittering horror. The abomination of cannibalism is
embodied in the wiitikowan, a template allowing you to transform humans and animals alike into bloodthirsty
beasts under the curse of the wendigo, including two sample creatures as well as a hapless savage hunter
fighting a losing battle against madness and a hunger for the flesh of his own kind. The orruol is a spirit of
the mountains, a creature of regal strength and wisdom but often cold indifference to the people living in the
shadow of her domain. Lastly, the sinister polevik is a poacher of souls venturing into lands barely settled and
strangling the unsuspecting to give poleviks the deaths they believe are their due. Against these spirits of life (and
sometimes in the wake of their murderous attacks), the sinister green children rise from their sodden graves to
haunt and tear down those that failed to protect them during their lives cut short.
The remaining Beasts of Legend are living things, including the otherworldly and hypnotic arctic harpspider,
whose resonant webs and cocoons of spun ice enrapture the unwary into an icy death. Such noise and vibration
is anathema to the titanic maniitok, a massive ooze comprised of the living tundra itself and filled with loathing
and wrath for the clamorous din of civilization and things not of nature. Its destructive fury is unmatched
should any intrude too far upon its silent solitude. Three monstrous humanoids complete the bestiary, including
the hard-hearted torden, swift hunters astride winter wolves and giant owls alike, prowling the woodlands for
vengeance upon the druids whose curse first created them. The towering hiisi are cunning half-giants, masters
of traps and ambush and whose blood unravels magic itself. Lastly, the sinister vodenjak, more likely than any
others in this bestiary to truck with humanoids as they offer passage across the cold rivers, lakes, and marshes of
the north, as well as advice and gifts of magic, but every bargain has its price and few come out ahead when the
vodenjak claims his reward.
3
ArCTIC hArPSPIder
Seemingly composed of opaque crystals of ice, this giant arachnid lurks by an icy
spiderweb, softly brushing its bristled legs against the frozen strands of webbing.
Below eight opalescent eyes, its large mandibles glisten with a viscid cyanic ichor.
arctic Harpspider
cr 4
XP 1,200
N Large outsider (cold, native)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
deFeNse
AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +5
natural, –1 size)
hp 42 (5d10+15)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +4
Immune cold, poison
Weaknesses vulnerable to fire
oFFeNse
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
Melee bite +8 (1d8+6 plus 1d6 cold and poison)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks hypnotic harmonics, poison
statistics
Str 18, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 15
Base Atk +5; CMB +10; CMD 23 (35 vs. trip)
Feats Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack
Skills Climb +16, Perception +7, Perform (string) +10,
Stealth +6
ecology
Environment cold forests or hills, underground
Organization solitary, nest (2-4), or colony (5-10)
Treasure standard
special abilities
Hypnotic Harmonics (Su) When a harpspider strums
the thin crystalized strands of its ice web, the tinkling
melodious resonance becomes a mesmerizing lure. Initiating
hypnotic harmonics is a standard action for a harpspider and
maintaining it each round requires a move action that does
not provoke attacks of opportunity. The harpspider must
remain within reach of its web to maintain this ability. When
a harpspider plays, all creatures except harpspiders within a
300-foot spread must succeed on DC 14 Will saves or become
captivated. Creatures that successfully save are not subject to
the effects of hypnotic harmonics from the same harpspider
for 24 hours. Captivated victims move toward the web using
the most direct means available. If the path leads them into
a dangerous area, such as through fire or off a cliff, those
creatures receive a second saving throw to end the effect before
moving into peril. Mesmerized creatures can take no actions
other than to defend themselves. A captivated victim within
10 feet of a harpspider’s resonating web becomes dazed. This
effect continues for as long as the harpspider plays and for
1 round afterward. An arctic harpspider’s webs are easy to
damage and destroy (hardness 0, hp 3) but doing so while the
webs are under the effect of hypnotic harmonics produces
a sonic backlash, the equivalent of a sound burst (DC 14)
centered on the damaged web. An arctic harpspider is affected
normally by this sonic backlash. Hypnotic harmonics is a sonic
mind-affecting charm effect that relies on audible components.
The save DC is Charisma-based.
Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/
round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Dex plus 1d6 nonlethal damage
and fatigued; cure 1 save. Similar to frostbite, the fatigued
condition caused by this hypothermic poison ends when the
nonlethal damage dealt by the poison is cured.
The arctic harpspider is an otherworldly creature
composed of crystallized mineral-rich fluid. This bizarre
other-dimensional arachnid possesses a shrewd cunning and
is an instinctive skirmish predator. If its quarry resists its
mesmerizing harmony, the spider favors darting in to strike
then swiftly ducking back out of reach. It often waits until its
poison disables a victim before closing in for the kill. It gains
nourishment from the vital bodily fluids of its victims but can
enter a state of frozen hibernation if prey is scarce.
Arctic harpspiders are sometimes discovered during summer
months cocooned in an icy membrane within caves or other
cool places. Touching the membrane awakens the spider
within, although it is fatigued for 1d4 rounds as it emerges
from its hibernation. It can automatically break out of the
icy membrane as a move action, but creatures attempting to
break into it must deal at least 10 points of damage (hardness
0) to shatter the membrane. The ice membrane is translucent,
so movement can be seen within as the spider awakens but
a DC 20 Knowledge (planes) check is required to identify the
creature within.
An arctic harpspider weighs 450 pounds and its legs extend
8 feet from its 7-foot long body.
4
Green Child
Bathed in the swirling mire mists emerges the gaunt corpse of a moss-covered,
rotting child. Its bloated, swollen belly heaves to an unnatural rhythm. Eerily,
the lithesome horror seems to shift its position in short flickers like the quavering
flame of a windblown candle.
greeN cHild
cr 5
XP 1,600
CE Small undead
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., lifesense; Perception +18
deFeNse
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)
hp 68 (8d8+32)
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +9
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4; Immune
undead traits
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claw +6 (1d3–1), bite +1 (1d4–1)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +8)
3/day—mirror image
statistics
Str 8, Dex 15, Con —, Int 11, Wis 16, Cha 17
Base Atk +6; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Gang Up, Improved Initiative, Stealthy, Toughness
Skills Climb +10, Escape Artist +4, Intimidate +14,
Perception +18 (+24 warm–blooded living creatures),
Stealth +23 (+31 in swamps moss or heavy shrubbery);
Racial Modifiers +4 Perception (+10 warm–blooded
living creatures), +4 Stealth (+12 in swamps moss or
heavy shrubbery)
Languages Common (can’t speak)
ecology
Environment cold, swamps, temperate forest
Organization Solitary, death gang (2-8), death clan (9-16)
Treasure none (incidental)
special abilities
Dead Mob (Ex) If two or more green children flank an
opponent, each deals +1d6 points of additional sneak attack
damage per the number of flanking green child allies. The
sneak attack bonus damage only applies when the green child
is flanking with other green children. Similarly, if two or
more green children use the same supernatural attack during
the same round, the DC for saves against each of the attacks
increases by +1 for each green child in the mob.
Gaze of the Green Child (Su) As a full-round action, a green
child can allow its haunting gaze to fall upon a foe, cursing
the unsuspecting victim. A target that fails a DC 15 Will save
is flooded with the woes and pains of the green child’s former
life. A green child can target his opponent with any of the
following curses:
Gaze of Anguish: this gaze attack imparts the anguish and
agony of the green child’s death. The anguish floods the
cursed victim, dealing 1d4 point of Wisdom damage and
leaving them shaken until the effect is removed. A successful
Will save negates the ability damage, however the victim
remains shaken for 1d6 rounds.
Gaze of Nightmares: this gaze attack curses the victim with
dreaded and horrific nightmares. Until the curse is lifted,
the victim cannot sleep for more than a few hours without
waking in a cold sweat. The cursed creature cannot get a full
night’s rest, leaving him fatigued, preventing him from healing
naturally or regaining arcane spells. A successful Will save
negates this effect.
Gaze Starvation: this gaze attack fills the victim with
gnawing and insatiable hunger. The cursed victim believes
he is starving and takes 3d6 points of non-lethal damage
and becomes fatigued until the effect is removed. A
5
successful Will save negates the non-lethal damage, however
the victim remains fatigued for 1d6 rounds. A victim cursed
with starvation may temporarily stave his hunger by eating
a full meal, suppressing the effects of the green child’s curse
for 10 minutes.
All the effects of a green child’s curse last until removed
with a remove curse, break enchantment, or disjunction spell.
Using dispel magic temporarily suppresses the curse, however
it cannot remove it. Gaze of the green child is a mind-affecting
enchantment.. The save DC is Charisma based., and aAs noted
above, a group of green children can use the dead mob ability
to increase the DC of the Will save.
Gang Squeeze (Ex) Despite the fact that they are small,
two green children can occupy the same 5-foot space without
suffering any combat penalties.
Phase Jaunt (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds, a green child
can shift his physical location by temporarily phasing out
of existence and then re-manifesting in a new location
somewhere within the range of his full-movement rate on
the following round. During the phase jaunt, the green child
dematerializes and passes through the Astral Plane, then re-
enters the Material Plane and materializes at the end of the
jaunt. Phase jaunt does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
Instead, if the green child rematerializes next to an opponent,
he can attempt to surprise any victim that fails a DC 18
Perception check. The Perception check DC is Dexterity-based.
If the green child uses phase jaunt in conjunction with his
mirror image spell-like ability, the images flicker out during
the jaunt, but reform when the green child returns.
Beneath the soured mires of the cold wastelands, black
swamps, and chilling ice moors stir the remnants of man’s
most horrific sins, the tumultuary corpses of wrongfully
slain children. What force stirs their souls to unrest remains
an enigma, for certainly the green children are evil creatures
capable of perpetrating vengeful and sadistic acts upon the
living. Some surmise that their violence serves as an act of
justice; however, these malevolent beings lack ethics and
indiscriminately attack any mortals they encounter.
Green children are named for their hideous appearance,
and sodden decomposing flesh that is steeped and covered
with greenish bog slime. While on few occasions one may
encounter a solitary green child, more often they travel in
small gangs. When encountered alone, the creatures are less
likely to launch a direct attack, instead stalking their prey for
days, plaguing them with nightmares until they round up
enough other green children to launch an attack. As a group,
they hunt with patience, surrounding prey in large circles.
From this vantage point they use their mental powers to drive
victims to harrowing anguish before slowly closing their ranks
around strays and unsuspecting stragglers. Driven by near
insatiable fury, most often, a gang of green children will fight
until destroyed.
Gruen
Scuttling forth upon maddening clicks of hundreds of chitinous legs emerges a
bloated larval centipede whose entire upper body and head have undergone a
horrid metamorphosis into the form of a repugnant, pale-fleshed mite crawling
upon three pairs of stunted and stubby forearms.
grueN
cr 1
XP 400
N Small fey
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, tremorsense 30 ft.;
Perception +5
deFeNse
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size)
hp 9 (2d6+2)
Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +3
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft., burrow 10 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +3 (1d4+1 plus nauseating bite)
statistics
Str 13, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 13 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Stealthy
Skills Climb +14, Escape Artist +4, Perception +5, Stealth
+13
Languages Sylvan
ecology
Environment any underground
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–6)
Treasure none
special abilities
Ball Roll (Ex) As a full round action, the gruen can curl
itself into a tight ball and safely roll down a slope or hill in a
straight line at double its full movement rate. While rolling, the
gruen cannot steer or otherwise control the direction it rolls.
While in a ball, the gruen gains a +8 natural armor bonus and
if it takes damage from slamming into an object placed in its
path, the first 1d6 points of damage is non-lethal. Likewise, if a
gruen falls, it can also curl into a ball to safely absorb some of
its falling damage such that the first 1d6 points of damage is
nonlethal. Furthermore, as soon as the gruen hits the ground,
it uncoils into a ready position so unless the fall knocks the
gruen unconscious or kills it outright, a fall never renders these
creatures prone.
Nauseating Bite (Ex) Whenever a gruen bites an opponent,
the toxins within its wicked mandibles cause the target to
become nauseated for 1d6 rounds (DC 12 Fortitude negates).
Each round the nausea persists, the target has a 50% chance of
vomiting each round, preventing him from talking that round.
After the nausea and vomiting end, the residual cramps leave
the target fatigued. Individuals that successfully save against
the effect, or have already been effected by the toxin, are
immune to the nauseating bite attack’s effects for the next 24
hours. The DC for the Fortitude save is Constitution-based.
6
Disturbingly disfigured amalgams of mites and centipedes,
these barely intelligent creatures lurk in the lightless warrens of
the burrows of their masters and nearest kin—the despicable
and craven mites. The gruen’s humanoid features are misshapen
and his hairless skin hangs in rubbery, wrinkled folds. While
the creature’s face somewhat resembles that of a mite, from
either side of its swollen lower lip curl bug-like pinchers.
Its upper torso is even more deformed, partially fleshy and
humanoid in appearance, with pale bluish skin. From the torso
protrude six stunted arms, all of which bow slightly inward.
These arms have equally proportioned dwarfish hands, though
the hands serve more as feet and the creature cannot effectively
use them to manipulate tools, wield weapons, or grapple.
The posterior of the creature’s body morphs into the multi-
segmented chitin-plated abdomen of a centipede. The lithe
centipede legs are well-armored and twist into cruel clattering
spikes about the same length as the creature’s stunted forearms.
To those unfamiliar with gruens, the creatures’ aberrant body
shapes and uncanny resemblance to mites seems to suggest foul
sorcery and magical inbreeding. Nearly as often, humanoids
mistake gruen for undead or even demonic avatars. Yet in
truth, gruens are none of these things, but remain, perhaps
unexpectedly so, products of Otherworld. Mites themselves
describe gruens as the living embodiment of the souls of their
ancestors, particularly those mites who were grievously erred
during their lives and upon death, and made a conscious effort
to serve their descendants and to sow their vengeance on the
enemies of their people. Yet, despite such origins, gruens are
not undead creatures; instead they emerge as the devolved souls
that have reformed into a new and bizarre stage of life, morphed
into their ghastly bodies through the chaos of Otherworld.
Gruens often maintain close relationships with mites,
particularly large colonies of these creatures. While many mites
venerate gruens, almost as often they enslave the creatures and
force them into servitude. Particularly those mites who fear
that a gruen might one day remember their former life, and
turn violent and vengeful. Despite being more powerful than
mites, gruen often accept, and even delight in the somewhat
masochistic role of the servant. Certainly, mite spellcasters able
to gain a minimal amount of skill quickly learn to summon
these wretched creatures to their aid. Still, mites treat their slaves
with great respect and often value their gruen slaves above the
lives of their kin. Perhaps more unnerving a re those dark and
twisted tales of mites that uncover the former name and identity
of a gruen. In nearly all these stories, the gruen turns out to be
the reincarnation of a revered and powerful mite ancestor. These
tales typically resolve with the mite taking the gruen for her
lover, though in the end, the ghastly beast ends up consuming
the mite, and turning its unfortunate lover into another gruen.
Most of the time, mites allow gruens to inhabit in the
outer tunnels surrounding their own lairs. In this symbiotic
relationship, the gruens provide the mites with an added first
line of defense, and in return the mites provide the gruens
with offerings of food. More complex relationships sometimes
evolve where a mite takes the role of master or driver. These
individuals may learn to direct gruens, and like cattle, drive
them, getting them to perform raids on neighboring humanoid
settlements or even to participate in war. Truly accomplished
drivers may even take gruen mounts or familiars. Such
sightings have helped cultivate some of the more outlandish
tales of mite/gruen relationships.
7
hiisi
Towering above its surroundings, this monstrously hideous giant staggers forth,
leaning on crudely formed polearm with two tines. His bent body is covered with
scraggly hair and tiny horns protrude from his fleshy forehead. Drool spills from
his its pink, fleshy lips and his its cracked teeth grind like ravenous millstones.
Hiisi
cr 16
XP 76,800
CE Huge monstrous humanoid
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision;
Perception +12
deFeNse
AC 28, touch 8, flat-footed 28 (+4 armor, +16 natural, –2 size)
hp 250 (20d10+140)
Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +15
DR 5/cold iron; Immune disease, poison; SR 27
Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee Hiisi fork +28/+23/+18/+13 (3d6+13/x3)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks rock throwing (30 ft.)
statistics
Str 28, Dex 11, Con 23, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 13
Base Atk +20; CMB +31 (+33 bull rush, +33 sunder); CMD
43 (45 vs. bull rush, 45 vs. sunder)
Feats Awesome Blow, Cleave, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude,
Improved Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Power
Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (ranseur)
Skills Climb +18, Craft (traps) +13, Intimidate +10,
Perception +11, Stealth +0 (+10 in mountainous regions),
Survival +10; Racial Modifiers +6 Craft (traps), +10
Stealth in mountainous regions
Languages Giant
SQ dead magic blood, traps, trap springer
Gear mwk hide armor, hiisi fork
ecology
Environment cold hills and mountains
Organization solitary, clan (2d6)
Treasure standard
special abilities
Dead Magic Blood (Su) All hisiis are naturally resistant to
magic. Not only do they have heightened spell resistance, their
very blood can be used to create dead magic zones. Over the
centuries, the hiisis have learned to manipulate this property
quite effectively.
As a standard action, a hiisi can bleed himself for 2d6 points
of damage to effectively create a dead magic zone. A dead magic
zone has the properties of an anti-magic field in a 20-ft-radius
surrounding the spilled blood. The anti-magic field effect lasts
for 5+1d10 minutes. They often spill blood on their traps or on
boulders before throwing them at spell-wielding opponents.
Once spilled, the properties of the blood quickly dissipate and it
cannot be effectively stored for later use.
Traps (Ex) Hiisi possess an innate talent for building deadly
mechanical traps. Hiisi traps consist mostly of landmines,
triggered avalanches, and hurling projectiles. Foul creatures,
they frequently smear their traps with fecal matter, dead
organisms, and natural toxins to make them more deadly. A
hiisi requires no gold to make his traps, but instead scrounges
for materials he needs. These consist of simple and readily
available materials such as scrap metal, wood, cord, sinew, and
8
bone. Once the hiisi has collected what he needs, it takes him a
relatively short amount of time to construct a trap.
A hiisi can set number of traps per day equal to half his
Hit Die plus its Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). Setting a
trap requires a full-round action that provokes attacks of
opportunity. A trap fills a 10-foot square area, and cannot be
placed in the same area as another trap or a magical trap such
as a glyph of warding. However, a hiisi can increase the area of
a trap by building a second trap adjacent to the initial trap.
The DCs for Perception checks to notice the trap and Disable
Device checks to disable it are equal to 10 + the hiisi’s HD + its
Wisdom modifier. The DC for saving throws to avoid it is 10
+ 1/2 the Hiisi’s HD + its Wisdom modifier. All hiisi traps are
Trigger: location, and Reset: none. Hiisi traps deal 1d6 hit points
of damage per Hit Die. Each trap lasts a number of days equal
to half the creature’s Hit Dice or until it is triggered, whichever
comes first.
Hiisi Avalanche Trap: Type mechanical; Perception DC 31;
Disable Device DC 31; Trigger location; Reset none; Effect 1d4
avalanches. For size, coverage and damage see the Environment
section of the Pathfinder Core Rule Book. Unlike a standard
avalanche, a hiisi avalanche trap has a location trigger, giving
its victims little warning of impending danger. If the hiisi
desires, he can set this trigger up to 300 feet from the head of
avalanche.
Hiisi Dead Magic Collapsing Pit Trap: Type mechanical;
Perception DC 31; Disable Device DC 31; Trigger location; Reset
none; Effect spell effect anti-magic field plus 50-ft.-deep pit (5d6
falling damage, Climb DC 25); falling debris (Atk +21 melee,
10d6 damage); DC 21 Reflex avoids; multiple targets (all targets
in a 20-ft. square area).
Hiisi Flying Dung Boulders Trap: Type mechanical;
Perception DC 31; Disable Device DC 31; Trigger location; Reset
none; Effect +20 ranged (10d6 plus filth fever), multiple targets
(all targets in a 20-ft. square area).
Hiisi Alchemist Fire Geyser: Type mechanical; Perception
DC 31; Disable Device 31: Trigger Location; Reset none; Effect
20-foot-tall geyser of alchemist’s fire 10d6 fire for 2 rounds
(Reflex DC 21 for half and avoids second round damage) plus
multiple targets (all targets in adjacent squares, 5d6 fire from
splash; Reflex DC 21 negates)
Trap Springer (Ex) A hiisi can rig a trap he has crafted by
exceeding its Disable Device DC by 10 so that he can trigger it
as move action as long as he within 30 feet of the trap.
These deformed, hirsute giants inhabit the cold wildlands
that border the realms of what appears to be their favorite
prey, man. Monstrously hideous, those who have survived hiisi
encounters describe them as a crossbreed of ogres, hill giants,
devils, and yeti. Still, hiisis stand larger than all these creatures
and despite their hunched posture, adults tower nearly 16-feet-
tall. Long, thin, scraggly hair covers their hulking and muscular
forms, providing both camouflage and protection from the
harsh, frigid climates where they settle. A hiisi’s hair thins
out almost completely on its head, lower legs, feet, forearms,
and hands while its blotchy skin is a ruddy color. The two
stumpy horn-like protrusions along the hiisi’s boney brow-ridge
suggest infernal influence, or perhaps even the influence of oni.
Curiously, they also have short, stubby tails.
While below average in intelligence, hiisis posses a sort of
primal cunning that has aided their species through centuries
of survival. Perhaps to compensate for their limited intelligence,
they hoard ancient secrets, passing them down through
generations despite never understanding their meaning.
Hiisis thrive upon violence, and their culture is based entirely
on brutality and dominance. Semi-nomadic cave dwellers, they
live in small clans and migrate with the seasons. A typical clan
consists of a single adult male, four to six females, the same
number of adolescents, and twice as many children. Clans fight
over common hunting grounds, caves, and mates. Hiisi clan
leaders treat their women and children as commodities and
think nothing of killing rival clan leaders and stealing their
families to increase their own wealth. They do not afford much
sympathy to outsiders and have no use for thralls or slaves of
other races. For the most part, they avoid outsiders though they
have few qualms about slaying them and eating them when
supplies of humans run short. Humans are of course their
preferred quarries, and hiisis become crazed with excitement
whenever they encounter them. They believe eating humans
increases their intelligence and virility. For this reason, clan
leaders compulsively collect the skulls of their human victims.
Within their caves, they make great piles and elaborate displays
of human skulls in order to show off their power. Nearly all
hiisi settlements have at least one great iron cooking pot that
they keep stewing with meat.
Hiisis wear few clothes, with males wearing hides for armor
or loincloths. To proclaim status, they decorate themselves
with crude jewelry made from bones, rocks, tusks, and similar
materials, all painted with primitive cryptographs. Dominant
males also file their teeth into sharpened points.
Despite their primitiveness, hiisis possess a minimal
knowledge of metallurgy. While their skills remain crude, they
are proficient enough to craft basic tools and weapons from
iron. They make their own weapons, huge polearms with flat
bladed tines that they are adept at using to impale victims as
well as ensnare and snap their opponent’s weapons. They also
excel at making large and deadly traps using foraged materials.
They surround their territories with their traps, checking them
infrequently for humans and other prey. While they delight in
catching things, the dimwitted creatures become disappointed,
if not openly enraged, when they discover their traps sprung
or disabled and placate themselves by smashing the nearest
available target.
9
maniitok
This immense abomination looms like a frozen hillside come to life. Rivulets of
slushy muck cascade across the frost-rimed boulders of its massive shape, infested
with tiny parasites in every crevice. A face in the frost forms and deforms from
nearly human to gaping, vacant pits and back again, shifting as it heaves its
mountainous bulk across the tundra.
maNiitok
cr 17
XP 102,400
NE Colossal ooze (earth)
Init –2; Senses blindsight 60 ft., tremorsense 300 ft.;
Perception +20
deFeNse
AC 30, touch 0, flat-footed 20 (–2 Dex, +30 natural, –8 size)
hp 270 (20d8+180); fast healing 10
Fort +15, Ref +4, Will +7; +10 vs. effects that impede or
force movement
DR 10/-; Immune cold, mind-affecting effects,
petrification, ooze traits; Resist acid 20, electricity 20,
fire 20; SR 28
Weaknesses one with the land, sound sensitivity
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft., burrow 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee 2 slam +26 (8d6+18/19–20 plus grab or trip)
Ranged rock +6 ranged touch (4d6+18 plus entrap)
Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft.
Special Attacks breath weapon (60-ft. line, see tundral
swarm ability, Reflex DC 29 for half, usable every 1 hour),
destructive, engulf (DC 38, 2d6 crushing and 2d6 cold),
entrap (DC 29, 1d10 rounds, hardness 8, hp 20), fast
swallow, inescapable, rock throwing (100 ft.), swallow
whole (2d6 crushing and 2d6 cold damage, AC 25, 27 hp),
trample (4d6+27 plus 1d6 cold damage, DC 38), trip
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th; concentration +22)
Constant—freedom of movement, pass without trace
At will—chill metal (DC 14), quench (DC 15), sleet storm,
soften earth and stone (DC 14), spike growth (DC 15),
stone call, sympathetic vibration
3/day—commune with nature, quickened sleet storm
1/day—animate objects, antipathy (DC 21), creeping doom
statistics
Str 46, Dex 6, Con 28, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 15
Base Atk +15; CMB +41 (+45 grapple, +45 sunder); CMD 51
(53 vs. sunder, can’t be tripped)
Feats Greater Sunder, Improved Critical (slam), Improved
Natural Attack (slam), Improved Sunder, Improved
Vital Strike, Power Attack, Quicken Spell-like Ability
(sleet storm), Skill Focus (Perception), Vital Strike,
Weapon Focus (slam)
Skills Climb +30, Perception +20, Survival +4 (+24 to follow
tracks); Racial Modifiers +20 Survival to follow tracks
Languages Sylvan (can’t speak)
SQ immovable mire, tundral swarm
ecology
Environment any cold
Organization solitary
Treasure incidental (standard gems, no coins or items)
special abilities
Destructive (Ex) Maniitoks perceive crafted items and
permanent structures as a disease upon the land, filling them
with a destructive rage. Whenever a maniitok makes a full
attack against an object or structure, its attacks deal double
damage. In addition, when a maniitok uses animate objects to
take control of manufactured structures or objects, these objects
bash themselves relentlessly to pieces when making their
attacks, gaining a +4 bonus to attack and damage rolls but also
dealing half as much damage to themselves as they deal to their
targets. The animated object’s hardness applies against this self-
destructive damage.
Immovable Mire (Ex) Maniitoks are perpetually surrounded
with sodden muck of boggy peat and half-thawed permafrost.
All squares adjacent to a maniitok are treated as wet mud, and
those up to 10 feet beyond these adjacent squares are treated
as loose dirt, as the soften earth and stone spell. In addition,
a maniitok gains a +10 bonus to their CMD against bull rush,
drag, overrun, and reposition combat maneuvers. They gain
an identical bonus against any effect that would force them
to move, fall, or be knocked prone, including physical effects
such as wind or water and magical effects up to and including
teleportation effects.
Inescapable (Ex) Maniitoks engulf and cling to grappled,
swallowed, or engulfed creatures with unearthly tenacity.
Maniitoks can grapple creatures using freedom of movement,
albeit with a -20 penalty to their CMB and CMD for the purpose
of grapple checks made against such creatures. A creature using
freedom of movement can attempt an Escape Artist as a swift
action once per round to escape from a maniitok’s grapple.
Creatures that do not have freedom of movement take a -5
penalty to grapple combat maneuver checks or Escape Artist
checks made to escape a grapple or pin.
One with the Land (Su) Maniitoks are intimately connected
with the land. If they are separated from the ground, their fast
healing is suppressed. In addition, damaging effects (including
physical attacks) directed at the ground within 100 feet of
a maniitok deal 1 point of damage to the creature for every
10 points of damage dealt to the ground (after deducting the
ground’s hardness). This damage bypasses the maniitok’s
damage reduction and resistances. Effects that affect an area
that already include the maniitok deal damage to it directly but
do not also deal this damage in addition.
Effects that disrupt the earth but do not do hit point damage,
such as expeditious excavation, stone shape, transmute rock to
mud, stone to flesh, and earthquake, deal 1d6 points of damage
to the maniitok per level of the spell. It can halve this damage
with a Will save with a DC equal to 10 plus the level of the
10
10
spell. Spells that create extradimensional spaces or passages or
temporary changes in the earth, such as create pit, passwall,
and phase door, do not harm the maniitok. If a maniitok is
killed while touching the ground (including a vertical surface),
it triggers an earthquake centered on the maniitok’s location, as
the spell (caster level 20th).
Sound Sensitivity (Ex) Maniitoks
are very sensitive to loud noises
and take a -2 penalty on
saving throws against
sonic effects or
effects that would
cause them to
become deafened.
If targeted with a
sonic or deafening
effect (whether
successful or not),
a maniitok becomes
shaken for 1 round
(DC 20 Will negates).
Tundral Swarm (Su)
As a move action, a
maniitok can surround
itself with a crawling,
whirling tempest of
tundral debris,
which it can
dismiss as a free
action. Creatures
beginning their
turn within the
tundral swarm are
nauseated for one round
(DC 29 Fortitude negates), as the
distraction universal monster rule,
and spellcasters within the tundral
swarm must make concentration checks (DC 20 + spell
level) or have their spells ruined. Creatures must succeed on
a DC 20 Will save in order to use skills that require patience
or concentration. Within the tundral swarm, creatures take
a -4 penalty to concentration checks and Perception checks.
Each round the tundral swarm is active, the maniitok takes
1d6 points of damage as parts of its substance are literally
blown away; however, the tundral swarm intercepts many
attacks intended for the maniitok, granting it a 20% miss
chance against ranged attacks. In addition, the tundral swarm
deals damage to creatures within it based on the ambient
temperature; this damage varies depending on whether the
temperature is above or below freezing.
Frozen (below freezing): In colder environments, a maniitok’s
tundral swarm is mostly shards of ice, hard-frozen ground,
bits of bone and stone, and driving snow. Creatures within 10
feet of the maniitok at the end of its turn are dazzled until the
end of their next turn and take 3d6 points of bludgeoning and
slashing damage and 1d6 points of nonlethal cold damage,
becoming fatigued with frostbite as long as they have any
nonlethal cold damage.
Thaw (above freezing): In warmer weather, this tempest
is largely comprised of mosquitoes, beetles, and centipedes,
interspersed with rocks, uprooted plants, and chunks of
permafrost. In addition, creatures within 10 feet of a maniitok
at the end of its turn take 3d6 points of bludgeoning and
piercing damage. If the tundral swarm is infested with vermin,
creatures taking damage from it take 1d4 points of bleed
damage and are exposed to red ache.
Breath Weapon: Once per hour a maniitok can
disgorge a torrential gout of its tundral swarm
as a 60-foot line. This functions as its tundral
swarm ability within the area of effect but
deals double the damage listed above
(DC 29 Reflex half). In addition,
creatures failing their reflex
saves are affected by the
maniitok’s entrap ability,
encased in clinging mud,
crawling vermin, or
glazed with ice.
Maniitoks (man-EE-
tock) are strange and
solitary creatures of
the northern wastes,
known by many
names wherever
they exist. Some
call them palartok-
maguyuk, the “silent
howlers,” while
others name them
nunataq, “the mountain
rising from the snow,” but
their common name simply
means “the rugged and desolate ones.”
Maniitoks are amorphous creatures,
amalgamated from the land itself and imbued with
a crude intellect and spirit that craves silent solitude. A
maniitok may lie dormant for years, half-buried in a chilly bog
or forgotten valley, dimly contemplating the proper balance
of nature and brooding on their forgotten purpose until their
reverie is interrupted. They use their magic to make their
homes as inhospitable and unapproachable as possible.
Maniitoks carry a deep loathing for the din and clamor of
humanoid civilization, which grates unmercifully upon their
hypersensitivity to sound and vibration in a way that the
ambient noises of the empty tundra do not. Their empathic
linkage to the land carries even far-distant echoes of every
blow and cut of hammer, axe, and saw, piercing them with
a needling pain, inflaming in them a destructive rage, and
calling them to avenge this insult to the land itself. They destroy
every physical trace of civilization they discover, demolishing
buildings, tearing up roads, smashing bridges, and slaughtering
any that get in their way. They can follow even subtle traces of
patrols and explorers, trailing them back to their outposts and
laying waste to all they find in the hope of driving them so far
away they will never return. Even the sounds of combat can
sometimes attract the wrath of a maniitok, awakening it from
its torpor and bringing its wrath down upon combatants on
1111
both sides. They are generally tolerant of fey creatures, plants,
animals, vermin, and other oozes, but other creatures venturing
into a maniitok’s range may soon find themselves face to face
with the creature.
The true origins of the maniitoks are a mystery even to them,
some believing they well up naturally at places of great primal
power in the North as either a manifestation of nature magic
or perhaps an accretion of disruptive forces worms away at
the natural world like a canker and the maniitok forms as an
anodyne to heal it. They may also be the literal or figurative
children of Tekkeitsertok, great god of the earth and the hunt,
made to keep the wild places wild or formed from the divine
residue created where his feet touched the ground. Others
call them “tundra spirits,” believing them to be animated by
the souls of ancient shamans seeking the quiet solitude of the
endless arctic wastes, and that their rage is kindled by those
who disrupt their silent meditations. Survivors of encounters
with maniitoks often describe shifting faces in the frost that
shrouds them, some seeing just yawning dark pits like eyes and
a gaping maw, others reporting the chiseled features that look
entirely human.
In combat, maniitoks are usually surrounded by a whirling
tempest of tundral debris, and when they cannot crush or
engulf their foes or drown them in the muck that perpetually
surrounds them, they may hurl torrents of this debris or even
rocky chunks of their own body mass at them. If confronted
with foes it cannot perceive or cannot reach, or if severely
wounded, a maniitok burrows underground to heal, often
covering its retreat with a blinding sleet storm.
Knowledge Checks: Maniitoks
Although it is an ooze, use Knowledge (nature) to identify a
maniitok rather than Knowledge (dungeoneering)
17
Maniitoks are “tundra spirits” that destroy any kind
of buildings or other traces of civilization they encounter.
They hate fire but do not fear it, and fighting one is like
fighting a living avalanche.
22
Maniitoks wield powerful magic of nature but can
also engulf and swallow creatures, suffocating them
within their frozen yet fluid oozy substance. They hate
loud noises and seek quiet isolation, though they
sometimes associate with fey creatures.
27
Maniitoks are not spirits but oozes that can burrow through
the ground and draw strength from contact with the earth.
They are as one with the land, and devastating the earth itself
causes them pain and injury, though destroying a maniitok
causes its own cataclysmic disruption of the land.
orruol
This slender but solid woman has an air of distance and cold aloofness, her eyes
glinting like cut gemstones. Her skin is smooth yet has a faint sheen, with jewels
bedecking her throat. Her clothing, of a simple and even primitive tribal style,
seems to flow into a weave of spun crystal before coalescing into a clinking cascade
of faceted stones trailing behind her as she walks and briefly sprouting from the
ground where her feet alight before crumbling away.
orruol
cr 10
XP 9,600
LN Medium fey (earth)
Init +10; Senses low-light vision, tremorsense 120 ft.;
Perception +18
deFeNse
AC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 18 (+6 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 102 (12d6+60)
Fort +10, Ref +14, Will +11
Immune altitude effects, cold, disease, petrification, poison
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., earth glide 30 ft.
Melee 2 slams +9 (1d6+3)
Ranged 3 magic stones +13 (1d6+4 plus stone’s throw)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th; concentration +18)
At will—ghost sound (DC 16), magic stone, soften earth
and stone
3/day—charm monster (DC 20), empowered calcific
touch (DC 20), transport via stone (as transport via
plants, but only through natural stone within 1 mile
of the orruol’s mountain)
1/day—commune with nature, earthquake, major curse
(DC 22)
Oracle Spells Known (caster level 12th; concentration +18)
6th (4)—move earth, stone tell
5th (6)—control winds (DC 21), stoneskin, transmute
rock to mud
4th (7)—grove of respite, scrying (DC 20), spike stones
(DC 20), wall of stone
3rd (7)—call lightning (DC 19), meld into stone, plant
growth, sleet storm, stone shape
2nd (8)—barkskin, chill metal (DC 18), eagle eye, frigid
touch, gust of wind (DC 18), stone call
1st (8)—call animal, charm animal (DC 17), frostbite,
faerie fire, goodberry, speak with animals
0 (at will)—create water, detect magic, detect poison,
guidance, light, mending, purify food and drink, read
magic, resistance
12
12
statistics
Str 16, Dex 22, Con 19, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 23
Base Atk +6; CMB +9; CMD 25
Feats Blind-Fight, Empower Spell-Like Ability (calcific
touch), Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Toughness,
Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +10, Appraise +10, Bluff +10, Climb +24,
Craft (traps) +10, Craft (gem cutting) +10, Diplomacy
+10, Intimidate +20, Knowledge (engineering) +10,
Knowledge (geography) +10, Knowledge (nature) +10,
Perception +18, Perform (sing) +10, Sense Motive +10,
Stealth +21, Swim +10, Use Magic Device +18
Languages Gnome, Sylvan, Terran
ecology
Environment any mountain
Organization solitary
Treasure standard (double gems or jewelry)
special abilities
Alter Altitude (Su) As a full-round action, an orruol can
adjust the effects of high altitude within 120 feet by one step,
either making altitude conditions more severe (maximum of
high peak conditions) or less severe (minimum of normal/low
pass conditions). This aura moves with the orruol and lasts
until she dismisses it.
Mysteries of Stone (Ex/Su) An orruol casts spells as
a 12th-level oracle of the stone mystery but selects her
spells from the druid list rather than the cleric list.
In addition, she gains the following revelations:
crystal sight (12 rounds/day, see through
12 feet of earth and stone or 12 inches of
metal), mighty pebble (3/day, +12 ranged
attack, 6d6 damage to target, adjacent
creatures take half damage (DC 22 Reflex
negates)), shard explosion (3/day, 6d6 damage
in a 10-foot burst, DC 22 Reflex half), and
steelbreaker skin (1/day, 12 minutes, weapons
striking take 12 points of damage; if a weapon is
destroyed, it deals no damage).
Spirit of the Mountain (Ex) An orruol is tied
to her mountain as a dryad is tied to its tree. An
orruol away from its mountain becomes fatigued
immediately, becoming exhausted after 1 hour. If an
orruol spends more than 24 hours away from its
mountain, it dies.
Stone Step (Ex) An orruol’s land movement
(including climbing) is never impeded by
natural or magically-created rubble, scree,
slopes, or similar rocky
difficult terrain, or
by snow, ice, or wind
effects. They can still
be impeded by liquid
water, vegetation, or other
types of difficult terrain.
Stone’s Throw (Sp) When an orruol uses its magic stone spell-
like ability, it can hurl all three stones as a standard action. A
creature is affected as calcific touch if struck by two stones in the
same round, or empowered calcific touch if struck by all three.
An orruol is a powerful fey that embodies the spirit of a
great mountain. As befits their high and lofty home, orruols are
aloof and cool towards lesser beings, considering themselves
mistresses of all they survey. Some primitive tribes worship them
as goddesses, venerating them for their power, their beauty, and
their seeming immortality. Orruols may or may not acknowledge
this worship; some enjoy the attention and may manipulate their
“worshipers” to serve them in whatever ways they wish. Others
may disdain this adulation, ignoring the cries of the faithful and
their pathetic rituals or appearing to collect their offerings with
diffidence and mysterious silence before returning to their lonely
mountaintop haunts.
Orruols are often friendly with other fey that live on or near
their mountains, and many cultivate the services of animals or
magical beasts as servants, especially giant eagles, giant owls,
griffons, and rocs. While most orruols live above ground in
cultivated gardens and wild meadows, some delve into the stony
heart of their mountain homes in search of isolated cysts and
geodes and veins of crystal, and these orruols often have
a pack of 5-10 pech as servants. If orruols choose not
to delve in their own mountain, however, they are
typically very displeased with other creatures that
do so and may choose to collapse their tunnels or
seal them inside the mountain with their magic,
or may curse or charm them as punishment.
Delving an orruol’s mountain does not injure
the creature physically, but it may be that for
most orruols it causes some kind of sympathetic
spiritual discomfort that compels them to halt
any disruption to their mountain’s natural state.
It is not unheard of for orruols to allow miners
into their territory, exacting a high tribute
and absolute fidelity to whatever rules they
impose in exchange for the privilege. Even
the tiniest transgression can see the miners
exiled or enslaved, and few but the greediest
prospectors are willing to take the risk of
striking such a bargain.
Orruols enjoy the natural beauty of their
mountain homes, but they often amuse
themselves devising clever stonework traps
that they craft with their magic to capture
or kill those that violate their sacred refuges.
Orruols are not cruel so much as they are
largely without pity, seeing themselves
merely as part of the harsh order of nature that
embodies life and death, creation and destruction,
beauty and ugliness. They are not wild and
capricious as many fey can be, preferring to
rely on logic and reason, though their tempers
can be kindled by those that fail to show
proper respect and their wrath can
be terrible when aroused.
Orruols are 6 feet tall and
weigh 150 pounds.
13
13
Polevik
This aged-looking and filthy dwarf angrily clutches a brace of rusted sickles bound
together with a fine cord. His hair and beard are matted into dangling clumps
while bits of leaves and twigs cling to his dirty armor.
polevik
cr 14
XP 38,400
NE Medium fey
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, see
invisibility; Perception +20
deFeNse
AC 31, touch 13, flat-footed 28 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +12
natural, +1 shield)
hp 170 (20d6+100)
Fort +11, Ref +17, Will +15; +4 vs. enchantments
DR 10/cold-iron; Immune poison; SR 25
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +2 double chained sickle +16/+11 (1d6+11) or +2
double chained sickle +14/+14/+9/+9 (1d6+8)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with double chained sickle)
Special Attacks constrict (4d6 nonlethal), sneak attack
(4d6), soul thief, stranglehold, surprise slasher
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th; concentration +23)
At will—invisibility, jump, pass without trace
5/day—entangle (DC 14)
3/day—tree stride, wall of thorns (DC 18)
1/day—trap the soul (DC 21)
statistics
Str 22, Dex 17, Con 20, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 17
Base Atk +10; CMB +16 (+26 grapple); CMD 29 (+39 vs.
grapple)
Feats Acrobatic Steps, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes,
Double Slice, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Lightning
Reflexes, Nimble Moves, Two-Weapon Defense, Two-
Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Rend
Skills Acrobatics +16, Bluff +16, Climb +14, Craft (alchemy)
+12, Diplomacy +14, Disguise +14, Escape Artist +14,
Fly +12, Knowledge (nature) +12, Perception +20, Sense
Motive +16, Sleight of Hand +16, Stealth +20, Swim +17,
Use Magic Device +16
Languages Common, Dwarven, Sylvan
Gear +3 slick leather armor, +2 double-chained sickle
ecology
Environment cold hills, forest, mountains
Organization solitary
Treasure standard
special abilities
Soul Thief (Su) Whenever a polevik successfully renders a
victim unconscious with its stranglehold attack, it can steal
part of the victim’s soul, robbing the unfortunate target of
1d4 points of its primary ability score (or highest score). The
polevik keeps the stolen ability points stored in a fetish for later
use, typically for barter or sale to other powerful creatures (see
below). The ability score drain is permanent, however if the
fetish is crushed and destroyed, the points are released and
restored to the victim.
Stranglehold (Ex) A polevik that successfully sneak attacks
an opponent with its double-chain sickle, a chain, a rope,
or similar item can choose not to deal sneak attack damage,
instead using the item to initiate a stranglehold and begin
constricting the victim. Once initiated, a polevik gains a +10
racial bonus to his combat maneuver bonus to grapple. The
constriction deals 4d6 points of nonlethal damage per round
until the victim falls unconscious or the stranglehold is broken
or escaped. A polevik also applies his +10 racial bonus to his
CMD for creatures trying to escape his grapple.
Surprise Slasher (Ex) During a surprise round, a polevik
can move up to its speed and make a full attack with its double
chain sickle. Poleviks gain a +4 insight bonus on attack rolls
during a surprise round.
Poleviks, sometimes known as gray stranglers, are malicious
fey creatures possibly related to grimstalkers. Murderous
assassins, they hunt powerful mortals seeking to steal pieces
their souls for dark purposes. They believe mortals owe their
souls to the fey, and seek to reclaim them in order to use
their power to create potent magical effects. They delight
in strangling their marks and stealing pieces of their souls,
which they then sell off or use to bargain with fiends from the
lower planes.
Poleviks maintain many contacts with evil creatures
of the lower planes. They frequently bargain with these
creatures for artifacts and resources that would otherwise
be unavailable to the fey. Their contacts also allow them to
keep a sort of nebulous peace between these beings and fey
overlords, perhaps a key reason as to their importance to the
fey overlords. Despite their occasional usefulness to the fey
hierarchy, they hold no allegiances and are not (as some would
portray them) fey avengers. Instead, they take great delight in
their “work”, a quality trait that most other fey find unsettling.
Still, natives of Otherworld seem to view poleviks as a
necessary evil and when dealing with non-fey, they often deny
their existence, chalking them up as fable, bogeymen used to
haunt those of guilty conscience.
Most poleviks favor fighting with a matching pair of
crudely forged, rusty sickles bound together at the handles
by a length of slender rope or chain. Whenever possible, they
use stealth to slip behind their targets and strangle them.
The chain also allows a polevik to swing his sickles to gain
a 10-foot reach attack, which he can use to attempt to trip
opponents. If possible, a polevik avoids fair fights, preferring
to stage ambushes or similar situations where he can catch his
opponents by surprise or at a disadvantage. They fight dirty,
14
14
using stealth, trickery, and feints. If faced with obviously
strong opponents, these creatures attack only until they
acquire a portion of their opponent’s souls, after which they
flee back into the woods. While they may plot to return and
slay such opponents at a later time, they may just as easily put
a contract on their heads and sell it to a more powerful ally
from the lower planes.
Poleviks are similar in appearance to deformed dwarves
with excessively wrinkled skin and bulbous eyes with sickly
yellowish irises. At all times, they appear filthy and paint
themselves with mud, twigs, and leaves to help them blend into
their environments.
Polevik fetishes
Created from bits of the stolen souls of its victims, these fetishes
can provide their owners with the following magical benefits.
While an individual may carry more than one fetish, only a single
fetish can be active at one time. The individual must display the
fetish to activate it. Each fetish has a number of charges determined
by the number of a polevik’s victim’s stolen ability score points.
Powered by the stolen ability score points, each time the fetish is
used, a point is drained, thus the charges represent spent ability
score points. Unless otherwise noted, once a fetish is activated, its
effect remains active for 24 hours, after which the effect ends and
one of its charges is expended. Using a polevik fetish is an evil act,
inadvertent if the user does not know that it is powered by stolen
souls but a deliberate act otherwise. Fetishes provide the following
benefits as determined by the stolen ability score and the Hhit
Ddice of the creature whose soul was stolenvictim of the theft.
Strength Fetish: When activated, this fetish grants its user
a bonus to all melee attacks and damage equal to the hit dice
of the victim plus a number of points equal to the number of
Strength points stolen.
Dexterity Fetish: When activated, this fetish grants its user
a bonus to Initiative equal to the hit dice of the victim plus a
number of points equal to the amount of Dexterity points stolen.
Constitution Fetish: When activated, this fetish provides its
user with a fast healing rate equal to the half the hit dice of the
victim plus the number of Constitution points stolen.
Intelligence Fetish: When activated, this fetish provides its
user with SR equal to 10 plus the hit dice of the victim plus the
number of points of Intelligence stolen.
Wisdom Fetish: When activated, this fetish allows the user to
summon an evil outsider as per the spell summon monster with a
spell level equal to the number Wisdom points stolen and with a
caster level equal to the hit dice of the victim. Unlike other fetishes,
the summoned creature remains for the duration of the spell only.
This fetish cannot be used more than once in a 24 hour period.
Charisma Fetish: When activated, this fetish grants its user
the ability to deflect a number of spells whose total combined
spell levels are no greater than the hit dice of the victim plus a
number of points equal to the Charisma points stolen.
double Chained Sickles
The polvik’s double chained sickle is a two-handed exotic melee
weapon. The wielder can attack as if armed with a single sickle
in each hand or extend the chain to make a single reach attack.
By swinging the chain, the wielder can whip the sickle about to
disarm or trip opponents. Furthermore, if one of the weapons is
dropped, the wielder can retrieve it with a free action simply by
pulling on the chain.
Polviks typically enchant their weapons; however the base
statistics for a pair of double chained sickles are as follows:
Two-Handed Melee Weapon
Cost
Dmg (S)
Dmg (M)
Critical
Range
Weight
Type
Double chained sickles
10 gp
1d4/1d4
1d6/1d6
×2
—
4 lbs.
S
double, reach, trip
Special: If a character wielding this weapon also has the Strangler feat, he can use the weapon’s chain as part of his grapple
attempt and doesn’t suffer the normal –4 penalty for grappling without his hands free.
15
15
Torden
This shaggy hunter stands with bow and spear in hand, his long braids and bushy
beard tangled and rimed with frost. His leathern helm shades his face, glowing
eyes faintly visible and his breath freezing the air. Cruelly sharp black antlers
crown his head, polished to a deadly shine.
tordeN
cr 3
XP 800
NE Medium monstrous humanoid (cold)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision;
Perception +8
deFeNse
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 armor, +3 Dex, +1 shield)
hp 30 (4d10+8)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5
Immune cold
Weaknesses vulnerable to fire
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk lance +7 (1d8+3/x3), gore +6 (1d6+3 plus bleed)
Ranged composite longbow +7 (1d8+2/x3)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with lance)
Special Attacks bleed 1, favored enemy, harrowing horn
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +5)
Constant—deathwatch, detect snares and pits
At will—faerie fire
statistics
Str 15, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 13
Base Atk +4; CMB +6; CMD 19
Feats Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack
Skills Climb +6, Handle Animal +6, Perception +8, Ride
+10, Stealth +10, Survival +8 (+10 when tracking), Swim
+6; Racial +2 Survival when tracking
Languages Common, Druidic, Sylvan
SQ favored terrain, wintry stride
Gear leather armor, masterwork buckler, masterwork lance,
composite longbow (2 Str) with 40 cold iron arrows)
ecology
Environment any cold or temperate forest
Organization solitary, hunt (2-5 plus 1 giant owl), or
great hunt (6-12 plus 1d4 giant owls and 1 huntmaster);
tordens are almost always encountered mounted
Treasure standard
special abilities
Favored Enemy (Ex) Tordens have ingrained within them
an almost supernatural hatred for the druids that created their
accursed ancestors. As a result, they treat any creature with levels
in the druid class, created or summoned by a druid, or serving as
animal companion or cohort to a druid as a favored enemy. This
functions as the ranger class feature, with a +2 bonus.
Favored Terrain (Ex) Tordens treat both cold and forest
terrains as their favored terrain, as the ranger class feature, with
a favored terrain bonus of +2 in both types of terrain. In these
terrains, tordens can attempt to track creatures that normally
cannot be tracked, including flying or swimming creatures or
creatures using abilities such as trackless step or pass without
trace, though they take a -10 penalty to their Survival check
when doing so.
Harrowing Horn (Su) Three times per day as a standard
action, a torden can conjure and sound a phantom trumpet,
inspiring himself and his allies as a bless spell and granting
them a +10-foot enhancement bonus to their speed while
striking dread into his enemies, as bane (DC 13 Will negates).
Each effect lasts 4 rounds. The bane effect is a sonic, mind-
affecting effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Wintry Stride (Su) A torden’s movement is not impeded
by natural vegetation, as a druid’s woodland stride ability. In
addition, their movement is never adversely affected by snow
or ice, and they can walk across a thin snow crust or thin ice
without breaking through. A mounted torden can share this
ability with a mount one size larger than himself.
tordeN HuNtmaster
cr 7
XP 3,200
NE Medium monstrous humanoid (cold)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision;
Perception +13
deFeNse
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18 (+3 armor, +3 Dex, +4
natural, +1 shield)
hp 85 (9d10+36)
Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +7
Immune cold
Weaknesses vulnerable to fire
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 lance +14/+9 (1d8+7/x3), gore +13 (1d6+6 plus
bleed)
Ranged +1 composite longbow +13/+8 (1d8+5/x3)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with lance)
Special Attacks brumal bleed, favored enemy, harrowing
horn, bleed (1d3)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th; concentration +12)
Constant—deathwatch, detect snares and pits
At will—air walk (self only), faerie fire, gaseous form
(self only)
1/day—call lightning (DC 16), control weather, eagle eye,
ice storm, sleet storm
statistics
Str 19, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 17
Base Atk +9; CMB +13; CMD 26
16
16
17
17
Feats Mounted Combat, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge
Skills Climb +8, Handle Animal +10, Knowledge (nature)
+7, Perception +13, Ride +15, Stealth +15, Survival +13
(+17 when tracking), Swim +8; Racial Modifiers +4
Survival when tracking
Languages Common, Druidic, Sylvan
SQ favored terrain, swift tracker, wintry stride
Gear masterwork chain shirt, masterwork buckler, +1
lance, +1 composite longbow, 40 cold iron arrows
ecology
Environment any cold or temperate forest
Organization solitary, hunt (2-5 plus 1 giant owl), or
great hunt (6-12 plus 1d4 giant owls and 1 huntmaster);
tordens are almost always encountered mounted
Treasure standard
special abilities
Brumal Bleed (Su) The bleed damage from a torden
huntmaster’s gore attack causes a hypothermic chill to spread
through the target. A creature is fatigued for as long as it is
taking bleed damage. Once the bleed damage ends, the target
can attempt a DC 18 Fortitude save as a full-round action to
banish the chill and end the fatigue. The fatigue caused by a
huntmaster’s gore does not stack with itself, but it stacks with
fatigue caused by another huntmaster’s gore or with other
sources of fatigue.
Favored Enemy (Ex) As a normal torden, but with a +4 bonus.
Favored Terrain (Ex) As a normal torden, but with a +4
bonus. In addition, a huntmaster takes only a -5 penalty when
tracking creatures that normally cannot be tracked.
Swift Tracker (Ex) A torden huntmaster reduces penalties for
tracking at full speed, as the ranger class feature.
Harrowing Horn (Su) As a normal torden, but in addition to
the usual effects the huntmaster can grant all allies within 20
feet the benefits of air walk, good hope, or haste or can affect
all enemies within 20 feet as crushing despair, fear, or slow.
These effects last for 9 rounds and the save DC to resist any
harmful effect is DC 16. Only one of these additional effects
can exist at a time; if the huntmaster creates a new effect, the
previous effect ends for all creatures.
Wintry Stride (Su) As a normal torden.
Tordens are a race of savage hunters of the cold lands born
of an ancient curse. Their legendary forebears, their names
now largely forgotten, were once great hunters themselves but
trespassed one too many times into the sacred woods of the
elder druid circles. Mortally wounded when their erstwhile
prey turned savagely upon them, and abandoned by their allies
to their fate, they were taken by the druids to be reforged into
living weapons upon their former allies, hunting them as they
had once hunted the beasts of the field and forest. They hunted
well, terrorizing lands they once ruled and being branded
outlaws and traitors, but upon returning with the spoils of
their first hunt they saw no reason to stop hunting just because
their creators and supposed masters were in view. Thus, the
druids that made the first tordens also fell by the hand of
their murderous creations, loyalty and obedience being of no
moment. In time, the tordens forgot all allegiances but to one
another. Even their own names were discarded as meaningless.
There was only the hunt, and an undying hatred for the druids
that cursed him to live for nothing else.
Tordens roam across all the cold lands, from the polar ice to
the barren tundra, icy mountain ranges and chilly bogs, but
it is the boreal forests they love best. They sometimes range
into warmer temperate woodlands during the winter, but they
rarely remain past the coming of spring. Some think them fey,
transient spirits of winter’s hunger and cruelty, but they are
entirely natural creatures for all their unnatural lineage. They
reproduce by spreading their curse (see sidebar), though rumors
persist that some tordens can mate with ordinary women and
that the children of such unions, always male, will manifest
the curse upon reaching adulthood. In either case, most tordens
have no qualms about spreading their curse, though they are
careful to avoid creating too many hunters with whom they
will have to compete. When a group grows too large the two
strongest leaders split the clan and go their separate ways to
ensure that every hunter will always have enough prey. Some
tordens try to turn away from their legacy of death, confining
their hunting to non-sentient beings and never passing along
their curse, and some are solitary and do not pass on the curse
simply because they despise the company of others and do not
wish to share their kills, but most travel in packs.
Tordens are skilled warriors afoot, but they are almost always
found mounted. Many use common mounts, such as horses
or trained elk, sharing their wintry stride ability and allowing
them to ride through dense and tangled woodlands and drifts
of snow and treacherous ice at speeds impossible for most of
their prey to match. Over the centuries since their creation,
however, tordens have also developed a unique and almost
empathic affinity for giant owls and winter wolves. These
creatures are not servants but allies, as the tordens live among
them and fight alongside them, using them sometimes as scouts
or magnificent mounts. They share trophies, treasure, and
meals alike with their inhuman comrades, as each understands
the other is key to their mutual success in planning and
executing a successful hunt.
The greatest and most bloodthirsty tordens become the
fearsome huntmasters, leading their fellows in the scouring
of the land and even racing in deadly hunts across the sky
through the winter storms. Huntmasters typically lead from the
rear of their fellows, raining deadly arrows in the thick of the
fighting before diving in with leveled lance and tearing horns.
Huntmasters are primarily focused on their own business and
may not concern themselves with PCs unless they interfere
with their hunt; of course, the malevolent huntmasters are just
as likely to be encountered in the employ of someone willing to
pay well to target the PCs.
Knowledge Checks: tordens
10
Tordens are expert riders and hunters, able to move
swiftly through frozen forests.
15
Tordens blow phantom horns to inspire themselves
and instill dread in their prey. Their frozen flesh is
impervious to cold but they fear fire.
20
Tordens have a powerful hatred for druids, who
created them with an ancient curse that they can pass on
to male humanoids they capture and hang among the
frozen boughs until the curse takes hold.
18
18
vodenjak
This gaunt ferryman is dressed in ragged, mud-stained shrouds of blackish green.
His gnarled hands grip a stout pole of equal utility for walking or poling a skiff.
His eyes are quick and appraising, his hair wild and white, and his smile decidedly
unpleasant. A jangling roughspun satchel hangs at his side.
vodeNjak
cr 6
XP 2,400
LE Medium monstrous humanoid (aquatic)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision,
tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +13
deFeNse
AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6
natural)
hp 68 (8d10+24)
Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +8
DR 5/silver; Resist electricity 10; SR 17
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Melee shillelagh +11/+6 (2d6+4)
Special Attacks clouting cudgel, soul
drinker
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration
+12)
Constant—freedom of movement, speak with
animals (aquatic animals only)
At will—animal trance (DC 16) (aquatic animals only),
charm animal (DC 15) (aquatic animals only), disguise
self, fog cloud, hydraulic push, shillelagh
3/day—divination, entangle (DC 15), scry (DC 18)
1/day—baleful polymorph (DC 19) (aquatic creatures
only), bestow curse (DC 18), summon (level 4, 1 giant
moray eel, 1d3 giant pike, or 1d4+1 electric eels 100%)
statistics
Str 14, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 15, Cha 18
Base Atk +8; CMB +10; CMD 23
Feats Brew Potion, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Vital
Strike
Skills Appraise +6, Bluff +10, Craft (alchemy) +10, Disguise
+10 (+20 with disguise self), Knowledge (geography)
+10, Knowledge (nature) +10, Perception +13, Perform
(oratory) +10, Profession (sailor) +10, Sense Motive +10,
Stealth +10, Swim +14
Languages Aquan, Common, Sylvan
SQ change shape (electric eel, giant pike), or giant moray
eel; beast shape II), phantom skiff, riverman’s bargain
ecology
Environment cold or temperate freshwater
Organization solitary, skiff and school (1 vodenjak and 1–4
giant pike), 10% chance to be encountered with a green
hag or sea hag (equal chance of either)
Treasure standard
special abilities
Clouting Cudgel (Su) When a vodenjak threatens a critical
hit against a Medium or smaller creature with his shillelagh,
he can attempt an Awesome Blow combat maneuver in place
of attempting to confirm the critical hit. If the maneuver
succeeds, the attack deals double damage and moves the target
as described for the Awesome Blow feat.
Phantom Skiff (Su) As a full-round action, a vodenjak can
conjure a spiritual barge of sodden logs bound together by ropes
of mist. This silent skiff functions similarly to the phantom
steed spell (AC 20, hp 30), with a swim speed of 80 feet across
the surface of the water (including muddy and swampy terrain
and even areas of solid ground that are 10 feet wide or less). The
skiff can go underwater at a speed of 40 feet, but it provides no
air for its passengers, so they must hold their breath. The skiff
can hold up to 8 Medium-sized creatures (2 Large, 1 Huge, or
19
19
16 Small or smaller) in addition to the vodenjak. The phantom
skiff is surrounded by a ghostly mist that provides concealment
(20% miss chance) for creatures within the skiff against attacks
from outside it, and from a distance of greater than 30 feet the
phantom skiff is 80% likely to be mistaken for ordinary mist
upon the water. The vodenjak can dismiss the phantom skiff as
a free action.
Riverman’s Bargain (Su) Once per month, a vodenjak can
grant a limited wish to a creature with 7 or fewer Hit Dice.
However, this wish always comes as part of a bargain, and
the creature receiving the limited wish must agree to accept a
lesser geas from the vodenjak, which the vodenjak can invoke
from any distance up to a year and a day after granting the
limited wish. This specialized lesser geas does not allow spell
resistance or a saving throw, and if the lesser geas is removed
before the task specified by the vodenjak is completed, the
benefits of the limited wish are immediately ended (or undone,
if the effect of the limited wish has already ended). If the wish
cannot reasonably be reversed or negated, the wish recipient
instead is affected as bestow curse (no saving throw) when the
lesser geas is broken. If the target is killed before the lesser
geas is completed, its soul is taken by the vodenjak as if it had
successfully used its soul drinker ability. A vodenjak cannot
have more than one riverman’s bargain in effect at a time.
Soul Drinker (Su) As a full-round action, a vodenjak can try
to extract the soul of a dying creature adjacent to it, drawing
it forth as a liquid and storing it in an open container, such
as a goblet, chalice, or teacup. A target failing a DC 18 Will
save is slain and affected as a rest eternal spell. If the target
is underwater while dying, the save DC increases by 2. If a
creature dies by drowning within 30 feet of a vodenjak, it can
use this ability as an immediate action and does not need to be
adjacent to the target.
Once the soul essence has been drawn out of the victim, the
vodenjak can tap into its power at any time as a standard action
by dipping its tongue into the liquefied soul in the container,
gaining the benefit of a guidance or virtue spell. Once per day,
a vodenjak can also speak with dead with any creature whose
soul container it possesses, and can split the questions between
multiple slain creatures; the dead do not receive a saving throw
to resist this questioning. A vodenjak can also drink the stored
soul essence at any time, gaining the benefits of a death knell
spell, though this frees the trapped the soul and allows the
creature to be raised from the dead normally. For any creature
other than the vodenjak, drinking the soul essence causes the
drinker to gain a temporary negative level (DC 18 Fortitude
negates) and become confused (DC 18 Will negates), each effect
lasting 24 hours. If the rest eternal effect is ended, that soul
container shatters and the soul essence spills out on the ground.
If a vodenjak has 10 or more soul containers gathered
together, he can use word of recall to return to that location;
however, this destroys 1d4-1 of his soul containers and releases
the souls trapped within, so he is loath to use this ability unless
he believes his collection is in danger. He is aware when any
soul container is disturbed, as the mental alarm created by an
alarm spell but with unlimited range as long as the vodenjak
is on the same plane. Both of these effects apply only if he
has line of effect to the containers. This line of effect extends
underwater but not inside any kind of container or building;
hence, a vodenjak’s collections are often hidden in the open on
remote sand or gravel bars or on tiny uninhabited islets so they
are not disturbed.
Soulchemist (Su) A vodenjak can use soul essence to craft
potions as if it knew all druid spells of 1st to 3rd level. The
caster level of a potion created using a soul essence is equal to
the Hit Dice of the deceased creature. Crafting a potion requires
8 hours of work and frees the trapped soul essence. These
potions retain their potency for one week and then evaporate
into nothingness.
Vodenjaks are supernatural ferrymen, sometimes called
vodnik or vodianow, closely related to hags though always
excluded from their covens. Like hags, they often wander in
disguise through settled lands, plying their wares and offering
temptation to the unwary. Unlike hags, however, vodenjaks
have no interest in devouring the creatures they inveigle
with their cunning. Instead, they are far more interested in a
creature’s soul.
Vodenjaks stay close to rivers, lakes, and marshes, sometimes
using their phantom skiffs to speed passengers from place
to place. They often ask a dear price for passage, and can be
swift and sure in their transit, but often they will simply ask
for whatever payment their passengers wish. Those who deal
generously with a vodenjak will have few problems, but those
that seek to cheat or insult him draw his ire and often cause
him to disperse the phantom skiff in the midst of a journey,
often amidst dangerous waters or when hungry aquatic
predators have gathered about in his wake (including those the
vodenjak summons himself).
Vodenjaks enjoy riddling talk and may challenge passengers
to contests of boasting, riddles, or storytelling to pass the
time on their journey. They will also offer to read the fortune
of passengers, telling them what may come to pass. Their
divinatory gifts are real, but how much they offer and how
truthful they are about what they see depends on their opinion
of their passenger. The same is true of their offers to craft
magical potions, as they may slip poison into the vials of
customers that have angered them. A vodenjak always feigns
friendliness and never shows anger outwardly unless he is ready
to attack. Their powers of temptation go beyond potion-making
and divination to the granting of small wishes, but always
bound up with a promise of service on the vodenjak’s behalf.
All of a vodenjak’s affable pretensions work to the goal of
gathering souls, which it collects as others might collect fine
wines. They use these souls as ingredients in their potions
and for their personal power, but mostly they love the sense
of control over mortal life and death, and the satisfaction of
luring someone into giving up a portion of their soul willingly.
A vodenjak has the power to seize it by force at the moment of
dying, but gaining them through guile is far more delicious.
Vodenjaks are very protective of their collections and will attack
in a fury anyone who threatens to disturb their soul containers.
20
20
Wiitikowan
(lesser Wendigo) (Template)
The lined and weathered features of this tribal hunter are wracked into a feral
rictus, as blood drips from his lips and hands, painting the tips of cruel antlers
twisting up from his skull. He draws his bow with practiced skill, ready to rain
death upon his targets and commence a bloody feast upon their flesh.
savage HuNter
cr4
XP 1,200
Male human ranger (guide) 5
N Medium humanoid
Init +1 (+3 in mountains and hills); Senses low-light vision,
Perception +5 (+7 in mountains and hills)
deFeNse
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +2
Dex, +1 dodge, +1 shield)
hp 42 (5d10+15)
Fort +6, Ref +6, Will -2
oFFeNse
Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk battleaxe +8 (1d8+2/[TS]3) and gore +7
(1d6+2 plus 1 bleed/19-20)
Ranged mwk longbow, composite +8 (1d8+2/[TS]3) or
handaxe +7 (1d6+2)
Special Attacks blood rage, ranger’s focus (2/day, +4
attack and damage)
statistics
Str 14, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12 (8
points of Wis damage currently), Cha 11
Base Atk +5; CMB +7; CMD 19
Feats Deadly Aim, Dodge, Endurance,
Mobility, Point Blank Shot, Shot
on the Run
Skills Climb +10, Craft (traps) +7, Handle Animal +5,
Knowledge (geography) +5 (+7 in mountains and hills),
Knowledge (nature) +5, Perception +5 (+7 in mountains and
hills), Profession (trapper) +5, Ride +7, Stealth +10 (+12 in
mountains and hills), Survival +5 (+7 in mountains and
hills), Swim +7
Languages Common, Halat
SQ favored terrain (mountains/hills), track +2, trackless
step, wild empathy +5
Combat Gear masterwork composite longbow (STR 14)
with 20 arrows, masterwork battleaxe, 2 throwing axes;
Other Gear masterwork studded leather, masterwork
buckler, climber’s kit, masterwork tools (Craft (traps)), 2
potions of cure light wounds.
21
21
WiitikoWaN dire WolveriNe
cr 6
XP 2,400
CE Large fey (cold)
Init +9; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +13
Aura unnatural aura (30 ft.)
deFeNse
AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 Dex, +6 natural, -1 size)
hp 66 (7d8+35); regeneration 5 (fire)
Fort +10, Ref +10, Will +3
Immune cold, mind-affecting effects; Weaknesses
vulnerability to fire
oFFeNse
Speed fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee bite +10 (1d8+9/18-20/x3 plus disease), 2 claws +8
(1d6+3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks bloody bite, disease (DC 18), nightmare
stalker (DC 14), rage, savage transformation (DC 18)
statistics
Str 23, Dex 21, Con 21, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +5; CMB +12; CMD 27 (31 vs. trip)
Feats Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative,
Multiattack, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Fly +13, Perception +13, Stealth
+13, Survival +12
SQ taste of terror, wind walker
Rage (Ex): When this creature takes damage
during combat, at the beginning of its next turn it
becomes enraged for the remainder of the combat: Str
27, Con 25, AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 13, hp 78, Fort
+12, Melee bite +12 (1d8+12/18-20/x3 plus disease), 2
claws +10 (1d6+4)
WiitikoWaN mouNtaiN raveN (vulture)
cr 3
XP 800
CE Small fey (cold)
Init +1; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +13
Aura unnatural aura (30 ft.)
deFeNse
AC 17, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)
hp 25 (3d8+12); regeneration 5 (fire)
Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +2; +4 vs. disease
Immune cold, mind-affecting effects; Weaknesses
vulnerability to fire
oFFeNse
Speed fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee bite +7 (1d8+2/18-20/x3 plus disease)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks bloody bite, disease (DC 15), nightmare
stalker (DC 12), savage transformation (DC 15)
statistics
Str 16, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 1, Wis 13, Cha 3
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD +7
Feats Flyby Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Fly +15, Perception +13, Stealth +15, Survival +13
SQ taste of terror, wind walker
A wiitikowan is the result when a living creature is spiritually
consumed by a raw and hungry spirit of nature. Most common
in cold, harsh lands where humanity and its kin sometimes
teeter on the edge of relapsing into savagery and even
cannibalism in order to survive, a wiitikowan may also arise as
a result of a powerful curse. In any case, its appearance is wild
yet haggard, its hair, fur, or feathers matted and its skin scarred
and tattered (or, in rare cases, completely falling out and leaving
the victim utterly bald), scarcely hiding its bulging muscles
within. Its mouth is always bloody as though continually in the
midst of a feast of carnage. Its eyes hold a feral supernatural
gleam and its feet end in bloody stumps or sometimes
bony claws, the flesh melting away into a cold mist.
A creature that has begun to succumb to
the wiitikowan curse but has not yet fully
lost their mind and soul may appear
totally normal, but will
22
22
periodically be stricken with a hungry blood rage that causes
them to undergo a savage transformation, like the savage
hunter above. At first this change is temporary and the
accursed creature returns to normal when the transformation
abates, with no recollection of their actions while transformed.
If their curse can be removed before their original mind and
personality are utterly gone, they can sometimes be redeemed
and rescued from their accursed fate. If not, they are doomed to
hunt as a wiitikowan forever.
Becoming a wiitikowan
Wiitikowan is an acquired template that can be applied to any
animal, humanoid, or monstrous humanoid. Other creature types
are not subject to the wiitikowan curse. A wiitikowan uses the base
creature’s stats and abilities except as noted below.
Challenge Rating: As the base creature +2 for base creatures
without class levels, spells, or spell-like or supernatural abilities.
Alignment: Always chaotic evil.
Type: The creature’s type changes to fey. Do not recalculate the
creature’s HD, BAB, or saves.
Armor Class: As the base creature, with a +2 bonus to its natural
armor bonus to Armor Class.
Hit Dice: As the base creature +2.
Saves: As the base creature.
Defensive Abilities: A wiitikowan gains immunity to cold and
mind-affecting effects.
Speed: A wiitikowan gains a fly speed of 60 feet (perfect
maneuverability) and loses all other movement types. If its fly
speed is faster than 60 feet, it retains that speed.
Attacks: A wiitikowan gains a bite attack if it does not already
possess one, and its bite deals damage as a creature one size larger
than its actual size, adding 1-1/2 times its Strength bonus to its bite
damage. Any other natural weapons it has become atrophied and
withered, being treated as secondary natural weapons and dealing
damage as a creature one size smaller, adding 1/2 its Strength
bonus to damage.
Special Attacks: A wiitikowan retains any special attacks of the
base creature. In addition, it gains the following special attacks:
Bloody Bite (Ex): A wiitikowan’s bite has a critical threat range
of 18-20, dealing triple damage and 1d6 points of bleed damage
on a confirmed critical hit. This bleed damage stacks for multiple
critical hits.
Disease (Su): A wiitikowan’s bite carries the disease of wendigo
fever. Wendigo fever: bite; save Will DC = 10 + 1/2 the wiitikowan’s
Hit Dice + its Constitution modifier; onset 1 day; frequency 1d3
days; effect 1d3 Wis damage plus savage transformation (see
below); cure 2 consecutive saves.
Nightmare Stalker (Su): As a full-round action, a wiitikowan can
mark one creature within 120 feet as its quarry, allowing it to move
at full speed while tracking that creature, with an insight bonus
equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice to Perception and Survival checks made
against its quarry. As long as that creature remains its quarry, the
next time the target sleeps it is affected as nightmare (Will DC =
10 + 1/2 the wiitikowan’s Hit Dice + its Wisdom modifier), though
each time the target fails its saving throw against this nightmare it
takes 1d3 points of Wisdom damage (and does not heal Wisdom
damage naturally that day) in addition to the normal effects of
nightmare. A wiitikowan will typically stalk a victim for 1d4 days
trying to wear down its target’s mental reserves before attacking
and trying to spread its wendigo fever. A creature that has failed
a saving throw against a wiitikowan’s nightmare automatically
becomes shaken whenever the wiitikowan is within 30 feet and
for 1d4 rounds thereafter, even if it cannot see the wiitikowan.
A creature that has failed two saves against its nightmare is
frightened rather than shaken, while a creature that has failed
three saves is either panicked or cowering (equal chance of either).
If the target succeeds on its saving throw three nights in a row,
the wiitikowan abandons its quarry. Any Wisdom damage remains
but the nightmares and their side effects do not recur. It may have
only quarry at a time.
Optional Rule: If using the alternate Madness system from
Tomes of Arcane Knowledge, a failed save adds 1d3 Madness
points to the target rather than dealing Wisdom damage.
Savage Transformation (Su): On any day an infected creature
takes Wisdom damage from wendigo fever, the target must make
a Will save (same DC as wendigo fever) or be overcome with an
insatiable hunger for the flesh of its own kind, being compelled to
stalk and kill the nearest creature of its own race and feast upon its
flesh. After the first bite of its victim, the afflicted creature gains
the blood rage, low-light vision, and trackless step special qualities
and may experience a temporary physical transformation. If the
afflicted creature normally has a bite attack, it gains the bloody
bite special attack described above. If the creature is a humanoid or
similar creature lacking natural weapons, it may gain one or more
primary natural weapons:
d%
Result
01-25
no additional attack gained
26-50
bite attack gained
51-70
gore attack gained
71-95
2 claws gained
96
bite and gore
97
bite and 2 claws
98
2 claws and gore
99-00
bite, 2 claws, and gore
These natural weapons deal damage appropriate for a
creature of its size with a critical threat range of 19-20 and
dealing 1 point of bleed damage (which stacks with bleed
damage from any source) on a critical hit. This transformation,
including the blood rage and natural weapon, last for 1d4 hours,
after which the afflicted creature returns to normal with no
memory of events that transpired while affected by this effect.
When an afflicted creature’s Wisdom damage equals its
Wisdom score, the savage transformation becomes permanent.
It gains this template and becomes a wiitikowan forever. Its
Wisdom damage disappears when this occurs.
Abilities: Str +4, Dex +4, Con +4, Int -4 (minimum 1), Cha -4
(minimum 1).
BAB: As the base creature.
Skills: A wiitikowan gains a +8 racial bonus to Stealth and
Survival.
23
23
Boreal Bestiary Paper minis
Feats: As the base creature.
Special Qualities: A wiitikowan gains the following special
qualities:
Regeneration 5 (Ex): Fire suppresses a wiitikowan’s
regeneration for 1 round.
Taste of Terror (Su): A wiitikowan can sense the presence
of fear, becoming aware of the direction and approximate
distance of any creature affected by a fear effect within 1 mile.
If it is within 60 feet, it can pinpoint a shaken creature’s exact
location as if it had blindsense; this is doubled if the creature
is frightened, tripled if a creature is panicked, cowering, or
paralyzed with fear. If the creature is also taking bleed damage
(or bleeding while dying), all of the above distances are doubled.
If a wiitikowan deals damage with its bite to a creature suffering
from a fear effect, the wiitikowan can sense that creature for the
next 24 hours as if it had blindsight rather than blindsense.
Unnatural Aura (Su): Animals do not approach within 30
feet of a wiitikowan unless the animal’s master makes a DC 25
Handle Animal, Ride, or wild empathy check.
Wind Walker (Su): A wiitikowan may wind walk at will,
requiring only a move action to transform between solid and
gaseous form. In addition, a wiitikowan’s movement, attacks,
and senses are never impeded by wind or by natural or
magical weather effects, including fog cloud, obscuring mist,
and sleet storm.
©2013 Legendary Games. Permission granted to photocopy this page for personal use only.
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Arctic Harpspider
25
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Green Child
26
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Gruen
27
27
Hiisi
28
28
Maniitok
29
29
Orruol
30
30
Polevik
31
31
Torden
32
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Vodenjak
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Savage Hunter
34
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Dire Wolverine
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Mountain Raven
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Boreal Bestiary
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| textdata/thevault/Pathfinder/1st Edition/3rd Party/Legendary Games/Forest Kingdom/Beasts of Legend - Boreal Bestiary.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter
Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without
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DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook,
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VER 5-04
Fools Gold
A One-Round D&D® LIVING GREYHAWK™
Verbobonc Regional Adventure
by Gregory Hanigan
Triad Edit: Chad LaMontagne, Michael Maenza, Vernon L. Vincent
Circle Edit: Tim Sech
The Bridgeforth Inn stands quiet and empty; speakers no longer preach the Brotherhoods message to the populace of
Verbobonc City. But all is not well; Bub Tympanum is still missing, Uncle Vardis still has not been apprehended, and
none who have entered the Bridgeforth have lived. For both lawful and chaotic PCs, this Verbobonc regional adventure
is for character levels 1 to 14 and the final adventure in the “Fools” series. (APLs 2 to 12)
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 2
RPGA SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
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from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide,
ongoing D&D campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—
you must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event
could be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
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To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the table DM (or
usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all the time in
the cases of home events) the senior gamemaster is also
the table DM. You don’t have to be a HERALD-LEVEL GM
to run this adventure if you are not the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game,
and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2006.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit
the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
PCS READ NO FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than
this section, you’ll know too much about its challenges,
which kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this
point makes you ineligible to do so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of
the following D&D books: Player’s Handbook, Dungeon
Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics
provides player information for you to paraphrase or read
aloud when appropriate. Sidebars contain important
information for you, including special instruction on
running the adventure. Information on nonplayer PCs
(NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated form in the
adventure text. Full information on NPCs and monsters
are given in Appendix 1.
Along with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA
Table Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as
part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in
this sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll
also find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because PCs bring their own PCs to LIVING GREYHAWK
games, this adventure’s challenges are proportionate to
the modified average character level of the PCs
participating in the adventure. To determine this
modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps
below:
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for combat
(most likely dogs trained for war), other than those
brought by virtue of a class ability (such as animal
companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or the
warhorse of a character with the Mounted Combat
feat, use the sidebar chart to determine the number
of levels you add to the sum of step one. Add each
character’s animals separately. A single PC may only
bring four or fewer animals of this type, and animals
with different CRs are added separately.
Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the number
of PCs playing in the adventure. Round up to the
nearest whole number.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of
challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-
numbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on
an odd number, ask them before the adventure begins
whether they would like to play a harder or easier
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 3
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience and gold a
PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player
character is three character levels or more either higher
or lower than the APL at which this adventure is being
played, that character receives only one-half of the
experience points and gold for the adventure. This
simulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged
as much as normal or relied on help by higher-level PCs
to reach the objectives.
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher
than the highest APL supported by the adventure may
not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL
2 and higher. Four or five 1
st-level PCs may find the
challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the
following to these groups to help increase their chances
of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
2.
Advise PCs to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them.
Time Units and Upkeep
This is a standard one-round Regional adventure, set in
Verbobonc. PCs native to Verbobonc pay one Time Unit
per round, all others pay two Time Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12gp per Time Unit.
Rich Upkeep costs 50gp per Time Unit. Luxury Upkeep
costs 100gp per Time Unit.
Areas of Influence
This adventure allows the use of the following influence
points for purposes of the Verbobonc Influence
document:
•
Viscount Langard
•
Churches (All)
•
Wrinkle Academy
•
The Family
•
The Gentlemen of the Watch.
Cast of PCs and Locations
Lathmir Amanthsal: A formerly tall, blonde and
handsome human, Lathmir had been one of the primary
proponents of the Scarlet Brotherhood in Verbobonc.
Lathmir died however of his own hand in VER4-06 A
Fools Errand, and was tricked by Uncle Krot into being
reincarnated. Now Lathmir has become what he despises
most; a gnome. The twin shock of his return as a gnome
and the rigors of reincarnation have broken his mind and
he now lives in dementia near the docks where he used
to conduct business. At the same time Lathmir still
knows many of the secrets of the Scarlet Brotherhood,
including the password to the Forbiddance that was
erected at the Bridgeforth.
Uncle Vardis: This Master Monk keeps his graying hair
cropped so short it is difficult to tell that he’s a Suel.
However this master monk is the primary antagonist of
this series. Working behind the scenes Vardis now
directs the expansion of the Scarlet Brotherhood in
Verbobonc. Vardis experienced several set backs in the
past several months, usually at the hands of the PCs. His
hand was tipped too early (in VER4-04: Ship of Fools)
and then his plans to eliminate any possibility of
reunification were foiled (in VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand).
Vardis of course hates those who are responsible for
those setbacks and not only seeks the destruction of the
Royal Furyondy Mint, but also the destruction of the
PCs.
Bubulos Intaglio Tympanum: A retired gnomish
Master Sculptor, this elderly gnome is a bit stooped and
walks with a cane, but still is filled with energy and
excitement about stonework and architecture. Bub has in
his long career worked in stone, pottery, and metal, most
notably during the restoration of the Verbobonc Guild
Hall, Bub restored a door which leads to the Royal
Furyondy Mint. He is one of the few people in
Verbobonc who know of its existence. He is quite
comfortable around humans and is not offended when
they shorten his already shortened name down to “Bub”.
Bub was kidnapped in VER 4-06: A Fools Errand and has
been kept at the Bridgeforth Inn, while Uncle Vardis
attempted to extract from him the exact location of a door
to the Royal Furyondy Mint.
Avera Wyrt Tympanum: Bub’s wife. A doting gnomish
grandmother, she frets about her husband and feeds
everyone else.
Watch Captain Caleb: A short and swarthy Rhennee
who wears a perfectly groomed Vandyke beard, Watch
Captain Caleb grew up working the rivers with the
Rhennee. Hence he is one of the most streetwise
members of the Gentlemen of the Watch. Very little
occurs in his district of Verbobonc city that he is not
aware of. Although he is not above serving the greater
good through a minor evil, he keeps to a strict personal
code. Caleb is Captain to over 30 officers of the
Gentlemen in the section of Verbobonc, which includes
most of the gnomish quarter and a portion of the
government district.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 4
Uncle Krot: A somewhat short, fat, and balding Oeridian
human, Uncle Krot is an accomplished rogue and wizard.
As an upper management Family member, Krot has been
given the job of troubleshooting the Brotherhood threat
by his superiors. He bears no particular ill will toward the
PCs, as long as they serve their use and do not keep him
from performing his job to the Family.
The Bridgeforth Inn: A large three-story wooden and
stone inn with an outside beer garden that serves as a
base for the Scarlet Brotherhood’s recruitment and
visible presence within Verbobonc City. This building
was
a
down-and-out
gambling
den
before
the
Brotherhood was able to buy it out and fix it up. This Inn
is located at building #23 on the attached Map of
Verbobonc City in Appendix #3.
The Bridgeforth Cult: A group of several dozen young
and middle-aged men have joined Lathmir in his
acceptance and promotion of the Scarlet Brotherhood’s
philosophy. These men make up the muscle behind the
Brotherhood’s attacks upon the gnomes of Verbobonc.
Now, scattered through the PCs efforts in VER 4-06
many of the cultists have been hunted down by the
Discipline section of the Family. The remainder still
keeps in contact with the remnants of the Bridgeforth
cult.
The Verbobonc City Guild Hall: Human and gnome
workers built this large stone and wood structure shortly
after they arrived in the lands of Verbobonc. During
those early years it served as a meeting place for the city
representatives, usually prominent merchants and
landowners. It was renovated 40 years ago and now
serves as an administration building for the city
government. It is distinguished from other city
buildings in that it contains a very secret entrance to the
non-dimensional space where the Royal Furyondy Mint
is located. Bub Tympanum is the workman who carved
the crests into the door leading to the mint. Bub is one of
the few individuals in Verbobonc outside of the
government who is aware of its existence. The Guild
Hall is the large octagonal-shaped building just south of
#54 on the map of Verbobonc City in Appendix #3. The
rectangle to the east represents the fountain in front of
the building.
The Royal Furyondian Mint: Verbobonc hosts the
Royal Furyondy Mint, the mint which is responsible for
the production of all of the gold, silver and copper pieces
within the Kingdom of Furyondy as well as Verbobonc.
It is a commonly known secret that the Mint exists
somewhere in Verbobonc in one of the extra dimensional
spaces that exist there. The exact location however, and
the way to get into the mint is a tightly controlled secret.
As noted above, one door leading to the mint is located
in the Guild Hall and Bub Tympanum knows its
existence. Vardis has been, since the end of VER4-06: A
Fool Errand, questioning Bub in order to extract the exact
location of the door from him.
Before You Begin
Prior to the beginning of play please note the player’s
affiliations to the Gentlemen of the Watch and to the
Family. Also please note which PCs have played the first
and second adventures in this series and if they played
the same character throughout. Several of the important
details that take place in this adventure are modified by
previous character choices. Please prepare this adventure
carefully in order to maintain the flow of the adventure.
Adventure Background
The Scarlet Brotherhood has traditionally toppled
governments through stealth and trickery. Even so, prior
attempts at toppling Verbobonc’s government have
failed, and so the Scarlet Brotherhood decided on a more
direct approach. The Brotherhood knew that within
Verbobonc exists the Royal Furyondy Mint and knew
that its destruction would lead to widespread turmoil not
only in Verbobonc but also in other regions.
One of the Scarlet Brotherhood’s agents, Vardis, learned
that the mint was located in one of the extra dimensional
spaces that exist in Verbobonc. Through careful study
and the research by the Scarlet Brotherhoods mages he
determined that the extra dimensional space functioned
much like a Heward’s Handy Haversack. Vardis
surmised that a single person could destroy the mint by
entering it with a bag of holding, thereby tearing the
mint into the Astral plane. What he required was a base
of operations in Verbobonc City to research how he
could get into the Royal Furyondy Mint, and enough
money to fund the expedition. He discovered the
solution in a Suel spice merchant named Lathmir
Amanthsal.
In the first adventure of this series VER4-04: Ship of
Fools the Scarlet Brotherhood was in the process of re-
asserting their power within Verbobonc. To accomplish
this they utilized a Suel merchant named Lathmir
Amanthsal, who until recruited by the Brotherhood was
an unsuccessful spice merchant. Lathmir, along with the
Brotherhoods representative, an elderly monk named
Uncle Vardis, arrived in Rhynehurst at the same time as
the PCs. Circumstances threw the Brotherhood and the
PCs together and along the way the PCs also had the
opportunity to meet one of the Families representatives
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 5
in Rhynehurst, a fat Oeridian man named Uncle Krot.
VER4-04: Ship of Fools concluded with the PCs traveling
with Uncle Vardis and Lathmir to Verbobonc city, where
after an ambush by the Family, Vardis and Lathmir
escaped into the city with a haversack full of platinum
bars.
In the second adventure of this series VER4-06: A Fools
Errand, The Scarlet Brotherhood again used Lathmir
Amanthsal and their wealth (secured in the first
adventure) to rally a support for their cause within
Verbobonc, leading to increased tensions between man
and gnome and occasionally even assaults on the street.
The PCs witness one such assault on an elderly Gnome
named Bub Tympanum. Because of their witnessing of
the assault, and their possible involvement in halting the
assault they are approached separately by the Family and
the Gentlemen of the Watch to perform several errands
for each. Thus, allowing the Gentlemen of the Watch,
The Family and the PCs much needed information
concerning the plans of the Scarlet Brotherhood in
Verbobonc. Even so, the PCs actions proved inadequate
to stop the entirety of the plot from succeeding; although
subsequent events (see VER4-07: Reunification) have
reduced the damage that the plot had inflicted.
Now in Verbobonc City The Watch and the Family seek
to root out the Brotherhoods presence. The former
members of the Bridgeforth cult have been dispersed and
many have now fallen under the knives of the Families
Discipline section. The few remaining who are loyal to
the Brotherhood are in hiding or are holed within the
Bridgeforth Inn. The Inn itself now stands as the central
focus of the Family and the Gentlemen of the Watches
efforts, and they have already begun to probe the
defenses of the inn.
Unfortunately for both the Family and the Gentlemen of
the Watch in the time since the PCs infiltrated the Inn
during VER4-06: A Fools Errand the Brotherhood has
substantially increased the defenses of the inn. Such
defenses include a forbiddance spell, which has kept the
Family and the Watch from entering the Inn. The two
groups now turn to the PCs for assistance in gaining
entrance to the inn and ultimately destroying the
Brotherhood’s presence in Verbobonc.
What the Family, the Gentlemen of the Watch, and most
likely the PCs themselves don’t know is that the Scarlet
Brotherhood’s primary purpose in Verbobonc City
continues as planned. Uncle Vardis discovered the
location to an accessible door to the Royal Furyondy
Mint from Bub Tympanum. Now that the Scarlet
Brotherhood knows the location of the door they can
with a portable hole, thereby tearing a hole in the
material plane and sending Vardis and the Royal
Furyondy Mint to the Astral plane. Once there the
Scarlet Brotherhood will send several mages and clerics
to the Astral Plane, scry upon Vardis, and then teleport to
his location. The Brotherhood knows that if there were
any individuals who may follow Vardis to the Astral
Plane could similarly be scryed upon by the Clerics or
Mages in Verbobonc, and so it is vital for Vardis to
defend and kill anyone who follows him through the rift
to the Astral Plane.
Adventure Summary
Encounter 1: Is that a hook I see before me?
Caleb and Krot’s messengers seek out the PCs and
attempt to get them to meet with Caleb and Krot. Also
the Family representative seeks to challenge the PCs and
see if the PCs are ready for promotion within the Family.
Encounter 2: Keeping an Eye out.
Caleb explains that they attempted to arrest everyone in
the Bridgeforth Inn. However they have found that the
Inn is protected by a forbiddance spell, and they need to
find the password in order to gain access. The Family
and the Watch then relate that they know a person who
knows the password, Lathmir Amanthsal, and Krot
reveals that Lathmir is not in fact dead. During VER4-06:
A Fools Errand, Lathmir was reincarnated as a gnome and
now is living in squalor down by the docks – the
Brotherhood attempts to scry upon the meeting. The
PCs have an opportunity to notice the scrying and set
into motion the rush to the docks to get to Lathmir
before the Brotherhood does.
Encounter Three: …Down by the river…
Lathmir is now a wretch of a gnome living in an alleyway
down by the docks of Verbobonc. He has over the past
several weeks sunk deeper into insanity, resulting from
his reincarnation, his self hatred, his constant fear of
what the Brotherhood would do the him, his contraction
of filth fever, and the rejection of him by the other
gnomes in Verbobonc. Shortly after the PCs arrive the
brotherhood sends a monk to kill Lathmir. If Lathmir
survives he presents the PCs with an offer they can
refuse.
Encounter Four: The Bridgeforth Inn.
Once the PCs receive the password from Lathmir or his
corpse they must then assault the Bridgeforth Inn. They
find that it is almost completely empty, save for the
Brotherhood’s guardians.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 6
Encounter Five: The game’s afoot.
Once the Brotherhoods guardians are defeated Bub
Vreeland, explains to the PCs that Vardis knows about a
back door to the Royal Furyondy Mint and the exact
location of it within the Guild Hall. Bub explains that
destroying the mint is the Brotherhoods ultimate plan.
Encounter Six: Into the Breach
The PCs, provided they move quickly are able to reach
the Guild Hall in time to see Vardis enter the doorway to
the Mint and pull out a portable hole. The portable hole
interacts with the surrounding non-dimensional space of
the Mint and the mint as well as a large portion of the
Guild Hall is sucked to the Astral Plane.
Encounter Seven: The Royal Furyondy Mint
Vardis and/or his minions fight the PCs on the astral
plane.
Conclusion
Members of the Wrinkle Academy show up on the Astral
plane to assess the damage and return any survivors to
Verbobonc.
Introduction
The morning has found you once again in Verbobonc
City, and although it seems as though no time has
passed since the arson attacks and the reunification
with the gnomes, the chill air and leaves blowing
against the window of your room are quick to remind
you that winter has indeed arrived in Verbobonc.
It is therefore understandable considering the cold of
the room and the earliness of the hour that you find a
visitor less than welcome.
Encounter One: Is this a Hook I
See Before Me?
Before you begin please ask the PCs if they have played
the previous adventures and tailor their box text to the
type of person they align themselves with. For Neutral
PCs please inquire if they had any particular preference
in either Caleb or Krot, once chosen, read the
corresponding text for them.
If the PCs are affiliated with the Family (or if they are
chaotic) please read or paraphrase the following.
With barely a whisper the door to your room opens
and a short Rhennee creeps in. Seeing you awake, the
Rhennee straightens and says, “Uncle Krot requests
your presence” as he starts throwing your clothes to
you. “It’s best if you don’t keep him waiting.”
Please ask the PCs for a Spot Check opposed by the
messenger’s Sleight of Hand Check as he is attempting to
lift several gold pieces from the PCs possessions. If
caught the messenger claims that he was instructed to
test the character by Uncle Krot and that they passed by
noticing the attempt. The messenger is attempting a
bluff so if requested allow the PCs a Sense Motive Check
opposed by the messenger’s Bluff. If the character is able
to
beat
the
messenger’s
Bluff
the
messenger
congratulates the character for passing the second test
then changes the subject to his upcoming meeting with
Uncle Krot.
The rogue doesn’t particularly care to steal from the PCs,
but he was instructed by Krot to feel out the PCs for
either entrance into or promotion within the Family.
The rogue then contrived a plan where he would end up
a few gold richer.
How the PCs react to this encounter has little relevance
towards the experience rewards of the adventure,
however the manner in which they react to the rogue
does determine their rewards in relation to their
involvement with the family.
APL 2
� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog2;
hp 12; see Appendix One.
APL 4
� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog4;
hp 23; see Appendix One.
APL 6
� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog6;
hp 29; see Appendix One.
APL 8
� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog8;
hp 39; see Appendix One.
APL 10
� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog10;
hp 46; see Appendix One.
APL 12
� Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog12;
hp 55; see Appendix One.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 7
1.
If the PCs fail to notice the Sleight of Hand, or
fall for the Bluff, their standing with the Family
is decreased. Their promotion within the family
or their joining the family is postponed for 6
months, on the basis that they lack the skills
that the family requires.
2.
If the PCs catch the rogue in the act, do not fall
for the Bluff and turn the rogue in to the
authorities their standing with the family is
terminated. The Family hates a rat.
3.
If the PCs catch the rogue in the act, do not fall
for the Bluff and take it upon themselves to
“correct” the behavior of the rogue in question
through the use of Bluff, Intimidation,
Diplomacy, or through the threat or use of
physical violence their standing with the family
is improved. At the end of the adventure they
are offered membership in the family (provided
they meet the prerequisites) or have their
promotion to the next level of the family
decreased by 6 months.
If the PCs are more affiliated with the Gentlemen of the
Watch (or are Lawful) please read or paraphrase the
following:
You wake to hear an argument outside your door. A
young voice, barely broken into adolescence is
demanding entrance while an older voice tries to
explain the earliness of the hour. Finally the youth
shouts “I am here as a personal representative of the
Watch and I will not be denied!” Your door swings
open and a child of no more than a dozen years,
wearing the white tabard of the Gentlemen of the
Watch strides to your bed. The boy holds out to you a
sealed letter. “I’ve a letter from Captain Caleb. I am
to wait for your reply and then escort you to him.”
Please hand the PCs the Player Handout #1 containing
the text of the letter. Below, for DM aid, is the text of the
letter:
“Please forgive my intrusion at this early hour, we of
the Watch have discovered a complication in gaining
entrance to the Bridgeforth Inn that is beyond our
experience. Seeing how individuals such as yourself
are more likely to have encountered such obstacles I
have dispatched the junior watchman to your
lodgings in a hope that you might assist us in
removing the blight of the Scarlet Brotherhood from
Verbobonc.
Please make whatever preparations you need, the
junior watchman is instructed to wait for your reply
and escort you to me when you are ready.
Signed,
Watch Captain Caleb”
This encounter has relevance to the PCs beyond acting as
a hook to bring the PCs into the story, the character’s
decision to respond to this summons will impact their
future relations with the watch.
1.
If the character refuses the summons please
refer to the troubleshooting appendix of the
adventure, cross off the favor of Watch Captain
Caleb, and if the character is a member of the
Gentlemen of the Watch their membership in
that Meta-organization is terminated. If the PCs
are members of other lawfully aligned meta-
organizations word of their refusal filters back
to their superiors and they are either demoted
to the next lowest tier or expelled (if already
there).
2.
If the character agrees to the summons and
follows the Junior Watchman to Caleb they are
offered Membership in the Gentlemen of the
Watch (provided they meet the prerequisites) or
if they are already members their promotion in
the Watch is accelerated by 6 months.
Note: In both cases the messenger is adamant about
rousing the PCs immediately and hurrying them to meet
their bosses. They will plead with (in the case of the
Gentlemen of the Watch) or chide (in the case of the
Family) any cleric or wizard who attempts to prepare
spells prior to meeting with the Gentlemen or the
Family.
Encounter Two: Keeping an
eye out…
Prior to this encounter please familiarize yourself with
the rules on scrying both under the spell descriptor and
on page 175 of the PCs Handbook. Note which PCs have
Intelligence scores greater than 12, note their
Intelligence bonus and secretly roll their Intelligence
checks to notice the scrying sensor. If any of the PCs
succeed the required DC 20 Intelligence check, prepare a
note stating that they notice the sensor and deliver it to
them immediately prior to reading the box text for the
encounter.
Since PCs broke into the Bridgeforth in during VER4-06:
A Fool’s Errand, the Scarlet Brotherhood has taken to
using scrying to spy upon Watch Captain Caleb and
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 8
other people in Verbobonc. Caleb is quite well known in
Verbobonc, and in the past the Scarlet Brotherhood
procured a lock of Caleb’s hair, one of his tunics, and a
drawn picture of him. Because of these items Caleb’s save
against the scrying check is -13. Please roll the check, if
he succeeds, then the Brotherhood attempts to scry the
members of the party, starting with the fighters and
moving on to rogues and other low will save targets.
To determine the scry penalty for each PCs save note
which PCs have played the previous adventures VER4-
04: Ship of Fools or VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand. If the PCs
played either of the two previous adventures there is a
50% chance per adventure that the Scarlet Brotherhood
was able to procure a body part, lock of hair, or bit of nail
resulting in the PCs taking a -10 to their roll.
If the Brotherhood fails completely in starting their scry,
please follow the encounters as written but note that the
Monk / Assassin does not strike at Lathmir, and instead is
inserted into Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn.
Dependant upon the lawful/chaotic lean of the character
please read the associated box text. If a character is
neutral please read the associated box text with the
character his or her character is traveling with.
Read or paraphrase the following to the PCs who
received the lawful text in Encounter One:
The junior watch member leads you through streets
crowded with early morning laborers to the Watch
station. Without pausing the boy passes through the
front building and into the rear courtyard. Waiting
for you there, under the thatched roof of the stable, is
Watch Captain Caleb.
Read or paraphrase the following to the PCs who
received the chaotic text in Encounter One:
The Family member leads your group through the
quiet back alleys of Verbobonc, to a pair of huge
double doors, in which is set a smaller door with a
brass lock. As you arrive, a fat Oeridian man steps out
of the shadows and with a grin to your group he
grazes his hand over the bronze lock. A soft click is
heard and the door swings open as Krot motions for
your group to enter.
Once the two groups are together please read or
paraphrase the following:
Below the thatched roof of the stable Caleb greets
you. “Thank you for coming so quickly. As you most
likely are aware the Scarlet Brotherhood has been
attempting to build support here in Verbobonc.
Using a spice merchant as a front they infiltrated,
bought a base of operations and began to drive a
wedge between the men and gnomes of Verbobonc
City. With your help we were able to foil that plan.”
“We had thought that the threat had been dealt with,
but it appears the Scarlet Brotherhood still has some
tricks up their sleeves. So here is what we know, our
divinations have revealed that they hold Bub
Tympanum in the Inn. We believe that Vardis is
there too. And we know that they have improved
their defenses, we discovered when we tried to raid
the Bridgeforth…”
“They have a forbiddance spell up,” Uncle Krot says as
he leans out of the shadows, “It’s more powerful than
any I’ve seen, and none here in the city have been
able to dispel it.”
Caleb nods “But we know that the Brotherhood
would not raise such a powerful abjuration without
providing for members who had not completely
accepted their beliefs. So we think that they allowed
for a password. And we think we know who knows it,
and where he can be found.”
At this point, provided Caleb failed his save against
scrying and one or more of the PCs succeeded in their
DC 20 Intelligence check to notice the sensor, please
write a note stating that they notice the scrying sensor in
the upper eaves. Hand the note to one or more of the PCs
that succeeded, and immediately begin to read the
following, Allow any player who noticed the scrying to
interrupt the box text.
Uncle Krot leans forward, “Lathmir is alive. We
tricked him into accepting a reincarnation from a
druid of Bralm and now he’s a wretch of a gnome
living down by the docks.” Krot gives a small,
satisfied smile. “Since little Lathmir was the person
in charge of recruitment for Brotherhood in
Verbobonc we’re pretty sure that he knows the
password. So get to him before the Brotherhood does,
then use the password to raid the inn.”
Note: Caleb is not happy about working with Krot in
confronting the Scarlet Brotherhood. However he
recognizes that Krot knows far more than he does about
the Brotherhood’s plans and capabilities. Caleb also
realizes that the Gentlemen of the Watch are ill equipped
to take on the Brotherhood. He therefore has agreed to
allow Krot to provide information and resources to
combat this obvious menace. Accepting assistance from
PC’s who are obviously rogues and not aligned with the
forces of Law is part of the minor wrong for a greater
right that Caleb has come to terms with. If any of the
PC’s feel similarly indignant about receiving assistance
from an unlawful organization like the Family Caleb
commiserates, but takes the character aside and plead
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 9
with him that “The oldest and best known evil was ever
more supportable than one that was new and untried.”
Krot on the other hand is gleefully rubbing watch
Captain Caleb’s face in the fact that the Gentlemen of the
Watch require help from the Family. He instructs any
chaotic individual who may question working with the
law to perform the service as a personal favor to him.
Troubleshooting: Please refer to the following
instructions for resolving this encounter:
Krot! Did you feel that? No? If the Brotherhood failed
in their scry attempt on Caleb, all of the PCs, and Krot
then the Brotherhood does not know of Lathmir’s
existence. Note that the Monk is not dispatched to kill
Lathmir and appears in Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth
Inn. Proceed to Encounter 3 …Down by the river…
Krot! Wait!: If the PCs interrupt Krot before he was
able to say “Lathmir is alive” and are able to dispel the
scrying, or keep Krot quiet then the Brotherhood does
not know that Lathmir is alive. Note that the Monk is not
dispatched to kill Lathmir and appears in Encounter 4:
The Bridgeforth Inn. Proceed to Encounter 3
…Down by the river…
Krot! They Know!: If the PCs knew the Brotherhood
was scrying on them but were unable to keep Krot from
speaking Krot is furious, turning to Caleb and
demanding to know “just what kind of idiot did he get to
secure this location” Krot then tells the PCs that they
must hurry to the wharfs and find Lathmir before the
monk does. Proceed to Encounter 3 …Down by the
river…
Krot! Thanks!: Provided Caleb or one of the PCs failed
their save against the scrying and none of the PCs
noticed the sensor, then the Brotherhood learns of
Lathmir’s existence and location. They send the Monk /
Assassin out to kill Lathmir before he is able to tell the
PCs anything. Proceed to Encounter 3 …Down by the
river….
Encounter Three: …down by
the river…
Notes: If the PCs detected the scrying and were able to
stop Krot, or if the Brotherhood failed in their scry
attempt then no attack from the monk occurs in this
encounter. Please note that the monk if he is not
included in this encounter he remains at the Bridgeforth
Inn and is encountered in Encounter 4: The
Bridgeforth Inn.
Lathmir has been living in this alley since Uncle Krot let
him go after tricking him into accepting a reincarnation
from a Druid of Bralm. He is quite insane and lives in
constant fear that the Brotherhood may find out that he’s
alive and kill him, or that Uncle Krot changes his mind
and decides to kill him, or somebody finds out that he’s
not a gnome (a distinct possibility since he does not
speak gnomish) at all but rather was the Suel merchant
who so viciously denounced the gnomes and Rhennee
and decides to kill him. This fear, along with the twin
shocks of reincarnation and his own hatred of himself
has led to his current state.
Still, Lathmir has a mad hope that he might regain his
racial heritage through procuring a wish or a miracle, and
so in anticipation of that day he has kept busy by
ritualistically reciting the full teachings of the
Brotherhood. His madness has extended to writing the
rhymes of the lessons on the walls of his crate and
scratching them into his own flesh. Partly due to this
self-mutilation and the fact that Lathmir has been
drinking Rhennee rotgut he had contracted filth fever
about 2 weeks ago. The illness has ravaged his gnomish
body and has dramatically reduced both his dexterity and
his constitution. His reduced statistics are listed in
brackets Appendix 1: NPCs.
When the PCs arrive at the alley where Lathmir has been
living read or paraphrase the following:
The wharfs of Verbobonc City are renowned for their
rat infestation. Even so, the alley where you find
Lathmir
Amanthsal
would
not
be
considered
habitable even by sewer rats. Standing in the street
you can smell the stench of vomit and alcohol wafting
out of the dark alley.
Allow the PCs to prepare themselves in whatever way
they wish and read or paraphrase the following once they
enter the alley.
The short alley ends in a haphazard stack of empty
crates between two warehouses. The bottom most
crate lies open, the emaciated form of a gnome can be
seen in the recesses, slumped against the side of the
crate.
Blearily the gnome gazes up at you as you approach.
Red rimmed eyes beneath greasy hair scarcely
register your presence as he drops an empty bottle of
rotgut and stretches out a hand.
“Spare a bit of coin for a—gnome—whose fortunes
have faded?” The gnome slurs out as his eyes focus on
your group. Recognition then fills his face and fear
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 10
fills his voice “No. No, you can’t. I’m not me yet. I’m
not me… I must be me before I die. I can’t die like
this”.
Any player who specifically mentions he is keeping an
eye out or who was warned in Encounter 2 of the danger
may make a spot check at this time, opposed by the Hide
and Move Silently check by the Monk Assassin who is
approaching via the roof of the Northern warehouse.
Before arriving he has taken the precaution of drinking a
potion of sneaking and a potion of invisibility, along with
his standard buffs. His improved hide and move silently
skill modifiers are included in brackets in the stat block.
If any of the PCs succeed in hearing or spotting the
Monk roll Initiative and proceed with the encounter as
laid out in the Tactics section. Otherwise continue with
the following:
Lathmir crawls drunkenly through the broken bottles
and refuse that litter the ground to where you stand.
Rising to his feet the Gnome begins to plead. “Please.
Please don’t kill me. I don’t want to die a little filthy
rotten grubby mole—I want to be me. Vardis said
he’d bring me back as me...”
At this point, if he remains undetected, the Monk strikes.
Lathmir is flat footed and unarmored so his AC is 11.
The monk is above Lathmir and so receives a +1 to his
attack. If the monk misses on his first attack, roll
initiative and resolve the combat, noting that the Monk
Assassin is primarily there to kill Lathmir.
ALL APLs
�Lathmir Amanthsal: male gnome Ari6; hp 42
(Currently 18); see Appendix One.
APL 2 (EL 2)
�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk2; hp 29 [33];
see Appendix One.
APL 4 (EL 4)
�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk4; hp 45; see
Appendix One.
APL 6 (EL 6)
�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk6; hp 61; see
Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 8)
�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk8; hp 77; see
Appendix One.
APL 10 (EL 10)
�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk10; hp 93; see
Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 12)
�Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk12; hp 109; see
Appendix One.
Tactics: The monk approaches from the rooftops,
thereby blocking his approach from view of the party if
they are standing in the alleyway. Please note this
approach since some parties may cast see invisibility or
invisibility purge. Furthermore the monk has taken the
precaution of drinking numerous potions prior to arrival,
and is focused upon his mission – killing Lathmir. The
monk, if he is spotted prior to his ambush attack,
approaches on his turn and attacks Lathmir exclusively
until he is dead, using all of his poisoned shuriken on
Lathmir. Once this is accomplished the Monk will then
attempted to retreat. If necessary he incapacitates or kills
anyone who engages him. If the monk is successful in
escaping he appears again in Encounter 4: The
Bridgeforth Inn.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp per
character).
APL 4: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp per
character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character)
APL 6: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp
per character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per
character).
APL 8: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp per
character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character)
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp
per character); vest of resistance +2 (333 gp per
character).
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +3 (750 gp
per character); vest of resistance +3 (750 gp per
character).
Troubleshooting:
Lathmir is Killed
Provided that the monk is successful in killing Lathmir,
read or paraphrase the following:
Lathmir falls to the ground as he screams racial
epithets at your party. Then, as the poison spreads he
arcs his back, his limbs twisting in pain. Lathmir’s
face contorts into a grotesque grimace as the gnome
collapses to the ground and falls still.
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Page 11
Once the monk succeeds in killing Lathmir he attempts
to incapacitate or kill any obvious archers, and then
retreat. The monk uses his superior movement to
outdistance the PCs. If the monk is successful in escaping
he reappears in Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn.
Please note however that at that time the monk lacks the
poison shuriken and most of the low duration spells he
had prepared himself with.
Lathmir is Not Killed
Regardless of how, if Lathmir survives this encounter he
pleads for his life until it becomes obvious that the PCs
are not there to kill him. He will attempt to find out
what the party wants with him. If the party informs
Lathmir that they require the password to the
Bridgeforth Inn, Lathmir’s demeanor changes. Lathmir
will slyly offer to provide the PCs with the password, but
only if they arrange for a wish or a miracle to be cast on
him; thereby returning him to his original Suel body.
Please refer to the Troubleshooting section: An offer you
can refuse below for resolving this potentiality
An offer you can’t refuse
If the PCs are able to negotiate with Lathmir please read
or paraphrase the following:
Lathmir’s eyes narrow as a sly smile crosses his face.
“You are adventurers; your travels take you far and
wide.” Lathmir giggles to himself. “I will help you.
In return you will swear an oath that you will use the
first wish or miracle you receive to restore me to my
noble Suel heritage; and but until you do you support
me in living the humble life of a filthy rotten stinking
gnome. I will require but 12 wheat a week from
you—do you swear this?”
If one of the PCs agrees, all party members receive
“Restore Lathmir” on the AR. While only one
individual character need agree to support Lathmir in
order for him to provide that individual character with
the password, Lathmir attempts to garner 12gp per
character. Whether the character that agrees to support
Lathmir wishes to share the password with his
compatriots is up to the individual character.
The PCs may of course break their word to Lathmir; if
they do, they receive “Lathmir’s wrath” on the
character’s AR. Furthermore if the person who broke his
word to Lathmir is lawful in alignment breaking their
work has the additional effect of moving their alignment
to Chaotic. The shift is permanent; PCs whose class
abilities are dependent upon alignment lose those
abilities until they resume support of Lathmir and pay for
an Atonement spell. Furthermore any character that
receives “Lathmir’s wrath” suffers under a -2 penalty on
all charisma interactions with gnomes in Verbobonc, due
to Lathmir’s loud protestations against them.
An offer you can refuse
If the PCs refuse to deal with Lathmir or if Lathmir is
dead they might still infer the password through
searching the area or Lathmir’s own body for the
Brotherhoods rhymes that Lathmir has been passing his
time in writing. However if Lathmir is alive while the
PCs attempt to search the area he flies into a rage and
attempts to smear his scribbling. Unless the PCs kill him,
grapple him, or otherwise render him unconscious he
continues to smear filth over his scribbling making them
illegible. Individuals who do attempt to grapple of
incapacitate Lathmir may contract filth fever. Please
refer to the Dungeon Masters Guide for rules on diseases
and incubation time.
The following rhyme can be found repeatedly scrawled
upon the walls of the alleyway and the crate where
Lathmir has been staying:
For this is the command of our race;
to forward the destiny of the Suel.
To put each within its proper place
And through this enforce our lawful rule.
The following rhyme has been scratched into Lathmir’s
arms, torso, and chest. It requires a DC 10 Wisdom check
to reassemble the rhyme from the bits of text.
In the Brotherhood of the Suel,
the mirror of chaos is how we rule.
Heaven’s first law guides our hand,
enforcing our destiny upon the land.
The subject of both these rhymes is “Order” which is the
password for entering the Bridgeforth. It is also the
shortened version of the first tenet of the Scarlet
Brotherhood. Below are the 3 tenets of the Scarlet
Brotherhood and a list of knowledge rolls to remember
some or all of the information.
A DC 15+APL Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge local
(Splintered suns) allows a character to remember the text
of the three tenets of the Scarlet Brotherhood The DC for
this check is reduced by 5 if the character in question is
Suel. The DC is reduced by an additional 5 if the
character in question played either VER4-04: Ship of
Fools or VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand or if the character has
played any core adventure featuring the Scarlet
Brotherhood.
The Three Tenets of the Scarlet Brotherhood:
The Destiny of the Suel
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Page 12
The Bonds of the Brotherhood
The Words of the Fathers
A DC 20+APL Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge Local
(Splintered Suns) allows a character to remember the
explanation behind the three tenets of the Scarlet
Brotherhood. The DC for this check is reduced by 5 if
the character in question is Suel. The DC is reduced by a
further 5 if the character in question played either VER4-
04: Ship of Fools or VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand or if the
character has played any core adventure featuring the
Scarlet Brotherhood:
The Destiny of the Suel: Do not take actions that slow
the Suel people on the path to their true destiny
The Bonds of the Brotherhood: The Brotherhood has a
shared birthright. Behold their superiority above the
slave races.
The Words of the Fathers: Acknowledge the authority
of your superiors and obey their commands.
A DC 25+APL Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge local
(Splintered suns) allows a character to remember the
term “Order, Purity, Obedience.” being the shortened
version of the central tenets of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
The DC for this check is reduced by 5 if the character in
question is Suel. The DC is reduced by an additional 5 if
the character in question played either VER4-04: Ship of
Fools or VER4-06: A Fool’s Errand or if the character has
played any core adventure featuring the Scarlet
Brotherhood.
The shortened Tenets of the Scarlet Brotherhood:
Order, Purity, Obedience
These DC’s can also be used in relation to any Bardic
Knowledge checks or Gather Information checks the PCs
may wish to try, if for instance they choose to research
the Scarlet Brotherhood at the Wrinkle Academy, the
Verbobonc Library, etc. Please use your discretion in
adjudicating the PCs choices, but keep in mind that the
Scarlet Brotherhood is a secretive organization and their
teachings are rarely shared with those they consider not
to be worthy of them.
Encounter Four: The
Bridgeforth Inn
This encounter is an open chance for the PCs to develop
their own strategy for gaining entrance to the
Bridgeforth. Please allow the PCs to discuss at length
their plans, their preparations, and whatever outside
assistance (i.e. Spell casting and equipment from nearby
temples or meta-orgs) they wish to call upon.
Furthermore some PCs may feel that they do not require
the password in order to enter the Bridgeforth Inn. They
are correct. If they wish, the PCs are perfectly able to
enter the Bridgeforth without first saying the password
and take the full damage from the forbiddance spell.
Similarly the PCs may attempt to dispel the forbiddance
spell, please refer to the notes further in this encounter
for adjudicating dispel effects.
Whenever the PCs decide to approach the Bridgeforth
Inn please read or paraphrase the following.
The Bridgeforth Inn stands silent in the cold winter
air. Its windows shuttered and doors closed, a few
remaining leaves billow around the empty beer
garden. Some distance away the Gentlemen of the
Watch has cordoned off the Inn from the street and
numerous bowmen stand at the ready, their eyes
intensely searching the upper floors of the Inn for a
target. A covered wagon with a pair of lit braziers
stand to the side, around which stand Watch Captain
Caleb and a short, fat Oeridian man dressed as a friar
of St. Cuthbert
Caleb warmly greets the PCs, motioning him to join him
at the fire and warm themselves. Caleb then asks them if
they were able to find out anything about Lathmir or find
the password to the Bridgeforth. Krot is warming
himself next to one of the braziers, disguised as a fat
Oeridian Priest of St. Cuthbert. If anyone asks him why
he’s dressed as Cleric he replies with mock sincerity that
he is a follower of St. Cuthbert and is visiting Caleb as an
observer from the church. This is of course a bald faced
lie but one which all of the local watchmen have
believed. Caleb, of course, does not appreciate the
deception, but since explaining the presence of a known
member of the Family at a Gentlemen of the Watch
staging area would be very difficult and time consuming
he is willing to hold his tongue. Furthermore, Caleb has
more pressing matters, and is willing to live with the
insult of a Family member posing as a lawful Cleric.
Caleb has little to offer the PCs other than what he had in
Encounter 1. But promises them that if any of the
people they feel are in the Bridgeforth attempt to flee
their archers will cut them down.
The Bridgeforth inn floor plans are included in
Appendix #3 Maps; please refer to those maps when
plotting the PCs progress in their assault on the Inn.
Note: If the monk from Encounter 3 was either not
dispatched or was able to escape he will be with the
Bridgeforth Defender in this encounter.
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Bridgeforth Inn Structural Notes
The Bridgeforth Inn is a solidly constructed stone and
wood building similar to the Tudor style. The ground
floor is constructed of slate and mortar. The second and
third floors are constructed of heavy wooden beams
between which is white painted daub and wattle. The
roof consists of slate shingles covering a wood frame.
This construction presents a few difficulties for the PCs.
Because the first floor of the building is mortar and slate
it is not greatly affected by a stone shape spell. Similarly,
because the stone is worked, soften earth and stone has
no effect, although allow PCs capable to cast such spells
to know this. On the upper levels warp wood spells can
be cast on individual beams, however due to the heavy
construction warping the outside beams does little than
open gaps between the wattle and daub walls. Warp
wood springs windows from their sills 50% of the time or
seals them shut the other 50%. The front doors being
barred from the inside are always stuck shut if warp wood
is cast on them or the frames. Wood shape is similarly
hampered from the daub and wattle construction,
however removing the wood from the inside of the walls
significantly weakens that area of the wall.
The roof of the building consists of worked slate shingles
so soften earth and stone and stone shape spells do not
affect them, although stone shape can remove the
shingles leaving the roof bare, save for the wooden
planking.
The following is a list of the hardness/hit points for the
various sections of the Bridgeforth Inn:
�Front Door (strong wooden door): hardness 5; hp 20;
Break DC 23.
�Ground Floor (slate and mortar): hardness 8; hp 90.
�Second and Third floor (daub and wattle): hardness
5; hp 35.
�Roof (Slate over wood): hardness 8; hp 15 for
shingles; then hardness 5 and hp 10 for the roof itself.
�Windows: All windows have a hardness of 1 and 1 hit
point.
During the Scarlet Brotherhoods residence at the
Bridgeforth they have improved the defenses off the inn.
Because of these additions the inn radiates strong
Evocation and Abjuration magic.
The unhallow
The inn is under the effects of an unhallow spell. This
spell provides the effects of a magic circle of good on all
of the evil individuals inside the Inn. These effects to the
individuals are listed in parentheses in the individual stat
block. The effect of the unhallow is a freedom of
movement spell attached to it. Anyone that shares the
Brotherhood philosophy and is Lawful Evil benefits from
this spell.
The forbiddance
The inn has forbiddance spell cast upon it. The
forbiddance spell that is in place at the Bridgeforth is a
precaution put into place after the inn was broken into
during VER4-06: A Fools Errand. One of the particulars
of the forbiddance spell is that it cannot be dispelled by
anyone who has a caster level lower than the person
casting the spell. Knowing this, the Scarlet Brotherhood
sent to Verbobonc one of their Arch Clerics, who cast the
forbiddance spell.
APL 2-8: The forbiddance allows entry of people of
Lawful Evil alignment or those who speak the command
word before they enter. The damage for Lawful Neutral
individuals failing their save is 6d6, for all other
individuals the damage is 12d6 (Will Save for half
damage DC 19) Caster level of the forbiddance spell is
13th.
APL 10-12: The Brotherhood took further steps to block
entry. First they cast their forbiddance while using a
strand of prayer beads and a candle of invocation in order
to boost the caster level of the person casting the spell to
21
st level. It should therefore be very hard for the PCs to
exceed the Caster Level requirement in order to dispel
the forbiddance. Furthermore, the Brotherhood further
bolstered their forbiddance by empowering the spell,
thereby dealing 6d6x1.5 points of damage for PCs Lawful
Neutral and 12d6 x 1.5 for PCs of any other alignment.
Please note this; since PCs of these APL’s may decide they
have little trouble surviving the damage from the
forbiddance and ignore the request from Caleb to find
out the password from Lathmir.
Finally, the Mystic Theurge defender has added a refusal*
spell to the Bridgeforth defenses. This spell specifically
blocks spell casters and individuals with spell like
abilities from entering. Furthermore the Will save to
overcome the effect of the spell is modified by the
highest level spell slot or the caster level of the spell like
ability the character has. Appendix One lists the Will
save DC for the spell. See Appendix Two for details on
the refusal spell.
APL 2 (EL 5)
�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr5; hp 37; see
Appendix One.
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Page 14
APL 4 (EL 7)
�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr7; hp 64; see
Appendix One.
APL 6 (EL 9)
�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe3;
hp 63; see Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 11)
�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe5;
hp 75; see Appendix One.
APL 10 (EL 13)
�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe7;
hp 87; see Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 15)
�Suel Cleric: male human (Suel) Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe9;
hp 99; see Appendix One.
Tactics: The PCs and Gentlemen of the Watch are
observed at all times by the Scarlet Brotherhood member
still within the Bridgeforth. Unless the PCs approach the
Inn invisibly or through other forms of stealth they are
spotted as they approach.
Uncle Vardis receives his final buffs and drinks his
potion of invisibility at the first sign of the PCs approach,
and then if the PCs are entering through the first floor he
escapes the Inn through jumping through one of the
open windows. Or if the PCs are entering through one of
the upper floors or roof he exits out the front door. Vardis
uses his superior movement to invisibly pass the line of
Watchmen and if necessary uses his abundant step ability
to flee.
The cleric at the Bridgeforth inn is aware that there is no
escape for him. His abilities have been weakened with
the number of buff spells he has cast upon Vardis.
However he has been promised that if he delays the PCs
and fight honorably he will be resurrected and given
enlightenment by those higher in the brotherhood. He
therefore will give no quarter in the fight and will gladly
lay down his life. Refer to the tactics section by APL in
Appendix One.
Tactics for APL 2: The cleric upon viewing the PCs entry
casts spiritual weapon on the characters, assigning the
weapons to the obvious fighters. He then attempts to
dominate any animal companions the characters may
have with them, retreating to the 3
rd floor if necessary.
He then readies to cast searing light on the first character
to reach the 3
rd floor.
Tactics for APL 4: The cleric upon viewing the PCs entry
summons 1d3 Dire wolves using his 4
th level summon
natures Ally Spell. He then attempts to dominate any
animal companions the characters may have brought
with them. The Cleric then casts spiritual weapon,
assigning the weapons to the obvious fighters. The
Cleric finally readies to cast searing light on the first
character to reach the 3
rd floor.
Tactics for APL 6: The Mystic Thurge upon viewing the
PCs approach casts slow on the party as they enter. The
Theurge then casts fireball on the group. Followed by his
ranged touch spells. He will attempt to target any
obvious fighters with his ray of Enfeeblement before
resorting to melee.
Tactics for APL 8: The Mystic Thurge upon viewing the
characters approach casts polymorph on himself turning
himself into an Annis Hag, primarily for the added AC
bonus he is not skilled in melee but he hopes the sight of
the hag will keep characters from approaching him.
When the characters enter he summons 1d3 Dire wolves
using his 4
th level summon natures Ally Spell, sending
them to block the characters from approaching him. The
Theurge then casts Evard’s black tentacles, catching as
many of the characters as possible in the area, followed by
fireball in the same area. The Theurge casts spiritual
weapon, assigning it to any arcane caster along with his
ranged touch spells on any obvious spell casters. He will
attempt to target any two fighter types (they must be
within 30’ of each other) with his meta-magic split ray
prepared ray of Enfeeblement (preferably while they are
still in the Evards) before resorting to melee.
Tactics for APL 10: The Mystic Thurge upon viewing
the characters approach casts polymorph on himself
turning himself into an Annis Hag, primarily for the
added AC bonus, he is not skilled in melee but he hopes
the sight of the hag will keep characters from
approaching him. He then summons a bearded devil, and
sends the monsters downstairs or too the roof to attack
the characters. Theurge then casts Evard’s black tentacles,
catching as many of the characters as possible in the area,
followed by flame strike in the same area. The thurge
then proceeds through his lower level spells, but will
attempt to target any two fighter types (they must be
within 30’ of each other) with his meta-magic split ray
prepared ray of Enfeeblement (preferably while they are
still in the Evards) before resorting to melee.
Tactics for APL 12: The Mystic Thurge prior to the PCs
approach places a symbol of pain on the second floor, at
the mid point of the hallway, giving it a password of
“obedience” and setting it to go off if a non-lawful evil
creature passes over it. The Theurge then keeps the
watch in view using his spells, remaining on the 3
rd floor.
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The Mystic Thurge upon viewing the characters
approach casts polymorph on himself turning himself
into an Annis Hag, primarily for the added AC bonus, he
is not skilled in melee but he hopes the sight of the hag
will keep characters from approaching him. When the
characters move in he summons bearded devils using his
two Summon Monster V spells and sends them to attack
the characters, then moves to either the first floor (if the
characters are entering from the roof, or remaining on
the third floor if the characters come in through the
front. The Theurge casts his Anti-Life shell, blink, and
true seeing. The Theurge readies to cast Evard’s black
tentacles on the first character to reach the 3
rd floor or the
first to come through the roof and follows it with a flame
strike. The Theurge then begins with his highest-level
damage spells and works his way down, attempting to
keep the characters as far away from him as possible.
Against any obvious spell caster he will target his meta-
magic prepared Split Ray enervation to drop as many
caster levels form the person as possible. He will attempt
to target any two fighter types (they must be within 30’ of
each other) with his meta-magic split ray prepared ray of
Enfeeblement (preferably while they are still in the
Evards) before resorting to melee.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 62 gp; C: 4 gp; M: masterwork breastplate (29 gp
per character); masterwork club (25gp per character);
potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp per
character).
APL 4: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: breastplate +1 (113 gp per
character); Cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per
character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp
per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
APL 6: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp
per character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25
gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
APL 8: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: cloak of resistance +2 (333 gp
per character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25
gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
APL 10: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: cloak of resistance +2 (333
gp per character); potion of cure moderate wounds
(25 gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
APL 12: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: cloak of resistance +2 (333
gp per character), potion of cure moderate wounds
(25 gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
Encounter Five: The Game’s
Afoot
Once the PCs defeat the Bridgeforth defender read or
paraphrase the following.
The beaten and bloody body of Bub Tympanum lies
bound and gagged in the corner of the room, a small
trickle of blood flows from a large bruise that covers
the side of his face.
If the PCs revive Bub (or carry him outside to the
Gentlemen of the Watch to have one of their clerics
revive him) Bub immediately begins apologizing.
"I'm so sorry. Vardis discovered I had worked on the
Guild Hall restoration. I did the detailing on the door
leading to the mint." Bub sobs with shame. "I held
out as long as I could, I didn't know you were coming,
I should have held out longer." Bub breaks down at
your feet, weeping with frustration. "Vardis has gone
to the Guild Hall, He’s going to destroy the Royal
Furyondy Mint. I don't know how - but you have to
hurry. You have to stop him."
Note: If the PCs are injured Caleb and Krot immediately
call for the Cleric of St. Cuthbert they have on site to
spend his spells healing and buffing the PCs.
APL 2-8: Use the Sample 5
th level Cleric from the
Dungeon Masters Guide Page 114 for statistics and spells
prepared.
APL 10-12: Use the 10
th Level Cleric Page 115 of the
Dungeon Masters Guide.
Uncle Krot also has a few spells of his own which he
voluntarily casts for the PCs. His stat block is included in
Appendix One.
Finally both Krot and Caleb have several potions they
share with the PCs.
Troubleshooting: Caleb and Uncle Krot are waiting
outside. Once they are informed of what Bub relates to
the PCs they order the PCs to run to the guildhall and
stop Vardis at all costs. They hastily explain that they will
gather support from the Wrinkle Academy and the
Church of St. Cuthbert and will follow as best they can.
Try and play Krot and Caleb as individuals who are
deeply worried about what is occurring at the Guild Hall
and desperately need the PCs to intercede for them.
Allow the PCs to move as quickly or as slowly as they
wish to the guildhall. However keep in mind that Vardis
has already entered, and any extended delay leads to the
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 16
destruction of the Mint and the closure of the rift to the
Astral Plane.
Encounter Six: Into the Breach
The following text is dependant on how quickly the PCs
have gotten to the Guild Hall after learning of Vardis’
plans. The Guild Hall is 2,400 feet away from the inn. It
should take the party members 4 minutes or less to arrive
there depending on whether they walked or ran.
Please read or paraphrase one of the following
developments dependent party choices:
Timmy’s down the well? We must hurry! If the PCs
are very fast (minimal healing cast and teleportation or
similar high speed travel to this location) read or
paraphrase the following:
The Guild Hall entrance stands open. Two guards
wearing Tabards of the Gentlemen of the Watch lie
dead on either side of the front doors, their limbs
broken and twisted. Inside the sounds of combat
still ring.
Wait for the PCs to enter the Guild Hall and then read
the following:
As you enter the Verbobonc Guild Hall’s entryway
you see an elderly man wearing loose fitting robes
grasp a point on a wall of the main hallway. A door
opens where none existed before, flowery script and
fine detailing appearing on the lintels as it does.
Beyond the door the ruddy orange light of a forge
shines out and a deep rhythmic breathing of a bellows
can be heard. Vardis steps through the door as he
unfolds a circular bit of black cloth. Even before the
portable hold fully opens the world around you
shudders, twists, and then tears away.
PCs must make a DC 20 Balance check to remain
standing.
The area where find yourself is filled with smelting
kilns, metal presses, and stacks of minted gold ingots.
Above you a wide expanse of dull silvery grey sky
remains motionless while debris from the ruined
Guild Hall spin lazily away from the rift in reality
behind you. As you look at the rift you see the edges
start to knit themselves back together, very soon the
rift will be gone.
The old man before you straightens, looking over his
shoulder at your party. “You are very foolish to have
followed.” He says with a voice filled with distain.
Roll Initiative and proceed with the combat.
Timmy eh? Well… Alright… If PCs spent time
casting spells, were healed and buffed by the cleric, but
otherwise hurried over without substantial delay read or
paraphrase the following:
The Guild Hall entrance stands open, two guards
wearing the tabards of the Gentlemen of the Watch
lie dead on either side of the front doors, their limbs
broken and twisted. Then, without warning, the
world around the building shudders, twists, and
finally tears away. Most of the Verbobonc Guild hall
disappears into a great gaping hole in reality, through
which a colossal cavern filled with metalworking
equipment can be seen. Lazily the mint tumbles away
from the rift into the dull grey void beyond. As you
watch the edges of the rift can be seen knitting back
together. Very soon the rift will be gone.
If the PCs decide to enter read or paraphrase the
following:
Stepping through the rift you find yourself in an odd
world, where the mere thought that the area before
you is down allows you to move in that direction.
Roll Initiative and proceed with the combat.
Timmy can tread water for a while. If the PCs took
their time preparing themselves, receiving healing, or
similar delay on their way to the Guild Hall read or
paraphrase the following:
The area where the Guild Hall stood is a scene of
devastation. Several dead members of the Gentlemen
of the Watch lay scattered around the collapsed Guild
Hall. At the center of the wreckage is a hole in
reality, its tattered edges waving as if in a breeze and
leading to a vast span of silvery grey sky. Within this
shrinking rift a small smelting works can be seen,
tumbling slowly away. The edges of the rift grow
closer and closer. Very soon the rift will be gone.
If the PCs decide to enter read or paraphrase the
following:
Stepping through the rift you find yourself in an odd
world, where the mere thought that the area before
you is down allows you to move in that direction.
Timmy Schimmy, I got a boo boo. If the PCs refuse to
rush to the Guild Hall, or if they take time out to cast
long duration spells (such as heroes feast, raise dead,
reincarnate, etc.) then if/when they reach the Guild hall
read or paraphrase the following.
The Verbobonc Guild Hall is a shambles, its front half
a broken shell and the majority of the rear half is
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 17
simply—gone. The building appears to have suffered
from some form of an implosion, but from what
cause, you do not know.
If
the
PCs
fail
to
reach
the
Guild Hall in time, fill out their AR’s for the experience
to this point, eliminating all favors and influence points.
Troubleshooting: If the PCs hesitate at the rift describe
the rift closing for several more rounds and then describe
it sealing itself. If the PCs do not enter the rift they gain
experience for the portions of the adventure they
completed but gain no influence or access.
If the PCs are defeated by Vardis, then their PCs are lost
on the Astral plane. The Wrinkle Academy is unable to
stop the Brotherhood from dismantling the Furyondy
Mint. The PCs bodies are however eventually recovered
by the Wrinkle academy wizards and returned for
questioning/raising by the Church of St. Cuthbert.
Please check the Death on the Astral Plane section of
the AR.
If the PCs defeat Vardis, proceed to Encounter Seven.
APL 2 (EL 5)
�Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk6; hp 45;
see Appendix One.
APL 4 (EL 7)
�Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk6; hp 45
[57]; see Appendix One.
APL 6 (EL 9)
�Vardis Simulacrum (empowered): male human
(Suel) Mnk9; hp 66 [84]; see Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 11)
�Vardis Simulacrum (empowered): male human
(Suel) Mnk9; hp 66 [84]; see Appendix One.
APL 10 (EL 13)
�Vardis: male human (Suel) Mnk13; hp 94 [120]; see
Appendix One
APL 12 (EL 15)
�Vardis: male human (Suel) Mnk15; hp 108 [138]; see
Appendix One
Notes: For the purposes of spell duration please assume
that 4 minutes have passed since Vardis left the
Bridgeforth Inn, therefore both the parties and Vardis’s
low duration buff spells are still active.
The rest of this encounter takes place on the Astral plane.
PCs can make a Knowledge (planes) check, DC 10 to
identify this as the Astral Plane. A DC 15 Knowledge
(planes) check reveals the details of the Astral Plane.
Managing this encounter is difficult due to the distances
involved. It is suggested in running this encounter that
the DM place the Royal Furyondy Mint as the arbitrary
ground level. Draw the Mint layout as normal. Character
movement and position may then be expressed in
relation to this central location. Distance on the lateral
axis is expressed as it would if the combat were taking
place on the battle-mat. Altitude – or distance upon the
vertical axis can be described through the use of dice to
denote tens of feet (thus two 10 sided dice can express a
distance of up to 990 feet)
NOTE: Please refer to Appendix Five: Astral Traits.
For the purposes of this adventure it is presumed that
“falling” to a solid object (such as the Royal Furyondy
Mint) does not incur the standard falling damage,
instead a DC 20 Balance check is imposed in order to
land and remain standing.
Notes Per APL
APL 2-8: In these APL’s Vardis has been replaced with a
simulacrum. This Simulacrum functions just like Vardis
as if he were half his hit dice (in this case level 6 or at APL
6 and 8 an empowered version of the spell bumped the
simulacrum to level 9). When this Simulacrum reaches 0
hit points it is destroyed. The Simulacrum has been
instructed to destroy the Furyondy Mint and then to
defend the site until the Brotherhood’s monks arrive.
APL 10-12: In these APL’s Vardis himself stands against
the party, buffed extensively by the Bridgeforth defender.
Tactics:
Tactics for APL 2: Vardis knows that spellcasters are the
most danger to him, since they can dispel the numerous
buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets spell
casters first, using his stunning abilities and tumbling to
reach them. Vardis has had numerous spells cast upon
him in order to increase his effectiveness, these spells
and abilities are noted in his stat block.
Tactics for APL 4: Vardis knows that spell casters are
the most danger to him, since they can dispel the
numerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets
spell casters first, using his stunning abilities through the
Ki focus Nunchacku and tumbling to reach them. Vardis
then targets divine spell casters and finally fighters.
Vardis has had numerous spells cast upon him in order to
increase his effectiveness, these spells and abilities are
noted in his stat block.
Vardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type I. If the
characters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 18
bombard the characters while chiding them for their
cowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him,
he will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual
beads.
If injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast
upon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of
the Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action.
Tactics for APL 6: Vardis knows that spell casters are
the most danger to him, since they can dispel the
numerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets
spell casters first, using his stunning abilities through the
Ki focus Nunchacku and tumbling to reach them. Vardis
then targets divine spell casters and finally fighters.
Vardis has had numerous spells cast upon him in order to
increase his effectiveness, these spells and abilities are
noted in his stat block in brackets.
Vardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type III. If the
characters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to
bombard the characters while chiding them for their
cowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him,
he will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual
beads.
If injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast
upon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of
the Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action, Vardis
also has the ability to heal 18 hit points of his own
wounds through his wholeness of body ability, using this
ability on the Astral Plane is a standard action.
Tactics for APL 8: Vardis knows that spell casters are
the most danger to him, since they can dispel the
numerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets
spell casters first, using his stunning abilities through the
Ki focus Nunchacku and tumbling to reach them. Vardis
then targets divine spell casters and finally fighters.
Vardis has had numerous spells cast upon him in order to
increase his effectiveness, these spells and abilities are
noted in his stat block in brackets.
Vardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type IV. If the
characters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to
bombard the characters while chiding them for their
cowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him,
he will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual
beads.
If injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast
upon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of
the Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action, Vardis
also has the ability to heal 18 hit points of his own
wounds through his wholeness of body ability, using this
ability on the Astral Plane is a standard action.
Tactics for APL 10: Vardis knows that spell casters are
the most danger to him, since they can dispel the
numerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore targets
spell casters first, using his stunning abilities through the
Ki focus Nunchacku and tumbling to reach them. Vardis
then targets divine spell casters and finally fighters.
Vardis has had numerous spells cast upon him in order to
increase his effectiveness, these spells and abilities are
noted in his stat block in brackets.
Vardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type VII. If the
characters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to
bombard the characters while chiding them for their
cowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him,
he will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual
beads.
If injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast
upon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of
the Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action, Vardis
also has the ability to heal 26 hit points of his own
wounds through his wholeness of body ability, using this
ability on the Astral Plane is a standard action.
Tactics for APL 12: Vardis knows that spell casters are
the most danger to him, since they can dispel the
numerous buffs he has in effect. Vardis therefore will
abundant step next to any obvious spell caster and using
his Sun School* feat attacks him with his Quivering
Palm. Assuming that attack fails Vardis targets arcane
with the Ki Focus Nunchaku. Vardis then targets divine
spell casters, rogue types, and finally fighters. Vardis has
had numerous spells cast upon him in order to increase
his effectiveness. These spells and abilities are noted in
his stat block.
Vardis also carries a necklace of fireballs type VII. If the
characters attempt to keep their distance he will use it to
bombard the characters while chiding them for their
cowardice and weakness. If the characters surround him,
he will laugh at their stupidity as he detonates individual
beads.
If surrounded by numerous opponents Vardis does not
hesitate to throw the remainder of the necklace at the
opponents who seem that they are the greatest threat to
him.
If injured Vardis uses the Imbued spells he has had cast
upon him to heal his own wounds. Due to the effects of
the Astral Plane Vardis can do this as a free action, Vardis
also has the ability to heal 30 hit points of his own
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 19
wounds through his wholeness of body ability, using this
ability on the Astral Plane is a standard action.
Treasure:
APL 2: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per
character).
APL 4: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per
character); ring of counterspells (300 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type i (137gp per
character).
APL 6: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +2 (333 gp per
character); ring of counterspells (300 gp per
character); Necklace of Fireballs type III (362 gp per
character); Dusty Rose Ioun Stone (416 gp per
character).
APL 8: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per
character); ring of counterspells (300 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type iv (450 gp per
character); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per
character).
APL 10: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692
gp per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per
character); ring of counterspells x2 (600 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type vii (725 gp per
character); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per
character); boots of speed (1000 gp per character).
APL 12: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692
gp per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per
character); ring of counterspells x2 (600 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type vii (725 gp per
character); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per
character); boots of speed (1000 gp per character).
Conclusion
Success
Once Vardis is defeated allow the PCs to rest and perform
whatever healing they require. Give the impression that
they are adrift in the Astral plane with no particular way
back (higher level parties may have little difficulty here).
After a few minutes of allowing themselves to ask “what
now” choose one of the fighters or rogues of the party,
ask them for a Will save (against scrying) please impose a
-16 to their roll (the wizards at the Wrinkle Academy
have the full cooperation of the Watch and the Family to
provide some of the PCs blood, a possession and a drawn
picture of the character.) Remind the character that they
can voluntarily fail the save if they wish. If necessary
have the wizard attempt to scry on all the other PCs until
one fails his save.
Once that is accomplished read the following:
With an audible pop a gnomish wizard appears a short
distance away and with practiced ease flies down to
stand before your party. “I must say I’m glad you
survived, finding the mint without (point to the
person who failed his save) you to scry on would have
been very difficult. With a low whistle he takes in
the carnage and damage around him. “My, my, quite
a mess indeed—this will take a bit of work, but I do
believe we can fix it.” His gaze then levels on your
group, as several other mages begin appearing around
you. “Well, what are you waiting for? Time to go. If
everyone can please form a circle we’ll be on our
way…”
If asked the wizard explains that shortly after Krot
arrived at the wrinkle Academy they figured out what
had occurred, then plane shifted to the Astral Plane and
scryed upon the PCs.
The world shifts and you find yourselves back in the
streets of Verbobonc City. Caleb and Krot stand just
feet away, surveying the devastated Guild Hall.
Seeing your group arrive, Krot breaks into a broad
grin, as Caleb rushes over.
“The Gentlemen of the Watch thank you for your
service to the City.” Caleb says as he shakes your
hand. “We were worried that you wouldn’t pull it off.
Krot was even laying very long odds at your survival,
let along your success—weren’t you Krot…”
Caleb turns around to address Krot, only to find the
street behind him empty, except for a few blowing
leaves and a pouch sitting on the ground; bulging
with gold.
Defeat
If the PCs are defeated by Vardis please ask the PCs if
they wish to be raised, if they agree please read the
following:
The stillness of death leaves you and your eyes open
to see a vaulted ceiling painted to depict St. Cuthbert
beckoning with one hand while the other holds a
heavy cudgel. A cleric of St. Cuthbert steps into view
and speaks “Ah. Welcome back to the land of the
living. The Gentlemen of the Watch will wish to
have a word with you. If you’re feeling up to it he is
waiting outside.”
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 20
Outside the chapel Caleb sits with his back leaning
up against the cathedral of St. Cuthbert. His eyes are
pensive and he pulls at his lower lip, lost in thought.
Seeing your party he straightens and gives a half
smile.
“I wish that we were met in better circumstances.”
Caleb says “but it is good to see that you have
returned just the same.” Caleb wearily begins
walking up the street toward the Viscount’s castle.
“Come on,” he says as he walks “we’ve got to report to
the Viscount just how bad it is.”
The End
Epilogue: The Gift of the Gnomes
If the characters were successful in recovering the
Furyondyian Royal Mint, then after they have rested up
and spent a night or two in a warm bed, each is visited
individually by a gnome hailing from the Yatil
Mountains. The gnome knows the identity of the
character, and the read-aloud text below can be
paraphrased to include that information. Read the
following to the PCs:
Your adventure complete, you spend a few days
resting and relaxing, enjoying what comforts of
Verbobonc City. As you are out walking about, a well-
worn gnome traveler dressed in an earthen robe with
stitchings of gold waves you down. As he approaches,
his face beams with the delight of your attention.
“Good adventurer, I thank you for a moment of
your precious time. Allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Clegin, Master Illusionist of Gnome Vale.
The Laird Gwaylar, our headman, has sent me to
search for worthies that may be willing to aid our
cause. Having heard of your recent exploits, I must
say, I am quite impressed by your actions. You must
be one of the stalwarts spoke of in the foretellings of
our Chief Cleric. Thus, I have this gift for you, if you
will accept it.”
Clegin pulls a polished green gemstone from one
of his robe pockets. The gem has a symbol of arcane
power etched in its face. “Please, take this. It is now
but an interesting bauble, but I have the power to
enchant it into something that would be of greater
use than exchange for mere coin. When the time is
right, you might find yourself on the path to my
home, and then, as is foretold, you will aid my people
who have been beset upon by evils thought
vanquished. If you are successful in your task to be, I
shall reward you by awakening the arcane power
within the gem I offer. I and my people thank you for
all you’ve done, and all you’ve yet to accomplish.”
If the character accepts the gemstone:
Clegin hands you the gemstone. The same smile plays
upon his face as when he first greeted you. “I have
others to seek out. Soon, our paths shall cross again,
brave one.” He turns from you, and walks down the
street, disappearing in the crowd.
If the character does not accept the gemstone:
A look of confusion furrows Clegin’s brow. “I am
certain you are the one spoken of, yet you do not
accept my gift? Are you sure you would not
reconsider?”
Give the player another chance to think it over. If they
accept, read the acceptance text above. If they continue to
decline, read the following:
Clegin resigns himself to a slow smile. “Gift or no, our
paths shall meet again. I am certain that something
can be arranged at a later time. I must leave now; I
have others to seek out. Good day to you, brave one.”
He turns from you, and walks down the street,
disappearing in the crowd.
Characters can make a DC 20 Knowledge (Geography)
skill check to know that Gnome Vale is a very isolated
community of gnomes located deep within the Yatil
Mountains.
Clegin has more errands to run, and can’t sit and
chat any longer with the character. If pressed for more
information, he simply says that all will be revealed in
due time.
If a character accepts the gift, they receive the
Gnome Vale gemstone listed on the Adventure Record. If
they refuse, cross this item off the Adventure Record. Its
purpose will become known at a later time.
If a character already has a gemstone, they may
receive a second (or third) gemstone if it is of a different
color than the ones already possessed by the character. A
character may not possess more than one of the same
color gemstone.
Experience Point Summary
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 21
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
role-playing) to each character.
Encounter Three – … down by the river.
For defeating the monk sniper or by learning the
password for the Bridgeforth Inn.
APL 2
60 xp
APL 4
120 xp
APL 6
180 xp
APL 8
240 xp
APL 10
300 xp
APL 12
360 xp
Encounter Four – The Bridgeforth Inn
Entering the inn, defeating the suel cleric and learning of
the Brotherhoods plan.
APL 2
150 xp
APL 4
210 xp
APL 6
270 xp
APL 8
330 xp
APL 10
390 xp
APL 12
450 xp
Encounter Six – Into the Breach
Defeating Vardis
APL 2
150 xp
APL 4
210 xp
APL 6
270 xp
APL 8
330 xp
APL 10
390 xp
APL 12
450 xp
Award for Good Role-playing
APL 2
90 xp
APL 4
135 xp
APL 6
180 xp
APL 8
225 xp
APL 10
270 xp
APL 12
315 xp
Total Possible Experience
APL 2
450 xp
APL 4
675 xp
APL 6
900 xp
APL 8
1,125 xp
APL 10
1,350 xp
APL 12
1,575 xp
Treasure Summary
During an adventure, PCs encounter treasure, usually
finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each character
gains if the foes are plundered of all their earthly
possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 minutes
per every 5 enemies, and if the PCs cannot take the time
to loot the bodies, they do not gain this gold. If you feel
it is reasonable that PCs can go back to loot the bodies,
and those bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by dungeon
scavengers, removed from the scene by the local watch,
and so on), PCs may return to retrieve loot. If the PCs do
not loot the body, the gold piece value for the loot is
subtracted from the encounter totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each character
gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a
round or so. If for some reason, they pass up this
treasure, the coin total is subtracted from the encounter
totals given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure is
the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because PCs may want to use them during the adventure.
Many times PCs must cast identify, analyze dweomer or
similar spell to determine what the item does and how to
activate it. Other times they may attempt to use the item
blindly. If the magic item is consumable (a potion, scroll,
magic bolts, etc.) and the item is used before the end of
the adventure, its total is subtracted from the adventure
totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a PCs total and coin value increase
at the end of the adventure. Write the total in the GP
Gained field of the adventure certificate. Because this is a
Regional adventure, PCs may spend additional Time
Units to practice professions or create items immediately
after the adventure so this total may be modified by other
circumstances.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 22
L = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, Jewelry, and
other valuables; M = Magic Items.
L: Looted gear from enemy
C: Coin, Gems, Jewelry, and other valuables
M: Magic Items (sell value)
Encounter Three:
APL 2: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp per
character).
APL 4: L: 0 gp; C: 0 gp; M: bracers of armor +1 (83 gp per
character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character)
APL 6: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp
per character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per
character).
APL 8: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp per
character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character)
APL 10: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +2 (333 gp
per character); vest of resistance +2 (333 gp per
character).
APL 12: L: 0 gp; C: 4 gp; M: bracers of armor +3 (750 gp
per character); vest of resistance +3 (750 gp per
character).
Encounter Four:
APL 2: L: 62 gp; C: 4 gp; M: potion of cure moderate
wounds (25 gp per character).
APL 4: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: breastplate +1 (113 gp per
character); vest of resistance +1 (83 gp per character);
potion of cure moderate wounds (25 gp per
character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
APL 6: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: vest of resistance +1 (83 gp
per character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25
gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
APL 8: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: vest of resistance +2 (333 gp
per character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25
gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
APL 10: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: vest of resistance +2 (333 gp
per character); potion of cure moderate wounds (25
gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
APL 12: L: 129 gp; C: 4 gp; M: vest of resistance +2 (333
gp per character), potion of cure moderate wounds
(25 gp per character); club +1 (192 gp per character).
Encounter Six:
APL 2: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per
character).
APL 4: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +1 (83 gp per
character); ring of counterspells (300 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type i (137gp per
character).
APL 6: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +2 (333 gp per
character); ring of counterspells (300 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type iii (362 gp per
character); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per
character).
APL 8: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per
character); ring of counterspells (300 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type iv (450 gp per
character); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per
character).
APL 10: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692
gp per character); +1 nunchaku, wounding (1525 gp
per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per
character); ring of counterspells x2 (600 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type vii (725 gp per
character); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per
character); boots of speed (1000 gp per character).
APL 12: L: 62 gp; C: 0 gp; M: +1 nunchaku, ki focus (692
gp per character); cloak of resistance +3 (750 gp per
character); ring of counterspells x2 (600 gp per
character); necklace of fireballs type vii (725 gp per
character); dusty rose ioun stone (416 gp per
character); boots of speed (1000 gp per character).
Total Possible Treasure
APL 2:
450 gp
APL 4:
650 gp
APL 6:
900 gp
APL 8:
1,300 gp
APL 10:
2,300 gp
APL 12:
3,300 gp
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 23
Appendix One: NPCs
ALL APLs
Watch Captain Caleb: male human (Rhennee)
Rog2/Ftr6; CR 8; Medium humanoid (human); HD
2d6+6d10+16; hp 62; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 21 (+3 Dex,
+ 6 armor, +1 deflection, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-
footed 18; Base Atk +7; Grp +8; Atk +10 melee
(1d6+4+1d6 Non lethal damage, +1 merciful
quarterstaff); Full Atk +10/+5 melee (1d6+4+1d6 Non
lethal damage, +1 merciful quarterstaff); AL LN; SV:
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +3; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13,
Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +10, Diplomacy +11, Gather
Information +13, Knowledge Local +10 Intimidate +12,
Sense Motive +14, Spot +5, Search +5, Tumble +9;
Improved Unarmed Strike, Weapon Focus
(quarterstaff), Weapon Specialization (quarterstaff),
Improved Trip, Improved Grapple, Combat Reflexes,
Lightning Reflexes, Dodge, Defensive Throw* Prone
Attack*.
Possessions: +1 merciful quarterstaff +1 glamered
mithral chainmail, +1 ring of protection, +1 amulet of
natural armor, circlet of persuasion, 3 vials of antitoxin,
two sunrods.
* See Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Uncle Krot: male human (Oeridian) Rog9/Wiz3; CR
12; Medium humanoid (human); HD 9d6+3d4+24; hp
73; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17 (+3 Dex, +2 armor, +1
deflection, +1 natural), touch 16, flat-footed 13; Base
Atk +7; Grp +7; Atk +8 melee (1d6, rapier); Full Atk
+7/+2 melee (1d6, rapier); SA Sneak Attack +5d6, SQ
evasion, improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +3, rat
familiar; AL LE; SV Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +8; Str 10,
Dex 16, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +23,
Concentration +8, Diplomacy +18, Disguise +13,
Escape artist +13, Hide +13, Knowledge local +8
Intimidate +13, Sense Motive +13, Sleight of Hand +13,
Spellcraft + 12 Spot +4, Tumble +18; Combat Expertise,
Combat Reflexes, Craft Wondrous Item, Improved
Initiative, Iron Will, Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus
(Illusion).
Spells Prepared (4/3/2; base DC 13 + spell level, 14
+ spell level for Illusion spells): 0—detect magic, detect
poison, open/close, prestidigitation; 1
st—mage armor,
silent image (3), ventriloquism; 2
nd—invisibility, scare.
Possessions: Krot’s robe of sizing*, +2 bracers of
armor, +1 ring of protection, +1 amulet of natural
armor, ring of wizardry I, circlet of persuasion rapier,
mask of lies*.
Pre-Cast Spells: Krot spends almost all of his time
in public under the effects of reduce person from his
robe of sizing.
* See Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Lathmir Amanthsal: male gnome Ari6; CR 5; Small-
size humanoid (gnome); HD 6d8+9; hp 42 [Currently
18]; Init +4 [currently +1]; Spd 20 ft.; AC: 9, touch 9,
flat-footed 9; Base Atk: +4; Grp: +2; Atk: +2 melee (1d2-
2, unarmed); AL: LE; SV: Fort +3 [+0], Ref +2 [-1], Will
+9; Str 6, Dex 10 [7], Con 14[6], Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15.
Skills and Feats: Appraise +9, Bluff +11, Diplomacy
+12, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (history) +5, Listen +4,
Profession (merchant) +12, Sense Motive +12,
Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Leadership, Negotiator.
Possessions: rags, bottle of rotgut
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 24
APL 2
Encounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me?
Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog2:
CR 2; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 2d6+2; hp 12;
Init +2; Spd 20; AC 15 (Flat-footed 13 Touch 13); Base
Atk +2; Atk +3 melee (1d4, masterwork shortsword);
SA +1 attack bonus with thrown weapons, Sneak
Attack +1d6; SQ Traps, Evasion, +2 Bonus on Saves vs.
Fear; AL N; SV Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 10, Dex 14,
Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +5, Climb +2, Diplomacy +7,
Disable Device +4, Forgery +6, Gather Information +2,
Hide +11, Jump -4, Listen +3, Move Silently +9, Search
+8, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +6; Investigator.
Encounter 3: … Down By the River …
Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk2; CR 2;
Medium humanoid (human); HD 2d8+6; hp 29 [33];
Init +3 [+5]; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19 (+3 Dex, +2 Wis, +2
Deflection [protection from good]), touch 15, flat-
footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +3; Atk +2 [+4] melee
(1d6+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +0/+0 [+2/+2] melee
(1d6+2, unarmed strike) or +7 ranged (1d2+2 plus
poison, Shuriken); SA flurry of blows, unarmed strike;
SQ evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +6 [+8], Ref +6 [+8], Will +4
[+6]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], Con 16 [20], Int 10, Wis
12 [16], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8 [+10], Escape Artist +8
[+10], Hide +15 [+35/+55 invisible], Jump +5 [+7],
Move Silently +15, Spot +6 [+8], Tumble +8 [+10];
Deflect Arrows, Stunning Fist, Endurance, Diehard.
Possessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of
hiding, elixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion
of bulls strength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of
cat’s grace, potion of mage armor, six masterwork
shuriken poisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison
(injury poison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con,
secondary damage 2d6 Con)
Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn.
Suel Cleric: Male Human Clr5: CR 5; Medium
Humanoid; HD 5d8+10; hp 37 [47]; Init -1; Spd 20; AC:
16 (Flat-footed 16 Touch 11); Base Atk +3; Grp +2; Atk
+3 melee (1d10, masterwork club); SA Turn or rebuke
undead (3+Cha. Mod/day); AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +0,
Will +7; Str 8, Dex 8, Con 14 [18], Int 12, Wis 16, Cha
10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Heal +11,
Knowledge (religion) +11 Spellcraft +10; Domain focus
(war)*, Extend Spell, Sanctum Spell*.
Spells Prepared: (5/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 13 +
Spell Level); 0 - cure minor wounds, detect magic,
light: purify food and drink, resistance, virtue; 1
st –
calm animals (d), divine favor, entropic shield, shield
of faith, protection from good’; 2
nd - bear’s endurance;
cure moderate wounds; spiritual weapon x2 (d); 3
rd –
dominate animal (d), magic vestment, searing light.
Possessions: masterwork breastplate, masterwork
club, potion of cure light wounds
Domains Animal/War
* See Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter 6: Into the Breach
Uncle Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk6;
CR 6; Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+18; hp 45
Init +3; Spd 50 ft.; AC 16 [22], touch 14 [20], flat-footed
12 [18]; Base Atk +4; Grp +5; Atk +9 melee (1d6+2,
unarmed strike); Full Atk melee +9/+9 (1d6+2, +1, ki
focus nunchaku); SA flurry of blows, unarmed strike,
stunning fist, improved trip, Ki strike (magic) SQ
evasion, still mind, Purity of body; AL LE; SV Fort +6,
Ref +7, Will +6 (+10 vs. Enchantment and with owl’s
wisdom effects); Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14
[18 with owl’s wisdom], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Escape Artist
+14, Jump +19, Listen +13, Spot +13, Tumble +17;
Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Nunchaku), Deflect
Arrows, Weakening Touch*.
Possessions: +1 nunchaku: ki focus, cloak of
resistance +1.
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Spells in effect:
Owl’s wisdom [Lvl 2, CL: 5];
Magic vestment (+2) Enhancement bonus [Lvl 2, CL: 5]
Shield of faith (+2) Deflection bonus [Lvl 1, CL: 5]
Note: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets,
whenever possible he uses the ki focus nunchaku as
his attack weapon.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
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APL 4
Encounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me?
Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog4:
CR 4; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 4d6+4; hp 23;
Init +2; Spd 20; AC 15 (Flat-footed 15 Touch 13); Base
Atk +4; Grp +1; Atk +5 melee (1d4, masterwork
shortsword); SA +1 attack bonus with thrown weapons,
Sneak Attack +2d6; SQ Traps, Evasion, Trap Sense +1,
Uncanny Dodge, +2 Bonus on Saves vs. Fear; AL N; SV
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +3; Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 12,
Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +7, Climb +2, Diplomacy +9,
Disable Device +4, Forgery +7, Gather Information +2,
Hide +13, Jump -4, Listen +3, Move Silently +11, Open
Lock +7, Search +8, Sleight of Hand +11, Spot +6;
Dodge, Investigator.
Possessions: masterwork shortsword
Encounter 3: … Down By the River …
Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk4; CR 4;
Medium humanoid (human); HD 4d8+12; hp 45 [53];
Init +3 [+5]; Spd 40 ft.; AC 19 [25] (+3 [+5] Dex, +2 [+4]
Wis, +4 armor, +2 Deflection [protection from good])
touch 15 [19], flat-footed 14 [16]; Base Atk +3; Grp +3;
Atk +3 [+5] melee (1d8 [1d8+2] unarmed strike); Full
Atk +1/+1 [+3/+3] melee (1d8+2 unarmed strike) or +7
ranged (1d2+2 plus poison, Shuriken); SA flurry of
blows, unarmed strike; SQ evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +6
[+8], Ref +6 [+8], Will +4 [+6]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20],
Con 16 [20], Int 10, Wis 13 [17], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +5 [+7], Escape Artist +10
[+12], Jump +9 [+11], Move Silently +10 [+12], Hide
+10 [+22, +42/+62 invisible], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +10
[+12];
Deflect
Arrows,
Endurance,
Diehard,
Weakening Touch*, Stunning Fist.
Possessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding,
elixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls
strength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace,
potion of mage armor, six masterwork shuriken
poisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury
poison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary
damage 2d6 Con)
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn
Suel Cleric: Male Human Clr7; CR 7; Medium
Humanoid; HD 7d8+28; hp 64; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC
16, (touch 12, flatfooted 16); Base Atk +5; Grp +4; Atks
+4 melee (1d6, Club) or +7 melee (1d10, +1 club); SV
Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +14; AL LN; Str 8, Dex 8, Con 14
[18], Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 8
Skills & Feats: Concentration +13, Heal +13,
Knowledge (religion) +13 Spellcraft +12; Domain focus
(war)*, Domain focus (animal)*, Extend Spell, Sanctum
spell*.
Spells Prepared: (6/5+1/4+1/3+1/2+1; base DC 14
+ Spell Level); 0-cure minor wounds, detect magic,
light, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue; 1
st -
bless: calm animals (d), divine favor, entropic shield,
shield of faith, protection from good; 2
nd - bear’s
endurance, bulls strength, cure moderate wounds,
owl’s wisdom, spiritual weapon (d); 3
rd - dominate
animal (d), magic vestment, spikes, searing light, 4
th -
imbue with spell ability, magic weapon, greater
summon nature’s ally iv (d)
Possessions: club +1, club, breastplate +1, cloak of
resistance +1, potion of cure light wounds.
*see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter 6: Into the Breach
Uncle Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk6;
CR 6; Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+18; hp 45
[57]; Init +3; Spd 50 ft.; AC 16 [28], touch 16 [21], flat-
footed 13 [24]; Base Atk +4; Grp +5 [+7]; Atk +7 melee
(1d8+1, unarmed strike); Full Atk +9/+9 melee
(1d6+10, +1 ki focus nunchaku); SA flurry of blows,
unarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki strike
(magic) SQ evasion, still mind Purity of body, AL LE;
SV Fort +8 [+10], Ref +9, Will +8 [+10] (+12 vs.
Enchantment effects); Str 12 [16], Dex 17, Con 14 [18],
Int 10, Wis 14 [18], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Escape Artist
+14, Jump +19, Listen +13, Spot +13, Tumble +17;
Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Nunchaku), Deflect
Arrows, Weakening Touch*.
Possessions: +1 nunchaku: ki focus; cloak of
resistance +1; ring of counterspells [dispel magic];
necklace of fireballs type i
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Spells in effect:
Bear’s endurance [CL:7]
Bulls strength [CL:7]
Imbue with spell ability (2 cure light wounds, 1 cure
moderate wounds) [CL:7]
Magic vestment (+2) Enhancement bonus [CL:7]
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 26
Owl’s wisdom [CL:7]
Shield of faith (+3) Deflection bonus [CL:7]
Spikes* [CL:7]
Note: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets,
whenever possible he uses the +1 ki focus nunchaku as
his attack weapon. Furthermore Vardis wears a ring of
counterspells with dispel magic loaded.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 27
APL 6
Encounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me?
Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog6:
CR 6; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 6d6+6; hp 29;
Init +2; Spd 20; AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 15; Base
Atk +5; Grp +1; Atk +6 melee (1d4, masterwork
shortsword); SA +1 attack bonus with thrown weapons,
Sneak Attack +3d6; SQ +2 Bonus on Saves vs. Fear
Traps, Trap Sense +2, Uncanny Dodge; AL N; SV Fort
+4, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 12, Wis
12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +9, Climb +2, Diplomacy
+11, Disable Device +8, Forgery +7, Gather Information
+2, Hide +15, Jump -4, Listen +3, Move Silently +13,
Open Lock +9, Search +10, Sleight of Hand +13, Spot
+6; Dodge, Investigator, Mobility.
Encounter 3: … Down By the River …
Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk6; CR 6;
Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+18; hp 61 [73];
Init +3 [+5]; Spd 50 ft.; AC 20 [26], touch 16 [20], flat-
footed 15 [19]; Base Atk +4; Grp +4; Atk +6 melee
(1d8+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +5/+5 melee (1d8+2,
unarmed strike) or +9 ranged (1d2+2 plus poison,
shuriken); SA flurry of blows, unarmed strike; SQ
evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +8 [+10], Ref +8 [+10], Will +7
[+9]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], Con 16 [20], Int 10, Wis
13 [17], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +7 [+9], Escape Artist +10
[+12], Jump +19 [+21], Move Silently +12 [+24], Hide
+12 [+24, +44/+64 invisible], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +12
[+14];
Deflect
Arrows,
Endurance,
Diehard,
Weakening Touch*, Stunning Fist, Improved Trip,
Weapon Focus (shuriken)
Possessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding,
elixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls
strength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace,
potion of mage armor, six masterwork shuriken
poisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury
poison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary
damage 2d6 Con)
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn
Suel Cleric: Male Human Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe3: CR 9;
HD 6d4+3d8+36; hp 63; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16,
touch 12, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +4; Grp +3; Atk +4
melee (1d6, Club), or +4 ranged (1d10, Heavy
Crossbow) or +6 melee (1d10, +1 club); SV Fort +11,
Ref +7, Will +15; AL LN; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 19,
Wis 18, Cha 10;
Skills and Feats: Bluff +6, Concentration +10, Heal
+10, Knowledge (arcana) +16, Knowledge (religion)
+16, Knowledge (planes) +13, Sense Motive +7,
Spellcraft
+18;
Practiced
Spellcaster
(arcane)*,
Practiced Spellcaster (divine)*, Split Ray*, Sanctum
spell*, Divine spell power*.
Spells Prepared: (5/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 14 +
Spell Level); 0-cure minor wounds, detect magic, light,
purify food and drink, resistance, virtue; 1
st - calm
animals (d), divine favor, entropic shield, shield of
faith, protection from good; 2
nd - bear’s endurance,
bull’s strength, cure moderate wounds, owl’s wisdom,
spiritual weapon (d) [club +8 1d8+3]; 3
rd - dominate
animal (d), magic vestment, spikes, searing light.
Spells Prepared: (4/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 14 +
Spell Level); 0 - resistance, acid splash, ray of frost,
mage hand; 1
st - mage armor, magic missile, ray of
enfeeblement, shield, true strike; 2
nd - alter self,
glitterdust, see invisibility, scorching ray, false life; 3
rd -
slow, clairaudience/ clairvoyance, fireball, fly
Possessions: cloak of resistance +1, potion of cure
moderate wounds, club +1
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter 6: Into the Breach
Uncle Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk9;
CR 9; Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+12; hp 66
[84] Init +4; Spd 60 ft.; AC 17 [28], touch 17 [22], flat-
footed 13 [24]; Base Atk +6/+1; Grp +7 [+9]; Atk +10
melee (1d10+3, unarmed strike); Full Atk +13/+13/+8
melee (1d6+13, +1 ki focus nunchaku); SA flurry of
blows, unarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki
strike (magic, lawful) greater flurry; SQ evasion, still
mind Purity of body, Wholeness of body, Improved
evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +10 [+12], Ref +12, Will +10
[+12] (+14 vs. Enchantment effects); Str 12 [16], Dex 18,
Con 14 [18], Int 10, Wis 15 [19], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +14, Escape Artist
+17, Jump +22, Listen +16, Spot +16, Tumble +20;
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 28
Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Nunchaku), Deflect
Arrows, Weakening Touch*, Pain Touch*.
Possessions: +1 nunchaku: ki focus, ioun stone,
dusty rose [prism]; cloak of resistance +2; ring of
counterspells [dispel magic], necklace of fireballs type
III.
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Spells in effect:
bear’s endurance [cl:9]
bulls strength [cl:9]
fly [cl 9]
greater magic weapon (+2) [cl:9]
mage armor [cl:9]
magic vestment (+2) enhancement bonus [cl:9]
owl’s wisdom [cl:9]
shield of faith (+3) deflection bonus [cl:9]
spikes* [cl:9]
Note: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets,
whenever possible he uses the +1 ki focus nunchaku as
his attack weapon. Furthermore, Vardis wears a ring of
counterspells with dispel magic cast into it.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
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APL 8
Encounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me?
Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog8:
CR 8; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 8d6+8; hp 39;
Init +2; Spd 20; AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 15; Base
Atk +7; Grp +3; Atk +8 melee (1d4, masterwork short
sword); Full Atk +8/+3 melee (1d4, masterwork short
sword); SA +1 attack bonus with thrown weapons,
Sneak Attack +4d6; SQ Traps, Evasion, Trap Sense +2,
Uncanny Dodge, Improved Uncanny Dodge, +2 Bonus
on Saves vs. Fear; AL N; SV Fort +4, Ref +9, Will +4; Str
10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +11, Climb +2, Diplomacy
+13, Disable Device +8, Forgery +8, Gather Information
+2, Hide +16, Intimidate +3, Jump -4, Listen +3, Move
Silently +15, Open Lock +11, Search +10, Sleight of
Hand +15, Spot +11; Dodge, Investigator, Mobility.
Encounter 3: … Down By the River …
Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk8; CR 8;
Medium humanoid (human); HD 8d8+18; hp 77 [93];
Init +3 [+5]; Spd 50 ft.; AC 20 [26], touch 16 [20], flat-
footed 15 [17]; Base Atk +6; Grp +6; Atk +6 [+8] melee
(1d10+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +7/+7/+2 melee
(1d10+2, unarmed strike) or +11 ranged (1d2+2 plus
poison, shuriken); SA flurry of blows, unarmed strike;
SQ evasion, improved Evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +9
[+11], Ref +9 [+11], Will +8 [+10]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16
[20], Con 16 [20], Int 10, Wis 14 [18], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +7 [+9], Escape Artist +12
[+14], Jump +19 [+21], Move Silently +14 [+16], Hide
+14 [+16], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +14 [+16]; Deflect
Arrows, Endurance, Diehard, Weakening Touch*,
Stunning Fist, Improved Trip. Wholeness of body,
Weapon Focus (shuriken)
Possessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding,
elixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls
strength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace,
potion of mage armor, 6 masterwork shuriken
poisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury
poison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary
damage 2d6 Con)
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn
Suel Cleric, Male Human Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe5: CR
11; Large Monstrous Humanoid; [medium humanoid
polymorphed into Annis Hag] HD 8d4+3d8+44; hp 86
[101 with false life] [HP as Annis Hag 64 [79 with false
life]; Init +0 [+1 as Annis Hag]; Spd 30 ft.; AC 10 [27]
[+4 mage armor, +4 shield, +10 natural (Annis Hag) -1
large sized], touch 12, [touch AC 12 as Annis Hag] flat-
footed 28; Base Atk +4; Grp +4; Atk +6 melee (1d6,
Club +1) or +6 ranged (1d10, Heavy Crossbow) or +10
melee (1d10+3, +1 [+3] club); Attacks as Hag: +10
melee (1d6+7, 2 claws); SV Fort +11 [+9 as Annis Hag],
Ref +7 [+7 as Annis Hag], Will +16; AL LN; Str 8 [25
Annis Hag +7], Dex 10 [12 Annis Hag +1], Con 18 [14
Annis Hag +2], Int 19, Wis 18, Cha 10;
Skills and Feats: Bluff +6, Concentration +14, Heal
+10, Knowledge (arcana) +18, Knowledge (religion)
+18, Knowledge (the planes) +13, Sense Motive +9,
Spellcraft +20; Practiced Spellcaster (arcane)*,
Practiced Spellcaster (divine)*, Split Ray*, Sanctum
spell*, Divine Spell Power*.
Spells Prepared: (6/5+1/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 14
+ Spell Level); 0-cure minor wounds, detect magic,
light, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue; 1st -
bless, calm animals (d), divine favor, entropic shield,
shield of faith, protection from good; 2
nd - bear’s
endurance, bull’s strength, cure moderate wounds,
owl’s wisdom, spiritual weapon (d); 3
rd - dominate
animal (d) magic vestment, cure serious wounds,
spikes, searing light; 4
th - freedom of movement, imbue
with spell ability, magic weapon, greater summon
nature’s ally iv (d)
Spells Prepared: (4/4+1/4+1/4+1/3+1; base DC 14
+ Spell Level); 0- resistance, acid splash, ray of frost,
mage hand; 1
st - mage armor, magic missile, ray of
enfeeblement, shield, true strike; 2
nd – alter self,
glitterdust, see invisibility, scorching ray, false life; 3
rd -
greater mage armor, clairaudience/clairvoyance,
fireball, fly, ray of enfeeblement [split ray]; 4
th - arcane
eye, Evards black tentacles, locate creature, polymorph,
stoneskin
Possessions: cloak of resistance +2, potion of cure
moderate wounds, club +1
*see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Spells in effect:
Mage armor [cl: 11]
Shield [cl: 11]
Alter self [cl: 11]
Entropic shield [cl 11]
Freedom of movement [cl 11]
See invisibility [cl 11]
False life [cl 11]
Bless [cl 11]
Polymorph [cl 11]
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
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Encounter 6: Into the Breach
Uncle Vardis Simulacrum: male human (Suel) Mnk9;
CR 9; Medium humanoid (human); HD 6d8+12; hp 66
[84] Init: +4 [+6]; Spd: 60 ft.; AC 18 [35], touch 18 [28],
flat-footed 14 [29]; Base Atk +6/+1; Grp +7 [+9]; Atk +10
melee (1d10+3, unarmed strike); Full Atk +17/+17/+12
(1d6+14, (+1 ki focus nunchaku); SA flurry of blows,
unarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki strike
(magic, lawful) greater flurry; SQ evasion, still mind
Purity of body, Wholeness of body, Improved evasion;
AL LE; SV Fort +11 [+13], Ref +13 [+15], Will +11 [+13]
(+15 vs. Enchantment effects); Str 12 [16], Dex 18 [22],
Con 14 [18], Int 10, Wis 15 [19], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +14, Escape Artist
+17, Jump +22, Listen +16, Spot +16, Tumble +20;
Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Nunchaku), Deflect
Arrows, Elusive Target*, Dodge, Mobility
Possessions: +1 nunchaku, ki focus, ioun stone,
dusty rose [prism]; cloak of resistance +3; ring of
counterspells [dispel magic CL 11], potions of haste (5),
necklace of fireballs type IV
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Spells in effect:
bear’s endurance [cl:11]
bless [cl:11]
bulls strength [cl:11]
cat’s grace [cl:11]
fly [cl 11]
greater mage armor* (+6) armor bonus [cl:11]
greater magic weapon x2 (+3) [cl:11]
imbue with spell ability (2 cure light wounds, 1 cure
moderate wounds) [cl:11]
magic vestment (+3) enhancement bonus [cl:11]
owl’s wisdom [cl:11]
shield of faith (+4) deflection bonus [cl:11]
spikes* [cl:11]
stoneskin [cl:11] (DR 10/adamantine, 110 hp)
Note: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets,
whenever possible he uses the ki focus nunchaku as
his attack weapon. Furthermore Vardis wears a ring of
counterspells with dispel magic loaded.
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APL 10
Encounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me?
Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog10:
CR 10; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 10d6+10; hp
46; Init +3; Spd 20; AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 16; Base
Atk +8; Grp +8; Atk +11 ranged touch or +9 melee (1d4,
masterwork shortsword); Full Atk +11/+6 base ranged
or +9/4 melee (1d4, masterwork shortsword); SA +1
attack bonus with thrown weapons, Sneak Attack +5d6;
SQ Traps, Evasion, Trap Sense +3, Uncanny Dodge,
Improved Uncanny Dodge, Improved Evasion, +2
Bonus on Saves vs. Fear; AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +11,
Will +5; Str 10, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +13, Climb +2, Diplomacy
+15, Disable Device +9, Forgery +11, Gather
Information +2, Hide +19, Intimidate +3, Jump -4,
Listen +3, Move Silently +18, Open Lock +14, Search
+10, Sleight of Hand +18, Spot +13; Dodge,
Investigator, Mobility, Spring Attack.
Encounter 3. … Down By the River …
Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk10; CR 10;
Medium humanoid (human); HD 10d8+22; hp 93
[113]; Init +3 [+5]; Spd 60 ft.; AC 21 [27], touch 17 [21],
flat-footed 16 [18]; Base Atk +7; Grp +7; Atk +9 melee
(1d10+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +9/+9/+4 melee
(1d10 [1d10+2] unarmed strike or +15 ranged (1d2
[1d2+2] plus poison, Shuriken) SA flurry of blows,
unarmed strike; SQ evasion, Improved Evasion,
Wholeness of body; AL LE; SV Fort +10 [+12], Ref +10
[+12], Will +9 [+11]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], Con 16
[20], Int 10, Wis 14 [18], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +7 [+9], Escape Artist +14
[+16], Jump +21 [+23], Move Silently +16 [+28], Hide
+16 [+28], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +16 [+18]; Deflect
Arrows, Endurance, Diehard, Weakening Touch*,
Stunning Fist, Improved Trip, Weapon Focus
(shuriken), Point Blank Shot
Possessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding,
elixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls
strength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace,
potion of mage armor, six masterwork shuriken
poisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury
poison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary
damage 2d6 Con)
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter 4: The Bridgeforth Inn
Suel Cleric: Male Human Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe7: CR:
13; Large Monstrous Humanoid; [medium humanoid
polymorphed into Annis Hag]; HD 10d4+3d8+56; hp
100 (115 with false life) [HP as Hag 100 (115 with false
life)] Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 10 [27] [+4 mage armor, +4
shield, +10 Natural, -1 large size], touch 12, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +6; Grp: +5; Atk +6 melee (1d6, Club +1),
or +6 ranged (1d10, Heavy Crossbow); Full Atk +6/+1
melee (1d6, Club +1), or +6/+1 ranged (1d10, Heavy
Crossbow); [Attacks as Hag +12 melee (1d6+7, 2 claws);
SA as Annis Hag: Improved grab (grapple +17), Rake
(+12 1d6+7), Rend (2d6+10) SV Fort +12 [+14], Ref +8,
Will +17; AL LN; Str 8 [25 Annis Hag +7], Dex 10 [12
Annis Hag +1], Con 18 [18 Bear’s Endurance/Annis
Hag +4], Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 10
Skills and Feats: Bluff +6, Concentration +20, Heal
+10, Knowledge (arcana) +21, Knowledge (religion)
+21, Knowledge (the planes) +14, Sense Motive +11,
Spellcraft
+23;
Practiced
Spellcaster
(arcane)*,
Practiced Spellcaster (divine)*, Split Ray*, Sanctum
spell*, Divine spell power*, Domain focus (war)*.
Spells Prepared: (6/5+1/5+1/4+1/4+1/3+1; base
DC 14 + Spell Level); 0 - cure minor wounds, detect
magic, light, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue;
1
st - bless, calm animals (d), cure light wounds, divine
favor, entropic shield, shield of faith, protection from
good’; 2
nd - bear’s endurance x 2, bull’s strength, cure
moderate wounds, owl’s wisdom, spiritual weapon (d);
3
rd - dominate animal (d), magic vestment, cure serious
wounds, spikes*, searing light; 4
th - freedom of
movement, imbue with spell ability, magic weapon,
greater x 2 summon nature’s ally iv (d); 5
th - flame strike
(d),stalwart pact*, scrying, true seeing
Spells Prepared: (4/6+1/5+1/4+1/4+1/3+1; base
DC 15 + Spell Level); 0 - resistance, acid splash, ray of
frost, mage hand; 1
st - mage armor, magic missile, ray of
enfeeblement x2, shield, true strike; 2
nd - alter self,
glitterdust, see invisibility, scorching ray, false life x2;
3
rd - greater mage armor, clairaudience/clairvoyance,
fireball, fly, ray of enfeeblement [split ray]; 4
th - arcane
eye, Evards black tentacles, locate creature, scorching
ray [split ray], stoneskin; 5
th - telepathic bond, magic jar
summon monster V refusal*
Possessions: cloak of resistance +2, potion of cure
moderate wounds, club +1
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 32
Spells in effect:
mage armor [cl:13]
shield [cl:13]
entropic shield [cl 13]
freedom of movement [cl 13]
see invisibility [cl 13]
false life [cl 13]
bless [cl 13]
polymorph [cl 13]
Encounter 6: Into the Breach
Uncle Vardis: male human (Suel) Mnk13; CR 13;
Medium humanoid (human); HD 13d8+42; hp 94
[135]; Init +4 [+6]; Spd 70 ft.; AC 19 [42], touch 19 [27],
flat-footed 19 [36]; Base Atk +9/+4; Grp +10 [+12]; Atk
+21 melee (1d6+14, +1 ki focus Nunchaku); Full Atk
+21/+21/+21/+16 [+21 hasted action] melee (1d6+14,
+1, ki focus Nunchaku or Nunchaku); SA flurry of
blows, unarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki
strike (magic, lawful) greater flurry; SQ evasion, still
mind Purity of body, Wholeness of body, Improved
evasion, Diamond body, Abundant step, Diamond soul
(SR 23); AL LE; SV Fort +13 [+15], Ref +15 [+17], Will
+13 [+15] (+17 vs. Enchantment effects); Str 12 [16],
Dex 18 [22], Con 14 [18], Int 10, Wis 15 [19], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +10, Escape Artist
+18, Jump +26, Knowledge (religion) +7, Listen +20,
Sense Motive +7, Spot +20, Tumble +24; Weapon
Finesse, Weapon Focus (nunchaku), Deflect Arrows,
Elusive Target*, Dodge, Mobility.
Possessions: +1, ki focus nunchaku; ioun stone,
dusty rose [prism]; cloak of resistance +3; ring of
counterspells [dispel magic]; ring of counterspells
[dispel magic]; potions of haste (5); boots of speed;
necklace of fireballs (type VII).
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Spells in effect:
stalwart pact* [cl:13] (65 hit points, kicks in at 47 hit
points)
stoneskin [cl:13] (DR 10/adamantine 130 hp)
imbue with spell ability (2 cure light wounds, 1 cure
moderate wounds) [cl:13]
greater magic weapon x2 [Cl:13]
magic vestment (+3) enhancement bonus [cl:13]
greater mage armor* (+6) armor bonus [lvl: 3, cl:13]
shield of faith (+4) deflection bonus [cl:13]
spikes* [cl:13]
fly [cl: 13]
false life [cl: 13]
bear’s endurance [cl:13]
cat’s grace [cl:13]
owl’s wisdom [cl:13]
bulls strength [cl:13]
alter self [cl 13]
bless [cl:13]
Note: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets,
whenever possible he uses the ki focus nunchaku as
his attack weapon. Furthermore Vardis wears two
rings of counterspells, both with dispel magic.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 33
APL 12
Encounter 1: Is this a Hook I See Before Me?
Benjimar the Rose: Male Halfling, Lightfoot Rog12:
CR 12; Small Humanoid (Halfling); HD 12d6+12; hp
55; Init +3; Spd 20; AC 16, touch 14, flatfooted 16); Base
Atk +9/+4; Grp+5; Atk +11 melee (1d4, masterwork
short sword) or +13 ranged; Full Atk +11/+6 melee
(1d4, masterwork short sword) SA +1 attack bonus with
thrown weapons, Sneak Attack +6d6; SQ Traps,
Evasion, Trap Sense +4, Uncanny Dodge, Improved
Uncanny Dodge, Improved Evasion, +2 Bonus on
Saves vs. Fear; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +12, Will +6; Str
11, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +15, Climb +2, Diplomacy
+15, Disable Device +13, Disguise +2, Forgery +13,
Gather Information +2, Hide +22, Intimidate +3, Jump
-4, Listen +3, Move Silently +20, Open Lock +16,
Search +12, Sleight of Hand +20, Spot +13; Deceitful,
Dodge, Investigator, Mobility, Spring Attack.
Encounter 3: … Down By the River …
Monk Sniper: male human (Suel) Mnk12; CR 12;
Medium humanoid (human); HD 12d8+26; hp 109
[133]; Init +3 [+5]; Spd 70 ft.; AC 21 [27], touch 17 [21],
flat-footed 16 [18]; Base Atk +9; Grp +9; Atk +12 [+14]
melee (1d10+2, unarmed strike); Full Atk +12/+12/+7
melee (1d10+2, unarmed strike) or +16/+16/+11 ranged
(1d2+2 plus poison, shuriken); SA flurry of blows,
unarmed strike; SQ Wholeness of body, Improved
evasion; AL LE; SV Fort +10 [+12], Ref +10 [+12], Will
+9 [+11]; Str 10 [14], Dex 16 [20], Con 16 [20], Int 10,
Wis 14 [18], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +7 [+9], Escape Artist +14
[+16], Jump +21 [+23], Move Silently +16 [+18], Hide
+16 [+18], Spot +1 [+3], Tumble +16 [+18]; Deflect
Arrows, Endurance, Diehard, Weakening Touch*,
Stunning Fist, Improved Trip, Weapon Finesse,
Weapon Focus (shuriken), Point Blank Shot.
Possessions: bracers of armor +1, elixir of hiding,
elixir of sneaking, potion of invisibility, potion of bulls
strength, potion of owl’s wisdom, potion of cat’s grace,
potion of mage armor, 6 masterwork shuriken
poisoned with gargantuan Wyvern poison (injury
poison, Fort DC 21, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary
damage 2d6 Con)
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Encounter Four: The Bridgeforth Inn
Suel Cleric: Male Human Clr3/Wiz3/MysThe9: CR
15; Large Monstrous Humanoid; [medium humanoid
polymorphed into Annis Hag]; HD 12d4+3d8+52; hp
114 [140 w/ false life & heroes feast]; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 10 [31] [+4 mage armor, +4 magic vestment, +4
shield, +10 Natural, -1 large size] touch AC 10 [17], flat-
footed AC 10 [31]; Base Atk +7, Atk +6/+1 melee (1d6,
+1 Club); [Attacks as Hag: +13 melee (1d6+7, 2 claws)];
SA as Annis Hag: Improved grab (grapple +18), Rake
(+13 1d6+7), Rend (2d6+10) SV Fort +12 [+14], Ref +8,
Will +17; AL LN; Str 8 [25 Annis Hag +7], Dex 10 [12
Annis Hag +1], Con 18 [18 Bear’s Endurance/Annis
Hag +4], Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 10;
Skills and Feats: Bluff +6, Concentration +20, Heal
+10, Knowledge (arcana) +21, Knowledge (religion)
+21, Knowledge (the planes) +14, Sense Motive +11,
Spellcraft
+23;
Practiced
Spellcaster
(arcane)*,
Practiced Spellcaster (divine)*, Split Ray*, Sanctum
spell*, Divine spell power*, Domain focus (war)*
Spells Prepared: (6/6+1/5+1/5+1/4+1/3+1/2+1;
base DC 14 + Spell Level); 0 -cure minor wounds,
detect magic, light, purify food and drink, resistance,
virtue; 1
st - bless, calm animals (d), cure light wounds,
divine favor, entropic shield, shield of faith, protection
from good; 2
nd - bear’s endurance x 2, bull’s strength,
cure moderate wounds, owl’s wisdom, spiritual weapon
(d); 3
rd - dominate animal (d), magic vestment x 2, cure
serious wounds, spikes*, searing light; 4
th - freedom of
movement, imbue with spell ability, greater x2,
summon nature’s ally IV (d); 5
th - flame strike (d),
stalwart pact*, scrying, true seeing; 6
th- antilife shell (d),
heroes feast, symbol of pain.
Spells Prepared: (4/6+1/5+1/5+1/4+1/3+1/2+1;
base DC 15 + Spell Level); 0- resistance, acid splash, ray
of frost, mage hand 1
st - mage armor, magic missile, ray
of enfeeblement x2, shield, true strike; 2
nd – alter self,
see invisibility, scorching ray x2, false life x2; 3
rd -
greater
mage
armor*,
clairaudience/clairvoyance,
fireball, fly, blink, ray of exhaustion; 4
th - arcane eye,
Evards black tentacles, locate creature, polymorph,
stoneskin; 5
th - telepathic bond, symbol of pain,
summon monster V x2; refusal; 6
th - true seeing, greater
dispel magic [split ray*] enervation.
Possessions: cloak of resistance +2, potion of cure
moderate wounds, club +1
* see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Spells in effect:
mage armor [cl:15]
shield [cl:15]
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
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entropic shield [cl 15]
freedom of movement [cl 15]
see invisibility [cl 15]
false life [cl 15]
bless [cl 15]
polymorph [cl 15]
hero’s feast [cl 15]
shield of faith (+4) deflection bonus [cl: 15]
Encounter 6 - Into the Breach
Uncle Vardis: male human (Suel) Mnk15; CR 15;
Medium humanoid (human); HD 15d8+46; hp 108
[164 w/ false life & heroes feast]; Init +4 [+6]; Spd 70 ft.;
AC 20 [45], touch 18 [26], flat-footed 15 [33]; Base Atk
+11/+6/+1; Grp +12 [+14]; Atk +16 [+18] melee (2d6+3,
unarmed strike); Full Atk +25/+25/+25/+20/+15 [+25
hasted] (1d6+14, +1 ki focus nunchaku); SA flurry of
blows, unarmed strike, stunning fist, improved trip, Ki
strike (magic, lawful) greater flurry, quivering palm;
SQ Evasion, Still mind Purity of body, Wholeness of
body, Improved Evasion, Diamond body, Abundant
step, Diamond soul (SR 25); AL LE; SV Fort +14 [+16],
Ref +16 [+18], Will +14 [+17] (+19 vs. Enchantment
effects); Str 12 [16], Dex 18 [22], Con 14 [18], Int 10,
Wis 15 [19], Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +10, Escape Artist
+20, Jump +26, Knowledge (religion) +7, Listen +22,
Sense Motive +7, Spot +22, Tumble +26. Weapon
Finesse, Weapon Focus (nunchaku), Deflect Arrows,
Elusive Target*, Pain Touch*, Sun School*, Dodge,
Mobility
Possessions: +1 nunchaku, ki focus, ioun stone,
dusty rose, cloak of resistance +3, ring of counterspells
[greater dispel magic], ring of counterspells [dispel
magic], potion of haste (5), boots of speed, necklace of
fireballs, type VII.
*see Appendix 2: New Rules Items
Spells in effect:
alter self [cl 15]
bear’s endurance [cl:15]
bless [cl:15]
bulls strength [cl:15]
cat’s grace [cl:15]
false life [cl: 15]
fly [cl: 15]
greater mage armor* (+6) armor bonus [cl:15]
greater magic weapon x2 [+4] [cl:15]
heroes feast [cl: 15}
imbue with spell ability (2 cure light, 1 cure moderate)
[cl:15]
magic vestment (+4) enhancement bonus [lvl 3, cl:15]
owl’s wisdom [cl:15]
shield of faith (+4) deflection bonus [cl: 15]
spikes* [cl:15]
stalwart pact* [cl:15] (75 hit points, kicks in at 47 hit
points)
stoneskin [cl:15] (DR 10/adamantine, 150 hp)
Note: Vardis’s buffed stats appear in brackets,
whenever possible he uses the ki focus nunchaku as
his attack weapon. Furthermore Vardis wears two
rings of counterspells, one with dispel magic and the
other with greater dispel magic.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 35
Appendix Two: New Rules Items
Defensive Throw [General] as presented in
Complete Warrior
You can use your opponent’s weight, strength, and
momentum against her, deflecting her attack and
throwing her to the ground.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Combat Reflexes, Dodge,
Improved Trip, Improved Unarmed Strike
Benefit: If the opponent you have chosen to use your
Dodge feat against attacks you and misses, you can
make an immediate trip attack against that opponent.
This attempt counts against your allowed attacks of
opportunity in the round.
Divine Spell Power [Divine] as presented in
Complete Divine
You can channel positive or negative energy to
enhance your divine spellcasting ability
Prerequisites: Ability to turn or rebuke undead, able
to cast 1st level divine spells.
Benefit: You can spend a turn or rebuke attempt as a
free action and roll a turning check (with a special +3
bonus, plus any other modifiers you’d normally apply
to your turning check). Treat the result of the turning
check as a modifier to your caster level on the next
divine spell you cast in that round.
For example, if a cleric used this feat and rolled a 16 on
his turning check, he would add a +2 bonus to his
caster level for the next divine spell he casts in the
round. Had he rolled an 8 he would instead apply a -1
penalty ot his caster level for the next divine spell he
cast in the round.
If you don’t cast a divine spell before your next turn,
you lose the effect of the check result. This feat has no
effect on your arcane spellcasting ability.
Domain Focus [General] as presented in
Complete Divine
You have mastered the subtle intricacies of the divine
power you’ve devoted yourself to
Prerequisites: Access to relevant domain.
Benefit: You can cast spells associated with one of your
domains at a +1 caster level. This benefit also applies to
caster level checks to overcome a targets spell
resistance as well as other variables such as spell
duration. If you cast a spell from one of your non-
domain spell slots , this feat dos not help you, even if
the spell also happens to appear on your domain list.
Special: You can take Domain Focus multiple times.
Its effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it
applies to a new domain to which you have access.
Elusive Target [Tactical] as presented in
Complete Warrior
Trying to land a blow against you can be a maddening
experience.
Prerequisites: Dodge, Mobility, base attack bonus +6
Benefit: The Elusive Target feat enables the use of
three tactical maneuvers.
Negate Power Attack: To use this maneuver, you
must designate a specific foe to be affected by your
Dodge feat. If that foe uses the Power Attack feat
against you, the foe gains no bonus on the damage roll
but still takes the corresponding penalty on the attack
roll.
Diverting Defense: To use this maneuver, you must
be flanked and you must designate one of the flanking
attackers to be affected by your Dodge Feat. The first
attack of the round from the designated attacker
automatically misses you and may strike the other
flanking foe instead; the attacking creature makes an
attack roll normally, and its ally is considered flat-
footed. If the designated attacker is making a full
attack against you, its second and subsequent attacks
function normally.
Cause Overreach: To use this maneuver, you must
provoke an attack of opportunity from a foe by moving
out of a threatened square. If the foe misses you, you
can make a free trip attempt against this foe and the foe
does not get a chance to trip you if your attempt fails.
Extra Stunning [General] as presented in
Complete Warrior
You gain extra stunning attacks.
Prerequisites: Stunning fist, base attack bonus +2.
Benefit: You gain the ability to make three extra
stunning attacks per day.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Its
effects stack.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 36
Fists Of Iron [General] as presented in
Complete Warrior
You have learned the secrets of imbuing your unarmed
attacks with extra force.
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning
Fist, base attack bonus +2.
Benefit: Declare that you are using this feat before you
make your attack roll (thus, a missed attack roll ruins
the attempt). You deal an extra 1d6 points of damage
when you make a successful unarmed attack. Each
attempt counts as one of your uses of the Stunning Fist
feat for the day.
Flying
Kick
[General]
as
presented
in
Complete Warrior
You literally leap into battle, dealing devastating
damage.
Prerequisites: Str 13, Jump 4 ranks, Improved
Unarmed Strike, Power Attack.
Benefit: When fighting unarmed and using the charge
action, you deal an extra 1d12 points of damage with
your unarmed attack.
Pain Touch [General] as presented in Complete
Warrior
You can cause intense pain in an opponent with a
successful stunning attack
Prerequisites: Wis 15, Stunning Fist, Base attack
bonus +2
Benefit: Victims of a successful stunning attack are
subject to such debilitating pain that they are
nauseated for 1 round following the round they are
stunned. Creatures that are immune to stunning
attacks are also immune to the effect of this feat, as are
any creatures that are more than once size category
larger than the feat user.
Practiced Spellcaster as presented in Complete
Arcane
Choose a spell casting class that you possess. Your
spells cast from that class are more powerful.
Prerequisites: Spell craft 4 ranks.
Benefit: Your caster level for the chosen spellcasting
class increases by 4. This benefit can’t increase your
caster level to higher than your Hit Dice. However,
even if you can’t benefit from the full bonus
immediately, if you later gain Hit Dice in levels of
nonspellcasting classes, you might be able to apply the
rest of the bonus.
For example, a human 5th-level sorcerer/3rd level
fighter who selects this feat would increase his sorcerer
caster level from 5th to 8th (since he has 8 Hit Dice). If
he later gained a fighter level, he would gain the
remainder of the bonus and his sorcerer caster level
would become 9th (since he now has 9 hit dice).
A character with two or more spellcasting classes (such
as a bard/sorcerer or a ranger/druid) must choose
which class gains the feat’s effect.
This feat does not affect your spells per day or the
spells known. It increases your caster level only,
which would help you penetrate spell resistance and
increase the duration and other effects of your spells.
Special: You may select this feat multiple times. Each
time you choose it, you must apply it to a different
spellcasting class. For instance, a 4th level cleric/5th
level wizard who had selected this feat twice would
cast cleric spells as an 8th level caster and wizard spells
as a 9th level caster.
Prone Attack [General] as presented in
Complete Warrior
You can attack from a prone position without penalty
Prerequisites: Dex 15, Lightning Reflexes, base attack
bonus +2
Benefit: You can make an attack from the prone
position and take no penalty on your attack roll. If
your attack roll is successful you may regain your feet
immediately as a free action. Opponents gain no bonus
on melee attacks against you while you are prone.
Special: A fighter may select Prone Attack as one of
his fighter bonus feats.
Rapid Stunning [General] as presented in
Complete Warrior
You can use your stunning attacks in rapid succession.
Prerequisites: Combat Reflexes, Stunning Fist, base
attack bonus +6.
Benefit: You may use one additional stunning attack
(or other special attack that counts against your daily
limit of stunning attacks) per round.
Normal: You may only attempt a stunning attack (or
other special attack that counts against your daily limit
of stunning attacks) once per round.
Special: A fighter may select Rapid Stunning as one of
his fighter bonus feats.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 37
A character can take this feat multiple times. Its effects
stack.
Sanctum Spell [Metamagic] as presented in
Complete Arcane
Your spells are especially potent on home ground.
Prerequisites: Any metamagic feat.
Benefit: A sanctum spell has an effective spell level 1
higher than its normal level if cast in your sanctum
(see below), but if not cast in the sanctum, the spell has
an effective spell level 1 lower than normal. All effects
dependent on spell level (including save DC’s) are
calculated according to the adjusted level.
A sanctum spell uses a spell slot of the spells normal
level.
Special: Your sanctum is a particular site, building, or
structure previously designated by you, and not larger
than 20 feet/level in diameter. The designated area
must be a site where you have spent a cumulative
period of at least three months. Though a sanctum can
be designated within a larger structure its special
advantages do not apply beyond the maximum area.
Once designated, it takes seven days for a site to
become a sanctum, and if you designate a new area to
be your sanctum, the benefits of the old one
immediately fades
Split Ray [Metamagic] as presented in
Complete Arcane
Your ray spells can affect an additional target
Prerequisites: Any metamagic feat.
Benefit: You can cause any ray spell to fire one
additional ray beyond the number normally allowed.
The additional ray requires a separate ranged touch
attack roll to hit and deals damage as normal. It can be
fired at the same target as the first ray or at a different
target, but all rays must be aimed at targets within 30
feet of each other and fired simultaneously.
A split ray spell uses a spell slot two levels higher than
the spells actual level.
Sun School [Tactical] as presented in Complete
Warrior
You have learned a number of esoteric martial arts
techniques inspired by the sun.
Prerequisites: Flurry of blows ability, base attack
bonus +4
Benefit: The Sun School feat enables the use of three
tactical maneuvers.
Inexorable Progress of Dawn: To use this maneuver,
you must hit the same foe with the first two unarmed
attacks from a flurry of blows. If you do, your foe must
move back 5 feet, and you may move 5 feet forward if
you wish. This maneuver does not provoke an attack of
opportunity for either character.
Blinding Sun of Noon: To use this maneuver, you
must successfully stun the same foe with an unarmed
attack two rounds in a row. In addition to being
stunned, that enemy is confused for 1d4 rounds
thereafter.
Flash of Sunset: To use this maneuver, you must
move adjacent to a foe instantaneously, as with a
dimension door spell or the monk’s abundant step class
feature. If you do so, you can immediately make a
single attack at your highest attack bonus against that
foe.
Weakening Touch [General] as presented in
Complete Warrior
You can temporarily weaken an opponent with your
unarmed strike.
Prerequisites: Wis 17, Improved Unarmed Strike,
Stunning Fist, base attack bonus +2.
Benefit: Declare that you are using this feat before you
make your attack roll (thus, a missed attack roll ruins
the attempt). You can make an unarmed attack that
deals no damage, but instead applies a -6 penalty to the
targets Strength score for 1 minute. Multiple
weakening touches delivered on the same target are
not cumulative. Each attempt to deliver a weakening
touch counts as one of your Stunning Fist attacks for
the day. Creatures with immunity to stun effects
cannot be affected by this feat.
Special: A fighter may select Weakening Touch as one
of his fighter bonus feats.
Zen Archery [General] as presented in
Complete Warrior
Your intuition guides your hand when you use a
ranged weapon.
Prerequisites: Wis 13, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You can use your Wisdom modifier instead of
your Dexterity modifier when making a ranged attack
roll.
Refusal
[Arcane
Spell]
as
presented
in
Complete Arcane
Abjuration
Level: Sorcerer/Wizard 5
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 38
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: Medium (100ft/10 ft./level)
Effect: Two 10-ft. squares/level (S)
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: Will negates; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
You create a special ward that prevents unauthorized
spellcasters or creatures with spell-like abilities from
entering an area. Any creature that has spells prepared,
spell slots available for casting without preparation, or
innate spell-like abilities must succeed on a Will save
or be halted by an invisible barrier that prevents
passage. The DC of the Will save increases by a
number equal to the spell level of the highest level
spell the creature has prepared or is capable of casting
(so that a 10
th-level sorcerer who hasn’t yet exhausted
his 5
th-level spell slots for the day adds +5 to the save
DC). You can choose to designate a password or special
condition
(such
as
character
race,
alignment,
possession of a token, or any other observable or
detectable characteristic) by which spellcasting PCs
and creatures can enter the refusal-warded area.
Creatures that have no spellcasting capability or spell-
like abilities (including spellcasters who have
exhausted their spell slots, and creatures with spell
trigger or spell completion magic items) can pass
through the barrier with no difficulty. Spellcasters and
creatures that have spell like abilities and that are
already within the area you protect when you create
the ward are not compelled to leave or restricted in
their movement within it (and spells and spell-like
abilities can pass through the barrier in either direction
with no difficulty). However, if such creatures leave
the area, they must succeed on saving throws as
described above to return.
Creatures attempting to use any teleportation spell or
effect to enter the warded area make the normal saving
throw. They are shunted harmlessly to the nearest save
space outside of the warded area if they fail.
Material Component: A pinch of dust from a wizards
tomb.
Brambles [Divine Spell] as presented in
Complete Divine
Transmutation
Level: Cleric 2, Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No.
Small magical thorns or spikes protrude from the
surface of a wooden weapon, such as a club, greatclub,
nunchaku, or quarterstaff. For the duration of the
spell, the weapon deals both piercing and bludgeoning
damage. It gains a +1 enhancement bonus on its
attacks and deals an additional +1 point of damage per
caster level (maximum +10). This spell works only on
melee weapons with wooden striking surfaces. For
instance, it does not work on a bow, and arrow, or a
metal mace. Material Component: a small thorn.
Mage Armor, Greater [Arcane Spell] as
presented in Complete Arcane
Conjuration (Creation) [Force]
Level: Sorcerer/Wizard 3
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature Touched
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: No.
This spell functions like mage armor, except that its
tangible field of force provides a +6 armor bonus to
Armor Class. Material Component: A tiny platinum
shield worth 25gp.
Spikes [Divine Spell] as presented in Complete
Divine
Transmutation
Level: Cleric 3, Druid 3
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: 1 wooden weapon touched
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No.
As Brambles, except that the affected weapon gains a
+2 enhancement bonus on its attacks, and its threat
range is doubled.
Stalwart Pact [Divine Spell] as presented in
Complete Divine
Evocation
Level: Cleric 5, Pact 5
Components: V, S, DF, XP
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Target: Willing Living Creature Touched
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 39
Duration: Permanent until triggered, then 1
round/level
Saving Throws: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless).
This spell allows the target to enter a binding
agreement with a deity that provides a measure of
protection when the need is dire. Once this spell is
cast, the pact remains dormant until the target is
reduced to half or less of her full normal hit points.
The target immediately gains 5 temporary hit points
per caster level, damage reduction of 5/magic, and a +4
luck bonus on saving throws. The hit points, damage
reduction, and saving throw bonus evaporate when the
spell ends. XP Cost: 250xp.
Mask of Lies [Wondrous Item] as presented in
Complete Adventurer
This black, featureless mask has only slits for eyes and
mouth. The wearer can use disguise self on herself at
will and is continually under the effect of undetectable
alignment. In addition, she gains a +5 competence
bonus on bluff checks.
Krot’s Belt of Sizing [Wondrous Item] as
presented in Verbobonc Regional Adventure
This sturdy leather belt was created by the
rogue/wizard Krot to assist in disguise. A humanoid
wearer of the belt can increase or decrease his size as
though under the effects of enlarge person or reduce
person. Each effect can be maintained for only 10
minutes per day, but the 10 minutes need not be
consecutive. Increasing or decreasing size requires a
standard action, as does returning to normal size before
the 10 minutes have expired. These actions do not
provoke an attack of opportunity.
Faint transmutation; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item,
enlarge person, reduce person; Price 15,000 gp
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 40
Appendix Three: Maps
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
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Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 42
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
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Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 44
Map of Verbobonc City
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 45
Appendix Four: Troubleshooting
In the running of the adventure some parties may
through their actions deviate substantially from the
general plotline of the adventure. This section is
designed to provide some guidance for you as the DM
to handle such groups in a way that allows for the
adventure to continue to the end while allowing for
unconventional character choices. Please follow the
suggestions below if the PCs seriously compromise the
adventure.
Be aware that you may have to alter or paraphrase the
given read-aloud text liberally if the PCs deviate from
the primary path of this adventure.
Denying the Family: Some PCs may react
unfavorably to the intrusion of a family member into
their room, or refuse to go along with the Family
member once they discover his thievery. If the PCs do
try and get the PCs back on path by having Krot
himself show up an hour or so later and request that
they assist him. If the PCs do take this path though
Krot will not be pleased and will go out of his way to
speak to the other members of the family about the
PCs. Be sure to eliminate all favors or promotions for
the Family from the PCs AR.
Denying the Watch: Some Chaotic or Neutral PCs
may refuse the request from Caleb for assistance. If
they do please strike all influence and favors from the
watch off their AR’s and ask them what they would like
to do with their day. Please note the timeline later in
the Troubleshooting section to determine what will
happen when.
Completely off the adventure: A few, hopefully very
few parties may not have any allegiance toward either
Krot or to Caleb and may deny the requests presented
to them. Allow them to do so, and if they like they
may busy themselves exploring Verbobonc City.
Please note the timeline later in the Troubleshooting
section to determine what will happen when.
You may also wish to offer them another adventure to
play in the time allocated for this one.
Getting back on adventure: Often the PCs will decide
that denying such an obvious opportunity was a bad
idea. If so allow them to get back onto adventure,
though finding watch captain Caleb (DC 10 Gather
Information check) and having them apologize to him.
If so pick up the adventure at Encounter 4: The
Bridgeforth Inn. Have Caleb explain that the watch
had sent a few watchmen to collect Lathmir, but that
they had returned when Lathmir was assassinated.
Offer no clues as to how to overcome the Forbiddance
in place at the Bridgeforth. Have Caleb then offer the
PCs the honor of being the first into the Inn.
Timeline of Events:
5:00 AM: The Gentlemen of the Watch move to raid
the Bridgeforth Inn, one officer is slain, and Caleb
contacts the Church of St. Cuthbert for removal of the
spell.
5:30 AM: The Church discovers they are unable to
dispel the Forbiddance. Caleb is contacted by the
Family (who have also been Keeping the Bridgeforth
under surveillance)
6:00 AM: Caleb agrees to a meeting with Krot and
seeks representatives (the PCs).
7:00 AM: Caleb meets with Krot and they compare
notes, if the PCs are not present Caleb sends watchmen
to collect Lathmir.
7:30 AM: Lathmir is killed by the Monk.
8:00 AM: The Watchmen return to report to Caleb that
Lathmir is dead. Caleb begins readying his Watchmen
to either charge the inn or destroy it with fire.
10:00 AM: If the PCs have not joined Caleb he orders
for his veterans to charge the Inn. He is successful in
defeating the defender and Vardis escapes. Bub
Tympanum dies.
10:15 AM: Vardis kills the watchmen outside the
Verbobonc Guild Hall, enters the hall and successfully
shifts it to the Astral Plane.
10:30 AM: Caleb reaches the Verbobonc Guild Hall
and calls in the Wrinkle Academy and the Church of
St. Cuthbert to investigate.
10:45 AM: The Wrinkle Academy determines what
occurred and travels to the Astral plane to try and
recover the Royal Furyondy Mint. The Mint however
has already been removed and is lost.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 46
Appendix Five: Player Handouts
Astral Plane Traits
The Astral plane has the following traits:
Subjective Directional Gravity: The strength of gravity on a plane with this trait is the same as on the Material Plane,
but each individual chooses the direction of gravity's pull. Such a plane has no gravity for unattended objects and
nonsentient creatures. This sort of environment can be very disorienting to the newcomer, but is common on
"weightless" planes.
PCs on a plane with subjective directional gravity can move normally along a solid surface by imagining "down" near
their feet. If suspended in midair, a character "flies" by merely choosing a "down" direction and "falling" that way.
Under such a procedure, an individual "falls" 150 feet in the first round and 300 feet in each succeeding round.
Movement is straight-line only. In order to stop, one has to slow one's movement by changing the designated "down"
direction (again, moving 150 feet in the new direction in the first round and 300 feet per round thereafter).
For the purposes of this adventure it is presumed that “falling” to a solid object (such as the Royal Furyondy Mint) does
not incur the standard falling damage, instead a DC 20 balance check is imposed in order to land and remain standing.
It takes a DC 16 Wisdom check to set a new direction of gravity as a free action; this check can be made once per round.
Any character who fails this Wisdom check in successive rounds receives a +6 bonus on subsequent checks until he or
she succeeds.
Magical flight works normally on the Astral Plane, as does natural flight; provided that the creature successfully sets the
direction of gravity and then flies as it would on the material plane.
Timeless. Age, hunger, thirst, poison, and natural healing don’t function in the Astral Plane, though they resume
functioning when the traveler leaves the Astral Plane.
Mildly neutral-aligned.
Enhanced magic. All spells and spell-like abilities used within the Astral Plane is employed as if they were improved by
the Quicken Spell feat. Already quickened spells and spell-like abilities are unaffected, as are spells from magic items.
Spells so quickened are still prepared and cast at their unmodified level. As with the Quicken Spell feat, only one
quickened spell can be cast per round.
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 47
Player Handout #1
Ver5-04 Fool’s Gold
Page 48
Critical Events Summary
(For events plays on or before August 1, 2005, please email the results to [email protected])
Was the Royal Furyondy Mint destroyed?
Was the Royal Furyondy Mint recovered?
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Verbobonc/595/Normal Scenarios/VER5-04 - Fools Gold (APL 2-12)/VER5-04 - Fools Gold.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed
by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of Wizards of the
Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20.
This is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and
Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the
United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written
permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely
coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc and the adventure author or authors.
Details and maps of the town of Pest’s Crossing are excerpted from: Against the Giants: The Liberation of Geoff by Gary Gygax and Sean K. Reynolds.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
For questions specific to this document and your metaregion please e-mail your metaregional point of contact (POC) at [email protected]. For LIVING
GREYHAWK campaign questions email [email protected].
SHE5-03
The Prophet’s Voice
A One-Round D&D® LIVING GREYHAWKTM
Sheldomar Valley Metaregional Adventure
Version 2.2
by Tad L. J. Kilgore
Reviewers: Michael D. Moore, Daniel Gray, Harold Austin
Circle Reviewer: Steven Conforti
Dreams course through your mind each night. They burn like molten fire and it has been very many days since you
slept a full night. You have wandered into the Good Hills of Keoland seeking solace and an answer. The only way to
lessen each night’s torment seems to be to travel towards Istivin. What waits for you there? A Sheldomar Valley
metaregional adventure for APLs 6-18 and Part Two of the Dark Clouds series.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 1
RPGA SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide,
ongoing D&D campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—
you must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event
could be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
group of friends meeting at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the table Dungeon
Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all
the time in the cases of home events) the senior
gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have to be a
HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not
the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game,
and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2006.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit
the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
PLAYERS READ NO FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than
this section, you’ll know too much about its challenges,
which kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this
point makes you ineligible to do so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of
the following D&D books: Player’s Handbook, Dungeon
Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics provides
player information for you to paraphrase or read aloud
when
appropriate.
Sidebars
contain
important
information for you, including special instruction on
running the adventure. Information on nonplayer
characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated
form in the adventure text. Full information on NPCs
and monsters are given in the Appendices.
Along with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA Table
Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as part of
an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in this
sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll also
find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportionate to the modified average character level of
the PCs participating in the adventure. To determine this
modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps
below:
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely dogs trained for war), other than
those brought by virtue of a class ability (such as
animal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or
the warhorse of a character with the Mounted
Combat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine the
number of levels you add to the sum of step one. Add
each character’s animals separately. A single PC may
only bring four or fewer animals of this type, and
animals with different CRs are added separately.
3.
Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the
number of characters playing in the adventure.
Round up to the nearest whole number.
4.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of
challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-
numbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on
an odd number, ask them before the adventure begins
whether they would like to play a harder or easier
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience and gold a
PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player
character is three character levels or more either higher
or lower than the APL at which this adventure is being
played, that character receives only one-half of the
experience points and gold for the adventure. This
simulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged
as much as normal or relied on help by higher-level
characters to reach the objectives.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 2
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher
than the highest APL supported by the adventure may
not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL
2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may find the
challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the
following to these groups to help increase their chances
of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
2.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them.
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard one-round Metaregional adventure, set
in the Sheldomar Valley. Characters native to the
Sheldomar Valley pay one Time Unit per round, all
others pay two Time Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12gp per Time
Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50gp per Time Unit. Luxury
Upkeep costs 100gp per Time Unit. Characters that fail to
pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain temporary ability
damage until the next adventure, must buy new spell
component pouches and healer’s kits, and may suffer
other in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-game
benefits) as may be detailed in this adventure.
A character who does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties by
living off the wild. If the character possesses four or
more ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a Survival
check (DC 20), the character will heal temporary ability
damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, may
refill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may
restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the character has at
least four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). The player is
allowed to Take 10 on this roll.
More information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can
be found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of
Chapter 3 of the LIVING GREYHAWK Campaign Sourcebook.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
This adventure follows up events that occurred in SHE4-
06 Dark Clouds Over Istivin.
The Sakhut have moved worship of Memnor to a
place of honor and outlawed the worship of the good
deities and, in one fell swoop, created a schism that may
cause the dissolution of the giant alliance. The giants
stand together in recognition that they are stronger
together than apart and in recognition that the Tyv (the
word the giants use for the humans who settled into the
Sheldomar Valley) have spread through the lands, the
ones the giants once held, like a parasitic infestation. At
the same time, there are differences in ideology and faith
amongst the giants.
The world that the Sakhut wants to build is not the
world that all the giants wish to live in. It is a world ruled
with an iron fist and ruled absolutely. It is giant-kind
ascendant and dominant at the expense of all others.
This does not sit well with all of his people, nor does it sit
well with the giants’ deities themselves, and thus change
has begun to move subtly across the political landscape
built by the Sakhut.
Maira Lachlandotter's dreams are troubled. She
wakes shuddering and in a cold sweat. Carved upon her
neck is a rune of arcane power, "Still Thy Tongue." She
cannot speak lest the Sakhut hear what she says. She
remembers the ungentle touch of the knife that made her
what she is now. It haunts her dreams. Maira knows
despair. She knows remorse. A deep and abiding hatred
has grown in her that she is having a harder and harder
time controlling. She knows that the Sakhut's plans
debase her people. An alliance with the fomorians
(giants of deformities, both physical and spiritual) and
with the hill giants turns her stomach. It has been forced
upon them. This offends her on two levels. First, she
finds their twisted forms repulsive. Secondly, she finds
the culture of the evil giants unjust and unkind. Maira
knows that her rage is changing who she is, but she
cannot control it. The Sakhut must be stopped, and she is
helpless to effect this change.
Her brother has taken to compromise as an art. He
rules Sterich at the behest of the Sakhut. She worries for
him as the path he walks can twist him. The Tyv do not
understand the sacrifice he has made. He has set himself
as a shield between the depredations of the other giants
and the small ones. He risks much, and the process
erodes who he is.
Iallanis and Hiatea, good deities of the giants, have
watched the activities of their “children” with dismay.
There is little they can do to directly affect the shape of
things. The divine are bound from direct intervention on
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect on
APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 3
Oerth for the most part. Still, the goddesses are not truly
restricted in their ability to communicate with their
followers, especially not their clergy. Hiatea has begun to
shape Maira's dreams. The two fear for her. She is
walking a path of destruction and has asked for their
guidance. Her deities have heard her. Maira may destroy
herself and all she holds dear. Iallanis and Hiatea can
save her. While Maira’s experiences have given her rage,
they have also given her the power to speak about change
and a fine sense of justice. Hiatea would have her speak
about what she has seen, and therefore testify to all who
would hear the injustice of the Sakhut's deeds and
policies. Iallanis would have her speak at length about
what will occur. Iallanis believes that Maira can become
her prophet, an oracle for her people and will be able to
transform and shape the world. First however, Maira
must be made to confront her anger and her prejudice
and regain her voice.
The runic magic that has been worked upon Maira
can only be undone by a very few, and all of these
individuals are servants of the Sakhut or beyond Maira’s
reach. However, there is another way. Maira's dreams
have shown her continuous images of a slim spindle of
white stone, unique and distinct, and unlike any
formation she had seen before. During consultation with
her father's intelligent harp, Silsellay told her this dream
location is the Aerie of Cul Bra Folinu in the
Crystalmists, a home for raptorans (a race believe lost or
mythical in the Sheldomar Valley). The raptorans of the
Aerie are held in thrall to the powerful storm giant
wizard, Gar Mujal. Gar is rumored to be an expert in
runic magic and power and also a specialist in the
elemental planes. Again Maira's dreams changed. Gar,
she knows, can give her back her voice, if not directly,
then perhaps through another agent. Each time she
dreams of taking the journey herself, she dreams of
pursuit and death at the hands of the Sakhut's agents. A
recurring image has repeated itself to her. She dreams of
Tyv, particularly of the Tyv who raided her brother's
castle. She knows she must contact these people, but she
does not know how. Visions will direct her.
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
Each PC experiences a series of vivid and haunting
dreams: the marking of Maira with a rune, the Aerie of
Cul Bra Folinu, and being trapped inside of walls. The
dreams become more and more violently and painfully
intense each day, except when the PCs are moving in the
direction of Sterich; it is on those days of travel towards
Sterich that the dreams stay at the same intensity.
Finally, the PCs find themselves in Crookhollow, at the
Roc’s Feather, where the PCs realize they have been
sharing the same cycle of dreams and have a change to
discuss them with each other. Maira, wild shaped into
the form of a mouse, will observe the PCs’ conversation.
Maira then sneaks into the room of one of the PCs and
leaves a request for aid and a meeting spelled out in grass
seeds on the floor. Once the PCs and Maira meet, she
shares with them what she knows, and asks them to
travel to the lair of the storm giant and retrieve her voice.
This involves a long question & answer session with
Silsellay and Maira, with Silsellay acting as Maira's voice.
Note that the tone of this exchange is much different for
Lords Sinister than for Lords Errant or Stalwart. Maira
views Lords Errant and Stalwart as allies; however, Maira
is still arrogant and certain she is superior to the PCs, as
this is her true weakness. Lords Sinister have a
completely different experience as Maira sees her
interaction with them as punishment from the divine.
These are the people who tried to kill her brother and
destroy her ancestral home. Maira makes quite clear to
the PCs that she is certain that the Sakhut’s agents have
fully infiltrated many nations of the Sheldomar (a false
rumor actually) and hold Sterich under their complete
control. She asks them to keep this information secret
since if they share it, most certainly they will be
discovered.
Encounter 1: Bound by Shackles
PCs travel through Sterich. This is difficult (but not
impossible) for the Lords Sinister and a pleasure for
Lords Errant or Lords Stalwart. PCs have a chance to
collect information about how the giants rule and about
the experiences of the people under the rule of the giants.
If PCs are indiscreet, news of their journey will reach the
Sakhut. This will increase the challenge of the combats
in Encounters 2 and 5 substantially as the giants
reinforce their positions in an attempt to either guard
their borders more effectively or support their agents.
PCs may pick their path through Sterich.
Encounter 2: Uncommon Game
PCs must cross the forbidden zone that buffers the
mountains and their foothills. In so doing they
encounter a fomorian chieftain who is out hunting Tyv
for sport. PCs who help the peasants escape spark a
diplomatic incident and lose their status as Lords Errant
or Stalwart; their good deed though earns them a new
status of Lords Dire instead. Lords Sinister who save the
peasants have their status improved as their good deed is
noted and reported by survivors (they lose the Lords
Sinister title, and the accompanying Hatred of Sterich,
and become Lords Dire as well). PCs who do not assist
the peasants have their deeds witnessed by survivors and
are reported for their cowardice (they lose their Lords
Errant or Stalwart status or retain their Lords Sinister
status, if they posses one of these). PCs who have not
played the first adventure in the series (SHE4-06 Dark
Clouds Over Istivin) who help spark a diplomatic incident
by killing the fomorian chieftain also become Lords Dire
of Sterich.
Encounter 3: The Thralls of Gar Mujal
PCs traveling through the Crystalmists and towards
the aerie are spotted and approached by raptorans of the
Folinu tribe, who are held in service to Gar Mujal. This
can lead to an untiered combat if PCs are not careful. If
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 4
they are careful, then they will have a chance to
peacefully meet and interact with the raptorans. PCs are
brought before the elders of the Folinu. Gar Mujal holds
these creatures in virtual captivity. One of their ancestors
cut a poor deal with Gar Mujal. He twisted the intent of
the contract and now holds the entire tribe in bondage.
He has used his knowledge of runic magic to curse the
Folinu with infertility. Their eggs will only fertilize if the
giant allows them to. Those that leave doom those of
their bloodline to extinction. They are his servants but
not his willing servants. PCs who play their cards right
will learn much about Gar and his followers before being
brought to the lair of the giant. The raptorans must
report their presence and bring them to their Lord. PCs
can resist, but the raptorans will fight in this instance.
Encounter 4: The Halls of Cul Bra Folinu
The PCs are brought into the presence of the storm
giant wizard, Gar Mujal. PCs must negotiate assistance
for Maira. PCs that fail are expunged from the hall or
face an untiered combat with Gar and those that serve
him (a likely death sentence for such PCs). PCs that are
successful are given a chance to stay with Gar as he
researches their problem. Gar is no friend of the Sakhut
and is quite eager to cause them distress. PCs who take
this angle will eventually get what they need. PCs who
choose to confront Gar will soon lament that particular
tactical decision. Gar is a brilliant tactician and a potent
mage with hundreds of years experience dealing with his
enemies. The ogres, ogre mage, and bugbears that serve
his household are loyal to him and fight to the last. Gar
is, in the last, offended by the Sakhut’s ambition and
jealous of the power amassed as a result. He will help the
PCs. Additionally, PCs may be able to convince him to
consider the release the Folinu. However, this will
require further consideration on his part. They must,
however, be careful in how they speak to him. Gar will
not provide an answer for PCs in their first meeting,
however. He listens to what they have to say and offers
them the hospitality of his house while he contemplates
what they have brought to him.
Encounter 5: Murder Most Foul
PCs are ambushed by agents of the Sakhut who have
infiltrated Gar's household. They attack at night, as the
PCs sleep in the suite of rooms provided to them by Gar
Mujal.
Encounter 6: The Enemy of My Enemy
Assuming the PCs survive the night, Gar Mujal
invites them to breakfast in the morning and provides
them with his answer. Gar proposes that the PCs travel
through a portal to the Elemental Plane of Air that is at
the top of the aerie. Once they reach the Elemental Plane
of Air, he suggests they contact the Djinni Noble Azalla,
who will be able to help them. Azalla, however, is
mystically trapped and needs the PCs help to escape his
plight.
Encounter 7: Into Thin Air
Gar makes certain the PCs are transported to Azalla's
island prison on the Elemental Plane of Air. Azalla is
imprisoned in the tomb of his old master. Within PCs
encounter elemental creatures twisted by negative
energy and spells gone awry and given unnatural life.
They also encounter the remains of Ruka himself, who
failed to transform himself into a lich.
Azalla has been bottled and left to a lingering fate of
boredom and despair. PCs who successfully solve the
riddle to his prison will have a chance to explain why
they are there. Azalla will be sensitive to Maira’s plight
and will want to journey with the PCs to speak with her
and offer his assistance.
Conclusion:
PCs make their way back to Maira. Azalla and she
meet. He cannot solve her problem directly, but agrees
to become her voice, the voice of the prophet.
PREPARATION FOR PLAY
Before play begins, determine who has played SHE4-06
Dark Clouds Over Istivin and whether it was with this PC
or a different one. Encourage players to play the same PC
in this adventure as they did in SHE4-06 Dark Clouds Over
Istivin, as the play and the narrative has a more consistent
and solid resolution when played with the same PCs.
A quick note on Lords Errant, Lords Sinister and
Lords Stalwart – Lords Errant earned their title in the
Winter Fantasy Special: Assault on the Vault. These
individuals are the heroes of their realm. This title takes
precedence over the title of Lords Stalwart. Lords
Stalwart received their title because they were able to
defeat Magnussen and ensure Achim Lachlansen became
the ruler of Sterich, creating a much more benign rule.
Lords Sinister dropped Achim’s cloud giant castle very
near the city of Istivin, resulting in its devastation. These
PCs are under sentence of death within Sterich and
should be reminded of this fact at the beginning of the
adventure. However, you can indicate to the players of
those Lords Sinister PCs that one can play this adventure
with those PCs if they are careful in their actions and that
the adventure might offer an opportunity for them to
clear their name, so to speak.
Determine who is a Lord Errant, Lord Stalwart, or a
Lord Sinister, as that affects the narrative arc of the
adventure. Lords Sinister have a completely different
relationship to Maira and Sterich that will determine the
narrative path. Note that it is highly possible that you
may have mixed tables of Lords Sinister and Lords
Errant/Stalwart. This requires mild suspension of
disbelief on the part of the players. Assume Maira’s
brother Achim was attacked by adventurers (including
any PC Lords Sinister present), but he and the castle
survived thanks to the actions of any PC Lords Stalwart
present. She will treat Lords Errant and non-Lord PCs as
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 5
accomplices to the crime of the Lords Sinister, as they are
guilty by association, if one is present and no Lord
Stalwart is present. Additionally, please determine if any
PCs spent TUs studying with Silsellay, as this has
relevance when the PCs meet the harp again.
Ask spellcasters to provide a list of any spells they
normally cast on days they are traveling. This list is
relevant to their starting spells below, in the
Introduction.
Give the players Player Handout #4: The Dreams.
INTRODUCTION
Tonight you find yourself in Crookhollow in
Keoland, not three days from the border of Sterich.
The local Inn here is called the Roc’s Feather. The
halflings who dwell here find your somber manner
unsettling. Their cheerful greetings quickly turn to
averted eyes and mumbles, “Beg Pardon.” The
weight of your dreams must tell in your eyes.
Your table is round. Others sit across from you,
each, no doubt a veteran of the trade. They have the
look of adventurers about them. Their eyes are
sunken and blackened pits. Pale, they look as if
undeath has tasted each one. You have the same
haunted look. You have seen it each morning in
your looking glass.
Their eyes meet yours in the same sullen
recognition.
What curse afflicts you all?
Allow PCs a chance to interact and introduce
themselves to one another. If they ask, let them know
the following information:
•
They have all arrived in the last 15 minutes.
•
They are each suffering from chronic sleep
deprivation (DC 10 Heal check).
•
The halflings in the Inn are giving them a wide
berth and about half of their number have left the
Inn since you came in.
Share the following with PCs privately:
•
Each PC feels completely exhausted.
•
PC spellcasters haven’t been able to regain lost spells
in four days due to their level of exhaustion. Any
spells/spell slots normally used for traveling (as
determined in Preparation for Play) are unavailable
to the PCs at this time as they have not recovered
those due to exhaustion.
•
All PCs are considered to be fatigued.
The owner of the Inn is Selwin Downrunner.
Selwin assigns his eldest son, Andin, as server to the PCs.
Andin is quiet and polite and avoids conversation with
the PCs. The halflings in the Inn disengage as quickly as
possible. Selwin and Andin offer rooms to the PCs as
they request. The Inn is designed for halfling-sized
patrons. PC can only fit one per room. A medium sized
mattress is brought into the room for PCs. This covers
half the floor.
THE WALLS HAVE EARS
Maira is in the rafters overlooking the PCs. She has
shifted into mouse form and is hiding and listening to
PCs. DC to spot Maira the mouse is 64 (Diminutive (size)
+12, camouflage (circumstance) +10, Hide (skill) +12,
forestfold (competence) +20, Assume average roll of 10).
Maira’s goal is to verify that this group has been
brought to her for the reasons that she believes and to see
what sort of people they are based on how they
communicate with one another. She takes no other
actions other than to observe and wait to see what the
players do for the night. If players detect and choose to
confront Maira, she attempts to flee. If forced to
communicate at this time, Maira shifts into the form of a
small earth elemental and carves responses to questions
into the wooden floor of the Inn. Note that if PCs
physically attack or damage Maira, then she flees, the
adventure is over for them, and you may pass out
Adventure Records (the PCs receive the Cursed Sleep
effect).
CROOKHOLLOW
� Crookhollow (Village): Conventional; AL: LG;
200 gp limit; Assets: 3,000 gp; Population: 300 Mixed
(237 halfling, 62 gnomes and 2 dwarves).
Crookhollow is a halfling village also known as
Buckshold. It is the site of a local fortification and home
of Pemlo Penchant, master brewer of a very fine lambic.
Crookhollow is a sleepy little village that has a major
Brewfestival every four years. Several years ago (in CY
592) adventurers aided a halfling known as Pemlo in
gathering ingredients for his lambic. Some PCs who
have been here before may feel some resentment towards
Pemlo or wish to visit the various NPCs. A list of them is
below, along with likely reactions:
� Pemlo Penchant: Pemlo will be glad to see the
PCs, offering them lambic to drink (as he will soon
need the room for the new batch coming in next
year). He has been feeling a bit under the weather,
but nothing that will affect making the lambic next
year.
� Patsy Penchant: Pemlo's assistant and closest
relative is doing well; his uncle keeps at him about
not running around and trying to get himself killed.
Otherwise, everything is going great – Patsy will
offer lambic to the adventurers to make room for the
new stock.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 6
� Cal Flatbottom: Cal is away on patrol and will
not appear in this adventure.
� Knothead the Treant: Knothead is unavailable
during this adventure.
� Wil Brayman: The herbalist overheard a sweet
melody while near Spinster's Woods – it was
probably the fey; they hold a lot of parties up there.
Occasionally their parties get a little too wild and
people lose track of time … and occasionally their
minds (chuckling).
Otherwise, nothing special is going on. The lambic
will be poured freely as it is time to make room for the
new batch. Halflings and gnomes will steer clear of the
sleep deprived PCs, vacating areas that the PCs enter. If
the PCs aren't sleep deprived due to some magical means,
they can participate in the festivities.
SLEEPING OVERNIGHT
Maira identifies the person who has comported
themselves in the most diplomatic and level-headed
manner during the previous conversation and creeps into
that PC’s room tonight to leave a message on the floor.
Note that a PC who is a Lords Errant or Stalwart is
chosen over a Lord Sinister. Unless PCs take unusual
precautions, Maira can leave the following message. She
is, quite literally, as quiet as a mouse. Additionally, PCs
are experiencing the first complete and uninterrupted
night’s sleep they have had in several weeks. Assume
they are in deep slumber, unless PCs tell you otherwise.
In that case, she will not visit them. If the entire group of
PCs take actions that will prevent her from visiting any of
them during the evening, she will leave the message in
the barn addressed to them. She uses grass seed, grass,
and twigs to leave the message.
Give the PC that Maira favors Player Handout #1 if he
or she is a Lord Errant, Player Handout #2 if he or she is a
Lord Sinister, or Player Handout #3 if he or she is neither,
as soon as he or she wakes in the morning. Note that
Maira only chooses a PC she has never met before if there
are no Lords Errant or Sinister present.
Selwin and Andin both know where The Knob is
and where it is in relation to Spinster’s Woods. PCs who
have played KEO 2-07 Getting there is Half the Fun or who
are residents of the Good Hills know exactly where this
is. All others can find it with a DC 15 Knowledge (local –
Sheldomar Valley metaregion), Knowledge (geography),
or Gather Information check, or they can purchase a
guide or mapped instructions to the Knob for 50 gp.
Assuming PCs decide to meet Maira for their
rendezvous, read the following. If PCs choose to reject
her offer of a meeting, their sleep continues to be
troubled, and the adventure ends for them here; you may
pass out Adventure Records (the PCs receive the Cursed
Sleep effect).
Spinster’s Nob, or the Nob, overlooks Spinster’s
Wood, a wild place occasionally touched by Fey and
madness. It rests on the northern edge of the
Bettledown Moors.
The morning sun is bright and the air clear. The
bright summer sun touches your face, like a caress.
This is the first full night’s rest you have had in
many a day, and it is welcome.
Knee-high grasses have just gained their
summer bloom, and the air dances with the hum of
bees.
As you approach the hill, a woman stands, some
16 feet tall. Her skin is the white of clouds. Her
hair is a mass of brown curls. Her throat is marked
by an ugly, red wound. Scarring in the shape of
some arcane mark or rune mars the contour of her
perfect skin. She smiles in greeting and bows as you
approach.
Beside her rests a ten-foot-tall, gilded harp. Its
craftsmanship is exquisite. It speaks, “Good Maira
tells me that you are bound to her by ties divine and
arcane. I bid you good welcome from us both. Maira
bids you thanks, and I too offer you my gratitude.
The quicker you bring her aid, the quicker that I will
be returned to my home. Please forgive me, but I
find the green things and the dirt not to my liking.
On this point Maira and I disagree. Regardless,
gather round, small ones, and we shall discuss
matters great and wondrous.”
If PCs are rude or ungracious in their greeting,
Silsellay admonishes them, reminding them that she is a
harp of the “Fochlucan Line,” and respect is her due.
� Maira Lachlansdotter: N Female Cloud Giant
Drd17.
If any PCs present have spent time with Silsellay in
her tutelage, she defers to them above all others and
expects those individuals to explain to the rest of the
party what she considers appropriate social decorum.
Silsellay is a bit pretentious and very formal in her
communication. Additionally, she has the manner of an
early grade school teacher and is didactic and
commanding with PCs. If she becomes particularly over
the top, Maira reminds her that the PCs are their friends,
and Silsellay acknowledges this by saying, “Maira
reminds me you are here out of the goodness of your
hearts and I should remember your short lives make you
impatient.” Improvise this sort of commentary as you
need.
When PCs have finished initial conversations with
Maira and Silsellay, read the following:
“You have dreamed, as has Maira. You have seen
Still Thy Tongue carved by flame and steel upon
Maira’s throat by the agents of the Sakhut. Each
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 7
thing she speaks flows to the Sakhut’s ears. As such,
she has asked me to speak to you in her stead.
You must wonder where these dreams come
from. We have a theory. Maira is a druid and a
follower of Hiatea. Your dreams have the touch of
the divine. They have the imprint of her deity and
have come to you with a purpose.
What she bids me tell you now threatens the
political foundation of our people. The Sakhut have
outlawed the worship of all good deities and
promoted worship of Memnon to a place of honor.
This rests uneasy among the giants as we are of
many different minds. Some see their way as
ascendant, and the arrogance of their certainty
wears on those that do not share their way of seeing.
Change waits like water in a thunderhead.
Maira dreams as you have, but dreams of more.
Maira dreams of things she must say. Maira dreams
of Iallanis and Hiatea. The goddesses ask her to
speak for them. They ask her to share what she has
seen and experienced. They ask her to show the
people another path. Giant kind must see another
way.
We know you think of us as wicked, but that is a
simple way of seeing. We are manifold in belief, and
there are many who do not see the necessity of
tyranny and domination. Maira believes she is the
Prophet of these people and of a coming change.
Yet, she cannot speak.
She must have her voice.
Maira has shared with me the vision of the rock.
It is a place easily recognizable to me. It is Cul Bra
Folinu, home of the raptorans of the Folinu tribe. It
is also the home of the storm giant wizard Gar
Mujal.
Gar Mujal is master of rune craft. He is also a
sage, well studied in the ways of the elemental
planes. Still Thy Tongue is a rune of potent force
crafted by masters of the art. It will require a master
to unwind the rune and free Maira from the torture
of her silence. She needs you to make the trip for
her into the Crystalmists to the realm of the storm
giant and secure either his assistance or his counsel
in the means to shatter the rune.
Once the rune is broken, Maira will travel
amongst her people, speaking the truth of her
deities and challenging the tyranny of the Sakhut
and Memnon. She needs you to do this.”
Maira stares at you and waits for you answer.
Maira and Silsellay answer questions as the PCs ask.
Both answer questions to the best of their abilities. Their
goal is to secure the player characters’ cooperation and
help them be successful. The two are forthcoming. The
following covers questions that the PCs are likely to ask
and answers that Maira and Silsellay are likely to provide:
Q: What is the meaning of the second dream? What
about the raptorans in the dream? What about the egg?
A: Specific meaning eludes me. Nonetheless,
raptorans are not normally known to consult with
such as Gar Mujal. It has long been supposed that
he must hold them in some sort of thrall or that
they suffer from some sort of curse.
Q: What is the meaning of the third dream? What
about the steel walls?
A: I sincerely have no idea what this dream
symbolizes.
There
are
elements
that
lend
themselves to supposition. Certainly, it speaks of a
loss of self and imprisonment. Beyond that, all is
imprecise, and clear meaning cannot be distilled.
Q: Why has the Sakhut restricted worship?
A: We do not know. Close counsel is kept on
this issue.
Q: Won’t your brother be angry if you speak out
against the Sakhut?
A: We do not know. Maira is already seen as a
traitor in the eyes of the Sakhut. Achim was given
the task of pacifying Sterich regardless of this. As
long as he is not clearly associated with Maira’s
cause, he should not be harassed.
Q: Does he know what you plan?
A: Achim does not even know that I have been
taken from his abode. Fortune smiles upon this
task, as Achim is absorbed by matters of state. He
is a priest of Iallanis, and the Sakhut’s decree rests
hard against him. He has chosen a path. He must
walk it, and I do not know where it will lead him.
Q: Why can’t you (Silsellay) speak for Maira?
A: I am an instrument of finest make and not a
translator. Besides, given my nature, I have a certain
bias in what I say and do. I can be accused of bias
towards my owner. In the last, I am a thing, albeit a
well-made and beautiful thing. What came from me
would not be respected by all the giants, especially
the most coarse and vulgar. It is best a prophet
speaks with her own voice.
Q: Why us?
A: Who knows why fate chooses us? We must all
accept our lot. Your lot is different than many. You
wear the mantle of champion and of hero. Deeds
such as yours are the meat and drink of my craft. If
you are fated, accept it as so.
Q: What do you know about Gar Mujal?
A: Gar Mujal is old and learned in many arcane
arts. Gar Mujal is said to be sly in the way a dragon
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 8
is sly. He has seen much and knows much. He is a
plane walker and specializes in the elemental
planes. Gar believes in the power of bargains and
the power of debt, and many are bound to him as a
result.
Q: Please tell us about storm giants?
A: Storm giants are among the most powerful of
their kind.
Q: What’s going on in Sterich?
A: Achim rules justly. However, he rules as the
Sakhut’s agent and as such enforces his law. Tyv are
subjects. Giants are lords. Tyv nobles fair slightly
better but are still only seen as the lead vermin in
the pack. The Sakhut’s justice is fierce and brutal.
Sterich prospers in that it has not been razed. It
suffers in that it is enslaved.
Other questions are likely and possible. Use the
notes above as a guideline and paraphrase as you need.
Refer to the notes in summary or introduction.
When the questions have begun to wind down,
conclude with the following text:
“Maira bids you consider this. The Sakhut have
not failed in what they have pursued so far. The
armies of the Sheldomar have broken before him.
Not one nation has resisted the might of the giants.”
PCs may interrupt at this point, as this statement is
questionable and reflects giant propaganda more than
anything else. Still, it is what Maira believes:
“If the current path is walked to its conclusion
then your children and their children down through
the generations will live under the Sakhut’s heel.
Maira fears that her people will succumb to the
darkness the Sakhut lays before them. All of giant-
kind can choose darkness or light, and the Sakhut’s
path is darkness and tyranny.
If you help her, she will turn the course history
through prophecy and truth.
If you help her, you will have her gratitude.
Regardless whether you choose to help or not,
know this. The Sakhut’s agents are everywhere.
Keoland is compromised. Shiboleth has the taint of
his agency. All things are for sale in the Yeomanry.
The Principality of Ulek is infested with informers.
Speak of what you know and invite destruction on
Maira. One cannot keep secrets from the Sakhut.
Silence is the only lock without a key.
Well then, we have no more to offer. Will you
give Maira aid?”
Assuming the PCs agree to help, proceed to
Encounter 1. Maira agrees to meet the PCs at the Knob
and waits here for them. If the PCs decide not to help,
the adventure ends for them now you may pass out
Adventure Records (the PCs receive the Cursed Sleep
effect).
ENCOUNTER 1: BOUND BY
SHACKLES
The following section can be role-played to whatever
degree you and the players desire. In convention or
game day play, the limitations of a structured slot will
make extended play impractical. In these instances, it is
best to let the box text and encounter tables do their
work. When time allows, PCs can take their time
traversing the nation, and you are encouraged to provide
whatever narrative depth strikes their skill set and fancy.
Note that Lords Sinister must be discrete and covert as
they traverse the nation. If they are discovered, they are
captured. However, reasonable precautions such as
traveling at night and avoiding population centers are
sufficient to protect PCs. Effective use of illusions and
magic like hats of disguise are also sufficient to allow
passage. Make certain that PCs understand that as Lords
Sinister, there is a bounty on their heads, and they are
wanted by the giants. Although their particular decision
when playing SHE4-06 Dark Clouds Over Istivin was to
drop the island and slay many of the giants, the majority
of the premiere tables chose the other path. As a result,
they still bear the consequences of their particular
decision even though the communal narrative does not
reflect that decision (the official result of that adventure
was that the good cloud giant noble was attacked, but
survived, while a group of adventurers attacked the evil
cloud giant noble, earning Sterich a much less deadly
submission to the invaders. Lords Errant and Lords
Stalwart can pass through Sterich without restriction.
Sterich suffers. The country has not been razed.
That much is true. However, the lash is still a lash,
no matter how gentle the hand that wields it.
The giants rule. Along the roadside are stands
of pikes adorned with the impaled corpses of the
dead. Their crimes are written on placards and hung
from their necks. All seem slain for theft and
murder and other domestic crimes that must be
punished in the name of governance. Still, this is
not the governance normally seen in the lands of
men.
The giants walk among the people with easy
arrogance. Orcs, ogres, goblins, hobgoblins, and
bugbears act as army, militia, and constabulary for
the giants, working side by side with the
representatives of the old government. It is an odd
sight, a priest of Heironeous and four human
soldiers standing beside four goblins as they inspect
a cart for contraband. The goblins seem upset they
cannot keep what they find. The humans seem
dismayed at the vigor of the search. The people in
Sterich live lives like few others in the Sheldomar.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 9
Read the following to Lords Errant and/or Stalwart
only:
Each of you has seen true nobles, those who
have attained their station by right of birth and
divine provenance. They are regal in their bearing
and dignity and are responded to with deference.
The peasants here do not treat you as sovereign lord.
They respond to you with the air of a carnival. You
are more like some gladiator from the pits of the
Great Kingdom or a member of the Bardic Circle in
the Principality of Ulek. They gape at you and want
to touch your cloak. Deference is the wrong word.
Rather, they treat you like some calf poorly made
and cursed with an extra limb. So this is what it is
to be a noble? In many ways the anonymity of the
adventurer was preferable.
Still, this is your nation. These are your people.
Read the following to Lords Sinister only (this
assumes that these PCs are being careful about how they
move about Sterich; warn PCs who are not being careful
that they should be):
Your passage has been unnerving. Giants stalk
the land, and you cannot help but feel hunted. The
giants have issued wanted placards for all the Lords
Sinister. However, your gear is worth more than
5000 gold, and you cannot help but feel insulted on
some level. Still, it is more than any Lord, Mayor, or
Knight has ever offered to pay you in your career for
accomplishing a task.
LORDS SINISTER EXPOSED
Read the following to Lords Sinister who choose
NOT to travel cautiously through Sterich despite repeated
warnings (those who take precautions can avoid this part
of the encounter):
You are surprised by how little attention you
have drawn. You had thought your presence would
have been the cause of at least some notice. Beyond
some peasants scurrying out of your groups’ way in
shock and awe, you have drawn little notice.
It is your third day in Sterich and near midday.
The open stretch of road is empty. The trees and
grass off to the left and right don’t restrict your field
of view.
The clouds drift lazily by.
There is a bright flash of light, in front of you
and off to your left and right. Before you stands a
regal woman, dressed in the livery of Sterich (your
bannerman drop to one knee). Behind and around
her stand four men in full plate and shield and
carrying drawn long swords. Behind her a halfling
in robes eyes you warily. To you left and right two
other groups appear. One is led by a priest in golden
vestments. The other by a huge man carrying a great
sword. A horse materializes beside him as he glares
at you.
A substantial amount of information is available for
PCs who make the appropriate skill checks. These are
detailed in the following list:
•
DC 5 Knowledge (nobility and royalty): Marchioness
Resbin, the former Sterich head of state, is the
woman in front of them.
•
DC 25 Spellcraft: Identify the spells as teleports.
•
DC 10 Knowledge (religion): Identifies the golden
vestments and the holy symbol as sacred to Pelor.
Also, identifies the symbols on the armor of the man
wielding the double handed sword as those of
Heironeous.
•
DC 10 Spellcraft or Knowledge (religion): Recognize
that the man with the great sword just summoned a
warhorse in the manner that a paladin does.
The woman glares at (insert names of Lord Sinister
here). “We are Marchioness Resbin, and We are here
to do the people’s business. Under penalty of death,
We instructed you never to return to Our lands.
Your ruthlessness is remembered. Yet you have
returned. We have been instructed to bring you to
Our Lord, Achim, so that he might come to know the
face of Tyv evil and understand what sickness dwells
along the Sheldomar.”
“I have no doubt you have magics aplenty to aid
you in your flight. Do not fly hence from us. If I fail
in your apprehension, the more intolerant elements
of the occupying army will rampage through the
countryside in pursuit of you. Many hundreds, if
not thousands of our subjects will die.”
“I ask that you stand down and surrender to our
will. You are bound by law, and guilty of deeds of
heinous and ruthless excess. Your comrades may
continue on their journey (although stripped of any
title they might hold in this land from this day
forth.)”
“If this must be a trial by arms, so be it, we are
able. However, know that if you are triumphant you
will be hunted by each nation of the Sheldomar for
the murder of a righteous monarch.”
“What say ye? Do we face down sword versus
sword, or do you yield?”
Let PCs know that to flee under these circumstances
is an evil act, as it will directly lead to the sack of many
homes and the murder of many people. Attacking the
Marchioness and her force is also a definite evil act.
Committing an evil act of this magnitude is cause to
immediately remove this PC from play; mark this PC’s
Adventure Record with a note that they committed an
evil act and are permanently removed from play.
Likewise, let PCs know that the legal claim that has just
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 10
been presented is just and most likely accurate and
resisting arrest is likewise an evil act and also an unlawful
act.
� Marchioness Resbin Dren Emondav: LN
Female Human Sor13; see Appendix 8.
� Marchioness’ Private Guard (16): LN Female
and Male Human Ftr7.
� Marchioness’ Advisor: LN Male Halfling Mnk9.
� Priest of Pelor: NG Male Human Clr11.
� Paladin of Heironeous: LG Male Human Pal11.
Allow PCs what time they need to discuss this. Let
them know that the people who surround them are
clearly waiting for them to make their move.
Marchioness Resbin will answer the following
questions:
Q: What will become of me? What does Achim have
in store for us?
A: We do not know and do not pretend to know
the intentions of our Lord. Note that he could have
sent his giant minions to capture you and their
technique would not have been as gentle. We think
they would have slain you and all who stood with
you.
Q: PCs explain their mission, etc.
A: It is good then that we have only been sent
for Lords Sinister, as the rest of you have good work
to do. You may continue on once your compatriot
has surrendered. Note that we do not wish you ill,
although I must detail in my report who you
traveled with, and cannot call you Lord or Lady from
this day forth. My Lord’s forces are already alerted
along the borders. I bid you luck.
Resbin will be insistent that Lords Sinister must
surrender. However, a DC 40 Diplomacy check can
convince Resbin to allow the Lords Sinister to continue
on the mission if they promise to surrender immediately
after the mission is completed. She will make such PCs
agree to a geas.
Lords Sinister who do surrender now or later earn
the Time in Achim’s Court effect on their Adventure
Record. PCs who fight or flee are removed from play.
PCs who do choose this action should be warned of the
consequences of their action. If a fight does break out,
simply ask who fights and who does not. Non-
combatants may continue with the mod after watching
their compatriots successfully kill the Marchioness and
her party.
Once the apprehension of Lords Sinister has been
resolved, recalculate the APL as is appropriate. Allow
tables with fewer than four players to continue on if they
wish. Cohorts may not be added to the party at this
point, as the events of the story are already in progress.
COLLECTING INFORMATION IN
STERICH
PCs can learn quite a bit as they traverse Sterich
based on their skill in gaining such information and the
amount of time they choose to commit to the task. Note
that parties including Lords Sinister who interact with
the population extensively (enter a major city or make
more than one attempt to Gather Information) gain the
attention of giants and are captured as described above.
Note that PCs who use Intimidate and Bluff as a means to
collect information and fail in their opposed rolls
immediately trigger the increase in EL, as detailed below,
as the targets of their tactics alert the giants to their
presence.
Likewise, PCs who attempt to directly contact the
Marchioness will also trigger the bump in EL, as detailed
below. Additionally, Lords Sinister who attempt to
contact the Marchioness will trigger their own capture as
detailed above.
PCs who are indiscrete in their questioning or who
are too pointed in what they ask add to the difficulty of
their passage into the Crystalmists. PCs who ask about
the mountains, mention Cul Bra Folinu, or ask questions
about the organization of the giants’ army cause the
giants’ intelligence network to note the increased interest
in the area by the Lords Errant and Stalwart, and they will
secure their border; the EL of combats in Encounters 2
and 5 increase by 2 as a result (see the details in those
individual encounters).
Gather Information
Gather Information checks assume interaction with
groups of people in a social environment. Below are a list
of topics that the PCs can ask about on the road, or in
cities and villages, and the answers they receive:
THE OCCUPATION
•
DC 10: At least they don’t be eatin’ us all the time
like back in 584. The last time the giants rules most
of the common folk ended up on a spit. At least now
they leaves ya alone as long as you mind your trade
and keep your head down.
•
DC 15: Dem twisted lookin’ white ones is the worst
of the lot. Eat you as soon as look at you, they will.
Seems like they’re just mad that the cloud giants is in
charge. Takes every shot at you they can and calls it
collecting tribute. Still Achim don’t like them much
and they gets in trouble if they hurts us. Not really a
part of the giant army anyhow.
•
DC 20: The Marchioness still governs the day to day.
However, the Giants step in anytime there is
perceived disorder.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 11
•
DC 25: Achim Lachlansen is under constant
pressure to increase the amount of tax and tribute
delivered by Sterich.
•
DC 30: Knights of the Watch have been seen flying
to and from Achim’s castle.
THE CRYSTALMISTS
•
DC 5: Dem Giants crawls all over dem mountains.
Ain’t a safe place for anyone.
•
DC 10: They got a dead zone that goes out five miles
along the edge of the mountains. They mark it with
them big ole’ stones the giants like so much. If they
catch you there heading towards the mountains,
they kill you, then they eat you.
•
DC 15: The drow that was under them mountains
lost a fight with the giants. Used to be they raided us
often. Ain’t heard nothing from them since.
•
DC 20: The giants are very territorial and divide
their land into fiefdoms. The leader or chieftain in
charge of that area has near total authority over his
land. The giants do not interfere with each other’s
sovereign territory.
•
DC 25: The giants have scoured the mountains. The
dwarven nations that once lived there have been
eliminated.
•
DC 30: Rumor has it that their used to be many
raptoran clans in the mountains, and Sterich traded
with them. Yes, raptorans … they’re not the
mythical creatures some would claim them to be. It
has been several centuries since such commerce was
common though.
THE GIANTS’ ARMY
•
DC 5: Each group of humanoids seems beholden to a
specific giant or giant clan. They do as that clan says
and respond to others with snarls and disrespect.
•
DC 10: The giants have a fairly strict caste system
that determines their hierarchy. They respect each
other as giants and follow orders well. Their units
are brutal. Any major group is led by a true blooded
giant. Ettins and ogres serve as shock troops.
•
DC 15: I hear tell the army of Sterich is being
dismantled one unit at a time. Entire brigades have
been marched into the mountains, never to be seen
again. I’m in no hurry to join up myself now.
•
DC 20: The giants have embarked on house by
house searches, usually conducted by orcs and
goblinoids. They have carried off anyone who has
skill in metalworking.
•
DC 25: The giants brag that they know what Tyvs
say before they say it and will openly tell you that
most Tyv would sell their grandmother to save their
own skins.
•
DC 30: The giants are rumored to be readying for a
major invasion of the Downlands.
CUL BRA FOLINU
•
DC 5: Isn’t that a tea they make in Ket?
•
DC 10: Sounds like it might be Auran. Do you speak
Auran?
•
DC 15: Folinu? That name is familiar. I think they
were a trading clan up in the mountains that used to
trade raw silver and hide for weapons and fine cloth.
•
DC 20: Back in my great grandfather’s time, there
was a mountain city we used to trade with deep in
the Crystalmists. Suddenly, the trade stopped.
Must’ve been the giants.
•
DC 25: That was a city of the raptorans. Yes,
raptorans … they’re not the mythical creatures some
would claim them to be. Rumor has it they were
decimated.
•
DC 30: That means the Whitesky Stone of the
Skypledged. It’s a raptoran city and rumored to be a
portal to the Elemental Plane of Air.
Diplomacy
This assumes that PCs are interacting with members
of the local government or clergy. Below are a list of
topics that the PCs can ask about, and the answers they
receive. You’ll note that some categories cannot be
accessed with Diplomacy that were accessible with
Gather Information:
THE OCCUPATION
•
DC 15: The best course has been silent cooperation.
•
DC 20: The giants have been aggressive in their
purgation of priests. They have made it very difficult
to practice any faith save their own.
•
DC 25: The faith of Memnor teaches us that all the
non-giant races are fodder and that this is the nature
of things. Humanoids are a warrior race. Humans
and the like are merely beasts of burden or cattle.
Some have begun to accept this as their lot.
•
DC 30: It is rumored that Achim Lachlansen now
worships Memnor.
THE GIANTS’ ARMY
•
DC 15: Squabbles occasionally break out between
giants of different types. These can be exploited.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 12
•
DC 20: The giants guard their spell casters closely
and protect them. I have never seen a giant’s wizard
or cleric unprotected by many of his brethren.
•
DC 25: The giants have made it clear to any in a
position of authority that cooperation will be met
with reward. Resistance is punishable by death.
Still, they are eager for information about each other
and their inter-clan intrigue seems to be the chink in
their armor.
MEETING LOCALS
When communicating this information in free-form
role-playing, develop a series of personas that dwell in
different parts of Sterich that PCs interact with. For
example:
� Poulinos, Male Human Exp2: Sense Motive +0;
Poulinos is a teamster who drives up and down the
length of the country of Sterich delivering goods.
He dislikes the occupation immensely and dislikes
the humanoids that work for the giants.
� Caprice, Female Human Brd5: Sense Motive
+8; Caprice is a wandering merchant and minstrel
and collects information as a result. She is surprised
by how mild the occupation has been and credits
Achim for his work restraining the worst of the
giants’ baser instincts.
� Scrand, Male Human War6: Sense Motive +1;
Scrand is a decommissioned member of the army
and was once a Lord of Sterich. He can talk at length
about the structure of the current army and the
giant’s army and also about how easy it is to get titles
in the land. He can also talk about how easy it is to
lose them.
� Grand Selwin, Male Halfling Com2: Sense
Motive +1; Selwin is a halfling and a devout follower
of Fharlanghn. He has traveled all over Sterich more
out of curiosity than anything else.
� Jacob the Smith, Male Human Exp3: Sense
Motive +2; Jacob is a well built Oeridian man in his
early forties. He is a bit closed mouthed. He is
worried about his family and his business.
� Constable Malcom, Male Human War3: Sense
Motive +1; the constable knows all the juiciest local
gossip and will share it with the Lords given any
opportunity.
� Sister Ablis, Female Human Clr2: Sense
Motive +2; Ablis is very concerned about the safety
of her flock. As a cleric of Beory she takes her
charges well-being very seriously. She is satisfied
that the giants have been generous so far in the
occupation, but is worried that this could halt. She
urges caution.
If PCs go to Istivin and try to contact the
Marchioness or any of her staff, this automatically bumps
the EL of Encounters 2 and 5 as the people who visit her
are always closely watched. Lords Sinister who visit the
Marchioness automatically trigger their own capture as
detailed above.
When PCs cross the border zone of Sterich, proceed
to Encounter 2.
ENCOUNTER 2: UNCOMMON
GAME
Note: The difficulty of the combat in this encounter is
based in part on how the PCs handled the previous
encounter. If PCs passed quickly and quietly through
Sterich, then the combat will be at EL = APL. If PCs have
been indiscrete, then the encounter’s EL is raised by 2.
A light rain has misted most of the day, and the
mugginess of a summer storm has settled on you.
Armor and straps are far from pleasant riding hard
on even callous and hardened skin.
About an hour ago, you crossed into the
Forbidden Zone that buffers the Crystalmists. The
giants marked the border with an obelisk. Letters
wrapped the obelisk in a spiral. Giant, dwarven, the
common tongue, and draconic were worked with
precision and art into the stone.
The message was simple. “Pass into the
Crystalmists at your peril. Tyv found beyond this
point will be slain.”
If the PCs check, they find the obelisk is non-
magical.
The green fields and countryside of Sterich lay
behind you. The foothills of the Crystalmists are
folded with shallow ravines and steep hollows. The
mountains are young compared to the Good Hills,
merely a brief footnote before the mountains that
rise before you.
Ask for Listen checks. Read the following to those
who make a DC 15:
Someone runs towards you though the brush. It
seems man-sized from the sound.
Allow PCs to take a standard action if they made the
Listen check. Continue with the following box text:
A wild-eyed Oeridian woman in her late
twenties staggers onto the rough mountain path you
have been marching down. A child of no more than
three clings to her, his eyes wild with terror. He
sees you and folds his body tight against her,
shuddering.
The woman falls backwards at the sight of you,
at first terrified, and then her face lights in
recognition.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 13
“Lords, help me. The giant has brought us here
to hunt. My husband…,” she chokes in grief. “It
ATE him.”
“Love of Pelor, help us,” she says, her voice
shaking in horror.
The ground vibrates underneath your feet. A
giant approaches. Other human voices carry to you
in the distance. Some cry out in panic. Others are
hoarse shouts of outrage.
PCs can disengage and flee effectively if they choose
to. They can hear people running off to their right and
left. The misting rain reduces vision to sixty feet. Marla
blurts out the following if PCs stop to listen to her:
It’s huge and white skinned. It was on us before
we knew it. It’s got a great twisted lump of flesh
where its nose should be. How can something that
big be so quiet?
Proceed to the next section of box text. Adjust the
DC to spot the fomorian to 10 since the PCs have been
prepared for their opponent’s tactics. If PCs rush in, they
crash through high brush and encounter the fomorian
and his entourage (based on APL) as they crash into the
clearing. PCs must make an opposed Listen vs. Move
Silently check to avoid surprise as the giant drops down
on then from above. See DM Aid: Map #1.
You break out of the brush into a clearing. In
the center of the clearing are the fresh remains of
someone, the pile of twisted meat and bone close in
size to what a human, elf, or dwarf should be.
Rubble and tall boulders ring the clearing, and the
west side, to your left, is bordered by an escarpment
some thirty feet in height. The giant flings himself
at you from its top just as several peasants pursued
by two dog-like humanoids with bows emerge from
the underbrush across from you.
Tactics: Based on APL, the fomorian and his
entourage jump the PCs. At lower APLs, the fomorian is
wounded
and
inebriated
and
cannot
trample.
Additionally, the peasants swarm and overcome the
gnolls. At higher APLs, the giant tramples during the
surprise round and then bashes away as his gnoll archer
comrades unload a steady, rapid fire on the PCs. At the
highest APLs the druid that accompanies this group will
send her bear in to fight and observe in owl form, casting
a steady barrage of spells. She will delay and target spell
casters.
Assuming PCs vanquish the giant and his minions,
they quickly find themselves the focus of attention from
the surviving peasants. The peasants are all commoners
or warriors of first to fourth level. Based on APL, they
may have been able to overcome some of the giants’ allies.
Regardless, the peasants are more than eager to share a
meal and a fire with the PCs as they head into the
mountains. Under no circumstances outside of magical
compulsion will the peasants go into the mountains with
the PCs. Charming or compelling the peasants to come
with the PCs into the mountains is an evil act and should
be treated as such given the context of the campaign
setting.
The villagers were herded here by the fomorian for
sport and have been drawn from all over the countryside.
Once they were in the restricted area, the giant could do
as he pleased with them and claim they had tried to cross
over into the mountains. They thank the PCs profusely
and offer to feed them. Allow PCs to make any number
of Gather Information checks with this group without
consequence. Marla and her son Jed function as the
mouth-piece.
Marla says such things as. “Mind the good Lord’s
question. Saved your life, he did. Be civil and quick
in your answer.” Marla and the others defer to the PCs
as Lords regardless of their title or station. The
Marchioness’ knights and lands adventurers all the time,
and it is safer from their perspective to assume the PCs
are nobility than not.
Use the following personas for peasants as you need:
� Marla, Female Human Com3: Sense Motive -1.
� Jed, Male Human Com1: Sense Motive -2.
� Gerri, Male Human Rgr4: Sense Motive +1;
Gerri is a veteran of the liberation of Sterich who
settled down to farm with his brother Carl. Carl was
killed by the gnolls in the fight.
� Prindle, Male Human Com5: Sense Motive +2;
Prindle is an old commoner who stayed as a refugee
in Keoland until the emancipation. He thinks all
Keoland nobles are insane and discusses this at
length with anyone who will listen.
� Clause, Male Human Ftr3: Sense Motive +0;
Clause is Marla’s uncle and a militia member. He is
very big and very strong, but not bright.
� Agnes, Female Human Com1: Sense Motive +3;
Agnes is a very simple but pleasant woman and an
incredible cook. She will patch PCs’ gear if they
allow her to.
Treasure: The only treasure in this area is the
possessions of the giant and his minions.
Development: PCs who help the peasants escape
spark a diplomatic incident and lose their status as Lords
Errant or Stalwart; their good deed though earns them a
new status of Lords Dire instead. Lords Sinister who save
the peasants have their status improved as their good
deed is noted and reported by survivors (they lose the
Lords Sinister title, and the accompanying Hatred of
Sterich, and become Lords Dire as well). PCs who do not
assist the peasants have their deeds witnessed by
survivors and are reported for their cowardice (they lose
their Lords Errant or Stalwart status or retain their Lords
Sinister status, if they posses one of these). PCs who have
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
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not played the first adventure in the series (SHE4-06 Dark
Clouds Over Istivin) who help spark a diplomatic incident
by killing the fomorian chieftain also become Lords Dire
of Sterich. See Lord Dire of Sterich effect on the
Adventure Record. This change in status comes directly
by edict of the Marchioness, on hearing of the PCs’ deeds
or lack thereof.
Creatures: The PCs could face one of the following
two groups of combatants, depending on the APL and
whether or not the EL was increased due to the giants
being aware of the PCs’ presence (as per Encounter 1).
GIANTS NOT ON ALERT (EL = APL)
APL 6 (EL 6)
� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp
75; use Ettin, Monster Manual, page 106.
Note: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian
giant, but are occupied and defeated by the
commoners.
APL 8 (EL 8)
� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp
126; use Stone Giant, Monster Manual, page 124.
Note: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian
giant, but are occupied and defeated by the
commoners.
APL 10 (EL 10)
� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp
147; use Fire Giant, Monster Manual, page 121.
Note: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian
giant, but are occupied and defeated by the
commoners.
APL 12 (EL 12)
� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp
147; use Fire Giant, Monster Manual, page 121.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr7: hp 92; see
Appendix 4.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr7: hp 75; see
Appendix 4.
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 30; see
Appendix 4.
APL 14 (EL 14)
� Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix 5.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr10: hp 132; see
Appendix 5.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr10: hp 99; see
Appendix 5.
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 30; see
Appendix 5.
APL 16 (EL 16)
� Fiendish Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix
6.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr12: hp 165; see
Appendix 6.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr12: hp 126; see
Appendix 6.
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see
Appendix 6.
APL 18 (EL 18)
� Fiendish Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix
7.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr14: hp 189; see
Appendix 7.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr12: hp 126; see
Appendix 7.
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see
Appendix 7.
� Gnoll Druid, Female Gnoll Drd14: hp 176; see
Appendix 7.
� Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: hp 111;
see Appendix 7.
GIANTS ON ALERT (EL = APL + 2)
APL 6 (EL 8)
� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp
126; use Stone Giant, Monster Manual, page 124.
Note: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian
giant, but are occupied and defeated by the
commoners.
APL 8 (EL 10)
� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp
147; use Fire Giant, Monster Manual, page 121.
Note: Two gnoll archers accompany the fomorian
giant, but are occupied and defeated by the
commoners.
APL 10 (EL 12)
� Fomorian Giant, Inebriated and Wounded: hp
147; use Fire Giant, Monster Manual, page 121.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr7: hp 92; see
Appendix 3.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr7: hp 75; see
Appendix 3.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 15
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 30; see
Appendix 3.
APL 12 (EL 14)
� Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix 4.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr10: hp 132; see
Appendix 4.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr10: hp 99; see
Appendix 4.
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 30; see
Appendix 4.
APL 14 (EL 16)
� Fiendish Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix
5.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr12: hp 165; see
Appendix 5.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr12: hp 126; see
Appendix 5.
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see
Appendix 5.
APL 16 (EL 18)
� Fiendish Fomorian Giant: hp 158; see Appendix
6.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr14: hp 189; see
Appendix 6.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr12: hp 126; see
Appendix 6.
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see
Appendix 6.
� Gnoll Druid, Female Gnoll Drd14: hp 176; see
Appendix 6.
� Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: hp 111;
see Appendix 6.
APL 18 (EL 20)
� Fiendish Fomorian Giant Bbn2: hp 223; see
Appendix 7.
� Gnoll Archer, Male Gnoll Ftr16: hp 213; see
Appendix 7.
� Gnoll Ranger, Male Gnoll Rgr14: hp 144; see
Appendix 7.
� Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: hp 45; see
Appendix 7.
� Gnoll Druid, Female Gnoll Drd16: hp 198; see
Appendix 7.
� Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: hp 129;
see Appendix 7.
ENCOUNTER 3: THE THRALLS
OF GAR MUJAL
The trip through the Crystalmists takes the PCs many
days. Have them arrange their marching order and also
their watch rotation before you proceed. The following
text assumes a party traveling on foot, as traveling by
horse and most mounts is impossible. Alert the text
below if PCs are taking steps to move with absolute
stealth or to prevent their detection from the air, or if
they travel by air. However, it is not necessary to contact
the Folinu to complete the mission, so PCs with the
appropriate magic or resources can bypass this encounter.
Your sleep has certainly been less troubled since
you took up Maira’s cause. The dreams have
lessened in intensity and in frequency since you
started your quest. The images linger and still you
dream, but these are clearly images of the dream
world and not lucid visions of horror and terror.
The Crystalmists are aptly named. Each
morning, the entire range is covered in a cold, wet
fog. Sunrise and sunset cause the snow on the
highest peaks to shine like cut glass. The mountains
are rough and raw. Like all young things, they have
sharp edges.
There have been numerous and plentiful signs
of giants and their minions as you passed through
the mountains. So far, you have been able to easily
dodge their patrols.
However, you know someone has been watching
you. Far overhead, great birds have been circling for
the past hour. More have joined their number and a
great swirling flock marks your position.
Suddenly, three of them begin to descend.
With a successful Spot check (DC 15), the PCs know
that the flying creatures are humanoid and resemble the
ones from their dream.
PCs who panic and who attack the raptorans of Cul
Bra Folinu quickly cause them to scatter and report their
position to Gar Mujal. Gar quickly alerts the other giants
in the Crystalmists to the PCs’ location and causes a great
mobilization of force to hunt them down.
Every day the PCs will have an encounter with a
giant force sent to either slay the PCs or drive them from
the mountains. The adventure ends here for the PCs;
either they successfully escape the mountains and leave
Sterich or they are slain by the giants. Assuming they
escape, proceed to the Conclusion: Fleeing the
Mountains.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 16
However, it is more likely that PCs will wait for the
Folinu to descend and speak to them. In that case,
proceed to the next section.
All APLs (EL 21)
� Fire Giants (16): hp 142 each; see Monster
Manual, page 121.
� Troll Hunters (6): hp 126 each; see Monster
Manual, page 247.
� Ogre Barbarians (4): hp 87 each; see Monster
Manual, page 199.
� Wyvern Mounts (4): hp 74 each; see Monster
Manual, page 259.
� Ogre Mages (16): hp 42 each; see Monster Manual,
page 200.
� Trolls (24): hp 63 each; see Monster Manual, page
247.
� Ogres (40): hp 33 each; see Monster Manual, page
199.
� Hobgoblins (120): hp 8 each; see Monster
Manual, page 153.
MEETING THE FOLINU
Three bird-like creatures glide to the ground
before you. These are the creatures from your
second dream. They are both man and bird, their
wingspan easily twelve feet. Each nimbly shifts an
oversized bow from their taloned feet to their hands
as they land, side by side. There are two males and
one female present. Their wings are feathered
white, and each have a fine crest of feathers on their
head. From a distance, it almost looks like hair.
Each wears functional leather armor, finely worked
and well made.
The one in the center speaks.
“I am Caaraaki, first hunter of the Folinu and
eyes for my tribe. Many seasons have passed since
the ground-bound come among us. We extend
welcome but must ask your business here in the
lands of Gar Mujal. I am honor-bound to act as his
agent.”
Caaraaki introduces Shernaa, the female, and
Ackabu, the male if asked. These two are his age-mates.
Caaraaki speaks in general terms to the PCs. His primary
goal is to identify who they are then either bring them
directly to Gar Mujal or to his clan elders. His response is
based largely on how the PCs present themselves. If he
realizes that the PCs are “of the valley” and that they are
here “to do god’s work,” then he leads them to his elders.
If not, he takes them directly to Gar Mujal.
� Raptoran Sentries (3): male and female raptoran
Rgr5; see Appendix 8.
Caaraaki shares the following information with the
PCs:
•
His people serve Gar Mujal.
•
The PCs are in the lands held by Gar Mujal.
•
His people used to trade eagerly with those “of the
valley” (Sterich and the Sheldomar) but have not
done so in four generations.
•
This area is controlled by Gar Mujal, and other giants
do not come here.
•
Their duty is to escort the PCs to Gar Mujal, as they
are on his land.
•
Gar Mujal trades ideas and information with may
sorts of people, including illithids, duergar, the other
giants, and sometimes dark-skinned elves. The pale,
blonde haired mages of the valley tower sometimes
come and speak to him, too. (DC 15 Knowledge
(local – Sheldomar Valley metaregion) check
identifies these mages as the Silent Ones).
Caaraaki wants the PCs to share information with
him also. PCs who are impolite or confrontational are
informed that it is time to go before the dread master and
explain their need. If PCs are diplomatic, Caaraaki asks
the PCs several questions:
•
What brings you to the Crystalmists?
•
How do you find yourself in the lands of Gar Mujal,
by accident or design?
•
Do you know that Tyv who travel among the lands of
the giants are considered fair sport among the
giants?
•
Are you the ones now called Lords of the Valley?
Caaraaki is very interested if the PCs are Lords
Errant or Stalwart and impressed with the ruthlessness of
any Lords Sinister. PCs who mention that they are on a
quest and provide details or that mention their dream
note that the raptorans are obviously distressed and
saddened by what they’ve said. However, these three do
not answer specific questions about the meaning of the
dream, but rather defer to their leadership. Likewise, if
PCs mention that they are on a divinely inspired quest
and reference this in their discussion, Caaraaki wants
them to meet his elders and asks them specifically to go
there.
He nods, and Shernaa takes flight. Caaraaki
does not share specifics about the elders, saying,
“Only they are wise enough in counsel to guide you
on this path.”
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 17
If PCs fail to pique the interest of the Folinu,
proceed to Encounter 4. Otherwise, proceed to the next
section.
THE ELDERS OF THE FOLINU
Caaraaki and his age-mates walk with you,
comfortably and adeptly. You have the feeling that
the raptorans spend as much time on the ground as
they do in the air. Caaraaki makes small talk,
pointing out this or that rock formation and
discussing at length the dyes that can be gathered
from the local flora. He defers to his elders on many
questions.
Before you is a perfect oval depression. At its
center is a crystal blue pool of water, perfectly
circular. Seven raptorans, their wing tips and head
feathers blackened with age, wait patiently for you.
They nod to you as you approach and open their
arms in greeting.
One steps forward, saying, “And who might you
be, that causes our eyes to call us from the aerie to
parley? Gar Mujal dislikes secrecy in his servants, so
your cause must be dire, else Caaraaki would not
have called us out. We must be quick in our
counsel.”
After the PCs introduce themselves, the elders
respond with their identities. They are:
� Sherinda, Flock Chief: female raptoran Drd12;
see Appendix 8.
� Cas, Medicine Chief: male raptoran Clr9 of
Phaulkon; see Appendix 8.
� Nikcuri, War Chief: male raptoran Rgr10; see
Appendix 8.
� Creskara, Hunting Chief: female raptoran
Rgr8/Sor2; see Appendix 8.
� Daetae, Sunspeaker: female raptoran Brd8; see
Appendix 8.
� Nimvanna, Star Chief: female raptoran
Drd7/Skypledged1; see Appendix 8.
� Tayn, Supply Chief: male raptoran Rog2/Clr6 of
Phaulkon; see Appendix 8.
The PCs have an opportunity to introduce
themselves and explain why they are here. If PCs do not
mention their dream, then Cas asks about it if they have
already mentioned it to Caaraaki and his peers. Cas also
wants to know how the PCs learned of Cul Bra Folinu.
Once PCs have explained at length what they know
and why they are here, use or paraphrase the following
text:
Creskara speaks, her voice high, tight, and tonal.
“They know of the shame of the Folinu. The divine
has led them here. I say we gift them the tale of our
fall. Who shares my view?”
Sherinda nods in the head bobbing way of her
people, “They should know.” The others nod their
agreement.
Cas steps forward and strikes his drum once as
he lifts himself into the air on his wings. His voice
comes to you strong and taut as a bow string.
“In those days the Folinu dwelt upon the rock
and sky free of care and free of sorrow. Chief among
them was Erruja, a raptoran great in arcane power
and great in his arrogance.
Erruja knew that all of those of raptoran blood
were bound to the lords of air and descended from
the wind of the plane of air itself. He knew that we
were touched by the elements and the magic of that
place and that the sacred oath we swore to the lords
of air gave us strength and gave us the sky.
This was not enough for Erruja. He lusted for
more power and plotted to return to the plane of air
and confront the Lords therein. Erruja would be
their equal. Erruja would be their lord. Erruja
would have raptorans be greater than the gods
themselves. He set about a plan to make it so.
Gar Mujal is learned in the runic arts and in the
elemental planes. He is cunning in counsel and
negotiation. He is known far and wide and a maker
of gates and a master of runes. He is ancient in his
wickedness. He has watched the generations of the
skywise rise and fall like grass in its season.
Erruja in his arrogance and pride came to Gar
Mujal. Erruja would have a gate to the Lords of air.
He would have passage into their lands so his people
could claim their supposed birthright.
Gar Mujal looked into Erruja’s heart and saw
that his lust for power consumed him. Gar Mujal
offered a pact bound by blood. He would give Erruja
his gate, but he bound to it our fate. Erruja could
pass into the land of the djinn; his progeny was
bound to his sin. No child of the Folinu from that
day could be born if Gar Mujal said, ‘Nay.’ The price
of our flesh did not achieve Erruja’s prize. The
Lords of air slew him and forbid our passage nigh.
We now serve to live entrapped by our past. To
challenge our master is to have our eggs turned to
ash.”
Cas closes with a flourish on his hand drum.
Creskara lets the final notes hang in the air,
“You know the shame of the Folinu. Gar Mujal owns
us as surely as you own your steel. I hope this gives
meaning to your dream. There is little you can do.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 18
Gar Mujal would let go of you no quicker than I
would this bow. We are too useful.”
In fact, there is little the PCs can obviously do. The
raptoran elders have no idea how they can be freed from
their bondage. All they know with certainty is that their
master collects favors and information and will broker
both. The Folinu tells PCs that they might be able to cut
a deal worth their freedom if they have something of
value to the trade in return. They, however, have no idea
what he would value enough to free them.
The Folinu elders share information that does not
directly compromise their master’s house. That is, they
do not talk about his magical protections or his allies.
However, they let PCs know that he has many, many,
many ogre mages, bugbears, and ogres as his servants, and
that they have seen Gar Mujal single-handedly defeat
eight mind flayers.
The Folinu elders tell PCs that they believe that they
have been brought here for a reason not clear to any of
them. If asked about the portal to the Elemental Plane of
Air, the Folinu say none of them has passed through it
since Erruja led their bravest warriors to their doom. Gar
Mujal forbade them from passing through the gate.
If questioned in specific about Gar Mujal and how
he treats the Folinu, PCs find that he treats them well but
allows them little freedom. They cannot leave his
domain, and he strictly controls who can mate and when.
The process they describe sounds like a prize horse
breeder managing his stock. However, in the last, none
of them want for material things and are well fed and
safe. However, they hunger for liberty and freedom.
The Folinu make clear that they must escort the PCs
into Gar Mujal’s presence and if they do not, he will find
out and hunt them down.
If PCs choose to leave the mountains and not speak
to Gar Mujal, this triggers the daily attacks of the giant
force as mentioned above. If PCs choose to meet Gar
Mujal, proceed to Encounter 4.
ENCOUNTER 4: THE HALLS
OF CUL BRA FOLINU
The Stone of Cul Bra Folinu was purest white, like
fresh fallen snow. Across the face of the stone, you
can see small pockmarks, like the one from your
dream. Raptorans enter and leave all across the face
of the stone.
Caaraaki walks towards the base of the mount,
and as you get closer you have a better feel of the raw
size of it. It is easily seven hundred feet tall. Clawed
from the base of the stone is a massive gate, made of
some darker stone. Slitted firing ports surround the
gate, and it swings open as you approach. A full
dozen blue-skinned ogres step out and move
towards you, greatswords strapped to their backs
and huge longbows in their hands.
Caaraaki takes a knee before the largest as he
approaches. He says to the ogre mage in Giant, “We
have found these Tyv within our Lords demesne.
They seek him out and seek his counsel. We release
them into you care.
The ogre mage regards you briefly and snarls a
greeting. “You live at Gar Mujal’s pleasure. Destroy
the serenity of my Lord’s house and face his wrath.
Keep your steel sheathed. Cast no spell. Agree to
these things now and swear by your heathen gods
else we smite you down.”
If PCs agree and swear, then proceed to the next
block of text. If not, make clear to them they will not be
allowed to continue until they do. They will be allowed
to leave, but if they do so, they will soon face repeated
attacks by giant forces, as mentioned in Encounter 3,
until they escape Sterich; proceed then to the
Conclusion: Fleeing the Mountains.
You are led up a long, spiral staircase up into the
interior of the mountain. Sconces line the walls,
and all flicker with apparent unending flame. There
are hundred of bugbears, ogres and ogre mage here,
that much is apparent. Gar Mujal’s lesser servants,
goblins, part with bowed heads as your guards pass
with you in tow. This place is vast.
Finally, you are led through a pair of huge brass
doors. The room beyond is gilded, with that
precious metal worked into every surface. The walls
seem to writhe with power, as literally hundreds of
different runes adorn the surface.
At the end of the hall, a giant sits atop a white
stone throne. He would be easily twenty-five feet
tall if he were standing. He is not. He sits casually
on his stone throne sipping from a huge gold goblet,
a great bastard sword resting against his knee.
Eldritch fire licks up and down its blade. His skin is
light green. What is truly disturbing though, are the
tattoos that cover every inch of his exposed skin.
They flicker and flare with a life of their own.
To his right and left are easily fifty ogre mages.
They chatter among themselves, regarding you. The
Giant sips from his goblet and favors you with a
grin.
“Who seeks the wisdom of Gar Mujal? It is not
common Tyv in these times to come so far and
through so much. Your days are numbered if the
Sakhut’s will is made manifest... Do you know that
if I were a true and faithful servant of my leadership,
I would slay and eat you now? Do not fear, I find
there is much to admire in the mind of Tyv. You
make items of power and destruction to rival our
own, even if your magic is primitive and poorly
formed. Speak. I would hear what brings such as
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 19
you before me. The Sheldomar spawns posing
heroes of all stripe and skill. Show me your mettle.”
This room is warded by Gar Mujal with runic magic
and is proof against scrying and teleportation. PCs within
are also under the effects of a zone of truth spell while
within (DC 20 Will save). Gar Mujal will be aware of
those who have resisted the effects of this spell as he
observes the PCs as they speak and determines who has
clearly failed. He only allows those people under the
effects of the zone of truth to speak to him. All others he
calls “cunning and sly” and tells them to be silent as he
knows they are liars, like all weak and small things.
Gar Mujal is amused by the presence of the PCs and
finds their bravery and diligence a novelty. He has a
great admiration for human and elven magic and as a
result is more amenable to conversation than the typical
giant. Finally, he has no love of the Sakhut and is
angered by, and jealous of, the power that has been
amassed.
Gar Mujal is interested in truth, as truth has value.
Deception he appreciates on a purely technical level, but
is not amused by Tyv who come and lie to him.
He digs deeply into the PCs’ story, asking precise
and pointed questions until he knows all the reasons why
they are here.
If PCs should decide to attack Gar Mujal, warn them
know that their chance of success is minimal. They will
quickly find themselves in a fight with a storm giant
Wiz10/Loremaster10 backed up by a functionally
unlimited number of ogres, ogre mages, and bugbears,
many of which are leveled in classes themselves. If PCs
are gracious guests, Gar Mujal will not attack the PCs as
he finds them entertaining and also sees in them a way to
annoy the Sakhut.
�
Gar
Mujal:
male
storm
giant
Wiz10/
Loremaster10.
� Ogre Mages (50): see Monster Manual, page 200.
At his base, Gar Mujal is amenable to the PCs’
request if they are truthful to him, show respect, and are
articulate in their case. If they fail in all three of these
areas, he ejects them from his house. They will soon face
repeated attacks by giant forces, as mentioned in
Encounter 3, until they escape Sterich; proceed then to
the Conclusion: Fleeing the Mountains.
If PCs ask about the plight of the Folinu, Gar laughs
and tells them that the Folinu are bound by their own
folly. He retells the story in his terms, scoffing at Erruja’s
idiocy. He refuses to talk to them about such “bird-
brained idiocy.” He affirms whatever the PCs ask him.
However, he very pointedly questions the PCs as they
ask, with a specific goal of finding out how the PCs came
to know about the Folinu. He sees the raptorans as a
useful tool and prizes their ability to do effective recon
over a distance. If PCs attempt to bargain for the freedom
of the Folinu, he laughs at them. He has very little
interest, at this point, in ending the relationship he has
with the raptorans.
Gar Mujal wants to know why the PCs are here. If
the PCs share what they know with him, then he decides
to help them, although he does not plan to announce it
until the morning after when he has done some research.
PCs must share the following information to receive Gar
Mujal’s assistance:
•
They were brought here by a dream.
•
The rune that they need removed was placed to
directly silence a voice against the Sakhut.
•
Hiatea and Iallanis are believed to be involved.
•
The PCs have had a role in attempting to thwart the
Sakhut’s plan.
•
Aiding them might cause the Sakhut to be
overthrown.
He will dig for this information, but he ejects PCs
from his presence if they are not forthcoming with the
details he seeks. In this case, they will soon face repeated
attacks by giant forces, as mentioned in Encounter 3,
until they escape Sterich; proceed then to the
Conclusion: Fleeing the Mountains.
Gar Mujal is very much aware of the danger of
helping displace this rune. However, he is cunning and
will evolve a plan.
Assuming PCs do not anger the Giant and can
present their case well, Gar Mujal invites them to dinner
and leads them into his banquet hall. Afterwards:
The giant nods as you finish. “You bring me
much of interest. I must ponder. We may be of use
to each other, and certainly we share a common
disdain. This evening, I have much to do as I
consider your request.
“You are guests within my house. I will provide
quarters for you that are secure and let my thralls
know that to strike against you is to strike against
me. You have my protection. I ask these things: stay
to the quarters I assign you. Do not attempt to
communicate to the outside, either to your gods or
to your allies. Tolerate the idiosyncrasies of my
staff. They may press you, but they cannot harm
you. Finally, I ask that you do not wander from your
room tonight. You are my guests, but I value my
privacy. I will not have you poking your nose where
it does not belong. Stay in your room.
In the morning we will continue our pilander. I
thank you for seeking me out.”
If pressed on the issue of magical communication,
Gar simply states that he finds it disturbing, and it is the
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 20
condition he attaches to his hospitality. If the PCs accept
his hospitality, proceed to Encounter 5.
If PCs refuse his hospitality, allow them to quit the
mission. They encounter Urg and perhaps his
companion, Aglashti on the road as they leave the
mountains, rather than in the next encounter. After that
fight, go to the Conclusion: Leaving the Mountains.
ENCOUNTER 5: MURDER
MOST FOUL
Refer to DM Aid: Map #2 for this encounter.
It is apparent that Gar Mujal routinely extends
the hospitality of his house to beings your size. This
large cylindrical room is completely and finely
appointed. The only apparent entrance is the door
you entered, and closer examination bears this out.
There are seven alcoves equally spaced around the
perimeter of the room. Each is open to the rest of
the room except for a curtain easily drawn across the
space. Six have a bed and washstand within as well
as an empty armoire. One is a small privy. The main
room has a sunken and steaming tub at its center.
Fine towels, soaps, and oils are in baskets near the
water. A low table in the Ketite style has also been
provided. Pillows surround the table.
Food, wine, mead, and a small tun of ale have
already been provided. It covers the surface of the
table and smells quite inviting. The bulk of the fare
is wild game. The smell of mutton must be big horn
sheep.
The female goblins who brought you here
pointed to a hanging bell rope near the entrance and
bid you ring if you need anything. They also made
clear that it was your right to lock this room from
the inside and that none save the master could gain
entrance.
Outside your door, two ogres stand guard,
perhaps to keep you in, but just as likely, to keep
others out. In the morning, you will meet Gar
Mujal.
PCs who examine the lock on the door find it of
superior (Open Lock DC 40) quality. The residents of
Cul Bra Folinu leave the PCs alone, with the exception of
Urg, a bugbear assassin who has functioned as a sleeper
agent in Gar Mujal’s household for years. He has been
specifically instructed to eliminate any Tyv who come
from the Sheldomar Valley seeking aid against the
Sakhut. Other heroes from the Sheldomar draw his
attention too, but his long term purpose was to monitor
potential agents from Geoff or who might support Geoff.
In this instance, he has been instructed to kill as many
PCs as he can, but has been told to specifically focus his
attention on wizards and sorcerers.
Allow PCs to take whatever precautions they wish
and to set watches as they desire. The food that has been
provided is untainted. There is one entrance to the room.
The room is in the heart of the white stone formation.
Urg enters the room through the privy using
invisibility and gaseous form. He observes waking targets
for three rounds and then attacks to kill, layering spells as
necessary. Urg will not fight to the death, if he can avoid
it. He will flee using gaseous form, either fleeing out the
door or down the privy as necessary. If PCs do not keep
watch, he will coup de grace one target each round until
someone wakes up or he has killed everyone. He starts
with spell casters and ends his little murder spree with
rogues.
Urg has very little illusions about his chances of
success in this endeavor. He knows that he will most
likely be butchered by the PCs. He has a mission
however. He will do his best to kill at least one Tyv.
If PCs sounded the alarm in Sterich by being too
aggressive in their questioning or failing to keep a low
profile, then Urg will be assisted by Aglashti. Aglashti is
an ogre mage warlock who would not normally be used
in this way. However, if the “alarm” has been sounded,
he will commit to this mission, contacting Urg to
coordinate their attacks the night the PCs arrive.
The ogres outside helps as best they are able if a fight
breaks out that they can hear. One runs for help, and the
other enters the room if it is unlocked or attempts to
batter the door down if it is locked. It takes the ogre four
rounds to hack through the door. The ogre bellows at the
top of his lungs as he tries to hack through, in giant, “I
come save Tyv! Master be mad if they get killed and put
me in stew pot. I coming!” Help comes to the PCs in a
number of rounds equal to their APL in the form of
bugbears and ogre mages. When reinforcements arrive,
Urg flees.
� Guards, Ogres (2): hp 33 each; see Monster
Manual, page 199.
� Reinforcements, Bugbears (12): hp 21 each; see
Monster Manual, page 29.
� Reinforcements, Ogre Mages (2): hp 42 each;
see Monster Manual, page 200.
Gar Mujal arrives via dimension door two rounds after
the combat ends. He is apologetic and upset that the PCs
have been assaulted. It should be readily apparent to PCs
that he is sincere. He offers PCs alternative housing if
they are desire and wants to take Urg’s body for
“questioning.” He does not relent on this point. He will
have PCs healed by a bugbear cleric in his entourage if
they are willing. He vows to get to the bottom of this and
let them know what he learns.
If PCs wish to leave, allow them to do so at this
point. However, the adventure is over for them in this
case. Proceed to the Conclusion: Leaving the Mountains.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 21
If PCs choose to stay and meet with Gar Mujal in the
morning, go to encounter 6.
Treasure: The possessions of the assassin(s) are the
only treasure here.
Creatures: The PCs could face one of the following
two groups of combatants, depending on the APL and
whether or not the EL was increased due to the giants
being aware of the PCs’ presence (as per Encounter 1).
GIANTS NOT ON ALERT (EL = APL + 2)
APL 6 (EL 8)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn1; hp 66; see
Appendix 1.
APL 8 (EL 10)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn3; hp 79; see
Appendix 2.
APL 10 (EL 12)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn5; hp 102; see
Appendix 3.
APL 12 (EL 14)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn7; hp 117; see
Appendix 4.
APL 14 (EL 16)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn9; hp 132; see
Appendix 5.
APL 16 (EL 18)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat1;
hp 147; see Appendix 6.
APL 18 (EL 20)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn10/ Thief-Acrobat3;
hp 162; see Appendix 7.
GIANTS ON ALERT (EL = APL + 4)
APL 6 (EL 10)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn1; hp 66; see
Appendix 1.
� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock1; hp 48; see
Appendix 1.
APL 8 (EL 12)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn3; hp 79; see
Appendix 2.
� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock3; hp 68; see
Appendix 2.
APL 10 (EL 14)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn5; hp 102; see
Appendix 3.
� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock5; hp 83; see
Appendix 3.
APL 12 (EL 16)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn7; hp 117; see
Appendix 4.
� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock7; hp 98; see
Appendix 4.
APL 14 (EL 18)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn9; hp 132; see
Appendix 5.
� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock9; hp 113; see
Appendix 5.
APL 16 (EL 20)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat1;
hp 147; see Appendix 6.
� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock11; hp 128; see
Appendix 6.
APL 18 (EL 22)
� Urg: male bugbear Rog5/Asn10/ Thief-Acrobat3;
hp 162; see Appendix 7.
� Aglashti: male ogre mage Warlock13; hp 156; see
Appendix 7.
ENCOUNTER 6: THE ENEMY
OF MY ENEMY
You are led to the room where you first met Gar
Mujal. It has been dressed for a banquet. Gar stands
as you enter. His table is larger and set above yours.
Six ogre magi stand to your left and right in dress
livery.
“I am glad you have survived the night. I must
apologize again for the intrusion during the night
and for any suffering you endured. It seems my
household has been compromised by agents of the
Sakhut. The bugbear that attacked you responded
well to my questioning. I wrung what I needed from
his spirit. Here, I offer you a gift.”
One of the ogre magi advances and offers a
freshly tanned hide in much the same way a
shopkeeper might offer you the finest silk. It grins
around its yellowing tusks.
“Take the assassin’s hide as a token of my
contrition,” Gar Mujal says, his tone sincere, “It is
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 22
the least I can do given the circumstances. Accept
this pelt and my apologies.”
The bugbear’s hide has been preserved with the
same skill a furrier uses to preserve the hide of
beaver or minx.
Gar waits until someone receives the hide and then
digs into breakfast with vigor. Whichever PC chooses to
take the hide receives the Urg’s Hide effect on their
Adventure Record. If the PCs argue about who is to
receive the hide, Gar will watch with bemusement as
they fight it out.
Gar Mujal is amused but not offended if the PCs do
not take the hide of the bugbear. He makes small talk
during the meal, but defers any conversation until after
the meal is served.
“Well, then,” the giant begins, “you have twice
shared the hospitality of my table, and I have had
time to consider who and what you are and
determine where our interests might be aligned.
Several things are clear to me.
First, that we all bear the Sakhut little love is
something we can all agree on. I am recognized as a
threat, else agents would not be deployed here
within my walls. That these same assets were
deployed against you tells me you have earned their
enmity. We share an enemy.
Secondly, in returning Maira’s voice, you seek to
disrupt the Sakhut’s power. I share this ambition,
as I find such strutting and posing as the Sakhut
does unseemly. We share a goal.
Finally, as you seek the destruction and removal
of the rune from Maira’s throat, so I seek the power
and knowledge to do the same. We share a need.
Simply put, we are bound by three things: hate,
desire and ambition. From such as this the best
deals are made.
Here is my proposal. Erruja, that great idiot of
the Folinu, had me bind a gate for him to the
Elemental Plane of Air. He sought a confrontation
with the Lords of Air, as you know, his very gods. He
was slain as a result, and the bargain he made
brought the Folinu into my power.
It also gave me a permanent gate into the Plane
of Air. The cloud giants are, alas, bound to the Plane
of Air in much the same way the raptorans are.
Ancient alliances have given them their power over
the elements. The greatest among them travel into
the plane to learn more from the Lords of Air and
also to bind servants to themselves or make
alliances instead if that is their disposition. Some
among their number sometimes chose to live among
the elementals and the jann, seeking greater power
and knowledge.
Ages ago, the cloud giant Ruka Nisindra chose
to walk the path of the elementals. He dwelled upon
the Plane of Air and became practiced in both
runecraft and the lesser arcane arts. He bound to
himself djinn and elementals of many different
sorts. Legends say he was the first to craft the
greatest runes of binding. I do not know if this is
true. I do know that his power was great and that he
bound to his will a noble djinni called Azalla.
I have found the cloud island necropolis of
Ruka Nisindra. I believe the noble djinn Azalla lies
trapped within. It should be within his power to
grant Maira her voice, once he is liberated. I
propose this. I transport you to Ruka’s tomb. You
liberate the genie and return to me with what
magical booty you find. The djinn travels with you.
Whatever artifacts you find within the necropolis
are mine.
Finally, this deal must be sealed with a geas,
which each of you must willingly submit to. I will
not risk the loss of the items I seek if you flee. I will
bind you to return all items with a magical aura that
you find within the necropolis to me.
What say ye?” and with that Gar Mujal rests
against his throne, a playful smile on his lips.
Gar Mujal fully expects to have to bargain here and is
actually disappointed if PCs merely agree to his terms.
Allow PCs a Sense Motive check against his Bluff check
(+12 modifier) if they quickly close a deal and do not
attempt to bargain. Let them know he is disappointed
about something if the are successful in the check.
However, he does not relent on the topic of the geas.
He allows PCs to leave unmolested if they choose to do
so, as he bears them no specific malice. However, the
adventure ends for the PCs and you may proceed to the
Conclusion: Leaving the Mountains.
THE NEGOTIATIONS
Offer One
If PCs balk or challenge his terms, Gar Mujal says:
“Very well then. Your caution is commendable.
Let us try this. If you agree to bring me whatever
magical writings, wands, staves, or rods, runes and
tomes, weapons, and miscellaneous items of power
you find, I agree to let you keep whatever other
potions and non-magical loot you discover.”
Gar knows that there are several tomes of runic
magic in the necropolis, and he wants them for his own.
He will barter away the rest of the tomb’s contents for
these and very much enjoys the process. Each offer and
counter offer adds another class of magical booty PCs get
to keep until it gets down to just the writings. This is all
he is really concerned about, after all, and he finds the
process of negotiation amusing.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 23
Offer Two
If PCs push him for the release of the Folinu, he
responds as follows:
Gar Mujal’s brows knit in consideration. “You
would take from me my eyes and ears. They are
bound to me by an act of free will. They prosper
under my care. I make them better and stronger
than they were without me. I have bred them
stronger and quicker and harder over time. What do
you offer in return for the loss of my greatest
servants?”
Gar agrees to release the Folinu from their bondage
to him if the PCs relinquish all claims to booty they find
in Ruka’s tomb and agree to owe him a favor in the
future. If they agree to be in his debt (they receive the
Debt to Gar Mujal effect on the Adventure Record),
then he agrees to let the raptorans go. He knows that
about a third of the raptorans will stay with him anyway,
as they have prospered with him. To his mindset, he can
recover his population loss in a few hundred years and
having the debt of Tyv heroes is useful to him in the
immediate future.
If asked, he lets the PCs know that he will only agree
to this if they are willing to submit to a second geas that
will bind them to return to him and fulfill a mission for
him in the future. He only agrees to this if the entire
party submits to him on this issue.
Again PCs can bargain to gain access to greater
booty. Gar Mujal will not relent on his demand for a geas,
however.
WHAT GAR MUJAL KNOWS
Gar Mujal shares what he knows with PCs if they ask
him the right question. He is amused by the PCs and
interested in their success. Likewise, he is gauging their
intelligence based on how they question him and
respond to him. He will share the following if asked:
•
Ruka is rumored to have turned himself into a lich.
•
Ruka’s prize work was crafting the Books of Neros, a
series of texts forged on hammered sheets of astral
drift metal. He also wrote many lesser tomes.
•
The Necropolis of Ruka has been visited before.
•
He believes that Azalla was bound inside the tomb
by Ruka to keep his most precious items secure.
•
Azalla has been imprisoned for thousands of years.
He is a noble djinn, but his wishes were forced from
him during his imprisonment. He might have one
wish left. He might just be trapped.
•
He can only keep the gate open at one particular
point on the Plane of Air for 24 hours. PCs must
accomplish their task in that time. It will take him
weeks to recalibrate the gate.
•
Gar Mujal doesn’t know what guards Ruka’s tomb,
but he does know that Ruka was a master of
elemental magic who dabbled in necromancy.
•
He can talk at length about the Plane of Air and it
attributes (see Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 155).
Once PCs have cut a deal with Gar Mujal:
“Well then, it is done. You have bargained well.
Spend today preparing as you will. You are
restricted to your rooms again, but my servants will
bring you what items you feel you need for your
journey.
We will need to be at the top of Cul Bra Folinu
by midday tomorrow. Plan your day accordingly.”
The PCs may request and receive any gear from
Table 7-8: Goods and Services (Adventuring Gear section
only) in the Player’s Handbook.
ENCOUNTER 7: INTO THIN
AIR
The view from atop Cul Bra Folinu is
breathtaking. The mountains stretch away from the
white stone as far as you can see. The clouds rest on
the shoulders of the tallest peaks like a giant’s
mantle. The wind whistles around you, like a
melody from a dream.
One by one Gar Mujal lays his geas upon you.
He uses a great twisted staff of some ebon wood as
the mechanism for his casting. The magical
compulsion washes over you and your comrades,
each, in turn. You must return him the items you
agreed to. You can feel the promise wrap about your
soul like steel bands.
If any PCs balk at this or attempt to save against the
spell (DC 24 Will save) Gar Mujal refuses to open the gate
until all the PCs have submitted to his geas. As some of
the PCs may have already accepted the geas, this can have
very nasty effects for the rest of the party. Once this is
resolved, if it is an issue, proceed:
Gar Mujal gestures and crushes a stone to
powder in his hands. The gate reveals itself. He
waves his hand at the gate. Images scroll by. First
you see a massive storm, lighting crashes thought
the air. Next, you see a vast city of floating islands,
peopled by a handsome people who must be genies
of some sort. Cloudscapes rapidly flash by as Gar
Mujal searches for the right place, the right spot.
Finally, the image comes to rest on clouds and an
unending blue sky. The gate opens onto a plain of
swirling cloud.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 24
Gar Mujal waves towards the gate “The surface
here is like a cloud rock of a cloud giants’ island.
Crossover and be quick. The necropolis should be
on yon island by the cloud rock obelisk. Remember,
on the Plane of Air, down is the direction you
choose. It is an act of will to make down, down.”
As you peer through, you can see a tall spindle of
cloud rock thrust out from the terrain. It is some
distance away.
Refer to the Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 155, for a
description of the traits attached to the Plane of Air.
Note that gravity is subjective on the Plane of Air. Allow
PCs a Dc 20 Knowledge (planes) check to determine this
information. Give the PCs more planar traits based on
their roll, providing information for every five points by
which they beat 20.
The island is about one mile across. The surface of
the cloud rock is spongy and difficult to walk on. Treat it
is a shallow bog (see Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 88). Gar
Mujal quickly turns abusive if PCs do not pass through
quickly. Once the PCs cross:
The air is pleasant and warm, if a bit dry. Your
feet sink into cloud rock. It feels like muck. Wind
moves across you. Down, for right now at least, is
below your feet.
It is hard to judge distance, but the obelisk is
perhaps a half hour’s march from here. Turning to
look at the gate, you see a perfect circle limned in
silver. Gar Mujal sits opposite, cross-legged on the
white stone. He regards you with cold, black eyes.
Once PCs confirm they are heading towards the
obelisk and communicate to you whatever precautions
they would like to take, read the following:
The Obelisk is like smoke made solid. The
surface of the cloud has become harder as you have
approached. Before you is a tunnel sunk into the
heart of the island. It is deep, stretching down into
the island to the end of your vision and out of sight.
PCs may re-orient their own personal down at any
time by making a DC 16 Wisdom check. Rules for this
are defined in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 147.
When PCs are ready to enter the tunnel, let PCs know
that the tunnel has become dark. Give PCs a DC 15
Knowledge (planes) check to recognize that this is
unusual. If PCs detect evil, at this point, they will detect a
faint aura. Once they have provided a light source (one
strong enough to counter the deeper darkness effect [see
below]), if they need one, read the following:
It is dark and cold. From down the tunnel a
light wind blows, carrying on it the scent of ancient
decay.
The tunnel opens into blackness. The walls
slope away above and below and to your right and
left. From the slight curve, it seems you are on the
surface of a sphere.
Dust floats thickly in the air. Bits of bone and
fragments of metal spin weightlessly before you. As
you stare into the dark, it is apparent that the
skeletons of perhaps hundreds of creatures float
before you.
Refer to DM Aid: Map #3 and DM Aid: Map #4. Allow
PCs to determine how they want to travel into the room.
The sphere is 300 feet across. Columns of cloud stone
cross the chamber at multiple points. PCs may cross the
room by redefining their personal definition of up and
walking along the columns to the other side.
Note that PCs crossing the room are quickly made
aware of the bones of hundred of creatures floating
without apparent gravity in the air. This makes flying
hazardous, and PCs must make a DC 10 + APL Reflex save
anytime they fly faster than a 30 foot move; those that fail
take 2d6 damage for every 10 feet above the base move of
30 that they fly. That is, a person flying at a base move of
60 feet and playing APL 10 would have to make a DC 20
Reflex or take 6d6 damage as they flew through the
bones. The residents of this room have lived here for
centuries, and are much more adept at maneuvering
within this space. As a result, they ignore this check.
APL 6 (EL 10)
� Ruka, Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton: hp
153; see Appendix 1.
� Medium Air Necromental: hp 36; see Appendix
1.
� Sickening Shock, Living Spell: hp 30; see
Appendix 1.
APL 8 (EL 12)
� Ruka, Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton: hp
153; see Appendix 2.
� Huge Air Necromental: hp 144; see Appendix 2.
� Sickening Shocks, Living Spells (2): hp 30
each; see Appendix 2.
APL 10 (EL 14)
� Ruka, Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton: hp
153; see Appendix 3.
� Greater Air Necromental: hp 189; see Appendix
3.
� Sickening Shocks, Living Spells (2): hp 30
each; see Appendix 3.
� Greasy Chill, Living Spell: hp 81; see Appendix 3.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 25
APL 12 (EL 16)
� Ruka, Cloud Giant Mummy: hp 153; see
Appendix 4.
� Greater Air Necromental: hp 189; see Appendix
4.
� Greasy Chill, Living Spell: hp 81; see Appendix 4.
APL 14 (EL 18)
� Ruka, Evolved(x2) Cloud Giant Mummy: hp
153; see Appendix 5.
� Elder Air Necromental: hp 216; see Appendix 5.
� Greasy Chills, Living Spells (2): hp 81 each; see
Appendix 5.
APL 16 (EL 20)
� Ruka, Evolved(x2) Cloud Giant Mummy: hp
153; see Appendix 6.
� Tempest Necromental: hp 216; see Appendix 6.
� Greater Dispelling Fire, Living Spell: hp 147;
see Appendix 6.
APL 18 (EL 22)
� Ruka, Evolved(x4) Cloud Giant Mummy: hp
153; see Appendix 7.
� Air Monolith Necromental: hp 324; see
Appendix 7.
� Greater Dispelling Firestorm, Living Spell: hp
158; see Appendix 7.
Tactics: The entrance to the bier that holds the
undead corpse of Ruka is directly across from the
opening. Ruka is either a skeleton or a mummy here
(varies based on APL); his attempt at lichdom was an
immense failure and he instead became a variant version
of a skeleton or mummy. The denizens wait to attack the
PCs until they approach the final door to the tomb. This
space is both desecrated and unhallowed. The unhallow
effect is also linked to a deeper darkness that covers the
entire necropolis. The undead will flee into the bier if
necessary, based on the PCs’ tactics. PCs who fail both
Spot and Listen checks against the undead/living spells
will be surprised.
The creatures within this tomb are very familiar with
this space and have fought here countless times over the
millennia. They will use the limitations of the PCs’ vision
against them and attack out of the darkness as they are
able. This is particularly true of those creatures with
Flyby Attack. Refer to the rules for light and vision on
pages 164-165 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Remember,
a light source is visible from a great distance. The
inhabitants of this room will take advantage of this and
pester the PCs with flyby attacks and spell fire from
outside of their range of vision for as long as they can.
When it comes time for melee, the creatures will attempt
to attack PCs from three different directions. Due to the
circumstances of the tomb and the tactics of the
undead/living spells, the EL of this encounter is
effectively increased by 1 (which is reflected below).
At low APLs (6-10), the living spells will come
straight at the PCs and engage as quickly as they can. The
necromental will do flyby attacks until this is no longer
tenable, switching targets if it is apparent its target is
readied for its next attack. The skeleton will sneak
around behind the PCs under cover of darkness if
possible and engage from the opposite side as the living
spells. If the PCs travel along the pillars, the skeleton
will cross on an opposite pillar and swing around to the
PCs’ other side, using his reach to his advantage.
Remember, down is subjective on this plane and these
creatures are natives. Use this in their tactics.
At higher APLs (12-18), the living spells will move to
flank the PCs. The mummy will fly, using his spell-like
abilities and awesome morningstar, paying particular
attention to arcane spellcasters and archers. The mummy
will also use his innate fog cloud and obscuring mist abilities
to make himself difficult to target. He will have the fear
effect face away from the captured subject. The
necromental will flyby as described above.
At all APLs, the undead will retreat to the bier and
the pit if attacked. At high APLs, the mummy knows
about the puzzle that holds Azalla (see below). If forced
to retreat here, he will grab a handful of gems and drop
them one by one on his turn onto the pillar triggering
the Constitution drain described below. This, of course,
assumes he is able to retreat.
Furthermore, flying targets draw the attention of the
flyers. If a lone or pair of PCs pulls off from the rest and
is flying, they will draw the attention of all flyers.
Once the PCs defeat the enemies:
You stand at the lip of a deep pit. Perhaps it is
just a dead end corridor, the physics of this place are
causing your brain to ache. Light glitters off of
coins and other metal at its bottom. Those objects
define down along the far wall. Rising from the
floor is pedestal. Something rests on it.
THE PIT
PCs can safely descend to the floor by walking down
the walls or scaling down with ropes, once they are at the
bottom, read the following:
Before you is a box made of mahogany. It rests
on a three-foot wide pillar of cloud rock. As you
look at the surface of the pillar, you can see the faint
outline of an iron flask or a bottle just beneath the
surface. It is almost as if the apparently solid
material of the stone waxed and waned like
moonlight.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
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Tell the first PC who touches the box that he has an
immediate flash of the last element of his or her dream.
Repeat the following to the player in question if he or she
asks:
Around you there are walls made of steel,
smooth and cold to your touch. You can take one
stride forward. You can take one stride back. You
can take one stride to the left or the right. That is
all. The floor underneath your feet slopes gently up
to the wall. You cannot stand flat footed, and your
ankles and feet ache with standing on the sloping
floor.
Above, the light washes from red to blue to
green to yellow then back to red. Unending the
cycle repeats, again and again and again.
It has always been this way. Long ago you
remember the open sky and flight. The touch of
such thoughts is fading like a song long lost. Soon,
you will remember only the steel walls and the
sloping floors. It has been so long. Red, Blue,
Green, Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, Blue,
Green, Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, the cycle
repeats endlessly.
You cannot walk. You cannot move. You cannot
fly. You cannot leave. There is no voice except your
own. There is no color beyond these four. The walls
are steel. This is all you know. The walls are all. The
walls are all. The walls are all. The walls are all.
Eternity stretches before you.
As PCs examine the rock, let them know that it is
very hard. If a PC attacks the pillar with a weapon, let
them know the dream flashes through their mind again
and that they hear a scream of agony.
� Pillar: 3 feet thick; hardness 25; hp 150.
PCs can hack through the stone, but this kills Azalla
as the damage done to the stone transfers to him. PCs
who slay Azalla have failed their mission; proceed to the
Conclusion: Failed Mission.
THE PUZZLE
When PCs open the box:
The box sticks slightly and then opens with a
faint creak. There are eight small bowls, no more
than three inches across on the left side of the case.
The right side contains many precious stones of
many different types. Yellow topaz bits, black shards
of onyx, red chips of ruby, small white pearls,
fragments of blue sapphire, green emerald chips,
minute purple garnets, and small pieces of blue-
greenish aquamarine fill the deeper side of the
hinged box.
The solution to this puzzle is straightforward. PCs
need to take four red rubies, four blue sapphires, four
green emeralds, and four yellow topaz into four separate
bowls. The bowls must be placed on the table in the
following order: red, blue, green, and yellow. The key
rests in the dream. The bowls must be placed in the same
order as the colored lights cycle in the dream. The
number of the gems is the tricky part; hopefully the PCs
will notice the repeated use of the number four in the
dream: four colors, four strides, four walls.
If PCs ask, tell them there are twelve each of each
gem type.
The other gems and extra bowls are a distraction.
Placing the bowls in the wrong order or placing a bowl
with the wrong colored stones on the table causes 1d4
Con damage to each person within thirty feet of the
pedestal for each mistake.
If PCs successfully solve the puzzle, read the
following:
The pedestal dissolves into vapor. The iron
flask that was suspended within it tumbles to the
ground with a clatter. A section of the floor beneath
the pedestal disappears too, revealing what can only
be the massive tomes that Gar Mujal seeks.
PCs who want to examine the tomes find six three-
foot by two-foot mithral covered books with sheets of
hammered astral drift metal. Each is numbered in giant
sequentially from one to six. PCs trying to read them
find that the text is in an ancient dialect of giantish they
are unfamiliar with. Further, if they are able to decipher
the script, they find that it is gibberish and probably
some sort of code.
Treasure: Ruka’s possessions are the only treasure
here for the PCs.
THE DJINN
The flask itself is the home of Azalla, the noble djinn
they have been searching for. Releasing the djinn
triggers the following:
You hear a long, low, shuddering scream that
builds with each moment. Smoke billows from the
steel flask and steadily coalesces into the shape of a
handsome bronze skinned human-like man with a
balding head and honey brown hair.
“Aaaaaaahhhhhh,” he breathes out loudly. “I
taste the air of freedom and thank you. He bows
deeply. My mind has warped and wandered in my
time within. I thank you.” He bows deeply. “I am
Vizier Azalla Munifa, sword brother to the Caliph. I
must ask, what time has passed?”
Azalla has been imprisoned for some four thousand
years. He is familiar with Oerth and will be stunned to
learn that the Suel Imperium and the Baklunish Empire
are gone. He will also quickly surmise that his people
have been lost to him too.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
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PCs may immediately ask for a wish or if the djinn
has a wish for them. He smirks and says:
“So it always is with mortals. Hunger for power
eats away at your brief span of years. Wishes are the
price I pay for bondage. Do you seek to make a slave
of me? You do not strike me as the same twisted and
evil sort as my master was. I have no wish for you.”
Azalla wants to know why the PCs have sought him
out. He listens at length and is more than willing to go
and speak to Maira if the PCs ask. He believes he might
be able to help her, although he provides no specifics if
asked.
When PCs are ready to return to Oerth, go to the
Conclusion. PCs who return with the books and Azalla
proceed to the Successful Mission section; others
proceed to the Failed Mission section.
CONCLUSION
FLEEING THE MOUNTAINS
You were afraid that abandoning your quest
might cause the dreams to return. Instead, your
dreams are disturbingly empty. The passage out of
the mountains was not without trial. You know you
are lucky to be alive. The giants hounded your every
step. Still your soul aches. You have failed.
LEAVING THE MOUNTAINS
You were afraid that abandoning your quest
might cause the dreams to return. Instead, your
dreams are disturbingly empty. The hospitality of
Gar Mujal left much to be desired. You could not
abide it. Still, you cannot help but feel that
something has been lost here. Maira will not be
pleased, of that you are certain.
FAILED MISSION
Gar Mujal met you with disdain. “So, you have
failed? I have sent Tyv to do the work of heroes. I
should expect as much. Well, I leave you with your
failure. Let the magic of my spell work its power
upon you. Let your remaining days be miserable. Be
gone from here.”
PCs who are willing to accept a debt from Gar Mujal
(they receive the Debt to Gar Mujal effect on the
Adventure Record) can get him to dismiss the geas spell;
however, they must submit to a new geas (related to the
debt) to do so.
It is a long march back home. The weight of his
spell coils about you like a viper.
SUCCESSFUL MISSION
If the PCs successfully negotiated freedom for the
Folinu, read the following (and grant them the
Gratitude of the Folinu effect on the Adventure
Record):
The Folinu were overwhelmed with gratitude
and awe. They understand you traded your flesh for
theirs and set them on a course of freedom. Sadly, a
clean third of their number chose to stay with Gar
Mujal and serve him still. A willing slave comes to
love the lash. The rest were opulent with their
thanks and praise. They will be close and good
friends and you know you have done the right thing,
regardless of cost.
Proceed with the following for all successful parties:
The trip back to Spinster’s Knob in Keoland is
uneventful. Maira rises to meet you as you make
your way to her. She smiles.
“This is the Prophet?” asks Azalla, and moves
towards her. “What witchery has been done to you?”
he asks and touches Maira’s scarred and rune
warped flesh. “Ah yes,” he says, clearly reading her
thought says he has done yours at times as you have
traveled, “we have much to discuss.”
They speak at length and into the night. Azalla
works what magic he can against Still Thy Tongue to
no avail. As the sunrise comes, he approaches you
all.
“The workings of this rune are beyond my
power. At one time I was a master of this art, but
time and the steady skill of ages have made what I
once knew but a shadow before the might one’s that
worked this magic. Still, this Maira has the hands of
the very gods upon her. She bids me thank you and
tells me that she is in your debt, as am I. I have
agreed to speak for her. Once I was Azalla Munifa,
sword brother to the Caliph. No more, now I am
only Azalla. Hence forth let me be known as The
Prophet’s Voice.” With that, he bows deeply before
you, and turns his back and walks towards Maira.
She inclines her head in thanks.
The light of the new day’s sun burns brightly.
PCs who bring Azalla to Maira earn her and
Silsellay’s thanks (they receive the Friendship of Maira
and Immortalized in Song effects on the Adventure
Record).
The End
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 28
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
roleplaying) to each character.
Encounter 2
Defeat the giant and rescue the peasants
APL 6: 180 xp.
APL 8: 240 xp.
APL 10: 300 xp.
APL 12: 360 xp.
APL 14: 420 xp.
APL 16: 480 xp.
APL 18: 540 xp.
Encounter 5
Survive the assassination attempt
APL 6: 240 xp.
APL 8: 300 xp.
APL 10: 360 xp.
APL 12: 420 xp.
APL 14: 480 xp.
APL 16: 540 xp.
APL 18: 600 xp.
Encounter 7
Defeat the inhabitants of Necropolis
APL 6: 300 xp.
APL 8: 360 xp.
APL 10: 420 xp.
APL 12: 480 xp.
APL 14: 540 xp.
APL 16: 600 xp.
APL 18: 660 xp.
Story Award
Bring Azalla back to Maira
APL 6: 90 xp.
APL 8: 110 xp.
APL 10: 135 xp.
APL 12: 155 xp.
APL 14: 180 xp.
APL 16: 200 xp.
APL 18: 225 xp.
Discretionary roleplaying award
APL 6: 90 xp.
APL 8: 115 xp.
APL 10: 135 xp.
APL 12: 160 xp.
APL 14: 180 xp.
APL 16: 205 xp.
APL 18: 225 xp.
Total possible experience
APL 6: 900 xp.
APL 8: 1,125 xp.
APL 10: 1,350 xp.
APL 12: 1,575 xp.
APL 14: 1,800 xp.
APL 16: 2,025 xp.
APL 18: 2,250 xp.
TREASURE SUMMARY
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their
earthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10
minutes per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot
take the time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this
gold. If you feel it is reasonable that characters can go
back to loot the bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e.,
not carted off by dungeon scavengers, removed from the
scene by the local watch, and so on), characters may
return to retrieve loot. If the characters do not loot the
body, the gold piece value for the loot is subtracted from
the encounter totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a
round or so. If for some reason, they pass up this
treasure, the coin total is subtracted from the encounter
totals given below.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 29
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item
treasure is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are
varied and because characters may want to use them
during the adventure. Many times characters must cast
identify, analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine
what the item does and how to activate it. Other times
they may attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic
item is consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and
the item is used before the end of the adventure, its total
is subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in
the GP Gained field of the adventure certificate. Because
this is a Regional adventure, characters may spend
additional Time Units to practice professions or create
items immediately after the adventure so this total may
be modified by other circumstances.
L = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems,
Jewelry, and other valuables; M = Magic Items.
Encounter 2:
GIANTS NOT ON ALERT
APL 6: L: 6 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 3 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 108 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 12: L: 113 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 40 adamantine arrows (5
gp each), 2 +1 mithral breastplates (429 gp each), 2
potions of cure moderate wounds (25 gp each), 2 +1
composite longbows (+4 Str bonus) (233 gp each), 2 +1
battleaxes (193 gp each).
APL 14: L: 15 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 40 adamantine arrows (5
gp each), 2 +1 mithral breastplates (429 gp each), 2
potions of cure moderate wounds (25 gp each), +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567
gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 gp each).
APL 16: L: 10 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197
gp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), 2 +1 mithral
breastplates (429 gp each), 2 potions of cure serious
wounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193
gp each), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp each), 2 lesser
bracers of archery (417 gp each), 2 cloaks of protection +3
(750 gp each).
APL 18: L: 11 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197
gp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), +3 mithral
breastplate (1,096 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (429 gp), 2
potions of cure serious wounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567
gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 gp each), 2 amulets of health +2
(333 gp each), greater bracers of archery (2,083 gp), lesser
bracers of archery (417 gp), 2 cloaks of protection +3 (750
gp each), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), +3 wild
dragonhide (silver) breastplate (3,058 gp), +1 wild heavy
darkwood shield (1,355 gp), +1 scimitar (193 gp), periapt
of wisdom +4 (1,333 gp), wand of cure serious wounds
(CL 5th, 20 charges) (375 gp).
GIANTS ON ALERT
APL 6: L: 3 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 108 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 113 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 40 adamantine arrows (5
gp each), 2 +1 mithral breastplates (429 gp each), 2
potions of cure moderate wounds (25 gp each), 2 +1
composite longbows (+4 Str bonus) (233 gp each), 2 +1
battleaxes (193 gp each).
APL 12: L: 15 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 40 adamantine arrows (5
gp each), 2 +1 mithral breastplates (429 gp each), 2
potions of cure moderate wounds (25 gp each), +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567
gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 gp each).
APL 14: L: 10 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197
gp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), 2 +1 mithral
breastplates (429 gp each), 2 potions of cure serious
wounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193
gp each), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp each), 2 lesser
bracers of archery (417 gp each), 2 cloaks of protection +3
(750 gp each).
APL 16: L: 11 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197
gp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), +3 mithral
breastplate (1,096 gp), +1 mithral breastplate (429 gp), 2
potions of cure serious wounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567
gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193 gp each), 2 amulets of health +2
(333 gp each), greater bracers of archery (2,083 gp), lesser
bracers of archery (417 gp), 2 cloaks of protection +3 (750
gp each), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), +3 wild
dragonhide (silver) breastplate (3,058 gp), +1 wild heavy
darkwood shield (1,355 gp), +1 scimitar (193 gp), periapt
of wisdom +4 (1,333 gp), wand of cure serious wounds
(CL 5th, 20 charges) (375 gp).
APL 18: L: 11 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 huge heavy flail (197
gp), 40 adamantine arrows (5 gp each), 2 +3 mithral
breastplates (1,096 gp each), 2 potions of cure serious
wounds (63 gp each), +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus) (1,567 gp), +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus) (1,567 gp), 2 +1 battleaxes (193
gp each), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp each), 2 greater
bracers of archery (2,083 gp each), 2 cloaks of protection
+3 (750 gp each), gloves of dexterity +2 (333 gp), +3 wild
dragonhide (silver) breastplate (3,058 gp), +1 wild heavy
darkwood shield (1,355 gp), +1 scimitar (193 gp), gloves
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 30
of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp), wand of cure serious wounds
(CL 5th, 20 charges) (375 gp), 2 rings of protection +4
(2,667 gp each), boots of levitation (625 gp), periapt of
wisdom +6 (3,000 gp).
Encounter 5:
GIANTS NOT ON ALERT
APL 6: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral breastplate (429
gp), +1 morningstar (192 gp), cloak of resistance +1 (83
gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), potion of haste (63
gp).
APL 8: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 mithral breastplate (679
gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of resistance +1
(83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), potion of haste (63
gp).
APL 10: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring
of counterspells (333 gp).
APL 12: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring
of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp).
APL 14: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring
of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp),
headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of withering
(2,083 gp).
APL 16: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring
of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp),
headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of withering
(2,083 gp), ring of protection +4 (2,667 gp), scarab of
protection (3,167 gp).
APL 18: L: 88 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring
of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp),
headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of withering
(2,083 gp), ring of protection +4 (2,667 gp), scarab of
protection (3,167 gp).
GIANTS ON ALERT
APL 6: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral breastplate
(429 gp), +1 morningstar (192 gp), cloak of resistance +1
(83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp), potion of haste (63
gp), ring of protection +1 (167 gp).
APL 8: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 mithral breastplate
(679 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), ring of protection +1 (167 gp),
amulet of health +2 (333 gp).
APL 10: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +1 (83 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp
each), ring of counterspells (333 gp), ring of protection +1
(167 gp), vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), cloak of charisma
+2 (333 gp), 2 potions of cure serious wounds (63 gp
each).
APL 12: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp
each), ring of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4
(1,333 gp), ring of protection +1 (167 gp), vest of
resistance +1 (83 gp), cloak of charisma +4 (1,333 gp), 2
potions of cure serious wounds (63 gp each).
APL 14: L: 151 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp
each), ring of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4
(1,333 gp), headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of
withering (2,083 gp), ring of protection +3 (1,500 gp),
vest of resistance +1 (83 gp), cloak of charisma +4 (1,333
gp), 2 potions of cure serious wounds (63 gp each).
APL 16: L: 117 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), 2 amulets of health +2 (333 gp
each), ring of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4
(1,333 gp), headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of
withering (2,083 gp), ring of protection +4 (2,667 gp),
scarab of protection (3,167 gp), ring of protection +3
(1,500 gp), vest of resistance +3 (750 gp), cloak of
charisma +4 (1,333 gp), 2 potions of cure serious wounds
(63 gp each), warlock’s scepter (2,333 gp).
APL 18: L: 117 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +3 mithral breastplate
(1,096 gp), +1 frost morningstar (692 gp), cloak of
resistance +3 (750 gp), potion of gaseous form (63 gp),
potion of haste (63 gp), amulet of health +2 (333 gp), ring
of counterspells (333 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp),
headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), rod of withering
(2,083 gp), 2 rings of protection +4 (2,667 gp each),
scarab of protection (3,167 gp), vest of resistance +3 (750
gp), cloak of charisma +6 (3,000 gp), 2 potions of cure
serious wounds (63 gp each), warlock’s scepter (2,333 gp),
amulet of health +4 (1,333 gp), slippers of spider climbing
(400 gp).
Encounter 7:
APL 6: L: 5 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 31
APL 8: L: 5 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 5 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 12: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 unholy gargantuan
morningstar (1,530 gp), +1 huge full plate (596 gp), ring
of major energy resistance (fire) (2,333 gp), winged boots
(1,333 gp), cloak of turn resistance (917 gp), ring of
counterspells (333 gp).
APL 14: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 unholy gargantuan
morningstar (1,530 gp), +1 huge full plate (596 gp), ring
of major energy resistance (fire) (2,333 gp), winged boots
(1,333 gp), cloak of turn resistance (917 gp), ring of
counterspells (333 gp).
APL 16: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 unholy gargantuan
morningstar (1,530 gp), +1 huge full plate (596 gp), ring
of major energy resistance (fire) (2,333 gp), winged boots
(1,333 gp), cloak of turn resistance (917 gp), ring of
counterspells (333 gp).
APL 18: L: 0 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +2 unholy gargantuan
morningstar (1,530 gp), +1 huge full plate (596 gp), ring
of major energy resistance (fire) (2,333 gp), winged boots
(1,333 gp), cloak of turn resistance (917 gp), ring of
counterspells (333 gp).
Total Possible Treasure (Maximum Reward
Allowed)
APL 6: L: 159 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 997 gp – Total: 1,156 gp
(900 gp).
APL 8: L: 264 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 2,080 gp – Total: 2,344
gp (1,300 gp).
APL 10: L: 269 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 5,665 gp – Total: 5,934
gp (2,300 gp).
APL 12: L: 201 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 18,375 gp – Total:
18,576 gp (3,300 gp).
APL 14: L: 161 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 26,397 gp – Total:
26,558 gp (6,600 gp).
APL 16: L: 128 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 44,211 gp – Total:
44,339 gp (9,900 gp).
APL 18: L: 128 gp, C: 0 gp, M: 59,737 gp – Total:
59,865 gp (17,000 gp).
ITEMS FOR THE ADVENTURE
RECORD
Special
� Cursed Sleep: This PC refused to aid Maira and is
haunted by horrific images in their sleep or during their
meditations. This PC suffers from chronic fatigue and
becomes fatigued after only 4 hours of activity. This
curse can be removed only by a 17th level or higher caster.
� Urg’s Hide: The hide of this would be bugbear
assassin has been presented to you by Gar Mujal.
� Time in Achim’s Court: This PC has his title of Lord
Sinister removed; it is replaced by Lord Dire instead.
This PC surrendered to the Marchioness of Sterich and
was remitted into the custody of Achim, occupier of
Sterich and agent of the Sakhut. Achim holds the PC as
his captive for 52 TU before letting the individual go.
This PC receives a +4 circumstance bonus on any
Knowledge or Cha-based check related to the Sakhut or
their minions as a result of this captivity. They also gain
Giant as a free bonus language, if they don’t already
possess it, or gain the ability to identify the race of a giant
by the dialect of Giant they speak, if they do already
possess it.
� Lord Dire of Sterich: By causing a diplomatic
incident in Sterich in order to save a helpless group of
commoners from a fate worse then death, you have lost
any former titles in Sterich you might have possessed
(Lord Stalwart, Lord Sinister, Lord Errant) and the
benefits/penalties these titles provided. Instead, you are
now known as a Lord Dire, a reputation both
troublesome and distinguished. The cost of upkeep is
now doubled for you, as your reputation as being a
dangerous person to know precedes you. However, you
may always take free standard upkeep during any
adventure set in the Sheldomar Valley metaregion as the
commonfolk are always willing to put you up for the
night in honor of your good deeds for the common
man/woman. You receive a +2 circumstance bonus to all
Cha-based checks with commoners and all Intimidate
checks with anyone in the Sheldomar Valley metaregion.
� Debt to Gar Mujal: You have bound by oath and
magic. You have promised to return to Gar Mujal to do
his bidding in the future and have accepted a geas (CL
20th) as part of this bargain.
� Immortalized in Song: Silsellay recognizes your
bravery and daring in uniting the Prophet with her
Voice. She composes a ballad called The Prophet’s Voice in
your honor and makes certain it is distributed to the
other intelligent instruments of her Fochlucan line. This
PC receives a +2 bonus to all Cha-based checks with good
giants.
� Friendship of Maira: Maira will secure, for your
purchase, access to a single casting of greater dispel magic,
remove curse, or break enchantment at CL 17th. This favor
must be spent during an adventure set in the Sheldomar
Valley metaregion. Mark this favor as USED when it is
consumed.
� Gratitude of the Folinu: The Folinu are grateful for
your help. You may trade in this favor to gain access
(Frequency: Adventure) to purchase the following items
(from Races of the Wild): netcutter spikes, hawkfeather
armor, owlfeather armor, belt of hidden pouches, safewing
emblem, survival pouch. Mark this favor as USED when it
is consumed.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 32
Item Access
APL 6:
•
+1 Mithral Breastplate (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Gargantuan Items: Morningstar (Adventure; Dungeon
Master’s Guide)
•
Large Items: Hide Armor, Morningstar, Javelin, Greatclub,
Greatsword, Chain Shirt (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
APL 8 (all of APL 6 plus the following):
•
+1 Frost Morningstar (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
+2 Mithral Breastplate (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Large Items: Half-Plate, Greatsword (Adventure; Dungeon
Master’s Guide)
APL 10 (all of APLs 6, 8 plus the following):
•
+3 Mithral Breastplate (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
20 Adamantine Arrows (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Ring of Counterspells (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Vest of Resistance +1 (Adventure; Complete Arcane)
APL 12 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10 plus the following):
•
+1 Bane (Human) Seeking Composite Longbow, +4 Str
Bonus (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
+1 Unholy Composite Longbow, +4 Str Bonus (Adventure;
Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
+2
Unholy
Gargantuan Morningstar (Adventure;
Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Cloak of Charisma +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Cloak of Resistance +3 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Gloves of Dexterity +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Huge Items: Heavy Flail, Hide Armor, +1 Full Plate
(Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Ring of Major Energy Resistance, Fire (Adventure;
Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Winged Boots (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
APL 14 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10, 12 plus the following):
•
+1 Huge Heavy Flail (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Bracers of Archery, Lesser (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Headband of Intellect +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Ring of Protection +3 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Rod of Withering (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
APL 16 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 plus the following):
•
+1 Wild Heavy Darkwood Shield (Adventure; Dungeon
Master’s Guide)
•
+3 Wild Dragonhide (Silver) Breastplate (Adventure;
Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Bracers of Archery, Greater (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Periapt of Wisdom +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Ring of Protection +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Scarab of Protection (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Vest of Resistance +3 (Adventure; Complete Arcane)
•
Wand of Cure Serious Wounds (CL 5th; Adventure;
Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Warlock’s Scepter (Adventure; Complete Arcane)
APL 18 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 plus the following):
•
Amulet of Health +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Boots of Levitation (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Cloak of Charisma +6 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Periapt of Wisdom +6 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Slippers of Spider Climbing (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 33
APPENDIX 1 – APL 6
ENCOUNTER 5
Giants Not on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn1; CR 8; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+1d6+27; hp 66; Init
+9; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 24
(+5 Dex, +3 natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +5/+9; Atk +10
melee (1d8+7, +1 morningstar) or +10 ranged (1d4+4 plus
poison/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +10 melee (1d8+7, +1
morningstar) or +10 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20,
dagger); SA sneak attack +4d6, death attack (DC 13),
spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion,
trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, poison use; AL LE; SV Fort
+5 (+6), Ref +14 (+15), Will +3 (+4); Str 18, Dex 20, Con
16, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +6, Bluff +10, Climb +7,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Hide +16,
Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move Silently +20,
Open Lock +10, Sleight of Hand +7, Spot +3, Tumble +16,
Use Magic Device +5; Combat Expertise, Improved Feint,
Improved Initiative, Iron Will.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (1, save DC 12 + spell level): 1st
– critical strike*, distract assailant*. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +1
mithral breastplate, +1 morningstar, cloak of resistance +1,
potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion
of haste, potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of
gaseous form.
Giants on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn1; CR 8; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+1d6+27; hp 66; Init
+9; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 24
(+5 Dex, +3 natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +5/+9; Atk +10
melee (1d8+7, +1 morningstar) or +10 ranged (1d4+4 plus
poison/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +10 melee (1d8+7, +1
morningstar) or +10 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20,
dagger); SA sneak attack +4d6, death attack (DC 13),
spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion,
trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, poison use; AL LE; SV Fort
+5 (+6), Ref +14 (+15), Will +3 (+4); Str 18, Dex 20, Con
16, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +6, Bluff +10, Climb +7,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Hide +16,
Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move Silently +20,
Open Lock +10, Sleight of Hand +7, Spot +3, Tumble +16,
Use Magic Device +5; Combat Expertise, Improved Feint,
Improved Initiative, Iron Will.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (1, save DC 12 + spell level): 1st
– critical strike*, distract assailant*. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +1
mithral breastplate, +1 morningstar, cloak of resistance +1,
potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion
of haste, potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of
gaseous form.
Aglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock1; CR 9; Large Giant;
HD 5d8+1d6+18; hp 48; Init +7; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft.
(good); AC 26, touch 13, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +5
natural, +8 armor, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+11; Atk
+7 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or
+6 ranged touch (1d6, eldritch blast); Full Atk +7 melee
(3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or +6 ranged
touch (1d6, eldritch blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA
spell-like abilities, invocations (least; CL 1st), eldritch blast
1d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5,
SR 19; AL LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 17,
Con 16, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 22. Complete Arcane, page 5.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +12, Knowledge
(arcana) +2, Listen +6, Spellcraft +9, Spot +6, Use Magic
Device +7 (+9 scrolls); Combat Casting, Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (eldritch blast).
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility;
1/day – charm person (DC 17), cone of cold (DC 21), gaseous
form, polymorph, sleep (DC 17). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-
based.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight
as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its
normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal
damage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb
or body part can reattach it by holding the severed
member to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If
the head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be
reattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An
ogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts.
Invocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or
cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead,
he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities
known as invocations that require him to focus the wild
energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any
invocation he knows at will, with the following
qualifications:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using
an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes
attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted,
just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is
entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an
invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 34
a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an
invocation
defensively,
by
making
a
successful
Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of
opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell
resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his
invocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can
dismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a
wizard can dismiss a spell.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is
10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma
modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a
warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can,
however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page
303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that
emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as
Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like
Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their
relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A
warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which
must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains
levels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete
Arcane.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At
16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not
suffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when
wearing light armor).
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock
learns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with
eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal
damage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects.
Eldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch
blast at will.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a
ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing
no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of
damage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock
rises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to
objects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level
spell.
If you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence
invocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the
level equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is
higher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise,
eldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence
invocations deal damage normally in addition to
imparting the effects described in the invocation
description. A warlock can apply only one blast shape
invocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a
single eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape
invocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the
same eldritch blast.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Warlock Invocations Known (1; DC 16 + equivalent
spell level; CL 1st): Least – devil’s sight*. *Complete Arcane.
Possessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large
masterwork greatsword, ring of protection +1, potion of blur,
oil of magic vestment +4.
ENCOUNTER 7
Ruka: Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton; CR 8; Huge
Undead; HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +6; Spd 50 ft.; AC 13,
touch 10, flat-footed 11 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural);
BAB/Grp +8/+28; Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan
morningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, claw) or +8 ranged
(2d8+12, rock); Full Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan
morningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, 2 claws) or +8 ranged
(2d8+12, rock); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA spell-like
abilities; SQ DR 5/bludgeoning and 5/magic and silver,
darkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold, oversize weapon,
undead traits, rock catching and throwing, SR 5 (10 + Cha
modifier), +2 turn resistance; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +9,
Will +12; Str 35, Dex 15, Con –, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Complete Arcane, page 161.
Feats: Improved Initiative.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day – shocking grasp; 1/day –
shield. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based.
Possessions: gargantuan morningstar.
Medium Air Necromental: CR 4; Medium Undead
(Air, Augmented Elemental); HD 4d12; hp 36; Init +9;
Spd fly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15
(+5 Dex, +5 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+4; Atk/Full Atk +8
melee (1d6+1, slam); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA air
mastery, whirlwind, create spawn, energy drain; SQ
darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits, fast healing; AL NE; SV
Fort +3, Ref +9, Will +1; Str 12, Dex 21, Con –, Int 1, Wis
10, Cha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113.
Skills and Feats: Listen +3, Spot +4; Dodge, Flyby
Attack, Great Fortitude, Improved InitiativeB, Weapon
FinesseB.
Create Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a
necromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental
1d4 days after death.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a
necromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative
level. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once
per round, regardless of the number of natural weapon
attacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative
level 24 hours later is DC 12. When a necromental
bestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a
critical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one
hour.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 35
Fast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3
points of damage each round as long as it is within five
feet of some form of its element (air).
Air Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1
penalty on attack and damage rolls against an air
elemental.
Whirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself
into a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in
that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this
form, the elemental can move through the air or along a
surface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at
the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet
tall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental
controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet.
The elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does
not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental
enters the space another creature occupies. Another
creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches
or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or
through the creature’s square.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than
the elemental might take damage when caught in the
whirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature
must first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage.
It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked
up bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds,
automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A
creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round
to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage
but can leave if successful.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move
except to go where the elemental carries them or to
escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the
whirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed
on a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a
spell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to
dexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental
can have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at
one time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume.
The whirlwind can eject any carried creature
whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the
whirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always
ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home
plane.
As this room is filled with free floating debris, the
elemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris
20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The
cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond
five feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment,
while those further away have total concealment. Those
caught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration
check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell.
An elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam
attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Medium air elemental: save DC 13, 1d6 damage, 10 –
30 ft. tall.
Sickening Shock: Living Spell; CR 4; Medium Ooze;
HD 4d10; hp 30; Init -1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 10, touch 10, flat-
footed 10 (-1 Dex, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+3;
Atk/Full Atk +3 melee (1d4, slam); Space/Reach 5 ft./5
ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze traits, DR 10/magic,
SR 14 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +0,
Will +0; Str 11, Dex 8, Con 11, Int –, Wis 8, Cha 11.
Monster Manual 3, page 91.
Spell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s
slam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell
or spells making up the creature, as if it were within the
area of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for
the spell; the DC is 11. This living spell is composed of a
ray of enfeeblement spell and a shocking grasp spell, both at
CL 4th.
Engulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures
that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot
make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs.
It merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as
many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of
opportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they
are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not
attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex
save (DC 11) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed
back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves
forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full
normal effects of the spells each round on the living
spell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 36
APPENDIX 2 – APL 8
ENCOUNTER 5
Giants Not on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn3; CR 10; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+3d6+33; hp 79; Init
+11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed
25 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +7 armor); BAB/Grp +7/+11; Atk
+12 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or
+14 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, dagger); Full Atk
+12/+7 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar)
or +14/+9 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, dagger); SA
sneak attack +5d6, death attack (DC 15), spells; SQ
darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion, trap sense
+1, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, +1 save
against poison, poison use; AL LE; SV Fort +6 (+7), Ref
+17 (+18), Will +4 (+5); Str 18, Dex 20 (24), Con 16, Int 14,
Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +12, Climb +7,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10,
Hide +20, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move
Silently +24, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3,
Tumble +20, Use Magic Device +5; Combat Expertise,
Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (3/10, save DC 12 + spell level):
1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, true strike; 2nd – cat’s
grace (cast on self), fox’s cunning. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +2
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, cloak of resistance +1,
potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion
of haste, potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of
gaseous form.
Giants on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn3; CR 10; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+3d6+33; hp 79; Init
+11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed
25 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +7 armor); BAB/Grp +7/+11; Atk
+12 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or
+14 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, dagger); Full Atk
+12/+7 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar)
or +14/+9 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20, dagger); SA
sneak attack +5d6, death attack (DC 15), spells; SQ
darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion, trap sense
+1, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, +1 save
against poison, poison use; AL LE; SV Fort +6 (+7), Ref
+17 (+18), Will +4 (+5); Str 18, Dex 20 (24), Con 16, Int 14,
Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +12, Climb +7,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10,
Hide +20, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move
Silently +24, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3,
Tumble +20, Use Magic Device +5; Combat Expertise,
Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (3/10, save DC 12 + spell level):
1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, true strike; 2nd – cat’s
grace (cast on self), fox’s cunning. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +2
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, cloak of resistance +1,
potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion
of haste, potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of
gaseous form.
Aglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock3; CR 11; Large
Giant; HD 5d8+3d6+32; hp 68; Init +7; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft.
(good); AC 26, touch 13, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +5
natural, +8 armor, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +5/+13; Atk
+9 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or
+8 ranged touch (2d6, eldritch blast); Full Atk +9 melee
(3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or +8 ranged
touch (2d6, eldritch blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA
spell-like abilities, invocations (least; CL 3rd), eldritch blast
2d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5,
SR 19, detect magic, DR 1/cold iron; AL LE; SV Fort +9, Ref
+5, Will +6; Str 18, Dex 17, Con 16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14,
Cha 22. Complete Arcane, page 5.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +14, Knowledge
(arcana) +4, Listen +6, Spellcraft +11, Spot +6, Use Magic
Device +9 (+11 scrolls); Combat Casting, Improved
Initiative, Weapon Focus (eldritch blast).
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility;
1/day – charm person (DC 17), cone of cold (DC 21), gaseous
form, polymorph, sleep (DC 17). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-
based.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight
as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its
normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal
damage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb
or body part can reattach it by holding the severed
member to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If
the head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be
reattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An
ogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts.
Invocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or
cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead,
he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities
known as invocations that require him to focus the wild
energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any
invocation he knows at will, with the following
qualifications:
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 37
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using
an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes
attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted,
just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is
entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an
invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as
a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an
invocation
defensively,
by
making
a
successful
Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of
opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell
resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his
invocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can
dismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a
wizard can dismiss a spell.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is
10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma
modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a
warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can,
however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page
303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that
emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as
Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like
Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their
relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A
warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which
must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains
levels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete
Arcane.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At
16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not
suffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when
wearing light armor).
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock
learns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with
eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal
damage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects.
Eldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch
blast at will.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a
ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing
no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of
damage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock
rises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to
objects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level
spell.
If you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence
invocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the
level equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is
higher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise,
eldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence
invocations deal damage normally in addition to
imparting the effects described in the invocation
description. A warlock can apply only one blast shape
invocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a
single eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape
invocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the
same eldritch blast.
Detect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock
can use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level
equals his class level.
Damage
Reduction
(Su):
Fortified
by
the
supernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock
becomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and
above, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level
and every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage
reduction improves.
Languages: Giant, Common, Infernal.
Warlock Invocations Known (2; DC 16 + equivalent
spell level; CL 3rd): Least – devil’s sight*, miasmic cloud*.
*Complete Arcane.
Possessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large
masterwork greatsword, ring of protection +1, amulet of
health +2, potion of blur, oil of magic vestment +4.
ENCOUNTER 7
Ruka: Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton; CR 8; Huge
Undead; HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +6; Spd 50 ft.; AC 13,
touch 10, flat-footed 11 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural);
BAB/Grp +8/+28; Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan
morningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, claw) or +8 ranged
(2d8+12, rock); Full Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan
morningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, 2 claws) or +8 ranged
(2d8+12, rock); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA spell-like
abilities; SQ DR 5/bludgeoning and 5/magic and silver,
darkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold, oversize weapon,
undead traits, rock catching and throwing, SR 5 (10 + Cha
modifier), +2 turn resistance; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +9,
Will +12; Str 35, Dex 15, Con –, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Complete Arcane, page 161.
Feats: Improved Initiative.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day – shocking grasp; 1/day –
shield. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based.
Possessions: gargantuan morningstar.
Huge Air Necromental: CR 8; Huge Undead (Air,
Augmented Elemental); HD 16d12; hp 144; Init +13; Spd
fly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 23, touch 17, flat-footed 14 (-2
size, +9 Dex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +12/+24; Atk +19
melee (2d8+4, slam); Full Atk +19 melee (2d8+4, 2 slams);
Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind,
create spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 ft.,
elemental traits, fast healing, DR 5/–; AL NE; SV Fort +7,
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 38
Ref +19, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 29, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha
1. Libris Mortis, page 113.
Skills and Feats: Listen +11, Spot +12; Alertness,
Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great Fortitude,
Improved InitiativeB, Mobility, Spring Attack, Weapon
FinesseB.
Create Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a
necromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental
1d4 days after death.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a
necromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative
level. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once
per round, regardless of the number of natural weapon
attacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative
level 24 hours later is DC 18. When a necromental
bestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a
critical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one
hour.
Fast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3
points of damage each round as long as it is within five
feet of some form of its element (air).
Air Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1
penalty on attack and damage rolls against an air
elemental.
Whirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself
into a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in
that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this
form, the elemental can move through the air or along a
surface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at
the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet
tall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental
controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet.
The elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does
not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental
enters the space another creature occupies. Another
creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches
or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or
through the creature’s square.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than
the elemental might take damage when caught in the
whirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature
must first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage.
It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked
up bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds,
automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A
creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round
to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage
but can leave if successful.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move
except to go where the elemental carries them or to
escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the
whirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed
on a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a
spell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to
dexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental
can have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at
one time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume.
The whirlwind can eject any carried creature
whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the
whirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always
ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home
plane.
As this room is filled with free floating debris, the
elemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris
20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The
cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond
five feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment,
while those further away have total concealment. Those
caught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration
check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell.
An elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam
attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Huge air elemental: save DC 22, 2d8 damage, 10 – 50
ft. tall.
Sickening Shock: Living Spell; CR 4; Medium Ooze;
HD 4d10; hp 30; Init -1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 10, touch 10, flat-
footed 10 (-1 Dex, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+3;
Atk/Full Atk +3 melee (1d4, slam); Space/Reach 5 ft./5
ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze traits, DR 10/magic,
SR 14 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +0,
Will +0; Str 11, Dex 8, Con 11, Int –, Wis 8, Cha 11.
Monster Manual 3, page 91.
Spell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s
slam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell
or spells making up the creature, as if it were within the
area of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for
the spell; the DC is 11. This living spell is composed of a
ray of enfeeblement spell and a shocking grasp spell, both at
CL 4th.
Engulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures
that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot
make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs.
It merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as
many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of
opportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they
are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not
attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex
save (DC 11) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed
back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves
forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full
normal effects of the spells each round on the living
spell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 39
APPENDIX 3 – APL 10
ENCOUNTER 2
Giants on Alert
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr7; CR 8; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+7d10+36; hp 92; Init +4; Spd
30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 natural,
+6 armor); BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +14 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +10/+10 ranged (1d8+7/19-
20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +13/+8
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +14/+9 ranged
(1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+14/+14/+9 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow
(+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort
+12, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +6, Jump +5, Listen +2, Spot
+3; Improved Critical (composite longbow), Improved
Rapid Shot*, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (composite longbow),
Weapon Specialization (composite longbow). *Complete
Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure moderate wounds.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr7; CR 8; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+7d8+27; hp 75; Init +4; Spd
40 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 natural,
+6 armor); BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +14 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +10/+10 ranged (1d8+5/19-
20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +13/+8
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +14/+9 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+12/+12/+7 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow
(+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +4, elf +2); SQ
darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +5 (+9 with animal
companion), woodland stride, animal companion (Scar
the wolf); AL NE; SV Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +4; Str 18,
Dex 18, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Hide +8, Knowledge
(nature) +1, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Search +3, Spot
+8, Survival +8 (+10 tracking); Endurance, Improved
Critical (composite longbow), Manyshot, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Track, Weapon Focus
(composite longbow).
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (2, save DC 12 + spell level): 1st
– entangle, longstrider.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine
arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion of cure moderate
wounds.
Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
4d8+8; hp 30; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves away
from the ranger); AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex,
+4 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+5; Atk/Full Atk +6 melee
(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
share spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2;
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +2 (+6 tracking by scent); Dodge,
TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (2): attack, defend.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
ENCOUNTER 5
Giants Not on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn5; CR 12; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+5d6+52; hp 102;
Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-
footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection);
BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1
frost morningstar) or +15 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20,
dagger); Full Atk +13/+8 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1
frost morningstar) or +15/+10 ranged (1d4+4 plus
poison/19-20, dagger); SA sneak attack +6d6, death attack
(DC 19), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding,
evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved
uncanny dodge, +2 save against poison, poison use; AL
LE; SV Fort +7 (+8), Ref +18 (+19), Will +4 (+5); Str 18,
Dex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 15 (19), Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +14, Climb +7,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10,
Hide +22, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move
Silently +26, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3,
Tumble +22, Use Magic Device +9; Combat Expertise,
Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (4/31, save DC 14 + spell level):
1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, true
strike; 2nd – cat’s grace (cast on self), fox’s cunning (cast on
self), invisibility. *Complete Adventurer.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 40
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +1, amulet of health
+2, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds,
potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, potion of spider climb,
potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form.
Giants on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn5; CR 12; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+5d6+52; hp 102;
Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-
footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection);
BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1
frost morningstar) or +15 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-20,
dagger); Full Atk +13/+8 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1
frost morningstar) or +15/+10 ranged (1d4+4 plus
poison/19-20, dagger); SA sneak attack +6d6, death attack
(DC 19), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding,
evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved
uncanny dodge, +2 save against poison, poison use; AL
LE; SV Fort +7 (+8), Ref +18 (+19), Will +4 (+5); Str 18,
Dex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 15 (19), Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +14, Climb +7,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10,
Hide +22, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move
Silently +26, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3,
Tumble +22, Use Magic Device +9; Combat Expertise,
Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (4/31, save DC 14 + spell level):
1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist, true
strike; 2nd – cat’s grace (cast on self), fox’s cunning (cast on
self), invisibility. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +1, amulet of health
+2, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate wounds,
potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, potion of spider climb,
potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form.
Aglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock5; CR 13; Large
Giant; HD 5d8+5d6+40; hp 83; Init +7; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft.
(good); AC 26, touch 13, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +5
natural, +8 armor, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +6/+14; Atk
+10 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or
+9 ranged touch (3d6, eldritch blast); Full Atk +10/+5
melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or +9
ranged touch (3d6, eldritch blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10
ft.; SA spell-like abilities, invocations (least; CL 5th),
eldritch blast 3d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision,
regeneration 5, SR 19, detect magic, DR 1/cold iron,
deceive item; AL LE; SV Fort +9 (+10), Ref +5 (+6), Will
+12 (+13); Str 18, Dex 17, Con 16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha
22 (24). Complete Arcane, page 5.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +16, Knowledge
(arcana) +6, Listen +6, Spellcraft +15, Spot +6, Use Magic
Device +12 (+14 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of
Personality*, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (eldritch
blast). *Complete Adventurer.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility;
1/day – charm person (DC 18), cone of cold (DC 22), gaseous
form, polymorph, sleep (DC 18). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-
based.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight
as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its
normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal
damage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb
or body part can reattach it by holding the severed
member to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If
the head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be
reattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An
ogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts.
Invocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or
cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead,
he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities
known as invocations that require him to focus the wild
energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any
invocation he knows at will, with the following
qualifications:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using
an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes
attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted,
just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is
entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an
invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as
a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an
invocation
defensively,
by
making
a
successful
Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of
opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell
resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his
invocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can
dismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a
wizard can dismiss a spell.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is
10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma
modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a
warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can,
however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page
303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that
emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as
Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like
Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their
relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A
warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which
must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains
levels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete
Arcane.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 41
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At
16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not
suffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when
wearing light armor).
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock
learns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with
eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal
damage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects.
Eldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch
blast at will.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a
ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing
no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of
damage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock
rises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to
objects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level
spell.
If you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence
invocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the
level equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is
higher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise,
eldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence
invocations deal damage normally in addition to
imparting the effects described in the invocation
description. A warlock can apply only one blast shape
invocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a
single eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape
invocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the
same eldritch blast.
Detect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock
can use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level
equals his class level.
Damage
Reduction
(Su):
Fortified
by
the
supernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock
becomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and
above, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level
and every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage
reduction improves.
Deceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a
warlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic
items made for the use of other characters. When
making a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10
even if distracted or threatened.
Languages: Giant, Common, Infernal.
Warlock Invocations Known (3; DC 17 + equivalent
spell level; CL 5th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*,
miasmic cloud*. *Complete Arcane.
Possessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large
masterwork greatsword, ring of protection +1, vest of
resistance +1*, amulet of health +2, cloak of charisma +2, 2
potions of cure serious wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic
vestment +4. *Complete Arcane.
ENCOUNTER 7
Ruka: Spellstitched Cloud Giant Skeleton; CR 8; Huge
Undead; HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +6; Spd 50 ft.; AC 13,
touch 10, flat-footed 11 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural);
BAB/Grp +8/+28; Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan
morningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, claw) or +8 ranged
(2d8+12, rock); Full Atk +18 melee (4d6+18, gargantuan
morningstar) or +18 melee (1d8+12, 2 claws) or +8 ranged
(2d8+12, rock); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA spell-like
abilities; SQ DR 5/bludgeoning and 5/magic and silver,
darkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold, oversize weapon,
undead traits, rock catching and throwing, SR 5 (10 + Cha
modifier), +2 turn resistance; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +9,
Will +12; Str 35, Dex 15, Con –, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Complete Arcane, page 161.
Feats: Improved Initiative.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day – shocking grasp; 1/day –
shield. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based.
Possessions: gargantuan morningstar.
Greater Air Necromental: CR 10; Huge Undead (Air,
Augmented Elemental); HD 21d12; hp 189; Init +14; Spd
fly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 28, touch 18, flat-footed 18 (-2
size, +10 Dex, +10 natural); BAB/Grp +15/+28; Atk +23
melee (2d8+5, slam); Full Atk +23 melee (2d8+5, 2 slams);
Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind,
create spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 ft.,
elemental traits, fast healing, DR 10/–; AL NE; SV Fort
+9, Ref +22, Will +9; Str 20, Dex 31, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10,
Cha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113.
Skills and Feats: Listen +14, Spot +14; Alertness, Blind-
fight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great
Fortitude, Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will, Mobility,
Spring Attack, Weapon FinesseB.
Create Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a
necromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental
1d4 days after death.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a
necromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative
level. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once
per round, regardless of the number of natural weapon
attacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative
level 24 hours later is DC 20. When a necromental
bestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a
critical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one
hour.
Fast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3
points of damage each round as long as it is within five
feet of some form of its element (air).
Air Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1
penalty on attack and damage rolls against an air
elemental.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 42
Whirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself
into a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in
that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this
form, the elemental can move through the air or along a
surface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at
the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet
tall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental
controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet.
The elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does
not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental
enters the space another creature occupies. Another
creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches
or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or
through the creature’s square.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than
the elemental might take damage when caught in the
whirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature
must first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage.
It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked
up bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds,
automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A
creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round
to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage
but can leave if successful.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move
except to go where the elemental carries them or to
escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the
whirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed
on a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a
spell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to
dexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental
can have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at
one time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume.
The whirlwind can eject any carried creature
whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the
whirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always
ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home
plane.
As this room is filled with free floating debris, the
elemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris
20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The
cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond
five feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment,
while those further away have total concealment. Those
caught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration
check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell.
An elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam
attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Greater air elemental: save DC 25, 2d8 damage, 10 –
60 ft. tall.
Sickening Shock: Living Spell; CR 4; Medium Ooze;
HD 4d10; hp 30; Init -1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 10, touch 10, flat-
footed 10 (-1 Dex, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+3;
Atk/Full Atk +3 melee (1d4, slam); Space/Reach 5 ft./5
ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze traits, DR 10/magic,
SR 14 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +0,
Will +0; Str 11, Dex 8, Con 11, Int –, Wis 8, Cha 11.
Monster Manual 3, page 91.
Spell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s
slam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell
or spells making up the creature, as if it were within the
area of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for
the spell; the DC is 11. This living spell is composed of a
ray of enfeeblement spell and a shocking grasp spell, both at
CL 4th.
Engulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures
that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot
make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs.
It merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as
many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of
opportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they
are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not
attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex
save (DC 11) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed
back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves
forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full
normal effects of the spells each round on the living
spell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled.
Greasy Chill: Living Spell; CR 10; Large Ooze; HD
9d10+18; hp 81; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 15, touch 15, flat-
footed 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 deflection); BAB/Grp
+6/+12;
Atk/Full
Atk
+7
melee
(1d6+3,
slam);
Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze
traits, DR 10/magic, SR 19 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +4; Str 15, Dex 12, Con 15, Int –, Wis
12, Cha 15. Monster Manual 3, page 91.
Spell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s
slam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell
or spells making up the creature, as if it were within the
area of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for
the spell; the DC is 17 for the cone of cold and 13 for the
grease. This living spell is composed of a cone of cold spell
and a grease spell, both at CL 9th.
Engulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures
that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot
make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs.
It merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as
many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of
opportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they
are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not
attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex
save (DC 17) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed
back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves
forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full
normal effects of the spells each round on the living
spell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
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APPENDIX 4 – APL 12
ENCOUNTER 2
Giants Not on Alert
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr7; CR 8; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+7d10+36; hp 92; Init +4; Spd
30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 natural,
+6 armor); BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +14 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +10/+10 ranged (1d8+7/19-
20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +13/+8
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +14/+9 ranged
(1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+14/+14/+9 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow
(+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort
+12, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +6, Jump +5, Listen +2, Spot
+3; Improved Critical (composite longbow), Improved
Rapid Shot*, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (composite longbow),
Weapon Specialization (composite longbow). *Complete
Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure moderate wounds.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr7; CR 8; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+7d8+27; hp 75; Init +4; Spd
40 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1 natural,
+6 armor); BAB/Grp +8/+12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +14 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +10/+10 ranged (1d8+5/19-
20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +13/+8
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +14/+9 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+12/+12/+7 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 composite longbow
(+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +4, elf +2); SQ
darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +5 (+9 with animal
companion), woodland stride, animal companion (Scar
the wolf); AL NE; SV Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +4; Str 18,
Dex 18, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Hide +8, Knowledge
(nature) +1, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Search +3, Spot
+8, Survival +8 (+10 tracking); Endurance, Improved
Critical (composite longbow), Manyshot, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Track, Weapon Focus
(composite longbow).
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (2, save DC 12 + spell level): 1st
– entangle, longstrider.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine
arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion of cure moderate
wounds.
Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
4d8+8; hp 30; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves away
from the ranger); AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex,
+4 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+5; Atk/Full Atk +6 melee
(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
share spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2;
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +2 (+6 tracking by scent); Dodge,
TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (2): attack, defend.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
Giants on Alert
Fomorian Giant: CR 11; Huge Giant; HD 15d8+90; hp
158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.; AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2
size, +1 Dex, +9 natural, +3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31;
Atk +21 melee (4d6+18/19-20, huge heavy flail) or +21
melee (1d8+12, slam); Full Atk +21/+16/+11 melee
(4d6+18/19-20, huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, 2
slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA trample 2d10+18; SQ
DR 5/–, fast healing 5, scent, low-light vision; AL NE; SV
Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11,
Wis 13, Cha 9. Monster Manual II, page 105.
Skills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot
+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track.
Skills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn
each round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least
one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals
2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled
opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a
–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit
points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not
restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or
suffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow
or reattach lost body parts.
Scent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching
enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of
smell.
Possessions: huge hide armor, huge heavy flail.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 44
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr10; CR 11; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+10d10+60; hp 132; Init +4;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1
natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +18 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3,
+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +14/+14
ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus)); Full Atk +16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +18/+13/+8 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1
unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +18/+18/+13/+8
ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort
+14, Ref +7, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +2, Spot
+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow),
Improved Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid
Shot*, Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point
Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus
(composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite
longbow). *Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus),
quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral
breastplate, potion of cure moderate wounds.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr10; CR 11; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+10d8+36; hp 99; Init +6; Spd
40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 natural,
+6 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee (1d8+7/x3,
+1 battleaxe) or +19 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+15/+15 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +16/+11/+6
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +19/+14/+9 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +19/+19/+14/+9 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf
+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +8
(+12 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal
companion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE;
SV Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 19 (23), Con 16,
Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +11, Knowledge
(nature) +1, Listen +10, Move Silently +11, Search +4,
Spot +10, Survival +10 (+12 tracking); Endurance,
Improved Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid
Shot*, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid
Shot, Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow).
*Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (2/2, save DC 12 + spell level):
1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection from
energy (fire).
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure moderate wounds.
Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
4d8+8; hp 30; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves away
from the ranger); AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex,
+4 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+5; Atk/Full Atk +6 melee
(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
share spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2;
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +2 (+6 tracking by scent); Dodge,
TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (2): attack, defend.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
ENCOUNTER 5
Giants Not on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn7; CR 14; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+7d6+60; hp 117;
Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-
footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection);
BAB/Grp +10/+14; Atk +15 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold,
+1 frost morningstar) or +17 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-
20, dagger); Full Atk +15/+10 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold,
+1 frost morningstar) or +17/+12 ranged (1d4+4 plus
poison/19-20, dagger); SA sneak attack +7d6, death attack
(DC 21), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding,
evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved
uncanny dodge, +3 save against poison, poison use; AL
LE; SV Fort +8 (+11), Ref +19 (+22), Will +5 (+8); Str 18,
Dex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 15 (19), Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +16, Climb +7,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10,
Hide +24, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move
Silently +28, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3,
Tumble +24, Use Magic Device +13; Combat Expertise,
Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will,
Mobility.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (4/43/2, save DC 14 + spell
level): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist,
true strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, fox’s cunning (cast on self),
invisibility, spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, nondetection,
spectral weapon*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete Arcane.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 45
(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health
+2, gloves of dexterity +4, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure
moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5,
potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous
form.
Giants on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn7; CR 14; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+7d6+60; hp 117;
Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-
footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection);
BAB/Grp +10/+14; Atk +15 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold,
+1 frost morningstar) or +17 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-
20, dagger); Full Atk +15/+10 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold,
+1 frost morningstar) or +17/+12 ranged (1d4+4 plus
poison/19-20, dagger); SA sneak attack +7d6, death attack
(DC 21), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding,
evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved
uncanny dodge, +3 save against poison, poison use; AL
LE; SV Fort +8 (+11), Ref +19 (+22), Will +5 (+8); Str 18,
Dex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 15 (19), Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +16, Climb +7,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +10,
Hide +24, Intimidate +0, Jump +5, Listen +3, Move
Silently +28, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3,
Tumble +24, Use Magic Device +13; Combat Expertise,
Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will,
Mobility.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (4/43/2, save DC 14 + spell
level): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist,
true strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, fox’s cunning (cast on self),
invisibility, spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, nondetection,
spectral weapon*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete Arcane.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health
+2, gloves of dexterity +4, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure
moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5,
potion of spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous
form.
Aglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock7; CR 15; Large
Giant; HD 5d8+7d6+48; hp 98; Init +8; Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft.
(good); AC 27, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +4 Dex, +5
natural, +8 armor, +1 deflection); BAB/Grp +8/+16; Atk
+12 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or
+12 ranged touch (4d6, eldritch blast); Full Atk +12/+7
melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork greatsword) or +12
ranged touch (4d6, eldritch blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10
ft.; SA spell-like abilities, invocations (least, lesser; CL 7th),
eldritch blast 4d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision,
regeneration 5, SR 19, detect magic, DR 2/cold iron,
deceive item; AL LE; SV Fort +10 (+11), Ref +7 (+8), Will
+14 (+15); Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha
22 (26). Complete Arcane, page 5.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +18, Knowledge
(arcana) +8, Listen +6, Spellcraft +17, Spot +6, Use Magic
Device +15 (+17 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of
Personality*, Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot,
Weapon Focus (eldritch blast). *Complete Adventurer.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility;
1/day – charm person (DC 19), cone of cold (DC 23), gaseous
form, polymorph, sleep (DC 19). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-
based.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight
as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its
normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal
damage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb
or body part can reattach it by holding the severed
member to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If
the head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be
reattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An
ogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts.
Invocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or
cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead,
he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities
known as invocations that require him to focus the wild
energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any
invocation he knows at will, with the following
qualifications:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using
an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes
attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted,
just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is
entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an
invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as
a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an
invocation
defensively,
by
making
a
successful
Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of
opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell
resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his
invocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can
dismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a
wizard can dismiss a spell.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is
10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma
modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a
warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can,
however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page
303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that
emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as
Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like
Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their
relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A
warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which
must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains
levels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete
Arcane.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 46
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At
16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not
suffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when
wearing light armor).
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock
learns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with
eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal
damage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects.
Eldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch
blast at will.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a
ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing
no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of
damage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock
rises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to
objects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level
spell.
If you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence
invocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the
level equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is
higher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise,
eldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence
invocations deal damage normally in addition to
imparting the effects described in the invocation
description. A warlock can apply only one blast shape
invocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a
single eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape
invocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the
same eldritch blast.
Detect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock
can use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level
equals his class level.
Damage
Reduction
(Su):
Fortified
by
the
supernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock
becomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and
above, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level
and every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage
reduction improves.
Deceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a
warlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic
items made for the use of other characters. When
making a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10
even if distracted or threatened.
Languages: Giant, Common, Infernal.
Warlock Invocations Known (4; DC 18 + equivalent
spell level; CL 7th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*,
miasmic cloud*; Lesser – flee the scene*. *Complete Arcane.
Possessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large
masterwork greatsword, ring of protection +1, vest of
resistance +1*, amulet of health +2, cloak of charisma +4, 2
potions of cure serious wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic
vestment +4. *Complete Arcane.
ENCOUNTER 7
Ruka: Cloud Giant Mummy; CR 14; Huge Undead
(Augmented Giant); HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 30, touch 9, flat-footed 29 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +12 natural,
+9 armor); BAB/Grp +12/+36; Atk +28 melee (4d6+26, +2
unholy gargantuan morningstar) or +26 melee (2d8+24 plus
disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+16, rock); Full Atk
+28/+23/+18 melee (4d6+26, +2 unholy gargantuan
morningstar) or +26 melee (2d8+24 plus disease, slam) or
+12 ranged (2d8+16, rock); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA
rock throwing, spell-like abilities; SQ low-light vision,
oversized weapon, rock catching, scent, DR 5/–,
vulnerability to fire; AL NE; SV Fort +10, Ref +6, Will
+12; Str 43, Dex 13, Con –, Int 8, Wis 20, Cha 17. Libris
Mortis, page 110.
Skills and Feats: Climb +20, Craft (weaponsmith) +9,
Diplomacy +5, Intimidate +13, Listen +17, Perform (harp)
+4, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17; Awesome Blow, Cleave,
Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will,
Power Attack.
Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified
creature, the viewer must make a Will save DC 21 or be
paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the
save is successful, the target cannot be affected again by
the mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. Save DC is
Cha-based.
Mummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease – natural
weapon, Fort save DC 21, incubation period 1 minute,
damage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. Unlike normal diseases,
mummy
rot
persists
until
the
victim
reaches
Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below.
Mummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease, a
character attempting to cast any conjuration (healing)
spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must make
a DC 20 caster level check, or else the spell has no effect
on the afflicted character. To eliminate mummy rot, the
curse must first be broken with break enchantment or
remove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for
wither spell), after which a caster level check is no longer
required to cast healing spells on the victim, and mummy
rot can be magically cured as any normal disease. An
afflicted character that dies of mummy rot shrivels away
into sand and blows away into nothing at the first wind.
Save DC is Cha-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day – levitate (self plus 2,000
lbs.), obscuring mist; 1/day – fog cloud. CL 15th; save DC is
Cha-based.
Rock
Throwing
(Ex):
Adult
giants
are
accomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus
on attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least
Large size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 lbs. each
(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of
the range increment varies with the giant’s variety (140 ft.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 47
for cloud giants). A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80
lbs. (Medium objects).
Rock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size
can catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of
similar shape). Once per round, a giant that would
normally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch
it as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a
Medium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile
provides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases
by that amount. The giant must be ready for and aware of
the attack in order to make a rock catching attempt.
Oversized Weapon (Ex): A cloud giant wields a
great,
two-handed
morningstar
(big
enough
for
Gargantuan creatures) without penalty.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Possessions: +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar, +1 huge
full plate, ring of major energy resistance (fire), winged boots,
cloak of turn resistance*, ring of counterspells (fireball). *Libris
Mortis.
Greater Air Necromental: CR 10; Huge Undead (Air,
Augmented Elemental); HD 21d12; hp 189; Init +14; Spd
fly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 28, touch 18, flat-footed 18 (-2
size, +10 Dex, +10 natural); BAB/Grp +15/+28; Atk +23
melee (2d8+5, slam); Full Atk +23 melee (2d8+5, 2 slams);
Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind,
create spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 ft.,
elemental traits, fast healing, DR 10/–; AL NE; SV Fort
+9, Ref +22, Will +9; Str 20, Dex 31, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10,
Cha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113.
Skills and Feats: Listen +14, Spot +14; Alertness, Blind-
fight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great
Fortitude, Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will, Mobility,
Spring Attack, Weapon FinesseB.
Create Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a
necromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental
1d4 days after death.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a
necromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative
level. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once
per round, regardless of the number of natural weapon
attacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative
level 24 hours later is DC 20. When a necromental
bestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a
critical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one
hour.
Fast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3
points of damage each round as long as it is within five
feet of some form of its element (air).
Air Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1
penalty on attack and damage rolls against an air
elemental.
Whirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself
into a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in
that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this
form, the elemental can move through the air or along a
surface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at
the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet
tall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental
controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet.
The elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does
not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental
enters the space another creature occupies. Another
creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches
or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or
through the creature’s square.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than
the elemental might take damage when caught in the
whirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature
must first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage.
It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked
up bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds,
automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A
creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round
to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage
but can leave if successful.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move
except to go where the elemental carries them or to
escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the
whirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed
on a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a
spell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to
dexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental
can have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at
one time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume.
The whirlwind can eject any carried creature
whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the
whirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always
ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home
plane.
As this room is filled with free floating debris, the
elemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris
20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The
cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond
five feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment,
while those further away have total concealment. Those
caught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration
check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell.
An elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam
attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Greater air elemental: save DC 25, 2d8 damage, 10 –
60 ft. tall.
Greasy Chill: Living Spell; CR 10; Large Ooze; HD
9d10+18; hp 81; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 15, touch 15, flat-
footed 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 deflection); BAB/Grp
+6/+12;
Atk/Full
Atk
+7
melee
(1d6+3,
slam);
Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze
traits, DR 10/magic, SR 19 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +4; Str 15, Dex 12, Con 15, Int –, Wis
12, Cha 15. Monster Manual 3, page 91.
Spell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s
slam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell
or spells making up the creature, as if it were within the
area of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for
the spell; the DC is 17 for the cone of cold and 13 for the
grease. This living spell is composed of a cone of cold spell
and a grease spell, both at CL 9th.
Engulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures
that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 48
make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs.
It merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as
many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of
opportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they
are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not
attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex
save (DC 17) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed
back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves
forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full
normal effects of the spells each round on the living
spell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 49
APPENDIX 5 – APL 14
ENCOUNTER 2
Giants Not on Alert
Fomorian Giant: CR 11; Huge Giant; HD 15d8+90; hp
158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.; AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2
size, +1 Dex, +9 natural, +3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31;
Atk +21 melee (4d6+18/19-20, huge heavy flail) or +21
melee (1d8+12, slam); Full Atk +21/+16/+11 melee
(4d6+18/19-20, huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, 2
slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA trample 2d10+18; SQ
DR 5/–, fast healing 5, scent, low-light vision; AL NE; SV
Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11,
Wis 13, Cha 9. Monster Manual II, page 105.
Skills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot
+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track.
Skills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn
each round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least
one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals
2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled
opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a
–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit
points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not
restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or
suffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow
or reattach lost body parts.
Scent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching
enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of
smell.
Possessions: huge hide armor, huge heavy flail.
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr10; CR 11; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+10d10+60; hp 132; Init +4;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1
natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +18 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3,
+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +14/+14
ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus)); Full Atk +16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +18/+13/+8 ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1
unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +18/+18/+13/+8
ranged (1d8+7/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort
+14, Ref +7, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10,
Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +2, Spot
+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow),
Improved Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid
Shot*, Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point
Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus
(composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite
longbow). *Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus),
quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral
breastplate, potion of cure moderate wounds.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr10; CR 11; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+10d8+36; hp 99; Init +6; Spd
40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 natural,
+6 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee (1d8+7/x3,
+1 battleaxe) or +19 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+15/+15 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +16/+11/+6
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +19/+14/+9 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +19/+19/+14/+9 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf
+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +8
(+12 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal
companion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE;
SV Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 19 (23), Con 16,
Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +11, Knowledge
(nature) +1, Listen +10, Move Silently +11, Search +4,
Spot +10, Survival +10 (+12 tracking); Endurance,
Improved Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid
Shot*, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid
Shot, Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow).
*Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (2/2, save DC 12 + spell level):
1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection from
energy (fire).
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure moderate wounds.
Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
4d8+8; hp 30; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves away
from the ranger); AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex,
+4 natural); BAB/Grp +3/+5; Atk/Full Atk +6 melee
(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
share spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2;
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +2 (+6 tracking by scent); Dodge,
TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (2): attack, defend.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 50
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
Giants on Alert
Fiendish Fomorian Giant: CR 13; Huge Giant
(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+90; hp 158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.;
AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural,
+3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; Atk +22 melee (4d6+19/19-
20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, slam); Full
Atk +22/+17/+12 melee (4d6+19/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail)
or +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.;
SA trample 2d10+18, smite good 1/day, natural weapons
are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of
overcoming DR; SQ DR 5/– and 10/magic, fast healing 5,
scent, low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft., cold/fire
resistance 10, SR 20 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort +15, Ref
+6, Will +6; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9.
Monster Manual II, page 105.
Skills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot
+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track.
Skills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn
each round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least
one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals
2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled
opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a
–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit
points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not
restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or
suffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow
or reattach lost body parts.
Scent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching
enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of
smell.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to
its HD total (max +20) against a good foe.
Possessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail.
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr12; CR 13; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d10+84; hp 165; Init +4;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1
natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +21 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3,
+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +17/+17
ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1
unholy
composite
longbow
(+4
Str
bonus))
or
+21/+21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60
ft.; AL NE; SV Fort +16 (+19), Ref +8 (+11), Will +6 (+9);
Str 18, Dex 19, Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +3, Spot
+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater
Weapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved
Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid Shot*,
Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus
(composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite
longbow). *Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus),
quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral
breastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3,
lesser bracers of archery, amulet of health +2.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr12; CR 13; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d8+56; hp 126; Init +6;
Spd 40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1
natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3,
+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+18/+18 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22/+17/+12 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22/+17/+12 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf
+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +10
(+14 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal
companion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE;
SV Fort +15 (+18), Ref +14 (+17), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, Dex
19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +12 (+32 in hills),
Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +12, Move Silently +12
(+32), Search +4, Spot +12, Survival +12 (+14 tracking);
Endurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow),
Improved
Precise
Shot,
Improved
Rapid
Shot*,
Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot,
Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete
Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (2/2/1, save DC 12 + spell
level): 1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection
from energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, lesser bracers of
archery, amulet of health +2.
Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves
away from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3
Dex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +7 melee
(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 51
share spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8,
Will +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge,
Mobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (3): attack, defend, track.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
ENCOUNTER 5
Giants Not on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn9; CR 16; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+9d6+68; hp 132;
Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-
footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection);
BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold,
+1 frost morningstar) or +18 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-
20, dagger) or +16 melee touch (rod of withering); Full Atk
+16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost
morningstar)
or
+18/+13/+8
ranged
(1d4+4
plus
poison/19-20, dagger) or +16/+11/+6 melee touch (rod of
withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack (DC 24),
spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion,
trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge,
+4 save against poison, poison use, hide in plain sight; AL
LE; SV Fort +9 (+12), Ref +20 (+23), Will +6 (+9); Str 18,
Dex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +18, Climb +11,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +14,
Hide +24, Intimidate +0, Jump +13, Listen +3, Move
Silently +28, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3,
Tumble +26, Use Magic Device +13; Combat Expertise,
Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will,
Mobility.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (5/4/4/3, save DC 15 + spell
level): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist,
true strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace,
spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection,
spectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, greater
invisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete
Arcane.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health
+2, gloves of dexterity +4, headband of intellect +4, rod of
withering, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate
wounds, potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, potion of
spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form.
Giants on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn9; CR 16; Medium
Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+9d6+68; hp 132;
Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31, touch 20, flat-
footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection);
BAB/Grp +11/+15; Atk +16 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold,
+1 frost morningstar) or +18 ranged (1d4+4 plus poison/19-
20, dagger) or +16 melee touch (rod of withering); Full Atk
+16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost
morningstar)
or
+18/+13/+8
ranged
(1d4+4
plus
poison/19-20, dagger) or +16/+11/+6 melee touch (rod of
withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack (DC 24),
spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding, evasion,
trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge,
+4 save against poison, poison use, hide in plain sight; AL
LE; SV Fort +9 (+12), Ref +20 (+23), Will +6 (+9); Str 18,
Dex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +18, Climb +11,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +14,
Hide +24, Intimidate +0, Jump +13, Listen +3, Move
Silently +28, Open Lock +12, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +3,
Tumble +26, Use Magic Device +13; Combat Expertise,
Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Iron Will,
Mobility.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (5/4/4/3, save DC 15 + spell
level): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist,
true strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace,
spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection,
spectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, greater
invisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete
Arcane.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health
+2, gloves of dexterity +4, headband of intellect +4, rod of
withering, potion of gaseous form, potion of cure moderate
wounds, potion of haste, potion of shield of faith +5, potion of
spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form.
Aglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock9; CR 17; Large
Giant; HD 5d8+9d6+56; hp 113; Init +8; Spd 40 ft., fly 40
ft. (good); AC 29, touch 16, flat-footed 25 (-1 size, +4 Dex,
+5 natural, +8 armor, +3 deflection); BAB/Grp +9/+17;
Atk
+13
melee
(3d6+6/19-20,
large
masterwork
greatsword) or +13 ranged touch (5d6, eldritch blast); Full
Atk +13/+8 melee (3d6+6/19-20, large masterwork
greatsword) or +13 ranged touch (5d6, eldritch blast);
Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA spell-like abilities,
invocations (least, lesser; CL 9th), eldritch blast 5d6; SQ
darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5, SR 19,
detect magic, DR 2/cold iron, deceive item, fiendish
resilience 1; AL LE; SV Fort +11 (+12), Ref +8 (+9), Will
+15 (+16); Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha
22 (26). Complete Arcane, page 5.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 52
Skills and Feats: Concentration +20, Knowledge
(arcana) +10, Listen +6, Spellcraft +19, Spot +6, Use Magic
Device +17 (+19 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of
Personality*, Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot,
Weapon Focus (eldritch blast). *Complete Adventurer.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility;
1/day – charm person (DC 19), cone of cold (DC 23), gaseous
form, polymorph, sleep (DC 19). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-
based.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight
as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its
normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal
damage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb
or body part can reattach it by holding the severed
member to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If
the head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be
reattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An
ogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts.
Invocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or
cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead,
he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities
known as invocations that require him to focus the wild
energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any
invocation he knows at will, with the following
qualifications:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using
an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes
attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted,
just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is
entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an
invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as
a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an
invocation
defensively,
by
making
a
successful
Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of
opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell
resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his
invocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can
dismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a
wizard can dismiss a spell.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is
10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma
modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a
warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can,
however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page
303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that
emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as
Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like
Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their
relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A
warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which
must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains
levels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete
Arcane.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At
16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not
suffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when
wearing light armor).
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock
learns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with
eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal
damage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects.
Eldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch
blast at will.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a
ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing
no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of
damage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock
rises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to
objects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level
spell.
If you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence
invocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the
level equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is
higher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise,
eldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence
invocations deal damage normally in addition to
imparting the effects described in the invocation
description. A warlock can apply only one blast shape
invocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a
single eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape
invocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the
same eldritch blast.
Detect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock
can use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level
equals his class level.
Damage
Reduction
(Su):
Fortified
by
the
supernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock
becomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and
above, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level
and every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage
reduction improves.
Deceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a
warlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic
items made for the use of other characters. When
making a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10
even if distracted or threatened.
Fiendish Resilience (Su): Beginning at 8th level, a
warlock knows the trick of fiendish resilience. Once per
day, as a free action, he can enter a state that lasts for 2
minutes. While in this state, the warlock gains fast
healing 1. At 13th level, a warlock’s fiendish resilience
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 53
improves to fast healing 2, and at 18th level, it improves to
fast healing 5.
Languages: Giant, Common, Infernal.
Warlock Invocations Known (5; DC 18 + equivalent
spell level; CL 9th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*,
miasmic cloud*; Lesser – flee the scene*, voracious dispelling*.
*Complete Arcane.
Possessions: large masterwork chain shirt, large
masterwork greatsword, ring of protection +3, vest of
resistance +1*, amulet of health +2, cloak of charisma +4, 2
potions of cure serious wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic
vestment +4. *Complete Arcane.
ENCOUNTER 7
Ruka: Evolved(x2) Cloud Giant Mummy; CR 16; Huge
Undead (Augmented Giant); HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +1;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 32, touch 9, flat-footed 31 (-2 size, +1 Dex,
+14 natural, +9 armor); BAB/Grp +12/+38; Atk +30 melee
(4d6+29, +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar) or +28 melee
(2d8+27 plus disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+18, rock);
Full Atk +30/+25/+20 melee (4d6+29, +2 unholy
gargantuan morningstar) or +28 melee (2d8+27 plus
disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+18, rock); Space/Reach
15 ft./15 ft.; SA rock throwing, spell-like abilities; SQ low-
light vision, oversized weapon, rock catching, scent, DR
5/–, vulnerability to fire, fast healing 3; AL NE; SV Fort
+10, Ref +6, Will +12; Str 47, Dex 13, Con –, Int 8, Wis 20,
Cha 21. Libris Mortis, pages 100 and 110.
Skills and Feats: Climb +22, Craft (weaponsmith) +9,
Diplomacy +7, Intimidate +15, Listen +17, Perform (harp)
+6, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17; Awesome Blow, Cleave,
Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will,
Power Attack.
Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified
creature, the viewer must make a Will save DC 23 or be
paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the
save is successful, the target cannot be affected again by
the mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. Save DC is
Cha-based.
Mummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease – natural
weapon, Fort save DC 23, incubation period 1 minute,
damage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. Unlike normal diseases,
mummy
rot
persists
until
the
victim
reaches
Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below.
Mummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease, a
character attempting to cast any conjuration (healing)
spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must make
a DC 20 caster level check, or else the spell has no effect
on the afflicted character. To eliminate mummy rot, the
curse must first be broken with break enchantment or
remove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for
wither spell), after which a caster level check is no longer
required to cast healing spells on the victim, and mummy
rot can be magically cured as any normal disease. An
afflicted character that dies of mummy rot shrivels away
into sand and blows away into nothing at the first wind.
Save DC is Cha-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day – levitate (self plus 2,000
lbs.), obscuring mist; 1/day – fog cloud. CL 15th; save DC is
Cha-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day – cone of cold (DC 20),
greater dispel magic. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based.
Rock
Throwing
(Ex):
Adult
giants
are
accomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus
on attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least
Large size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 lbs. each
(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of
the range increment varies with the giant’s variety (140 ft.
for cloud giants). A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80
lbs. (Medium objects).
Rock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size
can catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of
similar shape). Once per round, a giant that would
normally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch
it as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a
Medium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile
provides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases
by that amount. The giant must be ready for and aware of
the attack in order to make a rock catching attempt.
Oversized Weapon (Ex): A cloud giant wields a
great,
two-handed
morningstar
(big
enough
for
Gargantuan creatures) without penalty.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Possessions: +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar, +1 huge
full plate, ring of major energy resistance (fire), winged boots,
cloak of turn resistance*, ring of counterspells (fireball). *Libris
Mortis.
Elder Air Necromental: CR 12; Huge Undead (Air,
Augmented Elemental); HD 24d12; hp 216; Init +15; Spd
fly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 29, touch 19, flat-footed 18 (-2
size, +11 Dex, +10 natural); BAB/Grp +18/+32; Atk +27
melee (2d8+6, slam); Full Atk +27 melee (2d8+6, 2 slams);
Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind,
create spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60 ft.,
elemental traits, fast healing, DR 10/–; AL NE; SV Fort
+10, Ref +25, Will +10; Str 22, Dex 33, Con –, Int 1, Wis
10, Cha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113.
Skills and Feats: Listen +29, Spot +29; Alertness, Blind-
fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack,
Great Fortitude, Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will,
Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack, Weapon FinesseB.
Create Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a
necromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental
1d4 days after death.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a
necromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative
level. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once
per round, regardless of the number of natural weapon
attacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative
level 24 hours later is DC 22. When a necromental
bestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a
critical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one
hour.
Fast Healing (Ex): An air necromental heals 3
points of damage each round as long as it is within five
feet of some form of its element (air).
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 54
Air Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1
penalty on attack and damage rolls against an air
elemental.
Whirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself
into a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in
that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this
form, the elemental can move through the air or along a
surface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at
the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet
tall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental
controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet.
The elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does
not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental
enters the space another creature occupies. Another
creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches
or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or
through the creature’s square.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than
the elemental might take damage when caught in the
whirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature
must first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage.
It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked
up bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds,
automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A
creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round
to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage
but can leave if successful.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move
except to go where the elemental carries them or to
escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the
whirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed
on a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a
spell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a – 4 penalty to
dexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental
can have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at
one time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume.
The whirlwind can eject any carried creature
whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the
whirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always
ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home
plane.
As this room is filled with free floating debris, the
elemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris
20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The
cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond
five feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment,
while those further away have total concealment. Those
caught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration
check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell.
An elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam
attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Elder air elemental: save DC 28, 2d8 damage, 10 – 60
ft. tall.
Greasy Chill: Living Spell; CR 10; Large Ooze; HD
9d10+18; hp 81; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 15, touch 15, flat-
footed 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 deflection); BAB/Grp
+6/+12;
Atk/Full
Atk
+7
melee
(1d6+3,
slam);
Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze
traits, DR 10/magic, SR 19 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +4; Str 15, Dex 12, Con 15, Int –, Wis
12, Cha 15. Monster Manual 3, page 91.
Spell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s
slam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell
or spells making up the creature, as if it were within the
area of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for
the spell; the DC is 17 for the cone of cold and 13 for the
grease. This living spell is composed of a cone of cold spell
and a grease spell, both at CL 9th.
Engulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures
that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot
make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs.
It merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as
many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of
opportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they
are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not
attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex
save (DC 17) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed
back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves
forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full
normal effects of the spells each round on the living
spell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled.
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APPENDIX 6 – APL 16
ENCOUNTER 2
Giants Not on Alert
Fiendish Fomorian Giant: CR 13; Huge Giant
(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+90; hp 158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.;
AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural,
+3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; Atk +22 melee (4d6+19/19-
20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, slam); Full
Atk +22/+17/+12 melee (4d6+19/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail)
or +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.;
SA trample 2d10+18, smite good 1/day, natural weapons
are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of
overcoming DR; SQ DR 5/– and 10/magic, fast healing 5,
scent, low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft., cold/fire
resistance 10, SR 20 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort +15, Ref
+6, Will +6; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9.
Monster Manual II, page 105.
Skills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot
+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track.
Skills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn
each round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least
one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals
2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled
opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a
–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit
points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not
restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or
suffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow
or reattach lost body parts.
Scent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching
enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of
smell.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to
its HD total (max +20) against a good foe.
Possessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail.
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr12; CR 13; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d10+84; hp 165; Init +4;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +1
natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +21 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3,
+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +17/+17
ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1
unholy
composite
longbow
(+4
Str
bonus))
or
+21/+21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+9/19-20/x3, +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60
ft.; AL NE; SV Fort +16 (+19), Ref +8 (+11), Will +6 (+9);
Str 18, Dex 19, Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +3, Spot
+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater
Weapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved
Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid Shot*,
Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus
(composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite
longbow). *Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus),
quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral
breastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3,
lesser bracers of archery, amulet of health +2.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr12; CR 13; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d8+56; hp 126; Init +6;
Spd 40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1
natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3,
+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+18/+18 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22/+17/+12 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22/+17/+12 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf
+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +10
(+14 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal
companion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE;
SV Fort +15 (+18), Ref +14 (+17), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, Dex
19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +12 (+32 in hills),
Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +12, Move Silently +12
(+32), Search +4, Spot +12, Survival +12 (+14 tracking);
Endurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow),
Improved
Precise
Shot,
Improved
Rapid
Shot*,
Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot,
Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete
Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (2/2/1, save DC 12 + spell
level): 1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection
from energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, lesser bracers of
archery, amulet of health +2.
Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 56
away from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3
Dex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +7 melee
(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
share spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8,
Will +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge,
Mobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (3): attack, defend, track.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
Giants on Alert
Fiendish Fomorian Giant: CR 13; Huge Giant
(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+90; hp 158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.;
AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural,
+3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; Atk +22 melee (4d6+19/19-
20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, slam); Full
Atk +22/+17/+12 melee (4d6+19/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail)
or +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.;
SA trample 2d10+18, smite good 1/day, natural weapons
are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of
overcoming DR; SQ DR 10/adamantine (140 pts, from
stoneskin) and 5/– and 10/magic, fast healing 5, scent, low-
light vision, darkvision 60 ft., cold/fire resistance 10, SR
20 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 34,
Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9. Monster Manual II,
page 105.
Skills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot
+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track.
Skills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn
each round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least
one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals
2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled
opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a
–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit
points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not
restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or
suffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow
or reattach lost body parts.
Scent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching
enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of
smell.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to
its HD total (max +20) against a good foe.
Possessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail.
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr14; CR 15; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d10+96; hp 189; Init +6;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1
natural, +8 armor); BAB/Grp +15/+19; Atk +20 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +26 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3,
+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22
ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus)); Full Atk +20/+15/+10 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1
unholy
composite
longbow
(+4
Str
bonus))
or
+26/+26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60
ft.; AL NE; SV Fort +17 (+20), Ref +10 (+13), Will +6 (+9);
Str 18, Dex 20 (22), Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Jump +8, Listen +3, Spot
+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater
Weapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved
Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid Shot*,
Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Ranged Disarm*, Ranged
Pin*, Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Weapon
Specialization (composite longbow). *Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus),
quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +3 mithral
breastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3,
greater bracers of archery, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity
+2.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr12; CR 13; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d8+56; hp 126; Init +6;
Spd 40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1
natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3,
+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+18/+18 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22/+17/+12 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22/+17/+12 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf
+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +10
(+14 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal
companion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE;
SV Fort +15 (+18), Ref +14 (+17), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, Dex
19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +12 (+32 in hills),
Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +12, Move Silently +12
(+32), Search +4, Spot +12, Survival +12 (+14 tracking);
Endurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow),
Improved
Precise
Shot,
Improved
Rapid
Shot*,
Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot,
Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete
Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (2/2/1, save DC 12 + spell
level): 1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection
from energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 57
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, lesser bracers of
archery, amulet of health +2.
Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves
away from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3
Dex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +7 melee
(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
share spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8,
Will +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge,
Mobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (3): attack, defend, track.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
Gnoll Druid: Male Gnoll Drd14; CR 15; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d8+64+32; hp 144 (176);
Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 29, touch 12, flat-footed 27 (+2 Dex,
+6 natural, +8 armor, +3 shield); BAB/Grp +11/+13; Atk
+13 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +14 melee (1d6+3/18-20, +1
scimitar); Full Atk +13 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +14/+9/+4
melee (1d6+3/18-20, +1 scimitar); SA –; SQ darkvision 60
ft., animal companion (Mauler the dire bear), wild
empathy +15 (+19 with animal companion), nature sense,
woodland stride, trackless step, resist nature’s lure,
venom immunity, a thousand faces, wild shape 5/day
(Large, Tiny, plant); AL NE; SV Fort +17, Ref +6, Will +15;
Str 14, Dex 10 (14), Con 18 (22), Int 8, Wis 18 (22), Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +15, Handle Animal
+4, Knowledge (nature) +7, Listen +13, Ride +2, Spellcraft
+7, Spot +13, Survival +13; Blindsense*, Combat Casting,
Natural Spell, Oaken Resilience**, Spell Penetration,
Track. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete Divine.
Languages: Gnoll, Druidic, Giant.
Druid Spells Prepared (6/7/7/5/5/4/4/2, save DC 16 +
spell level): 0 – create water, cure minor wounds, detect magic,
know direction, light, read magic; 1st – cure light wounds,
entangle, faerie fire, longstrider, produce flame x2, speak with
animals; 2nd – barkskin, bear’s endurance, briar web*, cat’s
grace, creeping cold*, lesser restoration, tree shape; 3rd – call
lightning, infestation of maggots*, greater magic fang (on
Mauler), sleet storm, vigor*; 4th – dispel magic, flame strike,
freedom of movement, ice storm, murderous mist*; 5th – animal
growth, baleful polymorph, stoneskin (on formian), wall of
thorns; 6th – fire seeds, greater dispel magic, liveoak, miasma*;
7th – heal, true seeing. * Complete Divine.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, belt pouch, 5
days trail rations, sling and 20 bullets, wand of cure serious
wounds (CL 5th, 20 charges), periapt of wisdom +4, potion of
displacement, +1 scimitar, +1 wild heavy darkwood shield, +3
wild dragonhide (silver) breastplate.
Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: Large Animal;
HD 12d8+51; hp 111; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, touch 10,
flat-footed 16 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +7 natural); BAB/Grp
+9/+23; Atk +22 melee (2d4+13, claw); Full Atk +22 melee
(2d4+13, 2 claws) or +13 melee (2d8+5, bite); SA
improved grab; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, share
spells; AL N; SV Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +9; Str 31, Dex 13,
Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +13;
Alertness, Endurance, Run, Toughness, Weapon Focus
(claw).
Tricks (7): attack, defend, down, fetch, guard, stay,
track.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire bear
must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a
grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of
opportunity.
ENCOUNTER 5
Giants Not on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat1; CR 18;
Medium Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+10d6+
1d6+76; hp 147; Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 30,
touch 19, flat-footed 30 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +4
deflection); BAB/Grp +12/+16; Atk +17 melee (1d8+7
plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +19 ranged (1d4+4
plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +17 melee touch (rod of
withering); Full Atk +17/+12/+7 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6
cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +19/+14/+9 ranged (1d4+4
plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +17/+12/+7 melee touch
(rod of withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack (DC
25), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding,
evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved
uncanny dodge, +5 save against poison, poison use, hide
in plain sight, fast acrobatics, kip up, steady stance; AL
LE; SV Fort +9 (+12), Ref +23 (+26), Will +6 (+9); Str 18,
Dex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, Cha 8.
Complete Adventurer, page 83.
Skills and Feats: Balance +16, Bluff +19, Climb +11,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +20,
Hide +25, Intimidate +0, Jump +13, Listen +3, Move
Silently +29, Open Lock +12, Search +6, Sleight of Hand
+9, Spot +3, Tumble +26, Use Magic Device +13; Combat
Expertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative,
Iron Will, Mobility, Spring Attack.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Fast Acrobatics (Ex): A thief-acrobat can avoid the
normal penalties for accelerated movement while using
acrobatic talents. He ignores the normal -5 penalty when
making a Balance check while moving at her full normal
speed. She can climb at half of her speed as a move action
without taking a -5 penalty on her Climb check. Finally,
she can tumble at her full speed without taking the
normal -10 penalty on her Climb check.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
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Kip Up (Ex): A thief-acrobat can stand up from
prone as a free action that does not provoke an attack of
opportunity. This ability works only if the thief-acrobat
wears light or no armor and carries no more than a light
load.
Steady Stance (Ex): A thief-acrobat remains stable
on his feet when others have difficulty standing. He is
not considered flat-footed while balancing or climbing,
and adds his class level as a bonus to remain climbing or
balancing when damage is taken.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (5/4/4/4, save DC 15 + spell
level): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist,
true strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace,
spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection,
spectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, glibness, greater
invisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete
Arcane.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), ring of protection +4, scarab of protection,
cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +4,
headband of intellect +4, rod of withering, potion of gaseous
form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of
spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form.
Giants on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat1; CR 18;
Medium Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+10d6+
1d6+76; hp 147; Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 30,
touch 19, flat-footed 30 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +4
deflection); BAB/Grp +12/+16; Atk +17 melee (1d8+7
plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +19 ranged (1d4+4
plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +17 melee touch (rod of
withering); Full Atk +17/+12/+7 melee (1d8+7 plus 1d6
cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +19/+14/+9 ranged (1d4+4
plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +17/+12/+7 melee touch
(rod of withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack (DC
25), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding,
evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved
uncanny dodge, +5 save against poison, poison use, hide
in plain sight, fast acrobatics, kip up, steady stance; AL
LE; SV Fort +9 (+12), Ref +23 (+26), Will +6 (+9); Str 18,
Dex 20 (24), Con 16 (18), Int 16 (20), Wis 8, Cha 8.
Complete Adventurer, page 83.
Skills and Feats: Balance +16, Bluff +19, Climb +11,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +20,
Hide +25, Intimidate +0, Jump +13, Listen +3, Move
Silently +29, Open Lock +12, Search +6, Sleight of Hand
+9, Spot +3, Tumble +26, Use Magic Device +13; Combat
Expertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative,
Iron Will, Mobility, Spring Attack.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Fast Acrobatics (Ex): A thief-acrobat can avoid the
normal penalties for accelerated movement while using
acrobatic talents. He ignores the normal -5 penalty when
making a Balance check while moving at her full normal
speed. She can climb at half of her speed as a move action
without taking a -5 penalty on her Climb check. Finally,
she can tumble at her full speed without taking the
normal -10 penalty on her Climb check.
Kip Up (Ex): A thief-acrobat can stand up from
prone as a free action that does not provoke an attack of
opportunity. This ability works only if the thief-acrobat
wears light or no armor and carries no more than a light
load.
Steady Stance (Ex): A thief-acrobat remains stable
on his feet when others have difficulty standing. He is
not considered flat-footed while balancing or climbing,
and adds his class level as a bonus to remain climbing or
balancing when damage is taken.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (5/4/4/4, save DC 15 + spell
level): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist,
true strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace,
spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection,
spectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, glibness, greater
invisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete
Arcane.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), ring of protection +4, scarab of protection,
cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +4,
headband of intellect +4, rod of withering, potion of gaseous
form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of
spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form.
Aglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock11; CR 19; Large
Giant; HD 5d8+11d6+64; hp 128; Init +8; Spd 40 ft., fly 40
ft. (good); AC 29, touch 16, flat-footed 25 (-1 size, +4 Dex,
+5 natural, +8 armor, +3 deflection); BAB/Grp +11/+19;
Atk +16 melee (1d8+6, warlock’s scepter) or +17 ranged
touch (6d6, eldritch chain) or +17 ranged touch (6d6,
eldritch chain/vitriolic blast); Full Atk +16/+11/+6 melee
(1d8+6, warlock’s scepter) or +17 ranged touch (6d6, eldritch
chain) or +17 ranged touch (6d6, eldritch chain/vitriolic
blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA spell-like abilities,
invocations (least, lesser, greater; CL 11th), eldritch blast
6d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5,
SR 19, detect magic, DR 3/cold iron, deceive item, fiendish
resilience 1, acid/fire resistance 5; AL LE; SV Fort +11
(+14), Ref +10 (+13), Will +16 (+19); Str 18, Dex 18, Con
16 (18), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 23 (27). Complete Arcane, page
5.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +22, Knowledge
(arcana) +12, Listen +6, Spellcraft +21, Spot +6, Use Magic
Device +19 (+21 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of
Personality*, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes,
Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (eldritch blast). *Complete
Adventurer.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility;
1/day – charm person (DC 19), cone of cold (DC 23), gaseous
form, polymorph, sleep (DC 19). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-
based.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 59
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight
as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its
normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal
damage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb
or body part can reattach it by holding the severed
member to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If
the head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be
reattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An
ogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts.
Invocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or
cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead,
he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities
known as invocations that require him to focus the wild
energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any
invocation he knows at will, with the following
qualifications:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using
an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes
attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted,
just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is
entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an
invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as
a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an
invocation
defensively,
by
making
a
successful
Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of
opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell
resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his
invocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can
dismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a
wizard can dismiss a spell.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is
10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma
modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a
warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can,
however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page
303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that
emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as
Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like
Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their
relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A
warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which
must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains
levels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete
Arcane.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At
16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not
suffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when
wearing light armor).
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock
learns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with
eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal
damage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects.
Eldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch
blast at will.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a
ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing
no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of
damage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock
rises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to
objects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level
spell.
If you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence
invocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the
level equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is
higher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise,
eldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence
invocations deal damage normally in addition to
imparting the effects described in the invocation
description. A warlock can apply only one blast shape
invocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a
single eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape
invocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the
same eldritch blast.
Detect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock
can use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level
equals his class level.
Damage
Reduction
(Su):
Fortified
by
the
supernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock
becomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and
above, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level
and every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage
reduction improves.
Deceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a
warlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic
items made for the use of other characters. When
making a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10
even if distracted or threatened.
Fiendish Resilience (Su): Beginning at 8th level, a
warlock knows the trick of fiendish resilience. Once per
day, as a free action, he can enter a state that lasts for 2
minutes. While in this state, the warlock gains fast
healing 1. At 13th level, a warlock’s fiendish resilience
improves to fast healing 2, and at 18th level, it improves to
fast healing 5.
Energy Resistance (Su): At 10th level and higher, a
warlock has resistance 5 against any two of the following
energy types: acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic. Once
the types are chosen, this energy resistance cannot be
changed. At 20th level, a warlock gains resistance 10
against the two selected types of energy.
Languages: Giant, Common, Infernal.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 60
Warlock Invocations Known (7; DC 18 + equivalent
spell level; CL 11th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*,
miasmic cloud*; Lesser – eldritch chain*, flee the scene*,
voracious dispelling*; Greater – vitriolic blast*. *Complete
Arcane.
Possessions: large masterwork chain shirt, ring of
protection +3, vest of resistance +3*, warlock’s scepter*, amulet of
health +2, cloak of charisma +4, 2 potions of cure serious
wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic vestment +4. *Complete
Arcane.
ENCOUNTER 7
Ruka: Evolved(x2) Cloud Giant Mummy; CR 16; Huge
Undead (Augmented Giant); HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +1;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 32, touch 9, flat-footed 31 (-2 size, +1 Dex,
+14 natural, +9 armor); BAB/Grp +12/+38; Atk +30 melee
(4d6+29, +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar) or +28 melee
(2d8+27 plus disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+18, rock);
Full Atk +30/+25/+20 melee (4d6+29, +2 unholy
gargantuan morningstar) or +28 melee (2d8+27 plus
disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+18, rock); Space/Reach
15 ft./15 ft.; SA rock throwing, spell-like abilities; SQ low-
light vision, oversized weapon, rock catching, scent, DR
5/–, vulnerability to fire, fast healing 3; AL NE; SV Fort
+10, Ref +6, Will +12; Str 47, Dex 13, Con –, Int 8, Wis 20,
Cha 21. Libris Mortis, pages 100 and 110.
Skills and Feats: Climb +22, Craft (weaponsmith) +9,
Diplomacy +7, Intimidate +15, Listen +17, Perform (harp)
+6, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17; Awesome Blow, Cleave,
Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will,
Power Attack.
Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified
creature, the viewer must make a Will save DC 23 or be
paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the
save is successful, the target cannot be affected again by
the mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. Save DC is
Cha-based.
Mummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease – natural
weapon, Fort save DC 23, incubation period 1 minute,
damage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. Unlike normal diseases,
mummy
rot
persists
until
the
victim
reaches
Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below.
Mummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease, a
character attempting to cast any conjuration (healing)
spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must make
a DC 20 caster level check, or else the spell has no effect
on the afflicted character. To eliminate mummy rot, the
curse must first be broken with break enchantment or
remove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for
wither spell), after which a caster level check is no longer
required to cast healing spells on the victim, and mummy
rot can be magically cured as any normal disease. An
afflicted character that dies of mummy rot shrivels away
into sand and blows away into nothing at the first wind.
Save DC is Cha-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day – levitate (self plus 2,000
lbs.), obscuring mist; 1/day – fog cloud. CL 15th; save DC is
Cha-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day – cone of cold (DC 20),
greater dispel magic. CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based.
Rock
Throwing
(Ex):
Adult
giants
are
accomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus
on attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least
Large size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 lbs. each
(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of
the range increment varies with the giant’s variety (140 ft.
for cloud giants). A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80
lbs. (Medium objects).
Rock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size
can catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of
similar shape). Once per round, a giant that would
normally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch
it as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a
Medium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile
provides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases
by that amount. The giant must be ready for and aware of
the attack in order to make a rock catching attempt.
Oversized Weapon (Ex): A cloud giant wields a
great,
two-handed
morningstar
(big
enough
for
Gargantuan creatures) without penalty.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Possessions: +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar, +1 huge
full plate, ring of major energy resistance (fire), winged boots,
cloak of turn resistance*, ring of counterspells (fireball). *Libris
Mortis.
Tempest Necromental: CR 17; Gargantuan Undead
(Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Augmented Elemental); HD
24d12; hp 216; Init -2; Spd fly 60 ft. (good); AC 26, touch
14, flat-footed 26 (-4 size, -2 Dex, +12 natural, +10
deflection); BAB/Grp +18/+39; Atk +23 melee (2d8+13,
slam); Full Atk +23 melee (2d8+13, 2 slams); Space/Reach
20 ft./10 ft.; SA burn, drench, spell-like abilities,
whirlwind, create spawn, energy drain; SQ darkvision 60
ft., elemental traits, fast healing, defensive aura, DR 10/–,
elemental mastery; AL NE; SV Fort +16, Ref +12, Will +8;
Str 29, Dex 6, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 1. Libris Mortis,
page 113; Monster Manual 2, page 193.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Listen +11, Spot
+11; Alertness, Awesome Blow, Cleave, Empower Spell-
Like Ability (chill touch), Endurance, Flyby Attack, Great
Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Power
Attack.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – chill touch, gust of wind,
lightning bolt, wind wall. CL 9th; save DC is Cha-based.
Create Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a
necromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental
1d4 days after death.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a
necromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative
level. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once
per round, regardless of the number of natural weapon
attacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative
level 24 hours later is DC 22. When a necromental
bestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a
critical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one
hour.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 61
Fast Healing (Ex): A tempest necromental heals 3
points of damage each round as long as it is within five
feet of some form of its element (air, earth, fire, or water).
Elemental Mastery (Ex): A tempest gains a +1
bonus on attack and damage rolls if both it and its foe are
in contact with any of the four elements (air, earth, fire,
or water)
Defensive Aura (Sp): A tempest has a +10
deflection bonus to AC. This ability is always in effect.
Burn (Ex): Anyone hit by a tempest’s slam attack
must succeed at a Reflex save (DC 31) or catch fire. The
flame burns for 1d4 rounds. A burning creature can take
a move action to put out the fire. Any creature hitting a
tempest with a natural weapon or unarmed attack takes
fire damage as though hit by its slam attack and also
catches fire unless it succeeds at a Reflex save. Save DC is
Str-based.
Drench (Ex): The tempest’s touch puts out torches,
campfires, exposed lanterns, and other open flames of
nonmagical origin if these are of Huge size or smaller.
The creature can dispel magical fire it touches as if by
dispel magic (CL = HD). The tempest can choose not to
activate this ability (in order to not extinguish the flame
of an opponent affected by its burn attack, for example.
Whirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself
into a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in
that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this
form, the elemental can move through the air or along a
surface at its fly speed. The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at
the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet
tall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental
controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet.
The elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does
not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental
enters the space another creature occupies. Another
creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches
or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or
through the creature’s square.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than
the elemental might take damage when caught in the
whirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature
must first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage.
It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked
up bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds,
automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A
creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round
to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage
but can leave if successful.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move
except to go where the elemental carries them or to
escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the
whirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed
on a Concentration check (DC 31) to cast a spell.
Creatures caught in whirlwind take a –4 penalty to
Dexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental
can have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at
one time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume.
The whirlwind can eject any carried creature
whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the
whirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always
ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home
plane.
As this room is filled with free floating debris, the
elemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris
20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The
cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond
five feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment,
while those further away have total concealment. Those
caught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration
check (DC 31) to cast a spell.
An elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam
attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Tempest: save DC 31, 4d6 damage, 10 – 50 ft. tall.
Greater Dispelling Fire: Living Spell; CR 15; Huge
Ooze; HD 15d10+45; hp 147; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 15,
touch 15, flat-footed 14 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +6 deflection);
BAB/Grp +11/+22; Atk/Full Atk +12 melee (1d8+3, slam);
Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze
traits, DR 10/magic, SR 25 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 16, Dex 13, Con 16, Int –, Wis
13, Cha 16. Monster Manual 3, page 91.
Spell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s
slam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell
or spells making up the creature, as if it were within the
area of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for
the spell; the DC is 18 for the flame strike. This living
spell is composed of a greater dispel magic spell and a flame
strike spell, both at CL 15th.
Engulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures
that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot
make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs.
It merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as
many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of
opportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they
are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not
attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex
save (DC 19) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed
back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves
forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full
normal effects of the spells each round on the living
spell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 62
APPENDIX 7 – APL 18
ENCOUNTER 2
Giants Not on Alert
Fiendish Fomorian Giant: CR 13; Huge Giant
(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+90; hp 158; Init +1; Spd: 40 ft.;
AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural,
+3 armor); BAB/Grp +11/+31; Atk +22 melee (4d6+19/19-
20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +21 melee (1d8+12, slam); Full
Atk +22/+17/+12 melee (4d6+19/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail)
or +21 melee (1d8+12, 2 slams); Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.;
SA trample 2d10+18, smite good 1/day, natural weapons
are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of
overcoming DR; SQ DR 10/adamantine (140 pts, from
stoneskin) and 5/– and 10/magic, fast healing 5, scent, low-
light vision, darkvision 60 ft., cold/fire resistance 10, SR
20 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 34,
Dex 12, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9. Monster Manual II,
page 105.
Skills and Feats: Listen +3, Move Silently +29, Spot
+21; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track.
Skills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn
each round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least
one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals
2d10+18 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled
opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a
–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit
points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not
restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or
suffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow
or reattach lost body parts.
Scent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching
enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of
smell.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to
its HD total (max +20) against a good foe.
Possessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail.
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr14; CR 15; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d10+96; hp 189; Init +6;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1
natural, +8 armor); BAB/Grp +15/+19; Atk +20 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +26 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3,
+1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22
ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4
Str bonus)); Full Atk +20/+15/+10 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1
battleaxe) or +26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1
unholy
composite
longbow
(+4
Str
bonus))
or
+26/+26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ darkvision 60
ft.; AL NE; SV Fort +17 (+20), Ref +10 (+13), Will +6 (+9);
Str 18, Dex 20 (22), Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Jump +8, Listen +3, Spot
+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater
Weapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved
Critical (composite longbow), Improved Rapid Shot*,
Improved Toughness*, Iron Will, Manyshot, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Ranged Disarm*, Ranged
Pin*, Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Weapon
Specialization (composite longbow). *Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus),
quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +3 mithral
breastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3,
greater bracers of archery, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity
+2.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr12; CR 13; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+12d8+56; hp 126; Init +6;
Spd 40 ft.; AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1
natural, +6 armor); BAB/Grp +13/+17; Atk +18 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3,
+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+18/+18 ranged (1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +18/+13/+8
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +22/+17/+12 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +22/+22/+17/+12 ranged
(1d8+5/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf
+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +10
(+14 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal
companion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion; AL NE;
SV Fort +15 (+18), Ref +14 (+17), Will +6 (+9); Str 18, Dex
19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +12 (+32 in hills),
Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +12, Move Silently +12
(+32), Search +4, Spot +12, Survival +12 (+14 tracking);
Endurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow),
Improved
Precise
Shot,
Improved
Rapid
Shot*,
Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot,
Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete
Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (2/2/1, save DC 12 + spell
level): 1st – entangle, longstrider; 2nd – cat’s grace, protection
from energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete Adventurer.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +1 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, lesser bracers of
archery, amulet of health +2.
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Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves
away from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3
Dex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +7 melee
(1d6+3, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
share spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8,
Will +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge,
Mobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (3): attack, defend, track.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
Gnoll Druid: Male Gnoll Drd14; CR 15; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d8+64+32; hp 144 (176);
Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 29, touch 12, flat-footed 27 (+2 Dex,
+6 natural, +8 armor, +3 shield); BAB/Grp +11/+13; Atk
+13 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +14 melee (1d6+3/18-20, +1
scimitar); Full Atk +13 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +14/+9/+4
melee (1d6+3/18-20, +1 scimitar); SA –; SQ darkvision 60
ft., animal companion (Mauler the dire bear), wild
empathy +15 (+19 with animal companion), nature sense,
woodland stride, trackless step, resist nature’s lure,
venom immunity, a thousand faces, wild shape 5/day
(Large, Tiny, plant); AL NE; SV Fort +17, Ref +6, Will +15;
Str 14, Dex 10 (14), Con 18 (22), Int 8, Wis 18 (22), Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +15, Handle Animal
+4, Knowledge (nature) +7, Listen +13, Ride +2, Spellcraft
+7, Spot +13, Survival +13; Blindsense*, Combat Casting,
Natural Spell, Oaken Resilience**, Spell Penetration,
Track. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete Divine.
Languages: Gnoll, Druidic, Giant.
Druid Spells Prepared (6/7/7/5/5/4/4/2, save DC 16 +
spell level): 0 – create water, cure minor wounds, detect magic,
know direction, light, read magic; 1st – cure light wounds,
entangle, faerie fire, longstrider, produce flame x2, speak with
animals; 2nd – barkskin, bear’s endurance, briar web*, cat’s
grace, creeping cold*, lesser restoration, tree shape; 3rd – call
lightning, infestation of maggots*, greater magic fang (on
Mauler), sleet storm, vigor*; 4th – dispel magic, flame strike,
freedom of movement, ice storm, murderous mist*; 5th – animal
growth, baleful polymorph, stoneskin (on formian), wall of
thorns; 6th – fire seeds, greater dispel magic, liveoak, miasma*;
7th – heal, true seeing. * Complete Divine.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, belt pouch, 5
days trail rations, sling and 20 bullets, wand of cure serious
wounds (CL 5th, 20 charges), periapt of wisdom +4, potion of
displacement, +1 scimitar, +1 wild heavy darkwood shield, +3
wild dragonhide (silver) breastplate.
Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: Large Animal;
HD 12d8+51; hp 111; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, touch 10,
flat-footed 16 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +7 natural); BAB/Grp
+9/+23; Atk +22 melee (2d4+13, claw); Full Atk +22 melee
(2d4+13, 2 claws) or +13 melee (2d8+5, bite); SA
improved grab; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, share
spells; AL N; SV Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +9; Str 31, Dex 13,
Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +13;
Alertness, Endurance, Run, Toughness, Weapon Focus
(claw).
Tricks (7): attack, defend, down, fetch, guard, stay,
track.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire bear
must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a
grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of
opportunity.
Giants on Alert
Fiendish Fomorian Giant Bbn2: CR 15; Huge Giant
(Extraplanar); HD 15d8+2d12+153; hp 223; Init +2; Spd:
50 ft.; AC 27, touch 15, flat-footed 27 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +9
natural, +3 armor, +5 deflection); BAB/Grp +13/+35; Atk
+26 melee (4d6+22/19-20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +25 melee
(1d8+14, slam); Full Atk +26/+21/+16 melee (4d6+22/19-
20, +1 huge heavy flail) or +25 melee (1d8+14, 2 slams);
Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; SA trample 2d10+18, smite
good 1/day, natural weapons are treated as magic
weapons for the purpose of overcoming DR, rage 1/day;
SQ fast movement, uncanny dodge, DR 10/adamantine
(150 pts, from stoneskin) and 5/– and 10/magic, fast
healing 5, scent, low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft.,
cold/fire resistance 10, SR 22 (HD + 5); AL NE; SV Fort
+21, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 38, Dex 15, Con 28, Int 10, Wis
14, Cha 9. Monster Manual II, page 105.
Skills and Feats: Listen +12, Move Silently +30, Spot
+22; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Track.
Skills: A fomorian has a +10 racial bonus to Move
Silently checks.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn
each round, a fomorian can trample opponents at least
one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals
2d10+21 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled
opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a
–4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 29) for half damage.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Fomorian regains lost hit
points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not
restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or
suffocation, and it does not allow the fomorian to regrow
or reattach lost body parts.
Scent (Ex): A fomorian can detect approaching
enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of
smell.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to
its HD total (max +20) against a good foe.
Possessions: huge hide armor, +1 huge heavy flail, potion
of shield of faith +5.
Gnoll Archer: Male Gnoll Ftr16; CR 17; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+16d10+108; hp 213; Init +11;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 33, touch 19, flat-footed 28 (+5 Dex, +6
natural, +8 armor, +4 deflection); BAB/Grp +17/+21; Atk
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+22 melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +29 ranged
(1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str
bonus)) or +25/+25 ranged (1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +22/+17/+12/+7
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +29/+24/+19/+14 ranged
(1d8+10/19-20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str
bonus)) or +29/+29/+24/+19/+14 ranged (1d8+10/19-
20/x3, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA –; SQ
darkvision 60 ft.; AL NE; SV Fort +18 (+21), Ref +12 (+15),
Will +7 (+10); Str 18, Dex 20 (24), Con 18 (20), Int 6, Wis
10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +9, Jump +9, Listen +3, Spot
+3; Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Greater
Weapon Specialization (composite longbow), Improved
Critical (composite longbow), Improved Initiative,
Improved Rapid Shot*, Improved Toughness*, Iron Will,
Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot,
Ranged Disarm*, Ranged Pin*, Raised Sunder*, Weapon
Focus (composite longbow), Weapon Specialization
(composite longbow). *Complete Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll, Giant.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, waterskin, whetstone,
+1 battleaxe, +1 unholy composite longbow (+4 Str bonus),
quiver (40 arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +3 mithral
breastplate, potion of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3,
greater bracers of archery, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity
+4, boots of levitation, ring of protection +4, potion of barkskin
+5.
Gnoll Ranger: Male Gnoll Rgr14; CR 15; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+14d8+64; hp 144; Init +6;
Spd 40 ft.; AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1
natural, +8 armor); BAB/Grp +15/+19; Atk +20 melee
(1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +25 ranged (1d8+6/19-20/x3,
+1 bane (human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or
+21/+21 ranged (1d8+6/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking
composite longbow (+4 Str bonus)); Full Atk +20/+15/+10
melee (1d8+7/x3, +1 battleaxe) or +25/+20/+15 ranged
(1d8+6/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)) or +25/+25/+20/+15 ranged
(1d8+6/19-20/x3, +1 bane (human) seeking composite
longbow (+4 Str bonus)); SA favored enemies (human +6, elf
+2, halfling +2); SQ darkvision 60 ft., wild empathy +12
(+16 with animal companion), woodland stride, animal
companion (Scar the wolf), swift tracker, evasion,
camouflage; AL NE; SV Fort +16 (+19), Ref +15 (+18),
Will +8 (+11); Str 18, Dex 19 (23), Con 16 (18), Int 6, Wis
14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +5, Hide +13 (+33 in hills),
Knowledge (nature) +2, Listen +13, Move Silently +13
(+33), Search +5, Spot +13, Survival +13 (+15 tracking);
Endurance, Improved Critical (composite longbow),
Improved Precise Shot, Improved Rapid Shot*, Iron Will,
Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot,
Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow). *Complete
Warrior.
Languages: Gnoll.
Ranger Spells Prepared (3/2/1, save DC 12 + spell
level): 1st – entangle, longstrider, resist energy (cold); 2nd – cat’s
grace, protection from energy (fire); 3rd – forestfold*. *Complete
Adventurer.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, iron pot, belt
pouch, 5 days trail rations, torch, crowbar, flint and steel,
grappling hook, 50 ft. silk rope, +1 battleaxe, +1 bane
(human) seeking composite longbow (+4 Str bonus), quiver (40
arrows, 20 adamantine arrows), +3 mithral breastplate, potion
of cure serious wounds, cloak of resistance +3, greater bracers of
archery, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +2.
Scar, Wolf Animal Companion: Medium Animal; HD
6d8+12; hp 45; Init +3; Spd 50 ft. (60 ft. until it moves
away from the ranger); AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3
Dex, +6 natural); BAB/Grp +4/+6; Atk/Full Atk +11 melee
(1d6+7, bite); SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent, link,
share spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8,
Will +3; Str 15, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +3, Move Silently +4,
Spot +3, Survival +4 (+8 tracking by scent); Dodge,
Mobility, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite).
Tricks (3): attack, defend, track.
Skills: Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can
attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free
action without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the wolf.
Gnoll Druid: Male Gnoll Drd16; CR 17; Medium
Humanoid (Gnoll); HD 2d8+16d8+72+36; hp 162 (198);
Init +2; Spd 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (good); AC 33, touch 16, flat-
footed 31 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, +8 armor, +3 shield, +4
deflection); BAB/Grp +13/+15; Atk +15 ranged (1d4+2,
sling) or +16 melee (1d6+3/18-20, +1 scimitar); Full Atk
+15 ranged (1d4+2, sling) or +16/+11/+6 melee
(1d6+3/18-20, +1 scimitar); SA –; SQ darkvision 60 ft.,
animal companion (Mauler the dire bear), wild empathy
+17 (+21 with animal companion), nature sense,
woodland stride, trackless step, resist nature’s lure,
venom immunity, a thousand faces, wild shape (Large,
Tiny, plant, Huge), wild shape 1/day (elemental),
timeless body; AL NE; SV Fort +18, Ref +7, Will +17; Str
14, Dex 10 (14), Con 18 (22), Int 8, Wis 18 (24), Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +17, Handle Animal
+4, Knowledge (nature) +7, Listen +14, Ride +4, Spellcraft
+7, Spot +14, Survival +16; Blindsense*, Combat Casting,
Greater
Spell
Penetration, Natural Spell, Oaken
Resilience**, Spell Penetration, Track. *Complete
Adventurer, **Complete Divine.
Languages: Gnoll, Druidic, Giant.
Druid Spells Prepared (6/7/7/7/5/5/4/4/2, save DC 17
+ spell level): 0 – create water, cure minor wounds, detect
magic, know direction, light, read magic; 1st – cure light
wounds, entangle, faerie fire, longstrider, produce flame x2, speak
with animals; 2nd – barkskin, bear’s endurance, briar web*, cat’s
grace, creeping cold*, lesser restoration, tree shape; 3rd – call
lightning, infestation of maggots*, greater magic fang x2 (on
Mauler and Scar), protection from energy, sleet storm, vigor*;
4th – dispel magic, flame strike, freedom of movement, ice storm,
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murderous mist*; 5th – animal growth, baleful polymorph, cure
critical wounds, stoneskin (on formian), wall of thorns; 6th –
fire seeds, greater dispel magic, liveoak, miasma*; 7th – brilliant
aura*, greater creeping cold*, heal, true seeing; 8th – finger of
death, whirlwind. * Complete Divine.
Possessions: backpack, explorer’s outfit, belt pouch, 5
days trail rations, sling and 20 bullets, wand of cure serious
wounds (CL 5th, 20 charges), periapt of wisdom +6, potion of
displacement, potion of fly, +1 scimitar, +1 wild heavy darkwood
shield, +3 wild dragonhide (silver) breastplate, ring of protection
+4.
Mauler, Dire Bear Animal Companion: Large Animal;
HD 14d8+59; hp 129; Init +2; Spd 40 ft.; AC 20, touch 11,
flat-footed 18 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +9 natural); BAB/Grp
+10/+25; Atk +25 melee (2d4+15, claw); Full Atk +25
melee (2d4+15, 2 claws) or +15 melee (2d8+5, bite); SA
improved grab; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, share
spells, evasion; AL N; SV Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +10; Str
32, Dex 14, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Listen +11, Spot +11, Swim +14;
Alertness, Endurance, Run, Toughness, Weapon Focus
(claw).
Tricks (7): attack, defend, down, fetch, guard, stay,
track, work.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire bear
must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a
grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of
opportunity.
ENCOUNTER 5
Giants Not on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat3; CR 20;
Medium Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+10d6+
3d6+84; hp 162; Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31,
touch 20, flat-footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +4
deflection, +1 dodge); BAB/Grp +14/+20; Atk +21 melee
(1d8+10 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +23 ranged
(1d4+6 plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +21 melee touch
(rod of withering); Full Atk +21/+16/+11 melee (1d8+10
plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +23/+18/+13 ranged
(1d4+6 plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +21/+16/+11 melee
touch (rod of withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack
(DC 25), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding,
evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved
uncanny dodge, +5 save against poison, poison use, hide
in plain sight, fast acrobatics, kip up, steady stance, agile
fighting, slow fall 20 ft., acrobatic charge, defensive roll
1/day; AL LE; SV Fort +10 (+13), Ref +24 (+27), Will +7
(+10); Str 22, Dex 20 (24), Con 17 (19), Int 16 (20), Wis 8,
Cha 8. Complete Adventurer, page 83.
Skills and Feats: Balance +18, Bluff +19, Climb +17,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +25,
Hide +25, Intimidate +0, Jump +17, Listen +3, Move
Silently +29, Open Lock +12, Search +13, Sleight of Hand
+9, Spot +3, Tumble +28, Use Magic Device +13; Combat
Expertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative,
Iron Will, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Fast Acrobatics (Ex): A thief-acrobat can avoid the
normal penalties for accelerated movement while using
acrobatic talents. He ignores the normal -5 penalty when
making a Balance check while moving at her full normal
speed. She can climb at half of her speed as a move action
without taking a -5 penalty on her Climb check. Finally,
she can tumble at her full speed without taking the
normal -10 penalty on her Climb check.
Kip Up (Ex): A thief-acrobat can stand up from
prone as a free action that does not provoke an attack of
opportunity. This ability works only if the thief-acrobat
wears light or no armor and carries no more than a light
load.
Steady Stance (Ex): A thief-acrobat remains stable
on his feet when others have difficulty standing. He is
not considered flat-footed while balancing or climbing,
and adds his class level as a bonus to remain climbing or
balancing when damage is taken.
Acrobatic Charge (Ex): Starting at third level, a
thief-acrobat can charge in situations where others
cannot. He can charge over difficult terrain that
normally slows movement or through allies blocking her
path. This ability enables him to charge across a cluttered
battlefield, leap down from a ledge, or swing across a
chasm to get to her target. Depending on the
circumstances, the thief-acrobat may still need to make
the appropriate skill checks (Balance, Jump, Tumble, or
Use Rope) to successfully move over the terrain.
Agile Fighting (Ex): A whirling, spinning thief-
acrobat is a devilishly difficult target. Starting at 2nd level,
a thief-acrobat gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC. When
fighting defensively or using total defense, this bonus
becomes +2. In addition, a thief-acrobat takes no penalty
to her AC or on her melee attack rolls when kneeling,
sitting, or prone. This ability works only if a thief-acrobat
wears light or no armor and carries no more than a light
load.
Defensive Roll (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, once
per day a thief-acrobat can roll with a potentially lethal
blow to take less damage from it then she otherwise
would. See the rogue class feature, Player’s Handbook,
page 51.
Slow Fall (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, a thief-acrobat
reduces the effective distance of falls by 20 feet. At 4th
level, this improves to reduce the effective distance of
falls by 30 feet. See the monk class feature, Player’s
Handbook, page 41. If a thief-acrobat has this ability from
another class, the distances stack to determine the
effective reduction of the falling distance.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (5/4/4/4, save DC 15 + spell
level): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist,
true strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace,
spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection,
spectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, glibness, greater
invisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete
Arcane.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 66
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), ring of protection +4, scarab of protection,
cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +4,
headband of intellect +4, rod of withering, potion of gaseous
form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of
spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form,
manual of gainful exercise +4.
Giants on Alert
Urg: Male Bugbear Rog5/Asn10/Thief-Acrobat3; CR 20;
Medium Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8+5d6+10d6+
3d6+84; hp 162; Init +11; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 31,
touch 20, flat-footed 31 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +8 armor, +4
deflection, +1 dodge); BAB/Grp +14/+20; Atk +21 melee
(1d8+10 plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +23 ranged
(1d4+6 plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +21 melee touch
(rod of withering); Full Atk +21/+16/+11 melee (1d8+10
plus 1d6 cold, +1 frost morningstar) or +23/+18/+13 ranged
(1d4+6 plus poison/19-20, dagger) or +21/+16/+11 melee
touch (rod of withering); SA sneak attack +8d6, death attack
(DC 25), spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent, trapfinding,
evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, improved
uncanny dodge, +5 save against poison, poison use, hide
in plain sight, fast acrobatics, kip up, steady stance, agile
fighting, slow fall 20 ft., acrobatic charge, defensive roll
1/day; AL LE; SV Fort +10 (+13), Ref +24 (+27), Will +7
(+10); Str 22, Dex 20 (24), Con 17 (19), Int 16 (20), Wis 8,
Cha 8. Complete Adventurer, page 83.
Skills and Feats: Balance +18, Bluff +19, Climb +17,
Diplomacy +0, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Escape Artist +25,
Hide +25, Intimidate +0, Jump +17, Listen +3, Move
Silently +29, Open Lock +12, Search +13, Sleight of Hand
+9, Spot +3, Tumble +28, Use Magic Device +13; Combat
Expertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative,
Iron Will, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack.
Skills: Bugbears have a +4 racial bonus on Move
Silently checks.
Fast Acrobatics (Ex): A thief-acrobat can avoid the
normal penalties for accelerated movement while using
acrobatic talents. He ignores the normal -5 penalty when
making a Balance check while moving at her full normal
speed. She can climb at half of her speed as a move action
without taking a -5 penalty on her Climb check. Finally,
she can tumble at her full speed without taking the
normal -10 penalty on her Climb check.
Kip Up (Ex): A thief-acrobat can stand up from
prone as a free action that does not provoke an attack of
opportunity. This ability works only if the thief-acrobat
wears light or no armor and carries no more than a light
load.
Steady Stance (Ex): A thief-acrobat remains stable
on his feet when others have difficulty standing. He is
not considered flat-footed while balancing or climbing,
and adds his class level as a bonus to remain climbing or
balancing when damage is taken.
Acrobatic Charge (Ex): Starting at third level, a
thief-acrobat can charge in situations where others
cannot. He can charge over difficult terrain that
normally slows movement or through allies blocking her
path. This ability enables him to charge across a cluttered
battlefield, leap down from a ledge, or swing across a
chasm to get to her target. Depending on the
circumstances, the thief-acrobat may still need to make
the appropriate skill checks (Balance, Jump, Tumble, or
Use Rope) to successfully move over the terrain.
Agile Fighting (Ex): A whirling, spinning thief-
acrobat is a devilishly difficult target. Starting at 2nd level,
a thief-acrobat gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC. When
fighting defensively or using total defense, this bonus
becomes +2. In addition, a thief-acrobat takes no penalty
to her AC or on her melee attack rolls when kneeling,
sitting, or prone. This ability works only if a thief-acrobat
wears light or no armor and carries no more than a light
load.
Defensive Roll (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, once
per day a thief-acrobat can roll with a potentially lethal
blow to take less damage from it then she otherwise
would. See the rogue class feature, Player’s Handbook,
page 51.
Slow Fall (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, a thief-acrobat
reduces the effective distance of falls by 20 feet. At 4th
level, this improves to reduce the effective distance of
falls by 30 feet. See the monk class feature, Player’s
Handbook, page 41. If a thief-acrobat has this ability from
another class, the distances stack to determine the
effective reduction of the falling distance.
Languages: Goblin, Common, Giant, Gnoll.
Assassin Spells Known (5/4/4/4, save DC 15 + spell
level): 1st – critical strike*, distract assailant*, obscuring mist,
true strike; 2nd – fire shuriken**, invisibility, pass without trace,
spider climb; 3rd – deeper darkness, misdirection, nondetection,
spectral weapon*; 4th – freedom of movement, glibness, greater
invisibility, shadow form*. *Complete Adventurer, **Complete
Arcane.
Possessions: courtier’s outfit, masterwork thieves tools,
2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, 5 daggers coated with
medium spider venom (Fort DC 14, 1d4 Str/1d4 Str), +3
mithral breastplate, +1 frost morningstar, ring of counterspells
(greater dispel magic), ring of protection +4, scarab of protection,
cloak of resistance +3, amulet of health +2, gloves of dexterity +4,
headband of intellect +4, rod of withering, potion of gaseous
form, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of haste, potion of
spider climb, potion of invisibility, potion of gaseous form,
manual of gainful exercise +4.
Aglashti: Male Ogre Mage Warlock13; CR 21; Large
Giant; HD 5d8+13d6+90; hp 156; Init +8; Spd 40 ft., fly 40
ft. (good), climb 20 ft.; AC 30, touch 17, flat-footed 26 (-1
size, +4 Dex, +5 natural, +8 armor, +4 deflection);
BAB/Grp +12/+20; Atk +17 melee (1d8+6, warlock’s scepter)
or +18 ranged touch (6d6, eldritch chain) or +18 ranged
touch (6d6, eldritch chain/vitriolic blast); Full Atk
+17/+12/+7 melee (1d8+6, warlock’s scepter) or +18 ranged
touch (6d6, eldritch chain) or +18 ranged touch (6d6,
eldritch chain/vitriolic blast); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
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spell-like abilities, invocations (least, lesser, greater; CL
13th), eldritch blast 6d6; SQ darkvision 90 ft., low-light
vision, regeneration 5, SR 19, detect magic, DR 3/cold iron,
deceive item, fiendish resilience 2, acid/fire resistance 5,
imbue item; AL LE; SV Fort +13 (+16), Ref +11 (+14), Will
+17 (+20); Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16 (20), Int 14, Wis 14, Cha
23 (29). Complete Arcane, page 5.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +25, Knowledge
(arcana) +14, Listen +6, Spellcraft +23, Spot +6, Use Magic
Device +22 (+24 scrolls); Combat Casting, Force of
Personality*, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes,
Point Blank Shot, Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus
(eldritch blast). *Complete Adventurer.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will – darkness, invisibility;
1/day – charm person (DC 20), cone of cold (DC 24), gaseous
form, polymorph, sleep (DC 20). CL 9th; save DC is Cha-
based.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight
as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its
normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal
damage to an ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb
or body part can reattach it by holding the severed
member to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute. If
the head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be
reattached within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An
ogre mage cannot regrow lost body parts.
Invocations (Sp): A warlock does not prepare or
cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead,
he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities
known as invocations that require him to focus the wild
energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any
invocation he knows at will, with the following
qualifications:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using
an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes
attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted,
just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is
entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an
invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as
a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an
invocation
defensively,
by
making
a
successful
Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of
opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell
resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his
invocations is equal to his warlock level. A warlock can
dismiss any invocation as a standard action, just as a
wizard can dismiss a spell.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is
10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma
modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a
warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can,
however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page
303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that
emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as
Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like
Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their
relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A
warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which
must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains
levels, he learns new invocations, as described in Complete
Arcane.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At
16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater
invocation he knows with another invocation of the same
or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new
invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance (warlocks do not
suffer arcane spell failure chance for invocations when
wearing light armor).
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The first ability a warlock
learns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with
eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal
damage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects.
Eldritch blast is an invocation. A warlock can use eldritch
blast at will.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a
ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing
no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of
damage at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock
rises in level. An eldritch blast deals half damage to
objects. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level
spell.
If you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence
invocation to your eldritch blast, your eldritch blast uses the
level equivalent of the shape or essence (whichever is
higher if both are applied). Unless noted otherwise,
eldritch blast modified by blast shape and eldritch essence
invocations deal damage normally in addition to
imparting the effects described in the invocation
description. A warlock can apply only one blast shape
invocation and only one eldritch essence invocation to a
single eldritch blast; a warlock can apply both a blast shape
invocation and an eldritch essence invocation to the
same eldritch blast.
Detect Magic (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, a warlock
can use detect magic as the spell at will. His caster level
equals his class level.
Damage
Reduction
(Su):
Fortified
by
the
supernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock
becomes resistant to physical attacks at 3rd level and
above, gaining damage reduction 1/cold iron. At 7th level
and every four levels thereafter, a warlock’s damage
reduction improves.
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
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Deceive Item (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a
warlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic
items made for the use of other characters. When
making a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10
even if distracted or threatened.
Fiendish Resilience (Su): Beginning at 8th level, a
warlock knows the trick of fiendish resilience. Once per
day, as a free action, he can enter a state that lasts for 2
minutes. While in this state, the warlock gains fast
healing 1. At 13th level, a warlock’s fiendish resilience
improves to fast healing 2, and at 18th level, it improves to
fast healing 5.
Energy Resistance (Su): At 10th level and higher, a
warlock has resistance 5 against any two of the following
energy types: acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic. Once
the types are chosen, this energy resistance cannot be
changed. At 20th level, a warlock gains resistance 10
against the two selected types of energy.
Imbue Item (Su): A warlock of 12th level or higher
can use his supernatural power to create magic items,
even if he does not know the spells required to make an
item (although he must know the appropriate item
creation feat). He can substitute a Use Magic Device
check (DC 15 + spell level for arcane spells, DC 25 + spell
level for divine spells) in place of a required spell he
doesn’t know or can’t cast. If the check succeeds, the
warlock can create the item as if he had cast the required
spell. If it fails, he cannot complete the item. He does
not expend the xp or gp costs for making the item; his
progress is simply arrested. He cannot retry this Use
Magic Device check for that spell until he gains a new
level.
Languages: Giant, Common, Infernal.
Warlock Invocations Known (8; DC 19 + equivalent
spell level; CL 11th): Least – devil’s sight*, entropic warding*,
miasmic cloud*; Lesser – eldritch chain*, flee the scene*,
voracious dispelling*; Greater – chilling tentacles*, vitriolic
blast*. *Complete Arcane.
Possessions: large masterwork chain shirt, ring of
protection +4, vest of resistance +3*, warlock’s scepter*, amulet of
health +4, cloak of charisma +6, slippers of spider climbing, 2
potions of cure serious wounds, potion of blur, oil of magic
vestment +4. *Complete Arcane.
ENCOUNTER 7
Ruka: Evolved(x4) Cloud Giant Mummy; CR 18; Huge
Undead (Augmented Giant); HD 17d12; hp 153; Init +1;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 34, touch 9, flat-footed 33 (-2 size, +1 Dex,
+16 natural, +9 armor); BAB/Grp +12/+40; Atk +32 melee
(4d6+32, +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar) or +30 melee
(2d8+30 plus disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+20, rock);
Full Atk +32/+27/+22 melee (4d6+32, +2 unholy
gargantuan morningstar) or +30 melee (2d8+30 plus
disease, slam) or +12 ranged (2d8+20, rock); Space/Reach
15 ft./15 ft.; SA rock throwing, spell-like abilities; SQ low-
light vision, oversized weapon, rock catching, scent, DR
5/–, vulnerability to fire, fast healing 3; AL NE; SV Fort
+10, Ref +6, Will +12; Str 51, Dex 13, Con –, Int 8, Wis 20,
Cha 25. Libris Mortis, pages 100 and 110.
Skills and Feats: Climb +24, Craft (weaponsmith) +9,
Diplomacy +9, Intimidate +17, Listen +17, Perform (harp)
+8, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17; Awesome Blow, Cleave,
Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will,
Power Attack.
Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified
creature, the viewer must make a Will save DC 25 or be
paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the
save is successful, the target cannot be affected again by
the mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. Save DC is
Cha-based.
Mummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease – natural
weapon, Fort save DC 25, incubation period 1 minute,
damage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. Unlike normal diseases,
mummy
rot
persists
until
the
victim
reaches
Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below.
Mummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease, a
character attempting to cast any conjuration (healing)
spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must make
a DC 20 caster level check, or else the spell has no effect
on the afflicted character. To eliminate mummy rot, the
curse must first be broken with break enchantment or
remove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for
wither spell), after which a caster level check is no longer
required to cast healing spells on the victim, and mummy
rot can be magically cured as any normal disease. An
afflicted character that dies of mummy rot shrivels away
into sand and blows away into nothing at the first wind.
Save DC is Cha-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day – levitate (self plus 2,000
lbs.), obscuring mist; 1/day – fog cloud. CL 15th; save DC is
Cha-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day – cone of cold (DC 22),
greater dispel magic, hold monster (DC 22), unholy blight (DC
21). CL 17th; save DC is Cha-based.
Rock
Throwing
(Ex):
Adult
giants
are
accomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus
on attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least
Large size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 lbs. each
(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of
the range increment varies with the giant’s variety (140 ft.
for cloud giants). A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80
lbs. (Medium objects).
Rock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size
can catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of
similar shape). Once per round, a giant that would
normally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch
it as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a
Medium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile
provides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases
by that amount. The giant must be ready for and aware of
the attack in order to make a rock catching attempt.
Oversized Weapon (Ex): A cloud giant wields a
great,
two-handed
morningstar
(big
enough
for
Gargantuan creatures) without penalty.
Languages: Giant, Common.
Possessions: +2 unholy gargantuan morningstar, +1 huge
full plate, ring of major energy resistance (fire), winged boots,
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 69
cloak of turn resistance*, ring of counterspells (fireball). *Libris
Mortis.
Air Monolith Necromental: CR 18; Gargantuan
Undead (Air, Augmented Elemental); HD 36d12; hp 324;
Init +15; Spd fly 100 ft. (perfect); AC 33, touch 17, flat-
footed 22 (-4 size, +11 Dex, +16 natural); BAB/Grp
+27/+50; Atk +34 melee (6d6+11/19-20, slam); Full Atk
+34 melee (6d6+11/19-20, 2 slams); Space/Reach 20 ft./20
ft.; SA air mastery, whirlwind, create spawn, energy drain;
SQ darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits, fast healing, DR
15/–; AL NE; SV Fort +14, Ref +31, Will +14; Str 32, Dex
33, Con –, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 1. Libris Mortis, page 113;
Complete Arcane, page 156.
Skills and Feats: Balance +13, Diplomacy -2,
Intimidate +9, Jump +41, Listen +41, Sense Motive +13,
Spot +41, Tumble +24; Alertness, Blind-fight, Cleave,
Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great Cleave,
Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (slam), Improved
Initiative, Improved Natural Attack, Iron Will, Mobility,
Power Attack, Spring Attack.
Create Spawn (Su): An elemental slain by a
necromental’s energy drain attack rises as a necromental
1d4 days after death.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a
necromental’s natural weapon attack gain one negative
level. A necromental can use its energy drain ability once
per round, regardless of the number of natural weapon
attacks it possesses. The save to remove the negative
level 24 hours later is DC 28. When a necromental
bestows a negative level, it gains 5 temporary hp (10 on a
critical hit). These temporary hit points last for up to one
hour.
Fast Healing (Ex): An air monolith necromental
heals 3 points of damage each round as long as it is within
five feet of some form of its element (air).
Air Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -2
penalty on attack rolls and damage rolls against an air
monolith.
Whirlwind (Su): An air monolith can transform
itself into a whirlwind at will as a standard action and
remain in that form indefinitely. In this form, the
elemental can move through the air or along a surface at
its fly speed. The whirlwind is 10 feet wide at the base,
up to 50 feet wide at the top, and up to 80 feet tall. The
elemental controls the exact height, but it must be at least
20 feet. The elemental’s movement while in whirlwind
form does not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the
elemental enters the space another creature occupies.
Another creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it
touches or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental
moves into or through the creature’s square.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than
the elemental might take damage when caught in the
whirlwind and may be lifted into the air. The creature
must first make the indicated Reflex save or take damage.
It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked
up bodily and help suspended in the powerful winds,
automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A
creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round
to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage
but can leave if successful. The save DC is Str-based.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move
except to go where the elemental carries them or to
escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the
whirlwind can otherwise act normally but must succeed
on a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level) to cast a
spell. Creatures caught in whirlwind take a –4 penalty to
Dexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The elemental
can have only as many creatures inside the whirlwind at
one time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume.
The whirlwind can eject any carried creature
whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the
whirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always
ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home
plane.
As this room is filled with free floating debris, the
elemental’s whirlwind creates a swirling cloud of debris
20 feet in diameter centered on the necromental. The
cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond
five feet. Creatures five feet away have concealment,
while those further away have total concealment. Those
caught in the cloud must succeed on a Concentration
check (DC 20 + spell level) to cast a spell.
An elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam
attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Air Monolith: save DC 39, 4d6 damage, 20 – 80 ft.
tall.
Greater Dispelling Firestorm: Living Spell; CR 18;
Huge Ooze; HD 15d10+60; hp 158; Init +2; Spd 40 ft.; AC
18, touch 18, flat-footed 16 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +8 deflection);
BAB/Grp +11/+23; Atk/Full Atk +13 melee (1d8+6, slam);
Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; SA spell effect, engulf; SQ ooze
traits, DR 10/magic, SR 25 (10 + its caster level); AL N; SV
Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 18, Dex 15, Con 18, Int –, Wis
15, Cha 18. Monster Manual 3, page 91.
Spell Effect (Su): A creature hit by a living spell’s
slam attack is subjected to the normal effect of the spell
or spells making up the creature, as if it were within the
area of effect of the spell itself. Saves apply as normal for
the spell; the DC is 22 for the fire storm. This living spell
is composed of a greater dispel magic spell and a fire storm
spell, both at CL 15th.
Engulf (Ex): This creature can flow around creatures
that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot
make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs.
It merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as
many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of
opportunity against the living spell, but if the do so they
are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not
attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex
save (DC 22) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed
back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the spell moves
forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full
normal effects of the spells each round on the living
spell’s turn, and are considered to be grappled.
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APPENDIX 8 – ALL APLS
ENCOUNTER 1
Resbin Dren Emondav, Marchioness of Sterich:
Female Human Sor13; CR 13; Medium Humanoid
(Human); HD 13d4+26+3; hp 61; Init -1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12
(16 with mage armor), touch 9, flat-footed 12 (16 with
mage armor); Base Atk +6; Grp +7; Atk +8 melee (1d6+1,
masterwork club); Full Atk +8/+3 melee (1d6+1,
masterwork club); SA spells; SQ summon familiar (tiny
viper); AL LN; SV Fort +8, Ref +3, Will +11; Str 12, Dex 9,
Con 14, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 19.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +23, Concentration +18,
Diplomacy +14, Gather Information +8, Knowledge
(arcana) +19, Listen +3, Sense Motive +9, Spellcraft +13,
Spot +3; Combat Casting, Eschew Materials, Great
Fortitude, Iron Will, Leadership, Toughness.
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Keolandish, Olman.
Spells Known (CL 13th; 6/7/7/7/7/6/4): 0 – acid splash
(+5 ranged touch), arcane mark, daze (DC 14), detect magic,
detect poison, disrupt undead (+5 ranged touch), flare (DC
14), resistance, touch of fatigue (+5 touch, DC 14); 1st –
burning hands (DC 15), mage armor, obscuring mist,
protection from chaos (DC 15), shield; 2nd – detect thoughts
(DC 16), owl’s wisdom, shatter (DC 16), touch of idiocy (+5
touch, DC 15), whispering wind; 3rd – deep slumber (DC 17),
dispel magic, invisibility sphere, suggestion (DC 17); 4th –
confusion (DC 18), crushing despair (DC 18), greater magic
weapon, stoneskin; 5th – cone of cold (DC 19), feeblemind (DC
19), hold monster (DC 19); 6th – chain lightning (DC 20),
Tenser’s transformation.
Possessions: masterwork club, cloak of charisma +2,
amulet of natural armor +3, brooch of shielding (76 hp), ring of
mind shielding, ring of the ram (27 charges), 3 potions of bull’s
strength, 4 vials of diamond dust worth 250 gp each.
From Dungeon #117, December 2004, page 41.
ENCOUNTER 3
Raptoran Sentry: Male/Female Raptoran Rgr5; CR 5;
Medium Humanoid (Raptoran); HD 5d8+5; hp 34; Init
+3; Spd 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (average); AC 19, touch 13, flat-
footed 16 (+3 Dex, +5 armor, +1 shield); BAB/Grp +5/+7;
Atk +9 melee (1d6+3/19-20, +1 short sword) or +9 ranged
(1d8+3/x3, masterwork footbow); Full Atk +9 melee
(1d6+3/19-20, +1 short sword) or +7/+7 ranged (1d8+2/x3,
masterwork footbow); SA spells, favored enemy (humans
+4, gnolls +2); SQ low-light vision, raptoran traits, wild
empathy +5 (+1 magical beasts); AL CG; SV Fort +5, Ref
+7, Will +2; Str 14, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Races of the Wild, page 68.
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Hide +10, Listen +9, Move
Silently +10, Spot +11, Survival +9; EnduranceB, Point
Blank Shot, Rapid ShotB, TrackB, Weapon Focus (short
sword).
Raptoran Traits: gliding, flight, +1 CL for air spells,
unerring direction (can sense which direction is north
anywhere on the Material Plane), weapon familiarity
(footbow is martial weapon), +2 racial bonus on Climb
and Spot checks, +10 racial bonus to Jump checks.
Gliding (Ex): A raptoran can use her wings to glide,
negating damage from a fall of any height and allowing
20 feet of forward travel for every 5 feet of descent.
Raptorans glide at a speed of 40 feet (average
maneuverability). Even if a raptoran’s maneuverability
improves, she can’t hover while gliding. A raptoran can’t
glide while carrying a medium or heavy load. If a
raptoran becomes unconscious or helpless while in
midair, her wings naturally unfurl and powerful
ligaments stiffen the wings. The raptoran descends in a
tight corkscrew and takes only 1d6 falling damage no
matter what the actual distance of the fall.
Flight (Ex): When a raptoran reaches 5 HD, she
becomes able to fly at a speed of 40 feet (average
maneuverability). A raptoran can’t fly while carrying a
medium or heavy load or while fatigued or exhausted.
Raptorans can safely fly for a number of rounds equal to
their Con modifier (minimum 1 round). They can exert
themselves to fly for up to twice as long, but then they’re
fatigued at the end of the flight. Raptorans are likewise
fatigued after spending a total of more than 10 minutes
per day flying. Because raptorans can glide before, after,
and between rounds of actual flight, they can remain
aloft for extended periods (even if they can only use
flight for 1 round at a time without becoming fatigued).
When they reach 10 HD, raptorans have enough stamina
and prowess to fly for longer periods. They can fly at a
speed of 40 feet (average maneuverability), and flying
requires no more exertion that walking or running. A
raptoran with flight can make a dive attack. A dive attack
works like a charge, but the raptoran must move a
minimum of 30 feet and descend at least 10 feet. A
raptoran can make a dive attack only when wielding a
piercing weapon; if the attack hits, it deals double
damage. A raptoran with flight can use the run action
while flying, provided she flies in a straight line.
Languages: Common, Raptoran.
Ranger Spells Prepared (1, save DC 11 + spell level, CL
1st): 1st – speak with animals.
Possessions: +1 chain shirt, masterwork buckler, +1 short
sword, masterwork footbow* (+2 Str bonus) with 20
arrows, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of shield of faith
+4. *Races of the Wild.
Sherinda, Flock Chief: Female raptoran Drd12; CR 12;
Medium humanoid (raptoran); HD 12d8+24; hp 81; Init
+0; Spd 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (good); AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed
15; Base Atk +9; Grp +10; Atk +10 ranged (1d8 +2/x3, +1
footbow) or +11 melee (1d8+1/x3, masterwork cold iron
spear); Full Atk +10/+5 ranged (1d8+2/x3 +1 footbow) or
+11/+6
melee
1d8+1/x3,
masterwork
cold
iron
SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
Page 71
longspear); SA spells, SQ animal companion (dire hawk),
animal companion benefits, immunity to poison, low-
light vision, raptoran traits, resist nature’s lure, trackless
step, wild empathy +15 (+11 magical beasts), wild shape
4/day (Tiny to Large, Animal or Plant), woodland stride;
AL NG; SV Fort +10, Ref +4 (+7 while flying), Will +11;
Str 13, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 12 Races of the
Wild, page 68.
Skills and feats: Climb +3, Concentration +12,
Diplomacy +10, Handle Animal +6, Jump +11,
Knowledge (nature) +9, Listen +17, Ride +2, Sense
Motive +12, Spot +19, Survival +12 (+14 in aboveground
natural environments); Aerial ReflexesRoW, Alertness,
Improved FlightRoW, Natural Spell, Negotiator. RoWRaces of
the Wild.
Languages: Common, Raptoran, Druidic.
Raptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of
40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an
unerring sense of direction and always know which way
is north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for
air spells. Sherinda can fly for up to 10 minutes total
during a day before becoming fatigued. A flying raptoran
can make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly at least
30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing
weapon to deal double damage on a hit).
Druid Spells Prepared (CL 12th): 0 – cure minor wounds
(2), detect magic(2), mending, read magic; 1st – cure light
wounds (2), endure elements, entangle, obscuring mist, produce
flame (+9 ranged touch), speak with animals; 2nd – barkskin,
bear’s endurance, flaming sphere (DC 17), gust of wind, lesser
restoration; 3rd – cal lightening (DC 18), cure moderate
wounds, greater magic fang, protection from energy, wind wall
(CL 13th); 4th – dispel magic, flame strike (DC 19), freedom of
movement, ice storm; 5th – baleful polymorph (DC 20), call
lightening storm (DC 20), cure critical wounds, stoneskin; 6th –
fire seeds (+9 ranged touch; DC 21), summon nature’s ally VI.
Possessions: +2 leather armor, +1 ring of protection,
masterwork cold iron spear, +1 footbow (+1 Str bonus)
with 20 arrows, periapt of wisdom +4, 2 potions of cure serious
wounds, spell component pouch, 250 gp diamond dust, 31
gp.
Lightning, Dire Hawk Companion: CR –; Medium
animal; HD 11d8+22; hp 71; Init +11; Spd 10 ft., fly 80 ft.
(average); AC 26, touch 17, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +8;
Grp +10; Atk +15 melee (1d6+2, claw); Full Atk +15/+15
melee (1d6+2, 2 claws) and +13 melee (1d6+1, bite); SQ
devotion, evasion, low-light vision, link, shared spells; AL
N; SV Fort +9, Ref +14, Will +9 (+13 against
enchantments); Str 15, Dex 25, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha
11. Races of the Wild.
Skills and Feats: Listen +9, Move Silently +11, Spot
+9*; Alertness, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural
Attack (claw), Multiattack B, Weapon Finesse.
Tricks Known: Attack, come, defend, down, fetch,
guard, heel, markRoW, seek, stay. RoWRaces of the Wild.
Cas, Medicine Chief: Male raptoran Clr9 of Phaulkon;
CR 9; medium humanoid (raptoran); HD 3d6+6 plus
6d8+12; hp 58; Init +5; Spd 30 ft., fly 45 ft. (average); AC
16, touch 11, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +6; Grp +5; Atk +6
melee (1d8/x3, +1 spear); Full Atk:+6/+1 melee (1d8/x3, +1
spear); SA Spells, turn undead 3/day (+2, 2d6+9, 9th); SQ
low-light vision, raptoran traits, substitution levels (air
mastery, empathy of the winds, air summoning talent,
open the wind-gate); AL CG; SV Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +10;
Str 8, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 19, Cha 10. Races of the
Wild, page 68.
Skills and Feats: Climb +1, Concentration +8 (+12
casting defensively), Diplomacy +0 (+4 dealing with
natives of Elemental Plane of Air), Heal +16, Jump +9,
Knowledge (religion) +7, Spot +18; Battle CastingRoW,
Brew Potion, Combat Casting, Improved Initiative.
RoWRaces of the Wild.
Languages: Common, Sylvan, Raptoran.
Raptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of
40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an
unerring sense of direction and always know which way
is north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for
air spells. Cas can fly for 2 rounds at no penalty, or for 4
rounds at the cost of becoming fatigued. A flying
raptoran can make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly
at least 30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing
weapon to deal double damage on a hit).
Air Mastery (Ex): Beginning at 1st level, airborne
creatures take a –1 penalty on attack and damage rolls
against a raptoran cleric. The substitution feature
replaces the standard cleric’s heavy armor proficiency
gained at 1st level.
Empathy of the Winds (Ex): A 1st level raptoran
cleric gains a strong bond with air and its denizens. He
learns Auran as a bonus language (in addition to the
languages available to him because of his race and the
Speak Languages skill). He gains a +4 circumstance
bonus on Diplomacy checks made to interact with the
natives of the Elemental Plane of Air. If he has the ability
to bolster Air creatures (such as from the air domain), he
gains a +4 bonus on turning checks made to do so. Allied
air elementals within 60 feet of the cleric gain a +1 moral
bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls.
Air Summoning Talent (Ex): Beginning at 3rd
level, a raptoran cleric can summon certain creatures of
air more easily than other clerics can. Add the following
monsters to the list of creatures that the cleric can
summon with the appropriate summon monster spell:
Summon Monster II: Small air elemental
Summon Monster III: Air mephit
Summon Monster IV: Medium air elemental
Summon Monster V: Large air elemental
Summon Monster VI: Huge air elemental
Summon Monster VII: Greater air elemental
Summon Monster VIII: Elder air elemental
This substitution feature removes all spells with the
earth descriptor from the cleric’s spell list. If a spell
would only have the earth descriptor due to a particular
version of the spell (such as a summon monster spell used
to summon an earth elemental), the spell remains on the
cleric’s spell list but the version with the earth descriptor
cannot be cast.
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Open the Wind-Gate (Ex): A 7th level raptoran
cleric can use the planar ally spells to call a more powerful
air elemental than would normally be allowed. The cleric
can call an 8 HD Large air elemental with lesser planar ally,
a single 16 HD Huge air elemental (or two 8 HD Large air
elementals) with planar ally, or a single 24 HD elder air
elemental (or multiple Large and/or Huge air elementals
totaling 24 HD) with greater planar ally.
The costs associated with these spells remain the
same. However, if the any of the called air elementals die
while in the service of the cleric, the cleric loses access to
this ability for seven days and takes a –1 penalty on attack
rolls, saves, and checks during that period.
This substitution feature replaces the standard
cleric’s ability to call creatures other than air elementals
with the various planar ally spells.
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 9th): 0 – create water, detect
magic (2), detect poison, light, purify food and drink; 1st – bless,
divine favor, entropic shield, obscuring mistD, protection from
evil, sanctuary (DC 15); 2nd – bear’s endurance, hold person (2)
(DC 16), silence (DC 16), zone of truth (DC 16), wind wallD;
3rd – daylight, dispel magic, gaseous formD, protection from
energy, searing light (+7 ranged touch); 4th – air walkD,
freedom of movement, sending, summon monster IV, 5th –
control windsD, summon monster V.
DDomain Spell. Domains: Air (turn earth elem.,
rebuke air elem.); Sky (+5 ft. bonus to glide/fly speed;
Spot is a class skill).
Possessions: +1 mithral chain shirt, +1 spear, periapt of
wisdom +2, 4 potions of cure serious wounds, 2 potions of lesser
restoration, spell component pouch, holy symbol, 10 pp.
Nikcuri, War Chief: Male raptoran Rgr10; CR 10;
Medium humanoid (raptoran); HD 10d8+20; hp 68; Init
+3; Spd 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (average); AC 21, touch 15, flat-
footed 17; Base Atk +10, Grp +11; Atk +15 ranged (1d8
+2/x3, +1 footbow) or +12 melee (1d8+2/x3, +1 longspear);
Full Atk +13/+13/+8 ranged (1d8 +2/x3, +1 footbow with
Rapid Shot) or +12/+7 melee (1d8+2/x3, +1 longspear);
Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with longspear); SA favored
enemy (animals +6, magical beast +2, elves +2); SQ animal
companion (dire bat), animal companion benefits,
evasion, low-light vision, raptoran traits, swift tracker,
wild empathy +11 (+7 magical beasts), woodland stride;
AL NG; SV Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +2; Str 12, Dex 19, Con
14, Int 10, Wis 8 Cha 13. Races of the Wild, page 68.
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Diplomacy +3, Hide +17,
Jump +11, Knowledge (geography) +4, Listen +9, Move
Silently +17, Sense Motive +5, Spot +14, Survival +12 (+14
getting lost); Dodge, EnduranceB, ManyshotB, Mobility,
Point Blank Shot, Rapid ShotB, Shot on the Run, TrackB.
Languages: Common, Raptoran.
Raptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of
40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an
unerring sense of direction and always know which way
is north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for
air spells. Nikcuri can fly for up to 10 minutes total
during a day before becoming fatigued. A flying raptoran
can make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly at least
30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing
weapon to deal double damage on a hit).
Possessions: +2 mithral chain shirt, +1 ring of protection,
+1 footbow (+1 Str bonus) with 20 arrows, +1 longspear,
gloves of dexterity +2, 20 pp.
Creskara, Hunting Chief: Male raptoran Rgr8/Sor2;
CR 10; Medium humanoid (raptoran); HD 8d8+24 plus
2d4+6; hp 74; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., fly 40ft. (average); AC 19,
touch 13, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +9; Grp +10; Atk +13
ranged (1d8+1/x3 plus 1d6 electricity, +1 shock footbow) or
+11 melee (1d8+1/x3, masterwork longspear); Full Atk
+11/+11/+6 ranged (1d8+1/x3 plus 1d6 electricity, +1 +1
shock footbow) or +11/+6 melee (1d8+1/x3, masterwork
longspear); Space/Reach 5ft./5ft. (10 ft. with longspear);
SA favored enemy (animal +4, giants +2), spells; SQ
animal companion (dire hawk), animal companion
benefits, familiar, familiar benefits, low-light vision,
raptoran traits, swift tracker; AL CG; SV Fort +9, Ref +8,
Will +6; Str 13, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Climb 3, Handle Animal +6, Hide
+13, Jump +11, Listen +6 (+8 with familiar), Move Silently
+13, Ride +4, Spellcraft +1, Spot +15 (+17 with familiar,
+18 in bright light), Survival +12; Alertness*, EnduranceB,
Improved Critical (footbow), ManyshotB, Point Blank
Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid ShotB, TrackB, Weapon Focus
(footbow). *From familiar. Races of the Wild, page 68.
Languages: Common, Raptoran.
Raptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of
40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an
unerring sense of direction and always know which way
is north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for
air spells. Creskara can fly for up to 10 minutes total
during a day before becoming fatigued. A flying raptoran
can make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly at least
30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing
weapon to deal double damage on a hit).
Ranger Spells Prepared (CL 4th): 1st – entangle (DC 12),
speak with animals.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/4 per day; CL 2nd) 0 – detect
magic, light, mage hand, message, read magic; 1st – expeditious
retreat, true strike.
Possessions: +2 mithral chain shirt, +1 ring of protection,
masterwork longspear, +1 shock footbow (+1 Str bonus)
with 20 arrows.
Alethial, Hawk Familiar: Cr –; Tiny animal; HD 2;
hp 37; Init +3; Spd 10ft., fly 60 ft. (average); AC 18, touch
15, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +9; Grp –1; Atk or Full Atk
+14 melee (1d4-2, talon); SQ improved evasion, low-light
vision, empathic link, share spells, deliver touch spell; AL
CG; SV Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +7; Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10,
Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +4, Hide +22, Listen
+7, Move Silently +14, Spot +22, Survival +13; Weapon
FinesseB.
Skills: Hawks have a +8 racial bonus on Spot checks.
Daetae, Sunspeaker: Male raptoran Brd8; CR 8;
Medium humanoid (raptoran); HD 8d6-8; hp 22; Init +4;
Spd 30ft., fly 40 ft (average); AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed
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15; Base Atk +6; Grp +7; Atk +12 ranged (1d8+2/x3, +1
footbow) or +7 melee (1d6+1/18-20, rapier); Full Atk
+12/+7 ranged (1d8+2/x3, +1 footbow) or +7/+2 melee
(1d6+1/18-20, rapier); SA spells; SQ bardic knowledge +8,
bardic music 8/day (countersong, fascinate, inspire
competence, inspire courage +2, suggestion), low-light
vision, raptoran traits; AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +10, Will +7,
Str 13, Dex 19, Con 8, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14. Races of the
Wild, page 68.
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Concentration +10,
Diplomacy +13, Gather Information +15, Jump +5,
Knowledge (geography) +4, Knowledge (local –
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) +7, Listen +12, Perform
(sing) +13, Spot +3; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
Weapon focus (footbow).
Languages: Common, Raptoran.
Raptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of
40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an
unerring sense of direction and always know which way
is north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for
air spells. Daetae can fly for up 1 round or for 2 rounds at
the cost of becoming fatigued. A flying raptoran can
make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly at least 30
feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing weapon to
deal double damage on a hit).
Bard Spells Known (3/4/4/1 per day; CL 8th): 0 –
dancing lights, detect magic, light, mage hand, message, read
magic; 1st – alarm, cure light wounds, Tasha’s hideous laughter
(DC 13), silent image (DC 13); 2nd – calm emotions (DC 14),
detect thoughts (DC 14), heroism, tongues; 3rd – charm monster
(DC 15), haste, speak with animals.
Possessions: +1 mithral chain shirt, rapier, +1 footbow (+1
Str bonus), gloves of dexterity +2, 2 potions of cure moderate
wounds, 30 gp.
Nimvanna,
Star
Chief:
Female
raptoran
Drd7/Skypledged1; CR 8; Medium humanoid (raptoran);
HD 7d8+14 plus 1d6+2; hp 54; Init +2; Spd 30 ft, fly 40 ft.
(average); AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +5;
Grp +6; Atk or Full Atk +7 melee (1d8+1/x3, masterwork
spear) or +8 ranged (1d8+2/x3, +1 footbow); SA spells; SQ
animal companion, animal companion benefits, divine
spellpool I, raptoran traits, resist nature’s lure,
skypledged, trackless steps, wild empathy +6 (+2 magical
beasts), wild shape 3/day (Small to Medium, Animal),
woodland stride; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +11; Str
12, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Concentration +8, Jump
+11, Listen +15, Spellcraft +5, Spot +17, Survival +17;
Augment Summoning, Martial Weapon Proficiency
(footbow), Spell Focus (conjuration).
Languages: Common, Raptoran, Druidic.
Divine Spellpool I (Su): Whenever Nimvanna has
open, unused spell slots of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level, she can call
up to three total levels of spells (from the cleric or druid
list) to go into those slots. It takes a full-round action to
do so, and the spell or spells remain available for 1
minute.
Spells with the fire, earth, or water descriptor are
unavailable. Nimvanna must repay her spellpool debt
within 1 day, doing so is a full-round action. Repaying
the debt depletes a combination of prepares spells whose
levels is equal to that of the spells previously called from
the spellpool.
Raptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of
40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an
unerring sense of direction and always know which way
is north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for
air spells. Nimvanna can fly for up to 2 rounds at no
penalty, or for 4 rounds at the cost of becoming fatigued.
A flying raptoran can make a dive attack (as a charge, but
must fly at least 30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a
piercing weapon to deal double damage on a hit).
Skypledged: Nimvanna won’t cast any spells with
the fire, water, or earth descriptor. Spell completion and
spell trigger items that produce fire, water, or earth
effects are not prohibited.
Druid Spells Prepared (caster level 8th): 0 – cure minor
wounds (DC 14), detect magic(2),guidance (DC 14), light, read
magic; 1st – cure light wounds (DC 15), endure elements (DC
15), entangle (DC 15), speak with animals, one open slot;
2nd – barkskin, bear’s endurance (DC 16), lesser restoration
(DC 16), resist energy (DC 16); 3rd – cal lightening (DC 17),
cure moderate wounds (DC 17), wind wall (caster level 9th;
DC 17), one open slot; 4th – cure serious wounds (DC 18),
dispel magic, ice storm.
Possessions: +1 leather armor, masterwork spear, +1
footbow (+1 Str bonus) with 20 arrows, periapt of Wisdom
+2, scroll of call lightning storm, scroll of flame strike.
Tayn, Supply Chief: Female Raptoran Rog2/Clr6 of
Phaulkon; CR 8; Medium humanoid (raptoran); HD
4d6+4 plus 4d8+4; hp42; Init +1; Spd 30 ft., fly 45 ft.
(average); AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +5;
Grp +3; Atk or Full Atk +7 melee (1d5-1/18-20, +1 rapier);
SA sneak attack +1d6, spells, turn undead 4/day (+1,
2d6+7, 6th); SQ evasion, low-light vision, substitution
levels (air mastery, empathy of the winds, air summoning
talent); AL NG; SV Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 7, Dex 13,
Con 12, Int 11, Wis 18, Cha 13. Races of the Wild, page 68.
Skills and Feats: Appraise +5, Climb +5 (+7 ropes),
Concentration +7, Gather Information +10, Heal +10,
Jump +8, Knowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley
metaregion) +5, Listen +9, Search +7, Spot +11, Survival
+4 (+6 following tracks), Use Rope +6; Brew Potion,
Investigator, Weapon Finesse.
Languages: Common, Raptoran.
Raptoran Traits: Raptorans can glide at a speed of
40 feet, with average maneuverability. Raptorans have an
unerring sense of direction and always know which way
is north. A raptoran spellcaster gains +1 caster level for
air spells. Tayn can fly for up to 1 round at no penalty or
for 2 rounds at the cost of becoming fatigued. A flying
raptoran can make a dive attack (as a charge, but must fly
at least 30 feet, descend at least 10 feet, and use a piercing
weapon to deal double damage on a hit).
Air Mastery (Ex): Beginning at 1st level, airborne
creatures take a –1 penalty on attack and damage rolls
against a raptoran cleric. The substitution feature
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replaces the standard cleric’s heavy armor proficiency
gained at 1st level.
Empathy of the Winds (Ex): A 1st level raptoran
cleric gains a strong bond with air and its denizens. He
learns Auran as a bonus language (in addition to the
languages available to him because of his race and the
Speak Languages skill). He gains a +4 circumstance
bonus on Diplomacy checks made to interact with the
natives of the Elemental Plane of Air. If he has the ability
to bolster Air creatures (such as from the air domain), he
gains a +4 bonus on turning checks made to do so. Allied
air elementals within 60 feet of the cleric gain a +1 moral
bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls.
Air Summoning Talent (Ex): Beginning at 3rd
level, a raptoran cleric can summon certain creatures of
air more easily than other clerics can. Add the following
monsters to the list of creatures that the cleric can
summon with the appropriate summon monster spell:
Summon Monster II: Small air elemental
Summon Monster III: Air mephit
Summon Monster IV: Medium air elemental
Summon Monster V: Large air elemental
Summon Monster VI: Huge air elemental
Summon Monster VII: Greater air elemental
Summon Monster VIII: Elder air elemental
This substitution feature removes all spells with the
earth descriptor from the cleric’s spell list. If a spell
would only have the earth descriptor due to a particular
version of the spell (such as a summon monster spell used
to summon an earth elemental), the spell remains on the
cleric’s spell list but the version with the earth descriptor
cannot be cast.
Cleric Spells Prepared (caster level 9th): 0 – create
water(2), detect poison, light, mending; 1st – bless, comprehend
languages, endure elements, obscuring mistD, shield of faith; 2nd
– calm emotion (DC 16), hold person(DC 16), make whole,
silence, wind wallD; 3rd – create food and water, gaseous formD,
remove disease, stone shape.
DDomain Spell. Domains: Air (turn earth elem.,
rebuke air elem.); Sky (+5 ft. bonus to glide/fly speed;
Spot is a class skill).
Possessions: +1 rapier, +1 leather armor, amulet of natural
armor +1, wand of cure moderate wounds (30 charges), divine
scrolls of daylight and summon monster III, gold ring (450
gp).
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DM AID: MAP #1
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DM AID: MAP #2
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DM AID: MAP #3
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DM AID: MAP #4
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DM AID – NEW RULES ITEMS
NEW FEATS
Aerial Reflexes (Races of the Wild)
Your aerial agility allows you to avoid dangerous effects while airborne.
Benefit: While flying, you gain a bonus on Reflex saves based on your maneuverability (Clumsy +0, Poor +1,
Average +2, Good +3, Perfect +4).
Battle Casting (Races of the Wild)
You have a knack for staying out of harm’s way when casting spells.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Concentration 5 ranks, Combat Casting.
Benefit: While casting a spell, you gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC. The bonus lasts until the beginning of your next
turn. You cannot make attacks of opportunity while claiming the dodge bonus from this feat.
Blindsense (Complete Adventurer)
You can sense creatures that you cannot see.
Prerequisite: Ability to wild shape, Listen 4 ranks.
Benefit: You can expend one wild shape to gain blindsense for 1 minute per HD, enabling you to pinpoint the
location of a creature within 30 feet if you have line of effect to that creature (see Monster Manual, page 306). You retain
this benefit regardless of what form you are in.
Force of Personality (Complete Adventurer)
You have cultivated an unshakable belief in your self-worth. Your sense of self and purpose are so strong that they
bolster your willpower.
Prerequisites: Cha 13.
Benefit: You add your Cha modifier (instead of your Wis modifier) to Will saves against mind-affecting spells and
abilities.
Improved Flight (Races of the Wild)
You have gained greater maneuverability when flying than you would normally have.
Prerequisite: Natural fly speed.
Benefit: Your maneuverability while flying improves by one category (see page 312 of the Monster Manual). For
example, if your normal maneuverability is poor, it becomes average.
Improved Rapid Shot (Complete Warrior)
You are an expert with firing weapons with exceptional speed.
Prerequisite: Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot.
Benefit: When using the Rapid Shot feat, you may ignore the -2 penalty on all your ranged attack rolls.
Special: A fighter may select Improved Rapid Shot as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Improved Toughness (Complete Warrior)
You are significantly tougher than normal.
Prerequisite: Base Fortitude save bonus +2.
Benefit: You gain a number of hit points equal to you current Hit Dice. Each time you gain a HD (such as by
gaining a level), you gain 1 additional hit point. If you lose a HD (such as by losing a level), you lose 1 hit point
permanently.
Special: A fighter may select Improved Toughness as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Oaken Resilience (Complete Divine)
You can take on the sturdiness of the mighty oak.
Prerequisite: Ability to wild shape into a plant.
Benefit: You can spend a wild shape to gain immunity to critical hits, poison, sleep, paralysis, polymorph,, and
stunning. You also gain great stability, which gives you a +8 bonus on checks to avoid being bull rushed or tripped. The
effect remains for 10 minutes.
Ranged Disarm (Complete Warrior)
You can disarm a foe from a distance.
Prerequisites: Dex 15, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, BAB +5.
Benefit: Choose one type of ranged weapon with which you are proficient. You can make a disarm attempt with
this weapon as long as your target is within 30 feet.
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Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his fighter bonus feats. You can gain this feat multiple times. Its
effects do not stack. Each time you take it, you may take it with a new weapon. When using this feat, a character gains
no benefit from the Improved Disarm feat.
Ranged Pin (Complete Warrior)
You can perform a ranged grapple attempt against an opponent not adjacent to you.
Prerequisites: Dex 15, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, BAB +5.
Benefit: You can perform a ranged grapple attempt against an opponent by pinning a bit of his clothing to a
nearby tree, wall, or other surface. The target must be within 5 feet of a wall, tree, or such surface in which the
projectile is stuck. You must succeed on a ranged attack (not a ranged touch attack) and then win an opposed grapple
check (your size modifier and the target’s size modifier still apply). To break free, the victim must make a DC 15
Strength check or a DC 15 Escape Artist check as a standard action.
Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his fighter bonus feats. When using this feat, a character gains no
benefit from the Improved Grapple feat.
Ranged Sunder (Complete Warrior)
You can attack an opponent’s weapon from a distance.
Prerequisites: Str 13, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, BAB +5.
Benefit: When attacking objects, you deal full damage (instead of half damage) with slashing or bludgeoning
ranged weapons. You can make ranged sunder attempts with piercing weapons, such as arrows, but you only deal half
damage, divide the damage dealt in half by two before applying the object’s hardness. You must be within thirty feet of
your opponent to make a ranged sunder attack.
Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his fighter bonus feats. When using this feat, a character gains no
benefit from the Improved Sunder feat.
NEW INVOCATIONS (COMPLETE ARCANE)
Chilling Tentacles
Greater; 5th.
This invocation allows you to conjure forth a field of soul-chilling black tentacles that ooze from the ground,
groping for victims. This invocation functions identically to Evard’s black tentacles spell, except that each creature within
the area of the invocation takes 2d6 points of cold damage each round. Creatures in the area take this cold damage
whether or not they are grappled by the tentacles..
Devil’s Sight
Least; 2nd.
You gain the visual acuity of a devil for 24 hours. You can see normally in darkness and magic darkness out to 30
feet.
Eldritch Chain
Lesser; 4th; Blast Shape.
This blast shape allows you to improve your eldritch blast by turning it into an arc of energy that “jumps” from the
first target to others. An eldritch chain can jump to one or more secondary targets within 30 feet of the first target,
allowing you to make additional ranged touch attacks and deal damage to the secondary target if you hit. You can
“jump” the chain to one secondary target per five caster levels, so you can strike two additional targets at 10th level, three
additional targets at 15th level, and four additional targets at 20th level. Each new target must be within thirty feet of the
previous one, and you can’t target the same creature more than once with an eldritch chain. If you miss any target in the
chain, the attack ends there. Each target struck after the first takes half the damage dealt to the first target. This
reduction in damage to your secondary targets applies to any effect that increases the damage of your eldritch blast (such
as vitriolic blast). You must make a separate spell penetration check for each target, if applicable.
Entropic Warding
Least; 2nd.
When this invocation is activated, chaotic energies swirl about you, deflecting incoming arrows, rays and other
ranged attacks (as entropic shield). You can leave no trail (as pass without trace) and cannot be tracked by scent. You can
still be detected normally by scent, just not tracked.
Flee the Scene
Lesser; 4th.
You can use dimension door as a spell-like ability, although the range is limited to short (25 feet + 5 ft./2 levels).
When you use this ability, you leave behind a major image of yourself in your place that lasts for one round. The image
reacts appropriately to attacks as if you were concentrating on it.
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Miasmic Cloud
Least; 1st.
A misty cloud of fog spreads out in a 10-ft. radius from you when you use this invocation. The fog does not block
line of sight, but all creatures in the fog have concealment. Any creature (other than you) that enters the fog must make
a Fortitude save or become fatigued. This effect lasts so long as the creature remains within the cloud and for one round
thereafter. A moderate wind, or any fire larger than a torch, immediately disperses the fog. The fog otherwise lasts for
one minute.
Vitriolic Blast
Greater; 6th; Eldritch Essence.
This eldritch essence invocation allows you to change your eldritch blast into a vitriolic blast. A vitriolic blast deals acid
damage, and it is formed from conjured acid, making it different from other eldritch essences because it ignores spell
resistance. Creatures struck by a vitriolic blast automatically take an extra 2d6 points of acid damage on following
rounds. This acid damage persists for one round per five class levels.
Voracious Dispelling
Lesser; 4th.
You can use dispel magic as the spell. Any creature with an active spell effect dispelled by this invocation takes 1
point of damage per level of the spell effect (no save).
NEW ITEMS
Cloak of Turn Resistance (Libris Mortis)
This unholy item makes its wearer more difficult to turn by adding a +4 bonus on its turn resistance. Moderate
necromancy [evil]; CL: 10th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, able to rebuke undead as a 10th level cleric; Market Price:
11,100 gp; Weight: 1 lb.
Footbow (Races of the Wild)
This exotic weapon resembles a composite longbow, but it is designed to be used in flight, with the archer holding
the bow in her feet and drawing it with one or both hands. Like a composite bow, all footbows are made with a
particular Str rating. The wielder of a footbow can choose to use both hands to draw it back; in this case add 1-1/2 her
Str bonus to damage (up to a maximum of 1-1/2 the Str rating of the bow), as long as she is strong enough to use it
without penalty. A footbow can be used on the ground, but the archer must be prone to do so and takes a -4 penalty on
the attack roll. For raptorans, a footbow is a martial weapon rather than an exotic weapon. Market Price: 150 gp; Weight: 3
lbs.
Vest of Resistance (Complete Arcane)
These garments offer magic protection in the form of a +1 to +5 bonus on all saving throws. Faint abjuration; CL:
5th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, resistance, creator’s CL must be at least three times the vest’s bonus; Market Price:
1,000 gp (+1), 4,000 gp (+2), 9,000 gp (+3), 16,000 gp (+4), 25,000 gp (+5); Weight: 1 lb.
Warlock’s Scepter (Complete Arcane)
This fearsome device is a +2 light mace with a head in the shape of a demonic horned skull. When held, it confers a
+2 profane bonus on ranged touch attack rolls made with it. In addition, a warlock (or any other character capable of
invoking an eldritch blast) can choose to spend charges to increase the amount of damage his eldritch blast deals: 1 charge
= +1d6, 2 charges = +2d6, 3 charges = +3d6, 5 charges = +4d6. The rod’s wielder can expend up to 5 charges in any 24
hour period. A rod is created with 50 charges. After all charges are used, the rod remains a +2 light mace, but no longer
provides a bonus on ranged touch attacks. Moderate necromancy; CL 10th; Prerequisites: Craft Rod, bestow curse, Price
28,000 gp; Weight 3 lbs.
NEW SPELLS
Briar Web (Complete Divine)
Transmutation
Level: Clr 3, Drd 2, Rgr 2
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: Plants in a 20-ft.-radius spread
Saving Throw: Reflex negates; see text
Spell Resistance: No
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This spell causes grasses, weeds, bushes and even trees to grow thorns and then wrap and twist around creatures in
or entering the area.
Creatures that make their save against this spell are unaffected other than having to move at half speed within the
area of effect.
If a creature fails its initial saving throw, it has three options; stay perfectly still, attempt to break free, or continue
to act normally.
A creature that fails it saving throw is entangled (--2 attack, --4 Dexterity), but experiences no other effect and takes
no damage. Anyone entangled in this way loses the entangled condition if they leave the area of the spell.
Each round in which a creature remains in the area, it may spend a full round action extricating itself from the
thorns. Doing so allows a new saving throw. If successful, the creature is unaffected by the thorns except it may only
move at half speed in the area of the spell. Successfully breaking free in this way is the only thing a character can do
that does not cause thorn damage to the character. A failed attempt to break free deals the normal 2d6 thorn piercing
damage.
Those that attempt actions (such as attack, cast a spell with a somatic component, or move) take 2d6 points of
piercing damage from the thorns. A creature that tries to cast a spell must also make a Concentration check (DC 15 +
spell level + damage taken) or lose the spell.
The plants provide cover. A creature five feet away has cover. Creatures separated by more than 20 feet of briar
webs have total cover.
Brilliant Aura (Complete Divine)
Transmutation
Level: Drd 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: 1 person per 2 levels, all of whom must be within 30 ft. of each other
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
You limn your allies in a glowing nimbus, transforming their attacks into brilliant energy. Each person affected by
this aura gives off light as a torch (20 ft. radius). Their weapon attacks (melee or ranged) function as if their weapons
were brilliant energy weapons: they ignore nonliving matter, and armor and enhancement AC bonuses do not count
against them. The attacks cannot harm undead, constructs, or objects. In addition, all attacks gain an enhancement
bonus on damage equal to one-half the caster’s level (maximum +10).
Creeping Cold (Complete Divine)
Transmutation [Cold]
Level: Drd 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 3 rounds
Saving Throw: Fort half
Spell Resistance: Yes
You turn the subject’s sweat to ice, creating blisters as the ice forms on and inside the skin. The spell deals 1d6
cumulative points of cold damage per round it is in effect (that is, 1d6 on the 1st round, 2d6 on the 2nd round, and 3d6 on
the 3rd round). Only one save is allowed against the spell; if successful, it halves the damage each round.
Focus: A small glass or pottery vessel worth at least 25 gp filled with ice, snow, or water.
Creeping Cold, Greater (Complete Divine)
Transmutation [Cold]
Level: Drd 7
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: Fort half
Spell Resistance: Yes
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This spell is the same as creeping cold, but it adds a fourth round to the duration, during which it deals 4d6 points
of damage. If the caster is at least 15th level, the spell adds a 5th round at 5d6 points of damage. If the caster is at least 20th
level, the spell adds a 6th round at 6d6 points of damage.
Focus: A small glass or pottery vessel worth at least 25 gp filled with ice, snow, or water.
Critical Strike (Complete Adventurer)
Divination
Level: Assassin 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
While this spell is in effect, your melee attacks are more likely to strike a foe’s vital areas. Whenever you make a
melee attacks against a flanked for or against a foe denied its Dexterity bonus, you deal an extra 1d6 points of damage,
your weapon’s threat range is doubled (as if under the effect of keen edge), and you gain a +4 insight bonus on rolls
made to confirm critical hits. The increased threat range granted by this spell doesn’t stack with any other effect that
increases your weapon’s threat range. Creatures immune to sneak attacks are immune to the extra damage dealt by your
attacks.
Distract Assailant (Complete Adventurer)
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Assassin 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
The subject of this spell is distracted, flinching at blows that seem to come from the shadows. A creature affected
by this spell is flat-footed until the beginning of its next turn.
Material Component: The dried wing of a fly.
Fire Shuriken (Complete Arcane)
Evocation [Fire]
Level: Asn 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 0 ft.
Effect: One magical shuriken/3 levels
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell creates shuriken formed of magic fire that you can throw as a normal ranged attack at any target within
range. You are automatically considered proficient with the fire shuriken, which have a range increment of 10 feet,
threaten a critical hit on a roll of 19-20, and deal 3d6 points of fire damage each on a successful hit (though you and your
possessions take no damage as the shuriken are thrown). Any additional damage dealt by the fire shuriken (including Str
and sneak attack bonuses) is also fire damage. The shuriken disappear when they hit, so they cannot set fire to
combustibles or damage objects. You can create one fire shuriken per three caster levels, up to a maximum of six at 18th
level.
Material Component: A shuriken coated with pine sap and sulfur.
Forestfold (Complete Divine)
Transmutation
Level: Drd 4, Rgr 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 10 minutes/level (D)
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You change your coloring and attune your footfalls to one specific kind of terrain (aquatic, desert, plains, forests,
hills, mountains, marsh, or underground). While you are in terrain of that kind, you gain a +20 competence bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks. You retain these bonuses even if you leave the designated terrain and return within the
duration of the spell.
Infestation of Maggots (Complete Divine)
Necromancy
Level: Drd 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature Touched
Duration: One round/2 levels
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
With a successful melee touch attack, you infect a creature with maggot-like creatures that deal 1d4 points of
temporary Constitution damage each round. The subject makes a new Fortitude save each round to negate the damage
and end the effect. The infestation can be removed with a cure disease spell or a heal spell.
Material Component: A handful of dried, dead flies.
Miasma (Complete Divine)
Evocation
Level: Drd 6
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One living creature
Duration: 3 rounds per level
Saving Throw: Fort negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
By filling the subject’s mouth and throat with unbreathable gas, you prevent him from doing much more than
coughing and spitting. The subject cannot speak. Conversation is impossible, spells with verbal components cannot be
cast, bardic music cannot be performed, and no noise other than coughing and spitting is possible. The subject can hold
his breath for 2 rounds per point of Constitution but must a Constitution check (DC 10 + 1 per previous success) each
round thereafter to continue doing so. Failure on any such check (or voluntary resumption of breathing) causes the
subject to fall unconscious (0 hp). On the next round, the subject drops to –1 hit points and is dying; on the third
round, he suffocates (see suffocation, Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 304).
Murderous Mist (Complete Divine)
Evocation
Level: Drd 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Cloud that spreads in a 30 foot radius, 20 feet high
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Reflex half; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
You create a cloud of scalding hot steam that moves in a straight line, away from you, at a speed of 10 feet per
round. Anyone within the cloud takes 2d6 points of damage and is permanently blinded. If a creature within the area
makes a successful saving throw, it only takes half damage and is not blinded. Any creature within the cloud has
concealment. Winds do not affect the cloud’s direction or speed. However a moderate wind (11+ mph) disperses the
cloud in 4 rounds, and a strong wind (21+ mph) disperses it in 1 round.
Shadow Form (Complete Adventurer)
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Asn 4, Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
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Duration: 1 min./level (D)
You can call forth the power of shadow, enveloping yourself in a clinging, concealing shroud of darkness. While
this spell is in effect, you gain a number of benefits. The shadows wrapping your form grant a +4 competence bonus on
Escape Artist, Hide, and Move Silently checks. Your shadowy form also provides you with concealment. This shadow
concealment is not negated by a see invisibility spell, but a true seeing spell counteracts the effect. Standing within the
radius of a daylight spell or in bright natural sunlight temporarily suppresses the concealment effect.
In addition, if you have 5 ranks in Escape Artist, you can attempt to slip through a solid object or barrier up to 5 feet
thick with a DC 20 Escape Artist check, though doing this ends the spell as soon as the attempt is completed (regardless
of success). If you have 10 ranks in Escape Artist, you can attempt to pass through an object or barrier up to 10 feet
thick. If you have 15 ranks in Escape Artist, you can attempt to pass through a barrier composed of magical force (or
similar magical obstacles).
Material Component: A small piece of black cloth taken from a funeral shroud.
Spectral Weapon (Complete Adventurer)
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Asn 3, Brd 4, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will partial; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes; see text
Using material from the Plane of Shadow, you can fashion a quasi-real weapon of any type with which you are
proficient. This spectral weapon appears in your hand and behaves as a normal weapon of its type, with two exceptions.
First, you resolve attacks with your spectral weapon as melee touch attacks instead of melee attacks. Second, any foe you
hit is entitled to a Will save to recognize the weapon’s shadowy nature. If the save is successful, that opponent takes
only one-fifth normal damage from the weapon on that attack and all subsequent attacks, and is only 20% likely to suffer
any special effects of your attacks (such as a death attack delivered with the weapon). You can maintain only one spectral
weapon at a time, and only you can wield it. The weapon dissipates when you let go of it or when the spell’s duration
expires, whichever comes first.
Vigor (Complete Divine)
Conjuration (Healing)
Level: Clr 3, Drd 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: 10 rounds + 1 round/level (max 25 rounds)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
With a touch of your hand, you boost the subject’s life energy, granting him or her the fast healing ability for the
duration of the spell. The subject heals 2 hit point per round of such damage until the spells ends and is automatically
stabilized if he or she begins dying from hit point loss during that time. Vigor does not restore hit points lost from
starvation, thirst, suffocation, nor does it allow a creature to regrow or attach lost body parts. The effects of multiple
vigor spells do not stack; only the highest-level effect applies. Applying a second vigor spell of equal level extends the
first spell’s duration by the full duration of the second spell.
NEW TRICKS
Mark (Races of the Wild)
Mark (DC 20): The animal moves toward a creature designate and endeavors to stay near the creature no matter
what it does or how it moves. The animal generally stays within 10 feet of the creature but keeps out of its reach. While
performing this trick, the creature makes noise to help mark the foe’s location.
If the animal also knows the seek trick, you can designate an area or direction for the animal to seek out foes that
are attacking you. To identify a foe, the animal must seethe creature attack you or use a spell or other magical effect
with visible manifestation in your direction. Otherwise the animal marks the first creature it encounters.
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SHE5-03 The Prophet’s Voice
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PLAYER HANDOUT #1
Friend,
I have need of your aid again. Please meet me at
The Knob, outside of Spinster’s Wood.
The fate of both my people and yours hangs in the
balance.
Maira Lachlansdotter
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PLAYER HANDOUT #2
Fate makes strange friends,
I should call you enemy, but the gods have
brought you to me and me to you.
Meet me at The Knob, outside of Spinster’s
Wood. Know that I am prepared for treachery
and will not fall to animal cunning or petty plots.
The fate of both my people and yours hangs in the
balance.
Maira Lachlansdotter
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Page 89
PLAYER HANDOUT #3
We share the same dreams. I see the white stone
too.
I think you have been brought to me with good
reason. I have a solution to you problems.
Meet me at The Knob, outside of Spinster’s
Wood.
The fate of both my people and yours hangs in the
balance.
Maira Lachlansdotter
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Page 90
PLAYER HANDOUT #4: THE DREAMS
It started some weeks ago, the dreaming. A person in your
trade sees and does many things, and the passage of the night
is often ungentle. You have had nightmares before. Rest has
sometimes been elusive. But it has not been like this.
You have always known the difference between what is real
and what is not. No matter what darkness and horror lay
within sleep, escape lay simply in waking and in dragging your
soul back into the light of this world. It has not been so lately.
What first appeared as episodes of fitful and troubled rest
soon became torment and lucid torture.
The knife … you remember the knife. There was laughter,
one voice deep and resonant with its own power. Another
voice, smaller, whispered words of power as it cut. Slick and
wet the words wrapped around your throat and tightened.
Someone screamed, long and loud. The voice shook and
shuddered for moments unending, and you asked yourself,
“Why would someone make that sound?”
Then you felt the knife again, marking with measured cuts a
symbol on your flesh. It was you who screamed, your voice
taut and shattered by anguish. You tried to stand but could
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Page 91
not. Strong hands held you down, their weight a pressure on
your limbs.
Then blackness appears above your eyes. A hand, its skin
the black of night and ash, takes shape as you focus through
the pain. Words come again beside the laughter. Yet, these
words sear, and smoke curls from the skin of your wounded
throat. Molten flame drips from the huge, black hand, and you
try to scream, the last of your voice shredding across the
surface of your pain.
The laughter ends. That voice is wicked in its power, “Be
silent or speak repentance else you will be sent to the final
mountain.”
You awake each night you dream of this to the smell of
sulfur and burning flesh, choking on your fear and pain.
There is still more waiting for you in rest. You dreamed of
a mountain made of pale white stone, its rock worn smooth by
wind and rain. You moved closer, as if in flight, and saw
gateways pebble the surface of the stone. You pass through
one and hear a woman’s despair and the sobs of loss. She
cries the mournful cry of the living who ache for those who
once were.
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Page 92
She sits before you. Bird-like, she perches on a crib, more
like a nest than any child’s bedding you have seen before.
Within an egg, of this you are certain, although you have not
seen its like before. Its surface is as pale and pure white as
the stone without.
A crack appears in the surface of the egg. Bit by bit, chips
break away as something claws its way into the light. The
woman sobs.
At last, the surface breaks. A perfect small hand breaks
into the light. For an instant, there is beauty. Then the skin
of the arm splits, as if burned by an inner fire. Next come
embers burning from within. Last all is ash, and the fickle wind
sweeps the remnants of life from the nest and out across the
floor.
The woman cries.
Waking brought anguish to you. Emptiness filled your
heart with bitter grief. That death was as sad and final as a
sword stroke.
Yet another dream haunts you.
Around you there are walls made of steel, smooth and cold
to your touch. You can take one stride forward. You can
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take one stride back. You can take one stride to the left or
the right. That is all. The floor underneath your feet slopes
gently up to the wall. You cannot stand flat footed, and your
ankles and feet ache with standing on the sloping floor.
Above, the light washes from red to blue to green to yellow
then back to red. Unending the cycle repeats, again and
again and again.
It has always been this way. Long ago you remember the
open sky and flight. The touch of such thoughts is fading like
a song long lost. Soon, you will remember only the steel walls
and the sloping floors. It has been so long. Red, Blue,
Green, Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, Blue,
Green, Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, the cycle repeats
endlessly.
You cannot walk. You cannot move. You cannot fly. You
cannot leave. There is no voice except your own. There is
no color beyond these four. The walls are steel. This is all
you know. The walls are all. The walls are all. The walls are
all. The walls are all. Eternity stretches before you.
You wake and see steel walls before your eyes.
The vision fades.
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There has been little respite. Each night a torment of
nightmares, unending and repeating. You would think that
you could become numb to theses images, repeated as often
as they have. They do not fade and stay as fresh as a new
wound.
Battered, you wander. One thing guides you. On some
nights the dreams come with less frequency and intensity.
When you move towards Sterich, your sleep is less troubled.
You have crossed the Sheldomar tormented. Steps towards
Istivin bring at least a partial sleep.
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CRITICAL EVENTS SUMMARY
SHE5-03 THE PROPHET’S VOICE
Please complete this form and return it to Steven Conforti at [email protected].
Did the PCs bring Maira her Voice?
Y / N
Did the PCs bring Gar Mujal the books?
Y / N
Did the PCs free the Folinu?
Y / N
Did the PCs rescue the commoners?
Y / N
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Meta-Region Sheldomar Valley/595/Normal Scenarios/SHE5-03 - The Prophets Voice (APL 6-18)/SHE5-03 - The Prophet's Voice.pdf |
textdata/thevault/Blood of Pangea/Blood of Pangea Retrospace/Blood of Pangea Retrospace Character Sheet.pdf |
|
t
Play Notes:
� Gained a level
� Lost a level
� Ability Drained ____________
� Died
� Was raised/res’d
� Was reincarnated
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Home Region______________________
593 CY
A D V E N T U R E
L E V E L O F
P L A Y
(CIRCLE ONE)
APL 4
max 675 xp; 600 gp
APL 6
max 900 xp; 800 gp
APL 8
max 1,125 xp; 1,250 gp
APL 10
max 1,350 xp; 2,100 gp
APL 12
max 1,575 xp; 3,000 gp
This Record Certifies that
__________________________________________
Played by______________________________________
Player
RPGA #
Has Completed
Of Witches and Warlocks
A Regional Adventure
Set in Keoland
Event: _________________________________ Date: ________
DM: __________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
� MURDERER! This PC cast destructive spells with abandoned, or cleaved from a
creature into a Craufield resident. Both the DM and the Player should contact the
Keoland Metaorg and Regional Flavor PC at [email protected] with their
version of the story so that an appropriate punishment/restitution can be made.
� Gift of the Craufield Mages (Frequency: Regional): As special thanks for finding
the true cause of the trouble in Craufield, Istava Lolian will offer the PC a one-time gift,
PC’s Choice:
•
Istava will teach the PC any one arcane [including bard] spell of 4
th level or
lower that is in the Council Library, including Builder Book spells. The PC
must be able to cast the spell at the time this is used. Spells that are
Unknown, Illegal, or Forbidden in Keoland are unavailable to the PC. See
the Metaorg Book 0 or contact the Keoland Metaorg PoC for details.
•
Istava will use the resources of the council to empower one magical item
with even greater power. The PC may choose ONE of the following items at
the casting: Weapon, Armor, Shield, Cloak of Resistance, Ring of Protection.
The PC must then choose either a +1 to +2, or a +2 to +3 upgrade. The PC
only needs to pay the difference in cost between the old and new items, but
must have the gp available at the time this influence is used.
� Gift of Brathin Sigwal the Jeweler (Frequency: Adventure): [NOTE: This is only
available if the Mage Council has not been banned from Nimlee].
As special thanks for finding the true cause of the trouble in Craufield, Brathen will
offer to create a commission piece for the PC. He will create any jewelry piece the PC
designates [including metaorg membership items] up to a value of 500gp.
If a PC spends 500gp, that PC will gain a +1 Diplomacy and Gather Information checks
with NPC members of the Royal Financiers Guilds, as they recognize a good customer.
The PC should note the description of the item on both the AR and on their list of
Keoish Influence.
Cross out any game effects this character does not gain.
� Notice of the Darkwatch: The PC has now met a member of the Darkwatch, and
has left the following impression (Circle ONE):
Favorable: This PC willingly and nobly participated in the defense of Craufield.
They also went out of their way to be heroic and openly shared information with (and
was polite to) Sarick. Cannot be given to members of the Darkwatch.
Recognition: This PC willingly and adequately participated in the defense of
Craufield. Sarick has also detected some hostility from this PC towards the
Darkwatch. Cannot be given to members of the Darkwatch.
Unfavorable: The PC either did not aid in the Craufield investigation, did so
grudgingly, or was openly belligerent and hostile towards Sarick. This PC’s future
actions will be tracked by the Darkwatch.
� ARRESTED! The PC either cast illegal or forbidden spells with abandon and/or
was responsible for the destruction of property in Craufield. The PC must pay a fine of
100gp x Spell Level x APL, as noted in the “Other Gold Spent” box on this AR. If
another PC at the table covers the fine, it should be noted on both ARs. If a PC cannot
cover this cost, they must spend 1 TU for every 100gp that they are short [rounded up]
working off their debt by helping to rebuild Craufield. Both the DM and the Player
should contact the Keoland Metaorg and Regional Flavor PC at
[email protected] with their version of the story so that an appropriate
punishment/restitution can be made.
� Influence w/Countess Lissen Rheyd (Power Rank: Noble. Political: Oeridian).
See the Metaorg Book 0 for details, or contact the Keoland triad for further
information. Frequency (Regional).
If a PC does not belong to any Keoish metaorgs, they may use this favor to cover the
cost of any clerical spells of 3
rd level or less used in this module, up to 500gp [note that
healing in Keoland costs double PHB standard.] Influence used in this way is
Frequency (Adventure)
Adventure Record#
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
Cross off all items NOT found
APL 4, 6, and 8:
•
Cloak of Charisma +2 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Masterwork Zither (Regional; Song & Silence [with
rules from page 49-50])
•
Scroll Organizer (Regional; Tome & Blood)
•
Everburning Torch (Regional; DMG)
•
Scroll of Stoneskin (Adventure; 7
th level caster; DMG)
APL 10:
[APL 4, 6, and 8 Items PLUS]
•
Chain shirt +2 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Flaming short sword +1 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Bracers of Armor +4 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Amulet of Natural Armor +3 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Gloves of Dexterity +4 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Potion of Gaseous Form (Adventure; DMG)
•
Dust of Appearance (Adventure; DMG)
•
Scroll of Teleport (Adventure; 9
th level caster; DMG)
•
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds (Adventure; DMG)
•
Ring of Mind Shielding (Adventure; DMG)
•
Ring of Protection +3 (Adventure; DMG)
•
Vest of Resistance +2 (Adventure; Tome & Blood)
APL 12: [APL 4, 6, 8, and 10 Items PLUS]
•
Mithril Chain Shirt +3 (Adventure; DMG)
TU REMAINING
Added TU Costs
- TU
TU Cost
1 or 2 TU
Starting TU
TU
XP
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP Gained
+ XP
Subtotal
XP
XP lost or spen
- XP
Starting XP
XP
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp value
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
FINAL GP TOTAL
GP
GP Spent
-
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Gained
+
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Gained
+
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Spent
-
GP
Lifestyle
� None
� Standard (12 gp x TU)
� Rich (50 gp x TU)
� Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
Starting GP
GP
t
Play Notes:
� Gained a level
� Lost a level
� Ability Drained ____________
� Died
� Was raised/res’d
� Was reincarnated
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Home Region______________________
Cross out any game effects this character does not gain.
� Pawn of Nerull: The PC has taken possession of a
powerful weapon called Nerull’s Gift. Being a highly
intelligent and evil item, it has slowly taken control over
the PC even if they are normally immune to mind-
affecting effects. The PC’s alignment has changed to CE
and is now an agent for Nerull. The PC loses any class
abilities that are not allowed to a CE character. If the PC
was a cleric to another god, the PC is now a cleric of
Nerull. The PC will lose access to the domains spells of
her/his previous god and gain access to Nerull’s domains
(the atonement spell will be cast by one of Nerull’s
clerics). As the PC is now evil, the PC is out of play and in
control of the Keoland Triad. Send the character sheet
and ARs to the Keoland Plots and Scenarios Triad
member (Christian Alipounarian, [email protected]).
The character is now a NPC unless a special mission or a
future module changes his/her status.
593 CY
A D V E N T U R E
This Record Certifies that
__________________________________________
Played by______________________________________
Player
RPGA #
Has Completed
Of Witches and Warlocks
A Regional Adventure Set in Keoland
And Become a Pawn of Nerull
Event: _________________________________ Date: ________
DM: __________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
Adventure Record#
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
Cross off all items NOT found
TU REMAINING
Added TU Costs
- TU
TU Cost
0 TU
Starting TU
TU
XP
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP Gained
+ XP
Subtotal
XP
XP lost or spen
- XP
Starting XP
XP
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp value
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
FINAL GP TOTAL
GP
GP Spent
-
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Gained
+
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Gained
+
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Spent
-
GP
Lifestyle
� None
� Standard (12 gp x TU)
� Rich (50 gp x TU)
� Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
Starting GP
GP
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Keoland/593/Normal Scenarios/KEO3-04 - Of Witches and Warlocks (APL 4-12)/KEO3-04 - Of Witches and Warlocks AR.pdf |
GP
Starting GP
Lifestyle
�
None
�
Standard (12 gp x TU)
�
Rich (50 gp x TU)
�
Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
FINAL GP TOTAL
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp value
XP
Starting XP
-
XP
XP lost or spent
XP
Subtotal
+
XP
XP Gained
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP
TU
Starting TU
1 or 2 TU
TU Cost
-
TU
Added TU Costs
TU REMAINING
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
Cross off all items NOT found
APL4
� redcap's tooth (Regional; see AR; 1,000 gp)
� pearl of power, 1st level (Adventure; DMG; 1,000 gp)
� spellbook containing: amanuensis, benign transposition, blast of
force, sign of sealing (400 gp)*
� oil of align weapon (good) (NoneLM; DMG; 300 gp)
� scroll of restoration (NoneLM; DMG; 800 gp)
� wand of lesser vigor (NoneLM; SpC; 750 gp)
APL 6 (all of APLs 2-4 plus the following)
� lesser rod of extend (Adventure; DMG; 3,000 gp)
� masterwork large spiked chain (Adventure; PH; 350 gp)
� spellbook containing the spells at APL 4 plus force missiles,
greater magic armor, orb of force (950 gp) *
APL 8 (all of APLs 2-6 plus the following)
� spellbook containing the spells at APLs 4-6 plus arc of
lightning (1,100 gp) *
APL 10 (all of APLs 2-8 plus the following)
� armbands of might (Adventure; CV; 4,100 gp)
� +1 large spiked chain (Adventure; PH; 2,350 gp)
� spellbook containing the spells at APLs 4-10 plus greater sign
of sealing (1,600 gp) *
Spells in the spellbook are from the SPELL COMPENDIUM
APL 12 (all of APLs 2-10 plus the following)
�
vest of resistance +1 (Adventure; CA; 1,000 gp)
�
spellbook containing the spells at APLs 4-10 plus greater
sign of sealing (1,600 gp) *
Spells in the spellbook are from the SPELL COMPENDIUM
Adventure Record#
596CY
A D V E N T U R E
L E V E L O F
P L A Y
(CIRCLE ONE)
APL 2
max 450 XP; 450 gp
APL 4
max 675 XP; 650 gp
APL 6
max 900 XP; 900 gp
APL 8
max 1,125 XP; 1,300 gp
APL 10
max 1,350 XP; 2,300 gp
APL 12
max 1,575 XP; 3,300 gp
�Winner of the Fallen Knights Archery Contest
You have placed first in this year’s archery contest at the Festival of
the Fallen Knights in Nellix.
�Redcap’s tooth (from MONSTER MANUAL III)
When a redcap dies, it leaves behind a single tooth. Anyone
wearing this tooth gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Charisma-
based checks when dealing with fey, and a +4 circumstance bonus
when dealing with other redcaps.
- Faint transmutation; CL 6th; cannot be made; Price 1,000 gp.
�Favor of the Lydians
You have earned the gratitude of the Temple of Lydia for rescuing
Karett Melior. You may use the favor to gain access to any two of
the following spells from the SPELL COMPENDIUM: (expending the
favor in the process): assay resistance, close wounds, mass align weapon,
panacea, spontaneous search. This favor may also be redeemed for a
discount of 500 gp on spellcasting service on the Temple of Lydia.
As long as it is retained the character is considered a "Friend of the
Church of Lydia (see the meta-org for details). The character also
gains regional access to the items marked with “CL” below, even
after the favor is expended.
�Favor of Karett Melior: This favor depends on Karett Melior’s
condition. The DM should circle the appropriate condition blow.
If this condition is improved in future adventures, the access level
of the favor will also improve. The favor is expended when it is
used to purchase or upgrade an item from the list below.
Good (25,000 gp limit)/Fair (16,000 gp limit)/Poor (6000gp
limit)/Critical (no items)
Available items: Karett can provide you with access to buy or
upgrade items from the following list, subject to the gold piece
limits listed under the applicable condition entry: Metamagic rods
from the DMG or CA; Stat items of +4 value (amulet of health, belt of
giant strength, cloak of charisma, gloves of dexterity, headband of intellect,
periapt of wisdom); Boccob’s blessed book, boots of speed, spool of
endless rope (CV), pearl of power (up to 5th level), tunic of steady
spellcasting (CV), ring of arcane might (CA), ring of lore (CA), ring of
lightning flashes (LORDS OF MADNESS), ring of protection (+1 to +3)
An item may only be purchased if it has a price less than or equal
to the gold piece limit for Karett’s current condition. If Karett’s
condition was Good or Fair, it may be exchanged, instead, for
access to the aberration bane (DMG), death ward (CA), magebane
(CA) or sizing (CA) enhancements – these enhancements are not
subject to the gold piece limits.
This Record Certifies that
__________________________________________________
Character Name
Classes and Levels
__________________________________________________
Player Name
RPGA #
Has Completed
URD6-08 – Food for Thought
An adventure set in the region of the Duchy of Urnst
Event:__________________________ Date: __________________
DM: _____________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
Play Notes:
�
Gained a level
�
Lost a level
�
Ability Drained ______________
�
Died
�
Was raised/res’d
�
Was reincarnated
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Home Region_________________________________
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6
1
Crash Zone
Written by
Jesse Pingenot
Saga Machine system by
Thorin Tabor
Edited by
Thorin Tabor
Art by
NASA, Wilson Saravia
Tab Creations is
Ben Goreham, Jesse Pingenot, Matthew Pennell, Thorin Tabor
Tab Creations, Saga Machine and Shadows Over Sol are trademarks owned by Thorin Tabor and Tab Creations LLC. All rights
reserved. All other content is ©2020 Jesse Pingenot & Tab Creations. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these
pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. This document is a work of fiction.
2
3
Crash Zone is a complete action horror
scenario for Shadows Over Sol. Contained
in this adventure enough material to cover
between two and four sessions of play,
depending on the interests of the players
and the pacing set by the GM.
In this scenario, the team will be
pitted against rival corporate agents, fight
automated drones and unravel a mystery
that has laid dormant on Mars for decades.
Author’s
Author’s
Forward
Forward
In the process of creating Shadows
Over Sol, the Tab Creations team learned
a lot about the solar system as a whole, and
Mars in particular. Mars seems to call to
humanity, as a rocky planet near our own.
Several years ago, a company even started
taking applications for colonists.
But Mars has many, many roadblocks
between it and permanent human colo-
nization. Its core and mantle are dead.
It has no magnetosphere to protect any
potential colonists from radiation. And
its low gravity, at 0.37 G, is not what
human bodies are adapted for, possibly
causing developmental complications in
children and bone loss in adults. It’s not
just Earth without water.
What would it take to make Mars a
new Earth? Would humanity, as a species,
prefer to modify itself to meet the needs
of the planet, or would they prefer to alter
the planet to meet the needs of humanity?
And since humans are individuals and
don’t think as a species, what happens
when someone disagrees?
Synopsis
Synopsis
In the early days of the Mars Terrafor-
ming Project lots of crazy theories were
floated on how to make the Red Planet
habitable for human life. These ranged
from bioengineering lifeforms to digest
and break up the Martian regolith, to
crashing asteroids into the planet to give
it greater mass and reignite Mars’ dead
planetary core.
One group involved with the earliest
terraforming efforts was a privately
owned space technology firm called the
Mizalcor Initiative. Led by Eun-Seung
Mok, an eccentric billionaire known for
his extravagant lifestyle and belief in hard
AI, the Initiative championed some of the
most bizarre terraforming plans proposed
in those early days.
Eventually a rift grew between the
Mizalcor Initiative and the Terraforming
Project’s other early participants, leading
Eun-Seung Mok to publicly declare that
his companies would seek to terraform
Mars on their own, without the project’s
input. A grand unveiling of his vision
for Mars was scheduled, but never came
to fruition, as the very next week World
War IV erupted, putting all terraforming
plans on hold and consuming human
efforts for the next several years.
While Eun-Seung Mok survived the
war, he didn’t survive its radioactive fallout.
Introduction
Introduction
4
Eun-Seung died of radiation poisoning
just months after the conflict ended. The
Mizalcor Initiative filed for bankruptcy
shortly afterward.
As far as anyone knows, that was the
end of Eun-Seung’s, and the Mizalcor
Initiative’s, involvement with Martian
terraforming. Their plans fell by the
wayside and more sensible minds prevailed.
However, that common wisdom is about
to be proven wrong.
The Mars Solution
The Mars Solution
While World War IV was consuming
the attention of humanity, the Mizalcor
Initiative was spending extravagantly,
hiring new personnel and constructing
a series of installations across Mars. This
was done in absolute secrecy, so as to not
become a target in the war.
Meanwhile, one of Eun-Seung’s other
companies was involved in processing fissile
material for the Corporate Powers. This
material was used to manufacture atomic
bombs for the war. Carefully skimming
material from the war effort, the Mizalcor
Initiative transferred it to Mars and there
used it into manufacture warheads.
These warheads were placed at regular
points under the Martian crust. The plan
was to later set them off in unison. This
was called Ignition Day. It was part of an
effort to create strategic faults in Mars’
dead mantle. The hope was that the
energy produced by igniting the bombs
would cause the outer mantle to liquify
and magnetically realign, producing
a stronger magnetosphere around the
planet, and thus protecting it from the
most harmful effects of solar radiation.
But the bombs were just half the plan.
Automated drones were also sent out to
alter the paths of close to one thousand
objects in the solar system, and to have
them collide with Mars at roughly the
same time. These would produce an
abundance of additional energy to heat
the already fractured crust.
Thirty secret facilities were completed,
but
Ignition
Day
never
arrived.
Eun-Seung Mok died before his plan
could be put into motion.
His corporate successor at the Mizalcor
Initiative, never a believer in the project,
then quickly evacuated and shuttered
the secret facilities, lest the stolen fissile
material be traced to the company. The
entire effort was swept under the rug and
then largely forgotten.
Unfortunately for Mars, someone or
something has just discovered the Mizalcor
Initiative’s old network of secret facilities,
and Ignition Day is about to arrive.
Ready-Made Heroes
Ready-Made Heroes
The
nine
player
characters
presented in Shadows Over Sol:
Ready-Made Heroes are ideal for
use with Crash Zone. Simply print
out the character sheets, give them
their listed “Action Horror” loadouts
and they are good to go!
Of particular interest are: Alek-
sander Gugenheim, who is on his
home turf in this adventure; Ozan
Cevahir, who has experience in the
Martian water trade; and Albert
Astro, who may have some insight
into breaking apart orbital bodies.
5
Enter the Team
Enter the Team
When the bombs are set off, a quake
will shake the Martian surface. Hired by
Sinoex, the team will then be sent out
to investigate the cause of this seismic
disturbance. Over the course of the inves-
tigation, they will discover one of the
secret facilities and then explore a second
facility whose warhead failed to ignite.
This leads to the revelation that
thousands of orbital objects are about
to strike the Red Planet. Can the team
deflect the incoming objects before they
cause millions of colonists to die?
Modes of
Modes of
Horror
Horror
Crash Zone is written with the action
horror mode of play in mind (see the
Shadows Over Sol core rulebook, page
164). Throughout the events of this
adventure, the team will run up against
rival scrappers, mysterious automated
drones and a mystery that has laid
dormant on Mars for decades.
This scenario is high enough in action
that the GM may want to consider
running it using the Epic Sci-fi mode of
play (see Fatal Frontier, page 6). This
works especially well if the adventure is
being run as a one-shot.
Altering the adventure to suit the Inves-
tigative Horror or Survival Horror modes
of play is also possible, albeit with a little
work. To do this, play up the investigative
aspects in the first half of the adventure. It
may also be reasonable to have the team
accompanied by a few NPC soldiers
appointed by Sinoex. In that case, have
the soldiers do the bulk of the shooting,
but try to have it occur “offscreen,”
when the team is split up exploring the
two secret facilities. They can later come
upon the wounded soldiers and hear their
harrowing tale. This helps build tension
and furthers the sense of dread without
slaughtering the scrappers.
Other Adventures
Other Adventures
Crash Zone can be used alone or in conjunction with other published
Shadows Over Sol adventures. Below are some notes on how to combine this
scenario with others.
■ Dreams and Dust: Like Crash Zone, this adventure is set on Mars and assumes
a competent and well-prepared team. While it starts as Investigative Horror,
it is easily adapted to Action Horror, and makes a great follow-up scenario for
teams that gain a heroic reputation.
■ Eviction Notice: Another Action Horror scenario set on Mars, Eviction
Notice is best set before Crash Zone, and is a great way for the team to gain the
reputation they will need to be hired by Sinoex.
■ Thirst: Yet another Martian adventure, Thirst is a very different scenario than
Crash Zone, but makes for a great interlude as the team travels between the
two secret facilities, or as a prelude to the events of Crash Zone.
6
7
This scenario begins with the team
in Oras colony on Mars. Perhaps they
are spending some downtime between
missions visiting family, or on a drinking
binge. Or perhaps they just wrapped up
another adventure set on Mars, such as
Thirst or Eviction Notice, and haven’t
even had time for a breather.
Downtime
Downtime
However they came by their well-
earned downtime, have the team play out
a little bit of it. This is also a good oppor-
tunity to touch on personal plots or shed
a bit on light on the characters. Just what
do they do when they’re between jobs?
Try to give each of the player charac-
ters a short scene. You can adapt each one
to that particular character’s strengths or
interests. A few ideas are given below:
■ Teams who just finished their last job
likely just got paid. This means that
the scrappers may have microcredits
burning a hole in their proverbial
pockets. Shopping for new gear
is a time-honored tradition and
something easily accomplished in
most colonies on Mars.
■ Characters with a violent bent may
want to seek out illegal underground
bloodsports (see page 33 of the
Shadows Over Sol core rulebook).
They could make bets on the outcome
or even participate in the games!
■ The team may have any number of
contacts on Mars. Checking up on
old friends, acquaintances or even
enemies can make for an interesting
scene. This is especially true if using
the Contacts rules from page 3 of
Shadows Over Sol: Contacts.
■ Characters of a scientific bent may
want to pursue research activities or
conduct experiments. This may call
for any number of flips, including
Int/bio-sci or Int/phy-sci.
The News
The News
As the team goes about their
business, the GM should mention
some of the things that are in the news.
These tidbits provide important fore-
shadowing for later in the adventure.
■ The net is full of talk about a Heed
celebrity, Grand Wizmo Altantsetseg,
who was killed when an undetected
meteoroid struck his ship as it waited
in queue for a shuttle to Oras Topside
Station, in orbit at the top of Mars’
space elevator.
■ There is also news of a new attempt
to build a permanent settlement on
Mercury—in a pocket in the deep
crust, between the mantle and the
surface. (This news item is largely
unrelated to the adventure, but
touches on the ideas of placing facili-
ties next to a planetary mantle.)
■ Lastly, one of the team hears some
technical babble about current solar
system models continuing to be slightly
out of alignment with observations,
even though astronomers have been
refining these models for centuries.
Marsquake
Marsquake
8
Marsquake
Marsquake
While the team is in the middle of
their downtime shenanigans, a major
tremor suddenly strikes Mars. All around
them is chaos, as everything that was not
bolted down has fallen to the floor or
toppled over. Screams can be heard and
nearby buildings threaten to collapse.
■ Have each of the scrappers make a
Dex/athletics-10 flip to avoid falling
to the ground and suffering a light
wound, as well as embarassment.
Aftermath
Aftermath
Give the team time to react. The
colony they are in has suffered at least
some damage. People are trapped and
need help. People are confused. No one
knows the cause of the tremor.
■ Locating people that need help is a
Per/awareness-10 flip. Lifting debris
to free those trapped underneath is a
Str/athletics-12 flip.
■ Gossiping about the quake calls for a
Chr/socialize-8 flip. “Perhaps it was
a terrorist attack? Or maybe some
idiot crashed an ice delivery nearby,
outside the crash zone?”
■ Anyone using their AR glasses or
implant will see a flood of messages
from people reacting to the quake. An
Int/comp-ops-8 flip will quickly reveal
that, whatever caused it, the tremor
was felt all across Mars at roughly the
same time. It was not a local event.
Moving On
Moving On
Give the team some time to react and
look into the cause of the quake—a few
hours to group up, rescue survivors and
search the net should suffice. The mystery
should just be beginning to deepen when
they receive a contact request.
The Offer
The Offer
If the team agrees to the contact request,
it will open a vid-connection between
them and a Ms. Nguyen, who claims to be
a representative of Sinoex’s Department or
Research and Development.
She says that her department is
looking into the cause of the Marsquake,
as it has already been named in multiple
subcultures, and she wants to hire the
scrappers to investigate. She will let on
that she has some leads they can follow,
Right to the Action?
Right to the Action?
GMs wishing to get right to the
action can skip the downtime scenes
and start with the Marsquake. This is
recommended if running the scenario
as a one-shot.
Although the news items provide
important foreshadowing, bits and
pieces can be dropped in as the team
gears up for the mission.
This is Not Normal
This is Not Normal
Earthquakes are common on
Earth; it is a tectonically active world
with a molten mantle. Mars, on the
other hand, is tectonically dead.
Quakes have been unheard of there
for a billion years. This Marsquake
is not normal. Anyone may make an
Int/phy-sci-8 flip to know that.
9
but she will not divulge those leads until
all of the crew have signed the contract.
■ She is offering an Income 7 payment for
the job. Success on a Chr/persuade-10
flip, however, can negotiate her up to
an Income 8 payment.
■ With a successful Int/deception-12
flip, the team might be able to trick
her into divulging a bit about her
lead. She believes that the quake is
linked to activity at a series of sites
spread across Mars. One of those sites
happens to nearby, which is why she’s
contacting the team: she put out a
contract offer based on proximity to
that location.
The Details
The Details
Once the PCs have accepted the
offer, she will reveal the details about
her lead willingly. She believes that the
quake is linked to activity at a series of
sites spread across Mars. One of those—
at coordinates 0°, 0°—is close to the
team’s current location.
She does not know what to expect
at the site, only that the closest tremors
seemed to originate from there. She is
confident, however, that other corps have
processed the same data and are sending
their own teams to investigate. She would
encourage the scrappers not to waste time
if they want to get their payday. Once
they have something to report, they can
contact her via hand terminal and she
will arrange to transfer their payment.
With that, Ms. Nguyen signs off. The
team can grab their gear, hop in a rover
and head out to the site.
Ms. Bian Nguyen
Ms. Bian Nguyen
Geneline Martian Standard*, Subculture Ghostman
Str 4, Dex 7, Spd 5, End 6, Int 6, Per 4, Chr 6, Det 6
Defense 8/16, DR 0, Shock 12, Wound 5, Wealth 7, Lifestyle 7
Skills: Athletics 2, Awareness 2, Bureaucrat 3, Comp-Ops 3, Conspiracy 3,
Deception 2, Empathy 2, Guns 1, Lib-Arts 2, Persuade 3, Phy-Sci 2, Socialize 3
Light Pistol: +4 (♠12M/♥8M/♦4M/♣2M), Range 10, Shots 10
Gear: AR Glasses, Biometric Cracker, Hand Terminal, Verazine
Born in Oras colony to a family also in Sinoex’s employ, Nguyen was taught
by the corp’s schools and raised on a steady stream of pro-Sinoex propoganda.
Now in her mid-20’s, she has worked for Sinoex for several years and has been
recently promoted. In fact, this is her first time hiring a freelance scrapper team,
although she will do her best not to let on. After all, even shady corp recruiters
have to start somewhere.
* See page 34 of Shadows Over Sol: Beyond Human.
Sinoex
Sinoex
For more on the resource extrac-
tion megacorp Sinoex, see page 58 of
the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook.
10
10
1111
In this act, the team will head out to
the coordinates given to them by Ms.
Nguyen. There they will discover a secret
facility seemingly left undisturbed since
World War IV. They’ll confront a rival
Microdyne scrapper team, and they’ll
even be led to a second secret facility,
mysteriously similar to the first.
The events of this act are on a timer.
The team is racing against time to
discover both secret facilities before their
Microdyne rivals. As the GM, you may
choose to either keep strict track of time or
to handwave the timing for best dramatic
effect. If keeping strict track of time,
assume each flip takes about 10 minutes,
unless common sense dictates otherwise.
Whichever method you choose, make sure
that the players feel the time pressure.
Times will be measured from the
point when their negotiation with Ms.
Nguyen concludes: T=0 minutes.
Excursion
Excursion
It should be easy enough for the
team to load up a rover and head out to
0°, 0°. If the team doesn’t own a rover,
one can be rented in Oras colony.
■ Renting a rover is a basic lifestyle
expense for anyone with Lifestyle 6
or better. Otherwise, the rental will
require a Cost 6 payment. The process
takes about half an hour.
■ Leaving the colony by rover requires
passing through a security check-
point. This takes another half hour,
although the process can be shortened
to only 10 minutes with either a
successful Int/bureaucrat-10 flip or
a Cost 5 bribe.
■ Under normal circumstances, the
trip from Oras to 0°, 0° takes about
5 hours. However, the driver may
make a Spd/vehicles-10 flip to
maneuver the vehicle more quickly
to the destination. This reduces the
travel time by 10 minutes per Mag.
The Competition
The Competition
As Ms. Nguyen warned them, the
team is not the only interested party
headed to those coordinates. En route
is another scrapper team, this one hired
by the megacorp Microdyne. It is led by
Tang Yun-Seo, a ruthless killer who will
be more than happy to leave the char-
acters in an unmarked grave. Under no
circumstances will she let the team leave
with whatever secrets they discovered.
■ The Microdyne team is on schedule
to arrive at the coordinates at T=6.5
hours (390 minutes).
■ Characters checking the net to look for
evidence of competitors can discover
Microdyne’s interest in the site with
a successful Per/comp-ops-12 flip.
This will reveal they they posted a job
looking for scrappers to visit a “location
of interest” and that the job was filled
soon thereafter.
Triacontahedron
Triacontahedron
Microdyne
Microdyne
For more on the computing
megacorp Microdyne, see page 57 of
the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook.
12
12
Secret Facility
Secret Facility
The location of interest—0°, 0°—is a
flat and otherwise unremarkable area of
regolith a ways north of Noachis Terra
(“Land of Noah”), a landmass in Mars’
southern hemisphere. The area is dotted
by small boulders and the occasional
crag, but is otherwise easily traversed.
Teams searching the area for signs
of anything out of the ordinary can
make either a Per/investigate-12 or a
Per/naturalist-10 flip. On a success, the
scrapper discovers a hidden airlock door
a few dozen meters away from the exact
location of 0°, 0°. This door is almost
perfectly disguised as a small boulder
partially embedded in the regolith.
Failure on this flip results in wasted
time. The team will still find the door,
but it will take at least half an hour.
Furthermore, the team will be distracted
if Microdyne arrives while they’re still
searching (see page 16). This gives
Yun-Seo’s team a chance to park their
own rover far away and sneak up, poten-
tially ambushing the characters.
Accessing
Accessing
the Airlock
the Airlock
Before the team can access the airlock,
they must first move the boulder that
both blocks and hides the airlock door.
■ The boulder must be manually lifted
out of the way, requiring someone to
make a Str/athletics-12 flip. Failure
results in the character increasing her
Fatigue consequence a severity. Once
lifted out of the hole, an old airlock
is visible underneath the boulder’s
former location.
■ The door doesn’t have any visible rust
or other age marks (Mars’ atmosphere
doesn’t have the necessary oxygen for
that), but a successful Int/engineer-10
flip will reveal that the airlock door
is of an older style that hasn’t been
popular for decades.
■ Characters searching the door for
a key card slot or number pad may
make a Per/awareness-10 flip to
confirm that the airlock has neither.
It instead relies solely on its mundane
camouflage to avoid discovery.
Opening the Airlock
Opening the Airlock
The airlock does not have any
power, but it can be manually operated.
Any attempt to short circuit the airlock
with hacking or an electronic security
override will fail.
■ A successful Per/mechanic-8 flip
will reveal that there is no power
being routed to the airlock. Whatever
supplies it once had are long dead.
■ A resourceful character might be able
to manually hook up power from her
own personal supplies to power the
airlock. This requires the right gear and
a successful Dex/mechanic-10 flip.
■ Alternatively, the airlock’s emergency
controls can be manually operated
and then the door can be forced open
with a Str/athletics-12 flip. Failure
still opens the airlock, but results in
the character’s Fatigue consequence
being increased a severity.
■ Cutting through the airlock is also
possible with the correct equipment,
however, this takes half an hour and
compromises the atmosphere inside.
13
13
Exploring
Exploring
the Facility
the Facility
On the other side of the airlock
door is a corridor that gradually slops
downwards, leading in the direction of
true 0°, 0°. The atmospheric readout
on the team’s environment suits will
indicate a breathable atmosphere with
no
known
contaminants.
Anyone
breathing the air will note that it smells
old, but clean; not musty.
■ As the team travels down the corridor,
anyone checking atmospheric readings
may make a Per/naturalist-10 flip
to notice that radiation levels are
increasing slightly as they descend,
rather than decreasing as would
normally be expected.
Central Chamber
Central Chamber
The corridor zigzags downwards in
a series of switchbacks. After about five
minutes of pressing forward, the team
will have descended 50 meters, and
the corridor will open up into a larger
room. This room is dome-shaped, with
a circular walkway on the parameter
and a ventilation grate in the center.
Along the outside of the room are eight
doors, most leading to other chambers.
They are described in clockwise order,
starting from the entryway where the
scrappers first emerge.
■ The chamber has a very fine layer of
dust. Success on a Per/investigate-10
flip reveals that it looks undisturbed.
■ In some places the paint on the walls
is peeling or beginning to crumble to
dust. It is an odd mauve color that
hasn’t been popular for decades.
■ The doors leading out of this room
may have once had labels painted
over them, but these have long since
peeled away.
■ Those standing on the ventilation
grate may notice that no air is being
pushed through it. This means that
either the facility is completely out
of power or the ventilation has been
shut down entirely.
Habs
Habs
The first door leads to what appears
to be an old bunking area. It consists
of another corridor with several small
rooms off to either side. Each room
contains a pair of bunks, one stacked on
top of the other, with a medium-sized
lockbox on either side.
■ The scrappers may search the bunks
for anything left behind. This requires
a successful Per/investigate-10 flip.
However, there isn’t much to be found.
One lockbox contains a decaying
blanket and an empty metal flask.
Another contains an old jumpsuit—the
same weird mauve color as the walls—
stitched with the name “Chuck” on
the chest. A lewd postcard is tucked
under one of the mattresses. The most
interesting find is a crumpled pay stub
dated May 10, 2149. The letterhead
at the top indicates that it is from the
Mizalcor Initiative.
■ Either a successful Int/conspiracy-10
flip or Int/comp-ops-12 flip will reveal
that the Mizalcor Initiative was an old
space technology firm that filed for
bankruptcy shortly after World War IV.
It was involved in some of the earliest
terraforming efforts and was one of the
founding organizations involved in the
14
14
Mars Terraforming Project. For more
information, see page 3.
Restrooms
Restrooms
The next door over leads to the facil-
ity’s restrooms. There are two stalls with
toilets and a bidet, as well as a shower. A
curtain still hangs in the shower, but the
plastic has yellowed and is brittle with age.
Two sinks with mirrors line the far wall.
There is little of note to be found
in the restrooms. The toilets and other
accommodations are dry, as the water
in the facility’s tanks was either long ago
drained or evaporated. A toothbrush lies
discarded near the sinks.
Mess Hall
Mess Hall
Beyond this door is a small mess hall.
It contains two long tables lined with
stools, as well as a counter in the back
intended to serve food.
■ A plastic tub next to the counter is still
sealed and can be pried open to reveal
what looks like a stack of cream-filled
golden sponge cakes. The fact that they
are still intact and recognizable after all
this time speaks to the large amount of
artificial preservatives in them.
Recreational Room
Recreational Room
Next to the mess hall is what looks to
be an old recreational room. A table sits
at its center. A shelf lines one wall with
a few board games and a dart board. On
the far side of the room are two tread-
mills and a weightlifting bench.
■ The treadmills lack power, but the
rod used with the weightlifting
bench can be removed and functions
as an improvised crowbar. The
weights themselves are almost comi-
cality large, given Mars’ low gravity.
Storage
Storage
This room contains several shelves
that are mostly barren, aside from a few
empty boxes and a lone can of beans. The
beans have an expiration date of January,
2150. They are no longer edible.
Maintenance
Maintenance
This cramped room is little more than
a large closet that allows access to the
facility’s water supply, air recycling, fuse
box and other basic infrastructure.
■ A successful Per/mechanic-10 flip
will reveal that neither the air recycling
or water supply has power, nor does
the water supply contain any water.
■ It will also reveal that the facility
has two power generators, a primary
generator as well as a secondary
generator powering the room behind
the locked door. The fuse for the
secondary generator has burnt out.
Locked Door
Locked Door
Next to the maintenance room is a
locked door of the type intended to slide
open when a button is pressed. Unfor-
tunately, the door is without power and
sealed tight. The locked door leads to the
control room (see the next page).
■ If the team has cutting tools, they
might be able to cut through the
door with about 15 minutes of work.
No flip is required if the scrapper has
has a plasma torch or similar gear;
she just spends the necessary time
15
15
and the door is cut open.
■ Those without cutting tools may be able
to pry the door open with a crowbar
and a successful Str/thievery-10 flip.
Improvising a crowbar using furniture
or gym equipment imposes the usual
-2 penalty for improvised gear.
■ Connecting a power supply to the
door requires a Dex/mechanic-10
flip. However, once powered, the door
will deny the characters access unless
they can hack the door’s security: an
Int/program-10 flip.
Control Room
Control Room
Once the locked door is open, two
things happen at once. The team will be
face-to-face with a combat drone, and
the radiation alarms in their environment
suits will begin screeching. If you can test
your smoke alarm to make a screeching
sound and startle your players, all the
better. It should be sudden and jarring.
■ So long as the door is open, the team
is now in a radiation area; this will
quickly apply to the whole complex.
See the radiation rules on page 155 of
the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook.
■ Anyone without proper radiation
protection must make an immediate
End-10 flip against damage from the
radiation. Another flip must be made
every 10 minutes.
■ The combat drone is inert and sits
on a shelf near a series of control
panels. Examining the drone and
succeeding on a Per/mechanic-10
flip will reveal that it seems to have
suffered from a power surge—and a
very recent power surge at that!
Activating the Controls
Activating the Controls
Just past the combat drone is what
looks to have once been a control
station, with a series of control panels
and an open gateway to the right,
revealing heavy mining equipment, long
since abandoned. On the far side of the
control panels, the other half of the room
seems to have collapsed into some sort
of large hole, which is roughly 10 meters
in diameter and extends downward as
far as the eye can see.
■ The computers built into the control
panel have recently been fried in a
power surge, but can be repaired with
half an hour’s work and a successful
Dex/mechanic-10 flip.
■ Once powered up, the team will need to
override the security protocols. Fortu-
nately, the panels’ security is decades
out of date. Hacking them requires
a successful Int/program-12 flip,
which is reduced to Int/program-8 if
someone on the team first searches the
net for old security exploits.
■ The data on the computers reveals
that this facility belongs to an organi-
zation called the Mizalcor Initiative.
It is subterranean facility #13 out of
a set of 30 such facilities, all regularly
spaced to form a triacontahedron
across the surface of the planet.
■ Each facility is equipped with a high-
yield uranium-based fission bomb,
placed at the bottom of a borehole
which extends downward, almost to
the mantle of Mars itself.
■ There are also references to a plan
on the part of Mizalcor to terraform
Mars, but much of that data is lost.
16
16
We’ve Got
We’ve Got
Company!
Company!
The team can head back to Oras or
report to Ms. Nguyen whenever they
finish investigating the secret facility, but
it is likely that the rival Microdyne team
will arrive at some point before they can
finish their search.
The rival team, the Tang Gang, will
show up at T=6.5 hours (390 minutes)
or whenever the GM deems it dramati-
cally appropriate. As the team is leaving
or shortly after they open the locked door
both make for good dramatic moments.
Alternatively, if the team makes it
into and out of the facility before T=6
hours (360 minutes), they’ve gotten away
before the Microdyne team shows up.
They will have avoided the fight for now,
but it means the Tang Gang will be at
full strength when they show up at the
second facility (see page 19).
If the team leaves between T=6 and
T=6.5 hours, they’ll cross paths with the
Tang Gang en route from the site. This
will result in a chase by rover, as the Tang
Gang turns and starts their pursuit (see
“The Chase” below).
Radio Chatter
Radio Chatter
When the rival team first arrives,
anyone with an active hand terminal or
comm may pick up radio chatter from
them. This chatter is encrypted, but it
is distinguishable from the usual back-
ground static, alerting the team to the
presence of rivals.
■ Noticing the radio chatter calls for a
Per/comp-ops-10 flip.
■ Breaking the chatter’s trivial encryption
requires a successful Spd/program-14
flip. This reveals that the rival team
has noticed the player characters’
rover. They’ve also stopped their rover
a distance away and are maneuvering
the ambush the team.
Microdyne Forces
Microdyne Forces
The Tang Gang consists of Tang
Yun-Seo, Komani and a number of
subordinate scrappers equal to the
number of PCs. (The gang also has a
few other members who’ve remained
behind in Oras to investigate reports of
the Marsquake on the net. They won’t be
present during the attack.)
■ Komani will remain behind to guard
their rover and coordinate his team over
comms. His stats are on page 23.
■ Tang will lead her team into the secret
facility, hoping to ambush her rivals.
Her stats are on page 17.
■ The rest of the Tang Gang will follow
close behind. There are a number
equal to the number of PCs. Their
stats are on page 17.
The Chase
The Chase
If the player characters try to flee
without first defeating the Tang Gang, the
gang will give pursuit in their own rover.
On the other hand, if Komani is the last
of his team standing, he will drive back to
Oras to group up with those left behind.
■ The rover chase can be handled as an
extended Spd/vehicles vs. Spd/vehicles
(Tally 10, 1 minute) action. Whichever
team scores highest on the flip each
round can attack the other.
17
17
Tang Yun-Seo
Tang Yun-Seo
Geneline Earthside Standard, Subculture Entro
Str 8, Dex 6, Spd 6, End 7, Int 5, Per 5, Chr 7, Det 6
Defense 8/17, DR 5, Shock 18, Wound 7, Wealth 6, Lifestyle 6
Skills: Athletics 3, Awareness 3, Bureaucrat 2, Comp-Ops 2, Conspiracy 3,
Deception 2, Empathy 2, Guns 3, Investigate 2, Medic 2, Melee 3, Socialize 2,
Stealth 2, Thievery 2, Vehicles 2
Heavy Pistol: +5 (♠15M/♥10M/♦5M/♣2M), Autofire 2, Range 10, Shots 10
Knife: +5 (♠21M/♥14M/♦7M/♣3M), Thrown
Stun Grenade: +5 (♠24L/♥16L/♦8L/♣4L), Area 5, Stun, Thrown
Gear: AR Implant, Hand Terminal, Tactical Suit (DR 5, Bulky 1)
Tang Yun-Seo grew up in East Asia, but fled to space in her adolescence when
she killed a man who assaulted her in a bar. She did odd jobs on Luna for a
while, before falling in with a group of scrappers. Fast forward a decade, and
Tang is now the leader of her own scrapper outfit, unofficially called the Tang
Gang. She hates the name, but it stuck and Komani, her lover, likes it so she
tolerates it for now (see page 23).
Unusually tall and muscular, Tang fights with the ferocity of a cornered tiger when
angered—willful, viscous and utterly without mercy. She never forgets a slight and
never forgives. She leads through a combination of fear and protectiveness towards
those under her command.
Tang Gang
Tang Gang
Geneline Earthside Standard, Subculture Entro
Str 6, Dex 6, Spd 6, End 6, Int 5, Per 5, Chr 5, Det 5
Defense 8/17, DR 2*, Shock 13*, Wound 6, Wealth 4, Lifestyle 4
Skills: Athletics 2, Awareness 2, Comp-Ops 2, Conspiracy 2, Empathy 2, Guns 4,
Investigate 2, Mechanic 2, Medic 2, Melee 4, Stealth 2, Thievery 2, Vehicles 2
Heavy Pistol: +7 (♠15M/♥10M/♦5M/♣2M), Autofire 2, Range 10, Shots 10
Knife: +5 (♠18M/♥12M/♦6M/♣3M), Thrown
Stun Grenade: +4 (♠24L/♥16L/♦8L/♣4L), Area 5, Stun, Thrown
Gear: AR Implant, Ballistic Suit (DR 2, Gel 3), Hand Terminal, Medikit
* These values have +3 against ballistic attacks.
Most of the Tang Gang are Entros from Earth who have rallied behind Tang
Yun-Seo and Komani as their leaders. Although they operate out of Mars,
ostensibly as a team of scrappers, most are little more than violent thugs looking
for their next fight. They need to regularly be bullied into line by Tang.
18
18
Change
Change
of Plans
of Plans
Once the team reports back to Ms.
Nguyen, she’ll be concerned with what
they have to report—particularly if
they discovered that a detonated fission
bomb was the source of the radiation
they encountered.
While the scrappers have been inves-
tigating the secret facility, her team at
Sinoex have been continuing to process
the data from the Marsquake. According
to their calculations, and given all of the
info they have, the Marsquake originated
from 29 different sites across Mars. These
sites would form a rhombic triaconta-
hedron around the planet, except that a
single point in the polyhedron is missing.
Ms. Nguyen speculates that some-
thing was supposed to happen at that
missing point, and it didn’t. If the team
has brought her evidence of atomic
bombs at each site, she’ll speculate that
the bomb at the missing point probably
failed to detonate as intended.
She would like the team to recover
that weapon before anyone else gets
to it, or before it goes off on its own.
No one wants nuclear weapons lying
around, and Sinoex could undoubtedly
use its material.
Even if she doesn’t know of the bombs,
she will want the team to investigate the
missing point to see if they can discover
how it is different.
Renegotiation
Renegotiation
Nguyen will try to convince the team
to head to the next site without any addi-
tional pay. If the scrappers question her,
she will state their job is not yet complete.
However, if the team presses the issue, she
will relent and renegotiate their offer.
■ If one of the team members succeeds
on a Det/persuade vs. Det/persuade
flip, Ms. Nguyen will up the offer by
Income +1.
■ Ms. Nguyen’s stats are on page 9.
Destination & Timer
Destination & Timer
Once the team has agreed to head to
the next site, Ms. Nguyen will reveal its
location: 0°, 39.916°.
■ If the GM is keeping strict track of
time, begin a new timer with T=0. At
T=28 hours, the remnants of the Tang
Gang, led by Komani, will catch up
with the team and press the attack.
The Journey
The Journey
The trek to 0°, 39.916° is a difficult
drive by rover with a lot of rough
terrain, including some major craters.
The distance from Oras is 2,367 km if
the team could keep to a straight line,
but that is impossible given the terrain.
Instead they will need to weave around
major obstacles and avoid complications
with their vehicle.
■ The journey by rover can be handled as
an extended action: Spd/vehicles-12
(Tally 10, 6 hours).
■ If any single flip of the extended
action is failed, the vehicle has some
sort issue. The first time a flip is
failed, a warning indictor comes on.
The second time a flip is failed, the
vehicle breaks down and must be
repaired with an hour of work and
19
19
a Dex/mechanic-10 flip. Further
failures also result in breakdowns,
but increase the TN by +2 each time.
■ Success on an Int/phy-sci-12 flip allows
a character to chart a more efficient
route, reducing the Interval to 5 hours.
■ Alternatively, an Int/phy-sci-12 flip
may be made to find a safer route,
reducing the Vehicles flips to TN 10.
This option, however, is not compat-
ible with the more efficient route.
■ During the journey, the team may want
to switch drivers between intervals.
If they do not, the driver must make
an End-10 flip for every interval after
the first. On a failure, she increases her
Fatigue consequence a severity. This is
in addition to any flips for sleep depri-
vation (see the Shadows Over Sol core
rulebook, page 160).
Second
Second
Facility
Facility
Once the team arrives at 0°, 39.916°,
they can begin to search for a hidden
airlock or anything else out of the
ordinary. This time the search will be
easier, as the team has an idea of what
they are looking for.
■ Success on a Per/naturalist-8 or a
Per/investigate-8 flip locates the an
airlock hidden behind a boulder a
couple dozen meters away. It looks
almost identical to the airlock at the
previous site. Failure means the team
wastes half an hour searching before
locating the airlock.
■ As before, the boulder must be lifted
out of the way with a Str/athletics-12
flip. Failure causes the character to
20
20
increase her Fatigue consequence a
severity, but the boulder is still moved.
■ Unlike the previous site, this airlock
still has enough power to operate.
Once the boulder is moved it may be
opened trivially.
Exploration
Exploration
This facility is laid out as a mirror
image to the previous one, but is
otherwise almost identical. Any differ-
ences between it and the previous facility
the team explored are noted below.
Once the team opens the door to the
control room, however, events will take a
very different turn.
Central Chamber
Central Chamber
The fans in this facility are still
running, pushing air up through the
ventilation grate in the center of the floor.
This causes the central chamber to have
a slight breeze. If the characters listen
carefully, they can also hear the distant
hum of the facility’s fans.
Habs
Habs
The mattresses from all the habs
have been piled up in a single room and
covered in scattered clothing. Everything
here smells musty and is caked in some
sort of old rot. A desiccated human corpse
lies in one corner of the room, clutching
an old ration bar wrapper.
Restrooms
Restrooms
Assorted decades-old toiletries are
scattered about the floor in haphazard
fashion. The shower curtain has also
been torn down and lies in one corner
of the room. The words “Don’t go” have
been written on the wall in what looks
like human feces.
Mess Hall
Mess Hall
A variety of discarded packaged food
containers litter the floor. The tables have
been pushed to each side of the room
and the chairs have been stacked up in a
haphazard pile.
Recreational Room
Recreational Room
Board game pieces and broken gym
equipment lie scattered about the room.
Storage
Storage
The shelves in this room are stacked
with boxes. These boxes may have once
held prepackaged foodstuffs, but they
are now empty.
Maintenance
Maintenance
The maintenance closet hums with a
variety of machinery.
■ A successful Per/mechanic-10 flip
reveals that this facility is beginning
to run low on power, but is otherwise
still operational.
Control Room Door
Control Room Door
As with the similar door in the first
facility, the control room door is locked.
■ Hacking the door’s security requires a
successful Int/program-10 flip.
■ Cutting through the door is automatic
with the appripriate tools, such as a
plasma torch, but takes 15 minutes.
■ A Str/thievery-10 flip can be made to
pry the door open.
21
21
Control Room
Control Room
The control room may technically
have power, but other than a slight glow
coming from the control panels, it is
currently dark—the ceiling lights having
burnt out decades ago.
Its combat drones are also powered up
and fully functional. As soon as the team
opens the door, begin combat rounds.
Hostile Encounter
Hostile Encounter
The control room is guarded by several
drones with longstanding instructions to
attack anyone who enters the room.
■ There are a number of hover drones
equal to the number of PCs. See the
stat block above.
■ They are backed up by two tracked
drones. See the stat block above.
Mizalcor Hover Drone
Mizalcor Hover Drone
Str 3, Dex 6, Spd 7, End 5, Int 3, Per 6, Chr 1, Det 6
Defense 10/21, DR 2, Shock 11, Wound 4
Skills: Awareness 3, Guns 3, Mechanic 3
Laser: +7 (♠9M/♥6M/♦3M/♣1M), Autofire 2, Range 10, Shots 20
Flight: Hover drones can fly at twice normal movement rates.
Machine: As a machine, a drone is immune to metabolic hazards, as well as
emotion-based consequences.
Size -2: Hover drones are very small and nimble. This has been factored into the
drone’s Defense and Shock (see the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook, page 209).
These hover drones are of an older style and fit a niche halfway between modern
scout drones and combat drones. They are held aloft with four small propellers,
and are equipped with a low-powered laser weapon.
Mizalcor Tracked Drone
Mizalcor Tracked Drone
Str 7, Dex 5, Spd 5, End 10, Int 5, Per 5, Chr 1, Det 10
Defense 8/17, DR 4, Shock 22, Wound 8
Skills: Awareness 2, Guns 3, Mechanic 1, Melee 3
Laser: +7 (♠12M/♥8M/♦2M/♣2M), Autofire 4, Range 5, Shots 40
Machine: As a machine, a drone is immune to metabolic hazards, as well as
emotion-based consequences.
On Treads: The combat drone is on lightweight but durable tracks, allowing it to
roll over moderate terrain with little difficulty.
Size -1: Tracked drones are very small and nimble. This has been factored into the
drone’s Defense and Shock (see the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook, page 209).
These tracked drones are essentially smaller, more primative versions of modern
armored crawlers. They’ve each been equipped with a laser weapon.
22
22
Activating the Controls
Activating the Controls
Once the combat is over, the team can
try to power up the facility, assuming they
did not destroy too many of the consoles
in the control room.
■ If they did harm one of the consoles,
it can be repaired with a successful
Dex/mechanic-10 flip and an hour
of work.
■ Powering up the console and facility
requires a successful Int/comp-ops-8
flip. Failure results in the loss of
half an hour as the team tries every
possible button.
■ An activated console must still be
hacked with an Int/program-12 flip.
This is reduced to Int/program-8
if someone on the team previously
found a security exploit on the net.
Retrieving the Warhead
Retrieving the Warhead
As the team may have theorized, the
site contains an undetonated nuclear
warhead, which is currently at the bottom
of a borehole adjacent to the control
room. To retrieve the warhead, the team
will need to activate the borehole’s lifting
mechanism and reel it back up.
■ With the control console powered
up and access granted, a scrapper can
activate the lifting mechanism with
a successful Det/comp-ops-10 flip.
This will begin a two hour process of
slowly reeling up the line.
■ Hurrying the lifting mechanism is
possible, but at the risk of destroying
the mechanism or even dropping the
device down the borehole, rendering
it irretrievable. This requires a
successful Int/program-14 flip. Any
failure causes a malfunction.
■ Repelling down the borehole to
manually retrieve the warhead is tech-
nically possible, but ill-advised. A
team member will need to repel down
a 5 km tunnel leading deep into the
Martian crust. She’ll then need to lift
a 200 kg (Big 20) bomb and carry it
all the way back up out of the hole.
Critical Data
Critical Data
The data on the console remains
largely uncorrupted. Digging through it,
the team can discover the Mizalcor Initia-
tive’s plans for Martian terraforming.
Atomic bombs were placed at regular
points under the Martian crust, part of
an effort to create strategic faults through
Mars’ dead mantle. The hope was that the
energy produced by igniting the bombs
would cause the outer mantle to liquify and
magnetically realign, producing a stronger
magnetosphere around the planet, and thus
protecting it from the most harmful effects
of solar radiation.
But the bombs were just half the plan.
Automated drones were also sent out to
alter the paths of close to one thousand
objects in the solar system, and to have
them collide with Mars at roughly the
same time. These would produce an
abundance of additional energy and theo-
retically heat the already fractured crust.
Of course, Mars was barely populated
then. Today, collisions of that magnitude
would result in the destruction of all
three colonies and millions of deaths.
■ An Int/comp-ops-10 flip is required to
access the information detailed above.
■ A successful Int/phy-sci-10 flip will
allow a character to conclude that the
plan is absolutely bonkers.
23
23
Microdyne
Microdyne
Returns
Returns
The remnants of the Tang Gang have
been tracking the team ever since their
initial defeat at the first secret facility.
They’ve also been informed by their
patron, Microdyne, about the one point
missing in the rhombic triacontahedron
of sites that caused the Marsquake.
Seeing the chance to both cash in
on a Mircodyne payday and to get their
revenge on the team, they’ve armed
themselves and headed out to 0°, 39.916°
to do some killing and salvaging.
■ The Microdyne team will arrive at
T=28 hours or when the GM deems
it dramatically appropriate.
■ The player characters will have a chance
to detect them when they first arrive.
This requires a Per/comp-ops-12 flip
to pick up on their radio chatter.
■ As before, the encryption can be hacked
with a Spd/program-14 flip. Doing so
will reveal the gang’s numbers.
The Fight
The Fight
If the Tang Gang arrives before the
team, they’ll try to hide their rover, enter
the facility and set up an ambush. If they
arrive after the team, they’ll go in guns
blazing and hope the shock of a sudden
attack gives them an advantage.
■ If Komani survived, he will lead the
assault. See his stat block above.
■ He has with him a number of gang
members equal to the number of PCs.
Their stats can be found on page 17.
■ Any gang members that survived the
first assault will also be present.
Delivering
Delivering
the Warhead
the Warhead
Once the team has retrieved the
warhead from the second facility, they
can report to Ms. Nguyen. She tells them
that she will meet them at a loading
dock in Oras colony. The trip back by
rover may take a day or more, but there
is no longer any time pressure once the
Microdyne team has been defeated.
“Papa Bear” Komani
“Papa Bear” Komani
Geneline Budget Upgrade, Subculture Entro
Str 7, Dex 6, Spd 7, End 6, Int 5, Per 5, Chr 6, Det 8
Defense 9/18, DR 2*, Shock 17*, Wound 6, Wealth 5, Lifestyle 5
Skills: Athletics 3, Awareness 3, Bureaucrat 2, Comp-Ops 2, Conspiracy 3,
Empathy 3, Guns 3, Investigate 2, Melee 3, Socialize 2, Stealth 2, Vehicles 3
Light Rifle: +6 (♠18M/♥12M/♦6M/♣3M), Hands 2, Range 20, Shots 10
Knife: +6 (♠21M/♥14M/♦7M/♣3M), Thrown
Gear: AR Implant, Ballistic Suit (DR 2, Gel 3), Hand Terminal, Radio Comm
* These values have +3 against ballistic attacks.
Komani, or “Papa Bear,” as he calls himself, was one of Tang’s first recruits and
is also her lover. He is the strong, silent type and fiercely loyal.
24
24
25
25
When the team meets up with Ms.
Nguyen at Oras colony, she is visibly
worried. While she does her best to
congratulate them on the job they’ve
done so far, she quickly thereafter turns
to the bad news.
The death of Grand Wizmo Altant-
setseg got a lot of people looking to
the sky for other objects crossing Mars’
orbit (see page 7). And when the various
orbital scientists and amateur enthusi-
asts looked around, they found a whole
lot of previously-undetected objects
on the collision course with the Red
Planet. Hundreds, possibly thousands,
of meteoroids, asteroids, and other
space objects were detected and are
on an imminent collision course with
Mars. The vast majority are projected
to do very little damage on their own,
but the sum total paints a grim picture
for Mars’ future habitability.
Incoming!
Incoming!
If anyone on the team has kept up
with astronomy news, she may remember
that astronomers have noticed a slight
difference in orbital models vs. actual
orbits (see page 7). Attempts have been
ongoing to correct the issue.
With the discovery of the vast number
of objects on a collision course with Mars,
however, the reason for this discrepancy is
now clear: Someone has done this delib-
erately. But the worst is yet to come.
Several corps have launched mili-
tary-grade ships to intercept, destroy
or divert the nearest objects to their
locations, but all available hands are
needed if all of the objects on a collision
course are to be dealt with.
The most concerning is an asteroid
named Interamnia. It has accelerated, has
a significant amount of mass and has no
one else nearby to intercept it.
Rocks Fall;
Rocks Fall;
Everyone Dies?
Everyone Dies?
Interamnia
Interamnia
■ Classification: F-type asteroid
■ Discovered: October 2, 1910
■ Gravity: 0.0087 G
■ Solar Year: 1,953 days (5.35 years)
■ Sidereal Day: 8.71 hours
■ Distance From Sol: 3.06 AU
■ Mean Radius: 172 km
26
26
Mission to
Mission to
Interamnia
Interamnia
The team will be given one final task:
fly out to Interamnia and divert it so that
it doesn’t strike Mars.
Ms. Nguyen will ask them to take
this new job out of a sense of duty to
humanity and for the countless lives
it will save. (After all, she is new at
hiring scrappers.) If the team insists on
monetary compensation, however, she is
more than willing to negotiate.
■ With a successful Det/persuade-10
flip, she will up the team’s previous
offer by Income +1 (to a maximum of
Income 9).
■ If the team doesn’t have a ship, she will
also offer them temporary command
of a Sinoex vessel for the duration
of the mission: an MC-9 “Victory”
Corvette named the Saint Jude (see
Shiny New Toys, page 59).
The Plan
The Plan
Sinoex scans have discovered a
previously
undetected
installation
attached to Interamnia. This installa-
tion has now powered up and is using
its powerful thrusters to accelerate the
asteroid toward Mars.
The team is to take a ship and intercept
the asteroid en route. Once there, they
should be able to enter the installation,
disable the thrusters and set Interamnia
on a course away from the Red Planet.
Ms. Nguyen is willing to hear other
plans, but unlikely to endorse them. For
example, if one of the team suggests using
the atomic bomb they just recovered to
blow up Interamnia, she will point out
that: A) The bomb didn’t explode previ-
ously like it supposed to and they don’t
yet know what’s wrong with it; B) Even
an atomic bomb is unlikely to shatter an
object 344 km in diameter; and C) Even if
the asteroid did fracture, the momentum
at which the asteroid is traveling is likely
to carry the fragments forward and
continue to pose a threat to Mars.
Intercept Course
Intercept Course
Interamnia is incoming and projected
to strike Mars in 45 days. The longer the
team delays, the closer Interamnia will be
to Mars when they arrive and the more
difficult it will be to divert. It’s imperative
that the team sets out quickly.
■ Plotting an intercept trajectory with
Interamnia requires an Int/phy-sci-10
flip. On a success, the team will arrive
at Interamnia at T=25 days. On a
failure, every Mag adds a day to the
travel time. Keep track of the number
of days the team is delayed.
■ This travel time is also just under the
threshold for which stasis is typically
used. That means unless the team
decides otherwise, they’ll make this
trip without stasis. Not only will they
have time to kill on the ship, they’ll
also have time to heal some of the
wounds they’ve suffered exploring the
two secret facilities (see page 118 of the
Shadows Over Sol core rulebook).
Last Goodbyes
Last Goodbyes
After the team sets off, they’ll hear
about their mission on the news. It’s being
hailed as a suicide mission by a heroic
27
27
and unknown team of scrappers. Sinoex
is officially refusing public comment on
the matter, all the while hinting that they
may be responsible for the mission and
thus for Mars’ salvation.
This is a good roleplaying opportunity
and allows for a bit of a breather between
the action scenes. The player characters
have time to kill on the ship. How do they
spend it? If this is possibly a suicide mission,
do they send any heartfelt messages back to
loves ones on Earth or Mars? Do they rail
against Sinoex’s handling of the publicity?
Do they keep their heads down and focus
on the task at hand?
Welcoming Party
Welcoming Party
When the team arrives in the vicinity
of Interamnia, they will be greeted
violently during the final braking
procedures. Two automated drone
fighters will launch from hidden ports
in the asteroid’s surface and attack.
■ Use the Mizalcor Automated Fighter
stats above if playing with the
Vehicular Combat system found on
page 12 of Shiny New Toys.
■ If not using the Vehicular Combat
system, you can run the fight as an
extended Spd/vehicles-12 (Tally 10,
10 minutes) action. Each failed flip
results in the team’s ship increasing
its Wound consequence a severity. If
this would increase the severity past
critical, the team’s ship is disabled.
■ Regardless of which system is being
used, if the team’s ship is defeated,
the pilot can make a last ditch
Spd/vehicles-12 flip to crash land it
safely on Interamnia’s surface. Failure
results in everyone on the team taking
a moderate wound during the crash.
■ Repairing a crashed ship isn’t possible
unless the team happens to have plenty
of spare parts with them. However,
a broken ship might be temporarily
restored to working order for a few hours
with a successful Per/mechanic-12
flip—working long enough to take off
and radio for help, at least.
■ Should the fighters be defeated, the
team can dock with Interamnia’s
surface at their leisure. This requires
a successful Dex/vehicles-10 flip,
otherwise the ship takes a light wound.
Mizalcor Automated Fighter
Mizalcor Automated Fighter
■ Handling +3, Defense 9/18, DR 5, Shock 15, Structure 4, Cruise 1
■ Components: Armor 5, Auxiliary Thrusters 3, Battery Array (Power) 1, Fighter
(Hull), Missile Turret 1, Streamlining
■ Properties: Mil, Vehicle
■ Missiles: +4 (♠12M/♥8M/♦4M/♣2M), Range 100M
These antiquated fighters are essentially large spacefaring drones designed for short
range assaults. They require too much power and don’t have enough for a heat sink
for longer missions. Each is equipped with two missiles. The fact that both fighters
are still functional after decades is a small miracle.
28
28
Locating the
Locating the
Control Node
Control Node
Once the team lands on Interam-
nia’s surface, they can begin to explore,
attempting to locate the control node
that is in charge of the thrusters that have
been installed on the asteroid.
■ Running a scan for possible locations
requires either making use of personal
scanners or relying on the ship’s sensors.
Both require a Per/phy-sci-10 flip.
■ On a success, the scrapper learns
of five likely candidate sites based
on various electromagnetic profiles
present on Interamnia. These sites are
labeled on the sensor’s display as sites
A through E, in order of distance.
■ Success by Mag 2+ reveals that sites
A, B and C are surrounded by turret
defense systems.
■ Success by Mag 4+ also reveals that
sites D and E are are likely thrusters
showing signs of long-term use.
Exploring the Sites
Exploring the Sites
To determine which site contains the
control node they are looking for, the team
is going to have to do some exploration.
■ Approaching sites A, B or C requires
either fighting or avoiding the
automated turrets guarding them.
Each site has a number of turrets
equal to half the number of PCs. Use
the Interamnia Turret stats below.
■ Sneaking past the turrets without
being detected requires success on
a Dex/stealth-12 flip—one to get
to the site and one to get back out.
Failure means the character is detected
and the turrets attack.
■ Should combat occur, remember to
employ the microgravity rules found
on page 158 of the Shadows Over Sol
core rulebook.
■ Each site consists of a small structure
connected to the others by wires and
other hardware. A and C are sensor
arrays used to steer the asteroid.
Interamnia Turret
Interamnia Turret
Str 1, Dex 4, Spd 6, End 8, Int 3, Per 5, Chr 1, Det 8
Defense 6/14, DR 5, Shock 19, Wound 4
Skills: Awareness 4, Guns 4, Mechanic 2
Gun: +6 (♠12M/♥8M/♦4M/♣2M), Autofire 3, Range 10, Shots 30.
Fixed Position: A turret is in a fixed position and cannot dodge. This has already
been factored into its Defense. It can also fire ballistic rounds without needing
to worry about recoil, as it is solidly anchored to Interamnia’s surface.
Machine: As a machine, a turret is immune to metabolic hazards, as well as
emotion-based consequences.
Size -1: Turrets are small. This has already been factored into the turret’s Defense
and Shock.
These turrets were clearly salvaged from some other project and retrofitted to
hard-points on Interamnia’s surface. Despite being decades out of date, they are
nevertheless deadly.
29
29
■ D and E are thrusters that have already
burnt out in the process of accelerating
the asteroid at Mars.
■ B is the location of the control node.
It’s what the team is looking for.
Fixing the Panel
Fixing the Panel
Once the team has traveled to Site
B and either defeated or circumvented
the turret defense system, they will
discover a small shed-sized structure half
embedded in the asteroid’s regolith. This
structure contains the control node that
is directing Interamnia at Mars. The team
will need to unlock or blast their way in
(see previous page). Once they do, they’ll
need to fix the control panel and defeat
the node’s encryption.
■ Fixing the control panel takes an hour
and calls for a Dex/mechanic-10 flip.
Failure results in accidentally acti-
vating a previously unnoticed turret,
which the team must then defeat.
Either way, however, the panel boots
up and is active after the flip is made.
Gaining Control
Gaining Control
Defeating the node’s encryption uses
the Encryption rules found on page 139
of the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook.
■ The device has Pro encryption,
meaning it would take a decade of
compute time to gain access through
brute force (divided by the Computer
rating of the team’s best device).
Unfortunately, the team doesn’t have
that kind of time. Interamnia will
strike Mars in about 20 days!
■ Thankfully, by now the team should
have some past experience with the
Mizalcor Initiative’s computer systems.
This past experience may count for
Exploits (see the Shadows Over Sol
core rulebook, page 140).
■ If the team was able to activate the
control panel and access the data at
the first secret facility, count that as
an exploit (see page 15).
■ If the team was able to do the same
at the second facility, count that as
another exploit (see page 22).
■ Finally, if the team managed to look
up exploits on the net for these
decades old systems, that counts as yet
another exploit (see page 15).
■ To break the encryption in time, the
team will either need all three exploits
or will need two exploits and a device
rated at least Computer 2.
■ If team doesn’t have the requisite
number of exploits, they may be able
to acquire one by exploring the other
sites on Interamnia or by capturing
a turret intact, carefully disassem-
bling it and decompiling its code—
requiring some exploration and then
a combat followed by a successful
Dex/engineer-10 flip and then a
successful Int/program-12 flip.
Diverting the Asteroid
Diverting the Asteroid
Of course, once the team has control
of the node, they’ll still need to divert the
asteroid. This requires an Int/phy-sci flip
with a TN equal to 10 plus the number
of days the team was delayed getting to
Interamnia (see page 26). Characters may
support this action using the Group Effort
rules and calling upon their own expertise
(see the Shadows Over Sol core rulebook,
30
30
page 110). Try to get the whole group
involved in this climactic effort.
■ A character may make an Int/bio-sci
flip to find a more efficient use of the
available fuel sources.
■ Yet another character may make an
Int/engineer flip to find a better way
to operate the installed thrusters.
■ One character might help coordinate
the team’s efforts by attempting a
Chr/bureaucrat flip.
■ Success means that Interamnia is
deflected, missing Mars in it trajectory
and sailing off into the void.
■ Failure means the asteroid impacts
the Red Planet, followed by the
deaths of thousands.
Happily Ever
Happily Ever
After? Maybe.
After? Maybe.
If the team managed to gain access to
the control node and divert Interamnia
by T=45 days, the asteroid’s course will
be significantly altered and it will miss
Mars entirely. It may continue to be of
concern periodically when its new orbit
again crosses Mars’ path, but that’s a
problem for many years in the future.
For now the team just needs to leave
Interamnia and go claim their reward.
A substantial payment and minor
celebrity awaits them. While they didn’t
save Mars by themselves, they were a
notable part of a well-publicized system-
wide effort to save it. Few may remember
their names in a decade or so, but for
now, journalists, minor politicians and
public relations representatives will be
lining up to make their acquaintance.
Sinoex, at the very least, will want to
cash in on the team’s newfound fame
and the megacorp’s part in it. New jobs
will be much easier to find and may pay
more lucratively.
Fallout
Fallout
On the other hand, if the team
failed to divert Interamnia, Mars will
be severely damaged by the asteroid’s
impact. Without a substantial atmo-
sphere to provide inertia and dampen the
blast, the shockwave from the impact will
race across the planet, breaching domes
and collapsing tunnels.
The force of the collision kills
hundreds of thousands on Mars and
destroys many facilities. Stillwater’s
largest hab is breached and the Stillwater
Catholic Church’s College of Cardinals
are all killed, except for three. The space
elevator at Oras is heavily damaged
and must be shut down for repairs for
over a year. This causes prices on Mars
to skyrocket, hampering rescue and
relief efforts and slowing down recon-
struction. Billions of microcredits in
supplies will need to be dropped down
the gravity well to the stranded and
desperate inhabitants of Mars.
Either way, thousands will die and
billions of microcredits in damage will
be done to Mars’ facilities. But Mars
survives. Terraforming and settlement
efforts have been set back by a century,
but the Red Planet endures.
31
31
Unanswered
Unanswered
Questions
Questions
This scenario is likely to conclude with
several important questions left unan-
swered. These are dangling threads that can
provide fodder for future sessions, or even
spiral out into a full-fledged campaign.
Mysterious Culprit
Mysterious Culprit
One unanswered questions is: Who is
responsible? The Mizalcor Initiative’s facil-
ities have sat undistributed for decades.
Why did this happen now? Who set it all
off? A few possibilities are given below:
■ Follow the Money: Perhaps there is a
corp out there that has secretly known
about the Mizalcor Initiative facilities
and the Ignition Day protocols for
some time. Sure, setting off Ignition
Day causes a massive amount of death
and destruction, but it also means
lucrative new contracts to rebuild
Mars’ damaged infrastructure, and it
hurts rival corps in the process. A truly
cutthroat executive might be able to
overlook the ethical implications in
order to get ahead. Unitech makes a
good candidate, as they already have
an ongoing dispute with the various
Martian colonies.
■ Insurrection Virus: One possibility is
that a few months ago, an old computer
formerly belonging to the Mizalcor
Initiative was sold at auction and
booted up for the first time in decades.
Once it connected to the net, it was
quickly infected by the Insurrection
Virus (see the Shadows Over Sol core
rulebook, page 67). The virus scanned
the machine and there discovered
evidence of the secret facilities, as well as
their control codes. It shortly thereafter
launched the Ignition Day protocol.
■ Eun-Seung Mok: Perhaps Eun-Seung
faked his death. Or maybe some
younger member of his family has
finally decided to make the deceased
patriarch’s dream a reality.
■ Accidental: “Never attribute to malice
what you can attribute to stupidity.”
Perhaps there is no sinister plan.
Maybe a gang simply discovered one
of the secret facilities, booted up the
computers, started pushing buttons
and accidentally set off the whole chain
of events. They may even have been
some of the first causalities.
The Other Sites
The Other Sites
This adventure established that there
are 30 secret facilities spread across Mars
in a regular pattern. The team has explored
two of them. What about the other 28?
Future sessions could be spent
exploring the other secret facilities.
What if one or more of them didn’t go
undiscovered, but is now the headquar-
ters of a gang or other illegal group?
They certainly wouldn’t want the team
trespassing in “their” secret hideout.
Similarly, the team might want to
claim one of the facilities as their own
secret base of operations. This could give
them the goal of repairing it and restoring
it to operation. Unfortunately, a handful
of corps and other groups have discov-
ered the pattern behind the Marsquake
and may pay the site a visit, most notably
Sinoex and Microdyne.
7
| textdata/thevault/Shadows Over Sol/Shadows Over Sol - Crash Zone.pdf |
lgnor
Junweigg
Ein mysteriöser Patrizier
von Andreas Michaelis
"€ihmal bih ich erst recht fri,,ih am Mol"9eh C\lAS dem Rahjatempel
meh1 uhd weil mir eih Wehi9 hach frischer Luft war1 wa11delte ich durch
prachtvolleh C\ärteVI der Liebes9öttih. Prachtvoll uV\d buht wcu' das
meer uVld die Obstbäume staV1deV1 iVI her•rlicher BltÄte.
Doch als ich devi Ciadevi im NordeVI verliep1 eV1tdeckte ich eiheVI
der alles .'.{be>'fraf1 was ich 9erade1 ja jemals iVI meihem Leben
hatte. Auf dem Cl>'undtstÄck eiv1es rlave1'\e>'S eirbli,,ihte11 Blumeh1
Anblick und DlAfr so betövend warev11 dap ich mich am liebsten
Stwpe 9ele9t hätte1 WYI beides zu 9ehiepen ...
Alle Pflavizen wi
ei1"
mt,,ipte wohl
die Schönheii
9öttlichen
noch zu tÄbevfreffen.
stevheh Wel"'de1 so soll es ah diesem 01"t dei" Schönheit 9escheheh.
dem Brief eines
dereh
die
23 Hall)
Letzte
Viele Patrizier leben in Havena, und ein
Großteil von ihnen weiß heute nur noch,
daß sie durch eine Erbschaft an ihr großes
Vermögen gekommen sind. Die alteienge-
sessenen Patrizierfamilien der Stadt leben
im Stadtviertel Marschen, während in
Unter- und Oberfluren eher der Neurei-
chen, wie sie in Havena allgemein genannt
werden, ihre Domizile errichtet haben.
Oftmals ist den einfachen Bürgern der
Stadt nicht klar, womit die Wohlhabende-
ren ihre Gelder mehren, aber es ist ihnen
auch egal. Vielen reicht es, sie zu ihren
Kunden zu zählen, auch wenn einige Patri-
zier desöfteren gar nicht bezahlen.
Einer dieser Patrizier ist Ignor J unweigg,
dessen Familie schon seit vielen hundert
Jahren in Havena lebt und wirkt. Sein
Haus steht in der Straße "Hinter den Rah-
jagärten" und wird von einem kleinen Gar-
ten umgeben, der von einer etwa ein
Schritt hohen Mauer eingefaßt wird (alt: ;
neu: A/4-5).
Das Gebäude
Nach dem Großen Beben von Havena
war der Stammsitz der J unweiggs hinweg-
gespült worden, so daß sie sich ein neues
Haus im Stadtviertel Marschen errichteten.
Aber auch von dem damals erbauten Stein-
haus existieren heute nur noch die Grund-
feste und das Kellergewölbe, denn bei
einem Feuer im Jahr 24 vor Hal brannte
das Gebäude fast vollständig nieder.
Efferd sei Dank konnte der damalige
Stammhalter Unris Junweigg sein Vermö-
gen retten, und so ließ er das Haus wieder
aufbauen, so daß der heutige Besitzer
Ignor, der jüngst Sohn Unris, in einem
prachtvollen Fachwerkhaus lebt, dessen
Bohlen mit filigranen Schnitzarbeiten ver-
sehen sind, die bunt bemalt wurden. Diese
stellen neben einigen Fürsten der Stadt vor
allem auch Vorfahren Ignors dar, aber auch
Szenen aus dem städtischen und ländlichen
Leben.
Das Dach des dreistöckigen Hauses ist
mit Reet gedeckt und die Fenster sind alle-
samt mit ebenfalls buntbemalten Läden
versehen. Selbst die Tür weist kunstvolle
Der Letzte Held • Seite 34
Schnitzarbeiten auf, die die Göttin Rahja
inmitten einer Schar junger Männer und
Frauen darstellen.
Das Haus steht auf einem eher kleinen
Grundstück, das von einer niedrigen
Mauer begrenzt wird. Auf diesem etwa ein
Schritt hohen Bauwerk stehen in regel-
mäßigen Abständen mamorne Tierfiguren,
die vom berühmten havenischen Steinmetz
Asteron Obeljahn geschaffen wurden.
Das Grundstück wird von einem sehr
geplegten Garten eingenommen, dessen
Herzstück ein kleiner Springbrunnen aus
rotem Marmor ist. Abgesehen vom Winter
blühen hier das ganze Jahr über die herr-
lichsten Blumen in allen Farben.
Das Erdgeschoß
birgt neben dem Haushaltsteil auch Zim-
mer für Bedienstete und einen Gästebe-
reich. Betreten werden kann das Haus
durch eine Tür, die zur Straße führt, und
eine, die in den Garten geleitet. Die Au-
ßenwände bestehen noch aus den alten ·
Grundmauern, die an vielen Stellen ausge-
bessert wurden.
El Korridor
In diesem kleinen Raum werden Besucher
empfangen. Er wird von zwei mächtigen
Wandteppichen geziert, die tulamidische
Motive tragen. Für Jacken und Mäntel der
Gäste steht ein Kleiderständer zu Verfü-
gung, und eine Wendeltreppe führt nach
unten und oben.
E2Wohnraum
Renike Ornain ist Gärtnerin mit Leib
und Seele. Sie ist ihrem Geldgeber Ignor
dankbar dafür, seinen Garten pflegen zu
dürfen und gibt sich deshalb besondere
Mühe. Die Einrichtung ihres Zimmers
hingegen ist ihr egal, weshalb sämtliche
Möbel nicht recht zueinander passen wol-
len. Zudem stehen darauf überall Pflanzen,
die von Renike sorgsam gehegt werden.
E3Wohnraum
Peron Dubar kommt aus dem fernen Ara-
nien. Er verdankt Ignor Junweigg sein
Leben und ist ihm deshalb nach Havena
gefolgt. Hier dient er ihm seitdem als
Koch. Sein Zimmer ist zweckmäßig einge-
richtet. Auffälligstes Möbelstück ist der
große Schreibtisch aus Kirschholz. Hier
arbeitet der Aranier jeden Abend bei Ker-
zenlicht an seiner Rezeptesammlung, die er
stets sorgsam in eine abschließbare Schub-
lade legt.
E4Küche
Ignors Koch Peron Dubar hat eine or-
dentliche Küche für seine Künste zur Ver-
fügung. In Schränken, Regalen und Tru-
hen wird hier alles gelagert, was eines
Koches Herz höher schlagen läßt. Von hier
aus führt eine Tür in den Garten, die in
der Nacht mit einem schweren Riegel gesi-
chert wird.
E5 Empfangszimmer
Dieser sehr große Raum ist unglaublich
prachtvoll eingerichtet. An den Wänden
hängen kunstvolle Gobelins und der Boden
ist mit teuren Seidenteppichen bedeckt.
Die Möbel tragen stilvolles Schnitzwerk,
und der große marmorne Kamin ist ein
Meisterwerk der Steinmetzkunst.
Ignor pflegt in diesem Zimmer Gäste zu
bewirten, sofern denn überhaupt mal wel-
che kommen. Er bedient sie mit gaumen-
freundlichen Weinen und verwöhnt ihre
Zungen mit den lieblichsten Likören.
Das erste
Obergeschoß
In diesen Teil des Hauses kommt man
über die Wendeltreppe, die hier auch
endet. Dies ist das Reich Ignors und nur
dem Koch Peron ist es gestattet, das Ober-
geschoß zu betreten.
01 Verbindungsraum
An den Wänden dieses Raumes hängen
vielerlei Bilder, die alle Vorfahren Ignors
zeigen. Einziges Möbelstück in diesem
Raum ist ein kleiner Tisch mit einem Sche-
mel, an dem der Hausherr sein Essen ein-
Der Patrizier 1 gnor Jun
E3
E4
E2
Erdgeschoß
03
01
04
Der Letzte Held • Seite
nimmt. Er steht auf einem runden Seiden-
teppisch, der tulamidische Ornamente auf-
weist. Dreht man diesen Teppich um, ent-
deckt man ein neues Motiv, das ein golde-
nes Pentagramm auf gänzlich schwarzem
Grund zeigt. Nicht nur Zwerge werden
sofort entdecken, daß es sich bei den Fäden
um echtes Gold handelt.
02 Schlafraum
Ein prunkvolles Bett ist der auffälligste
Einrichtungsgegenstand dieses Raumes.
Auf ihm liegen seidene Kissen und
Decken. In zwei Schränken befinden sich
die Kleidungsstücke Ignors, die allesamt
sehr teuer gewesen sein müssen.
03 Arbeitszimmer
Neben einem Schreibtisch stellenein
mächtiger Schrank und einige mit Perga-
mentrollen gefüllte Regale die Einrich-
tungsgegenstände dieses Arbeitszimmers
dar, in dem Ignor nicht offensichtlichen
Studien nachgeht. Im Schreibtisch befindet
sich ein kleines Geheimfach, in dem der
Patrizier eine Schatulle mit verschiedensten
Münzen des ganzen aventurischen Konti-
nents aufbewahrt.
04 Bibliothek
Es gibt aventurische Hesindetempel, die
froh wären, wenn sie eine solch umfassende
Bibliothek aufzuweisen hätten. Hunderte
von Büchern stehen in den Regalen und
viele davon sind mit einer dicken Staub-
schicht bedeckt.
Das zweite
Obergeschoß
In das zweite Obergeschoß führt offen-
sichtlich keine Treppe. Niemand weiß, wie
es Ignor schafft, in seine ganz Privaten
Räume zu gelangen, aber das Licht hinter
den Fenstern beweist, daß er ab und an
dort zu tun hat.
Eine Beschreibung dieses Stockwerks
heben wir uns für einen späteren Zeitpunkt
auf. Dann werden auch noch einige andere
Geheimnisse aufgedeckt, die den Patrizier
Der Letzte Held • Seite 36
umgeben. Bis dahin müssen sich die Leser
des Letzten Helden mit den rätselhaften
Aufgaben begnügen, die sich Ignor J un-
weigg augenscheinlich aus reiner Freude
ausdenkt.
Die Personen
Ignor Junweigg
Der Patrizier trägt immer auffallend teure
Kleider, wobei er peinlich darauf achtet,
niemals die selben Kleider an zwei aufein-
anderfolgenden Tagen zu tragen. Auf dem
Kopf hat er oft eine seltsame Kappe, an die
hell klingende Glöckchen genäht sind.
Ignor begegnet allen Menschen freund-
lich und zuvorkommend. Helden die eine
Münze bei ihm abgeben, um sie gegen 20
Dukaten einzutauschen, werden ihn auf
jeden Fall sehr sympathisch finden.
Bekommt er allerdings Fragen gestellt, die
ihn oder seine Rätsel betreffen, lächelt er
lediglich und hüllt sich in bedeutungsvolles
Schweigen.
Mehr wollen wir zunächst nicht von die-
sem Mann berichten, denn seine interes-
sante Geschichte soll erst im Laufe der vie-
len Rätsel in der Havena-Fanfare aufge-
deckt werden. Werte erscheinen uns bis
dahin unnötig.
Renike Onain
Die junge Gärtnerin des Patriziers
stammt aus Abilacht und kam vor etwa
fünf Jahren nach Havena. Dort traf sie
Ignor auf der Straße und wurde von ihm
angesprochen. Stunden später stand sie in
seinen Diensten und kümmerte sich um
den Garten.
Geht man von ihrem Geburtstag aus,
müßte Renike 23 Sommer zählen, aber sie
wirkt wesentlich reifer und sieht auch um
einiges älter aus. Seltsam ist auch, daß sie bei
ihrer Ankunft in der albernischen Haupt-
stadt noch niemals etwas mit Pflanzen zu
tun hatte. Trotzdem versteht heute niemand
mehr davon in Havena als Renike. Mit
ihrem Wissen ist es ihr gelungen, Pflanzen
in Ignors Garten zu ziehen, die sonst nur im
Süden Aventuriens wachsen, und die einer
höheren Temperatur bedürften, als die Stadt
am Großen Fluß bieten kann.
Auf Fremde reagiert die durchaus gutaus-
sehnde Frau eher vorsichtig und abwei-
send. Mehr als ein 'Guten Tag' wird man
nur in sehr seltenen Augenblicken von ihr
vernehmen. Dies ändert sich auch nicht,
wenn man versucht, ein Fachgespräch über
ihre·Pflanzen zu beginnen.
PeronDubar
Peron ist etwa 40 Jahre alt und traf Ignor
auf dem Marktplatz von Mherwed. Es war
der Augenblick, in dem Peron hingerichtet
werden sollte, weil er irgendeinem Tulami-
den in seinem Lokal einen 'stinkenden
Fisch' andrehen wollte. Der Koch weiß bis
heute nicht, wie es Ignor geschafft hat, ihn
vor dem Scharfrichter zu retten, aber er
ihm dafür so dankbar, daß er ihm überall
hin folgt.
Peron übt im Hause Ignors neben den
Tätigkeiten des Kochs auch noch die eines
Dieners aus, der ein wenig für Sauberkeit
im Erdgeschoß sorgt, und der Gäste in
Empfang nimmt. Er ist sehr zuvorkom-
mend und scheint anderen Menschen alle
Wünsche von den Augen ablesen zu kön-
nen. Und so hält jeder Gast schon bald
sein Lieblingsgetränk in der Hand, wenn er
bei Ignor zu Besuch ist.
In der Stadt am Großen Fluß entdeckte
Peron seine große Liebe zum Schreiben
und seitdem arbeitet er allabendlich an sei-
ner Rezeptsamrnlung, die die des Hofkochs
von Gareth bei weitem übertreffen wird.
Man kann ihn manchmal auf dem Markt
treffen, wo er Zutaten für seine Speisen
besorgt.
Allein aufgrund der Kochkunst von
Peron lohnt sich ein Besuch bei Ignor, der
dadurch zu einem unvergeßlichen Erlebnis
wird.
Da der Patrzier ein wichtiger Bestandteil
des Abenteuers "Ein echter Kyndochter
Halbsilberner" ist, verzichten wir auf den
Hinweis, wie er in ein Szenario einzu-
bauen wäre.
lf avena
Für König & Marktvogt
Wassertag, 26. Praios 28 Hal
Die 1).i.vena-S'anfare erscbeint vorrangig ffü l.las Gebiet l.les Albemiscben
gesanl.lt. Die Auslieferung an Orks oocr Goblil15 ist mcngstel15 verboten.
Königrdcbes unb CDarkgrafscba~ Win}Jall, wirb .i.ber ;mcb in viele
Ne m:bte moralität ber gel.lrucktcn Artikel
siebt Kilmor A.
wr-
Provinzen bes CDittelrckbes, bas J:kblic}Je 5ell.l, Ylostri.i. unl.l Anl.lergast
antwortlicb. Die 5anfare kostet in Albemia unb Winball 12 SC, sonst 2D.
Alten Münzen auf d
Ganz f)averu tvM' balb vom
Scbatzsucbfieber befallen sein,
benn Jgnor Junweigg, ein
ebrenbafter illann, bessen
5amilie scbon seit Jabrbun-
berten in A.lbi.'mia lebt, veran-
staltet ein Rätselraten, bei
bem bem besten Scbatzsucber
ein Preis von 20 Dukaten
winkt.
f)err Junmeigg kam vor eini-
get' Zeit in unser Büro unb
setzte uns von seiner lbee in
Kennmi.s. Sofort erkUrten tvit'
uns bereit, ibm bd seinem
\7orbabi.'n zu bdfen, unb bes-
ba lb soll sein Spiel nun
erkUrt werben.
.!)en Junweigg wirb bin unb
tviebcr einige Rätsel in bet'
5anfare veröffentlichen, Ne
bcn Sucber zu bem Versteck
einiger alter Q)ünzen führen.
Wer nun eine bkser Q)ünzen
'j1nbet, kann biese zu f)erm
Junweigg bringen, ~er ibm
bann 20 Dukaten bafUt aus-
zab len wit'b. illebr gibt es
nkbt zu bi.'acbten.
Wir baben nkbt in €l'fabrung
bringen
können,
wekbe
Q)otive f)enn Junmeigg bazu
bewegen, sokb ein Spiel zu
veranstalten, aber roh· glau-
ben, er möcbte ein Ceil von
bem, ben er ber Su()t !)averu
verbankt, an bessen Bürger
zurückgeben. Wh' sinb ()avon
überzeugt, baf; bk Einwobner
Ehrung für den l(önig
Scbon lange oenken bie
besser oas 11orotor 11ostti.mer
Staotväter über eine Wür-
tor nennen sollte.
Ngung unseres Königs nacb,
uno nun wuroe im Ältestenrat
A.us Cien Reiben oer Gegner
ber \7om:blag gemacbt, Cias
bieses Vorscblages kamen
nostrianer tor in Cuanutor
13\'benken. Das tor sei viel zu
umzubenennen.
unbebrnten(), eine Würbi-
gung beNirfe eines granbiose-
A.ls 6rünoe wuroen ang\'-
ren Gebäuoes.
fübrt,
man ourcb bies\'s
tor sowieso ntcbt nacb
Wie oem aucb
sei, bi\'
11ostria
ID\'Sbalb man
illitgHeoer oes Ältestenrates
Ankündigung
Am Praiosug, 7. Ronbra 28
spielen ok
ßavena 13ullen gegen Skorpion Punin
Karten werben ab sofort in allen
Krämet'läoen
verkauft. Da Ne 13enruln (ribüne gesperrt ist, können iiber
1000
nkbt verkau~ ID\'t'()\'n.
wollen in oer nächsten Wocbe
über ben Vorscblag abstim-
men. Sieber ist nut', baf; bei
einer namensänCimmg einige
Kosten auf oie Staotkasse
zukämen, benn bie 5assao\'
oes
ist arg mitgenom-
men unb bebarf einer orin-
gen(len Restaurierung.
Klagen
in()es aus ()er
13otscbaft oes Königreicbes
nostri.\. Der Botschafter erin-
nerte an bie guten !3eziebun-
gen zniiscben nostt'ia unb
Albemia, bie sicberlicb bei
einer
namensänbemng
gefabrbet mären. Er verlangte,
baß auf jeben 5all
b21s
norotor zum nostt'ianer
werben müsse.
ami
lfavena 'F Fanfare
Nach1ichlen aus allen 1"1nclen
Spinnenplage
Vinsalt. Jn ~er großen Sta~t
~es lieblichen Sd~es gebt
seit einigen Wochen
~ie
Angst um, ~cnn überall an
ben Wänbcn bcr f)äuscr
weben unzählige ihre netze.
€inige von ihnen sollen sehr
gi~ig scin, so ~aß auch
Gefahr für ~ic 13coolkerung,
vor allem für Ne Rin~cr
besteht. Woher ~icse Plage-
geister kommen, ist ~en
RurtNgen
~er Sta~t cin
JUtsel. Großangdegte tö-
tungsaktionen
brachten
nicht ~as erwünschte €r-
gebnis, so baß überlegt
wirb, ben Sall ~er heiligen
Jnquisition zu übergeben.
Cjiftiges Wasser
lSstum. ln ~er f)auptsta~t
~es 13ornlan~es sin~ sehr
vick ~er trinkwasserbrun-
nen vergi~et wor~en. .Cci~er
mußten zwanzig CDenscben
sterben, bevor ~as Übel ent-
beckt un~ schließlich besci-
tigt wer~en konnte.
€s bleibt ein Rätsel, was
einen Verbrecher übelsten
Charakters bazu treibt,
wahllos CDenscben zu ver-
gi~en. Die Gar~e ~er StaN
wir~ aber alles tun, ~en
Scbul~igen zu stellen.
Bierskandal
Brabak. In ~er StaN im
Sü~en wur~en ~ie 13ierpreise
nahezu ver~rcifacbt, so ~aß
viele Bürger wüten~ ~urcb
~ic Straßen zogen un~ jc~cn
Sta~tbüttel verprügelten, ~er
ihnen in ~ic ßän~e fiel.
.26 Tote
lkersan~. In ~en Überwals
kamen bei einem Unwetter
26
f)csin~canbänger ums
!eben, ~ie in ~cm unwirtli-
chen Gebirge nach einem
geeigneten Ort zum Aufbau
eines tcmpels ~er Göttin ~er
CDagic zu suchen. Sie wur-
~cn von eine Schlamm-
lawine begraben unb erst
vier Wochen später von
einem
Jäger
gefun~en.
.Cc~iglicb
cinc
junge
Geweihte
überlebt
Ne
naturkaustropbc.
Seltsame Heilung
nostria. Der bereits auf ~cm
totcnbctt liegen~e Schank-
wirt Rnorn Ulbrin stan~
nach ~cm besuch eines selt-
samen Wan~crers aus Ne-
sem Bett wic~er auf, als sci
er niemals krank gewesen.
Aufgrun~ ihrer Surcbt un~
Unwissenbcit stcinigtcn ~ic
bummcn nostriancr am
nächsten tag ~cn mcrkwür-
~igcn Retter. nur
~as
scbnelk €ingrcifcn einiger
Abenteurer
aus
~em
CDittelrcicb rettete
~em
CDann bas üben.
Schiffskatastrophe
Dröl. In ~er ßafencinfabrt
von Dröl stießen ~rci Schiffe
zusammen
unb
sanken
innerhalb weniger Augen-
blicke. Daraufhin war Ne
Passage wochenlang ver-
sperrt, so baß Ne ßanbcls-
scbi1fc, Ne Ne Stabt anlau-
fen wollten, nach ncctba
auswichen. lnzwiscben ist
ber Weg wk~er f"rei.
RingeTWettkämpfe
Am 21. Ronbra ~icses Jahres
fln~et auf bem f)alplatz cin
großer Ringerwettlumpf statt.
In acht verscbk~enen Ringen
kann ~ann je~er, ~er sieb
berufen genug fühlt, um cinen
Preis von SO Dukaten kämp-
fen. Der Wettkampf beginnt
mit ~en ersten Sonnenstrahlen
un~ en~et, sobal~ cin Sieger
feststeht.
nebenher werben ~cm Zu-
schauer einige Attraktionen
von auswertigen Gauklcr-
truppen geboten, unb viele
Gastwirte sorgen ~afür, ~aß
es auf ~cm ßalplatz gcnügcnb
Bier unb gebratenes Skiscb
gibt. Sclbst1'erstinblicb kön-
nen auf ~ic Kämpfer auch
Wetten abgegeben wer~en,
wobei ~er Ältestenrat bcrcits
jetzt bavor warnt, baß wabr-
scbcinlicb auch unseriöse
13ucbmacbcr unterwegs scin
wer~en, Ne es nur auf ~as
Gelb ber unwisscn~en Bürger
abgesehen haben.
Der Ältestenrat gibt auch
bekannt, baß jc~er, ber an ~cn
Wettkämpfen
teilnehmen
möchte, sieb bis zum 19.
Ron~ra im Sta~tbaus anzu-
meföen bat. Zusätzlich ist cin
13citrag von 2 Silbertalern zu
entrichten.
Kurierbienst
wir bringen je~en Brief ZUl' richti-
gen A~l'es~. überall in Albemu
Al~misc~ }~krn, Garet~tra5e
Vrteil gesprochen
Im 5all
~er angeblichen
Gotteslästerung ~urcb ~en
Resselscbmieb Orin Durain,
ist nun vom Gericht ein Urteil
gefallt wur~en.
Der Richter verurteilte ~en
Delinquenten zu brci tagen
Gcfingnis un~ einer Gd~
strafc von 10 Dukaten, bic als
Wkbergutmacbung an bcn
Pi-~..ti"""e-"" "'""d
f-e-~e-~ 9 e-l:nXc:-lc-
?-i6t. <-• 6ei ~"
~c-ß-iic:-lc-e-i-e-i
II~
II
, \,""'c-pp
dit-e-l<:t _,,...
.C, ... t~l<.t
tempel bes Praios zu zahlen
seien. Der Rcsselscbmkb
fügte sieb bem Urteil unb trat
Ne Strafe an.
Das Gesetz, wonach alk
fäcbt-Gewcibtcn für bas
tragen von Pricstergewänbe
wegen Gotteslästerung zu
verbrennen seien, wirb nun-
mehr außer Rra~ gesetzt. gbb
Schube
in allen Größen
gibt es bei
Schubnucber Olulm
Wir führen alles, was in
Garetb Ne neuste CDobe ist
unb ein wenig mehr .
An ber alten Stabtmauer
Ein echter l(yndochter
Halbsilberner
Ein Abenteuer für 4-6 Helden
von Andreas Michaelis
"Das 9ahze ist hVil" eiV\ Spiel, eil'\ Spiel bei dem ahdel"e e+was
v1eh L-1V\d ich hVil" zahle. Abel" ich Wel"de meiV\eV\ Spap habeh1 immel" wie-
de„, u11d die Stadt wil"d es mil" di:mkeh.
Zuevst Wel"de ich dieseh kyhdochtev i--lalbsilbevV\eh
miv ei1"1st e.i1, falvehdev- Händlev- c1V19ed,·eht hcir. Mal sehe111 wie
dauet'V\ wi
bis ich ihf'\ wiedev-bekomme, Wef'\f'\ übev-haupt.
Doch
soll ich
jedeV' soll sie schaffeV\ köf'\f'\ef'\.
selhafte1'\ Hif'\weis crnsdenkeh.
Du1 mein
se,,. An9ele9enheit
es VOJ\ eiviem BettleV'
Schid<e miV'
Die Suche Y>'\up
seih,
mup ich mi v hoch ei hev1 V'Öt-
vielleicht kci111"1st
II
einem Brief von
) .
/
:·
In diesem und den folgenden Ausgaben des Letzten Helden,
wollen wir euch Aufgaben bieten, die der seltsame Ignor
Junweigg in regelmäßigen Abständen in der Havena-Fanfare
veröffentlicht. Sie können dann von den Helden erledigt wer-
den, während sie vielleicht etwas anderes in der Stadt am
Großen Fluß zu tun haben. Immerhin gibt es für jede
die dem Exzentriker gebracht wird, 20 Dukaten, die
man in einem Ort wie Havena sicherlich gut gebrauchen
kann.
Die ersten beiden Aufgaben befinden sich in der Havena-
Fanfare in diesem Heft, in der auch ein Artikel zu lesen ist,
der den Lesern erklärt, was es mit den Rätseln des Ignor
J unweiggs auf sich hat. Der Meister könnte den in Havena
befindlichen Abenteurern diese Ausgabe zukommen lassen.
Die Aussicht auf schnell verdientes Geld sollte sie dann veran-
lassen, der Sache einmal nachzugehen.
Der Artikel
Den vollständigen Artikel aus der Havena-Fanfare wollen
wir an dieser Stelle nicht noch einmal wiedergeben. Wichtig
ist aber das erste Rätsel:
Sueben müßt ibr im l)eim berer, beren Zabl bem Sternbilb
bes ~roscbes entsprkbt.
Da "Ein echter Kyndochter Halbsilbemer"kein Abenteuer ist,
das ewig lange gespielt werden kann, bietet es sich an, die
Suche nach den Geldstücken während eines anderen
Szenarios stattfinden zu lassen, vielleicht, um den Helden ein
wenig die Zeit zu vertreiben. Andererseits könnte die Ausgabe
der Fanfare den Abenteurern in die Hände fallen, wenn sie
gerade die Stadt betreten. Da nichts Besseres zu tun ist, neh-
men sich die Charaktere der Rätsel an. Im Verlauf der Suche
könnten die Helden dann in ein richtiges Abenteuer ver-
wickelt werden.
Doch nun genug der Vorrede. Was steckt hinter den beiden
seltsamen Sätzen?
Havena-Fanfare
Zunächst wissen die Helden
nur, daß sie eine alte Münze
suchen sollen, aber um welch
ein Geldstück es sich han-
delt, müssen sie noch in
Erfahrung bringen. Dazu
sollten sie sich zum Redaktionsgebäude der Havena-Fanfare
begeben, denn schließlich weist der Artikel die Leser darauf
hin, daß der Redaktion weitere Informationen vorliegen.
Dort angekommen, können die Abenteurer zunächst feststel-
len, daß sie wahrlich nicht die einzigen sind, die die zwanzig
Dukaten verdienen wollen. Leute aus allen Standesschichten
haben sich hier versammelt und schreien laut nach dem ver-
antwortlichen Schreiberling.
Schließlich tritt ein Mann mit leicht ergrauzem Haar und in
vornehmer Kleidung vor die lärmende Meute und stellt sich
als Andras Micaleis vor.
"Wenn ich einmal um Ruhe bitten dürfte", ruft er und hebt
dabei beschwichtigend die Arme, bis ihm alle Anwesenden
zuhören, "Ihr seid alle hierher gekommen, um zu erfahren,
was es mit der alten Münze auf sich hat. Nun, Herr Junweigg
hat mir mitgeteilt, daß mittels des ersten Rätsels ein echter
Kyndochter Halbsilberner gefunden werden kann. Wer dieses
Geldstück in sein Haus "Hinter den Rahjagärten" bringt, soll
sofort 20 Dukaten bekommen. Mehr Informationen habe ich
auch nicht. Auf Wiedersehen."
Der Redakteur der Fanfare dreht sich um und kehrt in das
Gebäude zurück, während sich die meisten der Anwesenden
noch fragend ansehen. Schnell wird untereinander diskutiert,
was wohl ein echter Kyndochter Halbsilberner sei, und bald
darauf ziehen die ersten mit Worten wie "das Geld ist mir
egal" vondannen.
Auch die Helden müssen nun überlegen, ob sie sich der
Aufgabe stellen wollen, oder nicht. Auf jeden Fall sollten sie
in Erfahrung bringen, worum es sich bei der gesuchten
Münze handelt. Helfen kann ihnen hier noch einmal die
Havena-Fanfare, denn in ihr ist eine Anzeige des örtlichen
Münzmuseums abgedruckt. Dort kennt man diesen Halb-
silbernen bestimmt ...
Das Münzkabi11ett
Das Münzmuseum ist in einem kleinen
der
Reichsmünze untergebracht und bietet in einem recht kleinen
Raum eine Ausstellung verschiedener
die vor
allem in Havena geprägt wurden.
Geführt wird das Haus von Lohna
einer
Frau, die sich ganz dem Sammeln alter Mün7s.:n verschrieben
hat. Sie verlangt von jedem Besucher zwei Kreuzer
von denen einer - ihrer Aussage nach - dem
gespendet wird.
- 40 -
Lohna weiß alles über die Münzen, die hier zu bestaunen
sind, und gern läfü sie andere Leute an ihrem Wissen teilha-
ben. Eine Führung durch den Raum beginnt immer bei den
in Havena geprägten Münzen und endet bei den verschiede-
nen Zwergentalern, von denen es angeblich so viele unter-
schiedliche geben soll, daß das Kabinett nicht ausreichen
würde, sie alle zu präsentieren.
Kommen die Helden hierher und lauschen aufmerksam den
Worten der Frau, können sie feststellen, daß nicht ein einzi-
ges Mal von einem echten Kyndochter Halbsilbernen gespro-
chen wird. Sodenn werden sie Lohna ansprechen müssen.
Folgendes wird sie ihnen sagen:
Der Park der Zwölfgötter
"Ein echter Kyndochter Halbsilberner ist ein ganz normaler
albernischer Silbertaler, der eine Menge Blei enthält und des-
halb recht dunkel ist. Wer sich mit Münzen
nicht
auskennt, wird glauben, einen angelaufenen Silbertaler in der
Hand zu halten, doch in Wirklichkeit ist es eine "'""'""''"''"'''
Fälschung durch einen
der auf diesem
Weg versucht hatte, seine leeren Kassen zu füllen. Praios sei
Dank, konnten die meisten dieser
beschla-
gnahmt werden, so daß sich wahrscheinlich nur sehr
im Umlauf befinden. Erkennen kann man sie
ganz
Da das Blei recht
Halbsilberner
leicht, indem man versucht, sie zu
weich ist, wird sich ein echter
leicht verbiegen lassen."
Im Jahre 22 Ha! brach über Havena ein Winter herein, wie ihn die Hauptstadt Albernias seit Menschengedenken nicht
mehr gesehen hatte. Viele hundert Mitbürger erfroren in den Häusern und die Schiffahn kam für Wochen voilkommen zum
erliegen. Die Brennmittelvorräte waren bald aufgebraucht und nur eine Sendung Kohlen über Land aus Xorlosch ließ die
Feuer in den Kaminen nicht verlöschen. Bekanntestes Opfer der strengen Kälte war die Oberpriesterin Aife
die beim
Beten im Tempel erfroren ist.
Gottesfürchtig wie die Havener nun einmal sind, wurde in einigen Sitzungen des Ältestenrates beschlossen, dem
Firun einen Tempel in Havena zu bauen, um den grimmigen Nordgott milde zu stimmen. Nachdem lange im Rat debattiert
wurde, stimmten nahezu alle Abgeordneten dafür, den Tempel im Stadtviertel Unterfluren zu errichten, wofür
noch ein
neuer Stadtpark angelegt werden sollte. Und so fielen zwei Bauernhöfe den Plänen zum Opfer und wurden kurzerhand
Eines der Bauernhäuser wurde zu einem kleinen Firuntempel ausgebaut, und gleich neben ihm wurde ein kleiner Teich ani~eH:gr.
Schließlich bekam der Steinmetz Asteron Obeljahn den Auftrag, die Statuen aller Zwölfgötter aus Stein zu
die dann
in dem neuerschaffenen Park aufgestellt werden sollten. Ein Jahr arbeitete der gute Mann an den
bis sie endlich im
Praios 24 Ha! aufgestellt wurden. Eine jede der Statuen war ein Meisterwerk, wobei die Geweihtenschaft der
unzufrie·e
den damit war, daß ihre Göttin mit Kleidung erschaffen worden war.
Der Park der Zwölfgötter wurde von der Bevölkerung
Havenas begeistert angenommen, so daß heute eigentlich
immer irgend jemand auf einer der Bänke sitzt oder ganz
einfach nur mit seinem Liebsten spazieren geht. Besonders
im Sommer ist der kleine Rahj ateich sehr beliebt bei
Kindern, die darin baden.
Beeindruckend ist auch der Standort des Meergottes
Efferd. Auf einer zwei Schritt hohen Säule steht die impo-
sante Erscheinung in der Nähe der Prinzessin Emer Brücke
und streckt dem Großen Fluß den Dreizack entgegen.
Nebenbei sei bemerkt, daß einige Bewohner des Viertels
Marschen vom Ältestenrat fordern, er möge nun auch
etwas für den alten Stadtpark tun, der seit dem
Spätsommer von 24 Hal immer mehr verkommt.
. 41 -
Mittels dieser Information sollte es den Helden nicht schwer
fallen, die gesuchte Münze zu identifizieren. Nachdem Lohna
sie noch darauf hingewiesen hat, daß es verboten ist, ein sol-
ches Geldstück zu besitzen, können die Abenteurer ihre
Suche fortsetzen.
Spielleiter, die ihre Gruppe ein wenig verunsichern wollen,
können die Helden mit folgender Geschichte konfrontieren,
die ihnen irgend jemand erzählen wird, zur Not auch unge-
fragt.
"Natürlich weiß ich1 was eil'\ echter Kyhdochter t-lalb-
silberi'\er ist. Das WC\>' hämlich so: Die ih Kyi'\doch hattei'\
immer zu WeV\i9 Kleii'\9eld1 so daß sie i>"9eV1dwai'\V1 damit
be9aV1V1ei'1; ihre Silbedaler Zl< zerschV1eideV1. ZuV1ächst
V\Clr ii'\ zwei, schließlich iV\ vier Teile. Cihi9e dieser hal-
beVI Silbe..+ale.- kamei'\ Vlach t-laveVlci1 wo sie dahi'\ abfäl-
li9 echte KyVldochter t-lalbsilberV\e 9eV1aV1V1t wurdeh. 11
Hinweis: Der albernische Silbertaler trägt auf der einen Seite
das Wappen des Landes Albemia und wird auf der anderen
vom Kopf seiner Majestät Cuanu Ui Bennain geschmückt.
Münzen neuerer Prägung sind mit den Worten Königreich
und nicht mehr mit Fürstentum Albemia versehen. Die ältere
"u""'''u" ist aber die weitaus häufigste und auch der echte
Kyndochter Halbsilberne trägt die Aufschrift Füsrtentum.
Das Heim der Zwölf
Wenn die Charaktere erst einmal geklärt haben, wie dieser
Halbsilberne zu erkennen ist, können sie sich daran machen,
sich 20 Dukaten zu verdienen. Die erste Aufgabe (weitere
erscheinen in späteren Ausgaben des Letzten Helden) führt
sie in den Park der Zwölfgötter oder auch Zwölfgötterpark.
Zunächst gilt es, die Zahl der Sterne herauszufinden, die das
Sternbild des Frosches bilden. Im Anschluß daran kann man
sich auf die Suche nach einem Heim machen, in dem "zwölf'
leben. Schließlich gilt es noch, das genaue Versteck der
Münze zu
die in der Opferschale des Firuntempels
Das Sternbild des
Viele Aventurier, die sich ein
wenig mit dem Sternenhimmel
beschäftigen,
kennen
das
Sternbild des Frosches, wel-
ches das ganze Jahr über
am Weltendach zu sehen
ist. Es ist eine kleine Anordnung, der kaum Beachtung
geschenkt wird, weshalb sie auch nur in wenigen Büchern
beschrieben wird. Die Sterne, die dieses Tier bilden, stehen so
dicht zusammen, daß viele glauben, es handle sich nur um
neun Himmelskörper. Nur mit geigneten Fernrohren ist zu
erkennen, daß es in Wirklichkeit zwölf sind.
Helden, die einen T alenrwert Sternenkunde von mindestens
10 haben, können eine Probe +6 auf diesen Wert machen.
Gelingt sie, ist dem betreffenden Spieler die genaue Anzahl
der Sterne bekannt, ansonsten geht er von neun aus, was die
Gruppe natürlich auf eine falsche Spur führt.
In Havena sind verschiedene Astrologen und Sternendeuter
ansässig, von denen einige mehr, die anderen weniger vertrau-
enswert sind. Es bleibt Sache des Spielleiters, ob ein von den
Abenteurern konsultierter Wissenschaftler die genaue Zahl
kennt oder nicht. Für Meister, die sich keinen Astrologen
ausdenken wollen, eignet sich die Beschreibung von Shanor
Scheil im Letzten Helden 26 oder in der Havena-Ergänzung
2: „Licht und Schatten". Ihm ist die genaue Zahl auf jeden
Fall bekannt.
Fragen die Charaktere an anderen Orten, wie z.B. der
Magierschule oder den Tempeln nach, besteht eine 5% (1 auf
W20) Chance, daß sie jemanden treffen, der weiß, daß es
zwölf Sterne sind.
Neun kehren heim
Mit der Gewißheit, daß es sich um neun Sterne
ist
auch gewiß, daß die Helden eine falsche Spur verfolgen. Eine
dieser Spuren führt sie in das Theater in der Gauklergasse, in
dem gerade das neue Stück "Neun Krieger kehren
gespielt wird. Plakate, die auf die Premiere hinweisen, hängen
an vielen Hauswänden. Doch in dem Schauspielhaus weiß
man nichts von einer besonderen Münze, und da die Helden
die Generalprobe stören, werden sie kurzerhand rausge-
schmissen.
Eine weitere heiße falsche Spur ist die Pension "1,Teun
Bären", welche sich im Stadviertel Unterfluren Nalleshof
befindet. Dort lassen sich zwar neun ausgestopfte
finden, aber von der gesuchten Münze weiß niemand etwas
im Lokal.
Wir wollen es dem Spielleiter überlassen, sich weitere
Irrwege auszudenken. Irgendwann werden die Abenteurer
schon mitbekommen, daß es die Zahl "9" nicht sein kann.
Dann werden sie wahrscheinlich genauere Informationen ein-
holen, um schließlich die Zwölf zu suchen.
- 42 -
Geschwister
Die meisten DSA-Spieler werden sofort an die avemuri-
schen Götter denken, wenn die Zahl zwölf ins
wird, und wenn unsere Helden dies auch tun, dann sind sie
auf der richtigen
was sie
noch tun müssen,
ist, die Münze zu finden.
Die Frage, die sich ihnen
ist: "Wo lassen sich alle
zwölf Götter an einem Ort finden?" Auch hier
es ver-
schiedene Möglichkeiten, die die Charaktere durch
herausfinden können.
Ein falscher Hinweis führt die Helden in das
kabinett am
in dem die
so
wurden, wie sie sich die Sterblichen vorstellen. Doch die
Suche bleibt an diesem Ort ohne
da dort keine Münze
versreckt ist.
(Hinweis: Eine Beschreibung des
befindet sich in den Kleinodien, die vor geraumer Zeit bei
Fantasy Productions erschienen
oder im Aventurischen
Boten 8. Spielleiter, die aus der Suche nach der Münze in die-
sem Haus ein kleines Abenteuer machen wollen, sollten sich
vorher diese Beschreibung besorgen).
\Xlir wollen es dem Meister
weitere falsche
den
es aufzusuchen
die Münze in die kleine unscheinbare
des
aus der die Heiden sie herausholen
müssen. \Vir wollen hoffen, daß sie sich vorher
was ein echter
Halbsilberner ist, anson-
sten wird es ihnen schwer
Taler in dem
Durcheinander von verschiedenen Münzen aus den unter-
schiedlichsten Teilen
darnnter auch ein zer-
schnittener Silbertaler zu finden. Halten sie ihn endlich in
den
können sie sich auf den
zu
machen.
Das Abenteuer endet damit, daß die Helden mit
um sich von ihm die
sollte für diese
die
des Patriziers m diesem Heft benutzen.
Anschließend bekommt noch
30 Aben-
dann ist die erste
| textdata/thevault/Dark Eye, The [multi]/LANG/[DE]/Das Schwarze Auge/013. Inoffizielles Material/003. Gazetten & Postillen/Der letze Held/Der letzte Held - 36.pdf |
t
Adventure Record#
593 CY
A D V E N T U R E
L E V E L O F
P L A Y
(CIRCLE ONE)
APL 6
max 900xp; 800gp
APL 8
max 1,125xp; 1,250gp
APL 10
max 1,350xp; 2,100gp
APL 12
max 1,575xp; 3,000gp
This Record Certifies that
_______________________________________________
Played
by____________________________________________
Player
RPGA #
Has Completed
Across the Border
A Meta-regional Adventure
Set in Iuz’s Border States
Play Notes:
� Gained a level
� Lost a level
� Ability Drained
______________
� Died
� Was raised/res’d
� Was reincarnated
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Home Region______________________
Event: _________________________________ Date: ________
DM:___________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
� Lesser Bonerod: This insidious item is one favored by the clergy of
Iuz and the chosen in his service. The item is made out of one single
bone carved into the likeness of a skull totem the top of which is blood
red. When created these rods have 20 charges and crumble to dust
when used up. The rod has the following abilites.
� Bone Shards – When used, the rod fires forth a cone of razor sharp
bone fragments. This is a 30 ft. cone that does 6d4 points of slashing
damage. A successful Reflex save (DC 13) halves this damage.
Activating this ability is a standard action that costs 1 charge and
may be used by anyone.
� Bone Dance – When used, the rod casts animate dead per the spell
as a 6th level cleric. These undead serve the wielder of the rod until
the end of the scenario at which point they crumble to dust. Please
note that while not an evil act in and of itself, the use of this power
is often met with hostility by goodly forces. Activating this ability is
a standard action that costs 2 charges and may only be used by those
with animate dead available to them on their spell list.
� Skull Activation – By holding the rod, the wielder can determine
the power and effect of any skull found on the legendary Road of
Skulls within 100 ft. In addition, if the wielder is a cleric of Iuz, the
wielder may activate the special powers of any such skull within 100
ft. This is a standard action that does not expend a charge.
Caster Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Rod, creator must worship Iuz,
animate dead, shatter; Market Price: 9,000 gp; Frequency: Adventure.
� Gloves of the Slaver: These black leather gloves look like they
have been used toward sinister ends and they appeared to be
stained with blood. While wearing these gloves, the wearer
receives a +5 competence bonus to the Use Rope skill when
binding another character. This bonus is in addition to the +10
normally granted for binding a character.
Caster Level: 3rd; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item,
creator must have 3 ranks in the Use Rope skill; Market Price: 500
gp; Frequency: Adventure.
� The Slaver’s Spellbook: This leather bound tome is wrapped in
fine silver chains attached to the spine and covers. It contains the
following spells: 1st - Cause Fear, Charm Person, Expeditious
Retreat, Mage Armor, Ray of Enfeeblement; 2nd - Bull's Strength,
Ghoul Touch, Invisibility, Spectral Hand; 3rd - Fly, Lightning Bolt,
Slow, Vampiric Touch.
Market Price 250 gp. Frequency: Adventure
� Gratitude of The Shade: The mysterious woman, known only
as the Shade has promised you her gratitude for escorting Felkas
out of Dorakaa.
XP
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP Gained
+
XP
XP
Starting XP
-
XP
XP lost or spen
XP
Subtotal
TU
Starting TU
1 or 2 TU
TU Cost
-
TU
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
Cross off all items NOT found
APL 6-8
�
Everburning Torch (Adventure; DMG)
�
Gloves of the Slaver (Adventure; 500 gp; see
above)
�
Lesser Bonerod (Adventure; 9,000 gp; see above)
�
Potion of Heroism (Adventure; DMG)
�
The Slaver’s Spellbook (Adventure; 250 gp; see
above)
�
Wand of Web (Adventure; 3rd level caster;
DMG)
APL 10 (all of APLs 6-8 plus the following)
�
Periapt of Wisdom +2 (Adventure; DMG)
�
Wand of Doom (Adventure; 1st level caster,
DMG)
APL 12 (all of APLs 6-10 plus the following)
�
Headband of Intellect +2 (Adventure; DMG)
�
+1 Greatsword of Frost (Adventure; DMG)
TU REMAINING
Added TU Costs
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp value
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
FINAL GP TOTAL
GP
GP Spent
-
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Gained
+
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Gained
+
GP
Subtotal
GP
GP Spent
-
GP
Lifestyle
� None
� Standard (12 gp x TU)
� Rich (50 gp x TU)
� Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
Starting GP
GP
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Meta-Region Iuz Border States/593/Normal Scenarios/IUZ3-01 Across the Border (APL 6-12)/IUZ3-01 - Across the Border AR.pdf |
Fifth Edition Adventures
Royal Tournaments
by Jason Nelson and Mike D. Welham
Royal
Tournaments
Author: Jason Nelson and Mike D. Welham
Artist: Bruno Balixa, Ivan Dixon, Frank Hessefort, Michael Jaecks, Mike Lowe, Manuel
Morgado, Arrahman Rendi, Joe Slucher, Josh Wunderly
5e Development: David N. Ross
Design AnD lAyout: Daniel Marshall
legenDAry gAmes teAm members: Anthony Adam, Alex Augunas, Kate Baker, Jesse Benner,
Clinton J. Boomer, Robert Brookes, Benjamin Bruck, Carl Cramer, Paris Crenshaw,
Joel Flank, Matthew Goodall, Jim Groves, Amanda Hamon Kunz, Steve Helt, Thurston
Hillman, Tim Hitchcock, Victoria Jaczko, Jenny Jarzabski, N. Jolly, Jonathan H. Keith,
Michael Kortes, Jeff Lee, Nicolas Logue, Will McCardell, Julian Neale, Jason Nelson, Jen
Page, Richard Pett, Tom Phillips, Alistair Rigg, Alex Riggs, David N. Ross, Wendall Roy,
Amber Scott, Mark Seifter, Tork Shaw, Mike Shel, Loren Sieg, Neil Spicer, Todd Stewart,
Russ Taylor, Greg A. Vaughan, Mike Welham, Linda Zayas-Palmer, and Clark Peterson
publisher: Jason Nelson
executive pArtner: Neil Spicer
business Director: Rachel Ventura
Royal Tournaments 5e © 2017, Legendary Games;
Author Jason Nelson and Mike D. Welham
ISBN-13: 978-1973836834
ISBN-10:1973836831
First printing October 2017
Printed in USA.
Legendary Games
3734 SW 99th St.
Seattle, WA 98126-4026
makeyourgamelegendary.com
Credits
Open Content: Subject to designation as Product Identity (see below), the only portion of this Legendary Games product designated as
Open Game Content is the rules content (creature stat blocks and names of skills, etc., taken from the SRD) as defined in the Open Game
License version 1.0a Section 1(d). The front and back cover, back matter, introduction and Credits page, as well all other parts of this
product including all text not specifically designated as Open Game Content is not Open Game Content. No portion of this work other than
the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission.
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License 1.0a, Section 1(e),
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Reference in non-Open Game Content (thus not covered by the Open Game License) in this work to content owned by others is not a
challenge to their ownership and is used under Fair Use.
iii
LegaL
Open Content: Subject to designation as Product Identity
(see below), the only portion of this Legendary
Games product designated as Open Game Content
is the rules content (creature stat blocks and names
of skills, etc., taken from the SRD) as defined in the
Open Game License version 1.0a Section 1(d). The
front and back cover, back matter, introduction
and Credits page, as well all other parts of
this product including all text not specifically
designated as Open Game Content is not Open
Game Content. No portion of this work other than
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Product Identity: The following items are hereby
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in this declaration.)
Reference in non-Open Game Content (thus
not covered by the Open Game License) in this
work to content owned by others is not a challenge
to their ownership and is used under Fair Use.
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Royal Tournaments (5E) © 2017, Legendary
Games; Authors Jason Nelson and Mike D.
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System Reference Document. © 2000, Wizards
of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet,
Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material
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Cityscapes - New Settlement Options for
the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. © 2012,
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Fursona II - New Options for Anthropomorphic
Heroes. © 2012, Skortched Urf Studios; Author:
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Kingdoms (5E) © 2016, Legendary Games; Author
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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook.
© 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason
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What You Will Find Inside Royal Tournaments
An iconic moment in fantasy fiction is the grand tournament. From the archery contests of
Robin Hood to the jousts of Ivanhoe, it seems like half the stories about the Middle Ages have the
heroes attend such a festival somewhere along the line. Whether honoring the king’s birthday,
the birth of a saint, the nation’s victory over its enemies, or just because it’s Midsummer’s Day,
festive pavilions are raised and flags and pennants flap in the rising breeze to signal that it is
time for the main event to begin! However, even in the real-world tournaments were about
far more than bows and lances, and in a fantasy game the options for what would constitute
a friendly (or even not-so-friendly) competition are infinitely varied, from gritty and brutal
feats of raw strength to magical marvels of the highest fantasy. That is what Royal Tournaments
is all about. It provides a fantastic resource for incorporating tournaments and festivals into
your campaign, including an array of different tournament events and awards, some physical,
some magical, some social, and all delightful. Whether your players want to promote the
interests of their own kingdom or simply fight for glory and prizes, Royal Tournaments has
everything you need to make the tournaments in your campaign magnificent and memorable.
Legendary Games was founded on the principle of delivering first-class product for your
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game experience, brought to you by the very authors who design and
contribute to the adventures, hardbacks, and campaign supplements you are already using.
The Legendary Games tradition is to combine rich story and background, innovative layout,
beautiful aesthetics, and excellence in design that is second to none. This product is the latest
in that tradition, and we hope you enjoy using it as much as we enjoyed making it. Game on!
v
Festival days
1
Festival Size
1
Navigating a Festival
2
Winning Friends and Influencing People
2
Contests and Champions
5
Cheating
6
At the Fair
6
Crafting Contests
7
Rural Delights
7
Eating and Drinking Contests
10
Athletics
10
Jumping Events
10
Racing Events
11
Tests of Strength
14
Mock Battle
16
Jousting
16
Target Shooting
18
Unarmed Combat Events
20
Special Events
22
Pillars of Life and Death
23
Shooting Gallery
23
Test of the Axe
24
The Siege Mortis
25
The Tower of Jewels
25
The Hell Horse
27
The Spoils of Victory
28
Appendix: Festival Edicts
30
Festival Edicts
30
Contents
1
Festival days
While player characters are used to living lives of high
adventure with chances for glorious victory or potentially
fatal failure lurking around every corner, they may
sometimes lose sight of the fact that most people in the
world they inhabit are not so lucky. True, the common
folk perhaps have a different kind of luck, one which
involves far less risk of death on a daily basis, but there
is still something terribly romantic and exciting about
being able to at least play at the kind of dramatics and
heroics they hear about in the stories. That is where Royal
Tournaments come in! Every now and then, it is time for a
festival, and while competitions and mock battles often
play a large part they are hardly the only element to entice
the common folk.
Festivals can be held for many purposes, and these are no
different in a fantasy world than they are in the real world.
Festivals can generally be divided into two categories:
civic and religious. Civic festivals may commemorate the
founding of a nation or a city, or the birth of a great leader
or hero, or the overthrow of a hated tyrant. Celebrations
may mark the day of a mighty battle, mixing celebration
of victory with a solemn memorial of those lost in the
struggle, or the consummation of peace after a long
period of strife. Civic festivals may celebrate the life of a
particular person of great renown, or they may be aimed
at the entire populace. Likewise, they may be local to a
single city or locality, or they may be widespread across an
entire continent.
Religious festivals may occur independently of any
corresponding civic events. In some societies, the regular
worship rituals of religion may be a weekly or daily
occurrence, or even multiple times per day as the faithful
are called to prayer by cathedral bells or the echoing calls
of the priesthood. Other religions may have less structured
worship routines, but nearly all commemorate the birth
or death of saints or religious leaders in much the same
way civic festivals celebrate secular leaders. Religious
festivals, however, may also focus upon dates fixed by
the dogma of the church for events beyond mortal ken,
when their divine patron stepped foot upon the earth or
first appeared to its acolytes in the spirit or in the flesh.
Divine incarnations, interventions, apotheosis, sacrifice,
resurrection, and more may be marked by the adherents
of the faith with a celebration large or small.
There are, of course, festive occasions that may fall into
either category, especially those that are tied to the seasons.
Such natural markers on the calendar often gain religious
significance or may be considered sacred to many faiths.
Special prayers may be offered up for the planting in the
spring or the harvest in the fall, while Midsummer’s may
be a time for worshipful offerings or blessed marriages
amid summer’s bounty even as Midwinter’s sees vigils
throughout the long dark. This is particularly true in areas
where druidical faiths predominate, but the religious
associations with the seasons (if any) may vary a great deal
from region to region and culture to culture. In areas
where no one faith is dominant, cultural attachments
around seasonal holidays may be far more important to
the citizenry than any particular religious celebration.
A diverse city or region may see multiple overlapping
holidays celebrated in many ways among the different
cultures and faiths present in the area.
Even apart from the seasons, important events may
be conflated and commemorated by coincidence, just
because they happen to occur on or around a known
local event or existing holiday. St. Crispin’s Day, a minor
holiday whose lineage is somewhat unclear, nonetheless
was immortalized by Shakespeare’s recounting of the
Battle of Agincourt in Henry V. The possibly apocryphal
saints still lend their name to the 25th of October, and for
that matter to the rousing “St. Crispin’s Day speech” that
Shakespeare wrote nearly 200 years after the battle, but the
memory of the day has evolved to be more a celebration of
the band of brotherhood between warriors.
In roleplaying terms, the nature of the festival is not
critically important, other than to provide an overall
theme and to help determine what manner of ancillary
events, such as tournaments or contests, might be most
appropriate. If you are using the Festival Edict rules in
Ultimate Rulership (5E) from Legendary Games, civic and
religious festivals provide different types of bonuses to
your kingdom based on the buildings available in the city
where the festival takes place.
Festival Size
Festivals are typically held in and around a city, town,
or village. However, during a festival, settlements are
typically thronged with people, so unless the festival is a
failure (see the Festival Edict rules in Ultimate Rulership,
reprinted in the Appendix of this book) you should treat
the settlement as one size larger than its actual size for
all purposes.
In some cases, festivals may be held outside of any
settlement, often near a Landmark (see Special Terrain
the Kingdom-building rules in Kingdoms (5E) from
Legendary Games). In this case, the number of attendees
at the festival can be highly variable, depending on how
2
significant the festival, how often other festivals are held,
the season of the year, and how far travelers typically come
to attend.
Because of the high concentration of merchants and
wealthy visitors (as well as black marketeers), the gp limit
for buying and selling should be treated as a large city for
the duration of the festival.
Navigating a Festival
The thronging crowds present at a typical festival do
not interfere with the ability of PCs to move around
the festival, but if tactical movement and line of sight
are important (as during a combat encounter), there is a
50% chance that when an encounter begins at a festival
the PCs will be in the midst of a crowd 20 to 80 feet in
diameter. Crowds provide cover, allow Dexterity (Stealth)
checks, and are considered difficult terrain for movement
purposes. A DC 12 Charisma (Persuasion) check or DC 15
Charisma (Intimidate) check allows a PC to convince a
crowd to move in a particular direction (up to 30 feet per
round), as long as the PC can be seen or heard.
Finding a particular location in the festival grounds
is a simple task to locate lesser-known merchants and
locations. No roll should be necessary, especially if what is
being sought is something available to the common folk.
Finding information on specific people at the festival
can be accomplished through Intelligence (Investigation)
checks to gather information, or at the GM’s option with
Wisdom (Insight) checks to learn about common folk and
Intelligence (History) to learn about the rich and powerful.
The DC should be relatively low, but feel free to use this as
an opportunity to disclose information that may feed into
the adventure.
Winning Friends and
Influencing People
For the common folk simply attending a festival is a
reward in and of itself, and low-level player characters can
approach a festival the same way, as tourists and gawkers
at the spectacle of it all. As PCs advance in level, however,
they should see festivals as an opportunity to spread their
3
Renown Modifier
Type of Lodging
-4
Commons (free) PCs wander the festival or stay amongst the smallfolk, talking to people as
they can and vying for attention with performers and hawkers.
-2
Tent (10 gp per day) PCs have a small tent or lodge for conducting private meetings or
a single secure shelter.
+2
Pavilion (100 gp per day) PCs have a large tent sufficient to host a formal meeting, with
table, chairs, and other furniture, or multiple secure shelters, with a corral and grooms
to keep their mounts close at hand.
+4
Grand Pavilion (1,000 gp per day) PCs have an opulent structure, which can be raised with
a rod of splendor or daily use of mage’s magnificent mansion. Mounts are kept in a separate
adjacent structure staffed with multiple grooms.
fame across the land. They can do this by earning honor
by showing mercy and gentility alongside prowess and
might, gaining reputation and fame by drawing attention
to themselves and their exploits, recruiting contacts and
cultivating relationships, or even running a business or
building up an organization.
A tournament can serve as entertainment and an
opportunity to engage in some contests and trials less
dangerous than the normal adventuring life, but it also
offers a great opportunity for adventurers to make an
impact in the campaign world. This is doubly true if
one or more of the PCs is ruling a kingdom, especially
a new domain just trying to establish itself. They can put
their newborn kingdom into the public eye amongst the
notables and the commons alike from surrounding lands,
earning prestige simply by being present for a major
event. Of course, the more effort they put into promoting
themselves the more prestige they can earn for themselves
and their land, which will enhance their legitimacy,
inducing other rulers to acknowledge them as equals and
fellow rulers rather than up-jumped nobodies waiting to
be picked off by their betters. This advancement in their
fame and esteem is called Renown.
Starting Renown: PCs can take a variety of actions that
earn Renown, but their baseline Renown is equal to 5
before any further adjustments.
Keeping Up Appearances: Whether PCs visit a festival,
they may simply walk the grounds like the common folk
or they may reserve a patch of the grounds for themselves
and their accommodations. Even if they do not intend
to stay at the festival overnight, putting up a structure
displaying their ensign or flag is seen by others at the
festival as a mark of their legitimacy. As a result, Renown
is modified by their choice of quarters.
PCs using magic to create their lodgings still must pay
half of the above cost for the right to host their structure
on the festival grounds. PCs may emulate a pavilion or
grand pavilion with mirage arcana or similar magic, but
each day they do this there is a cumulative 7% chance that
they are discovered. Once the illusion is discovered, word
gets around of the PCs’ pretensions to glory and their
Renown is reduced by 2.
Renown Modifier
Type of Seating
-4
Beggar’s Hill (free) PCs stand among the rabble, peeking over fences, hanging from
trees, or otherwise watching from the fringes of the venue.
-2
Absence (free) PCs may choose to simply not attend the events hosted at the arena,
which may be deemed an affront to their hosts. All PCs need not attend all events, but
they should send at least one representative to attend.
-1
Stands (2 gp per PC per day) PCs have a bench seat inside the arena, but far back from
the action.
+1
Box Seats (50 gp per day) PCs have a reserved seat up front for up to 6 people, with
refreshments brought to them.
+2
Royal Box (500 gp per day) PCs have padded seats and lavish canopies to keep off the
sun or rain (often blocking the view of commoners behind them), with elaborate
refreshments for up to a dozen people in a box adjacent to that of the hosts.
4
King of the Hill: A festival may have a particular spot
reserved for celebrations, often a small hill or rise on the
edge of the festival grounds, ringed in trees, for picnics
and parties by day and revels by night by those wealthy
folks who lack the title or privilege to claim an established
pavilion. They can nonetheless attract the acclaim of
errants and lesser noble scions and other untitled yet
affluent folk by winning a lottery to host the celebrations
for a night, wearing a crown as the King of Fools, a Crown
of Holly, or a similar award. A chance in the lottery
depends on the size of the festival, but is typically 1d10 x
10 gp. PCs who bid may roll a d20; on a natural 20, they
win the crown and may invite any they wish to attend,
but must provide music, food, and drink to all. They may
provide entertainment themselves (or may hire a bard or
other performer) and must provide 1d10 x 100 gp worth
of food and drink, but they gain 1 point of Renown (see
below) each time they win the honor.
Noble Boxes: If the festival grounds have an arena for
tests of skill and strength, such as jousting lists, archery
ranges, racetracks, or more exotic competitions, PCs
can build their repute by purchasing the rights to the
best seats, nearest to the action and to the hosts of the
tournament, rather than sitting with the rabble.
Making a Name and Spreading Your Fame: In addition
to simply establishing their presence with a pavilion or
box seats for the grand events of the tournament, PCs
can make an active effort at building the reputation of
their domain. They can do this by personally entering
and succeeding in contests and tournaments or hiring
champions to do so on their behalf or by using their
own skills and abilities. Each of the following methods
requires a day of effort by one or more party members
(cohorts may participate, and PCs able to make alliance
with a noble patron with bards at his beck and call may be
able to access their skills as well). Each effort requires the
use of more than one skill; if one PC attempts to fulfill
multiple skill requirements, all of their skill checks have
disadvantage due to dividing their attention and efforts.
If PCs succeed on all of the required skills (DC 12 each),
they gain one point of Renown. If they fail one or more
skill checks, they gain nothing, but if they fail all skill
checks for a method by 5 or more, they lose 1 point of
Renown. Each of these methods can be used more than
once by repeating the effort on a subsequent day, but the
DC increases by 2 each time a method is repeated.
Success at one of these efforts can be awarded experience
points as an encounter with a CR 2 lower than the party’s
average level.
5
Promotion
Gaining Influence for Your Kingdom
Display of Triumph
The PCs stage a dramatic re-enactment of the PCs’ adventures and accomplishments in
founding their domain, establishing their status as rightful rulers.
Relevant Skills Intelligence (History), Charisma (Performance)
Special PCs using visual and auditory illusions to augment their performance have
advantage. PCs can perform in any common area (disadvantage), on a small stage (cost
100 gp), or on an elaborate stage in the noble section of the festival grounds (1000 gp,
grants advantage on the check).
Feet of Clay
The PCs lampoon the follies, missteps, embarrassing rumors, and other shortcomings
of the leaders of other nations, merchant guilds, religious orders, or other noteworthy
organizations through satire and clever wit.
Relevant Skills Charisma (Persuasion), Charisma (Performance)
Special Each time this is used, all future We Meet at Last DCs increase by 2.
Play to the Crowds
The PCs recount the glory of the PCs’ domain and the impressive accomplishments
and prowess of the new masters of their lands, while also trumpeting what a fair and
pleasant land it is and the benefits that citizens enjoy living there.
Relevant Skills Intelligence (History), Charisma (Performance)
Special PCs offering free food and drink (costing 1d10 x 100 gp) gain a advantage on
this check.
Trade Agreement
The PCs arrange a meeting with merchant leaders from the other nearby domains to
find buyers for the goods produced in the PCs’ domain and to obtain favorable prices
on goods they wish to import to their country.
Relevant Skills Wisdom (Insight), any one tool proficiency.
Special PCs offering a bribe (1d10 x 100 gp) gain advantage their check.
We Meet at Last
The PCs arrange a meeting with rulers from one or more nearby domains, or the
masters of a merchant guild, religious order, or other major organization, or with their
ambassadors or representatives to establish formal relations.
Relevant Skills Charisma (Deception), Charisma (Persuasion), or Charisma
(Performance)
Special PCs offering a permanent magical item, piece of jewelry, or similar exotic gift
(e.g., trained griffon or owlbear) gain advantage on this check.
Contests and Champions
A festival has all manner of common entertainments,
minstrels, mummers, singers, jugglers, tumblers, trained
animals, and on and on, but much of its allure is in the
glory of competition. One factor to consider in preparing
to run a festival or tournament is the level of magic
available in the world. In a campaign where magic is
rare and mysterious like that of Tolkien, simple fortune
telling and fireworks are a marvelous spectacle that the
folk at the festival may remember for years to come. In
a typical fantasy campaign, however, magic is far more
commonplace. Even small villages may well have a hedge
mage or two capable of working real magic, or a cleric, or
druid tending the local shrine. Even a 1st-level sorcerer
or wizard can put on an impressive display of stage
magic with spells like dancing lights, flare, ghost sound, and
prestidigitation, and can go well beyond that with low-level
illusions like minor image and major image.
In addition to basic showmanship, the level of magic
that exists in the campaign world on an everyday basis
affects the kinds of events you include. A simple footrace
in a low-magic campaign could become an exercise in
super-speed or even a teleportation contest in a campaign
saturated with magic power, horses replaced with pegasi
and bowshots replaced with hurled lightning or psychic
duels. The tone and feel of the campaign, as well as the
level of the PCs, are important to consider when deciding
what kinds of contests to incorporate into a festival.
Whatever the style of contests you employ in your
festival, including having different festivals each with
their own focus, they are most enjoyable for players if
their characters take part, and certainly other nobles in
6
of one competitor versus another. Bearing in mind that
festivals and tournaments are sponsored by the wealthy,
this could mean that some sponsors might use such
chicanery and skullduggery to favor their own champions
in the contests, but it also means that the patrons of the
event have the means and wherewithal to enlist magical
sentries and to have warding effects in place to prevent
cheating. Of course, such supernatural sentries may not
be wholly trustworthy, as they are not necessarily obliged
to enforce the rules honestly and fairly equally across the
board. Corrupt contest marshals might look the other way
when certain competitors come to the list.
The attitudes towards cheating can be determined
entirely at the GM’s discretion, of course, but they also
can be determined by the characteristics of the area
where the festival is being held. Specifically, areas with
high levels of Corruption and Crime (see the Settlement
rules in Kingdoms (5E) from Legendary Games) are
likely to be tolerant of cheating, while those with high
levels of Law will take a dim view of such shenanigans.
However, cultural, racial, and even religious attitudes
may play a role in determining the level of dishonesty
likely to be encountered.
The capabilities of monitoring the competition depend
on the resources of the hosts. Small local festivals may
operate on the honor system out of necessity, but a
festival sponsored by a king might have marshals (either
in ostentatious uniforms, hidden amongst the crowd, or
both) using spells like detect thoughts to check for evidence
of cheating. Even in areas known for skullduggery, a host
making a great show of striving for a clean competition
might require competitors to use the equipment provided
by the host, including clothing as well as arms and
armor, to avoid them smuggling contraband items into
the competition. Of course, Dexterity (Sleight of Hand)
checks can be used to smuggle small items in despite
such surveillance.
At the Fair
While combat-focused may seem more glamorous,
virtually anything can be a competition. One need look
no further than county and state fairs to see the vestiges
of agricultural and crafting competitions in the modern
day, to say nothing of competitive cooking shows and the
like on television. While these competitions may not stir
the imagination of most adventurers there are some with
an interest in such background skills who may wish to try
their own hand or to sponsor an NPC ally or associate on
toward victory.
nearby lands may encourage them to enter, or even early
in their careers to ride on that leader’s behalf as her or his
champions. PCs not directly involved in the contest still
might enjoy watching the proceedings or making wagers
on them, and you may also allow players to take the role
of one of the NPC contestants (perhaps ‘sponsoring’ them
or hiring them to compete in the name of their own land).
Contestants can always yield in a contest if they wish, but
such public surrender results in a loss of 1 point of Renown
(see below), while winning a contest usually nets 1 point of
Renown; if a contest has two different victory conditions
and the same contestant wins both, that contestant wins
3 points of Renown. In addition, competing in such
contests, while not generally dangerous in the same way
as adventuring, still should be worth and appropriate xp
award, typically as an encounter containing monsters that
are roughly of a challenge rating of 1-3 levels below the
PCs’ own level.
Cheating
It is not just the events themselves where magic is
relevant, however. Whatever the basic magic level of the
world and the tournament, player characters themselves
certainly have access to magic, and so too do significant
NPCs, even if the rank and file competitors and spectators
do not. Since magic does exist in the game world, it is
entirely plausible that some competitors will seek to use
magic (or other extraordinary means) to cheat, either on
their own behalf or to bias the results of events in favor
7
Crafting Contests
Contests dealing with tool proficiencies are popular with
NPCs as they offer chances at earning esteem without
deadly danger. While combat-focused may seem more
glamorous, virtually anything can be a competition. One
need look no further than county and state fairs to see
the vestiges of agricultural and crafting competitions in
the modern day. Contests can range nearly any of the tool
proficiencies, from cooking to jewelry making.
Winning: Contests using a tool proficiency typically call
for three skill checks, with the winner in each category
based on the highest total score on all three checks.
However, a prize also may be awarded for the “Best in
Show” in each category, reflecting the highest single skill
check even if that contestant’s total score did not measure
up. In the event of a tie, both may be awarded as Best in
Show, or you may have each contestant roll 1d20 with the
high roll determining the winner.
Tastes are highly subjective in background skill contests,
and the GM may liberally award advantage to reward
those who incorporate local favorites or specialties, who
have a reputation for past wins in similar contests, who
are connected to the contest judges or other local notable
characters, or who have an exotic special ingredient
featured in their creation.
Some contests require contestants to bring their
submissions already completed and ready for the judges,
while others (cooking contests in particular) may be
spontaneous affairs presenting the contestants with secret
or strange ingredients they must use to create delicious
dishes in a very limited amount of time. Various different
checks may be required to successfully incorporate such
mystery ingredients, and success on those checks may
impose a bonus or penalty on checks made to create a
fabulous meal on the spur of the moment and not get
chopped from the competition.
Rural Delights
Most of the contests described elsewhere in this book work
well for formal competitions and grand events hosted by
the rich and powerful, but sometimes you want a smaller-
scale festival, perhaps a small fair or local celebration of
summer in the rural countryside. While certainly you can
use athletic contests and archery or knife or axe-throwing
even on a small scale, the following events are specially
designed for competitions among the simple folk of
the simple villagers and people of the land. Each event
provides rules to adjudicate the tournament, possible
prizes for the winner (and runners-up), and complications
which make the events trickier or even lethal.
Caterpillar Eating
A test of all participants’ persistence with digesting live,
wriggling caterpillars, the contest ends when the first
person devours all her caterpillars, or the last person
holds down her caterpillar and the others have lost the
contents of their stomachs.
Rules: Each contestant starts with at least 20 caterpillars.
Eating a caterpillar and keeping it down requires a
successful Constitution saving throw (DC 10, +1 for each
8
previous caterpillar eaten). A contestant can spend a round
regrouping, which resets the DC to 10. If a contestant fails
the Constitution save, she must succeed at an additional
Constitution save (at the current save DC) or become
nauseated for 1 minute.
An unusual variant uses caterpillars with bristles or
spikes, which inflict 1 point of piercing damage per
caterpillar ingested.
Prizes: The winner typically receives a preserved
caterpillar which, when eaten, provides resistance to
poison damage, and advantage tonthe poisoned condition
for one day. The caterpillar is preserved and retains its
potency for one month.
Complications:
• The caterpillars have been dosed with a hallucinogenic
poison, forcing all contestants to succeed at a second
Constitution save each round or become confused for
1d6 rounds (as per the spell).
• The caterpillars are actually larger, but have received
the effects of enlarge/reduce to shrink them down to
an acceptable size. The spell wears off, causing the
caterpillars to burst the stomachs of those who have
eaten them, dealing 1d6 points of damage for every
5 caterpillars eaten (DC 15 Constitution save for half
damage).
Rope Swing and Jump
This tournament event takes place at the tallest tree by a
large body of water, such as a lake or pond. Participants
swing from the rope and launch themselves from the rope
into the water. The contestant who travels the furthest
wins the event.
Rules: A contestant can swing on the rope, which ends
at least 5 feet from the ground, any number of times,
requiring a Strength (Athletics) check to maintain grip
(DC 10, +1 for each previous swing). For each successful
swing, the contestant gains 5 feet of distance of the jump
into the water, up to an additional 20. On an unsuccessful
swing, the contestant must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity
save to grab the rope; if she succeeds, she takes no damage
but is disqualified, while a failure causes her to fall and
take damage based on the distance from the rope to the
ground. The contestant is treated as having a running
start when making the jump. The result of the Strength
(Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check determines the
jump distance.
Flying is disallowed for the contest; depending on the
specific rules, the contest may allow magic assistance for
jumping or gripping the rope.
Prizes: The winner receives a monetary prize or one
which improves her ability to jump, such as a ring of
jumping.
Complications:
• Someone may have stocked the body of water with
crocodiles or other aggressive animals. These creatures
are sluggish and are slow to attack, so their attack may
coincide with several contestants in the water.
• A wall of stone or other impassible surface rests just
under the water’s surface at a distance designed to
harm the winning participant. It requires a successful
DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check to notice the
obstacle from the rope. If someone jumps into the
water per the rules, she takes damage as if she fell 10
feet (or more, if the rope is higher) plus the distance
jumped, rounded to the nearest 10 feet.
Squirrel Racing
A true test of coaxing a wild creature to do something it
normally wouldn’t, squirrel racing has the contestants
calling or cajoling their squirrels to be the first to cross
the finish line.
Rules: The squirrels must run a total of at least 60 feet,
and the first squirrel to reach the specified distance wins.
Each squirrel is in its own chute, eliminating the chances
for interference from other squirrels. During each round,
a contestant attempts a DC 10 Wisdom (Animal Handling)
check. For each point over 10 that the roll exceeds, the
squirrel moves forward 2 feet (up to its maximum base
speed). On a failed check, the squirrel moves backward a
number of feet equal the difference between the DC and
the result. If one or more squirrels tie, they must run the
course again (increasing the DC to 15).
This contest usually has multiple heats, with a final
round for all the winners. In this case, ties during the
earlier heats allow all winning squirrels to move on to the
final round.
Prizes: The winner receives a prize allowing him to
improve the attitude of wild animals (either mundane,
such as a bunch of tasty food, or magical, such as a ring of
animal friendship). Alternatively, the winner may receive
the winning squirrel for use as a companion or familiar.
Complications:
• Unknown to everyone at the start of the contest, one of
the contestants has trained all the contest’s squirrels
with the “come” trick, making it impossible for him
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to fail regardless of the random squirrel he uses. The
squirrel moves 10 feet each round.
• One of the squirrels is actually a massive, low-
Intelligence creature affected by a curse. When it
crosses the finish line, the curse is dispelled and the
creature attacks everyone within reach.
Tree Climb
Simulating the necessity of quickly ascending a tree to
rescue a trapped animal or child, or to retrieve an item
trapped in a tree’s upper boughs, the winner of this
contest is the quickest to the top of the tree.
Rules: The tree begins with a DC 17 Strength (Athletics)
check for a minimum distance of 20 feet until the
contestant reaches weight-bearing branches, at which
point the DC decreases to 15, and then returns to 20 after
a set distance as the branches become too weak to support
a contestant’s weight. The goal is simply to reach the bell
at the top of the tree in the shortest amount of time. A
contestant can move at half speed as they climb. In the
case of a tie, a contested Strength (Athletics) check can
represent a surge of speed at the end of the climb.
Alternative rules could feature unknotted rope that
reduces the DCs by 5, a greased tree, or a tree bereft of
branches, for instance.
Depending on the contest requirements, a climber may
or may not use physical means to assist with climbing
(such as a grappling hook or a climbing kit) or magic
items.
Prizes: Prizes range from monetary rewards to magic
items associated with trees and climbing (such as feather
token, tree or a ring of climbing). Additionally, this could
allow a winner to procure fruit or a sprig from a rare tree
with its own special qualities, such as the effects of a magic
potion or elixir.
Complications:
• The branches (or ropes, as applicable) have received
subtle cuts which eventually cause them to break.
The cut item has a cumulative 5% chance of breaking,
forcing a contestant to succeed on a Dexterity save
(DC 14) or fall. A character succeeding on a DC 19
Wisdom (Perception) or DC 17 Intelligence (Nature)
check notices the potential danger.
• Either through natural means (such as soil erosion) or
sabotage, the tree topples while a contestant is some
distance up the tree. The tree deals 2d6 points of
damage (DC 15Dexterity saving throw halves), and the
contestant takes falling damage based on the distance
climbed.
Whittling
A whittling contest takes fallen wood and turns it into
works of art. The pieces are presented to judges who
decide their aesthetic worth.
Rules: Each contestant makes a series of woodworking
tool checks to carve their creations. The DC for these
checks is 10 or higher, depending on how difficult the
wood is to work with. Succeeding at the check, and every
2 points by which the result exceeds the check, awards
the whittler win. A contestant must win at least one
woodworking tool check for the work to be considered by
the judges. Additionally, prior to the contest, a contestant
may interact with the judges and attempt a Charisma
(Persuasion) or Wisdom (Insight) check (DC 10 or higher,
depending on the judge) to ingratiate himself with a judge
or learn what sort of carving the judge enjoys. Success on
10
an above skill check grants advantage on the woodworking
tool check.
An alternative contest uses axes to make carvings from
larger pieces of wood. Since axes are less efficient at
making subtle cuts, the sculptor has disadvantage on the
woodworking tool checks for their pieces.
Prizes: The winner receives a magic item which allows
its user to reroll woodworking tool checks once per day,
a monetary prize, or a knife which acts as a +1 dagger (or
better magic weapon).
Complications:
• One of the contestants has used charm person on one
or more judges, granting him an unfair advantage.
A successful DC 20 Wisdom (Insight) or DC 18
Intelligence (Arcana) check during the interaction
prior to the contest reveals the magical influence.
• Fey have tampered with the wood, such that each
creation animates as per animate objects upon
completion.
Eating and Drinking Contests
Virtually all cultures have strange cuisines that test the
resolve and endurance of anyone brave enough to try
them. Such food or drink might have a pungent and
horrifying aroma or an overwhelmingly bitter flavor,
or the food might simply look revolting and repellent.
Most popularly, an iron stomach contest involves either
extremely strong liquor that brings on near-immediate
intoxication or exceptionally spicy food—whether
pickled, fermented, or even fresh off the vine—that brings
a nigh-unendurable heat that leaves competitors flushed,
weeping, and gasping for breath. An eating or drinking
contest also can feature fairly ordinary food and beverages
in a race to see which contestant can gorge themselves,
for example, on the most pies or sausages or can guzzle
the most mead or milk in a set amount of time. To add an
element of fun (or humiliation), contestants might have
to eat or drink with their hands tied behind their backs or
with some other handicap.
To eat or drink such fare or in such quantities is a test
of bravery as well as physical constitution, and spectators
cheer for both the horror of the contestants as well as
their sweat, tears, and grimaces of pain as they try to outdo
their cohorts to down the most. In some barbarian tribes,
iron stomach contests may be used as initiation rites to
both purify the body and show toughness, though some
visitors claim they are more of a sadistic prank the tribes
play on outsiders seeking to trade with them.
Whatever the exact nature of the food or drink used in
the iron stomach contest, every competitor must consume
at least one cup, plate, or other dish (or a whole fresh
pepper or similar item), and at least one competitor must
consume at least five within a set time limit (typically
one minute) without passing out or regurgitating what
they have tried to keep down. If no one finishes at least
five, there is no champion and everyone loses 1 point of
Renown. Anyone that passes out on the very first turn
loses an additional point of Renown.
Each dish consumed requires a successful Constitution
saving throw to avoid becoming wracked with pain,
nausea, and cramps from the awful gastrointestinal
distress (or immediate intoxication) brought on by the
food. The Constitution saving throw begins with a DC of
10 and increases by 2 for each dish after the first. The
first failed save causes the eater to become poisoned for
one hour. A second failure leaves the eater poisoned for
1d4 minutes, and a third failed save causes the eater to
fall unconscious for one round. A contestant that rolls a
natural 1 on any saving throw must immediately attempt
a new save against the same DC; if this save fails, he
immediately falls unconscious for 1 round, even if it is his
first failed save.
Any class features that provide bonuses against ingested
poison or against pain also apply to this save; however, the
effect is not actually poison and thus spells that affect the
poisoned condition, and similar effects, are of no help in
enduring the pain.
Athletics
Tests of speed and stamina are among the oldest and
simplest of all contests, and they come in a great variety of
types, each one taxing the skills, endurance, and physical
talents of every competitor. The following categories are
not exhaustive, but provide a wide selection of possible
events that could be held to determine the best athlete on
the field.
Jumping Events
Events involving jumping are fairly easy to resolve with
a simple Strength (Athletics) contest. Whether class
features like a monk’s ki features that enhance Acrobatics
checks are allowed in a contest is up to the rules of the
individual event.
Broad Jumps: A broad jump is a jump for maximum
horizontal distance. There is a foul line that shows where
the jumper must begin their jump; if they step over the
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line, the jump is treated as a foul and does not count. If the
jumper’s check results in an 8 or lower, they accidentally
step over the foul line and are disqualified.
In some cases, only a single jump is allowed, but in
formal athletic competitions usually each contestant
makes a set number of jumps (from three to six) and keeps
their best result. The best overall result wins the contest,
and in the case of a tie either both jumpers may be named
the winners, or they may compare their second-best result
or have them go to an additional jump-off.
Long Jump: A long jump is a running jump.
Standing Broad Jump: A broad jump is performed from a
standing start.
Triple Jump: A triple jump, also called a “hop, skip, and
jump” is a combination of a single running long jump,
after which the runner lands and immediately makes a
second jump off one foot, and a third jump off of both
feet. The third jump is treated as a standing jump with
advantage. The total result of the three relevant checks
gives the total distance jumped.
High Jumps: A high jump is a jump for maximum
vertical distance, done by jumping over a bar set at a target
height, typically starting at 2 feet for standing jumps, 5 feet
for running high jumps, or 10 feet for the pole vault, and
all jumpers must clear this qualifying height. Jumpers who
clear the height move on in the contest, while those who
fail must try again. Jumpers who fail to clear three jumps
(regardless of height) are disqualified. A natural 1 on a jump
check to perform a high jump is an automatic failure. Once
all jumpers have cleared the height or been disqualified, the
bar is raised, typically half a foot at a time and the process
is repeated. Confident jumpers who clear the qualifying
height may pass on jumping at lower heights thereafter in
order to save their attempts for later jumps. The process
of raising the bar and new attempts for each remaining
jumper continues at each new height, with any jumpers
accumulating three failed jumps being disqualified.
If at the end of all jumps at any height only one jumper
left has cleared that height, they are the winner. If two or
more jumpers remain, they proceed to the next height
and continue the process until only one jumper remains.
If neither jumper clears the new height, the jumper
with the fewest failed jumps prior to the final height is
the winner. If only a single jumper is left and they have
not failed three jumps, they may choose to raise the bar
and continue trying to clear higher heights for the sake
of getting the best possible result, and the may continue
trying indefinitely until they fail three jumps or until the
sponsor of the contest calls for an ending.
For the purpose of the contest, rather than setting a
specific height you can use target DCs instead. This allows
you to bypass metric conversions for jumping or worrying
about the specific calculations of each height. You simply
set the target DC for each height and have contestants try
to meet or exceed it.
High Jump: A high jump is a running high jump.
Pole Vault: A pole vault is a running high jump that
uses a flexible pole to provide leverage and spring to
launch the jumper higher than they could under their
own power. Using a pole allows the jumper to double the
result of their Acrobatics check. However, if their vault is
10 feet or higher they also must attempt a DC 15 Dexterity
(Acrobatics) check on the way down to avoid falling
damage.
Vertical Jump: A vertical jump is performed from a
standing start.
Racing Events
Chase scenes in adventures offer chances to spring
unexpected surprises and opportunities on characters,
but that’s harder to do in a relatively straightforward
race, so the following rules present an abstract system
for resolving competition races that combines speed and
skill in a test to cross the finish line first.
Of course, characters might attempt a shove contest or
otherwise attack other competitors.
Sprint: Each contestant in a sprint race is assumed to
take the Dash action, running a short burst in a straight
line. Each racer multiplies their speed by 2; this number
is their base race score. In addition, the start and finish of
the race are of key importance. The start is represented
by an initiative check for each runner, while the ability to
run through the finish without tiring is represented by a
Constitution check.
The result of these two checks is added to each runner’s
base race score to give a total race score. In a simple sprint,
the highest total score wins. In a large tournament, racers
run in several heats, with the top two finishers in each
heat moving on to the next round. Additional contestants
with the best overall scores remaining from those who
did not finish in the top two in their heat may be added to
the next round as well.
Endurance Races: Some races are run with multiple
laps around a track or field, or on an open course, like a
cross-country trail run.
Lap Running: A running track is typically round, oval,
12
or with parallel straightaways joined by curved ends. The
precise shape does not matter, but the fact that runners
must navigate those curves means that their speed is
reduced to by 5 feet, affecting both their movement and
Dash action. Each racer uses this run speed as their base
race score.
Unlike a sprint race, a lap race proceeds for multiple
laps, each taking approximately one minute. On the first
round of the race, all racers make an initiative check and
add that result to their speed. The top three race scores
may choose whether to begin the race as leaders, chasers,
or trailers (see below). Leaders are running as hard as they
can to take and keep the lead and put distance between
themselves and the runners behind them. Chasers keep
together and push the pace just enough to keep the
leaders within reach without opening too big of a lead.
Trailers conserve their energy and follow the leaders and
chasers, waiting for fatigue to eliminate their competition
and to win with a strong finishing kick.
Each turn after the first, all runners make a Constitution
check, adding the result to their race score for that turn (see
below). The check begins at DC 8, with the DC increasing
by 1 for each round after the first for chasers and by 2
for each round after the first for leaders (the DC does not
increase for trailers). The result of this check determines
the multiple of their speed that serves as their race score
for that turn.
Falling: Runners that fall must spend part of their next
turn getting back up, halving their movement for the turn.
In addition, a falling runner had disadvantage on the next
Constitution check.
Exhaustion: If a leader or chaser gain levels of exhaustion,
they suffer from all relevant penalties until they succeed
on a Constitution check, or reduce their speed by 5 feet for
at least two turns. Runners cannot die from accumulating
exhaustion levels, but they can have their speed halved or
reduced to 0.
A fatigued runner can remove all accumulated
exhaustion levels gained in this way after a long rest.
Slowing Down: On any race turn, a leader or chaser
can ease their pace, reducing their speed by 5 feet. If they
do this, they gain advantage on their Constitution check.
This gives a different benefit if they have exhaustion level,
removing a level of exhaustion after running at the slower
pace for 2 turns.
Speeding Up: On any race turn, a trailer can begin
running full speed as a chaser or leader, making
Constitution checks as normal. Once they start this
finishing kick, they cannot return to being a trailer.
Winning the Race: A race can continue for a set number
of race turns, with the highest overall cumulative race
score winning, or it can be a race to reach a previously
specified race score. The racer who gets there in the fewest
number of race turns is the winner, and if multiple racers
get there in the same number of turns, the one with the
higher overall score wins. In the rare instance of a tie,
both racers are considered the winners.
Relays: A relay is simply a race between teams of racers,
who must pass a ring, flag, baton, or similar small object
between them, or sometimes simply taps the next racer
with their hand to signal the start of their course. The first
runner takes the item from the start, runs their course,
and then hands it to the next racer on their team (or taps
them to begin), who runs their own race, and so on until
each racer on the team has had one turn to race. The team
with the highest total race score is the winner. However,
relays are fraught with risk on the exchange, if a racer
begins their stage before the previous runner has actually
touched them or successfully handed off the relay item.
At each exchange, the two racers must each succeed on
a DC 10 Dexterity check. If both runners fail the check,
the exchange is botched and their team is disqualified.
If one succeeds and the other fails, the exchange is made
but sloppily, and the delay causes the new racer to take a
penalty on their race score equal to the margin by which
the save was failed (and with disadvantage on a natural 1).
Steeplechases: A steeplechase is a race wherein runners
must leap over several obstacles on their way through
the race course. Typically, these are logs or similar
wooden barriers, requiring a successful DC 15 Dexterity
(Acrobatics) check to clear without incident. Each time a
runner fails this check, he deducts twice the amount by
which he failed the check from his final race score. If he
CON Check
Leaders
Chasers
Trailers
Success by 5+
4x speed
3x speed
2x speed
Success
3x speed
3x speed
2x speed
Failure
2x speed + fatigue
2x speed + fatigue
2x speed
Failure by 5+
speed + fall
speed + fall
2x speed
13
fails the check by 5 or more, he falls prone (DC 15 Dexterity
saving throw negates), and does not add anything to his
racing score for that turn. If he falls, 1d3-1 other random
contestants must attempt an additional Acrobatics check
or be forced to stumble or even be knocked prone by the
runner as he falls. While in a short sprint, a fall such as
this is an automatic loss, in a longer race a runner may
have time to get back up and resume running.
In addition to simple hurdles or barriers, many
steeplechase races add additional hazards, such as a pool
of water or mud on the far side of the barrier (increasing
the DC by 2 or by 5 to avoid stumbling or falling). In
more brutal cultures, the barriers themselves or hazards
beyond them may be spiked, bladed, laced with caltrops,
or otherwise made deadly dangerous, or the barriers
may have actual pit traps or similar threats in front of or
behind them. Such hazards are resolved as normal for
traps, falling damage, etc.
Riding Races: Riding races combine the abilities of
mount and rider to determine a winner. They generally
follow the rules for sprint and endurance races, except as
described below. On the first round of the race, the rider
makes an initiative check, adding the mount’s initiative
modifier to his own. In addition, each rider must make
a Wisdom (Animal Handling) check, adding the result to
the mount’s race score during the first turn.
Mounts carrying a heavy load reduce their speed
multiplier by 10 feet when figuring their race score in a
sprint or in an endurance race. Constitution checks are
made by the mount rather than the rider; however, each
time the mount makes a Constitution check to determine
its race score, the rider also makes a Wisdom (Animal
Handling) check, and the rider may use the result of
either the mount’s check or the rider’s to determine the
mount’s race score for that race turn. Negative effects of
a failed Constitution check, such as falling or fatigue, still
14
apply based on the result of the Constitution check itself
and cannot be negated by substituting the rider’s Wisdom
(Animal Handling) check in this way.
Mounted Steeplechases: These races function as a normal
steeplechase, but the mount must make all Dexterity
(Acrobatics) checks to clear the barriers along the race. For
animals like horses that are not particularly agile, the base
DC to leap such obstacles is 10, but steeplechases riding
great cats or similar nimble creatures might have a higher
base DC.
Each time the mount leaps a barrier, the rider must
succeed on a Dexterity (Animal Handling) check or thrown
from his mount; the DC of this check equal to the DC of
the Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to clear the obstacle. If
the mount is not trained to leap barriers, the rider must
coax the animal to leap over the obstacle with a successful
Wisdom (Animal Handling) check with a DC equal to
the Dexterity (Acrobatics) DC to leap the obstacle. If the
obstacle is on fire or is otherwise obviously dangerous,
this DC may be increase by 5 or even 10.
Token Races: Some riding races involve collecting
a token during the course of the race, such as a flag
or brightly colored ring or baton, which is typically
suspended from a rope or otherwise is difficult to reach
and must be snatched without slowing down, since the
race requires a combination of speed and successfully
grabbing these tokens.
A spectacular version of this kind of contest is the ring
race, wherein fully armored knights propel their gaily
caparisoned steeds around the racecourse while they use
their lances to grab beribboned rings suspended overhead
whose color matches their own. Each race turn, racers can
attempt an attack roll against AC 15 (or higher, for contests
aimed at higher-level contestants using smaller targets
more difficult to catch) to snatch a ring at full speed.
Trailers in a ring race gain a +2 bonus on their attack rolls,
as their measured pace helps them focus on the dancing
and swinging rings overhead. If the attack roll misses by
less than 5, there is a 20% chance the attacker accidentally
snatches a ring of the wrong color (chosen randomly).
A racer who already has at least one ring on their lance
who rolls a natural 1 on a subsequent attack roll or combat
maneuver check must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving
throw or allow one of his rings already snatched to slip
off, losing the points he would have gained from it.
A ring race is scored as a typical race, with a +50 bonus
to the racer’s cumulative race score for each ring they’ve
obtained of their color and +5 for rings of other colors,
with an extra 50-point bonus if they collect all possible
rings of their color. In some races, the number of race
turns and the number of rings is equal, so that racers
must successfully grab a ring every time to obtain the best
score. In other ring races, the number of laps is greater
than the number of rings, allowing racers multiple
chances to collect all of their own rings or to interfere
with their opponents’ efforts.
A racer that completes the race but fails to capture
any rings of his own color is automatically disqualified.
In unscrupulous ring races, a racer can use his lance
to attempt a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) contest with
an opponent to flick one of his opponent’s rings off
his lance, with a successful check removing one of the
opponent’s rings.
Swimming Races: Swim races function similarly
to land-based races for creatures with a swim speed;
however, for most land-dwelling creatures swimming
races use the following rules. Racers make an initiative
check and a Constitution check at the beginning of the
race, adding them together to get their base race score,
and each round they spend swimming, they add the
number of feet traveled to their race score (a successful
Strength (Athletics) check against a DC based on the water
conditions results in moving half the character’s land
speed). A swimmer who exceeds the Swim DC by at least 3
points adds a +1 to their race score.
After each minute of racing, a swimmer must succeed
on a DC 10 Constitution check or begin tiring, losing a
number of points from her race score equal to the amount
by which she failed the check. Each minute thereafter, the
DC of this check increases by 1.
Each race has a target race score, and the winner of a
swimming race is the first racer to reach that score. If
more than one racer reaches that score in the same round,
the racer with the higher total race score at the end of
that round is the winner. Like running races, swimming
races can be organized into heats, with the top finishers in
each heat advancing to the next round until a champion
is determined.
Tests of Strength
Some folk are simply not built for speed, but they like
to show off their muscles in feats of strength. Combat
events, especially unarmed events like boxing or
wrestling, are commonplace as tests of strength, but
many competitors who are not warlike by nature or by
training may prefer less violent contests where they can
show off their mighty musculature.
Caber Tossing: In Scottish highland games, a caber is a
15
tapered log nearly 20 feet long and weighing 175 pounds,
which must be lifted, balanced, and thrown so that the top
end strikes the ground first, and ideally so that the caber
falls directly away from the thrower.
The competitor must first hoist the caber up off the
ground, requiring a successful DC 17 Strength (Athletics)
check. Once the caber is lifted, the contestant must then
balance the caber and prepare to throw it, requiring a
special DC 12 ability check; the contestant makes both
Strength and Dexterity checks and may select the better
result. If any of these ability checks fails, the caber is
dropped. Depending on the competition, a single drop
may eliminate a contestant, while in other competitions
contestants may be allowed a certain number of drops
before being disqualified.
Once the caber is ready, the tosser must hurl it up in
the air so that it falls top-end first, requiring a ranged
attack (treat as AC 10, with disadvantage). If the attack
misses, the caber fails to land top-end up and falls to the
ground, scoring 0 points. To determine the direction the
caber falls on a successful ranged attack, roll 1d8, with a 1
indicating the caber falls directly away from the tosser and
2-8 rotating around the target in a clockwise direction.
The tosser can adjust this d8 result up or down by 1 for
point by which his attack roll exceeds the target AC.
feat of strength and technique, such as the Greek shotput
or discus or the modern Olympic hammer throw. For such
events, each contestant makes a ranged attack roll against
AC 10 with disadvantage. If the attack misses, the throw
lands out of bounds and is not counted. If the attack roll
hits, the thrower additionally makes a Strength check and
adds the result to his attack roll to determine his score.
If throwing a weaponlike object, such as a dart, javelin,
or spear, the attack roll does not have disadvantage if the
thrower is proficient in the weapon.
Throwing an object for maximum distance requires the
thrower to spin, run, or lean into her throw for maximum
power, and the thrower must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity
(Acrobatics) check after making the throw to keep her
balance. If the check is failed, the throw is treated as a foul
and is not counted.
In most throwing contests of this kind, each competitor
gets a certain number of throws and keeps only their best
result. The winner is determined by the single farthest
throw. If two throwers are equal, the one with the fewest
fouls or out-of-bounds throws wins.
Tug-of-war: This simple contest involves two teams on
opposite sides of a field, with a rope between them tied
with a flag in the center. Each team has a boundary line on
d8 result
Score
1
5 points
2 or 8
4 points
3 or 7
3 points
4 or 6
2 points
5
1 point
A caber tossing match may be a set number of throws,
with the highest aggregate score winning. In the event of
a tie, the tosser with the fewest drops would be named the
winner, and if any contestants are still tied they can make
an additional toss against one another with the high-
scorer (or the first successful toss without a drop) being
named the winner.
Distance Throwing: While caber tossing is a very
specific event, similar tests of strength could feature large
rocks or any other heavy and unwieldy item that must
be lifted, balanced, and thrown at a target, and the term
can be used in a universal sense to indicate other similar
items for such events.
In addition, while distance does not matter in traditional
caber tossing, hurling an object for distance is likewise a
16
its side, with all members of their team beyond the line,
and the object of the contest is to pull the flag marking
the center of the rope across their boundary line while the
opposing team strives to do the same.
Each team has an anchor that holds the end of the rope,
and fundamentally a tug-o-war is a series of Strength
(Athletics) contests. Compare the cumulative strength
bonuses of each side. The side with the most bonuses
grants a +1 bonus for that anchor’s Strength (Athletics)
check for every 4 points by which they exceed the other
team’s bonuses. Each anchor makes their checks, applying
any modifiers for their team, and compare the result. The
difference between the result of the checks equals the
number of feet the center flag is pulled toward the side
of the higher-rolling team at the end of that round. The
tug-of-war is won when either team pulls the center flag
over its boundary line.
Weightlifting: The simplest test of strength is setting up
progressively heavier and heavier weights for contestants
to lift and hold, whether lifted overhead like a modern
power-lifter, lifted and carried a short distance, or pulled
on a sledge or track. For such weightlifting contests, any
character can lift half their carrying capacity over their
head automatically. Lifting and holding heavier loads in
competition requires a Strength check.
Mock Battle
Many tournaments celebrate skill at arms, and in medieval
times the grand melee was scarcely less violent than a real
battle. Blunted swords and axes could still break limbs
and skulls and leave contestants wounded or crippled.
The events presented here utilize the combat rules as a
baseline but offer a wide variety of specialized rules for
ritual combat on horseback, with ranged weapons, and
matches in unarmed combat.
Jousting
One of the most iconic events in a tourney is the joust,
with caparisoned knights in full armor and flowing regalia
testing their mettle and their skill against other peers of
the realm in a cacophonic clash of arms.
For the joust, competitors are matched in a random
draw. Each is equipped with a heavy horse, military saddle,
lance, and heavy wooden shield, with racks of extra lances
and shields. Riders may provide their own nonmagical
armor. Attacking a horse is grounds for disqualification.
Jousters can attempt to unhorse their opponent with a
shove contest.
Tactics: A jouster may choose to charge and force the
opponent to make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 +
proficiency bonus + Strength or Dexterity bonus), to
advance and attack normally, or to use the Dodge action.
A jouster also can use other abilities, including class
features like barbarian rage. Supernatural effects and
spells are typically forbidden. Attacking the opponent’s
mount results in immediate disqualification.
Resolution: Contestants spur their mounts forward and
meet in the center of the list and initiative is rolled. If either
contestant has an advantage in reach, that competitor has
advantage on this initiative check. The winner strikes
first, and unhorses the defender if the winner attack
hits. If the rider who lost initiative is unhorsed, they can
attempt a DC 20 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check as a
reaction, with their shield breaking if they fail. If the check
succeeds, the defender is able to get in a strike with their
lance against the attacker, forcing the attacker to make a
DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. If the stricken attacker fails
this saving throw, they are unhorsed. If they succeed in
unhorsing their opponent, that pass is a draw and both
contestants can remount and try another pass.
On any attack that hits, the lance breaks.
The first rider to unhorse their opponent and stay
mounted wins the match. If after three passes neither has
DC
Weight
10
Up to medium load
15
Up to heavy load
20
Up to heavy load x 150%
25
Up to heavy load x 200%
A competition will typically begin with a minimum
qualifying weight (usually at least 150 pounds); those who
fail to lift that weight cannot compete. After that point,
each competitor must increase the weight after each
successful lift by at least 10 pounds, though they may
choose to increase the weight of their lift if desired. If they
fail a lift, they can retry the same weight. Lifters continue
increasing their weight as many times as desired until
they fail a total of three lifts, at which point the highest
weight they successfully lifted stands.
A lifter can attempt a number of lifts equal to one-
half her Constitution score before she risks becoming
exhausted. For each lift after that, she must attempt a DC
10 Constitution check, or gain a level of exhaustion. The
DC of this check increases by 1 for each additional lift.
The winner is determined by whomever had the highest
weight lifted; in the case of a tie, the lifter with the fewest
failures wins.
17
done this, a point is scored for each shield broken and a
point is deducted for each lance broken. If the match is
still a draw, the contest continues until the tie is broken.
After each pass, riders take 1 round to return to the end
of the lists before charging again. Two squires at each end
of the lists use their actions to replace a rider’s lance or
shield as needed.
Special Jousts: In a fantasy game, jousts could be contests
on flying, swimming, or even climbing mounts, given an
arena of the appropriate type. The rules for such jousts are
the same as for land-based jousts, though each mount also
can make a Dexterity check, as appropriate, during their
charge to see if they can gain an advantageous position
relative to their opponent’s mount.
In special jousts, and aerial jousts in particular,
flamboyance and showy aerobatics are a key part of the
event, and the mount with the higher opposed Dexterity
(Acrobatics) or Strength (Athletics) check also grants its
rider advantage on any combat contests. Brightly colored
flags, poles, or similar markers are placed at each end
of the jousting field to mark where fliers should make
their turn and approach the list for their next pass. In
exotic jousts, these markers might have flaming rings the
jousters must pass through (DC 17 Dexterity [Acrobatics]
check required, plus a DC 20 Wisdom (Animal Handling)
check to push a non-sentient mount to fly through the
flames), plus a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw for both rider
and mount to avoid catching on fire, while high-magic
tournaments could have even more outlandish obstacles.
While aerial maneuvers are expected before and after
each pass, aerial jousts often are held close to ground
level for the actual clash of lance against lance in order to
minimize falling damage from competitors unhorsed in
the joust. However, in some high-stakes tournaments the
joust may take place in midair at a much higher elevation,
with spectators watching from raised platforms, or the
towers of a castle, or even the sides of a canyon or ravine.
While weather rarely plays a role in low-level aerial jousting,
high winds in such high-altitude jousts may impose a
disadvantage on any relevant checks for both contestants.
18
Sample Competitors: PCs wishing to compete must
best a hedge knight trainer in the practice lists to
demonstrate their basic competence. Success and an
entry fee (the amount depending on the size and renown
of the tournament, typically 10 gp for small local festivals
and 100 gp for grander events) grants a place in the
5-round, single-elimination tourney. To determine a PC’s
opponent, roll 1d8 and add 1 per round.
Winning: A jouster reaching the final four earns 1 point
of Renown; increased to 2 points for reaching the final
two, and 3 points for becoming champion. In a grand
tournament, the four finalists receive a war-trained light
or heavy horse. The two grand finalists receive 1,000 gold,
and the grand champion receives a suit of +1 breastplate.
Target Shooting
History shows us all manner of target shooting and
target throwing contests, from lumberjack axe throwing
to barroom darts to classic Robin Hood-style archery
contests. Accuracy was a key life skill in hunting and
training for military service as well, and such contests are
commonplace in any festival. While the contests below are
described in terms of archery, they can just as easily be
undertaken with any kind of ranged weapon, including
thrown weapons, with proportionately shorter distances
for weapons with shorter range increments.
Clout Shooting: More common in the Middle Ages than
the target shooting we typically envision, clout shooting
involved launching arrows at long range in a parabolic arc
at a target laid at a low angle or even flat on the ground to
simulate loosing volleys of arrows in combat into massed
enemy troops or shooting over walls. The clout itself was
a simple wooden peg a few inches across inside a circle
drawn on the ground or marked with small flags and
that might be as small as 2-3 feet across or as large as 25
feet. Modern clout shooting still exists and uses the same
principle, but the target is more often a flag or square of
cloth and scoring is based on how close archers can get
their arrows to it.
A clout end has each archer shooting six arrows at the
clout peg or flag. If all archers shoot at the same target,
each shooter uses fletching that is a different color to tell
their arrows apart for scoring. Scoring is as follows.
d12 Result
Competitor
1-4
Hedge Knight (human fighter) Init +1, Attack + 5, Perception +0, Handle Animal +5,
Constitution +5, Strategy Dash and trip (+6).
5-7
Tourney Knight (human fighter) Init +3, Attack +7, Perception +4, Handle Animal +10,
Constitution +8, Strategy Dash and shove.
8
Sir Brian Init (human ranger) +4, Attack + 9, Perception +10, Handle Animal +13,
Constitution+10, Special +4 vs Humans, +2 vs Elves, Strategy Dash and Shove.
9
Churt Ennatal (half-orc barbarian/ranger) Init +7, Attack +10, Perception +15, Handle
Animal +15, Constitution +12, Special +6 vs Humans +6, +2 vs Elves, +2 vs Dwarves, rage
(+2 to Attack), Strategy Dash and shove, rage.
10
Domm Jurga (orc barbarian) Init +0, Attack + 10, Perception +8, Handle Animal +5,
Constitution+10, Special greater rage (+5 Attack Strategy Dash and disarm shield, rage.
11
Khotio Cristobal (human fighter) Init +7, Attack + 11, Perception +5, Handle Animal +16,
Constitution + 8 Special Blindsight 60 ft, Strategy Attack, and shove.
DC
AC
Points
Clout
20
6
Clout square
17
3
Inner Circle (within 5 feet)
14
2
Inner Circle (within 10 feet)
10
1
If the clout is laid flat on the ground, it is considered to
have heavily concealment, so any shots have disadvantage
when done in this way.
The top two scorers in each clout end advance to the
next round, or have a one-on-one end of their own, with
the high scorer winning their duel and the title. If they
remain tied after that end, they go to a sudden death duel
with each taking one shot at a time until the tie is broken.
Target Shooting: Shorter-range shooting contests
against vertical targets marked with concentric circles
around a central bull’s-eye. A target-shooting end is six
shots for each archer at a Medium-sized target typically
19
20
120 feet away. Each circle can be painted in alternating
painted rings (called circles) and unpainted rings (called
fields), or each could be painted a different color; those
listed below represent the modern archery target colors.
Archers score based on how close their shots come to the
center of the target.
feet alone. Grappling, shoving, and most other combat
contests are not allowed. After each round of combat, the
boxers are separated and return to their start positions.
Gloves: Traditional boxing is carried out with bare
knuckles, but in some societies gloves are used to ablate
the impact and reduce injury. Boxers wearing gloves
cannot kill their targets, and they deal only half the normal
amount of damage with each blow.
Knockout: If either competitor is rendered unconscious
by the reducing their opponent to 0 hit points, he is
knocked out and his opponent is declared the winner. If a
fighter confirms a critical hit during a boxing match, the
target must make a Constitution saving throw equal to 10
+ the damage dealt or gain a level of exhaustion, or two
exhaustion levels if they fail the save by 5 or more. Rolling
a natural 1 on this save renders the target unconscious.
Any exhaustion levels gained in this way are removed
when the afflicted boxer finishes a long rest.
Rounds: A boxing match can last any number of
rounds agreed upon by the contestants, though usually
a minimum of 3 rounds and a maximum of 15. These
rounds can be literal combat rounds, or they can be any
length stipulated by the combatants, though rarely longer
than 1 minute.
Scoring: If neither opponent is knocked unconscious
during the duration of the fight, the victor is determined
by a scoring system. Each competitor tallies one point
per hit and two points for each critical hit. In any round
in which a fighter scores more hits than his opponent,
he gains one additional bonus point. A fighter can use a
Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) contest to appear to land more
punches than he actually does; this contest is opposed by
the passive Perception of the judge(s) scoring the match,
and the check is made each round. Both the fighter and
the judge(s) add their proficiency bonus to these checks
even if they lack proficiency in the appropriate skill as
long as they are proficient with unarmed strikes. If a
fighter’s Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check exceeds the
Wisdom (Perception) check of the judge(s), he is treated
as if he scored 1 additional hit during that round, plus
one additional hit for every 5 points by which his check
exceeded the judge’s highest Wisdom (Perception) check.
Special Boxing Rules: Boxing can proceed using normal
unarmed combat rules, or it can incorporate a number of
specialized maneuvers and strategies.
Bob and Weave: This is the boxing term for using the
Dodge action.
Clinch: One boxer grabs onto another as a defensive
maneuver to prevent his opponent from landing effective
Circle
Color
AC
Points
Center
Gold
18
5
Inner Field
Red
14
4
Inner Circle
Blue
12
3
Outer Field
Black
11
2
Outer Circle
White
10
1
In some tourneys, each archer shoots at their own
individual targets, while in other contests, pairs of archers
alternate shots at the same target. In such a duel, the
archer with the higher total score is the winner. In the
case of a tie, the archer with the shot closest to the center
point of the target wins; determine this by which archer
had the highest attack roll during their end. If this is still
a tie, each archer alternates taking one shot at a time until
the tie is broken.
Unarmed Combat Events
While jousting and even general melee events with
blunted lances and swords were a staple of medieval
tournaments, unarmed combat events also were very
popular and continue to be popular to the present day.
Such events often featured traveling champions who
would take on local toughs and gallants willing to stake
their money for a chance in the ring with the champion.
Such events can be run using the standard combat rules
for unarmed attacks and combat contest, and this is
particularly appropriate in unusual unarmed events such
as a humanoid battling a bear, gorilla, or similar creature
with natural weapons of its own. However, the following
rules below provide a framework for the sweet science of
taking down an opponent with bare hands.
Performance Combat: Whether using standard combat
rules or the specialized rules described below, it is very
appropriate to have contestants attempt to influence the
crowd to their side make a DC 15 Charisma (Performance)
check. Success grants you advantage on your next attack as
you get the crowd to cheer you on.
Boxing: Competitors are confined to a small ring,
usually a 15-foot square, and set to fighting. Standard
boxing is unarmed combat using only the hands, but many
cultures may strike with both hands and feet or even with
21
punches. Treat this as a grapple contest. If the target’s
opposed roll is 5 or more points lower than the grappler,
the target is has disadvantage on attack rolls until the end
of next turn. A referee will usually end the grapple after 1
turn.
Combination: As an action, the boxer can make two
attacks, but does not add their Strength bonus on either
attack.
Counterpunch: A boxer can use his reaction to attack his
opponent as they make their attack. This counterpunch is
resolved after his opponent’s attack.
Haymaker: A boxer can put his whole energy into a heavy
blow as an action, taking disadvantage on the roll in order
to gain a +3 bonus on damage rolls.
Jab: This is a standard unarmed strike.
Low Blow: A blow below the belt is generally considered
against the rules, much like a head butt, and in such cases
making a low blow without being noticed requires a
successful Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check contested by
the passive Perception checks of the judges as described
previously. If noticed, a successful low blow does not score
a point and results in a 1-point penalty to the attacker.
A successful hit with a low blow deals an additional 1d3
points of damage. In addition, the target must make a DC
8 Constitution saving throw or gain a level of exhaustion
that goes away after the target finishes a short rest.
Wrestling: Wrestling is a contest of combat maneuvers,
especially (but not exclusively) the grapple contest. Shove
contests are used to take a foe to the ground and make
them easier to pin, while in other forms of wrestling such
as sumo the object is to force the opponent out of the ring.
Matches can be simple submission contests, wherein the
match continues until one wrestler is subdued through
maintaining a grapple for a certain number of rounds.
Wrestling matches typically occur in a 15-foot diameter
ring (which may be round or square), though larger rings
may be use for tag team or group wrestling matches. The
rules below present a formalized scoring system that can
be used to reward specific maneuvers and outcomes.
Duration: A wrestling match usually lasts a set number
of rounds (usually 10, 12, or 15), though the match can end
early if one wrestler maintains a grapple for 3 rounds.
If neither wrestler can maintain, the match is decided
on total points. If the score is tied at the end of the set
duration, the match continues in a sudden death format,
where the first wrestler to outscore his opponent in a
round wins the match.
Exhaustion: Wrestling matches take a considerable
amount of energy. A wrestler can wrestle for a number
of rounds equal to one-half his Constitution score
before risking exhaustion. After this time, each wrestler
must succeed at a DC 10 Constitution check or gain an
exhaustion level at the end of each round. The DC increases
by 1 for each round thereafter. When a wrestler gains an
exhaustion level, the DC resets to 10 but additional checks
must be made each round to avoid gaining further levels.
A wrestler using a Dodge action does not need to make
a Constitution check that round and reduces the DC of
subsequent checks by 1. Exhaustion levels gained are
never lethal and are removed after a short rest.
Give and Take: Scoring occurs at the end of each round
of a wrestling match. A grapple that is not maintained to
the end of the opponent’s turn scores no points.
Showboating: Wrestling bouts can be simple athletic
endeavors, or they can be grand spectacles with casts of
colorful costumed characters with outlandish names and
costumes to match, from masked luchadors or gloriously
spangled and sequined performers with catchphrases,
capes, props, and bombastic entrance music. These
endeavors may still be highly athletic (though in some
cases they may follow a prearranged script as to who wins
or loses a match), but a Charisma (Athletics) check can be
made in place of a Strength (Athletics) check.
Tag Team: This style of wrestling pits two teams against
each other, though only one wrestler from each team is on
the mat at a time. At any time during the match, a wrestler
can tag their partner and then exit the ring, while their
partner enters the fray in their place. The partner outside
the ring must stay in a specific location and cannot move
around the ring to get closer to their partner.
Team Wrestling: Some wrestling matches pit evenly
matched teams against one another, with all wrestlers
in the match at once. Scoring proceeds as described
below, and wrestlers may choose to combine their
efforts to pin and hold one of their opponents or may
engage in multiple one-on-one grapples simultaneously.
A wrestler who is grappled and held for three rounds
is out of the match and the bout continues until all of
one team’s wrestlers have been eliminated, or based on
the aggregate score for each team if both teams still
have wrestlers remaining at the end of the match. Any
successful point-scoring move by a wrestler counts
toward the aggregate total for their team.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: In a wrestling match, you often
can escape the view of any judges or referees, and dirty
tricks can be used to put an opponent in a compromising
position and gain advantage. Using an illegal hold or an
22
prone. Both wrestlers begin from a set position marked
within the ring and roll initiative at the beginning of the
match. In some cultures, the rules of sumo are considered
sacred, and any unsportsmanlike conduct noticed by the
judges is grounds for immediate disqualification and
forfeit of the match. If you use a 15-foot ring, assume
both wrestlers begin in the center square; if you wish a
bit more movement opportunity using a standard grid of
5-foot squares, a 20-foot ring may work better.
In the case of a shove contest, the winner can move
both his opponent and himself 5 feet. If the opponent’s
contested check is 5 points or more lower than the attacker,
they are knocked prone and lose that match.
The first wrestler to be knocked prone or forcibly moved
out of the ring loses the match; unlike the wrestling match
described above, the match ends as soon as either wrestler
is defeated in this way, without a chance for the defender
to retaliate.
Once a wrestler is defeated, if the match is going to
continue, both wrestlers retake their positions at the
center of the mat
Scoring: A sumo contest typically consists of a set number
of matches, either within the same day or over a span of
days. In a single contest, two wrestlers might have five
matches, with the winner determined by whomever wins
the most individual matches. Tradition dictates that all
matches in the set are completed, even if one wrestler has
an insurmountable advantage in that set, both for the loser
to demonstrate stoic aplomb in defeat and to determine
total number of matches won if the sumo event stretches
over multiple days and involves multiple wrestlers, as the
winner of the highest aggregate total number of matches
at the end of the event is the grand champion of that event.
Special Events
While the preceding section details a broad array of
familiar contests from real-world history and culture,
this is a fantasy game and it’s eminently possible in a
higher-magic campaign, or one that features higher-level
characters, to dial up the difficulty and complexity of your
tournament events. These are especially appropriate if
your festival games happen in a specific location, where a
permanent stadium or arena is renowned for its famous
and unique challenges, but they also could be used at any
festival set up in the fringes of a young forest kingdom
where the spirit of magic and adventure is strong.
unsportsmanlike maneuver such as an eye gouge, groin
grab, strike with a closed fist, and so on without being
noticed requires a successful Dexterity (Sleight of Hand)
check opposed by the passive Perception checks of the
judges and your opponent. This is a bonus action, and you
may choose one of the following options:
Deal damage as if you had hit your target with your fist.
Give your opponent disadvantage on Strength
(Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks to avoid or
escape your grapple.
Give your opponent disadvantage on its next attack roll.
If the dirty trick is noticed, the wrestler receives a warning
and his opponent gains 1 point. A second dirty trick that is
noticed results in the wrestler being disqualified.
Because of the chaos and confusion of a match with
multiple wrestlers on a side, Dexterity (Sleight of Hand)
checks to perform a dirty trick combat maneuver without
being noticed have advantage in a team wrestling match.
Scoring: Scoring is checked at the end of each round:
Escape (1 point): You succeed on a grapple contest to break
free from a grapple when your opponent has maintained
the grapple at least once or has knocked you prone.
Hold (2 or 3 points): You succeed on a grapple contest to
maintain your hold your opponent. If you maintain your
hold for two consecutive rounds, you score 3 points.
Pin (victory): If you maintain a grapple for three
consecutive rounds, you automatically win the match.
Reversal (2 points): You escape a grapple and make a
successful grapple contest at the next available opportunity.
Stalling (warning, then 1 point to your opponent): If you use
the Dodge action, you receive a warning the first time.
Each time you use that action afterward, your opponent
receives 1 point.
Takedown (2 points): You knock your opponent prone
and succeed on a grapple contest in consecutive rounds.
This may be done in either order; knocking them prone
and then grappling them, or grappling first and then
knocking prone.
Sumo: Sumo and similar forms of wrestling do not rely
on grabbing an opponent, but instead of forcing them to
the ground or out of the ring with a shove contest. This
also can be accomplished with a grapple when you force
the opponent to move.
Both wrestlers begin near the center of a 15- or 20-
foot ring, and must force their opponent back or to the
side 10 feet to force them out of the ring, or knock them
23
uses her area-effect powers while moving from pillar to
pillar and targeting them with harm. If she sees a positive
pillar near filling, she uses shatter to destroy it.
Levigud Stolikan (human male cleric of the Goddess of
the Dead, CR 10) Attack +9, Spells (DC 17) 6—heal (x1) 5—
mass cure wounds (x2), 4—(x3), 3—revivify (x4), 2— (x4), 1—
cure wounds (x4), At Will— sacred flame Strategy Levigud
tries to hit the largest number of pillars with his area-
effect radiant energy, but if a pillar is close to being healed
he focuses touch-range cure spells on it.
Monde Ispemon (human male sorcerer CR 11) Attack +7
Channeling none, Spells (DC 17) 6—heal (x1), 5— (x3), 4—
blight (x3), 3—fly, vampiric touch (x3), 2— (x3), 1— cure wounds
(x4), Cantrip—chill touch (3d8), Strategy Monde lets others
do most of the work and tries to capture pillars that are
nearly filled, whether with radiant or necrotic energy. He
spends the first round casting fly on himself, then uses
cure wounds on nearly-filled positive pillars, while he flies
to the center of the arena and uses blight and vampiric touch
on negatively charged pillars.
Winning: There are two winners in the contest. The
first competitor to charge a pillar is given a wand of of chill
touch or a healing potion that refills itself each dawn. The
contestant who charges the most pillars is declared the
grand champion and is given a wand of lesser restoration (it
casts lesser restoration for 1 charge, and the wand has 2
charges that are renewed at each dawn).
Shooting Gallery
Contestants are assigned positions on an archery list 300
feet long, with targets placed at 50 feet, 150 feet, and 300
feet. Each contestant may choose a shortbow, longbow,
light or heavy crossbow, or sling, along with 20 arrows,
bolts, or sling bullets.
Contestants must hit each target at least once, but they
may otherwise choose their target. Each target has a vertical
concentric circle, an outer circle that is AC 10 (scoring 1
point), an inner that is AC 16 (scoring 2 points), and a bull’s
eye that is AC 21 (scoring 3 points). The point values are
increased by 1 for the second target and by 5 for the third.
In addition, the contest has several magical surprises.
Each competitor should roll 1d6 each round. On a roll
of 1, a gust of wind strikes them for 1 round, causing their
attacks to have disadvantage, and forcing a competitor to
make a Strength save (DC 14) or be knocked prone. On
a roll of 6, one of the targets (equal chance of each) is
surrounded by a 5-foot radius cloud of smoke for 1 round,
applying disadvantage to that target.
Pillars of Life and Death
Contestants enter a grid that is 100 feet on a side. A total
of 36 10-foot-tall spiraling glass columns are spaced
every 20 feet on the grid, including around its perimeter.
These pillars are sensitive to radiant and necrotic energy,
causing them to fill with a glowing light (radiant) or inky
darkness (necrotic). The pillars always attempt a saving
throw (with a flat bonus of +5) against effects which allow
a saving throw.
Physically, each pillar has AC 16, Damage Threshold of
3, and 12 hit points, and they are not subject to critical
hits when empty. For the purpose of radiant and necrotic
energy, each pillar begins at 0 hit points, brightening with
the respective energy type, up to 100 hit points of each.
Pillars can absorb both types of energy simultaneously;
they do not cancel one another out but accumulate
separately, with light and dark spiraling around the pillar.
Each competitor is given a colored token, and when
they cause a pillar to reach 100 positive or 100 negative
hit points, they ‘capture’ the pillar as it turns wholly
white (radiant) or black (necrotic) and the crystal sphere
mounted at the pillar’s top glows brightly in their color.
This is true even if another contestant has charged the
majority of the energy into the pillar; it is the contestant
who pushes the pillar beyond 100 radiant or necrotic hit
points that captures it (this includes creatures summoned
by a contestant). Captured pillars become amazingly
durable (AC 18, Damage Threshold 8, 180 hit points).
Competitors may use melee, ranged, targeted, or area-
effect abilities to charge the pillars. A contestant that
destroys a pillar receives one penalty point, which is
deducted from the number of pillars they have captured
when tallying the winner. A contestant that attacks another
competitor is disqualified.
Cheating: If you wish to grant an unfair advantage, one
contestant is given a special item warded with magic aura.
Such items can adjust damage or confer the ability to deal
radiant or necrotic damage more easily. Using such an
item is grounds for disqualification.
Sample Contestants: The following expert contestants
enter this event. Unless otherwise noted, all spells listed
below have a range of touch. A mass cure/inflict wounds spell
can target up to 4 pillars at once. Only spells relevant to
the contest are listed here, along with the number of slots
per day each character can cast.
Ygg Vardu (gnome female cleric of the Destroyer, CR 9)
Attack +9, Spells (DC 17) 6—harm (x1), 5— (x2), 4—blight
(x3) 3—(x4), 2—shatter, 1—inflict wounds (x4), Strategy Ygg
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The top two contestants move on to a final round. The
master of the archery lists has secured a collection of
mock ioun stones, 5 painted black and 5 red. Each is AC 24,
10 hit points, and resistance to all damage. The ioun stones
orbit within a 5-foot column of light 50 feet away. Each
ioun stone has a separate column. Contestants are given
a quiver of 20 arrows, and an extra quiver is placed at
their starting point if they need additional ammunition.
Contestants roll initiative and can move and fire as they
wish at targets of the color assigned to them. When
only one target remains, the column of light fills with
spiraling streamers of color that grants the final target
an additional 10 hit points. The first to knock down all 5
of their targets wins.
Cheating: If you wish to grant an unfair advantage, one
contestant is given a +1 bow.
Sample Contestants: The following expert contestants
enter this event:
Vail McIlrath (human ranger CR 12) – Weapon longbow,
Range 120 feet, Atk +9/+9 (1d8+5).
Navara Kadani (elf female fighter CR 9) – Weapon
longbow, Range 120 feet, Atk +11/+11 (1d8+7), Strategy
Navara focuses her efforts on the middle target. When
time is nearly up, she will use an action surge to take four
shots in the last round.
Florin Moyur (female halfling fighter CR 11) – Weapon
hand crossbow, Range 120 feet, Atk +9/+9/+9, Other
Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter feat, Strategy Florin
focuses her efforts on the farthest target. In the final, she
uses her action surge to make six shots.
Domm Jurga (male half-orc monk CR 11) – Weapon
sling, Range 120 feet, Atk +9 (1d8+10), Other Sharpshooter
feat, Strategy Hitting the nearest target as many times as
he can.
Winning: The contestant with the overall high score
wins a pair of bracers of archery (or bracers of slinging or
bracers of the crossbow with an identical effect when using
those weapons, if that is their weapon of choice).
Test of the Axe
Contestants must hew through as many 2-foot thick logs
(AC 15, 18 hp) as possible in one minute. The logs are
spaced 10 feet apart, so competitors must move from one
to the next once the prior log is demolished. A central
rack holds a large collection of handaxes, battleaxes, and
greataxes. Competitors may use a single axe or one in
either hand, as they choose.
Cheating: If you wish to grant an unfair advantage, one
contestant is given an adamantine axe of their favored
type, disguised to look like ordinary steel. Against the logs,
this axe deals an additional 2d6 damage. As a quirk of the
contest, such an axe (of a random type) might be placed
among the tools available for all competitors. A DC 20
Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Smithing Tools)
check will identify its composition, but this requires an
action examining the axe. A dwarf has advantage on any
such checks. If two characters both recognize the axe’s
worth, or if an NPC who knows which axe it is goes for it
at the same time as a PC who recognizes what it is, make a
Strength (Athletics) contest; the winner gets the axe.
Sample Contestants: The following expert contestants
enter this event.
Domm Jurga (orc male barbarian 11) ST 20, Attacks 2
with greataxe +9 (1d12+8), Strategy Domm rages during
the first round and keeps moving to new logs as soon as
one is cut in half.
Dizonar Redd (dwarf female fighter 12) ST 18, Attacks 3
with dwarven waraxe +8 (1d10+4)
Kyller Murso (human male fighter 9/barbarian 1) ST 18,
Attacks 3 with handaxe +9 (1d6+4)
Quilaj Sorakka (half-orc female ranger 10) ST 18, Attacks
2 with battleaxe +8 (1d8+4)
Winning: The winner is the competitor who has
destroyed the most logs. Partially destroyed logs only
count in the case of a tie, in which case the competitor
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whose final log had the fewest hit points remaining wins.
The grand champion wins a +1 adamantine axe of their
favored type. Second place wins a non-magical axe of their
choice that is made of adamantine.
The Siege Mortis
This unusual contest is often blended with another
event where the strange, the exotic, and the macabre are
celebrated, such as a menagerie of bizarre beasts or a
carnival of freaks, and is typically held at midnight. An
individual can take this challenge only once, though other
characters may attempt it as well. At the conclusion of the
companion spectacle, a strange thronelike chair of bronze
metal is placed in the center ring, and the contestant is
brought to sit upon the chair. Unlike the other games,
the contestant can bring anything they wish, but if they
are killed or quit the contest everything they bring within
them becomes property of Madame Midnight, the mistress
of the event and of the mystical Siege Mortis, the Seat of
Death. They can abort the challenge at any time, ending
it immediately, but if they surrender during the test they
walk out with only their skin. They may cast preparatory
spells before sitting the Siege Mortis, but spells lasting less
than two minutes expire before the contest begins.
The contest begins with the contestant being seated
in the Siege Mortis and concentrating for two minutes.
During this time, Madame Midnight works the crowd,
calling for bets for or against the contestant. After one
minute, the contestant is surrounded by an illusory
environment (as a mirage arcane, DC 18 to disbelieve)
surrounded on all sides by transparent walls of force.
From within, the walls of force appear to extend the
terrain to the horizon; only on reaching the wall will
a contestant realize where the end of the “arena” lies.
Those outside the walls, however, automatically perceive
what transpires within with true seeing, allowing them to
view the proceedings without obstruction.
At the same time, in a different random location, three
or more quasi-real creatures appear, equivalent to the
illusory monsters created by a phantasmal force (DC 18)
spell. There is an equal chance of a CR 5 creature to be
there, usually an elemental. At the GM’s option, the power
of the Siege Mortis may adapt itself to provide even greater
challenges for higher-level characters, but its dangers
should never be less than those described above.
The illusory environment can be anything, including
buildings, and should be suited to the creature that
appears. The environment provides no cover and
successful disbelief allows a creature to ignore any
perception of difficult terrain. Illusory structures, trees,
and the like have a quasi-real structural framework that
can allow a creature to hide, and even if disbelieved
hinders movement as difficult terrain and can be
climbed (DC 15). Quasi-real liquids can be swum (DC 10)
or walked through.
Winning: The contest lasts for two minutes, until the
contestant or all quasi-real creatures are killed, or until
the contestant surrenders. Depending on her mood,
Madame Midnight may call out to the crowd to judge a
contestant asking for surrender and may delay until the
end of the round before ending the contest. Surviving
the Siege Mortis without slaying the enemy wins no
Renown, but the PC keeps her gear. Slaying the quasi-
real creature(s) wins 1 point of Renown and a set of four
elemental gems, one of each type. Victory brings 2 points of
Renown if accomplished in 3 rounds or less of actions, 3
points if achieved in a single round (measured from the
point when the PC takes their first action).
The Tower of Jewels
Competitors must climb to the top of a 60-foot wooden
column, painted to resemble a tower, and retrieve a single
gemstone of their choice from a turret-shaped box at the
top, and climb back down without falling. The pole itself
has been sanded smooth and requires a DC 19 Strength
(Athletics) check. The top 30 feet of the pole has been
greased as well (DC 24). A competitor may use Athletics
or Acrobatics to begin their climb with a high jump,
requiring a DC 20 check to grab onto the pole, but they
may not jump down. A competitor who wishes to climb
naked can take off their garment and improvise a climbing
aid as an action, using their clothes to create the climbing
aid (reduce the DC of each check by 2). This can be used as
a 10-foot-long makeshift rope if tied to the box at the top
of the pole (taking an action to tie properly), reducing the
Climb DC to 10 for that portion of the pole.
The box has a simple lock that requires a DC 17 Dexterity
(Thieves’ Tools) check, though it would be difficult to
bring up a set of thieves’ tools when climbing naked. A
Dexterity check can be made without them, but the DC is
25. A competitor can also try to smash open the box (AC 16,
15 hp, DC 19 Strength [Athletics] check to break).
The box contains 6 gems, one of each worth 500,
100, 50, 10, 5, and 1 gp. A successful DC 19 Intelligence
(Investigation) can determine which is of greatest worth.
If the box is smashed open, the gems are scattered
onto the ground– the PC can catch one of them with a
DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, but must make a DC 19
Intelligence (Investigation) check as a reaction to catch
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the most valuable one. Any jewels which fall have a 50% of
shattering when they hit the ground below. A competitor
may palm one additional jewel with a successful Dexterity
(Sleight of Hand) check. If the event marshals notice (19
passive Perception), the competitor is disqualified; if not,
they keep the extra loot.
Cheating: If you wish to grant an unfair advantage, one
contestant is given clues about the cut of the most valuable
gemstone, granting advantage on checks to pick it out.
Ali Zirasghar (half-orc male monk CR 10) Speed 60 feet,
Attacks unarmed strike +8 (1d8+4), Strength 14, Dexterity
18, Skills Athletics +6, Acrobatics +8, Investigation +6,
Strategy Ali makes a running leap up the pole using Step
of the Wind, and climbs as best he can, using Slow Fall to
avoid damage if he falls. He tries to smash the box and
grab any jewel and get back to the finish as fast as possible.
Jashev Derry (halfling male barbarian CR 10), Speed 40
feet, Attacks Strength (Athletics) check to burst box +4
with advantage, Strength 18, Dexterity 14, Skills Athletics
+8, Acrobatics +6, Investigation +1, Strategy Jashev uses
his impressive strength and rage to try to break the box
grab any jewel he can.
Valekar Dekorma (human female barbarian CR 10)
Speed 40 feet, Attacks bite +9/+9 (1d4+7 when raging),
Strength 20, Dexterity 15, Skills Athletics +9, Acrobatics
+6, Investigation -1, Strategy Valekar rages and double-
moves up the lower part of the pole. At the greased area,
she uses her bite as uniquely trained to create a hand-hold
(giving herself in ability checks related to climbing) and
moves at half speed until she reaches the top.
Zodi Kiuwa (human female rogue 10), Speed 30 feet,
Attacks dagger +9 (1d4+1), Strength 13, Dexterity 20, Skills
Athletics +5, Acrobatics +13, Investigation +6, Sleight of
Hand +13, Thieves Tools +13 Strategy Zodi uses masterwork
thieves’ tools and tries to climb carefully and select the
best quality gem she can.
Winning: There are two champions: The sharpest eye is
given for bringing back the most valuable jewel. If more
than one person retrieves a 500 gp gem, the one who
brought it back first is the winner. The sharpest eye keeps
their jewel. The swiftest hand is given for coming back with
any jewel first, whatever its value. The swiftest hand keeps
their jewel and the jewels brought back by of the other
competitors (except for the sharpest eye).
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The Hell Horse
In jousting circles, legends speak of a dreadful beast who
roams the land to and fro, seeking whom he may devour
among those who embody the chivalric ideal and who
seek to demonstrate their purity and puissance on the
tournament lists. Faceless and nameless “black knights”
throughout the years have sought titles of achievement
and honor in the tourneys while keeping their identity a
secret, or have hidden their past shame beneath a mask
or hood while they sought to repair their honor. Most
trueborn and honorable knights avoid confrontations
with them for fear of besmirching their own reputation by
losing to an opponent of no repute (with little renown to
be gained even in victory), and such knights typically have
no recourse to compel their challenge to be answered.
However, for decades knights who have refused challenges
from nameless foes have been found murdered, their
bodies battered, charred, and mutilated, with scarcely a
trace found of their killers but a crude, sooty black mask
drawn in the dirt. On a few occasions, a suspect has been
found and even tried and condemned for such murders,
protesting their innocence all the way, but even after their
execution the respite was short before the murders began
again, always with the same modus operandi.
In truth, none of those caught have been the true
mastermind behind this decades-long campaign of
terror against knights noble, valiant, and true. Each has
been an unwitting or unwilling catspaw of an inhuman
killing machine called Ashavin, a half-breed nightmare
from the pits of the Abyss unleashed upon the world by
his cunning succubus mother, Othenia. Not content to
lure mortals of good heart to their doom through the
typical sin of lust, she devised a rare plan to play upon
pride and wrath, seeking out those paragons of goodness
and mercy who sought to rise in public esteem and to
be inspirations to the people at large. Her bestial son
would instead seek them out in the guise of a common
steed, or recruit a rider for himself willing to help take
down the proud and the mighty, humiliating them on
the field before slaughtering them once their fame and
renown had been destroyed. Ashavin has recruited a long
succession of accomplices, both as his personal riders and
with a retinue of spies, informants, and allies always on
the lookout for new targets.
In a Tournament Setting: The growing fame and success
of the PCs, or of one of their allies, in the jousting lists
and in general heroics draws the attention of Ashavin
and his marauding minions. He devises a plot to murder
the target by infiltrating the jousting stables disguised as
an ordinary horse, suppressing his smoke and flaming
hooves. He attempts to lure the target into riding him,
replacing grooms and valets with his own minions or
intimidating others into sending PCs his way, making
excuses about why other horses cannot be used in the
list. Once a PC has mounted Ashavin, he uses magic to
attempt to swiftly kill his rider. If he succeeds, he carries
off the PC’s body and gear, eventually mutilating the
corpse to avoid raising from the dead and then leaving
the body nearby.
If the PC survives but remains astride him, Ashavin plane
shifts to the Abyss and engages the PC in single combat; an
unwilling PC can resist being taken with a successful DC
16 Charisma saving throw. If he already has used plane shift
that day, he uses hide in plain sight and his ring to flee into
the stables, where he has stashed a scroll of teleport, using
it to return to his mercenary followers. After Ashavin is
dealt with, the tournament continues with the audience
shaken but enthralled by the spectacle.
Ashavin
Large fiend, chaotic evil
Armor Class 18
Hit Points 126 (12d10+60)
Speed 60 ft.; fly 90 ft.
Speed fly 60 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
22 (+6)
17 (+3)
20 (+4)
10 (+0)
15 (+2)
17 (+3)
Saving Throws DEX +8, WIS +7, CHA +8
Skills Insight +7, Perception +7, Stealth +8
Damage Resistances cold, lightning; bludgeoning,
piercing, slashing from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities fire
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 17
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Giant, Infernal,
Sylvan, Telepathy 100 ft.
Challenge 13 (10,000 XP)
Confer Fire Resistance. Ashavin can grant resistance to fire
damage to anyone riding him.
Magic Resistance. Ashavin has advantage on saving throws
against spells and magical effects.
Innate Spellcasting. Ashavin’s innate spellcasting ability
score is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell
attacks). Ashavin can innately cast the following spells
requiring no material components:
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renown includes the benefits of all levels that precede it.
If your tournament is large, with many events, you might
choose to increase the Renown required to earn each of
the following levels of fame and esteem. Losing large
amounts of renown may cause your followers and cohort
to leave you, or at the very least to become disgruntled.
If the PCs are simple adventurers with no direct
connection to a kingdom of their own or anyone else’s,
they may compete in tournaments for fun of it, or to
win prizes of money, magic, or special favors from the
sponsors of the tournament. Monetary prizes are listed
for some events above, but unless otherwise noted should
be commensurate to the risk involved and the treasure for
an encounter with a foe of a challenge rating appropriate
to the challenge of each event. As noted above, PCs who
are victorious in tournaments also can be showing mercy
and gentility alongside prowess and might, gaining
reputation and fame by drawing attention to themselves
and their exploits, in addition to any financial rewards
that accrue from their triumphs.
At will: detect thoughts, disguise self (as a normal horse),
mage hand, minor illusion
3/day each: arcanist’s magic aura, charm person, blight,
suggestion
1/day each: harm, plane shift (self and rider only)
Actions
Multiattack. Ashavin makes two attacks with its hooves.
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 22 (4d8+6) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6)
fire damage.
Ethereal Stride. Ashavin and up to three willing creatures
within 5 feet of it magically enter the Ethereal Plane
from the Material Plane, or vice versa.
Tactics
Before Combat He disguises himself as an ordinary horse
(or sometimes as a hippogriff or pegasus, if such exotic
mounts are being used nearby).
During Combat Ashavin uses his harm spell during a
surprise round. He then fights unless outnumbered by at
four or more combatants, using Ethereal Stride to escape.
Morale Ashavin flees if brought below 30 hp or
outnumbered.
Treasure A handy saddlebags (as haversack), scrolls of
raise dead and teleport, 66 pp.
The Spoils of Victory
Once the joust is completed, total the party’s Renown.
The group can recruit followers to the service of their
domain, who will serve as steward, castellan, war-captain,
high justice, bishop, court-mage, court-bard, or a similar
prominent role. These people are loyal to the domain as a
whole—not a single PC—though they follow the direction
of any of the PCs, in keeping with whatever hierarchy
the players have decided upon. The challenge rating of
these followers cannot exceed 2, though 90% of them will
be challenge rating ½ or 0. Use their Renown score to
determine number of followers. A group with at least 1
point of renown also gains a special cohort follower that
can be an NPC of a challenge rating 2 points lower than
the average level of the group. These followers and cohort
need not be recruited; they come forward immediately
from the crowds at the festival to pledge their fealty. In
addition, the PCs’ kingdom gains the following political
benefits based on their final Renown. Each level of
29
Renown
Benefit
10
Grudging Respect: PCs are acknowledged by lesser nobility nearby as the legitimate rulers of their
country. Larger and more established kingdoms are less convinced but decide to ignore them
rather than act directly against them. Some notable citizens from the surrounding kingdoms are
intrigued by the PCs and their kingdom, and each month for the next year, during the Event Phase
of running their kingdom, the PCs can roll 1d20. On a natural 20, you either receive an invitation
to a neighboring kingdom for a festival, or a member of another kingdom visits and prompts a
celebration; this is in addition to any other event that month. You have 5 followers at this level..
15
Handshake Agreement: The PCs’ kingdom gains advantage on all skill checks, Economy checks,
Loyalty checks, and Stability checks related to establishing embassies for one year. In addition, a
settlement in a nearby nation (with a total route length (TRL) of less than 20) establishes a trade
route. You can invest any amount of BP (up to a maximum equal to your Renown) in this trade route,
as if you had used a Trade Edict to establish the route, but the route is created immediately and
grants you a +1 bonus to Economy for one year and increases your treasury by a number of BP equal
to the trade route’s route modifier (RM) plus 2d4 BP for every 5 BP you invested. Your settlement
must have a Pier or Waterfront to benefit from a trade route that travels over water, as described
in Kingdoms (5E) from Legendary Games. At a personal level, your PCs make an agreement with a
neighboring kingdom that they can execute at any time within one year, allowing them to make
a single transaction up to 10,000 gp and pay 10% less than normal when purchasing an item or
receive 10% more than normal when selling something. You have 20 followers at this level.
20
Worthy Rivals: Neighboring kingdoms unanimously acknowledge the PCs’ kingdom as a legitimate,
allowing automatic success on skill checks, Economy checks, Loyalty checks, and Stability checks
made to establish an embassy with any nation that shares a border with the PCs, and a +5 bonus
on such checks to establish embassies with any nation whose territory is within a number of hexes
of the PCs’ border equal to the PCs’ renown. This does not apply to states already at war with the
PCs or whose territory has been raided by the PCs, including on adventures not sanctioned by that
nation’s ruler. The PCs also gain advantage on such checks made to create a treaty, alliance, or trade
route with nations within this radius of the PCs’ kingdom. If a regional council is convened with
heads of state from nations in the area, the PCs will be invited to send a representative to sit on the
council and decide matters of mutual interest. You have 50 followers at this level.
25
For Our Mutual Benefit: As Renown 15 above, but in addition the kingdom offers a balanced treaty or
alliance, whichever the PCs desire. If the PCs opt for an alliance, their new ally offers to loan their
kingdom a company of 50 human scouts with a knight commander. This functions as a military
unit owned by the PCs’ kingdom for as long as the alliance lasts, but they do not need to pay upkeep
or maintenance costs, as they are paid by their ally. Accepting the army requires the PCs to make
a successful Loyalty check each month to avoid generating 1 point of Unrest; if they make three
consecutive successful checks, their citizens accept the presence of the allied army and no further
checks are required.
In addition, the PCs can make a single purchase or sale during the year of an amount up to 1,000
gp times their Renown, decreasing the amount they must pay or increasing the amount they earn
by 20%. You have 100 followers at this level.
30
A Crown of Laurels: The PCs are so impressive that one additional country within a number of hexes
equal to the PCs’ Renown also offers them a treaty or alliance, plus one additional country for every 5
points of Renown over 30. At the GM’s option, these countries may already be friendly or even allies,
seeking to form a bloc with the PCs’ kingdom. Alternatively, some of the countries offering treaties
or alliances may be enemies and trying to pull the PCs’ kingdom to their side. If so, one kingdom
may offer to cede one or more hexes of territory (including any settlements, improvements, or
natural features or resources in those hexes) to the PCs’ kingdom as an inducement for them to ally
with them rather than with their rivals. You have 150 followers at this level.
30
Appendix: Festival Edicts
If you are using the kingdom-building rules found in
Kingdoms (5E), hosting a festival uses a monthly edict and
requires the expenditure of building points (BP). The
following rules for festival edicts were first published in
Ultimate Rulership (5E) from Legendary Games and are
reprinted here for ease of reference.
Festival Edicts
A Festival Edict is a special edict distinct from the broader
Holiday Edict. Whereas a Holiday Edict declares days to
celebrate on the calendar across the length and breadth
of your kingdom, a Festival Edict is a specific, one-
time event (though it could be repeated later) focused
in a particular place at a particular time for a particular
purpose. A Festival may be called for any reason or for
no reason at all and include tournaments, games, music,
dancing, feasting, drinking, parades, fireworks or magical
displays, and similar entertainments of all kinds, but each
one undertaken with special magnificence.
Festival Edicts bring great crowds of people together
to celebrate and are normally held in the same hex as a
settlement, to facilitate easy access for crowds to reach the
festival grounds. Festivals can, however, be hosted at any
Landmark special terrain. Festivals may be either civic or
religious in nature.
Cost: Festivals require a great deal of resources to pull
off. A festival costs 1d2 BP if held at a Landmark in the
countryside, 1d4 BP if held in a village, 1d8 BP if held in a
town, and 2d6 BP per city district if held in a city.
Benefit: A festival celebrated at a Landmark in the
countryside increases the Landmark’s bonus to Loyalty
by +1 for 1 year. Festivals celebrated in cities, towns, and
villages have the following effects.
Civic Festival: A civic festival celebrates local traditions,
events, heroes, or culture, including athletic and artistic
competitions. Requires Tavern (village), Theater (town),
Arena (city), or Landmark (located in the same hex as the
settlement). Effect For one month, your kingdom gains
31
a +2 bonus to Crime and Society, and the civic festival
increases the effects (see below) of Arenas, Black Markets,
Bordellos, Dance Halls, Gambling Dens, Inns, Luxury
Shops, Markets, Monuments, Palaces, Parks, Shops, and
Taverns in that city.
Religious Festival: A religious festival produces an
outpouring of piety and pilgrimage, sometimes marked
with great solemnity and other times with great rejoicing.
Requires Shrine (village), Temple (town), Cathedral (city),
or Landmark (located in the same hex as the settlement).
Effect For one month, your kingdom gains a +2 bonus to
Law and Society, and the religious festival increases the
effects of Cathedrals, Graveyards, Inns, Luxury Shops,
Markets, Monuments, Parks, Shops, Shrines, and Temples
in that settlement are increased (see Risks).
Determining Success: When you issue a Festival Edict,
make Economy, Loyalty, and Stability checks. If all three
succeed, the Festival is a resounding success, doubling the
effects of the buildings listed above; in addition, you gain
the benefits of an Outstanding Success (01-50), Visiting
Celebrity (51-95), or both (96-00) kingdom events.
If two checks succeed, the Festival is a modest success,
increasing the effects of the listed buildings by 50% for
one month. Total the bonuses for all listed buildings in
the settlement together before applying the 50% increase,
rounding down; do not apply the 50% increase separately
to each building.
When buildings effects are increased (whether doubled
or by 50%), this increase includes not only kingdom and
settlement attribute modifiers like Economy and Lore;
it also includes a doubling of Base Value and magic
item creation during that month. This increase allows a
settlement to exceed the normal maximum Base Value for
a settlement of its size (either doubling or increasing it
by 50%, as appropriate) for that month. It likewise creates
temporary magic item slots that are filled immediately
and can be used just like any other magic item slots
in the kingdom. However, any magic items created in
this fashion are available only during the month of the
Festival Edict and the items and their slots disappear
when the festival ends, being taken home by the crafters
and merchants who brought them to the festival.
If only one check or no checks succeed, see Risks below.
Risks: Regardless of the overall success of the festival, the
great influx of human(oid) and mercantile traffic involved
creates the potential for enemy infiltration in the guise of
pilgrims and festival-goers, or discord and strife between
foreigners and locals or different groups coming together
in one place, or just general drunkenness and mayhem
should celebrants get out of control and overwhelm the
ability of the settlement or the kingdom’s ability to handle
so many people in such a small space. During any month
when a Festival Edict is issued, the entire kingdom takes
a -2 Stability penalty, and any Stability checks required
for the settlement or hex where the Festival is held take
a -4 penalty (this does not apply to the Stability check to
determine the success of the festival, but it does apply to
any kingdom events triggered by the festival).
Unsuccessful Festivals: If only one check succeeds,
the Festival is unsuccessful and grants no benefits; in
addition, there is a 50% chance that disgruntled citizens
issue a Building Demand (as the kingdom event), blaming
the lack of success on the absence (or presence, if they
demand demolition) of that building.
If all three checks fail, the Festival is a disaster, providing
no benefits. The kingdom loses 1 point of Fame and gains
1d4-1 points of Unrest, and disaffected locals bankrupted
by the festival and lingering troublemakers in the wake
of the festival become Squatters (01-50), Vandals (51-95), or
both (96-00), triggering kingdom events of the appropriate
type.
Natural 1: A natural 1 is always a failure on any kingdom
roll, and each time you roll a natural 1 on any of the three
kingdom checks to determine the success of the Festival
Edict there is a 25% non-cumulative chance of triggering
a dangerous settlement event. This event may be of any
type, but only one such event can be triggered, even if you
roll more than one natural 1.
32
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright
2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a) “Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners
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12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of
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13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with
all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of
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provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Royal Tournaments (5E) © 2017, Legendary Games; Authors Jason Nelson and
Mike D. Welham
System Reference Document. © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan
Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave
Arneson.
System Reference Document 5.0 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors
Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James
Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend, based
on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
The Hypertext d20 SRD. © 2004, Jans W Carton.
Cityscapes - New Settlement Options for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. © 2012,
Skortched Urf Studios; Author: Chris A. Field.
Fursona II - New Options for Anthropomorphic Heroes. © 2012, Skortched Urf
Studios; Author: Chris A. Field.
Kingdoms (5E) © 2016, Legendary Games; Author Jason Nelson.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. © 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author:
Jason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip
Williams.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Gamemastery Guide. © 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC;
Authors: Cam Banks, Wolfgang Baur, Jason Bulmahn, Jim Butler, Eric Cagle, Graeme
Davis, Adam Daigle, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Kenneth Hite, Steven Kenson,
Robin Laws, Tito Leati, Rob McCreary, Hal Maclean, Colin McComb, Jason Nelson,
David Noonan, Richard Pett, Rich Redman, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider,
Amber Scott, Doug Seacat, Mike Selinker, Lisa Stevens, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor,
Penny Williams, Skip Williams, Teeuwynn Woodruff.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Campaign © 2013, Paizo Publishing, LLC;
Lead Designer: Jason Bulmahn; Designers: Stephen Radney-MacFarland and Sean
K Reynolds; Authors: Jesse Benner, Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Ryan Costello,
Adam Daigle, Matt Goetz, Tim Hitchcock, James Jacobs, Ryan Macklin, Colin
McComb, Jason Nelson, Richard Pett, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Patrick Renie,
Sean K
Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor, and Steven Townshend.
Ultimate Battle (5E) © 2016, Legendary Games; Author Jason Nelson.
Ultimate Rulership (5E) © 2016, Legendary Games; Author Jason Nelson.
33
Days of Wine, Roses, and Glory!
An iconic moment in fantasy fiction is the grand tournament. From the archery contests of Robin Hood
to the jousts of Ivanhoe, it seems like half the stories about the Middle Ages have the heroes attend such a
festival somewhere along the line. Whether honoring the king’s birthday, the birth of a saint, the nation’s
victory over its enemies, or just because it’s Midsummer’s Day, festive pavilions are raised and flags and
pennants flap in the rising breeze to signal that it is time for the main event to begin! However, even in
the real-world tournaments were about far more than bows and lances, and in a fantasy game the options
for what would constitute a friendly (or even not-so-friendly) competition are infinitely varied, from gritty
and brutal feats of raw strength to magical marvels of the highest fantasy. You’ll find athletic contests for
running, riding, jumping, and more, to caber tossing, target shooting, tag-team wrestling, and armored
ring races! From prosaic rural delights of a country fair to exotic events like the tower of jewels and pillars
of life and death, Royal Tournaments is a fantastic resource for incorporating tournaments and festivals
into your campaign, including an array of different tournament events and awards, some physical, some
magical, some social, and all delightful. Whether your players want to promote the interests of their own
kingdom or simply fight for glory and prizes, Royal Tournaments has everything you need to make the
tournaments in your campaign magnificent and memorable. Grab this 38-page Fifth Edition accessory today
and Make Your Game Legendary!
ISBN-13: 978-1973836834
Price: $14.99
makeyourgamelegendary.com
LGP336KB105E
Fifth Edition Adventures
| textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/Legendary Games/Forest Kingdom/Royal Tournaments.pdf |
GP
Starting GP
Lifestyle
�
None
�
Standard (12 gp x TU)
�
Rich (50 gp x TU)
�
Luxury (100 gp x TU)
Lifestyle Cost
Other Coin Spent
Total Coin Spent
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
+
GP
GP Gained
GP
Subtotal
-
GP
GP Spent
GP
FINAL GP TOTAL
Items Sold
Total Value of Sold Items
Add ½ this value to your gp value
Items Bought
Total Cost of Bought Items
Subtract this value from your gp
XP
Starting XP
-
XP
XP lost or spent
XP
Subtotal
+
XP
XP Gained
FINAL XP TOTAL
XP
TU
Starting TU
1 or 2 TU
TU Cost
-
TU
Added TU Costs
TU REMAINING
ITEMS FOUND DURING THE ADVENTURE
Cross off all items NOT found
APLs 2-4
�
KPurchase an adamantine weapon or suit of
armor shield (Reg, DMG)
�
KEmpowered spellshard (magic missile, lesser
vigor (SC) or burning hands) (Adv, MIC)
�
KRing of counterspells (Adv, DMG)
�
KMonk’s belt (Adv, DMG)
�
KPearl of power, 1
st, 2
nd or 3
rd (Adv, DMG)
APL 6-8 (all of APLs 2-4 plus the following)
�
KPurchase of any ioun stone in the DMG,
maximum value 15,000 gp (Adv, DMG)
�
KPurchase a mithral weapon or suit of
armor/shield ((Reg, DMG)
�
KLeast/Lesser crystal of acid assault (Adv,
MIC)
�
KBelt of healing (Reg, MIC)
�
KPearl of power, 4
th, 5
th or 6
th (Adv, DMG)
APL 10-14 (all of APLs 2-8 plus the following)
�
KUpgrade armor/shield to light, moderate or
heavy fortification (Reg, DMG)
�
KGreater crystal of acid assault (Adv, MIC)
�
KBoots of speed (Reg, DMG)
�
KPearl of power, 7
th or 8
th (Adv, DMG)
�
KThird eye aware
(Adv, MIC)
Adventure Record#
598 CY
A D V E N T U R E
L E V E L O F
P L A Y
(CIRCLE ONE)
APL 2
max 450xp; 450gp
APL 4
max 675 xp; 650 gp
APL 6
max 900 xp; 900 gp
APL 8
max 1,125 xp; 1,300 gp
APL 10
max 1,350 xp; 2,300 gp
APL 12
max 1,575 xp; 3,300 gp
APL 14
max 1,800 xp; 6,600 gp
Respect: The PC is provided with treasures. They may exchange
this to purchase any one item on a Ket or VTF adventure to which
they previously had Access (even if it has expired) with a 25%
discount (to a maximum discount of 4,000 gp). This favor may only
be used once. In addition, you gain access to all items marked with
a “
k” below.
Honor: You gain the title “Honored of the Black Arrow” which
provides you with a +4 circumstance modifier for any Diplomacy,
Bluff, Intimidate or Gather Information checks made within Ket
in a social setting. Lifestyle costs up to rich are covered by the
Black Arrow for any adventure set in a part of Ket over which he
has influence.In addition, you gain access to all items marked with
a “
k” below.
Piety: The church of Al’Akbar in Ket owes you a debt. You may
employ this favor to automatically succeed at a check to lessen any
sentence or obtain up to a 7
th level spell cast at no charge (material
components are half cost, if any). Lifestyle costs up to standard are
covered by Sylvana bint Zoltan for any adventure set in Ket. In
addition, you gain access to all items marked with a “
k” below.
ily (Su): You chose to respect the people of Ekbir, in accordance
with the Four Feet of the Dragon. Once only, you may call upon
this favor for yourself or an ally within sight and 60 feet to benefit
from a Maximized cure critical wounds (35 hp) spell as a swift
action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. In addition,
you gain access to all items marked with a “
k” below.
Janni Challenge! (Su) Efrain is impressed that you accepted his
challenge and participated fully. He provides you with a token.
Once only, you may employ this token as an immediate action that
does not provoke an attack of opportunity - the PC or ally (one
only, their choice) is then provided with fire, electricity, cold or
acid resistance 20 (they must choose one) for 70 minutes. Mark
this favor as used when employed.
Death’s Respite: Your soul is tied to the Salted Earth. You may
always be restored to life without material cost, provided you can
be transported to Ket for the casting (duration at the discretion of
the DM). No spell that operates to maintain your life force beyond
-10 hp and below functions on you (such as close wounds or delay
death below -9).
Event: _________________________________ Date: ________
DM:___________________________________________________
Signature
RPGA #
Play Notes:
�
Gained a level
�
Lost a level
�
Ability Drained ______________
�
Died
�
Was raised/res’d
�
Was reincarnated
___________________________________________________
_______________________________
Home Region______________________
This Record Certifies that
__________________________________________________
Character Name
Classes and Levels
__________________________________________________
Player Name
RPGA #
Has Completed
KET8-05 Priorities
A Regional Adventure
Set in the Ket Region
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Ket/598/Normal Scenarios/KET8-05 - Priorities (APL 2-14)/KET8-05 - Priorities AR.pdf |
Green Devil Face
#4
1
Introduction
By James Edward Raggi IV
This is a PDF product. For a table of contents, use the bookmarks provided. They’re handy!
Cover art “Coat of Arms with a Skull” by Albrecht Dürer
All material is copyright 2010 James Edward Raggi IV, except for the following:
Shaggy Dog, Shrieker Stew, and Pool of Testing copyright 2010 Jonathan Becker
The Tomb to Die For/In copyright 2010 R. Lawrence Blake
The Child and The Chamber and the Glass Box copyright 2010 Zak Sabbath
The Sneaky Book Room copyright 2010 James Brian Murphy
The Room of Four Pits copyright 2010 Ramsey Dow
LotFP and Lamentations of the Flame Princess are trademarks owned by James Edward Raggi
IV.
Lamentations of the Flame Princess
2
Knights of Science
By James Edward Raggi IV
The Knights of Science are a fanatical, sepa-
ratist religious order dedicated to the eradica-
tion of chaos and evil in the world.
Knights are immune to sleep, charm, hold, or
cold spells, and to all fear effects. Knights are
able to hit creatures which are only able to be
affected by magic or other special weapons.
Knights gain a minimum of six hit points per
level. Knights gain experience only from
slaying their foes and burning the foes' equip-
ment and treasure, and for this the Knight
receives XP according to the value of the
burned items. Knights do not use magic items.
In all ways not described here, Knights should
be considered the same as Fighters.
Knights invariably travel with an entourage. A
full Knight is one of level 5 or greater, and he
will be accompanied by a Squire. A Squire is
a Knight of level 4 or lower, and is completely
subservient to his master. This group is joined
by a Cleric of no less than level 5 (although
always of lower level than the Knight if the
Knight is above level 5) and ten Men-At-Arms,
level 0 Fighters.
The Knights wear plate mail, shields, and
swords. The Cleric wears nothing but a simple
robe and carries nothing but a plain staff. The
Men-At-Arms wear chain mail and carry
pole-arms. The Knights and Cleric are mount-
ed, the Knight on the greatest sort of warhorse
available, the Squire on a lesser warhorse, the
Cleric on a riding horse meant for speed. The
Men-At-Arms go on foot, carrying the supplies
of the whole troupe.
All of a Knight's special powers are dependent
on his unwavering belief in himself. Should he
ever change his mind, on any matter no matter
how trivial or important, or if he engages in
sexual activity, or if he flees from combat, he
loses all Knightly abilities, and new hit points
must immediately be rolled. Any current
Level
XP
HD*
Title
1
0
1d8
Squire
2
2,000
2d8
Squire
3
4,000
3d8
Squire
4
8,000
4d8
Squire
5
16,000
5d8
Knight of Science
6
32,000
6d8
Knight of Science
7
64,000
7d8
Knight of Science
8
128,000
8d8
Knight of Science
9
256,000
9d8
Knight of Science
10 +
+ 128,000/lvl
+3/lvl**
Knight of Science
* d10 hit dice for advanced edition games
** Constitution modifiers no longer apply
3
damage is subtracted from the new hit point
amount.
They do not ignore new information that is
obviously correct (they are allowed to change
their opinion if that opinion is based on a lie
told to them); they simply contort their world-
view so that both their old assumption and the
new truth are correct. If they can not make this
reconciliation, they must assume that new
information that invalidates their old viewpoint
is evil and must be destroyed. That innocents
are harmed by this behavior is of no conse-
quence to them. Due to "always being right,"
Knights also quickly learn to be quick to
judgment. Knights are quite insane.
It is for this reason that Knights very rarely
meet, and if they do they do not converse, for
Knights often have widely varying experiences
that lead them to different conclusions, and
more than one meeting of Knights has led to
mortal combat over a minor issue. Knights are
also quite ignorant about worldly affairs, as
they do not read and do not engage in normal
conversation with anyone. Knights do not seek
more contradictions they must reconcile.
The Clerics that travel with the Knights are the
public faces of the troupe. They speak with
locals and make all arrangements so the
Knights are not subjected to an opposing
viewpoint by pure chance. Many believe this
is why each Knight has an attached Cleric, but
this is simply a secondary function. The Cleric
is there to monitor the Knight, and if he falters
and loses his power it is the Cleric's duty to
arrange for the Knight's execution at the first
available opportunity.
One does not choose to be a Knight. Young
boys, no older than seven, are taken from their
families and brought to the Knights' monastery,
located somewhere in the East. What happens
to the boys is not exactly known, but from the
statements of some Knights it would appear
that the boys are subjected to religious brain-
washing and severe martial training.
At the age of sixteen, the boys are assigned to
military duty at the monastery, and at first
opportunity are assigned to a Knight's entou-
rage as a Man-At-Arms. If he survives five
years of this duty (many do not, not least
because the Cleric in the troupe also monitors
them for wavering beliefs), he becomes eligible
to be a Squire. The potential Squire is sent out
to the mountains around the monastery to live
the life of a hermit, with no provisions, and no
tools. If he is still alive when it is his turn after
a Squire position becomes free, he is outfitted
and assigned to a Knight.
When a Squire rises to fifth level, he becomes
a fully ranked Knight of Science, and is
assigned a Squire, Cleric, and Men-At-Arms
of his own, free to incidentally terrorize the
world as he quests to save it. It is a system
which has survived beyond memory, from the
time that the Order of the Knights of Science
was first established to combat the Duvan'Ku.
Few stand up to the Knights, preferring to
cower and watch by as they burn and slaughter
in hopes that they quickly move on, for fear of
a Crusade being called. The only ones quicker
to shudder at the name of the Knights than
commoners and petty nobles are those forces
demonic and otherworldly, who know that the
Knights represent a foe they can never corrupt.
4
The Tower
By James Edward Raggi IV
Some easy money, or perhaps a deathtrap
masquerading as an adventure, for those who
suffer the delusion that all adventure locations
are meant to be solved. For first or second level
characters.
The Environs
The tower is located in the middle of the
woods, about a day’s journey from any sort of
civilization. Around the tower is a clearing; the
woods suddenly break into an idyllic, tranquil
field. Somehow it always seems to be breath-
taking here, either with strong sunlit rays
breaking through dark clouds, scanning the
ground like celestial spotlights, or there is a
soft rain through gentle sunlight, forming
rainbows. Butterflies flutter everywhere, and
on the opposite side of the clearing from where
the characters approach, deer and fluffy
bunnies leap away as the intruders near.
Around the base of the tower are dense, thorn-
less rose bushes,with thousands of bright red
roses in full bloom at all times.
The tower itself is a massive structure, fully
fifty feet wide, with impressively thick walls.
They’d better be impressively thick – they look
to be in utter shambles, with large chunks
having fallen to the ground over the centuries
and vines growing all over the structure. The
tower is made of some sort of rock that no one
will be able to identify – it is vaguely bluish-
grey with speckles of reflective crystals that
make the entire structure shimmer in the sun-
light. In fact, until it is approached, the thing
might not look like a solid physical construct
at all. The tower has a conical, closed roof and
the only real breaks in the wall are the door at
ground level, and a solitary window near the
top.
Guarding the door of the tower is a great
misshapen thing. It is roughly human-shaped,
approximately ten feet tall, with gigantic talons
and a giant sharp-toothed maw. However, it is
an ancient creature which is quite weary of its
duty, broken in body and spirit, and completely
ineffectual in a fight. It will engage any intrud-
er, but will not pursue beyond the clearing.
Guardian: Unarmored, Move 1.25 times the
speed of an unencumbered man, HD 10, HP
54, #AT 1 claw, D 1d4, immune to normal
missiles, if killed will rise again at sunset the
next day, the sarcophagus on level four must
be blessed to prevent this.
The tower has five levels, with the window
being on the fifth level.
The Door
The tower’s door appears to be made of very
heavy, sturdy warped wood. With rusty iron
banding. There is a very ornate lock on the
door. It is actually a strange shape-shifting
creature which mimics the appearance of a
door. It will attack, with pseudopods, anyone
who touches the door, unless the Key of Love
is placed in the lock, in which case it will
remain as a door. The creature has been
charmed to behave this way, and if this charm
is dispelled for some reason, it will attack even
if the key is used.
5
Door: Armor as leather, HD 7, HP 31, #AT 1
attack, D 3d4, whatever touches it sticks to it
like glue.
First Level
The first thing that anyone entering the tower
will notice is that rats are crawling everywhere
along the walls. The cracks in the walls are
large enough to allow rats free access, and this
will be constant throughout the tower.
The first floor room is bare except for four
statues, each in the shape of a vaguely fairy-
like princess figure in various dance poses. The
statues have a greater amount of crystal flakes
in their composition than the walls so they will
particularly shine when exposed to light. The
statues form something of a perimeter around
a central point, and they all face that point. In
the center of the statues is a carved circle. If
someone stands in the circle, then the statues
will speak, through magic mouths, in succes-
sion:
Statue One: “Those who would have a
kingdom must be pure in heart, trusting and
peaceful.”
Statue Two: “One must throw away the
weapons of war and don the garments of love!”
Statue Three: “Only the pure and the worthy
may break the seal and awaken the princess.”
Statue Four: “To the princess’ groom will pass
the right to rule over the Kingdom of
Duvan’Ku and possess its treasures.”
There is a ladder leading to a trap door to level
two. The trap door is slightly stuck and will
take one round to push open, and it will
automatically swing shut (and become stuck
again) once it is closed.
Second Level
This room is filled with many racks, which are
about half-filled with rotted, torn white robes
of unknown composition that have woven
patterns all over them.
Carved into the walls is a bas-relief of a
courting ceremony, with a succession of carv-
ings showing a great general surrounded by
soldiers discarding his armor and weapons and
putting on ceremonial robes with distinct
markings (which matches the pattern of the
robes on the racks). He then walks by two
guardians, alone, kneels at the foot of a great
stone box where he drops several flowers,
opens the box, embracing a beautiful woman,
and finally is crowned while surrounded by
gold and jewels.
There is a bin here that has all sorts of armor
and weapons dumped in, all useless in various
stages of decay, some to the point where
touching them will cause them to crumble.
There is a ladder that leads to a trap door to
level three. The trap door is slightly stuck and
will take one round to push open, and it will
automatically swing shut (and become stuck
again) once it is closed.
Third Level
This room is empty except for the trapdoor
down, the stairs up, the guardians of the stairs,
and some ancient remains of those who
attempted to pass without following the rules.
Two skeletons in ratty, torn chain mail, swords
(of a strange and heretofore unknown style),
shields, and slung bows and (bone!!) arrows
stand guard by the stairs. They stand motion-
less, and if a character is alone and dressed in
the correct manner, they will allow him to pass.
If more than one character approaches, or if an
approaching character has visible arms or
6
armor (the robes are tattered enough that armor
and all but the smallest of weapons will be
visible), they will stand and fight anyone who
approaches. They will not pursue anyone who
flees, and they will not abandon their post.
The guardians are not undead, but rather
constructs, similar to what could be considered
a bone golem. If destroyed, they will reform at
the next sunset unless the sarcophagus on level
four is blessed.
Guardians: Armor as plate, Move half as fast
as an unarmored man, HD 5, HP 23, #AT 1
sword or 1 bow, D 1d8 or 1d6, immune to
spells as if undead, unable to be turned, non-
magic weapons do half damage.
If the guardians kill anyone, they will wait until
the next sunset, and then take the body and any
equipment upstairs and dump it all behind the
curtain.
Oh yeah, one more thing… they will attack
anyone coming down the stairs.
Fourth Level
This room is the resting place of the princess.
On the opposite side of the room from the entry
stairs is a stone sarcophagus on a raised plat-
form (the platform and sarcophagus are actu-
ally one large carved piece, and part of the floor
as well), with carvings depicting wizards
putting a woman to sleep and placing her in…
the sarcophagus. The detail of the carving is so
great that one can see the carvings on the
sarcophagus in the carving, and elves can see
that repeat four or five times. If looking at it
with magical sight, a character can see that this
actually goes on forever (anyone who sees this
must make a save versus spells or become
mentally disoriented, suffering a two point
penalty to attack rolls, armor class, and saves
for 2d6 rounds, and spellcasting will be impos-
sible – but characters will not know they are
thus affected until they enter combat or attempt
to cast a spell). Behind the sarcophagus is a
curtain made up of a heavy cloth of unknown
origin. Behind this curtain is a very large pile
of bones, and if one digs through the bones one
will find badly decayed, and finally powdered
bones at the bottom of the pile.
Surrounding this platform is (what appears to
be) a thaumaturgic circle, with many glyphs
and sigils along its border, carved into the
floor. The indentation of the carvings is com-
pletely lined with the reflective crystals so it
will seem to glow to anyone entering the room
with a light source. This is actually decoration
and has no magical power at all.
Hanging from the ceiling is the remains of a
crystal chandelier, broken some ages ago.
Crushed glass covers the floor (a lot more than
the chandelier would account for, if anyone
were to know how big the chandelier actually
was). When the door to this level is opened,
the glass on the other side of the door will
crinkle loudly, and characters must intention-
ally be stealthy or else the glass beneath their
feet will snap and pop.
The amount of reflective crystals in the stone-
work in this room is massive, so anyone
coming up here with a light source will cause
the entire room to become a shimmering spec-
tacle.
In the sarcophagus is the princess, but unfortu-
nately for any suitors, it is an undead thing
(Armor as chain, HD 4+3, HP 27, 1 attack, 1d4
damage + level drain, immune to non-magical
or non-silver weapons). And it never sleeps.
And if there was any noise made in approach-
ing the sarcophagus, it will know they are
there, and will achieve automatic surprise if the
character lifting the lid of the sarcophagus does
not declare any caution. it will attack anyone
opening the sarcophagus. It really doesn’t care
about the ritual, as the entire legend is a
complete fabrication, and the woman was in
life a streetwalker who was kidnapped, mur-
7
dered, and corrupted into this form specifically
as bait to lure greedy people to their deaths.
The souls (or spirits) of those killed by her,
because they were doomed by greed (the want
of an underserved kingdom) or lust (the hand
of a woman they have never met) are delivered
to some foul god to be tortured for eternity. If
“killed,” the undead creature will reanimate at
the next sunset unless the sarcophagus is
blessed.
The round after killing someone, the princess
places the body behind the curtain (it will not
rise) and replaces the sarcophagus lid and
returns to rest. Rats, which have climbed
through the cracks in the structure of the tower,
will eat away at the body until it is just bones,
and they will carry small items and valuables
(especially the Key of Love if present), into a
deep subterranean lair where their mythic rat
lord masters, worshippers of the death gods of
Duvan’Ku, will collect them. These masters
will then see to it that the (entirely invented)
legend is spread in the new area, and then
introduce the Key again so new victims will
travel to the tower, thus repeating a cycle that
has gone on for millennia.
Fifth Level
This room does not connect to the rest of the
tower. Inside the room is magical darkness,
which engulfs the entire room and ends just at
the window.
The room is empty except for the floor which
is absolutely covered with all sorts of spikes,
broken blades, caltrops, splintered bones, and
other sharp items. It is impossible to step
anywhere without stepping on something; the
floor is covered several layers deep.
Anyone stepping inside the window with their
full weight takes d3 damage and must make a
paralyzation save or fall down, taking a further
d6+1 points of damage. Once a character has
fallen, he must make a petrify save (with
wisdom bonus applied!) to remember which
way the window is, and failing this save means
he takes d3 damage as he shuffles through the
sharp stuff. This save may be attempted every
round until successful or the character is dead.
Anyone who dies here will have rats crawl into
the room and gnaw their body and possessions
into manageable bits, which too will be carried
away…
How It Happens
Here is one possible way of getting a party to
the tower:
Sir Fondleroy Addleton and his three retainers
show up somewhere one stormy night when
the characters are present. Maybe it’s at a
roadside camp, maybe it’s at an inn.
Addleton will inform the characters that he is
looking for some hired help for an expedition
into the forest. Addleton will request a meeting
away from where the retainers can interrupt.
He will offer each of the PCs 250gp to simply
act as bodyguards and escort him to a location
in the forest. That’s all. There is no mission to
accomplish, no expected danger. Just get him
to his destination. “Will you do it?”
Of course PCs aren’t going to say yes without
more information… will they? If so, then alter
the chain of events offered below. If they say
no, then that’s the end of this adventure. If they
say no and then follow the guy, have Addleton
recruit some other riffraff and improvise based
on the information below.
If the PCs want to know about his relationship
with his retainers, he will confide that he
doesn’t know them so well, having hired them
in the last city he passed through because he
considers it unwise to travel through the coun-
tryside alone. He has overheard them talking
amongst themselves and he is worried that they
are brutal thugs. He doesn’t want to anger them
8
or cause trouble by firing them, as being tough
guys is what he hired them for, but he doesn’t
trust being alone with them on such a, ahem,
sensitive mission.
If they want to know the full story, he will tell
them. He was traveling in the southlands when
he began hearing about the legend of a lost
ancient city called Duvan’Ku. It was ruled by
a goodly King Porgotna. He had a beautiful
daughter, a kind and gentle soul named Prin-
cess Turuvna. When she came of age she began
accepting suitors. But every time she chose
someone to marry, they ended up committing
a horrible crime. It was a scandal throughout
the kingdom. Finally the Princess’ last suitor
was a great general in the army, who after
gaining the heart of the Princess led a savage
massacre against helpless peasants. The King
became incensed, and seeing his daughter fall
to pieces yet again, decided that enough was
enough. He had his daughter put into a magical
sleep so that her misery would no longer
trouble her, and declared that only a man of
great intellect and conviction, with a honorable
and peaceful spirit, could break the spell and
claim his daughter. He sent his daughter away
to his most remote and secret outpost and had
her laid to rest at the top of its tower, and
charged his two most trustworthy guardsmen
to make sure no harm came to her. He then had
his court wizards fashion a key to that tower
that would only work for a man worthy of his
daughter’s love and then had it hidden. He
declared that the man to break his daughter’s
spell would be able to rightfully claim her in
marriage and inherit the kingdom and all its
treasures. The evil general sought to find the
Princess himself, but in his lust and greed was
transformed into a wicked caricature of his old
humanity. Apparently he found where the
Princess was, but being unable to enter the
tower, his hate sustains him and he acts as an
obstacle to any that would enter the tower. The
King, so overcome by guilt over what his
daughter had suffered and what he had done to
end that suffering, died soon after and
Duvan’Ku began a swift descent into the
obscurity of ancient history.
Addleton can provide a series of parchment
fragments that confirm various parts of the
story, including one that gives compelling
evidence that the spell the Princess was under
would sustain her for all time, until it is broken.
Away from anyone else’s sight, he produces a
heart-shaped key made of unknown metal (the
Key of Love). He says he was a henchman of
an adventuring expedition that went to reclaim
an old church that had been overrun by undead.
He found the key in the church’s vaults, and
spent tens of thousands of gold pieces consult-
ing sages and finally learning the location of
the tower where the Princess is kept. He
decided that was too dangerous to keep written
down, so he’s memorized it. He says he just
needs the PCs to get him into the tower. That’s
the goal.
During the trip to the tower, Addleton will tell
of all he has heard about Duvan’Ku, saying the
legends tell of riches beyond compare and
crafted magic that is as commonplace as
woodwork is in the current lands. He says that
even if the legends have been exaggerated ten
times over the truth, they should all be very
wealthy men. If the PCs are predominantly
male, he will talk about all the beautiful women
he’s bedded, and hypothesizes how the prin-
cess will compare. He jokes about giving all
the PCs appointments in his royal court if the
legends turn out to be accurate.
When reaching the clearing, Addleton will
direct the party to engage the guardian creature
and draw it away from the door so he may enter
the tower, with his retainers supplying support-
ing missile fire and guarding the horses in case
goblins are attracted by the sounds of combat.
Because he doesn’t want to screw up the
prophecy, he directs the adventurers to not
enter, and that he will call for them after he has
achieved his goal, or when he needs them. He
9
assumes that the princess’ chamber is in the
top of the tower, where the window is.
If the PCs do what he says, the creature will
move to engage intruders and move away from
the door. A round after the battle is joined,
Addleton will go to the door, use the key to
open it, take the key while leaving the door
open, and go inside. If there is battle, the PCs
will not hear the statues’ speech. Assume it will
take Addleton one round to listen to the statues,
one round to enter each new floor of the tower,
and two rounds to change clothes on the second
level. He shouldn’t last long once he reaches
the fourth level, as he will be so eager to gain
his prize that he will throw all caution to the
wind and he will be surprised.
The round after Addleton enters the tower, the
PCs will hear a commotion by the horses – the
retainers know of the gems that Addleton was
carrying and two of the retainers have decided
that now would be a wonderful time to grab
them and run. One of the men is honest and
tries to stop them. If nobody interferes, the two
thieves will kill the honest one and then ride
off with the treasure.
If any PC enters the tower, it is imperative that
the referee communicate with this player in
secret. It is to be made clear that the player(s)
in question can not give other players any
information about the inside of the tower until
their characters reunite! They will of course
find Addleton’s armor and weapons in the bin
on the second level, but likely there will be no
trace of him once they reach the fourth level –
unless they look behind the curtain. The key
will already be gone if his body is there.
Sir Fondleroy Addleton
(Chain mail and shield, Fighter 3, HP 23, 1
attack, 1d8 (longsword) or 1d6 (bow) damage).
Important equipment of note includes his
medium warhorse, chain mail, shield, long-
sword, longbow, and twenty arrows. He keeps
3d20 gold and 2d20 silver on him at all times.
In his saddlebags are his rations and supplies,
as well as a pouch with 10 pearls worth 250gp
each. These pearls are what Addleton was
going to pay the PCs with, and what the
retainers attempt to steal. He of course has the
parchments with the legend fragments and the
Key of Love on him at all times.
The Retainers
(Leather armor, Lvl 0, HP 5 each, 1 attack, 1d8
(longsword) or 1d6 (bow) damage). Important
equipment of note includes their light riding
horses, leather armor, longsword, short bow,
and twenty arrows each. Each has 3d6gp on
his person.
Other Possibilities
The above adventure assumes that a referee
really doesn’t want to goad the PCs into
entering the tower themselves. Of course they
will do so on their own anyway, but that’s the
point – this is intended to be a horror adven-
ture, a Weird Tale if you will, and not an
example of high adventure and derring-do.
The referee must set this up correctly. The Key
of Love, and the legend, must pass into the
players’ hands somehow, whether as an entice-
ment to go to the tower, or in the hands of
another that let it be known where they are
going and why.
The key points:
There is no legend of treasure or magic to be
had. The prize is the princess, and specific
steps to free her must be taken. It must be
stressed that if more than one person enters that
tower, they are not going to be able to awaken
and rescue the princess. The idea is that
whoever goes up that tower dies. It is not
intended to be solved or defeated, and there is
no reward for doing so.
And really, anyone who puts on rotting cloth-
ing to satisfy some skeletal guardians in order
10
to marry a woman they’ve never heard of until
the day before… come on. They deserve what
they get.
The example scenario gives a nominal reward
so it’s not a complete waste of time for the PCs
(and the reward is gained by those who don’t
get greedy!), but there is nothing stopping a
referee from being especially cruel (as opposed
to the regular level of cruelty needed to run the
adventure in the first place) and foregoing even
that kindness, but most players would like to
be rewarded for smart play. And not going in
the place is definitely smart play.
It is recommended that the PCs have very little,
if any, magic items when they undertake this
adventure. Horror doesn’t work if the protag-
onists can muscle their way through.
11
The Dread Sorceries of
Duvan’Ku
By James Edward Raggi IV
Duvan’Ku was a magical place, and its inhab-
itants created many a bizarre and transgressive
spell. This knowledge of Duvan’Ku is spread
throughout the world, in ancient spellbooks
held captive in dragon hoards, lich’s libraries,
and the like. However, some also survive on
scrolls, and the mischief that the Dead King
seeks to perform from beyond time allows
some of these to reach the world in much easier
manners…
All of these spells are Magic-User spells, as
the gods would never directly grant powers to
anything borne of Duvan’Ku.
Animate Dead II
Level 6
Range: 10’
Duration: Permanent
Area of Effect: See Below
Casting this spell on a corpse causes it to rise
as a ghoul under the control of the caster. One
ghoul per two levels of the caster may be
raised, provided there are enough intact corpses
at the site of the casting of course.
Animate Dead III
Level: 7
Range: 10’
Duration: Permanent
Casting this spell on a corpse causes it to rise
as a wight (if it is an intact corpse) or a wraith
(if it is not) under the control of the caster. One
undead per two levels of the caster may be
raised, provided there are enough corpses at
the site of the casting of course.
Animate Dead IV
Level: 8
Range: 10’
Duration: Permanent
Casting this spell on a corpse (or the site of a
death if the body was destroyed) causes its
spirit to rise as a spectre under the control of
the caster. One undead per four levels of the
caster may be raised, provided there are enough
bodies (or spirits) at the site of the casting of
course. Note that a spectre is completely aware
of it status as an undead creature, and although
it will be compelled to obey the caster, it will
not be happy about it… at all.
Animate Dead V
Level: 9
Range: 10’
Duration: Permanent
Casting this spell on a corpse (or the site of a
death if the body was destroyed) causes its
spirit to rise as a ghost under the control of the
caster. Only one undead per ten levels of the
caster may be raised, provided there are enough
bodies (or spirits) at the site of the casting of
course. Note that a ghost is completely aware
of it status as an undead creature, and although
it will be compelled to obey the caster, it will
not be happy about it… at all.
Army of One
Level: 3
Range: 10’/level
Duration: 1 round/level
The recipient of this spell is able to make one
melee attack for every opponent directly
engaging him for the duration of the spell. Each
attack must be against a different opponent,
12
Aura of Good
Level: 1
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 hour/level
The target of this spell will radiate a good (or
lawful, or both, as appropriate) aura when the
subject of detection devices or spells. At best,
a scrying party will detect that there is a
magical aura present but nothing short of a
dispel magic will cause a detection spell to
detect anything other than good.
Black Blood
Level: 3
Range: 30’ + 10’/level
Duration: See Below
This spell causes the target’s blood to become
a thick and expanding gel, causing intense
pressure and pain. This will cause 1d4 points
of damage every round until the pressure is
relieved. While in great pain, the character can
act normally and suffers no penalty aside from
the hit point loss. Relieving the pressure is
done by either the target being hit by a piercing
or slashing weapon by an enemy for damage,
or someone intentionally slicing the character
open to bleed him (can be done for no initial
damage).
Once this happens, the character becomes
unable to take any action and merely convulses
for three full rounds as a disgusting, viscous
black ichor spews from his wounds, covering
the entire area. At the end of the third round,
the character takes 1d6 damage and then may
act normally.
Blood Oath
Level: 3
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Blood oath solidifies an agreement between
two parties, ensuring by magical means that
both parties keep to the agreement. For the oath
spell to take effect, all parties must be in full
control of their mental capacities (no oathing
under charm, for example) and be aware that
the spell will be binding them. The terms must
be explicitly laid out, and the important thing
is the letter, not intent, of the agreement. The
spell will remain in effect as long as it takes to
see that the agreement is honored, and can
include as many people as are willing to take
the oath. If any party breaks the oath, the will
immediate lose one level/hit die.
Bloodless
Level: 3
Range: 10’/level
Duration: 1 round/level
The target of this spell takes half damage from
all attacks for the duration.
Dangerous Toys
Level: 1
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
This spell causes a minor demon to inhabit a
very small inanimate object. The demon wakes
up, animating the object, when it is touched by
a child. At that point the object will attempt to
slay any living thing it comes across. The
object then has AC as leather, MV 120’, HD
1, #AT 1, D d6.
Death Breath
Level: 3
Range: 0
Duration: Instantaneous
The character spews forth a toxic cloud of
green-black gas from his mouth, doing 1d4
points of damage for every level of the caster,
with a saving throw for half damage applicable.
Note that there are no components needed, and
because it is a gas most forms of gags will not
stop the spell from working.
God Oath
Level: 5
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Blood oath solidifies an agreement between
two parties, ensuring by magical means that
both parties keep to the agreement. For the oath
13
spell to take effect, all parties must be in full
control of their mental capacities (no oathing
under charm, for example) and be aware that
the spell will be binding them. The terms must
be explicitly laid out, and the important thing
is the letter, not intent, of the agreement. The
spell will remain in effect as long as it takes to
see that the agreement is honored, and can
include as many people as are willing to take
the oath. If any party breaks the oath, the will
immediately die, with no possibility of raising,
resurrection, or reincarnation.
Infanticide
Level: 1
Range: 10’/level
Duration: Permanent
This spell slays any creature with one hit point
(maximum, not current) without any mark or
a scratch on it – it just stops breathing.
Longevity
Level: 2
Range: 0
Duration: 1 Year
Casting this spell erases the previous year in
terms of aging effects. The caster must bathe
in the blood of a number of virgins equal to the
actual age of the caster at the time of casting.
This blood must be fresh and the act of collect-
ing it must kill the virgins, and the one hour
casting time is the amount of time the caster
must spend soaking in the blood.
New Mind
Level: 9
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
This spell completely erases the mind of one
creature and replaces it with whatever the
caster wishes. When the spell is complete, the
creature should re-roll intelligence, wisdom,
and charisma from scratch, and a new align-
ment should be randomly determined. All of
the creature’s memories will be wiped out as
well, and the caster will be able to create an
entirely new set of memories as he pleases. The
character will begin again at level one in a
random class, although retaining its original
hit points and saving throw numbers until it
gains a level greater than its original.
Oath
Level: 1
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Oath solidifies an agreement between two
parties, ensuring by magical means that both
parties keep to the agreement. For the oath
spell to take effect, all parties must be in full
control of their mental capacities (no oathing
under charm, for example) and be aware that
the spell will be binding them. The terms must
be explicitly laid out, and the important thing
is the letter, not intent, of the agreement. The
spell will remain in effect as long as it takes to
see that the agreement is honored, and can
include as many people as are willing to take
the oath. If any party breaks the oath, the will
suffer a one point permanent loss from a
random ability score.
Protection from Living Creatures
Level: 2
Range: Touch
Duration: 3 rounds/level
This spell creates a living barrier around the
target which repels living creatures. Any living
creature attacking the target suffers a -2 penalty
to hit, and the target receives a +2 saving throw
on any effect caused by a living creature.
Living creatures which physically strike with
a body part (claw, fist, bite, etc) may not attack
at all. Note that extra-planar creatures, undead,
constructs, magically-imbued beings, etc, are
not considered “living” creatures for the pur-
poses of this spell. This protection moves with
the target.
14
Protection from Living Creatures 10’ Radius
Level: 4
Range: None
Duration: 1 turn/level
This spell creates a living barrier around the
target area (centered around the caster) which
repels living creatures. Any living creature
attacking into the target area suffers a -2
penalty to hit, and the target receives a +2
saving throw on any effect caused by a living
creature. Living creatures which physically
strike with a body part (claw, fist, bite, etc) may
not attack at all. Note that extra-planar crea-
tures, undead, constructs, magically-imbued
beings, etc, are not considered “living” crea-
tures for the purposes of this spell. The material
component is dirt from a grave, which must be
sprinkled around the spell area as it is cast. This
circle of protection does not move.
Steal Spell I
Level: 4
Range: 10’/level
Duration: Permanent
One random spell (of level 1 – 3) is erased from
the memory of the target and the caster of this
spell gains the ability to cast it as if he had
memorized it. The gained spell must be cast,
and can not be transcribed or stored in any way.
Steal Spell II
Level: 5
Range: 10’/level
Duration: Permanent
One random spell (of level 1 – 4) is erased from
the memory of the target and the caster of this
spell gains the ability to cast it as if he had
memorized it. The gained spell must be cast,
and can not be transcribed or stored in any way.
Steal Spell III
Level: 6
Range: 10’/level
Duration: Permanent
One random spell (of level 2 – 5) is erased from
the memory of the target and the caster of this
spell gains the ability to cast it as if he had
memorized it. The gained spell must be cast,
and can not be transcribed or stored in any way.
Steal Spell IV
Level: 7
Range: 10’/level
Duration: Permanent
One random spell (of level 3 – 6) is erased from
the memory of the target and the caster of this
spell gains the ability to cast it as if he had
memorized it. The gained spell must be cast,
and can not be transcribed or stored in any way.
Steal Spell V
Level: 8
Range: 10’/level
Duration: Permanent
One random spell (of level 4 – 7) is erased from
the memory of the target and the caster of this
spell gains the ability to cast it as if he had
memorized it. The gained spell must be cast,
and can not be transcribed or stored in any way.
Steal Spell VI
Level: 9
Range: 10’/level
Duration: Permanent
One random spell (of level 5 – 8) is erased from
the memory of the target and the caster of this
spell gains the ability to cast it as if he had
memorized it. The gained spell must be cast,
and can not be transcribed or stored in any way.
Storm of Fertility
Level: 9
Range: 1 mile/level
Duration: Permanent
This spell impregnates every female of the
same race as the caster in a large area. Before
casting the spell, the caster must trap an extra-
planar being in a containment circle. Casting
this spell kills this creature, and this being is
the father of the children it spawns. The spell
affects an area one mile in diameter for every
hit die of the trapped creature, with each female
getting a saving throw to avoid its effects. The
children will look like the mother’s race,
15
mature at the rate of the mother’s race, but have
the temperament, alignment, and abilities of
the father.
To Challenge the Gods
Level: 9
Range: Line of Sight
Duration: 6 turns
This spell strips any one extra-planar being of
all supernatural powers and abilities. No items
or affiliations are affected.
Torture
Level: 3
Range: 30’
Duration: 1 hour
This spell, which only works on bound or
otherwise helpless targets, allows the caster to
ask one question per level, and the target must
answer truthfully or take 1d6 points of damage
per lie told. If the target lies, the effect is
obvious to any onlooker.
Vomit
Level: 1
Range: 10’/level
Duration: See Below
The target of this spell begins to vomit a thick,
disgusting black chunky liquid and is unable
to take any other action. The effect continues,
every round, until the target makes a saving
throw.
Vomit Guts
Level: 4
Range: 10’/level
Duration: See Below
The target of this spell begins to vomit up their
insides, with the target being unable to move
and taking 1d10 damage every round until they
make a saving throw.
16
Fell Magick Items of
Duvan’Ku
By James Edward Raggi IV
Bag of Spirit Holding
This functions as a bag of holding of the largest
size. There is a 1% chance whenever it is
opened (to take something out or put some-
thing in) that a spectre that has been trapped
within the bag will escape to attack the owner
of the bag.
Basket of Bountiful Harvest
This basket is always full of fresh fruit, vege-
tables, bread, and sweet meats when opened.
Any who eat from the basket must save versus
death magic (referee should make a secret
saving throw) or begin to lose 1hp per day,
permanently (the character’s maximum hit
points decrease!), beginning 6d6 days after
eating. An exorcism or remove curse is neces-
sary to stop this effect but does not restore lost
hit points.
Book of Faust
By reading this book, a character may make a
pact with a devil and increase one ability score
to 18 in exchange for one service to be ren-
dered one year from the time of the ability
score gain. At the one year mark, an Arch-
Devil will appear in person to take that person
to hell, and the character can not be raised or
resurrected, and a wish to bring the character
back will result in a crippled stump of a body,
no limbs, blind, and dumb, being spewed forth
from the Arch-Devil that had required service.
Book of Sacrifice
By reading this unholy text of exorcism, any
curse (or possession, or any undesirable state),
any whatsoever, is lifted from the target of the
exorcism. The curse passes to the reader, and
at that point can not be removed by any means
short of a wish. Any reader attempting to
remove his own curse instead makes the curse
irrevocably permanent, and no means whatso-
ever can ever remove the curse.
Book of Unspeakable Shame
This text lists the crimes of Duvan’Ku against
nature, the cosmos, the gods, and all of greater
creation. The entire text takes two months to
read, and after it is complete the reader must
save versus spells or be feebleminded. If this
happens, the reader gains no benefits from the
book and if healed must read the book again to
attempt to gain the benefits. If the saving throw
succeeds, the reader becomes immune from all
mental attacks such as fear, charm, etc, forev-
ermore. The reader also gains a 25 Wisdom.
The book does detail literally unspeakable
shame – the reader will never be able to
articulate exactly what it is he has seen in the
book to any other, and any reading his mind
must make a saving throw versus spells or
become feebleminded. 2d4 weeks after com-
pleting the book (and if the benefits are
gained), 2d6 demons will appear to destroy the
reader, as no mortal may have this knowledge.
They will all be Type I demons, led by a demon
of a type indicated by the greatest number
shown on the dice. For example, if the 2d6 roll
was a 4 and a 3, then it would be seven demons
total, one of which would be a Type IV.
Candle of Ill Lumination
This small candle illuminates as dim or as
bright as the possessor wishes, even to the
point of being as bright as daylight. Undead in
this light are invisible, even while attacking,
and immune to any effects of this light.
17
Casket of Duvan’Ku
Undead creatures in the casket are always
awake and aware of everything outside the
casket. Vampires suffer no restrictions the day
after resting in the casket. Living things that
lie in the casket lose one level – shutting the
casket means instant death, with a save versus
death needed to prevent rising as a wight at
midnight.
Chalice of Great Health
If a good creature is ritually sacrificed and its
blood immediately collected in this cup, the
drinker will be cured of any curses and diseas-
es, magical or mundane.
Chimes of Entrance
This acts as a normal chime of opening, but
any dead bodies within range of the chime’s
sound rise as skeletons or zombies, as appro-
priate.
Cloak of Many Fashions
This cloak transforms into whatever clothing
the wearer desires, whether it be a fine ball
gown, sleep wear, thick fur clothing for arctic
exploring, or even any sort of (non-magical)
armor (but not including a shield). When
someone wearing this cloak comes within 50’
of an undead creature than can see him, it turns
into an entangling death shroud, completely
immobilizing the character and leaving him
unable to act or defend himself.
Cloak of Soul Displacement
This acts as a normal displacement cloak, but
it has a +3 bonus. Every attack that misses
because of this cloak (any first strike, or
subsequent strike that misses by three or less)
gives a 1% cumulative chance that the charac-
ter will turn into a wraith or spectre (whichever
is closest in hit dice to the character’s level)
who will seek nothing else but to drain all
living things.
Crown of Duvan’Ku
Each former ruler of Duvan’Ku wore his own
crown, and each crown has become corrupted
and evil due to the utter depravity that they
have been present for. This is but one such
crown.
Wearers of the crown may use the following
minor powers: Speak with Dead (all spell
effects are as if the wearer is a thirtieth level
caster), once per week. They are immune to
any sleep or hold spells (or any spells that
commonly affect undead), and may Animate
Dead once a week. The wearer also enjoys a
two point bonus to his armor class.
There are also these major powers: Twice a
day, the wearer may Dispel Magic, and once
per day may cast Heal. The wearer continu-
ously causes Fear with his gaze whether he
intends to or not.
The crown’s primary power is Trap the Soul,
which the wearer may cast once per month.
There is a price for this power. All holy water
closer than 10’ from the crown will instantly
spoil and become normal water. The wearer’s
touch kills green plants instantly (or inflicts
d10 damage if combating a sentient example),
and every month the wearer loses 5d6 pounds
until he collapses into nothingness.
Using any major or using the prime power ages
the user 3d10 years.
If the wearer dies from either aging or weight
loss, his soul departs for Duvan’Ku to serve
the dead King who once wore this crown, never
to be recalled again.
Dead Sign
The Dead Sign is an evil sigil that may be
inscribed on (or sewn into!) any object. Those
wearing the Sign are immune to curses, unnat-
ural diseases, hold, charm, or any other mind-
influencing spells. However, the wearer is also
18
able to be turned as undead of their level, and
any holy water with 10’ of the sign becomes
spoiled. The sign must also be openly dis-
played – any hidden Sign causes one point of
damage, per round, to anyone carrying it, if
they are aware they are carrying it. If someone
who has knowingly carried the Sign (if
someone discards the Sign immediately upon
discovering they possess it, they may with no
ill effects) then discards it, then they take one
point of damage, per turn, until they are dead.
Dead Sign, Greater
This Sign has all of the powers and drawbacks
of the normal Dead Sign, but anyone who sees
the sign will die of spontaneous fright the next
time they are alone for longer than 2d20
minutes. However, if a second person sees the
Sign before the first one is dead, neither
onlooker dies, but the bearer of the Sign dies
and the Sign itself disintegrates.
Elixir of Fleeting Love
This potion causes the drinker to fall in love
with a specific person. Hair, fingernails, or
some other personal issue must be mixed in the
potion and the drinker will then fall in love
with that person. The drinker will be unques-
tionably devoted and completely in love, with
a saving throw only allowed if there is blatant
abuse. The drinker will also age at twelve times
the normal rate – one year for every month that
passes.
Flute of Undead Pacification
The sound of this flute makes all undead docile
and they will take no offensive action while
the flute is being played and all else is quiet
(and no other combat is happening!). The
player must be still to play properly, and the
undead will gather around the player… but
when the playing stops (or something breaks
the undead’s concentration, or Silence is cast
over the player), the undead will become
vicious as usual. Bards playing the flute will
be so skillful as to heal 1d6 points of damage
to any undead hearing it, every round.
Gauntlets of Undead Power
These gauntlets drain 1d4 levels per hit when
used in unarmed combat against a living
creature. These levels are not transferred to the
wearer of the gauntlets. If the gauntlets com-
pletely drain a creature, the wearer loses a level
immediately. If the gauntlets are ever used
against an undead creature, the undead is
unaffected and instead the wearer loses 1d4
levels.
Gem of Lifeforce Sight
This gem acts as a gem of seeing, but when
looking through the gem all living beings will
be seen as slowly rotting and dying, and the
viewer will be able to tell the how long the
creature will naturally live. This insults the soul
of the viewed, and any creature that will
naturally die (of age or disease) within a month
will rise as a wight or wraith to hunt the viewer.
Anyone else viewed with the gem that dies
within 24 hours will also rise as a wight or
wraith and hunt the viewer, feeling the viola-
tion contributed to its death.
Gemstones of Duvan’Ku
These priceless gems are under an irrevocable
curse – any who spy upon them becomes
overcome by extreme violent greed. A save
against spells is applicable, but a successful
save means that the character wants to separate
himself completely from the gems – he will not
handle them. Characters who have taken an
extreme and uncompromising vow of poverty
may handle the gems without succumbing to
the curse, but of course would not do anything
with them. Those affected by the gem will first
attempt to buy it, offering all the money and
property they have in the world if possible
(which usually won’t amount to much, and the
gems affect beggars the same way as they
affect kings). Of course the possessor of the
gems would never part with them, and if the
gems can’t be bought, there will be an attempt
to steal them, and failing that, an attempt to
violently take them.
19
Girdle of Fertility
If worn during intercourse (by either party),
pregnancy will occur – even cross-species or
if one party or the other is infertile. The child
gestates as normal, but is a wight, and giving
birth will kill the mother. In ancient times, the
priest of Duvan’Ku would then carefully
secure the baby in a floating cradle and place
it in a stream, with the idea that some passerby
would seek to aid the baby, which would then
kill them.
Grimoire of Walking Flesh
This text allows the creation of a flesh golem.
It requires the parts of 10d4 fresh bodies, takes
two weeks time as the parts are assembled, and
then requires a strong electrical charge (a
lightning bolt will do) to activate the body.
There is no monetary cost to making the golem
with this book, and an unlimited amount may
be made. When the golem activates, the muti-
lated remains of the bodies used for parts will
rise and seek to destroy the creator of the
golem. The golem will not fight these undead.
The risen dead will be zombies 50% of the
time, ghouls 40% of the time, and wights 10%
of the time (check each creature individually).
If the bodies have been utterly destroyed, then
the creatures will be wraiths (75%) or spectres
(25%).
Holy Symbol of the Church of Duvan’Ku
A cleric using this holy symbol automatically
commands (not turns or destroys) any undead
it is used against. When commanded undead
kill as many creatures as the commanding
cleric has levels, or drains a like number of
levels, the cleric’s soul immediately becomes
corrupted and he begins transforming into an
undead type the same hit dice as the cleric’s
level. Alignment change happens immediately
and the cleric gains the special abilities of the
undead immediately, and the character will
slowly die and rot and fully become that
undead form within 2d6 days.
Holy Symbol of the Church of Duvan’Ku
A cleric using this holy symbol automatically
commands (not turns or destroys) any undead
it is used against. However, after this power is
used, the cleric’s healing spells will cause harm
instead of heal. The cleric must be exorcised
for the spells to be righted once more.
Holy Symbol of the Church of Duvan’Ku
This holy symbol doubles the cleric’s effective
level in terms of the number and level of spells
that can be prepared, as well as spell effects
determined by level. After using this power, if
a cleric is ever in front of any altar and does
anything (prays, blesses, defiles, etc), or casts
a commune spell or makes any contact with an
extraplanar source, or is in the presence of a
gate, or says the name of any demon, then an
entity (the demon named, a chief servant of the
god the altar is dedicated to or contacted with
the commune, or a random powerful creature
from where the gate leads) will appear to
destroy the wearer of the dread symbol of
Duvan’Ku.
Holy Symbol of the Church of Duvan’Ku
When using this holy symbol, a cleric is
considered to be five levels higher than his
regular level for purposes of turning undead
(although undead will never be destroyed by a
cleric wearing this symbol). However, the
wearer is also able to be turned as if undead of
five fewer hit dice than his current level.
Horn of Battle
Blowing this horn summons undead (see chart
below for what type) out of the ground and
walls to fight for the possessor of the horn.
Once that battle is over, the undead will turn
on the blower of the horn and attempt to kill
him. These undead may not be turned until the
blower of the horn is dead.
20
Roll
Undead Summoned
01 – 75 4d10 Skeletons
76 – 80 2d10 Zombies
81 – 85 1d10 Ghouls
86 – 90 1d6 Wights
91 – 95 1 Spectre
96 – 100 1 Vampire
Necklace of Undead Immunity
The wearer of this necklace is immune to any
touch-based special abilities possessed by
undead (a ghoul’s paralysis, a wight’s energy
drain, etc). However, the next person that the
wearer touches after such an attack (even if the
necklace is removed!) suffers the most power-
ful effect that the necklace has protected
against, and every further touch passes on
another effect until all avoided effects have
been passed on.
Periapt of Poison Immunity
This gives its possessor one hundred percent
immunity from poison – saves are never nec-
essary to survive. However, the referee should
make a secret saving throw, and a failure
means the next person the periapt’s possessor
touches must make his poison saving throw or
suffer the effects the possessor originally
avoided.
Ring of Cannibalism
This ring functions as a +2 ring of protection,
but after it is first put on, the character wearing
it will only seek sustenance from the flesh of
his own race. Similar (for example, demi-
humans for a human) races may be used for
nourishment if none of the wearer’s own race
is available.
Ring of Dark Protection
This functions as a ring of protection +d6
(some are very powerful indeed!). The wearer
takes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight and
can only heal through natural means – magic
will not help. Against undead, the ring makes
armor class worse instead of better.
Ring of Death Dealing
This ring allows the wearer to cast a death
spell, once a round, with no charges or limita-
tions of any kind. Anyone or anything killed
by this ring rises as a wraith or a spectre (50%
chance of each) and will then hunt the wearer
of the ring. They can not be turned while in
sight of the wearer.
Ring of Desires
Functions as a ring of wishes. The wearer gets
his wish, uncorrupted and exactly as he wants,
but there will be unintended disastrous conse-
quences unconnected with the wish. A fellow
party member will suddenly die with no expla-
nation, the most powerful magic item the
character possesses will lose its enchantment,
the character’s home city will be overrun by
its enemies in a surprise attack, whatever
would devastate the character most.
Ring of Murderous Intent
This ring functions as a +1 protection ring, but
it also always causes the wearer to be seen in
the most negative light possible when scrying
or detection spells are used on him. For exam-
ple, anyone using ESP on the wearer will
believe the wearer intends to kill him, anyone
attempting to detect alignment will always
detect the most opposed alignment to his own,
etc. If there is a result that will cause a violent
or other extremely negative response, that’s the
result the ring will cause people to get.
Ring of Scavenging Sustenance
The wearer of this ring may heal d8 damage
by drinking the blood of a dead enemy, per
enemy. The enemy must have been a living
creature with blood (no golems, slimes, etc)
that has very recently (say, in a combat the
wearer was involved in) died. After the first
time this is done, the wearer is forevermore
unable to regain hit points any other way (rest,
healing magic, etc, no longer works).
21
Ring of Essence Control
With this ring, a character may Charm any
human or humanoid being as per the spell, with
no saving throw allowed. When the charm ends
(by any means), the victim also loses one level
as if energy drained. The victim will know they
have been bewitched, will remember every-
thing that happened during that time, and will
be aware of why they have lost a level.
A character completely drained by the ring, or
who died while charmed, will rise as an
undead, as per the chart below. Roll d%,
adding 10% for every level the character
originally was in life, and add 25% if the victim
died (by any means) while charmed.
Roll
Undead Type
01 – 50 Zombies
51 – 90 Ghoul
91 – 125 Wight
126+
Vampire
Ring of Vanishing
This ring works as a normal ring of invisibility,
with the following exceptions: It doesn’t work
against undead, and if the wearer is adventur-
ing in an area where undead are found on the
wandering monsters chart, then all checks for
wandering monsters result in an encounter with
undead in addition to the normal chances for
encountering another random creature.
Sacrificial Dagger
This dagger’s hilt is carved out of pure ruby,
with a skeleton design. It functions in all ways
as a +5 dagger, but whenever it hits, the wielder
takes the same damage as the victim.
Scroll of Personal Protection from Undead
This scroll is indistinguishable from a normal
Protection from Undead scroll. It works iden-
tically, except there is no area of effect; only
the reader of the scroll is protected!
Soul Jar
A character may place his life essence into this
magic receptacle. While the jar holds the life
essence, the character can not be brought below
one hit point or die by any means whatsoever.
However, the character may be turned as an
undead creature of an equivalent level, and the
character can not participate in “living” behav-
ior such as eating, drinking, or having sex.
When the character retrieves his soul, he will
find that the receptacle leaks, and he will lose
one level as if energy drained.
Staff of Life Transference
The wielder of the staff may heal another
character 1hp for every 2hp the wielder allows
to be drained from himself. There is a percent
chance equal to the amount drained from the
wielder that the amount drained is subtracted
from both characters!
Sword of Glory
This sword is +1 to hit and damage, +3 to
undead. When the attacker’s to-hit roll is a
natural 20 (or any hit whatsoever upon undead,
the damage done is added to the attacker’s hit
points (up to his normal maximum, of course)
as well as subtracted from the victim’s hit
points. Once the wielder of the sword has
gained a total number of hit points in this
manner (over time, not in one go) to equal his
regular maximum hit point total, he immedi-
ately loses one level as if energy drained. If he
continues to use the sword and he again over
time draws enough hit points from the sword
to match his maximum hit points (which
should be easier since he’s got less hit points
now, right?), he loses two levels, and the next
time three levels, etc. If the wielder is com-
pletely drained of levels, he becomes undead
(of a type that is the same hit dice as the
wielder’s original level) and may no longer
touch the sword.
22
Random Inn Generator
By James Edward Raggi IV
The concept of “home base” is a common one
in classic fantasy role-playing games. All too
often, it’s merely reduced to a place to heal up
and sell off treasure; a mere speed bump on the
way to going back into the dungeon. But it
doesn’t have to be that way. Take the common
inn out in the middle of nowhere, for starters.
It services people who travel on the edge of
civilization (or else it wouldn’t be the conve-
nient home base for a dungeon expedition!).
By its very nature it will have a revolving cast
of interesting, and perhaps seedy, characters,
and some of those might prove beneficial or
troublesome for our party… and the rest will
just actively be in the way.
This article is designed to help the referee
develop just that aspect, giving details of an
inn, including a day-to-day schedule of new
arrivals and departures. Because PCs may be
at the inn for quite some time, perhaps months
of game time, it is recommended that the
referee generate visitors ahead of time; perhaps
a month’s worth if the inn is “home base” for
an expedition to a dungeon of impressive size.
Not only will this provide a living environment
within the game without needing to roll dice
and check tables with players waiting, but
additional plots and adventure hooks will start
screaming out from the page as visitors are
filled in. These “guest stars” will be a perfect
overlap to the existing adventure material,
giving PCs additional factors to consider in
their plans, and giving players a real sense that
the world their characters inhabit goes on
without them. Instances when the inn is over-
booked or other resources are stretched can
cause minor inconveniences. Adventuring isn’t
just risking death out in the field, it’s dealing
with the normal people just trying to live their
lives in the regular world!
The Inn’s Name
Roll percentile dice for each category and put
them together to come up with the inn’s name.
Assume the name begins with “The…” and
ends with “…Inn.” Feel free to ignore any
result that seems too cheesy, vulgar, or
unwieldy.
d%
Verb
Adjective
Noun
Roll
1
Arising
Amorous
Bandit
2
Begging
Bawdy
Basilisk
3
Betting
Beautiful
Bear
4
Biting
Black
Berserker
5
Bleeding
Blue
Boar
6
Breaking
Brazen
Brigand
7
Breeding
Carrion
Buccaneer
8
Burning
Cheap
Bugbear
9
Bursting
Cloudy
Caveman
10
Casting
Crazy
Centaur
11
Creeping
Dirty
Chimera
12
Crying
Dizzy
Cockatrice
13
Cutting
Drunken
Courtesan
14
Digging
Easy
Crawler
15
Dreaming
Fat
Cube
16
Drinking
Fierce
Cyclops
17
Dwelling
Fiery
Dervish
18
Dying
Fighting
Djinn
19
Eating
Final
Doppleganger
20
Ending
First
Doxy
21
Falling
Foul
Dragon
22
Fighting
Frost
Druid
23
First
Furious
Dryad
24
Fleeing
Gelatinous
Dwarf
25
Flying
Giant
Efreet
26
Forbidding
Golden
Elemental
27
Freezing
Great
Elf
28
Gambling
Green
Fighter
29
Grinding
Grey
Gargoyle
30
Grinning
Handsome
Ghost
23
31
Growing
Haughty
Ghoul
32
Hanging
Heavy
Giant
33
Hiding
Hellish
Gnoll
34
Hitting
Hill
Gnome
35
Kissing
Horrible
Goblin
36
Kneeling
Invisible
Golem
37
Last
Jolly
Gorgon
38
Leading
Large
Griffon
39
Living
Lewd
Harlot
40
Loving
Living
Harpy
41
Melting
Lizard
Hippogriff
42
Prancing
Lusty
Hobgoblin
43
Riding
Magnificent
Horse
44
Ringing
Mighty
Hound
45
Rising
Mischievous Hydra
46
Running
Nasty
Insect
47
Seeking
Naughty
Jelly
48
Shaving
Ochre
Juggernaut
49
Shining
Orange
Kobold
50
Shooting
Precious
Lich
51
Shrinking
Purple
Madame
52
Shutting
Quaint
Man
53
Singing
Quiet
Manticora
54
Sleeping
Rabid
Medusa
55
Slinging
Random
Merman
56
Smiling
Randy
Minotaur
57
Spinning
Red
Mold
58
Spitting
Ribald
Monster
59
Splitting
Rich
Mule
60
Spreading
Robust
Mummy
61
Stabbing
Rust
Nomad
62
Standing
Saucy
Ogre
63
Stealing
Sea
Ooze
64
Stinging
Silver
Orc
65
Stinking
Slovenly
Paladin
66
Striking
Sly
Pegasus
67
Swallowing
Small
Pirate
68
Swearing
Spotted
Pixie
69
Sweating
Stone
Pony
70
Swimming
Storm
Priest
71
Swinging
Striped
Pudding
72
Talking
Tricky
Roc
73
Throwing
Ugly
Salamander
74
Thrusting
Vast
Skeleton
75
Waiting
Vicious
Slime
76
Waking
Wanton
Spectre
77
Weeping
Wayward
Stalker
78
Winding
Wealthy
Statue
79
Winning
Welcome
Stirge
80
(none)
Were-
Strumpet
81
(none)
White
Tart
82
(none)
Wicked
Thief
83
(none)
Wonderful
Tiger
84
(none)
Yellow
Titan
85
(none)
(none)
Treant
86
(none)
(none)
Triton
87
(none)
(none)
Troll
88
(none)
(none)
Trollop
89
(none)
(none)
Trull
90
(none)
(none)
Unicorn
91
(none)
(none)
Vampire
92
(none)
(none)
Wench
93
(none)
(none)
Wight
94
(none)
(none)
Wizard
95
(none)
(none)
Wolf
96
(none)
(none)
Woman
97
(none)
(none)
Worm
98
(none)
(none)
Wraith
99
(none)
(none)
Wyvern
100
(none)
(none)
Zombie
The Inn
The Inn itself will have a tavern/common
room. It will also have a common sleeping
room with 8d4 beds, 2d10 “single” rooms
(which may have two beds in them), and 1d4
“master” rooms that can sleep four people
comfortably. There will also be a stable for
travelers’ horses, and inns of the larger sizes
(and especially inns far from villages) will
have craftsmen (blacksmiths, etc) living there
with their own workshops. If the area is dan-
gerous, it may well have a wall around all the
buildings. There will be a master bedroom for
the owner (and possibly wife), another
bedroom for children, and one more room for
every 2 staff members.
Prices for lodging and food will be at 2d20 +
80% of the campaign norm.
The Inn Staff
The inn will have a number of permanent staff.
When the PCs first come into contact with any
of the staff members, be sure to make reaction
rolls for each of the staff members. The point
of this entire exercise is to increase the amount
of role-playing in a campaign, and to take the
focus off of the dungeon or quest and put it to
more mundane matters, without losing inter-
esting qualities.
In my games of the past, “I hit on the serving
wench,” or more explicit versions thereof, have
24
been a common action. Usually I just hand-
waive it, “Oh yeah, fine, she goes up to your
room that night.” I mean, who cares, right? But
if the “home base” is going to be used as a
role-playing focus, that hand-waiving can’t
happen. Every NPC at the inn, including both
staff and visitors, need wisdom and charisma
scores generated. In general, members of the
opposite sex that have lower wisdom scores
than the charisma of another character will be
very attracted to that character (influenced by
reaction rolls of course!), and will react accord-
ingly. Remember, the PCs are going to be seen
as extremely interesting people who live on the
edge. People working at an inn, or having other
mundane lives, will want to be close to that and
perhaps will want to “run away” from their
curreny life into a new and exciting one.
Creating tension this way (especially when one
NPC takes a liking to a PC, and then starts
really taking a liking to random visitors to the
inn afterwards) can result in some interesting
situations that cause suspenseful play without
the threat of bodily harm (unless someone gets
challenged to a duel!), and an anchor to make
all these characters seem more real.
The Owner
The owner will be a d20 – 10 level fighter
(minimum 0). He will be an older fellow, and
has a 50% chance of being married, and 25%
chance of being widowed. If the owner has a
negative reaction to the party, prices at the inn
will be increased d10 + 5%. If the owner’s wife
has a negative reaction to the party, prices will
increase d4 + 1%, but if she reacts well to them,
there will be a d10 + 10% discount. Note it is
possible to have both the owner’s penalty and
the wife’s discount together!
If the owner is married or widowed, he will
have d6-1 children, each age d20 years.
The Servers/Cleaners
For every ten rooms, there will be one woman
(age d20 + 15 years) who serves as a serving
girl during busy times in the tavern area and
helps clean the empty rooms and keeps the area
tidy.
Other Staff
The owners’ children, if any, can serve in other
capacities if they are at least 10 years of age,
otherwise there will need to be a stable boy,
perhaps a regular handyman if there are no
other craftsmen about, and so on. Keep in mind
that anyone that lives at the inn (and most will
– room and board will be an important part of
the wages, as in a remote location, where else
is there to live, and in the city, housing is
expensive!) will need living space within the
allotted rooms.
Regular Visitors
There are a certain amount of folks that reliably
visit the inn on a regular, predictable basis.
These are mainly the folk that keep the Inn
stocked with standard supplies as well as some
that are involved with the Inn’s personnel.
Farmers will arrive every 2d4 days with new
foodstuffs, other craftsmen will arrive every
2d10 days to take care of any needs that inn
employees can not.
Temple Representative
Once a week, the temple representatives come
to provide for the employees of the inn. They
exchange news and views, and that week’s
donations from the shrine. There will be two
representatives on horseback, and they will
both stay in one private room for one night.
Random Visitors
To determine each day’s visitors, make a
percentile roll on the Random Visitor’s Table.
Keep rolling as long as the dice come up an
even number. The exact stats for these visitors
must be determined by the referee.
Your specific game system should have guide-
lines or charts for determining the alignment
and general personalities of NPCs. The game
world is filled with all sorts of people, and
many of them will not see eye to eye with the
25
PCs! Do keep in mind that evil does not mean
violent and good does not mean they will team
up with or aid the heroes in matters completely
unimportant in their own lives. Using these
random rolls to determine NPC personality lets
the world breathe and, once again, lets the
players know that even though the PCs are the
center of the game, the game world does not
revolve around them! However, if a specific
roll inspires a particular idea, the referee should
develop his idea instead of relying on the dice.
They are only there for when the referee needs
a little boost.
In many cases “he” is specifically used when
talking about the random travelers. While the
individual referee can give his game world any
social qualities he likes, this adventure assumes
that the game world is not so progressive.
“Important” figures are most likely men,
women are almost never in charge, and cer-
tainly never walk the wilderness alone. Note
that absolutely none of this applies to “special”
visitors such as adventuring parties, elves,
magic-users, or such. Still, these types will still
skew predominantly male, with maybe only 1
in 4 or even 1 in 5 being female.
Also, the region is assumed to be fairly homog-
enous. The inn should seem as “real” and
“logical” as possible as a contrast to the more
fantastic elements that the PCs will encounter
later. Almost everybody visiting the Inn should
be a normal human, with a non-humans being
present in visiting groups maybe one time in
twenty.
Random Visitors Table
Roll
Result
01 – 02
Bandits
03 – 12
Craftsman
13 – 22
Duelist
23
Dwarves
24
Elves
25 – 26
Entertainer
27
Gambler
28 – 29
Gentleman
30
Gnome s
31
Collaborators
32
Gypsy Train
33
Halflings
34 – 35
Hearse
36 – 45
Laborers
46
Magic-User
47 – 48
Mercenaries
49 – 58
Merchant Caravan
59 – 68
Messengers
69
Minstrel Show
70 – 81
No Visitor
82
Officials
83 – 84
Religious Troupe
85 – 90
Random Travelers
91 – 92
Spies of the Nobles
93 – 94
Thief
95 - 98
Wedding Party
99 – 100
Roll on Special Visitors Table
Special Visitors Table
Roll
Result
1 – 20
Adventuring Party
21 – 23
Doppelganger
24 – 40
Knight of Righteousness
41 – 75
Military Patrol
76 – 90
Noble
91 – 99
Vampire
100
Monster Raid
Details
Adventuring Party
Your game manuals should have rules for
randomly generating adventuring parties.
There will be d4+2 adventurers with an
average level of 1d4, with the appropriate
26
henchmen, pack animals, and equipment. The
inn will treat these folk the same as the PCs
(unless the PCs have performed some great
service, of course), so these people may end
up being competitors for the challenges of the
area. Depending on the alignment of the parties
involved and appropriate reaction checks, these
adventurers may be direct allies or perhaps
even enemies of the PCs. They will want
private rooms for each of them, perhaps a suite,
and will stay as long as there is adventure and
possibility of profit to be had.
Bandits
After raiding caravans and farmhouses and
poor old women, bandits like to blow their
money and live it up hard. These guys will not
cause any real (violent) trouble if their excesses
(unsocial and rude as they are) are tolerated.
However, with so many different people
around and all of the alcohol flowing, anything
may happen. Note that they will be terribly
obnoxious towards any females in the place,
but of course the young and pretty ones most
of all. For an interesting twist (especially if a
PC has taken a shine on one of the inn’s staff),
make appropriate reaction rolls for the women
to see if any of them end up in a bandit’s bed
that night. There will be 3d4 bandits plus their
leader, they will stay in the common room, and
they will stay here at the inn until they are all
out of money (2d4 days). Certain bandits may
be willing to become hirelings or henchmen.
Collaborators
The monsters aren’t threats to road traffic on
their own. While some keep quiet for various
reasons, there are humans who actively aid
them in their highway robbery. Collaborators
spend time in cities finding out about merchant
caravans that are preparing to head out and
inform monsters about them ahead of time.
When they move to inform their masters, their
pattern is the same. Go to the inn, stay a night
in a suite (or two private rooms), ride out the
next day, return, stay one more night, and
leave. Only PCs who specifically follow these
men, or who just happen to be along their path
to witness their traveling to and contacting the
monsters, would know something is up with
them. The most disturbing part is that in order
to contact the monsters and prove their
“peaceful” intentions there, they must sacrifice
one member of their own race at the meeting.
So they will have a “new member of the gang”
with them whenever they appear, and he will
be killed upon contact with the monsters. There
are d4+2 men in this gang and it will always
be the same men that appear when this option
comes up at any particular inn. If they are dealt
with, then any further “Collaborators” results
should be read as “no visitor.” The men will
generally never socialize as a group to keep as
few people as possible from noticing that, as a
group, they always show up with a new guy
but never leave with him. Whenever the col-
laborators show up, then a merchant caravan
of the largest size will automatically be set to
arrive fully laden with goods at the Inn in
1d6+4 days. Whether the monsters will hit it
before it arrives at the Inn or after it departs is
for the referee to decide.
Craftsman
Before one can settle down in one’s very own
workshop, there is a period of wandering to
gain experience in the field working for a
variety of employers. Journeyman in the most
literal sense! The referee will have to determine
exactly what kind of work he does, and it
should ideally be randomly determined. The
craftsman will stay in the common room and
stay 1d4 days, unless he finds work locally, in
which case he’ll stay as long as he has work.
Doppelganger
Creatures that depend on humanity for their
sustenance will always find their way to out of
the way inns sooner or later. The introduction
of a doppelganger to the environment may or
may not cause a great deal of havoc, depending
on who the creature chooses to duplicate. The
day the doppelganger arrives, every single
person at the Inn has an equal chance to be
27
selected as the first victim. If the victim is just
passing through, no one at the inn need ever
know what happened. Until a body is discov-
ered, anyway. A PC chosen as a victim will
cause immediate conflict, of course, but an inn
employee being killed and replaced by a
doppelganger gives rise to a much more insid-
ious, ongoing threat…
Duelist
Duelists travel the countryside earning their
living through provoking fights, or better yet
getting paid from just threatening to fight. They
do this with the aid of an accomplice who will
arrive at the inn the same day as the duelist but
not appear to be associated with him. In fact,
they will take great pains to act unfamiliar with
each other. They will find a mark, usually a
non-warrior looking type (no armor, battle
scars, or large muscles) who looks at least
fairly wealthy, and move in. The duelist will
behave as a gentleman, being very proper, as
bait for the trap. He will interact with his mark
and then feign offense at some perceived slight
and offer to resolve the matter with a duel to
be scheduled the next day or two. In the
meantime, the accomplice will approach the
challenged and offer to broker a cash deal
(where the duelist would be the one to get
paid!) to prevent any embarrassment or untow-
ard violence. Duels will be fought unarmored,
with the weapon choice up to the challenged.
Referees should detail which weapons a duelist
is proficient in before executing the challenge
to keep things fair. Duels will typically be to
first blood only, although if a real offense
causes the duel, and the duelist is of a cranky
disposition (and someone has made a very bad
reaction roll) and evil alignment, it can get
nasty. After winning a duel, a duelist will pilfer
a valuable from the defeated as compensation
for his bother. Duelists will be a 1d6+2 level
fighter, stay in a private room (as will their
accomplice), and stay for 1d4 days.
Dwarves
“Dour and taciturn” is the cliché, and boy does
it fit these fellows. Dwarves seldom have
reason to wander in the realms of men, and
when they do they just want to conclude their
business and go home. The world of men has
too much sky… 3d4 dwarves will stay one
night at the Inn, in a private room if there is
just a few of them, and in the common room if
there is a whole bunch. Each dwarf has a 25%
chance to be a classed individual, and they will
engage in heavy drinking at the tavern on the
day they are there.
Elves
Literature paints a different picture of elves
than the usual adventuring party. While elves
out in the world of men often seem like fine
and normal fellows, most elves prefer to stay
with their own kind and they really do form an
alien society. Occasionally they must leave
their sanctuaries to conduct various business
in the world, and when they do they leave
perplexed and whispering people in their wake.
Elven visitors to the Inn will be 2d6 in number,
with any specific elf a classed individual 25%
of the time. There will be roughly equal
amounts of male and female elves, they will
not mingle much with other visitors of the inn,
and they will stay one night in a suite.
Entertainer
Individual (or partner) bards make their living
by playing taverns and festivals, so they will
be passing through lonely road with some
regularity. There will only be one or two of
them, and they will play in the main tavern
hoping for tips. They will sleep in whatever
accommodations they can afford (usually the
stables!). As usual with the “wandering life-
style” types, they will be very rambunctious
when let loose with the alcohol. They will stay
at the Inn for 1d10 days.
Gambler
A professional gamesman travels the taverns
of the realm and makes his living by winning
28
games of chance. He will set up on a table at
the Inn and try to coax people into playing
cards (or dice, or whatever) with him. The
gambler is going to be either very good or very
good at cheating, and any character that doesn’t
have gambling as a secondary skill should be
at a severe disadvantage when facing this guy.
He’ll stay as long as he can keep making
money (although likely it will be simply
against visitors and not the staff after a couple
days), using a private room. If cheating ways
are uncovered, he just might be run out of the
place!
Gentleman
Gentlemen are people of decidedly refined
tastes, who comport themselves with utmost
respectability and expect everyone around
them to do the same in the name of a civilized
society. Despite their delusions of being
natural men of the world, they are so very
unsuited to life around the frontier and so will
spend most of their time here being quite
offended. The barmaids are all tramps associ-
ating too much with men, so unlike proper
ladies, the men do not dress properly for
socializing and don’t even use the correct
spoon for their soup. They of course will be
absolutely horrified at the prospect of violence
(nevermind violence against them). For added
fun, sometimes (25% chance) they will bring
their wife along, who is twice as refined and
three times as sensitive. Then they might (25%
chance) bring along 1d4 children who will then
have to be shielded from all sorts of bad
influence. A gentleman may (25% chance)
have a couple of retainers to do his “dirty
work.” Gentlemen will want a private room if
traveling alone or just with his wife, or a suite
if with more people. They’ll plan to stay 2d6
days for exposure to the robust country air, but
will often leave in a huff after 2d4 days.
Gnomes
Gnomes are perhaps the rarest (or least-seen,
anyway) of the demi-human races, and there-
fore any encounter with them should seem
special. They are simple folk, as pragmatic as
dwarves yet with the love of leisure as Hal-
flings. PCs should be surprised by such a
demeanor! There is a 10% chance that a gnome
is a classed individual. There will be 2d4 of
them, they will stay in private rooms, and they
will stay for 1d4 days.
Gypsy Train
An extended gypsy family traveling through
the area is always sure to stop at the Inn. There
will be 4d4 gypsies, half of them women and
one quarter of them children, with one wagon
for every three gypsies. They will typically all
be one big extended family. They will camp
within a short distance of the inn and not stay
in the rooms, but they will use all of the
facilities available at the inn and generally be
very visible. They will provide all sorts of
entertainment, anything from dancing to jug-
gling to fire-breathing and sword swallowing.
Generally they would only bring in money on
audience donations and will not be seen as a
big deal by the locals. Depending on how
stereotypical (some would say racist) you want
to get with the gypsies, more possibilities open
up. There could be some sort of theft subplot
happening at the inn complex, or one of the old
women of the gypsies could be a genuine seer
and able to tell the PCs’ future. The gypsies
will stay for 1d8 days.
Halflings
Halflings traveling in packs away from their
homelands are rare, but the affable folk are
always welcome in civilized lands. Halflings
will tend to want to keep out of trouble, and
while they will be social, they will typically be
tight-lipped about what exactly their business
might be. There will be 2d4 of the folk, always
wanting private rooms (they’ll sleep four to a
room though) and staying for 1d4 days. There
is only a 10% chance that they are classed
individuals.
29
Hearse
People of means usually want to be buried
where their families are, or at least close to
where they were born. There is a fair trade in
transporting bodies between larger communi-
ties. This will usually just be one or two
laborers with a horse, cart or wagon, and their
cargo in a coffin. The body will often have a
minor amount of jewelry on it which will make
it of interest to petty thieves, but 1% of these
will have an impressive piece of jewelry
worthy of any sick enough to disturb the dead.
The laborers will prefer to sleep in the common
room, and the coffin will stay in the stables
(making it quite unpleasant for anyone there
that night!) They will only stay for one night.
Knight of Righteousness
A Knight (roll 1d6+4 to determine level) and
his entourage (cleric, scribe, and 1d6 men-at-
arms) arrive at the Inn. The Knight will
demand a use of a suite for himself, and private
rooms for everyone in his group. He will
demand all of these for free, and he will
demand that the rooms all be adjacent and
anyone in rooms that he needs be tossed out
immediately. The Knight will demand that no
alcohol be served while he is in the area, that
the barmaids cover up any exposed flesh,
shutting down any entertainment, and gener-
ally be a complete nuisance. He won’t even do
anything about the dungeon or current adven-
ture plot if informed about them because he is
on his way to a “much more important quest.”
The inn staff will suffer the Knight’s shenani-
gans because they don’t want the trouble of
resisting him, and they’ll encourage anyone
else to keep their mouths shut too. In fact, the
only way the Knight will show himself to be
anything other than a completely self-righteous
snob is if blatant criminal activity or a monster
attack happens while he is here. The Knight
will stay at the inn for 1d3 days.
Laborers
Work is hard to come by for many, and when
freemen can not find gainful employment
where they are, they will travel looking for
work. There will be 2d6 laborers in the group,
and they will be staying in the stables. They
will stay 1d4 days, generally harassing travel-
ers to hire them for just about any sort of work.
Including the PCs…
Magic-User
Who knows what motivates the men who
manipulate magic? They travel from place to
place, sometimes on mundane business, and
sometimes in search of things far more esoter-
ic. Use 1d4+2 to determine what level the
magic-user is. He will likely have a familiar, a
0 level companion or hireling, and a 5th or 6th
level magic-user might have a 1st level appren-
tice. The magic-user will stay in a private
room, although the others might stay in the
common room. They will stay 1d4 days. The
magic-user is not very likely to go adventuring
with the PCs, but might agree for a suitable
portion of treasure if he has an enthusiastically
friendly reaction to them. Note that if he is of
a greater level than any of the PCs, a “suitable
portion” might be 50% or more just for him-
self, and he may think of himself as the party
leader and the PCs his mere henchmen!
Mercenaries
Standing armies in the middle ages were
uncommon, and it could be assumed that RPG
kingdoms loosely based on that time period
might have the same situation. This results in
a professional soldier class that has no loyalty
to a specific kingdom travels the land searching
for nobles in need of warriors. Because their
livelihood is based on killing and dying, they
take their off-time very seriously and will be
the most enthusiastic revelers to be found at
the tavern when they show up. They aren’t the
most popular customers the inn has, as they
tend to be pretty rude, grabby, and they are
poor tippers! The exact type of mercenary is
subject to referee decision (and some games
30
give options for such expert hirelings). There
will be 3d8 of them, and they will likely as not
decide on making camp nearby. If they do stay
at the inn, they would stay in the common
room, with maybe their commander having a
private room. They will stay 1d4 days. Merce-
naries, of course, make wonderful henchmen
and general combat support hirelings as long
as alignments and reaction rolls allow.
Merchant Caravan
Business is business, and business through
risky areas offers a high return for the invest-
ment. There is no shortage of people making
shrewd, or completely foolish, decisions and
bringing caravans out this way. A typical
merchant caravan will consist of a head mer-
chant, 1d4 assistants, 2d4 guards, and 2d6
support laborers. There will be one wagon for
every four individuals. Sometimes a merchant
will have his family with him, which adds a
spouse and d6 – 1 children. The referee should
determine exactly what goods the merchant
deals in. Any merchant has a flat 20% chance
to be interested in any valuable or odd goods
the PCs want to sell, although the amount the
merchant gives them for the goods will depend
on reaction rolls, anywhere from 25% for a
hostile reaction to 75% for an extremely favor-
able reaction. The merchant will want a suite
for himself and his family, the common room
for his guards and assistants, and the stables
for his laborers. They will just stay one night.
Military Patrol
This is a large group from a neighboring area,
on patrol along the road. They will not leave
the road to engage under any circumstances
(their orders are to be seen, defend anyone
traveling on the road, but do not go out of the
way to engage). The Inn is a good stop off for
them, and the soldiers will party hard. There
will be 10d4 0 level men-at-arms, and for every
ten men there will be a first level fighter squad
leader, and if there are thirty or more men there
will be a second level fighter sergeant. They
will make their own camp a short distance
away from the inn so they will take up no
rooms, but they will be all over the tavern and
many of the other buildings of the inn com-
pound continuously. They’ll pretty much act
like the bandits when all is said and done. They
will only stay one night unless they arrive for
a weekend, in which case they will leave on
Monday.
Minstrel Show
If the inn is remotely located, the owner knows
that the employees often get bored or longing
for a larger community, so he brings in enter-
tainment shows every so often. There will be
3d4 musicians, actors, and miscellaneous enter-
tainers (acting as their own crew!) who will
take over an area close to the inn and set up a
makeshift stage. They generally have a few
wagons which also serve as their sleeping
areas, although they will also have a private
room in the inn just in case someone needs a
bit more privacy. When the minstrel troupe is
in the area, service tends to suffer as the staff
is focused on the entertainment. Of course if
the minstrels are only performing for the
employees, they will not stay so long. Figure
about 1d4+1 days average, or as long as they
have a paying audience. Lock up the women
and children when these guys are around!
Make an extra roll on the Random Visitors
table for every day the minstrels are here, as
people time their trips to be able to see this sort
of thing.
Monster Raid!
This result means there will be a monster raid
happening on this day, in addition to whatever
else is happening around the Inn. Usually it
will be a rather unintelligent monster, as most
intelligent creatures know to stay away from
the inn and all its various denizens. This could
be a good opportunity for PCs to see exactly
who their hosts are as they will defend their
loved ones and the property (in that order!) to
the best of their ability. Depending on the
menace, it might also be a good test to see if
the PCs know when to put their heads down
31
and stay out of the way. Roll on the following
table to determine what attacks (a bandit raid
will not be with a same crew of bandits that
would stay here):
Roll
Result
1
Anhkheg
2
Bulette
3
Ettin (1d6)
4
Hill Giant (1d4)
5 – 11
Human Bandit Raid!
12 – 16 Humanoid Raid!
17
Hydra
18
Manticore
19
Troll (2d4)
20
Wyvern
Noble
A noble and his entourage is an impressive
thing. The noble himself will always have 2d4
bodyguards, 3d4 assistants of various types,
plus enough carriages (and drivers and horses)
to transport them all and their luggage. Refer-
ees may decide the noble is bringing his family
along, in which case add a spouse and 1d6
children, plus another 2d4 bodyguards and 2d4
assistants. Nobles will demand the run of the
place, earning a bit of enmity from the locals
(even though the generous amount of money a
noble’s entourage brings in will soften that
blow a bit), and probably even more from the
PCs. They should never be allowed to forget
that they are in the presence of power in the
realm, and their behavior while the noble is
here can have far-reaching implications for the
campaign. Nobles will stay in a suite, and if
there is not a suite available then somebody is
going to have to get kicked out so the noble
can stay. The entourage will all stay in private
rooms (the “important” ones) or the common
room (the “unimportant” ones). They will stay
for 1d6 days and be the center of attention the
entire time.
Officials
Bureaucrats are a constant menace in any
society. They also tend to be very non-threat-
ening, unless they see something they don’t
like, in which case they will do nothing about
it themselves and just report the problem to the
next link in the chain. These officials
(government, religious, mercantile) have no
actual function that PCs can determine, but
they conduct themselves as very important
people and demand respect as a matter of
course. There will be 2d6 of these leeches
traveling, likely by carriage (you think they’d
walk all this way or learn to ride a horse
themselves?), with one assistant for every four
of them present. The officials will themselves
stay in suites or private rooms, while the
assistants will get the common room or the
stable.
Religious Troupe
A traveling religious troupe is either a group
of pilgrims traveling to a holy site, or a low-
ranking group of monks or priests doing the
same. Very rarely should this mean a cleric-
classed character. The referee should deter-
mine exactly what god the troupe worships,
and what the relationship of that god is with
the prevalent god at the inn compound. In all,
the troupe will be 3d4 individuals staying in
the stables or the common room for 1d2 days.
Clerics (of the same god!) should be able to
find hirelings or henchmen in such a group.
Random Travelers
Sometimes, people don’t have any sort of
reason for being anywhere in particular. Inde-
pendently wealthy (or simply landless wander-
ers) out to see the world, fugitives from far-off
authority, or people merely on the way from
one place to another, these are all “random
traveler” types. It will be one person with equal
chances of staying in the stables, common
room, private room, or suite, and staying for
1d6 days. Random travelers staying in the
common room or stables are ripe for the
picking as hirelings or henchmen.
32
Spies of the Nobles
These people are on the lookout for evidence
that the innkeeper is openly defying the law of
the land (the referee can determine details as
appropriate for his campaign) as well as tax-
evading treasure collectors! These spies will
always be here under other auspices (roll again
on the table to see who they are pretending to
be), and they will be quite nosy and obtrusive
into people’s business. Mistreating these men
is a bad idea as that will bring noble troops to
teach the offenders how to properly treat their
“betters”; and if the men go missing it will
certainly bring troops to investigate and intim-
idate… PCs getting involved in the political
intrigue around the inn may be in for more than
they bargained. Keep in mind that Lawful
characters would tend to favor the side of the
nobles…
Thief
The temporary nature of inn residences makes
them a frequent target of thieves who can take
advantage of the situation. 1d4 thieves of 1d6
level each will stay at the inn for 1d6 days in
either the common room or a private room.
They will spend their time around the common
areas of the compound casing out guests (never
anyone that lives there unless they can find an
easily accessible and excessive treasure!) to
determine who has something worth stealing.
Then they will strike, grabbing all they can
while attracting no attention to themselves and
immediately leaving.
Vampire
Vampires like lodging too! This will comprise
of a couple or three strongmen on a carriage
(with one or two horses) carrying a rather large
crate. They will want either a private room or
a suite and will carry their tremendously heavy
(700+ pound) cargo to the room. They will
accept no assistance, and will be very obvious
in their wish to be left alone. Of course their
cargo is a vampire resting in its coffin, and at
night the vampire may awaken and disguise
itself as one of its followers and enjoy a night
in the tavern. Of course someone examining
all of this closely will find many suspicious
things about the group. It is recommended that
the vampire and his follower(s) not deliberately
cause trouble for their hosts, but anyone getting
too curious about this mysterious band of
travelers is in for a nasty surprise. They will
stay just the one night.
Wedding Party
For some reason, the inn the PCs are staying
at has become a popular wedding site. So a
couple of times a year, a wedding party will
descend on the inn, spreading merriment and
warm feelings to everyone! Weddings make
everyone feel more romantic so any passes
made at the barmaids will all have a +10%
bonus to reaction rolls, +20% if the effort really
does seem romantic and there have been no
previous crude attempts made by the character
on one of the staff. There will be the bride and
groom and 10d6 family and friends. The bride
and groom will each have a private room until
the wedding, after which they will have a suite
together. The family and friends will have as
many private rooms as are available, the rest
will stay in the common room. They will arrive
by private coaches (one coach per six people),
and those coach drivers will stay in the
common room. The entire party will be there
for 1d6 days before the wedding, everyone will
leave the day after except the married couple
who will remain for d10+6 days afterwards.
33
1. User and subject’s minds switch bodies.
Class, level, and magical abilities remain
with the original bodies.
2. User and subject swap genitalia.
3. Subject dies and becomes a random type of
undead creature with the original hit dice
of the subject.
4. One random ability score of the subject
increases/decreases (50% chance of each)
by d10.
5. Subject gains the ability to cast one random
Magic-User spell of a random level…
once.
6. d8 points of a random ability score transfers
from subject to user or user to subject (50%
chance of each).
7. Subject gains the ability to cast one random
Cleric spell of a random level… once.
8. Subject becomes sexually obsessed with the
user.
9. User becomes sexually obsessed with the
subject.
10. Subject turns to dry powder. When water is
added to the powder, the subject will recon-
stitute in the same condition as before.
11. Subject grows wings out of eye sockets;
may fly but is now blind.
12. Subject’s teeth fall out and are replaced
with hollow crystal teeth, each of which
contains one dose of a different random
magical potion.
13. Subject’s fingers turn to gold. They still
function, but are worth 1,000gp each if they
are severed.
14. Subject’s
weight
(but
not
size)
increases/decreases (50% of each) by
d1000%.
15. Subject is filled with magical energy. Every
time they are damaged in combat, there is
a 1% cumulative chance that they will
explode (fatal), doing d10 damage for every
hit die they possess to everyone within
30’.
16. Subject becomes able to detect magic by
sight continually.
17. Subject becomes magic dead. No spell
effect will ever work on him, good or bad,
and no magical effect of any item or area
will work for him.
18. Subject functions as a bag of holding. An
object placed in an orifice (hopefully the
mouth…) still harm the subject as normal
going in and out, but an unlimited amount
of items may be discretely stored in any
orifice without additional harm.
19. The subject’s anus completely closes up.
Every 24 hours the subject must save versus
poison or take d6 damage. Carving a new
Wand of the Weird
By James Edward Raggi IV
This item resembles a rather thick gnarled stick. It will be identifiable as a magic wand by
anyone who touches it. Any creature able to hold it and speak may use the wand. It has 5d20
charges when found, and may not be recharged.
To be used, the wand must be pointed by its user at a living creature (the “subject”). The user
may point the wand at himself. Using the wand on a non-living creature or empty space simply
wastes a charge. The wand’s range is 60’. The wand has a random effect as determined by the
following table (all results are permanent):
34
anus will cause d8 damage, but this stops
the daily damage.
20. The subject grows d6 large boils on random
parts of his body. These boils make wearing
armor (and other actions) impossible.
Cutting a boil off do d4 damage, but the
boil’s contents may then be used as a flask
of oil.
21. The subject’s eyes turn into gems worth
5,000gp each. The eyes function as normal
as long as they remain in the subject’s
head.
22. Subject becomes pregnant with user’s
child.
23. Subject’s internal organs transform to
clockwork machinery. The subject must
drink one flask of oil per day in addition to
other food requirements.
24. Subject becomes physically unable to sleep.
The subject does not lose the need to sleep,
however, and will suffer all due penalties
for lack of sleep.
25. Any woman who makes eye contact with
the subject must save versus magic or
become pregnant.
26. Every time the subject visits a new popu-
lated area for the first time, someone there
will have proof that the subject owes them
d% gold pieces.
27. Subject will automatically kill the next
enemy he hits in combat.
28. Subject will automatically be killed by the
next enemy that hits him in combat.
29. Subject loses the ability to recognize
traps.
30. The subject loses all ability to measure
time.
31. The user and subject must engage in mortal
combat – the winner permanently gains
1/10th of the other’s maximum hit points.
32. The ceiling caves in on the subject. If there
is no ceiling, a 100’ sinkhole opens up
below him.
33. 10d6 fireball hits the subject. Watch out for
that area effect!
34. Subject’s current hit points are increased
tenfold. Excess hit points above the
subject’s normal maximum can not be
healed or restored once lost.
35. Subject becomes hypersensitive to poison
and will never make a successful poison
save.
36. Subject becomes tasty to animals – any
hostile beast will attack that subject before
all others.
37. Every lover the subject ever has in the
future will be caring, respectful, doting, and
chronically and outrageously unfaithful.
38. Character’s apparent age doubles (no effect
on health or stats).
39. Life Force! Forevermore, when the subject
rolls a natural 20 in combat, they gain one
permanent hit point. When they roll a 1,
they lose a permanent hit point.
40. All subject’s magic items become disen-
chanted.
41. Subject’s nipples are replaced with mouths
which mumble incoherently at all times.
42. Subject is deemed a hostile troublemaker
by all authority figures and law enforce-
ment he encounters.
43. Subject grows (non-damaging) horns.
44. Subject becomes incontinent and will soil
himself every time he sleeps.
45. Subject gains the ability to speak with
insects.
46. Subject gains the ability to breathe water.
47. Subject gains the ability to withstand the
heat of molten lava, but is not otherwise
immune to heat.
48. Subject takes 50% more or less (50%
chance of each) damage from missile/melee
(50% of each) attacks.
49. Subject grows painful corns on his feet,
reducing movement by 25%. If the charac-
ter rides in a vehicle or on an animal, he
develops awful hemorrhoids and must rest
enough to reduce overall travel time by
25%. If the subject is willing to suffer d4
damage that day, he may move as normal.
50. Subject becomes regenerative; all healing,
magical or natural, restores 2 more points
than usual.
51. Subject’s rear end glows like a firefly’s.
35
52. Subject’s nose and mouth move to the
ankles.
53. Subject’s head moves from atop the shoul-
ders to the groin.
54. Subject’s hair becomes prehensile.
55. 1 in 1000 chance that any NPC the subject
meets will think him the Dark Messiah and
attempt to sacrifice children to him.
56. Subject grows a tail that is 10d12 inches
long. The tail is dead weight.
57. Subject’s face becomes ordinary; only a
50% chance that an NPC will ever recog-
nize him after meeting him.
58. Subject’s earlobes swell to grapefruit size
and fill with blood. Subject loses d6 hit
points, but drinking the blood from each
earlobe heals the drinker of that amount.
59. Subject’s stomach acid becomes superdi-
gestive – anything may be used for food,
but any magic potion used causes a misci-
bility table check.
60. Subject becomes repellent to fish and will
never be attacked by one, and will never
catch one.
61. Subject grows an impressive amount of
thick back hair.
62. The wand transfers to the subject’s hand.
63. The subject goes cock-eyed, and will never
hit with a ranged attack again.
64. Subject gains the ability to polymorph into
a covered wagon at will.
65. Subject becomes lucky – can declare once
per session that any one failed roll actually
succeeded.
66. Subject becomes unlucky – Referee can
declare once per session that any one suc-
cessful roll actually failed.
67. Subject becomes a lucky charm – can
declare once per session that any one failed
roll made by someone else actually suc-
ceeded.
68. Subject gains the ability to communicate
with yaks.
69. Subject suffers from communicable tone-
deafness; no musical performance will ever
sound good to anyone when the subject is
present.
70. Subject chews own lips off.
71. Subject must save versus magic to avoid the
temptation of cutting any rope encoun-
tered.
72. Soles of subject’s feet constantly bleed
slightly, leaving an obvious trail.
73. Subject gains the ability to create moving
impressionistic works of art, but is unable
to draw a straight line – the character can
no longer map.
74. A very large ferocious bear arrives and will
protect the subject from all threats –
“threats” being defined as any living crea-
ture within 100’.
75. A nasty large dragon happens by and
accuses the subject of stealing a gem worth
25,000gp. Pay up, or else!
76. The cavalry arrives! 3d10 armed men come
upon the scene and demand to know what
is happening. There are even chances that
the group will be friendly or hostile to the
subject.
77. The user’s arms fall off.
78. Subject turns into a pinecone.
79. Flash flood! Huge amount of water rushes
through the area clearing everybody and
everything out.
80. Subject’s face becomes tattooed. If the face
is skinned, the tattoos may be used as a
scroll of a random 9th level spell.
81. Subject is teleported d100 miles away in a
random direction.
82. The subject splits into d6 duplicates, all
with the same stats and equipment as the
original.
83. Subject momentarily transforms into Death.
One random character or creature within
100’ (not the subject) dies instantly and is
dragged to hell (with all their equipment).
84. Subject’s skin becomes as steel, perma-
nently improving their AC by 5 points.
85. Subject offends the God of the Dead! Any
enemy killed by the subject immediately
raises as a zombie and attempts to kill the
subject again!
36
86. Subject becomes abhorrent to horses and
can never ride one.
87. Subject gains +5 to hit and +2 to damage
with any attack – against the user only.
88. Subject gains spastic reflexes. The character
can decide on a bonus and a penalty to
initiative and to-hit rolls on any particular
round, and the total must add up to 0, but
the individual bonus and penalty may not
be 0.
89. A Greater Demon is summoned and
attempts to slay everyone in sight.
90. A giant centipede appears inside the
subject’s armor and clothing and attacks!
91. The user’s life force is trapped in a glass
bauble which appear’s in the subject’s hand.
The subject can force the user into three
conditions to spare his life, and the user
must abide by the conditions or instantly
die.
92. Subject grows an eye in the center of his
back.
93. Subject’s hair turns prehensile and is hostile
to the subject – will attempt to gouge eyes,
plug and tear ears, strangle, etc.
94. Steroid fiend: Subject gains +3 to hit and
damage due to great strength, but connect-
ing muscle tissue weakens and subject takes
1hp damage when using this strength.
95. Subject grows 35 extra toes on each foot.
Is unable to wear footwear unless custom-
made, which will cost 100gp. Per foot.
96. Nothing happens and the wand loses all
remaining charges.
97. Roll three times on this table. Subject must
choose two results.
98. Roll three times on this table. Subject must
choose one of the results.
99. Roll two times on this table; all results
happen!
100. Roll three times on this table; all results
happen!
37
House of Snails
By James Edward Raggi IV
38
Random Encounter Table, 1 in 6 chance every
other turn.
1. D6 Baby Snails: Armor as leather + shield,
Move at ¼ speed of unencumbered human,
HD 1, 6hp, #AT 1, D d4
2. Adult Snail: Armor as plate, Move at ¼
speed of unencumbered human, HD 3,
14hp, #AT 1, D d6
3. Cultists: 0 level human, 4hp, armed with
short swords.
4. Slime: Armor as chain, Move at speed of
unencumbered human, HD 2, 10hp, #AT 1,
D d6, random immunity:
1. Fire Attacks
2. Cold Attacks
3. Physical Attacks
4. Electrical Attacks
1. The pool of water here (5’ deep) has six baby
snails in it, waiting to attack anyone who
attempts to cross the water.
Baby Snails: Armor as leather + shield, Move
at ¼ speed of unencumbered human, HD 1,
6hp, #AT 1, D d4
2. The lever in this room closes the rightmost
portcullis in location #12.
3. The lever here raises the leftmost portcullis
in location #12.
4. An adult snail lairs in the water here (5’
deep), waiting to attack anyone who attempts
to cross the water.
Adult Snails: Armor as plate, Move at ¼ speed
of unencumbered human, HD 3, 14hp, #AT 1,
D d6
5. Buried in the collapsed tunnel is a skeleton
wearing a gold ring (250gp value). It takes 2
turns of digging to find the skeleton.
6. The lever in this room closes the uppermost
portcullis in location #12.
7. There will be an automatic random encoun-
ter here.
The lever in this room lowers the leftmost
portcullis in location #12.
8. There will be an automatic random encoun-
ter here.
9. The lever here raises the uppermost portcul-
lis in location #12.
10. In this room is a trapped chest (poison
needle) containing a pile of pearls worth
1,000gp.
11. The lever in this room raises the rightmost
portcullis in location #12.
12. This intersection has portcullises in the
passageways leading left, right, and forward
(if looking at the map head-on). When the
adventure starts, all of these portcullises are
down.
13. There is an automatic random encounter in
this room.
14. The 5’ deep pool of water houses an adult
snail which will attack any who enter the pool.
There is a gem fastened into the end of the
passage worth 500gp. If it is removed, a chunk
of the ceiling will fall, doing 2d6 damage to
anyone here who fails a save versus breath
weapon.
Adult Snail: Armor as plate, Move at ¼ speed
of unencumbered human, HD 3, 14hp, #AT 1,
D d6
15. This door is trapped; any who attempt to
open it without the proper key is zapped for d6
damage and must make a save versus paralyz-
ation to actually open the door.
39
16. Against the wall here is a carving of a giant
conch shell. Inside the shell is a gem worth
500gp, but it is enclosed in a glass case which
is connected to the shell. To see this, one must
crawl inside and go around the coiling interior
of the shell.
The glass case twists off of the shell. If twisted
counterclockwise, it is easily removed. If
twisted clockwise, pores in the stone of the
giant carving emit a glue which fastens every-
thing to the stone for 48 hours. The only way
to free a trapped character is to destroy the
stone carving which will destroy the glass, the
gem, and do d8 damage to the character.
17. This room contains a pedestal with an
obvious pressure plate on it. There is nothing
currently placed on it.
If anything 5 pounds or heavier is placed on it,
the ceiling opens and thirty baby snails roll
down into the room ready to feed.
Baby Snails: Armor as leather + shield, Move
at ¼ speed of unencumbered human, HD 1,
6hp, #AT 1, D d4
18. Two adult snails lair in this 5’ pool, ready
to feed on any who intrude.
Adult Snail: Armor as plate, Move at ¼ speed
of unencumbered human, HD 3, 14hp, #AT 1,
D d6
19. Here is a large mound, atop rests a large
snail with a shell made of mother-of-pearl. The
shell, if undamaged, is worth 10,000gp. Each
attack made against it that misses still chips it
a bit, lowering its value by 100gp. A successful
attack lowers its value by 1,000gp. The snail
will not move from the mound but will attack
any who approach.
Four cultists are also here and they will be
hostile.
In front of the mound are four levers. These
work the three portcullises at location #12 as
well as a locking mechanism for the entrance
door of the dungeon.
Cultists: 0 level human, 4hp, armed with short
swords.
Large Snail: Armor as plate + shield + 2, Move
at ¼ speed of unencumbered human, HD 5,
27hp, #AT 1, D d8
40
The Frog Cult
By James Edward Raggi IV
41
This was a quick adventure I whipped up one
afternoon. The idea is that a village has had
some young people disappear lately, and are
looking for someone to investigate. A few
miles from the village is an old ruined church
on the south shore of a lake.
1. This old church lies in ruins, its walls barely
holding up. The altar has been broken.
2. This is an old barn. Fresh hay is scattered
about. Two ghouls are in the hay and will
attack when anyone walks within reach unless
they wear the robes of the frog cult. A trapdoor
leading into the dungeon (by way of a tunnel
leading under the lake) is hidden under the hay..
Ghouls: Armor as chain, Move as unencum-
bered man, HD 2, 10hp, #AT 3, D d3/d3/d6 +
paralysis, has usual undead immunities.
Random Dungeon Encounters
1 in 6 chance every 3 turns
1. d8 cultists – unarmored men, 0 level, 3hp,
armed with daggers
2. d4 giant frogs - Giant Frogs: Armor as
shield only, Move as unencumbered man,
HD 2, 9hp, #AT 1, D d6. Can hop up to 40’
to attack.
3. Green Slime
4. Giant Rats - Unarmored, move half again
as fast as unarmored man, HD ½, 2hp, #AT
1, D d4
5. The Stalking Man – Armor as leather +
shield, Move as unarmored man, HD 5,
30hp, #AT 1, D d8. Made of shadows,
surprises 4 in 6, magic weapons needed to
hit
6. Vipers – Unarmored, move half as fast as
unarmored man, HD ½, 2hp, #AT 1, D
Poison
3. This room’s ceiling sags, dripping. Drip.
Drip. Drip.
Every door in the dungeon has a little “froggy”
pet door. Halflings may crawl through them if
they first shed their equipment, but no others
can. All wandering monsters except the cultists
use the froggy doors when moving about.
4. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.
It has topaz eyes (25gp each).
5. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.
It has glass eyes, which explode for d6 damage
to all within 10’ (save versus breath weapon
for half damage) if there is an attempt to
remove them.
6. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.
There are no eyes in the statue’s sockets, and
if eyes are put in, the character putting the eyes
there gains a permanent +1 to a random ability
score.
7. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.
The frog’s head is able to be twisted off. Inside
the statue is a sack with 4000gp in it.
8. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.
The mouth is closed but has obvious hinges. If
the mouth is opened, a Clerical scroll with two
first level spells and one second level spell can
be found.
There are also three giant frogs that inhabit the
room.
Giant Frogs: Armor as shield only, Move as
unencumbered man, HD 2, 9hp, #AT 1, D d6.
Can hop up to 40’ to attack.
9. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.
The frog’s head is able to be twisted off. Inside
the statue is a colony of BEES! If the head is
taken off, the bees will flood the room, stinging
all within it. Anyone in the area must save
versus breath weapon or suffer a -1 Dexterity
modifier (AC, missile attacks, initiative).
Those that fail this saving throw must also
42
make a save against poison or take d6 damage
(if the roll is a natural 1, d8).
10. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.
There are no eyes in the statue’s sockets, and
if eyes are put in, lasers shoot out of the new
eyes. Anyone looking in that direction must
save versus paralyzation or become blind for
d6 days.
11. The room contains a 6’ granite frog statue.
The mouth is closed but has obvious hinges. If
the mouth is opened, a poison needle will shoot
out (save versus poison or die).
12. A small pile of bones (which look partially
melted about the edges) and clumps of random
metal can be found here. Valuable metals add
up to 28gp, 49sp, 32gp, and a gem worth 50gp.
13. A gelatinous cube is here in the intersec-
tion. Because the entire dungeon is damp and
slimy, there is a 4 in 6 chance that characters
will not notice the cube until literally walking
into it.
Gelatinous Cube: Armor as chain, Move at half
the speed on an unencumbered man, HD 4,
20hp, #AT 1, D 2d4 + paralysis.
14. At the end of the room is a relief sculpture
of an open-mouthed frog’s head which takes
up the entire wall. If the eyes are pressed, green
slime will shoot out the mouth onto anyone in
front of the carving.
15. At the end of the room is a relief sculpture
of an open-mouthed frog’s head which takes
up the entire wall. In the mouth is a gemstone.
If the gem is pulled out of its socket, the mouth
will snap shut doing d6 damage if any body
part is inside. The “gem” is actually made of
glass and is worth 1gp.
16. At the end of the room is a relief sculpture
of an open-mouthed frog’s head which takes
up the entire wall. If the eyes are pressed, the
secret door will open.
17. This is a frog den. Hundreds of normal
frogs infest the area, and ten giant frogs lair
here and will be hostile to intruders.
Giant Frogs: Armor as shield only, Move as
unencumbered man, HD 2, 9hp, #AT 1, D d6.
Can hop up to 40’ to attack.
18. A creature made up of a mass of tentacles,
with eyes on them where the suckers should
be, dwells under the water and will attack all
entering this area.
Tentacle Eye Creature: Armor as leather +
shield,
Move
as
unencumbered
man
(swimming only), HD 4, 26hp. #AT 3, D
d4/d4/d4.
19. Odd flowers poke out from the water here.
If the flowers are sniffed, the sniffer needs to
roll on the following table. If the flowers are
violently handled, then the pollen puffs
through the room and everyone in the area
needs to save versus poison or suffer a random
fate from the table.
1. Poison – death!
2. +1 to random attribute
3. -1 to random attribute
4. Joints swell; -50% movement rate for next
24 hours
5. Great stink, eyes water. Character will be
able to surprise no-one, and no human or
demi-human will be willing to be near them
for 24 hours.
6. Bleeds from eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
20. Mudslide! Characters attempting this
incline must save versus paralysis or slide back
down to the west. Failing to save causes d6
damage as sharp rocks under the water inflict
harm.
43
21. This room is a giant dung pile, with a giant
dung beetle lairing here. Buried in the dung is
a small gold ingot worth 250gp.
Giant Dung Beetle: Armor as chain, Move half
as fast as unencumbered man, HD 2, 12hp,
#AT 1, D d6. When the beetle is killed it will
explode with a methane blast – d6 damage to
all within 20’, save versus breath weapon for
half damage.
22. Two giant oysters are found here. Each
oyster has a pearl worth 250gp within it.
Giant Oysters: Armor as plate, no movement,
HD 3, 20hp, #AT 1, d6 damage
23. At the end of the room is a relief sculpture
of an open-mouthed frog’s head which takes
up the entire wall. If meat of any sort is put in
the mouth, the secret door will open.
24. The gated door is locked. In this room are
eighteen prisoners. (0 level, 1hp each)
25. The entire room is basically a 10’ deep pit.
At floor level of the corridors leading to the
room is a rope mesh which is fastened to hooks
around the edges of the room. Hundreds of
poisonous snakes slither down on the floor.
The “rope” is actually strangleweed which will
attempt to kill anyone who travels upon it more
than 10’ away from the entry corridors. If the
strangleweed is killed, it collapses and anyone
on it drops into the snakes.
Strangleweed: As unarmored man, HD 6,
36hp, #AT 1, D d6/round
26. In the ceiling is a shaft going up about 30’
to a dead end. Anyone spending a minute to
look up this shaft will get hit by falling green
slime.
27. This room is where the toad cult worships.
The chanting can be heard from beyond the
door.
A giant toad statue dominates the south part of
the room. Torches mounted on the wall on
either side of the toad provides light. In this
room are Talor Chaney, the cult leader, Brute
Grimm, his enforcer, and four cultists. They
will take any intrusion ungraciously, but will
prefer to capture and enslave (prisoners will be
taken to location #24) rather than kill.
The pit has a great metal plug upon it, with a
chain running from the top of it to the ceiling
and further to a giant crank against the east
wall. It takes 3 rounds to open (or close) the
plug. If the plug is opened, 4 rounds later the
Thing from the Pit will crawl out and attempt
to kill everyone it encounters. If things are
looking bad, Grimm will drop everything else
and attempt to open the pit.
Cultists: 0 level men, hp 3 each, unarmored
and armed with daggers.
They wear simple hooded robes.
Brute Grimm: Fighter level 3, 20hp, Chain
mail, sword, short bow.
Grimm is a giant, imposing figure (Str 17) and
wears a full-face mask to cover the horrible
wounds he once suffered (a morning star
completely destroyed his face). He is not able
to speak and is fanatically devoted to Chaney
as Chaney is the only person (that acts as if)
not disgusted by his face..
Talor Chaney: Cleric level 3, unarmored,
armed with a mace.
He wears simple hooded robes. He wears two
rings: One is Ring of Plant Hardening, which
paralyzes plants. He uses this to allow passage
across location #25. The other ring has a small
ruby in it and is worth 500gp.
44
The Thing in the Pit: Armor as chain and
shield, Movement half as fast as unencumbered
man, HD 8, 49hp, #AT 3, D d8/d8/d10
This looks like a giant man-frog.
28. This tunnel leads to the opposite side of the
lake and is a way out.
45
The Room of Four Pits
By Ramsey Dow
Four ten-foot wide passages converge on this
thirty-foot square chamber. Each passage
enters through an archway decorated with
carvings and reliefs of monsters, both strange
and sinister. The ceilings of the passages are
ten feet high, while the arches are seven feet
high. Other than the carvings, the arches are
nondescript. A single step down serves as the
threshold of the chamber from any of the
passages.
The chamber is plain, having the same roughly
hewn stone walls and ceiling as the passages
that preclude it. Notably, there are four open-
faced pits, one to each corner. Ten feet to a
side, the pits appear to be identical. Looking
over the edge into any one the pits will reveal
that it is thirty-feet deep and inhabited by
horrible creatures of some sort. Precisely how
much can be gleaned will depend upon the
quality and position of the party's light sources.
At the center of the chamber is a twenty-foot
square pressure plate. Indistinguishable from
the floor, the plate will be activated as soon as
one hundred pounds of weight is placed upon
it. Once activated, iron portcullises will drop,
simultaneously barring escape through any of
the chamber's four archways. The sound of
stone grating upon stone will be heard as the
floor of the chamber begins to sink, slowly and
inexorably, to the floor-level of the pits. It will
reach bottom in three rounds. A Magic Mouth,
its breath spewing phantasmal fog, will appear
at the center of the ceiling and intone:
My step is slow / the snow's my breath
I give the ground / a grinding death
My marching / makes an end of me
Slain by sun / or drowned in sea.
What am I?
The correct answer is "a glacier." If the riddle
is not answered correctly before three rounds
have elapsed, the elevator floor will reach
bottom and the creatures from the pits will spill
forth and attack. If the riddle is answered, the
elevator floor will cease its descent and begin
to slowly rise. The portcullises will raise once
the floor has returned to its original position,
allowing the player characters to continue
onward. It should be noted that this trap will
not reset itself if the monsters are released from
the pits. In such a case, the sprung trap will
serve as a new obstacle in the dungeon.
Player characters may seek to hang on to one
of the lowered portcullises as the floor sinks.
This is inadvisable for any number of reasons.
The ledges between the bars and the sinking
floor are narrow and provide little in the way
of footing. Moreover, clinging to the bars will
prove uncomfortable. It will be difficult for
player character to do much of anything in this
position. All the while, ravenous monsters will
be eyeballing perched characters, seeking ways
to reach and kill them. Falling to the floor,
thirty feet below, will cause 3d6 points of
damage, and if the fall does not kill them, then
the monsters surely will.
It is possible to circumnavigate the pressure
plate by leaping across the corner of one of the
four pits. The crumbling and otherwise danger-
ous nature of this place dictates that a success-
ful dexterity check be made to avoid falling
into the pit. Such an accident will cause 3d6
46
points of falling damage to be inflicted. Fur-
thermore, exposure to the creatures within will
almost certainly be fatal.
The nature of the creatures within the pits is
left to the imagination of the Game Master.
Giant tarantulas were used in this chamber's
original incarnation. The players successfully
answered the riddle and avoided an unseemly
death. Will your players be so lucky?
47
The Sneaky Book Room
By James Brian Murphy
This room is a simple 50’ x 50’ room with the
corners cut at 40-degree angles to make it
octagonal. There’s a door in each of the non-
cardinal walls. Each cardinal wall has an
ornate, voluptuous holder of orichalcum pro-
jecting from the wall that cradles a sphere of
liquid that emits a cool, silvery glow. Each is
brighter than the full moon, emits enough light
to see 30’ by and does not disrupt infravision.
The combined light of any two is enough to
read by. The liquid will continue to glow for
12 hours after being removed from the room.
In the center of the room is an orichalcum
reading podium, shaped like skulls trapped in
a blooming rose bush. Chained to the stand and
open atop it is a thin folio volume. The outer
cover is of battered serpent’s hide, the pages
faded and dog-eared with time.
Anyone perusing the book idly or skimming
its contents must save vs. spells (Wisdom
adjusts) at each page or find themselves irre-
sistibly compelled to read that page.
(Obviously, no roll is required for someone
who is reading it.) The effects of reading a page
should be randomly determined as follows,
with no results duplicated:
1. Reader affected as if by a curse spell.
2. All of a character’s coins that are not silver
pieces turn into silver pieces.
3. Reading character goes through a painful
transformation that has a pair of spiral ram’s
horns sprout from the skull. Lose 2 hit
points but is treated as if wearing always
wearing a helm. A remove curse will undo
this transformation.
4. 1d4 red slaadi are summoned into the room.
They immediately attack the party, but each
vanishes if it manages to imbed its egg-
pellets into a victim.
5. Character goes through a painful process
that transforms their head into that of a bat.
They acquire the power to “see” through
echolocation (range up to 60’), lose 1d4 hit
points and permanently lose a point of
Charisma. This can be undone by a Dispel
Magic against level 16 or a Bless spell from
a Lawful cleric of 12th level or higher.
6. An exact copy of the reader leaps from the
book and attacks the reader. Any attacks
unleashed by allies at either version of the
character deal damage to the original if the
damage die roll is odd and to the copy of
the damage die rolls even, no matter who
they were attacking or how careful they are
to not hurt the original. If the original dies,
the copy explodes, dealing 3d6 damage to
all in the room. If the copy dies, it begins
to rot immediately, causing a horrible
stench that results in a -1 to all die rolls
while the PCs remain in the room. In either
case, the bodies of the slain will have all the
reader’s mundane equipment, but all magic
items will have vanished.
7. Through a painful process, the reader per-
manently loses one hit point. However, one
dagger or knife in their possession gains a
permanent +1 enchantment. (If it was
already magical, it’s bonus to hit and
damage increases by one.)
8. The reader’s hair turns to bright, green
leaves. Every hour the character spends
with their leafy hair exposed to the sun
heals them one hit point, up to their usual
maximum. In autumn, the leaves will turn
48
a brilliant, blood red, then brown. In winter,
they will all fall out and the PC will lose the
extra healing ability. In spring, their hair
will grow back as before, but with a forest-
green streak in it.
Add more as needed. If the book is closed, the
pages randomly reshuffle and reset; closing the
book and then reading it again is the only way
have a result happen more than once. The book
only works so long as it is attached by the chain
to the pedestal.
There should be one page per level of the
dungeon. As each page is turned, the room rises
or sinks imperceptibly by teleportation to the
next lower level (or higher if the pages are
turned left-to-right). If the book is closed, the
room’s doors will open out onto your setting’s
version of the land of the dead (or perhaps the
banks of the river Styx if you’re using the
classic Wheel). If the book is removed from its
chain, the room will be teleported to whatever
punishment awaits thieves after death (or a
random level of the Abyss). Replacing the
book and casting Bless on it or sprinkling holy
water across the cover is the only way to return
the room to its original plane.
49
The Child
By Zak Sabbath
The child is just a lone child, 6 – 9 years old,
ordinary in nearly every way. S/he will be
encountered alone deep within a dungeon, or
in some other place far from civilization. The
child will act as though it's essentially amnesi-
ac, though otherwise it will appear healthy. He
or she will not remember how s/he got there.
S/he may have a few obscure phobias triggered
by local wildlife or monsters and may or may
not remember one or two cryptic images.
The trouble comes from the fact that the PCs
know they are playing a fantasy RPG, and so
the child is automatically suspicious. If the
child is ignored, it will follow the PCs (perhaps
at a distance). No matter how far the PCs
travel, it will pop up again. It will do nothing
offensive.
If the PCs adopt the child, it will at all times
appear entirely, and eerily, innocent, polite,
and ordinary. The PCs will probably want to
keep an eye on it while they're resting, but it
sleeps just like any other child. It will do its
best to defend itself or hide during combat.
If the PCs reach civilization and try to pawn it
off on a relative or friendly NPC, they will
soon find the child following them again a few
days later. There is nothing supernatural about
this (it seems), the child is just terribly stub-
born, and likes the PCs.
If the child is slain, however, a terrible trans-
formation will occur. The precise nature of this
change is entirely at the Referee's discretion.
The child will return as a vengeful, grey-eyed
revenant bent on throttling the PCs in their
sleep, an incubating abomination will emerge
from the child's body, a demon trapped in the
child will be set loose, etc.
Defeating whatever the child transforms into
will cause the thing to die, and then, a few
weeks later, turn into a new child (different in
appearance, but likewise amnesiac) and the
process begins all over again.
If the PCs can keep the child alive for a very
long time (Referee's discretion--for a game-
year, for a real-time year, for 5 levels, whatev-
er) the child reveals itself to be a disguised god
of some sort, bent on testing them, and will
reward them.
50
The precise purpose of this item is unknown.
(Actually, the purpose of this item is to quickly
introduce new people to the game--in the sense
of both "quickly introduce new players to the
way the game works" and "quickly introduce
those players' new characters in the middle of
a dungeon at the beginning of a session where
the original PCs are about to get into a fight
with something they ran into at the cliffhanger
ending of the last session".)
The cube-shaped (or oblong, or whatever) box
is made of glass--2 inches tall on each side--
and has gems set into five of the sides. The
gems, set one to a side, are black, red, green,
white, and blue. Inside the box is a scale model
of an existing chamber somewhere in
Maleketh's dungeon.
(Whatever chamber the original PCs and their
foe/foes were about to fight in when the last
session ended.)
The real chamber will have an alcove attached
to it.
(The alcove is where the new PCs wake up.)
The Chamber and the Glass
Box
By Zak Sabbath
51
Inside the box are tiny and fully-functioning
scale replicas of everyone and everything in
the chamber.
(Namely, the original PCs and the monster or
monsters they were about to fight)
The actions and movements inside the box
correspond precisely to whatever is happening
inside the chamber.
(Which will be obvious to the newly-arrived
PCs because they will wake up with the box
lying within reach and they will be able to see
out of their alcove and into the replicated
chamber through the gaps in a steel grate that
separates the chamber from the alcove.)
Touching the gems will cause various events
to occur:
Touching the green gem will open or close the
grate separating the chamber and the alcove.
(The new PCs will eventually figure out they
have a choice about whether to get into the
fight immediately.)
Touching the blue gem will move each indi-
vidual in the chamber (i.e., in the fight) to the
position occupied by the next individual in the
chamber clockwise from him or her.
(In the right hands, this can be devastating, but
more importantly, it'll teach the new PCs
something about how combat works.)
Touching the red gem will heal everyone in the
chamber for one hit point of damage. This
effect only works once every 24 hours.
(This might keep your new PCs from dying
immediately. It might also bring the monsters
back from the dead if they get knocked uncon-
scious and then somebody starts thinking "Now
what does this box do....")
Touching the white gem will turn every living
thing in the chamber invisible--and close the
steel grate if it's not already closed.
(Which might be good for a laugh.)
Touching the black gem will cause a trap door
in the ceiling of the alcove to open and cause
an unconscious civilian to fall through.
(So that's how we ended up here.)
The box and associated chamber may have
other secrets as well.
(But that's probably enough to keep them busy
for the first session.)
52
1.
The outside to this small construct is approxi-
mately 25’ x 25’ with a small set of steps
leading to an unlocked door. The inside is a
dusty bare 20’ x 20’ room with hairline cracks
lining the walls. There is a door to the north.
This is not a back door! Well, it IS a back door,
so to speak, but it doesn’t lead to the back of
the tomb.
Once opened, it triggers a poorly designed
teleportation portal, sending everything within
Area 1 to a crypt buried roughly 100ft below
the surface, right under the tomb. The telepor-
tation might be a deadly one. Roll the percen-
tile dice for EACH character as if the teleporter
was not thoroughly familiar with the area.
01-80: On Target
81-90: 1d10 x 10’ too high
90-00: Teleported into the ground. K i l l e d
instantly.
The ceiling in Area 2 is 15’ high, so if a
character is teleported higher than 10’, he will
be dead.
2.
The characters find themselves within a 10’
wide x 15’ high smooth stone hallway. It is
magically lit with a dim green glow. Going
north about 20’, the area leads to a hall that is
covered completely – walls, ceiling, floor –
with hundreds of detailed faces carved into the
stone. The faces range from every creature
imaginable, such as orcs, frogs, troglodytes,
gnolls, dragons, mules, goblins, sharks, trolls,
wolves, etc, etc, etc.
Once the characters approach within 5’ of the
hall o’ faces, the carved faces noticeably turn
their eyes toward them. Characters who attempt
to walk through the hall will sustain 6d4 bites
for 1d4 damage with each bite.
For every 4 bites a character receives, roll the
percentile dice.
Character steps on a…
The Tomb to Die For/In
By R. Lawrence Blake
01 -
20
Normal/Non Harmful face
21 -
25
Vampire face. Drains 2 energy levels.
26 -
30
Ghoul face. Save vs. Paralyze or become
paralyzed for 2d4 turns. Paralyzed characters
will receive 2d4 automatic bite damage per
round unless they can be moved.
31 -
35
Shadow face: Lose one point of Strength
for 8 turns.
36 -
40
Giant Rat face: Disease. Save vs. Poison or
die in 1d6 days. Success means character is
horribly ill for 30 days, afterward has a
25% chance of death.
41 -
45
Medusa face: Additional 1d6 damage from
snake hair. Save vs. Poison or die on 1 turn.
Additional damage gives a 50% chance that
the character will look down at the medusa
face (Save vs. Petrify or turn to stone).
46 -
50
Werewolf face: Save vs. Poison/Death or
become a werewolf in 2d6 days. Non
humans will simply die from the disease.
51 -
60
Purple Worm face: 30% chance of
swallowing leg whole causing an additional
1d6 damage per round unless can pull free
with successful Strength check.
61 -
65
Kitten face: Face makes a loud, painfully
sad “meow” sound, causing the character to
feel bad for 2d4 turns.
66 -
70
Gorgon face: Will use breath weapon. Save
vs. Petrify of turn to stone.
53
54
71 - 75 Rust Monster face: Any type of
metal armor covering the shin and
under will turn to rust (or lose a
magical bonus).
76 - 80 Giant Rattlesnake face: Save vs.
Poison or die in 1d6 turns.
81 - 85 Troll face: Extra hard bite for 1d10
damage.
86 - 90 Fire Salamander face: Additional
1d8 heat damage.
91 - 95 Mummy face: Character contracts
mummy rot.
96 - 100 Cursed human face: Explodes like a
mine for 5d6 damage.
Characters can step on the same type of face
more than once.
Characters attempting to fly through the hall
will be hit with a breath weapon from a Blue
Dragon face (located on the west wall) for 45
damage (save for half). Even if none of the
characters try to fly through, there is still a 50%
chance that the dragon will blast a random
character.
Refereees are encouraged to come up with
other faces with which to torture the characters.
Other types of breath weapons or even psionics
could be used.
The hall o’ faces is roughly 60ft long and ends
at a 10’ x 20’ smooth area with a door on the
north wall.
3.
This 30’ x 30’ room has a sparkling green
fist-sized gem resting on a 4’ pedestal located
dead center within this area. Two human sized
beings wearing plate armor are standing side
by side in front of the pedestal, weapons drawn.
These two were once adventurers who were
unfortunate in finding this green gem. The
green gem’s magic turned their plate armor
into Armor Golems to stand guard over the
area. Unable to break free from their own
armor, the adventurers eventually died. Now
the Armor Golems still stand here as guards,
ready to attack anyone who approaches.
Armor Golem stats: AC: as Plate + Shield, HD:
10, HP: 80 each, #AT: 1 (weapon), D one has
+3 longsword, other has +2 war hammer.
Any character that gets within 5’ of the gem
could be affected by the gem’s magic if they
are wearing the following armor: banded,
chain, plate or splint. The character’s armor
will become an Armor Golem (AC will go by
armor type plus any possible magical bonuses,
HD: 10, HP: 80). The character will be trapped
within as the golem will use its most powerful
weapon to attack the party. Note that the party
will have no idea why their own party member
is attacking them (but may assume a magical
curse or such).
The Armor Golem cannot be dispelled, only
destroyed. Damage dealt to the Armor Golem
will be divided between it and the character
inside the armor. Also, like other golems,
Armor Golems aren’t affected by hold, sleep,
or charm spells, nor are they affected by poison
or gas.
If a golem is defeated, the armor will be too
damaged to be of any use.
The gem’s power is sustained by the pedestal.
If removed, it becomes a normal gem worth
about 500gp. If the pedestal is broken off from
its location it loses its power, becoming useless.
4.
A desk rests in the southeast corner of the
room. A robed skeletal figure sits slumped over
the desk. Dusty scrolls and books are piled on
top of the desk and around the figure. Most of
the scrolls are useless, but a couple contain
some mid-level spells and one is cursed. A
book can be found under one of the skeletal
figure’s hand. It is closed and appears to
possibly be a spell book.
55
If opened, the character must save vs. magic
with a -3 penalty or be struck with short-term
memory loss. Spells will instantly be forgotten
and cannot be relearned. Experience also
cannot be gained for killing creatures while
under this effect. The only thing that can cure
the short-term memory is by using the Dispel
Magic spell found within the cursed book!
First, a Dispel Magic or Remove Curse must
be used on the book so that it may be opened
safely. Once it is opened, the spell caster must
read the Dispel Magic spell directly from the
book to negate effects of the short-term
memory.
The only other spells in the book are Light and
Infravision. The robed skeletal figure is harm-
less.
5.
Midway into this 45’-long hall, the characters
see hundreds of fine steel strings attached to
the ceiling, covering a 5ft area. Each string
hangs down to the floor, affixed and stretched
tightly. The number of strings that stretch from
ceiling to floor is 500. It appears that the
characters would not be able to pass through
the mass of steel strings.
The floor to where the strings are supposedly
attached is actually an illusion, masking a 30’
deep pit. The steel strings hang 20’ into the pit,
each with a sharp hook attached.
The illusion cannot be detected. In fact, the trap
has a type of False Seeing magic cast on it so
that if a character is to use a True Seeing spell
or device, the floor will appear sturdy and the
strings will vanish! Characters who might
throw a stone (or whatever) to where the strings
seem attached, will see the item disappear (it
actually fell through the illusion).
If a character falls through the illusionary floor,
he will get snagged by 10 – 200 (2d20 x 5)
hooks, causing ½ damage per hook (round up).
If a character is snagged by 25 hooks or more,
the character will be suspended and will lose
2d6 damage per round until he can be hoisted
back up and have the hooks removed. The
hooks are barbed, causing an additional ½
damage per hook when removed (round up).
If less than 25 hooks snag the character, he’ll
hit the pit bottom for 3d6 additional damage.
At the end of this hall is a 4ft opening on the
west wall that drops characters 10’ into Area
6.
6.
The characters drop down into a 30’ x 15’ area.
At first glance this area seems to be an empty
chamber, but easily discoverable grooves along
the angles of the north wall show that the entire
wall is a concealed sliding door. Characters
may push the north wall inward rather easily.
15’ in, there is a opening to the east and a secret
door to the west.
The giant sliding wall is actually a trap and two
things will set it off. One is if a character (only
one needed) enters the opening to the east. The
other is if the characters continue to push the
wall inward 25’. When one of these two things
happen, the wall will suddenly push back with
ferocious force all the way back to the southern
wall, smashing the characters for 2d6 x 10
damage. Any held items must save or shatter.
The wall will then reposition itself to the 15’
mark. It may be moved again in 24 hours.
Any character that jumped into the opening
will now be trapped within a 10’ x 5’ area.
There is a door to the east. Opening the door
releases a gas in which a character must Save
vs. Poison or go blind. After the gas is released,
a Spectre will emerge from the room and
attack. If the spectre kills the character, there
will be just enough time for the character to
turn into a new spectre before the characters
are able to push the wall in for the rescue.
56
The secret door leads to Area 8.
7.
To the north of this T-shaped chamber, the wall
is inlaid with exactly 100 green gems. They
cover an area of 20’ x 5’ (5 rows, 20 columns
of gems) in the center of the north wall.
In front of the gem-filled wall is a skeleton
wearing a long coat and a weathered top hat.
As if he were a ring leader in a circus, the
skeleton explains to the characters that one
particular gem on this wall is worth enough to
send a character straight into retirement. They
may gamble on winning this prize by choosing
up to three gems. However, be warned that the
others have magical effects to counter the
reward of such a valuable gem – possible harm
or even death!
The skeleton will simply act as a belligerent
host. While it only has 8 hit points, it can cast
a 20 HD fireball twice a day. If the characters
begin choosing gems off the wall, the skeleton
will mock and laugh at any harmful effects
which befall them. The skeleton does not know
where or how to get the prized gem.
The magical effects are random, constantly
switching throughout the gems. One gem is
indeed
worth
a
ridiculous
amount:
1,500,000gp, but like the others, it is never in
the same place. The other gems, once their
magic has been spent, are worth 100 gps.
Roll on the following tables for the gems’
magical effects. Note that other than the
“prize” gem, the same magical effect can
happen more then once.
Table 1 (d100)
01 - 10
Continual Light is cast on the character.
11 - 20
Quest-like spell overcomes the character
for the need to acquire a wild saber tooth
tiger as a pet.
21 - 30
Roll on reincarnation table. Character
turns to whatever is rolled.
31 - 40
Character sweat is forever equal to that
of a Troglodyte causing the party
(including the character) to save vs.
poison once per day they are around him
or suffer a -2 on attack rolls.
41 - 50
If fighting a group of 3 or more
adversaries, the character must save vs.
spells or become confused (like spell).
51 - 60
Character gains ability to breath under
water, but has a 70% chance of attracting
giant leeches, giant piranhas, or great
white sharks.
61 -70
Character is able to speak most
humanoid languages (orc, goblin, knoll,
kobold, etc), but everything said in these
languages always seem to come out as an
insult.
71 - 80
Character is colorblind.
81 - 90
Character gains permanent ability to
resist fire (as spell), but will take double
damage on all cold based attacks.
91 - 100 Roll on TABLE 2
TABLE 2 (d100)
01 - 20
Armor begins to shrink to doll size. First
round, character takes 1d6 damage.
Second round, character takes 3d6
damage. Character is crushed to death by
round 3.
21 - 40
Crippling arthritis causes character to
suffer -4 to hit and damage.
41 - 60
Character develops insatiable hunger for
live rot grubs.
61 - 80
Any armor or weapon the character pos-
sesses with a magical bonus now becomes
cursed with opposite negative numbers (ie:
a +2 flail becomes a cursed -2 flail).
81 - 100 Roll on TABLE 3
57
NOTE: If a character attempts to take more
than 3 gems, see TABLE 3: 1 – 3.
If one or more characters have chosen at least
one gem, and when they are finished picking
(they don’t have to take 3 gems, and after they
take even one, they can choose to stop), the
skeleton will offer to open up the northern wall
for the characters to pass. The area where the
gems are inlaid will open up to Area 9.
Only the skeleton knows how to open the
sliding wall.
If the characters refuse to pick a gem, the
skeleton will belittle them and not even
mention that secret door. If the characters do
not leave after a few rounds and intrude on the
area by checking for secret doors or traps, it
will earn them a 20 HD fireball.
8.
The secret door from Area 6 leads to a stone
stairway that descends 60’ to a 5’ x 5’ area
covered in large poisonous iron spikes.
Heading west is another (identical) stairway
that leads up 60’ to a door.
If the characters open the door, a Phantasmal
Killer (illusionary horror) will appear. Charac-
ters must save vs. spells or die from fright.
Those who make the save will be stricken with
fear and will attempt to run at full speed down
the stairs. All characters who do this must
make a Dexterity check with a -4 penalty or
fall down the stairs for 6d6 damage plus an
additional 1d6 damage for the spikes at the
bottom. Characters must save vs. poison or die.
Even if characters make the Dexterity check,
they have a 75% chance of hitting a spike as
they run through.
The Phantasmal Killer will disappear unless
the door is shut and reopened. The door is a
one-way door (not detectable from the other
side) that leads to area 10, right into the
continual darkness part of the area.
9.
Halfway down this enormous hall, characters
notice that the area becomes unnaturally pitch
black. This is a continual darkness spell. The
magic that holds the darkness spell is tied to a
magical bond that holds the structure of the hall
together. If the darkness is dispelled, characters
will hear a slight rumbling. After 10 seconds,
large portions of the hallway will collapse.
Characters must save vs. petrify or suffer 5d10
damage. Damage is halved by a successful save.
The fallen debris is covered in yellow mold,
and such a fall will send spores throughout the
entire area.
There are double doors to the north.
10.
This 30ft tall round chamber has a large 8’ tall
stone chest toward the north. Standing in front
of the chest is a 16ft tall humanoid beast with
a sword. The beast has a terrible smell and stark
white eyes. This beast is an undead giant of
some sort (AC:as Plate + Shield + 6, HD: 14,
HP: 87) that has two attacks per round. One is
its sword in which the creature has a +2 to hit
and does 3d10 damage per strike. The other is
a belching, gaseous breath weapon that covers
a 60’ radius. Characters caught in this attack
must save vs. breath weapon or become vio-
lently sick for 3d4 turns. Characters under this
effect cannot attack or cast spells.
The characters will have no idea that this
creature is actually undead, but if they do, the
TABLE 3 (d4)
1 - 3
Character explodes. All party members
within 60’ must save vs. petrify or take 3 –
30 debris damage (save takes half damage).
4
Prize gem worth 1,500,000gp. Kiss this party
goodbye and have fun at the beach.
58
creature’s weakness might be found: it turns
as a 1 HD monster.
Within the giant chest (8’ high, 10’ long, 8’
deep) is a pile of gold and silver (15,500 gp,
22,000 sp) as well as a large sword sticking up,
straight out of the top of the coins. The sword
is a two-handed sword +3. To pull it out a
character must stand on the coins and pull hard.
This releases a false bottom of the chest,
dropping the character and all the treasure 60’
into a giant lake (4d6 fall damage). This lake
is in the middle of a large cavern. The GM may
use this to continue on into a maze of cata-
combs, or there could simply be an opening to
the outside from here. Or the lake could be
made of green slime.
59
Shrieker Stew
By Jonathan Becker
In the darkness of the chamber, a warm glow
can be detected from the coals of the fire pit.
Upon said pit is a roiling cauldron of some-
thing that smells strangely wholesome, if a bit
musky. A ladle hanging near the cauldron
allows the contents to be stirred…it appears to
be some sort of hearty stew, with no trace of
eyeballs, hands, or other humanoid body parts.
Holding a light source close to the stew (for a
closer examination, perhaps) causes the stew
to emit the faintest of whining, barely detect-
able to characters listening attentively. This is
shrieker stew, made from the fungal monster
frequently found in underground caverns.
The pleasantly stewed shriekers fail to give off
any but the mildest of sounds while in the pot,
thanks to the special spices present in the
broth. 1D4 turns after eating said stew howev-
er, all counteracting spices will be digested by
a character’s stomach and the partially digest-
ed stew will react fully to any light source in
close proximity to the character (within 20’ or
so). Until the shrieker stew is fully digested (in
1D4 hours), the stomach of any character that
partook of the cauldron’s contents will wail as
a shrieker whenever a light source greater than
a candle comes within range. Only complete
shrouding of a character in thick wraps of
cloth will prevent the noise (this keeps light
from illuminating the bloodstream and inter-
nal organs of the character, which is what sets
off the shriekers’ screams).
60
Pool of Testing
By Jonathan Becker
What appears to be a natural grotto has had
brick and mortar added to provide a lip of wall
two and one-half feet high. Inscribed in the
wall is the following message: NO MORE
THAN ONE MAY BATHE. The water in the
pool gives off a faint, blue luminescence,
clearly visible in the dark should all lights be
extinguished.
Drinking from the grotto does nothing. Anyone
disrobing and fully submerging himself in the
pool will find himself greatly increased! Roll
1D6 once to determine which ability is affected
1-Strength, 2-Intelligence, 3-Wisdom, 4-
Dexterity, 5-Constitution, 6-Charisma. The
affected ability immediately and permanently
increases to 18 (if the ability score rolled is
already 18, roll again). After being so
baptized, the grotto will have no more affect
on the character.
If a second person attempts to bathe in the
grotto in the same fashion, roll 1D6 as above.
This time the affected ability is greatly
diminished, being lowered immediately and
permanently to 3! If the reduction of the ability
score would preclude the character from
pursuing their chosen class, the PC may no
longer advance in that class, being permanently
frozen at his or her current level.
If yet another person attempts to bathe in the
pool, roll 1D6 twice…two different scores will
be reduced to 3! Every subsequent person to
attempt the pool will have even more of his or
her abilities reduced (the seventh person to
bathe will have all six ability scores reduced
to 3, for example). The pool will only function
for each person one time, and only the first
person to bathe will ever be affected in the
positive. The pool’s magic takes affect
regardless of whether or not the person being
submerged chooses to do so (i.e. a person
forced naked under the water will be affected
as fully as a willing participant). After seven
people have been baptized in the grotto, the
pool loses its magic properties.
A wish spell is required to restore a single
attribute to its former score.
61
Shaggy Dog
By Jonathan Becker
A large, shaggy (and truth be told, a bit
mangy) dog lies at the intersection of this
corridor. At your approach it raises its head,
perhaps a bit sleepily, and thumps its tail in
what appears to be a happy gesture.
The dog will be friendly to the adventuring
party until maltreated (attacked, kicked, etc.)
whereupon it will flee a few yards away, turn,
and look askance at the party. If attacked a
second time (say by arrow shot), the dog will
flee and not return.
If treated well (offered food, petted, etc.) the
dog will dutifully follow the PCs (the DM
should determine which character the dog
considers to be its master, changing loyalty to
a different PC if that master dies). The dog
will not fight (hit points: 5) and will avoid
melee with monsters (who will generally
avoid it as well in favor of the more dangerous
PCs). The dog DOES have a keen sense of
smell, and can sense both hostility and fear,
allowing it to sense wandering monsters, and
even creatures behind doors, long before they
have a chance to surprise the party.
The dog will convey this information to its
master by pawing at him and generally acting
anxious. Should the dog’s master actually ask,
“what is it, boy/girl?” (or similar) the dog
reveals yet another talent…it speaks the Com-
mon tongue and is perfectly willing to say, “I
smell something bad, boss!” The dog still has
only animal intelligence and is not able to
carry on deep conversations with the PC, but
once asked to speak, will have no qualms
communicating its base desires: good smells,
hunger, scary smells, etc.
Note: the dog’s gender is always the opposite
of the PCs’ initial assessment.
62
Random Treasure Generator
By James Edward Raggi IV
The effective level is either the average hit dice
of the creatures laired in the area, or the
average of the average creature hit dice and the
level of the dungeon, whichever is less. Trolls
lairing on the second level of a dungeon are
going to have less treasure than trolls on the
fifth level, but goblins aren’t going to acquire
more treasure just because they lair deeper in
a dungeon.
The God Value is the total monetary value of
the treasure in various coins. d% of this trea-
sure will actually be gold and the rest silver
and copper.
The percentage listed under Gems is used to
determine if there are gems present. If a gem
is present, roll again (against the same percent-
age) to determine if a second gem is present.
If a second gem is present, roll again to deter-
mine if a third is present, etc.
The same procedure is used for determining
whether Jewels or Magic Items are present.
Effective
Level
Gold
Value
Gems
Jewelry
Magic
1
d%
25%
10%
5%
2
d% x d8
25%
10%
10%
3
d% x d10
33%
10%
15%
4
d% x d12
33%
20%
20%
5
d% x d20
50%
20%
30%
6
d1000 x d4
50%
20%
40%
7
d1000 x d6
50%
25%
50%
8
d1000 x d8
50%
25%
60%
9
d1000 x d10
50%
33%
70%
10
d1000 x d12
50%
33%
75%
Gem Value
3d6
Value
3
50,000
4 - 5
5,000
6 - 7
500
8 - 10
50
11 - 13
10
14 - 15
100
16 - 17
1,000
18
10,000
63
Magic Items
2d6
Type
2
Ring
3
Wand, Staff, Rod
4
Miscellaneous Item
5
Missile or Device
6 – 7
Potion
8 – 9
Scroll
10
Armor or Shield
11 – 12 Weapon
Scrolls
2d6
Spell Type
2
Map
3
Druid/Cleric
4 – 6 Cleric
7 – 9 Magic-User
10
Illusionist/Magic-User
11
Protection Scroll
12
Cursed
Armor
Armor Size
2d6
Size
2
Gnome or Halfling
3 – 5
Dwarf
6 – 10
Human
11 – 12 Elf
2d6
Armor Type
2
Plate and Shield
3 – 4
Plate
5 – 6
Shield
7 – 8
Leather
9 – 10
Chain
11 – 12 Chain and Shield
Armor Special Ability
Jewelry
3d10
Value
3
50,000
4
30,000
5
20,000
6
10,000
7 - 8
5,000
9 - 10
3,000
11 - 12
2,000
13 - 14
1,000
15 - 17
500
18 - 20
100
21 - 22
1,500
23 - 24
2,500
25 - 26
4,000
27
7,500
28
15,000
29
25,000
30
40,000
Spell Level
Magic-User
Other
Spell Level
3
9
4
3
7
5 - 6
4 - 6
4
7 - 8
7 - 9
3
9 - 12
10 - 11
1
13 - 14
12 - 14
2
15 - 16
15 - 17
5
17
18
6
18
8
Armor Strength
3d6
Strength
Chance of
Special Ability
3
+ 5
33%
4
+ 3
–
5 - 6
+ 2
–
7 - 10
+ 1
–
11 - 13
+ 1
25%
14
Cursed
–
15 - 16
+ 2
25%
17
+ 3
25%
18
+ 4
25%
64
2d6
Special Armor Power
2
Spell Absorption (d% levels)
3
Energy Drain 1/day
4
Fly 1/day
5
Remove Curse 1/day
6
Gaseous Form 1/day
7
Cure Light Wounds d3/day
8
Invisibility 1/day
9
Charm Person 1/day
10
Haste d3/day
11
Electricity 1/day
12
Ethereality 3 turns/day
Melee Weapons
2d20
Weapon
2
Trident
3
Lucern Hammer
4
Spetum
5
Bill-Guisarme
6
Glaive-Guisarme
7
Glaive
8
Bardiche
9
Pike
10
Quarterstaff
11
Lance
12
Flail
13
Sword, Short
14
Battle Axe
15
Hand Axe
16 – 21 Dagger
22 – 27 Sword, Long
28
Mace
29
Spear
30
Morning Star
31
Sword, Two-Handed
32
Hammer, War
33
Halberd
34
Voulge
35
Guisarme
36
Fauchard
37
Guisarme-Voulge
38
Partisan
39
Ranseur
40
Military Pick
Missile Weapons
2d6 Weapon
2
Crossbow, Heavy
3
Crossbow, Light
4
Javelin
5
Sling
6
Bolt (2 - 20)
7 - 8 Arrow (2 - 20)
9
Bullet (2 - 20)
10
Dart (1 - 6)
11
Bow, Short
12
Bow, Long
2d6
Special
2
Special Power
3 – 4
+4 extra vs Opponent
5 – 6
+2 extra vs Opponent
7 – 9
+1 extra vs Opponent
10 – 11 +3 extra vs Opponent
12
+5 extra vs Opponent
Weapon Strength
3d6
Strength
Chance of
Special Ability
3
+ 5
33%
4
+ 3
–
5 - 6
+ 2
–
7 - 10
+ 1
–
11 - 13
+ 1
25%
14
Cursed
–
15 - 16
+ 2
25%
17
+ 3
25%
18
+ 4
25%
65
d12 Opponent
1
Constructs
2
Dragons
3
Enchanted Monsters
4
Giants
5
Lycanthropes
6
Extra-Planar Creatures
7
Regenerating Creatures
8
Reptiles
9
Spell-Immune Creatures
10
Spell Users
11
Undead
12
Water-Breathing Creatures
2d10 Special Power
2
Wish 1 only
3
Missile Deflector
4
Fly 1/day
5
Hold Person 1/day
6
Haste 1/day
7
Charm Person 1/day
8
Find Secret Doors 3/day
9
Comprehend Languages 3/day
10
Light
11
Detect Magic 3/day
12
Cure Light Wounds 1/day
13
Flaming
14
Slow 1/day
15
Silence 15’ Radius 1/day
16
Fire Extinguishing
17
Water Breathing 3/day
18
Defender
19
Sharpness
20
Energy Drain (on natural 20)
d8 Alignment
1 Lawful (Good)
2 Lawful (Evil)
3 Lawful (Neutral)
4 Chaotic (Good)
5 Chaotic (Evil)
6 Chaotic (Neutral)
7 Neutral (Good)
8 Neutral (Evil)
2d6 Minor Power
2
Roll Twice More on This Table
3
See Invisible
4
Find Secret Doors
5
Detect Shifting Walls and Rooms
6
Detect Magic
7
Detect Evil
8
Detect Gems
9
Detect Metal
10
Detect Sloping Passages
11
Find Traps
12
Roll for 1 Major Power
2d8 Major Power
2
Roll Thrice More on This Table
3
X-Ray Vision
4
Telepathy
5
Levitation
6 – 7 Healing
8
Damage Multiple
9
Clairvoyance
10
Clairaudience
11
ESP
12
Fly
13
Phantasmal Force
14
Telekinesis
15
Teleportation
16
Roll Twice More on This Table
Weapon Powers
2d10
INT
Powers
2
12
3 Minor
+ One Major
+ Read Magic
3
10
3 Minor
4
8
2 Minor
5 - 17
–
–
18
7
1 Minor
19
9
3 Minor
20
11
3 Minor
+ Read Magic
66
Rings
2d12
Ring
2
Regeneration
3
Protection +5
4
Wishes
5
Protection +3
6
Spell Storing
7
Weakness
8
Spell Turning
9
Delusion
10
Invisibility
11 – 12 Command Plant
13 – 14 Command Animal
15
Fire Resistance
16
Water Walking
17
Command Human
18
Protection +1
19
Telekinesis
20
Protection +2
21
Djinni Calling
22
Shooting Stars
23
Protection +4
24
X-ray Vision
Potion
2d20
Potion
2
Undead Control
3
Giant Control
4
Treasure Finding
5
Human Control
6
Flying
7
Super-heroism
8
Oil of Slipperiness
9
Poison
10
Gaseous form
11
Delusion
12
Plant Control
13
Levitation
14
Growth
15
Clairaudience
16 – 17 Sweet Water
18 – 19 Polymorph
20 – 21 Healing
22 – 23 Philter of Love
24 – 25 Speed
26
Animal Control
27
Fire Resistance
28
Invisibility
29
Clairvoyance
30
Climbing
31
Diminution
32
Heroism
33
Invulnerability
34
Extra-healing
35
Water Breathing
36
ESP
37
Longevity
38
Oil of Etherealness
39
Giant Strength
40
Dragon Control
Rod, Staff, Wand
2d20
Rods, Staves, Wands
2
Staff of the Magi
3
Rod of Resurrection
4
Staff of Withering
5
Rod of Absorption
6
Wand of Cold
7
Staff of Healing
8
Wand of Detecting Traps
9
Staff of Commanding
10
Wand of Fire
11
Wand of Magic Missiles
12
Rod of Striking
13 – 14 Wand of Paralyzation
15 – 16 Wand of Negation
17 – 18 Wand of Illusion
19 – 20 Wand of Detecting Metals
21 – 22 Wand of Detecting Enemies
23 – 24 Wand of Light
25 – 26 Wand of Detecting Magic
27
Wand of Fear
28
Wand of Lightning
29
Wand of Polymorphing
30
Wand of Lightning Bolts
31
Wand of Summoning
32
Rod of Captivation
33
Wand of Detecting Secret Doors
34
Rod of Lordly Might
35
Staff of Striking
36
Wand of Wonder
37
Staff of the Serpent
38
Rod of Rulership
39
Rod of Cancellation
40
Staff of Power
67
Misc. Item
2d100
Miscellaneous Magic Item
2
Efreeti Bottle
3
Tome of Understanding
4
Tome of Martial Knowledge
5
Tome of Knowledge
6
Mattock of the Titans
7
Book of Chaotic Wisdom
8
Flying Carpet
9
Well of Many Worlds
10
Amulet of the Planes
11
Mirror of Mental Prowess
12
Manual of Gainful Exercise
13
Lyre of Building
14
Cubic Gate
15
Bag of Holding
16
Robe of Eyes
17
Censer of Controlling Air
Elementals
18
Bowl of Commanding Water
Elementals
19
Sphere of Annihilation
20
Robe of Blending
21
Eyes of the Eagle
22
Stone of Good Luck
23
Medallion of thoughts (90')
24
Golem Manual
25
Cube of Force
26
Robe of Scintillating Colors
27
Mirror of Life Trapping
28
Helm of Brilliance
29
Boots of Speed
30
Arrow of Location
31
Scarab of Death
32
Robe of Powerlessness
33
Necklace of Strangula tion
34
Jewel of Monster Attraction
35
Helm of Opposite Alignment
36
Flask of Curses
37
Dust of Sneezing and Choking
38
Deck of Many Things
39
Cloak of Poisonousness
40
Censer of Cursed Summoning
41 – 42 Broom of Cursed Flight
43 – 44 Brazier of Cursed Sleep
45 – 46 Boots of Dancing
47 – 48 Bag of Devouring
49 – 50 Horseshoes of Speed
51 – 52 Girdle of Giant Strength
53 – 54 Gem of Brightness
55 – 56 Dust of Disappearance
57 – 58 Crystal Ball with ESP
59 – 60 Cloak of Arachnida
61 – 62 Boots of Levitation
63 – 64 Stone of Controlling Earth
Elementals
65 – 66 Periapt of Proof against Poison
67 – 68 Rope of Entanglement
69 – 70 Phylactery of Faithfulness
71 – 72 Periapt of Health
73 – 74 Net of Entanglement
75 – 76 Medallion of thoughts
77 – 78 Helm of Comprehend Languages
and Read Magic
79 – 80 Gauntlets of Ogre Power
81 – 82 Dust of Appearance
83 – 84 Crystal Ball
85 – 86 Brooch of Shielding
87 – 88 Ointment of Healing
89 – 90 Pearl of Wisdom
91 – 92 Incense of Meditation
93 – 94 Feather Token
95 – 96 Phylactery of Undead Turning
97 – 98 Javelin of Lightning
99 – 100 Talisman of the Sphere
101 – 102
Pearl of Power
103 – 104
Ioun Stones
105 – 106
Eversmoking Bottle
107 – 108
Figurines of Wondrous Power
109 – 110
Marvelous Pigments
111 – 112
Wings of Flying
113 – 114
Slippers of Spider Climbing
115 – 116
Cloak of Protection
117 – 118
Decanter of Endless Water
119 – 120
Elven Cloak
121 – 122
Elven Boots
123 – 124
Gloves of Dexterity
125 – 126
Gloves of Swimming and
Climbing
127 – 128
Helm of Underwater Action
129 – 130
Necklace of Adaptation
131 – 132
Net of Snaring
133 – 134
Periapt of Wound Closure
135 – 136
Rope of Climbing
68
137 – 138
Horseshoes of a Zephyr
139 – 140
Robe of Useful Items
141 – 142
Pipes of the Sewers
143 – 144
Broom of Flying
145 – 146
Crystal Ball with Clairaudience
147 – 148
Cube of Frost Resistance
149 – 150
Eyes of Magnification
151 – 152
Gem of Seeing
153 – 154
Horn of Valhalla
155
Amulet of Inescapable Location
156
Bag of Transformation
157
Bowl of Drowning
158
Broom of Animated Attack
159
Broom of Cursed Flight
160
Chime of Cannibalism
161
Crystal Hypnosis Ball
162
Drums of Stunning
163
Eyes of Petrification
164
Gauntlets of Fumbling
165
Incense of Obsession
166
Mirror of Opposition
167
Periapt of Foul Rotting
168
Rope of Strangulation
169
Stone of Weight (Loadstone)
170
Bag of Tricks
171
Boots of Traveling and
Springing
172
Helm of Teleportation
173
Scarab of Protection
174
Potion Jug
175
Displacer Cloak
176
Helm of Telepathy
177
Phylactery of Youth
178
Chime of Opening
179
Maul of the Titans
180
Talisman of Pure Good
181
Talisman of Ultimate Evil
182
Amulet of Proof against
Detection and Location
183
Brazier of Commanding Fire
Elementals
184
Eyes of Charming
185
Amulet against Possession
186
Bracers of Armor
187
Horn of Blasting
188
Manual of Bodily Health
189
Manual of Quickness of Action
190
Portable Hole
191
Robe of the Archmagi
192
Drums of Panic
193
Instant Fortress
194
Apparatus of the Crab
195
Book of Lawful Wisdom
196
Tome of Clear Thought
197
Tome of Leadership and Influence
198
Tome of Stealth
199
Book of Infinite Spells
200
Boat, Folding
69
A Spell Point Theory
By James Edward Raggi IV
The traditional fantasy RPG spell system is
loosely based on the system found in the Dying
Earth stories by Jack Vance. If you haven’t
read those books, you should. If you’ve ever
thought the “fire and forget” magic system
made no sense, you need to read those books.
All will be revealed.
However, that doesn’t satisfy some people.
They want wizards that can do what they want,
when they want. Usually when this mood takes
someone, they completely dismantle the magic
system and port in a wholly unique system, or
they get lazy and say “First level spells cost
one spell point, second level spells cost two
spell points, etc.”
This theory of spell points retains the classic
spells and level systems that we all know, so
that it will remain familiar and easy to adapt.
First, spell-casters begin with one spell point
at first level, and every level gain a number of
spell points equal to their new level. A cleric
increasing from first to second level gains two
new spell points, for a total of three, for
instance.
Under this system, there would be no
relationship between the character level and
the level of spell they are able to cast. Magic-
Users may have a spell of any level in their
spellbook (and therefore at their disposal). A
Cleric can theoretically cast any spell from the
entire Cleric spell list.
Second, casting a spell costs a number of spell
points as its level, but only as a base.
Many spells have an effect based on their level,
be it a Fireball’s damage, the number of
missiles fired by a Magic Missile spell, ranges,
durations, etc. Under this system, these spells
do not operate according to the caster’s level,
but by the number of extra spell points put into
the spell (on a one spell point = one level basis).
For example, a seventh level Magic-User (with
28 maximum spell points) casts Fireball. He
wants it to do 7d6 damage (seventh level
strength). It is a base 3 spell point cost for the
spell, and an additional 7 points for the 7 levels
of spell strength, for a total of 10 points –
almost a third of the total spell point totals to
cast such a powerful spell that day.
Spells with no level-based variables merely
cost the same number of spell points as their
level.
Under this system, therefore, any spell with a
level-based variable costs at the minimum one
more spell point than its level would indicate.
A Magic Missile spell, because the level of the
caster affects how many missiles are fired,
would require a minimum of two points to cast
– one for the spell’s level and one for activating
it at the power of a first level Magic-User.
A spell point based system will not operate the
same as the default magic system, so little
things like a first level Magic-User then not
being able to cast Magic Missile is offset by
the fact that third level spells become available
to cast when spell-using characters are second
level.
But any adjustment made changes the game.
That’s why you make these changes in the first
place, right?
70
Open Game License
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All
Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or
trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content;
(b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including
derivative works and translations (including into other computer
languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, exten-
sion, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other
form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or
adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease,
sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute;
(d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes
the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such
content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhance-
ment over the prior art and any additional content clearly
identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means
any work covered by this License, including translations and
derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes
Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and
product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade
dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots,
thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, sym-
bols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts,
themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio
representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells,
enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and
special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures,
equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos,
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15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast,
Inc.
System Reference Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the
Coast, Inc.;Authors Jonathon Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams,
based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of
the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip
Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich
Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John D. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James
Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave
Arneson.
Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-2004,
Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb,
Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, Eric Cagle, David Noonan, Stan!,
Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker, based on
material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard
Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy
Collins, and JD Wiker.
Castles & Crusades: Players Handbook, Copyright 2004, Troll
Lord Games; Authors Davis Chenault and Mac Golden.
Cave Cricket from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene and Clark
Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Crab, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Fly, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Golem, Wood from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene and Patrick
Lawinger. Kamadan from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Nick Louth.
Rot Grub from the Tome of Horrors, Copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene and Clark
Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax
Labyrinth LordTM Copyright 2007-2009, Daniel Proctor. Author
Daniel Proctor.
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Covey and Chris Davis.
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Denison. Authors Daniel Proctor and Ryan Denison.
Aerial Servant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark
Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Axe Beak from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Beetle, Giant Boring from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Beetle, Giant Rhinoceros from the Tome of Horrors, copyright
2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on
original material by Gary Gygax.
Brownie from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer
Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by
Gary Gygax.
Crayfish, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Demon: Juiblex „he Faceless Lord‰(Demon Lord) from the
Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.;
author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Demon: Orcus (Demon Prince of Undead) from the Tome of
Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott
Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary
Gygax.
Devil: Amon (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright
2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on
original material by Gary Gygax.
Devil: Bael (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright
2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on
original material by Gary Gygax.
Devil: Geryon (Arch-Devil) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright
2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on
original material by Gary Gygax.
Ear Seeker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Erica
Balsley, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Eel, Electric from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene.
Eye of the Deep from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Floating Eye from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Frog, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark
Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Frog, Monstrous Killer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright
2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark
Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Frog, Monstrous Poisonous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright
2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark
Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Gas Spore from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark
Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Gorbel from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer
Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by
Andrew Key.
Groaning Spirit from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark
Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Hippocampus from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Erica Balsey,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Jackalwere from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene based, on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Leprechaun from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Lurker Above from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
72
Piercer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer
Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on
original material by Gary Gygax.
Slithering Tracker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax,
Slug, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax.
Strangle Weed from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
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material by Gary Gygax.
Tick, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
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Trapper from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer
Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by
Gary Gygax,
Turtle, Giant Snapping from the Tome of Horrors, copyright
2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Green, based on
original material by Gary Gygax.
Wind Walker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original
material by Gary Gygax,
Yeti from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer
Games, Inc.; author Scott Green, based on original material by
Gary Gygax.
Advanced Edition Companion, Copyright 2009-2010, Daniel
Proctor. Author Daniel Proctor.
Copyright 2009-2010 Daniel Proctor. Labyrinth LordTM,
Advanced Labyrinth LordTM, Mutant FutureTM, Scribe of OrcusTM
and Goblinoid GamesTM are trademarks of Daniel Proctor.
Swords & Wizardry Core Rules, Copyright 2008, Matthew J.
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Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game Copyright © 2006-2008 Chris
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Open Game Content:
Random Treasure Tables
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Wand of the Weird
Product Identity:
The LotFP name, the Green Devil Face name, and all material
not specifically designated Open Game Content.
| textdata/thevault/Lamentations of the Flame Princess/LotFP Adventures and Settings/Green Devil Face (LotFP)/Green Devil Face 04 (LotFP).pdf |
After the punks are defeated the streamers are
met with a round of applause. The altercation had an
audience and they seem to be entertained. The tall
applauding man introduces himself as Pirohate and
compliments the streamer’s moves. He was out for a
walk and happened to come across the fight and he
was thoroughly impressed. He invites the streamers
to participate in his galaxy famous stream, Dance
‘Till You’re Dead, for a chance to win a grand prize
worth several hundreds of thousands of credits. He is
completely honest about the nature of the show and
does not force the streamers to participate but will
promise the moon if it means getting them on stage.
Dance ‘Till You’re Dead’s stage is positively massive.
Rows upon rows of colorful Solar magic lights run
lengthwise along the top and bottom of the stage.
Pyrotechnic effects are loaded into enormous cannons
that fire in synch with the music, Star magic creates a
tapestry of twinkling lights above the crowd, and neon
lights flash to reveal splashes of various ultraviolet
colors. The entire stage has a large screen backdrop
that alternates between a stylized logo for the show
and a music visualizer.
Pirohate arrives on stage to thunderous applause
from the assembled masses. When he
announces the contenders they are met with
jeers and booing. Pirohate works the crowd
in an fake attempt to defend the streamers
before the game begins in earnest.
The actual dance battle against
Pirohate is a Dramatic Task that uses
multiple skills. The streamers must
accumulate a number of Task Tokens
equal to double the amount of streamers
participating in the battle. The Task can be
attempted with a number of different
skills but primarily focuses on Athletics
to perform death defying dance stunts,
Intimidation to enrage Pirohate,
Performance to try and dance well,
Persuasion to work the crowd, and Taunt
to bait Pirohate into overcompensating.
Other skills and Powers can be used if a
player presents an interesting use that is
applicable to the situation. Streamers are
also encouraged to Support one another or
Test Pirohate using any number of skills.
Pirohate, the deadly dancing despot, hosts an illegal
Void-Net streamed competition on Steppal, the flat
disc planet he rules over. His stream series, Dance
‘Till You’re Dead, is wildly popular and has a surprising
amount of contestants looking to prove their skills
and win a massive cash prize. Unfortunately, the title
is quite literal. Those who fail to defeat Pirohate in a
dance battle are summarily executed. If he were ever
to lose, Pirohate would readily accept his death.
The planet he rules over, Steppal, is a small lawless
disc planet that is dominated by one large city of
golden buildings. Despite this ritzy exterior, the truth
of Steppal is known to almost everyone. It’s a planet
of criminals ruled by criminals. There are no laws and
all manner of Void-Net streams call the planet home.
The streamers arrive on Steppal. They might be there
in pursuit of interesting leads, they might be escorting
a minor celebrity to the planet, or it might simply be
the nearest port. Regardless of the reason, the capital
city welcomes the streamers with open arms. The
streamers finish up their business and can do some
shopping or exploring.
Before long, however, at least one of the streamers
is caught up in a scam. A young woman carrying a
bags of food bumps into one of the streamers and
spills the food all over the ground. She immediately
begins to cry, saying that she was supposed to
deliver the food to her coworkers and that now
she’ll be fired and she doesn’t have the money to
replace the now destroyed meals. Cold-hearted
or paranoid streamers that attempt to walk away
without helping her are chased down, berated,
and ambushed. Streamers that offer to make
it up to her are led to an ambush. As it turns
out, she’s working with a group of punks
looking to rob newcomers to Steppal.
•
Punks (1 + 1 per streamer)
Soldier, armed with stun
batons, one laser pistol,
and thick clothes (+1
Armor)
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Ticket Booth
Ticket Booth
breakdance a leg
breakdance a leg
This gives a whole new meaning to “dance battle.”
A Savage Worlds Sci-fi Dark Comedy One Shot By: Kyle Carty
This adventure is designed for Novice characters, though it is easily modified for more experienced streamers.
The Dancing Doom, Pirohate is a hollow man who
feels nothing save for the rush of a dance to the
death. He is a handsome male with rich orange skin,
long styled hair, and an absolutely tasteless set of
military grade combat armor. Despite his equipment’s
weight, Pirohate moves about while wearing it with no
problems.
Pirohate values honest and integrity despite his
unique choice of profession. His livestreams are
amongst the most viewed on the Void-Net as well as
one of the most consistent. He thinks of himself as
a worthy target of the infamous Stream Sniper and
wishes to challenge the criminal to Dance ‘Till You’re
Dead.
During battle and dance battle Pirohate maximizes
the effectiveness of his Gravity Cosmos Drive to push
down others while lifting himself up. He enjoys zero-g
spins and the sound of his opponent’s joints popping
under high pressure.
Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d10, Strength
d8, Vigor d8
Skills: Athletics d8, Fighting d8, Form d6, Intimidation
d8, Notice d6, Performance d12, Persuasion d6, Taunt
d10
Pace: 6; Parry: 7; Toughness: 12 (6)
Hindrances: Obligation (Major, Fans), Overconfident
Edges: Arcane Background (Cosmos Drive, Gravity),
Attractive, Bolster, Charismatic, Connections,
Humiliate, Performer, Provoke, Quick, Retort, Work
the Room
Gear: energy skin (+4 Armor vs. lasers), garish battle
armor (+6 Armor), laser pistol (2d6, 15/30/60, RoF
1, 50 Shots, AP 2), linefire gauntlet (Str+d6, Parry +1,
Reach 3, can grapple target within Reach)
Powers: boost/lower trait, dispel, entangle, fly, form
weapon, illusion. Power Points: 15
On Pirohate acts at the beginning and end of each
round during the Dramatic Task. On his first action
he can attempt a Test or use a Power. On his second
action, he attempts to outperform the streamers in
some way but can be goaded into using a specific skill
of the streamer’s choice if they are enraging or baiting
him. For every success and a raise on Pirohate’s roll
the streamers lose an equal amount of Task Tokens. If
the streamers ever lose all of their Task Tokens they
fail the Dramatic Task. Losers who don’t submit to
their execution are met with force.
•
Pirohate
•
Killbot (2) Mech
•
Punk (2 per streamer) Soldier, armed with laser
pistols and breastplates (+3 Armor)
If the streamers successful defeat Pirohate they can
choose to execute or spare him. He does not resist
his death. Depending on the type of following the
streamers have accumulated, their audience might
urge one outcome over another. If Pirohate is spared
it is up to the streamers to decide how best to deal
with him. They might take him off-world to a prison,
attempt to rehabilitate him, or simply leave. Finally,
winners are entitled to a massive prize pot. The
contents of the pot are worth at least $300k.
Streamers who fail to defeat Pirohate but manage
to kill him or escape must quickly flee the planet
before retribution finds them. After all, they did agree
to a challenge against the planet’s leader and then
back out of the deal.
cleanup crew
cleanup crew
performer (new Edge)
performer (new Edge)
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Pirohate
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REQUIREMENTS: Seasoned, Performance d8+
You are a master of your given field. You may be a
comedian, dancer, musician, thespian, or athlete but
regardless of your field you are a true professional.
Choose a field of Performance. You add a +2 bonus to
Performance rolls that primarily fall under the chosen
category. You can take this Edge multiple times, but
you must choose a different field of Performance
each time this Edge is taken.
| textdata/thevault/Savage Worlds System (SWADE) [multi]/StarStreamers/Savage Worlds - StarStreamers - One Sheet - Dance `Til You're Dead.pdf |
1
By James Mishler with Jodi Moran-Mishler
2
PUBLISHER: James Mishler
AUTHORS: James Mishler with Jodi Moran-Mishler
CARTOGRAPHY: James Mishler
ART: Brian Brinlee
Find out more information about products from James Mishler Games at
jamesmishlergames.blogspot.com
You can also e-mail us at [email protected]
Bard Class © 2021 James Mishler. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on Labyrinth Lord™ and related products or to join the Labyrinth
Lord
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Goblinoid Games. Labyrinth Lord™ is Copyright © 2007-2021, Daniel Proctor.
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3
Bards originated as a caste of lore-master priests among certain clans and
tribes who worshipped the spirits and gods of nature. They worked in
conjunction with druids and other wisemen and wisewomen, being the
keepers of historical, legendary, and mythical lore of those clans and tribes.
As they kept their lore orally, and transmitted it through song and poem,
over time they learned the ways to transform spells wielded by the wise into
spellsongs, capturing magical power in the notes of song and music.
Today, many bards remain with those clans and tribes in their ancient
positions; others have adapted to changing times, and become
wandering entertainers, minstrels, poets, and troubadours, keeping alive
the ancient ways in strange and foreign lands.
Requirements: DEX 12, INT 12, WIS 12, CHA 15
Prime Requisites: INT, WIS, and CHA.
Hit Dice: 1d6 (1d8 Advanced Option)
Maximum Level: Dwarf 5, Elf 14, Gnome 5, Halfling 5, Half-Elf 14, Human 14
Fight As: Fighter; Save As: Druid or Magic-user, whichever column is better.
Armor & Weapons: Bards may wear leather, padded, or studded leather
and still cast their spellsongs; they may also wear scale or chain mail and
may carry a shield, but cannot cast spellsongs while doing so. Bards may
wield hand axes, long bows, short bows, clubs, light crossbows, daggers,
darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaffs, rapiers, scimitars, slings, spears, and
bastard, long, and short swords.
Magic Items: Bards may use items of general sort, plus those restricted to
druids, fighters, magic-users, and thieves (though see read languages
ability, below, for using magic scrolls).
Alignment: Bards must be Neutral Good, Neutral, or Neutral Evil.
BARD LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
Spellsong Level
EXP
Level
Hit Dice
(1d6)
1
2
3
4
5
6
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
3,001
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
6,001
3
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
12,001
4
4
2
2
0
0
0
0
24,001
5
5
2
2
1
0
0
0
48,001
6
6
2
2
2
0
0
0
96,001
7
7
2
2
2
1
0
0
192,001
8
8
2
2
2
2
0
0
384,001
9
9
2
2
2
2
1
0
576,001
10
10
2
2
2
2
2
0
768,001
11
11
2
2
2
2
2
1
960,001
12
12
2
2
2
2
2
2
1,152,001
13
13
3
3
3
2
2
2
1,344,001
14
14
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
BARDIC SKILL IMPROVEMENT: All bard skills are listed as improving by 2d4%
(5%) per level after 1st. This means that the bard’s player may choose to
increase the skill by 5% or may choose to roll 2d4 to determine the skill
increase. This adds some variety to skill advancement and, with luck,
quicker advancement! However, the odds equally favor a lower roll.. but
many bards love to gamble.
BARDIC INSTRUMENTS: At 1st level a bard must choose three musical
instruments in which she is proficient.
The bard may choose an additional instrument of proficiency at 3rd, 6th,
9th, and 12th levels.
The bard may choose a cappella, or a specific form of verse (limerick,
poetry, or rhyme, etc.) as a proficient form of music with their choices at 9th
and/or 12th levels. At that point she chooses one known spellsong per
spellsong level that she can cast, which thereafter she can cast performing
a cappella or through verse. She chooses one more spellsong of each
spellsong level known each level attained thereafter. These spellsongs may
be cast with song or verse OR with song and instrument as the bard
chooses.
Whenever using any of her bardic skills with an instrument in which the
bard is not proficient, the bard suffers a penalty of halving of her base ability
(rounded down) before any other modifiers, unless she has chosen a
cappella or verse, and uses that form with the chosen spellsongs.
Also, the bard cannot cast spellsongs if she does not have access to a
musical instrument in which she is proficient; again, unless she has chosen a
cappella or verse and uses that form with the chosen spellsongs.
Most common instruments chosen includes the cittern, fiddle, flute,
hand harp, lute, lyre, pan flute, pipe and tabor, rebec and bow, and
recorder. Note that not all of these instruments are necessarily available in
a campaign area; consult with your Labyrinth Lord before choosing an
instrument.
For example, Ahlissa the Nightingale, a 9th-level bard, learns to perform
her songs a cappella. She may choose one each 1st to 4th level spellsongs
that she already knows that she can thereafter cast using only her singing
voice (she only just this level gained a 5th-level spellsong, so cannot convert
it to a cappella use only); each level thereafter she can choose one more
spellsong she already knows to cast singing a cappella.
BONUS LANGUAGES: At 1st level a bard knows her normal range of
languages per her race, plus a number of bonus languages equal to her
Intelligence score minus 10 (this takes the place of normal bonus languages
due to Intelligence).
The bard must choose Druidic as one of her initial languages, and may
choose Thieves Cant or even the secret language of Illusionists as a
language at 2nd level or thereafter (she must have a teacher to learn a
5
secret language, others may be picked up through simple contact with
others who regularly speak the language).
A bard learns one additional language every even level after 1st level
(2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, and 14th).
COUNTER-SONG: A bard can use a song, poem, or story to counter the ill-
effects of hostile sounds, whether the sounds are songs, chants, wails, or
even commands and suggestions from magical spells. This ability must be
announced the moment the music or sound attack begins – before any
saving throws are rolled.
Only one such attempt may be made per attack.
Use of a counter-song does not prevent hostile spell-casters from
reading scrolls, using magic item command words, or casting spells; it
merely prevents the effects of music or sound-based magical effects.
Base chance is 20% plus Charisma score at 1st level; add 2d4% (5%) per
level after 1st.
Increase the chance of success by 5% every level the bard has greater
than the level or hit dice of the opponent creating the effect; similarly,
decrease the chance of success by 5% for every level or hit die the
opponent has on the bard.
If successful, the bard must continue singing as long as the opponent
attempts to use the music or sound-based attack.
A roll of 96-00 always fails; a roll of 100 indicates that the bard has
accidentally increased the power of the ill-effects of the hostile sounds,
causing all allies to suffer a -2 penalty on their saving throws.
For example, Apollo the Athenian, a 2nd-level bard, and his party are
on a ship passing a small island upon which lair a clutch of harpies. The
harpies fly out to attack the sailors, and even as they begin their horrible
song, Apollo pulls out his lyre and uses his counter-song to keep their magic
at bay. His Counter-Song skill is 32%; unfortunately, he rolls a 100, meaning
his cacophonous attempt to counter the song of the harpies actually
causes his allies so much grief they suffer a -2 penalty to save against the
harpies’ song!
INFLUENCE: This is the bard’s base chance to change the reaction of a
group, favorably or otherwise, to the bard and her party or toward another
specific group of people (a group of nobles, a rival adventuring party, a
gang of thieves, etc.) who are present at the same location.
Base chance is 40% plus Charisma score at 1st level; add 2d4% (5%) per
level after 1st.
Subtract 10% from the base chance for an uncertain audience, 25% for
a hostile or friendly audience, and 50% for a violently hostile or
enthusiastically friendly audience.
An attempt requires three rounds of uninterrupted song.
Success means the target(s) are influenced one step toward friendship
or one step toward hostility, depending on the results desired by the bard.
6
Failure indicates the group is unaffected by the song. A bard may
continue to influence the reaction of any one group until failure occurs.
A roll of 96-00 always fails; a roll of 100 means the opposite of the
desired effect occurs.
For example, Alan of the Dales, a 3rd-level bard, is at a tavern with his
party, the Dungeoneers, when their rival party, the Deep Delvers, walks in
and starts to talk tough about how the Dungeoneers are weak and foolish.
So he starts plucking his lute and adapts an old song about foolish
adventurers by replacing the names of the Deep Delvers for those of the
characters in the song. After three rounds of singing, he has a chance to
turn the crowd against the Deep Delvers. His base chance is 65% and the
crowd is uncertain about both parties, so his final chance is 55%. His first roll
is a 42, so he turns the crowd’s uncertainty about the Deep Delvers to
hostile. He decides that their grumbling and dark looks are not enough so
he continues, but this time rolls 100; the Labyrinth Lord decides that rather
than move the crowd back to uncertain about the Deep Delvers, the song
backfires on Alan and the Dungeoneers, and now the crowd is hostile to
them as well… and Alan can no longer influence them either way!
INSPIRE: The bard may sing a rousing song or emote a heroic poem for two
rounds, then roll to see if she succeeds at inspiring her allies.
Base chance is 40% plus Charisma score at 1st level; add 2d4% (5%) per
level after 1st.
Success increases morale of allied NPCs by 1 point (+10%) and grants
all allies (PC and NPC) a +1 bonus to hit and to saving throws. The allies must
have been able to hear the song or poem for it to have any effect.
Inspiration lasts for one rounds per 5 points of the successful roll (round
up), during which the bard no longer needs to continue to perform. When
the duration ends, or even before, the bard can attempt to inspire allies
again, though inspiration bonuses from the same or different bards are not
cumulative.
Failure indicates the bard cannot attempt to inspire her allies again
during the same battle.
A roll of 96-00 always fails; a roll of 100 indicates that the bard has
accidentally demoralized her companions, who suffer a -1 penalty to
Morale and a -1 penalty to hit and to saving throws for the duration; this
cannot be corrected by further attempts to inspire.
For example, Katarina Windrush, a 5th-level bard, and her party are
engaged in battle with a gang of orcs. Katarina pulls out her harp and
strums it while recounting couplets from a famous myth cycle in which the
heroes destroyed an invading army of gnolls. Her Inspire skill is 80% and she
rolls a 32, meaning her companions are inspired for seven rounds.
7
LORE: Bards learn a little about everything in their travels and interactions
with peasants, merchants, nobles, adventurers, sages, and others. Lore
represents the ability of the bard to know something about local history,
politics, society, and especially, heraldry, the underworld, and gossip; the
higher the roll on the dice on a successful roll, the more the bard knows
about that person/place/thing/event.
The Labyrinth Lord can provide modifiers to the base chance based on
the rarity of the knowledge of the person/place/thing/event (everyone
knows who the king’s father was, but few know the name of the king’s
second-cousin’s-wife’s-brother).
Lore is also the chance for a bard to recognize a named, unique magic
item and know some or all its abilities, potentially including command words
and curses. The bard can also use this ability to recall the general
capabilities of common items, once identified.
Base chance is the average of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma at
1st level (round up), plus 2d4% (5%) per level after 1st.
A roll of 96-00 always fails; a roll of 100 indicates that the bard has
accidentally mis-remembered, mis-interpreted, or mis-identified the target
information or item, and remembers something patently false and
generally opposite of whatever the bard is trying to know. This is why the
Lore roll should always be performed secretly by the Labyrinth Lord, so the
bard is never quite certain about their information.
Storytelling: Lore also can be used to tell stories, fairy tales, fables,
histories, legends, and myths to a crowd, whether of street urchins or nobles.
For the purpose of storytelling, double the base Lore ability of the bard, then
roll as though making a Perform check, below, to determine crowd
reaction and any remuneration from the listeners.
For example, Hakiem, a 6th-level bard, is a well-known storyteller in the
marketplace, and can always attract a crowd of eager street urchins and
lower-class locals to listen to his tales. He gathers around the children and
a few passers-by, and tells them the story of the founding of the city. His
Lore skill is 45%, so his chance to Perform for this friendly crowd is 90%. He
tells a basic 10-minute story, and there are no other modifiers. He rolls a 37,
which means that the crowd throws him 4d6 copper coins for his troubles.
PERFORM: This is the bard’s base ability to perform, singing and playing her
instrument to entertain crowds.
Success indicates the crowd is entertained; the higher the successful
roll, the better. Base chance is 50% plus Charisma score at 1st level; add
2d4% (5%) per level after 1st.
First, modify the chance based on use of proficient or non-proficient
instrument before any other modifiers are applied.
There are no bonuses or penalties for entertaining a neutral or friendly
audience; penalties are -10% from the base chance for an uncertain
audience, -25% for a hostile audience, and -50% for a violently hostile
audience.
8
A performance requires 10 minutes at base chances; -5% from the base
chance for every minute under 10; +5% for a half-hour performance, +10%
for a full-hour performance, and +20% for a two-hour performance.
Additional circumstances (weather, political unrest, war, victory/loss,
and prosperity/penury, but especially the set of songs being sung) might
also adjust the final chance to entertain, depending on the Labyrinth Lord’s
whim.
If, after all modifiers have been accounted for, the bard succeeds, the
higher the roll, the more entertained the audience. If successful, divide the
final roll by 10 (round up) and roll that many six-sided dice to determine the
coins that the crowd gives the bard; low class is in copper, middle class is
in silver, and upper class is in gold.
Double the number of coins rolled for a friendly audience; triple it for
an enthusiastically friendly audience. Modify coins based on size of
audience and venue; base amounts are for a typical street or tavern
crowd.
Rolling 96-100 is always a failure; rolling 100 or failing by 20 or more
means rotten tomatoes and other pungent vegetables are thrown at the
bard, at the very least.
This ability is also used in a contest between bards. If, after all modifiers,
one bard’s ability is 101%+, lower both scores by a number needed to get
the higher score to 100%, then whichever rolls the highest and still succeeds
(96-100 always fails) is the winner of the contest.
Most contests consist of best of rounds of three, five, or seven
instruments, to better test the bard’s breadth of musical talent, but some
contests go for “instant win” of a single instrument, especially when both
bards are renowned for their talents with that instrument [c.f. The Devil Went
Down to Georgia, C. Daniels].
For example, Katarina Windrush, 5th-level bard, and Alan of the Dales,
3rd-level bard, get into a friendly competition at the Black Rose, the local
tavern. Katarina’s Perform skill is 87%, and Alan’s is 72%; she rolls a 72 and he
rolls a 94. Katarina puts in a virtuoso performance while Alan hits all the
wrong notes and, as he failed by 20 or more, ends up being hauled out of
the Black Rose and thrown in the water trough outside.
READ LANGUAGES: Bards are trained to recognize all forms of written
communications, including alphabets, cyphers, glyphs, runes, and sigils, as
well as magical writings such as scrolls and spell books.
Base chance is 30% plus the total of Intelligence and Wisdom at 1st
level, plus 2d4% (5%) per level after 1st.
This is the base chance to read normal alphabets, cyphers, glyphs,
runes, and sigils; ancient and lost alphabets and such are at half that
chance, at best, if the bard has had some experience with similar or related
languages and writings. Certain rare and unusual scripts or difficult cyphers
might require a penalty of -10% to -50% or more.
9
Rolling 96-100 is always a failure; rolling 100 or failing by 20 or more
means that the bard has not only mis-read the script, but has also
potentially interpreted it with the opposite or grossly incorrect meaning that
could cause great difficulty to the bard (at the Labyrinth Lord’s discretion).
Read Magic Scrolls: The bard may use this ability to try to read magic
scrolls, whether the magic on the scroll is that of clerics, druids, magic-users,
or illusionists. The base chance is half normal (rounded down), and requires
one minute per spell level. The bard has only one chance to read each
spell on a scroll (check separately).
Success indicates the bard may at any time thereafter attempt to cast
the read spell with their full normal Read Languages skill, less 5% per level of
the spell. The bard has no penalty per spell level if the spell is one that she
can cast because she knows a related spellsong.
If the roll succeeds, the bard casts the spell. If the roll fails, the spell is
not cast, but also is not lost, as it has not been read.
Rolling 96-100 is always a failure; rolling 100 or failing by 20 or more
means the bard reads the spell well enough activate the magic, but casts
it wrong in some fashion. The bard must then make a saving throw versus
Spells; success indicates merely that nothing happens though the spell
vanishes from the scroll. The more by which the bard fails the save, the
worse that happens, up to and including targeting the wrong person,
magical backfire on the bard (1d6 points of damage per spell level), or
perhaps a curse!
For example, Ahlissa the Nightingale, 9th-level bard, has a base 100%
chance to Read Languages; she finds a magic scroll with one spell and
decides to try to read it. She has a 50% chance of success and rolls a 33.
She now knows that the scroll is a magic-user scroll of flesh to stone (6th
level). Later when her party is getting beaten hard by a hill giant she
decides to take the chance to turn the hill giant to stone and reads the
scroll. Her chance to successfully cast the spell is 100% - (6 x 5%) = 70%
chance to successfully cast the spell. She rolls a 93, not only a failure but a
really bad failure (by 20 or more), and so instead of turning the hill giant to
stone, the spell rebounds back on her… and when she then fails her saving
throw versus petrification, she turns herself to stone!
New Spellsong: At the Labyrinth Lord’s option, a bard may use a scroll
or spell book to try to create a new spellsong based on a properly-
interpreted spell. This should require at least one month of work per spell
level, and require a Spell Learning Check based on INT or WIS depending
on the origin of the spell.
SAVING THROW BONUS: Bards have a +2 bonus to save against any form of
music-based or sound-based attacks (e.g., the songs of sirens and harpies,
the witticisms of other bards, etc.).
10
SPELLSONGS: Bards learn spellsongs much like magic-users learn spells,
though all bardic spellsongs are exclusively orally transmitted; they are not
recorded in a book nor ever written on a scroll. It is the ability to use
spellsongs that separates the common minstrels and street entertainers
from the bards (though often, little else does).
A bard begins play knowing two 1st level spellsongs, and automatically
learns one new spellsong of their choice every level thereafter, of a level
they may cast. They may also learn spellsongs from other bards. Time and
cost for learning a spellsong is the same as for a magic-user to learn a spell
of the same level.
The number of spellsongs listed on the Bard Level Progression Table is
the number of spellsongs the bard may cast per day. Bards do not
memorize spellsong; they may cast any spellsong they have learned, in any
combination they choose, based on the number of spellsong casting slots
of that level.
Bards do not gain bonus spellsongs due to high Intelligence, Wisdom,
or Charisma.
Casting a spellsong is more involved even than casting a spell.
•
A spellsong must be sung, and requires one round to sing and cast per
level of the spellsong. A 1st level spellsong takes one round (completing
the same round as per a spell); a 6th level spellsong takes six rounds.
Spellsongs take effect on the bard’s initiative turn during that round. If
the bard is interrupted at any time during the song the casting fails, but
the casting slot is not used.
•
The bard must not only be able to speak; she must be able to sing, so
if she has had any damage to her vocal cords, can only whisper, or is
otherwise limited in her ability to sing, or is limited in her ability to hear,
she cannot use spellsongs.
o
The exception to this is if she uses a wind instrument, in which case
her breath and the musical notes combine to form the required
verbal component.
•
The bard must have access to one of her proficient musical instruments
for musical accompaniment; no other musical instrument will do – she
must have an instrument in which she has proficiency.
o
However, at 6th level and above, she may cast certain, specific
spellsongs by singing a cappella or through verse alone if she has
taken that as a proficiency.
•
The targets, if any, must also be able to hear the spellsong if it is a
spellsong that affects minds, though they need not understand the
language; if the target cannot hear the spellsong, they cannot be
affected by the spellsong.
•
The bard may move slowly while singing a spellsong, but only 5 feet per
round. They must keep the target(s) in sight the entire time of the
casting, if the spellsong is targeted.
11
THIEVING ABILITIES: At 1st level the bard chooses four of the following thief
and/or assassin abilities, which she advances in the ability of as though she
were a thief of the same level: Backstab, Climb Walls, Disguise,
Find/Remove Traps, Hear Noise, Hide in Shadows, Move Silently, Pick Locks,
Pick Pockets, and Poison Use (NE only).
These abilities are modified as per Dexterity and race as per normal.
WITTICISM: Beginning at 3rd level, a bard can utter a witticism, jest, or jibe of
such potency, that it can stun, paralyze, render unconscious, or even kill
those who hear it.
Base chance is the average of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma at
1st level (rounded up), plus 2d4% (5%) per level after 1st.
Utterance of a witticism requires one round, and it can only affect
intelligent creatures who can hear and understand the language in which
it was uttered. It must target at a specific, single creature.
Rolling 96-100 is always a failure; rolling 100 or failing by 20 or more
means the bard has not only failed, but also inspires hatred and anger in
the target, such that if they choose to attack the bard they gain a +2 bonus
to hit and damage until the encounter ends.
A successful witticism requires those who hear it to make a saving throw
versus Spells. When a saving throw is called for, those of low Intelligence are
at an advantage; apply any Intelligence modifier as a penalty to the
saving throw (thus, a penalty becomes a bonus, a bonus becomes a
penalty). If a target makes their saving throw against a witticism, they are
immune to any further attempts at witticism by that bard for 24 hours.
At 3rd level, a successful witticism stuns the target for 1d4 rounds.
At 6th level, a successful witticism paralyzes the target for 1d4 rounds.
at 10th level, a successful witticism renders the target unconscious for
1d4 rounds; allies of the target within 20 feet must also make a saving throw
or be stunned for 1d4 rounds.
At 14th level, a successful can kill; a failed save reduces the target to 0
hit points. Allies of the target within 20 feet must also make a saving throw
or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds.
A bard may attempt to attack with a witticism a number of times per
day equal to the highest level spellsong they may cast (i.e., 2 to 6 times per
day).
12
Note: This list is not exhaustive; most druid and magic-user spells have been
transformed into spellsongs, as have other spells of cleric and illusionist sort.
These are the most common spellsongs; a bard must choose the “free”
spellsong they gain each level from this list.
LEVEL 1
Cuddio’s Ditty of Disguise [Doppelganger (I1)]
Dawn’s Enlightening Limerick [Dancing Lights (M1)]
Ffylod’s Friendly Refrain [Animal Companion (D1)]
Lithian’s Alluring Aire [Allure (M1)]
Llewellyn’s Lustrous Lyric [Color Spray (I1)]
Maglan’s Rhapsodic Ensnarement [Entangle (D1)]
Milyn’s Merry Melody [Speak with Animals (D1)]
Ode to the Lion Heart [Remove Fear (C1)]
Song of Glittering Glamours [Faerie Fire (D1)]
Song of Sweet Serenity [Sanctuary (C1)]
Swyn’s Subtle Serenade [Charm Person (M1)]
Wynken Blynken’s Lullaby [Sleep (M1)]
LEVEL 2
Cuddio’s Jaunty Jingle [Invisibility (M2)]
Dirge of Deformation [Warp Wood (D2)]
Dirge of Spectral Might [Phantasmal Force (M2)]
Dwyllo’s Deceitful Ditty [False Gold (M2)]
Ffylod’s Serpentine Sonnet [Snake Charm (C2)]
Gwiddon’s Demanding Dissonance [Hold Person (C2)]
Gwiddon’s Jostling Jingle [Stumble (D2)]
Lithian’s Lovely Limerick [Hypnotic Pattern (I2)]
Peal of Pusillanimous Provocation [Scare (M2)]
Summer’s Searing Strain [Heat Metal (D2)]
Syfradana’s Striking Sonnet [Blindness or Deafness (I2)]
Tarth’s Original Ode [Obscuring Mist (D2)]
LEVEL 3
Aire of Improved Alacrity [Haste (M3)]
Danu’s Aria of Augmentation [Plant Growth (D3)]
Ffylod’s Harmonious Rhapsody [Hold Animal (D3)]
Rhapsody of Stone [Stone Shape (D3)]
Rithian’s First Verse [Summon Monster I (M3)]
Swyn’s Compelling Canticle [Suggestion (M3)]
Taan’s Bright Ballad [Pyrotechnics (D3)]
Tarth’s Rhapsodic Zephyr [Gust of Wind (M3)]
13
LEVEL 4
Ffylod’s Heroic Couplet [Summon Sylvan Beings (D4)]
Gwiddon’s Disconcerting Ditty [Fumble (M4)]
Lithian’s Phantasmagorical Refrain [Hallucinatory Terrain (D4)]
Rithian’s Second Verse [Summon Monster II (M4)]
Swyn’s Monstrous Melody [Charm Monster (M4)]
Syfradana’s Perplexing Paean [Confusion (M4)]
Tarth’s Demanding Ditty [Temperature Control (D4)]
The Enchanter’s Lament [Dispel Magic (D4)]
LEVEL 5
Chant of Elemental Immanence [Conjure Elemental (M5)]
Danu’s Empathic Ode [Commune with Nature (D5)]
Dirge of Unyielding Doom [Insect Plague (D5)]
Ffylod’s Magnificent Measure [Animal Growth (D5)]
Gwiddon’s Superior Dissonance [Hold Monster (M5)]
Rithian’s Third Verse [Summon Monster III (M5)]
Song of Seelie Sight [True Seeing (M5)]
Tarth’s Windy Warble [Control Winds (D5)]
LEVEL 6
Danu’s Overwhelming Oratorio [Geas (M6)]
Ffylod’s Mighty Measure [Anti-Animal Shell (D6)]
Gwiddon’s Rending Rhapsody [Feeblemind (D6)]
Ode of Omnipotent Opposition [Anti-Magic Shell (M6)]
Rhyme of Revivification [Reincarnate (M6)]
Rithian’s Grand Couplet [Summon Monster IV (M6)]
Swyn’s Supreme Serenade [Mass Suggestion (I6)]
Tarth’s Supreme Sonnet [Control Weather (D6)]
14
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT TABLE
Availability
Instrument
Cost
Weight
City
Town
Village
Notes
Accordion
100 gp
10 lbs.
50%
30%
10%
Advanced
Bagpipes
60 gp
20 lbs.
50%
60%
70%
Wind
Balalaika
200 gp
12 lbs.
25%
25%
25%
Plucked string
Bell, Hand
12 gp
2 lbs.
50%
40%
30%
Percussion
Bell, Tower
200 gp
20 lbs.
40%
20%
10%
Percussion
Bones
free
1/2 lb.
n/a
n/a
n/a
Percussion
Bullroarer
2 gp
2 lbs.
20%
40%
60%
Ancient
Castanet
1 gp
1/2 lb.
80%
70%
60%
Percussion
Cavaco
9 gp
4 lbs.
50%
40%
30%
Strummed
string
Chime
2 gp
3 lbs.
90%
85%
80%
Percussion
Cittern
20 gp
10 lbs.
75%
65%
55%
Strummed
string; Common
Concertina
20 gp
5 lbs.
60%
50%
40%
Advanced
Conch Shell
20 gp
5 lbs.
50%
60%
70%
Wind
Cornetto
18 gp
3 lbs.
75%
70%
65%
Wind
Crumhorn
15 gp
8 lbs.
60%
50%
40%
Wind
Crwth
80 gp
10 lbs.
50%
40%
30%
Bowed string
Didgeridoo
8 gp
3 lbs.
30%
50%
70%
Wind
Drum, Bonko
3 gp
6 lbs.
10%
30%
50%
Percussion,
double drums
Drum, Goblet
10 gp
1 lb.
70%
60%
50%
Percussion
Drum, Kettle
30 gp
20 lbs.
50%
40%
30%
Percussion
Drum, Slit
2 gp
3 lbs.
20%
40%
60%
Percussion
Drum, Snare
4 gp
8 lbs.
90%
85%
80%
Percussion
Dulcimer
40 gp
12 lbs.
60%
40%
20%
Percussion
string
Fiddle
100 gp
8 lbs.
60%
50%
40%
Bowed string;
Common
Fife
5 gp
1 lb.
90%
85%
80%
Wind
Flute
15 gp
2 lbs.
85%
80%
75%
Wind; Common
Gong
5 gp
10 lbs.
90%
85%
80%
Percussion
Harmonica
30 gp
1 lb.
50%
30%
10%
Wind;
Advanced
Harp, Grand
450 gp
75 lbs.
50%
25%
10%
Plucked string
Harp, Hand
25 gp
8 lbs.
95%
90%
85%
Plucked string;
Common
Harp, Knee
75 gp
25 lbs.
75%
60%
45%
Plucked string
Harpsichord
2,000 gp
100 lbs.
20%
n/a
n/a
Advanced
Horn
6 gp
4 lbs.
80%
75%
70%
Wind
Hurdy Gurdy
30 gp
12 lbs.
60%
40%
20%
Bowed string
Lute
25 gp
4 lbs.
90%
85%
80%
Plucked string;
Common
15
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT TABLE
Availability
Instrument
Cost
Weight
City
Town
Village
Notes
Lyre
150 gp
15 lbs.
70%
60%
50%
Strummed
string; Common
Mandolin
28 gp
10 lbs.
90%
85%
80%
Plucked string
Maraca
1 gp
1/2 lb.
40%
50%
60%
Percussion
Mbanza
5 gp
3 lbs.
25%
40%
55%
Plucked string
Mijwiz
25 gp
3 lbs.
80%
70%
60%
Wind, double
flute
Nyckelharpa
50 gp
15 lbs.
25%
n/a
n/a
String
Pan Flute
5 gp
1 lb.
95%
90%
85%
Wind; Common
Pibgorn
20 gp
3 lbs.
75%
65%
55%
Wind;
Pipe and
Tabor
20 gp
10 lbs.
80%
70%
60%
Snare drum
and flute “one
man band”;
Common
Rebec and
Bow
30 gp
5 lbs.
90%
85%
80%
Bowed String;
Common
Recorder
6 gp
1 lb.
95%
90%
85%
Wind; Common
Sitar
100 gp
15 lbs.
70%
60%
50%
Plucked string
Tambourine
5 gp
4 lbs.
80%
75%
70%
Percussion
Triplepipe
25 gp
6 lbs.
30%
40%
50%
Wind
Trumpet
45 gp
6 lbs.
50%
40%
30%
Wind
Xylophone
20 gp
10 lbs.
60%
40%
20%
Percussion
Zither
150 gp
20 lbs.
50%
30%
10%
Plucked string
Zurna
10 gp
4 lbs.
80%
75%
70%
Wind; wood
horn
Bolded instrument names are the most common choices for Specialized
Instrument, due to near-universal appeal across cultures and social classes.
Advanced instruments are available only in technologically (or magically
similar) civilizations.
16
Bards maintain an independent, quasi-secret society across all city, state,
and national boundaries. Advancement within this society through its ranks
of “colleges” is based on accomplishments other than those measured
strictly by level progression.
Advancement guarantees fame, fortune, and everything that goes
with it, especially access to further training; positions in noble courts and
patrician theaters; aristocratic patronage; and a widespread base of fans,
admirers, and groupies.
Most tests are administered in public (at the Bardic Academy if the
locale has one), after a few basic questions and pre-tests (to guarantee
the propitiate will not embarrass the judges in front of the hoi-polloi). Tests
are often scheduled to coincide with local festivals, the better for the
propitiate and the judges to gain a larger (and wealthier) crowd.
Failing a test means one cannot try again for one year.
Note that not all bards advance through the ranks of the bardic
college; many remain independent and go their own ways.
FOCHLOC, the first rank, is gained when the bard attains 1st level as a bard.
The requirement is mastery of two 1st-level spellsongs and five languages,
plus tests in lore, performance, and decipherment of scripts. Additionally,
the bard must have composed at least eight poems or songs. Tests are
proctored by three Macfuirmid-ranked bards. Acceptance means
becoming a full member of bardic society, setting them aside from
common minstrels, but also then requires that the bard follow all bardic
laws; provide assistance to fellow bards at need; tithe to the Bardic College;
and obey the orders of higher-ranked bards.
•
Bards of the Fochloc College often seek out bards of the Dos College
for advice and tutelage.
MACFUIRMID, the second rank, is gained after being tested by three Dos-
ranked bards; one must have mastered at least two 2nd-level spellsongs, six
languages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, and
decipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed at
least 15 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s
satisfaction); learned at least one new noble lineage to seven generations;
and performed with accolades before no less than three knights or greater
nobles.
•
Upon attaining Macfuirmid rank the bard may distribute 10 points
among the following skills, though no more than 5 points to any one
skill, as she wishes: Counter-Song, Influence, Inspire, Lore, Perform, Read
Languages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism.
•
Bards of the Macfuirmid College often seek out bards of the Cano
College for advice and tutelage.
17
DOS, the third rank, is gained after being tested by three Cano-ranked
bards; one must have mastered at least two 3rd-level spellsongs, seven
languages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, and
decipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed at
least 34 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s
satisfaction); learned at least one new noble lineage to seven generations;
and performed with accolades before no less than three lords or greater
nobles. Finally, to attain Dos rank, the bard must have personally
participated in one heroic endeavor of which a song or poem has been
written (though not necessarily including her in the song or poem).
•
Upon attaining Dos rank the bard may distribute 10 points among the
following skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she
wishes:
Counter-Song,
Influence,
Inspire,
Lore,
Perform,
Read
Languages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism.
•
Upon attaining Dos rank the bard may choose one common spellsong
of 1st level to learn for free (no need to make a learning check).
•
Bards of the Dos College often seek out bards of the Cli College for
advice and tutelage.
•
Bards of the Fochloc College often seek out bards of the Dos College
for advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Dos rank, the
bard can count on attracting 1d4 bards of the Fochloc College as
assistants, minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen. These
followers move on when they attain Macfuirmid rank.
CANO, the fourth rank, is gained after being tested by three Cli-ranked
bards; one must have mastered at least two 4th-level spellsongs, eight
languages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, and
decipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed at
least 71 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s
satisfaction); created a new spellsong of 1st-level or greater; learned at
least one new royal lineage to seven generations; and performed with
accolades before no less than three barons or greater nobles. Finally, to
attain Cano rank, the bard must have personally participated in one heroic
endeavor of which a song or poem has been written and be mentioned,
at least peripherally, in the song or poem.
•
Upon attaining Cano rank the bard may distribute 10 points among the
following skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she
wishes:
Counter-Song,
Influence,
Inspire,
Lore,
Perform,
Read
Languages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism.
•
Upon attaining Cano rank the bard may choose one common
spellsong of 2nd level to learn for free (no need to make a learning
check).
•
Bards of the Cano College often seek out bards of the Anruth College
for advice and tutelage.
•
Bards of the Macfuirmid College often seek out bards of the Cano
College for advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Cano
18
rank, the bard can count on attracting 1d4 bards of the Macfuirmid
College as assistants, minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen.
These followers move on when they attain Dos rank.
CLI, the fifth rank, is gained after being tested by three Anruth-ranked
bards; one must have mastered at least two 5th-level spellsongs, nine
languages, and shown improvement in lore, performance, and
decipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed at
least 132 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s
satisfaction); created a new spellsong of 2nd-level or greater; learned at
least one new royal lineage to seven generations; and performed with
accolades before no less than three counts or greater nobles. Finally, to
attain Cli rank, the bard must have personally participated in one heroic
endeavor of which a song or poem has been written, with her as the
primary heroic figure.
•
Upon attaining Cli rank the bard may distribute 10 points among the
following skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she
wishes:
Counter-Song,
Influence,
Inspire,
Lore,
Perform,
Read
Languages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism.
•
Upon attaining Cli rank the bard may choose one common spellsong
of 3rd level to learn for free (no need to make a learning check).
•
Bards of the Cli College often seek out Ollam-ranked bards for advice
and tutelage.
•
Bards of the Dos College often seek out bards of the Cli College for
advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Cli rank, the bard
can count on attracting 1d4 bards of the Dos College as assistants,
minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen. These followers move
on when they attain Cano rank.
ANRUTH, the sixth rank, is gained after being tested by six Anruth-ranked
and one Ollamh-ranked bards; one must have mastered at least two 6th-
level spellsongs, 10 languages, and shown improvement in lore,
performance, and decipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must
have composed at least 223 total poems or songs (and perform all of them
to the judge’s satisfaction); created a new spellsong of 3rd-level or greater;
learned at least one new royal lineage to seven generations; and
performed with accolades before no less than three dukes or greater
nobles. Finally, to attain Anruth rank, the bard must have personally
participated in two heroic endeavors of which a song or poem has been
written, with her as the primary heroic figure.
•
Upon attaining Anruth rank the bard may distribute 10 points among
the following skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she
wishes:
Counter-Song,
Influence,
Inspire,
Lore,
Perform,
Read
Languages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism.
19
•
Upon attaining Anruth rank the bard may choose one common
spellsong of 4th level to learn for free (no need to make a learning
check).
•
Bards of the Anruth College often seek out Ollam-ranked bards for
advice and tutelage.
•
Bards of the Cano College often seek out bards of the Anruth College
for advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Dos rank, the
bard can count on attracting 1d4 bards of the Macfuirmid College as
assistants, minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen. These
followers move on when they attain Cli rank.
OLLAM, the seventh rank, is gained after being tested by nine Anruth-
ranked and three Ollamh-ranked bards; one must have mastered at least
six each 1st and 2nd level spellsongs and four each 3rd through 6th-level
spellsongs, 12 languages, and shown improvement in lore, performance,
and decipherment of scripts. Additionally, the bard must have composed
at least 350 total poems or songs (and perform all of them to the judge’s
satisfaction); created a new spellsong of 4th-level or greater; know all royal
lineages of the major kingdoms of the region to seven generations; and
performed with accolades before no less than three kings or greater nobles.
Finally, to attain Ollam rank, the bard must have personally participated in
three heroic endeavors of which songs or poems have been written, with
her as the primary heroic figure.
•
Upon attaining Ollam rank the bard may distribute 10 points among the
following skills, though no more than 5 points to any one skill, as she
wishes:
Counter-Song,
Influence,
Inspire,
Lore,
Perform,
Read
Languages, Thieving Abilities, and Witticism.
•
Upon attaining Ollam rank the bard may choose one common
spellsong of 5th level to learn for free (no need to make a learning
check).
•
Bards of the Cli and Anruth Colleges often seek out bards of the Ollam
rank for advice and tutelage; within one month of attaining Ollam rank,
the bard can count on attracting 1d2 bards each of the Cli and Anruth
Colleges as assistants, minions, hangers-on, and potential henchmen.
These followers move on when they attain Anruth and Ollam ranks,
respectively.
•
Ollam-ranked bards are the “grand-master bards” of the College of
Bards. They generally retire from active leadership positions and
appointments to concentrate on completing their magnum opus, by
which they will forever after be remembered.
20
A magnum opus is a great artistic work; when referenced by bards, it refers
to the greatest work accomplished by an Ollam-ranked bard. Though their
names may be long-lost, their music – and thus, to the bard, all that matters
– lives on through these items. These are invariably some form of magic item
verging on the level of a magical relic, as of a saint or demi-god. They have
great power, but can often be dangerous to use for those who have not
the proper level of talent.
All of these items are unique. No gold piece values are provided for
any of these items, each of which is considered worth a king’s ransom at
least, or beyond price by most.
DIARMUID’S CODEX: This small but thick book with a green leather cover is
filled with the limericks, jests, and epigrams of Diarmuid, one of the most
famous wielders of witticisms and repartee in bardic history. Any bard who
reads the codex (written in Druidic and requiring one week of uninterrupted
study) must thereafter make a saving throw versus Spells, with a +1 bonus
per rank in the Bardic College. Failure indicates the bard dies laughing with
a smile on her face. If the bard survives, the codex disappears after being
read, and reappears randomly elsewhere.
Success indicates that the bard thereafter permanently gains a +25%
bonus to her Witticisms skill, and can affect a number of primary targets with
the same witticism as she has ranks in the Bardic College.
The downside is that, should she roll a 100 when attempting a witticism,
her nearest ally who can hear and understand the witticism must make a
saving throw versus Spells or die after 1d4 rounds of horrific laughter.
FIRZAM’S PIPES OF MADNESS: These simple pan pipes appear old and
weathered, and in the hands of any but a bard are useless, except for
playing plain music.
If the owner is a bard they gain access to the following powers, which
require a successful Perform check; failure indicates that that specific
power cannot be used again that day:
•
Charm: With a successful Perform check, the bard may target an
individual within 30 feet with Swyn’s subtle serenade (charm person).
•
Confusion: With a successful Perform check, the bard casts Syfradana’s
perplexing paean (confusion); the effect continues as long as the bard
continues to play the pipes. However, if the bard rolls 100 on her
Perform check, she is affected by the confusion for 14 rounds!
•
Dance: With a successful Perform check, the bard may target an
individual within 30 feet; if they fail a saving throw versus Spells they
begin dancing, against their will, as per the irresistible dance spell. The
effect continues only as long as the bard continues to play the pipes.
The target suffers 1 hit point of damage every round they dance after
the first 10 rounds. However, if the bard rolls 100 on her Perform check,
21
she is affected by the dance as though she were wearing boots of
dancing (no saving throw)!
•
Lullaby: With a successful Perform check, the bard may either affect a
group as per Wynken Blynken’s lullaby (sleep) or may target a single
individual of up to 8 levels/HD to fall asleep; targets with 5 to 8 levels/HD
get a saving throw versus Spells to negate the effect.
GOLDEN SONGBIRD: The Golden Songbird is often associated with Ahlissa
the Nightingale, as it was she who recovered it from the depths of an
ancient elvish ruin. Who actually created this item is unknown, but was
certainly an ancient elvish bard of surpassing skill. Its current owner is
unknown, as Ahlissa and her companions disappeared during an
expedition into the Giantlands.
The Golden Songbird is a metal bird made of gold, the size of a typical
songbird; it is lifelike in every way, and its singing voice is pitch perfect. The
Golden Songbird has the following abilities and powers:
•
The Golden Songbird can speak and understand Elvish, Dwarvish, and
Gnome, though it is not terribly intelligent and can only relate its abilities
and its brief history since it was recovered from the ruins (it has no
memories from before that time). It can also unerringly translate
between those three languages.
•
The Golden Songbird can sing more than 1,000 songs, many of which
were lost prior to its recovery, and can sing any song it has heard merely
once with perfect pitch and tone (even if the sample was poorly
performed).
•
When within 30 feet of its owner, it conveys to the owner the following
abilities:
o
The Golden Songbird can accompany its owner, if a bard, during
their performances (use of Counter-Song, Influence, Inspire, and
Perform skills), granting the owner a 25% bonus to their base skill
level (before other modifiers).
o
Three times per day at the direction of the owner it can sing a song
that causes any monster who uses musical or sound-based attacks
to flee in terror (saving throw versus Spells negates effect).
o
It may cast for the owner one common spellsong of each spellsong
level, 1st to 6th, once per day; the spellsong is cast at 14th level;
o
Once per day upon being given the command it can grow to the
size of a small horse; a saddle appears upon its back, and the
owner and one passenger may ride it as it flies at 30 miles per hour
for up to four hours.
•
The Golden Songbird can be used to send messages to up to 12
specific individuals named by its owner. It can only repeat whatever
message it is given verbatim (in the voice of the owner if they so
choose), and then relay back up to 12 return messages in the same
manner. When ordered to find the recipients of the message, the
songbird can find them unerringly provided they are on the same plane
22
and not protected from detection (such as through amulet or spell).
The Golden Songbird flies at a rate of 30 miles per hour (for long-
distance travel) in the most expeditious pattern to get the message to
all targets and return as quickly as possible.
•
The Golden Songbird has an AC -6 (and can be hit only by magical
weapons), HD 10, 10 hp, one peck attack that deals 1 point of damage
(1d6 in large sized form); if hit the target must make a saving throw
versus Paralysis or be paralyzed for 2d4 turns. The Golden Songbird
attacks only in self-defense or in defense of its owner.
•
Possession of the Golden Songbird instills in the owner the desire to hear
more and ever greater musical performances. Every week the owner
possesses the Golden Songbird she must make a saving throw versus
Spells; failure indicates that she must listen to the music of the songbird
and/or others of great quality for no less than one hour every day.
o
Every week that she fails the save adds one more hour that she
must listen to music each day, until eventually she must be listening
to music every hour of every day, losing sleep and gaining no rest,
and eventually being driven mad from lack of sleep and not
having enough time in the day to listen to more music… (i.e.
insanity sets in no later than when she fails the saving throw for the
25th time and finds not enough time, day or night, to listen to music).
•
Ownership of the Golden Songbird is easy to establish; whomever holds
it and claims it as their own is the new owner (of course, successfully
grabbing at it with its -6 AC is not easy). Previous owners who have
failed the above saving throw and must listen to music, however, never
willingly trade or lose ownership, and will do anything within their power
– including abandoning all ethics and morals – to regain ownership of
the Golden Songbird.
HOWARD’S HARP OF HEROES: Howard’s Harp of Heroes is an unassuming-
looking harp; it is neither worn nor new, plain nor ostentatious; it appears to
be a normal, work-a-day hand harp like those used by any other bard in
the street. However, when played the harp and its strings shine like gold and
give off a silvery glow.
The owner of Howard’s Harp of Heroes gains the following abilities:
•
If the owner is not a bard, they may use the Harp of Heroes to perform
the following bard skills at the listed base level of ability: Counter-Song
50%, Influence 70%, Inspire 70%, and Perform 80%.
o
If the owner is already a bard, when using the Harp of Heroes, she
gains a 15% bonus to each of the above skills.
•
A successful Perform check allows the owner to cast ode to the lion’s
heart (remove fear). If the Perform check fails this ability cannot be
used until the next day.
•
Once every seven days Howard’s Harp of Heroes may be played to
summon heroes to fight for the owner of the harp. The owner makes a
23
Performance check; based on a successful roll, the following heroes
appear:
o
Successful roll 01-40: 2d4+2 2nd-level Fighters with chain mail, shield,
long sword, and short bow;
o
Successful roll 41-75: 2d4+1 3rd-level Fighters with banded mail,
shield, long sword, and short bow;
o
Successful roll 76-90: 2d4 4th-level Fighters with plate mail, shield,
long sword, lance, and warhorse;
o
Successful roll 91+: 1d4+1 5th-level Fighters with plate mail, shield,
magical long sword +1, lance, and warhorse;
o
Summoned heroes attack anyone the owner of the harp
commands them to fight until they or their opponents are dead or
6 turns have passed, whichever comes first.
o
If the Perform check fails, nothing happens and the owner cannot
use this ability again for seven days.
o
If the owner rolls 100 on their performance check, they instead
summon 1d4+1 5th-level villains, equipped as above, who appear
and immediately attack the owner of the harp.
ORPHEUS‘S LYRE: One of the greatest bards of history, Orpheus left songs
and stories that ring down the centuries, especially his own tragic end.
His lyre grants to the bard who wields it the following powers:
•
The bard gains +25% to her use of her Counter-Song skill.
•
With a successful Perform check the bard can cast Swyn’s subtle
serenade (charm person, requires one round), Swyn’s compelling
canticle (suggestion, requires three rounds), Swyn’s monstrous melody
(charm monster, requires four rounds), or Swyn’s supreme serenade
[mass suggestion, requires six rounds). Failure indicates that the bard
cannot try to use that particular spellsong again until the next day.
•
Once per week with a successful Perform check at half base chances
the bard can cast raise dead (cast as though by a 14th-level cleric). If
the bard rolls 100 on her check, the target can never be raised or
resurrected and the bard is cursed (no saving throw, as per the spell)
such that thereafter all her base bard skills are halved.
•
Should any being other than a bard seek to play the lyre, the lyre
summons 1d4+1 5th-level female berserkers, known as maenads, who
rip the blasphemer to death with their bare hands (attack at +2, two
claw attacks per round, each deals 1d4+4 damage). The maenads
remain until they or the blasphemer are dead or up to 6 turns. The lyre
can summon these maenads of its own will only once per day.
PIOBAN BAIS: The infamous “Pipes of Death” are a set of bagpipes
fashioned by the even more infamous Murrain MacGalla, the Lich-Bard of
the Highlands; the pipes were formed from the bones of the Three
Murdered Kings, and the bag itself from the skin of the regicide-parricide-
mariticide-filicide, Queen Raicleach NicMaloidh, who slew the three kings
24
(her father, husband, and son) at the behest of Murrain MacGalla, the
Royal Bard.
The Pipes of Death are infused with necromantic power, the likes of
which are generally entirely foreign to bards. Should a Neutral Good bard
so much as touch the Pipes of Death, she must make a saving throw versus
Spells or suffer 6d6 points of damage (save for half damage); should she be
slain by this damage, she rises immediately thereafter as a wight and takes
up playing of the pipes. Similarly, a True Neutral bard must save or suffer 3d6
points of damage (again, save for half), and if slain, suffers the same fate.
Non-bards suffer the same fate as bards who have the same alignment
(Good or Neutral), but if slain, do not rise again as wights. Those of Evil
alignment may touch the pipes, but only a Neutral Evil bard may touch and
use the Pipes of Death.
The Pipes of Death have the following powers:
•
Animate Dead: With a successful Perform check at half base chances,
after three rounds of skirling, the bard animates dead as per the spell
cast by a 14th level cleric. If her Perform check is 100, the undead still
animate but they are consumed with the need to slay the bard, and
are immune to all the other powers of the Pipes of Death.
•
Cause Wounds: This power enables the bard to cause wounds, as per
the spell. The bard may play the pipes for one to six rounds; at the end
of the last round, if she has been uninterrupted, she must make a
Perform check at half base chance. If successful, she targets a single
being within 80 feet, who is attacked by an eldritch burst of green
energy that causes 1d8 points of damage per round of skirling. The
target may make a saving throw versus Death; success indicates they
suffer only half damage. If her Perform check is 100, the bard suffers the
damage, instead.
o
This power can be used to heal damage suffered by undead.
•
Control Undead: With a successful Perform check at half base chances,
requiring but one round, the bard may turn or control undead as a
cleric of 14th level. Controlled undead remain under the bard’s control
so long as she remains the owner of the pipes; should she lose
ownership of the pipes, the undead are freed, and seek her out to
destroy her. If, on an attempt to turn or control undead, the bard rolls
a 100 for Perform, the target undead thereafter attack the bard to the
exclusion of all others.
•
Dance of the Dead: With a successful Perform check at half base
chances, the bard may target all living beings within 30 feet; if they fail
a saving throw versus Spells they begin dancing, against their will, as
per the irresistible dance spell. The effect continues only as long as the
bard continues to play the pipes. The targets suffer 1 hit point of
damage every round they dance after the first 10 rounds. If a target
dies while dancing they continue dancing, with their skin sloughing off
over several hours, and then continue to dance as an animated
skeleton until they are destroyed.
25
OPEN GAMING LICENSE
DESIGNATION OF OPEN GAME CONTENT: The stat blocks of all monsters and the rule text of any abilities,
powers, spells, or traps is Open Game Content, but none of the names or any of the descriptive text is
open, unless such content is Open Game Content by virtue of appearing in the SRD. Any questions
regarding the Open Game Content within this work should be directed to James Mishler at
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DESIGNATION OF PRODUCT IDENTITY: The names “James Mishler Games™,” “Goblinoid Games™,”
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Reference Document, being provided as Open Game Content in a work listed in Section 15 below, or is
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Identity within this work should be directed to James Mishler at [email protected].
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast,
Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.
1.Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed
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does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional
content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by
this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes
Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying
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System Reference Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathon Tweet, Monte
Cook, Skip Williams, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet,
Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John
D. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill
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Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams,
Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Wiker.
Castles & Crusades: Players Handbook, Copyright 2004, Troll Lord Games; Authors Davis Chenault and
Mac Golden.
Cave Cricket from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene
and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Crab, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott
Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Fly, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Golem, Wood from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott
Greene and Patrick Lawinger.
Kamadan from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Nick Louth.
Rot Grub from the Tome of Horrors, Copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene
and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax,
Labyrinth Lord Copyright 2007-2009, Daniel Proctor; Author Daniel Proctor.
Darwin’s World, Copyright 2002, RPGObjects; Authors Dominic Covey and Chris Davis.
Mutant Future, Copyright 2008, Daniel Proctor and Ryan Denison; Authors Daniel Proctor and Ryan
Denison.
Aerial Servant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott
Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Axe Beak from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Beetle, Giant Boring from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott
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Beetle, Giant Rhinoceros from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author
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Brownie from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Crayfish, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott
Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Demon: Juiblex, The Faceless Lord‰ (Demon Lord) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002,
Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Demon: Orcus (Demon Prince of Undead) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer
Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
27
Devil: Amon (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author
Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Devil: Bael (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author
Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Devil: Geryon (Arch-Devil) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author
Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Ear Seeker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene
and Erica Balsley, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Eel, Electric from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene.
Eye of the Deep from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott
Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Floating Eye from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Frog, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott
Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Frog, Monstrous Killer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott
Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Frog, Monstrous Poisonous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors
Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Gas Spore from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene
and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Gorbel from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based
on original material by Andrew Key.
Groaning Spirit from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott
Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Hippocampus from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott
Greene and Erica Balsey, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Jackalwere from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene
based, on original material by Gary Gygax.
Leprechaun from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Lurker Above from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Piercer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and
Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Slithering Tracker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott
Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Slug, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Strangle Weed from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott
Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Tick, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Trapper from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Turtle, Giant Snapping from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott
Green, based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Wind Walker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene,
based on original material by Gary Gygax.
Yeti from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Green, based on
original material by Gary Gygax.
Advanced Edition Companion, Copyright 2009-2010, Daniel Proctor; Author Daniel Proctor.
Advanced Labyrinth Lord, Copyright 2018, Daniel Proctor; Author Daniel Proctor.
Bard Class, Copyright 2021, James Mishler; Authors James Mishler and Jodi Moran-Mishler.
END OF LICENSE
28
Current as of January 21, 2021
JMG0001 Hercynian Grimoire #1 (V. 1, N. 1) [P, S, C]
JMG0002 GD&C #1: Chaos Queen of Ants [P, C]
JMG0003 Vampires of the Olden Lands [P, S, C]
JMG0004 Map 100 Olden Lands Continent [P]
JMG0005 Ogres of the Olden Lands [P, S, C]
JMG0006 Midzee Maps [Mutant Future] [P]
JMG0007 Castle Adlerstein and Environs Map Pack [P]
JMG0008 Barbarian Class [P, S]
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JMG0010 Myrkridder – The Demonic Dead [P, S]
JMG0011 Ghosts – The Incorporeal Undead [P, S]
JMG0012 Monstrous Miscellany #01 [P]
JMG0013 Dragonborn [P,S]
JMG0014 Quick Start Character Race & Class Sheets [P, S]
JMG0015 ALL Character Record Sheets [P]
JMG0016 ALL Adventure Record Sheets [P]
JMG0017 Balor-Kin Racial Class [P]
JMG0018 Marilith-Kin Racial Class [P]
JMG0019 Nalfeshnee Racial Class [P]
JMG0020 Quick Start Race & Class Guide [G]
JMG0021 Barbarian, Demi-God, & Dragonborn [G]
JMG0022 Ghosts – The Incorporeal Undead [G]
JMG0023 Hercynian Grimoire #1 (Vol. 1, No. 1) [C, G]
JMG0024 Myrkridder, Ogres, & Vampires [C, G]
JMG0025 Region 01A Frelengian Heartlands Map Pack [P]
JMG0026 Expanded 20-Level Demi-Human Racial Classes [P]
JMG0027 Expanded 20-Level Core Four Classes [P]
JMG0028 The Book of Manos: A Grimoire of Handy Spells [P]
JMG0029 Frelengian Heartlands: Badgershire Map [P]
JMG0030 Expanded Dragons [P]
JMG0031 Necromancer Class [P]
JMG0032 Runemaster Class [P]
JMG0033 Bard Class [P]
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unless noted, other products are for Labyrinth Lord.
G = Gary Con XII Limited-Edition Special (2020)
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| textdata/thevault/Labyrinth Lord/Labyrinth Lord Classes/Bard Class (LL).pdf |
URC6−06
Enemy of My Enemy
A One-Round Dungeons & Dragons® Living
Greyhawk™
Regional Adventure set in the County of Urnst
Version 1.95
by D’Anne Rooney
Circle Reviewer: John Jenks
Triad Reviewer(s): JP Chapleau
Playtesters: Chris Berry, Konrad Brandemuhl, Richard Clark, John Foye, Pam Foye, Brian Glose, Leonard Logan, Murry
McEntire, Dustin Short, James Stepanek
Contessa Elone Hofre Gellor was murdered and the County of Urnst is in an uproar over who will lead next. Are you
willing to work with the enemy of your enemy to find the assassin? Part 2 of the “Chasing the Darkness” series. This
adventure also includes an additional, optional encounter for the brave and heroic.
A one-round Regional adventure set in the County of Urnst for characters level 1-14 (APLs 2-12).Resources for this
adventure include URC5-04 That Which Lurks [D’Anne Rooney], URC6-I04 More Rivalry at Richfest [JP Chapleau and the
CoU Triad].
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of
Wizards of the Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20
This is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, Living Greyhawk, D&D Rewards, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide,
and Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the
copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is
prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to
actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
RPGA® SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely, you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part
of
the
LIVING
GREYHAWK
campaign—a
worldwide, ongoing D&D® campaign set in the
GREYHAWK setting—you must sanction it as part of an
RPGA event. This event could be as elaborate as a big
convention, or as simple as a group of friends meeting
at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL™
gamemaster.
The
person
who
sanctions the event is called the senior gamemaster,
and is in charge of making sure the event is sanctioned
before play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and
then reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner.
The person who runs the game is called the table
Dungeon Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and
almost all the time in the cases of home events) the
senior gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have
to be a HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you
are not the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure, you
accomplish a couple of things. First, it is an official
game, and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members
of the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program.
Playing this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2007.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS,
visit the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
Players Read No Farther
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than
this section, you’ll know too much about its challenges,
which kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this
adventure as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event,
reading beyond this point makes you ineligible to do
so.
Preparing for Play
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies
of the following D&D rule books: Player’s Handbook,
Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics
provides player information for you to paraphrase or
read aloud when appropriate. Sidebars contain
important information for you, including special
instruction on running the adventure. Information on
nonplayer characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in
abbreviated form in the adventure text. Full
information on NPCs and monsters are given in
Appendix One. For your convenience, that appendix is
split by APL.
Along with this adventure, you’ll find a RPGA
Session Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and
turn in this sheet to your senior GM directly after play.
You’ll also find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record
(AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportionate to the modified average character level
of the PCs participating in the adventure. To determine
this modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the
steps below:
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
1.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely dogs trained for war), other
than those brought by virtue of a class ability (such
as animal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts)
or the warhorse of a character with the Mounted
Combat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine
the number of levels you add to the sum of step
one. Add each character’s animals separately. A
single PC may only bring four or fewer animals of
this type, and animals with different CRs are
added separately.
2.
Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the
number of characters playing in the adventure.
Round up to the nearest whole number.
3.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to
that average
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 2
4.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the
level of challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in
even-numbered increments. If the APL of your
group falls on an odd number, ask them before the
adventure begins whether they would like to play
a harder or easier adventure. Based on their choice,
use either the higher or the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience and
gold a PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a
player character is three character levels or more either
higher or lower than the APL 2t which this adventure
is being played, that character receives only one-half of
the experience points and gold for the adventure. This
simulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged
as much as normal or relied on help by higher-level
characters to reach the objectives.
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels
higher than the highest APL supported by the
adventure may not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for
APL 2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may
find the challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult.
Suggest the following to these groups to help increase
their chances of success:
Enlist a sixth player.
5.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help
protect them and fight for them.
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard one-round regional adventure, set in
the County of Urnst. Characters from the County of
Urnst pay one (1) Time Unit per round, while all other
characters pay two (2) Time Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp per
Time Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per Time Unit.
Luxury Upkeep costs 100 gp per Time Unit. Characters
that fail to pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain
temporary ability damage until the next adventure,
must buy new spell component pouches and healer’s
kits, and may suffer other in-game penalties (or
possibly gain in-game benefits) as may be detailed in
this adventure.
A character that does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties
by living off the wild. If the character possesses four or
more ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a DC
20 Survival check, the character will heal temporary
ability damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep,
may refill spell component pouches and healer’s kits,
and may restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the
character has at least four ranks in Craft (bowmaking).
The player is allowed to Take 10 on this roll.
More information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can
be found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of
Chapter 3 of the Living Greyhawk Campaign Sourcebook.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
During the past several years, Drow have been seen in
increasing numbers. From the rift in the cliff by
Ventnor, to the now collapsed Crystal Springs and
even in the Vinewind area and the adventurer’s town of
Holbrook, they have been appearing.
Last
seen
in
Holbrook
right
before the
assassination of the Contessa, they disappeared before
the adventurers who live there could confront them.
The only thing they left behind was a clue, a pin in the
shape of a black mask, and a pregnant adventuress.
LORD UNDERLEY
Lord Underley is a man of about 50. His black hair is
streaked with grey and white at the temples. He is the
current leader of House Underley.
Lord Baron Jacobis Underley was the Lord Mage
of the Contessa. He is also head of the eccentric, noble
House Underley, though the family estates have yet to
be rebuilt in the ruins of Ventnor Castle, a town
destroyed by a battle between devils and demons at the
dawn of the Civil War.
Known as a shrewd man, Lord Underley deals on
both sides of an issue, usually for the best interests of
the County.
HOUSE TEKEN’AFIN
A house of powerful Drow who follow the religion of
the Spider Queen. Lead by their most powerful
priestess, Shi’raena Teken’afin, they endeavor to stop
the advancement of those who follow the Masked God.
Other motives they may have are unknown at this
time.
HOUSE RILYN‘VIRR
A rival Drow house that follows the teachings of the
Masked God. They have been working for the past two
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect
on APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 3
decades in taking over one of the Rogue’s Guilds, the
Vipers based out of Brotton. Those in the guild who are
human have no idea who is now operating the
business.
DROGO BRACEGIRDLE
Once a leader of his community, Drogo was captured
several years ago by House Teken’afin. They found he
had a talent as a diplomat and have used him on several
occasions to broker for minor things they need with
races other than the Drow. He greatly misses his home
community of Applebee.
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
Introduction:
Whispers
on
the
Wind
The
adventurers find themselves in Radigast City at the
Highbrows Inn just days after the assassination of the
Contessa and her daughter Cyanna. Discussion is
rampant about how this could have happened and who
could have done it. Rumor is that the Contessa and
Cyanna cannot be brought back for some strange
reason even though Cyanna’s murderer was caught.
Encounter 1: Meeting with the Enemy Lord Jacobis
Underley sends an urgent message to the PCs,
requiring them to meet with him at the Obsidian
Conclave late that night. Assuming they agree, the PCs
are introduced to a woman who tells them that she has
information concerning the assassin of the Contessa.
Careful observation by the PCs will reveal that the
woman is a Drow priestess. Lord Underley tells the PCs
that he has made a deal with the priestess in order to
gain this information.
Encounter 2: Vinewind The information the group
receives leads them to Didieln to search out the
location of the assassins.
Encounter 3: Nothing is what it appears to be An
abandoned temple is host to beings from below the
earth.
Encounter 4: Into the Darkness The party finds
valuable information that leads them to the entrance
into the UnderOerth located by Ventnor Castle.
Encounter 5: Denizens of Underoerth As they
prepare to spend their first night in the darkness, they
are alerted to trouble and the possibility of meeting a
new race of beings.
Encounter 6: The Dream As the party beds down for
the night, one of them is visited in their dreams.
Encounter 7: Enemy of My Enemy During their
sleep, a visitor comes to one of the party members with
helpful information and a gift.
Encounter 8: The Battle is Won Allowing that the
characters are successful, the battle will indeed be won,
and they will have their prize in hand. If they have not
been successful, they will be running for their lives.
Encounter 9 (Optional): Running the Gauntlet The
characters find that getting back to Radigast with the
assassins is easier said than done.
Conculsion: Reporting In The group now must
report their success or failure to Lord Jacobis Underley.
Let's hope, for their sakes, they were successful.
PREPARATION FOR PLAY
Determine if the characters have played in the
following events: URC5-04 That Which Lurks or URC6-
I04 More Rivalry at Richfest. If they have, look at their
ARs for any favors they might have. These will come
into play during this scenario.
Also, determine if there are any members of the
Underley Network, any Thieves Guild, or any Knights
of the Swan present in the company of characters.
This module also includes an optional encounter
near the end. Before you run it, ask the players if they
are willing to spend the extra TU’s to do so. The extra
option cost 1TU for characters of the County and 2TUs
for characters not from the County.
Playtests have shown this adventure to run long.
Therefore, if you are running this adventure with a
time restriction, some encounters are cut short.
INTRODUCTION: WHISPERS
ON THE WIND
You find yourself in Radigast City, and as you
enter the tavern, you find it full of patrons.
Making your way to a table that has room for you,
you find yourself face-to-face with several other
adventurers.
Allow the characters to introduce themselves to each
other before continuing.
You hear the voice of a well-trained performer
speaking from the raised platform that serves as a
stage. “The last of the finalists is…” Lord Dane
held up the form to read the name, but never
spoke it. A chilling scream interrupted him, even
now I feel the shivers down my spine from that
death scream. From behind him, Lady Cyanna’s
limp and dead body slumped to the ground and a
ghostly figure rose from the body.
The Contessa, slumped to the ground as well
and the ghostly thing laughed. “HAHAHA
Malachite has the soul of this one. And he’s had
her for months…HAHAHA” as it dispersed. The
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 4
assembled crowd rushed forward to see what had
happened, shocked and stunned at the same time.
Lord Dane, who was as taken aback as
everyone else was, ordered the Knights of the
Swan and the soldiers to get everyone out of the
area. It was chaos! People were crying others
demanded retribution, others just followed in a
daze. Some hid their smirks at the County’s
misfortune.
“This, my friends is what this Silver Swan saw
at Richfest…” The bard takes a deep bow, having
related his tale for the assembled crowd of the
Highbrows inn.
Allow the characters to react to this before continuing.
It is Wealsun 9, just under two weeks since
Richfest and already the news has spread around
the County. Contessa Elone Hofre Gellor and her
daughter Cyanna are dead. No one know who did
it or why.
Lord Terard Duncombe, the Lord
of the East has declared martial law throughout
the County and himself as Regent until a new
Count is crowned. The Contessa’s ministers
forming the Council of Lords has gathered in
Radigast to determine who will be crowned Count.
“Whose gonna lead us now?” questions one
voice.
“Seems we only just got the Contessa and now
she’s dead,” says another.
An older man speaks up from a darkened
corner, “I heard she went completely mad before
she was murdered.”
Some young man who’s had too much to
drink adds, “yeah some adventurer told me she
converted to Hextor!”
You hear other voices and suppositions about
who the new ruler of the County will be, as well as
rumors
that
assassins
from
Nyrond
were
responsible for the Contessa’s death.
Some of you wonder… is it possible that King
Lynwerd of Nyrond sent some one to kill her all
because of the treaty with Sewarndt and the wall
the County built? Could the Old One prepare for a
major offensive against the County? Could the
Pale be looking for a new venue of expansion?
Malachite? Or is it someone else?
The characters will hear the following conversations
with successful listen checks.
•
DC 5: They tried to raise the Contessa, but like her
son who died earlier this year, they cannot contact
her spirit.
•
DC 7: The Contessa’s last decree was that Ventnor
Castle and all the land beneath it was to be given
in trade to the Duergar.
•
DC 10: No one has seen the Contessa’s husband,
Lord Nimar Chrysale Gellor since the incident.
Although it has been rumored that he was at the
Richfest Celebrations as well.
•
DC 12: Sir Karl Whittenbock is said to have issued
an edict to all Knights of the Swan to enforce the
daylight curfew over all major settlements of the
County under penalty of imprisonment for a term
of questioning by church inquisitors and/or
available Justicars.
•
DC 15: Some knight’s entourages have been heard
to be arguing with other knights. Some want to
keep things the way they are and others want a
more progressive way of life.
•
DC 17: Justicars seem to be leaderless now that
the Contessa is dead. They have no one to which to
answer.
Choose one PC, preferably one that is a member of the
Underley Network; one of the Thieves Guilds; or
anyone who has a favorable notice of either group. If
you no hero qualifies, select one who would be most
loyal to the County (use your judgment); pull them
aside, and read them the following:
As you sit listening to the gossip, a man dressed in
plain attire approaches you and hands you a note.
You are not sure where he came from, but you
open the note all the same because it bears a
familiar mark on it.
The mark is either the Underley Network’s or the
Thieves Guild to which the PC belongs. (See Appendix
Two for a list of these marks. See Player Handout One
for the note.)
As you read the note, you realize that the man who
gave it to you has slipped away into the crowd
without notice.
If the characters agree to go with their companion, go
to Encounter 1: Meeting with the Enemy.
ENCOUNTER 1: MEETING
WITH THE ENEMY
Two heavily armored guards stop the characters at the
closed gates to the Conclave. Here they must give the
guard the password (“Working for the Swan”) or the
guard do not allowed them in. Read the following if
they give the correct password.
You give the guards at the gate your password and
they look you over briefly to satisfy themselves
that you are who they expect.
One of the guards leads you deep into the
Obsidian Conclave to a room within its walls
where you are told to wait. As the guard leaves, you
hear the audible click of the lock as he pulls the
door shut.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 5
The room is devoid of any furnishing but a
few hard- backed chairs. There are no windows
and only the door you entered through gives any
egress from the room.
Feel free to work on their sense of paranoia.
You wait an hour, two hours, maybe more. Just as
you start to think you have had enough, the door
opens and two people enter the room. An Oeridian
man in his 50’s with graying hair wearing an
amulet depicting Dragons holding a crest with a
leaping fox and an elven woman whose silk cloak
covers her entire body in shadow. The man greets
you all by name before saying.
“Gentleman (and Ladies), I am Jacobis
Underley, Lord Mage of the County of Urnst. I
have brought you here under these circumstances
in order to enlist your aid in a mission of the
utmost importance. Please take a seat.”
Allow the characters to react to this statement, as well
as to the fact that he has not been seen in public for
quite some time, before continuing.
Lord Underley smiles “Let me explain what
exactly I require you to do. However, first I would
like you to meet Shi'raena Teken’afin. She has
brought the information to us to aid in what we
seek, which is the assassin who killed the
Contessa.
Allow for a Knowledge (nobility) or Local (NMR or
core) or a Bardic Lore check of DC 15+APL to
determine that Shi’raena’s name is of Drow origin.
Characters who speak elven receive a +5 circumstance
bonus to this roll.
The cloaked female bows slightly to the characters,
but she does not remove her cloak, nor reveal her face
as she speaks. However, a DC 15+APL Spot check
reveals that she is a Drow. Give them Player Handout
Two. Any attempts to detect chaos or detect evil are met
with an overwhelming aura of either. (The person
casting the spell is stunned from this effect).
Those who cast detect magic are reprimanded by
Lord Underley and told to drop the spell before they
can discern anything from it other than the presence of
magic on both Lord Underley and his guest. If they
refuse to drop the spell, they are escorted from the
room and told that their services are no longer desired.
The adventure is over for this person and they receive
the Disfavor of Lord Underley AR award.
For all other characters, continue:
The woman speaks in a low, sultry voice. “A month
ago, two Drow entered your adventurer’s town of
Holbrook. They were lost. In the process of trying
to find their way to Radigast City, they killed a
farmer, his wife, and baby, as well as captured an
adventuress.”
“They tried to get information from the
adventuress; however, even though they raped her,
she would not tell them anything other than
Radigast City was to the north.”
A mocking tone enters her voice as she
continues the story. “They would have been caught
and killed if not for another adventurer who
thought it a good idea to sound a war horn and
alert these Drow to their precarious position.
Therefore, they were both able to leave that little
town via magical means before the group of
adventurers discovered them.”
She pauses for a moment to let her
information sink into your mind and rest
uncomfortably in the pit of your stomach. “The
two of them eventually arrived at the Richfest
celebration and killed the Contessa right before
your very eyes.”
Lord Underley picks up where the woman left
off, “I have promised your assistance in this
matter in order to bring to justice those who are
responsible for the death of our Contessa. You are
to seek out the encampment where they are hiding
and capture the assassins. In addition, you are to
bring back any information you can about the
area, their numbers, and their purpose.
Allow the characters to react to this statement and ask
questions of Shi’raena and Lord Underley. Below are
some possible questions they may ask.
QUESTIONS ASKED OF LORD UNDERLEY:
•
Tell us more about you. Refer to Adventure
Background.
•
How do we know she’s telling the truth? The
information given by Shi’raena has been proven
true after investigating a report given to the
Radigast City Beta Leatherwing commander, Lt.
Grindstone, by one of the Alpha riders.
•
Do you know this woman is a Drow? If so, why
are you working with her? Lord Underley
knows Shi’raena is a Drow, but he is willing to
work with her in order to get the assassins.
Sometimes you have to work with the enemy of
your enemy in order to see justice done.
•
Why is she working against her own kind?
Shi’raena is from a different sect of Drow, those
who worship Lolth, the Queen of the Demonweb
pits. The assassins are followers of Vhaeraun (Vay-
rawn). [Same as above, only volunteer the
information if a character realizes what Shi’raena
is.]
•
What are we getting paid for this? You are
welcomed to keep anything you can find.
Moreover, the glory of finding the Contessa’s
assassin should provide ample payment.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 6
•
How long do we have to accomplish this
mission? As long as you need, but do not take too
long.
•
How public is this? In the current climate, I do
not want to have a bunch of people running
around looking for Drow. Keep it hushed.
•
How are we going to Didieln? Leave that up to
me.
QUESTIONS ASKED OF SHI’RAENA:
Remarks in parenthesis indicate information the
characters can pick up with a Sense Motive check
DC27.
•
How did the Drow assassins infiltrate
Richfest? The two Drow who fled Holbrook were
in disguise and not noticed by anyone at the
Richfest celebration. Most likely, they wore dark
cloaks and avoided the central areas.
•
How do you know they were in Holbrook? She
obtained all of her information from an informant
based in Holbrook.
•
Who are they? They are part of a group of
renegade Drow who follow Vhaeraun, the Masked
God.
•
Who is Vhaeraun? Vhaeraun is the son of
Corellon Larethian and Lolth. He is followed by
primarily male Drow who have forsaken their
belief in the Spider Queen and who want a male
dominated society. Most of them are rogues and
assassins. (See Player Handout Three: Visual Aids
for a picture of Vhaeraun’s unholy symbol.)
•
Why are these Drow here? This particular sect of
Drow has been working on the surface to further
their interests and expand their base of operations.
•
Where is their operation located? One such
base of operations is the Vinewind area, the city of
Didieln to be precise. That’s the last place she
heard they had been.
•
How do you know they are working to expand
to the surface? Her group has been watching the
Vhaeraun group for quite some time now. She will
not state who her group is. (Obviously, she knows
more than she lets on.)
•
Who are you? I am Shi’raena Teken’afin a
priestess of the Spider Queen. (She is not lying!)
She removes her hood and reveals herself to those
present. She is a very beautiful female Drow with
inky black skin, pure white hair, and pale blue
eyes.
•
What do you get out of this and why are you
helping us? Because the sect of Drow that
worship Vhaeraun are renegades and misfits. They
cannot be allowed to continue in their attempt to
claim the surface as their own. (It seems that the
characters are there to do her dirty work.)
•
How do you know so much? We have been
watching these Drow for many years now and I am
the one in charge of seeing they do not succeed at
what they are doing. I have spies in many places
who keep me informed of the house Rilyn’Virr’s
movements.
•
What is House Rilyn’Virr? Refer to the
Adventure Background. (Shi’raena twists the
information to make them look evil and dangerous
to the County).
•
Who in Holbrook works with you? I will not
tell you. (She will not, unless compelled
magically).
•
What are the names of the assassins? I do not
know at this time, but if you find out in your
investigation, I am very interested in the
information. One of them is a fighter of some
prowess who takes delight in torturing his captives
before killing them. He has a pale scar that runs
from his left temple to the corner of his mouth,
making it pull up in a crooked smile; when he
smiles that is. The other is a wizard of some power
who is inclined to wear expensive, black robes
with a purple satin lining. He is older than the
fighter by many years and has pale lavender
colored eyes. This color is rare among us.
Once the characters have asked their questions, Lord
Underley asks them if they are willing to go hunting
these assassins. If they say yes, go to Encounter Two:
Vinewind. If they refuse, the adventure is over.
As Lord Underley escorts the adventurers from
the Conclave, he hands a coin to the person with the
highest charisma, or someone who the group treats as a
leader (preferably not a paladin). He explains that the
coin enables him to find them if something goes
terribly wrong.
Troubleshooting: It is possible that rather than
listen to the Drow priestess, the characters attack her.
If this happens, she escapes via a word of recall spell.
This means that there is no information for the
characters to receive from her and the adventure is
over. Proceed to the Conclusion.
If any of the party refuses to work with the
priestess, they are welcome to find out information on
their own, but it is almost impossible to do so. Give
them an Intelligence or Wisdom check of DC 10 to
realize this.
All APLs (EL13)
� Shi’raena Teken’afin: Female elf [Drow]
Clr14 [Lolth]; hp 93. See Appendix One.
ENCOUNTER 2:
VINEWIND
Lord Underley gathers a number of wizards from
the Conclave and has you teleported just outside
of Didieln, the city that Shi’raena said was a good
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 7
place to start your search for the Drow who had
assassinated the Contessa.
RUNNING THIS WITH A TIME LIMIT
This encounter can run very long. If you have enough
time, proceed to Word on the Street. However, in a
timed situation, read the following boxed text before
proceeding to Encounter 3: Nothing is what it appears
to be.
Your investigation in Didieln reveals a number of
leads, but the most promising one leads you to the
abandoned Temple of Berei. In the Temple district
of Didieln the temple has been abandoned for
twenty years.
WORD ON THE STREET
The characters can learn the following rumors and
information with a successful Gather Information
check as listed below. They gain all the information at
the lower DC’s as well. For every 20 gp they spend, they
gain a +5 circumstance bonus.
DC 5 – The Torquanns are backing Lord Duncombe
and his Regency.
DC 10 – Theft in the city seems to be on the rise, no
one’s property is safe anymore.
DC 15 – The owner of the Flawless Skin, a tanner’s
shop, mentioned that he’d been receiving some strange
orders lately.
DC 20 – Nova Daldon, the owner of the Blissful Glass
has chosen to close earlier since one of her waitresses
was attacked a few days ago.
DC 25 – The Tawdry Wench, another tavern located
in the rough part of town, has had an increased amount
of business lately. Most of the patrons are there in the
late evening hours.
DC 30 – The Didieln Bakery, was recently taken over
by a pretty, young elven woman who came from
Radigast City. Strange that… the last owner really did
not mention her desire to sell the business.
THE BLISSFUL GLASS
This inn owned by Nova Daldon, a female dwarf and
ex-adventurer, who was host to those characters who
played URC5-04 That Which Lurks. Nova recognizes
anyone that was here at that time and greets them by
name. She has the following information.
•
She heard rumors that there has been a lot of
activity occurring at night in the temple district.
•
One of her waitresses was attacked a few days ago
while she was hurrying to close up before the
curfew went into effect. The waitress refused to
elaborate on the nature of the attack or her
attackers. She has since left for Radigast (and
cannot be found during this adventure).
•
Lord Bryne is still seeking answers to his wife’s
betrayal and/or replacement by a Drow.
•
She suggests that if the characters are looking for
anything of interest, they might try The Didieln
Bakery in the center of town.
THE DIDIELN BAKERY
This bakery in the center of town is owned and run by
a slightly built, beautiful gray elf named Elecia
Elvandel. She greets everyone who enters her
establishment with a winsome smile and a sample of
her famous muffins.
Elecia is a member of the Birds of Prey and the
Underley Network. Any Rogue Guild member can
recognize this by the pin of an eagle she wears on her
dress, and Underley Network members can pick it up
in some of her hand gestures. Elecia tells the characters
the following information if they either declare they
are a member of any Guild, or the Underley Network,
or succeed at a Diplomacy check DC 15. She is fully
aware of the party’s mission.
Information for Underley Network Members
•
The Network has been watching several places in
town.
•
Elecia was sent here by Lord Underley to watch
the area because of the recent smuggling activity.
Information for Birds of Prey Members
•
The Guild has been watching several places in
town.
•
Elecia has also been on the watch for a new
Rogue’s Guild that seems to be operating in the
area. She suspects the Vipers have moved up from
Brotton to work in Didieln.
Information for Others
•
The Tawdry Wench seems to have more patrons
during the late hours of the evening than they
ever did before.
•
The Flawless Skin has seen an increase in the sales
of black leather.
•
There has been some increased activity around the
abandoned Berei temple in the late evenings
despite the curfew in effect. (Knowledge (religion)
check DC 15 reveals that Berei is a lesser deity of
home, family, and agriculture.)
•
The temple was abandoned several years ago with
most of its worshippers turning to the larger
temple of Beory for their spiritual needs.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 8
ALDO THORNQUIST
Aldo Thornquist is the constable of Didieln and will
recognize those who have played URC5-04 That Which
Lurks. He has the following information for those he
has met before.
•
He and Lord Garnwick Bryne continued to
investigate the smuggling that was occurring in
the city.
•
They followed the tunnel out of the underground
temple located in Baron Belin Torquann’s home
into the forest behind. The tunnel turned into a
dead end.
•
He has looked into the attack on the barmaid from
the Blissful Glass. She claims she was assaulted by
dark skinned men.
•
If asked about Lord Bryne, Aldo states that he is
out of town visiting the Lord Vintner Deremett
Torquann. However, those with the favor of Lord
Bryne may purchase any ring from the DMG
under 5,000 gp in Didieln at this time. Once this
favor is used, it must be crossed off their AR for
URC5-04.
THE TAWDRY WENCH
Located in the eastern part of town in the
Manufacturing District, the Tawdry Wench is a tavern
that caters to the seedier population of Didieln. This is
not a nice place for anyone who looks wealthy. Only
those who look like a normal laborer are likely to get
any information here.
•
The smuggling that had occurred here in town
seems to have quieted down lately. However, theft
seems to be on the rise.
•
A fellow who works at the Flawless Skin had said
there was an upswing in orders for black leather.
•
One of the workers can tell the party that he has
seen quite a bit of activity in the temple district
late at night. He does not know why.
THE FLAWLESS SKIN
The Flawless Skin is a tanner’s shop, which is self
evident when the characters get within half a block of
it. Inside are several dozen workers who are tanning
hides of all types and colors.
The owner of the Flawless Skin is a gruff fellow by
the name of Relamos. Relamos is a human male in his
forties. He is dressed in a black leather apron and in
clothes that have not seen a washerwoman in weeks.
He smells just as bad as his warehouse does. He offers
the adventurers the following information for a
persuasive sum of 50 gp.
•
Quite a few orders for black, worked leather has
come in.
•
The person he always takes the orders from is a
slightly built man, or perhaps an elf of some type.
The man always orders black leather or studded
leather armor. He has never had a good look at the
man though because all transactions have taken
place in low-lit areas. The only thing he really
noticed is that the man’s eyes seemed to glow in
the darkness.
•
There has been some increased activity around the
temple district in the late evenings.
THE TEMPLES
Pelor
•
The temple of Pelor is headed by Gwyneth Henge
Emerald (NG Female Cleric 6/RadServ4). She can
tell the party that she has not noticed anything
different in the area and the temple to Berei has
been abandoned for over twenty years.
Beory
•
Headed by Trunikhar Pero (NG male Cleric 12 –
Beory). Trunikhar tells the party that the
congregation of the temple started to grow slowly
since the priestess of Berei left for unknown parts
some 20 years ago. She seemed to disappear
overnight and no one has heard from her since.
Zilchus
•
Headed up by Purchaser Enturn Risdar (N male
Cleric 10). He has noticed some new activity
around the temple of Berei, but nothing out of the
ordinary. He thinks vagrants are using it as a place
to sleep.
THE CURFEW
Because there is a curfew in effect, any member of the
Knights of the Swan or the Army can obtain a pass
from the local constable, Aldo Thornquist, to patrol
after hours.
Development: Presumably, the adventurers realize
that they should go investigate the temple district.
Therefore, continue to the next encounter.
ENCOUNTER 3: NOTHING IS
WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
The abandoned temple has a symbol of a sheaf of
wheat stalks that is now barely visible above the
entrance, as well as carved into the doors. The
place looks run down from misuse.
Regardless of what time of day the characters
investigate, they find the upper area of the Berei
temple is typical for a building of this type. There is
quite a bit of debris from broken statues, pews, and bits
of loose trash that has blown into the building over
time.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 9
A Search check DC 20 reveals a hidden floor panel
just behind the altar.
The opening leads down an unlit flight of stairs to
a temple to Vhaeraun. The temple is unlit here as well
because the worshippers do not require light to
perform their duties. See Appendix Three: The Temple
for a map of the temple. If the characters use light, the
Drow are ready for them. If they do not use light, roll
Listen checks for the Drow to hear the adventurers
coming.
At each APL, the Drow are accompanied by
various slaves who fight to protect the priest they do so
without receiving orders and keep fighting even if
their Drow masters have been killed.
APL 2 (EL 4)
� Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf (Drow) Cleric
2; hp 15. Appendix One.
� Goblins (4): hp 5. Monster Manual pp 133.
APL 4 (EL 6)
� Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf (Drow) Cleric
3; hp 32. Appendix One.
� Hobgoblin Fighter (5): male humanoid
(goblin) Fighter 1; hp 13 each. Appendix One.
APL 6 (EL 8)
� Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf (Drow) Cleric
5; hp 41. Appendix One.
� Hobgoblin Fighter (3): male humanoid
(goblin) Fighter 3; hp 26. Appendix One.
� Hobgoblin Rogue: male humanoid (goblin)
Rogue 2; hp 15. Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 10)
� Cleric of Vhaeraun, male elf (Drow) Cleric
7; hp 60. Appendix One.
� Drider Sorcerer: hp 45. Monster Manual pp.
89.
� Bugbear Fighter (2): medium humanoid
Fighter 2; hp 34. Appendix One.
APL 10 (EL 12)
� Cleric of Vhaeraun, male elf (Drow) Cleric 7
/War Priest 2; hp 66. Appendix One.
� Drider Sorcerer (1): hp 45. Monster Manual
pp. 89
� Umber Hulk (2): hp 71. Monster Manual pp
248.
� Bugbear Fighter (2): medium humanoid
Fighter 5; hp 63. Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 14)
� Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf (Drow) Cleric
7/Warpriest 4; hp 66. Appendix One.
� Drider
Sorcerer
(2):
large
aberration
Sorcerer 3; hp 64, 44. Appendix One.
� Umber Hulk (2): hp 71. Monster Manual pp
248.
Tactics: At all APLs, the Drow attack to kill the
person(s) with the least amount of armor. There is no
honor here, just determination to kill as quickly as
possible. Swarming and overwhelming tactics are used.
The slaves are used to absorb attacks of opportunity in
order to afford the tougher Drow a chance to engage a
soft-body. Any individual wielding a melee weapon is
ignored in favor of engaging a caster or an archer.
Concentrate all attacks until one drops. Keep in mind
that Drow are ruthless and do not give any quarter.
APL 6: The hobgoblin fighters focus their attacks
on one foe at a time using their Power Attack and
Shield Mate feats along with the rogue.
APL10-12: The umber hulks wait until they feel
the entire party enter the room and combat begins.
They burrow through the walls to attack the rear of the
party (effectively supporting the Drow). If some
characters separate from the party (say by staying in the
stairway), the umber hulks try to move in to flank. All
the villains are unaffected by the umber hulks gaze
attack due to a magical blindfold they are all wearing.
Development: If any of the villains are caught and
questioned, they bite down on a poison-filled tooth and
commit suicide in order not to be questioned.
If the party searches the cleric, they will find a
note on how to disable the trap on the secret door in
his room. They can find the secret passage that leads
from the temple into the UnderOerth with a successful
search DC 20.
ENCOUNTER 4: INTO THE
DARKNESS
The passage way leads for miles and miles into the
darkness. The further you travel, the more you can
feel the land over your head pressing down upon
you and there are times when you feel as if you
might suffocate in the closeness around you.
You travel for the better part of two days and
perhaps begin to wonder if you will ever find the
Drow you seek.
Allow for a Track check DC 15 to locate and follow the
trail of booted feet. Some of the footprints are small
humanoids and some are large. The tracks eventually
lead to the drow encampment
On the second day, read or paraphrase the
following.
The silence of the caverns is shattered by the
sound of a conflict nearby. Listening closely, you
can tell which of the branching caverns it is
coming from although it sounds like it is echoing
from everywhere.
Roll initiative and allow the characters to respond, if
they go to investigate, read or paraphrase the below
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 10
text. The battle is taking place in the next cavern,
which is about a hundred yards from the party’s
current location.
If they do not go to investigate, the fight comes to
them so adjust the below text accordingly. (See Player
Handout Three: Visual Aids, for a picture of the
Desmodu you can share with the players.)
As you come upon the area where you know the
sounds were coming from, you see a strange sight.
Fleeing from a group Drow and other
creatures is a small humanoid that appears to be
part human, part bat. He is making a high-pitched
sound that you can barely hear, almost as if he is
screaming in fear. Lying several yards behind him
is one of the largest bats you have ever seen in
your life. Even those among you with no healing
skill can tell that the bat person is losing the battle
and will be dead soon if no one intervenes.
A Knowledge (nature or local NMR) check of DC 19
reveals that the bat-like creature is a Desmodu, a type of
humanoid that not only resembles a bat, but is closely
associated with raising them as war-trained mounts as
well. This particular Desmodu is a child or juvenile, not
an adult. Desmodu are highly isolationists creatures.
If Danak is directly attacked by any of the
characters, he will go into a fully defensive posture and
will cower away from them.
All APLs
� Danak: small monstrous humanoid; AC 14;
hp 30 (wounded).
APL 2 (EL 3)
� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 1;
hp 6; Appendix One.
� Goblins (4): hp 5. Monster Manual pp 133.
APL 4 (EL 5)
� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 3;
hp 13. Appendix One.
� Hobgoblin (5): hp 6. Monster Manual pp 29.
APL 6 (EL 7)
� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 5;
hp 19. Appendix One.
� Troglodyte (5): hp 13. Monster Manual pp 246.
APL 8 (EL 9)
� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 7;
hp 23. Appendix One.
� Bugbear (5): hp 16 each. Monster Manual pp
29.
APL 10 (EL 11)
� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard 9;
hp 30. Appendix One.
� Minotaur (5): hp 39 each. Monster Manual
pp 188.
APL 12 (EL 13)
� Drow Wizard: medium elf (Drow) Wizard
9/Acolyte of the Skin 2; hp 41. Appendix One.
Destrachan (2): hp 60 each. Monster Manual pp 49.
� Minotaur (2): hp 39 each. Monster Manual
pp 188.
Tactics: The adventurers are the immediate threat
here. Fear of discovery drives the Drow to attack and
battle to the death. These foes forego any melee
combat, looking for unarmored casters and/or archers.
All attacks are targeted at a lone individual until that
person drops or retreats. This tactic is repeated
whenever possible. The Desmodu is unable to assist in
the fight because he is too weak.
Development: If the characters kill off the Drow and
their minions and the Desmodu lives, go to Encounter
5: Denizens of Underoerth.
If the Desmodu is killed by the creatures he is
confronting, or by the party, they DO NOT meet the
Desmodu! Proceed directly to Encounter 6: The Dream.
AR REWARDS
•
If the party saves the Desmodu Youth, they receive
the “Favor of the Desmodu” AR award.
•
If the party allows the Desmodu Youth to be killed
at the hands of his attackers, they receive the
“Failure to Contact the Desmodu” AR award.
•
If any party member or members actively
participates in the death of the Desmodu Youth,
they receive the “Enmity of the Desmodu” AR
award.
ENCOUNTER 5: DENIZENS
OF UNDEROERTH
The Desmodu speaks Undercommon and Terran, in
addition to a language of their own (Desmodu). If no
one speaks these languages, he pantomimes his
appreciation and signal for the party to follow him.
If anyone speaks any of these languages, he thanks
them and tell them the following information. Danak
may also communicate this if the characters role-play it
with sign language or drawing.
•
His race is called the Desmodu.
•
His name is Danak.
•
The creatures that he was fighting have been
attacking their settlement for several weeks now.
•
He was testing out his mother’s new bat and was
not supposed to have flown so far from their
enclave.
•
He is going to be in big trouble when his mother
finds out what he’s done.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 11
Danak leads you for several miles through
twisting tunnels further under ground. You are
certain that if he was not guiding you, that you
would become quickly lost.
Finally, he leads you into the largest cavern
you have seen yet. The high ceiling is filled with
stalagmites and the sounds of life. Not only is the
cavern full of other Desmodu, but with bats of
varying sizes as well. For those who have seen the
bats raised by the dwarves of the Greyhills, you can
tell that these bats are different.
As you stand gazing about, your guide emits
the same high-pitched sound you heard before. A
flurry of activity from the roof of the cavern is
heard in response.
Several large Desmodu begin to gather and
after a brief conversation with the guide, they turn
to you.
The oldest of the Desmodu steps forward and
in a halting common, she says, “Thank you for
helping my son. Please feel free to rest here for the
night, but in the morning you must be on your
way.”
She can answer the following questions:
•
Who are you? We are the Desmodu.
•
How long have you lived here? Hundreds of
years.
•
Who are these others? The group they are
meeting with is the council, which is comprised of
several male and female Desmodu.
•
What does the council do? The council handles
affairs that concern the entire settlement, but the
settlement is primarily made up of individual
family groups.
•
Did you raise all of these bats? Yes, we ride
them into battle and use them for patrolling.
•
Are the bats for sale? No, they are like family to
us and we would never sell them.
•
Have you seen Drow lately? Yes, we have been
having trouble with a new settlement of dark
elves.
•
Have you fought the Drow more than this
once? Yes, we have lost many warriors to battles
with the dark elves.
•
Do you know where the Drow encampment
is? Yes, we can give you directions.
•
Can you help us fight the Drow? No, we do not
want to be involved in your argument with them;
we have enough trouble of our own.
•
How big is the Drow enclave? They have
occupied an immense cavern and have many,
many Drow and slaves within. (The impression
given is in the hundreds)
•
How far is the Drow enclave? Two days’ journey
from here.
Development: The Desmodu are mostly indifferent to
the characters, but they offer to trade some of their
items with the party. They are looking for new and
unusual items and are shrewd enough not to allow
themselves to be cheated. If they feel any of the
characters are trying to cheat them, they insist the
party leave. Any trades for Desmodu items must occur
now. The Desmodu make it very clear that they do not
want to see these surface dwellers any time in the near
future and repeat visits would not be welcome.
If the party treats them fairly, they are allowed to
stay the night in the Desmodu cavern.
Items for trade include:
•
Breathing Mask This mask covers the user’s
whole face and provides fresh air for up to 4 hours.
The air supply can be replaced. (1,000 gp).
•
Wire Cable: This cable is thinner, stronger, and
lighter than silk rope. It has 10 hp and hardness 5.
It can be burst with a Strength check at DC 32. (25
gp)
•
Cablespool: This gadget can carry 100 feet of
cable in an enclosed reel. The spring-wound reel
can pull in 100 feet of cable in 1 round with a
Strength of 16. (125 gp)
•
Frostfire: This sticky adhesive substance drains
away heat when exposed to air or moisture (SS47)
(40 gp)
•
Bladefire: Similar to alchemist’s fire but applied to
weapons lasts 1d6 rounds, provides light as a torch,
the weapon deals 1 point of fire damage.
(A&EG33)
ENCOUNTER 6: THE DREAM
Allow the party to travel on, either after leaving the
Drow encampment, or after failing to save the
Desmodu.
As the party beds down for the night, pull aside
the person who was given the token by Lord Underley.
If they have discarded the token, pull them aside just
the same. If that person is protected by a protection from
evil, choose another person at random. This person
receives a dream in the night. Read or paraphrase the
following:
You fall into a fitful sleep that seems haunted by
the events of the day and just as you think you are
finally slipping towards peaceful dreams, you feel
as if your arms and legs are being held down. You
realize that you are lying in the center of a huge
web and you are surrounded by thousands of large
spiders. One of them approaches you and then
changes shape, transforming into. Shi’raena
Teken’afin.
“Do not be alarmed,” she says with upraised
hands. “This is only a dream. I have been following
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 12
your progress and have discovered that you will be
coming to a very large encampment of Vhaeraun
followers. Unfortunately, you will not be able to
penetrate the camp to find those you seek without
some assistance.”
She smiled grimly as she continued, “I have a
large army waiting to attack the camp. However,
they know we are coming and have begun a ritual
to summon a powerful demon. I need you and
your friends to stop that ceremony in order for us
to succeed.”
“I have sent an invisible agent into the area
where you are sleeping and he has left you
something that will prevent your death at the
hands of my own troops. They are badges that
identify you as friends of House Teken’afin. Wear
them.”
“Your attack should be focus on a side cavern
with the Mask of Vhaerun over it. That is where
they are performing their summoning ritual. My
people will aid you as long as they are able to see
that you get there. Good hunting.”
Her voice fades off into the dream and you
find yourself waking. Lying beside you is a black
leather bag that you do not recognize.
The bag contains Drow house insignia. They have no
power other than to identify the wearer as a friend of
House Teken’afin. (A picture of the symbol on the
badge can be found in Player Handout Three: Visual
Aids).
ENCOUNTER 7: ENEMY OF
MY ENEMY
Allow the characters to decide how to get to the camp.
Once they are down, they have to make their way
across to the open area in the center of the camp where
the ritual is taking place. See Appendix Four: The
Summoning Cave
Once the characters have made their plans to
reach it, Shi’reana launches her assault. The entire
northern wall of the cave explodes and thousand of vile
creatures poor in. The clash of the two Drow houses
has begun.
It takes the party several rounds to
cross to the ritual area and they are coming in from the
south. All entrances to the cavern are guarded and
there are hundreds of Drow and slaves in the area.
However, most of the combatants head to the north of
the cavern when Shi’raena and her army attack. This
gives the party the needed distraction in order to make
their way to the summoning circle.
Along the way they encounter various Drow;
some who belong to the House Rilyn‘Virr and some to
the House Teken’afin. When those from the Teken’afin
house see the badges the characters are wearing, they
turn aside to attack any of the House Rilyn‘Virr Drow
or slaves instead.
Feel free to freeform this part of the encounter as
you see fit.
Once they reach the cave in which the ceremony
is taking place, the party has to make their way down a
40 foot long, 10 foot high, tunnel before reaching the
entrance.
The cave itself is unlit except for the glow of magic
coming from the summoning circle in the middle.
Before the party enters the cave, they are met by
the guards and their ‘guard dogs’. In addition, the
cavern is unhallowed with a dispel magic tied to it (cast at
10th level).
See Appendix Four: The Summoning Cave for a
map of the cave.
APL 2 (EL 5)
� Displacer Beast: hp 51. Monster Manual pp
66.
� Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Fighter 1; hp
12. Appendix One.
APL 4 (EL 7)
� Advanced Displacer Beast: hp 76. See
Appendix One.
� Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Fighter 2; hp
28; Appendix One.
APL 6 (EL 9)
� Advanced Displacer Beast (2): hp 76, 75. See
Appendix One.
� Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Fighter 6; hp
57; Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 11)
� Hound of the Gloom: hp 156. Appendix
One.
� Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male medium
dragon (elf) Fighter 4; hp 62; Appendix One.
� Drow Monk: male medium humanoid (elf)
Monk 7; hp 53; Appendix One.
APL 10 (EL 13)
� Hound of the Gloom (3): hp 156 each.
Appendix One.
� Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male medium
dragon (elf) Fighter 7; hp 84; Appendix One.
� Drow Monk: male medium humanoid (elf)
Monk 9; hp 72; Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 15)
� Advanced Hound of the Gloom (3): hp 216
each. Appendix One.
� Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male medium
dragon (elf) Fighter 9; hp 117; Appendix One.
� Drow Monk: male medium humanoid (elf)
Monk 9; hp 72; Appendix One.
Tactics: These Drow are more dangerous than their
counterparts. The animals engage the first target they
can, and the intelligent combatants use this distraction
to try to kill any caster as quick as possible. If anybody
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 13
shows any ranged attacks during combat, the
intelligent creature seeks any cover possible and
continue their deadly attacks on the casters.
DISRUPTING THE RITUAL
The characters only need to take out one of the clerics
(causing damage, enchanting, distracting, etc) from the
summoning circle to disrupt the ceremony. If the party
is successful in doing so, which is the general idea here,
then read the following.
All APLs
� Drow Clerics (6): medium elf (drow); AC 16;
hp 40; (Concentration +10+APL).
The shimmering that had begun in the circle fades
away with a nightmarish cry that rings out over
the encampment. You sigh in relief that the
creature being called did not arrive and that you
were successful.
All drow clerics die from the backlash of power as the
ritual is interrupted. If the characters want to chase
them down and kill them, let them do so, but they get
no XP for this.
Troubleshooting: If by some odd chance the party
does not interrupt the ceremony, a hideous creature
appears in the summoning circle.
If this happens, they have lost the fight and should
realize that they need to flee in order to survive. The
creature teleports out of the cavern to the front lines of
the battle to join the fray on the side of House
Rilyn‘Virr.
Go to the conclusion if the fight is lost.
ENCOUNTER 8: THE BATTLE
IS WON
At the conclusion of the battle, if the party is
successful, read or paraphrase the following:
The cavern is filled with the smell of smoke and
blood, but you are victorious over those that
attacked you. As you stand surveying the carnage
and watching the fleeing slaves that lived, you see
Shi’raena Teken’afin crossing the battlefield
toward you.
She is followed by several warriors, as well as
priestesses
carrying
whips
with
writhing
snakeheads and a hideous creature. It looks like a
tentacled blob of melted wax and you can smell a
foul stench coming from it as it draws near.
Ask of a Knowledge (the planes) check DC16 to
identify
the
creature
as
a
Yochlol
(Lolth’s
handmaidens). Give out the picture of the Yochlol on
Player Handout Three: Visual Aids. If the characters
fail to identify the creature, make sure you remove the
name from the handout.
“Well done,” she says as she looks you over. “I
believe this is what you were seeking.”
As she says this, two of the other female Drow
step forward and drop the unconscious bodies of
two male Drow at your feet.
“Here are your assassins. They will be
conscious in a few hours and you can question
them if you like. I would suggest you keep them
bound and unconscious however. After all, they
were powerful enough to take out your Contessa”
She smiles at all of you, “I want to thank all of
you for your assistance in this matter. This was a
great victory for Lolth and us. Perhaps, we can
work together again in the future.”
She begins to walk away and then, as if in an
afterthought, she turns back to you. “If you would
like, I could take those two off your hands and
give them a punishment much more fitting than
what you would give them.”
Let the party decide if they want to give up the
assassins to the priestess. Regardless of what they
decide, she does not reveal any emotion; she simply
leaves with, or without, the assassins. However, a Sense
Motive of DC 27 will reveal that she is not happy with
the group’s decision to keep the assassins, or that she is
ecstatic that she has them in her possession depending
on the character’s decision.
INTERROGATING THE ASSASSINS
If the party keeps the assassins, they have the following
information that they tell the party if they manage to
bully it out of them with a DC 20 Intimidate check.
(This information is repeated in the conclusion if they
assassins are taken to Lord Underley.)
•
Why did you kill the Contessa? We were sent
by House Rilyn‘Virr to take out the Contessa to
create strife in the County.
•
Who sent you? The head of house Rilyn’Virr. He
said he was paid to do so by someone else, but we
do not know who.
•
Who else helped you? We have been working
through the Viper Rogue’s Guild. They were our
source of information.
•
Why can we not contact the Contessa spirit?
The weapon we used to kill the Contessa was a
thinaun blade.
•
Where is that blade now? The blade was sold to a
powerful Drow in the Fennelmore swamp who
had his own interest in it.
•
How did you end up in Holbrook first? The
teleport went awry and we ended up off course
If the party does not keep the assassins and gives them
Shi’raena, go to the conclusion.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 14
If they keep the assassins, go to the next encounter
only if you have time, and your party has agreed to play
the optional encounter.
Troubleshooting: If the party decides to attack the
Lolth priestess and her entourage, then narrate their
defeat and capture by the Drow. The odds against them
are overwhelming and impossible to beat in this
instance. She is here with an army that can beat the
characters down and not kill them; however, they are
enslaved. Alternatively, any hero abandoned in the
caves during the fights are also enslaved.
The characters are kept captive for 20 TU's and
then will be rescued through negotiations by Lord
Underley. They will also receive the enmity of Lord
Underley and the Drow priestess, which you should
note on their AR.
ENCOUNTER 9 (OPTIONAL):
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
This encounter is an additional encounter the
characters may fight. It costs them one additional TU
for characters from the County and 2 for out-of-
towners. Run this optional encounter only if you have
time and only if the characters have decided to take the
assassins with them.
Shi’raena has no liking for the surface dwellers
who aided her in this mission. In addition, if word
were to get out that she had their aid, she would be
shamed before the other, more powerful Drow leaders.
Therefore, Shi’raena sends some of her minions after
the characters in an effort to stop them from reaching
the surface with their tale.
Of course, she could have simply killed them after
the battle, and blamed it on the circumstances, but she
had no idea if the characters were being watched by
anyone else; much better to do the deed on the sly.
As the party makes its way back to the surface,
they are attacked first by some summoned creatures
that Shi’raena has placed ahead of them, then by some
more powerful beings.
These encounters run back-to-back with no rest
between. Therefore, allow APLs 2-6 to rest before
giving them the optional encounters. Do not allow
APLs 8 and up to do so.
ENCOUNTER 9A: THE ITSY
BITSY SPIDER
These spiders are all the result of insane experiments
made in the secret laboratories of house Teken’afin.
These spiders are loyal to the priestesses of Lolth and
believe themselves to be divine in origin.
They are vicious and murderous creatures intent
on causing as much death and chaos as they can. Their
predatory nature makes them ideal guard for those who
worship the Queen of the Demonweb Pits.
Shi’raena has sent them to try and recover the
assassins to use in vile experiments.
APL2 (EL3)
� Fiendish spellwarped medium monstrous
spider (2): hp15 each, see Appendix One
� Fiendish spider swarm: hp 9, see Appendix
One
APL4 (EL5)
� Fiendish spellwarped large monstrous
spider: hp30, see Appendix One
� Fiendish spellwarped medium monstrous
spider: hp15, see Appendix One
� Fiendish spider swarm: hp 9, see Appendix
One
APL6 (EL7)
� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large
monstrous spider: hp52, see Appendix One
� Fiendish spellwarped large monstrous
spider: hp30, see Appendix One
APL8 (EL9)
� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large
monstrous spiders (2): hp 52 each. See Appendix
One
� Fiendish spellwarped large monstrous
spiders (2): hp30 each, see Appendix One
APL10 (EL10)
� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large
monstrous spider: hp93, see Appendix One
� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large
monstrous spider: hp52, see Appendix One
APL12 (EL13)
� Fiendish spellwarped advanced large
monstrous spiders (3): hp93, see Appendix One
Tactics: The spiders are latched to the ceiling of the
cavern and come down where they try to Snatch small
party members first. The swarms merely go down and
try to hurt as many people they can. These creatures
ARE intelligent and the swarms move to avoid hurting
their mothers.
Development: If the characters abandon the assassins,
the attack will be broken off and the second attack will
not happen.
If any of the characters are captured in this
encounter, they will be enslaved for 20 TU’s until their
release can be obtained.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 15
ENCOUNTER 9B: WELCOME
TO MY PARLOR
Shi’raena decides to step it up a bit on this next part of
the hero’s escape from the UnderOerth, by sending
something decidedly different after them. However,
she is willing to negotiate with them for the release of
the prisoners, so she sends a Halfling along with the
monsters.
He speaks to the group first and offers them coin
in return for the assassins. For each APL, the coin
varies (see the Treasure section).
If the party accepts the money in exchange for the
assassins, the monsters leave, taking the Halfling slave
and the assassins with them.
All APLs (Non-combatant)
� Drogo
Bracegirdle:
male
halfling
Commoner 3; hp 6.
APL 2 (EL 3)
� Half Fiend Draegloth: hp 39. Appendix
One.
APL 4 (EL 5)
� Half Fiend Draegloth (2): hp 39 each.
Appendix One.
APL 6 (EL 7)
� Yochlol (2): hp 33. Appendix One.
APL 8 (EL 9)
� Yochlol (2): hp 33. Appendix One.
� Succubus: hp 33. Monster Manual pp 47.
APL 10 (EL 11)
� Yochlol (2): hp 33. Appendix One.
� Succubus: hp 33. Monster Manual pp 47.
� Aspect of Lolth: hp 105. Appendix One.
APL 12 (EL 12)
� Yochlol (2): hp 33. Appendix One.
� Succubus: hp 33. Monster Manual pp 47.
� Aspect of Lolth: hp 105. Appendix One.
� Herzou: hp 138. Monster Manual pp 44.
Tactics: At the upper APLs, the Halfling is flanked by
the Yochlol in their female Drow form and the
succubus in the form of another Halfling. Any other
monsters are standing 30 feet behind the Halfling as he
makes his offer. They too look like female drow if that
is their ability.
If the party does not negotiate with the Halfling
for the assassins, the monsters attack immediately. The
Halfling hides in order to stay safe and see if the
characters are victorious.
If any of the characters begins to cast a spell
during the negotiations, no matter what the spell is, the
enemy will attack and negotiations are broken off.
These spell-wielding enemies use every power at
their disposal to slay the party at their leisure. Make
sure to read and understand their magical abilities,
utilize this to best watch, and then engage the party
Development: If the characters abandon, or trade for,
the assassins, the attack is either broken off, or will not
occur. In which case they still get full experience for
the encounter.
If any of the characters are captured in this
encounter, they will be enslaved for 20 TU’s until their
release can be obtained.
If the characters rescue Drogo Bracegirdle, he tells
them his story. See the Adventure Background.
CONCULSION: REPORTING
IN
Regardless of their success, the party knows that they
need to report to Lord Underley.
THE PARTY HAS THE ASSASSINS
If they were successful and have the assassins with
them, read or paraphrase the following.
Lord Underley looks pleased now that he has in
his possession the Drow who killed the Contessa.
“Well done, well done indeed. You have
honored yourselves and the County and you will
be lauded as characters.”
Lord Underley has the two assassins seated before him,
with several guards present, and he interrogates them
after a zone of truth has been cast.
INTERROGATING THE ASSASSINS
•
Why did you kill the Contessa? We were sent
by House Rilyn‘Virr to take out the Contessa to
create strife in the County
•
Who sent you? The head of house Rilyn’Virr. He
said he was paid to do so by someone else, but we
do not know who.
•
Who else helped you? We have been working
through the Viper Rogue’s Guild. They were our
source of information.
•
Why can we not contact the Contessa spirit?
The weapon we used to kill the Contessa was a
thinaun blade.
•
Where is that blade now? The blade was sold to a
powerful Drow in the Fennelmore swamp who
had his own interest in it.
•
How did you end up in Holbrook first? The
teleport went awry and we ended up off course
After the interrogation, Lord Underley has the
assassins removed and then thanks the characters once
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 16
again. They receive his favor, which is indicated on the
AR.
THE PARTY DOES NOT HAVE THE ASSASSINS
If the characters were not successful in stopping the
ritual or if they gave or abandoned the assassins to
Shi’raena and thus do not have the assassins with them,
read or paraphrase the following.
It is obvious that Lord Underley is upset with your
failure and dismisses you out of hand. Before you
leave, however, a page enters the room and gives
Lord Underley a note, which he reads his face
twisting with rage. He angrily tosses the note into
the fireplace and storms out of the room.
If any of the characters retrieve the note from the cold
fireplace, give them Player Handout Five: the Note
from Shi’raena.
The bottom of the note has a mark that matches
the badges that the characters were given, the symbol
of house Teken’afin.
The characters receive the “Enmity of Lord
Underley” and the Favor of the Teken’afin House.
TAKEN BY THE DROW
If the characters attacked Shi’raena Teken’afin after the
battle in the Drow encampment, they are prisoners of
the Drow. In addition, the Drow assassins also are also
taken by Shi’raena. In this instance, Lord Underley
arranges for the release of the characters after 20 TUs..
However, the assassins are not released.
Before the characters return to the County, they
are given a note to deliver to Lord Underley by
Shi’raena. If they break the seal and read it, give them
Player Handout Five: the Note from Shi’raena.
If they continue on to report to Lord Underley,
read or paraphrase the following if they give him the
letter from Shi’raena:
Lord Underley reads the note and frowns. “It
seems you have cost me more than just your
release.” He is obviously upset with your failure
and dismisses you out of hand.
Characters captured by the Drow receive the Enmity of
Lord Underley.
AR REWARDS
•
Characters who attacked Shi’raena at the start of
the adventure receive the “Jailed for Treason”,
“Disfavor of Lord Jacobis Underley”, and “Enmity
of House Teken’afin”.
•
Characters who did not bring back the bodies of
the assassins (dead or alive) receive the “Disfavor
of Lord Jacobis Underley” AR award.
•
Any hero was captured by the Drow receives the
“Slave of House Teken’afin” AR Reward, as well as
the “Disfavor of Lord Jacobis Underley” AR award.
•
If the characters handed the assassins (or their
bodies) to the Drow, they receive the “Favor of
House Teken’afin” AR Reward.
•
If the characters rescued Drogo Bracegirdle, they
will receive the “Favor of the Applebee Halfling
Community” AR reward.
The End
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up the
values for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives
plus roleplaying) to each character.
Encounter 3: Nothing is what it appears to be
Defeat the cleric and his slaves, as well as get the
information leading to the Drow encampment.
APL 2
120 XP
APL 4
180 XP
APL 6
240 XP
APL 8
300 XP
APL 10
360 XP
APL 12
420 XP
Encounter 4: Into the Darkness
Rescue the Desmodu from his attackers
APL 2
90 XP
APL 4
150 XP
APL 6
210 XP
APL 8
270 XP
APL 10
330 XP
APL 12
390 XP
Encounter 7: Enemy of My Enemy
Disrupt the Drow ritual of summoning.
APL 2
150 XP
APL 4
210 XP
APL 6
270 XP
APL 8
330 XP
APL 10
390 XP
APL 12
450 XP
Encounter 9A: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Defeat the spiders.
APL 2
90 XP
APL 4
150 XP
APL 6
210 XP
APL 8
270 XP
APL 10
330 XP
APL 12
390 XP
Encounter 9B: Welcome to my Parlor
Defeat the minions of Shi’raena.
APL 2
90 XP
APL 4
150 XP
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 17
APL 6
210 XP
APL 8
270 XP
APL 10
330 XP
APL 12
390 XP
Discretionary roleplaying award
APL 2
90 XP
APL 4
135 XP
APL 6
180 XP
APL 8
225 XP
APL 10
330 XP
APL 12
390 XP
Total possible experience:
APL 2
450 XP
APL 4
675 XP
APL 6
900 XP
APL 8
1,125 XP
APL 10
1,350 XP
APL 12
1,575 XP
Total possible experience from the optional
encounters:
APL 2
180 XP
APL 4
300 XP
APL 6
420 XP
APL 8
540 XP
APL 10
660 XP
APL 12
780 XP
TREASURE SUMMARY
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their
earthly possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10
minutes per every 5 enemies, and if the characters
cannot take the time to loot the bodies, they do not
gain this gold. If you feel it is reasonable that characters
can go back to loot the bodies, and those bodies are
there (i.e., not carted off by dungeon scavengers,
removed from the scene by the local watch, and so on),
characters may return to retrieve loot. If the characters
do not loot the body, the gold piece value for the loot is
subtracted from the encounter totals given below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a
round or so. If for some reason, they pass up this
treasure, the coin total is subtracted from the
encounter totals given below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item
treasure is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are
varied and because characters may want to use them
during the adventure. Many times characters must cast
identify, analyze dweomer or similar spell to determine
what the item does and how to activate it. Other times
they may attempt to use the item blindly. If the magic
item is consumable (a potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.)
and the item is used before the end of the adventure, its
total is subtracted from the adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in
the GP Gained field of the adventure certificate.
Loot = Looted gear from enemy; Coin = Coin,
Gems, Jewelry, and other valuables; Magic = Magic
Items.
Encounter 3: Nothing is what it appears to be
APL 2: Loot: 34 gp; Coin: 120 gp each; Magic: 17
gp; cure light wounds potion (17 gp each); Total 171 gp
each.
APL 4: Loot: 8 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 821 gp; cure
light wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385 gp
each); breastplate +1 (225 gp each); buckler +1 (194 gp
each); Total 966 gp each.
APL 6: Loot: 8 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 3488 gp; cure
light wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385 gp
each); breastplate +1 (225 gp each); buckler +1 (194 gp
each); periapt of wisdom +4 (2667 gp each); Total 3496
each.
APL 8: Loot: 8 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 6488 gp; cure
light wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385 gp
each); breastplate +1 (225 gp each); buckler +1 (194 gp
each); ring of protection +3 (3000 gp each); periapt of
wisdom +4 (2667 gp each); Total 6503 gp each.
APL 10: Loot: 15 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 13247 gp;
cure light wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385
gp each); Banded Mail of Luck (3150 gp each); animated
mithral heavy steel shield +1 (1695 gp each); ring of
protection +4 (5333 gp each); periapt of wisdom +4 (2667
gp each); Total 13462 gp each.
APL 12: Loot: 15 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 15913 gp;
cure light wounds potion (17 gp each); short sword +1 (385
gp each); Banded Mail of Luck (3150 gp each); animated
mithral heavy steel shield +1 (1695 gp each); ring of
protection +4 (5333 gp each); periapt of wisdom +4 (2667
gp each); cloak of charisma +4 (2667 gp each); Total 15928
gp each.
Encounter 4: Into the Darkness
APL 2: Loot: 9 gp; Coin: 119 gp; Magic: 8 gp; potion
cure light wounds (8 gp each); safe wing emblem (42 gp
each); Total: 169 gp each.
APL 4: Loot: 98 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 8 gp; cure
light wounds potion (8 gp each); safe wing emblem (42 gp
each); Total: 148 gp each.
APL 6: Loot: 58 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 1717 gp; ring
of protection +1 (333 gp each); amulet of natural armor +1
(667 gp each); headband of intellect +2 (6673 gp each); safe
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 18
wing emblem (42 gp each); cure light wounds potion (8 gp
each); Total: 1780 gp each.
APL 8: Loot: 58 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 3717 gp; ring
of protection +1 (333 gp each); amulet of natural armor +1
(667 gp each); headband of intellect +4 (2667gp each); safe
wing emblem (42 gp each); cure light wounds potion (8 gp
each); Total: 3780 gp each.
APL 10: Loot: 13 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 9835 gp;
ring of protection +3 (3000 gp each); amulet of natural
armor +1 (667gp each); headband of intellect +4 (2667 gp
each); safe wing emblem (42 gp each); cure light wounds
potion (8gp each); sword, short: unholy +1 (3052 gp each);
Total: 9853 gp each.
APL 12: Loot: 13 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 11252 gp;
ring of protection +3 (3000 gp each); amulet of natural
armor +1 (667 gp each); headband of intellect +4 (2667 gp
each); safe wing emblem (42 gp each); cure light wounds
potion (8 gp each); sword, short: unholy +1 (3052gp each);
hand crossbow +1 (400 gp each); Total: 11269 gp each.
Encounter 7: Enemy of My Enemy
APL 2: Loot: 15 gp; Coin: 119 gp; Magic: 8 gp
each; potion cure light wounds (8 gp each); Total: 142 gp
each.
APL 4: Loot: 67gp; Coin: 29 gp; Magic: 0 gp each;
Total: 96 gp each.
APL 6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 3508 gp
each; spiked chain +1 (2775 gp each); chain mail +2 (717
gp each); potion cure light wounds (17 gp each); Total:
3508 gp each.
APL 8: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 3508 gp
each; spiked chain +1 (2775 gp each); chain mail +2 (717
gp each); potion cure light wounds (17gp each); Total:
3508 gp each.
APL 10: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 83 gp; Magic: 17463 gp
each; spiked chain; human bane, wounding +1 (5388 gp
each); splint mail +1 (225 gp each); potion cure light
wounds (17 gp each); belt of giant strength +4 (2667 gp
each); cloak of elvenkind (417 gp each); boots of elvenkind
(417 gp each); (gp each); Total: 17546 gp each.
APL 12: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 83 gp; Magic: 17479 gp
each; spiked chain; human bane, wounding +1 (5388 gp
each); splint mail +1 (225 gp each); potion cure light
wounds (33 gp each); belt of giant strength +4 (2667 gp
each); cloak of elvenkind (417 gp each); boots of elvenkind
(417 gp each); ring of protection +5 (8333gp each); Total:
17562 gp each.
Encounter 9A: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
APL 2: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp
APL 4: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp
APL 6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp
APL 8: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp
APL 10: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp
APL 12: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp
Encounter 9B: Welcome to my Parlor
APL 2: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total
36 gp each.
APL 4: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total
36 gp each.
APL 6: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total
36 gp each.
APL 8: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total
36 gp each.
APL 10: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total
36 gp each.
APL 12: Loot: 36 gp; Coin: 0 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total
36 gp each.
Total Possible Treasure
APL 2: Loot: 58 gp; Coin: 359 gp; Magic: 33 gp;
Total: 450 gp.
APL 4: Loot: 173 gp; Coin: 29 gp; Magic: 829 gp;
Total: (1,168 gp) 650 gp.
APL 6: Loot: 66 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 8,713 gp;
Total: (8,784 gp) 900 gp.
APL 8: Loot: 66 gp; Coin: 5 gp; Magic: 13,713 gp;
Total: (13,791 gp) 1300 gp.
APL 10: Loot: 28 gp; Coin: 88 gp; Magic: 40,545 gp;
Total: (40,861 gp) 2,300 gp.
APL 12: Loot: 28 gp; Coin: 88 gp; Magic: 44,644 gp;
Total: (44,759 gp) 3,300 gp.
Total
Possible
Treasure
from
Optional
Encounters
APL 2: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 225 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total:
225 gp.
APL 4: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 325 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total:
325 gp.
APL 6: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 450 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total:
450 gp.
APL 8: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 650 gp; Magic: 0 gp; Total:
650 gp.
APL 10: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 1150 gp; Magic: 0 gp;
Total: 1150 gp.
APL 12: Loot: 0 gp; Coin: 1650 gp; Magic: 0 gp;
Total: 1650 gp.
SPECIAL
Jailed for Treason: You have angered Lord
Underley because you attacked the delegate from
UnderOerth. You spend 10 in jail for treason.
Thanks of Lord Underley: This influence point
can be used as an influence point or to get access to
upgrade any standard stat boost item by +2 (+2->+4 and
+4->+6). The upgraded item must also be found in the
DMG. Cross off once used.
Disfavor of Lord Jacobis Underley: You failed
in your mission to bring back the Contessa’s
murderers. Cancel out any favors you have with Lord
Underley. In addition, you suffer a -4 penalty to all rolls
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 19
dealing with the Underley family and all Underley
Network Agents. If any favors you had gave you social
bonuses to dealing with nobles of the County, these
favors are now cancelled. If you belonged to the
Underley
network,
your
membership
revoked
immediately. You can never join or rejoin the network.
Favor of the Desmodu: You were offered items
for trade (breathing mask, wire cable, cablespool,
frostfire, bladefire (All items can be found in the Arms
and Equipment Guide) from the Desmodu. (Usable
this AR only, may only trade, not pay in gold.)
Enmity of the Desmodu: You were directly
responsible for the death of a Desmodu youth. Any
future contact with the Desmodu by you will result in a
Hostile attitude by them.
Failure to Contact the Desmodu: Because of
your failure to act, a Desmodu youth died. Any future
contact with the Desmodu by you will never result in a
better than Indifferent attitude.
Favor of the Teken’afin House: For giving up
the assassins to Shi’raena, you have been favorably
noticed by the House of Teken’afin. You have access
(Adventure) to the following items: elven chain mail,
boots of elvenkind, cloak of elvenkind at the standard cost
from the DMG. These items are of obvious Drow make
and carry a -4 social penalty to any elf (except Drow)
while wearing these items.
Slave of the House Teken’afin: You were taken
alive as a slave into the pits of House Teken’afin. You
spent 20TUs there as a slave before being released.
Unless you are immune to fear, anytime you face
Drow, you take a -2 morale penalty to attacks, this
penalty increases to -5 if you are facing members of
House Teken’afin OR priestesses of Lolth. On the plus
side, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to all
knowledge checks related to the Drow.
Enmity of House Teken’afin: Your name and
description are known. Members of this house who
meet you focus their attacks on you first.
Favor of the Applebee Halfling Community:
This favor gives you One Influence point with all
Applebee Halflings.
ITEMS FOR THE ADVENTURE
RECORD
Item Access
APL 2 and 4:
•
Safewing emblem (Adventure, RotW; 250 gp)
APL 6 (all of APLs 2-4 plus the following):
•
Ring of protection +2 (Adventure, DMG; 8,000 gp)
APL 8 (all of APLs 2-6 plus the following):
•
Ring of protection +3 (Adventure, DMG; 18,000 gp)
APL 10 (all of APLs 2-8 plus the following):
•
+1 Spiked chain; human bane, wounding (Adventure,
DMG; 32,328 gp)
•
+4 Belt of Giant Strength (Adventure, DMG; 16,000
gp)
•
Ring of protection +4 (Adventure, DMG; 32,000 gp
each)
•
Headband of intellect +4 (Adventure, DMG; 16,000
gp each)
•
Banded Mail of Luck (Adventure, DMG; 18,900 gp)
•
Animated mithral heavy steel shield +1 (Adventure,
DMG; 10,170 gp);
•
Periapt of wisdom +4 (Adventure, DMG; 16,000 gp)
APL 12 (all of APLs 2-10 plus the following):
•
Ring of protection +5 (Adventure, DMG; 50,000 gp)
•
Cloak of charisma +6 (Adventure, DMG; 36,000 gp
each);
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 20
APPENDIX ONE: ALL APLS
ENCOUNTER TWO: MEETING WITH
THE ENEMY
Shi’raena Teken’afin: Female elf [Drow] Cleric 14; CR
15; medium humanoid (elf [Drow]); HD 12d8+24; hp
93; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 18, flatfooted 24;
Base Atk +9; Grp +8;
Atk +10 melee (1d6 plus poison, +1 Mace, light);
Full Atk +10/+5 melee (1d6 plus poison, +1 list
spell-storing mace);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 24, darkvision
120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +19; Str 8, Dex 12,
Con 11, Int 14, Wis 24, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +7, Concentration +17,
Diplomacy +19, Disguise +7, Gather Information +7,
Heal +24, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (history) +3,
Knowledge (religion) +4, Knowledge (the planes) +4,
Listen +9, Search +4, Spellcraft +19, Spot +9; chain Spell,
Corrupt Spell, Divine Metamagic Empower Spell Skill
Focus: Concentration.
Languages:
Abyssal,
Common,
Drow
Sign
Language, Elven, and Undercommon.
Cleric Spells Prepared(6/7/7/6/5/4/4/3; base DC =
15 + spell level ): 0 – [cure minor wounds x2, detect magic,
read magic, resistance, virtue]; 1st – [cause fear, command,
cure light wounds x2, inflict light wounds*, obscuring mist,
shield of faith]; 2nd – [corrupt spell bane, cure moderate
wounds, deific vengeance, hold person, shatter*, spiritual
weapon, wave of grief]; 3rd – [close wounds, contagion*, cure
serious wounds, deeper darkness, magic vestment, ring of
blades]; 4th – [castigate, cure critical wounds, death ward,
empowered enthral., unholy blight*]; 5th – [corrupt spell
castigate, chain spell hold person, spell immunity]; 6th –
[blade barrier, disintegrate*, word of recall.]
*Domain spell. Deity [Lolth]; Domains: [Evil (you
cast evil spell at +1 caster level); Destruction (use the
smite power once per day)].
Possessions: +1 Mace, light: Spell Storing. +1 Elven
chain: Fortification, Moderate, (75%) Glammered. Bead of
Force; Circlet of Persuasion; Cloak of Charisma +2; Ring of
Energy resistance, fire, Major; periapt of Wisdom +6; Ring of
Protection +4; Vest of resistance +3; Death Blade Poison
(1800 gp) (Injury DC 20, Initial 1d6 Con, Secondary
2d6 Con, DC 25 Craft, Trap CR Modifier +5
(A&EG37)).
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 21
APPENDIX ONE: APL 2
ENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS
WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
Cleric of Vhaeraun: male Elf [Drow] Cleric 2; CR 3;
Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 2d8+2; hp 15; Init +0;
Spd 20 ft.; AC 19, touch 10, flatfooted 19; Base Atk +1;
Grp +2;
Atk/Full Atk +2 melee (1d6+1 plus poison, sword,
short), +2 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire,
spontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day;
SQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 13, darkvision
120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +6; Str 12, Dex 10,
Con 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Diplomacy +6,
Disguise +3, Heal +4, Listen +5, Search +4, Sense
Motive +5, Spellcraft +7, Spot +5. Combat Casting.
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Goblin, and Undercommon.
Cleric Spells Prepared (4/3; base DC = 13 + spell
level): 0-[resistance, read magic, cure minor wounds, detect
magic]; 1st-[longstrider*,Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, shield of
faith, cure light wounds].
*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains:
[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery
(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills)].
Possessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); short sword (10
gp); MW splint mail (350 gp); buckler (15 gp); silver
holy symbol (25 gp); wooden holy symbol(1 gp); spell
component pouch (2) (10 gp); disguise kit (50 gp);
Drow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial
damage:
unconsciousness,
1
minute;
secondary
damage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); cure
light wounds potion (2) (100 gp).
ENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE
DARKNESS
Drow Wizard: male Drow Wiz1; CR 2; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 1d4+2; hp 6; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC
16, touch 12, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +0; Grp -1;
Atk/Full Atk +2 ranged (1d4 plus poison, hand
crossbow [19-20 x2]) or -1 melee (1d4-1 plus poison,
dagger); Space/Reach 5ft. /5ft;
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
Immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, light blindness SR 12, darkvision
120 ft.;
AL NE; SV Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +3; Str 8, Dex 14,
Con 14, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Decipher Script
+8,
Knowledge
(Arcana)
+8,
Knowledge
(Dungeoneering) +6, Knowledge (Geography) +6,
Knowledge (Local) +6, Knowledge (The Planes) +6,
Listen +3, Search +6, Spellcraft +8, Spot +3; Combat
Casting, Scribe Scroll.
Wizard Spells Prepared (3/2): 0-[acid splash, sonic snap,
caltrops]; 1st-[ray of flame, mage armor].
Possessions: dagger (2 gp); hand crossbow (100 gp);
coin (28 gp); Drow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC
13; initial damage: unconsciousness, 1 minute;
secondary damage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours.
(RoFR160)); cure light wounds potion (1) (50 gp).
Familiar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny
aberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd
30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21;
Atk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2,
Bite);
SA: Eye Rays (Su);
SQ:
Immunity:
Charm
(Ex), Immunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight
(Ex), All-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.;
AL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX
16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15,
Listen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness.
Eye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can
use all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs
can only use one of their four rays at a time. In
addition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost
cannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds.
Each eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer
(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules
for a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the
Player’s Handbook).
Cause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will
save is DC 10.
Daze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is
DC 10.
Mage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer,
except the eyeball can use the ray without having to
use a move-equivalent action to move an unattended
object weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a
round. The ray has a range of 35 feet.
Ray of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
All
Around
Vision
(Ex):
Eyeballs
are
exceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a
+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
search checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses
when attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has
attacked during an encounter, its all around vision
negates any sneak attack.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 22
Flight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally
buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a
free action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also
grants a feather fall effect with personal range.
ENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY
ENEMY
Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Ftr1; CR 2; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 17, touch 12, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +1; Grp +4;
Atk/Full Atk +4 melee (2d4+4, chain, spiked);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
immunity to sleep effects, light blindness, SR 12,
darkvision 120 ft;
AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 17, Dex 14,
Con 14, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Undercommon.
Skills and Feats: Climb +0, Handle Animal +3,
Intimidate +3, Listen +3, Search +3, Spot +3; Exotic
Weapon
Proficiency:
Chain,
spiked,
Improved
Toughness.
Possessions: spiked chain (25 gp); chain mail (150
gp); potion of cure light wounds (50 gp); coin (175 gp);
safewing emblem (250 gp).
ENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY
SPIDER
Fiendish Spellwarped medium monstrous spider:
Medium aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR 1; HD
2d8+6; hp 15; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 15 (+4
Dex, +1 Natural) touch 14, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +1;
Grp +3; Atk +6 melee (1d6+3 plus poison, bite); Full Atk
+6 melee (1d6+3 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, smite
good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR 5/magic,
darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin traits; SR13;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +0; Str 15, Dex 19, Con
16, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 2;
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +9*, Jump +2*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison)
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 16, initial and
secondary damage 1d4 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Spell Absorption (Su): Whenever a spell
Web (Ex): Both types of monstrous spiders often
wait in their webs or in trees, then lower themselves
silently on silk strands and leap onto prey passing
beneath. A single strand is strong enough to support
the spider and one creature of the same size. Web-
spinners can throw a web eight times per day. This is
similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum
range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and
is effective against targets up to one size category larger
than the spider. An entangled creature can escape with
a successful Escape Artist check (DC14) or burst it with
a Strength check (DC18). Both are standard actions.
The check DCs are Constitution-based, and the
Strength check DC includes a +4 racial bonus.
Web-spinners often create sheets of sticky
webbing from 5 to 60 feet square, depending on the
size of the spider. They usually position these sheets to
snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on
the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a
DC 20 Spot check to notice a web; otherwise, they
stumble into it and become trapped as though by a
successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the
webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has
something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each
5-foot section has the hit points given on the table, and
sheet webs have damage reduction 5/-.
A monstrous spider can move across its own web
at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any
creature touching its web.
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
Fiendish Spider Swarm: Diminutive Magical Beast
(Extraplanar, Swarm, Vermin); CR 1; HD 2d8; hp 9; Init
+3; Spd 20 ft, climb 20ft; AC 17 (+4 size, +3 Dex), touch
17, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp -;
Atk/Full Atk swarm (1d6 plus poison);
SA Distraction, poison, smite good; SQ Darkvision
60 ft., cold and fire resistance 5, swarm traits,
tremorsense 30 ft., vermin traits;
Space/Reach 10ft/0ft;
AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 1, Dex 17,
Con 10, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 2;
Skills and Feats: Climb +11, Listen +4, Spot +4.
Ability Focus (poisonous bite)
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins
its turn with a spider swarm in its space must succeed
on a DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round.
The save DC is Constitution-based.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 13, initial and
secondary damage 1d3 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Skills: A spider swarm has a +4 racial bonus on
Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb
checks. It uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 23
Strength modifier for Climb checks. It can always
choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or
threatened.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
ENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY
PARLOR
Half Fiend Draegloth: CR 3; Large outsider ; HD
6d8+12; hp 39; Init +2; Spd 30 ft. (6 squares); AC 16,
touch 11, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +6; Grp +16;
Atk +11 melee (1d6+6, 2 Claw);
Full Atk +11 melee (1d6+6, 2 claw) and +6 melee
(1d8+3, bite);
SA dancing lights, desecrate, faerie fire, unholy blight,
darkness; SQ immunity to poison and sleep effects,
resistance: acid 10, resistance: cold 10, resistance:
electricity 10, resistance: fire 10, darkvision 60 ft., no
dual nature;
AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5; Str 22, Dex 15,
Con 14, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 11.
Feats: Simple Weapon Proficiency.
(See Appendix Five: New Creatures, Spells, and
Feats.)
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 24
APPENDIX ONE: APL 4
ENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS
WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf [Drow] Cleric 3
[Vhaeraun]; CR 4; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 3d8+3
(23 hp); Init +0; Spd 40 ft.; AC 17, touch 10, flatfooted
17; Base Atk +2; Grp +3;
Atk/Full Atk +4 melee (1d6+2, plus poison, +1
short sword) or+3 melee (1d4+1 plus one, gauntlet,
spiked);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire,
spontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day;
SQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, SR 15, darkvision 120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +7; Str 12, Dex 10,
Con 12, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +8, Diplomacy +8,
Disguise +3, Heal +4, Listen +5, Search +4, Sense
Motive +6, Spellcraft +9, Spot +5; Combat Casting,
Daylight Adaptation,
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Goblin, and Undercommon.
Cleric Spells Prepared (5/4/3; base DC = 13 + spell
level): 0-[resistance, read magic, cure minor wounds x2,
detect magic]; 1st-bless, obscuring mist, longstrider*, shield of
faith, cure light wounds]; 2nd-[body blades, veil of shadow,
sound burst, invisibility*].
*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains:
[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery
(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills)].
Possessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short
(2,310 gp); +1 breastplate (1,350 gp); +1 buckler (1.165 gp);
silver holy symbol (25 gp); wooden holy symbol (1 gp);
Spell component pouch (2) (10 gp); Disguise kit (50
gp); Drow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13;
initial damage: unconsciousness, 1 minute; secondary
damage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); (120
gp); cure light wounds potion (2) (100 gp).
Hobgoblin Fighter: male hobgoblin Ftr1: CR 1;
medium humanoid ; HD 1d10+3 (13 hp); Init +3; Spd
30 ft.; AC 19, touch 13, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +1; Grp
+4;
Atk/Full Atk +4 melee (1d8+3, longsword);
SQ darkvision 60 ft;
AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 17, Dex 16,
Con 17, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Handle Animal +0,
Intimidate +0, Jump +3, Move Silently +5; Improved
Toughness, Power Attack.
Possessions: chain shirt (100 gp); darkwood shield
(257 gp); longsword (15 gp).
ENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE
DARKNESS
Drow Wizard: male Drow Wizard 3; CR 4; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 3d4+6; hp 13; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 16, touch 12, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +0;
Atk/Full Atk +4 ranged (1d4 plus poison, mw
hand crossbow) or +1 melee (1d4-1 plus poison, mw
dagger);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, SR 14, darkvision 120 ft.;
AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +4; Str 8, Dex 14,
Con 14, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +8, Decipher Script
+8,
Knowledge
(arcana)
+8,
Knowledge
(dungeoneering) +6, Knowledge (geography) +6,
Knowledge (local) +6, Knowledge (the planes) +6,
Listen +4, Search +6, Spellcraft +10, Spot +6; Combat
Casting, Point Blank Shot, Scribe Scroll.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/3/2): 0-[electric jolt, acid
splash, sonic snap, caltrops]; 1st-[ray of flame, mage armor,
Ice Dagger]; 2nd-[Earthen Grasp, Ray of Weakness].
Possessions: mw hand crossbow (400 gp); mw dagger
(302 gp); coin (30 gp) Drow knockout poison (75 gp)
(Injury DC 13; initial damage: unconsciousness, 1
minute; secondary damage: unconsciousness, 2d4
hours. (RoFR160)); (120 gp); cure light wounds potion (1)
(50 gp).
Familiar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny
aberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd
30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21;
Atk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2,
Bite);
SA: Eye Rays (Su);
SQ:
Immunity:
Charm
(Ex), Immunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight
(Ex), All-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.;
AL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX
16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15,
Listen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness.
Eye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can
use all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs
can only use one of their four rays at a time. In
addition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost
cannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds.
Each eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer
(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules
for a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the
Player’s Handbook).
Cause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will
save is DC 10.
Daze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is
DC 10.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 25
Mage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer,
except the eyeball can use the ray without having to
use a move-equivalent action to move an unattended
object weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a
round. The ray has a range of 35 feet.
Ray of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
All
Around
Vision
(Ex):
Eyeballs
are
exceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a
+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
search checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses
when attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has
attacked during an encounter, its all around vision
negates any sneak attack.
Flight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally
buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a
free action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also
grants a feather fall effect with personal range.
ENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY
ENEMY
Advanced Displacer Beast: CR 5; Large Magical Beast
; HD 9d10+27; hp 76; Init +2; Spd 40 ft. (8 squares); AC
16, touch 11, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +9; Grp +17;
Atk +12 melee (1d6+4, 2 Tentacle);
Full Atk +12 melee (1d6+4, 2 tentacle) and +10
melee (1d8+2, bite);
Space/Reach
10ft./5ft.;
SQ
displacement,
darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, resistance: ranged
attacks 2;
AL LE; SV Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 18, Dex 15,
Con 16, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Hide + 10, Jump + 8, Listen + 5,
Move Silently + 7, Spot + 5.; Alertness, Dodge, Multi-
Attack; Stealthy.
Displacement (Su): A light-bending glammer
continually surrounds a displacer beast, making it
difficult to surmise the creature's true location.
Any melee or ranged attack directed at it has a 50%
miss chance unless the attacker can locate the beast by
some means other than sight. A true seeing effect
allows the user to see the beast's position, but see
invisibility has no effect.
resistance to Ranged Attacks (Su): A displacer
beast gains a +2 resistance bonus to saves against any
ranged spell or ranged magical attack that specifically
targets it (except for ranged touch attacks).
Skills: A displacer beast receives a +8 racial bonus
to Hide checks, thanks to its displacement power.
Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Ftr3; CR 4; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 3d10+6; hp 28; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 17, touch 12, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +3; Grp +6;
8;
Atk/Full Atk +7 melee (2d4+4, chain, spiked,
masterwork);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
immunity to sleep effects, light blindness, SR 14,
darkvision 120 ft;
AL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 17, Dex 14,
Con 14, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Handle Animal +5,
Intimidate +3, Jump -6, Listen +3, Search +3, Spot +3;
Combat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Chain,
spiked, Improved Toughness, Improved Trip,
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Undercommon.
Possessions: mw spiked chain (325 gp); chain mail
(150 gp); coin (175 gp); potion cure light wounds x2 (50
gp); safewing emblem (250 gp).
ENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY
SPIDER
Fiendish Spellwarped large monstrous spider:
Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR4; HD
4d8+12; hp30; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-1
size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base
Atk +3; Grp +11; Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite);
Full Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison,
smite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR
5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin
traits; SR 15; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7;
Ref +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10,
Cha 2
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +4*, Jump +4*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison)
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and
secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Both types of monstrous spiders often
wait in their webs or in trees, then lower themselves
silently on silk strands and leap onto prey passing
beneath. A single strand is strong enough to support
the spider and one creature of the same size. Web-
spinners can throw a web eight times per day. This is
similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum
range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and
is effective against targets up to one size category larger
than the spider. An entangled creature can escape with
a successful Escape Artist check (DC13) or burst it with
a Strength check (DC17). Both are standard actions.
The check DCs are Constitution-based, and the
Strength check DC includes a +4 racial bonus.
Web-spinners often create sheets of sticky
webbing from 5 to 60 feet square, depending on the
size of the spider. They usually position these sheets to
snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on
the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a
DC 20 Spot check to notice a web; otherwise, they
stumble into it and become trapped as though by a
successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the
webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 26
something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each
5-foot section has the hit points given on the table, and
sheet webs have damage reduction 5/-.
A monstrous spider can move across its own web
at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any
creature touching its web.
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
Fiendish Spellwarped medium monstrous spider:
Medium aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR 1; HD
2d8+6; hp 15; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 15 (+4
Dex, +1 Natural) touch 14, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +1;
Grp +3; Atk +6 melee (1d6+3 plus poison, bite); Full Atk
+6 melee (1d6+3 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, smite
good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR 5/magic,
darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin traits; SR13;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +0; Str 15, Dex 19, Con
16, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 2;
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +9*, Jump +2*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison)
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 16, initial and
secondary damage 1d4 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC14) or a
Strength check (DC18).
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
Fiendish Spider Swarm: Diminutive Magical Beast
(Extraplanar, Swarm, Vermin); CR 1; HD 2d8; hp 9; Init
+3; Spd 20 ft, climb 20ft; AC 17 (+4 size, +3 Dex), touch
17, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp -;
Atk/Full Atk swarm (1d6 plus poison);
SA Distraction, poison, smite good; SQ Darkvision
60 ft., cold and fire resistance 5, swarm traits,
tremorsense 30 ft., vermin traits; Space/Reach 10ft/0ft;
AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 1, Dex 17,
Con 10, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 2;
Skills and Feats: Climb +11, Listen +4, Spot +4.
Ability Focus (poisonous bite)
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins
its turn with a spider swarm in its space must succeed
on a DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round.
The save DC is Constitution-based.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 13, initial and
secondary damage 1d3 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Skills: A spider swarm has a +4 racial bonus on
Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb
checks. It uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its
Strength modifier for Climb checks. It can always
choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or
threatened.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
ENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY
PARLOR
Half Fiend Draegloth: CR 3; Large outsider ; HD
6d8+12; hp 39; Init +2; Spd 30 ft. (6 squares); AC 16,
touch 11, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +6; Grp +16;
Atk +11 melee (1d6+6, 2 Claw);
Full Atk +11 melee (1d6+6, 2 claw) and +6 melee
(1d8+3, bite);
SA dancing lights, desecrate, faerie fire, unholy blight,
darkness; SQ immunity to poison and sleep effects,
resistance: acid 10, resistance: cold 10, resistance:
electricity 10, resistance: fire 10, darkvision 60 ft., no
dual nature;
AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5; Str 22, Dex 15,
Con 14, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 11.
Feats: Simple Weapon Proficiency.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 27
APPENDIX ONE: APL 6
ENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS
WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf [Drow] Cleric 5; CR 7;
medium humanoid (elf); HD 5d8+5 (41 hp); Init +0;
Spd 20 ft.; AC 18, touch 12, flatfooted 18; Base Atk +3;
Grp +4;
Atk/Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+2, +1 sword, short), +4
melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked) ;
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire,
spontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day;
SQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, SR 16, darkvision 120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +7; Str 12, Dex 10,
Con 12, Int 14, Wis 21, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +9, Diplomacy +9,
Disguise +3, Heal +5, Listen +5, Search +4, Sense
Motive +6, Spellcraft +10, Spot +5; Combat Casting,
Divine Spell Power, Daylight Adaptation.
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Goblin, and Undercommon.
Cleric Spells Prepared (5/4/3/2; base DC = 15 + spell
level): 0-[resistance, read magic, cure minor wounds, detect
magic]; 1st-[entropic shield, obscuring mist, protection from
good, longstrider*, shield of faith, cure light wounds]; 2nd-
[body blades, veil of shadow, deific vengeance, invisibility*];
3rd-[fly*, energy vortex, cure serious wounds].
*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains:
[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery
(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills)].
Possessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short
(2,310 gp); +1 breastplate (1,350 gp); +1 buckler (1.165 gp);
Silver holy symbol; Silver holy symbol (25 gp); Wooden holy
symbol (1 gp); Spell component pouch (2) (10 gp);
Disguise kit (50 gp); Drow knockout poison (75 gp)
(Injury DC 13; initial damage: unconsciousness, 1
minute; secondary damage: unconsciousness, 2d4
hours. (RoFR160)); cure light wounds (2) (100 gp); periapt
of wisdom +4 (16,000 gp).
Hobgoblin Fighter: male humanoid (goblin) Ftr3; CR
3; medium humanoid; HD 3d10+9; hp 26; Init +2; Spd
30 ft.; AC 18, touch 12, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +3; Grp
+7;
Atk/Full Atk +9 melee (1d8+4, mw longsword);
SQ darkvision 60 ft;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 14,
Con 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Intimidate +4, Jump +8,
Move Silently +4; Improved Toughness, Shieldmate,
Power Attack, Weapon Focus: longsword.
Possessions: chain shirt (100 gp); darkwood shield
(257 gp); mw longsword (315 gp).
Hobgoblin Rogue: male humanoid (goblin) Rogue 2;
CR 2; Medium Humanoid ; HD 2d6+4; hp 15; Init +4;
Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 14, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +1;
Grp +4;
Atk/Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+3, mw rapier, 18-20
x2);
SQ darkvision 60 ft;
AL CE; SV Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +0; Str 16, Dex 18,
Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Balance +9, Climb +6, Escape Artist
+7, Hide +7, Jump +8, Listen +5, Move Silently +11,
Sense Motive +5, Spot +5, Tumble +9; Power Attack.
Possessions: chain shirt (100 gp); mw rapier (320 gp).
ENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE
DARKNESS
Drow Wizard: male elf [Drow] Wiz5; CR 6; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 5d4+5 (19 hp); Init +2; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 14, touch 14, flatfooted 12; Base Atk +2; Grp +2;
Atk/Full Atk +3 melee (1d6 plus poison, sword,
short, masterwork);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 16, darkvision
120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +5; Str 10, Dex 14,
Con 12, Int 20, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Languages:
Abyssal,
Common,
Drow
Sign
Language, Elven, Goblin, Undercommon.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +9, Decipher Script
+10, Knowledge (arcana) +13, Knowledge (Religion) +8,
Knowledge (underdark) +13, Listen +3, Search +7,
Spellcraft +15, Spot +3; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
Scribe Scroll, Sudden Widen.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/5/3/2; Base DC = 15 +
spell level): 0-[electric jolt, acid splash, launch bolt, caltrops];
1st-[ray of flame, hail of stone, mage armor, expeditious
retreat, swift, orb of fire, lesser]; 2nd-[blast of force, baleful
transposition, scorching ray]; 3rd-[sound lance, fireball].
Possessions: mw short sword (310 gp); Coin: gp (30);
Drow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial
damage:
unconsciousness,
1
minute;
secondary
damage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); ring
of protection +1 (2,000 gp); amulet of natural armor +1
(2,000 gp); headband of intellect +2 (4,000 gp); safe wing
emblem (250 gp); cure light wounds potion (1) (50 gp).
Familiar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny
aberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd
30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21;
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 28
Atk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2,
Bite); SA: Eye Rays (Su);
SQ: Immunity: Charm (Ex), Immunity: Mind-
Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight (Ex), All-Around Vision
(Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft;
AL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX
16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15,
Listen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness.
Eye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can
use all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs
can only use one of their four rays at a time. In
addition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost
cannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds.
Each eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer
(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules
for a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the
Player’s Handbook).
Cause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will
save is DC 10.
Daze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is
DC 10.
Mage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer,
except the eyeball can use the ray without having to
use a move-equivalent action to move an unattended
object weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a
round. The ray has a range of 35 feet.
Ray of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
All
Around
Vision
(Ex):
Eyeballs
are
exceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a
+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
search checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses
when attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has
attacked during an encounter, its all around vision
negates any sneak attack.
Flight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally
buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a
free action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also
grants a feather fall effect with personal range.
ENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY
ENEMY
Advanced Displacer Beast: CR 5; Large Magical
Beast; HD 9d10+27 (76 hp); Init +2; Spd 40 ft. (8
squares); AC 16, touch 11, flatfooted 14; Base Atk +9;
Grp +17;
Atk +12 melee (1d6+4, 2 Tentacle);
Full Atk +12 melee (1d6+4, 2 tentacle) and +7
melee (1d8+2, bite);
Space/Reach
10ft./5ft.;
SQ
displacement,
darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, resistance: ranged
attacks 2;
AL LE; SV Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 18, Dex 15,
Con 16, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills: Hide +6, Jump +8
Displacement (Su): A light-bending glammer
continually surrounds a displacer beast, making it
difficult to surmise the creature's true location.
Any melee or ranged attack directed at it has a 50%
miss chance unless the attacker can locate the beast by
some means other than sight. A true seeing effect
allows the user to see the beast's position, but see
invisibility has no effect.
resistance to Ranged Attacks (Su): A displacer
beast gains a +2 resistance bonus to saves against any
ranged spell or ranged magical attack that specifically
targets it (except for ranged touch attacks).
Drow Fighter: male elf [Drow] Ftr6; CR 7; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 6d10+12; hp 57; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 19, touch 14, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +6; Grp +9;
Atk +7 melee (2d4+4, +1 Chain, spiked);
Full Atk +5 melee (2d4+4, +1 chain, spiked) and +5
melee (2d4+2, +1 chain, spiked);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fir,; SQ
immunity to sleep effects, light blindness, SR 17,
darkvision 120 ft.; AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +3;
Str 17, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Handle Animal +8,
Intimidate +3, Jump -2, Listen +3, Search +3, Spot +3;
Armor Proficiency: heavy, Armor Proficiency: light,
Armor Proficiency: medium, Combat Expertise, Exotic
Weapon
Proficiency:
Chain,
spiked,
Improved
Toughness, Improved Trip, Monkey Grip, Shield
Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Tower Shield
Proficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus:
Chain, spiked.
Possessions: +1 chain, spiked x2 (8,325 gp); +2 chain
mail (4,300 gp); potion cure light wounds x2 (50 gp); coin
(175 gp).
ENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY
SPIDER
Fiendish Spellwarped advanced large monstrous
spider: Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR6;
HD 7d8+18; hp52; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-
1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base
Atk +5; Grp +13; Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite);
Full Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison,
smite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR
5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin
traits; SR 18; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7;
Ref +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10,
Cha 2
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +6*, Jump +4*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Snatch
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and
secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC15) or a
Strength check (DC19).
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 29
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
Fiendish Spellwarped large monstrous spider:
Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR4; HD
4d8+12; hp30; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-1
size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base
Atk +3; Grp +11; Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite);
Full Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison,
smite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR
5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin
traits; SR 15; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7;
Ref +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10,
Cha 2
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +4*, Jump +4*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison)
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and
secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC13) or a
Strength check (DC17).
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
ENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY
PARLOR
Demon,
Yochlol:
Medium-Size/Large
Outsider
(Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri); CR 5; Hit Dice:
6d8+6; hp 33; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider
Form); AC Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow
chainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16
(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14;
Ooze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, Flat Footed 10;
Gaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat
Footed 9;
Attack: Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-
20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand
Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus
poison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee
(1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2,
Hand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6
plus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles +10 melee
(1d4+4)
Space/Reach: Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider
Form 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form
5 ft. / 5 ft. SA Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison; SQ
Damage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity
Immunity, fire resistance 20, Gaseous form, Gas,
Immune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to
Sneak Attacks (Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR
15, Telepathy;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 14,
Con 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16.
Language: Abyssal
Skills and Feats: Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form
only)
+12,
Concentration
+7,
Diplomacy
+14,
Intimidate +14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11,
Spot +11. Blind Fighting, Combat Casting.
Possessions: short sword (20 gp), hand crossbow
(200 gp).
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 30
APPENDIX ONE: APL 8
ENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS
WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf [Drow] Cleric 7; CR 8;
Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 6d8+6 (50 hp); Init +0;
Spd 20 ft.; AC 21, touch 12, flatfooted 21; Base Atk +4;
Grp +5;
Atk/Full Atk +6 melee (1d6+2 plus poison, +1 short
sword) or +5 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked) ;
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire,
spontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day;
SQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, SR 18, darkvision 120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +10; Str 12, Dex 10,
Con 12, Int 14, Wis 21, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +10, Diplomacy +10,
Disguise +3, Heal +6, Listen +7, Search +4, Sense
Motive +9, Spellcraft +11, Spot +7; Combat Casting,
Daylight Adaptation, Divine Spell Power.
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Goblin, and Undercommon.
Cleric Spells Prepared (6/7/5/4/3; base DC = 16 +
spell level): 0-[resistance, virtue, read magic, cure minor
wounds, detect magic]; 1st-[entropic shield, obscuring mist,
protection from good, longstrider*, sanctuary, shield of faith,
cure light wounds]; 2nd-[body blades, veil of shadow, balor
nimbus, divine interdiction, deific vengeance, invisibility*];
3rd-[fly*, energy vortex, cure serious wounds, clutch of Orcus];
4th-[dimension door*, shield of faith, mass, negative energy
aura].
*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains:
[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery
(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills)
Possessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short
(2,310 gp); +1 breastplate (1,350 gp); +1 buckler (1.165 gp);
silver holy symbol, silver holy symbol (25 gp); wooden
holy symbol (1 gp); spell component pouch (2) (10 gp);
disguise kit (50 gp); giant wasp poison (210 gp) (injury
DC 18, initial 1d6 Dex, secondary 1d6, DC 20 Craft,
trap CR modifier +3 (A&EG37)); cure light wounds (2)
(50 gp); periapt of wisdom +4 (16,000 gp), ring of protection
+3 (18,000 gp).
Bugbear Fighter: male bugbear Humanoid3/Ftr2: CR
4; Medium Humanoid ; HD 3d8+3; hp 34; Init +1; Spd
20 ft.; AC 20, touch 11, flatfooted 19; Base Atk +4; Grp
+7;
Atk/Full Atk +9 melee (1d6+4, +1 short sword);
SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent;
AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 16, Dex 12,
Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +0, Intimidate +4,
Listen +7, Move Silently -1, Spot +2; Alertness, Phalanx
Fighting, Power Attack, Weapon Focus: Short sword
Possessions: +1 short sword (2,310 gp), banded mail
(250 gp).
ENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE
DARKNESS
Drow Wizard: male elf [Drow] Wiz7; CR 8; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 7d4+7 (23 hp); Init +2; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 14, touch 14, flatfooted 12; Base Atk +3; Grp +3;
Atk/Full Atk +4 melee (1d6 plus poison, sword,
short, masterwork);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 18, darkvision
120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +6; Str 10, Dex 14,
Con 12, Int 23, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Decipher
Script +11, Knowledge (arcana) +14, Knowledge
(Religion) +9, Knowledge (the planes) +14, Knowledge
(underdark) +14, Listen +3, Search +8, Spellcraft +16,
Spot +3; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Scribe Scroll,
Sudden Maximize, Sudden Widen.
Languages:
Abyssal,
Common,
Drow
Sign
Language, Elven, Goblin, Undercommon.
Wizard Spells Prepared(4/6/5/3/2; Base DC = 16 +
spell level): 0-[acid splash, launch bolt, caltrops]; 1st-[ray of
flame, hail of stone, mage armor, expeditious retreat, swift, orb
of fire, lesser, orb of electricity, lesser]; 2nd-[distracting ray,
blast of force, baleful transposition, scorching ray]; 3rd-[sound
lance, fireball]; 4th-[backlash, phantasmal killer].
Possessions: mw short sword (310 gp); Coin: gp (30);
Drow knockout poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial
damage:
unconsciousness,
1
minute;
secondary
damage: unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); ring:
protection +1 (2,000 gp); amulet of natural armor +1 (2,000
gp); headband of Intellect +4 (16,000 gp); safewing emblem
(250 gp); cure light wounds potion (1) (50 gp).
Familiar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny
Aberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd
30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21;
Atk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2,
Bite);
SA: Eye Rays (Su); SQ: Immunity: Charm (Ex),
Immunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight (Ex),
All-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.;
AL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX
16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 31
Skills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15,
Listen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness.
Eye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can
use all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs
can only use one of their four rays at a time. In
addition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost
cannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds.
Each eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer
(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules
for a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the
Player’s Handbook).
Cause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will
save is DC 10.
Daze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is
DC 10.
Mage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer,
except the eyeball can use the ray without having to
use a move-equivalent action to move an unattended
object weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a
round. The ray has a range of 35 feet.
Ray of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
All
Around
Vision
(Ex):
Eyeballs
are
exceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a
+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
search checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses
when attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has
attacked during an encounter, its all around vision
negates any sneak attack.
Flight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally
buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a
free action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also
grants a feather fall effect with personal range.
ENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY
ENEMY
Hound of the Gloom: CR 9; Large Aberration ; HD
12d8+84 (138 hp); Init +2; Spd Climb 20 ft. (4 squares),
40 ft. (8 squares); AC 24, touch 11, flatfooted 22; Base
Atk +9; Grp +19;
Atk +14 melee (2d6+6, Bite);
Full Atk +14 melee (2d6+6, bite) and +12 melee
(1d6+3, 2 claw) and +12 melee (1d6+3, 2 tentacle rake);
Space/Reach 10ft. /5ft.; SA improved grab, poison,
pounce; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent;
AL NE; SV Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +11; Str 22, Dex
15, Con 24, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Balance +6, Climb +18, Jump +18,
Listen +12, Move Silently +6, Spot +12; Cleave, Combat
Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Multiattack, Power Attack.
Combat: Hounds ambush victims by leaping
directly into melee. They use their natural climbing
ability to reach a point above their target, and then leap
down in a deadly pounce from above. The creatures
attack with bite, foreclaws, and the two larger tentacles
surrounding their heads, which are much longer than
the others. These two tentacles have a reach of 10 feet
and end in five-fingered hands that look almost
identical to human hands, except they have strong,
sharp claws instead of nails.
Once engaged, a hound uses its bite and claw
attacks against a single foe. A target that withstands
several blows or one that deals the hound a significant
amount of damage is the target of the hound's poisoned
hands.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the
hound must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then
attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking attacks of opportunity.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 23, initial and
secondary damage 1d8 Dex. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Pounce (Ex): If a hound of the gloom charges a
foe, it can make a full attack, including two tentacle
attacks.
Appearance: This powerful quadruped vaguely
resembles a huge dog or bear. Its massive, hairless body
ripples with extraordinary musculature. Its hide is
sleek and milky-white in color, and bony plates cover
its head and protect its eyes. Long tentacles ring the
head like a lion's mane. Two of the tentacles, longer
than the others, end in oddly humanlike hands.
Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male dragon (elf) Ftr4;
CR 7; Medium Dragon (Elf); HD 4d12+16 (62 hp); Init
+1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 11, flatfooted 22; Base Atk
+4; Grp +10;
Atk +12 melee (2d4+10, +1 chain, spiked);
Full Atk +12 melee (2d4+10, +1 chain, spiked) or
+10 melee (1d4+6, 2 claw) and +5 melee (1d6+3, bite);
SA breath weapon, poison, dancing lights, darkness,
faerie fire; SQ immunity to sleep effects and paralysis
and acid, light blindness, SR 18, darkvision 120 ft., low-
light vision;
AL CE; SV Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 23, Dex 12,
Con 18, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Handle Animal +9,
Intimidate +7, Jump +10, Listen +2, Search +4, Spot +2;
Combat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: chain,
spiked, Improved Toughness, Improved Trip, Weapon
Focus: chain, spiked.
Breath Weapon (SA): 60 foot line of acid, Ref
save DC 16 for half; 6d8 damage.
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Undercommon.
Possessions: +1 chain, spiked (8,325 gp); +1 splint mail
(1,350 gp); potion cure light wounds x2 (50 gp); coin (175
gp).
Drow Monk: male elf [Drow] Mnk7; CR 8; medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 7d8+14 hp 53; Init +1; Spd 50 ft.;
AC 18, touch 18, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +5; Grp +18;
Atk +10 melee (1d8+5, Unarmed strike);
Full Atk +10 melee (1d8+5, unarmed strike) and +5
melee (1d4+5, 2 tentacles) or +9/+9 melee ( 1d8+5,
flurry of blows) and +5 melee (1d4+5, 2 tentacles);
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 32
SA improved flurry of blows, ki strike, poison,
purity of body, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ AC
bonus +1, evasion, immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2
saves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves
vs. spells and spell-like effects, light blindness, slow fall
(30 ft), still mind, wholeness of body, wisdom bonus to
AC; SR 18, darkvision 120 ft.;
AL LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +8; Str 20, Dex 12,
Con 14, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Hide +14, Jump +20, Listen +12,
Move Silently +11, Search +2, Spot +10, Tumble +13;
Aberration Blood - Flexible Limbs, Bestial Hide,
Combat Reflexes, Deepspawn, Improved Grapple,
Improved Trip, Improved Unarmed Strike. (See
Appendix Eight for new feats)
Possessions: 500 gp; belt of giant strength +4; cloak of
elvenkind; boots of elvenkind; ring: protection +5.
ENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY
SPIDER
Fiendish Spellwarped advanced large monstrous
spider: Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR6;
HD 7d8+18; hp52; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-
1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base
Atk +5; Grp +13; Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite);
Full Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison,
smite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR
5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin
traits; SR 18; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7;
Ref +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10,
Cha 2
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +6*, Jump +4*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Snatch
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and
secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC15) or a
Strength check (DC19).
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
Fiendish Spellwarped large monstrous spider:
Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR4; HD
4d8+12; hp30; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-1
size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base
Atk +3; Grp +11; Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite);
Full Atk +6 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison,
smite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR
5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin
traits; SR 15; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7;
Ref +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10,
Cha 2
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +4*, Jump +4*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison)
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and
secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC13) or a
Strength check (DC17).
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
ENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY
PARLOR
Demon,
Yochlol:
Medium-Size/Large
Outsider
(Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri); CR 5; Hit Dice:
6d8+6; hp 33; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider
Form); AC Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow
chainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16
(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14;
Ooze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, Flat Footed 10;
Gaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat
Footed 9;
Attack: Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-
20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand
Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus
poison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee
(1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2,
Hand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6
plus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles +10 melee
(1d4+4)
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 33
Space/Reach: Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider
Form 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form
5 ft. / 5 ft. SA Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison; SQ
Damage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity
Immunity, fire resistance 20, Gaseous form, Gas,
Immune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to
Sneak Attacks (Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR
15, Telepathy;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 14,
Con 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16.
Language: Abyssal
Skills and Feats: Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form
only)
+12,
Concentration
+7,
Diplomacy
+14,
Intimidate +14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11,
Spot +11. Blind Fighting, Combat Casting.
Possessions: short sword (20 gp), hand crossbow
(200 gp).
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 34
APPENDIX ONE: APL 10
ENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS
WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
Cleric of Vhaeraun, male elf [Drow] Clr7/Wrpr2: CR
9; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 7d8+7(Cleric),
2d10+2(Warpriest); hp 66; Init +0; Spd 20; AC 26, touch
18, flatfooted 26; Base
Atk +7; Grp +8; Atk +9 melee (1d6+2 plus poison,
+1 sword, short) or +8 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked);
Full Atk +9/+4 melee (1d6+2 plus poison, +1 sword,
short) or +8 /+3 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire
spontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 4x/day,
inflame, rally; SQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2
saves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves
vs. spells and spell-like effects, SR 20; 120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +10, Ref +3, Will +12; Str 12, Dex
10, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +15, Diplomacy +12,
Disguise +3, Heal +8, Listen +12, Search +4, Sense
Motive +12, Spellcraft +14, Spot +8;Combat Casting,
Daylight Adaptation, Divine Spell Power, Domain
Spontaneity, Spell Focus: enchantment.
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Goblin, and Undercommon.
Bonus Domain: At 1st level, the warpriest gains
the Glory domain (if he turns undead) or the
Domination domain (if he rebukes undead).
Inflame (Ex): As a full round action, the warpriest
can inflame the passions of his allies. All who can hear
the warpriest gain a morale bonus on saving throws
against any charm or fear effects. The bonus begins at
+2 for a 2nd level warpriest and increases by +2 at each
even numbered level thereafter (+4 at 4th, +6 at 6, etc.).
This effect lasts for five minutes after the speech ends,
plus 1 minute per level of the warpriest.
Rally (Ex): A warpriest who is currently not
suffering from a fear effect can use this ability as a
standard action. Allies within 60 feet who are suffering
from any fear effect and can hear the warpriest are
allowed another saving throw against the fear effect,
with a +1 morale bonus per warpriest level.
Cleric Spells Prepared (6/6/5/4/3; Base DC = 16 +
spell level): 0 – [cure minor wounds x2, detect magic, read
magic, resistance, virtue; ] 1st – [cure light wounds, entropic
shield, longstrider*, obscuring mist, protection from good,
sanctuary, shield of faith;] 2nd – [balor nimbus, body blades,
deific vengeance, divine interdiction, invisibility*, veil of
shadow;] 3rd – [clutch of Orcus, cure serious wounds, energy
vortex, fly*, Girallon`s Blessing;] 4th – [negative energy aura,
shield of faith, mass, spell immunity, unholy blight*.]
*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains:
[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery
(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills); Domination
(you gain Spell Focus: enchantment feat)].
Possessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short
(2,310 gp); Banded Mail of Luck (18,900 gp); +1 animated
mithral heavy steel shield (10,170 gp); silver holy symbol
(25 gp); wooden holy symbol (1 gp); Spell component
pouch (2) (10 gp); Disguise kit (50 gp); giant wasp
poison (210 gp) (injury DC 18, initial 1d6 Dex,
secondary 1d6, DC 20 Craft, trap CR modifier +3
(A&EG37)); cure light wounds (2) (100 gp); periapt of
wisdom +4 (16,000 gp); ring of protection +4 (32,000 gp)
blindfold of true darkness (9,000 gp).
Bugbear Fighter: male Bugbear Humanoid3/Ftr4: CR
6; Medium Humanoid ; HD 3d8+6 (63 hp); Init +1; Spd
20 ft.; AC 20, touch 11, flatfooted 19; Base Atk +6; Grp
+9;
Atk/Full Atk +11 melee (1d6+4, +1 short sword);
SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent;
AL CE; SV Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 12,
Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Climb +4, Hide +0, Intimidate +8,
Listen +7, Move Silently -1, Spot +2; Alertness, Phalanx
Fighting, Power Attack, Weapon Focus: Short sword.
Possessions: +1 short sword (2,310 gp), banded mail
(250 gp), blindfold of true darkness (9,000 gp).
Blindfold of True Darkness: Grants wearer
blindsight 60`, but looses regular sight (A&EG130).
ENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE
DARKNESS
Drow Wizard: male elf [Drow] Wiz9; CR 10; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 9d4+9 (30 hp); Init +2; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 18, touch 18, flatfooted 16; Base Atk +4; Grp +4;
Atk/Full Atk +5 melee (1d6+1 plus poison, +1
sword, short) or +7 ranged (1d4+1 plus poison, +1 hand
crossbow);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 21, darkvision
120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7; Str 10, Dex 14,
Con 12, Int 24, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +13, Decipher
Script +12, Knowledge (arcana) +15, Knowledge
(Religion)
+10,
Knowledge
(the
planes)
+15,
Knowledge (underdark) +15, Listen +3, Search +9,
Spellcraft +21, Spot +8; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
Scribe Scroll, Sudden Empower, Sudden Maximize,
Sudden Widen.
Languages:
Abyssal,
Common,
Drow
Sign
Language, Elven, Goblin, Undercommon.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 35
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/6/6/5/3/2; Base DC = 17 +
spell level): 0-[electric jolt, acid splash, launch bolt, caltrops];
1st-[ray of flame, hail of stone, mage armor, expeditious
retreat, swift, orb of fire, lesser, orb of electricity, lesser]; 2nd-
[distracting ray, blast of force, baleful transposition, scorching
ray]; 3rd-[sound lance, fireball, fireball, fly]; 4th-
[defenestrating sphere, backlash, phantasmal killer]; 5th-
[cone of cold, baleful polymorph].
Possessions: +1 sword, short: unholy (18,310 gp); +1
hand crossbow (2,400 gp); Coin: gp (30); Drow knockout
poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial damage:
unconsciousness,
1
minute;
secondary
damage:
unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); ring of
protection +3 (18,000 gp); amulet of natural armor +1
(2,000 gp); headband of Intellect +4 (16,000 gp); safewing
emblem (250 gp); cure light wounds potion (1) (50 gp).
Familiar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny
Aberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd
30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21;
Atk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2,
Bite);
SA: Eye Rays (Su) ; SQ: Immunity: Charm (Ex),
Immunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight (Ex),
All-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.;
AL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX
16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15,
Listen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness.
Eye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can
use all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs
can only use one of their four rays at a time. In
addition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost
cannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds.
Each eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer
(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules
for a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the
Player’s Handbook).
Cause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will
save is DC 10.
Daze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is
DC 10.
Mage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer,
except the eyeball can use the ray without having to
use a move-equivalent action to move an unattended
object weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a
round. The ray has a range of 35 feet.
Ray of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
All
Around
Vision
(Ex):
Eyeballs
are
exceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a
+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
search checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses
when attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has
attacked during an encounter, its all around vision
negates any sneak attack.
Flight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally
buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a
free action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also
grants a feather fall effect with personal range.
ENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY
ENEMY
Hound of the Gloom: CR 9; Large Aberration ; HD
12d8+84 (138 hp); Init +2; Spd Climb 20 ft. (4 squares),
40 ft. (8 squares); AC 24, touch 11, flatfooted 22; Base
Atk +9; Grp +19;
Atk +14 melee (2d6+6, Bite);
Full Atk +14 melee (2d6+6, bite) and +12 melee
(1d6+3, 2 claw) and +12 melee (1d6+3, 2 tentacle rake);
Space/Reach 10ft. /5ft.; SA improved grab, poison,
pounce; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent;
AL NE; SV Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +11; Str 22, Dex
15, Con 24, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Balance +6, Climb +18, Jump +18,
Listen +12, Move Silently +6, Spot +12; Cleave, Combat
Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Multiattack, Power Attack.
Combat: Hounds ambush victims by leaping
directly into melee. They use their natural climbing
ability to reach a point above their target, then leap
down in a deadly pounce from above. The creatures
attack with bite, foreclaws, and the two larger tentacles
surrounding their heads, which are much longer than
the others. These two tentacles have a reach of 10 feet
and end in five-fingered hands that look almost
identical to human hands, except they have strong,
sharp claws instead of nails.
Once engaged, a hound uses its bite and claw
attacks against a single foe. A target that withstands
several blows or one that deals the hound a significant
amount of damage is the target of the hound's poisoned
hands.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the
hound must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then
attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking attacks of opportunity.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 23, initial and
secondary damage 1d8 Dex. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Pounce (Ex): If a hound of the gloom charges a
foe, it can make a full attack, including two tentacle
attacks.
Appearance: This powerful quadruped vaguely
resembles a huge dog or bear. Its massive, hairless body
ripples with extraordinary musculature. Its hide is
sleek and milky-white in color, and bony plates cover
its head and protect its eyes. Long tentacles ring the
head like a lion's mane. Two of the tentacles, longer
than the others, end in oddly humanlike hands.
Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male dragon (elf) Ftr7;
CR 9; Medium Dragon (Elf); HD 7d12+28 (84 hp); Init
+1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 11, flatfooted 22; Base Atk
+7; Grp +13;
Atk +15 melee (2d4+10, +1 chain, spiked; 18-20 x2);
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 36
Full Atk +15/+10 melee (2d4+10, +1 chain, spiked)
or +13 melee (1d4+6, 2 claw) and +8 melee (1d6+3, bite)
or breath weapon (6d8 acid);
SA breath weapon, poison, dancing lights, darkness,
faerie fire; SQ immunity to sleep effects and paralysis
and acid, light blindness, SR 20, darkvision 120 ft., low-
light vision;
AL CE; SV Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 23, Dex 12,
Con 18, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Languages:
Common,
Draconic,
Drow
Sign
Language, Elven, Undercommon
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Handle Animal +9,
Intimidate +4, Listen +2, Search +4, Spot +2; Combat
Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: chain, spiked,
Improved Sunder, Improved Toughness, Improved
Trip, Power Attack, Weapon Focus: chain, spiked.
Breath Weapon (SA): 60 foot line of acid, Ref
save DC 17 for half; 6d8 damage.
Possessions: +1 spiked chain; human bane, wounding
(32,325 gp); +1 splint mail (1,350 gp). cure light wounds
potion x2 (100 gp).
Drow Monk: male elf [Drow] Mnk9: CR 10; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 9d8+18 (72 hp); Init +1; Spd 60 ft.;
AC 16, touch 16, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +6; Grp +19;
Atk +11 melee (1d10+5, Unarmed strike) or +11
melee (1d4+5, 2 tentacles);
Full Atk +11 melee (1d10+5, unarmed strike) and
+6/+6 melee (1d4+2, 2 tentacles) or +11/+11/+6 melee
(1d10+5, flurry of blows) and +6/+6 melee (1d4+2, 2
tentacles);
Space/Reach 5ft./10ft.; SA perfect flurry of blows,
ki strike, poison, purity of body, dancing lights, darkness,
faerie fire;
SQ AC bonus +1, evasion, immunity
to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs. enchantment spells
and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells and spell-like effects,
light blindness, slow fall (30 ft), still mind, wholeness
of body, wisdom bonus to AC; SR 20, darkvision 120 ft.;
AL LE; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +10; Str 20, Dex 12,
Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Hide +14, Jump +24, Listen +15,
Move Silently +13, Search +2, Spot +13, Tumble +15;
Aberration Blood - Flexible Limbs, Bestial Hide,
Combat Reflexes, Deepspawn, Improved Disarm,
Improved
Grapple,
Improved
Unarmed
Strike,
Inhuman Reach. (see Appendix Eight for new feats)
Possessions: 500 gp; belt of giant strength +4 (16000
gp); cloak of elvenkind (2500 gp); boots of elvenkind (2500
gp); ring: protection +5 (50000 gp).
ENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY
SPIDER
Fiendish spellwarped advanced huge monstrous
spider: Large aberration; CR 10; HD11d8+44; hp 93;
Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 19 (-2 size, +4 Dex, +7
natural) touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +8; Grp +22;
Atk +13 melee (3d6+9 plus poison, bite); Full Atk +13
melee (3d6+9 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, smite good,
web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR 10/magic,
darkvision 60ft, ethereal jaunt, low-light vision, spell
absorption; SR 19; Face/Reach 15ft/10ft; AL CE; SV
Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 23, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 7,
Wis 10, Cha 2;
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Hide +0*, Jump +6*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Improved Natural
attack (bite), Snatch
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and
secondary damage 1d8 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC18) or a
Strength check (DC22).
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
Fiendish Spellwarped advanced large monstrous
spider: Large aberration (Extraplanar, Vermin); CR6;
HD 7d8+18; hp52; Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 16 (-
1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base
Atk +5; Grp +13; Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite);
Full Atk +8 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite); SA Poison,
smite good, web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR
5/magic, darkvision 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, vermin
traits; SR 18; Face/Reach 10ft/5ft; AL CE; SV Fort +7;
Ref +5; Will +1; Str 19, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 10,
Cha 2
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Hide +6*, Jump +4*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Snatch
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and
secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC15) or a
Strength check (DC19).
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 37
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See Appendix Five: New Rules - New
Creatures for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
ENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY
PARLOR
Aspect of Lolth: CR 11; large outsider (Evil,
Extraplanar, Chaotic); HD 14d8+42 hp 105; Init +4; Spd
Climb 20 ft. (4 squares), 40 ft. (8 squares); AC 21, touch
13, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +14; Grp +21;
Atk +20 melee (1d4+6 plus poison, +3 dagger,
chaotic);
Full Atk +20 melee (1d4+6, +3 dagger, chaotic); and
+15 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite);
Space/Reach 10ft./10ft.;
SA
poison;
SQ
damage
reduction
5/epic,
darkvision 60 ft., SR 25, no dual nature;
AL CE; SV Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +17; Str 16, Dex
18, Con 17, Int 27, Wis 26, Cha 23.
Languages:
Abyssal,
Draconic,
Elven,
Undercommon
Skills and Feats: Climb +11, Jump +7; Blind-Fight,
Improved Critical: Bite, Simple Weapon Proficiency,
Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus: Bite, Weapon
Specialization: Bite.
Combat: An aspect of Lolth's natural weapons, as
well as any weapons it wields, are treated as chaotic-
aligned and evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming
damage reduction.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and
secondary damage 1d10 Str. The DC is Constitution-
based.
Demon,
Yochlol:
Medium-Size/Large
Outsider
(Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri); CR 5; Hit Dice:
6d8+6; hp 33; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider
Form); AC Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow
chainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16
(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14;
Ooze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, Flat Footed 10;
Gaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat
Footed 9;
Attack: Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-
20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand
Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus
poison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee
(1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2,
Hand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6
plus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles +10 melee
(1d4+4)
Space/Reach: Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider
Form 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form
5 ft. / 5 ft. SA Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison; SQ
Damage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity
Immunity, fire resistance 20, Gaseous form, Gas,
Immune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to
Sneak Attacks (Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR
15, Telepathy;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 14,
Con 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16.
Language: Abyssal
Skills and Feats: Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form
only)
+12,
Concentration
+7,
Diplomacy
+14,
Intimidate +14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11,
Spot +11. Blind Fighting, Combat Casting.
Possessions: short sword (20 gp), hand crossbow
(200 gp).
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 38
APPENDIX ONE: APL 12
ENCOUNTER THREE: NOTHING IS
WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
Cleric of Vhaeraun: male elf [Drow] Clr7/Wrp4: CR
12; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 7d8+7 (87 hp); Init
+0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 26, touch 18, flatfooted 26; Base Atk
+9; Grp +10;
Atk +11 melee (1d6+2 plus poison, +1 short sword)
or 10 melee (1d4+1, spiked gauntlet);
Full Atk +11/+6 (1d6+2 plus poison, +1 short sword)
or +10/+5 melee (1d4+1, gauntlet, spiked);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire,
spontaneous casting (inflict); rebuke undead 6x/day,
bonus domain, bonus caster level, inflame, rally, mass
cure light wounds; SQ immunity to sleep effects (Ex),
+2 saves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 will
saves vs. spells and spell-like effects, SR 24, darkvision
120 ft.;
AL CE; SV Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +12; Str 12, Dex 10,
Con 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +7, Concentration +13,
Diplomacy +16, Disguise +5, Heal +8, Listen +8, Search
+4, Sense Motive +12, Spellcraft +14, Spot +8; Combat
Casting, Daylight Adaptation, Divine Spell Power,
Domain Spontaneity.
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven,
Goblin, and Undercommon.
Bonus Domain: At 1st level, the warpriest gains
the Glory domain (if he turns undead) or the
Domination domain (if he rebukes undead).
Inflame (Ex): As a full round action, the warpriest
can inflame the passions of his allies. All who can hear
the warpriest gain a morale bonus on saving throws
against any charm or fear effects. The bonus begins at
+2 for a 2nd level warpriest and increases by +2 at each
even numbered level thereafter (+4 at 4th, +6 at 6, etc.).
This effect lasts for five minutes after the speech ends,
plus 1 minute per level of the warpriest.
Rally (Ex): A warpriest who is currently not
suffering from a fear effect can use this ability as a
standard action. Allies within 60 feet who are suffering
from any fear effect and can hear the warpriest are
allowed another saving throw against the fear effect,
with a +1 morale bonus per warpriest level.
Mass Cure light Wounds (SP): Starting at 3rd
level, a warpriest can use mass cure light wounds, once
per day as a spell-like ability. Treat the warpriest’s caster
level for this effect as equal to his highest divine caster
level.
Cleric Spells Prepared(6/6/6/4/3/2): 0-[resistance,
virtue, read magic, cure minor wounds, detect magic]; 1st-
[entropic shield, obscuring mist, protection from good,
longstrider*, sanctuary, shield of faith, cure light wounds];
2nd-[body blades, veil of shadow, balor nimbus, infernal
wound, divine interdiction, deific vengeance, invisibility*];
3rd-[ring of blades, fly*, energy vortex, cure serious wounds,
Clutch of Orcus]; 4th-[sound lance, unholy blight*, shield of
faith, mass, negative energy aura]; 5th-[teleport*, flame
strike, doomtide].
*Domain spell. Deity [Vhaeraun]; Domains:
[Travel (use the free action ability 1/day); Trickery
(bluff, disguise and hide are class skills); Evil (cast evil
spells at +1 caster level)].
Possessions: spiked gauntlet (5 gp); +1 sword, short
(2,310 gp); banded mail of luck (18,900 gp); +1 animated
mithral heavy steel shield (10,170 gp); silver holy symbol
(25 gp); wooden holy symbol (1 gp); spell component
pouch (2) (10 gp); disguise kit (50 gp); death blade
poison (1800 gp) (injury DC 20, initial 1d6 Con,
secondary 2d6 Con, DC 25 Craft, trap CR modifier +5
(A&EG37)); cure light wounds potion (2) (100 gp); periapt
of wisdom +4 (16,000 gp); ring of protection +4 (32,000 gp);
cloak of charisma +4 (16,000 gp), blindfold of true darkness
(9,000 gp).
Drider,
Sorcerer
#1:
male
drider
(sorcerer)
Aberration6/Sor3: CR 10; Large Aberration ; HD
6d8+18; hp 64;; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., climb 15 ft. ; AC 17,
touch 11, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +5; Grp +11;
Atk/Full Atk +7 melee (1d4+3, bite) or +4 ranged
(2d6+4, bow of force) or +5 melee (1d6+3, +1 dagger)
,+5 melee (1d6+2, +1 dagger) ;
Space/Reach 10ft./5ft.; SA dancing lights, darkness,
detect good, detect magic, detect law, faerie fire, levitate,
clairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, suggestion, poison ;
SQ darkvision 60 ft., SR 17;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +11; Str 15, Dex 14,
Con 16, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +8, Climb +14, Concentration
+14, Hide +10, Listen +12, Move Silently +12, Spellcraft
+13, Spot +9; Combat Casting, Simple Weapon
Proficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus:
Bite.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/6/4; Base DC = 14 +
spell level): 0-[acid splash, caltrops, electric jolt, mage hand,
ray of frost, resistance, sonic snap, touch of fatigue]; 1st-[blades
of fire, cold orb, lesser, enlarge person, mage armor, night
shield]; 2nd-[baleful transposition, bull`s strength, daggerspell
dance, scorching ray]; 3rd-[chain missile, dispel magic,
fireball]; 4th-[enervation, explosive cascade].
Possessions: unholy dagger +1 x2 (18,304 gp); bow of
force (65,400 gp); giant wasp poison (210 gp) (injury DC
18, initial 1d6 Dex, secondary 1d6, DC 20 Craft, trap CR
modifier +3 (A&EG37)), blindfold of true darkness (9,000
gp).
Drider,
Sorcerer
#2:
male
drider
(sorcerer)
Aberration6/Sor3: CR 10; Large Aberration ; HD
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 39
6d8+18; hp 64;; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., climb 15 ft. ; AC 17,
touch 11, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +5; Grp +11;
Atk/Full Atk +7 melee (1d4+3, bite) or +4 ranged
(2d6+4, bow of force) or +5/+5 melee (1d6+3, +1 dagger,
unholy) ;
Space/Reach 10ft./5ft.; SA dancing lights, darkness,
detect good, detect magic, detect law, faerie fire, levitate,
clairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, suggestion, poison ;
SQ darkvision 60 ft., SR 17;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +11; Str 15, Dex 14,
Con 16, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +8, Climb +14, Concentration
+14, Hide +10, Listen +12, Move Silently +12, Spellcraft
+13, Spot +9; Combat Casting, Simple Weapon
Proficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus:
Bite.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/6/4; Base DC = 14 +
spell level): 0-[acid splash, caltrops, electric jolt, mage hand,
ray of frost, resistance, sonic snap, touch of fatigue]; 1st-[blades
of fire, cold orb, lesser, enlarge person, mage armor, night
shield]; 2nd-[baleful transposition, bull`s strength, daggerspell
dance, scorching ray]; 3rd-[chain missile, dispel magic,
fireball]; 4th-[enervation, Evard’s black tentacles].
Possessions: unholy dagger +1 x2 (18,304 gp); bow of
force (65,400 gp); giant wasp poison (210 gp) (injury DC
18, initial 1d6 Dex, secondary 1d6, DC 20 Craft, trap CR
modifier +3 (A&EG37)) , blindfold of true darkness (9,000
gp).
ENCOUNTER FOUR: INTO THE
DARKNESS
Drow Wizard: male elf [Drow] Wiz9/AcltSkn2; CR
12; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 9d4+9 (41 hp); Init
+2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 19, flatfooted 18; Base Atk
+5; Grp +5;
Atk/Full Atk +6 melee (1d6+1 plus poison, +1
sword, short) or +8 ranged (1d4+1, plus poison, +1 hand
crossbow);
SA poison, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire; SQ
immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2 saves vs.
enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves vs. spells
and spell-like effects, light blindness, SR 22, darkvision
120 ft. fire resistance 10; poison 1/day; wear fiend;
AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +10; Str 10, Dex 16,
Con 12, Int 24, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +15, Decipher
Script +12, Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge
(Religion)
+10,
Knowledge
(the
planes)
+17,
Knowledge (underdark) +15, Listen +3, Search +9,
Spellcraft +23, Spot +10; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
Scribe Scroll, Sudden Empower, Sudden Maximize,
Sudden Widen.
Languages:
Abyssal,
Common,
Drow
Sign
Language, Elven, Goblin, Undercommon.
Poison (Sp): An acolyte of the skin can use
poison once per day as an 8th-level caster. The save DC
is 14 + the acolytes primary spellcasring ability
modifier (Intelligence for wizards, Charisma for
sorcerers and warlocks, Wisdom for clerics, and so
forth). At 5th level, an acolyte can use this ability two
times per day.
Wear Fiend (Su): An acolyte of the skin
summons the essence of a fiend and wears it like a
second skin. The bonded fiendish skin is for all intents
and purposes the characters own. It increases the
acolyte of the skin’s natural armor bonus by 1 and
grants a +2 inherent bonus to Dexterity. The acolyte
also gains darkvision out to 60 feet.
The DM determines the actual nature of the skin, be it
demonic, devilish, or from some other fiendish
creature.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/6/6/5/4/3; Base DC = 17 +
spell level): 0-[electric jolt, acid splash, launch bolt, caltrops];
1st-[ray of flame, hail of stone, mage armor, expeditious
retreat, swift, orb of fire, lesser, orb of electricity, lesser]; 2nd-
[distracting ray, blast of force, baleful transposition, scorching
ray]; 3rd-[sound lance, fireball, fireball, fly]; 4th-
[defenestrating sphere, backlash, phantasmal killer]; 5th-
[prismatic ray, cone of cold, baleful polymorph].
Possessions: +1 sword, short: unholy (18,310 gp); +1
hand crossbow (2,400 gp); Coin: gp (30); Drow knockout
poison (75 gp) (Injury DC 13; initial damage:
unconsciousness,
1
minute;
secondary
damage:
unconsciousness, 2d4 hours. (RoFR160)); ring of
protection +3 (18,000 gp); ring of forceshield (8,500 gp);
amulet of natural armor +1 (2,000 gp); headband of
Intellect +4 (16,000 gp); safewing emblem (250 gp); cure
light wounds potion (1) (50 gp).
Familiar: male beholderkin, eyeball; CR 1/2; Tiny
Aberration; HD 11d8 (Aberration); hp 20; Init + 3; Spd
30, 5, fly, Good 40; AC 21;
Atk + 5 base melee, + 10 base ranged; +5 (1d3-2,
Bite);
SA: Eye Rays (Su) ; SQ: Immunity: Charm (Ex),
Immunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex), Flight (Ex),
All-Around Vision (Ex), Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.;
AL NE; SV Fort + 5, Ref + 6, Will + 9; STR 6, DEX
16, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 10.
Skills and Feats: Concentration + 15, Hide + 15,
Listen + 3, Search + 9, Spot + 10; Alertness.
Eye Rays (Su): Unlike true beholders, which can
use all their eye ray attacks the same round, eyeballs
can only use one of their four rays at a time. In
addition, an eyeball that fires a daze ray or a ray of frost
cannot fire another daze ray or ray of frost for 2 rounds.
Each eye effect resembles a spell cast by a sorcerer
(levels vary depending on the eye) but follows the rules
for a ray (see Aiming a Spell in Chapter 10 of the
Player’s Handbook).
Cause Fear: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will
save is DC 10.
Daze: As the spell, range 35 feet. The Will save is
DC 10.
Mage hand: As the spell cast by a 4th level sorcerer,
except the eyeball can use the ray without having to
use a move-equivalent action to move an unattended
object weighing no more than 5 pounds up to 15 feet a
round. The ray has a range of 35 feet.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 40
Ray of frost: As the spell, range 35 feet.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
Immunities (ex): Eyeballs are immune to charm
and command effects.
All
Around
Vision
(Ex):
Eyeballs
are
exceptionally alert. Their many small eyes give them a
+4 racial bonus on spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
search checks. Opponents gain no flanking bonuses
when attacking an eyeball. Once an eyeball has
attacked during an encounter, its all around vision
negates any sneak attack.
Flight (Ex): An eyeballs’ body is naturally
buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a
free action, at a speed of 40 feet. The buoyancy also
grants a feather fall effect with personal range.
ENCOUNTER SIX: ENEMY OF MY
ENEMY
Hound of the Gloom: CR 10; Huge Aberration; HD
16d8+144; hp 216; Init +1; Spd Climb 20 ft. (4 squares),
40 ft. (8 squares); AC 25, touch 9, flatfooted 24; Base Atk
+12; Grp +30;
Atk +20 melee (2d8+10, Bite);
Full Atk +20 melee (2d8+10, bite) and +18 melee
(1d8+5, 2 claw) and +18 melee (1d8+5, 2 tentacle rake);
Space/Reach 10ft./5ft.; SA improved grab, poison,
pounce; SQ darkvision 60 ft., scent; AL NE; SV Fort
+16, Ref +6, Will +13; Str 30, Dex 13, Con 28, Int 10,
Wis 17, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Balance +5, Climb +22, Jump +22,
Listen +14, Move Silently +7, Spot +14; Cleave, Combat
Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Multiattack, Power Attack.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the
hound must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then
attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking attacks of opportunity.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 23, initial and
secondary damage 1d8 Dex. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Pounce (Ex): If a hound of the gloom charges a foe,
it can make a full attack, including two tentacle attacks.
Drow Half Dragon Fighter: male dragon (elf) Ftr9;
CR 11; Medium Dragon (Elf); HD 9d12+36; hp 117;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 11, flatfooted 14; Base
Atk +9; Grp +16;
Atk +19 melee (2d4+11, +1 chain, spiked, 18-20, x2);
Full Atk +19/+14/+9/+4 melee (2d4+11, +1 chain,
spiked, 18-20 x2) or +16 melee (1d4+7, 2 claw) and +11
melee (1d6+3, bite);
SA breath weapon, poison, dancing lights, darkness,
faerie fire; SQ immunity to sleep effects and paralysis
and acid, light blindness, SR 20, darkvision 120 ft., low-
light vision;
AL CE; SV Fort +10, Ref +4, Will +5; Str 24, Dex 12,
Con 18, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Languages:
Common,
Draconic,
Drow
Sign
Language, Elven, Undercommon
Skills and Feats: Climb +16, Handle Animal +15,
Intimidate +4, Jump +14, Listen +2, Search +4, Spot +2;
Combat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: chain,
spiked, Greater Weapon Focus: chain, spiked, Improved
Sunder, Improved Toughness, Improved Trip, Iron
Will, Power Attack, Weapon Focus: chain, spiked.
Breath Weapon (SA): 60 foot line of acid, Ref
save DC 18 for half; 6d8 damage.
Possessions: +1 spiked chain; human bane, wounding
(32,325 gp); +1 splint mail (1,350 gp). cure light wounds
potion x2 (100 gp).
Drow Monk: male elf [Drow] Mnk9: CR 10; Medium
Humanoid (Elf); HD 9d8+18 (72 hp); Init +1; Spd 60 ft.;
AC 16, touch 16, flatfooted 15; Base Atk +6; Grp +19;
Atk +11 melee (1d10+5, Unarmed strike) or +11
melee (1d4+5, 2 tentacles);
Full Atk +11 melee (1d10+5, unarmed strike) and
+6/+6 melee (1d4+2, 2 tentacles) or +11/+11/+6 melee
(1d10+5, flurry of blows) and +6/+6 melee (1d4+2, 2
tentacles);
SA perfect flurry of blows, ki strike, poison, purity
of body, dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire;
SQ
AC
bonus +1, evasion, immunity to sleep effects (Ex), +2
saves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 will saves
vs. spells and spell-like effects, light blindness, slow fall
(30 ft), still mind, wholeness of body, wisdom bonus to
AC; SR 20, darkvision 120 ft.;
AL LE; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +10; Str 20, Dex 12,
Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Hide +14, Jump +24, Listen +15,
Move Silently +13, Search +2, Spot +13, Tumble +15;
Aberration Blood - Flexible Limbs, Bestial Hide,
Combat Reflexes, Deepspawn, Improved Disarm,
Improved
Grapple,
Improved
Unarmed
Strike,
Inhuman Reach. (See Appendix 5 for new feats)
Possessions: 500 gp; belt of giant strength +4 (16000
gp); cloak of elvenkind (2500 gp); boots of elvenkind (2500
gp); ring: protection +5 (50000 gp); cure light wounds potion
x2 (100 gp).
ENCOUNTER 9 A: THE ITSY BITSY
SPIDER
Fiendish spellwarped advanced huge monstrous
spider: Large aberration; CR 10; HD11d8+44; hp 93;
Init +4; Spd 30ft, climb 20ft; AC 19 (-2 size, +4 Dex, +7
natural) touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +8; Grp +22;
Atk +13 melee (3d6+9 plus poison, bite); Full Atk +13
melee (3d6+9 plus poison, bite); SA Poison, smite good,
web; SQ cold and fire resistance 5, DR 10/magic,
darkvision 60ft, ethereal jaunt, low-light vision, spell
absorption; SR 19; Face/Reach 15ft/10ft; AL CE; SV
Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 23, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 7,
Wis 10, Cha 2;
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Hide +0*, Jump +6*,
Spot +4*. Ability focus (poison), Improved Natural
attack (bite), Snatch
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 41
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and
secondary damage 1d8 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can
make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal
to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Web (Ex): Escape Artist check (DC18) or a
Strength check (DC22).
Tremorsense (Ex): A monstrous spider can detect
and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in
contact with the ground, or within any range in contact
with the spider’s webs.
Skills: Monstrous spiders have a +4 racial bonus
on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on
Climb checks. A monstrous spider can always choose
to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or
threatened. Monstrous spiders use either their
Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks,
whichever is higher. *Hunting spiders have a +10 racial
bonus on Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus on Spot
checks. Web-spinning spiders have a +8 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks when using their webs.
See for all Spellwarped Special Abilities and
Attacks.
ENCOUNTER 9 B: WELCOME TO MY
PARLOR
Aspect of Lolth: CR 11; large outsider (Evil,
Extraplanar, Chaotic); HD 14d8+42 hp 105; Init +4; Spd
Climb 20 ft. (4 squares), 40 ft. (8 squares); AC 21, touch
13, flatfooted 17; Base Atk +14; Grp +21;
Atk +20 melee (1d4+6 plus poison, +3 dagger,
chaotic);
Full Atk +20 melee (1d4+6, +3 dagger, chaotic); and
+15 melee (1d8+6 plus poison, bite);
Space/Reach 10ft. /10ft;
SA
poison;
SQ
damage
reduction
5/epic,
darkvision 60 ft., SR 25, no dual nature;
AL CE; SV Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +17; Str 16, Dex
18, Con 17, Int 27, Wis 26, Cha 23.
Languages:
Abyssal,
Draconic,
Elven,
Undercommon
Skills and Feats: Climb +11, Jump +7; Blind-Fight,
Improved Critical: Bite, Simple Weapon Proficiency,
Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus: Bite, Weapon
Specialization: Bite.
Combat: An aspect of Lolth's natural weapons, as
well as any weapons it wields, are treated as chaotic-
aligned and evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming
damage reduction.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and
secondary damage 1d10 Str. The DC is Constitution-
based.
Demon,
Yochlol:
Medium-Size/Large
Outsider
(Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri); CR 5; Hit Dice:
6d8+6; hp 33; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider
Form); AC Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow
chainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16
(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14;
Ooze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12, Flat Footed 10;
Gaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat
Footed 9;
Attack: Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-
20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand
Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus
poison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee
(1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2,
Hand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6
plus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles +10 melee
(1d4+4)
Space/Reach: Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider
Form 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form
5 ft. / 5 ft. SA Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison; SQ
Damage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity
Immunity, fire resistance 20, Gaseous form, Gas,
Immune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to
Sneak Attacks (Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR
15, Telepathy;
AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 14,
Con 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16.
Language: Abyssal
Skills and Feats: Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form
only)
+12,
Concentration
+7,
Diplomacy
+14,
Intimidate +14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11,
Spot +11. Blind Fighting, Combat Casting.
Possessions: short sword (20 gp), hand crossbow
(200 gp).
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 42
APPENDIX TWO: ROGUE GUILD SYMBOLS
Guild
City(Guild Hall)
Symbol
Birds of Prey
Radigast City (The Aerie)
Eagle
Halwyn Fingers
Trigol (The Hall)
Three Fingers raised on a hand
Nighthawks
Jedbridge (sanctuary)
Hawk
Sea Serpents
Bampton (The Den)
Sea Serpent
Viper’s Den
Brotton (The Pit)
Viper
Silent Hand
Brotton (The Gauntlet)
Lips with a finger raised to them
Tiger Sharks
High Mardreth (Hidden Cove)
Shark
The Black Claw
Trigol (Shadow Hall)
A black claw
Shield 1 House Underley
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 43
APPENDIX THREE: THE TEMPLE
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 44
APPENDIX FOUR: THE SUMMONING CAVE
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 45
APPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES
ASPECT OF LOLTH
(From Miniatures Handbook)
Size: Type
Large outsider (evil, extraplanar, chaotic)
Hit Dice:
14d8+42 (105 hp)
Initiative:
+4
Speed:
Climb 20 ft. (4 squares), 40 ft. (8 squares)
AC:
+21 (-1 Size, +4 Dex, +8 Natural), touch 13, flatfooted 17
Base Attack/Grapple:
+14/+21
Attack:
Bite +18 melee (1d8+6)
Full Attack:
Bite +18 melee
Space/Reach:
10ft. / 10ft
Special Attacks:
Poison (Ex)
Special Qualities:
Damage Reduction (Su): 5/Epic, Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft., SR (Ex): 25, No Dual Nature (Ex)
Saves:
Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +17
Abilities:
Str 16, Dex 18, Con 17, Int 27, Wis 26, Cha 23
Skills:
Climb +11, Jump +7
Feats:
Blind-Fight, Improved Critical: Bite, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Finesse,
Weapon Focus: Bite, Weapon Specialization: Bite
Languages:
Abyssal, Draconic, Elven, Undercommon
Climate/Terrain:
Infinite Layers of the Abyss
Organization:
Solitary
Challenge Rating:
11
Treasure:
Coins: None, Goods: None, Items: None
Alignment:
Always Chaotic Evil
Advancement:
0-14 HD (Large)
This unnatural creature has the body of a great, gray
spider, but the head of a female elf [Drow] protrudes
from where the spider's head would be. It has long hair
and multifaceted eyes. The creature is 7 feet tall and at
least that long.
This aspect of Lolth expresses Lolth's dual nature.
Its form is one of Lolth's three normal forms (the other
two being a beautiful female drider and an alluring
female elf [Drow]).
Powerful Drow have been known to call aspects of
Lolth to serve as witnesses to agreements and pacts
between scheming noble houses. The presence of an
aspect makes such agreements less likely to be broken,
or so the theory goes.
An aspect of Lolth speaks Abyssal, Draconic,
Elven, and Undercommon.
COMBAT
An aspect of Lolth's natural weapons, as well as any
weapons it wields, are treated as chaotic-aligned and
evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage
reduction.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 20, initial and
secondary damage 1d10 Str. The DC is Constitution-
based.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 46
APPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES
DEMON, YOCHLOL
(From Monsters of Faerun)
Size: Type
Medium-Size/Large Outsider (Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Tanar’ri)
Hit Dice:
6d8+6 (33 hp)
Initiative:
+2 (Dex)
Speed:
30 ft., (climb 20 ft. in Spider Form)
AC:
Humanoid Form 17 (+2 Dex, +5 Drow chainmail) Touch 12, Flat Footed 15; Spider Form 16
(+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural) Touch 11, Flat Footed 14; Ooze Form 12 (+2 Dex) Touch 12,
Flat Footed 10; Gaseous Form 11 (+2 Dex, -1 Size) Touch 11, Flat Footed 9
Base Attack/Grapple:
+6/+10 (+6/+13 ooze)
Attack:
Humanoid Form: +10 melee (1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8 ranged (1d4/x2, Hand
Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus poison); Ooze Form: Tentacle +10
melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack:
Humanoid Form: +10/+5 melee (1d6+4/19-20x2, short sword) or +8/+3 ranged (1d4/x2,
Hand Crossbow); Spider Form: Bite +9 melee (1d8+6 plus poison); Ooze Form: 8 Tentacles
+10 melee (1d4+4)
Space/Reach:
Humanoid Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Spider Form 10 ft. / 5 ft.; Ooze Form 5 ft. / 5 ft.; Gaseous Form
5 ft. / 5 ft
Special Attacks:
Spell-like abilities, Psionics, Poison
Special Qualities:
Damage Reduction 5 / cold Iron and Good, Electricity Immunity, fire resistance 20,
Gaseous form, Gas, Immune to Critical Hits (Ooze form only), Immune to Sneak Attacks
(Ooze form only), Poison Immunity, SR 15, Telepathy
Saves:
Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7
Abilities:
Str 19, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 16
Skills:
Bluff +12, Climb (in Spider form only) +12, Concentration +7, Diplomacy +14, Intimidate
+14, Knowledge (Religion) +11, Listen +11, Spot +11
Feats:
Blind Fighting, Combat Casting
Languages:
Abyssal
Climate/Terrain:
Any land and underground
Organization:
Solitary or brood (2-5)
Challenge Rating:
5
Treasure:
None
Alignment:
Always Chaotic Evil
Advancement:
7-12 HD (Medium-Size)
Yochlol, also called Handmaidens of Lolth, serve the
Spider Queen in the Abyss and throughout the planes.
They exist only to serve their dark mistress in whatever
tasks she sets before them.
In their natural form, Yochlol are 6 foot heaps of
reeking ooze, with eight powerful tentacles and a
single glaring red eye. However, they can shift between
this form and three others: a beautiful woman of
human or elven race (usually a Drow), a Large
monstrous black spider, or a gaseous cloud roughly 10
feet tall and 5 feet in diameter.
Changing shape is a free action that a Yochlol can
perform as often as once per round. If a Yochlol wears
armor in its’ human or elven form, the armor falls away
when the Yochlol assumes any other form.
COMBAT
Yochlol on the Material Plane are most commonly
encountered in their humanoid or spider forms. If the
destruction of a mortal is their command from Lloth,
nothing short of utter destruction can stand in their
way.
Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): Yochlol can use the
following spell-like powers at will, casting them as 8th-
level sorcerers (save DCs are 16): Charm Person,
Darkness, Desecrate, Spider Climb, Stone Shape, Teleport
without Error and Web.
Psionics (Sp): In addition to their spell-like
abilities, Yochlol have psionic powers that they can use
at will as 8th-level sorcerers: Domination, Detect Thoughts,
and Mind Blank.
Spider Poison (Ex): Those hit by the bite attack
of a Yochlol in spider form must succeed at a Fortitude
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save (DC 14) or be injected with poison. The initial
damage is 1d6 points of temporary Constitution
damage, and the secondary damage is 2d6 points of
temporary Constitution damage.
Gaseous Form (Ex): Yochlol can transform
themselves into a large column of gas, 10 feet tall and 5
feet in diameter. This form is exactly like that produced
by a Gaseous Form spell. Creatures that come into
contact with the Yochlol in gaseous form are affected as
if by a Stinking Cloud spell. When in gaseous form,
Yochlol may communicate with their native plane (as if
using the Contact Other Plane spell).
Telepathy (Su): Yochlol can communicate
telepathically with any creature within 100 feet that
has a language.
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APPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES
HALF-FIEND DRAEGLOTH
(From Monsters of Faerun)
Size: Type
Large Outsider (Chaotic, Evil)
Hit Dice:
6d84+12 (39 hp)
Initiative:
+2 (Dex)
Speed:
30 ft.
AC:
16 (+2 Dex, —1 size, +5 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple:
+6/+16
Attack:
2 claws +11 melee (1d6+6)
Full Attack:
2 claws +11 melee (1d6+6) and bite +6 melee (1d8+3)
Space/Reach:
10 ft/10 ft.
Special Attacks:
Spell-Like abilities
Special Qualities:
Immunities, resistance, Drow abilities
Saves:
Fort 47, Ref +7, Will +5
Abilities:
Str 22, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 11
Skills:
Hide +7, Jump +11, Knowledge (Drow religion) +5, Listen +9, Move Silently +11, Search
+10, Spot +9
Feats:
Blind-Fight, Power Attack
Languages:
Abyssal and Undercommon
Climate/Terrain:
Underground
Organization:
Solitary
Challenge Rating:
5
Treasure:
None
Alignment:
Always chaotic evil
Advancement:
By character class
Formed in the unholy union between a newly ordained
Drow high priestess and a powerful demon, a draegloth
is a half-fiend terror that stalks the Underoerth.
While half-fiends of all varieties are not as rare as
one might hope, draegloths are perhaps the only
variety that is regularly, intentionally, even ritually,
created by a mortal race. They look like 8-foot tall Drow
elves, with inky black skin and a knotted mane of
yellowish-white hair. Their hides are thick and covered
with a fine coat of white hair, and their bodies are
powerfully muscled. Two of their four arms end in
powerful claws; the other two, much smaller, end in
normal hands that some of these creatures can use for
spellcasting. Their faces have a bestial cast, slightly
elongated to resemble a dog’s muzzle, and their mouths
are full of vicious sharp teeth. Draegloths have
darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
Combat: Draegloths delight in carnage and wade into
battle without fear. Though reasonably intelligent, they
are no geniuses, and are impatient in matters of
strategy They disdain weapons, for they love the
feeling of tearing opponents apart with their claws and
teeth.
Spell-Like Abilities: Draegloths can use the
following spell-like abilities once per day, as a 6th-level
sorcerer: dancing lights, desecrate, faerie fire, and unholy
blight. They can also cast darkness four times per day.
Immunities (Ex): Draegloths are immune to
poison and sleep-inducing spells and effects.
Resistances (Ex): Draegloths have acid, cold,
electricity, and fire resistance 20 and gain a +2 racial
bonus on their saving throws against enchantment
spells or effects.
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APPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES
HOUND OF THE GLOOM
(From Lords of Madness)
Size: Type
Large Aberration
Hit Dice:
12d8+84 (138 hp)
Initiative:
+2
Speed:
Climb 20 ft. (4 squares), 40 ft. (8 squares)
AC:
+24 (-1 Size, +2 Dex, +13 Natural), touch 11, flatfooted 22
Base Attack/Grapple:
+9/+19
Attack:
+14 Melee (Bite 2d6+6)
Full Attack:
+14 Melee (Bite 2d6+6/crit 20/x2) and +12 Melee (2 Claw 1d6+3/crit 20/x2) and +12 Melee
(2 Tentacle Rake 1d6+3/crit 20/x2);
Space/Reach:
10ft. / 5ft.
Special Attacks:
Improved Grab (Ex), Poison (Ex), Pounce (Ex)
Special Qualities:
Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft., Scent (Ex)
Saves:
Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +11
Abilities:
Str 22, Dex 15, Con 24, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10
Skills:
Balance +6, Climb +18, Jump +18, Listen +12, Move Silently +6, Spot +12
Feats:
Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Multiattack, Power Attack
Languages:
Climate/Terrain:
Any Underground
Organization:
Challenge Rating:
9
Treasure:
Alignment:
Usually Neutral Evil
Advancement:
13-14 HD (Large); 15-36 HD (Huge)
This powerful quadruped vaguely resembles a huge
dog or bear. Its massive, hairless body ripples with
extraordinary musculature. Its hide is sleek and milky-
white in color, and bony plates cover its head and
protect its eyes. Long tentacles ring the head like a
lion's mane. Two of the tentacles, longer than the
others, end in oddly humanlike hands.
Hounds of the gloom remain a mystery. No
records of appearances by such creatures go back
further than ten years. Since then, sightings have
become more numerous each year. Fortunately, the
beasts are still rare in most regions.
Sages speculate that the creatures might be distant
relatives
of
displacer
beasts
that
lived
deep
underground, and only within the last decade moved
close enough to the surface to encounter civilized races
or even the subterranean-dwelling dwarves. Whether a
desire for fresh hunting grounds or simply an
opportunity to indulge their base curiosity resulted in
the hounds moving toward the surface of the world,
they seem here to stay.
Hounds are aggressive and fierce, but they are not
dumb animals. When hunting, a hound makes use of
terrain to gain any possible advantage. They are
normally solitary, but mated pairs have been
encountered. These work together to kill or drive off
any threats to their young. Despite the danger
presented by such fearsome parents, some of the more
evil subterranean races have taken up the practice of
capturing young hounds to raise and train. Specifically,
the neogi, the Drow, the grell, and the mind flyers all
see a use in the powerful beasts. If a pup is taken young
enough, it accepts its new world easily, especially if it is
well fed and allowed to fight. Some underground races
have also trained hounds as gladiatorial beasts to fight
and die in arenas.
An average hound of the gloom weighs about
1,000 pounds. Hounds understand Undercommon but
do not speak any humanoid language (although they
can converse with each other in their own language).
COMBAT
Hounds ambush victims by leaping directly into melee.
They use their natural climbing ability to reach a point
above their target, then leap down in a deadly pounce
from above. The creatures attack with bite, foreclaws,
and the two larger tentacles surrounding their heads,
which are much longer than the others. These two
tentacles have a reach of 10 feet and end in five-
fingered hands that look almost identical to human
hands, except they have strong, sharp claws instead of
nails.
Once engaged, a hound uses its bite and claw
attacks against a single foe. A target that withstands
several blows or one that deals the hound a significant
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 50
amount of damage is the target of the hound's poisoned
hands.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the
hound must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then
attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking attacks of opportunity.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 23, initial and
secondary damage 1d8 Dex. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Pounce (Ex): If a hound of the gloom charges a
foe, it can make a full attack, including two tentacle
attacks.
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APPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW CREATURES
SPELLWARPED CREATURE
(From Monster Manual III)
"Spellwarped” is an inherited template that can be
added to any corporeal aberration, animal, dragon, fey,
giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid
plant or vermin (referred to hereafter as the base
creature).
A spellwarped creature uses all the base creature's
statistics and abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: The creature's type changes to
aberration. Do not recalculate the creature's HD, BAB,
saves or skill points if its type changes. The creature
gains the augmented subtype if necessary. Size is
unchanged.
Armor Class: Natural armor bonus improves by 2
(stacks with any natural armor bonus the base creature
has).
Special Qualities: A spellwarped creature has all the
special qualities of the base creature, plus the following
special qualities.
SR (Ex): A spellwarped creature gains SR 11+its HD. If
the creature already has SR, use the greater of the two
values.
Spell Absorption(Su): Whenever a spell fails to
penetrate a spellwarped creature's SR, the creature
gains one of the following benefits, chosen at the time
that the spell resolves.
Might: The spellwarped creature gains a +4
enhancement bonus to Strength for 1 minute
Agility: The spellwarped creature gains a +4
enhancement bonus to Dexterity for 1 minute
Endurance: The spellwarped creature gains a +4
enhancement bonus to Constitution for 1 minute
Life: The spellwarped creature gains temporary hit
points equal to 5 x level of the failed spell
Speed: The spellwarped creature's base speed
increases by a number of feet equal to 5 x level of the
failed spell
resistance:
The
spellwarped
creature
gains
resistance 10 to one energy type (acid, cold, electricity,
fire or sonic).
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows:
Str +4, Dex +2, Con +4, Int +4.
Challenge Rating: HD 3 or less as base creature; HD 4
to 10, as base creature +1; HD 11 or more as base
creature +2.
Alignment: Usually evil (any). Spellwarped creatures
are typically selfish and cruel.
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NEW RULES – NEW CLASS
ACOLYTE OF THE SKIN
(From Complete Arcane)
Level
Base
Attack
Bonus
Fort
Save
Ref
Save
Will
Save
Special
Spells per day/ Spells Known
1st
+0
+2
+0
+2
Wear fiend/poison 1/day
--
2nd
+1
+3
+0
+3
Flame resistant
+1 existing spell class
3rd
+2
+3
+1
+3
Fiendish glare
--
4th
+3
+4
+1
+4
--
+1 existing spell class
5th
+3
+4
+1
+4
Skin adaptation/poison 2/day
--
6th
+4
+5
+2
+5
Cold resistant
+1 existing spell class
7th
+5
+5
+2
+5
Glare of the pit
--
8th
+6
+6
+2
+6
--
+1 existing spell class
9th
+6
+6
+3
+6
Summon fiend
--
10th
+7
+7
+3
+7
Fiendish symbiosis
+1 existing spell class
The temptation of power drives some people to
extreme lengths, regardless of the consequences.
Replacing your own skin with that of a living demon is
a goal that most couldn’t even conceive of, let alone
consider. But this ghastly fate is exactly what some
spellcasters seek in their desperate quest.
The Ritual of Bonding is a blasphemy that was
long ago eradicated from most arcane libraries, but a
few barely legible copies—or at least references
thereto—survive along with promises of great power.
Spellcasters who happen upon such documents can
choose to destroy or ignore the find, but the
temptation has already occurred. Those who give in
can eventually stumble upon the complete ritual,
usually through extended contact with one or more
summoned fiends that are all too eager to share their
terrible knowledge.
The Ritual of Bonding is painful and not to be
undertaken lightly. The ritual requires 10 rounds from
initiation to completion, and, once begun, nothing can
halt its progress. The fiendish essence consumes the
caster’s own skin, an agonizing process that deals 1d4
points of damage in each round of the ritual—wise
candidates keep some cure potions on hand. At the end
of the rite, the acolyte’s skin sports an oily, almost
unnoticeable sheen. However, as he gains additional
levels in the prestige class, his skin darkens, sprouts
spikes, and gradually gives him a fiendish visage. The
fiendish essence also begins to whisper foul secrets to
its wearer, urging him to evil. (The wearer can accept or
ignore this advice according to his temperament.)
Acolytes of the skin are ill suited for any position
other than one that provides temporal power.
Although NPC acolytes might sometimes serve more
powerful evil characters as sinister captains, they would
rather be calling the shots. They prefer to remain safely
ensconced in well-defended fortresses of evil, though
sometimes an acolyte might lead an expedition to
retrieve a rumored tome of evil arcane magic or other
artifact of malign power.
Adaptation: Almost any setting can accommodate
the notion of those who go to any length to grab power
for themselves, even so far as to bind demons to their
own flesh. If your world does not include demons, per
se, you could link this class to some other malign force
or race of supernatural evil creatures instead of
demons. For instance, an acolyte of the skin could be a
scholar who unearths an ancient treatise on the topic of
humanoid interspecies blending.
Hit Die: d8.
Requirements: To qualify in become an acolyte of the
skin, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any nongood.
Skills: Knowledge (the planes) 6 ranks.
Spells or Spell-Like Abilities: Caster level 5th.
Special: Must have made peaceful contact with a
summoned evil outsider.
Special: Must undergo the Ritual of Bonding (see
above).
CLASS SKILLS
The acolyte of the skin’s class skills (and the key ability
for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int),
Iritimidate
(Cha),
Knowledge
(arcana)
(Int),
Knowiedge (the planes) (Int), Profession (Wis), and
Spellcraft (Int),
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
CLASS FEATURES
All the following are class features of the acolyte of the
skin prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Acolytes of the skin
gain no proftciency with any weapon or armor.
Spells per Day/Spells Known: At each even-numbered
level, an acolyte of the skin gains new spells per day
(and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also
gained a level in a spellcasting class in which he
belonged before adding the prestige class level. He
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does not; however, gain any other benefit a character of
that class would have gained (improved chance of
turning or destroying undead, a bonus feat and so on).
If he had more than one speilcasting class hefore
becoming an acolyte of the skin, he must decide to
which class to add each level for the purpose of
determining spells per day and spelis known.
Wear Fiend (Su): An acolyte of the skin
summons the essence of a fiend and wears it like a
second skin. The bonded fiendish skin is for all intents
and purposes the characters own. It increases the
acolyte of the skin’s natural armor bonus by 1 and
grants a +2 inherent bonus to Dexterity. The acolyte
also gains darkvision out to 60 feet.
The DM determines the actual nature of the skin, be it
demonic, devilish, or from some other fiendish
creature.
Poison (Sp): An acolyte of the skin can use poison
once per day as an 8th-level caster. The save DC is 14 +
the acolytes primary spellcasring ability modifier
(Intelligence for wizards, Charisma for sorcerers and
warlocks, Wisdom for clerics, and so forth). At 5th
level, an acolyte can use this ability two times per day.
Flame Resistant (Ex): At 2nd level and higher,
the fiendish skin binds more tightly, granting an
acolyte resistance to fire 10.
Fiendish Glare (Su): From 3rd level on, an
acolyte of the skin has the supernatural ability to
unnerve opponents with a ferocious glare once per day.
This is not a gaze attack, and the target need not meet
the acolytes eyes or even see the acolyte (although the
acolyte must have line of effect to the target). Glaring is
a standard action that affects any creature the acolyte
can see within 100 feet. The target becomes shaken for
10 minutes, and must also attempt a Will save (DC 10 +
acolyte’s class level + Cha modifier) or be stunned. The
duration of the stun effect depends on the target’s hit
points:
50 or Iess
10 rounds
51 to 100
3 rounds
101 to 150
2 rounds
151 or more
1 round
Fiendish glare is a mind-affecting fear effect.
Skin Adaptation (Su): By 5th level, an acolytes
skin and its wearer have grown more comfortable
together, as if they had never been separate. The
increase to natural armor granted by the fiendish skin
improves to +2, the acolyte gains a +2 inherent bonus to
Constitution, and the acolyte’s darkvision is effective
out to 120 feet.
Cold Resistant (Ex): Beginning at 6th level, an
acolyte has resistance to cold 10.
Glare of the Pit (Su): At 7th level and higher, an
acolyte has the supernatural ability to produce two rays
from his eyes. Once per day as a standard action, he can
project two rays (one from each eye) with a range of
100 feet. Each ray requires a ranged touch attack to hit
and deals 8d6 points of fire damage. The rays can be
aimed at two different targets within range, but the
target of each ray must be designated simultaneously.
Summon Fiend (Sp): M 9th level, an acolyte
learns to draw on another power of his fiendish skin. If
the skin is demonic, once per day he can summon a
babau; if devilish, once per day he can summon a chain
devil The summoned creature does the acolytes
bidding, but it automatically returns whence it came
after 1 hour. A summoned creature cannot use any
innate summoning abilities it might have. An acolyte’s
caster level for this ability is equal to his spellcasters
level.
Fiendish Symbiosis (Ex): At 10th level, the
fiendish skin and acolyte become one, and only final
death can separate them. The acolytes type changes to
outsider. Additionally, an acolyte of this level gains
damage reduction 10/good. Unlike other outsiders, an
acolyte can be raised or resurrected.
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APPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW FEATS
ABERRATION BLOOD [ABERRANT]
(from Lords of Madness)
One of your ancestors was an aberration and has passed
the taint of its aberrant physiology down through the
generations to you. This taint manifests physically in
your appearance in some noticeable way.
Prerequisite: Humanoid
Benefit: You gain a physical feature that grants
you a racial bonus on one type of check; once you select
the check to which this bonus applies (as well as the
corresponding feature) you cannot change it later. The
bonus must be chosen from the following list:
Aberrant Feature
Benefit
Bulging eyes
+2 bonus on Spot Checks
Flexible limbs
+2 bonus on Grapple checks
Segmented eyes
+3 bonus on Search checks
Slimy skin
+4 bonus on Escape Artist
checks
Sticky fingers
+3 bonus on Climb checks
Tail
+4 bonus on Balance Checks
Webbed hands
+4 bonus on Swim checks
Special: you can select this feat more than once.
Each time you select this feat, choose a different
aberrant feature and gain the bonus associated with it.
(Lords of Madness pp xx)
BEASTIAL HIDE [ABERRANT]
(from Lords of Madness)
Your skin is thicker, scalier, or furrier than normal.
Prerequisites: Aberration Blood
Benefit: Your natural armor bonus to AC
improves by 1 for every two aberrant feats you possess.
CHAIN SPELL
(from Complete Arcane)
You cast spells that arc to another target in addition to
the primary one.
Prerequisites: Any Meta-magic feat.
Benefit: Any spell that specifies a single target and
has a range greater than touch can be chained so as to
affect that primary target normally, then arc to a
number of secondary targets equal to your caster level
(maximum 20). Each arc affects one secondary target
chosen by you, all of which must be within 30 feet of
the primary target, and none of which can be affected
more than once. You can choose to affect fewer
secondary targets than the maximum.
If the chained spell deals damage, the secondary
targets each take half as much as the primary target
(rounded down) and can attempt Reflex saving throws
for half damage (whether the original spell allows the
original target a save or not). For spells that do not deal
damage, the save DC against the arching effects are
reduced by 4. For example, if a 10th level wizard
normally casts cause fear at DC14, a chained cause fear
could target a goblin chieftain at DC 14 and up to 10 of
his nearby guards at DC 10. A chained spell uses up a
spell slot three levels higher than the spell’s actually
level.
DEEPSPAWN [ABERRANT]
The abnormalities of your aberration-tainted heritage
grow more pronounced. Your body undergoes a
shocking degeneration into something that is
strikingly inhuman.
Prerequisites: Aberration Blood, one other
aberrant feat.
Benefit: Two short but powerful tentacles sprout
from your waist. You gain two tentacle natural attacks
that each deal 1d4 points of damage (for a medium
creature) plus your Strength modifier. The tentacle
attacks are treated as primary weapons.
You can attack with weapons and also make
tentacle attacks, but your tentacle attacks are treated as
secondary weapons: The attacks are made with a -5
penalty on the attack roll, and you add only 1/2 your
Strength bonus to the damage roll.
You gain +2 racial bonus on grapple checks. (Lords
of Madness pp xx.)
DIVINE SPELL POWER
(from Complete Divine)
You can channel positive or negative energy to
enhance your divine Spellcasting ability.
Prerequisites: Ability to turn or rebuke undead,
able to cast 1st level divine spells.
Benefit: You can spend a turn or rebuke attempt
as a free action and roll a turning check (with a special
+3 bonus plus any other modifiers you would normally
apply to your turning check). Treat the results of the
turning check as a modifier to your caster level on the
next divine spell you cast in that round.
For example, if a cleric used this feat and rolled a
16 on his turning check, he would add a +2 bonus to his
caster level for the next divine spell he casts in the
round. Had he rolled an 8, he would instead apply a —
1 penalty to his caster level for the next divine spell he
cast in the round.
If you do not cast a divine spell before your next
turn, you lose the effect of the check result. This feat
has no effect on your arcane spellcasting ability.
DOMAIN SPONTANEITY
(from Complete Divine)
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Page 55
You are so familiar with one of your domains that you
can convert other prepared spells into spells from that
domain.
Prerequisite: Ability to turn or rebuke undead.
Benefit: Each time you take this feat, choose a
domain that you have access to. You may now convert
prepared divine spells into any spell from that domain.
You expend a spell of equal or higher level, as well as
expending one of your daily turn undead attempts.
This works just as good clerics spontaneously cast
prepared spells as cure spells.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times.
Each rime you take the feat, it applies to a new domain.
INHUMAN REACH [ABERRANT]
Your arms elongate, allowing you to touch the floor
with your hands. In addition, you can bend them in
strange and unnatural ways…. The arms may vary in
appearance, perhaps seeming scaly and snakelike, or
slimy like tentacles; conversely, they may resemble
normal but longer arms with a second elbow joint.
Unless your wear a large cloak to conceal these
deformities, you are disturbing to behold.
Prerequisites: Aberrant blood.
Benefit: You gain an additional 5 feat of reach. For
most Small and Medium creatures, this benefit
increases natural reach to 10 feet. If you already have a
reach of more than 5 feet for some reason, this feat
extends your reach by another 5 feet. As described on
page of 112 of the Player’s Handbook, a reach weapon
doubles your normal reach; for example, if you have
this feat an you wield a longspear, you can attack
targets 15 or 20 feet away. Your elongated arms also
grant you a +2 bonus on Climb checks.
Special: Due to the disfigured nature of your new
limbs, you take a -1 penalty on all melee attack rolls.
IMPROVED TOUGHNESS (SPECIAL)
(from Complete Warrior)
You are significantly tougher than normal.
Prerequisite: Base Fortitude save bonus +2.
Benefit: You gain a number of hit points equal to
your current Hit Dice. Each time you get a HD (such as
by gaining a level), you gain 1 additional hit point. If
you lose a HD, (such as by losing a level) you lose 1 hit
point permanently.
Special:
A
fighter
may
select
Improved
Toughness as one of his fighter’s bonus feats.
PHALANX FIGHTING
(From Complete Warrior)
You are trained in fighting in close formation with
your allies.
Prerequisites: Proficiency with a heavy shield,
base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: If you are using a heavy shield and a light
weapon, you gain a +1 bonus to your Armor Class. In
addition, if you are within 5 feet of an ally who is also
using a heavy shield and light weapon and who also has
this feat, you may form a shield wall. A shield wail
provides an extra +2 bonus to AC and a +1 bonus on
Reflex saves to all eligible characters participating in
the shield wall. For example, a single character with
this feat gains a +1 bonus to his AC. if two or more
characters who all know this feat are adjacent, they
each gain an extra +2 bonus to AC (for a total of +3) and
a +1 bonus on Reflex saves.
SHIELDMATE
(From Miniatures Handbook)
You protect those near you with your shield.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +1.
Benefits: When you are using a shield with which
you are proficient, friendly creatures adjacent to you
get a +1 shield bonus to their Armor Class. If you are
using a tower shield, those creatures get a +2 shield
bonus.
The creatures lose the bonus if they are no longer
adjacent to you, if you’re grappling, or if you’re
stunned, paralyzed, or otherwise unable to take actions.
This shield bonus doesn’t stack with other shield
bonuses the allied creatures may have.
Special: A fighter may select Shieldmate as one of
his fighter bonus feats.
SUDDEN EMPOWER
(From Complete Arcane)
You can cast a spell to greater effect
Prerequisite: Any metamagic feat.
Benefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of
the Empower Spell feat to any spell you cast without
increasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it
ahead of time. You can still use Empower Spell
normally if you have it.
SUDDEN MAXIMIZE
(From Complete Arcane)
You can cast a spell to maximum effect without special
preparation.
Prerequisite: Any metamagic feat.
Benefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of
the Maximize Spell feat to any spell you cast without
increasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it
ahead of time. You can still use Maximize Spell
normally if you have it.
SUDDEN WIDEN
(From Complete Arcane)
You can increase a spell’s area without special
preparation.
Benefit: Once per day, you can apply the effect of
the Widen Spell feat to any spell you cast without
increasing the level of the spell or specially preparing it
ahead of time. You can still use Widen Spell normally if
you have it.
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 56
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 57
APPENDIX FIVE: NEW RULES − NEW ITEMS
SAFEWING EMBLEM
This small, feathered token can be worn or carried. If
the owner falls at least 5 feet, the emblem becomes a set
of feathery wings that allow her to use a feather fall
effect to descend safely from any height up to 180 feet.
The emblem requires no activation. When the owner
lands, the token disappears, its magic expended.
Faint Transmutation; CL 3; Craft Wondrous Item,
feather fall; Price: 250 gp. (RotW173)
BLINDFOLD OF TRUE DARKNESS
This black silky blindfold grants the blind sight ability
with a range of 60 feet (See Special Qualities in the
Monster Manual). Because the wearer’s eyes are
protected, he is also immune to gaze attacks, spells, or
effects that rely on sight. Wearing the blindfold takes
up the same space as goggles. The wearer cannot use
vision in any way while wearing the blindfold.
Caster Level: 3rd, Prerequisite: Craft Wondrous Item,
see invisibility; Market Price: 9,000 gp; Weight: -
(A&EG130).
BOW OF FORCE
This +2 mighty (+3) composite longbow imbues each arrow
shot from it with magical force. Arrows shot from the
bow of force become force attacks that have no miss
chance against incorporeal targets and bypass damage
reduction, but they do not damage creatures immune
to force effects.
Caster Level: 9th; Prerequisite: Craft Magic Arms and
Armor, magic missile; Market Price: 32,700 gp; Cost to
Create: 16,700 + 1,280 XP. (A&EG102)
BANDED MAIL OF LUCK
Ten 100-gp gems adorn this +3 banded mail. Once per
week, the armor allows its wearer to require that an
attack roll made against him be re-rolled. He must take
whatever consequences come from the second roll,
since not all luck is good. The wearer’s players must
decide whether to have the attack roll re-rolled before
damage is rolled.
Strong enchantment; CL 12th; Craft Magic Arms
and Armor, bless; Price: 18,900; Cost: 10,150 + 700 XP.
(DMG220).
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 58
PLAYER HANDOUT ONE: THE NOTE
You are needed to aid your country. Come to
the Obsidian Conclave in four hours. Bring
friends. Tell the guards that you have an
appointment with the Swan.
�-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAYER HANDOUT TWO: SUCESSFUL SPOT CHECK
As you look closer at the woman in the cloak, you can make out that her features seem much darker than those of
anyone that you have seen before. In fact, her skin appears to be as dark as ebony and her eyes seem to glow red in the
shadows of her hood. She moves slightly and you notice that her hair is pure white and it dawns on you that this person
is a Drow!
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 59
PLAYER HANDOUT THREE: VISUAL AIDS
To the DM: please cut out these pictures for your players to have an idea of what they are looking at.
Symbol of Vhaeraun
Handmaiden of Lolth (Yochlol)
Desmodu
War Bat
Crest of House Teken’afin
Half Fiend Draegloth
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 60
PLAYER HANDOUT FIVE: THE NOTE FROM SHI’RAENA
Dear Lord Underley,
By now, your adventurers have returned to you with the news of
their failure. I expected they would not succeed, but you seemed to
place such faith in them.
In any event, I have the assassins you seek in my possession and
am willing to bargain for them.
Your County gave Ventnor castle to the Duergar, what will
you give to us?
Sincerely,
Shi’raena Teken’afin
URC6-06 Enemy Of My Enemy
Page 61
| textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/County of Urnst/596/Normal Scenarios/URC6-06 - Enemy Of My Enemy (APL 2-12)/URC6-06 - Enemy Of My Enemy.pdf |
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game designed
by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without permission of Wizards of the
Coast. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 SYSTEM license, please visit www.wizards.com/d20.
This is an official RPGA® play document. To find out more about the RPGA and to learn more on how you can sanction and run DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS game events of all sizes, visit our website at www.rpga.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, GREYHAWK, LIVING GREYHAWK, D&D REWARDS, RPGA, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and
Monster Manual are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc, in the US and other countries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the
United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written
permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely
coincidental. © 2005 Wizards of the Coast, Inc and the adventure author or authors.
Visit the LIVING GREYHAWK website at www.rpga.com.
For questions specific to this document and your region please e-mail your triad point of contact (POC) at [email protected]. For LIVING GREYHAWK
campaign questions email [email protected].
SHE6-01
Flesh Torn Asunder
A One-Round D&D® LIVING GREYHAWKTM
Sheldomar Valley Metaregional Adventure
Version 1.0
by Will Dover
Reviewer: Michael Moore, Sheldomar Triads Circle Reviewer: Steven Conforti
Playtesters: Katherine Akin, Robert Sean Harley, Doug LaVinge, Melanie Neumuller, Ryan White, Russ Yates
Murder here, murder there, murder everywhere. There is skullduggery afoot in the city of Hochoch as the bodies begin
to stack. A Sheldomar Valley metaregional adventure for APLs 6-14, and Part Two of the Turf War series.
Note: This adventure will be of particular interest to Knights of the Watch, Knights of Dispatch, wizards, and members
of roguish organizations. This adventure offers teamwork benefits. It is helpful to play SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned prior
to playing this adventure.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 1
RPGA SANCTIONED PLAY
Most likely you ordered this adventure as part of an
RPGA even from the RPGA website, or you received it
from your senior gamemaster. To play this adventure as
part of the LIVING GREYHAWK campaign—a worldwide,
ongoing D&D campaign set in the GREYHAWK setting—
you must sanction it as part of an RPGA event. This event
could be as elaborate as a big convention, or as simple as a
group of friends meeting at the DM’s house.
To sanction an RPGA event, you must be at least a
HERALD-LEVEL gamemaster. The person who sanctions
the event is called the senior gamemaster, and is in
charge of making sure the event is sanctioned before
play, runs smoothly on the date sanctioned, and then
reported back to the RPGA in a timely manner. The
person who runs the game is called the table Dungeon
Master (or usually just DM). Sometimes (and almost all
the time in the cases of home events) the senior
gamemaster is also the table DM. You don’t have to be a
HERALD-LEVEL GM to run this adventure if you are not
the senior GM.
By sanctioning and reporting this adventure you
accomplish a couple of things. First it is an official game,
and you can use the AR to advance your LIVING
GREYHAWK character. Second player and DMs gain
rewards for sanctioned RPGA play if they are members of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS program. Playing
this adventure is worth two (2) points.
This adventure retires from RPGA-sanctioned play
on December 31, 2007.
To learn more about the LIVING GREYHAWK
character creation and development, RPGA event
sanctioning, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS REWARDS, visit
the RPGA website at www.rpga.com.
PLAYERS READ NO FARTHER
If you are planning on playing this adventure, stop
reading now. The rest of the information in this
adventure is for the DM only. If you read farther than
this section, you’ll know too much about its challenges,
which kills the fun. Also, if you’re playing this adventure
as part of an RPGA-sanctioned event, reading beyond this
point makes you ineligible to do so.
PREPARING FOR PLAY
To get the most out of this adventure, you need copies of
the following D&D books: Player’s Handbook, Dungeon
Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Throughout this adventure, text in bold italics provides
player information for you to paraphrase or read aloud
when
appropriate.
Sidebars
contain
important
information for you, including special instruction on
running the adventure. Information on nonplayer
characters (NPCs) and monsters appear in abbreviated
form in the adventure text. Full information on NPCs
and monsters are given in the Appendices.
Along with this adventure you’ll find a RPGA Table
Tracking sheet. If you’re playing this adventure as part of
an RPGA-sanctioned event, complete and turn in this
sheet to your senior GM directly after play. You’ll also
find a LIVING GREYHAWK Adventure Record (AR).
LIVING GREYHAWK LEVELS
OF PLAY
Because players bring their own characters to LIVING
GREYHAWK games, this adventure’s challenges are
proportionate to the modified average character level of
the PCs participating in the adventure. To determine this
modified Average Party Level (APL) follow the steps
below:
1.
Determine the character level for each of the PCs
participating in the adventure.
2.
If PCs bring animals that have been trained for
combat (most likely dogs trained for war), other than
those brought by virtue of a class ability (such as
animal companions, familiars paladin’s mounts) or
the warhorse of a character with the Mounted
Combat feat, use the sidebar chart to determine the
number of levels you add to the sum of step one. Add
each character’s animals separately. A single PC may
only bring four or fewer animals of this type, and
animals with different CRs are added separately.
3.
Sum the results of step 1 and 2, and divide by the
number of characters playing in the adventure.
Round to the nearest whole number.
4.
If you are running a table of six PCs, add one to that
average.
Throughout this adventure, APLs categorize the level of
challenge the PCs face. APLS are given in even-
numbered increments. If the APL of your group falls on
an odd number, ask them before the adventure begins
whether they would like to play a harder or easier
adventure. Based on their choice, use either the higher or
the lower adjacent APL.
APL also affects the amount of experience and gold a
PC can gain at the end of the adventure. If a player
character is three character levels or more either higher
or lower than the APL at which this adventure is being
played, that character receives only one-half of the
experience points and gold for the adventure. This
simulates the fact that either the PC was not challenged
as much as normal or relied on help by higher-level
characters to reach the objectives.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 2
Furthermore, a PC who is four or more levels higher
than the highest APL supported by the adventure may
not play the adventure.
LIVING GREYHAWK adventures are designed for APL
2 and higher. Four or five 1st-level characters may find the
challenge of an APL 2 adventure difficult. Suggest the
following to these groups to help increase their chances
of success:
1.
Enlist a sixth player.
2.
Advise characters to buy riding dogs to help protect
them, and fight for them.
TIME UNITS AND UPKEEP
This is a standard one-round Metaregional adventure, set
in the Sheldomar Valley. Characters native to the
Sheldomar Valley pay one Time Unit per round, all
others pay two Time Units per round.
Adventurer’s Standard Upkeep costs 12 gp per Time
Unit. Rich Upkeep costs 50 gp per Time Unit. Luxury
Upkeep costs 100 gp per Time Unit. Characters that fail
to pay at least Standard Upkeep will retain temporary
ability damage until the next adventure, must buy new
spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may
suffer other in-game penalties (or possibly gain in-game
benefits) as may be detailed in this adventure.
A character who does not pay for at least Standard
Upkeep may also avoid the above-described penalties by
living off the wild. If the character possesses four or
more ranks in the Survival skill and succeeds at a Survival
check (DC 20), the character will heal temporary ability
damage as if he or she paid for Standard Upkeep, may
refill spell component pouches and healer’s kits, and may
restock up to 20 arrows or bolts if the character has at
least four ranks in Craft (bowmaking). The player is
allowed to Take 10 on this roll.
More information about Lifestyle and Upkeep can
be found in the “Lifestyle and Upkeep” section of
Chapter 3 of the LIVING GREYHAWK Campaign Sourcebook.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
The Triumvirate who got the Cup Insidious in SHE5-04 A
Cup O’erturned are now going for the second piece needed
for their ritual, which they believe will bring the deity
Vecna back to the Prime Material Plane. What they want
is a piece of undead flesh that they believe to be from
Vecna himself. Hired agents have found such a piece
from the lower part of the Rushmoors in Keoland. The
problem comes in getting such an item to Hochoch, the
center of the conspiracy. The Knights are already
suspicious that something is up from the Cup incident so
the Triumvirate is going to need a diversion to get the
flesh through. This diversion should be sufficient to tie
up the Knights long enough for the item to get through.
Their opportunity has come in the form of the
Keoish Regent Jessa’s order for the Knights of the Watch
to evacuate Fortress Goarada. One of the Flan Knights
who died in the raid on that fortress, Watcher Steffan the
Just, requested that the Knights cremate his body and
scatter the ashes on the banks of the Realstream near
Hochoch in Geoff. The Knights cremated her remains as
requested, but they could not return the ashes to
Hochoch because of the fallout at Goarada. Instead, the
Knights gathered the ashes into a simple clay urn that
would not draw attention, in case some Keolander got
overzealous and wanted to hurt the Knights by
desecrating the ashes. When the Knights evacuated the
fortress, the urn containing the ashes went with them.
Before the urn left Goarada, however, the
Triumvirate bribed a Keoish soldier to place the piece of
flesh in the urn so that the ashes would conceal it. An
undead agent named Nycos Dephos would then get the
urn and retrieve the piece. Unfortunately, an ambitious
rogue associated with the Midnight Ravens got word of
the urn, stole it, and went to fence it to a known
Midnight Ravens fence named Tywyn the Broker. The
Triumvirate then ordered their agent in Hochoch to
retrieve the urn. Being a vile undead, this agent killed
two others, a Midnight Raven named Xavier Riverbend
before he killed Tywyn and a Corporation operative
named Bethany Grenda after (both of whom the PCs may
have met if they played SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned), to
conceal the true nature of the crime and to escalate the
tensions between the Midnight Ravens and The
Corporation. It is just after the murder of Grenda that the
PCs enter the adventure.
THE MIDNIGHT RAVENS
Very little is known about the Midnight Ravens except
that which has been reported by a few brave adventurers.
The Midnight Ravens seem to be a Thieves Guild of some
sort, but suspicions are that their influence goes beyond
# of Animals
Mundane
Animals Effect on
APL
1
2
3
4
1/4 & 1/6
0
0
0
1
1/3 & 1/2
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
4
5
3
3
4
5
6
4
4
6
7
8
5
5
7
8
9
6
6
8
9
10
CR of Animal
7
7
9
10
11
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 3
that scope. The few reported contacts with the guild
indicate that they have a great deal of information, and
they demand gold or favors in exchange for sharing it.
The leader of the guild is unknown, but reports indicate
dealings with someone using a female voice and
identifying herself as the Aspect of Knowledge.
The Midnight Ravens claim to be interested in
knowledge, apparently to use for future power grabs.
When asked, they did not admit to committing the
normal nefarious acts of a thieves’ guild, but they did not
deny those acts either. The only thing that the Midnight
Ravens vehemently denied is being engaged with murder
or other violent activities. As a result, many suspect that
they are mainly into smuggling, protection rackets, and
burglary. Unfortunately, no evidence has ever surfaced
regarding the group’s involvement in a crime.
Rumors have their base of operations in Hochoch.
However, there are other rumors that indicate that the
Midnight Ravens did not want to have anything to do
with the new government and have departed the city.
Which is true is one of the secrets exposed in this
adventure.
THE CORPORATION
The Corporation is a group of rogues and other like
individuals working inside Gran March. Because of the
lawful
and militaristic nature of their nation’s
government, The Corporation takes great pains to keep
their existence the subject of superstition and legend.
The group is itself a lawful organization with numerous
different tiers. At the lower levels are (in ascending
importance) associates, members, and senior members.
PCs who are members of the Corporation are typically
from these lower ranks.
Recently, a faction of The Corporation, led by their
head of security, engaged in risky and public ventures,
such as trying to assassinate Commandant Vrianian,
which brought light to the organization. The main body
subsequently allowed that arm to be discovered and to
take the fall for all of their activities. Thus, the authorities
believe that they destroyed this new incarnation of the
Corporation, while the majority of the organization
remained secretly intact. Members (not associate
members) should know this operation as the Second
Divestiture.
The Corporation has since gone back to its behind-
the-scenes illicit activities. While Hochoch has changed
hands yet again, they see the changes as an opportunity
for them to gain some territory that would free them
from Gran March interference. They are thus interested
in taking over most, if not all, of the Hochoch
underworld.
THE SITUATION IN HOCHOCH (AS OF
EARLY CY 596)
In CY 594, Commandant Magnus Vrianian claimed the
Gyri city of Hochoch and the rest of the area known as
“the Cup” in return for the Gran March's continued
support of Geoff's war effort against the giants. The Cup
consists of the Gyric cantrev of Arweth and half of the
cantrev of Rhwng yr Coed. His reasoning was that the
giants took the city and the land from Geoff and that
Gran March forces subsequently liberated the area from
them. Geoff’s Regent, Sierra Blackblade, at the time
reluctantly agreed to Vrianian’s terms and, due to the
chaos in the Keoish court, this action went unchallenged.
In early CY 595, however, Hugo of Geoff, Grand
Imperial Wyvern and head of the Knights of the Watch
and the Knights of Dispatch, asked Commandant
Vrianian to turn over the Cup to the Knights for their
use. Vrianian, himself a Watcher and by oath subordinate
to Hugo, had little choice but to grant Hugo his wish.
While the new Regent of Keoland voiced her displeasure,
there was little that the Court of the Land could do until
the previously recognized noble that ruled the area,
Padrig ap Bedwin, provides a timely challenge to the
change. This change in leadership thus has stood so far.
Gaining a city, however, is not the same as helping it
to grow and flourish. Thus, Hugo and his Knights are
working towards establishing Hochoch as a strong trade
and defense center. To this end, the Knights have invited
many merchants from all over the Sheldomar Valley to
establish businesses and commercial traffic in Hochoch.
Hugo knows, however, that the economic future of
Hochoch and the Cup depend on his Knights
establishing law and order in a region only recently freed
from the threat of attack from the war and full of
freedom-loving Gyri. Whether or not the lawful Knights
can succeed in helping Hochoch to flourish, while
keeping their own agendas and frayed reputations afloat,
is the question.
The beginning of CY 596 still sees Hochoch in
transition. With the victory of the allied forces in
neighboring Geoff, merchant trade is beginning to
flourish under the new government. Many of the city
guard, however, have left the city to move to the
Downlands. Thus, the Knights are not quite equipped to
maintain their normal law and order in Hochoch.
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
Introduction: Bethany Grenda recruits the PCs to help
investigate some incidents in Hochoch that are affecting
her business. Those who played SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned
receive a note playing off of this prior relationship. Those
who did not get a note based on their reputation as
adventurers.
Encounter 1: The Third Body: While waiting at The
Boar’s Other Knuckle for the meeting, the PCs hear a
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 4
crowd gathered around the body of Bethany Grenda
lying dead in the street. Dephos set a magical trap on the
body. Only a thorough search triggers the trap.
Encounter 2: Cleaning up the Mess: A group of city
guards led by a Knight of the Watch arrives. After
questioning them, the Knight asks them to investigate
this murder as a favor for the city government, who is
still rather short-staffed for doing this sort of
investigative work. She tells them about the murders of
Tywyn and Riverbend and asks for their help in
investigating all three murders.
Encounter 3: The Second Body: The party investigates
the murder of Tywyn the Broker and finds out about the
urn from his second set of books.
Encounter 4: The First Body: The party investigates
Riverbend’s murder and finds out that Riverbend
answered to the Aspect of Sight, a leader in the Midnight
Ravens.
Encounter 5: Word on the Street: The PCs may want
to use Gather Information or Knowledge (local) to find
out more background on anything they have learned.
This encounter provides those answers via an encounter
with their old friend, the elven merchant Parwyn
Amastacia.
Encounter 6: From a Raven’s View: At some point, if
the party has a Midnight Raven PC, the party may want
to contact the Midnight Ravens to confirm what they
find out from the murders of Tywyn and Riverbend and
get more background on the Ravens’ side of the conflict.
They find out that the Aspect of Sight is trying to
maintain control of the Midnight Ravens’ operations in
Hochoch on his own. This encounter provides those
sorts of answers.
Encounter 7: Within the Body Corporate: If the party
has a Corporation PC, the party may also want to seek out
someone in The Corporation who can shed some light on
Tywyn and Grenda’s murders. This encounter deals with
those issues.
Encounter 8: Knights: Based on investigating Tywyn’
murder, the PCs may want to revisit the Knights to find
out more about the urn and what they have learned since
the last adventure in this series.
Encounter 9: Down among the Dead: Fearing that the
PCs may be getting too close, the Triumvirate asks
Dephos to kill the PCs in a nearby cemetery, using the
now-empty urn as bait. He does this using traps provided
by one of the Triumvirate and some undead that he has
found on his travels through Sterich.
Encounter 10: The Assassin: Having weakened the
party with the traps and undead, Dephos himself now
comes to finish them off. He is, of course, confident
enough in his abilities that he tells the party of the
Triumvirate and their plans as they fight.
Conclusion: The party learns that there is a group called
the Triumvirate who has acerbated the situation in
Hochoch’s underground in order to gather together
relics of power from the Occluded Empire. They also
learn that the Aspect of Sight is the reason why some of
the Midnight Ravens have stayed in Hochoch. Finally, if
successful, they have denied the Triumvirate a powerful
agent from their use later on.
PREPARATION FOR PLAY
There are a number of questions to ask before beginning
the adventure. First, you should know which players
played SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned with their PCs. This
affects how Grenda contacts each PC. Second, you should
find out about each PC’s metaorganization memberships.
This will affect what they know prior to this adventure
and whom they may contact.
BISSEL
The Bissel Free Companies and a small company of
Bissel regulars operate in Geoff to assist with security and
reconstruction. Given that Hochoch has served as a rear
area for the conflict with the giants, it is reasonable for
PCs in these armed forces to find rest and recreation in
the city. This would be considered as part of the
mandatory military service for those PCs.
PCs who are members of the Thieves’ Guild of
Dountham may want to report to their guild about what
they find out about the changes in the Hochoch
underworld. The Guild is too involved in Dountham
affairs to expand their operations into Hochoch. Note on
the Critical Event Summary if these PCs do make such a
report.
During the course of the adventure, PCs who are
Mist Chameleons may find out more about the gathering
of these various evil artifacts. Knowing that this might be
of interest to Evard the Necromancer and, subsequently,
to Regent Saralind, they may want to make a report to a
Bissel noble on these events. Note this in the Critical
Event Summary.
GEOFF
As Hochoch was, until recently, Gyri territory, many
Geoff PCs will have various reactions to the city’s new
government. With the recent victory over the giants,
Hochoch is still flush with returning veterans waiting to
be released from service.
PCs who are members of the Midnight Ravens have
an all-together different interest in this situation once
they discover that their organization is involved. It is
generally understood within the group that unnecessary
conflict is bad for business. Thus, Midnight Ravens PCs
should expect that the group is planning to leave
Hochoch. They, however, may have heard rumors that
the Midnight Ravens still has a presence. If they choose
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 5
to report what they find out in this adventure, this should
be noted on the Critical Event Summary.
GRAN MARCH
With the victory over the giants, many Gran March
soldiers come to Hochoch for rest and recreation while
waiting for reassignment or release. The Gran March
military would have little interest in any of the events in
this adventure at this time; Commandant Vrianian has
instructed all military commanders that Hochoch’s
problems are now Watcher and Dispatcher problems.
Members of the School of Hard Knocks are also heading
out to see if there are any giant items that would be worth
displaying in their Great Hall in Shiboleth.
Corporation PCs, on the other hand, may be here
looking for new territory for Corporate interest. The shift
in leadership from Gran March to the Knights has caused
only a small wrinkle in their plans to control the criminal
rackets in Hochoch. Corporation PCs can make a
Knowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley metaregion) check
at a DC equal to the APL to know this (this is more
difficult for higher level PCs as they are more than likely
off adventuring and less involved in regional affairs). If
the PCs make the check by 10 or more, they get the name
of Bethany Grenda as one of the point-takers in the
various operations to gain control of the underworld.
KEOLAND
Those PCs with strong ties with the Keoish nobility
are in Hochoch to observe the transition of power to the
Watchers and Dispatchers. It is no secret that many in
the Court of the Land do not like them being in control
of Hochoch and would be very interested in anything
that would undermine the Knights' claim on the city.
Evidence of strong underworld activity and evil
influences would be very useful at court. This should be
noted on the Critical Event Summary.
Also, the ex-Regent Jessa recently sent 15,000
soldiers into Geoff to defeat the giants and make the
nation stable. PCs who are in the Royal Army would
likely find their way to Hochoch for rest and relaxation
like the other foreign soldiers assisting Geoff.
If the PCs discover that the events in this adventure
are related to the Cup from the previous, they may want
to inform the Silent Ones of its existence. The Silent
Ones are starting to do research on the matter and are
interested in any relevant information. Note any reports
to them on the Critical Event Summary.
The Niole Dra Thieves’ Guild, being information
brokers, are very interested in what’s going on in
Hochoch. Even if they do not act on it directly, they
could sell the intelligence to someone else. Note if any
PC sends word to this organization on the Critical Event
Summary.
KNIGHTS OF THE WATCH/KNIGHTS OF
DISPATCH
This
group
is
taking
over
Hochoch
after
Commandant Vrianian gave it to them earlier in CY 595.
Thus, Knight PCs may be here on business related to the
establishment of a new city government or out looking
for a new home (particularly if these PCs are from Bissel
or Keoland). There is plenty of work to be done,
especially tasks befitting a Squire or Senior Squire. They
can stay at the Knights of the Watch Chapterhouse
located in the Old City located at O3 on the players’ map
of Hochoch (Player Handout #3). Furthermore, Knights
have police powers within Hochoch and can arrest
criminals if necessary. If any Knight PCs choose to report
what they find during the course of this adventure to
their superiors, Note this on the Critical Event Summary.
THE PRINCIPALITY OF ULEK
While Hochoch is far from the Principality, there is
at least one group who is paying attention to the
situation. PCs who are members of the Society of
Shadows are contacted by Allinel Nightshade, Matron of
the Thunderstrike Shadows. Nightshade tells these PCs
that the Society is very interested in information about
the new government and any criminal groups operating
within Hochoch. They cannot pay anything at this time,
but will not forget PCs who provide that information. A
DC 35 Sense Motive check against Nightshade indicates
that she is interested more for her own interests than the
best interests of the Society as a whole.
THE YEOMANRY
The Academy of Lore is particularly interested in
developments in Hochoch as they have learned that one
of their members actually transported the Cup. They are
extremely interested in events related to the Cup so as to
remove the blot on their reputation that this incident
might bring. Any contact with the Academy should be
noted on the Critical Event Summary.
The Rascals have more than enough to do in the
Yeomanry than to work to acquire more criminal
territory. However, they would be interested in any
intelligence concerning who controls the Hochoch
underworld. Note whether or not PCs contact the Rascals
in the Critical Event Summary.
FOR PCS FROM OUTSIDE THE
SHELDOMAR VALLEY METAREGION
Most PCs from other regions are in Hochoch just
passing through. If a PC is a member of a thieves’ guild
organization, they may choose to report the state of
affairs in Hochoch. If they do, indicate this on the
Critical Event Summary.
For PCs that do not fit in with one of these hooks,
you should just find some explanation that makes sense
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 6
for the character, even if it is only just vacationing away
from their home region.
INTRODUCTION
PCs that have played in the adventure SHE5-04 A Cup
O’erturned receive a copy of Player Handout #1. This letter
reintroduces Grenda to the players and encourages them
to return to Hochoch for more work. PCs that did not
play the previous adventure will get a copy of Player
Handout #2. These letters come to each party member
regardless of where they are located in the Flanaess.
After the party agrees to meet with Grenda, they go
to Hochoch off-stage without incident. Unless the PCs
have some justification for arriving together, each PC
arrives in Hochoch separately. The Boar’s Other Knuckle
is at position C3 on Player Handout #3 – Map of Hochoch.
Thus, there is no provision for the casting of such spells
as heroes feast. Read the following to them:
You have arrived at Hochoch shortly before the
time of your meeting. The sun has set, and you
manage to get through the city gates with little
difficulty. This is a good thing, for otherwise you
would be severely late. You make your way to the
area of the city known as the Commons, for this is
where The Boar’s Other Knuckle is found. The bar
has all the atmosphere of its predecessor; it is a
rough and tumble establishment similar to those
servicing adventurers all over Oerth. There is a burly
fellow of Flan descent tending bar as you enter.
The bartender’s name is Caleb. If asked, Caleb directs
each PC to a table reserved by Grenda. He will also ask
that PCs with animal companions have them tethered
outside as they tend to make a mess. At this point, have
each player describe their PC to the rest of the table. The
PCs might also ask about Medwen the Rack. She was a
well-known barmaid who worked at the Boar's Other
Knuckle. She has opened her own tavern, the Wild
Hunt, in Aberglain.
ENCOUNTER 1: THE THIRD
BODY
The party may want to order food and/or drink while
they wait. They may even want to indulge in a heroes feast.
A waitress can take food and drink orders for the party.
The food and drink arrives, and the heroes feast (if any) can
begin. The events in the following box text occur during
their meal, and thus interrupt the casting of the heroes
feast). Read the following (adjusting its content based on
what the party eats and/or drinks):
Your food and drink arrive at your table. It is
pretty good considering your location. You get
started eating, when, suddenly, a young Gyri lad
bursts through the door. He is screaming, “Dead
lady outside! Dead lady outside!” Many of the
patrons in The Boar’s Other Knuckle drop what they
are doing and go outside.
It might be possible that the PCs do not immediately
go out there to investigate. If this is the case, read the
following:
As the customers start to leave, the bartender
grabs the young lad and says, “Now, Elis, what are
you carrying on about? Don’t you know scaring folks
out of their wits is bad for business?”
“I am sorry, Caleb, but it is bad! She’s that trader
lady from outta town that has been here in the bar!
You know, the one with the pretty red hair! You
know she’s gotta be someone important, seeing how
she was asking all those questions and all!”
This brief description matches that of Grenda and
should be enough to encourage the party to check out the
situation. Read the following:
As you go outside, you see a crowd of about two
dozen people gathering around the entrance to an
alleyway to the right side of the bar as you exit. Some
of the crowd you recognize as customers you saw in
the bar earlier.
Use DM Aid: Map #1 for setting up this encounter.
While there is no combat in this encounter per se, a map
is useful for determining how many of the crowd is
affected by the party’s actions in this encounter. Besides,
it will cause the players to think that there is a combat
coming when (unless they truly play this out badly) there
should not be.
If the party thinks to work the crowd for
information, this is a DC 10 Gather Information check.
Someone in authority, like a Knight of the Watch, a
Knight of Dispatch, or an officer in one of the allied
forces, automatically succeeds at this check. The two
people who talk say the same thing: the body just
appeared in the alley’s entrance. They saw no one around
it.
Getting to look at the body is a simple task. A DC 10
Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidation check convinces
enough people to move aside so that the party can get to
the body. Any PC identifying themselves as someone
who can heal or as someone in authority, like a Knight of
the Watch, a Knight of Dispatch, or an officer in one of
the allied forces, automatically succeeds at this check.
Once the PCs get to the body, read the following:
Once you get past the crowd, you see the prone
form of a young red-haired woman in fine clothing
available to the fairly well-to-do. She is very pale in
color as if all of the blood has drained away from her
body.
Those
PCs
who
have
met
Grenda
before
automatically recognize her, and those who have not note
that she is wearing the red rose as she said she would in
her letter. A Heal check on the body automatically
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 7
succeeds to determine she is dead. If a player chooses to
roll a check, he or she learns other information about the
body:
Automatic: The body has been disemboweled. It
has been damaged significantly as a result.
DC 10: The body appears to have lost a lot of blood,
but there is little blood on the victim’s clothing or on
the ground.
DC 15: There are a lack of bruises and other
defensive wounds on the body.
DC 20: There are two puncture wounds on the neck
(taking 20 on the check allows this to be found
automatically).
The party will obviously want to search the body.
They can take 20 on the check as there is plenty of time
before the city guard shows up. They will find a +1
mithral buckler, a cloak of charisma +2, a +1 mithral chain
shirt, a +1 rapier, an amulet of health +2, a set of gloves of
dexterity +2, a hat of disguise, her well-made clothes, a ring of
mind shielding, a ring of protection +1, and a sap. The hat is
currently disguised as a ribbon gathering her hair. There
is not enough time to perform a full magical survey of her
gear, but with a successful DC 20 Search check, they find
a leather-bound, untitled book covered in arcane
symbols. PCs can take 20 on this check, since
discovering the book carries with it no risk. Furthermore,
if anyone moves the body before they find the book, the
book falls out and the party automatically finds it.
Trap: The book on Grenda’s body has been booby-
trapped with a magical device containing one or more
traps. These traps target a large number of people. By
doing this, Dephos believes that he will discourage
further investigation.
The trap is contained in a small book provided by the
Triumvirate. Opening the book triggers the trap. Assume
the center point of each burst is the upper right corner of
the square of the person opening the book.
APL 6 (EL 7)
� Heightened Acidball Trap: CR 7; magic device;
proximity trigger (alarm); no reset; spell effect
(heightened (to 6th level) energy substitution (acid)
fireball, 11th-level wizard, DC 19 Reflex half, 10d6
acid); Search DC 31; Disable Device DC 31.
APL 8 (EL 9)
� Heightened Delayed Blast Acidball Trap: CR
9; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset;
spell effect (heightened (to 8th level) energy
substitution (acid) delayed blast fireball, 15th-level
wizard, DC 22 Reflex half, 15d6 acid); Search DC 29;
Disable Device DC 33.
APL 10 (EL 11)
� Heightened Delayed Blast Fireball Trap: CR
9; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset;
spell effect (heightened (to 8th level) delayed blast
fireball, 15th-level wizard, DC 22 Reflex half, 15d6
fire); Search DC 29; Disable Device DC 33.
� Heightened Delayed Blast Acidball Trap: CR
9; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset;
spell effect (heightened (to 8th level) energy
substitution (acid) delayed blast fireball, 15th-level
wizard, DC 22 Reflex half, 15d6 acid); Search DC 29;
Disable Device DC 33.
APL 12 (EL 13)
� Sculpted Empowered Cone of Fire Trap: CR
12; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset;
spell effect (sculpted (to 20’ burst) energy
substitution (fire) empowered cone of cold, 15th-level
wizard, 15d6 + ½ of 15d6 fire, DC 17 Reflex half);
Search DC 26; Disable Device DC 30.
� Heightened Delayed Blast Acidball Trap: CR
10; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset;
spell effect (heightened (to 9th level) energy
substitution (acid) delayed blast fireball, 15th-level
wizard, DC 23 Reflex half, 15d6 acid); Search DC 30;
Disable Device DC 34.
APL 14 (EL 15)
� Sculpted Maximized Cone of Fire Trap: CR
14; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset;
spell effect (sculpted (to 20’ burst) energy
substitution (fire) maximized cone of cold, 17th-level
wizard, 90 hp fire, DC 17 Reflex half); Search DC 26;
Disable Device DC 30.
� Sculpted Empowered Cone of Acid Trap: CR
12; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); no reset;
spell effect (sculpted (to 20’ burst) energy
substitution (acid) empowered cone of cold, 15th-level
wizard, 15d6 + ½ of 15d6 acid, DC 17 Reflex half);
Search DC 26; Disable Device DC 30.
Note: At APLs 8 to 14, because the two alarm spells
used in the triggers have been within 10 feet of one
another for more than 24 hours, the Search DC for
discovering the traps is reduce by 4 (as per the Player’s
Handbook, page 172). The DCs above are already modified
to reflect this reduction, but since this is a visible effect;
blinded searchers will not gain this advantage (raise the
Search DCs by 4 in that case).
If the trap goes off near the body, it does enough
damage so that no one will find out the cause of Grenda’s
death. Also, unless the party thinks to move the mob
outside of the 20 foot radius of the trap or move the trap
away from the crowd the required distance, the crowd
will be caught in the blast. Even if they make their saves,
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 8
the damage from these traps will kill any commoner
outright.
Treasure: While Grenda had many valuable items
on her person, the city guard that appears in the next
encounter will want to take possession of them as
evidence. They also may be damaged if the trap goes off,
as they are unattended.
Assuming that a PC wants to grab some loot from
the body, would-be thieves can only obtain light weapons
and small objects. This limits the available items to the
amulet, the gloves, the hat, either of the rings, and the sap
and thus the Treasure Summary only includes these
items. Each ring was worn inside of the gloves; to get to
them, someone must remove the gloves. However, looting
a murder victim is illegal under Hochoch’s new
leadership. Would-be thieves should make a DC 10
Knowledge (local – Sheldomar Valley metaregion) check
to know this (if common sense should fail the PCs).
Finding an item via a normal search takes two
minutes minimum unless magical means are available.
Grabbing an item off Grenda’s body is automatic, as she is
dead. However, the would-be thief must roll a Slight of
Hand check against every other PC’s Spot check as well
as that of the crowd. The crowd’s Spot check is essentially
treated as one roll with many Aid Another checks and so
the DC is 34 (an average roll of 10 with 12 assists). If the
crowd sees the theft, they immediately cry “Thief” and
continue with the outcry until the city guard shows up in
Encounter 2.
Development: If the PCs do not search the body
and leave it unattended for any period of time longer
than a minute, someone from the crowd starts searching
the body and automatically finds the trapped book, open
it, and set of the trap. This undoubtedly kills most of the
crowd, as it consists of commoners and experts, and
forces the PCs to make saves against the traps. Unless
they deactivated the trap or took damage from it, they
receive no experience points for it.
Five minutes after the party arrives at the scene, the
city guards show up in Encounter 2. What the party did
in this encounter dictate the response from the city
guards.
ENCOUNTER 2: CLEANING UP
THE MESS
After finding the dead body of Bethany Grenda in
Encounter 1, a group of city guards shows up on the
scene, led by a Knight of the Watch on horseback. Using
DM Aid: Map #1, the group approaches the crowd from
the south. Read the following:
While you are examining the body, a deep male
voice cries out, “Make way for the city guards! Make
way!” The crowd parts, and a group of eight soldiers
make their way towards you. Behind them on
horseback is a woman in finely crafted full plate
armed with lance and shield. The steel shield is
painted black with the image of a large white owl on
the field. The woman yells out, “Freeze, all of you, by
order of the Grandiose Imperial Wyvern Hugo of
Geoff!”
The woman on horseback is Watcher Branwen,
Trustworthy Vigil. She is currently on patrol with this
group of guards. Normally, such duties would belong to a
Senior Squire, but there are still too few of them in the
city. Thus, newly knighted Vigils are filling the gaps.
Watcher Branwen immediately orders everyone to
back away from the body, including any PCs who are
searching the body, and orders her troops to surround
the body, keeping the PCs inside the circle of troops.
After the way is clear, she addresses the PCs from her
mount. From that point, the reaction of Watcher
Branwen and the guards are entirely dependent on what
the PCs have done so far.
SIMPLE INVESTIGATING
If the PCs have done nothing except examine the
body and give a reasonable accounting of their actions to
Watcher Branwen, player characters can attempt a
Diplomacy check to earn the Watcher’s trust. Assume
that Watcher Branwen’s initial attitude is Indifferent, and
she learns to trust the party with a result of Friendly (a
DC 15 Diplomacy check, others can assist). If the PCs
have disabled the trap in Encounter 1 and inform the
guards during their elocution of events, this adds a +5
circumstance bonus. Feel free to award an extra
circumstance bonus of up to +2 for exceptional
roleplaying. If a member of party is a Knight of the
Watch or Knight of Dispatch, this check automatically
succeeds.
Players may also mention that they have a trapped
book in their possession (from Encounter 1). At this
point, Watcher Branwen will offer to escort the party to
Waterwatch Castle (the current headquarters of the
Knights located at position H1 on Player Handout #3 –
Map of Hochoch). There, the party can trip off the trap
without harming anyone as the Knights will provide a
large stone-walled room there for safe detonation.
If player characters earn Watcher Branwen’s trust,
she takes them into her confidence. Her face deepens
with concern, and she pulls the party aside. Proceed to
What the Watcher Knows below.
SET OFF THE TRAP
If the party has set off the trap, Watcher Branwen’s
initial reaction depends on several factors. If the party
took precautions to avoid any casualties in the crowd, her
initial reaction is Indifferent, and a DC 15 Diplomacy
check adjusts the reaction to Friendly. If the party has
caused the death of anyone in the crowd from the trap,
her initial reaction is Unfriendly, and any offensive
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 9
actions on the part of the party will provoke combat. It
takes skillful diplomacy to get the Watcher to Friendly
(so that the adventure continues). It can be done with
one DC 25 Diplomacy check or two successful checks at
DC 15 (the first check, if successful, takes the attitude to
Indifferent and the second check to Friendly). Parties can
have one retry at any failed check. Having a Knight of the
Watch or Knight of Dispatch in the party gives a +5
circumstance bonus to the check; while this improves the
chances of Watcher Branwen looking favorably on the
party, it is not as automatic as if they had disabled the trap
in the first place. The party can also mention that it
happened accidentally while they were investigating the
murder of their potential employer; this is worth a +2
circumstance bonus. If successful, proceed to What the
Watcher Knows below. If someone else in the crowd set
off the trap, this is worth a +5 circumstance bonus as the
body of the bystander will be near ground zero of the
blast. If the diplomatic efforts of the party are
unsuccessful, Watcher Branwen will seek aid elsewhere,
and this adventure will end for this party.
LOOTING THE BODY
If any of the party is discovered looting Grenda’s
body, Watcher Branwen’s initial reaction is Unfriendly,
and any offensive actions on the part of the party will
provoke combat. It takes skillful diplomacy to get the
Watcher to Friendly (so that the adventure continues). It
can be done with one DC 25 Diplomacy check or two
successful checks at DC 15 (the first check, if successful,
takes the attitude to Indifferent and the second check to
Friendly). Having a Knight of the Watch or Knight of
Dispatch in the party gives a +5 circumstance bonus to
the check; while this improves the chances of Watcher
Branwen looking favorably on the party, it is not as
automatic as if they had disabled the trap in the first
place.
If there is any failure in the Diplomacy checks,
Watcher Branwen places the PCs under suspicion under
arrest. Quick-thinking PCs can try to negotiate their way
out. Because of the situation, Watcher Branwen will
allow the perpetrator and the party to work off some of
the jail time for the theft by investigating the case. The
perpetrator will still have to do some time, however;
remember not to strikethrough the Imprisoned in
Hochoch (First Outcome) AR effect. Proceed to What
the Watcher Knows below.
WHAT THE WATCHER KNOWS
Here is what Watcher Branwen knows about the
murders so far:
•
This is the third murder in a series that has been
going on for the last couple of days.
•
There has been blood loss and disembowelment in
all three cases. Fearing the work of a vampire, the
Knights have been beheading each corpse to ensure
they do not rise again. Grenda’s body will be
beheaded as soon as they can get the body back to
Waterwatch Castle.
•
Grenda’s murder was the first to be out in the open.
•
The first murder victim was a halfling named Xavier
Riverbend. He was found in his apartment in the
Low Quarter. From the looks of the apartment, the
murderer or murderers were looking for something.
As for Riverbend himself, he had the reputation of
being a retired adventurer.
•
The second victim was a human merchant named
Tywyn the Broker. He dealt in consignment goods,
buying used goods from others as cheaply as possible
and selling them at a profit. The murder occurred in
his store/apartment in the Market Quarter. Again,
the murderer or murderers apparently was looking
for something in both the store and the apartment.
•
She can give directions to both of the other crime
scenes.
•
There has been no time to conduct a through
investigation at either of the previous two murders.
For now, two Knights who are clerics of Heironeous
have cast a forbiddance spell on each crime scene (if it
comes up, yes, this is expensive, but having an
undead assassin in the city is serious business). Each
spell is aligned Lawful Good and has the password
“reciprocity” placed on it to allow investigators who
are not Lawful Good to enter. Watcher Branwen
does not verbally speak the password, but will write
it down for the party. The doors to each building are
also padlocked, but Branwen has the keys and gives
them to the party.
•
There were no witnesses to either of the first two
murders.
Those who played in SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned
recognize Riverbend as running a rogue operation in
Hochoch.
SPEAKING WITH THE DEAD
The party may want to cast a speak with dead spell on
the body. The body, however, has severe damage so it is
only able to give out recent information. Also, if the
caster is not Lawful Neutral, the body gets a Will save
(+5). If the caster is successful, the party gets the
following information.
•
Grenda was attacked while taking a shortcut through
an alley.
•
She took the short cut because she was running late
for a meeting at the Boar’s Other Knuckle.
•
She was caught by surprise.
•
She felt cold hands on her when she was attacked.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 10
That is all she knows. If the party wants the Knights
to cast the spell, they will the next day (thus, any results
are outside of play).
Trap: If the PCs have not found and disabled the
trap in Encounter 1 before they leave this encounter, one
of the city guards searches the body after the party has
moved far enough away from the crowd. He finds the
trapped book and sets off the trap. Watcher Branwen
survives, but the city guard and the crowd are not so
lucky. The PCs emerge unscathed and, hearing the
explosion, may turn around to go back to the scene of the
crime. Unless they deactivated the trap or took damage
from it, they receive no experience points for it. Also, as
noted in Encounter 1, if the trap goes off near the body,
there is enough damage so that no one will find out the
cause of Grenda’s death.
Creatures: Watcher Branwen, Trustworthy Vigil, is
a veteran in the Army of Liberation and has only recently
been knighted. She has seen action at Bloody Ridge,
Preston, and Gorna. Watcher Branwen is an expert rider
and is quite competent in battle on her paladin’s mount,
Challenger.
The other members of Watcher Branwen’s squad are
Gyri and Marcher infantry veterans who have seen action
since the beginning of hostilities. They have seen
adventurers in action during their tours of duty and will
not take any chances in their capture.
All APLs (EL 15)
� Watcher Branwen, Expeditious Vigil, Female
Human Pal10/Knight of the Watch2: hp 108; see
Appendix 6.
� Challenger (Paladin Mount), heavy warhorse:
hp 75; see Appendix 6.
� Town Guard Veterans, Male and Female
Human Ftr8 (8): hp 72 each; see Appendix 6.
Tactics: Watcher Branwen is not looking for a fight
here, but will give one if the party is unruly. She orders
the troops to ready weapons and then Unleash Inner
Strength on herself. She recognizes adventurers are
tough opponents and tries to knock them out unless the
party uses lethal force. After that, it is no holds barred.
Treasure: While the city guards and Watcher
Branwen have a great deal of treasure, the party will have
no time to loot the bodies as some of the crowd have
already called for more guards. Allow the party to escape
if they defeat the guards, but do not allow them any of
the guards’ gear.
Development: The usual path would be for the
party to investigate the remaining crimes for Watcher
Branwen, either because of her favor or because they are
trying to keep one of their thieving members from an
extended stay in a Hochoch prison. If the party accepts
her offer, she will provide paperwork that shows that the
party are working for the Knights as investigators in this
matter. She will also provide access to holy water and
silver weapons. Their next move will probably take them
to either Encounter 3 or Encounter 4 to investigate the
prior crime scenes; if they do not think of it on their own,
have Watcher Branwen suggest it. If the party opts to use
Gather Information to find out what is going on from the
local populace, go to Encounter 5.
If the party engages the city guard, there are
different results. If the party was defeated, they can
petition (with automatic success) to work off part of their
sentence by investigating the crimes. They will still have
a term of imprisonment, but it will be less severe.
Remember not to strikethrough the Imprisoned in
Hochoch (Second Outcome) AR effect. The party can
then be released to continue with the adventure.
If the party engages and defeats the city guard, allow
them to exit from the city and award them the xp for the
encounter. The adventure ends for this party at this
point. From here on out, they are considered to be
Outlaws in Hochoch. Members of the Knights of the
Watch or the Knights of Dispatch who are Outlaws are
immediately removed from the Order. If outlaws return
to Hochoch, they are automatically captured and
imprisoned for 156 TUs. Remember not to strikethrough
the Outlaw in Hochoch AR effect.
ENCOUNTER 3: THE SECOND
BODY
This encounter deals with investigating the store and
apartment of Tywyn the Broker. The party gets here from
the directions given by Watcher Branwen, Expeditious
Vigil, in Encounter 2.
The directions given to you by the Watcher take
you to the Market Quarter. There, you find an
elaborate two-story building with a sign with three
gold balls painted on it that says “Tywyn the Broker
– Consignment Sales and Acquisitions” in both
Common and Flan. The building is built of brown
river stone and mortar at great expense.
The door to the store has a padlock on it to prevent
entry. If the party asked, Watcher Branwen provides
them with a key. Otherwise, opening the lock requires a
DC 30 Open Lock check. Also, remember that there is a
forbiddance spell (CL 11th) in place. Anyone not speaking
the password and not of Lawful Good alignment takes
damage per the spell’s description.
The store is on the lower level, and the apartment is
upstairs. Every room has been ransacked. However, one
item still remains there for the party to find. On a Search
check (DC APL + 20) (take 20 is allowed as are assists
from other PCs), they find a set of ledgers under loose
floorboards in the apartment. While the dates are
readable, the entries in the ledgers are encoded, but
either a DC 25 Decipher Script check or a comprehend
languages spell cast shows that an entry made a couple of
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 11
days before the murders indicates that Tywyn purchased
an urn from someone named Alain. The urn’s description
has a name associated with it: Watcher Steffan the Just.
Watchers and Dispatchers recognize the name on either
a DC 10 Knowledge (nobility and royalty) check or a DC
10 Knowledge (local -Sheldomar Valley metaregion)
check as a Knight who recently fell at Fortress Goarada.
A day after the entry of the Urn, Tywyn noted that a
person came by wanting to buy the Urn for 2,000 gp. He
called himself Dephos. Tywyn noted that he told this
Dephos that the urn was not available now, but he could
get his hands on it. He did this to stall Dephos so that he
could talk to Alain about the offer. The amount was too
high and Dephos seemed too desperate to have it.
The ledger also has several past entries that mention
the name of Xavier Riverbend. The last one was about six
months ago. It mentioned the possible sale of a goblet
that Riverbend had acquired. Riverbend cancelled the
transaction because he “misplaced the item.” This entry
is, of course, related to the events in SHE5-04 A Cup
O’erturned.
Development: If the mention of a Knight in this
ledger pushes the party to go back to the Knights for
more information, go to Encounter 8. If they may choose
to pursue the Riverbend lead, go to Encounter 4.
ENCOUNTER 4: THE FIRST
BODY
This encounter deals with investigating the store and
apartment of Tywyn the Broker. The party gets here from
the directions given by Watcher Branwen, Expeditious
Vigil, in Encounter 2. Encounter 3 may also provide
additional impetus to follow this lead.
Riverbend’s apartment is in a converted inn in
the Low Quarter. The inn is obviously a failed
establishment converted to rental units for poor
citizens. The sign on the building reads “Elysium
Hall – Xavier Riverbend, landlord”.
The door to the apartment building has a padlock on
it to prevent entry. If the party asked for a key in
Encounter 2, the party has a master key. Otherwise,
opening the lock requires a DC 30 Open Lock check.
Also, remember that there is a forbiddance spell (CL 11th)
in place. Anyone not speaking the password and not of
Lawful Good alignment takes damage per the spell’s
description.
It is easy to find Riverbend’s landlord apartment on
the first floor. If the party cares to check, the rest of the
apartments are empty. The Knights made the rest of the
residence move, partially to keep them protected from
the forbiddance spell, partially to prevent any entry into
Riverbend’s apartment.
Every room in Riverbend’s apartment has been
ransacked. There is, however, one item that the party can
find. On a Search check (DC APL + 20) (take 20 is
allowed as are assists from other PCs), they find a lockbox
with encrypted notes inside. The box has a lock requiring
a DC 30 Open Lock check before opening. The notes are
encoded, but either a DC 25 Decipher Script check or a
comprehend languages spell cast reveals their contents.
Three major facts come out from study of the notes:
•
Riverbend was up to various shady dealings, some of
which were criminal. There are notes about thefts,
extortion attempts, and assaults dating back a couple
of years.
•
Riverbend had recently gotten two sets of messages.
The first told him to pull up stakes and move from
Hochoch. It was unsigned, but there is a broken
silver wax seal of a raven which originally sealed the
letter. Only a Midnight Raven can recognize this
symbol on the seal as coming from the Convergence.
The second note was asking him to stay to “look after
things in the city.” It is also unsigned, but has a
different wax seal on it. Only a Midnight Raven can
recognize this symbol as possibly coming from the
Aspect of Sight. This is an unusual situation as
Aspects generally do not leave any identifying marks
like signatures or seals on their documents.
Midnight Raven PCs may want to roll a Forgery
check for validity; this automatically succeeds and
identifies the document as genuine. Midnight
Ravens also know that the Convergence is the
overall leader of the Midnight Ravens and that the
Aspect of Sight is one of the Convergence’s
lieutenants.
•
Riverbend got a note from someone named Alain
mentioning a container that Alain had “acquired”.
He had planned on selling the container to Tywyn
the Broker and giving the appropriate cut to
Riverbend.
•
Finally, Riverbend got a note from Tywyn asking
him to contact Alain about the “merchandise.” The
broker had a potential buyer named Dephos, but he
did not trust the deal. The fact that Tywyn consulted
Riverbend indicates that Riverbend was someone of
importance in the Hochoch underworld.
Development: If the party has not visited the store
of Tywyn the Broker, this might lead them to do so. If the
party chooses to visit the story of Tywyn the Broker, go to
Encounter 3. Midnight Ravens may also want to find out
more about what the messages mean and go to Encounter
5.
ENCOUNTER 5: WORD ON
THE STREET
This encounter can occur anytime the players want their
PCs to use Gather Information checks to get word from
the populace.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 12
BETHANY GRENDA
Members of any Sheldomar thieves’ organization
have a +5 circumstance bonus to these Gather
Information checks.
DC 15: The woman was here to investigate potential
business ventures in the City of Hochoch. She had
talked to several merchants already.
DC 20: She is from Gran March. Rumor has it that
she is a licensed member of the Keoland Guilds and
is capable of acting on behalf of the Keoland Guilds.
DC 25: Initially, she was very curious about the
changes in Hochoch and the potential of using
Hochoch as a trade city. Lately, her questions
became more about the bard Trevor ap Tryvan.
TREVOR AP TRYVAN
Geoff PCs, Gran March active-duty military PCs, and
Yeomanry Militia PCs have a +5 circumstance bonus to
these checks.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 10: Trevor ap
Tryvan is a bard who is quite wealthy from his
profession. He has been in retirement for years and
is a recluse. No one knows where he lives.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 15: He is
known to be a collector of antiques and typically
uses an intermediary to handle negotiations.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 20: He is
willing to engage smugglers and rogues to obtain
pieces he wants for his collection, though he has
never been known to kill anyone in the process.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 25: Rumor has
it that he recently acquired an antique goblet found
in the Sea of Dust. Other rumors say that he had
instead contracted a third party to dig up the goblet
from the desert, only to have the goblet stolen before
ap Tryvan could get it.
THE SITUATION IN HOCHOCH
Members of any Sheldomar thieves’ organization
have a +5 circumstance bonus to these checks.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 10: The
transition of government appears to be going very
smoothly. The Knights have not taken full control
over the city, but will in a few months. They have
started assisting in patrolling the streets.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 15: There are
tensions within the Hochoch underworld. Many
rogues and ruffians are thinking of moving to
greener pastures.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 25: Their
concern is not over the Knights’ lawful governance,
but over the power vacuum in the city. Right now,
several criminal organizations are looking to gain
territory in the city during the power transition,
following the idea that chaos brings opportunity.
At some point while the party is gathering
information, they will run across an elven merchant
named Parwyn Amastacia. In SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned,
he hired the party to deactivate some nonlethal traps. If
any in the party played the previous adventure, read the
following:
As you work your way from bar to inn trying to
find out what is going on from the general populace,
you find yourself in the Market Ward. Suddenly, you
hear a booming male voice from behind you, “Well,
if it isn’t my friends back again in the City of the
Knights?” When you turn, you see the portly form of
the elven merchant Parwyn Amastacia. He has lost
neither his style in clothing nor his air of affluence.
He continues, “Word is about that you are
investigating deeds most foul. Such activities are
bad for business of any sort. I might be able to shed
some light on the matter so that you can put things
right faster.”
If the party has never met Amastacia before, read the
following:
As you work your way from bar to inn in trying
to find out what is going on from the general
populace, you find yourself in the Market Ward.
Suddenly, you hear a booming male voice from
behind you, “So you are the ones I have heard
about?” When you turn, you see a male elf of
impressive stature, stockier than most of his kind. It
is clear from the cut of his fine clothes to the slight
paunch of his waistline that life has been very good
to him. Even while he is shouting, he still maintains
the air of one rich, noble-born, or both. He has lost
neither his style in clothing nor his air of affluence.
He continues, “I am Parwyn Amastacia, trader and
broker extraordinaire. Word is about that you are
investigating deeds most foul. Such activities are
bad for business of any sort. I might be able to shed
some light on the matter so that you can put things
right faster.”
After introductions are made, Amastacia asks them
to have a drink at the Giant’s Hearth Inn here in the
Market Ward (position M1 on Player Handout #3 – Map of
Hochoch) so that he can discuss what he knows with them
discretely. The Giant's Hearth is a Rich lifestyle inn and
got its name from the gigantic stone fireplace in the
middle of the dining room. He does not give up
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 13
information, but he answers questions that the players
ask:
WHAT AMASTACIA KNOWS
To anyone who asks, Amastacia gives the following:
•
There is a conflict in place between two groups. The
first is a group known as the Midnight Ravens. They
had operated the underworld in Hochoch prior to
the Knights’ arrival.
•
The second group appears to be a faction of a Gran
March group calling itself The Corporation. Word is
that they had something to do with the assassination
attempts on Commandant Vrianian last year. Gran
March authorities then destroyed the organization
by capturing or killing its members. Rumor is that
some escaped, that some fled to other less-lawful
climates, but that some came to Hochoch to set up
shop in the city.
•
This group was not likely to be the original
Corporation as many groups have taken that name
from time to time to capitalize on the original
organization’s reputation for fear and retaliation.
•
Two of the murders were definitely associated with
the Midnight Ravens, and they have increased
tensions in the underworld.
•
Riverbend was a Midnight Raven. He operated many
operations out of his Elysium Hall apartments.
•
Tywyn the Broker fenced many “acquisitions” for the
Ravens.
•
If shown the notes from Encounter 4, Amastacia
recognizes the symbols on them as being associated
with the Midnight Ravens, but does not know what
they mean.
•
There was a rumor going around that Bethany
Grenda may have been working for The Corporation
group. Amastacia has met her, though, and she never
seemed to him to be the assassination type.
•
Rumor is that since the Knights took over, the
Ravens were going underground. Some say that they
were abandoning the city rather than going against
the more lawful Knights.
•
Other rumors say that some in the Midnight Ravens
want to stay and exploit the holes in the current
government to their own ends, much like the
legendary Corporation of Gran March.
•
There is one Raven who may not have gone
completely out of the public eye yet. There is a street
performer known as Ffagan the Nimble who works
the Market area.
He also hands them a piece of paper that he found
where Grenda had dropped it. If asked, he says that he
does not understand either. This is the one lie during the
whole conversation. He was once an associate of The
Corporation, and he knows a Corporation message when
he sees it. Hand the party Player Handout #5. To most PCs,
this is a simple piece of badly written doggerel. To
Corporation PCs, this is a message in CorporateSpeak. If
any of them possess that language and choose to read the
note, pull them aside and hand them Player Handout #6. It
is not deliberately encoded because it is not a high-
security message; comprehend languages can decrypt it.
Creatures: Amastacia is not above working with
either the Midnight Ravens or the Corporation to get the
best deal. To see both groups in opposition makes him
nervous and thus willing to see a quick resolution to the
dispute.
� Parwyn Amastacia, Male Elf Brd15: hp 68; see
Appendix 6.
Development: If the party follows the lead to meet
with Ffagan, go to Encounter 6. If the party decides to
investigate the body of Tywyn the Broker, go to
Encounter 3. If the party chooses to investigate the body
of Riverbend, go to Encounter 4. If the party chooses to
follow up on The Corporation lead, go to Encounter 7.
ENCOUNTER 6: FROM A
RAVEN’S VIEW
This encounter is completely dependent on the presence
of a Midnight Raven or the ability for a party to bluff
their way into their confidence. A Midnight Raven can,
on a DC 10 Knowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley
metaregion) (making it usable untrained for this check),
find one Midnight Raven named Ffagan the Nimble, a
street performer in the Market Quarter. If the party asks
Parwyn Amastacia about this in Encounter 5, he confirms
the existence and location of Ffagan.
If the party wants to pursue this line of investigation
but do not have a Midnight Raven in the party, the party
will have a much harder time. For starters, they must be
put on the trail of the Midnight Ravens. Only Parwyn
Amastacia can do that. In Encounter 5, he gives up
Ffagan as a possible contact when asked.
Read the following:
You work your way through the Market Quarter
to find a small, slender human male entertaining a
crowd. He is dressed in motley tights and currently
bent like a pretzel in a constricting contortionist
movement that is painful to watch.
Ffagan entertains the crowd for a bit after which
time, the PC can approach him. If approached correctly,
Ffagan readily converses with PCs who are members of
the Midnight Ravens. Other PCs who want to talk with
him must gain his trust. This is not easy, for Ffagan is
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 14
well trained in reading people (in part so that he can
tailor a performance to a crowd). PCs trying to pass as
Midnight Ravens must succeed at an opposed Bluff
check against Ffagan’s Sense Motive. If this fails, Ffagan’s
initial reaction is Hostile and he attempts to flee by
tumbling into a crowd and hiding. He even goes so far as
to find a city guard and get himself arrested for
something to avoid talking to the PCs. If it succeeds, he
treats them like any other Midnight Raven and starts out
with them as Friendly. If the party just approaches him
honestly, he starts out at Unfriendly. Obviously, his
attitude is Friendly towards members of the Midnight
Ravens.
If the party can ever get Ffagan’s attitude to Friendly,
he shares with them the following:
•
The leader of their group has told them to leave
Hochoch as soon as possible. Ffagan just got back
into Hochoch after being on the road in Keoland
and only found out about that today. He plans to
leave after making some traveling money this
evening.
•
If shown the notes from Encounter 4, Ffagan
recognizes one as being from the leader (he will
avoid using titles in the presence of non-members)
and one being from the Aspect of Sight.
•
He has heard that the Aspect of Sight wants to keep
the operations in Hochoch, but is surprised that he
would be going against the Convergence in this
matter.
•
He had heard that some were staying behind to hold
on to the Hochoch underworld. Until he is shown
the Aspect’s note to Riverbend, he does not connect
the Aspect to their activities in Hochoch.
Creatures: Ffagan the Nimble is an attractive Flan
male in his mid-twenties. He makes his way through the
Sheldomar Valley as an acrobat and comedian. He does
not call Hochoch home per se, but does manage to swing
through here often.
� Ffagan the Nimble, Male Human Brd3: hp 14;
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+2 Dex); Balance +10,
Bluff +8, Diplomacy +8, Hide +4, Perform (comedy)
+8, Sense Motive +6, Tumble +13.
Development: This pretty much covers everything
concerning the Midnight Ravens. Parties may go on to
try to find out something about The Corporation’s
activities in Hochoch and go to Encounter 7 or talk to the
Knights in Encounter 8, if they have not done so already.
It may also be the case that the PCs have run out of
options and thus need to proceed directly to Encounter 9.
After all, the party is already out on the streets of
Hochoch.
ENCOUNTER 7: WITHIN THE
BODY CORPORATE
How this encounter works is completely dependent on
the presence of a member of the Corporation. Sometime
during the party’s investigation, a street urchin appears to
pick the pocket of a party member. The Corporation has
hired many such kids to act as lookouts and low-security
couriers; they are aware of members in Hochoch. Any
Corporation PC present will be the preferred mark.
Otherwise, pick a party member at random. Read the
following:
You feel a small tug at your pocket. As you look
down, you see a young Gyri lad of maybe ten pulling
his fingers away from you. He then bolts to be
quickly lost in the city crowd.
When the party member checks to see if anything is
stolen, they find something. If the PC is a Corporation
member, they find Player Handout #7 and #8. If the PC is
not, he or she finds only Player Handout #8.
Development: This ends up the Corporation
portion of the investigation. If the party goes on to try to
find out something about Midnight Raven activities in
Hochoch, go to Encounter 6. If the party goes to talk to
the Knights of the Watch, go to Encounter 8. If the PCs
have run out of options, proceed directly to Encounter 9.
ENCOUNTER 8: KNIGHTS
With the discovery of the urn in Encounter 3, the party
may want to go back to the Knights at Waterwatch Castle
(position H1 on Player Handout #3 – Map of Hochoch) for
more information. They may also want to call upon them
again to gather information. Watcher Branwen will be
back there after her patrol and can answer questions
about the urn; anyone in the castle can direct the party to
her.
THE URN
When the party mentions to Watcher Branwen
about the urn, she says that she is quite familiar with the
case and reveals the following:
•
Watcher Steffan the Just, Deliberate Rust Monster,
was a well-respected Knight born here in Hochoch.
He was one of the Knights sent to liberate Fortress
Goarada in Keoland. Steffan died in the raid on that
fortress. His last wishes were that he was to be
cremated and his ashes returned to Geoff so that the
ashes may be scattered on the banks of the
Realstream River.
•
The Knights performed the cremation but were
unable to return the ashes to Hochoch immediately
because of all of the fallout from the raid. Instead,
the Knights gathered the ashes into a simple clay
urn that would not cause attention, in case some
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 15
Keolander got overzealous and wanted to hurt the
Knights by desecrating the ashes. When the Knights
evacuated the fortress, the urn containing the ashes
went with them.
•
The urn with the ashes was stolen when the Knights
left Keoland. When the caravan made it back to
Hochoch, they searched for the urn and did not find
it. They believed that a thief stole it but have been
unable to expend the investigative resources to find
it.
THE CUP
Players may want to follow up on what happened
with the Cup from the last adventure. Watcher Branwen
steps away for a few moments to confer with others and
returns with the following information:
•
After doing extensive research, the Knights believe
that the goblet may be The Cup Insidious, a minor Ur-
Flan artifact lost since the days of the Occluded
Empire. No one knows for sure what it does, but it
radiates strong magic and strong evil.
•
They think that the Cup may have been mentioned
in the poem Rhyme of the Occluded Time (give the
party Player Handout #9).
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO
KNIGHTS OF THE WATCH/KNIGHTS OF
DISPATCH
PCs may want to do Gather Information checks from
the Knights at Waterwatch Castle. This information is
only available to PCs who are members of either
organization and only if they choose to check in at the
Knights Barracks in Hochoch. Knights (not Squires or
Senior Squires) get a +5 circumstance bonus to the check.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 10: The
transition of government appears to be going
smoothly. Hugo has already arrived and is taking
residence in Caer Dwr Gwyldy (known in Common
as Waterwatch Castle).
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar
Valley
metaregion)
DC
15:
Preparations are being made both for the final
transition of Hochoch and for the purges that Hugo
spoke of earlier.
Gather Information or Knowledge (local -
Sheldomar Valley metaregion) DC 20: The
Knights are aware of the potential shift in the
Hochoch underworld but lack intelligence on the
actual structure of the various factions. Anything
that the Knights can find out about the current
situation would be greatly rewarded.
Development: This ends any investigation with the
Knights. Branwen will ask the party to meet back with
her later at the castle after they have done more
investigation. This allows them to double back to any of
the other encounters they missed. Once the party is back
in the city and either have run out of encounters or are
stumped, proceed to Encounter 9 after pondering where
to go next.
ENCOUNTER 9: DOWN
AMONG THE DEAD
At some point after visiting the Knights again or when
the PCs have pursued all avenues of investigation,
Dephos sends a ransom note for the urn to Waterwatch
Castle. Watcher Branwen rides out in search of the party,
as this is the most solid lead on the murders to date. Read
the following:
While you walk the dark streets of Hochoch
pondering your next move, Watcher Branwen rides
up to you at a fast trot. She halts her mount and says
to you, “Greetings! I have word of the murders for
you. We received this note at the castle.” She then
proceeds to read it to you:
“To my respected adversaries: You by now know
that I have the remains of the noble one who has
fallen and that three ignoble fools have fallen
because they got in my way. I do so like a challenge,
and am willing to let you win it back by trial. Send
the investigators to the old Birmigam estate north
of the city. I will give them until the midnight hour
this evening to get there, after which I will find all
sorts of experiments to do to the ashes. I will be
waiting for their challenge. With all sincerity, Nycos
Dephos of Sterich”
Watcher Branwen can provide some background on
the estate as well as directions.
•
The original settler of the estate, Klytus Birmigam,
was a successful adventurer from the Free City of
Greyhawk. He retired to Arweth back in CY 570
with his Gyri wife and two sons.
•
Both sons fought and died in the Army of
Liberation.
•
Klytus and his wife were killed in the early days of
the giant conflict. The estate was ransacked and
abandoned as there was no clear heir to the title.
•
Unlike most Gyri, the Birmigams were followers of
Wee Jas. They also believed in burying their dead
instead of burning them. Thus, they had a small
family cemetery on the estate.
•
After the allied forces retook Arweth, soldiers were
sent to the Birmigam estate to make sure no undead
were around. They exhumed and burned the bodies
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 16
found. The mausoleum, however, was not torn
down.
There is no time to use Gather Information for more
information on Nycos Dephos. Bardic Knowledge or
Knowledge (arcana) at DC 30 yields that there was once a
necromancer in the Valley by that name, but that was
many years ago.
The trip to the estate takes about an hour so the party
arrives right at midnight. Read the following once they
arrive:
What was once a prosperous estate is now little
more than ruins casting long shadows in the
moonlight. A search of the grounds leads you to the
one remaining intact structure on the property: a
large stone mausoleum with a columned entrance.
The double doors of the mausoleum have two crests
on them. The first is a simple shield with red on top
and blue on the bottom. At its center, there is a blue
dragon rampant. The second is a shield with a red
skull surrounded in red flames painted on a black
field. Two red daggers flank this second shield.
Trap: Dephos has set up numerous trapped devices
around the front of the mausoleum to weaken his
opposition and bolster his undead guards. In addition to
alarm spells used for triggering the traps, he has set up
alarm spells to notify him when any intruders trigger the
traps so that he can begin casting buff spells whose
duration is measured in hours/level.
Creatures: In addition to the traps, he has two
guards from the undead that he has collected over the
years. If a target is required for a trap, it is whatever
creature set off the trap. Also, at APLs 12 and 14, there is a
heightened unhallow trap that Dephos has already
triggered by crossing it. He triggers it every day so that it
renews. The bane effect affects creatures that are not
Lawful Evil in alignment.
APL 6 (EL 8)
� Enervation Trap: CR 5; magic device; proximity
trigger (alarm); automatic reset; Atk +3 ranged touch;
spell effect (enervation, 7th-level wizard, 1d4 negative
levels for 7 hours, DC 16 Fort negates); Search DC
29; Disable Device DC 29.
� Ettin Skeletons (2): hp 90 each; see Monster
Manual, page 227.
APL 8 (EL 10)
� Mass Inflict Moderate Wounds Trap: CR 7;
magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); automatic
reset; spell effect (mass inflict moderate wounds, 11th-
level cleric, 2d8+11 negative energy, DC 19 Will
half); Search DC 31; Disable Device DC 31.
� Cloud Giant Skeletons (2): hp 153 each; see
Monster Manual, page 227.
APL 10 (EL 12)
� Mass Inflict Critical Wounds Trap: CR 9;
magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); automatic
reset; spell effect (mass inflict critical wounds, 15th-
level cleric, 4d8+15 negative energy, DC 22 Will
half); Search DC 33; Disable Device DC 33.
� Mummified Ettins (2): hp 90 each; see Appendix
3.
APL 12 (EL 14)
� Mass Inflict Critical Wounds Trap: CR 9;
magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); automatic
reset; spell effect (mass inflict critical wounds, 15th-
level cleric, 4d8+15 negative energy, DC 22 Will
half); Search DC 33; Disable Device DC 33.
� Heightened Unhallow Trap: CR 9; magic
device; proximity trigger (detect undead); no reset;
spell effect (heightened (to 8th-level) unhallow, 15th-
level cleric, magic circle against good effect, all turning
checks made to turn undead take a –4 penalty and
turning checks to rebuke undead gain a +4 profane
bonus, heightened (to 8th-level) bane effect, DC 22
Will negates); Search DC 33; Disable Device DC 33.
� Mummified Stone Giants (2): hp 126 each; see
Appendix 4.
APL 14 (EL 16)
� Heightened Mass Inflict Critical Wounds
Trap: CR 10; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm);
automatic reset; spell effect (heightened (to 9th-
level) mass inflict critical wounds, 17th-level cleric,
4d8+17 negative energy, DC 23 Will half); Search
DC 34; Disable Device DC 34.
� Energy Drain Trap: CR 10; magic device; visual
trigger (true seeing); automatic reset; Atk +8 ranged
touch; spell effect (energy drain, 17th-level wizard,
2d4 negative levels for 24 hours, DC 23 Fort partial);
Search DC 34; Disable Device DC 34.
� Heightened Unhallow Trap: CR 10; magic
device; proximity trigger (detect undead); no reset;
spell effect (heightened (to 9th-level) unhallow, 17th-
level cleric, magic circle against good effect, all turning
checks made to turn undead take a –4 penalty and
turning checks to rebuke undead gain a +4 profane
bonus, heightened (to 9th-level) bane effect, DC 23
Will negates); Search DC 34; Disable Device DC 34.
� Mummified Stone Giants, Double-Evolved
(2): hp 126 each; see Appendix 5.
Tactics: The mindless undead guards advance across
the field and attack the nearest PCs. In doing so, they trip
off the traps. The mummified creatures attempt to engage
the PCs in the area of the traps so that the undead
creatures regain hit points as the traps weaken their
opponents.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 17
Treasure: The weapons that the undead guards
possess can be sold afterward. The Treasure Summary at
the end lists their value. Also, after the party disables the
traps, they will see that there are valuable gems that are
part of the traps’ construction. The value of the gems is
APL x 50 gp per character. This is also in the Treasure
Summary.
Development: Dephos does not come out to defeat
the party; he expects them to come to him. A DC 20
Search check (take 20 allowed) of the mausoleum shows
that the center crypt is actually an entrance to an
underground passage leading to Encounter 10.
ENCOUNTER 10: THE
ASSASSIN
The party gets to this encounter after finding the secret
entrance in the mausoleum’s center crypt in Encounter 9.
Read the following:
The stairs hidden in the center crypt lead you
down to a short ten-foot wide hallway illuminated
by everburning torches. There is a steel double door
at the end with a large and quite visible lock
centered between them.
Refer to DM Aid: Map #3. The door itself is locked
with the lock’s quality varying by APL Open Lock (DC
APL + 10, take 20 is allowed). If the party takes 20 to open
the lock, this gives Dephos more time to prepare. The
door has a one-inch steel outside covering atop a one-
inch adamantine layer. Both layers must be breached to
break down the doors. They are held together by one-
inch wide adamantine nuts and bolts (use the adamantine
layer stats for breaking the nuts and bolts). The doors
meet flush with the floor and door frame.
� Door (steel layer): 1 in. thick; hardness 10; hp 30;
Break DC 28.
� Door (adamantine layer): 1 in. thick; hardness
20; hp 40; Break DC 33.
The door opens into a large vault fifteen feet high,
forty feet wide, and thirty feet deep. The top of the door
is at the top of the room, and there are two steel ladders
attached to the wall (one on either side of the double
door) so that the party can reach the floor. There is also a
rope attached to a pulley near the door that was for
lowering large pallets of treasure down. The rope is
decayed now, and it would be difficult to run another
rope through the pulley.
Birmigam designed this vault as a way for him to
take his treasures with him when he died. He had not
planned on leaving anything for his sons, as they were
more than capable of making their way in the world.
Unfortunately for him, the giants attacked before the
vault was completely finished, and no treasure ever made
it inside. Still, the vault was well constructed. The walls,
ceiling, and floor are stone covered by a one-inch layer of
lead covered by a one-inch layer of steel. It would not
only serve as a means of defense, but as a preventative for
detection. It has one small vent in the ceiling that winds
its way to a hidden vent (DC 30 Search) on the estate
grounds. The vent provides air in case the Birmigams
needed to hide in the vault during an attack.
Trap: There is one small trap on the way to the final
encounter on the stairs outside of the door to Dephos’
hideout. It does no damage, but sets off an alarm. If the
party sets it off, this gives him some time to set up his
buff spells whose duration is measured in minutes/level.
The trap does no damage so it is not included in the EL
for this encounter.
All APLs
� Heightened Alarm Trap: CR 10; magic device;
proximity trigger (alarm); automatic reset; spell
effect (heightened (to 9th-level) alarm, 17th-level
wizard); Search DC 34; Disable Device DC 34.
Creatures: Nycos Dephos was once a human
necromancer interested in matters of death and undeath.
To pay for his research, he became an arcane assassin in
Sterich, specializing in killing targets by necromantic,
evocation, or conjuration spells. He eventually crossed
over into undeath (as a vampire at lower APLs and a lich
at upper APLs) so as to continue his studies throughout
the centuries.
APL 6 (EL 9)
� Nycos Dephos, Male Human Vampire
Wiz(Necromancer)7: hp 63 (78 with false life); see
Appendix 1.
APL 8 (EL 11)
� Nycos Dephos, Male Human Vampire
Wiz(Necromancer)9: hp 81 (98 with false life); see
Appendix 2.
APL 10 (EL 13)
�
Nycos
Dephos,
Male
Human
Lich
Wiz(Necromancer)11: hp 99 (117 with false life); see
Appendix 3.
APL 12 (EL 15)
�
Nycos
Dephos,
Male
Human
Lich
Wiz(Necromancer)13: hp 117 (135 with false life);
see Appendix 4.
APL 14 (EL 17)
�
Nycos
Dephos,
Male
Human
Lich
Wiz(Necromancer)15: hp 135 (153 with false life);
see Appendix 5.
Tactics: When the alarm spells go off in Encounter
9, Dephos casts greater mage armor and false life to increase
his ability to defend himself. If the alarm spell goes off in
the outside hallway, he casts greater invisibility, fly (from a
potion), protection from good, and his very best summon
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 18
monster or summon undead spell at the very least. He then
uses the following spells in order, casting and moving as
necessary (note that all spells listed in the stat block as
Moilian spells use runebones created at the spell’s level –
for example, a 3rd-level Moilian spell uses a runebone that
adds 3d6 damage).
APL 6
Evard’s black tentacles (targeting five feet inside the
doorway), fireball (targeting the area of the tentacles), ray
of exhaustion (at the most powerful opponent not
entangled – probably the party’s fighter), summon undead
II, magic missile, magic missile, magic missile.
APL 8
Evard’s black tentacles (targeting five feet inside the
doorway, cloudkill (targeting the area of the tentacles),
Moilian waves of fatigue (trying to catch as many
unentangled opponents as possible), fireball (targeting the
area of the tentacles), Moilian ray of exhaustion (at the
most powerful opponent not entangled – probably the
party’s fighter), summon undead III, magic missile, magic
missile, magic missile.
APL 10
Evard’s black tentacles (targeting five feet inside the
doorway, repulsion, cloudkill (targeting the area of the
tentacles), Moilian waves of fatigue (trying to catch as
many opponents that are not entangled as possible),
disintegrate (at the most powerful opponent not entangled
– probably the party’s fighter), Moilian ray of entropy
(targeting the most powerful opponent not entangled),
fireball (targeting the area of the tentacles), summon
undead IV, magic missile, magic missile, magic missile.
APL 12
Evard’s black tentacles and quickened fireball (targeting
five feet inside the doorway, repulsion and quickened
spectral hand, cloudkill (targeting the area of the tentacles),
disintegrate (at the most powerful opponent not entangled
– probably the party’s fighter), Moilian arrow of bone
(targeting the most powerful opponent not entangled),
stone to flesh (targeting the most powerful opponent not
entangled), Moilian ray of entropy (targeting the most
powerful opponent not entangled), delayed blast fireball
(targeting the area of the tentacles), fireball that is
maximized via the rod (targeting the area of the
tentacles), cone of cold (targeting the area of the tentacles),
summon undead IV, magic missile, magic missile, magic
missile.
APL 14
Evard’s black tentacles and quickened fireball (targeting
five feet inside the doorway, repulsion and quickened
spectral hand, cloudkill (targeting the area of the tentacles),
Moilian waves of fatigue (trying to catch as many
opponents that are not entangled as possible), Moilian
blackfire (at the most powerful opponent not entangled –
probably the party’s fighter), Moilian horrid wilting
(trying to get the most targets not entangled), disintegrate
(targeting the most powerful opponent not entangled),
Moilian arrow of bone (targeting the most powerful
opponent not entangled), stone to flesh (targeting the most
powerful opponent not entangled), Moilian ray of entropy
(targeting the most powerful opponent not entangled),
maximized cone of cold (targeting the area of the tentacles),
fireball that is maximized via the rod (targeting the area of
the tentacles), delayed blast fireball (targeting the area of
the tentacles), rapid summon undead V, rapid summon
undead IV, magic missile, magic missile, magic missile.
When Dephos casts his summon undead spells, he
selects the following undead unless the battle clearly
indicates another selection is more useful:
Summon undead I
� Human Warrior Skeleton: hp 9; see Monster
Manual, page 226.
Summon undead II
� Owlbear Skeleton: hp 45; see Monster Manual,
page 226.
Summon undead III
� Troll Skeleton: hp 54; see Monster Manual, page
227.
Summon undead IV
� Wyvern Zombie: hp 126; see Monster Manual,
page 267.
Summon undead V
� Wyvern Zombies (2): hp 126 each; see Monster
Manual, page 267.
Additional undead that he can summon are found in
DM Aid: New Rules.
When Dephos casts his summon monster spells, he
selects the following creatures unless the battle clearly
indicates another selection is more useful:
Summon monster I
� Fiendish Snake, Small Viper: hp 6; see Monster
Manual, page 280; fiendish template adds darkvision
60 ft., resistance to cold and fire 5, and SR 5.
Summon monster II
� Fiendish Snake, Medium Viper: hp 12; see
Monster Manual, page 280; fiendish template adds
darkvision 60 ft., resistance to cold and fire 5, and SR
6.
Summon monster III
� Hell Hound: hp 27; see Monster Manual, page
151.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 19
Summon monster IV
� Yeth Hound: hp 23; see Monster Manual, page
260.
Summon monster V
� Shadow Mastiff: hp 33; see Monster Manual, page
222.
Summon monster VI
� Devil, Chain (Kyton): hp 60; see Monster Manual,
page 53.
Summon monster VII
� Devil, Bone (Osyluth): hp 98; see Monster
Manual, page 52.
Summon monster VIII
� Devils, Bone (Osyluth) (2): hp 98 each; see
Monster Manual, page 52.
Dephos casts the spells in the given order above,
using the first set of spells as a surprise round if he gets
that opportunity. His tactics change if the situation
changes; he is certainly not locked into any one course of
action and is intelligent enough to change tactics if what
he is doing is not working.
At APL 6 and 8, Dephos also has a number of wolves
equal to the APL serving as children of the night. Prior to
the door opening, he orders the wolves to attack anyone
going coming down the ladder. The wolves, therefore,
should have a separate Initiative roll. Their purpose is a
delaying action so that he can get off more spells. As
Dephos is not attached to the wolves, he freely includes
them in any area-effect spells that he casts.
Dephos keeps a teleport spell in reserve as a means of
escape. At APL 6, this comes from a scroll so he has to
drop the greater invisibility to read it. The scroll is a part of
his equipment at all APLs.
Finally, Dephos is a very overconfident villain. He is
not afraid to spill some parts of the Triumvirate’s plans as
he thinks he will kill the party with no problems. Each
round, he spends a free action to reveal some aspect of
the plot. Use the following phrases each round to taunt
the party, which also informs the party as to the real plot:
•
“You failed once before, and the Cup passed from
your hands. You failed this time, and the Whispered
Flesh has slipped through your fingers as well. Your
deaths will make your failures complete.”
•
“You all are so easily played. All it takes is a little
mistrust here and there, and you are confused as to
the real plot to this story.”
•
“The Whispered One will soon return to restore his
Empire in the Valley. The Whispered Flesh will
ensure that. All that is required now is the Book.”
•
“The Cup and The Flesh and The Book. Three Items
of Power for Three Wielders of Power. The
Triumvirate shall make the way.”
•
“You will see that I am indeed merciful, for you will
die much quicker than the rest of the Valley.”
If Dephos sees that he is outmatched (being at half
hp while still having significant opposition remaining),
he will try to escape. His preferred method is a teleport
spell as noted earlier. If that should fail at APL 6 or 8, he
will go into gaseous form and use the remaining time on
his fly spell to escape.
Finally, even if they defeat Dephos, it is not the end
for him. As a vampire, his gaseous form will work its way
to the vent and escape to his hidden coffin (which is not
in the vault) before the PCs can track him. As a lich, as his
phylactery is not in the vault, Dephos will reform in 1d10
days after his defeat. In either case, however, his gear will
remain after his apparent destruction.
Treasure: The treasure that Dephos has is listed in
the Treasure Summary. Note that, while he uses certain
restricted spells with an Evil descriptor, these spells will
not be found in his spellbooks for the PCs to have later.
Dephos also has Player Handout #5 on his person, which
gives the players further information. The spellbooks are
hidden in the room; they are copies of his spellbooks that
he uses while traveling. Thus, if Dephos loses them, it is
no great loss.
Development: A DC 20 Search check (take 20
allowed after the combat) of the room reveals that the urn
is here. It has been opened, and its ashes are on a large
ceramic plate. It is obvious that Dephos or someone else
searched through the ashes for something. The search
will also reveal Dephos’ spellbooks as noted above.
Strikethrough any spellbooks not found from the
Dephos’ Spellbooks AR benefit.
CONCLUSION
Despite his promise to desecrate the ashes, Dephos is not
going to stay around to collect them if he defeats the
party or if he needs to make a fast getaway. The same
holds true for his spellbooks; they are only copies. If
there is no one in the party alive or unconscious,
Watcher Branwen will lead a group of Knights to the
estate and the party will have the opportunity for healing
and/or raising. If they are defeated, however, they will
not
get
the
Favor
of
the
Knights
of
the
Watch/Knights of Dispatch or the Knights Training
AR benefits; strikethrough both benefits.
Read the following if the party was defeated:
You awaken to the sound of armored footsteps.
A female voice you recognize as belonging to
Watcher Branwen barks out the orders, “Let’s get
these people out of here!” You hear an unidentified
male voice yell out, “Ma’am, I found the ashes! They
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 20
are scattered about, but appear to be all here!”
Watcher Branwen yells back, “Gather them up! At
least one good thing happened here.” With that, she
looks at your broken bodies in dismay. Yes, the game
in Hochoch has gotten more serious and the villains
are in the lead.
If Dephos escaped, read the following:
You managed to drive off the foul undead
assassin responsible for the murders, but did not
destroy him. You know you will be seeing him again
as this business is far from over. The villains are
indeed ahead in this game, but you are now much
closer to them and their plans. It is not over.
If Dephos “dies”, read the following:
You have managed to destroy the foul undead
assassin responsible for the murders, but you know
he will be back because you were unable to finish
the job. Still, you now know of the villains’ game and
you have dealt them a setback. It is not over, but you
are closer now that you ever were before.
If the party returns back to the Knights after
successfully defeating Dephos, the Knights will consider
them to be valued allies and will give them the Favor of
the Knights of the Watch/Knights of Dispatch and
the Knights Training AR benefits. Finally, if any rogue
PCs report the events of this adventure to their
metaorganization, they will receive the Thick as Thieves
AR benefit.
Note: At the conclusion of this adventure, if the PCs
gain access to teamwork benefits (the Knights Training
AR benefit), and the players decide that they’d like to
form a team with their PCs, one copy of the Living
Greyhawk Team Roster Form should be handed to each
player that decides to join. Allow the players to read over
the rules and costs listed on the form; if they are in
agreement, have the players that wish to form a team
complete the form, and then fill out the bottom portion
of the form with your name, signature, and date. If they
do not wish to form a team at this time, explain to the
players that they still have access to the teamwork
benefits, and may use these rules items if they decide to
form a team at the end of another adventure that gives
them access to teamwork benefits (but only if they come
from the Knights of the Watch/Dispatch). PCs may only
create a team following an adventure that gives access to
teamwork benefits.
The End
EXPERIENCE POINT
SUMMARY
To award experience for this adventure, add up the values
for the objectives accomplished. Then assign the
experience award. Award the total value (objectives plus
roleplaying) to each character.
Encounter 1
Disable or survive the traps.
APL 6: 210 xp.
APL 8: 270 xp.
APL 10: 330 xp.
APL 12: 390 xp.
APL 14: 450 xp.
Encounter 9
Defeat the undead.
APL 6: 240 xp.
APL 8: 300 xp.
APL 10: 360 xp.
APL 12: 420 xp.
APL 14: 480 xp.
Encounter 10
Defeat Nycos Dephos.
APL 6: 270 xp.
APL 8: 330 xp.
APL 10: 390 xp.
APL 12: 450 xp.
APL 14: 510 xp.
Story Award
Find out the truth about the Midnight Raven’s operations
in Hochoch.
APL 6: 90 xp.
APL 8: 113 xp.
APL 10: 135 xp.
APL 12: 158 xp.
APL 14: 180 xp.
Discretionary Roleplaying Award
APL 6: 90 xp.
APL 8: 112 xp.
APL 10: 135 xp.
APL 12: 157 xp.
APL 14: 180 xp.
Total possible experience
APL 6: 900 xp.
APL 8: 1,125 xp.
APL 10: 1,350 xp.
APL 12: 1,575 xp.
APL 14: 1,800 xp.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 21
TREASURE SUMMARY
During an adventure, characters encounter treasure,
usually finding it in the possession of their foes. Every
encounter that features treasure has a “treasure” section
within the encounter description, giving information
about the loot, coins, and magic items that make up the
encounter’s treasure.
The loot total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if the foes are plundered of all their earthly
possessions. Looting the bodies takes at least 10 minutes
per every 5 enemies, and if the characters cannot take the
time to loot the bodies, they do not gain this gold. If you
feel it is reasonable that characters can go back to loot the
bodies, and those bodies are there (i.e., not carted off by
dungeon scavengers, removed from the scene by the local
watch, and so on), characters may return to retrieve loot. If
the characters do not loot the body, the gold piece value for
the loot is subtracted from the encounter totals given
below.
The coin total is the number of gold pieces each
character gains if they take the coin available. A normal
adventuring party can usually gather this wealth in a round
or so. If for some reason, they pass up this treasure, the
coin total is subtracted from the encounter totals given
below.
Next, the magic items are listed. Magic item treasure
is the hardest to adjudicate, because they are varied and
because characters may want to use them during the
adventure. Many times characters must cast identify, analyze
dweomer or similar spell to determine what the item does
and how to activate it. Other times they may attempt to
use the item blindly. If the magic item is consumable (a
potion, scroll, magic bolts, etc.) and the item is used before
the end of the adventure, its total is subtracted from the
adventure totals below.
Once you have subtracted the value for unclaimed
treasure from each encounter add it up and that is the
number of gold pieces a characters total and coin value
increase at the end of the adventure. Write the total in the
GP Gained field of the adventure certificate. Because this is
a Regional adventure, characters may spend additional
Time Units to practice professions or create items
immediately after the adventure so this total may be
modified by other circumstances.
L = Looted gear from enemy; C = Coin, Gems, Jewelry,
and other valuables; M = Magic Items.
Encounter 9:
APL 6: L: 12 gp, C: 300 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 8: L: 11 gp, C: 400 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 10: L: 12 gp, C: 500 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 12: L: 7 gp, C: 600 gp, M: 0 gp.
APL 14: L: 7 gp, C: 700 gp, M: 0 gp.
Encounter 10:
APL 6: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168
gp), headband of intellect +2 (333 gp), ring of protection
+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest
of resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp),
Dephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150
gp).
APL 8: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168
gp), headband of intellect +2 (333 gp), ring of protection
+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest
of resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp),
Dephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150
gp), Dephos’ Spellbook IV (167 gp), amulet of natural
armor +2 (667 gp), potion of inflict serious wounds (63
gp).
APL 10: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168
gp), headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), ring of protection
+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest
of resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp),
Dephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150
gp), Dephos’ Spellbook IV (167 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook V
(175 gp), amulet of natural armor +2 (667 gp), potion of
inflict serious wounds (63 gp).
APL 12: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168
gp), headband of intellect +4 (1,333 gp), ring of protection
+1 (167 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest
of resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp),
Dephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150
gp), Dephos’ Spellbook IV (167 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook V
(175 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook VI (204 gp), amulet of
natural armor +2 (667 gp), potion of inflict serious
wounds (63 gp), gloves of dexterity +4 (1,333 gp),
metamagic rod (maximize, lesser) (1,167 gp).
APL 14: L: 28 gp, C: 0 gp, M: +1 mithral buckler (168
gp), headband of intellect +6 (3,000 gp), ring of protection
+2 (667 gp), arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th) (94 gp), vest
of resistance +2 (333 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook I (113 gp),
Dephos’ Spellbook II (125 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook III (150
gp), Dephos’ Spellbook IV (167 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook V
(175 gp), Dephos’ Spellbook VI (204 gp), Dephos’
Spellbook VII (233 gp), amulet of natural armor +2 (667
gp), potion of inflict serious wounds (63 gp), gloves of
dexterity +4 (1,333 gp), metamagic rod (maximize, lesser)
(1,167 gp), bracers of armor +5 (2,o83 gp).
Total Possible Treasure (Maximum Reward
Allowed)
APL 6: L: 40 gp, C: 300 gp, M: 1,483 gp – Total: 1,823
gp (900 gp).
APL 8: L: 39 gp, C: 400 gp, M: 2,380 gp – Total: 2,819
gp (1,300 gp).
APL 10: L: 40 gp, C: 500 gp, M: 3,555 gp – Total: 4,095
gp (2,300 gp).
APL 12: L: 35 gp, C: 600 gp, M: 6,259 gp – Total: 6,894
gp (3,300 gp).
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 22
APL 14: L: 35 gp, C: 700 gp, M: 10,742 gp – Total:
11,477 gp (6,600 gp).
ITEMS FOR THE ADVENTURE
RECORD
Special
� Imprisoned in Hochoch (First Outcome): For
removing evidence from a crime, you are sentenced to a
reduced punishment of 4 TUs of imprisonment. Lifestyle
costs for these TUs are free.
� Imprisoned in Hochoch (Second Outcome): For
assaulting Hochoch city guards, you are sentenced to a
reduced punishment of 8 TUs of imprisonment. Lifestyle
costs for these TUs are free.
� Outlaw in Hochoch: For assaulting city guards with
intent to kill, you are sentenced to a term of lengthy
imprisonment in the City of Hochoch. However, you
manage to escape before being arrested. If you are a
member of the Knights of the Watch or the Knights of
Dispatch, you are immediately removed from the Order.
If you return to Hochoch, you will automatically be
captured and imprisoned for 156 TUs. Lifestyle costs for
these TUs are free.
� Dephos’ Spellbooks: You have found the spellbooks
of the undead necromancer Nycos Dephos. There are a
total of seven spellbooks; each volume is available at a
certain APL and above. They contain the following
(SCSpell Compendium, FBFrostburn):
APL 6 - Spellbook I: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic
missile, protection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield,
summon monster I; 2nd – cat’s grace, false life, fox’s
cunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid
arrow, scorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II.
Price: 1,350 gp; Weight: 3 lbs.
APL 6 - Spellbook II: 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater
mage armorSC, halt undead, keen edge, magic circle against
good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC, summon
monster III, vampiric touch. Price: 1,500 gp; Weight: 3
lbs.
APL 6 - Spellbook III: 4th – animate dead, contagion,
enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of
invulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon
monster IV, sword of deceptionSC. Price: 1,800 gp; Weight:
3 lbs.
APL 8 - Spellbook IV: 5th – baleful polymorph, cloudkill,
cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic jar, summon monster V,
teleport, waves of fatigue. Price: 2,000 gp; Weight: 3 lbs.
APL 10 - Spellbook V: 6th – disintegrate, eyebite, greater
dispel magic, ray of entropySC, repulsion, stone to flesh,
summon monster VI. Price: 2,100 gp; Weight: 3 lbs.
APL 12 - Spellbook VI: 7th – arrow of boneSC, delayed
last fireball, spell turning, summon monster VII, sword of
darknessSC, greater teleport, waves of exhaustion. Price:
2,450 gp; Weight: 3 lbs.
APL 14 - Spellbook VII: 8th – blackfireSC, greater shout,
horrid wilting, polar ray, summon monster VIII, symbol of
death, trap the soul. Price: 2,800 gp; Weight: 3 lbs.
� Favor of the Knights of the Watch/Dispatch: By
reporting the events of this adventure to the Knights, you
have gained their favor. If you are not a member and are a
human, dwarf, or half-elf, the Knights will grant a
recommendation for membership into their ranks and
grant you access (Frequency: Adventure) to purchase the
following item immediately: mithral chain shirt. In
addition, members of the metaorganization gain these
additional (cumulative) benefits:
If this PC is a Squire, this access is upgraded to
Frequency: Metaregional. If this PC is a Senior Squire,
they gain access (Frequency: Metaregional) to boots of
striding and springing as well. If you are a full Knight, you
get access (Frequency: Metaregional) to a ring of mind
shielding as well.
The
DM
should
verify
membership
and
strikethrough any item access not granted.
� Knights Training: Because of the seriousness of this
growing situation, the Knights want you to undergo
further training. If you are a member of the Knights of
the Watch or Knights of Dispatch, you may select one or
more of the following teamwork benefits: Heavy
CavalryHoB, InfiltrationDMG2, Ranged PrecisionDMG2, Snap
Out of ItDMG2. The rules for how to apply these benefits
can be found on the Living Greyhawk Team Roster Form.
These benefits can ONLY be gained at the end of this
adventure (or any other adventure that offers teamwork
benefits from the Knights of the Watch/Dispatch). Non-
members can be trained as well, but must spend one
Influence Point with the Knights per benefit gained.
HoBHeroes of Battle, DMG2Dungeon Master’s Guide II.
� Thick as Thieves: For reporting the events of this
adventure to a thieves’ guild metaorganization to which
you are a member, you gain one Influence Point with
that organization. You also gain access (Frequency:
Metaregional) to purchase a cloak of elvenkind.
Name of Organization: _________________________________
Item Access
APL 6 (all of the following):
•
+1 Mithral Buckler (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Arcane Scroll of Teleport (CL 9th; Adventure; Dungeon
Master’s Guide)
•
Dephos’ Spellbooks I, II, and III (Adventure; See Above)
•
Vest of Resistance +2 (Adventure; Complete Arcane)
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 23
APL 8 (all of APL 6 plus the following):
•
Amulet of Natural Armor +2 (Adventure; Dungeon
Master’s Guide)
•
Dephos’ Spellbook IV (Adventure; See Above)
•
Potion of Inflict Serious Wounds (Adventure; Dungeon
Master’s Guide)
APL 10 (all of APLs 6, 8 plus the following):
•
Dephos’ Spellbook V (Adventure; See Above)
•
Headband of Intellect +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Large
Items:
Javelin,
Morningstar,
Hide
Armor
(Adventure; Player’s Handbook)
APL 12 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10 plus the following):
•
Large Items: Greatclub (Adventure; Player’s Handbook)
•
Dephos’ Spellbook VI (Adventure; See Above)
•
Metamagic Rod, Maximize, Lesser (Adventure; Dungeon
Master’s Guide)
•
Gloves of Dexterity +4 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
APL 14 (all of APLs 6, 8, 10, 12 plus the following):
•
Bracers of Armor +5 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s Guide)
•
Dephos’ Spellbook VII (Adventure; See Above)
•
Headband of Intellect +6 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
•
Ring of Protection +2 (Adventure; Dungeon Master’s
Guide)
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 24
APPENDIX 1 – APL 6
ENCOUNTER 9
Ettin Skeleton: hp 90; see Monster Manual, page 227.
ENCOUNTER 10
Nycos
Dephos,
Male
Human
Vampire
Wiz(Necromancer)7: Medium Undead (augmented
humanoid); CR 9; HD 7d12; hp 63 (78 with false life); Init
+9; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 30, touch 16, flat-footed
25 (+5 Dex, +6 armor, +2 shield, +6 natural, +1 deflection);
Base Atk/Grp: +3/+5; Atk: +6 melee (1d4+2/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +9 ranged (1d4+2/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +5 melee (1d6+3 plus energy
drain, slam); Full Atk: +6 melee (1d4+2/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +9 ranged (1d4+2/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +5 melee (1d6+3 plus energy
drain, slam); SA spells, blood drain, children of the night,
create spawn, dominate DC 16, energy drain DC 16,
natural weapons count as magical weapons for
overcoming DR; SQ alternate form, DR 10/silver and
magic, cold/electricity resistance 10, fast healing 5,
gaseous form, spider climb, summon familiar, turn
resistance +4; AL LE; SV Fort +4, Ref +11, Will +9; Str 14,
Dex 20, Con –, Int 19 (21), Wis 14, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +11, Concentration +13,
Decipher Script +15, Hide +13, Knowledge (arcana) +15,
Knowledge (dungeoneering) +10, Knowledge (history)
+15, Knowledge (religion) +15, Knowledge (the planes)
+10, Listen +12, Move Silently +13, Search +13, Sense
Motive +10, Spellcraft +17, Spot +12; AlertnessB, Combat
Casting, Combat ReflexesB, Craft Wondrous ItemB,
DodgeB, Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Improved
InitiativeB, Lightning ReflexesB, Scribe ScrollB, Simple
Weapon Proficiency, Spell Focus (Necromancy).
Wizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/4+1/3+1/2+1; base
DC = 15 + spell level, 17 + spell level for Necromancy
spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost, touch of
fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection from good, ray of
enfeeblement* (2), summon undead ISC; 2nd – false life*, ghoul
touch, glitterdust, spectral hand, summon undead IISC; 3rd –
fireball, greater mage armor, ray of exhaustion*, summon
undead IIISC; 4th – enervation*, Evard’s black tentacles, greater
invisibility. SCSpell Compendium.
*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment,
Divination.
Spellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile,
protection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon
monster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s
cunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow,
scorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon
undead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC,
magic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC,
summon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead,
contagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of
invulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon
monster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC.
FBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium.
Possessions: spellbooks, +1 mithral buckler, headband of
intellect +2, masterwork dagger, courtier's outfit, potion of
fly, ring of protection +1, arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th), vest of
resistance +2CA. CAComplete Arcane.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 25
APPENDIX 2 – APL 8
ENCOUNTER 9
Cloud Giant Skeleton: hp 153; see Monster Manual, page
227.
ENCOUNTER 10
Nycos
Dephos,
Male
Human
Vampire
Wiz(Necromancer)9: Medium Undead (augmented
humanoid); CR 11; HD 9d12; hp 81 (98 with false life); Init
+9; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 32, touch 16, flat-footed
27 (+5 Dex, +6 armor, +2 shield, +8 natural, +1 deflection);
Base Atk/Grp: +4/+6; Atk: +7 melee (1d4+2/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +10 ranged (1d4+2/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +6 melee (1d6+3 plus energy
drain, slam); Full Atk: +7 melee (1d4+2/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +10 ranged (1d4+2/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +6 melee (1d6+3 plus energy
drain, slam); SA spells, blood drain, children of the night,
create spawn, dominate DC 17, energy drain DC 17,
natural weapons count as magical weapons for
overcoming DR; SQ alternate form, DR 10/silver and
magic, cold/electricity resistance 10, fast healing 5,
gaseous form, spider climb, summon familiar, turn
resistance +4; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +12, Will +10; Str
14, Dex 20, Con –, Int 20 (22), Wis 14, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +11, Concentration +15,
Decipher Script +18, Hide +13, Knowledge (arcana) +18,
Knowledge (dungeoneering) +13, Knowledge (history)
+18, Knowledge (religion) +17, Knowledge (the planes)
+13, Listen +12, Move Silently +13, Search +14, Sense
Motive +10, Spellcraft +20, Spot +12; AlertnessB, Black
Lore of MoilCA, Combat Casting, Combat ReflexesB, Craft
Wondrous
ItemB,
DodgeB,
Greater
Spell
Focus
(Necromancy),
Improved
InitiativeB,
Lightning
ReflexesB, Scribe ScrollB, Simple Weapon Proficiency,
Spell Focus (Necromancy). CAComplete Arcane.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/6+1/4+1/3+1/2+1;
base DC = 16 + spell level, 18 + spell level for
Necromancy spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of
frost, touch of fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection
from good, MoilianCA ray of enfeeblement* (2), summon
undead ISC; 2nd – false life*, glitterdust (2), invisibility, Melf’s
acid arrow, spectral hand, summon undead IISC; 3rd – dispel
magic, fireball, greater mage armor, MoilianCA ray of
exhaustion*, summon undead IIISC; 4th – MoilianCA
enervation*, Evard’s black tentacles, greater invisibility,
summon undead IVSC; 5th – cloudkill, teleport, MoilianCA
waves of fatigue*. SCSpell Compendium, CAComplete Arcane.
*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment,
Divination.
Spellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile,
protection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon
monster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s
cunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow,
scorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon
undead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC,
magic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC,
summon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead,
contagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of
invulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon
monster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC; 5th –
baleful polymorph, cloudkill, cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic
jar, summon monster V, summon undead VSC, teleport, waves of
fatigue. FBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium.
Possessions: Moilian runebones, spellbooks, +1 mithral
buckler, amulet of natural armor +2, potion of inflict serious
wounds, headband of intellect +2, masterwork dagger,
courtier's outfit, potion of fly, ring of protection +1, arcane
scroll of teleport (CL 9th), vest of resistance +2CA. CAComplete
Arcane.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 26
APPENDIX 3 – APL 10
ENCOUNTER 9
Mummified Ettin: Large Undead (augmented giant);
CR 9; HD 10d12; hp 90; Init +3; Spd 20 ft.; AC 21, touch
8, flat-footed 21 (-1 size, -1 Dex, +3 armor, +10 natural);
Base Atk/Grp: +7/+21; Atk: +16 melee (2d6+10, large
morningstar) or +5 ranged (1d8+10, large javelin) or +16
melee (2d6+10, slam); Full Atk: +16/+11 melee (2d6+10, 2
large morningstars) or +5/+0 ranged (1d8+10, 2 large
javelins) or +16 melee (2d6+10, slam) or +16/+11 melee
(2d6+10, large morningstar) and +16 melee (2d6+10,
slam); SA mummy rot, despair; SQ DR 5/–, superior two-
weapon fighting, undead traits, vulnerability to fire; AL
LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +2, Will +7; Str 30, Dex 8, Con –, Int
2, Wis 14, Cha 15. Libris Mortis, page 110.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +2, Listen +8, Search
-1, Spot +12; Alertness, Improved Initiative, Iron Will,
Power Attack.
Skills: An ettin’s two heads give it a +2 racial bonus
on Listen, Spot, and Search checks.
Superior Two-Weapon Fighting (Ex): An ettin
fights with a morningstar or javelin in each hand.
Because each of its two heads controls an arm, the ettin
does not take a penalty on attack or damage rolls for
attacking with two weapons.
Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified
ettin, the viewer must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or be
paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the
save is successful, that creature cannot be affected again
by the same mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours. The
save DC is Cha-based.
Mummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease—slam,
Fortitude DC 17, incubation period 1 minute; damage
1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. The save DC is Cha-based.
Unlike normal diseases, mummy rot continues until
the victim reaches Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as
described below.
Mummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural
disease. A character attempting to cast any conjuration
(healing) spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot
must succeed on a DC 20 caster level check, or the spell
has no effect on the afflicted character.
To eliminate mummy rot, the curse must first be
broken with break enchantment or remove curse (requiring a
DC 20 caster level check for either spell), after which a
caster level check is no longer necessary to cast healing
spells on the victim, and the mummy rot can be
magically cured as any normal disease.
An afflicted creature who dies of mummy rot
shrivels away into sand and dust that blow away into
nothing at the first wind.
Possessions: large hide armor, 2 large morningstars, 4
large javelins.
ENCOUNTER 10
Nycos
Dephos,
Male
Human
Lich
Wiz(Necromancer)11: Medium Undead (augmented
humanoid); CR 13; HD 11d12; hp 99 (117 with false life);
Init +7; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 29, touch 14, flat-
footed 26 (+3 Dex, +6 armor, +2 shield, +7 natural, +1
deflection); Base Atk/Grp: +5/+4; Atk: +5 melee (1d4-
1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +9 ranged (1d4-1/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +4 melee touch (1d8+5 negative
energy plus paralysis, touch); Full Atk: +5 melee (1d4-
1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +9 ranged (1d4-1/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +4 melee touch (1d8+5 negative
energy plus paralysis, touch); SA fear aura DC 17,
paralyzing touch DC 17, touch attack DC 17, natural
weapons treated as magical for the purpose of
overcoming DR, spells; SQ +4 turn resistance, DR
15/bludgeoning and magic, darkvision 60 ft., undead
traits, immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph, and
mind-affecting attacks; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +8, Will
+11; Str 8, Dex 16, Con –, Int 20 (24), Wis 14, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +16, Decipher Script
+21, Hide +11, Knowledge (arcana) +21, Knowledge
(dungeoneering)
+18,
Knowledge
(history)
+21,
Knowledge (religion) +21, Knowledge (the planes) +18,
Listen +10, Move Silently +11, Search +15, Sense Motive
+10, Spellcraft +23, Spot +10; Black Lore of MoilCA,
Combat Casting, Craft Wondrous ItemB, Empower
SpellB, Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Improved
Initiative, Scribe ScrollB, Spell Focus (Necromancy).
CAComplete Arcane.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/4+1/3+1/
2+1; base DC = 17 + spell level, 19 + spell level for
Necromancy spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of
frost, touch of fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection
from good, MoilianCA ray of enfeeblement* (2), summon
undead ISC; 2nd – false life*, glitterdust (2), invisibility, Melf’s
acid arrow, spectral hand, summon undead IISC; 3rd – dispel
magic, fireball (2), greater mage armor, MoilianCA ray of
exhaustion*, summon monster III, summon undead IIISC; 4th –
MoilianCA enervation*, Evard’s black tentacles, greater
invisibility, summon monster IV, summon undead IVSC; 5th –
cloudkill, summon undead VSC, teleport, MoilianCA waves of
fatigue*; 6th – disintegrate, MoilianCA ray of entropySC*,
repulsion. SCSpell Compendium, CAComplete Arcane.
*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment,
Divination.
Spellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile,
protection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon
monster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s
cunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow,
scorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon
undead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC,
magic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC,
summon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead,
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 27
contagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of
invulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon
monster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC; 5th –
baleful polymorph, cloudkill, cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic
jar, summon monster V, summon undead VSC, teleport, waves of
fatigue; 6th – disintegrate, eyebite, greater dispel magic, ray of
entropySC, repulsion, stone to flesh, summon monster VI.
FBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium.
Possessions: Moilian runebones, spellbooks, +1 mithral
buckler, amulet of natural armor +2, potion of inflict serious
wounds, headband of intellect +4, masterwork dagger,
courtier's outfit, potion of fly, ring of protection +1, arcane
scroll of teleport (CL 9th), vest of resistance +2CA. CAComplete
Arcane.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 28
APPENDIX 4 – APL 12
ENCOUNTER 9
Mummified Stone Giant: Large Undead (augmented
giant); CR 11; HD 14d12; hp 126; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC
25, touch 11, flat-footed 23 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +3 armor, +11
natural); Base Atk/Grp: +10/+26; Atk: +21 melee (2d8+18,
large greatclub) or +11 ranged (2d6+12, rock) or +21
melee (1d4+12, slam); Full Atk: +21/+16 melee (2d8+18,
large greatclub) or +11 ranged (2d6+12, rock) or +21
melee (1d4+12, 2 slams); SA despair, mummy rot, rock
throwing; SQ +8 to hide checks in rocky terrain, DR 5/–,
rock catching, undead traits, vulnerability to fire; AL LE;
SV Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 35, Dex 15, Con –, Int 6,
Wis 16, Cha 15. Libris Mortis, page 110.
Skills and Feats: Climb +13, Concentration +2, Hide
+4*, Spot +15; Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Point Blank
Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot.
Skills: *A stone giant gains a +8 racial bonus on
Hide checks in rocky terrain.
Rock
Throwing
(Ex):
Adult
giants
are
accomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus
on attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least
Large size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 pounds each
(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of
the range increment varies with the giant’s variety. A
Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80 lbs. (Medium
objects).
The range increment is 180 feet for a stone giant’s
thrown rocks. It uses both hands when throwing a rock.
Rock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size
can catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of
similar shape).
Once per round, a giant that would normally be hit
by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch it as a free
action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a Medium
one, and 25 for a Large one. (If the projectile provides a
magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases by that
amount.) The giant must be ready for and aware of the
attack in order to make a rock catching attempt.
A stone giant gains a +4 racial bonus on its Reflex
save when attempting to catch a thrown rock.
Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified
stone giant, the viewer must succeed on a DC 19 Will
save or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or
not the save is successful, that creature cannot be affected
again by the same mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours.
The save DC is Cha-based.
Mummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease—slam,
Fortitude DC 19, incubation period 1 minute; damage
1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. The save DC is Cha-based.
Unlike normal diseases, mummy rot continues until
the victim reaches Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as
described below.
Mummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural
disease. A character attempting to cast any conjuration
(healing) spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot
must succeed on a DC 20 caster level check, or the spell
has no effect on the afflicted character.
To eliminate mummy rot, the curse must first be
broken with break enchantment or remove curse
(requiring a DC 20 caster level check for either spell),
after which a caster level check is no longer necessary to
cast healing spells on the victim, and the mummy rot can
be magically cured as any normal disease.
An afflicted creature who dies of mummy rot
shrivels away into sand and dust that blow away into
nothing at the first wind.
Possessions: large hide armor, large greatclub, 6 rocks.
ENCOUNTER 10
Nycos
Dephos,
Male
Human
Lich
Wiz(Necromancer)13: Medium Undead (augmented
humanoid); CR 15; HD 13d12; hp 117 (135 with false life);
Init +9; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 31, touch 16, flat-
footed 26 (+5 Dex, +6 armor, +2 shield, +7 natural, +1
deflection); Base Atk/Grp: +6/+5; Atk: +6 melee (1d4-
1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +12 ranged (1d4-1/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +5 melee touch (1d8+5 negative
energy plus paralysis, touch); Full Atk: +6/+1 melee (1d4-
1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +12 ranged (1d4-1/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +5 melee touch (1d8+5 negative
energy plus paralysis, touch); SA fear aura DC 18,
paralyzing touch DC 18, touch attack DC 18, natural
weapons treated as magical for the purpose of
overcoming DR, spells; SQ +4 turn resistance, DR
15/bludgeoning and magic, darkvision 60 ft., undead
traits, immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph, and
mind-affecting attacks; AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +11, Will
+12; Str 8, Dex 16 (20), Con –, Int 21 (25), Wis 14, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +18, Decipher Script
+23, Hide +13, Knowledge (arcana) +23, Knowledge
(dungeoneering)
+21,
Knowledge
(history)
+23,
Knowledge (religion) +23, Knowledge (the planes) +21,
Listen +10, Move Silently +13, Search +15, Sense Motive
+10, Spellcraft +25, Spot +10; Black Lore of MoilCA,
Combat Casting, Craft Wondrous ItemB, Empower
SpellB, Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Improved
Initiative, Quicken Spell, Scribe ScrollB, Spell Focus
(Necromancy). CAComplete Arcane.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/5+1/4+1/
3+1/2+1; base DC = 17 + spell level, 19 + spell level for
Necromancy spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 29
frost, touch of fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection
from good, MoilianCA ray of enfeeblement* (2), summon
undead ISC; 2nd – false life*, glitterdust (2), invisibility, Melf’s
acid arrow, spectral hand, summon undead IISC; 3rd – dispel
magic, fireball (2), greater mage armor, MoilianCA ray of
exhaustion*, summon monster III, summon undead IIISC; 4th –
MoilianCA enervation*, Evard’s black tentacles, greater
invisibility, MoilianCA mindfrostFB, summon monster IV,
summon undead IVSC; 5th – cloudkill, greater blinkSC, summon
undead VSC, teleport, MoilianCA waves of fatigue*; 6th –
disintegrate,
MoilianCA
ray
of
entropySC*,
repulsion,
quickened spectral hand; 7th – MoilianCA arrow of boneSC*,
delayed blast fireball, quickened fireball. FBFrostburn, SCSpell
Compendium, CAComplete Arcane.
*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment,
Divination.
Spellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile,
protection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon
monster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s
cunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow,
scorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon
undead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC,
magic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC,
summon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead,
contagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of
invulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon
monster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC; 5th –
baleful polymorph, cloudkill, cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic
jar, summon monster V, summon undead VSC, teleport, waves of
fatigue; 6th – disintegrate, eyebite, greater dispel magic, ray of
entropySC, repulsion, stone to flesh, summon monster VI; 7th –
arrow of boneSC, delayed blast fireball, greater teleport, spell
turning, summon monster VII, sword of darknessSC, waves of
exhaustion. FBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium.
Possessions: Moilian runebones, spellbooks, +1 mithral
buckler, amulet of natural armor +2, potion of inflict serious
wounds, headband of intellect +4, gloves of dexterity +4,
masterwork dagger, courtier's outfit, potion of fly, ring of
protection +1, metamagic rod (maximize, lesser), arcane scroll of
teleport (CL 9th), vest of resistance +2CA. CAComplete Arcane.
SHE6-01 Flesh Torn Asunder
Page 30
APPENDIX 5 – APL 14
ENCOUNTER 9
Mummified Stone Giant, Double-Evolved: Large
Undead (augmented giant); CR 13; HD 14d12; hp 126;
Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC 27, touch 11, flat-footed 25 (-1 size,
+2 Dex, +3 armor, +13 natural); Base Atk/Grp: +10/+28;
Atk: +23 melee (2d8+21, large greatclub) or +11 ranged
(2d6+14, rock) or +21 melee (1d4+14, slam); Full Atk:
+23/+18 melee (2d8+21, large greatclub) or +11 ranged
(2d6+12, rock) or +23 melee (1d4+14, 2 slams); SA
despair, mummy rot, rock throwing; SQ +8 to hide
checks in rocky terrain, DR 5/–, rock catching, undead
traits, vulnerability to fire, fast healing 3; AL LE; SV Fort
+9, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 39, Dex 15, Con –, Int 6, Wis 16,
Cha 19. Libris Mortis, pages 99 and 110.
Skills and Feats: Climb +15, Concentration +4, Hide
+4*, Spot +15; Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Point Blank
Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot.
Skills: *A stone giant gains a +8 racial bonus on
Hide checks in rocky terrain.
Rock
Throwing
(Ex):
Adult
giants
are
accomplished rock throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus
on attack rolls when throwing rocks. A giant of at least
Large size can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50 pounds each
(Small objects) up to five range increments. The size of
the range increment varies with the giant’s variety. A
Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80 lbs. (Medium
objects).
The range increment is 180 feet for a stone giant’s
thrown rocks. It uses both hands when throwing a rock.
Rock Catching (Ex): A giant of at least Large size
can catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of
similar shape).
Once per round, a giant that would normally be hit
by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch it as a free
action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a Medium
one, and 25 for a Large one. (If the projectile provides a
magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases by that
amount.) The giant must be ready for and aware of the
attack in order to make a rock catching attempt.
A stone giant gains a +4 racial bonus on its Reflex
save when attempting to catch a thrown rock.
Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummified
stone giant, the viewer must succeed on a DC 21 Will
save or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or
not the save is successful, that creature cannot be affected
again by the same mummy’s despair ability for 24 hours.
The save DC is Cha-based.
Mummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease—slam,
Fortitude DC 21, incubation period 1 minute; damage
1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. The save DC is Cha-based.
Unlike normal diseases, mummy rot continues until
the victim reaches Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as
described below.
Mummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural
disease. A character attempting to cast any conjuration
(healing) spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot
must succeed on a DC 20 caster level check, or the spell
has no effect on the afflicted character.
To eliminate mummy rot, the curse must first be
broken with break enchantment or remove curse
(requiring a DC 20 caster level check for either spell),
after which a caster level check is no longer necessary to
cast healing spells on the victim, and the mummy rot can
be magically cured as any normal disease.
An afflicted creature who dies of mummy rot
shrivels away into sand and dust that blow away into
nothing at the first wind.
Spell-like Abilities: 1/day—unholy blight (DC 18),
cloudkill (DC 19); save DC is Cha-based; CL 14th.
Possessions: large hide armor, large greatclub, 6 rocks.
ENCOUNTER 10
Nycos
Dephos,
Male
Human
Lich
Wiz(Necromancer)15: Medium Undead (augmented
humanoid); CR 17; HD 15d12; hp 135 (153 with false life);
Init +9; Spd 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (g00d); AC 31, touch 17, flat-
footed 26 (+5 Dex, +5 armor, +2 shield, +7 natural, +2
deflection); Base Atk/Grp: +7/+6; Atk: +7 melee (1d4-
1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +13 ranged (1d4-1/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +6 melee touch (1d8+5 negative
energy plus paralysis, touch); Full Atk: +7/+2 melee (1d4-
1/19-20, masterwork dagger) or +13 ranged (1d4-1/19-20,
masterwork dagger) or +6 melee touch (1d8+5 negative
energy plus paralysis, touch); SA fear aura DC 19,
paralyzing touch DC 19, touch attack DC 19, natural
weapons treated as magical for the purpose of
overcoming DR, spells; SQ +4 turn resistance, DR
15/bludgeoning and magic, darkvision 60 ft., undead
traits, immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph, and
mind-affecting attacks; AL LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +12, Will
+13; Str 8, Dex 16 (20), Con –, Int 21 (27), Wis 14, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +20, Decipher Script
+26, Hide +13, Knowledge (arcana) +26, Knowledge
(dungeoneering)
+26,
Knowledge
(history)
+26,
Knowledge (religion) +26, Knowledge (the planes) +26,
Listen +10, Move Silently +13, Search +16, Sense Motive
+10, Spellcraft +28, Spot +10; Black Lore of MoilCA,
Combat Casting, Craft Wondrous ItemB, Empower
SpellB, Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Improved
Initiative, Maximize SpellB, Quicken Spell, Rapid SpellCD,
Scribe ScrollB, Spell Focus (Necromancy). CAComplete
Arcane, CDComplete Divine.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/5+1/
4+1/3+1/2+1; base DC = 18 + spell level, 20 + spell level
for Necromancy spells): 0 – mage hand, prestidigitation, ray
of frost, touch of fatigue* (2); 1st – magic missile (3), protection
from good, MoilianCA ray of enfeeblement* (2), rapidCD
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summon undead ISC; 2nd – false life*, glitterdust (2), invisibility,
Melf’s acid arrow, spectral hand, rapidCD summon undead ISC;
3rd – dispel magic (2), fireball (2), MoilianCA ray of
exhaustion*, rapidCD summon undead IISC, summon undead
IIISC; 4th – MoilianCA enervation* (2), Evard’s black tentacles
(2), greater invisibility, summon monster IV, rapidCD summon
undead IIISC; 5th – cloudkill, greater blinkSC, cone of cold,
rapidCD summon undead IVSC, teleport, MoilianCA waves of
fatigue*; 6th – disintegrate, MoilianCA ray of entropySC*,
repulsion, quickened spectral hand, rapidCD summon undead
VSC; 7th – MoilianCA arrow of boneSC*, delayed blast fireball,
quickened fireball, summon monster VII; 8th – MoilianCA
blackfireSC*, maximized cone of cold, MoilianCA horrid
wilting. SCSpell Compendium, CAComplete Arcane, CDComplete
Divine.
*Bonus spell; Prohibited Schools: Enchantment,
Divination.
Spellbook: 1st – grease, mage armor, magic missile,
protection from good, ray of enfeeblement, shield, summon
monster I, summon undead ISC; 2nd – cat's grace, false life, fox’s
cunning, ghoul touch, glitterdust, invisibility, Melf’s acid arrow,
scorching ray, spectral hand, summon monster II, summon
undead IISC; 3rd – dispel magic, fireball, greater mage armorSC,
magic circle against good, ray of exhaustion, resonating boltSC,
summon undead IIISC, vampiric touch; 4th – animate dead,
contagion, enervation, Evard’s black tentacles, lesser globe of
invulnerability, greater invisibility, mindfrostFB, summon
monster IV, summon undead IVSC, sword of deceptionSC; 5th –
baleful polymorph, cloudkill, cone of cold, greater blinkSC, magic
jar, summon monster V, summon undead VSC, teleport, waves of
fatigue; 6th – disintegrate, eyebite, greater dispel magic, ray of
entropySC, repulsion, stone to flesh, summon monster VI; 7th –
arrow of boneSC, delayed blast fireball, greater teleport, spell
turning, summon monster VII, sword of darknessSC, waves of
exhaustion; 8th – blackfireSC, greater shout, horrid wilting, polar
ray, summon monster VIII, symbol of death, trap the soul.
FBFrostburn, SCSpell Compendium.
Possessions: Moilian runebones, spellbooks, +1 mithral
buckler, amulet of natural armor +2, bracers of armor +5, potion
of inflict serious wounds, headband of intellect +6, gloves of
dexterity +4, masterwork dagger, courtier's outfit, potion of
fly, ring of protection +2, metamagic rod (maximize, lesser),
arcane scroll of teleport (CL 9th), vest of resistance +2CA.
CAComplete Arcane.
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APPENDIX 6 – ALL APLS
ENCOUNTER 2
Watcher
Branwen,
Expeditious
Vigil,
Female
Human Pal10/Knight of the Watch2: Medium
Humanoid (Human); CR 12; HD 10d10+2d10+24; hp 108;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 12, flat-footed 23 (+1 Dex,
+9 armor, +3 shield, +1 deflection); Base Atk/Grp:
+12/+15; Atk: +16 melee (1d8+4/x3, +1 adamantine
battleaxe) or +16 melee (1d8+4/19-20, +1 adamantine
longsword) or +16 melee (1d8+5/x3, +1 lance) or +15 melee
(1d6+3, light mace); Full Atk: +16/+11/+6 melee
(1d8+4/x3, +1 adamantine battleaxe) or +16/+11/+6 melee
(1d8+4/19-20, +1 adamantine longsword) or +16/+11/+6
melee (1d8+5/x3, +1 lance) or +15/+10/+5 melee (1d6+3,
light mace); SA smite evil 3/day (+10 damage), unleash
inner strength; SQ free multiclassing, lay on hands,
remove disease 2/week, secrets of the order, turn undead
6/day; AL LG; SV Fort +15, Ref +7, Will +12; Str 15 (17),
Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14 (16), Cha 14 (16).
Skills and Feats: Craft (armorsmithing) +2, Craft
(weaponsmithing) +2, Diplomacy +13, Handle Animal +5,
Heal +5, Jump +5, Knowledge (arcana) +2, Knowledge
(nobility and royalty) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1,
Knowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley Metaregion) +1,
Ride +16, Sense Motive +11, Speak Language (Flan), Spot
+8; Cleave, Divine Might, Heavy Armor Proficiency,
Light Armor Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency,
Medium Armor Proficiency, Mounted Combat, Power
Attack, Ride-By Attack, Shield Proficiency, Simple
Weapon Proficiency, Spirited Charge.
Secrets of the Order (Ex): At first level, it becomes
very difficult for others to pry the secrets of the Knights
from a member. Any time someone or something
attempts to gain such a secret by magical means, the
Knight receives a saving throw (typically Will) at the
normal DC. This applies even if the magic in question
normally allows no saving throw. The Knight adds his or
her Watcher level as a special bonus to the save. This
does not help the Knight in any way except to protect the
secrets of the order or as a consequence thereof.
For example, an enchantress may charm a 5th level
Knight, and the Knight would gain no bonus to the save.
Should the enchantress request of her new friend that he
reveal the secrets of the order, the Knight immediately
gets a new save, with a +5 bonus. Each attempt to make
the Knight reveal a fact about his order allows a new save.
Similarly, detect thoughts works just fine on a Knight, but
each time the user attempts to pick up a secret regarding
the order, the Knight receives a new save with the special
bonus.
This additional save functions as a normal saving
throw against the spell (as specified in the spell
description). If the spell or ability description does not
normally allow a saving throw, the save negates the spell
if successful.
Unleash Inner Strength (Sp): Once per day, the
Knight may concentrate (requiring a full-round action
that can provoke an attack of opportunity) to bring out
his inner strength. While using this ability, the Knight
receives a +4 bonus to Strength for up to 3 rounds plus
(or minus) his Wisdom modifier. The Knight may
voluntarily cease using the ability at any time prior to the
normal expiration. Once the ability duration ends, the
Knight suffers a –2 penalty to Strength and Constitution
for a period equal to the time the ability was in use. This
penalty has no particular type, and stacks with all other
penalties. Note that a change in hit point adjustment
must be made to reflect the temporary loss in
Constitution and this can result in the Knight falling into
negative hit points or even death. Under no
circumstances does this ability stack with a barbarian’s
rage ability (or any similar rage ability). No character
may enter a rage while under the effects of Unleash
Inner Strength, and no character may Unleash Inner
Strength while in a rage. This ability is equivalent to a 2nd
level spell.
Paladin Spells Prepared (2/2; base DC = 13 + spell
level): 1st - bless weapon, divine sacrificeSC; 2nd - zealSC, zone of
truth. SCSpell Compendium.
Possessions: +1 adamantine battleaxe, +1 adamantine
longsword, +1 full plate, +1 lance, +1 mithral heavy shield, boots
of striding and springing, cloak of charisma +2, eyes of the eagle,
gauntlets of ogre power, light mace, courtier's outfit,
paladin’s mount, periapt of wisdom +2, ring of protection +1,
ring of sustenance, wand of cure light wounds, wand of cure
moderate wounds.
Physical Description: Watcher Branwen is a human
female of mixed Flan/Suel heritage. She is 5 ft. 7 in. tall
and weighs 142 lbs. Her blond hair is tied in a single
braid running down her spine to her belt.
Challenger, Male Heavy Warhorse: Large Magical
Beast; CR 2; HD 8d8+36; hp 75; Init +1; Spd 80 ft.; AC 25,
touch 10, flat-footed 24 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 armor, +10
natural); Base Atk/Grp: +6/+15; Atk: +5 melee (1d4+2,
bite) or +10/+10 melee (1d6+5, hoof); Full Atk: +5 melee
(1d4+2, bite) or +10/+10 melee (1d6+5, hoof); SQ
empathic link, improved evasion, scent, share saving
throws, share spells; AL LG; SV Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +3;
Str 20, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Jump +25, Listen +7, Spot +6;
Diehard, Endurance, Run.
Possessions: +1 mithral chain shirt barding, bit and
bridle, horseshoes of speed, military saddle, saddlebags.
City Guard, Male Or Female Human Ftr8: Medium
Humanoid; CR 8; HD 8d10+16; hp 72; Init +3; Spd 20 ft.;
AC 21, touch 15, flat-footed 18 (+3 Dex, +6 armor, +2
deflection); Base Atk/Grp: +8/+14; Atk: +16 melee
(1d8+12/19-20x3, +1 longspear) or +14 melee (1d4+6/19-
20, dagger) or +11 ranged (1d4/19-20, thrown dagger) or
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+14 melee (1d6+6/19-20, short sword); Full Atk: +16/+11
melee (1d8+12/19-20x3, +1 longspear) or +14/+9 melee
(1d4+6/19-20, dagger) or +11/+6 ranged (1d4/19-20,
thrown dagger) or +14/+9 melee (1d6+6/19-20, short
sword); AL LN; SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +2; Str 18 (22),
Dex 14 (16), Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Climb +9, Craft (armorsmithing) +3,
Craft
(weaponsmithing)
+3,
Handle
Animal
+2,
Intimidate +11, Jump +3, Ride +10; Cleave, Close-
Quarters FightingCW, Combat ReflexesB, Formation
ExpertCW, Great CleaveB, Heavy Armor Proficiency,
Improved Critical (longspear)B, Light Armor Proficiency,
Martial
Weapon
Proficiency,
Medium
Armor
Proficiency, Power Attack, Shield Proficiency, Simple
Weapon Proficiency, Tower Shield Proficiency, Weapon
Focus (longspear)B, Weapon Specialization (longspear)B.
CWComplete Warrior.
Possessions: +1 breastplate, +1 longspear, belt of giant
strength +4, dagger, gloves of dexterity +2, peasant's outfit,
ring of protection +2, short sword.
ENCOUNTER 5
Parwyn Amastacia, Male Elf Brd15: Medium
Humanoid; CR 15; HD 15d6; hp 68; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 19 (+2 Dex, +5 armor, +2
shield, +1 natural, +1 deflection); Base Atk/Grp: +11/+10;
Atk: +11 melee (1d6+1/18-20, +1 merciful defending rapier);
Full Atk: +11/+6/+1 melee (1d6+1/18-20, +1 merciful
defending rapier); SQ +2 racial saving throw bonus against
enchantment spells or effects., an elf who merely passes
within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a
search check to notice it as if she were actively looking
for it., bardic knowledge +17, bardic music 15/day,
countersong, fascinate, immunity to magic sleep effects.,
inspire competence, inspire courage +3, inspire greatness,
inspire heroics, suggestion; AL N; SV Fort +8, Ref +14, Will
+12; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 19 (21).
Skills and Feats: Appraise +20, Balance +4, Bluff +28,
Diplomacy +34, Disguise +10, Gather Information +26,
Intimidate +12, Jump +2, Knowledge (arcana) +4,
Knowledge (local [Core]) +4, Knowledge (geography) +4,
Knowledge (history) +5, Knowledge (nobility and
royalty) +12, Knowledge (local - Sheldomar Valley
Metaregion) +13, Listen +2, Perform (oratory) +19, Search
+4, Sense Motive +20, Speak Language +5, Spellcraft +4,
Spot +2, Tumble +7, Use Magic Device +9; Combat
Expertise, Improved Combat ExpertiseCW, Improved
Feint, Leadership, Light Armor Proficiency, Negotiator,
Persuasive,
Shield
Proficiency,
Simple
Weapon
Proficiency. CWComplete Warrior.
Bard Spells Known (4/5/4/4/4/3; base DC = 15 + spell
level): 0 - detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, open/close,
prestidigitation, read magic; 1st - alarm, charm person,
comprehend languages, expeditious retreat; 2nd - blur, calm
emotions, detect thoughts, glitterdust; 3rd - charm monster,
daylight, gaseous form, see invisibility; 4th - dominate person,
freedom of movement, hold monster, greater invisibility; 5th -
greater blinkSC, greater heroism, shadow evocation. SCSpell
Compendium.
Possessions: +1 merciful defending rapier, circlet of
persuasion, +1 mithral buckler, +1 mithral chain shirt, amulet
of natural armor +1, cloak of charisma +2, helm of comprehend
languages and read magic, noble's outfit, ring of protection +1,
ring of sustenance, vest of resistance +3CA. CAComplete Arcane.
Physical Description: Amastacia is a male high elf
approaching middle-age. He stands 5’ 5” tall and weighs
165 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. His
demeanor is both cheerful and confident. Amastacia
carries himself as one accustomed to getting what he
wants. He does not concern himself with religious issues;
he treats all of his customers equally. Amastacia has a
slightly lawful tendency as would be expected of one who
deals in contracts and has been known to attend temples
of Zilchus to further his business connections in the
human world. He is not a coward, but sees violence as
bad for business. Amastacia had ties with the Gran March
organization known as The Corporation, but left after he
heard that they were robbing military targets. He will
defend himself with his rapier, but will try not to kill
anyone as murder is also bad for business. Amastacia is
fluent in Common, Elven, Gnome, Orc, Dwarven,
CorporateSpeak, Flan, and Keoish.
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DM AID: MAP #1
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DM AID: MAP #2
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DM AID: MAP #3
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DM AID: NEW RULES
NEW FEATS
Black Lore of Moil (Complete Arcane)
Your study of the sinister knowledge and spellcasting techniques of the long-dead Nightlords of Moil makes your
necromancy spells especially potent.
Prerequisite: Spell Focus (necromancy), caster level 7th.
Benefit: Any necromancy spell you cast can be cast instead as a Moilian spell, dealing an extra 1d6 points of
negative energy damage + 1d6 per two spell levels (+1d6 for 1st level spells, +2d6 for 2nd and 3rd level spells, and so on). If
the spell normally allows a saving throw, the target takes half the negative energy damage on a successful save,
regardless of the outcome of the save on the spell’s normal effect.
In addition to its normal spell components, a Moilian spell requires the creation and expenditure of a Moilian
runebone—a small human bone (often a finger bone) scribed with carefully prepared arcane markings. Only a
character trained in the Black Lore of Moil knows the secrets of creating a runebone, which takes 1 hour to craft and
requires special inks and powders costing 25 gp per die of negative energy damage to be generated. For example, a
runebone capable of adding 3d6 points of negative energy damage costs 75 gp to craft.
While the maximum negative energy damage dealt by a Moilian spell is based on the spell’s level, the actual damage
is limited by the runebone. For example, if a sorcerer casts finger of death (a 7th level spell, so normally +4d6) with a 75 gp
(3d6) runebone, the spell deals only 3d6 points of additional negative energy damage.
A Moilian spell uses a spell slot of the spell’s normal level.
Close-Quarters Fighting (Complete Warrior)
You are skilled at fighting close range and resisting grapple attempts.
Prerequisites: BAB +3.
Benefit: You gain an attack of opportunity whenever an enemy attempts to grapple you, even if the enemy has a
feat or special ability that would normally bypass the attack. If you deal damage with this attack, the enemy fails to start
the grapple unless it has the Improved Grapple feat or a special ability such as improved grab. If the enemy has such an
ability, you may add the damage you deal as a bonus on your opposed check to resist being grappled. This feat does not
give you extra attacks of opportunity during a round or allow you to make an attack of opportunity when you would be
denied one for being surprised, helpless or in a similar situation.
For example, an ogre attempts to grapple Tordek. Tordek gains an attack of opportunity, hits, and causes damage.
Since the ogre does not have any sort of grappling special ability or feat, it fails to start a grapple. Then an ankheg – a
creature with the improved grab special ability – attempts to grapple Tordek. He takes an attack of opportunity, hits,
and deals 10 points of damage to the creature. Tordek than adds +10 to his opposed check to resist being grappled.
Normal: Creatures with Improved Grapple, improved grab, or similar feats or special abilities do not provoke
attacks of opportunity when they attempt to start a grapple.
Special: A fighter may select Close-Quarters Fighting as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Formation Expert (Complete Warrior)
You are trained at fighting in ranks and files.
Prerequisites: BAB +6.
Benefit: The Formation Expert feat enables the use of three tactical maneuvers. You gain the benefit of the feat
even if you are fighting in formation with allies that do not have this feat.
Lock Shields: To use this maneuver, you must have a ready shield, and adjacent allies on opposite sides of you must
have ready shields. You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class.
Step into the Breach: To use this maneuver, you must be within a single move of an ally who falls in combat, and an
ally must occupy every square between you and the fallen comrade. You can immediately take a single move action (as if
you had readied an action to do so) to move into the square the fallen ally occupies.
Wall of Polearms: To use this maneuver, you must be wielding a shortspear, longspear, trident, glaive, guisarme,
halberd, or ranseur, and you must have adjacent allies wielding weapons identical to yours on opposite sides of you. You
gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls.
Special: A fighter may select Formation Expert as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Improved Combat Expertise (Complete Warrior)
You have mastered the art of defense in combat.
Prerequisites: Int 13, Combat Expertise, BAB +6.
Benefit: When you use the Combat Expertise feat to improve your Armor Class, the number you subtract from
your attack roll and add to your AC can be any number that does not exceed your base attack bonus.
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Normal: With Combat Expertise, the number can be no greater than +5.
Special: A fighter may select Improved Combat Expertise as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Rapid Spell (Complete Divine)
You can cast spells with long casting times more quickly.
Benefit: Only spells with a casting time greater than 1 standard action can be made rapid. A rapid spell with a
casting time of 1 full round can be cast as a standard action. A rapid spell with a casting time measured in rounds can be
cast in 1 full round. Rapid spells with casting times measured in minutes can be cast in 1 minute, and rapid spells with
casting times measured in hours can be cast in 1 hour. A rapid spell uses up a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s
actual level.
Special: A spell can be made rapid and quickened only if its original casting time was 1 full round. This feat can be
applied to a spell cast spontaneously as long as its original casting time was longer than 1 full round.
NEW ITEMS
Vest of Resistance (Complete Arcane)
These garments offer magic protection in the form of a +1 to +5 resistance bonus on all saving throws.
Faint abjuration; CL 5th; Craft Wondrous Item, resistance, caster’s level must be at least three times the vest’s bonus;
Price: 1,000 gp (+1), 4,000 gp (+2), 9,000 gp (+3), 16,000 gp (+4), 25,000 gp (+5); Weight: 1 lb.
NEW SPELLS
Arrow of Bone (Spell Compendium)
Necromancy [Death]
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Target: One projectile or thrown weapon touched
Duration: 1 hour/level or until discharged
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial
Spell Resistance: Yes
You complete the long ritual needed to cast the spell, scribing arcane runes into the item. It changes before your eyes into an
identical item made of bone. The runes glow with dark magic and the weapon feels cold to the touch.
When thrown or fired at a creature as a normal ranged attack, the weapon gains a +4 enhancement bonus on attack
rolls and damage rolls. In addition, any living creature struck by an arrow of bone must succeed on a Fortitude save or be
instantly slain. A creature that makes its save instead takes 3d6 points of damage +1 point per caster level (maximum
+20). Regardless of whether the attack hits, the magic of the arrow of bone is discharged by the attack, and the missile is
destroyed.
Material Component: A tiny sliver of bone and an oil of magic weapon (50 gp).
Blackfire (Spell Compendium)
Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Sor/Wiz 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: Ray
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial and Reflex negates; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
With the dark words still on your tongue, a ray of black energy springs from your hand to wrap the indicated target in black
flames that absorb heat rather than create it. The black fire crackles and hisses, emanating the smells of hot metal and sulfur.
You
must
succeed
on
a
ranged
touch
attack
with
the
ray
to
strike
a
target.
On a successful attack, a living target is engulfed in chill black flames that feed on the fuel of their victim’s life force. A
creature engulfed in blackfire must make a successful Fortitude save each round that the spell is in effect or take 1d4
points of Constitution damage and become nauseated. A creature that makes its Fortitude save takes no damage for that
round and is sickened instead. In addition to its effects on the subject, blackfire can spread rapidly. Each round on its
turn, any living creature adjacent to a creature engulfed in blackfire must succeed on a Reflex save or become engulfed
itself.
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Any creature that has its Constitution reduced to 0 or lower by the spell is turned into a pile of black ash and can be
returned to life only by true resurrection or wish, the caster of which must succeed on a DC 30 caster level check to
restore the victim to life. If a creature succeeds on its Fortitude save in 3 consecutive rounds, the blackfire affecting it
gutters out. The black flames cannot otherwise be extinguished by normal means (such as immersion in water or
smothering), but antimagic field, a successful dispel magic, remove curse, or break enchantment snuffs it out. As well, a
creature protected by death ward has immunity to blackfire’s effects.
Material Component: A pinch of dust from a vampire destroyed by sunlight.
Blink, Greater (Spell Compendium)
Transmutation
Level: Brd 5, Celerity 8, Sor/Wiz 5
An immaterial fog descends over your eyes as you complete the spell. You perceive the closeness of a parallel, ethereal reality, and
you know that you can pass freely between that world and the one upon which you stand.
This spell functions like blink (Player’s Handbook, page 206), except that you have control over the timing of your
“blinking” back and forth between the Ethereal Plane and the Material Plane. You can also ready an action to blink
away from any physical or magical attack. The attack misses automatically unless it also affects ethereal targets (as a
force effect does). While blinking, you have no chance of interfering with your own attacks or your own spells. When
moving through solid objects, you do not risk materializing inside one unless you actually end your movement there, in
which case you materialize and are shunted off to the nearest open space, taking 1d6 points of damage per 5 feet
traveled in this manner.
Divine Sacrifice (Spell Compendium)
Evocation
Level: Blackguard 1, Pal 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level
Giving up some of your life force to win the battle, you empower your next blow against your foe.
Your first attack each round for the duration of the spell deals an extra 5d6 points of damage if it hits, and you take
10 points of damage each time you make such an attack, whether or not the attack is successful.
Mage Armor, Greater (Spell Compendium)
Conjuration (Creation) [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
An invisible sheen of armor-shaped force surrounds you.
This spell functions like mage armor (Player’s Handbook, page 249), except that it requires no material component and
its intangible field of force provides a +6 armor bonus to Armor Class.
Mindfrost (Frostburn)
Necromancy [Cold]
Level: Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. +5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude half
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell freezes the mental pathways of living creatures, dealing 5d6 points of cold damage and 1d4 points of
Intelligence damage.
Material Component: A small stone covered in frost.
Ray of Entropy (Spell Compendium)
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. +5 ft./2 levels)
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Effect: Ray
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
You release a crackling black ray. The smell of decay fills the air.
When you cast this spell, you unleash a ray of negative energy that consumes the life energy of the subject. You
must succeed on a ranged touch attack with the ray to strike a target. If your attack is successful against a living creature,
the ray makes the subject weaker, slower, and less healthy. The subject takes a -4 penalty to Strength, Constitution, and
Dexterity for the duration of the spell.
Resonating Bolt (Spell Compendium)
Evocation [Sonic]
Level: Brd 4, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: 60 ft. line
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes
Your quick movements and rapid utterances release the spell’s energy, culminating in a final cry that unleashes a tremendous bolt
of sonic energy from your open hand.
The bolt of sonic energy deals 1d4 points of sonic damage per caster level (maximum 10d4) to each creature within
its area. In addition, a resonating bolt deals full damage to objects and can easily shatter or break interposing barriers. If
the bolt destroys a barrier, it can continue beyond if its range permits; otherwise, it stops.
Summon Undead I (Spell Compendium)
Conjuration (Summoning) [Evil]
Level: Blackguard 1, Clr 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, F/DF
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft. 2 levels)
Effect: One summoned creature
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
The undead you summon appear in a burst of smoke and fog. The vapor swiftly dissipates, but you can’t shake the impression of
screaming faces in the cloud’s tendrils.
This spell functions like summon monster I (Player’s Handbook, page 285), except that you summon an undead
creature.
Summon undead I conjures one of the creatures from the 1st-level list (human warrior skeleton (Monster Manual,
page 226), kobold zombie (Monster Manual, page 266)). You choose which creature to summon, and you can change that
choice each time you cast the spell. Summoned undead do not count toward the total Hit Dice of undead that you can
control with animate dead or the other command undead abilities. No undead creature you summon can have more Hit
Dice than your caster level + 1.
Focus: A tiny bag, a small (not lit) candle, and a carved bone from any humanoid.
Summon Undead II (Spell Compendium)
Conjuration (Summoning) [Evil]
Level: Blackguard 2, Clr 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
This spell functions like summon undead I, except that you can summon one undead from the 2nd-level list (owlbear
skeleton (Monster Manual, page 226), bugbear zombie (Monster Manual, page 267)) or two undead of the same kind from
the 1st-level list.
Summon Undead III (Spell Compendium)
Conjuration (Summoning) [Evil]
Level: Blackguard 3, Clr 3, Sor/Wiz 3
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
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This spell functions like summon undead I, except that you can summon one undead from the 3rd-level list (ghoul
(Monster Manual, page 118), troll skeleton (Monster Manual, page 227), ogre zombie (Monster Manual, page 267)), two
undead of the same kind from the 2nd-level list, or four of the same kind from the 1st-level list.
Summon Undead IV (Spell Compendium)
Conjuration (Summoning) [Evil]
Level: Blackguard 4, Clr 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
This spell functions like summon undead I, except that you can summon one undead from the 4th-level list (allip
(Monster Manual, page), ghast (Monster Manual, page 119), wyvern zombie (Monster Manual, page 267)), two undead of
the same kind from the 3rd-level list, or four undead of the same kind from a lower-level list.
Summon Undead V (Spell Compendium)
Conjuration (Summoning) [Evil]
Level: Cleric 5, Sor/Wiz 5
Effect: One or more summoned creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
This spell functions like summon undead I, except that you can summon one undead from the 5th-level list (mummy
(Monster Manual, page 190), shadow (Monster Manual, page 221), vampire spawn (Monster Manual, page 253), wight
(Monster Manual, page 255)), two undead of the same kind from the 4th-level list, or four undead of the same kind from a
lower-level list.
Sword of Darkness (Spell Compendium)
Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Sor/Wiz 7
Components: V, S, M
Effect: Black blade of negative energy
You shatter the sword in your hand against a stone, bringing into being a similar weapon made entirely of black energy. As soon
as it forms, the black blade attacks.
This spell functions like sword of deception (see below), except that you cause a black blade of pure negative energy to
appear and attack opponents at a distance, as directed by you. Instead of dealing damage, a sword of darkness bestows one
negative level on each successful hit against a living creature, threatens a critical hit on a roll of 19-20, and bestows two
negative levels on a critical hit. Negative levels usually have a chance of permanently draining the subject’s levels, but
the negative levels from sword of darkness don’t last long enough to do so. However, if the subject gains at least as many
negative levels as it has Hit Dice, it dies.
If the sword strikes an undead creature, it grants that creature 5 temporary hit points per two caster levels
(maximum 25 temporary hit points) that last for up to 1 hour.
Material Component: A bastard sword or longsword, which is shattered against a stone while casting the spell.
Sword of Deception (Spell Compendium)
Evocation [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: Pale green blade of force
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
Swinging a miniature replica of a sword as if it were real, you bring into being a full-sized representation of your replica made
entirely of pale green force. The blade immediately attacks your enemy.
You cause a blade of pale green force to appear and strike the opponent you designate, starting with one attack in
the round when the spell is cast and continuing each round thereafter. Though it makes regular melee attacks, the
sword strikes as a spell, not a weapon (and so can strike incorporeal creatures). A sword of deception always strikes from
your direction, and so it can’t be used to flank with your attacks, but it could flank with your allies.
The blade attacks with a base attack bonus equal to your caster level, dealing 1d8 points of damage per hit and
threatening a critical hit on a roll of 19-20. In addition, each successful hit provides a -2 penalty on the target’s next
saving throw roll (-4 on a successful critical hit). This penalty is cumulative (to a maximum of -5 on a single creature)
and lasts until the creature is forced to make a saving throw in a dangerous situation or receives the benefit of a remove
curse spell.
Each round, a sword of deception continues to attack the previous round’s target unless you use a standard action to
switch it to a new target within range. In any round when the weapon switches targets, it gets one attack as a standard
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action (as it does in the round when the spell is cast). The weapon can make multiple attack rolls against a single target
with a full attack action if its base attack bonus permits. A sword of deception cannot be attacked or damaged (though it
can be dispelled as any other spell). If an attacked creature has spell resistance, make a caster level check the first time
the sword attacks. If the check is successful, the sword can attack that creature with normal effect for the duration of
the spell. If not, the sword of deception is dispelled. If the target goes beyond the spell range or out of your sight, the sword
of deception returns to you and hovers.
Focus: A miniature replica of a sword and a set of loaded dice.
Zeal (Spell Compendium)
Abjuration
Level: Blackguard 2, Pal 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level
You invoke a divine shield to protect you as you close with a chosen opponent.
Choose a foe as you cast this spell. You gain a +4 deflection bonus to your AC against all attacks of opportunity from
opponents other than the chosen foe. Also, you can move through enemies as if they were allies for the duration of the
spell, as long as you finish your movement closer to your chosen foe than when you began it.
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PLAYER HANDOUT #1 – LETTER FROM BETHANY GRENDA
This should be given to PCs who did play SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned.
Greetings,
You may not remember me, but my name is Bethany Grenda.
We met recently in Hochoch while you were looking for a
certain antique goblet and while I was investigating business
opportunities under the new government for some business
people in Gran March. I have some information about the
goblet that I might be willing to sell to you. Given that the
Knights have shown an interest in the item, this information
may help you form a good relationship with the new
government. Meet me in Hochoch at the Boar’s Other Knuckle
after sundown on 6 Fireseek 596. You will not regret it.
Good travels,
Bethany Grenda
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PLAYER HANDOUT #2 – LETTER FROM BETHANY GRENDA
This should be given to PCs who did not play SHE5-04 A Cup O’erturned.
Greetings,
A mutual acquaintance has given me your name as a
reputable adventurer. My name is Bethany Grenda and I am
a negotiator for certain business people in Gran March
looking for business opportunities under the new government.
I found out some information about an antique goblet that
apparently has the interests of the Knights. I do not have time
for long interrogations by the new government so I might be
willing to sell to you this information so that you can gain
some influence with the Knights. Meet me in Hochoch at the
Boar’s Other Knuckle after sundown on 6 Fireseek 596. You
will not regret it.
Good travels,
Bethany Grenda
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Page 45
PLAYER HANDOUT #3 – MAP OF HOCHOCH
(Created by Jose Ortiz)
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PLAYER HANDOUT #4 – KEY TO THE MAP OF HOCHOCH
Gates:
G1 – River Gate
G2 – Shalm’s Gate
G3 – North Gate
G4 – Oyt Gate
Low Quarter:
L1 – The Broken Drum Inn
L2 – The Cracked Cup
The Commons:
C1 – Iowerth Square
C2 – The Boar’s Knuckle (condemned)
C3 – The Boar’s Other Knuckle
C4 – Company of Giant Slayers Hall
C5 – The White Stag Inn
Market Ward:
M1 – The Giant’s Hearth Inn
M2 – Market Square (“Broken Wall”)
Old City:
O1 – Old Oak Tavern
O2 – Bedwyn the Fat’s Estate
O3 – Knights of the Watch Chapterhouse
O4 – Sierra Blackblade’s Estate
Hilltop:
H1 – Caer Dwr Gwyldy (Waterwatch Castle)
H2 – Trevol Llys (Town Hall)
H3 – Temple of Pelor
H4 – Temple of St. Cuthbert
H5 – Temple of Allitur
H6 – Temple of Ehlonna
H7 – Wayfarer’s Union House
H8 – The Brenin’s Signet Inn
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PLAYER HANDOUT #5 – GRENDA’S PAPER
Old container, new container,
Old container lost to old friends,
New container lost to unknown,
Containers may be spoiled or may be ripe.
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PLAYER HANDOUT #6 – GRENDA’S PAPER (TRANSLATED)
Old container, new container,
(This mentions two containers .)
Old container lost to old friends,
(The first container was stolen by old enemies.)
New container lost to unknown,
(The second was stolen by someone else.)
Containers may be spoiled or may be ripe.
(Both containers may be evil but valuable.)
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PLAYER HANDOUT #7 – CORPORATION NOTE, MEMBERS ONLY
Bethany Grenda, a member of our family, was killed because she was
involved in our rivals’ business. She was following up on the goblet
that our ex-members stole from our rivals, which has put us at odds
with them. Because of this, we think the murders are connected with
the goblet. Find out what you can as we are on uncertain ground here.
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PLAYER HANDOUT #8 – MYSTERIOUS NOTE
We did not kill anyone.
We had nothing to do with either the goblet or the urn.
We believe them to be connected.
We believe them to be dangerous.
Find them with our blessing.
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PLAYER HANDOUT #9 – RHYME OF THE OCCLUDED TIME
(Given to the party by the Knights in Hochoch)
Occluded time’s thunder;
A Cup o’erturned;
Flesh torn asunder;
A book unburned;
Three to One’s wonder;
Dark whisperer returned.
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CRITICAL EVENT SUMMARY: SHE6-01 FLESH TORN ASUNDER
For use only before April 1, 2006. Email answers to [email protected].
1. Did anyone die from the book trap in Encounter 1?
Yes
No
If so, did any city guards or Knights of the Watch NPCs die as a result?
Yes
No
2.
Did the party fight the Watcher Branwen and her city guard?
Yes
No
If so, did they kill any NPCs in the fight?
Yes
No
3.
Did the party defeat the undead assassin Nycos Dephos?
Yes
No
How much did the party find out from Nycos Dephos before the combat ended?
4.
Did the party find out that the Aspect of Sight was trying to control the Midnight Ravens’ interests in Hochoch?
Yes
No
5.
Did the party contact any organizations about the results of this adventure?
Yes
No
If so, who did they contact and what did they tell them?
6.
Did the party have fun with this adventure?
Yes
No
7.
For players from Geoff and Gran March only: was the city of Hochoch and its citizens represented accurately and
how can their descriptions be improved for future adventures?
Notes: (Add anything that happened that might be considered out of the ordinary – Strange occurrences, results that
may not fit the above, etc):
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Subsets and Splits